Kentucky Speedway Tag

By Seth Eggert, NASCAR Writer For this week’s edition of Climbing the Ladder, Seth Eggert sat down with GMS Racing driver Justin Haley at Kentucky Speedway. Haley is a 19-year-old NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver. He drives the No. 24 Fraternal Order of Eagles Chevrolet Silverado. Haley is campaigning for the 2018 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Championship. He is locked into the 2018 Playoffs via his win at Gateway Motorsports Park. Seth Eggert: How did you first become interested in motorsports? Justin Haley: “I first started getting an interest inRead More

By David Morgan, NASCAR Editor Over the past three weeks, Ryan Blaney hasn’t finished better than 18th, but on Saturday night at Kentucky, that all changed with a strong runner-up performance for the Team Penske driver. “It’s a positive, that’s for sure,” said Blaney.  “I thought we were in a good spot there restarting fourth and Martin struggled a little bit the first couple laps and I thought I could get by him, but just couldn’t quite get a run on him.  His car came in and mine kind of fadedRead More

By Lee Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service SPARTA, Kentucky – Martin Truex Jr., made it a clean sweep at Kentucky Speedway this weekend. After starting from the pole, Truex won all three stages and successfully defended his victory from last year’s Quaker State 400. Truex led 174 laps en route to his fourth win of the season and his 19th career victory in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. “What a hell of a night this was,” Truex said. “We try to do this every single week but that just shows youRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer Erik Jones’ playoff pressure ended last Saturday, scoring his maiden Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series win at Daytona, locking himself into a playoff berth in just his sophomore season. Jones came into Kentucky Speedway simply looking for even more stellar runs, which he successfully accomplished in the Quaker State 400, finishing seventh. It’s Jones’ fourth straight top-10 effort this season, and certainly a hard fought one after his white No. 20 Freightliner Toyota Camry could’ve failed completing the entire 267-lap contest. Starting alongside pole sitterRead More

By Seth Eggert, Staff Writer SPARTA, Ky. – The right strategy on pit road earned Brad Keselowski a top-five finish at Kentucky Speedway. The 2012 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Champion had not been running inside the top-10 at Kentucky Speedway prior to Paul Wolfe’s call. At the end of Stage 2, Keselowski and Wolfe elected to take two tires, moving the No. 2 Discount Tire Ford Fusion into the lead. He held off eventual race winner Martin Truex, Jr. on the restart, dueling the defending Champion for nearly 40Read More

By Seth Eggert, Staff Writer SPARTA, Ky. – Being late to driver introductions was the least of the issues that plagued Kyle Larson at Kentucky Speedway. In addition to having to start at the rear of the field as a result of his tardiness, he also had issues with a broken track bar adjuster, which caused wild swings in balance in the Quaker State 400 for Larson. Larson, who had to climb through the field, had just passed eventual race-winner Martin Truex, Jr. when the track bar adjuster failed. AsRead More

By Seth Eggert, Staff Writer SPARTA, Ky. – A milestone weekend for Alex Bowman ended abruptly after losing a right-front brake rotor. The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series driver was on the bubble to make the Playoffs entering his 100thCup race in the Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Speedway. 109 laps into the race, Bowman’s No. 88 Axalta Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 popped a tire entering turn three. He made hard contact with the wall before immediately darting for pit road. A quick look from the pit crew and it wasRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer In the midst of a frustrating season and Lowe’s leaving at the end of the 2018 season, Jimmie Johnson’s crew chief Chad Knaus, the main man who has made the calls since his rookie season in 2002, will continue in his role through 2020 as reported in a Saturday press conference at Kentucky Speedway. Knaus told the media that his contract extension had recently been made, and despite the duo being winless in 41 races, he’s never questioned leaving Johnson and Hendrick Motorsports. “No, notRead More

By Seth Eggert, Staff Writer SPARTA, Ky. – For the third time in his career, Daniel Hemric has finished runner-up in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. The Alsco 300 at Kentucky Speedway appeared to be Hemric’s best chance to date to break into victory lane. Hemric battled with Justin Allgaier and Christopher Bell throughout the final 65 laps. The Richard Childress Racing driver’s No. 21 South Point Hotel & Casino Chevrolet Camaro SS swept by Kyle Busch with ease on lap 144 for the lead. A few laps later, Hemric lostRead More

By Lee Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service SPARTA, Kentucky – A spin didn’t stop Christopher Bell from the win in the ALSCO 300 at Kentucky Speedway. The Joe Gibbs Racing rookie was going for the pole in the final round of qualifying and spun out before completing the lap. Bell was forced to start from the rear of the field but recovered for his first win on the 1.5-mile track and his second of 2018. “This is really special,” Bell said. “I keep making mistakes. I have to stop doing that toRead More