Interview: Dylan Kwasniewski

Dylan KwasniewskiDylan Kwasniewski is in his rookie season in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.  He had a little bit of trouble in practice on Friday, but he feels like the car will be good to go in Saturday night’s race.  Listen to what he had to say in this Behind the Wheel interview about his issues in his Turner Scott Motorsports No. 31 on Friday, his season so far and a preview of Indianapolis:

Dylan Kwasniewski Behind the Wheel

What are the Drivers Saying?

The NASCAR Camping World Truck Series drivers will be at Iowa Speedway on Friday and the NASCAR Nationwide and Sprint Cup Series drivers will be at the Magic Mile – New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Saturday and Sunday respectively.

What are the drivers saying about these tracks?  Scroll through to see what your driver has to say… Continue reading

Paul Menard Wins Second Career Nationwide Series Race

Paul Menard, driver of the #33 Nibco/Menards Chevrolet, celebrates with a burnout after winning the NASCAR Nationwide Series Ollie's Bargain Outlet 250 at Michigan International Speedway on June 14, 2014 in Brooklyn, Michigan. Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images
Paul Menard, driver of the #33 Nibco/Menards Chevrolet, celebrates with a burnout after winning the NASCAR Nationwide Series Ollie’s Bargain Outlet 250 at Michigan International Speedway on June 14, 2014 in Brooklyn, Michigan. Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images

Paul Menard was the first to see the green flag wave to start the Ollie’s Bargain Outlet 250 and he was the first to see the checked flag at the end of the race at Michigan International Speedway. This was Menard’s second win the series – the first since 2006.

Menard was running behind Joey Logano in the closing laps when Logano was slow with five to go with a flat right rear tire. Logano’s bad luck turned into Menard’s good luck when Menard claimed the lead and came out with the win in the 125-lap contest.

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Kyle Busch Tames Monster Mile in Two Races

Kyle Busch, driver of the #54 Monster Energy Toyota, celebrates with the checkered flag after winning the NASCAR Nationwide Series Buckle Up 200 Presented By Click It Or Ticket at Dover International Speedway on May 31, 2014 in Dover, Delaware. Kyle Busch, driver of the #54 Monster Energy Toyota, celebrates with the checkered flag after winning the NASCAR Nationwide Series Buckle Up 200 Presented By Click It Or Ticket at Dover International Speedway on May 31, 2014 in Dover, Delaware.Kyle Busch, driver of the #54 Monster Energy Toyota, celebrates with the checkered flag after winning the NASCAR Nationwide Series Buckle Up 200 Presented By Click It Or Ticket at Dover International Speedway on May 31, 2014 in Dover, Delaware.Kyle Busch, driver of the #54 Monster Energy Toyota, celebrates with the checkered flag after winning the NASCAR Nationwide Series Buckle Up 200 Presented By Click It Or Ticket at Dover International Speedway on May 31, 2014 in Dover, Delaware. Photo by Sean Gardner/NASCAR via Getty Images
Kyle Busch, driver of the #54 Monster Energy Toyota, celebrates with the checkered flag after winning the NASCAR Nationwide Series Buckle Up 200 Presented By Click It Or Ticket at Dover International Speedway on May 31, 2014 in Dover, Delaware. Photo by Sean Gardner/NASCAR via Getty Images

Miles the Monster should be afraid of Kyle Busch as he won the Buckle Up 200 presented by Click it or Ticket Saturday afternoon in the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Dover International Speedway. He also won the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race Friday night. Can he win all three races this weekend?

Busch had to work in the beginning to get to the lead. Pole-sitter Joey Logano had a strong lead and Busch made his way to the second spot by lap 49. By lap 63, Busch gained on Logano and after a debris caution on lap 73, Busch was able to power his way to clean air. Trevor Bayne and Matt Kenseth attempted to get the lead from Busch on a couple of tries but the No. 54 was too strong to take any opposition.

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What are the Drivers Saying?

This week, NASCAR heads to Delaware to get around the challenging track they call the “Monster Mile”.  Editor’s note: This is my favorite track because of the challenge of the surface and endless strategy it provides a race team.  Plus, it has character – a real one in Miles the Monster.

What are the drivers saying about my favorite track – Dover International International Speedway?  Look and see what your favorite driver is saying. Continue reading

Kyle Larson Victorious in History 300

Kyle Larson, driver of the #42 ENOES Chevrolet, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Nationwide Series History 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 24, 2014 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Photo by Jerry Markland/Getty Images
Kyle Larson, driver of the #42 ENOES Chevrolet, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Nationwide Series History 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 24, 2014 in Charlotte, North Carolina. Photo by Jerry Markland/Getty Images

Kyle Larson was the man to beat Saturday afternoon as he took his No. 42 into Victory Lane in the History 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in NASCAR’s Nationwide Series.

He had been running in the five all afternoon but put the moves on Brad Keselowski on lap 119 and took the lead. Lapped traffic had closed the gap between the leader Keselowski and a charging Kyle Larson. In a daring move, Larson squeezed his Chevy close to the wall making it three-wide as Keselowski ran the bottom line to get around a lapped car. It appeared Larson didn’t lift the throttle and powered to the front where he stayed until the checkered flag was displayed.

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INTERVIEW: John Wes Townley

John Wes Townley
John Wes Townley

John Wes Townley had a great finish in the NASCAR Camping World Truck series last week and he hopes that luck continues when he races in the NASCAR Nationwide Series this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Townley discusses those things plus he gives an insight into his racing career in this Behind the Wheel interview with WKVI’s Anita Goodan:

John Wes Townley Behind the Wheel

Sam Hornish, Jr. Claims Victory at Iowa Speedway

Sam Hornish Jr., driver of the #54 Monster Energy Toyota, does a burnout on the start/finish line after winning the NASCAR Nationwide Series Get To Know Newton 250 Presented By Sherwin Williams at Iowa Speedway on May 18, 2014 in Newton, Iowa. Photo by Matt Sullivan/Getty Images
Sam Hornish Jr., driver of the #54 Monster Energy Toyota, does a burnout on the start/finish line after winning the NASCAR Nationwide Series Get To Know Newton 250 Presented By Sherwin Williams at Iowa Speedway on May 18, 2014 in Newton, Iowa. Photo by Matt Sullivan/Getty Images

It was a back and forth battle between Sam Hornish, Jr. and Ryan Blaney for the top spot for the entire Get to Know Newton 250 in the Nationwide Series race Sunday afternoon.

Blaney had the pole position for the race – his first in the Nationwide Series for Team Penske with whom he runs a part-time schedule. He and Joe Gibbs Racing’s Sam Hornish, Jr. traded the lead several times during the race with Hornish leading a good portion of the race and Blaney contributing his share.

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Rookie Chase Elliott Tames Darlington Raceway

Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, celebrates with a burnout after winning the NASCAR Nationwide Series VFW Sport Clips Help A Hero 200 at Darlington Raceway on April 11, 2014 in Darlington, South Carolina. Photo by Getty Images
Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, celebrates with a burnout after winning the NASCAR Nationwide Series VFW Sport Clips Help A Hero 200 at Darlington Raceway on April 11, 2014 in Darlington, South Carolina. Photo by Getty Images

The Lady in Black was no adversary for Chase Elliott who dominated the race track nicknamed “Too Tough to Tame”. It was his first crack at getting a handle on the intricacies of the turns and her personality and it didn’t take too long for Elliott to speak wheel his way to a win. He did it in his first try and he gathered his second win in a row in his rookie season.

Elliott wasted no time in moving toward the front of the pack as he was challenging for the third position by lap 26 in Friday night’s race at Darlington Raceway. He took the lead for the first time on lap 34. He would lose the lead after a caution on lap 88. A poor pit stop caused him to lose five spots. Kyle Busch came up with the lead and that’s where he stayed until the last round of pit stops with seven laps to go.

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Chase Elliott Wins Big in Texas

Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, celebrates with a burnout after winning the NASCAR Nationwide Series O'Reilly Auto Parts 300 at Texas Motor Speedway on April 4, 2014 in Fort Worth, Texas. Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Chase Elliott, driver of the #9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet, celebrates with a burnout after winning the NASCAR Nationwide Series O’Reilly Auto Parts 300 at Texas Motor Speedway on April 4, 2014 in Fort Worth, Texas. Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

They say everything is bigger in Texas. After Friday night’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Texas Motor Speedway, rookie Chase Elliott proved that even race wins are even bigger in Texas.

The win was so big, drivers from several teams made it a point to stop and give Elliott a high five for his effort for holding off Sprint Cup drivers Kevin Harvick, Kyle Larson, Dale Earnhardt, Jr., and Kyle Busch for the win in the O’Reilly Auto Parts 300. Six-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Champion Jimmie Johnson even made an appearance in Victory Lane to offer his congratulations to the 18-year-old winner.

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Hard Fought Victory for Kyle Larson

Kyle Larson
Kyle Larson

It took a multiple-lap battle between Kyle Larson, Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch to crown a winner in the TREATMYCLOT.com 300 in the NASCAR Nationwide Series at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California Saturday afternoon.

Kyle Larson fought to keep the top spot as the laps kept ticking down and veteran racers Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch didn’t let him breeze to the finish. Larson skillfully focused on his lead and took the checkered flag after 15 hold-your-breath laps.

Larson had been running in the top ten all afternoon and had to fight through traffic through the entire race to get to Kyle Busch and Joey Logano who had fast cars on the day. Both Logano and Busch led the most laps in the race.

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Keselowski Powers to First Win of the Season

Brad Keselowski, driver of the #22 Discount Tire Ford, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Nationwide Series Boyd Gaming 300 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 8, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo Via Getty Images
Brad Keselowski, driver of the #22 Discount Tire Ford, celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Nationwide Series Boyd Gaming 300 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on March 8, 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Photo Via Getty Images

As if Brad Keselowski didn’t have a big enough challenge keeping Kyle Busch out of his rearview mirror, the battery in his car was losing a winning battle. Keselowski had shut off everything he could to save what battery power he had and whatever he did it worked. Keselowski had enough power drive his Discount Tire Ford for Team Penske to Victory Lane in the NASCAR Nationwide Series in the Boyd Gaming 300 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Saturday afternoon.

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Regan Smith Wins Thriller in NASCAR Nationwide Series Opener at Daytona

2014 NASCAR Media Day - Portraits“How about that for redemption from last year?”

That’s what Regan Smith exclaimed after he just beat Brad Keselowski to the finish line by thismuch in Saturday’s DRIVE4COPD 300 at Daytona International Speedway.

Keselowski had been leading the outside line for a good portion of the last few laps of the race when he used some side drafting and moved to the lead of the race in the bottom groove after getting some “bump drafting” help from Trevor Bayne.

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Top Performances of 2013

Thirteen different drivers won races in 2013 n the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series led by Kyle Busch, who won five races in the series. Busch is now second on the all-time win list at 35. Ron Hornaday, Jr. holds that top spot with 51.

Top Drivers: Matt Crafton. Crafton only won once in the 2013 season, but consistency allowed for Crafton to claim the Championship – the first for ThorSport Racing. Ty Dillon and James Buescher were given honorable mention as they finished in a dead heat for the second spot in the season standings. Dillon finished ahead of Buescher by three points.

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New Crew Chief Named for Aric Almirola’s Sprint Cup Team

Trent Owens will call the shots for the No. 43 Richard Petty Motorsports (RPM) Team in the 2014 NASCAR Sprint Cup season where Aric Almirola is the driver.

He was most recently the crew chief for Kyle Larson’s No. 32 Turner Scott Motorsports team in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Owens led Larson to 17 top-10 and nine top-five finishes in the 2013 season. Larson finished ninth overall in the standings.

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Sponsor to go with Ty Dillon to Nationwide Series

Ty Dillon is making the move up to the NASCAR Nationwide Series and the sponsor he had while in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series will make the move with Dillon.

Bass Pro Shops will serve as Dillon’s primary sponsor on the No. 3 Chevrolet Camaro with Richard Childress Racing for 11 races, including the DRIVE4COPD 300 race at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, Feb. 22.

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Sport Clips Haircuts will Stay with Joe Gibbs Racing in 2014

Sport Clips Haircuts will be the primary sponsor for nine races with Joe Gibbs Racing in the next season.

The company will serve as the primary sponsor for Denny Hamlin and the No. 11 Toyota Camry for two races in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series. Sport Clips will also be the sponsor for six races in the No. 11 Toyota with Elliott Sadler behind the wheel in the NASCAR Nationwide Series. Drew Herring will pilot the car at Chicagoland Speedway on Sept. 13 in the Nationwide Series.

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Penalties Issued to Nationwide Series Team

A post-race inspection found the No. 32 NASCAR Nationwide Series team in violation of several rules. Kyle Larson drove the car in the series finale Saturday night at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Sections 12-1 (Actions detrimental to stock car racing; 12-4J (Any determination by NASCAR officials that the race equipment used in the event does not conform to the NASCAR rules detailed in Section 20-A of the 2013 NASCAR Rule Book or has been approved by NASCAR prior to the event); and 20A-12.8.1(B) (The car failed to meet the minimum front car heights).

Crew Chief Trent Owens was fined $10,000 and was placed on NASCAR probation until Apr. 2, 2014. Kyle Larson was docked six championship points and car owner, Harry Scott, was docked six points.

Dillon Crowned Champion, Keselowski Wins Final Nationwide Race at Homestead

It was quite a championship battle between Austin Dillon and Sam Hornish, Jr. in the NASCAR Nationwide Series 200-lap Ford Ecoboost 300 Saturday night at Homestead-Miami Speedway. It was also the closest title match in all of NASCAR’s top series.

Hornish, Jr., who drove the No. 12 Alliance Truck Parts Ford for Penske Racing, started on the pole and led the first part of the race and became the points leader and held that points lead for nearly the entire race. Dillon and Hornish switched places in the points after a late race caution (and rather lengthy caution) where Dillon would stay ahead of Hornish to claim the championship.

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