Posted on by Staff Report

The Final Appeals Officer ruled Tuesday to amend the L2-level penalties issued to Kaulig Racing for unapproved parts modifications entering the March 12 weekend at Phoenix Raceway, but rescinded the points deductions at NASCAR’s request.

The decision states that “the Appellant violated the Rule(s) set forth in the Penalty Notice,” upholding the fine of $100,000 issued to the No. 31 NASCAR Cup Series team of driver Justin Haley but removing the loss of 100 championship driver points and 10 Playoff points initially issued to Haley. The four-race suspension levied to crew chief Trent Owens remains, however.

The Final Appeals Officer for this meeting was Bill Mullis.

“In the interest of fairness, NASCAR has requested that I remove the driver/owner race and playoff points from the penalty to Kaulig Racing,” said Mullis. “I have agreed to this request, per the Rule Book. During its opening remarks, NASCAR stated it believes that the violations did occur, the penalties were appropriate and the three-person appeals panel ruled correctly. But, because the Kaulig infraction closely mirrored that of Hendrick Motorsports (modified louver at Phoenix Raceway), NASCAR requested I rule in the same manner as the three-person appeals panel following the Hendrick Motorsports appeal on March 29. The information I heard in the room this morning created an overwhelming and unique circumstance. In fairness to the team and sanctioning body, as NASCAR documented in its remarks, this request is fully in the interest of fairness and consistency, and I agree.”

NASCAR released a statement following the ruling.

“NASCAR believes that Kaulig Racing committed the violations documented in the penalty notice, that the penalties were appropriate and that the three-person appeals panel ruled correctly when hearing the Kaulig appeal on April 5. However, in the interest of treating all competitors fairly, NASCAR today requested that the Final Appeals Officer remove the race and playoff points from the penalty. The Kaulig and Hendrick Motorsports violations involved the same modified part found during the same race weekend (modified louver at Phoenix Raceway), and with fairness and consistency top of mind, NASCAR requested that the FAO match the final Hendrick Motorsports penalty.  NASCAR believes that the updates made to the Rule Book will address similar issues in the future and keep its promise to the owners for strict penalties when single-source parts are modified. We are pleased with the swift resolution to today’s appeal, appreciate Bill Mullis’ ruling and now look forward to this weekend’s events at Talladega Superspeedway.”

Kaulig Racing also reacted to the decision, publishing a statement Tuesday afternoon.

“Kaulig Racing is pleased with the ruling of the Final Appeals Officer to amend the original L2 penalty issued by NASCAR following the confiscation of a louver at Phoenix Raceway. Regarding these unique circumstances, it means the world to us as an organization that the sanctioning body is working hard to ensure fairness and consistency across the board within our sport. We are focused ahead on Talladega and look forward to getting our season back on track with Justin Haley.”

MORE: Full Talladega schedule

While NASCAR discovered the hood louvers from all four Hendrick cars before practice on March 10 at Phoenix, Kaulig Racing’s louvers were discovered during pre-qualifying inspection on March 11. NASCAR officials confiscated the parts from all five vehicles and took them back to the R&D Center in Concord, North Carolina, for further examination. The team used an unmodified louver in the March 12 race, in which Haley finished 27th.

The hood louvers — which you can see on this Next Gen 3D model — are openings or vents in the hood that serve as a release point for ducts that transfer air out of the radiator. The system is intended to decouple engine performance from aero performance, offsetting the practice of teams taping off air intakes and placing undue pressure and heat strain on the car’s engine.

In the initial penalty report, the following sections of the 2023 NASCAR Rule Book were cited: Sections 10.5.1.A Guiding Principles Relative to Penalties; 14.1 C&D&Q Overall Assembled Vehicle Rules; 14.5.4.2.A Radiator Duct.

Posted on by Official NASCAR Release

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Leidos, a Fortune 500® science and technology leader, and its Dynetics team have announced their intention to compete in another moon race through a promotional partnership with NASCAR. The partnership will be a collaboration between two organizations in the areas of speed, safety and reliability. Details of the collaboration as well as the design and technology of the Lunar Terrain Vehicle (LTV) were unveiled during a special event at the Space Foundation’s 38th annual Space Symposium, the premier assembly for the global space ecosystem.

To view the partnership teaser video please click here.

“We are thrilled to unveil our lunar vehicle design and to announce our exciting new promotional partnership,” said Leidos CEO Roger Krone. “This groundbreaking collaboration between Leidos and NASCAR takes both companies into uncharted territory, just like we believe our rover will do for NASA and its astronauts. We aim to pave the way for human exploration of space and inspire the next generation of engineers, scientists and innovators to reach for the stars.”

“NASCAR partnering with Leidos couldn’t make more sense when it comes to this vehicle,” said Pete Jung, NASCAR senior vice president and chief marketing officer. “With both companies being known for exciting innovations in distinctive fields, this collaboration brings together ideas that normally don’t meet in other developments. We are eager to watch this uniquely designed rover traverse different areas of the lunar surface.”

Leidos is looking ahead to the next phases of NASA’s Artemis program after the successful launch of Artemis I on Nov. 16, 2022. The company has submitted a bid for the Human Landing System Sustaining Lunar Development contract, a critical component of NASA’s efforts to establish a sustainable presence on the moon. In addition, Leidos is currently working on the Universal Stage Adapter (USA) for NASA, a crucial piece of equipment that will enable the transport of large payloads, including the Lunar Terrain Vehicle recently unveiled by the company. Leidos is demonstrating its commitment to advancing the frontiers of space exploration and helping to shape the future of human spaceflight with these projects.

“We are fully committed to supporting NASA’s ambitious plans for lunar exploration,” said Steve Cook, president of the Leidos Dynetics Group. “As an industry leader in space technology, we are uniquely positioned to help NASA achieve its objectives, providing everything from necessary crew mobility to workhorse flexibility for building a lunar base. We believe that our innovative solutions and unmatched expertise make us the ideal partner for NASA as it works to establish a sustainable presence on the moon and beyond. At Leidos, we are proud to be at the forefront of this historic mission. We look forward to continuing our partnership with NASA to push the boundaries of human exploration and discovery.”

The rover design is a masterclass in simplicity, harkening back to the engineering that made the Apollo missions successful, while incorporating modern innovations that prioritize sustainability. The rover’s components have been meticulously designed to support the safety and well-being of astronauts as they drive across the lunar landscape. One innovation stands out: it supports male and female crew members across varying height and weight scales, promoting inclusivity in space exploration. By combining cutting-edge technology with a sustainable design philosophy, Leidos is leading the charge in creating a brighter future for humanity both on and off Earth.

Leidos and its Dynetics team bring a wealth of experience to the table, with a long-standing reputation as trusted providers of advanced space systems and services to NASA. NASCAR, on the other hand, boasts a powerful marketing engine and a passionate fan base, as well as a proven track record of developing high-performance race cars that push the boundaries of what’s possible. Combining their strengths and expertise, this collaboration marks a new chapter in NASA’s quest to explore the universe and push the boundaries of human achievement.

Roush Industries of Livonia, Michigan, provides automotive design and manufacturing experience for the project. Other project partners include Collins Aerospace, Motiv Space Systems, Moog, A-P-T Research, Sophic Synergistics and the Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems at Mississippi State University.

“NASCAR is excited about our promotional partnership with Leidos,” Jung said. “Our partnership can take us to the moon — and potentially beyond.”

The NASCAR Cup Series season continues on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET when the sport’s biggest stars hit the track for the GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway. All the action will air live on FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Posted on by Adam Fenwick

Dubbed the “Birthplace of the NASCAR stars,” Hickory Motor Speedway will once again welcome fans and competitors for three marquee events during the 2023 season.

The 0.363-mile asphalt oval in Hickory, North Carolina will host the second edition of the Jack Ingram Memorial on June 10, the Bobby Isaac Memorial on Sept. 2 and the Fall Brawl on Nov. 11.

Those events are part of a packed season-long schedule of NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series racing that will be available to watch live on FloRacing, the official streaming home of all NASCAR Roots properties.

RELATED: Watch Hickory’s 2023 race action live on FloRacing

The 2023 edition of the Jack Ingram Memorial will look to build off an incredible inaugural event last season that saw JR Motorsports NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Josh Berry triumph during the 111-lap main event for Late Model Stock Cars held in honor of NASCAR Hall of Famer Jack Ingram.

Limited Late Models, Street Stocks, Super Trucks and Renegades will also be in action live on FloRacing on June 10.

Another race held in honor of a NASCAR Hall of Famer, the Bobby Isaac Memorial takes center stage at Hickory Motor Speedway on Sept. 2. The race will be headlined by a 150-lap Late Model Stock Car race in addition to features for Limited Late Models, Street Stocks, Super Trucks and Pro Late Models.

Drivers such as Dale Jarrett, Jack Ingram, Tommy Houston, Bob Pressley, Robert Huffman, Dennis Setzer, Coleman Pressley, Berry, Sam Mayer and most recently Ryan Millington have taken home the checkered flag during the Bobby Isaac Memorial.

FloRacing will present live coverage of the Bobby Isaac Memorial on Sept. 2.

Finally, the racing season at Hickory Motor Speedway will end with a bang thanks to the annual running of the Fall Brawl on Nov. 11. Late Model Stock Cars will battle for 200 laps around Hickory’s historic confines.

Last year Coleman Pressley, making his return to Hickory as a driver for the first time in several seasons, won his second Fall Brawl. Denny Hamlin, Rodney Childers, Ben Rhodes, Berry, Taylor Gray and Anthony Alfredo are just some of the previous Fall Brawl winners.

Limited Late Models, Pro Late Models and Street Stocks will also be part of the action during the Fall Brawl, which will be shown live on FloRacing on Nov. 11.

Hickory Motor Speedway has not yet announced purses or race day schedules for these events.

Action during the Fall Brawl at Hickory Motor Speedway on November 12, 2022. (Photo: Adam Fenwick/NASCAR)

These three races are just a small part of a busy and exciting season of racing at Hickory that is already underway. Doug Barnes Jr. swept the season opening Twin 40s for the Late Model Stock Car class on March 4 and Landon S. Huffman and Tyler Matthews split Twin 40s on March 11.

With an old and abrasive racing surface, Hickory’s 0.363-mile oval presents one of the Southeast’s stiffest challengers for racers. Featuring 14 degrees of banking in Turns 1 and 2 and 12 degrees of banking in Turns 3 and 4, the historic venue that first opened in 1951 continues to host some of the best racing in the region.

Fans can witness that racing for themselves on most Saturday nights through the rest of the season. More than 20 nights of racing are on the schedule at Hickory.

Below is Hickory Motor Speedway’s complete race schedule for 2023. (Schedule subject to change.)

Date Event Divisions
March 4 Season Opening Blowout Late Model Stocks, Limited Late Models, Street Stocks, Renegades, Pro Late Models, Crate Modifieds
March 11 Weekly Racing Late Model Stocks, Limited Late Models, Street Stocks, Mini Stocks
March 17-18 Pro All Stars Series Super Late Models, Late Models, Mini Stocks
March 25 Weekly Racing Late Model Stocks, Limited Late Models, Street Stucks, Super Trucks, Renegades
April 1 Weekly Racing Late Model Stocks, Limited Late Models, Street Stocks, Super Trucks
April 8 Weekly Racing Late Model Stocks, Limited Late Models, Street Stocks, Super Trucks, Renegades
April 15 SMART Modifieds Modifieds, Sportsman
April 22 CARS Tour Late Model Stocks, Pro Late Models
April 29 Weekly Racing Late Model Stocks, Limited Late Models, Street Stocks, Super Trucks, Renegades
May 6 Weekly Racing Late Model Stocks, Limited Late Models, Street Stocks, Super Trucks, Renegades
May 20 Bumgarner Oil Night Late Model Stocks, Limited Late Models, Street Stocks, Super Trucks, Renegades
May 25 ASA STARS National Tour Super Late Models
June 3 Weekly Racing Late Model Stocks, Limited Late Models, Street Stocks, Super Trucks
June 10 Jack Ingram Memorial Late Model Stocks, Limited Late Models, Street Stocks, Super Trucks, Renegades
July 8 Birthday Night Late Model Stocks, Limited Late Models, Street Stocks, Super Trucks
July 15 Southeast Super Trucks Super Trucks
July 22 Weekly Racing Late Model Stocks, Limited Late Models, Street Stocks, Renegades
July 29 CARS Tour Throwback 276 Late Model Stocks, Pro Late Models
Aug. 5 Weekly Racing Late Model Stocks, Limited Late Models, Street Stocks, Pro Late Models, Crate Modifieds
Aug. 12 Weekly Racing Late Model Stocks, Limited Late Models, Street Stocks, Super Trucks, Renegades
Aug. 26 Weekly Racing Late Model Stocks, Limited Late Models, Street Stocks, Super Trucks
Sept. 2 Bobby Isaac Memorial Late Model Stocks, Limited Late Models, Street Stocks, Super Trucks, Pro Late Models
Sept. 16 Championship Night Late Model Stocks, Limited Late Models, Street Stocks, Super Trucks, Renegades
Oct. 21 Southeast Super Trucks Super Trucks
Nov. 11 Fall Brawl Late Model Stocks, Limited Late Models, Pro Late Models, Street Stocks
Posted on by Staff Report

When NASCAR announced its first long-term carbon emissions goal on Tuesday as part of a robust new impact platform, the move signaled the beginning of a new era in sustainability for America’s top motorsport.  

At the core of NASCAR IMPACT — an umbrella platform spotlighting sustainability, community engagement and other social initiatives — is NASCAR’s plan to reduce its carbon footprint to zero across its core operations by 2035.  

“It’s an ambitious goal but one that holds us accountable as we begin to think about sustainability differently,” said Eric Nyquist, NASCAR’s Chief Communications & Impact Officer. “There is much work to be done but the fundamental objective is clear: we must reduce our emissions over time.” 

The commitment to achieving net zero operating emissions over the next 12 years followed NASCAR’s first comprehensive measurement of its carbon footprint. The study measured total emissions from all NASCAR offices, owned race tracks, national series races and other related operations in 2022.  

“This begins the next phase of our sustainability effort,” said Riley Nelson, NASCAR’s Head of Sustainability. “Measuring our carbon footprint will become an annual process, and as we improve year-over-year with the support of the industry, we’ll identify new ways to contribute to a cleaner and healthier environment.” 

In addition to the long-term operating emissions goal, NASCAR’s carbon measurement informed near-term sustainability priorities including 100% renewable electricity at owned race tracks and facilities, the development of a sustainable racing fuel, expanded recycling efforts and on-site EV charging stations.  

NASCAR will track progress toward its sustainability goals in an annually published NASCAR IMPACT Report. The report will measure the collective impact of other impact-driven functions including The NASCAR Foundation, diversity, equity and inclusion, STEM education, supplier diversity through sourcing and procurement, as well as a national partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America — the Official Youth Community Partner of NASCAR. 

In celebration of NASCAR’s 75th Anniversary season, The NASCAR Foundation will host a 75-hour giveathon on May 16-19 with a goal to raise $750,000 for more than 500 nonprofit organizations across the country.  

Members of the Boys and Girls Clubs of America play on a simulator

Last season, NASCAR hosted Boys & Girls Club teens at 15 NASCAR Cup Series race events as part of immersive, workforce readiness experiences designed to showcase career opportunities in the industry.  

NASCAR’s elevated focus on community engagement parallels new milestones in sustainability. In February, the 2023 Busch Light Clash at the LA Memorial Coliseum became the sport’s first zero waste event. Supported by the University of Southern California and LAMC staff, the race event achieved a 90.1% waste diversion rate, diverting more than 11.7 tons of waste from landfills. 

Earlier this year, NASCAR became the first global sports property to join the Clean Energy Buyers Association (CEBA), a community consisting of more than 350 energy customer companies and their partners. CEBA counts nearly 100 companies from the FORTUNE 500 list among its ranks.  

Now for NASCAR, the attention shifts to reaching net zero operating emissions — or emissions that fall under the categories of scope 1 or scope 2. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, these are the emissions that come from sources that NASCAR controls or that are associated with the company’s purchased electricity.  

As NASCAR waves the green flag on a new approach to sustainability, its leadership is excited about the opportunities to build on its environmental strategies. 

“With NASCAR IMPACT, we’re striving to achieve a higher standard in the areas of sustainability and more broadly, social responsibility,” said Nyquist. “NASCAR has a significant role to play in improving the well-being of our communities and the health of our planet, and our commitment reflects that.” 

Note: With the launch of NASCAR IMPACT and new sustainability strategy, NASCAR has discontinued its NASCAR Green platform. NASCAR Green was established in 2009 as the sport’s first industry-wide sustainability platform.

Posted on by Zack Albert

SEBRING, Fla. — Even with the 24 Hours of Le Mans less than two months away, the Garage 56 team is still finding out new things about its Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 entry. Jordan Taylor, the group’s Le Mans alternate driver and de facto coach, lifted up the car’s hinged roof flap before a morning test run and found just a body panel underneath.

“We should keep some snacks in there,” Taylor said to teammate Mike Rockenfeller, perhaps thinking about the sustenance needed for the endurance race that awaits.

“Is that where they smuggle the moonshine?” Rockenfeller cracked back with a grin. “They still do that?”

There was no rum-running Monday at Sebring International Raceway during the first of two days of Garage 56 testing, no illicit transport of white lightning through the center of the Sunshine State in a nod to NASCAR’s bootlegging roots. Instead, the historic 3.74-mile circuit was the proving ground for final tuning before the car heads to France for the 100th-anniversary classic June 10-11.

RELATED: Garage 56 livery from all angles

New stickers adorn the side of the Garage 56 primary car for Le Mans
Zack Albert | NASCAR Studios

The two cars on hand at Sebring both looked the part of being race-ready, with the No. 24 number plate newly affixed along with other certification stickers for the FIA and ACO governing bodies. The cars also bore a sticker identifying the Next Gen-based racer’s Le Mans classification — “IC” for “Innovative Car.”

As for the rest of the final preparations, Monday was a step toward making those complete.

“From a purely durability point of view, I think everyone’s pretty confident,” said Taylor, noting the strides the team made in endurance testing here in February. “A couple of small things that we’re still running through at this test to see how everything shakes out, but yeah, working on little handling and tuning tweaks to make the car quicker and more competitive and fitting into what the ACO (Automobile Club de l’Ouest) wants to see. So a lot of little details, but I think it’s nice to be here practicing more, our pit stops, driver changes, and the Le Mans-specific rules that we’re going to need to do over there. So it’s good to have everyone here to get into that routine again, going into those basics.”

The team made laps under clouds and drizzle in the morning hours Monday before partial sunshine took over for most of the afternoon. The two cars that shared a giant tent in the Sebring paddock were 001 — the test car that has made the majority of the laps in the project’s development stage — and 002, the primary race car for Le Mans. The team is opting to limit the track time for the 002 Camaro during the two-day stretch, hoping to save some wear and tear before reaching the grand stage.

The Hendrick Motorsports crew worked to keep things moving, even after rain that lingered longer into Monday morning changed up some of the schedule. “It’s good to get some wet running,” Taylor said. “I think the car only did one real test in the wet, and at Le Mans, it can rain at any point. So working with Goodyear on some new wet options was high on our list.”

The final dress rehearsal comes exactly one year and one month after the Garage 56 project was launched here to much fanfare during the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring weekend in 2022. A rendering of the prototype car had flashed onto the screens during that presentation, a blink-and-you’ll-miss moment that approximated what the car might look like.

Monday, two Le Mans-ready Camaros roamed the same Sebring paddock as once-imagined race cars come to life.

“Just having watched this group grow together and mature together, it’s really a fully functioning race team that wasn’t even in existence some 13 months ago,” said Jeff Andrews, Hendrick Motorsports’ president and general manager. “So, it’s been spectacular. It certainly is a privilege for Hendrick Motorsports to be involved and very honored that we were chosen to get these race cars prepared and be here on behalf of Mr. France and Chevrolet and really everybody that is going to make this happen. So it’s a combination of a lot of hard work with a lot of different companies involved and suppliers, and some really, really good race cars on the track, and obviously some amazing talent who are going to be driving these race cars in Le Mans. It’s been great to watch.”

Garage 56 team members (from left) Jimmie Johnson, Mike Rockenfeller, Jordan Taylor and Greg Ives talk shop at Sebring International Raceway
Zack Albert | NASCAR Studios
Posted on by Zach Sturniolo

MARTINSVILLE, Va. — With all four Stewart-Haas Racing entries qualifying inside the top seven, Sunday seemed bound to be a statement day for the organization.

But despite combining to lead 264 of 400 laps at Martinsville Speedway, the final running order didn’t quite reflect a breakout race for SHR.

MORE: Full Martinsville recap | Points standings

Ryan Preece scored his first career pole in the NASCAR Cup Series and proceeded to lead the first 135 laps of Sunday’s race. Chase Briscoe led a career-high 109 circuits around the 0.526-mile oval. Kevin Harvick paced the field for 20 laps, and veteran Aric Almirola netted the race’s best average running position at 4.76 — 0.01 better than Briscoe.

At the checkered flag, though, Briscoe was the only SHR driver bringing home a top-five finish. Almirola was sixth, but Preece and Harvick both finished outside the top 10 — 15th and 20th, respectively.

“We led the wrong handful of laps,” said Greg Zipadelli, chief competition officer at SHR. “We did (do well) as a group, but it’s really frustrating when you have little things that cost you.

“It was nice to see all four cars qualify well, and they all raced well. But this is a little bit different race track. It’s not like you can take what you did here and go anywhere else with it. So everybody at the shop is working hard and appreciate their effort, and to have four of them qualify up there and lead a bunch of laps.

“Just, man, we gotta get this monkey off our back and win a race.”

Ryan Preece leads at Martinsville
Sean Gardner | Getty Images

Preece’s day went south at Lap 135. His No. 41 Ford led the field onto pit road under caution for Harrison Burton’s spin. But parked at pit stall No. 2 — the first available stall from pit exit thanks to his pole position — Preece launched out of his pit stall in an attempt to win the race off pit road, incurring a speeding penalty that sent him to the rear of the field for the impending restart. Pitting so close to the end of pit road, Preece “didn’t think we could” speed from that pit box.

“But I guess it’s my job to know that,” Preece said. “It’s unfortunate, but when we had track position, I think it showed that we had a really fast HaasTooling Ford Mustang, but you can’t do those things. You can’t make mistakes.”

RELATED: Part 1 of Preece’s long road back to Cup

Mired in traffic, Preece only charged to the brink of the top 20 until the final run to the checkers, unable to work through the thicket of cars ahead of him.

“That first run, I think we climbed to 23rd or 21st, so I thought there was opportunity,” Preece said of his comeback. “But after three pit stops, everybody else got their car that much better. You saw Joey (Logano), they stayed out and gained track position, and he ran second. I mean, he was gonna go a lap down for a while, so you can’t make mistakes.”

Kevin Harvick races at Martinsville
Sean Gardner | Getty Images

Harvick was a legitimate contender all day, leading 19 laps in Stage 2 en route to his first stage win since 2020. During green-flag pit stops around Lap 300, Harvick was set to cycle to the lead before a Lap 303 caution. But after pitting under caution at Lap 344 and exiting fourth, Harvick immediately cut a right-front tire, relegating the 2014 champion to the rear of the field as he pitted a second time.

Stewart-Haas Racing has shown early speed with the debut of this year’s short-track package, with Harvick nearly victorious at Phoenix Raceway before an impressive showing by all four drivers at Martinsville.

That, in part, adds to Sunday’s sting as none of them broke through for the victory.

“For us as a company, we knew that short tracks (are) where we were really going to need to capitalize,” Briscoe said. “And that’s where it’s kind of frustrating knowing that we didn’t lock ourselves in today when we had a great opportunity.”

Since the beginning of the 2021 season, SHR has combined to win just four races — Almirola’s New Hampshire triumph, Briscoe’s inaugural Cup win at Phoenix in March 2022 and Harvick’s back-t0-back victories at Richmond and Michigan last summer. To see all four cars with speed again was encouraging for the program despite the end results.

“It was a really good day for Stewart-Haas,” Briscoe said. “It’s kind of the Stewart-Haas that there was three or four years ago, right? And it was nice to kind of see that again. So yeah, really good day for the company. I just wish that one of us was taking home the grandmother clock.

“I felt like a Stewart-Haas car probably should have won the race, and we just couldn’t catch the breaks we needed there at the end. But, overall, a great day. That’s something that, as a company, we needed to go and run up front. All four cars were really competitive. I wish one of us would have won the race, but you’ll have that.”

In nine races, Almirola’s sixth-place finish at Martinsville is his only top 10. The No. 10 team has suffered five finishes of 30th or worse, saddling Almirola with a 23.9 average finish, the worst of his full-time career. But while he may have been the company’s lone driver not to lead Sunday’s race, his race-best average running position was no accident — and, indeed, it was a necessary performance.

“We just had a few things throughout the race that if we could go back and do different, we’re sitting in Victory Lane,” Almirola said. “I feel very confident in that. I think we were arguably the best car throughout the day. At different points, we were maybe a third- or fourth-place car, but for most of the day, we were the best race car on the race track and just didn’t put the whole thing together. But it’s nice to be frustrated with a sixth after the start of the season we’ve had.”

The series heads to Talladega Superspeedway for the GEICO 500 on Sunday (3 p.m. ET, FOX, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). Zipadelli is cautiously optimistic the momentum built at Martinsville might carry to the high-banked superspeedway.

“We’ve got to work on the intermediate (tracks). We’ve got a speedway next week,” he said. “Our cars were pretty good there so far this year. So hopefully, we go there and capitalize.”

Posted on by Staff Report

After a career spanning two decades that saw an astounding 56 NASCAR national series wins, Greg Biffle has earned his place among the greatest drivers in racing history — solidified by his selection to NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers list in celebration of the sport’s diamond anniversary.

While ‘The Biff,’ as he was famously called, still races from time to time, it was his spectacular start in the late 1990s and exceptional run through the 2000s that ultimately tells the tale of his remarkable career.

Biffle raced full-time in all three national series, amassing 19 Cup Series victories, 20 wins in the Xfinity Series and 17 triumphs in the Craftsman Truck Series. His 19 premier series trophies have him level with Davey Allison, Buddy Baker and Fonty Flock, with a high-water mark coming in his six-win campaign during the 2005 season, when he finished a career-best runner-up in the standings.

NASCAR 75: Updated 75 Greatest Drivers list | View historical timeline

In 14 seasons of year-round competition, Biffle finished top five in the Cup Series points standings three times, narrowly edged out by Tony Stewart in his closest title bid. He did manage to win the Xfinity Series championship in 2002, just two years after being crowned a champion in the Truck Series — both while driving for Hall of Fame owner Jack Roush.

Though Biffle has stepped away from full-time competition at the NASCAR national level, the longtime veteran made five starts in 2022, including the season-opening Daytona 500. His last full season was in 2016.

MORE: See all of Biffle’s premier series victories

Posted on by Staff Report

Chase Briscoe underwent successful surgery on his broken left middle finger early Monday morning, his wife Marissa announced via Twitter.

Briscoe suffered the injury while racing a dirt late model on April 6, contacting the wall in qualifying, which ripped the wheel out of his hand and broke the finger.

MORE: Martinsville results | Points standings

The driver of the No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford went in for surgery at 5 a.m. ET on Monday and was out by 7:45 a.m.

“Chase is out of surgery and all is well,” wife Marissa Briscoe wrote. “Thank you everyone for the prayers. Keep them coming!”

Though he admitted concern leading into the Bristol dirt race, Briscoe was never slowed by the injury, instead scoring consecutive fifth-place finishes at Bristol and Martinsville, respectively.

“I told Jamie Little on the TV broadcast maybe I need to break another finger,” Briscoe joked Sunday. “It’s kind of been the turning point for us all year long.”

Indeed, the past two NASCAR Cup Series races have produced the team’s first two top fives of 2023, highlighting a stretch of five top-15 finishes in the past six races.

Briscoe said his finger was “OK” in Sunday’s NOCO 400 at Martinsville, but moments of discomfort reminded him he was still racing injured.

“I definitely had some pain there a little bit,” said Briscoe, who led a career-high 109 laps. “You know, it was really hard for me when I’d get really far turned to the left, but then also it was extremely hard for me to counter-steer. So I had to be really patient about making sure I was straight up off the corner, which probably obviously was helping me there quite a bit.

“But yeah, it was OK. I’m sure I’m going to be in quite a bit of pain tonight but gotta be at the hospital at 5 a.m. and see what they can do.”

The Cup Series returns to action Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway for the GEICO 500 (3 p.m. ET, FOX, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

Posted on by Zach Sturniolo

MARTINSVILLE, Va. — Joey Logano’s team started its race day by discovering a leak in its water tank. By the checkered flag, the No. 22 Team Penske Ford was the runner-up in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway.

Not bad for a driver whose average running position was a measly 20.95, per NASCAR’s loop data.

“After the second stage, I would have been stoked about second place,” Logano said.

MORE: Full Martinsville results | At-track photos

Despite qualifying 15th, Logano, the defending Cup Series champion, was the lone car to be sent to the rear before the green flag of Sunday’s race, its fixed leak resulting in a penalty for unapproved pre-race adjustments.

Passing came at a premium on the 0.526-mile short track, leaving Logano mired deep in the field for the majority of the race — even falling off the lead lap. By Lap 180 — the end of Stage 2 — Logano was way back in 26th.

The first turning point for the No. 22 team came at Lap 303 when a loose right-rear wheel and tire detached from Anthony Alfredo’s No. 78 Chevrolet before green-flag pit stops had finished cycling through. That caution period left just 11 cars on the lead lap before the free pass and wavearounds — including Logano.

The team’s next break came at Lap 343 when JJ Yeley contacted the outside wall in Turn 3 to bring out the final caution of the race. Crew chief Paul Wolfe opted to leave Logano on the race track rather than pit, launching Logano to the lead.

The 2018 Martinsville winner, Logano was one of just four to stay out and gamble, along with Aric Almirola, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Denny Hamlin.

Logano rocketed ahead on the restart and led the next 24 laps, but Kyle Larson quickly hunted him down. Larson took two tires during the Yeley caution, the half-fresher rubber ultimately playing a significant role.

“He caught me so quick, and there was still 25-30 to go, and I was like, ‘Aw, geez. I don’t have a chance here, but I’ll make it wide for a while,’” Logano said. “I knew he was gonna have to get physical, which is fine. That’s Martinsville racing. He should. I tried to play defense as best as I could, and eventually, he got underneath me.”

Larson knew Logano would make his car as wide as possible despite the speed differential, but he was ready for the challenge.

“He’s a very good short-track racer,” Larson said of Logano. “His team, as always, does a great job executing and (putting) themselves in position, finishing way better on their off days than they should, so I knew he was gonna fight really hard.

“Honestly, I was better compared to him than I thought I was going to be as far as grip and all that went, so I could tell the areas where I was better than him as I was catching him. And then he got really protective of his exit. And I was just kind of scared to move him out of the way too hard because that kind of opens the door for him to do the same to you. And usually, he’s going to do it four or five times worse.

“So I wanted to be as respectful getting by him. I knew that I was gonna have to give us the bumper at some point to get by him, and I tried a couple times when I was behind him, and he did a really good job of just checking up and not getting shoved out of the way.”

Ultimately, Logano held on for a second-place finish, his second of the season and third top five of 2023. The other: A win at Atlanta.

“I’m very proud of the Verizon Mustang team. We were not good,” Logano said. “We went down a lap two times throughout the race and got one lucky dog and one lucky caution and then just some good strategy from Paul and getting the car better. We were awful to start, and he did a good job of getting me competitive at least and putting me in position to do something there at the end.

“There are days when you’re mad about second — most of the time you are — but days like today, you’re pretty happy to see the front at the end.”

Posted on by John Crane

On the surface, growing pains seemed to be in the cards for Chase Elliott.

Of course, this didn’t specifically pertain to anything physical. After being sidelined for six weeks following a snowboarding accident in early March, the five-time Most Popular Driver Award winner was more than ready to take on the bodily demands Martinsville Speedway required. Instead, these growing pains pertained to simply finding a good feel of the car after being away from it for six races. And after remaining static outside the top 20 for the majority of the race, finding that “feel” looked to be something that would take time.

However, the No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet chipped away and translated a middle-of-the-pack start into a top-10 finish, with the 2020 Cup Series champion finishing 10th in his 2023 return.

Such resilience can only be a positive sign for the No. 9 moving forward.

RELATED: Race results | At-track photos: Martinsville 

“It was warm, and I’ve been sitting on the couch for six weeks, so I think that probably hurt me more than anything,” Elliott said after the race. “Our NAPA Chevy, we struggled really bad, honestly, for the first … every run but the last one. So, we finally got it going there at the end, and I was able to make some passes and do things even I didn’t really think I was gonna be capable of doing, or at least of us fixing to that degree here at the race track. So, I was pleasantly surprised by that, and it got us a top 10 out of our first day back, so that was definitely nothing to be too bummed out about.”

A Saturday qualifying session that eventually saw Elliott start the race in 24th might have been the first sign of frustrations to come. And through the opening two stages, this seemed to be the case. Even as teammates William Byron and Kyle Larson found their way inside the top 10 to close Stages 1 and 2, respectively, Elliott remained entrenched outside the top 15 and even outside the top 20, with threats of being lapped possible as opposing long-run speeds inched closer and closer to his bumper.

But no matter. Instead of buckling, Elliott started finding. From timely passing, speed and even a touch of momentum from pit road, Elliott eventually found himself inside the top 15 with fewer than 50 laps to go, and even with Larson burning rubber after winning his second race of 2023, Elliott found a moral victory with a 10th-place finish, edging out another teammate in Alex Bowman by 0.266 seconds.

Moral might not equate to material, but in Elliott’s case, it may not matter. A shaky car through the opening and middle portions of the race certainly accounted for the growing pains, but it didn’t dictate the endgame for the No. 9 when it was all said and done. Resilience revealed itself, and such resilience could only gather more steam as the season continues.

“We definitely got better,” Elliott said. “Really, the only run I thought we were even decent was that last one, so that was nice to get there, somewhat. I thought we were in the ballpark, obviously, you’re just out of time. But it was really good to get in the top 10 there. That was something to be proud of.”

MORE: Chase Elliott’s return resonates through NASCAR Cup Series garage  

Now behind the wheel for what should be the season’s duration, Elliott will look to keep the momentum high. And options certainly remain abundant for a driver needing a win to lock in any chance at postseason action.

There are 19 races remaining in the regular season, and all five of Elliott’s 2022 wins were at tracks still to come on the 2023 docket (Talladega Superspeedway, Pocono Raceway, Atlanta Motor Speedway, Nashville Superspeedway and Dover Motor Speedway). And for a road-course ace like Elliott, five road/street courses remaining also makes for possible winning scenarios.

With a six-week absence behind him, Elliott can now look toward finding ways to build off of this momentum. And while growing pains might yet remain on the table for Elliott as he continues his way back, perhaps finding that “feel” will be that much easier. A chance to continue with that “feel” will come at Talladega next Sunday (3 p.m. ET, FOX, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

“Like I said, I am really proud,”  Elliott said. “To get in the top 10, I thought was really nice for how bad we ran today, and for being out of the car for a month, I thought was pretty solid for me, you know, so I was pretty happy with that.”