Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series
Next Race: Overton’s 301
The Place: New Hampshire Motor Speedway
The Date: Sunday, July 16
The Time: 3 p.m. ET
TV: NBCSN, 2:30 p.m. ET
Radio: PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Distance: 318.46 miles (301 laps); Stage 1 (Ends on lap 75),
Stage 2 (Ends on lap 150), Final Stage (Ends on lap 301)
NASCAR XFINITY Series
Next Race: Overton’s 200
The Place: New Hampshire Motor Speedway
The Date: Saturday, July 15
The Time: 4 p.m. ET
TV: NBCSN, 3:30 p.m. ET
Radio: PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Distance: 211.6 miles (200 laps); Stage 1 (Ends on lap 45),
Stage 2 (Ends on lap 90), Final Stage (Ends on lap 200)
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
Next Race: Eldora Dirt Derby
The Place: Eldora Speedway
The Date: Wednesday, July 19
The Time: 9:30 p.m. ET
TV: FOX Business, 9 p.m. ET
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Distance: 75 miles (150 laps); Stage 1 (Ends on lap 40),
Stage 2 (Ends on lap 90), Final Stage (Ends on lap 150)
Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series
Tried And Truex: No. 78 Toyota Driver Goes For Second Straight Win Following Dominant Kentucky Performance
Martin Truex Jr. was the class of the field at Kentucky, leading a race-high 152 laps and winning every stage on his way to Victory Lane. He is now tied with Jimmie Johnson for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series wins lead with three. Truex leads second-place Kyle Larson in the points standings by 34 points.
With the two stage wins and victory at Kentucky, Truex increased his playoff point total to 28 – 12 points better than the next-best competitor (Johnson).
The No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Toyota driver will attempt to earn his second consecutive win in Sunday’s Overton’s 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway (3 p.m. ET on NBCSN, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). In 22 starts at the Magic Mile, Truex has no wins, three top fives, eight top 10s and a 13.7 average finish.
Statistically, Truex has been the most dominant driver in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series this season. In addition to being tied for the wins lead, he ranks first in average running positon (8.3), fastest laps (626), laps led (1,115, 21.4%) and driver rating (105.9).
Joe Gibbs Racing Still Searching For First Win
One year after winning a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series-high 12 races, Joe Gibbs Racing has yet to have a driver visit Victory Lane this season.
Based on history, there’s a strong chance that win comes in Sunday’s Overton’s 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
JGR’s Matt Kenseth is the defending race winner. In 34 starts at the 1.058-mile track, he boasts three victories, 10 top fives 19 top 10s and a 12.0 average finish (fourth in the series).
Kyle Busch boasts two wins, nine top fives, 13 top 10s and a 13.8 average finish in 24 starts at New Hampshire. His 98.1 driver rating ranks fourth-best at the New England track.
Denny Hamlin is the third JGR driver who’s visited Victory Lane at New Hampshire. In 22 starts there, he claims two wins, eight top fives, 13 top 10s and a 10.4 average finish (second in the series). He boasts the top driver rating 102.7 and the second-best average running position (11.1).
Daniel Suarez rounds out the effort for JGR. On Sunday, he’ll make his Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series track debut at New Hampshire. He finished in the top five in his two NASCAR XFINITY Series starts at the Magic Mile.
JGR has won three of the last four races at New Hampshire with Kenseth (fall 2015, spring 2016) and Busch (spring 2015).
Larson Sits In Second, Continues To Race Like Title Contender
Kyle Larson notched his Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series-best sixth runner-up finish of the season, yet trails Martin Truex Jr. by 34 points in the standings.
Competing in his fourth full-time season, Larson has proven he’s a bona fide championship contender. Through 18 races, he owns two wins, eight top fives, 11 top 10s and a series-best 9.8 average finish. His 13 playoff points are tied for third-most in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.
The No. 42 Chevrolet driver will attempt to cut into Truex Jr.'s points lead in Sunday’s Overton’s 300 at New Hampshire. In six starts at the Magic Mile, Larson has two top fives, three top 10s, a 13.3 average finish and a high showing of second (fall 2014).
Lurking In The Grass: Quietly Consistent Elliott Eyes First Win
Most pundits expected Chase Elliott to get his first win by now. Although that hasn’t happened yet, the 21-year-old Chevrolet driver has quietly secured five top-eight finishes in his last six starts.
That elusive victory should come soon for Elliott, who ranks fifth in the Monster Energy points standings and owns two playoff points via his two stage wins this season.
Coming off a third-place finish at Kentucky, Elliott eyes Victory Lane at New Hampshire where he finished 34th (July) and 13th (September) last season.
Halfway Point: Eight Races Left For Drivers To Earn Postseason Berths
The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series has reached its halfway point. The first half has featured three first-time winners, parity, youngsters giving fans a glimpse into the sport’s future, dominant performances from some familiar faces and the enhanced racing format elevating the competition.
Eight races remain for drivers to earn berths in NASCAR’s playoffs.
The following drivers would get in if the season ended today: Martin Truex Jr. (three, 28 playoff points), Jimmie Johnson (three wins, 16), Kyle Larson (two, 13), Brad Keselowski (two, 13), Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (two, 10), Kevin Harvick (one, eight), Ryan Blaney (one, eight), Kurt Busch (one, five), Ryan Newman (one, five), Austin Dillon (one, five), Kyle Busch (138 points above Joey Logano on the cutoff line, four playoff points), Chase Elliott (+89, two), Jamie McMurray (+74), Denny Hamlin (+67, 2), Clint Bowyer (+24), Matt Kenseth (+7, two).
The first four out would be: Logano (seven points below Matt Kenseth on the cutoff line), Erik Jones (-52), Daniel Suarez (-98) and Trevor Bayne (-119).
Remember, a win gets a driver into the playoffs. Below is a list of winless drivers who have visited Victory Lane at upcoming tracks:
New Hampshire: Ky. Busch, Kenseth, Bowyer, Hamlin, Kasey Kahne
Indianapolis: Ky. Busch, McMurray, Paul Menard
Pocono: Hamlin, Kenseth, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kahne, Chris Buescher
Watkins Glen: Hamlin, Ky. Busch, AJ Allmendinger
Michigan: Ky. Busch, Hamlin, Earnhardt Jr., Kenseth, Kahne
Bristol: Ky. Busch, Hamlin, Kenseth, Earnhardt Jr., Kahne
Darlington: Ky. Busch, Hamlin, Kenseth
Richmond: Ky. Busch, Hamlin, Kenseth, Bowyer, Earnhardt Jr., Kahne
Almirola Returns To No. 43 Ford
Two months after injuring his back in an incident at Kansas Speedway, Aric Almirola returns to pilot the No. 43 Richard Petty Motorsports Ford this weekend at New Hampshire.
Almirola was cleared to race again after driving in a private test session Tuesday at Charlotte Motor Speedway. At the test session he obtained clearance to return to competition from medical personal and NASCAR officials.
In 11 starts this season, Almirola has two top fives, three top 10s and a 17.3 average finish.
"It felt great to be back in the race car yesterday," Almirola said. "After racing in the Monster Energy Series for five and a half years, it got to be routine, and I took it for granted. When something gets taken away from you at a moment’s notice like that, it has certainly made me appreciate my passion for racing and my desire to compete at this level. The thrill of running 200 miles per hour in a stock car was something that I had honestly lost a little bit. After being out of the car for eight weeks, the passion is back, now more than ever."
Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, Etc.
New England Patriots Super Bowl Champion Offensive Coordinator Josh McDaniels To Serve As Official Pace Car Driver: New England Patriots Super Bowl Champion Offensive Coordinator Josh McDaniels will serve as the official pace car driver for the Overton’s 301 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
"I enjoy NASCAR and love coming up to New Hampshire Motor Speedway whenever I get a chance," McDaniels said. "Driving the pace car to start the race is about as exciting as it gets. I know we have had players at the Patriots take a turn in the pace car, and I heard how much they enjoyed the experience. I look forward to my chance to do it. It will be fun to spend the day at the track."
McDaniels is the second member of the Patriots organization to have an enhanced presence at the track this season. Monster Energy athlete/Patriots All-Pro Tight End Rob Gronkowski participated in the DAYTONA 500 festivities and even celebrated with Kurt Busch in Victory Lane.
NASCAR XFINITY Series
NHMS Six Pack: Series Record Of Five Consecutive Wins From The Pole Could Be Extended To Six
New Hampshire Motor Speedway will set the stage for the Overton’s 200 this Saturday, July 15 (4 p.m. ET on NBCSN, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) and offers the chance for NASCAR XFINITY Series competitors to extend the series record of five consecutive wins at the track from the Coors Light Pole to six.
The streak of wins from the pole at New Hampshire began in 2012, when Brad Keselowski pulled into Victory Lane after leading 131 of 200 laps. The next four series races at NHMS followed suit, Kyle Busch won from the pole after leading 141 laps in 2013, then Brad Keselowski won again from the pole in 2014 after leading 152 laps. The third driver to win from the pole at New Hampshire was Denny Hamlin after leading 145 of the 200 laps in 2015. But it was Kyle Busch’s dominant win last season from the Coors Light Pole leading 190 of 200 laps (95%) that set the new series record of five consecutive wins from the pole at one track.
The previous record for consecutive NASCAR XFINITY Series wins from the pole at one track was four; held by Rockingham Speedway (1982-1984) – David Pearson (’82), Dale Earnhardt (’83), Sam Ard (Mar. ’84) and Geoff Bodine (Oct. ’84).
Two of three drivers who have contributed to the current streak are entered this weekend. The series leader in poles (four) at New Hampshire, Brad Keselowski, will be in the No. 22 Team Penske Ford, and the series wins leader at New Hampshire (five), Kyle Busch, will be in the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota.
Race To The Playoffs: 10 Races Left In The NASCAR XFINITY Series Regular Season
With just 10 races left in the regular season, the 2017 NASCAR XFINITY Series playoff picture is starting to take shape.
Three series title contenders have locked themselves into the post-season on wins – William Byron (two victories), Justin Allgaier (one) and Ryan Reed (one), leaving nine spots up for grabs.
Rank
|
Driver
|
Points
|
Race Wins
|
Playoff Points
|
Pts Back From Cutoff
|
1
|
William Byron
|
533
|
2
|
11
|
In On Wins
|
2
|
Justin Allgaier
|
520
|
1
|
7
| |
3
|
Ryan Reed
|
354
|
1
|
5
| |
4
|
Elliott Sadler
|
578
|
0
|
4
|
300
|
5
|
Daniel Hemric
|
396
|
0
|
1
|
118
|
6
|
Brennan Poole
|
395
|
0
|
0
|
117
|
7
|
Cole Custer
|
368
|
0
|
0
|
90
|
8
|
Matt Tifft
|
357
|
0
|
0
|
79
|
9
|
Dakoda Armstrong
|
338
|
0
|
0
|
60
|
10
|
Michael Annett
|
334
|
0
|
0
|
56
|
11
|
Darrell Wallace Jr.
|
321
|
0
|
1
|
43
|
12
|
Blake Koch
|
300
|
0
|
1
|
22
|
13
|
Brendan Gaughan
|
278
|
0
|
1
|
-22
|
Of the nine drivers currently in the title hunt who have yet to win this season, three will be making their series track debuts at New Hampshire this weekend – Richard Childress Racing’s Daniel Hemric, Stewart-Haas Racing’s Cole Custer and Joe Gibbs Racing’s Matt Tifft. Of the six remaining drivers who have made starts at New Hampshire, here are their average finishes at NHMS: Brennan Poole (8.0), Darrell Wallace Jr. (10.0), Michael Annett (12.2), Elliott Sadler (15.6), Dakoda Armstrong (21.0) and Blake Koch (29.2).
Worth noting, Darrell Wallace Jr. is currently not entered in this weekend’s event, opening the door for Brendan Gaughan (currently 13th and outside the playoffs, 22-points back from 12th) to move up into a playoff spot. Gaughan has made five series starts at New Hampshire, posting two top 10s and an average finish of 13.4.
Four 2017 Sunoco Rookies Have The Playoffs In Their Sites
The playoffs are just around the corner, and four young rising superstars in the NASCAR XFINITY Series Sunoco Rookie of the Year program have put themselves in contention to make the 2017 post-season. This weekend, all four rookies will be making their series track debuts at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in the Overton’s 200 on July 15 (4 p.m. ET on NBCSN, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
William Byron - Leading the quartet of 2017 rookies currently in playoff contention is JR Motorsports driver William Byron. The 19-year-old from Charlotte, North Carolina, is starting to look like the prodigy car owner Rick Hendrick professed he would be at the season-opening car owner press conferences in Daytona. He has posted two wins (Iowa and Daytona), five top fives, 10 top 10s and an average finish of 10.4 in 16 starts this season. Oh, and on top of all that, he leads the series in playoff points with 11 and would currently be the No. 1 seed going into the playoffs.
Daniel Hemric - Richard Childress Racing’s Daniel Hemric has yet to win this season, but is a comfortably ahead of 13th (+118 points) in the driver standings, and most likely make the post-season. The 26-year-old from Kannapolis, North Carolina, has been improving since the drop of the first green flag. In 16 starts, he has posted a pole, two top fives, six top 10s and an average finish of 16.1.
Cole Custer - Stewart-Haas Racing’s Cole Custer is currently 90 points ahead of 13th in the driver standings with a good shot to make the playoffs with 10 races to go. Custer has been scaling the driver standings over the last eight races, climbing from 12th to sixth. In 16 starts this season, the 19-year-old from Ladera Ranch, California, has posted two top fives, six top 10s and an average finish of 17.2.
Matt Tifft – Joe Gibbs Racing’s Matt Tifft is currently the last Sunoco Rookie who is currently in position to make the NASCAR XFINITY Series playoffs. Tifft is 79 points ahead of 13th-place in the driver standings following Kentucky. The 21-year-old from Hinckley, Ohio, has posted four top 10s and an average finish of 16.0 this season.
New Hampshire And The NASCAR XFINITY Series
The Overton’s 200 this Saturday, July 15 (4 p.m. ET on NBCSN, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio), will be the 31st time the NASCAR XFINITY Series has competed in the state of New Hampshire – all at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
The very first NASCAR XFINITY Series race held at New Hampshire Motor Speedway was on July 15, 1990, and the event was won by Tommy Ellis (Buick) after leading 89 laps.
A total of 18 different drivers have won NASCAR XFINITY Series Coors Light poles at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, led by Brad Keselowski with four.
A total of 25 different drivers have won the NASCAR XFINITY Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, led by Kyle Busch with five victories.
Kyle Busch holds both the series qualifying record (131.916 mph, 07/13/2013) and the race record (111.925 mph 06/27/2009) at NHMS.
A total of 15 drivers who have made at least one start in a NASCAR national series event have their home state recorded as New Hampshire. Of the 15 New Hampshire drivers, 11 made at least one start in the NASCAR XFINITY Series; led by Jamie Aube with 46 series starts. Aube is the only driver from New Hampshire to win a NASCAR national series race. Aube, from Bow, New Hampshire, won at Oxford Plains Speedway on July 12, 1987, in an Oldsmobile.
There are currently no active drivers from the state of New Hampshire competing this weekend.
NASCAR XFINITY Series Etc.:
Milestones: Kyle Busch will attempt to record his 175th NASCAR national series victory (MENCS 38, NXS 88, NCWTS 48) this weekend at NHMS – second-most all-time behind Richard Petty’s 200.
Double Duty Drivers: Five Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers are entered in the Overton’s 200 this weekend, and will be pulling double duty – Kyle Busch, Brad Keselowski, Reed Sorenson, Ty Dillon and Kyle Larson.
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
Christopher Bell Continues Championship-Worthy Campaign
Kyle Busch Motorsports driver Christopher Bell captured his third NASCAR Camping World Truck Series victory of 2017 when he won the Buckle Up In Your Truck 225 at Kentucky Speedway. Bell was involved in a small incident early in the race on Lap 27, but recovered to come back and beat out Brandon Jones for the win.
With three NASCAR Camping World Truck Series victories this season, Bell now has more wins this season than his two previous seasons combined, and we’re only through 10 races. He won once in 2016 (Gateway Motorsports Park) and once in 2015 (Eldora Speedway).
Bell is well on his way to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series playoffs this season as he leads the series in wins (three) and sits only 28 points behind series points leader and defending champion Johnny Sauter in the standings. He currently leads the series in playoff points accumulated so far this season with 19.
Through 10 races this season, Bell also has seven top fives and nine top 10s. He has led 492 laps this season – the most among active drivers.
Bell will look be looking for a revenge victory of sorts when the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series hits the dirt at Eldora Speedway next Wednesday night (9:30 p.m. ET on FOX Business Network, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
Bell won his first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Eldora Speedway in 2015, and finished second there last season to Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver Kyle Larson.
Haley Scores Career-Best Finish
GMS Racing driver and Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender Justin Haley notched a career-best NASCAR Camping World Truck Series finish when he placed third at Kentucky Speedway.
The third-place showing at Kentucky is Haley’s fifth consecutive top-10 or better NASCAR Camping World Truck Series finish.
Haley was happy with his career-best NASCAR Camping World Truck Series finish even if it kept him up late.
"It’s late. It’s way past my bed time but had a good night tonight (laughing). We have been struggling on the mile-and-a-half’s because I am pretty new to them but we had a good strategy tonight. We snugged the truck up so I could be pretty good on restarts and it paid off."
Haley has one top five, six top 10s and has led seven laps led this season.
He is currently sixth in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Sunoco Rookie of the Year points standings and 12th in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series points standings.
Gragson Captures First Stage Win
Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender and Kyle Busch Motorsports driver Noah Gragson collected his first stage win of the 2017 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season when he won Stage 2 at Kentucky Speedway.
The stage win also gives Gragson his first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series playoff point.
The Sunoco Rookie is right on the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series playoffs bubble as he currently sits ninth in the series standings. Gragson has made strong strides in the Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings, as he is currently third behind Chase Briscoe and Grant Enfinger.
After starting the 2017 season with two finishes outside the top-25 in his first four races, Gragson has picked up his pace and has strung together six consecutive top-10 or better finishes.
He landed his second top-five finish of the season at Kentucky Speedway and led the most laps of any race this season there as well (32).
Rookie Battle Shaping Up As One For The Ages
Brad Keselowski Racing driver Chase Briscoe and ThorSport Racing driver Grant Enfinger have been battling back-and-forth for the Sunoco Rookie of the Year lead all season, especially as of late.
Over the past four races, the lead has been volleyed between the two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Sunoco Rookies. Below shows the point battle for the lead over the last four NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races.
Winstaronlinegaming.com 400 at Texas Motor Speedway
Enfinger – 88
Briscoe – 84
Drivin’ For Linemen 200 at Gateway Motorsports Park
Briscoe – 104
Enfinger – 104
M&M’s 200 at Iowa Speedway
Enfinger – 122
Briscoe – 117
Buckle Up In Your Truck 225 at Kentucky Speedway
Briscoe – 125
Enfinger – 125
With the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series heading into Eldora Speedway, both Sunoco Rookies will be making their series debut at the dirt track.
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Playoffs Bubble Drivers
With six NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races remaining before the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Playoffs begin (New Hampshire Motor Speedway), it’s time to take a look at some of the playoff bubble drivers heading into Eldora Speedway next week.
9. Ryan Truex: Truex (-1) is currently one point behind eighth place and Sunoco Rookie Grant Enfinger. Truex has had a strong season so far, as he has two top fives, six top 10s and has only finished outside the top-25 once (Daytona). Truex has had some bad luck as of late – he was involved in a wreck at Kentucky and his No. 16 Toyota Tundra overheated at Iowa.
10. Noah Gragson: Gragson (-17) is 17 points back of a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series playoffs spot, but has put together six consecutive top 10s. The Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender has led 16 laps or more in his last two races and appears to be hitting his stride in the No. 18 Kyle Busch Motorsports Toyota Tundra.
11. Austin Cindric: Cindric (-62) is vastly improving as the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season progresses. Finishing 27th at Daytona, Cindric hasn’t finished outside the top-25 since then. The Brad Keselowski Racing driver has back-to-back top-10 finishes, including a season-best finish of fourth at Kentucky Speedway.
12. Justin Haley: Haley (-91) has driven strong for GMS Racing as of late. The Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender has five-consecutive top 10s, including a career-best finish of third at Kentucky. He owns an average finish of 11.1 on the season.
13. Cody Coughlin: Coughlin (-106) has had a consistent Sunoco Rookie season driving for ThorSport Racing in the No. 13 Toyota Tundra. Coughlin has finished top-20 or better in six-consecutive races. He owns a season-best finish of 11th at Daytona.
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Etc.
Practice Makes Perfect… Even In The Dirt: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series dirt dynamo Christopher Bell will compete in the 34th annual Kings Royal sprint car races at Eldora Speedway over the weekend in preparation for next Wednesday’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at the Tony Stewart-owned track (9:30 p.m. ET on FOX Business Network, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
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