Posted on by Zack Albert

HOMESTEAD, Fla. — Noah Gragson ripped off his driving gloves after Friday night’s Ford EcoBoost 200, coming up some five seconds short of a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship.

Consoling hugs followed, first from team owner Kyle Busch and next from Rudy Fugle, the crew chief for his No. 18 Toyota. Busch had implored his 20-year-old driver over the team radio: “It’s all up to you, brother,” before the final green-flag run, then watched the closing stage of the season finale atop the pit box with arms crossed.

RELATED: Race results | At-track photos

Gragson finished third at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Friday night behind eventual champ Brett Moffitt and runner-up Grant Enfinger, the pole winner. He’d led twice for 34 laps, racing hard with Moffitt in a slice-dice battle for the top spot before the final exchange of pit stops placed a buffer between the two. Though initially frustrated with the result, Gragson kept a measure of perspective on the season-ending event.

“Just very fortunate to be racing for a championship. Trying to soak it all in,” said Gragson, who thanked his Kyle Busch Motorsports team on the cool-down lap. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity so just really fortunate, really thankful for everyone who supports me.”

Gragson closed the year with one win (Kansas in May) and a series-best six pole positions. He qualified third Friday, fastest among the four championship contenders, and remained among the top five virtually all night.

He slowed with what he surmised was a deflating tire, prompting his final trip to pit road on the 101st of 134 laps. Fugle said that Gragson lost small increments of time entering and exiting the pits, plus precious ground during the stop itself. Even with Busch’s prodding, Gragson was unable to mount a final charge.

“That’s just pretty much just me driving 100 percent, driving my nuts off pretty much,” said Gragson, who quickly regained his sense of humor by the time he reached the post-race press conference. “I mean, it’s tough, but I guess it just comes down to experience, making good … I gave it all I got. I mean, I had my tongue hanging out. I wasn’t worn. I wasn’t falling out of the seat, but I just burned the front tires off of it.”

The season finale was Gragson’s swan song with the KBM organization. He announced in September that he would move to the Xfinity Series with JR Motorsports, replacing the retiring Elliott Sadler with a multiyear deal in the No. 1 Chevrolet.

MORE: JRM lands Gragson for full-time ride

Gragson will be succeeded in KBM’s No. 18 Toyota by Harrison Burton, but he had fond words for the team upon his departure. “It’s just a bummer, but hey, no bad days, right?” he quipped. In the end, both driver and crew chief expressed appreciation for their growth through the 2018 season.

“This is what this team’s been built to do,” Fugle said. “It’s not really said very much, but this team’s won five owner’s championships in a row until this year, So owner’s, drivers … doesn’t matter. We’ve won lots of races together. This year was a little bit down on race wins, but we led as many laps as we ever had and then it was really strong. We didn’t close races the way we needed to, but really proud of how we got here and how we performed here and what we’re going to do going forward.”

Posted on by Reid Spencer

HOMESTEAD, Fla. — Brett Moffitt is the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion after a decisive victory in Friday night’s Ford EcoBoost 200 at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

In a race that featured a minimum two cautions, both for planned stage breaks, Moffitt drove away from the rest of the field after taking the lead from fellow Championship 4 contender Noah Gragson on Lap 99 of 134.

Moffitt finished 2.000 seconds ahead of pole winner Grant Enfinger, who passed Gragson for the runner-up spot during a cycle of green-flag pit stops at the 103-lap mark. Gragson ran third, 5.006 seconds back.

RELATED: Race results

GMS Racing teammates Justin Haley and Johnny Sauter didn’t factor into the title battle. Haley ran eighth, and Sauter, trying for a second series championship, battled a loose handling condition all race long and finished 12th, the last driver on the lead lap.

Driving for underfunded Hattori Racing Enterprises, owned by former driver Shigeaki Hattori of Japan, Moffitt picked up his sixth victory of the season (and second straight) and the seventh of his career. More than 20 years ago, Hattori won the first of his two Indy Lights races at Homestead after leading 64 of 67 laps in a Lola/Buick.

“That was the longest 20-30 laps of my life,” Moffitt said of the final run to the checkered flag. “Man, I was just glad we could get to the white flag without a caution and clean sailing. We had a great truck all day.

“It’s unreal. We all know the story by now. We didn’t know if we were going to race this whole year. I didn’t know if I would have the opportunity to run for a championship, even after we got our first win. Everyone pulled together hard here.

“We’ve had so many partners who came in at clutch moments and got us to the race track.”

Hattori fought sponsorship issues throughout the season, and Moffitt has yet to announce a deal for next season, but that didn’t deter the driver of the No. 16 Toyota from battling Gragson from a restart on Lap 68 until he finally prevailed on Lap 99 — after two concerted runs at his rival for the title.

“I just got my tires a little too hot the first time I got next to him, and I probably didn’t commit enough to the move,” said Moffitt, who competed in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series before landing the ride with HRE. “I kind of let them cool down and ran the top trying to get some momentum.

“He was kind of backing up, and we could still run the bottom really well, which is kind of unusual for Homestead.”

Moffitt lost the lead briefly but gained three seconds on Gragson in the championship battle when the drivers came to pit road for their final stops, Gragson on Lap 101 and Moffitt one circuit later. After returning to the point on Lap 106, Moffitt wasn’t challenged the rest of the way.

Sauter’s performance was surprising, too, in that his team never hit a workable setup.

“It was awful,” admitted Sauter, who couldn’t find the form that carried him to Victory Lane six times this year. “Just no grip. We laid an egg tonight. When you suck that bad, you just go home and ask yourself, ‘What the hell happened?’”

Stewart Friesen finished fourth and Sheldon Creed fifth. Matt Crafton, John Hunter Nemechek, Haley, Jesse Little and Ben Rhodes completed the top 10.

Myatt Snider, who finished 14th, claimed Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors for the series.

Posted on by Holly Cain

HOMESTEAD, Fla. – Brett Moffitt turned an unlikely NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship bid into a Cinderella championship hoist Friday night at Homestead-Miami Speedway, earning his Hattori Racing Enterprises team its first ever NASCAR title with a resounding victory at the track.

RELATED: Moffitt wins 2018 Camping World Truck Series title

It’s the same track where team owner Shigeaki Hattori won as a driver 20 years ago competing in an Indy Lights Series race. The NASCAR title is the first ever for the popular Japanese owner and stands as a huge achievement for a team that has only 10 full-time employees, led by veteran crew chief Scott Zipadelli.

The Moffitt-Zipadelli combination scored the first six wins in team history this season but none was more important than Friday night’s at Homestead – Moffitt’s first time competing in a truck race at the 1.5-mile track.

“Those were longest 12 laps of my life,” Moffitt said of the final laps of the race, grinning widely in his Movember mustache.

“This is the first race we’ve been up front for most of it.”

MORE: Full race results | Recap

That’s certainly true. Of his six victories, Moffitt won one race leading the final two laps (Atlanta). Twice (at Michigan and Chicago) he led only the final lap en route to victory. And it only made his effort and the team’s determination more inspiring. At one point – even with the Playoff-qualifying early season victory — the team nearly had to park the truck, needing sponsorship to carry on.

FR8Auctions.com came on board to literally sustain the Hattori effort this summer — appearing on Moffitt’s Chicago-winning No. 16 Toyota — and the team was able to continue its championship quest. Only 2016 champ Johnny Sauter – also a championship finalist Friday – won as many races as Moffitt this season.

In the last four races of the 2018 championship Playoffs, Moffitt – a member of NASCAR’s inaugural “NASCAR Next” class in 2011 —  finished runner-up (Martinsville), third place (Texas) and won back-to-back at Phoenix’s ISM Raceway and then Homestead-Miami.

“I don’t think everyone understands, we have nine or 10 employees working seven days a week working till midnight more times than not,” Moffitt said of the team’s effort. “It’s a testament to them. I’m fortunate to drive the truck but it’s an honor to drive for them.”

Zipadelli agreed.

“It’s kind of amazing really and it feels good,” he said. “Going into this race, everyone asks “Are you nervous?” Nope. We’re not even supposed to be here . We exceeded all the expectations of our peers and competitors.

“Saying that, we had all the confidence we could do it. And we did it with people not stuff and big budgets. We did it with people and heart. I’ve had to kick em’ out of the shop at 1 in the morning. They’d be there at 5:30 in the morning and they’d leave at midnight.

“It’s been an amazing journey and taught us a lot about ourselves and what you can do it if you focus on the right things. Brett did an amazing job all season driving the truck and working for Shigeaki is a pleasure.”

In all, Moffitt led 59 of the 134 laps in the No. 16 AISIN Group Toyota Tundra including the final 28 laps. He beat Grant Enfinger to the checkered flag by 2.0-seconds. Kyle Busch Motorsports driver Noah Gragson finished third – next highest for a championship contender. Other championship eligible drivers, GMS teammates Justin Haley and Sauter finished eighth and 12th, respectively.

“We’re a small team but everybody did a great job,” Hattori said. “I’m so happy.”

Posted on by Reid Spencer

HOMESTEAD, Fla. — Three of the four Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Championship 4 drivers qualified near the top of the board in Friday’s time trials at Homestead-Miami Speedway, but Denny Hamlin, who has his own agenda, stole the pole for Sunday’s Ford EcoBoost 400 (3 p.m. ET, NBC, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90).

Trying to extend his streak of winning at least one race per season to 13 consecutive years, Hamlin streaked around the 1.5-mile track in 31.059 seconds (173.863 mph) to secure the top starting spot in the race that will determine the series champion.

Hamlin edged Joe Gibbs Racing teammate and Championship 4 competitor Kyle Busch (173.622 mph) by .043 seconds in the money round. Future JGR teammate and reigning series champion Martin Truex Jr. qualified third at 173.539 mph.

RELATED: Qualifying results

Playoff driver Joey Logano was fifth fastest in the No. 22 Team Penske Ford at 173.366 mph. Fellow title contender Kevin Harvick fought a tight-handling No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford to a 12th-place run in the final round of qualifying.

Hamlin has more than his streak of winning seasons on the line. He revealed via Twitter on Friday that Mike Wheeler will no longer be his crew chief after Sunday’s race. No replacement has been named. Hamlin hopes to duplicate his performance from five years ago when he won at Homestead for his only victory of the season.

“It’s big for us to get this race team up front here,” said Hamlin, who won his fourth pole of the season, his third at Homestead (and second in a row). “We definitely want to end on a high note and try to win. In 2013 we were in the same predicament where we hadn’t won a race until the final race and we got it done, so hopefully it’s our time to do it.”

Busch was pleased with his qualifying effort, even though it fell just short.

“Not too bad, wish we had a little bit more there obviously to get the number one pit box,” Busch said. “Two years in a row, Denny has been able to figure that last run out. Just see what happens tomorrow.”

RELATED: Photos of every paint scheme

There was speculation after qualifying that Hamlin might cede the coveted No. 1 pit stall to Busch, but Hamlin didn’t seem enthused about the prospect. He was more concerned with keeping every advantage that might help him preserve his streak.

“I sure don’t want to break that streak,” Hamlin said. “I hope Kyle finishes second.”

Posted on by Reid Spencer

HOMESTEAD, Fla. – When he showed up for Championship 4 Media Day at The Edition in Miami Beach, Cole Custer didn’t exhibit the bluster or braggadocio of a driver who had blown away the competition in last year’s season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Custer didn’t qualify for the NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship 4 Round last season, but his performance at Homestead was head-and-shoulders above that of any of the title contenders. Custer led 182 of the 200 laps and finished 15.405 seconds ahead of runner-up Sam Hornish Jr.

RELATED: Final practice results | At-track photos from Miami

But that was last year — and Custer knows it, as he ponders Saturday’s Ford EcoBoost 300 (3:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

“I don’t know if you can really expect to do the same thing, because things change,” Custer said. “You know, little things that we have to kind of account for. And obviously Christopher (Bell) and Tyler (Reddick) got to go down there and test, so I bet they got faster.

“But I think you’ve just got to work off your notes from last year and do your homework, and I think there’s no reason why you can’t compete for a win.”

Another major difference. In his second year in the No. 00 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford, Custer is battling Bell, Reddick and Daniel Hemric for the Xfinity Series championship.

“It would mean a lot, especially just to our whole team, because as a new team last year, I think everybody had to work so hard to get to the point that we’re at now, so it would mean a lot to all of our people to get this championship and bring it home.”

Custer did have a scare in Friday evening’s final practice session, tagging the outside wall in the waning moments. The team has elected not to move to a backup car and will patch up the No. 00 in time for Saturday’s time trials.

Posted on by Staff Report

Denny Hamlin indicated via Twitter on Friday that this weekend’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Homestead-Miami Speedway will be his last with crew chief Mike Wheeler.

A Joe Gibbs Racing spokesperson confirmed Wheeler and Hamlin would part ways following the 2018 season.

Wheeler was named the No. 11 crew chief for the 2016 season after previously serving as an engineer. In three seasons with Hamlin, as Denny’s tweet says, the two won five races together and logged 37 top-five finishes. The No. 11 operation is winless heading into Miami, and Hamlin’s streak of 12 consecutive years with a win is on the line.

RELATED: Consecutive years with a win

Prior to Wheeler, Dave Rogers served as Hamlin’s crew chief in 2015, following the tenure of Darian Grubb (2012-14).

There was no immediate word on Wheeler’s plans for 2018, or who would lead the No. 11 team next year.

Posted on by Jonathan Merryman

One week ahead of Elliott Sadler’s final race as a full time NASCAR Xfinity Series driver, he was asked how he wanted to be remembered.

His answer was simple, honest and, most of all, true to his common-man persona.

“I just hope they (fans) think I was an ordinary guy. I just seem to always get along good with the fans. Just a guy’s guy and that’s the way I want to be remembered.” Sadler said.  “More off the track than probably on the track, that I did it the right way.

“Just an ordinary guy that was a fan one time on one side of the fence and just lucky enough to make it to the other side.”

On the driver’s side, he achieved success in each of NASCAR’s three series, earning 13 victories in the Xfnity Series, three wins at the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series level and one trip to Victory Lane in the Camping World Truck Series in 2010.

But what’s next for the 43 year old? His No. 1 Chevrolet car owner and racing buddy Dale Earnhardt Jr., who retired last year, gave Sadler some advice.

“He (Dale Jr.) had a great saying that has really stuck with me: ‘We are not really retiring from something, I’m retiring to something,’” he said. “You know, he was retiring to his family and to the broadcast booth. It’s not really that I’m retiring from racing; I’m retiring to spend more time with my family, retiring to be a baseball and a softball coach full time, so that’s the way I’m looking at it.”

While he may be done with full-time racing, the helmet and fire suit may still come out from time to time. Sadler has his eye on one of the crown jewels of the Late Model world: The annual Late Model Stock Car race at Martinsville Speedway.

“I would love to go run the Martinsville race with the Late Models, something I haven’t done since I was a teenager,” he said. “I’ll go race some go-karts. He (Dale Jr.) and I have both talked about scratching that itch a little bit, get back in a race car somewhere, somehow and just have a little fun, no pressure.”

For Sadler this weekend, though, there will be pressure: Pressure to win his final race as a full-time NASCAR driver on Saturday (3:30 p.m. ET, NBCSN) in South Florida.

And give his storied career a storybook ending.

Posted on by

HOMESTEAD, Fla. — The 17-year Jimmie Johnson-Chad Knaus era will come to a close Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway as the two have their final race together as driver and crew chief.  It also marks Johnson’s final race with Lowe’s, and the No. 48 Chevrolet will display a special throwback paint scheme that pays homage to Johnson’s 2002 car.

Johnson, himself, went for the throwback look to commemorate the final weekend, shaving off his signature scruff in favor of the bare-faced look that he sported when he started with Lowe’s and Knaus in 2002.

PHOTOS: Chad Knaus through time

The 43-year-old driver teased his new (old) style with a photo of a razor Friday morning ahead of opening practice in South Florida.

Later in practice, his tweet proved accurate, as a fresh-faced Johnson patrolled the garage.

Johnson’s clean-shaven face took fans back to his earliest years in NASCAR, when he first started with Knaus. In 17 years, the Johnson-Knaus duo earned 81 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series wins (Johnson has 83 career wins), including Daytona 500, Southern 500, Brickyard 400 and Coca-Cola 600 crown jewel victories.

Johnson won his seventh Monster Energy Series title in 2016, tying the record for the most championships in NASCAR’s premier series with Dale Earnhardt and Richard Petty. Knaus was atop the pit box for all seven.

After 2018, Johnson and Knaus will go their separate ways within Hendrick Motorsports. Johnson will continue driving the No. 48 Chevrolet with new crew chief Kevin Meendering, current crew chief of the JR Motorsports No. 1 Xfinity Series team. Knaus will serve as crew chief for rising star, No. 24 driver William Byron, who clinched Sunoco Rookie of the Year last weekend at ISM Raceway.

RELATED: Jimmie through the years

This weekend, though, it’s about Johnson, Knaus and Lowe’s — and closing out their era on the highest note.

“Man, I want to win this year,” Johnson said in a team release earlier this week. “I want to win with Lowe’s on the car and I want to win with (No. 48 team crew chief) Chad (Knaus). So, that’s our top priority. Seeing that (rookie) paint scheme is going to trigger emotions from myself, and I’m sure, our fans. So many good years with that paint scheme and victories and such.

“I think this weekend’s definitely going to be an emotional one.”

Posted on by Staff Report

Championship contender Martin Truex Jr. topped the leaderboard in Friday’s first practice at Homestead-Miami Speedway, wheeling his No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Toyota around the track at 173.997 mph.

Fellow Championship 4 driver Kyle Busch was second-fastest in the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota at 173.299 mph.

Clint Bowyer, Chase Elliott and Kevin Harvick, the third of four drivers competing for the 2018 championship in Sunday’s Ford EcoBoost 400 (3 p.m. ET, NBC, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio), rounded out the top five.

RELATED: Practice results

Joey Logano, the fourth member of the Championship 4, never found much speed in his No. 22 Team Penske Ford, and his best lap of 172.194 mph was good for just 16th best.

Elliott served a 15-minute practice hold at the end of the session for being late to inspection at Phoenix.

The Monster Energy Series returns to the track at 6:10 p.m. ET for Busch Pole Qualifying (NBCSN/NBC Sports App).