All posts by Joey Barnes

Joey Barnes is the Founder of Motorsports Tribune. He has covered auto racing since 2013 that has spanned from Formula 1 to NASCAR, with coverage on IndyCar. Additionally, his work has appeared on Racer, IndyCar.com and Autoweek magazine. In 2017, he was recognized with an award in Spot News Writing by the National Motorsports Press Association.

Posted On February 21, 2015By Joey BarnesIn Cup

Wood Brothers Look to Repeat History with Blaney

At the start of the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup season Wood Brothers Racing had the opportunity to put an up-and-coming Roush Fenway Racing driver Trevor Bayne behind the wheel of their famous No. 21 Ford. The Result led to one of the most improbable wins in Daytona 500 history. This time around the Woods have reached a deal with Team Penske on another up-and-coming driver, Ryan Blaney. The second-generation driver nearly won the 2014 Camping World Truck Series title and now will make the jump to Penske’s Xfinity team fullRead More
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Former Sprint Cup champion Kurt Busch has been suspended indefinitely by NASCAR for “actions detrimental to stock car racing” and will not be allowed to race on the sport’s biggest stage, the Daytona 500. A statement released by NASCAR said the following: “Given the serious nature of the findings and conclusions made by the Commissioner of the Family Court of the State of Delaware, NASCAR has indefinitely suspended driver Kurt Busch, effective immediately. He will not be allowed to race nor participate in any NASCAR activitiesRead More

Posted On February 15, 2015By Joey BarnesIn Cup

Bowyer Upset with NASCAR after Qualifying Incident

After being involved in a wreck during the opening round of qualifying that left his Daytona 500 primary car beyond repair, Clint Bowyer was left fuming with the NASCAR hierarchy. Bowyer led a group of drivers that included Bobby Labonte, and Denny Hamlin as the trio began to catch and get held up the previously damaged car of Reed Sorenson. The two made contact when Bowyer attempted to get under Sorenson going into turn one, sparking a crash that collected them along with the car driven by Labonte. The newRead More

Posted On February 15, 2015By Joey BarnesIn Cup

On Point: The Sprint Unlimited

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series kicked off their 2015 season with a Saturday night shootout at the 2.5-mile Daytona International Speedway. The Sprint Unlimited featured an abundance of cautions equipped with a pair of red flags, none of which could keep Matt Kenseth from Victory Lane at the end of the 75-lap event. Here are some key things to take away from NASCAR’s annual exhibition race. Matt Kenseth Still Has It, but Hasn’t Won Anything…Yet After a disastrous 2014 season that saw the Joe Gibbs Racing driver go winless (withRead More

Posted On February 14, 2015By Joey BarnesIn Cup

The 2015 Sprint Unlimited Preview

The 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup season gets underway Saturday night at Daytona International Speedway for the Sprint Unlimited. The 75-lap event is a non-points exhibition race, but depending on who is at the front at the end could be a great indication of who will be strong for the upcoming Daytona 500. This year a field of 25 cars will take to the high-banks, considerably larger than last year’s 18. Even with one of the biggest fields in recent memory, four drivers will not participate in the race: AJ Allmendinger,Read More

Posted On November 16, 2014By Joey BarnesIn Cup

Harvick charges late to Win Sprint Cup title

HOMESTEAD, Fla. – Kevin Harvick can now call himself a Sprint Cup Series champion after passing fellow title rival Denny Hamlin to win the Ford EcoBoost 400 Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The 38-year-old from Bakersfield, California fought and battled for 13 seasons, falling short of winning the grandest prize in NASCAR each time until now. He also becomes the fourth champion in as many years, the first under the advanced Chase format. The new champion also joins an elite class, alongside Brad Keselowski and Bobby Labonte as the only driversRead More

Posted On November 16, 2014By Joey BarnesIn Cup

All in: ‘Dinger’ & JTG Daugherty go for it at Homestead

The 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup season has been one of the most intriguing and intense in recent memory. As we look ahead to what awaits on Sunday, the crowning of a new series champion, it’s amazing to go beyond the title battle and see at what other drivers are fighting for. You don’t have to scroll down the overall standing very long before you find the name of one AJ Allmendinger. The 32-year-old from Los Gatos, California has risen against the odds this season with a single car team, JTGRead More

Posted On November 15, 2014By Joey BarnesIn Cup

‘The Captain’ Leads Charge into Uncharted Territory

HOMESTEAD, Fla. – The season has been an incredible one for Roger Penske. The legendary owner has achieved success in the Verizon IndyCar Series with Will Power charging to his first championship, and tonight he was crowned the owner’s champion in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Tomorrow ‘The Captain’ has a chance to win the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series title with driver Joey Logano. If the 24-year-old can pull it off and win his first championship, Penske will be the first person in the history of motorsports to win titles inRead More

Posted On November 14, 2014By Joey BarnesIn Trucks

History in the Making for Crafton

The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series has never in its 20-year existence had a back-to-back champion. On Friday night Matt Crafton looks to change that. The 2013 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion heads into Homestead-Miami Speedway leading the overall standings, holding a 25 point edge over Ryan Blaney. As it stands, Crafton needs to finish 21st to clinch the title, but the defending series champ isn’t ready to talk about delivering a repeat. During Thursday’s NASCAR press conference the ThorSport Racing driver was asked his thoughts being on theRead More

Posted On November 13, 2014By Joey BarnesIn Cup

Hamlin on the Cusp of Vindication

HOMESTEAD, Fla. – Heading into Homestead-Miami Speedway during the 2010 season Denny Hamlin was the talk of the NASCAR world. The No. 11 FedEx Express driver had amassed a career-high eight wins and was the heralded favorite to unseat a dominant Jimmie Johnson. However, the weekend turned disastrous as the Joe Gibbs Racing driver was left with a 14th place finish, and left thinking of what could have been. Fast-forward to 2014, Hamlin isn’t having statistically his best season, though it could be the most rewarding. The soon-to-be 34 year-oldRead More