Cup / Xfinity / Truck News

Byron Lords Over COTA Road Course

(AUSTIN, TX – MAR 24, 2024 – RIS) William Byron won his twelfth NASCAR Cup Series checkered flag in a race that went caution free (except for the two stage breaks) with Christopher Bell second, Ty Gibbs third, Alex Bowman and Tyler Reddick finishing fourth and fifth. Byron’s pit crew got him out of the pits either in the lead or in position to take the lead when other cars stopped at each of their three stops. 

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Volume 2024, Issue 3, Posted 7:40 PM, 03.24.2024

Larson Overcomes Penalty Start to Win COTA

(AUSTIN, TX – MAR 23, 2024 – RIS) Kyle Larson had to start at the back of the field instead of from the pole after changes to the No. 17 Hendrick Automotive Camaro and made a pass in the final lap of a double-overtime to put the No. 17 Xfinity racer in Victory Lane for the first time. Larson led one time for only the The car carries the number and paint scheme originally raced by Ricky Hendrick in NASCAR’s truck series before the airplane crash that killed several members of the Hendrick family.

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Volume 2024, Issue 3, Posted 8:59 PM, 03.23.2024

Corey Heim Victorious in Truck Race at COTA

AUSTIN, TX – RIS – It was Corey Heims’s day.  The NASCAR Craftsman truck race at COTA saw Heim dominate the run on Saturday. Heim's Tricon Garage No. 11 Toyota led a race-high 31 of the 46 laps in the XPEL 225, taking the checkered flag by a 1.625-second margin.

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Volume 2024, Issue 3, Posted 4:45 PM, 03.23.2024

Byron Repeats COTA Pole Record Run

(AUSTIN, TX – MAR 23, 2024 – RIS) William Byron, holder of the qualifying record from the 2023 race on the 3.41 mile road course, bettered last year’s time in winning the pole for the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix. Byron’s practice time, his Round One time and his Round Two times were all quicker than last year’s. The pole lap of 2:10.787 at 93.882 mph beat Ty Gibbs’ lap by 0.015 second, with Tyler Reddick, Christopher Bell and Corey LaJoie the rest of the top five starters.

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Volume 2024, Issue 3, Posted 2:38 PM, 03.23.2024

Zilisch and Larson Win Truck and Xfinity Pole at COTA

AUSTIN, TX – RIS – Young development driver Connor Zilisch turned the fastest speeds to sit on the pole for the NASCAR Craftsman truck race on Saturday at COTA by making the first of what is expected to be three series starts this year with Spire Motorsports, Zilisch advanced to the final round of qualifying with a track record average lap speed of 92.941 mph. The m17-year old rack record average lap speed of 92.941 mph. He was 1.630 seconds faster than Ross Chastain’s record lap of a year ago).Zilisch becomes just the sixth driver to start on the pole in his first series race.

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Volume 2024, Issue 3, Posted 8:15 PM, 03.22.2024

Danny Hamlin Wins at Bristol Amid Tire Wear Problems

BRISTOL, TN – RIS –  March 17, 2024 -The Food City 500 NASCAR Cup Series race was a result of tire wear on Sunday. Denny Hamlin played the tire wear game and won over teammate Martin Truex in a game of attrition.  His Toyota teammates and he dominated the race.  Brad Keselowski, Alex Bowman and Kyle Larson rounded out the top five in the end.  The Goodyear tires — the same tire codes used in last season’s playoff race at Bristol Motor Speedway  last year— did not lay down rubber as expected. There was extra wear on the tires, which led to multiple drivers spinning due to right-side issues.

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Volume 2024, Issue 3, Posted 8:08 PM, 03.17.2024

Eckes Continues Chevy Truck Streak with Bristol Victory

(BRISTOL, TN – MARK 16, 2024 – RIS) Christian Eckes held off Kyle Busch to gain a ‘redemtion’ Craftsman Truck Series win after last year’s disappointing finish at Bristol. Eckes’ win came after he had set the fastest time in practice and qualifying, along with the highest ten-lap average speed in practice. Zane Smith finished third, followed by Matt Crafton and Tyler Ankrum to fill out the top five finishers.

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Volume 2024, Issue 3, Posted 11:00 PM, 03.16.2024

Blaney Will Start First at Bristol, Berry Second

Bristol, TN – RIS – He was fast in practice and he was unbeatable in qualifying.  Ryan Blaney won the pole for Sunday’s Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway.  Blaney posted the fastest overall lap Saturday in NASCAR Cup Series practice at Bristol Motor Speedway and was the only driver to hit 127mph.  Kyle Busch was second fastest in practice at 126.989mph and Bubba Wallace was third fastest at 126.922mph. Ross Chastain was fourth fastest at 126.905mph and Joey Logano completed the top five at 126.863mph.

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Volume 2024, Issue 3, Posted 7:33 PM, 03.16.2024

Eckes Tops Bristol Truck Charts

(BRISTOL, TN – MAR 16, 2024 – RIS) Christian Eckes starts tonight’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at the front of the field after setting the top times in practice and in qualifying with a time trials result of 15.122 seconds, ahead of Nick Sanchez’ effort of 15.203 seconds. Taylor Gray starts third with Kyle Busch fourth and Ty Majeski fifth.

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Volume 2024, Issue 3, Posted 5:46 PM, 03.16.2024

Bell Breaks Chevy Streak in 2024 With Phoenix Win

(PHOENIX, AZ – MAR 10, 2024 – RIS) Christopher Bell chalked up the first win by a non-Chevy in the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season to extend his record of wins in each of the last four seasons with his seventh career win. A pit stop in the final stage dropped him to 20th in the field and the new tires provided the speed and traction for him to storm through the field to a winning margin of 5.465 seconds over Chris Buescher. Ty Gibbs finished third in another Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, followed by Brad Keselowski and Ryan Blaney. The top Chevy was Ross Chastain in sixth at the checkered flag.

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Volume 2024, Issue 3, Posted 7:39 PM, 03.10.2024

Chandler Snith Victorious in Phoenix Xfinity Race

AVONDALE, AZ – RIS – Chandler Smith won his second career NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Phoenix Raceway in overtime.  As the laps winded down, Jason Allgaier had a commanding lead with few laps to go when left rear tire went down causing him to spin and wrecking his JR Motorsports Camaro. After the wreck cleared, Smith had led earlier, fought off the opposition and rolled to his win.

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Volume 2024, Issue 3, Posted 7:50 PM, 03.09.2024

Hamlin Fastest in Phoenix Qualifying.

AVONDALE, AZ – RIS – Denny Hamlin broke Joey Logano’s streak of pole positions to have the honor of starting first in 2024.   Hamlin is to start first in Sunday’s Shriners Children’s 500 after a best lap of 132.655 mph in the JGR No. 11 Toyota. His first pole of the season was his third at the 1-mile Arizona oval and the 41st of his Cup Series career.

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Volume 2024, Issue 3, Posted 3:56 PM, 03.09.2024

Cole Custer Takes Phoenix Xfinity Pole

(PHOENIX, AZ – MAR 9, 2024 – R IS) Cole Custer drove to his second series pole of the season setting fastest time in qualifying with a lap of 27.380 seconds at 131.483 mph, beating out Chandler Smith’s Toyota by just over an eighth of a second. Corey Heim set the third-fastest time for the race, followed by Riley Herbst and Justin Allgaier. The pole is Custer’s second for the new season and twentieth of his career.
Jesse Love qualified seventh as the top-qualifying rookie.

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Volume 2024, Issue 3, Posted 3:49 PM, 03.09.2024

Logano Tops Phoenix Practice

(PHOENIX, AZ – MAR 8, 2024 – RIS) Once again in the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series, Joey Logano headed the field in pre-race sessions, jumping to the top of the chart in practice at Phoenix Raceway on Friday. His early lap of 27.446 sec at 131.167 mph was just 0.018 second ahead of Denny Hamlin’s 27.464 round with Tyler Reddick only another three thousandths back. Daniel Hemric spun in the first half of the session and then Tyler Reddick spun, then executed an epic burnout on recovering and driving down pit road.

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Volume 2024, Issue 3, Posted 7:20 PM, 03.08.2024

Larson Dominates NASCAR Cup Series Race at LVMS

LAS VEGAS, NV – RIS – Kyle Larson held off a charging Tyler Reddick in the final laps to claim victory in the NASCAR Cup series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday. Larson won his first race of 2024 while leading a whopping 181 laps and sweeping the first two stages, Larson had to defend the race win in the closing laps from a charging Tyler Reddick, whom Larson fended off by 0.441 seconds.

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Volume 2024, Issue 3, Posted 7:39 PM, 03.03.2024

Nemechek Takes the Xfinity Race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway

LAS VEGAS, NV – RIS - John Hunter Nemechek ended Chevrolet's early dominance of the NASCAR Xfinity Series  by winning the wind-swept Xfinity Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Saturday in a Toyota.

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Volume 2024, Issue 3, Posted 8:13 PM, 03.02.2024

Logano Speeds to Second 2024 Pole at Las Vegas

(LAS VEGAS, NV – MAR 2, 2024 – RIS) Joey Logano drove his Pennzoil-sponsored Ford to his second pole starting position for 2024 in the NASCAR Cup Series Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy Lube, beating Kyle Larson’s qualifying lap by 0.021 second. 

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Volume 2024, Issue 3, Posted 5:05 PM, 03.02.2024

Rajah Caruth Wins First Truck Race at Vegas

LAS VEGAS, NV – RIS – Rajah Caruth became the third Black driver to win a NASCAR national series race after taking the checkered flag in Las Vegas on Friday, joining Hall of Famer Wendell Scott and Bubba Wallace. Caruth, 21, won his first career truck series race, the Victoria’s Voice Foundation 200, from pole position at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

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Volume 2024, Issue 3, Posted 2:11 PM, 03.02.2024

Custer Tops C. Smith for Xfinity Pole, Rajah Caruth Earns Career First Truck Pole at Las Vegas

(LAS VEGAS, NV – MAR 1, 2024 – RIS) Cole Custer out-qualified Chandler Smith for Saturday’s The LiUNA! Xfinity race by only 0.017 second, and Rajah Caruth won the pole for Friday evening’s Victoria's Voice Foundation 200 presented by Westgate Resorts Craftsman Truck Series race by the narrowest of margins: 0.001 second, over Christian Eckes.

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Volume 2024, Issue 3, Posted 8:51 PM, 03.01.2024

Cole Custer Wins Las Vegas Xfinity Pole

LAS VEGAS, NV – RIS – Defending nascar Xfinity champion Cole Custer won the NASCAR Xfinity Series pole for the LIUNA! at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Friday (March 1). His speed of 181.281 mph bested Chandler Smith’s lap of 181.178 mph. Chandler Smith will start alongside Custer on the front row, while AJ Allmendinger and Parker Retzlaff make up the second row. Austin Hill, who won both of the season opening races at Daytona International Speedway and Atlanta Motor Speedway, rounds out the top five qualifiers.

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Volume 2024, Issue 3, Posted 8:44 PM, 03.01.2024

Atlanta Photo-Finish Thriller to Suarez

(HAMPTON, GA – FEB 25, 2024 – RIS) Daniel Suarez took Trackhouse Racing to the team’s seventh victory in a race filled with highlight reel incidents beginning on the second lap and ending with a three-wide photo finish split among Suarez, Ryan Blaney and Kyle Busch. The official margin of victory was announced as 0.003 second, which likely covered the top three finishers. The race featured 14 leaders, 48 lead changes, multiple spins and crashes that involved all but about eight or nine of the competitors punctuating the race with ten cautions and a brief red flag for track cleanup.

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Volume 2024, Issue 2, Posted 8:25 PM, 02.25.2024

Austin Hill Doubles-Up Under Georgia Full Moon

(HAMPTON, GA – FEB 24, 2024 – RIS) Empty tanks under a full moon wrote the story of the NASCAR RAPTOR King of Tough 250 Xfinity Series race on Atlanta Motor Speedway’s mile and a half track. Ryan Sieg and the other Fords on the track all ran out of fuel late in the race, Sieg’s stopping on the apron and sending the race into overtime with many of the other lead cars running short on fuel after the restart. Dominant Jesse Love faltered after leading 157 laps and teammate Austin Hill dodged through gaps to become the fourth driver in the series to win the season opening races, joining Chad Little, Dale Earnhardt Sr and Tony Stewart.

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Volume 2024, Issue 2, Posted 8:27 PM, 02.24.2024

Kyle Busch Takes Atlanta Truck Series Race

HAMPTON, GA – RIS – Kyle Busch passed a faltering Grant Enfinger late in NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race to win the truck race on Saturday at Atlanta Motor Speedway.  Busch led 33 of the 135 laps in the Fr8 208 on the 1.54-mile track. His Spire Motorsports No. 7 Chevrolet was 0.187 seconds ahead at the drop of the checkered flag, sealing Busch’s first victory of the season, his seventh in the series at Atlanta and the 65th of his Truck Series career.

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Volume 2024, Issue 2, Posted 5:14 PM, 02.24.2024

McDowell Speeds to First Career Pole

(HAMPTON, GA – FEB 24, 2024 – RIS) Michael McDowell, after starting second in the Daytona 500, earned his first career NASCAR Cup Series pole in 467 race starts, running the only lap under 31 seconds to beat out Joey Logano in time trials for the Ambetter Health 400. Logano is joined in the front two rows by his teammate at Front Row Motorsports, Todd Gilliland. Today’s pole resets the most starts by any driver in the NASCAR Cup Series prior to their first career pole. The previous record was held by J.D. McDuffie at 404 starts.

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Volume 2024, Issue 2, Posted 1:47 PM, 02.24.2024

Byron Survives to Win the 2024 Daytona 500

DAYTONA BEACH, FL – RIS – On an evening where wrecks were the rule and not the exception, William Byron could be considered the last survivor as he crossed the finish line ahead of teammate Aex Bowman for the win on Sunday.  Byron, the 2023 win leader, won  under caution after Ross Chastain and Austin Cindric crashed as the white flag flew.

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Volume 2024, Issue 2, Posted 8:43 PM, 02.19.2024

Austin Hill’s Xfinity Series Three-Peat Win Closes Daytona Speedweeks

(DAYTONA BEACH, FL – FEB 19, 2024 – RIS) “Never say die” may now be the official motto of the Richard Childress Racing Xfinity No. 21 team. After getting involved in a crash early in the race and dropping to the rear of the field at least three times, Austin Hill captured his third Daytona February race in a row, beating out his old teammate Sheldon Creed by a margin of 0.591 second after 120 laps of NASCAR Xfinity Series racing.

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Volume 2024, Issue 2, Posted 12:53 AM, 02.20.2024

Rookie Jesse Love Takes Daytona Pole in First Xfinity Start, United Rentals 300 Delayed to Monday Morning

(DAYTONA BEACH, FL – FEB 17, 2024 – RIS) In his first series start, 19-year-old series rookie Jesse Love took the pole for the United Rentals 300 NASCAR Xfinity race at Daytona International Speedway, pipping fellow Richard Childress Racing driver Austin Hill by only three thousandths of a second. His lap of 49.702 seconds at 181.079 mph was just enough to beat out Austin Hill, winner of the last two Xfinity season opening races at Daytona

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Volume 2024, Issue 2, Posted 6:51 PM, 02.17.2024

Sanchez Wins Daytona Overtime Truck Race

Sanchez Takes Caution-Filled Trucks in Overtime
(FEB 16, 2024 – DAYTONA, FL – RIS) Nick Sanchez overcame crashes and weather to score an overtime victory in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Fresh From Florida 250 race to open the 2024 season. The race ended under caution when the final overtime period got interrupted by a multiple truck crash approaching the checkered flag whemuch of the field got involved in a crash starting when Rajah Caruth tapped Taylor Gray and Gray’s truck spun into the path of another truck. The No. 17 Toyota got launched into a barrel roll over competitors before landing on its tires and sliding to a halt.

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Volume 2024, Issue 2, Posted 11:22 PM, 02.16.2024

Jeb Burton Fastest in Xfinity Practice at Daytona

DAYTONA BEACH, FL – RIS – Practice for Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series race found Jeb Burton as the fastest driver at 186.189mph.  Speeds were close during the session on the dusk setting.  Second was Sammy Smith at 186.177 mph and Sheldon Creed at 186.141 mph.  Cole Custer (186.104) and Ryan Truex (186.070) rounded out the top five qualifiers. 

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Volume 2024, Issue 2, Posted 7:56 PM, 02.16.2024

Tyler Reddick Wins Daytona 500 Qualifying Race No. One as Johnson Makes the Field

DAYTONA BEACH, FL – RIS – Tyler Reddick made all the right moves in the final laps of the first Bluegreen Vacations Duel qualifying race for Sunday’s Daytona 500 and won.  Reddick made a pass on Kyle Larson going into turn 3 on the final lap, pulling away and holding off Chase Elliott for the victory.  Reddick made a pass on Kyle Larson going into turn 3 on the final lap, pulling away and holding off Chase Elliott for the victory. Alex Bowman, rookie Carson Hocevar and Erik Jones rounded out the top five.

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Volume 2024, Issue 2, Posted 8:50 PM, 02.15.2024

Denny Hamlin Scores a Vicory in the Busch Light Clash

LOS ANGELES, CA – RIS – Denny Hamlin passed Ty Gibbs and held off the field to win the 2024 Busch Light Clash at Memorial Stadium in Los Angeles.  The race was scheduled for tomorrow night, but the threat of heavy rain made NASCAR change the schedule.  All that was scheduled for today was practice and qualifying, but the forecast changed that scenario after the weather forecasts. 

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Volume 2024, Issue 2, Posted 11:36 PM, 02.03.2024

Hamlin Races Pole to Checker in the Busch Light Clash at the Coliseum

(Los Angeles, Feb 3, 2024 – RIS)  After a rapidly approaching rainstorm forced NASCAR to The Busch Light Clash for 2024 got completely scrambled by the approaching rains on the West Coast, running the entire show on Saturday, instead of practice and heat races on Saturday and the featured 150-lap race on Sunday with the grid set by practice times. The only starter not racing into the annual no points race was reigning champion Ryan Blaney, using a provisional spot thanks to his championship standing. 

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Volume 2024, Issue 2, Posted 10:44 PM, 02.03.2024

Three-Time NASCAR Champ, Cale Yarborough - 1939-2023

Cale Yarborough, one of the top stars in NASCAR in four decades, from his first race in 1957, to his retirement in 1988, passed away on Dec. 30, 2023. NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Yarborough took his first green flag in the 1957 Southern 500, finishing 42nd out of 50 starters after the right front hub failed on his Chevy. He continued to run just a single Grand National race a season until starting eight races in 1962, then started moving up the odds sheets until he scored an initial victory at Valdosta, Ga’s 200-lap race in 1965. ’65 was the year he went sailing over the rail at Darlington in a battle for the lead with Sam McQuagg, emerging the wrecked car with essentially no injuries. 

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Volume 2023, Issue 12, Posted 3:35 PM, 12.31.2023

Who Would Have Won NASCAR's Cup - 2023 Edition

This was first written as an exercise in historical research. Since then, we’ve tried to keep it updated. In light of past seasons’ somewhat controversial endings, especially where the 2004 championship is concerned, here’s the version for the year just ended.)

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Volume 2023, Issue 11, Posted 8:57 AM, 11.08.2023