The Final Lap – NASCAR News, Radio, Podcast

1 43 Aric Almirola US Air Force Ford 27.988 192.940
2 9 Marcos Ambrose DeWalt Ford 28.184 191.598
3 48 Jimmie Johnson Lowe’s Patriotic Chevrolet 28.217 191.374
4 16 Greg Biffle Fastenal Ford 28.234 191.259
5 15 Clint Bowyer 5-hour Energy Toyota 28.243 191.198
6 55 Mark Martin Aaron’s Armed Forces Foundation Toyota 28.247 191.171
7 5 Kasey Kahne Quaker State Chevrolet 28.253 191.130
8 11 Denny Hamlin FedEx Ground Toyota 28.289 190.887

THE FINAL LAP WEEKLY – COCA-COLA 600 PREVIEW SHOW

Read more…

1 18 Kyle Busch M&M’s Toyota 119.112 136.006
2 39 Ryan Newman Tornados Chevrolet 119.821 135.202
3 11 Denny Hamlin FedEx Office Toyota 120.168 134.811
4 16 Greg Biffle 3M / American Red Cross Ford 120.420 134.529
5 29 Kevin Harvick Budweiser / Rheem Chevrolet 120.622 134.304
6 48 Jimmie Johnson Lowe’s Patriotic Chevrolet 121.076 133.800
7 27 Paul Menard Menards / CertainTeed Chevrolet 121.147 133.722
8 24 Jeff Gordon DuPont Chevrolet 121.297 133.556
9 14 Tony Stewart Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet 121.482 133.353
10 78 Regan Smith Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet 121.721 133.091
11 21 Trevor Bayne(i) Good Sam / Camping World Ford 121.861 132.938
12 15 Clint Bowyer 5-hour Energy Toyota 122.292 132.470
13 99 Carl Edwards Fastenal Ford 122.420 132.331
14 34 David Ragan US Shredder Ford 124.183 130.453
15 17 Matt Kenseth Fifth Third Bank Ford 125.351 134.606
16 55 Mark Martin Aaron’s Dream Machine Toyota 126.624 133.197
17 51 Kurt Busch Monster Energy Chevrolet 128.074 131.628
18 9 Marcos Ambrose DeWalt Ford 128.784 130.873

THE FINAL LAP WEEKLY #202 – ALL STAR PREVIEW – LISTEN HERE

19 2 Brad Keselowski Miller Lite Dodge 130.436 134.511
20 5 Kasey Kahne Farmers Insurance Chevrolet 0.000 0.000

Read more…

Pit Road Strategy To Be Critical Component;
Fans To Again Vote One Driver Into Field

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.  – The 28th running of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race will provide some additional incentive for drivers to win one of the four segments heading into the final 10-lap shootout, as the emphasis on winning and pit road strategy have never been more prevalent in this special night of NASCAR star-studded competition. Through the annual Sprint Fan Vote, under way now, fans can again cast ballots for their favorite eligible driver. The driver receiving the highest number of votes will earn a spot in the field.

The NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race set for Saturday, May 19 at Charlotte Motor Speedway (SPEED, 7 p.m.), will consist of four 20-lap segments, concluding with a 10-lap sprint and a $1 million payout to the race winner. This year’s format will place a higher premium for drivers who win one of the four segments, however, as the winners of the first four segments will move to the front of the field and line up 1-4 prior to the field coming to pit road for the final mandatory pit stop.
CLICK THE GRAPHIC TO VIEW THE FORMAT GRID

When the drivers come down pit road, crew chiefs will have to decide on their best pit strategy, as multiple scenarios will unfold. The team that makes the best call, combined with the optimum performance on pit road, is likely to be in the driver’s seat for the final 10 laps of competition. Wherever the drivers are positioned as they come off pit road after that pit stop is where they will line up to start the final 10-lap segment.

Read more…

Kicking off the festivities, the eighth edition of the NASCAR Sprint Pit Crew Challenge will take place Thursday, May 17, at 7 p.m. at Time Warner Cable Arena (SPEED to televise on delayed basis beginning at 8 p.m.). This competition between 24 of the top NASCAR Sprint Cup Series pit crews features the “unsung heroes” of the sport in a popular tournament-style battle. The event’s finishing order determines pit selection for the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race. The No. 11 Toyota team is the two-time defending champion.  See the list below.

Read more…

1 13 2 Brad Keselowski Miller Lite Dodge
2 21 18 Kyle Busch M&M’s Toyota
3 10 17 Matt Kenseth Best Buy Ford
4 5 5 Kasey Kahne Farmers Insurance Chevrolet
5 6 16 Greg Biffle 3M/O’Reilly Auto Parts Ford
6 24 15 Clint Bowyer Aaron’s/Alabama National Championship Toyota
7 32 34 David Ragan Front Row Motorsports Ford
8 11 21 Trevor Bayne(i) Motorcraft/Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center Ford
9 18 88 Dale Earnhardt Jr. National Guard/Diet Mountain Dew Chevrolet
10 29 31 Jeff Burton Caterpillar Chevrolet
11 23 1 Jamie McMurray Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats Chevrolet
12 4 43 Aric Almirola VeriFone Sail Ford
13 26 38 David Gilliland Taco Bell Ford
14 3 9 Marcos Ambrose Stanley Ford
15 2 22 AJ Allmendinger Shell Pennzoil/AAA Dodge

Read more…

RACE RESULTS

1. (4) Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 267, $248,691.
2. (6) Martin Truex Jr., Toyota, 267, $209,399.
3. (15) Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, 267, $185,121.
4. (18) Matt Kenseth, Ford, 267, $166,521.
5. (17) Greg Biffle, Ford, 267, $119,135.
6. (2) Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet, 267, $146,771.
7. (7) Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chevrolet, 267, $104,060.
8. (9) Kasey Kahne, Chevrolet, 267, $100,410.
9. (21) Carl Edwards, Ford, 267, $133,301.
10. (25) Kyle Busch, Toyota, 267, $135,343.

Read more…

RACE RESULTS

1. (3) Greg Biffle, Ford, 334, $540,850.
2. (10) Jimmie Johnson, Chevrolet, 334, $361,501.
3. (4) Mark Martin, Toyota, 334, $232,690.
4. (34) Jeff Gordon, Chevrolet, 334, $250,401.
5. (2) Matt Kenseth, Ford, 334, $212,901.
6. (1) Martin Truex, Jr., Toyota, 334, $190,904.
7. (5) Kasey Kahne, Chevrolet, 334, $148,565.
8. (20) Carl Edwards, Ford, 334, $176,156.
9. (15) Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet, 334, $175,651.
10. (16) Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Chevrolet, 334, $135,940.
11. (17) Kyle Busch, Toyota, 334, $171,863.
12. (13) Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 334, $166,221.
13. (27) Kurt Busch, Chevrolet, 333, $148,638.
14. (9) Jamie McMurray, Chevrolet, 333, $151,513.
15. (12) AJ Allmendinger, Dodge, 333, $159,805.
16. (25) Juan Pablo Montoya, Chevrolet, 333, $148,546.
17. (18) Clint Bowyer, Toyota, 333, $142,794.
18. (11) Paul Menard, Chevrolet, 333, $121,980.
19. (14) Joey Logano, Toyota, 333, $120,380.
20. (7) Marcos Ambrose, Ford, 333, $139,863.

Read more…

NASCAR Trailblazer Wendell Scott, NASCAR Matriarch France Among The 25 Eligible

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (April 11, 2012) – Determination and innovation, two qualities existing in abundance in the men and women who built NASCAR, characterize the 25 nominees for the 2013 NASCAR Hall of Fame class.

NASCAR today announced those 25 nominees for the NASCAR Hall of Fame’s fourth induction class, and included among the diverse group are five newcomers who make this list arguably the most intriguing in the hall’s history.

Of the 25 nominees, 20 return from last year’s group. Five are first-timers, and all vary in expertise: NASCAR’s first treasurer and secretary Anne Bledsoe France, engine builder and owner Ray Fox, trailblazing driver Wendell Scott, promoter and sponsor executive Ralph Seagraves and driver champion Rusty Wallace. Of those new five, two represent ‘firsts’ for the hall: Scott the first African-American nominee; France the first female nominee.

Read more…