Posted on by Staff Report

When the season kicks off at Bowman Gray Stadium this weekend, one family of racers will suit up with a combined 120 wins among them.

And all three drivers will race against one another in the same division for the first time.

The Clifton family — Ronnie, Michael, and Zack — will all race in Bowman Gray’s modifieds division this season. Michael has seen the most success in the track’s highest NASCAR Whelen All-American Series division, with 22 modifieds wins.

But his success at the track overall is unmatched to his brother, Ronnie, who has 73 career victories, all in the sportsman division, where he won eight straight championships in the early 2000s. Ronnie has been racing modifieds for the last eight years, and this year he’s made it a goal to pick up his first win there.

But he’ll have some stiff competition, none closer to him than his son Zack, who also found success at Bowman Gray in the sportsman division, winning 22 races and one championship. Zack will move up to the modifieds division for the first time this season.

“We’ve never all three of us been on the race track at the same time,” Michael said.

Bowman Gray Stadium, a quarter-mile flat asphalt oval in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, that is NASCAR’s first and longest running weekly race track, will open its 71st season on Saturday with the Hayes Jewelers 200 presented by Q104.1 for the Division I Modifieds. The opening night will also include a 40-lap Sportsman feature as well as street stock and stadium stock division races.

Bowman Gray Stadium | Facebook | Twitter

This week will be the first race back for Ronnie and Michael, who both took last season off. Ronnie took the time to help Zack get a car ready for Martinsville Speedway’s year-end late model race. He wasn’t planning to come back this season, but some crew members came to him wanting to help him get back on the track, so he decided to give it one last go-round.

Michael also felt burnt out from racing and decided to sit out 2018, but after racing at The Stadium for more than 30 years, it didn’t take long for him to get the itch to get back on the track.

“We went camping and took the boat out, and on the weekends I would be like, ‘Why aren’t I at the racetrack?’” Michael said. “Because I missed it.

“I thought I’d come back this year and see how things worked out.”

Michael Clifton | Facebook

During Ronnie’s year off, Zack decided to take his dad’s modified for a test drive, and instantly fell in love with the extra horsepower. Ronnie said his son moving up a division came as a surprise, but it should help with getting more sponsors. The brothers went to New York to get Zack’s new car this offseason, and he’s put in the hours to make sure he’s ready for Saturday.

“We brought it to the shop and we had to replace pretty much everything on it,” Zack said. “Me and my guys, we worked on it and got it to the way we want it with all of our stuff on it. I’ve learned a lot about the modifieds. I still have a whole lot to learn about them. We’ve been to practices and I really wish there was a lot more practices so we can know what this car likes and doesn’t like, but we’ll just have to figure it out one week at a time.”

Zack Clifton Racing Facebook | Twitter

Ronnie moved up to the modifieds division when Zack started racing sportsmen at Bowman Gray, so the father and son have never actually raced against each other. Zack and Michael have only raced once, but Zack wrecked early and didn’t get a chance to get near his uncle.

While Ronnie and Michael have been racing together for nearly a decade, this weekend will be a new experience for all of them.

Zack and Ronnie Clifton Clifton

“We pick at each other all the time but when it comes down to it we help each as much as we can,” Ronnie said. “I’ve always enjoyed racing against Michael. When we were younger we were really competitive against each other, but the older we get the more we help each other and cheer for each other. If one of us is not running well we try to help the other one out. I think it’ll be about the same with Zack. We’re gonna try to help Zack out as much as we can. He adapts well to everything we tell him.”

“I’ve already made up my mind that we’re probably going to qualify right near each other,” Zack said. “We’ll probably qualify within one or two spots of each other I feel like. I’m just interested to see how it’ll all play out.

“I’m really excited to be able to run against him and hopefully benefit from it and not the other way around.”

“We’ve got a lot of respect for one another,” Michael said. “I feel like we’ll show a lot of respect for each other. I feel like if something goes down with one of us we’ve got each other’s back. I just feel like we’ll look after each other.”

Ronnie Clifton Racing Facebook

All three Clifton’s have something they’re racing for this season. Ronnie is hoping to get that first modified victory before hanging up his firesuit for good. After that, he’ll get to not only help Zack, but watch him every week.

“I’ll probably be nervous racing with him,” Ronnie said. “But he’s a good driver. He’s adapted well to the modified, better than most people do. He’s a pretty smooth driver. I think he’ll hold his own pretty good. I’ll try to help him out as much as I can. If he needs any help I’ll help him out. If he needs my car I’ll give him my car. I’m just there for him more or less to help him transition to the modifieds.”

Zack, too, is looking for a win of his own.

“I get to run for rookie of the year again,” he said. “So I’m up there every weekend to try to at least win a race this year. If not, I would be happy to get rookie of the year.”

“Everything I’ve learned in the past I can just throw away and have to start fresh because the modifieds is a whole different ball game.”

While Michael doesn’t have any specific goals, racing again will be enough for him.

“I’m just looking forward to getting out there and having fun and just enjoying it,” he said. “I hope that we have good nights and don’t tear up a whole lot.”

Bowman Gray Stadium Schedule

 

Posted on by Staff Report

Jimmie Johnson took on the Boston Marathon, and his peers took notice.

Several of them, including 2019 winners Kyle Busch and Denny Hamlin, took to social media to congratulate the seven-time series champion on his showing in Monday’s 26.2-miler.

Considered one of the most prestigious marathons in the world, Johnson — who had been training for months and started his run just 36 hours after racing at Richmond — logged a time of 3 hours, 9 minutes and 7 seconds.

RELATED: Johnson: ‘It’s been an amazing experience’

From Kyle Larson in a baby stroller to his post-race brews, here’s what NASCAR Nation was saying after Johnson’s epic run.

Posted on by Staff Report

Hendrick Motorsports driver Jimmie Johnson knows plenty about training, about pace and about racing. He is a seven-time champion and 83-race winner at the sport’s highest level, after all.

But Johnson applied those same principles that helped him develop into one of NASCAR’s all-time greats to a different kind of course — the 26.2-mile 123rd running of the Boston Marathon on Monday morning, only 36 hours after competing in NASCAR’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series night race at Richmond Raceway.

Johnson woke up this morning preparing his gear, stretching and doing some laps to get himself ready.

Fittingly wearing bib No. 4848, Johnson completed the marathon with an unofficial time of 3 hours, 9 minutes and 7 seconds. That means he ran approximately 8.24 mph (with a pace of 7 minutes, 13 seconds per mile), and according to Johnson, it wasn’t easy.

He finished in 4,155th place overall and 3,746th among males. In his division (Male 40-44), Johnson finished 641st.

Johnson began the race at 10:25 a.m. ET and hit the 5K mark 21 minutes, 22 seconds later.

Pacing himself for the long race ahead, at 1 hour, 31 minutes and 38 seconds, Johnson made it to the halfway point.

The most famous part of the course is Heartbreak Hill, between the 20th and 21st mile. It’s an uphill portion near Boston College and is considered the most difficult stretch of the race.

“I wish I had my car for Heartbreak Hill, it would have made that a lot easier,” Johnson told CBS Boston after finishing the race. “What an incredible experience. … The stories that people have told me that have been in this before don’t even come close to what it’s like in real life. The first half was so easy, and I heard so much about that. To see the pace you’re like, ‘Oh wow, I got this, no problem,’ and then the work starts. You realize you probably got on too fast. Just thankful that this worked out.”

And now, he has another piece of hardware to add to his growing collection. Former Boston Marathon champion Meb Keflezighi presented Johnson with his medal.

“I wanted to race it, so I went out with a heart rate and time in mind. I came up a little short, but still to do that well, still to be that low in the threes (three hours), I’m really happy with it,” Johnson said. “It’s been an amazing experience. I’ve learned so much about myself. I just can’t believe how this city supports all the runners on course.”

Considered one of the most prestigious marathons in the world, Johnson had been training for his first Boston Marathon for months. An avid fitness buff, he already ran a half-marathon at Daytona Beach, Florida, earlier this season during Speedweeks.

“It’s not like I’ve not run before, but to increase the volume and the daily miles required — it’s crazy what you put your body through,” Johnson told the Associated Press. “I’m enjoying this taper right now. But honestly, I’ve loved the experience and enjoyed all the pain and suffering that comes with it.”

In case you missed it, here are Johnson’s marathon numbers:

10:25:00 a.m. ET – Johnson started the Boston Marathon but first, he had to take care of some racing business.

10:46:24 a.m. ET – Johnson hit the 5K mark with a time of 00:21:22 with a pace of 06:52 minutes per mile.

11:07:50 a.m. ET – Johnson hit the 10K mark with a total time of 00:42:48 and a pace of 06:55 minutes per mile. He is currently running at 8.70 mph.

11:29:36 a.m. ET – With a time of 04:04:34, Johnson made it to the 15K spot, running 07:01 minutes per mile.

11:51:51 a.m. ET – Twenty-two minutes and 16 seconds later, Johnson hit the 20K mark. His total time is 01:26:49.

11:56:40 a.m. ET – Halfway! Johnson is at the half marathon split of the Boston Marathon after an hour and 31 minutes and 38 seconds.

12:14:01 p.m. ET – At 01:48:59, Johnson has passed the 25K split, pacing himself at 07:10 minutes per mile.

12:37:25 p.m. ET – Johnson hit the 30K mark with a total time of 02:12:24.

12:47:45 p.m. ET – 20 miles down!

01:01:02 p.m. ET – At a 07:10 minutes per mile pace, Johnson hits the 35K split.

01:26:44 p.m. ET – Almost there! Johnson passes the 25.2-mile mark, with a time of 03:01:42.

He did it! Johnson finished the Boston Marathon with a time of 03:09:07, unofficially, at 01:34:07 p.m. ET.

Posted on by Staff Report

Martin Truex Jr’s racing-winning No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota has passed post-race inspection with no issues at Richmond Raceway.

The No. 19 Toyota was found to be compliant with the 2019 NASCAR Rule Book following Saturday night’s Toyota Owners 400. With the post-race teardown complete, the race results are official.

RELATED: Race results | Full schedule for Talladega

Officials have randomly selected the No. 11 JGR Toyota of Denny Hamlin back to the NASCAR Research and Development Center in Concord, North Carolina for routine evaluation. Hamlin finished fifth in Saturday night’s race.

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 as needed to evaluate technical trends, but the more comprehensive at-track inspection will take priority.

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

RICHMOND, Va. — Clint Bowyer stalked race leader Martin Truex Jr. over the final 50 laps Saturday night at Richmond Raceway, saving his tires and using his long-run speed to eventually track down and catch Truex Jr.’s No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota.

Catching him, yes. Passing him was a different matter.

Bowyer pulled his No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford right alongside Truex Jr. several times in the waning laps, but couldn’t quite make the race-winning pass in what was a thrilling conclusion to the Toyota Owners 400.

MORE: Truex wins at Richmond | Race results

“We were the fastest car on the long run,” said Bowyer, who methodically moved his way up from the 14th starting spot. “We were clearly not the fastest car. One of the fastest cars is sitting over there in Victory Lane. We had better long-run speed than them. We raced better than them. We made some good adjustments that woke our car up, and we did a good job of working on our car because no, we unloaded and qualified terrible.

“Good track for me and good adjustments on his behalf, and our pit crew was good. It’s a team effort and we pulled through and prevailed with a good finish, but damn, you get that close, you want to win that thing.”

Seeking his first win of 2019 and third career victory at Richmond, Bowyer gradually eased into contention and benefited from his car’s long-run capabilities when the final 148 laps went caution-free. As he continued to chip into the lead margin, his spotter, Brett Griffin, kept up the encouragement: “Sittin’ pretty, man. My money’s on you.”

That challenge, though, faded over the final five laps after a scrape of the wall as Truex held on for his first career win at a short track. The extra wear on Bowyer’s equipment in chasing down Truex allowed Joey Logano to slip by for second place with the laps dwindling.

“I don’t know what I could have done any different,” Bowyer told FOX Sports right after the race. “You hate to get that close. I thought this was our night.”

For the No. 14 bunch, there was some consolation in bringing home the team’s fourth consecutive top-10 finish. Saturday night’s effort followed another strong run last weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway and marked the second straight year that Bowyer notched top 10s at the Martinsville-Texas-Bristol-Richmond spring stretch.

“Regardless of what some people may think, I really felt like the last four weeks, we’ve had a car that was just as capable of winning as the guy who won,” said crew chief Mike Bugarewicz. “Just can’t seem to close it out.”

Contributing: Zack Albert

Posted on by Reid Spencer

RICHMOND, Va. – Saturday night’s victory in the Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond Raceway was a first for Martin Truex Jr.—and more of the same for Joe Gibbs Racing.

Truex won his first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race on a short track in his 81st try and in the process picked up his first victory with Joe Gibbs Racing since moving from now-defunct Furniture Row Racing between seasons.

At the same time, Truex gave JGR its third straight victory in NASCAR’s top series and sixth in nine races this season. Joey Logano finished .178 seconds behind the race winner, as Gibbs and Team Penske maintained their stranglehold on the premier division. Penske drivers Logano and Brad Keselowski triumphed in the three races JGR hasn’t won.

RELATED: Race results
SHOP: Truex gear

“It means a lot to break through, especially here at Richmond,” said Truex, who won for the first time this season and the 20th time in his career. “I’ve always really enjoyed this track. I’ve always loved coming here. The short track win–everybody kept asking me when it was going to happen.

“I was struggling the last 40 laps. I had no front tire and got real tight that last run. I just had to hold them off. Thanks to the pit crew—they had a great night. I’m just really happy to get our first win with Gibbs. First short-track win is pretty awesome, too.

“Tonight, we didn’t have the best car, but we’ve lost here with the best car a bunch of times. We just fought and battled. Being out front was just the key.”

Logano got past third-place finisher Clint Bowyer in the closing laps and got a strong run off of Turn 2 on the final circuit, but Logano couldn’t find a way around Truex through the last two corners. To his credit, the reigning series champion kept it clean, opting not to move Truex as he had done on the final lap in last year’s Playoff race at Martinsville.

“I figured something out there toward the end with about 10 laps to go to make ups some speed,” Logano said. “I got a decent run off of (Turn) 2 the last lap… I though I could maybe get to the outside and then roll momentum—I don’t know.

“I couldn’t roll the bottom and get enough drive off of (Turn) 4 either way. My only move was to go up. I slid up and I got tight and couldn’t turn underneath him. Fun race, but, gosh, two weeks in a row I felt like we had a car that could win the race, and we haven’t won.

“That’s a little frustrating, but when you’re frustrated with second, that’s a good sign about where your team’s at.”

Two seconds behind Truex with 40 laps left, Bowyer quickly closed the deficit and made a move to the inside of Truex’s No. 19 Toyota with 17 laps to go, but Truex protected the outside and kept enough momentum to keep Bowyer behind him.

With fewer than 10 laps left, Bowyer brushed the wall and surrendered the second position when Logano got to his outside off of Turn 4.

RELATED: Bowyer’s rally falls short

“It’s frustrating,” said Bowyer, who scored his fourth straight top-10 result. You get out there, and I ran him (Truex) down. I was faster on a long run than him, but by the time you get to him, your stuff is pretty wore out. And with this aero package, you are so aero dependent behind those cars that you get terrible tight.

“When I got behind him, I knew that wasn’t the place to be, so I changed that. I lost. It sucks. Then the 22 (Logano) got to my outside. I knew better than to let him out there, but I felt like when I was running high that I was probably losing ground to him. In hopes of still trying to win the race, I needed to stay on the bottom and hope that he slipped up in traffic or something. Next thing you know I lost my nose down there, and the 22 got to the outside.”

Pole winner Kevin Harvick ran fourth, followed by Denny Hamlin and Austin Dillon. Brad Keselowski, Kyle Busch, Ryan Newman and Paul Menard completed the top 10. Busch posted his ninth straight top 10 to start the season.

Busch led 101 laps—second only to Truex’s 186—but a speeding penalty under caution on Lap 131 after Kyle Larson’s hard crash into the Turn 1 wall knocked Busch back to 26th. Busch was unable to work his way back to the front, finishing eighth.

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 the Fox Sports App | How to find NBCSN

Monday, April 15
6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FS1/FOX Sports App
6 p.m., NASCAR America, NBCSN/NBC Sports App

On MRN:
12:30 p.m., MRN Outloud

Tuesday, April 16
5 p.m., Dale Jr. Download, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FS1/FOX Sports App

On MRN:
9 a.m., The Tough Trucks of NASCAR: Episode 9

Wednesday, April 17
5 p.m., NASCAR America: Motormouths, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FS1/FOX Sports App

On MRN:
Noon: NASCAR Coast to Coast
1 p.m., MRN Crew Call

Thursday, April 18
5 p.m. NASCAR America: Motorsports, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FS1/FOX Sports App

Friday, April 19
1 a.m., NASCAR The Decades: The 1970s, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
2 a.m., NASCAR The Decades: The 1980s, NBCSN/NBC Sports App

Posted on by Staff Report

Joey Logano nabbed the Stage 2 victory in Saturday night’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Toyota Owners 400 Richmond Raceway after passing Martin Truex Jr. in the closing laps

Truex Jr. led 63 total laps in the second stage before Logano took the lead away from him with five laps remaining in the stage. Truex Jr. was working to lap Logano’s Penske teammate, Ryan Blaney, when Logano was able to take advantage and make the stage-winning move.

RELATED: Stage 2 results

Truex Jr. was able to hold on for second in the stage, followed by Kevin Harvick, Brad Keselowski and Clint Bowyer.

After winning Stage 1, Kyle Busch was busted for speeding on pit road in the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota during a round of stops on Lap 132. Busch worked his way back up to 15th by the end of the stage.

Kyle Larson’s night came to an eventful end when a right-rear tire went down at the entrance of Turn 1, and the No. 42 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet slammed into the outside retaining wall. The tire rub was initially started when Larson made contact with Daniel Hemric on Lap 115, forcing Larson to make an unscheduled pit stop.

Finish Driver Team Points
1 Joey Logano Team Penske 10
2 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing 9
3 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing 8
4 Brad Keselowski Team Penske 7
5 Clint Bowyer Stewart-Haas Racing 6
6 Daniel Suarez Stewart-Haas Racing 5
7 Kurt Busch Chip Ganassi Racing 4
8 Erik Jones Joe Gibbs Racing 3
9 Chris Buescher JTG Daugherty Racing 2
10 Paul Menard Wood Brothers Racing 1

Stage 1

Kyle Busch captured the Stage 1 victory in Saturday’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond Raceway.

Busch took the lead away from pole sitter Kevin Harvick on Lap 32 after Harvick led the first 30 circuits. Busch retained the lead after the first round of pit stops following a competition caution period on Lap 40.

RELATED: Stage 1 results

Busch led a total of 70 of the 100 laps in the first stage for on his way to his fifth stage victory of the 2019 season.

Joey Logano finished second, followed by Martin Truex Jr., Harvick and Clint Bowyer to round out the top five.

Finish Driver Team Points
1 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing 10
2 Joey Logano Team Penske 9
3 Martin Truex Jr. Joe Gibbs Racing 8
4 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing 7
5 Clint Bowyer Stewart-Haas Racing 6
6 Brad Keselowski Team Penske 5
7 Kurt Busch Chip Ganassi Racing 4
8 Chris Buescher JTG Daugherty Racing 3
9 Paul Menard Wood Brothers Racing 2
10 Daniel Suarez Stewart-Haas Racing 1
Posted on by Reid Spencer

RICHMOND, Va. —  On Saturday afternoon outside the Richmond Raceway media center, Stu Grant, Goodyear’s general manager of worldwide racing, unveiled a special sidewall all Goodyear tires will display for the Charlotte races on Memorial Day weekend.

This is the 10th year Goodyear will replace its familiar “Eagle” branding with an inscription honoring the United States military and fallen heroes. This year’s tires will display the lettering “Honor and Remember,” a national Virginia-based organization whose mission is to “perpetually recognize the sacrifice of America’s military fallen service members and their families.”

PHOTOS: Hamlin tours USS San Jacinto

“Goodyear and the military have always had a strong association,” Grant said. “We supply ground tires for a lot of military vehicles. We supply aircraft tires to a lot of military aircraft around the world. We’ve got programs to supply this kind of consumer tires to military bases around the world, and we’ve got a corporate initiative to hire veterans.

“Supporting the military is one thing, but what we want to do is also to support the fallen. That’s why we’re partnering up with Honor and Remember. They’re a terrific organization. They recognize the fallen, but in addition, they recognize the families of the fallen with a positive message.”