NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Has an Off Weekend

Series begins preparations for Wild Talladega race #LovesRVStop250

 

The NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series will have a week off to regroup and go over strategy before the competitors head to none other than Talladega Superspeedway for the Love’s RV Stop 250 (Saturday, September 30 at 1 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN, and SiriusXM Radio).

 

The 2.66-mile superspeedway has hosted 17 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series races since its inaugural CRAFTSMAN Truck Series event on October 7, 2006 – a race won by Mark Martin driving the No. 6 Roush Racing (now known as RFK) Ford. Notably, there have been 12 different race winners and 15 different pole winners.

 

Talladega has participated in the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoffs since its inception in 2016. The 2023 season marks the third time the superspeedway has hosted the fifth race in the Playoffs (2021, 2022, and 2023). This is the third different spot that Talladega has resided on the Playoff schedule. In 2016, 2017, 2018, the track played host to the third Playoff race. In 2019, it moved to host the fourth race, but moved back to the first-round elimination race in 2020.

 

All 7 previous Playoff races at Talladega have been won by non-Playoff drivers.

 

NCTS Playoff Race Winners at Talladega (2016-2022)

1. 10/22/2026 - Grant Enfinger
2. 10/14/2017 Parker Kligerman
3. 10/13/2018 Timothy Peters
4. 10/12/2019 Spencer Boyd
5. 10/03/2020 Raphael Lessard
6. 10/02/2021 Tate Fogleman
7. 10/01/2022 Matt DiBenedetto

 

source: NASCAR Media

.@CoreyHeim_ is headed @phoenixraceway!

Three #Championship4 spots open and two races to get there. #NASCARPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/9FIHkb0ZCM

— NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Trucks (@NASCAR_Trucks) September 18, 2023

JR Motorsports Xfinity Team Preview

'Andy's Frozen Custard 300' at TMS

 

• TRACK: Texas Motor Speedway
• RACE: Andy's Frozen Custard 300 (200 laps / 300 miles)
• DATE: Saturday September 23, 2023
• TV: 3:30 p.m. ET on USA
• RADIO: 3 p.m. ET on PRN Radio and SiriusXM Ch. 90

 

Sam Mayer

 

Sam Mayer heads west to Texas Motor Speedway for his fourth start at the 1.5-mile track and the second race of the Round of 12 in the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs. The Franklin, Wis. native has scored one top-five and two top-10 efforts at the quad-oval with his best of third coming in the spring of 2022. Mayer's average finish at the Fort Worth facility is 8.0. He currently sits 10th in points, a mere 14 markers out of the cutoff spot with two races remaining. Mayer's Chevrolet will be carrying the blue and black colors of Accelerate Professional Talent Solutions on the No. 1 entry.

 

Sam Mayer: "Texas is another one of my better tracks and I'm looking forward to having a chance to get our momentum going in the right direction. We have had really fast cars these past few weeks but not a whole lot of luck, so hopefully we can turn that around this weekend in Texas and make some gains."

 

Justin Allgaier

 

By virtue of last weekend's victory at Bristol Motor Speedway, Justin Allgaier has advanced into the Round of 8 in the NXS Playoffs for the eighth consecutive season. The Illinois native has gone to Victory Lane in two of the last four races (Daytona and Bristol). In 25 NXS starts at Texas, Allgaier has scored five top fives and 13 top 10s. Allgaier has placed fourth or better in three of the last four starts at the 1.5-mile quad-oval, equating to a 3.3 average finish in those three events. His best effort was a runner-up finish in 2021.

 

Justin Allgaier: "We have been really strong at Texas the past couple of seasons, and I know that we will have that same speed again this weekend. Having already advanced into the next round of the playoffs is a great feeling and it really gives us an opportunity to take some chances that some of the other guys are not able to. Hopefully we will be able to execute the same way we have been and be up front going for the win and those extra playoff points when it counts on Saturday with our Reese's Ice Cream / Sam's Club Chevrolet."

 

Josh Berry

 

Josh Berry heads to Texas needing to gain 24 points on the line for advancement with two races yet to run in the Round of 12. In three previous starts on the 1.5-mile quad-oval, Berry's best finish is sixth, coming in this race last season. He has a pair of top-10 results in three starts and has led 46 laps there. On race tracks measuring 1.5 miles in NXS competition, Berry has three of his five victories, six top-five and 13 top-10 finishes and has led a combined 293 laps in 23 total starts. He is a previous winner at Las Vegas (twice) and Charlotte Motor Speedway.

 

Josh Berry: "We've run well at Texas in the past and there's no reason we can't continue that this weekend. This JARRETT team is working hard to make sure we unload with the speed we are capable of having. With the resin on the track, the line is going to change and we need to be ready for that to happen in order to put ourselves in a situation to score stage points throughout the day. I'm confident that we will be in contention Saturday as long as we put it all together."

 

Brandon Jones

 

Brandon Jones qualified on the pole in this event at Texas last season. The effort marked his seventh of eight career poles in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. At tracks measuring 1-2 miles in length in the NXS, Jones has recorded four wins, 19 top fives and 56 top 10s, while leading the field for a total of 377 laps . Jones has notched a pair of top 10s and an average finish of 7.5 when carrying Pelonis branding on the hood of the Menards Chevrolet in 2023.

 

Brandon Jones: "We have had a lot of speed as of late and I know this team is making sure that speed carries over to this weekend. I thought we had a car capable of winning last week and this No. 9 bunch has run up front at Texas more than not, so I'm confident that we will be near the front this weekend and hopefully battling for the win."

 

JRM's No. 9 team is the defending winner of this event. Last year the team qualified second and led 85 laps en route to its second overall victory in the Lonestar State.

 

.@J_Allgaier’s win was the 11th triumph in a playoff race for JRM 🎉 https://t.co/qUp7PiAUC2

— JR Motorsports (@JRMotorsports) September 16, 2023

 

source: JR Motorsports Racing Media

Sage Steele To Host SCC Texas 'Geared For Greatness'

Networking Breakfast & Forum Sept. 22 At Hotel Drover In The Fort Worth Stockyards

 

Sports entertainment television personality Sage Steele will serve as the host and moderator of the “Geared for Greatness” networking breakfast and forum benefitting Speedway Children’s Charities -Texas on Friday, Sept. 22, at Fort Worth’s award-winning Hotel Drover.

 

Steele, a former ESPN SportsCenter co-host, will lead this charitable event that provides a real conversation with women who strengthen the path for other females in the sports and entertainment industry.

 

Beginning at 8:30 a.m. with registration, breakfast and initial networking in The Barn at Hotel Drover, Steele (left) will formally open the 3½-hour event with a welcome message before moderating a fireside chat with a panel of notable women thriving in the sports and entertainment industry.

 

“Geared for Greatness” also will feature Ret. Lt. Col. Caroline “Blaze” Jensen as the event’s keynote speaker. Jensen is a former combat fighter pilot with more than 200 combat hours in a F-16 Fighting Falcon that flew over Iraq protecting special operations units and convoys. She also later became the first female reservist to be selected for the elite USAF Thunderbirds demonstration squadron.

 

"There are people out there looking for role models and they want to see someone they can identify with," Jensen said. "It's important to follow your goals even when there are people around you that don't believe that you can accomplish them. Seek out those that can help you and don't give up on your dreams."

 

Tickets are $100 each and all proceeds from “Geared for Greatness” will benefit Speedway Children’s Charities and further its mission of fighting for children who are homeless, parentless or victims of trafficking in North Texas.

 

To sign up for the event or for more information, click here.

 

Sponsorship opportunities also are available for this event. If interested, contact SCC-Texas Executive Director Marissa Chaney at mchaney@texasmotorspeedway.com or 817.215.8564.

 

We want you to come to Geared for Greatness benefiting @SCCTX! Hear from broadcast journalist @sagesteele, Ret. Lt. Col. Caroline "Blaze" Jensen, & other industry leading women at the @hoteldrover Sept. 22
🎟️: https://t.co/FNL2wa2cyo#NoLimits pic.twitter.com/0vfDKPAmHL

— Texas Motor Speedway (@TXMotorSpeedway) September 12, 2023

 

source: Texas Motor Speedway Media

RIP Sherry Pollex

"I often wonder if that’s my purpose here,”

 

Sherry Pollex, the ex-partner of NASCAR driver Martin Truex Jr. and the co-founder of the Martin Truex Jr. Foundation charity, has died at 44. Pollex battled ovarian cancer for several years, starting in 2014, and the disease later recurred in 2021.

 

"It is with great sorrow that our beloved daughter, sister Sherry quietly passed away on the morning of Sunday, September 17," the message from her family read. "Although there are no words to express our sadness, we take solace in the fact that Sherry is no longer suffering and has been taken back in the arms of the Lord."

 

It continued: "As we all know, Sherry lived her life to the fullest, influencing thousands, if not millions of people through her own personal journey." "Her love for her family, Catwalk kids who she adored, and her friends will last forever," the statement added.

 

"Please join our family in thanking God for giving us Sherry, she's such an incredible expression of love that will live on." "We will continue her legacy of love and caring for those in need as she will always be alive in our hearts,".

 

The Martin Truex Jr. Foundation Pollex co-founded focused on assisting in childhood and ovarian cancer research, relief, and funding. She was also a founding member of the charity fashion gala as part of the foundation called Catwalk for a Cause, per NASCAR.com.

 

Pollex was part of the event's creation in 2010 and raised more than $4million in the fight against childhood cancer. She was diagnosed four years later with stage three ovarian cancer at 35 and began to make efforts to address the disease alongside childhood cancer.

 

Truex Jr. and Pollex were even recognized together in 2017, receiving NASCAR's National Motorsports Press Association’s Myers Brothers Award for their contributions to the sport and the community.

 

After discovering that the cancer had returned and spread to her lungs in September 2021, she noted to The Athletic a year later that she felt her purpose was to lead the charge in a fight against the disease.

 

"I often wonder if that’s my purpose here,” she explained to the publication.

 

"It’s maybe not what I would have chosen for myself — nobody really wants to be the poster child for any type of cancer — but maybe I’m supposed to go through all this so I can pave the way for other women."

 

Pollex continued: "On some days, that can be a really hard pill to swallow. "But on other days, it’s like, ‘You know, I’ve been given this really important role in this life, and if I’m going to leave a legacy behind and help other people, then I need to do it 100 percent.’"

 

Rest in Peace Sherry.

She was such a fighter. Inspiring in how she went about her own challenges but also how she learned to live every day to it’s fullest. Amy and I were lucky to have known her and call her a friend. https://t.co/wVzIxlK9LK

— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) September 17, 2023

This is so hard to comprehend. I met Sherry my first year living in NC sum 20 yrs ago. Sherry was a beautiful person in so many ways. She fought so hard!! It’s really hard to see those dates under her picture. My prayers to her family and loved ones, I can’t even imagine. 💔 pic.twitter.com/KE7qrfWRjg

— Clint Bowyer (@ClintBowyer) September 18, 2023

This is so hard to comprehend. I met Sherry my first year living in NC sum 20 yrs ago. Sherry was a beautiful person in so many ways. She fought so hard!! It’s really hard to see those dates under her picture. My prayers to her family and loved ones, I can’t even imagine. 💔 pic.twitter.com/KE7qrfWRjg

— Clint Bowyer (@ClintBowyer) September 18, 2023

We are heartbroken at the passing of our dear friend, Sherry Pollex. Sherry was one of a kind and loved by so many. She fought the good fight, and is now healed. We are praying for everyone in the racing community. We love you, Sherry.

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.” pic.twitter.com/J96RfJRV9B

— MRO (@FollowMRO) September 18, 2023

Extremely sad to learn of the passing of Sherry Pollex…it was less than a year ago that she served as our honorary pace car driver. Sherry was such a fighter and has done so much in an effort to benefit those who are also fighting. Godspeed, Sherry. You have certainly left this… pic.twitter.com/jYc521N1IK

— Kip Childress (@KipChildress) September 17, 2023

Richard Petty and the Petty Family is saddened by the loss of Sherry Pollex. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends!

— Richard Petty (@therichardpetty) September 17, 2023

I am heartbroken for this family. @SherryPollex was one of the most beautiful souls inside and out, who had dedicated her life to helping others who were suffering.

My heart goes out to her family and loved ones. We were all better off from our time we got to spend with this… https://t.co/k4NzI7FUm5

— Kaitlyn Vincie (@kaitlynvincie) September 17, 2023

 

source: The Sun Media

Don Graves, 98-year-old Marine to perform God Bless America

Iwo Jima survivor to Sing Prior to #NASCAR Cup Playoffs’ ‘Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400’

Don Graves, Corporal, USMC 1942–1946

 

Don Graves, a 98-year-old U.S. Marine and one of a very special group of living American heroes who made the successful assault on the Japanese island of Iwo Jima during World War II, will perform ‘God Bless America’ prior to the start of the NASCAR Cup Series Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400 NASCAR Cup Series playoff race Sept. 24 at Texas Motor Speedway.

 

The Fort Worth resident has sung God Bless America and The Star-Spangled Banner prior to numerous events but this will be his first time at a NASCAR Cup Series event with a national television audience.

 

“The opportunity to sing God Bless America to a national TV audience is a rare treat and I am so thrilled to be able to do it,” said Graves. “It is a great honor.”

 

Graves, the son of a U.S. Marine, joined the Marines the day after his 17th birthday in 1942 after being turned down, for being too young, immediately following the Pearl Harbor attack on Dec. 7, 1941. He was trained as a flame thrower and his first combat assignment was the initial attack on Iwo Jima beginning Feb. 19, 1945. The Detroit native was one of only 18 of the 335 men of his Second Battalion, Fifth Marine Division to survive the successful 36-day assault forever memorialized by the Pulitzer Prize-winning photograph by Joe Rosenthal of the Stars and Stripes being raised atop Mount Suribachi. He was honorably discharged from the military in 1946 with the rank of corporal.

 

Graves became a minister in the mid-1970s and retired from preaching in 2007 after 32 years of service to the community and his parishioners. 

 

"Know where I got converted? I lay on the beach at Iwo. Nowhere to go, I saw what was happening. I was scared. I put my face in the sand and said, God I don’t know much about you, but if you can do for me what people tell me you can, I will serve you the rest of my life."  Don Graves

 

Texas Motor Speedway Executive Vice President & General Manager Mark Faber made the invitation to Mr. Graves in person on June 22 at Graves’ home in Fort Worth.

 

“All of us at Texas Motor Speedway are honored to welcome a true American hero like Don Graves to sing God Bless America prior to the start of the Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400,” said Faber. “We will celebrate Mr. Graves for his valiant service to his country as a U.S. Marine in World War II as well as his 32 years of service to his church and parishioners. He is a hero to us all.”

 

Don Graves won't only be visiting. He'll be performing "God Bless America" prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Autotrader EchoPark Automotive 400. His is a fully American tale of the Greatest Generation.https://t.co/Vqy8xlZW6k

— Fort Worth Inc. (@FWincmag) September 5, 2023

 

source: Texas Motor Speedway Media

 

 

NASCAR and ARCA Race Weekend Recap (Bristol Motor Speedway)

Winners: Denny Hamlin (Cup); Justin Allgaier (Xfinity); Corey Heim (Trucks) William Sawalich (ARCA)

 

 

NASCAR Cup

Denny Hamlin caps off strong night at Bristol, wins to conclude Round of 16

 

Denny Hamlin landed a knockout punch in the Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway.

 

Taking the lead off pit road on Lap 366 of 500, Hamlin beat Kyle Larson to the finish line by 2.462 seconds. Hamlin led the final 135 laps in the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, 142 overall, and second only to the 187 circuits led by pole winner and third-place finisher Christopher Bell.

 

Led by Hamlin, all five playoff Toyota drivers advanced to the next round.

 

“Can’t thank this whole FedEx team enough,” said Hamlin, who won for the third time this season, the third time at Bristol and the 51st time in his career. “They’ve really kicked ass this whole first round. Really amazing how our team has been. So happy about the way we’re running. Can’t wait to keep going.

 

“It’s our year. I just feel like we’ve got it all put together. We’ve got the speed (at) every single type of race track. Nothing to stop us at this point.”

 

Denny Delivers ⚔️#BassProNightRace #ItsBristolBaby pic.twitter.com/5GbQt2IxPW

— Bristol Motor Speedway (@ItsBristolBaby) September 17, 2023

Pole: Christopher Bell

Click Here for Race Results

 

Next Race: The Cup Series will return on Sunday, Sept. 24 3:30 PM ET for the AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 400 at Texas Motor Speedway.

 

 

NASCAR Xfinity

Justin Allgaier takes lead late, wins Xfinity playoff race at Bristol

 

On an ambivalent night for JR Motorsports, Justin Allgaier took advantage of a brilliant strategic call by crew chief Jim Pohlman to win Friday night‘s Food City 300 at Bristol Motor Speedway, the first event in the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series.

 

Charging from 13th after restart on Lap 257 of 300, Allgaier passed Daniel Hemric for the lead on Lap 288 and pulled away to win by 1.695 seconds, securing a spot in the Round of 8 of the Playoffs.

 

The victory was Allgaier‘s second at the 0.533-mile short track and his first since his initial Xfinity Series win in 2010. Between victories, Allgaier led plenty of laps but couldn‘t return to Victory Lane — until Friday night.

 

“This team has done an amazing job at this race track since I started at JR Motorsports,” Allgaier said. “We led a lot of laps, and the monkey was definitely on our back. The pit strategy there… coming down pit road by myself was nerve-wracking, right?

 

“I‘m speechless, man. This place, Jim Pohlman and I circled this place on our calendar when we started the year, before we ever even took a green flag lap, we said we want to win Bristol. Man, we won Bristol! It‘s Bristol, baby — let‘s go!”

 

Let’s rewind it back to last night!#ItsBristolBaby #FoodCity300 #NASCARPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/hmtP7GY9lE

— Bristol Motor Speedway (@ItsBristolBaby) September 16, 2023

Pole: Cole Custer

Click Here for Race Results

 

Next Race: The Xfinity Series will return on Saturday Sept. 23 3:30 pm ET for the Andy's Frozen Custard 300 at Texas Motor Speedway.

 

 

NASCAR Trucks

Corey Heim wins Truck Series playoff race at Bristol

 

After stealing a victory last Saturday at Kansas Speedway, Christian Eckes got his pocket picked by Corey Heim on Thursday night at Bristol Motor Speedway.

 

On Lap 195 of 200 of the UNOH 200 presented by Ohio Logistics, Heim forced his way beneath Eckes‘ No. 19 Chevrolet — with the lapped truck of Eckes‘ Tricon Garage teammate, Tanner Gray, to the outside — took the lead and claimed the victory by .218 seconds over his disappointed rival.

 

With his third NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series victory of the season, his first at Bristol and the fifth of his career, Heim, the Regular Season Champion, moved one step closer to another possible title. The win propelled him into the Championship 4 race, scheduled for Nov. 3 at Phoenix Raceway.

 

“This is insane,” said Heim, who led only the last six laps. “I felt like I‘ve given so many away this year, to win one like that at the end is so special … Like I said, we‘ve given so many away, and we finally got one back …

 

“Gosh, it‘s just so awesome to know we‘re in Phoenix.”

 

Hear from your winner @CoreyHeim_ following his late-race move for the win. #NASCARPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/KWtOLX6Kl7

— NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Trucks (@NASCAR_Trucks) September 15, 2023

Pole: Christian Eckes

Click Here for Race Results

 

Next Race: The Truck Series will return on Saturday, Sept. 30 1:00 PM ET for the Love's RV Stop 250 at Talladega Superspeedway.

 

 

ARCA

William Sawalich continues the efficient legacy of the No. 18 with a championship in the ARCA Menards Series East

 

For the third consecutive season, the iconic No. 18 secured an ARCA Menards Series East championship at Bristol Motor Speedway.

 

It wasn’t easy, but William Sawalich enjoyed a nearly perfect night Thursday at Bristol Motor Speedway.

 

The driver of the No. 18 Starkey-Sound Gear Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing captured not only the Bristol 200 for his fifth ARCA platform victory of the season, but also the 2023 ARCA Menards Series East championship.

 

“We’ve worked all year to get to this point,” Sawalich said. “This Joe Gibbs Racing team has done an amazing job all year.”

 

“The season has gone great,” Sawalich said. “I’ve learned a lot, and we’ve had speed everywhere we’ve been. There was only one track where we weren’t in contention for the win, so I’m really proud of [our speed]. I’m learning and the team is learning, but we’re having good success.”

 

Victory Lane as the race winner and CHAMPION! ⚔️🏆@WilliamSawalich #BushBeans200 #ItsBristolBaby pic.twitter.com/PvsQJoZRVb

— Bristol Motor Speedway (@ItsBristolBaby) September 15, 2023

Pole: William Sawalich

Click Here for Race Results

 

Next Race: The ARCA Series will return on Saturday, Sept. 30 7:41 p.m. ET for the Atlas 200 at Salem Speedway

 

Next Race: The ARCA West Series will return on Saturday, Sept. 30 10:45 p.m. ET ET for the NAPA Auto Parts 150 at All American Speedway.

 

 

source: NASCAR Media

Allgaier Gets Xfinity Playoff Boost by Claiming Food City 300 Victory

Earns JRM’s 78th #NASCAR Xfinity Victory and the Fourth #Win at Bristol for the Team

 

Justin Allgaier used bold strategy and fresh tires to top the field in the Food City 300 NASCAR Xfinity Series race on Friday at Bristol Motor Speedway.

 

Allgaier, driving the No. 7 Chevrolet for JR Motorsports, gave up the lead under caution with less than 50 laps to go to put on four fresh tires while his main rivals remained on the track. Methodically picking his way through the field, Allgaier had a thrilling side-by-side battle with Daniel Hemric before pulling away and clinching postseason advancement after taking the checkered flag in the debut race of the NASCAR Xfinity Series playoffs.

 

.@J_Allgaier’s win was the 11th triumph in a playoff race for JRM 🎉 https://t.co/qUp7PiAUC2

— JR Motorsports (@JRMotorsports) September 16, 2023

“I’m speechless - we won Bristol,” said Allgaier, who led a race-high 110 laps, collected his second Bristol victory, third win of the season and 22nd of his Xfinity Series career. “This team has done such an amazing job at this racetrack. The fans were unbelievable.

 

“The pit strategy – coming down pit road all by myself was nerve-wracking.”

 

Allgaier has three wins this year. One of the event’s ‘feel good moments’ occurred as the race winner gave both Team Owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Allgaier’s father* a ride to Victory Lane.

 

.@DaleJr is living his best life. 😎 pic.twitter.com/MTEz3JMB6a

— NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) September 16, 2023

 *Mike Allgaier was in the tire business and went to various racetracks, supplying competitors

 

source: Bristol Motor Speedway Media

Nemechek and Hill are NASCAR Xfinity Favorites

Food City 300 Xfinity Playoff Opener Tonight

 

For the first time in NASCAR history Bristol Motor Speedway will serve as host to a Playoff race in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. The longtime home of the final Xfinity regular season race, Bristol is now the Round of 12 kick-off race.

 

While the Playoff opener is a huge deal and the 12 Playoff contenders will share the majority of headlines, one moonlighting driver is also garnering his share of the spotlight.

 

Dale Earnhardt Jr.

 

Dale Earnhardt Jr., who famously coined the phrase “It’s Bristol, baby!” is suiting up to race at the iconic short track for the first time since he retired from full-time driving in 2017. Earnhardt will be at the controls of the blue, yellow and white No. 88 Hellmann’s Mayonnaise Chevy for JR Motorsports, giving his team five entries in what promises to be a very thrilling Food City 300 (7:30 p.m., USA Network and PRN Radio) on Friday night.

 

John Hunter Nemechek

 

Six-time season winner John Hunter Nemechek comes to Bristol as the Playoff top seed, fresh off a win in Kansas, where he dominated the action and took the checkered flag a full seven seconds in front of the second-place finisher. The veteran driver of the No. 20 machine for Joe Gibbs Racing, has posted 13 top fives and 19 top 10s in a season that he has been out front for most of the time.

 

“I’m looking forward to getting the Playoffs started at Bristol," Nemechek said. "We came (to Kansas) trying to get the Regular Season Championship. I thought that we were going to have a 60-point day this weekend, and that’s what we did. We controlled what we could control. We did everything that we possibly could. So, let’s go to the Playoffs—I’m ready.”

 

An unforgettable weekend in Kansas! 🏁
Check out our exclusive YouTube video for an inside look at what all went down.🎥#youtube pic.twitter.com/W5RCfRGNM2

— John Hunter Nemechek (@JHNemechek) September 14, 2023

Austin Hill

 

Meanwhile, Richard Childress Racing’s Austin Hill is right there behind Nemechek, and ironically claimed the regular season Xfinity title in his No. 21 Chevy. Hill won four times and posted 15 top fives and claimed 19 top 10s and certainly plans to battle door handle to door handle with Nemechek down the stretch.

 

“Just happy that we were able to bring home the Regular Season Championship, get the extra 15 bonus points--which is huge,” said Hill, who finished fifth in the regular season-finale. “But we’ve got to go to work. We’ve got to be better. The 20 (Nemechek) was the class of the field all day (at Kansas).”

 

In addition to Nemechek and Hill, there is a strong group of drivers among the 12 Playoff qualifiers, including former Bristol winner Justin Allgaier, and a host of drivers who have won at Bristol in either the Trucks or the ARCA series, including Sam Mayer, Chandler Smith, and Sammy Smith.

 

Five other drivers have tons of experience and are expected to make some Playoff noise come Friday night, including Josh Berry, Cole Custer, Sheldon Creed, Daniel Hemric and Parker Kligerman.

 

Trevor Bayne

 

Two local Knoxville standouts are also in the field, as FOX race analyst Trevor Bayne, winner of the 2011 Daytona 500, will drive the No. 19 machine for Joe Gibbs Racing, and past Bristol ARCA winner Chad Finchum will pilot the No. 08 machine for SS GreenLight Racing.

 

 

 

source: Bristol Motor Speedway Media

Bristol Motor Speedway Doubleheader Tonight

To feature UNOH 200 Truck Playoff Race and Bush's Beans 200 ARCA Series

From top left to right: Christian Eckes; Ty Majeski; Carson Hocevar; and Corey Heim

 

Eight drivers in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series will get a brand-new start in their Playoff run when they visit challenging Bristol Motor Speedway on Thursday, Sept. 14, for the nightcap of what promises to be a thrilling doubleheader of racing that also will feature the ARCA Menards Series Bush’s Beans 200.

 

The Craftsman Truck Series Round of 8 opens on the famed concrete high banks of Bristol and there’s several drivers who are chasing the championship crown who could claim that they have the momentum.

 

The circuit’s most recent winner, Christian Eckes, is certainly riding high after winning dramatically at Kansas to extend his Playoff run. He will be one of the contenders to watch when the green flag drops at the UNOH 200 presented by Ohio Logistics (9 p.m., FS1 and MRN Radio). The New York native literally stole the win from challengers Corey Heim and Zane Smith, leading the final two laps on the 1.5-mile track in his No. 19 Chevy Silverado.

 

Eckes’ third victory of the season eliminated rivals Matt DiBenedetto and Matt Crafton from championship contention and it thrust the McAnally-Hilgemann Racing driver into the second position to start the Round of 8, right behind regular season champ Heim and in front of fellow three-time season winner Grant Enfinger.

 

"It's exciting, but you know at the same time the job is not finished,” Eckes said during an interview this week on Sirius XM NASCAR radio. “I came here to win a championship and that's what I want to do. So we have a lot more work to do to get there, but the job's not finished.”

 

The other drivers who have a claim to momentum include the current points leader Heim, a two-time winner who has been solid all season in his No. 11 truck with a class leading 16 top 10 finishes. Heim has been so good in 2023 that he has only finished outside the top 10 twice, at Atlanta in March (34th) and a 15th place finish on the Bristol dirt.

 

The UNOH 200 defending winner Ty Majeski could also make a strong case for momentum, given the strong performance he put on here last September to take the victory. He has ran well this season at short tracks and posted a dominating performance at the Playoff opener at Indianapolis Raceway Park.

 

Certainly, no one can discount the current rise of Carson Hocevar.  Another three-time winner this season, Hocevar will be dangerous and a strong contender in his No. 42 Niece Motorsports Chevy. Incidentally, Hocevar will be pulling double-duty during the weekend as he will also drive the No. 42 Chevy for the Legacy Motor Club in Saturday night’s Bass Pro Shops Night Race.

 

The two past Truck series champions, Zane Smith and Ben Rhodes, will also be tough to beat at Bristol as Playoff contenders, as both have plenty of experience navigating the high banks and have posted strong finishes at the track in the past.

 

Finally, rookie Nick Sanchez may not have the momentum, but he is still a threat to claim the pole and the victory. He is holding down the eighth position to start the Round of 8 Playoffs, but has had a very fast truck all season long at the controls of his No. 2 Chevy.

 

 

Thursday night’s double-header opens with stock car racing’s future stars putting on a show in the Bush’s Beans 200 (6 p.m, FS1, MRN Radio) in the ARCA Menards Series. There are championship scenarios aplenty in this race as Jesse Love could clinch the national title, while talented William Sawalich and top challenger Luke Fenhaus are battling to decide the ARCA East Series crown. Sawalich will also compete in the UNOH 200, driving the No. 1 Truck for the TRICON Garage.

 

Tonight’s cast of characters. ✨#Bristol200 | @ItsBristolBaby

📺 Watch with us on @FS1 at 6 p.m. ET. pic.twitter.com/0gNGnsDSk8

— ARCA Menards Series (@ARCA_Racing) September 14, 2023

In the national series, Love holds a 129-point lead over second-place Andres Peres De Lara and former Malcom in the Middle star Frankie Muniz is holding down fourth place in the standings with nine top 10 finishes. Former NCAA Div. 1 baseball player Christian Rose is fourth in the points. The 6-foot-4 West Virginia native, who was an effective relief pitcher for the University of Maryland Eastern Shore before switching to a career in motorsports, has amassed 10 top 10s this season in his No. 32 machine.

 

 

source: Bristol Motor Speedway Media

Van Gisbergen to Full-Time NASCAR

With Trackhouse in 2024

 

Shane van Gisbergen will transition to NASCAR full-time in 2024 by running a combination of the three national series in a development deal with Trackhouse Racing.

 

Van Gisbergen, a three-time Supercar champion and two-time Bathurst 1000 winner, was released from his contract in Australia with Triple Eight Racing Engineering after expressing interest in running stock cars on a more permanent basis. In addition to his NASCAR plans — specific details of which were not laid — van Gisbergen will also run in late model and other events.

 

“This announcement means so many things to me,” van Gisbergen said. “I’m proud of what I have achieved here in Australia, but I’m excited by this new chapter in my career and the opportunities that it brings. I’m so thankful to everyone who has played a role in my career so far, especially Triple Eight Race Engineering, and looking forward to finishing our year with a few more highlights!

 

Can’t believe it, to win a @NASCAR race with @TeamTrackhouse that’s a dream come true!!! Thanks @JustinMarksTH for having me along with @THProject91! 😀🏆 pic.twitter.com/cYsflnXwxB

— Shane van Gisbergen (@shanevg97) July 3, 2023

“It’s time for a new challenge, and this adventure into NASCAR will be the biggest challenge of my career and one I’m really looking forward to. I want to thank Justin Marks and everyone at Trackhouse Racing who have taken a chance on me and given me this opportunity. I’m excited to get to America and getting the season started.”

 

Van Gisbergen made his NASCAR debut in July on the streets of Chicago, driving a third Trackhouse Racing entry under its PROJECT91 enterprise. He won on his debut, and then finished 10th last month in his second start on the Indianapolis road course.

 

Has been an amazing week, can’t thank @JustinMarksTH and the @THProject91 team enough! Had a ball racing everyone and a Top 10 was awesome 😀 pic.twitter.com/HwcGYHR8x3

— Shane van Gisbergen (@shanevg97) August 13, 2023

Indianapolis was a double-duty weekend for van Gisbergen. Before the Cup Series race, he made his first oval start in NASCAR, finishing inside the top 20 with Niece Motorsports at Indianapolis Raceway Park.

 

NEWS: @TeamTrackhouse announces it has signed @shanevg97 to a developmental deal for 2024.

He'll compete in a combination of races in NASCAR’s three national series next season. pic.twitter.com/P4CBEh2EmL

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) September 14, 2023

“This is going to be a tremendous challenge for Shane but he is a tremendous driver as we have all seen,” Marks said. “Next year will be about getting him acclimated to oval track racing, superspeedways, 1.5-mile tracks and everything he has never experienced in his career. It’s obviously going to be a learning process, but we think Shane will perform quite well.”

 

 

source: MSN Media

Driver Noah Gragson Reinstated by NASCAR

Tuesday, a NASCAR spokesperson said that “Noah Gragson has completed diversity and inclusion training with our partners at RISE,” and that that group recommended his reinstatement, restoring his member privileges.

 

Noah Gragson has been reinstated by NASCAR after completing the diversity and inclusion training required following his indefinite suspension last month.

 

Gragson is clear to resume all NASCAR activity.

 

Legacy Motor Club suspended Gragson, a NASCAR Cup Series rookie who was driving the No. 42 Chevrolet, August 5. NASCAR followed with an indefinite suspension, while Legacy subsequently released Gragson from his contract altogether.

 

At the time Gragson stated: “I am disappointed in myself for my lack of attention and actions on social media. I understand the severity of this situation. I love and appreciate everyone. I try to treat everyone equally no matter who they are. I messed up plain and simple.”

 

Gragson’s social media activity brought an abrupt end to his season after it was revealed he had liked an insensitive meme on Instagram mocking the 2020 murder of George Floyd by a Minnesota police officer.

 

Josh Berry drove the No. 42 car at Michigan International Speedway the weekend of Gragson’s suspension, and he, Mike Rockenfeller and Carson Hocevar have taken turns at the wheel since. Next season, John Hunter Nemechek will return to the Cup Series as the team’s full-time driver.

 

Gragson’s future remains unknown. The 25-year-old moved into the Cup Series after four seasons in the Xfinity Series (earning 13 wins) and two full seasons with two wins in the Craftsman Truck Series.

 

pic.twitter.com/UuLYMfal76

— Noah Gragson (@NoahGragson) September 12, 2023

Let’s wish this young driver the best in the coming future. (Remember Kyle Larson was suspended indefinitely by NASCAR in April of 2020 only to come back and win the 2021 Cup Championship.)

 

 

 

source: MSN Media