RACE RECAPS- NEW HAMPSHIRE MOTOR SPEEDWAY AND KENTUCKY SPEEDWAY

MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES

 

ISM Connect 300

New Hampshire Motor Speedway – Loudon, N.H.

Sunday, September 24, 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 was just a great day for our team and for the 18 team.  We were able to execute all day long and we did everything right. We did everything we were supposed to do and that’s where you end up when we’re able to do those things and it was a great race up front too with the 78 (Martin Truex Jr.) there. The 20 (Joey Logano) was there for a little. I think he was a little better on that long run that one time, but overall we had some really good short run speed there at the end. We were able to get out front there and kind of set the field because – set the pace – and that was what we needed to do today.”

 

·         Kyle Busch

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·         Kyle Busch won the 21^st annual ISM Connect 300 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS) race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway Sunday afternoon.   It was the second of three races in the Round of 16 of the MENCS playoffs.  It is Busch’s 41^st win in 454 career MENCS races and his third victory in 28 races this year.

 

·         Busch led 187 of 300 laps today.

 

·         With the win, Busch automatically advances to the Round of 12 in the 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series playoffs. 

 

·         In addition, Kyle Larson and Brad Keselowski also locked up spots in the Round of 12 today based on points.

 

·         It is Busch’s third win in 26 starts at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

 

·         Overall, today’s finish marked Busch’s 17^th top-10 and 11^th top-5 in 28 races of 2017.

 

·         This marked the 13^th straight playoff race that was won by a driver who was still alive in the playoffs.  The streak dates back to the 2015 Ford EcoBoost 400 on November 22 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, which was won by Kyle Busch. 

 

·         Each of the top five finishers today were playoff drivers.

 

·         Kyle Larson (2^nd) posted his 17^th top-10 finish in 28 MENCS races this year and his 13^th in the top-5.  It was the eighth time this year he finished second. 

 

·         Matt Kenseth (3^rd) posted his 14^th top-10 finish in 28 races this year.  It was also his eighth top-5 showing.

 

·         Erik Jones (6^th) was the highest finishing rookie as well as the highest finishing non-playoff driver.

 

·         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.  It was Truex’s 19^th stage win of the year while it was Busch’s 13^th.  They rank 1-2 in stage wins in MENCS this year.

 

·         The following are the playoff standings following the second of three races of the Round of 16.  The top 12 drivers following the three races will advance to the Round of 12.

 

Name                                    Pts.                                                        Name                                    Pts.

1.       Martin Truex Jr.*             2149                                               9.    Chase Elliott                       2070

2.       Kyle Larson@                     2125                                               10.  Kevin Harvick                     2069

3.       Kyle Busch*                        2119                                               11.  Jamie McMurray              2053

4.       Brad Keselowski@           2106                                               12. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.          2044

5.       Denny Hamlin                    2088                                               13.  Austin Dillon                       2044      

6.       Matt Kenseth                    2087                                               14.  Ryan Newman                  2043

7.       Jimmie Johnson                                2076                                               15.  Kurt Busch                          2027      

8.       Ryan Blaney                       2070                                               16.  Kasey Kahne                      2023      

 

*Advances to Round of 12 with win                 @Advances to Round of 12 based on points

 

·         In 12 career MENCS starts at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Kyle Busch has recorded one win among five top-10 finishes and two top-5 showings.  He won the 2015 Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway when he was part of the Championship 4, taking home the first Cup championship of his career.

 

 

NASCAR XFINITY SERIES

 

·         Tyler Reddick won the 6^th annual VisitMyrtleBeach.com 300 NASCAR XFINITY Series (NXS) race at Kentucky Speedway Saturday night. It is his first victory in 15 career XFINITY Series starts.  It was his fourth top-10 finish and second top-5 in 15 races this year.

 

·         The race marked the first of the 2017 XFINITY Series playoffs.

 

·         Brennan Poole (2^nd) was the highest finisher among the 12 XFINITY playoff drivers.  It was Poole’s 13^th top-10 finish and second top-5 in 27 races this year. 

 

·         Justin Allgaier (3^rd) – also among the 12 playoff drivers - accounted for his 14^th top-10 finish and eighth top-5 showing in 27 races this year.

 

·         Cole Custer (5^th) – also in the NXS playoffs - was the highest finishing rookie.

 

·         The following are the standings following the first of three races in the Round of 12 of the 2017 NXS playoffs.  The Playoffs culminate with the Ford EcoBoost 300 XFINITY Series championship race at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Saturday, November 18.

 

Name                                    Pts.                                                        Name                                    Pts.

1.       Justin Allgaier                    2057                                               7.    Matt Tifft#                          2036

2.       Cole Custer#                      2057                                               8.    Ryan Reed                          2034

3.       Elliott Sadler                       2055                                               9.    Brendan Gaughan           2026

4.       Daniel Hemric#                 2052                                               10. Blake Koch                           2025

5.       William Byron#                  2051                                               11.  Michael Annett                 2022       

6.       Brennan Poole                  2047                                               12.  Jeremy Clements             2020

 

#Denotes rookie             

 

NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES

 

·         Christopher Bell won the 20^th running of the UNOH 175 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) race Saturday afternoon at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.  The race was the first of the 2017 Camping World Truck Series playoffs.  It marked Bell’s seventh victory in 47 career NCWTS starts and his fifth win in 17 races this year.

 

·         With the victory, Bell – one of eight drivers in the playoffs – automatically advances to the Round of 6 in the playoffs.

 

·         Ryan Truex (2^nd) accounted for his 11^th top-10 finish and seventh top-5 showing in 17 NCWTS races this year. 

 

·         Todd Gilliland (3^rd) posted his first top-10 finish in four NCWTS races this year.

 

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

 

·         The following are the playoff standings following the first of three races in the Round of 8 in the NCWTS playoffs.   The Playoffs culminate with the Ford EcoBoost 200 Camping World Truck Series championship race at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Friday, November 17.

 

Name                                    Pts.                                                        Name                                    Pts.

1.       Christopher Bell                *             2100                                               5.    Austin Cindric#                  2043

2.       Johnny Sauter                   2060                                               6.    Kaz Grala#                           2038

3.       Matt Crafton                      2059                                               7.    Chase Briscoe#                 2035

4.       Ben Rhodes                        2050                                               8.    John Hunter Nemechek                2031

 

*Advances to Round of 6 with victory                     #Denotes rookie

RACE RECAPS- CHICAGOLAND SPEEDWAY

MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES

 

Tales of the Turtles 400

Chicagoland Speedway – Joliet, Ill.

Sunday, September 17, 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 – “I’m proud of our pit crew for doing what they did and everyone on this team. It’s important to come here and not let the pressure get to you and I think we did a good job of that. Every time you go to victory lane, it’s special.  I’m just having fun.  It’s a dream come true and we’re having the time of our lives.”

 

·         Martin Truex Jr.

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

 

·         Martin Truex Jr. won the 17^th annual Tales of the Turtles 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS) race at Chicagoland Speedway Sunday in the opening round of the playoffs.  It is Truex’s 12^th win in 432 career MENCS races and his series-high fifth this year.

 

·         With the win Truex automatically advances to the Round of 12 in the 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series playoffs. 

 

·         This marks the second straight year that Truex has won in Chicago and it is his third career playoff win.

 

·         Overall, today’s finish marked Truex’s 18^th top-10 and 11^th top-5 in 27 races of 2017.

 

·         This marked the 12^th straight playoff race that was won by a driver who was still alive in the playoffs.  The streak dates back to the 2015 Ford EcoBoost 400 on November 22 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, which was won by Kyle Busch. 

 

·         Each of the top six finishers and 10 of the first 11 today were playoff drivers.

 

·         Chase Elliott (2^nd) posted his 15^th top-10 finish in 27 MENCS races this year and his seventh in the top-5.  He tied a career-best finish which he achieved three times previously, most recently on June 18 of this year at Michigan. 

 

·         Kevin Harvick (3^rd) posted his 17^th top-10 finish in 27 races this year.  It was also his ninth top-5 showing.

 

·         Daniel Suarez (12^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 Sunday’s race, while Chase Elliott captured Stage 2.

 

·         The following are the playoff standings following the first of three races of the Round of 16.  The top 12 drivers following the three races will advance to the Round of 12. The Playoffs culminate with the Ford EcoBoost 400 Monster Energy Series championship race at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Sunday, November 19.

 

Name                                    Pts.                                                        Name                                    Pts.

1.       Martin Truex Jr.*             2102                                               9.    Matt Kenseth                    2039

2.       Kyle Larson                         2075                                               10.  Ryan Blaney                       2034

3.       Kevin Harvick                     2067                                               11.  Jamie McMurray              2031

4.       Brad Keselowski               2061                                               12. Austin Dillon                        2026

5.       Kyle Busch                          2061                                               13.  Kurt Busch                          2026      

6.       Chase Elliott                       2059                                               14.  Ricky Stenhouse Jr.         2022

7.       Denny Hamlin                    2058                                               15.  Kasey Kahne                      2021      

8.       Jimmie Johnson                                2046                                               16.  Ryan Newman                  2019      

 

*Advances to Round of 12 with win

 

·         In 12 career MENCS starts at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Martin Truex Jr. has amassed seven top-10 finishes and three in the top-5.  He was a part of the Championship 4 in 2015 when he finished 12^th.  His best showing was second in 2006.

 

 

NASCAR XFINITY SERIES

 

·         Justin Allgaier won the 17^th annual TheHouse.com 300 NASCAR XFINITY Series race at Chicagoland Speedway Saturday afternoon. It is his 15^th victory in 233 career XFINITY Series starts, and his second win in 26 races this year.

 

·         Kyle Larson was second and while Elliott Sadler finished third.

 

·         Daniel Hemric (4^th) was the highest finishing rookie.

 

·         The following are the 12 drivers who qualified for the 2017 NASCAR XFINITY Series Playoffs, which start next weekend in Kentucky.  The field consists of four rookies.  The Playoffs culminate with the Ford EcoBoost 300 XFINITY Series championship race at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Saturday, November 18.

 

Name                                    Pts.                                                        Name                                    Pts.

1.       William Byron#                  2025                                               7.    Jeremy Clements             2005

2.       Justin Allgaier                    2023                                               8.    Cole Custer#                      2005

3.       Elliott Sadler                       2020                                               9.    Blake Koch                          2005

4.    Daniel Hemric#                 2009                                               10. Matt Tifft#                           2004

5.    Brennan Poole                  2006                                               11.  Brendan Gaughan           2003      

6.    Ryan Reed                          2005                                               12.  Michael Annett                 2001

 

#Denotes rookie             

 

NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES

 

·         Johnny Sauter won the 9^th annual TheHouse.com 225 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race Friday night at Chicagoland Speedway.  It marked his 15^th victory in 214 career NCWTS starts and his second win in 16 races this year, 13 of which he has finished in the top-10. 

 

·         Sauter, the defending Camping World Truck Series champion, now has compiled five wins over the last two years.

 

·         Rookie Chase Briscoe (2^nd) accounted for his 10^th top-10 finish and sixth top-5 showing in 16 NCWTS races this year. 

 

·         Christopher Bell (3^rd) posted his 14^th top-10 finish and 10^th top-5 showing in 16 races this year.

 

·         The following are the eight drivers who qualified for the 2017 Camping World Truck Series playoffs, which start next week at New Hampshire.  The field consists of three rookies.  The Playoffs culminate with the Ford EcoBoost 200 Camping World Truck Series championship race at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Friday, November 17.

 

Name                                    Pts.                                                        Name                                    Pts.

1.       Christopher Bell                                2040                                               5.    Chase Briscoe#                 2009

2.       Johnny Sauter                   2025                                               6.    Austin Cindric#                  2007

3.       John Hunter Nemechek                2014                                               7.    Ben Rhodes                        2007

4.       Matt Crafton                      2014                                               8.    Kaz Grala#                           2005

 

#Denotes rookie

RACE RECAPS- DARLINGTON RACEWAY AND CANADIAN TIRE MOTORSPORT PARK

MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES

 

Bojangles’ Southern 500

Darlington Raceway – Darlington, S.C.

Sunday, September 3, 2017

 

Race Winner: Denny Hamlin

Age: 36

Team: No. 11 – Sports Clips Toyota

Owner: Joe Gibbs Racing

Crew Chief: Michael Wheeler

 

IN THE WORDS OF THE WINNER – “It means so much. I mean, this is the Southern 500. It doesn’t get much bigger than this. This is the granddaddy of them all. This has so much history. I’m so happy to be in victory lane at Darlington. This is where I got my very first start in Joe Gibbs Racing, so this track, these fans means a lot to me.”

 

·         Denny Hamlin

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·         Denny Hamlin won the 68^th annual Bojangles’ Southern 500 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS) race at Darlington Raceway Sunday night.  It is Hamlin’s 31^st win in 423 career MENCS races and his second this year (at New Hampshire, 7/16). 

 

·         It is Hamlin’s 14^th top-10 finish and 10^th top-5 in 25 races this year.  It is his second victory (2010) and 10^th top-10 finish in 12 races at Darlington.

 

·         Hamlin also won the XFINITY race at Darlington on Saturday, the second time he has completed a weekend sweep at Darlington (2010).  Only two other drivers have done this – Dale Earnhardt Sr. (1987) and Mark Martin (1993).

 

·         Kyle Busch (2^nd) posted his 15^th top-10 finish in 25 MENCS races this year and his fifth in a row. 

 

·         Kurt Busch (3^rd) posted his 12^th top-10 finish in 25 races this year.  It was also his fourth top-5 showing and his second straight.

 

·         Erik Jones (5^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).

 

·         Martin Truex Jr. won both Stage 1 and Stage 2 of Sunday’s race, giving him a series-high 17 stage wins on the year.

 

·         Truex also clinched the 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series regular season championship on Sunday.

 

·         Martin Truex Jr. (1,000) leads the 2017 point standings by 107 points over Kyle Busch (893).   They are followed by Kyle Larson (884) and Kevin Harvick (867).

 

·         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.

 

·         Denny Hamlin has captured a pair of victories (2009, 2013) in 12 starts at Homestead-Miami Speedway.  In 2014 he was part of the Championship 4 in the Ford EcoBoost 400 where he finished eighth.

 

 

NASCAR XFINITY SERIES

 

·         Denny Hamlin won the 35^th annual Sports Clips Haircuts VFW 200 at Darlington Raceway Saturday afternoon. It is his 17^th victory in 159 career XFINITY Series starts, and his second win this year.

 

·         Joey Logano was second and Kevin Harvick finished third.

 

·         Rookie William Byron (5th) was the highest finishing XFINITY Series regular.

 

·         With victories to their credit this year, William Byron (3), Justin Allgaier (1), Ryan Reed (1) and Jeremy Clements (1) have clinched spots in the 12-driver playoff field in the 2017 NASCAR XFINITY Series Playoffs.  Other drivers who have clinched playoff spots as a result of points are Elliott Sadler (858), Brennan Poole (674), Daniel Hemric (654) and Cole Custer (590).  The Playoffs culminate with the Ford EcoBoost 300 XFINITY Series championship race at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Saturday, November 18.

 

·         Elliott Sadler (858) leads the XFINITY Series points standings by 91 points over rookie William Byron (767).   They are followed by Justin Allgaier (739).

 

 

NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES

 

·         Rookie Austin Cindric won the 5^th annual Chevrolet Silverado 250 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race Sunday afternoon at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in Bowmanville, Ontario.  It marked his first victory in 21 career NCWTS starts.

 

·         This is Cindric’s ninth top-10 finish and fourth top-5 in 21 races this year.

 

·         Noah Gragson (2^nd) accounted for his 10^th top-10 finish and third top-5 showing in 15 NCWTS races this year. 

 

·         Kaz Grala (3^rd) posted his fifth top-10 finish and third top-5 showing in 15 races this year. 

 

·         Christopher Bell (4 wins), John Hunter Nemechek (2 wins), rookies Kaz Grala (1 win) and Austin Cindric (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 (634) leads the points standings by 30 points over Johnny Sauter (604).  Two-time series champion Matt Crafton has compiled 574, while rookie Chase Briscoe has collected 573 points.