NASCAR Tag

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer SONOMA, California — The quest for a hometown victory for Los Gatos native A.J. Allmendinger went up in smoke on Lap 34 during Sunday’s Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway. Allmendinger, who started fifth, is always a threat to win on the road courses and things were going well in the opening stage that after ten laps, he was trailing race leader Martin Truex, Jr. However, as the run went on, Allmendinger struggled finding speed to compete for the race lead. Then with three lapsRead More

By Brian Eberly, Contributing Writer MADISON, Ill. — On Tuesday morning, Zane Smith had no idea that he would be running a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race any time in the near future. But a text from DGR-Crosley kicked off a whirlwind week for Smith, who had to get his NASCAR licence, a concussion test and fitted in his seat before boarding the plane to Gateway Motorsports Park. Smith has a series-leading three wins in the ARCA Racing Series in 2018 driving the No. 41 Toyota for MDM Motorsports.Read More

By Brian Eberly, Contributing Writer MADISON, Ill. — Last season, Dalton Sargeant went to victory lane three times and recorded 10 top-five results in the ARCA Racing Series en route to a second-place finish in the championship standings. His rookie campaign in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in 2018 started with two top-ten finishes in the first three races, but it’s been a struggle since then for Sargeant and his No. 25 GMS Racing team. The struggle continued on Saturday night at Gateway Motorsports Park during the Villa LightingRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer SONOMA, California — Second a year ago, winner this time around for 23-year-old Will Rodgers, who beat Aric Almirola by 4.420 seconds to score his second NASCAR K&N Pro Series West win of the season in Saturday’s Carneros 200 at Sonoma Raceway. On the final restart with 14 laps to go, the pole sitter made the pitch perfect move to get by Almirola in Turn 11, and dethroned the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series regulars in the process. “That pass really came down to theRead More

By Brian Eberly, Contributing Writer MADISON, Ill. — Grant Enfinger turned a lap at 138.867 mph in the final round of knockout qualifying to earn the pole award for Saturday night’s NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Gateway Motorsports Park. The top spot was the second of Enfinger’s career, his first since 2016 and his first on a non-restrictor plate track. Christian Eckes, making his second Truck Series start, will roll off second in the No. 46 Kyle Busch Motorsports Toyota. Eckes has an ARCA Racing Series win this seasonRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer SONOMA, California — For the second straight year in a row, Elk Grove native Kyle Larson will lead the field to the green flag for Sunday’s Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway. Larson clocked in a time of 75.732 seconds (94.597 mph), earning him the Busch Pole Award for the sixth time in his Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series career. In addition of scoring a pole, he’ll lead the Chevrolet banner as six out of the first eight fastest drivers represent the Camaro ZL1 brand.Read More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer SONOMA, California — Last year’s road racer surprise in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West has now become the fastest man in ‘Wine Country’ as Will Rodgers put up a flying run of 1:19.081 (90.591 mph), and will lead the field to the green flag in Saturday’s Carneros 200 at Sonoma Raceway. Rodgers’s No. 7 Kelly & Assoc. Insurance Group Ford outperformed Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series rookie William Byron by 0.467 seconds (.532 mph), creating the “Will and Will Show” on Row 1. RodgersRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer SONOMA, California — Kurt Busch wasted no time during Friday’s final practice at Sonoma Raceway, scorching the fastest time of the session at 76.163 seconds (94.061 mph), edging Denny Hamlin by 0.040 seconds. Martin Truex, Jr., Jamie McMurray, Kevin Harvick, Chris Buescher, Brad Keselowski, Trevor Bayne, Aric Almirola, and Michael McDowell rounded out the top-10. Bayne, who was in the bottom eighth during morning practice, drastically improved this session and ended up eighth quickest. Sonoma marks Bayne’s his first start since Dover in May. WithRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer SONOMA, California — The era of “road ringers” are a thing of the past according to Justin Marks, who will be piloting the No. 15 Sufferfest Beer Company Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in Sunday’s Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway. “The ‘road course ringer’ is not really a thing anymore because every point and every race in the Cup Series are so important for these guys running for the championship that they spent a lot of time on the road course program,” Marks told Motorsports Tribune. “ItRead More

By Brian Eberly, Contributing Writer MADISON, Ill. — Nine races in to the 2018 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series season and Brett Moffitt has gone to victory lane twice and sits third in the championship standings. Moffitt won the second race of the season at Atlanta Motor Speedway and earned the victory last weekend at Iowa Speedway, his home track. The win at Iowa was an emotional victory for the 25-year-old Moffitt, as he grew up less than 50 miles from “The Fastest Short Track on the Planet” and his winRead More