Monday, November 4, 2024

GRAMMY-Winning Icon Nelly to Perform Pre-Race Concert

GRAMMY-Winning Icon Nelly to Perform Pre-Race Concert

Ahead of #NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race on Sunday November 10th

GRAMMY-Winning Icon Nelly to Perform Pre-Race Concert #NASCAR

 

Phoenix Raceway announced that diamond selling, multi-platinum, and GRAMMY award-winning rapper Nelly will perform prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race on Sunday, Nov. 10, with a portion of the performance set to air live on NBC’s pre-race show.

 

“We’re ecstatic to have Nelly help us close out the 2024 NASCAR season in style,” said Phoenix Raceway President Latasha Causey. “His timeless, high-energy hits will surely set the stage for a thrilling finale and amp up our crowd at Phoenix Raceway.”

 

“Performing for NASCAR is always crazy,” said Nelly. “The energy level is high and the fans are incredible!”

 

The pre-race concert on November 10th is free to fans who hold tickets to the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race. Grandstand seats are already sold out, but a select number of Hillside, Infield General Admission and Busch Light Lounge tickets remain available.

 

The 2024 season will come to a dramatic conclusion with the Cup Series Championship Race at 1 p.m. MST on Sunday, Nov. 10, as four drivers vie for the highly coveted Bill France Cup.

 





 

source: Phoenix Raceway Media

Sunday, November 3, 2024

NASCAR Race Recap (Martinsville)

NASCAR Race Recap (Martinsville)

Winners: Ryan Blaney (Cup); Aric Almirola (Xfinity); Christian Eckes (Trucks)


NASCAR Cup

Ryan Blaney Passes Chase Elliott for the Cup Win

Ryan Blaney Passes Chase Elliott for the Cup Win

 

Ryan Blaney earned a chance to defend his NASCAR championship with a victory Sunday at Martinsville Speedway that pushed the Team Penske driver into the winner-take-all season finale

 

Blaney, passed Chase Elliott with 15 laps to go to win at the Virginia track for a second consecutive year and take a spot in the championship race next week at Phoenix Raceway. Blaney will race Penske teammate Joey Logano, Tyler Reddick of 23XI Racing and Byron.

 

The title goes to the highest-finishing driver next Sunday.

 

“To have another shot at the championship is really special,” Blaney said. “Try to go back-to-back next week. I’ve got nothing left. Oh my God, I’m tired.”

 





Pole: Martin Truex Jr.

Click Here for Race Results


Next Race: The Cup Series will return on Sunday November 10, 2024 at 3:00 pm ET for the NASCAR Cup Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway.



NASCAR Xfinity

Aric Almirola Sweeps ’24 Xfinity Series Races at Martinsville

Aric Almirola Sweeps ’24 Xfinity Series Races at Martinsville

 

Tickets punched and punches thrown – it was Martinsville after all, and in Saturday’s National Debt Relief 250, Aric Almirola made Martinsville Speedway his personal playground.

 

Leading 150 of 250 laps in a No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota that was the clear class of the field, Almirola won his second race in his second NASCAR Xfinity Series start at the 0.526-mile short track and earned a spot for his car in the series owners’ Championship 4.

 

For Almirola, who won at Martinsville in April in his first Xfinity attempt, the victory was the third of the season in 13 starts and the seventh of his career.

 

“We had an amazing car here in the spring, and we made a few tweaks to it,” said Almirola, who also swept the first and second stages. “I wasn’t totally happy with it, honestly, in the spring. And we showed up (Friday) and we were awful. I was like ‘Oh, no, what did we do?’ ”

 

“They went to work last night and came up with a lot of changes to make to the car, and it was so hooked up today. It would just do everything I wanted it to. This is such a special place. This is by far my favorite race track. I’m just so thankful.”

 





Pole: Parker Retzlaff

Click Here for Race Results


Next Race: The Xfinity Series will return on Saturday November 9, 2024 at 7:30 pm ET for the NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway.



NASCAR Trucks

Christian Eckes Survives Late-Race Restarts, Dominates Truck Series Race at Martinsville

Christian Eckes Survives Late-Race Restarts

 

It was indeed a special night for NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver Christian Eckes, who dominated Friday night’s Long John Silver’s 200 at Martinsville Speedway.

 

Eschewing a trip to pit road between the first and second stages at the 0.526-mile short track, Eckes led the first 104 laps, swept the stages and worked his way back through the field from 19th after pitting at the Stage 2 break.

 

Undeterred by the chaos that produced 11 cautions for 81 laps, Eckes took the lead for the final time on Lap 172 in a side-by-side battle against pole winner Ty Majeski, who regained the top spot when Eckes came to pit road for the only time during the 200-lap event.

 

“Something really special,” Eckes said of the effort of his No. 19 McAnally-Hilgemann Racing team and the quality of his Chevrolet. “We came here last year, and we weren’t really that great… we were maybe a sixth-place truck (started sixth and finished 15th).

 

“And we worked really hard on it, and here we are in Victory Lane. So just super proud of this entire team.”

 





Pole: Christian Eckes

Click Here for Race Results


Next Race: The Truck Series will return on Friday November 8, 2024 at 8:00 pm ET for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway.



ARCA West





Next Race: The ARCA West Series will return on Friday, November 8, 2024 at 12:30 p.m. MT for the Desert Diamond Casino West Valley 100 at Phoenix Raceway.

 

source: NASCAR Media

Saturday, November 2, 2024

Christian Eckes Wins at Martinsville after Drama-Filled Closing Laps

Christian Eckes Wins at Martinsville after Drama-Filled Closing Laps

MARTINSVILLE, Va. – Christian Eckes wasn’t about to lose a race he had dominated, even if it meant using the front bumper on his No. 19 Chevrolet-twice.

 

Christian Eckes Wins at Martinsville (#NASCAR)


After a restart with five laps left in Friday night’s Zip Buy Now, Pay Later 200 at Martinsville Speedway, Eckes first moved the Toyota of Taylor Gray and then the Ford of Ben Rhodes-both of which were rolling on 40-lap fresher tires-to win the race and earn a spot in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series’ Championship 4 Race.

 

Six-time winner Corey Heim ran seventh and Ty Majeski came home 11th, as both earned berths in the Championship 4 on points, eliminating Gray, Nick Sanchez, Tyler Ankrum and Rajah Caruth in the final event of the Playoffs’ Round of 8.

 

Eckes, Heim, Majeski and Grant Enfinger will race for the title next Friday at Phoenix Raceway (8 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

 

After the restart on Lap 196 of 200, Gray used his better tires to squeeze past Eckes to the inside. Eckes regained the top spot by moving Gray up the track. A lap later, Rhodes passed Eckes, who completed the fourth lead change in the final five laps by shoving the No. 99 Ford on Lap 198.

 

Free of his competitors, Eckes crossed the finish line two laps later, 1.191 seconds ahead of Rhodes. Chase Purdy and Gray were third and fourth, followed by Sanchez.

 

“Like I told everybody, I wasn’t going to lose this race-this truck was too good,” Eckes said. “The 17 (Gray) was hard racing. I feel bad about the 99 (Rhodes). I just got way too loose entering the corner.

 

“(Hearing boos from the crowd). Everybody’s really happy with me-but I don’t really care. I’m proud of everybody for working hard, and we’re going to Phoenix.”

 

The victory was Eckes’ fourth of the season, his second at Martinsville and the ninth of his career, but it came with a price.

 

After climbing from his truck, Gray walked angrily toward Eckes and expressed his displeasure in no uncertain terms.

 

A victory would have landed Gray in the Championship 4 at the expense of Majeski, who instead claimed the last spot by 28 points over Gray.

 

“I got sent to the fence when I raced him perfectly clean in (Turns) 1 and 2,” Gray said. “What goes around comes around. I have to race him next year all year long (when both move up to the NASCAR Xfinity Series).

 

“The 19 (Eckes) was the class of the field, right? But it’s not my fault we had better strategy than he did. We came out on tires; we drove through the field and we drove to him. I raced him clean, and he drove me in the fence. I guess the only thing I could have done is wreck him like he wrecked me.”

 

Eckes swept the first two stages, his series-best 10th and 11th of the season and led 187 of the 200 laps. He held a substantial lead before a six-car accident in Turn 2 on Lap 190 caused the sixth and final caution and set up the frenetic finish.

 

For practical purposes, Gray, Sanchez, Ankrum and Caruth entered the race in must-win situations. Ankrum finished eighth, and Caruth came home 31st after losing 21 laps in the garage as his team repaired a brake issue on his No. 71 Chevrolet.

 

Despite finishing third in each of the first two stages, Sanchez was 39 points out of a Championship 4 position when the race ended.






 

NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Race

Zip Buy Now, Pay Later 200

Martinsville Speedway, Martinsville, Virginia

Friday, November 1, 2024


1. (1) Christian Eckes (P), Chevrolet, 200.

2. (6) Ben Rhodes, Ford, 200.

3. (8) Chase Purdy, Chevrolet, 200.

4. (3) Taylor Gray (P), Toyota, 200.

5. (4) Nick Sanchez (P), Chevrolet, 200.

6. (5) Layne Riggs #, Ford, 200.

7. (7) Corey Heim (P), Toyota, 200.

8. (23) Tyler Ankrum (P), Chevrolet, 200.

9. (33) Grant Enfinger (P), Chevrolet, 200.

10. (20) Stewart Friesen, Toyota, 200.

11. (2) Ty Majeski (P), Ford, 200.

12. (27) Connor Zilisch(i), Chevrolet, 200.

13. (16) Matt Crafton, Ford, 200.

14. (12) William Sawalich, Toyota, 200.

15. (24) Dawson Sutton, Chevrolet, 200.

16. (25) Bayley Currey, Chevrolet, 200.

17. (17) Dean Thompson, Toyota, 200.

18. (31) Corey Day, Chevrolet, 200.

19. (21) Matt Mills, Chevrolet, 200.

20. (26) Jake Garcia, Ford, 199.

21. (19) Timmy Hill, Toyota, 198.

22. (32) Spencer Boyd, Chevrolet, 198.

23. (30) Lawless Alan, Ford, 198.

24. (35) Clayton Green, Ford, 197.

25. (36) Justin Carroll, Toyota, 197.

26. (10) Jack Wood, Chevrolet, 196.

27. (22) Matthew Gould, Chevrolet, 195.

28. (13) Johnny Sauter, Ford, Accident, 194.

29. (15) Tanner Gray, Toyota, Accident, 182.

30. (28) Brett Moffitt, Chevrolet, Accident, 181.

31. (11) Rajah Caruth (P), Chevrolet, 179.

32. (18) Daniel Dye, Chevrolet, Brakes, 166.

33. (9) Kaden Honeycutt, Chevrolet, Accident, 162.

34. (29) Dylan Lupton(i), Chevrolet, Accident, 96.

35. (14) Landen Lewis, Toyota, Brakes, 82.

36. (34) Norm Benning, Chevrolet, Brakes, 17.


Average Speed of Race Winner: 65.613 mph.

Time of Race: 1 Hrs, 36 Mins, 12 Secs. Margin of Victory: 1.191 Seconds.

Caution Flags: 6 for 46 laps.

Lead Changes: 6 among 3 drivers.

Lap Leaders

  • C. Eckes (P) 1-104;
  • B. Rhodes 105-115;
  • C. Eckes (P) 116-194;
  • T. Gray (P) 195;
  • C. Eckes (P) 196;
  • B. Rhodes 197;
  • C. Eckes (P) 198-200.

Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led)

  • Christian Eckes (P) 4 times for 187 laps; 
  • Ben Rhodes 2 times for 12 laps; 
  • Taylor Gray (P) 1 time for 1 lap.

Stage #1 Top Ten: 19,98,2,17,38,11,45,77,1,7

Stage #2 Top Ten: 19,98,2,11,1,52,99,45,18,9

 

Christian Eckes Wins at Martinsville (#NASCAR)

Christian Eckes Wins at Martinsville (#NASCAR)

Christian Eckes Wins at Martinsville (#NASCAR)

Christian Eckes Wins at Martinsville (#NASCAR)



source: Martinsville Speedway Media

Friday, November 1, 2024

Martinville Speedway #NASCAR Schedule

Martinville Speedway #NASCAR Schedule

Craftsman Truck Series; Xfinity Series; NASCAR Cup Series

Martinville Speedway #NASCAR Schedule

 

NASCAR teams congregate at Martinville Speedway this weekend to battle it out for a final shot at the 2024 Championship! All three NASCAR national series will be on track with elimination races to set up next week's Championship 4 at Phoenix Raceway.

 

It's a three-day race weekend with the Craftsman Truck Series running on Friday, the Xfinity Series on Saturday and the NASCAR Cup Series race on Sunday.

 

Friday, November 1, 2024

  • 12:30 p.m. — NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series practice and qualifying, FS2
  • 2:30 p.m. — NASCAR Xfinity Series practice and qualifying, NBC Sports app
  • 5 p.m. — Zip Buy Now, Pay Later 200 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Race
    •  (200 laps, 105.2 miles), FS1

Saturday, November 2, 2024

  • 12 p.m. — NASCAR Cup Series practice and qualifying, NBC Sports app
  • 3 p.m. — National Debt Relief 250 NASCAR Xfinity Series Race 
    • (250 laps, 131.5 miles), CW Network

Sunday, November 3, 2024

  • 1 p.m. — Xfinity 500 NASCAR Cup Series Race
    • (500 laps, 263 miles), NBC




 

source: NASCAR Media

Monday, October 28, 2024

NASCAR / ARCA Race Recap (Homestead Miami / Kevin Harvick's Kern-Raceway)

#NASCAR / #ARCA Race Recap (Homestead Miami / Kevin Harvick's Kern-Raceway)

Winners: Tyler Reddick (Cup); Austin Hill (Xfinity); Grant Enfinger (Trucks) and Sean Hingorani (ARCA West)


NASCAR Cup

Tyler Reddick Rides High Line to Homestead Victory

Tyler Reddick Rides High Line to Homestead Victory

 

A clutch last-lap pass following a late-race restart saw Tyler Reddick clinch a Championship 4 berth with his NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs victory at Homestead-Miami Speedway Sunday evening.

 

Ryan Blaney finished runner-up, while Denny Hamlin, Christopher Bell and Chase Elliott completed the top five.

 

“I don’t know, we were backed in a corner and had no other choice. I knew we were on a tire deficit, and here at Homestead, that’s a death sentence, but I didn’t care,” Reddick said of moving back into the lead after being passed in a four-wide move on the restart only to work his way back to the point in the final six laps.

 





Pole: Tyler Reddick

Click Here for Race Results


Next Race: The Cup Series will return on Sunday, November 3, 2024 at 2:00 PM ET for the XFINITY 500 at Martinsville Speedway.

 

NASCAR Xfinity

Austin Hill Dominates Xfinity Series Playoff Race

Austin Hill Dominates Xfinity Series Playoff Race

 

An emotional Austin Hill climbed out of his No. 21 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet on the Homestead-Miami Speedway frontstretch to celebrate one of the most significant race wins of his burgeoning career — claiming the Credit One NASCAR Amex Credit Card 300 trophy Saturday and securing one of four positions to race for a trophy in the Nov. 9 Xfinity Series championship finale.

 

Hill — who also swept both of the race’s stage wins — took the lead from Stewart-Haas Racing’s Cole Custer with 12 laps remaining Saturday evening at the 1.5-mile South Florida track and raced off to a healthy 3.045-second win over the fellow playoff driver and reigning series champion Custer.

 

“I worked so hard for this, a lot of people doubt me but I wake up every day to prove them wrong,” Hill said. “I deserve to be here and I deserve to race for a championship. This 21 team deserves it just as much as I do. They work their [butts] off each and every day just like I do. I’ve got to give it up to those guys. They gave me a hell of a car.

 

“I can honestly say I’ve never cried coming to the start-finish line, but I had to get my emotions together going into Turn 1 after the checkered, all the hard work and dedication that goes into this. I don’t think everyone’s going to understand what this means for me, for my family and for [sponsor] Bennett. … I had to be on it today.

 

”Pausing to take it in, he added, “This is amazing. To be able to go the Final Four. I’ve worked so hard at this and my dreams came true.”

 





Pole: Chandler Smith

Click Here for Race Results


Next Race: The Xfinity Series will return on Saturday November 2, 2024 at 4:00 pm ET for the National Debt Relief 250 at Martinsville Speedway.



NASCAR Trucks

Grant Enfinger Stretches Fuel to Win Truck Series Playoff Race

Grant Enfinger Stretches Fuel to Win Truck Series Playoff Race

 

A strategy call from the pit box coupled with a patient move forward landed veteran Grant Enfinger his second consecutive NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series playoff race win in Saturday’s Baptist Health 200 at Homestead-Miami Speedway while his closest competitors ran out of fuel behind him in the closing laps.

 

Enfinger, who also won the opening race in this playoff round at Talladega Superspeedway three weeks ago, denied the other seven playoff racers a chance at an automatic bid into the championship race at Phoenix. So now at least two drivers will advance based on points earned with only next Saturday’s race at Martinsville to settle which other three drivers move onward into the title fight.

 

“At the end of the day, [crew chief] Jeff [Stankiewicz] just had the best truck out here,” said Enfinger, who actually made up a lap on track after contact on a race restart cut his tire earlier in the day.

 

“Our car was really fast after about five laps yesterday [in practice] and was the same way today. Jeff did a good job managing me with the tires and then managing me with the fuel. I feel like I saved at least 20 percent more than I did in the first run. Jeff was on me pretty hard obviously and the 38 [Layne Riggs] ran out and the 2 [Nick Sanchez] did too.

 

“Hard to beat these two weeks,” he added with a grin.

 





Pole: Corey Heim

Click Here for Race Results


Next Race: The Truck Series will return on Friday November 1, 2024 6:00 pm ET for the Zip Buy Now, Pay Later 200 at Martinsville Speedway.


ARCA

Defending West Series Champ Sean Hingorani goes Flag to Flag

Defending West Series Champ Sean Hingorani goes Flag to Flag

 

With just one race remaining, Sean Hingorani left nothing to chance. The eighteen-year-old defending ARCA West champion dominated the NAPA Auto Care 150 at Kevin Harvick's Kern Raceway. Hingorani, starting from pole position, lead all 150 laps. He finished 0.302 seconds ahead of his hard-charging teammate Brett Crews.

 

“Venturini Motorsports brought me such a great race car today and I can’t thank them enough for that. Had to hold off there at the end, but we were able to lead wire to wire and dominate here today,” Sean related post-race.

 

Sean leads the series championship points standing by fourteen over Tyler Reif.

 





Pole:  Sean Hingorani

Click Here for Race Results


Next Race: The ARCA Series will return on Friday, November 8, 2024 at 12:30 p.m. MT for the Desert Diamond Casino West Valley 100 at Phoenix Raceway.

 

source: NASCAR / ARCA Media

Wednesday, October 23, 2024

Hendrick Motorsports at Homestead-Miami

Hendrick Motorsports at Homestead-Miami Speedway

Larson; Elliott; Byron; Bowman - Coming in Hot


Larson; Elliott; Byron; Bowman - Coming in Hot


It may have taken Hendrick Motorsports a few years to visit victory lane at Homestead-Miami Speedway, but the organization has made up for lost time. 


With William Byron claiming a win at the 1.5-mile oval in 2021 and Kyle Larson following it up by prevailing in 2022, Hendrick Motorsports has claimed two of the last three events in southern Florida. 


Vice chairman and NASCAR Hall of Famer, Jeff Gordon, delivered the organization its first win at Homestead-Miami with Jimmie Johnson registering his record-tying seventh championship there in 2016, giving Hendrick Motorsports four wins since the track opened in 1999. 


Larson leads all active drivers with 625 laps led at Homestead and Chase Elliott is second in career average finish at 10.4. 


Here's a look at how the current Hendrick Motorsports roster measures up at Homestead-Miami as well as a quick look at the company's history. 



Kyle Larson Driver Averages, Homestead

Starts:
10
Wins: 
1
Poles: 
0
Top fives: 
5
Top 10s: 
5
DNFs: 
2
Laps led: 
625
Average start: 
14.5
Average finish: 
13.0

Chase Elliott Driver Averages, Homestead

Starts:
8
Wins: 
0
Poles: 
0
Top fives: 
2
Top 10s: 
3
DNFs: 
0
Laps led: 
31
Average start: 
10.4
Average finish: 
10.4

William Byron Driver Averages, Homestead

Starts:
6
Wins: 
1
Poles: 
1
Top fives: 
2
Top 10s: 
3
DNFs: 
1
Laps led: 
159
Average start: 
16.3
Average finish: 
14.8

Alex Bowman Driver Averages, Homestead

Starts:
8    
Wins: 
1
Poles: 
0     
Top fives: 
0
Top 10s: 
2
DNFs: 
0
Laps led: 
0
Average start: 
18.9
Average finish: 
19.9






Jimmie Johnson - 7X #NASCAR Champion
Jimmie Johnson won his seventh and final NASCAR
Cup Series championship  for owner Rick Hendrick
at Homestead-Miami Speedway in 2016.


Hendrick Motorsports at Homestead

Races:  25
Wins: 4
Winners:Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, William Byron, Kyle Larson
Poles: 4
Top fives: 20
Top 10s: 39
Laps led: 1,033

 

source: Hendrick Motorsports Media

Tuesday, October 22, 2024

Straight Talk Wireless Named Entitlement Partner

Straight Talk Wireless Named Entitlement Partner

Homestead-Miami Speedway Cup Series Playoff Race #StraightTalkWireless400

Straight Talk Wireless Named Entitlement Partner

 

Homestead-Miami Speedway announced Straight Talk Wireless as an Official Partner in a deal that includes the entitlement of this weekend’s NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race. The Straight Talk Wireless 400 will take place on Sunday, October 27, with the winner punching their ticket to the Championship 4 and a shot at being crowned Cup Series champion.

 

Homestead-Miami Speedway President Guillermo Santa Cruz

 “We always look to deliver a quality product here at Homestead-Miami Speedway, and like us, Straight Talk Wireless prides itself on bringing the greatest value to their customers,” said Homestead-Miami Speedway President Guillermo Santa Cruz. “This is the start of a great partnership, and we can’t wait to see the Cup Series Playoff action on track during the Straight Talk Wireless 400.”

 

Straight Talk Wireless is available only at Walmart or via www.straighttalk.com and provides customers several value-based plans. Month-to-month options are available and offers customers an affordable cell phone service with plan flexibility.

 

“We are thrilled to be the entitlement sponsor of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race and to announce the very first Straight Talk Wireless 400,” said Cheryl Gresham, Chief Marketing Officer at Verizon Value. “Having a race dedicated to the Straight Talk brand will drive awareness for the brand in Miami, which is a top market for us. NASCAR fans are Walmart shoppers and Walmart shoppers can easily get Straight Talk when shopping in-store. This sponsorship makes a lot of sense for us and will drive awareness for Straight Talk in a major way.” 




 

source: Homestead-Miami Speedway Media 

Wednesday, October 16, 2024

LVMS NASCAR Cup Dignitaries

Las Vegas Motor Speedway #NASCAR Cup Dignitaries

The Race Weekend Will Conclude with Sunday's South Point 400 NASCAR Cup Series Race #SouthPoint400

Grand Marshal

 

Barry Odom - Grand Marshal #NASCAR

On most fall days, UNLV coach Barry Odom is giving direction to his the UNLV football team. But on Sunday, Oct. 20, he will be commanding the greatest stock car drivers in the world to start their engines.

 

Odom, who has guided the Rebels to a record-breaking start to their season, has been named grand marshal for this year’s South Point 400 NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

 

“I have been a NASCAR fan for quite some time and have been to many races at other tracks,” Odom said. “But this will be my first time doing ‘Drivers Start Your Engines!’ and to do it here in Las Vegas where our family has made our home will be extra special.”

 

Honorary Starters

WWE Superstars Rey Mysterio and Braun Strowman - Honorary Starters

 

Sunday's South Point 400 is set for a SmackDown double feature. WWE Superstars Rey Mysterio and Braun Strowman have been named honorary starters for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series playoff race.

 

Mysterio, a southern California native and Las Vegas resident, is known as one of the greatest WWE Superstars of all time. He will get the honors of dropping the green flag to start the South Point 400. Strowman, known as The Monster of All Monsters, will join him in the flagstand as the cars come to life.

 





National Anthem

Elizabeth Wetzel - National Anthem #NASCAR

 

Musician 2nd Class Elizabeth Wetzel will perform the national anthem to start the highly anticipated race. Wetzel's all-around experience spans musical talent, educational expertise, and military service. She earned her bachelor's degree from Arizona State University in 2018 and taught elementary school students while drilling with the Navy Reserve in Phoenix. Wetzel is also a lead vocalist with the renowned Navy Band Northwest.

 

Pre-Race Concert

Navy Band Northwest - Pre-Race Concert

 

Navy Band Northwest will get the crowd amped before driver introductions with a high-energy concert. With a legacy spanning almost a century, Navy Band Northwest provides ceremonial support, public performances, and educational outreach across the Pacific Northwest. For the first time at LVMS, they will perform hits from all genres, including rock, rap, funk, R&B, and country music.

 

Celebrity Pace Car Driver

Katie Grimes - Celebrity Pace Car Driver #NASCAR

 

Las Vegan Katie Grimes is one of the fastest swimmers in the world, but now she gets a chance to keep pace with the fastest stock cars in the world.

 

Grimes, a silver medalist in swimming at the Paris Olympics, is shifting gears from taking laps in an Olympic pool to taking laps on the racetrack as she takes on her newest role as celebrity pace car driver for the South Point 400 on Oct. 20.

 

Grimes, an18-year-old Las Vegas native, is a rising star in the swimming world. She has set multiple Nevada state records and won numerous state championships. Grimes has been recognized as one of the most exciting athletes to watch compete in her sport, and even her Olympic teammate and nine-time gold medal winner Katie Ledecky agrees that Grimes is the "future" of swimming in the United States. In 2020, she was the youngest American swimmer to qualify for the Olympic Trials in the 800m freestyle. This summer in Paris, Grimes solidified her status as a swimming superstar by winning a silver Olympic medal in the 400m individual medley.

 

“Swimming in my second Olympic Games was such a milestone experience for me,” Grimes said. “And while swimming is my life, getting the opportunity to represent our city, our state and our country was incredibly special. And now representing at the South Point 400 is really exciting.”

 





 

source: Las Vegas Motor Speedway Media 

Tuesday, October 15, 2024

NASCAR Heads West

#NASCAR Heads West

For the Next Stop in the Playoffs

#NASCAR Heads West - For the Next Stop in the Playoffs

 

The lights in Las Vegas are about to get even brighter. The NASCAR Playoffs are coming to town and taking center stage at Las Vegas Motor Speedway

 





Race action starts Friday with free admission to the speedway for the Hauler Parade and Xfinity practice and qualifying. Later that night, race action shifts to The Bullring for the zMax CARS Tour West Star Nursery Classic, where fans can attend for as low as $20 during pre-sale, and kids 12 and under can attend for free.

 

On Saturday, NASCAR’s Cup Series hits the track first with practice and qualifying, followed by the Ambetter Health 302 NASCAR Xfinity Series race. The weekend concludes on Sunday with the South Point 400 NASCAR Cup Series playoff race.

 





The Cup Series is down to eight drivers fighting to get a spot in the final four. Kyle Larson comes into Las Vegas leading with +33, Christopher Bell follows just behind with +13, Tyler Reddick not too far behind with just +10, William Byron comes to LVMS just shy of the cutoff with +4.

 

Ryan Blaney last year's champion trying to go back-to-back currently sits below the cut line with -4, Denny Hamlin follows closely with -8, Chase Elliott with an even closer margin at just -9 and Joey Logano at -11 after surviving the Bank of America ROVAL 400 due to Alex Bowman’s disqualification last race.

 

 

source: Las Vegas Motor Speedway Media 

Monday, October 14, 2024

NASCAR Charlotte Roval Race Recap

#NASCAR Charlotte Roval Race Recap

Winners: Kyle Larson(Cup) & Sam Mayer (Xfinity)


Cup

Kyle Larson Dominates at Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval

Kyle Larson Dominates at Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval

 

Kyle Larson cruised to his second NASCAR Cup victory this season—and his second in an elimination race. Mirroring his rout in the final Round of 16 event at Bristol Motor Speedway, Larson grabbed the lead for the restart of Stage 2 and stayed out front for 62 of the final 82 laps at the 2.28-mile, 17-turn Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval. 

 

The driver of the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet crossed the finish line 1.511 seconds ahead of Christopher Bell, the only driver who could stay in the same zip code with the race winner. Third-place William Byron was 8.965 seconds behind at the finish.

 

With his sixth victory of the season, his second at the Roval and the 29th of his career, Larson led two other Hendrick teammates into the final eight — Byron and fifth-place finisher Chase Elliott.

 

“Really, it’s the first time in my playoff career I’ve not been close to the cut line, so it was good to kind of have a little bit stress-free of a weekend,” said Larson, whose previous win at the Roval came during his 2021 championship season. “I think the first time I’ve been here without crashing, maybe, besides the other time I won.

 

“It’s known that I don’t really use the sim (simulator) much, and I was in the sim this week. It really helped me get into a rhythm I think early on and helped us kind of fine-tune our car, too.”

 





Pole: Shane Van Gisbergen

Click Here for Race Results


Next Race:
The Cup Series will return on Sunday, October 20, 2024 at 2:30 PM ET for the South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.


 

NASCAR Xfinity

Sam Mayer prevails in NASCAR Overtime

Sam Mayer prevails in #NASCAR Overtime

 

As Sam Mayer celebrated his drama-filled victory in Saturday’s Drive for the Cure 250 Presented by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval, Parker Kligerman watched a replay of the whisker-close circumstance that knocked him out of the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs.

 

In overtime, Mayer passed Kligerman in Turn 7 of the 2.280-mile, 17-turn circuit and pulled away to claim the victory that propelled him into the Playoffs’ Round of 8.

 

But Mayer’s win was devastation for Kligerman, who has never won an Xfinity Series race. Kligerman was leading, with the white flag waving, when NASCAR called a caution for Leland Honeyman’s spin into the barrier in Turn 3.

 

Had the caution call come a fraction of a second later, Kligerman would have been the winner under yellow. The overtime, however, gave Mayer another shot in his No. 1 JR Motorsports Chevrolet — arguably the class of the field — and the 21-year-old from Franklin, Wisconsin took full advantage.

 

“We were all crossed up getting up in there (Turn 7),” Mayer said of the winning pass. “I was loose getting into (Turn) 6, and I knew that was my only shot if I got a good angle into that corner.

 

“He blocked the bottom, which was good for me in that it gave me a better angle up off the corner and got this Chevrolet hooked up, and we were gone from there. Now, I get to celebrate.”

 





Pole: Shane Van Gisbergen

Click Here for Race Results


Next Race:
The Xfinity Series will return on Saturday, October 19, 2024 at 7:00 PM ET for the Ambetter Health 302 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway



NASCAR Trucks

Truck Had an Off Weekend





Next Race: The Truck Series will return on Saturday, October 26, 2024 at 12:00 PM ET for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Playoff Race at Homestead-Miami at Homestead-Miami Speedway.



ARCA

The ARCA Menard Series Did Not Race last Weekend





Next Race: The ARCA West Series will return on Saturday, October 26, 2024 at 8:00 p.m. PT for the NAPA Auto Parts 150 presented by West Coast Stock Car Motorsports Hall of Fame at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway.

 

source: #NASCAR / #ARCA Media