JGR adds Christopher Bell for XFINITY Series races

Posted on May 1, 2017 by Staff Report

Officials with Joe Gibbs Racing have announced that Christopher Bell will compete in seven NASCAR XFINITY Series races for the organization in 2017.

Bell, who currently competes for Kyle Busch Motorsports in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, is scheduled to make his XFINITY Series debut May 27 in the Hisense 4K TV 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. He will pilot the organization’s No. 18 Toyota. Additional starts in the No. 18 entry are fall races at Kansas, Texas, Phoenix and Homestead-Miami.

Following his Charlotte debut, Bell will take the wheel of the No. 20 Toyota for XFINITY Series races at Iowa and the September stop at Richmond.

A native of Norman, Oklahoma, Bell, 22, has three career wins in the Truck Series, the most recent coming earlier this season at Atlanta Motor Speedway. He earned his first win in 2015 at Eldora Speedway and won again in ’16 at Gateway Motorsports Park.

Bell made it all the way to the Championship Round of the Truck Series in 2016, eventually finishing third. He is a former United States Auto Club (USAC) National Midget champ and won this year’s prestigious Chili Bowl.

Fast-tracked into NASCAR by Toyota officials who have helped groom the young driver, Bell said stepping up to compete for JGR "is something I didn’t dream of as a kid because it wasn’t something I dreamed was a possibility.

"Now, with this tremendous opportunity in front of me, it is obviously a dream come true. …

"To be able to race seven races at JGR is something that every kid would love the opportunity to do. I’m very thankful for it and we’re going to go out here and try to make the most of it."

Steve deSouza, JGR’s executive vice president of XFINITY and Development, noted Bell’s quick adaptation to the Truck Series.

"He has confidence and is eager to showcase his talents at Charlotte … and we are excited to see what he can do in the JGR Toytotas for his seven races," deSouza said.

JGR fields three XFINITY Series teams. Four drivers — Daniel Suarez, Erik Jones, Denny Hamlin and Kyle Benjamin — have been in the group’s No. 20 Toyota this year; Kyle Busch and Suarez have split time in the No. 18 while Matt Tifft has handled the No. 19.

Jones has a pair of XFINITY wins this season while Busch has one victory in his three starts. Overall JGR has 134 wins in the series since 1997.

The organization also fields four full-time teams in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, with drivers Busch, Hamlin, Suarez and Matt Kenseth.

Posted on May 1, 2017 by Staff Report

John Andretti, twice a winner in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, is battling Stage 4 colon cancer, according to Dave Calabro of Indianapolis TV station WTHR.

Andretti, the son of former racer Aldo Andretti and nephew of racing legend Mario Andretti, was diagnosed with Stage 3 colon cancer earlier this year and underwent surgery to remove a portion of his colon. Additional tests eventually discovered the cancer had spread to his liver.

"Now I’m a Stage 4A," Andretti told Calabro. "There is only a Stage 4B from my understanding, so I’m not really excited about that.

"But the good news is that we are still on the side that has a good chance of being cured."

Andretti, 54, made 393 starts in NASCAR’s top series from 1993-2010. His first win came in the July race at Daytona while driving for Cale Yarborough Motorsports. It was his 110th career start and was the lone victory for the organization.

Two years later, Andretti was back in the winner’s circle, this time winning at Martinsville Speedway in the No. 43 Pontiac for what was then known as Petty Enterprises.

His final NASCAR start came in the 2010 Daytona 500 for Front Row Motorsports.

In 1994, Andretti became the first racer to compete in the Indianapolis 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on the same day. After finishing 10th at Indy, Andretti was whisked away to Charlotte where he started from the rear of the field for missing the drivers’ meeting. He had previously qualified ninth for car owner Billy Hagan.

He completed 220 of 400 laps, falling out due to mechanical problems.

In addition to his two victories, Andretti also scored 13 top-five and 37 top-10 finishes. He also won four poles — at Darlington, Talladega, Atlanta and Phoenix.

Posted on April 30, 2017May 9, 2017 by Staff Report

NASCAR heads to Talladega Superspeedway for Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR XFINITY Series events. Check out the full weekend schedule below.

Note: All times are ET

FRIDAY, MAY 5:

ON TRACK
— 11:30 a.m.-12:25 p.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series practice, FS1
— 1:30-2:25 p.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series final practice, FS1
— 2:30-3:25 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice, FS1
— 4:30-5:25 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series final practice, FS1

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

SATURDAY, MAY 6:

ON TRACK
— 10:30 a.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying, FS1
— 1 p.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series Sparks Energy 300 (113 laps, 300.58 miles), FOX
— 4 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying, FOX

SUNDAY, MAY 7:

ON TRACK
— 2 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series GEICO 500 (188 laps, 500.08 miles), FOX

</p>

Posted on April 30, 2017 by Staff Report

NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France and his wife Amy were front and center at Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital at NYU Langone on April 26, visiting with patients and taking in a race of a different kind — the pinewood derby variety.

Yes, racing runs deep in the France family roots. So does charity. Wednesday’s visit illustrates a deep relationship with helping children.

Last year, The NASCAR Foundation announced plans to donate $1 million to Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital at NYU Langone as part of a multi-year partnership to enhance the delivery of medical care to children. Since that time, The NASCAR Foundation has supported the Child Life Program to minimize the emotional stress on children when enduring illness, injury and medical treatments.

"When you come to this kind of treatment center and hospital and see the good work they’re doing, it moves you. It just does," Brian France said.

"We met this entire group of people last fall at a (NASCAR) Foundation event. We committed at that time to be a part of their treatment center for children going forward, and here we are getting the tour and meeting the kids. We’re happy to be here."

It’s The NASCAR Foundation’s first multi-year partnership with NYU Langone Medical Center and marks its commitment to reach more kids nationally. NASCAR’s charitable arm has donated more than $30 million and impacted more than one million children since its inception in 2006.  | Learn more about The NASCAR Foundation’s Speediatrics Children’s Fund

Joe Gibbs Racing driver Matt Tifft joined the Frances, rolling up his sleeves and pitching in on building an entry into the pinewood derby — No. 19, of course, to match his entry for Joe Gibbs Racing. The event perhaps had special meaning for the 20-year-old Tifft, a member of the 2016-17 NASCAR Next class.

Last year Tifft put his racing career — and life — on hold after doctors discovered a tumor on his brain. Successful surgery on July 1 removed the brain tumor, which was benign, as Tifft learned first-hand the importance of world-class care.

The Frances and The NASCAR Foundation also were honored at the KiDS of NYU Langone Springfling Gala on April 27 for their tireless commitment in improving the lives of children.

Brian France and Amy France represented The NASCAR Foundation at the gala. Together, they are continuing the legacy of Betty Jane France, Brian’s mother, who created the vision for the Speediatrics Children’s Fund, a program of The NASCAR Foundation to enhance the delivery of high-quality medical care to needy children across the country.

Further carrying on the tradition of the France family’s legacy of giving back, Brian and Amy France spend much of their personal time driving progress on issues that threaten the health and wellness of children. The Frances personally partner with dozens of world-class charitable organization, have been honored for their contributions to pediatric cancer and work tirelessly to combat a wide-range of issues related to disease, poverty, abuse and education.

"You feel a stronger pull toward helping these children and doing something small to put some cheer into their life by supporting a world-class facility such as NYU Langone," said Amy France during the visit.

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

Posted on April 30, 2017 by Staff Report

BUY TICKETS: See the races at Richmond
RELATED: Set your lineup | Top 10-lap times | Practice results

With the Toyota Owners 400 just hours away (2 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio), it’s time to set your NASCAR Fantasy Live lineup. Here is some last-minute fantasy insight for the spring race at Richmond. Prices are market values in the NASCAR Fantasy Live game for this weekend.

Austin Dillon ($20.50) is starting from the rear for failing pre-race inspection five times at Bristol Motor Speedway. Dillon will line up 38th (where he qualified after taking an interesting qualifying lap to conserve tires), making him a potential place-differential bonanza for fantasy owners. Dillon was sixth and 24th in Saturday’s two practices. In six starts at the 0.75-mile track, the Richard Childress Racing driver has an average finish of 22.3. If he were to finish in that range on Sunday, the place difference would easily make him a top-15 fantasy driver on the day.

Erik Jones ($20.25) is starting the race 20th. The rookie was running strong for much of the Bristol race on Monday and has quietly put together a nice start to his first season. The driver of the No. 77 Toyota finished all three practices in the top five — meaning the speed is there and he should be one that makes a move up in the field. That could earn owners place-differential points and possibly stage points, as well.

Denny Hamlin ($25.00) is the most recent Richmond winner and has three career wins at the 0.75-mile track. The Virginia native is well known for his short-track prowess and has led 1,594 laps at Richmond in his career. He only qualified 16th, but was a top-seven car in all three practices. Add to that the fact that he placed top five in the best 10 consecutive laps category for the final two practices, and it’s easy to make a case to roster him.

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

Posted on April 30, 2017 by Staff Report

RELATED: Sunday’s full lineup

Joey Logano will start today’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond from the rear of the field after his No. 22 Team Penske team changed the transmission in his Ford.

Logano had qualified fifth for the Toyota Owners 400 (2 p.m. ET, FOX, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio), and the .75-mile Virginia track is one of his best. Logano has finished in the top five in four of his eight starts here as a member of Team Penske.

Sunday also marks Logano’s 300th career start in the Monster Energy Series. For Fantasy Live purposes, Logano still is officially credited with a fifth-place starting position. | Need to update your lineup?

MORE: Logano’s career highlights

He joins Austin Dillon in the rear of the field. NASCAR officials announced Friday morning that the No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet would start from the back after failing pre-race inspection at the Laser Inspection System station five times prior to Monday’s race at Bristol.

Knowing he was already sent to the rear, Dillon turned a slow qualifying lap Friday at Richmond — perhaps to save his tires for Sunday’s race — and qualified 38th.

&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

Posted on April 30, 2017 by Staff Report

RICHMOND, Va. — NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France said Sunday that NASCAR is in a state of transition within its deep, talented driver pool, drumming up support for incoming young talent in NASCAR’s national ranks.

France’s remarks came during an impromptu media session at Richmond International Raceway about an hour before Sunday’s Toyota Owners 400. France acknowledged the new wave of drivers’ growing connection to the sport’s fans will not be an overnight process, but that being steadfast when it comes to on-track performance should help their names resonate.

"The good news is, and you guys have seen it in the talent pool that’s coming, and it is deep, so we’re excited about that," France said, mentioning the moments enjoyed already by Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series points leader Kyle Larson, age 24. "I think the big thing is — and I always tell them this — they’ve got to compete at a high level. They can’t be humble about that. They can’t be humble as they race out there with veteran stars who they looked up to. They can’t be humble to say ‘I’m happy to be here.’ They’re here for a reason. They’re very, very good."

France’s Q&A came five days after Dale Earnhardt Jr., the sport’s Most Popular Driver, announced that the 2017 season would be his last in the Monster Energy Series. France paid tribute to Earnhardt in his opening remarks, saluting both his driving career and his efforts to improve the sport with his collaborative spirit.

PHOTOS: Dale Jr. through the years

"He’s meant a lot to this sport in many ways, on and off the track — not just his popularity, but carrying on the Earnhardt name in such a good way," France said. "He was always competitive on the track, always raced at a high level, and always worked with NASCAR to make the sport better, just like his father did."

France also discussed the impact of Monster Energy as the premier series’ entitlement sponsor, a partnership announced five months ago. Since the two sides joined forces, France said Monster Energy has played a key role in trying to introduce the sport to a new, younger demographic.

"I’d say in one word — great," France said. "I think that they are bringing what we hoped they would bring, that sort of youthful, kind of edgy … they do it in entertainment, if you were out in California, with a massive crowd interacting with our fan base. And then digitally, socially, they’re one of the leading companies in the country in how to manage that new frontier."

Posted on April 30, 2017May 13, 2017 by Staff Report

RELATED: FAQ for race format | Updated stage points

STAGE 2:

Brad Keselowski nabbed his first stage win of the year on Sunday afternoon at Richmond International Raceway, winning Stage 2 of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series’ Toyota Owners 400. The driver of the No. 2 Team Penske Ford led 37 laps in the caution-free stage.

Pole-sitter and Stage 1 victor Matt Kenseth, who led all 100 laps of Stage 1, placed second in Stage 2 in his No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, leading 63 laps. Stewart-Haas Racing’s Kevin Harvick was third in his No. 4 Ford, while Denny Hamlin’s No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota was fourth.

Kyle Larson and his No. 42 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet completed Stage 2’s top-five finishers.

Both Keselowski and Kenseth received race points and the race winner will earn 40 points and five playoff points at the race’s conclusion.

STAGE 1:

Pole-sitter Matt Kenseth led all 100 opening laps of Sunday’s Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond International Raceway, giving his No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota the Stage 1 win. This marks Kenseth’s first stage win of the season.

Kyle Larson and Martin Truex Jr. drag-raced to the start-finish line for the runner-up spot in Stage 1, with Larson’s No. 42 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet prevailing by .006 seconds. Truex Jr.’s No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Toyota ended up third.

Stewart-Haas Racing’s Kevin Harvick and Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin rounded out the top five, respectively.

The top 10 finishers in both Stage 1 and Stage 2 receive race points. The race winner will receive 40 points and five playoff points at the conclusion of the Final Stage.

Posted on April 30, 2017 by Staff Report

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

RELATED: Find NBCSN in your area | See Talladega races live

All times ET

Monday, May 1
2 a.m., NASCAR Victory Lane (re-air), FS1
6:30 a.m., Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series: Toyota Owners 400 (re-air), FS1
9:30 a.m., Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series: Toyota Owners 400 (re-air), FS2
6 p.m., NASCAR America, NBCSN
6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FS1
7 p.m., Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series: Toyota Owners 400 (re-air), FS1

Tuesday, May 2
7 a.m., NASCAR XFINITY Series: ToyotaCare 250 (re-air), FS1
5:30 p.m., NASCAR America, NBCSN
6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FS1

Wednesday, May 3
5:30 p.m., NASCAR America, NBCSN
6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FS1

Thursday, May 4
6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FS1
11 p.m., IMSA Racing: Prototype Challenge: Barber Motorsports Park (re-air), FS2

Friday, May 5
11:30 a.m., NASCAR XFINITY Series practice, FS1
12:30 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub Weekend Edition, FS1
1:30 p.m., NASCAR XFINITY Series final practice, FS1
2:30 p.m., Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice, FS1
3:30 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub Weekend Edition, FS1
4:30 p.m., Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series final practice, FS1
5:30 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub Weekend Edition, FS1
9 p.m., Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice (re-air), FS1
10 p.m., Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series final practice (re-air), FS1

Saturday, May 6
5:30 a.m., NASCAR XFINITY Series final practice (re-air), FS1
6:30 a.m., Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice (re-air), FS1
7:30 a.m., Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series final practice (re-air), FS1
10:30 a.m., NASCAR XFINITY Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying, FS1
12:30 p.m., NASCAR XFINITY Series Pre-Race Show, FOX
1 p.m., NASCAR XFINITY Series Sparks Energy, FOX
3:30 p.m., NASCAR XFINITY Series Post-Race Show, FOX
4 p.m., Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying, FOX
7 p.m., IMSA Racing WeatherTech SportsCar Championship: Circuit of the Americas, FS1

Sunday, May 7
2 a.m., NASCAR XFINITY Series: Sparks Energy 300 (re-air), FS1
4:30 a.m., Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying (re-air), FS1
6 a.m., IMSA Racing WeatherTech SportsCar Championship: Circuit of the Americas (re-air), FS1
11:30 a.m., NASCAR RaceDay, FS1
1:30 p.m., Monster Energy Cup Series Pre-Race Show, FOX
2 p.m., Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series: Geico 500, FOX
9 p.m., NASCAR Victory Lane, FS1

Posted on April 30, 2017 by Staff Report

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

RELATED: Find NBCSN in your area | See Talladega races live

All times ET