NASCAR Cup Series

Though Erik Jones grew up in Byron, Mich., 70 miles northwest of Detroit, it’s the home cooking at Phoenix Raceway he has been waiting to taste for the past eight months.

This weekend at Phoenix International Raceway, Jimmie Johnson and Chase Elliott are the only members of Team Chevy still in contention to be one of the final four drivers to compete for the 2017 championship title at Homestead.  After last weekend’s race at Texas Motor Speedway, three drivers are assured trips to the championship finale based on wins and points performances. Following 312-laps/312-miles of racing around the 1-mile venue in the Valley of the Sun, one driver will emerge as the final championship contender.

A championship race calls for championship-caliber dignitaries, and that’s exactly what the Ford EcoBoost 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway will have. Multiple-gold winning Olympic gymnast and author Gabby Douglas will serve as the Honorary Starter for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series championship, the Ford EcoBoost 400, which will take place on Sunday, November 19 at 2:30 p.m. ET on NBC. As honorary starter, Douglas will wave the green flag at the start of the 267-lap race.

Stewart-Haas Racing announced today that Aric Almirola will be the driver of the No. 10 Smithfield Foods Ford Fusion for the 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season. Co-owner Tony Stewart and Almirola were part of a press conference today at the race shop to discuss the move.

HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS AT PHOENIX: Hendrick Motorsports has earned 10 wins, 11 pole positions, 45 top-five finishes and 79 top-10s at Phoenix International Raceway. Those 10 wins are spread among six drivers, with Jimmie Johnson accounting for four. Dale Earnhardt Jr. recorded the organization’s most recent Phoenix victory in November 2015.

CONCORD, N.C. (Nov. 7, 2017) – Roush Fenway Racing has been recognized for outstanding achievement by the prestigious MarCom Awards. The team has been awarded a pair of MarCom Awards for its marketing and communications efforts in 2017.

“I’m really looking forward to getting back to Phoenix this weekend with our EcoBoost Ford. We made some really good progress here in the spring and I am confident that we can continue that this weekend and contend for another strong finish on Sunday.”

“It’s really cool to be able to honor Robert (Yates) with our car this weekend.  He’s meant so much to NASCAR, and to have him ride along with us this weekend will be really special for everyone at the shop and Doug.

The Series heads West to Phoenix Raceway for the final cut-off race in the NASCAR Playoffs that will narrow the Championship field down to four contenders who will race for a title in Miami. Hamlin enters Sunday’s 312-lap race fifth in the NASCAR Playoffs standings, 19 points below the Championship 4 cut-off line. In 24 starts at Phoenix Raceway, Hamlin owns one win, 10 top-five and 14 top-10 finishes. He suffered a flat right-rear tire during his last visit to the desert earlier this season, but rallied to score a 10th-place finish.

Furniture Row Racing announced that Auto-Owners Insurance has increased its 2018 primary sponsorship package from six to eight races on Martin Truex Jr.’s No. 78 Toyota Camry.