Showing posts with label Sammy Smith. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sammy Smith. Show all posts

Thursday, January 16, 2025

The Famed Stylized No. 8 Returns with Sammy Smith for JR Motorsports

The Famed Stylized No. 8 Returns with Sammy Smith for JR Motorsports

NASCAR Xfinity Series

 

The No. 8 made famous by Dale Earnhardt Jr. is one of the most iconic numbers in NASCAR history.

 

The stylized digit, with its signature font, is one of the most recognizable numbers in all of racing, stemming from Earnhardt Jr.’s use of it from the beginning of his career in the NASCAR Cup Series in 1999 through 2007.

 

It’s back where it belongs for 2025 for JR Motorsports, adorning the sides of driver Sammy Smith’s Chevrolet in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

 

“It is awesome to have this number and this font back at JR Motorsports this year, and I can’t wait to see it on the car in Daytona,” said Earnhardt Jr. upon its unveiling. “That’s going to be a pretty awesome feeling for me personally. Sammy is going to do a great job with it. Excited to have that number out there and I know everybody else is as well.”

 

In November, Earnhardt Jr. stepped back in time with the debut of his iconic Budweiser paint scheme for the Florence 400 Late Model race. In that event, the third-generation star raced from the back of the field to second by the halfway break and was in contention for the win before a mechanical issue ended his day.

 

“It is an incredible opportunity for me to be able to reunite with Budweiser, and the No. 8,” said Earnhardt Jr. “Budweiser and I had some great memories with that iconic scheme and number. We’ve always supported each other over the years. It’s going to be really special for me to be able to represent that brand on the racetrack again.”

 

The championship-winning JRM Late Model team campaigned the No. 8 for the past three seasons, though not in the stylized font carried by Earnhardt Jr. Carson Kvapil won two straight zMAX CARS Tour Late Model Stock Car championships (2022 and 2023) wearing that number, as well as the 2024 ValleyStar Credit Union 300 at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway.

 

The No. 8 has been associated with the Earnhardt family since Earnhardt Jr.’s grandfather, Ralph Earnhardt, took it to the 1959 and 1960 NASCAR Limited Sportsman championships. It was additionally used by Dale Earnhardt Sr. in his racing efforts in what is now the NXS throughout the 1980’s.

 

And today, the historic No. 8, in its traditional stylized font, officially makes its return to NASCAR competition, with Smith behind the wheel.

 





 

source: JR Motorsports Media
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Wednesday, October 9, 2024

NASCAR Playoff Standings (plus ARCA)

#NASCAR Playoff Standings (plus ARCA)


NASCAR Cup Series

Next Race: Sunday, October 13, 2024 - 2:00 PM ET at Charlotte Motor Speedway 
Playoff Event - Three of Three in the Round of Twelve

 




Xfinity Series

Next Race: Saturday, October 12, 2024 - 4:00 pm ET at Charlotte Motor Speedway

Playoff Event - Three of Three in the Round of Twelve




 

NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series

Next Race: Saturday, October 26, 2024 - 12:00 pm ET at Homestead-Miami Speedway 

Playoff Event - Two of Three in the Round of Eight




 

ARCA Series

Next Race: Saturday, October 12, 2024 - 11:00 pm ET (ARCA West) 

Andres Perez has won the ARCA Menard Series Championship; the first foreign-born ARCA Menards Series champion. William Sawalich captured his second consecutive ARCA Menards Series East championship. 





The ARCA Series West has two events remaining in their 2024 Season. Sean Hingorani has a mere 5-point lead over second place Tyler Reif. Third place Trevor Huddleston, who won the last two races, is 29 points behind.


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Monday, October 7, 2024

NASCAR / ARCA Race Weekend Recap (Talladega; All American; Toledo)

#NASCAR / #ARCA Race Weekend Recap (Talladega; All American; Toledo)

Winners: Ricky Stenhouse Jr (Cup); Sammy Smith (Xfinity); Grant Enfinger (Trucks); William Sawalich (ARCA); Trevor Huddleston (ARCA West)



NASCAR Cup

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Plays Spoiler, Wins Chaotic Playoff Race

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Plays Spoiler, Wins Chaotic Playoff Race

 

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. held off the field in overtime to claim the victory in a dramatic NASCAR Cup Series YellaWood 500 at Talladega Superspeedway — edging Brad Keselowski and William Byron by a mere 0.006-second in a thrilling three-wide finish.

 

That heart-stopping finish was indicative of the afternoon of competition at the 2.66-mile behemoth — which once again lived up to its reputation and provided a thrilling playoff race with significant implications for the 12 championship contenders.

 

A massive 23-car accident with five laps remaining brought out a red flag and stopped the race for nearly 10 minutes. The incident affected eight of the 12 playoff cars in varying degrees. There is only one more race remaining in this round to settle which eight drivers advance to the next round of championship competition.

 

“Felt really good, we had our Chevy teammates behind us and I was hoping Kyle [Busch] wouldn’t push the six [Keselowski] that hard, I knew the 24 was going to try to get to the line,” said Stenhouse, who scored his first career NASCAR Cup Series win at Talladega in 2017.

 

“Man, this team has put a lot of hard work in and obviously we haven’t won since the Daytona 500 in ’23. It’s been an up-and-down season, a lot of hard work this season trying to find a little bit of speed, but we knew this track is one of ours to come get it.”

 





Pole: Michael McDowell

Click Here for Race Results


Next Race: The Cup Series will return on Sunday, October 13, 2024 at 2:00 pm ET for the Bank of America ROVAL 400 at Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course.



NASCAR Xfinity

Sammy Smith Wins to Advance to Next Round

Sammy Smith Wins to Advance to Next Round

 

After entering Saturday’s race at Talladega Superspeedway below the elimination line, Sammy Smith punched his ticket to the next round of the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs by winning the United Rentals 250 in overtime.

 

The driver of the No. 8 JR Motorsports Chevrolet held off a hard charge from runner-up Ryan Sieg in the tri-oval coming to the checkered flag. Riley Herbst, Sheldon Creed and Chandler Smith rounded out the top five.

 

Smith, who now has two career wins, snapped a 56-race losing streak after picking team owner Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s brain about racing at Talladega. Earnhardt won six Cup Series races at the Alabama superspeedway.

 

“We sat down with him Wednesday, wasn’t a whole lot, just kind of some of the stuff he’d do in those situations,” Smith said. “But, man, it feels very good to win here.”

 





Pole: Jesse Love

Click Here for Race Results


Next Race: The Xfinity Series will return on Saturday, October 12,, 2024 4:00 pm ET for the Drive for the Cure 250 Presented by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina at Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course.



NASCAR Trucks

Grant Enfinger Wins Truck Series Playoff Race at Talladega

Grant Enfinger Wins Truck Series Playoff Race at Talladega

 

The home crowd favorite, Grant Enfinger claimed the victory in Friday afternoon’s Love’s RV Stop 225 Playoff race at Talladega Superspeedway – the Alabama native’s second NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series win at the big track and the most important, as the victory delivers an automatic entry into the season championship finale next month at Phoenix Raceway.

 

Enfinger’s No. 9 CR7 Motorsports Chevrolet led a race-best 34 of the 85 laps, won Stage 2 and held the point on the final lap when a caution came out ending the race.

 

“We knew stuff was going to get dicey,” the 39-year-old Enfinger said of having to hold the field off following a restart with nine laps remaining to claim his first victory of the season – first ever for the team – and 11th of Enfinger’s career.

 

“We didn’t make all the perfect decisions today, but we had a Champion Power Equipment Chevy that was fast enough to get it done today, so even though we chose the outside [lane for a restart] once or twice and maybe we shouldn’t have. … it’s just Talladega right there and hopefully all the fans enjoyed it.

 

“There’s nothing like winning at your home track. Got my family here and first win with my daughter and my son here. On top of that, we get to race for a championship in Phoenix.”

 





Pole: William Sawalich

Click Here for Race Results 


Next Race: The Truck Series will return on Saturday, October 26, 2024 at 12:00 PM ET for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Playoff Race at Homestead-Miami at Homestead-Miami Speedway.



ARCA

William Sawalich Wins Season Finale at Toledo Speedway While Andres Perez Clinches Title

William Sawalich Wins Season Finale at Toledo Speedway While Andres Perez clinches Title

 

While Andres Perez was able to celebrate his victory as ARCA Series champion by merely starting the event; the race itself, though, belonged to William Sawalich. 

 

The Joe Gibbs Racing driver who secured his second consecutive ARCA Menards Series East championship last month, Sawalich won his ninth ARCA Menards Series (national) race of the season when he led all but a few laps on the northwestern Ohio half-mile. The 18-year-old’s nine victories in 2024 are a series-high, a number he accomplished in 14 starts.

 

“I definitely got a good jump,” Sawalich said of the last restart. “I can’t thank my guys enough. Just a good day overall, a good end of the year for us.”

 

Perez finished the race in sixth place.

 





Pole: William Sawalich

Click Here for Race Results


Next Race: The ARCA Series will return in 2025.



ARCA West

Trevor Huddleston Goes Wire-to-Wire at All American Speedway

Trevor Huddleston Goes Wire-to-Wire at All American Speedway

 

Trevor Huddleston dominated Saturday’s NAPA Auto Parts 150 presented by Berco Redwood at All American Speedway for the ARCA Menards Series West, leading all 150-laps from the pole for his second consecutive series win.

 

Huddleston topped General Tire Pole Qualifying and left zero doubt during a non-stop contest, clicked off in under 37 minutes on the one-third mile speedway. Huddleston’s lead fluctuated between two and three seconds over Eric Nascimento, Jr. throughout the contest.

 

“Epic man. Epic,” Huddleston said. “It’s a crazy couple of days. Got engaged (last weekend in victory lane) and got these wins. I live a blessed life.”

 

Huddleston accepted the checkered flag with a 1.482-second lead followed by Eric Nascimento, Jr., Reif, Hingorani, and Wood.

 





Pole: Trevor Huddleston

Click Here for Race Results


Next Race: The ARCA Series will return on Saturday, October 26, 2024 at 8:00 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 / ARCA Media
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Saturday, October 28, 2023

The NASCAR Xfinity Series Heads Back to the ‘Paperclip’

The NASCAR Xfinity Series Heads Back to the ‘Paperclip’

Sammy Smith Starts on Pole

The #NASCAR Xfinity Series Heads Back to the ‘Paperclip’

 

  • Next Race: Dead On Tools 250
  • The Place: Martinsville Speedway
  • The Date: Saturday, October 28
  • The Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
  • The Purse: $1,380,935
  • TV: USA, 3 p.m. ET
  • Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR (Channel 90)
  • Distance: 131.5 miles (250 Laps)
  • Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 60)
  • Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 120)
  • Final Stage (Ends on Lap 250)

As the series winds down the 2023 season, the NASCAR Xfinity Series drivers will now be heading to Martinsville Speedway for the penultimate race – the Dead On Tools 250 today at 3:30 p.m. ET (USA Network, NBC Sports App, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR radio).

 

This will be the 41st NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Martinsville Speedway. The previous 40 races have produced 26 different race winners and 21 different pole winners. Only six races have been won from the pole or first starting position, but it’s been over 35 years since a driver was able to accomplish the feat – most recently by Jimmy Hensley in 1987.

 

This season will be the fourth consecutive year that Martinsville Speedway serves as the penultimate, or sixth race in the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs, the elimination race of the Round of 8 (2020 – 2023). The track was not on the NASCAR Xfinity Series schedule from 2007 to 2019.

 

A few drivers have been able to etch their names in the Martinsville Speedway record books – Sam Ard (most wins – five), Brett Bodine (most poles - five), Dale Jarrett (most top fives – 11), Jimmy Hensley and Tommy Houston (tied for most top 10s – 17), and Tommy Ellis (most laps led – 713).

 

Three drivers in the field have already taken the checkered flag at the 0.526-mile track, one of which is a Playoff contender – John Hunter Nemechek (2023), along with Brandon Jones (2022) and Josh Berry (2021).

 

Although he hasn’t won a race at Martinsville Speedway. JR Motorsports’ Justin Allgaier could also be a favorite to win this weekend as he knows what it takes to win the penultimate race of the season. In 2019, he won the final race in the Round of 8 when it was held at Phoenix Raceway.

 





The #NASCAR Xfinity Series Heads Back to the ‘Paperclip’

 

Here are the starting positions of the 38 NASCAR Xfinity Series drivers at Martinsville Speedway:

 

  1. #18 - Sammy Smith
  2. #7 - Justin Allgaier
  3. #00 - Cole Custer
  4. #98 - Riley Herbst
  5. #20 - John Hunter Nemechek
  6. #9 - Brandon Jones
  7. #16 - Chandler Smith
  8. #2 - Sheldon Creed
  9. #21 - Austin Hill
  10. #31 - Parker Retzlaff
  11. #19 - Myatt Snider
  12. #8 - Josh Berry
  13. #39 - Ryan Sieg
  14. #10 - Daniel Hemric
  15. #48 - Parker Kligerman
  16. #25 - Brett Moffitt
  17. #1 - Sam Mayer
  18. #91 - Josh Bilicki
  19. #11 - Layne Riggs
  20. #51 - Jeremy Clements
  21. #4 - JJ Yeley
  22. #78 - Anthony Alfredo
  23. #26 - Kaz Grala
  24. #92 - Josh Williams
  25. #24 - Connor Mosack
  26. #44 - Rajah Caruth
  27. #6 - Brennan Poole
  28. #29 - Kyle Sieg
  29. #45 - Jeffrey Earnhardt
  30. #08 - Chad Finchum
  31. #02 - Blaine Perkins
  32. #43 - Ryan Ellis
  33. #38 - Joe Graf, Jr.
  34. #28 - CJ McLaughlin
  35. #35 - Chris Hacker
  36. #53 - Akinori Ogata
  37. #07 - Devin Jones
  38. #27 - Jeb Burton




 

source: NASCAR Media
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Wednesday, March 29, 2023

Xfinity Series Dash 4 Cash

Xfinity Series Dash 4 Cash

Facts to Know Before This Weekend's Event

 

#NASCAR Xfinity Series Dash 4 Cash

 

NASCAR officials released the 2023 schedule for the Xfinity Series Dash 4 Cash program, bringing back the four tracks that formed last year’s mix.

 

Eligible Xfinity Series regulars who are the top finishers at those designated events will pocket cash bonuses.

 

The March 25 race at Circuit of The Americas determined the four eligible drivers with the first crack at the extra money as:

  • Sammy Smith
  • Justin Allgaier
  • Daniel Hemric
  • Sam Mayer

The four events in the 2023 Dash 4 Cash initiative:

 

  • April 1: Richmond Raceway
    • •
  • April 15: Martinsville Speedway
    • •
  • April 22: Talladega Superspeedway
    • •
  • April 29: Dover Motor Speedway

 

The top four eligible Xfinity Series regulars from each event will form the field for the next race’s bonus.

 

Eligibility requirements for this year will be similar to the 2022 structure. Drivers who have not declared to collect Xfinity Series points may not participate in the series’ playoffs, elimination events, or Dash 4 Cash races.

 





 

source: NASCAR Media
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Saturday, March 18, 2023

Weather Impedes Friday Qualifying Sessions at AMS

Weather Impedes Friday Qualifying Sessions at AMS

Zane Smith – Truck Series Pole / Sammy Smith - Xfinity Pole

William Byron's hauler enters the infield Friday at AMS.

 


Mother Nature got the best of Friday’s afternoon qualifying at Atlanta Motor Speedway for both the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series, as the respective sessions were canceled due to rain in the area.

 

NCTS points leader Zane Smith will start on the pole for Saturday’s Fr8 208 (2 p.m. ET, FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). The subsequent lineup will be set by performance metrics per the NASCAR Rule Book: 15% of a fastest lap time position in the previous series event, 25% of the driver’s final race finish position in the previous series event, 25% of the owner’s final race finish position in the previous event and 35% of the Owner Points position.

 

Sammy Smith, who won last week’s showdown at Phoenix Raceway, will lead the pack to begin Saturday’s Xfinity Series RAPTOR King of Tough 250 (5 p.m. ET, FS1, PRN, SiriusXM).

 

While Mother Nature won the day Friday, forecasts for Saturday’s slate of on-track action at AMS are much more favorable. Qualifying for the Ambetter Health 400 precedes the doubleheader racing with the Fr8 208 and RAPTOR King of Tough 250 running back-to-back. The weekend culminates with the Ambetter Health 400 on Sunday. 

 

 

Click Here for Truck Line-Up

 

Click Here for Xfinity Line-Up

 





 

source: Atlanta Motor Speedway Media
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Monday, March 13, 2023

NASCAR Plus ARCA Race Weekend Recap (Phoenix Raceway)

#NASCAR Plus ARCA Race Weekend Recap (Phoenix Raceway)

Winners: William Byron (Cup); Sammy Smith (Xfinity); Tyler Reif (ARCA West)

 

NASCAR Cup

William Byron Makes it Two in a Row

 

After a two-tire call under the fourth caution flag in Sunday’s United Rentals Work United 500 at Phoenix Raceway, William Byron surged past Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kyle Larson in overtime to win his second straight NASCAR Cup Series race.

 

Byron can thank Ford drivers Aric Almirola and Harrison Burton, who on successive weekends spun with a handful of laps left – at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Phoenix, respectively – and gave Byron a chance to capitalize on the opportunity.

 

As a result, Byron scored his second victory of the season and a guaranteed ticket into the Cup Series Playoffs. The driver of the No. 24 Chevrolet won for the first time at Phoenix and for the sixth time in his career.

 

Byron credited crew chief Rudy Fugle with the two-tire call that got him out front with a chance to win.

 

“Owe the last couple weeks to him,” said Byron, who also won at Las Vegas on two fresh tires. “He’s done a really good job strategy-wise, and execution-wise we’ve done a good job to put ourselves in those positions on the front row with a shot at the end.

 

“Thanks to everybody back at Hendrick Motorsports, putting together great cars, doing a great job. This is a big credit to them, engine shop, (team owner, Rick) Hendrick, everybody.”

 





Pole: Kyle Larson

Click Here for Race Results

 

Next Race: The Cup Series will return on March 19th for the Ambetter Health 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. 

 

 

NASCAR Xfinity

Sammy Smith becomes Youngest Xfinity Winner

 

Sammy Smith won the Xfinity Series  race at Phoenix Raceway on Saturday, the first victory for the 18-year-old high school student who is taking classes online so he can be a full-time driver.

 

Making his 13th start in the past two years for Joe Gibbs Racing, Smith led the final 52 laps and held off Cup Series star Kyle Busch on two restarts to take the checkered flag for the first time in a NASCAR national series event.

 

"It's amazing. It's a dream come true," Smith said. "It's awesome."

 





Pole: Cole Custer

Click Here for Race Results

 

Next Race: The Xfinity Series will return on March 18 for the RAPTOR 250 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

 

 

ARCA

Tyler Reif Rises to the Occasion, Earns First ARCA Menards Series Victory

 

Tyler Reif was fast in practice Friday at Phoenix Raceway, and when it counted most, he was fast during the General Tire 150.

 

Reif, making just his third start on the ARCA platform for Lowden-Jackson Motorsports, emerged as the winner of the annual ARCA Menards Series and ARCA Menards Series West combination race after a pair of green-white-checkered restarts.

 

The race wasn’t without setbacks for Reif, who was involved in a crash on Lap 11 that damaged the rear of his car. Quick work by the Lowden-Jackson Motorsports crew kept him in the race, work that would pay dividends later with a trip to Victory Lane.

 

“Got in a racing incident, got turned, no big deal,” said Reif, who is racing full-time in both the ARCA Menards Series West and ARCA Menards Series East this year. “Kept our heads straight and fought back to the lead.

 

“This team is so good to get this car hooked up. I’m happy. There are just no words to describe this.”

 





Pole: William Sawalich

Click Here for Race Results

 

 

Next Race: The ARCA Series will return on March 25th for the Pensacola 200 at Five Flags Speedway .

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Sunday, October 9, 2022

NASCAR & ARCA Race Weekend Recap (Charlotte Roval & Toledo Speedway)

NASCAR & ARCA Race Weekend Recap (Charlotte Roval & Toledo Speedway)

Winners: Christopher Bell (Cup); AJ Allmendinger (Xfinity); Sammy Smith (ARCA West)

NASCAR Cup

Christopher Bell Wins in the Clutch

Christopher Bell Wins in the Clutch

 

Christopher Bell saved his season with his second victory of the year in the NASCAR Cup Series, emerging from a pair of chaotic late restarts to prevail in overtime Sunday at the Charlotte Motor Speedway road course.

 

Christopher Bell: "Honestly, whenever you get tires and the rest of the field doesn't, it's a pretty tall order for those guys to hold on. I knew what those guys were up against, it was nice to be first off pit road with fresh tires."

 

Bell’s No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota led just the final two of the 112 laps in the Bank of America Roval 400. His first win on the 2.32-mile circuit was the third of his Cup Series career.

 

The championship-eligible field was whittled from 12 drivers to eight after Sunday’s race, the final event in the Cup Series Playoffs’ Round of 12. Kyle Larson — last year’s champion — had mechanical issues and was among those eliminated by just a two-point margin. Austin Cindric, Daniel Suárez and Alex Bowman also failed to advance. Bowman was sidelined for the second straight race with concussion symptoms.

 





Round of 8

  • # 9 Chase Elliott
  • # 20 Christopher Bell
  • # 12 Ryan Blaney
  • # 1 Ross Chastain
  • # 11 Denny Hamlin
  • # 22 Joey Logano
  • # 24 William Byron
  • # 14 Chase Briscoe

 

Pole: Joey Logano

Click Here for Unofficial Race Results

 

 

Next Race: The Cup Series will return on October 16 for the ‘South Point 400’ at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. 

 

 

NASCAR Xfinity

AJ Allmendinger fends off Gibbs for Xfinity Series win at Charlotte Roval

AJ Allmendinger fends off Gibbs for Xfinity Series win at Charlotte Roval

 

It took a bit of thievery for AJ Allmendinger to preserve his perfect record at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course.

 

“We got that one — we stole that one,” shouted Allmendinger after spinning his car like a dervish during a celebratory burnout at the finish line of the 2.32-mile, 17-turn road course.

 

Indeed, the 40-year-old Allmendinger swiped the lead from Ty Gibbs — a driver half his age — after an overtime restart on Lap 68 of the Drive for the Cure 250 presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, the Round of 12 elimination race in the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs.

 

“It’s unbelievable,” Allmendinger, who won for the fourth time in four starts at the Charlotte Roval. “Ty was really good there at the end, and I didn’t know if I was going to be able to get him. I knew if I could just get to one restart on the outside of him, at least we’d have a chance.”

 





Pole: AJ Allmendinger

Click Here for Race Results
 
 

Next Race: The Xfinity Series will return on October 15, 2022 for the ‘Alsco Uniforms 302’ at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. 

 

 

NASCAR Trucks

The Camping World Truck Series were off this week and will also not compete next week.

 





Next Race: The Truck Series will return on October 22, 2022 for the Baptist Health 200 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. 

 

 

ARCA

Sammy Smith Emerges as the Winner in Shore Lunch 200

Sammy Smith Emerges as the Winner in Shore Lunch 200

 

Sammy Smith won the race after a three-wide pass on pole-sitter Jesse Love and Grant Enfinger with two laps left to give the No. 18 Kyle Busch Motorsports team the ARCA Menards Series owner’s championship.

 

“There was a shot to take it, and I took it,” Smith said of his move on Love. “[Love] was struggling. To be honest with you, we weren’t very good all race. We had a third-place car, and they probably had the best car there at the end, and [Enfinger] did, too. It was a shot to win and owner’s points on the line.”

 

Love was not pleased with how Smith won the race, and the Venturini Motorsports driver attempted to show his displeasure immediately after the race but was escorted away by series officials.

 

The day started off rough for Nicholas Sanchez, who didn’t get to turn any practice laps in his car after his team discovered a problem with the engine in the No. 2. His team went to work and put in a backup motor, which allowed him to turn the eighth fastest lap in qualifying.

 

In the Series Championship drama, hot tempers and a thrilling finish were all part of the equation that made up Saturday’s Shore Lunch 200 at Toledo Speedway,  the 2022 ARCA Menards Series season finale.

 

When it all was said and done, Nick Sanchez left smiling. Sanchez, the driver of the No. 2 Rev Racing Chevrolet, finished sixth to claim the ARCA Menards Series driver championship over of GMS Racing’s Daniel Dye.

 

“The first part was pretty hectic. It was pretty close,” said Sanchez. “We had to stay out to get a point by leading a lap. Once the 43 (Dye) had a problem, it all got a lot easier. We just rode to the end of the race, honestly.”

 





Pole: Jesse Love

Click Here for Race Results
 
 
Next Race: The ARCA West Series will return on October 14, 2022 for the ‘Star Nursery 150’ at The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor.

 

source: NASCAR Media
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Monday, May 9, 2022

NASCAR / ARCA Race Weekend Recap (Darlington / Nashville Fairgrounds)

NASCAR / ARCA Race Weekend Recap (Darlington / Nashville Fairgrounds)

Winners: Joey Logano (Cup); Justin Allgaier (Xfinity); John Hunter Nemechek (Trucks) plus Sammy Smith (ARCA East)

 

NASCAR Cup

Logano Moves Byron Out of Way, Powers to First Win of 2022

Logano Moves Byron Out of Way, Powers to First Win of 2022

 

Executing a decisive bash-and-run on the next-to-last-lap of Sunday‘s Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway, Joey Logano wrestled the lead from William Byron and ended a NASCAR Cup Series 40-race winless streak dating to March 2021 at Bristol Motor Speedway’s dirt track. 

 

After Logano gave Byron‘s Chevrolet a jolt entering Turn 3 on the white-flag lap, Byron shot up the track into the outside wall and fell back to 13th at the finish. 

 

“Yeah, you’re not going to put me in the wall and not get anything back,” Logano said, apparently referring to earlier contact from Byron‘s car. “That’s how that works. Man, super proud of the Shell-Pennzoil team, getting a victory here in Darlington. You know what it’s like — I’ve never won here in a Cup race before.

 

“So proud of this race team. Great execution all day long. I’ll tell you what, the coolest thing is getting this car into Victory Lane. This is the car where it all started for me back in ’95 in a quarter midget. Really, honestly, all the young kids racing out there right now — this could be you.”

 

 

Pole: Joey Logano 

Click Here for Race Results

 
 

Next Race: The Cup Series will return on 05/15/2022 for the AdventHealth 400 at Kansas Speedway. 

 

NASCAR Xfinity

Justin Allgaier Snaps 34-Race Winless Streak

Justin Allgaier Snaps 34-Race Winless Streak

 

The numbers tell the story of Justin Allgaier’s impressive victory in Saturday’s Mahindra ROXOR 200 at Darlington Raceway. 

 

First and foremost, in defending the NASCAR Xfinity Series victory he claimed last spring at the Lady in Black, Allgaier broke a 34-race drought dating to that 2021 win. 

 

For the second straight race, JR Motorsports posted a 1-2 result, with Noah Gragson trailing Allgaier to the finish line by .259 seconds in a two-lap dash to the end of regulation. 

 

“This team right here — the pit stops today were killing it,” said Allgaier, who had finished a close second to teammate Josh Berry a week ago at Dover. “They were awesome. This Hellman’s Camaro was so fast. Just a testament to the 7 guys, but everybody at JR Motorsports — they’ve been working so hard. It’s showing with our finishes, not just our 7 team, but all of us.

 

“We’ve been doing this way too long, and you know how great it feels to get back to Victory Lane. … And by the way, it was awesome racing my teammates. That was probably the coolest part, racing my teammates all day, so hats off to those guys.”

 

 

Pole: Ty Gibbs

Click Here for Race Results

 

 

Next Race: The Xfinity Series will return on 05/21/2022 for the SRS Distribution 250 at Texas Motor Speedway. 

 

 

NASCAR Trucks

John Hunter Nemechek Grabs First Win of 2022

John Hunter Nemechek Grabs First Win of 2022

 

The fastest truck won Friday’s Dead On Tools 200 at Darlington Raceway, but not without much ado between the green flag and the checkers. 

 

Pole winner John Hunter Nemechek fought through 10 cautions, an extra pit stop to tighten a loose wheel and an overtime restart to post his first NASCAR Camping World Truck Series victory of the season, holding off hard-luck Carson Hocevar by 0.552 seconds in the two-lap shootout to the finish. 

 

“Just a huge shoutout to all the guys that work on this No. 4 KBM Toyota Tundra,” Nemechek said after spinning his truck like a dervish in a celebratory burnout on the frontstretch.

 

“I thought we gave it away early, honestly, and we were able to rebound and battle back. I learned a lot tonight. I was finally able to bring home the first win of the year.”

 

 

Pole: John Hunter Nemechek

Click Here for Race Results
 
 

Next Race: The Truck Series will return on 05/14/2022 for the Heart Of America 200 at Kansas Speedway. 

 

 

ARCA

Sammy Smith Sings a Winning Tune in Music City 200

Sammy Smith Sings a Winning Tune in Music City 200

 

Sammy Smith is right at home in Music City.

Smith, driving the No. 18 TMC Toyota for Kyle Busch Motorsports, triumphed during Saturday’s ARCA Menards Series East Music City 200 at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway. 


The victory was his third in four races in East Series competition this season and his second-straight at the historic Nashville oval. It also allowed him strengthen his lead in the East Series standings to nine points ahead of title rival Taylor Gray. 

 

“We kind of struggled there to get by the 1 car (Finch) early,” Smith explained in Victory Lane. “Just couldn’t get clean air, but once we got out front our car was really good and here we are.”

 

Pole: Jake Finch

Click Here for Race Results
 

Next Race: The ARCA Series will return on 05/14/2022 for the Dutch Boy 150 at Kansas Speedway. 

 

 

Superstar Racing Experience

Next Race: The SRX Series will return on 06/18/2022 for the SRX Series Season Opener at Five Flags Speedway.

 

source: NASCAR Media

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Saturday, April 30, 2022

Taylor Gray takes ARCA East Victory

Taylor Gray takes ARCA East Victory

'General Tire 125' Results

Taylor Gray takes #ARCA East Victory

 

Taylor Gray grabbed the momentum his race team was seeking in a big way Friday at Dover Motor Speedway.

 

And his reward was a new Monster Trophy to display.

 

Gray led 115 of 125 laps and cruised to his first victory at the Monster Mile with a victory in the General Tire 125 ARCA Menards Series East race.

 

It was the first ARCA Menards Series East victory of the year for Gray, 17, a New Mexico native, who has also made two NASCAR Camping World Truck Series starts this year. 

 

 

Gray has top-three finishes in all three AMSE races so far in 2022 but Friday marked his first trip to Victory Lane.

 

“Hard work has paid off, finally,” Gray said. “We’ll take this momentum and go to Nashville [next race in series is May 7] and see what we can do.

 

“We’ve been working hard and making gains.”

 

Gray, driving the No. 17 Ford for David Gilliland Racing, topped second-place Jesse Love by 1.456 seconds at the checkered flag, with Conner Jones in third and Rajah Caruth in fourth.

 

Sammy Smith, who entered Friday as the ARCA Menards Series points leader after winning the season’s first two races, finished fifth.

 

Gray, who earned the pole position with a track record lap of 160.915 mph earlier on Friday.

 

And after capping a long day at Dover with a big victory, Gray already has a place in mind to keep his newly-won Monster Trophy.

 

“It’s a super cool trophy, probably one of my favorite trophies on the circuit,” Gray said. “It’s probably going to go right in my living room.”

 

GENERAL TIRE 125 RESULTS


 

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Monday, June 14, 2021

All-Star Weekend Race Recap

All-Star Weekend Race Recap

Winners: Kyle Larson (Cup); Kyle Busch (Xfinity); John Hunter Nemechek (Trucks); Sammy Smith (ARCA East); Doug Coby (SRX)

Cup - Kyle Larson Continues Hot Streak with NASCAR All-Star Race Win

Kyle Larson Continues Hot Streak with #NASCAR All-Star Race Win

 

Kyle Larson earned a $1 million paycheck and his second NASCAR All-Star Race victory in three seasons – putting on a racing master class Sunday evening at Texas Motor Speedway.

 

Larson was part of a frenetic three-wide move for the race lead with eight laps remaining – himself and runner-up Brad Keselowski splitting the car driven by Larson’s Hendrick Motorsports teammate Chase Elliott to make the move forward.

 

“It was wild,” a smiling Larson said from Texas’s victory lane. “This format set up for an exciting finish and there was a lot of grip on this race track for us to be passing. It was a helluva race from my seat.”

 

 

Xfinity - Kyle Busch Wins for 99th Time

Xfinity - Kyle Busch Wins for 99th Time

 

Kyle Busch boosted his NASCAR record Xfinity Series win total with a 99th career victory in Saturday afternoon’s Alsco Uniform 250 at Texas Motor Speedway.

 

The two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion held off veteran series regular Justin Allgaier by a mere .433-seconds in overtime to earn his second series win in as many races this year.

 

Busch led the last 32 laps but had to negotiate three late restarts including the last in overtime. It technically marked his second victory of the day as John Hunter Nemechek won the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race in a truck owned by Busch.

 

“Just being with a great group of guys and Joe Gibbs Racing is pretty awesome to drive to drive these Toyota Supras here in the Xfinity Series,’’ Busch said after an extended victory burnout the crowd enjoyed from the series all-time winningest driver.

 

 

Trucks - Nemechek Cruises to Victory in Texas

Trucks - John Hunter Nemechek Cruises to Victory in Texas

 

A day after celebrating his 24th birthday, John Hunter Nemechek celebrated his Camping World Truck Series best fourth win of the season and first of his career at Texas Motor Speedway in Saturday‘s Speedycash.com 220 — easily earning the win by a full 3.361 seconds over hard-charging NASCAR Cup Series regular Chase Elliott.

 

The continued positive results and the career-high season win total for Nemechek resonated deeply for the young driver, who moved to the truck series this season after racing full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series last year. His work in two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch‘s Toyotas — a series-best four wins and seven top-five finishes through 11 races — has given him a firm grip on the championship. His 28 Playoff points are more than twice that of any other driver in the field.

 

The results haven‘t just been good for his title run, but a well-timed confidence boost as well.

 

“There‘s going to be haters, people that doubt your ability, question your ability and as a person, you have to know what you are capable of,‘‘ Nemechek said. “I took that as a challenge. A lot of media, probably a lot of drivers, too, questioned my moving from the NASCAR Cup Series to the Camping World Truck Series — but I do feel like the Camping World Truck Series is one of the best series in NASCAR, it‘s super competitive every single week and you have to push yourself over the limit and push for more.

 

 

ARCA East - Sammy Smith Dominates Closing Laps to Win

#ARCA East - Sammy Smith Dominates Closing Laps to Win

 

Sammy Smith did not have the best car for the majority of Saturday night’s Southern National 200 presented by Solid Rock Carriers at Southern National Motorsports Park.

 

But when the 17-year-old did have the best car, as was the case for the last third or so of the race, he had the best machine in the field by far.

 

Smith’s Joe Gibbs Racing crew made an adjustment on the No. 18 Engine Ice Toyota during the second of two scheduled race breaks at Southern National, and the fix propelled him to an easy victory in the fifth ARCA Menards Series East race of the season.

 

Smith took the lead from Mason Diaz shortly after that break and led the final 68 laps of the race.

 

“We were loose the first two stages there and were kind of just saving,” said Smith. “(Crew chief) Mark (McFarland) made a good adjustment to tighten it up a little bit. Can’t thank this whole team enough; they did a good job all day.”

 

 

SRX - Coby’s Star Shines Brightest in Field of Superstars at Stafford

SRX - Coby’s Star Shines Brightest in Field of Superstars at Stafford

 

Doug Coby won the season-opening race of the inaugural Camping World SRX Series Saturday night at Stafford Motor Speedway and scored a win for short-track racers across the United States.

 

Coby is a six-time NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion and winner of 30 races at Stafford, from the Modified Tour to SK Modifieds to Pro Stocks and Late Models. He earned his 31st and arguably biggest Stafford victory on a national stage, with his triumph in the Camping World SRX Series broadcast live on the CBS Television Network and streamed on Paramount+ Premium.

 

“What a special night for short-track racing in America,” said Coby, who had to fight off NASCAR veteran Greg Biffle for much of the 100-lap race around the half-mile oval. “This is a special night for Stafford Motor Speedway and everybody who is a short-track racer around the country, whether you’re dirt or asphalt.

 

“Just to have all these fans here and all these drivers – the guy who won the Indy 500 two weeks ago, NASCAR Hall of Famers, Daytona 500 champions, and here I am, Modified Tour guy and homegrown Stafford Speedway guy. It just goes to show there are a lot of good short-trackers out there. I like to think I’m one of them, but there are hundreds of others who are good at their craft and get around their speedway really good. It ain’t going to be easy for any invader, and I love that we were in equal cars.”

 

 

 

source: NASCAR Media
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