Ford Performance NASCAR: Dover Doubleheader Advance
FORD PERFORMANCE NASCAR: DOVER ADVANCE
A pair of doubleheaders highlights the NASCAR race weekend as the NASCAR Cup and NASCAR XFINITY Series both compete on Saturday and Sunday at Dover International Speedway. The NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series will kick off the action on Friday evening.
This Week’s Schedule:
Friday, August 21 – NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Series, 5 p.m. (FS1)
Saturday, August 22 – NASCAR XFINITY Series, 12:30 p.m. (NBCSN)
Saturday, August 22 – NASCAR Cup Series, 4 p.m. (NBCSN)
Sunday, August 23 – NASCAR XFINITY Series, 1:30 p.m. (NBCSN)
Sunday, August 23 – NASCAR Cup Series, 4 p.m. (NBCSN)
FORD ON THE BRINK OF 700TH CUP WIN
Kevin Harvick’s doubleheader sweep at Michigan gave Ford 699 all-time NASCAR Cup Series wins. Ford’s first victory came on June 25, 1950 when Shirtless Jimmy Florian upset the field at Dayton Speedway, beating the likes of NASCAR Hall of Famers Lee Petty and Curtis Turner. Overall, there have been 85 drivers who have won at least one NASCAR Cup Series race in a Ford with NASCAR Hall of Famer Ned Jarrett, who won Ford’s first series championship in 1965, being the all-time leader with 43.
FORD 1-2 IN CUP AND NXS STANDINGS
The regular season is winding down and multiple Ford drivers are competing for the championship and 15 playoff bonus points that goes to the winner. Currently, Ford holds down the top two positions in the NASCAR Cup and NASCAR XFINITY Series. Kevin Harvick leads the way and has a commanding 118-point lead over second-place Brad Keselowski in Cup while Austin Cindric has a 48-point NXS lead over Chase Briscoe. Overall, Ford currently has eight drivers in Cup playoff positions with three races remaining before the playoffs start.
DOMINANT RETURN
Since returning to action on May 17 at Darlington Raceway, Ford has dominated in the NASCAR Cup and NASCAR XFINITY Series, winning a combined 20 times in 34 starts (59%). Ford has registered 11 wins in Cup in 19 races (58%), while the NXS duo of Chase Briscoe and Austin Cindric have combined to win nine times in 15 events (60%), including seven of the last eight.
CINDRIC STILL ROLLING
Austin Cindric is undoubtedly the hottest driver in all of NASCAR, having won five of the last six NASCAR XFINITY Series races. That has enabled him to go from fourth in the standings (61 points behind leader Chase Briscoe after Indianapolis) to first, where he now holds a 48-point lead over his fellow Ford driver. Cindric rattled off three straight oval wins, sweeping the doubleheader at Kentucky and then the weekend race at Texas, before winning the last two road course events at Road America and Daytona. He joins NASCAR Hall of Famer Sam Ard as the only two drivers to ever win 5-of-6 series events.
FORD IN THE NASCAR CUP SERIES AT DOVER
· Ford has 26 all-time NASCAR Cup Series wins at Dover.
· Ryan Newman, Brad Keselowski and Kevin Harvick all have series wins at Dover.
· Richard Petty won the inaugural race at Dover while driving a Ford in 1969.
FORD IN THE NASCAR XFINITY SERIES AT DOVER
· Ford has 12 NASCAR XFINITY Series wins at Dover.
· Mark Martin won Ford’s first series event at Dover in 1987.
· Joey Logano won a series-record four straight Dover races from 2012-13.
FORD IN THE NASCAR RV & GANDER OUTDOORS TRUCK SERIES AT DOVER
· Ford has four victories in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series at Dover.
· Kurt Busch won the debut event for the series at Dover in 2000.
· Johnny Sauter won last year’s Dover event to make the playoffs.
HARVICK CONTINUES 2018 ROLL AT DOVER
Ford dominated the AAA Ford Drive for Autism at the Monster Mile in May 2018, leading 374-of-400 laps, before Kevin Harvick came away with his fourth win of the season. Stewart-Haas teammate Clint Bowyer was the event’s runner-up and was leading when a scattered rain shower red-flagged the event for 41 minutes. Once back to green flag racing, Harvick, who led 201 laps, went to the point and never looked back, stretching out his lead to what became a win of over seven seconds.
ANOTHER FIRST FOR THE KING
Ford won the inaugural NASCAR Cup Series race at Dover International Raceway in 1969 when Richard Petty drove to victory lane on July 6. That marked the only year in which The King drove a Ford and was the fourth of nine wins for him that season, and it came in dominating fashion as he led half of the 300 laps, including the final 109. It was a Ford day all-around as the Blue Oval led every lap in the race with Lee Roy Yarbrough (124) and David Pearson (26) combining to lead the ones Petty didn’t, and had nine of the top 11 finishers.
JUNIE GOES TO VICTORY LANE
Dover proved to be magical for the late Junie Donlavey, who won the only NASCAR Cup Series race of his career at Dover on May 17, 1981 in the Mason-Dixon 500 when driver Jody Ridley took the checkered flag. Ridley had a good car that day, but it was even more reliable and that proved the difference. Neil Bonnett was the dominant driver as he led 404 of the first 459 laps, but he blew an engine that ended his day. Cale Yarborough appeared to be the main beneficiary as he inherited the lead, but the same fate befell him 20 laps from the finish and sent him to the garage. That left Ridley to assume the top spot and he held on from there to register his first and only Cup win. It also ended up being Donlavey’s only trip to victory lane. The Richmond native made 863 starts and fielded strictly Ford products from 1965-2002 in NASCAR’s top series that featured names like LeeRoy Yarbrough, Fred Lorenzen, Harry Gant, Ricky Rudd, Ken Schrader and Dick Trickle.
FROM 500 TO 400
In 1997 Ford swept both Dover events, but it’s remembered for historical reasons because when Ricky Rudd won the spring event on June 1, 1997 it marked the speedway’s final 500-mile event. Rudd took advantage of being in the right place at the right time after leader Ernie Irvan was involved in an accident with 29 laps remaining. Rudd took over the lead and held off Mark Martin over the final few laps to lead a Ford sweep of the top four spots. Martin bounced back a few months later by winning the fall event, which marked the inaugural 400-mile race at the track. That started a streak that saw him win three straight fall events at the Monster Mile.
FORD NASCAR CUP SERIES DOVER WINNERS
1969 – Richard Petty
1978 – Bobby Allison (2)
1980 – Bobby Allison (1)
1981 – Jody Ridley and Neil Bonnett
1985 – Bill Elliott
1986 – Ricky Rudd (2)
1987 – Davey Allison and Ricky Rudd
1988 – Bill Elliott (Sweep)
1990 – Bill Elliott (2)
1994 – Rusty Wallace (Sweep)
1997 – Ricky Rudd and Mark Martin
1998 – Dale Jarrett and Mark Martin
1999 – Mark Martin (2)
2004 – Mark Martin (1)
2005 – Greg Biffle (1)
2006 – Matt Kenseth (1)
2007 – Carl Edwards (2)
2008 – Greg Biffle (2)
2011 – Matt Kenseth (1)
2018 – Kevin Harvick (1)
FORD NASCAR XFINITY SERIES DOVER WINNERS
1987 – Mark Martin (1)
2001 – Jeff Green (2)
2002 – Greg Biffle (1)
2004 – Greg Biffle (1)
2007 – Carl Edwards (1)
2011 – Carl Edwards (Sweep)
2013 – Joey Logano (Sweep)
2015 – Chris Buescher (1)
2017 – Ryan Blaney (2)
2019 – Cole Custer (2)
FORD NASCAR RV & GANDER OUTDOOR TRUCK SERIES DOVER WINNERS
2000 – Kurt Busch
2006 – Mark Martin
2015 – Tyler Reddick
2019 – Johnny Sauter
NGROTS Advance: Tanner Gray – Dover International Speedway
Track: Dover International Speedway, one-mile oval
Race: 13 of 23
Event: KDI Office Technology 200 (200 miles, 200 laps)
Schedule:
Friday, August 21
5:00 p.m…………..Race (FS1)
(all times ET)
Tanner Gray, No. 15 Ford Performace F-150
Tanner Gray has momentum on his side. After two consecutive top-five finishes at Kansas Speedway and Michigan International Speedway, he is ready to face The Monster Mile of Dover (Del.) International Speedway. The 21-year-old rookie has one prior start at Dover when he started and finished second in last year’s NASCAR K&N East Series race. He also led two laps in that race. Friday will mark his first start there in the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series (NGROTS).
In 12 Truck Series races this season, Gray has two top-five, four top-10 finishes and has led three laps. He finished 15th last weekend on the road course at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway, which was a solid effort for only his second start on a road course.
The DGR-Crosley team is bringing the same No. 15 Ford Performance F-150 to Dover that Gray raced at Texas Motor Speedway in July. He never got a chance to see how the truck performed there since a transmission issue plagued him from the start of the race.
The KDI Office Technology 200 from Dover International Speedway will be run on Friday, Aug. 21 at 5 p.m. ET. The race will be broadcast live on FS1. The 200-lap race will be broken into three segments with stage-ending cautions on laps 45 and 90.
Gray on Dover: “I raced at Dover for the first time last year and it was a lot of fun. It’s definitely a fast track and a lot can happen in a hurry. I’m not sure what to expect in the truck with the different aerodynamics. I’ve watched a lot of film from previous races and spent some time on the Ford Performance simulator, which has been a big help. I’ll be able to watch the ARCA East race earlier that day with my brother (Taylor Gray) and David (Gilliland) racing in it, so that will help to see what lines they run and get feedback from them after the race.”
NGROTS Advance: Todd Gilliland – Dover International Speedway
Track: Dover International Speedway, one-mile oval
Race: 13 of 23
Event: KDI Office Technology 200 (200 miles, 200 laps)
Schedule:
Friday, August 21
5:00 p.m………….Race (FS1)
(all times ET)
Todd Gilliland, No. 38 The Pete Store Ford F-150
With only four races remaining before the playoffs, Todd Gilliland has his work cut out for him this Friday at Dover (Del.) International Speedway. After an alternator issue left him in 33rd place last weekend at the Daytona road course, he is now only two points above the cut line for the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series (NGROTS) playoffs. A win at Dover would lock him in, but more bad luck could leave him on the outside looking in.
Gilliland has three NGROTS starts at The Monster Mile with a best finish of 10th in 2018. He also has three starts there in K&N East competition with a best finish of third last year.
This Friday the Front Row Motorsports team will be taking the same Ford F-150 Gilliland raced in the doubleheader races at Kansas Speedway in July where he finished 10th and 20th after a flat tire late in the race.
Gilliland will have a new sponsor on his truck this weekend. The Pete Store is a growing network of Peterbilt truck dealerships, with locations spanning the Eastern United States. Through their exclusive Peterbilt dealerships they offer sales of new and pre-owned trucks, truck parts, body shops, and truck service. A recipient of numerous awards, including Peterbilt North American Dealer of the Year (2004, 2016 and 2018), The Pete Store is a respected dealer in the transportation industry with a track record for quality support.
The KDI Office Technology 200 from Dover International Speedway will be run on Friday, Aug. 21 at 5 p.m. ET. The race will be broadcast live on FS1. The 200-lap race will be broken into three segments with stage-ending cautions on laps 45 and 90.
Quick Facts:
Number of Truck Series Starts at Dover: 3
Best Start: 3rd (2018)
Best Finish: 10th (2018)
2020 Driver Point Standings: 10th (+2 above playoff cut line)
Gilliland on Dover: “I’ve run about four, or five races at Dover between K&N and Trucks and I think I’ve finished one race. We’re definitely looking to have a good run this weekend. Every one of these races is super important where we are right now on the bubble for the playoff cut line. I have to clear my memory and go into Dover with a clean slate every time to not be intimidated from past results. I know our Front Row Motorsports team is capable of bringing a truck with winning speed, but it’s about being able to wrap the bottom early and maybe move up if there are opportunities to do that. I’d say just carrying a lot of speed is the number one goal through the turns.”
Oscar Mayer, Roush Fenway Unveil Newman Darlington Throwback
Newman to Run 1999 Scheme of His Own Celebrating 1999 USAC Championship
CONCORD, N.C. (August 18, 2020) – With the Darlington Throwback weekend coming up in a few weeks, Oscar Mayer and Roush Fenway Racing have announced that the No. 6 Ford Mustang will match that of driver Ryan Newman’s 1999 scheme from the USAC Silver Crown Series, where he won the National Championship.
In the sixth year of NASCAR’s award-winning throwback weekend, Darlington Raceway will celebrate “NASCAR’s Champions…Past, Present and Future” for its 2020 throwback campaign. The “Official Throwback Weekend of NASCAR” will be celebrated during the track’s 71st running of the famed Southern 500 on Labor Day Weekend, Sept. 5-6.
Newman will throwback to a championship of his own, by running a scheme that matches that of his 1999 scheme, where he won the USAC Coors Light Silver Bullet Series National Championship. In that season, Newman won twice and finished top-10 in 12 of 15 races.
“Darlington Throwback weekend is always cool, and it’s especially cool for me this year because Oscar Mayer has given us the opportunity to throw it back to my Silver Crown Championship season in 1999, which seems like forever ago,” Newman said. “It was a pretty special moment and year back in my resumé-building time to make it to the level, and I’m thankful to be representing it again so many years later in the Cup Series.”
The South Bend, Indiana, native became the first driver to win in all three major USAC divisions that season and did it all while balancing studying vehicle-structure engineering at Purdue. Additionally, he was named USAC National Rookie of the Year in all three divisions.
“As a brand whose history goes back over a hundred years, Oscar Mayer is excited to reminisce on 1999 with Ryan,” said Nick Guerten, Director of Marketing for Oscar Mayer. “The passion and excitement from fans around Throwback Weekend is one of the reasons Oscar Mayer is thrilled to be a part of the NASCAR community, and we’re looking forward to seeing Ryan behind the wheel of the No. 6 at Darlington in just a few weeks.”
Newman will make his 24th Cup start at Darlington, a track he has an average finish of 12.7, second best on the circuit behind only Richmond. Dating back to 2002, Newman has 13 top-10s and seven top fives, including a best result of second in his second-ever Cup event at the famed South Carolina track.
Most recently, Newman tallied a pair of top-15 finishes this spring, where NASCAR visited the track for two races in four days as part of the sport’s return to racing. In last season’s throwback weekend, Newman finished 23rd in the Oscar Mayer Ford.
Coverage for the Southern 500 on Sept. 6 is set for 6 p.m. ET on NBCSN. Coverage can also be heard on MRN and SiriusXM Channel 90.
About the Kraft Heinz Company
For 150 years, we have produced some of the world’s most beloved products at The Kraft Heinz Company (Nasdaq: KHC). We are one of the largest global food and beverage companies, with 2019 net sales of approximately $25 billion. Our portfolio is a diverse mix of iconic and emerging brands. As the guardians of these brands and the creators of innovative new products, we are dedicated to the sustainable health of our people and our planet. To learn more, visit www.kraftheinzcompany.com or follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter.
About Roush Fenway Racing
Roush Fenway Racing is one of the most successful teams in NASCAR history, fielding multiple teams in NASCAR Cup Series. In its 33rd season, Roush Fenway is a leader in driver development, having launched the careers for many of the top drivers in the sport. Off-track, Roush Fenway is a leader in NASCAR marketing solutions, having produced multiple award-winning Social Media, digital content and experiential marketing campaigns. Roush Fenway is co-owned by NASCAR Hall of Fame team owner Jack Roush and Fenway Sports Group, parent company of Major League Baseball’s Boston Red Sox and English Premier League’s Liverpool F.C. Visit RoushFenway.com, become a fan on Facebook and Instagram, and follow on Twitter at @roushfenway.
Labor Day Weekend Schedule Adjustment Adds New Venue to ARCA Menards Series Calendar
Madison Race Relocated to Lebanon I-44 Speedway, DuQuoin Event Postponed
Toledo, Ohio (August 18, 2020) – The Automobile Racing Club of America has adjusted its Labor Day weekend schedule for both the ARCA Menards Series and the ARCA/CRA Super Series Powered by JEGS, which now includes a unique ARCA weekend doubleheader at Lebanon I-44 Speedway in Lebanon, Missouri. The weekend opens with the ARCA Menards Series on Saturday night and closes with the ARCA/CRA Super Series Powered by JEGS on Sunday, an event relocated from Winchester Speedway in Indiana.
The adjustment moves the race originally scheduled for August 7 at Wisconsin’s Madison International Speedway to Saturday, September 5 at Lebanon I-44 Speedway. The race at DuQuoin State Fairgrounds, which was originally slated for Labor Day weekend, has been postponed. ARCA and event promoters Track Enterprises are working with state and local officials to reschedule races at both the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield and DuQuoin mile dirt tracks.
The revised ARCA Labor Day Weekend schedule:
- Saturday, September 5 –The ARCA Menards Series will make its first visit to the banked 3/8-mile I-44 Speedway. The ARCA Menards Series West – formerly known as the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West – raced at I-44 in 2012 with current ARCA Menards Series championship leader Michael Self collecting the victory. The schedule for the day includes practice for both the ARCA Menards Series and ARCA/CRA Super Series, ARCA Menards Series General Tire Pole Qualifying, and the green flag for the night’s 200-lap main event at 9 pm ET/8 pm CT. The race will be televised live flag-to-flag on MAVTV and streamed live on TrackPass on NBC Sports Gold.
- Sunday, September 6 – The ARCA/CRA Super Series takes to I-44 Speedway for a 100-lap feature, relocated from Winchester Speedway after the cancellation of the track’s annual Labor Day Stock Car Festival. The ARCA/CRA Super Series will run in conjunction with the JEGS/CRA All-Star Tour Presented by Chevrolet Performance, which will also run a 100-lap feature. All the night’s action will be streamed live on Speed51.
In addition to the changes to Labor Day weekend, the September 17 Bush’s Beans 200 at Bristol Motor Speedway will now pay championship points for the ARCA Menards Series, Sioux Chief Showdown, and ARCA Menards Series East.
The updated, revised 2020 ARCA Menards Series schedule through September 17:
8/21 – Dover International Speedway, AMSE, 2 pm ET, TrackPass
8/22 – Colorado National Speedway, AMSW, 7 pm ET, TrackPass
8/29 – World Wide Technology Raceway, AMS/SCS, 6 pm ET, MAVTV
9/5 – I-44 Speedway, AMS/SCS, 9 pm ET, MAVTV
9/12 – New Hampshire Motor Speedway, AMSE, 2:30 pm ET, TrackPass
9/17 – Bristol Motor Speedway, AMS/SCS/AMSE, 9:30 pm ET, FS1
63rd Annual DAYTONA 500 Tickets On Sale Now
· Tickets Start at $99 For 2021 ‘Great American Race’
· Benefits for Premium and Extended Stay Infield Camping Package
· Denny Hamlin Looks to be First Driver to Win Three Straight DAYTONA 500s
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Aug. 18, 2020) – Tickets for the 63rd Annual DAYTONA 500, the biggest and most prestigious event on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule, are on sale now. The 2021 edition of “The Great American Race,” which could see the event’s first three-time consecutive winner, will again be held on Presidents’ Day Weekend on Sunday, Feb. 14. Tickets start at $99.
Race fans travel from all over the world to attend the DAYTONA 500, which has been sold out every year since 2016. The 2020 DAYTONA 500, which was won by Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin, had attendees representing all 50 states and 45 countries.
Fans in attendance will get to see Hamlin’s attempt to rewrite the Daytona record book. The three-time DAYTONA 500 champion has won back-to-back season-opening classics, and can become the first driver in the history of the 2.5-mile venue, which opened in 1959, to capture three consecutive checkered flags. Currently, he, along with Richard Petty (1973-74), Cale Yarborough (1983-84) and Sterling Marlin (1994-95), are the only drivers to claim two straight DAYTONA 500 victories. In fact, with a win, Hamlin would join Yarborough with four total DAYTONA 500 triumphs, trailing only Petty, who has seven. Hamlin’s other DAYTONA 500 victory came in 2016.
Guests will have the opportunity to experience the pageantry and edge-of-your-seat excitement of the DAYTONA 500 in a state-of-the-art motorsports facility with amenities that include more than 101,500 seats, thousands of premium club seats, 40 escalators and 17 elevators, 60 luxury suites, social “neighborhoods” and three concourse levels that span the nearly mile-long frontstretch.
Premium and extended-stay camping packages include access to general admission seating and the UNOH Fanzone/Pre-race access for each event during DAYTONA Speedweeks Presented By AdventHealth, excluding the DAYTONA 500.
Those wishing to attend “The Great American Race” in person should make their plans early to secure the best seats and pricing:
· Tickets can be purchased by calling 1-800-PITSHOP or visiting www.DAYTONA500.com.
· Hospitality and premium seat packages, including the Rolex 24 Lounge, Harley J’s, Trioval Club, DAYTONA 500 Club and President’s Row are available, as well as UNOH Fanzone/Pre-race wristbands.
· For all other DAYTONA Speedweeks Presented By AdventHealth events, children 12 and under are $10 in reserved seating and free in general admission areas and in the UNOH Fanzone/Pre-race access.
· Fans can also visit PrimeSport.com, the official travel package provider of Daytona International Speedway, where they can find multiple options for tickets, lodging and hospitality.
In addition to the “The Great American Race,” fans may purchase tickets and multi-day packages for a fresh look of events as part of DAYTONA Speedweeks Presented By AdventHealth. It will include a packed six days of racing. Instead of the Busch Clash At DAYTONA and qualifying for the DAYTONA 500 taking place the Sunday before the DAYTONA 500, the Busch Clash will be held in primetime on Tuesday, Feb. 9 and qualifying for the DAYTONA 500 will be Wednesday, Feb. 10.
The Busch Clash At DAYTONA, an exhibition-style event, will be held for the first time on the same course as the Rolex 24 At DAYTONA and the DAYTONA 200, North America’s premier races for sports cars and motorcycles, respectively.
This past weekend, history was made as NASCAR’s three national series, along with the ARCA Menards Series, made their first-ever appearance on the DAYTONA Road Course with outstanding reviews. Winners include Chase Elliott in Sunday’s Go Bowling 235 NASCAR Cup Series race, along with Austin Cindric (UNOH 188 – NASCAR Xfinity Series), Sheldon Creed (Sunoco 159 – NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series) and Michael Self (General Tire 200 – ARCA Menards Series).
DAYTONA 500 Qualifying Presented By Kroger will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 10, to set the front row for the DAYTONA 500. The Bluegreen Vacations Duel at DAYTONA qualifying races remain on Thursday night, Feb. 11, followed by the NextEra Energy 250 to open the NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck Series season on Friday night, Feb. 12.
Other aspects of 2021 DAYTONA Speedweeks Presented By AdventHealth include the Lucas Oil 200 Driven By General Tire ARCA event shifting to Saturday, Feb. 13, as part of a doubleheader with the NASCAR Xfinity Series race, the NASCAR Racing Experience 300.
Full Schedule for DAYTONA Speedweeks Presented By AdventHealth:
· Tuesday, Feb. 9: Busch Clash at DAYTONA
· Wednesday, Feb. 10: DAYTONA 500 Qualifying Presented By Kroger
· Thursday, Feb. 11: Bluegreen Vacations Duel at DAYTONA qualifying races
· Friday, Feb. 12: NextEra Energy 250
· Saturday, Feb. 13: NASCAR Racing Experience 300 and Lucas Oil 200 Driven By General Tire Doubleheader
· Sunday, Feb. 14: DAYTONA 500
Also available are Multi-day tickets for the 59th Rolex 24 At DAYTONA, the season-opening event (Jan.30-31) to the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
Tickets for the 63rd annual DAYTONA 500, the 43rd annual Busch Clash and all other speedway events can be purchased online at www.daytona500.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP. Fans can stay connected with Daytona International Speedway on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube, and by downloading Daytona International Speedway’s mobile app, for the latest Speedway news throughout the season.
While the DAYTONA 500 is just six months away, history will be made yet again at Daytona International Speedway in less than two weeks as the NASCAR returns to the high banks of the 2.5-mile venue for a doubleheader. The Saturday, Aug. 29, Coke Zero Sugar 400, will be the last-chance race of the NASCAR Cup Series regular season for drivers to get into the 2020 Cup Series Playoffs. The weekend kicks off on Friday, Aug. 28, with the Wawa 250 Powered by Coca-Cola for the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
About Daytona International Speedway
Daytona International Speedway is a state-of-the-art motorsports facility and was awarded the SportsBusiness Journal’s prestigious Sports Business Award for Sports Facility of the Year in 2016. Daytona International Speedway is the home of “The Great American Race” – the DAYTONA 500. Though the season-opening NASCAR Cup Series event garners most of the attention – as well as the largest audience in motorsports – the approximately 500-acre motorsports complex, also known as the “World Center of Racing,” boasts the most diverse schedule of racing on the globe. In addition to at least nine major event weekends, the Speedway grounds are also used extensively for events that include concerts, civic and social gatherings, car shows, photo shoots, production vehicle testing and police motorcycle training.
NASCAR Xfinity Series Power Rankings – Daytona Road Course
Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series action at the Daytona International Speedway Road Course definitely provided a fascinating race but had the suspected winner.
At one point, race fans saw nearly the whole field almost pile up in the first turn when most of the cars went off circuit and out of the racing line. Thankfully, the majority of the drivers escaped from further calamity, but some weren’t so lucky. That can be said for Noah Gragson who was leading until he missed one of the turns and went sliding all the way through the grass, causing a caution on Lap 19. Fortunately, the Las Vegas native rebounded to a top-five finish as Gragson placed third in the final outing.
Meanwhile, Chase Briscoe was looking for a potential sixth win of the year but got collected in a wreck on Lap 47 with five laps to go. The accident was too much for the Stewart-Haas driver to overcome as he would be credited with a 29th place finish.
With most of the field having their ups and downs, we’ll take a look at how the drivers did following their first Daytona Road Course race.
- Austin Cindric – Cindric continues to be on fire in the Xfinity Series as the playoffs loom in the background. It’s his fifth win in the last six races and he is tied with Sam Ard for another record after winning five races in a season. The Team Penske driver showed his dominance early, winning Stage 1, finishing second in Stage 2, and ultimately leading 21 laps en route to the seventh victory of his career. It was noted during a conference call earlier last week that Cindric is searching for a ride for next year. While he could come back to the No. 22 in 2021, should Cindric keep racking up victories and get the championship, that could help his chances of landing a ride. But as we’ve seen time and time again, nothing is guaranteed in the world of NASCAR.
Previous Week Ranking – First - Noah Gragson – It was a hard-fought third-place finish for Gragson. The Las Vegas native was runner up in Stage 1 by finishing second. After his mishap when Gragson spun from the lead, he had to work all race to get back to the top of the running order. When the checkered flag flew, Gragson earned his ninth top five of the year.
Previous Week Ranking – Fifth - Brandon Jones – Despite not gaining any stage finishes, Jones found himself with a shot to win the race late in the going with the help of a caution. However, the Joe Gibbs Racing driver had to settle for second when all was said and done. The second-place finish was Jones’s first since Homestead back in June. In addition, Jones gained his sixth top-five of the year. It seems as though the No. 19 team might be turning things around after a few weeks of miserable runs aside from winning the Kansas race.
Previous Week Ranking – Not Ranked - Riley Herbst – It took four spins, but Herbst rebounded to seventh place in Saturday’s event, his 10th top-10 of the year. Herbst also collected stage finishes of fourth and 10th. The finish was much needed after a disappointing 23rd at Road America, two weeks ago. But he will have to win soon if he wants to be comfortable in the playoffs.
Previous Week Ranking – Not Ranked - Chase Briscoe – Winning the second stage and finishing seventh in Stage 1 was good enough to keep Briscoe in the rankings but dropped him down a tad. He had the second most dominant car in the race next to competitor Cindric. Overall, Briscoe led the most laps of 26 and was solidly in the top five. But his day would be cut short for the accident in Turn 2. He’ll have to turn to Dover and build on his win total for the season.
Previous Week Ranking – Fourth
Fell Out
- Ross Chastain – Chastain’s day was up in smoke early on Lap 14 when he came to a stop in Turn 8. The Kaulig Racing driver spent the majority of the race behind the wall as the damage was fixed. Eventually, Chastain would return to the race but finished 36th, 18 laps down.
Previous Week Ranking – Second - Ryan Sieg – Sieg piloted the No. 39 machine to an 11th place outing, just barely missing out on the top 10. You could very well say the Daytona Road Course could be a forgettable race for Sieg and the team.
Previous Week Ranking – Third
NASCAR Gander RV and Outdoors Truck Series Power Rankings-Daytona Road Course
The NASCAR Gander RV and Outdoors Truck Series visited the Daytona International Speedway Road Course for the first time in series history Sunday afternoon.
Sheldon Creed continued his late-season dominance by earning his second career victory after leading the final 12 laps of the race when original race leader Matt Crafton missed the Turn 9 and 10 chicane on the backstretch. The Californian now has 14 playoff points to his credit, sits on top of the playoff points standings and is looking pretty good for a championship run.
While Creed enjoyed his late-race run, others suffered, including Christian Eckes. Eckes was coming to the line but made contact with Stewart Friesen and saw his No. 18 Truck get torn up. It was a miserable outing for the New York native who ended up 12th as a result of the crash after having solid runs the last few races.
With that in mind, a few other drivers were able to capitalize on someones else’s misfortune, and come away with a good overall day.
Here are this week’s Power Rankings following the Sunoco 159 at the Daytona International Road Course.
- Sheldon Creed – Okay, raise your hands if you didn’t see this (win) coming. The victory shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise as Creed led 19 laps and won Stage 2 to gain some valuable playoff points for his No. 2 GMS Racing team. He finished second in the first stage as well. Winning the Daytona Road Course race was purely sweet, sweet victory as the last two races at Kansas and Michigan didn’t go so well. The victory was a nice picker-upper for Creed.
Previous Week Ranking – Not Ranked - Grant Enfinger – It was a valiant effort for Enfinger who rebounded the No. 98 Champion Power Equipment Ford F-150 to a seventh-place finish after earlier issues. Things went south for a while when his ThorSport team had to change a battery during one of the stage breaks. It took the Alabaman all of the race to get back in fighting contention but he managed his sixth top 10 of the 2020 season. Like Creed, the finish was also a rebound for Enfinger who lost the race last week at Michigan when he collided with a couple of trucks on a late-race restart. Though with Creed scoring the victory, Enfinger now sits second in playoff points, +11 above the cut line. Enfinger is locked into the playoffs via his Daytona victory earlier in the year but needs to work on winning more stages and races to comfortably avoid another Las Vegas incident.
Previous Week Ranking – Fifth - Matt Crafton – A ho-hum fourth-place finish for Crafton who nearly gave the race away in the remaining laps. The three-time champion was looking for his second win of the season but his run was ruined by going through the backstretch chicane and losing two positions on the racetrack. Thankfully for Crafton, he didn’t receive a penalty from NASCAR, since he cut the corners and NASCAR deemed losing two positions was enough and did not merit a penalty. However, the ThorSport driver hung on for a top-five finish, finishing fourth, Crafton’s sixth top-five of the year. Regardless of the incident, Crafton sits fifth in the playoff standings.
Previous Week Ranking – Not Ranked - Raphael Lessard – Rapahel Lessard earned the best finish of his Truck Series career after ending up in the third position in the final running order. The Canadian, however, most likely could have won the race had he not overshot the last chicane in the final laps of the race. The victory would definitely have been a big win for Lessard, but for now, he will have to move forward and try again at the next event. Nonetheless, a great effort and a solid finish for Lessard, especially when all could have gone away in those intense moments.
Previous Week Ranking – Not Ranked - Brett Moffitt – A stage win and a second-place finish was what the No. 23 team received following Sunday’s race. Moffitt followed up his sixth-place outing last week at Michigan and almost scored the victory. The Iowan was pushing hard in those remaining laps and had Creed slipped up in any form or fashion, Moffitt would have been there to pounce and get the victory instead. However, now with Creed and Zane Smith having victories in the GMS camp, Moffitt and his teammate Tyler Ankrum are the only ones who don’t have wins in that stable. They have two races left to make it happen and get their playoff spot secured.
Previous Week Ranking – Not Ranked
Fell Out
- Christian Eckes – It was a tough day at the office for Eckes who could only get a 12th place result. He spun in Turn 3 while leading and couldn’t get back into contention. His day got even worse when the No. 18 Safelite Truck was destroyed after taking the checkered flag.
Previous Week Ranking – Second - Derek Kraus – Electrical problems plagued Kraus and put the Bill McAnally driver out of the race and credited with a 30th place finish.
Previous Week Ranking – Third - Ben Rhodes – Rhodes had a forgettable day as he would finish 14th in the final running order, after being, at one point, one of the highest running ThorSport trucks.
Previous Week Ranking – Fourth
Four Takeaways from the NASCAR Truck Series race at the Daytona Road Course
The NASCAR Gander RV & Outdoors Truck series went south for the 12th race of the 2020 season to the Daytona International Speedway Road Course.
Sheldon Creed came out victorious after leading just 19 laps and being a solid contender throughout the 46-lap event. Though he had to showcase his skills late due to an overtime restart and hold off his teammate and 2018 series champion, Brett Moffitt.
There were also several notable stories that were significant including issues resulting from the heat. The heat was a major factor for almost everyone in the race, including drivers like Carson Hocevar and Christian Eckes. Hocevar was stopped on the track and caused a late-race yellow. As he sat in blazing temperatures, safety officials came to his aid and the Niece Motorsports driver got out of his truck, exhausted. The same was true for Eckes who, after his incident, got out of the truck, and sat on the grass for a while.
With the heat being a major factor, playoff points are also starting to become a major factor as well, and the points are ever-changing.
We’ll detail that and other stories in this week’s takeaways.
- Parker Kligerman Earns Top 10 Outing – Kligerman finished eighth for his second consecutive top 10 finish of the season Sunday afternoon. It’s currently his best finish of the year after competing in four races. In what could easily be deemed as an up and down season after not being able to race at Atlanta and Charlotte due to a lack of owner points, Kligerman definitely makes the most of his efforts when he competes in a Truck Series outing.
- Jennifer Jo Cobb’s 200th Start – Possibly overlooked in Sunday’s race was Jennifer Jo Cobb’s 200th Truck Series start. While the Kansas City, KS native currently doesn’t have any wins in the series, Cobb does her best to make it in the show whenever there is qualifying. To date, her best finish is sixth at Daytona in 2011.
- Wayne Self Sees Best Finish – Austin Wayne Self’s No. 22 AM Racing saw their best finish of the year Sunday afternoon when the Austin, Texas native finished 11th. So far in 2020, he doesn’t have any top fives or top 10 finishes but is working on getting back to that point. His 11th place outing was certainly much needed after a disastrous finish at Michigan the week prior. In addition, Self managed to get some stage points, finishing ninth in Stage 1.
“Really proud of my AM Racing team,” Self said. “We started mid-pack, but we raced methodically and smart that put us in a position to get some stage points at the end of Stage 2. We were mired deep in the field for the start of Stage 3 but a fast No. 22 AIRBOX Air Purifier end allowed us to climb back through the field and finish 11th. It was a nice rebound from Michigan. Let’s see if we can go to Dover and get ourselves a top-10 finish.” - Triple Truck Challenge – Everyone’s favorite challenge is back, the “Triple Truck Challenge.” Beginning at the Daytona Road Course and lasting through Gateway, Truck Series drivers have a chance to win $50,000 should a driver win one of those races. Originally, before Sunday’s race, any full-time driver had an opportunity to earn up to $500,000 had one of those drivers won all three events. Now, however, Sheldon Creed is the only driver who has an opportunity to get half a million, should he happen to win at Dover and Gateway.
