Posted on by Staff Report

After a successful event at Darlington Raceway on May 18, The NASCAR Foundation again teamed up with the Joey Logano Foundation and Elevation Outreach, an outreach ministry of Elevation Church based in Charlotte, North Carolina, to bring Convoy of Hope to Martinsville Speedway on June 11.

On June 10, as NASCAR Cup Series drivers prepared to take the green flag at Martinsville, a tractor trailer full of 30,000 pounds of food and supplies arrived in Martinsville, Virginia. Due to anticipated weather, volunteers moved the staging operation to the Salvation Army, where they prepared for the relief effort designed to bring hope to this racing community affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“In these uncertain times, it feels great to bring some much-needed hope to families in Martinsville,” said Nichole Krieger, The NASCAR Foundation’s executive director. “We are so thankful for the opportunity to expand our partnership with Joey Logano Foundation, Convoy of Hope and Elevation Outreach to reach even more of our racing communities.”

Convoy Of Hope 2 Mvl

For three hours on the morning of June 11, volunteers from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Blue Ridge, Bowman Gray Ladies Auxiliary, the Grace Network and other community partners worked alongside The NASCAR Foundation, Joey Logano Foundation and Elevation Outreach to load grocery bags filled with emergency food, water and hygiene supplies into a line of queued vehicles. An added treat for younger guests, The NASCAR Foundation provided its signature Speedy Bears that enlisted smiles all around.

“We are so thankful for Martinsville Speedway graciously providing a platform for this donation event,” said Ali O’Connor, the Joey Logano Foundation’s executive director. “This important work answers a community’s basic needs and we couldn’t be more proud to participate.”

Serving nearly 800 households in the Martinsville community, Convoy of Hope’s contactless drive-thru ensured the safety of its staff, volunteers and deserving guests. Convoy of Hope is addressing an important need during the ongoing pandemic, and its distributions have helped to surpass its goal of 10 million meals served.

Posted on by RJ Kraft

NASCAR Finish Line, a free-to-play gaming app from Penn National Gaming, is back with the resumption of the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series season. Each week, there will be six groups of five drivers for the upcoming race. Users will predict which driver will finish first among each of the six groups and then the overall race winner and second-place finisher for a chance to win $25,000 if all eight scenarios are correctly selected.

RELATED: Download NASCAR Finish Line

The first of six groups for Sunday’s Dixie Vodka 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway (3:30 p.m. ET on FOX/FOX Sports App, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) consists of four past champions and winners at the 1.5-mile track as well as the 2020 championship co-favorites based on the latest odds from Penn Gaming. The group is made up of Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch, Joey Logano, Martin Truex Jr. and Chase Elliott.

For a stats look, NASCAR.com has compiled the drivers’ career average finish at Miami, their average finish of the last two races at Miami, their average finish in 2020 races at Auto Club Speedway and Atlanta Motor Speedway and then their average finish of tracks in the 1.5-mile range in 2020 — Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway and Atlanta. Miami is the second roughest surface on the circuit, where as Atlanta is the roughest and Auto Club is the third roughest, so those two are solid basis of comparison based on the track surface.

PHOTOS: Tracks ranked from smoothest to roughest

A points system has been assigned, starting with one point for the best finisher and counting up to six points for the worst finisher. Those numbers were then added up. The lowest total signifies the strongest driver (green), and the highest total represents the weakest driver (red) — in recent years.

Driver Career Miami
avg. finish‘1		 Last 2 Miami races Two 2020 races on rougher surfaces Four 2020 races on 1.5-mile range tracks
 Total
Kyle Busch Avg. finish: 16.3 (5) Avg. finish: 2.5 (2) Avg. finish: 2.0 (1) Avg. finish: 12.5 (5) 13
Chase Elliott Avg. finish: 9.5 (2) Avg. finish: 11.0 (5) Avg. finish: 6.0 (3) Avg. finish: 9.3 (3) 13
Kevin Harvick Avg. finish: 6.4 (1) Avg. finish: 3.5 (4) Avg. finish: 5.0 (2) Avg. finish: 6.0 (1) 8
Joey Logano Avg. finish: 12.7 (4) Avg. finish: 3.0 (3) Avg. finish: 11.0 (5) Avg. finish: 7.5 (2) 14
Martin Truex Jr. Avg. finish: 10.2 (3) Avg. finish: 2.0 (1) Avg. finish: 8.5 (4) Avg. finish: 9.5 (4) 12

Harvick looks to be the overwhelming choice based on the stats for Group 1 at Miami and is coming off a win at a track with a rough surface at Atlanta. Even his average finish in the last two races at the 1.5-mile track in Florida — 3.5 — while fourth best in this group — is still ridiculously low and would likely top the category with almost any other set of drivers to compare against. If you go by strictly Miami results, Truex is a solid alternative to choose, as he had the best combined marks in the Miami-based categories. If you go by just 2020 stats on rougher surfaced tracks and 1.5-mile range tracks, Elliott is the alternative to Harvick to consider.

Make sure to get your picks for all the groups as well as the first- and second-place finishers in the NASCAR Finish Line App before Sunday’s race at Miami.

Posted on by Staff Report

The starting lineup for Sunday’s Dixie Vodka 400 NASCAR Cup Series race at Homestead-Miami Speedway (3:30 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) has been set.

Denny Hamlin will start from the pole position, with Joey Logano joining him on the front row to lead the field to green for the 267-lap, 400.5-mile race.

RELATED: Homestead-Miami schedule | Limited number of guests allowed at track

The lineup for the race was determined by a random draw, with results airing on FS1’s “Race Hub.” The parameters for the draw were as follows:

  • Positions 1-12 determined by a random draw from charter teams in those positions in team owner points
  • Positions 13-24: Random draw among charter teams in those positions in owner points
  • Positions 25-36: Random draw among charter teams in those positions in owner points
  • Positions 37-38 will be filled out by open, non-chartered teams in order of owner points

Here is a look at the full lineup:

Starting spot Driver Car # Team
1 Denny Hamlin 11 Joe Gibbs Racing
2 Joey Logano 22 Team Penske
3 Brad Keselowski 2 Team Penske
4 Kyle Busch 18 Joe Gibbs Racing
5 Chase Elliott 9 Hendrick Motorsports
6 Martin Truex Jr. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing
7 Kevin Harvick 4 Stewart-Haas Racing
8 Alex Bowman 88 Hendrick Motorsports
9 Jimmie Johnson 48 Hendrick Motorsports
10 Kurt Busch 1 Chip Ganassi Racing
11 Ryan Blaney 12 Team Penske
12 Clint Bowyer 14 Stewart-Haas Racing
13 Chris Buescher 17 Roush Fenway Racing
14 Ryan Newman 6 Roush Fenway Racing
15 Erik Jones 20 Joe Gibbs Racing
16 Austin Dillon 3 Richard Childress Racing
17 Bubba Wallace 43 Richard Petty Motorsports
18 John Hunter Nemechek 38 Front Row Motorsports
19 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 47 JTG Daugherty Racing
20 Matt Kenseth 42 Chip Ganassi Racing
21 Aric Almirola 10 Stewart-Haas Racing
22 William Byron 24 Hendrick Motorsports
23 Matt DiBenedetto 21 Wood Brothers Racing
24 Tyler Reddick 8 Richard Childress Racing
25 JJ Yeley 27 Rick Ware Racing
26 Corey LaJoie 32 Go Fas Racing
27 Josh Bilicki 53 Rick Ware Racing
28 Brennan Poole 15 Premium Motorsports
29 Joey Gase 51 Petty Ware Racing
30 Michael McDowell 34 Front Row Motorsports
31 Quin Houff 00 StarCom Racing
32 Ty Dillon 13 Germain Racing
33 Ryan Preece 37 JTG Daugherty Racing
34 BJ McLeod 77 Spire Motorsports
35 Cole Custer 41 Stewart-Haas Racing
36 Christopher Bell 95 Leavine Family Racing
37 Daniel Suarez 96 Gaunt Brothers Racing
38 Timmy Hill 66 Motorsports Business Management

 

Posted on by Holly Cain

The NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series championship title won’t be up for grabs based solely on the outcome of Saturday night’s Baptist Health 200 (7:30 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) at Homestead-Miami Speedway as has been the case at the track for more than a decade.

But the drivers who have established themselves as the early favorites for the 2020 title happen to be some of the best drivers at the South Florida 1.5-miler, and they will be tested this weekend by some of the sport’s best, including the reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch and the NASCAR Cup Series Most Popular Driver Chase Elliott.

RELATED: Schedule for Miami weekend | Gander Trucks entry list

This season’s NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series points leader, Austin Hill, won the 2019 Miami race, but he wasn’t one of the four drivers eligible for the title when the series championship was decided there last November. His work at the track, however, combined with a strong runner-up showing last week at Atlanta Motor Speedway makes him an absolute favorite this week in the No. 16 Hattori Racing Enterprises Toyota.

Hill is the only driver with top-10 finishes in all four races this season, his 5.0 average finish is best in the series and his 73 laps led is most among series regulars.

“We’ve had a great start to the year, and I know our group is capable of even more,” Hill said. “We had a great United Rentals Tundra last week at Atlanta and we’ve had good speed every race so far. It definitely would have been nice to seal the deal last week, but we have a great shot to do it at Homestead on Saturday.”

Grant Enfinger, who bettered Hill last week at Atlanta on a green-white-checkered restart to settle the race in overtime, is now 2-for-4 on the season — also winning the Daytona International Speedway season opener. Enfinger has a solid Miami record as well with three top-10 finishes in the last four races. His best showing was a runner-up finish in 2018 after starting from pole position. He is third in the championship, 31 points off Hill’s pace.

In all, there are four current championship contenders with Miami trophies. In addition to Hill, Brett Moffitt won in South Florida in 2018 to claim the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series championship. Reigning champion Matt Crafton won there in 2015, and Johnny Sauter is the 2011 race champion.

All four of these past winners are setting themselves up as early 2020 title favorites.

Moffitt is ranked fourth in the championship, 31 points behind Hill. The driver of the No. 23 GMS Chevrolet has two top-five finishes in two starts at Miami, including a fifth-place last year in addition to the 2018 victory. His average finish is 3.0.

Crafton, driver of the No. 88 ThorSport Racing Ford, is still trying to raise his title defense game. His only top 10 through four races is a fourth place at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. He’s ranked 11th in the standings but has an impressive Miami resume with 11 top-10 finishes in 19 Homestead starts and not a single DNF. Saturday night may be just what the three-time series champion needs to establish himself a contender again.

Sauter, driver of the No. 13 ThorSport Racing Ford, comes to Miami abundantly motivated. An inspection violation last week at Atlanta dropped the veteran from a top-10 finish to last on the scoring sheet. Instead of being ranked among the top five in the title run — he was second — he’s now eighth. Not only does he have that previous win at Miami, he has had nine top-10 finishes in 13 starts — including five of the last six races.

These past success stories, however, are facing a talented group of young drivers who have already proven themselves ready to challenge.

Zane Smith, driver of the No. 21 GMS Racing Chevrolet, is second in the championship — 21 points behind Hill. He’ll be making his Miami debut. The 21-year old comes to South Florida with top-10 finishes in the last three races, including a best of third place on the 1.5-mile Charlotte Motor Speedway oval.

Ben Rhodes, the 23-year old driver of the No. 99 ThorSport Racing Ford, has top-10 finishes in the last three races. He’s ranked fifth in the championship, 35 points behind Hill. Rhodes has one top-10 in four previous Miami starts.

Posted on by Data Skrive

Bubba Wallace finished 11th in the Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway on Wednesday after heading into the race with an average finish position of 21.0 this season.

Wallace’s result added 37 points to his season total.

Wallace started in 23rd position. The fourth-year driver has picked up two top-five and six top-10 finishes in his career.

Wednesday’s race was Wallace’s fourth career start at Martinsville Speedway. He’s completed all of those races, but has not earned a top-10 finish at the track.

The Mobile, Alabama native’s starting and finishing positions compared favorably to his career averages, starting one spot higher than his career mark of 23.8 and completing the race 11 places ahead of his 21.8 career average finish.

Wallace’s 11th-place finish was against 39 other drivers. The race endured seven cautions and 52 caution laps. There were 14 lead changes.

Martin Truex Jr earned the victory in the race, and Ryan Blaney followed in second. Brad Keselowski placed third, Joey Logano took fourth, and Chase Elliott rounded out the top five.

After Logano won Stage 1, Jimmie Johnson drove the No. 48 car to the win in Stage 2.

Bubba Wallace Driver Page | Get Wallace Gear | Race Center

Posted on by Data Skrive

Alex Bowman finished sixth in the Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway on Wednesday.

The top 10 finish for Bowman added 38 points to his season total.

Bowman started in eighth position. The seventh-year driver has collected two career victories, with 12 top-five finishes and 28 results inside the top 10.

The sixth-place result on Wednesday was the first time Bowman has cracked the top 10 at Martinsville Speedway.

The Tucson, Arizona native’s starting and finishing positions compared favorably to his career averages, starting eight spots higher than his career mark of 16.3 and completing the race 13 places ahead of his 18.9 career average finish.

Bowman competed with 39 other drivers on the way to his sixth-place finish. The race endured seven cautions and 52 caution laps. There were 14 lead changes.

Martin Truex Jr secured the win in the race, and Ryan Blaney finished second. Brad Keselowski crossed the finish line third, Joey Logano took fourth, and Chase Elliott grabbed the No. 5 spot.

After Logano won the first stage, Jimmie Johnson drove the No. 48 car to victory in Stage 2.

Alex Bowman Driver Page | Get Bowman Gear | Race Center

Posted on by Data Skrive

Brad Keselowski finished third in the Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway on Wednesday.

Keselowski’s top five finish added 34 points to his season total.

Keselowski started in sixth position and led five laps in the race. The 13th-year driver has collected 32 career victories, with 119 top-five finishes and 193 results inside the top 10.

Victory Lane at Martinsville Speedway is a familiar place for Keselowski, who has two career wins at the track. His third-place finish also marks the ninth time he has finished in the top five at Martinsville and his 14th top 10.

The Rochester Hills, Michigan native’s starting and finishing positions compared favorably to his career averages, starting eight spots higher than his career mark of 14.4 and completing the race 11 places ahead of his 14.5 career average finish.

Keselowski’s third-place finish was against a field of 39 drivers. The race endured seven cautions and 52 caution laps. Prior to the checkered flag there were 14 lead changes.

Martin Truex Jr brought home the win in the race, followed by Ryan Blaney in the No. 2 spot. Behind Keselowski’s third-place finish, Joey Logano brought home fourth, and Chase Elliott took the No. 5 spot.

After Logano won the first stage, Jimmie Johnson drove the No. 48 car to victory in Stage 2.

Brad Keselowski Driver Page | Get Keselowski Gear | Race Center

Posted on by Data Skrive

Matt DiBenedetto finished seventh in the Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway on Wednesday.

The top 10 finish for DiBenedetto added 32 points to his season total.

DiBenedetto started in 19th position. The sixth-year driver has earned four top-five and 13 top-10 finishes in his career.

Wednesday’s race was DiBenedetto’s 10th career start at Martinsville Speedway.

The Grass Valley, California native’s starting and finishing positions compared favorably to his career averages, starting eight spots higher than his career mark of 26.5 and completing the race 18 places ahead of his 25 career average finish.

DiBenedetto competed against 39 other drivers on the way to his seventh-place finish. The race endured seven cautions and 52 caution laps. There were 14 lead changes.

Martin Truex Jr brought home the win in the race, and Ryan Blaney finished second. Brad Keselowski placed third, Joey Logano brought home fourth, and Chase Elliott closed out the top five.

After Logano won the first stage, Jimmie Johnson drove the No. 48 car to the win in Stage 2.

Matt DiBenedetto Driver Page | Get DiBenedetto Gear | Race Center

Posted on by Data Skrive

Chris Buescher finished 13th in the Blue-Emu Maximum Pain Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway on Wednesday.

Buescher’s result added 24 points to his season total.

Buescher started in 24th position. The sixth-year driver has one career victory, with five top-five finishes and 14 results inside the top 10.

Wednesday was Buescher’s ninth career start at Martinsville Speedway. He’s finished all of those races, but has never managed to crack the top 10 at the track.

The Prosper, Texas native’s starting and finishing positions compared favorably to his career averages, starting one spot higher than his career mark of 25.1 and completing the race nine places ahead of his 21.9 career average finish.

Buescher’s 13th-place finish was against 39 other drivers. The race endured seven cautions and 52 caution laps. There were 14 lead changes.

Martin Truex Jr took the checkered flag in the race, and Ryan Blaney took second. Brad Keselowski placed third, Joey Logano secured fourth, and Chase Elliott grabbed the No. 5 spot.

After Logano won Stage 1, Jimmie Johnson drove the No. 48 car to the win in Stage 2.

Chris Buescher Driver Page | Get Buescher Gear | Race Center

Posted on by Staff Report

Blaneys. Earnhardts. Pettys. NASCAR and fathers – and father figures — simply go together.

It was with that in mind that Advance Auto Parts developed the Garage Moments contest, in which one winner will receive the ultimate home garage makeover.

We’re talking epoxy flooring, a steel garage cabinet set, sponsor decals, ceiling lighting, a mobile workbench, tire rack, mesh WiFi system, in-ceiling/wall speakers – plus more! — and an Advance Auto Parts gift card for $1,000.

It’s enough to completely deck out perhaps your favorite space in the house. How do you win? By writing an essay about perhaps your favorite person.

Garage Moments begins June 11 and runs through June 21 — which is Father’s Day, and the NASCAR Cup Series races at Talladega Superspeedway. It’s just the latest motorsports initiative for Advance Auto Parts, which serves as sponsor of Ryan Blaney’s No. 12 in the NASCAR Cup Series and earlier this week was announced as the new presenting sponsor of the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series.

Here’s how to enter.

• First, go to the contest page here

• Complete the entry form and submit an essay in which you share your garage moment with a father figure in your life that taught you everything you needed to know about cars – and life – in 600 characters or less. Don’t forget the photo or video.

• Remember, your nominee is an individual you personally recognize as a father figure. It could be a father, mother, brother, friend or more.

Brush up on all the official rules here, and then get to writing.

Promotion sponsored by Advance Auto Parts