Dale Jr. REALLY wants to see Washington in the Super Bowl

Posted on September 14, 2017 by Staff Report

Dale Earnhardt Jr. is a diehard Washington Redskins fan. Everyone knows that.

But just how much is Junior willing to do to see his team win a Super Bowl? According to Twitter, just about anything.

MORE: Legacy: Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Can Junior win another at Chicagoland?

Using a meme that pays homage to the newly-released horror movie “It,” the No. 88 driver said he would float down to the sewer if it meant Washington were to be crowned the new champs. Actually, not even champs. Just in the Super Bowl. That’s how desperate he is.

Risking his life at the hands of psycho clowns just to potentially see his team win? Sign Dale Jr. up.

“The @Redskins are in the Super Bowl down here” https://t.co/pu52Ok4KAn

— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) September 14, 2017

Would you head down to the sewer if it meant seeing Dale Earnhardt Jr. find Victory Lane one more time?

Posted on September 14, 2017September 14, 2017 by Holly Cain

NASCAR PLAYOFFS: Print your grid | Guide to the playoffs

Kyle Larson’s victory in Saturday night’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup regular-season finale at Richmond Raceway feels like an appropriately dramatic scenario to begin the highly anticipated 10-race NSACAR Playoffs.

Regular Season Champion Martin Truex was leading the final laps and looked to wrap up his series-best fifth victory, when a late-race caution changed the juju. Larson, who led 53 laps on the night, beat Truex off pit road, then Truex and Denny Hamlin collided, sending Truex’s No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Toyota into the wall as the race finished.

While Truex’s heart may have been broken in the moment, his motivation is undoubtedly stirred and strengthened. And his position already was strong: He takes a series-best 53 bonus points into the playoffs — 20 more than No. 2 seed Larson.

He joked with reporters at Wednesday’s playoff media day, that he “got over” Saturday night’s Richmond disappointment fairly quickly.

“Actually it was Tuesday,” he said with a laugh.

“I think we’ll be OK,” he continued. “I think it’s certainly not going to hurt our momentum or confidence the way the last two finished out. Sometimes circumstances in racing you can’t control happen. That’s just the way it goes. So I think we’re in good shape. We’ll just have to see how it all plays out.”

The rather interesting thing about a Truex versus Larson rivalry is that they both have extremely laid-back personalities.

Highly-driven, super motivated to win a first Cup championship? Yes.

But they are considered two of the sport’s genuine “nice guys” — less inclined to give the bumper in an angry payback and highly unlikely to talk smack heading into the playoffs, even with a career-making trophy on the line. Their canvas has always been on the race track and judging by their success — especially this season — it’s been a sort of masterpiece in the works. The question is what it will look like when it’s finished.

Asked about his competition Wednesday, Larson was typically generous in his assessment.

“It’s kind of hard to have a favorite really; it’s only one race,” Larson said of a Homestead-Miami Speedway grand finale. “Martin will be really good there. If both Kyle Busch and I make it there, I think we’re both really good at that style of race track. (Kevin) Harvick obviously is really good. Jimmie (Johnson).

“I mean, there’s so many people that are good at Homestead, it’s hard to pick a favorite. But I think if you had to pick a favorite to make it all the way there, it would be Martin.”

Truex’s Toyota and Larson’s No. 42 Target Chevy have been the consistent “class of the field” throughout the season and locks on most fans’ playoff grids. The real struggles come in predicting the other two who might take it to the Miami season-finale. Former champions Busch (a two-time winner in 2017) and Harvick (Sonoma winner) are popular and obvious picks.

And of course there is that perennial “Fall guy,” seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson, who has three wins this season — the most recent coming June 3 at Dover, which also plays host to the final race in the Round of 16.

Last year Johnson performed the most dramatic championship performance in recent memory. Literally minutes before the race started, his No. 48 Lowe’s Chevy was moved from its 14th place spot on the grid to last because of an unapproved adjustment. He still rallied to win he the race – his first victory at Miami for a record-tying seventh title.

“This playoff format to date … nobody knows,” Johnson said Wednesday. “And it takes away from over-thinking it which is really nice.”

It’s certainly an interesting dichotomy for the sport — two drivers racing for their first championship favored against a group all ready to add the word “multi” to the word “champion” in their introductions.

It’s as compelling a title run as the sport has had.

“We had a rough little summer, but, you know, I feel like we got a great shot at the championship this year,” Larson said. “I’m with a great team. I feel like now our team knows what we have to do every week, every race track. I think we can be competitive for the next couple, few years hopefully, then be a championship-contending team year in and year out.”

Posted on September 14, 2017September 15, 2017 by Brad Norman

What happens in NASCAR Heat 2, stays in NASCAR Heat 2.

That’s what Brad Keselowski preached during his video game showdown Wednesday versus Ryan Blaney, who ended up pulling off an epic comeback to take down his future Team Penske teammate 4-3 on the virtual tracks.

“I think it’s definitely an improvement from where we were Year 1,” Keselowski said. “I helped build the game. I’m a little bit biased, but definitely a step up. I think the vision all along was for it to get better and better every year.”

MORE: Pick up your copy of NASCAR Heat 2 now

A split-screen option is the biggest, and most important, update in the latest version of NASCAR Heat 2 (published by 704Games and developed by Monster Games) — a feature both drivers agreed was a game-changer.

“You want to be able to play with your friends and talk trash in the same room,” Blaney said.

Keselowski came ready to race in his fire suit and told NASCAR.com that there was no doubt the matchup would get competitive — and he wasn’t wrong. The drivers tried out seven different tracks (they originally were slated for four, but Blaney wanted a chance at redemption): Chicago, New Hampshire, Dover, Charlotte, Talladega, Kansas, and Martinsville.

The No. 2 driver took an early 3-1 lead, but the No. 21 pilot dubbed himself a “Cleveland Cavalier” and mounted three consecutive wins in the final four tracks to claim the trophy. Racing as themselves, Keselowski and Blaney found themselves battling it out for first and second place often — even nudging each other into fences and traffic to gain momentum.

When asked how he would celebrate a real-life championship, Blaney said he would rent a plane, load up his boys and head to Nashville, Tennessee.

“Probably burn the place down,” the 23-year-old explained.

Posted on September 14, 2017September 14, 2017 by Team Release

MOORESVILLE, N.C. – JR Motorsports announced today the addition of Tyler Reddick to the team’s NASCAR XFINITY Series program in a multi-year agreement that begins with the 2018 season opener. The 21-year-old Reddick will pilot JRM’s fourth full-time entry in pursuit of the NXS championship next season.

Reddick, a native of Corning, California, is a three-time winner in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series who finished a career-best second in points during the 2015 season. His journey to NASCAR began with an impressive five-year stint in the dirt late model ranks. Reddick followed up with a transition into ARCA and NASCAR K&N competition, winning in his series debut in the latter at Rockingham Speedway in 2012.

“Tyler is a very talented racecar driver and someone we’ve enjoyed watching over the years,” said Kelley Earnhardt Miller, general manager of JR Motorsports. “We’ve seen him make a lot of strides in the short time he’s been in the XFINITY Series. He’s a strong complement to our driver lineup next season, and we’re confident that with consistent seat time he’ll find additional success at this level.”

Reddick currently competes part-time in the NXS with the No. 42 entry, posting one top-five and three top-10 finishes in 14 starts this season.

“This is an amazing opportunity for me,” Reddick said. “Having the chance to race full-time with an organization like JR Motorsports is something I’ve worked toward my entire life. It’s a thrill to be joining such an accomplished group of teammates in going after a championship next year.”

Reddick joins JRM teammates Justin Allgaier, Michael Annett and Elliott Sadler next season in place of departing William Byron. The team will also field a fifth entry in a handful of events. Additional details specific to sponsorship, crew-chief duties and car number for Reddick and the team will be announced at a later date.

Posted on September 14, 2017September 14, 2017 by Kelly Crandall

For his final full-time season as a driver, NASCAR.com will offer an analytical preview on Dale Earnhardt Jr. ahead of every remaining Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race.

Race: Tales of the Turtles 400 at Chicagoland Speedway

Date: Sunday, Sept. 17, 3 p.m. ET (NBCSN, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)

Previous five results at Chicagoland: 12th, 11th, 35th, eighth, third

Notable: The 1.5-mile Chicagoland oval has been hit or miss for Earnhardt during his career. In his first two visits to the speedway, Earnhardt rolled off two top-11 finishes. However, those were then followed by two finishes outside the top 20. Overall, Earnhardt has three top-five and five top-10 finishes in 15 starts at Chicagoland, including a 2005 victory. And in keeping with the hot or cold theme, Earnhardt has two DNFs at the track in addition to 123 laps led.

Memorable: In the midst of a rough 2005 season, Earnhardt arrived at Chicagoland in July looking for something to write home about. After starting 25th, crew chief Shane Hmiel, who had taken over the team just six races prior, knew the car handled better with clean air. Hmiel called for two tires on Earnhardt’s final pit stop, putting him in position to take the lead with 11 laps to go. Earnhardt then fended off a challenge from Brian Vickers and pulled away just enough that a charging and a dominant Matt Kenseth – who had four tires – was not able to catch him. “We got us a win! Yaahoo!” was the cry from Earnhardt as he took the checkered flag for the first time that season and at Chicagoland.

Quotable: “Chicago should be a good track for us. One of our teammates went out there and tested, so we’ve got some information that we can look at,” Earnhardt said in a team release. “[Crew chief] Greg [Ives] is going to be back. T-Mack [Travis Mack, last week’s interim crew chief] is still there as a car chief. I told all my guys at the end of the race last week that this is the team that Greg needs underneath of him to be successful. All of these guys stepped up a little bit and we need to be that way all year long. We should be able to do this going forward, at least that’s what I think we’re capable of, so we’re going to keep working hard for these last 10 races.”

Posted on September 13, 2017September 15, 2017 by Staff Report

NASCAR Playoffs Media Day was held in Charlotte, North Carolina, prior to the start of the opening race in the 10-race postseason. All 16 drivers were on hand to discuss the elimination-style postseason, title aspirations and much more. Check back often for the latest content from the day.

Chicago begins playoff push for 16 drivers

Drivers talk keys to postseason success

Kyle Busch discusses postseason pit crew switch

Blaney, Stenhouse fueled by first time in playoffs

Cain: Truex, Larson elevate their season-long battle into NASCAR Playoffs

NASCAR Playoffs: Underdogs relish opportunity ahead

What drivers are saying at media day

Harvick: Playoff points likely to gain importance in later rounds

Austin Dillon reacts to strong words from Danica Patrick

Elliott on adding to No. 24 legacy with a win: ‘That’s an obligation of mine’

JGR swaps pit crews for Nos. 18, 19 as Kyle Busch heads into postseason

Harvick: Danica a ‘huge part of this sport’

Posted on September 13, 2017 by Reid Spencer

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – No one knows precisely how the current Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series playoff format will unfold this season.

Two innovations have injected considerable uncertainty into the stage-based racing, under which drivers can accumulate points at the end of defined segments of an event; and playoff points, which can give drivers a cushion that could help a driver survive a disastrous race in one of the rounds leading up to the championship race at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

With four race victories, 18 stage wins and a regular-season championship, Martin Truex Jr. has accumulated 53 playoff points he can carry forward into the first three playoff rounds. Kyle Larson has 33 playoff points and Kyle Busch 29.

On the low end of the scale, Jamie McMurray has three. But how the playoff points will translate into advancement through the playoff rounds is still a matter for conjecture.

“I think as you look at the points, in the first round I don’t think you’re going to notice it as much,” said 2014 champion Kevin Harvick. “I think it’s when you see those points start to roll in the second and third rounds and how they affect everything is going to be much more noticeable.”

Posted on September 13, 2017September 13, 2017 by Zack Albert

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Danica Patrick’s status as a newsmaker may not be limited to just this week.

In an interview with ESPN.com about her looming departure from Stewart-Haas Racing at season’s end, Patrick said rival Austin Dillon was on her payback list after their round of bumper tag last Saturday at Richmond Raceway.

Dillon, speaking Wednesday from NASCAR Playoffs Media Day at the NASCAR Hall of Fame, said he’d take her remarks under advisement.

“Well, that’s good to know,” Dillon said. “I’m glad she’s worried about me, but I’ll talk to her at some point. I’m sure we’ll be OK. She could’ve retaliated at Richmond. I pulled right in front of her to allow her to do it, but nothing happened. I was ready to get out of the Richmond race. We sucked so bad. I was like, ‘Man, just take me out if you want.’ But she didn’t do it, so I didn’t think she was that mad.”

Dillon finished 21st Saturday night, two spots ahead of Patrick in the regular-season finale for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. A nudge from Dillon’s No. 3 Chevrolet sent Patrick’s No. 10 Chevy into the outside retaining wall, prompting the race’s fifth caution flag on Lap 257.

Asked if their run-in was in response to earlier contact between the two, Dillon was matter-of-fact.

“Oh, yeah. She punted me, so I just punted her back,” Dillon said. “She spun out and I saved mine when she punted me.”

Posted on September 13, 2017 by

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Chase Elliott heads to Chicagoland Speedway this weekend stuck in the midst of a summer slump — but also armed with motivation to turn that around in the opening race of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.

For the Hendrick Motorsports driver, advancing with consistency is just as much of a goal as nabbing that much-eluded first win in NASCAR’s premier series.

“I’d love to advance as far as we can, but I’d love a win,” Elliott said during NASCAR Playoffs Media Day on Wednesday at the NASCAR Hall of Fame. “That’s what we’re here to do. We’ve had a year and a half to do it, and haven’t. I take a lot of pride in wanting to win.”

These next 10 races leading up to the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway are a stretch of races when Elliott & Co. seemed to find a bit of rhythm last season; he came up two spots short of a win in the 2016 playoffs opener at Chicago, and followed that up with seven top-15 results in the final nine events.

As a sophomore driver, Elliott looks to only improve on that.

“I look at last season, it was actually pretty similar I feel like to where we are right now performance-wise,” Elliott said. “A tough summer stretch. We had a few races that we ran good in the summer months last year that I don’t think we hit on as good this year. Still ran well at some of those tracks.

“I think the biggest thing with that is success in one season doesn’t guarantee success in the next. So, sure, we know we need to be better, as does everybody. But like I said, you hit on one thing at the right time, it can carry you forward. We know that as a group. I can’t say our mindset is a whole lot different.”

These next 10 races also mark the final events Elliott will pilot the No. 24 Chevrolet before passing the torch to young William Byron next season. Instead, Elliott’s ride will feature the No. 9, a number that has always been special to the Elliott family and made famous by Chase’s father and Hall of Fame driver Bill Elliott.

But the No. 24 obviously has an esteemed legacy of its own with Jeff Gordon being the only driver to win a premier series race with that iconic number.

Elliott wants to add to that legacy.

“It’s been a cool honor to have that,” he said. “It would mean a lot to me to add to the win list that Jeff has created with that car over the years while I still have the chance.

“I think that’s an obligation of mine, to try to achieve that. That’s on my priority list.”

MORE: A history of the No. 9 in NASCAR | A history of the No. 24 in NASCAR

Posted on September 13, 2017September 14, 2017 by Nascar

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The No. 18 pit crew that helped put Kyle Busch into this year’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs won’t be going over the wall for the Joe Gibbs Racing driver when the championship battle begins this weekend at Chicagoland Speedway.

It will be personnel from the No. 19 entry of teammate Daniel Suarez instead.

News of the pit crew swap surfaced Tuesday, a day before Busch met with the press during this year’s Media Day activities at the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

“It comes down to performance and for us … everybody on the whole organization kind of decided it was a necessary change to give ourselves the best opportunity to go race for a championship,” Busch said Wednesday.

Changing pit crews isn’t unheard of as championship-contending teams attempt to shore up all aspects of their squads heading into the 10-race playoffs. And there have been no indications of such a move having adverse effects.

EXCLUSIVE: No. 11 crew chief on missing Chicago race

Going over the wall for Busch’s Toyota team beginning this week will be tire changers Clay Robinson and Kip Wolfmeir, tire carriers Kevin Harris and Matt VanMeer, jack man Trey Burklin and gas man Kenneth Purcell.

The No. 19 pit crew will now consist of gas man Tom Lampe, tire changers Josh Leslie and Jake Seminara, tire carriers Brad Donaghy and Kenny Barber and jack man TJ Ford.

Suarez did not qualify for the 16-team playoff; Busch, teammates Denny Hamlin and Matt Kenseth did.

“With all these teams as good as they are you have to come out here with all the bullets in the chamber,” Busch said. “We feel like we’re a little bit short there with the pit crew. We have metrics and things like that that kind of all show that they were just a little bit off, not far but just a little bit. When you need it most you’re going to need to count on those guys and that could be the last stop at Homestead and the fastest pit crew wins, hopefully.”

Busch won the series title in 2015 and made the Championship 4 last season. He enters Sunday’s Tales of the Turtles 400 at Chicago third in points, with wins at Pocono and Bristol earlier this year.

Martin Truex Jr. (Furniture Row Racing) and Kyle Larson (Chip Ganassi Racing) are first and second in points. Truex and Larson have four wins each and Busch said Truex has to be considered the favorite.

A different pit crew, he said, could make the difference.

“My guys would have speed but the speed they had was occasional,” Busch said. “The consistency they had was less than stellar. When you can have a faster group and their consistency is better, there’s no question you have to take that.”

SHOP: Kyle Busch playoff gear