Delayed Bristol takeaways: The prep on the lower groove worked Kevin Harvick won Sunday’s race (Getty Images) Throughout 2016 we may have way too many quick thoughts for our post-race posts. So consider our Takeaways feature to be the home of our random and sometimes intelligent musings. Sometimes the post may have a theme. Sometimes it may just be a mess of unrelated thoughts. Make sure you … [Read more...]

24 hours at Bristol end with a Kevin Harvick victory Rain at Bristol altered the entire race. (Getty Images) We won’t say that weather owned the weekend at Bristol, we’ll just put it this way: after rain delays of nearly 24 full hours, Kevin Harvick won the race, but Mother Nature has claimed a berth in the Chase. The Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race at Bristol started 50 minutes late on … [Read more...]

Rain forces delay of Bristol night race to Sunday Crews cover cars under rain at Bristol. (AP) Well, they tried. NASCAR took a good run at running its famous Bristol night race, but apparently Mother Nature preferred to watch the Olympics or something, because cars clocked barely 10 percent of the regulation 500 laps on the board before rains washed out the evening. The race will now … [Read more...]

Jeff Gordon won't sub if needed for Dale Earnhardt Jr. at Michigan Jeff Gordon is making his 801st start on Saturday (AP). There’s no official word on Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s status for Michigan, but it’s clear that Jeff Gordon won’t be driving in his place if Junior can’t go. Gordon told NBC Sports that he wouldn’t be subbing for Junior next weekend if necessary because of a prior … [Read more...]

Carl Edwards wins pole as JGR cars all qualify in top 5 Carl Edwards got his fifth pole of the season at Bristol on Friday (AP). A race after sweeping the pole positions at the Sprint Cup Series’ road courses, Carl Edwards swept the poles at Bristol. Edwards turned the fastest lap of Friday’s qualifying session for Saturday night’s race at Bristol for his fifth pole of the season. Edwards … [Read more...]

William Byron signs contract with Hendrick, will run Xfinity in 2017 William Byron has five truck wins in 2016 and leads the points standings (Getty). William Byron is moving up to the Xfinity Series in 2017. Hendrick Motorsports announced Thursday it had signed Byron, the winningest driver in the Camping World Truck Series this season, to a contract. Byron, 18, will drive for JR Motorsports … [Read more...]

Power Rankings: Did Brad Keselowski bump Kyle Busch out of No. 1? (Getty Images) Welcome to Power Rankings. As always, Power Rankings are far from a scientific formula. In fact, it’s the perfect blend of analytics and bias against your favorite driver. Direct all your complaints to us at [email protected] and we’ll try to have some fun. 1. Kyle Busch (LW: 1): Busch had one of the … [Read more...]

Family: Bryan Clauson's organs were donated to five people (Getty Images) Bryan Clauson’s family said five people were able to benefit from Clauson’s organs following the driver’s death Sunday evening. Clauson, 27, died a day after he was injured in a sprint car crash in Belleview, Kansas. Clauson’s car flipped multiple times and was struck while it was upside down on the ground. … [Read more...]

Happy Hour: Buescher's win, attendance talk again and more It’s time for Happy Hour. As always, tweet us your thoughts or shoot us an email at [email protected] if you want to participate. Watkins Glen should be a fascinating race Sunday. And not just because it’s final road course race of the season. The track has new pavement, and while we’re familiar with how new pavement … [Read more...]

Denny Hamlin wins at Watkins Glen Denny Hamlin got his second win of the season on Sunday (Getty). Denny Hamlin closed the deal he couldn’t at Sonoma on Sunday at Watkins Glen, holding off Martin Truex Jr. and Brad Keselowski for his first Sprint Cup Series road course win. Hamlin tool the lead with nine laps to go thanks to a crazy scene with leaders Kyle Busch and Keselowski. Both cars … [Read more...]