Monster Energy Cup Category

By David Morgan, Associate Editor BRISTOL, Tenn. – Under bright blue skies in East Tennessee, the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series got its first look at Bristol Motor Speedway ahead of Saturday night’s Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race. After what was a mostly one groove race in Thursday night’s Truck Series race at the track, it was much of the same in first practice on Friday. Erik Jones, who led both Xfinity Series practices on Thursday, was once again at the top of the board in the first ofRead More

By Seth Eggert, NASCAR Correspondent BRISTOL, Tenn. – Journeyman driver David Ragan will step away from full-time competition following the 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season. The 33-year-old made the decision with a focus on spending more time with his family. Ragan has competed in NASCAR’s Premier Series full-time for 13 years. While he only visited victory lane twice, his accomplishments both around and off the track are greater than those on track. Ragan was one of several drivers that filled-in for Kyle Busch in 2015 following the viciousRead More

By David Morgan, Associate Editor BRISTOL, Tenn. – The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series heads to Thunder Valley this weekend for the annual Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway, a showdown under the lights on the “World’s Fastest Half-Mile” that is sure to leave sheet metal twisted and tempers flaring once these drivers get done battling for 500 laps. Racing at Bristol is always intense, but when the lights go down for the night race each August, the intensity gets cranked to 11. The aggressiveness thatRead More

By Seth Eggert, NASCAR Correspondent BRISTOL, Tenn. – Despite the marked improvement that Matt DiBenedetto has shown, his tenure at Leavine Family Racing will end after the 2019 season. Following a trend, DiBenedetto took a chance on himself, and moved from Go Fas Racing to LFR following the 2018 off-season. However, forces outside of the Grass Valley, Calif.-native’s control have resulted in a brief opportunity. DiBenedetto will now be a free agent at the conclusion of 2019. “I got the devastating news that I will not be able to returnRead More

By David Morgan, Associate Editor BRISTOL, Tenn. – The Bristol Night Race is always a race that is circled on the calendar each year for the sheer entertainment value the event provides and the classic moments that have occurred in the race over the years. Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. started on the front row for the August 2002 running of the famed race in front of a packed house. When all was said and done, the fans would be sure to remember what would transpire in the 500Read More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer Two drivers misfortunes became one man’s tremendous gain. That man was Daniel Suarez, who finished fifth in Sunday’s Consumers Energy 400 at Michigan International Speedway. After facing near disaster during Saturday’s final practice when a tire went down, Suarez’s quiet race day led to his third top-five this season and the first since the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series’ last visit at Michigan in June, where he scored a fourth. More importantly, Suarez cut down his deficit from 23 down to six markers with just threeRead More

By Seth Eggert, NASCAR Correspondent William Byron had just enough fuel to score a top-10 finish at Michigan International Speedway. The Hendrick Motorsports driver restarted inside the top-10 in the No. 24 Liberty University Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 on the edge of the fuel mileage window. Byron battled Kyle Busch, Ryan Preece, as well as his teammates Chase Elliott and Alex Bowman. The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver also managed his fuel while battling for position. In doing so, Byron lost positions to Busch and Preece in the closing laps.Read More

By Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service Recovering from a punctured right front tire that cost him track position early in the race, Kevin Harvick passed Joey Logano on Lap 183 of 200 and cruised to a 1.595-second victory in Sunday’s Consumers Energy 400 at Michigan International Speedway. During a closing 48-lap green-flag run that began with a restart on Lap 153, Harvick charged from seventh to first, recording his second Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series victory of the season, his third at the 2.0-mile track and the 47th of hisRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer The Richard Childress Racing duo of Austin Dillon and Daniel Hemric will start at the rear of the field for Sunday’s Consumers Energy 400 at Michigan International Speedway. This occurred after NASCAR officials disallowed both drivers’ qualifying times after their Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 entries were found having unapproved alternators. Consequently, it results an L1-level penalty and according to Bob Pockrass’ tweet about the matter, NASCAR stated the following penalties: Both Dillon and Hemric will be deducted 10 drivers points, 10 owners points and crew chiefs DannyRead More

By Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service BROOKLYN, Mich. – The last qualifier in Friday’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series time trials at Michigan International Speedway will be first to the green flag on Sunday afternoon. The final driver to make an attempt, after shadows started to shroud the track, Brad Keselowski covered the 2.0-mile distance in his No. 2 Team Penske Ford in 37.801 seconds (190.471 mph) to knock Kevin Harvick off the provisional pole for Sunday’s Consumers Energy 400 (3 p.m. ET on NBCSN, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).Read More