Posted on by Staff Report


The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, XFINITY Series and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series are all at Homestead-Miami Speedway this week for the final races of the season. Sprint Cup Series and XFINITY Series practice, qualifying and races can be watched on NBC, NBCSN and CNBC as well as NBC Sports Live Extra. Camping World Truck Series events will be televised on FS1.


All times are ET

SUNDAY, NOV. 22:

PRE-RACE SCHEDULE  
— 1:00:00 p.m.: NSCS Driver/Crew Chief Meeting (NXS Garage tent)
— 2:20:00 p.m.: NSCS Drivers Introductions with NASCAR Special Awards
— 2:34:00 p.m.: Championship 4 Drivers Introductions  RESCHEDULED to 3:30 p.m.

— 2:58:15 p.m.: “God Bless America” by: Elizabeth Elias 4:18 p.m.
— 3:00:00 p.m.: Intro Presentation of Colors by: 482nd Fighter Wing Base Honor Guard 4:19:45 p.m. 
— 3:00:15 p.m.: Invocation by: Pastor Sammy Flores, Christ Fellowship 4:20:00 p.m. 
— 3:00:45 p.m.: Intro National Anthem 4:20:30 p.m. 
— 3:01:00 p.m.: National Anthem, Zachary Levi 4:20:45 p.m.
— 3:02:30 p.m.: Fly-By TOT: 2 F-16’s from Homestead Air Force Reserve Base
— 3:07:30 p.m.: “Drivers, Start Your Engines” by: Hoda Kotb, co-host of NBC’s Today Show 4:28:00 p.m.
— 3:15:00 p.m.: Green Flag — Ford EcoBoost 400 (267 laps, 400.5 miles) 4:51:00 p.m. 


ON TRACK
— 3 p.m.: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Ford EcoBoost 400 (267 laps, 400.5 miles), NBC/Live Extra (Results)


SPECIAL EVENTS (Watch live)
— 1 p.m.: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Driver/Crew Chief Meeting

PRESS CONFERENCES (Watch live)
— 6:45 p.m.: Post-NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race

 

THURSDAY, NOV. 19:

PRESS CONFERENCES (Watch live)
— 2 p.m.: Championship 4 Media Day with Kevin Harvick, Jeff Gordon, Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr.

SPECIAL EVENTS (Watch live)
— 2:45-5 p.m.: Championship 4 Live Chat: Inside Access with Miss Sprint Cup

SCHEDULE FOR LIVE CHAT
— 2:55-3:05 p.m.: Kyle Busch
— 3:10-3:20 p.m.: Martin Truex Jr.
— 3:30-3:40 p.m.: Tony Stewart
— 3:40-3:50 p.m.: Rick Hendrick
— 3:50-4 p.m.: Joe Gibbs
— 4-4:10 p.m.: Joe Garone
— 4:25-4:35 p.m.: Kevin Harvick
— 4:40-4:50 p.m.: Jeff Gordon

FRIDAY, NOV. 20:


ON TRACK
— 9-11:25 a.m.: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series final practice, FS1 (Results)

— Noon-1:25 p.m.: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice, NBCSN/Live Extra (Results)

— 1:30-3:55 p.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series final practice, NBCSN/Live Extra (Results)

— 4:10 p.m.: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series qualifying, FS1 (Results)

— 6:15 p.m.: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series qualifying, NBCSN/Live Extra (Results)

— 8 p.m: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Ford EcoBoost 200 (134 laps, 201 miles), FS1 (Results)

GARAGECAM (Watch live)
— 11:30 a.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series
— 1 p.m.: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series

PRESS CONFERENCES (Watch live)

— 10:30 a.m.: Chris Buescher

— 11:30 a.m.: Brian France, NASCAR Chairman & CEO

— 1:30 p.m.: Ford with the Wood Brothers

— 3 p.m: Richard Petty Motorsports announcement

— 7:15 p.m.: Post-NASCAR Sprint Cup Series qualifying, Championship 4 drivers
— 9:45 p.m.: Post-NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race

SATURDAY, NOV. 21:

ON TRACK
— 10-11 a.m.: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice, CNBC/Live Extra (Results)
— 11:15 a.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series qualifying, CNBC/Live Extra (Results)
— 1-1:50 p.m.: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series final practice, NBCSN/Live Extra (Results)
— 2:45 p.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series Ford EcoBoost 300 (200 laps, 300 miles), NBC/Live Extra (Results)

PRESS CONFERENCES (Watch live)

— 9:30 a.m.: Ford’s Garage availability

— 10:55 a.m.: Ford Performance announcement
— 12:15 p.m.: Leavine Family Racing with Thrivent Financial and Habitat for Humanity

— 12:30 p.m.: Daytona Rising update with Joie Chitwood III

— 5:45 p.m.: Post-NASCAR XFINITY Series race

Posted on by Staff Report

RELATED: See the full weekend schedule | NBC Sports Live Extra


All times ET

Monday, Nov. 16
6 a.m., NASCAR Victory Lap (re-air), NBCSN
7:30 a.m., NASCAR Victory Lap (re-air), NBCSN
2 p.m., NASCAR 120, NBCSN
5 p.m., NASCAR America Live, NBCSN
6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FS1
2 a.m., NASCAR Race Hub (re-air), FS2

Tuesday, Nov. 17
6 a.m., NASCAR America (re-air), NBCSN
7 a.m., NASCAR America (re-air), NBCSN
5 p.m., NASCAR America Live, NBCSN
5:30 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FS1
3 a.m., NASCAR Race Hub (re-air), FS2

Wednesday, Nov. 18
6 a.m., NASCAR America (re-air), NBCSN
7 a.m., NASCAR America (re-air), NBCSN
5 p.m., NASCAR America Live, NBCSN
6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FS1
3 a.m., NASCAR Race Hub (re-air), FS2

Thursday, Nov. 19
6 a.m., NASCAR America (re-air), NBCSN
7 a.m., NASCAR America (re-air), NBCSN
5 p.m., NASCAR America Live, NBCSN
6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FS1
7 p.m., NASCAR K&N Series West: Phoenix International Raceway (tape), NBCSN
2 a.m., NASCAR Race Hub (re-air), FS2

Friday, Nov. 20
6 a.m., NASCAR America (re-air), NBCSN
7 a.m., NASCAR America (re-air), NBCSN
9 a.m., NASCAR Camping World Truck Series final practice, FS1
Noon, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice, NBCSN
1:30 p.m., NASCAR XFINITY Series final practice, NBCSN
4 p.m., NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Keystone Light Pole Qualifying, FS1
5:30 p.m., NASCAR America Live, NBCSN
6 p.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying, NBCSN
7:30 p.m., NCWTS Setup, FS1
8 p.m., NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Ford EcoBoost 200, FS1

Saturday, Nov. 21
4 a.m., NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Ford EcoBoost 200 (re-air), FS1
10 a.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice, CNBC
11 a.m., NASCAR XFINITY Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying, CNBC
12:30 p.m., NASCAR America Live, NBCSN
1 p.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series final practice, NBCSN
2 p.m., NASCAR America Live, NBCSN
2:30 p.m., NASCAR XFINITY Series Ford EcoBoost 300, NBC
6 p.m., NASCAR America Live, NBCSN

Sunday, Nov. 22
11:30 a.m., NASCAR RaceDay, FS1
1:30 p.m., NASCAR America Sunday, NBC
2 p.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Countdown to Green, NBC
3 p.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Ford EcoBoost 400, NBC
3 p.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship Second-Screen Experience, NBCSN
7 p.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Post-Race, NBCSN
8 p.m., NASCAR Victory Lap, NBCSN
10 p.m., NASCAR Victory Lane, FS1
11:30 p.m., NASCAR Victory Lap (re-air), NBCSN
2:30 a.m., NASCAR Victory Lane (re-air), FS1

 

Posted on by Zack Albert

AVONDALE, Ariz. — NASCAR officials offered a firm reminder Sunday morning, instructing drivers to keep Sunday’s competition clean in the next-to-last race of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup playoffs.



Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR Executive Vice President and Chief Racing Development Officer, made the remarks in the drivers’ and crew chiefs’ meeting Sunday morning, hours before the Quicken Loans Race for Heroes 500 (2:30 p.m. ET, NBC, MRN, SiriusXM) at Phoenix International Raceway.



O’Donnell acknowledged the high stakes associated with the 312-mile event, which will trim the field of title-eligible drivers from eight to four heading into next Sunday’s championship race at Homestead-Miami Speedway.



“We’ve got two races to go. Everybody knows there’s a lot on the line tonight,” O’Donnell said. “Be professional. Let the race play out as it always would. If it’s not your day, let those competing for a win go for it.”



Track president Bryan Sperber honored Jeff Gordon in the meeting, thanking the four-time premier series champion with a race-day renaming of the 1-mile facility to Jeff Gordon Raceway.



Gordon punctuated the 12-minute meeting with a question about restarts, asking whether the second-place car could beat the leading car (or “control car”) to the start-finish line if restart is otherwise ruled legal. NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Director Richard Buck replied in the affirmative.

Posted on by Nascar

RELATED: Updated series standings | Full race results

 

AVONDALE, Ariz. — Track position was king, cautions were few and when it all shook out, Chase Elliott departed Phoenix International Raceway six points closer to Chris Buescher.

Elliott, who clinched the 2014 NASCAR XFINITY Series title here at the 1-mile track a year ago, finished seventh in Saturday’s DAV 200 Honoring America’s Veterans. Buescher finished 13th, leaving the deficit between the two at 18 points.

With only one race remaining, next weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway, 18 points is a lot. But it’s not impossible, Elliott said.

“Certainly we still have a chance,” Elliott noted. “18 points really isn’t that much. That’s one little mistake from being right back in it.”

Mistakes were few and far between in the series’ penultimate event, there were only three cautions for 18 laps, and that had a big impact on the outcome, according to Elliott and crew chief Ernie Cope.

In a race that was dominated by Sprint Cup Series driver Kyle Busch, Elliott said his team “gained on it all day.”

“Definitely made it better on the long run,” he said, “Other guys did, too.

“Track position was important as always; this race had green flag written all over it so it was hard to gain a big chunk of ground unless you could get it on pit road somehow. The guys had a really good pit stop that last one, and got us a couple of spots. It just took me too long to gain them on the race track.”

Elliott had qualified 12th earlier, and while not terrible, it didn’t help according to Cope.

“We just needed track position,” Cope said. “We didn’t qualify good; we had a little trouble getting out of the box and lost some positions on the first stop. He passed cars but it just took so long, the next one (in line) would be so far out. We had a top-five car we just never could get the track position.”

Buescher described his day as an “OK” one, but “not a good one.” It was his worst finish since Iowa, 13 races ago, and only the fifth result of 10th or worse during that stretch.

The gains made by others were slight — Ty Dillon and Regan Smith, third and fourth in points, finished fifth and sixth, respectively.

Buescher needs only to finish 13th or higher at Homestead to clinch the title, regardless of how others fare.

“We’ve just got to go race,” Cope said of the season-ending event. “The 60 (of Buescher) got to have (a problem). We can’t make up 18 points or whatever we are behind … Even if we win he’s going to run good enough to where we can’t beat him unless he has an issue.

“We’re just going to go try and do our best, that’s all we can do. You can’t force bad luck, you don’t want to wish them bad luck, you just want to go run the best you can, try to win the race. Wherever it falls, it falls.”

Elliott hasn’t led the points at any time this season, but he’s been third or higher since the year’s fifth race. He’s won only once, at Richmond.

“The way I look at this year is it’s definitely had its ups and downs and we’ve given it our best effort and I think that’s all you can ask for,” Elliott said. “There have been a lot of mistakes made by me that I wish I could go back and fix.

“Like I said … just one small mistake can gain you a chunk of points just like that. Hopefully we’re not the one; hopefully we don’t make any mistakes so we can give ourselves a chance. That’s all you can ask for.”

Posted on by Nascar

RELATED: See the full lineup in photos | Staff predictions

 

Race Day Info

What: 28th annual Quicken Loans Race for Heroes 500

Where: Phoenix International Raceway, 1-mile tri-oval in Avondale, Arizona

Green flag: Scheduled for 2:41 p.m. ET (NBC, MRN, SiriusXM); coverage moved to NBCSN at 6 p.m. ET

Forecast: A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 71. East northeast wind around 5 mph becoming south southwest in the afternoon. (NOAA.gov).

National anthem: JoJo, pop singer/songwriter and actress

Grand marshal: Commander of the 56th Fighter Wing of Luke AFB, General Scott Pleus.  (Arizona Senator John McCain was originally scheduled to be the grand marshal.)

Honorary Starter: Lt. Col., Retired, Rob Ells, Director of Veteran Recruiting, Quicken Loans

Distance: 312 laps, 312 miles

Pit road speed: 45 mph

Caution car speed: 50 mph
Competition caution: Lap 40

 

On the Front Row

1. Jimmie Johnson, Hendrick Motorsports No. 48 Chevrolet (143.158 mph)

2. Kurt Busch, Stewart-Haas Racing No. 41 Chevrolet (142.880 mph)

RELATED: Full lineup | See all 43 cars

 

Failed to Qualify

None.

 

Fastest in Practice

First practice: Jimmie Johnson, Hendrick Motorsports No. 48 Chevrolet (141.827 mph) | Results

Second practice: Kurt Busch, Stewart-Haas Racing No. 41 Chevrolet (139.627 mph) | Results

Final practice: Kurt Busch, Stewart-Haas Racing No. 41 Chevrolet (140.029 mph) | Results

 

Key story lines

1. Two into one? A tough task for teammates

2. Edwards says JGR team in “must-win” situation

3. For Busch, comeback not complete without title shot

RELATED: Standings heading into Sunday’s race | Chase Grid

Former winners in the field

Kevin Harvick (7); Jimmie Johnson (4); Dale Earnhardt Jr., Carl Edwards, Jeff Gordon (2); Denny Hamlin, Kasey Kahne, Ryan Newman, Tony Stewart, Kurt Busch, Kyle Busch (1).

 

They Said It

“At this point of our season it’s no secret. It’s not about a top-10 here, it’s about a win and nothing less.” Joey Logano, Team Penske No. 22 Ford

Posted on by Nascar

AVONDALE, Ariz. — Team co-owner Richard Petty says his Richard Petty Motorsports organization is “still working on what we’re going to do with the 9 car,” and that he doesn’t believe current driver Sam Hornish Jr. will return to the two-car NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team for 2016.

“Things are looking up (on the sponsorship front),” Petty said Saturday morning in the garage at Phoenix International Raceway “We’ve got some stuff coming down the pike, but we don’t have it corralled yet.”

RPM currently fields two Sprint Cup Series entries, the No. 43 Ford driven by Aric Almirola as well as the No. 9 Ford of Hornish.

A Chase for the Sprint Cup participant last season, Almirola failed to make this year’s 16-team field. He is 17th in points heading into Sunday’s Quicken Loans Race for Heroes 500 (2:30 p.m. ET, NBC, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR).

Hornish, a three-time IndyCar champion and winner of the 2006 Indianapolis 500, has been unable to find success in NASCAR’s premier series, managing only three top-five finishes in 165 career starts. He is currently 25th in points. He does have three career victories in NASCAR’s XFINITY Series.

Asked if Hornish would be back, Petty said, “No, I don’t think so.”

Petty, a seven-time series champion as a driver and winner of a series record 200 races, said funding would be a determining factor in driver selection for the No. 9 entry for ’16, but that cutting back to only one team was not a consideration for the organization.

“No. We’re a two-car team,” he said. “We have to look at sponsorship as much as anything. It’s a combination deal. We can’t just go with a driver and not have the money and we can’t go with just the money and not have a driver. It’s going to be interesting.”

Almirola’s team carries primary sponsorship from Smithfield Foods with additional funding for select events from Fresh from Florida, the U.S. Air Force and STP.

Medallion Bank and Twisted Tea are the primary partners of the No. 9 of Hornish, while several other groups have sponsorship roles for a smaller number of races.

Posted on by Staff Report

Members of the NASCAR.com editorial team make their predictions for the final race of the Eliminator Round in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup at Phoenix International Raceway, which was renamed Jeff Gordon Raceway for Sunday’s event (Quicken Loans Race for Heroes 500, 2:30 p.m. ET, NBC, MRN, SiriusXM). Kevin Harvick has won the last four races at the 1-mile track. Can he be stopped from winning his fifth in a row?

Zack Albert
Kevin Harvick: Failing a blow-up or some other catastrophic outcome, it’s hard to go against the chalk and the No. 4 team, which has led more than two-thirds of the laps in the last three Phoenix races. Expect Harvick to defend his 2014 crown with Phoenix as a launching pad.

Kenny Bruce
Kurt Busch. Starting on the front row, fastest in both Saturday practices and likely needing a win to advance to the Championship Round, the 41 gets it done. 


Brad Norman
Kurt Busch. It’s a dream scenario for Stewart-Haas Racing as Busch wins his way into the finale, where Kevin Harvick will join him to defend his title.

George Winkler

Jimmie Johnson: After crossing the finish line first at Texas, Johnson exclaimed, “We’re back!” And who are we to argue with a six-time champion? When Johnson gets on one of his patented rolls, look out. “Six-Time” ties “The Intimidator” with win No. 76 from the pole. 



Kathy Sheldon

Kevin Harvick. A win locks in his spot in the Championship 4 and the chance to defend his 2014 Sprint Cup title at Homestead. Bad luck already bit the No. 4 this round, so it will be smooth sailing for Harvick at Phoenix, where his prowess is unmatched lately.

Pat DeCola

Joey Logano: My Eliminator Round picks have been spot on thus far, so why not pick the driver who was perfect in the Contender Round to keep the streak alive? Logano is looking to rebound from two rough outings at Martinsville and Texas. He needs to win at Phoenix — and he will.



RJ Kraft

Brad Keselowski: The Team Penske driver has been in a win-or-go-home spot before and come through successfully (see Talladega, 2014). A disappointing starting spot combined with his position in the standings will allow crew chief Paul Wolfe to be super aggressive with his calls to lead Keselowski to his desert destiny and win at Phoenix.



Jessica Ruffin

Kurt Busch: Busch has been consistently strong this weekend, running in the top three in practice and nabbing a front-row starting position. He’s also in the same equipment as Phoenix pro Kevin Harvick, with all the motivation he needs in the form of a final four Chase spot — and a chance at the title.

Maggie MacKenzie
Kevin Harvick: The undisputed King of Phoenix has an incredible seven wins at the 1-mile track and has emerged the victor in the last four races there. There’s no reason why Harvick won’t be able to make it eight trips to Victory Lane after coming off some strong runs at Martinsville (eighth) and Texas (third). With a career total of 1,202 laps led at Phoenix, expect “Happy” to dominate the leaderboard.

Posted on by Staff Report

RELATED: Full race lineup



Kyle Busch topped the leaderboard for Saturday’s Coors Light Pole qualifying, earning his 47th series pole of his career and fourth of the season. Busch wheeled his No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota to a fast lap of 138.504 mph.


Joining “Rowdy” on the front row for the DAV 200 Honoring America’s Veterans (4 p.m. ET, NBCSN/Live Extra) will be the No. 33 of Austin Dillon after posting the second-fastest lap during the session (137.054 mph).


Joe Gibbs Racing had two more of its drivers in the top five with Erik Jones (137.002 mph) and Daniel Suarez (136.137 mph) taking third and fifth, respectively.


The No. 22 of Brad Keselowski will line up fourth after the Team Penske driver brought his Ford around the 1-mile track with a speed of 136.887 mph.


Current points leader Chris Buescher placed seventh in his No. 60 Ford (135.895 mph).

Posted on by Staff Report

RELATED: Johnson tops Friday’s practice

Practice 3 | Full results
Kurt Busch proved Kevin Harvick wasn’t the only Stewart-Haas Racing car favored for the win Sunday, as he swept both Sprint Cup Series practices on Saturday at Phoenix International Raceway. Busch’s No. 41 Chevrolet zipped around the Arizona track at 140.029 mph to nab the fastest spot in the final session.

Polesitter Jimmie Johnson made a late run to briefly top the leaderboard in Saturday’s final practice session at Phoenix International Raceway. His No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet’s fast lap of 139.389 mph ultimately earned the second spot.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. posted the third-fastest speed, his No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet flying around the 1-mile oval at 139.130 mph. Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates’ Kyle Larson nabbed the fourth spot with a fast lap of 138.910 from his No. 42 Chevrolet.

Reigning series champion Kevin Harvick, who has won four straight races at Phoenix, rounded the 1-mile oval at 138.905 mph to pick up the fifth-fastest speed.

Erik Jones, who is filling in for Joe Gibbs Racing‘s Matt Kenseth this weekend, showed plenty of speed in the No. 20, as he posted a speed of 138.905 mph to pick up the sixth spot.

Jeff Gordon was the slowest of the eight remaining Chase drivers in the final session, maneuvering his No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet at 137.905 mph to rank 20th-fastest. With his win at Martinsville two weeks ago, Gordon is the only driver locked into the championship round at Homestead.

The Sprint Cup Series is back on track Sunday at 2:30 p.m. ET for the Quicken Loans Race for Heroes 500 (NBC, MRN, SiriusXM).


Practice 2 | Full results

Kurt Busch opened the day on a strong note, topping the first of two Sprint Cup Series practice sessions on Saturday at Phoenix International Raceway.

Busch, who qualified second for Sunday’s Quicken Loans Race for Heroes 500 (2:30 p.m. ET, NBC/Live Extra, MRN, SiriusXM), paced the morning run through with a best speed of 139.627 mph. 

The Stewart-Haas Racing driver’s fellow Chase for the Sprint Cup competitor, Carl Edwards, was second on the charts at 139.260 mph.

Kyle Larson (139.152 mph), Kevin Harvick (139.147 mph) and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (139.028 mph) rounded out the top five. Friday’s practice leader and Coors Light Pole Award winner, Jimmie Johnson, was sixth at 138.878 mph.

The rest of the Chase field placed as follows: Martin Truex Jr. (8th, 138.680 mph); Joey Logano (9th, 138.680 mph); Kyle Busch (13th, 138.265 mph); Brad Keselowski (14th, 138.233 mph) and Jeff Gordon (18th, 138.021 mph).

Sprint Cup cars are back on track for final practice at 2:30 p.m. ET with coverage on NBCSN/Live Extra.