Hamlin explains apology, has yet to speak to Elliott since Martinsville

Posted on November 2, 2017June 16, 2021 by RJ Kraft

PLANO, Texas – Denny Hamlin felt his apology tweet to Chase Elliott following their contact and Elliott’s subsequent late-race spin from the lead in the Round of 8 opener at Martinsville Speedway was absolutely necessary.

“I think anytime I’ve seen things like that in the past and someone has an arrogance or a sense of no compassion to the guy that you just took out, it bugged me a little bit,” Hamlin said during a break during Toyota Motorsports Day at the company’s North American corporate headquarters in Plano, just outside of Dallas.

“So I felt there was a need for me to kind of issue an apology there because it was needed. Obviously, the other side doesn’t want to hear it. It doesn’t make their day any better, but I felt like it was important for me to get what my thought process and feelings were out there.”

Hamlin said he has yet to talk to Elliott since their heated on-track chat following the race, although he has said he’s reached out. However, he understood why the Hendrick Motorsports driver wouldn’t want to talk.

Elliott was leading at Martinsville with less than three laps to go in the scheduled 500-lap race when Hamlin, who had been on the No. 24’s bumper, initiated heavy contact and sent Elliott spinning up the track. The leader at the time, Elliott would finish the race 27th.

Hamlin assumed the lead, but finished seventh after losing ground on the final restart with some contact thrown his way as well. In the race, Elliott led 123 laps and looked to be closing in on that elusive first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series win and a berth in the Championship 4 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Both Elliott and Hamlin are among the drivers in the Round of 8 of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, which continues this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway.

“Racing has had wrecks for many, many years and I don’t see entirely where this is that much different,” Hamlin said. “The stakes are high for sure and it’s high for everyone. It’s equally as high for us as it was for the 24 and it was also was for the 2 (Brad Keselowski), who got knocked out of the way. Unfortunately, it was an incident that people were upset about it.”

After the race, Elliott drove Hamlin’s No. 11 Toyota up into the wall, and the two emerged from their cars on the track following the race and exchanged words.

“I think the biggest thing is I was aggressive as everyone was,” Hamlin said in explaining his perspective of the incident, even mentioning being bumped by teammate and eventual race winner Kyle Busch in the closing laps. “Anybody with the lead was knocked out of the way in those last four laps. I felt like it was ill-timed. It was poor execution on my part but obviously there was no intent there.

“Even though people are going to try and prod you into thinking that they can’t get into your mind and understand how you think. Unless you are in the moment, unless you’re there, no one will ever understand that but me. I know that there was no intent but it worked out bad for all parties involved.”

Could an incident such as the one at Martinsville lead to a change in how others race the Joe Gibbs Racing driver? Perhaps, but that doesn’t faze the 36-year-old Virginia native.

“How people race me is really no concern to me,” Hamlin said. “I’ll drive everyone the exactly same way I always drive them, Chase included. How they choose to race me is up to them. It’s everyone’s prerogative to race any way that they want to. We’ll do the best we can to run up front and not have to worry about that stuff.”

Entering Texas, Hamlin sits in seventh in the point standings, but just eight points behind Kevin Harvick for the final transfer spot into the Championship 4 with two races left in the round. Hamlin finished 25th in the spring race on the repaved 1.5-mile track.

“We honestly did not run very well here in the spring,” Hamlin said. “I’m optimistic that we’ve turned the corner on the 1.5-mile tracks. We’ve obviously been very fast on those tracks lately.”

While Hamlin has two career wins at Texas, he has not won on a 1.5-mile track this season, He does have five straight top-five finishes at intermediate-sized tracks dating back to the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May.

Posted on November 2, 2017 by Brad Norman

At the end, there was everything. Strategy on when to pit, crunch-time decision-making on which lane to pick on the restarts, hard-nosed and physical racing and, yes, plenty of emotion that spilled over even after the checkered flag.

Throw in a full field of Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series stock cars at a historic, flat .526-mile track that has been on the NASCAR schedule since 1949, in a race that finished under brand-new LED lighting, and the event becomes all the more memorable.

Days later, as the series prepares to unload at Texas Motor Speedway, there’s still a buzz.

“What an incredible race,” NASCAR President Brent Dewar said in an interview with NASCAR.com. “Each stage was like the end of a race. They’re racing so hard up on the wheel because it’s the race within the race, and it means something. I think we’re onto something really special with this format. I think it’s generating incredible moments for the fans.

“This really was a classic Martinsville race. The format just brought it to life. That was classic NASCAR short-track racing with lots of banging and bumping, and really incredible driving.”

Kyle Busch steered his way through the late-race drama, winning his third race of the Monster Energy Series Playoffs and clinching a spot in the Championship 4 for the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Busch initiated contact with teammate Denny Hamlin following the final restart; previously, Hamlin sent Chase Elliott spinning up the track to both take the lead and bring out the final caution.

That set the scene for Elliott confronting Hamlin on the backstretch following the cool-down lap as the two drivers spoke demonstratively face to face before giving interviews, with Elliott being awash in cheers.

“I think Chase handled himself very well,” Dewar said. “I would say what we’ve seen this year is our fan base getting behind our young guns. We saw it at Pocono with Ryan Blaney’s win, we saw it in Bristol in the summer when Erik Jones was leading with fans on their feet. We clearly saw it in Martinsville. Our young drivers are not only great personalities, they’re also really good drivers.

“You saw bumping and banging between Ryan Blaney and the veterans in Martinsville, and he wasn’t backing down. You saw how Chase handled himself. I think for our core fans, how these young drivers are representing the sport is incredible. And they’re being rewarded by building their fan base.”

Sunday’s AAA Texas 500 (2 p.m. ET, NBCSN, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) will again pit NASCAR’s young stars against its veterans, with an additional spot into the Championship 4 on the line.

Other topics Dewar discussed with NASCAR.com:

• The impact of stage racing in the playoffs: “I’ve enjoyed the stages right from the beginning. There’s some real strategy coming in. You can see the teams thinking through, ‘Is this important or not important? How is this going to play out?’ It manifests itself throughout the season, but it really comes through when you get into the playoffs and go from 16 drivers to 12 to now eight.”

• Enhanced race weekends in which Monster Energy Series teams begin practice on Saturday, qualify pre-race on Sunday and tracks host a Fan Fest event: “Our feedback has been really on the positive side. We’ve tried something different. I think there was kind of a mixed message early on, that we were cutting back the weekend. That’s the furthest thing from the truth. What we’re trying to do is be more thoughtful to having greater fan experiences. You’ll see more of this direction next year. The goal going forward is to keep innovating and try different things, and to do more of that direction.”

• Darrell “Bubba” Wallace Jr. being named as driver of the No. 43 Ford for Richard Petty Motorsports starting in 2018: “Bubba is an incredible race car driver. He’s been with us right through the beginning, coming up through NASCAR Next and the Drive for Diversity initiative. We couldn’t be more thrilled. He’s got his own following in the sport, not only as a great race car driver, but he’s great in how he communicates and connects with his fans. We think we’ll see great things from that team next year.”

• Impending Drive for Diversity Class of 2018, to be announced next week: “Everyone in this year’s class already are accomplished drivers in their own right. They are incredible race car drivers. This gives them an opportunity to improve and find a pathway in racing, but also to learn the business side of motorsports. We think it helps as they find their own voice and not be a carbon copy of someone else but be themselves. That’s what fans want.”

Posted on November 2, 2017November 9, 2017 by Staff Report

Repave. The most intimidating word to a NASCAR driver.

Texas Motor Speedway was both repaved and reconfigured before the NASCAR weekend in the spring, and this weekend drivers will again expect to have to tackle a treacherous track. Just how challenging can it be for the drivers still championship eligible? Seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson, who went to Victory Lane in April, did so after spinning in qualifying.

So, slick track, different banking on each end of the speedway, and a hard tire. A few of the things Johnson along with Kyle and Kurt Busch believe will be the obstacles to overcome in the second race of the Round of 8.

Hear them discuss those in this week’s edition of “How to Win.”

Posted on November 2, 2017June 21, 2021 by Holly Cain

Spend even five minutes speaking with young NASCAR star William Byron or his newly-named 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series crew chief Darian Grubb and it’s difficult to tell who thinks he got the better deal.

Grubb, 42, was formally introduced Wednesday to lead Byron’s Hendrick Motorsports No. 24 Chevrolet team next season, pairing the champion crew chief with a 19-year old rookie whom many expect to be hoisting his own Monster Energy Series trophy very soon.

“Just knowing I’ve got William Byron coming in next year with the talent he has — even though he’s going to be a rookie in the Cup series — watching him run for the championship in XFINITY and watching him in the past with the Truck Series … It’s pretty exciting to see that future of the sport coming into the organization and being able to be a big part of that and helping build that 24 team,” Grubb said. “It’s going to be a lot of fun.”

MORE: Gordon says Byron will represent No. 24 well

Grubb knows what the combination of fun and success can mean. He worked as lead engineer for Jimmie Johnson’s Cup team from 2003-2006 and guided Johnson to the 2006 Daytona 500 win while filling in for then-suspended crew chief Chad Knaus. The victory laid the groundwork for the now seven-time champ’s first Monster Energy Series title in 2006. And Grubb remained at Hendrick until 2008 — claiming another race victory with driver Casey Mears in 2007.

From there the well-liked, highly respected Grubb joined Stewart-Haas Racing and led Tony Stewart to the 2011 Monster Energy Series title by virtue of five wins in the final 10 races of the season. He moved to Joe Gibbs Racing from 2012-15, leading the team to nine wins working with drivers Denny Hamlin and Carl Edwards.

Grubb has assumed the playoff-time crew chief duties for Hendrick’s No. 5 Chevrolet driven by Kasey Kahne and while Kahne was eliminated from title hopes after the first round, he has steadily improved in the points standings under Grubb’s leadership.

Serving as crew chief for a Hendrick team running for the title next year is a sort of full-circle move for Grubbs. And his new driver is genuinely and understandably excited about what the future may hold.

“It means a lot for me,” Byron said late Wednesday afternoon. “I think having a veteran guy on the pit box is good for me. He certainly has a lot of expertise winning races at the Cup level, and I really can’t wait to get started with him.”

Byron is currently contending for the XFINITY Series title. He’s second in the championship standings entering Saturday night’s race at Texas Motor Speedway — only two points behind JR Motorsports teammate Justin Allgaier. | XFINITY Playoffs standings

He will make his first career Cup start in the 2018 Daytona 500 — a markedly different set of circumstances for Grubb, who previously has worked with more experienced drivers. But both crew chief and driver are not only eager for this new opportunity, but also have very high hopes for immediate returns.

“Really looking forward to the difference with a rookie coming in,” Grubb said. “The whole sport is changing with the way technology is developing and William’s been brought up in that technology generation, using the simulator and all the things and tools behind the scenes. He has that background knowledge that a lot of the older veterans did not. That’s exciting to me because that’s the trend of what we’re doing at the race track now more and more, the simulation and the engineering. So much of what we do depends on that technology.

“He’ll have a few of the ‘learning experiences’ as we get on the race track, but just watching him perform so far, I don’t think he’s lacking for much.

“He’s definitely a very quick learner and a student of the game. He loves it, he lives it, his fitness program and all the things he needs to do for the longer races has been incredible. I’m really looking forward to going out and watching him perform.”

And that goes both ways.

“He’s definitely a great mind with a lot to bring to the table,” Byron said. “I can’t wait to get over there and work with those guys. I talked to him a little bit and it seems like he’s excited to get back to doing it and we’ll have a lot of great resources there.”

Posted on November 2, 2017 by Staff Report

AJ Allmendinger will sport a new look in 2018, but with a familiar primary sponsor.

JTG Daugherty Racing revealed the veteran driver’s primary paint scheme for the 2018 season on Thursday, a crisp new look for the No. 47 Kroger ClickList Chevrolet Camaro. Streaks of blue and red on the side panels make this one stand out.

Kroger returns as sponsor with a focus on the Kroger ClickList, in which one can shop for groceries online, then pick up the order at the store … or get your groceries delivered, where available.

Allmendinger is in his fourth full-time season with JTG Daugherty Racing, which expanded to two teams this year (Chris Buescher drives the No. 37 Chevrolet). Allmendinger’s tenure with the team includes five top-five finishes and one unforgettable win at Watkins Glen in 2014.

Learn more about JTG as an organization, and the personalities of its two drivers, on this page.

Posted on November 1, 2017June 22, 2021 by Staff Report

RELATED: Full Martinsville race results

NASCAR competition officials announced penalties Wednesday from last weekend’s events at Martinsville Speedway, including an L1-level infraction for the Stewart-Haas Racing No. 14 team for driver Clint Bowyer.

Race officials determined that the SHR No. 14 Ford team was in violation of Section 20.18.5.2 in the NASCAR Rule Book, a section that relates to the TV video package. If teams are not carrying an in-car camera for a given week, they must mount a simulated weight that makes up the difference. That TV package simulated weight did not meet NASCAR specifications.

As a result, No. 14 crew chief Mike Bugarewicz has been fined $25,000 and suspended from the next Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series event. A Stewart-Haas Racing spokesperson said Wednesday that the organization will not appeal the one-race ban, and that Richard Boswell — a crew chief for the SHR No. 41 operation in the NASCAR XFINITY Series — will serve as interim crew chief in Sunday’s AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway (2 p.m. ET, NBCSN, PRN, SiriusXM).

The No. 14 team also was docked 10 points in both the series’ owner and driver standings. Additionally, Bowyer’s third-place finish at Martinsville is ruled encumbered.

NASCAR also issued a pair of $10,000 fines to Monster Energy Series crew chiefs for having one unsecured lug nut in a post-race check of their cars. Those crew chiefs are:

• Robert “Bootie” Barker of the Germain Racing No. 13 Chevrolet driven by Ty Dillon
• Scott Graves of the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 19 Toyota driven by Daniel Suarez

The fine was the fifth such penalty for Graves this season. His other single-lug fines occurred after Pocono in June, New Hampshire in July, Bristol in August and Charlotte in October. Graves became crew chief for the JGR No. 19 on March 29.

Posted on November 1, 2017June 22, 2021 by Nascar

Teams competing in NASCAR XFINITY Series races at Pocono Raceway and Michigan International Speedway in 2018 will utilize the same aerodynamic package that debuted at Indianapolis Motor Speedway this season.

The move is one of the tweaks to the 2018 rules package released Wednesday to teams competing in the series.

The 2017 Indy-specific package included a taller rear spoiler, use of a restrictor plate (7/8th-inch) and aero ducts (similar to brake duct openings) in an attempt to lessen the aerodynamic advantage enjoyed by the lead car at the 2.5-mile track.

This year’s Lily Diabetes 250 at Indy saw a record number of race leaders (8) and lead changes (16). Not surprisingly, the package received high marks from series drivers and team owners.

The XFINITY Series is scheduled to compete at Pocono on June 2, Michigan on June 9 and Indianapolis on Sept. 8 next season.

Other highlights to the ’18 package, several of which were announced previously, include:

• Flange-fit composite body — optional at all tracks except superspeedways
• Common flat splitter
• Use of same common radiator approved for Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series
• Reduction of brake cooling hoses, fans
• Single transmission rule enforced at all tracks except road courses
• Splitter height set at 4 inches at all venues, including superspeedways

On the safety front, the mandatory rollout of the enhanced vehicle chassis (EVC) has been changed to 2019 (new chassis required to certify with EVC beginning Nov. 20, 2017); and Incident Data Recorders will be vehicle powered next season. IDRs are currently powered by separate batteries.

Posted on November 1, 2017 by Staff Report

Name: Jeff
Current City: Mason, MI
Hometown: Holt, MI
Member since: 2010

Getting to know JEFF

Q: Why did you join the Official NASCAR Fan Council?

“I wanted to offer NASCAR an objective, even-keeled opinion regarding the various topics that arise throughout any given NASCAR season. I care deeply about the sport and I appreciate having an opportunity to be heard.”

Q: How did you first become interested in NASCAR?

“I was watching the NHL playoffs with friends in the spring of 1998 and they would change the channel to the NASCAR Cup race during the breaks. What caught my attention was that they seemed to be annoyed by a rainbow-colored 24 car leading the race. They told me the driver was named Jeff Gordon and that ‘he wins too much.’ I started to tune in each week to see where Jeff was running and before long I became hooked.”

Q: What makes NASCAR special for you?

“What makes NASCAR special for me are the great NASCAR-related memories I have of my son, Aiden, and I traveling around the country to see races. Aiden was born in 2003 and saw his first cup race in 2008. We’ve attended at least 20 Cup races together since then.”

Q: Do you have any favorite NASCAR memories or traditions?

“Michigan International Speedway is my ‘home’ track, so going to see the races on Father’s Day became a highlight of our year. My favorite memory is watching Jeff Gordon win the August 2014 Cup race with Aiden. Jeff was at the Chevy stage doing a Q&A prior to the race and gave Aiden a fist bump. It was a perfect day. Something else that stands out is when I won passes to attend Jeff Gordon’s charity bowling tournament in Indianapolis. I met all of the Hendrick drivers and several others. I still have the gift bags!”

Q: If you could go to any NASCAR race/track, where would you go?

“Richmond.”

Q: Do you have a favorite in any of the following categories?

Driver: “Jeff Gordon”
Track: “Richmond”
Memorabilia: “I have a copy of Jeff Gordon’s first book autographed by Jeff Gordon, Ray Evernham, Rick Hendrick and Robbie Loomis.”

Q: What do you like to do in your free time?

“In my free time I enjoy playing music, working on computers and watching documentaries.”

Q: Where is your dream car?

“1970 Chevy Camaro SS.”

Q: What would be your dream vacation?

“Rome, Italy.”

From all of us at NASCAR, we thank Jeff for his continued support and look forward to hearing from him in 2017.

Posted on November 1, 2017November 1, 2017 by Team Release

WELCOME, N.C. (November 1, 2017) – Liberty National Life Insurance Company has entered into a partnership with Richard Childress Racing and the No. 31 team for the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season. Liberty National will be featured as a primary sponsor for select races with Ryan Newman and the No. 31 Chevrolet Camaro, and will be an associate sponsor for the entire season.

Liberty National is a leading provider of life and supplemental health insurance for middle-income Americans through in-home and workplace sales. Liberty National was founded in 1900 and is based in McKinney, Texas. LNL Racing will use marketing assets provided by RCR to engage its independent sales agents, independent agency owners, and policyholders throughout the United States.

“Liberty National Racing (#LNLRacing) is excited to continue in NASCAR in 2018 with Richard Childress Racing, Ryan Newman, and the No. 31 crew,” said Steve DiChiaro, president of Liberty National’s Agency Division. “Liberty National has sustained its place in the industry since 1900 because of the relentless pursuit of excellence by our independent agents and agency owners who help build our organization, give back to local communities where we have offices, and service our customers.

“We feel Richard Childress Racing is a great fit for our vision and values. This opportunity with RCR is a vehicle to expose and expand our brand to new audiences in 2018 and to reward our people and customers with once-in-a-lifetime experiences at the tracks. On behalf of our independent agents, agency owners, and policyholders, we look forward to seeing our logo on Ryan Newman’s car next year.”

Liberty National Life Insurance Company will join RCR’s family of more than 40 corporate partners and becomes an official benefits provider to RCR. Liberty National’s 2018 race program will include at-track activation to engage its independent agents and business-to-business customers. Away from the race track, Liberty National will leverage digital and social media assets to grow its brand as a leading provider of life and supplemental health insurance, identify business-to-business opportunities, and recruit new agents and customers.

“We feel that this partnership is a terrific opportunity for Liberty National to expose its brand and products to millions of NASCAR fans while expanding its footprint,” said Torrey Galida, president of RCR. “We look forward to hosting and engaging their agents and customers at the races next season.”

Ryan Newman and the No. 31 team qualified for the 2017 NASCAR Playoffs with a win at Phoenix International Raceway earlier this season. Newman is currently in his fourth season with RCR and is an 18-time winner in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.

Posted on November 1, 2017November 1, 2017 by Staff Report

Veteran crew chief Darian Grubb will remain on the pit box full time in 2018. Hendrick Motorsports announced Wednesday Grubb will serve as crew chief for William Byron and the No. 24 team beginning next year, which completes the 2018 lineup for the four-car operation.

Grubb currently is crew chief of Kasey Kahne’s No. 5 team, a position he has held since Sept. 18, 2017, when he took over for Keith Rodden. Grubb, 42, won the 2011 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series championship with Tony Stewart. He has 23 wins in NASCAR’s top series.

“This is our last major piece of the puzzle for next season,” team owner Rick Hendrick said in a press release. “Darian is an all-around terrific person and a proven winner. The experience and leadership he brings will be a difference-maker for William and everyone on the team. He has a clear vision for the future and already is plugged in with our other crew chiefs. He’s a great fit.”

Hendrick Motorsports’ 2018 lineup is now complete with Wednesday’s news. The rest of the four-car lineup is Chase Elliott-Alan Gustafson in the No. 9; Jimmie Johnson-Chad Knaus in the No. 48; and Alex Bowman-Greg Ives in the No. 88.

Byron, currently competing for a championship in the NASCAR XFINITY Series, was signed by Hendrick as a developmental driver in 2016. His ascension to NASCAR’s top level has been swift, with one full-time season in both the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (seven wins in 2016) and NASCAR XFINITY Series (three wins so far in 2017) under his belt.

MORE: Byron, Elliott get new numbers

“I have so much respect for Darian and everything he’s accomplished in this sport,” Byron said. “There aren’t many people with a résumé like his, and I will definitely tap into that knowledge from day one. He knows how to win races and win championships. To have that kind of person leading the No. 24 team gives me a ton of confidence about what we can all do together.”

Grubb originally joined Hendrick Motorsports in January 2003 and served as the lead race engineer for the No. 48 Chevrolet and driver Johnson from 2003-2006, including four races as interim crew chief during the team’s 2006 championship season.

In 2009, Grubb moved into a crew chief role at Stewart-Haas Racing and then joined Joe Gibbs Racing, winning nine races from 2012-2015 as crew chief for drivers Denny Hamlin and Carl Edwards. Grubb rejoined Hendrick Motorsports in January 2016 to oversee race car manufacturing as vehicle production director and was recently promoted to director of competition systems.

“The opportunity to work with William and the No. 24 team is big,” Grubb said. “William is a phenomenal young driver and already a great communicator in the race car. I’m looking forward to building a strong relationship with him and working with Alan, Chad, Greg and all of our talented people. Everyone on the team will be committed to continuing the winning tradition of the No. 24.”

PHOTOS: History of the 24 car