Charlotte Motor Speedway Tag

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: Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service CONCORD, N.C. – Kevin Harvick was between a rock and a hard place with three laps left in Saturday’s Hisense 4K TV 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, and Ryan Blaney took full advantage of the veteran driver’s conundrum. Passing Harvick for the lead after a restart on Lap 198 and 200, Blaney crossed the finish line .244 seconds ahead of the driver of the No. 41 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford. Blaney had pushed Harvick to the front past eventual third-place finisher Austin Dillon on aRead More

By Seth Eggert, NASCAR Writer CONCORD, N.C. – As the NASCAR Xfinity Series entered Charlotte Motor Speedway, Brendan Gaughan looked to turn around what so far, has been a miserable season. Since finishing fifth in the season opener at Daytona International Speedway, Gaughan has had six finishes 27th or worse. Off the truck Gaughan and his Richard Childress Racing team struggled to find speed. His No. 62 South Point Hotel & Casino Chevrolet Camaro was 31st on the speed charts in the first practice. In the final practice, the ShaneRead More

By Seth Eggert, NASCAR Writer CONCORD, N.C. – The first stage of the NASCAR Xfinity Series Hisense 4K TV 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway was dominated by Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series drivers as they claimed six of the Top 10 positions when Stage 1 ended. The stage got off to a rocky start however. Austin Dillon beat pole-sitter Justin Allgaier to the line. Dillon was black-flagged by NASCAR, having to do a drive-thru on pit road. Two laps into Stage 1, Daniel Hemric slid into the outside wall 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

By Seth Eggert, NASCAR Writer  CONCORD, N.C. – In the second practice for the 2017 Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, six of the Top 10 qualifiers were outside the Top 10 on the speed charts. Meanwhile, most of the top five on the speed charts were made up of young drivers including two Sunoco Rookie of the Year (ROTY) Contenders. Wood Brothers Racing’s Ryan Blaney topped the speed charts in his No. 21 Motorcraft / Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford Fusion with a lap of 188.055 mph,Read More