Posted on by Staff Report

The following are team press releases previewing the Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway (2:15 p.m. ET, Sunday, NBC, MRN, SiriusXM).

Joe Gibbs Racing:
Kyle Busch | Team preview
Carl Edwards | Team preview
Denny Hamlin | Team preview
Matt Kenseth | Team preview


Stewart-Haas Racing:
Kevin Harvick | Team preview
Kurt Busch | Team preview

Hendrick Motorsports:
Jeff Gordon | Team preview
Dale Earnhardt Jr. | Team preview

Team Penske:
Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano | Team preview

Richard Childress Racing:
Ryan Newman | Team preview

Furniture Row Racing:
Martin Truex Jr. | Team preview

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Editor’s note: During each week of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, The Joey Logano Foundation will provide grants to a non-profit in each of the race markets in a program called “Chasing Second Chances.” Each week, Logano will detail those plans for NASCAR.com.

 

Hey, everyone! 

Another win for the No. 22! I couldn’t be happier with this team and the way we are running. Our Shell-Pennzoil Ford was great this weekend. It’s definitely nice going into Talladega knowing we advance to the next round. 

This Week’s Cause: Domestic Violence

 

My blog post from last week discussed the ideas behind preventing domestic violence — mainly through education. For this post, I want to highlight some of the effects domestic violence can have, especially on children. 

As adults, we can tend to overlook the effects our actions have on children who are watching us. Each time I am asked a question in an interview or am in public at an event, I try to stay aware of the young eyes that may be watching me. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not always easy. It can be a little frustrating on track at times. 

For a family living in an abusive situation, the children who watch a parent being abused or watch a parent committing acts of abuse take in what they see and it can lead to many issues well into adulthood. 

Domestic violence poses a threat to children’s psychological and physical well-being. In the report Behind Closed Doors: The Impact of Domestic Violence on Children (UNICEF 2006) it states…

Children who are exposed to violence in the home may have difficulty learning and limited social skills, exhibit violent, risky or delinquent behavior, or suffer from depression or severe anxiety.

 

Children can also experience short term effects such as sleeplessness, anxiety, nightmares, high activity levels and intense worry about their safety or the safety of their parent. Long term the effects can produce physical health problems, depression, PTSD, alcoholism and substance abuse. 

I found this video that shares, from the perspective of a child, what domestic violence looks like. If you have two minutes, check it out here.

This Week’s Joey Logano Foundation Chasing Second Chances Partner

 

This week’s charity partner is 2nd Chance, Inc.  Founded in 1988, 2nd Chance, Inc. is a non-profit 501 c 3 organization that provides safe shelter and supportive services to victims of domestic and sexual violence and offers educational outreach to the communities served to create awareness of and strengthen the movement to end this violence.

 

2nd Chance serves Calhoun, Cherokee, Cleburne, Etowah, Randolph and Talladega Counties in Northeast Alabama providing emergency shelter, transitional housing, assistance with permanent housing, court and legal advocacy, counseling, lethality assessment, community referrals, thrift store vouchers, training and presentations on the dynamics of domestic and sexual violence, dating violence and abuse in later life.

 

The Joey Logano Foundation is providing a donation to complete a backyard play area makeover. The yard will receive some needed attention along with updates to the 15-year-old play equipment. We wanted to focus on something that would provide children staying there a safe place to play where they can focus on being a kid while mom heals from the abuse she has experienced. We are proud to support 2nd Chance, Inc. and the support services they provide. This non-profit saves lives and makes their community a better place to live. What’s more important than that?   

Posted on by Nascar

Chris Buescher (Roush Fenway Racing), Chase Elliott (Hendrick Motorsports) and Erik Jones (Joe Gibbs Racing) took part in NASCAR’s low downforce test Tuesday at Michigan International Speedway as NASCAR and Goodyear officials began looking for an aerodynamic answer to the 2-mile track located in the Irish Hills region.

This year’s August race at MIS, as well as the Sprint Cup race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, featured a high drag configuration that failed to live up to officials’ expectations. Aero changes in place for that package included a 9-inch spoiler (an increase of three inches) with a 1-inch wicker bill; a 2-inch leading edge on the splitter and 43-inch splitter extension panel (radiator pan); and a rear fascia extension panel similar to those used for superspeedway events.

The package appeared to increase the impact of the draft, but had little or no effect on allowing trailing cars to make passes.

For the MIS test on Tuesday, cars were outfitted with smaller splitters and radiator pans and a shorter three-and-a-half inch spoiler, much like the configuration used at Kentucky and Darlington this season.

“(It’s) definitely different than the XFINITY car,” Buescher said during a break in the test. “… If you asked Cup guys that were here earlier this year with the high drag package, drivability probably wasn’t an issue. It was probably pretty easy to drive, whereas now it’s a bit of a handful. We’re lifting out of the throttle a little more than what data shows from earlier this year. …

“It’s a big difference and I think the race is going to show a pretty big change as well.”

While none of the three drivers at the test compete full-time in NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series, all three have experience in the cars. Buescher, the XFINITY Series points leader, had six Sprint Cup starts earlier this year in the Front Row Motorsports No. 34 Ford, and did extensive testing for Roush Fenway before private testing was banned after 2014.

Elliott, who will move from the XFINITY Series to Sprint Cup full-time next season when he takes over the ride being vacated by four-time Sprint Cup champion Jeff Gordon, made five starts this season in a fifth entry for Hendrick Motorsports to prepare him for 2016.

Jones, the Camping World Truck Series points leader, was pressed into service after JGR driver Kyle Busch was injured in a season-opening crash at Daytona. While the bulk of his additional duties came in the XFINITY Series, Jones does have one Sprint Cup start, at Kansas, filling in for Busch in the organization’s No. 18 Toyota.

Elliott ran the low downforce package at Darlington and said he hopes “this is a small step and it continues down this path.

“I don’t think it needs to stop here with this low downforce package,” he said. “I think it needs to continue if that’s the direction that we need to go in and not get satisfied too soon.”

All three drivers said there seemed to be more off-throttle time with the new package in part due to the faster lap times — Elliott said he wasn’t sure of the top speeds but guessed they were somewhere in the 210-mph range.

“A little bit more challenging to drive, more driver input which is nice,” noted Jones, who was called upon as a replacement for JGR regular Denny Hamlin. “Overall for the Cup Series, I think this is probably a step in the right direction. I definitely think this is a pretty good change.”

Jones said it made sense for him to take part in the test since he was already in the area — he hails from Byron, Michigan.

“I’m sure Denny wants to get rested up and be at 100 percent for the Chase,” he said. “For me, it’s pretty cool deal to get in a Cup car and get that experience, feel out the new package. Anytime I can get laps in these cars is beneficial.”

Hamlin is one of 12 drivers competing in this year’s Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.

Shorter Valve Stems

Some Sprint Cup Series teams began using shorter valve stems in their tires two weeks ago at Charlotte Motor Speedway, a move that they hope will lessen the likelihood of suffering a flat tire caused by contact with lug nuts.

There have been several instances of flat tires shortly after pit stops this year, and at least one crew chief has said lug nuts hitting the valve stems during tire changes have been the culprit.

The shorter stems, it is believed, are less likely to be struck in the rush of a pit stop.

“It’s not a new design; we just shortened it as much as we can to allow the same core to be inside the valve stem,” Greg Stucker, Director of Race Tire Sales for Goodyear, said. “It just gets it out of the way a little bit more.

“It’s not going to be a fix; but that’s all we can do right now. It’s a reaction to the people wanting us to do something so we did it as quickly as we could.”

Posted on by Staff Report

Texas Motor Speedway is nearing the finish line on installing 2,866 feet of additional SAFER barrier ahead of the NASCAR tripleheader scheduled to be at the 1.5-mile track Nov. 5-8, the track announced on Wednesday.

In adding the energy-absorbing barrier system, the focus is primarily on the interior walls as well as three exterior sections of the dogleg on the frontstretch of the track. The track is also adding SAFER barrier segments on the entire inside wall of the backstretch, inside entry wall in Turn 3 and the interior wall at both the entry and exit of pit road.

The project, which also includes re-painting various logos on the walls, is scheduled to be completed by Thursday.

Factoring in the track’s existing SAFER barriers, the entire inside wall of the backstretch from Turn 2 to Turn 3 will have SAFER, according to a release from the track.

This is just the first of three prioritized phases to have SAFER barriers on all interior and exterior walls of the track. The second phase, which will see 2,103 feet of SAFER barrier installed, will be completed ahead of the Duck Commander 500 NASCAR doubleheader weekend in April 2016. No details were given about the third phase at this time.

Next month, Texas Motor Speedway hosts the second race of the Eliminator Round of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, the AAA Texas 500 (Nov. 8, 2 p.m. ET, NBC, PRN, SiriusXM) as well as the NASCAR XFINITY Series O’Reilly Auto Parts Challenge (Nov. 7, 3:30 p.m. ET, NBC, PRN, SiriusXM) and the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series WinStar World Casino & Resort 350 (Nov. 6, 8:30 p.m. ET, FS1, MRN, SiriusXM).

Posted on by Staff Report

Four NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams received warnings after post-race inspections for the Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway, including the No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports team.


The No. 88 team with Dale Earnhardt Jr. received a warning for failing pre-race inspection twice.


The No. 7 Tommy Baldwin Racing team with Alex Bowman also received a warning for the same reason.

The No. 83 BK Racing team with Matt DiBenedetto received a warning for failing pre-qualifying inspection twice.


The No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing team with Ryan Blaney received a warning for the following infraction: Section 10.7.2.b.


Blaney finished seventh at Kansas, while Earnhardt Jr. was 21st, DiBenedetto was 30th and Bowman was 31st.


If any team or person accumulates six or more warnings in a six-month period from the first warning, a P2 penalty could be issued by NASCAR. P2 penalties can include point deductions, fines and suspensions that can carry over into the next season.

Posted on by Staff Report

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, NASCAR has teamed up with Chevrolet to provide four (4) scholarships worth a total of $20,000 plus an exclusive VIP trip to the NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Texas Motor Speedway in November.


The scholarship presents a unique opportunity for engineering students pursuing careers in STEM who may also have a career interest in motorsports.


Students interested in the scholarship should create a ninety (90) second video, describing a technology in NASCAR and how STEM professionals came to its design. Examples of science and technology in NASCAR include but are not limited to: track banking and construction, race car design, SAFER barrier walls, drafting, gas mileage, tire wear, ethanol fuel, and solar energy. Student videos will be judged on their creativity and technical accuracy. 


The deadline to enter is Friday, October 23, 2015. To be eligible, students must be currently enrolled at least part-time in an accredited college or university within the United States, be between the ages of 18 and 25 at time of entry and submit a YouTube video link through the scholarship website.


Four winners will be selected to receive one of four scholarships available. Each finalist and a guest will also be flown to Texas Motor Speedway for an exclusive VIP experience at a NASCAR Sprint Cup race. While there, students will be introduced to NASCAR and Chevrolet drivers, officials and executives and receive a full immersion.



Submit scholarship video here. Click here for official rules.

Posted on by Staff Report

RELATED: Buy 2016 tickets

 

NASCAR has not released the official 2016 schedule yet, but some tracks have released their race dates for next year.

The latest was Dover International Speedway, which will host its Sprint Cup races on May 15 and Oct. 2.

The list below contains dates in which tracks have confirmed they will hold NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races.

2016 Sprint Cup schedule glance

Date Event
Feb. 13 Sprint Unlimited
Feb. 18 Can-Am Duel at Daytona
Feb. 21 Daytona 500
Feb. 28 Atlanta
March 6 Las Vegas
March 13 Phoenix
March 20 Auto Club
April 9 Texas
May 15 Dover
June 5 Pocono
June 12 Michigan
July 31 Pocono
Aug. 28 Michigan
Sept. 18 Chicagoland
Oct. 2 Dover
Nov. 6 Texas

In announcing its race dates, Chicagoland Speedway also revealed it was again the opening race in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.

Texas officials said the Nov. 6 race again fell in the Eliminator Round of the postseason, a three-race stretch that again included Martinsville and Phoenix, according to the track.

 

Pocono Raceway officials said upon its schedule release that the NASCAR XFINITY Series would host a race June 4 at the Tricky Triangle. It would be the first XFINITY Series race ever at the venue.

Posted on by RJ Kraft

RELATED: Updated series standings | Chase Grid

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. — Seven spots in the Eliminator Round of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup remain up for grabs heading into Sunday’s CampingWorld.com 500 at Talladega Superspeedway (2:30 p.m. ET, NBCSN, MRN, SiriusXM). 

While there is plenty of excitement over the action that will take place and wondering who will make it through to the next round, Stewart-Haas Racing driver and co-owner Tony Stewart is not a fan of having the 2.66-mile track in the Chase.



“I have never thought it was good to have it in the Chase, especially with this format,” Stewart said following Kurt Busch‘s press conference on Wednesday at SHR to announce a co-primary sponsorship with Monster Energy. “You’ve got teams that have worked too hard all year, and two guys in front that aren’t a factor in it (the Chase) could totally dictate somebody’s season this weekend.



”I think Talladega and Daytona races are great, but I don’t know that when it comes time to individual performances, a race like this is the right race.”



The Talladega fall race is the sixth race of the Chase and the third and final race of the Contender Round. Upon the completion of the race, four drivers will be eliminated from the playoff field and eight drivers will move on to the Eliminator Round.



Entering Talladega, both of SHR’s Chase teams, Kurt Busch and defending series champion Kevin Harvick, are above the cutline to advance to the next round. But at Talladega, that can all change in one fell swoop with “The Big One,” not to mention the differing strategies that will be in play at the Alabama superspeedway.



“From a driver’s side, it’s like we’ve always said, it’s a chess match,” Stewart explained. “You are trying to figure out where to be at the right times. There’s guys that from the drop of the green to the checkered, race their guts out. And there’s guys that don’t race until 20 to go. Both systems work and don’t work at different times. The hard part is just trying … I think everybody has to sit there and go with the attitude of driving to run your race and analyze what you think is the best strategy. 


“From an owner’s side, you sit there and there’s nothing you can do about it anyway. It’s all out of your control because there’s so many — everybody else dictates everybody else’s outcome.”


Last month, the three-time champion announced the 2016 season would be his final season in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Since he did not qualify for the 2015 postseason, Stewart has turned his attention toward getting a head start on the recently announced 2016 rules package that will be similar in many ways to the low downforce setups run in July at Kentucky Speedway and in September at Darlington Raceway.

“Probably the most excited I’ve been about a rules package in a long time,” Stewart said. “It’s been going the other direction and finally, I think through a lot of people’s effort and NASCAR. … This is probably one of the coolest times to be a part of this sport as far as working with NASCAR and how much they’ve leaned on the manufacturers, Goodyear, the drivers, the team owners to make this as good as it can be. I don’t know that we’ll get all the way there in one year, but I think it’s a great, great start.”

RELATED: Learn more about the 2016 rules package

Posted on by RJ Kraft

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. — Stewart-Haas Racing announced Wednesday that Kurt Busch will return to its No. 41 Chevrolet for the 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season and has signed a multi-year contract with the team. 
 
The re-signing of a new contract includes news of a unique multi-year agreement with Monster Energy. The energy drink manufacturer will serve as a co-primary sponsor with Haas Automation. Monster Energy will have one full primary race sponsorship as well as being the alpha sponsor (hood) for 17 races and bravo sponsor (quarter panel) for 18 races.

The new sponsorship will debut next weekend at Martinsville Speedway, where Monster Energy will be the primary sponsor on the No 41 Chevrolet for the Goody’s Headache Relief Shot 500 (Nov. 1, 1:15 p.m. ET, NBCSN, MRN, SiriusXM).

“Very excited to partner up again with Stewart-Haas Racing and to announce a contract extension and to be able to have Monster Energy come onboard,” Kurt Busch said on Wednesday at the SHR headquarters. “It creates this element of championship form right from the get-go with two brands such as that and for me to have the opportunity to drive, I feel very blessed and privileged to have this opportunity.”

SHR co-owner and three-time champion Tony Stewart indicated that this sponsorship deal was largely Kurt Busch‘s doing.

“This was something that really was Kurt’s project, Kurt’s relationship and this was something that he worked really hard at getting over here,” Stewart said. “I’d love to take the credit for it but this was something that Kurt not only as a driver, he really promoted this side. He’s the one that really made this happen.”

As for the racing side of things, Stewart is glad to have the 2004 champion back in fold.

“It seems like when it comes to the race weekends, our setups are probably the closest alike,” Stewart said. “So I really lean on Kurt for information and we’ve been able to communicate so well as far as the feel of the car. He’s somebody that I really, really like and believe in as a driver. He’s the guy you can take anywhere, any track at any time and he can win a race.”

Kurt Busch was quick to point out the uniqueness of the co-primary sponsorship.

“When you have this situation that we’ve been able to produce at Stewart-Haas Racing with Gene Haas’ blessing, with Tony Stewart‘s guidance and all of the marketing team, it makes sense to have two primaries such as this,” Busch said. “To be able to enjoy the spotlight, leading laps, sitting on poles and going to Victory Lane. To me, it ties the two brands together with this synergy that is very powerful.”

Mitch Covington, vice president of sports marketing for Monster Energy, said that the sharing of the car is what attracted Monster Energy to sign up for this deal with Kurt Busch.

“That’s a real exciting part for us,” Covington said. “Haas Automation was willing to share the season and share the car. We are pretty much partners in the team for the whole season. …

“We didn’t want to come in and just do four or five races and then have some other sponsor run that clashes with our brand or doesn’t fit with our brand for some of the other races. This way we know who is going to be on the car every week. It’s our partners and it’s almost like having a full Cup season.”

Kurt Busch, 37, joined the Stewart-Haas organization in 2014. He has scored three victories for SHR and has qualified for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup playoffs in each of his two seasons in the No. 41 ride.

The energy drink has also backed the efforts of brother Kyle Busch in the NASCAR XFINITY Series. Monster had been an associate sponsor for Kurt Busch‘s in the Sprint Cup Series, and has been the primary sponsor of both brothers in the XFINITY tour since 2012. Monster Energy has served as the primary sponsor for the No. 54 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing in the XFINITY Series this season.

Covington indicated that “anything is possible” regarding the company’s relationship with Joe Gibbs Racing.
 
Kurt Busch was the lone remaining variable among the four drivers currently on the organization’s roster, following Danica Patrick in re-upping with team co-owners Tony Stewart and Gene Haas. At the Aug. 18 announcement for Patrick and new sponsor Nature’s Bakery, Stewart had indicated that a deal with the 2004 premier-series champion was imminent.
 
The contract extension comes as Kurt Busch remains alive in his second straight appearance in the Chase postseason. He qualified for the playoffs in his first season with SHR, converting a Martinsville Speedway victory in his sixth race in the No. 41 into a Chase berth. Busch was knocked from championship eligibility after the first three-race round of eliminations.
 
NASCAR suspended the driver for the first three races of the 2015 season after a Delaware family court released its findings related to an investigation of domestic violence involving Kurt Busch. Since his return to the Sprint Cup Series, Kurt Busch has collected two victories (Richmond, Michigan) and three Coors Light Pole Awards in his first full season paired with veteran crew chief Tony Gibson.
 
Kurt Busch has notched three top-10 finishes in the five Chase races thus far, propelling him past the first series of eliminations. He enters Sunday’s CampingWorld.com 500 (2:30 p.m. ET, NBCSN, MRN, SiriusXM) at Talladega Superspeedway ranked third among the 12 drivers still in contention for the Sprint Cup championship.

“To me, its a dream come true to have this opportunity,” Kurt Busch said. “There’s been a lot that I’ve accomplished here at Stewart-Haas in a short amount of time but there’s so much more ahead of us in the future.” 

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After the fifth race of the 2015 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Kansas Speedway, PitTalks.com ranks the 12 remaining Chase teams’ pit crews. For more pit crew news provided by PitTalks.com come back throughout the Chase.

No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota pit crew for Carl Edwards
Rank: 1
Wins: 2-Charlotte and Darlington
Notes: Another solid day by the No. 19 crew and good enough to retain the No. 1 spot. Not their best race in the Chase but still very fast. This makes two weeks in a row at the top.

No. 22 Team Penske Ford pit crew for Joey Logano
Rank: 2
Wins: 5-Daytona, Watkins Glen, Bristol, Charlotte, Kansas
Notes: Just like the No. 19, the No. 22 had another solid day on pit road. Not their best effort of the Chase but good enough to keep their driver up front and win their second race in a row.

No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota pit crew for Kyle Busch
Rank: 3
Wins: 4-Sonoma, Kentucky, New Hampshire, Indy
Notes: A great day on pit road by these guys. Probably their best effort in the first five races of the Chase and no doubt it helped keep the No. 18 up front all day. They came home with a top five, and these guys were a big part.

No. 41 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet pit crew for Kurt Busch
Rank: 4
Wins: 2-Richmond and Michigan
Notes: This week the No. 41 moved up a spot from fifth to fourth but could have been more with a little bit better day. By no means a bad day, but these guys have been as high as No. 1, and Sunday’s performance was good but not great.

No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota pit crew for Denny Hamlin
Rank: 5
Wins: 2-Martinsville, Sprint All-Star Race, Chicago
Notes: The No. 11 seemed to be doing a lot of adjustments during stops Sunday but managed to do them well. They finished second, but overall stop speed was not what we are used to seeing from this group.

No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet pit crew for Kevin Harvick
Rank: 6
Wins: 3-Las Vegas, Phoenix, Dover
Notes: As far as pure speed of pit stops, no one was faster than the No. 4 car Sunday. They would have been an easy top-two rank if not for their late-race penalty. Having a gas can leave the pit box late in race hurt their finish, but expect this team to be back in full swing next week.

No. 2 Team Penske Ford pit crew for Brad Keselowski
Rank: 7
Wins: 1-California
Notes: This crew continues to get better each week. Since the beginning of the Chase they have moved up three spots, and with continued consistency they could find themselves in the top five in a few weeks.

No. 31 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet pit crew for Ryan Newman
Rank: 8
Wins: 0
Notes: The No. 31 pit crew had some of the fastest stops Sunday in Kansas. These are the stops we are used to seeing by this group. They move up two spots. Time to back it up next week.

No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota pit crew for Matt Kenseth
Rank: 9
Wins: 5-Bristol, Pocono, Michigan, Richmond, Loudon
Notes: Not a great race by the No. 20, but the crew did nothing to hurt their chances of winning. They kept their driver out front all day and put him in position to win. Their stops have been faster but still a good day.

No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet pit crew for Jeff Gordon
Rank: 10
Wins: 0
Notes: Not sure the reason but the No. 24 didn’t seem that quick this week on pit road. The addition of a new changer a few weeks ago still takes time to get used to. Still waiting to see the quick stops we know they can make.

No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet pit crew for Martin Truex Jr.
Rank: 11
Wins: 1-Pocono
Notes: Stops were OK, but a penalty for an uncontrollable tire was costly. Still looking for this crew to perform like it did last week on a more consistent basis.

No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet pit crew for Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Rank: 12
Wins: 2-Talladega, Daytona
Notes: Stops were OK for most of the race, but pitting under green for a vibration really hurt the No. 88. The snowball effect is full steam ahead with this group, and they need to find a way to stop it.

For more pit crew news, visit PitTalks.com