News

on

2012 Pocono June NASCAR Test Jeff Burton MediaWELCOME, N.C. (November 5, 2013)- Jeff Burton, driver of the No. 31 @CATMining Chevrolet, will make his 1,000th-career NASCAR start when the Sprint Cup Series heads to Phoenix International Raceway on Sunday, Nov. 10, 2013.

During a NASCAR career spanning more than 25 years, Burton has amassed 48 wins including victories in the Southern 500 at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway and the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The South Boston, Va., native has earned more than 250 top-five and 400 top-10 finishes, was named the 1994 Sprint Cup Series “Rookie of the Year” and co-piloted the No. 29 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet to the 2007 NASCAR Nationwide Series owner’s championship. Continue reading “Jeff Burton to make 1,000th-Career NASCAR Start at Phoenix International Raceway”

on

nascar_tms_nscs_110313_johnson_vlNov. 4, 2013

By Reid Spencer
NASCAR Wire Service

What’s it going to be — an inexorable march toward a sixth NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship for Jimmie Johnson, or another late-season failure for the No. 48 team?

Based on the preponderance of evidence from Sunday’s AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway, the sixth title seems the far more likely outcome. Continue reading “After Texas, Jimmie Johnson Is Two Steps Away From A Sixth Title”

on

 

nascar_tms_nscs_110313_kensethNov. 3, 2013

By John Sturbin
Special to the NASCAR Wire Service

FORT WORTH, Texas — Greed momentarily got the best of Matt Kenseth on pit road Sunday at Texas Motor Speedway, where Lap 173 of the AAA Texas 500 may yet morph into the deciding moment of the 2013 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.

Kenseth was running second to title rival Jimmie Johnson on Lap 173 of the scheduled 334-lapper when he hit pit road for a green-flag stop. Exiting after a clean stop, Kenseth was detected for speeding — an infraction that carries a pass-through penalty that was assessed on Lap 175. Kenseth dropped to 16th, a massive 28.398 seconds behind Johnson, who went on to score his sixth victory of the season by a comfortable 4.390-seconds over Hendrick Motorsports teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr. Joey Logano of Penske Racing finished third while Kenseth rallied to finish fourth. Continue reading “Matt Kenseth Maintains Chase Pace At Texas Motor Speedway”

on

Rick Hendrick Jimmie Johnson Hendrick Motorsports 200th WinNov. 3, 2013

By Reid Spencer
NASCAR Wire Service

FORT WORTH, Tex. — As dominant as Jimmie Johnson was in Sunday’s AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway, is team owner Rick Hendrick confident that the driver of the No. 48 Chevrolet will deliver the organization’s 11th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series title two weeks from now at Homestead?

Yes, Johnson destroyed the opposition at Texas, leading 255 of 334 laps and beating teammate Dale Earnhardt Jr., the race runner-up, to the finish line by 4.390 seconds.

Yes, Johnson leads fourth-place finisher Matt Kenseth by seven points in the NASCAR Sprint Cup standings. But Johnson led Brad Keselowski by seven points after eight Chase races last year before losing the title to the Penske Racing driver.

Accordingly, Hendrick isn’t ready to stake his claim to the championship. Continue reading “Chalk Up Another Championship? Not Yet, Says Rick Hendrick”

on

nascar_tms_nscs_110313_gordon_garageGordon’s title hopes take hit at TMS

Nov. 3, 2013

By John Sturbin
Special to the NASCAR Wire Service

FORT WORTH, Texas — Revived by a victory one week ago at Martinsville Speedway, Jeff Gordon’s bid for a fifth NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship slammed to a halt in the Turn 1 wall at Texas Motor Speedway Sunday afternoon.

A blown left front tire sent Gordon’s No. 24 Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet SS into the wall on Lap 75 of the AAA Texas 500, Round 8 of the 10-race Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. Gordon began the day in third, 27 points behind co-leaders Matt Kenseth of Joe Gibbs Racing and Jimmie Johnson, Gordon’s Hendrick Motorsports teammate. Continue reading “Jeff Gordon’s Title Hopes Are Toast After Texas”