Posted on by Staff Report

RELATED: Full Darlington schedule |  See the throwback looks

Jamie McMurray will pilot a red No. 1 Chevrolet that pays tribute to NASCAR Hall of Famer David Pearson in Sunday’s Bojangles’ Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway (6 p.m. ET, NBCSN), Chip Ganassi Racing announced via Twitter on Monday evening.

A 10-time winner at Darlington, Pearson piloted a No. 1 Hawaiian Tropic paint scheme to his final career victory at “The Track Too Tough to Tame” in 1980. It marked his lone win of the season, a year in which he ran nine of 31 races.

RacingOne

Pearson remains the all-time winner at Darlington, with Dale Earnhardt in second place with nine victories and Jeff Gordon with seven trips to Victory Lane at the South Carolina track. He is also the second-winningest driver in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series with 105 career victories.

This marks the third season that Darlington will host a throwback-themed weekend. Click here to see the rest of the throwback looks and vote for your favorite paint scheme.

Posted on by Brad Norman

RELATED: XFINITY Series playoff standings

Jeremy Clements’ win Sunday at Road America had it all — it had late contact, was a massive upset (one of the biggest in NASCAR history, in fact) and also had major playoff implications.

For Clements, he’s got a stranglehold on one of 12 playoff berths for the NASCAR XFINITY Series playoffs. A win does that for a driver.

Other drivers on the bubble, though, saw their somewhat comfortable road become much rockier now that Clements, who is 17th in the regular-season standings, has grabbed an unexpected playoff berth.

MORE: Vote: Biggest upset ever?

Here’s what to know:

THE FIELD

Here is what the XFINITY Series playoff field would look like if the playoffs started today. We’ve handed out all bonus points for victories and stage wins, and the appropriate bonuses for final regular-season rankings as the standings sit post-Road America.

Rank Driver Projected points
1. William Byron 2,027
2. Elliott Sadler 2,020
3. Justin Allgaier 2,016
4. Daniel Hemric 2,008
5. Brennan Poole 2,007
6. Ryan Reed  2,006
7. Jeremy Clements  2,005
8. Cole Custer  2,005
9. Blake Koch  2,005
10. Matt Tifft  2,004
11. Michael Annett  2,002
12. Brendan Gaughan  2,001

BUBBLE WATCH

The battle for the final spot, currently occupied by Brendan Gaughan, is one to watch over the final three regular-season races. Here’s who to monitor:

• Blake Koch. He’s two spots above the cutoff line, but only holds a 26-point edge.

• Michael Annett. The second-to-last driver leads the first driver out by 11 points.

• Brendan Gaughan. The Las Vegas native is a scant four points above Dakoda Armstrong for the final playoff position.

• Dakoda Armstrong: From comfortably in to first driver out, his fortunes changed drastically with Clements winning. He trails Gaughan by just four points, though.

Posted on by Staff Report

*Warning: Some strong language is used in a series of tweets from Dale Earnhardt Jr’s verified Twitter account.*

UPDATE: And just like that — Uber comes back with a TKO. This fight is far from over.

______________________________

Forget Mayweather vs. McGregor.

Dale Jr. vs. Uber is the real fight of the year.

Over the weekend, Dale Jr. noticed his rating on the ride-share app was lower than expected — 4 out of 5 stars. Some might say that’s a strong score, but he wasn’t a fan of the news. He demanded answers.

However, throughout the day, his score on the app started to rebound, but Dale Jr. knew the fight wasn’t over just yet. It was his battle to lose and he wasn’t going down that easy.

After taking another ride with Uber, Dale Jr. was enraged after his driver dropped his score under four! Rightfully so since the driver did make a promise that he would rate the driver with a perfect score. He even mentioned he was “over the top nice.”

On Monday, Dale Jr. confirmed he ended his vacation with a solid 4.4 score on Uber — an impressive jump from his dip earlier in the weekend.

For Round 1, Dale Jr. gets the slight edge. He rallied and never gave up. That’s a victory for everyone.

Posted on by Pat DeCola

MORE: Clements ‘shocked’ after winning first race

Jeremy Clements shocked the NASCAR world — as well as himself — by winning Sunday at Road America for the first time across his 256 XFINITY Series starts.

An upset, for sure, but was it the biggest one the sport has seen?

Check out our list of biggest NASCAR upsets to see the top 15 of all time.

To learn more about each of the 15 listed, click the links below, then vote for your choice in our poll.

 

Posted on by Pat DeCola

MORE: Clements ‘shocked’ after winning 

Jeremy Clements’ thrilling XFINITY Series win at Road America on Sunday was as unlikely as it was unprecedented.

The driver of the No. 51 Chevrolet — a small, family-funded ride — held off the major-team backed No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota of Matt Tifft to secure his first career win in 256th start since 2003.

Clements said after the race that the chassis he ran in the race was nearly a decade old, first manufactured in 2008. That’s wild!

It got us thinking — is there another sports story out there along the same lines of this David vs. Goliath narrative, with a financial twist?

Insert the Oakland A’s.

Not only did Clement’s career get started in 2003, but it also marked the release of Michael Lewis’ acclaimed book, “Moneyball,” which tracked the 2002 season of the American League team from the Bay Area.

The team became famous because of a completely alternative strategy employed by general manager Billy Beane, who mixed things up by signing under-the-radar (i.e. cheap) free agents who excelled in very particular statistics (Sabermetrics), under-appreciated at the time.

The team rewarded Beane by responding with an American League record of 20 straight wins from August 13 to September 4, defying all odds to surge into the playoffs.

… Kind of like how Clements clinched his berth in the upcoming XFINITY playoffs with his unexpected win.

In the years since “Moneyball” was written, more and more teams have accepted and adopted Sabermetrics. The A’s strategy was only thrust even further into the spotlight when the book was adapted into a film starring Brad Pitt in 2011.

It’s unlikely teams will use Clements’ small-team approach as a blueprint for making the playoffs down the road.

But, hey, the story is so good, maybe somebody will write a book about it some day.

 

 

Posted on by Staff Report

MORE: Clements throws hat into playoff picture with exciting win

Jeremy Clements emerged late in Sunday’s Johnsonville 180 at Road America to land his first career NASCAR XFINITY Series win — in his 256th start.

Clements, whose first start in the series came at the age of 18 in 2003, races for his small, family-owned team, and held off Joe Gibbs Racing’s Matt Tifft in the closing laps for the victory.

NASCAR drivers love a good underdog story — who doesn’t? — and were quick to congratulate the 32-year-old on Twitter.

 

Posted on by NASCAR Wire Service

RELATED: Race results | Detailed breakdown

ELHART LAKE, Wis. — Journeyman Jeremy Clements and his small team topped big-name race organizations to clinch a first-ever victory in 256 NASCAR XFINITY Series starts.

On the second-to-last lap of the Johnsonville 180 Sunday at Road America, Clements attempted to pass Matt Tifft for the lead. He wheeled his Chevrolet to the inside of Tifft’s Toyota Camry sending both of them spinning. Clements fired his car back up faster than Tifft and seized the lead headed into the final go-around. From there, the 32-year-old XFINITY Series veteran cruised to Victory Lane, finishing 5.802 seconds ahead of runner-up Michael Annett.

Clements, who co-owns Clements Racing out of Spartanburg, South Carolina, with his father Tony Clements, was running in a Chevrolet that was built in 2008. With the victory, he earned a berth in the NASCAR XFINITY Series playoffs.

“I’m extremely pleased right now, and it feels like a dream,” said Clements, who started 24th in the 40-car field.

RELATED: ‘Shocked, don’t know what to say’

Tifft finished third. The 21-year-old Joe Gibbs Racing driver said he was battling a loose car in the braking zones and realized that Clements would pose a tough challenge, since he had fresher tires.

Tifft led six laps toward the end of the race before the incident with Clements, who made his final pit stop on Lap 29.

“I wish we could have raced for the white flag and been able to battle it out a little bit more,” said Tifft, who made his final pit stop on Lap 21 in the No. 19 Toyota.

“It’s funny how things work. How at Mid-Ohio you can be thrilled with a third-place finish and you’re upset about it here. All you can do is keep on trying to have great runs and one day it works out for you.”

RELATED: Tifft responds to late contact with Clements

The task was not a simple one for Clements, who held the race lead for a handful of laps when the leaders pitted early in the third stage and he was out in front for the one that mattered most in the 45-lap event.

“I was licking my chops,” Clements said. “I was just so excited, I couldn’t believe that the (win) was right there for me to get.

“I was really beating a lot of guys out of those last two corners. Especially the last corner; I could get in really deep. That’s where I thought I could pass (Tifft) at. I should have maybe been a little more patient. But it was coming on the last lap. He’s probably mad though, and I’m sorry to him.”

Sports car standout James Davison was in the wrong place at the wrong time on the final lap of the second stage. Davison led the first 11 laps of the race but tagged the retaining wall in turn 6 on Lap 19 and sustained severe damage on the No. 20 Toyota that forced the Australian to the garage. Davison, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing in his third XFINITY Series start, won Stage 1 and led a race-high 11 laps.

RELATED: Davison involved in drama at end of Stage 2

Justin Marks overcame damage to his car sustained at the end of Stage 2 in a collision with Ross Chastain to finish fourth. Brendan Gaughan came in fifth. William Byron, Blake Koch, Cole Custer, Casey Mears and Parker Kligerman rounded out the top 10.

Daniel Hemric won the second stage, led 10 laps and finished 11th overall.

“I can’t believe it,” Clements said. “I’m just, is this is real?”

The XFINITY Series will be back in action for NASCAR’s throwback weekend at Darlington Raceway with the Sport Clips Haircuts VFW 200 (3:30 p.m. ET, NBCSN, MRN, SiriusXM).

MORE: Greatest NASCAR upsets

Posted on by Staff Report

What channel is NASCAR programming on this week? We answer that and provide all the weekly NASCAR television listings here in the NASCAR TV schedule.

All Monster Energy Series and XFINITY Series events are also live streamed online on the NBC Sports App, which can be accessed here. Events that are only available on NBC Sports App are noted below.

RELATED: Watch on the NBC Sports App |  How to find CNBC on your TV

Monday, August 28
5 p.m., NASCAR America, NBCSN
6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FS1

Tuesday, August 29
5 p.m., NASCAR America, NBCSN
6 p.m., Racing Roots: Kyle Larson, NBCSN
6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FS1

Wednesday, August 30
5 p.m., NASCAR America, NBCSN
6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FS1

Thursday, August 31
6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FS1

Friday, September 1
12 p.m., NASCAR XFINITY Series practice at Darlington, NBCSN (Canada: TSN GO)
1 p.m., Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice at Darlington, NBCSN (Canada: TSN 2)
2:30 p.m., NASCAR XFINITY Series final practice at Darlington, NBCSN (Canada: TSN GO)
3:30 p.m., Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series final practice at Darlington, NBCSN (Canada: TSN 2)
5 p.m., NASCAR America, NBCSN
6 p.m., NASCAR Southern Speed: The Legend of Darlington, NBCSN

Saturday, September 2
12:30 a.m., NASCAR Special, NBCSN
2:30 a.m., NASCAR Special, NBCSN
12 p.m., NASCAR XFINITY Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying at Darlington, NBCSN (Canada: TSN GO)
1 p.m., NASCAR America, NBCSN
1:30 p.m. Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying at Darlington, NBCSN (Canada: TSN 3)
3 p.m., NASCAR XFINITY Series Countdown to Green: Darlington, NBCSN
3:30 p.m., NASCAR XFINITY Series Sport Clips Haircuts VFW 200, NBCSN (Canada: TSN 3)
5:30 p.m., NASCAR XFINITY Series Post-Race, NBCSN
5:30 p.m. Camping World Truck Series Keystone Light Pole Qualifying, FS2
8:30 p.m., NASCAR Racing: K&N Pro Series, NBCSN
9:30 p.m., NASCAR Whelen Modified Series, NBCSN
10:30 p.m., Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying (re-air), NBCSN

Sunday, September 3
1 a.m., Racing Roots, NBCSN
10:30 a.m., NASCAR Southern Speed: The Legend of Darlington, NBCSN
11:30 a.m., Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying (re-air), NBCSN
2 p.m., Camping World Truck Series Setup: Mosport, FS1
2:30 p.m., Camping World Truck Series Chevrolet Silverado 250, FS1
4 p.m., NASCAR America, NBCSN
5:30 p.m., NASCAR Countdown to Green: Darlington, NBCSN
6 p.m., Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Bojangles’ Southern 500, NBCSN (Canada: TSN 5)
10:30 p.m., NASCAR Cup Series Post Show, NBCSN
11 p.m., NASCAR Victory Lap, NBCSN

 


Posted on by Staff Report

All three NASCAR national series will be in action this Labor Day Weekend with the XFINITY and Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series at Darlington Raceway and the Camping World Truck Series at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.

Monster Energy Series and XFINITY Series events are also live streamed online on the NBC Sports App, which can be accessed here. Check out the full on-track weekend schedule below.

Note: All times are ET

SUNDAY, Sept. 3
DARLINGTON
6 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Bojangles’ Southern 500 (367 laps, 501.3 miles), NBCSN (Results) (Canada: TSN 5)

PRESS PASS (Watch live)
2 p.m.: Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Darrell Waltrip
3:15 p.m.: Bill Elliott
10:30 p.m.: Post-Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race

CANADIAN TIRE
2:30 p.m.: Camping World Truck Series Chevrolet Silverado 250 (64 laps, 157.37 miles), FS1 (Results)

 

FRIDAY, Sept. 1

DARLINGTON
12-12:55 p.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series practice, NBCSN (Results) (Canada: TSN GO)
1-1:55 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice, NBCSN (Results) (Canada: TSN 2)
2:30-3:25 p.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series final practice, NBCSN (Results) (Canada: TSN GO)
3:30-4:55 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series final practice, NBCSN (Results) (Canada: TSN 2)

PRESS PASS (Watch live)
10:15 a.m.: Jeremy Clements
10:30 a.m.: Elliott Sadler
12 p.m.: Chase Elliott
12:15 p.m.: Clint Bowyer and Mark Martin
2:45 p.m.: Martin Truex Jr.
5:20 p.m.: Dale Earnhardt Jr.

GARAGECAM (Watch live)
11:30 a.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series
12:30 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series

SATURDAY, Sept. 2

DARLINGTON
12:05 p.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying, NBCSN (Results) (Canada: TSN GO)
1:45 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying, NBCSN (Results) (Canada: TSN 3)
3:30 p.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series Sport Clips Haircuts VFW 200 (147 laps, 200.8 miles), NBCSN (Results) (Canada: TSN 3)

PRESS PASS (Watch live)
2:30 p.m.: Post-Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series qualifying
6 p.m.: Post-NASCAR XFINITY Series race

CANADIAN TIRE
9:30 a.m.:  NASCAR Camping World Truck Series practice (Results)
11:35 a.m.: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series final practice (Results)
5:30 p.m.: Camping World Truck Series Keystone Light Pole Qualifying, FS2 (Results)

 

Posted on by Staff Report

RELATED: Complete lineup

Rainy weather led to the cancelation of NASCAR XFINITY Series qualifying on Sunday at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. That meant the lineup for Sunday’s Johnsonville 180 (3 p.m. ET, NBC, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) was set per the NASCAR Rule Book.

Austin Cindric, in the No. 22 Team Penske Ford, will start from the pole with James Davison, in the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, also on the front row.

Elliott Sadler, Christopher Bell and Justin Marks rounded out the top five.