Showing posts with label Ross Chastain. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ross Chastain. Show all posts

Monday, May 25, 2026

#NASCAR / #ARCA Race Weekend Recap (Charlotte / Colorado)

#NASCAR / #ARCA Race Weekend Recap (Charlotte / Colorado)

Winners: Daniel Suárez (Cup); Ross Chastain (O'Reilly); Layne Riggs (Trucks) plus Trevor Huddleston (ARCA West)

NASCAR Cup

Daniel Suárez Surges in Charlotte, Lands Emotional Coca-Cola 600 Victory

Daniel Suárez Surges in Charlotte, Lands Emotional Coca-Cola 600 Victory #NASCAR
Daniel Suárez does a showman's bow in Victory Lane
following his Coca-Cola 600 triumph in honor of Kyle Busch.

Daniel Suárez claimed the third victory of his career when NASCAR called the event 27 laps short of its scheduled finish after a rainstorm drenched Charlotte Motor Speedway.

 

The win was especially poignant for Suárez, who received repeated encouragement and advice from Busch after arriving from his native Mexico and launching his NASCAR career.

 

“It really means a lot,” Suárez said of the victory. “I’ve been saying for years this is my favorite race of the year. I get to have my family here every year. This is most of the time the only race (they) get to come

 

“It’s been a very tough week. Kyle, he was special, man. This one is for Kyle. For Kyle, for (wife) Samantha, for (son) Brexton, for (daughter) Lennix, all his family … definitely, this one has a special flavor because of Kyle. This win is for him. If it wasn’t for Kyle, I wasn’t going to be an Xfinity champion. I wasn’t going to have my shot in the Cup series. To win this race for him is unbelievable.”

 






Pole: Tyler Reddick



Click Here for Race Results


Next Race: The Cup Series will return on Sunday, May 31, 2026 at 7:00 pm ET for the ‘Cracker Barrel 400’ at Nashville Superspeedway.


NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series

Ross Chastain Wins Weather-Shortened O’Reilly Series Race

#NASCAR Ross Chastain Wins Weather-Shortened O’Reilly Series Race
Ross Chastain does a celebratory bow in honor of Kyle Busch.

 

Ross Chastain drove through a succession of challenges — including a patch of oil and a brush with the outside wall — to win Saturday night’s rain-shortened Charbroil 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

 

The victory was Chastain’s first in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series since 2019, his first at Charlotte and the third of his career. The race was stopped for rain for the second time after Chastain crossed the finish line to win the second stage on Lap 90

 

With no hope of continuing, NASCAR called the race after Lap 91 and declared Chastain the winner.

 

“I did not think we would win one like this, driving into the fence in liquid,” said Chastain, who was driving the No. 9 Chevrolet for JR Motorsports. “I have no idea what it was. I went into Turn 1 like normal, and there was something on the track.

 

“No matter how we win, I feel like we could have raced with them again at the end.”

 

Chastain’s thoughts quickly turned to the absence of champion driver Kyle Busch, who on Thursday lost his life to a sudden illness at age 41.

 

“This weekend, it’s just incredible trying to grasp losing Kyle,” Chastain said. “I don’t understand how he’s not here racing. I don’t grasp it mentally or spiritually.

 

“Obviously, racing is the best thing we can to celebrate what he did in the sport and in his life.”

 






Pole: Justin Allgaier



Click Here for Race Results


Next Race: The NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series will return on Saturday, May 30, 2026 at 7:30 pm ET for the ‘Sports Illustrated Resorts 250’ at Nashville Superspeedway.




NASCAR Trucks

Layne Riggs Wins Wild, Clock-Shortened Truck Series Race

#NASCAR - Layne Riggs Wins Wild, Clock-Shortened Truck Series Race
Layne Riggs Takes a Bow in Tribute to the Late Kyle Busch
after winning the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Race. 

 

Layne Riggs made clear what was on his mind as he took the checkered flag under caution to win Sunday’s Truck Series North Carolina Education Lottery 200 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

 

“Did it for Kyle, man, did it for Kyle,” Riggs said in a dedication to two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch, who lost his life to a sudden illness Thursday at age 41.

 

In a race thrice delayed by rain from its scheduled Friday night start and run under NASCAR’s adverse conditions provision with a noon ET time limit, Riggs completed 110 of a scheduled 134 laps before the clock ran out.

 

He earned his second victory of the season, his first at Charlotte and the seventh of his career in a race that featured a record 11 cautions.

 

“Our hearts are really heavy this weekend,” he said after giving Ford its first NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series victory on a 1.5-mile intermediate speedway since Ben Rhodes won in 2023 at Charlotte. “I’ve been kind of struggling with it a little bit, just trying to keep my game face on and ride … I was borderline sobbing there at the end.”

 

“But these guys (the No. 34 team) have put a smile on my face. Great job to everybody at Front Row Motorsports. Thank you so much to my teammate Chandler Smith. We had a little teammate restart there (on Lap 104). He stuck with me and pushed me.”

 






Pole: Corey Day



Click Here for Race Results


Next Race: The Truck Series will return on Friday, May 29, 2026 at 8:00 pm ET for the ‘Allegiance 200’ at Nashville Superspeedway.




ARCA Menard Series West

Trevor Huddleston Dominates at Colorado

#ARCA - Trevor Huddleston Dominates at Colorado
Trevor Huddleston solidified his status as the ARCA Menards
Series West championship favorite with his second straight victory of 2026.

 

For Trevor Huddleston, every triumph in the ARCA Menards Series West carries its own unique distinction.

 

Saturday’s victory in the Legendary Billy Green 150 at Colorado National Speedway for Huddleston was another one for him to remember. While it was his first West Series checkered flag at the complex, Huddleston also had another reason to celebrate.

 

“I have a lot of special moments in racing,” Huddleston said. “I proposed to my girlfriend at the race track, and we’re excited to announce we’re expecting our first child in November. That’s pretty special.

 

“We already looked it up. Four and a half is the age when they can start quarter midgets. We’ll start with that.”

 






Pole: Robbie Kennealy



Click Here for Race Results


Next Race: The ARCA Menard Series will return on Friday, June 5, 2026 at 5 p.m. ET for the ‘Henry Ford Health 200’ at Michigan International Speedway.



Next Race: The ARCA Menard Series West will return on Saturday, June 6, 2026 at 8 p.m. PT for the ‘NAPA Auto Care 150 Greg Biffle Memorial’ at Tri-City Raceway.



 

source: NASCAR  and ARCA Menard Media
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Wednesday, June 25, 2025

Ross Chastain Tours Southern Belle Farm Ahead of QS400

Ross Chastain Tours Southern Belle Farm Ahead of QS400

“Racing is a hobby that I turned into a career, but I was born into agriculture, so I grew up in fields,” said Chastain.

 

Ross Chastain is known for two things: going really fast in his No. 1 Trackhouse Chevrolet in the NASCAR Cup and his enthusiasm for the agriculture industry.

 

On Wednesday, the eighth-generation watermelon farmer saw his two passions come together at Southern Belle Farm in McDonough, Ga. — the source of EchoPark Speedway’s traditional Victory Lane peaches that each NASCAR race winner receives.

 

“Racing is a hobby that I turned into a career, but I was born into agriculture, so I grew up in fields,” said Chastain. “It’s so cool to see this farm thriving so close to the city and the people that come out to this agritourism venue.”

 

Chastain received a tour of the farm, picked the brains of its staff about their efforts to grow peaches and other crops, and then picked the peaches that will be given out after Saturday night’s Quaker State 400 Available at Walmart.

 

“Pulling (peaches) right off the tree — they taste pretty sweet,” Chastain said, adding, “But I figure they’re going to be even sweeter on Saturday night if we win.”

 

Since the track was reconfigured for the 2022 season, Chastain has scored a pair of runner-up finishes and four top-10s in seven starts at EchoPark Speedway. Once a skeptic, he is now a fan of the “new” EchoPark Speedway and embraces the challenge it provides as he pursues his first win in Atlanta.

 

“I was in the camp that it was good how it was and we didn’t need to mess with it, but I was wrong, and I’m man enough to admit that,” Chastain said. “It’s better now. The Smith Family and Speedway Motorsports have done an incredible job of taking a mile-and-a-half track and creating superspeedway-style drafting like Daytona and Talladega.”

 

Adding to the challenge is the introduction of NASCAR’s first-ever In-Season Tournament, which starts Saturday night at EchoPark Speedway. The bracket-style elimination tournament will see 32 drivers compete for a $1 million prize. As the 13th seed, Chastain is in a head-to-head matchup with 20th seed Erik Jones; whichever driver finishes better in that pairing will advance to the next round at the Chicago Street Course – the other will be eliminated.

 

Chastain said the added wrinkle of the In-Season Tournament hasn’t changed his approach to Saturday night’s race, “but I do know that if that 43 car is in front of me, I definitely don’t want to finish behind him.”

 

Chastain and the rest of the NASCAR Cup Series competitors will hit the track for qualifying on Friday evening. They’ll then compete for 400 miles under the lights on Saturday night at 7 p.m. in the Quaker State 400 Available at Walmart.

 





 

source: EchoPark Speedway Media
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Wednesday, May 28, 2025

Meet the NASCAR Cup Contenders

Meet the NASCAR #Cup Contenders

Who to Watch Heading Into Race Weekend at Nashville Superspeedway

 

As the engines warm up and the anticipation builds for race weekend at Nashville Superspeedway, all eyes are on the drivers poised to make some serious noise. Nashville’s concrete beast isn’t easy to tame, and only the best rise to the challenge. Here’s a look at some of the top contenders heading into the weekend.

 

Joey Logano

A former Cup Series champion, Joey Logano brings a mix of grit, strategy, and confidence to every track he visits. Known for his aggressive style and sharp race instincts, he’s especially dangerous late in a race when the pressure is on. He’s no stranger to chaotic restarts or bold moves when it matters most. At a track like Nashville, where tire wear and late cautions shake things up, he’s exactly the kind of driver who can capitalize. Don’t be surprised if the No. 22 finds his way to the front when it counts.

 

Joey Logano finished the last cup race in seventeenth (17) position.



Kyle Larson

When it comes to versatility and raw talent, Kyle Larson is always in the conversation. He’s proven time and again he can run up front on just about any track, including Nashville. With Hendrick Motorsports behind him and momentum on his side, Larson’s a threat to win every time he straps in.

 

Kyle Larson crashed and finished the last cup race in thirty-seventh (37) position.



Denny Hamlin

Denny knows how to run smart, manage tire wear, and position himself when it counts. If the race turns tactical (and it often does at Nashville), Hamlin could be right there when it matters most.

 

Denny Hamlin finished the last cup race in sixteenth (16) position.



Ross Chastain

Aggressive? Sure. Entertaining? Always. Ross Chastain doesn’t back down, and his fearless driving style helped him claim victory here in 2023. Don’t be surprised if he’s mixing it up near the front again this year, especially if the race turns wild.

 

Ross Chastain won the last cup race! (#1)



William Byron

Byron’s having a breakout season, racking up wins and running with confidence. He’s matured as a driver and has shown he can handle the pressure of big moments. On a track where precision matters, Byron has the tools to shine.

 

William Byron finished the last cup race in second (2) position.



Christopher Bell

Bell’s dirt track background gives him a smooth, steady style that works well on rougher surfaces. He’s been quietly consistent and always seems to be lurking when it counts. Don’t sleep on the No. 20 car.

 

Christopher Bell finished the last cup race in eighth (8) position.



The Wild Cards

And of course, don’t forget the underdogs and up-and-comers. A long race, late cautions, or strategy shakeups can put unexpected names at the front. Keep an eye on guys like Tyler Reddick (26th), Alex Bowman (29th), or even a rookie looking to make their mark.

 

Who Will Conquer the Concrete?

Nashville Superspeedway is a unique challenge. The concrete surface, tire wear, and the heat make it as much a mental battle as a physical one. These contenders have what it takes, but as we’ve seen before, anything can happen on race day.

 

 

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Monday, May 26, 2025

NASCAR / ARCA Race Weekend Recap (Charlotte / Colorado)

#NASCAR / #ARCA Race Weekend Recap (Charlotte / Colorado)

Winners: Ross Chastain (Cup); William Byron (Xfinity); Corey Heim (Trucks) plus Austin Green (ARCA) and Jake Bollman (ARCA West)

Ross Chastain (#NASCAR Cup); William Byron (Xfinity); Corey Heim (Trucks) plus Austin Green (#ARCA)
Recap Graphic by Rolando Ramirez - RTR Graphics

 


NASCAR Cup

Ross Chastain Overtakes William Byron Late to #Win Coca-Cola 600

Ross Chastain Overtakes William Byron Late to #Win Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte

 

Starting from the rear of the field in a backup car his team needed all night to prepare, Ross Chastain ran down the dominant car of William Byron to win Sunday night’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. 

 

Byron led 283 of 400 laps and swept the first three stages of NASCAR’s longest race. Chastain led the final six after diving below Byron’s Chevrolet entering Turn 1 on Lap 395 and sliding up in Turn 2 to clear Byron off the corner.

 

Chastain crossed the finish line 0.673 seconds ahead of the Hendrick Motorsports driver to win for the first time this season, the first time at Charlotte and the sixth time in his career.

 

“When I left the shop last night, I went over and sat in this car for the first time,” Chastain said. “It was about 10 o’clock when I left. They worked until 2:30. They were back at 5:30 this morning. Most of them drive 30, 45 minutes home. A little shower, I think. I don’t even know if they slept. Back there at 5:30. They get this thing ready, and that’s the dedication it takes from Trackhouse. There were people there that had their Saturdays off yesterday, and they came in.

 

“To drive on that final run in the (Coke) 600 and pass two cars that had been way better all night … (crew chief) Phil Surgen wanted me to pit two laps earlier (in the final stage). I went two laps longer (to Lap 350) just out of a little bit of confusion. Man, that paid off at the end. These Goodyear Eagles held on longer because they were a little bit fresher.

 

“Holy cow, we just won the 600!”

 






Pole: Chase Briscoe



Click Here for Race Results


Next Race: The Cup Series will return on Sunday, June 1, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. ET for the Cracker Barrel 400 at Nashville Superspeedway.


NASCAR Xfinity

William Byron Recovers from Penalty to #Win Xfinity Series Race

William Byron Recovers from Penalty to #Win Xfinity Series Race at Charlotte

 

William Byron’s long rally from a pit-road speeding penalty put the driver of the No. 17 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet in Victory Lane — and left reigning NASCAR Xfinity Series champion Justin Allgaier heartbroken.

 

Fresh from the announcement of a four-year contract extension with Hendrick, Byron passed Allgaier for the lead through Turn 4 of the first lap of overtime at Charlotte Motor Speedway and stayed out front until a violent wreck involving Jeb Burton and Brennan Poole brought out the 11th caution of the race and froze the field.

 

By then, Connor Zilisch had taken second and Nick Sanchez third, as Allgaier faded to fourth.

 

“I was somewhat confident,” Byron said of his prospects for a rally. “I felt like if we got some yellows, it would be good, but, man, it didn’t work out the way we thought it (would). Just had a lot of green-flag running and couldn’t get back to the front.”

 






Pole: Taylor Gray



Click Here for Race Results


Next Race: The Xfinity Series will return on Saturday, May 31, 2025 at 7:30 p.m. ET for the Tennessee Lottery 250 at Nashville Superspeedway.




NASCAR Trucks

Corey Heim Dominates Charlotte; Takes 4th Truck Series #Win of 2025

Corey Heim Dominates Charlotte; Takes Fourth Truck Series #Win of 2025

 

This time, Corey Heim didn’t just slam the door on his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series competition — he nailed it shut.

 

Heim’s three previous 2025 wins notwithstanding, the driver of the No. 11 Tricon Garage Toyota has had difficulty closing out races with a dominant truck this season.

 

That was emphatically not the case on Friday night, when Heim led 98 of 134 laps and beat runner-up Ross Chastain to the finish line by 6.229 seconds in the North Carolina Education Lottery 200 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

 

Heim’s first victory at Charlotte and his fourth of the season was the 15th of his Truck Series career, tying him with Matt Crafton for 10th on the all-time career wins list. At age 22, he is the youngest to reach the 15-win milestone.

 

“I felt like we’ve had the speed the last couple years here, but circumstances haven’t let us get it done,” said Heim, who has won five of the last nine Truck Series races on intermediate speedways.

 

“Obviously, it was such a good truck. I had to execute on my part. The pit crew did a great job. Just a really nice clean day. … It feels great. It feels like we’ve had a lot of opportunities to do that this year, really. Just can’t say enough about these guys. My team gave me a great Tundra, and we just really checked all of the boxes tonight. It feels great.”

 






Pole: Gio Ruggiero



Click Here for Race Results


Next Race: The Truck Series will return on Friday, May 30, 2025 at 8:00 p.m. ET for the Rackley Roofing 200 at Nashville Superspeedway.




ARCA

Clean and Green: Austin Green Conquers Charlotte

Austin Green Earns his First ARCA Menards Series Victory in Just his Second Start.

 


 

Austin Green was not even born when his father David, the 1994 NASCAR Xfinity Series champion, claimed his lone ARCA Menards Series victory at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway in what turned out to be his lone start on the platform.

 

Over three decades later, Austin joined David as an ARCA Menards Series winner by putting together a dominant performance in the General Tire 150 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. With the triumph, Austin and David became the ninth father-son duo to visit Victory Lane in the ARCA Menards Series.

 

“Everyone at [Pinnacle Racing Group] built a rocket,” Austin said. “Hearing the gap and seeing [Sawalich] fall back was always a good feeling. They told me to slow down a little bit at the end. That was hard to do but hats off to everyone at PRG.”

 

“The biggest thing for me with these big tracks is the aero,” Austin said. “Growing up on short tracks, you didn’t really have any of that, especially on road courses as well. That’s been the biggest hurdle for me this year. I’m slowly figuring it out and it was strategic to pack dirty air on those behind you and side draft. I had a blast.”

 






Pole: Will Kimmel



Click Here for Race Results


Next Race: The ARCA Series will return on Friday, June 6, 20:25 at 5:00 p.m. ET for the Henry Ford Health 200 at Michigan International Speedway.



ARCA West

Jake Bollman Earns Bill McAnally Racing’s 100th Victory in Rain-Shortened Colorado 150

Jake Bollman Earns Bill McAnally Racing’s 100th Victory in Rain-Shortened Colorado 150

 

There were two victors in the ARCA Menards Series West’s return to Colorado National Speedway on Saturday evening, Mother Nature and Jake Bollman.


Only sixty laps in the Colorado 150 were completed before a persistent rainfall descended upon the .375-mile facility. With the weather showing no signs of dissipating, West Series officials made the decision to call Saturday’s race before the halfway point, handing Bollman his first victory after seven starts and Bill McAnally Racing’s 100th overall.

 

“What a night and what a car. This is incredible to be part of such a milestone for Bill and continue the tradition of this team in the ARCA Menards Series West. .... Bollman related. These guys did a great job preparing our NAAPA Chevrolet and this is extremely special to get a win in this paint scheme for the NAPA's 100th anniversary.”

 

The ARCA Menards Series West gets nearly a month off before making their second of two scheduled visits to Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway on June 14. The NAPA Auto Parts 150 presented by West Coast Stock Car Motorsports Hall of Fame will go green at 7 p.m. PT/10 p.m. ET that evening, with FloRacing providing coverage.

 






Pole: Jake Bollman



Click Here for Race Results


Next Race: The ARCA Series will return on Saturday, June 14, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. PT for the NAPA Auto Parts 150 presented by West Coast Stock Car Motorsports Hall of Fame at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway.



 

source: NASCAR Media
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Thursday, January 9, 2025

Chastain & van Gisbergen Set for Xfinity Events

Chastain & van Gisbergen Set for Xfinity Events

with JR Motorsports

Chastain & van Gisbergen Set for Xfinity Events - #NASCAR

 

Ross Chastain and Shane van Gisbergen will combine to compete in nine NASCAR Xfinity Series races for JR Motorsports in 2025, Trackhouse Racing announced Thursday.

 

Chastain & van Gisbergen Set for Xfinity Events - #NASCAR

 

The pair of Trackhouse teammates in the NASCAR Cup Series will dip their toes back into the Xfinity pool, where Chastain will compete in four events and SVG will race in five.

 

Chastain, a two-time winner in Xfinity competition, will pilot the No. 9 Chevrolet for JRM at Circuit of The Americas on March 1 in addition to events at Darlington Raceway (April 5), Nashville Superspeedway (May 31), Dover Motor Speedway (July 19) and Iowa Speedway (Aug. 2).

 

Van Gisbergen, the road-course ace who earned three victories in his rookie Xfinity campaign in 2024, is scheduled to get behind the wheel in Mexico City (June 14), at the Chicago Street Race (July 5), at Sonoma Raceway (July 12) and at Watkins Glen International (Aug. 9).

 

“I think there is a lot of benefit to getting seat time on Saturdays in the Xfinity Series,” Chastain said in a press release. “Getting an opportunity to do it with JR Motorsports is too good an opportunity to pass up. I know every time I climb in their Chevrolets, we will have a chance to win.”




“I’m trying to get as much experience as I can,” van Gisbergen, the three-time Supercars champion, said in a release. “JR Motorsports is one of the top teams and won the championship with Justin Allgaier. I can’t wait to get started.

 

 

source: NASCAR Media
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Monday, September 30, 2024

NASCAR / ARCA Race Weekend Recap (Kansas / Madera)

#NASCAR / #ARCA Race Weekend Recap (Kansas / Madera)

Winners: Ross Chastain (Cup); Aric Almirola (Xfinity); Corey Heim (Trucks); Tanner Gray (ARCA); Trevor Huddleston (ARCA West)


NASCAR Cup

Chastain Spoils Playoff Show at Kansas, Posts First Cup Series Win of the Season

Chastain Spoils Playoff Show at Kansas - #NASCAR

 

Ross Chastain’s No 1. Trackhouse Chevrolet came to life in the second half of Sunday‘s Hollywood Casino 400 and beat William Byron‘s Chevrolet to the finish line in a hotly contested Round of 12 opener in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.

 

Chastain grabbed the lead from Martin Truex Jr. moments after the final restart on Lap 248 at Kansas Speedway and held off a charging Byron by 0.388 seconds to thwart the playoff driver‘s bid for automatic advancement into the Round of 8.

 

Having failed to qualify for the postseason this year, Chastain reveled in his first victory of the season, his first at Kansas and the fifth of his career.

 

“For us on this 1 team, it’s what Cup racing is all about,” said Chastain, who led 52 laps. “It’s what (team co-owner) Justin Marks bought into Trackhouse with Pitbull, bought into NASCAR with Trackhouse to do stuff like this — to disrupt.

 

“Look, there’s been times this year where we couldn’t have disrupted the minnow pond outside of Darlington, let alone a Cup race. It’s hard. It’s really tough. To come and do this, there are times where I didn’t think after practicing and qualifying we had what it took. I thought we have been way stronger here in the past. It didn’t feel great all day, but our Kubota Chevy, it was better as the rubber went down, and the adjustments were great.”

 





Pole: Christopher Bell

Click Here for Race Results

Next Race: The Cup Series will return on Sunday, October 6, 2024 at 2:00 pm ET for the YellaWood 500 at Talladega Superspeedway.

 

NASCAR Xfinity

Aric Almirola Plays Spoiler, Wins Xfinity Playoffs Opener

Aric Almirola Plays Spoiler - #NASCAR

 

Aric Almirola surged to victory in Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs opener at Kansas Speedway, bypassing Cole Custer in the 197th of 200 laps and denying the circuit’s postseason hopefuls early advancement.


"For me, to be able to scratch the itch of driving race cars and competing at a high level, I absolutely love this," Almirola said. "I did not want to walk away from exactly what I did today. That adrenaline rush of what I did today is irreplaceable. You can not do that anywhere else."

 

Almirola’s No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota led 16 of the 200 laps in the Kansas Lottery 300. His second win of the season in a part-time role was his first at the 1.5-mile Kansas City track and the sixth of his Xfinity Series career.

 

"It's exactly what I set out to do when Coach (Gibbs) called me. I really didn't have a plan. I was retiring and didn't know what was next," Almirola said. "Coach called, I met with him, and we talked a lot about what this could look like, and it has been so gratifying. I truly believe it was an answered prayer for me, (wife) Janice and our family."

 




Pole: Brandon Jones

Click Here for Race Results 


Next Race: The Xfinity Series will return on Saturday, October 5, 2024 at 4:00 PM ET for the United Rentals 250 at Talladega Superspeedway.


 

NASCAR Trucks

Corey Heim Completes Season Sweep at Kansas in NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Elimination Race

Corey Heim Completes Season Sweep at Kansas - #NASCAR

 

Corey Heim won Friday night’s Kubota Tractor 200 in the fastest truck, but he needed help from fellow Playoff driver Ty Majeski to secure the victory in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Round of 10 elimination race at Kansas Speedway.

 

Majeski ran out of fuel approaching the white flag while leading, allowing Heim to surge past in his No. 11 TRICON Garage Toyota and claim his sixth victory of the season in a race that saw reigning series champion Ben Rhodes and Playoff rookie Daniel Dye eliminated from title contention.

 

“We were the best truck all night-it’s my favorite track, I love coming here,” said Heim, who won at the 1.5-mile speedway in the spring. “I look forward to this. I had a smile on my face all week coming to this place.

 

“I just thought we could sweep the year here. It’s an awesome place to come. I certainly thought we had it lost there to the 98 (Majeski), almost making it on fuel, but it just shows my team made the right call.”

 

The victory was Heim’s second at Kansas and the 11th of his career. He led a race-high 64 laps in an event that featured 10 lead changes among three drivers.

 





Pole: Ty Majeski

Click Here for Race Results

Next Race: The Truck Series will return on Friday, October 4, 2024 at 4:30 PM ET for the Love's RV Stop 225 at Talladega Superspeedway.


 

ARCA

Tanner Gray Holds on in Thrilling Finish to Win Reese’s 150 at Kansas Speedway

Tanner Gray Holds on in Thrilling Finish - #ARCA

 

Although the ARCA stat sheet will show Tanner Gray dominated Friday’s Reese’s 150 at Kansas Speedway, his journey to the checkered flag was anything but smooth.

 

Contact with Amber Balcaen on the final restart of the day left Gray with a slow leak in his left rear tire, but he still had enough car and tire to hold off Connor Zilisch, Corey Day and Andy Jankowiak in the final laps. Gray’s resolve, and his tire, lasted until the checkered flag, resulting in his second ARCA Menards Series victory of 2024.

 

One more lap and Gray would have been denied the victory because his left rear tire went flat just as he reached Turn 1 on the cooldown lap. He was fortunate the tire lasted to the finish so that he could celebrate putting together a complete race behind the wheel of Joe Gibbs Racing’s No. 18 Toyota.

 

“It’s obviously gratifying when you can come here and close these things out,” Gray said. “We’ve been in a position to win most of them this year, but I haven’t done a good a very good job on the restarts at the end. It’s been a lot of fun racing with [Joe Gibbs Racing] this year and hopefully we can do this some more in the future.”

 





Pole: Isabella Robusto

Click Here for Race Results 

Next Race: The ARCA Series will return on Saturday, October 5, 2024, at 4:10 pm ET for the Owens Corning 200 at Toledo Speedway.


 

ARCA West

Trevor Huddleston Dominates ARCA West at Madera Speedway

Trevor Huddleston Dominates #ARCA West at Madera Speedway

 

Trevor Huddleston topped the ARCA Menards Series West portion of the 51st Harvest Classic at Madera Speedway on Saturday night.

 

Huddleston won the West Coast Stock Car / Motorsports Hall of Fame 150 in a door-banging duel with 2023 ARCA Menards Series West champion Sean Hingorani.

 

Huddleston proposed to his longtime girlfriend Nastasia Dodd in victory lane as well at the speedway where they first met.

 

“What a race! This car…absolutely epic! Race Car Factory, High Point Racing, everybody who made this possible - I can’t thank them enough. Getting these wins isn’t easy,” Huddleston said.

 





Pole: Jaron Giannini

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Next Race: The ARCA Series will return on Saturday, October 5, 2024, at 7:55 pm PT for the NAPA Auto Parts 150 presented by Berco Redwood at All American Speedway.

 

source: NASCAR / ARCA Media

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Monday, November 6, 2023

NASCAR / ARCA Championship Race Weekend Recap (Phoenix Raceway)

NASCAR / ARCA Championship Race Weekend Recap (Phoenix Raceway)

Winners:  

  • Ross Chastain (Cup)

  • Cole Custer (Xfinity)

  • Christian Eckes (Trucks)

  • William Sawalich (ARCA West)

 

Champions:  

  • Ryan Blaney (Cup)

  • Cole Custer (Xfinity)

  • Ben Rhodes (Trucks)

  • Sean Hingorani (ARCA West)

 

 

NASCAR Cup

Ross Chastain dominates Phoenix Cup Finale; Ryan Blaney Wins First Championship

Ross Chastain dominates Phoenix Cup Finale
Ross Chastain

 

Race Winner, Ross Chastain led a race-high 157 laps to the Phoenix race win. While Chastain was present, he wasn’t an active influence on the championship fight. However, Blaney did vent his frustrations at the Trackhouse driver over the radio to his team.

 

“I know he was mad, and I don’t care. I do not care. I did not care then; I do not care now. I’m here to race him. I am not going to wreck, Chastain stated.”

 

Ryan Blaney Wins First Championship
Ryan Blaney

 

For the first time in 10 years of the elimination playoff format, the NASCAR Cup Series champion failed to win the title race—not that it mattered one bit to 2023 champion Ryan Blaney.

 

When he took the checkered flag in second place in the NASCAR Cup Series Championship race, the driver of the No. 12 Ford gave Team Penske its second straight title in NASCAR‘s premier series and gave Ford a sweep of Championship Weekend at Phoenix Raceway.

 

“Unbelievable year, unbelievable playoffs for us,” said Blaney, who won last week at Martinsville to advance to the Championship 4 with Larson, Byron and Christopher Bell. “To win back-to-back Cup titles for (team owner Roger) Penske, that’s so special. Having my family here, winning my first Cup title, I got emotional in the car. I’m not a very emotional guy.

 





Pole: William Byron

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Next Race: The Cup Series will return on Sunday, Feb. 4, 2024 8:00 pm ET for the Busch Light Clash at The Coliseum at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

 

 

NASCAR Xfinity

Cole Custer wins First Xfinity Series Championship on Wild Overtime Restart

Cole Custer wins First Xfinity Series Championship on Wild Overtime Restart
Cole Custer

 

The third time was the charm for twenty-five year old Cole Custer, who became a first-time Xfinity Series champion by winning the 2023 season finale at Phoenix Raceway on a wild overtime restart.

 

The No. 00 Ford driver beat John Hunter Nemechek, Justin Allgaier and Sam Mayer to capture his elusive first title on the circuit. Custer had finished runner-up in the Xfinity championship race in 2018-19.

 

“I thought it was over,” Custer, who led a race-high 96 of 202 laps, told NBC Sports’ Marty Snider. “I went from first to third, and I was able to shift the car all night. And Doug Yates’ horsepower worked out (and) pulled me off the corner. I can’t believe we won that thing after going back to third on that restart.”

 

“Man, I can’t say enough about these guys,” Custer said. We started the year off, and it was a struggle, and we had to kind of dig deep with each other, really talk about how to get better and to see how much this group has grown through the year.

 

“I think these guys have just really always believed in me all year, and I just can’t thank them enough for giving me really fast race cars and still believing in me when things weren’t going great.”

 

Sheldon Creed finished second, followed by Allgaier, Riley Herbst and Mayer. Nemechek crashed on the final lap and finished 28th.

 





Pole: Sammy Smith

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Next Race: The Xfinity Series will return on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024 5:00 pm ET for the NASCAR Xfinity Series Spring Race at Daytona at Daytona International Speedway.

 

 

NASCAR Trucks

Christian Eckes Wins, Ben Rhodes Captures Championship

Ben Rhodes Captures Championship
Ben Rhodes

 

On a night where Truck Series drivers wrecked each other with regularity, it was a respectful move by another Championship 4 driver that sealed Ben Rhodes’ second title in three seasons.

 

Grant Enfinger chased down Rhodes on fresher tires in the fourth overtime. He pulled up to the bumper of Rhodes’ damaged No. 99 Ford on the final lap of the race. Enfinger chose to cut his fellow driver a break.

 

Enfinger avoided intentional contact, even though it cost him the championship in GMS Racing’s final Truck Series race. He crossed the line sixth and ended the season second in the championship standings.

 

“Grant almost got me,” Rhodes told FOX Sports’ Regan Smith after the race. “Hats off to him. He ran a great race. I wouldn’t want to race against anybody else for the championship. He raced me clean and I respect the hell out of him for it.”

 

Christian Eckes Wins
Christian Eckes

 

As for his victory, the 22-year-old Christian Eckes tried to reconcile the championship race win with having just been eliminated from Playoff contention. He had a win (at Kansas) and a pair of runner-up finishes (Indianapolis Raceway Park and Bristol, Tenn.) during the Playoff stretch but was eliminated after finished of 19th and 20th in the two races leading into the championship finale.

 

“Those two races that killed the whole Playoffs pretty much and that’s just kind of the nature of it,” Eckes said. “I didn’t do my job last week and really the week before either. That gets us out and that puts us in this situation, but it’s motivating for next year and it was motivating for this race too. This one kind of stings, I know it’s a win, but the stupid mistakes the last two weeks of a near perfect Playoffs cost us a championship. This one kind of stings, I know it’s a win, but the stupid mistakes the last two weeks of a near perfect Playoffs cost us a championship. It’s kind of hard to be happy right now, but overall, just super proud of everybody for the year that we’ve had and just ready for 2024.”

 





Pole: Corey Heim

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Next Race: The Truck Series will return on Friday, Feb. 16, 2024 7:30 pm ET for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Race at Daytona at Daytona International Speedway.

 

 

ARCA

Sean Hingorani Wraps up West Series Championship; William Sawalich Earns Win at Phoenix

William Sawalich Earns Win at Phoenix
William Sawalich

 

The debut race for Sawalich on the ARCA platform nearly saw him claim a victory at Phoenix until he was turned on a late-race restart by Bradley Erickson. No such problems plagued the 2023 ARCA Menards Series East champion on Friday, who executed a near-flawless race to end his great season on a positive note.

 

“This was very special,” Sawalich said. “We finished where we should have left off in the first race of the year [at Phoenix]. We capitalized on every opportunity and had a couple of good restarts. I worked on a few things myself and I think I’m ready for next year.”

 

The final race on the ARCA platform in 2023 featured two of its three champions inside the Top 3 with Sawalich in first and Hingorani in third.

 

Sean Hingorani Wraps up West Series Championship
Sean Hingorani

 

With their recent dominance on the ARCA Menards Series platform, it only made sense for Venturini Motorsports to expand their empire westward.

 

The driver Venturini Motorsports tasked for this quest was 17-year-old Sean Hingorani from Newport Beach, California. Hingorani more than proved himself in a Venturini Motorsports car with a stellar debut season that saw him take the ARCA Menards Series West championship crown.

 

Even though he did not grab a victory in the season-ending Desert Diamond Casino West Valley 100 at Phoenix Raceway, Hingorani was elated to see the hard work put in by himself and Venturini Motorsports culminate with a West Series title.

 

“This was such a great season with Billy Venturini,” Hingorani said. “We fought so hard today and really wanted to win this race, but these guys brought me a fast car everywhere. This was such a great opportunity over here [at Venturini Motorsports] and I’m so thankful for it.”

 





Pole: William Sawalich

Click Here for Race Results

 

Next Race: The ARCA Series will return on 02/17/2924 for a 200 mile clash at Daytona International Speedway.

 

 

Superstar Racing Experience

Ryan Newman won the 2023 Superstar Racing Experience Champ
2023 Camping World SRX Series Champ Ryan Newman

 

The 2023 Camping World SRX Series was the third season of the Superstar Racing Experience, a stock car racing series in the United States. The six-race season began at Stafford Motor Speedway on July 13 and ended at Lucas Oil Speedway on August 17.

 

NASCAR Star Ryan Newman won the 2023 Superstar Racing Experience Championship, following Marco Andretti 2022 Champ and Tony Stewart 2021 Champ.

 

Newman never won a championship in either NASCAR Cup or Xfinity Series competition, with his career high point being a win in the 2008 Daytona 500. But he was not to be denied of his first SRX championship.

 

“It means a lot, no doubt, any kind of championship (like) the SRX series,” Newman said while celebrating in victory lane. “The Superstar Racing Experience, what can you say? Guys like Tony Stewart, Jonathan Davenport, who has won just about everything there is on dirt, racing against Kenny Schrader and Kenny Wallace, Helio Castroneves, all that stuff, it’s pretty special. It’s just a whole lot of fun to be doing what I’m doing.”

 





Next Race: The Superstar Racing Experience will return on July 11, 2024.

source: NASCAR Media
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