Full weekend schedule for Sonoma, Gateway

Posted on June 17, 2018June 24, 2018 by Staff Report

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series heads to Sonoma Raceway, while the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will compete at Gateway Motorsports Park. Check out the full schedule below, subject to change.

Note: All times are ET

Sunday, June 24
PRE-RACE: SONOMA
2:54:00 p.m.: Presentation of Colors: Cal Fire Honor Guard
2:54:20 p.m.: Invocation by: Tim Boeve, Track Minister
2:54:45 p.m.: Intro National Anthem
2:55:00 p.m.: National Anthem by: Broadway Under The Stars in Sonoma Valley, Transcendence’s Meggie Cansler
2:56:40 p.m.: Fly-By TOT: (2) F-15C 173rd Fighter Wing, Kingsley Field in Southern Oregon (Turn 11 to Turn 7)
3:01:40 p.m.: “Drivers, Start Your Engines” by: Jonny Moseley & TBD Toyota Exec.
3:13:40 p.m.: Start of the Toyota/Save Mart 350 (110 Laps, 218.9 Miles)

ON TRACK: SONOMA
3 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Toyota/Save Mart 350 (110 laps, 218.9 miles), FS1, (Canada: TSN 1, 3) (Results)

LIVE EVENTS (Watch live)
11:30 a.m.: Trackside Live (Guests include Clint Bowyer and Hailie Deegan)

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

Friday, June 22
ON TRACK: SONOMA
2:40-3:55 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice, FS1, (Canada: TSN GO) (Results)
5:40-6:55 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series final practice, FS1, (Canada: TSN 2) (Results)

PRESS PASS (Watch live)
1:30 p.m.: Kyle Larson
1:45 p.m.: Clint Bowyer
4:30 p.m.: Denny Hamlin
4:45 p.m.: Matt DiBenedetto

ON TRACK: GATEWAY
6:15-6:40 p.m.: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series practice, No TV (Results)
7:35-8:25 p.m.: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series practice, FS2 (Results)

Saturday, June 23
ON TRACK: SONOMA
2:45 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Busch Pole Award qualifying, FS1, (Canada: TSN 2) (Results)

PRESS PASS (Watch live)
3:45 p.m.: Post-Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series qualifying

ON TRACK: GATEWAY
12-1 p.m.: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series final practice, No TV (Results)
5:45 p.m.: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series pole qualifying (tape delayed airing on FS1 at 7 p.m. ET) (Results)
8:30 p.m.: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Villa Lighting delivers the Eaton 200, FS1 (160 laps, 200 miles), FS1 (Results)

Posted on June 17, 2018 by Staff Report

It’s an image that tells a love story. Davey Allison, a huge grin, lifting son Robbie Allison high into the sky. Both full of smiles, both full of life, just like Davey himself.

It’s a prized possession now for Robbie, 26, who was not yet 2 years old when his father died following a tragic helicopter accident in 1993.

“I have (a favorite picture) that I try to post (on social media) every once in a while,” Allison said in a recent interview. “I was probably about … 18 months old. I don’t know what the track is, but my dad’s in his fire suit, and he’s just lifting me up straight over his head in the air next to his car. The look on my face is just absolute happiness.”

The picture, long a favorite, added even deeper meaning to Robbie Allison when his son, Theo, was born.

“I think that’s just one of those father-son moments, especially as a young child that really develops that bond between a father and a son,” Robbie said. “I experienced it myself with my own son, so I know that that’s always been my favorite picture of me and my dad.”

Posted on June 16, 2018 by Staff Report

The race started with Harrison Burton on the pole for the first time in his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series career and ended with his career-best third-place finish in the series. And in between, there was some adversity for the 17-year-old driver of the No. 51 Kyle Busch Motorsports Toyota to overcome in Saturday’s M&M’s 200 at Iowa Speedway.

The pole position was the first in 10 Truck Series starts for the son of 21-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series winner and NASCAR on NBC analyst Jeff Burton. The younger Burton led the first 30 laps of the race — his first laps out front in the series — and finished Stage 1 in third. However, a throttle issue under the caution triggered by the stage break after Lap 60 brought the driver down pit road while it was closed resulting in a penalty that saw him have to start at the tail end of the field. The 2017 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East champion owned up to the mistake after the race.

“I made a mistake and didn’t know how to reset the car once it was turned off, the ECU — the computer,” Burton said after the race.

The elements also made for a factor as it was a hot day into night at the 0.875-mile track in Newton, Iowa. That was further complicated by a cool box that Burton said “wasn’t working very well. It was more of a hot box.”

The Huntersville, North Carolina, native proceeded to drive up to sixth by the end of Stage 2 on Lap 120 and late in the race, found himself in position to capitalize should eventual race winner Brett Moffitt or teammate Noah Gragson slip up or get into each other. That position also gave Burton a pretty good view of a fantastic finish.

“I was trying all I could to make something happen,” Burton said. “I kind of had the same idea Noah did. I was just further back. That’s what it’s all about right there. The ability to say ‘I don’t care if I hit the wall, I’m going to try and win this race.’ That’s something that you can’t teach. Hats off to Noah for trying it. It reminded me of Carl Edwards back in the day.”

All said, though, the third-place finish was Burton’s second top five of the year and third top 10 in as many starts. He said he will not be back behind the wheel for KBM until the Bristol race on Thursday, Aug. 16.

“I’m proud of our effort,” Burton said. “We had a great truck all weekend. I thought this was ours to lose and I lost it, so I’ll move on, get better, and see what we’ve got next time. I’m excited.”

Posted on June 16, 2018June 16, 2018 by Staff Report

NEWTON, Iowa — Heat and humidity. Three-wide action. One race-changing wreck — and a rousing triumph for a local favorite.

The wild, competitive and unpredictable M&M’s 200 Saturday at Iowa Speedway certainly showcased the drama the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series delivers from week-to-week. But once the dust settled and the sun sank low in the sky, a relative sense of calm swept over speedway veteran Brett Moffitt.

Why relative?

Because Moffitt — who grew up on Iowa dirt tracks before climbing NASCAR’s ranks — had to hold off a hard-charging Noah Gragson in a furious finish that featured sparks from Gragson’s No. 18 after a failed last-gasp slingshot attempt sent him into the wall as the Iowan sailed under the checkered flag.

“This is everything,” said Moffitt, who led the final 76 laps. “Being in my home state on Father’s Day weekend — my dad has done everything for me in my career and been my rock my whole life.”

Gragson still took second and polesitter Harrison Burton surged through adversity to take third.

“Video game style racing there,” Gragson said. “It’s fun racing at this track. I drove it in there. … just overshot a little bit.”

Burton nabbed his career-best finish in the Truck Series with the third-place result. The 17-year-old earned the first pole position of his NASCAR national series career — in just his 10th career start in the series — and led the first 30 laps of the M&M’s 200. Burton finished Stage 1 third, but had to pit for a throttle issue under caution at the end of the stage that caused him to lose all his track position and start Stage 2 at the back of lead-lap cars. Burton would rebound to finish Stage 2 in sixth.

There were shots, knocks, and seismic shifts through the three-stage 200-lap event.

The race’s complexion changed completely when a crash on Lap 135 doomed four top contenders. Coming out of Turn 4, Matt Crafton’s left front tire went flat, causing his No. 88 truck to slide up the track. He then collided with John Hunter Nemechek — last year’s race winner at Iowa — who had also won Stage 1 of the race. Crafton’s ThorSport Racing teammate Ben Rhodes also sustained big damage to his truck in the wreck. Stage 2 winner Stewart Friesen was caught up in the aftermath but avoided major damage.

“There’s really nothing you can do there,” Nemechek said after being evaluated and released from the infield care center. “I hate it for all my guys. … We were really fast.”

WATCH: Big wreck hinders several contenders

And that incident set the stage for Moffitt, of Grimes, Iowa — about a 45-minute drive from the speedway — to thrive in clean air as Gragson and Burton eventually chased him down within passing distance.

Moffitt prevailed, though, earning his second win of the season. He also gained ground on Gragson in the point standings. Johnny Sauter — who settled for fifth — leads Gragson by 71 points. Moffitt’s another 14 points back in third place in the standings.

The Camping World Truck Series will be in action next weekend at Gateway Motorsports Park for the Villa Lighting delivers the Eaton 200 presented by CK Power (Sat. June 23 at 8:30 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

Contributing: Staff reports

Posted on June 16, 2018June 16, 2018 by Staff Report

Harrison Burton earned his first pole of the 2018 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and the first pole of his NASCAR national series career. Click the print button for the speeds from the qualifying session.

Lineup for Iowa:
1. Harrison Burton
2. Matt Crafton
3. Noah Gragson
4. Todd Gilliland
5. Stewart Friesen
6. Justin Haley
7. Johnny Sauter
8. John Hunter Nemechek
9. Christian Eckes
10. Dalton Sargeant
11. Ben Rhodes
12. David Gilliland
13. Jesse Little
14. Cody Coughlin
15. Grant Enfinger
16. Brett Moffitt
17. Myatt Snider
18. Austin Hill
19. Austin Wayne Self
20. Reid Wilson
21. Joe Nemechek
22. Tanner Thorson
23. Jordan Anderson
24. Ross Chastain
25. J.J. Yeley
26. Cory Roper
27. Justin Fontaine
28. Wendell Chavous
29. Bayley Currey
30. Norm Benning
31. Jennifer Jo Cobb
32. Bobby Reuse

Posted on June 16, 2018June 16, 2018 by Staff Report

Rookie Kaz Grala led the way in the final NASCAR Xfinity Series practice at Iowa Speedway. Grala got around the Newton, Iowa short track with a fast lap of 130.052 mph in his No. 61 Fury Motorsports Ford. Iowa marks the fourth start for Grala with Fury.

Tyler Reddick (129.449 mph) placed second in the 50-minute session in his No. 9 JR Motorsports Chevrolet. Daniel Hemric (129.263 mph) came home third in the No. 21 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet. Justin Allgaier (129.225 mph) and Austin Cindric (129.178 mph) completed the top five.

Christopher Bell topped the opening practice on Saturday and finished the final session in ninth. Bell led 152 laps in this race — under the lights — last year. Points leader Elliott Sadler came in 13th in the session.

Bell tops the board in opening practice

Rookie Christopher Bell rushed the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 20 Toyota to a 129.790 mph lap around Iowa Speedway, an .875-mile track, in the day’s opening NASCAR Xfinity Series practice. The 50-minute session was the first on-track activity for the series in preparation for Sunday’s Iowa 250 presented by Enogen (5 p.m. ET, FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

Daniel Hemric was second-fastest, recording a 129.656 mph lap in the Richard Childress Racing No. 21 Chevrolet. Shane Lee, series points leader Elliott Sadler and Cole Custer completed the top five on the leaderboard.

A pair of 19-year-old drivers will be making their Xfinity Series debut in Sunday’s 250-lapper. Justin Haley was the fastest among them, turning in the sixth-fastest lap in the GMS Racing No. 23 Chevrolet. Riley Herbst, the other first-timer, was 16th-fastest in the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 18 Toyota.

Xfinity Series qualifying is scheduled Sunday at 2:35 p.m. ET (FS2).

Posted on June 16, 2018June 16, 2018 by Staff Report

Harrison Burton surged atop the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series leaderboard in Saturday morning’s final practice at Iowa Speedway.

The 17-year-old Burton, prepping for his 10th career Truck Series start, posted a fast lap of 134.202 mph in the Kyle Busch Motorsports No. 51 Toyota, taking over the speed charts with just over a minute left in the 50-minute session. His lap edged out second-fastest Dalton Sargeant, a 20-year-old rookie who drove the GMS Racing No. 25 Chevrolet to a best lap of 133.849 mph.

RELATED: Final practice results

Series points leader Johnny Sauter (133.378 mph in another GMS entry) was third-fastest in the final tune-up for Saturday’s M&M’s 200 (7 p.m. ET, FS1, MRN, SiriusXM) on the .875-mile track. Stewart Friesen (133.074) and rookie Todd Gilliland (132.917) completed the top five.

GMS Racing’s Justin Haley, who led opening Truck Series practice, was sixth-quickest at 132.794 mph.

Rookie Justin Fontaine was involved in the only incident in the session, crunching the Turn 3 wall with 16 minutes left on the clock. He drove his No. 45 Chevrolet back to the garage with significant right-rear damage.

The Copp Motorsports No. 83 Chevrolet for driver Bayley Currey served a 15-minute penalty at the end of practice because the team was late to inspection in the series’ most recent race at Texas Motor Speedway.

Qualifying for the 200-lap race is scheduled Saturday at 4:30 p.m. ET (FS2).

Haley makes early show of speed in Iowa

Justin Haley topped the leaderboard in Saturday’s first Camping World Truck Series practice at Iowa Speedway at 134.294 mph in the No. 24 GMS Racing Chevrolet.

MORE: Full practice results

Right behind him was Cody Coughlin in the No. 2 GMS Racing Chevrolet at 134.248 mph.

Rounding out the top five were Brett Moffitt in the No. 16 Toyota, Dalton Sargeant in the No. 25 Chevrolet and Todd Gilliland in the No. 4 Toyota.

Series points leader Johnny Sauter, who has won four of the series’ eight races this season, was ninth fastest with a speed of 132.292 mph in the No. 21 GMS Racing Chevrolet.

MORE: Full Iowa schedule

Posted on June 16, 2018June 16, 2018 by Staff Report

Kasey Kahne will have a new crew chief starting next weekend at Sonoma Raceway, Leavine Family Racing announced on Saturday morning.

The Concord, North Carolina-based team has named Jon Leonard as the interim crew chief of the No. 95 Camaro ZL1 driven by veteran driver in a personnel change effective immediately for the organization.

RELATED: Kasey Kahne stats

Leonard has served as the team’s lead engineer in the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and also served as the team’s interim crew chief for the final five races of the 2017 season.

He replaces Travis Mack atop the box. Mack, who crew-chiefed two races for Dale Earnhardt Jr. for his No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet in 2017, was in his first year as a full-time crew chief after serving as an engineer for HMS.

In 15 races this season, Kahne has no top-10 finishes and is averaging a career-worst finish of 24.0. He has led 13 laps, 11 of which came in last weekend’s event at Michigan International Speedway.

Posted on June 15, 2018September 6, 2019 by Kathy Sheldon

Austin Dillon and fellow Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers are helping to honor military spouses as part of the NASCAR Salutes Refreshed by Coca-Cola program, and he recently interviewed Shelia Brookins. Brookins is the 2018 Armed Forces Insurance National Guard Military Spouse of the Year, who describes herself as a “proud wife of a Kentucky National Guard (KYARNG) soldier.”

“We have been blessed to raise a squadron over the years, and we are all the better for them,” Brookins says.

RELATED: Hamlin interviews Jolynn Lee

Brookins told Dillon that she doesn’t think she has ever spent her husband’s June birthday or Father’s Day with him because National Guard training is in June every year. She also told him being a military spouse requires patience, faith and resilience.

“I’m not the most patient person, I’d have to learn that,” said Dillon, driver of the No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet. “But I know faith is key!”

Brookins believes that being in a family with other spouses is crucial for helping military families succeed and admires the USO’s Pathfinder program, which helps servicemembers and military spouses as they transition from deployments and service into new communities. The program also supports military spouses at any point in their military journey as they transition from one installation to the next.

“A lot of the National Guard soldiers joined during 9/11 and the only thing they know is war,” Brookins explained. “These individuals have a hard time adjusting to civilian living.”

On behalf of Shelia, NASCAR & Coca-Cola will donate to USO programming that supports and strengthens military spouses, like the USO Pathfinder^SM program.

The USO Pathfinder program helps servicemembers and military spouses plan for what’s next and connects them with the services, opportunities and resources that are the best fit for their successful transition to civilian life. USO staff members called Scouts guide families 12 months before their transition out of the military and up to 12 months after the servicemember’s date of separation. They work one-on-one with individuals, creating an action plan that connects veterans and families with services and opportunities.

Brookins says it means a lot to her that NASCAR and Coca-Cola are working with the USO to honor spouses and recognize the sacrifices they make and the work they do.

“It’s an awesome opportunity, just putting military spouses out there so other military spouse know they’re not alone. By NASCAR doing this it allows other spouses to know there are connections they can make,” Brookins said. “If they’re feeling lonely or feeling afraid, it’s OK because you’re not alone. …”

“It matters because it shows that they know that what they’re doing is not in vain. … For NASCAR, for Coca-Cola to show (families) how much you all appreciate us, not just our spouses, but what we do — it makes a big difference. It lets us know that somebody knows we’re trying to make a difference.”

Through the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona, Coca-Cola Racing Family drivers will honor a military spouse each week. Stay tuned as Ryan Newman, Kyle Larson, Joey Logano and Bubba Wallace each interview a military spouse to help share their respective stories.

Posted on June 15, 2018June 15, 2018 by Holly Cain

Johnny Sauter laughs a little and insists he’s even more focused on winning races after hoisting four trophies in a historic and tremendous start to the 2018 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season.

Sauter enters Saturday night’s M&M’s 200 at Iowa Speedway (7 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) full of confidence and in the midst of career-best run of success.

If it feels to NASCAR fans as if Sauter is winning every other week, it is because … he essentially is. He has scored four victories through the first eight races of the season. Going back to last season, he has six wins in the last 11 races. Only fellow former Truck Series champions Kyle Busch and Mike Skinner have won four of the opening eight races in a season.

“So far, so good, but a long way to go,” Sauter allowed with a slight laugh.

The just-turned 40-year-old is clearly and understandably happy with the quick start to the season, but is equally focused on continuing the theme. Listening to him talk about the success in his No. 21 ISM Connect Chevrolet for GMS Racing, it’s easy to hear the seriousness with which he takes his title hopes.

“Obviously wins are great and you try to enjoy them, but for me, my wife tells me all the time, I should enjoy it, but I just start thinking about the next race,” Sauter explained. “It’s great and obviously I’m very proud of everything that’s gone on this year. But we still have a long way to go. Hopefully we can continue on the path we’re on.”

And yes, in a series where so many young racers come to start their NASCAR careers and establish their name on the big time racing marquee, Sauter said there is some special pride in his trophy haul considering he celebrated his 40th birthday on May 1st.

Sauter’s latest victory, last weekend at Texas Motor Speedway, for example, came by him winning a three-lap shootout in the final laps over pole sitter Stewart Friesen, who has had a strong season of his own, and his 19-year old GMS Racing teammate Justin Haley.

“There’s something to be said for being an older guy and having success for sure,” Sauter said. “So much of the sport is focused on the youth so it makes you feel good.

“I think experience is a key factor in all of this and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I was asked the other day about the young guys and I said I was perfectly content being a 40-year-old and having the experience that I have.”

The 2016 Camping World Truck Series champion, Sauter certainly likes his GMS Racing team’s pace and attitude. Sauter’s four victories already equal a career-high season win total that he set last season. And there are still 15 races remaining in 2018.

RELATED: Sauter’s career statistics

“I think honestly, when I take a look at GMS as an organization, and the effort put forth and the amount of people working here and the people that are working here, it doesn’t surprise me,” Sauter said. “I think every race car driver feels he can win on any given weekend, that’s why they do it. So to get to this point, we’re just executing and it’s all working out.

“Having success and running well doesn’t surprise me. Maybe winning Charlotte surprised me because that’s been a thorn in my side. But it’s nice to see a lot of effort being put in and that paying off.”

Sauter’s season-opening success will have a solid summer test. He’s still looking for his first win at three of the next four tracks on the schedule. But he’s come real close to Victory Lane before.

At this week’s stop, the 7/8-mile Iowa Speedway, Sauter has seven top-five finishes in 11 starts, including two runner-up finishes. He was second in 2017.

At Gateway Motorsports Park in Madison, Ill., he has never finished worse than fourth place in six career starts. He was third last year and was the runner-up in 2009.

He is the defending winner at Chicagoland Speedway where the trucks race after Gateway. And at the next venue on the schedule, Kentucky Speedway, Sauter has two pole positions, finished in the top 10 in three of the last four races and again, has a best showing of runner-up – in 2010.

“As I look down the road, the only track that really has my attention is Eldora [July 18],” Sauter said of the Ohio dirt track. “I’m not a dirt racer, never claimed to be. I think we can have a solid night, I just don’t feel like I’ll be knocking on the door for the win. But you never know and with the way things are going, maybe we’ll hit on something.

“I know when we go to the race track everyone will do their best and how it shakes out, is how it shakes out. And these guys are pretty hungry.

“In my opinion, I’m just realistic. I’ve been racing a long time and I know things can turn in a hurry and this is a very humbling sport.

“But it’s important to enjoy it while it’s happening but it’s also important to not let your guard down, and to keep digging. That’s going to be my approach.”