Posted on by PJ Walsh

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The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series returns to Daytona International Speedway on Sunday for its traditional Fourth of July weekend shootout.

With Daytona comes excitement, yet unpredictability. This provides an incredible viewing experience, but a much more difficult environment for projecting how the race will play out.

To make my NASCAR Props Challenge picks this week, I’ll be leaning heavily on performance from recent races run at Daytona — specifically the July races held at Daytona as opposed to the season-opening Daytona 500.

1. Will Saturday’s race winner be decided by a last-lap pass? Yes or No?

This is completely a gut-feel pick, but with the playoffs fast approaching and drivers getting desperate for wins, I expect calamity late in Sunday’s race … especially on the last lap.

Pick: Yes

2. O/U 27.5 lead changes?

It’s important to remember that the July race at Daytona is 400 miles, compared to February’s Daytona 500. This has a major effect on what we can expect in terms of number of lead changes.

Looking at previous races, just one of the past seven July Daytona races has exceeded 27.5 lead changes.

Pick: Under

3. Will the race winner also win a stage? Yes or No?

While stage racing has been around for only two years, neither of those two winners at Daytona in July (Erik Jones in 2018 and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. in 2017) won stages.

Pick: No

4. Which three-car team will have the highest finishing driver? Team Penske or Front Row?

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this article and
get the rest of PJ Walsh’s NASCAR Props Challenge Picks.

Posted on by Chase Wilhelm

Although each race track has provided its share of variables throughout the 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season, Hendrick Motorsports’ day at Chicagoland Speedway was a sign of things to come.

For the second time this season, all four drivers finished in the top 11 positions — the first coming in the Coca-Cola 600, where all drivers finished in the top 10 at 1.5-mile Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Following Alex Bowman’s first career victory on Sunday night, No. 88 crew chief Greg Ives feels the organization’s recent growth in performance is a credit to improved synergy within the walls of the Concord, North Carolina, shop.

RELATED: Full race results

“I think we were all behind trying to think that we were smarter than all of us put together,” Ives said. “I appreciate the 48 team, the 9 team, the 24 from my camp to help bounce ideas off of and build confidence off of some of the best in the garage.”

Scoring six top 10s in the past eight races, Bowman is on a hot streak, but NASCAR’s newest winner noted that Hendrick’s uptick in speed was tough because the working balance among teammates wasn’t initially present.

“I think the hardest part was the beginning of the year we were typically finishing the best or one of the best in our team, and then the rest of our team found a lot of speed, and we struggled to find that same speed they did,” Bowman said. “That was the hardest part for me was just mentally staying patient, Greg and I staying on the same page through some of that and the struggles that come with the three other cars in the organization finding speed and us continuing to struggle.

“But Greg and I kind of sat down, got back on the same page,” Bowman said. “As soon as we did that, it was like a light switch for us over that off week to just regroup and be really good ever since then.”

RELATED: All-time winners for Hendrick Motorsports

Jimmie Johnson’s season-high fourth-place finish at Chicagoland also serves as indication that Hendrick Motorsports has come to play for good — the result backing up finishes of sixth and eighth at Kansas and Charlotte, respectively. As he and crew chief Kevin Meendering continue to find a rhythm in their first season as a pair, information sharing with the 88 team has worked in everyone’s favor.

“The 88 and 48 have been really close in setups the last few weeks,” Johnson said. “So to have us running up front, the 88 was going to be there before long. I’m happy for our company. …

“Very happy for Alex. His story of climbing up through the ranks … and taking his shot is like a working man’s story. He’s done an amazing job of whether some tough years, even at Hendrick they haven’t been easy years. I’m happy for him today, but hopefully next week is my week.”

For William Byron, the last seven races have included four top-10 finishes with two Busch Pole Awards, a sign that he and crew chief Chad Knaus are really starting to find their groove.

“We’re kind of the newest team put together here, besides Jimmie and his team,” Byron said. “I think we’re kind of neck-and-neck. It’s all part of us gaining and learning together and I think that’s really what’s coming together. This (Chicagoland) is the best mile-and-a-half performance we’ve had for this kind of race track, so I’m really excited.”

As the series heads to Daytona International Speedway for Saturday night’s Coke Zero Sugar 400 (7:30 p.m. ET on NBC, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio), the playoff picture for Hendrick Motorsports drivers is looking up. While Chase Elliott and Bowman are locked into the postseason with wins, Johnson’s Chicagoland result moved him from one point below the cutoff to 14th in the standings, five points in front of Clint Bowyer on the bubble. Byron owns a little more cushion, sitting 12th in the rankings, 23 points ahead of 16th.

MORE: Full Playoffs picture

Byron feels the Hendrick momentum can continue in Daytona Beach, Florida, if the team can execute a similar game plan that saw Elliott and Bowman finish 1-2 at Talladega earlier this year.

“I’ve been able to run pretty good there (Daytona),” Byron said. “Hopefully our car is good there. I know it’s going to be fast. If we can just keep it up front and work together like we did at Talladega with all the Chevrolets, I think that’s going to be a great plan.”

Posted on by NASCAR.com

Name: Aaron
Current City: Dubuque, Iowa
Member Since: 2018
Getting to know Aaron:
​
Q. ​ How did you first become interested in NASCAR?
“Growing up, NASCAR is a sport my dad would have on the TV Sunday afternoons when I would rather be watching cartoons. I can remember the first race I really sat down and watched with him. The 1996 Winston. After watching just that one race I was hooked. The format and all the excitement surrounding the event piqued my interest, so I stuck around to see how it played out. The combination of watching Michael Waltrip win his first race and big names like Earnhardt, Labonte, and Jarrett mixing it up left me feeling like I needed more. A feeling that hasn’t stopped to this day.”

Q. What is your favorite NASCAR memory?
“Kevin Harvick’s run for the championship in 2014 was one of the coolest things I’ve seen as a fan. When he crashed at Martinsville I thought it was over. Harvick and his team were able to overcome when they needed to win at Phoenix and Homestead to take home the championship. Not to mention it was only his first year at Stewart-Haas Racing.

I was lucky enough to attend my first race at Martinsville that fall which made the whole championship run special for me. Watching a driver going from down and out to champion three weeks later was amazing. I’ll never forget the crowd that day at Martinsville. It was electric after Dale Earnhardt Jr. went to Victory Lane for the first time at Martinsville. The best post-race celebration I’ve ever seen hands down. I’m proud to say I was able to witness the whole event in person.”

Q: Do you have a favorite in any of the following categories?
Sponsor: “Jimmy John’s. They make some delicious sandwiches all while supporting my favorite driver and sport. The #14 with hot peppers, cucumbers, and onions is second to none.”

At-Track Snack: “The Martinsville hot dog is on the top of my list, but Darlington opened my eyes to the Pimento Cheese Sandwich last year.”

Q. What are some of your hobbies?
“A good part of my free time is spent following NASCAR and other forms of racing including IndyCar and F1. I also enjoy following the NHL (go Flyers!) and taking care of my house and cars. Most importantly I enjoy spending time with my family and friends which can occasionally interrupt NASCAR Sunday afternoons.”

​FROM ALL OF US AT NASCAR, WE THANK AARON FOR HIS CONTINUED SUPPORT AND LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM HIM IN 2019!

Look for Aaron on the Official NASCAR Fan Council page on NASCAR.COM.

Posted on by Staff Report

Alex Bowman’s celebration of his first Monster Energy Series victory ended early — early, as in when most folks are waking up for their Monday morning commute.

Bowman foreshadowed a wild party after claiming his first premier series win Sunday evening at Chicagoland Speedway. After arriving back in North Carolina following the rain-delayed Camping World 400, Bowman posted a picture with his hearty revelers with the Monday sun rising.

After holding off Kyle Larson in a fierce battle in the final laps, Bowman hinted he had a plan for the celebration, but couldn’t quite reveal all. “For me it’s really about enjoying this with my group of friends back home …,” Bowman said. “Hopefully the whole team will want to come over.”

UPDATE:

Posted on by Chase Wilhelm

JOLIET, Ill. – One year removed from the classic 2018 finish at Chicagoland Speedway, Kyle Larson assumed the bridesmaid’s role once again in Sunday night’s rain-delayed Camping World 400.

Larson took the lead away from Alex Bowman inside 10 laps to go after fending off Joey Logano from behind, but Bowman was able to string together the momentum it took to get it back to earn his first career Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series victory.

“It’s obviously discouraging that I didn’t get a win, I got another second-place finish here at Chicago,” Larson said. “But I fought hard and I felt like I did a good job. He (Bowman) was just able to get the run and do a good job, also.”

RELATED: Bowman holds on for first win

Larson put up a tough fight in the closing laps, trying every possible maneuver to make the move he needed to get past the No. 88 — an opportunity he was surprised he was even able to muster.

“I figured he (Bowman) was just going to take off, then I was focused on Joey (Logano) in my mirror trying to hold him off,” Larson said. “Then all of a sudden, we were catching him. Caught him pretty quick and was able to get by him pretty quickly, too.

“Thought that I could pull away, but he was just able to get some big runs on me, get to my inside and then side-draft me down the backstretch and get by. Did a good job of hitting his marks and getting the balance underneath me to hold me off.”

MORE: Full results

Although it was a strong weekend for the No. 42 Chip Ganassi Racing team in a season that has given the group a fair share of bad luck, Larson now rides a 63-race winless streak into Daytona. But Larson feels Sunday’s race was a step in the right direction with nine races remaining in the regular season as he sits just 17 points above the playoff cutline.

“Obviously, it was good to contend for a win,” Larson said. “I’ve felt like we’ve had speed in our cars, but we haven’t really contended all day long like we did today. That was positive.”

In an interview with NASCAR.com earlier in the weekend, Larson noted the execution was a pain point compared to teammate Kurt Busch and the No. 1 team counterparts. Sunday’s race at the 1.5-mile Illinois oval has provided him with a kick-start toward achieving that goal consistently.

“From the drop of the green, I felt like my balance was really good,” Larson said. “We had that rain delay and came back out and kept up with the race track changing. I had some bad restarts just from not getting pushes that I need to get my momentum going. … It was just a good, solid day all race long.”

Posted on by Staff Report

The race-winning Hendrick Motorsports No. 88 Chevrolet of Alex Bowman has passed post-race inspection at Chicagoland Speedway with no issues.

The No. 88 Chevy was found to be compliant with the 2019 NASCAR Rule Book after Sunday’s Camping World 400. The only technical issue found was one lug nut not safe and secure on the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 11 Toyota of 15th-place finisher Denny Hamlin.

With the post-race teardown complete, the race results are official.

RELATED: Official race results | Bowman prevails in Chicagoland

The post-race process is part of a new, more timely approach to inspection for all three NASCAR national series. Competition officials announced in February that thorough post-race inspections would take place shortly after the checkered flag at the track instead of midweek at the NASCAR Research & Development Center in Concord, North Carolina.

Those inspections come with a stiffer deterrence structure that includes disqualification for significant rules infractions — “a total culture change,” according to Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR Executive Vice President and Chief Racing Development Officer. In the past, race-winning teams found in violation of the rules were penalized with post-race fines, points deductions and/or suspensions, but victories were allowed to stand.

Competition officials introduced the quicker post-race inspection timetable in an effort to make the results official on race day, aiming for a 90-minute target time frame to complete their scrutineering. The new post-race inspection process was also designed to deal with potential violations more promptly, avoiding any midweek news that might cloud the previous week’s results or the build-up to the following week’s event.

NASCAR will still inspect cars and parts at the R&D Center for trends as needed, but the more comprehensive at-track inspection will take priority.

The first NASCAR national-series organization to run afoul of the new inspection system was Niece Motorsports, which absorbed a disqualification on June 16, stripping Ross Chastain’s No. 44 of an apparent Gander Outdoors Truck Series victory at Iowa Speedway. The first-finishing Niece truck failed to meet the minimum ride height, an infraction that was upheld after an appeal.

According to NASCAR statistical archives, the last time a premier series driver was disqualified occurred in 1973, when early retiree Buddy Baker was demoted to last place in the National 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The last time an apparent race winner in NASCAR’s top division was disqualified came on April 17, 1960, when Emanuel Zervakis’ victory at Wilson (N.C.) Speedway was thrown out because of an oversized fuel tank on his No. 85 Chevrolet.

Posted on by Staff Report

Hendrick Motorsports driver Alex Bowman won his first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race on Sunday, and it was in thrilling fashion. The 26-year-old passed Kyle Larson in the waning laps — after ceding the lead to Larson moments earlier — and sped to victory in the No. 88 Chevrolet.

There’s nothing like a first Cup Series win, and the NASCAR community was quick to chime in.

RELATED: Full race results

https://twitter.com/Mc_Driver/status/1145518102236545029

Posted on by Holly Cain

JOLIET, Ill.  – Alex Bowman’s first career Monster Energy NASCAR Cup victory at Chicagoland Speedway was as much a lesson in perseverance, determination and guts as it was a show of his raw talent. It took it all those qualities for the 26-year-old driver to reach Victory Lane for the first time in Sunday’s Camping World 400.

Bowman’s No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet held off a hard-charging Kyle Larson for the win by .546-seconds – the two young drivers door-to-door in the closing laps, exchanging the lead twice in the final eight laps of the race.

Team Penske’s Joey Logano, the reigning Cup champion, rallied to a third-place finish, leading Bowman’s teammate Jimmie Johnson and Penske drivers Brad Keselowski and Ryan Blaney to the checkered flag.

RELATED: Race results
SHOP: Bowman gear

During Bowman’s inaugural victory lap celebration, the Tucson, Arizona, native drove into the track’s infield, still soggy from rain showers that delayed the race finish by nearly three hours. Despite the good celebratory intentions, Bowman’s Chevrolet stuck there, but the good vibes of the night resumed when he climbed out and stood on the car’s roof, waving to the cheering crowd and taking in the moment as a first-time race winner.

“It’s all I’ve wanted my whole life,’’ Bowman said after climbing down off his car’s roof.

“I’m just tired of running second, didn’t want to do that anymore,’’ he said smiling in reference to his three runner-up finishes in the first 16 races of this season.

And he had a good laugh about his stuck-in-the-mud car as he navigated the mucky infield to walk across the track and take the checkered flag he earned.

“I’m the dumb guy that won the race but got the car stuck in the mud.’’

Actually Bowman’s win was an impressive display of drive – both figuratively and literally. His NASCAR career essentially got a “second chance” at glory, when he was hired by the championship Hendrick team to replace the retired Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the famed No. 88 last year. He had competed full time at the Cup level in 2014-15 in a car that was not considered competitive, hoping to gain experience.

He was hired by Hendrick in 2016 to drive Earnhardt’s No. 88 while the sport’s star rehabbed from injury. Bowman then sat out a year of full-time Cup competition in 2017 as Earnhardt finished out his own decorated career. The car was all Bowman’s as of last year.

Earnhardt, who was part of the NBC Sports broadcast team that officially took over the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race broadcasts from partner FOX just his week, was understandably proud in the broadcast booth.

“I’m just so happy for Alex,’’ Earnhardt said. “I’ve seen a majority of his career up close and I’m so happy to see him achieve his dream.’’

RELATED: Drivers of the No. 88

Certainly Bowman’s victory Sunday night was not only a shot of emotional adrenalin for himself, but for the whole Hendrick Motorsports team. In addition to Johnson, second-year driver William Byron finished eighth and Chase Elliott finished 11th – the first time this season all four drivers have finished among the top 11. Bowman (88), Johnson (10) and Byron (nine) all led laps. 

The big lap leader on the day was Stewart-Haas Racing driver Kevin Harvick, who led a race-best 132 circuits and won Stage 2, but finished 14th after hitting the outside wall late in the race.

For runner-up Larson, the outcome was obviously disappointing since he finished second last year after a tough last-lap battle with Kyle Busch. But the popular Californian seemed genuinely happy for his friend Bowman as well.

“I was actually surprised I even got to him,’’ said Larson, who took the lead from Bowman for two laps on lap 260.

“I thought when he came out about the same distance off pit road in front me, I thought he was just going to check out. But like I said, he was struggling and we were able to get to him and get by him, but did a good job. He did a good job regrouping and figuring out how to make his car drive better and got the win.

“Cool to see him get the win there. Would have liked for him to have to wait another week or so, but happy for him,’’ Larson added with a grin.

Posted on by Staff Report

Which channels have NASCAR programming this week? We answer that and give you the weekly NASCAR television listings here in the NASCAR TV schedule.

Note: All times are ET.

MORE: Get the NBC Sports App | How to find FS1 | Get FOX Sports App | How to find NBCSN

Monday, July 1
5 p.m., NASCAR America Monday, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FS1/FOX Sports App

Tuesday, July 2
5 p.m., Dale Jr. Download, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FS1/FOX Sports App

Wednesday, July 3
5 p.m., NASCAR America: “Motormouths,” NBCSN/NBC Sports App
6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FS1/FOX Sports App

Thursday, July 4
Noon, Dale Jr. Download, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
1 p.m., NASCAR Xfinity Series First Practice at Daytona International Speedway, NBCSN/NBC Sports App, (Canada: TSN App)
2 p.m., Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series First Practice at Daytona International Speedway, NBCSN/NBC Sports App, (Canada: TSN App)
3 p.m., NASCAR Xfinity Series Final Practice at Daytona International Speedway, NBCSN/NBC Sports App, (Canada: TSN App)
4 p.m., Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Final Practice at Daytona International Speedway, NBCSN/NBC Sports App, (Canada: TSN App)
5 p.m., NASCAR America: “The Motorsports Hour,” NBCSN/NBC Sports App
6 p.m., NASCAR K&N Series: Douglas County Speedway, NBCSN/NBC Sports App (re-air)
6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FS1/FOX Sports App

On MRN:
2 p.m., Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series First Practice at Daytona International Speedway
4 p.m., Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Final Practice at Daytona International Speedway

Friday, July 5
11:30 a.m.  NASCAR Xfinity Series First Practice at Daytona International Speedway, NBCSN/NBC Sports App (re-air)
12:30 p.m., Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series First Practice at Daytona International Speedway, NBCSN/NBC Sports App (re-air)
1:30 p.m., NASCAR Xfinity Series Final Practice at Daytona International Speedway, NBCSN/NBC Sports App (re-air)
2:30 p.m., Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Final Practice at Daytona International Speedway, NBCSN/NBC Sports App (re-air)
3:30 p.m., NASCAR Xfinity Series qualifying at Daytona International Speedway, NBCSN/NBC Sports App, (Canada: TSN App)
4:30 p.m., NASCAR America, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
5 p.m., Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series qualifying at Daytona International Speedway, NBCSN/NBC Sports App, (Canada: TSN2) CANCELED
6 p.m., NASCAR America, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
7 p.m., NASCAR Xfinity Series Count down to green, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
10 p.m., NASCAR Xfinity Circle K Firecracker 250 Powered by Coca-Cola, NBCSN/NBC Sports App, (Canada: TSN2)

On MRN:
5 p:m., Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Qualifying at Daytona International Speedway
10 p.m. NASCAR Xfinity Circle K Firecracker 250 Powered by Coca-Cola

Saturday, July 6
3 p.m., Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Final Practice at Daytona International Speedway, NBCSN/NBC Sports App (re-air)
3 p.m., Beyond the Wheel, FS1/FOX Sports App
4 p.m., NASCAR Xfinity Series Qualifying at Daytona International Speedway, NBCSN/NBC Sports App (re-air)
4 p.m., NASCAR Presents: Davey Lives On (re-air), FS1/FOX Sports App
4:30 p.m., NASCAR RaceDay, FS1/FOX Sports App
5 p.m., NASCAR America, NBCSN/NBC Sports App

Sunday, July 7
11 a.m., Unrivaled: Earnhardt vs. Gordon, FS1/FOX Sports App
1 p.m., Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway, NBC/NBC Sports App (Canada: TSN5) 
4 p.m., Monster Energy Cup Post Race Show, NBCSN/NBC Sports App

On MRN:
1 p.m., Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway

Posted on by Staff Report

Kevin Harvick led 69 of 80 laps in Stage 2 at Chicagoland Speedway to capture his fourth stage win of the season in the Camping World 400.

Harvick took the lead after pit stops following the Stage 1 break, and held control until the stage concluded on Lap 160. The race is scheduled to end on Lap 267.

RELATED: Stage 2 results

Harvick held off hard charges from Chase Elliott, who finished second in the stage, and Jimmie Johnson, who dropped to fifth in Stage 2.

The stage featured some contact between the No. 11 of Denny Hamlin and the No. 41 of Daniel Suarez that resulted in a tire rub that forced Suarez to pit road.

WATCH: Hamlin, Suarez collide 

Finish Driver Team Points
1  Kevin Harvick  Stewart-Haas Racing 10
2  Chase Elliott  Hendrick Motorsports 9
3  Kyle Larson  Chip Ganassi Racing 8
4  Alex Bowman  Hendrick Motorsports 7
5  Jimmie Johnson  Hendrick Motorsports 6
6  Martin Truex Jr.  Joe Gibbs Racing 5
7  William Byron  Hendrick Motorsports 4
8  Kurt Busch  Chip Ganassi Racing 3
9  Kyle Busch  Joe Gibbs Racing 2
10  Aric Almirola  Stewart-Haas Racing 1

 

STAGE 1
Denny Hamlin grabbed his third stage win of the season after the rain-delayed Camping World 400’s first stage ended under caution at Chicagoland Speedway.

Hamlin led just three of the first 80 Stage 1 laps Sunday as pit strategy was scrambled following a 3 hour, 18 minute rain delay for a powerful storm that blew through the Joliet, Illinois, area just 11 laps into the race.

Clint Bowyer spun through the grass in his No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford just two laps before the stage break to bring out the caution that set the Stage 1 results.

RELATED: Stage 1 results

Kevin Harvick led 53 laps in the first stage, but a flat tire — and a need for fuel — brought him to pit road before the end of the stage. He still managed to finish seventh.

Jimmie Johnson led 10 laps — his first laps led since he was out front in Dover for four laps in May and was fourth in the stage.

Kyle Busch, the defending race winner, scraped the outside wall soon after restarting after the rain delay. He finished Stage 1 in 30th.

WATCH: Busch clips wall

Finish Driver Team Points
1  Denny Hamlin  Joe Gibbs Racing 10
2  Brad Keselowski  Team Penske 9
3  Michael McDowell  Front Row Motorsports 8
4  Jimmie Johnson  Hendrick Motorsports 7
5  Austin Dillon  Richard Childress Racing 6
6  Martin Truex Jr.  Joe Gibbs Racing 5
7  Kevin Harvick  Stewart-Haas Racing 4
8  William Byron  Hendrick Motorsports 3
9  Alex Bowman  Hendrick Motorsports 2
10  Kurt Busch  Chip Ganassi Racing 1