NASCAR Cup Series

DARLINGTON, SOUTH CAROLINA (July 18, 2017) – Despite getting a late start due to inclement weather, Darlington Raceway’s Goodyear tire test was a success, featuring several of NASCAR’s top stars hitting the high banks at the track Too Tough To Tame.

Richard Childress Racing at Indianapolis Motor Speedway ... In 64 previous Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series starts at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Richard Childress Racing has posted two pole awards (Kevin Harvick in 2003 and Jeff Burton in 2006), three wins (Dale Earnhardt in 1995, Harvick in 2003 and Paul Menard in 2011), 11 top-five and 26 top-10 finishes. RCR Chevrolets have also been atop the leaderboard for a total of 268 laps and with the exception of one, each entry has been running at the finish of every event at the Brickyard, dating back to the inaugural race in 1994.

Ryan Reed has competed at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) three times in the NASCAR XFINITY Series. In his 2014 rookie season, Reed finished 20th after starting 13th and suffering a mechanical issue near the end of the race. In 2015, Reed finished 20th after starting 22nd, and last year Reed finished 13th, his best finish to date at the famed IMS.  

Bayne makes his seventh career Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS) start at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday afternoon. In six previous starts, Bayne recorded a best finish of 17th in the 2012 event.

“We have to win, so we have to gamble when we can. That (last weekend’s race at New Hampshire) is not the last time you’re going to see that kind of gamble from us before the playoffs. We’re going to Indy this weekend and that’s what we’re working on in the simulator this week. This is not a long-run sport anymore, so you have to have that early speed to be able to get anything done and get up through the field. You’re not going to get those long green-flag runs to take advantage of a long-run car.” Dale Earnhardt Jr. on No. 88 team strategy heading into Indianapolis

The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series heads to Indianapolis Motor Speedway this weekend, where Ford teams will be looking to get to Victory Lane for the first time since 1999. Here’s a look at Ford’s three wins in the Brickyard 400 – two by NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Jarrett and the other by HOF nominee Ricky Rudd.

1. Martin Truex Jr.: Truex started on the pole and finished third at New Hampshire, posting his seventh top five of the season. He leads the Monster Energy Cup points standings by 38 points.

Wood Brothers Racing will roll out its second new paint scheme of the 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series when the Quick Lane Tire and Auto Centers Ford Fusion takes to the Brickyard this weekend.

The weather was nice this past weekend up in my neck of the woods. Sadly, I paid the price for a root canal. No sleep Friday night. Zip for Saturday night. Sunday? The feature race was from Loudon. However, just as I rarely hurt after a visit to the dentist, maybe Loudon would go against type and be just wonderful. A race for the ages. Damn it, I deserved it.

Until the last 80 laps, the Overton's 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway had the making of another Martin Truex Jr. clinic performance.