Matt Crafton Wins At Martinsville

Joey Gucciardo / 8:01 PM E.T. @GucciardoJoey

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MARTINSVILLE, VA--- After the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race got rained out yesterday and was rescheduled after today's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, won by Kurt Busch, Matt Crafton has won the Kroger 250 at Martinsville Speedway.

Kurt Busch: Wins Sprint Cup Series Race at Martinsville

Ben Rhodes, 17, drove the No. 00 truck today for HAAS Racing today, his spotter the spotter that Kurt Busch won with today. Ben walked away with a 7th place finish, which isn't bad for a rookie.

Matt Crafton won the race, followed by Darrell Wallace Jr., Ben Kennedy, Johnny Sauter, and Ryan Blaney rounded out the Top 5.

Crafton, the reigning Truck Series champion, is looking for his second Truck Series championship in a row, and today's win is a good start.

Matt Crafton: Dominance In 2013

Final Results For Kroger 250

1. Matt Crafton
2. Darrell Wallace Jr.
3. Ben Kennedy
4. Johnny Sauter
5. Ryan Blaney
6. German Quiroga Jr.
7. Ben Rhodes
8. Timothy Peters
9. Ron Hornaday Jr.
10. Cole Custer
11. Brian Ickler
12. John Hunter Nemechek
13. Chase Pistone
14. Ross Chastain
15. Brandon Jones
16. Tyler Reddick
17. Joey Coulter
18. Erik Jones
19. Gray Gaulding
20. John Wes Townely
21. Jeb Burton
22. Caleb Holman
23. Travis Kvapil
24. Ray Black Jr.
25. Justin Jennings
26. Korbin Forrister
27. Jennifer Jo Cobb
28. Norm Benning
29. Mason Mingus
30. Clay Greenfield
31. Tyler Young
32. Spencer Gallagher
33. Bryan Silas
34. Josh Williams
35. Raymond Terczak Jr.
36. Alex Guenette

Kurt Busch Ends Winless Streak at Martinsville

By Joey Gucciardo, UNB Staff Member

Taken By Andrew Weber, USA TODAY Sports
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MARTINSVILLE, VA--- With 17 laps to go, Jimmie Johnson gives up his lead to Kurt Busch, giving Kurt the win at Martinsville today.

"Man, that's all I had, that's all I could do.", said Johnson, who led a stunning 296 laps today out the overall 500 laps, and finished 0.263 seconds behind Busch. "I wish we could have gotten the win for (team owner) Rick's (Hendrick's) 30th anniversary here, but we just came up a little short."

Brad Keselowski and Kurt Busch were caught up in a fued on Pit Road. 

Brad showed his feelings with this comment:

"I started to check up and I just barely got in the back of (Kahne), and Kurt just accelerated and drove through us, absolutely drove through us. I tell you what, I'm about tired of his recklessness. Kurt tore the whole suspension off the car, so it won't turn. It won't do anything. Thanks, Kurt. Appreciate it bud."

Kurt started to get personal with his team, with this remark: "What a good kid, (sarcasm), guess we get to get in a fight afterwards, because I'm going to go (expletive) that dude's (expletive) face up."

To round things up, Kurt said this, "I didn't know if we'd be able to do it, (Johnson) is king here, this is an unbelievable feeling."

Should Austin Dillon Drive The #3 Car In The Sprint Cu Series In 2014?

By Joey Gucciardo, And Nick Stodal

Austin Dillon's  2014 Sprint Cup Series Car. 

Many People have their opinions on the number three car. "It should have been retired", or "I'd love to see it again." Here's what we think:

Joey Gucciardo: NASCAR should have retired the number long ago. After Dale Earnhardt Sr.'s tragic death in the 2001 DAYTONA 500, NASCAR was never the same again. Many of Dale Sr.'s fans switched over to other drivers, switching their favorite driver. Kevin Harvick caught the eye of millions of NASCAR fans after winning the race at Atlanta right after Dale's death, with a tiny #3 logo on both

Ty Dillon, Austin Dillon's brother, driving 

the #3 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet in the

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.

sides of the car. I would say that Kevin Harvick should be one of the two drivers that I think should drive the #3, but now that Harvick is switching over to Stewart-HAAS Racing, he's lost that right. Not only that, but Dale Earnhardt Jr. should be the only driver who should be allowed to drive the #3. He is the son of Dale Sr., so therefore, Jr. should have the rights to drive the car.

Nick Stodal: It will  be great when Austin Dillon drives the #3 car. Austin is a great driver, and he is really experienced. It's not the same without the #3 on the track, and I'd love to see it again. Austin is a great driver, and I feel that he will make history with the #3 car for Richard Childress Racing under team owner Richard Childress.

Both of us have different opinions, who do you agree with? Should Austin Dillon drive the #3 car in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for Richard Childress Racing, or not? Is it honoring the #3, or is it just having respect for the number, and letting it be?

Kyle Busch Pulls Off Magic TO Win At Fontana

By Joey Gucciardo | 6:34 PM ET

Fontana, CA--- Last year, it was the Logano and Hamlin BRAWL, injuring Hamlin, then Stewart went after Logano after a restart incident right after the wreck, Now, tires kept bursting, ending many races for drivers. Jimmie Johnson burst a tire with 7 to go, then Brad Keselowski, then Marcos Ambrose, and finally, Clint Bowyer bursts a tire, starting a "Green White Checkered" finish. Landon Cassil stays out, putting him in the lead for the restart, Kurt Busch right beside him.

Now, Kurt Busch and Tony Stewart pull ahead. Jeff Gordon might have won this race after taking the lead from Johnson when his tire burst, but after pitting, he wound up falling back on the restart. Kyle Busch pulls ahead at the beginning of the final lap. Kyle Larson, a rookie of the year contender, pulls right up besides Busch. Busch holds off Kyle to win the 2014 Auto Club 400.

Goodyear tires announced that there were 10 tire issues during Friday and Saturday practices, mostly on left rear tires.

Kevin Harvick was the first to have trouble when he burst a tire, bringing out the first caution on lap 20.

Backflip Returns: EDWARDS Wins At Bristol

Jerry Markland, Getty Images

By Joey Gucciardo | 3:45 P.M.

With early problems for Jimmie Johnson, Kevin Harvick going on fire, Kyle Busch spinning, a long rain delay! and possible a toilet paper crisis, Carl Edwards wins at Bristol, and the backflip returns.

The first big star with problems was Jimmie Johnson, who had a right side tire go down, and bumped him back to 39th place, 3 laps down. Then, on lap 124, rain, rain, rain. We go racing for a bit, then rain, rain, rain all over again. Finally, we go racing under the lights, and that's when the action happens.

Kyle Busch spins, then Martin Truex Jr, spins, then, Kevin Harvick is on fire, Ryan Truex wrecks, not all at once, obviously. But, in the end, Carl Edwards stood out on top. He was the one with the samurai sword in victory lane, he was the one who did the world famous backflip.

Kyle Busch wins at Bristol, AGAIN!!!!!

By Joey Gucciardo | 5:11 P.M.

BRISTOL, Tennessee--- If you're looking for a Nationwide Series article NOT about. Kyle Busch winning! then you're at the wrong place.

It just seems that Kyle Busch is dominating the NASCAR Nationwide Series, LITERALLY, dominating!!! Today, Kyle achieved his 3rd Nationwide Series win at Bristol in a row. It was a duplication of last Marchs's race, with Kyle Larson finishing second.Kevin Harvick finished 3rd, Ryan Blaney 4th, and Matt Kenseth rounds out the Top-5 after leading 179 laps today.

This is Busch's 16th career Bristol win.

[:SOURCES:]

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?id=10613614

JR Runs Out Of Gas To Give Blue Deuce Win At Vegas

By Joey Gucciardo | 8:01 PM

This story goes all the way back to 2012 at the Phoenix Chase Race. Jimmie Johnson hit the wall, putting Brad Keselowski into victory lane at Homestead. Last year, Brad did not make the Chase.

Just stay with me here.

Just imagine Dale Earnhardt JR., leading on the final lap, but in Turn 3, goodbye, there goes JR.'s gas. Brad Keselowski goes right by him on the outside to win the race.

Now, with this win, Brad Keselowski is locked in this year's Chase for the Sprint Cup.

Still, 2014 has been good for Dale JR. So far this yea in the first three race, JR has had 3 Top 2 finishes in a row.

Next week, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series heads to Bristol, Tennessee.

Keselowski Defeats A Charging Kyle Busch For VEGAS Win

Joey Gucciardo | 8:30 P.M.

Even though a charging Kyle Busch was chasing Brad Keselowski, Brad still held Kyle off for his first NNS win at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Keselowski led 144 of the 200 laps ran in today's Boyd Gaming 300, as his car was dominant all day.



[:TOP 5:]
1.] B. Keselowski
2.] Ky. Busch
3.] K. Larson
4.] D. Earnhardt JR.
5.] C. Elliott

The Outlaw Attempts To Double Down

Andrew Weber / USA TODAY Sports

By Joey Gucciardo, UNB Staff Member
The "Outlaw" is setting no boundaries for himself.

Testing with Andretti Autosport last Spring at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the world of auto racing got it's first hint that Kurt Busch would drive an Indy car.

Now, that's a reality.

Becoming the fourth driver to race all 1,100 miles (both the Coca Cola 600 (NASCAR), and the (Indianapolis 500 (Indy Car Racing)), Tony Stewart, Robby Gordon, and Mario Andretti being the others, Kurt Busch will definitely race both races in the same day. 

Tony Stewart is Kurt's team owner at Stewart-HAAS Racing.

"I want to pop quiz everyone who's done (the double) to learn as much as I can", Busch said, "To just

Kurt Busch

be able to anticipate what's next and have things checked off your list so that you're mentally prepared. I have to thank Stewart-Haas Racing for giving me the chance to fulfill this dream, to challenge myself in motor sports and to do something special in this day and age."

"We're set up to do five cars, and this actually adds to our program," Andretti said, who Kurt will be driving for in the Indy 500. "It will be a good effort."

Be sure to watch Kurt "The Outlaw" Busch in the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca Cola 600 on May 25,  2014.

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[:Sources:]

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nascar/2014/03/04/kurt-busch-indianapolis-500-coca-cola-600-double/6008475/

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Unhappy Harvick Becomes Happy With PHOENIX Win

By Joey Gucciardo, UNB Staff Member

Kevin Harvick, victory lane celebration, PHOENIX Intl.
Raceway, 3/2/2014

After "Happy" Kevin Harvick became "UNhappy", he went back to his happy ways after his PHOENIX win yesterday.

Leading 224 laps at PHOENIX International Raceway yesterday, the dominant car went to victory lane, that car belonged to Kevin Harvick.

Harvick took the lead on a late restart with nine laps to go, and went on to win the race.

HAPPY Harvick is now one of the two chase contenders, Dale Earnhardt JR. being the second with his win at DAYTONA last week.

Earning his first win for Stewart-HAAS Racing, Harvick secured himself and his team a spot in the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series "Chase for the Cup", and made up for his wreck at DAYTONA last week.

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

[:Works Cited:]

Bromberg, Nick. "From The Marbles."Yahoo Sports. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Mar. 2014. <http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nascar-from-the-marbles/new-team--same-winner--kevin-harvick-wins-at-phoenix-for-the-second-straight-race-233206862.html>.

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Kyle Busch Dominates Rained-Out Phoenix Race

By Joey Gucciardo, UNB Staff Member

AVONDALE, AZ-- Busch didn't mind the rain at Phoenix International Raceway yesterday, his car was just that good.

"We've been very dominant here in the past and led a lot of laps today," Busch said. "I felt like we could have won it if it was rain-shortened or whether we went the whole distance."

The 200 mile race was shortened by 32 laps, yet Busch took an early lead.

Busch became the first Nationwide driver to win three straight wins at Phoenix yesterday, continuing his historic career in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.

Busch swept the two Phoenix races in 2013, ending a 24 winless streak in the Nationwide series. He also won the Indianapolis Motor Speedway race last year in the Nationwide Series.

NASCAR attempted to dry the track, but another round of storms moved into the area, forcing an end to the race.