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In the aftermath of the tragic events that occurred during Monday’s Boston Marathon, Roush Fenway Racing (RFR) will show its support for the city of Boston with a “B-Strong” tribute this weekend at Kansas Speedway. All three Roush Fenway Ford Fusions will carry “B-Strong” decals during this weekend’s NASCAR event and RFR team owner Jack Roush has pledged to donate $100 for every lap the team leads during Sunday’s Sprint Cup race.
“When events occur such as what happened earlier this week in Boston, it is our nature to be overwhelmed with a variety of emotions,” said Roush. “To have to withstand an act of such senselessness and cowardice against innocent people is disheartening to us all. Our hearts go out to the victims and their families, as well as the entire city of Boston.
“As Americans we can all be proud of the way the city of Boston – and the entire nation - has banded together in the wake of this tragedy. We are proud of our Boston connections and feel privileged to be able to play a very small part in supporting the ‘B-Strong’ effort.”
Only four.
In the 14 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races that Kansas Speedway has hosted over the past 12 years only four drivers have ever visited Victory Lane there twice. No driver has ever won there thrice.
And what an impressive foursome it is: Greg Biffle (2007, 2010), Jeff Gordon (2001, 2002), Jimmie Johnson (2008, fall 2011) and Tony Stewart (2006, 2009).
This Sunday during the STP 400 (1:00 p.m. ET, FOX), will one of these four drivers breakthrough and become the first three-time winner in the track's history or will one of the five past winners currently entered in the race (Ryan Newman, Joe Nemechek, Mark Martin, Brad Keselowski, Matt Kenseth) come out on top or will Kansas welcome a first-time winner to Victory Lane? Denny Hamlin won the spring 2012 event, but will miss this year's spring event after injuring his back in the race at Auto Club Speedway
Biffle, Gordon, Johnson and Stewart would all like to become the first driver with three victories at the 1.5-mile track in Kansas City, but none could use the victory more than Stewart.
After seven races, Stewart, who co-owns Stewart-Haas Racing and owns Eldora Speedway in Ohio, sits in an uncharacteristic 22nd place in the standings, 111 points behind leader Johnson. Biffle is currently third, 30 points back, while Gordon (-98) is 15th.
Stewart is one of only nine drivers who have started all 14 NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Kansas. Outside of two back-of-the-pack finishes in 2007 and 2009 he has never finished lower than 15th. He has six top-five and nine top-10 finishes.
The three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion has had a rough start to the 2013 season with four finishes 21st or lower. His best finish so far came in the second race when he placed eighth.
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