NASCAR Cup Series

JEFF GORDON, INTERIM DRIVER OF THE NO. 88 AXALTA CHEVROLET SS, AND RICK HENDRICK, OWNER OF HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS, met with members of the media at Indianapolis Motor Speedway to discuss Jeff climbing behind the wheel of the No. 88 Chevrolet SS for Dale Earnhardt, Jr. as he continues to heal from concussion like symptoms.

The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and XFINITY Series head to Indianapolis Motor Speedway this weekend. Please check below for the complete schedule of events.

This week our staff takes a look at some of the hot topics in the world of NASCAR. We look back at New Hampshire, glance ahead to Indianapolis and rate the season to date. Our staff also tackles the question of penalties and when/if those penalties should affect the outcome of a race. We are joined by guest contributor, Katelyn Kinnett, co-founder of NASCARFemale.com.

The only story of note involves the No. 88 and who will be behind the wheel. That would be Jeff Gordon, who comes out of retirement to run Indianapolis and Watkins Glen while Dale Earnhardt Jr. recovers from the effects of his latest concussion. Shaky balance and some nausea are what he needs to overcome, but while that is happening Gordon will run his 798th and 799th career races.

“The Brickyard 400 is the one race I look forward to every year,” said McDowell. “I know the Daytona 500 is the biggest race in NASCAR, but for me, racing at Indianapolis gives me chills.”

Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick and Jeff Gordon, substitute driver of the No. 88 Axalta Chevrolet SS, will be available to members of the media on Friday, July 22, at 10:30 a.m. ET in the Indianapolis Motor Speedway media center.

Roush Fenway has made 88 NSCS starts at Indianapolis dating back to the inaugural event in 1994. In that timeframe, Roush Fenway has recorded 16 top-five finishes, 30 top-10 finishes, has an average finish of 17.7 and has completed 13,416 out of a possible 14,097 laps (95.2 percent).

“Track position is the key to Indy, the further you are to the front the better your car drives because you aren’t in the dirty air. Qualify up front, stay up front, I’ve done it several times there and had opportunities to win. I’m ready to get to Indy and see what we’ve got.”

NEW HAMPSHIRE ADDS TO TOYOTA SWEEPS: Camry drivers Matt Kenseth and Kyle Busch won in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series (NSCS) and NASCAR XFINITY Series (NXS), respectively, at New Hampshire Motor Speedway to tally the seventh weekend sweep for Toyota during the 2016 season.

When it comes to what is known as NASCAR’s four crown jewel races, Martin Truex Jr. is off to a pretty good start. He finished second by inches in the Daytona 500 and then went on to win the Coca-Cola 600 in record fashion at Charlotte Motor Speedway, leading 392 of 400 laps.