Posted on by Nascar

CHARLOTTE — Stewart-Haas Racing co-owner Tony Stewart called her “fearless” and Kevin Harvick said she is “a huge part of this sport” one day after Danica Patrick announced she would not return to Stewart-Haas Racing for the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season.

Patrick, 35, announced her impending departure Tuesday but gave no indication of her future. Wrapping up her fifth full season as driver of the No. 10 entry for SHR, she has seven top-10 finishes in 180 career starts. She is the only female competitor to start on the pole for the Daytona 500, NASCAR’s season-opening and most prestigious event.

“I’ve always been a believer in Danica’s ability as a race car driver and that continues to be the case,” Stewart said via a Facebook posting Wednesday morning. “She’s one of the most fearless people I’ve ever met. She has never backed down from a challenge. … My support for Danica is unwavering.” | Read more from Stewart here

Harvick joined SHR in 2014, a year after Patrick came on board, and won the Monster Energy Series title. During media day for this season’s 10-race playoffs, Harvick said his teammate has “turned a lot of people on to racing that might not have otherwise been turned onto racing. The impact and the footprint that she has brought to our sport is big.

PHOTOS: Danica’s memorable moments | Key players in NASCAR’s Silly Season

“On the other side of that you have the performance side of things that at some point measures into everybody’s sponsorship,” he said. “I hope that Danica gets a sponsor because she’s an important part of our sport. … She’s had a lot of very good moments; look at Joey Logano, he went from Joe Gibbs Racing to (Team) Penske and became an immediate championship contender just by getting in a different situation.

“That’s what you hope for in this situation, that Danica can find a team and a sponsor that fits her situation better than the situation that has been in the past.”

Posted on by Jason Lofing

RELATED: Full iRacing season schedule

Taylor Hurst played spoiler in the battle for the NASCAR PEAK Antifreeze Series championship, taking two tires during a caution with 13 laps to go then surging to the lead on a late restart to win his first race of the season at Chicagoland Speedway. Hurst restarted in fourth with 10 laps to go but needed less than a lap to claim the top spot from Alex Bergeron just before the caution froze the field once again.

The race restarted for the final time with four laps to go, and while Hurst got a good jump, Ryan Luza was in hot pursuit despite the damage he sustained on the previous restart. With three laps remaining Luza closed to within a car length down the back straightaway, but a crash further back in the field brought the caution out before Luza could challenge for the win.

Luza would settle for second, but while a victory would have locked him into the final round of the championship, the runner-up finish let him build a reasonably comfortable margin over his fellow competitors.

Jimmy Mullis came home third, Bergeron faded to fourth, and Marcus Richardson finished fifth after running strong for most of the night.

Zack Novak led the field to the green after earning his fifth pole of the season but led only one lap before Logan Clampitt took the lead away. Clampitt would go on to lead a race-high 73 of 167 circuits while Novak found trouble on a restart after some bad luck with pit strategy. The damage ended his night and the polesitter finished thirty-eighth.

Clampitt continued to pace the field until Lap 33 when he gave up the lead to make his first pit stop. He briefly lost the lead until the cycle completed and then again on Lap 50 when Andrew Fayash, who was on a different strategy, stayed out under caution. Clampitt made quick work of Fayash though and took the lead back one lap after the restart, this time with Michael Conti in tow.

The second run was much like the first as Clampitt started to pull away on the long run but a caution closed the field up and Clampitt wound up losing the lead on pit road to Luza.

The clean air seemed to help Luza’s car as he became the class of the field out front, leading until he, like Clampitt before him, gave up the lead for service on pit road. A caution during the round of stops mixed up the running order, but Luza still held the lead on the restart with 27 to go. Hurst was 22nd and only climbed to 15th by the time the yellow came up with 15 laps remaining. However, the gutsy pit call worked and Hurst gained 11 spots in the pits on his way to victory.

While Luza failed to lock himself into the final four, he does hold a 15-point lead over Clampitt in the standings. Bobby Zalenski is third, 23 points back and is the final transfer spot since Ray Alfalla is locked in thanks to his win at Darlington. Corey Vincent and Richardson are only three and four points out, respectively while Novak has more work to do. He sits 33 points out after his crash and will likely need a win to advance.

With only two races remaining in the NPAS season, the series heads to Dover International Speedway for Week 15. Three spots in the final four are still up for grabs. Who can join Alfalla in Homestead to fight for the title? Find out in two weeks when the NPAS drivers take on the Monster Mile.

Posted on by Zack Albert

SHOP: Denny Hamlin playoff gear

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. — Perhaps it’s a testament to the depth of Joe Gibbs Racing’s personnel that Denny Hamlin posted a top-five finish last weekend, functioning without one of his team’s key cogs calling the shots from the pit box.

That didn’t make it any easier for Michael Wheeler, the team’s full-time crew chief, serving a suspension and watching Hamlin’s No. 11 Toyota making laps without his oversight.

“Not being in the garage during a weekend, it’s more difficult and challenging than I thought,” Wheeler said Tuesday during a NASCAR.com shop visit to JGR’s headquarters. “I was kind of prepared for it last minute, but I was kind of in the mindset that this would be OK and we’ll get through it just fine. But every hour that goes by and the car’s on track and I’m not there and blind from what’s going on, I’m thankful that I’ve got a good group of guys around me that are handling the situation — but the moment the race started the other night, on Lap 2, I was like, ‘Wow, this is a bad feeling.’ This is a hard thing to get over.

“At the moment, it’s part of what it is. We’re getting through it, but it’s definitely not enjoyable at all.”

Wheeler, saddled with an L1-grade technical violation after Hamlin’s encumbered victory at Darlington Raceway, served the first race of a two-event suspension in last weekend’s regular-season finale. He’ll sit out the second race of his ban in Sunday’s Tales of the Turtles 400 (3 p.m. ET, NBCSN, MRN, SiriusXM), the postseason opener at Chicagoland Speedway.

Ably stepping in last weekend to make his Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series crew chief debut was Chris Gabehart, who has guided Gibbs’ stalwart No. 20 operation to eight wins and 11 poles in the NASCAR XFINITY Series over the last two seasons. Gabehart’s late-race adjustments helped raise Hamlin and the No. 11 out of midpack purgatory to post his fifth top-five effort in the last six races.

But Hamlin said some adjustment was also necessary on his own behalf, providing feedback to new faces instead of having the familiar Wheeler as his primary go-to.

“I think your speed is built at the shop, but races won are sometimes on the pit box — your strategy calls and things like that,” Hamlin says. “I think the first week that we had to go through it, it definitely affected us in certain ways. I don’t think it affected the way we ran at Richmond; I think that was an overnight thing that we did. But yeah, it’s a different transition to work with someone new.”

Wheeler is scheduled to return Sept. 24 for the second event of the 10-race playoffs at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, where Hamlin prevailed in July. In the meantime, the 36-year-old driver seeking his long-awaited first premier-series crown is hoping to kick off his postseason march with a flashback to 2015, when he opened the playoffs with a Chicago victory.

This time, though, he’ll need to rely on JGR’s deep bench to pull it off.

 “One more week and we’ll get through it,” Hamlin said. “We just have to make sure we have a good solid week at Chicago and move on.”

Posted on by Staff Report

RELATED: Danica Patrick won’t return to SHR

Following Stewart-Haas Racing’s announcement that Danica Patrick would not return to the team next season, team co-owner Tony Stewart released a statement on her departure on Wednesday.


Stewart has been her car owner for the entirety of Patrick’s full-time premier series career. Patrick was also teammates with Stewart from 2013-16 when he drove the No. 14 car.

PHOTOS: Danica through the years

Posted on by Steve Luvender

I can’t wait for this year’s NASCAR Playoffs to begin.

Even though

somehow didn’t make it, I’ll still be pulling for

— or, better yet,
.

I’m calling it now. The real wild card race will be

because
.

In the Round of 16, there’s Chicago, New Hampshire, and Dover. I’m not sure
 will make it past that round, because he’ll probably
.

After that, there’s Charlotte, Talladega, and Kansas. If it were up to me,
would

.

Then, there’s the Round of 8 — or, as I call it,

. Martinsville, Texas, and Phoenix may prove to be

tracks, but I believe
.

Finally, we’re off to Homestead, where I’m certain

will hoist the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup and claim
.

Honestly, I wish NASCAR would just

already.

It’ll also be a

goodbye to

at the end of the season, but I certainly think
.

Bring on the Playoffs! I’m already starting to
.

Posted on by Staff Report

RELATED: Federated Auto Parts 400 results | Virginia529 College Savings 250 results

Three teams were penalized on Tuesday after NASCAR officials discovered lug-nut violations after the races at Richmond Raceway — two Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series teams and one XFINITY Series team.

The No. 41 Stewart-Haas Racing team of driver Kurt Busch and the No. 77 Furniture Row Racing team of driver Erik Jones each were found to have one loose lug nut in post-race inspection. The XFNITY Series No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing team of Matt Tifft also had one loose lug nut.

Crew chiefs Tony Gibson (No. 41) and Chris Gayle (No. 77) were fined $10,000 each. Matthew Beckman (No. 19) was fined $5,000.

 

Posted on by Staff Report

MORE: Smithfield Foods to SHR in ’18

Following the news that Smithfield Foods, currently sponsoring the Richard Petty Motorsports No. 43 Ford Fusion, would be joining Stewart-Haas Racing in 2018, Richard Petty has released a statement.

“We have had numerous discussions with Smithfield Foods regarding the extension of our relationship dating as far back as February. Over the past few months, Smithfield had continually told me they wanted to be with us, and I recently shook hands on a deal to extend our relationship. I come from a time when we did major deals with sponsors like STP on a handshake. I’m sad to see this is where we are now. This decision is very unexpected, and we are extremely disappointed in this late and abrupt change of direction.”

RELATED: Drivers of the No. 43 in NASCAR history

Petty also confirmed that driver Aric Almirola would not return to the organization in 2018, but the team intends to continue racing, as it has since 1949.

“Losing a sponsor of this magnitude in September is a significant set-back to Richard Petty Motorsports, but Andy (Murstein) and I are committed to moving forward with the No. 43 team. We have a lot of great partners who have expressed their continued support, and our fans will rally around the No. 43. We’ve been around since 1949, and we’ll be around a lot longer.”

 

Posted on by Nascar

RELATED: Danica’s key moments at Stewart-Haas Racing

Danica Patrick, the only female driver to win the Daytona 500 pole and one of the most popular figures in NASCAR, will not return to compete for Stewart-Haas Racing in 2018.

“It has been my honor to drive for Tony Stewart, Gene Haas and everyone at Stewart-Haas Racing for the past six seasons,” Patrick said Tuesday in a statement posted through Facebook. “Together we earned a Daytona 500 pole, seven top-10 finishes and we also had some exciting racing along the way. My time driving for them, however, has come to an end due to a new sponsorship arrangement in 2018. 

“Sponsorship plays a vital role in our sport, and I have been very fortunate over the course of my career, but this year threw us for a curve. Our amazing partners, such as Aspen Dental and Code 3, stepped up in a big way on short notice this year and I am incredibly grateful. 

“I wish SHR the best of luck with their new sponsorship and driver. Thanks for the memories. Right now, my focus is on the remainder of the 2017 season and finishing the year strong. I have the utmost faith in myself and those around me, and feel confident about my future.”

MORE: Track NASCAR’s Silly Season | Danica Patrick through the years

Stewart-Haas Racing team co-owner and Patrick’s former teammate Tony Stewart released his own statement on Wednesday.

“I’ve always been a believer in Danica’s ability as a race car driver and that continues to be the case,” Stewart said via his Facebook page “She’s one of the most fearless people I’ve ever met. She has never backed down from a challenge. In fact, she’s sought out new challenges throughout her career, and that’s what brought her to NASCAR and Stewart-Haas Racing.

“Making the jump from IndyCar to NASCAR is not easy, yet she had the courage to do so and put up better numbers than a lot of other drivers who have tried to make that same transition. I’m proud of how hard Danica has worked during her time at Stewart-Haas Racing, and she continues to work hard.

“My support for Danica is unwavering. We’re going to end this season strong and make the most of these last 10 races.”

Patrick, 35, has 180 career starts in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in the No. 10 entry for SHR and currently has a career-best finish of sixth at Atlanta in 2014. Her top finish through this year’s 26-race regular season has been 10th at Dover in the spring. 

Stewart Haas officials announced earlier Tuesday that Smithfield Foods, currently a sponsor for Richard Petty Motorsports, would move to SHR for 2018 and that a driver change would follow. Aric Almirola drives the No. 43 for RPM at this time, although the SHR statement only said details of the new driver would be announced at a later date. RPM officials announced Tuesday afternoon that Almirola would not be returning, appearing to set the stage for the Tampa, Florida, native to join SHR. 

Patrick became the first female to start on the pole for the Daytona 500, NASCAR’s season-opening race, in 2013 with her qualifying lap of 196.434 mph. Her eighth-place finish in that race was also the best by a female competitor. 

Prior to her move into the Monster Energy Series as a full-time competitor, Patrick competed with JR Motorsports for a full season in the XFINITY Series in 2012 as well as a limited schedule in 2010-11. She posted one top five, seven top-10s and won one pole in that series. 

RELATED: Smithfield Foods joining SHR

Patrick’s best points finish in the MENCS thus far has been 24th, which she accomplished in 2015 and ’16. She is currently 28th in points with 10 races remaining.

Patrick did not address whether she will attempt to continue to compete in NASCAR going forward. Earlier this year she told NASCAR.com she did not know how much longer she wanted to race in the series.

“I said this last year, it’s not any fun to run 20th or 25th,” she said in June. “It’s not.”

Her average finishing position this year is 23rd and she has a career high seven DNFs this season, an increase that could be due in part to NASCAR’s new Damaged Vehicle Policy that limits teams from making repairs to damaged cars in an effort to return to the race.

“Just keep digging. Just letting it flow,” she said of her approach. “… Stop worrying about how you think everything should go and just let it happen. Give it your best all the time, every day, don’t be too worried about how it’s all going to go and, if it’s going to happen, when it’s going to happen and just let it go.”

Posted on by Pat DeCola

All season long, Kyle Busch has been just on the outside of the Martin Truex Jr.-Kyle Larson championship-favorite picture, but that may all be about to change.

The Joe Gibbs Racing driver found himself at Furniture Row Racing on Tuesday morning, and he might just be sneaking around incognito to spy on his Toyota affiliate and pick up any trade secrets he can.

 

Nah, he’s just attending the Tuesday morning team meeting since he was in Denver, Colorado — where Furniture Row is based — the night before to see his Denver Broncos defeat the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday Night Football.

Posted on by Brad Norman

In August, the lead online racing simulation iRacing.com announced a new series to showcase some of NASCAR’s rising stars.

You can now add Kyle Larson and Darrell Wallace Jr. to the iRacing lineup, too.

On Tuesday, the two drivers will compete in the iRacing NASCAR Pro Invitational Series’ version of Richmond Raceway, which will be broadcast live on www.iRacing.com/live at 8 p.m. ET.

Larson most recently won the Federated Auto Parts 400 at Richmond, his fourth victory of the Monster Energy Series season.

Wallace Jr. is set to compete at the XFINITY series race in Chicagoland on Saturday in the No. 98 Ford Mustang for Biagi DenBeste Racing.