SM Archive

Penalties have been handed down to the No. 2 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team following last Sunday’s race at Dover International Speedway.

Debuting for TriStar Motorsports for his first NASCAR Nationwide Series race of the 2013 season, Cole Whitt made great strides during Saturday afternoon’s 5-Hour Energy 200 at Dover International Speedway. Starting from the 20th position, Whitt set out on Dover’s 1-mile concrete surface for 200 slick laps.

There are certain hotbeds of sprint car racing all across the country. They are usually divided by whether the cars have wings or not and what size engine is under the hood. One of the most storied areas is Central Pennsylvania, which has long been known for its winged 410-sprint car racing.

No. 15 RK Motors Toyota driver Clint Bowyer and Crew Chief Brian Pattie are in their second season together at Michael Waltrip Racing. Their first season culminated in a runner-up finish for the 2012 Chase for the Sprint Cup. The pair heads to Pocono Raceway this weekend in third-place in the standings ahead of their 2012 pace in top-fives, top-10s, laps led and seven spots higher in the point standings.

There will be more on the line June 28 during the NASCAR Nationwide Series Feed the Children 300 at Kentucky Speedway than most races.

Trevor Bayne is a strong starter at Iowa Speedway. He qualified in the top-five all three times he’s driven at the tri-oval track for a NASCAR Nationwide Series race, including one pole. This Saturday, he will make a run at keeping the streak alive.

Valvoline first partnered with RFR in 1989 and served as the primary sponsor on the No. 6 Sprint Cup Ford. In 2011, RFR first adopted NextGen motor oil technology, testing it at the lab and on track. Since 2011, overall regular season race wins using Valvoline with NextGen technology total 55, with 17 of those in NASCAR with RFR. In addition, Valvoline with NextGen technology won the last two NNS championships with RFR and Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

The No. 11 OneMain Financial team and Elliott Sadler head to Iowa Speedway this weekend to participate in the NASCAR Nationwide Series DuPont Pioneer 250. Sadler has only four Nationwide Series starts at the 0.875-mile track, however, he has earned three pole awards, four top-five finishes and one win from the August 2012 race. He has led 100 laps at the track, as well as completed 100 percent of laps run.

Although some may think it's too early to be talking about the "Chase for the Sprint Cup," Marcos Ambrose and the No. 9 Richard Petty Motorsports team know it's not the case. Ambrose will visit the 'Tricky Triangle' this weekend looking to master the three, very different turns at the Pocono (Penn.) Raceway. Carrying the DEWALT colors, the No. 9 Ford team will also be looking for a win to help secure a spot in the "Chase."

The No. 43 Smithfield Ford teams heads to Pocono (Penn.) Raceway 17 points outside of the coveted top-10 in championship points. Aric Almirola hopes to out-trick the 'Tricky Triangle' and bring home a top-10 finish to help propel the team in points.