All posts by Luis Torres

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer The No. 42 Credit One Bank Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 driven by Kyle Larson led the way during Friday morning’s pre-qualifying practice session at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Larson ran five laps at the 1.5-mile circuit, eking out last week’s winner Kevin Harvick by 0.037 seconds with a lap time of 28.323 seconds, 190.658 mph. “This year, after having the test and after having the year we had last year that really helps your confidence,” said Larson ahead of the 55 minute session. “We know comingRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer Ryan Blaney acquired a new primary sponsorship on Friday after Team Penske announced that BODYARMOR Sports Drink will bare its name in the No. 12 Ford Fusion for the annual Coke Zero 400 powered by Coca-Cola at Daytona International Speedway on July 7. The partnership between BODYARMOR and Blaney began last season, but it’ll mark the first time the natural flavored hydrating drink will be on the track for a race weekend, beginning at Kansas Speedway on May 12 as Blaney’s associate sponsor. After Kansas,Read More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer David Gilliland Racing-Crosley announced Tuesday that Justin Marks will replace Bo LeMastus in the No. 54 Crosley Toyota Tundra for Friday’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. It’ll be Marks’ first Truck Series start since February 2016 at Atlanta Motor Speedway and his first at Las Vegas in 10 years. Marks, who’s running full-time in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, said the deal to run for DGR-Crolsey was a late decision, but he’s looking forward to provide a great resultRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer Hendrick Motorsports didn’t have its finest performance in recent memory after the four-car stable was unable to lead a lap during Sunday’s Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Dating back to last season, it marked the second time in three races they’ve failed to put their cars in front of the field. Despite an off performance, it didn’t stop William Byron from having fun on the worn out surface, beating Darrell “Bubba” Wallace, Jr. as the highest finishing full-time rookie in 18th.Read More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer Eastman Performance Films, LLC announced at the Eastman’s Elite Dealer Conference in San Diego Friday they’ve struck a three-year deal with Hendrick Motorsports to sponsor Alex Bowman’s No. 88 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. Eastman’s product LLumar Window Film will be Bowman’s primary sponsor for one race in 2018 and two races for both 2019 and 2020 seasons. Eastman now becomes the fourth primary sponsor for the No. 88 team this season, joining alongside Nationwide (19 races), Axalta (15 races) and Valvoline (two races). “We are pleasedRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer Ben Rhodes enjoyed a stout fourth-place finish in last Friday’s NextEra Energy Resources 250 at Daytona International Speedway, but it has since been overshadowed by an L1 penalty handed out by NASCAR Wednesday. The outcomes of the penalty have also led to the suspension crew chief Eddie Troconis for Saturday’s Active Pest Control 200 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Additionally, Troconis was fined $5,000 after the rear of Rhodes’ No. 41 Ford F-150 was too low during post-race inspection. ThorSport Racing will also be penalized 10Read More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer Restrictor plate racing is a strategic game, requiring critical thinking to make the right moves. A few days removed from Sunday’s Daytona 500 and it has dawned on me how frustrating this current era of racing has become. What happened to the word patience? The days of strategizing your move without causing a junkyard is gone. Part of this has to do with three things — stage racing, the demand of winning the Great American Race at an all-time high, or just a generational problem.Read More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat was the storybook ending in Sunday’s 60th running of the Daytona 500. For Aric Almirola, he drew the short straw, losing the lead on the last lap after being turned by Austin Dillon, who won the Great American Race for the first time in his career. “It was the last lap and we’re all trying to win the Daytona 500.  It’s the biggest race of the year and it’s a career-changing race, so we were justRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer The JD Motorsports quartet stayed with the lead pack all afternoon and after five overtime attempts, two of their entries finished inside the top-10 in Saturday’s PowerShares QQQ 300 at Daytona International Speedway for the second consecutive year. Leading the way was 25-year-old Garrett Smithley, bringing the No. 0 Flex Seal Chevrolet Camaro home in fifth after overcoming a spin in the tri-oval grass on Lap 106. Ryan Truex had a strong run and tried to pass Smithley at the entrance of Turn 4, butRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer Failing to finish before reaching halfway of stage one wasn’t the way NASCAR Xfinity Series rookies Christopher Bell and Austin Cindric wanted to start out their season. The high-profile drivers competing for Rookie of the Year honors were both involved in a Lap 10 crash in Saturday’s Powershares QQQ 300 at Daytona International Speedway. Battling for seventh, Cindric’s No. 60 Pirtek Ford was sandwiched between Tyler Reddick and Daniel Suarez exiting Turn 3 as he fought an ill-handling car the moment the green flag dropped.Read More