The Action Network: Best bets to win Coca-Cola 600

Posted on May 26, 2019May 26, 2019 by Nick Giffen

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For the second consecutive weekend, the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series will be racing at Charlotte Motor Speedway (6 p.m. ET, FOX). However, this time instead of an All-Star shootout, drivers are in for a grueling 600 miles in the Cup Series’ longest race of the year.

Charlotte is a 1.5-mile oval with a relatively old surface that was repaved back in 2006. We saw from the All-Star Race that tires did make a difference and that track position was also extremely important, so this race should provide a good blend of multiple 1.5-mile tracks.

The most recent 1.5-mile points-paying race was also a night race at Kansas Speedway. In that race, the top five in average green-flag speed all showed up in the top nine in 15-lap speed in Happy Hour, despite the race being at night and final practice during the day.

We have a similar situation at Charlotte this weekend, so I’ll certainly rely on long-run speed in addition to 1.5-mile performance this year and past Charlotte oval performance when handicapping the race.

Armed with these data points, let’s get right to my four favorite bets to win tonight’s race, plus bonus top-five and top-10 props.

A quick primer on the odds below: A $100 bet at +600 odds would profit $600.

Kevin Harvick +600 to Win

Kyle Busch is the favorite thanks to his exceptional speed in Happy Hour and three wins to Harvick’s zero wins this year. However, it could be argued that Harvick should be a co-favorite despite finishing only 13th on the 10-lap board in final practice.

That’s because in opening practice, he was much better relative to the rest of the field over 10 consecutive laps. His fifth-place time during the cooler temperatures is encouraging. In fact, Harvick’s Crew Chief Rodney Childers stated the cars are extremely sensitive to track changes, and that they were really good in opening practice during the cooler temperatures.

Harvick had the fastest average green-flag speed at the All-Star race, and an average finish of 3.5 at Charlotte during the higher downforce era (2013-2015) of the Gen-6 car. That includes two wins and four top-two finishes among those six races. We’re back to high downforce in the Cup Series, so this could play right into his hands.

I have no problem if you want to take Harvick as low as +500.

Brad Keselowski +1100 to Win

This weekend, Keselowski posted the ninth- and fifth-best practice times over 15 and 20 laps in a daytime Happy Hour. That’s remarkably similar to the last daytime Happy Hour for a night race — Kansas, which he won — where Keselowski practiced eighth and sixth in the 10- and 15-lap marks.Keselowski’s average finish over his previous-eight incident-free races at Kansas was 9.3 prior to that win two weeks ago. That same statistic for Charlotte: 9.1.

In fact, Keselowski won at both Atlanta and Kansas despite coming in only seventh in green-flag speed in both races, and finished second at Las Vegas. His only 1.5-mile blemish this year was Texas, when he had a mechanical failure.

He’s not likely to have the fastest car tonight, but with Paul Wolfe at the helm, Keselowski is always in contention for a strategy win if he’s showing top-10 speed. I’d bet this line down to +1000.

Denny Hamlin +2200 to Win, +325 Top-5 Finish

Hamlin won the race at Texas Motor Speedway earlier this year and although he struggled in the Kansas night race, it’s likely because he was struggling to find speed all weekend, coming in nowhere near the top of the charts in any of the long-run categories in any practice session.

It’s certainly possible the team was experimenting with the setup, given Hamlin already has two wins this year.

Things are a bit different this weekend. Hamlin posted the second-best 15-lap average and third-best 20-lap average in final practice. His car has been consistent over multiple practice sessions, as well; he was second-quick over 10 consecutive laps in Saturday’s morning practice when track temperatures were a little cooler and speeds a bit higher, like we should see on Sunday night.

Hamlin has top-five finishes in each of his past five incident-free Charlotte oval races, so his recent form at the track is very solid as well.I don’t mind betting Hamlin as low as +1800 to win and +250 for a top-five finish.

Jimmie Johnson +3300 to Win, +115 Top-10 Finish

Long shot and strategy plays have won at the Coca-Cola 600 in recent years, with Austin Dillon (2017), Carl Edwards (2015), and Casey Mears (2007) winning on fuel mileage gambles. Dale Earnhardt Jr. also nearly stole a fuel mileage win in 2011, and David Reutimann won a rain-shortened race in 2009.

If there’s a long shot driver to steal a win this year, I think Johnson is the best of the bunch. His 10-lap speed during the cooler morning practice was fourth-best. Yes, his car was pretty terrible during final practice, but terrible in the direction we want to see. His car was loose during the heat of the day, but typically cars will tighten up as the track cools and the air density increases, adding more downforce.

Johnson has a very solid track record at Charlotte in recent years. He had a fifth-place finish last year, and holds an average finish of 6.9 over his past eight incident-free Charlotte oval races, including wins in 2014 and 2016. He also has top-10 finishes in four of the last five races on the Charlotte oval.

I’d bet Johnson down to +2800 to win, and even money for a top-10 finish.

Posted on May 25, 2019May 26, 2019 by Chase Wilhelm

CONCORD, N.C. — Jeffrey Earnhardt wasn’t going to let the heat get the best of him in Saturday’s Alsco 300 Xfinity Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

In just his fourth start for Joe Gibbs Racing, Earnhardt earned his career-best NASCAR national series result with a third-place finish. Immediately after the race, Earnhardt climbed from his race car and sat on the ground, leaning up against the No. 18 Toyota. Shortly after, Earnhardt made a trip to the infield care center for evaluation, but indicated that he only went as a precaution.

“I’m stubborn, so I didn’t want to come in here,” Earnhardt said. “But I figured it’s best to come in here, let them look at me and make sure I get cooled off and everything’s good.”

Earnhardt overcame an incident on Lap 142 of the 200-lap event when his No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota slid into the wall in Turn 3. He clawed his way back in short order to experience a milestone day.

“It was a hot, grueling race,” Earnhardt said. “I didn’t help it by knocking the fence down and knocking the crush panels off of it (the car). That definitely don’t help much. … It’s real rough getting into the corner. The car bobbled a little bit, got loose and once you’re up there into the fence, there’s nowhere to chase it except into the wall.

“Luckily, those guys busted their butts, we got it bent out, raced hard and got back on the lead lap,” he added. “We just gave it all we had right there at the end. I literally drove my guts out at the end right there. That’s literally all I had left in the tank.”

The finish was even more meaningful for Earnhardt as the No. 18 team honored Officer Jordan Sheldon with a special paint scheme. Sheldon, a Mooresville, North Carolina, police officer, was killed in the line of duty during a traffic stop earlier this month.

“It meant a lot to me,” said Earnhardt, a Mooresville native. “I wasn’t going to lay down; having Officer Sheldon on the car meant a lot to me. I wanted to make him proud, so I wasn’t about to lay down on the job.”

Earnhardt will compete in the next two Xfinity Series events at Pocono and Michigan and sees it as an opportunity to build momentum — noting it that makes a big difference not having to shake the cobwebs off.

“My goal is to come out and win races,” Earnhardt said. “I know we have the equipment to do it. We just have to put all the pieces of the puzzle together. We showed that we can fight strong, even after overcoming adversity like we did with me stuffing it in the fence. It’s a dream come true. I’m having the time of my life this year.”

Steve deSouza, Executive Vice President of JGR Xfinity Series/Development, was impressed following Earnhardt’s strong run, especially given the extreme circumstances and the 29-year-old’s rebound from adversity during the race.

“I think for all the drivers at the end of the race, they’re pretty used up,” deSouza said. “He’s an outdoorsman, he likes hiking and he’s always hunting and things like that, so he’s not working in the gym every day. But he’s physical and obviously, he’s been doing this for a while, so I think that he was ready for it. He gutted it out. It was tough sledding in there today.”

As Earnhardt prepares for two consecutive weeks of racing, deSouza noted that Earnhardt has routinely attended Xfinity competition meetings despite not climbing in the car each week.

“Now he gets to run some races, and so I think and I expect he’ll continue to get better as he gets to run every week” deSouza said. “Some of the things that have not been coming real smooth or real easy right now — just pit-road things, pit-stop things — that’s just about consistency. Now that he’s going to get a little bit of that, I think he’s going to start picking up some. Pleased with what he’s doing, and he’s working hard at it.”

The only question that remained was how Earnhardt would celebrate the small victory of his own on Saturday at Charlotte.

“I’m gonna go home and have a big ol’ crawfish boil,” Earnhardt said with a smile. “I’ll probably drink Pedialyte and keep hydrating a little bit, but I might switch over to a Busch latte after that.”

Posted on May 25, 2019May 25, 2019 by Reid Spencer

CONCORD, N.C. — NASCAR Xfinity Series leader Tyler Reddick ran the top lane throughout most of Saturday’s Alsco 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway — without clobbering the outside wall.

The same couldn’t be said of Reddick’s pursuers, many of whom developed a “Charlotte stripe” on the right sides of their cars.

Ultimately, Reddick, the defending series champion, rolled across the finish line 2.102 seconds ahead of runner-up Justin Allgaier, who couldn’t catch the race winner despite racing on 14-lap fresher tires. The victory was Reddick’s first at Charlotte, his second of the season and the fifth of his career.

RELATED: Race results

“Hats off to all of Richard Childress Racing,” Reddick said of the team to which he migrated after winning last year’s series title with JR Motorsports. “We were pretty good going into the two ‘off’ weeks, but we weren’t really happy with where we were, and they worked really hard and worked on a couple things, and we were so good when we came back here to Charlotte.

“I’m just so pumped about the work ethic of everyone at the shop and the guys here with me today, they just worked their tails off. We held off Justin Allgaier, who is really tough to beat. I won at Charlotte — a place I used to hate.”

Reddick led 110 of the 200 laps at the 1.5-mile track. Allgaier never held the top spot in posting his second straight second-place finish, but by the time he climbed from his car, his thoughts had already turned to the significance of the occasion.

“This is the kick-off to one of the coolest weekends in auto racing but also to Memorial Day,” Allgaier said. “I have a grandfather who is no longer with us who served in a war, and this is a special very special day for me.

“My hat’s off to all those who have lost their lives and their loved ones who are still here. Hopefully, we did them justice today.”

Jeffrey Earnhardt, grandson of seven-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion Dale Earnhardt, finished third and required medical attention after the race, the result of temperatures that exceeded 135 degrees in the cockpits of some of the cars. Nevertheless, after spinning on Lap 141, thanks to a flat right front tire, Earnhardt rallied to finish third and claim the first top five of his career.

Noah Gragson overcame a penalty for an uncontrolled tire to run fourth, followed by Justin Haley, who rallied from a broken axle during qualifying and consequent start from the rear of the field to post a season-best result.

The race took its toll on several of the top contenders of the series. Cole Custer led the first 16 laps, but a litany of misfortunes — including several brushes with the outside wall and one collision with a crush panel that had fallen out of a competing car — relegated him to 24th place at the finish, four laps down.

After his fifth stage win of the season in the first 45-lap segment, pole winner Christopher Bell was running second on Lap 89 when a blown right front tire, the result of a puncture from debris on the track, sent his No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing hard into the outside wall near the apex of Turns 1 and 2.

Half a lap later, Bell’s teammate, Brandon Jones, smacked the Turn 4 wall with a nearly identical issue. Jones brought his car to pit road as Reddick took the green/checkered flag to win Stage 2. Bell stayed out to try to stay on the lead lap, and that decision proved costly.

As Bell rolled down the backstretch, the inner liner of his tire exploded, damaging the right front fender. Bell brought the car to pit road, where the remains of the tire caught fire in the wheel well of his Supra. As flames licked the right side of his car, Bell exited hurriedly, his race over.

“My car was running good there,” Bell said after leaving the infield care center. “I had no warning of blowing a right front. I was actually a little bit loose that entire run. I guess we ran something over.

“I pile-drove the fence, and then, rolling down the back straightaway, I saw my teammate do it there, too. Bummer, but we had a really fast Rheem Supra today.”

Jones, on the other hand, rallied to finish 10th.

Posted on May 25, 2019 by Reid Spencer

CONCORD, N.C. – The Monster Energy NASCAR All-Star Race is notable for frenetic racing and heavy contact between cars, but Joey Logano doesn’t expect anything less in Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway (6 p.m. ET on FOX, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

“Did you watch Kansas? It’s the same thing,” Logano asked rhetorically about the most recent Monster Energy Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway, where restarts in particular were fraught with action.

RELATED: Coca-Cola 600 starting lineup

Like the race at Kansas, most of Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 will be run under the lights, thanks to the evening start time and the length of the event. NASCAR’s 2019 higher-downforce, lower-horsepower competition package is likely to keep the cars closer together on a hot, slick race track.

“That’s what this rules package has kind of promoted is that we’re so close to each other and to be able to clear someone or to really put yourself in the position you need to sometimes you’ve got to make those aggressive moves, whether it’s an aggressive block–maybe you’re pushing someone by, maybe you find yourself four-wide like they did down the frontstretch,” Logano said, describing a situation in the Monster Energy NASCAR All-Star Race where four cars crossed the start/finish line side-by-side and raced that way until they reached the first corner.

“I didn’t think that was possible, and it really kind of wasn’t, but they got through it somehow down the front straightway here at Charlotte. A lot of it is the rules package. We’ll see that continue.”

Logano was 14th fastest in Saturday morning’s first Cup practice session and 15th on a hotter track in Happy Hour.

Posted on May 25, 2019 by RJ Kraft

William Byron will start from the Busch Pole in Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway (6 p.m. ET, FOX, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). Does the young star offer the upside worthy of a spot in your Fantasy Live lineup? We’ve dissected the numbers to offer a suggested lineup worthy of your Fantasy Live consideration.

PLAY NOW: Set your lineup | How the game works | Tips to set your lineup

IMPORTANT GAME NOTE: For the Coca-Cola 600, there are four stages. However in Fantasy Live, Stages 1 and 2 will only be scored towards stage points in the game. The garage will lock at the end of Stage 3, meaning that players will get to see 75 percent of the event before locking in their lineups. It’s the most of one race players can see before their lineups lock.

RJ Kraft’s Fantasy Live lineup for race day at Charlotte:
(Original: 18, 19, 11, 1, 42, 88)
1. Kyle Busch
2. Martin Truex Jr.
3. Daniel Suarez
4. Joey Logano
5. Aric Almirola
Garage: Denny Hamlin

Analysis: The three Joe Gibbs Racing cars of Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr. and Denny Hamlin were in my original lineup and I’ve seen nothing speed-wise to change my thinking there. Busch topped the 10-, 15- and 20-lap boards (h/t@MikeJoy500 for the 15- and 20-lap times). Truex and Hamlin are just a tick behind him but still really strong. Hamlin’s qualifying position of 20th shifts him to the garage for me.

I’m plugging in three Fords for the three Chevrolets I was going to play — so in go Suarez, Logano and Almirola, while Kurt Busch, Kyle Larson and Alex Bowman fall out of my lineup. Suarez has turned heads this weekend leading both Saturday practices and placing fourth on the 15- and 20-lap average board. Logano is more of a gut feeling for me as Keselowski was a bit better on the average board, but I like the starting spot — he’s starting seventh — and his ability to get stage points from there. He’s the leader in stage points on the season. Almirola was on my avoid list heading into the weekend but he’s qualified second for this race. The speed has been there on the intermediates and in the past when he qualifies well, he earns stage points in spades. I also like that he will have a younger driver on the front row next to him and I think that can help set him up to get the lead for a bit.

I also like Erik Jones, whose averages were just as strong as his teammates, but I was not quite ready to go all the way in on JGR. Clint Bowyer’s recent solid intermediate runs made him a consideration, as well. Byron has qualified well in recent weeks but doesn’t have the points to show for it — see third-place starting spot at Kansas and a 17-point day with a 20-place result at Kansas two weeks ago. Austin Dillon’s 10-lap time is strong but I feel like we have seen this out of the RCR camp all year in practice and the race results don’t match it. I was planning to ride the Bowman hot streak but it feels like this is the weekend he cools down a bit. Uses are why Kevin Harvick will not be in my lineup — I’m down to four with him so I am going to be a little tighter on the 4 car for a bit to save him for Michigan, Chicago and Darlington. If you are at five or more uses available, feel free to play away.

My bonus picks will be heavy on Kyle Busch for the first two stages but I’ll switch it up and put Harvick for the win to get some points out of him if he’s on since he won’t be in my lineup.

Each week in this space, we’ll also highlight two Props Challenge items for players.

MORE: Play the Props Challenge today

1. With an extra stage before the final stage, which driver will finish higher in more stages: Kevin Harvick or Martin Truex Jr.? The qualifying spots favor Harvick (fifth) over Truex (14th) but I like Truex on this one. I think Harvick gets him in Stage 1 but I think that Truex will have the stronger car as we move closer to night. Cole Pearn and company are the best in the day-to-night transition. I also like that Truex has four straight top-five finishes in this race. I think Harvick is the more popular pick in this category so I don’t mind being the contrarian on this one.

2. O/U 14.5 lead-lap finishers. I’m taking the over on this one. With the exception of Kyle Busch stomping of the field in last year’s Coca-Cola 600, the over was hit in the three years prior to Busch’s first Charlotte points-paying win. I tend to think when something has 75 percent of the time in the past four years, the odds are good that’s the right side to pick.

Posted on May 25, 2019May 7, 2020 by Pcarroll

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Names were made this season in the Xfinity Series.

The checkered flag at Homestead-Miami Speedway last weekend marked the end of three drivers’ full-time careers in NASCAR’s second-tier league. Tyler Reddick, Cole Custer and Christopher Bell all earned Cup Series rides for the 2020 season. It’s now time to move up – and on.

“Honestly, it was such an emotional week going into Homestead because I’m very reluctant to change,” Bell said. “I like my routine, and it was tough. I just kind of savored every moment of my last time sitting in a Xfinity car, my last time going to the races, my last time flying with this group of people.”

RELATED: 2019 Silly Season tracker

Friday night, the drivers who became known as the Big 3 were honored during the 2019 NASCAR Awards in the Crown Ballroom at the Charlotte Convention Center. Reddick celebrated his second championship in a row, while Custer finished second and Bell placed third. Justin Allgaier – the fourth Championship 4 contender – was also recognized.

Jonathan Ferrey | Getty Images

To quickly recap the Xfinity-to-Cup changes: Reddick is staying with Richard Childress Racing and exchanging his No. 2 Chevrolet for the No. 8 Chevrolet. Meanwhile, Custer is swapping out his No. 00 Ford for a No. 41 Ford at Stewart-Haas Racing. Bell is then moving from his No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota to the No. 95 Leavine Family Racing Toyota.

“I guess I really didn’t realize until tonight what it’s really going to be like,” Custer said. “I’ve been in the Xfinity Series for a while now, and it’s going to be really sad leaving, for sure. I mean, it’s kind of what I’ve been used to the last few year, but I’m looking forward to next year — what I’m going to learn and what I need to do better.”

Excitement seemed to be the overall theme among the three. That, and ready.

Custer competed in the Xfinity Series for three full seasons, compiling nine wins. His best season finish is second — twice. Bell and Reddick both have two full years under their belts. Reddick has the two titles and nine wins to his name. Bell comes in at 16 wins, with third being his best final rank.

When it comes to the Cup Series, Custer enters with three starts, Reddick with two and Bell with none. Basically, it’s an even playing field.

“If we’re all running about 20th, we’ll probably lean on each other,” Bell said. “If one of us succeeds, then we’re definitely not going to be talking to the other two.”

Then there’s the Rookie of the Year battle to consider, or just who will score a victory first.

“If I’m hoping the other two win before me,” Reddick said, “then I probably shouldn’t be in the Cup Series to begin with.”

Bell and Reddick will be keeping their same crew chiefs from the Xfinity Series to the Cup Series. Jason Ratcliff is continuing his partnership with Bell, while Randall Burdett is set to remain with Reddick. Custer, however, does not have a name set in stone.

Next year’s action officially begins Feb. 16 with the Daytona 500.

“Now that the season is over, it’s definitely behind me,” Bell said. “I get the vibe I’m not an Xfinity driver anymore.”

Posted on May 25, 2019May 25, 2019 by Zack Albert

CONCORD, N.C. — Stewart-Haas Racing assembled a scorching track record one year ago, claiming a third of the checkered flags in a fruitful Monster Energy Series season. The 2019 campaign has been a tougher encore to produce.

SHR’s four-driver roster — Aric Almirola, Clint Bowyer, Kevin Harvick and Daniel Suarez — have all posted top-five finishes this season, but the win column remains empty heading into Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 (6 p.m. ET, FOX, PRN, SiriusXM). It’s a goose egg that’s prompted varying degrees of surprise from the SHR camp, especially Bowyer, who asked, “I mean, hell, aren’t we all?”

“We’ve had some really, really good runs and we’ve knocked on the door a lot for some wins here,” Bowyer said. “We’ve got to get that thing knocked through.”

At the 12-race mark of last season, Stewart-Haas had won half of the races, led by Harvick’s five-win burst out of the 2018 gates. Through 12 races this season, SHR drivers have won four Busch Pole Awards — three by Harvick — but Bowyer’s runner-up finish at Texas in March rates as the best result.

RELATED: Coca-Cola 600 starting lineup

This year, Joe Gibbs Racing (seven wins) and Team Penske (four wins) have dominated the tote board, with Chase Elliott contributing one win at Talladega for Hendrick Motorsports. While SHR has had to adjust to a new rules package and a new car model in the 2019 Ford Mustang, count Almirola among those surprised that the organization hasn’t elbowed its way onto the win list.

“Last year, we set a precedent winning … qualifying on a lot of poles and just being some of the cars to beat, week in and week out,” Almirola said. “So when you set that kind of precedent, it’s hard to live up to year after year. Right now, we’re going through some learning curves and that’s the beauty of being at Stewart-Haas Racing — I have all the confidence in the world that we’ve got all the smartest people and hardest-working people that we’ll figure it out and get our race cars to where we’ll be winning races before long.”

That time could come Sunday. Stewart-Haas occupies the upper portions of the 600-miler’s starting lineup after placing its four cars among the top eight in Thursday qualifying at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

“Nothing surprises me in this sport,” said Harvick, a two-time Coca-Cola 600 winner. “We’ve been in this position before as a group, not having won a race. You just never know how a year is going to go. We’ve run well, really, for all the conditions and scrambling and all the things that we’ve had to do, we’ve run well. But the last couple weeks, we’ve led laps, and to me that’s more important than anything (for) getting into Victory Lane.”

Added Bowyer: “You keep your head down, you keep working hard, the guys in the shop. That’s the crazy thing about a company and an organization like Stewart-Haas Racing. There is no give-up. These men and women, they go to work, man. And I’m telling you, they’re some of the best in all of racing. If any organization can get in Victory Lane on a consistent basis, I can promise you, Gene Haas and Tony Stewart are the ones with their names on it.”

Posted on May 25, 2019 by Chase Wilhelm

CONCORD, N.C. – Martin Truex Jr. has reaped the benefits of competing under the Joe Gibbs Racing umbrella in more ways than one in his inaugural season with the team.

Along with working for one of the sport’s newest Hall of Fame inductees in team owner Joe Gibbs, he’s also been able to work more closely with teammate and defending Coca-Cola 600 champion Kyle Busch — a relationship that’s been strong both on and off the race track for a number of years.

“He’s just so good at driving the cars and giving the information about what he needs to go faster and just explaining things about his race car,” Truex told NASCAR.com. “It’s fun to just chat with him and bounce things back and forth. Hear what he’s dealing with and how he deals with it.

“You know, you see those things against competitors throughout the years,” he added. “You see how they do things and you always wonder what they think about it. What are their thoughts? How are they actually going about doing these things? So, it’s been fun kind of getting a closer glimpse of that.”

While Truex’s synergy with all of his JGR teammates makes the organization more robust as a whole, all that flies out the window when it’s time to get the job done.

“All those things are positive, but on Sunday you’ve got to race against the guy,” said Truex. “… They’re great competitors, great teammates and we all respect each other a ton. Throughout the week, I think our main focus is how do we get all four cars to finish first through fourth. But when the green flag drops on Sunday, it’s every man for himself and that’s what makes it fun.”

Truex heads into Sunday night’s Coca-Cola 600 (6 p.m. ET on FOX, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) still searching for his first trip to Victory Lane on a 1.5-mile circuit in 2019, but Charlotte Motor Speedway is a welcoming sight. Aiming for his fifth consecutive top-five finish in the event from the 14th starting position, the No. 19 driver hopes to keep it up at a track that didn’t treat him as kindly earlier in his career.

“For many years, this was probably one of my worst tracks,” Truex said. “As you have a place like that, you just continue to focus on it and not give up. Try to find what it takes to get around a place. Then you just hit on it and you can carry that for a number of years.”

“You hope it never goes away, but you know in reality at some point things change and you’re going to have to start looking for something different,” he added. “We’ve just been kind of riding that wave of momentum and riding out how I want it to feel — I know how my car needs to feel to be good during the race.”

Truex dominated the race in 2016, leading 392 of the 400 circuits, but it’ll be a tall task to repeat. This time around, he anticipates that it’ll be a little tougher than usual as teams adjust to a new style of racing on the 1.5-mile track – on top of all the other challenges Charlotte demands of drivers.

“This place is so temperamental,” Truex said. “Everybody talks about Charlotte being so temperature sensitive. It’s just a big challenge and it’s something over the years where we’ve built up a great notebook, things we can look back and lean on. Now, of course, the rules have changed so much, it’s going to be a new challenge.

“Trying to figure out the package we’re running now here is going to be different,” he added. “We got a glimpse of what it was like in the All-Star Race and now hopefully we can make the right adjustments coming into the 600. We can go out there and keep that success at Charlotte rolling.”

Posted on May 25, 2019May 25, 2019 by Marissa Fuller

CONCORD, N.C. — Patience. Accuracy. Focus. Adaptability.

Those are just a few words to describe what athletes need at the NASCAR Drive for Diversity National Pit Crew Combine, held Friday at the NASCAR Research & Development Center in Concord, North Carolina. The University of Miami’s Dalanda Ouendeno, the first-ever soccer player to compete in the pit crew combine, has them all.

Growing up in Paris, France, Ouendeno had never even heard of NASCAR before recruiters came to the university to host tryouts. She decided to go for it and that’s the beginning of how she got here today.

“In France, NASCAR is not really known at all,” Ouendeno told NASCAR.com. “They (NASCAR) came on campus at the University of Miami and they were having tryouts for student-athletes and I was like, ‘Oh, I want to try out,’ and then I got in for today (the combine) and hopefully I go further.”

Phase 1 of the combine was foot-speed and change-of-direction evaluation. The first phase is timed with a goal of five minutes. Ouendeno completed the phase in four minutes, 50 seconds.

“It was hard. I gave 100% but I’m really happy with what I gave today,” she said. “When they came on campus, I did six minutes and 10 seconds, so I was aiming to do better but I did much better.”

The second phase was individual pit crew position drills. This phase allowed all the athletes to perform more of what they would specifically be doing at the race track. It was also the part that she was most excited for as she was trying out for a tire-changer position.

“That’s the real part; it’s what I’m going to do,” she said.

Phase 3 was the live pit stop competition, including two tire changes.

Ouendeno grew up playing soccer since she was 6 years old. She played for Paris St. Germain from 2009-2015 and won the Gothia Youth World Cup and IberCup Portugal in 2014.

She earned five Isles of France championships and played with numerous standout players, including current French national team midfielder Grace Geyoro before joining Paris St. Germain. She was also a member of Arnouville Football Club from 2004-2009.

With her soccer experience, Ouendeno has been able to use those skills during this next adventure.

“There’s a lot of footwork with NASCAR so that is what I’m using.,” she said. “There’s not a lot of upper body in soccer so now that’s my focus technique and (the mentality) to just do my best is the same.”

Tire-changer Brehanna Daniels, a D4D Pit Crew Combine alum, has become a mentor for Ouendeno. Ouendeno has already learned a handful of things from Daniels.

Photo by Tyler Strong

“In one day, I’ve learned so much. I can’t wait to learn even more,” Ouendeno explained. “We came from never touching a car like that before and now I know how to do it. It’s making a lot of noise, it’s heavy and you have to be precise. I can already see myself improving.”

Daniels has a lot of advice to offer Ouendeno and is making sure she stays focused on the ultimate goal — becoming one of the six athletes chosen to be a pit crew member come September.

“I’m trying to help her be the best tire-changer she possibly can be,” Daniels said. “Just remembering how I was in this same combine a few years ago. I’m just trying to pave the way for her as well. I’m making sure she’s focused. Focused on hitting those five lug nuts on, five lug nuts off.

“I told her that accuracy is a big deal and being patient with everything and just listening to coach (Phil) Horton. There’s going to be times when she’s frustrated but not to let those times overcome her performance.”

Daniels is very familiar with Ouendeno’s current position but believes if this is something she really wants, she will make it happen.

“This is brand new to her, like it was brand new to me,” Daniels said. “I think she has what it takes. But, she has to be all in and want to do it.”

Ouendeno is eager and excited for this opportunity. She is absolutely all in.

Posted on May 25, 2019May 25, 2019 by Staff Report

Daniel Suarez topped the leaderboard in Saturday’s final Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice at Charlotte Motor Speedway at 180.705 mph in the No. 41 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford. The 27-year-old led the morning’s early practice, as well.

Right behind him was Daniel Hemric in the No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet at 180.687 mph. Rounding out the top five were Denny Hamlin in the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota (180.554 mph), Ryan Preece in the No. 47 JTG Daugherty Chevrolet (180.469 mph) and Kyle Busch in the No. 18 JGR Toyota (180.276 mph). Busch is the defending race winner of the Coca-Cola 600.

Series points leader Joey Logano was 15th fastest with a speed of 179.372 mph in the No. 22 Team Penske Ford.

William Byron, who earned the Busch Pole Award on Friday to become the race’s youngest pole winner in history, was ninth on the leaderboard at 179.742 mph.

The series races Sunday at Charlotte in the Coca-Cola 600 (6 p.m. ET, FOX, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

Practice 2

Daniel Suarez topped the leaderboard in Saturday’s first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice at Charlotte Motor Speedway at 182.143 mph in the No. 41 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford.

Right behind him was defending Coca-Cola 600 winner Kyle Busch in the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota at 182.051 mph.

MORE: Full practice results | Best 10-lap averages | Updated odds for Charlotte

Rounding out the top five were Austin Dillon in the No. 3 Richard Childress Racing (181.488 mph), Ryan Blaney in the No. 12 Team Penske Ford (181.397 mph) and Kevin Harvick in the No. 4 SHR Ford (181.366 mph).

Series points leader Joey Logano was 14th fastest with a speed of 180.832 mph in the No. 22 Team Penske Ford. Pole sitter William Byron was 23rd in the session with a fast lap of 179.742 mph.

Fresh off a $1 million win in the All-Star Race, Kyle Larson placed 25th on the leaderboard at 179.665 mph.