NASCAR to standardize at-track rosters beginning in 2018

Starting in 2018, NASCAR will standardize the number of at-track individuals who work on each vehicle durinh a race weekend. Rosters across all three national series will be comprised of three categories: Organizational, Road Crew and Pit Crew. For each category, the team will decide how to distribute the positions for their respective rosters (e.g., a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series team's Road Crew could be made up of a crew chief, car chief, five mechanics, two engineers and three specialists).

In addition, each roster member will be assigned a number / letter based on position, which must be visible at all times on both team uniforms and on armbands. All rosters will be made public prior to the race weekend.

Roster Categories / Job Examples

Organizational - Includes competition director, team manager, technical director, IT specialists, etc.

Road Crew - Includes crew chief, car chief, engineers, mechanics, shock specialist, tire specialist, aero specialisr, spotter, engine tuner, etc.

Pit Crew - Over-the-wall-crew.

Roster Breakdown (by series)

MENCS - 3/4* Organizational; 12 Road Crew; 5 Pit Crew
Additional road crew spot at road courses / Indianapolis

NXS - 1 Organizational; 7 Road Crew; 5 Pit Crew
Additional road crew spot available at 10 races

NCWTS - 1 Organizational; 6 Road Crew; 5 Pit Crew
Additional road crew spot available at 5 races

* For a 1-2 car organization, three roster spots can be dedicated to those on the Organizational Level.

Note: In 2018, the fueler can only perform the task of fueling the vehicle.

Martin Truex Jr. holds off Kyle Busch for Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series title

By Reid Spencer
NASCAR Wire Service

HOMESTEAD, Fla. – At the end of a riveting, breathtaking battle that had fans in the grandstands on their feet long after the checkered flag, Martin Truex Jr. held off Kyle Busch by .681 seconds at Homestead-Miami Speedway to win Sunday’s Ford Eco-Boost 400 and his first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series title.

In Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s last race in the No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, Truex—one of Earnhardt’s closest friends—kept Busch behind him during a 34-lap green-flag run to the finish.

"It’s just overwhelming," a tearful Truex said in Victory Lane. "To think about all the rough days and bad days, the days that we couldn’t run 20th, to be here—I never thought this day would come, and to be here is so unbelievable."

The victory was a timely gift for Furniture Row Racing owner Barney Visser, who is back home in Denver, Colo., recovering from a heart attack and subsequent bypass surgery. It was also a gift to Truex’s long-time girlfriend Sherry Pollex, who has been battling ovarian cancer.

"A lot of it was for her," said Truex, who won for the first time at Homestead and the 15th time in his career. "A lot of it was for me. A lot of it was for this team – just, I don’t even know what to say. We just never gave up all day long. We didn’t have the best car. I don’t know how we won that thing. Never give up. Dig deep."

The victory also was entirely appropriate. For the bulk of the season, Truex was the top driver in the series. Sunday’s victory was his eighth of the year, a series-best, and his seventh on 1.5-mile intermediate speedways. Truex had the No. 78 Toyota out front for 78 laps on Sunday, bringing his season total of laps led to a career-best 2,253, also tops in the series.

With an excellent long-run car, Busch slipped to fourth after the final restart on Lap 234 of 267 and needed nine laps to pass the stubborn No. 22 Ford of Joey Logano. Seven laps later, Busch slipped past fellow Championship 4 contender Kevin Harvick into second and set his sights on Truex.

Busch closed rapidly, but Truex found a line that allowed him to maintain an edge that shrank to as little as two car lengths. But Busch never could pull alongside his fellow Camry driver, and Truex inched away over the last four circuits.

"I told my guys we were going to dig deeper than we ever have today, and (with) 20 (laps) to go, I thought I was done – they were all better than me on the long run all day long," Truex said. "I just found a way. I found a lane that I could use, and I found a lane that was blocking enough of their air that they couldn’t use it and just made it happen.

"I can’t believe it. I’ve wanted this since I was a little kid and just never give up. Just never give up on your dreams, no matter what happens and what kind of crap you go through. And thank you, Barney. I wish you were here, buddy."

Kyle Larson finished third, closely trailing the championship battle after moving past Harvick for third on Lap 252. Harvick came home fourth, after debris from David Starr’s Chevrolet punched a hole in the nose of the No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford.
 
"I was just really loose the whole last run," Harvick said. "When it started to get dark, we started to get tight in the corner, and then we got a hole in the nose. We got that fixed and just couldn’t quite get it where we needed to be to make good times.

"Some runs we fell off. Some runs we were tight on entry. There at the end we were just too loose."

Chase Elliott and Joey Logano ran fifth and sixth, respectively. Playoff driver Brad Keselowski finished sixth, ending the season fourth in the series standings.

Busch opted for a one-pit-stop strategy during the final stage of the race and appeared headed for the title until his brother, Kurt Busch, spun in Turn 4 on Lap 227 to bring out the fifth and final caution of the event and bunch the field for the restart on Lap 234.

"Yeah, it wasn't quite what we wanted there at the end," Busch said. "I thought we had a really great race car. Especially on the long runs, we were really, really good. Just came down to there at the end, not having enough tire when I got to the 78.

"So I just overused my stuff, and I knew I overused my stuff when I was running with the 22 (Logano) trying to get by him and just overworked everything, and got to the 4 (Harvick), got by him pretty quick. I tried to make sure that I could do that pretty quick so then I could have at least a little more tire life, but didn't seem to pay me off any when I got to the 78."

Notes: Earnhardt finished 25th in his final run in the No. 88 Chevy… Danica Patrick cut a tire and clobbered the Turn 2 wall on Lap 142 in her final trip in the No. 10 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford. She plans to race in the Cup series for the final time in the 2018 Daytona 500… Patrick also collected Kasey Kahne in her wreck. Kahne ran his final race for Hendrick Motorsports on Sunday and will move to the No. 95 Leavine Family Racing Chevrolet next season… Truex’s teammate, Erik Jones, was crowned Sunoco Rookie of the Year in the series after finishing 21st. Jones will take Matt Kenseth’s place in the No. 20 Joe Gibbs racing Toyota next season. Kenseth finished eighth Sunday in his final ride in the car.

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Race - Ford EcoBoost 400

Homestead-Miami Speedway

Homestead, Florida

Sunday, November 19, 2017

               1. (2) Martin Truex Jr. (P), Toyota, 267.
               2. (3) Kyle Busch (P), Toyota, 267.
               3. (7) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, 267.
               4. (9) Kevin Harvick (P), Ford, 267.
               5. (18) Chase Elliott, Chevrolet, 267.
               6. (19) Joey Logano, Ford, 267.
               7. (5) Brad Keselowski (P), Ford, 267.
               8. (4) Matt Kenseth, Toyota, 267.
               9. (1) Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 267.
               10. (21) Ryan Newman, Chevrolet, 267.
               11. (17) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 267.
               12. (16) Clint Bowyer, Ford, 267.
               13. (13) Jamie McMurray, Chevrolet, 266.
               14. (26) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet, 266.
               15. (6) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Ford, 266.
               16. (15) Paul Menard, Chevrolet, 265.
               17. (30) David Ragan, Ford, 265.
               18. (20) Aric Almirola, Ford, 265.
               19. (12) Trevor Bayne, Ford, 265.
               20. (29) Chris Buescher, Chevrolet, 265.
               21. (14) Erik Jones #, Toyota, 265.
               22. (8) Kurt Busch, Ford, 265.
               23. (28) Landon Cassill, Ford, 265.
               24. (23) Michael McDowell, Chevrolet, 265.
               25. (24) Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chevrolet, 264.
               26. (32) Ty Dillon #, Chevrolet, 264.
               27. (22) Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, 264.
               28. (33) Cole Whitt, Chevrolet, 264.
               29. (11) Ryan Blaney, Ford, 264.
               30. (31) Matt DiBenedetto, Ford, 263.
               31. (34) Corey LaJoie(i), Toyota, 261.
               32. (36) Jeffrey Earnhardt, Chevrolet, 259.
               33. (27) Kasey Kahne, Chevrolet, Accident, 234.
               34. (10) Daniel Suarez #, Toyota, Brakes, 225.
               35. (37) Reed Sorenson, Chevrolet, Engine, 212.
               36. (38) * David Starr(i), Chevrolet, Brakes, 175.
               37. (25) Danica Patrick, Ford, Accident, 139.
               38. (39) * Ray Black II(i), Chevrolet, Too Slow, 49.
               39. (35) * Joey Gase(i), Toyota, Accident, 4.

Average Speed of Race Winner:  131.9 mph.
Time of Race:  3 Hrs, 02 Mins, 11 Secs. Margin of Victory:  0.681 Seconds.
Caution Flags:  5 for 26 laps.
Lead Changes:  13 among 4 drivers.
Lap Leaders:    0; M. Truex Jr. (P) 1-12; K. Larson 13-82; B. Keselowski (P) 83; K. Larson 84-121; K. Busch (P) 122-123; K. Larson 124-145; K. Busch (P) 146; K. Larson 147-161; M. Truex Jr. (P) 162-175; K. Busch (P) 176; M. Truex Jr. (P) 177; K. Busch (P) 178-216; M. Truex Jr. (P) 217-267.
Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led):  K. Larson 4 times for 145 laps; M. Truex Jr. (P) 4 times for 78 laps; K. Busch (P) 4 times for 43 laps; B. Keselowski (P) 1 time for 1 lap.
Stage #1 Top Ten: 42,2,18,4,78,24,41,11,22,14
Stage #2 Top Ten: 42,78,4,18,2,41,20,22,24,11

William Byron wins emotional battle for XFINITY title, as Cole Custer dominates

By Reid Spencer
NASCAR Wire Service

HOMESTEAD, Fla. – As Cole Custer celebrated his first victory in the NASCAR XFINITY Series and 19-year-old William Byron reveled in the series championship, a heartbroken and angry Elliott Sadler confronted the driver he believed cost him a long-coveted NASCAR title. 

Custer took the checkered flag in a different zip code, crossing the finish line 15.405 seconds ahead of second-place Sam Hornish Jr., who delivered the owners’ championship to Roger Penske. The real action, however, occurred three-quarters of a lap behind the winner.

Sadler had passed Byron, his JR Motorsports teammate on Lap 165 of 200. The 42-year-old veteran stayed out front until Lap 191, when he closed on the No. 18 Toyota of Ryan Preece and lost momentum. Byron charged past Sadler into third place—and into the lead among the four drivers battling for the title.

With four laps left, Sadler pulled up to Byron’s bumper. Byron shot past Preece’s Toyota, clearing him to the inside. Sadler tried to follow but couldn’t complete the pass, and slid up into Preece’s Camry, with the right front of Sadler’s No. 1 Chevrolet clipping the left rear of the Toyota.

Sadler hit the wall and his title hopes were gone. The disconsolate driver finished second in the NASCAR XFINITY Series standings for the fourth time, and his disappointment stood in marked contrast to the elation of his young teammate.

"I don’t know that I took a breath the last 20 laps," Byron said. "That was incredible. I just have to thank this team. This is awesome. Elliott raced me clean, and we just raced hard for it. I just can’t believe this. 

"I’ve just got to thank God for giving me this platform to perform. I can’t believe this. I’m tired, whew. I’ve never driven that hard in my life."

Team co-owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. had his share of nervous moments as his drivers fought for the championship.

"Man, that is tough watching those guys battle like that together," Earnhardt said. "William did a great job running an awesome race. To be as young as he is, he drove like a veteran tonight. I know Elliott is probably really disappointed. It’s hard to watch any of your guys lose one, but at least we will be taking the trophy back to Mooresville tonight. 

"This is great for JRM and all our employees. One thing about William winning, the over-the-wall guys I’m pretty close to a lot of them. They pit my car, too (in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series). It’s pretty cool to see these guys enjoy themselves. This really effects a lot of people.  I’m really glad to be a part of it."

All but forgotten in the dramatic championship battle and its aftermath was Custer’s overwhelming maiden victory. Pulling away steadily after a restart on Lap 97, Custer posted the largest margin of victory in the series this season and the largest ever at the 1.5-mile track.

Custer led 182 laps and scored a perfect driver rating of 150.0, the only time a driver has accomplished that feat this year.

"We knew we were going be really good this weekend, but our Haas Automation Mustang was unreal," Custer said. "We really wanted to have a good showing at Ford Championship Weekend.  Even though we weren’t in it (the Championship 4), we wanted to win."

Preece was racing for the owners’ championship against the No. 22 Ford of Hornish and the No. 9 Chevrolet of Byron after Christopher Bell fell out with engine problems after 78.

"To be honest with you, if there’s a person you don’t want to cost a championship to, it’s Elliott Sadler," said Preece. "You know, I’m just trying to do team orders here. I was racing for an owner championship. Yeah, we weren’t racing for the win right there, but we were still racing the 9 (Byron)."

"It’s not where I want to be right there. Obviously, I hate it, but I can’t take it back."

Notes: With only three cautions—two for planned stage breaks--the race set a speed record at 136.140 mph… Championship contender Justin Allgaier had seven-time Cup champion Chad Knaus calling the shots on his pit box in place of suspended Jason Burdett, but Allgaier’s car struggled to a 12th-place finish, third in the title race… Daniel Hemric, the fourth Championship 4 driver, and the only one not from the JRM stable, lost 12 laps with electrical problems early in the race and came home 34th.

NASCAR XFINITY Series Race - Ford EcoBoost 300

Homestead-Miami Speedway

Homestead, Florida

Saturday, November 18, 2017
 
               1. (2) Cole Custer #, Ford, 200.
               2. (8) Sam Hornish Jr., Ford, 200.
               3. (6) William Byron # (P), Chevrolet, 200.
               4. (1) Tyler Reddick, Chevrolet, 200.
               5. (5) Ryan Preece, Toyota, 200.
               6. (7) Brennan Poole, Chevrolet, 200.
               7. (10) Matt Tifft #, Toyota, 200.
               8. (14) Elliott Sadler (P), Chevrolet, 200.
               9. (18) Michael Annett, Chevrolet, 199.
               10. (9) Ty Majeski, Ford, 199.
               11. (12) Casey Mears, Ford, 199.
               12. (16) Justin Allgaier (P), Chevrolet, 199.
               13. (23) Brendan Gaughan, Chevrolet, 199.
               14. (20) Brandon Jones, Chevrolet, 199.
               15. (17) Corey LaJoie, Toyota, 199.
               16. (11) Blake Koch, Chevrolet, 199.
               17. (19) Ross Chastain, Chevrolet, 198.
               18. (25) Ben Kennedy #, Chevrolet, 198.
               19. (28) Spencer Gallagher #, Chevrolet, 198.
               20. (15) Ryan Reed, Ford, 198.
               21. (13) Scott Lagasse Jr., Chevrolet, 198.
               22. (21) JJ Yeley, Toyota, 198.
               23. (29) Jeremy Clements, Chevrolet, 197.
               24. (26) Garrett Smithley, Chevrolet, 196.
               25. (27) Ray Black II, Chevrolet, 196.
               26. (24) Ryan Sieg, Chevrolet, 196.
               27. (22) Joe Nemechek(i), Chevrolet, 196.
               28. (33) Josh Williams, Chevrolet, 196.
               29. (32) Joey Gase, Chevrolet, 195.
               30. (36) Chad Finchum, Toyota, 194.
               31. (30) Caesar Bacarella, Chevrolet, 193.
               32. (38) David Starr, Chevrolet, 192.
               33. (35) BJ McLeod, Chevrolet, 191.
               34. (4) Daniel Hemric # (P), Chevrolet, 187.
               35. (37) Stephen Leicht, Chevrolet, Brakes, 102.
               36. (3) Christopher Bell(i), Toyota, Engine, 78.
               37. (34) Timmy Hill, Dodge, Vibration, 54.
               38. (39) John Graham, Dodge, Parked, 31.
               39. (31) Harrison Rhodes, Chevrolet, Electrical, 19.
               40. (40) Jeff Green, Chevrolet, Clutch, 10.

Average Speed of Race Winner:  136.14 mph.
Time of Race:  02 Hrs, 12 Mins, 13 Secs. Margin of Victory:  15.405 Seconds.
Caution Flags:  3 for 14 laps.
Lead Changes:  5 among 2 drivers.
Lap Leaders:   T. Reddick 1-2; C. Custer # 3-23; T. Reddick 24-26; C. Custer # 27-48; T. Reddick 49-61; C. Custer # 62-200.
Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led):  C. Custer # 3 times for 182 laps; T. Reddick 3 times for 18 laps.
Stage #1 Top Ten: 00,42,23,3,18,60,21,1,14,01
Stage #2 Top Ten: 00,22,42,18,9,1,48,60,7,24 

Christopher Bell takes NASCAR Camping World Truck Series title; Chase Briscoe gets first win

By Reid Spencer
NASCAR Wire Service

HOMESTEAD, Fla. – The tandem burnouts filled the frontstretch at Homestead-Miami Speedway with a thick cloud of smoke, as Chase Briscoe celebrated his first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series victory, and runner-up Christopher Bell exulted in his first NASCAR championship.

In a Ford EcoBoost 200 that ran caution-free except for the planned breaks after the first and second stages, Briscoe, the pole winner, passed Ben Rhodes for the lead on Lap 96 of 134 on Friday night and pulled away to beat Bell to the finish line by 2.887 seconds, after Rhodes ran out of gas on Lap 129.

Two enormously talented open-wheel stars who have made successful transitions to stock car racing, Bell and Briscoe are close friends, but their careers have been following markedly different trajectories as of late.

Briscoe collected the last trophy for Brad Keselowski Racing, which is closing its doors at the end of the season, and he hasn't announced plans for next year. Bell, on the other hand, will run for the NASCAR XFINITY Series championship next season in top-of-the-line equipment at Joe Gibbs Racing.

Bell gave Kyle Busch Motorsports its second title in three years under a format where the highest finisher among four eligible drivers—in this case Bell, Johnny Sauter, Matt Crafton and Austin Cindric--is crowned champion.

"To be able to do this for all of the guys at Kyle Busch Motorsports and to win the championship for a team that deserves the championship, words just can’t describe my feelings right now," said Bell, who scored a series-high five victories this season.

"To run as good as we have, week in and week out, and not just this year ... This whole organization, this whole team has been good for so many years. You just don’t want to be the guy that lets them down, and I’m glad I didn’t let them down tonight."

Briscoe, who also won the 2017 Sunoco Rookie of the Year, certainly improved his standing with the win, achieved in his 23rd start in the series.

"This is a long time coming," said Briscoe who finished one position and nearly 16 seconds ahead of third-place Sauter, the defending series champion. "So proud of all these guys. To know that they’re not going to have a job next year, and we continued to bring really good trucks even though we were outside the playoffs, such a testament to how good these Brad Keselowski guys are.

"I know two years ago I was sleeping on couches, and now to be a winner in NASCAR. I wish we were in the final four. I felt like we could have been, but that’s part of the circumstances."

By virtue of his third-place finish, Sauter was runner-up for the championship. Cindric, Briscoe’s teammate at BKR, ran fifth, one position ahead of Crafton, a two-time series champion.

Bell started 2017 with a victory in the Chili Bowl Nationals for midget cars, a title the Oklahoma native has coveted since childhood. He ends the year as the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion, a perfect bookend to a banner year for the 22-year-old prodigy.

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Race - Ford EcoBoost 200

Homestead-Miami Speedway

Homestead, Florida

Friday, November 17, 2017

               1. (1) Chase Briscoe #, Ford, 134.
               2. (13) Christopher Bell (P), Toyota, 134.
               3. (11) Johnny Sauter (P), Chevrolet, 134.
               4. (6) Ryan Truex, Toyota, 134.
               5. (3) Austin Cindric # (P), Ford, 134.
               6. (8) Matt Crafton (P), Toyota, 134.
               7. (9) Stewart Friesen #, Chevrolet, 134.
               8. (4) Grant Enfinger #, Toyota, 134.
               9. (7) Justin Haley #, Chevrolet, 134.
               10. (17) Timothy Peters, Chevrolet, 134.
               11. (15) Regan Smith, Ford, 134.
               12. (12) Myatt Snider, Toyota, 134.
               13. (10) Kaz Grala #, Chevrolet, 133.
               14. (16) Cody Coughlin #, Toyota, 133.
               15. (14) John H. Nemechek, Chevrolet, 133.
               16. (20) TJ Bell, Chevrolet, 132.
               17. (18) Austin Wayne Self, Chevrolet, 131.
               18. (5) Noah Gragson #, Toyota, 131.
               19. (2) Ben Rhodes, Toyota, 130.
               20. (19) Dalton Sargeant, Chevrolet, 129.
               21. (22) Jordan Anderson, Chevrolet, 128.
               22. (26) Josh Reaume, Chevrolet, 126.
               23. (24) Wendell Chavous #, Chevrolet, 125.
               24. (23) Robby Lyons(i), Chevrolet, 125.
               25. (27) Norm Benning, Chevrolet, 119.
               26. (21) Chris Windom, Chevrolet, Electrical, 71.
               27. (25) Camden Murphy, Chevrolet, Suspension, 9.
               28. (30) Bayley Currey, Chevrolet, Engine, 8.
               29. (28) Joe Nemechek, Chevrolet, Electrical, 7.
               30. (29) Mike Senica, Chevrolet, Parked, 4.
               31. (32) Jennifer Jo Cobb, Chevrolet, Electrical, 0.
               32. (31) Ray Ciccarelli, Chevrolet, Engine, 0.

Average Speed of Race Winner:  135.556 mph.
Time of Race:  01 Hrs, 28 Mins, 58 Secs. Margin of Victory:  2.887 Seconds.
Caution Flags:  2 for 12 laps.
Lead Changes:  6 among 3 drivers.
Lap Leaders:   C. Briscoe # 1-33; C. Bell (P) 34-43; C. Briscoe # 44-48; B. Rhodes 49-83; C. Briscoe # 84-87; B. Rhodes 88-95; C. Briscoe # 96-134.
Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led):  C. Briscoe # 4 times for 81 laps; B. Rhodes 2 times for 43 laps; C. Bell (P) 1 time for 10 laps.
Stage #1 Top Ten: 4,29,98,27,16,19,88,21,24,02
Stage #2 Top Ten: 27,4,29,16,21,19,02,88,18,24

Special Edition Championship 4 News and Notes - NASCAR Camping World Truck Series

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series

Next Race: Ford EcoBoost 200

The Place: Homestead-Miami Speedway

The Date: Friday, Nov. 17

The Time: 8 p.m. ET

TV: FS1, 7:30 p.m. ET

Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio                   

Distance: 201 miles (134 laps); Stage 1 (Ends on lap 40),

Stage 2 (Ends on lap 80), Final Stage (Ends on lap 134)

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series

Championship 4 Weekend Kicks Off With Camping World Truck Series Showdown

The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Championship 4 race kicks off what promises to be a thrilling weekend in Miami, NASCAR’s title town. Friday night’s race will crown one of four drivers as the series champion in the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The first of the Championship 4 drivers to cross the finish line at Homestead will become the 2017 series driver champion.

Johnny Sauter, Matt Crafton, Christopher Bell and Austin Cindric are the Championship 4 and will make a run at the title in the Ford EcoBoost 200 (Friday, Nov. 17 at 8 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).  

The drivers represent four different teams (Kyle Busch Motorsports, Brad Keselowski Racing, GMS Racing and ThorSport Racing) and all three manufacturers (Chevrolet, Ford and Toyota).

Been there, done that. Sauter, Crafton and Bell have, that is. The trio comprised 75 percent of the inaugural NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Championship 4 in 2016. Cindric is representing the Sunoco Rookie of the Year contenders in the Championship 4 this year as he looks to become the second rookie in three years (Erik Jones, 2015) to win the title.

Championship 4 (By truck number): 

 

Christopher Bell (No. 4 Kyle Busch Motorsports Toyota)

Christopher Bell took the series by storm in 2017, leading the field with five wins (Atlanta, Texas-1, Kentucky, Pocono, New Hampshire) and four poles (Atlanta, Kansas, Charlotte, Talladega) in just his second full-time season. The young Kyle Busch Motorsports driver also led the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in top fives (14) and top 10s (20).

Bell’s 2017 campaign has been exceptional. He led a lap in all but three races (Dover, Bristol, Canadian Tire) and had an average finish of 5.9 through 22 starts.

He is one of three drivers returning to the Championship 4, alongside veterans Johnny Sauter and Matt Crafton. In 2016, Bell posted one win en route to a chance to run for the title in Miami, where an eighth-place finish in the race netted him third place in the final series standings.

Thus far in the 2017 Playoffs, Bell has recorded a win in the opening race of the postseason at New Hampshire and has an average finish of 4.0 – two positions better than his next closest Championship 4 foe (Johnny Sauter, 6.0). He also started on the pole in Talladega and Phoenix.

Breakdown by Round of Christopher Bell’s 2017 Playoffs:

Round of 8: Christopher Bell opened the 2017 Playoffs with a win (and a sweep of Stage 1 and Stage 2) at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, guaranteeing him a spot in the Round of 6. He followed that up with second-place finishes at Las Vegas and Talladega.

Round of 6: Bell opened the round with an eighth-place finish at Martinsville and proceeded to cross the line in third at Texas. Another eight-place finish, this time at Phoenix, was enough to carry him forward into the Championship 4.

Christopher Bell Fast Facts:

• In 2017, Christopher Bell has led the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in wins (7), top 5s (14), top 10s (20) and laps led (865).
• During the 2017 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Playoffs, Bell has one win, four top fives and finished in the top-10 of every race.
• Bell’s average finish during the first six races of the Playoffs is 4.0.
• In Bell’s first two starts at Homestead-Miami Speedway, he finished 25th in 2015 after running out of fuel in the closing laps and eighth in 2016 as a member of the inaugural Championship 4.

Austin Cindric (No. 19 Brad Keselowski Racing Ford)

A late-race pass in a thrilling finish at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park propelled Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender Austin Cindric to his first career win and a spot in the 2017 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Playoffs. Cindric is one of just five Sunoco Rookies to make the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Playoffs. He was joined in the Playoffs this year by Chase Briscoe and Kaz Grala, while William Byron and Christopher Bell made the postseason in 2016.

Cindric has tallied seven top-five and 15 top-10 finishes, including his win, in his rookie campaign. He led 106 laps along the way.

An average finish of 6.3, powered by top-10 finishes in every Playoff race, carried Cindric through to the Championship 4. After starting off the Round of 6 with a 10^th-place finish at Martinsville, Cindric when on to a runner-up showing at Texas to boost his chances of moving on.

Breakdown by Round of Austin Cindric’s 2017 Playoffs:

Round of 8: Austin Cindric started off his first-ever Playoffs campaign with an eighth-place finish at New Hampshire and followed that up by finishing fourth at Las Vegas and fifth at Talladega.

Round of 6: Bell rebounded from a 10th-place finish at Martinsville to open the round to finish second at Texas. He then went on to finish ninth at Phoenix to capture a berth in the Championship 4.

Austin Cindric Fast Facts:

• In 2017, Austin Cindric has one win, one pole, seven top fives and 15 top 10s while leading 106 laps in 22 starts.
• During the 2017 Playoffs, Cindric has three top fives and finished in the top 10 in all six races so far.
• Cindric’s average finish through the first six races of the Playoffs is 6.3.
• This weekend marks Cindric’s first race at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Johnny Sauter (No. 21 GMS Racing Chevrolet)

The 2016 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion returns to defend his crown. Johnny Sauter finished third in the 2016 season finale to capture his first series title in his inaugural season with GMS Racing. He now looks to become just the second driver in series history to repeat as champion. The other driver to do it? His Championship 4 opponent Matt Crafton.

It appears the new elimination Playoff format motivates Sauter. He reached a career-high win total this season with four victories (Dover, Chicago, Texas-2, Phoenix) after visiting Victory Lane three times in 2016 on his way to his first championship. (He also had three wins in 2013.)

Sauter is on a roll. He’s won back-to-back races heading into Miami, and didn’t have a shabby race before the streak started as he finished third at Martinsville.

Homestead-Miami Speedway has been friendly to the veteran driver. He’s recorded a win (2011) and seven top 10s en route to an average finish of 10.8 through ten races on the 1.5-mile track.

Breakdown by Round of Johnny Sauter’s 2017 Playoffs:

Round of 8: Johnny Sauter started off with a relatively below-average opening round, as he finished ninth at New Hampshire, tenth at Las Vegas and edged into the Round of 6 with a 12th-place finish at Talladega.

Round of 6: Sauter owned the Round of 6 with a third-place finish at Martinsville and visits to Victory Lane at Texas and Phoenix.

Johnny Sauter Fast Facts:

• In 2017, Johnny Sauter had a career-high four wins and tallied 12 top fives and 18 top 10s. He led 455 laps.
• During the 2017 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Playoffs, Sauter has two wins and a top-10 finish in all but one race.
• Sauter’s average finish during the first six races of the Playoffs is 6.0.
• In Sauter’s 10 starts at Homestead-Miami Speedway, he has one win, three top-fives and seven top-10 finishes. He has recorded an average finish of 10.8 with an average driver rating of 100.9.

Matt Crafton (No. 88 ThorSport Racing Toyota)

Matt Crafton took home the big prize in 2013 and 2014 to become the first back-to-back NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion – and wants to add a third title to his resume in 2017. In doing so, he would prevent his Championship 4 foe Johnny Sauter from becoming the second driver to win consecutive series titles.

Eldora was the lone, and unlikely, Victory Lane that Crafton visited in 2017. But don’t let that fool you into not picking Crafton to win it all this weekend. In 2013, the year of his first title, he had just one win. He followed that up with just two wins during the season when he won his second championship in 2014. He racked up six wins in 2015, but it was rookie Erik Jones who captured the championship.

The veteran with 406 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races to his credit was sailing in the Playoffs with top-10s until a wreck at Phoenix relegated him to a 21st-place finish. Crafton was able to squeak through on points however, and has an average finish of 9.5 for the season.

Crafton has one win at Homestead-Miami Speedway (2015) with three top fives and eight top 10s. He’s led 141 laps while compiling an average finish of 11.4 in 16 starts.

Breakdown by Round of Matt Crafton’s 2017 Playoffs:

Round of 8: Matt Crafton posted finishes of sixth (New Hampshire), seventh (Las Vegas) and ninth (Talladega) in the opening round.

Round of 6: A second-place finish in the opening race of the round at Martinsville was a major help in getting Crafton to the Championship 4. He followed that up with a ninth-place finish at Texas before coming home in 21st at Phoenix after getting caught up in an incident.

Matt Crafton Fast Facts:

• In 2017, Matt Crafton has posted just one win while collecting five top fives and 15 top 10s. He led 321 laps.
• During the 2017 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Playoffs, Crafton has top-10 finishes in all but one race.
• Crafton’s average finish during the first six races of the Playoffs is 9.0.
• In Crafton’s 16 starts at Homestead-Miami Speedway, he has one win, three top-fives and eight top-10 finishes. He has recorded an average finish of 11.4 with an average driver rating of 97.2.

Special Edition Championship 4 News and Notes - NASCAR XFINITY Series

NASCAR XFINITY Series

Next Race: Ford EcoBoost 300

The Place: Homestead-Miami Speedway

The Date: Saturday, Nov. 18

The Time: 3:30 p.m. ET

TV: NBCSN, 3 p.m. ET

Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio                   

Distance: 300 miles (200 laps); Stage 1 (Ends on lap 45),

Stage 2 (Ends on lap 90), Final Stage (Ends on lap 200)

NASCAR XFINITY Series

NASCAR XFINITY Series Playoffs Culminates In Miami

For the second year in a row, the NASCAR XFINITY Series title will be decided at the culmination of the NASCAR XFINITY Series Playoffs, a four-round elimination-style postseason that will name the series’ 28th different champion in the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The first of the Championship 4 drivers to cross the finish line at Homestead-Miami will become the 2017 series driver champion.

Justin Allgaier, William Byron, Daniel Hemric and Elliott Sadler are the Championship 4 and have competed all season for the chance at the title in the Ford EcoBoost 300 this Saturday, Nov. 18 at 3:30 p.m. ET on NBC, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90).   

The Championship 4 features a pair of veterans in Allgaier and Sadler facing off against two Sunoco Rookie of the Year contenders. There has only been one Sunoco Rookie who has taken home the championship – Chase Elliott in 2014.

JR Motorsports drivers make up three of the four championship contenders (Allgaier, Byron and Sadler) while all four cars are powered by Chevrolet.

Championship 4 (By car number):

Elliott Sadler (No. 1 JR Motorsports Chevrolet)

Emporia, Virginia’s Elliott Sadler has the chance this weekend to win his first NASCAR XFINITY Series championship and secure the second driver title in four years for JR Motorsports (Chase Elliott, 2014). Sadler is no stranger to the championship pressure as he has finished in the top four in the series driver standings in five of the last six seasons; including three runner-up finishes (2011, 2012 and 2016).

Sadler closed out the first 26 races of 2017 as the NASCAR XFINITY Series regular season champion, and now has turned his attention to bringing home the title. Since its inception last season, Sadler and JR Motorsports teammate Justin Allgaier are the only two drivers to make the Championship 4 round in the postseason both seasons of its existence.

Sadler’s career in the NASCAR XFINITY Series started back in 1995, nearly 22 years ago. Since then, the talented veteran has made 361 series starts, posting 13 wins, 92 top fives (11th-most all-time), 201 top 10s (fourth-most all-time) and 17 poles.

Leading Sadler and the No. 1 JR Motorsports team from the pit box this season is crew chief Kevin Meendering. In 32 starts this season, Sadler and Meendering have amassed the series-most top fives (12) and top 10s (24) with an average finish of 9.4. Plus, Sadler led the series in accumulating stage points this season with 232 points. 

In addition, if he claims the title this weekend, Sadler would join Tommy Ellis (Richmond) as the second series champion from the state of Virginia.

Breakdown by Round of Elliott Sadler’s 2017 Playoffs:

Round of 12: Sadler had a solid Round of 12, posting three top-10 finishes at Kentucky (sixth), Dover (ninth) and Charlotte (10th). He ended the Round of 12 fourth in the series Playoff driver standings. 

Round of 8: Sadler had a stout beginning to the Round of 8, finishing seventh at Kansas, and then posting a fourth-place finish at Texas, but only managed an 18th at Phoenix last weekend. Despite the poor finish at Phoenix, Sadler accumulated the third-most points in the Round of 8 to earn his spot in the Championship 4.

Elliott Sadler Fast Facts:

• In 2017, Sadler has posted 12 top fives and 24 top 10s (both are series-most).
• Sadler’s average finish during the 2017 season is a 9.4 (best among Championship 4).  
• During the 2017 NASCAR XFINITY Series Playoff, he has posted one top five and five top 10s.
• Sadler’s average finish during the 2016 Playoffs is 9.0.
• During the Playoffs, Sadler posted a driver rating of 96.4 and an average running position of 9.3.
• At Homestead, Sadler has made 11 series starts, posting two top fives, five top 10s and an average finish of 15.1.

Justin Allgaier (No. 7 JR Motorsports Chevrolet)

Justin Allgaier returns to the NASCAR XFINITY Series Championship 4 for the second consecutive season, and the Riverton, Illinois, native has a solid shot at the title this time around. Allgaier’s previous best series standings finish was third twice; last season and in 2011. This season, like Sadler, Allgaier has the opportunity to bring home the second series driver title for JR Motorsports in four years (Chase Elliott, 2014).  

Allgaier’s NASCAR XFINITY Series career started back in 2008, and since then he has made 239 starts, posting five wins, 52 top fives, 128 top 10s and five poles. In 32 starts this season, he has posted two wins, 10 top fives, 17 top 10s and an average finish of 13.1. Plus, Allgaier accumulated the second-most stage points throughout season with 230.

Competing alongside Allgaier this season is crew chief Jason Burdett. This is Burdett’s third full season in the NASCAR XFINITY Series leading the No. 7 JRM team. Burdett worked with driver Regan Smith in 2015, finishing fourth in the series standings. Then last year, in his first season with Allgaier, the two made the Championship 4 and finished third in the final series Playoff standings – career accomplishments for both.  

If Allgaier wins this season’s title, he will become the first series champion from the state of Illinois.

Breakdown by Round of Justin Allgaier’s 2017 Playoff:

Round of 12: Allgaier skated into the Round of 8 on the heels of two top fives and a DNF. The JR Motorsports driver posted a third-place finish at Kentucky, a runner-up finish at Dover, but dropped out early in the Charlotte race due to overheating, resulting in a 33rd-place finish. Allgaier accumulated the fifth-most series driver points during the Round of 12 and, as a result, advanced to the Round of 8. 

Round of 8: Allgaier found his footing in the Round of 8, and in the process posted three solid finishes at Kansas (fifth), Texas (11th) and Phoenix (10th). Allgaier’s stellar performance in the Playoff Round of 8 netted him a spot in the Championship 4.

Justin Allgaier Fast Facts:

• In 2017, Allgaier has posted two wins, 10 top fives and 17 top 10s.
• Allgaier’s average finish during the 2017 season is a 13.1 (fourth-best among Championship 4). 
• During the 2017 NASCAR XFINITY Series Playoffs, he has posted three top fives and four top 10s.
• Allgaier’s average finish during the 2017 Playoffs is 10.7.
• During the Playoffs, Allgaier posted a driver rating of 103.1 and an average running position of 10.1.
• At Homestead, Allgaier has made seven series starts posting a career-best finish of sixth (last season) and an average finish of 15.4. 

William Byron (No. 9 JR Motorsports Chevrolet)

In just his rookie season in the NASCAR XFINITY Series, the JR Motorsports driver from Charlotte, North Carolina, William Byron, has tallied four series wins, qualified for the Playoffs and made the Championship 4. Now the 19-year-old driver has the opportunity to become just the second series Sunoco Rookie to win a title in series history; joining the first rookie to accomplish the feat, former JR Motorsports driver Chase Elliott (2014).  

After working with multiple drivers during the last two seasons (2015-2016), David Elenz took the reins of the No. 9 JR Motorsports team to help cultivate Byron’s talent during his rookie season.  The pairing has produced. In 32 starts this season, Byron and Elenz have posted four wins (Iowa, Daytona, Indianapolis and Phoenix), 11 top fives and 21 top 10s.    

At the age of 19, Byron has the chance to become the second-youngest champion in NASCAR national series history at the age of 19 years, 11 months and 20 days; behind record-holder Chase Elliott, who won the series title at the age of 18 years, 11 months, 18 days.

If Byron wins this season’s title, he will become the sixth series champion from the state of North Carolina, joining Austin Dillon (2013 champion, from Welcome, N.C.), Brian Vickers (2003, Thomasville, N.C.), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (1998, 1999, Kannapolis, N.C.), Jack Ingram (1985, 1982, Asheville, N.C.) and Sam Ard (1983, 1984, Asheboro, N.C.).

Breakdown by Round of William Byron’s 2017 Playoff:

Round of 12: Byron’s Round of 12 had its ups and downs. The JR Motorsports driver kicked off the postseason with an 18th-place finish at Kentucky, then bounced back with a third-place finish at Dover, but only managed a 16th-place finish at Charlotte. Despite only one good run in the Round of 12, Byron advanced to the Round of 8 as the series leader in the standings; in large part due to the series-leading 25 playoff points he carried into the postseason. 

Round of 8: Byron cemented his name at the top of the list of favorites to win the title this season in the Round of 8. The youngster posted a fourth-place finish at Kansas (fifth), then a ninth at Texas and a career-defining Playoff win at Phoenix to lock himself into the Championship 4. Byron is one of just three rookies to make the Championship 4 since the inception of the elimination-style Playoff format last season; joining Erik Jones (2016) and Daniel Hemric (2017).  

William Byron Fast Facts:

• In 2017, Byron has posted four wins (most among championship contenders), 11 top fives and 21 top 10s.
• Byron’s average finish during the 2017 season is a 10.6 (second-best among Championship 4). 
• During the 2017 NASCAR XFINITY Series Playoffs, he has posted one win, three top fives and four top 10s.
• Byron’s average finish during the 2017 Playoffs is an 8.2.
• During the Playoffs, Byron posted a driver rating of 106.3 and an average running position of 7.6.
• Byron will make his series track debut at Homestead-Miami Speedway this weekend. Last season, Byron made his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut at Homestead, winning from the pole.

Daniel Hemric (No. 21 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet)

The one driver standing between the JR Motorsports camp and the championship this season is Richard Childress Racing’s Daniel Hemric.  The Sunoco Rookie from Kannapolis, North Carolina, has built his championship run on consistency and, in the process, has pointed his way into not only the Playoffs but the Championship 4, as well. Now the 26-year-old driver has just one race left to become the second series Sunoco Rookie to win a driver title in series history; joining the first rookie to accomplish the feat, Chase Elliott (2014).  

Alongside Hemric this season has been veteran crew chief Danny Stockman Jr. In 32 starts this season, the duo has posted seven top fives, 16 top 10s and an average finish of 12.5.

Hemric is the first NASCAR XFINITY Series driver from Richard Childress Racing to make the Championship 4 since its inception last season.  Richard Childress Racing has won four NASCAR XFINITY Series driver championships (second-most) with Austin Dillon (2013), Clint Bowyer (2008) and Kevin Harvick (2001, 2006).  

If Hemric wins this season’s title, he will become the sixth series champion from the state of North Carolina, joining Austin Dillon (2013 champion, from Welcome, N.C.), Brian Vickers (2003, Thomasville, N.C.), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (1998, 1999, Kannapolis, N.C.), Jack Ingram (1985, 1982, Asheville, N.C.) and Sam Ard (1983, 1984, Asheboro, N.C.).

Breakdown by Round of Daniel Hemric’s 2017 Playoff:

Round of 12: Hemric started the postseason strong with three top-10 finishes at Kentucky (seventh), Dover (fourth) and Charlotte (seventh). Hemric’s consistency in the Round of 12 moved him all the way up to second in the standings and advanced him to the Round of 8.

Round of 8: Hemric’s Round of 8 started off rough with an 18th-place finish at Kansas, but over the following weeks he was able to rebound, finishing 14th at Texas and then fifth at Phoenix to secure the fourth and final Championship 4 spot. Hemric is one of just three rookies to make the Championship 4 since the inception of the elimination-style Playoff format last season; joining Erik Jones (2016) and William Byron (2017). 

Daniel Hemric Fast Facts:

• In 2017, Hemric has posted seven top fives and 16 top 10s.
• Hemric’s average finish during the 2017 season is a 12.5 (third-best among Championship 4). 
• During the 2017 NASCAR XFINITY Series Playoffs, he has posted two top fives and four top 10s.
• Hemric’s average finish during the 2017 Playoffs is a 9.2.
• During the Playoffs, Hemric posted a driver rating of 99.7 and an average running position of 8.4.
• Hemric will make his series track debut at Homestead-Miami Speedway this weekend. Hemric has made three NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts at Homestead, posting one top five and two top 10s.