NASCAR / ARCA Race Weekend Recap (Watkins Glen)

Winners: Chris Buescher (Cup); Connor Zilisch (Xfinity); Connor Zilisch (ARCA)

NASCAR Cup

Chris Buescher Moves Shane van Gisbergen on Final Lap, Wins in OT at Watkins Glen

 

A Round of 16 date at Watkins Glen International didn’t disappoint for non-playoff Chris Buescher, who bumped past Shane van Gisbergen in NASCAR Overtime to tally his first road-course victory in the Cup Series and, additionally, find Victory Lane for the first time in 2024.

 

Van Gisbergen, Carson Hocevar, Ross Chastain and Zane Smith rounded out the top five.

 

"We came here to be spoiler. We’re going to do that," said Buescher, a native of Prosper, Texas. "We would have liked to have won a couple of weeks ago (to make the playoffs), but this is huge. Such a big win for us. Everybody at RFK has worked so hard. To finally get a road-course win ‒ we’ve been so close so many times ‒ to finally pull that off is fantastic."

 

We've heard the town of Prosper, Texas is still celebrating. 😉@Chris_Buescher | @RFKracing pic.twitter.com/SG902yUQZr

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) September 16, 2024

Pole: Ross Chastain

Click Here for Race Results

Next Race: The Cup Series will return on Saturday September 21, 2024 at 7:30 pm ET for the Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway.

NASCAR Xfinity

Connor Zilisch Dazzles in Xfinity Series Debut, Wins at Watkins Glen

 

In his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut, Connor Zilisch survived two wild restarts in overtime to win the Mission 200 at The Glen at Watkins Glen International. The No. 88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet pilot led 45 of 90 laps, holding off runner-up finisher Sheldon Creed.

 

AJ Allmendinger, Parker Kligerman and Chandler Smith rounded out the top five.

 

“I worked so hard for this one,” a smiling Zilisch said, his voice cracking with emotion. “I’ve been working for this one for months and it’s so special to me, man. I don’t even have words.

 

“I don’t know how I saved enough, I sputtered up the hill,” he said of having to save fuel in the closing laps which included a restart with two laps remaining and then two more in overtime.

 

“With two to go, I didn’t think I was going to make it back to the line even. I’m going to enjoy this one for a while. I can’t say enough about JR Motorsports and everyone who supports me.”

 

NEWS: Post-race inspection is complete at @WGI with no issues.@ConnorZilisch's first #XfinitySeries win is official! 🏁 pic.twitter.com/Il2kvUXfFf

— NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) September 14, 2024

Pole: Connor Zilisch

Click Here for Race Results

Next Race: The Xfinity Series will return on Friday, September 20, 2024 at 7:30 pm ET for the Food City 300 at Bristol Motor Speedway.

NASCAR Trucks

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series – Off Week

 

The NASCAR Truck Series takes to the track Thursday for the second race in the Playoff Round of Ten. Last race, Layne Riggs, a non-playoff driver played the role of spoiler with a win at the Milwaukee Mile.

 

The Regular Season Champions are back to work today. 😏 pic.twitter.com/ALV5DH2cCZ

— NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Trucks (@NASCAR_Trucks) August 25, 2024

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

ARCA

Connor Zilisch Dominates Field at Watkins Glen for Fifth National Win of 2024

 

A big weekend for Connor Zilisch at Watkins Glen International got off to a perfect start in Friday’s ARCA Series General Tire 100 at the Glen.

 

Setting a commanding tone in qualifying with a General Tire Pole run nearly one second faster than second-place William Sawalich, Zilisch faced no resistance as he pulled away for one of the most dominant victories of his young career by an 11-second margin. The perfect outing at Watkins Glen was Zilisch’s fifth ARCA Menards Series national triumph in six appearances.

 

“This Pinnacle Racing Group team worked hard, but this was one we wanted this year,” Zilisch said. “We worked really hard to bring a fast car to these road courses, and it means a lot to get redemption on our second-place finish from last year.”

 

With so much developing in Zilisch’s career, he considers himself fortunate to be in an environment where he can simultaneously learn and thrive. Only a handful of ARCA Menards Series starts remains before Zilisch departs PRG for a full year in the Xfinity Series, but he intends to excel at every opportunity with the program.

 

“It makes my job easier,” Zilisch said. “Every time I show up to the track, these guys bring me a fast car, and I can count on them. It’s been a lot of fun this year, and I’m super proud of everyone that is a part of this team. It’s truly a blessing to be here, and I’m looking forward to the future.”

 

There's domination, and then there's what @ConnorZilisch did at @WGI on Friday 🏁

What. A. Run. pic.twitter.com/cjtAUMeK2J

— ARCA Menards Series (@ARCA_Racing) September 13, 2024

Pole: Connor Zilisch

Click Here for Race Results

Next Race: The ARCA Series will return on Thursday, September 19, 2024 at 5:00 p.m. ET for the Bush’s Beans 200 at Bristol Motor Speedway.

 

source: NASCAR  / ARCA Media

NASCAR / ARCA / SRX Race Weekend Recap (Michigan International Speedway; Berlin Raceway)

Winners: Chris Buescher (Cup); John Hunter Nemechek (Xfinity); Jesse Love (ARCA) plus Kyle Busch (SRX)

NASCAR Cup

Chris Buescher wards off Truex, goes back-to-back with victory at Michigan

 

After rain forced this Monday race; in an extended, dramatic, nail-biting green-flag run to the finish, Chris Buescher held off hard-charging Martin Truex Jr. to win his second straight Cup Series race. With team co-owner Brad Keselowski finishing fourth and Buescher winning – the ninth straight victory for Ford drivers at the 2-mile speedway – RFK can claim bragging rights as the top Ford team in the Cup garage, at least for now.

 

“This Castrol Mustang was so good in practice, qualifying,” said Buescher, who picked up his fourth career victory. “Gave me a great car again. Had to work for that one, too, hard racing at the end.

 

“Martin was very clean with me. I appreciate that. Get to go to Victory Lane two weeks in a row. That’s pretty awesome.”

 

Déjà vu!!! pic.twitter.com/ycwpL7px1W

— Chris Buescher (@Chris_Buescher) August 7, 2023

Pole: Christopher Bell

Click Here for Unofficial Race Results

 

Next Race: The Cup Series will return on 08/13/2023 for the The Verizon 200 at the Brickyard at Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course. 

 

 

NASCAR Xfinity

John Hunter Nemechek prevails at Michigan, lands JGR’s 200th Xfinity win

 

Overcoming an early wreck, a late caution and an angry teammate (Ty Gibbs), John Hunter Nemechek claimed a milestone victory in Saturday’s Cabo Wabo 250 at Michigan International Speedway.

 

The NASCAR Xfinity win was the 200th in the series for Joe Gibbs Racing. For Nemechek, it was the fifth victory of the season and the seventh of his career – all at different tracks.

 

With all the success Nemechek has had this year and with seven career wins in the Xfinity Series, there is growing interest in what his plans are next year perhaps as a Cup driver.

 

“I'm 100% focused on this year and trying to win the Xfinity championship,” he said. “I don’t know what my plans are for ’24. I have no clue.”

 

With the victory, Nemechek gained a tie with Austin Hill for the series points lead. Nemechek owns the potential tiebreaker with five victories to Hill’s four.

 

NEWS: No issues in post-race inspection for the No. 20 car!@JHNemechek's fifth win of 2023 is official! 🏁 pic.twitter.com/hU7rVIIh8o

— NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) August 5, 2023

Pole: Josh Berry

Click Here for Race Results

 

Next Race: The Xfinity Series will return on 08/12/2013 for the Pennzoil 150 presented by Advance Auto Parts at Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course. 

 

 

NASCAR Trucks

Off Week for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series

 

With the 2023 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Playoff field set, the series took a week off from competition.

 

The playoffs will consist of three rounds, starting with the Round of 10 before continuing with the Round of 8 and concluding with the Championship 4. The Round of 10 consists of races at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, the Milwaukee Mile and Kansas Speedway, while the Round of 8 will occur at Bristol Motor Speedway, Talladega Superspeedway and Homestead-Miami Speedway. The Championship 4 race will be held at Phoenix Raceway.

 

Coming soon. #NASCARPlayoffs

FRIDAY | 9 PM ET | FS1 pic.twitter.com/ODuBqpi5D3

— NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Trucks (@NASCAR_Trucks) August 5, 2023

Pole: N/A

Click Here for Race Results N/A

 

Next Race: The Truck Series will return on 08/11/2023 for the TSport 200 at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park. 

 

 

ARCA

Jesse Love battles exhaustion, rivals to claim an impressive win

 

Jesse Love entered Friday’s ‘Henry Ford Health 200’ having won five races in 2023, easily the most in the ARCA Menards Series this year.

 

The ARCA championship points leader’s sixth victory came in arguably the most chaotic — and, in his case, exhausting — event of the season.

 

“Just a lot of good guys around us,” a spent Love said, referring to his Venturini team. “Lost our cool suit, lost the helmet blower, feet blower went out from the heat you get. Just everything.

 

“I feel like I’m in pretty good shape. I go on runs with my dog Buck every day. … But I’m definitely worn out.”

 

UNDENIABLE!@jesselovejr1 wins the Henry Ford Health 200 at @MISpeedway!@FS1 | @FloRacing pic.twitter.com/uk0l0EcWIy

— ARCA Menards Series (@ARCA_Racing) August 4, 2023

Pole: Andres Perez de Lara

Click Here for Race Results

 

Next Race: The ARCA East Series will return on 08/11/2023 for the Reese’s 200 at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park. 

 

 

Superstar Racing Experience

Kyle Busch Makes It an SRX Two-for-Two

 

#NASCAR Star, KyleBusch dominated again for the second consecutive SRX race in as many starts on Thursday night at Berlin Raceway, just outside Grand Rapids, Michigan, adding to his triumph last week at Motor Mile Speedway in Virginia.

 

“Just being here before, knowing what to expect, all that sort of stuff,” Busch said after taking the checkered flag at a track he’s appeared several times in other events, including prior Late Model races.

 

“I thought about restarting in fourth (in the final restart of the race, late in the event) and I thought, ‘Don’t just change it up now, just stick with what I was doing.’”

 

“Yeah, this is my two-for-two,” said Busch added, whose car was sponsored in both races by the NHL’s Florida Panthers. “I’d love to come back. I’m out for the year, but the rest of these guys can put on a show for you.”

 

ROWDY STAYS UNDEFEATED!

Hear from Race 4 winner, @KyleBusch , following an impressive victory at Berlin Raceway in this week’s edition of Thursday Night Thunder.#CampingWorldSRX | @FlaPanthers pic.twitter.com/N6LolpCRT4

— Superstar Racing Experience (@SRXracing) August 4, 2023

Pole:Kyle Busch (by draw)

Click Here for Race Results

 

Next Race: The Superstar Racing Experience will return on 08/10/2023 for race five of six in the series at Eldora Speedway

 

source: NASCAR / ARCA / SRX Media

Stocks For Tots

Stocks For Tots was created as a way to bring together stock car racing and its fans, while raising awareness of the child abuse problem in North Carolina. The idea was to collect toys and raise money during a festive, family-oriented holiday event.

The first fundraiser was held at the Mooresville Armory in December 1989. Since then, the annual event has raised over $850,000 and distributed nearly 50,000 Christmas toys to children in North Carolina area. Each year thousands of people visit Mooresville for the annual event, where they get to see many of their favorite NASCAR  and NHRA drivers / celebrities, as well as their show cars on display and even a visit from Santa himself.

.@JEarnhardt1 joins several drivers @NASCARTechUTI for the 50th Annual #StocksForTots event! Thanks to all the awesome @nascar fans who came out to support a great cause! pic.twitter.com/MYev1xI3TW

— Circle Sport w/ TMG (@CSTMG3330) December 6, 2017

Had a great time at the #stocksfortots event @NASCARTechUTI in Mooresville! #nascar #autographs #gruntstyle pic.twitter.com/tsYGcXyWKf

— Spencer Boyd (@SpencerBoyd) December 6, 2017

Had an awesome time at #stocksfortots tonight with everyone, including my teammate @AustinWSelf.

Thank you to @NASCARTechUTI for hosting this great event!

Looking forward to doing it again next December! #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/ycVlyvSY9T

— Justin Fontaine (@driverfontaine) December 6, 2017

2 racing legends last night at the #StocksForTots event.

Rex White and @TigerTomPistone.

Oh yea @Chris_Buescher too. pic.twitter.com/fxVkVpqy4u

— David Ragan (@DavidRagan) December 14, 2016

@PPistone ole tiger Tom showing his support for #StocksForTots last night! Even baggie was there! No pistol though ? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/Gftg9Xd5OQ

— guard88fan (@ChrisWWhaley) December 14, 2016

Group photo at the @NASCARTechUTI for #StocksForTots. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/oDsLGBIjcP

— Joe Nemechek (@FrontRowJoe87) December 14, 2016

Big crowd on hand tonight #StocksForTots @NASCARTechUTI . Come join us! @SpeedwayReport pic.twitter.com/icL9QXbyrT

— Patrick Reynolds (@SpeedwayPat) December 13, 2016

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Advance Auto Parts Clash Fun / Interesting Factoids

Courtney Force To Drive The Pace Car #AAPClash

The Advance Auto Parts Clash will open the 2017 NASCAR season on the evening of February 18th. A total of twenty drivers are eligible to participate in the annual preseason, seventy-five lap, two segments, non-points race at the iconic Daytona International Speedway. The event will be broadcast live on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

The annual all-star event was first held in 1979, and originally known as the Busch Clash. A number of name changes ensued over the years, but now the once-iconic label is back.

"The Clash was a classic race name, one that truly resonated with our fans," said Daytona International Speedway President Chip Wile. "It evokes the rich history of both NASCAR and our facility. We are honored to have Advance Auto Parts -- a company that resonates with our current fans -- join us as we bring the name back to our Speedweeks schedule. We're coming full-circle for this event, honoring our past while also looking to the future."

The number of Clash participants has ranged from a low of seven in 1981 to a high of 28 in 2009. Unlike previous years, the starting field for the 2017 Advanced Auto Parts Clash at Daytona will not be a predetermined number of cars; rather, the field is limited to drivers who meet more exclusive criteria. (20 drivers are eligible for this year’s event).

Interesting fact: Buddy Baker (1979), Dale Earnhardt (1980), Jeff Gordon (1994), Dale Jarrett (1996) and Denny Hamlin (2006) all won the first Clash at Daytona in which they competed. This year, Alex Bowman, Chris Buescher, Chase Elliott and Daniel Suárez will be making their debut in the Advance Auto Parts Clash at Daytona.

Head Scratcher:  Not quite sure why, but NASCAR has confirmed that Daniel Suárez will be allowed to compete in the Advance Auto Parts Clash as a replacement for the retired Carl Edwards. However, Clint Bowyer, who is taking over Tony Stewart’s No. 14 Ford Fusion, is still ineligible for the event.

I'm looking forward to it. You think @AllWaltrip will let me and @JeffGordonWeb get a few words in? https://t.co/VTkSIl5Nkn

— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) February 10, 2017

Although Dale Earnhardt Jr. is actually one of the twenty drivers to qualify for the 2017 Clash, he will skip the race to join Fox’s usual broadcast team of Mike Joy, Darrell Waltrip and Jeff Gordon. It will be Jr.’s first time calling Cup Series action. He assisted with a XFINITY Series race broadcast last summer. 

So this is happening! I get to drive the pace car for the advanceautoparts Clash at @disupdates!… https://t.co/bFsGIzo6BL

— Courtney Force (@courtneyforce) February 14, 2017

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Three Ford Drivers In The #NASCAR Chase

THE CHASE IS ON! The field of 58 NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers has been narrowed to 16. Introducing the Class of 2016 Chase competitors.

Roush Yates Engines is proud to be the exclusive NASCAR engine builder of the Ford FR9 V8 race engines that will provide the power under the hood for three of this year’s drivers in the 2016 Chase.

Brad Keselowski, driver No. 2 for Team Penske was the first Ford Performance driver to claim his spot in the Chase grid after accumulating a season high of 4 wins. Keselowski secured the first win for Team Penske in the desert at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and then followed it up with wins in Talladega, Daytona 400 and Kentucky.

Joey Logano, driver of Team Penske’s No. 22 car punched his ticket to The Chase by winning in team owner Roger Penske and Ford Performance’s backyard at the Michigan 400.

The Michigan 400 win also marked a milestone for Roush Yates Engines, achieving the 100th NASCAR Cup Series points win with Ford Performance.

Sprint Cup Rookie driver No. 34, Chris Buescher won his first Sprint Cup race at Pocono Raceway for Front Row MotorSports and secured his spot in the Chase at Richmond this past weekend.

“As the NASCAR season heats up for The Chase the Roush Yates Engines’ team is focused and prepared to provide world class race winning engines to all the Ford Performance teams,” said Doug Yates, President and CEO of Roush Yates Engines. “We have some great momentum going into the Chase and honored to be Ford Performance's chosen partner for NASCAR.”   🏁 3 FORD DRIVERS – 10 RACES – 4 ROUNDS 🏁 1 CHAMPION! To get everyone prepared, there will be 16 drivers competing in four Chase rounds, over the next 10 weeks for the ultimate NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship. A win by a championship-eligible driver in any Chase race automatically clinches the winning driver a spot in the next round. The final four drivers will enter the Championship Round, with the highest finisher among them capturing the prestigious NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship. The championship will be determined on November 20th, in The Ford EcoBoost 400 at the Homestead-Miami Speedway. Please see the Chase Grid below for the official line up.

2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Chase Schedule: September 18: Chicagoland September 25: Loudon October 2: Dover October 8: Charlotte October 16 Kansas

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What You Need to Know about the #NASCAR Sprint Cup Chase

Richmond International Raceway

Clinching for Next Race (sorted by Wins, then Points) at Richmond:

 

Possible to Clinch:

Chris Buescher (1 Win, 358 Points, +11 Points Ahead of 31st) - Would Clinch a Top 30 spot on his own with 34 Points (7th and no laps led, 8th and led at least one lap, 9th and led most laps), which would clinch him a spot in the Chase.

Chase Elliott (0 Wins, 659 Points, +312 Points Ahead of 31st) - Would clinch on points with 24 Points (17th and no laps led, 18th and led at least one lap, 19th and led most laps), if there is a new winner. If there is a repeat winner (or a new winner and Chris Buescher falls out of the Top 30) and 2 Points (39th and no laps led, 40th and led at least one lap). If there is a repeat winner and Chris Buescher falls out of the Top 30, he clinches on points, regardless of finish. With a win, he would clinch a Chase spot on wins.

Austin Dillon (0 Wins, 651 Points, +304 Points Ahead of 31st) - Would clinch on Points with 33 Points (8th and no laps led, 9th and led at least one lap, 10th and led most laps) and a new winner. If there is a repeat winner (or win by Chase Elliott or a new winner and Chris Buescher falls out of the Top 30) and Dillon would clinch with 11 Points (30th and no laps led, 31st and led at least one lap, 32nd and led most laps). If there is a repeat winner and Chris Buescher falls out of the Top 30, he would clinch on points regardless of finish. With a win, they would clinch a Chase spot on wins.

Jamie McMurray (0 Wins, 642 Points, +295 Points Ahead of 31st) - Would clinch on points with a repeat winner (or win by Chase Elliott or Austin Dillon or a new winner and Chris Buescher falls out of the Top 30) and 20 points (21st and no laps led, 22nd and led at least one lap, 23rd and led most laps). If there is a repeat winner and Chris Buescher falls out of the Top 30, McMurray would clinch on points, regardless of finish. With a win, he would clinch a Chase spot on wins. Could clinch on points with a new winner and help (cannot lose more than 21 points to Newman as Newman would hold the tie-breaker).

Ryan Newman (0 Wins, 620 Points, +273 Points Ahead of 31st) - With a win, he would clinch a Chase spot on wins. Could clinch on Points with help (would need to outpoint two of the following if there is a new winner, or one of the following if there is a repeat winner (or win by one of these drivers), McMurray by 22 or more points, Dillon by 32 or more points, Elliott by 40 or more points). If there is a repeat winner (or win by Elliott, Dillon, McMurray) and Chris Buescher falls out of the Top 30, he would need 20 points (21st and no laps led, 22nd and led at least one lap, 23rd and led most laps) to clinch on points.

Kasey Kahne (0 Wins, 598 Points, +251 Points Ahead of 31st) - With a win, Kahne would clinch a Chase spot on wins. Could clinch on points with a repeat winner (or win by Elliott, Dillon or McMurray) and Chris Buescher falling outside of the Top 30 and help (would need to outpoint Newman by 22 or 23 points, depending on tie-breaker).

The following need a win to clinch a Chase spot on wins:

1. Ryan Blaney (0 Wins, 573 Points, +226 Points Ahead of 31st)
2. AJ Allmendinger (0 Wins, 562 Points, +215 Points Ahead of 31st)
3. Trevor Bayne (0 Wins, 559 Points, +212 Points Ahead of 31st)
4. Ricky Stenhouse Jr (0 Wins, 551 Points, +204 Points Ahead of 31st)
5. Paul Menard (0 Wins, 479 Points, +132 Points Ahead of 31st)
6. Greg Biffle (0 Wins, 477 Points, +130 Points Ahead of 31st)
7. Danica Patrick (0 Wins, 467 Points, +120 Points Ahead of 31st)
8. Aric Almirola (0 Wins, 431 Points, +84 Points Ahead of 31st)
9. Clint Bowyer (0 Wins, 427 Points, +80 Points Ahead of 31st)
10. Casey Mears (0 Wins, 410 Points, +63 Points Ahead of 31st)
11. Landon Cassill (0 Wins, 368 Points, +21 Points Ahead of 31st)

The following need a win and help (to get inside the Top 30) in order to make the Chase:

• David Ragan (0 Wins, 347 Points, 11 Points Behind of 30th)
• Regan Smith (0 Wins, 330 Points, 28 Points Behind of 30th) 

Rain Appears to be Buescher’s Good Luck Charm

Rain Appears to be Buescher’s Good Luck Charm

 

The 2015 NASCAR Xfinity Champion Chris Buescher took a big risk, by leaving the Roush Fenway Racing organization for a shot at the ‘big show’ with a less funded team. However, this young wheelman has made the most of the opportunity and moved his #34 Loves Travel Stops Ford Fusion for Front Row Motorsports into the top-thirty of the point stands in a rain delayed ‘Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race.’ Coupled with his win earlier this month at Pocono, Chris and the team sit twelfth on the Chase Grid.

Buescher, who finished fifth yesterday at Bristol Motor Speedway, is now thirteen points ahead of thirty-first-ranked David Ragan. His teammate Landon Cassill sits twenty-ninth, just twenty-seven points ahead.

“That’s Chase eligibility in one race out of the four we had to do it,” Buescher said. “Now we have to hold onto it. I’m really proud of this team. Our Love’s Ford Fusion had great speed this weekend. We’re looking forward to the next handful of races. We’ve got some really good tracks for us coming up. We knew Bristol would be a good one for us. It took us a day later to do it, but we got ourselves a top five and had a blast out here. That was an awesome run.”

 

DID YOU KNOW?

Chris Buescher joined his cousin, James, as a NASCAR champion in 2015. James Buescher won the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series championship in 2013 while Chris countered with the NXS title last year.

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#NASCAR Rookies Rule

First Time In NASCAR History Three Rookies Took All Three National Division Events On The Same Weekend.

The race week of July 27 - August 1 was one for the ages. On the same weekend two weeks ago, twenty-three-year-old Chris Buescher and eighteen-year-old William Byron won the Sprint Cup and Truck Series races at Pocono Raceway, respectively.

Additionally, twenty-year-old Erik Jones captured the Xfinity Series race at Iowa Speedway.

Further, ‘Rookie of the Year’ contenders swept all five national and touring NASCAR Races run at three different tracks over the six days!

Wow, the average age of these winning NASCAR Drivers is eighteen point six (18.6). Chris Buescher is the elder at twenty-three.

Todd Gilliland is the K&N Pro Series Point Leader and won his race from pole last night. 

Cayden Lapcevich, a third-generation racing driver from Grimsby, won the NASCAR Pinty’s Series race in Saskatoon. In so doing, he became - at 16 years of age - the youngest racer to score a win in Canada’s only national racing series.

#NASCAR Sprint Cup Rookie Chris Buescher's #Win by the Numbers

By now, most every NASCAR Fan is aware of Sprint Cup Rookie Chris Buescher’s,  driver of the No. 34 Dockside Logistics Ford for Front Row Motorsports, unpredictable win last Monday. Chris became the first Sunoco Rookie contender since Joey Logano (in 2009) to win a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. 

However, Buescher is not new to the winner’s circle; he is the reigning NASCAR Xfinity Series Champion. Here are the numbers:

By The Numbers

• 1 - Chris Buescher's first full-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season - 2016
• 2 - Number of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series wins for Front Row Motorsports (David Ragan, Talladega, 2013) 
• 4 - Drivers who have won in the No. 34 (Chris Buescher, David Ragan, Jim Roper, Wendell Scott) 
• 6 - Buescher is six points out of the top 30 in points to solidify a berth in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup
• 13 - Number of former NASCAR XFINITY Series champions with NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race wins (Johnny Benson, Greg Biffle, Clint Bowyer, Chris Buescher, Kyle Busch, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Carl Edwards, Kevin Harvick, Brad Keselowski, Bobby Labonte, Joe Nemechek, Martin Truex Jr., Brian Vickers) 
• 23 - Chris Buescher's age
• 34 - No. 34 last visited Victory Lane with David Ragan, Talladega, 2013
• 118 - Winless drought broken by Front Row Motorsports. It was the longest active drought by a team in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. 
• 2009 - Last season a Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender won a race (Joey Logano, New Hampshire) 
• 2014 - Last season a first-time winner visited Victory Lane (Daytona, Aric Almirola; Watkins Glen, AJ Allmendinger) 
• 2015 - Season Chris Buescher won the NASCAR XFINITY Series championship
  

 

More Numbers:

Question: One of the Vegas sports books had you 1,000 to 1 to win this race. First off, do you know if anybody actually bet on you, and second, what type of odds would you have given yourself, considering you haven't qualified in the top 20 all year?

Chris Buescher: Yeah, I hope somebody bet on us and made out really well. It would be awesome for them.

We had pretty steep odds coming into this one, but we've been heading in the right direction, and there's no mistaking that. We've been qualifying better. We've been racing better. We've had better speed, better averages. We're just getting to the point now where we need to be able to finish them.

Today I think everybody knows it's not just a pure run to the end and all-out speed. There was a lot of other things going on today.

But you take advantage of every situation that's presented to you, and that's what we did today.

We're going to keep working to make sure that we find more speed and we're able to go win races on days where the track is dry and clear all the way to the checkered flag, and in this case, 160 laps.  

NASCAR Race Mom will be watching Chris Buescher closely as he competes at Watkins Glen on Sunday to see if he can use the numbers in his favor to break into the top-thirty in the point standings for his berth in the 2016 chase.

Chris Buescher - 2015 #NASCAR Xfinity Champion Stats

ARCA Racing Series releases 2016 schedule

The ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards will race 20 times in 2016, including eight races on superspeedways, nine on short tracks, two on dirt and one on a road course. The full schedule has been announced over the last few weeks.

The season will mark the third consecutive season with a 20-race schedule. ARCA raced 21 races in 2013 and 19 in 2011 and 2012. 

“We are pleased to announce our full and complete schedule,” ARCA President Ron Drager said. “We feel we have once again put together a schedule that highlights the diversity of the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards. We are excited for the start of the new season.”

The series will kick off the 2016 campaign – as it has for more than 50 years – by racing at Daytona International Speedway. The race will be right before the NASCAR Sprint Unlimited and will help christen the newly-renovated Daytona Rising project.

The only different track on the schedule from 2015 is the return of the ARCA Racing Series to Madison, Wisconsin for Father’s Day Weekend. There are other changes to the schedule, however. For example, ARCA’s Chicagoland date shifts to Thursday night, September 15 in primetime as part of a huge weekend of racing, which includes the kick-off for the Sprint Cup Chase Sunday, Sept. 18, 2016. The weekend also includes the Camping World Truck Series and the Xfinity Series.

The road course race at New Jersey will be on Saturday, May 28, instead of the Sunday afternoon race it has been the last few years. And, the race on the mile-dirt at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds is going to be a night race.

In addition, the ARCA Racing Series will celebrate milestone races with the 75th series event at Toledo Speedway and 99th and 100th races at Salem Speedway in southern Indiana. The series will have companion races with all three of NASCAR’s top touring series at one time or another in 2016, starting with the Daytona race in February, plus share Iowa Speedway with the Verizon Indy Car Series in July.

The race at Winchester Speedway will once again coincide with the King of the Wing sprint cars.

The return to Madison International Speedway in Wisconsin is good for the series’ presenting sponsor, Drager said. “It was important for us to schedule a race in the Menards market,” Drager said. “Last year, we did not have a race in either Minnesota or Wisconsin and this year, we decided to go back. We are definitely looking forward to racing again at Madison and the upper Midwest.”

The 2016 season will be part of ARCA’s 64th consecutive season of competition since 1953.

Before moving ahead with the 2016 schedule, series officials will celebrate the 2015 season one final time with the annual banquet in downtown Indianapolis on Saturday, Dec. 12. For complete details, visit arcaracing.com

Here are the races that have been announced thus far:

2016 ARCA SCHEDULE*
Saturday	13-Feb	Daytona
Saturday	9-Apr	Nashville
Friday	29-Apr	Talladega
Sunday	22-May	Toledo
Friday	3-Jun	Pocono
Friday	10-Jun	Michigan
Sunday	26-Jun	Winchester
Saturday	9-Jul	Iowa
Friday	29-Jul	Pocono
Sunday	21-Aug	Springfield
Sunday	4-Sep	DuQuoin
Thursday	15-Sep	Chicago
Friday	23-Sep	Kentucky
Friday	14-Oct	Kansas
*More dates to be announced