Posted on by Staff Report

What channels are NASCAR races on this week? We answer that and provide all 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, FS2 | Get FOX Sports GO | How to find NBCSN

Monday, March 12
3 a.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series TicketGuardian 500 (re-air), FS1
6 p.m.: NASCAR Race Hub, FS1
6 p.m.: NASCAR America, NBCSN

On MRN:
12 p.m.: MRN Motorsports Monday presented by Outback Steakhouse (Hosts: Steve Post, Erin Evernham)

Tuesday, March 13
5 p.m.: NASCAR America, NBCSN
7 p.m.: NASCAR Race Hub, FS1

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

Wednesday, March 14
5 p.m.: NASCAR America, NBCSN
7 p.m.: NASCAR Race Hub, FS1

On MRN:
Noon: MRN Crew Call presented by Hercules Tires (Hosts: Dion Williams, Sammi Jo Francis)
4 p.m.: NASCAR Coast to Coast (Hosts: Kyle Rickey, Hannah Newhouse)

Thursday, March 15
5 p.m.: NASCAR America, NBCSN
7 p.m.: NASCAR Race Hub, FS1

On MRN:
1 p.m.: Throwback Thursday presented by Sunoco

Friday, March 16
2:30 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice, FS1, (Canada: TSN GO)
3:30 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series practice, FS1, (Canada: TSN GO)
4:30 p.m.: NASCAR Race Hub: Weekend Edition, FS1
5:30 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series final practice, FS1, (Canada: TSN GO)
6:30 p.m.: NASCAR Race Hub: Weekend Edition, FS1
7 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series qualifying, FS1, (Canada: TSN GO)

On MRN:
Noon: Inside Line Fantasy Racing Show (Hosts: Tyler Burnett, Robbie Mays)

Saturday, March 17
3:30 a.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series qualifying (re-air), FS1
12:30 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice, FS1, (Canada: TSN2)
1:30 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series qualifying, FS1, (Canada: TSN GO)
3 p.m.: NASCAR Race Hub: Weekend Edition, FS1
3:30 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series final practice, FS1, (Canada: TSN GO)
4:30 p.m.: NASCAR RaceDay, FS1
5 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Auto Club Speedway, FS1, (Canada: TSN3)
7:30 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series Post-Race Show, FS1

Sunday, March 18
3:30 a.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Auto Club Speedway (re-air), FS1
1:30 p.m.: NASCAR Race Classic: 1998 Daytona 500, FS1
2 p.m.: NASCAR RaceDay, FS1
3 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Pre-Race Show, FOX
3:30 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Auto Club 400, FOX, FOX Deportes, (Canada: TSN3)

Posted on by Staff Report

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series head to the final voyage of the NASCAR Goes West part of the schedule, heading to Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California. The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series is off. Check out the tentative full schedule below, subject to change.

Note: All times are ET

Sunday, March 18
3:00 p.m.: Driver Introductions
3:28 p.m.: God Bless America by: Janae Manigault
3:30 p.m.: Intro Presentation of Colors by: California Army National Guard Color Guard
3:30:15 p.m.: Invocation by: Jeff Hamilton, Official Chaplain of Auto Club Speedway
3:31 p.m.: National Anthem by: Cassadee Pope
3:37:30 p.m. “Drivers, Start Your Engines:” Super Troopers
3:47 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Auto Club 400 (200 laps, 400 miles), FOX, (Canada: TSN3), (Results)

Press Pass (Watch live)
6:45 p.m.: Post-Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race

Friday, March 16
2:35-3:25 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series first practice, FS1, (Canada: TSN GO), (Results)
3:35-4:25 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series first practice, FS1, (Canada: TSN GO), (Results)
5:35-6:25 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series final practice, FS1, (Canada: TSN GO), (Results)
7:15 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series qualifying, FS1, (Canada: TSN GO), (Results)

Press Pass (Watch live)
1 p.m.: Darrell Wallace Jr.
1:15 p.m.: Kevin Harvick
1:30 p.m.: Jimmie Johnson
1:45 p.m.: Kyle Larson
2 p.m.: Christopher Bell, Cole Custer and Ryan Reed
4 p.m.: Kasey Kahne
4:15 p.m.: Erik Jones
4:45 p.m.: Aric Almirola
8:30 p.m.: Post-Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series qualifying

Saturday, March 17
12:35-1:25p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series second practice, FS1, (Canada: TSN2), (Results)
1:35 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series qualifying, FS1, (Canada: TSN GO), (Results)
3:30-4:20 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series final practice, FS1, (Canada: TSN GO), (Results)
5 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series Roseanne 300 (150 laps, 300 miles), FS1, (Canada: TSN3), (Results)

Press Pass (Watch live)
7:30 p.m.: Post-Xfinity Series race

Posted on by Reid Spencer

AVONDALE, Ariz. – Neither a speeding penalty nor uncharacteristic rain in the Sonoran Desert could keep Brad Keselowski out of Victory Lane on Saturday at ISM Raceway.

In winning the DC Solar 200 in his first NASCAR Xfinity Series start of the season, Keselowski picked up his second victory at the one-mile track and the 37th of his career, fifth most all-time.

The driver of the No. 22 Team Penske Ford beat Justin Allgaier to the finish line by .530 seconds in a battle that saw Keselowski, Allgaier, third-place Kyle Busch and fourth-place Christopher Bell all take turns with the upper hand. 

RELATED: Race results | Series standings | Stage 1 results | Stage 2 results

“It was a solid team effort,” said Keselowski, who led 66 laps, second only to Allgaier’s 76. “I wasn’t perfect today by any stretch of the imagination, but the car was really strong.

“Really, really good for about 50-60 laps. The last 20 laps it would fall off pretty good but the guys made it count. I am really proud of them.” 

The end of the first 45-lap stage, won by Allgaier, brought a red flag for rain lasting 1 hour, 34 minutes, 57 seconds. When racing resumed under caution, Keselowski drew a penalty for speeding on pit road and restarted on Lap 53 at the back of the field.

That paved the way for Busch to win Stage 2 — which ended in a one-lap shootout after a rain delay of 25 minutes, 21 seconds — as Keselowski worked his way back to third position. The final stage ran caution-free for 104 laps, with plenty of ebb and flow between the contending drivers.

Staggered pit strategies put Allgaier in the lead for the final restart on Lap 97, but Keselowski overtook him on Lap 143. With an excellent long-run car, Bell fought his way into the lead on Lap 164, passing Keselowski in a side-by-side drag race to the stripe.

But Keselowski regained the top spot on Lap 179 near the end of a long cycle of green flag pit stops and stayed comfortably ahead of Allgaier the rest of the way. 

“It was disheartening to take the lead and fall back after the pit stop,” said Bell, whose car couldn’t keep up with those of his rivals on fresh tires. “I struggled on the short run getting up to speed, and those guys drove away from me.”

Allgaier found a silver lining in his second-place finish.

“I learned something from Brad running behind him,” said Allgaier, who chipped away at Keselowski’s lead before time ran out. “I was able to run him back down from what I learned.”

Allgaier also gained ground on JR Motorsports teammates Elliott Sadler and Tyler Reddick, who entered the race tied for the series lead. Sadler and Reddick started the event from the back of the field, Sadler because of an engine change and Reddick in a backup car after damaging his primary No. 9 Chevrolet during the first round of qualifying on Saturday. 

Sadler, who ran ninth as the first driver one lap down, retained the series lead by one point over Reddick, who finished 10th. Allgaier is third in the standings, seven points back, and Bell trails the leader by eight points in fourth.

Note: The No. 22 (Keselowski, race winner) and No. 18 (Busch, third-place finisher) teams each had one lug nut not secured after post-race inspection.

Posted on by Staff Report

The DC Solar 200 was halted for a rain delay twice Saturday at ISM Raceway.

The second red flag came Lap 87 of the 200-lap race and lasted for 26 minutes. Kyle Busch led the field in his No. 18 Toyota when the red flag came out for the second time of the day at 6:47 p.m. ET.

The race already had one rain delay of one hour, 35 minutes after 47 laps.

The Xfinity Series race, which began at 4 p.m. ET, was scheduled to last 200 laps on the 1-mile track outside Phoenix. Justin Allgaier held the lead when the red flag came out for rain at 4:44 p.m. ET.

The red flag was lifted at 6:19 p.m. ET.

Allgaier started on the pole in the No. 7 JR Motorsports Chevrolet, and won Stage 1 after leading 24 of the first 47 laps.

Television coverage of the DC Solar 200 moved to FS1 at 6 p.m. ET.

Posted on by RJ Kraft

Martin Truex Jr. will start on the pole for Sunday’s TicketGuardian 500 (3:30 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). Kevin Harvick has the most wins with eight at the track and is searching for his third straight Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series win early in 2018. With all three practice sessions for this race in the books, we’ve dissected the numbers and 10-lap averages to offer a look at three drivers worthy of your Fantasy Live consideration as you go to make roster decisions for the fourth Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race of 2018.

PLAY NOW: Set your Fantasy Live lineup | How the new Fantasy Live works
MORE: Fantasy analysis for Phoenix | Full lineup | ‘NASCAR America’ picks | 10-lap averages

1. Chase Elliott. Elliott was in the the top three in 10-lap averages for both practice sessions on Saturday and has had speed all weekend long as evidenced by his starting spot of third. He led 140 laps in the last two races at the 1-mile track and his 7.8 average finish at ISM Raceway is the best among Sunday’s field.

2. Alex Bowman. He had the fifth-best 10-lap average in final practice and qualified fourth. The Arizona native knows his way around the 1-mile track as he led 194 laps here in the fall of 2016 from the pole en route to a sixth-place finish. Bowman the Showman is a little more on the high risk, high reward side for fantasy players.

RELATED: Bowman has ‘really good notebook’ for home state race

3. Aric Almirola. I touted Almirola as a sleeper heading into the race weekend and I am not backing away from that. He was fourth on the board in final practice and had the third-best 10-lap average in that session. He didn’t qualify well (22nd) but he qualified in that same spot last fall in the No. 43 and finished ninth in that race.

RJ Kraft’s revised Fantasy Live lineup following practices and qualifying:
1: Kevin Harvick
2: Denny Hamlin
3: Chase Elliott
4: Kyle Larson
5: Erik Jones
Garage: Alex Bowman

Analysis: I’m making two changes from my original lineup. One is for Kyle Larson in for Joey Logano, and the other is my garage driver (detailed below). I scripted out certain driver usages and I had Kevin Harvick earmarked for the past three races (Atlanta to Phoenix). He’s too good at Phoenix — his eight wins are the track record — and he posted the best 10-lap average in final practice (while also leading both Saturday practices). Hamlin led 193 laps last fall at Phoenix and topped the 10-lap board in second practice. Outside of short tracks, not sure where else I will use him, so going with the play here. Elliott is strong here — see reasons above — and I have yet to use him. Larson will be on the front row and has two top-three finishes in his last three starts there. Jones has a good record here in his young career and the No. 20 car won this race last fall.

For the garage, I went back and forth between Alex Bowman and Aric Almirola. I expect Almirola to be solid and consistent all year in the No. 10 Ford, where as I think Bowman will have peaks and valleys during the season. I think Phoenix will be a peak for him and so I am sticking him in my garage and will see how he runs in the first two stages.

As for why I am staying away from Martin Truex Jr. and Kyle Busch … I happen to like my opportunities with the Toyota drivers at other tracks coming up — notably Fontana and Martinsville in the next two weeks — a bit better. Because I have gone heavy on Harvick early in 2018, I am trying to be a little more conservative with some of the other top drivers. I plotted out my usage for the defending series champion Truex at the start of the year. While the pole gives me something to think about, I’m inclined to stay the course based on his overall numbers at ISM Raceway. I want him for all the 1.5-mile tracks, plus Darlington, Dover and likely New Hampshire.

Remember to set your roster and bonus picks ahead of Sunday’s 3:30 p.m. ET start time and to keep tabs on your team during the race with the ability to go to the garage locking at the completion of Stage 2.


Posted on by Brad Norman

Peace and quiet … while flying over sand dunes at top speeds.

That’s Kyle Busch’s idea of relaxation.

MORE: Complete Phoenix lineup | Drivers to win in all three national series

The Joe Gibbs driver is making the most of the NASCAR Goes West swing as he took to the desert with his Toyota Racing family in his hometown of Las Vegas.

Samantha Busch even tries her hand behind the wheel. She wasn’t going to let her husband have all the fun.

Posted on by Staff Report

Take a look at which drivers have led the way with the best 10-lap averages at ISM Raceway in this weekend’s practices ahead of Sunday’s TicketGuardian 500 (3:30 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

FINAL PRACTICE: RESULTS

Pos Car Driver From Lap To Lap Avg Speed
1 4 Kevin Harvick 2 11 133.612
2 9 Chase Elliott 2 11 133.458
3 10 Aric Almirola 2 11 133.384
4 42 Kyle Larson 2 11 133.245
5 88 Alex Bowman 2 11 133.216
6 18 Kyle Busch 2 11 133.206
7 20 Erik Jones 2 11 133.201
8 48 Jimmie Johnson 2 11 133.155
9 1 Jamie McMurray 1 10 133.119
10 11 Denny Hamlin 3 12 133.005
11 78 Martin Truex Jr. 1 10 132.979
12 2 Brad Keselowski 1 10 132.936
13 47 AJ Allmendinger 2 11 132.768
14 14 Clint Bowyer 2 11 132.766
15 31 Ryan Newman 2 11 132.663
16 41 Kurt Busch 2 11 132.572
17 3 Austin Dillon 2 11 132.550
18 21 Paul Menard 2 11 132.480
19 19 Daniel Suarez 2 11 132.250
20 17 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 2 11 132.185
21 34 Michael McDowell 2 11 132.112
22 22 Joey Logano 16 25 132.090
23 6 Trevor Bayne 2 11 132.004
24 12 Ryan Blaney 1 10 131.709
25 37 Chris Buescher 2 11 131.677
26 13 Ty Dillon 3 12 131.249
27 38 David Ragan 2 11 131.212
28 95 Kasey Kahne 2 11 131.129
29 43 Darrell Wallace Jr. # 4 13 130.922
30 24 William Byron # 31 40 130.501
31 96 DJ Kennington 2 11 129.529
32 32 Matt DiBenedetto 1 10 129.427
33 23 Gray Gaulding 4 13 128.619

PRACTICE 2: RESULTS

Pos Car Driver From Lap To Lap Avg Speed
1 11 Denny Hamlin 3 12 133.846
2 78 Martin Truex Jr. 3 12 133.781
3 9 Chase Elliott 1 10 133.713
4 4 Kevin Harvick 2 11 133.607
5 18 Kyle Busch 3 12 133.577
6 42 Kyle Larson 19 28 133.556
7 31 Ryan Newman 4 13 133.368
8 48 Jimmie Johnson 1 10 133.260
9 12 Ryan Blaney 11 20 133.130
10 2 Brad Keselowski 1 10 133.041
11 3 Austin Dillon 3 12 132.957
12 24 William Byron # 2 11 132.940
13 1 Jamie McMurray 3 12 132.930
14 20 Erik Jones 3 12 132.851
15 88 Alex Bowman 3 12 132.846
16 10 Aric Almirola 2 11 132.802
17 21 Paul Menard 2 11 132.795
18 41 Kurt Busch 3 12 132.730
19 37 Chris Buescher 2 11 132.689
20 14 Clint Bowyer 16 25 132.633
21 38 David Ragan 1 10 132.335
22 6 Trevor Bayne 1 10 132.261
23 17 Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 17 26 132.099
24 19 Daniel Suarez 4 13 132.045
25 95 Kasey Kahne 1 10 131.936
26 34 Michael McDowell 2 11 131.754
27 43 Darrell Wallace Jr. # 1 10 131.408
28 32 Matt DiBenedetto 1 10 131.372
29 23 Gray Gaulding 2 11 129.761
30 15 Ross Chastain(i) 1 10 129.685
31 96 DJ Kennington 1 10 129.022

PRACTICE 1: RESULTS

Pos Car Driver From Lap To Lap Avg Speed
1 43 Darrell Wallace Jr. # 2 11 130.471

* Car must run 10 consecutive laps on the track to be included in the above chart.
(i) Ineligible for driver points in this series.
# Means driver is a rookie in the series.

Posted on by Staff Report

Kevin Harvick continued his speedy driving as he wheeled his No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford around ISM Raceway at 134.544 mph to record the fastest final Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice speed Saturday.

Harvick, the winner of the last two Monster Energy Series races at Las Vegas and Atlanta and an eight-time winner at the Phoenix track, also recorded the fastest practice speed in Saturday’s early session.

RELATED: Final practice results | See every car in the field

Jamie McMurray was second-fastest in the practice session, moving his No. 1 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet at 134.504 mph.

Pole-winner Martin Truex Jr. was third on the practice chart after recording a speed of 134.454 mph in his No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Toyota.

Aric Almirola in the No. 10 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford and Alex Bowman in the No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet rounded out the top five.

Two cars – the No. 4 of Harvick and the No. 32 of Matt DiBenedetto – had 15-minute practice holds for the final practice because they failed qualifying inspection twice.

Sunday’s TicketGuardian 500 is set for 3:30 p.m. ET with TV coverage on FOX.

PRACTICE 2 RECAP | RELATED: Best 10-lap averages | Practice 2 results 

Kevin Harvick’s No. 4 Jimmy John’s Ford was “Freaky Fast” on Saturday morning at ISM Raceway at Phoenix, turning a top lap of 134.806 mph in the first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice of the day.

Harvick tied Chase Elliott for the top speed in Saturday’s opening practice, but Harvick gets the top spot based on having a win (Atlanta) this season, according to a NASCAR spokesperson.

Kyle Busch, in the No. 18 Toyota, followed Elliott’s No. 9 Chevrolet in third place at 134.655 mph. Brad Keselowski, in the No. 2 Ford, and Denny Hamlin, in the No. 11 Toyota, rounded out the top five.

Last year’s race winner, Ryan Newman, was sixth in the No. 31 Chevrolet, and this year’s pole winner Martin Truex Jr. was seventh in the No. 78 Toyota.

The Nos. 23 (Gray Gaulding), 34 (Michael McDowell), 41 (Kurt Busch) and 51 (Timmy Hill) were held out of practice for 15 minutes for being late to qualifying inspection.