Showing posts with label Brent Crews. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Brent Crews. Show all posts

Monday, November 3, 2025

NASCAR / ARCA Race Recap (Phoenix)

#NASCAR / #ARCA Race Recap (Phoenix)

Winners: Ryan Blaney (Cup); Jesse Love (Xfinity); Corey Heim (Trucks) plus Brent Crews (ARCA)

Winners: Ryan Blaney (Cup); Jesse Love (Xfinity); Corey Heim (Trucks) plus Brett Crews (ARCA)
Recap Graphic by Rolando Ramirez - RTR Graphics

 


NASCAR Cup

Ryan Blaney Banks Season Finale

Ryan Blaney Banks Season Finale

 

Ryan Blaney won the NASCAR Cup Series season finale in overtime at Phoenix Raceway, making a last-lap pass of Brad Keselowski for his fourth victory this season and 17th of his career.

 

Blaney, who led three times for 20 laps, earned his first win at Phoenix in his 20th start on the 1-mile oval in Avondale, Arizona.

 

It’s the second time in the 11 races of the elimination playoffs era that the winner of the season finale came from outside the Championship 4 (Ross Chastain won in 2023 while Blaney earned the title).

 

The race featured nine cautions for 65 laps as several drivers — including all of the Championship 4 drivers — struggled with tire problems.

 

“It’s just cool to end it on a good note. It’s just cool and obviously we had a fast car all day. Those other guys were just kind of faster getting going and I could never retain the lead.”

 

”Those guys were just really good and it took my car a while to come in, but it was a really good call for two there and keeping track position. I got a decent restart and I was able to kind of roll the bottom in three and four and eek the 6 out at the line.”

 

”I’m just really proud of the whole group and cool to end it in Victory Lane. It’s a shame we weren’t in the Championship 4. Congrats to Kyle and that whole team. I’m happy for this team that we could end it the best way we could. You just go try to win the race. I didn’t really have any of them in front of me. There wasn’t really two of them side-by-side. I tried to race those guys really good all day and gave them respect and tried to let them race it out at time, and at times I could go if it got gapped, but you’re just aware of everybody that’s around you. You don’t want to be the storyline to mess up a guy’s championship, so it was good that we were able to just run our race and run it clean to the end.”

 

Brad Keselowski finished second; Kyle Larson placed third; Joey Logano came in fourth and Kyle Busch completed the top five.

 






Pole: Denny Hamlin



Click Here for Race Results


Next Race: The Cup Series will return on Sunday, February 1, 2026 for the ‘Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium’ at Bowman Gray Stadium.


NASCAR Xfinity

Love prevails at Phoenix to Win Race, Xfinity Series Championship

Love prevails at Phoenix to Win Race, Xfinity Series Championship

 

Jesse Love turned in the ultimate season bookend, winning the opening race of the NASCAR Xfinity Series 2025 schedule at Daytona International Speedway, then closing it out with the biggest win of his young career to claim the NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship Saturday night at Phoenix Raceway.

 

The 20-year-old Californian had to beat his best friend, the season’s 10-race winner Connor Zilisch, to claim the career-changing victory and title. Love ultimately passed the JR Motorsports driver Zilisch for the lead with 24 laps to go at the desert 1-miler and then had to hold off veteran Aric Almirola after the Joe Gibbs Racing driver also got around Zilisch with eight laps remaining.

 

“I just feel so clean and relieved,” said Love, whose margin of victory was 0.861 seconds. “It’s been a tough year for me, and I’ve put so much work into it, and people like my dad and [driver coach] Scott Speed and my whole No. 2 team worked just as hard for my dream as I have for my own.

 

“It really hasn’t set in yet. All these emotions, it doesn’t feel real, doesn’t feel real at all,” Love said, referring to the close contest with Zilisch. “He’s my best friend in the whole world, but not when we’re racing each other. We race each other hard but fair. … He ran a really great race tonight, but my car was just better tonight.”

 

Aric Almirola finished second; Connor Zilisch placed third; Brandon Jones came in fourth and Justin Allgaier] completed the top five.

 






Pole: Brandon Jones



Click Here for Race Results


Next Race: The Xfinity Series will return on Saturday, February 14, 2026 for the ‘United Rentals 300’ at Daytona International Speedway.




NASCAR Trucks

Corey Heim Claims 2025 Truck Series Title, Season Finale Victory

Corey Heim Claims 2025 Truck Series Title, Season Finale Victory

 

The best man won on Friday night, but it was far from a foregone conclusion.

 

The statistics might suggest otherwise. In winning the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway, Corey Heim swept the first and second stages, led a race-high 100 of 161 laps and took the checkered flag 0.993 seconds ahead of defending series champion Ty Majeski in a second overtime.

 

“I just am so grateful to be where I’m at,” Heim said. “So thankful for the Tricon Garage, Toyota taking a chance on me years ago, (sponsors) Safelite, Mobil 1, Yahoo, Celsius, for every bit of their support.

 

“I was so stressed out ever since we went to the (Charlotte) Roval (where Heim won from the pole Oct. 3 to advance to the Championship 4). I’ve been, like, so terrible to talk to as a person, so stressed out.

 

“This is just such a relief, to say the least. So thankful for everybody.”

 

Ty Majeski finished second; Kaden Honeycutt placed third; Layne Riggs came in fourth and Rajah Caruth completed the top five.

 






Pole: Layne Riggs



Click Here for Race Results


Next Race: The Truck Series will return on Friday, February 13, 2026 for the ‘NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Race At Daytona’ at Daytona International Speedway.




ARCA

Brent Crews Dominates West Series Finale at Phoenix

Brent Crews Dominates West Series Finale at Phoenix

 

The outcomes of the two ARCA Menards Series events at Phoenix this year were nearly identical. Brent Crews won both in a Gibbs Toyota with the Pinnacle Racing Group No. 28 following closely behind.

 

Crews’ first Phoenix win in March was much more intense compared to Saturday’s finale. ARCA Menards Series champion Brenden ‘Butterbean’ Queen appeared poised to claim his second victory of the season in March until a caution on the final lap set up a one-lap shootout between him and Crews.

 

Heading into turn three on the final lap, Crews dove under Queen and proceeded to muscle him up out of the groove. Queen made slight contact with the outside wall while Crews pulled ahead, prevailing in his first ARCA Menards Series appearance behind the wheel of Gibbs’ No. 18.

 

This time, there was no need for last-lap heroics. Carson Brown, the new driver of Pinnacle Racing Group’s No. 28 Chevrolet, made some inroads on Crews during the closing stages but ultimately ran out of time to avenge his team’s previous Phoenix defeat.

 

“It helps when you have a super fast Mobil 1 Toyota Camry,” Crews said.

 

“That was a blast to drive all day. [We were] loose all day, and it’s been super slimy, but these guys never stopped working on this thing. We were able to be fastest in practice, [get] the pole and lead all the laps. It’s an honor to be here.

 

“Having my dad here was cool, but Coach [Joe Gibbs] in Victory Lane for the first time is a new one for me.”

 

Trevor Huddleston put the finishing touches on a championship year in the West Series by scoring a 10th-place finish.

 

Carson Brown finished second; Thomas Annunziata placed third; Tristan McKee came in fourth and Leland Honeyman completed the top five.

 






Pole: Brent Crews



Click Here for Race Results 


Next Race: The ARCA Series will return on Saturday, February 14, 2026 at Daytona International Speedway.



 

source: NASCAR Media
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Sunday, September 14, 2025

NASCAR / ARCA Race Recap (Bristol, All American Speedway)

#NASCAR / #ARCA Race Recap (Bristol, All American Speedway)

Winners: Christopher Bell (Cup); Aric Almirola (Xfinity); Layne Riggs (Trucks) plus Brent Crews (ARCA East) and Robbie Kennealy (ARCA West)

Winners: ChristopherBell (Cup); Aric Almirola (Xfinity); Layne Riggs (Trucks) plus Brent Crews (ARCA East)
Recap Graphic by Rolando Ramirez - RTR Graphics

 

 

NASCAR Cup

Christopher Bell Completes JGR Round of 16 sweep, Wins Bristol Night Race

Christopher Bell Completes JGR Round of 16 sweep, Wins Bristol Night Race

 

With a charge to the lead from fifth place with four laps left in Saturday’s Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway, Christopher Bell kept Joe Gibbs Racing and Toyota perfect in the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.

 

Bell survived a hard, square shot to his rear bumper from Brad Keselowski in the final corner and steered straight to the finish line, 0.343 seconds ahead of the Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing co-owner and driver.

 

Joining JGR teammates Chase Briscoe and Denny Hamlin as winners in the Round of 16, Bell advanced to the Round of 12, which begins Sept. 21 at one of his best tracks, New Hampshire Motor Speedway (2 p.m. ET, USA Network, HBO Max, PRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, NBC Sports App).

 

“Well, I’ll tell you what, I was nervous on the two (tires),” Bell said. “I didn’t know if I wanted to be on the bottom or the top, and whenever Brad picked the top (lane) didn’t really give me an option. I had to pick the bottom.

 

“All night long, I don’t know, old tires just really, really pushed up in the middle of the corners, so I was hoping that those guys (starting ahead of him) on old tires would push up, and they did. They did, and I was able to get by or get underneath them.

 

“It wasn’t pretty there at the end, but we got her done.”

 

Brad Keselowski finished second; Zane Smith placed third; Ryan Blaney came in fourth and Joey Logano completed the top five.

 






Pole: AJ Allmendinger



Click Here for Race Results


Next Race: The Cup Series will return on Sunday, September 21, 2025 at 2:00 pm ET for the ‘Mobil 1 301’ at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.


NASCAR Xfinity

Aric Almirola Holds Off Sheldon Creed in Thrilling Xfinity Series Finish

Aric Almirola Holds Off Sheldon Creed in Thrilling Xfinity Series Finish

 

Benefitting from a split-second late-race strategy decision, veteran Aric Almirola held off a mightily motivated field to claim the win in Friday night’s Food City 300 NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs opener at Bristol Motor Speedway.

 

While running second to the series’ championship leader, Connor Zilisch, when a caution flag flew with 36 laps remaining, Almirola watched Zilisch pull onto pit road for fresh tires, and instead of following him into the pits as his crew expected, Almirola abruptly pulled his No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota back on track at the last moment.

 

“Just tired of getting beat by those guys, I figured I’d try my chances with the lead,” Almirola said of his race-winning pit strategy decision. “They’ve been so fast and they fire off so fast on new tires and I just didn’t think I could beat them straight up on new tires. It took me about 20 laps to get going, so I thought my best chance was to stay out on old tires.

 

“We watched the last two or three races here and saw how the nine-car with [driver] Noah Gragson win with like a 100 laps on his tires,” added Almirola, whose No. 19 JGR Toyota is racing for the owner’s championship. “So, I decided to stay out when they said pit.”

 

Sheldon Creed finished second; Sam Mayer placed third; Carson Kvapil came in fourth and Connor Zilisch completed the top five.

 






Pole: Justin Allgaier



Click Here for Race Results


Next Race: The Xfinity Series will return on Saturday, September 27, 2025 at 4:00 pm ET for the ‘Kansas Lottery 300’ at Kansas Speedway.




NASCAR Trucks

From Spin to Win: Layne Riggs Rebounds for Truck Series Playoffs Victory

From Spin to Win: Layne Riggs Rebounds for Truck Series Playoffs Victory

 

Layne Riggs recovered from a first-lap spin at Bristol Motor Speedway and rallied to win Thursday night’s UNOH 250 Presented by Ohio Logistics, the second race in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Playoffs.

 

Grabbing the lead after a restart on Lap 142 of 250, Riggs held off a determined charge by two-time Truck Series champion Ben Rhodes to win his third race of the 2025 season, second at Bristol and fifth of his career.

 

“You don’t get two mulligans in the playoffs, and I got two,” said Riggs, who salvaged a 17th-place finish after slamming the outside wall in the first playoff race Aug. 30 at Darlington. “The first lap of the race to spin out, it’s a blow to your confidence, for sure, but I’ve got faith in this team, and I’ve got faith in everybody here …”

 

“I think this shows that we’re right there, we’re in contention, we can do it,” said Riggs, who ran the final 109 green-flag laps with scuffed qualifying tires on his No. 34 Ford, having used a set of stickers after the spin on Lap 1. “That’s three in a row at Bristol for Front Row Motorsports. It’s a big testament to all these guys. We’ve got a really good package here.

 

“Man, I’m excited for New Hampshire. I’ve never even been there and I already love that race track.”

 

Ben Rhodes finished second; Corey Heim placed third; Ty Majeski came in fourth and Daniel Hemri completed the top five.

 






Pole: Jake Garcia



Click Here for Race Results


Next Race: The Truck Series will return on Saturday, September 20, 2025 at 12:00 pm ET for the ‘EJP 175’ at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.




ARCA East

Brent Crews Secures Another East Series Owner’s Title for Joe Gibbs Racing With a Dominant Bristol Win

Brent Crews Secures Another East Series Owner’s Title for Joe Gibbs Racing With a Dominant Bristol Win

 

Although Joe Gibbs Racing was unable to celebrate another driver’s championship in the ARCA Menards Series East for 2025, they departed Bristol Motor Speedway on Thursday victorious in multiple regards.

 

Brent Crews delivered a stellar, wire-to-wire performance to secure his third East Series victory on the season and fifth overall on the ARCA Menards Series platform. The dominant performance also enabled Crews to give the No. 18 Toyota its fourth consecutive East Series owner’s title.

 

While Crews obtained a win and an owner’s championship, Isaac Kitzmiller locked up the East Series driver’s championship by tallying an eighth-place finish.

 

“There’s been a lot of success with the Joe Gibbs Racing team from Cup all the way down to ARCA,” Crews said. “I was just trying to fill the shoes. Growing up watching Kyle Busch dominate with JGR, watching William [Sawalich] have strong runs and with Sammy [Smith] being able to win too, I came here with what I needed in my head.”

 

Tristan McKee finished second; Brenden Queen placed third; Leland Honeyman came in fourth and Thomas Annunziata completed the top five.

 






Pole: Brent Crews



Click Here for Race Results


Next Race: The ARCA Menard Series will return on Saturday, September 20, 2025 at 8:10 p.m. ET for the ‘Kentuckiana Ford Dealers ARCA 200’ at Salem Speedway.



ARCA West

Robbie Kennealy Scores Emotional First West Series Victory at All American Speedway

Robbie Kennealy Scores Emotional First West Series Victory at All American Speedway

 

The ARCA Menards Series West’s visit to All American Speedway was always going to be emotional for Robbie Kennealy. 

 

Every race on the calendar inches closer to the one-year anniversary of when Kennealy’s father Gary suddenly passed away due to a heart attack. Gary’s death was a devastating loss for the entire Kennealy family, but both of his sons, Robbie and Joey, have done everything possible to continue competing in honor of their father.

 

On Saturday evening, Gary’s eldest son Robbie put together the best race of his young career by earning the General Tire Pole Award and fending off West Series points leader Trevor Huddleston to score his maiden West Series victory. Kennealy could not help but be tearful as he climbed out of his No. 1 Jan’s Towing Ford, knowing his dad was with him in spirit through all 150 laps.

 

“[It was] one year ago during this exact race [at All American] when my dad suddenly passed away,” Kennealy said. “One year later, we win one of the biggest races ever. That’s for you dad.”

 

Trevor Huddleston finished second; Andrew Chapman placed third; Joey Iest came in fourth and Eric Johnson Jr. completed the top five.

 






Pole: Robbie Kennealy



Click Here for Race Results


Next Race: The ARCA Series will return on Saturday, September 27, 2025 at 7:30 p.m. for the ‘Madera 150 presented by Madera Ford and the West Coast Stock Car Motorsports Hall of Fame’ at Madera Speedway.



 

source: NASCAR Media
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Monday, August 18, 2025

NASCAR / ARCA Race Recap (Richmond Raceway /Illinois State Fairgrounds)

#NASCAR / #ARCA Race Recap (Richmond Raceway / Illinois State Fairgrounds)

Winners: Austin Dillon (Cup); Corey Heim (Trucks); Brent Crews (ARCA) plus Craig Lutz (Modified)

Recap Graphic by Rolando Ramirez - RTR Graphics

 


NASCAR Cup

Austin Dillon Defends Richmond Win, Shakes Up Playoff Picture with Key Cup Victory

Austin Dillon Defends Richmond Win, Shakes Up Playoff Picture with Key Cup Victory

 

Austin Dillon claimed his sixth career NASCAR Cup Series race trophy, earned a 2025 playoff bid and just as importantly, enjoyed some sweet redemption in Saturday night’s Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway. 

 

Dillon led 107 laps on the night, including the final 49 to claim the victory and automatic berth in the 16-driver playoff field — vaulting from a 28th-place position in the championship standings before the green flag to a championship berth at the checkered flag in a clutch effort from the 2018 Daytona 500 winner and his No. 3 Richard Childress Racing team.

 

It was the most laps Dillon had led all season and marks the third time he’s won a race in the closing weeks of the regular season.

 

It was a huge statement for Dillon, 35, who won this race last year, but was later ruled ineligible to participate in the playoffs after receiving a penalty from NASCAR for aggressive driving in the final laps at the historic 0.75-mile Richmond track.

 

“Man, that feels good, got to thank the good Lord above,” said Dillon, who finished a healthy 2.471 seconds ahead of playoff contender, Hendrick Motorsports’ Alex Bowman, who leaves Richmond now holding the last championship points position with one regular season race remaining next week at the always-unpredictable Daytona International Speedway.

 

“I really wanted that one,” Dillon said after an emotional hug from his brother Ty, who finished 20th on Saturday. “Last year hurt really bad, just going through the whole process of it. But this one feels so sweet. Man, I love Richmond.

 

“God has timing. His timing is the best timing. … It’s just so special. Every one of these means so much to me. My grandfather [NASCAR Hall of Fame team owner Richard Childress], for all that he’s put up in believing in me, because there’s been a lot of ups and downs, could have been easy for him to change the drivers in this 3-car. Today it feels really darn good.”

 

Alex Bowman finished second; Ryan Blaney placed third; Joey Logano came in fourth and Austin Cindric completed the top five.

 






Pole: Ryan Preece



Click Here for Race Results


Next Race: The Cup Series will return on Saturday, August 23, 2025 at 7:30 pm ET for the ‘Coke Zero Sugar 400’ at Daytona International Speedway.


NASCAR Xfinity

The Xfinity Series Did Not Race this Weekend







Next Race: The Xfinity Series will return on Friday, August 22, 2025 at 7:30 pm ET for the ‘Wawa 250 Powered By Coca-Cola’ at Daytona International Speedway.




NASCAR Trucks

Corey Heim Surges to Richmond Win to End Regular Season

Corey Heim Surges to Richmond Win to End Regular Season

 

Corey Heim earned a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series’ best seventh victory of the season in the eero 250 at Richmond Raceway Friday night, but this first short-track victory for the Regular Season Champion took a fast Toyota truck, some real perseverance and a bit of racing good fortune.

 

The 23-year-old Georgia native started from pole position in the series’ regular-season finale on the historic three-quarter mile venue, but he quickly had to deal with his front-row starting mate, Ty Majeski, who pressed him all night. Majeski swept both stage wins and his race-best 143 of the 250 laps out front was more laps led than he turned in the entire season.

 

Ultimately, Majeski’s shot at his first win of the year suffered a setback when he was collected in an incident with his ThorSport Racing teammate Matt Crafton while leading late in the race.

 

Although Majeski recovered and raced forward, Heim, who led 75 laps himself in the No. 11 Tricon Garage Toyota, got to the front when it mattered most and drove away — taking the lead for good with 20 laps remaining and then holding off the reigning series champ Majeski by 0.923 seconds at the checkered flag.

 

With the victory, Heim becomes the youngest driver in series history to get 18 career wins, breaking Kyle Busch’s record.

 

“Felt like we were the best truck at [short tracks] Martinsville and North Wilkesboro, but they got away from us and we kind of got this one back,” Heim said of his short track struggles this season. “I didn’t feel like we were the best truck tonight. I feel like the 98 [Majeski] was really stout, but obviously had a run-in and got some damage.

 

“Being there when it counted was the first goal and we were and just able to execute from there.”

 

Ty Majeski finished second; Layne Riggs placed third; Sammy Smith came in fourth and Corey LaJoie completed the top five.




Pole: Corey Heim



Click Here for Race Results


Next Race: The Truck Series will return on Saturday, August 30, 2025 at 12:00 pm ET for the ‘Sober or Slammer 200’ at Darlington Raceway.




MODIFIEDS

Craig Lutz Earns a ‘Special’ Modified Tour Victory with Flawless Execution at Richmond Raceway

Craig Lutz Earns a ‘Special’ Modified Tour Victory with Flawless Execution at Richmond Raceway

 

Thursday’s Virginia is for Racing Lovers 150 at Richmond Raceway delivered Craig Lutz multiple opportunities to experience joy.

 

After five straight NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour finishes outside the top five, the No. 46 Goodie Racing crew unloaded a rocket ship at Richmond. Lutz posted the second-best lap in the afternoon’s first practice, and he paced the second session. He qualified fourth despite a mistake on his hot lap. In the race, his team employed a strategy that placed him amongst a handful of contenders on the lead lap in the closing stages.

 

That’s when Lutz found himself running down race and Modified Tour points leader Austin Beers.

 

That’s when the joy reached a climax.

 

“Seeing the gap close and knowing you have the better car … it’s awesome,” Lutz said. “As a driver, that’s the best feeling ever, especially in the closing laps.”

 

“It’s so hard,” Lutz said. “You do this, and the end goal is to win races, and you put so much time and effort into all you do. All the money it takes. All the frustration, all the time. So when you do win, it’s that much more special. Especially when the field is so close. Everyone has the same car, same motor, same package, so when you do win, it’s just that much more special.”

 

Austin Beers finished second; Patrick Emerling placed third; Trevor Catalano came in fourth and Corey LaJoie completed the top five.




Pole: Justin Bonsignore



Click Here for Race Results

ARCA

Brent Crews Secures Another Dominant Victory at the Springfield Mile

Brent Crews Secures Another Dominant Victory at the Springfield Mile

 

Almost exactly two years ago, Brent Crews picked up his maiden ARCA Menards Series checkered flag on the historic Springfield Mile at the Illinois State Fairgrounds. Although he was 15 at the time, Crews showcased veteran composure that afternoon by leading 64 laps from the pole and winning by 20 seconds.

 

The final margin of victory for Crews in Sunday’s Allen Crowe 100 at Springfield was not quite as substantial, but the young prospect was just as efficient.

 

Once Crews overtook Brenden “Butterbean” Queen for the lead early, the driver of the No. 70 Nitro Motorsports Toyota was unstoppable as he picked up his third national ARCA Menards Series victory of 2025 and fourth overall on the platform.

 

“This is one of my favorite races on the schedule,” Crews said. “I won Springfield two years ago, and then I won at [the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds] last year, so I’ve had a lot of success on the dirt.

 

“We had an absolute hot rod today, and it was a blast to drive. I wish we were able to get some practice and qualifying in, but I felt like that kind of worked out to our advantage.”

 

Lavar Scott finished second; Kelly Kovski placed third; Brenden Queen came in fourth and Sean Corr completed the top five.




Pole: Brenden Queen



Click Here for Race Results

Next Race: The ARCA Series West will return on Friday, August 29, 2025 at 4:00 pm PT for the ‘Portland 112’ at Portland International Raceway.

 

source: NASCAR Media
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Monday, July 28, 2025

NASCAR / ARCA Race Recap (Indianapolis Motor Speedway/Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park)

#NASCAR / #ARCA Race Recap (Indianapolis Motor Speedway/Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park)

Winners: Bubba Wallace (Cup); ConnorZilisch (Xfinity); Layne Riggs (Trucks) plus Brent Crews (ARCA)

Indy Winners: Bubba Wallace (#NASCAR Cup); ConnorZilisch (Xfinity); Layne Riggs (Trucks) plus Brent Crews (#ARCA)
Recap Graphic by Rolando Ramirez - RTR Graphics

 


NASCAR Cup

Bubba Wallace Holds On in Double Overtime

Bubba Wallace Holds On in Double Overtime

 

Mother Nature wasn’t going to deprive Bubba Wallace of the most important win of his career, not on this Sunday afternoon.

 

Unsure of the amount of fuel left in his No. 23 Toyota, Wallace survived a rain shower and two overtime restarts at Indianapolis Motor Speedway to win the Brickyard 400 presented by PPG, punching his ticket to the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.

 

Wallace was comfortably ahead of runner-up Kyle Larson with four laps left in regulation, but the sudden shower forced NASCAR to call the fifth caution of the afternoon.

 

The rain was gone almost as quickly as it appeared, and after a short stoppage to dry the track, Wallace pulled ahead of Larson on the first overtime restart. A five-car accident on the backstretch, however, sent the race to a second extra period.

 

Wallace stayed on track for the next restart — hoping his fuel would last — and again pulled away from Larson and this time took the white flag without incident. After one more circuit, he crossed the finish line 0.222 seconds ahead of Larson to claim the trophy in the crown-jewel event.

 

The third victory of Wallace’s career ended a 100-race dry spell dating to Sept. 11, 2022 at Kansas Speedway. He led 30 laps, including the last 26, as the race went eight circuits beyond the scheduled 160.

 

“Oh, my gosh, I’m just so proud of this team,” Wallace said. “That adrenaline rush is crazy, ’cause I’m coming off that right now — and I’m worn out.”

 

“It’s unbelievable,” he said. “To win here at the Brickyard, knowing how big this race is, knowing all the noise that’s going on in the background, to set that all aside is a testament to these people here on this 23 team. It’s been getting old right around the cut line (for the playoffs).”

 

Kyle Larson finished second; Denny Hamlin placed third; Ryan Preece came in fourth and Brad Keselowski completed the top five.




Pole: Chase Briscoe



Click Here for Race Results


Next Race: The Cup Series will return on Sunday, August 3, 2025 at 3:30 pm ET for the Iowa Corn 350 Powered by Ethanol at Iowa Speedway.


NASCAR Xfinity

Three in a Row: Connor Zilisch Stays Hot

Three in a Row: Connor Zilisch Stays Hot

 

As contrary as it might seem, there was ambivalence in Connor Zilisch’s victory in Saturday’s Pennzoil 250 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

 

Yes, Zilisch won his third straight NASCAR Xfinity Series race and added to his inarguable credentials as a budding superstar. What’s more, Zilisch delivered victory No. 100 to JR Motorsports, the organization founded by Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his sister, Kelly Earnhardt Miller.

 

But Zilisch’s victory came at the expense of teammate Justin Allgaier, who made a heroic move on the outside to retake the lead from Kyle Larson on Lap 74 and had the win in his sights until the following restart on Lap 87.

 

That’s when Larson’s No. 17 Chevrolet broke loose in Turn 1 and turned Allgaier’s Chevrolet into the outside wall and out of the race.

 

That left Zilisch and Taylor Gray to battle for the lead after a restart with four laps left. With a push from the Ford of Sam Mayer, Zilisch took control on Lap 99 of 100 and held on to win by 0.339 seconds over Mayer as Gray slipped to third.

 

“I see some bricks that look kissable, and I’m going to kiss them,” Zilisch said, referencing an Indianapolis tradition started by NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Jarrett. “This is awesome. One hundred wins for JRM. Congrats to Dale, Kelley, L.W. (Miller), everybody who’s raced for JRM, everybody who works at JRM.”

 

“I’m the smallest part of this team, and I’m so glad to be a part of it.”

 

“I hate it for Justin, because he’s been the cornerstone of the company for so many years,” Dale Earnhardt Jr. said of the reigning series champion. “He’s been dependable, reliable, great with our partners and he wants to do these things for us.”

 

Sam Mayer finished second; Taylor Gray placed third; Kyle Larson came in fourth and Ryan Sieg completed the top five.




Pole: Sam Mayer



Click Here for Race Results


Next Race: The Xfinity Series will return on Saturday, August 2, 2025 at 4:30 pm ET for the ‘HyVee Perks 250’ at Iowa Speedway.




NASCAR Trucks

Layne Riggs Leads 160 Laps, Wins at IRP

Layne Riggs Leads 160 Laps, Wins at IRP

 

The post-race celebration said it all.

 

Layne Riggs planted the nose of his No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford firmly against the outside of the pit row wall and lit up his tires as members of his team stood on the barrier and pumped their fists repeatedly.

 

The elation was well-deserved after Riggs scored his first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series victory at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park in Friday night’s TSport 200.

 

With his second victory of the season and a sweep of the first two stages, Riggs cut into the dominating lead of Corey Heim with two races left in the regular season.

 

Nevertheless, Heim, who ran third in a balky No. 11 Toyota, clinched the regular-season title.

 

“I’ll tell you, this truck was badass, man,” Riggs said after climbing from the F-150 on pit road. “It was so great. I was just out front saving my tires at the end. Then I was just waiting for a late-race caution (which never came), trying to run the bottom and trying to keep the least amount of distance to keep the distance off my tires.

 

“It’s so great to get (sponsor) Clew Nicotine Pouches in Victory Lane. That’s only their second race with us, and we’re super excited to have them. That was a pretty cool celebration.”

 

Corey Day finished second; Corey Heim placed third; Grant Enfinger came in fourth and Ty Majeski completed the top five.




Pole: Corey Heim



Click Here for Race Results


Next Race: The Truck Series will return on Friday, August 8, 2025 at 5:00 pm ET for the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Race at Watkins Glen at Watkins Glen International.




ARCA

Brent Crews rebounds at Lucas Oil IRP

Brent Crews rebounds at Lucas Oil IRP

 

Brent Crews helped Joe Gibbs Racing check another box in the ARCA Menards Series Friday evening at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park. 

 

Gibbs’ ARCA Menards Series program had yet to win at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park prior to the LiUNA! 150 presented by Dutch Boy. Excellent second half adjustments from crew chief Matt Ross enabled Crews to overtake Brenden Queen and pull away for his second ARCA Menards Series national win of the year and third overall.

 

Crews has now won half of the ARCA Menards Series events he has entered in 2025. He knew adjustments would be needed to eclipse Queen’s stellar pace, but commended Ross for perfecting his car during the closing 75 laps.

 

“I was exhausted,” Crews said. “This JGR group did an absolutely fabulous job at the break there. [Queen] was really good in the first half and I was giving everything I had trying to hang with him. I knew Matt [Ross] and the crew had something up their sleeve to get me that extra little bit at the halfway break and that’s exactly what he did.”

 

Lawless Alan finished second; Brenden Queen placed third; Isabella Robusto came in fourth and Lavar Scott completed the top five.




Pole: Brenden Queen



Click Here for Race Results


Next Race: The ARCA Series will return on Friday, August 1, 2025 at 7 p.m. ET for the ‘Atlas 150’ at Iowa Speedway.



 

source: NASCAR Media
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Monday, March 10, 2025

NASCAR and ARCA Race Weekend Recap (Phoenix Raceway)

#NASCAR and #ARCA Race Weekend Recap (Phoenix Raceway)

Winners: Christopher Bell (Cup); Aric Almirola (Xfinity); plus Brent Crews (ARCA West)

Phoenix Winners (RTR Graphics)
Graphic by Rolando Ramirez - RTR Graphics

 

NASCAR Cup

Christopher Bell Gets Third Consecutive #Win

 

Christopher Bell prevailed in a dramatic side-by-side finish with his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Denny Hamlin – the second-closest finish in Phoenix Raceway history – to earn Bell his third consecutive NASCAR Cup Series victory this season, a record in the sport’s Next Gen Car era.

 

Bell’s No. 20 JGR Toyota went high alongside Hamlin’s No. 11 Toyota as the two cars dueled it out in the final two corners of a two-lap shootout on the one-mile speedway. The 30-year-old Oklahoman claimed the historic win by a mere 0.049 seconds, marking his second straight victory in this spring race at Phoenix.

 

“How about that one, race fans? Oh my gosh!” a jubilant Bell shouted to the Phoenix crowd after collecting the winner’s checkered flag at the start-finish line.

 

“Whenever you’re sitting there dreaming it up, that’s about as ugly as it gets. You put the red [option] tires on, and you’re like, all right, what I don’t want to happen is go 20, 30 laps, get a yellow. That happened. Then we went 10 more laps, had another yellow.

 

“It was all about who could get clear on the restart. Neither of us could. We were racing really hard coming to the line. JGR ran 1-2 — how about that?”

 

Post-race inspection was completed without issue in the Cup Series garage, confirming Christopher Bell as the winner.

 

Bell now heads to the 1.5-mile Las Vegas high banks next week, hoping to match a milestone set by NASCAR Hall of Famer Bill Elliott, who is the only driver to win four of a season’s first five races, doing so in 1992.

 






Pole: William Byron



Click Here for Race Results


Next Race: The Cup Series will return on Sunday, March 16, 2025 at 3:30 pm ET for the Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy Lube at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.


NASCAR Xfinity

Aric Almirola Wins in Overtime Thriller

 

Aric Almirola made a dramatic last-lap pass in overtime to claim the win in Saturday’s GOVX 200 NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Phoenix Raceway, making door-to-door contact with Hendrick Motorsports’ Alex Bowman in the final two turns. The 0.045-second margin of victory was the second-closest finish in the track’s history.

 

Almirola led 25 laps on the afternoon, but his last-lap move to the checkered flag was the only one he led in the final 50 laps of the 208-lap event. His No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota emerged from a four-wide battle for the lead on the final restart with two laps remaining, then finally overtook Bowman less than 200 feet from the finish line.

 

“I just knew I needed to get from there to here first,” Almirola said, standing by his car at the start-finish line. “I knew I was going to use him up a little bit, but was trying to win the race. I feel like it was warranted. I didn’t feel like I did anything overly egregious. I just throttled up, and it was a drag race to the start-finish line.”

 





Pole: Alex Bowman



Click Here for Race Results


Next Race: The Xfinity Series will return on Saturday, March 15, 2025 at 4:30 pm ET for the The LiUNA! at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.




NASCAR Trucks

NASCAR CRAFTMAN Truck Series – Off-Track this Weekend







Next Race: The Truck Series will return on Friday, March 14, 2025 at 9:00 pm ET for the Ecosave 200 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.




ARCA

Last-Lap Heroics Propel Brent Crews to His First ARCA Menards Series Pavement Win

 

Coming to the white flag in Friday’s General Tire 150 at Phoenix Raceway, it appeared Brent Crews would settle for a strong-but-disappointing second in his first outing with Joe Gibbs Racing.

 

Instead, Crews found himself celebrating his first pavement victory in the ARCA Menards Series. A second attempt at a one-lap shootout provided Crews an opportunity to chase down the dominant driver of the night in Brenden Queen, who he edged to the finish line after muscling his rival out of the way in Turn 3.

 

Long familiar with the efficiency Queen has displayed at short tracks in the southeast, Crews knew a perfect restart was imperative to overtake him on the final lap. Besting Queen on the ARCA Menards Series platform was something Crews took pride in as he celebrated his victory.

 

“I raced Brenden [Queen] the whole year last year,” Crews said. “We raced him for CARS Tour wins, and then coming here to the ARCA Menards Series at a track like Phoenix to race for the win was really special. A great job to [Pinnacle Racing Group]. They had a winning car today, so I’m grateful for the caution at the end.”

 






Pole: Brent Crews (Practice and Qualifying Canceled Due to Weather)



Click Here for Race Results


Next Race: The ARCA Series West will return on Saturday, April 5, 2025 for the an event on the 0.375-mile paved oval at Tucson Speedway.



 

source: NASCAR Media
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Monday, September 2, 2024

NASCAR / ARCA Race Weekend Recap (Darlington & DuQuoin State Fairgrounds)

#NASCAR / #ARCA Race Weekend Recap (Darlington & DuQuoin State Fairgrounds)

Winners: Chase Briscoe (Cup); Christopher Bell (Xfinity); Brent Crews (ARCA)


NASCAR Cup

Chase Briscoe Stuns with Southern 500 Win, Claims Playoff Spot

Chase Briscoe Stuns with Southern 500 Win

 

Chase Briscoe fended off a fierce charge from Kyle Busch over the final 17 laps to win the Cook Out Southern 500 Sunday night at Darlington Raceway. 

 

The victory, second of Briscoe’s career, propels the No. 14 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford into the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs in the regular-season finale. Busch, winless and out of the postseason, fell 0.361 seconds short of triumph. Christopher Bell, Kyle Larson and Ross Chastain completed the top five.

 

“It’s pretty crazy how God works, right?” Briscoe said with his son next to him. “We come here (in 2020) two days after having a miscarriage, are able to win and beat Kyle Busch. Then four years removed, I win here again beating Kyle Busch, but now I have my son with me. Marissa is here, pregnant with twins that could literally come at any point.”

 

“For all 320 employees, everybody, to be able to race for a championship in their final year, man, unbelievable,” Briscoe said. “This group, the day that we found out that the team wasn’t going to exist anymore, we went over to the shop floor, we all looked at each other and said, ‘We’re in this till the end. We’re not going to give this up.’

 

“We kept saying all week we got one bullet left in the chamber. That bullet hit.”

 





Pole: Bubba Wallace

Click Here for Race Results 


Next Race: The Cup Series will return on Sunday September 8, 2024 at 3:00 pm ET for the Quaker State 400 available at Walmart at Atlanta Motor Speedway.


 

NASCAR Xfinity

Christopher Bell survives NASCAR Overtime to win Xfinity Series Race at Darlington

 

Despite making contact with Cole Custer on the penultimate lap of NASCAR Overtime, Joe Gibbs Racing’s Christopher Bell survived to win the Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Help a Hero 200 at Darlington Raceway.

 

The driver of the No. 20 Toyota was dominant in South Carolina, after leading 108 of 150 laps to finish ahead of runner-up finisher Custer.

 

Sheldon Creed, Chase Elliott and Sammy Smith rounded out the top five.

 

“That was wild, for sure,” said Bell, who started from the pole and led 108 laps. “I thought I was headed nose-first into the inside wall… It’s a tough race track, and off of (Turn) 2, whether you’re on the bottom of the top, it flushes you to the wall, and then you kind of get a little bit of a wiggle coming down.

 

“Once again, I feel terrible for Sheldon, to essentially win the race on the long run there and then lose it on pit road. It’s a big bummer… It seemed like our car was really good on the short runs. Obviously, the 18, Sheldon, was really good on the long runs.

 

“Unfortunately for him, the race played out differently, and fortunately for us, we got another shot at it.”

 





Pole: Christopher Bell

Click Here for Race Results


Next Race: The Xfinity Series will return on Saturday September 7, 2024 at 3:00 pm ET for the Focused Health 250 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.


 

NASCAR Trucks

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series – Off Week





Next Race: The Truck Series will return on Thursday September 19, 2024 8:00 pm ET for the UNOH 200 presented by Ohio Logistics at Bristol Motor Speedway.


 

ARCA

Brent Crews Survives Overtime Restart for Wire-to-Wire DuQuoin Win


Brent Crews Survives Overtime Restart for Wire-to-Wire DuQuoin Win


Faced with an overtime restart, Brent Crews did not disappoint. He led all 102 laps to win the ARCA Menards Series race at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds.

 

Crews picked up his second career ARCA win, earning his first in 2023 at another dirt track: Illinois State Fairgrounds.

 

“A good spotter is crucial [when it comes] to telling me where everyone is at and coaching me through lap times,” Crews said. “Growing up on the dirt path was a big part [of this win] as well, being able to race midgets and stuff like that. It helped a lot, and I’m just grateful to be here.”

 

Following Crews and second place William Sawalich in third was Andres Perez, with Kris Wright and dirt veteran Kelly Kovski completing the top five. The rest of the top 10 finishers consisted of Lavar Scott, Taylor Reimer, Christian Rose, Toni Breidinger and Tim Monroe.

 





Pole: William Sawalich

Click Here for Race Results


Next Race: The ARCA Series will return on Friday, September 13, 2024 at 5:23 p.m.ET for the General Tire 100 at the Glen at Watkins Glen International.

 

source: NASCAR / ARCA Media
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