Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Tag

By David Morgan, NASCAR Editor The Monster Mile. Bristol on steroids. No matter the nickname, Dover International Speedway lives up to the hype as being one of the most physically demanding racetracks on the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series circuit and plays host to Sunday’s Gander Outdoors 400, which kicks off the second round of the playoffs. One of the only two concrete tracks currently in use by NASCAR’s top division, drivers have likened a lap around the one-mile oval to riding a rollercoaster, as they drop off the straightaways intoRead More

By David Morgan, NASCAR Editor The always treacherous Dover International Speedway lived up to its “Monster Mile” nickname back in May 2016, as a multi-car pileup with 45 laps to go changed the entire complexion of the race and left many of the contenders with junked race cars One of the drivers who was able to survive that lap 355 melee was Matt Kenseth, who had his hands full over the closing laps of the race, battling with Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott for the race win. Kenseth was able toRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer Despite doing a test run at Charlotte Motor Speedway Tuesday, Leavine Family Racing announced Wednesday that Kasey Kahne isn’t cleared to compete in Sunday’s Gander Outdoors 400 at Dover International Speedway in Delaware. Like the past four races, Regan Smith will continue to fill in behind the wheel of the No. 95 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 as Kahne is still recovering from extreme heat exhaustion diagnosed after the Bojangles’ Southern 500 at Darlington Sept. 2. Kahne did a two-hour private medical test session at the 1.5-mile oval,Read More

By David Morgan, NASCAR Editor The times they are a-changin’. On Tuesday afternoon, NASCAR made the 2019 rules package for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series official, laying out specific aerodynamic and engine configuration changes geared toward improving the competition on tracks of all shapes and sizes. Building off the package that was used in the All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway earlier this season and in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, the basic package will be split into two groups depending on track size, with specific features for each. Every raceRead More

By David Morgan, NASCAR Editor One is the loneliest number for Joe Gibbs Racing after Sunday’s running of the Bank of America ROVAL 400 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The powerhouse organization entered the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs with three legitimate shots at a title run with Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin and Erik Jones, but as the first round of the playoffs reached its conclusion this past weekend, both Jones and Hamlin met an early end to their postseason. With subpar runs in the first two races of the roundRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer Let’s face the obvious, the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course known as “The Roval” delivered. It fit their bill as being one of the most chaotic weekends in NASCAR history. It didn’t matter how experienced a driver was on road racing because the Roval was a game of survival. Some flat out struggled like Austin Dillon and Bubba Wallace, who appeared to have wrecked every car they’ve competed, which has to be annoying for both young competitors, but they’re not alone. Even the best road racersRead More

By Seth Eggert, Staff Writer Running inside the top-10 normally wouldn’t mean that Chase Elliott flew under the radar, however, the dramatic last lap meant that his run was quietly forgotten. While teammate Jimmie Johnson and Martin Truex, Jr. spun in the final corner, and Ryan Blaney won, Elliott quietly finished the race in sixth. Elliott finished inside the Top-10 after a strong qualifying effort put his No. 9 SunEnergy1 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 fourth on the grid. In the chaotic finish to the Bank of America ROVAL 400 at Charlotte MotorRead More

By David Morgan, NASCAR Editor CONCORD, N.C. – Survive and advance. For Kyle Larson, never were those three words more meaningful than Sunday afternoon at Charlotte Motor Speedway when a late race crash seemed to doom his chances to move on in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, but he wound up advancing on by the skin of his teeth when all was said and done. Larson entered the day with a healthy 17-point lead over the cut-off line having finished second and seventh in the first two races ofRead More

By Seth Eggert, Staff Writer CONCORD, N.C. – A rare mistake by seven-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Champion Jimmie Johnson resulted in his elimination from the 2018 Playoffs. The Hendrick Motorsports driver gave it his all trying to win the Bank of America ROVAL 400, instead of looking at the big picture. After avoiding a multi-car melee, Johnson restarted second in a two-lap shootout. His No. 48 Lowe’s for Pros Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 closed the gap on race leader Martin Truex, Jr. in every corner. Johnson loosened the defendingRead More

By Seth Eggert, Staff Writer CONCORD, N.C. – Chip Ganassi Racing’s Jamie McMurray ended up one position shy of becoming a Playoff spoiler. The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series veteran shined in the Bank of America ROVAL 400, battling with the Playoff Grid drivers throughout the race. On the final restart, McMurray was the only non-Playoff driver inside the top-five. He battled primarily with Ryan Blaney and Clint Bowyer as the two race leaders, Martin Truex, Jr. and Jimmie Johnson drove away. However, contact from Johnson sent the two leadersRead More