NASCAR Tag

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer Sonoma Raceway announced Monday “The Chute,” the layout NASCAR ran from 1998-2018, will make its return June 10-12. This comes after the Cup Series ran “The Carousel” layout (2.52-mile circuit) in 2019 and 2021. Those respective races were won by Martin Truex, Jr. and Kyle Larson. Sonoma General Manager Jill Gregory explained in a press release that fans openly expressed how much they’ve enjoyed the 1.99-mile layout. “We heard from many fans and drivers how much they loved it when we raced the Chute,” said Gregory.Read More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer Matt DiBenedetto will move to the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series on a full-time basis, driving the Rackley W.A.R.’s No. 25 Chevrolet Silverado. The announcement was confirmed Thursday morning as the former Cup regular, who spent the last two seasons driving for Wood Brothers Racing in the Cup Series, will have a fresh start in Trucks where he’s never competed before. “I can honestly say that, at this time in my career, I am truly excited,” said DiBenedetto. “I feel like I’m going back to myRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer For the first time since Brendan Gaughan in 2004, a former West Series champion will compete in the NASCAR Cup Series full-time. That man being two-time West champion Todd Gilliland, who’ll make the leap from the Camping World Truck Series to the sport’s top level in 2022. The third-generation racer will continue his tenure at Front Row Motorsports. Only this time, he’ll be accompanied by a teammate in Michael McDowell. As part of the Gilliland family tradition, Todd will pilot the No. 38 Ford Mustang. MuchRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer It was quadruple championship weekend at Phoenix Raceway where the three NASCAR national touring divisions and ARCA West crowned its season champion. Needless to say, all four title-deciding races ended up being unforgettable. Here’s my latest “Race in Pictures” gallery featuring all four races as Kyle Larson (Cup), Daniel Hemric (Xfinity), Ben Rhodes (Trucks) and Jesse Love (ARCA West) left Arizona as champions.Read More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer AVONDALE, Ariz. – Martin Truex, Jr. was again denied a second NASCAR Cup Series championship. Instead of hoisting the Bill France Cup, Truex had to settle for second in Sunday’s Cup Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway. When the laps were winding down, Truex appeared to have the title in the bag. That’s when debris from David Starr changed the outcome of the race, bringing out the caution flag on Lap 282. Erasing Truex’s lead, the caution flag would bring the field down pit road for theRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer AVONDALE, Ariz. – As the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series campaign ran into the sunset, John Hunter Nemechek’s dream season turned into a nightmare. Friday’s Lucas Oil 150 at Phoenix Raceway went clean to the surprise of many people with only four cautions. Half of them being for stage breaks. Nemechek didn’t get that luxury of having a clean race as Stage 1 went horrendously wrong. Nemechek was losing spots entering Turn 2 when Kris Wright came from out of nowhere and door slammed him. The seasonRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer PHOENIX – Kyle Larson has been the driver everyone’s been trying to beat in the NASCAR Cup Series all season. After 35 hard fought and demanding races, it’ll come down to the 312-lap finale at Phoenix Raceway where Larson will look to cap off a dream year with a championship. Not only is Larson determined to give it his all to win the title, he’ll also look to become the first man since Jimmie Johnson in 2007 to win 10 races in a season. The Californian willRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer PHOENIX – “Usually a lot of times JGR might be the favorite going into a championship race. I think we’re definitely the underdogs,” said Joe Gibbs Racing Team Executive Wally Brown said on Monday. “We have to beat the guy, Kyle Larson, that has won so many races, been so dominant this year. Then you have Chase (Elliott), the reigning champion at this track. We’re definitely the underdog.” Don’t consider Martin Truex, Jr. as a dark horse nor an underdog for Sunday’s championship deciding race at PhoenixRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer Kyle Busch will be required to attend sensitivity training before the start of the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series campaign. NASCAR announced Monday the 2015 champion must complete this after using the r-word which violated NASCAR’s conduct guidelines. After failing to make the Championship 4 during Sunday’s Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway, an irate Busch vented his frustrations on Brad Keselowski to the media bullpen. Busch slammed Keselowski for racing him hard when he didn’t have a shot of fighting for the championship this Sunday at PhoenixRead More

By Luis Torres, Staff Writer Chip Ganassi Racing may be closing their NASCAR chapter in two weeks, but Kurt Busch is determined of bringing home strong results. The 2004 champion was able to deliver a fourth-place outing in Sunday’s Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway. It’s Busch’s second top-five in the last four races, improving his top-five total for 2021 to five and moved up to 10th in the championship standings. This comes after having two straight races of finishing outside the top-10. A key role into Busch’s afternoon was aRead More