Posted on by Chase Wilhelm

Race-car drivers will make anything into a race. Literally, anything.

On the latest edition of the “Dale Jr. Download” on Dirty Mo Radio, Dale Earnhardt Jr. recounted the time when he raced Brad Keselowski to a port-a-john while waiting out an extended red-flag period during the 2012 Daytona 500 (yes, the Juan Pablo Montoya-jet dryer one).

As it turns out, Earnhardt was behind the race within the race.

“He started walking to the port-a-john and I thought, man, that’s a good idea,” Earnhardt said. “Where’s this port-a-john at? I got to looking and saw where it was and I kind of jogged up behind him (Keselowski) quietly, tapped him on the shoulder and said, ‘Race ya!’ ”

“We started running and with those long legs, man … I thought I had him beat. He had me beat, actually, but we got to the port-a-john and I had to give him the shoulder. I put the bumper to him and pushed him by where he overran the port-a-john.”

Earnhardt may have collected his first “unofficial” victory of the 2012 season, but it came at a cost.

“At this point, my heart is literally pounding out of my chest and I’m almost embarrassed about how out of breath I am,” Earnhardt recalled. “So I go into the port-a-john and stood there for five minutes before I ever took a leak to catch my breath. Like, holy moly, I can’t let anybody see how terrible I feel.”

And, of course, there’s video of it all.

Posted on by RJ Kraft

Numbers mean plenty when it comes to building out your Fantasy Live teams each week. NASCAR.com will examine the stats outlook for each track in advance to help give you an edge as you set your lineups and bonus picks ahead of the race weekend.

Don’t forget to check back on NASCAR.com for additional insight from fantasy expert RJ Kraft, and watch Fantasy Fastlane with Jessica Ruffin and NBC Sports’ Steve Letarte for even more advice.

RELATED: Play Fantasy Live now | How the new Fantasy Live works | Driver stats

Top five average running position (per loop data from 2005 to present):

Driver Average Running Position
Kurt Busch 9.960
Jimmie Johnson 11.428
Kyle Larson 12.834
Kevin Harvick 13.538
Ryan Newman 14.062

Top five in stage points earned at Sonoma in 2017:

Driver Stage points Stage wins
Denny Hamlin 13 0
Ryan Blaney 11 0
Joey Logano 11 0
Martin Truex Jr. 10 1
Jimmie Johnson 10 1

Top five in points earned at Sonoma in last two years:

Driver Race points Race win
Denny Hamlin 87 0
Kevin Harvick 76 1
Joey Logano 74 0
Brad Keselowski 69 0
Kyle Busch 67 0

Most laps led in last two races at Sonoma:

Driver Laps led
Denny Hamlin 44
Kevin Harvick 27
Martin Truex Jr. 25
AJ Allmendinger 24
Brad Keselowski 17

Average starting position for last 10 winners: 10.5; five of last seven winners started between 10th and 14th.

Active drivers to win pole: Jamie McMurray (3), Kasey Kahne (2), Kurt Busch (1), Joey Logano (1), Kyle Larson (1), AJ Allmendinger (1)

Active drivers to win at Sonoma: Kyle Busch (2), Jimmie Johnson (1), Kevin Harvick (1), Kasey Kahne (1), Kurt Busch (1), Clint Bowyer (1), Martin Truex Jr. (1)

Most recent pole winner: Kyle Larson, June of 2017

Last time pole-sitter won here: Jeff Gordon, June of 2004

Where stage winners started from: Third, 24th

Winning manufacturers of last 10 races: Toyota-4, Ford-2, Chevrolet-2, Dodge-2

Posted on by Chase Wilhelm

While on vacation with family in the U.S. Virgin Islands, NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Jeb Burton had more plans than just soaking up the sun.

Burton, son of 2002 Daytona 500 champion Ward Burton and nephew of 21-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series winner Jeff Burton, proposed to longtime girlfriend Brandi Newcomb.

Burton has competed in two Xfinity Series events so far this season in the No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, finishing 12th at both Richmond and Dover.

Posted on by Pat DeCola

Apparently the partying from Clint Bowyer’s win two Sundays ago at Michigan International Speedway has finally subsided and the affable Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver has run out of things to do, having not raced in the past week and a half.

MORE: Bowyer wins rain-shortened Michigan

So, why not spend some QT with the ol’ boy and try their hand at drawing the winding, 12-turn Sonoma Raceway, site of Sunday’s Toyota/Save Mart 350 (3 p.m. ET, FS1)?

Honestly … not bad! Much better than I could do, anyway.

Now let’s see you two kick the difficulty level up a notch and draw Martinsville Speedway. Good luck.

Posted on by Steve Luvender

The launch of the eNASCAR Ignite Series headlined this week’s iRacing news. The new series, aimed at developing young racing talent, kicks off June 20 at the virtual Charlotte Motor Speedway Legends Oval.

JP Motorsports NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Josh Bilicki logged some laps on iRacing in advance of last weekend’s race at Iowa Speedway.

While Bilicki looked quick on the virtual track, his real race Sunday ended early with a fuel pump issue.

Fellow Xfinity Series racer Shane Lee showed how he gets around the tricky short track using the Richard Childress Racing iRacing setup.

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver William Byron shared why he continues to hop on iRacing throughout the week when he’s not racing for his day job with Hendrick Motorsports.

Not only can iRacing help drivers stay sharp, it gives drivers the ability to learn new tracks and racing disciplines, according to Dale Earnhardt Jr. — something vital when NASCAR heads to normally unfamiliar road courses.

What sets iRacing apart from team- and manufacturer-funded simulators is the human element. There’s no substitute for racing against other humans.


NASCAR PEAK ANTIFREEZE IRACING SERIES UPDATE

After a two-race absence, Ryan Luza returned to the track and won his third race of the season Tuesday in Michigan — but not without controversy.

Luza, in pursuit of Ray Alfalla in the closing laps, put a bumper to Alfalla’s Ford, sending it into the wall, while Luza never looked back and took the checkered flag ahead of Zack Novak and Keegan Leahy. Marcus Richardson and Michael Guest rounded out the top five.

Alfalla, the three-time series champion, ended up finishing sixth, and remains in control of the points lead by 36 points over Keegan Leahy.

The NASCAR PEAK Antifreeze iRacing Series heads to the twists and turns of Sonoma Raceway June 26, where Bobby Zalenski looks to defend his 2017 victory.

IRACING PAINT SCHEMES OF THE WEEK

Jordan E. brought Justin Allgaier’s Breyers 2in1 Xfinity Series Camaro to the virtual track.

If you’re into throwbacks, Riley Roush rebuilt Paul Menard’s 2007 paint scheme to life for iRacing’s K&N Pro Series-style cars.

 

DON’T TRY THIS AT HOME

Take a ride with NASCAR PEAK Antifreeze iRacing Series driver Nolan Scott when his Ford flips on its roof after a crash unfolds ahead in last Tuesday’s race at Michigan.

Thank goodness it’s a lot less expensive to call a virtual tow truck instead of a real one.

Posted on by Staff Report

Organizers for the Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America announced Tuesday that this year’s edition raised $1.3 million for the Victory Junction Camp for children with chronic or life-threatening illnesses.

RELATED: Kyle Petty Charity Ride carries ‘Americana’ theme

This year’s Ride, the 24th edition of the charity fundraiser, wound roughly 1,200 miles from Maine to North Carolina over seven days, ending with a May 11 celebration at the camp in Randleman. Several figures from the NASCAR community rode along, lending their support to Petty’s philanthropic mission.

The tour visited a pair of NASCAR tracks — New Hampshire Motor Speedway and Pocono Raceway — along the way. Petty indicated that the New Hampshire stop was particularly emotional; his son, Adam, lost his life at the track in May 2000.

“From lapping the track at New Hampshire to our homecoming at Victory Junction, this year’s Ride was a little bittersweet,” Petty said in a news release. “It was more emotional for me this year than past Rides because we ended at Camp. I’ve said it a million times – when I see a camper, I see Adam in their smile and I know he’s still here with us. And there were campers everywhere as we pulled into Camp.”

Funds from the charity ride have directly benefited Victory Junction since its opening in 2004. The camp, which is open year-round to benefit medically fragile children, was founded to honor the memory of Adam Petty.

Seven-time NASCAR champion Richard Petty participated in this year’s ride. joining legends Harry Gant, Donnie Allison, Ricky Craven and Hershel McGriff. Other celebrities offering their support: Front Row Motorsports’ David Ragan, Heisman Trophy winners Herschel Walker and George Rogers, and NBC Sports colleagues Krista Voda, Rutledge Wood and Rick Allen.

Posted on by George Winkler

The 1970s were great for hairstyles, high-collared shirts and those rare family photos that people stuck in books called photo albums, which are still wonderful to look through for those lucky enough to have a few laying around the house.

What the 70s weren’t great for were home mortgage rates, but you cannot tell that hardship by looking at Dale Earnhardt in this photo from 1975. Dale Jr. posted the picture from his aunt on Instagram, and it’s one we haven’t seen before — have fun trying to figure out what the occasion was that made ‘The Intimidator’ let down his guard.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BkL_h67nt5W/?hl=en&taken-by=dalejr

Posted on by Zack Albert

Five Monster Energy Series drivers and three NASCAR Next prospects are entered in Saturday’s NASCAR K&N Pro Series West event at Sonoma Raceway.

RELATED: Entry list | Sonoma schedule

A total of 31 cars are on the preliminary entry list, revealed Monday ahead of the Carneros 250. Two drivers are still to be announced. The NASCAR premier-series regulars participating are:

  • Erik Jones, in the No. 20 Toyota owned by David Gilliland
  • Alex Bowman, in the No. 24 Chevrolet from the Bill McAnally Racing stables
  • William Byron, in the No. 27 Chevy owned by Jerry Pitts
  • Aric Almirola, in a No. 41 Ford with Tony Stewart listed as the car owner of record
  • Daniel Suarez, in the No. 54 Toyota also owned by David Gilliland

Those five should benefit from extra track time ahead of Sunday’s Toyota/Save Mart 350 (3 p.m. ET, FS1, PRN, SiriusXM).

Three drivers in the current NASCAR Next class will also suit up for the sixth K&N West race of the season. Among those is Will Rodgers, who won the pole for the Sonoma race last year before finishing a close second to Kevin Harvick.

Other K&N regulars in the Next program who are scheduled to compete: Derek Kraus, winner of the West season opener and a three-time pole winner already this year; and Hailie Deegan, who has finished in the top 10 in all five K&N West races this season.

Posted on by Staff Report

Making his NASCAR national series debut in the Xfinity Series, Riley Herbst wasted no time turning heads. The 19-year-old Las Vegas native scored a sixth-place finish in his maiden voyage in the series behind the wheel of the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota.

“It was cool,” Herbst said after the race. “I came here to learn as much as I possibly could and I feel like I did that. We came home sixth. I would have liked a top five but all in all it was a good day, I thought.”

RELATED: Full race results | Race recap of Iowa 250

Herbst qualified ninth for the race and spent the bulk of the afternoon in the top 10. A speeding penalty entering the pits on Lap 201 was the lone misstep of the day for the young driver and one that he chalked up to inexperience. Yet, he was able to rally back for the top-10 result.

“That was kind of frustrating because I feel like we got pushed into that speeding penalty,” Herbst said. “I’ve never done anything like this in this series but I guess that’s what you do to get other people to speed.

“I knew that we sped. We got all the way back to 18th, driving back up to sixth (in the final 46 laps). I thought that was just a testament to our team on how good the car was all day.”

RELATED: Get to know the NASCAR Next Class |  NASCAR Next Class of 2018 announced

Herbst is in his second year of the NASCAR Next youth initiative. Before the season, Kyle Busch Motorsports announced that Herbst would participate in two Camping World Truck Series races later this year with the first scheduled to come on Saturday night at Gateway Motorsports Park.

“I’m really excited,” Herbst said. “Gateway is a super unique track. It’s another short track but totally different from Iowa Speedway with the flat ends on each end. I know everybody at Kyle Busch Motorsports will give me a great No. 51 truck.”

Posted on by @nascarcasm

“Dale And Amy: Renovation Realities” Episode 3 on the DIY Network! – IT BECOMES CLEAR THAT THE HOUSE WAS ONCE BASICALLY A TWO-STORY LITTERBOX FOR CATS. ALSO, MORE SHIPLAP.

With every episode, it’s become apparent that this house either once belonged to the official Crazy Cat Lady of Key West. Or maybe it was the other way around — maybe there were so many cats in there that they owned a lady. Either way, the amount of cat waste they find every episode is a feat unto itself. Tear a wall board away — CAT WASTE. Open a cupboard — CAT WASTE. Hell I think Dale might have found some in the pocket of his cargo shorts at one point. But we need a reality series down the road on the day that the cats of Key West, livid that this highfalutin’ ginger done come into their two-story cat commune and claimed eminent domain, exact revenge.

RELATED: Recap of Episode 1 | Episode 2

FIRST SEGMENT

  • They notice the railing on the staircase is way too short. The best way to determine ifyour railing is too short for the average person is for JR Motorsports drivers Tyler Reddick and Justin Allgaier to come by and tell you, “Looks fine to me.”
  • Ooooooooooo termites. This house has hit for the vermin cycle — termites, maggots, rats and scorpions. GOD I wish they’d have Denny Hamlin over. I bet he’s scared crapless of all those things. Picture a deleted scene of Denny dashing Forrest-Gump style out of the house and down U.S. 1.
  • Dale Jr. sure does sweat profusely. Like, all the way through the shirt. Prayers up to anyone who owns a race-worn firesuit of his.
  • HAAAAAAAAA a rat. Amy shrieks like I assume Dale does when she chases him around the house with metal earrings.
  • It appears that Amy is wearing ripped jeans. Don’t know if it occurred during demolition or if it’s just her being fashionable. I mean I wouldn’t wear ripped jeans TO a demolition. But Dale’s wearing shorts. As someone who once badly lacerated his ankle with a weed-eater, this just causes concern for me.
  • They just threw out a perfectly good toilet. I mean maybe it didn’t work and maybe it reeked of mildew and bilge water but at least take that home and create a new toilet graveyard on your property next to all the wrecked cars.
  • MORE cat crap. Somewhere on the island a bunch of cats are pissed off to no end that some damn ginger has commandeered their giant two-story litterbox.

SECOND SEGMENT

  • They’re now discussing the foreman of the project, Ron. Calls him “The Richard Petty of building houses.” Which is a huge coincidence considering Richard Petty has been known for years as “The Ron The Foreman of NASCAR.”
  • Dale does NOT go with Amy to the tile store. Very nice of her to not make him go. Awesome. He needs to marry that girl.
  • TILES HAVE BEEN SELECTED. They’re nice. I can’t go into much more detail. I don’t know anything about tile. When a couple is working on a home-improvement project, there are battles worth fighting, and then there are “Sure, hon” items. This is one of them.
  • Amy says she’s gonna put Dale to work when they get home, building a dollhouse or a swing set for the little one. Who needs a swing set or a dollhouse when you have rust-covered car carcasses to play in?
  • OH MAN they’re gonna hang drywall. Amy says “We have no clue what we’re doing.” TAKIN’ A BIG SWING AT THE SETUP HERE. OH DAMMIT, COMMERCIAL. DRYWALL CLIFFHANGER.

THIRD SEGMENT

  • OH Dale’s rocking the tool belt now. That’s like a rite of passage like earning a black belt in karate.
  • Dale says working with drywall reminds him of fabricating metal for cars. Really? Have you ever gotten really mad and punched a hole through sheet metal? No. That’s why drywall rules.
  • “I want to be busy, even if I’m not doing it right.” Quote of the show by Dale. Take notice, Mr. Foreman. That’s his philosophy. Be like “OK Dale what I need you to do today is walk down the street and look for four-leaf clovers while Amy and I work.”
  • AWWWWWWWWWW SHIPLAP IS BACK. This house is like 40 percent shiplap. Still not sure what it is but it’s a fun word to say. #PuttinUpThatThereShiplap
  • They left a couple of time capsules in the wall — a toy car with a note and a coconut bra. So years from now if someone renovates this house, they’ll find those. Pretty awesome. God I hope they’re discovered. And whoever finds them thinks they both belong to Dale.

FOURTH SEGMENT

  • They are putting in a pedestal bathtub and put the legs on wrong. Bring it back in Dale, they put the right sides on the left and the left sides on the right.
  • Is it too much schadenfreude to wish they hadn’t noticed the mistake. Just picture someone soaking in that tub and it flips over dumping gallons of water and its inhabitant out on the floor.
  • Oh man Dale saying “Nyull post” is giving my life force a boost.
  • Design-wise they seem to be paying homage to its previous look by using some of the original wood and doors in the renovation, but they have yet to re-use a single cat turd, which I find disrespectful.