Full weekend schedule for Martinsville

Posted on October 21, 2018October 28, 2018 by Staff Report

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and Camping World Truck Series will be in action at Martinsville Speedway while the NASCAR Xfinity Series is off. The Monster Energy Series heads to the first race of the Round of 8 in the NASCAR Playoffs, while the Camping World Truck Series enters the first race in the Round of 6. Check out the full schedule below, which is subject to change.

Note: All times are ET

MORE: How to find NBCSN

SUNDAY, Oct. 28
RACE-DAY SCHEDULE
12:30 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Driver/Crew Chief Meeting (Drivers Meeting Tent Outside Turns 3&4)
1:50 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Driver Introductions
2:25 p.m.: Intro Presentation of Colors by: Fork Union Military Academy Honor Guard
2:25:20 p.m.: Invocation by: Mike Hatfield, Chatham Heights Baptist Church
2:26 p.m.: National Anthem by: 380th Army Band
2:27:30 p.m.: Flyby TOT: The Bandit Flight Team (Turns 3&4 to 1&2)
2:32:30 p.m.: “Drivers, Start Your Engines” by: Chairman and CEO-First Data, Frank Bisignano
2:38 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series First Data 500 (500 laps, 263 miles), NBCSN/NBC Sports App (Canada: TSN3) (Results)

PRESS PASS (Watch live)
6 p.m.: Post-Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race

FRIDAY, Oct. 26
12:05-12:55 p.m.: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series first practice (no TV) CANCELED DUE TO RAIN
2:05-2:55 p.m.: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series final practice (no TV) CANCELED DUE TO RAIN

PRESS PASS (Watch live)
10:30 a.m.: Timothy Peters
10:45 a.m.: Justin Haley, Johnny Sauter
11 a.m.: Matt Crafton, Grant Enfinger
11:15 a.m.: Noah Gragson, Brett Moffitt

RELATED: VIP experience for Ford fan

SATURDAY, Oct. 27
9-9:50 a.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series first practice, CNBC/NBC Sports App (Canada: TSN App) (Results)
10:05 a.m.: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Qualifying, FS1 (Results)
11:30 a.m.-12:20 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series final practice, CNBC/NBC Sports App (Canada: TSN App) (Results)
1 p.m.: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Texas Roadhouse 200 presented by Alpha Energy Solutions (200 laps, 105.2 miles), FS1 (Results)
4:05 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Busch Pole Qualifying, NBCSN/NBC Sports App (Canada: TSN3) (Results)

PRESS PASS (Watch live)
8:15 a.m.: Chase Elliott
10:30 a.m.: Clint Bowyer
10:45 a.m.: Kyle Busch
2:45 p.m.: Post-NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race
4:45 p.m.: Post-Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series qualifying

Posted on October 21, 2018October 26, 2018 by Staff Report

What channels are NASCAR races on 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 | Gets FOX Sports Go | How to find NBCSN

MONDAY, October 22
6 p.m.: NASCAR America, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
6 p.m.: NASCAR Race Hub, FS1
7 p.m.: Beyond the Wheel, FS1

On MRN
Noon: Motorsports Monday (with hosts Woody Cain and Joey Meier)

TUESDAY, October 23
4 p.m.: Glory Road, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
5 p.m.: NASCAR America, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
6 p.m.: NASCAR Race Hub, FS1

On MRN
7 p.m.: NASCAR Live (with host Mike Bagley)

WEDNESDAY, October 24
1 a.m.: Glory Road: Blacker, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
1:30 a.m.: Glory Road: NASCAR Goes Road Racing, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
2 a.m.: Glory Road: Modified Mastery, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
2:30 a.m.: Glory Road: Battle of the Big 3, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
5 p.m.: NASCAR America: Wednesdays with Dale Jr., NBCSN/NBC Sports App
6 p.m.: NASCAR Race Hub, FS1
8 p.m.: Continental Tire Sportscar Challenge: Road Atlanta (re-air), FS2

On MRN
Noon: Crew Call (with hosts Sammi Jo Francis and Rocko Williams)
1 p.m.: NASCAR Coast to Coast (with hosts Kyle Rickey and Hannah Newhouse)

THURSDAY, October 25
5 p.m.: NASCAR America, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
5:30 p.m.: Dale Jr. Download, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
6 p.m.: NASCAR Race Hub, FS1

On MRN
Noon: The Straight Line
1 p.m.: Throwback Thursday: 2006 Banquet 400

FRIDAY, October 26
5 p.m.: NASCAR America, NBCSN/NBC Sports App

On MRN
Noon: The Inside Line (with host Tyler Burnett)

SATURDAY, October 27
9 a.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice, CNBC/NBC Sports App (Canada: TSN App)
10 a.m.: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Pole Qualifying, FS1
11:30 a.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series final practice, CNBC/NBC Sports App (Canada: TSN App)
12:30 p.m.: NASCAR RaceDay, FS1
1 p.m.: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Texas Roadhouse 200, FS1
4 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Busch Pole Qualifying, NBCSN/NBC Sports App (Canada: TSN3)

SUNDAY, October 28
Noon: NASCAR RaceDay: Martinsville, FS1
Noon: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Busch Pole Qualifying (re-air), NBCSN/NBC Sports App
1 p.m.: NASCAR America, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
2 p.m.: Countdown to Green, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
2:30 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series First Data 500, NBCSN/NBC Sports App (Canada: TSN3)
6:30 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Post-Race Show, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
7 p.m.: NASCAR Victory Lap, NBCSN/NBC Sports App

Posted on October 21, 2018October 21, 2018 by Staff Report

Kevin Harvick took command of Stage 2 on Sunday afternoon at Kansas Speedway, securing his series-leading 16th stage win of the Monster Energy Series season.

Harvick, who started second, grabbed the lead for the first time Sunday on Lap 138 and kept it until the end of the stage on Lap 160. With the stage win, Harvick added one playoff point to boost his season-long total to 54.

RELATED: Stage 2 results

Harvick clinched a berth in the Round of 8 on the basis of points after the opening stage, leaving five playoff spots still to be claimed at race’s end. Kyle Busch and Joey Logano also advanced to the Round of 8 based on the results of the first two stages Sunday. Chase Elliott and Aric Almirola had already locked in two positions for the Round of 8 with wins at Dover and Talladega.

The postseason field will be chopped from 12 drivers to eight at the end of Sunday’s Hollywood Casino 400 (NBC, MRN, SiriusXM).

Ryan Blaney, who led twice for nine laps through the opening two stages, finished second in Stage 2. Pole-starter and Stage 1 winner Joey Logano was third, with Chase Elliott and Kyle Busch rounding out the top five positions at Lap 160.

The full race distance is scheduled for 267 laps (400.5 miles).

	Driver	Team	Race Points
1	Kevin Harvick	Stewart-Haas Racing	10
2	Ryan Blaney	Team Penske	9
3	Joey Logano	Team Penske	8
4	Chase Elliott	Hendrick Motorsports	7
5	Kyle Busch	Joe Gibbs Racing	6
6	Kyle Larson	Chip Ganassi Racing	5
7	Erik Jones	Joe Gibbs Racing	4
8	Jimmie Johnson	Hendrick Motorsports	3
9	Alex Bowman	Hendrick Motorsports	2
10	Martin Truex Jr.	Furniture Row Racing	1

Logano dominates in Stage 1

Pole-starter Joey Logano rolled to an opening-stage victory Sunday at Kansas Speedway and Kevin Harvick, second in the stage, clinched a spot in the Round of 8.

Logano, a two-time Kansas winner, led 60 of the 80 laps in the Team Penske No. 22 Ford. He surrendered the top spot once during a green-flag cycle of pit stops midway through the stage. He then rallied past teammate Ryan Blaney with nine laps to go in the stage after taking on four fresh tires during a Lap 62 pit stop to Blaney’s two.

RELATED: Stage 1 results

It’s the fourth stage win of the season for Logano, who added a playoff point and 10 points in the Monster Energy Series standings as he bids for a spot in the next round of the postseason. His running playoff point total stands at 15.

Kevin Harvick slipped past Blaney for the second position at the end of the second stage in the Hollywood Casino 400 and clinched a spot in the Round of 8. Blaney, Kyle Busch and Paul Menard completing the top five.

Sunday’s event is the final race in the postseason’s Round of 12. The championship-eligible field will be trimmed from 12 drivers to eight at the end of the event.

Finish	Driver	Team	Race Points
1	Joey Logano	Team Penske	10
2	Kevin Harvick	Stewart-Haas Racing	9
3	Ryan Blaney	Team Penske	8
4	Kyle Busch	Joe Gibbs Racing	7
5	Paul Menard	Wood Brothers Racing	6
6	Aric Almirola	Stewart-Haas Racing	5
7	Clint Bowyer	Stewart-Haas Racing	4
8	Erik Jones	Joe Gibbs Racing	3
9	Jimmie Johnson	Hendrick Motorsports	2
10	Chase Elliott	Hendrick Motorsports	1

Posted on October 21, 2018October 21, 2018 by Staff Report

Ever wonder what goes on in a driver meeting? We’re here to help.

This year, we’ll publish the actual rules video your favorite Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers will watch before climbing into their stock cars. Above is the video for the Hollywood Casino 400 (Sunday, 2:30 p.m. ET, NBC/NBC Sports App, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) at Kansas Speedway.

Posted on October 21, 2018October 21, 2018 by Official NASCAR Release

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Oct. 21, 2018) – NASCAR announced the four finalists for The NASCAR Foundation’s eighth annual Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award on Sunday at Kansas Speedway. The award, named in honor of the foundation’s late founder and chairwoman, honors NASCAR fans who are also accomplished volunteers working for children’s causes in their communities throughout the United States.

The award winner will be determined via an online fan vote today through Nov. 19 at 5 p.m. (ET) at NASCARfoundation.org/Award. The winner will be announced on Nov. 29 during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Awards at Wynn Las Vegas. The NASCAR Foundation will donate $25,000 to the charities represented by the award finalists, with the winner’s charity receiving a $100,000 donation.

Here are the four finalists:

• Carl Dakes of Harwood, Maryland, an 18-year volunteer representing the Believe In Tomorrow Children’s Foundation, Inc. of Catonsville, Maryland. The foundation provides hospital and respite housing services to critically ill children and their families.

• Sarah Kersey of Dublin, Ohio, a cancer survivor who represents Flying Horse Farms in Mt. Gilead, Ohio. The facility, where Kersey has served as a volunteer since 2010, provides transformative camp experiences for children with serious illnesses, at no cost.

• Cliff Preston of Gainesville, Florida, representing UF Health Shands. He has volunteered for more than 25 years as a “cuddler” to soothe hospitalized newborns in the NICU during a parent’s absence.

• Rex Reynolds of Hazel Green, Alabama, representing the Boys & Girls Clubs of North Alabama. Reynolds grew up participating in club programs and has now served in a volunteer role for 13 years.

“This year’s stellar group of finalists consists of loyal longtime NASCAR fans who also are outstanding people,” said The NASCAR Foundation Chairman Mike Helton. “Each of these individuals demonstrates, on a daily basis, true commitment and passion for their causes. Their good works are exactly the sort of volunteerism Betty Jane France wanted to spotlight, when the award was created.”

Since the award’s inception, The NASCAR Foundation has impacted the lives of more than 260,000 children by providing more than $1.2 million in contributions to charities represented by finalists for the award.

To learn more about The NASCAR Foundation’s Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award and to cast your vote for the 2018 finalists, visit NASCARfoundation.org/Award.

Posted on October 21, 2018January 21, 2022 by Staff Report

From all walks of life, the four finalists for the 2018 Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award all have a similar thread that runs through them – the burning desire to help.

And specifically, the desire to help children — just like Betty Jane France herself.

The four finalists, announced Sunday at Kansas Speedway, give themselves in various ways, from cuddling hospitalized newborns in the NICU; to being stewards for housing services for the families of critically ill children; to managing a horse farm that provides free, transformative camp experiences to children with serious illnesses; to representing area Boys & Girls Clubs.

One of them, via fan vote, will be named the eighth recipient of the prestigious award given by The NASCAR Foundation and one that honors the memory and the philanthropic legacy of the foundation’s late founder, Betty Jane France.

“This year’s stellar group of finalists consists of loyal longtime NASCAR fans who also are outstanding people,” The NASCAR Foundation Chairman Mike Helton said in a press release. “Each of these individuals demonstrates, on a daily basis, true commitment and passion for their causes. Their good works are exactly the sort of volunteerism Betty Jane France wanted to spotlight, when the award was created.”

More on the finalists:

All four finalists took part in activities during the race weekend at Kansas Speedway. The award honors NASCAR fans who are also accomplished volunteers working for children’s causes in their communities throughout the United States.

The winner will be determined via an online fan vote today through Nov. 19 at 5 p.m. (ET) at NASCARfoundation.org/Award. The winner will be announced on Nov. 29 during the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Awards at Wynn Las Vegas. The NASCAR Foundation will donate $25,000 to the charities represented by the award finalists, with the winner’s charity receiving a $100,000 donation.

Stories on each finalist will be posted on NASCAR.com throughout the coming week.

Posted on October 20, 2018October 21, 2018 by Staff Report

NASCAR officials announced that the Richard Childress Racing No. 21 Chevrolet driven by Daniel Hemric to a runner-up finish in Saturday’s Xfinity Series event at Kansas Speedway was found to be too low in a post-race inspection.

The No. 21 car did not pass the minimum height requirement in the left-front. Officials said any penalties would be announced next week, but such an infraction would fall under the L1-level guidelines with a 10-point penalty in the driver and owner standings and a $10,000 fine.

RELATED: Race results | Nemechek breaks through

Hemric finished 5.200 seconds behind first-time race winner John Hunter Nemechek in the Kansas Lottery 300. He emerged as the series’ leader by nine points over Elliott Sadler after the opening race in the Round of 8.

Additionally, the Richard Childress Racing No. 2 Chevrolet team was found to have one lug nut not secured in a post-race check. The guidelines for such a penalty would result in a fine for the crew chief Randall Burnett. Matt Tifft drove the No. 2 car to a sixth-place finish Saturday.

Posted on October 20, 2018October 21, 2018 by Reid Spencer

KANSAS CITY, Kan. – John Hunter Nemechek grabbed his first NASCAR Xfinity Series victory in a race that threw the championship battle into chaos.

Pulling away with three laps after the final restart on Lap 169 of 200, Nemechek took the checkered flag 5.200 seconds ahead of Daniel Hemric to win the Kansas Lottery 300 at Kansas Speedway, the venue where his father, Joe Nemechek, won his final Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race in 2004.

Though Nemechek fell far behind Hemric after sliding through his pit box during a green-flag stop on Lap 150, he caught a break when Vinnie Miller stalled near the exit from pit road to cause the seventh and final caution on Lap 164.

RELATED: Race results | Full schedule for Kansas

Nemechek powered his No. 42 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet from sixth place on the restart and passed Hemric for good after a side-by-side battle on Lap 171.

“When that caution came, I knew we had a chance,” Nemechek said. “Luckily, Daniel and I raced each other hard and clean all day. We got the track position, and this thing was on rails today. I feel like we’ve been contending for wins all year. We just haven’t pulled through.

“To check the first one off—that’s the hardest one to get. Hopefully, we can go on. We’re racing for the owners’ championship at Homestead.”

Nearly 200 laps before Nemechek crossed the finish line, however, a shocking, monumental crash jolted the hopes of four title contenders and turned the Playoff standings upside-down.

Third-place starter Justin Allgaier, second in points, got loose in the second corner on Lap 1 and clipped the No. 20 Toyota of series leader Christopher Bell, turning Bell’s car into the outside wall. Allgaier’s No. 7 Chevrolet bounced off Bell’s Camry like a pinball and collected the No. 22 Ford of Playoff driver Austin Cindric.

Allgaier and Cindric were unable to continue. Bell’s team tried in vain to repair his Toyota, but Bell retired after completing two laps. Also damaged in the first-lap incident was the No. 00 Ford of Cole Custer, which fell 10 laps down while his team tried to fix the power steering.

Custer earned a hard-fought 26th-place finish but fell to seventh in the Playoff standings.

“I was the cause of the incident, unfortunately,” a rueful Allgaier said after exiting the infield care center. “That one’s on me. I’m super disappointed for everybody involved.

“Not only did we wreck our day but a lot of the other competitors. Hate it for those guys. Hopefully we can get to Texas next week and rebound from it.”

The wreck wiped out the Playoff point advantage Bell and Allgaier held at the start of the Round of 8. Bell, Allgaier and Cindric finished 37th, 38th and 39th, respectively.

“I didn’t really see much of anything,” Bell said of the accident. “Just kind of driving around there. Just heartbroken. This is one of my favorite race tracks we go to, and especially after the run I had last year (his first Xfinity win), this is the race that I was looking forward to whenever we started the year back in February.”

Bell nevertheless was well aware of the benefit his six series wins have given him, having entered the round with 44 playoff points, five more than Allgaier.

“That’s the beauty of this format,” Bell said. “NASCAR’s done such a great job at giving us something to race for during the regular season. We’ve done our job winning six races this year, so we’ve accumulated some bonus points, so hopefully that can carry us through this bad stretch here and maybe we can find ourselves in Victory Lane later on in this round.

“If not, hopefully the bonus points will get us there.”

Cindric, who came to Kansas in eighth place and leaves in the same position, didn’t have the luxury of a points cushion.

MORE: Multicar crash erupts on Lap 1

“I’m thankful to still be in the Playoffs and still have a shot,” said Cindric. “I felt like we had a shot to win today. We’ll move on, have a week to think about it, go to Texas. Looks like we’re going to have to win (to advance).”

Hemric, who led 128 laps, leaves Kansas as the series leader, 23 points above the cut line. Allgaier dropped below the Playoff cut line behind Matt Tifft in fifth. Bell stayed one point to the good Tifft, who finished sixth on Saturday as one of eight drivers on the lead lap.

Elliott Sadler ran third to hold second in the standings, very much alive in his quest to win a first championship in his last season of full-time competition. Tyler Reddick, Sadler’s JR Motorsports teammate, came home fourth and is third in the series standings.

Shane Lee finished a career-best fourth in his 10th start of the season.

Posted on October 20, 2018October 21, 2018 by RJ Kraft

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Joey Logano will lead the field to green for Sunday’s Hollywood Casino 400 (2:30 p.m. ET on NBC/NBC Sports App, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). After three practice sessions and qualifying determining the starting order, we’ve dissected the numbers to offer a suggested lineup worthy of your Fantasy Live consideration as you make roster decisions.

PLAY NOW: Set your lineup | How the playoff game works

Remember that the garage locks at the end of Stage 2. Also, your garage play can only be swapped for a driver of similar classification. (A playoff garage driver can only be swapped for a playoff driver in your lineup; a non-playoff garage driver can only be swapped for a non-playoff driver in your lineup.)

RJ Kraft’s Fantasy Live lineup for race-day at Kansas:
Playoff driver 1: Kevin Harvick
Playoff driver 2: Kyle Busch
Non-playoff driver 1: Erik Jones
Non-playoff driver 2: Denny Hamlin
Garage: Ryan Blaney

MORE: Fantasy analysis for Kansas | Driver stats | 10-lap averages | Lineup

Analysis: The Fantasy Live Playoff Game is in Week 6! Four-fifths of my lineup remains the same. Harvick and Busch have won six of the eight races on 1.5-mile tracks this year. Busch topped the 10-lap board in both practice sessions and Harvick has been in the top-four in that category. Jones was second in final practice on the speed chart and fifth on the 10-lap board — highest among the non-playoff competitors. He has also been a solid play all year on 1.5-mile tracks. Hamlin has solid 10-lap times and has two straight top-five finishes at Kansas and on the season. The driver of the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota is a pretty popular play for a non-playoff driver so if you looking for a lesser owned option look at someone like Paul Menard.

For the garage play, I debated Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney and Martin Truex Jr. pretty heavily. All would be good choices. Truex has won two of the last three races here. Logano will sit on the pole and has won the fall race at Kansas two times. Ultimately, I am sticking Blaney in the garage and moving away from my original play of Truex. He has three top-five finishes in his last five Kansas starts. He was strong in the spring race as he won a stage and earned 18 stage points before a wreck with Kyle Larson ended his night late in the race. He qualified fourth and again should be aggressive on stage points given his points position — 22 points out from the final spot. There is risk with playing a driver that is a tough playoff position, but I feel like I have ample protection with two of the best on 1.5-mile tracks in my main lineup.

With stage winners, I am taking Harvick to win Stage 1 and Stage 2 with Busch as the race winner. One wrinkle: I will be taking Ford as the manufacturer pick given the abundance of strong blue oval cars from Stewart-Haas Racing and Team Penske this weekend.

Posted on October 20, 2018October 20, 2018 by RJ Kraft

KANSAS CITY, Kan. – Christopher Bell and Justin Allgaier entered the NASCAR Xfinity Series Round of 8 atop the standings, but a major multi-car wreck on the opening lap of Saturday’s Kansas Lottery 300 at Kansas Speedway changed the playoff picture in an instant.

Allgaier’s JR Motorsports No. 7 Chevrolet broke loose in Turn 2 shortly after the green flag, making contact with Bell’s No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota. The melee collected several other cars, including fellow postseason contenders Austin Cindric and Cole Custer. Allgaier, Bell and Cindric were among those taking their cars to the garage, ending the day for all three championship hopefuls. Michael Annett, Chase Briscoe, Ross Chastain, Spencer Gallagher and Ryan Truex were also caught up in the incident.

Allgaier and Bell chatted briefly after media interviews outside the care center as they downloaded about the incident. Bell finished 37th, while Allgaier finished 38th and Cindric came home in 39th. Custer suffered from a power steering issue as a result of the wreck and finished 18 laps down in 26th.

Those results left Bell with a +1 cushion on Matt Tifft, while Allgaier (-5), Custer (-23) and Cindric (-43) are on the outside looking in with two races left in the round.

RELATED: Full race results | Series standings

The Lap 1 incident caught Allgaier completely by surprise as the JR Motorsports driver had little issue with his car all weekend.

“Got super loose on the bottom,” Allgaier said of what triggered the wreck. “We hadn’t been loose all weekend so that was kind of a weird sensation for me. Not the way we wanted to start the race today in Kansas especially in the second round of the playoffs.”

A wreck at Richmond to open the Round of 12 put Allgaier in a precarious playoff position. The regular-season champion was far from secure entering the cutoff race at Dover two weeks ago but a third-place finish helped him reach the Round of 8.

“These playoffs are so crazy as it is,” Allgaier said. “It’s not a good spot to be in I can promise you that. Right, wrong or indifferent, today sucks. There’s nothing intentional by today at all. We don’t want to put ourselves in any bigger hole than we have to and that’s probably the most frustrating part. Not only did we hurt my day, but we hurt our competitors as well and that’s frustrating on my end.”

LISTEN: Hear from Allgaier after big wreck

Cindric came into the round eighth in the standings and this incident puts him in a deep hole. However, his playoff ride – the No. 22 Team Penske Ford – has a winning history at Texas and Phoenix, the remaining races in the Round of 8.

“I have to win one of the next two races but we have a pretty good notebook since the 22 car won both Texas and Phoenix in the spring,” Cindric said. “I have a lot of confidence going into those races.”

Bell started second in the race and was the defending race winner as well. He had commented on Friday about how much he enjoyed racing at 1.5-mile tracks – of which there are two in this round – Kansas and Texas.

“I didn’t really get to see anything, I just felt a lot,” Bell said. “I don’t know. Normally whenever you’re up front, you’re in the safest spot you can be, but just didn’t get a very good launch and the side by side with the 7 (Allgaier) car and it just didn’t work out.”

Still, the 23-year-old started the round atop the standings thanks to 44 playoff points and he did not lose sight that those soften the blow from Saturday’s result.

The 300-mile race was the opening event in the Round of 8, the final three-race stanza in the Xfinity Series Playoffs that also includes races at Texas Motor Speedway (Nov. 3) and ISM Raceway (Nov. 10).

Contributing: Staff reports

MORE: Photos from the track