Posted on by Reid Spencer

LONG POND, Pa. — Alex Bowman finished third in Sunday’s Gander Outdoors 400 at Pocono Raceway, a high-water mark in his Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series career.

Teammate William Byron came home sixth, also a career best for the Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender.

RELATED: Race results | Watkins Glen weekend schedule

And with Chase Elliott finishing seventh, Hendrick Motorsports placed three drivers in the top 10 for the first time since October of last year at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Bowman was fourth for the final restart in overtime, but grabbed third at the stripe, narrowly holding off six-time winner Kevin Harvick.

“Obviously it was a great points day for us, but on top of that, it’s proof that we’re improving each and every week and continually getting better,” Bowman said. “Obviously, we’re not doing it as quickly as we want to, but days like today make all the hard work for the guys back at the shop, the engine shop, the chassis shop, body shop, the whole road crew—days like today make it worth it. 

“Very glad, especially considering how bad we were when we started the weekend and how bad we qualified. To come out of here with a solid top five is a great day. Obviously, wish it would have been a little better, but I think we kind of had Pocono circled as a place that we thought we had pretty good race cars, and the 9 (Elliott) was really good, especially last race. We knew we were going to be pretty strong here.”

It showed, and the performance left Bowman 15th in the series standings, enhancing his playoff prospects.

Posted on by Staff Report

With Sunday’s win in the Gander Outdoors 400 at Pocono Raceway, Kyle Busch earned the 49th victory of his Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series career, tying Tony Stewart for 13th on the all-time wins list.

Afterward, Stewart took to Twitter to offer his congratulations on the feat.

Stewart earned 49 victories in 597 starts over the course of his 18-year career, while Busch recorded the same number of wins in 483 total starts.

RELATED: Gibbs compares how Busch, Stewart are similar, different

“That’s awesome,” Kyle Busch said about tying Stewart. “And you keep reaching higher up the ladder and you keep reaching milestone drivers, and Tony Stewart is one of the all-time best — and one of the drivers that I was a fan of as well growing up so it’s awesome to be able to tie him.”

Busch would tie Junior Johnson and Ned Jarrett with a 50th career victory.

Below is a snapshot shot of where Busch and Stewart rank among other drivers on the coveted list:

Driver Number of wins
Richard Petty 200
David Pearson 105
Jeff Gordon 93
Bobby Allison 84
Darrell Waltrip 84
Jimmie Johnson 83
Cale Yarborough 83
Dale Earnhardt 76
Rusty Wallace 55
Lee Petty 54
Ned Jarrett 50
Junior Johnson 50
Kyle Busch 49
Tony Stewart 49
Herb Thomas 48
Buck Baker 46
Bill Elliott 44
Kevin Harvick 43
Posted on by Jessica Ruffin

LONG POND, Pa. – All Daniel Suarez needed was a little help.

A slight push from his No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Erik Jones and Sunday’s race at Pocono Raceway may have crowned a first-time winner in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.

That’s racing, he said – but also acknowledged how it hurts to be that close, as he stood on pit road while his mentor and race winner Kyle Busch celebrated the victory.

RELATED: Race results | Pocono winner Kyle Busch praises Suarez

“Sometimes as a driver you’re on offense or you are on defense, and myself in the second part of the race, I was most of the time on offense, and I was just attacking as hard as I can,” Suarez said, finishing a career-best second. “Many times my spotter was telling me what was going on behind me, and one or two times I was very, very close to telling him, hey, I don’t care what’s going on behind me, just tell me what’s going on with the 18.

“You know, we did a good job. I feel like we put ourselves in position. We just have to put ourselves in position more often. If this starts to happen often, we are going to get one.”

Suarez lined his No. 19 Toyota up beside Busch in second for the final green-white-checkered attempt in NASCAR Overtime. He restarted well and began side-drafting Busch’s No. 18 for the lead. But then-third-place Jones flared out in an attempt to take the top spot and forced Suarez to battle with the No. 20, while Busch extended his lead.

Sure, Suarez was going to race his JGR teammate Busch clean, just as Busch races him. But he had gotten a shot at it, he would have taken it, he said; the 26-year-old sits on the outside of the playoff bubble, 96 points behind the final spot with five races remaining in the regular season.

RELATED: Jones finds momentum at Pocono with top five

A win is what he needed Sunday.

“I was going to do anything,” Suarez said. “Anything I could. If I could make (Busch) lose or give him a little bump, I was going to do it. But I never got close enough. The only time I was close enough side by side was in the last restart and when the 20 got on my inside, I had to worry about him instead of worrying about the 18. …

“Definitely helps a lot to have this kind of performance from my race team because as you know, we’ve been struggling lately – the last couple months or so – but very proud of my guys,” he said later. “Like I said on the radio today, second place is good, but I didn’t care if we were second, third or fifth, I really wanted to win. We needed that win, but, you know, that’s part of racing.”

The weekend was a banner weekend for the No. 19, as he also earned his first pole in the Monster Energy Series after Kevin Harvick’s top speed was disallowed after failing inspection. He faded back after some pit road damage early in the final stage, but battled back to the front in the waning laps.

His strong run impressed many, but notably Busch, who has served as Suarez’s longtime mentor since the Monterrey, Mexico, native began racing in NASCAR.

“He could have won. I mean, he was right there with us all day long,” Busch said. “He trailed us that whole run, and I couldn’t shake him. I couldn’t get away from him, and I was trying, but he was right there that whole time, and he stayed in front of Chase. Like he was good. …  With Daniel and those guys, they had an awesome run, and they should be proud of that.”

RELATED: Watch as Kyle Busch holds off his teammates

After the race and the crowds cleared, Suarez debriefed with crew chief Scott Graves on pit road for a few minutes, exchanging quick words with team owner Joe Gibbs. The run is a confidence-booster for the team as they draw closer to the playoffs, Graves said.

“We felt like we had the ability to run like this and just haven’t executed in races and finally today we were able to put a whole one together,” Graves told NASCAR.com and ESPN. “It’s the first time we’ve had a trouble-free race I would say since Dover when we finished third. We know we can do it; we’ve just got to get more of the consistency and be able to run the track position and stay like that. …”

“He’s just very determined and mentally tough that he’s going to make this work and he’s going to be successful and that he’s going to do it. He doesn’t give up, even when we’ve had the struggles we’ve had this year. Sometimes it gets uncomfortable, but you’ve got to talk about it and figure it out and look at the details of what’s going on and what we’re doing wrong and how to fix it. Like I said, he doesn’t give up and he’s always been open to listening to everything, the good and the bad, and trying to figure things out.”

As the No. 19 group heads into next weekend’s race at Watkins Glen International, they’ll look to extend the momentum from Sunday to the twists and turns of the New York road course. And just maybe, they’ll turn a career-best run into a first-time, playoff-spot-clinching victory. He did finish third there last summer and earned a stage win in that race.

“I wish these kind of races were happening two months ago and everything was going to be easier,” Suarez said. “But that happens sometimes. We’re still a new team and we still figure things out sometimes and that’s part of racing. But we’re going to get there, we just have to keep working.

“The next race, Watkins Glen, that’s a very good track for me, so I wouldn’t be surprised if we could get another shot at it.”

Posted on by Reid Spencer

LONG POND, Pa. – A post-qualifying inspection failure? No problem.

A starting position deep in the field for Sunday’s Gander Outdoors 400 at Pocono Raceway? Just another challenge for Kyle Busch to overcome.

Holding off a determined charge from Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Daniel Suarez in two late restarts—the first after a brutal wreck that sidelined Bubba Wallace—Kyle Busch powered his No. 18 Toyota to his sixth Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series victory of the season, tying fourth-place finisher Kevin Harvick for the series lead.

RELATED: Series standings | Race results
SHOP: Kyle Busch gear

Suarez started from the pole and finished a career-best second, 1.788 seconds behind Busch, who collected his second victory at the 2.5-mile Tricky Triangle and the 49th of his career, tying him with Tony Stewart for 13th on the all-time win list.

With the triumph, Busch completed a weekend sweep at Pocono, having tied NASCAR Hall of Famer Ron Hornaday Jr. for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series career lead at 51 with his win in Saturday’s Gander Outdoors 150.

After his celebratory burnout, Busch had nothing but praise for his teammate.

“Suarez, man, I can’t say enough about my teammate,” Busch said. “He was probably the third-best car. Harvick was the best car, and we were second-best car, and I think Suarez was the third-best car. He gave us a run for our money there on that last restart.”

“The last restart I spun my tires a little bit too much and he got a really good run. I think that gave (JGR teammate and fifth-place finisher Erik) Jones an opportunity to make it three-wide going into (Turn) 1. They got into racing (each other), and I kind of got away.”

RELATED: Busch matches Stewart on Monster Energy Series wins list

On tying Stewart with 49 wins, Busch said, “That’s awesome. You keep reaching up the ladder, and you keep reaching more milestone drivers. Tony Stewart is one of the all-time best and one of the drivers I was a fan of growing up as well. It’s awesome to tie him.”

Alex Bowman ran third, a career-best finish that left 15th in the series standings and enhanced his chances of qualifying for the Playoffs.

Harvick and Busch posted the two fastest laps in Saturday’s qualifying session, but their times were disallowed because of subsequent inspection failures—along with those of 11 other drivers. Busch started 28th and Harvick 29th.

RELATED: Wallace wrecks late | Bubba says he’s OK

Harvick won Stage 2, but the Toyotas of Busch, Suarez, Jones, Denny Hamlin and Martin Truex Jr. pitted three laps before the end of the stage and stayed out under the subsequent caution, putting Harvick back in traffic for a restart on Lap 106.

A collision with Stewart-Haas Racing teammate Aric Almirola on pit road sent Harvick to the back of the field once more, but he was able to drive up to fourth before running out of laps at the finish.

“It definitely changed the course of the race,” Adam Stevens, Busch’s crew chief, said of the Toyotas pitting in masse before the end of Stage 2. But Stevens demurred when asked if it was a group decision.

Suarez did all he could to catch his teammate after Busch took the lead on Lap 108 of 164, but to no avail.

“Sometimes, as a driver, you’re on offense, or you are on defense, and myself, in the second part of the race, I was most of the time on offense, and I was just attacking as hard as I can,” Suarez said. “Many times, my spotter was telling me what was going on behind me, and one or two times I was very, very close to telling him, ‘Hey, I don’t care what’s going on behind me—just tell me what’s going on with the 18 (Busch).

“You know, we did a good job. I feel like we put ourselves in position. We just have to put ourselves in position more often. If this starts to happen often, we are going to get one. We just have to keep working hard, and maybe next time we can get a little bit more help from behind. I feel like that was all it was going to take, just a little bit more push.”

Busch held a comfortable lead over Suarez on Lap 154, when Wallace, running 22nd at the time, slammed into the Turn 1 wall with bone-jarring impact.

“No brakes—oh (expletive)!,” Wallace screamed over his radio as his car lurched to the left at the end of the frontstretch, slid through the grass and smashed into the SAFER barrier on the passenger’s side. A tense minute passed before Wallace lowered his window net; he was conscious and able to move within the car.

Wallace climbed from the crippled car with the aid of safety workers and sat on the asphalt, his back against the driver’s door, and climbed into a waiting ambulance for a trip to the infield care center.

“Hardest one of my career,” Wallace said of the impact. “I was just telling them here (in the care center) there is no feeling like being helpless in that situation going off into Turn 1, and it scared the hell out of me. I didn’t know if I was going to remember if I hit or not, so we are good.

“Bit my cheek, banged my foot off the pedal. I’m OK, though. I’ll wake up tomorrow and be a little sore, but the safety has come a long way. It’s good to be able to climb out of the car. The EMT’s were worried that I didn’t let the window net down fast enough, and I was like ‘Hell, that was the last thing I thought about—I’m sorry.’

“Everything was good. They gave me an ultrasound—no twins or anything, so I’m good.”

Posted on by Staff Report

Bubba Wallace emerged from a heavy wreck near the end of Sunday’s Gander Outdoors 400, gingerly walking away from his battered No. 43 Chevrolet after severe contact with the Turn 1 wall at Pocono Raceway.

RELATED: Wallace 1-on-1 from care center | Race results

Wallace, a rookie driving for Richard Petty Motorsports, lost control at the end of the 2.5-mile track’s long front straightaway after his car experienced brake failure. Wallace gave a thumbs-up after stepping out of the car, but rested on the asphalt before being loaded into the ambulance for the mandatory trip to the infield care center.

“Hardest one of my career,” Wallace told NBCSN. “I was just telling them here, there’s no feeling like being helpless in that situation going off into Turn 1 and it scared the hell out of me. I didn’t know if I was going to remember whether I hit or not. We’re good. Banged my cheek, banged my foot off the pedal. I’m OK, though. I’ll wake up tomorrow and be a little sore, but the safety’s come a long way so it’s good to be able to climb out of the car.”

The crash forced a red flag with 154 of a 164 laps complete. Wallace was scored 33rd in the 40-car field.

RELATED: Scenes from a busy weekend at Pocono

Wallace indicated later that he had sensed a brake issue was developing late in the race; the subsequent brake failure caused his car to cut through the infield grass entering the corner before it slid up into the outside retaining wall.

“I can’t remember if I turned left or if it just kind of jolted to the left and I should have stayed to the right,” Wallace said. “And I went for a hellacious ride and just for about two or three seconds you can really slow it down and you are just helpless. There is nothing you can do and you are just like, please stop. And it does, it does when it hits the fence and all-in-all it was OK, knocked the wind out of me.”

Wallace admitted that he created some tense moments after the wreck when he didn’t initially release his window net, a signal to emergency workers — and those watching on TV — that he was unhurt.

“The EMTs were worried that I didn’t let the window net down fast enough,” Wallace said, “and I was like, ‘hell, that was the last thing I thought about, I’m sorry.’ ”

Posted on by Staff Report

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and the NASCAR Xfinity Series will be at Watkins Glen International for some road course racing. Check out the full schedule below, which is subject to change.

Note: All times are ET

MORE: How to find NBCSN

Sunday, August 5
Run of Show
2:38:30 p.m.: Canadian National Anthem by Anna Heerdt
2:40:00 p.m.: Presentation of Colors by New York State Police, Troop E, Zone 3
2:40:20 p.m.: Invocation by Reverend David Fife, Bentley Creek Wesleyan Church
2:41:00 p.m.: National Anthem by U.S. Army SFC Keith Beyer, 380th Army Band
2:47:30 p.m.: “Drivers, start your engines” by Scott McLaughlin, President of the New York State Bowling Proprietors Association
2:58:30 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series GoBowling at The Glen (90 laps, 220.5 miles), NBC/NBC Sports App (Results) (Canada: TSN3, 4, 5)

PRESS PASS (Watch live)
11:30 a.m.: Alex Bowman
5:30 p.m.: Post-Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race

Friday, August 3
 12:35-1:25 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series practice, NBC Sports App (Results) (Canada: TSN GO)
2:05-3:25 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series final practice, NBC Sports App (Results) (Canada: TSN GO)

PRESS PASS (Watch live)
10:15 a.m.: Bubba Wallace
11:15 a.m.: Joey Logano
11:30 a.m.: AJ Allmendinger
11:45 a.m.: Christopher Bell

Saturday, August 4
10:05-11:20 a.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice, NBCSN/NBC Sports App (Results) (Canada: TSN3, 5)
11:35 a.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series qualifying, NBCSN/NBC Sports App (Results) (Canada: TSN GO)
1-2:15 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series final practice, NBCSN/NBC Sports App (Results) (Canada: TSN3, 5)
3 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series Zippo 200 (82 laps, 200.9 miles), NBC/NBC Sports App (Results) (Canada: TSN5)
7 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Busch Pole Qualifying, NBCSN/NBC Sports App (Results) (Canada: TSN2)

PRESS PASS (Watch live)
9:15 a.m.: Daniel Suarez
Noon: Kyle Busch
12:30 p.m.: Martin Truex Jr.
6 p.m.: Post-NASCAR Xfinity Series race
8 p.m.: Post-Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series qualifying

 

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, July 30
2 p.m.: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Gander Outdoors 150 (re-air), FS2
2:30 p.m.: NASCAR 120, NBCSN
5 p.m.: NASCAR America, NBCSN
6 p.m.: NASCAR Race Hub, FS1

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

Tuesday, July 31
5 p.m.: NASCAR America, NBCSN
6 p.m.: NASCAR Race Hub, FS1

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

Wednesday, August 1
5 p.m.: NASCAR America, NBCSN
6 p.m.: NASCAR Race Hub, FS1

On MRN
1 p.m.: NASCAR Coast to Coast (with hosts Kyle Rickey & Hannah Newhouse)

Thursday, August 2
5 p.m.: NASCAR America, NBCSN
5:30 p.m.: Dale Jr. Download, NBCSN
6 p.m.: NASCAR K&N Pro Series East & West Combo: Iowa Speedway, NBCSN
6 p.m.: NASCAR Race Hub, FS1

On MRN
1 p.m.: Throwback Thursday: 1990 Bud at The Glen

Friday, August 3
12:35 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series practice, NBC Sports App (Canada: TSN GO)
2:05 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series final practice, NBC Sports App (Canada: TSN GO)
4:30 p.m.: Dale Jr. Download, NBCSN
5 p.m.: NASCAR America, NBCSN
6 p.m.: NASCAR Whelen Series: New Hampshire, NBCSN

Saturday, August 4
6 a.m.: Beyond the Wheel 2018, FS1
10 a.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice, NBCSN/NBC Sports App (Canada: TSN3, 5)
11:30 a.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series qualifying, NBCSN/NBC Sports App (Canada: TSN GO)
12:30 p.m.: NASCAR America, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
1 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series final practice, NBCSN/NBC Sports App (Canada: TSN3, 5)
2:30 p.m.: Countdown to Green, NBC/NBC Sports App
3 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series Zippo 200, NBC/NBC Sports App  (Canada: TSN3, 5)
6 p.m.: Racing Roots: Martin Truex Jr., NBCSN
7 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Busch Pole Qualifying, NBCSN/NBC Sports App (Canada: TSN2)

Sunday, August 5
10:30 a.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series final practice (re-air), NBCSN
12 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Busch Pole Qualifying (re-air), NBCSN
12:30 p.m.: NASCAR Race Classic: 1998 Daytona 500, FS1
1 p.m.: NASCAR RaceDay, FS1
1 p.m.: NASCAR America Sunday, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
2 p.m.: Countdown to Green, NBC/NBC Sports App
3 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series GoBowling at The Glen, NBCSN/NBC Sports App (Canada: TSN3, 4, 5)
5:30 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Post-Race Show, NBC/NBC Sports App
6 p.m.: Victory Lap, NBCSN/NBC Sports App

Posted on by Staff Report

Kevin Harvick asserted himself through the middle portion of Sunday’s Monster Energy Series race at Pocono Raceway, winning Stage 2 of the Gander Outdoors 400.

Harvick led a total of 29 laps in the stage, which ended at Lap 100 of a scheduled 160 on the 2.5-mile track. He collected a playoff point for his series-leading 10th stage win of the season.

RELATED: Stage 2 results

Stage 1 winner Chase Elliott came to the green-checkered flag in second place, adding nine points to his season total in the drivers’ standings. Clint Bowyer, Alex Bowman and Kyle Larson rounded out the top five positions.

Harvick started 29th after his Stewart-Haas Racing No. 4 failed post-qualifying inspection Saturday, disallowing his apparent pole-winning lap. He roared through the field to take the lead for the first time on Lap 65. He surrendered the top spot only after a Stage 2 shuffle of pit stops.

Seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson, making his 600th premier-series start, was sixth at the end of the second stage.

STAGE 2 RESULTS

Finish Driver Team Race Points
1 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing 10
2 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports 9
3 Clint Bowyer Stewart-Haas Racing 8
4 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports 7
5 Kyle Larson Chip Ganassi Racing 6
6 Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports 5
7 Brad Keselowski Team Penske 4
8 Jamie McMurray Chip Ganassi Racing 3
9 Ryan Blaney Team Penske 2
10 William Byron Hendrick Motorsports 1

STAGE 1 RECAP

Chase Elliott surged to a Stage 1 victory Sunday at Pocono Raceway, capturing a playoff point for the second straight week.

Elliott, in the Hendrick Motorsports No. 9 Chevrolet, started sixth and passed Denny Hamlin for the top spot to lead the final 11 laps in the 50-lap opening stage of the Gander Outdoors 400. The finish to the first segment marked Elliott’s second stage win of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season.

RELATED:  Stage 1 results

Kevin Harvick rallied from the 29th starting spot and landed second in the Stage 1 order, just ahead of third-place Hamlin. Kyle Busch and pole-starter Daniel Suarez rounded out the top five.

Suarez won the Busch Pole Award in Saturday’s qualifying and led the opening 21 laps, a career-best for a single race.

Harvick was the apparent fastest qualifier on Saturday, but his speed was disallowed after his Stewart-Haas Racing No. 4 Ford failed post-qualifying technical inspection. A total of 13 cars were sent to the rear of the field (ordered based on their position in the points standings) before the start because of inspection issues.

Harvick picked off almost a half-dozen spots before the green flag when slower cars in the middle of the pack dropped to the rear to avoid a jam-up at the start. Harvick stormed through the field and was among the top 10 by Lap 9.

STAGE 1 RESULTS

Finish Driver Team Race Points
1 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports 10
2 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing 9
3 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing 8
4 Kyle Busch Joe Gibbs Racing 7
5 Daniel Suarez Joe Gibbs Racing 6
6 Clint Bowyer Stewart-Haas Racing 5
7 Brad Keselowski Team Penske 4
8 Kurt Busch Stewart-Haas Racing 3
9 Alex Bowman Hendrick Motorsports 2
10 Ryan Blaney Team Penske 1
Posted on by Staff Report

Seven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson made his 600th premier-series start Sunday at Pocono Raceway.

Johnson officially reached the milestone when his Hendrick Motorsports No. 48 Chevrolet took the green flag from the 35th starting position in the Gander Outdoors 400. It was his 34th career start at the 2.5-mile Pennsylvania track, where he is a three-time winner. Johnson finished the race in 17th-place, the lone Hendrick car outside of the top 10 on this day.

RELATED: Drivers with 600 starts

His No. 48 entry carried a special decal over the door to commemorate his feat. Johnson becomes just the 30th driver to reach the 600-start plateau.

Besides the longevity, Johnson’s stellar career has included significant success with 83 premier-series wins — most among active drivers on the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. His tally of seven championships ties him with Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt, both members of the inaugural NASCAR Hall of Fame class.

This season, Johnson has just two top-five finishes in 21 races so far. He’s winless in his last 44 races, the longest drought of his career.

Posted on by Staff Report

Jusan Hamilton will take over race control for Sunday’s Gander Outdoors 400 (2:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) at Pocono Raceway, becoming the first African-American to serve as race director for NASCAR’s premier series.

Hamilton made history in March 2017 when he called the shots from the race control booth for an Xfinity Series event at Auto Club Speedway. For Sunday’s 400-miler, he’ll take the reins from longtime Monster Energy Series race director David Hoots, who is also in attendance at the 2.5-mile track.

Hamilton started his career in the NASCAR industry as an intern with the sanctioning body’s Drive for Diversity program. Now in his fifth year with NASCAR, he continues to be active with racing operations and event management. He’s also given back to the D4D initiative, staying involved with driver and pit crew combines and recruitment efforts.

Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR Executive Vice President and Chief Racing Development Officer, lauded Hamilton’s achievement in a pre-race tweet: