As Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and XFINITY Series drivers prepare for this weekend’s Coca-Cola 600 and Hisense 4k TV 300 this Memorial Day weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway, honoring the country’s fallen military personnel is also a priority.
Activities to honor those who have sacrificed their lives will continue throughout the week, including the #NASCARSalutes social media campaign and on-track program, culminating in the huge military-themed prerace display on Sunday. Several drivers sent their own messages via social media. And the patriotic paint schemes will be prominent.
John Andretti sat on stage at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway last Thursday looking comfortable, even smiling.
It’s a familiar place for the 11-time Brickyard 400 and seven-time Indy 500 starter, who wowed the racing world with the 1994 Memorial Day “Double,” competing in the Indy 500 in the morning then the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the evening.
However, this time the 54-year-old was in the spotlight to talk about another test of endurance and faith; to formally share his recent stage 4 colon cancer diagnosis and talk about the toughest race of his life, one he is determined to win and make a difference for everyone else along the way.
And he has made a difference already.
Andretti flashed a quick grin when telling the story of how he convinced his famous cousin Michael Andretti — a former IndyCar superstar and current team owner — to get a colonoscopy.
John Andretti
“I forced a few people to go [and be tested] because I wasn’t going to come public with it [diagnosis] unless they did go, and they decided that it was worthwhile,” Andretti said. “One was my cousin Michael. I figured I’d never get him to go, so I would never have to go public with it, and two weeks later he’s doing it. So he fought a little bit, but he didn’t fight hard.
“Now the biggest part about this has been we’ve not only taken people in that are not getting colonoscopies to get them, but they’re becoming advocates of getting them done. And that’s been the bigger part of it. … Had I done it when I was 50 years old, there’s a very, very good chance I wouldn’t be sitting here.
“But fortunately for me I think that we’ve changed some people’s lives.”
That’s a safe bet judging from the swift and solid reaction Andretti’s news has received — from fans and from his fellow racers.
As the racing world does, it has rallied around Andretti and the important, potentially life-saving reminder he offers.
The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series’ Front Row Motorsports team put Andretti’s “#checkitforandretti” message on its rear quarter panel for the All-Star race last weekend at Charlotte.
And since Andretti is one of the few drivers who has competed in the elite levels of NASCAR, IndyCar and the NHRA, social media is filled with photos of top drivers and race teams — from all across the racing spectrum — eager to help Andretti spread the word.
NHRA champion Ron Capps posted a photo showing him attaching a sticker on his hot rod with the message, “#checkitforandretti.”
Best of all, the entire Coca-Cola 600 NASCAR field and entire 33-car Indy 500 field will carry the decals in this weekend’s Memorial Day racing extravaganza.
“It’s grown, as I say, business-wise organically, and people now — you know, it’s almost like a mini-movement that’s getting even stronger every day,” Andretti said. “It sends chills through me because I never figured that people would get on board so quickly and in such volume that they have.
“I love people telling me that they’re going to get a colonoscopy, which I never thought that would ever be in my vocabulary,” Andretti said with a light laugh.
“But it is life-changing for me, but it’s more so for my family, and that’s the part I hate. I hate the stress that I put on them for this because this was definitely avoidable. And most of them are going to be avoidable if you get early detection.”
Andretti is the first to understand the reluctance for many in getting checked. But he stressed that getting checked and treated early can make all the difference. He knows.
For him, it’s a tougher road. He will have chemotherapy and another surgery awaits, too. They have found additional spots in Andretti’s liver and possibly his spleen — a place that can’t be biopsied.
Yet Andretti remains optimistic, hopeful in the treatment and buoyed by the outpouring of concern he has received. And his commitment to helping others avoid his situation provides a positive outlet in a time of uncertainty. Had he gotten a colonoscopy four years ago at age 50 — when doctors first recommend for everyone — he is convinced the situation would be different.
So this is his opportunity to help encourage others to be more proactive. And hopefully that sense of goodwill and making a difference will be a safe place where his mind can go during the tough physical and emotional tests awaiting him.
“One thing I was always lacking was a colonoscopy, and you would ask about it or whatever, and I’d forget about it,” Andretti said. “I never avoided it. It just didn’t happen. And unfortunately my wife has an issue that she has to go get them several times. And so she was in getting hers, and I decided to schedule mine.
“I won’t tell the whole story. It’s a little bit boring. But I was about three minutes away from walking out of the next doctor’s office because patience is not my strong suit. And so fortunately I didn’t, and immediately after the colonoscopy, they scheduled a surgeon. I was in surgery a few days later to have a tumor removed and another cancer spot.”
Anyone watching Andretti speak absolutely had to be moved by the positive attitude — it will be of great benefit to him in the coming months of treatment.
Through decades of competition, Andretti has always been that driver in the garage more prone to offering smiles than holding grudges. He has always been upbeat, had a great sense of humor and offered perspective.
And he is doing that again despite a tough, personal challenge.
But as it was on track, the expectation for Andretti is to win. And really, he has already.
“I get chills now because this is the most special place on the planet for me, for my family,” Andretti said of his time at Indy last week. “It’s a special time of the year. You know, somebody said to me, ‘I’m glad to see you here,’ and I’m like this, gives me energy.
Red Horse Racing, which fields two teams in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, has ceased operations according to multiple reports.
RHR has fielded the No. 7 Toyota for driver Brett Moffitt and the No. 17 for Timothy Peters through this season’s first five races.
Peters, a veteran in the series with 235 starts, is currently sixth in the points standings and coming off a fifth-place finish in last Friday night’s North Carolina Education Lottery 200 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. He has 10 career victories, all with RHR, and he advanced to the final round of the inaugural Truck Series championship last season, eventually finishing fourth in points.
Moffitt is 10th in points and earned his first series win last season, at Michigan.
Team owner Tom DeLoach has been fielding trucks since 2005. Seven drivers have won for the organization, which is based in Mooresville, N.C.
Richard Childress Racing announced changes to its crew chief lineup Monday morning, naming Justin Alexander as a replacement for Richard “Slugger” Labbe with the No. 3 Chevrolet team and driver Austin Dillon.
Alexander moves over from RCR’s No. 2 Chevrolet in the NASCAR XFINITY Series. His first race atop the No. 3 pit box will be Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 (6 p.m. ET, FOX, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
The Richard Childress-owned team announced that Randall Burnett, most recently with JTG Daugherty Racing, will take Alexander’s place within its XFINITY Series operations. Burnett was replaced last weekend by veteran Ernie Cope on JTG Daugherty’s No. 47 Chevrolet team with driver AJ Allmendinger.
Labbe, 48, had been with Richard Childress Racing since 2011. The team indicated in a news release that Labbe “is leaving the company to pursue other opportunities.”
The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series’ most recent points-paying event at Kansas Speedway was Labbe’s 500th race as a crew chief in NASCAR’s premier series. He has five victories as a crew chief, including Michael Waltrip’s 2003 Daytona 500 win and Paul Menard’s Indianapolis triumph in 2011.
Labbe has worked with Dillon since the midpoint of the 2015 season. This year, Dillon ranks just 22nd in the series standings, with his lone top-five finish a fifth place at Martinsville Speedway. RCR replaced Labbe with Sammy Johns for one race earlier this season, at Richmond International Raceway.
Alexander was atop the pit box for the team’s two victories in the XFINITY tour last year, going back to back with Dillon winning at Bristol Motor Speedway and Michael McDowell taking Road America. He previously worked in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, serving parts of three seasons with Menard and Childress’ No. 27 Chevrolet.
Tuesday, May 23 6 a.m., The 600: History of NASCAR’s Toughest Race, FS1
5:30 p.m., NASCAR America, NBCSN
6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FS1
7 p.m., Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race (re-air), FS2
Thursday, May 25 2 p.m., Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice, FS1
3:30 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub Weekend Edition, FS1
4 p.m., NASCAR XFINITY Series, FS1
5 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub Weekend Edition, FS1
5 p.m., NASCAR America, NBCSN
6 p.m., NASCAR XFINITY Series final practice, FS1
7 p.m., Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying, FS1
8:30 p.m., Empty Cup: Quest for the 1992 NASCAR Championship, FS1
9 p.m., Beyond the Wheel: 2017, FS1
10 p.m., The 600: History of NASCAR’s Toughest Race, FS1
Friday, May 26 3:30 p.m., NASCAR America Motorsports Special, NBCSN
5 p.m., NASCAR America, NBCSN
8 p.m., NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Race: Orange Show Speedway, NBCSN
Saturday, May 27 9 a.m., Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice, FS1
10 a.m., NASCAR XFINITY Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying, FS1
11 a.m., NASCAR Race Hub Weekend Edition, FS1
11:30 a.m., Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series final practice, FS1
12:30 p.m., NASCAR RaceDay: XFINITY, FS1
1 p.m., NASCAR XFINITY Series race, Hisense 4K TV 300, FS1
3:30 p.m., NASCAR XFINITY Series Post-race Show, FS1
Sunday, May 28 4:30 p.m., NASCAR RaceDay, FS1
5:30 p.m., Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Pre-race Show, FOX
6 p.m., Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series: Coca-Cola 600, FOX
11:30 p.m., NASCAR Victory Lane, FS1
CONCORD, N.C. — “To tell you the truth, I thought he had won here.”
It’s understandable that Coach Joe Gibbs would say so about Kyle Busch, the driver of his No. 18 Toyota, and Charlotte Motor Speedway, site of Saturday night’s Monster Energy All-Star Race.
Busch has won virtually everywhere else in a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series car, with only Charlotte and Pocono Raceway left on his career to-do list. And Busch has been a frequent visitor to Charlotte’s Victory Lane in other national tours — eight times in the XFINITY Series and seven in the Camping World Truck Series.
That’s why Saturday night’s All-Star win — exhibition or not — meant plenty to Busch, who pounced on the final restart to lead the last 10 laps of the annual invitational.
“The Cup car just never is put together the whole way it needs to be,” Busch said, referencing that his 0-for-26 mark in the sport’s top Series was “very, very frustrating” in light of his Charlotte success in other series. “You just never get to Victory Lane.
“Finally we’re able to kind of close the chapter on that one. Now it’s time to go get a points win here.”
Busch will get his nearest opportunity for a points-paying triumph at the 1.5-mile track in Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 (6 p.m. ET, FOX, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio), the longest race on the NASCAR schedule. Prevailing in both the All-Star and 600 weekends happens relatively infrequently, with only seven drivers accomplishing the sweep — the most recent being his older brother, Kurt, in 2010.
A 600 victory would not only represent a breakthrough for the younger Busch, but also for his Joe Gibbs Racing team. JGR cars won 12 times last season, but are 0-for-11 in points events so far this year. Instead of offering a detailed, technical explanation about the team’s shortcomings this season, Gibbs was optimistic but also matter-of-fact — stock-car racing isn’t easy.
“I’m telling you, we feel like Kyle can win anywhere,” Gibbs said. “Certainly this year he’s really been in position a bunch, the top five at the end of the races, not been able to win one. I think it tells you how hard this sport is. I think a lot of people improved in the offseason, we were off a little bit, and it makes it hard. It tells you how hard pro sports is. The best people in the world are doing this.”
Busch has remained among the premier series’ best, even though certain tracks have proven to be more challenging than others. Busch had 16 fruitless trips to Kansas Speedway before finally scratching the win column there last year. He was also winless in his first 21 Martinsville Speedway starts before closing the deal there last spring. RELATED: Every Kyle Busch win in the Monster Energy Series
So there’s hope yet for Charlotte, Busch’s crew chief Adam Stevens says. An All-Star victory that shows what’s possible certainly can’t hurt.
“I think it’s just a matter of time of him figuring it out,” Stevens said. “No different than Kansas, some of these other places he’s struggled at in the past. Wouldn’t say here has been a struggle, but it’s just been hard to finish it off.
“Hopefully this is a little bit of momentum, a little bit of wind in our sails, something we can build on for next week.”
Dale Earnhardt Jr. is a collector of wrecked race cars. He keeps them in the woods of his property around Dirty Mo Acres.
On Sunday morning, Earnhardt tweeted about his latest addition — the No. 10 Ford driven by Danica Patrick at Kansas in the Go Bowling 400. Patrick was involved in a three-car wreck on Lap 199 that involved Joey Logano and Aric Almirola in last weekend’s race.
On why he collects wrecked race cars, Earnhardt told ESPN’s “SportsCenter” in 2014 that “when we would build a car, you’d put so much into that one vehicle. Then when you would destroy it, or it was beyond repair, I just couldn’t bring myself to throw it away because we had spent so much money on it. So I started throwing them in the woods out behind the house, and we’ve got around probably 25 to 30 cars out there just from JR Motorsports alone.
“I started getting other cars like the Juan (Pablo) Montoya car that was in the Daytona (500 in 2012) accident with the jet dryer, stuff like that. Cars that have some sort of neat story behind them so we started getting those cars as well. I don’t pay for them or anything. I just call up the owner and see if they’re willing to give them up.”
And at the end of the night the primary/option tire experiment in the Monster Energy NASCAR All-Star Race provided mixed results and mixed reviews.
“It was a good try,” Bowyer, driver of the No. 14 Ford for Stewart-Haas Racing, said following his 13th-place finish at Charlotte Motor Speedway. “Track position is key and you try to do something to get track position and you don’t have the upper hand.”
Bowyer was impressive in winning the first stage of the Monster Energy Open to earn a berth in the All-Star Race. But crew chief Mike Bugarewicz saved the team’s best move for the $1 million-to-win nightcap.
After putting on its lone set of option tires, which were softer and thus provided more grip and initial speed, after the first stage of the four-stage race, Bugarewicz called for a two-tire stop after the second stage.
Bowyer headed back out onto the track with the lead and with two different tire builds on his car. Green option tires still on the left and two fresh primary tires (with the yellow lettering) on the right.
A NASCAR no-no? The rules for the race stated that the primary (harder) and option tires had to be installed as sets with no mixing sets. But teams were provided three sets of primary tires and only one set of the option tires, and nothing was specifically said about the legalities of a two-tire stop.
“They didn’t say anything as far as the explanation of the rules,” Bugarewicz told FS1 before the third stage got underway. “But I … read the entry blanks and stuff before I got here and I never saw it in there. I kind of had planned to do this and if it’s not in there I guess I can do it, right?”
The creativity failed to pay off. Bowyer dropped quickly once the stage began and within three laps was clinging to a top-10 spot. When the segment ended, he and Joey Logano (Team Penske Ford) had identical average finishing positions for the 10th and final spot to advance to the final round. Logano took the spot based on a higher finishing position in the third stage.
“I think if we would have had tires and started up front, we’d have been hard to handle tonight,” Bowyer said. “We were a good car all night long, it’s just this format and the way the race is. You can’t complain about it because it is what it is. It’s the All-Star Race and everybody wants to be a part of it, it’s just unfortunate that your hands are tied.”
Keselowski failed to receive any benefit from the softer compound tires. During pit stops between the second and third stages, crew chief Paul Wolfe called his driver in for the switch to the option tires. However, Keselowski quickly returned to pit road for a possible lug nut issue. The crew changed all four tires, and because he had made two laps, although under yellow, with the option tires, the team could not put them back on the car.
“You’re supposed to put on your soft option tires as a set, as stickers,” Team Penske competition director Travis Geisler said. “So once we rode around under the pace laps they weren’t stickers anymore. We couldn’t re-use them. It’s clear to me. It was in the rule book that way.
“That’s where the confusion with the 14 came in because the rule book said ‘must be used as a set.’ The entry blank says must be put on as a set. If you want to take them off as not a set, then that was OK.”
Because they started at the back of the field, three of the four drivers transferring out of the Open — Daniel Suarez, Chase Elliott and Ryan Blaney — started the All-Star Race on their option tires in order to try to improve track position.
Others changed after the first stage. And many more after the second. None of the 10 finalists, however, appeared to put the option tires on for the final 10-lap shootout.
Not surprisingly, race winner Kyle Busch admitted to being “a fan of it” when asked about having two tire combinations.
“I thought it was pretty good, pretty fun, gave my car a better sense of feel that I was looking for throughout that run that we had it on the car,” he said.
“We weren’t quite able to make the powerful moves that maybe some of the other guys did on that tire there to fire off in that third segment. Our car kind of stayed with us a little bit better.”
Dale Earnhardt Jr. answered a bevy of fan questions Saturday night after the Monster Energy All-Star Race in what is a now-weekly tradition, including a handful of inquiries on if Alex Bowman will drive the No. 88 Chevrolet next year.
Bowman, 24, served as a substitute driver for 10 races last year when Earnhardt was sidelined with a concussion. The 14-time Most Popular Driver will retire from full-time racing following the 2017 season, opening a primo seat with Hendrick Motorsports.
“Alex Bowman to the 88 next year — is that what you guys want?” Earnhardt Jr. asked the fans who were following his Periscope live stream. “That would be pretty awesome to see Alex in that car. That’s the plan, I hope. … Yeah, Alex in the 88. That sounds good to me. That kid earned it last year. He ran good.”
Earnhardt Jr. has previously said he’d like to give input into the driver who replaces him, but also noted that ultimately was team owner Rick Hendrick’s decision.
Junior’s words on Bowman were his strongest yet as the team’s search for a replacement.
One driver Junior Nation shouldn’t expect to see in the car next year, though? Earnhardt’s neighbor Ryan Blaney.
“Blaney is working for (Roger) Penske,” Earnhardt said. “He’s not going anywhere. Penske’s not going to let Blaney go anywhere, and neither would I.”
NASCAR heads to Charlotte Motor Speedway for Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR XFINITY Series events. Check out the full weekend schedule below.
Note: All times are ET
SUNDAY, MAY 28:
PRE-RACE SCHEDULE
— 5:20:00 p.m.: MENCS Drivers Introductions
— 6:00:00 p.m.: Presentation of Colors by: “82nd Airborne Division Color Guard from Fort Bragg.”
— 6:00:20 p.m.: Invocation by: Harold Frank
— 6:00:45 p.m.: Amazing Grace by: Charlotte Fire Department Pipe Band
— 6:02:05 p.m.: “21 Gun Salute”: Fort Bragg Firing Party
— 6:03:40 p.m.: National Anthem: 82nd Airborne Division All-American Chorus (pyro from peninsula behind B/S. Rockets’ Red Glare Bombs Bursting in Air & End of the anthem)
— 6:05:00 p.m.: Fly-by TOT: 4 F-15’s’s from Seymour Johnson AFB (Backstretch to Frontstretch)
— 6:10:00 p.m.: “Drivers, Start Your Engines” by: Channing Tatum (Pyro from Peninsula behind B/S) — 6:18:30 p.m.: Start of the Coca-Cola 600 (400 Laps /600 Miles)
ON TRACK — 6 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 (400 laps, 600 miles), FOX; Canada: TSN1, 3, 4, 5 (Results)
PRESS PASS (Watch live)
— 10:30 p.m. (approx.): Post-Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race
THURSDAY, MAY 25:
ON TRACK
— 2-3:25 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice, FS1 (Results)
— 4-4:55 p.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series practice, FS1 (Results)
— 6-6:55 p.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series final practice, FS1 (Results)
— 7:15 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying, FS1; Canada: TSN2 (Results)
GARAGECAM (Watch live)
— 1:30 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series
— 3:30 p.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series
PRESS PASS (Watch live) — 12:45 p.m.: Ryan Blaney
— 1:15 p.m.: Jimmie Johnson
— 1:30 p.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series drivers: Christopher Bell and Matt Tifft
— 1:45 p.m.: NASCAR Drive for Diversity Pit Crew Combine
— 3:30 p.m.: Ben Kennedy
— 3:45 p.m.: Kyle Busch
— 4 p.m.: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
— 8 p.m. (approx.): Post-Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series qualifying
SATURDAY, MAY 27:
ON TRACK — 9-9:55 a.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice, FS1; Canada: TSN2 (Results)
— 10:05 a.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying, FS1 (Results)
— 11:30 a.m.-12:25 p.m.: Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series final practice, FS1; Canada: TSN2 (Results)
— 1 p.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series Hisense 4K TV 300 (200 laps, 300 miles), FS1; Canada: TSN3, 4 (Results)
