NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Go Bowling 400
Kansas Speedway Distance: 400.5 miles (267 laps)
Saturday, May 7 7:30 p.m. ET TV: FS1, 7 p.m. ET
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
NASCAR XFINITY Series Dover 200
Dover International Speedway
Distance: Two Heat Races – 40 miles (40 laps) | Main – 120 miles (120 laps)
Saturday, May 14 2:30 p.m. ET TV: FOX, 2 p.m. ET
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Toyota Tundra 250
Kansas Speedway Distance: 250.5 miles (167 laps)
Friday, May 6 8:30 p.m. ET TV: FS1, 8 p.m. ET
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES
Logano Looks For Second Straight Kansas Win, First Victory Of 2016
Ten races into the season, 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series wins leader Joey Logano is still searching for his first victory. He’ll get his next shot at a checkered flag in Saturday’s Go Bowling 400 at Kansas Speedway (7:30 p.m. ET on FS1) – a track where he’s won two of the last three races, including last fall’s Chase contest. In 13 Kansas starts, Logano has two wins and five top-five finishes – all in his last five races at the 1.5-mile track. Logano currently ranks seventh on the Chase Grid – highest among winless drivers. On the season, he has three top fives and six top 10s.
Kansas City Chief: Johnson Attempts To Defend Spring Victory, Add To Track-Record Win Total No one is better at Kansas Speedway than six-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson. The No. 48 Chevrolet driver ranks tied with Jeff Gordon for the track wins record with three victories. He leads all active competitors with eight top fives and 16 top 10s in 19 Kansas starts. Johnson also paces the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series at Kansas in average finish (7.3), average running position (9.4) and driver rating (112.0). Johnson will attempt to defend his 2015 spring Kansas win in Saturday’s Go Bowling 400. He stayed out on a late caution and led the final 10 laps to take home the checkered flag. Kevin Harvick finished second in the race, followed by Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Gordon and Joey Logano.
Kansas Is One Of Three Tracks Where Kyle Busch Has Never Won
Kyle Busch has yet to conquer only three of the 23 active NASCAR Sprint Cup Series tracks – Kansas Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway and Pocono Raceway. He’ll get his shot to cross Kansas off the list in Saturday’s Go Bowling 400. Just 31 years old, Busch boasts 36 career wins, including two this season. The 2016 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion enters Saturday’s race riding a streak of four
top-two finishes in his last five starts. Busch’s average finish at Kansas is 20.4 – his third-worst at all the active NSCS tracks. He has shown signs of improvement in his last two races there, finishing fifth last fall and third in October of 2014.
Near-Record Passing At Talladega
In Sunday’s GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway, there were 213 green flag passes for the lead, only the second time since the inception of loop data (2005) that there have been more than 200 green flag passes for the lead in a single race.
The GEICO 500 came six green flag passes for the lead shy of tying the record for most in a single race since the inception of loop data (Talladega, 219, Oct. 2013).
Talladega Knight: Keselowski Tames Behemoth For Fourth Time
Brad Keselowski became the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series’ fourth two-time winner this season when he won his fourth career race at Talladega Superspeedway. The No. 2 Ford driver led five times for a race-high 46 laps. Keselowski, who logged his first career win at Talladega in 2009, trails only Dale Earnhardt Jr., by two victories, for the active lead at the 2.66-mile track. Team Penske now has 98 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series wins. Keselowski will attempt to start a win streak at Kansas Speedway this weekend, a track where he claims one victory (2011).
Dillon Brothers Had A Day At ’Dega
Austin Dillon piloted his No. 3 Chevrolet to a career-best third-place finish at Talladega, while his brother Ty drove Tony Stewart’s No. 14 ride to a sixth-place showing. Ty does not get credit for the finish since Tony Stewart started the race, but the result would’ve been the first top 10 of his career. Austin and his team battled through three separate wrecks to finish the day strong. The No. 3 Chevrolet pitted a race-high 16 times. “For me, I’m proud of our team,” Austin said. “If you guys can see the car, if you go
look at it, you would never expect it to get to third. I actually think with it being so draggy and beat up, the 1 car hooked to us at the end and he just pushed me all the way through three and four, gave me a heck of a run.” Through 10 races, Dillon already has a career-high three top fives and has tied his career-best five top 10s. He ranks 11th on the Chase Grid, 48 points above the cutoff line.
Bowyer, Edwards, McMurray Eye First Win At Home Track
Clint Bowyer (Emporia, Kansas), Carl Edwards (Columbia, Mo.) and Jamie McMurray (Joplin, Mo.) return to their home track, Kansas Speedway, for Saturday’s Go Bowling 400.
Surprisingly, none of the three drivers have won for the home crowd.
In 15 starts at Kansas, Bowyer owns two top fives and five top 10s. His high finish is a runner-up in 2007. Edwards claims six top fives and 12 top 10s in 17 starts in The Sunflower State. His average finish of 9.9 ranks second among active drivers. Edwards’ best Kansas showing is a runner-up in 2008.
In 18 Kansas starts, McMurray has three top 10s. His high finish at the 1.5-mile track is seventh (2004 and 2013).
Bowyer (2011) and Edwards (2004) have each won a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Kansas. Bowyer is entered in Friday’s
Stewart Back In Saddle At Kansas
After giving up his seat to Ty Dillon following the first caution at Talladega, Tony Stewart returns to his No. 14 Chevrolet full-time at Kansas for Saturday’s Go Bowling 400. In 19 starts at Kansas, Stewart owns two wins, six top fives and nine top 10s. He struggled at the 1.5-mile track last season, finishing 39th in the spring and 35th in the fall. Dillon navigated the No. 14 to a sixth-place finish at Talladega, which is credited to Stewart because he started the race. To make the Chase, Stewart must win a race and finish the regular season in the top 30 in points. He’s currently 38th in the points – 71 markers behind 30th-place Matt DiBenedetto.
Sunoco Rookie Of The Year Battle: Elliott, Blaney Continue To Impress
Sunoco Rookie of the Year contenders Chase Elliott and Ryan Blaney finished in the top 10 together for the second race this season at Talladega Speedway. Elliott placed fifth, while Blaney took ninth. Elliott leads Blaney by 27 points in the Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings on the strength of three top-five and six top-10 finishes. Blaney owns three top-10 results. The two continue their rookie of the year battle in Saturday’s Go Bowling 400 at Kansas Speedway where Blaney finished seventh last fall. Elliott has never raced a Sprint Cup car at Kansas, but has two top 10s in his two NASCAR XFINITY Series starts there. Elliott currently ranks 12th on the Chase Grid (47 points above the cutoff line), while Blaney sits 18th (-9).
NASCAR XFINITY SERIES
Sadler’s Late Race Move Lands Him Win, Points Lead
Elliott Sadler’s late-race move at Talladega brought more than the elation of victory; he is now also tied with Daniel Suarez in the NASCAR XFINITY Series championship points – but holds the tiebreaker due to his win.
And to boot, Sadler’s win has clicked his ticket to the NASCAR XFINITY Series Chase. In the process, he became the first driver to win on his birthday (April 30) in the NASCAR XFINITY Series.
Talladega has become one of Sadler’s best stages to showcase his talents. In eight starts at the famed superspeedway he has two wins (2014, 2016), three top fives, five top 10s and an average finish of 8.0.
Sadler and the No. 1 JR Motorsports team led by crew chief Kevin Meendering will get an extra weekend to enjoy the spoils of their Talladega win as the series is off this weekend, but will be back to action on May 14 at Dover International Speedway for the third NASCAR XFINITY Series Dash 4 Cash race (2 p.m. ET on FOX).
In 2016, Sadler has posted one win (Talladega), four top fives and eight top 10s.
Dillon, Allgaier, and Gaughan Have Big Points Hill To Scale
While there might be a points deadlock at the top of the standings following Talladega, positions third through fifth are stuck with a +30-point deficit behind the two leaders, Elliott Sadler and Daniel Suarez.
The good news: All three are very much in contention for the inaugural NASCAR XFINITY Series Chase.
Richard Childress Racing’s Ty Dillon (-32) is currently third in the standings after posting two top fives and five top 10s in nine starts this season.
JR Motorsports’ Justin Allgaier (-34) sits fourth in the standings after Talladega. Allgaier’s season has seen three top fives, and seven top 10s.
Dillon’s teammate at Richard Childress Racing, Brandan Gaughan (-35) is fifth in the point standings. Gaughan has landed one top five and five top 10s in 2016.
Sunoco Rookie Update: Erik Jones continues to lead the Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings by 26 points over second-place Brandon Jones and 31 points ahead of third-place Brennan Poole. Poole won the rookie of the race this past weekend at Talladega. …
NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Back In Action It’s back.
The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series returns to action on Friday night with the Toyota Tundra 250 at Kansas Speedway.
Statement from Cameron Hayley Motorsports
Truck 13 Cameron Hayley Cabinets by Hayley Toyota of Calgary Alberta: Race day at Kansas Speedway. Today I will be driving for everyone effected by the fire in Fort Mcmurray #AlbertaStrong
Kansas proved to be a dramatic race last season. Erik Jones, Tyler Reddick and Daniel Suárez all ran out of fuel while in the lead, and Matt Crafton saved enough in the tank to pass them for the victory.
Crafton is the only full-time NCWTS driver with a win at Kansas. Johnny Sauter (third), Timothy Peters (fourth), Cameron Hayley (fifth) and Daniel Hemric (10th) all finished in the top 10 in last season’s race.
All In The Family: Nemechek Hopes To Join Father As Kansas Winner
Fun Fact: Although he’s never made a start at Kansas Speedway, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series standings leader John Hunter Nemechek has been in Victory Lane there.
Nemechek was “front and center” celebrating as a 7-year-old when his father, Joe Nemechek, won the 2004 Banquet 400 at Kansas. The victory was the final win of the elder Nemechek’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career.
John Hunter will attempt to carry on the family tradition in his Kansas Speedway debut on Friday. The NASCAR Next alum has finished second or better in five of his last seven NCWTS starts.
Nemechek Tops NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Standings
John Hunter Nemechek lays sole claim to the top spot in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series standings. The NASCAR Next member leads second-place Parker Kligerman by three points on the strength of one win and a runner-up in three starts this season.
Timothy Peters ranks third in the NCWTS standings (-6 points behind Nemechek) and is followed by Tyler Young (-16) and Cameron Hayley (-17). Ryan Truex (-17), Daniel Hemric (-18), Brandon Brown (-21), Spencer Gallagher (-21) and Ben Rhodes (-22) round out the top 10.
Nemechek and Johnny Sauter are the only drivers who have clinched berths in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Chase as full-time race winners, assuming they both remain eligible per the rule book.
Rhodes is the top Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender in the standings. NASCAR Next members William Byron (12th, -32 points behind Nemechek) and Rico Abreu (14th, -34) are the next best rookies in the standings.
Native Son: Bowyer Back In A Truck At Hometown Track
Emporia, Kansas native Clint Bowyer is scheduled to pilot the No. 24 GMS Racing Chevrolet at Kansas Speedway on Friday.
Bowyer last raced a truck in 2014 at Pocono where he finished sixth. His last series win came when he visited Victory Lane at Kansas in 2011.
In 13 career NCWTS starts, Bowyer owns three wins, eight top fives and nine top 10s. He has placed second or better in five of his last six series appearances.
Intermediate Icon: Crafton Dominant At 1.5-Mile Tracks
No current NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver is better at intermediate tracks than Matt Crafton.
Dating back to 2014, Crafton has finished in the top 10 in 16 of his last 18 races at ovals measuring 1.5 or 1.54 miles. Included in that stretch are six wins and three runner-ups.
Crafton takes an intermediate track on Friday at Kansas Speedway where he is the defending race winner. He is also the only driver to ever visit Victory Lane there twice (2013, ’15).
The two-time NCWTS champion currently ranks 11th in the points standings. He has two top 10s in the first three events and finished seventh in the last series race, at Martinsville.
Kennedy Welcomes Weber As Sponsor
Shortly, after joining GMS Racing, Ben Kennedy has a new sponsor. Weber, the manufacturer of charcoal, gas and electric grills, grilling accessories and other outdoor room products will serve as a primary sponsor for Kennedy in the No. 33 Chevrolet Silverado for select races, beginning at Kansas Speedway.
“We are thrilled to partner with Ben and GMS Racing in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series,” said Tom Koos, CEO Weber-Stephen Products LLC. “NASCAR tailgates are such great grilling occasions and partnering with Ben serves to increase our presence in campgrounds, racetrack infields and backyards with fans across the country. Ben is a young, talented driver. He will represent our brand in a terrific way and we are looking forward to working with Ben, the No. 33 team and everyone at GMS Racing.”
Its endeavor with GMS and Kennedy marks Weber’s first sponsorship in the NASCAR realm.
“I am honored and privileged to work with a company like Weber,” Kennedy said. “Their products have been in our home as long as I can remember. So this partnership means a lot, and I have confidence that the entire GMS team is determined to make their entry into NASCAR successful. I look forward to much success this season and to winning on and off the track.”
In 53 career NCWTS starts, Kennedy has produced six top fives and 16 top 10s.
GasBuddy Partners With MAKE Motorsports
GasBuddy, the world’s leading gas mobile app, joins MAKE Motorsports as the primary sponsor of its No. 50 Chevrolet Silverado piloted by Travis Kvapil for multiple races this season, beginning with the Toyota Tundra 250 at Kansas Speedway.
GasBuddy helps people locate cheap fuel. It has more than 56 million downloads and 15 million monthly active users.
“NASCAR, MAKE Motorsports and GasBuddy share many key characteristics: driving, teamwork and fueling up efficiently,” said Mike Schneider, chief marketing officer for GasBuddy. “Millions of people turn to GasBuddy to save money at the pumps and we look forward to revving up our exposure in this exciting market.”
Kvapil finished fifth at Daytona and 23rd at Atlanta this season.
NASCAR
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