Posted on by Staff Report

Five-time making most of time between races

To show off what his home state of California has to offer, Daytona 500 winner Jimmie Johnson took to the slopes — and the seas, and the pavement — earlier this week. Along with four fellow champions, snowboarder Eddie Wall, ski racer Chris Benchetler, stand-up paddler Dave Kalama and surfer Ian Walsh, Johnson traveled to Auto Club Speedway, Mammoth Mountain and Surf City USA Huntington Beach to promote #onlyInCa. See some of the photos from Johnson’s nine-hour sporting excursion below.

 

 

 

 

 

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Posted on by Staff Report

Program invites fans to purchase tickets for troops

Rockingham Speedway will partner with the United Service Organization of North Carolina to continue the “Send a Soldier to The Rock” promotion for the second consecutive year.

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The program gives race fans the ability to purchase race tickets that will be distributed to the N.C. United Service Organization to servicemen and women.

The track will host the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series for the North Carolina Education Lottery 200 on April 14.

"Supporting our men and women in uniform is something that I am passionate about," Rockingham Speedway President Andy Hillenburg said. "They sacrifice so much for our freedom and ‘Send a Soldier to The Rock’ is a small way for the speedway and fans to show our appreciation.”

The program’s $25 tickets are available by clicking here, or by calling (910)-205-8800.

Rockingham Speedway opened in 1965 and has hosted races in all three of NASCAR’s national series. The first Trucks Series race at The ROck was last year’s Good Sam Roadside Assistance 250, won by Kasey Kahne.

This year’s race is on a Sunday, the day after the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series’ first night race of the season.

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Posted on by Staff Report

Take a look back at the race and track history with some noteworthy numbers

0  The number of previous Cup starts at the track for Sunoco Rookie of the Year candidates Danica Patrick and Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

.045  The closest margin of victory at the track came in 2006, when Jimmie Johnson beat Matt Kenseth, who had led 146 laps to Johnson’s one.

1 The number of poles for Las Vegas native Kurt Busch.

1.5  The size, in miles, of the track.

3 drivers have won the NASCAR Sprint Cup championship and won at Las Vegas in the same season (Jeff Gordon – 2001; Matt Kenseth – 2003; Jimmie Johnson – 2006, 2007, 2010).

4  drivers have participated in every race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway (Jeff Burton, Jeff Gordon, Bobby Labonte and Mark Martin).

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7 wins by Roush Fenway Racing (Mark Martin – 1998; Jeff Burton – 1999, 2000; Matt Kenseth – 2003, 2004; Carl Edwards – 2008, 2011).

9  Dale Earnhardt Jr. scored a top-10 finish in all nine of his starts at 1.5 mile tracks last year. His average finish of 7.7 at 1.5-mile tracks in 2012 was the best of any driver, and his nine top 10s were the best in the Series, despite him missing two races.
10  drivers have poles at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, led by Kasey Kahne (3).

15  races have been held at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

16 The number of NASCAR Sprint Cup races held in the state of Nevada (Las Vegas Motor Speedway – 15; Las Vegas Park Speedway – 1).

20 The degrees of banking in the turns at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

21 NASCAR national series drivers claim Nevada as their home state.

110.9 is Jimmie Johnson’s driver rating at Las Vegas, the highest of all drivers.

400 The length of the 2013 Kobalt Tools 400 in kilometers (267 laps).

2006 The year the track was reconfigured to include progressive banking.

READ MORE:

READ: Carl Edwards
ends losing streak

READ: Phoenix a different
story for Danica

WATCH: Bowyer hits
pit crew member

WATCH: Edwards returns
to Victory Lane

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Posted on by Staff Report

Take a look back at the race and track history with some noteworthy numbers

0  The number of previous Cup starts for Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

.045  The closest margin of victory in the Sprint Cup series in 2006, when Jimmie Johnson beat Matt Kenseth, who had led 146 laps to Johnson’s one.

1 The number of poles for Las Vegas native Kurt Busch.

1.5  The size, in miles, of the track.

3  drivers have won the NASCAR Sprint Cup championship and won at Las Vegas in the same season (Jeff Gordon – 2001; Matt Kenseth – 2003; Jimmie Johnson – 2006, 2007, 2010).

4  drivers have participated in every race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway (Jeff Burton, Jeff Gordon, Bobby Labonte and Mark Martin).

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7  wins by Roush Fenway Racing (Mark Martin – 1998; Jeff Burton – 1999, 2000; Matt Kenseth – 2003, 2004; Carl Edwards – 2008. 2011). 

9  Dale Earnhardt Jr. scored a top-10 finish in all nine of his starts at 1.5 mile tracks last year (he missed Charlotte and Kansas during the Chase). His average finish of 7.7 at 1.5-mile tracks in 2012 was the best of any driver.

10  drivers have poles at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, led by Kasey Kahne (3). 

15  races have been held at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. 

16 The number of NASCAR Sprint Cup races held in the state of Nevada (Las Vegas Motor Speedway – 1; Las Vegas Park Speedway – 1). 

20 The degrees of banking in the turns of Las Vegas Motor Speedway. 

21 NASCAR national series drivers claim Nevada as their home state. 

110.9 is Jimmie Johnson’s driver rating at Las Vegas, the highest of all drivers. 

400 The length of the 2013 Kobalt Tools 400 in kilometers (267 laps). 

2006 The year the track was reconfigured to include progressive banking.

READ MORE:

READ: Carl Edwards
ends losing streak

READ: Phoenix a different
story for Danica

WATCH: Bowyer hits
pit crew member

WATCH: Edwards returns
to Victory Lane

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Posted on by Nascar

No. 99 driver looking forward to bringing last week’s success to Vegas

Carl Edwards says he had “high expectations” for this weekend’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. And that was before the Roush Fenway Racing driver scored a drought-breaking win March 3 at Phoenix International Raceway.

“I know this is probably wrong to admit, but I didn’t really have Phoenix marked on the calendar as the one that we were going to go win the first race,” Edwards said during a national teleconference Wednesday. “I was looking at (Las) Vegas as the race that would be the really good one. So I’m really excited about Vegas, and after seeing the pit crew perform at Phoenix, I feel like I’m going to Vegas to win this thing.”

Edwards, 33, survived a green-white-checkered restart in last Sunday’s Subway Fresh Fit 500 to snap a 70-race winless skid. This weekend, Edwards will run in the first points race on a mile-and-a-half track with the new Generation-6 car, the Kobalt Tools 400. An open test will kick off race activities on Thursday.

“We tested very well at Charlotte,” Edwards said. “We’ll know tomorrow really where we stack up, and if it’s anything like Charlotte, I think we’re going to be real tough at Vegas. I think we are going to be good.”

"…If it’s anything like Charlotte, I think we’re going to be real tough at Vegas."

— Carl Edwards

Edwards has good reason to be optimistic, and not just because he won the series’ most recent event. He is a two-time winner at Las Vegas (2008, ’11), has four top 10s in eight career starts and an average finishing position of 10.2 on the fast, 1.5-mile layout.

Still, he said, the Phoenix win certainly helps.

“Not winning a race for 70 races is really frustrating; even though it was a 70‑race drought, we did have an awesome (2011) season,” he said. “I think we had nine second‑place finishes or something, so it wasn’t 70 races of frustration, but it was a long time. (2012) was a full season of pretty lackluster performance for us.”
 
As for the open test, Edwards said he hopes get a good feeling for how the car drives on the track by itself.
 
“I think that will be key, because qualifying will be so important," he said. "…I’d also like to run around some other cars and see how the car handles when I am behind someone … see maybe how I can move around and try to make the car work in a passing situation.”

Veteran crew chief Jimmy Fennig could be looking for the same thing, or his approach may be a bit different, Edwards said.

“I’m sure Jimmy has a run‑by‑run plan, and it may not include racing with another car out there,” he said. “But I would like to try that.”

A 20-time winner in the Cup series, Edwards claimed all but one of his first 19 victories with Bob Osborne. A win at Texas in April 2008 came with Chris Andrews as interim crew chief while Osborne served a six-race suspension for an infraction at Las Vegas.

“I believe the ingredients that we have right now —  the pit stops are fast, Jimmy Fennig’s experience, the cars… seem to be running really well, the engines are fast — I think all those things are good for this season,” Edwards said. “I think we have a lot of great things to look forward to. But a win right off the bat is really, really good for us.”

READ MORE:

READ: Edwards ready
for Vegas

READ: Fantasy
power rankings

READ: Las Vegas
paint scheme preview

READ: Johnson vs. Keselowski

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Posted on by Staff Report

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Posted on by Staff Report

How are you watching the races at Las Vegas? Find out how to get the latest from wherever you are using the table below

WATCHING AT HOME?
GOING TO THE RACE?
GOING MOBILE?
PLAYING FANTASY?

Even if you’re not at the track, you can keep up with all the live action on TV and at NASCAR.com. (All times Eastern, unless noted.)

Watch practices and the race on TV:

SPRINT CUP SERIES:

Saturday, March 9:

Sprint Cup practice on SPEED, 12:40 p.m.

Final Sprint Cup practice on SPEED, 2:30 p.m.

Sunday, March 10:

Kobalt Tools 400 on FOX, 3 p.m.

NATIONWIDE SERIES:

Saturday, March 9:

Nationwide practice on SPEED 11 a.m.

Sam’s Town 300 on ESPN2, 4:15 p.m.

Get inside the garage:

GarageCam will be live streaming here on Saturday, March 9 from the Sprint Cup garages at 2 p.m. ET.

Get inside the media center:

Press Pass will have live news conferences here all weekend.

Saturday, March 9:

NASCAR Nationwide Series Post Race | 6:45 p.m.
 
Sunday, March 10:
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Post Race | 6:15 p.m.

Want more?

Get lap-by-lap updates on NASCAR.com during practice laps, qualifying and races.

Want to attend the races this weekend? Buy tickets to Kobalt Tools 400 and Sam’s Town 300.

Know the track:

Check out our Las Vegas Motor Speedway track page to take a video tour of the track and explore the best fan views.

Want to meet a driver?

Here is a list of appearances. (List subject to change, all times local.)

  

Saturday, March 9:

Sam Hornish Jr. | Shell-Penzoil merchandise trailer, 9:10 a.m.

David Ragan, David Gilliland and Josh Wise | Riviera Hotel, 7 p.m.

Re-live the race:

Watch race highlights from your favorite driver and top moments shortly after the race using Race Replay delivered by FedEx Racing.

Get packing:

The weather in Las Vegas is:

Click for Las Vegas, Nevada Forecast

The 400-mile race at Las Vegas has been run since 1998. Winners of the Kobalt Tools 400 get a championship belt instead of a trophy.

Keep all eyes on the race:

With RaceView Premium and NASCAR RaceView Mobile ’13, formerly RaceView 360, you can watch live, virtual 3-D video with in-car audio as well as national radio broadcasts, telemetry data and real-time stats.

Follow from anywhere:

NASCAR Mobile ’13: This new app is free to download with an upcoming in-app subscription for premium content including live driver audio, live advanced leaderboards, and live alternate camera angles (when available).

Buddy system:

Watch live enhanced coverage with 10 HD cameras, a live chat and live standings for this week’s Nationwide series races with RaceBuddy.

Play NASCAR FANTASY LIVE:

Don’t forget to do your research and set your lineup.

Expert tip of the week:

The similarly-configured, 1.5-mile tracks dominate the schedule and it is important to get off to a strong start at Vegas. The dominant drivers this week will belong to big organizations with huge budgets and dark horses will come from their third and fourth teams. Get more tips from Dan Beaver’s fantasy blog.

Last year’s top three finishers:

1. Tony Stewart

2. Jimmie Johnson

3. Greg Biffle

See the complete results from last year’s event here.

READ MORE:

READ: Carl Edwards
ends losing streak

READ: Phoenix a different
story for Danica

WATCH: Bowyer hits
pit crew member

WATCH: Edwards returns
to Victory Lane

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Posted on by

Sidelined following wreck, Annett could miss two months

With Michael Annett out up to two months because of a fractured and dislocated sternum, Richard Petty Motorsports has tabbed Reed Sorenson to pilot the No. 43 NASCAR Nationwide Series car until its regular driver returns.

Sorenson will be in the vehicle this week at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and will remain in the seat until Annett is healed and cleared to return, RPM said Tuesday in a statement. Annett was injured in a head-on crash in the season opener at Daytona International Speedway, and surgeons last week used a metal plate and screws to return his sternum to its natural position.

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The recovery time for such an injury is typically two months, but RPM officials are hopeful that Annett might return sooner given that he was in the hospital for less than two days. A 26-year-old Iowa native, Annett was coming off a breakthrough year that included a career-best 17 top-10 finishes and a fifth-place standing in final points.

"It’s an unfortunate situation to have to deal with," said Sammy Johns, director of operations at RPM. "We had a lot of momentum from last year, and we want to make sure we don’t lose that, and give Michael the best situation possible when he returns."

Aric Almirola wheeled the No. 43 Nationwide car last week in Phoenix, partly because RPM learned only days before the race weekend that Annett would be out, and the organization had the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver’s seat at the track. Almirola finished ninth in the event. Now the focus turns to Sorenson, who was a championship contender with Turner Scott Motorsports in 2011 before being released near the end of that season, but has made just eight Nationwide starts since the beginning of last year.

"It’s an unfortunate situation for the team and Michael," Sorenson said. "I have been to the hospital to see him, and he will be fine, but it’s going to take some time to heal. As a friend for a long time, my initial reaction was concern. I’m glad that he’s recovering now."

Sorenson’s most recent Nationwide victory came at Road America in 2011. He has started both events this season for Curtis Key’s organization, recording a top finish of 18th last weekend at Phoenix.

‘"It was very unexpected to get the opportunity to step in," Sorenson said. "The best part is that my friend, Michael, will be cheering for me and the whole 43 Pilot Flying J team. I talked to him about it, and he really wants to see me do well. This is a big deal for me, and I am going to make the most of it."

Team officials say Annett’s name will remain above the driver’s side window opening, as it did last week at Phoenix. It’s been a whirlwind week at RPM, given that Annett was at the shop the Monday before Phoenix for the organization’s regular competition meetings, and the severity of his injuries were not discovered until a follow-up visit with doctors the next day.

Annett’s injury was a crushing mental blow to a driver and a team that felt they were ready to build off 2012 and take the next step. Now, with Sorenson in the car until Annett returns, the organization is shifting its goals.

“We’re going to do the best we can to keep this race team as strong as we can for him, so when he comes back, we can pick that back up,” Johns said. “Hopefully, we can still go after an owner’s championship, and he can be a big part of that. So that’s our goal. …. The main focus is to keep this team at the level Michael’s had it at, so when he gets back we can still be contending for wins and that owner’s championship.”

“It’s not like we’re putting in a driver for the rest of the year,” crew chief Philippe Lopez added. “Michael is coming back. … We’re just going to try to minimize point damage, call not-too-conservative races because we have nothing to lose, and focus on when Michael’s coming back.”


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Posted on by Holly Cain

Move to American Ethanol ‘a seamless transition’

One bold initiative and almost four million miles later, NASCAR’s switch to American Ethanol-infused fuel for its race cars has gone so smoothly it’s difficult to imagine a time when the sport wasn’t using it.

Not only has the move to Sunoco Green E15 gasoline proven to be an environmentally beneficial decision, it’s actually boosted the performance of the race cars in all three of NASCAR’s marquee series — lowering emissions and increasing horsepower.

The ultimate endorsement came when the sport’s favorite son, Dale Earnhardt Jr., declared “a seamless transition” to Green E15 fuel upon winning the 2011 Daytona 500 pole position — the first time out with the American Ethanol blend. And just like that, any doubts or fears that fans or competitors had about such a radical change in fuel were quickly dispelled.

“Without fuel, we’re not able to race so there was a lot of pressure on making sure we got it right,’’ said NASCAR Vice President for Competition Robin Pemberton. “We were proud to be able to do that. It wasn’t that long ago we were using leaded fuel, then moved on to unleaded and that was a big change, and then the move to ethanol came just a couple short years after that.

“Because it goes under the radar when things are successful, they probably don’t receive the hype they deserve.’’

In terms of significance, this ranks right up there. When NASCAR went green five years ago, it went big.

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It now boasts the largest recycling program in sports, the largest solar-powered sports facility (Pocono Raceway) and a massive tree-planting program to off-set carbon emissions from its Sprint Cup Series races.

But fuel is fundamental in racing, and making the decision to switch to a drastically different formula was not only a matter of science but of overall vision.

“There was a significant degree of caution from the start and we had to be absolutely certain,’’ said Dr. Mike Lynch, managing director of NASCAR Green Innovation. “We had to take all the risk out through hard work, time and careful analysis. We needed performance without compromise and we’ve ended up with all the good things and no negative trade-offs.’’

The 15-percent ethanol blend has transitioned from carburetors to fuel injection engines and from the Car of Tomorrow to the 2013 debut of the Generation-6 cars, thanks to a concerted and diverse effort from NASCAR, its teams, manufacturers and a nearly three-year old partnership with the American Ethanol industry.

Hundreds of man-hours and even more manpower went into developing this project through track tests, engineering trials and engine dynos. That effort resulted in an E15 blend that produces 20 percent less emissions from the race cars, and just as importantly, a 9 to 12 horsepower increase.

“We’ve come a long way and I really give NASCAR credit for their green initiative,’’ said Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy, an American Ethanol advocacy group. “This wasn’t something the government made them do or they were forced to do.

“I think you have to give NASCAR a lot of credit for being bold enough to undertake the initiative. Not only has (NASCAR Chairman) Brian France talked the talk, but he’s walked the walk. They’ve put over 3 million miles on these cars in practice, qualifying and race conditions without any problems and for us, that’s a real validator of our product.

“You couldn’t ask for a tougher testing ground.’’

In May, NASCAR will have accumulated four million miles fueled by E15 among NASCAR’s three series without so much as a hiccup or disparaging word. And NASCAR fans, long known for their extreme loyalty, have taken note.

According to a study conducted in 2012, NASCAR fans are now 50 percent more likely than non-fans to support the use of ethanol blended gasoline in their own cars. The study also found they are now 100 percent more likely than non-fans to indicate their households are “very green” — all encouraging statistics that show NASCAR it is proceeding in the right direction.

"The Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, says, ‘Look, if it’s good enough for Jimmie Johnson, it’s good enough for my car,’" Buis said. "And that’s exactly the connection I think we’re making with this partnership."

“I think what’s really impressive about NASCAR is the fans are very well educated,’’ Buis continued. “They follow the sport closely, they listen to people and that was one of the reasons we were attracted to work with NASCAR. We know we have a good product, but it doesn’t matter if you have a good product if you don’t get the message out there.

“I like to tell people, there’s no sport more American than NASCAR and no fuel more American than ethanol. It’s a natural fit.’’

For more information on NASCAR Green initiatives, visit the official NASCAR Green website here.

READ MORE:

READ: Carl Edwards
ends losing streak

READ: Phoenix a different
story for Danica

WATCH: Bowyer hits
pit crew member

WATCH: Edwards returns
to Victory Lane


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Posted on by

Edwards makes the biggest jump post-Subway Fresh Fit 500

Driver                    Change            High/Low            Last race

         

1. Jimmie Johnson      

  

Outlook: With a unanimous first-place selection, a second-place finish at Phoenix and his Daytona 500 crown in hand, Five-Time isn’t going anywhere.
Standings: First, 90 points

2. Brad Keselowski    

  

Outlook: If you were expecting the defending NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion to stumble out of the gate, think again. Keselowski might struggle at Las Vegas, though, as it’s one of just three tracks where he has failed to record a top-10 finish at the Cup level. 
Standings: Third, 82 points

3. Dale Earnhardt Jr.   

  

Outlook: If it weren’t for a late restart penalty, it’s possible we could have been looking at Junior’s second victory in the past five seasons. Regardless, he has opened the season with two top-five finishes and appears to be back on track.
Standings: Second, 82 points

Related Links:

Entry list for Kobalt Tools 400

Edwards ends 70-race skid in style

Hamlin’s boldness pays off

One week later, a different story for Danica

Post-Phoenix driver reports

Subway Fresh Fit 500 race replay

 
 
 

4. Clint Bowyer

  

Outlook: Last year’s runner-up was left out of the top 10 in the 500 but improved at Phoenix, finishing sixth behind a quintet of heavyweights. Things are looking good for the Michael Waltrip Racing driver. For the most part.
Standings: Fifth, 72 points

Driver                    Change            High/Low            Last race

5. Matt Kenseth            

  

Outlook: The preseason favorite of many, Kenseth didn’t finish the 500, then had a good showing in Phoenix. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver has some catching up to do, especially with the amount of stars ahead of him.
Standings: 18th, 46 points

6. Denny Hamlin           

  

Outlook: Hamlin’s maneuvering at the end of the Subway Fresh Fit 500 was nothing short of spectacular, and rightly earned him the Mobil 1 Driver of the Race award. Don’t count on it being his only one of the season.
Standings: Fourth, 72 points

7. Jeff Gordon            

  

Outlook: Gordon spun an uninspiring 20th-place finish in the 500 but rebounded at Phoenix, despite the backstory. He might struggle to gain traction at Las Vegas, however, where he’s had average success.
Standings: Eighth, 60 points

8. Tony Stewart        

  

Outlook: Much like Gordon, Stewart rebounded at Phoenix from a poor 500 showing. But now that the cameras aren’t shining as brightly on teammate Danica Patrick, we’ll see if ‘Smoke’ can keep it up.
Standings: 23rd, 51 points

9. Carl Edwards       

  

Outlook: The backflip is back. For now, at least. Edwards has two wins at Las Vegas, but has only finished in the top 10 in half his races there.
Standings: 11th, 59 points

10. Greg Biffle          

  

Outlook: A strong 500 showing and an above-average one at Phoenix has Biffle near the top of the leaderboard in points. If he can notch his second Las Vegas pole, he’ll be in good shape to improve his standing.
Standings: Sixth, 66 points

11. Kasey Kahne         

  

Outlook: Things are going well for Hendrick Motorsports when all four drivers are in the top 11 of these Power Rankings. But with Kahne’s stock trending down after two frustrating races, that number could be down to three soon.
Standings: 31st, 33 points

12. Kevin Harvick      

  

Outlook: Another preseason favorite, Harvick’s poor 500 showing after a stellar weekend put him in a tough spot at Phoenix, but he improved to a 13th-place finish. He’s still got quite the hole to dig out of, though.
Standings: 30th, 33 points

13. Kyle Busch          

  

Outlook: Kyle Busch can clearly drive, as he dominated all weekend and took Saturday’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race. He’ll improve in the Sprint Cup Series soon, but in the meantime he has yet to break the top 20. Standings: 33rd, 31 points

14. Martin Truex Jr.

  

Outlook: Two difficult races to open the season have put Truex Jr. low in the standings. One top-10 finish in his seven starts at Las Vegas doesn’t bode well for a possible rebound.
Standings: 34th, 28 points

15. Ryan Newman      

  

Outlook: The odds were stacked against Newman following his fifth-place finish at Daytona, and he struggled Sunday. Newman couldn’t seem to stay away from the wall in Phoenix and finished 40th.
Standings: 20th, 44 points

16. Joey Logano    

  

Outlook: Logano has shown nothing yet this season that leads us to believe he’ll be more than a middle-of-the-pack driver, but for a 22-year-old learning Sprint Cup racing, that isn’t the worst thing in the world.
Standings: 21st, 44 points

17. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

  

Outlook: Wouldn’t it be interesting if by the end of the season, Stenhouse Jr. received more attention than his gal pal Danica Patrick? If he keeps posting top-15 finishes, he will. And that Sunoco Rookie of the Year award will sit on his side of the mantle.
Standings: Ninth, 60 points

18. Marcos Ambrose      

  

Outlook: Ambrose has finished 18th in both of the season’s races, so, unsurprisingly, he’s 18th here. His ceiling might not be too much higher than this. 
Standings: 12th, 52 points

19. Paul Menard             

  

Outlook: Same story as Ambrose, different chapter. Twenty-first finish in the 500 and 20th in the Subway Fresh Fit 500 for Menard. He’ll hang around spots 16-20 for most of the season. In the meantime, here’s some photos of him.
Standings: 17th, 48 points

20. Jeff Burton              

  

Outlook: Burton suffered a 30th-place finish in the 500 after his No. 31 car got to know the side of the wall very well, then rebounded in a big way with a top 10 at Phoenix. If ‘The Mayor’ can keep that up, he’ll shoot back up these rankings.
Standings: 15th, 48 points

       

In the rearview

 

Note: These rankings have been determined by a poll that included writers Kenny Bruce, Holly Cain, David Caraviello and Zack Albert, and video host Alan Cavanna. Tell us what you think about the Power Rankings. Use the hashtag #NASCARPOWER.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

We apologize. We are having technical issues with our comment sections and fan community and it is temporarily unavailable. We are actively working on these issues and hope to have it up and running soon. We are also working on enhancements to provide a better forum for our fans. We appreciate your patience and apologize for the inconvenience.