Posted on by Staff Report

RELATED: Stage 1 results | Photos from Las Vegas | Lap-by-lap updates

Kevin Harvick showed some early strength in Sunday’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race, winning the first stage at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Harvick, last weekend’s winner at Atlanta, started second and led 68 of the 80 laps in the first stage in the Stewart-Haas Racing No. 4 Ford. He earned 10 points in the series standings and banked one playoff point with his second stage win of the season.

Martin Truex Jr., the defending winner of the Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy Lube (FOX, PRN, SiriusXM), finished second in the first stage in the Furniture Row Racing No. 78 Toyota. Kyle Larson came home third at the end of Stage 1, with pole-starter Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano completing the top five.

Blaney led just the first lap from the pole position. Michael McDowell led the other 11 laps in the stage, his Front Row Motorsports team opting for an alternate pit strategy in the middle of the segment.

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

Stage 2 recap | Results

Kevin Harvick continued a solid showing Sunday, sealing a stages sweep at Las Vegas Motor Speedway with a Stage 2 victory.

Harvick led all but four of the 80 laps in the second stage of the Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy Lube. He surrendered the lead only during a mid-stage exchange of pit stops, which allowed Kyle Busch to lead for the first time Sunday.

Harvick’s second stage win of the day in the Stewart-Haas Racing No. 4 Ford pushed his early season total to three. The stage finish also earned another playoff point that he’ll carry into the postseason. Harvick cumulatively led 144 of the 160 laps through the first two stages.

Team Penske’s Fords occupied three of the top six spots at the end of Stage 2. Pole-starter Ryan Blaney was the stage runner-up in the No. 12 Ford with Kyle Larson’s No. 42 Chevrolet in third. Joey Logano, Busch and Keselowski completed the top six.

The total distance is 267 laps (400.5 miles) on the 1.5-mile Nevada track.

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

RELATED: Starting lineup | Photos from Las Vegas

NASCAR officials have ejected the car chiefs for the Hendrick Motorsports No. 48 Chevrolet and the Premium Motorsports No. 15 Chevrolet ahead of Sunday’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Both entries failed pre-race inspection three times before the start of the Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy Lube (3:30 p.m. ET, FOX, PRN, SiriusXM). Both Jimmie Johnson (driver of the No. 48) and Ross Chastain (No. 15) will start at the rear of the 37-car field.

Under the new deterrence guidelines in the 2018 NASCAR Rule Book, a crew member of NASCAR’s choosing is removed after a third inspection failure. Competition officials have ejected car chief Jesse Saunders from the No. 48 team roster and Lee Leslie from the No. 15 team’s at-track list.

Johnson was scheduled to start 14th in the third Monster Energy Series race of the year. He said he was unsure how the penalty would impact his day.

“I’m not sure. I’ve never been in this situation,” Johnson told FOX Sports during its pre-race broadcast. “Last weekend, there were some teams that had the same thing take place and they still had good finishes, so any race team out here is bigger than one person. Although I guess Jesse’s not going to be with us today, we have a lot of people who are very talented and ready to get going and fill in the void.”

Johnson is a four-time winner at the 1.5-mile Nevada track. Chastain is set to make just his fourth career Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series start and his first at the Las Vegas venue.

Posted on by Track Release

CONCORD, N.C. — Alsco, a pioneer in linen and uniform rental services, has joined forces with one of racing’s iconic tracks, Charlotte Motor Speedway, for a historic entitlement sponsorship of the Alsco 300 on May 26. Alsco’s groundbreaking sponsorship of the Alsco 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway coincides with the 40th anniversary of the inaugural running of one of the crown jewels on the NASCAR Xfinity Series schedule.

Additionally, Alsco – which also sponsors the NASCAR Xfinity Series race on July 13 at Kentucky Speedway – becomes one of only two companies to serve as entitlement sponsor of multiple Xfinity Series events.

“Charlotte Motor Speedway is all about striving for excellence, which is a quality we share with Alsco,” said Greg Walter, Charlotte Motor Speedway’s executive vice president. “Alsco’s partnership with the speedway is proof that this world-class company is committed to supporting our thrilling, action-packed events at America’s Home for Racing. Fans will be in for a show on May 26, when some of NASCAR’s most prominent drivers will tangle with the up-and-coming future stars of the sport in the Alsco 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.”

Alsco is a worldwide leader in the rental of linen, uniforms, healthcare garments and washroom products. The family-run business introduced linen and uniform rental services to the world in 1889.

“I don’t think we can have better people to work with than the folks at Speedway Motorsports, Inc. They bend over backward to make sure everything is right in our partnership,” said Steve Larson, Alsco vice president, North American operations.

“We’re committed to NASCAR and what it’s meant for Alsco, which is why we sought a second race sponsorship. Our partnerships across the racing world, together with VF Workwear, have given us great exposure, opened doors, and have given us opportunities for valuable business partnerships,” said Jim Divers, Alsco’s director of sales and marketing.

“We are also excited at the prospect of being able to do this at Charlotte over Memorial Day weekend. This is a great platform to show our respect to our military, active and veteran.”

Posted on by Staff Report

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series go onto the second leg of the NASCAR Goes West part of the schedule, heading to ISM Raceway at Phoenix. 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 11
Run of show
3 p.m.: Driver Introductions
3:30: Intro Presentation of Colors: Luke Air Force Base Color Guard
3:30:20: Invocation: Pastor Tim Griffin, Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students
3:31: National Anthem: Finalist from Season 13 of NBC’s “The Voice,” country soul singer, Keisha Renee
3:32:30: Flyover: (2) F-35s from the 61st Fighter Squadron, Luke Air Force Base (Turn 3 to Turn 1)
3:37:30: “Drivers, Start Your Engines:” Bryan Derbyshire, CEO of TicketGuardian, along with wife Kristen and son Hudson
3:44:30: Green Flag: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series TicketGuardian 500, FOX (Canada: TSN 5) (312 laps, 312 miles) (Results)

Note: There will be a competition caution on Lap 35 due to rain in the area on Sunday morning.

Press Pass (Watch live)
— 6:30 p.m.: Post-Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race

Friday, March 9
12:35-1:25 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series first practice, FS1 (Canada: TSN GO) (Results)
2:05-2:55 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series first practice, FS1 (Canada: TSN GO) (Results)
4:05-4:55 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series final practice, FS1 (Canada: TSN GO) (Results)
5:15 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series qualifying, FS1 (Canada: TSN GO) (Results)

Press Pass (Watch live)
— 11:30 a.m.: Alex Bowman
— 11:45 a.m.: Kevin Harvick
— noon: Justin Allgaier, Brandon Jones and Matt Tifft
— 3 p.m.: Joey Logano
— 3:15 p.m.: Ryan Newman
— 3:30 p.m.: Kyle Busch
— 3:45 p.m.: Michael McDowell
— 6:30 p.m.: Post-Monster Energy Series qualifying

Saturday, March 10
12:05-12:55 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series second practice, FS1 (Canada: TSN GO) (Results)
1:05 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series qualifying, FS1 (Canada: TSN GO) (Results)
2:30-3:20 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series final practice, FS1 (Canada: TSN GO) (Results)
4 p.m.: NASCAR Xfinity Series DC Solar 200, FOX (Canada: TSN 5) (200 laps, 200 miles) (Results)

Press Pass (Watch live)
— 6 p.m.: Post-Xfinity Series race

Posted on by Team Release

LAS VEGAS — Josh Frankos, the front tire changer of the No. 43 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 driven by Darrell “Bubba” Wallace Jr, suffered a hand injury Sunday morning while preparing for the Pennzoil 400 at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Frankos was transported to a local medical center for treatment. He later returned to the track to support his team.

Michael Hubert replaced Frankos on pit road in Sunday’s race.

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 5
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 6
5 p.m., NASCAR America, NBCSN
6 p.m., NASCAR RaceHub, FS1

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

Wednesday, March 7
5 p.m., NASCAR America, NBCSN
6 p.m., NASCAR RaceHub, 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 8
5 p.m., NASCAR America, NBCSN
6 p.m., NASCAR RaceHub, FS1

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

Friday, March 9
noon, NASCAR Race Classic: 1998 Daytona 500, FS1
12:30 p.m., Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice, FS1 (Canada: TSN GO)
1:30 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub Weekend Edition, FS1
2 p.m, Xfinity Series practice, FS1 (Canada: TSN GO)
3 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub Weekend Edition, FS1
4 p.m., Xfinity Series final practice, FS1 (Canada: TSN GO)
5 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 10
noon, Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice, FS1 (Canada: TSN GO)
1 p.m., Xfinity Series qualifying, FS1 (Canada: TSN GO)
2 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub Weekend Edition, FS1
2:30 p.m., Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series final practice, FS1 (Canada: TSN GO)
3:30 p.m., NASCAR Race Day: Xfinity Series, FOX
4 p.m., NASCAR Xfinity Series DC Solar 200, FOX (Canada: TSN 5). Coverage switched to FS1 at 6 p.m. ET

Sunday, March 11
5:30 a.m., NASCAR Race Classic: 1998 Daytona 500, FS1 (re-air)
6 a.m., NASCAR Race Classic: 1998 Daytona 500, FS1 (re-air)
6:30 a.m., Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series final practice, FS1 (re-air)
7:30 a.m., NASCAR Xfinity Series DC Solar 200, FS1 (re-air)
1 p.m., Beyond the Wheel 2018, 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 TicketGuardian 500, FOX, FOX Deportes (Canada: TSN 5)

Posted on by @KESELOWSKI

PLAY NOW: Set your Fantasy Live lineup | How the new Fantasy Live works

Ryan Blaney will start on the pole for Sunday’s Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy Lube at Las Vegas Motor Speedway (3:30 p.m. ET on FOX, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). With 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 third Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race of 2018.

1. Ryan Blaney. It’s not exactly a hot take to come out and say that the pole winner is a smart choice to include in your Fantasy Live lineup, but the Team Penske driver can’t be ignored Sunday. Second thus far in Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series competition in the laps-led column, Blaney will likely pace the field for a good chunk of the race and could add a stage win to his credit. Saturday’s final practice winner has a 10.7 average finish at Vegas and has finished in the top seven the last two times out.

RELATED: Fantasy analysis for Las Vegas | Full lineup | 10-lap averages

2. Kyle Larson. If there’s one driver you absolutely must start — especially if you’ve yet to use him — it’s Larson. Saturday’s Xfinity Series winner also tested at Las Vegas earlier this year, leading the second session during the event. Safe to say he knows his way around the Nevada track pretty well. The Chip Ganassi Racing driver also paced the first two practices of the weekend, was second-best in the third session, and had the fastest 10-lap average in the final tune-up. As long as he can keep it clean, the No. 42 — last year’s race runner-up — will have plenty of speed.

3. Kevin Harvick. You already know Harvick is among the best — if not the best — at the intermediate tracks over the past few years, and last week’s Atlanta winner should find his way to the front again on Sunday. (It shouldn’t take too long, as he’s starting second.) Harvick also put together the fastest 10-lap string in the second practice, was second on that chart in the final session and won this race in 2015. Get him in your lineup, but remember — you’re likely going to want him next week at Phoenix, as well, so keep an eye on his starts meter.

Pat DeCola’s revised Fantasy Live lineup following practices and qualifying:
1: Joey Logano
2: Ryan Blaney
3: Kevin Harvick
4: Martin Truex Jr.
5: Kyle Larson
Garage: Kurt Busch

Analysis: I’m going heavy with this one. The fastest cars seem to be pretty clear this weekend, with the Fords showing their early season speed might be for real (Blaney, Harvick, Logano) and usual suspects Larson and Truex acting like themselves when it comes to intermediate tracks out west.

Based on their speed and past track history, I suspect all three Team Penske cars will be among those vying for the lead/win at some point, so I have two of them in there but seriously considered the full trio. Logano has finished in the top four in three of the past four Vegas races and is due for a win. Good time to capitalize on his quick start to the season.

Busch — another Ford guy — has been shut out of a win at his home track in 16 attempts and doesn’t have a tremendously favorable history at Vegas, but he did test there and could be fast like he was at Atlanta. He’s a good garage pick because of his high ceiling, moderate floor.

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 Reid Spencer

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

LAS VEGAS – Kyle Larson pulled away from pole winner Christopher Bell after a restart with seven laps left and took the checkered flag in Saturday’s Boyd Gaming 300, winning for the first time at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

Larson beat Bell to the finish line by .881 seconds. The driver of the No. 42 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet led 142 of the 200 laps and overcame a pit road snafu that dropped him to eighth for a restart on Lap 139 after a caution for Austin Cindric’s crash in Turn 2.

The victory was Larson’s first of the season and the ninth of his career.

“It was an awesome day,” Larson said in Victory Lane. “This car was so fast. It was really fast last year, but you really never know, and this was my first time racing with this new (composite) body, and it performed well.”

Nor did it take him long to recover after the slow pit stop on Lap 135 that set him back.

“Normally my guys are some of the best on pit road,” Larson said. “They said the left-rear (tire) just wouldn’t come out (of the wheel well). I had been fighting a tight issue all day and then finally we got our car to turn better.

“It allowed me to get to the lead fairly easily, and then I was saving fuel in case the race stayed green.”

Larson and Bell are frequent rivals in dirt-track racing, and Bell had the upper hand in last November’s Turkey Night Classic and January’s Chili Bowl, the marquee midget race of the season. Bell was happy to see the friendly rivalry extend to pavement.

“That was really cool, and there will be a lot more of that,” promised Bell, who outdueled Larson at the end of Stage 1 but fell short after the final restart. “We were close, running second to Kyle – if I’m going to run second to anyone, I guess I would rather it be him.

“Special day, we were able to win a stage and get a Playoff point. We need to keep racking those up and get some race wins here.”

WATCH: Larson and Bell battle to end Stage 1

Justin Allgaier ran third in the No. 7 JR Motorsports Chevrolet. Ryan Blaney was fourth, followed by Elliott Sadler.

But the show at the beginning and at the end was Larson vs. Bell.

“It’s always fun to get to race Bell,” Larson said. “He seems to beat me all the time in the dirt stuff, and he edged me out there in qualifying. We were pretty equal there… It was cool to race, though.

“That first stage kind of felt like we were dirt-track racing there, swapping lanes and stuff. I was trying to take the air off him, and he got by, and yeah, it was fun… Anytime I get to race in the Xfinity Series, I’m sure we’ll be up front, battling each other.”

Trying for a weekend sweep after winning Friday night’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series event, Kyle Busch fought an ill-handling Toyota throughout the race and finished 14th after his fueler drew a penalty for handling a tire during a green-flag stop on Lap 166.

Daniel Hemric, Brandon Jones, Tyler Reddick, Cole Custer and Las Vegas native Spencer Gallagher completed the top 10. Reddick and Sadler leave Las Vegas tied for the series lead, 23 points ahead of Bell in third.

Posted on by Kathy Sheldon

RELATED: Vegas starting lineup

LAS VEGAS – Respect is earned, not given.

That’s the perspective William Byron has adopted as he tackles his rookie season in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.

The 20-year-old doesn’t believe that just because he is piloting the No. 24 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports he automatically has credibility. He wants to earn admiration from fans and his fellow drivers when he finds his way to Victory Lane – and he knows it won’t be an easy road either.

“It’s hard to mentally prepare to know that it’s going to be difficult,” Byron said at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the first stop on the three-race NASCAR Goes West swing. “Once it clicks, it’s going to be the same as any other series. Once it clicks, and you know what you need in the car and you know how to produce results it doesn’t matter whether there (are) 30 good cars or 20 good cars.

“I think that once it does click for us and we show up each week — and we are very close — we are going to rack up those successful finishes.”

Byron also acknowledged that he had no choice but to grow up quickly when he accepted the offer from Rick Hendrick to jump into the car that former driver Jeff Gordon made a household name. He quickly understood the responsibility that comes with driving the No. 24 Chevrolet – and from being a part of the youth movement that is taking the sport by storm.

“You just try to interact with them (fans),” he said. “You try to still get where you’re going if you have to be at practice; you can’t just stop for each person. But you’ve got to walk with them and try to understand how to manage that.

“You want to make sure they get the right impression from the weekend because I know from me going to races that one impression I would get from a driver … that interaction is crucial. You want to make sure they have a good time.”

RELATED: How life has changed for Byron

Sunday marks the third race of the 2018 season, and the 2017 Xfinity champion and his team have felt the growing pains early. A 23rd-place finish at Daytona was followed with what he described as the “hardest” 18th-place finish of his career at Atlanta. He’ll start 17th at the 1.5-mile Las Vegas Motor Speedway, where his team is still working on pit-stop strategies and adjusting to the new Chevrolet Camaro ZL1.

Byron tries not to let a tough practice or qualifying keep him from looking forward.

“The biggest pressure you can put on yourself is seeing what other people say and seeing what other people think about what’s going on,” he said. “Sometimes they actually know exactly what’s going on which is funny to read some comments and I’m like, ‘Yeah that’s pretty much what’s happening.’ … You have to be honest with yourself and just know what you have to work on.”

Byron’s rise through the ranks has put the spotlight as bright as it comes – and along with the notoriety comes the nicknames. “Willy B.” has become the trademark for fans and broadcasters, but he hopes that it doesn’t become the norm.

“It’s better than Billy,” he said. “If I start winning hopefully it’ll be William. I gotta win first though.”