Posted on by Staff Report

Jimmie Johnson’s pointed comments about Ryan Blaney caught the Team Penske driver’s attention in a post-race media availability, and this sure seems like a new rivalry that will be front and center for some time.

To catch you up, Johnson said this about his post-race “chat” with Blaney following his displeasure over their on-track altercation at Watkins Glen.

MORE: Johnson, Blaney exchange words | Did Blaney deserve heat from ‘Seven-Time?’

“I was trying to hear what he had to say but his lips were quivering so bad he can’t even speak,” Johnson said. “I guess he’s nervous or scared, maybe both, I don’t know what the hell the problem is. … He claims it was racing, I can’t wait to go racing. Everybody stay tuned.”

Blaney’s response was first aired Monday night during FS1’s RaceHub program.

“He said I was scared?” Blaney asked when told of Johnson’s comments. “Yeah, OK. He can think that. Did I turn away? No, I didn’t turn away. If he wanted to go, we could go.”

In an interview that aired Sunday during NBCSN’s broadcast, Blaney said he “didn’t run through” the 48.

Johnson’s car sustained significant damage after the Blaney bump and an impact with the Turn 5 barrier — an encounter that Johnson described in subsequent interviews as “he just drove through me.” He went a bit deeper on the stance when questioned on Twitter.

Blaney continued on to a fifth-place finish while Johnson limped to a 19th-place result, further imperiling his hopes at clinching a postseason berth — though he’s currently the last driver who would qualify for the 16-driver field.

The Team Penske driver’s comments are a remarkably different tone from his last tweet before the Watkins Glen race on Wednesday where he posted a video of his nephew attempting to eat Johnson’s bobblehead made by Texas Motor Speedway.

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No. Driver Sponsor Make Organization
00 Landon Cassill StarCom Fiber/Creek Enterprise Inc Chevrolet StarCom Racing
1 Kurt Busch Monster Energy Chevrolet Chip Ganassi Racing
2 Brad Keselowski Discount Tire Ford Team Penske
3 Austin Dillon Chevrolet Accessories Chevrolet Richard Childress Racing
4 Kevin Harvick Mobil 1 Ford Stewart-Haas Racing
6 Ryan Newman Wyndham Rewards Ford Roush Fenway Racing
8 Daniel Hemric Bass Pro Shops / Tracker Boats Chevrolet Richard Childress Racing
9 Chase Elliott NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet Hendrick Motorsports
10 Aric Almirola 3D Systems Ford Stewart-Haas Racing
11 Denny Hamlin FedEx Office Toyota Joe Gibbs Racing
12 Ryan Blaney Menards / Moen Ford Team Penske
13 Ty Dillon K&L Ready Mix Chevrolet Germain Racing
14 Clint Bowyer One Cure Ford Stewart-Haas Racing
15 Ross Chastain TBA Chevrolet Premium Motorsports
17 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Fastenal Ford Roush Fenway Racing
18 Kyle Busch Interstate Batteries Toyota Joe Gibbs Racing
19 Martin Truex Jr. Auto-Owners Insurance Toyota Joe Gibbs Racing
20 Erik Jones DeWalt Toyota Joe Gibbs Racing
21 Paul Menard Master Techs Ford Wood Brothers Racing
22 Joey Logano Shell Pennzoil Ford Team Penske
24 William Byron Liberty University Chevrolet Hendrick Motorsports
27 Quin Houff TBA Chevrolet Premium Motorsports
32 Corey LaJoie Schluter Systems Ford Go Fas Racing
34 Michael McDowell Long John Silver’s Ford Front Row Motorsports
36 Matt Tifft Meijer Ford Front Row Motorsports
37 Chris Buescher Kroger Fast Start Chevrolet JTG Daugherty Racing
38 David Ragan MDS Transport Ford Front Row Motorsports
41 Daniel Suarez ARRIS Ford Stewart-Haas Racing
42 Kyle Larson McDonald’s 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 Cody Ware Jacob Companies Ford Petty Ware Racing
52 Austin Theriault Bangor Bank Ford Rick Ware Racing
53 Spencer Boyd Chelle Corporation Ford Rick Ware Racing
77 Garrett Smithley Victory Lane Oil Chevrolet Spire Motorsports
88 Alex Bowman Axalta Chevrolet Hendrick Motorsports
95 Matt DiBenedetto Toyota Express Maintenance Toyota Leavine Family Racing
Posted on by Team Release

SPARTANBURG, S.C. — Jeremy Clements Racing will have the No. 51 machine primed, painted and weighed and ready for Darlington Raceway on Saturday, August 31st, with a livery that is a little something different than years past. JCR will be throwing back to the No. 51 EXXON paint scheme from the 1990 film “Days of Thunder” and will be sponsored by long-time partners RepairableVehicles.com.

“I grew up watching ‘Days of Thunder’ all the time especially headed to Buck Creek Speedway in our cube van that my Grandpa Crawford built, and it would really get me pumped up to race.” Clements said. “Man, thinking back brings a lot of great memories in my early years racing with my Grandpa.  I love this movie so much so that’s where I got the No. 51 from and have had it ever since.”

RELATED: Darlington throwback designs

This is the fifth year that Darlington will hold NASCAR Throwback Weekend. Clements will make his ninth career start at ‘The Lady In Black.’ His current best finish at Darlington is eighth back in 2016.

Fans are welcome to join JCR on the Fan Deck and Ride with Jeremy on Saturday, August 31st.

Posted on by Staff Report

Say “Best in Show” and you might think of dogs, but there aren’t any dogs in this group. That’s because we’re talking about Darlington Raceway throwback schemes and one of the most highly anticipated events on the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series schedule: the Bojangles’ Southern 500.

This year, fans can vote for their favorite throwback paint schemes on NASCAR.com as the “Track too Tough to Tame” celebrates the NASCAR era from 1990-94. It was a time when Richard Petty’s career was wrapping up but Jeff Gordon’s was only beginning, and you can play a part in commemorating that era by voting on your favorite scheme.

RELATED: Vote now | See all the throwbacks | Buy Darlington tickets

The vote runs from Aug. 6-30 and includes all available paint schemes. Users may vote up to five times per day, but if users share their vote via social media, an additional vote will be counted for that scheme.

The paint scheme with the most votes will be declared the winner before the race on Sept. 1 (6 p.m. ET on NBCSN, NBC Sports App, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). What are you waiting for? Go ahead and vote now.

Posted on by Data Skrive

Ben Rhodes placed 14th in the Eldora Dirt Derby at Eldora Speedway on Thursday.

Stewart Friesen came away with the victory in the race, with Sheldon Creed following in second, and Grant Enfinger placing third. Mike Marlar took fourth place, followed by Todd Gilliland in the No. 5 spot.

Stage 1 and 2 were won by Chase Briscoe.

Rhodes earned 28 points over the weekend, increasing his total to 507 on the season. He ranks No. 5 in the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series points standings. Rhodes did not collect any playoff points and remains at two on the season.

The fifth-year driver qualified in ninth position.

Rhodes has tallied two career victories, 22 top-five finishes and has placed in the top 10 in 42 races.

There were 32 cars in the field and the race endured 12 cautions and 68 caution laps. Prior to the checkered flag, there was one lead change.

With Friesen driving his Silverado to victory lane for Chris Larsen, Chevrolet added 40 points. Overall, Toyota ranks No. 1 with 560 points, followed by Chevrolet in the No. 2 spot with 546. Ford sits at No. 3 with 503 points on the season.

Ben Rhodes Driver Page | Get Ben Rhodes Gear | Race Center

Posted on by Data Skrive

Justin Shipley crossed the finish line 11th in the Eldora Dirt Derby at Eldora Speedway on Thursday.

Stewart Friesen took the checkered flag in the race, with Sheldon Creed taking second, and Grant Enfinger crossing the finish line third. Mike Marlar brought home fourth place, followed by Todd Gilliland in the No. 5 spot.

Stage 1 and 2 were won by Chase Briscoe.

Shipley earned 26 points over the weekend, increasing his total to 26 on the season. He ranks No. 53 in the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series standings. Shipley did not earn any playoff points Thursday and remains on the hunt for his first playoff points of the season.

The fourth-year driver qualified in 14th position.

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

There were 32 cars in the field and the race endured 12 cautions and 68 caution laps. Prior to the checkered flag, there was one lead change.

With Friesen driving his Silverado to victory lane for Chris Larsen, Chevrolet added 40 points. Overall, Toyota ranks No. 1 with 560 points, followed by Chevrolet in the No. 2 spot with 546. Ford sits at No. 3 with 503 points on the season.

Race Center

Posted on by Data Skrive

Todd Gilliland finished fifth in the Eldora Dirt Derby at Eldora Speedway on Thursday. It’s Gilliland’s third top-five finish of the season.

Stewart Friesen came away with the victory in the race, with Sheldon Creed finishing second and Grant Enfinger placing third.

Stage 1 and 2 were won by Chase Briscoe.

Gilliland earned 45 points over the weekend, giving him 473 on the year. He ranks No. 7 in the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series points standings. Gilliland did not pick up any playoff points Thursday and remains on the hunt for his first playoff points of the season.

The third-year driver qualified in the eighth position.

Gilliland still is looking for his first career win but owns nine top-five finishes and 21 finishes in the top 10.

There were 32 cars in the field and the race endured 12 cautions and 68 caution laps. Prior to the checkered flag, there was one lead change.

With Friesen driving his Silverado to victory lane for Chris Larsen, Chevrolet added 40 points. Overall, Toyota ranks No. 1 with 560 points, followed by Chevrolet in the No. 2 spot with 546. Ford sits at No. 3 with 503 points on the season.

Todd Gilliland Driver Page | Get Todd Gilliland Gear | Race Center

Posted on by Data Skrive

Mike Marlar placed fourth in the Eldora Dirt Derby at Eldora Speedway on Thursday. It’s Marlar’s first top-five finish of the season.

Stewart Friesen came away with the victory in the race, with Sheldon Creed finishing second, and Grant Enfinger placing third. Todd Gilliland followed in fifth.

Chase Briscoe won Stage 1 and 2.

Marlar earned 36 points over the weekend, giving him 36 on the season. He ranks No. 48 in the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series overall standings. Marlar did not collect any playoff points Thursday and has yet to tally his first playoff points of the season.

The first-year driver qualified in 23rd position.

There were 32 cars in the field and the race endured 12 cautions and 68 caution laps. Prior to the checkered flag, there was one lead change.

With Friesen driving his Silverado to victory lane for Chris Larsen, Chevrolet added 40 points. Overall, Toyota ranks No. 1 with 560 points, followed by Chevrolet in the No. 2 spot with 546. Ford sits at No. 3 with 503 points on the season.

Race Center

Posted on by Data Skrive

Sheldon Creed finished second in the Eldora Dirt Derby at Eldora Speedway on Thursday. It’s Creed’s first top-five finish of the season.

Stewart Friesen brought home the win in the race, with Grant Enfinger placing third. Mike Marlar brought home fourth place, followed by Todd Gilliland to round out the top five.

Chase Briscoe won both stages.

Creed earned 42 points over the weekend, increasing his total to 450 on the year. He ranks No. 8 in the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series standings. Creed did not collect any playoff points and remains at two on the season.

The fourth-year driver qualified in 10th position.

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

There were 32 cars in the field and the race endured 12 cautions and 68 caution laps. Prior to the checkered flag there was one lead change.

With Friesen driving his Silverado to victory lane for Chris Larsen, Chevrolet added 40 points. Overall, Toyota ranks No. 1 with 560 points, followed by Chevrolet in the No. 2 spot with 546. Ford sits at No. 3 with 503 points on the season.

Sheldon Creed Driver Page | Get Sheldon Creed Gear | Race Center

Posted on by Data Skrive

Brandon Brown crossed the finish line 18th in the Zippo 200 at The Glen at Watkins Glen International on Saturday.

Austin Cindric brought home the win in the race, with Christopher Bell finishing second, and Justin Allgaier placing third. Ryan Blaney took fourth place, followed by Tyler Reddick in the No. 5 spot.

Stage 1 was won by Kyle Busch, while Ryan Blaney took Stage 2.

Brown earned 19 points over the weekend, increasing his total to 380 on the year. He ranks No. 15 in the NASCAR Xfinity Series points standings. Brown did not collect any playoff points Saturday and remains on the hunt for his first playoff points of the season.

The fourth-year driver qualified in 27th position at 116.229 mph.

Brown has yet to secure his first NASCAR win but has placed in the top 10 in one race.

There were 37 cars in the field and the race endured seven cautions and 16 caution laps. Prior to the checkered flag, there were nine lead changes.

With Cindric driving his Mustang to victory lane for Roger Penske, Ford added 40 points. Overall, Toyota ranks No. 1 with 720 points, followed by Chevrolet in the No. 2 spot with 715. Ford sits at No. 3 with 706 points on the season.

Brandon Brown Driver Page | Get Brandon Brown Gear | Race Center