David Ragan unsure of future at MWR

Posted on July 29, 2015 by Nascar

Interim driver hoping to continue in No. 55 ride

RELATED: Toyota not sure what MWR will do

BRISTOL, Tenn. — David Ragan, 10 starts into his role as driver of the Michael Waltrip Racing No. 55 Toyota, said he’s yet to speak with MWR officials, or anyone else, about his future role with the organization.

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Ragan joined MWR earlier this season after a nine-race stint with Joe Gibbs Racing as interim driver for the No. 18 team of Kyle Busch. His first start of the year, the Daytona 500 in February, came with Front Row Motorsports.

"I haven’t talked about next year with anybody for anything," Ragan said before the start of an open test on Wednesday at Bristol Motor Speedway. "In regards to some of the rumors that are out there, I’ve read just like everybody else has online, but all I can do is the best I can do week in and week out and hopefully everything will take care of themselves."

Ragan qualified third for the second consecutive race this past weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It was his fourth top-10 start in the past five races. However, he has only two finishes inside the top 15 since joining the team in a relief role for driver Brian Vickers, who remains sidelined due to medical issues.

Aaron’s, a long-time MWR sponsor and currently the primary sponsor for the No. 55 entry, has yet to announce its plans beyond the 2015 season.

In addition to the No. 55, MWR also fields the No. 15 Sprint Cup entry with driver Clint Bowyer. Sponsorship is provided by 5-hour ENERGY and both Bowyer and the sponsor are in the first year of multi-year agreements with the organization.

Ragan, 29, is a two-time winner in the Sprint Cup Series. His first win came in July of 2011 at Daytona with Roush Fenway Racing. In 2013, he put Front Row Motorsports in Victory Lane for the first time when he won at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway.

MWR is said to be considering a split from Toyota, which has provided engines and technical support to the organization since the automaker moved into Sprint Cup in 2007.

Dave Wilson, President & General Manager, Toyota Racing Development, USA, told NASCAR.com that he did not know if the relationship with MWR would continue beyond 2015.

In the meantime, Ragan said he would like to remain at MWR going forward if that is an option.

"I like everyone at MWR and the Aaron’s folks have been great to work with," he said. "We’ve got a good thing going … hopefully we can keep it going. That’d be fun."

Posted on July 28, 2015 by Holly Cain

No. 18 team is clicking, winning four of last five races

Two days after a dramatic and dazzling victory at Indianapolis Motor Speedway — his third consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup win and fourth in five weeks — Kyle Busch still sounded awed and amazed.

The 30-year-old confessed Tuesday in a national teleconference with reporters that there was a time when he thought his season was over before it started and insisted the guiding force in his recent historic high performance was as much because of the people around him — doctors, his wife Samantha and crew chief Adam Stevens — as it was something he’s been doing differently.

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"It was a natural reaction initially," Busch conceded, thinking he wouldn’t race again in 2015 after suffering serious injuries — broken leg and foot — in the Feb. 21 season-opening XFINITY Series race at Daytona International Speedway.

"Fortunately, everything came to plan actually quicker than we all anticipated, and for me, once I started listening to doctors and understanding what all was going on and what all I was going to go through, I realized, ‘OK, I’m going to be back this year.’ "
"They didn’t want to rush me coming back too soon and take a chance of reinjuring something. We made the right decisions. I think everything just kind of came together and fell nicely."

And that’s the understatement of the season.

Busch said he will be having further offseason surgery to have plates taken out of his left foot and screws removed from his right leg. And if he responds to that surgery and recovery like he has this season, the competition should be very worried.

The Joe Gibbs Racing driver is on a rare and impressive run that seldom happens in NASCAR’s most competitive ranks. After missing the first 11 races of the season, Busch has won four times in the nine events he’s started.

By winning Sunday’s Brickyard 400 — the first victory ever for Toyota in the race — Busch cut a 58-point deficit to 30th place in the standings to 23 points with six races remaining to decide the 16-driver Chase for the Sprint Cup playoff field.

When Busch received a Chase eligibility waiver from NASCAR upon his return, it came with two conditions: that he win a race and be ranked among the top 30 in the drivers standings. When Busch returned to competition in May, he was 179 points behind then 30th place driver Tony Stewart. He’s made up 156 points in nine races.

Asked on Tuesday if he credits his current win streak and ability to overcome the setbacks to a more mature mentality or extra motivation, the new father Busch had a much simpler answer: people.

"I think I would point more so towards the relationship with Adam Stevens and myself," Busch said thoughtfully.

"There was never a time and there was never a weekend that we weren’t able to speak to one another (when Busch was recovering from injury).

"I think that really helps fortify a relationship as much as we could without me being in the race. Then since I’ve been in the car, just trusting what he’s doing and giving him all the feedback I possibly can and letting him go to work.

"He’s done a really good job — the whole team (has) of everything that they’ve put together for me.

"Maybe it was a little bit of other stuff, too, studying the racing and seeing what was going on and being hungry for it and wanting it and knowing that this is what I want to do. I don’t have anything else in life that interests me as much as driving race cars."

The result has been nothing short of amazing — to watch, to cheer, to chronicle and understandably to take part in.

"I definitely think the whole company is really jacked up," Busch said. "Everybody at Joe Gibbs Racing feels everything going and coming together as a whole. Even my teammates, we went to lunch the other day and everybody is just kind of gelling and happy.

"Everyone is smiling and they’re happy for me and the success that we’ve had at the 18-car but also the success that the company is starting to put together as well with a bunch of us finishing in the top 10 each and every week.

"It’s a lot of hard work, a lot of dedication. Adam Stevens and his group of guys on the 18 have really come together and come full circle. It actually started out real tough with them and they were down in the dumps maybe and really weren’t sure what was going to happen or who the driver was going to be week-to-week. But Matt Crafton, David Ragan and Erik Jones did a fantastic job filling in for me. And once I’ve gotten back maybe it took a couple weeks to kind of knock the rust off a little bit, but since then it seems like we’re running on all eight cylinders and just have done a fantastic job being able to get our M&Ms Crispy as well as our Skittles Camry into Victory Lane."

Posted on July 28, 2015 by Staff Report

Single-car team to debut at Iowa Speedway this weekend

RELATED: Get more NASCAR K&N Pro Series East coverage with Home Tracks

NASCAR XFINITY Series drivers Eric McClure and Hal Martin announced Tuesday that they have joined forces to field a single-car team for developmental drivers in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East.

Martin-McClure Racing is scheduled to debut with Chad Finchum at the wheel of the No. 39 entry this weekend at Iowa Speedway, which plays host to Friday’s #ThanksKenny 150, a combination race for the K&N Pro Series’ East and West tours.

"This team is something Eric and I have discussed in great depth over the past few months and the timing is right for us to enter competition and lay the foundation for an organization that will meet the long-term goals we’ve laid out," Martin said in a release provided by the team. "It’s an opportunity for us to give back to the sport we love, while providing a competitive and professional environment for young drivers as they transition from their respective backgrounds to the NASCAR national series."

Finchum, 20, has 10 K&N starts spread over a part-time schedule since 2011. He also claimed two track championships (at Kingsport Speedway in Tennessee and Lonesome Pine Raceway in Virginia) in NASCAR Whelen All-American Series competition last season.

"Since I started driving go-karts at age 6, I’ve always wanted to compete as a driver in the top levels of NASCAR," Finchum said. "This is a step forward in achieving that goal. It’s hard to put into words what this opportunity means to me, but I think competing for MMR is a great fit. I’ve never been to Iowa Speedway, but I’m looking forward to getting there and getting on track."

The Martin-McClure team also plans to compete in the season-ending race for the K&N East Series on Oct. 2 at Dover International Speedway.

McClure, 36, currently ranks 20th in the NASCAR XFINITY Series driver standings. Martin, 29, competed in 17 XFINITY events from 2012-14.

Posted on July 28, 2015 by Staff Report

TRD president: ‘Not sure what Michael Waltrip Racing is going to do’

With four victories in the last five races, thanks to Kyle Busch, and Busch’s Joe Gibbs Racing teammates also holding wins that practically put them into the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, Toyota is on a roll. David Wilson, president of Toyota Racing Development, told SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Tuesday that the manufacturer has its sights set on more teams making the 2015 Chase while also looking ahead to its 2016 lineup.

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Wilson compared Toyota’s comeback to JGR’s own, saying the seeds for 2015 success were sown during one of its worst seasons since joining the Sprint Cup Series in 2007.

"2014 was one of our worst years since we came into the sport, into the Sprint Cup Series and certainly one of Joe Gibbs Racing‘s worst years," Wilson said. "But we started that turnaround last summer literally. That was when we got the big wake-up call. We just missed it on this no ride-height rule. Our engines were a little bit off, and we buckled down.

"Really the turnaround started, I trace it to Chicago of last year, almost a full year ago where our performance gradually started getting better. We were able to get the three Joe Gibbs Racing drivers into the Chase. Denny nearly won the championship at Miami, but that was, to be fair, more to do with the format of the Chase."

Last Sunday, the manufacturer earned its first Brickyard 400 win, the last of the 23 premier series circuits where it hadn’t won a race. Rather than resting on its laurels, Toyota is looking to add more cars to NASCAR’s playoffs. If Busch moves into the top 30 in points, a quarter of the field will be driving Camrys, but Wilson is shooting for closer to half of the 16 drivers.

"I’ve said as one of three manufacturers that statistically we need to load that funnel at Chicago, arguably with five, six, seven Toyotas," Wilson.

Michael Waltrip Racing with Clint Bowyer‘s No. 15 team and David Ragan‘s No. 55 are the manufacturer’s two highest-ranked drivers without wins, sitting 15th and 24th respectively in the standings. Based on points, the No. 15 driver is currently in the provisional Chase Grid, but if Busch makes the top 30, Bowyer will be bounced without a win.

As the manufacturer attempts to add those MWR teams to this year’s Chase, Wilson wasn’t certain about the organization’s future with Toyota.

"We are talking to a number of organizations about the future, and certainly in the near-term, we’re not sure what Michael Waltrip Racing is going to do," Wilson said. "They’ve yet to announce their plans. Certainly we have had a rich history in the sport together. We got our butts kicked together in 2007, our first year, and you forge very close and personal relationships when you have those trials together.

"Whatever they decide to do, we certainly wish nothing but the best for them."

Wilson has acknowledged discussions with Furniture Row Racing owner Barney Visser about the Denver-based team’s potential manufacturer move from Chevrolet to Toyota. But the TRD president suggested that Furniture Row, like Toyota itself, was focused on its 2015 Chase efforts.

"Regarding Furniture Row Racing, again they haven’t announced their plans for next year certainly," Wilson said. "I imagine they’re focusing on getting Martin Truex well-positioned in the Chase as well and competitive."

Posted on July 28, 2015 by Staff Report

Keep tabs on this week’s national series activity

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series head to Pocono Raceway, while the NASCAR XFINITY Series travels to Iowa Speedway. Here’s more info on how you can follow along all weekend.

RACES

Sprint Cup Series: Windows 10 400 (Sunday, Aug. 2, 1:30 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network, MRN Radio, SiriusXM)
XFINITY Series: U.S. Cellular 250 presented by New Holland (Saturday, Aug. 1, 8 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network, MRN Radio, SiriusXM)
Camping World Truck Series: Pocono Mountains 150 (Saturday, Aug. 1, 1 p.m. ET, FOX Sports 1, MRN Radio, SiriusXM)

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;nbsp;

WEEKEND SCHEDULE

Click here for on-track times, press conferences, leaderboards and GarageCam.

RACE DAY

• NSCS leaderboard
• NXS leaderboard
• NCWTS leaderboard
• NSCS Lap-by-Lap
• NXS Lap-by-Lap
• NCWTS Lap-by-Lap
• NSCS live standings

PRODUCTS

• RaceBuddy: Through the remainder of the season, NASCAR RaceBuddy will feature two (2) alternate live action camera angles, along with up to six (6) in-car cameras with different driver selections for each Sprint Cup race.
• RaceView: Watch virtual video of cars on track and listen to the scanner.
• RaceView Mobile: On your phone? Try RaceView here.
• Scanner: In-car audio only.
• Mobile Apps: Follow the leaderboards live from your device.

NBC SPORTS LIVE EXTRA

Web stream: NBC Sports Live Extra
Mobile app: iOS/Android

NBC Sports Group’s live streaming product for desktops, mobile devices, tablets, and connected TVs will provide racing fans with unparalleled interactive digital access to every NASCAR Sprint Cup series race, including exclusive camera angles, custom diver information, and insider track information.

• Multi-view options that bring fans inside the race, combining NBC Sports Group’s race simulcast and alternative camera angles, ranging from in-car views to various key track locations. For the Quaker State 400 Presented by Advance Auto Parts NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on July 11, one specialty camera will offer an innovative speed shot from Turn 4, capturing the cars as they speed by.

• Dedicated full-view, on-board alternate cameras.

• Additional features on the desktop/laptop experience, bringing fans comprehensive race-day information to their fingertips, including:

• Driver updates, cup standings, and biographies

• Track infographics with key facts and history

NBC Sports Live Extra will stream NASCAR coverage on NBC and NBCSN via "TV Everywhere", giving consumers additional value to for their subscription service, and making high quality content available to MVPD customers both in and out of the home and on multiple platforms. The NBC Sports Live Extra app is available on the iTunes App Store, Google Play, Windows Store, Roku Channel Store and Apple TV. For desktops, NBC Sports Live Extra can be accessed at NBCSports.com/liveextra.

FOX SPORTS GO

The Camping World Truck Series Pocono Mountains 150 will be available through FOX Sports GO; which is an online and mobile streaming product that allows subscribers of participating TV providers to watch live sports and shows from FOX, FOX Sports 1, FOX Sports 2 and FOX Deportes. FOX Sports GO is currently available for download on iTunes for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch devices or can be accessed online at FOXSportsGO.com. The app is also available via Google Play, Kindle Fire and from the Windows Store.

Access to programming in FOX Sports GO requires a pay TV subscription of FOX Sports 1 with a participating TV provider. Login credentials are the same username and password used to access online accounts with your TV provider.

FANTASY

• NASCAR Fantasy Live: Set your lineups, check your progress
• Streak to the Finish: Play in all three national series

LIVE INTERVIEWS

PressPass: Watch exclusive post-race interviews.

Stay tuned to NASCAR.com throughout the weekend for the latest news.

Posted on July 28, 2015 by Staff Report

Get on-track times for everything at Pocono and Iowa

RELATED: This week’s TV schedule

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will race at Pocono Raceway this week. The NASCAR XFINITY Series will race at Iowa Speedway. Sprint Cup Series and XFINITY Series practices, qualifying sessions and races can also be watched on NBC Sports Live Extra.The Camping World Truck Series events will be on FOX Sports 1. Check out the full schedule below.

All times are ET

SUNDAY, AUGUST 2:

PRE-RACE SCHEDULE
— 11:30 a.m.: NSCS Driver/Crew Chief Meeting (ARCA garage)
— 1 p.m.: NSCS Driver Introductions (Drivers will take lap in a Chevy Silverado and get dropped off at their car, 43 trucks)
— 1:22 p.m.: Skydivers land on front stretch S/F line
— 1:30 p.m.: Presentation of Colors: West Point Garrison, MP Company Honor Guard
— 1:30:20 p.m.: Invocation by: Billy Mauldin, President and CEO of Motor Racing Outreach
— 1:31 p.m.: National Anthem by: Alyssa Golden (Pyro from Turn 3)
— 1:32:45 p.m.: Flyby TOT: 2 CV-22’s from the Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, FL (Turn 3 to 1)
— 1:37:45 p.m.: "Driver’s, Start Your Engines"
— 1:46 p.m.: Green Flag – Start of the Windows 10 400 (160 laps, 400 miles)

ON TRACK
— 1:30 p.m.: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Windows 10 400 (160 laps, 400 miles), NBCSN/Live Extra (Results)

PRESS CONFERENCES (Watch li ve)
— 4:45 p.m. (approx.): Post-NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race press conferences

FRIDAY, JULY 31:

ON TRACK
— 11 a.m.-12:25 p.m.: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice, NBCSN/Live Extra (Results)
— 2-4:25 p.m.: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series final practice, FOX Sports 1 (Results)
— 4:30-5:50 p.m.: NASCAR XFINI TY Series practice, Live Extra (Results)
— 4:45 p.m.: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying, NBCSN/Live Extra (Results)
— 7-8:20 p.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series final practice, NBCSN/Live Extra (Results)
— 9 p.m. ET: NASCAR K&N Pro Series race (150 laps/131.25 miles) (hometracks.nascar.com)

GARAGECAM (Watch live)
— 10:30 a.m.: Sprint Cup Series
— 1:30 p.m.: Camping World Truck Series

PRESS CONFERENCES (Watch li ve)
— 10 a.m.: Kyle Busch
— 10:45 a.m.: Tyler Reddick
— 1:15 p.m.: Matt Crafton
— 1:30 p.m.: Martin Truex Jr.
— 1:45 p.m.: Jeff Gordon
— 2 p.m.: Dale Earnhardt Jr.
— 5:45 p.m. (approx.): Post-NASCAR Sprint Cup Series qualifying press conferences

SATURDAY, AUGUST 1:

ON TRACK
— 9-9:50 a.m.: NASCAR Sprint C up Series practice, NBCSN/Live Extra (Results)
— 10 a.m.: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Keystone Light Pole Qualifying, FOX Sports 1 (Results)
— 11:35 a.m.-12:25 p.m.: NASCAR Sprint Cup Series final practice, NBCSN/Live Extra (Results)
— 1 p.m.: NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Pocono Mountains 150 (60 laps, 150 miles), FOX Sports 1 (Results)
— 4:45 p.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying, NBCSN/Live Extra (Results)
— 8 p.m.: NASCAR XFINITY Series U.S. Cellular 250 Presented by New Holland (250 laps, 218.75 miles), NBCSN/Live Extra (Get results)

PRESS CONFERENCES (Watch li ve)
— 2:15 p.m. (approx.): Post-NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race press conferences

Posted on July 28, 2015 by Staff Report

Get full lineup of NASCAR programming for the week

All times ET

Monday, July 27
6 a.m., NASCAR Victory Lap (re-air), NBCSN
7 a.m., NASCAR Victory Lap (re-air), NBCSN
8 a.m., NASCAR Victory Lap (re-air), NBCSN
2:30 p.m., NASCAR 120, NBCSN
5 p.m., NASCAR America, NBCSN
6 p.m., NASCAR America: Scan All 43 Special 2015 (re-air), NBCSN
6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FOX Sports 1
6:30 p.m., NASCAR America: Scan All 43 Special 2015, NBCSN

Tuesday, July 28
2 a.m., NASCAR Race Hub (re-air), FOX Sports 2
6 a.m., NASCAR America (re-air), NBCSN
7 a.m., NASCAR America (re-air), NBCSN
8 a.m., NASCAR America (re-air), NBCSN
4:30 p.m., NASCAR America: Scan All 43 Special (re-air), NBCSN
5 p.m., NASCAR America, NBCSN
6 p.m., NASCAR America: States of NASCAR #5 (re-air), NBCSN
6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FOX Sports 1
6:30 p.m., NASCAR America: States of NASCAR #6 (re-air), NBCSN
9 p.m., Knock Knock Live with Jeff Gordon, FOX
RELATED: Watch Gordon surprise a fan on ‘Knock Knock Live’

Wednesday, July 29
2 a.m., NASCAR Race Hub (re-air), FOX Sports 2
6 a.m., NASCAR America (re-air), NBCSN
7 a.m., NASCAR America (re-air), NBCSN
8 a.m., NASCAR America (re-air), NBCSN
5 p.m., NASCAR America, NBCSN
6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FOX Sports 1

Thursday, July 30
3 a.m., NASCAR Race Hub (re-air), FOX Sports 2
6 a.m., NASCAR America (re-air), NBCSN
7 a.m., NASCAR America (re-air), NBCSN
8 a.m., NASCAR America (re-air), NBCSN
4:30 p.m., NASCAR America: States of NASCAR #6 (re-air), NBCSN
5 p.m., NASCAR America, NBCSN
6 p.m., NASCAR America: Scan All 43 Special 2015 (re-air), NBCSN
6 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FOX Sports 1
6:30 p.m., NASCAR America: Scan All 43 Special 2015 (re-air), NBCSN
7 p.m., NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour: Monadnock Speedway (tape), NBCSN
1 a.m., NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour: Monadnock Speedway (re-air), NBCSN

Friday, July 31
2 a.m., NASCAR Race Hub (re-air), FOX Sports 2
6 a.m., NASCAR America (re-air), NBCSN
7 a.m., NASCAR America (re-air), NBCSN
8 a.m., NASCAR America (re-air), NBCSN
11 a.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice, NBCSN
2 p.m., NASCAR Camping World Truck Series final practice, FOX Sports 1
4:30 p.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying, NBCSN
6 p.m., NASCAR America, NBCSN
7 p.m., NASCAR XFINITY Series final practice, NBCSN
2 a.m., NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour: Monadnock Speedway (re-air), NBCSN

Saturday, August 1
8 a.m., NASCAR America: States of NASCAR #5 (re-air), NBCSN
8:30 a.m., NASCAR America: States of NASCAR #6 (re-air), NBCSN
9 a.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice, NBCSN
10 a.m., NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Keystone Light Pole Qualifying, FOX Sports 1
11:30 a.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series final practice, NBCSN
12:30 p.m., NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Setup, FOX Sports 1
1 p.m., NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Pocono Mountain 150, FOX Sports 1
2:30 p.m., Being: Stewart-Haas Racing, FOX Sports 1
4:30 p.m., NASCAR XFINITY Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying, NBCSN
7:30 p.m., NASCAR XFINITY Series Countdown to Green, NBCSN
8 p.m., NASCAR XFINITY Series U.S. Cellular 250 Presented by New Holland, NBCSN

Sunday, August 2
6 a.m., NASCAR America: States of NASCAR #5 (re-air), NBCSN
10:30 a.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying (re-air), NBCSN
11 a.m., NASCAR RaceDay: Pocono, FOX Sports 2
Noon, Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge: Lime Rock (re-air), FOX Sports 1
Noon, NASCAR America Sunday, NBCSN
1 p.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series: Countdown to Green, NBCSN
1:30 p.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Windows 10 400, NBCSN
5:30 p.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Post-Race Show, NBCSN
11 p.m., NASCAR Victory Lap, NBCSN
Midnight, NASCAR Victory Lane, FOX Sports 1
Midnight, NASCAR America: States of NASCAR #6 (re-air), NBCSN
3:30 a.m. (Monday), NASCAR Victory Lane (re-air), FOX Sports 1

Posted on July 28, 2015 by Zack Albert

Cautions foiled the No. 88 team’s strategy in the Brickyard 400

Sunday’s annual NASCAR stop at Indianapolis Motor Speedway had a Murphy’s Law quality to it for Dale Earnhardt Jr. But the 40-year-old driver, while frustrated, said that in the grand scheme of the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup points system, the run of Brickyard bad luck barely matters.

FULL SERIES COVERAGE

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Earnhardt described the set of circumstances that led to an unsavory 22nd-place finish at Indy in a sigh-filled Tuesday edition of the "Dale Jr. Download" podcast on Dirty Mo Radio. "Not a lot of fun out there," was the sentiment after a late pit-road mishap then a spin after contact with Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kasey Kahne — all with less than 20 laps remaining.

"With several laps to go, we were sitting out there in 16th or so and we were going to come down pit road and get four tires," Earnhardt told Dirty Mo Radio. "I don’t know, we didn’t. The reason is because who the hell cares where we finish if we can’t win the race. I mean, we were going to come down pit road in 16th place. A lot of guys around us pitted and we were going to get four tires and come out probably … we might beat two guys, we might lose two spots, what the hell ever. So it was a wash in my opinion."

Earnhardt did enter pit road in 16th place, but left in 22nd after an air-gun failure slowed his stop for service, leaving his No. 88 Chevrolet team only able to change two tires instead of four. Earnhardt recovered from that and his slight brush with the Turn 1 wall to stay on the lead lap.

With two regular-season victories in hand and his spot in the Chase playoffs assured thanks to the points format instituted ahead of the 2014 season, Earnhardt was able to shrug off the disappointment more easily ahead of Sunday’s Windows 10 400 (1:30 p.m. ET, NBCSN, MRN, SiriusXM) at Pocono Raceway.

"With the old system, you would do everything you could to get the best finish you could," Earnhardt said, "and that might mean forgoing the win and (saying), ‘Hey man, if we do everything X, Y and Z and get lucky on the restarts, we might run 10th or we might finish eighth,’ like some of those guys that we were racing with. But who damn cares about that? I’m sitting in 16th with 20-some laps to go, a lot of guys behind me are coming for tires. Do I want to be the last guy on old tires? No. I don’t want to get eaten up by new tires, get in the wrong line on the restart and get screwed and not be competitive and not be on the offense.

"We’ve got two wins, we’re in the Chase, so what the hell’s it matter between 10th and 20th? Who cares? If we do everything right, we finish 10th. If we don’t do everything right, we finish 20th, but it’s a wash either way. Doesn’t even matter with this points system."

Earnhardt bemoaned the sequence of yellow flags at Indianapolis and how the No. 88 team’s strategy was adversely affected. Still, he championed the power of creative thinking from atop the pit box — a resource that crew chief Greg Ives will have to employ this weekend at Pocono, where short-pitting, targeting fuel windows and other pit strategies frequently come into play.

"The way this system works, you just go win, and if you can’t win, do what everybody else ain’t doing," Earnhardt said. "Do something different. Try something different. The same-ol’, same-ol’ is just going to get you the same boring-ass result."

Posted on July 28, 2015 by Zack Albert

Meet @nascartireguy and learn how he landed a job in the sport he loves

FOLLOW: @nascartireguy on Twitter

CONCORD, N.C. — David Groseclose carefully takes the 27-year-old photograph out of its frame for closer examination, making it easier to marvel at its full-circle nature. Back then, a 10-year-old David and his older brother, Jeff — both wearing Scouts uniforms — sidled up to an aspiring rookie driver named Brett Bodine to pose for a photograph at the boys’ home track, Bristol Motor Speedway.

When their father took that snapshot in 1988, none of the parties could have imagined that the younger Groseclose would one day report to Bodine. That day came in January 2014, when Groseclose, now 37, showed up for work at the NASCAR Research & Development Center as the sanctioning body’s lead tire engineer.

FULL SERIES COVERAGE

• Latest news
• Standings
• Schedule

For Groseclose — who appropriately tweets from the handle @nascartireguy — the position was the realization of a childhood dream, which took root from years of attending races at the Bristol track, just 10 minutes from his hometown of Blountville, Tennessee. When Groseclose stumbled upon the job listing, the enthusiasm was palpable.

"Tire engineer? What could be better?" he recalled telling his wife, Susan. "She said, ‘if you don’t apply for that job, I’m going to divorce you.’ "

It never came to that, Groseclose laughed. After an initial callback, Groseclose was on the phone with Bodine, leading to an interview with both him and Gene Stefanyshyn, NASCAR’s senior vice president of innovation and racing development.

RELATED: Go inside the NASCAR R&D Center

"David was exactly what we wanted; he had a passion for the sport," Bodine said last weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. "As you know, to survive the work schedule and the workload of this sport, you’ve got to have a passion for it. You can’t treat this like a 9-to-5 job. During the interview process, I realized that. That’s what really made myself and Gene Stefanyshyn feel really good about hiring David."

Plenty of Groseclose’s passion stems from his long-running association with NASCAR as a fan, attending his first Bristol race at age 5 and — as best as he can recall — falling asleep by the halfway point, overwhelmed by the sights and sounds. He’ll be back Wednesday, overseeing an open test for Sprint Cup teams on the .533-mile track but also taking time to savor the homecoming in the Tennessee hills.

MORE: Teams get ready for Bristol test

In a year and a half on the job, Groseclose’s responsibilities have included scheduling and supervising all Goodyear tire tests, analyzing data and driver feedback to help fellow engineers make informed choices for selecting the right compound for a given track. Groseclose said he meets with Goodyear officials on a weekly basis, but that open communication with NASCAR’s tire partner is a daily process. He is also responsible for all sections of the NASCAR Rule Book regarding wheels and tires.

Groseclose’s diverse background includes seven years in the U.S. Navy, studies in the field of nuclear power and time spent on the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman, but his current duties are a natural extension of his seven-year stint with Bridgestone, where he served as the lead development coordinator and engineer for street tires.

"Actually a lot of it transfers. Even though it’s a racing tire, the construction, the basics are the same," Groseclose said. "Every tire’s got a bead, every tire’s got body-ply, every tire’s got some type of belt. Now, passenger tires are steel belts and here they’re not. The tread’s a lot thicker on passenger tires because they’ve got to last a lot longer, but you can’t have that thick of a tread on a racing tire because it heats up too much. If it gets too hot, it’ll start coming apart.

"A lot of it’s the same, but parts of it are different because of the extreme conditions that racing tires have to go through."

In addition to his work experience, Groseclose continues to draw upon his upbringing as a NASCAR enthusiast in the R&D setting, with Stefanyshyn often asking him to put on his "fan hat" in discussions about improving competition. That role goes even further back; Groseclose’s actual fan hat from his youth was one loaded with souvenir pins, proudly displaying his status as a card-carrying member of the Harry Gant Fan Club.

Groseclose’s father attended Bristol’s second-ever race in its inaugural season with his father, watching Joe Weatherly edge Rex White in a battle of NASCAR Hall of Famers in the 1961 Southeastern 500. His parents remain season-ticket holders.

Now Groseclose shares his love of the sport with the next generation, his three young boys — ages 8, 5 and 3, with a fourth child on the way, due in December. The only difference is that now it’s not just a pastime for Groseclose, it’s part of his life’s work.

"I loved the job I had before. I worked with really good people and it was a great job," Groseclose said. "I had no inclination of changing jobs, but when your dream job comes up, you’ve got to do something, right?"

Posted on July 28, 2015 by Staff Report

A statistical look ahead to the 21st race of the Sprint Cup season

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Below is a look at some of the top statistical performers at Pocono Raceway in Pocono, Pennsylvania going into the WINDOWS 10 400 on August 2 (1:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN).

FULL SERIES COVERAGE

• Latest news
• Standings
• Schedule

POCONO-SPECIFIC STATISTICS

Kurt Busch (No. 41 Haas Automation Chevrolet)

· Two wins, 12 top fives, 16 top 10s; two poles

· Average finish of 12.421, eighth-best

· Average Running Position of 10.246, second-best

· Driver Rating of 105.9, third-best

· 332 Fastest Laps Run, sixth-best

· Average Green Flag Speed of 162.733, second-fastest

· 2659 Laps in the Top 15 (77.0), second-most

· 774 Quality Passes, seventh-most

Dale Earnhardt Jr (No. 88 MICROSOFT Chevrolet)

· Two wins, nine top fives, 13 top 10s; one pole

· Average finish of 15.900, 11th-best

· Average Running Position of 14.002, 10th-best

· Driver Rating of 92.6, ninth-best

· 102 Fastest Laps Run, third-best

· Average Green Flag Speed of 162.237, eighth-fastest

· 2286 Laps in the Top 15 (63.3), eighth-most

· 727 Quality Passes, eighth-most

Carl Edwards (No. 19 STANLEY Toyota)

· Two wins, five top fives, eight top 10s

· Average finish of 15.500, 10th-best

· Average Running Position of 14.826, 13th-best

· Driver Rating of 94.2, eighth-best

· 176 Fastest Laps Run, fourth-best

· Average Green Flag Speed of 162.224, ninth-fastest

· 2262 Laps in the Top 15 (62.6), 10th-most

· 712 Quality Passes, ninth-most

Jeff Gordon (No. 24 AARP Member Advantages Chevrolet)

· Six wins, 19 top fives, 31 top 10s; two poles

· Average finish of 9.650, second-best

· Average Running Position of 9.916, series-best

· Driver Rating of 103.5, fourth-best

· 169 Fastest Laps Run, 12th-best

· Average Green Flag Speed of 162.625, fifth-fastest

· 2777 Laps in the Top 15 (76.9), third-most

· 885 Quality Passes, series-most

Denny Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Office Toyota)

· Four wins, nine top fives, 13 top 10s; three poles

· Average finish of 11.889, seventh-best

· Average Running Position of 10.844, fourth-best

· Driver Rating of 108.3, series-best

· 437 Fastest Laps Run, seventh-best

· Average Green Flag Speed of 162.806, series-fastest

· 2543 Laps in the Top 15 (79.3), series-most

· 685 Quality Passes, 10th-most

Kevin Harvick (No. 4 Jimmy John’s/Budweiser Chevrolet)

· Seven top fives, 11 top 10s

· Average finish of 10.600, fifth-best

· Average Running Position of 13.743, eighth-best

· Driver Rating of 91.9, 11th-best

· 63 Fastest Laps Run, eighth-best

· Average Green Flag Speed of 162.159, 10th-fastest

· 2277 Laps in the Top 15 (63.0), ninth-most

· 789 Quality Passes, sixth-most

Jimmie Johnson (No. 48 Kobalt Tools Chevrolet)

· Three wins, 11 top fives, 18 top 10s; three poles

· Average finish of 10.500, third-best

· Average Running Position of 10.487, third-best

· Driver Rating of 106.9, second-best

· 273 Fastest Laps Run, 10th-best

· Average Green Flag Speed of 162.708, third-fastest

· 2774 Laps in the Top 15 (76.8), fourth-most

· 861 Quality Passes, fourth-most

Kasey Kahne (No. 5 Aquafina Chevrolet)

· Two wins, five top fives, eight top 10s; two poles

· Average finish of 18.750, 13th-best

· Average Running Position of 14.622, 11th-best

· Driver Rating of 92.1, 10th-best

· 306 Fastest Laps Run, series-best

· Average Green Flag Speed of 162.436, sixth-fastest

· 2199 Laps in the Top 15 (60.9), 11th-most

· 804 Quality Passes, fifth-most

Brad Keselowski (No. 2 Alliance Truck Parts Ford)

· One win, three top fives, four top 10s

· Average finish of 13.400, ninth-best

· Average Running Position of 14.786, 12th-best

· Driver Rating of 90.8, 12th-best

· 96 Fastest Laps Run, fifth-best

· Average Green Flag Speed of 161.894, 13th-fastest

· 852 Laps in the Top 15 (50.1), 13th-most

· 306 Quality Passes, 12th-most

Kyle Larson (No. 42 Suave Men Chevrolet)

· One top five, two top 10s; one pole

· Average finish of 8.000, series-best

· Average Running Position of 12.672, seventh-best

· Driver Rating of 95.7, sixth-best

· 2 Fastest Laps Run, 13th-best

· Average Green Flag Speed of 162.690, fourth-fastest

· 230 Laps in the Top 15 (71.9), seventh-most

· 87 Quality Passes, 13th-most

Joey Logano (No. 22 Shell Pennzoil Ford)

· One win, three top fives, five top 10s; two poles

· Average finish of 16.583, 12th-best

· Average Running Position of 13.811, ninth-best

· Driver Rating of 88.9, 13th-best

· 61 Fastest Laps Run, second-best

· Average Green Flag Speed of 162.097, 12th-fastest

· 1190 Laps in the Top 15 (56.6), 12th-most

· 456 Quality Passes, 11th-most

Ryan Newman (No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet)

· One win, nine top fives, 14 top 10s; two poles

· Average finish of 10.500, fourth-best

· Average Running Position of 11.426, fifth-best

· Driver Rating of 95.3, seventh-best

· 36 Fastest Laps Run, 11th-best

· Average Green Flag Speed of 162.135, 11th-fastest

· 2689 Laps in the Top 15 (74.4), fifth-most

· 883 Quality Passes, second-most

Tony Stewart (No. 14 Rush Truck Centers/Mobil 1 Chevrolet)

· Two wins, 12 top fives, 22 top 10s; two poles

· Average finish of 10.600, sixth-best

· Average Running Position of 12.223, sixth-best

· Driver Rating of 97.6, fifth-best

· 99 Fastest Laps Run, ninth-best

· Average Green Flag Speed of 162.319, seventh-fastest

· 2619 Laps in the Top 15 (72.5), sixth-most

· 880 Quality Passes, third-most

	Driver	Races	Poles	Wins	Top Fives	Top 10s	DNFs	Average Finish	Driver Rating
	Driver	Races	Poles	Wins	Top Fives	Top 10s	DNFs	Average Finish	Driver Rating
1	Kevin Harvick	29	0	0	7	11	2	13.2	91.9
2	Joey Logano	13	2	1	3	5	1	15.6	88.9
3	Dale Earnhardt Jr	31	1	2	9	13	1	15.2	92.6
4	Jimmie Johnson	27	3	3	11	18	1	9.6	106.9
5	Martin Truex Jr	19	0	1	3	7	0	15.1	80.4
6	Brad Keselowski	11	0	1	3	4	0	13.7	90.8
7	Matt Kenseth	31	0	0	3	11	1	15.7	86.7
8	Kurt Busch	28	2	2	12	16	5	14.4	105.9
9	Jamie McMurray	25	1	0	0	7	3	19.3	73.1
10	Denny Hamlin	19	3	4	9	13	2	11.8	108.3
11	Jeff Gordon	45	2	6	19	31	5	10	103.5
12	Ryan Newman	27	2	1	9	14	3	12.4	95.3
13	Paul Menard	17	0	0	0	2	1	23.6	64.6
14	Kasey Kahne	23	2	2	5	8	3	17.6	92.1
15	Clint Bowyer	19	0	0	2	8	0	14.6	82.8
16	Carl Edwards	21	0	2	5	8	1	15.5	94.2

* – Based on last 21 races at Pocono Raceway (2005 – 2015).

Kyle Busch’s Chase Eligibility
30th	Justin Allgaier		317
Rank	Driver	Wins	Points	Points From 30th
31	Cole Whitt	0	314	-3
32	Kyle Busch	4	294	-23
33	Brett Moffitt #	0	266	-51
34	Alex Bowman	0	245	-72
35	Michael Annett	0	230	-87
36	Matt DiBenedetto #	0	205	-112
37	Josh Wise	0	186	-131
38	Michael McDowell	0	124	-193
39	Jeb Burton	0	111	-206
40	Alex Kennedy	0	71	-246
* To be eligible for the Chase, the driver must be in the top 30 of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series standings following race number 26.

Pocono Raceway Data

Season Race #: 21 of 36 (08-02-15)

Track Size: 2.5-miles

Banking/Turn 1: 14 degrees

Banking/Turn 2: 8 degrees

Banking/Turn 3: 6 degrees

Frontstretch Length: 3,740 feet

Backstretch Length: 3,055 feet

Shortstretch Length: 1,780 feet

Race Length: 160 laps / 400 miles

Top 10 Driver Ratings at Pocono

Denny Hamlin………………………. 108.3

Jimmie Johnson…………………… 106.9

Kurt Busch………………………….. 105.9

Jeff Gordon………………………… 103.5

Tony Stewart…………………………. 97.6

Kyle Larson………………………….. 95.7

Ryan Newman……………………….. 95.3

Carl Edwards………………………… 94.2

Dale Earnhardt Jr…………………… 92.6

Kasey Kahne………………………… 92.1

Note: Driver Ratings compiled from 2005-2015 races (21 total) among active drivers at Pocono Raceway.

Qualifying/Race Data

2014 pole winner:

Kyle Larson, Chevrolet

183.438 mph, 49.063 secs, 08-01-14

2014 race winner:

Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chevrolet

127.411 mph, (03:08:22), 08-03-14

Track qualifying record:

Kyle Larson, Chevrolet

183.438 mph, 49.610 secs, 08-03-14

Track race record:

Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet

145.384 mph, (03:26:21), 06-12-11

At Pocono Raceway:

History

· Opened in 1968 as a three-quarter-mile track, Pocono Raceway held the first race on the 2.5-mile track in 1971.

· The first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race was in 1974 – won by Richard Petty, Dodge, 115.593 mph, 08/04/1974.

· The 2.5-mile track was repaved during the fall of 2011.

· 2012 marked the first season the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Pocono were scheduled for 400 miles. Prior to 2012 all NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races were 500 miles at Pocono Raceway.

Starts

· There have been 75 NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Pocono Raceway, one race from 1974 through 1981, and two per year since.

· 327 drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Pocono Raceway; 229 in more than one.

· Ricky Rudd leads the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in starts at Pocono with 55.

· Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with 45 starts (eighth most all-time) at Pocono; followed by Tony Stewart with 33 starts.

· Denny Hamlin (19 starts) leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in average starting position at Pocono with a 6.632.

Poles

· 40 drivers have posted Coors Light poles at Pocono, led by Bill Elliott and Ken Schrader with five each; Jimmie Johnson and Denny Hamlin lead all active drivers with three each.

· Buddy Baker won the inaugural Coors Light pole at Pocono in 1974 with a speed of 144.122 mph.

· Five drivers have won consecutive Coors Light poles at Pocono. Bill Elliott holds the record for most consecutive poles at Pocono with three; fall 1984 and both races in 1985.

· Two active drivers have posted consecutive Coors Light poles at Pocono: Denny Hamlin (2006 sweep) and Joey Logano (fall 2011 and spring 2012).

· Youngest Pocono pole winner: Joey Logano (08/07/2011 – 21 years, 2 months, 14 days).

· Oldest Pocono pole winner: David Pearson (06/10/1984 – 49 years, 5 months, 19 days).

· Kyle Larson (8/03/2014) and Casey Mears (8/1/2004) posted their first career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coors Light poles at Pocono Raceway.

Wins

· 33 different drivers have won at Pocono Raceway, led by Jeff Gordon with six wins.

· Seven active drivers have multiple wins at Pocono: Jeff Gordon (6), Denny Hamlin (4), Jimmie Johnson (3), Carl Edwards, Kasey Kahne, Kurt Busch and Tony Stewart (each have 2).

· Seven drivers have posted consecutive wins at Pocono Raceway all-time, including three consecutive by Bobby Allison (1982 sweep and spring 1983) and Tim Richmond (1986 sweep and spring 1987).

· Three of the seven drivers to win consecutive races at Pocono are active: Jimmie Johnson (2004 sweep); Denny Hamlin (2006 sweep and 2009 fall and 2010 spring races) and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (2014 sweep).

· Youngest Pocono winner: Joey Logano (06/10/2012 – 22 years, 0 months, 17 days).

· Oldest Pocono winner: Harry Gant (06/17/1990 – 50 years, 5 months, 7 days).

· Hendrick Motorsports has the most wins at Pocono in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series with 17: Jeff Gordon (six), Tim Richmond (three), Jimmie Johnson (three), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (two), Kasey Kahne (one), Geoff Bodine (one) and Terry Labonte (one).

· Eight different manufacturers have won in the NSCS at Pocono; led by Chevrolet with 31 victories; followed by Ford with 21 and Toyota has three.

· 13 of the 75 (17.3%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Pocono have been won from the Coors Light pole; the most recent was Joey Logano (June, 2012).

· 15 of the 74 (20%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Pocono have been won from the first starting position; the most recent was Jimmie Johnson (June, 2013).

· The first starting position is the most proficient starting position in the field, producing more winners (15) than any other starting position at Pocono Raceway.

· 24 of the 75 (32%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Pocono have been won from the front row: 15 from the first starting position and nine from second-place.

· 53 of the 75 (70.6%) NASCAR Sprint Cup races at Pocono have been won from a top-10 starting position.

· Five of the 75 (6.7%) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Pocono have been won from a starting position outside the top 20.

· The deepest in the field that a race winner has started at Pocono is 29th, by Carl Edwards in the spring of 2005.

· One active NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver has posted his first career win at Pocono Raceway: Denny Hamlin (06/11/06).

· Denny Hamlin and Carl Edwards are the only two active drivers to win at Pocono in their first appearances.

· Matt Kenseth leads the series among active drivers with the most NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts at Pocono without visiting Victory Lane at 31; followed by Kevin Harvick with 29.

Additional Finishing Position Stats

· Mark Martin leads the series in runner-up finishes at Pocono with seven; Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with six; followed by Kurt Busch with five.

· Mark Martin leads the series in top-five finishes at Pocono with 20; Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with 19; followed by Kurt Busch and Tony Stewart with 12 each.

· Mark Martin leads the series in top-10 finishes at Pocono with 34; Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers with 31; followed by Tony Stewart with 22.

· Jimmie Johnson leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in average finishing position at Pocono with a 9.630.

Track Specific Stats

· Since the advent of electronic scoring the closest margin of victory (MOV) in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Pocono Raceway was the July 23, 2000 race won by Rusty Wallace over Jeff Burton with a MOV of 0.126 seconds.

· There have been three NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races resulting with a green-white-checkered finish at Pocono Raceway (Scheduled No. of Laps/Actual No. of Laps): spring of 2005 (200/201); fall of 2005 (200/203); spring of 2010 (200/204).

· Six of the 75 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Pocono Raceway have been shortened due to weather conditions; the most recent was the event on 8/5/2012.

· Qualifying has been cancelled due to weather conditions in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Pocono Raceway five times; most recently the spring of 2013.

· Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in laps led at Pocono with 1,038 laps led in 45 starts.

· Jeff Gordon leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in laps completed at Pocono with 8,237 laps completed in 45 starts.

Female Competitor Stats

· Two female drivers have competed at Pocono Raceway in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series: Janet Guthrie and Danica Patrick.

Driver	Starting Position	Finishing Position	Date	Driver Rating
Danica Patrick	22	37	6/7/2015	62.4
Danica Patrick	10	30	8/3/2014	41.4
Danica Patrick	16	37	6/8/2014	55.9
Danica Patrick	34	35	8/4/2013	52.2
Danica Patrick	30	29	6/9/2013	58.1
Averages	22.4	33.6		54.0

Driver	Starting Position	Finishing Position	Date
Janet Guthrie	21	28	7/27/1980
Janet Guthrie	22	31	7/30/1978
Janet Guthrie	10	11	7/31/1977
Averages	17.7	23.3

NASCAR in Pennsylvania

· There have been 109 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races among nine tracks in Pennsylvania.

Track Name	City	NSCS
Pocono Raceway	Long Pond	75
Langhorne Speedway	Langhorne	17
Lincoln Speedway	New Oxford	7
Heidelberg Raceway	Pittsburgh	4
Reading Fairgrounds	Reading	2
Bloomsburg Fairgrounds	Bloomsburg	1
New Bradford Speedway	Bradford	1
Pine Grove Speedway	Shippenville	1
Williams Grove Speedway	Mechanicsburg	1

· 141 drivers in NASCAR national series history have their home state recorded as Pennsylvania.

· Three of the 141 have won in NASCAR’s premiere series.

Driver	NSCS	NNS	NCWTS
Dick Linder	3	0	0
Jimmy Spencer	2	12	1
Mark Donohue	1	0	0

MILESTONES – Pocono Raceway

DRIVER	HAS	NEEDS	MILESTONE	DESCRIPTION
DRIVER	HAS	NEEDS	MILESTONE	DESCRIPTION
Tony Stewart	574	1	575th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Career Start	Stewart will attempt to tie Geoff Bodine (575) for 24th on the all-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career starts list.
Kurt Busch	524	1	525th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Career Start	Busch will attempt to post his 525th start, he is 33rd on the all-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career starts list.
Greg Biffle	449	1	450th Consecutive NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Career Start	Biffle will attempt to post his 450th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series consecutive start. Biffle is ranked seventh on the NSCS active consecutive starts list.
Kyle Busch	374	1	375th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Career Start	Busch will attempt to tie Ward Burton (375) for 59th on the all-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career starts list.
Jimmie Johnson	74	2	76th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Win	Jimmie Johnson is eighth on the all-time NSCS wins list, two wins behind NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt in seventh (76 wins).
Tony Stewart	48	2	50th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Win	Stewart is 13th on the all-time NSCS wins list, two wins behind NASCAR Hall of Famer Ned Jarrett in 12th (50 wins).
Carl Edwards	24	1	25th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Win	Edwards is 31st on the all-time NSCS wins list, one win behind Dale Earnhardt Jr., Joe Weatherly and Denny Hamlin tied for 28th (25 wins).
Jeff Gordon	24,828	172	25,000 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Laps Led	Gordon can become the sixth driver in NSCS history to lead 25,000 laps; joining Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt, Cale Yarborough, David Pearson and Bobby Allison.
Matt Kenseth	9,598	402	10,000 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Laps Led	Kenseth can become the 16th driver in series history to lead 10,000 or more laps.
Kevin Harvick	7,922	78	8,000 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Laps Led	Kevin Harvick can become the 24th driver in series history to lead 8,000 or more laps.
#43 car	199	1	200 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Wins	The No. 43 car is second on the all-time NSCS wins list, five wins behind the No. 11 car in first (204). The last win for the No. 43 car came at Daytona last season.
Chevrolet	749	1	750th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Win	Chevrolet will attempt to post the manufacturer’s 750th win in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series this weekend. Chevrolet leads the series in wins.