NASCAR Cup Series

Darian Grubb, crew chief for the No. 11 FedEx Toyota driven by Denny Hamlin, has been named the first quarter winner of the KIMBERLY-CLARK PROFESSIONAL* Crew Chief Spotlight Award.

Last weekend at Richmond after the controversy that surrounded the restart with Carl Edwards and Tony Stewart, followed by the debris caution for supposedly a water bottle, it was Kyle Busch who came out on top. The win marked his first win of the season and his 24th win in 266 starts.

We all knew that the NASCAR Sprint Cup race at the Richmond International Raceway had the potential of becoming very lively and entertaining. After all, the basic premise of this race featured the concept of 43 cars stacked up on a three quarter mile oval and, as we all know, NASCAR style short track racing can present genuine surprises within a fraction of a second.

A week after responding to fan requests by making major changes to the track surface, Bristol Motor Speedway General Manager Jerry Caldwell today announced the next BMS fan initiative.

Fastenal will sponsor all three Roush Fenway Racing entries in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 27. The Fastenal paint schemes for Carl Edwards, Greg Biffle and Matt Kenseth will also incorporate the “NASCAR Unites – An American Salute” red, white and blue theme.

RCA recording artist Kris Allen, the season 8winner of “American Idol,” will perform the National Anthem prior to the start of the June 3 “FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks” NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Dover International Speedway.

A “wise” man once said, “If you ain’t first, you’re last.” And while West River, N.C.’s Richard “Ricky” Bobby wasspeaking eloquently about racing in general, he could very well be describing the always exciting and breathtaking NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway.

History, superstition and common logic would all advise against placing green and peanuts on a racecar. However, when David Ragan takes the green flag at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway on Saturday, May 12, he will be doing both of those things.

This Mother’s Day, Atlanta Motor Speedway has the perfect gift for the female racing fan in your family. Bring Mom out to AMS on Labor Day weekend with the “Danica Deal” to see Danica Patrick make her debut at the famed 1.54-mile speedway during the biggest Labor Day party in the USA, Aug. 31-Sept. 2.

The Series shifts to Talladega Superspeedway for Sunday’s 500-mile event on the 2.66-mile, high-banked oval. Hamlin has three top-five finishes and five top-10 results in 12 previous starts at the 2.66-mile high-banked oval, including a career-best third place run in the spring 2008 event.