RACE RECAPS- POCONO RACEWAY AND IOWA SPEEDWAY

MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES

 

Overton’s 400

Pocono Raceway – Long Pond, Pa.

Sunday, July 30, 2017

 

Race Winner: Kyle Busch

Age: 32

Team: No. 18 – M&M’s Caramel Toyota

Owner: Joe Gibbs Racing

Crew Chief: Adam Stevens

 

IN THE WORDS OF THE WINNER – “It’s been a frustrating year and this certainly relieves a little bit of that – I wouldn’t say all of it. Adam (Stevens, crew chief) and these guys did an awesome job today. I can’t say enough about this M&M’s Caramel Camry – Toyota, this is their 100th Monster Energy Cup Series win. I can’t say enough about all of our partners and everyone on this team. All these guys, the pit crew – they do a great job each and every week. We had to rely on them on that final stop so we didn’t lose too much time to those guys because we had so much distance that we were letting them have it on us with those fresher tires that they had. It’s been a frustrating year, but an awesome day today.”

 

·         Kyle Busch

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·         Kyle Busch won the 44^th annual Overton’s 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS) race at Pocono Raceway Sunday afternoon.  It is Busch’s 39^th win in 447 career MENCS races, and his first victory of 2017.

 

·         With the win, Busch snaps a career long 36-race winless streak. Prior to today, his last win came at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 24, 2016.

 

·         It was Busch’s first win in 26 starts at Pocono.  Prior to today his highest finish was a second-place showing (2010). The win checks Pocono Raceway off Busch’s list of MENCS tracks where he has not won a race. Charlotte Motor Speedway now remains as the lone track where Busch is winless.

 

·         With Busch’s win there now has been ten different winners in the last ten MENCS races this year, covering eight different race teams.

 

·         Overall, Busch is the 14^th different winner in MENCS this year, as he becomes the 13^th driver to a secure a spot in 16-driver field of the 2017 MENCS playoffs.

 

·         Busch’s victory marked the 100^th MENCS win for Toyota.

 

·         Kevin Harvick (2^nd) posted his 14^th top-10 finish and eighth top-5 showing in 21 MENCS races this year. 

 

·         Martin Truex Jr. (3^rd) also posted his 14^th top-10 finish and eighth top-5 showing in 21 MENCS races this year. 

 

·         Daniel Suarez (7^th) was the highest finishing rookie.

 

·         For 2017, NASCAR has introduced a new stage format in all three national series where each race is segmented into three stages. In addition to the points awarded at the end of a race (Final Stage), points are also awarded to the top-10 finishers of the first two stages (Stage 1 & Stage 2).

 

·         Kyle Busch won Stage 1 of the race while Clint Bowyer claimed Stage 2.

 

·         Martin Truex Jr. (823) leads the 2017 point standings by 85 points over Kyle Larson (738).   They are followed by Kevin Harvick (726) and Kyle Busch (723).

 

·         Thirteen drivers currently have qualified for the 16-driver field of the 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.  The list consists of Kurt Busch, Brad Keselowski, Martin Truex Jr., Ryan Newman, Kyle Larson, Jimmie Johnson, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Austin Dillon, Ryan Blaney, Kevin Harvick, Denny Hamlin, Kasey Kahne and Kyle Busch, each of whom has won at least one race this season. The Playoffs culminate with the Ford EcoBoost 400 championship finale on November 19 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

 

·         In 12 career MENCS starts at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Busch has had five top-10 finishes, including a victory in the 2015 Ford EcoBoost 400 as he captured the first championship of his career.

 

NASCAR XFINITY SERIES

 

·         Ryan Preece won the 9^th annual U.S. Cellular 250 Presented by American Ethanol NASCAR XFINITY Series race at Iowa Speedway Saturday afternoon. It is Preece’s first win in 38 career XFINITY Series starts.

 

·         It was Preece’s second top-5 finish in as many races this year finishing second two weeks ago at New Hampshire.

 

·         Kyle Benjamin (2^nd) posted his first top-10 finish in four XFINITY starts this year.

 

·         Brian Scott was third in what was his first XFINITY Series race of the year.  It marked his first top-5 finish in the series since he finished fourth in the Ford EcoBoost 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 21, 2015.

 

·         Cole Custer (5^th) was the highest finishing rookie.

 

·         With victories to their credit this year, William Byron (3), Justin Allgaier (1) and Ryan Reed (1) have clinched spots in the 12-driver playoff field in the 2017 NASCAR XFINITY Series Playoffs.  The Playoffs culminate with the Ford EcoBoost 300 XFINITY Series championship race at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Saturday, November 18.

 

·         Elliott Sadler (707) leads the XFINITY Series points standings by 54 points over rookie William Byron (653). They are followed by Justin Allgaier (564).

 

NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES

 

·         Christopher Bell won the 8^th annual Overton’s 150 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) race Saturday afternoon at Pocono Raceway.  It is Bell’s series-leading fourth win of the year.

 

·         Overall, it is Bell’s sixth NCWTS win 42 career starts.

 

·         Ben Rhodes (2^nd) accounted for his sixth top-10 finish and fourth top-5 showing in 12 NCWTS races this year. It tied for his best finish in 39 career Truck series races.

 

·         Ryan Truex (3^rd) posted his seventh top-10 finish and third top-5 showing in 12 races this year.  It marked his best finish of 2017.

 

·         Austin Cindric (7^th) was the highest finishing rookie.

 

·         Christopher Bell (4 wins), John Hunter Nemechek (2 wins), rookie Kaz Grala (1 win), Johnny Sauter (1 win) and Matt Crafton (1 win) all have qualified for the 8-driver field in the 2017 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Playoffs.  The Playoffs culminate with the Ford EcoBoost 200 Camping World Truck Series championship race at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Friday, November 17.

 

·         Christopher Bell (528) leads the points standings by 18 points over Johnny Sauter (510).  Chase Briscoe has compiled 470, while two–time series champion Matt Crafton has collected 464 points.

RACE RECAPS- INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY AND ELDORA SPEEDWAY

MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES
 
Brickyard 400
Indianapolis Motor Speedway – Indianapolis, Indiana
Sunday, July 23, 2017

Race Winner: Kasey Kahne
Age: 37
Team: No. 5 – Farmers Insurance Chevrolet
Owner: Hendrick Motorsports
Crew Chief: Keith Rodden

IN THE WORDS OF THE WINNER – “To win at this track is unreal. We used to always be really close. We lost to Jeff (Gordon) and we lost to Tony (Stewart); just some fast cars back then. Today’s strategy got us here. This Farmers Insurance Chevrolet was great once I got out front. I just had to get there. I’m exhausted. But, an unbelievable win. The team just kept working.”
·         Kasey Kahne
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·         Kasey Kahne won the 24^th annual Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS) Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway Sunday afternoon.  It is Kahne’s 18^th win in 488 career MENCS races, and his first victory of 2017.

·         For Kahne it ended a winless drought of 102 races.  Prior to today, his last win came on August 31, 2014 at Atlanta.

·         It was Kahne’s first win in 14 starts at Indianapolis.

·         Kahne is the 13^th different winner in MENCS this year, as he becomes the 12th driver to secure a spot in 16-driver field of the 2017 MENCS playoffs.

·         Kahne’s win gives Hendrick Motorsports ten MENCS victories at Indianapolis (Jeff Gordon 5, Jimmie Johnson 4 and Kasey Kahne 1).

·         Brad Keselowski (second) posted his 13^th top-10 finish and 10^th top-5 in 20 MENCS races this year. 

·         Ryan Newman (third) posted his seventh top-10 finish and fourth top-5 showing in 20 MENCS races this year. 

·         Daniel Suarez (7^th) was the highest finishing rookie.
 
·         For 2017, NASCAR has introduced a new stage format in all three national series where each race is segmented into three stages. In addition to the points awarded at the end of a race (Final Stage), points are also awarded to the top-10 finishers of the first two stages (Stage 1 & Stage 2).
 
·         Kyle Busch won each of the first two stages of the race, giving him seven stage wins on the year, the second-most in MENCS, trailing only Martin Truex Jr. (14).

·         Martin Truex Jr. (780) leads the 2017 point standings by 48 points over Kyle Larson (732).   They are followed by Kevin Harvick (683) and Kyle Busch (673).
 
·         Twelve drivers currently have qualified for the 16-driver field of the 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.  The list consists of Kurt Busch, Brad Keselowski, Martin Truex Jr., Ryan Newman, Kyle Larson, Jimmie Johnson, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Austin Dillon, Ryan Blaney, Kevin Harvick, Denny Hamlin and Kasey Kahne, each of whom has won at least one race this season. The Playoffs culminate with the Ford EcoBoost 400 championship finale on November 19 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

·         Kasey Kahne has four top-10 finishes in 13 career Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series starts at Homestead-Miami Speedway.  This includes a fourth-place showing in the 2006 Ford 400, his best finish at HMS.
 
NASCAR XFINITY SERIES
 
·         Rookie William Byron won the 6^th annual Lilly Diabetes 250 NASCAR XFINITY Series race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway Saturday afternoon. It is Byron’s  series-leading third win in 18 races this year.  It also marked his 12^th top-10 finish and seventh in the top-5.
 
·         Byron became the youngest series winner at IMS at the age of 19 years, 7 months and 23 days.

·         Paul Menard was second while Joey Logano placed third.

·         Byron edged out Menard by 0.108 seconds, the closest finish ever in an XFINITY Series race at Indianapolis.

·         The race also produced series records at IMS with 16 lead changes and eight different leaders.

·         Byron won Stage 1 of Saturday’s race, while Elliott Sadler won Stage 2.

·         With victories to their credit this year, William Byron (3), Justin Allgaier (1) and Ryan Reed (1) have clinched spots in the 12-driver playoff field in the 2017 NASCAR XFINITY Series Playoffs.  The Playoffs culminate with the Ford EcoBoost 300 XFINITY Series championship race at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Saturday, November 18.
 
·         Elliott Sadler (665) leads the XFINITY Series points standings by 40 points over rookie William Byron (625).   They are followed by Justin Allgaier (532).

NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES
 
·         Matt Crafton won the 5^th annual Eldora Dirty Derby 150 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race Wednesday night at Eldora Speedway.  For Crafton, it was his 14^th victory in in 395 career Truck Series starts, and his first win this year.

·         It ended a 27 race winless streak for Crafton, who had last won on May 21 of last year at Charlotte.  Crafton also took Stage 1 of Wednesday’s race.

·         With the win, Crafton becomes the fifth driver to secure a spot in the 8-driver field for the 2017 Camping World Truck Series Playoffs, which culminates with the Ford EcoBoost 200 Championship race on November 17 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

·         Pole-sitter Stewart Friesen finished second in what was his highest finish in 15 career Truck Series races.  Friesen won Stage 2 of the race.

·         Chase Briscoe (3^rd) posted his sixth top-10 finish in 11 races this year.

·         Grant Enfinger (4^th) was the highest finishing rookie.

·         Christopher Bell (3 wins), John Hunter Nemechek (2 wins), rookie Kaz Grala (1 win), Johnny Sauter (1 win) and Matt Crafton (1 win) all have qualified for the 8-driver field in the 2017 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Playoffs.  The Playoffs culminate with the Ford EcoBoost 200 Camping World Truck Series championship race at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Friday, November 17.

·         Johnny Sauter (478) leads the points standings by seven points over Christopher Bell (471).  Chase Briscoe has compiled 431, while two–time series champion Matt Crafton has collected 427 points.

RACE RECAPS- NEW HAMPSHIRE MOTOR SPEEDWAY

MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES

 

Overton’s 301

New Hampshire Motor Speedway – Loudon, New Hampshire

Sunday, July 16, 2017

 

Race Winner: Denny Hamlin

Age: 36

Team: No. 11 – FedEx Office Toyota

Owner: Joe Gibbs Racing

Crew Chief: Michael Wheeler

IN THE WORDS OF THE WINNER – ““Yeah, just it’s a great feeling. I know we’ve been getting better and better as the year goes on, but definitely needed a win for the organization  and for myself and just kind of get some momentum going with the playoffs are coming up, so we’ve got to get going. Really this is awesome.”

·         Denny Hamlin

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·         Denny Hamlin won the 25^th annual Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS) Overton’s 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway Sunday afternoon.  It is Hamlin’s 30^th win in 417 career MENCS races.

 

·         It is Hamlin’s first victory and 10^th top-10 finish in 2017. It is also his third victory and 14^th top-10 finish in 23 races at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

 

·         With the win, Hamlin ends a 28-race winless streak in the MENCS. His last victory came at Richmond Raceway in September 2016.

 

·         The win also snaps a 20-race winless streak for Joe Gibbs Racing in the MENCS. The last victory for the team came when Carl Edwards won the November 2016 race at Texas Motor Speedway.

 

·         Kyle Larson (second) posted his fourth top-10 finish in seven races at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. It is his 12th top-10 and ninth top-5 finish in 2017. Each of his nine top-5 finishes have been second or better, including two wins.

 

·         Martin Truex Jr. (third) posted his ninth top-10 finish in 23 races at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. It is his seventh top-5 and 13^th top-10 showing in 19 races this season.

 

·         Mexican-native Daniel Suarez (sixth) was the highest finishing rookie.

 

·         For 2017, NASCAR has introduced a new stage format in all three national series where each race is segmented into three stages. In addition to the points awarded at the end of a race (Final Stage), points are also awarded to the top-10 finishers of the first two stages (Stage 1 & Stage 2).

 

·         Martin Truex Jr. won Stage 1 of Sunday’s race, while Kyle Busch captured Stage 2.

 

·         Martin Truex Jr. (758) leads the 2017 point standings by 38 points over Kyle Larson (720). They are followed by Kyle Busch (650) and Kevin Harvick (639).

 

·         Eleven drivers currently have qualified for the 16-driver field of the 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. The list consists of Kurt Busch, Brad Keselowski, Martin Truex Jr., Ryan Newman, Kyle Larson, Jimmie Johnson, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Austin Dillon, Ryan Blaney, Kevin Harvick and Denny Hamlin, each of whom has won at least one race this season. The Playoffs culminate with the Ford EcoBoost 400 championship finale on November 19 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

 

·         In 12 starts at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Denny Hamlin has accumulated four top-5 and eight top-10 showings, including two victories in the Ford EcoBoost 400 (2009, 2013). Hamlin competed as part of the Champion 4 drivers in the 2014 Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

 

NASCAR XFINITY SERIES

 

·         Kyle Busch won the 28^th Annual Overton’s 200 NASCAR XFINITY Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway Saturday night. It is Busch’s 89^th victory in 334 career XFINITY Series races.

 

·         It is Busch’s third victory and sixth top-10 finish in 2017.

 

·         It is Busch’s sixth victory and ninth top-10 finish in 12 races at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

 

·         Ryan Preece (second) posted his first top-10 finish in four races at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. It is his first top-10 finish in 2017.

 

·         William Byron (third) was the highest finishing rookie. It is his 11^th top-10 and sixth top-5 finish this season.

 

·         With victories to their credit this year, William Byron (2), Justin Allgaier (1) and Ryan Reed (1) have clinched spots in the 12-driver playoff field in the 2017 NASCAR XFINITY Series Playoffs. The Playoffs culminate with the Ford EcoBoost 300 XFINITY Series championship race at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Saturday, November 18.

 

·         Elliott Sadler (620) leads the XFINITY Series points standings by 45 points over rookie William Byron (575). They are followed by Justin Allgaier (530).

 

NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES

 

·         The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series was off this weekend and will return July 19 at Eldora Speedway. 

RACE RECAPS - KENTUCKY SPEEDWAY

MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES

 

Quaker State 400 Presented by Advance Auto Parts

Kentucky Speedway – Sparta, Kentucky

Saturday, July 8, 2017

 

Race Winner: Martin Truex Jr.

Age: 37

Team: No. 78 – Furniture Row/Denver Mattress Toyota

Owner: Furniture Row Racing

Crew Chief: Cole Pearn

IN THE WORDS OF THE WINNER – “This is completely unbelievable. I’m so excited to win here. It felt like we had a shot last year and it got away from us on fuel mileage and just wanted to win here so, so bad after that. This is sweet redemption.”

--Martin Truex Jr.

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·         Martin Truex Jr. won the 7^th annual Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS) Quaker State 400 Presented by Advance Auto Parts at Kentucky Speedway Saturday night.  It is Truex’s 10^th win in 423 career MENCS races, and his third of 2017, tying Jimmie Johnson for the most wins in the series this year.

 

·         It is Truex’s 12^th top-10 finish and sixth top-5 showing in 18 races this year.  It is his first win and fourth top-10 finish in 10 races at Kentucky Speedway.

 

·         Kyle Larson (second) posted his 11^th top-10 finish and eighth top-5 in 18 MENCS races this year.  Each of his eight top-5 finishes have been second or better, including two wins.

 

·         Chase Elliott (third) posted his 11^th top-10 finish and sixth top-5 showing in 18 MENCS races this year. 

 

·         Erik Jones (6^th) was the highest finishing rookie.

 

·         For 2017, NASCAR has introduced a new stage format in all three national series where each race is segmented into three stages. In addition to the points awarded at the end of a race (Final Stage), points are also awarded to the top-10 finishers of the first two stages (Stage 1 & Stage 2).

 

·         Truex also won each of the first two stages of the race, his fourth sweep of the two stages of a race this year.  He now has won a series-high 13 stages.  The next highest figure is four stage wins by Kyle Busch.

 

 

·         Kyle Larson (710) leads the 2017 point standings by one point over Martin Truex Jr. (709).   They are followed by Kyle Busch (609) and Kevin Harvick (599).

 

·         Ten drivers currently have qualified for the 16-driver field of the 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.  The list consists of Kurt Busch, Brad Keselowski, Martin Truex Jr., Ryan Newman, Kyle Larson, Jimmie Johnson, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Austin Dillon, Ryan Blaney and Kevin Harvick, each of whom has won at least one race this season. The Playoffs culminate with the Ford EcoBoost 400 championship finale on November 19 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

 

·         Martin Truex Jr. has seven top-10 finishes in 12 career Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series starts at Homestead-Miami Speedway.  He was part of the Championship 4 in 2015, where he finished 12^th.

 

 

NASCAR XFINITY SERIES

 

·         Kyle Busch won the 17^th annual Alsco 300 NASCAR XFINITY Series race at Kentucky Speedway Saturday afternoon. It is Busch’s 88^th victory in 333 career XFINITY Series races.   It was his second win in five XFINITY races this year.

 

·         Ryan Blaney (second) posted his seventh top-5 showing in as many XFINITY Series races this year.  Blaney also won Stage 2 of the race.

 

·         Erik Jones (third) posted his sixth top-10 finish in nine XFINITY races this year.  Jones also won Stage 1 of the race.

 

·         William Byron (7^th) was the highest finishing rookie.

 

·         With victories to their credit this year, William Byron (2), Justin Allgaier (1) and Ryan Reed (1) have clinched spots in the 12-driver playoff field in the 2017 NASCAR XFINITY Series Playoffs.  The Playoffs culminate with the Ford EcoBoost 300 XFINITY Series championship race at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Saturday, November 18.

 

·         Elliott Sadler (578) leads the XFINITY Series points standings by 45 points over rookie William Byron (533).   They are followed by Justin Allgaier (520).

 

 

NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES

 

·         Christopher Bell won the 7^th annual Buckle Up in Your Truck 225 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race Thursday night at Kentucky Speedway.  For Bell, it was his fifth victory in in 40 career Truck Series starts, and his series-leading third win of 2017.

 

·         Brandon Jones (second) accounted for his third top-10 finish in four Camping World Truck Series races this year.

 

·         Rookie Justin Hayley (third) posted his sixth top-10 finish in eight NCWTS races this year.

 

·         Ben Rhodes won Stage 1 of the race while Noah Gragson won Stage 2.

 

·         Christopher Bell (3 wins), rookie Kaz Grala (1 win), Johnny Sauter (1 win) and John Hunter Nemechek (2 wins) all have qualified for the 8-driver field in the 2017 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Playoffs.  The Playoffs culminate with the Ford EcoBoost 200 Camping World Truck Series championship race at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Friday, November 17.

 

·         Johnny Sauter (464) leads the points standings by 28 points over Christopher Bell (436).  Rookie Chase Briscoe has compiled 390, while two–time series champion Matt Crafton has collected 375 points.

RACE RECAPS- DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY

MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES

 

Coke Zero 400 Presented by Coca-Cola

Daytona International Speedway – Daytona Beach, Fla.

Saturday, July 1, 2017

 

Race Winner: Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

Age: 29

Team: No. 17 – Fifth Third Bank Ford

Owner: Roush Fenway Racing

Crew Chief: Brian Pattie

IN THE WORDS OF THE WINNER – “This validates what we did at Talladega.  This Ford Performance team has been amazing. Ford has been dominant. Roush Yates Engines and Doug Yates.   This is awesome!”

--Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

----------------

 

·         Ricky Stenhouse Jr. won the 59^th annual Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS) Coke Zero 400 Powered by Coca-Cola at Daytona International Speedway Saturday night.  It is Stenhouse’s second win in 165 career MENCS races and his second victory in 17 MENCS races this year. 

 

·         It is Stenhouse’s seventh top-10 finish and fourth top-5 showing this year.  In the process he became the fourth driver to win multiple MENCS races this year, joining Jimmie Johnson (3), Martin Truex Jr. (2) and Kyle Larson (2).

 

·         Prior to today’s win, Stenhouse’s best finish in 10 previous starts at Daytona was a fifth-place showing in last year’s Coke Zero 400.

 

·         Clint Bowyer (second) posted his second straight second-place finish after placing in the same spot last week at Sonoma.  It marked his seventh top-10 finish in 17 races this year, four of which have been in the top-5.  Overall, it was his third second-place finish in 2017 (Bristol).  It was his best finish in 24 career MENCS starts at Daytona.  His previous highs were three fourth-place showings.

 

·         Paul Menard (third) posted his third top-10 finish and second top-5 showing in 17 MENCS races this year.  It was his best finish since a third-place showing at Talladega on May 3, 2015.  It was his top finish at Daytona International Speedway, as his previous best was a fifth-place showing in this year’s Daytona 500.

 

·         Erik Jones (9^th) was the highest finishing rookie.

 

·         For 2017, NASCAR has introduced a new stage format in all three national series where each race is segmented into three stages. In addition to the points awarded at the end of a race (Final Stage), points are also awarded to the top-10 finishers of the first two stages (Stage 1 & Stage 2).

 

·         Brad Keselowski won Stage 1 of Sunday’s race, while Matt Kenseth captured Stage 2.

 

·         Kyle Larson (667) leads the 2017 point standings by 18 points over Martin Truex Jr. (649).   They are followed by Kyle Busch (559) and Kevin Harvick (557).

 

·         Ten drivers currently have qualified for the 16-driver field of the 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.  The list consists of Kurt Busch, Brad Keselowski, Martin Truex Jr., Ryan Newman, Kyle Larson, Jimmie Johnson, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Austin Dillon, Ryan Blaney and Kevin Harvick, each of whom has won at least one race this season. The Playoffs culminate with the Ford EcoBoost 400 championship finale on November 19 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

 

·         Ricky Stenhouse Jr. has made five career Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series starts at Homestead-Miami Speedway and has yet to finish in the top-10.  He celebrated XFINITY Series championships at Homestead-Miami Speedway in 2011 and 2012.

 

 

NASCAR XFINITY SERIES

 

·         Rookie William Byron won the 16^th annual Coca-Cola Firecracker 250 at Daytona International Speedway Saturday afternoon. It is Byron’s second victory in 15 career XFINITY Series races.   It was also his second win in as many weeks after his victory last week in Iowa.

 

·         He became the third driver to win multiple XFINITY Series races this year, joining Kyle Larson (3) and Erik Jones (2).  He is the first XFINITY regular to do this in 2017.

 

·         It is Byron’s ninth top-10 finish and fifth top-5 showing in 15 XFINITY races this year. 

 

·         On Saturday he became the youngest XFINITY Series winner ever at Daytona International Speedway, one week after he became the youngest winner in an XFINITY race at Iowa Speedway.

 

·         Elliott Sadler (second) posted his 13^th top-10 finish and seventh top-5 showing in 15 races this year.

 

·         Dakoda Armstrong (third) posted his second top-5 finish this year.  His third-place finish Saturday marked his best in 121 career XFINITY Series races.  His previous bests were a pair of fifth-place showings, one in 2016 and another earlier this year.

 

·         Blake Koch won Stage 1 of Saturday’s race while Elliott Sadler captured Stage 2.  For Koch, it was his first stage win of the year while Sadler secured his fourth, including his third at Daytona International Speedway.

 

·         With victories to their credit this year, William Byron (2), Justin Allgaier (1) and Ryan Reed (1) have clinched spots in the 12-driver playoff field in the 2017 NASCAR XFINITY Series Playoffs.  The Playoffs culminate with the Ford EcoBoost 300 XFINITY Series championship race at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Saturday, November 18.

 

·         Elliott Sadler (553) leads the XFINITY Series points standings by 59 points over rookie William Byron (494).   They are followed by Justin Allgaier (484).

 

 

NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES

 

·         The Camping World Truck Series was off this weekend.  They will resume action on Thursday, July 6 with the Buckle Up In Your Truck 250 at Kentucky Speedway.