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RFK Advance | Daytona II

Daytona II Event Info:
Date: Saturday, Aug. 24
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Series: NASCAR Cup Series (NCS)
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Format: 160 Laps, 400 Miles, Stages: 35-60-65
TV: NBC
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90)

Weekend Schedule:
Friday: 5 p.m. ET, Qualifying (USA, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Saturday: 7:30 p.m. ET, Race (NBC, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)

Pace Laps:

  • RFK heads to Daytona for the annual summer event as the defending race winner, as Chris Buescher drove to victory last August, and Keselowski finished P2.
  • Just two races remain in the regular season now as Darlington hosts the final race next weekend, before the NASCAR Playoffs begin Sept. 8 at Atlanta.
  • Jack Roush has now 12 wins overall at Daytona, including eight in the Cup Series.

6 Team Info:
Crew Chief: Matt McCall
Partner: King’s Hawaiian

17 Team Info:
Crew Chief: Scott Graves
Partner: Fifth Third Bank

  • As part of the Fueled by Fifth Third Pass Through Program, Thorne will be on the decklid of Buescher’s No. 17 this weekend.
  • Thorne has been a partner of RFK’s for a year-plus as a supplier of its personal performance products to team members.
  • Thorne is a science-driven wellness and personal performance company, driven by data and rooted in scientific rigor to deliver personalized health and wellness solutions. Thorne’s personalized supplement and testing portfolio leverages clinical science, biometric testing, and multi-omics data to create highly efficacious nutritional supplements for health-care practitioners, athletic trainers, professional athletes, and consumers.
  • Thorne’s manufacturing facility is based in Summerville, South Carolina, and is the only supplement manufacturer that collaborates with Mayo Clinic on health and wellness research and content. Thorne is trusted by 47,000+ health-care professionals, thousands of professional athletes, more than 100 professional sports teams, multiple U.S. National Teams, and more than five million consumers. For more information, visit Thorne.com.

Keselowski at Daytona
Starts: 30
Wins: 1 (2016)
Top-10s: 7
Poles: —

  • Keselowski makes his 31st Cup start at ‘The World Center of Racing’ this weekend. He is the 2016 winner of the summer race just seven years ago, and overall has seven top-10s and a 22.7 average finish.
  • A season ago in the summer race, he pushed teammate Buescher to the win as RFK earned a 1-2 finish.
  • Keselowski has 11 starts inside the top-10 at Daytona with a career-best P3 starting position (four times).
  • In Xfinity Series action, Keselowski made 15 starts at DIS with seven top-10s and a best finish of second (twice – 2012, 2014). He also made three Truck Series starts with a seventh-place run in 2005.

Buescher at Daytona
Starts: 17
Wins: 1 (2023)
Top-10s: 7
Poles: —

  • Buescher makes his 18th Cup start at Daytona this weekend and is the defending winner of the annual summer race. He has seven top-10s overall at DIS with a 19.8 average finish.
  • Last season he led just two laps – but the final one that mattered – earning his first-ever victory at Daytona. He finished 18th in this season’s Daytona 500.
  • Buescher has three starts inside the top-10 at Daytona, all of which came in the last five races.
  • He also made three NXS starts at DIS with a best finish of second (2015).

RFK Historically at Daytona
Cup Wins: 8 (Jeff Burton, 2000; Greg Biffle, 2003; Jamie McMurray, 2007; Matt Kenseth, 2009, 2012; David Ragan, 2011; Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., 2017; Chris Buescher, 2023)

  • Shining Bright in the Sunshine State: In 229 NCS starts at Daytona, RFK has recorded eight wins, 45 top-fives, 83 top-10s and has led 997 laps. RFK also has five poles in the Cup series at Daytona, with the most recent coming in 2016 with Greg Biffle.
  • Two Trips to Victory Lane in 2017: Just two years after earning his first ever NASCAR win, Ryan Reed survived a wild kickoff to the 2017 season. He survived multiple on-track incidents after starting on the outside of the front row and led only nine laps, but the final two, en route to the win over a host of Cup regulars.
  • Then, in July of 2017, Stenhouse found himself in victory lane for the second time after leading 17 laps in his Fifth Third Ford. Stenhouse first led at lap 86, and from there survived a total of 14 cautions for 51 laps in what was his second win of the season.
  • Born in the USA: RFK has recorded six victories in the July event at Daytona, including the organization’s first at the high-banked oval with former driver Jeff Burton in 2000. Former RFK drivers Greg Biffle, Jamie McMurray and David Ragan earned victories in 2003, 2007 and 2011, respectively. Stenhouse, Jr. earned the fifth in 2017, and Buescher most recently in 2023.

RFK Daytona Wins

2000-2 Burton Cup

2003-2 Biffle Cup

2004 Edwards Truck

2006 Martin Truck

2007-2 McMurray Cup

2009-1 Kenseth Cup

2011-2 Ragan Cup

2012-1 Kenseth Cup

2015-1 Reed NXS

2023-2 Buescher Cup

Last Time Out & Where They Stand
Michigan: RFK finished fifth and sixth in a Monday race at Michigan as Keselowski had a strong points day with top-10 finishes in each of the first two stages, while Buescher overcame a mid-race incident to rally for sixth.

Points Standings (6: 8th, 17: 16th): In the playoff picture, Buescher remains near the cut line but 16 points to the good heading into Daytona.

Team Penske NASCAR Cup Series Race Report – Michigan

FireKeepers Casino 400: Michigan International Speedway
Brooklyn, Mich. – August 19, 2024

AUSTIN CINDRIC No. 2 DISCOUNT TIRE FORD MUSTANG

START: 23RD STAGE ONE: 27TH STAGE TWO: 30TH FINISH: 28TH POINTS: 19TH

RACE RUNDOWN: Austin Cindric finished 28th in the FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway Monday afternoon, concluding an extended weekend in the Irish Hills due to inclement weather disruptions. Cindric started 23rd on Sunday after Saturday’s time trials were canceled. The driver of the No. 2 Discount Tire Ford Mustang provided his first bit of feedback under caution on Lap 38, informing the team that the car “freed up after the first 10 laps and then stabilized.” He pitted for four tires, fuel and a small adjustment and restarted 23rd on Lap 42. As rain loomed, Stage 1 came to a close and the No. 2 finished 27th. A fierce band of rain moved in over the two-mile track, ultimately leading to the postponement of the remainder of the race to Monday morning. Shortly after returning to green-flag racing, Cindric got into the wall on Lap 81, sustaining slight damage to his Discount Tire Ford Mustang. He pressed forward until crew chief Brian Wilson called him to pit road for two right-side tires and fuel, electing to wait until later to fully assess the damage. A caution for debris late in the segment allowed the 25-year-old driver to return to pit road for a four-tire service, and an additional time for the team to diagnose and put the damage repair plan into action. Cindric was scored 30th as Stage 2 finished under caution. Following a fuel-only stop under the break, Cindric restarted 29th for the final segment, eventually gaining one position in the running order before the checkered flag flew.

CINDRIC’S THOUGHTS: “Yeah, it was a bit of a frustrating day at Michigan because I felt like it was going to be a good opportunity for us. I felt like we had a top-10 car with the Discount Tire Ford Mustang, but we just had to get there. We had solid track position at times but I got in the wall and got some damage. The team did a great job trying to work on the car, but that was on me just losing the back of the car.”

RYAN BLANEY No. 12 MENARDS/DUTCH BOY FORD MUSTANG

START: 8TH STAGE ONE: 1ST STAGE TWO: 10TH FINISH: 18TH POINTS: 5TH

RACE RUNDOWN: Ryan Blaney settled for an 18th-place finish Monday afternoon following a weather-impacted weekend for the Cup Series at Michigan International Speedway. After rain impacted the start of the 400-mile event Sunday afternoon, Blaney battled inside the top-10 for the opening run before making his way up to fifth on the leaderboard by the time of the first caution on lap 38. Crew chief Jonathan Hassler made the call to leave Blaney on track while several of the leaders hit pit road, allowing the No. 12 to assume the lead as the field lined up to take the green with three laps to go in Stage 1. Blaney powered his way to the front from the outside lane on the restart and went on to take the green-and-white checkered flag for his third stage win of the season. A second band of rain made its way to the track prior to the start of Stage 2 as officials waved off the restart before the race was suspended on lap 52 and scheduled to resume at 11 a.m. Monday. Under clear skies Monday morning, Blaney took the green flag from 24th and quickly made his way up the leaderboard over the course of the long, green flag run. Hassler opted to run long during the pit cycle, allowing Blaney to take the lead on lap 94 before the Menards/Dutch Boy Ford hit pit road with 20 to go in the stage for four tires and a round of adjustments. Blaney rejoined the field without losing a lap and the caution came out shortly after on lap 109 while scored 13th. Hassler called in a two-tire stop under yellow as Blaney was third off pit road and lined up to restart ninth as a handful of the leaders stayed out to go after the stage win. After taking the green with three to go in the segment, a multi-car incident in the middle of the pack unraveled off of turn four to bring the stage to an end under caution with Blaney scored 10th. Blaney cycled to fourth in the running order after staying on track during the stage caution and battled inside the top-five during the ensuing run. A scheduled four tire stop under green with 37 laps remaining resulted in Blaney cycling to eighth on the leaderboard with 11 to go before the caution flag flew with just six laps left, setting up a green-white-checkered finish. A single-car incident on the backstretch during the first attempt brought the field back together one last time and Blaney lined up from the outside of row four. After taking the white flag, Blaney found himself on the outside of a three-wide battle into turn one when the No. 9 slid up a made contact with the left front, causing him to lose his momentum before taking the checkered flag 18th.

BLANEY’S THOUGHTS: “The finish doesn’t show the type of day we had, for sure. We had a solid Menards/Dutch Boy Ford all weekend and executed our strategy in both stages to gain some ground points-wise. We’re looking forward to getting to Daytona and building some more momentum heading into the final stretch.”

JOEY LOGANO No. 22 SHELL-PENNZOIL FORD MUSTANG

START: 14TH STAGE ONE: 16TH STAGE TWO: 29TH FINISH: 33RD POINTS: 15TH

RACE RUNDOWN: Joey Logano was involved in a multi-car incident in the closing laps of Stage 2 that brought the No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Ford’s day to an early end at Michigan International Speedway, resulting in a 33rd-place finish Monday. The green flag waved on the FireKeepers Casino 400 Sunday afternoon after rain delayed the original start time as Logano maintained his starting position of 14th for a majority of the opening stage. Following a caution on lap 38, Logano took the green flag from 14th with three laps to go in the stage before coming away with a 16th-place result. After staying out during the stage break, rainfall again approached the track as the Stage 2 restart was waived off and cars were brought down pit road on lap 52, ultimately delaying the remainder of the race until Monday morning. When the action resumed at the two-mile oval shortly after 11 a.m., Logano worked his way into the top-10 despite a tight-handling condition in the corners. Crew chief Paul Wolfe made the call to run long during the green flag cycle before bringing Logano down pit road on lap 95 while running second for four tires, fuel, and a round of adjustments. Just over 10 laps into the ensuing run, Logano had a right rear tire go down off of turn two and the caution came out shortly after. However, Logano was penalized for too fast entering on pit road and went a lap down as a result. On the opening lap of the following restart – with Logano starting at the tail-end of the field – the No. 5 spun in front of the pack in turn four to set off a multi-car incident as the No. 22 suffered front-end damage while trying to check up. After Logano brought the Shell-Pennzoil Ford to pit road, the 22-team found terminal damage to the radiator to bring their day to an abrupt end.

LOGANO’S THOUGHTS: “We had that right-rear tire go flat right before [the wreck], which put us back there down a lap and then I think [Kyle Larson] just spun out in front of me and kind of caused a big wad and a Daytona-type crash. There was nowhere to really go. I couldn’t steer it left, so I just committed to maybe if I could slow it down enough, I could center punch it, and it wouldn’t be that bad. That was my only option there. Unfortunately, we got knocked out a little early. We were fighting for probably a top-10. We weren’t that great. If there were more wrecks we could maybe have ended up with a top-five but we will move on.”

The NASCAR Cup Series returns to action on Saturday, August 24, for the Coke Zero Sugar 400 under the lights at Daytona International Speedway. Coverage begins at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

RFK Finishes 5th/6th in Michigan

Buescher Overcomes Midrace Incident To Salvage Solid Result

DETROIT (Aug. 19, 2024) – RFK Racing left Michigan International Speedway with a pair of top-6 finishes Monday as Brad Keselowski earned a 5th-place result, while teammate Chris Buescher fought back for P6.

Like last season’s race at Michigan, inclement weather proved to be an issue at the 2-mile track on raceday. Persistent rains Sunday afternoon allowed only 51 laps to be completed, pushing the remainder of the 200-mile race to Monday.

Inclement weather also cancelled qualifying on Saturday, as the field was determined by NASCAR’s metric. That put the No. 6 Castrol Edge Ford P15 to start, and Buescher’s Fifth Third Bank Ford P18.

6 Recap
Keselowski’s opening laps allowed for an early strategy play on Sunday, as the opening 38 laps ran under green with the No. 6 in 13th. He remained on track in the first caution as the field split strategies. He restarted fifth because of it, and would finish seventh to end stage one (lap 45).

Rain set in at that point, which ultimately suspended activity for the day. When action picked back up Monday, Keselowski found himself on the opposite side of track position, restarting 30th.

He remained on track until lap 103, stretching the pit cycle, inheriting the lead for a pair of laps in the sequence. The yellow was displayed just a few laps later, again opening the door for strategy. Keselowski remained on track, setting him up fourth on the restart with just five laps left in the stage. A yellow ultimately ended the stage, but Keselowski benefitted, finishing fourth, earning more stage points.

From there, Keselowski hardly left the top-5 as just one pit stop remained in the final 75 laps. His came with 39 laps to go from fourth, before a caution reset the field with six laps remaining.

The field attempted one green-white-checkered finish with a caution waving just a lap in, before NASCAR Overtime eventually determined the finish, with Keselowski crossing the stripe fifth.

17 Recap
Buescher and the 17 team were resilient Monday afternoon, overcoming a multi-car crash that warranted extensive repairs, and a drive back through the field.

Rewind to Sunday’s opening 50 laps and Buescher had one of the fastest cars on track, working all the way to third when the field restarted for the shootout to end stage one, where he finished fifth.

Like Keselowski, Buescher restarted Monday deep in the field, firing back off 25th. He was back in the top-15 when the field restarted with 10 laps remaining in stage two, before a multi-car crash at lap 116 occurred. A car behind the initial incident made contact with Buescher and others, causing damage mainly on the left side of Buescher’s machine. After extensive repairs, the team patched up the Fifth Third machine and didn’t lose a lap, putting him back in the pack for the final 70 laps.

From there he began his climb forward, as a two-tire call under the caution with four to go aided his efforts in track position. He lined up ninth on the final restart and fought to sixth, salvaging a solid day despite the earlier crash.

Up Next
Daytona International Speedway hosts the NASCAR Cup Series next weekend with race coverage set for 7:30 p.m. ET Saturday night on NBC, and radio coverage on MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90).

About RFK Racing
RFK Racing, in its 37th season in 2024, features an ownership lineup pairing one of the sport’s most iconic names, Jack Roush, along with NASCAR Champion, Brad Keselowski, and Fenway Sports Group owner John Henry. Roush initially founded the team in 1988 and it has since become one of the most successful racing operations in the world, propelling him to be the first NASCAR owner to amass three hundred wins and capturing eight championships, including back-to-back NASCAR Cup titles in 2003 and 2004. Keselowski, a former owner in the NASCAR Truck Series, is the 2012 NASCAR Cup Series Champion. In 2007, Roush partnered with Henry, who also owns Major League Baseball’s Boston Red Sox, English Premier League’s Liverpool F.C., and the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins, to form Roush Fenway Racing. Off the track, RFK is a leader and proven winner in NASCAR marketing solutions, having produced multiple award-winning social media, digital content and experiential marketing campaigns. Visit rfkracing.com, and follow the team on all social platforms @rfkracing.

Why A Night Out At The Casino Is Well Worth It

Many people struggle to maintain a clear head because they’re so worried about work or personal issues. As a result, their worries will eventually take a toll on their mental psyche. If you’re part of this group, you must discover ways to eliminate your stressors and clear your mind. One option is to book a group trip to a local casino.

Casinos provide consumers with endless entertainment options. After a visit, your worries will have dissipated and you’re going to feel amazing. Readers will learn more about the perks of visiting a casino in the informative guide below.

Group Bonding

In all likelihood, the consumer doesn’t want to visit the casino alone. After all, that would create a dull, unexciting experience. Instead, the consumers should invite their friends and colleagues. This will be well worth it. A group bonding experience at a casino will strengthen your relationships. You’ll form a deeper bond with these folks.

On top of that, the casino visit will be much more fun. What is possible if you can’t visit a nearby casino? Go to the website and enjoy the action from home.

Full-Course Meal

When most consumers think about casino experiences, they think about games and entertainment. Although these factors are worth pondering, they’re not the only perks of casinos. After all, casinos are packed with entertainment and dining options. When you visit a casino, you can eat at a variety of restaurants. In many cases, casino visitors will be able to indulge in a full-course meal.

During a break from craps or slots, consider getting a delicious treat. A healthy meal will undoubtedly make you happier and healthier.

Losing Focus

In many situations, casino visitors are eager to lose focus. However, they’re not losing focus on everything in front of them. Instead, these players are going to focus intently on the games at the casino. They’re going to be immersed in slots, blackjack, and other popular titles. As a result, the casino goer will have trouble focusing on insignificant matters. When they leave the establishment, their minds are going to be clear.

They’ll feel refreshed because the casino visit has helped them forget about their stressors. Losing focus at a casino is an excellent way to improve an individual’s mental health.

Exercise

It’s unfortunate that most individuals never get enough exercise. It’s common for modern consumers to work at desks and rarely walk, jog, or run. Are you a member of this unfortunate subset? Well, you must be innovative and discover ways to get more exercise. Surprisingly, a casino visit is an excellent option. During a visit to a nearby casino, you’ll have the ability to indulge in various games, including slots and roulette.

Before you can pull the lever or throw the die, you must walk through the casino and from one table to the next. The experience will have you working out without realizing it. Booking several trips to a nearby casino can be effective for exercising and getting a bit healthier.

Exhilarating Entertainment

There is nothing that can come close to offering the same level of entertainment as a casino. One visit is enough to realize why so many people are attracted to casinos. Singles and couples opt for a night at the casino over a nightclub, house party, or the cinema. 

Casino activities allow people to distract their mind from their personal problems. Whether it is a game of or just enjoying the live entertainment, you are not plagued by problems. 

Great Interactions

Singles are drawn to casinos because they are a great place to meet other singles. Dating has changed quite a bit since the good old days when singles hooked up at barn dances, skating rinks, and theaters. 

Most casinos provide a variety of entertainment for their guests. Some of these options have laid-back environments for singles to get to know each other better. Take, for example, the casino spa which not only provides treatments to detox the body but also a calm atmosphere for great conversations. 

Summary

Don’t underestimate the perks of visiting a nearby casino. The experience at your casino will be fun, exciting, and healthy. Take a friend to your nearby casino and you’ll have an unforgettable experience.

BRIGHT LIGHTS AND FAST NIGHTS: CROWN JEWEL BASS PRO SHOPS NIGHT RACE SET TO ENTERTAIN FANS AT ICONIC BRISTOL MOTOR SPEEDWAY

Denny Hamlin is seeking his third straight Cup Series win at Bristol Motor Speedway coming up on Saturday night, Sept. 21, and his fourth crown jewel Bass Pro Shops Night Race victory.

BRISTOL, Tenn. (Aug. 19, 2024) – The Bass Pro Shops Night Race, one of NASCAR’s much-anticipated crown jewel races, is primed to deliver guests a weekend full of high-horsepower action, both on the track and off, when the throttle is cranked to maximum overdrive Sept. 19-21 at iconic Bristol Motor Speedway.

Since the lights were first turned on at Bristol’s late summer race in 1978, America’s Night Race has become one of the can’t-miss big events on every NASCAR fan’s calendar. Amplified greatly by the Dale Earnhardt-Terry Labonte saga, parts one and two, in 1995 and 1999, the Night Race has grown into an event that takes place with great anticipation every season.

With all of the fun to be had for thousands of passionate fans and the epic challenge on the high-banked bullring that awaits drivers in front of packed grandstands, along with all of the major NASCAR history that has been unfolded at the unique short track throughout the decades, and the strong sense of patriotism that fills the air throughout the weekend makes America’s Night Race a crown jewel unlike any other.

While racing is always the main course that’s served inside The Last Great Colosseum, guests should be aware of a full menu of memory-making opportunities guaranteed to boost the fun-meter on the overall experience.

Keep on reading so you won’t miss a minute of the fun that’s on the docket for the Bass Pro Shops Night Race weekend:

* Dale Jr. Rides Again: For the second consecutive year Dale Earnhardt Jr. will compete in the Food City 300 at Bristol Motor Speedway on Friday evening of the race weekend. Last year he led 47 laps on the all-concrete high banks and looked like he was on his way to victory before a wire shorted-out late in the race. He ultimately finished 30th, but as a team owner he made it to victory lane to celebrate with Justin Allgaier, who drove JRM’s No. 7 Chevy to the win. This year Earnhardt will try once again to race to victory in the Xfinity Series regular season finale at the controls of his No. 88 Hellmann’s Chevy.

* Epic Anniversaries: Speaking of Earnhardt Jr., 2024 is the 20th anniversary of origin of the track’s mantra, It’s Bristol Baby!  In August 2004, after winning the Xfinity Series race the night before, Earnhardt Jr. became the first driver in track history to sweep both races. He was so excited in Victory Lane after winning America’s Night Race, he let out a yell that has taken on a life of its own. When TV reporter Bill Weber asked him why winning this race was so special, Earnhardt Jr. screamed “It’s Bristol, baby!” Since then, the track has adopted that phrase and made it a part of the overall experience at Bristol. There’s a monument erected that recognizes the phrase in the track’s north lot, at BMS Entrance 1.

* Farewell, champ: Bristol Motor Speedway fans who attend the race weekend will get to wave goodbye to Martin Truex Jr., one of the best to ever put on a pair of driving gloves and race helmet. Although the New Jersey native didn’t have the best luck at Bristol in his Cup career, he was able to capture an Xfinity Series win in 2008 and tamed the dirt high banks in a Craftsman Truck in 2021. Truex, the 2017 Cup Series champion, has come close to winning a few Bristol Cup Series races, including this past March when he finished second to Denny Hamlin in the Food City 500. He would love nothing more than to go out on a high note with the Bass Pro Shops Night Race trophy in his hands.  

* Dazzling Doubleheader: The race weekend will have a sizzling start with a dynamic doubleheader on Thursday evening. The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series UNOH 200 presented by Ohio Logistics and the opening act of the Bush’s Beans 200 ARCA Menards Series will showcase some of the most talked-about up-and-coming racing talent in the world of stock car racing. If you are a new fan or a veteran fan, this race should be one that you don’t want to miss. For the low cost of $30 per adult ticket and even lower free price for kids 12 and under, it’s an absolute steal. Two of the hottest rising stars in stock car racing will pull double duty during this race, and a former winning IndyCar racer also will do the double and add to the fun. Connor Zilisch and William Sawalich will be joined by Marco Andretti, as the three will set out to accomplish what only Sam Mayer has done, sweep both races. They will be challenged by tons of talent in both series, including defending Truck champ Ben Rhodes, Corey Heim, Christian Eckes and Ty Majeski, all of whom are past Bristol winners. In the Bush’s Beans 200, Andres Perez, Lavar Scott, Greg Van Alst and Kris Wright will be the top contenders. After all the action on the track, DJ Sterl the Pearl will entertain guests into the night with the exhilarating BMS Foam Party.

* Fan Zone on steroids: There’s so much to do during the weekend around the grounds of Bristol Motor Speedway, including making a stop in the Fan Zone. There’s music, games, food, rides, exhibitions, stunts, souvenir haulers, appearances by drivers, legends and other celebrities, autograph sessions and more.  Some of those attractions include Axe throwing, fan-interactive inflatables, a race car simulator, the Thunder Dome with RC cars, pit stop challenge and NASCAR arcade games and the always busy Fan City Fan Zone Stage. Guest Welcome Villages are positioned strategically to offer guest assistance.

* United We Race: You won’t find a place that’s more patriotic, that honors, celebrates and cherishes American virtues and values better than Bristol Motor Speedway. From timeless performances of the National Anthem, to powerful military flyovers, the red white and blue can be seen everywhere around BMS property. And on Saturday, the National Anthem performance featuring the MRO children’s choir is certainly a longtime Bristol tradition that shouldn’t be missed.

* Now that’s a TV: OK, it does look like a spaceship up there. Fortunately, it’s not. One of the coolest experiences when attending a race at Bristol is having the opportunity to view the unbelievable entertainment provided by Colossus TV, the world’s largest center-hung stadium video display. Completed in April 2016, Colossus TV has the highest viewing quality of any permanent outdoor stadium display in the world, featuring 2880 x 1350 lines of resolution. Compare that to the average home HD TV screen at 1920 x 1080. It currently hosts nearly 54 million LEDs and 18 million pixels. Watching Colossus TV is like sitting in your living room with the state-of-the-art digital experience, but still having the live race action going on right in front of you.  

* Pre-Race Infield Experience: Country music singer and songwriter Tim Dugger will pump up the crowd on Saturday during the pre-race concert. Dugger and his band will perform on the Pre-Race Infield Experience Stage at 5:30 p.m., just before Bristol’s famed driver introductions, where each driver enters the Colosseum to the music of his choice. DJ Sterl the Pearl will provide the jams. Fans of the music and those guests seeking to get closer to all the pre-event action can now purchase the new Pre-Race Infield Experience upgrade for Saturday evening at the Bass Pro Shops Night Race. Fans will be able to access the area at 5 p.m. and can stay inside the infield until the last driver is introduced, just prior to the Bass Pro Shops Night Race green flag.

* Trackside Live gets it all started Saturday at 4 p.m.: On Saturday in the BMS Fan Zone you won’t want to miss NASCAR’s Trackside Live with hosts Kenny Wallace, John Roberts and Jose Castillo taking place on the Food City Fans Zone Stage at 4 p.m., prior to the start of the race. Trackside Live offers interviews with drivers, celebrities and other recognizable figures in the world of sports and entertainment. With Wallace and Roberts involved you never know exactly what you are going to get, but you know it’s going to be fun. The duo brought their Raceday Live show back to Bristol in the spring of 2023 and then took it on the road for several more Speedway Motorsports races. This will be their second Night Race appearance since their return.

* DJ Sterl the Pearl leads Thursday night BMS Foam Party: Speaking of entertainment, fans will get to party the night away after the conclusion of the Thursday night double-header with mic-master DJ Sterl the Pearl on the Food City Fan Zone Stage while gallons upon gallons of foam spews out onto the wild fans in the audience. DJ Sterl the Pearl, a former football player at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, brings the energy to UT football and basketball games throughout the year and he continues to pump out the jams at Bristol for what promises to be another epic Thursday night party. 

* Friday night after-party features Kid Kentucky: Speaking of entertainment, following Friday night’s Food City 300 NASCAR Xfinity Series race Kid Kentucky will take the Food City Fan Zone Stage by storm to entertain race fans until the early morning hours. Kid Kentucky, widely known as Kid Rock’s biggest fan, pays homage to his idol by delivering the best Kid Rock tribute experience possible. Kid Kentucky offers the total package – the music, the show, the look and the songs. It’s as close as you can get to the real thing.

* Did we say Playoffs: There’s so much fun to be had and we’ve barely mentioned the real star of the show. Yes, it’s Bristol, baby! Some of the most memorable moments in NASCAR history have taken place during the Bass Pro Shops Night Race on the super-challenging .533-mile high-banked oval. NASCAR’s best drivers will beat and bang on each other – NASCAR Playoff style – and only the strongest will survive 500 laps of mayhem inside the high-banked bullring. In the Bass Pro Shops Night Race, you’ll get to see all of your favorite drivers doing what they do best.  You’ll see all of the stars, including red-hot Denny Hamlin, winner of the last two Cup races at BMS. Other Playoff eligible contenders are Kyle Larson, Christopher Bell, Joey Logano, and Bristol All-Star Race winner Chase Elliott. The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series UNOH 200 presented by Ohio Logistics will serve as the second Playoff race in the opening Round of 10. Regular season champ Corey Heim will lead the charge, followed by Bristol spring winner Christian Eckes, Ben Rhodes, Nick Sanchez and Rajah Caruth, to name a few. This season the Food City 300 Xfinity Series race has moved back to serve as the regular season finale and will lock in the 12 drivers who will compete for a season championship.

* Fan Track Walk always a fun stroll: The Fan Track Walk, which takes place on Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m., just a few hours prior to the running of the Bass Pro Shops Night Race, returns to give enthusiasts the rare opportunity to walk along the iconic high-banked concrete track where so much NASCAR history has taken place. Fans who are a part of this upgrade activity will get to enter the stadium at 3 p.m. to enjoy their walk around the historic half-mile bullring. Just prior to the green flag, participants will have the opportunity to see, touch and feel the racing surface where all of the legends of NASCAR have battled throughout the years. To participate in the Fan Track Walk, please visit the BMS website, BMS app or call 423-BRISTOL for more information.

* Bring your own stuff: Guests are allowed and encouraged to bring refreshments and food in a soft sided cooler that doesn’t exceed 14x14x14. Fans can also bring another bag not to exceed 18x18x14 to accommodate other necessary supplies like sunscreen, hats, sun glasses, seat cushions and ear protection. To review a complete list of items that are allowed and a few that aren’t, please check the BMS website. 

* Family bonding: The race is the perfect opportunity for parents to share their love of NASCAR with their children. Talk about the science of racing, pick favorite drivers, share some laughs and also some ooohs and aaahs when the powerful race cars speed around the track. And for families, BMS is offering free kids tickets on Thursday and Friday, and on Saturday kids tickets are only $10.

* Tailgating and camping: Sometimes it’s nice to just get outside and become one with nature. Bristol Motor Speedway provides you with the perfect opportunity to access your inner outdoors enthusiast during the Bass Pro Shops Night Race. BMS owns and operates five campgrounds around the facility and each provides a variety of amenities. Whether you drive a modernly-mobile RV or prefer to anchor a tent in the ground, BMS has you covered. New for this season is the Swaggerty’s Tailgate Zone, a popular spot where guests can gather to park and enjoy the atmosphere before racing begins. Once you are here camping, you will have easy access to the grounds and all of the excitement going on inside the stadium. Your ticket to fun is merely a quick walk away. 

* Tickets are going fast: Demand is at an all-time high and this historic race weekend is positioned to generate one of the biggest crowds in BMS history. We hope you will be a part of it!

The weekend begins with Ben Rhodes and defending winner Corey Heim battling for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series victory Thursday night in the UNOH 200 presented by Ohio Logistics (Sept. 19, 8 p.m., FS1, MRN Radio). The rising stars in the ARCA Menards Series, including rising stars William Sawalich and Connor Zilisch and former IndyCar racer Marco Andretti, also will take on the challenging half-mile bullring in the Bush’s Beans 200 as part of a titan Thursday night doubleheader (Sept. 19, 5 p.m., FS1, MRN Radio).  

On Friday, Sparks are sure to fly in the Food City 300, as NASCAR Xfinity Series favorites Justin Allgaier, Austin Hill, Cole Custer, Sheldon Creed and Riley Herbst will be fighting hard in the Xfinity Series regular season finale (Sept. 20, 7:30 p.m., The CW, PRN Radio). Also, remember, Dale Earnhardt Jr. is also going to make his Bristol return at the Food City 300 driving the blue and yellow No. 88 Hellmann’s Chevy.

Finally, the stars of the NASCAR Cup Series will take to the track on Saturday for the Bass Pro Shops Night Race (Sept. 21, 7:30 p.m., USA Network, PRN Radio), you’ll get to see all of your favorite drivers racing hard in the Round of 16 to advance in the first elimination race of the Playoffs.

To purchase tickets, please visit www.bristolmotorspeedway.com or call the BMS Ticket Sales Center at (866) 415-4158. Fans can also purchase tickets at any Food City location through Sept. 13.

RECAP: Wright Motorsports Maintains Points Lead with Double Podium Weekend

ELKHART LAKE, Wis., (August 19, 2024) – With just two race weekends remaining in the Fanatec GT World Challenge America season, Wright Motorsports leaves Road America’s doubleheader still holding onto the championship points lead. Adam Adelson, Elliott Skeer, and the team of the No. 120 Porsche 911 GT3 R earned a second-place and third-place finish in the two rounds held at the Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin area track, effectively maintaining their gap over the competition.

“This weekend was all about consistency and resilience,” said Team Owner John Wright. “The team executed flawlessly under challenging conditions, and both Adam and Elliott delivered impressive performances. We knew the weather could be a factor, and our ability to adapt played a key role in securing these podiums. Now, with the championship still within reach, we’re focused on finishing these final races strong.”

The weather was anything but predictable for Rounds Nine and 10 of the GT World Challenge championship, and the group at Wright Motorsports knew rain would play well into their hands. A storm rolled through Road America just before the start of the race but the circuit had dried enough for competitors to start on the standard Pirelli slick race tires. Adelson took the green flag for the first race from fifth position in class, and advanced to fourth in the opening lap. He had damage to the rear of the Porsche at the hand of another car early in his stint, and when other cars pitted to assess damage or penalties, he continued on. The strategy not to pit allowed him to climb up to third place, despite damage to the rear diffuser. He made a normal planned stop at the halfway point from third. Skeer took over and engaged in an exciting late-race push for position, netting the fastest lap of the race. In the end, the team celebrated a third-place result and decent points day.

Skeer started race two on Sunday from third overall and second in class. He slid into the PRO class lead and second place overall on the start, maintaining position and keeping the rest of the field behind the Porsche. Adelson jumped in at the halfway point, fending off heavy pressure from the designated pro, Alec Udell, in the DXDT Racing Corvette. The Corvette eventually got by, but Adelson masterfully kept the Porsche near the front of the field, finishing the race in second place.

Provisionally, the team holds a 35-point lead in the championship, with 200 points still remaining to be awarded in the final three races.

Barber Motorsports Park will host the final doubleheader of the season, September 6-8 before the series faces the grand conclusion to the season: the Indianapolis 8-Hour. The eight-hour endurance race will see the team take on a third driver in a final-race, double-points showdown, October 3-8 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

DRIVER QUOTES

Adam Adelson

It was not the results that we would have hoped for. We have to be happy with how we place, but every race, we keep on doing our rain dance. The Porsche is always amazing in the rain. On Saturday, it looked like it was coming straight for us, but right before the race, the storm split into two and just went everywhere except for where we are. But it’s all about keeping the points lead and staying as close to, if not beating, the Corvette. That’s what our focus is on. The best way to do that is to just concentrate the most we can on ourselves.

Elliott Skeer

It was overall, an interesting weekend for us at Road America. We knew it was not going to be the Porsche’s strongest track, but to ultimately have the base we did was a testament to the team at Wright and what they can make this Porsche do. Saturday was grimy and messy, even without the weather hitting. We seem to be cursed when it comes to not getting rain in the races. We left Saturday very frustrated as some missed opportunities and came into Sunday prepared to do what we needed to do. I’m extremely happy with my stint, as it was one of my best so far this year. I really drove to maximize everything out of the car that I possibly could. Adam had quite a strong race there, doing what he could. I’m just super proud of the pace that he could hold either way. He drove a very strong stint. The Corvette was able to get around us and run away with it. Ultimately, though, for the next round of SRO, I’m feeling very confident about Barber. I’ve had this one highlighted for a while, and I think that we can really make our Porsche shine there.

Wright Motorsports
Wright Motorsports is the premier Porsche race engineering facility in Ohio and a multi-series and international racing team known for superb car preparation, expert race strategy, and driver development. Located in Batavia, Ohio, it is owned and directed by John Wright, a certified Porsche factory-trained technician. As a crew chief John Wright has played a key role in winning eight driver and seven team championships in World Challenge, IMSA (ALMS) and the Grand-Am Rolex Series. Wright Motorsports won the team championship in Porsche GT3 Cup USA in 2012, 2013, and 2015, and went on to win the Pirelli World Challenge Overall, Sprint, Team, and Manufacturer’s titles in 2017. In 2020, the team captured the GT World Challenge America Am championship. In 2021, Wright Motorsports had a wildly successful season, capturing nine championships across their five racing efforts.

Flying Lizard Motorsports Secures Memorable Double-Podium Weekend at Road America

ELKHART LAKE, Wis., (August 19, 2024) – Flying Lizard Motorsports experienced a weekend full of ups and downs during the SRO America races at Road America. Still, the team’s perseverance paid off, resulting in two additional podiums across their four programs.

“Although we had some big challenges this weekend, we came out of Road America with podium finishes in GT4 for both our Nissan and Aston Martin programs,” said Program Manager Darren Law. We also had a very strong showing for the new BMW GT3 with extremely competitive lap times as well as a chance at a podium finish. We look to carry the momentum into the next race weekend.”

Todd Parriott’s season finally reached a milestone with his first podium finish in GT America on Saturday. Driving the No. 31 Aston Martin Vantage GT4 in mixed conditions, Parriott skillfully navigated from his fourth-place starting position to secure third place, celebrating his well-deserved, career-first SRO America podium. In race two, he started from fifth and climbed as high as third before finishing fourth, earning another top-five result.

Damir Hot and Andy Lee experienced the highs and lows of motorsport in just a few hours following a crash during GT4 America qualifying in the Nissan Z GT4. Despite the heavy damage, the Lizard crew worked quickly and efficiently, getting the car ready just in time for the race one grid, avoiding any penalties. Fueled by adrenaline, Hot and Lee executed a remarkable comeback, gaining 12 positions to finish in second place. They continued their impressive performance in race two, climbing 17 positions to finish seventh overall after starting 23rd. This back-to-back performance earned them the Hard Charger award for most positions gained in both races.

Due to feeling under the weather, Jason Bell was unable to compete in Sunday’s race two, ending what had been a disappointing weekend for the No. 2 Aston Martin Vantage GT3 driver in the Fanatec GT World Challenge. Bell had been racing in the rain for a top-five result in race one when the Aston spun in the rain and accelerated on the wet grass, ending the race early for Bell. Though the car was ready to compete Sunday morning, Bell retired early, not feeling well enough to finish the weekend.

Elias Sabo and Andy Lee enjoyed a strong debut weekend in the GT World Challenge with their newly acquired BMW M4 GT3. Despite limited track time, the duo showed strong and consistent speed, improving their understanding of the car with each lap. With a strong run from the seventh place starting position in race two, Lee worked his way up to third position in the Pro-Am class, and with a well-executed pit stop, Sabo maintained this position for the majority of his stint. Their efforts culminated in their first top-five finish of the season after finishing in fifth place.

With only two race weekends remaining in the SRO America 2024 championships, the series will head to Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama, from September 6-8, for a long-awaited return. For event information, visit www.gt-world-challenge-america.com.

About Flying Lizard Motorsports

Based out of Sonoma, California, Flying Lizard Motorsports is one of the most iconic sports car teams in motorsports, having celebrated ten driver and team championships, as well as competed internationally at the 24 Hours of Le Mans eight times.

The Lizards burst on the American Le Mans Series scene in 2004, competing in the GT class until 2012. In 2013, the team moved to the GTC class, still competing in legendary events such as the 12 Hours of Sebring and 24 Hours of Daytona. In 2014, the team expanded its program to include running two Audi R8 LMS in the TUDOR Championship, and in 2015, again expanded the program to include two Porsches in Porsche Club racing. Flying Lizard closed out the season with a dominating win at the 25 Hours of Thunderhill with Toyo Tires, a win they repeated in 2016, 2017, and 2018. The 2020 season proved the team’s most successful to date, earning four titles in the GT4 America championship. Flying Lizard Motorsports has proven to be a championship contender no matter the race series or race car. For more information, visit lizardms.com.

About 5.11
With offices around the globe, 5.11 ABR Corp. and its subsidiaries, including 5.11, Inc., work with end users to create purpose-built apparel, footwear and gear designed specifically to enhance the safety, accuracy, speed, and performance of tactical professionals and technical enthusiasts worldwide. 5.11 products exceed rigorous standards, which have allowed the brand to establish a reputation for innovation and authenticity, and become the premier choice for those who always have to be ready. 5.11 products can be purchased online, through authorized dealers and retailers, as well as at 5.11 company-owned retail stores.

Learn more about 5.11’s best-selling gear and accessories at www.511tactical.com. Find a full list of 5.11 company-owned retail stores at https://www.511tactical.com/locations/. Connect with 5.11 on Facebook, Twitter @511Tactical and on Instagram @511Tactical and #511tactical

5.11 ABR Corp. is a subsidiary of Compass Diversified (NYSE: CODI).

5.11, 5.11 Tactical and Always Be Ready are registered trademarks of 5.11, Inc. All rights reserved.

About Apex Motor Club

Apex Motor Club is Arizona’s premier motorsports club located just 35 miles southwest of Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport and the only private motorsports club located within a major metropolitan area. APEX is the ultimate country club for automotive enthusiasts where car culture, racing and country club lifestyles converge. Enjoy an hour of track time in your latest acquisition, drive off track, into your privately-owned garage and join like- minded enthusiasts in the clubhouse for food, beverages, and activities.

To learn more about the newest racing circuit in the country, visit https://apexmotorclub.com

NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Michigan

Photo by Tim Jarrold for SpeedwayMedia.com.

Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.

1. Denny Hamlin: Hamlin started on the pole at Michigan and finished ninth in the FireKeepers Casino 400. An early slide through the glass hurt Hamlin’s chances of earning his first win at Michigan since 2011.

“My No. 11 Toyota was primarily sponsored by Yahoo,” Hamlin said, “and primarily powered by a ‘search engine.'”

2. Tyler Reddick: Reddick assumed the lead on Lap 188 and led the rest of the way to capture the FireKeepers Casino 400, his second win of the year.

“Of course,” Reddick said, “NASCAR threw a caution when Martin Truex Jr. hit the wall with six laps to go. Truex had the car totally under control, so it didn’t even need to be a caution. If you heard me cursing over my team’s radio, I’ll give you a family-friendly translation: ‘Ba da ba ba baaa, I’m not loving it.'”

3. Kyle Larson: Larson’s day at Michigan ended when he got loose on Lap 115, triggering an accident that collected several cars. Larson finished 34th.

“As they say,” Larson said, “you can’t spell ‘aerodynamics’ without ‘damn.’ Now, I’m going to do something Austin Dillon would not, and apologize to all the drivers I wrecked.”

4. Brad Keselowski: Keselowski finished fifth at Michigan.

“I’m from Michigan,” Keselowski said, “so I know the fans wanted to see me win. And I hear they also wanted to see Jim Harbaugh as my crew chief, just so they can find out who he’d choose as his ‘spotter.'”

5. Ryan Blaney: Blaney won Stage 1 and finished 18th in the FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan.

“Were there two cars sponsored by Overstock?” Blaney said. “They might as well be sponsored by ‘Overkill.'”

6. Christopher Bell: Bell was collected on Lap 115 when Kyle Larson lost control and collected several cars. The damage ended Bell’s day and he finished 35th.

“Speeds at Michigan were upwards of 200 miles per hour,” Bell said, “which is approximately what Austin Dillon was doing when he ran into Joey Logano at Richmond.”

7. Chase Elliott: Elliott finished 15th at Michigan.

“That’s just a mediocre result,” Elliott said. “And not really a reason for a celebration down at the Dawsonville Pool Room. But those people don’t need a ‘cue’ to consume alcohol.”

8. William Byron: Byron took the runner-up spot at Michigan and is now 7th in the points standings.

“That was a crazy wreck by Corey LaJoie,” Byron said. “He flipped and slid on his roof for a pretty good distance. ‘Upside down’ is the operative phrase for that team, because LaJoie was ‘upside down’ on the track, and Spire Motorsports is ‘upside down’ on loans.”

9. Martin Truex Jr.: Truex saw a solid finish evaporate when he got loose and smacked the wall on Lap 194. He finished 24th.

“I think NASCAR made the right decision to take the win away from Austin Dillon,” Truex said. “NASCAR could have wimped out and done nothing. So, as it stands, only Austin Dillon is ‘chicken s$#t.'”

10. Kyle Busch: Busch finished fourth at Michigan.

“My brother Kurt was arrested on August 14th on DWI and reckless driving charges in Iredell County,” Busch said. “I can certainly relate. Look, I’ve been there, and by ‘been there,’ I mean ‘in court, pleading guilty.'”

RCR NCS Race Recap: Michigan International Speedway

Austin Dillon and the No. 3 Dow MobilityScience™ Chevrolet Team Continue Momentum with Strong Effort at Michigan International Speedway

Finish: 17th
Start: 10th
Points: 29th

“Overall it was a solid day for our Dow MobilityScience™ team at Michigan International Speedway. We ran consistently inside the top-15 for the majority of it and earned extra points in Stage 2. Justin (Alexander) used pit strategy throughout the race, but a couple of those late race cautions didn’t fall our way. Before the second overtime attempt, we came down pit road for four tires and an adjustment to free up the car. We restarted in the high line and drove back up to 17th-place. At the end of the day, our No. 3 Camaro was probably a top-10 car though. We will keep building off the speed we’ve had these last couple of weeks and race for a win next weekend at Daytona International Speedway.” -Austin Dillon

Kyle Busch and the No. 8 Lucas Oil Chevrolet Team Score Fourth-Place Finish at Michigan International Speedway

Finish: 4th
Start: 13th
Points: 17th

“It was a good day overall for our Lucas Oil team. We maybe needed a tick more speed, but it was a good top eight car and we got a little bit more out of that. It was a good pit strategy by Randall (Burnett) and the guys to keep our track position and keep us up front there. We took two tires at the end and that wasn’t ideal on those short restarts. We hung on though and got a top-five finish out of it. We ran inside the top-10 for the majority of the day and won a stage so that’s good for our No. 8 team.” -Kyle Busch

Reddick prevails amid double overtime shootouts for wild Cup victory at Michigan; assumes regular-season points lead

Photo by Stephanie McLaughlin for SpeedwayMedia.com.

Amid the loss of his racing hero Scott Bloomquist earlier in the week, Tyler Reddick rose to the occasion on two overtime attempts to win the rain-postponed FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway on Monday, August 19.

The two-time NASCAR Xfinity Series champion from Corning, California, led 15 of 206 over-scheduled laps in an event where he started on the front row based on a metric formula per the NASCAR Rule Book after the event’s qualifying session was canceled due to persistent precipitation. Despite running towards the front during the event’s early stages on Sunday, he along with most of the front-runners pitted early as part of strategic call and sacrificed the first round of stage points. He then cycled his way back to fifth place before the event was delayed and eventually postponed to Monday morning due to the on-track precipitation continuing for the remainder of Sunday.

At the event’s resumption on Monday, Reddick got shuffled back towards the top-20 mark. Despite the rough start, he kept his No. 45 McDonald’s/23XI Racing Toyota Camry XSE intact as a host of his fellow competitors, including teammate Bubba Wallace, would encounter on-track incidents that spoiled their early strong starts. With pit strategies also ensuing, Reddick, who methodically carved his way back to the front, assumed the lead with 12 laps remaining following the event’s latest round of green flag pit stops.

Despite having his advantage stalled twice amid two late on-track incidents that sent the event into overtime twice, the Californian refused to surrender as he fended off William Byron during the latest overtime shootout to grab his second NASCAR Cup Series victory of the 2024 season and assume the lead in the regular-season standings.

With on-track qualifying that was set to occur on Saturday, August 17, being canceled due to weather, the starting lineup for the main event was determined through a metric formula from the NASCAR Rule Book. As a result, Denny Hamlin was awarded the pole position and he shared the front row with 23XI Racing competitor Tyler Reddick.

When the green flag waved and the event commenced amid a delay period that spanned more than two hours due to on-track precipitation, Denny Hamlin and Tyler Reddick dueled for the lead through the first two turns as the field behind fanned out to multiple lanes. Then as Hamlin and Reddick continued to duel for the lead in front of the packed field through the backstretch, Kyle Larson, who started in fourth place, gained a draft and made a three-wide pass beneath both Reddick and Hamlin to move into the lead entering Turns 3 and 4. The early advantage would allow Larson to rocket his No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 ahead as he led the first lap while Reddick and Hamlin were being challenged by Chase Elliott and Christopher Bell for top-three spots.

Over the next four laps and with a majority of the field running in a single-file line, Larson stabilized his early advantage as he was out in front of the field by as high as four-tenths of a second. Behind, Hamlin was scored in second place ahead of Reddick and Elliott while Bell settled in fifth ahead of Bubba Wallace, Ryan Blaney, William Byron, Austin Dillon and Ross Chastain.

Through the first 10-scheduled laps, Larson retained the lead by two-tenths of a second over Hamlin, the latter of which started to close in on Larson in his No. 11 Yahoo! Toyota Camry XSE. Reddick, Elliott and Bell followed suit in the top five while Wallace, Byron, Blaney, Austin Dillon and Chastain were scored in the top 10. Behind, Chris Buescher occupied 11th place ahead of Hocevar, Daniel Suarez, Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano while Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr., Chase Briscoe, Alex Bowman and Austin Cindric trailed in the top 20 ahead of Ty Gibbs, Justin Haley, Noah Gragson, Erik Jones and AJ Allmendinger. Meanwhile, rookie Josh Berry, who started 16th, had plummeted to 36th place, dead last.

Ten laps later, Larson continued to lead by a tenth of a second over a hard-charging Hamlin while third-place Reddick trailed the lead by six-tenths of a second. Meanwhile, Bubba Wallace, Reddick’s teammate, trailed in fourth place by a second as he was followed by Elliott while Bell, Byron, Blaney, Buescher and Chastain were mired in the top 10 ahead of Austin Dillon, Suarez, Keselowski, Logano and Truex.

Another five laps later, a two-competitor battle for the lead between Larson and Hamlin became a four-competitor battle for the lead as 23XI Racing’s Reddick and Wallace cut their deficit to four-tenths and seven-tenths of a second while Larson retained the lead by within a tenth of a second over Hamlin. With fifth-place Elliott continuing to trail by more than a second, teammate Larson continued to fend off Hamlin’s repeated attacks through the turns and straightaways to lead by a narrow margin while Berry, who was still mired in 36th place, dead last, was lapped.

At the Lap 30 mark, Larson stabilized his lead to two-tenths of a second over Hamlin while Wallace moved his No. 23 McDonald’s Toyota Camry XSE past teammate Reddick’s No. 45 McDonald’s Toyota Camry XSE for third place. Behind, Bell overtook Elliott for fifth place as Blaney, Byron, Buescher and Chastain continued to trail in the top 10 ahead of Suarez, Austin Dillon, Keselowski, Truex and Logano.

Then on Lap 34, Wallace gained a strong run and executed a three-wide pass beneath both Hamlin and Larson through the frontstretch to assume the lead entering Turn 1. As Wallace started to pull away, Hamlin, who managed to overtake Larson for the runner-up spot, proceeded to try to keep track of Wallace while Reddick started to challenge Larson for third place.

On Lap 37, the event’s first caution period flew when Hamlin, who closed in on Wallace in his bid for the lead through Turns 3 and 4, slowly slid up the track, got loose and spun his No. 11 Yahoo! Toyota Camry XSE from the top to the bottom of the track and through the infield grass before he managed to brake his car and keep it from going back across the track and continued without sustaining any significant damage.

During the caution period, nearly the entire field led by Wallace pitted for service while the rest led by Blaney, who assumed the race lead, and including Byron, Buescher, Suarez, Brad Keselowski, Ty Gibbs and Harrison Burton remained on the track.

With the event restarting with three laps remaining in the first stage period, the field fanned out through the frontstretch as Blaney muscled ahead from the outside lane as he was followed by Buescher and Byron. As the field behind continued to fan out and jostle for spots through the backstretch, Blaney retained the lead for the following lap ahead of Buescher and Byron while Elliott started to close in in his bid for the runner-up spot.

When the first stage period concluded on Lap 45, Blaney fended off the competition amid a bevy of jostling for spots to capture his third Cup stage victory of the 2024 season. Elliott muscled his No. 9 NAPA Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in second place ahead of teammate Byron, Wallace and Buescher while Kyle Busch, Keselowski, Martin Truex Jr., Alex Bowman and Ross Chastain were scored in the top 10. By then, all 36 starters were scored on the lead lap.

Under the stage break, some led by the leader Blaney and including Byron, Buescher, Keselowski, Suarez, Ty Gibbs and Harrison Burton, all of whom remained on the track during the previous caution period, pitted for their first service of the day while the rest led by the new leader Elliott remained on the track.

Then after having the start of the second stage period waved off multiple times due to on-track precipitation steadily returning to the Michigan circuit, the field led by Elliott was directed back to pit road and placed in a red flag period on Lap 51.

With the rain delay period occurring beyond 6 p.m. ET and no sight of relief being detected before the day’s darkness scheduled at 8:20 p.m. ET, NASCAR postponed the remainder of the event to Monday, August 19. By then, Elliott was still scored the leader while Truex, Wallace, Bowman, Reddick, Kyle Busch, Larson, Chastain, Chase Briscoe and Logano were scored in the top 10, respectively.

Nearing 11 a.m. ET on Monday and with the weather clear from Sunday’s precipitation, the red flag lifted and the field led by Elliott returned under a cautious pace. During the pace laps, Hamlin spent time in his pit stall to have his car inspected due to Sunday’s spin as he dropped to the rear of the field.

The second stage period started on Lap 55 as Elliott and Kyle Busch occupied the front row. At the start, Elliott received a shove from Wallace on the outside lane to emerge ahead by a slight margin before Busch fought back from the inside lane. As the field fanned out through the first two turns and the backstretch while Reddick slipped out of the top-10 mark, Elliott retained the lead from Busch, Wallace and Truex while Chase Briscoe followed suit in fifth.

Then on Lap 57 and with a variety of on-track battles ensuing around the field, Busch executed a move beneath Elliott and proceeded to slide in front of Elliott to lead for the first time in his No. 8 Lucas Oil Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. With Busch leading, Elliott retained second while Briscoe overtook Wallace and Truex for third place as Bell and Chastain joined the battle. With Wallace, Briscoe, Truex, Bell, Larson and Chastain all battling for third place amid the draft, Busch retained the lead by a tenth of a second over Elliott, who settled behind Busch’s rear bumper, by Lap 60.

Six laps later, Truex, who navigated his way past Wallace and Elliott to move up to second earlier, drew his No. 19 Auto-Owners Insurance Toyota Camry XSE into a side-by-side battle with Busch for the lead through the frontstretch before he muscled ahead of Busch with the top spot entering Turn 1. Behind, Elliott overtook Busch for the runner-up spot and proceeded to track Truex for the lead while both Wallace and Larson started to close in on the top-three leaders. With Wallace overtaking Busch for third place shortly after, Truex led the Lap 70 mark by two-tenths of a second over Elliott.

By Lap 80, Truex stabilized his advantage to four-tenths of a second over Elliott while Wallace, Larson and Busch all trailed in the top five within two seconds. In the process, Bell, Byron, Chastain, Logano and Bowman followed suit in the top 10. With Austin Cindric scrubbing the outside wall entering the frontstretch, but continuing while battling Ricky Stenhouse Jr. for a top-20 spot, the race remained under green flag conditions.

Four laps later, Wallace pitted his No. 23 McDonald’s Toyota Camry XSE for four fresh tires and a full tank of fuel under green. Teammate Reddick, who was mired within the top 15 amid his rough start to the second stage period, would also pit before Larson pitted during the following lap. Elliott would then pit his No. 9 NAPA Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 under green along with Noah Gragson by Lap 87 before Chastain, Bowman, Corey LaJoie, Chris Buescher, Chase Briscoe, Michael McDowell, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Ryan Preece followed suit during the next three laps. Amid the pit stops, Truex retained the lead by the Lap 90 mark.

Just past the Lap 90 mark, Busch and Byron pitted their respective Chevrolets after running towards the front before the leader Truex and teammate Bell pitted on Lap 92. AJ Allmendinger, Harrison Burton, Josh Berry and Todd Gilliland would also pit their respective entries while Blaney cycled into the lead ahead of teammate Logano, Ty Gibbs, Brad Keselowski and Daniel Hemric. Logano and Hemric would then pit on Lap 95 as Blaney retained the lead. Meanwhile and with more competitors pitting under green, Larson, the first competitor with fresh tires, cycled his way up to ninth place while Wallace, Truex, Elliott, Chastain, Byron and Busch followed suit.

At the halfway mark on Lap 100, Blaney, who pitted during the first stage break period on Sunday and continued to stretch his fuel tank as far as possible, pitted under green along with rookie Carson Hocevar as Ty Gibbs cycled into the lead. With Gibbs leading, Keselowski, Austin Dillon, Larson and Truex were in the top five while Wallace, Elliott, Hamlin, Chastain and Byron were running in the top 10. Austin Dillon would then pit during the following lap along with the leader Gibbs as Keselowski cycled into the lead. Keselowski would then pit from the lead by Lap 103 along with Hamlin, which allowed Larson to cycle back into the lead on four fresh tires and fuel.

On Lap 106, a brief side-by-side battle for the lead ignited between Larson and Truex, with the latter attempting to surge ahead from the inside lane, but the former was able to muscle back ahead from the outside lane.

Then on Lap 109, during which Larson maintained a steady advantage over Truex amid a brief side-by-side challenge, the caution flew due to a right-rear tire carcass coming off of Logano’s No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Ford Mustang Dark Horse as Logano was limping his car below the apron to pit road from Turn 4. In the process, AJ Allmendinger spun his No. 16 LeafFilter Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 through the frontstretch with a flat left-rear tire before he came to rest below the apron entering Turn 1 and would need a wrecker to have his car towed back to pit road due to the driver flat-spotting all tires. The tire issues for both Allmendinger and Logano occurred after Gilliland limped his Ford to pit road as he too had a flat right-rear tire.

During the caution period, a majority of the field led by Larson returned to pit road for service while the rest led by Ross Chastain remained on the track.

With the race restarting with five laps remaining in the second stage period, where Chastain and Busch occupied the front row, the two leaders dueled for the lead through the first two turns before Busch rocketed ahead of Chastain and maintained the lead while the field behind fanned out. Shortly after, the caution returned when Larson, who was running in ninth place and trying to carve his way back to the front, slid up the track, got sideways and spun in between Turns 3 and 4, where his car slid up towards the outside wall and was hit by Wallace while more names including Buescher, Bell, Briscoe, Logano and Gilliland all wrecked in Turn 4, with Larson sustaining the most damage to the front end of his No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 and taking him out of contention. Bell, Gilliland and Logano would also be eliminated from further competition while Wallace and Buescher, two Playoff bubble drivers, continued.

The multi-car incident was enough for the second stage period scheduled to conclude on Lap 120 to conclude under caution as Kyle Busch captured his first Cup stage victory of the 2024 season. Chastain settled in second ahead of Gibbs, Byron and Austin Dillon while Keselowski, Truex, Erik Jones, Blaney and Cody Ware were scored in the top 10.

During the stage break, select names led by Chastain pitted while the rest led by the leader Busch remained on the track.

With 75 laps remaining, the final stage commenced as Busch and Byron occupied the front row. At the start, Busch and Byron dueled for the lead for a full lap as Keselowski, Gibbs, Blaney and Austin Dillon followed suit. With Busch leading the following lap, Byron then would muscle his No. 24 RAPTOR Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 into the lead by the first two turns and he would lead the next lap period as the field behind fanned out and jostled for late spots around the corners and straightaways.

With less than 70 laps remaining, Ty Gibbs, who carved his way into second place earlier, started to ignite his challenge for the lead on Byron, though the latter retained the top spot by a tenth of a second through the turns and straightaways. Byron would proceed to stabilize his advantage to less than three-tenths of a second over Gibbs with 65 laps remaining while Keselowski, Kyle Busch and Blaney followed suit in the top five.

Just then, the caution returned when Corey LaJoie, who gained a strong draft on Noah Gragson while battling for a top-20 spot, made light contact with Gragson that sent LaJoie spinning sideways before his No. 7 Garner Trucking Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 went airborne and landed upside-down, where the car slid on its roof through the backstretch’s infield and even hit the infield wall before flipping once and coming to rest on all four wheels towards the infield grass. Amid the wild wreck, LaJoie, who slid on his side before flipping over once at the conclusion of Talladega Superspeedway event in April, emerged uninjured. During the caution period, some led by Busch pitted while the rest led by Byron remained on the track.

The start of the next restart period with 59 laps remaining featured Byron and Keselowski, who moved up to restart on the front row amid the choose rule, dueling for the lead in close-quarters racing through the first two turns before Elliott made a bold move beneath both to move into the lead entering the backstretch. With the field fanning out to multiple lanes through the backstretch, Elliott maintained the lead ahead of teammate Byron while Keselowski, Gibbs and Reddick were up in the top five.

With 50 laps remaining, Elliott was leading by six-tenths of a second over Keselowski followed by Gibbs, Reddick and Byron as Blaney, Truex, Busch, Buescher and Suarez trailed in the top 10. Behind, Chastain was scored in 11th place ahead of Bowman, Hocevar, Gragson and Austin Dillon while Erik Jones, Hamlin, Stenhouse, rookie Zane Smith and Preece occupied the top-20 spots ahead of Burton, Berry, Cody Ware, Hemric, McDowell and Wallace, all of whom were scored on the lead lap.

Four laps later, Byron peeled off the track from a top-five spot to pit his No. 24 RAPTOR Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for enough fuel to reach the event’s scheduled distance. Another two laps later, Truex pitted under green before Bowman would pit his No. 48 Ally Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 not long after. In the process, Gibbs started to close in on Elliott for the lead while third-place Reddick tried to close in.

With 40 laps remaining, Reddick, who overtook Gibbs for the runner-up spot, proceeded to overtake Elliott for the lead. With Reddick leading, Gibbs and Keselowski pitted their respective entries under green before the leader Reddick, Elliott and Blaney pitted under green with 38 laps remaining. Amid the pit stops, Busch cycled his way into the lead and he would proceed to lead with 35 laps remaining while Chastain, Buscher, Suarez, Hocevar and Austin Dillon were scored in the top six. A lap later, however, Busch pitted from the lead under green, where he only opted for two fresh tires, as Suarez cycled into the lead, where the latter would continue to lead with 30 laps remaining.

Down to the final 25 laps of the event, Hocevar was leading ahead of Stenhouse, Burton, Preece and Erik Jones while Berry, Gragson, Hemric, Cody Ware and McDowell were scored in the top 10. With the top-10 competitors on the track needing to pit, Busch, the first competitor who recently pitted, was trying to fend off Reddick for 11th place and the eventual lead while Byron, Elliott, Gibbs, Truex and Keselowski followed suit.

Not long after, the leader Hocevar along with Gragson and Preece pitted under green as both Reddick and Byron overtook Busch on the track. By then, Suarez had pitted a few laps earlier as Stenhouse assumed the lead. Stenhouse would then pit from the lead as Burton cycled into the lead, where he would lead with 20 laps remaining.

Then with 16 laps remaining, Burton surrendered the lead to pit his No. 21 Motocraft/Quick Lane Ford Mustang Dark Horse under green. By then, Hemric and Ware had pitted as Berry, the lone competitor who has yet to pit, cycled into the lead. Once Berry pitted his No. 4 Overstock.com Ford Mustang Dark Horse under green with 13 laps remaining, Reddick cycled his No. 45 McDonald’s Toyota Camry XSE into the lead, where he was leading by less than two seconds over Byron.

Down to the final 10 laps of the event, Reddick was out in front by two seconds over Byron while Gibbs, Truex and Busch trailed in the top five ahead of Keselowski, Elliott, Blaney, Hamlin and McDowell. Meanwhile, Chastain, Hocevar, Buescher, Zane Smith and Austin Dillon trailed in the top 15 ahead of Suarez, Stenhouse, Burton, Erik Jones and Berry.

Four laps later, the caution flew when Truex, who was running in fourth place, had an incident in Turn 4, as Reddick’s steady advantage over Byron evaporated. During the caution period, some led by Buescher pitted while the rest, including Reddick and the front-runners, remained on the track. Amid the caution period, the event was sent into overtime.

The start of the first overtime period did not last long as Chastain, who was racing close towards the top-10 mark, got loose amid stacked conditions and spun in front of Zane Smith before he continued to spin through the infield backstretch and came to rest within the infield grass. Chastain’s spin occurred after Bowman had smacked the backstretch’s outside wall. Despite Chastain continuing and the rest of the field avoiding him, the event was sent into a second overtime attempt as Byron, who despite was told was low on fuel, emerged with the lead over Reddick from the inside lane.

The start of the second overtime attempt featured Byron and Reddick dueling for the lead until Reddick, who this time restarted on the inside lane and beneath Byron, muscled ahead entering the backstretch after he received a draft from Ty Gibbs. With Reddick leading, Byron then tried to use the draft to gain a run and overtake Reddick entering Turn 3, but Reddick retained the top spot as Gibbs closed in from third place.

When the white flag waved and the final lap started, Reddick remained as the leader by a narrow margin over Byron and Gibbs. Reddick then created a small gap between himself and Byron through the first two turns before entering the backstretch. With Byron closing back in through Turns 3 and 4, he was not able to get to Reddick’s rear bumper entering the frontstretch as Reddick proceeded to claim the checkered flag by a tenth of a second over Byron.

With the victory, Tyler Reddick notched his seventh career win in the NASCAR Cup Series level, his first at Michigan and his second of the 2024 season, with his previous victory occurring at Talladega Superspeedway in April. As a result, he became the sixth competitor to notch multiple victories of the 2024 season while also delivering the second victory for 23XI Racing and the eighth for Toyota nameplate. With Reddick delivering Toyota’s first Cup victory at Michigan since 2015, he snapped Ford’s nine-race winning streak at the manufacturer’s backyard in the Irish Hills that starts in 2018.

Photo by Tim Jarrold for SpeedwayMedia.com.

During his victory celebrations, Reddick, who is the new leader in the regular-season standings, dedicated his win to Scott Bloomquist, a dirt track and late models legend who was a mentor to Reddick and died in a plane accident three days ago.

“Just great teammate and fantastic push by Ty Gibbs [on the last restart],” Reddick said on USA Network. “That’s what it’s all about. The Toyota Racing family tries to take care of each other. It’s been really cool, but I can’t help it but sit here in Victory Lane and think of Scott Bloomquist. [He was a] Huge mentor to me and incredible role model and legend of dirt racing and motorsports. The last couple of days have been tough and this [win] really helps it and so, this win, I think, should go for him and his family, his friends and all that meant a lot to him…We did a really, really good job today and rebounded from [a bad restart earlier]. I think we were one of the last cars on the lead lap [during the] start of Stage 3, so great effort for us.”

William Byron had enough fuel to finish in second place and rally from finishing outside the top 10 during his last two races while Ty Gibbs rallied from a three-race slump to finish in third place for his sixth top-five result of the season and to remain above the top-16 cutline in the Playoff standings by 39 points in his efforts to make the 2024 Cup Series Playoffs.

I’ll relive that restart and what lane to choose overnight, for sure,” Byron, who ended up losing the lead and the race overall from restarting on the outside lane during the final overtime attempt, said. “It seems like always as the leader, you want to take the top [lane], but I’ve gotten beat twice here by the bottom [lane] and I have the lead on the bottom barely over [Reddick]. He had a better can than us. He was a little bit faster. Second sucks, but really proud of the effort, though. I feel like I’ve been trying to put weeks together like this and this is really good step. Everyone did a great job on the team. Strategy was awesome, car was awesome all day and really proud of the team.”

“I feel like we definitely were in contention [for the win], for sure,” Gibbs added. “I needed to get up sooner off of [Turn] 2 to clear [Byron]. Just missed it by a little bit. Then after that, it takes a lap to get wound back up after you lose momentum. I appreciate my guys bring me a great car. Definitely a little frustrating, but we’ll take it. It’s a good day and thanks to everybody that helps my program out.”

Kyle Busch, who led 24 laps and won the second stage period, finished in fourth place for his first top-five finish since finishing fourth at Dover Motor Speedway in April, though he remains 93 points below the top-16 cutline, while Michigan native Brad Keselowski finished in the top five on the track.

Chris Buescher, rookie Zane Smith, Daniel Suarez, Denny Hamlin and rookie Carson Hocevar completed the top 10 in the final running order. The sixth-place run was enough for Buescher to remain above the top-16 cutline by 16 points.

Notably, Chase Elliott finished 15th after leading 29 laps, Austin Dillon ended up 17th ahead of Ryan Blaney and Martin Truex Jr. fell back to 24th, though he remains above the top-16 cutline by 77 points. In addition, Ross Chastain and Bubba Wallace finished 25th and 26th, respectively. As a result, Chastain holds sole possession of the 16th and final transfer spot into the Playoffs by a single point over Wallace with two regular-season events remaining on the schedule.

There were 26 lead changes for 16 different leaders. The race featured seven cautions for 41 laps. In addition, 24 of 36 starters finished on the lead lap.

Following the 24th event of the 2024 Cup Series season, Tyler Reddick leads the regular-season standings by 10 points over Chase Elliott, 28 over Denny Hamlin and 32 over Kyle Larson in his pursuit for his first Cup Series Regular Season Championship.

Results.

1. Tyler Reddick, 15 laps led

2. William Byron, 20 laps led

3. Ty Gibbs, two laps led

4. Kyle Busch, 24 laps led, Stage 2 winner

5. Brad Keselowski, two laps led

6. Chris Buescher

7. Zane Smith

8. Daniel Suarez, seven laps led

9. Denny Hamlin

10. Carson Hocevar

11. Ryan Preece

12. Noah Gragson

13. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., two laps led

14. Harrison Burton, five laps led

15. Chase Elliott, 29 laps led

16. Erik Jones

17. Austin Dillon

18. Ryan Blaney, 18 laps led, Stage 1 winner

19. Michael McDowell

20. Justin Haley

21. Cody Ware

22. Josh Berry, four laps led

23. Daniel Hemric

24. Martin Truex Jr., 28 laps led

25. Ross Chastain, one lap down, four laps led

26. Bubba Wallace, one lap down, five laps led

27. Alex Bowman, one lap down

28. Austin Cindric, two laps down

29. John Hunter Nemechek, four laps down

30. AJ Allmendinger, six laps down

31. Chase Briscoe – OUT, Suspension

32. Corey LaJoie – OUT, Accident

33. Joey Logano – OUT, Accident

34. Kyle Larson – OUT, Accident, 41 laps led

35. Christopher Bell – OUT, Accident

36. Todd Gilliland – OUT, Accident

Next on the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series schedule is the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. The event is scheduled to occur next Saturday, August 24, and air at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC.