NASCAR competition officials handed down penalties to Joe Gibbs Racing’s No. 11 group Tuesday, docking the team for a lug-nut infraction after last weekend’s race at Dover International Speedway.
At-track officials discovered one lug nut not safely secured on the No. 11 Toyota after pole-starter Denny Hamlin finished fifth in Sunday’s Drydene 400 at the 1-mile track. Tuesday, officials fined No. 11 crew chief Chris Gabehart $10,000 for the safety violation.
Competition officials also issued an indefinite suspension to crew member Chad Emmons for a violation of NASCAR’s Substance Abuse Policy. Emmons most recently appeared on an official team roster as the fueler for Stewart-Haas Racing’s No. 41 team for the Sept. 21 event at Richmond Raceway. He was also listed as a reserve jack man for SHR’s Xfinity Series teams and the primary jack man for SS Green Light Racing’s No. 08 team in the Xfinity Series.
Emmons must complete NASCAR’s Road to Recovery program to earn reinstatement.
From an action-packed season opener at Daytona to a finalist-clinching walk-off, Season 10 of the eNASCAR PEAK Antifreeze iRacing Series has been one to remember. (Maybe it’s the $100,000 in prizes on the line — just a thought.) Before crowning a champion on national television Thursday, we’re counting down the best five moments of the season — and trust us, it was tough to pick just five.
And, yeah, we’ll probably have to add to this list following Thursday’s championship finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway, which airs live at 5 p.m. ET on NBCSN.
No. 5: Bobby Zalenski advances to Championship 4 with a clutch win at the Charlotte Roval
Heading into the Charlotte Roval — the last chance for a playoff driver to advance to the Championship 4 at Homestead-Miami Speedway with a win — Joe Gibbs Racing driver Bobby Zalenski found himself mired eighth of eight in the playoff standings. His only hope was to win at the difficult 17-turn road course — and that’s exactly what he did, in dominant fashion, leading every single lap from the pole and solidifying himself as one of the four championship finalists.
No. 4: Blake Reynolds makes an impossible save at Las Vegas
You probably won’t see something like this again. After contact racing in a cluster at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Blake Reynolds’ car nearly hooked nose-first into the wall, until the now-championship-finalist Reynolds somehow regained control of the car and continued racing without further incident.
Shortly after, Team Dillon Esports joined the PEAK iRacing Series and drafted Reynolds. Probably no coincidence there.
No. 3: Eric J. Smith, an unlikely winner at Auto Club
Undrafted series rookie Eric J. Smith was probably not considered a favorite by most heading into an early-season race at Auto Club Speedway, but, following a last-lap spin up front, he bested the entire field — including series heavyweights Keegan Leahy and Bobby Zalenski — in the debut of iRacing’s new NASCAR-mimicking aero rules in a thrilling side-by-side finish.
When Car No. 51 took the checkered flag on the final lap, it was his first lap led in his PEAK iRacing Series career. Not a bad way to start.
No. 2: A wild finish at Talladega
At a track famous for its wild finishes, the PEAK iRacing Series’ visit to Talladega Superspeedway lived up to the hype. Nick Ottinger cruised past leader Brad Davies on the final stretch, while Garrett Lowe ducked to Davies’ inside. With slowed momentum and the finish line in sight, Davies’ JR Motorsports machine was swallowed up by faster cars behind, setting up for a wild pack of spinning cars for the race win. Ultimately, JTG Daugherty Motorsports claimed its first win in the PEAK iRacing Series with series veteran and superspeedway ace Nick Ottinger.
No. 1: Blake Reynolds and Garrett Lowe battle for the final transfer spot at the Charlotte Roval
With a shot at the Championship 4 (read: a $40,000 top prize) within sight, the final transfer spot came down to Blake Reynolds and rookie Garrett Lowe at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval. Heading into the race, both drivers were tied for third in points — and, with Bobby Zalenski poised to snag one of the top-four spots for himself, it meant the higher finisher between Reynolds and Lowe would advance (of course, assuming second-place driver and fellow championship hopeful Michael Conti didn’t make up more points than the two).
For most of the race, the two drivers battled nose-to-tail, but action heated up in the closing laps as desperation grew. Reynolds and Lowe turned the play-it-safe, follow-the-leader battle into a side-by-side, crossover-over-crossover fight that lasted several laps.
Lowe’s hopes came to an end when his out-of-control car skidded through the final chicane on Lap 52 following contact with Reynolds, earning the No. 28 a time penalty that was insurmountable in the closing laps.
How many times can @evanposocco say "SIDE BY SIDE" in one lap?
Though Reynolds walked away with the better finish, advancing to the Championship 4, Garrett Lowe proved throughout his rookie-season effort he’s no slouch.
Honorable mention:
Corey Vincent wins at Indianapolis after Blake Reynolds runs out of fuel
Garrett Lowe wins his first race in a three-wide finish at Michigan
Casey Kirwan wins Race No. 1 after battling Zack Novak in the closing laps at Bristol
Catch the winner-takes-all finale for the eNASCAR PEAK Antifreeze iRacing Series Thursday, October 10 on NBCSN at 5 p.m. ET.
Germain Racing and longtime sponsor GEICO announced Tuesday that Ty Dillon will honor his grandfather, Richard Childress, with a throwback scheme for this weekend’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway.
In the fall of 1969, Childress climbed aboard his green No. 13 Chevrolet Camaro to compete in the inaugural event at the Alabama superspeedway, marking the first premier series start for the NASCAR Hall of Famer. Fifty years later, his youngest grandson, Dillon, will climb aboard his green No. 13 Chevrolet Camaro at the same track. The third-generation driver, who has competed for Germain Racing since joining the Cup Series full-time in 2017, will sport the same design as Childress to pay tribute to his family’s legacy.
“I think it’s really cool that we are running a throwback scheme of my grandfather’s original No. 13,” said Dillon. “Looking back over history, as a kid, I didn’t even know that he ran the No. 13, but when I got my opportunity with Bob Germain and Germain Racing, we dug up some old photos and found the car. I’m happy to be honoring him and Talladega, the place where it all got started for him and so many big things were started for our family. It’s going to be a huge weekend and I’m proud to honor his great career and everything that he has made since that time. It’s a unique-looking No. 13, different from what you see every weekend with our GEICO Camaro, but I’m really looking forward to running this paint scheme.”
While some might not know the story, Bill France Sr. opened Talladega Superspeedway in 1969, but due to circumstances, the then-driver’s association pulled out of the event. In order to compile a full field, France Sr. proposed to Childress and other drivers in the Grand American series to compete in the premier series the next day to receive the purse money. The money Childress earned in that event 50 years ago allowed him to purchase land, build his first shop and lay the foundation of Richard Childress Racing (RCR). Germain Racing, which is in a technical alliance with RCR, now has a shop on this same land.
Photo courtesy of Germain Racing
Dillon’s throwback scheme will feature identical key elements as Childress’ 1969 design. The No. 13 font is the same as Childress’ Camaro. On the tail, the letters, W-S, N.C., signify Winston Salem, N.C., the town that Childress called home. The iconic Chevrolet Camaro logo can be found on the lower-rear quarter panel, and above the driver’s door, Childress’ name is proudly shown, while Dillon’s name will ride on the right side.
The 1000Bulbs.com 500 will run at Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday, October 13th. The green flag will wave shortly after at 2 p.m. ET. NBC will carry the live television broadcast, while the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90 will carry the live radio broadcast.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Oct. 8, 2019) – NASCAR, NBC Sports and iRacing officially announced Tuesday a special two-hour edition of NASCAR America, which will broadcast the 2019 eNASCAR PEAK Antifreeze iRacing Series™ championship from the virtual Homestead-Miami Speedway live on October 10 at 5 p.m. ET. The first-ever eNASCAR® championship telecast will showcase the crowning of a first-time series champion and determine who will take home the largest share of the $100,000 prize pool.
“The increased energy and industry collaboration around the eNASCAR PEAK Antifreeze iRacing Series culminates with this first-ever championship broadcast,” said Tim Clark, senior vice president and chief digital officer, NASCAR. “Our fans expect thrilling, side-by-side racing, and eNASCAR on NBCSN will deliver.”
The NASCAR America broadcast will mark the first time an official eNASCAR PEAK Antifreeze iRacing Series race has been aired live on national television. iRacing made its NBCSN debut this summer with a pair of All-Star exhibition races hosted by NASCAR America’s Krista Voda, Parker Kligerman and AJ Allmendinger, along with series team owners Steve Letarte and Jeff Burton. Kligerman, also an owner in the series, competed in the events.
“NASCAR America is excited to showcase the best iRacers in the world competing for a championship,” said John Barnes, producer, NASCAR, NBC Sports. “Since its inception, NASCAR America has showcased sim racing to our viewers and we are thrilled to take the next step by crowing a champion.”
Celebrating its 10th season, the 2019 season features the largest prize pool in eNASCAR PEAK Antifreeze iRacing Series history with over $100,000 on the line between season-ending prizes and weekly performance bonuses. This year’s champion will earn the largest share, receiving $40,000 on top of their weekly winnings, as well as a test day in a US Legends Car and NASCAR Pinty’s Series vehicle with Canada’s Best Racing Team.
In addition, the champion will be flown to Miami for NASCAR’s championship weekend where they will be honored during the pre-race ceremonies for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
The last spot in the Championship 4 was determined at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval on September 24. Joe Gibbs Racing’s Bobby Zalenski, Roush Fenway Racing’s and the inaugural eNASCAR IGNITE Series champion Zack Novak, Team Dillon Esports’ Blake Reynolds and G2 Esports’ Keegan Leahy will be laying it all on the line for the title and their first-ever eNASCAR PEAK Antifreeze iRacing championship.
“This has been a historic year for the series with the addition of the official teams as well as the six-figure prize payout,” said Tony Gardner, president, iRacing.com. “Teams like JR Motorsports and Wood Brothers Racing, along with the aforementioned teams, have added a new level of exposure and legitimacy to the series. We couldn’t be more proud of the series and competitors. I am excited to watch the first-ever live eNASCAR championship race on Thursday and I can’t wait to see who will be crowned champion.”
Tune in to NASCAR America on NBCSN on Thursday, October 10 at 5 p.m. ET to watch the eNASCAR PEAK Antifreeze iRacing Series finale compete live at the virtual Homestead-Miami Speedway and be sure to follow @iRacing and @NASCARonNBC on Twitter for live updates during the race. For more information on iRacing and for special offers, visit iRacing.com.
The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series Playoffs will continue at Talladega Superspeedway this weekend for the 1000Bulbs.com 500 (Oct. 13 at 2 p.m. ET on NBC, SiriusXM and MRN) and Sugarlands Shine 250 (Oct. 12 at 1:30 p.m. ET on FS1, SiriusXM and MRN), respectively.
Crew chief Rodney Childers appeared to confirm a Monday report that he had agreed to a multiyear contract extension with Stewart-Haas Racing.
“I have tried to keep that stuff private. But obviously I’m very happy to continue with the 4 team and Kevin Harvick,” Childers wrote, in part, on Twitter. Earlier Monday, Adam Stern of the Sports Business Journal reported via a source that Childers had signed a multiyear renewal with SHR and the No. 4 team.
Well, not sure how this got out. It’s been a while back and I have tried to keep that stuff private. But obviously I’m very happy to continue with the 4 team and @KevinHarvick .. I’m very fortunate to work with so many great people and have such a great group of guys. https://t.co/5Pcu8Jrsg9
A Stewart-Haas Racing spokesperson issued the following statement: “Stewart-Haas Racing does not comment on the terms of its contracts, be it team or partner related. We appreciate your understanding.”
Childers and Harvick have been one of the most successful pairings in the garage since they were brought together in 2014, a championship-winning year.
In nearly six seasons together, the two have 25 wins, one title and four trips to the Championship 4.
Harvick, with three wins this year, currently is fourth in the driver standings heading into this weekend’s race at Talladega Superspeedway.
Brandon Brown placed 11th in the Use Your Melon Driver Sober 200 at Dover International Speedway, adding 26 points to his season total.
Brown now sits at 502 points on the season.
Cole Custer brought home the win in the race, with Justin Allgaier taking second, and Austin Cindric placing third. Justin Haley took fourth place, followed by Chase Briscoe in the No. 5 spot.
Custer has advanced to the next round of the NASCAR Xfinity Series playoffs.
Allgaier came away victorious in each of the race’s first two stages.
Brown qualified in 21st position at 151.280 mph. The fourth-year driver still is in search of career win No. 1, but has placed in the top 10 in one race.
There were 38 cars in the field, and the race endured six cautions and 33 caution laps. There were nine lead changes.
Ford added 40 points to its season totals with Custer’s victory. Overall, Chevrolet ranks No. 1 with 1041 points, followed by Ford in the No. 2 spot with 1028. Toyota sits at No. 3 with 1016 points on the season.
Zane Smith finished ninth in the Use Your Melon Driver Sober 200 at Dover International Speedway, adding 40 points to his season total.
Smith now sits at 286 points on the season.
Cole Custer earned the checkered flag in the race, with Justin Allgaier taking second, and Austin Cindric placing third. Justin Haley took fourth place, followed by Chase Briscoe to round out the top five.
Allgaier came away victorious in each of the race’s first two stages.
Smith qualified in 10th position at 155.454 mph. He’s still looking for career win No. 1, but boasts one top-five finish and six finishes in the top 10.
Smith battled 37 other cars in the field and the race saw six cautions and 33 caution laps. There were nine lead changes before the checkered flag.
Ford added 40 points to its season totals with Custer’s victory. Overall, Chevrolet ranks No. 1 with 1041 points, followed by Ford in the No. 2 spot with 1028. Toyota sits at No. 3 with 1016 points on the season.
Noah Gragson placed seventh in the Use Your Melon Driver Sober 200 at Dover International Speedway, adding 42 points to his season total.
Gragson now sits at No. 8 in the NASCAR Xfinity Series standings with 3005 points. He’s posted eight top-five finishes in 2019.
Cole Custer took the checkered flag in the race, with Justin Allgaier following in second, and Austin Cindric placing third. Justin Haley brought home fourth place, followed by Chase Briscoe in the No. 5 spot.
Allgaier came away victorious in each of the race’s first two stages.
Gragson qualified in seventh position at 155.736 mph. He’s still looking for career victory No. 1, but owns 10 top-five finishes and 23 finishes in the top 10.
There were 38 cars in the field, and the race endured six cautions and 33 caution laps. There were nine lead changes.
Ford added 40 points to its season totals with Custer’s victory. Overall, Chevrolet ranks No. 1 with 1041 points, followed by Ford in the No. 2 spot with 1028. Toyota sits at No. 3 with 1016 points on the season.
Justin Haley placed fourth in the Use Your Melon Driver Sober 200 at Dover International Speedway, adding 42 points to his season total.
Haley now sits at No. 10 in the NASCAR Xfinity Series playoff standings with 2076 points. He’s collected four top-five finishes in 2019.
Cole Custer came away with the victory in the race, with Justin Allgaier finishing second, and Austin Cindric crossing the finish line third. Chase Briscoe followed in fifth.
Allgaier came away victorious in each of the race’s first two stages.
Haley qualified in 11th position at 155.112 mph. He’s still looking for career victory No. 1, but boasts four top-five finishes and 18 finishes in the top 10.
There were 38 cars in the field, and the race endured six cautions and 33 caution laps. There were nine lead changes.
Ford added 40 points to its season totals with Custer’s victory. Overall, Chevrolet ranks No. 1 with 1041 points, followed by Ford in the No. 2 spot with 1028. Toyota sits at No. 3 with 1016 points on the season.
