News

on

Nothing Would Please Busch More Than To Disrupt Chase Party In Phoenix

Kyle Busch did his best at Texas to snatch the winner’s bonus points from Chase rivals Jimmie Johnson and Brad Keselowski, eventually finishing a close third. Figure Busch, the 2005 Phoenix Chase winner, to do the same this week.

He finished sixth in March, the highest placing by a non-Chase qualifier. Also failing to make the Chase, but logging top 10s in the track’s winter race were two-time Phoenix winner Mark Martin (ninth) and Joey Logano (10th).

on

austin_dillon.jpg

Cheerios to Sponsor Austin Dillon in 2013 Daytona 500
Third-generation RCR driver to make his debut in The Great American Race

WELCOME, N.C. (November 9, 2012) – Richard Childress Racing has partnered with General Mills® for NASCAR Nationwide Series standout Austin Dillon to make his Daytona 500 debut driving the No. 33 Honey Nut Cheerios® Chevrolet on February 24, 2013, at Daytona International Speedway. The paint scheme for the 55th running of the Great American Race will also mark the NASCAR debut of Buzz, the official SpokesBee of Honey Nut Cheerios.

“My family has so many memories of racing in the Daytona 500 so it is really special to me to be able to make my first Daytona 500 start,” said Dillon. “With the support of General Mills and America’s Favorite Cereal, Honey Nut Cheerios, I hope to continue RCR’s winning tradition on restrictor plate tracks with my pal Buzz on the hood of the No. 33 Honey Nut Cheerios Chevrolet.”
Continue reading “Austin Dillon To Make Daytona 500 Debut”

on

‘New’ Phoenix Suggests Multitude of Potential Winners
Last year’s repaving and reconfiguration consigned most of Phoenix International Raceway’s record book to the dusty pages of history. The racing definitely has changed – especially taking March’s event into consideration. A Phoenix-record 15 different drivers took turns leading the 312-lap event won by Denny Hamlin. Kasey Kahne captured last fall’s AdvoCare 500, the first run on the new surface.

That said Phoenix has produced seven consecutive different winners. Johnson is one of them. He won the track’s Chase race in three consecutive championship seasons – 2007-09 – and counts four victories overall. He was fourth in March. Keselowski’s fifth-place finish in March’s SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500 was his first Phoenix top five, although his “near miss” at Texas – a track where Keselowski previously had no top 10s – suggests he’ll be a contender for the victory this week as well. Bowyer finished 30th in March, his second race in the No. 15 Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota.

on

Championship Field Down To 10; Likely To Further Shrink In Phoenix
Texas eliminated two Chase qualifiers, Kevin Harvick and Dale Earnhardt Jr. More are likely to follow on Sunday at Phoenix International Raceway. The mathematical cut-off with one race remaining is 49 points. Only Keselowski and Clint Bowyer (-36) currently are within that window. Fourth-place Kasey Kahne (-58) must net 10 points on Johnson to take his slim title hopes to the Nov. 18 season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Phoenix likely will end reigning champion Tony Stewart’s bid for a fourth crown. Stewart is eighth, 80 points off the lead.

on

Johnson’s Bid For Title No. 6 In High Gear But Keselowski Hangs Tough

It hardly was easy but Jimmie Johnson scored maximum points – 48 – for the second consecutive race to open a seven-point advantage over primary championship rival Brad Keselowski.

Johnson passed leader Keselowski on the final, green-white-checker restart to capture Sunday’s AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. Keselowski finished second. Is Johnson on his way to a sixth NASCAR Sprint Cup title? You can look at it two ways.

Continue reading “Jimmie Johnson Vs. Brad Keselowski Heading Into Phoenix”