Posted on by Staff Report

RESULTS: Practice 1

Pos Car Driver From Lap To Lap Avg Speed
1 48 Jimmie Johnson 1 10 173.389
2 11 Denny Hamlin 1 10 173.144
3 78 Martin Truex Jr. 1 10 171.748
4 4 Kevin Harvick 1 10 171.629
5 27 Paul Menard 2 11 171.592
6 18 Kyle Busch 1 10 171.463
7 24 Chase Elliott # 10 19 170.521
8 19 Carl Edwards 19 28 170.375
9 20 Matt Kenseth 24 33 170.270
10 88 Jeff Gordon 38 47 170.114
11 31 Ryan Newman 28 37 170.003
12 3 Austin Dillon 29 38 169.964
13 2 Brad Keselowski 31 40 169.908
14 34 Chris Buescher # 1 10 169.766
15 10 Danica Patrick 3 12 169.423
16 21 * Ryan Blaney # 26 35 168.985
17 47 AJ Allmendinger 24 33 168.866
18 1 Jamie McMurray 20 29 168.713
19 16 Greg Biffle 24 33 168.701
20 41 Kurt Busch 35 44 168.469
21 13 Casey Mears 19 28 168.078
22 14 Tony Stewart 25 34 168.016
23 5 Kasey Kahne 28 37 167.928
24 7 Regan Smith 23 32 167.393
25 15 Clint Bowyer 17 26 167.382
26 44 Brian Scott # 29 38 167.124
27 95 Michael McDowell 23 32 166.447
28 23 David Ragan 22 31 163.634
29 32 Jeffrey Earnhardt # 12 21 158.668


RESULTS: Practice 2

Pos Car Driver From Lap To Lap Avg Speed
1 16 Greg Biffle 1 10 170.536
2 78 Martin Truex, Jr. 25 34 170.449
3 48 Jimmie Johnson 1 10 170.429
4 5 Kasey Kahne 1 10 170.352
5 19 Carl Edwards 1 10 169.898
6 88 Jeff Gordon 1 10 169.806
7 42 Kyle Larson 43 52 169.559
8 31 Ryan Newman 20 29 169.371
9 11 Denny Hamlin 1 10 169.216
10 3 Austin Dillon 33 42 169.215
11 18 Kyle Busch 1 10 169.155
12 6 Trevor Bayne 22 31 169.111
13 24 Chase Elliott # 1 10 169.073
14 4 Kevin Harvick 26 35 168.979
15 34 Chris Buescher # 1 10 168.922
16 2 Brad Keselowski 27 36 168.805
17 14 Tony Stewart 42 51 168.783
18 13 Casey Mears 1 10 168.733
19 10 Danica Patrick 1 10 168.641
20 43 Aric Almirola 1 10 168.537
21 20 Matt Kenseth 1 10 168.380
22 15 Clint Bowyer 1 10 168.339
23 27 Paul Menard 25 34 168.007
24 47 AJ Allmendinger 32 41 167.688
25 22 Joey Logano 39 48 167.602
26 44 Brian Scott # 1 10 167.461
27 1 Jamie McMurray 22 31 167.444
28 41 Kurt Busch 26 35 167.223
29 23 David Ragan 27 36 167.049
30 95 Michael McDowell 24 33 166.818
31 7 Regan Smith 1 10 166.611
32 17 Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. 31 40 165.988
33 83 Matt DiBenedetto 1 10 165.732

*Required to qualify on time, (i) Ineligible for driver points in this series, #Rookie

Posted on by Staff Report

RELATED: Practice 1 results | Final practice results | 10-lap averages


Brad Keselowski closed out final NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice with the fastest lap Saturday afternoon at Darlington Raceway.

Keselowski registered a best lap of 174.649 mph in the Team Penske No. 2 Ford in the 80-minute final prep for Sunday’s Bojangles’ Southern 500 (6 p.m. ET, NBC/NBC Sports App, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

Kurt Busch posted the second-fastest lap with the Stewart-Haas Racing No. 41 Chevrolet at 174.031 mph. The No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet of Jimmie Johnson, fastest in opening practice, was third-best in final practice (174.019 mph), followed by teammate Kasey Kahne (173.656 mph) and Richard Childress Racing‘s Paul Menard (173.454 mph) to complete the top five.

Kyle Larson, last weekend’s winner at Michigan International Speedway, added his name to the list of drivers scraping the wall for a “Darlington Stripe.” His No. 42 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet sustained minor right-side damage early in the session. Brian Scott replicated the mishap in the session’s final two minutes, scrubbing the outside wall with the Richard Petty Motorsports No. 44 Ford. He finished the session 13th.

Defending race winner Carl Edwards notched the seventh-fastest lap in the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 19 Toyota (172.826 mph). Pole-starter Kevin Harvick, who inherited the first starting spot after Hurricane Hermine’s effects scrapped all Friday on-track activity, was 19th-fastest in the Stewart-Haas Racing No. 4 Chevrolet.

Two-time winner Greg Biffle was the fastest in the 10-lap average category, driving the Roush Fenway Racing No. 16 Ford. He landed in the sixth spot during final practice (173.234 mph).


Johnson sets pace in first practice


Jimmie Johnson roared to the top of the NASCAR Sprint Cup leaderboard in opening practice Saturday at Darlington Raceway.

Johnson guided the Hendrick Motorsports No. 48 to a best lap of 176.025 mph on the 1.366-mile track. He’ll start ninth in Sunday’s Bojangles’ Southern 500 (6 p.m. ET, NBC/NBC Sports App, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) after severe weather related to Hurricane Hermine washed away Coors Light Pole Qualifying and all other on-track activity Friday.

Denny Hamlin was second-fastest in the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 11 Toyota with a lap of 175.060 mph in the 85-minute session. Ryan Blaney, Kyle Larson and Ryan Newman closed out the top five.

Points leader Kevin Harvick, who will start from the pole position after Friday’s qualifying rainout, was 11th-fastest in the Stewart-Haas Racing No. 4 Chevrolet.

Jeff Gordon — making another substitute start for Dale Earnhardt Jr., who is sidelined for the rest of the season with concussion-like symptoms — was 14th-best in the Hendrick Motorsports No. 88 Chevrolet.

Defending race winner Carl Edwards landed the 22nd-fastest lap in the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 19 Toyota.

A handful of drivers scraped the wall in the opening session, earning “Darlington Stripes” with mostly minor right-side damage. Among them were Brad Keselowski, Blaney and defending Sprint Cup champ Kyle Busch. Danica Patrick also overshot pit road late in the practice, looping her No. 10 Chevrolet without damage.

Posted on by Team Release

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (September 3, 2016) – The Petty family and its brand of companies today announced a 10-month long campaign to celebrate NASCAR Hall of Fame driver and owner, “The King” Richard Petty turning 80. Petty may not be celebrating his 80th birthday until July 2, 2017, but the Petty brand of companies including, Richard Petty Motorsports, Petty’s Garage, Petty Family Foundation, Petty Museum and Victory Junction, plan to celebrate for the next 10 months.

 

The Petty family, who are well known for giving back to local communities and race fans, is now turning the table, allowing fans to give their thanks of 80 years with “The King.” The Petty family introduced a celebration calendar this week, www.KINGs80th.com, where fans can follow the various activities planned leading to the Petty’s birthday celebration in Daytona Beach, Fla.in 2017.

 

To kick off the activities, Petty’s children, Kyle, Lisa, Rebecca and Sharon, Petty’s Garage and Ford Motor Company partnered to surprise the American Icon with the 43rd and last build of the 2017 Petty’s Garage “King Edition” Ford Mustang GT. The car is colored silver and is one of now only 26 left available to the public through your local Ford dealer. The family presented the keys to the car today at the prestigious and popular Mustang Club Car Show in Indianapolis, Indiana.

“We are so proud to celebrate Daddy’s birthday with all his fans over the course of the next year,” said Rebecca Petty-Moffitt. “There is no better way to kick it off than with Ford Motor Company and Petty’s Garage allowing us to give Dad the 43rd build of the ‘King Edition’ Ford Mustang GT. Ford is a huge supporter of all of the Petty brands with strong partnerships with Richard Petty Motorsports, Petty’s Garage, Victory Junction and more, and even provided support for Dad during his career. We have so much more planned for our fans; today is just the start.”

 

In addition to today’s car giveaway, the Petty Museum announced its newest offering to fans. The Petty Museum is now offering shirts that replicate the first racing tee Petty wore. The shirt features the 1964 Plymouth that Petty raced. The shirt will be available at the Petty Museum and on their website until July 2017.

 

All of the Petty brands will get in on the action. Richard Petty Motorsports (RPM) will engage fans with special promotions, including special packages from its sponsors. Petty’s Garage will continue their celebration during their mobile tour stops throughout the country. The Petty Museum will soon announce special apparel along with additional merchandise throughout the celebration. Petty Museum will culminate their celebration with the opening of the Petty-Toomes Homestead historical landmark in Level Cross, N.C., the birthplace for Petty. Petty Family Foundation, Victory Junction and the Kyle Petty Charity Ride will also join the celebration during various events throughout the year, including special donations to the charities throughout the year.

 

Stay tuned to www.KINGs80th.com as all brands continue to expand the celebration through licensing partners and other special celebration promotions.

 

Fans are welcome to join in the conversation through social media using the hashtag, #KINGs80th across all Petty entities.

Posted on by Reid Spencer

RELATED: Race results | At-track gallery | Standings | Chase Grid

SHOP: Sadler gear


DARLINGTON, S.C. — Elliott Sadler had a passenger for Saturday’s VFW Sport Clips Help a Hero 200 at Darlington Raceway — in spirit at least.

After a breathtaking battle against Denny Hamlin over the closing laps, Sadler crossed the finish-line .454 seconds ahead of Hamlin to win for the first time at the Lady in Black — and immediately dedicated the victory to JR Motorsports team owner Dale Earnhardt Jr., who announced on Friday he would sit out the remainder of the 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup season because of a concussion.


RELATED: Junior announces he will miss rest of 2016 season


“This win today is for my man, Dale Earnhardt Jr.,” Sadler said. “I know he’s going through a tough time. He’s not being able to race his race car for the rest of the year. He was riding there with me today, and he’s given me such a great opportunity to be a part of his race team.”

With two laps left in the 147-lap event, however, the outcome was in the balance. Sadler had a lead of .715 seconds when he crossed the stripe to complete Lap 145. But he started sliding toward the outside wall in Turn 2 and had to fight to keep his No. 1 Chevrolet under control.

Hamlin pulled to the inside and the cars raced side-by-side down the backstretch, but as they entered Turn 3, Sadler regained momentum and pulled ahead in the top lane as the drivers approached the white flag. Hamlin got an excellent run through Turns 1 and 2 on the final lap but not enough to make a pass.

“I messed up, man,” Sadler said of the close call on the penultimate lap. “I could kind of see him coming, and I was trying to make up some time, and I started focusing on a lapped car in front of me, and I ran out of room and almost gave it to him.

“But all in all, we were able to hold him off.”

The victory was Sadler’s first at Darlington in 32 starts across all three of NASCAR’s national series. He won for the second time in the XFINITY Series year and for the 12th time in 320 XFINITY starts.


Making only his second start of the season in the series, Hamlin was frustrated in his attempt to win at Darlington for the fifth time.


“We definitely had a good line going through (Turns) 1 and 2,” Hamlin said, “But I didn’t get a good restart (on Lap 112, after the last of three cautions), he got position on me, and track position meant so much. Once he ran the high line, my car was entirely too tight to run low.

“It eliminated our passing opportunity unless we could slide-job him there in Turn 3 on that one lap he messed up, but it didn’t happen.”

Daniel Suárez ran third after challenging Hamlin for second place — until a brush with the wall ended his chances. But the driver of the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota held third place ahead of Kyle Larson, who spun entering pit road from the lead on Lap 103 to cause the final caution and caused a major shakeup of positions within the top 10.

Brennan Poole came home fifth and clinched a spot in the inaugural XFINITY Series Chase, as did Darrell Wallace Jr. (17th on Saturday) and Brandon Jones (ninth). That leaves three spots still open with two regular-season races left before the Chase field is set.

Posted on by Nascar

RELATED: Timeline of Dale Jr. injury

 

After weeks of rehabilitation, hope and determination, the end result is this — Dale Earnhardt Jr. will not return to compete in NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series this season.

Sidelined for the past six races after suffering a concussion-related injury earlier this season, Earnhardt will remain out of his Hendrick Motorsports No. 88 Chevrolet for the final 12 races of 2016.

Instead, the 41-year-old will continue to focus on his recovery in hopes of returning to competition next season.

On Friday, HMS officials announced that the sport’s most popular driver “has not been medically cleared to compete” for the remainder of the season. Previously, Earnhardt has been visiting doctors every two weeks to evaluate his progress.

It’s obviously a disappointing development for Earnhardt, his fans, his team and the Hendrick Motorsports organization.

But it’s ultimately the best decision.

Even if he were able to return to the driver’s seat later this year, there is little to gain for Earnhardt and his team at this point. Out of Chase contention and with a rules package that will change during the brief offseason, there’s no reason, from a competitive standpoint, for him to climb back in the car.

There could be some residual benefits but overall there’s too little to be gained and too much at stake to attempt a hasty return.

From a health standpoint, the time away from the car and out of the limelight will allow Earnhardt to focus solely on his continued recovery.

Work versus health? Weighed against one another, there’s simply no compelling reason for his season to end in any other fashion.

He isn’t leaving HMS in a difficult position from a driver standpoint — Alex Bowman and Jeff Gordon have filled in admirably during Earnhardt’s absence and will no doubt continue to do so.

While time out of the car might be a concern for a driver hoping to keep his ride, Earnhardt has no such worries. He is the winner of 26 premier series events, including a pair of Daytona 500 victories, and has reigned as the series’ most popular driver for 13 consecutive years.

He has qualified for NASCAR’s Chase for the Sprint Cup eight times overall and each of the past five seasons.

Even in difficult economic times, sponsors have been willing to align themselves with Earnhardt, understanding the immense impact and exposure doing so brings.

This latest development has only spurred talk of how much longer Earnhardt will continue to compete. He’ll turn 42 later this year and now sidelined for a second time in four years, some have suggested that it is perhaps time for him to close the door on his driving career entirely.

Away from Hendrick Motorsports, he is a team co-owner, fielding three NASCAR XFINITY Series teams through his JR Motorsports operation. The group has been involved all the way down to the grassroots level as well, fielding Late Model entries for up-and-coming competitors.

On the personal side, marriage to fiancée Amy Reimann awaits.

All good, sound reasons, perhaps, to consider a future outside the car.

Yet only Earnhardt knows if such a decision has been made.

Throughout his lengthy rehabilitation process, he has continued to speak of returning to competition. All the way from the talk of a contract extension with HMS before the most recent incident right up until Friday’s announcement, when he was quoted as saying “I plan to be healthy and ready to compete at Daytona in February.”

Only time will tell if that plan eventually becomes a reality. For now, though, that is the goal.

From the day officials first announced he would not be in the car at New Hampshire earlier this season, everyone involved has stressed the importance of patience. His doctors, team owner Rick Hendrick and Earnhardt himself have placed his health as the top priority. Not his ability behind the wheel or his manner with sponsors or his relationship with his fans.

As important as each might be, Earnhardt’s health and well-being continue to be the focus.

Patience. It’s worth remembering as a driver’s career hangs in the balance.

Posted on by Nascar

RELATED: Drivers of No. 88 through the years

DARLINGTON, S.C. — NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. will not return to competition during the remainder of the 2016 season as he continues to recover from concussion-like symptoms.

Hendrick Motorsports officials made the announcement Friday morning, saying that Alex Bowman and four-time series champ Jeff Gordon would split time in the No. 88 Chevrolet for the remaining 12 races of the season. Gordon is scheduled to drive the No. 88 as Earnhardt’s replacement this weekend at Darlington Raceway.

“I wish I could return to the No. 88 team this season,” Earnhardt said in a release provided by the team. “To say I’m disappointed doesn’t begin to describe how I feel, but I know this is the right thing for my long-term health and career. I’m 100 percent focused on my recovery, and I will continue to follow everything the doctors tell me. They’re seeing good progress in my test results, and I’m feeling that progress physically. I plan to be healthy and ready to compete at Daytona in February. I’m working toward that.”

RELATED: Dale Jr. talks about recovery in visit to Watkins Glen:

Earnhardt has missed the last six Sprint Cup Series races with lingering concussion-like symptoms. According to his Hendrick team, Earnhardt has undergone regular evaluations at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Sports Medicine Concussion Program under the direction of Dr. Micky Collins and with Charlotte neurosurgeon Dr. Jerry Petty.

Earnhardt will address the media Sunday at 2:30 p.m. ET at Darlington Raceway, site of Sunday’s Bojangles’ Southern 500 (6 p.m. ET, NBC/NBC Sports App, MRN, SiriusXM). He will be joined by team owner Rick Hendrick and Dr. Collins from the Pittsburgh Medical Center. You can watch that press conference here.


A crash at Michigan International Speedway in June is believed to be the cause of Earnhardt’s injury. While the impact of the Lap 62 incident was significant, Earnhardt said afterward that “it wasn’t too bad, actually.”

RELATED: Video of the crash at Michigan


Following an off weekend, he continued to compete in the next three Sprint Cup races, finishing 11th, 21st and 13th at Sonoma, Daytona and Kentucky, respectively.


But a visit to the doctor for what Earnhardt said he believed was nothing more than severe allergies or a sinus infection led to the diagnosis of concussion-like symptoms.


Bowman was tabbed to fill in for the team at New Hampshire, while former HMS driver Gordon took over for races at Indianapolis, Pocono, Watkins Glen and Bristol. Bowman returned to the seat last weekend at Michigan due to a scheduling conflict involving Gordon.


SCHEDULE: Who’s driving the No. 88 in the season’s final 12 races


Earnhardt has continued to take part in rehabilitation activities with the hope that he would be cleared by doctors to return to competition this season. He has met with medical personnel from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Sports Medicine Concussion Program every two weeks to determine his progress.


“I know how hard Dale has worked and how frustrating this is for him,” Hendrick said in the team release. “He wants to be back, and we want him back, but we want it to be for the long haul. We’ve had incredible support from everyone involved with the team, including all of our sponsors. They’ve put Dale’s health first every step of the way.”


Greg Ives, crew chief for the No. 88 Chevy, appeared on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio on Friday afternoon, saying that he had attended one doctor’s visit with Earnhardt during his recovery. While saying he did not possess the medical expertise to fully estimate Earnhardt’s progress, Ives said that his driver’s determination offers hope for a return in the 2017 Daytona 500.


“Those aren’t words. Those are facts, those are goals,” Ives told SiriusXM. “Whatever that takes. Dale’s the one who has to go through the training, the exercises and that belief of optimism. From that standpoint, all I can do is be there to support him.”


A top Chevrolet official also offered support for the sidelined driver.

“Dale Jr.’s health and well-being is the number one priority, said Jim Campbell, Chevrolet U.S. vice president of performance vehicles and motorsports. “He is a tremendous competitor and we look forward to seeing him back behind the wheel when he is ready.  Focusing on his long term health is absolutely the right thing to do.

“In the meantime, we are pleased that Jeff and Alex will drive Dale Jr’s No. 88 Chevrolet SS for the balance of the season.”


It is the second time during his Sprint Cup Series career that Earnhardt, the son of seven-time series champion Dale Earnhardt, has been sidelined by a concussion. He missed two races during the latter portion of the 2012 season after a crash during testing at Kansas Speedway.


Contributing: Staff reports.

Posted on by

RELATED: Earnhardt Jr. sitting out remainder of 2016


DARLINGTON, S.C. — Jamie McMurray knows from experience the challenges young Alex Bowman faces as he fills in for sidelined Dale Earnhardt Jr. in the No. 88 Chevrolet.

Fourteen years ago, a 26-year-old McMurray was faced with a similar scenario as team owner Chip Ganassi called upon him to step in the No. 40 Dodge for injured Sterling Marlin.

“I can’t speak for Alex because I don’t know what is going through his mind,” McMurray said via NASCAR teleconference Friday. “I can only tell you that for me it is as nervous as you can get. I had raced my whole Truck and Busch (now XFINITY) Series at the time, in cars that I think my Busch car had won like one or two races in seven or eight years. It wasn’t necessarily a winning car, and then all of a sudden I got in Sterling’s car that had I think won a couple of races earlier that year and it had led the points (through Darlington), it was a really good car. 

“So, there is a lot of pressure on you to run well because you know that you are in a car that is capable of winning.”

Winning didn’t take long. After a 26th-place run at Talladega Super Speedway, McMurray found his way to Victory Lane at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Oct. 13, 2002, the second start of his Sprint Cup career. McMurray ran six races in the No. 40 for Marlin that season.

“Once we won in Charlotte it was like super relieving because not only is that a confidence builder for you, but I think in all the people that are around you,” McMurray reflected.

Having impressed team owner Ganassi, McMurray was afforded a full-time ride the next season in the No. 42 Dodge. He earned his first pole at Homestead that year and won Rookie of the Year honors at season’s close, finishing 13th in the final point standings.

Having started with a simple opportunity, that six-race 2002 span ended up solidifying the foundation for McMurray’s now 15-year Sprint Cup career.

“If you are a driver that is trying to make it in the sport, there is no better position to be put in than to get in a car like that because you know that you have an opportunity — maybe not to win, but you are in a car that is capable of winning and running up front and showing guys what you can do if you are in the right equipment,” McMurray said.


RELATED: Bowman grateful for ‘chance of a lifetime’

Bowman’s runs in the No. 88 this season have been sporadic, as he shares seat time with veteran driver Jeff Gordon. In his two starts at New Hampshire and Michigan, the 23-year-old has finished 26th and 30th, respectively, with the car experiencing mechanical problems at Michigan. He’ll make eight more runs in the No. 88 car this season at Chicagoland, New Hampshire, Charlotte, Kansas, Talladega, Texas, Phoenix and Homestead.

Despite finishes outside the top 25, McMurray applauds Bowman’s efforts behind the No. 88 wheel thus far – and believes it bodes well for the young driver’s future.

“I think that Alex has, even though he hasn’t pulled off a win, he has had really good speed and I think to me what sticks out the most is he is not even really in a car every week,” McMurray said. “If you were in a truck every week or an XFINITY car … and then you were filling in, that would be one thing. But he hasn’t really been racing that much this year. To jump in and do what he has done at a track like Loudon, which is one style of racing, and then to go to a place like Michigan that is completely different — he has just done an awesome job.

“I know that probably for him the phone is not ringing as much as he wants it to, but he is going to get an opportunity because to me he has really shown that he is capable of it.”

MORE: McMurray’s throwback paint scheme for Darlington

Posted on by Staff Report

With two races remaining in the regular season, 12 drivers have clinched a spot in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, assuming each driver starts the remaining races.

The 12 clinchers: Brad Keselowski, Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards, Jimmie Johnson, Matt Kenseth, Kevin Harvick, Kurt Busch, Joey Logano, Martin Truex Jr., Denny Hamlin, Kyle Larson and Tony Stewart


Everyone who has a win this season is locked in — except for Chris Buescher, who has yet to clinch a top-30 spot. 


A number of drivers who currently have no wins can clinch this weekend, but only if they win the Bojangles’ Southern 500 (Sunday, 6 p.m. ET, NBC, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). See the Sprint Cup standings here.


Possible to Clinch:

— Chris Buescher (1 Win, 334 Points, +7 Points Ahead of 31st): Could clinch a top-30 spot with help; which would allow him to clinch a Chase spot on wins.

The following drivers could clinch with a win or points:

— Chase Elliott (0 Wins, 628 Points, +301 Points Ahead of 31st)

— Austin Dillon (0 Wins, 622 Points, +295 Points Ahead of 31st)


The following drivers could clinch with a win:

— Jamie McMurray (0 Wins, 616 Points, +289 Points Ahead of 31st)

— Ryan Newman (0 Wins, 601 Points, +274 Points Ahead of 31st)

— Kasey Kahne (0 Wins, 564 Points, +237 Points Ahead of 31st)

— Trevor Bayne (0 Wins, 558 Points, +231 Points Ahead of 31st)

— Ryan Blaney (0 Wins, 545 Points, +218 Points Ahead of 31st)

— AJ Allmendinger (0 Wins, 544 Points, +217 Points Ahead of 31st)

— Ricky Stenhouse Jr (0 Wins, 528 Points, +201 Points Ahead of 31st)

— Greg Biffle (0 Wins, 472 Points, +145 Points Ahead of 31st)

— Paul Menard (0 Wins, 454 Points, +127 Points Ahead of 31st)

— Danica Patrick (0 Wins, 450 Points, +123 Points Ahead of 31st)

— Aric Almirola (0 Wins, 422 Points, +95 Points Ahead of 31st)

— Clint Bowyer (0 Wins, 408 Points, +81 Points Ahead of 31st)

— Casey Mears (0 Wins, 394 Points, +67 Points Ahead of 31st)

— Landon Cassill (0 Wins, 357 Points, + 30 Points Ahead of 31st): With a win, he could clinch a Chase spot on wins if he gets help with clinching a top-30 spot.



XFINITY Series

Erik Jones, Daniel Suarez, Elliott Sadler, Justin Allgaier, Ty Dillon and Brendan Gaughan have already clinched a spot.


The following drivers either need a win at Darlington (Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET, NBC, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) — or an 83-point lead over the seventh winless driver if there is a new winner or that same lead over the eighth winless driver if there is a repeat winner: Brennan Poole, Brandon Jones, Darrell Wallace Jr., Ryan Reed.


The following drivers need a win to clinch: Blake Koch, Ryan Sieg, Dakoda Armstrong, Jeremy Clements, Ross Chastain, Ryan Preece, Ray Black Jr., BJ McLeod and Joey Gase.


Camping World Truck Series

With a win at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (Sunday, 2:30 p.m. ET, FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio), any of the four drivers currently sitting with one win would clinch their Chase spot.

— Johnny Sauter (1 Win, 330 Points, +262 Points Ahead of 31st)

— Ben Kennedy (1 Win, 309 Points, +241 Points Ahead of 31st)

— Christopher Bell (1 Win, 305 Points, +237 Points Ahead of 31st)

— John Hunter Nemechek (1 Win, 288 Points, +220 Points Ahead of 31st)  


— Daniel Hemric (0 Wins, 343 Points, +275 Points Ahead of 31st) — With a win and help, he would clinch a Chase spot on wins. He could clinch on points with a repeat winner.

— Timothy Peters (0 Wins, 335 Points, +267 Points Ahead of 31st) — With a win, he would clinch a Chase spot on wins.

— Cameron Hayley (0 Wins, 288 Points, +220 Points Ahead of 31st) — With a win and help, he would clinch a Chase spot on wins.

— Cole Custer (0 Wins, 285 Points, + 217 Points Ahead of 31st) — With a max points win and help, he would clinch a Chase spot on wins.

Posted on by Staff Report

RELATED: Timeline of Junior’s injury

 

Following Friday’s announcement that Dale Earnhardt Jr. will sit out for the remainder of the 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season as he continues to recover from concussion-related symptoms, Hendrick Motorsports officials said that Jeff Gordon and Alex Bowman would split time behind the wheel in a fill-in role.

 

Gordon, 45, will be the interim driver in four of the remaining 12 races this year. A four-time series champion, Gordon has driven in four races in Earnhardt’s stead already this season. Bowman, 23, will handle driving duties for the No. 88 team for eight of the 10 races in the season-ending Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup playoffs. Bowman, a part-time driver for the JR Motorsports operation in the NASCAR XFINITY Series, has two fill-in starts already under his belt in 2016.

 

“Jeff and Alex will give us a great opportunity over the rest of the season,” team owner Rick Hendrick said in a release provided by the organization. “Jeff is one of the best of all time and knows our system. He brings things to the table that no one else can. Alex is a young driver with a lot of talent, and he will give us a fresh perspective. We know they’re not only capable of running up front and giving us a chance to win, but they’ll help us get better.”

 

A detailed list of who will wheel Earnhardt’s No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet at each race during his absence. 

No. 88 driver schedule

Track Race Name Date Driver Note
Darlington Raceway Bojangles’ Southern 500 Sept. 4 Jeff Gordon Gordon is a seven-time Darlington winner
Richmond International Raceway Federated Auto Parts 400 Sept. 10 Jeff Gordon Gordon has won twice at Richmond in his career
Chicagoland Speedway Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 400 Sept. 18 Alex Bowman Bowman will make his third Chicagoland start
New Hampshire Motor Speedway New England 300 Sept. 25 Alex Bowman Bowman ran well early, but had car trouble and finished 26th in his first start in the No. 88 earlier this year
Dover International Speedway Citizen Soldier 400 Oct. 2 Jeff Gordon Gordon is a five-time Dover winner and last won this race in 2014.
Charlotte Motor Speedway Bank of America 500 Oct. 8 Alex Bowman Bowman will make his fifth Charlotte start
Kansas Speedway Hollywood Casino 400 Oct. 16 Alex Bowman Bowman’s previous four Kansas starts yielded a best finish of 31st
Talladega Superspeedway Alabama 500 Oct. 23 Alex Bowman Bowman’s second-best career finish (16th) came at Talladega in 2015
Martinsville Speedway Goody’s Fast Relief 500 Oct. 30 Jeff Gordon Martinsville is home of Gordon’s last win, an iconic moment in 2015 that clinched his spot in the Championship Round at Homestead
Texas Motor Speedway AAA Texas 500 Nov. 6 Alex Bowman Bowman will make his fifth career Texas start
Phoenix International Raceway Can-Am 500 Nov. 13 Alex Bowman Bowman finished 30th here in the spring of 2015, his best showing in four starts
Homestead-Miami Speedway Ford EcoBoost 400 Nov. 20 Alex Bowman The season finale will be Bowman’s third career start at the Miami-based track
Posted on by Reid Spencer

RELATED: Sadler sits atop points standings


NASCAR XFINITY Series points leader Elliott Sadler is using the absence of his JR Motorsports team owner, Dale Earnhardt Jr., as a source of inspiration and motivation in his quest for a first championship.


“We’ve kind of been racing for him these last couple weeks … a month or so,” said Sadler, who leads the XFINITY standings by 47 points over second-place Daniel Suarez. “We kind of know what our boss is going through. We talk about it on our race team at the race track some. When you watch practice on TV, or the watch the (Sprint Cup) race on Sunday, and he’s not in the race car, it affects us.


“We want the best for him. He’s given all of us a great opportunity. We want him to enjoy the same fun, the same competitive spirit that we’re having week-in and week-out. So we definitely talk about it as a team and wish him nothing but the best coming back. And it definitely gives us some incentive to finish on a high note, now that he’s out of the car.”


Sadler is locked into the inaugural XFINITY Chase, and the veteran driver of the No. 1 Chevrolet got more recent good news — his primary sponsor, OneMain Financial, will return for another season on the car in 2017. Sadler will next race in Saturday’s VFW Sport Clips Help a Hero 200 at Darlington Raceway (3:30 p.m. ET, NBC, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).