Fast Facts
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Next Race: AAA 400
The Place: Dover International Speedway
The Date: Sunday, Sept. 28
The Time: 2 p.m. (ET)
TV: ESPN, 1 p.m. (ET)
Radio: MRN, Sirius XM Ch. 90
Distance: 400 miles (400 laps)
NASCAR Nationwide Series
Next Race: Dover 200
The Place: Dover International Speedway
The Date: Saturday, Sept. 27
The Time: 3:30p.m. (ET)
TV: ESPN, 3:30 p.m. (ET)
Radio: MRN, Sirius XM Ch. 90
Distance: 200 miles (200 laps)
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
Next Race: Rhino Linings 350
The Place: Las Vegas Motor Speedway
The Date: Friday, Sept. 27
The Time: 10 p.m. (ET)
TV: FOX Sports 1, 10 p.m. (ET)
Radio: MRN, Sirius XM Ch. 90
Distance: 350 Kilometers (146 laps)
2-For-2: Penske Proves It’s Contender Round Material
How quickly the tide can turn.
All summer it looked like a Hendrick Motorsports driver would take the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, but now a new team has seized the title of favorite.
With victories in four of the past five races, including the last three in a row, Team Penske drivers Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano have asserted the racing outfit as the organization to beat moving forward in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. Keselowski (5) and Logano (4) lead the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in wins and have each locked themselves into the Contender Round with victories in the first two Chase races. On top of their hefty win totals, the duo also tops the series with 12 top-five finishes apiece.
Keselowski and Logano will try to continue their streak in Sunday’s AAA 400 at Dover International Speedway (2 p.m. ET on ESPN). The current Chase Grid leader, Keselowski won at Dover in 2012, the same year he clinched the NSCS championship. He has finished worse than fifth just once in his last four races at the Monster Mile.
Unlike his teammate, Logano has not found Victory Lane at Dover, but has collected seven top-10 finishes in 11 starts there.
With Team Penske nabbing two of the 12 spots in the Contender Round, eyes will be trained mostly on the remaining Challengers. Below are the finishes each driver needs in Sunday’s race at Dover (2 p.m. ET on ESPN) to guarantee a spot in the Contender Round, regardless of the finish of any other driver:
Kevin Harvick: 34th or better; or 35th and at least one lap led; or 36th and most laps led
Jimmie Johnson: 24th or better; or 25th and at least one lap led; or 26th and most laps led)
Kyle Busch and Dale Earnhardt Jr.: 21st or better; 22nd and at least one lap led; or 23rd and most laps led
Jeff Gordon: 14th or better; 15th and at least one lap led; 16th and most laps led
Matt Kenseth and Carl Edwards: 2nd; or 3rd and most laps led
AJ Allmendinger: 2nd
Kasey Kahne: 2nd and at least one lap led
Ryan Newman, Denny Hamlin, Greg Biffle, Kurt Busch and Aric Almirola only control their own destiny by winning Sunday at Dover.
Johnson A Monster At Dover
No active driver has even come close to experiencing the success Jimmie Johnson has had at Dover International Speedway.
The No. 48 Lowe’s Chevrolet pilot heads into Sunday’s AAA 400 at the Monster Mile (2 p.m. ET on ESPN) looking to add to his course record of nine wins, five more than the next highest active driver, his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon. In 25 starts at the track, Johnson also owns 13 top fives, 18 top 10s and an average finish of 8.4.
Winner of the last two races at Dover, Johnson will attempt to join David Pearson, Rusty Wallace and Gordon as the fourth driver to notch three consecutive victories at the one-mile concrete oval. He will also try to sweep the track for the first time since 2009 when he achieved the feat on the way to his fourth of six NASCAR Sprint Cup titles.
With the attention focused on Team Penske lately, Johnson has floated under the radar. The defending Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup champion quietly sits in fourth on the Chase Grid following a 12th-place finish at Chicagoland and a fifth-place showing at Loudon.
After a month-long, five-race summer swoon when he finished worse than 38th three times and failed to register a showing better than 14th, Johnson has logged five top 10s in his last six starts.
“My favorite track in the Chase would be Dover,” Johnson said. “It’s just the closest track to my roots. You’re kind of airborne into Turn 1, airborne into Turn 3. It’s a very intense track. It takes a lot of throttle control to work the corners right and produce a fast lap time. Dover’s my track.”
Go Time In Final Race Of Challenger Round
“Now or never,” “survive and advance,” “all or nothing,” whatever you want to call it, it’s crunch time this weekend for the majority of the NASCAR Chase for the Sprint Cup drivers.
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series heads to Dover International Speedway on Sunday for the AAA 400 (2 p.m. ET on ESPN), the final race of the Challenger Round. Following the event, the four winless championship-qualifying drivers lowest in points will be eliminated from title contention. The remaining 12 drivers will advance to The Contender Round and their points will be reset to 3,000.
The points couldn’t be tighter, and only one thing is assured – Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski have locked up a spot in the next round.
Everyone else? We’ll soon find out.
Right now, Ryan Newman clings onto the final Contender Round spot, ahead of Denny Hamlin (-6 points), Greg Biffle (-6), Kurt Busch (-8) and Aric Almirola (-10), but their fates are far from set in stone.
The bubble extends across the bottom half of the Chase Grid with a mere 12 points separating eighth-place Matt Kenseth from Almirola. That’s tight. Bold, italicized, underlined tight.
Jeff Gordon sits comfortably in the seventh spot on the Chase Grid, 15 points ahead of the cutoff line and would advance with finishes of 14th or better, regardless of anyone else’s result.
Allmendinger and Almirola Proving They Belong
Few gave AJ Allmendinger and Aric Almirola much of chance to advance to the Contender Round.
Yet, both are on the verge doing exactly that.
Both drivers remain alive in the Chase, more than holding their own, with Allmendinger in great shape to advance the Contender Round, sitting 10th on the Chase Grid. The JTG Daugherty Racing driver controls his own playoff destiny in Sunday’s AAA 400 at Dover International Speedway (2 p.m. ET on ESPN), where he can advance with at least a second-place finish, regardless how his fellow competitors perform. There are plenty of other scenarios in which Allmendinger can clinch a spot in the next round, but a runner-up guarantees advancement.
Almirola has some work to do, trailing Ryan Newman by 10 points for the final Contender Round spot. However, he would be close to a lock to advance after this weekend if his engine didn’t blow at Chicagoland where he was running sixth with 36 laps left before being forced to head to the garage. The No. 43 Nathan’s Famous Ford pilot finished sixth last week and has shown some speed lately with three top 10s in his last four races.
Almirola can lock himself into the Contender Round with a win on Sunday, but he would need help from the field with any other finish.
Ganassi Squad Relishing Spoiler Roll
Too bad Kyle Larson didn’t qualify for the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. If he did, the Sunoco Rookie of the Year favorite would rank third on the Chase Grid with an almost guaranteed spot in the Contender Round following his third-place finish at Chicagoland and runner-up showing at Loudon.
With his streak of top-five finishes on the line, Larson will attempt to spoil the afternoon for Chase hopefuls by capturing his first victory in the AAA 400 at Dover International Speedway (2 p.m. ET on ESPN). In the series’ first visit to the track earlier this season, Larson finished 11th. The 22-year-old has experienced NASCAR Nationwide Series success in Delaware’s capital with three top 10s in as many starts, including a runner-up finish last year.
On a similar run as Larson is his Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Jamie McMurray, who will also try to play spoiler after failing to make the Chase. McMurray rides into Dover with a streak of three top-10 finishes, including a fourth place performance at Loudon. The No. 1 McDonald’s Chevrolet driver has struggled at Dover with one top five and five top 10s in 23 starts there, but does bring in the momentum to be a legitimate contender this weekend.
Despite missing out on the Chase, the future looks bright for CGR.
“I guess there are a few other Chase guys that were contenders today, but me and Jamie the last two weeks have been really good,” said Larson following New Hampshire. “I know other teams that are in the Chase notice that and I’m sure they’re worried about us for next season already.”
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Etc.
Testing Update: Team Penske and Roush Fenway Racing each tested at Texas Motor Speedway this week. … Next Monday and Tuesday(Sept. 29-30), Stewart-Haas Racing will test at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Chips Are On The Table: Logano, Busch Rolling The Dice At Dover
Winning is everything and at Dover International Speedway – which sits adjacent to a casino –Joey Logano (four) and Kyle Busch (four) have won eight out of the last twelve NASCAR Nationwide Series races at the famed one-mile concrete track. Dominant powerhouses on a high-speed, physically demanding track are what Logano and Busch have been and with this weekend’s owner championship implications on the line, the showdown between the two veteran drivers is that much more exciting.
Busch returns to the No. 54 Toyota for car owner Joe Gibbs this weekend. Busch has made 20 starts this season posting four wins, 19 top fives, six poles and an average finish of 3.2 – his series career best. Busch was dialed-in at Dover earlier this season; he won the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race, the NASCAR Nationwide Series event and may have had a clean sweep if not for an accident in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. Busch has made 18 series starts at Dover posting four wins (spring 2014, 2010 sweep and fall 2008), nine top fives, and 13 top 10s.
Car owner Joe Gibbs will be looking for more of that dominance come this weekend, he is currently 37 points behind Roger Penske’s No. 22 Ford team in the owner championship standings with six races remaining in the season.
Team Penske has been exceptionally hot in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series this season, so it’s not surprising the success has trickled down to the NASCAR Nationwide Series, especially with drivers like Joey Logano in the No. 22 car. Logano, who has 21 series career wins, has made eight series starts this season and is still looking for his first victory of 2014. In eight starts this season, Logano has posted six top fives and seven top 10s. He finished third behind Busch and Trevor Bayne after starting from the pole in the first Dover race of the season. Logano, 24, is looking to extend his streak of consecutive seasons with at least one NNS win to seven. Since Logano entered the series in 2008, he has won at least one race each season. Mark Martin holds the all-time record with nine straight years with an NNS victory.
Statistically Dover is Logano’s best track on the series schedule, in 11 starts he has posted four consecutive wins (2012 and 2013 sweeps), seven top fives, eight top 10s, four poles and an average finish of 5.2.
“I really want to get a win and I think we will,” said Logano. “I would like to extend that streak. I’d love to be able to fight with my teammate (Brad Keselowski) and see if one of us can get to nine straight years with Nationwide Series wins and match Mark’s (Martin) record. And I think we can do it, especially this weekend at Dover. It’s always been one of my favorite race tracks and the one I’ve run the best at. I just want to get this No. 22 team in Victory Lane again and help extend the point lead in the Owner Championship. That’s pretty important to all of us right now.”
Gaughan Not Forgotten, RCR is JR Motorsports Biggest Threat to the Title
After a strong showing by Richard Childress Racing’s Brendan Gaughan, Brian Scott and Ty Dillon last weekend at Kentucky that had the trio finishing 1-2-3 respectively, it is evident RCR is the biggest threat to the JR Motorsports drivers Chase Elliott and Regan Smith as far as the NASCAR Nationwide Series title is concerned.
With just six races remaining in the 2014 season, Chase Elliott holds on to the standings lead by 20 points over Regan Smith in second and 38 points ahead of third place, Ty Dillon. Just behind his RCR teammate is Brian Scott sitting fourth, 55-points back from the standings lead. All within striking distance.
In a season that has seen JR Motorsports win nine of the 27 races, last weekend’s victory by Richard Childress Racing may have been a shift in momentum with six races remaining in the 2014 season. Gaughan’s second win of the season and fourth for the RCR organization in 2014 is the beginning of a late season swing.
Ty Dillon’s championship focus couldn’t be much clearer.
“Win races,” said Dillon. “We have the capability of doing so; we just need to win races. I think this past weekend in Kentucky really showed that we can lead laps, we can run in the top five and we’re still in contention for this championship.”
It took a late season run by RCR’s Austin Dillon to win the title in 2013; he was 15 points back from the standings lead with six races remaining in the season. Brother Ty has twice that to overcome, dictating a near flawless half-dozen races for the No. 3 team to charge up the series standings.
Ty Dillon has made three starts at Dover posting two top 10s and an average finish of 13.0. Brian Scott won his first NASCAR national series career race in the NCWTS at Dover in 2009. He has made nine NNS starts at Dover posting one top five, and four top 10s.
Chase Elliott made his series track debut at Dover earlier this season, starting second and finished fifth.
Bayne’s First Win Of The Season Could Come From Taming The Monster
Roush Fenway Racing’s Trevor Bayne has shown consistency this season, but has yet to seal the deal and bring home his first win of 2014. That could all change this weekend at Dover International Speedway.
Bayne’s best performance this season came at Dover in the spring. He started fifth and ran consistently in the top 10, eventually finishing runner-up to Kyle Busch.
Bayne’s pre-race Loop Data statistics validate his recent success at Dover. He has a driver rating of 98.4, the best among the championship contenders with more than one start and his average running position is 8.3. Bayne has made six starts at Dover posting two top fives and five top 10s.
In 27 starts this season, Bayne has posted five top fives and 17 top 10s with an average finish of 10.9. This weekend could be the opportunity for Bayne to join his Roush Fenway Racing teammate and Sunoco Rookie of the Year candidate Chris Buescher in the win column. Buescher’s rookie season has been solid posting one win (Mid-Ohio), three top fives and 11 top 10s.
NASCAR Nationwide Series Etc.
Milestone Watch: JR Motorsports driver Regan Smith will attempt to post his 50th NASCAR Nationwide Series top-10 career finish this weekend. Smith has made nine starts at Dover posting two top 10s and an average finish of 19.2. … Justin Boston will be making his second NNS career start for Joe Gibbs Racing this weekend at Dover International Speedway. Boston’s first showing of the season came last weekend at Kentucky where he started ninth and finished 12th. …There are three Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Challengers on the Dover 200 preliminary entry list: Kyle Busch, Joey Logano and Aric Almirola. Almirola is making his second series start of the season in Fred Biagi owned No. 98 Ford. His last start was at Chicagoland Speedway where he started 10th and finished 14th.
Custer Cruises At NHMS; Becomes NASCAR’s Youngest Winner
At this time of year, most 16-year-olds worry about finding a date for homecoming or practicing for their driver’s license tests.
Cole Custer isn’t your typical 16-year-old.
He keeps himself busy by competing in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series where he became NASCAR’s youngest national series winner at 16 years, seven months and 28 days, taking the checkered flag in the UNOH 175 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Saturday.
Don’t chalk the accomplishment up to beginner’s luck either. Custer won in dominant fashion, leading 148-of-175 laps from the pole, setting the track record (131.897 MPH) and outdueling defending NCWTS champion Matt Crafton on the final restart with four go-arounds remaining.
Custer’s triumph marks the third time in just over a year the record for the youngest NASCAR national series winner has been broken. The previous record-holder was fellow NASCAR Next member Erik Jones (17 years, four months and nine days old), who took it from last August’s mark-setter Chase Elliott (17 years, 9 months, four days) at Phoenix International Speedway in November. No stranger to age records, Custer became the youngest pole winner in NASCAR national series history at Gateway in June.
Following the race, UNOH presented him with a Presidential Scholarship.
In seven starts this season, Custer boasts five top-10 finishes. He will compete in two more NCWTS events on this year’s calendar, on Oct. 25 at Martinsville Speedway and Nov. 7 at Phoenix International Raceway.
Deuces Wild: Peters Goes For Repeat In Las Vegas
Timothy Peters played his cards right last year at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, jumping to the lead on the final restart to take home his second checkered flag of the season.
Currently winless in 2014, Peters returns to Vegas on Saturday where he will roll the dice in the Rhino Linings 350 (10 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1), looking to defend his title and build on a season highlighted by four top-five and eight top-10 finishes.
Last year’s performance in Las Vegas was no fluke for the Red Horse Racing driver. In six career starts at the 1.5-mile track, Peters boasts four top-10 finishes, including three top-five showings.
The 34-year-old could use some momentum after finishing 11th at Loudon. Although steady with an average finish of 12.4, he has not finished in the top five since his fourth-place showing at Kentucky in June. Peters ranks eighth in the series standings with only six races to go – one point behind Ben Kennedy for the seventh spot.
NASCAR Next Driver Looks To Do KBM Proud At Home
NASCAR Next member Erik Jones leads the No. 51 Kyle Busch Motorsports team to its owner’s hometown of Las Vegas for his first career start at the track in Saturday’s Rhino Linings 350 (10 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1).
And the odds are quite good there will be a No. 51 Toyota Tundra “sighting” in Victory Lane.
The No. 51 team has been dominant at 1.5-mile tracks this season, scoring four victories in five starts. Busch, who splits seat time with the 18-year-old Jones, has piloted the truck in all four victories, but his protégé possesses the talent needed to leave the rest of the field in his dust. In fact, Jones won the NCWTS race at Iowa in July on the shorter tracks and claims three top-10 finishes in four races since then.
The NASCAR Next member will try to give KBM its first victory at Las Vegas, one of only five tracks on the current schedule where the team has yet to earn a win.
Owner points are also at stake for Jones and KBM. The No. 51 truck ranks third in the owner standings, trailing ThorSport’s No. 88 (Matt Crafton) and No. 98 (Johnny Sauter) Toyotas by eight points and one point, respectively.
A ‘Monster’ Task For Rhodes
Ben Rhodes only has one piece of unfinished business: The Monster trophy at Dover. The Louisville, Kentucky, driver has already wrapped up the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East championship as well as Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors prior to Friday’s season finale at the high-banked concrete mile. But Rhodes will look to become just the second driver in series history to win the championship and take home the checkered flag at “The Monster Mile” in the same season (the only driver to do it – Andy Santerre in 2005). Dover has served as the last race of the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East season six times since 2002 and the eventual champion has not won any of those events. …
Ted Christopher has more wins at Stafford Motor Speedway than any driver that has participated in the long and storied history of the Connecticut oval. Sunday, he’ll have two significant opportunities to add to the legacy at his home track. The 56-year-old Plainville, Connecticut, driver is looking for his 13th NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour win at Stafford and to close the gap on championship points leader Doug Coby in the second-to-last race of the season. Christopher also has the points lead in the track’s NASCAR Whelen All-American Series SK Modified division and is chasing his 13th career NASCAR track title. …
Andy Seuss takes an 18-point lead over four-time champion George Brunnhoelzl III into the penultimate race of the NASCAR Whelen Southern Modified Tour schedule Saturday at North Carolina’s Caraway Speedway. Burt Myers has three wins in the last four races and moved to within eight points of Brunnhoelzl.
Sources: Mike Forde, NASCAR PR