Posted on by Reid Spencer

RELATED: Complete race results | Updated standings

DOVER, Del. – NASCAR’s new Dash 4 Cash format agrees with Erik Jones – even when his No. 20 Toyota is running on older tires.

 

Despite staying out on used rubber for a restart with five laps left in Saturday’s Ollie’s Bargain Outlet 200 at Dover International Speedway, Jones pulled away to beat runner-up Darrell Wallace Jr. to the finish line by 1.434 seconds.

 

The victory was Jones’ second of the year, both on concrete tracks (Bristol and Dover). He has now won two of the three NASCAR XFINITY Series races held under the new Dash 4 Cash format, which features two Heat races and a main event.

 

Since his car was blessed with short-run speed, Jones and crew chief Chris Gabehart liked their chances at the front of the field on older tires, even though others came to the pits for fresh rubber before a restart on Lap 116 of 120.

 

Driving a stock car for the first time in seven months, Alex Bowman came home third after leading 33 laps, a run that was broken by a debris caution on Lap 71. The top three finishers – Jones, Wallace and Bowman – are all alumni of NASCAR Next, an industry initiative that spotlights the sport’s rising stars.

 

Justin Allgaier ran fourth, followed by Ty Dillon and series leader Elliott Sadler, who holds a three-point edge in the standings over ninth-place finisher Daniel Suárez.

 

“I couldn’t see how many came to pit road, so I wasn’t too sure,” Jones said of the decision to stay out under the final caution. “I was a little anxious to see how many came and how many stayed out. Fortunately enough stayed out to make it viable for us to still get the win here.”

 

After seven months away from racing, except for an appearance at the Chili Bowl in January in a midget car, Bowman made steady progress throughout the weekend in the first of nine scheduled rides with JR Motorsports, the next of which will come at Pocono in early June.

 

“I was a little worried, being so rusty,” Bowman said. “Obviously, you can’t just take a car to the race track and go test anymore (because of NASCAR rules). I think Friday morning (before practice), I was probably the most nervous I’ve been in years, as far as getting in the race car.

 

“This is one of the toughest places we come. ‘Can I still do this? Am I going to mess up, make stupid mistakes?’… I haven’t given feedback on a race car in seven months either. I didn’t really do a good job of that throughout practice, but I think (crew chief) Dave (Elenz) overcame it and gave me a really good piece for the race.”

 

Wallace posted the highest XFINITY Series finish ever for an African-American driver, improving on his own record of third (twice), and he did it in a backup car, necessitated by a crash in Friday’s practice.

 

“I keep saying it, we never give up,” Wallace said. “It’s really a credit to my guys right here for really thrashing this thing. It’s unfortunate when you do have to bring the backup car out, (but) we never give up and we work really hard to get some speed in this baby.”

 

But the day – and the $100,000 Dash 4 Cash bonus – belonged to Jones, who thought the tracks that stage the Dash 4 Cash races had more to do with his success than the format itself.

 

“The tracks that they’re at are tracks that I’ve had historically good runs at,” Jones said. “It just kind of worked out that way. The Heat race format gives us a chance to go out and adjust on our stuff. I think our ability to adjust and maintain and get better throughout the race is one of the best in the garage, and having the opportunity to do that in the Heat race gives us that little bit of an edge.”


MORE: Relive the day in photos

Posted on by Pat DeCola

RELATED: Race results | Standings | Dash 4 Cash hub

DOVER, Del. — Erik Jones has a few extra bucks in his pocket after a weekend of racing at the “Monster Mile.”
 
The Joe Gibbs Racing driver locked up his second Dash 4 Cash win of the season Saturday at Dover International Speedway, topping an eligible field that also included his teammate, Daniel Suarez, Richard Childress Racing‘s Ty Dillon and JR Motorsports’ Justin Allgaier.
 
Oh, by the way, he won the Ollie’s Bargain Outlet 200 race outright, to boot.
 
By virtue of his two Dash 4 Cash wins (the other came in April at Bristol, a race he also won) along with two said race victories, Jones now sits atop the XFINITY Series Chase Grid with three wins. He’s fifth overall in the points standings and would be higher had he not wrecked from the pole in the Dash 4 Cash race last month at Richmond.
 
RELATED: Dash 4 Cash 101 — What you need to know
 
“It’s pretty cool to get another win here … at Dover and another Dash 4 Cash race,” Jones said. “I wouldn’t say (the new format plays to my strengths), I’d say that it’s more the tracks; that they’re at tracks that I’ve had historically good runs at. They just kind of work out that way. …
 
“I think our ability to adjust and maintain and get better throughout the day and throughout the race is just one of the best in the garage, and having the opportunity to do it after the heat race just gives us that little bit of an edge.”
 
With three Dash 4 Cash races in the books, only Saturday’s Heat 2 winner, Dillon (winner of the second event at Richmond), still has a shot at earning a Chase berth by acquiring a pair of D4C wins. The RCR driver finished fifth, while Heat 1 winner Allgaier landed a spot ahead in fourth. Suarez was ninth.
 
Drivers will have one last chance at the $100,000 check on July 23 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Lilly Diabetes 250 (3:30 p.m. ET, NBCSN).
 
Jones is just hoping he’s allowed to spend some of his Bristol winnings by then.
 
“I’m still waiting to get my cut of the last check,” the JGR driver said. “I haven’t gotten a chance to spend any of it yet.” 
 
While the 19-year-old isn’t quite sure how he’ll splurge yet, don’t expect any exotic pet monkeys a la Tony Stewart coming his way.
 
“It’s hard to say. I’m not one to buy too many extravagant things, I guess,” Jones said. “You never know. Maybe I’ll find something I come across that I may want. I guess we’ll see when that day comes around.”

Posted on by Holly Cain

RELATED: Full results from opening practice

 

DOVER, Del. — Only four minutes into NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series opening practice on Friday at Dover International Speedway, Danica Patrick, Tony Stewart and Jamie McMurray all had single-car wrecks — a result of a gear failure on Patrick’s car that collected the other two drivers when her car left oil on the 1-mile racing surface.

The Stewart-Haas Racing team — that fields Patrick’s and Stewart’s cars — confirmed the accident was because of a gear failure on Patrick’s No. 10 Nature’s Bakery/Autism Delaware Chevrolet, which hit both the outside and inside walls as flames came out from the rear of the car.

Both Stewart and McMurray, who were behind Patrick on the track, ran over the oil, spinning and also hitting both walls hard. All three cars came to rest on the frontstretch within yards of one another, and Patrick climbed out of her car to check on Stewart.

Even a member of the safety crew that responded to the accidents slipped on the oil and fell hard to the track surface as he came over to survey the situation.

Neither McMurray nor Stewart, who is making his fourth start this season after missing the first eight races due to a back injury, spoke to reporters after emerging from the care center.

McMurray held his left arm as he left the medical building, and his team said he was icing the arm during the red flag stoppage, at one point unsure whether he’d return for what was left of the delayed practice. He did go into the garage to look over his backup car as practice resumed — but was not extended — and ultimately McMurray turned 13 laps in his backup car.

Patrick spoke briefly after being examined and released from the care center.

“It was very early in practice,” Patrick said. “Obviously, there was oil, a fire and the car spun and was caught by the wall. I’m not sure what happened, but this is obviously not something we normally see. You don’t see a lot of failures like that. I’m sure they will figure out what it is.

“It sucks when it takes other people with you.”

The SHR team used the red flag stoppage time to change the gear system on all four of its Chevrolets.

Another SHR car driven by Kurt Busch also suffered a gear problem minutes before the three-car incident, but Busch was already headed to the garage.

“I got lucky, honestly,” said Busch, who made only three laps before bringing his No. 41 car back into the garage. “I was feeling something all along with the rear gear, the drive train. … There was something that was feeling weird, so I came in. I got lucky.”

SHR’s Vice President of Competition Greg Zipadelli said the team had begun using a different manufacturer for its gears, and wanted to be proactive in changing the system out immediately on all four cars.

All the cars involved in the early accident did return to the track to turn a handful of laps when the practice session resumed.

Teams considered the track time to be especially vital with questionable weather approaching and qualifying set for later in the afternoon.

The field for Sunday’s AAA 400 Drive for Autism would be set according to practice speeds should weather affect the qualifying session.

Posted on by Staff Report

Related: Full race results from Dover

NASCAR officials said that the truck driven by Daniel Suarez to a second-place finish Friday at Dover International Speedway was found too high in the left rear during a post-race inspection.


The technical infraction came after Friday’s Jacob Companies 200, the fifth of 23 races this year for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. NASCAR officials said any potential penalties stemming from the violation would be announced Wednesday.


Suarez’s Kyle Busch Motorsports No. 51 Toyota wound up .571 seconds behind race winner Matt Crafton at the checkered flag. It marked the 24-year-old driver’s fourth runner-up finish in 18 career Truck Series starts.


NASCAR eliminated ride-height rules for the Sprint Cup Series before the 2014 season, but kept the limitations in place for the XFINITY and Camping World Truck Series.

Posted on by Staff Report

RELATED: All of Busch’s Sprint Cup victories



The M&M’s Racing with Kyle Busch Facebook page showed off a special Sprint All-Star Race paint scheme that honors the driver’s partnership with Mars, Inc., complete with a number switch to celebrate the company’s 75th anniversary.


Busch will drive the No. 75 M&M’s Toyota next Saturday in the Sprint All-Star Race to celebrate the diamond anniversary. M&M’s, Snickers, Double Mint and Pedigree, all of which have been part of the No. 18 car’s livery since the partnership formed in 2008, are all Mars, Inc. brands. It’s a one-race switch only.



“NASCAR fans have been enthusiastic all season about the M&M’s 75th Anniversary, so we’re excited to continue the celebration by changing Kyle’s race car from the No. 18 to No. 75,” Tanya Berman, director, M&M’s Brand said in a company release. “It has been an amazing 75 years for the M&M’s brand and this year not only allows us look back at our accomplishments, but forward as well to our exciting future.”
 
“We’ve had fun all season celebrating M&M’s birthday with our fans — there has been a lot to celebrate since their big year comes right after our incredible championship,” Kyle Busch said in the release. “For us the best part has been reading our fans’ favorite M&M’s racing memories, and hopefully with our success so far this season, we’ve been able to make a few more.”


The defending Sprint Cup Series champion, Busch already has three wins in the first 11 races of the 2016 season, including victories at Martinsville, Texas and Kansas. Last week was Busch’s first win at Kansas, and he gets another chance to check off another track next week — Charlotte.


Busch has yet to win at Pocono or Charlotte Motor Speedway, site of both the Sprint All-Star Race (May 21, 9 pm. ET, FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) and the May 29 Coca-Cola 600 (6 p.m. ET, FOX, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

Posted on by Staff Report

PRACTICE 1: Results

 

Kevin Harvick kicked off the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series weekend atop the leaderboard, posting the fastest lap during opening practice on Friday at Dover International Speedway. The current series leader wheeled around the “Monster Mile” in his No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet at 165.145 mph.

 

Hendrick Motorsports‘ Dale Earnhardt Jr. was second-quickest in his No. 88 Chevrolet (164.707 mph).

 

Next were Joe Gibbs Racing‘s Kyle Busch (164.489 mph) and Carl Edwards (164.144 mph) in third and fourth, respectively, while Roush Fenway Racing‘s Ricky Stenhouse Jr. rounded out the top five (163.815 mph).

 

Defending race winner — and 10-time Dover champ — Jimmie Johnson got off to a slow start in 21st (161.609 mph).

 

In the opening moments of the 80-minute session, Danica Patrick‘s No. 10 lost its engine causing the Chevrolet to burst into flames. The No. 14 of Tony Stewart and the No. 1 of Jamie McMurray got caught up in the melee after sliding into the leaked oil from Patrick’s entry. The incident brought out the red flag.

RELATED: Patrick, Stewart, McMurray involved in wreck at Dover

The No. 41 of Kurt Busch had gear issues in the first half of practice, marking the third SHR entry to run into trouble during the session. “I got lucky, honestly,” Busch said on catching the issue in time. He earned the ninth-fastest speed (163.607 mph).

 

The Sprint Cup field returns to action for Coors Light Pole Qualifying at 3:45 p.m. ET (FS1).

Posted on by Staff Report

RESULTS: Practice 1 | Final practice



Daniel Suarez zipped to the top of the NASCAR XFINITY Series leaderboard Friday afternoon in a rain-abbreviated final practice at Dover International Speedway.



Suarez drove the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 19 Toyota to a best lap of 156.733 mph on the 1-mile concrete track. He was just .019 seconds ahead of second-fastest Erik Jones, his JGR teammate who clocked a 156.603-mph lap in the No. 20 Toyota.



Matt Tifft closed out a 1-2-3 sweep by Gibbs entries with a 155.932 mph lap in the No. 18 Toyota. Elliott Sadler (155.817 mph) and Joey Logano (155.561) completed the top five in final preparation for Saturday’s Ollie’s Bargain Outlet 200 (3:30 p.m. ET, FOX, MRN, SiriusXM), the 10th of 33 races this season.



The session, scheduled for 85 minutes, was interrupted twice by rain showers and ultimately halted 11 minutes early.



Saturday’s event will be the third segment in the Dash 4 Cash incentive program, which features qualifying heats and promises bonus money to XFINITY Series regulars. Jones (Bristol) and Ty Dillon (Richmond) won $100,000 Dash 4 Cash prizes in the preview two segments.



Coors Light Pole Qualifying for the XFINITY Series is scheduled Saturday at 10:45 a.m. ET (FS1). The first of two 40-lap qualifying heats is set for a 2 p.m. ET start (FOX).



JGR’s Jones atop eventful first practice at Dover



Joe Gibbs Racing‘s Erik Jones topped opening practice at Dover International Speedway in the final moments of the 55-minute session. His No. 20 Toyota propelled around the “Monster Mile” at 158.597 mph.



Ty Dillon, who was leading before Jones’ last-minute surge, had the second-fastest lap in his No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet (158.527 mph).



A pair of JGR drivers were next with the No. 19 of Daniel Suarez (158.256 mph) and the No. 18 of Matt Tifft (158.110 mph) taking third and fourth, respectively. 



Alex Bowman rounded out the top five, soaring around the 1-mile track at 156.114 mph. Bowman is making his 2016 debut in the No. 88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet.



Current series points leader — and last week’s winner — Elliott Sadler was sixth-fastest in his No. 1 JR Motorsports Chevrolet (155.534 mph). 



Darrell Wallace Jr. got into the wall hard early during practice causing significant right side damage to his No. 6 Ford. The Roush Fenway Racing wheelman will resort to a backup car for the rest of the weekend.



Richard Petty Motorsports driver Jeb Burton also had to go to a second car after his No. 43 Ford hit the wall coming off Turn 4.



Shortly after Burton’s accident, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series regular Paul Menard brought out the third caution after making contact with the wall. He, too, will go to a backup.



The field returns to the track at 12:30 p.m. ET for final practice (TV coverage on FS1).

Posted on by Staff Report

RELATED: Live weather updates

 

DOVER, Del. — Friday’s qualifying sessions for both the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series were canceled due to inclement weather at Dover International Speedway.
 
On-and-off bouts of rain dropped from the skies above the “Monster Mile” early Friday morning of the tripleheader weekend, but it came on strong during the second NASCAR XFINITY Series practice, sending cars off the track during two separate incidents. The session ended 10 minutes early.

The rain and wet track then washed out NASCAR Camping World Truck Series qualifying (scheduled for 2:15 p.m. ET)  and NASCAR Sprint Cup Series qualifying (scheduled for 3:45 p.m. ET).  

The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race, the JACOB Companies 200 is (5:30 p.m. ET, FS1) still scheduled for Friday evening. Last week’s winner at Kansas, William Byron will lead the field to green after posting the fastest practice time on Thursday.

Earlier in the day, Erik Jones and Daniel Suarez topped XFINITY Series practices, while Kevin Harvick was tops in Sprint Cup practice. Harvick and Dale Earnhardt Jr. will start on the front row for Sunday’s AAA 400 Drive for Autism (1 p.m. ET, FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
 
Tune in to NASCAR.com’s live weather timeline for announcements and our Weekend Schedule for any changes to Friday’s slate of activity.
 
This story will be updated.