Member of the Month: June

Posted on June 1, 2020 by NASCAR.com

Name: Paul
Current City: Moody, Alabama
Member Since: 2016

Getting to know Paul:

Q. How did you first become interested in NASCAR?
“My grandfather took me to a Talladega race when I was 8 years old in the fall of 1988. I was of course a Davey fan being from Alabama, but someone handed me a Mark Martin poster and I hung it on my wall when I got home and pulled hard for him ever since. After that first race, I spent every Sunday afternoon when I could in my grandfather’s living room glued to the TV watching the race with him growing up.”

Q. What is your favorite part about NASCAR?
“The speed, the history, and watching it evolve with time. The different personalities and paths drivers take to make it. Watching someone come into trucks and trying to predict where they will be in a few years. Watching drivers grow and become dominant or struggle to finally succeed. There is so much more to it than just “going in circles” as some say. The whole world of NASCAR is what I enjoy, not just the races.”

Q. What is your favorite NASCAR memory?
“There are so many to choose, sitting in the orange recliner at my grandads growing up watching races, standing in a Walmart electronics center in the 90’s watching nearly a whole race while my family shopped. But my favorite is probably my most recent. Darlington was always on my bucket list of tracks and I finally got to go to a race there 2 years ago. Since Martin Truex Jr. started in the Busch Series, I had been pulling for him to make it. I have been to many races but never got to watch one of my favorite drivers win while there. So, seeing Martin pull off that win at one of my favorite tracks was one of the happiest times watching racing.”

Q. Do you have a favorite in any of the following categories?
Drivers: “Martin Truex Jr, Ryan Blaney, and Landon Cassill.”
Tracks: “Talladega, Darlington, Watkins Glen, Atlanta.”
Sponsors: “I don’t have one single favorite, but a few that pop into my head when I think NASCAR like STP, Bass Pro, and the old Valvoline and Havoline cars.”

Q. What are some of your hobbies?
“Hunting and fishing when I am not at the softball fields watching my daughter.”

FROM ALL OF US AT NASCAR, WE THANK PAUL FOR HIS CONTINUED SUPPORT AND LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM HIM IN 2020!

Look for Paul on the Official NASCAR Fan Council page on NASCAR.COM.

Posted on June 1, 2020June 1, 2020 by Zack Albert

Bristol Motor Speedway has long been built on atmosphere. The eggshell-anticipation that comes with the Colosseum theme of full-contact racing. The noise that echoes off the grandstands and surrounding hills, giving it the Thunder Valley nickname. The roar that erupts from the bleachers when tens of thousands react to the almost inevitable short-track drama.

The speedway — no dummies — markets that bottled-up emotion to the hilt. Sunday, with COVID-19 safety restrictions still in place, there was no admittance save for essential personnel. It didn’t stop a handful of hearty faithful from parking outside to soak in a whiff of it — sounds only and sights unseen.

Sunday’s Food City presents the Supermarket Heroes 500 brought back many familiar ingredients to the “It’s Bristol, Baby” formula that built the place. Never mind that the track was very nearly built in the nearby Piney Flats community, and that the slogan “It’s Piney Flats, Baby” wouldn’t have quite the same ring.

Digressions aside, shades of the Bristol that brought people clamoring for more emerged Sunday. Crumpled sheet metal and equally damaged egos were commonplace, and winner Brad Keselowski was one of the few who left the .533-mile bullring smiling.

It was dynamic, just far, far quieter.

“Early on in the race everybody was hitting each other. It carried in all the way to the end,” said Keselowski, who sprang up to lead the final three laps. “Some people ran me over. I probably ran some people over. Everybody is mad at everybody going into Atlanta next week.”

NASCAR’s five-race return since the pandemic outbreak has been heavy on drama and subplots. Besides the unique situation of racing under new public-health protocols, the addition of shorter midweek races has ramped up the urgency to gain ground wherever possible. Darlington’s second event erupted with a Chase Elliott vs. Kyle Busch confrontation, and Charlotte’s pair of races came loaded with heartbreak then redemption for NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver.

Bristol stood next as a likely candidate to add more pressure in the cooker. The track’s calling card was already close-quarters racing, but NASCAR’s reduced-downforce package for its shorter venues in 2020 meant a greater challenge. Holding the event without practice or qualifying produced more variables, and the addition of PJ1 traction compound to the lower lanes in the turns offered grooves, options and possibilities as the race’s complexion evolved.

As the daytime start progressed to evening, the cream rose and the specter of late-race contact among some of the sport’s heavyweights came through. Elliott was again at the center of that crescendo, with Joey Logano as his rival this time, and both of their cars cramming together into the Turn 3 wall with fewer than five laps remaining. They dismounted and argued, with reasonable social distance and through face masks, but oddly without any crowd buzz to stoke the confrontation. Piped-in cheers and jeers just wouldn’t have done the trick.

That’s where the long-range hopes come in. Bristol’s annual night race remains one of the best tickets on the Cup Series schedule, an event that mixes all of Sunday’s recipe essentials under the glare of bright lights. In a delicious wrinkle, those ingredients move this year from mid-August to a September date in the NASCAR Playoffs with elimination from the postseason picture in the balance. Same formula, higher stakes.

“More of the same. That’s Bristol, man,” said runner-up Clint Bowyer, who likened the place to I-70 Speedway in Missouri, a short track entrenched in his racing roots. “Just like this place. They called it the action track. When you pull in here, you know all hell’s going to break loose. You don’t know where it’s coming from, where it’s going to be, how it’s going to be, who is going to be the benefactor, who is going to leave pissed off.

“That’s short‑track racing at its best. Nobody does it better than Bristol.”

It’s an atmosphere that the faithful fans parked outside Bristol Motor Speedway on Sunday can hopefully feel, hear and see when September arrives.

Posted on June 1, 2020 by Data Skrive

Ryan Preece finished 12th in the Food City presents the Supermarket Heroes 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway on Sunday after heading into the race with an average finish position of 27.4.

Preece’s result added 25 points to his season total.

Preece started in 33rd position. The third-year driver has collected one top-five and three top-10 finishes in his career.

Sunday marked Preece’s second career start at Bristol Motor Speedway. He’s completed both of those races, but has not had a top-10 finish at the track.

The Berlin, Connecticut native began the race four spots behind his career mark of 28.9, but finished 17 places ahead of his career average of 29.1.

Preece raced against 40 other drivers on the way to his 12th-place finish. The race endured 17 cautions and 102 caution laps. There were 21 lead changes.

Brad Keselowski secured the win in the race, and Clint Bowyer finished second. Jimmie Johnson crossed the finish line third, Kyle Busch secured fourth, and Erik Jones grabbed the No. 5 spot.

Chase Elliott got off to a great start in the race, winning Stages 1 and 2, but couldn’t hang on to secure the race victory.

Ryan Preece Driver Page | Get Preece Gear | Race Center

Posted on June 1, 2020 by Data Skrive

Bubba Wallace rounded out the top 10 in the Food City presents the Supermarket Heroes 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway on Sunday.

The top 10 finish for Wallace added 27 points to his season total.

Wallace started in 36th position. The fourth-year driver has collected two top-five and five top-10 finishes in his career.

Sunday was Wallace’s fourth career start at Bristol Motor Speedway.

The Mobile, Alabama native began the race 12 spots behind his career mark of 23.8, but finished 12 places ahead of his career average of 22.1.

Wallace’s 10th-place finish came against a field of 40 drivers. The race endured 17 cautions and 102 caution laps. There were 21 lead changes.

Brad Keselowski secured the win in the race, and Clint Bowyer finished second. Jimmie Johnson placed third, Kyle Busch took fourth, and Erik Jones rounded out the top five.

Chase Elliott got off to a strong start in the race, winning the first two stages, but couldn’t hold on to end up in Victory Lane.

Bubba Wallace Driver Page | Get Wallace Gear | Race Center

Posted on June 1, 2020 by Data Skrive

Christopher Bell finished ninth in the Food City presents the Supermarket Heroes 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway on Sunday to earn his first career top-10 finish.

The top 10 finish for Bell added 28 points to his season total.

Bell started in 35th position.

The Norman, Oklahoma native began the race 14 spots behind his career mark of 21.1, but finished 14 places ahead of his career average of 22.6.

Bell’s ninth-place finish came against 40 other drivers. The race endured 17 cautions and 102 caution laps. Prior to the checkered flag there were 21 lead changes.

Brad Keselowski brought home the win in the race, and Clint Bowyer took second. Jimmie Johnson crossed the finish line third, Kyle Busch took fourth, and Erik Jones grabbed the No. 5 spot.

Chase Elliott got off to a great start in the race, winning the first two stages, but couldn’t hold on to secure the race victory.

Christopher Bell Driver Page | Get Bell Gear | Race Center

Posted on June 1, 2020 by Data Skrive

Erik Jones finished fifth in the Food City presents the Supermarket Heroes 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway on Sunday.

Jones’ top five finish added 35 points to his season total.

Jones started in 15th position. The fifth-year driver has collected two career victories, with 25 top-five finishes and 52 results inside the top 10.

In his career at Bristol Motor Speedway, Jones has compiled two top-five finishes and his fifth-place result marks the second top 10.

The Byron, Michigan native began the race two spots behind his career mark of 12.8, but finished 12 places ahead of his career average of 17.4.

Jones raced against a field of 40 drivers on the way to his fifth-place finish. The race endured 17 cautions and 102 caution laps. There were 21 lead changes.

Brad Keselowski finished first in the race, and Clint Bowyer finished second. Jimmie Johnson placed third, with Kyle Busch bringing home fourth place. Jones rounded out the top five.

Chase Elliott got off to a great start in the race, winning the first two stages, but couldn’t hold on to end up in Victory Lane.

Erik Jones Driver Page | Get Jones Gear | Race Center

Posted on June 1, 2020 by Data Skrive

Jimmie Johnson finished third in the Food City presents the Supermarket Heroes 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway on Sunday.

Johnson’s top five finish added 35 points to his season total.

Johnson started in 24th position. The 20th-year driver has secured 83 career victories, with 228 top-five finishes and 367 results inside the top 10.

Victory Lane at Bristol Motor Speedway is a familiar place for Johnson, who has two career wins at the track. His third-place finish also marks the 12th time he has finished in the top five at Bristol and his 21st top 10.

The El Cajon, California native began the race 11 spots behind his career mark of 12.7, but finished 11 places ahead of his career average of 14.1.

Johnson took on 40 other drivers on the way to his third-place finish. The race endured 17 cautions and 102 caution laps. There were 21 lead changes.

Brad Keselowski earned the victory in the race, followed by Clint Bowyer in second place. After Johnson’s third-place finish, Kyle Busch brought home fourth, and Erik Jones rounded out the top five.

Chase Elliott got off to a great start in the race, winning both of the first two stages, but couldn’t hang on to secure the race victory.

Jimmie Johnson Driver Page | Get Johnson Gear | Race Center

Posted on May 31, 2020May 31, 2020 by Staff Report

The No. 2 Team Penske Ford Mustang of Brad Keselowski passed post-race technical inspection Sunday after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Food City presents the Supermarket Heroes 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway.

RELATED: Official race results

Keselowski’s race-winning car was found to be compliant with the 2020 NASCAR Rule Book following the 500-lap event at the .533-mile concrete Tennessee short track. The fifth-place finishing No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota of Erik Jones was found to be missing one lug nut.

With post-race teardown complete, the race results are official.

This is the second year of a post-race process to bring a more timely approach to inspection for all three NASCAR national series. Competition officials announced before the 2019 season that thorough post-race inspections would take place shortly after the checkered flag at the track instead of midweek at the NASCAR Research & Development Center. Those inspections come with a stiffer deterrence structure that includes disqualification for significant rules infractions.

NASCAR will still inspect cars at the R&D Center as needed to monitor trends and parts compliance.

Posted on May 31, 2020May 31, 2020 by Staff Report

Chase Elliott and Joey Logano crashed out of contention in a heated battle for the lead with three laps remaining in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway.

With laps ticking down in the Food City presents the Supermarket Heroes 500, Elliott’s No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet charged low in Turn 3 and drifted up into Logano’s No. 22 Team Penske Ford. The two cars clanged together and squeezed into the outside retaining wall, handing the lead and eventual victory to Logano’s teammate, Brad Keselowski.

“Just going for the win,” said Elliott, who led 88 laps in a bid for his second straight Cup Series win. “Trying to get a run underneath him and got really loose in, and I don’t know if I had a tire going down or just got loose on entry. As soon as I turned off the wall I had zero chance in making it, so I’ll certainly take the blame. …

“I hate we both wrecked, but we can’t go back in time now.”

Logano finished 21st and Elliott 22nd as the final two drivers on the lead lap. Elliott and Logano discussed the late-race exchange on pit road after the 500-lap event, a chat that left Logano dissatisfied with his foe’s explanation.

“He wrecked me,” said Logano, who led two laps, including his final spike to the top of the leaderboard on Lap 497. “He got loose underneath me. The part that’s frustrating is that afterwards a simple apology — like be a man and come up to someone and say, ‘Hey, my bad.’ But I had to force an apology, which, to me, is childish. Anyways, man, we had a good recovery with our Autotrader Mustang and had a shot to win. That’s all you can hope for. I passed him clean. It’s hard racing at the end, I get that. It’s hard racing, but, golly, man, be a man and take the hit when you’re done with it.”

Posted on May 31, 2020May 31, 2020 by Holly Cain

Providing exactly the kind of wild finish that has made Bristol Motor Speedway one of the most popular venues on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule, Brad Keselowski was in perfect position to take advantage of hard racing in the closing laps and earned the victory in Sunday’s Food City presents the Supermarket Heroes 500.

With two laps remaining race leaders Joey Logano and Chase Elliott collided in front of the field and Keselowski’s No. 2 Team Penske Ford rallied on to take the lead and earn his second win of the season – holding off fellow Ford driver Clint Bowyer by 0.471-second.

Bowyer joked after the race, “I wasn’t going to have a problem apologizing to Brad for dumping him at the end.”

Keselowski seemed almost surprised as he was satisfied by the ultimate positive outcome. He had been fast all day even when he wasn’t leading. But all three of the late race leaders – Denny Hamlin, Logano and Elliott crashed out inside of 10 laps remaining.

RELATED: Official results | At-track photos | Stage recaps

“We kind of got a Christmas present here in Bristol,” Keselowski said. “We’ll take it.

“We were in position and able to strike when it counted with the Discount Tire Ford Mustang. Joey and Chase got together there. I don’t know what all caused it, but we were just in position to strike and here we are in Victory Lane.”

Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson finished third, followed by Bristol’s all-time winningest driver Kyle Busch, and his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Erik Jones. Austin Dillon, Kurt Busch, William Byron, rookie Christopher Bell and Bubba Wallace rounded out the top 10 on a day of high action and drama.

“Wild and crazy for sure,” Johnson said. “I wish there were more long runs but still salvaged a great day out of it.”

There was no lack of motivation at the front of the field – and plenty of cars who showed the way there.

Keselowski started on pole position and his 115 laps led was second only to Denny Hamlin’s 131 laps out front. Keselowski certainly set the early pace up front and consistently ran among the top 10 all day. He said he had trouble hitting the restarts correctly as the race went on and conceded he got frustrated, “I was pushing really hard and got a pit-road speeding penalty and thought, man, I’m just digging a hole.”

In the end, however, he was exactly where he needed to be to hoist the trophy.

With less than 10 laps to go Hamlin and Elliott were dueling at the front of the field for the victory before Hamlin hit the Turn 4 wall with six laps remaining. Elliott and Keselowski’s teammate Joey Logano took up the fight for the lead and ultimately collided into the Turn 4 wall leaving a golden opportunity for Keselowski who led the field right by.

“It was just such a turn of events it felt like I was playing poker in Vegas,” Keselowski joked.

Logano, who ended up 21st and Elliott, who ended up 22nd, had an intense conversation on pit road after the race.

“As soon as I turned off the wall I had zero chance of making it, I’ll certainly take the blame, I just got loose,” Elliott said. “I really felt like that was my shot, he was really good on the short run and I felt like I had to keep him behind me right there in order to win the race, with only three or four laps to go. I hate we both wrecked.”

Big picture perspective, however, Elliott, had yet another strong day winning the first two stages.

His fast No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet won the most recent series race on Thursday at Charlotte and was runner-up to Keselowski in the 600 as well.

It was also a promising day for Kyle Busch, who had led only 14 laps this entire season coming to Bristol – where he is NASCAR’s all-time winningest driver with eight Cup, nine Xfinity and five Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series victories – but ultimately led 100 laps Sunday earning his fifth top-five finish of the season; third in the last four races.

He certainly turned in a great rally effort. After being penalized for speeding on pit road early and falling back as far as 31st, he methodically and expertly worked his way forward to lead laps and show his No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota a factor in the outcome.

Ryan Blaney led 60 of the opening laps and was challenging his Team Penske teammate Keselowski for the race lead when he hit the wall on Lap 199 of the 500. As Blaney’s No. 12 Ford came down off the wall, Ty Dillon’s car – unsure where Blaney’s car was sliding – slammed into the front of it.

Radiator damage spelled the end of Blaney’s otherwise promising day. But as he reassured his crew heading onto pit road, “at least we’ve got something to build off for the Playoff race here.”

A larger accident, involving eight cars in various capacities ended Ricky Stenhouse Jr.’s day at his favorite track. Stenhouse ran among the top-10 for much of the early race and was among those frontrunners when he was caught up in a chain reaction accident.

While slowing for Matt Kenseth in front of him, Stenhouse was nudged from behind by Johnson. The contact sending Stenhouse hard into the wall and he collected a half dozen others including 2020 race winner Alex Bowman and impressive Sunoco Rookie of the Year candidates Tyler Reddick and Cole Custer ending their days.

In all, there were 17 caution periods for 102 laps on the day – the most in a Bristol race since 2006.

With an 11th-place finish, Stewart-Haas Racing’s Kevin Harvick continues to lead the NASCAR Cup Series championship standings by 24 points over Logano and 45 over Elliott.

The series moves to the 1.5-mile Atlanta Motor Speedway for next Sunday’s Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 (3 p.m. ET on FOX, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) and then competes in another mid-week special at the smallest oval on the schedule, Martinsville (Va.) Speedway on Wednesday night, June 10.