The final race of the season ended with the kind of drama that NASCAR could only hope for when it devised the Chase system, and especially this current Chase system. There was no ceremonial ride around for 267 laps for the champion as there had been at times when the championship was all but won …
Think Small It’s hard to believe the 2016 season is over—it seems like just yesterday that it began, full of promise and hope. For some of the teams on this page, it’s been, by all counts, a good season—one of accomplishment and improvement. For others it’s been a struggle, financial or performance, often both as …
Who’s in the headline – The elite level of NASCAR has increased by 50%. There are many gauges to judge the greats but championships are a huge differentiator. Jimmie Johnson took advantage of circumstances that fell his way, led the final three laps, and notched his seventh career title. Johnson shares the headline with Tony …
On Wednesday, NASCAR released the weekly penalty report stemming from Texas. Compared to recent weeks, this one was quite the doozy. In the Sprint Cup Series, Joey Logano‘s No. 22 Ford that finished second Sunday night was found to have one loose lugnut. As a result, the No. 22 has been hit with a P2 …
The charter system in NASCAR’s premier division is forcing owners to examine the way they operate. With the charters in place, several owners are re-evaluating their programs for 2017. Obviously owners take a long look at their teams at this point every year, but charters have changed the significance. Given only 36 teams can have a …
Austin Wayne Self is the second driver to feature Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump on his truck. Should NASCAR make a rule about drivers using sponsorless entries to support a political campaign? If so, would it violate freedom of speech? Amy Henderson, Senior Editor: It isn’t a First Amendment violation. NASCAR isn’t a government entity, …
1. Is there a new player in the game? If Hendrick Motorsports has truly turned things around, this turning point couldn’t come at a better time for the organization … or a worse time for the rest of the field. HMS has found some impressive speed over the last few weeks and was dominant at …
Given that I’ve vocally opposed the Chase format in the Cup Series, it should come as no surprise I’m not a big fan of it oozing down to XFINITY and Trucks. Sunday evening gave those few fans paying attention yet another lesson in the rule of unintended consequences stemming from the new championship format. I haven’t …
It’s doubtful that anybody would have predicted this two races go: Erik Jones and Ty Dillon both sitting outside the cut line in the first round of the inaugural NASCAR XFINITY Series Chase. Down the stretch? Perhaps. But as strong as those teams have run, to see them in trouble just two races in is surprising. …
Despite a cloudy and gray morning at Dover International Speedway, Daniel Suarez shimmered bright in Sunday’s rain-postponed Drive Sober 200, taking the victory in dominating fashion by leading 123 of 200 laps en route to his second win in his XFINITY Series career. Punching his ticket to the Round of 8 in the series’ first …
Sprint Cup: A Sleepless Week for 14 Men – Kevin Harvick, with a swift, unexpected pass on Matt Kenseth for the win Sunday at New Hampshire, avoided the weight of elimination come next weekend at Dover. Along with Martin Truex, Jr., Harvick is now in rare air because when the field lines up for 400 …
Mike Bugarewicz’s career as a crew chief in NASCAR’s premier division was one that got off to a distinctive start. The longtime engineer was named three-time Sprint Cup Series champion Tony Stewart’s crew chief for his final full-time season heading into 2016. However, after Stewart was injured over the off-season in an off-road vehicle accident, …
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