Posted on by Staff Report

Todd Gilliland was vying for his first career NASCAR Camping World Truck Series win on Sunday at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park when Kyle Busch Motorsports teammate Noah Gragson dove to the inside of Gilliland’s No. 4 Toyota for the lead in the final turn, wrecking both trucks in the process.

Alongside one another, both trucks incurred heavy damage and paved the way for Justin Haley to nab the win and clinch a spot in the next round of the playoffs.

“I’d go fight him right now, but I can’t,” Gilliland said of teammate Gragson in an emotional post-race interview on pit road. “I’m extremely mad.”

RELATED: See the final lap | Haley wins | Gilliland’s take | Gragson’s take

Gilliland also tweeted after the incident.

Gragson, a member of the eight-truck playoff field, was racing for a guaranteed spot in the next round of the playoffs. He finished ninth, while Gilliland finished 11th.

Gragson also gave an emotional interview after he appeared to receive a scolding from Marcus Richmond, crew chief of the No. 4 team. Richmond was Gragson’s crew chief in 2017.

“We were racing for the win,” Gragson said. “I apologize to Todd, the No. 4 team, everyone at Kyle Busch Motorsports. We’re in the playoffs and I’m trying to get a win. That one’s on me. “

Posted on by Staff Report

BOWMANVILLE, Ont. — The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series made the annual trip to Canada to open up their 2018 Playoffs at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.

Despite missing the playoffs, Todd Gilliland seemed almost destined to win his first career truck series race Sunday at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. Taking the lead on Lap 54 from Johnny Sauter, it was smooth sailing for Gilliland, until a late-race caution set up a thrilling NASCAR Overtime battle with his Kyle Busch Motorsports teammate and playoff driver Noah Gragson. Gragson, who won both previous stages, dove to pass Gilliland in the final turn.

In similar shades to the move made by Chase Elliott in the 2013 race, the contact sent both Gragson and Gilliland spinning. The two trucks blocked the race track, causing a massive pile up coming to the checkered flag. The ensuing carnage allowed fellow playoff driver Justin Haley to sneak through the wreckage and lock in his Round of 6 spot with a win in the Chevrolet Silverado 250.

MORE: Full race results | Playoff standings 

The 19-year-old driver from Winamac, Indiana, lead only a single lap all race long and it proved to be the most important one. With this victory, Haley claims his second checkered flag of the 2018 season. 

“We were just in the right place at the right time” said Haley celebrating in Victory Lane. “I can’t thank everyone at GMS Racing enough; it was a truly blessed day.”

Haley also becomes the sixth different winner in as many races at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, and scores GMS Racing’s first win at the historic 2.459-mile road course.

A visibly dejected Gilliland expressed his anger towards his Kyle Busch Motorsports teammate following the contact in Turn 10.

“I should have never let him get to me,” Gilliland said. “We should have given him the inside. We had the fastest truck and we didn’t win again.”

RELATED: Gilliland, Gragson make contact | Gilliland’s take | Gragson’s take

Gragson took immediate responsibility for the contact in the final corner, apologizing profusely to his teammate. 

“That was on me,” said Gragson. “I was racing for the win.”

“I apologize to Todd, the No. 4 team and everyone at KBM. I was expecting a little more room on the bottom and we made contact. Again I want to apologize to everyone on that 4 team, that was on me.”

Following the intense finish at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Haley locks himself into the Round of 6 continuing his hunt for the 2018 NASCAR Camping Truck Series championship. The Round of 6 begins October 27 at Martinsville Speedway.

“This is what we came to do,” Haley added. “This is road course racing and now we are really looking forward to Vegas. Mission accomplished.” 

The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series returns to action Friday, September 14 for the second race in the playoffs, the World of Westgate 200 at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Ben Rhodes is the defending winner.

Posted on by Staff Report

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series will be in action at Darlington Raceway, 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

SUNDAY, Sept. 2
RACE-DAY RUNDOWN
4:00:00 p.m. Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Driver & Crew Chief Meeting (MENCS Garage)
5:25:00 p.m.: Drivers Introductions with Busch Pole Award (NASCAR Special Awards read earlier in pre-race)
6:00:00 p.m.: Intro Presentation of Colors by: SC Air National Guard Color Guard
6:00:10 p.m.: Moment of Silence
6:00:30 p.m.: Intro & Invocation by: Dr. Bill Curtis, Cornerstone Baptist Church of Darlington, South Carolina
6:01:25 p.m.: National Anthem by: Pop music icons Hanson
6:03:00 p.m.: Flyover TOT by: Bandit Flight Team (Turn 4 to Turn 1)
6:07:45 p.m.: “Drivers, Start Your Engines” by: Randy Poindexter, Sr. VP of Marketing Bojangles’ with 2019 NASCAR HOF Inductee Jack Roush and other members of the NASCAR HOF
6:15:45 p.m.: Green Flag – Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Bojangles’ Southern 500 (367 laps, 501.3 miles), NBCSN/NBC Sports App (Canada: TSN4) (Results)

PRESS PASS (Watch live)
2 p.m.: STP and Richard Petty Motorsports
10:15 p.m.: Post-Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race

FRIDAY, Aug. 31
1:05-1:55 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series first practice, NBCSN/NBC Sports App (Canada: TSN App) (Results)
2:05-2:55 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series first practice, NBCSN/NBC Sports App (Canada; TSN5) (Results)
3:05-3:55 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series final practice, NBCSN/NBC Sports App (Canada: TSN App) (Results)
4:05-4:55 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series final practice, NBCSN/NBC Sports App (Canada: TSN App) (Results)

PRESS PASS (Watch live)
11:10 a.m.: Derrike Cope and Bojangles’ President Randy Poindexter
11:30 a.m.:  NASCAR partnership announcement
11:45 a.m.: Justin Allgaier and Christopher Bell
12:05 p.m.: Denny Hamlin
1:00 p.m.: Kurt Busch
1:15 p.m.: Matt Kenseth

SATURDAY, Sept. 1
12:35 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series Pole Qualifying, NBCSN (UPDATE: Coverage will begin on the NBC Sports App until the conclusion of John McCain coverage on NBC, then Xfinity qualifying will pick up on NBCSN in addition to NBC Sports App as soccer moves over to NBC) (Canada: TSN App) (Results)
2 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Busch Pole Qualifying, NBCSN/NBC Sports App (Canada: TSN App) (Results)
3:30 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series Sport Clips Haircuts VFW 200 (147 laps, 200.8 miles), NBC/NBC Sports App (Canada: TSN3) (Results)

PRESS PASS (Watch live)
2:45 p.m.: Post-Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series qualifying
5:15 p.m.: Post-NASCAR Xfinity Series race

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, August 27
6 p.m.: NASCAR America, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
6 p.m.: NASCAR Race Hub, FS1

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

Tuesday, August 28
5 p.m.: NASCAR America, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
6 p.m.: NASCAR Race Hub, FS1
6 p.m.: Glory Road, “David Pearson and the 1968 Rebel 400,” NBCSN/NBC Sports App
6:30 p.m.: Glory Road, “Battle of the Big 3,” (re-air) NBCSN/NBC Sports App
9 p.m.: Glory Road, “David Pearson and the 1968 Rebel 400,” (re-air) NBCSN/NBC Sports App
9:30 p.m.: Glory Road, “Battle of the Big 3,” (re-air) NBCSN/NBC Sports App

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

Wednesday, August 29
12 a.m.: Glory Road, “David Pearson and the 1968 Rebel 400,” (re-air) NBCSN/NBC Sports App
12:30 a.m.: Glory Road, “Battle of the Big 3,” (re-air) NBCSN/NBC Sports App
5 p.m.: NASCAR America, 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, August 30
5 p.m.: NASCAR America, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
5:30 p.m.: Dale Jr. Download, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
6 p.m.: K&N Pro Series East Midwest Melee 150, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
6 p.m.: NASCAR Race Hub, FS1

Friday, August 31
noon: NASCAR Southern Speed: The Legend of Darlington, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
1 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series opening practice, NBCSN/NBC Sports App (Canada: TSN App)
2 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series opening practice, NBCSN/NBC Sports App (Canada: TSN5)
3 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series practice, NBCSN/NBC Sports App (Canada: TSN App)
4 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series final practice, NBCSN/NBC Sports App (Canada: TSN App)
5 p.m.: NASCAR America, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
6 p.m.: NASCAR Southern Speed: The Legend of Darlington (re-air), NBCSN/NBC Sports App

On MRN
Noon: The Inside Line (with host Tyler Burnett)
1 p.m.: Throwback: 1983 Trans South 500

Saturday, September 1
12:30 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series qualifying, NBCSN/NBC Sports App (Canada: TSN App) (UPDATE: Coverage will begin on the NBC Sports App until the conclusion of John McCain coverage on NBC, then Xfinity qualifying will pick up on NBCSN in addition to NBC Sports App as soccer moves over to NBC)
1:30 pm.: NASCAR America, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
2 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series qualifying, NBCSN/NBC Sports App (Canada: TSN App)
3 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series Countdown to Green, NBC/NBC Sports App
3:30 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series Sport Clips Haircuts VFW 200, NBC/NBC Sports App (Canada: TSN3)

Sunday, September 2
3 p.m.: NASCAR RaceDay, FS1
5 p.m.: NASCAR America Sunday, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
5:30 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Countdown to Green: Darlington, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
6 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Bojangles’ Southern 500, NBCSN/NBC Sports App (Canada: TSN4)
10:30 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series postrace, NBCSN/NBC Sports App
11 p.m.: NASCAR Victory Lap, NBCSN/NBC Sports App

Posted on by Staff Report

After a penultimate fan vote, the 2018 Darlington Best in Show paint scheme competition is down to two cars: the No. 24 of William Byron and the No. 99 of Derrike Cope.

Byron’s No. 24 beat out Clint Bowyer’s No. 14 in the semifinals, while Cope’s No. 99 edged Chase Elliott’s No. 9 to nab the final spot.

The seeding was originally decided upon by our selection committee based on the top eight in voting for Darlington’s Best in Show fan award through Aug. 15. Another fan vote dwindled the field down to four.

VOTE NOW: Cast a ballot for your favorite scheme

The final round pits these two looks honoring NASCAR’s past against each other as the theme for 2018 is “Seven Decades of NASCAR.”

Byron vs. Cope: Byron’s No. 24 Chevrolet will be wrapped by Sam Bass’s “Hot Summer Nights” design honoring Jeff Gordon’s rainbow car. Cope’s No. 99 yellow-and-red Bojangles’ theme matches the current race sponsor and throws it back to the partnership’s start in 1993.

RELATED: See all the throwback schemes | Buy tickets now!

Championship round voting is now open and runs until Aug. 31, with the winner being announced before the start of the Bojangles’ Southern 500 (6 p.m. ET Sept. 2, NBCSN, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

Posted on by Staff Report

Ben Rhodes won the pole in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series on Saturday at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. Rhodes will lead the field to the green in Sunday’s Chevrolet Silverado 250, the first race in the NASCAR Playoffs (2:30 p.m. ET, FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

Rhodes circled the 10-turn, 2.459-mile road course in Bowmanville, Ontario, at a speed of 97.854 mph for his fifth career pole in the series. Fellow playoff driver Noah Gragson, who qualified second with a speed of 97.395 mph, will also start on the front row.

RELATED: Starting lineup

The Truck Series drivers experienced wet conditions on the track and were allowed to use Goodyear rain tires during the two-round session.

Posted on by Staff Report

Justin Allgaier pulled away for his fourth NASCAR Xfinity Series victory of the year Saturday at Road America.

Allgaier’s JR Motorsports No. 7 Chevrolet led 14 of the 45 laps in the Johnsonville 180. His second straight road-course win this season was the ninth of his Xfinity Series career.

RELATED: Race results

“This team is incredible,” Allgaier said in Victory Lane. “They never give up. … I never would’ve thought we could have a dream season like this one.”

Allgaier cruised away to a 5.403-second margin of victory after his nearest challengers, Justin Marks and James Davison, made contact and spun with three laps remaining. Allgaier’s winning pass came at Davison’s expense as the Australian driver’s miscue with seven laps left opened the door.

Pole-starter Matt Tifft brought the Richard Childress Racing No. 2 Chevrolet home in second place. Tifft later reported through social media that he made a post-race trip to the infield care center for fluids, but was otherwise OK.

Daniel Hemric took third with Cole Custer fourth and Elliott Sadler fifth on the 4.048-mile road course.

Allgaier took over the series points lead from Christopher Bell, who spun out with five laps remaining after a bump from Tifft. Bell was forced to make a late pit stop and finished 23rd.

NASCAR Hall of Famer Bill Elliott finished 20th in his first national series start since 2012. His GMS Racing No. 23 Chevrolet sustained significant front-end damage near the end of Stage 1. A later spin with seven laps to go dropped him further down the leaderboard.

“I feel like I hit everything but the lottery,” Elliott said.

Richard Childress Racing teammates swept the stage victories. Tifft led the first 10 laps from the pole position to capture Stage 1 for his first stage win of the season. Hemric led the final six laps of Stage 2 for his third stage victory in 2018.

Austin Cindric led briefly during Stage 2 until his No. 22 Team Penske Ford lost power after Turn 11 on the long Kettle Bottoms straight. “It just blew up. At least we blew up in the lead,” Cindric told NBC Sports.

Elliott Sadler, Cole Custer and Daniel Hemric all clinched playoff berths based on points, joining this season’s race-winners Allgaier, Christopher Bell and Tyler Reddick in the playoffs field. That leaves six spots open with three regular-season races remaining.

The series’ next race is the VFW Sport Clips Help A Hero 200, scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 1 (3:30 p.m. ET, NBC, MRN, SiriusXM) at Darlington Raceway.

Posted on by Staff Report

Fans in Canada can watch Sunday’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Playoffs opener via a live stream on NASCAR.com.

Bookmark the link here or simply go to  https://www.nascar.com/trucksincanada/

Sunday’s race is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. ET. Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio have the radio calls. Fans in the U.S. can watch on FS1.

MORE: Full schedule for Canadian Tire, Road America

The always exciting race at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park moves to the playoffs opener this year, adding an additional layer of intrigue to an event that typically sees last-lap contact when battling for the win.

Regular-season champion Johnny Sauter leads the eight-driver field in the postseason.

Posted on by Chase Wilhelm

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series playoff drivers are set to do battle in the opening race of the postseason — Sunday’s Chevrolet Silverado 250 at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (2:30 p.m. ET, FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

But before the eight drivers take to the 2.549-mile track north of the border, NASCAR.com asked them to grade their regular-season performances.

Although making the playoffs deserves an A-plus grade in itself, drivers were much harder on themselves as the grades ranged from a solid “A” to a “D-minus” assessment.

See regular-season champion Johnny Sauter and other playoff contenders Brett Moffitt, Noah Gragson, Ben Rhodes, Stewart Friesen, Grant Enfinger, Justin Haley and Matt Crafton fill out their report cards in the video above.

Posted on by Staff Report

The entire field participated in the second NASCAR Xfinity practice on Friday at Road America after wet weather conditions kept most drivers in the garage during the earlier practice at the Wisconsin track.

Justin Marks paced final practice with a 132.960 mph best lap around the 4.048-mile track. In just his second Xfinity Series appearance in 2018, Marks will look to improve upon his 22nd-place finish at Mid-Ohio earlier this month.

Road racing specialist James Davison laid down a 133.477 mph lap to finish second with Austin Cindric (133.515), Justin Allgaier (133.610) and Matt Tifft (133.838) rounding out the top five in final prep for Saturday’s Johnsonville 180 (3 p.m. ET, NBCSN, MRN, SiriusXM). Allgaier briefly spun out in Turn 5 late in practice, but was able to recover without any reported damage.

RELATED: Practice 2 results

Tyler Reddick and British IMSA racer Katherine Legge collided out of Turn 4. According to JR Motorsports’ Twitter, the No. 9 reported he lost his brakes. There was no flag as both cars were able to drive off from the incident on their own with minor damage.

Legge spoke to NBC Sports while the No. 15 team worked on the damaged vehicle.

“I don’t know what he was thinking, if he was thinking” Legge said with a smile. “… He (Reddick) and I will be having words. Is he one of the good guys? I don’t know this.”

RELATED: Legge’s full interview

Practice was halted briefly just 13 minutes in after reigning Road America winner Jeremy Clements struggled coming out of Turn 5 and forced a red flag. The No. 51 Chevrolet looked to have had a flat tire and was towed off the track. He returned to the track with just minutes left in practice.

Ty Majeski made a big save late in practice after losing control of the No. 60 Ford in the kink. A red flag was thrown as piles of dirt had been thrown onto the track. It was his second spin of the day.

“Definitely feel lucky,” Majeski told NBC Sports.

All eyes were on NASCAR Hall of Famer Bill Elliott as he made 15 laps around Road America in the No. 23 GMS Racing Chevrolet. The 62-year-old driver was 26th-fastest after a 137.751 mph best lap.

Reddick shows the way in quiet, damp opening practice

Only two drivers went on track in opening NASCAR Xfinity practice on Friday at Road America thanks to wet weather conditions in Wisconsin. Most drivers decided to stay parked in the garage area in hopes conditions would be drier for final practice.

Tyler Reddick was the first driver to take the 4.048-mile road course during the 50-minute session, and he went off the track in Turn 12 and slid his car in the sand pit. Reddick told NBC Sports that the No. 9 JR Motorsports Chevrolet sustained splitter damage.

RELATED: Practice 1 results

IndyCar’s Conor Daly, who is making his Xfinity debut in the No. 6 Roush Fenway Racing Ford, also got out on track for his first experience in practice conditions driving a NASCAR stock car.

Hall of Famer Bill Elliott did not go out on track, but was present as he prepared to return to the Xfinity Series in the No. 23 GMS Racing Chevrolet.