Did You Notice? … Ryan Blaney could have failed to qualify for a Chase race? That’s certainly a loophole NASCAR was looking to shore up by its decision this week to ensure every team that qualifies for the Chase is guaranteed a spot over the final 10 events. Officials looped this adjustment in the rules …
How about that. He actually did it. Tony Stewart held off Martin Truex, Jr., and used a well-time body slam to get the best of Denny Hamlin, capturing a win for the third time in his 17-year career at Sonoma Raceway. Things got interesting behind Smoke, too. Hamlin, typically an afterthought on road courses, came …
On this week’s podcast, frequent guest Aaron Bearden joins Matt Stallknecht on the show to recap Tony Stewart’s electric win at Sonoma and much more, including… Analyzing the impact of Stewart’s win on the sport Discussing Stewart’s comeback and his potential for a Chase run Denny Hamlin’s strong run at Sonoma, and what it says about …
The word retirement for athletes, uttered by Tony Stewart this season, often comes associated with two dreaded “R” words: regression and regret. Unlike the American dream, a job where you work 50 years toward a peak salary retirement for athletic superstars almost always occurs before age 50. The best peak at their profession, set seemingly unbeatable records and then watch inexplicably …
As has become the trend lately with road courses, last weekend’s race at Sonoma played more like a short track, complete with some last-lap bumping and banging. However, Sonoma wasn’t the only track that saw contact. The Truck Series was in Gateway over the weekend and had some contact of its own – though this …
Last weekend saw NASCAR’s National Series put on two very different races. Sonoma on Sunday was very clean, possibly the cleanest Cup race ever run at Sonoma Raceway. Yes, there were four cautions, but they were for either stalled cars or debris. No one spun out all day. Don’t recall that ever happening. Meanwhile, there …
Who’s in the headline – Friday, Tony Stewart said, “driving a Sprint Cup car does not make me happy right now.” Wonder how he feels after a trip to Victory Lane? Based on that winning look on his face my guess is “ecstatic” after a last-lap, last-turn re-pass of Denny Hamlin earned Smoke his first victory since Dover in June 2013. …
Smoke has risen, this much we all know. Tony Stewart‘s electrifying drive to Victory Lane at Sonoma Raceway will likely clinch the three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion into this year’s Chase. No, it isn’t certain – Stewart still sits 31st in points, nine points out of the top 30 – but assuming the 49-time …
This NASCAR season has been full of popular victories. Martin Truex, Jr.’s emotional victory in the Coca-Cola 600 was perhaps the most popular in the Sprint Cup Series. Daniel Suarez became the first Mexican driver to win in NASCAR earlier this year in the XFINITY Series, and it too was well-received by fans. Sam Hornish, Jr. won …
Who…gets my shoutout of the race? He may have been visibly disappointed when the checkered flag flew, but the fact is that Denny Hamlin had a great day at Sonoma Raceway. Hamlin’s second-place run was his best-ever result at the track and the first time since 2009 that he’s finished better than 18th there. Hamlin …
Sprint Cup Series: Tony Stewart’s Triumphant Return to Victory Lane – Coming off a solid race at Michigan International Speedway two weeks ago, Tony Stewart snapped an 84-race winless streak on Sunday, leading the final 22 laps in wine country at Sonoma Raceway. It was a caution on lap 86 that turned Stewart’s race around. The …
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series returns to Sonoma Raceway June 26 for the Toyota / Save Mart 350. Sonoma is the first of two road-course circuits NASCAR will compete at this season. Sonoma, Calif., is home to one of the most unique race tracks on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule. When teams embark on …
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