Who’s in, who’s out: XFINITY Series Playoffs Round of 8 field set

Posted on October 7, 2017October 20, 2017 by Staff Report

The field for the Round of 8 in the 2017 NASCAR XFINITY Series Playoffs was set in Saturday’s elimination race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, with Ryan Reed beating Brendan Gaughan by a single point for the last transfer spot.

Alex Bowman, who will be driving the No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet full-time in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series next year, won the race. Brennan Poole was the highest-finishing XFINITY Playoffs contender, coming in fifth.

MORE: Complete race results | Top photos from Charlotte

1. William Byron: 3,026 points
2. Justin Allgaier: 3,023 points
3. Elliott Sadler: 3,020 points
4. Daniel Hemric: 3,009 points
5. Cole Custer: 3,007 points
6. Brennan Poole: 3,006 points
7. Ryan Reed: 3,005 points
8. Matt Tifft: 3,004 points

Of note, the No. 19 of Tifft came in too low in post-race inspection after the Charlotte race.

The Round of 8 for the XFINITY Series kicks off Saturday, Oct. 21 at Kansas Speedway in the Kansas Lottery 300 (3 p.m. ET, NBC, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

MORE: Alex Bowman gets first XFINITY win at Charlotte

Posted on October 7, 2017October 20, 2017 by Nascar

CONCORD, N.C. – Kyle Busch hasn’t lost a race in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series since mid-September, but the Joe Gibbs Racing driver has never won a points-paying race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, so one of those two noteworthy items will no longer be true after this weekend.

Busch is scheduled to start fourth, outside Row 2, when Sunday’s Bank of America 500 takes the green flag at Charlotte (1 p.m. ET, NBC, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). It’s the opening race of the Round of 12 in NASCAR’s 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.

Busch, the 2015 series champion, swept the final two races of the Round of 16, winning at Loudon, New Hampshire and Dover, Delaware. Making it three straight, he said, isn’t out of the question.

“I think we can definitely make it three in a row,” Busch told NASCAR.com on Saturday. “I think the biggest thing for us is just trying to make sure that the car is good for the long run here at Charlotte. You’re really fighting the bumps here that are starting to show back up again … it’s really starting to get pretty choppy out there and bounces you around an awful lot. Your head’s moving all over the headrest.”

There was no track time for teams Saturday as rain washed out two practice sessions.

Busch has won on the 1.5-mile Charlotte track — earlier this season he picked up his first win in the series’ annual All-Star race. He also has an eye-popping eight victories here in NASCAR’s XFINITY Series and seven in the Camping World Truck Series. The way to Victory Lane isn’t unknown to the 32-year-old.

But points-paying Monster Energy Series races? There have been three runners-up and 11 top fives. No wins — the only track on the circuit that he has yet to win a points event at in the sport’s top series.

“It’s definitely a motivation tool,” he said of the Monster Energy Series shutout. “We go out and try to win every single week but being at a track that we’ve been so successful … and haven’t scored a victory, it just kind of lends itself to be a little bit more intriguing to try and go get that checkered flag.”

Along with fellow Toyota driver Martin Truex Jr. (Furniture Row Racing) and Chip Ganassi Racing’s Kyle Larson, Busch is among the favored few when considering this season’s title contenders.

It’s been a nice change of pace for the No. 18 driver, who for years seemed to find new ways to unexpectedly exit the playoffs.

“I have no clue,” he said when asked about the turnaround. “Even the year before ’15 I thought we were pretty good and sitting pretty good in the playoff standings. We got KO’d at Talladega and that’s what eliminated us. That was a frustrating one there, being an elimination race and all.

“Since ’15 and ’16 and this year, having some good cars all year long and being up front, Adam (Stevens, crew chief) and myself working on our game plan, sticking to that strategy and doing the things we can do it kind of lends itself to some pretty painless days let’s call it.”

Those early disappointments were harsh lessons, but lessons just the same.

“Any time you go through things, it’s always supposed to be a character building moment and trying to help you become stronger, better and more ready for what can come at you in the future,” he said.

“There still could be some events or some things that could kind of pop up. I remember Watkins Glen earlier this year when we got wrecked … and we had to come from the back. Adam was trying to console me, if you will, over the radio about what our plan was and I was like ‘Just admit it man, we don’t have a plan.’ There are those moments that may still pop up but we hope they don’t.”

JGR teammate Denny Hamlin will start on the pole in Sunday’s race, with Matt Kenseth, also of JGR, starting second. Truex Jr., the points leader and a winner of the Playoff opener in Chicago, will start 17th.

Posted on October 7, 2017October 20, 2017 by Staff Report

RELATED: Full iRacing schedule/results

The NASCAR PEAK Antifreeze Series Powered by iRacing heads to the virtual Homestead-Miami Speedway for Tuesday’s Championship 4 finale for the 2017 season. Four drivers, Ray Alfalla, Logan Clampitt, Ryan Luza and Bobby Zalenski, remain in the hunt for the $10,000 first-place prize as $15,000 in prizes are at stake in NASCAR’s premiere eSports series featuring the cars and tracks of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.

With wins allotting an automatic bid into the final round of the playoffs, Ray Alfalla and Ryan Luza took the first two spots in the Championship 4 courtesy of their wins at Darlington Raceway and Dover International Speedway, respectfully. Series sophomore Logan Clampitt and rookie Bobby Zalenski were the next two highest points earners and claimed the third and fourth spots in the Championship 4.

The top finisher from the final four drivers will be crowned a NASCAR champion, earn the $10,000 prize money and receive his championship trophy on stage at the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series finale in November at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Many consider 28-year-old Alfalla the favorite heading into the 16th and final race on the 2017 season, and for good reason. Originally from Cuba and now hailing from Southern Florida, Alfalla is not only the defending NASCAR PEAK Antifreeze Series champion, but also a three-time series champion, having won back-to-back in 2011 and 2012. No other driver has won more than one series championship, leaving him in a class of his own.

While this has been his first season at sim-racing’s top level, Luza has been a veteran racer both on and off the simulator for some time. The Californian has over 10 National Karting Championships, and was the 2015 Allen Turner Pro Late Model Series Champion at 5 Flags Speedway. In iRacing, the 21-year-old Luza is the defending NASCAR iRacing Pro Series Champion, the qualifying series for the NASCAR PEAK Antifreeze Series. Luza leads the series with four wins, nine top-five finishes and two pole positions, with 306 laps led.

Just like Luza, Zalenski has made the Championship 4 in his first season competing in the NASCAR PEAK Antifreeze Series. This rookie from California qualified for this series through the 2016 NASCAR iRacing Pro Series, finishing second to Luza.

Zalenski, a teammate to Alfalla, would love to correct that finishing order this time around. Zalenski won the fifth race of the year at Phoenix International Speedway along with the series’ only road-course race at Sonoma Raceway. He, Alfalla and Luza are the only multi-time winners this year.

The fourth driver on the Championship 4 grid is series sophomore Clampitt. The Texas native won his first career NASCAR PEAK Antifreeze Series race in his rookie season last year en route to 22nd place in points. While he has yet to win in 2017, Clampitt, comfortably qualified for the playoffs with consistent top-10 finishes through Darlington, New Hampshire and Dover to safely qualify for the Championship 4 without much drama. That’s guaranteed to change on Tuesday night.

Clampitt is the only driver in the Championship 4 with no real-world racing experience, the epitome of a self-made sim-racing force of nature. Since 2013, Clampitt has led over 113,000 laps on NASCAR tracks over the course of his iRacing career in official races.

While only Luza, Alfalla, Zalenski and Clampitt have a shot at the title, the entire field of 43 will be ready to take the final green flag of the season when it flies this Tuesday.

Watch the final race of the 2017 NASCAR PEAK Antifreeze Series Powered by iRacing live as it happens on Tuesday, Oct. 10 online at www.iRacing.com/Live . Coverage begins at 8 p.m. EDT with the NASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series — a special series featuring real world future NASCAR stars battling online for bragging rights.

— Story by Evan Posocco

Posted on October 7, 2017October 20, 2017 by Nascar

At a Glance

What: Bank of America 500 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Race No. 30

Where: Charlotte Motor Speedway, 1.5-mile tri-oval in Concord, N.C.

Green flag: 1 p.m. ET

TV/Radio: NBC, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR

Forecast: Variable clouds with scattered thunderstorms. High 82. Winds S at 5-10 mph. Chance of rain 50 percent (The Weather Channel) | Live weather page

National anthem: Carly Pearce

Grand Marshal: Brad Paisley

Honorary Starters: Charles Bowman (BOA); Karen Calder, Executive Dir., Classroom Central

Honorary Pace Car Driver: Hannah Kearney, US Olympian

Race distance: 334 laps, 500 miles

Pit road speed: 45 mph

Caution car speed: 55 mph

Competition caution: Lap 35

Stage lengths: Stage 1 ends at lap 90; Stage 2 ends at lap 180; Final stage scheduled to end at lap 334.

Posted on October 7, 2017October 20, 2017 by Staff Report

See where your favorite Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver will pit at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the photo above.

Posted on October 7, 2017October 20, 2017 by Staff Report

RELATED: Full Charlotte schedule

CONCORD, N.C. — Rain has forced cancellation of a sizable portion of Saturday’s on-track schedule from Charlotte Motor Speedway, including placing the start of the NASCAR XFINITY Series race on hold.

The XFINITY Series’ Drive for The Cure 300 Presented by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (NBCSN, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) is now scheduled for an 8:31 p.m. ET green flag, with pre-race coverage already underway. Driver introductions are scheduled for 7:45 p.m. ET.

The 200-lap, 300-mile event is the third race in the seven-race postseason and the finale to the Round of 12. The XFINITY championship-eligible field will be trimmed to eight drivers after the Charlotte race.

Both Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practices — originally scheduled for 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. ET — and NASCAR XFINITY Series qualifying — initially a 12:05 p.m. ET start — were all washed away by inclement weather in the area. Rain intensified from an intermittent mist around noon ET and track-drying efforts were temporarily suspended.

NASCAR competition officials have 12 Air Titans and 12 conventional jet dryers on hand to conduct track-drying efforts this weekend.

Sunday’s Bank of America 500, the first race in the Round of 12, has officially been moved up an hour due to potential weather issues and will begin at 1 p.m. ET.

Denny Hamlin won his first Coors Light Pole of the season on Friday with Joe Gibbs teammate Matt Kenseth qualifying in second.

MORE: Weather updates from Charlotte

Posted on October 7, 2017October 20, 2017 by Staff Report

NASCAR competition officials and Charlotte Motor Speedway staff moved up the start time for Sunday’s Monster Energy Series race by one hour to 1:10 p.m. ET.

A high probability of inclement weather prompted officials Saturday morning to shift the schedule for the Bank of America 500 (NBC, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio), the fourth event in the 10-race postseason. The 500-miler is the opener to the Round of 12, the second three-race phase of eliminations that will determine a series champion.

All other pre-race ceremonies have also been scheduled one hour earlier. Driver introductions will take place at 12:20 p.m. ET. The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series garage will open at 7:30 a.m. ET, and spectator gates at the 1.5-mile track will open at 9 a.m. ET.

Denny Hamlin will lead the field to the green flag after winning the Coors Light Pole in Friday evening qualifying.

Posted on October 7, 2017October 20, 2017 by Nascar

CONCORD, N.C. — He’ll keep the car, but the helmet will go to his team owner.

That’s the season-ending scenario for Dale Earnhardt Jr., NASCAR’s 14-time most popular driver who steps away from full-time competition following this year’s Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead Miami Speedway.

The race, scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 19, will be the final Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race of the season and the final MENCS race of Earnhardt Jr.’s career.

At each stop along this year’s MENCS trail, tracks have presented the Hendrick Motorsports driver with a “parting gift” of some sort — Friday at CMS, track officials in conjunction with Speedway Children’s Charities announced the establishment of the Dale Earnhardt Jr. Concussion Research Fund at Levine Children’s Hospital and are launching the initiative with a $100,000 donation.

As Earnhardt Jr., soon to turn 43 and the son of seven-time champion and NASCAR Hall of Fame member Dale Earnhardt, eases toward the conclusion of one occupation, what’s happening with some of his own racing “memorabilia” such as the helmet he wore in his final Daytona 500? Or the fire suit he wore for his last start in the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway?

“Well, if you want to know the truth, I only have one helmet and I’ve only used one helmet each year for a long time,” Earnhardt said Friday at CMS. “So, when people come asking for helmets, it is kind of hard to give them away because that is the only helmet I have from that season. And I like to keep it myself and store it away. So, I don’t have a whole lot of helmets floating around.”

Perhaps, he said, he should have taken a page from three-time series champion Tony Stewart, who had a number of helmets produced for his final year behind the wheel in ’16.

“I know that Tony was really smart wearing a different one each week; I probably should have done something like that,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “The Stilo’s (brand of helmet) I’ve got are $3,000-$5,000 apiece and I ain’t buying them. So, I just wear the same one all year.”

Uniforms are likewise less than abundant, he said, and used ones typically get cut into small pieces and included in trading cards or used in similar ways. Others might be donated for charitable causes.

“We get one or two and Hendrick (Motorsports) gets one or two, we split them,” he said. “And I like to keep one of those. I do give them to … usually I give the uniforms away to drivers for their charity events, Clint (Bowyer) called this week wanting one for his and so, we will give him a uniform out of our allotment.

“So, there is just not a lot of that stuff floating around.”

A special paint scheme will adorn the No. 88 Chevrolet for his final start and there will be a unique scheme for the helmet at Homestead as well. Barring any problems, Earnhardt said, the helmet will go to his boss and he’ll get to keep the car.

“That is our deal,” Earnhardt Jr. said of the agreement struck with team owner Rick Hendrick. “That is the same deal he had with Jeff (Gordon) … that Jeff gave him the helmet and Jeff got the car. And so, I think that is the same deal I’m going to get with Rick.”

Gordon, a four-time champion, retired at the end of the ’15 season.

Posted on October 6, 2017October 6, 2017 by Reid Spencer

CONCORD, N.C. – As he moves through his final season of Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series racing, Dale Earnhardt Jr. has had one consistent request — that gifts and recognition in his honor have a broader societal impact.

On Friday, Charlotte Motor Speedway honored Earnhardt’s wishes — and then some — with a gift of $100,000 to establish and underwrite the Dale Earnhardt Jr. Concussion Research Fund at the Carolinas Healthcare System’s Levine Children’s Hospital.

During two separate seasons, Earnhardt missed races because of concussion symptoms. In 2012 he was sidelined for two events, and last year he sat out the final 18 races after his symptoms from a wreck at Michigan worsened drastically in subsequent weeks.

During Friday’s presentation, the football team from Mooresville High School, Earnhardt’s alma mater, was ushered into the media center as part of the surprise.

“We have a lot of history with concussions and awareness and rehab and all that good stuff, so this is something that is actually very close to my heart,” Earnhardt said. “I hope to be able to continue to help others going forward. This is a great way to do that, so thanks again.”

MORE: Tracks’ farewell gifts for Earnhardt Jr.

Earnhardt didn’t play football at Mooresville. In fact, his Twitter profile lists him as “Former backup fullback for Mooresville Blue Devils varsity soccer.”

“I was four 4-feet-10-inches tall at the time,” Earnhardt said of the year he entered high school. “I think I was 5-foot-3 when I got my driver’s license. So I was real short, and we were driving by the football field — well, the practice field — and they were out there practicing, and I said, ‘I want to play football.’ And the guy said, ‘I’m going to take you down and introduce you to the soccer coach, because I don’t think you need to be playing football.’

“So I played soccer anyways. I got me a letter jacket and all that. We went to State and lost, but it was a lot of fun. I played one year, and I was the back-up, so I sat on the bench all year and I got to play a couple of games. We were a pretty good team, so we would get a big lead, I would get in a couple of games.”

Posted on October 6, 2017October 7, 2017 by Staff Report

Denny Hamlin set sail atop the leaderboard in Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series qualifying Friday night, landing the Coors Light Pole Award at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Hamlin will guide the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 11 Toyota from the first starting position for Sunday’s Bank of America 500 (1 p.m. ET, NBC, PRN, SiriusXM), the opening event in the Playoffs’ Round of 12. He turned a fast lap of 191.598 mph on the 1.5-mile track in the final round of knockout qualifying.

Hamlin’s first pole of the season was his second at Charlotte and the 25th of his Monster Energy Series career.

“It’s good, you always like to keep streaks alive,” said Hamlin, who now has at least one pole in the last six seasons and 12 of the 13 in his career. “Hadn’t had a pole this year and have had one every other year, but it’s good. We’ve been so close and we’ve made so many final rounds, been in the top five, but not as fast as our teammates. Today we adjusted on it, got it a little better each round and had some goodwill.”

Teammate Matt Kenseth will start second Sunday in the JGR No. 20 Toyota after posting a 191.489 mph lap. Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch and Clint Bowyer completed the top five in time trials for the fourth of 10 postseason races for NASCAR’s premier series.

The opening 20-minute session included some drama, with a logjam in pre-qualifying inspection forcing several teams to hustle their cars to the starting grid. The Joe Gibbs Racing No. 18 Toyota of Kyle Busch and the Hendrick Motorsports No. 88 Chevrolet of Dale Earnhardt Jr. were among the final teams to exit the garage to make their qualifying passes.

Once Earnhardt took to the track for the final qualifying session of his full-time career, his lap came at the expense of his teammate Jimmie Johnson, the defending race winner. Johnson, a seven-time series champ, was bumped to the 25th starting spot for Sunday’s 500-miler, just missing the 24-driver cut line by a margin of .018 seconds.

“Multiple trips through inspection doesn’t help by any stretch,” Johnson told NBC Sports. “We just missed it. So, another frustrating Friday unfortunately. Back tomorrow and we’ll have to pass a bunch of cars Sunday. It sucks getting behind and starting the weekend behind, but it is what it is and we’ll have to go to work on Sunday.”

Erik Jones’ Furniture Row Racing No. 77 Toyota did not make it through the inspection line in time and did not post a qualifying speed. The Sunoco Rookie of the Year candidate will start at the rear of the 40-car field, along with BK Racing teammates Corey LaJoie and Brett Moffitt, who also did not turn a qualifying lap.

Jones’ Furniture Row teammate, Martin Truex Jr., endured a milder setback in the second segment of qualifying, failing to make the 12-driver cut for the final round. Truex, a five-time winner this year and the leader in accumulated playoff points, will start 17th Sunday.

Two 50-minute practice sessions for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series are scheduled Saturday (11 a.m. ET, 1:30 p.m. ET, NBCSN).