NASCAR Cup Series

Danica Patrick, the only female driver to win the Daytona 500 pole and one of the most popular figures in NASCAR, will not return to compete for Stewart-Haas Racing in 2018.

Roush Fenway Racing heads to the land of deep dish pizza, Al Capone’s tax evasion, every John Hughes movie and “Da Bears!” this weekend as the Monster Energy Cup Series (MENCS) returns to Chicagoland Speedway, excellent!

"Losing a sponsor of this magnitude in September is a significant set-back to Richard Petty Motorsports, but Andy (Murstein) and I are committed to moving forward with the No. 43 team. We have a lot of great partners who have expressed their continued support, and our fans will rally around the No. 43. We've been around since 1949, and we'll be around a lot longer."

Trevor Bayne will make his fifth Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS) start at Chicago this weekend. In four previous starts at the Illinois track, Bayne has earned a best finish of 20th in 2012.

Stenhouse has four Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS) starts at Chicagoland Speedway with an average starting position of 14.8 and average finishing position of 17.0.

This Week's Dow Univar Chevrolet at Chicagoland Speedway ... Dillon has three previous Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series starts at Chicagoland Speedway, earning his best finish of 14th in 2016 and best starting position of fifth in 2015.

The Playoffs for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series begin this weekend at Chicagoland Speedway with five Ford drivers in the field of 16.  Ryan Blaney, Kurt Busch, Kevin Harvick, Brad Keselowski and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. represent four different organizations in the Ford camp – Wood Brothers Racing, Roush Fenway Racing, Team Penske and Stewart-Haas Racing.  Ford is trying to win its first series championship since 2004 when Busch won the inaugural Playoff crown.

What do spark plugs, brake cleaner and go karts have in common when it comes to Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Talladega Superspeedway? They’re what occupied the majority of his time when he visited the enormous 2.66-mile track as a kid, years prior to winning six races, including a record four straight.

Leading eight laps and finishing fourth at Chicagoland Speedway last season gives Ryan Blaney and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Racing team confidence this weekend as the NASCAR Playoffs begin at the Tales of the Turtles 400.

By Kenny Bruce | NASCAR.com Smithfield Foods, the primary team sponsor for the Richard Petty Motorsports No. 43 Ford with driver Aric Almirola, will not return to the...