All posts by Luis Torres

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer AVONDALE, Arizona — Going into Sunday’s Bluegreen Vacations 500 at ISM Raceway, it was possible that one driver would make the Championship 4 via points. The man who claimed the final spot was runner-up finisher Kyle Busch. In a battle that boiled down between his teammate Denny Hamlin and rival Joey Logano, one spot would’ve made the difference of having three Joe Gibbs Racing drivers battling for the championship at Homestead-Miami Speedway or not. After wall contact from John Hunter Nemechek on Lap 303, the fieldRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer AVONDALE, Arizona — In a year that Roger Penske has dominated the world of motorsports, there won’t be a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series championship this season for “The Captain.” That’s because Joey Logano finished ninth in Sunday’s Bluegreen Vacations 500 at ISM Raceway. Not good enough of making the Championship 4 despite running extraordinarily well during the first half of the race, highlighted with a Stage 2 win. Then everything fell apart for the No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Ford Mustang as his pace was lost andRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer AVONDALE, Arizona — Chase Elliott’s heinous Round of 8 ends in a Lap 167 crash in Sunday’s Bluegreen Vacations 500 at ISM Raceway. “It’s just a continuation of our first two weeks, unfortunately,” Elliott on his elimination. “I hate it for our NAPA group.” Needing a win to make the Championship 4 for the first time in his career, Elliott had a competitive No. 9 NAPA AutoCare Center Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 where he had collected 17 stage points. Elliott’s main battle was against Denny Hamlin, whoRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer AVONDALE, Arizona — Christopher Bell owned the first two stages which put his stage wins total up to 22, but a speeding penalty following a spin dashed his shot at a ninth NASCAR Xfinity Series victory of 2019 in Saturday’s Desert Diamond Casino West Valley 200 at ISM Raceway. Bell finished 16th, but since he had already locked himself into the Championship 4 last Saturday at Texas, his eyes are on capturing the series title. One of the ways his No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing squadRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer AVONDALE, Arizona — Hours removed from NASCAR penalizing Bubba Wallace 50 driver points and fined $50,000 for admitting that he deliberately spun out in last Sunday’s AAA Texas 500, several Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers were asked about their take of his penalty. Among those vocal from the very beginning was Kyle Larson, who felt it was clear as day that it was on purpose. After qualifying fifth for tomorrow’s Bluegreen Vacations 500 at ISM Raceway, Larson hopes the message will be sent to everyRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer AVONDALE, Arizona — It started off with three ThorSport Racing drivers when the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series playoffs began in late August. Now going into the Championship 4 at Homestead-Miami Speedway, only one made it to the big stage. That man was two-time series champion Matt Crafton. Crafton entered into Friday’s Lucas Oil 150 at ISM Raceway outside the cutoff line, trailing Austin Hill by nine points. When crossed the line in sixth, Crafton beat Hill by seven points to claim the fourth and finalRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer AVONDALE, Arizona — It’s do or die for Chase Elliott heading into Sunday’s Bluegreen Vacations 500 at ISM Raceway. The only way the popular second-generation driver makes the Championship 4 at Homestead-Miami Speedway for the first time is winning at a track he’s never visited victory lane in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. Elliott, who is 78 points behind the cutoff, said the mindset is to achieve his seventh career Cup win after a self-inflicting Turn 2 accident during last Sunday’s AAA Texas 500 atRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer AVONDALE, Arizona — It’s often said that the world of motorsports is a tight knit circle. Friday’s Lucas Oil 150 at ISM Raceway is one of those instances where the inner circle comes together, not just from the competition but race fans who rallied behind one fellow NASCAR YouTuber. Griffin Spier arrived in Phoenix to not just see the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series race but getting to see his late brother PFC Tate William Spier, who served in the Marines, being remembered. His brother’s nameRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer AVONDALE, Arizona — Cool, calm and extremely focused is 18-year-old Derek Kraus, who is set to run double duty in both the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series and K&N Pro Series West at ISM Raceway. The Stratford, Wisconsin native will be making his fourth Truck Series start of 2019 for Bill McAnally Racing’s No. 19 ENEOS Toyota Tundra. A year ago, Kraus made his series debut at Phoenix where he started and finished eighth. Kraus said there are things that he’ll be able to carry fromRead More