Posted on by Pat DeCola

RELATED: Blaney wins thriller at Pocono | Race results

There are worse neighbors to have than Dale Earnhardt Jr.

The Hendrick Motorsports driver helped kick the celebration of his neighborhood pal Ryan Blaney’s first career Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series win up a notch on Sunday night/Monday morning by bringing the beer. And lots of it.

“Dale’s a damn good friend, man,” Blaney said in an Instagram Live video Monday morning. “He dropped off four coolers of beer. Four damn coolers. That was really special.”

It’s a good thing, too, as apparently the Wood Brothers Racing driver’s bash lasted well into the wee hours of the morning. Check out the time stamp on Darrell Wallace Jr.’s star-studded tweet.

 


Talk about a cause worth partying all night for — not only was it Blaney’s first win in what’s shaping up to be a promising career, it was also the 99th Monster Energy Series win for the Wood Brothers, and first since Trevor Bayne’s 2011 Daytona 500 victory.

 

 



So raise a glass to win No. 99 while you still can — the way Blaney is racing, No. 100 should be just around the corner.

 

Posted on by Staff Report

RELATED: Full race results | Reaction to Blaney win pours in

There have been three first-time winners at NASCAR’s highest level through 14 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races this season. It’s the first time since 2011 there have been that many drivers to win their first Monster Energy Series race in one year, and Wood Brothers Racing is a thread that runs through both seasons.

Ryan Blaney’s Pocono performance on Sunday sent him to Victory Lane — in the historic No. 21, no less — for the first time in his Monster Energy Series career. It follows career-firsts from Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Austin Dillon with 22 races still remaining this year.

As for that 2011 group … take a look below for a quick look at both this season and that one.

FIRST-TIME WINNERS, 2017

• Ricky Stenhouse Jr., May 7, Talladega. Stenhouse Jr. qualified on the Coors Light Pole and passed Kyle Busch on the last lap for a breakthrough win. | Go in-depth on this race

• Austin Dillon, May 28, Charlotte. It was a fuel-mileage decision, but no one would hold it against Austin Dillon when he steered the No. 3 back into Victory Lane in the prestigious Coca-Cola 600. | Go in-depth on this race

• Ryan Blaney, June 11, Pocono. This was as old-school as it gets. Blaney’s headset wasn’t working, so he couldn’t communicate with his crew during the race. No matter. He passed former champ Kyle Busch, then held off former champ Kevin Harvick to put the No. 21 in Victory Lane. | Go in-depth on this race

FIRST-TIME WINNERS, 2011

• Trevor Bayne, Feb. 20, Daytona. Widely considered the biggest upset in NASCAR history, Bayne launched his career when he won the biggest NASCAR race of them all one day after he turned 20 years old. It was the first win for Wood Brothers Racing in 10 years. | Go in-depth on this race

• Regan Smith, May 7, Darlington. Smith stayed out on a late caution, then paid the gamble off by holding off the field on the final restart at one of the trickiest — and most iconic — tracks on the circuit. It was the first-ever win for then-upstart Furniture Row Racing. | Go in-depth on this race

• David Ragan, July 2, Daytona. Two 2011 races at Daytona, two big upsets — this time it was David Ragan powering through for team owner Jack Roush. | Go in-depth on this race

• Paul Menard, July 31, Indianapolis. There’s no bigger track than Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Menard family, which made Paul’s conquest in 2011 extra sweet. | Go in-depth on this race

• Marcos Ambrose, Aug. 15, Watkins Glen. Considered one of the best road racers in NASCAR, Ambrose outdueled Brad Keselowski and Kyle Busch in the waning laps for a thrilling victory. | Go in-depth on this race

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. –  704Games, NASCAR Team Properties’ exclusive console simulation-style video game licensee, has announced that, in addition to the traditional Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, the upcoming NASCAR Heat 2 will feature the NASCAR XFINITY Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. These series offer new styles of gameplay, new drivers and vehicles, and six new tracks, including three road courses, two ovals and one dirt track.

Developed by Monster Games, NASCAR Heat 2 expands on the core experience of last year’s NASCAR Heat Evolution with a deeper career mode supporting all three national racing series, upgraded visuals, physics and damage models, expanded online multiplayer functionality, and the return to the franchise of two-player local multiplayer.

704Games recently revealed that Kyle Busch will grace the cover of NASCAR Heat 2 after winning a head-to-head competition between Toyota drivers during the Monster Energy All-Star Race™ in May.

RELATED: How Kyle Busch won cover spot

NASCAR Heat 2 is expected to launch in North America on Sept. 12, 2017 for the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, Xbox One and Windows PC.

Additional information on NASCAR Heat 2 will be available throughout the summer on the game’s official website: www.NASCARHeat.com. Fans can also follow NASCAR Heat 2 on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates.

Posted on by Reid Spencer

RELATED: Full race results | Detailed breakdown

LONG POND, Pa. – Erik Jones got a taste of the high life on Sunday at Pocono Raceway.

Running third in the closing laps of the Axalta presents the Pocono 400, Jones watched Ryan Blaney outduel Kevin Harvick for the victory – and wanted to be up there with them.

Third was a career best for the Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender, but Jones has his sights set on loftier goals.

“It’s great to run up there and it feels really good to get a top five, but, man, when you’re that close and you’re seeing them battle for the win and you’re right there trying to pounce and make a move, it definitely makes you eager to go up there and try to get it. 

“Hopefully, this is a sign of things to come, and hopefully we can keep running well and keep getting in contention for more.”

The race unfolded in nearly ideal fashion for the No. 77 Furniture Row Racing team. The Toyota was a long-run car, and there were plenty of long runs in Sunday’s race. And Jones held his position after the final caution on Lap 141 despite taking two tires on the last pit stop.

“We needed a lot of green flag runs and we got that today,” Jones said.  “We got plenty of green flag runs. It worked out really good.

“The late caution, I kind of thought that was going to throw a kink in our day. Obviously, I was pretty content with where we were running. Came in, luckily two tires worked out for us just fine. We were able to get clear up into third and kind of hang out there for the rest of the race.”

Posted on by Holly Cain

RELATED: Bubba gives Blaney thumbs-up for win

LONG POND, Pa. — Standing on pit road alongside Richard Petty Motorsports’ famous No. 43 Ford, Darrell Wallace Jr. was simultaneously grateful to have made his first start in NASCAR’s big leagues and his own worst critic about his 26th-place performance.

In fact, while leaning against his car to discuss his debut with reporters, Wallace closed his eyes, fainted and was helped to a sitting position before quickly drinking some water and coming around again.

As a precaution, track paramedics tried to transport him to the track medical center before his scheduled time with assembled media. But Wallace, 23, literally jumped off the medical golf cart as it drove past Pocono Raceway’s Victory Lane. Then, he ran into the crowd to congratulate his friend, 23-year-old driver Ryan Blaney, who was celebrating his first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series win.

RELATED: Bubba, Blaney pose for historic photo

By the time Wallace arrived to speak to the media 20 minutes later, he seemed to have recovered from the heat and was more aggravated with a tough learning curve on track than worried about health issues.

He was, however, extremely proud to have become the first African-American driver to compete in NASCAR’s big leagues in more than a decade.

“I’m very hard on myself and I’m super pissed off at myself, and I’m just so mad I just pass out; competitive,” Wallace said smiling. “It’s a heck of a way to start my weekend and heck of a way to end my weekend — passing out.

“I’m just so bummed out and frustrated with myself. I know my family is going to be hard on me after this not to be so hard on myself, but I’m competitive and I want to win races and I want to lead laps.”

However, Wallace conceded the big picture is much brighter than a tough first day learning curve.

“Aside from that, I will cheer up and thank everybody involved in this process,” Wallace acknowledged. “This was a wonderful day for me, a wonderful day for the sport. I wish we could have got a little bit better finish in our Smithfield Ford, but I’m just thankful for the opportunity.  I’ve been dreaming about this since I was a little kid, being in the Cup Series, and now it’s here, and I made a name for myself.

“I thought I ran a pretty decent race, just kind of running there by myself, passed a couple people, tried not to make anybody too mad, and hopefully earned a lot of respect from those guys out there. I definitely had a blast.”

Posted on by Staff Report

RELATED: Complete race results | Blaney wins in thriller

Ryan Blaney won his first career Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race Sunday, holding off a hard-charging Kevin Harvick at Pocono Raceway to do so.

The final laps were particularly exhilarating as the 23-year-old wheeled his way to Wood Brothers Racing’s first win since Trevor Bayne won the 2011 Daytona 500.

NASCAR Nation reacted appropriately on Twitter.

 

 


Posted on by Reid Spencer

RELATED: Race results | Series standings | Detailed breakdown

SHOP: Winner’s gear

LONG POND, Pa. — Dogged by Kevin Harvick for the final eight laps of Sunday’s Axalta presents the Pocono 400, Ryan Blaney held off the 2014 series champion in a breathtaking battle to claim the first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series victory of his career.

After a restart on Lap 148 of 160, Blaney grabbed the lead from polesitter Kyle Busch on Lap 151, with Busch on older tires, doing everything he could to block Blaney’s No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford. Racing side by side with Busch’s No. 18 Toyota down the Long Pond straightaway, Blaney stayed in the gas through the Tunnel Turn and cleared Busch’s Camry off the corner.

A lap later, Harvick passed Busch and closed within a car-length of Blaney, who drove flawlessly for the final eight laps to keep Harvick at bay. Blaney crossed the finish line .139 seconds ahead of Harvick to become the 18th different driver to win for the Wood Brothers and the first since Trevor Bayne took the checkered flag in the 2011 Daytona 500. Blaney, 23, is also the youngest first-time winner since Bayne, who was 20 years old when he took the checkered flag for the Wood Brothers at Daytona.

RELATED: Wood Brothers through the years

When Blaney climbed from his car in Victory Lane, the magnitude of what he had just accomplished still hadn’t registered.

“I think it exceeds the dream a little bit,” Blaney said. “I grew up watching my dad (Dave Blaney) race on this race track, and it’s so cool to get the Wood Brothers in Victory Lane, No. 1, and to do it here at a race track that is really close to Ohio — a home to me — is pretty awesome.”

First, however, Blaney had to get past Busch after the final restart, no easy task, even though Busch had stayed out on older tires during the fourth and final caution, called for Kasey Kahne’s brake failure and crash into the Turn 1 wall.

“Kyle stayed out and he was on a little bit older tires, and it looked like he was getting pretty tight, especially off of (Turn) 1, and that’s where new tires really seemed to come alive, because you could hold the line and get runs on him, downshift and get next to him.

“I had a big run on him off of (Turn) 3, and he did a good job blocking, and we were able to get under him, but then I had to hold the 4 (Harvick) off. He was super-fast. I can’t thank Kevin enough for racing me clean. That was really cool of him, but it was definitely hectic. Hopefully, the fans liked it. It was really cool.”

WATCH: Blaney holds off hard-charging Harvick

Harvick, whose engine survived a missed shift at the end of Stage 2, was waiting for Blaney to make a mistake over the final eight laps, but the mistake never came. And Harvick’s brakes weren’t stout enough to allow him to charge the corners as effectively as Blaney could.

“We never could stop like we needed to all weekend, so you just had to be really careful with the brakes,” Harvick said. “If I’d over drive it for a lap or two the pedal would start going down, and then I was really at a deficit. So I had to be very aware of where I let off every lap.

“The 21 (Blaney) could charge the corner a little bit harder than I could, and my best bet, the way I passed people all day was waiting for him to slip up off the bottom, and he never slipped up off the bottom. So I just didn’t have enough laps to finish that last pass off, and Ryan did a good job of not slipping a wheel with the amount of laps that he had left and was able to hold on.”

RELATED: Watch video of Jimmie, McMurray wrecks

Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender Erik Jones finished a career-best third in the No. 77 Furniture Row Racing Toyota. Kurt Busch ran fourth, followed by Brad Keselowski, who started on the front row beside Kyle Busch on the final restart but lost positions through the first corner.

Martin Truex Jr. came home sixth and retained the series lead by one point over seventh-place Kyle Larson, who won the second stage. Chase Elliott was eighth, and Kyle Busch slipped to ninth, despite winning the first stage and leading 100 of the 160 laps.

Driving the No. 43 Richard Petty Motorsports Ford in his Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series debut, Darrell “Bubba” Wallace Jr. finished 26th, hampered by three pit road speeding penalties, two of which came on consecutive trips to pit road early in the race.

WATCH: Bubba assesses his Monster Energy Series debut

Posted on by Staff Report

RELATED: Find NBCSN in your area | How to find FS2 in your area

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 times are ET.

Monday, June 12
6:30 a.m., Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Axalta presents the Pocono 400 (re-air), FS1
9:30 a.m., Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Axalta presents the Pocono 400 (re-air), FS2
5:30 p.m., NASCAR America, NBCSN
6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FS1

Tuesday, June 13
7 a.m., XFINITY Series Pocono Green 250 (re-air), FS1
5:30 p.m., NASCAR America, NBCSN
6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FS1

Wednesday, June 14
5:30 p.m., NASCAR America, NBCSN
6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FS1

Thursday, June 15
6 p.m., NASCAR America, NBCSN
7 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FS1
7 p.m., K&N Series Race: Colorado National Speedway, NBCSN

Friday, June 16
11 a.m., Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice at Michigan, FS2 (Canada: TSN GO)
12:30 p.m., XFINITY Series practice at Michigan, FS2 (Canada: TSN GO)
1:30 p.m., NASCAR Race Classic: 1987 Winston 500, FS2
2 p.m., Beyond the Wheel, FS2
3 p.m., XFINITY Series final practice at Michigan, FS2 (Canada: TSN GO)
4 p.m., Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Coors Light Pole qualifying at Michigan, FS2 (Canada: TSN GO)
9:30 p.m., Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Coors Light Pole qualifying (re-air), FS1

Saturday, June 17
7 a.m., Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Coors Light Pole qualifying (re-air), FS1
9 a.m., Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice at Michigan, FS2 (Canada: TSN 2)
10 a.m., XFINITY Coors Light Pole qualifying at Michigan, FS2 (Canada: TSN GO)
11:30 a.m., NASCAR Race Hub Weekend Edition, FS2
Noon., Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series final practice at Michigan, FS2 (Canada: TSN GO)
1 p.m., NASCAR RaceDay: XFINITY, FS1
1:30 p.m., NASCAR XFINITY Series Michigan 250, FS1 (Canada: TSN 2)
7 p.m.: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Keystone Light Pole qualifying at Gateway Motorsports Park (tape delayed), FS1.
8 p.m.: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Set-up, FS1
8:30 p.m.: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series: Gateway 200, FS1

Sunday, June 18
2 p.m.: NASCAR RaceDay, FS1
3 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan, FS1 (Canada: TSN 5)

Posted on by Staff Report

BUY TICKETS: See the races at Michigan | See the Trucks come to Gateway

RELATED: How to find FS2 on your TV

NASCAR rolls into Michigan International Speedway for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR XFINITY Series race, while Gateway Motorsports Park will host a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series standalone event. Check out the full weekend schedule below.

Note: All times are ET

SUNDAY, JUNE 18

PRE-RACE SCHEDULE
—1:00:00 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Driver/Crew Chief Meeting
—2:20:00 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Drivers Introductions w/ NASCAR Special Awards
—2:58:30 p.m.: Canadian Anthem: Michigan International Speedway’s own, Lisa Bascom
—3:00:00 p.m.: Presentation of Colors: Michigan State Police
—3:00:20 p.m.: Invocation:  Father Geoff Rose, St Francis de Sales High School
—3:01:00 p.m.: National Anthem: Michigan International Speedway’s own, Lisa Bascom
—3:02:30 p.m.: Fly-By: (2) F-16s, 180th Fighter Wing, Ohio Air National Guard (Turn 4 to Turn 1)
—3:07:30 p.m.: “Drivers, Start Your Engines” by:  Thompson Square
—3:16:30 p.m.:  Start of the FireKeepers Casino 400 (200 Laps, 400 Miles)

ON TRACK
MICHIGAN INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY
– 3 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series FireKeepers Casino 400 (200 laps, 400 miles), FS1; Canada: TSN5 (Results)

PRESS CONFERENCES (Watch live)
6:30 p.m.: Post-Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race

FRIDAY, JUNE 16:
ON TRACK
MICHIGAN INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY
– 11 a.m.-12:25 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice, FS2; Canada: TSN GO (Results)
– 12:30-1:25 p.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series practice, FS2; Canada: TSN GO (Results)
– 3-3:55 p.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series final practice, FS2; Canada: TSN GO (Results)
– 4:15 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Coors Light Pole qualifying, FS2; Canada: TSN GO (Results)

PRESS CONFERENCES (Watch live) 
9:15 a.m.: Daniel Suarez
9:30 a.m.: Wood Brothers Racing
10:15 a.m.: Jimmie Johnson
10:30 a.m.: Cole Custer, Matt Tifft, Tyler Reddick
1 p.m.: Joey Logano
1:15 p.m.: Kyle Larson
1:30 p.m.: Erik Jones
5 p.m.: Post-Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series qualifying

GARAGECAM (Watch Live)
– 10:30 a.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series

SATURDAY, JUNE 17:
ON TRACK
MICHIGAN INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY
– 9-9:55 a.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice, FS2; Canada: TSN2 (Results)
– 10 a.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series Coors Light Pole qualifying, FS2; Canada: TSN GO (Results)
– noon-12:50 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series final practice, FS2; Canada: TSN GO (Results)
– 1:30 p.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series race at Michigan (125 laps, 250 miles), FS1; Canada: TSN2 (Results)

GATEWAY MOTORSPORTS PARK
– 10:30-11:25 a.m.: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series practice, no TV (Results)
– 12:30-1:25 p.m.: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series final practice, no TV (Results)
– 5:45 p.m.: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Keystone Light Pole qualifying (tape delayed on FS1 for 7 p.m.) (Results)
– 8:30 p.m.: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Drivin’ for Linemen 200 (160 laps, 200 miles), FS1 (Results)

PRESS CONFERENCES (Watch live)
3:30 p.m.: Post-NASCAR XFINITY Series race

 

Posted on by Holly Cain

LONG POND, Pa. — Jimmie Johnson and Jamie McMurray spun out on Lap 95 in what almost looked like a synchronized chain reaction midway through the Axalta presents the Pocono 400 at Pocono Raceway.

Both drivers say their Chevrolets lost brakes. The reigning seven-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion Johnson spun hard into the Turn 1 wall while running seventh. Seconds later, McMurray also came down the track apparently without any brakes. His No. 1 Cessna Chevy hit the wall, sparking smoke and flames before coming to rest, allowing the 2010 Daytona 500 winner to climb out.

Johnson, meanwhile, sat on the track, resting against the wall briefly after climbing out of his No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet. After exiting from a visit to the infield care center, he insisted that he was absolutely fine.

RELATED: Junior’s day ends early, too

“When the brakes fail like that, there’s so much time to think about the crash and I just needed a minute,” Johnson said. “I thought it was going to be a lot worse than that. And to have it turn out where I basically just scared myself and got out of the car and walked away, I just needed a second to sit down and catch my breath.

“But, honestly, I have no sore spots or aches. I feel fine.”

RELATED: Johnson reacts to hard hit

McMurray said he was also physically fine, although, like Johnson, it was a stunning turn of events just past the race’s halfway point. He had been running solidly in the top 10 all afternoon.

“Just lost the brakes and really weird that it happened at the same time that the 48 did,” McMurray said. “I didn’t even see his problem until I didn’t have any brakes. And then, it seemed like I might have gotten into a little oil. I don’t know if any came out of his car, but I just didn’t have any control.

“We were talking in the infield care center that we both turned left when we probably should have turned right instead of making a bigger impact.”

McMurray said his top priority was getting out of his car once he realized it was smoking and possibly parts on fire.

“I saw the fire before they told me on the radio and I was already trying to get everything off,” McMurray said. “I was wanting to get out faster but couldn’t get the car to stop. So I was literally rolling along and didn’t know I was moving as I was trying to get out.

“I could see how fast it gets hot inside the car, not warm, crazy hot so I was glad to get out.”

A red flag stopped the race for just over 23 minutes as workers cleaned up after the accident.

“I saw a replay inside the medical center,” Johnson explained. “The smoke, I think, is the brake fluid coming out of wherever failed and onto the rotors. I can only speculate that I got the brakes too hot and when I went to the brakes they just traveled straight to the floor. I didn’t even have a pedal to push on. At that point, I threw it in third gear and I was just trying to slow it down. 

“I just want to let my wife and kids and my mom know that I’m okay,” he said, smiling. “And I will go change my underwear and get ready to go home.”