Kentucky Up Next...The 1.5-mile Kentucky Speedway is the next stop on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series circuit. Michael Annett will wheel his No. 46 Pilot Flying J Chevrolet this weekend, returning to a facility that provided him with a top-20 finish last season.
The driver of the No. 55 Aaron’s Dream Machine joins the rest of the NASCAR Sprint Cup field at Kentucky Speedway on Wednesday to test new rules designed to create less downforce and help produce more side-by-side competition. After an off day on Thursday, preparations for Saturday night’s race at the Sparta, Ky. track begin on Friday.
A late-race wreck in last weekend's Coke Zero 400 put Aric Almirola and the No. 43 Smithfield Ford team back in points. They now have a 24 point deficit to making The Chase. Knowing consistency is what got them this far this season, Almirola will look to get a Top-10 finish at Kentucky Speedway and try to work his way back into The Chase. Of course, a win would solve that problem, too, but the No. 43 team won't take any big risks to make that happen yet.
DAYTONA WIN: Dale Earnhardt Jr. won at Daytona International Speedway for the fourth time in his NASCAR Sprint Cup Series career last weekend, tying Tony Stewart for the second-most Cup wins at the track by an active driver. Teammate Jeff Gordon leads with six wins. Earnhardt’s career Cup win total is now at 25 points events. He is tied for 28th on the all-time wins list in his 16th season in the Sprint Cup Series. He now has 10 points-paying wins on restrictor-plate tracks, ranking him third behind Gordon (12) and his father Dale Earnhardt Sr. (11).
As Go Green Racing and the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) head to the bluegrass state and Kentucky Speedway, it will mark many firsts. Saturday night's event will feature 27-year-old Will Kimmel behind the wheel of the No.32 Ford Fusion for owner Archie St.Hilaire. Furthermore, this will mark the Sellersburg, IN native's first career NSCS start. Lastly, this weekend's event will feature the new "Aero Package" that all NSCS teams will utilize in Saturday nights race.
Richard Petty Motorsports announced today, Speed Perks, Advance Auto Parts' customer loyalty program, will serve as the primary sponsor for Sam Hornish Jr. and the No. 9 Ford Fusion at the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event at Kentucky Speedway this weekend. Speed Perks offers loyal customers the opportunity to earn rebates and special incentives from their in-store purchases.
The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will unveil a new race package this weekend at Kentucky Speedway, where Ford registered its first victory a year ago with Brad Keselowski taking the checkered flag. Teams will take part in an extended practice session on Wednesday with the race scheduled for Saturday night.
Fresh off his best finish in the XFINITY Series, Dakoda Armstrong heads to Kentucky Speedway with a full head of steam. Sitting just 25 points out of 11th place in the points standings, the No. 43 WinField team has their eyes set on another Top-10 finish. Armstrong has a collection of solid performances at the track and looks forward to "slipping and sliding" around the weathered asphalt. Currently, Armstrong sits 12th in the XFINITY Series Championship Point Standings.
Biffle’s thoughts on the new rules package for Kentucky: “I think it’s a bold move for NASCAR and it’s a statement saying we are listening to the drivers. They’re listening to what we think will create good competition, passing and kind of getting the cars sliding around a bit."
The 2022 O'Reilly Auto Parts Series champion from Charlotte, North Carolina, led the final 25 of 505 over-scheduled laps and utilized a late strategic call to assume the lead with worn tires to beat Ryan Blaney and Kyle Larson through two restarts, including an overtime shootout, to become the 207th competitor to win in NASCAR's premier series.
Ty Gibbs earned his first NASCAR Cup Series victory Sunday afternoon at Bristol Motor Speedway, holding off his competitors in a dramatic two-lap overtime shootout.
Daniel Suárez, driver of the No. 7 NationsGuard Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Spire Motorsports, fought hard all day despite handling issues and earned a 12th-place finish in Sunday's 503-lap race at Bristol
RYAN BLANEY, No. 12 Discount Tire Ford Mustang Dark Horse – “Before the last yellow I was side-by-side for the lead and I slipped into three and that kind of cost us a shot to get it before that last yellow."
