Posted on by Holly Cain

In what many consider a surprise announcement only five days before the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs begin in Las Vegas, one of the sport’s most iconic teams, Wood Brothers Racing, announced Tuesday that driver Paul Menard will be stepping out of the driver’s seat and Matt DiBenedetto will replace him in the famed No. 21 Ford beginning in the 2020 season.

Wood Brothers conceded in a teleconference the team didn’t necessarily intend to make the news a “surprise” turn of events. Menard said he had been considering stepping out of a full-time driving role for months. Ultimately, the father of two young children decided, “I love my family more.”

RELATED: Key Silly Season drivers

According to those involved, Menard informed the Wood Brothers team of his intentions to stop full-time racing three weeks ago and then immediately suggested DiBenedetto, who currently drives the No. 95 Toyota for Leavine Family Racing, as a good driver to take over the No. 21 Ford. The Wood Brothers car is in a technical alliance with Team Penske, so Penske principals were also involved in securing the deal with DiBenedetto.

The whole process from Menard telling Wood Brothers he wanted to leave the full-time ride to it securing DiBenedetto took only about three weeks, the team said.

“First thing out of Paul’s mouth was, ‘Get Matt,’” team co-owner Eddie Wood said. “So right away, we started a conversation with Matt and that’s the only direction we went. And I’d like to thank Paul for putting us in that direction.”

“My whole path and career has been pretty unorthodox and crazy for sure,’’ DiBenedetto said. “I believe strongly in fate and that everything happens for a reason. I’ve had to trust in that throughout this whole journey because if I had control of everything throughout my career, I would have messed it up many, many times.

“I’ve just had to work as hard as I can. I live for this day and night and have had to let the things out of my control fall as they may. I’ve just been really lucky and it’s unreal how this path and opportunity worked out.”

After the mid-August announcement he would not be returning to Leavine Family Racing for the 2020 season, DiBenedetto said he received “a few phone calls” from teams expressing interest in him.

“But as soon as I got the phone call [from the Wood Brothers], that was a dream-come-true phone call and I was basically all-in on the opportunity,’’ he said. “They could have called me at two in the morning to meet with them and I would have been there immediately. This is the best opportunity of my life and I think we can all build something great for years to come.’’

Said team co-owner Len Wood: “He was our first choice. I just think it was meant to be.’’

RELATED: More from Wood Brothers

DiBenedetto, a 28-year-old Californian, is in the midst of a career year in the No. 95 LFR Toyota, leading a race-best 49 laps in the season-opening Daytona 500 before being collected in a wreck in the waning portion of the race. He has scored the first top fives of his five Cup seasons (at Sonoma Raceway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway and Bristol Motor Speedway) this year and already earned a career-high six top 10s in the car. Only three weeks ago he scored a dramatic and career best runner-up finish to Denny Hamlin at the famed Bristol Night Race.

The 39-year-old Wisconsin native Menard has competed full time in the Monster Energy Series for 13 seasons, earning his lone victory at one of the sport’s grandest races, the 2011 Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. His first full-time Cup job was in 2007 driving Chevrolets for Dale Earnhardt Inc. He raced a season each for both Yates Racing and Richard Petty Motorsports before settling in at Richard Childress Racing, where he competed from 2011-17. He moved to the Wood Brothers’ No. 21 last season.

Menard has two Monster Energy Series pole positions to his credit – in 2008 at the Daytona International Speedway summer race and last year at Chicagoland Speedway. He has one win, 20 top-five and 69 top-10 finishes. His best season statistically was 2014, when he had five top fives and 13 top 10s.

Currently, Menard ranks 19th in the Monster Energy Series standings with four top 10s through the opening 26 Cup races.

Menard also has three NASCAR Xfinity Series victories and said he still plans to compete in assorted Xfinity races in the upcoming seasons.

“The way I look at it there’s still 26 years before I can get my AARP card, so I’ll stay pretty busy doing things,” Menard said. “First and foremost, I need to be a good dad, good husband. Outside of that are a lot of opportunities. Obviously we have a great company (Menards) up in Wisconsin that’s growing and vibrant.

“I’m not done racing yet, trying to figure out what the next step is for sure, but it’s not going to be 38 races a year, I can tell you that.’’

Posted on by RJ Kraft

NASCAR Fantasy Live’s Playoff game will cover the 10 races in the playoffs and function similarly to the regular-season edition of Fantasy Live. There are some changes to this game from the regular season, which are explained below. Leagues put together in the regular season will be kept intact, although scoring will reset for the playoffs. Players will also be able to see their overall scoring for the season combined across the regular season and playoff formats.

Accessing the game to set your roster can be done by logging into your account and going to the Fantasy page (NASCAR.com/Fantasy). You also can access the game by opening NASCAR Mobile, logging into your account and clicking the Fantasy icon on the bottom of the app.

Here is a primer to get you up to speed on the playoff game for 2019.

How is the playoff game different?
The first major difference is that there is no limit on how many times you can use a driver in the playoffs. If you are thinking that means you can roster Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin and Kevin Harvick for every race … you can but there is a twist there that we will get to below. The roster composition of teams is different from the regular season as well (further explained below) and there are some limits on how you can utilize the garage driver. There also is an additional bonus pick that must be set by the playoff opener in Las Vegas.

RELATED: Learn even more | Driver stats 

Roster
This is how the roster page will look. Playoff drivers will be specified with a special header. (NASCAR Digital Media)

What is the roster composition?
Players will be able to field a roster of starters with two active playoff drivers and two non-playoff drivers. You have one driver in your garage. Driver and garage selections lock five minutes before the race start time and do not carry over week-to-week, meaning you need to set your roster for each race.

How does the garage driver work?
Players can substitute their one garage driver up until the start of the Final Stage. Once the Final Stage starts, no more switches are allowed. However, if your garage driver is in the playoffs, you can only swap him for one of your two playoff drivers. If your garage guy is a non-playoff driver, you can only swap him for one of your two non-playoff drivers.

Example: Your active roster for Las Vegas is Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch as playoff drivers with Paul Menard and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. as your non-playoff drivers. Martin Truex Jr. is your garage driver. Truex can only be swapped for Harvick or Busch. You CANNOT replace Truex for Menard or Stenhouse.

Which races make up the playoffs?
The playoffs, which start Sept. 15, consist of 10 races: Las Vegas, Richmond, Charlotte road course, Dover, Talladega, Kansas, Martinsville, Texas, Phoenix and Homestead-Miami. Only the Charlotte road course and Homestead-Miami have not held a race this season before the playoffs.

Do eliminated drivers shift from playoff to non-playoff?
Yes, drivers that are eliminated from the playoffs will see their designation (playoff or non-playoff) transition at the start of a new round. This will give players fewer playoff options to choose from as we get deeper into the playoffs but more non-playoff options to choose from at the same time.

So which drivers end up scoring points?
The drivers ending the race in your main roster will comprise the drivers that make up your total score. A driver that ends the race in the garage would not see his results count toward your score.

Are there any limits to how much a driver can be used?
No. Unlike the regular-season game, there are no use limits on any driver. In theory, you could field the same lineup every week if you choose.

What is the scoring system?
The scoring will reflect the NASCAR Official Scoring System. For example, if Chase Elliott wins Stage 1 and Stage 2 and wins the race, he will earn players 60 fantasy points for that particular race just as he would earn 60 points for himself in the season standings.

Drivers running in the top 10 at the end of Stage 1 and Stage 2 receive points, starting with 10 points for first, nine for second, etc. The race winner receives 40 points, while second-place receives 35 points, third receives 34 points and all the way down to 1 point for drivers that finish 36th through 40th.

Are there any bonus picks?
Yes, players can make bonus picks for the pole winner, Stage 1 winner, Stage 2 winner, race winner and manufacturer winner. The pole winner bonus pick selection will lock approximately five minutes before the start time of qualifying. All other bonus picks lock five minutes before the race start time. Bonus picks DO NOT count against driver usage.

Infographicfantasy
NASCAR Digital Media

NEW FOR THE PLAYOFFS: Players can choose a playoff champion pick that is worth 60 points. This pick will lock five minutes before the green flag of the South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sept. 15 (7 p.m. ET on NBCSN/NBC Sports App, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). This bonus will be added to your score at the completion of the 10-week playoffs following the Homestead-Miami Speedway finale on Nov. 17.

What is the value of each bonus pick?
Pole Winner (5 points for correct pick)
Stage 1 Winner (10 points for correct pick)
Stage 2 Winner (10 points for correct pick)
Race Winner (10 points for correct pick)
Winning Manufacturer (10 points for correct pick)
Playoffs Champion (60 points for correct pick)

Will my leagues and teams from last year be available?
Regular-season leagues will see their full membership move over to the playoffs.

What is the prize for the best player in the playoffs?
The overall winner will receive a prize of $2,500.

Posted on by Staff Report

During this season’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, Team Toyota drivers and athletes are pairing up to curate unique prizes fans won’t want to miss.

Every two weeks, a new Toyota Tag Team will be introduced in custom video content, giving fans the inside track on fun and candid conversations between some of the world’s most elite athletes. Each Tag Team brings fans a shot at exclusive prizes connected to the athletes’ personal interests or careers.

Throughout the NASCAR® Playoffs, fans can enter at www.toyota.com/racing/playoffpromo for a chance to win these athlete-inspired prizes, plus a 2020 Toyota Camry TRD and VIP Daytona 500 experience from the ultimate Tag Team: Toyota & NASCAR.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. Ends 11/17/19. Must be a permanent legal resident of the (50) U.S. or DC of legal age of majority (& at least 18) as of 9/9/19. Void where prohibited. Click here for Official Rules, which govern, entry & complete details. Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A., Inc. is not a Sponsor of this Promotion.

Posted on by Staff Report

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Tuesday, NASCAR Team Properties’ exclusive console simulation-style video game licensee, 704Games, will release the latest version of the NASCAR Heat franchise. Fans who pre-ordered or plan to purchase the limited NASCAR Heat 4 Gold Edition will have early access to gameplay, as the Standard Edition will be available nationwide Friday. The game will be available on the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, the Xbox One family of devices, including the Xbox One X, and PC via the Steam Store.

RELATED: Buy special Gold Edition

NASCAR Heat 4 delivers improved gameplay mechanics, audio and visual enhancements, along with an expanded career mode. The gameplay features an all-new handling and tire wear model, multi-groove racing and major upgrades to the AI system to more closely mimic racing conditions. Additional enhancements include new engine audio, sourced from authentic stock car recordings, and visual upgrades to all 38 tracks, including enhanced lighting, the addition of motion blur and day-to-night transitions. NASCAR fans and gamers alike will enjoy the inclusion of the Carousel at Sonoma Raceway as well as the latest iterations to the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval and the ability to race Martinsville Speedway at night.

The new game also features expansive upgrades to career mode with the option, for the first time, to start in any of the four series included in the game. Players also have the ability to participate in the Xtreme Dirt Tour and join the Smoke Racing team led by dirt racing enthusiast and cover star, Tony Stewart.

“The 704Games team has been hard at work during our product development cycle making adjustments to ensure that we deliver the best NASCAR video game yet for our fans,” 704Games president Colin Smith said. “Our developers — informed in part by input from the NASCAR Heat community — have implemented numerous upgrades to the game this year that serve to capture and relay the realism and excitement surrounding the NASCAR experience.”

Professional eNASCAR drivers participating in the inaugural eNASCAR Heat Pro League season transitioned to the new game in advance of the 2019 eNASCAR Heat Pro League Playoffs. The playoffs will begin on Sept. 11 at the virtual Las Vegas Motor Speedway and culminate on Oct. 23 at the virtual Martinsville with teams competing live at NASCAR Plaza in Charlotte.

NASCAR Heat 4 is priced at $49.99 for the Standard Edition and $69.99 for the Gold Edition, which features NASCAR legend Jeff Gordon. Players who purchase the Gold Edition will also receive the 2019 Season Pass (valued at $29.99).

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

Posted on by
No. Driver Sponsor Make Organization
00 Landon Cassill William Hill Sports Book Chevrolet StarCom Racing
1 Kurt Busch GearWrench Chevrolet Chip Ganassi Racing
2 Brad Keselowski AutoTrader Ford Team Penske
3 Austin Dillon Bass Pro Shops / Tracker Off-Road Chevrolet Richard Childress Racing
4 Kevin Harvick Mobil 1 Ford Stewart-Haas Racing
6 Ryan Newman Oscar Mayer Bacon Ford Roush Fenway Racing
8 Daniel Hemric Cessna Chevrolet Richard Childress Racing
9 Chase Elliott NAPA Filters Chevrolet Hendrick Motorsports
10 Aric Almirola Smithfield Ford Stewart-Haas Racing
11 Denny Hamlin FedEx Ground Toyota Joe Gibbs Racing
12 Ryan Blaney PPG Ford Team Penske
13 Ty Dillon GEICO Chevrolet Germain Racing
14 Clint Bowyer TOCO Warranty Ford Stewart-Haas Racing
15 Ross Chastain TBA Chevrolet Premium Motorsports
17 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. SUNNYD Ford Roush Fenway Racing
18 Kyle Busch M&M’s Hazelnut Toyota Joe Gibbs Racing
19 Martin Truex Jr. Bass Pro Shops Toyota Joe Gibbs Racing
20 Erik Jones Craftsman Gas Monkey Toyota Joe Gibbs Racing
21 Paul Menard Menards / Monster Ford Wood Brothers Racing
22 Joey Logano Pennzoil Ford Team Penske
24 William Byron Liberty University Chevrolet Hendrick Motorsports
27 Joe Nemechek TBD Chevrolet Premium Motorsports
32 Corey LaJoie Schluter Systems Ford Go Fas Racing
34 Michael McDowell Love’s Travel Stops Ford Front Row Motorsports
36 Matt Tifft Surface / Maui Jim Ford Front Row Motorsports
37 Chris Buescher Natural Light Seltzer Chevrolet JTG Daugherty Racing
38 David Ragan Select Blinds Ford Front Row Motorsports
41 Daniel Suarez Haas Automation Ford Stewart-Haas Racing
42 Kyle Larson Clover Chevrolet Chip Ganassi Racing
43 Bubba Wallace Victory Junction Chevrolet Richard Petty Motorsports
47 Ryan Preece Kroger Chevrolet JTG Daugherty Racing
48 Jimmie Johnson Ally Chevrolet Hendrick Motorsports
51 BJ McLeod Jacob Companies Chevrolet Petty Ware Racing
52 Garrett Smithley Honest Abe Roofing Chevrolet Rick Ware Racing
53 JJ Yeley AQRE.app Chevrolet Rick Ware Racing
66 Joey Gase Nevada Donor Network Toyota MBM Motorsports
77 Reed Sorenson TBA Chevrolet Spire Motorsports
88 Alex Bowman Nationwide Chevrolet Hendrick Motorsports
95 Matt DiBenedetto Barstool Sports Toyota Leavine Family Racing
Posted on by Staff Report

This Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, fans could win big when Ford drivers race.

We’re keeping track of big milestones every race day, from Busch Pole Awards to stage wins to laps led and more. When Ford drivers complete one of these on-track achievements, a new prize will be unlocked, and a lucky Ford fan will win.

To keep the focus on performance, Ford and NASCAR are also giving fans a chance to win the ultimate high-performance vehicle: a 2019 Ford Mustang GT, making its debut on the NASCAR track this season.

It all comes together for a high-octane experience fans won’t want to miss. Fans can follow their favorite Ford drivers all Playoffs long and enter every day at www.nascar.com/fordplayoffspromo for their chance to drive off a winner.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. Ends 11/17/19. Must be a permanent legal resident of the (50) U.S. or DC of legal age of majority (& at least 18) as of 9/9/19. Void where prohibited. Click here for Official Rules, which govern, entry, & complete details. Ford Motor Company is not a Sponsor of this Promotion.

Posted on by Data Skrive

Mike Harmon finished 32nd in the Indiana 250 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Saturday.

Kyle Busch earned the checkered flag in the race, with Justin Allgaier finishing second, and Noah Gragson crossing the finish line third. Jeb Burton took fourth place, followed by Justin Haley to round out the top five.

Brandon Jones picked up 10 bonus points by winning Stage 1, and Allgaier took Stage 2 to pad his totals for the weekend.

Harmon earned five points over the weekend, increasing his total to 118 on the year. He ranks No. 36 in the NASCAR Xfinity Series standings. Harmon did not grab any playoff points Saturday and remains on the hunt for his first playoff points of the season.

The 19-year driver qualified in 37th position at 157.709 mph.

After 282 career starts, Harmon continues to search for his first win and top-10 finish.

Harmon battled 37 others cars in the field and the race saw eight cautions and 31 caution laps. There were 14 lead changes before the checkered flag.

With Busch driving to victory in Joe Gibbs’ Supra, Toyota added 40 points to its season totals. Overall, Toyota ranks No. 1 with 898 points, followed by Chevrolet in the No. 2 spot with 893. Ford sits at No. 3 with 886 points on the season.

Mike Harmon Driver Page | Race Center

Posted on by Data Skrive

Michael Annett finished 12th in the Indiana 250 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Saturday.

Kyle Busch earned the checkered flag in the race, with Justin Allgaier finishing second, and Noah Gragson crossing the finish line third. Jeb Burton took fourth place, followed by Justin Haley to round out the top five.

Brandon Jones picked up 10 bonus points by winning Stage 1, and Allgaier took Stage 2 to pad his totals for the weekend.

Annett earned 25 points over the weekend, increasing his total to 770 on the year. He ranks No. 8 in the NASCAR Xfinity Series standings. Annett did not collect any playoff points and remains at six on the season.

The ninth-year driver qualified in 15th position at 164.501 mph.

Annett has tallied one career victory, 13 top-five finishes and has placed in the top 10 in 59 races.

Annett battled 37 others cars in the field and the race endured eight cautions and 31 caution laps. There were 14 lead changes before the checkered flag.

With Busch driving to victory in Joe Gibbs’ Supra, Toyota added 40 points to its season totals. Overall, Toyota ranks No. 1 with 898 points, followed by Chevrolet in the No. 2 spot with 893. Ford sits at No. 3 with 886 points on the season.

Michael Annett Driver Page | Get Michael Annett Gear | Race Center

Posted on by Data Skrive

Justin Haley crossed the finish line fifth in the Indiana 250 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Saturday. It’s Haley’s third top-five finish of the season.

Kyle Busch earned the checkered flag in the race, with Justin Allgaier following in second, and Noah Gragson placing third.

Brandon Jones picked up 10 bonus points by winning Stage 1, and Allgaier finished out front in Stage 2 to pad his totals for the weekend.

Haley earned 35 points over the weekend, giving him 770 on the season. He ranks No. 9 in the NASCAR Xfinity Series standings. Haley did not muster any playoff points and remains at one on the season.

The second-year driver qualified in the seventh position at 165.642 mph.

Haley still is looking for his first career win but owns three top-five finishes and 17 finishes in the top 10.

Haley battled 37 others cars in the field and the race endured eight cautions and 31 caution laps. There were 14 lead changes before the checkered flag.

With Busch finishing out front in Joe Gibbs’ Supra, Toyota added 40 points to its season totals. Overall, Toyota ranks No. 1 with 898 points, followed by Chevrolet in the No. 2 spot with 893. Ford sits at No. 3 with 886 points on the season.

Justin Haley Driver Page | Race Center

Posted on by Data Skrive

Jeb Burton finished fourth in the Indiana 250 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Saturday. It’s Burton’s second top-five finish of the season.

Kyle Busch came away with the victory in the race, with Justin Allgaier finishing second, and Noah Gragson placing third. Justin Haley followed in fifth.

Brandon Jones won Stage 1, and Allgaier took Stage 2. Both drivers picked up bonus points for their efforts.

Burton earned 40 points over the weekend, giving him 139 on the year. He ranks No. 32 in the NASCAR Xfinity Series standings. Burton did not earn any playoff points Saturday and still is seeking his first playoff points of the season.

The sixth-year driver qualified in 12th position at 164.639 mph.

Burton still is looking for his first career win but boasts three top-five finishes and seven finishes in the top 10.

Burton battled 37 others cars in the field and the race endured eight cautions and 31 caution laps. There were 14 lead changes before the checkered flag.

With Busch driving to victory in Coy Gibbs’s Camaro, Toyota added 40 points to its season totals. Overall, Toyota ranks No. 1 with 898 points, followed by Chevrolet in the No. 2 spot with 893. Ford sits at No. 3 with 886 points on the season.

Race Center