Posted on by Zack Albert

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Ricky Stenhouse Jr. was prominently featured in the driver meeting before Saturday night’s Coke Zero Sugar 400 as the race’s defending champion. Despite finishing 17th — matching his car number — he was still front and center post-race with his involvement in five of the race’s eight crashes.

Stenhouse was the instigator in a pair of the multi-car incidents that thinned the field in Stage 2, but he said afterward that he didn’t feel he needed to mend fences with any of his fellow drivers after a chaos-filled night at Daytona International Speedway.

MORE: Watch the ‘Big One’ unfold | Kes: Throw bad blocks, I’ll wreck you

“No, it’s aggressive speedway racing,” Stenhouse said. “We needed to win to get in the Playoffs, so it is what it is.”

Stenhouse swept both stages in the Roush Fenway Racing No. 17 Ford to collect a pair of valuable playoff points should he make the postseason, but he left Daytona as the first driver outside of the provisional field of 16. He also left with a handful of drivers upset at him, and officials with his team, the track and NASCAR arranged for a security escort to ensure his safety as he walked through the Monster Energy Series garage.

Most notably dismayed were brothers Kurt and Kyle Busch, both of whom were knocked out in Stage 2 crashes involving Stenhouse. Kurt Busch was the first brother sidelined, swallowed up after Stenhouse made contact with Brad Keselowski, creating a massive Turn 3 stack-up that enveloped nearly half the field.

Busch said after being released from the infield care center that he had to laugh at his fate, minding his own business in a seemingly safe position near the front. Upon further post-race reflection, the elder Busch was more peeved, calling the race a “#StenhouseDD (demolition derby)” and recognizing his position in the points.

The younger Busch was out just 11 laps later after contact with Stenhouse that also ensnared rookie William Byron. “I got hit in the left rear. Same guy that caused the first one caused the second one there,” Kyle Busch said. “That’s very disappointing. He is probably going to be fastest car left – he might win the race.” 

Stenhouse didn’t, though he led six times for a race-high 51 laps with one of the strongest cars in the field.

“It was fun for a while. I was frustrated with myself causing crashes like that,” Stenhouse said. “You don’t ever really want to do that. For us, my car was a lot of fun to drive. Everybody else had a lot of handling issues and my car drove really good and had really good speed, so hats off to Jimmy Fennig (Roush Fenway’s superspeedway program manager) and those guys and (engine builder) Doug Yates. We just didn’t finish it off.”

Posted on by Brad Norman

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — An hour before the biggest race of her life Brehanna Daniels warmed up like she would before any other race. Long lunges behind the pit box to get loose, toe touches to follow.

Breanna O’Leary stacked tires, chatted with her over-the-wall teammates for the No. 51 team and driver Ray Black Jr., and prepped her helmet. In short, the night began as a normal pre-race on this summer evening in Daytona.

Until the green flag dropped. Then the Rick Ware Racing team pit box began to swell with well-wishers, with onlookers, with cameras and photographers as Daniels and O’Leary prepared to pit together and make NASCAR history.

RELATED: Daniels, O’Leary going over the wall at Daytona | More on Daniels

The two women and Drive for Diversity pit crew members — and roommates — both served as tire changers in Saturday night’s Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway. Daniels is believed to be the first African-American woman to compete in a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series event, and two women had never pitted for the same team at NASCAR’s top level.

By the end of the night — after Black Jr. avoided the carnage that impacted so many drivers and finished a reason-to-celebrate 16th — there was barely any time to pause and reflect as the two immediately got to work in helping break down the pit box.

“This is bigger than me. It’s bigger than you,” Daniels said of her Monster Energy Series debut. “I want this to open doors for other little boys and girls who look like me. I want to make a difference.”

Daniels and O’Leary spoke while sweating under the lights, wrapping hoses and putting drills back in the toolbox. They didn’t stop their jobs to give interviews.

It’s a mindset and type of work ethic that has paved the way from the Drive for Diversity Pit Crew combine, to pitting at the NASCAR Xfinity Series level to Saturday night under the lights at the World Center of Racing in one of the biggest races of the season.

“I’ve worked hard,” Daniels said of her ascension. “I think everyone can see what I’m able to do. It’s gone from people not believing in me, but then seeing my journey and seeing how hard I’ve worked, seeing how I’ve improved and seeing me get to this level.”

For O’Leary, it was her third race pitting in the Monster Energy Series. She and Daniels formed a quick friendship soon after meeting and living together in Charlotte, North Carolina.

They spoke of this day often together, and the potential for it to actually happen. Well, it has. No more What if …

“We just knew we had to do what always do,” O’Leary said with a smile. “When we were changing tires, it felt the same as any race. It was having all the people watching that made it feel bigger. We’re OK with that.”

Those folks who came to watch the first pit stop seemed to return en masse once Erik Jones took the checkered flag and the No. 51 was visible just outside the top 15 on the scoring pylon. Some offered congratulations. Some asked for pictures.

Daniels and O’Leary said thank you, and yes.

Then they turned around and got right back to work.

Posted on by Staff Report

Erik Jones’ thrilling win in Saturday night’s Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway marked his first victory in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.

The victory drew praise from the NASCAR industry, notably from Jones’ longtime mentor and former team owner, Kyle Busch.

https://twitter.com/odsteve/status/1015823411287818240

Bubba Wallace also paid Jones a visit in Victory Lane to offer his congratulations in person at Daytona.

 

Posted on by Staff Report

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — In a wild war of attrition that went to two overtimes, Erik Jones outdueled Martin Truex Jr. on Saturday night at Daytona International Speedway to seize the first victory of his Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series career.

In a Coke Zero Sugar 400 that went eight laps beyond its scheduled 160, Jones passed the reigning series champion on the backstretch of the final lap and held on to win by .125 seconds. Jones battled back from damage sustained in a multicar wreck on Lap 65, an accident that cost him a lap.

The final circuit was the only one Jones led.

RELATED: Race results | ‘Big One’ erupts at Daytona
SHOP: Jones gear

“How about that race, boys and girls?” Jones shouted to the fans in the grandstands after his celebratory burnout in front of the flag stand. “My first Cup win, my first win at Daytona, my first superspeedway win — what an awesome day, man!

“There’s so much smoke in the car from that burnout, I can hardly breathe, but what an awesome finish.”

AJ Allmendinger ran third after a nine-car wreck ended the first overtime attempt with Truex approaching the finish line just short of the end of the white-flag lap. That wreck provided the coup de grace for Kevin Harvick, Clint Bowyer, Jimmie Johnson and Trevor Bayne.

Only 20 of the 40 cars that started the race were running at the finish, and only 13 finished on the lead lap. Kasey Kahne came home fourth after leading 17 laps, and Chris Buescher ran fifth, matching his finish in the season-opening Daytona 500.

With a push from Kahne, Truex got the lead after the final restart on Lap 167 but couldn’t hold it. The outside lane was more organized as the final lap unfolded, and Jones got a strong run through Turns 1 and 2.

“He (Jones) got a big run getting into (Turn) 1 and through the center, and I just didn’t block him good enough in the middle of 1 and 2,” Truex said. “He got to my right rear quarter — just barely — enough to slow me down off of 2, and then the race was on from there.

“Just missed that block a little bit. I’ve got to get better at my mirror-driving. I’ve never really been good at that, and unfortunately, that’s part of this racing here, but I’m really proud to get to the end.”

Truex had posted only one other top-five finish — a second in the 2016 Daytona 500 — in 26 previous starts at the 2.5-mile superspeedway.

Two massive wrecks in Stage 2, both involving Ricky Stenhouse Jr., eliminated the majority of the contending cars and opened the door for a new winner.

On Lap 54, Brad Keselowski was running behind leader William Byron when his No. 2 Ford turned off the front bumper of Ricky Stenhouse Jr.’s Fusion, slammed into the No. 41 of Kurt Busch and ignited a Turn 3 wreck that involved 24 cars and wiped out all three Team Penske entries, along with Kurt Busch, Denny Hamlin, Daniel Suarez and pole winner Chase Elliott.

But Keselowski didn’t blame Stenhouse. He pointed the finger at Byron, who moved down the track to put a late block on the No. 2 and forced Keselowski to check up.

“Ricky was doing the best he could to give me a good push and had a great run to take the lead, and the car in front of me (Byron) just threw a late, bad block,” Keselowski said. “I made the mistake of lifting instead of just driving through him, and that’s my fault.

“I’ve got to wreck more people, and then they’ll stop blocking me late and behind like that. That’s my fault. I’ll take the credit for my team, and we’ll go to Talladega, and we’ll wreck everybody that throws a bad block like that.”

Byron didn’t stay up front for long. He was leading again on Lap 65 when Stenhouse tapped the left rear of series leader Kyle Busch’s Toyota and sent the No. 18 Camry spinning into Byron’s Chevrolet. Both Byron and Busch were knocked out of the race in that accident.

“I tried to side-draft the 18 (Busch) in the wrong place,” a subdued Stenhouse said on his team radio.

Byron lost a good chance to improve on his 21st position in the standings.

“The No. 17 car (Stenhouse) just kind of, I guess, hooked the No. 18 into me,” Byron said. “It seemed like he was being really aggressive, and that’s the second time we’ve kind of been on the wrong end of something with him.

“Unfortunate for us, but we had a good race going. We needed to really have a really good day, because of the points position we’re in, but that is just part of speedway racing, I guess. But it stinks to be on that side of it. But at least we led some laps (12), so that was good.”

Notes: Stenhouse won the first and second stages, garnering his first playoff points of the season, before sustaining serious damage in a Lap 124 wreck. He finished 17th, one lap down. … Harvick’s No. 4 team did yeoman work to repair his car after it suffered extensive body damage in the Lap 54 accident. Harvick led the field to green on Lap 162 to start the first overtime, but he fell victim to the nine-car wreck before that circuit was completed. … Despite a 33rd-place finish, Kyle Busch retained the series lead by 57 points over Harvick.

Posted on by Zack Albert

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The night ended for Brad Keselowski and William Byron in separate wrecks, but their fortunes were intertwined, prompting Keselowski to direct critical words at the 20-year-old rookie for his blocking tactics.

Keselowski exited early at the front of a massive wreck that tangled 25 cars on Lap 53 of a scheduled 160 in the Coke Zero Sugar 400. His Team Penske No. 2 Ford was nudged from behind by Ricky Stenhouse Jr.’s Roush Fenway Racing No. 17 Ford, triggering the mishap at the end of the Daytona International Speedway backstretch.

WATCH: “The Big One” strikes at Daytona| See the wreck from Elliott’s perspective

But Keselowski assigned blame to Byron, whose blocking maneuver while leading forced him to lift slightly off the throttle, leaving Stenhouse with limited options on where to go. The wreck was on from there, engulfing a host of favorites and making a clean sweep of eliminating Team Penske’s three-car fleet.

“Ricky was doing the best he could to give me a good push and had a great run to take the lead and the car in front of me just threw a late, bad block,” Keselowski said of Byron. “I made the mistake of lifting instead of just driving through him and that’s my fault. I know better than that. I’ve got to wreck more people and then they’ll stop blocking me late and behind like that. That’s my fault. I’ll take the credit for my team and we’ll go to Talladega and we’ll wreck everybody that throws a bad block like that.”

For good measure, Keselowski — a six-time winner in restrictor-plate competition — took a dig at Byron’s experience level on superspeedways.

“You got a list of drivers that are making moves that are unqualified to make and it causes big wrecks,” Keselowski said. “That was one of those. It was my fault because I lifted. I should have wrecked him and sent a message to the whole field.”

Byron was sidelined just 11 laps later, swept out in another multicar mess instigated by Stenhouse’s Turn 4 contact with Kyle Busch’s Joe Gibbs Racing No. 18 Toyota.

WATCH: Busch, Byron wreck

After being checked out of the infield care center, Byron answered Keselowski’s complaint, claiming that the wreck was more Stenhouse’s doing than his.

“He got hit from behind, so I didn’t get hit anywhere,” Byron said. “If he would’ve hit me, I would’ve tried to move or save it, but I never got hit. He just hit from behind me. …

“Everybody blocks as much as that, so I don’t see any difference in it. He got hit from behind.”

Posted on by Staff Report

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Brad Keselowski came together in Stage 2 of the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway, sparking a wreck that collected 25 cars, including many of the contenders at the front of the pack. 

The wreck occurred on Lap 53 of 160 when Stenhouse’s No. 17 Ford got close to Keselowski’s No. 2 Ford from behind entering Turn 3. That sent Keselowski sliding toward the outside wall and Kurt Busch’s No. 41 Ford.

RELATED: Race results | Best photos from Daytona

“You got a list of drivers that are making moves that they are unqualified to make and it causes big wrecks,” Keselowski said to NBC after emerging from the infield care center. “That was one of those. It was my fault because I lifted. I should have wrecked him and sent a message to the whole field.”

The cars for Keselowski, Kurt Busch, Denny Hamlin, Chase Elliott, Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano were among those to take significant damage. None of those cars could continue in the race.

“The 17 (Ricky Stenhouse Jr.) turned the 2 (Brad Keselowski) and then that was it,” Hamlin said. “Once cars get sideways on the backstretch, everyone just battles to try to get through the wreck. You know most of the strong contenders in front, they got taken out in that one, so we’re going to have a crapshoot from here on out.”

RELATED: Kes sends message for Talladega

Even Busch, who was running alongside Keselowski in a contest for second place, was not immune from the stack-up.

“I was running in the high lane and I just have to giggle, there’s no safe spot,” Busch said. “I thought being in the top two or three is pretty safe, but we just got clipped from behind. Usually, there’s that danger zone that everybody knows about from third to 12th and we didn’t get strung out enough to get away from some of the action.”

The full list of the cars involved, some more than others: 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 19, 21, 22, 41, 42, 43, 48, 88, 95, 72, 1, 7, 15, 32, 34.

All sidelined drivers were unhurt after being checked out at the infield care center. But a common lament was the impatience shown with aggressive racing early in Stage 2.

“Just not very smart for Lap 55 or so. Still a long ways to go,” said Daniel Suarez, who was credited with 35th in the 40-car field. “I don’t know. I mean half of the field is out so, it’s a real shame.”

Posted on by Staff Report

Several top contenders were eliminated from the Coke Zero Sugar 400 after big wrecks in Stage 2, but Ricky Stenhouse Jr. was able to remain unscathed and held on for his second stage win Saturday — and his second of the season.

RELATED: Stage 2 results

Stenhouse Jr. was involved in two big wrecks, including “The Big One,” which came on Lap 53 when 25 cars – more than half the field — were caught up in a massive pileup. Brad Keselowski was running in second when he was clipped from behind by the No. 17 of Stenhouse Jr. to set off the collisions.

RELATED: ‘The Big One’ hits Daytona

Among the cars suffering most damage were those of Keselowski, Joey Logano, Denny Hamlin, Kurt Busch, Ryan Blaney and Chase Elliott. All exited the race.

Just a few laps later, on Lap 64, Kyle Busch and William Byron were involved in a wreck that caused enough damage to their cars that they could not continue. Stenhouse made contact with Busch’s No. 18 Toyota to set off that wreck.

The 400-mile race is scheduled to end on Lap 160.

Finish Driver Team Race Points
1 Ricky Stenhouse Jr.  Roush Fenway Racing 10
2 Michael McDowell  Front Row Motorsports 9
3 Alex Bowman  Hendrick Motorsports 8
4 Kasey Kahne  Leavine Family Racing 7
5 Ty Dillon  Germain Racing 6
6 Jimmie Johnson  Hendrick Motorsports 5
7 Kyle Larson  Chip Ganassi Racing 4
8 Austin Dillon  Richard Childress Racing 3
9 Trevor Bayne  Roush Fenway Racing 2
10 Ryan Newman  Richard Childress Racing 1

STAGE 1

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. collected his first stage win of the season when he led the final 28 laps of Stage 1 in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 on Saturday at Daytona International Speedway.

Stenhouse Jr., who started sixth, was battling with pole-sitter Chase Elliott for the lead by Lap 10. The two swapped the lead for a couple laps before Stenhouse Jr. found speed in the high line at Daytona and took the lead on Lap 13.

Several cars caught in the low groove — including Elliott — were shuffled back in the running order early. A furious push to collect points for the stage resulted in a handful of cars sliding into the low line to challenge for the lead — including Hendrick Motorsports teammates William Byron in fourth and Elliott in fifth.

Finish Driver Team Race Points
1  Ricky Stenhouse Jr.  Roush Fenway Racing 10
2  Kyle Busch  Joe Gibbs Racing 9
3  Kyle Larson  Chip Ganassi Racing 8
4  William Byron  Hendrick Motorsports 7
5  Chase Elliott  Hendrick Motorsports 6
6  Kurt Busch  Stewart-Haas Racing 5
7  Ryan Newman  Richard Childress Racing 4
8  Brad Keselowski  Team Penske 3
9  Austin Dillon  Richard Childress Racing 2
10  Alex Bowman  Hendrick Motorsports 1
Posted on by Reid Spencer

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Contract negotiations have a history of complications for Kurt Busch.

Last year, Stewart-Haas declined to pick up his option but later re-signed the 2004 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion.

This year, though SHR has expressed a desire to retain all four drivers in its stable — Busch, Kevin Harvick, Clint Bowyer and Aric Almirola — Busch has yet to talk turkey with team principals.

Busch, 39, is in his fourth season with SHR, having been hired initially by team co-owner Gene Haas. Busch is currently seventh in the series standings, but he hasn’t won a race since the 2017 Daytona 500. Both the driver and crew chief Billy Scott, who called the shots for Danica Patrick last year, know they have to pick up their performance.

“We have to ramp up to that next step, and you do that with teamwork and a lot a research behind the scenes to look at numbers and predict better patterns for the races,” Busch said. “We were a competitive car at Chicago (last Sunday). We almost won Stage 2. Then, the second half of the race, the car went awful tight.

“If we really jump into the numbers on things, Billy was with Danica last year, and some of their race day notes aren’t as solid as they needed to be when you’re trying to compete against guys like Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick and Martin Truex Jr. That’s the level we’ve got to get to the second half of this year.”

If that happens, Busch’s contract might just take care of itself.

Posted on by Staff Report

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, the NASCAR Xfinity Series and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will be in action for a national series tripleheader at Kentucky Speedway. Check out the full schedule below, subject to change.

Note: All times are ET.

Thursday, July 12
9:05-9:55 a.m.: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series practice, No TV (Results)
11:05-12:02 p.m.: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series final practice, No TV (Results)
4:05-4:50 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series practice, NBC Sports App only (Canada: TSN GO) (Results)
5:10 p.m.: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series qualifying, FS1 (Results)
6:05-6:50 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity final practice, NBC Sports App only (Canada: TSN GO) (Results)
7:30 p.m.: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Buckle Up in Your Truck 225 (150 laps, 225 miles), FS1 (Results)

Friday, July 13
12-12:50 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice, NBCSN (Canada: TSN2) (Results)
2-2:50 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series final practice, NBCSN (Canada: TSN2) (Results)
5:05 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series qualifying, NBCSN (Canada: TSN GO) (Results)
6:40 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Busch Pole Qualifying, NBCSN (Canada: TSN5) (Results)
8 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series Alsco 300 (200 laps, 300 miles), NBCSN (Canada: TSN5) (Results)

LIVE EVENTS (Watch replay)
3 p.m.: Trackside Live

Saturday, July 14
5:30 p.m.: Driver/Crew Chief Meeting
7 p.m.: Driver Introductions
7:30 p.m.: Presentation of Colors: U.S. Army, Fort Knox, Ky.
7:30:20 p.m.: Invocation: Larry Campbell, Track Chaplain, Kentucky Raceway Ministries
7:31 p.m.: National Anthem: Thoroughbred Chorus, Louisville, Ky.
7:32:45 p.m.: Flyover: 187th Fighter Wing, (2) F-16’s Montgomery Alabama
7:37:30 p.m.: “Drivers, Start Your Engines” by Carlos Maurer, President of Shell Lubricants Americas
7:45 p.m.: Green Flag, Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Quaker State 400 presented by Walmart (267 laps, 400.5 miles), NBCSN (Canada: TSN2) (Results)

LIVE EVENTS (Watch live)
4 p.m.: Trackside Live

PRESS PASS (Watch live)
10:45 p.m.: Post-Monster Energy NASCAR Cup 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, July 9
5 p.m.: NASCAR America, NBCSN
6 p.m.: NASCAR Race Hub, FS1
7 p.m.: NASCAR Race Classic: 1994 Coca-Cola 600, FS1

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

Tuesday, July 10 
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, July 11 
5 p.m.: NASCAR America, NBCSN
6 p.m.: Dale Jr. Download, NBCSN
6 p.m.: NASCAR Race Hub, FS1 (‘Davey Lives On’ to air during show)
6:30 p.m.: Racing Roots: Daniel Suarez, NBCSN

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

Thursday, July 12 
4 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series practice, NBC Sports App only (Canada: TSN GO)
5 p.m.: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series pole qualifying, FS1
6 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series practice, NBC Sports App only (Canada: TSN GO)
7 p.m.: NASCAR RaceDay, FS1
7:30 p.m.: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Buckle Up in Your Truck 225, FS1

On MRN
1 p.m.: Throwback Thursday – 2001 Outback Steakhouse 300

Friday, July 13
3:30 a.m.: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Buckle Up in Your Truck, FS1 (re-air)
5:30 a.m.: NASCAR Race Classic: 1994 Coca-Cola 600, FS1
noon: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice, NBCSN (Canada: TSN2)
2 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series final practice, NBCSN (Canada: TSN2)
5 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series Pole Qualifying, NBCSN (Canada: TSN GO)
6 p.m.: NASCAR America, NBCSN
6:30 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Busch Pole Qualifying, NBCSN (Canada: TSN5)
7:30 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series Countdown to Green, NBCSN
8 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series Alsco 300, NBCSN (Canada: TSN5)
10:30 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series post-race show, NBCSN
11 p.m.: NASCAR The Decades: The 1980s, NBCSN

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

Saturday, July 14
6 p.m.: NASCAR America Saturday, NBCSN
7 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Countdown to Green, NBCSN
7:30 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Quaker State 400, NBCSN (Canada: TSN2)
11 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Post-Race Show, NBCSN