Posted on by Staff Report

Denny Hamlin and Aric Almirola locked up spots in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs by virtue of their performances Sunday at Darlington Raceway.

Hamlin finished 1oth at Darlington, with Almirola just behind him in 14th. Coupled with points earned from Jimmie Johnson and Alex Bowman — below Hamlin and Almirola in the standings — it was enough to lock both drivers into the postseason field.

MORE: Race results

Hamlin is the third driver for Joe Gibbs Racing to lock his way into the postseason, joining teammates Kyle Busch and Erik Jones.

Meanwhile, Almirola is in the postseason for the first time since 2014. His inclusion gives Stewart-Haas Racing a playoffs sweep with all four of its drivers – Almirola, Clint Bowyer, Kurt Busch and Kevin Harvick.

Hamlin and Almirola joined the following drivers in the postseason: Kyle Busch, Harvick, Martin Truex Jr., Kurt Busch, Bowyer, Joey Logano, Chase Elliott, Jones, Austin Dillon, Ryan Blaney, Brad Keselowski and Kyle Larson.

Fourteen of 16 spots in the postseason field are set heading into the regular-season finale next week at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Johnson and Bowman own the final two playoff spots as it stands now, but the fact remains that “a win gets you in” — so those below the cutoff line can ignore the points and still earn a playoff spot by parking it in Victory Lane at the Brickyard.

Posted on by Reid Spencer

DARLINGTON, S.C. – By a matter of inches, Brad Keselowski won the race off pit road under the final caution in Sunday night’s Bojangles’ Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway.

That narrow margin was all the driver of the No. 2 Team Penske Ford needed to secure a stunning victory in one of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series’ marquee races.

MORE: Race results
SHOP: Keselowski gear

On the flip side, Keselowski’s first victory of the season left Kyle Larson bitterly disappointed. Larson led 284 of the 367 laps in addition to winning the first and second stages of the race. But the work of Keselowski’s pit crew proved decisive.

Keselowski controlled the final restart on Lap 348 and pulled away, as Larson faded to third and had to fend off a determined charge by Kevin Harvick to hold that position. It was Joey Logano who passed Larson for second on Lap 352, giving team Team Penske a 1-2 finish and the organization its first win at Darlington since 1975.

“The 42 (Larson) was really strong,” said Keselowski, who picked up his first victory at the 1.366-mile track and the 25th of his career in a No. 2 Ford sporting a throwback paint scheme reminiscent of the Miller Genuine Draft machine Rusty Wallace drove during his tenure at Team Penske. “I felt like whoever came off pit road first at the end was going to win the race.

“My team nailed the last pit stop. … We stayed in position the whole race with great strategy to keep us from falling back. We didn’t have the long-run speed we wanted, but the short runs were great, and we were there when it counted.”

WATCH: Kes beats Larson off pit road

Keselowski, who also won Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series event, came off pit road on Lap 345 three-wide with Larson and Logano, less than a foot ahead of Larson.

“It’s always important to come out the leader off pit road to be the control car on the restart,” Larson said. “I felt like, if I had been in clean air, I would have been all right. I was just loose that last run and allowed Joey to get by.

“I knew the only weakness we would have throughout the race was a short run, and that’s what it kind of came down to. … It stings, for sure. I want to win every race, but I want to win the Southern 500 really bad. It would have been cool to do that, but at the same time, to bring a (dominant) car to the race track like we did this weekend is something to be proud of and a big confidence booster.”

RELATED: Larson on Darlington heartbreak

Erik Jones ran fifth behind Harvick. Chase Elliott, Kyle Busch, pole winner Denny Hamlin, Jamie McMurray and Kurt Busch completed the top 10. Kyle Busch retained the series lead by 39 points over Harvick.

Jeffrey Earnhardt spun in Turns 1 and 2 to cause the sixth caution on Lap 344, and that was the yellow that gave Keselowski the opportunity to grab the victory. The only serious incident of the race occurred on Lap 312 when Clint Bowyer plowed into Ryan Newman near the apex of Turns 3 and 4.

Newman was trying to get to pit road, and neither Bowyer nor his spotter saw a signal to that effect.

“I hit the 31 (Newman) really hard,” Bowyer said. “I guess he was pitting or something, and it’s a product of this place. … I didn’t see him wave, but like I said, when you come off (Turn) 2 and you pass 37 lapped cars and you get your bearings and everything else — maybe he waved, maybe he didn’t — I didn’t see it.”

WATCH: Bowyer and Newman collide

The Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolets of Jimmie Johnson and William Byron retired from the race with engine issues. Johnson finished 39th with what he believed was an oil pump problem, but that came after the No. 48 Chevrolet suffered a loose wheel, and after Johnson was penalized for a subsequent commitment line violation.

Accordingly, there’s a mathematical possibility the seven-time champion could miss the playoffs when the field is set next Sunday at Indianapolis.

“I don’t want to be in this position,” Johnson said. “We have been around this spot (14th in the standings) for a while. We’ve seen it coming. We just need to transfer, and, honestly, I think our cars are capable of running in the top five. 

“If we can just start minimizing mistakes, my own included, we’ll be much better off and have a shot.”

PHOTOS: Paint schemes from every angle

 

Posted on by Staff Report

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series will be in action at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, while the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series is off this weekend. Check out the full schedule below, which is subject to change.

Note: All times are ET

MORE: How to find NBCSN

MONDAY, Sept. 10
RACE-DAY SCHEDULE
10:05:30 a.m.: Green flag for NASCAR Xfinity Series Lilly Diabetes 250 (100 laps, 250 miles), NBCSN/NBC Sports App (Canada: TSN5) (Results)
1:40:00 p.m.: Presentation of Colors by: Joint Services
1:40:20 p.m.: Intro & Invocation by: Reverend Howard Brammer
1:41:15 p.m.: National Anthem by: Payton Smith, Big Machine Records Recording Artist
1:42:35 p.m.: Flyover: Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker from the 185th Fighter Wing (turn 4 to turn 1)
1:48:30 p.m.: “Drivers, Start Your Engines” by: Scott Borchetta, President & CEO, Big Machine Records
2 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Big Machine Vodka 400 at the Brickyard (160 laps, 400 miles), NBCSN/NBC Sports App (Canada: TSN5) (Results)

PRESS PASS (Watch live)
12:30 p.m.: Post-NASCAR Xfinity Series race
4 p.m.: Post-Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race

FRIDAY, Sept. 7
1:05-1:55 p.m.: Xfinity Series first practice, NBC Sports App (Canada: TSN App) CANCELED (rain) 
3:05-3:55 p.m.: Xfinity Series final practice, NBC Sports App (Canada: TSN App) CANCELED (rain) 

PRESS PASS (Watch live)
12:15 p.m.: Justin Allgaier, Christopher Bell, Elliott Sadler

SATURDAY, Sept. 8
10:30-11:20 a.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series first practice, NBCSN/NBC Sports App (Canada: TSN2) CANCELED (rain)
11:45 a.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series qualifying, NBCSN/NBC Sports App (Canada: TSN App) CANCELED (rain) (Lineup)
1:30-2:20 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series final practice, NBCSN/NBC Sports App (Canada: TSN App) CANCELED (rain)
3 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series Lilly Diabetes 250 (100 laps, 250 miles), NBCSN/NBC Sports App (Canada: TSN2) MOVED TO MONDAY AT 10 A.M. ET
6:15 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Busch Pole Qualifying, NBCSN/NBC Sports App (Canada: TSN App)  CANCELED (Lineup)

PRESS PASS (Watch live)
9:15 a.m.: Alex Bowman
9:30 a.m.: Jimmie Johnson
10:30 a.m.: Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

Posted on 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, September 3
midnight: NASCAR Southern Speed: Legends of Darlington, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
5 p.m.: NASCAR Victory Lap, (re-air) NBCSN/NBC Sports App
6 p.m.: NASCAR Race Hub, FS1

On MRN
noon: Motorsports Monday (with hosts Woody Cain & Joey Meier)

Tuesday, September 4
5 p.m.: NASCAR America, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
6 p.m.: NASCAR Race Hub, FS1
6 p.m.: Glory Road, “Dirt Roots,” NBCSN/NBC Sports App
6:30 p.m.: Glory Road, “David Pearson and the 1968 Rebel 400,” (re-air) NBCSN/NBC Sports App
9 p.m.: Glory Road, “Dirt Roots,” (re-air) NBCSN/NBC Sports App
9:30 p.m.: Glory Road, “David Pearson and the 1968 Rebel 400,” (re-air) NBCSN/NBC Sports App

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

Wednesday, September 5
midnight: Glory Road, “Dirt Roots,” (re-air) NBCSN/NBC Sports App
12:30 a.m.: Glory Road, “David Pearson and the 1968 Rebel 400,” (re-air) NBCSN/NBC Sports App
5 p.m.: NASCAR America: Wednesdays with Dale Jr., NBCSN/NBC Sports App
6 p.m.: NASCAR Race Hub, FS1

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

Thursday, September 6
5 p.m.: NASCAR America, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
6 p.m.: NASCAR Race Hub, FS1
6 p.m.: Whelen Modified Tour from Oswego Speedway NBCSN/NBC Sports App

On MRN
1 p.m.: Throwback Thursday: 2003 Power Stroke Diesel 200

Friday, September 7
4 a.m.: NASCAR Race Hub, (re-air) FS1
1 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series practice, NBC Sports App (Canada: TSN App)
3 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series final practice, NBC Sports App (Canada: TSN App)
5 p.m.: NASCAR America, NBCSN/NBC Sports App

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

Saturday, September 8
6 a.m.: Glory Road, “Dirt Roots,” (re-air) NBCSN/NBC Sports App
6:30 a.m.: Glory Road, “David Pearson and the 1968 Rebel 400,” (re-air) NBCSN/NBC Sports App
9 a.m.: Glory Road, “Dirt Roots,” (re-air) NBCSN/NBC Sports App
9:30 a.m.: NASCAR America, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
11 a.m.: Glory Road, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
1 p.m.: Racing Roots: Martin Truex Jr., NBCSN/NBC Sports App
1:30 p.m.: Racing Roots: Ryan Blaney, NBCSN/NBC Sports App

Sunday, September 9
9 a.m.: Beyond the Wheel 2018, FS1
10 a.m.: NASCAR Race Classic: 1998 Daytona 500, FS1
10:30 a.m.: NASCAR RaceDay, FS1
2:30 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Bojangles’ Southern 500, (re-air) NBCSN, NBC Sports App
6:30 p.m.: Racing Roots: Ryan Blaney, NBCSN/NBC Sports App

Posted on by Staff Report

STAGE 2

Kyle Larson swept the opening two stages in Sunday’s Bojangles’ Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. After dominating Stage 1 by leading 89 of 100 laps, Larson had to rally to win Stage 2.

The driver of the No. 42 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet hung back as leader Martin Truex Jr. and second-place Kevin Harvick battled for the lead over a compelling stretch of 15 laps. Then he powered past both of them, swooping into the point position on Lap 160 and holding on to take the green/white checkered flag after Lap 200.

Larson and the No. 42 team employed an alternate pit strategy, electing to stay out for the remainder of Stage 2 following pit stops on Lap 127. It paid off in the form of his third stage win of the season.

PHOTOS: Paint schemes, every angle

Team Penske drivers Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano finished second and third, respectively, with Chase Elliott and Erik Jones rounding out the top 10.

Kurt Busch, Ryan Newman, Kyle Busch, Jamie McMurray and Kevin Harvick completed the top 10 in Stage 2.

Larson beat Austin Dillon to the start/finish line in a photo finish, too, putting Dillon a lap down. Dillon got his lap back by being the beneficiary of the free pass, but that kept Truex Jr. one lap down.

MORE: Stage 2 results

Finish Driver Team Race Points
1 Kyle Larson Chip Ganassi Racing 10
2 Brad Keselowski Team Penske 9
3 Joey Logano Team Penske 8
4 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports 7
5 Erik Jones Joe Gibbs Racing 6
6 Kurt Busch Stewart-Haas Racing 5
7 Ryan Newman Richard Childress Racing 4
8 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing 3
9 Jamie McMurray Chip Ganassi Racing 2
10 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing 1

•   •   •

STAGE 1

Kyle Larson rode the high line around 1.366-mile Darlington Raceway in Sunday’s opening 100-lap stage of the Bojangles’ Southern 500, leading 89 laps to earn his second stage win of 2018.

Larson started second behind Busch Pole Award winner Denny Hamlin and fell in behind the No. 11 Toyota at the drop of the green, but ultimately chased down and passed last year’s race winner.

MORE: Full Stage 1 results

Joe Gibbs Racing driver Erik Jones finished second in Stage 1 after qualifying seventh, followed by Martin Truex Jr., Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski to complete the top five.

Kevin Harvick, Hamlin, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch and Chase Elliott completed the top 10 to earn race points.

Sunday’s race, one of the most iconic on the NASCAR circuit, also is the annual throwback weekend, so plenty of cars are sporting throwback themes.

PHOTOS: Paint schemes, every angle

Finish Driver Team Race Points
1 Kyle Larson Chip Ganassi Racing 10
2 Erik Jones Joe Gibbs Racing 9
3 Martin Truex Jr. Furniture Row Racing 8
4 Joey Logano Team Penske 7
5 Brad Keselowski Team Penske 6
6 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing 5
7 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing 4
8 Kurt Busch Stewart-Haas Racing 3
9 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing 2
10 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports 1

 

Posted on by Staff Report

The fans have spoken, and they have a favorite throwback scheme for the 2018 Bojangles’ Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. There were lots of great schemes to pick from in the fourth year of the throwback celebration at the venerable South Carolina track, but fans selected William Byron’s No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet as their favorite.

Byron is sporting Sam Bass’s “Hot Summer Nights” design honoring four-time premier series champion Jeff Gordon’s rainbow car. But what seemed like a slam-dunk pick was anything but as Byron defeated Derrike Cope and the Bojangles’ scheme for the No. 99 Chevrolet, 52 percent to 48 percent, in their final-round matchup.

RELATED: Darlington schemes | Inspiration for the schemes

The Darlington fan vote spanned the month of August and included three cutoffs to narrow the field to eight, then four, then two schemes. Schemes were pitted against each other starting with the final eight in a bracket-style tournament.

See all the schemes on the track in tonight’s Bojangles’ Southern 500 (NBCSN/NBC Sports App, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

Posted on by Reid Spencer

DARLINGTON, S.C. – Car buffs will get a feast for their eyes during the parade laps for Sunday’s Bojangles’ Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway.

Seven different Chevrolet Camaros, driven by seven NASCAR luminaries — all with connections to the track “Too Tough to Tame” — will pace the field.

NASCAR Hall of Fame car owner Richard Childress, himself a former driver, will pace the field in his own 1969 Camaro. He’ll be joined on track by NASCAR Hall of Famers Rick Hendrick, Ron Hornaday Jr. and Ray Evernham, as well as former Darlington winners Jeff Burton, Ward Burton and Ricky Craven, all driving Camaros of different vintages, from 1981 to 2017.

RELATED: See all the cars in Sunday’s field | Teams go all-in on throwback gear

“I’m looking forward to getting back on a race track with my 1969 Camaro,” Childress said. “I ran a Camaro in the Talladega 500 in 1969 when the track was opened, so it seems fitting for me to be a part of Chevy’s Camaro parade laps. 

“Darlington’s throwback weekend is really special for our fans and a good way to remember our heritage. I’m honored to share the track with this group, I just hope they make sure my Camaro is out front!”

Craven was the winner of the closest finish in Darlington history, beating Kurt Busch to the finish line by .002 seconds in 2003.

RELATED: Craven, Kurt Busch discuss legendary 2003 race, finish

“I’m excited to celebrate what has become my favorite weekend — throwback weekend at Darlington,” said Craven, who is driving a 1993 Camaro owned by Jim Ramsey of Darlington. “This year’s event has become more significant for several reasons.

“It’s been 15 years since my Southern 500 win in 2003, coupled with the fact that I have been asked by Chevrolet to drive one of the pace cars representing the six generations of Camaro during the Seven Decades of Darlington celebration.

“If it had not been for the support of Chevrolet early on in my career and life, I would not have met my goals and realized my dreams. For that, I will always be very grateful.”

Posted on by Reid Spencer

The first round of Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series qualifying looked like old times for Hendrick Motorsports.

Led by Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender William Byron, Hendrick drivers posted the second through fifth fastest laps in the opening round. Alex Bowman topped the speed chart in the second round before claiming the fourth starting spot in the final session.

RELATED: Last-minute fantasy advice | 10-lap averages

Byron, Bowman and Chase Elliott all advanced to the final 12, with Byron and Elliott qualifying 10th and 11th, respectively for Sunday’s Bojangles’ Southern 500.

“The biggest thing I have seen this weekend is just an increase in speed, and I feel like it’s really good to have that,” Byron said after the time trials. “We kind of went both sides of the balance throughout qualifying, but I feel like ultimately, towards the end, we kind of figured out what we needed the most, which was good.

“I feel like, as we keep going towards (the race), just understanding the balance each run and trying to manage the lap time the best is going to be really important. It’s good to start in the top 10 and I’m excited for it.”

It wasn’t all rosy news for Hendrick. After recording the fifth-fastest lap in the first round, seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson scraped the wall on his second-round lap and could do no better than 20th. Subsequent unapproved adjustments to the no. 48 Chevrolet relegated Johnson to a back-of-the field start on Sunday.

Posted on 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 Bojangles’ Southern 500 (6 p.m. ET, NBCSN, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) at Darlington Raceway.

Posted on by RJ Kraft

Denny Hamlin nabbed the Busch Pole Award before Sunday’s Bojangles’ Southern 500 (6 p.m. ET on NBCSN, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) at Darlington Raceway. That only further solidified the place in my Fantasy Live lineup for the two-time winner at the track “Too Tough to Tame.” After two practice sessions and qualifying, we’ve dissected the numbers to offer a suggested lineup worthy of your Fantasy Live consideration as you make roster decisions for the 25th Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race of 2018. Remember that the garage locks at the end of Stage 2.

RJ Kraft’s revised Fantasy Live lineup following practices and the lineup being set:
1: Kyle Busch
2: Denny Hamlin
3: Martin Truex Jr.
4: Kyle Larson
5: Erik Jones
Garage: Kevin Harvick

Notable cars to the rear: Jamie McMurray (engine change), Jimmie Johnson (unapproved adjustments)

PLAY NOW: Set your Fantasy Live lineup | How the new Fantasy Live works
MORE: Fantasy analysis for Darlington | Driver stats | Full lineup | 10-lap averages

Analysis: I’m not making any changes among the six drivers I selected heading into the weekend. These are potentially my last uses on Busch, Hamlin, Larson and Harvick. I’ve planned for that and will take the best of the rest left for Indianapolis. This lineup features four of the top five in the starting lineup and three Southern 500 winners (four with Harvick in the garage). Quick rundown on each and the reasoning why: Busch has been solid all weekend and stout on intermediates all year while Hamlin and Larson have had speed and are both really good at this track. Truex won this race in 2016, nearly won it last year and events that shift from day to night are a 78 team speciality.

For the last active spot, I debated between Jones and Alex Bowman. Jones finished in the top five here last year and has been averaging 32.1 points over the past nine races in 2018. Bowman has been a little faster this weekend but he has been up-and-down on intermediates this year. As a result, I have a little more trust in Jones with the run he’s been on over the past two months. That said, if you are out of uses on the Big 3, Bowman is a nice plug-and-play driver for this race.

I am sticking with Harvick but moving him to the garage. The qualifying effort was surprising — and not in a good way — as he will start 22nd. However, he won this race in 2014, has been stout all year on intermediates and has four top fives in his last five starts at Darlington. He also was the third-best car via the 15-lap board (h/t @SteveLetarte) in final practice. I’ll plan to be vigilant on whether he stays in — he’ll need to be in the top six by the end of Stage 2; anything lower and he stays in the garage and will then be played at Indianapolis next weekend.

As for the bonus picks, I’m taking Hamlin to win Stage 1, Larson to win Stage 2 and Kyle Busch for the win.