Daytona Sets Xfinity Stage For Season Opener

The 2020 NASCAR Xfinity Series season is upon us and Daytona International Speedway is all set to host this weekend’s ‘NASCAR Racing Experience 300’ at 2:30 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Justin Haley, Driver of the #11 LeafFilter Gutter Protection Chevrolet,
leads AJ Allmendinger, Driver of the #16 Ellsworth Advisors Chevrolet, and
Ross Chastain, Driver of the #10 Nutrien Ag Solutions Chevrolet, during practice

Daytona International Speedway has hosted fifty-six (56) NASCAR Xfinity Series races (1982-2019) producing 41 different pole winners and 31 different race winners.

NASCAR Xfinity Series

• Next Race: NASCAR Racing Experience 300
• The Place: Daytona International Speedway
• The Date: Saturday, February 15
• The Time: 2:30 p.m. ET
• TV: FS1, 2 p.m. ET
• Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
• Distance: 300 miles (120 Laps);
• Stage 1: (Ends on Lap 30),
• Stage 2: (Ends on Lap 60),
• Final Stage: (Ends on Lap 120)

Richard Childress Racing’s Tyler Reddick won the pole for the NASCAR Xfinity Series season opener at Daytona last season and JR Motorsport’s Michael Annett won the race.

I can’t wait to get on track @DISupdates in my @American_Heart / @PilotFlyingJ Chevrolet in a few short weeks. #NASCAR | @XfinityRacing | @JRMotorsports pic.twitter.com/OKS7hZJhFC

— Michael Annett (@MichaelAnnett) January 27, 2020

Xfinity Party Part-Timers at Daytona

For some drivers, this weekend is the beginning of a 33-race championship, but for others it’s just about the checkered flag, the win and the celebration in Victory Lane. Which makes it no surprise several part-time Xfinity Series drivers are taking aim at Daytona this weekend.

One such driver specifically tapped to drive this weekend to challenge for the win is veteran AJ Allmendinger. The California wheelman will be jumping into the Kaulig Racing No. 16 Chevrolet this weekend with crew chief Lennie Chandler calling the shots from the pit box. Allmendinger was dominate in his lone Xfinity Series Daytona start last season leading 33 laps and crossing the start-finish line in the top five but was subsequently disqualified and dropped to 38th after failing post-race inspection. In total last season Allmendinger made five starts with Kaulig Racing, posting one win (Charlotte ROVAL), two top fives and a pole.

2018 Gander Trucks champ Brett Moffitt will help the newly formed Our Motorsports  make their NASCAR Xfinity Series debut this weekend at Daytona International Speedway. Moffitt will pilot the No. 02 Chevrolet. Moffitt has only made three Xfinity Series starts in his career with a best finish of ninth at his home track Iowa Speedway. This will be Moffitt’s series track debut this weekend.

Hattori Racing Enterprises made their NASCAR Xfinity Series debut last season with driver Austin Hill and this weekend return to the series for a shot at Daytona. Hattori Racing Enterprises primarily races in the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series and the organization won the Gander Trucks season-opener last year. Hill made his Xfinity Series debut last season with owner Carl Long at Indianapolis – he started 17th and finished ninth.

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What do Moffitt, Reddick, and Logano Have in Common?

First Time Champions

Brett Moffitt, driver of the #16 AISIN Group Toyota, celebrates
in victory lane with the trophy after winning the NASCAR Camping
World Truck Series Ford EcoBoost 200 and the NCWTS Championship
at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Nov. 16, 2018

#NCWTS - Brett Moffitt Cruises to First Truck Series Title At Homestead

In a race that featured a minimum two cautions, both for planned stage breaks, Brett Moffitt drove away from the rest of the field after taking the lead from fellow Championship 4 contender Noah Gragson on Lap 99 of 134.

Moffitt finished 2.000 seconds ahead of pole winner Grant Enfinger, who passed Gragson for the runner-up spot during a cycle of green-flag pit stops at the 103-lap mark. Gragson ran third, 5.006 seconds back.

Driving for underfunded Hattori Racing Enterprises, owned by former driver Shigeaki Hattori of Japan, Moffitt picked up his sixth victory of the season (and second straight) and the seventh of his career. More than 20 years ago, Hattori won the first of his two Indy Lights races at Homestead after leading 64 of 67 laps in a Lola/Buick.

"That was the longest 20-30 laps of my life," Moffitt said of the final run to the checkered flag. "Man, I was just glad we could get to the white flag without a caution and clean sailing. We had a great truck all day.

"It's unreal. We all know the story by now. We didn't know if we were going to race this whole year. I didn't if I would have the opportunity to run for a championship, even after we got our first win. Everyone pulled together hard here.

"We've had so many partners who came in at clutch moments and got us to the race track."

HE DID IT! Retweet to congratulate Brett Moffitt! He is the 2018 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion. pic.twitter.com/fyZLRbABgy

— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) November 17, 2018

Tyler Reddick, driver of the #9 BurgerFi Chevrolet, celebrates with
the trophy in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series
Ford EcoBoost 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on
November 17, 2018 in Homestead, Florida.

#NXS - Tyler Reddick Wins at Homestead In Stunning Xfinity Championship Run

Tyler Reddick was the only driver of the Championship 4 who really liked it on top, and his willingness to run the wall paid off with a race win and a NASCAR Xfinity Series title.

Charging forward in the top lane, even though it meant an occasional brush with the outside wall, Reddick pulled away from pole winner Cole Custer during a long green-flag run to the finish to win Saturday’s Ford EcoBoost 300 by 6.902 seconds.

"I picked a really good time to get my life together and decide to win a race," and elated Reddick said in Victory Lane.

In fact, Saturday’s win was the third in Reddick’s career and his second of the season. Reddick won the 2018 opener at Daytona International Speedway by .0004 seconds over JR Motorsports teammate Elliott Sadler, who finished 14th on Saturday in his final start as a full-time driver.

At Daytona, Reddick’s margin of victory translated to roughly three inches. At Homestead, it was a no-doubter. Once he passed fellow Championship 4 competitor Christopher Bell for the lead on Lap 164 of 200 and stayed within inches with the wall lap after lap, he quickly pulled away for the win, the championship and the Sunoco Rookie of the Year honors.

• "I just knew we had to execute," Reddick said. "I thought we had a chance if we just made it to Homestead. I like this track—it rewards my aggression. Tonight, we hit the wall a lot, but the car kept in one piece, enough for me to get to the end."

Pit strategy also played out in Reddick’s favor. Bell came to pit road under green on Lap 141, and Reddick followed a lap later. Custer didn’t bring his No. 00 Ford to pit road from the lead until Lap 147, after losing roughly two seconds per lap, and exited 8.006 seconds behind Reddick.

Bell passed Reddick for the lead on Lap 154 but within 10 laps the seven-time winner had used up his short-run speed and surrendered the top spot back to Reddick.

"He went out and attacked, attacked, attacked all night, and it paid off for him," Bell said of Reddick’s effort. "I was good on the bottom, and I had glimpses of hope, but we just weren’t fast enough."

Looking back on what was the craziest night of my young life, we overcame the odds and did something special. Our whole team believed that we could be champions all year long and we accomplished our goal, even with the very turbulent path we took. It’s unreal, WE ARE CHAMPIONS!🏆 pic.twitter.com/lahR2R3tza

— Tyler Reddick (@TylerReddick) November 19, 2018

Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell Pennzoil Ford, celebrates in
victory lane after winning the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series
Ford EcoBoost 400 and the MENCS Championship at Homestead
-Miami Speedway on November 18, 2018 in Homestead, Florida

#MENCS - Late Charge Gives Joey Logano Homestead Victory And First Cup Championship

On Sunday night at Homestead-Miami Speedway, it was "The Big Three and Me" — with the "Me" being Joey Logano waging vehicular war against the three most prolific winners in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series.

Now "Me" is a champion.

In a thrilling finish that featured all four Championship 4 drivers battling for the race victory and the title—and finishing 1-2-3-4 in the Ford EcoBoost 400—Logano charged past defending series champion Martin Truex Jr. on Lap 256 of 267 and pulled away to win his first championship.

"Oh, my God, yes!" Logano screamed on his radio as his No. 22 Team Penske Ford flashed across the finish line 1.725 seconds ahead of Truex, establishing a handful of milestones in the process.

"We did it! We won the championship! I can’t believe it. I don't know what to say. This team, (owner) Roger Penske, (crew chief) Todd Gordon, the pit crew. Oh, my God! They gave me the car I needed at the end to do my job. Put me in position to do my job. I couldn’t be more proud of them. We won the championship! Oh, my God!"

The victory was Logano’s third of the season, his first at the 1.5-mile track and the 21st of his career. With the win, he sealed the first manufacturer’s championship for Ford since 2002 and the first driver’s championship for the car maker since Kurt Busch won the first Playoffs in 2004.

Promise fulfilled. @joeylogano is a champion!

🎧: @Shinedown | #TeamJL pic.twitter.com/cnELBfwJId

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) November 19, 2018

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4. Johnny Sauter - NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Championship 4
5. Brett Moffitt - NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Championship 4

Brett Moffitt - NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Championship 4

Brett Moffitt took the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series by storm in 2018, winning five times (Atlanta, Iowa, Chicagoland, Michigan, Phoenix) with 12 top-five finishes in his first fulltime season in the series. Plus, this is Moffitt’s first Playoff run and the first for Hattori Racing Enterprises.

Moffitt, who has experience in all three NASCAR national series, showed the most success of his career this season. In 22 starts, 3,214 of 3,269 laps completed and 210 laps led, he has posted an average start of 12.0 and average finish of 9.3. Moffitt finished every race of the season except for the series opener at Daytona where he crashed on lap 72.

This team has fought through adversity the entire season, sometimes not knowing if they would be able to make it to the racetrack over the weekend due to sponsorship struggles. But they were always able to make the best of it with last lap finishes for the win.

Thus far in the 2018 Playoffs, Moffitt has four top-five finishes and started in the top 10 every race except at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park and Martinsville, where he came from the back to finish second and third, respectively. 

No rest for the fast. Getting @HomesteadMiami ready. 🤘#TeamToyota#NASCARPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/VCHHuzor14

— Hattori Racing (@Hattori_Racing) November 13, 2018

Playoff Recap

Brett Moffitt opened the 2018 Playoffs with a third-place finish at the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, his first visit to the track. He went onto Las Vegas and finished just outside of the top 10 in 11th and then finished the Round of at Talladega Superspeedway starting eighth and finishing in 17th. Moffitt’s Playoff luck started to change in the Round of 6, he second at Martinsville and then third at Texas Motor Speedway. But put the exclamation point on his run to the Championship 4 with a big win last weekend at ISM Raceway to click his ticket to the final four in Miami.

Homestead-Miami Outlook

Brett Moffitt has never run a race in his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series career at Homestead-Miami Speedway. However, looking back on Moffitt’s past performances at 1.5-mile tracks this year he has wins at Chicagoland and Atlanta. Moffitt has run at Homestead in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series back in 2014, finishing 36th and in 2015 finished 31st.

Crew Chief Corner

Scott Zipadelli, crew chief for the No. 16 Hattori Racing Enterprises Toyota with driver Brett Moffitt has seen a lot of success in his career as a crew chief. But, most of that success has come with Moffitt as his driver. He has experience in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East Series. In total Zipadelli has nine NASCAR national series wins six in the Truck Series and three in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

Zipadelli spent nine years as a crew chief in the NASCAR Xfinity Series where he had 267 starts, three wins (2010, 2014), 34 top fives, 89 top 10s and two poles. He was crew chief for NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Justin Allgaier in 2013 and for Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver Kyle Larson in 2014, when he got two wins. During his short time in the K&N Pro Series East for one race in 2017 and one race in 2018, he got his first win with Moffitt at Watkins Glen International in August.

Zipadelli’s four years as a crew chief in the Truck Series he has led drivers in 90 starts, six wins, 29 top fives, 43 top 10s, three poles and 336 laps led. He has been to Homestead three times in his career and has two top fives and two top 10s.

Team Talk

Hattori Racing Enterprises started their NASCAR Camping World Truck Series program in 2013, with one race run by Brett Moffitt. In 2015, Ross Kenseth ran for Hattori for one race and in 2016, Jesse Little ran two races for the team. In 2016 and 2017, Ryan Truex ran 38 total races for Hattori Racing and had nine top-five finishes, 17 top 10s and two poles. The team finished a career best ninth in the Truck Series championship standings last season. However, 2018 is the first time that the team has been in the Playoffs and in the Championship 4. In total, Hattori Racing has 64 starts in the Truck Series, five wins (all from this season), 21 top fives, 29 top 10s and two poles.

Source: NASCAR.com PR

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NASCAR Truck Playoff Standing for Martinsville

Weather Willing - First Race in the Round of Six

Todd Gilliland, driver of the #4 Pedigree Puppy Toyota
at Talladega (10/12/2018- Sean Gardner/Getty Images))

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series

• Next Race: Texas Roadhouse 200
• The Place: Martinsville Speedway
• The Date: Saturday, October 27
• The Time: 1 p.m. ET
• TV: FS1, 12:30 p.m. ET
• Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
• Distance: 105.2 miles (200 Laps)
• Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 50),
• Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 100)
• Final Stage (Ends on Lap 200)

And Then There Were Six

Grant Enfinger's #98

Two weeks ago, the Round of 8 for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Playoffs ended at Talladega Superspeedway. It was one for the books as the only two drivers who were officially locked into the Round of 6 were GMS Racing’s Justin Haley and ThorSport Racing’s Grant Enfinger. Haley won at the Playoff opener at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park and Enfinger won at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

But, Timothy Peters, a non-Playoff driver, took home the victory in a wild finish at Talladega.

Haley was the highest-finishing Playoff driver in fourth, Stewart Friesen finished sixth, Noah Gragson finished 13th, Ben Rhodes finished 16th, Brett Moffitt in 17th, Enfinger in 19th, Johnny Sauter in 22nd and Matt Crafton finished in 26th.

Rhodes and Friesen didn’t make the cut for the Round of 6, leaving Haley, Enfinger, Sauter, Moffitt, Gragson and Crafton as the remaining Playoff contenders in the hunt for the championship.

This was Rhodes’ second appearance in the Playoffs and Friesen’s first.

Current Playoff Standings

Drivers	Points	Playoff Wins	Stage Wins	Cutoff (+/-)
Johnny Sauter	3,042	0	0	28
Brett Moffitt	3,027	0	0	13
Noah Gragson	3.025	0	3	11
Grant Enfinger	3,018	1	2	4
Justin Haley	3,014	1	0	-4
Matt Crafton	3,003	0	0	-15

Rain- 1@NASCAR_Trucks @MartinsvilleSwy- 0

All on-track activities for today are cancelled and we’ll try again tomorrow with qualifying at 10:05am ET! pic.twitter.com/f2rzu8OPps

— GMS Racing (@GMSRacingLLC) October 26, 2018

It’s a beautiful day for @NASCAR_Trucks at @MartinsvilleSwy! https://t.co/0P2IskPwgp

— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) October 27, 2018

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Brett Moffitt Uses Last Lap Pass to Win the Corrigan Oil 200

The racing in the NASCAR Camping World Truck series at Michigan International Speedway is known for its exciting action and late race passes for the lead. The Corrigan Oil 200 lived up to expectations as Brett Moffitt used a last-lap pass to claim the lead.

Moffitt trailed Johnny Sauter with five laps remaining, but used a unique strategy to pull off the win. He backed up to the third place truck. The trucks were able to use the draft to their advantage today and Moffitt used it to perfection at the end of the race. Moffitt used a push from John Hunter Nemecheck to gain the momentum to track Sauter back down.

“The whole last however many laps that I was behind him, I was running wide open and I would push him with that air bubble between our bumpers so I tried to back up (turn) one and let him get out there a little bit,” Moffitt said. “I knew the 8 (John Hunter Nemechek) was behind us and I was hoping he would get to us and be able to push us. I was able to plan it right and play it right – it’s just great to get here.”

As Sauter and Moffitt took the white flag, it was Sauter still out front. Sauter led all the through turn three. In turn four, Moffitt stuck the nose of his truck under Sauter and from there it was a drag race to the finish. At the finish line, it was Moffitt by 0.025 seconds.

In 2016, Moffitt went three-wide into turn one on the last lap for his first win in the Truck Series. Moffitt said had Sauter gone low on the track, the race might have had a different outcome.

“I had momentum, so I don’t know, that’s a good question," Moffitt said. "It probably would have been easier for (Sauter) to slide up and block if he was on the bottom and then slid up to the outside. I don’t know, we were really good center to entry of three and I was able to hold it wide open and get a good run down in there.

"And then once I got to his quarter panel, that was kind of the nail in the coffin, but it’s still a drag race back and I was trying not to get too far ahead of him to where he could come back and side draft me back. It was close, it was good racing and just glad we were able to come out on top.”

The victory was the second win for Moffitt at Michigan International Speedway. In 2016, Moffitt went three wide into Turn 1 on the last lap in order to capture the top spot and his first ever win in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. He used a similar move today to return to Gatorade Victory Lane.

0.025 seconds.

That is all that separated @Brett_Moffitt and @JohnnySauter after 200 miles at Michigan. pic.twitter.com/JzSmiWw8AD

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) August 11, 2018

Source

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#NASCAR Camping World Series Playoffs in Sight

Who Will Secure Their Spot?

After the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series’ one-week break; they head to Michigan International Speedway for the Corrigan Oil 200 on Saturday, August 11 for the second-to-last regular season race before the Playoffs begin.

At this juncture, the #NCWTS Playoffs would include:

1. Johnny Sauter
2. Brett Moffitt
3. Noah Gragson
4. Ben Rhodes
5. Justin Haley
6. Grant Enfinger
7. Stewart Friesen
8. Matt Crafton

A 2018 won secured a Playoff Berth for Sauter, Moffitt, Gragson, Rhodes and Haley. While Enfinger, Friesen and Crafton have put themselves in Playoff-contending position with their point total.

If the season were end right now, there wouldn’t be a Sunoco Rookie in the Playoffs. Myatt Snider is right under the cut line in ninth and Dalton Sargeant is in eleventh. Dalton Sargeant finished with a career-best third place at Pocono Raceway.

With just two regular season races remaining – the pressure is on!

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Crafton, Moffitt, and Nemechek Explain Their #NCWTS Dirt Track Approach

In advance of the iconic NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Eldora Speedway, three drivers discussed their strategy for competing on the half-mile dirt track.

Matt Crafton, driver of the No. 88 Menards Ideal Door Ford for ThorSport Racing

Question: What's your strategy to come out going into this year's race?

MATT: I just stay out of trouble. I mean, just staying out of trouble and having something to work with at the end of the race. Last year we really got the first stage, got off a little bit on the adjustment on the second stage, and the last stage just put it all together and had something to race with at the end.

One year after breaking through on the dirt @EldoraSpeedway, @Matt_Crafton is back to try for a repeat with @ThorSportRacing --> https://t.co/FZir8a7aGB

📷: @chrisseelman pic.twitter.com/5jz8xemGn5

— SPEED SPORT (@SPEEDSPORT) July 17, 2018

Brett Moffitt, driver of the No. 16 iRacing Toyota for Hattori Racing Enterprises

Question: What's going through your mind as you get ready to take on the dirt track at Eldora in pursuit of your fourth win this season?

BRETT: First of all, this is going to be a very new experience for me racing a truck at Eldora, and obviously I'm really excited about it. We had a new partner in iRacing come on board to sponsor the truck, and I've actually been using their cars as a way to get ready. I've raced a little bit of dirt in my past, but that was in a dirt modified, and I think racing a truck there is going to be completely different and a new learning experience. Always enjoyed watching the race. I'm going to go out and try to compete and hopefully take it to Victory Lane again.

Want to sling dirt with @Brett_Moffitt?

He’s hosting @EldoraSpeedway truck sessions on @iRacing; sign up & let ‘er rip! pic.twitter.com/Ucq7WGhCgB

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) July 16, 2018

John Hunter Nemechek, driver of the No. 8 Chevrolet for NEMCO Motorsports

Question: How is the strategy different going into a dirt track race, and what's it going to take to win at Eldora?

JOHN HUNTER: A lot of drive off the corner. That place is slick. Hopefully the bottom and the top will slick off and the top will still have a cushion like it was last year. Had a lot of fun at Eldora last year. We ran top 3 most of the race, but it's one of those races that you kind of look forward to going to all year long. It's different in the sense of like a road course race, the Truck Series only has one road course and one dirt track compared to all oval stuff. It's a lot of fun, it's a little bit different, and takes you back to when you were running go-karts and mini-sprints back when we were younger.

Going to be a fun week! @EldoraSpeedway Wednesday night in the @NASCAR_Trucks ! @NHMS Saturday with @NASCAR_Xfinity! #nemechek42 @TeamChevy

— John Hunter Nemechek (@JHNemechek) July 16, 2018

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Todd Gilliland - Driver to Watch / #NASCAR Trucks on Track Tonight at Chicagoland Speedway

First Timers at Chicagoland Speedway / Gilliland Strong Contender

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series

• Next Race: Overton’s 225
• The Place: Chicagoland Speedway
• The Date: Friday, June 29
• The Time: 9:00 p.m. ET
• TV: FS1, 8:30 p.m. ET
• Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
• Distance: 225 miles (150 laps)
• Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 35)
• Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 70)
• Final Stage (Ends on Lap 150)

Of the thirty-three (33) drivers entered in the Overton’s 225 at Chicagoland Speedway this weekend so far, eight of them are making their track debut. They are:

1. Austin Hill
2. Todd Gilliland
3. Robby Lyons
4. Brett Moffitt
5. Dalton Sargeant
6. Stewart Friesen
7. Bo LeMastus
8. Bayley Currey

Todd Gilliland proves to be a strong contender each week in his young NASCAR Camping World Truck Series career. He has started in twelve (12) career races and has posted three top-fives and seven top-tens.

Gilliland finished in second place behind Justin Haley at Gateway Motorsports Park posting his career-best finish. This was a great comeback for him as he crashed the weekend before at Iowa Speedway and was unable to finish the race.

Tonight, on his first visit to Chicagoland; will he be able to join John Hunter Nemechek and Kyle Busch on the list of those who grabbed a win at his track debut? (Nemechek in 2015 and Busch in 2009) 

Todd Gilliland, along with Johnny Sauter, led Thursday’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series practices at Chicagoland Speedway, preparing for Friday night’s Overton’s 225.

Further, Gilliland appeared headed for victory Thursday night having built up a huge lead but a caution was displayed with five laps remaining after a spin by Leilani Munter. Michael Self went from third to first on a restart with two of 100 laps remaining for the win; Todd had to settle for third.

Driver Q&A: Todd Gilliland

You earned your best career Truck Series finish at Gateway last weekend. Do you feel like your first win is getting closer?

"Yeah, I think anytime that you can run upfront and be in the top three all night that builds confidence in me and the team, so that's what it's about. Just being consistent and getting better every week, and I think we are definitely getting closer."

How will running the ARCA race Thursday help you prepare for Friday's NCWTS race?

"I think at this point it's all about getting mile-and-half experience. It's been a really great stretch here in the summer months to just race every weekend, so we're keeping that up this weekend racing twice and hopefully we can just learn a little something new in the ARCA race that helps me in the truck race."

Since you have never raced at Chicago, what have you been told about what to expect?

"I've heard some things that a lot of mile-and-half tracks aren't real racy and you get kind of stuck behind people. I've heard Chicago is a really racy race track, so I think you will see a lot of grooves moving around. I guess we'll see when we get there."

Gilliland has proven that he will be a driver to watch!

 

 

Solid again! @Brett_Moffitt was 5th on the speed chart in final @NASCAR_Trucks practice at @ChicagolndSpdwy. (31.138 seconds, 173.422 mph). #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/9athaQnloc

— Hattori Racing (@Hattori_Racing) June 29, 2018

Take a ride with the @GMSRacingLLC crew as they dial in Dalton Sargeant and the @PerformancePOil Silverado during final @NASCAR_Trucks practice from @ChicagolndSpdwy. pic.twitter.com/DSahoGoWbA

— Dalton Sargeant (@DaltonSargeant) June 29, 2018

Really cool deal to go along with the #NASCARSalutes program. Every driver will sign and gift the gloves to a family that is being hosted at the track this weekend after the race. I am very grateful to be a part of a sport that shows so much support for our military. #nascar pic.twitter.com/pNjWwce7H1

— Bayley Currey (@BayleyCurrey) June 28, 2018

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Atlanta Motor Speedway - Saturday Doubleheader Recap!

Kevin Harvick Wins Rinnai 250

Kevin Harvick surged to the front on a one-lap shootout to end Stage 1 and rolled to a dominating win in Saturday's Rinnai 250 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Harvick has won the Xfinity Series race at AMS four of the last six years and five times overall.

Only seven cars finished on the lead lap as Harvick set a strong pace after starting fifth. The No. 98 car led 137 of 163 laps. 

"It's just been a really good place for me," said Harvick, whose first ever Cup Series win came at Atlanta in 2001. "The race track has stayed very similar to what it's been for a number of years. It's been a great race track for us. I was frustrated last year when we didn't leave here with a trophy on either day and that's always our goal."

Joey Logano was second, but never serious challenged Harvick and finished 4.183 seconds back.

"I don't think we were even close," Logano said with a head shake. "Kevin played with us all day long. He ran a few hard laps when he needed to. It doesn't matter what car he's driving, Kevin's just really good at Atlanta.

"Second always stings a little bit."

Pole-sitter Christopher Bell, a rookie in Xfinity after winning last year's Camping World Truck Series championship, led 11 laps and ended up third. His rear tire tagged the wall with five laps to go and the No. 20 car lost a spot to Logano.

"I just got really loose there the last run," Bell said. "I don't know. I wish I would have been able to hold off a little longer and been second instead of third, but overall a really good points day for us to start out the 2018 season. This place is a ton of fun."

Chevy drivers occupied the next three spots. John Hunter Nemechek was fourth in his series debut, followed by Elliott Sadler and Justin Allgaier. Austin Cindric was seventh and the rest of the field finished a lap, or more, off the lead.

Brett Moffitt Wins Active Pest Control 200 Benefiting Children's Healthcare Of Atlanta

Brett Moffitt slid down to the bottom edge, surged to the lead in overtime and won the Active Pest Control 200 benefiting Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Saturday night at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Moffitt got a chance to claim just his second Camping World Truck Series win after pole-sitter Kyle Busch had a pit miscommunication under caution.

The field pitted with six laps to go and Busch, who led 67 laps, left his pit box before the lugs on his left rear tire were secure. Busch made it off pit road and the tire fell off. He reverse to get it fixed, but a win was no longer in the cards.

Moffitt powered away from defending series champion Johnny Sauter and Noah Gragson to win in the two-lap overtime finish.

"I knew I needed to get a good jump and get to the inside," Moffitt said. "Then I was just watching my mirror, holding it wide open for two laps straight there. Luckily they were getting smaller in the mirror.

"It's unreal to be in Victory Lane this early with such a new group. I love this place — and I love it even more now."

Gragson, who won Stage 1, finished second. Sauter jumped to the lead after a shuffle at the top to start Stage 2 and led 12 laps before Busch took control in the final stage. Only Sauter was in striking distance of Busch when Josh Reaume wrecked with six laps to go.

Under caution, teams were able to pit and that's when the door opened for Moffitt.

"I had a good launch," Sauter said. "I felt like I did it right grabbing gears. I'd love to be able to tell you I could do something different, I just don't think I could have. Wide open is wide open.

"All in a all, a decent night for our Allegiant Sunseeker Chevy. I'm proud of the guys. It's far and away the best run I've ever had here. I felt like we were in the right position and it just didn't work out. That's racing. But my pit crew was phenomenal."

Ben Rhodes struggled with his engine all night, but slogged through the difficulties to finish fourth.

"There were times during the race where I would go a second and a half without power in the corner," Rhodes said. "I mean, the motor was just completely out. I would go down to 5,000 rpm, which is absurd. Then going down the straightaways, I felt like I was on six or seven cylinders at times. For the whole race it plagued us and we could never figure out what it was. I'm really disappointed. We have a championship team and we're making championship runs."

Two-time truck champion Matt Crafton was fifth. Stewart Friesen, rookie Myatt Snider, Jesse Little, Grant Enfinger and Austin Dillon rounded out the top 10.

Snider was up front at the restart, but only got there by opting to get two tires instead of four.

"This is unbelievable to even be in a race car, much less in victory lane," Moffitt said. "We had a really good truck all night and right here I knew (Snider) was a sitting duck. I just wanted to get a good restart and hopefully they got into a battle behind me, which they did. It's pretty surreal."

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Source

And The #nascar Award Goes to:

Since the days of racing on the beach in Daytona to present day NASCAR sanctioned races, Contingency sponsors have turned lap after lap and visited Victory Lane every weekend alongside the best teams in NASCAR.

Each year, NASCAR Contingency sponsors contribute millions in prize money to NASCAR teams. In turn, many Contingency sponsors develop working relationships with teams and reap benefits of extensive exposure from fans at the track, in the garage and a captivated television audience. NASCAR Contingency sponsors get direct access to teams, connection with a loyal, passionate fan base and prominent visibility in our sport.

The NASCAR Contingency Program strives to maintain strong relationships with high-quality, performance-driven brands that are leaders in their respective categories and drive money to all NASCAR teams via per-race and year-end postings. NASCAR handles all at-track administration of the Contingency Program and also processes all competitor payouts for each event.

Entry blanks for all points-based events list Contingency sponsors and describe each award in detail, breaking down the distribution of posted Contingency money available to NASCAR teams.

Competitors become eligible for awards money by displaying program decals on the front fenders of their race cars and race trucks and in some instances, use of a sponsor product is also an eligibility requirement. If a competitor does not run a specific decal, the prize money “rolls down” to the next eligible competitor, guaranteeing 100% payout for all posted prize money.

Rain puts a damper on K&N Pro Series East Inaugural

Rain cancelled all on-track activity at Road Atlanta in Braselton, Ga.

Persistent rain showers forced cancellation of all on-track activity for the inaugural NASCAR K&N Pro Series East event at Road Atlanta today.

NASCAR is working with IMSA and track officials to determine time windows for practice and qualifying sessions on Friday. The race is still scheduled for a 12:30 p.m. pacific time start.

Points leader Dylan Kwasniewski.
(Getty Images for NASCAR)

Dylan Kwasniewski, 18, carries a five-point advantage over Brett Moffitt, 21, into the 2013 season finale as the two NASCAR Next* drivers battle for the season crown. NASCAR Next is an industry initiative that spotlights young, talented drivers in NASCAR.

Road Atlanta Race Setup

Kwasniewski – the 2012 NASCAR K&N Pro Series West champion – will attempt to become the first driver to win titles in both the East and West while Moffitt is looking to capture his first title after four years of finishes on the championship podium.

In addition to the overall championship, the Sunoco Rookie of the Year title is also up for grabs at Road Atlanta. Jesse Little has a six-point lead on Gray Gaulding and Kenzie Ruston entering the event.

The 13 previous races this year have produced seven different first-time race winners, the most since 1994 when there were eight first-time victors.

Click here for the Entry List

* NASCAR Next is an industry initiative that spotlights young, talented drivers in NASCAR.