NASCAR Cup Series

NASCAR announced today that the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series will implement the group-based road course qualifying procedure used in NASCAR Nationwide and NASCAR Touring Series competition during its road-course events at Sonoma Raceway and Watkins Glen International. Under the new procedure, cars will qualify in groups instead of the traditional single-car qualifying runs held on oval race tracks.

Paul Menard is one of the mellowest drivers in the garage area. He is never embroiled in any controversies and quietly goes about doing his own thing.

Getting down to business at Kansas Speedway, Yeley and the No. 36 Accell Construction team had one morning practice prior to qualifying for Sunday's race. Yeley qualified for the STP 400 in 40th position. This gave the team an opportunity to make adjustments to the car before Saturday's two rounds of practice.

An engine change on Saturday sent Blaney to the rear of the field, presenting a challenge for 267 laps of racing at Kansas Speedway. The new Earnhardt Ganassi Racing engine was ready as the green flag flew for Sunday's STP 400. Blaney gained as much as 13 positions in the first 25 laps.

David Reutimann and the No. 83 Dr. Pepper Toyota team finished 28th at Kansas Speedway on Sunday afternoon. After starting outside the top 30, Reutimann and his BK Racing team were able to adjust the handling of the Burger King / Dr. Pepper Toyota Camry throughout the 400-mile race to finish in the 28th position.

It just got even easier for fans to purchase tickets to NASCAR’s most exciting and unpredictable venue - Talladega Superspeedway. It’s now literally at a consumer’s fingertips.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series rookie Timmy Hill used his previous learning experiences and success at the 1.5-mile layout of Kansas Speedway to put forth a strong outing in the FAS Lane Racing No. 32 OXYwater Ford on Sunday.

NASCAR Driver David Ragan will take a break from the No. 34 Ford to get behind the controls of one of the most advanced CSX locomotives at 3 pm on Tuesday, April 23, at the Moncrief Rail Yard. There he will learn more about train operations and to promote the "Play it Safe" campaign, which encourages safety among pedestrians and motorists around railroad tracks.

Aric Almirola showed speed early in the weekend posting fast times in practice and qualifying. He started the STP 400 from the sixth spot and battled the handling of the No. 43 STP Farmland Ford.

Richard Childress Racing teammates finished 10th (Paul Menard), 12th (Kevin Harvick) and 18th (Jeff Burton). Menard is 10th in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver championship point standings, trailing leader Jimmie Johnson by 71 markers, while Harvick ranks 12th, 87 points back, and Burton sits 23rd, 133 points out of the top position.