Fast Facts
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Next Race: Quaker State 400 presented by Advance Auto Parts
The Place: Kentucky Speedway
The Date: Saturday, June 28
The Time: 7:30 p.m. (ET)
TV: TNT, 6:30 p.m. (ET)
Radio: PRN, Sirius XM Ch. 90
Distance: 400.5 miles (267 laps)
NASCAR Nationwide Series
Next Race: John R. Elliott HERO Campaign 300 presented by Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over
The Place: Kentucky Speedway
The Date: Friday, June 27
The Time: 7:30 p.m. (ET)
TV: ESPN, 7 p.m. (ET)
Radio: PRN, Sirius XM Ch. 90
Distance: 300 miles (200 laps)
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
Next Race: UNOH 225
The Place: Kentucky Speedway
The Date: Thursday, June 26
The Time: 8 p.m. (ET)
TV: FOX Sports 1, 7:30 p.m. (ET)
Radio: MRN, Sirius XM Ch. 90
Distance: 225 miles (150 laps)
10 To Go: Lots To Decide, Little Time Left
Ten races at 10 different tracks, all to determine the 16 drivers who will battle for one prize – the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship.
That’s a lot of numbers. But there’s only one point: It’s an important time right now, and for those who remain winless, it’s vital.
These next 10 races will test each driver’s versatility. A wide array awaits: 1.5 milers like this Saturday night’s race at Kentucky; a restrictor plate track (Daytona); a triangle (Pocono); a road course (Watkins Glen); a short track (Bristol); one of the most historic sporting venues in the world (Indianapolis) – and more.
With each passing day, time’s running out. So is the space remaining on this page, so let’s get to it. Storylines to watch as we head to Saturday night’s race at Kentucky Speedway…
Jeff Gordon Is 22-for-23: And actually, he’s 23-for-24. There are 23 race tracks on the current NASCAR Sprint Cup Series schedule; Jeff Gordon has a win – or eight – at 22 of them. His only hole is Kentucky Speedway, and it’s an understandable one. The series has raced there just three times, all won by different winners. Gordon has fared fairly well in those three events, collecting three top 10s, including a fifth-place finish in 2012. If he were to win on Saturday night, he’d be the first driver in NASCAR history to win at every track on the active schedule. For the record, Gordon’s win list includes Rockingham, which hosted its last NASCAR Sprint Cup race in 2004.
Five Guys, In And Out: Of Carl Edwards’ 23 career NASCAR Sprint Cup wins, more than half (13) have come at intermediate tracks measuring 1.5 or two miles. So, it’s a tad surprising that his two victories this season have come at half-mile Bristol and the Sonoma road course. It also makes him a threat throughout the varied remainder of the regular season. He’s now one of five drivers with multiple wins, all of whom are pretty much locked in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. Those drivers joining Edwards: Jimmie Johnson, Kevin Harvick, Joey Logano and Dale Earnhardt Jr. These drivers are guaranteed to be among the top 16 winners, and now need only to finish in the top 30 in points after race No. 26 and attempt to qualify for each race to officially clinch a Chase spot.
Kenseth’s Calendar Circle: If Matt Kenseth owns a paper calendar, and if he’s one of the rare few who actually circles important dates, then he just might have put a ring around Saturday, June 28. Saturday night’s race at Kentucky offers Kenseth’s next best shot at his oddly elusive first win of the 2014. He’s the defending winner there, leading 38 laps in last year’s Kentucky race. And he’s 3-for-3 in top-10s at the 1.5-mile track. Without question, Kenseth is due for some good luck. After consecutive third-place finishes at Charlotte and Dover, Kenseth has averaged a finish of 27.0. That includes last Sunday’s 42nd-place finish at Sonoma, where he was wrecked after running 74 laps. He’s now fourth in points after holding the points lead only four races ago.
Childress Heating Up: Richard Childress Racing has won back-to-back races … in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Still, its NASCAR Sprint Cup Series program has quietly enjoyed a solid season, and is coming on strong of late. Paul Menard has scored consecutive top-five finishes (a fourth at Michigan; fifth at Sonoma); Ryan Newman has finished in the top 15 in five of the last six; and Austin Dillon remains in Chase contention. In fact, if the Chase began today, both Menard and Newman would make the Chase Grid. This weekend could pose a significant challenge for the team. RCR has fielded 10 entries over the course of Kentucky’s three races, only one of which has finished in the top 10 (Kevin Harvick finished 10th last season).
Hometown Hero Waltrip Hopes For Kentucky Breakthrough
Thought omnipresent at a race track – in either a television studio or walking pit road – Owensboro, Kentucky native Michael Waltrip doesn’t get behind the wheel of a race car all that often anymore.
He has people to do that for him, these days.
And they’ll represent him at his home track of Kentucky Speedway. So, yes, in a way, this is a home race for Kansas native Clint Bowyer and North Carolina native Brian Vickers – the two cornerstones of Michael Waltrip Racing.
This is a big one for more than local pride, of course. Both drivers are winless, and especially in the case of Vickers, in danger of missing the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.
Bowyer, coming off two consecutive top-10 finishes, has climbed to 14th in points – good enough to be one of the Chase Grid drivers were NASCAR’s playoffs beginning today. They’re not. So a win at Kentucky would go a long way. It’s more than possible; Bowyer finished third last year.
Vickers has yet to crack the top 25 at Kentucky, finishing 31st (DNF) last season and 27th in 2011. He’s hit a rough patch of late, a stretch defined by bad luck. His engine gave out at Dover, leading to a 43rd-place finish, and at Michigan, an early accident caused him to limp home in 42nd.
Eleventh Heaven: Who’s Next?
Ten is a ubiquitous number this week. There are 10 races left, and 10 different tracks. Up to this point, there have been 10 different winners – and 10 drivers who are thus virtually locked into the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.
But there are way more than 10 drivers who want to make ‘11’ the number on everyone’s mind – as in ‘11th different driver to win in 2014.’
There are plenty of candidates. Last year during this upcoming 10-race stretch, there were five winners who have so far gone winless in 2014 – Matt Kenseth (twice, at Kentucky and Bristol), Brian Vickers (New Hampshire), Ryan Newman (Indianapolis) and Kasey Kahne (Pocono).
Any one of those talents could conceivable grab the win this Saturday night at Kentucky. We’ve already touched on Kenseth and Newman (page 1) and Vickers (about four inches above this sentence). Now, Kahne…
Though overshadowed thus far by fellow Hendrick Motorsports teammates Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt Jr. (all of whom have combined to win six races), Kahne’s season hasn’t really been all that bad – especially lately.
Kahne finished fifth at Michigan and sixth at Sonoma to move up to 16th in points – and a spot out of the Chase bubble (Kurt Busch, currently 26th in points, would bump Kahne out thanks to his win at Martinsville).
Kahne is strong at Kentucky, finishing second there in 2012.
Smartin’ Truex Jr.: Hits Keep On Coming
It took one lap for Martin Truex Jr.’s hopes of a Sonoma repeat to end. He was caught up in a Lap 1 incident, battled a tire problem, and dropped to last place.
All that made Michigan sound like a marathon in comparison. There, he made it eight laps before getting caught up in a wreck.
Those two races are a microcosm of Truex’s season. After a strong 2013 campaign – he won his second race and matched a career-high in top fives (seven) – Truex moved to Furniture Row Racing, itself coming off its best season.
So far, it’s been a parade of oddball mishaps. His season opened up with an engine issue that ended his Daytona 500 after 30 laps. And since, not much has gone right – a large chunk of which could be attributed to tough luck.
All that can change this weekend at Kentucky Speedway, a place that has generally been kind to Truex. In three NASCAR Sprint Cup Series starts there, Truex has two top 10s. Going a bit deeper, he nabbed a runner-up finish there in the NASCAR Nationwide Series in 2005.
A win would cure any ills he and his team may feel. Currently 25th in points, it might be their only path to the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Etc.
Milestone Watch: Joey Logano will make his 200th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start on Saturday night. Over the first 199, Logano has five wins, 33 top fives and 68 top 10s. … Carl Edwards will be attempting to complete the Kentucky NASCAR national series sweep. He already has a NASCAR Nationwide Series win (2005) and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series win (2003) at the 1.5 mile track. Only Kyle Busch has won in all three series at Kentucky. … Both Jimmie Johnson and Dale Earnhardt Jr. have been nominated for ESPY Awards this year. Both are up for Best Driver, and Johnson is up for Best Championship Performance. Click here to vote: http://espn.go.com/espys/2014/.
Richard Childress Racing Is Back In The Saddle Again
They’re back. Back to their old ways, back in the championship discussion, back in Victory Lane.
Richard Childress Racing’s mid-season push has them staring at a possible three-race win streak following Paul Menard’s victory at Michigan and Brendan Gaughan’s triumph last weekend at Road America.
“When I came to RCR, I told Richard (Childress) that all I wanted to do was prove I could still win races, and ever since then it has been the best racing of my life,” said Gaughan.
A three-peat win streak, while tough to pull off, is a real possibility considering RCR’s success at Kentucky. The No. 3 team swept the 2012 Kentucky season at the 1.5-mile track, and finished runner-up last fall with driver Austin Dillon. This season Ty Dillon, who won at Kentucky in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series last season, commands the famed No. 3 Chevrolet and leads the RCR contingent to the blue-grass state.
All three of RCR’s drivers are in the top 10 in the series points standings; including two in the top five – Dillon (fourth) and Brian Scott (fifth). Gaughan (seventh) is five points back from Trevor Bayne in sixth.
Gaughan’s good luck could linger this weekend; he has the eighth best pre-race Driver Rating (105.9) in the NNS at Kentucky in part by finishing third there in 2012.
Who’s Up? First Time Winners Welcome
Of Kentucky Speedway’s 15 previous NASCAR Nationwide Series races, five were won by first-time winners, David Gilliland (2006), Stephen Leicht (2007), Joey Logano (2008), Austin Dillon (2012) and Ryan Blaney (2013). That begs the question: Which lucky hopeful will be number six?
Sunoco Rookie of the Year candidate, Ty Dillon tops the list of possible first-time winners. Dillon has been consistent this season posting 10 top-10 finishes in 14 starts. Though this will be Dillon’s series debut at the track, his team’s experience at Kentucky might give him the edge. The No. 3 team swept both races in 2012 from the Coors Light pole, and has yet to finish worse than sixth at the 1.5-mile speedway.
Another Sunoco Rookie standout the cusp of victory is Chris Buescher. Despite missing the season-opener at Daytona, he is eighth in the series standings after posting five top-10 finishes this season including a runner-up finish at Talladega. Two of his five top 10s were on 1.5-mile speedways (ninth at Las Vegas and Charlotte). His average finish in 13 starts this season in 14.2.
Despite a slow start, Dylan Kwasniewski could surprise this weekend. A champion in both the K&N Pro Series East and West, Kwasniewski is currently 12th in the NNS standings with one pole and one top-10 finish.
Smith Hangs On, While Elliott Closes Standings Fissure
Regan Smith might be breathing a sigh of relief for making it out of Road America with the NASCAR Nationwide Series points lead over second-place Elliott Sadler (-10) – but both front-runners need to watch a rebounding Chase Elliott, who is closing in fast.
Elliott continues to craft a championship run. At Road America, his first attempt at a road course in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, he finished fourth and now sits just one point behind second-place Sadler as they head to Kentucky.
Elliott continues to excite those witnessing his rookie campaign. In 14 starts this season he has posted two wins (Texas, Darlington), seven top fives and 11 top 10s. His season-to-date Driver Rating (108.1) and Average Running Position (7.772) lead the series among championship contenders. Between him and Smith, JR Motorsports drivers have led the series’ driver standings this entire season.
Smith posted his first series career pole at Kentucky in 2007 and though this will be Elliott’s series debut at Kentucky, he has logged laps in the ARCA/REMAX Series there last season. Plus, Elliott has excelled on 1.5-mile tracks this season. He won in his series debut at Texas Motor Speedway earlier this season.
Of the top three in points, Elliott Sadler has had the most success at Kentucky. He has made five starts posting three top fives, including a runner-up finish in this race last season.
NASCAR Nationwide Series Etc.
Today, the NASCAR Nationwide Series will hold the second of two test sessions this season. NASCAR let teams choose which two tracks they would prefer to spend the extra testing time, and Iowa and Kentucky were chosen. The sessions will run from 9 to 11:30 a.m. and then 1 to 4 p.m. (ET). … NASCAR Next participant and NASCAR Mexico Toyota Series driver Ruben Garcia Jr. will be making his return to the NNS this weekend. Garcia has previously made two starts in the NNS this season with a best finish of 25th (Bristol). … Greg Ives, crew chief for Chase Elliot and the No. 9 team, returns to series after he and his wife, Jessica, welcomed the arrival of their son, Parker Rogers Ives last weekend. … Corey LaJoie will be making his return to the series at Kentucky; he has one previous series start to his credit, at Homestead-Miami last season.
Kyle Busch Goes After Personal Record At Kentucky
It is well known throughout NASCAR circles that Kyle Busch will drive anything at any time and often wins – anywhere. . Although he is a full-time competitor in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, the Las Vegas native frequently competes in both the NASCAR Nationwide and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.
The second-generation driver has accumulated 134 wins in all three national series and currently holds the record for highest winning percentage in the truck series at nearly 33% with 39 wins in 119 starts. His 134 wins rank second overall in history for most wins across all three NASCAR national series.
He will once again attempt triple duty this weekend at Kentucky Speedway, and in Thursday night’s truck race, Busch has the opportunity to add to his personal record book.
If Busch can find a way to Victory Lane this Thursday night in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series UNOH 225 he will set a personal record in the series with his sixth consecutive win in as many starts. He has accomplished five wins in a row twice. In addition to his current streak, Busch also won five in a row in 2009.
In four previous truck races at Kentucky, Busch has one win and has finished in the top-10 in every start.
Toyota Looks To Add To Record Winning Streak At Kentucky
With Darrell Wallace Jr.’s win at Gateway Motorsports Park on June 14, the second-year driver helped his manufacturer, Toyota, set a new record for wins in the series. Dating back to last year when fellow Kyle Busch Motorsports driver Erik Jones won at Phoenix, a Toyota Tundra has visited Victory Lane nine consecutive times.
The win ended a three-way tie in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series for most consecutive wins. The previous record was eight, originally set by Chevrolet in 1995 and matched by Dodge in 2001.
With its hot start to the 2014 season, Toyota also has the early lead in the race for the manufacturer’s title. Toyota won the title last season, and added an owner title with Kyle Busch Motorsports and the driver title with Matt Crafton. Toyota has won the manufacturers title six out of the past eight seasons.
Toyota is also second in the record books for most wins in the series with 119. Chevrolet holds the record with 197.
Hornaday Jr. Looks For Fourth Truck Win At Kentucky
Ron Hornaday Jr. has set many records in the NCWTS, including his series record 51 victories. Three of those have come at Kentucky Speedway, and another victory would put the 1.5-mile track at the top of his personal list. Currently, O’Reilly Raceway Park in Indianapolis (four wins) ranks as Hornaday’s most prolific track.
Hornaday has won three times on two other tracks on this year’s schedule (Texas Motor Speedway and New Hampshire Motor Speedway). In 11 previous starts at Kentucky, he has compiled the three wins, six top 10s, and led 141 laps.
Hornaday’s last victory came at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2011.
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Etc.
Former series champion Austin Dillon will make his third truck start of the season this weekend at Kentucky Speedway driving the No. 20 truck for NTS Motorsports. … John Wes Townley and Ryan Blaney will attempt double duty this weekend as both drivers will compete Thursday night in the truck race and return on Friday night for the NASCAR Nationwide Series event. Blaney won the most recent NNS race held at Kentucky last fall.
