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.

 

Posted on by Reid Spencer

AVONDALE, Ariz. – Hendrick Motorsports is back. 

That was the brief consensus when Jimmie Johnson shot to the top of the speed chart in the first round of Friday’s knockout qualifying session at ISM Raceway.

But the seven-time champion’s stint at the front of the field was short-lived. In the second round, Johnson was 17th fastest and failed to advance to the final round.

RELATED: Starting lineup | Bowman has ‘really good notebook’ for Phoenix

Inexplicable? Hardly.

“I kind of look back to the amount of practice we had today. We only had 20 minutes practice because of the issues we had in Las Vegas, and I never had a chance to go out on scuffed tires to see what adjustments we had to make,” Johnson said.

Johnson’s car failed pre-race inspection three times at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, and the team lost 30 minutes of practice time in the one session before qualifying on Friday. That left no time for the No. 48 Chevrolet team to make any runs on scuffs.

“I had two runs on stickers in practice, and we clearly dialed that part of the car in, and it would have been nice just to have a scuff run to go out and understand what exactly to do. I’m very optimistic with the speed in the car in that first round and look forward to a full practice session or two (Saturday) and dial this Lowe’s for Pros Chevy in.” 

Johnson needs a reason for optimism. He enters Sunday’s TicketGuardian 500 (3:30 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN and SiriusXM) 29th in Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series points.

Posted on by Reid Spencer

AVONDALE, Ariz. — The good news about the composite body in the NASCAR Xfinity Series this year? As JR Motorsports driver Justin Allgaier put it, the transition from sheet metal bodies has been a smooth one.

Asked whether there were noticeable differences that accompanied the change, Allgaier said, “As far as the fundamentals go, no, not really.

MORE: Full weekend schedule at Phoenix | What did ISM Raceway upgrade?

 “We do the same things when we go to the race track. The inspection line is the same, albeit probably a little bit harder if you’re out of tolerance … it’s harder to put yourself back into tolerance, because the bodies are not as pliable.

“And the amount of bracing that we have is way different. We’re kind of stuck in a box with where the braces have to be at. It puts it on the guys at the shop a lot more to have everything where it needs to be.”

NASCAR’s new Optical Scanning Station has put the onus on the race teams to make sure the bodies conform to the rules before they’re unloaded at the race track. 

“I think everybody’s kind of going through that,” Allgaier said. “But, for us, the one thing that’s been nice is that the composite body has been pretty seamless, as far as just introducing it and rolling it out.

“It takes a lot of work to make it seamless, but all the teams have put the effort and the time into it, and it seems like it’s working out really well.”

Posted on by Reid Spencer

AVONDALE, Ariz. – Defending Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion Martin Truex Jr. finally found the extra speed he needed at ISM Raceway.

Saving his best lap for the final round of knockout qualifying on Friday at the one-mile track in the Sonoran Desert, Truex sped around the circuit in 26.288 seconds (136.945 mph) to win the pole position for Sunday’s TicketGuardian 500 (3:30 ET on FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

Truex beat Kyle Larson (136.643 mph) by .058 seconds to earn his first pole of the season, his second at ISM Raceway and the 16th of his career. But Truex hadn’t claimed the top starting spot at ISM since he led the field to the green flag in the fall of 2009. Truex said a strong game plan and a variety of factors contributed to the pole-winning run for the No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Toyota.

RELATED: Full qualifying speeds | See the full field | Practice 1 results

“I think it was a little bit of everything,” Truex said. “I wouldn’t say I held back that much the first two runs. But we really worked on our car in practice to try to be best in that third run and to understand what we needed to do for balance-wise throughout those three runs. Honestly, sometimes you just hit it right, and today all the stars lined up, and here we are. 

“So many little things come in to play when you’re talking about how to pick up half of a tenth at the racetrack. Just a lot of little things and details that were done properly, and that’s what’s so fun about our team. We work together so well. They can tell me I’m not driving right, and I can tell them they’re not setting up the car right, and we can meet in the middle.”

Chase Elliott (136.126 mph) qualified third, followed by Alex Bowman (136.080 mph) and Joey Logano (135.947 mph).

Time trials took place two hours earlier than their traditional later afternoon time slot, and Larson thought he had a strong shot at his first Phoenix pole.

“Our Credit One Bank Chevy has been really good here the last few years and actually, I’m a little disappointed in second, because I always qualify good here,” Larson said. “I think I’ve been like in the top eight every single time I’ve qualified at Phoenix (except for a 12th-place start in 2015) and still don’t have a pole yet. 

“I thought today was going to be the day. I thought my first lap was okay, but Martin, obviously, their team hit it there for that final round. Sunday’s race will be fun. Like I said, we’ve been fast here the last few years, so it would be nice to close out the weekend with a win.”

Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch, Jamie McMurray, Erik Jones and Kevin Harvick completed spots six through 10 on the grid. Harvick is a record eight-time winner at ISM and is on a two-race winning streak this season entering Sunday’s event.

After laying down the fastest lap in Round 1, Jimmie Johnson failed to make it into the final 12-car round as he’ll start 17th in the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet on Sunday.

Brad Keselowski was the biggest shocker of the day after failing to advance to the second knockout round. He’ll start 25th in the No. 2 Team Penske Ford.

The red flag was briefly displayed after Jeffrey Earnhardt hit the wall during the first round of group qualifying, locking up the brakes on his No. 00 Chevrolet going into Turn 3. He will start last in the 37-car field.