Posted on by Staff Report

Truex on Ragan: ‘He’s probably got one coming’

RELATED: Full race results | Updated series standings

Martin Truex Jr.’s run at Sonoma Raceway came to a sudden halt Sunday afternoon in the Toyota/Save Mart 350.

Truex made contact with David Ragan on Lap 28 and wrecked in Turn 7, going into a tire barrier on the course.

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Truex went three rows deep into the tire barrier and his No. 78 Chevrolet was towed to the garage. The incident brought out the red flag as track workers repaired the fence.

"Definitely a tough day," Truex Jr. said after being released from the infield care center. " … When you start around 20th on those restarts, it’s just a recipe for disaster. I was trying to be aggressive, made some moves. Had a couple cars passed and then the lane that I was in jammed up and the guys that I passed got back behind me.
 
"You just get frustrated, you lose patience. I got into the 55’s (Ragan’s) door a little bit in Turn 7 and I guess he didn’t like it and he figured he’d just dump me. He’s probably got one coming, but other than that, it’s just part of the restart deal and hate that I got my guys’ car torn up."

Truex finished 42nd. A winner in 2013 at the 1.99-mile road course, Truex started the race in 12th position but would finish in 42nd-place, his worst result of the season. After a top-10 effort at Michigan on June 14, he became the first driver since Richard Petty in 1969 to have 14 top-10 finishes in the first 15 races of a season.

Ragan would later exit the race after wrecking with Carl Edwards on Lap 78 and finished 39th.

"With Martin, he just flat-out door-slammed me and ran me completely off the race track," Ragan said after a wreck later in the race sidelined his No. 55 Toyota. "I had all four tires in the gravel and again, I’m just trying to blend back on the race track and he was right there. So Martin just made a mistake and he paid the price for it."

— NASCAR.com’s Zack Albert contributed to this report

Posted on by Staff Report

Get on-track times for everything at Daytona

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and NASCAR XFINITY Series will race at Daytona International Speedway and you can watch every practice, qualifying session and race on NBC Sports Live Extra, http://nascarstream.nbcsports.com. The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series is off this weekend. Check out the full schedule below.

 

All times are ET

SUNDAY, JULY 5:

ON TRACK
— 11 p.m. ET: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coke Zero 400 Powered by Coca-Cola (160 laps, 400 miles), NBC (Get results)

PRESS CONFERENCES (Watch live)
— 5 p.m.: Clint Bowyer
— 2 a.m.: Post-race NSCS press conference

FRIDAY, JULY 3:

ON TRACK
— 2-2:55 p.m. NASCAR XFINITY Series practice, NBC Sports Network (Get results)
— 3-3:55 p.m.: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice, NBC Sports Network (Get results)
— 4-4:55 p.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series final practice, NBC Sports Network (Get results)
— 5-5:55 p.m.: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series final practice, NBC Sports Network (Get results)

GARAGECAM (Watch live)
— 1:30 p.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series
— 2:30 p.m.: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series

PRESS CONFERENCES (Watch live)
— 12:45 p.m.: Aric Almirola
— 1 p.m.: Kyle Larson
— 1:15 p.m.: Chris Buescher
— 1:30 p.m.: Daytona Rising Update

SATURDAY, JULY 4:

ON TRACK
— 2:35 p.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying, NBC Sports Network (Get results)
— 4:35 p.m.: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying, NBC Sports Network (Get results)
— 7:30 p.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series Subway Firecracker 250 (100 laps, 250 miles), NBC Sports Network (Get results)

PRESS CONFERENCES (Watch live)
— 2 p.m.: NASCAR Hall of Fame Squier-Hall Award announcement
— 3:45 p.m.: Kyle Busch
— 5:45 p.m.: Post-qualifying NSCS press conference 
— 9:45 p.m.: Post-race NXS press conference

 

 

 

Posted on by Staff Report

Get full lineup of NASCAR programming for the week

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

All times ET

Monday, June 29
7 a.m., NASCAR America: Scan All 43 Special 2015 (re-air), NBC Sports Network
7:30 a.m., NASCAR America: Scan All 43 Special 2015 (re-air), NBC Sports Network
8 a.m., NASCAR America: States of NASCAR #5 (re-air), NBC Sports Network
8:30 a.m., NASCAR America: States of NASCAR #6 (re-air), NBC Sports Network
10 a.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Toyota/Save Mart 350 (re-air), FOX Sports 1
5 p.m., NASCAR America, NBC Sports Network
6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FOX Sports 1
6 p.m., NASCAR America: Scan All 43 Special (re-air), NBC Sports Network
6:30 p.m., NASCAR America: Scan All 43 Special (re-air), NBC Sports Network
7 p.m., Classic NASCAR: 2004 Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway (tape), NBC Sports Network
9 p.m., Classic NASCAR: 2003 Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway (tape), NBC Sports Network
11 p.m., NASCAR America: States of NASCAR #5 (re-air), NBC Sports Network
11:30 p.m., NASCAR America: States of NASCAR #6 (re-air), NBC Sports Network
2 a.m., NASCAR Race Hub (re-air), FOX Sports 2

Tuesday, June 30
7 a.m., NASCAR America (re-air), NBC Sports Network
8 a.m., NASCAR America (re-air), NBC Sports Network
5 p.m., NASCAR America, NBC Sports Network
5:30 p.m., NASCAR America: Scan All 43 Special (re-air), NBC Sports Network
6 p.m., NASCAR America: Scan All 43 Special (re-air), NBC Sports Network
6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FOX Sports 1
7 p.m., Classic NASCAR: 2002 Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (tape), NBC Sports Network
9 p.m., Classic NASCAR: 2005 Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (tape), NBC Sports Network
11 p.m., Bill Elliott Special (re-air), NBC Sports Network
11:30 p.m., NASCAR America: States of NASCAR #5 (re-air), NBC Sports Network
2 a.m., NASCAR Race Hub (re-air), FOX Sports 2

Wednesday, July 1
7 a.m., NASCAR America (re-air), NBC Sports Network
7:30 a.m., NASCAR America (re-air), NBC Sports Network
8 a.m., NASCAR America (re-air), NBC Sports Network
8:30 a.m., NASCAR America (re-air), NBC Sports Network
4 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FOX Sports 1
5 p.m., NASCAR America, NBC Sports Network
5:30 p.m., NASCAR America: Scan All 43 Special (re-air), NBC Sports Network
6 p.m., NASCAR K&N Series West: Sonoma Raceway (tape), NBC Sports Network
7 p.m., Classic NASCAR: 2005 Subway 500 at Martinsville Speedway (tape), NBC Sports Network
9 p.m., Classic NASCAR: 2004 Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (tape), NBC Sports Network
11 p.m., NASCAR K&N Series West: Sonoma Raceway (re-air), NBC Sports Network
Midnight, NASCAR America: States of NASCAR #5 (re-air), NBC Sports Network
12:30 a.m., NASCAR America: States of NASCAR #6 (re-air), NBC Sports Network

Thursday, July 2
7 a.m., NASCAR America (re-air), NBC Sports Network
7:30 a.m., NASCAR America (re-air), NBC Sports Network
8 a.m., NASCAR America (re-air), NBC Sports Network
8:30 a.m., NASCAR America (re-air), NBC Sports Network
5 p.m., NASCAR America, NBC Sports Network
5:30 p.m., NASCAR America: States of NASCAR #6 (re-air), NBC Sports Network
6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FOX Sports 1
6 p.m., NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour: Riverhead Raceway (tape), NBC Sports Network
7 p.m., Classic NASCAR: 2001 Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway (tape), NBC Sports Network
9 p.m., Classic NASCAR: 2004 Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway (tape), NBC Sports Network
11 p.m., NASCAR K&N Series East: Riverhead Raceway (re-air), NBC Sports Network

Friday, July 3
7 a.m., NASCAR America (re-air), NBC Sports Network
7:30 a.m., NASCAR America (re-air), NBC Sports Network
8 a.m., NASCAR America (re-air), NBC Sports Network
8:30 a.m., NASCAR America (re-air), NBC Sports Network
10:30 a.m., NASCAR America: Scan All 43 Special 2015 (re-air), NBC Sports Network
11 a.m., NASCAR America: Scan All 43 Special 2015 (re-air), NBC Sports Network
11:30 a.m., NASCAR America: Scan All 43 Special 2015 (re-air), NBC Sports Network
Noon, NASCAR America: Scan All 43 Special 2015 (re-air), NBC Sports Network
12:30 p.m., NASCAR America: States of NASCAR #5 (re-air), NBC Sports Network
1:30 p.m., NASCAR America, NBC Sports Network
2 p.m., NASCAR XFINITY Series practice, NBC Sports Network
3 p.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice, NBC Sports Network
4 p.m., NASCAR XFINITY Series final practice, NBC Sports Network
5 p.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series final practice, NBC Sports Network
6 p.m., NASCAR America, NBC Sports Network
7 p.m., Off the Grid: Daytona, NBC Sports Network
7:30 p.m., /Drive on NBC Sports: American Speed, NBC Sports Network
8 p.m., NASCAR XFINITY Series practice (re-air), NBC Sports Network
9 p.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice (re-air), NBC Sports Network
11 p.m., NASCAR XFINITY Series final practice (re-air), NBC Sports Network
Midnight, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series final practice (re-air), NBC Sports Network
1 a.m., Off the Grid: Daytona (re-air), NBC Sports Network

Saturday, July 4
2 p.m., Off the Grid: Daytona (re-air), NBC Sports Network
2:30 p.m., NASCAR XFINITY Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying, NBC Sports Network
4:30 p.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying, NBC Sports Network
6:30 p.m., NASCAR America, NBC Sports Network
7 p.m., NASCAR XFINITY Series Countdown to Green, NBC Sports Network
7:30 p.m., NASCAR XFINITY Series Subway Firecracker 250 Powered by Coca-Cola, NBC Sports Network
10 p.m., Off the Grid: Daytona (re-air), NBC Sports Network
10:30 p.m., /Drive on NBC Sports: American Speed (re-air), NBC Sports Network

Sunday, July 5
6 a.m., Off the Grid: Daytona (re-air), NBC Sports Network
6:30 a.m., /Drive on NBC Sports: American Speed (re-air), NBC Sports Network
10 a.m., Contintental Tire SportsCar Challenge, Watkins Glen (tape), FOX Sports 1
1 p.m., TUDOR United SportsCar Championship, Watkins Glen (re-air), FOX Sports 1
3:30 p.m., NASCAR RaceDay, FOX Sports 1
4 p.m., Chasing 43, NBC Sports Network
5 p.m., NASCAR America Sunday, NBC Sports Network
7 p.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series: Countdown to Green, NBC
7:45 p.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coke Zero 400 Powered by Coca-Cola, NBC
11 p.m., NASCAR Victory Lap, NBC Sports Network
12:30 a.m., NASCAR Victory Lane, FOX Sports 1

 

Posted on by Zack Albert

No. 83 Toyota gets into mess with a clean-up truck during caution

RELATED: Full race results | Updated series standings

SONOMA, Calif. — With all the rough-and-tumble action typically associated with NASCAR competition on road courses, Sprint Cup Series drivers have come to expect at least a little beating and banging over the flow of an afternoon. On Sunday for Matt DiBenedetto, the contact at Sonoma Raceway came from a least expected source.

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A late-race collision with a clean-up truck on pit road looped DiBenedetto’s No. 83 Toyota around during the final caution period in the Toyota/Save Mart 350, igniting a string of disbelieving communications over the BK Racing team radio. With his car righted, DiBenedetto rallied to regain seven spots he lost in the spin to secure 29th in the final order.

After the race, the former NASCAR Next driver could only shrug and laugh about the turn of events.

"On that last pit stop, we’d come in and it was a mess to start with, with the clean-up truck and everybody in the way, but that truck was going slow enough to where I could go around him. Then as I was going around him, he sped up," DiBenedetto said. "Got on the gas right as when I’m coming around him and cleaned us out. I guess he wasn’t just paying attention or didn’t see us — not sure exactly why. I mean, it cost us quite a few spots, but then we drove back as far as we could. … It didn’t really hurt us much other than maybe a spot, but definitely pretty funny. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that before."

If there was such a thing as a Hippocratic Oath among safety vehicles, the fender-bender seemed to break the bond. It was also a suitably zany capper to a road-course race that served up a little bit of everything.

"Of all people to get wrecked by, no race car," DiBenedetto said.

Posted on by Zack Albert

No. 48 Chevrolet finishes sixth after caution foils strategy

RELATED: Full race results | Updated series standings

SONOMA, Calif. — Jimmie Johnson‘s bid for just his second-ever victory on a road course seemed to be gaining traction in the late stages Sunday at Sonoma Raceway. The team’s slightly different pit strategy and his track position up front were in alignment, all until a late yellow flag altered the plan.

From there, the traction went away, both for the Hendrick Motorsports driver’s momentum and from his much older Goodyear tires.

FULL SERIES COVERAGE

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Johnson stayed on the race track during the race’s final caution period, temporarily keeping the lead but eventually fading to sixth place after Sunday’s Toyota/Save Mart 350. Johnson held off his challengers for part of the seven-lap dash to the finish, but surrendered the lead to eventual race winner Kyle Busch on Lap 106 of 110.

After crew chief Chad Knaus opted to leave the No. 48 Chevrolet out while the majority of drivers behind him pitted, Johnson wondered over the team radio whether he was a sitting duck for the final shootout.

"I kind of thought so," said Johnson, who led a race-high 45 laps. "Looked like so many guys came to pit road, but then there were more that stayed out. I was just surprised how fast they got through traffic and got to my bumper. Tires were definitely the call, but we had a strategy that we were going to stick to and one caution away from working it just right."

Just four other drivers remained on the track to set up for the final restart, putting Clint Bowyer sixth and Busch seventh as the foremost drivers on fresh tires. When Bowyer’s progress was halted somewhat by contact with Matt Kenseth on the frenzied restart, it opened the door for Busch to close on Johnson, who grasped the lead as long as he could before finally giving way 

Despite the outcome, Knaus said the strategy call was a simple one to make.

"The decision was easy," Knaus said. "If I had to do it again, I’d do it again. … The decisions are made behind us. I did what I wanted to do."

Johnson’s pit stop on Lap 67 essentially cut the race into two more green-flag runs for the No. 48 team, a strategy that unraveled when the late-race caution flew for Casey Mears‘ rear axle failure. Johnson may have missed out on the traditional Victory Lane goblet of wine, but wasn’t necessarily questioning either the performance or the team’s game plan.

"Road course races are just so hard to get right," Johnson said. "They’re just so inconsistent. Strategy and when to pit, when not to pit, track position, how many cars pit — all that pays such dividends on the race track. I really feel like we did the right strategy. If we came back and raced again tomorrow, we’d run the same strategy."

Posted on by Nascar

No. 41 Stewart-Haas Racing driver talks team chemistry post-Sonoma

RELATED: Full race results | Updated series standings

SONOMA, Calif. — Kurt Busch finished second to younger brother Kyle for the first time in a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race Sunday at Sonoma Raceway.

Both have been competing in the series full-time since 2005. Both have won plenty of races. Never had they finished 1-2, until now.

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The elder Busch (Kurt will be seven years older upon his birthday in August) wasn’t complaining following the Toyota/SaveMart 350, but if he’d had his druthers … 

"Now I wish I could have gotten up there and moved him," Kurt said, grinning. 

"I was trying to think if we’ve ever finished 1-2, and we did it today. That’s a pretty special moment. I’ve got over 500 starts. I know he’s over 300. Can you imagine, 800 starts between the two of us, we almost have 30 wins each, and that’s the first time we’ve ever finished 1-2."

Kurt nearly led the most laps in the 110-lap race, the 16th of 36 points races this season, sitting out front for 43 circuits. Only Jimmie Johnson led more, pacing the field for 45.

Kurt led under green for the final time from laps 67 through 74; he was 15th on a restart with 32 laps remaining after pitting when many others stayed out. 

One by one, he picked his way through the field, the run briefly delayed by an off-track excursion moments after he passed Joey Logano (Team Penske) for fourth with 15 laps remaining.

"I’ve lost all rear grip," Busch told his crew. 

He’d also picked up a noticeable amount of debris on the front of his Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet as well. When the caution flew moments later, coming to pit road was a no-brainer, said crew chief Tony Gibson. 

"We had a tire going down, a left rear tire that was going flat so it actually turned out good," Gibson said. "If we hadn’t pitted that last time there, I feel like we would have been in bad shape. So it actually worked out to our benefit to pit.

"We just needed to be about two cars up further on that restart." 

The final caution saw several drivers hit pit road; Johnson chose to stay out, as did a few others. Busch was ninth on the restart.

He passed Clint Bowyer for second with one lap remaining. His brother wasn’t long gone, but gone just the same.

"We had a fast car; I think we had the car to win for sure," Gibson said. "There at the end I knew those guys would get swallowed up on old tires. You saw that last year here with 10 to go when (Dale Earnhardt) Junior and those guys pitted and drove right back up through there.

"We lost a couple of spots getting on pit road … which probably made the difference and the 15 (Bowyer) held us up a little bit there. But at the end of the day we led a lot of laps, it was an awesome race car and the guys did a great job." 

Busch was suspended for the season’s first three races, but has won twice (at Richmond and Michigan) since returning. He’s 10th in points and assured of being on of this year’s 16 drivers competing in the Chase for the Sprint Cup.

"We almost could have had as many race wins as we had races we were under suspension, so there’s so many things that have gone into place for us to be successful," Busch said. "And the number one thing is Tony Gibson. He builds great race cars, and it’s a pleasure to drive for him, and I love the team camaraderie. 

"I haven’t had this type of team chemistry since my championship year (2004). It feels good to have that."

Posted on by Nascar

McMurray, Truex Jr., Gordon and Johnson affected at Sonoma

SONOMA, Calif. – Tire issues affecting at least four NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams during Sunday’s Toyota/SaveMart 350 were the result of the soft compound and harsh race conditions, according to Goodyear.

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• Standings
• Schedule

The teams of Jamie McMurray (Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates), Martin Truex Jr. (Furniture Row Racing), Jeff Gordon (Hendrick Motorsports) and Jimmie Johnson (Hendrick) saw unusual tire wear after early pit stops in the 110-lap race.
 
According to a Goodyear spokesperson, the tire being used for Sunday’s race was on the softest end of the range of compounds. Compared to what was used previously at Sonoma, this tire featured increased thickness for improved wear, however some tires were showing signs of tearing.
 
Individual set-ups by the teams were not considered factors in the unusual wear.

 

Posted on by Nascar

Read the notes NASCAR provides during the drivers’ meeting

Play: NASCAR Fantasy Live

NASCAR SPECIAL AWARDS

Award Driver
Coors Light Pole Award AJ Allmendinger
3M Lap Leader Kevin Harvick
Duralast Brakes "Brake in the Race" Award Carl Edwards
Freescale "Wide Open" Award Kurt Busch
Ingersoll Rand Power Mover Award Jamie McMurray
American Ethanol "Green Flag Restart" Award Carl Edwards
Mahle Engine Builder of the Race Award Kurt Busch
Mobil 1 Command Performance Driver of the Race Award Kurt Busch
Moog Chassis Parts Problem Solver of the Race Award Paul Menard
Sherwin-Williams Fastest Lap Award Carl Edwards
Sunoco Rookie of the Race Award Brett Moffitt

RACE TIME

Event Time (ET)
Driver Introductions 2:25 p.m.
Pre-race prep: Tires, interior & remove generators 2:40 p.m.
Line up crews — facing the flag 2:59 p.m.
Invocation 3 p.m.
National Anthem 3:01 p.m.
Command to start engines 3:08 p.m.

SPECIAL INFORMATION

Number of Laps 110 laps
Pit Road Speed 40 mph
Caution Car Speed 45 mph
Pit Road Speed Begins 145 feet before the first pit box
Pit Road Speed Ends 80 feet past the last pit box
Minimum Speed 85.66 seconds
Exiting the Pits (Blend Line) Stay to driver’s left until you pass the bridge
Fuel Pit Stalls 1-43 Sunoco pumps
Post-Race 2-5 in pit stalls 17-22
All Others/Two crew members per car Double-file near yellow line, across from pit stall 23

NEXT RACE

Event Track/Day/Time (ET)
Next week Daytona International Speedway
Hauler parking 6 p.m. ET, Thursday, July 2
Garage opens 9 a.m. ET, Friday, July 3
First practice 3 p.m. ET, Friday, July 3

EXITING PIT ROAD, THE LAST PIT ROAD SPEED SEGMENT IS SHORT IN DISTANCE
ODD # STARTING/RESTARTING POSITIONS WILL BE IN THE DRIVER’S RIGHT LANE (3RD, 5Th, 7TH, etc.)
ONE TO GO WILL GIVEN AT TURN 7, YOU’LL BE COMING TO THE GREEN
WAVE-AROUND CARS RELEASED AT TURN 7 (PASS THE CAUTION CAR TO THE LEFT)

Posted on by Nascar

New rule starts at Sonoma, will apply to all three national series

RELATED: Confusion about pit-road opening at Chicagoland

SONOMA, Calif. – NASCAR officials in race control will now be in control of the indicator light at the entrance to pit road beginning with today’s Toyota/SaveMart 350 at Sonoma Raceway.


FULL SERIES COVERAGE

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The light and flags, previously both controlled by a NASCAR official at the opening of pit road, indicate whether pit road is open or closed at various points during a race.

An issue with that system last weekend at Chicago during an NASCAR XFINITY Series event resulted in 19 drivers pitting under caution before pit road was officially open – because most had heard on the radio officials in the tower announce pit road was open.

Teams often make the decision to pit based on information coming from officials in the scoring tower, and the message from the tower was that pit road was open. The official stationed at the pit road opening was displaying a red flag, and the indicator light at the entrance was still red, however, both signifying that pit road was still officially closed.

The penalty for pitting too soon under caution is restarting the race at the tail end of the field. Under green-flag conditions, drivers would have to serve a pass-through penalty by returning to pit road a second time.

"When you looked at it, the tower did come over the radio and say pit road was open," Steve O’Donnell, Vice President of Competition and Racing Development for NASCAR, told SiriusXM NASCAR Radio on Monday. "But if you go back to the driver’s meeting, what we say in every driver’s meeting is that the light and the flag are what dictates whether its open or not.

"The person at the opening did not hear the radio communication so the red flag and the light were still on. And in that case if anyone comes down pit road, when it’s technically closed via the light or the flag, they’ll receive a penalty for pitting too soon."

According to one NASCAR official, if for some reason the light and the flag displayed by the official don’t match, the flag displayed by the official will indicate the official status of pit road at that time.

The change takes effect today and will be in place for all three national series – Sprint Cup, XFINITY and Camping World Truck Series.