NASCAR National Series News & Notes — Chicagoland & Iowa
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Next Race: Toyota/Save Mart 350
The Place: Sonoma Raceway
The Date: Sunday, June 28
The Time: 3 p.m. (ET)
TV: FOX Sports 1, 2 p.m. (ET)
Radio: PRN, SiriusXM Ch. 90
Distance: 218.9 miles (110 laps)
NASCAR XFINITY Series
Next Race: Owens Corning AttiCat 300
The Place: Chicagoland Speedway
The Date: Saturday, June 20
The Time: 9:30 p.m. (ET)
TV: FOX Sports 1, 9:30 p.m. (ET)
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM Ch. 90
Distance: 300 miles (200 laps)
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
Next Race: American Ethanol 200
The Place: Iowa Speedway
The Date: Friday, June 19
The Time: 8:30 p.m. (ET)
TV: FOX Sports 1, 8 p.m. (ET)
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM Ch. 90
Distance: 175 miles (200 laps)
NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES
Off Week For NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Before It Travels To Sonoma
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series heads into its second off weekend of the season before traveling to Northern California for the Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway on Sunday, June 28th (3 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1). The event marks the first road course race of the season and the last NSCS race aired on the FOX family of networks this year (all NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races are broadcast on FOX Sports 1). The remaining NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races will be televised on NBC or NBC Sports Network beginning with the Coke Zero 400 powered by Coca-Cola at Daytona International Speedway on Sunday, July 5 (7:45 p.m. ET on NBC). Ten different drivers have won the last 10 races at Sonoma. Carl Edwards is the defending Sonoma race-winner. AJ Allmendinger won the latest NSCS road course race at Watkins Glen last August.
Aqua Man: Kurt Busch Wins Rain-Shortened Race At Michigan
Neither rain nor his second-worst starting position of the season (24th) could stop Kurt Busch in Sunday’s Quicken Loans 400 at Michigan International Speedway. The No. 41 Haas Automation Chevrolet driver battled to the front of the field and earned the victory as the leader when the race was called on the 138th of 200 scheduled laps after the skies opened up and the rain poured down.
The victory was Busch’s second of the season, his third at MIS and the 27th of his career. He now ranks 11th in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points standings and is tied with his Stewart-Haas Racing teammate Kevin Harvick for second in wins.
Despite missing the first three races of the season due to suspension, Busch ranks second to Harvick in most loop data categories, including: average running position (7.483), driver rating (111.2), fastest laps run (277) and laps led (665).
(Near) Perfect 10: Martin Truex Jr. Joins Richard Petty With Milestone
Martin Truex Jr. finished third in Sunday’s Quicken Loans 400 at Michigan to capture his 14th top 10 in 15 races this season. He is the first driver to accomplish the feat since Richard Petty in 1969.
If Truex can notch top 10s in the next two races, he can become the first driver to ever record 16 top 10s in the first 17 races.
On Sunday, Truex gained ground on Kevin Harvick in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points standings as well. The No. 78 Chevrolet driver ranks second, trailing Harvick by just 15 points.
But, with both all but locked into the Chase with wins, more wins are all that matter.
Despite his strong performance, Truex’s four-race streak of leading the most laps came to an end. Harvick’s 63 laps led paced all drivers.
Kevin Harvick – An Analytical Dream
In Sunday’s Quicken Loans 400 at Michigan International Raceway, Kevin Harvick became the first driver since Jeff Gordon in 2001 to eclipse 1,200 laps led 15 races into a season.
Harvick only has two wins, but his robust loop data numbers suggest more are coming.
Remember, you can’t win races unless you lead laps.
The No. 4 Chevrolet driver ranks first in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in average running position (7.3), number of fastest laps (755), laps led (1,225) and driver rating (126.0).
Harvick’s number of fastest laps are nearly triple the next-best driver’s total (Kurt Busch, 277). His number of laps led are nearly double the next-best driver’s total (Kurt Busch, 665).
Furthermore, the defending NASCAR Sprint Cup Series title-winner is on pace to shatter the driver rating record of 112.2 set by Jimmie Johnson is his 2009 championship season. The only caveat when comparing Harvick’s driver rating statistic is that it could drop with two restrictor plate and two road course races left on the schedule.
Bayne Finds The Fast Lane
Trevor Bayne rallied from the 20th starting position to a ninth-place showing in Sunday’s Quicken Loans 400 at Michigan International Speedway – his first top-10 result since finishing eighth at Talladega in May of 2012.
June has been quite the month for the Roush Fenway Racing driver. A little over a week before the race, Bayne and his wife, Ashton, announced they are having a baby boy.
Although he has 73 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts to his credit, Bayne will make his NSCS road course debut in the Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway (Sunday, June 28, 3 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1). In 11 NASCAR XFINITY Series road course starts, Bayne claims three top-10 finishes.
Ty Dillon Produces Another Strong Effort In NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Ty Dillon produced another strong showing in his fourth NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race of the season, finishing a career-best 14th at Michigan on Sunday. Dillon has improved his finishing position in each of his four starts this season: 28th at Daytona, 26th at Kansas, 18th at Pocono. Additionally, Dillon has never finished lower than where he’s started this year (Daytona, 31st and 28th, +3; Kansas, 32nd and 26th, +6; Pocono, 29th and 18th, +11; Michigan, 22nd and 14th, +8). His positive place differential makes him a solid bargain play in fantasy NASCAR.
Wreck Dims Kyle Busch’s Chase Hopes
If Kyle Busch wants to make the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, he needs to rack up points.
And he needs to rack them up fast.
Yes, he also needs a win in the next 11 races.
Busch’s Chase hopes took a hit when he smacked into the wall on a Lap 52 restart at Michigan, causing him to finish 43rd. He ranks 39th in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series points standings after missing the first 11 races of the season due to foot and leg injuries. To make NASCAR’s playoffs, Busch must finish the regular season 30th in the points standings and win a race prior to the Chase opener at Chicagoland Speedway. Right now, he trails Justin Allgaier in the 30th position by 173 points.
In four races since his return, Busch has posted finishes of 11th at Charlotte, 36th at Dover, ninth at Pocono and 43rd at Michigan.
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Snapshot
Ten different drivers have won in the 15 races held heading into the second open week of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season: Jimmie Johnson (4), Kevin Harvick (2), Kurt Busch (2), Martin Truex Jr., Joey Logano, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Brad Keselowski, Matt Kenseth, Denny Hamlin and Carl Edwards. All are virtually locked into the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.
If the regular season ended today, the following drivers would make the Chase based on points: Jamie McMurray (76 points above the cutoff line), Kasey Kahne (+59), Jeff Gordon (+46), Paul Menard (+33), Aric Almirola (+13) and Ryan Newman (+12).
The drivers on the fringe of the Chase Grid in points are Clint Bowyer (-12), Kyle Larson (-39), Danica Patrick (-43) and Greg Biffle (-49).
NASCAR XFINITY SERIES
Father’s Day Weekend A Highlight For NASCAR XFINITY Series’ Family Values
NASCAR has always treasured the family aspect of the sport and this Father’s Day weekend the sport shines a bright light on the relationships between fathers and their children. Below is a look at some of the active drivers this weekend at Chicago and their fathers that have also participated in NASCAR (also, click here for an infographic detailing that very thing).
One of the most famous father-son duos in the NASCAR XFINITY Series today is JR Motorsports driver Chase Elliott and his father NASCAR Hall of Famer Bill Elliott. Both have had careers that are quite impressive, though Chase is the only one with a NASCAR XFINITY Series title. Bill Elliott’s career was primarily focused on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series but he did moonlight in the NASCAR XFINITY Series 43 times, posting one win (Watkins Glen), eight top fives and 18 top 10s. In Chase Elliott’s short career he has started in 46 series races posting three wins (Texas, Darlington and Chicago), 22 top fives and 37 top 10s.
Or how about Richard Childress Racing and how they have made competing in NASCAR a family affair. Richard Childress is the grandfather of drivers Austin Dillon and Ty Dillon and the father-in-law to Mike Dillon, Austin and Ty’s father. All four men have competed in NASCAR’s national series competition and continue to work in the organization today. Richard Childress made 285 starts in the NSCS and Mike Dillon has made 154 NASCAR XFINITY Series starts, posting three top fives and 15 top 10s. Austin Dillon has made 88 NASCAR XFINITY Series starts, posting one championship (2013), four wins, 38 top fives, 62 top 10s and 14 poles. He also won the 2011 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series title. Ty Dillon is currently second in the NXS standings. His series-career has seen 58 starts with one win (Indianapolis), 11 top fives and 37 top 10s.
Another driver following in his father’s footsteps is Ryan Blaney. Ryan’s father, Dave Blaney is a renowned dirt racer that has competed in all three NASCAR national series (just like his son). Dave Blaney has made 121 NXS starts posting one win (Charlotte) and 31 top 10s. Ryan Blaney will be back in the No. 22 Ford for Team Penske this weekend. Blaney has made 34 NASCAR XFINITY Series starts, posting two wins and 26 top 10s.
The newest duo to the father-son NASCAR group are the Kenseths. NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Matt Kenseth will get the chance to watch his son Ross Kenseth make his series debut this weekend at Chicago. Matt Kenseth has made 289 starts in the NXS posting 29 wins, 137 top fives, 200 top 10s and 16 poles.
Buescher’s Points Lead Grows
Winston Churchill once said, “History will be kind to me, for I intend to write it.”
And that’s kind of what Roush Fenway Racing’s Chris Buescher is doing this year.
With two wins and three top fives in the last four races, Buescher has seen his points lead grow to 25 points ahead of second-place Ty Dillon 13 races into the 2015 NASCAR XFINITY Series season. Buescher has held the points lead for the last four consecutive races.
As the series heads to Chicagoland Speedway this weekend for the Owens Corning AttiCat 300 on Saturday, July 20 (FOX Sports 1 at 9:30 p.m. ET) for the 14th race of the season, Buescher boasts the two wins (Iowa and Dover) and a series-leading seven top fives. He also holds the best average finish through the first 13 races among championship contenders with a 7.5.
But Buescher’s ascension to a possible Title Town residency might be tempered this weekend due to his moderate success at Chicago. In two starts at the 1.5-mile speedway he has posted one top 10 and an average finish of 10.0. His pre-race loop data suggest he will have another solid race this weekend, among championship contenders he is ranked fourth in average running position (9.553), and fifth in driver rating (94.2). His nearest competitors in points, Dillon and Chase Elliott, are ranked higher in both categories.
Defending Winner Elliott Returns To Chicago Looking For First Win Of 2015
Last season’s NASCAR XFINITY Series champ Chase Elliott returns to Chicagoland Speedway to defend his win at the 1.5-mile track and score his first trip to Victory Lane in 2015.
At this time last season, he had already posted two wins (Texas and Darlington) and was on top of the series standings. This season has been a different story though; Elliott has climbed from 20th in the standings to third in the last 12 races and has done so without a win.
In Elliott’s first 13 starts he has posted six top fives, 11 top 10s and an average finish of 9.5. He now sits 10 points behind second-place Ty Dillon in the series standings and 35 back from points leader Chris Buescher.
Elliott looked as though he might win last weekend’s race at Michigan, leading during the closing laps. He was ultimately passed by Kyle Busch, relegating him to a runner-up finish – his second of the season.
This weekend at Chicago could be the one Elliott breaks through. In two starts at Chicago, Elliott has one win (2014), two top 10s and an average finish 5.5. He also leads the series in pre-race Driver Rating with a 126.9.
Ross Kenseth, Son Of Matt Kenseth, To Make His Series Debut
When you hear the name Kenseth, the 2003 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Matt Kenseth usually comes to mind, but that could all start to change come Saturday, June 20 when Matt’s son Ross makes his NASCAR national series debut.
Ross Kenseth hails from Little Chute, Wisconsin, and is at the ripe age of 22 years-old. Just like his father, Ross Kenseth will be driving for Joe Gibbs Racing in the No. 20 Toyota with crew chief Michael Wheeler.
Prior to this opportunity the young Kenseth has been cutting his teeth on local short tracks around the country and has made three ARCA Series starts. He won last weekend at Michigan International Speedway in the ARCA Series after starting second and leading a race-high 51 laps.
It will be interesting to see if Ross Kenseth can do better than his father did in his series debut. Matt Kenseth’s series debut came back in 1996 at Charlotte Motor Speedway driving for car owner Carl Wegner. He started 37th and finished 31st.
Erik Jones Pulling Double Duty This Weekend
Erik Jones will be pulling double-duty this weekend, competing in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Iowa Speedway on Friday night (July 19) and the NASCAR XFINITY Series race at Chicagoland Speedway on Saturday night (July 20).
On Saturday, Jones will be climbing in the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 54 Toyota at Chicago; which just so happens to be the car that won last weekend at Michigan in a triumphant return for driver Kyle Busch.
Jones has made 12 series starts this season for JGR posting one win (Texas), six top fives, seven top 10s and three poles. Expect another solid performance from the 19 year-old this weekend; in Jones’ lone start at Chicago he finished seventh.
Sunoco Rookie Update: Wallace Continues To Hold Slight Edge Over Suarez
After 13 races, Daniel Suarez sits 11 points behind Darrell Wallace Jr. in the Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings as the series heads to Chicagoland Speedway. Both standout rookies have been impressive this year but Wallace continues to hold a slight edge over Suarez.
Wallace has accumulated one top five and four top 10s this season. Ironically, so has Suarez, but they differ in the amount of DNFs. Suarez has one; Wallace has none.
Suarez’s experience might give him an opportunity to close the points gap this weekend. It will be Wallace’s series debut at Chicagoland Speedway this weekend; a track Suarez started 18th and finished 15th at last season.
NASCAR XFINITY Series Etc.:
Celebrity Grand Marshall: New England Patriots All-Pro tight end and Super Bowl champion Rob Gronkowski will kick off Father’s Day weekend alongside his four brothers and father at Chicagoland Speedway. It will be a family affair as Rob and his brothers; Gordie Jr., Chris, Dan, and Glenn serve as co-Grand Marshals for the NASCAR XFINITY Series race. Rob’s father, Gordy Sr. will serve as the race’s Honorary Starter, and Rob will then lead the field to green as the official pace car driver for the Owens Corning AttiCat 300.
Cassill Out For Triathlon, Chastain In: After 46 consecutive starts in the NASCAR XFINITY Series Landon Cassill will be taking one off to participate in a triathlon this weekend, opening up his seat in the No. 01 to Sunoco Rookie of the Year candidate Ross Chastain.
Cassill tweeted Chastain about this weekend … @LandonCassill: “Enjoying this week off with my family for Ironman 70.3 Mont Tremblant. Take care of my 01 ride in Chicago @RossChastain! You’ll do great!”
Milestones: Ryan Sieg will attempt to make his 50th NASCAR XFINITY Series career start this weekend at Chicago. … Brian Scott will attempt to become the first driver in series history to post three consecutive Coors Light poles at Chicagoland Speedway. … JR Motorsports (2014 sweep) is looking to become the second team in series history to post three consecutive wins at Chicagoland Speedway, joining Joe Gibbs Racing (2008, 2009 and 2010).
NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES
Jones Starts Weekend Of Double-Duty in Corn State
Erik Jones returns to Iowa Speedway for Friday’s American Ethanol 200 (8:30 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1) as the defending race-winner and continues to search for his first victory of 2015. Jones’ 2014 triumph at the short track was his first of three wins last season. The 19-year-old Michigan native has a busy weekend ahead. He will run at Iowa before heading to Chicagoland Speedway for Saturday’s NASCAR XFINITY Series race.
Jones led the most laps at Gateway (84) after starting from the pole, but had another tough-luck finish when electrical issues caused him to place 23rd.
On the season, Jones leads the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in average start (2.5), average mid-race position (2.1), average running position (3.8), number of fastest laps (333), laps led (480) and driver rating (124.7). Despite his statistical dominance, he ranks fourth in the NCWTS standings, 33 points behind Matt Crafton.
Custer Tries To Muster The Speed For A Second Straight Victory
Cole Custer’s performance at Gateway was the opposite of lackluster.
The 17-year-old NASCAR Next driver won his first race of the season after he cleared Tyler Reddick on a restart with five laps left at the 1.25-mile track and sped away to Victory Lane.
Custer will try to muster enough speed for his second straight win in Friday’s American Ethanol 200 at Iowa Speedway. The race marks the youngster’s fourth of the season on his limited schedule for JR Motorsports.
Custer finished eighth in his lone NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Iowa last year, but captured a NASCAR K&N Pro Series East victory at the 7/8-mile track in 2013.
Hawkeye: Timothy Peters Has Sights Set On Third Iowa Victory
The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series’ only two-time winner at Iowa, Timothy Peters looks to tie Brad Keselowski and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. for the most wins (three) at the track in a NASCAR national series. Peters captured victories at Iowa in 2012 and 2013, but claims only one top 10 in his other six starts there – an eighth-place finish in 2009.
Peters is coming off a sixth-place showing at Gateway as he tries to improve his ninth-place standing in the NCWTS standings. He sits in a tight pack making up the fifth-10th spots: John Wes Townley, Cameron Hayley (-6), Spencer Gallagher (-9), Daniel Hemric (-14), Peters (-15) and Ben Kennedy (-22).
Ray Black Jr. Readies To Give 100 Percent For Dad On Father’s Day
Ray Black Jr. became interested in racing after playing video games on PlayStation at the age of 14.
Ray’s dad, “Captain” Ray Black helped his son get started in racing once he realized Ray was serious about getting involved with the sport. The Floridians spent an abundance of time together researching Sunshine State racing series, visiting local tracks and gaining knowledge from people involved with motorsports. Together, they both went to driver/crew chief school to learn even more about racing.
Captain Black served as crew chief in Ray’s first race, an event they ended up winning. Following the race, Captain Black wanted someone to know exactly what he/she was doing as crew chief and moved into a supportive role.
“I definitely would not be where I am in racing without my dad,” Black said. “Right from the start, he supported me and did everything he could to help me get started in the sport.
“He only had one rule for me when it came to racing – do it with 100 percent effort. I’d like to think his philosophy still sticks with me today.”
Belldozer: Highly Touted Christopher Bell Set To Make Truck Series Debut
The populace of Norman, Oklahoma is familiar with former OU Football standout and current San Francisco 49ers tight end Blake “Belldozer” Bell. Soon it will be familiar with a NASCAR driver who “Belldozes” to victory lane, hometown prospect Christopher Bell (no relation), who makes his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut with Kyle Busch Motorsports in Friday’s American Ethanol 200 at Iowa Speedway.
In seven starts in KBM’s No. 51 Late Model this season, Bell has collected four victories and a pair of runner-up finishes en route to an average finish of 1.7. The 20-year-old driver won the prestigious Rattle 250 at South Alabama Speedway, leading 203-of-250 laps and dominating a field which included defending NASCAR XFINITY Series champion Chase Elliott.
An open-wheel dirt standout, Bell earned the 2013 United States Auto Club National Midget championship.
In preparation for his NCWTS debut, Bell competed in two NASCAR K&N Pro Series West races. He finished 15th at Irwindale (Calif.) Speedway in April and moved all the way up from the 18th starting position to place fifth at Iowa Speedway in May.
Like Father, Like Son: Nemechek Hopes To Give Dad Father’s Day Win
The Nemechek’s will spend Father’s Day Weekend at their favorite place in the world – a race track.
John Hunter Nemechek will try to capture his family’s NEMCO Motorsports team a victory in Friday’s American Ethanol 200 at Iowa Speedway, one week after taking over permanently for his father Joe in the No. 8 Chevrolet.
John Hunter will make the 16th start of his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series career after recording a career-best fourth-place finish at Gateway on Friday. He placed 10th in his lone start at Iowa last year and will try to give Joe a win for Father’s Day.
Nemechek, a NASCAR Next member, has a promising career ahead of him, but has a ways to go to catch up with some of the numbers Joe has posted. Joe Nemechek boasts 20 career NASCAR national series wins in 1,115 starts and was the 1992 NASCAR XFINITY Series champion.
Reddick Gains Ground In Points Championship Race
To win a championship, a driver must capitalize on the misfortune of others.
Tyler Reddick did just that last Saturday night at Gateway.
Going into the race, Reddick trailed Crafton in the standings by 25 points. Now, he only sits 12 points behind Crafton.
Crafton was well on his way to another top-three finish when John Hunter Nemechek got loose, made contact with Crafton and sent him into the wall. Crafton ended the night with a 21st-place finish.
Reddick – whose stated pre-season goal was to win the championship – coasted to an eighth-place finish, taking advantage of Crafton’s tough luck.
In eight starts this season, Reddick boasts two wins, five top fives and six top 10s. He leads the NCWTS with a pass differential of 61.
Rookies Run Wild At Gateway
Last Saturday’s race marked a banner day for many of the Sunoco Rookies in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.
Spencer Gallagher and John Hunter Nemechek both posted career-best finishes with respective showings of second and fourth. Fellow rookie Daniel Hemric continued his hot streak with a ninth-place result – his third consecutive top-10 finish. Austin Theriault came in 10th for his third top 10 in four starts.
Despite his disappointing finish, Erik Jones won the 21 Means 21 Pole Award and led a race-high 84 laps.
Jones continues to lead the Sunoco Rookie of the Year Standings with 110 points, followed by Cameron Hayley (-28), Hemric (-37), Gallagher (-38) and Justin Boston (-44).