Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Tag

By David Morgan, Associate Editor HOMESTEAD, Fla. – Joe Gibbs Racing comes into this weekend’s Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series championship battle with a 3-to-1 shot at taking home the title and if Saturday’s final practice is any indication, the championship will have to go through them. In a makeshift practice session that took the place of qualifying after rain washed almost everything out on Friday, Kyle Busch led the way at 31.959 seconds, 168.966 mph, with teammates Martin Truex, Jr. and Denny Hamlin in tow. The fourth of theRead More

By David Morgan, Associate Editor HOMESTEAD, Fla. – To say that Daniel Suarez was caught off guard by the news that he would be out of the No. 41 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford at season’s end would be an understatement. In fact, Suarez seemed as shocked as everyone else about the way everything played out and the steps that led to him being out and Cole Custer replacing him in the SHR Cup Series program. “I am a little disappointed,” Suarez said. “A lot of people have worked very hard onRead More

By David Morgan, Associate Editor HOMESTEAD, Fla. – The career paths of Joe Gibbs and Tony Stewart will forever be intertwined as the two were instrumental in making each other a success in the NASCAR Cup Series. While they have gone the separate ways, with both running world-class teams in NASCAR’s upper echelon, the two remain close, even as Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, and Martin Truex, Jr. from Joe Gibbs Racing and Kevin Harvick from Stewart-Haas Racing get ready to duke it out for the championship on Sunday afternoon. WhenRead More

By David Morgan, Associate Editor HOMESTEAD, Fla. – The tagline of the NASCAR Xfinity Series is ‘Names are Made Here,’ but given the recent advancements of some of the series’ biggest stars, it should be ‘Moving on Up.’ Stewart-Haas Racing’s Cole Custer is the latest to make the move to the Cup Series in 2020, joining fellow championship contenders Tyler Reddick and Christopher Bell in NASCAR’s top division next year. Reports of Custer’s move broke out on Thursday, but the driver of the No. 00 Ford shrugged off the news,Read More

By Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service MIAMI Beach, Fla. – There’s no politicking this week at Stewart-Haas Racing. At the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series level, the organization’s sole focus will be on winning another championship at NASCAR’s highest level, and that means putting the necessary resources behind Kevin Harvick. The first driver to win under the current elimination format, which debuted in 2014, Harvick is the only Stewart-Haas entry in the Championship 4 this year. He’s the only driver carrying the Ford banner. In contrast, Joe Gibbs Racing facesRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer The pairing of Front Row Motorsports and Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series rookie Matt Tifft has ended as the team announced Wednesday they’ve mutually agreed to part ways as Tifft will be focusing on his health. The 23-year-old Hinckley, Ohio native issued a statement regarding the decision of leaving FRM: “I’ve made the decision to focus on my health and there is no rush or timetable to get back behind the wheel. Because of that, I can’t commit to racing full-time in 2020. I can’t sayRead More

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 Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service AVONDALE, Ariz. – Out, demon! Denny Hamlin’s exorcism is complete. At ISM Raceway, the site of one of his biggest disappointments, Hamlin barged back into the Championship 4 with a dominating victory in Sunday’s Bluegreen Vacations 500. Hamlin joins Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Martin Truex Jr. and Kyle Busch, Sunday’s runner-up, in the Nov. 17 race for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series title at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The three JGR drivers will battle Kevin Harvick of Stewart-Haas Racing for the trophy. After losing controlRead More