Tragedy involving Tony Stewart in upstate NY

KEVIN WARD JR. IS KILLED IN A SPRINT CAR ACCODENT INVOLVING TONY STEWART

By Joey Gucciardo | 10:29 AM E.T.

Around this time last year, Tony Stewart was involved in a solo sprint-car accident that left him with an injured leg that kept him from finishing the 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season.

Now, another accident has come about, but this one is a tragedy.

Stewart and another driver in the sprint-car race in upstate New York last night, Kevin Ward JR. had a conflict at some point in the race. After the race, Ward was killed when Stewart's sprint-car rammed into him, sending him flying in the air, killing Ward.

At this time, we know nothing else. We will keep you updated on anything else that comes up. Our prayers at UNB! are with the Ward and the Stewart family until anything new comes about.

Ambrose wins 4-Straight at Watkins Glen

THE CUP SERIES STAR HOPED TO GAIN AN EDGE IN TOMORROW'S NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES RACE AT THE GLEN.

By Joey Gucciardo | 6:13 PM E.T.

A spin early in the race didn't stop Marcos Ambrose from winning today's Zippo 200 at Watkins Glen Int'l.

But, Ambrose isn't a Nationwide Series regular, yet he has just won his fourth consecutive Nationwide Series race at Watkins Glen International, which started in 2011, with all of the Sprint Cup Series drivers right behind him.

Kyle Busch was second, followed by Joey Logano, then Brad Keselwoski, then Matt Kenseth to round out the Top-5.

Ambrose won three consecutive NASAR Sprint Cup Series races at the Glen in 2010-12.

Ambrose hoped to gain an edge in tomorrow's Cheez-IT 355 at the Glen, the Sprint Cup Series race at the Glen.

Chase Elliott just missed out on the Top-5, and finished 6th.

Marcos Ambrose to run Zippo 200 this weekend

THE CUP DRIVER MAKES A NATIONWIDE START AT THE TRACK HE WON AT TWO YEARS AGO IN THE NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES, AND YEARS BEFORE.

By Joey Gucciardo | 1:29 PM E.T.

(PHOTO: NASCAR Twitter Account: @NASCAR)

Remember the 2012 Cheez-It 355 at Watkins Glen International, when Brad Keselowski and Marcos Ambrose fought to the finish after Kyle Busch spun out? 

Ambrose won, but now, expect to see him in the NASCAR Nationwide Series (Nationwide is losing the name of the sponsorship in 2015, you may have known that already).

With help from his current NASCAR Sprint Cup Series sponsor "STANLEY," Ambrose will pilot the No. 09 car in the Zippo 200 this coming Saturday, and will run in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, the Cheez-IT 355 at Watkins Glen International (the same track as the Nationwide series race the day before), as usual, piloting the No. 9 car with his current sponsor, "STANLEY."

Ambrose is a three-time winner of this Nationwide Series race, and hopes to gain an edge in the Sprint Cup Series race the next day.

Ambrose's current Sprint Cup Series pit crew will be his pit crew in the Nationwide Series race.

Engineer Scott McDougall will be Anbrose's crew chief in the race.

Dale Earnhardt JR. Sweeps Pocono!

JR. HOLDS OFF A CHARGING KEVIN HARVICK TO WIN BOTH CUP SEEIES RACES AT POCONO!!!!

By Joey Gucciardo | 4:17 PM E.T.

LONG POND, PA--- The last time a driver swept both Cup Series races at Pocono Raceway in the same year was Denny Hamlin in 2006.

But, that's not true anymore.

Dale Earnhardt JR. Has just ended that statement with a win today, with a charging Kevin Harvick right behind him.

Brad Keselowski wins at Iowa Speedway!

By Joey Gucciardo

NO TIME TO WRITE! SO SORRY!!!! BYE!!!!

Austin Dillon wins at Pocono

By Joey Gucciardo.

No time to write! SORRY! Austn Dillon has won at Pocono.

Advantages of the Chase for the Cup

WHY THE NEW 2014 CHASE FORMAT IS GOOD FOR THE NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES

By Joey Gucciardo | 1:37 PM E.T.

NASCAR's new chase system features a 4-car battle for the championship, the first of those four to the finish, takes home the chase trophy.

Just four drivers, and 39 other drivers that can't win the championship.

Why is this good for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series?

This new format gives unlikely winners a spot in the chase. Remember David Ragan's 2013 Talladega win, if that happened this year, he could have made the chase. But last year, Ragan wasn't really in contention. That missed him out on a spot in the chase.

Before the new format, the Top 12 drivers in the points standings made te chase, then thee were reset to 2000 points, and then were given 5 points for each win they had. With the new format, drivers (Now 16, instead of 12), are eliminated until there are 12 drivers, then 8, then the final four battle it out at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

The old format came into play in 2004, Kurt Busch won the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (Back then, it was the NEXTEL Cup Series) championship, with Jimmie Johnson as a close runner-up in points.

Johnson was also runner up in points to Matt Kenseth in 2003.

But, we know what happened next, Jimmie Johnson won five consecutive championships (2006-10), and last years championship. Matt Kenseth was the runner-up to Johnson last year in Sprint Cup Series points.

But, no unlikely winners have won this year in the Sprint Cup Series. In fact, all the winners have been drivers from the most successful teams in NASCAR, such as Hendrick Motorsports, Stewart-HAAS Racing, Joe Gibbs Racing, even from Roush-Fenway Racing.

But, if there is an unlikely winner in the Sprint Cup Series, they could get a spot in the "Chase for the Cup."

Greg Ives to Crew Chief Dale Earnhardt JR. in 2015

Dale Earnhardt JR. has found a new crew chief to replace Steve Letarte, who will be leaving to join the NBC Broadcasting team for NASCAR in 2015.

By Joey Gucciardo | July 31st, 2014 - 9:29 AM E.T.

Steve Letarte, Dale Earnhardt JR.'s current crew chief, has been with JR. for four years now. Letarte will be leaving to join the NBC Sports broadcasting team in 2015.

Who will replace him?

Greg Ives.

Ives was the race engineer of the No. 48 team of Jimmie Johnson when Johnson won five championships in a row in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in 2006-2010. Ives moved from the 48 team to JR. Motorsports in 2013. He has five JRM wins, including some with Chase Elliott, the current Nationwide Series points leader.

        "I knew he was in position to be groomed in this role," Earnhardt said. "I've always admired his understanding of how a car works and his attention to detail. His demeanor and personality are very easygoing, and he's a fun guy to be around. We've had a great working relationship for several years. The best part is he knows what the 48-88 shop is about and the mentality there and how the work goes on. He has a great rapport with not only Chad, but he's worked with a lot of those guys in the past.

                                                                                                   ~~~USA Today

Gordon kisses the bricks at the Brickyard

JEFF GORDON WINS AT INDIANAPOLIS MOTOT SPEEDWAY ON THE 20th ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST NASCAR RACE AT THE BRICKYARD

By JOEY GUCCIARDO | 4:14 PM E.T.

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA--- It looks as if the drive for a fifth championship is alive again for Jeff Gordon.

Jeff won at the Brickyard today with Kyle Busch right behind him. This was the fifth time that Jeff won at the track.

There was a competition caution on lap 20 due to the rain the night before. Many pit, but others, like Joey Logano, who now had the lead, stayed out on the race track. Afterward, green flag pit stops began.

During a Danica Patrick's stop during those Green Flag Pit Stops, Danica exited pit road with her car smoking a whole lot. When she left pit road, the caution was out because Danica's car broke down on a bad spot on the track. "What do I do?", she said over her team radio.

Before this race started, it was announced that Carl Edwards would be leaving Roush Fenway Racing at the end of the 2014 season.

In the end of a hectic day at the Brickyard, Jeff Gordon kissed the bricks for a fifth time at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.