Posted on by Holly Cain

RELATED: See the Chase grid | Chase Bubble Watch


HOMESTEAD, Fla. — Brad Keselowski downplayed any sense of panic or urgency in his Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup hopes during a Tuesday test session at Homestead-Miami Speedway.


Judging by the easygoing body language and quiet assurance he brought to a lunchtime question-and-answer period, Keselowski seemed calm and ready for the big race at Talladega Superspeedway this weekend.


The Hellmann’s 500 (Sunday, 2 p.m. ET, NBCSN, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) will decide which eight of the current 12 Chase-eligible drivers will advance to the next round of the championship. And Keselowski is ranked 11th heading into the race. He trails his Penske Racing teammate Joey Logano by seven points. Logano sits in the eighth place cut-off position now, tied in points with Austin Dillon.


Keselowski had a string of seven top-10 finishes end Sunday at Kansas. His No. 2 Miller Lite Ford was hit by Denny Hamlin and Keselowski ended up finishing a season-low 38th-place.


MORE: Frame-by-frame of the Keselowski, Hamlin wreck


“I haven’t honestly thought very much about it,” Keselowski told reporters Tuesday. “I took Monday off and cleared my head. We came here this morning and all I thought about was how I could be the fastest here in Homestead.


“I want to do the best I can at Talladega, but I like to live day-to-day.”


Later, however, the 2012 Sprint Cup Series champion and restrictor-plate guru smiled and conceded about his chances at Talladega, “There are worse places.”


MORE: Keselowski: ‘We will win Talladega’


“I feel kinda quiet and confident and when you have those moments, if you have to talk about it, it’s like you have to sell yourself,” Keselowski said. “I don’t feel like I have to sell myself.”


That’s in part because Keselowski has a reassuring track record on the Talladega high banks.


Many would place the 32-year-old among the tops on the list of restrictor-plate talents. He certainly tops the series this year — with victories this spring at Talladega and this summer at Daytona Beach.


He has four career victories at Talladega — including his first career Sprint Cup win in 2009. And he won this October race to stave off Chase elimination back in 2014.


“Tactics change, cars change and I’m a few years older so I’ve probably changed, too,” Keselowski said. “I think any success at the Cup level no matter what track, the keys are doing everything right. You have to have a great team, you have to make the right moves, and the strategies have to change and you have to have a little bit of good fortune. I don’t think there is one key.


“That track, I’ve been very fortunate to win at a handful of times and each time there was probably one moment that was more important than another moment and they aren’t shared between the races.”


Posted on by Staff Report

RELATED: Current Chase Grid | Driver standings


Sunday’s race at Talladega Superspeedway will shrink the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup field from 12 drivers to eight. Jimmie Johnson and Kevin Harvick are already locked into the Round of 8 with victories at Charlotte and Kansas, respectively, which leaves 10 drivers battling for six spots. Here’s a look at how drivers can clinch spots in the next round. 

Tune in to the Alabama 500 (2 p.m. ET, NBCSN, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) to see who advances and who is eliminated. Of the drivers below, a win would automatically advance them into the next round. Otherwise …


• Matt Kenseth: Would clinch with 13 points (28th and no laps led, 29th and led at least one lap, 30th and led most laps) and a new winner. If there is a repeat winner, would clinch with 11 points.


• Kyle Busch: Would clinch with 15 points (26th and no laps led, 27th and led at least one lap, 28th and led most laps) and a new winner. If there is a repeat winner,  would clinch with 14 points.


• Carl Edwards: Would clinch with 18 points (23rd and no laps led, 24th and led at least one lap, 25th and led most laps) and a new winner. If there is a repeat winner, would clinch with 16 points.


• Kurt Busch: Would clinch with 25 points (16th and no laps led, 17th and led at least one lap, 18th and led most laps) and a new winner. If there is a repeat winner, would clinch with 24 points.


• Martin Truex Jr.: Would clinch with 29 points (12th and no laps led, 13th and led at least one lap, 14th and led most laps) and a new winner. If there is a repeat winner, would clinch with 28 points.


• Joey Logano: If there is a repeat winner, would clinch with 41 Points (2nd and led most laps).

• Austin Dillon: If there is a repeat winner, would clinch with 41 points (2nd and led most laps).

• Denny Hamlin: Could clinch on points with help, but does not control his own destiny without a win.


• Brad Keselowski: Could clinch on points with help, but does not control his own destiny without a win.


• Chase Elliott: Could clinch on points with help, but does not control his own destiny without a win.

Posted on by Staff Report

RELATED: Current Chase Grid | Driver standings


Sunday’s race at Talladega Superspeedway will shrink the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup field from 12 drivers to eight. Jimmie Johnson and Kevin Harvick are already locked into the Round of 8 with victories at Charlotte and Kansas, respectively, which leaves 10 drivers battling for six spots. Here’s a look at how drivers can clinch spots in the next round. 

Tune in to the Alabama 500 (2 p.m. ET, NBCSN, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) to see who advances and who is eliminated. Of the drivers below, a win would automatically advance them into the next round. Otherwise …


• Matt Kenseth: Would clinch with 13 points (28th and no laps led, 29th and led at least one lap, 30th and led most laps) and a new winner. If there is a repeat winner, would clinch with 11 points.


• Kyle Busch: Would clinch with 15 points (26th and no laps led, 27th and led at least one lap, 28th and led most laps) and a new winner. If there is a repeat winner,  would clinch with 14 points.


• Carl Edwards: Would clinch with 18 points (23rd and no laps led, 24th and led at least one lap, 25th and led most laps) and a new winner. If there is a repeat winner, would clinch with 16 points.


• Kurt Busch: Would clinch with 25 points (16th and no laps led, 17th and led at least one lap, 18th and led most laps) and a new winner. If there is a repeat winner, would clinch with 24 points.


• Martin Truex Jr.: Would clinch with 29 points (12th and no laps led, 13th and led at least one lap, 14th and led most laps) and a new winner. If there is a repeat winner, would clinch with 28 points.


• Joey Logano: If there is a repeat winner, would clinch with 41 Points (2nd and led most laps).

• Austin Dillon: If there is a repeat winner, would clinch with 41 points (2nd and led most laps).

• Denny Hamlin: Could clinch on points with help, but does not control his own destiny without a win.


• Brad Keselowski: Could clinch on points with help, but does not control his own destiny without a win.


• Chase Elliott: Could clinch on points with help, but does not control his own destiny without a win.

Posted on by Staff Report

RELATED: Current Chase Grid | Driver standings


Sunday’s race at Talladega Superspeedway will shrink the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup field from 12 drivers to eight. Jimmie Johnson and Kevin Harvick are already locked into the Round of 8 with victories at Charlotte and Kansas, respectively, which leaves 10 drivers battling for six spots. Here’s a look at how drivers can clinch spots in the next round. 

Tune in to the Alabama 500 (2 p.m. ET, NBCSN, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) to see who advances and who is eliminated. Of the drivers below, a win would automatically advance them into the next round. Otherwise …


• Matt Kenseth: Would clinch with 13 points (28th and no laps led, 29th and led at least one lap, 30th and led most laps) and a new winner. If there is a repeat winner, would clinch with 11 points.


• Kyle Busch: Would clinch with 15 points (26th and no laps led, 27th and led at least one lap, 28th and led most laps) and a new winner. If there is a repeat winner,  would clinch with 14 points.


• Carl Edwards: Would clinch with 18 points (23rd and no laps led, 24th and led at least one lap, 25th and led most laps) and a new winner. If there is a repeat winner, would clinch with 16 points.


• Kurt Busch: Would clinch with 25 points (16th and no laps led, 17th and led at least one lap, 18th and led most laps) and a new winner. If there is a repeat winner, would clinch with 24 points.


• Martin Truex Jr.: Would clinch with 29 points (12th and no laps led, 13th and led at least one lap, 14th and led most laps) and a new winner. If there is a repeat winner, would clinch with 28 points.


• Joey Logano: If there is a repeat winner, would clinch with 41 Points (2nd and led most laps).

• Austin Dillon: If there is a repeat winner, would clinch with 41 points (2nd and led most laps).

• Denny Hamlin: Could clinch on points with help, but does not control his own destiny without a win.


• Brad Keselowski: Could clinch on points with help, but does not control his own destiny without a win.


• Chase Elliott: Could clinch on points with help, but does not control his own destiny without a win.

Posted on by Official NASCAR Release

RELATED: Peak becomes new sponsor for Mexico Series


DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (October 18, 2016) — During an event with team owners, drivers, local dignitaries and media at the InterContinental Presidente Hotel in Mexico City, NASCAR today announced plans to strengthen its presence in Mexico for years to come with a full slate of races in 2017 and beyond. Also announced was a multi-year agreement with Old World Industries (OWI) to make PEAK® title sponsor of the NASCAR PEAK Mexico Series, only the third title sponsor in series history. Additionally, PEAK becomes an Official NASCAR Partner along with other key brands such as BlueDEF®.


“The NASCAR PEAK Mexico Series is a place where young drivers are honing their skills and competing for a championship against the toughest competition in Latin America,” said Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR executive vice president and chief racing development officer. “The series drives interest in stock car racing in Mexico, while cultivating talented drivers and pit crew members aspiring to compete at the NASCAR national series level.”


The NASCAR PEAK Mexico Series will make its return with an exhibition race on Dec. 3-4 in Mexico City. Celebrating its 10th season, the series will officially get underway in 2017, with a full championship schedule that will be announced at a later date.

The NASCAR PEAK Mexico Series has helped develop some of NASCAR’s best young drivers, including Daniel Suárez, who is the first Mexican-born driver to capture Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors; win a NASCAR national series race; lead a national series in points; and compete in the NASCAR XFINITY Series Chase for a championship – which he is currently pursuing. Furthermore, the continued development of young Mexican drivers, like reigning NASCAR PEAK Mexico Series Champion Ruben Garcia Jr., exemplifies the wealth of talent competing throughout the series.

“I am extremely proud to be a Mexican driver competing against the best young drivers making a name for themselves in the NASCAR XFINITY Series,” said Suárez, driver of the No. 19 ARRIS Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing. “I am lucky to have had the support of NASCAR’s developmental programs along the way – including the NASCAR Mexico Series. I am excited to see that other talented Latin American drivers will continue to have similar opportunities for many years to come.”

“We remain steadfast in our commitment to develop young talent and engage our passionate fan base in Mexico,” said Lou Garate, vice president, partnership marketing, NASCAR. “PEAK is a world-class brand, and its three decades of experience in motorsports will help elevate NASCAR-sanctioned racing in Mexico.”

Old World Industries’ PEAK, BlueDEF and HURCULINER brands have a storied history in motorsports. PEAK held race entitlements in NASCAR throughout the 1990s and 2000s. In 2016, PEAK sponsored Clint Bowyer‘s No. 15 Chevrolet, including two primary races and a season-long associate sponsorship. PEAK is also the title sponsor of NASCAR’s eSports partner, iRacing.com, which has helped produce current NASCAR Camping World Truck Series points leader William Byron. 

“Old World Industries products have been a recognized part of the racing industry for decades, and we’re proud to help bring NASCAR to the passionate fans in Mexico and the U.S. for years to come,” said Bryan Emrich, chief marketing officer at Old World Industries. “Whether in the garage or on the track, we’ll continue to deliver quality products that auto enthusiasts can count on.”


As an Official NASCAR Partner, race fans will see the NASCAR bar mark on select products including: PEAK Antifreeze & Coolant (Official Antifreeze/Coolant of NASCAR®), PEAK Windshield Washer Fluid and Wipers (Official Washer Fluid and Wiper Blade of NASCAR®), BlueDEF Diesel Exhaust Fluid and Equipment (Official Diesel Exhaust Fluid of NASCAR® and Official Diesel Exhaust Fluid Equipment of NASCAR®) and Herculiner Truck & Bed Liners (Official Roll-On and Spray-On Bed Liner of NASCAR®). For more information on OWI products and the company’s involvement in motorsports, please visit www.PeakAuto.com.

Posted on by Track Release

RELATED: Buy tickets for Talladega

TALLADEGA, AL – Hellmann’s mayonnaise, which has been a staple in American kitchens for generations, and NASCAR’s Most Competitive Track – Talladega Superspeedway – announced today that Sunday’s (Oct. 23) much anticipated elimination race in the 2016 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup will now be known as the Hellmann’s 500.

Hellmann’s, a brand of Unilever, has been involved in the sport of NASCAR since 2004 and has a reputation for delivering fans with quality, delicious products. In addition to the newTalladega Superspeedwayy (TSS) partnership, the Hellmann’s brand has a long-time relationship with six-time TSS winner Dale Earnhardt Jr. and JR Motorsports. NASCAR fans have embraced many of the attributes that resonate with the Hellmann’s family of products – plain and simple, they are the real deal. Hellmann’s flagship product, Hellmann’s Real Mayonnaise, is the best-selling mayonnaise in the United States.

“In honor of our long-standing partnership with NASCAR, Hellmann’s is thrilled to show our dedication to the race car community by becoming the exclusive, title sponsor of the Talladega race,” said Hellmann’s Marketing Director Russel Lilly. “We’ve been a staple on the speedway for years, getting to know Dale Jr. and establishing his No. 88 Hellmann’s Chevrolet as the car to beat. Whether on the track or cheering from the stands, Hellmann’s is a life-time fan of the sport of racing and we’re honored to be a part of such an iconic race.”

“Hellmann’s is an incredible nationally known product that fits in perfectly with our facility and the fans who attend the events here,” said Talladega Superspeedway Chairman Grant Lynch. “We have an incredible fan base who are here all week and love to cook up a variety of tasty dishes to eat while they are enjoying the best racing in the world. Take a walk on our property and you will see campers and tailgaters using a host of Hellmann’s spreads. We are glad to welcome them to our Talladega family with the Hellmann’s 500.”

Sunday’s Hellmann’s 500 at the mammoth 2.66-mile, 33-degree banked layout, will be the pivotal third and final race in the Round of 12 in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. When the checkered flag falls in the pressure-packed event, the field of title contenders will be reduced from 12 drivers to eight.

While he won’t be competing in the Hellmann’s 500, Earnhardt Jr. will be at Talladega and will be interacting with fans as part of the Fan Question & Answer session at the start-finish line as part of the track’s “Pre-Race Pit Pass Upgrade.”

Weekend preparations for the Hellmann’s 500 get underway Friday (Oct. 21) with two different practice sessions (1:00-1:55 p.m. CDT & 3:30-4:25 p.m. CDT). Foodland/Food Giant Qualifying, which will determine the starting lineup for the Hellmann’s 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race, is set for Saturday (Oct. 22) at 3:00 p.m. CDT. A ticket to the Hellmann’s 500 also gets fans into the traditional Saturday Night Infield Concert, which will feature country star Jerrod Niemann, Tim Dugger and DJ Michaelis. The Hellmann’s 500 is set for a 1:00 p.m. (CDT) start Sunday (Oct. 23).

Posted on by Pat DeCola
https://www.nascar.com/drivers/jimmie-johnson/
JimmieJohnson
0
Hendrick Motorsports

By all accounts, Jimmie Johnson could’ve taken the Kansas race off, having won at Charlotte. He didn’t, and continues to show why he’s one of the best ever with a fourth-place finish.

Any questions? When Harvick needs to win, he wins. Considering ‘El Toro’ is the bull to beat at Phoenix (next round), you may as well already pencil him into the Championship 4.

 

MORE: Harvick advances at Kansas

https://www.nascar.com/drivers/kyle-busch/
KyleBusch
1
Joe Gibbs Racing

Busch may have had a chance to battle Kevin Harvick for the win, but was busy battling his teammate, Carl Edwards, for position behind him. He was none too pleased.

 

MORE: Busch on Edwards: ‘That’s racing, I guess’

The polesitter at Kansas faded late, but expect him to lead more laps at Talladega where his 512 laps led are the most among Chase drivers.

Truex’s recent luck seemed to run dry at Kansas — and it nearly made his gas tank do the same, as his crew failed to give him ample fuel on a pit stop. Mistakes like that become more costly as rounds progress.

 

MORE: Fuel problems plague Truex

Edwards once again came up just short of winning at his home track, but his second-place finish will go a long way toward helping him advance.

Logano isn’t quite in must-win mode, but it certainly doesn’t hurt his Chase chances that he comes into Talladega as the defending race winner. Of course, he may still have to figure out how to beat Kevin Harvick.

 

MORE: Logano puzzled at how to stop No. 4

After starting from the rear, Busch put together an above average day and has a good shot to advance, still. His 16.3 average finish at Talladega ranks third among Chase drivers with more than one start.

https://www.nascar.com/drivers/austin-dillon/
AustinDillon
3
Richard Childress Racing

Dillon currently loses the tiebreaker with Joey Logano for the eighth and final Chase spot, but any magic that ‘3’ car has left in it at Talladega would go a long way.

https://www.nascar.com/drivers/brad-keselowski/
BradKeselowski
-8
Team Penske

Keselowski is in a difficult points position and needs to win at Talladega to advance — but we’ve seen him do it before, in 2014. Don’t count him out yet.

 

MORE: Keselowski lands in dire straits 

https://www.nascar.com/drivers/denny-hamlin/
DennyHamlin
-2
Joe Gibbs Racing

After running off nine straight top-10 finishes (including two wins), Hamlin has finishes of 15th, 9th, 30th and 15th. That isn’t going to cut it.

 

MORE: Handling issues derail Hamlin

https://www.nascar.com/drivers/chase-elliott/
ChaseElliott
-5
Hendrick Motorsports

Elliott is just saving his first win for when he needs it most — in a do-or-die situation at Talladega after he had an up and then very down day at Kansas.

 

MORE: Elliott falters from lead

 

There’s still hope that we’ll see some sizzle — and maybe one more win — from Stewart as he closes out his career, but the No. 14 team isn’t quite sniffing Victory Lane right now.

A late run-in with the wall derailed Larson’s day and all of a sudden it seems hard to fathom that the No. 42 team will compete for wins again this season.

McMurray is a relatively recent winner of the fall Talladega race (2013), but it’d be a stretch to see this under-performing team land in Victory Lane.

Buescher has yet to finish in the top 15 in any Chase race, and you shouldn’t expect that to change the rest of the way. That said, Talladega might be the one place it could happen.

Posted on by

RELATED: Full race results | Series standings | Chase Grid

Breaking down the full field for the Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway.

1. Kevin Harvick, No. 4 Chevrolet, Stewart-Haas Racing. As we said after Harvick’s win three weeks ago at New Hampshire: Fear the 4. Grade: A+

2. Carl Edwards, No. 19 Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing. Hard To Believe Fact No. 1: This was Edwards’ first top five in the second half of the season. He had seven, including two wins, in the first 18 races. Grade: A

3. Joey Logano, No. 22 Ford, Team Penske. Logano bounced back nicely after his 36th-place finish at Charlotte. Grade: A

4. Jimmie Johnson, No. 48 Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports. Hard To Believe Fact No. 2: Johnson’s finish gave him back-to-back top-five finishes for only the second time this season (Races 2 and 3). Grade: A

5. Kyle Busch, No. 18 Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing. Feel free to ask Busch about having the longest active top-10 streak at six races. Just don’t ask him about how it went racing against teammate Carl Edwards during Sunday’s final green-flag run. Grade: A

RELATED: ‘Rowdy’: That’s racing, I guess

6. Austin Dillon, No. 3 Chevrolet, Richard Childress Racing. The No. 3 team’s two-tire call resulted in a huge wreck on a late restart last week at Charlotte. Not so this week, and Dillon grabbed his second top 10 in the past three races. Grade: A

7. Alex Bowman, No. 88 Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports. Dale who? (Just kidding.) Bowman posted the best finish of his career (77 starts) and second top 10 in six starts in place of Dale Earnhardt Jr. Grade: A

8. AJ Allmendinger, No. 47 Chevrolet, JTG Daugherty Racing. Not even a pit-road speeding penalty could hold back Allmendinger, who turned in his sixth top 10 of the season, his most since a career-high 10 in 2011. Grade: A

9. Matt Kenseth, No. 20 Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing. Kenseth led a race-high 116 laps, all in the first 125 laps. But his car wasn’t the same after he hit the wall on Lap 137, a move that made Kenseth feel “dumb and disappointed” after the race. Keep your chin up, Matt: You’re heading into Talladega second in the standings and 29 points above the Chase cut line. Grade: A

10. Kasey Kahne, No. 5 Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports. Kahne continues to churn out top 10s. His sixth top 10 in the past seven races gives him a 7.8 average finish in that stretch, the fourth best in that seven-race span. Grade: A

11. Martin Truex Jr., No. 78 Toyota, Furniture Row Racing. Truex’s 400th Cup start was an adventure because of fueling issues and repeated problems with a right-rear tire rub. Despite all that, he finished just outside the top 10. If Truex survives Talladega, a duel with Kevin Harvick for the title could be epic. Grade: B

12. Ryan Newman, No. 31 Chevrolet, Richard Childress Racing. Newman closed out his big week — RCR and Newman agreed to a multiyear extension early in the week — with a solid finish. Grade: B

13. Kurt Busch, No. 41 Chevrolet, Stewart-Haas Racing. Busch had to start in the rear of the field (backup car) but held his ground in the Chase standings (fifth place). Grade: B

14. Ryan Blaney, No. 21 Ford, Wood Brothers Racing. Blaney’s run of top-10 finishes at Kansas ends at two. Grade: B

15. Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing. Hamlin fell two spots in the Chase standings to 10th, but it could have been much worse. He had major problems early with his splitter and then ran into the back of Brad Keselowski on Lap 190 that spelled the end of his chances for a top-10 finish. Grade: B

16. Tony Stewart, No. 14 Chevrolet, Stewart-Haas Racing. Stewart finished 12th and 16th in his final races at Kansas, his best combined finishes at the track since he finished 13th and fifth in 2012. Grade: B

17. Trevor Bayne, No. 6 Ford, Roush Fenway Racing. Bayne ran 15 laps in the top 15 Sunday. And you’re probably thinking, “So?” In the previous four races, he turned a total of six laps in the top 15. Grade: B-

18. Danica Patrick, No. 10 Chevrolet, Stewart-Haas Racing. Patrick followed up last week’s season-best 11th with another top-20 finish, marking the third time this season she has posted back-to-back top-20 finishes. Grade: B-

19. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 17 Ford, Roush Fenway Racing. Stenhouse’s average finish this season is 19.1, and he nailed it Sunday. Grade: B-

20. Paul Menard, No. 27 Chevrolet, Richard Childress Racing. Menard’s career average finish is 22.7, and he nearly nailed it Sunday. Grade: C

21. Chris Buescher, No. 34 Ford, Front Row Motorsports. The nailing stops with Buescher. However, he finished in the top 25 for the third consecutive race, a first for the rookie. Grade: B-

22. Michael McDowell, No. 95 Chevrolet, Circle Sport-Leavine Family. McDowell posted his best finish at Kansas in 11 starts. His previous best was 28th in the May race. Grade: B

23. Casey Mears, No. 13 Chevrolet, Germain Racing. Mears led five laps during green-flag pit stops, topping his totals in each of the past two seasons — four laps in 2015 and four in 2014. The last time Mears led more laps in a race was the fall race at Talladega in 2012 (10 laps). Grade: C+

24. Matt DiBenedetto, No. 83 Toyota, BK Racing. When you’re a small fish in a big pond, you take your triumphs where you can find them. DiBenedetto’s finishes in his past six starts: 37th, 30th, 28th, 27th, 25th, 24th. And his five consecutive top-30 finishes extends his personal best. Grade: B

25. Greg Biffle, No. 16 Ford, Roush Fenway Racing. Then there’s Biffle and RFR, once among the biggest of fishes. Unless Biffle closes out the season strong, 2016 will go down as his worst in 15 seasons (14 full time). Grade: C-

26. Clint Bowyer, No. 15 Chevrolet, HScott Motorsports. Bowyer didn’t have the showing he would have preferred at his home track –unlike Missourian Carl Edwards, Bowyer is actually from Kansas (Emporia). Wait ’til next year. Grade: C-

27. Landon Cassill, No. 38 Ford, Front Row Motorsports. Cassill fell one lap short of finishing on the lead lap. He has eight lead-lap finishes this season, one short of his personal best set last season. Grade: C

28. Brian Scott, No. 44 Ford, Richard Petty Motorsports. Scott had two pit-road speeding penalties and was a factor in the wreck on Lap 36 that claimed teammate Aric Almirola. Not the best of days. Grade: C-

29. Regan Smith, No. 7 Chevrolet, Tommy Baldwin Racing. Smith had to start in the rear of the field for a transmission change and later brought out the eighth caution when he hit the wall. Grade: C-

30. Kyle Larson, No. 42 Chevrolet, Chip Ganassi Racing. Larson brought out the fifth caution when he hit the wall on Lap 177 and went on to post his worst finish in more than five months — since crashing out of the May race at Kansas (35th). Grade: D

31. Chase Elliott, No. 24 Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports. Elliott was running with the leaders until tire problems struck on Lap 175. It was all downhill from there. The rest of the race featured more tire rubs and multiple meetings with the wall. He is last in the Chase standings and needs a lot to go his way at Talladega to advance to the next round. Grade: D

32. Michael Annett, No. 46 Chevrolet, HScott Motorsports. Annett finished three laps off the pace, his fewest from a lead-lap finish since he completed 137 of 138 laps of the rain-shortened Pocono race in August. Grade: D

33. Cole Whitt, No. 55 Chevrolet, Premium Motorsports. Driving the No. 55 for the first time since the 15th race of the season (at Michigan, also named for a casino), Whitt finished five laps back. No word if Whitt ran to a roulette wheel at Hollywood Casino behind Turn 2 and placed a tower of chips on the No. 5 before heading home. Grade: D

34. Reed Sorenson, No. 98 Chevrolet, Premium Motorsports. Sunday’s race marked the third time this season — all in the past four races — teammates Sorenson and Cole Whitt have finished next to each other. Grade: D

35. Joey Gase, No. 32 Ford, GO FAS Racing. Gase finished seven laps back in his fifth start of the season. Grade: D

36. David Ragan, No. 23 Toyota, BK Racing. When Aric Almirola slowed as he approached teammate Brian Scott, Ragan ran into the back of Almirola. Despite major damage, the No. 23 was able to return to the track and complete all but nine laps. Grade: C-

37. Jamie McMurray, No. 1 Chevrolet, Chip Ganassi Racing. Contact with Alex Bowman resulted in a flat tire and the No. 1 hitting the wall. That brought out the third caution and began a frustrating day for the No. 1 team. Grade: D

38. Brad Keselowski , No. 2 Ford, Team Penske. Speaking of frustrating days … Keselowski got loose on Lap 190 and drifted high and right into the path of Denny Hamlin, who sent the No. 2 for a damaging spin into the grass. Keselowski also brought out the seventh caution on Lap 221 when his car started smoking soon after he returned to the track. He dropped to 11th in the Chase standings. Buoying the team’s hopes to advance is that Keselowski has four wins at Talladega. Grade: F

39. Josh Wise, No. 30 Chevrolet, The Motorsports Group. Wise took the No. 30 straight to the garage after he brought out the fourth caution when he hit the wall on Lap 116. Grade: F

40. Aric Almirola, No. 43 Ford, Richard Petty Motorsports. When Almirola was unable to slip under teammate Brian Scott and checked up, David Ragan hit the No. 43 from behind. Almirola’s 36 laps completed are his fourth fewest in 210 Sprint Cup starts. Grade: F

Posted on by Staff Report

Dale Earnhardt Jr. said in the latest edition of the Dale Jr. Download podcast released Monday that his rehabilitation from a concussion is “going along as planned” and that he has been driving a simulator but still misses competing in a race car most.

Earnhardt Jr. talked for about eight minutes at the start of the podcast, praising the efforts of his substitute driver Alex Bowman, who finished seventh at the Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway.

Junior added, however, that he wished he could have been the one driving the No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet.

“We’ve been running around and trying to do everything we’re supposed to be doing outside the car while we’re not able to drive just yet,” Earnhardt Jr. said. “Boy, today (Sunday) was a day where I would have liked to have been in there for sure running that high side. That’s really enjoyable.”

He added that he’s “still working on all my rehabilitation and doing all the stuff the doctors have been asking me to do. All of that is going along as planned, no setbacks.”

The simulator work is part of the “outside the car” activities that have kept him busy in recent weeks, along with sponsor appearances and a visit to Martinsville Speedway last week to help unveil the track’s new lights.

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“I’ve been doing that (simulator), which has been a lot of fun,” Earnhardt Jr. said.

Still, it’s no substitute for actually taking the wheel of a race car. Earnhardt Jr. said he will be at Talladega Superspeedway Friday through Sunday, and it will be difficult to simply watch; Bowman again will fill in for Earnhardt Jr. in the No. 88.

“There’ll be a part of me each lap wanting to be in there making decisions as far as what’s going on in the draft,” Junior said.

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