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RELATED: See the Chase grid | Chase Bubble Watch


The Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup postseason is making the turn for home — five races down and five to go. This weekend’s stop on the 10-race ride is among the most pivotal of them all, Sunday’s Alabama 500 (2 p.m. ET, NBCSN, MRN, SiriusXM) at Talladega Superspeedway.

With the playoff field about to be cut from 12 drivers to a final eight, our Holly Cain and Zack Albert tackle pressing topics ahead of a true Chase wildcard:


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Halfway through the Chase, Kevin Harvick and Martin Truex Jr. have each won twice, leaving Jimmie Johnson as the only other race winner in the postseason’s first five races. Will the champion be one of these three or is there still room for a Chase dark horse?

Cain: It is highly likely that the champion will come from among these three drivers, who have not only won lately but set the bar this year. With half the Chase remaining, someone else may — and needs to — step up, figuring it would be Brad Keselowski or Joey Logano or one of the four remaining Toyota drivers who have led the way. No dark horse here.

Albert: There’s time left, but that clock — not to be confused with the Camping World Truck Series’ caution clock — is ticking more urgently. Harvick, Truex and Johnson may be the main Chase triumvirate so far, but I’m holding the door open for a Keselowski-led Penske effort or another Joe Gibbs Racing entry to stage a Round of 12 rally, starting at Talladega.

Next year, a schedule shake-up for the Chase’s Round of 12 will have Kansas trading places with Talladega to be the three-race series’ elimination event. Do you favor the move or was the Charlotte-Kansas-Talladega progression a suitable schedule?

Cain: Depending on whom you talk to, Talladega settling the third-round Chase grid was either a huge opportunity or a crazy wild card. Everyone goes into the unpredictable Talladega race feeling like either he/she has a big opportunity or scant chance to emerge. That makes for a heightened excitement level, but the question is whether this type of race should solidify the next round of elimination. Cases can be made either way, but I think the switch-up is a good idea.

Albert: Talladega races are heart-clenching enough as it is — whether it’s in the regular season in May, in the playoffs in October or a 20-lap offseason trophy dash for funsies (just a suggestion). Making the schedule shift may slightly reduce spectator palpitations, but the track loses little in stature as the middle event in a three-race series. A more conventional venue such as Kansas makes more sense as the host of an elimination race.

The Chase’s current bottom four: Austin Dillon, Denny Hamlin, Brad Keselowski, Chase Elliott. Of those four, who is best positioned to take out the math and guesswork and emerge with a season-saving Talladega win?

Cain: I truly see any and all four of these with the possibility of point-climbing their way up to Chase advancement. Among them, it’s hardest to argue with Keselowski’s Talladega resume. He already has two restrictor-plate wins at Daytona in July and at Talladega in the spring. He has lots of good Alabama juju — scoring his first-ever Cup win at Talladega in 2009 and amassing four total wins there. He’s finished in the top five in three of his last trips to the track.

Albert: With such a stacked quartet in the Chase basement, this is a tough one. All four drivers have the backing of teams with standout superspeedway programs, and Keselowski has evolved into one of the sport’s best at the large, fast ovals where horsepower is restricted. While still imagining some No. 3 magic for Dillon or a No. 24 breakthrough for Elliott, Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin gets the slight nod from these parts in a plate-track pick ’em.

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RELATED: Keselowski’s Chase chances take hit after Hamlin contact

Despite the specializing of today’s pit crew members to be bigger, stronger and faster, they still need the ability and skill to help during a wreck situation.

The points are tight this year and every position counts. Teams that can get their driver back on the track after a wreck have a chance to gain a few more points during a race weekend, and that could be the difference between advancing or going home.

And it’s not always a major crash that crews have to be ready for. This past weekend in Kansas, both Chase Elliott and Denny Hamlin had issues that could be fixed on the track, and their pit crews were called on to help. Simple stuff like a flat tire or nose damage can cause all kind of trouble, and it’s up to the pit crew to fix it and keep the laps lost to a minimum.  

So you might be asking, isn’t that the job of the mechanics? Yes, yes it is. In most cases the best people to be working on a car are the mechanics. No pit crew member will argue that. The mechanics in NASCAR are some of the best in the world, and working under pressure is what they do best.

So if the issue is bad enough to bring the car behind the wall, then mechanics usually handle the job. When it comes to doing repairs on pit road and trying not to lose a lap, having a pit crew that can pit and then fix saves time. And pit crews practice these situations just like they would a four-tire change.

Heading to Talladega there are many teams on the bubble. You never know when advancing or not comes down to just a few points, and those are the points that can be saved by savvy pit crew members and great mechanics.

For more pit crew news, visit PitTalks.com.

Posted on by Holly Cain

HOMESTEAD, Fla. — Kyle Larson is hopeful his fast performance in Tuesday’s rain-interrupted NASCAR Sprint Cup Series test at Homestead-Miami Speedway will be a harbinger of good things to come when the series returns to the track for the Nov. 20 season finale.


The 24-year-old, who was eliminated after the opening round of this year’s Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup playoffs, would have preferred that his test session work contribute to deciding the Sprint Cup championship later at Homestead. But he will gladly go for the track trophy instead this year.


“Homestead is probably my favorite track for racing the trucks and XFINITY series and for Cup, it’s my second favorite to Bristol,” said Larson, who has a win here in the XFINITY Series.


“I always enjoy coming here and running really close to the wall. It’s a real race track where I feel like driver can make up a lot. You always have to have a good car but I feel like the driver can have an impact here.”


Larson’s No. 42 Target Chevrolet paced the field in the morning session at the 1.5-mile track, just ahead of fellow Chevy driver Chase Elliott, who sits 25 points back from the cutoff as the series heads to the Talladega eliminator this weekend. Ryan Blaney was third fastest in the opening session.


Elliott led Larson in the afternoon session, which was extended two hours because of the rainy weather, lasting till 7 p.m. Larson, Kurt Busch, Carl Edwards and Austin Dillon rounded out the top five on the speed charts in the afternoon session.


Many of the teams here were specifically non-specific in their goals for the two-day test, guarding their objectives and the pursuit of them.


Ford driver Brad Keselowski was less circumspect and certainly less technical in explaining his team’s intent this week.


“It’s always a little complicated to explain,” he said smiling. “We’re always working on them, always making them better and we’ve come up with a couple things and we try to validate them on track.


“We put them through all these engineering tests with all these fancy computer simulations telling us if it’s going to work or not work. And we get pretty confident it’s going to work, but like to backstop check it. We’re going through a lot of things we’ve been doing with the proper implementation of all these gizmos to check things you’re allowed to use in testing. Just validating the parts and pieces.”


Veteran Carl Edwards said he just likes to get laps here in advance of the series crowning its champion and that his Joe Gibbs Racing Team welcomed the opportunity to try new things.


“We’re just working on a bunch of different things,” Edwards said. “This sport is evolving so quickly and all of the teams are pushing. I talked to (crew chief) Dave (Rogers) this morning and all the Chase contenders are up there and fast. We’re working on a bunch of different things.”


Some teams, most notably, Martin Truex Jr.’s Furniture Row Racing team opted not to use the Homestead test — something Edwards said he understood as well.


RELATED: Truex, No. 78 team to pass on Homestead test


“One of the things that can happen is you can come test and be too confident in what you find out,” Edwards said. “We’re just kind of going through some things and really having fun.. …Even if we don’t gain anything huge for the car, we’re having a good time.”


The series is set to conduct another full-day test at Homestead on Wednesday.


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).