Posted on by Sean Montgomery

Enjoy Illinois 300 at World Wide Technology Raceway
(⏰ 3:30 p.m. ET | 📺 FS1 | 📻 MRN, SiriusXM)

Everything you need to know for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway, the 15th regular-season event of the 2022 campaign.

Race-day info 📝

Where: Madison, Illinois
Approximate start time: 3:30 p.m. ET | Full weekend schedule
TV/Radio: FS1, TSN, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio | Full TV schedule
Forecast: 40% chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 82 degrees, according to NOAA.gov | Weather tracker
Race distance: 240 laps | 300 miles
Stages: 45 | 140 | 240
Pit-road speed: 45 mph
Caution car speed: 50 mph
The purse: $7,013,085
Gateway 101: Get the full lowdown
Starting lineup: Where drivers will start
Pit stalls: Where drivers will pit

Key things to watch 🔑

Big story line

Is it anyone’s race? Or does one driver have the upper hand? Joey Logano has won two of the last five inaugural Cup Series races and two of the last three on oval circuits (Kyle Larson won at Nashville Superspeedway). And those races, the electric Food City Dirt Race and monumental Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum, were perhaps two of the most unpredictable races the series has seen in quite some time. Logano simply has a knack for performing well in the unknown on the biggest stage. But how much does World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway classify as “the unknown?” Many Cup Series drivers have experience at the 1.25-mile flat track in the Xfinity Series and Camping World Truck Series among others. In fact, a handful of them have even won here before. Sunday’s showdown will be a battle of inaugural-race trends, prior experience and Next Gen nerves.

Who’s hot? Who’s not? 

After a shaky and inconsistent start to the 2022 season, Christopher Bell has flipped the switch. Bell is riding high after a fifth-place finish in the 600-mile marathon at Charlotte Motor Speedway, extending his streak of top sixes to four in a row. Along with Toyota’s resurgence, the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing driver is keeping up the pace and has made a strong statement at the 1.5-mile tracks lately. Entering an unfamiliar track in a somewhat unfamiliar Next Gen car, momentum might be everything for Bell and company as they push for their first win since the Daytona Road Course in February 2021.

If you break down Brad Keselowski’s start to the season, his results have been subpar at best. Through 14 regular-season races, the No. 6 RFK Racing owner-driver has just one top 10 and a slew of finishes outside the top 20. He also crashed out early at Darlington Raceway and Charlotte, spiraling him down to 30th in the Cup Series standings. However, only 14 races into the season, the series’ debut World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway is the perfect time for an experienced, seasoned veteran to kick it up a notch. And he has experience here. In eight combined starts in the Xfinity Series and Camping World Truck Series, Keselowski has a win, three top fives and four top 10s. Though he has struggled this season, don’t be surprised if the 2012 champion shows up on his A-game.

Driving under the radar

If Ricky Stenhouse Jr. has not been in your Fantasy Live lineup in recent weeks, you have been missing out. Stenhouse is quietly but steadily putting together the most impressive campaign of his entire Cup Series career, save for his multi-win season in 2017. Stenhouse and JTG Daugherty Racing have reeled off an organizational record four straight finishes of eighth or better, marking the first time Stenhouse has achieved the feat at the premier level. If not for a disastrous start to 2022, he could very well be right up there with the top drivers this season based on consistency in recent weeks. And he may even be getting more credit and attention than he is now. However, sitting in 24th in the standings, the No. 47 group still has a lot of work left to do to put the series on notice. Likely needing a win to make the Round of 16 for the NASCAR Playoffs, Stenhouse’s name should be right near the top of the stack of dark-horse candidates.

Practice and qualifying

Friday’s hour-long practice session was a breath of fresh air for teams and drivers to have more seat time before this weekend’s race. Unsurprisingly, Logano once again proved his prowess, breaking new ground at Gateway with the fastest lap of the session. Team Penske was at the top of its game early with a 1-2-3 sweep in practice, while some of the early race favorites waned a bit on the leaderboard. But with key track position on the line in qualifying Saturday, Chase Briscoe rose to the challenge and earned his first Busch Light Pole Award of his career. Based on last week’s dauntless performance at Charlotte Motor Speedway, it wasn’t too surprising the No. 14 camp had blistering speed again here. Briscoe and crew seem to have found a groove and might have fans rethinking their favorites for Sunday’s race. | Starting lineup, qualifying recap | Full practice recap

Gatway Generalphoto
A view of the track’s flagstands at the Truck Series Drivin’ for Linemen 200 at Gateway on June 13, 2015 | Getty Images

Race-day staples ✅

Our biggest pieces of the week — get covered for race day from all angles.

• Paint Scheme Preview: 2022 Gateway and Portland weekend | Pick a favorite
• Power Rankings: Bookended by Busch brothers as June arrives | Latest driver rankings
• Fantasy Fastlane: Leaning on experience at Gateway | Top plays, sleepers
• NASCAR betting: World Wide Technology Raceway odds | Race favorites, underdogs
• Backseat Drivers: Experience key at World Wide Technology Raceway? | Watch the debate

Catch the pack 💨

Read up on the top headlines from the week leading up to Sunday’s race.

• Pit-road battle: Hamlin, Logano debated incident at Charlotte Motor Speedway | Read more
• Truex Jr.: Pondering future, should know more details soon | Read more
• COVID-19: Protocols, positive test sideline Chris Buescher at Gateway | Full details
• Milestone: NASCAR reaches 20 million miles driven on renewable fuel | Learn more
• Justin Haley: Kaulig Racing, Haley still searching for consistency in Cup Series | Story, analysis
• St. Louis sellout: World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway announces race is sold out | Read more
• 600 club: Sunday’s start at Gateway is 600th in Cup for Martin Truex Jr. | See who’s in the club
• Spanning the globe: Trackhouse Racing drivers excited for PROJECT91 | Read more
• Hendrick Motorsports: Organization to enter three Xfinity races in 2022 | More details
• Additions: NASCAR adds eight new automotive performance suppliers to successful competition program | Learn more
• Promotions: Hendrick organization promotes senior executives to lead four key areas | Read more
• Phoenix Raceway: 2022 Cup Series championship sold out, race set to return in 2023 | Full story
• Triple Truck Challenge: Truck Series promotion returns for 2022 season | Learn more

Get in on the action 💰

Think you know NASCAR? Put your mettle to the test with gaming, fantasy.

• BetMGM: Inexperience plentiful for inaugural race on Sunday | Read more
• The Action Network: How to bet Tyler Reddick vs. Chase Briscoe | Expert insight
• Early picks: Which drivers are the best early bets for St. Louis? | Read more
• Play it LIVE: Full guide to 2022 NASCAR Fantasy Live game | Get the FAQ
• Going all the way: 2022 Cup Series championship odds | See them here

First impression 💐

With another new track making its Cup Series debut, take a look at the relevant history leading up to Gateway.

• Gateway to victory: See the Cup Stars who have wins at WWT Raceway | Full list here
• First time for everything: Winners of recent inaugural Cup Series races | See them all
• Virtual view: eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series goes green from WWT Raceway | Watch the highlight

Fast facts ⏩

Hard-hitting, race-relevant statistics, brought to you by the experts at Racing Insights.

• Nine drivers expected to compete this weekend have won in the Xfinity Series and/or Truck Series at Gateway.
• Ricky Stenhouse Jr. finished top 10 in the last four races, his longest Cup Series top-10 streak and also JTG Daugherty’s longest.
• Two of Denny Hamlin’s three top 10s in 2022 are wins. The last driver to have multiple wins with only three top 10s through 14 races in a season was Derrike Cope in 1990.
• The pass for the win came in the final 10 laps in 11 of the 14 regular-season races in 2022.
• Kyle Larson is on a 12-race winless streak, the longest of his career with Hendrick Motorsports.

Say what? 🎙

Notable quotes from the stars of the sport heading into Sunday’s race.

• “The opportunity Matt Kaulig and Chris Rice and LeafFilter are giving me to race their car — we’re in it together. And Matt and Chris and LeafFilter, they don’t have unreal expectations. We’re extremely realistic on where we think we should be. We don’t think we’re gonna go out there every weekend and win and just blow the world on fire. But it’s a possibility.” — Justin Haley, driver of the No. 31 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet (via Haley’s feature story before Gateway)

• “It’s exciting, I think mainly for the crew chiefs. When you look at it, 15 minutes of practice and now we get an hour, they’re probably itching to try a bunch of different things that they’ve been thinking about in their heads and talking with engineers, so I think you’ll see a lot of guys trying some things because now we’re to the point where everybody probably has a little bit of a baseline of where they’re at with these cars, but now you’re gonna try some little different things to get that little bit extra speed, so having this hour-long practice, I think you’ll definitely see some guys trying some different setups and things like that. It’ll be cool. It’ll be interesting. Gateway is a hard track to get a hold of because it’s two different ends. There’s gonna be a lot of shifting like we said before, so we’ll see who comes out on top.” — Cole Custer, driver of the No. 41 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford

• “I feel like it’s going to be pretty hard to pass. I expect to be shifting at both ends of the track every lap, so we’re going to have our hands full. Qualifying and executing on pit road are going to be very important to keep track position throughout the race, so we’re going to have to be on our game all weekend.” — Martin Truex Jr., driver of the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota.

Posted on by Staff Report

Chase Briscoe rolled to his first Busch Light Pole Award in Saturday qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series’ debut race at World Wide Technology Raceway.

Briscoe set a best lap of 138.274 mph in the final round of qualifying, putting the No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford in the No. 1 starting spot for Sunday’s Enjoy Illinois 300 at Gateway (3:30 p.m. ET, FS1, MRN, SiriusXM).

RELATED: Starting lineup | Weekend schedule

“Yeah, I mean it is cool to be on the pole, right?” said Briscoe, who is the series’ fifth first-time pole winner this year. “I say it all the time. I never thought I would run a Cup race or even a Truck race. To be able to say you are a winner in the Cup Series and now a pole winner is really special. To do it at an inaugural event is even cooler. I think it will hit me a lot more tomorrow when we roll off and there is not a single seat available. I am excited for sure.”

Austin Cindric is set to share an all-Ford front row after posting the second-fastest speed (137.775 mph) in the final round with the Team Penske No. 2 Mustang. Christopher Bell was third, Tyler Reddick fourth and Ryan Blaney rounded out the top five qualifiers on the 1.25-mile track.

Denny Hamlin, last week’s winner in the Coca-Cola 600, was sixth fastest in the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota.

Zane Smith qualified 32nd for his Cup Series debut in a fill-in role with the No. 17 RFK Racing Ford operation. The Camping World Truck Series regular was announced Thursday as a substitute for Chris Buescher, who tested positive for COVID-19, according to the team.

Sunday’s race will mark the first Cup Series event at the Madison, Illinois, track in suburban St. Louis. The venue hosted the NASCAR Xfinity Series from 1997-2010, and Camping World Trucks from 1998-2010 and 2014 to this year.

Posted on by Staff Report

Denny Hamlin said Friday at World Wide Technology Raceway he was not aware he had clipped a member of Joey Logano’s pit crew last weekend during the Coca-Cola 600. Logano, meanwhile, called Hamlin’s pitting a “dirty move.”

The two drivers clearly had differing views of the mid-race contact, in which Hamlin’s No. 11 Toyota did clip tire changer Tanner Andrews during a pit stop. Andrews finished pitting the race and is expected to pit this weekend, despite having a sprained MCL, according to Ryan Flores, a Team Penske crew member and co-host of the “Stacking Pennies” podcast (watch Flores’ take on the incident).

“(Logano) chose to pit behind me,” Hamlin told reporters. “He shouldn’t have picked the No. 2 stall. You have to know if you run well, you’re going to have the guys going around you. … I always try to be respectful when I’m coming around someone. Certainly, I try to give room, but again, he was running a little better than I was at the time and I had to keep going around him. Again, he chose the second stall. When you choose to put yourself around cars you think are going to go fast, you open yourself up to that stuff happening.”

GATEWAY: Weekend schedule | Betting odds | Paint schemes

Hamlin kept improving throughout the endurance race and went on to claim his second victory of the season after starting from the Busch Light Pole position. Winning the pole gave his Joe Gibbs Racing crew the first pit-stall selection, and the team chose the first stall.

Logano would finish 20th after a seven-car wreck in overtime out of Turn 4, one in which the driver of the No. 22 Team Penske Ford was part of after a charge to the front of the field. After qualifying 23rd, Logano’s team chose the No. 2 pit stall, so Logano and Hamlin were pitting around each other all night.

“We changed the way we do our pit stops to try to allow (Hamlin) to not clip our guys,” Logano told reporters. “The changer’s down on the ground with his back to the car and gets his heels run over. I don’t think there’s any reason for it, because he had an opening out. So I think that’s just a dirty move.

“I think there needs to be a penalty for it and a rule made for it to protect our pit crew. If you’re outside your box, you’re on your own. I get that. But I think if you’re inside your box, you’re in your house, you should be protected in your home. I think we should just explore it. … We shouldn’t be grazing people like that to gain a competitive advantage.”

Hamlin and Logano did agree on one thing, however: that gamesmanship comes from both sides. Pit-crew members often swing out onto pit road and go wider than absolutely necessary as a way to impact the angle of the incoming, opposing cars attempting to pit around them.

Logano said he thinks that should be considered for a potential penalty as well.

“It goes both ways,” Logano said. “Don’t get me wrong, pit crews go out extra wide to try to screw up other (teams) and things like that. The game is played on both sides. We need to eliminate that.”

Said Hamlin: “I think the thing is, these guys try to swing out super wide. I’m sure (Logano has) hit crew guys before, but I never want to swipe at a guy. They swing so wide now to get in position, and this is a product of it.”

Saturday morning update: Four hours after the video of Hamlin’s interview was shared on Twitter, the driver himself quote tweeted it and wrote, “I have since reviewed the video. I was wrong. Definitely my fault. I cut in 22 box way too far.”

Posted on by Staff Report

Martin Truex Jr. will make his 600th NASCAR Cup Series start Sunday at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway.

Truex, the 2017 Cup champion, has had success at the St. Louis area track, winning an Xfinity Series event on the 1.25-mile oval back in 2004.

RELATED: Cup Series drivers with Gateway wins | Truex joins the 600-start club 

But that was a long way in the past. And with the end of his contract as the driver of the No. 19 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing nearing, the future is what’s on Truex’s mind.

“I think about it every day,” Truex told reporters Friday at Gateway. “We’re working on it. I should know something soon.”

Truex, a 31-time winner in the Cup Series, said he is “taking it all into account” and admitted weighing the positives and negatives.

“It’s a big decision and a lot of factors,” he said. “I would say within a couple weeks, you guys will know what I’m doing.”

Asked if his upcoming choice would depend more on personal aspirations and quality of life than any financial factors, Truex said that would be a fair statement.

“Everybody asks me, but I still don’t have any news,” he said. “I’ll let you know when I find out.”

Posted on by Zach Sturniolo

Joey Logano claimed the honor of posting the fastest lap in the first NASCAR Cup Series practice session at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway.

Logano wheeled his No. 22 Ford around the 1.25-mile oval with the quickest lap speed of 136.753 mph while his Team Penske teammates Ryan Blaney (136.260 mph) and Austin Cindric (136.104 mph) followed in hot pursuit. At 136.096 mph, Kurt Busch was fourth and the fastest Toyota. Erik Jones was the fastest Chevrolet in fifth with a best lap of 136.001 mph.

RELATED: Weekend schedule | Practice results

Some teams battled left-rear tire issues during the 50-minute practice session, the longest afforded to teams since Daytona International Speedway in February. Hendrick Motorsports drivers William Byron and Alex Bowman each suffered flats, as did Stewart-Haas Racing’s Aric Almirola and 23XI Racing’s Bubba Wallace.

Ben Rhodes, practicing the No. 16 Chevrolet for AJ Allmendinger who was busy practicing his Xfinity Series at Portland International Raceway, was the first to find serious trouble Friday evening. The defending Camping World Truck Series champion had an issue entering Turn 3 just 10 minutes into the session, sending him sliding hard into the outside wall and collecting right-side damage.

Parker Kligerman, making his first Cup start of the season, had his practice end early when his No. 15 Ford for Rick Ware Racing caught fire. Kligerman, who has competed in five Truck Series races this year, exited the car under his own power and was unharmed.

Completing the top 10 in practice were Tyler Reddick, Almirola, Larson, Ross Chastain and Kyle Busch in order.

Zane Smith, making his Cup debut in the No. 17 RFK Racing Ford as Chris Buescher sits out due to COVID protocol, was 26th-fastest at 134.332 mph.

Posted on by Press Release

Racing’s future stars will be showcased to a worldwide audience this summer on FloRacing. U.S. Legend Cars and FloSports announced Friday that the 2022 Summer Shootout will be streamed live on the FloRacing platform.

The Summer Shootout is an annual series for Legend Cars and Bandoleros held on the quarter-mile frontstretch at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Each year, the Summer Shootout puts the next generation of racing stars in the spotlight while providing a fun, family atmosphere for motorsports fans young and old.

The season begins on Monday, June 13 and ends with championship night on Tuesday, August 2. In 2022, fans who are unable to attend in person at Charlotte Motor Speedway will be able to watch all 10 events with an annual subscription to FloRacing.

“We are attracted to the growth we have seen out of Flo Racing,” said Graham Smith, US Legend Cars Managing Director. “As a growing business ourselves, we at US Legend Cars see this partnership as an opportunity not just for Legend Cars and Bandoleros, but for the entire grassroots racing community.”

By adding the Summer Shootout to the live streaming schedule, FloRacing and NASCAR are continuing their initiative to grow and invest into grassroots motorsports.

In addition to the Summer Shootout, FloRacing subscribers gain access to nearly 2,000 live motorsports events including NASCAR Roots, ARCA, Eldora Speedway, USAC, Tezos All Star Circuit of Champions, Short Track Super Series, the Chili Bowl and more.

Many of the world’s most successful race car drivers cut their teeth racing at the Summer Shootout prior to making it to the top levels of the sport.

NASCAR Cup Series champions Joey Logano and Chase Elliott both competed on the Charlotte quarter-mile oval on their path to stardom. Other motorsports stars who have competed at the Summer Shootout include William Byron, Ryan Blaney, Bubba Wallace and Daniel Hemric.

Each year, more than 100 drivers make their way to the Summer Shootout to battle on the tight, quarter-mile race track. Divisions that compete each week include: Masters, Pros, Semi-Pros, Young Lions, Bandolero Bandits, Bandolero Outlaws and Bandolero Beginner Bandits.

Fans can subscribe via FloRacing gaining access to nearly 2,000 races annually for $150 a year, a value equaling less than $0.10 per race. The subscription also unlocks premium FloRacing content including exclusive interviews, behind-the-scenes access with drivers, news, analysis as well as archived races and highlights that fans have come to expect from the FloRacing platform. Subscribers also receive complete access to the entire network of FloSports verticals ranging from hockey, wrestling, football, baseball, softball, grappling and more. Watch the races across all screens by downloading the FloSports app on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire and Chromecast.

2022 Summer Shootout Schedule

Race #1 – Monday, June 13

Race #2 – Tuesday, June 14

Race #3 – Tuesday, June 21

Race #4 – Tuesday, June 28

Race #5 – Tuesday, July 5

Race #6 – Tuesday, July 12

Race #7 – Tuesday, July 19

Race #8 – Monday, July 25

Race #9 – Tuesday, July 26

Race #10 – Tuesday, August 2

Posted on by Official NASCAR Release

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (June 3, 2022) – NASCAR and Official Partner Growth Energy boast a significant milestone this weekend at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway, celebrating 20 million NASCAR miles driven on Sunoco Green E15, a fuel blended with 15-percent bioethanol.

Growth Energy, the world’s largest trade association representing U.S. bioethanol producers and supporters, has partnered with NASCAR since 2011. Together, they have reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent across NASCAR’s three national touring series while also increasing horsepower on the racetrack.

“We’re fortunate to have great partners like Growth Energy and Get Bioethanol who are dedicated to NASCAR and helping us minimize our impact on the environment,” said Michelle Byron, Vice President of Partnership Marketing, NASCAR. “This weekend is a testament to Sunoco Green E15 and its ability to fuel world-class competition for more than a decade, all while reducing emissions in pursuit of a more sustainable sport.”

Bioethanol blends like Sunoco Green E15 continue to increase in popularity with consumers as NASCAR and other key leaders showcase its benefits, including the ability to withstand the demands of NASCAR competition each weekend.

“Twenty million NASCAR miles driven on Sunoco Green E15 is a significant milestone for our environment and NASCAR’s sustainability platform initiative,” said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor. “Since our partnership began in 2011,  every car on the track has reduced its carbon emissions by switching to engine-smart, earth-kind Sunoco Green E15, which is high octane and blended with 15 percent bioethanol. Mile after mile, E15 has also proven its ability to flawlessly perform in the most demanding driving environments, both on the track and for drivers across America. This weekend’s race and celebration is a reminder that filling up with E15 both on and off the track continues to be the smart choice for drivers who care about high performing engines, reducing emissions, and saving money at the pump.”

In recognition of the milestone, Austin Dillon will run the No. 3 Get Bioethanol Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing this weekend at World Wide Technology Raceway. All cars will also feature a special “20 Million Miles” decal with a green flag emblazoned with Get Bioethanol, honoring the achievement at the NASCAR Cup Series Enjoy Illinois 300 presented by TicketSmarter.

Posted on by Terrin Waack

At this point last year, Justin Haley had already competed in 24 NASCAR races – 12 in the Xfinity Series and 12 in the Cup Series. He was running for points in the Xfinity Series with Kaulig Racing but also a near-full schedule in the Cup Series with Spire Motorsports. By season’s end, Haley had tallied 63 total races.

This year, Haley is solely focused on the Cup Series, where he races for Kaulig Racing in the No. 31 Chevrolet as they both make their full-time debut at the sport’s top level.

“I keep telling people that this is like an offseason for me because last year, I did 60-something NASCAR races between the two series,” Haley told NASCAR.com. “I’m like, ‘Man, this is easy. It’s just one series.’ ”

If only.

KANSAS CITY, KANSAS - MAY 14: Justin Haley, driver of the #31 LeafFilter Gutter Protection Chevrolet, drives during practice for the NASCAR Cup Series AdventHealth 400 at Kansas Speedway on May 14, 2022 in Kansas City, Kansas. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Chris Graythen | Getty Images

“No, I mean, it’s definitely not easy,” Haley said. “It’s been tough and it’s challenging and it humbles you. We had a string of good races. We finished third at Darlington (Raceway), and then the next week, our tire falls off, we catch on fire three times and we burn a battery system out of it. It’s just so hard to be consistent.”

GATEWAY: Weekend schedule | Paint schemes | Betting odds

With 14 races down, that third-place Darlington showing highlights Haley’s 2022 season so far. It’s his only top-five and top-10 finish. He does have six top 15s and a recent string of four in a row that Darlington capped off.

In the last two races since Darlington, though, Haley registered a pair of DNFs – 35th (electrical) at Kansas Speedway and 27th (engine) at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Haley, 23, is riding a 19.1 average finish as a result.

“There’s opportunity races for us,” Haley said. “We have to go out and find those opportunity races, and then slowly but surely make our race team better over the course of the years. It’s not like an overnight thing.”

Sunday’s race may provide such an opportunity. The Cup Series heads to World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway in Madison, Illinois – right outside St. Louis – for the first time ever. And Haley is one of nine drivers in the 36-driver field who has won at the 1.25-mile track that has also hosted the Xfinity Series and Camping World Truck Series.

MADISON, IL - JUNE 23: Justin Haley, driver of the #24 Fraternal Order Of Eagles Chevrolet, celebrates with crew member after winning the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Villa Lighting delivers the Eaton 200 at Gateway Motorsports Park on June 23, 2018 in Madison, Illinois. (Photo by Jeff Curry/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Jeff Curry | Getty Images

Haley won the 2018 Camping World Truck Series race at Gateway, leading the final seven laps and taking the checkered flag by 0.753 seconds. He was fifth in Stage 1 and 10th in Stage 2 after starting fourth.

“I would love to say I feel more confident, but the Cup Series is like… they’re so good,” Haley said. “Each and every week, every single driver is like lights-out. So, it’s gonna be tough to be good this weekend. … I know where Victory Lane is, but I don’t think that gives me an advantage. It probably will give me a disadvantage, knowing my luck.”

RELATED: Cup drivers who have won at Gateway in Xfinity, Trucks

A for-sure disadvantage: Haley’s No. 31 crew will be without its crew chief, Trent Owens, as he continues to serve a four-race suspension NASCAR delivered after Kansas, where the Chevy lost a wheel during competition. Rear-tire changer Jonpatrick Kealey and jackman Marshall McFadden were also penalized the same. Gateway will be their third missed race.

This is the second time Owens has been suspended. After this probational period ends, that’ll be eight races Haley was required to perform without his crew chief – and the season isn’t even halfway over. Haley chalks up consistency issues to that rather important detail, along with the fact this is Kaulig Racing’s first real attempt at a Cup Series championship.

“It would probably have been easier to step into an already established organization, right? But I wouldn’t trade it for anything,” Haley said. “Because the opportunity Matt Kaulig and Chris Rice and LeafFilter are giving me to race their car — we’re in it together. And Matt and Chris and LeafFilter, they don’t have unreal expectations. We’re extremely realistic on where we think we should be. We don’t think we’re gonna go out there every weekend and win and just blow the world on fire. But it’s a possibility. …

“Again, I ran third at Darlington. I’m just gonna keep saying that till people respect it.”

Posted on by Staff Report

A super-charged, activity-filled race experience is set for the Enjoy Illinois 300 NASCAR race weekend, which will debut three days of live music at the World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Illinois, starting Friday and going through Sunday.

“We promised our fans a world-class event, and this festival will deliver on a whole new level,” said Curtis Francois, owner and CEO of World Wide Technology Raceway. “Collectively, with our incredible partner, World Wide Technology, we have developed a phenomenal lineup of entertainment and engagement opportunities that show the world how excited the St. Louis region is about hosting this race.”

GATEWAY: Weekend schedule | Paint schemes | Betting odds

Taking place across five stages, Confluence Festival features a line-up of 30-plus local, regional and national artists, ranging from rap to country. This first-ever festival includes performances by St. Louis native and multi-Grammy award-winning rap artist, Nelly, along with Academy of Country Music award-winning contemporary country band, Old Dominion.

Other performances throughout the weekend include A.C.M. award-winning singer-songwriter Cole Swindell, Country Music Association award-winning artist Jimmie Allen and fresh artist Kameron Marlowe, as well as St. Louis alternative-rock band The Steve Ewing Band, among many others.

Fan can also take part in STEM‑through‑motorsports activities, including World Wide Technology’s exhilarating RaceAR. An augmented reality race simulation that will be unveiled on the Midway. Other engagements include hands-on technology and innovative experiences run by community youth programs and a live esports tournament preceding the NASCAR Cup Series race on Sunday.

Fans can kick off their four-day race weekend on Thursday with a NASCAR hauler parade throughout downtown St. Louis and end their day with musical performances live at Ballpark Village Fan Fest from 4-8 p.m. CT.

An official festival schedule has not yet been released with dates and times, however special performances include The Muny, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Jazz St. Louis and The Sheldon.

“St. Louis is making history with the Enjoy Illinois 300 NASCAR Cup Series race weekend,” said David L. Steward, founder and chairman of World Wide Technology, “a spectacular, must-see four-day celebration for our region,”