Cup

By David Morgan, NASCAR Editor After winning his first Cup race at Charlotte last weekend with a victory in the Monster Energy NASCAR All-Star Race, Kyle Busch and his No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing team had high hopes of pulling off the All-Star/Coca-Cola 600 sweep, but would have to settle for a second-place finish on Sunday night instead. Busch started on the outside of the front row alongside Kevin Harvick and was quick to take over the lead at lap two for a 22-lap stint at the front of theRead More

By Seth Eggert, NASCAR Writer CONCORD, N.C. – The Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway was relatively quiet for the 2017 Sunoco Rookie of the Year (ROTY) contenders in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. Of the five ROTY contenders only Gray Gaulding has no previous experience at Charlotte. Erik Jones started a career best fifth in his No. 77 5-Hour ENERGY Extra Strength Toyota Camry. Jones hit some of the debris that came off Jeffrey Earnhardt’s car, forcing him to pit for repairs on lap 22. Jones finished StageRead More

By Seth Eggert, NASCAR Writer CONCORD, N.C. – Several weeks ago, Dale Earnhardt, Jr. had announced that 2017 would be his final Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season. With just one top five and Top 10 finish, Earnhardt was looking for some momentum as the series rolled into Charlotte Motor Speedway for the Coca-Cola 600. Off the truck, Earnhardt’s No. 88 Nationwide Patriotic Chevrolet SS team were looking for speed as they were 22nd in the first practice. In qualifying, the Hendrick Motorsports team improved to 19th on the startingRead More

By Seth Eggert, NASCAR Writer CONCORD, N.C. – The third stage of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway seemed like it would be quiet in comparison to the first two stages. Everyone pitted between Stages 2 and 3 with Martin Truex, Jr. holding onto the lead through the pit cycle. Jimmie Johnson had trouble exiting his pit box due to Erik Jones’ No. 77 5-Hour ENERGY Extra Strength Toyota Camry. Johnson spun the tires on the restart, dropping him from second to fifth. TruexRead More

By Seth Eggert, NASCAR Writer CONCORD, N.C. – The second stage, like the first stage, of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway got off to a quick start. Kyle Busch pitted from the lead between Stages 1 and 2. Martin Truex, Jr. regained the lead in his No. 78 Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Toyota Camry after the pit stops. When the race restarted, Truex pulled away from Jimmie Johnson and Kevin Harvick. Meanwhile, Kyle Larson and his No. 42 Target Chevrolet SS finally crackedRead More

By Seth Eggert, NASCAR Writer CONCORD, N.C. – After starting the Coca-Cola 600 with promise, Matt DiBenedetto’s race came to a crashing end after 142 laps. The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver started the race in 30th in the No. 32 Cosmo Motors Ford Fusion for Go Fas Racing led by Gene Nead. Stage 1 was quiet for DiBenedetto and by the end, he had climbed to 25th, one lap down. 42 laps into Stage 2, DiBenedetto tagged the wall exiting turn four. As he entered turn one, hisRead More

By Seth Eggert, NASCAR Writer CONCORD, N.C. – The first stage of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway got off to a quick start. Kasey Kahne and Ty Dillon had to start the race from the rear. Kahne for a rear gear change, and Dillon for an unapproved tire change. Kyle Busch took the lead in his No. 18 M&M’s Red, White, and Blue Toyota Camry from polesitter Kevin Harvick in turn one just after the start. Jeffrey Earnhardt’s engine blew apart on theRead More

By Seth Eggert, NASCAR Writer CONCORD, N.C. – 21 laps into an otherwise tame Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway mayhem broke out. Jeffrey Earnhardt’s engine let go on the track. Earnhardt’s No. 33 Towne Bank Chevrolet SS spewed debris and rear-end grease as he limped along the frontstretch. Debris from Earnhardt’s engine ripped through Chase Elliott’s No. 24 NAPA Chevrolet SS, cutting an oil line. Elliott’s car burst into flames as it dropped oil on the frontstretch. He slowed as the front end of his car became engulfed inRead More

By Seth Eggert, NASCAR Writer CONCORD, N.C. – In the final practice at Charlotte Motor Speedway for the 2017 Coca-Cola 600 one of the two drivers who failed to make a qualifying time topped the charts. In addition to that, seven of the Top 10 qualifiers were once again outside the Top 10 on the speed charts when the practice session came to an end. Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates driver Kyle Larson placed his No. 42 Target Chervolet SS on top of the speed charts with a lapRead More