Posted on by Nascar

RELATED: Then-and-now schemes for Darlington

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – William Byron and the No. 9 JR Motorsports team will pay tribute to former racer and championship-winning team owner Ricky Hendrick with a special throwback paint scheme during this year’s Sports Clips Haircuts VFW 200 at Darlington Raceway.

Byron, 19, is one of six racers competing for Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors in NASCAR’s XFINITY Series. He has three victories and is second in the points standings heading into this weekend’s Zippo 200 at the Glen at Watkins Glen International.

Ricky Hendrick, son of Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series team owner Rick Hendrick, was one of 10 people killed in a plane crash in October 2004. He was 24.

Rick Hendrick, wife Linda, and Liberty University president Jerry Falwell were among those on hand for Wednesday’s announcement, held in the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

“It’s something that’s really special to the Hendrick family and something I’m really excited to do,” Byron said following the unveiling. “Hopefully, we can go down there and get a win; that would be really cool. I know everyone is going to have some awesome throwback schemes and we’re just really excited about this one.”

JR Motorsports is co-owned by Dale Earnhardt Jr., sister Kelley Earnhardt Miller and Rick Hendrick.

Liberty sponsored Byron’s 2016 racing efforts in the Camping World Truck Series, as well as this year in the XFINITY Series. The Lynchburg, Va.-based university backed his racing efforts in the Camping World Truck Series in 2016.

Byron’s Chevrolet for the Darlington race will feature a look similar to that used by Hendrick during his 2001 Camping World Truck Series effort. That year, he won his first race in the series, at Kansas, and finished sixth in points. Overall, he had 30 career starts in the Truck Series.


Photo credit: @JRMotorsports

A similar scheme was featured during his XFINITY Series effort the following year, as well as in ’03 when the team won the series title with driver Brian Vickers.

Rick Hendrick said when Dale Earnhardt Jr. called him and asked about running his son’s paint scheme, there was no hesitation.

“I said, ‘Are you kidding? We’d be honored for you to do that,'” Hendrick said. “When I saw the renderings of it and I knew what we were going to do today, it was all really special.”

Byron said he was “really young” when Ricky Hendrick was competing but added that he has “watched videos and understood everything he had accomplished.

“It’s kind of neat because now I’m in an XFINITY team that’s and extension of what Mr. Hendrick and he accomplished,” he said.

Between 1999 and ’02 Hendrick made 38 starts in the XFINITY Series, including 22 in ’02. However, a hard crash early in the year at Las Vegas Motor Speedway forced him to miss six races with a shoulder injury.

He returned and made 19 more starts before announcing his retirement from competition in October of ’02.

Upon his retirement, the younger Hendrick became car owner of the No. 5 team. The following season, Vickers won the XFINITY Series championship and Hendrick won his first and only championship as a car owner.

Also on hand Wednesday for the unveiling were 13 members of the No. 5 team, including crew chief Lance McGrew. All remain employed at Hendrick Motorsports.

“It’s just going to be super special for us and all the folks that worked on the team to see that car on the track again in those colors,” Hendrick said. “I can’t tell you … the throwback deal is fun but this one is going to be so rewarding for us.”

The Bojangles’ Southern 500 is the sport’s official nod to the past on one of the series’ oldest venues. This is the third year of the throwback program, which features today’s entries adorned with paint schemes from the past.

Should Byron notch the win, Hendrick joked that he would “probably ride back to Charlotte with William in the car and a police escort.”

“I said I’d never get in one again after I almost fell out of the window with Dale (Earnhardt Jr.) but I’d probably make an exception,” Hendrick said. “That would be awful special.”

Posted on by Kelly Crandall

RELATED: In-depth look at playoff bubble

With Watkins Glen International having a history of producing opportunistic victors, Daniel Suarez is not ruling out scoring an upset victory this weekend to launch himself into the NASCAR playoffs.

“We are going to need a strong race and a little bit of luck to make that happen,” Suarez told NASCAR.com. “I feel like definitely we are getting better and better every single time that we hit the race track and if you ask me which race track do you feel like you can have a (good) shot, I can tell you that maybe the road course can be one of them.

“I feel confident going there and I feel like we are going to be competitive.”

Although he sits 18th in points, Suarez is 20th in the playoff standings because of the reshuffling for the 13 different playoff-eligible winners this season. A win guarantees Suarez’s spot in the playoffs, and it’s his best avenue into the postseason with five races remaining.

RELATED: Monster Energy Series playoff standings

Road course racing can be considered one of NASCAR’s “wild card” events, where anything can happen. Suarez enjoys the energy around road courses and the challenge they bring, and he believes both the fans and drivers do, too.

Road courses also open the door for a surprise winner to emerge. And the Joe Gibbs Racing rookie from the No. 19 team would certainly qualify as a surprise if he were to pull off a victory.

The I LOVE NEW YORK 355 at The Glen (Sunday, 3 p.m. ET, NBCSN, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) will be Suarez’s first start at Watkins Glen in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.

“I do have a lot (of experience), but it was in go-karts. I raced go-karts pretty much everywhere in the world and that was pretty much all my background,” Suarez said. “When people say you came from road courses, I say, ‘Yes, but it was in a kart that weighed maybe, I don’t know, 5 percent of what the NASCAR car weighs.’ So, it’s very, very different.

“But overall, I just love racing at road courses, as well as in go-karts. It’s something that I still do right now and obviously, every time I get the opportunity to race in NASCAR on the road courses I feel like it’s a lot of fun and I try to enjoy it.”

In June, Suarez finished 16th at Sonoma Raceway in his first road course race as a Monster Energy Series driver. The 2016 XFINITY Series champion also has six road course starts between Road America, Mid-Ohio and Watkins Glen with two top-five finishes.

It will be his fourth-place finish in the XFINITY Series race a year ago at Watkins Glen that Suarez hopes to draw from for a successful weekend.

“Definitely there is more confidence the more times you go to one race track; it’s better and better every single time,” Suarez said. “(You know) how to hit the curbs, where to be aggressive, where to be smooth, which corners you need to be good to make passes, because as you know, there’s a big racetrack right there and in half of those corners you can’t pass. In the other half, you need to make sure that your car is good enough to make passes on people.

“I feel like Watkins Glen is one of those race tracks I’ve been racing now for a couple years and I feel confident going there.”

Posted on by Track Release

NEW YORK and MARTINSVILLE, Va. – First Data (NYSE: FDC), a global leader in commerce-enabling technology, announced Wednesday it will enter into a three-year agreement, running through 2019, with Martinsville Speedway to be the entitlement sponsor of the fall Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race, starting with First Data 500, on October 29. In addition, First Data’s Clover platform, a business management and point-of-sale payments solution, will be deployed at three International Speedway Corporation tracks this season: Martinsville, Phoenix Raceway, and Homestead-Miami Speedway.

The half-mile speedway, known for its unique layout and iconic grandfather clock trophy, has given race fans 70 years of excitement since opening in 1947. “The Paperclip,” as it’s often referred to, is the only speedway on the original 1949 NASCAR schedule that continues to host the sport’s top series today.

“Martinsville Speedway is a legendary race track, and Clay Campbell and his team have been terrific partners for First Data as we add our payments solutions to the NASCAR experience for the benefit of race fans,” said First Data Chairman and CEO Frank Bisignano. “We can’t wait for the fall race to host our clients and partners, many of whom are die-hard race fans, and see the First Data 500 logo proudly displayed on the infield and all around the property.”

“It’s really exciting to have First Data come on board for a multiyear partnership with Martinsville Speedway, as the entitlement sponsor of our fall race,” Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell said. “It’s great to see First Data use Martinsville Speedway and NASCAR as the platform to expand their brand and create a deeper public understanding of how their technology is at the heart of transactions around the world.”

Having the Clover platform at International Speedway Corporation tracks is the next step in expanding First Data’s footprint in the sports world, which already includes placement in stadiums and arenas across the country.

Clover offers several different devices, including Clover Mobile and the recently-launched Clover Flex. Clover is designed to safely and securely accept a variety of payment methods, offering increased flexibility to customers. Clover offers an array of apps that simplify business operations, including data and analytics tools that help businesses of all sizes better understand the needs of their customers.

Clover can be used by a wide range of businesses, from neighborhood shops to large businesses. Recently, stadiums and arenas across the country have implemented Clover devices to improve the fan experience. Now, Clover devices will enable commerce at some of the most storied race tracks in the country, including Martinsville.

“Having First Data choose Martinsville as the platform in which they showcase their brand and products is exciting for all of us at ISC,” Executive Vice President, Chief Development Officer and Chief Digital Officer for International Speedway Corporation Craig Neeb said. “NASCAR racing offers them the opportunity to not only get in front of fans, but also help build relationships with Fortune 500 companies across the globe.”

The First Data 500 is the first race in the Round of 8 of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. If the winning driver is in the Playoffs, he or she would be the first to clinch a spot in the Championship race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Last fall, Jimmie Johnson won his ninth grandfather clock, on the way to winning his record-tying seventh NASCAR Cup Series championship.

Tickets for the First Data 500 are on sale and may be purchased by calling 877.RACE.TIX or online at www.martinsvillespeedway.com.

Posted on by Staff Report

Name: Barry

Current City: Egg Harbor Twp., New Jersey

Member since: 2011

Getting to know Barry

Why did you join the Official NASCAR Fan Council?

“To have input to the sport I love. I believe the opinions of dedicated fans should be heard at some level and may have an effect on rule changes/modifications and overall success of the sport in the future.”

How did you first become interested in NASCAR?

“I went to a race to see Richard Petty run in the early 60s.”

What makes NASCAR special for you?

“The competition is exciting and unpredictable every week. Access to meet drivers/crew chiefs and crew members is unlike any other sport. Being able to go to race shops and see cars being fabricated is super.”

Do you have any favorite NASCAR memories or traditions?

“The first time I met Richard Petty was very special. At this point in time I have been a RP Fan Club member for about 40 years and I run the charity auction at the annual Fan Club Convention to raise money for the Petty Family Foundation and Victory Junction Gang Camp-look forward to doing this every year.”

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

Driver: “Aric Almirola”

Track(s): “Dover and Talladega”

Memorabilia: “I currently have over 1,000 pieces of memorabilia including sheet metal, hats, shirts, belt buckles, standups and die cast of all scales. Majority of collection is Richard Petty items and approximately 25 percent is autographed. One of most cherished pieces is a hand carved Team Transporter style souvenir trailer-only 6 are in existence as far as I know. Next best is a hat autographed by Lee-Richard and Kyle Petty.”

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

“Talladega”

What do you like to do in your free time?

“I volunteer at church and coach wrestling/baseball at local high school (EHT). I also like computer racing simulators.”

Tell us about your family. Do you have children and/or pets?

“I have two grown children: Sheri and Buddie; and 3 grandchildren: Payton, Avery, and Maddie.” 

What’s your dream car?

“Blue 4-speed Super Bird.”

 If you could go anywhere in the world on a dream vacation, where would you want to go? 

“Mooresville and visit all of the race shops.”

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

 

Posted on by Track Release

DARLINGTON, S.C.  – Darlington Raceway and Monster Energy are partnering to offer fans the opportunity to enjoy on-track activities on Friday, Sept. 1, for free by recycling any size Monster Energy can.

Friday activities at Darlington Raceway feature practice sessions, four in total, for both the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Bojangles’ Southern 500 and NASCAR XFINITY Series Sport Clips Haircuts VFW 200 races.

Fans may bring an empty Monster Energy can and recycle it at the fronstretch ticket office behind the main grandstands to receive free admission to practice day. Gates will open at noon.

“We appreciate the opportunity to partner with Monster Energy on this initiative to encourage recycling and in turn receive free admission to our Friday practice activities,” Darlington Raceway President Kerry Tharp said. “We’re always looking for ways to be environmentally friendly and these types of programs are important to those goals.”

This is the second recycling initiative Monster Energy has done at a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series track. The series sponsor also partnered with Pocono Raceway in June and had tremendous success with the program.

Darlington Raceway, along with Monster Energy and NASCAR, will ensure all cans are recycled. Under the NASCAR Green umbrella, a comprehensive recycling effort has accounted for millions of bottles and cans being recycled annually thanks to designated bins in the grandstands, concourse, suites, garage, and campgrounds at almost every track NASCAR visits. For more information visit NASCAR.com/green.

Posted on by Staff Report

RELATED: Kevin Harvick addresses Kurt Busch’s future

Stewart-Haas Racing anticipates that Kurt Busch will drive one of the team’s Fords in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in 2018, the team confirmed on social media.

SHR’s official Twitter handle sent out the following:

The team tweet was in response to an NBC Sports story that, citing a source with knowledge of the negotiations, stated the team declined Busch’s 2018 contract option.

A Stewart-Haas spokesperson said the team’s tweet would be its only official response.

The team had until midnight today to pick up the option, according to NBC, but reportedly informed Busch, the 2004 champion and winner of this year’s Daytona 500, that it would not do so.

MORE: Key players in NASCAR’s Silly Season

Posted on by Pat DeCola

1. Martin Truex Jr. — Truex has finished in the top three in three of past four races this season, and the accomplished road racer should keep it rolling with a fast No. 78 at Watkins Glen.

2. Kyle Busch — After finally breaking through for his first win in more than a year, Busch has bad news for his competition — he owns Watkins Glen, stats-wise. The only two-time winner in the field (2008, ’13) also has the most top-five finishes with five.

3. Kevin Harvick — After another runner-up finish — and almost breaking through for his first Pocono win — Harvick is showing he should be in the title picture, as well. One of the handful of Watkins Glen winners in the field, Harvick last won there in 2006.

4. Kyle Larson — In a bit of a downturn, at the moment — with four sub-par finishes in his last six — Larson should recover nicely at Watkins Glen. He’s a sneaky-good road racer.

5. Denny Hamlin — The Joe Gibbs Racing woes we saw in the first half of the season are clearly over, and we should expect to see Hamlin — the defending race winner — compete at the front of the field Sunday.

6. Brad Keselowski — Keselowski is the Team Penske driver that doesn’t need a win, but he may be the one more likely to get one this weekend. He’s tied with Jimmie Johnson for second in the field in top fives (four), despite neither landing in Victory Lane. That, his third-place finish last year, and his three straight runner-ups from 2011-13 suggest he’s due.

7. Matt Kenseth — Kenseth, who certainly would like a win to feel more secure about his playoff standing, has more races under his belt at WGI than any active drivers (17) — even one more than Boris Said! — but it’s only resulted in one top five. A win may be a stretch.

8. Chase Elliott — Despite having just one top 10 in his past three races, Elliott is on pace to top his top-10 finishes from his rookie season (17 to his current 12). A late-season run to stronger overall finishes is likely.

9. Clint Bowyer — Bowyer keeps flirting with the upper echelon of drivers this year, and he’s starting to look like he’ll be a strong contender down the stretch. Save for a crash at Indy, the other five races since Michigan have resulted in an average finish of 6.0.

10. Jamie McMurray — McMurray is on track to amass his most top-10 finishes since a whopping 23 in 2004 — he has 11 now, his high is 13 since then, in 2014 — but the Chip Ganassi Racing driver hasn’t earned one for three straight weeks.

11. Jimmie Johnson — Johnson has just one Coors Light Pole Award at The Glen, but has an absolutely pristine average starting position of 7.4. He’ll look to make amends for a crash that saddled him with a 40th-place finish last year.

12. Ryan Blaney — Not only was Blaney not able to land the Pocono sweep, he punched his third straight finish of 19th or worse. At times, this No. 21 car looked ready to compete, but it’s struggling at the moment.

13. Joey Logano — Logano won this WGI race two years ago and has earned the most points at the track over the past four years. A good points day will only get him so far, however — he needs to capitalize and land in Victory Lane.

14. Daniel Suarez — Looking for a real strong dark horse to make the playoffs? Look no further than Suarez, who turns in above-average races week in and week out and has strung together three straight finishes of seventh or better.

15. Erik Jones — Not counting the two crashes he endured at Loudon and Indy, Jones has three top-10 finishes in the other three races since Sonoma. He struggled at that road course, however, in finishing 25th, so another rough weekend could be in store for him at WGI.

16. Kurt Busch — Kurt Busch is one of just four active drivers with a pole at Watkins Glen (along with his brother, Johnson and AJ Allmendinger). This team could use a spark, so perhaps it comes in the form of starting on the front row.

17. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. — The restrictor plate tracks have gone quite well for Stenhouse — but road courses aren’t his forte. In his four starts at Watkins Glen, each finish has gotten progressively worse from 18th to 38th last year (crash), with three starts of 30th or worse.

18. Kasey Kahne — Kahne has put together two solid weeks in a row for really the first time since Daytona/Atlanta, but a third this weekend might be pushing it. He’s never finished in the top 10 in 13 starts at Watkins Glen.

19. Ryan Newman — Despite his win at Phoenix earlier this year, Newman is on pace to match his worst average finish of 16.0 since 2013, the year of his previous last win, interestingly enough.

20. Trevor Bayne — Bayne could be worth keeping an eye on this weekend. In his pair of WGI starts, his average start to average finish differential is glaring, going from 33.0 to 15.5.

Posted on by Steve Luvender

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series completed its second trip to the “Tricky Triangle” on Sunday for the Overton’s 400 at Pocono Raceway. In contrast with last year’s running of the event, which left Chris Buescher in Victory Lane when the race was called due to poor visibility, the skies were dry and clear. And, much like last year, the race produced a few firsts of its own.

Thumbs Up: Surprise Stage Wins

You can always expect differing strategies when there’s stage racing at Pocono.


Well, not that kind of stage racing — rather, the kind that produced Clint Bowyer’s first playoff point of the season when the leaders ducked to pit road on Lap 96 before the end of the second stage, handing the lead and eventual stage win to Bowyer’s No. 14 Ford.

Thumbs up for different race strategies that produce unexpected results — including a first-time stage winner.

Thumbs Down: Crashing on Lap 1

Racing in NASCAR takes a lot of work.

Imagine spending your week preparing a car, loading it into a trailer and heading north, sending your crew 600 miles away, taking the weekend to perfect and fine-tune every aspect of your race car — only to wreck it on the very first lap of the race?

That was the reality for Aric Almirola and his No. 43 team, after Matt Kenseth got loose and triggered a multi-car incident on the opening lap of the Overton’s 400.

Almirola’s car was towed back to the garage without completing even one of the 160 scheduled laps Sunday. All that work with virtually nothing to show.

Matt DiBenedetto’s No. 32 was also a casualty of the incident — but at least he got credit for completing a lap.

Thumbs down for crashing on the first lap.

Thumbs Up: Daniel Suarez Doing Rookie Things Well

When you’re a rookie, you’ve got your work cut out for you. You’re trying to build your name, compete, earn respect, and keep stakeholders happy. It’s a tall order.

Rookie Daniel Suarez again impressed at Pocono with a top-10 finish — his seventh of the season (and fifth time finishing P7). His knack for picking up positions at the end of the race is proving useful as he inches toward the cut-off line to make the playoffs.


Thumbs up to a solid first season so far.

Thumbs Down: Tangling with Your Teammate

Crashing, most would agree, is best to avoid. Especially when it involves your teammate.

Unfortunately for Hendrick Motorsports teammates Kasey Kahne and Jimmie Johnson, contact between the two ended Johnson’s day.

WATCH: Johnson spins out, incurs heavy damage

Thumbs down for the unfortunate circumstance and awkward competition meeting on Monday — but at least both drivers will likely compete in the playoffs this season due to their race wins earlier in the year.

Biggest Thumbs Up of the Week: Kyle Busch Wins at Pocono

It’s hard to award the Biggest Thumbs Up of the Week to anyone but Kyle Busch.

Not only did he win the pole and lead the most laps to score his first win of the year, but he finally crossed Pocono off the list of tracks where he’d never won — leaving just Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Although, isn’t the Caramel M&M’s logo a little weird? Like, why are the M&M’s characters pulling apart one of their own? I don’t like it, although the candies are delicious.

Thumbs up to Rowdy, regardless, for his first win on a triangle.

Posted on by Zack Albert

NASCAR announced Tuesday a set of new participation guidelines for the 2018 season, designed to further highlight its abundance of young talent while limiting the number of lower-division races Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers may enter in a given season.

Beginning next season, drivers with more than five years of experience in the Monster Energy Series will be limited to seven races in the XFINITY Series, down from the 10-race maximum established for this season. Drivers at the same experience level will be restricted to five races per season in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, a reduction from the current seven-race cap.

The rules also make the regular-season finale and playoff events for the XFINITY Series and Camping World Truck Series in 2018 off limits for any driver earning championship points in the Monster Energy Series, regardless of experience. That marks a change from this year’s guidelines, which stipulate that Cup drivers with five-plus years’ experience are barred from the season-ending eight-race stretch, save for the championship races, which will be exclusive to those series’ participants.

STANDINGS: Monster Energy Series | XFINITY | Camping World

The effect of this year’s participation restrictions won’t be fully measured until the playoffs near for the XFINITY and Camping World Truck Series in September, but Jim Cassidy — NASCAR’s Senior Vice President of Racing Operations — said competition officials were eager to set forth guidelines based on compelling fan and stakeholder input.

The two lower national series adopted an elimination-style playoff format in 2016. The guidelines for 2018 are intended to provide an ever-brighter spotlight on those series’ drivers during the postseason.

“Any time we implement a change, we’re going to monitor it closely and make sure we’re measuring the level of success or making sure that if there’s an opportunity to make it even better, then we will,” Cassidy told NASCAR.com. “In this case, we really like what we’ve seen and in talking with all the other stakeholders that we would normally talk to, this has been a very popular subject over a long period of time.

“We’re certainly excited to see what happens during the playoffs, but based upon the feedback that we’ve had, we were fortunate enough not to have to wait till the playoffs to come up with this next round of limitations. It’s good, it’s working in all respects, and this next layer just provides additional opportunity to focus on those drivers coming up through.”

RELATED: Mark Martin gives his take

Additionally, the XFINITY Series’ Dash 4 Cash program, an incentive-based four-race stretch with bonus money offered to eligible series regulars, also will be off limits to any Monster Energy Series driver.

“It’s important for XFINITY from an entitlement standpoint,” Cassidy said. “They are all over the idea of building our future stars.”

Murmurs about the new rules had been points of discussion in recent weeks. XFINITY Series Managing Director Wayne Auton hinted at the change in a July 21 press conference at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, saying that competition officials had held ongoing discussions with teams about further participation limits. And NASCAR’s Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR Executive Vice President and Chief Racing Development Officer, told SiriusXM NASCAR Radio last week that those talks were “pretty far down the line.”

“We’re looking at a further limitation for sure,” O’Donnell added. “We’re trying to land on the right number. A couple more conversations need to take place in the garage area and with sponsors.”

LISTEN: O’Donnell’s full clip

Cassidy echoed those sentiments late last week, saying that arriving at an appropriate number was the product of long-running discussions. He also indicated next year’s changes were not to be necessarily interpreted as a progression toward zero extracurricular participation by premier-series drivers in other national series events.

“I think year after year, it’s just trying to strike the right balance in getting to that place, listening to our fans first and foremost, and then for all the other participants, making sure it continues to make sense,” Cassidy said. “Right now, we like the balance of focusing even more on those up-and-coming stars during that critical part of the season, but at the same time, it’s fun at certain instances to see what they’ve got going up against the best of the best.”

The best of the best in recent history has meant Kyle Busch, who leads the XFINITY Series with 89 wins in his career. Cassidy reaffirmed that the stricter participation guidelines were not intended to single out any driver or organization.

“That is correct. We would, as a sanctioning body, not govern that way for any one situation or circumstance,” Cassidy said. “When we look at things like this, it’s for the sport as a whole and what we’re hearing very clearly from our fan base.”

RELATED: Busch sets timeline on XFINITY retirement

Several young drivers have made their recent rise to NASCAR’s top level through the XFINITY and Truck series, using them as a proving ground during their climb through stock-car racing’s various levels. Cassidy said the new rules provide an even sharper focus and opportunity for those series’ regular drivers, many of which represent the future of the sport.

“You’d like to think that we are opening the doors for the best talent out there,” Cassidy said. “We’ve got the best drivers in world in NASCAR, and we’re fortunate enough to have a developmental system and a portfolio of great talent that provides a ladder to the very top. Absolutely, you’re trying to find ways to create that opportunity for those drivers and have that path be clear for the best coming up through the ranks.”

Competition officials took the first step toward reducing double-duty participation before the 2011 season, when NASCAR required drivers to select one of the three series in which to collect championship points. The change ended a five-year run of premier-series regulars winning the XFINITY championship by moonlighting full time.

Posted on by Nascar

RELATED: Iowa results | Series standings

Blake Koch earned a career-best Iowa finish, Michael Annett had to battle electrical issues in his No. 5 Chevrolet and Brendan Gaughan says he and his team aren’t worried about anything except the upcoming playoffs.

The three NASCAR XFINITY Series drivers are currently bringing up the rear in the series’ playoff standings, winless thus far but inside the top 12 with seven races remaining before the playoffs get underway.

Koch and Gaughan qualified for the postseason last year while Annett was wrapping up an uneventful stint in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.

“Yeah, I watch the points,” Koch, driver of the No. 11 Chevrolet for Kaulig Racing, said Saturday after an eighth-place finish at Iowa Speedway. “As soon as I leave here I get in my rental car and keep refreshing (the web page) until they’re uploaded, that’s how much I watch the points.

“We’ve lived on the bubble since we started this deal last year; we feel like we’re a better race team, I feel like I’m a better driver than this point last year. We just had our best Iowa starting position and our best Iowa finishing position so we always strive to constantly improve. That takes hard work and that’s what my team does and that’s what led to better results this week.”

For Koch, who qualified seventh, it was his first top-10 finish since Bristol. He’s 10th in points as the series readies for this weekend’s trip to Watkins Glen and Saturday’s Zippo 200 (2 p.m. ET, NBCSN, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR).

“We know these next five races, Iowa included, the road courses and Bristol, are some of our best tracks so we want to capitalize, give ourselves a points cushion and try to lock ourselves in before we go to Chicago,” he said.

Three of the next four stops for the series come at road courses – Watkins Glen, Mid-Ohio and Road America.

RELATED: Watch Iowa race recap

Annett, sixth in points earlier this season, is now 11th and has only one top-10 result in his last 10 starts. At Iowa, a balky ignition box was thought to be the culprit that resulted in a lengthy repair job and left the JR Motorsports driver 33rd in the final rundown.

“Once they got it replaced and took it out they put the temp gun to it and it was about 200 degrees,” Annett said afterward. “We haven’t had any issues all year on any of the cars’ ignition-wise so that’s something we’ll take a look at … just more bad luck.”

Because of his proximity to the cutoff line, Annett admitted he is paying close attention to the points as the number of regular-season races shrinks.

“We have to watch them when the guys around us are getting top-10s,” he said. “The 62 (of Gaughan) finished 13th today … we definitely have to watch it. We’d love to go win a race and not have to worry about it but we have to get our cars better.

“The way we’ve been running, even in the playoffs we’re not going to be in it very long if we don’t run better.”

JRM teammate Elliott Sadler is winless but leads the points standings while fellow JRM driver William Byron is next behind him in second with three wins. The team’s third driver Justin Allgaier has one win and is third in points.

Gaughan was as far back as 17th in points at one time this year, but has fought back to his current spot of 12th. He is 14 points ahead of J.J. Yeley, who is 13th, and 16 ahead of Ryan Sieg (14th).

Gaughan has managed three top 10s in his last 10 starts in the No. 62 Chevrolet fielded by Richard Childress Racing.

The points picture is out there, but Gaughan said he’s focused on other things.

“I’m not watching too much because we’ve been fast enough all year,” he said. “We just had a bad stretch of races that put us in that spot.

“We’re in a playoff spot now and there’s no way that an RCR car and us aren’t going to make the playoffs. We’re not worrying about it now because all we’re trying to get ready for now is to make sure we’re fast enough when the playoffs come.”

Only three drivers thus far have all but clinched a playoff spot with a win this year – Allgaier and Ryan Reed (Roush Fenway Racing) each have a single victory while Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender Byron has three.

Joey Logano is the defending champion of the Zippo 200; he and seven other Monster Energy Series drivers are entered in Saturday’s race.