NASCAR Cup Series

NASCAR announced today that Eugene (Gene) Stefanyshyn has been named Vice President, Innovation and Racing Development to drive continual improvements in racing performance. He will be based at NASCAR’s Research and Development Center in Concord, N.C.

In a week where those impacted by the Boston Marathon bombing were remembered, here is what was surprising and not surprising as NASCAR’s elite visited Kansas Motor Speedway for the 3rd annual STP 400.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. is eight races into his rookie Cup season and is closing in fast on securing his first win racing at the pinnacle of NASCAR. At Kansas, his chances of winning were very high until a late race debris caution thwarted the young racer's chances at victory. He ended the race 11th tying his career best.

After a blazing fast weekend at Kansas Speedway, the NASCAR world sets its sights on Richmond International Raceway and the second night race of the year for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and NASCAR Nationwide Series.

Bobby Labonte has one pole award, four top-five, and 10 top-10 finishes and has led 161 laps at Richmond International Raceway. His average start is 19.725 and his average finish is 19.250. The Corpus Christi, Texas-native's best finish is second twice occurring on 9/11/99 and 5/3/03.

EDWARDS AT RICHMOND will make his 18th NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start at Richmond International Raceway this weekend. In eight starts this season he has one win, four top-five, and four top-10 finishes. He sits sixth in points.

"During NASCAR's routine post-race tear down of Matt Kenseth's race-winning car and engine from Kansas Speedway, one of our engine connecting rods weighed in approximately three grams under the legal minimum weight of 525 grams."

Penalties have been handed down to the No. 20 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team as a result of rule violations discovered in the post-race engine inspection April 23 at the NASCAR Research and Development Center.

No. 15 Toyota Camry driver Clint Bowyer knows he has momentum on his side as he returns to Richmond International Raceway for this weekend’s Toyota Owners 400. Bowyer won last fall at Richmond in the final race before the start of the 2012 Chase for the Sprint Cup.

Major news is breaking in the racing world today after the connecting rod in the engine of Kenseth's winning Kansas car was found to be illegal following the race. The engine is supplied by Toyota Racing Development but Joe Gibbs Racing will be held accountable in the eyes of NASCAR.