O'Reilly Series

With a true underdog in Marks taking the checkered flag coupled with the absolute insanity that was the race, it's a simple fact that NASCAR needs more road courses. It's been pointed out repeatedly that the Sprint Cup Series is over-saturated with cookie-cutter tracks and the Camping World Truck Series is loafing around with the lone road course at MoSport. Add more road courses to diversify the competition.

Justin Marks conquered the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on Saturday, driving the No. 42 Chip Ganassi Racing Chevrolet to a rain-soaked Victory Lane. The newest track on the XFINITY Series schedule, Mid-Ohio has only hosted four races in the last four seasons but Saturday's race showed that the 2.258-mile road course may be the hardest track on the schedule.

Alon Day will make history Saturday in his XFINITY Series debut at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, becoming the first driver from Israel to make a start in a national series event. The 24-year-old, a 2016 NASCAR Next member, will drive the No. 40 Dodge for MBM Motorsports and is also scheduled to compete at Road America on August 27.

Sam Hornish Jr. won the Coors Light Pole Award Friday at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, setting a track speed record as well. Hornish Jr. wheeled his No. 2 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet around the 2.258-mile, 13-turn road course in Lexington, Ohio, at a track record-setting 96.755 mph in the opening session of qualifying.

Coming off of their first NASCAR XFINITY Series (NXS) win of the season last weekend at Watkins Glen International with driver Joey Logano, Team Penske today announced plans to return their NXS operation to a two-car Ford Mustang effort in 2017. The second Team Penske entry also clears the way for Ford Performance to use this entry as an extension of their new driver development program as both organizations continue to build for the future.

Starting today, Aug. 11, until Sept. 1, fans can visit NASCAR.com and vote for their favorite special paint scheme that will race in the 67th running of the Bojangles’ Southern 500.

“Every lap of experience is important for me on these new tracks,” Preece said. “We didn’t get to finish at the Glen last week. We’ll have a better, stronger car at Mid-Ohio. We’re looking for a big weekend.”

“I had a pretty good run at Mid-Ohio last year, and we’re looking forward to building on that this year,” Chastain said. “Road racing is fun – something very different for us. I can’t wait to get there and give it another shot.”

In last week’s Xfinity Series race at the Watkins Glen International road course, Smithley ran only 13 laps before parking his Chevrolet with overheating issues. This Saturday, he hits the road again at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in the Mid-Ohio Challenge.

The XFINITY Series heads to the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course this weekend for some road course competition. The Sprint Cup Series and Camping World...