Posted on by Staff Report

A missed race and a blown engine weren’t enough to deny Christian Eckes.

The 18-year-old from Middletown, New York, drove from the back of the field in Friday night’s finale to win the Kansas 150 at Kansas Speedway and claim the 2019 ARCA Menards Series championship in the process.

Eckes was forced to drop to the rear of the field after mechanical problems during qualifying left the team scrambling to change the engine before the green flag. Eckes grabbed the lead on a restart with 43 laps to go from his Venturini Motorsports teammate and main championship rival, Michael Self, and sailed to the win.

“It’s so special,” Eckes said. “I wasn’t really nervous after qualifying. I was just going to do my deal because I knew we had a fast race car. And man, we got the lead there and we drove away.”

Eckes overcame a points deficit incurred in part from missing the third race of the season, in April, due to illness. He took the points lead with a runner-up finish at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis two weeks ago.

Self, who entered the finale trailing Eckes by 15 points and did what he could by leading the most laps, settled for second in the race and the final championship points standings.

“I thought we’d have a really good shot at it,” Self said. “We did have a really good shot at it. He just got a better restart than we did. And that’s what sums up the championship.”

Eckes finished with four wins, 13 top fives and 17 top 10s in 19 starts. Eckes also had two poles and two top fives in six NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series starts this season. He became the first driver to win the ARCA Menards Series championship after missing a race since Tim Steele in 1997.

“This is really, really special,” Eckes said. “This year has kind of been a roller coaster. But we ended on a high and that’s all that matters. Man, I’m just really to celebrate with my guys.”

Ty Majeski finished third, followed by Bret Holmes and Travis Braden. Tanner Gray, who won the General Tire Pole Award earlier in the day, finished sixth, followed by Drew Dollar, Hailie Deegan, Joe Graf Jr. and Gus Dean.

The 2020 ARCA Menards Series will officially begin Saturday, Feb. 8, at Daytona International Speedway with the Lucas Oil 200 Driven by General Tire. It will mark the 57th annual ARCA visit to Daytona. It will also mark a new era, as the ARCA Menards Series and NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and West combine under the ARCA Menards Series banner.

For now, though, the moment belongs to the kid from New York.

Posted on by Chase Wilhelm

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — A weight lifted off his shoulders, Clint Bowyer comes to his home track ready to keep elimination from the postseason at bay.

On Thursday, Stewart-Haas Racing announced Bowyer would return to its No. 14 Ford Mustang entry for the 2020 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season, putting to bed all the rumors that swirled about his future.

Bowyer said he and the organization agreed to a one-year deal with no indication on what his future looks like past next season. Though it might seem like a short length of time, it actually fits perfectly with where Bowyer stands in his 14-year full-time Cup Series career.

RELATED: Bowyer, SHR extend deal | Kansas weekend schedule

“It is good for me,” Bowyer said Friday at Kansas Speedway. “In today’s day in age, there is a lot going on. There are a lot of moving parts in our sport. You talk about everything that is going to happen after that and there is just a lot of unknowns.”

Bowyer went on to elaborate a one-year commitment at this time was a mutual decision.

“At this point in the game, you aren’t in situations anymore where you put three years together or long-term deals anymore,” Bowyer said. “I am OK. I was fine with a one-year deal. That is on my end of it, too. I feel like that is where we are at in today’s day and age. I was 100% OK with that.”

With that distraction out of the equation, Bowyer can now focus his full attention on trying to advance into the NASCAR Playoffs’ Round of 8. But he’ll have his work cut out for him, sitting 24 points below the cutline heading into Sunday’s Hollywood Casino 400 Round of 12 elimination race at Kansas (2:30 p.m. ET, NBCSN/NBC Sports App, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

But while his back is against the wall, Bowyer knows he can’t be too aggressive like he was at ISM Raceway last year in his effort to thrust himself into the Championship 4.

“A lot has to happen,” Bowyer said. “There is something that happens in this sport that we don’t talk about a lot. If you don’t make that and you get kicked out, you get thrown back in the pot. Truth be told, you can end up fifth or 16th and they are both doable. I learned that last year the hard way of going for it and throwing all caution to the wind and really throwing Hail Marys out there at the end trying to stay alive in our quest for a championship and it bit us.

“You can’t lose sight of that. That is something that I will not make that mistake again.”

Looking for his first career victory at the 1.5-mile track, the Emporia, Kansas, native isn’t mathematically in a must-win situation, but he’ll need drivers ahead of him – including Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano, Alex Bowman and Chase Elliott – to have issues in order to overcome the steep deficit.

Bowyer is hoping some home cooking will give him an extra playoff push. Despite a lack of speed in final practice, finishing 19th in the session, Kansas has proven in the past it’s more of a wild-card race than one would think.

“At the end of the day, this is our turn and opportunity to try to stay alive and it is right here at home, so of course we will do everything we can do to get every stage point and every position,” Bowyer said. “Look how many wild things happened in the spring race. … Always a points shake-up or a finish different that you didn’t expect all weekend long from practice.”

Posted on by Chase Wilhelm

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Ryan Preece made sure to step up when his team needed him this weekend at Kansas Speedway.

After the JTG Daugherty Racing’s No. 47 hauler sustained significant damaged due to a fire en route to the 1.5-mile track Thursday morning, the team opted to use the No. 37 team’s backup car of teammate Chris Buescher as its own primary vehicle. That led to an early Friday morning, as NASCAR officials allowed the team to make the necessary changes before the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series garage was open for business at noon local time.

While Preece wasn’t required to arrive at the track until later for the Hollywood Casino 400 (Sunday, 2:30 p.m. ET, NBCSN/NBC Sports App, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) opening practice, he made it a point to travel early with his crew members to offer a helping hand.

“I came in with them this morning at 7 (a.m. CT),” Preece said. “I think we’re in this as a team, and I wasn’t just going to show up later in the afternoon to just show up and drive. I wanted them to know I’m right there with them. … I know some of these guys haven’t had much sleep, so I’m pretty proud of them.”

The focus of Preece’s assistance was mainly interior parts, getting the No. 37 backup car up to snuff and switching out the seat that was originally installed for Buescher since the two drivers race with different styles of carbon-fiber seating. The team missed roughly 10 minutes of opening practice in its efforts.

“It just goes to show how strong of a team JTG Daugherty actually is,” Preece said. “I don’t even know what time they started making plans to make this all happen, but it was less than 36 hours to figure it out. My hat’s off to them because I know what it takes to even plan a regular weekend and when you have something like this that comes up, nobody can plan for something like this.

“… I wanted to help in any way I could.”

JTG Daugherty wasn’t the only organization to experience hauler incidents. The No. 10 Kaulig Racing Xfinity Series team hauler of Ross Chastain crashed Wednesday going westbound on Interstate 40 in McDowell County, just east of Asheville, North Carolina, after the driver experienced medical issues, sending the tractor trailer through a guardrail and down an embankment.

The driver and co-driver of the No. 10 hauler were both treated and released from a local hospital and are now back at home.

Kaulig Racing was able to get another car out to Kansas in time for Friday’s Xfinity Series practice sessions prior to Saturday’s Kansas Lottery 300 (3 p.m. ET, NBC/NBC Sports App, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio), using its primary car originally slated for use at Texas Motor Speedway in November.

Posted on by Staff Report

Daniel Hemric rose atop the Monster Energy Series leaderboard Friday, topping final practice for Sunday’s Hollywood Casino 400 (2:30 p.m. ET, NBC, MRN, SiriusXM) at Kansas Speedway.

Hemric posted a best lap of 177.830 mph in the Richard Childress Racing No. 8 Chevrolet to head the 50-minute session. Kevin Harvick, a three-time Kansas winner, claimed the second slot on the speed chart with a lap of 177.096 mph in the Stewart-Haas Racing No. 4 Ford.

RELATED: Final practice results | Full Kansas schedule

Kurt Busch was third-fastest in the Chip Ganassi Racing No. 1 Chevrolet, clocking a lap at 177.072 mph.

Brad Keselowski, who led opening practice, settled for 176.893 mph to snag the fourth spot in final practice. The Team Penske driver will be aiming for a season sweep at Kansas on the heels of his May victory at the 1.5-mile track.

Teammate Ryan Blaney, last week’s winner at Talladega Superspeedway closed out the top five at 176.725 mph in the Team Penske No. 12 Ford.

Sunday’s 400.5-miler is the final event in the three-race Round of 12 in the NASCAR Playoffs. The championship-eligible field will be whittled to just eight drivers at the conclusion of the race.

Busch Pole Qualifying is scheduled Saturday at 1:35 p.m. ET (NBCSN, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

Keselowski takes top spot in first practive

Brad Keselowski sped to the top spot in Friday’s opening practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series at Kansas Speedway.

Keselowski powered Team Penske’s No. 2 Ford to a best lap of 176.499 mph around the 1.5-mile track. He’ll be vying for a Kansas season sweep in Sunday’s Hollywood Casino 400 (2:30 p.m. ET, NBC/NBC Sports App, MRN, SiriusXM), trying to replicate his winning run at the Kansas City venue in May.

RELATED: Practice 1 results

A pair of Stewart-Haas Racing teammates claimed the second and third spots, with Aric Almirola second fastest at 176.390 mph in the No. 10 Ford and Daniel Suarez third (176.332 mph) in the No. 41 Ford. Denny Hamlin was fourth in the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, with Ryan Blaney, last weekend’s winner at Talladega Superspeedway, completing the top five in the 50-minute session in the No. 12 Team Penske Ford.

Defending race winner Chase Elliott was just 23rd fastest in the No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet.

Posted on by Official NASCAR Release

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (October 18, 2019) – NASCAR today announced that it has successfully closed its acquisition of International Speedway Corporation (“ISC”), merging its operations into one, new company moving forward. The new company will remain based in Daytona Beach, Florida and will continue as NASCAR. As part of this process, ISC has been delisted from NASDAQ.

In leading the new, combined company, Jim France will serve as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, with Lesa France Kennedy as Executive Vice Chair. Steve Phelps has been appointed President and will oversee all operations of the merged entity.

“The merger of NASCAR and ISC represents a historic moment for our sport,” France said. “There is much work ahead of us, but we’re pleased with the progress made to position our sport for success. Delivering for our race fans and partners is job number one and we look forward to doing that better than ever for years to come.”

The merger represents an important step forward for NASCAR as the sport creates a unified vision to embrace its long history of exciting, family-oriented racing experiences while developing strategic growth initiatives that will drive the passion of core fans and attract the next generation of race fans.

“This sport has meant so much to our family and we are committed to leading NASCAR through this next chapter of growth,” said France Kennedy. “Combining the two companies will allow us to capture the best aspects of both operations. Our stronger organization will allow us to take advantage of the tremendous opportunities to grow the sport over the next decade plus.”

As part of the new organization, the Board of Directors will consist of France, France Kennedy, Mike Helton and Gary Crotty, Chief Legal Officer. Phelps’ direct reports will represent executives with deep industry experience, including Ed Bennett, Executive Vice President & Chief Administrative Officer; Jill Gregory, Executive Vice President & Chief Marketing and Content Officer; Craig Neeb, Executive Vice President & Chief Innovation Officer; Steve O’Donnell, Executive Vice President & Chief Racing Development Officer; and Daryl Wolfe, Executive Vice President & Chief Operations and Sales Officer. In addition, Helton and John Saunders will serve as senior advisors under the new leadership structure.

“With great racing across all of our series, an exciting 2020 schedule on tap, and the Next Gen race car in development, we are better positioned than ever before to lead the sport into a new era of growth,” said Phelps. “We have a strong, experienced leadership team in place with incredibly dedicated employees at every level throughout our organization. Our best days are ahead of us and our new organization is going to allow us to better deliver great racing to our fans everywhere.”

Advising NASCAR on this transaction were Goldman, Sachs & Co. LLC as exclusive financial advisor and Baker Botts L.L.P. as legal counsel. Dean Bradley Osborne Partners LLC served as financial advisor and Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz as legal counsel to the ISC special committee. Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr LLP served as legal counsel to ISC and BDT & Company served as financial advisors to the France family.

Posted on by Staff Report

KANSAS CITY, KS. – All that separates two drivers from the ARCA Menards Series championship is 100 laps and 15 points.

On one side is rising young star Christian Eckes, who has surged into the lead on the strength of two wins and four runner-up finishes in his last six starts. On the other is veteran driver Michael Self, who has four wins as he chases his first championship.

They’ll settle the title Friday evening at Kansas Speedway in the Kansas 150. The race will air live on MAVTV and, for the first time, it will stream live on NASCAR.com, beginning at 8:30 p.m. ET. The race will also air on same-day delay on FS1 following the conclusion of the American League Championship Series game, at approximately 11 p.m.

BOOKMARK: Live stream here

“This is a great opportunity for race fans to catch all the live ARCA Menards Series action on NASCAR.com and watch the culmination of a great championship battle,” said ARCA Menards Series president Ron Drager. “With all the great news coming out recently around the 2020 ARCA Menards Series, including a relaunch of ARCARacing.com, this is a perfect way to close out the season and look forward to exciting opportunities next year.”

NASCAR and ARCA recently announced the new format for the ARCA Menards Series, which will combine the current NASCAR K&N Pro Series East and West and the ARCA Menards Series into a multiple championship format under ARCA Menards Series next year.

It was important, said Drager, to provide an integral development step for young drivers who aspire to move up to NASCAR’s three national series, as well as a highly competitive, professional level for short-track veterans.

Nowhere is that more evident than in Friday’s finale.

RELATED: Learn more on 2020 framework

Eckes has three wins, 12 top fives and 16 top 10s in the No. 15 JBL Audio Toyota for Bill Venturini. The 18-year-old from Middletown, N.Y., leads the ARCA Menards Series despite missing the third race of the season due to an illness. He’s also made 10 starts over the last two years in the NASCAR Gander Outdoor Truck Series for Kyle Busch Motorsports. Most recently, he won the pole and finished third at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Self, driving the No. 25 Sinclair Lubricants Toyota for Venturini, has four wins, 13 top fives and 14 top 10s. The 28-year-old from Park City, Utah, a veteran of 71 starts in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series, finishing fourth in the West in 2013 and ’17. In 2013, he became the first West driver to win the annual NASCCAR K&N Pro combination race at Iowa Speedway. Self also has seven wins in 38 starts in the ARCA Menards Series between 2014-19, including winning the 2018 race at Daytona International Speedway.

“We have to be ahead of Christian if we are going to win the championship,” Self said. “Nothing that happened prior to this race really matters. It’s all about what happens in this race. We’re going to do what we’ve done all season long and go out and try to win. I like the style of racing on the big tracks.

“If we do that, we’ll have done all we can and we’ll see how it shakes out.”

Friday’s finale has plenty of star power in addition to the title tilt.

The field will include multi-time NASCAR K&N Pro Series race winner Hailie Deegan, 2018 ARCA Menards Series champion Sheldon Creed, and 2017 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East champion Harrison Burton. Burton was announced Thursday as the driver of Joe Gibbs Racing’s No. 20 in the NASCAR Xfinity Series for the 2020 season.

The ARCA Kansas 150 will get underway Friday with practice at 1 p.m., followed by General Tire Pole Qualifying at 6 p.m.

Posted on by Staff Report

CHARLOTTE, N.C., October 17, 2019 – Today 704Games, NASCAR Team Properties’ exclusive console simulation-style video game licensee, announced that the new NASCAR Heat 4 October DLC will be available for all race fans.

The October Paid Pack will include 40 Cup and 10 Xfinity Series schemes along with nine additional free schemes, which will be pushed to all consumers via the next patch.

Among the designs included are several throwback schemes that ran at the 2019 Southern 500 including Bubba Wallace’s Adam Petty tribute, Chase Elliott’s old school NAPA colors and Stewart-Haas Racing’s homage to Tony Stewart’s three championship titles.

MORE: Check out October DLC

The updates also include Austin Dillon’s American Ethanol Throwback, Martin Truex Jr.’s Bass Pro Shops Throwback, Denny Hamlin’s FedEx Racing Throwback and other schemes from the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, the Xfinity Series, and the Gander Outdoors Truck Series.  A full list of schemes can be found below.

The NASCAR Heat 4 October DLC pack will be available on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Steam.  The pack can be purchased individually for $12.99.  For fans who have purchased the NASCAR Heat 4 Season Pass, they will receive the update via their Season Pass package, which includes all 2019 DLC releases.

Fans who don’t already own NASCAR Heat 4 can get a copy here or wherever videogames are sold.

Nascar Heat 4 Dlc Main

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Schemes

  • Landon Cassill Mane N Tail
  • Kurt Busch Chevrolet Accessories Throwback
  • Brad Keselowski BRAD K Throwback
  • Brad Keselowski BRAD K Patriotic
  • Austin Dillon American Ethanol Throwback
  • Ryan Newman Oscar Mayer Throwback
  • Daniel Hemric Caterpillar Throwback
  • Chase Elliott NAPA Throwback
  • Chase Elliott NAPA Filters
  • Aric Almirola Smithfield Throwback
  • Denny Hamlin FedEx Racing Throwback
  • Ryan Blaney Pennzoil / Menards Throwback
  • Ryan Blaney Dent Wizard
  • Clint Bowyer Rush Truck Centers Throwback
  • Clint Bowyer Toco Warranty
  • Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. Roush DW Tribute
  • Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. Little Hugs Fruit Barrels
  • Kyle Busch Snickers Throwback
  • Martin Truex, Jr. Bass Pro Shops Throwback
  • Erik Jones Sport Clips Throwback
  • Paul Menard Motorcraft Throwback
  • Joey Logano Shell Pennzoil Throwback
  • William Byron Autoguard Throwback
  • Corey LaJoie Keen Parts Throwback
  • Michael McDowell Dockside Logistics Throwback
  • Matt Tifft TEI Motorsports Throwback
  • Chris Buescher Fast Lane to Flavor
  • Chris Buescher Tide Pods
  • David Ragan Shriner’s Hospital Throwback
  • Daniel Suarez Haas Automation Throwback
  • Kyle Larson Clover Throwback
  • Darrell Wallace Jr. Victory Junction Throwback
  • Darrell Wallace Jr. Victory Junction
  • Darrell Wallace Jr. Air Force Warthog
  • Ryan Preece Kroger Throwback
  • Jimmie Johnson Ally Throwback
  • Alex Bowman Axalta Throwback
  • Matt DiBenedetto Toyota Throwback
  • Matt DiBenedetto Toyota Express Maintenance

Xfinity Series Schemes

  • Cole Custer Production Alliance Throwback
  • Michael Annett Baby Ruth Throwback
  • Tyler Reddick TAME THE BEAST
  • Justin Allgaier Armour Sausage Throwback
  • Noah Gragson Switch Patriotic
  • Justin Haley Raybestos Throwback
  • Brandon Jones Juniper Networks
  • Jeremy Clements Repairable Vehicles Trowback
  • Brandon Brown BrandonBilt Throwback
  • Chase Briscoe Ford Throwback

Gander Outdoors Truck Series Schemes

  • Jordan Anderson Sefton
  • Jordan Anderson Bommarito Black
  • Todd Gilliland Mobil 1
  • Austin Hill Chiba Toyopet
  • Spencer Boyd Record Rack
  • Brett Moffitt Chevrolet Accessories
  • Brett Moffitt Plan B Sales
  • Ross Chastain Florida Watermelon
  • Matt Crafton Black Label Bacon / Menards
  • Grant Enfinger Curb Records

Additionally, a handful of free schemes will be pushed to all consumers via the next patch…

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series

  • Alex Bowman Chicagoland (Race Win Version)
  • Alcohol Schemes (Must be 21)
  • Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series
  • Brad Keselowski Miller Lite Throwback
  • Brad Keselowski Miller Lite Patriotic
  • Kevin Harvick Busch Flannel
  • Kevin Harvick Busch Beer National Forest
  • Kevin Harvick Big Buck Hunters Throwback

Xfinity Series

  • Tyler Reddick TAME THE BEAST

Get your copy of NASCAR Heat 4 today!

And follow NASCAR Heat 4 on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook for the latest updates.

Posted on by Staff Report

Stewart-Haas Racing announced Thursday that Clint Bowyer will return to its No. 14 Ford for the 2020 NASCAR Cup Series campaign.

Bowyer is in his third year with SHR’s No. 14, a seat he took over when team co-owner Tony Stewart retired after the 2015 season. Bowyer has 10 wins in NASCAR’s top division, including two victories with Stewart-Haas last season.

RELATED: Key moments for Bowyer | Silly Season key drivers

“Clint Bowyer is a racer to his core who brings passion and energy to our race team,” Stewart said in a news release provided by the team. “He’s exactly who I wanted to drive my No. 14 car and we’re very happy to have him continue with Stewart-Haas Racing.”

The timing of Bowyer’s contract extension dovetails with his return to Kansas Speedway in his home state. He enters the weekend ranked 11th among the 12 remaining title-eligible drivers, needing to overcome a 24-point deficit to keep his postseason hopes intact.

“I’m proud to be back with Stewart-Haas Racing next year and very happy to announce it the week leading into my home race,” Bowyer said in the team release. “This is a team filled with racers who love to compete, and as a race car driver, it’s exactly where you want to be. Great equipment, great teammates, and we’re all backed by great people, which starts at the top with Tony and Gene. They know how to build some fast Ford Mustangs and I’m the lucky guy who gets to drive ’em.”

The news of Bowyer’s return follows a pair a high-profile renewals for Stewart-Haas Racing in recent weeks. The organization announced Oct. 10 that driver Aric Almirola and sponsor Smithfield would be back  with the No. 10 team next season. Rodney Childers, crew chief for SHR’s No. 4 Ford driven by Kevin Harvick, confirmed Oct. 7 that he had agreed to a contract extension for the role he’s held since 2014.

Posted on by Staff Report

Veteran crew chief Brian Pattie will not return to the No. 17 Ford team next season, Roush Fenway Racing confirmed Thursday.

Pattie has been with the organization since 2016 and is in his third season working with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and the No. 17 group. The news was first reported by SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Roush Fenway Racing announced Sept. 25 that Stenhouse would not return as the driver of the No. 17 Ford, vacating the seat he had occupied since 2013. The Jack Roush-owned team will field the No. 17 for Chris Buescher in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series next season.

RELATED: Key drivers in Silly Season

Wednesday, JTG Daugherty Racing announced that Stenhouse would join its two-car effort in 2020.

Pattie has six wins as a crew chief in NASCAR’s top division — three with Clint Bowyer at Michael Waltrip Racing in 2012, two with Stenhouse in 2017 and his first in 2010 with Juan Pablo Montoya during his time with Chip Ganassi Racing.

Pattie is also a 10-time winner as a crew chief in Xfinity Series competition.