More Fuel for the Fire - 2018

#61
"Kurt Busch turned the first lap in the final session of qualifying and watched as nobody was able to post a faster lap in the five-minute-session to capture his first pole position at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. At a track where his brother Kyle Busch has dominated on qualifying day, today belongs to Kurt, who stood with the Cape Cod Café Pizza Pole Award.

"I like the way we made the right changes through each of the rounds and we stuck to a game plan," said Kurt. "That's exactly what you hope to happen each time you go to qualifying where you don't have to deviate away from the plan you set in place."

Kurt turned his best lap of the session's final round with a speed of 133.591 mph for the pole. He was fourth fastest in the first round as he posted a lap of 132.817, and then was sixth in the second round with a 133.221 lap to advance to the final round.

The final results set up a great Sunday duel between the Busch brothers. Kyle steered his no. 18 M&Ms Toyota to the fastest overall lap of 133.656 mph, which was tops in the second qualifying round. Add to the drama that Martin Truex Jr. qualified second after capturing the 2017 pole at NHMS, and you have a trio of titans ready to lead the field for the Foxwoods Resort Casino 301.

In celebrating his first New Hampshire pole award, Kurt praised the addition of traction compound to the turns of "The Magic Mile." He predicts the extra stick will mean even more competitive racing this weekend. "It will help big time," explained Kurt. "When your car is working good you can pass with the VHT in lane 1 and lane 3; it changes the game."

This is the third pole victory of 2018 for the driver of the no. 41 Monster Energy Ford, but he is still searching for his first trip to Victory Lane this season. He's confident this is a step towards that goal. "It's great to be on pole," said Kurt. "It's exactly what we needed to start that second half vibe going on."
 
#66
Another Juicy Tidbit :

Code: 
http://www.espn.com/jayski/cup/2018/story/_/id/23861997/nascar-not-use-all-star-aero-package-again-season

Jayski.com Staff Jun 21, 2018

The drafting package used during the Monster Energy NASCAR All-Star Race weekend continues to be a discussion point for NASCAR competition officials, tracks, teams, manufacturers and engine builders. The conversation now, though, is centered on how to potentially implement elements of it in 2019 at the earliest.

The rules package used at the All-Star Race that included aero ducts, a higher spoiler, plates and an older splitter, will not be used in the Monster Energy Series again in 2018.
 
#67
Kyle B won the Camping Truck race this weekend, to tie for all time wins with Ron Hornaday @ 51 wins in the Truck Series

Kyle B and Ron Hornaday have had no love loss thru the years :eek:

Code: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btWYvCUlr4E
 
#69
More on Watkin's Glen Race :

QUALIFYING INFO, PRACTICE SPEED and ENTRIES

Coverage of Qualifying for the Go Bowling at the Glen Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Watkins Glen International is scheduled for Saturday, August 4, 2018 at 6:35pm/et.
Television (TV): TBA, 6:30pm/et
Radio: Live online at Motor Racing Network (MRN)

Road Course Qualifying Format: Qualifying for the road courses consist of two elimination rounds to determine the starting grid. The first elimination round will last 25 minutes and include all cars, setting starting spots 13-40. Then there will be a ten-minute break. The 12 cars that post the fastest single lap will advance to the final round. The final qualifying round will last 10 minutes, include all cars and the fastest single lap time will determine positions 1 through 12. The fastest driver in the final round will earn the pole position for the race.

Road Course Events Qualifying Format:
a) Qualifying will consist of two scheduled rounds.
b) The first Qualifying round is twenty-five (25) minutes in duration, unless otherwise authorized by the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Managing Director.
c) Upon completion of the first Qualifying round, eligibility for the forty (40) NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starting grid positions will be determined. Each Charter Team will be eligible for one of the available forty (40) starting grid positions. Open Teams will be eligible for the next available starting grid positions based on the fastest single lap speed posted to each Open Team's Designated Vehicle in the first Qualifying round.
d) The twelve (12) eligible Designated Vehicles that post the fastest single lap speed from the first Qualifying round will advance to the final Qualifying round.
e) The remaining eligible Designated Vehicles will be assigned starting grid positions 13th - 40th based on their fastest single lap speed posted in the first Qualifying round in descending order in accordance with the rules book.
f) There will be a ten-minute break after the completion of the first Qualifying round and the twelve (12) remaining Designated Vehicles that advance to the final Qualifying round will have their previously posted speed reset.
g) The final Qualifying round is ten minutes in duration and the fastest single lap speed posted in the final Qualifying round will be used to assign starting grid positions 1st - 12th in descending order.

Entry List for the Go Bowling at the Glen Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Watkins Glen International is posted, 37 teams/drivers [for 40 spots] are listed.
Some of the drivers entered include: #6-Kenseth, #15-Chastain, #23-Spencer Gallagher, #51-McLeod, #72-Whitt, #96-Kligerman.
Since only 37 cars are entered, all drivers will make the race.
UPDATE: Josh Bilicki will be in the #51.
See the full entry list on the Entry List
Code: 
(pdf)

More here :
Code: 
http://www.espn.com/jayski/cup/races/2018/story/_/id/24078814/2018-watkins-glen-monster-energy-nascar-cup-series-race-info
 
#70
Little Tidbit :

"How to Calculate Track Speeds: use the formula Speed = Distance divided by Time. Distance is Track Length, and Lap Time into Hours. One hour is 3600 seconds, so the calculation for a 48 second lap at Watkins Glen(2.5 miles) would be: Speed = 2.5 x (3600/48), = 2.5 x 75 = 187.500mph. For a 19 second lap at Watkins Glen(.533 miles): Speed = .533 x (3600/19), = .533 x 189.474 = a speed of 100.990mph."...!
 
#71
Definitely Food for Thought :

"There have been eight different winners in the last eight Watkins Glen races. And there are only six active former winners in this weekend's field - defending winner Martin Truex Jr., Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick, A.J. Allmendinger, Joey Logano and Denny Hamlin.

Clearly, however, Truex has been the most recent road course ace and is seeking his third consecutive victory this week. He's the defending winner at The Glen and won at Sonoma earlier this year. He has also led the most laps in the last three road course events - including a rare dominating performance (62 laps) for his Sonoma victory earlier this summer. He has finished every single lap in 12 starts at Watkins Glen.

"I raced go karts on road courses and always had fun learning the challenges of road racing," Truex said. "I can remember the first time I raced at Watkins Glen. It was in a Busch North Series car. It took a while to figure out the track - it was crazy. I kept asking myself 'How are these guys going so fast around here?'

"I have a lot of years of experience racing at The Glen. And right now I am with a great team which gives me all the pieces to be able to win races at different tracks. Hopefully we can go to The Glen this weekend and do it again. We know that a good qualifying spot is key. Starting up front sets the tone for the race."

Only twice in the last 14 races has the winner started from farther back than seventh position. Kyle Busch is the last to win the race from the pole position (2008).

Truex's No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Toyota team may feel a little championship "tag-you're-it" as the other two members of the dominant "Big 3" group - Harvick and Busch - have won the preceding two races coming to Watkins Glen. The mighty threesome has won nine of the last 10 races and all three have hoisted a victory at The Glen before."...!
 
#72
Rain again?

Early alerts show a 30% chance of rain on Sunday at Michigan International Speedway. It is very early in the week to get a real accurate reading, but the threat of rain as of Monday is imminent. We saw rain tires used for a short period of time in Saturday’s Zippo 200 at The Glen, the Xfinity Series race, but chances are pretty good that we won’t be seeing them this weekend at Michigan.

One driver I am sure would like to see rain tires used more often is A.J. Allmendinger. Allmendinger was flying in the Zippo 200 at The Glen in the rain tires. Sorry, though, “Dinger”; you won’t be using them this weekend, unfortunately.
 
#73
Behind the Scenes and Not well known :

NASCAR CEO and Chairman Brian France will take an indefinite leave of absence after he was arrested Sunday evening on charges of driving under the influence.

Bob Pockrass of ESPN shared word of the leave of absence, adding Jim France will serve as interim chairman and CEO.

TMZ reported France's blood alcohol content was more than twice the legal limit at the time of the arrest. Law enforcement sources told TMZ that France attempted to use his relationship with President Donald Trump during the stop.

France endorsed Trump during his presidential candidacy in 2016.

A statement released by the Sag Harbor Village (N.Y.) Police Department said France was also in possession of oxycodone.

"Mr. France was observed operating a 2017 Lexus northbound on Main Street failing to stop at a duly posted stop sign," the release said, per Pockrass. "Upon traffic stop, it was determined that Mr. France was operating said vehicle in an intoxicated condition.

"Upon search of his person, due to a lawful arrest, Mr. France was in possession of oxycodone pills."

France was held overnight before being arraigned Monday morning and released.

NASCAR has not released a statement on the matter at this time.
 
#74
Aug 11, 2018, 8:28 AM EDT

Six teams will be docked practice time in Saturday’s first practice session, and one team will lose time in the final practice session at Michigan International Speedway, NASCAR announced.

Martin Truex Jr. will lose 15 minutes of practice in the first session for being late to pre-race inspection last weekend at Watkins Glen.

Kyle Busch, Daniel Suarez and Ryan Newman each will lose 15 minutes in the first practice Saturday because they didn’t come to a complete stop in the inner loop during last weekend’s practice at Watkins Glen.

Bubba Wallace and BJ McLeod will miss 15 minutes in the first practice Saturday because their cars were late to pre-qualifying inspection Friday at Michigan.

First Cup practice Saturday is from 8:35 – 9:25 a.m. ET on CNBC.

Michael McDowell will be docked 15 minutes of the final practice Saturday because his car failed pre-qualifying inspection twice Friday at Michigan.

Final Cup practice Saturday is from 11:30 a.m. – 12:20 p.m. ET on the NBC Sports App and online.
 
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#75
DARLINGTON RACEWAY PARTNERS WITH CHEVROLET TO PACE THE MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES FIELD WITH SIX GENERATIONS OF THE CAMARO

8/28/2018
Chevy Camaro
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DARLINGTON, SOUTH CAROLINA (August 28, 2018) – In another once-in-a-lifetime moment fans will not want to miss, Darlington Raceway and Chevrolet are partnering to have all six generations of the manufacturers legendary Camaro pace the field prior to the green flag for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Bojangles’ Southern 500 race on Sunday, Sept. 2.

Seven different Camaros will take to the high banks of the track Too Tough To Tame driven by the following NASCAR Hall of Famers and legends of the sport:

1969 Camaro (First Gen) – driven by owner Rick Hendrick

1969 Camaro (First Gen) – driven by owner Richard Childress

1981 Camaro (Second Gen) – driven by Jeff Burton and owned by Mark Jones of Wallace, NC

1986 Camaro (Third Gen) – driven by Ray Evernham and owned by Tyler Grube of Darlington, SC

1993 Camaro (Fourth Gen) – driven by Ricky Craven and owned by Jim Ramsey of Darlington, SC

2011 Camaro (Fifth Gen) – driven by Ron Hornaday Jr. and owned by Josh Schmidt of Charlotte, NC

2017 Camaro (Sixth Gen) – driven by Ward Burton and owned by Paul Weatherford of Florence, SC

“We’re excited to have Chevrolet as a partner on this initiative celebrating the history of the Camaro for our ‘7 Decades of NASCAR’ throwback weekend,” track President Kerry Tharp said. “To see all these legendary names of our sport driving one of the most iconic brands in the Chevy family will be a sight to see.”

Chevrolet introduced the Camaro ZL1 to the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series this season with much fanfare, highlighted by Austin Dillon’s Daytona 500 victory for Richard Childress Racing in February and Chase Elliott’s first career Cup Series win at Watkins Glen for Hendrick Motorsports.

“Chevrolet has always valued our partnership with the historic Darlington Raceway. This year we will celebrate our mutual history and heritage in racing by participating in a unique way during the throwback weekend,” said Jim Campbell, Chevrolet US Vice President of Performance Vehicles and Motorsports. “Camaro is an iconic brand and what better way to start the Southern 500, one of NASCAR’s most celebrated events than by pacing the field with six generations of Camaros driven by several NASCAR legends and Hall of Famers.”

The cars will pace the field just prior to the green flag for the Bojangles’ Southern 500, which is slated to start at 6 p.m. Sunday night (Sept. 2) live on NBCSN and MRN.

Darlington Raceway’s award-winning throwback campaign is The Official Throwback Weekend of NASCAR featuring the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Bojangles’ Southern 500® on Sunday, Sept. 2, 2018 at 6 p.m. on NBCSN. The NASCAR XFINITY Series Sport Clips Haircuts VFW 200 will race on Saturday, Sept. 1, 2018 at 3:30 p.m. on NBC. Tickets are on sale now by calling 866-459-7223 or visiting DarlingtonRaceway.com.
 
#79
This Weekend at Indy :

The NASCAR race has been a great indicator of who is going to win the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series title with a number of the winners going on to take the championship.

Every driver dreams of winning at Indy for the glory and the bragging rights the win carries.

Last year, Kasey Kahne got the better of Brad Keselowski on a second overtime restart, then pulled away to win his first Monster Energy Cup Series race since 2014, snapping a 102-race winless streak.

Jeff Gordon has won this race five times, while Jimmie Johnson has four wins. The name of the winning driver is put on the PPG Trophy which is kept at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum.

Kyle Busch, Tony Stewart and Dale Jarrett have two wins.

Hendrick Motorsports has nine wins in this race, while Joe Gibbs Racing has five wins. Richard Childress Racing has won this race three times, while Robert Yates Racing has two wins.

It has been all most all Chevrolet in manufacturer wins in this race as they have 16, while Ford is next with three and Toyota has two.
 
#80
Nascar Brickyard 400 Fun Facts

Nicknamed "The Brickyard," because the surface of the 2 1/2-mile oval track consisted of 3.2 million bricks in the past. A single strip of bricks, called the "yard of bricks," remains at the track's start/finish line.

NASCAR borrowed the nickname for its four hundred mile race in Indianapolis and the race quickly became a highlight on the NASCAR schedule for many fans of the sport

Behind the Daytona 500, the annual Allstate 400 at the Brickyard is arguably the second-most coveted checkered flag on the NASCAR circuit. Jimmie Johnson has left his mark on the race with three wins over the last four years and Tony Stewart has also picked up two wins at Indy.

The Brickyard 400 has been a great indicator of who is going to win the NASCAR Sprint Cup title as half of the 16 winners have gone on to take the championship. Past winners include Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt, Ricky Rudd and Tony Stewart, and the winners take part in the tradition of kissing the bricks at the start/finish line every year.
 
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