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 2
5 p.m.: NASCAR America, NBCSN
6 p.m.: NASCAR Race Hub, FS1

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

Tuesday, July 3 
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 4 
6 p.m.: NASCAR Race Hub, FS1

On MRN
1 p.m.: NASCAR Coast to Coast (with hosts Kyle Rickey & Hannah Newhouse)

Thursday, July 5 
7 a.m.: NASCAR The Decades: The 1970s, NBCSN
8 a.m.: NASCAR The Decades: The 1980s, NBCSN
9 a.m.: NASCAR Off Script “Kyle Petty,” NBCSN
10 a.m.: Racing Roots: Kyle Larson, NBCSN
10:30 a.m.: Racing Roots: Daniel Suarez, NBCSN
11 a.m.: NASCAR The Decades: The 1970s, NBCSN (re-air)
12 p.m.: NASCAR The Decades: The 1980s, NBCSN (re-air)
1 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity practice, NBCSN (Canada: TSN GO)
2 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, NBCSN (Canada: TSN1)
3 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series final practice, NBCSN (Canada: TSN GO)
4 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series final practice, NBCSN (Canada: TSN1)
5 p.m.: NASCAR America, NBCSN
5:30 p.m.: The Dale Jr. Download, NBCSN
6 p.m.: NASCAR Race Hub, FS1
6 p.m.: NASCAR The Decades: The 1970s, NBCSN (re-air)
7 p.m.: NASCAR The Decades: The 1980s, NBCSN (re-air)

On MRN
1 p.m.: Classic Races: 1997 Pepsi 400

Friday, July 6
3:30 a.m.: NASCAR Race Hub, FS1 (re-air)
4:30 a.m.: NASCAR Race Classic: 1994 Coke 600, FS1
7 a.m.: NASCAR The Decades: The 1970s, NBCSN (re-air)
8 a.m.: Racing Roots: Kyle Larson, NBCSN (re-air)
8:30 a.m.: NASCAR Xfinity practice, NBCSN (re-air)
9:30 a.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, NBCSN (re-air)
10:30 a.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series final practice, NBCSN (re-air)
11:30 a.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series final practice, NBCSN (re-air)
12:30 p.m.: The Dale Jr. Download, NBCSN (re-air)
1 p.m.: NASCAR K&N Pro Series West: Clint Newell Toyota 150, NBCSN
2 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity pole qualifying, NBCSN (Canada: TSN GO)
5 p.m.: NASCAR America “Fan Friday,” NBCSN
5:30 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series pole qualifying, NBCSN (Canada: TSN GO)
7 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Countdown to Green, NBCSN
7:30 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series Coca-Cola Firecracker 250, NBCSN (Canada: TSN2)
10 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series Post-Race Show, NBCSN
10:30 p.m.: Racing Roots: Clint Bowyer, NBCSN
11 p.m.: Racing Roots: Kyle Larson, NBCSN (re-air)
11:30 p.m.: Racing Roots: Daniel Suarez, NBCSN (re-air)

Saturday, July 7
12 a.m.: NASCAR The Decades: The 1970s, NBCSN (re-air)
5 p.m.: NASCAR America Saturday, NBCSN
6:30 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Countdown to Green, NBCSN
7 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Coke Zero Sugar 400, NBC (Canada: TSN5)
11 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Post-Race Show, NBCSN

Posted on by Staff Report

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and the NASCAR Xfinity Series will be in action for a holiday weekend at Daytona International Speedway this week. Check out the full schedule below, subject to change.

Note: All times are ET.

Saturday, July 7
7:30 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Coke Zero Sugar 400 (160 laps, 400 miles), NBC (Canada: TSN5) (Results)

PRESS PASS (Watch live)
4:30 p.m.: Medal of Honor Recipients
10 p.m.: Post-Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race

Thursday, July 5 
1:05-1:55 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series practice, NBCSN (Canada: TSN GO) (Results)
2:05-2:55 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice, NBCSN (Canada: TSN1) (Results)
3:05-3:55 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series final practice, NBCSN (Canada: TSN GO) (Results)
4:05-4:55 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series final practice, NBCSN (Canada: TSN1) CANCELED DUE TO WEATHER

PRESS PASS (Watch live)
Noon: Tyler Reddick and Elliott Sadler
12:15 p.m.: Brandon Jones, Kaz Grala and Ryan Preece
12:30 p.m.: Austin Dillon
12:45 p.m.: Bubba Wallace
1 p.m.: Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
3:30 p.m.: Kyle Larson

Friday, July 6 
2:10 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series pole qualifying, NBCSN (Canada: TSN GO) (Lineup) CANCELED DUE TO WEATHER
5:30 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Busch Pole qualifying, NBCSN (Canada: TSN GO) (Results)
7:30 p.m. NASCAR Xfinity Series Coca-Cola Firecracker 250 (100 laps, 250 miles), NBCSN (Canada: TSN2) (Results)

PRESS PASS (Watch live)
3:30 p.m.: Denny Hamlin
5:45 p.m.: Post-Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series qualifying
9:45 p.m.: Post-NASCAR Xfinity Series race

 

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JOLIET, Ill. – It’s a finish that will be replayed for years to come.

Even runner-up Kyle Larson knew that as he stood on pit road Sunday while Kyle Busch celebrated on the front stretch at Chicagoland Speedway under a mixed chorus of cheers and (mostly) boos.

“That’s got to be one of the best NASCAR finishes of all time,” Larson said after watching the replay. “I know I’m on the short end of the stick again, but it was fun.”

WATCH: See Larson and Busch battle

Lapped traffic caused enough interference to allow Larson to catch up to the leader, Busch, by the final lap, causing No. 18 crew chief Adam Stevens to start “biting (his) nails, saying prayers, just waiting for the race to be over.”

But it wasn’t. The last lap is when the beating and banging began. Attempting to slide job Busch, Larson hit the side of Busch’s No. 18 Toyota — sending Busch into the wall and snatching the lead in his No. 42 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet.

That hit, Larson said, “opened the door” for Busch to retaliate.

Busch came charging back, putting the bumper to Larson and causing the No. 42 to slide across the track in the final turn. Busch held onto the lead for the checkered flag, as Larson came up second.

WATCH: Busch discusses closing lap, Chicago finish

“Oh man, I’m not upset,” Larson said on Busch’s move. “I had an opportunity there to slide in front of him and I figured I wouldn’t clear him or I would allow him to drive back underneath me. So, I tried to get to his door and you know I opened the door for him to retaliate into (Turn) 3. I thought it was free game. I ran into him first, he got me after that, maybe a little bit worse than I got him, but that’s all right.

“I love racing Kyle (Busch). I know all these fans are probably mad at him, but hey, we put on a hell of a show for you guys and that was a blast. …

“We both got our elbows up there, we ran into each other a couple of times and he came out the winner,” he said later.

After Busch’s hit on Larson, the 25-year-old driver was still hopeful for a chance at the checkered flag.

“I did think I could save it,” he said. “I was hoping I was could just slide a little bit less and then grab third gear and get going, but just started spinning a little too much. … It would have been awesome to grab gears like that and win.”

After the race, Larson gave Busch a thumbs-up during the cool-down lap and made a point to visit Busch in Victory Lane before his media obligations. The two smiled, chatted about the finish and shook hands.

Kyle Busch and Kyle Larson talk after Chicago's Overton's 400
Jared C. Tilton | Getty Images

“I have a lot respect for Kyle Busch,” Larson said.

That respect is reciprocated by the 2015 champion.

“We’ve always raced each other super hard and super clean,” Busch said. “We’ve never had issues. We’ve been back and forth with each other at Bristol multiple times, whatnot. It was Bristol this spring maybe, I kind of gave him a bump‑and‑run for the win on that one. …

“Once contact is made in a race, it’s kind of like, ‘OK, every man for himself.’ Even me, when we had that race at Bristol, I got into him with five to go, I thought I did that too early because he could get back to me. He never was able to get back to me.”

The finish marks Larson’s 10th top-10 finish of the season — but still leaves him without a victory. There’s a sense of disappointment, but looking at the big picture, he’s in good spirits. He ran up front with the “Big Three” of Busch, Kevin Harvick and Martin Truex Jr. — and nearly beat them.

His strong run – and impressive ability to run close to the wall – reflected Larson and his team’s hard effort.

“Obviously, I’m disappointed I didn’t win, but at the same time, the fun factor kind of takes over and that was a blast,” Larson said. “I feel like I get a really good job today running next to the wall as long as I did and only getting into it once. So, I stayed pretty disciplined, feel like I did a good job, team did a good job. …

“I think I showed that I tried everything I could to win and our team did good … I’ve been saying it every week. We’ve just got to get a little bit better and it will pay off and we’ll get a win. We’re getting closer and closer.”

Posted on by Reid Spencer

JOLIET, Ill. – Like two boxers in the final round of a closely-contested slugfest, Kyle Busch and Kyle Larson traded hard shots on the last lap of Sunday’s Overton’s 400 at Chicagoland Speedway.

Moments later, it was Kyle Busch who was still standing — with his car parked on the finish line and his fifth Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series victory of the season in his pocket.

RELATED: Shop Kyle Busch gear | Race results | Standings | Stages recap

In the closing three laps, Larson gained on Busch, who had led from a restart on Lap 213 of 267. Busch was slowed by lapped traffic, and Larson had a strong run into Turns 1 and 2 on the final lap. Larson drove hard into the corner but couldn’t clear Busch’s No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Camry off Turn 2.

Larson tapped the left rear of Busch’s car, knocking him into the outside wall. Larson passed Busch on the backstretch, but the 2015 series champion wasn’t finished. Busch got back to the bumper of Larson’s No. 42 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in Turn 3 and sent him spinning with a hard shot to the rear of the car.

Larson slid sideways, as the momentum of Busch’s charge into the corner carried his car into the outside wall. But Busch straightened his Camry and powered across the finish line 1.875 seconds ahead of Larson, who recovered to beat third-place finisher Kevin Harvick to the stripe by a half-second.

WATCH: Larson and Busch battle in final lap

With his second victory at Chicagoland, Busch earned the 48th victory of his career, tied with Herb Thomas for 14th all-time and one win behind three-time champion Tony Stewart. Busch tied Harvick for the most victories in the series this season, marking only the fourth time in series history that two drivers have each won five times in the first 17 races.

Busch appeared to be cruising to a one-second victory before Ryan Newman raced him hard trying to stay on the lead lap and a pack of lapped cars in front of him clogged the track.

“I got really boxed in and got really slow,” Busch said. “I tried to get all of it on those last couple of laps. Larson tried to pull a slider but didn’t quite complete it. He slid up into me and used me, and then I kind of used him a little bit in Turn 3 to come back for the victory.

“Great win for the Skittles Camry and all of these guys. We were horrible today. Absolutely horrendous. We just never gave up. It’s always good to make the most of the days and get to where we needed at the end. I was able to lead all of those laps. And get through the rest of the traffic. If you don’t like that kind of racing, don’t even watch.”

RELATED: Busch talks about thrilling finish

The last lap aside, a major key to Busch’s victory was stellar work on pit road. After the final stop under caution on Lap 209, Busch beat Harvick back on track to take the lead and held it the rest of the way.

Even though Busch knocked him out of the way in the final corner for the win, Larson held no hard feelings.

“Yeah, I was fighting hard to catch him and had a really good car especially on the long runs,” Larson said. “We were able to get the top going and finally run him down. Yeah, the lappers bottled him up pretty bad there, and I was able to get a run on him. He changed his line up there for a couple of laps in a row, and I got a big run and went to throw the slider on him and got really tight.

“My plan was pretty much to run into the side of him to try and slow his momentum down and was able to do that and get clear of him. I didn’t really want to be clear of him in (Turn) 3, though, because I knew he would get to my back bumper and move me out of the way, which he did. So, I mean, I know some fans probably already don’t like Kyle Busch, but that was just kind of hard racing there, I thought.”

RELATED: Larson describes hard racing

Martin Truex Jr. finished fourth but failed to lead a lap. Clint Bowyer recovered from three extra trips down pit road because of penalties to run fifth. Erik Jones, Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano, Brad Keselowski and Alex Bowman completed the top 10.

Notes: Aric Almirola won the first 80-lap stage of the race—his first career stage win—before two unscheduled pit stops for loose wheels took him out of contention. … Harvick won Stage 2, his ninth stage victory of the season. … Kyle Busch won the race without scoring a point in either of the first two stages.

The No. 2 Ford of Brad Keselowski and the No. 11 Toyota of Denny Hamlin were each found with one lug nut not safe and secure in a post-race check. Guidelines in the 2018 NASCAR Rule Book call for a $10,000 fine for each crew chief.

 

Posted on by Staff Report

A last-lap pass in Stage 2 by Kevin Harvick over teammate Stewart-Haas Racing Kurt Busch lifted the 2014 champion to the stage victory, a series-best ninth of the season. Harvick edged by Busch coming off of Turn 4 to nab the playoff point.

“Never expected that from a teammate,” Busch said of how Harvick passed him for the stage win in a portion of his radio transmission that aired on NBCSN.

MORE: Busch reacts to pass | RELATED: Stage 2 results

Kyle Larson, Martin Truex Jr. and Ryan Blaney made up the top five. Blaney used a two-tire call during the round of pit stops following a Lap 127 caution for debris to secure a top-five spot in the stage. Clint Bowyer rallied to get back on the lead lap and finished eighth in the stage.

Aric Almirola led more than half of the stage — 41 laps — but had a loose wheel in the latter half of Stage 2. He pitted under green from the lead on Lap 142. He finished the stage in 26th but in position for the free pass on the ensuing caution.

Finish Driver Team Race Points
1 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing 10
2 Kurt Busch Stewart-Haas Racing 9
3 Kyle Larson Chip Ganassi Racing 8
4 Martin Truex Jr. Furniture Row Racing 7
5 Ryan Blaney Team Penske 6
6 Brad Keselowski Team Penske 5
7 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports 4
8 Clint Bowyer Stewart-Haas Racing 3
9 Denny Hamlin Joe Gibbs Racing 2
10 Joey Logano Team Penske 1

STAGE 1 RECAP

Aric Almirola led the final 21 laps of Stage 1 in the Overton’s 400 at Chicagoland Speedway to secure his first stage win and playoff point of the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. The laps led were the Stewart-Haas Racing driver’s first since leading a lap late in the Daytona 500 in February.

Kyle Larson and Martin Truex Jr. finished second and third respectively in Stage 1. Both drivers came from the middle to back of the field at the start of the race. Larson started the day in the 18th position, while Truex started 36th after his qualifying time was disallowed following the No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Toyota car failing post-qualifying technical inspection. Stewart-Haas Racing teammates Kurt Busch and Kevin Harvick completed the top five in the stage.

RELATED: Stage 1 results

The results were not as good for SHR’s Clint Bowyer. The Kansas native led 21 laps in Stage 1 but two speeding penalties under green flag conditions put him two laps down in 30th place at the conclusion of the stage. He got busted for speeding on a green flag stop around the midway point of the stage and had to serve a pass thru penalty. The driver of the No. 14 Ford then sped again during the ensuing time down pit road — he was supposed to serve a stop-and-go penalty but went down pit road as if it was a pass through. The two-time winner in 2018 then came down a third time to serve his stop-and-go penalty.

Pole winner Paul Menard finished the stage in 13th.

Finish Driver Team Race Points
1 Aric Almirola Stewart-Haas Racing 10
2 Kyle Larson Chip Ganassi Racing 9
3 Martin Truex Jr. Furniture Row Racing 8
4 Kurt Busch Stewart-Haas Racing 7
5 Kevin Harvick Stewart-Haas Racing 6
6 Brad Keselowski Team Penske 5
7 Ryan Blaney Team Penske 4
8 Joey Logano Team Penske 3
9 Chase Elliott Hendrick Motorsports 2
10 Erik Jones Joe Gibbs Racing 1
Posted on by Staff Report

Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Daniel Suarez and Reed Sorenson will drop to the rear of field in Sunday’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Chicagoland Speedway because of unapproved pre-race adjustments Sunday.

Stenhouse’s Roush Fenway Racing No. 17 Ford, Suarez’s Joe Gibbs Racing No. 19 Toyota and Reed Sorenson’s Premium Motorsports No. 7 Chevrolet will fall to the back of the pack during pace laps ahead of Sunday’s Overton’s 400 (2:30 p.m. ET, NBCSN, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

RELATED: Starting lineup

Those two will join four others who will start at the back because of issues in Saturday’s post-qualifying technical inspection. That quartet of drivers had their qualifying speeds disallowed, a list that includes defending series champ Martin Truex Jr., Chris Buescher, Denny Hamlin and Jimmie Johnson.

Posted on by Staff Report

Ever wonder what goes on in a driver meeting? We’re here to help.

This year, we’ll publish the actual rules video your favorite Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers will watch before climbing into their stock cars. Above is the video for the Overton’s 400 (2:30 p.m. ET, NBCSN, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) at Chicagoland Speedway.

Enjoy!

Posted on by RJ Kraft

Paul Menard won the Busch Pole Qualifying Award and will start in the top position in Sunday’s Overton’s 400 (2:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) at Chicagoland Speedway. After two practice sessions and qualifying, we’ve dissected the numbers and 10-lap averages to offer a suggested lineup worthy of your Fantasy Live consideration as you go to make roster decisions for the 17th Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race of 2018. Remember that the garage locks at the end of Stage 2.

Cars to the rear: Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Daniel Suarez, Timmy Hill and Reed Sorenson (unapproved adjustments)

RJ Kraft’s revised Fantasy Live lineup following practices and the lineup being set:
1: Kevin Harvick
2: Brad Keselowski
3: Ryan Blaney
4: Chase Elliott
5: Aric Almirola
Garage: Kyle Larson

PLAY NOW: Set your Fantasy Live lineup | How the new Fantasy Live works
MORE: Fantasy analysis for Chicago | Driver stats | Full lineup | 10-lap averages

Analysis: It’s been a jammed packed weekend with two practices and qualifying on Saturday before Sunday’s race. In case you only saw qualifying on TV, the times of Martin Truex Jr., Denny Hamlin, Jimmie Johnson and Chris Buescher were disallowed after they failed post-qualifying inspection at Chicagoland Speedway. Those four cars will start 36th through 39th, respectively.

Going into the weekend, I was planning to build a lineup around Harvick, Keselowski, Truex Jr. and Larson. I’m sticking with three of those four. Harvick topped the board in 10-lap averages for final practice and has three 1.5-mile wins on the season. Keselowski has been strong points-wise at the 1.5-mile tracks as has Larson. While I would have liked a better qualifying effort from Larson, this track fits his style so I expect him to get into the top five. I’m starting with him in the garage, but fully expect to plug him in before the end of Stage 2. I’m electing to sit Truex Jr. despite the fact he is two-time defending race winner. I don’t like the 36th-place starting spot and the No. 78 hasn’t been what it was last year on the 1.5-mile tracks. Still have some great places to play him moving forward — Kentucky, New Hampshire, Pocono, Watkins Glen, Darlington.

Blaney has been fast this weekend as he has for most of the 1.5-mile weekends. I was on the fence about Elliott coming into the weekend, but a good qualifying effort, plus his Chicagoland history has me giving him the starting nod. The last spot in my lineup came down to Almirola and pole-sitter Paul Menard. The qualifying effort out of Menard was impressive, but I just don’t think he is going to have the staying power to get significant stage points and frankly, at this point in the season I trust Almirola more.

For the stage and race wins, I’ve got Blaney in Stage 1, followed by Harvick the rest of the way.


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JOLIET, Ill. — Cole Custer emerged from his No. 00 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford on pit road at Chicagoland Speedway, red-faced and drenched in sweat. Pouring several water bottles down his fire suit and atop his head, he made his way from pit road to the media center following his third-place finish at the Illinois track.

The race was hard-fought — as he started Saturday from the rear — and the top-five result put him atop the Xfinity Series points standings for the first time this season. But Custer wasn’t content; he slid through his pit box on a late green-flag stop, losing time on pit road.

RELATED: Larson wins at Chicago

“Really we just had a great car,” Custer said. “We probably were the best car out here — (Kyle) Larson’s probably just the best driver at Chicago. So, it was a little bit hard to catch him at the start running the top, but I felt I felt like long-run-wise, we were about the same speed as he was and if we were close again, I probably would have learned some things on the top that probably would have kept us closer to him.

“But it just sucks that we made that mistake; I’ve never made that mistake, I don’t think, before … so it’s just frustrating. We’ll move on to the next one, but we have some great momentum and guys gave me a great car.”

This marks Custer’s fifth straight top-five finish, a streak that began with a runner-up finish at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May. He’s led multiple laps in three of those five races, but still hasn’t been able to nab that first win of 2018.

Because Custer’s No. 00 is up front consistently, top-five finishes aren’t enough for the team anymore; they want victories.

“I think we’re really hitting our stride,” Custer told NBCSN. “We’re in contention to win races. We have the speed every single race …”

“Now that you’re fighting for wins every single weekend, you start getting disappointed that you don’t win,” he said later in the media center. “I think we’re happy with where we’re at — we’re disappointed with top fives. We’re knocking on the door every weekend of having a win. We just need to have everything go right and not make mistakes.”

At one point during the race, Custer made a pass on Stewart-Haas Racing counterpart Kevin Harvick, whose No. 98 finished second. For an Xfinity Series driver, running with Monster Energy Series veterans like Harvick — and passing them — is rewarding.

“Kevin’s taught me a lot and he’s definitely one of the best out there,” Custer said. “It’s always satisfying when you’re racing the Cup drivers and you’re actually able to outrun them. They’re a little bit better than I am in the Cup cars, that’s for sure.

“But in the Xfinity Series cars, I feel like I can compete with them pretty well. It’s just now it’s beating all of them and winning a race. But we just have to keep it going.”

The Xfinity Series heads to Daytona International Speedway next weekend for the series’ third restrictor-plate race of the year. Custer hopes to continue the team’s run.

“I’m looking forward to it — I think we’ll have good speed,” Custer said. “I’m not the best speedway racer, but I think I’ve gotten better and better at it, too.

“I think it will be our best speedway race.”