Truex wins NASCAR's sloppy return to Los Angeles Coliseum
LOS ANGELES — (AP) — Martin Truex Jr. won NASCAR's return to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for its season-opening exhibition race — a sloppy Sunday night extravaganza in which the Wiz Khalifa halftime show might have been the most entertaining part of the event. Truex, who contemplated retirement during last year’s winless season, won for the first time since Sept. 11, 2021. “Last year’s show I felt like was relatively clean and good racing, some bumping, some banging, but we could run long stretches of green flag action,” said Kyle Busch. Maybe this was just normal.”Truex put Joe Gibbs Racing in victory lane to start 2023 after a horrible close to last year. Coy Gibbs' death came just hours after his son, Ty, won NASCAR's second-tier Xfinity Series championship.
wftv.comNASCAR: Alex Bowman to return at Phoenix after missing five races with concussion
Alex Bowman will return for the final race of the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season. Bowman’s return at Phoenix also means he’ll have one more opportunity to race with crew chief Greg Ives before he steps away. Ives has been a crew chief at Hendrick Motorsports since he was named Dale Earnhardt Jr’s crew chief in 2015 and has been with Bowman since Bowman replaced Junior after the 2017 season. Since he missed five playoff races, Bowman will finish no better than 15th in the points standings. NASCAR has promised improvements to the rigid 2022 Cup Series car ahead of 2023 in an attempt to keep drivers safer.
wftv.comNASCAR holds 2nd driver safety meeting, vows more
Saturday's meeting at Las Vegas Motor Speedway lasted 75 minutes, the same length as last week's contentious session at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Several drivers last week likened the Charlotte meeting to an episode of "Seinfeld" as it became "an airing of grievances." The Las Vegas meeting was much calmer and NASCAR was able to complete presentation, which was expanded to include information from questions raised by the drivers at Charlotte. Although the Las Vegas meeting was optional, NASCAR said it was well-attended despite "some notables" who were not present. The Associated Press confirmed that Kevin Harvick, one of the most outspoken drivers about the Next Gen, was present for the Las Vegas meeting.
wftv.comAlex Bowman to miss next 3 NASCAR races with concussion
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — (AP) — Alex Bowman said Wednesday he will miss the next three NASCAR races with a concussion he suffered last month in a crash in NASCAR's new Next Gen car. Bowman, who sat out the past two races, will miss this weekend at Las Vegas, then sit out at Homestead and Martinsville. He won at Las Vegas in the spring. Bowman said he was evaluated Wednesday by Dr. Micky Collins, clinical director of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Sports Medicine Concussion Program. Busch, meanwhile, has a scheduled news conference for this Saturday at Las Vegas, his home track.
wftv.comBell wins Charlotte as champion Larson bumped from playoffs
CONCORD, N.C. — (AP) — Christopher Bell saved his title chances with an overtime win Sunday on the road course at Charlotte Motor Speedway in a stunning finish that knocked reigning NASCAR champion Kyle Larson from the playoffs. There was little he could do but hope that Briscoe and Cindric didn't gain enough positions to bump him from the playoffs. Advancing to the round of eight were: Bell, Briscoe, Byron, Elliott, Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano, Ross Chastain and Ryan Blaney. But finding a Chevrolet team that can field Busch has not been so easy. Chevrolet, meanwhile, is very open to supplying an engine for Busch, reigning NASCAR champion Kyle Larson or even seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson.
wftv.comNASCAR: Christopher Bell wins at Charlotte Roval as Kyle Larson gets eliminated
And the race’s final laps turned into the circus they typically are at the Roval. Larson missed out on going to the third round of the playoffs because of a toe link issue on the rear wheels of the car. But that was before the sign caution happened. Austin Cindric and Daniel Suarez were eliminated from the playoffs along with Larson. Alex Bowman also won’t advance to the third round but he missed the final two races of the second round after suffering a concussion in a crash at Texas.
wftv.comBowman and Ware to miss Charlotte race with injuries
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — (AP) — Alex Bowman and Cody Shane Ware will miss this weekend's NASCAR race because of injuries suffered driving the new Next Gen car. Ware said he's skipping Sunday's race on The Roval at Charlotte Motor Speedway because his broken right foot can't handle the demands of a road course race. The field is cut from 12 to eight in Sunday's race. But it was Monday morning, I didn’t know anything because he stayed in the car,” team owner Rick Hendrick said. Bowman and Kurt Busch missed Sunday's race with injuries suffered in crashes in NASCAR's new Next Gen car.
wftv.comNASCAR: Alex Bowman one of three Cup Series drivers to miss Charlotte Roval due to crash injuries
Concussions have now taken two drivers out of NASCAR Cup Series title contention. Alex Bowman will miss Sunday’s race at the Charlotte Roval because of the concussion he sustained during the Texas race on Sep. 25. Bowman is one of three full-time Cup Series drivers slated to miss Sunday’s race due to injuries suffered in crashes. Cody Ware will also miss Sunday’s race because of lower-leg injuries suffered in a vicious wreck at Texas. The driver absences come as NASCAR has faced more and more scrutiny from within about the safety of its new Cup Series car.
wftv.comA day after saying NASCAR needed 'new leadership,' Denny Hamlin praises NASCAR's president
Denny Hamlin said Sunday that NASCAR president Steve Phelps is needed at the top of the sanctioning body’s leadership just a day after saying that NASCAR needed “new leadership.”Hamlin confirmed after he finished fifth at Talladega that he had spoken to Phelps Sunday morning. Denny Hamlin confirms he met with #NASCAR President Steve Phelps before Sunday’s race. #NASCAR … Denny Hamlin and Kevin Harvick have been outspoken about the car. The new Cup car appears to be far more rigid than its predecessor. The new Cup car is largely built from single-source vendors approved by NASCAR and not by parts designed and built by teams themselves.
wftv.comNASCAR at Talladega: Weekend schedule, TV info, odds, picks, standings and results
The NASCAR Cup playoffs head to the series’ least predictable track for the second race of the Round of 12 this weekend at Talladega Superspeedway. No one enters with better than 12-to-1 odds and with good reason: the playoff round at Talladega is typically a crashfest. Here is everything you need to know for the YellaWood 500:NASCAR Cup Series Talladega weekend schedule and how to watchFans in the United States can watch the race on NBC or the NBC Sports app (cable or satellite subscription required). (All times ET)Saturday, Oct. 1Qualifying: 10:30 a.m. - Noon ET (NBC Sports app, MRN, SiriusXM)Sunday, Oct. 2Pre-race show: 1 - 2 p.m. ET (NBC, MRN, SiriusXM)Post-race show: 5 - 6 p.m.
wftv.comNASCAR drivers fuming over concussions suffered in new car
NASCAR drivers are angry and concerned about their safety in the new Next Gen cars as the playoffs roar into one of the most chaotic and dangerous tracks on the circuit. They have been concerned since an exaggerated tale emerged of an ominous NASCAR crash test of the Next Gen at Talladega in 2021. Andy Petree, vice president of competition at Richard Childress Racing, said NASCAR has been receptive to feedback. NASCAR and the teams.” He also urged NASCAR to pick up its pace in investigating the issues. Additionally, the first four playoff races have been won by drivers not racing for the championship.
wftv.comNASCAR drivers fuming over concussions suffered in new car
NASCAR drivers are angry and concerned about their safety in the new Next Gen cars as the playoffs roar into one of the most chaotic and dangerous tracks on the circuit. Alex Bowman will miss Sunday's race at Talladega Superspeedway with a concussion diagnosed four days after he crashed. Bowman hit the wall early at Texas Motor Speedway but finished Sunday's race despite radioing his Hendrick Motorsports crew: “I can't drive the rest of the day.”
news.yahoo.comBowman is 2nd driver to suffer concussion in Next Gen car
Alex Bowman will miss Sunday's race at Talladega Superspeedway with a concussion the Hendrick Motorsports driver apparently suffered last week at Texas. HMS said Bowman was evaluated Thursday in Charlotte, North Carolina, and ruled out of this weekend's playoff race. Bowman is now the second driver sidelined with a concussion suffered in a crash of NASCAR's new Next Gen car. Kurt Busch has been out since a crash July 23 in qualifying at Pocono and withdrew his spot in the 16-driver playoff field. He finished 29th and is ranked last among the remaining 12 playoff drivers.
wftv.comNASCAR: Alex Bowman to miss Talladega after apparent concussion suffered in Texas wreck
Alex Bowman will miss Sunday’s race at Talladega after his crash at Texas Motor Speedway on Sunday. 48 Ally Chevrolet in Talladega,” Bowman said in a statement. The top eight drivers after the three races of the second round of the playoffs advance to the third round. Bowman was one of the numerous drivers that had tire problems during the Texas race. Busch suffered a concussion during that wreck and hasn’t been able to return to the Cup Series since.
wftv.comWallace holds off boss, title contenders to win at Kansas
Bubba Wallace won his second career NASCAR Cup Series race and denied the playoff field of an automatic spot in the next round for the second straight week when he held off championship contenders Denny Hamlin and Christopher Bell to win at Kansas Speedway.
Chase Elliott needs nearly 7 hours to win at Nashville
LEBANON, Tenn. — (AP) — Chase Elliott salvaged a crummy day for Hendrick Motorsports and interrupted a potential Toyota rout by winning the rain-drenched race at Nashville Superspeedway on Sunday night. It took NASCAR's most popular driver nearly seven hours and a late four-lap shootout to get to victory lane. “So proud of our team," Elliott said. Toyota controlled almost the entire event — four of its drivers combined to lead 254 laps — but the No. The company is the entitlement sponsor for the Cup race and heavily activated at several downtown Nashville tourist spots.
wftv.comAlex Bowman seeks big Nashville weekend for sponsor Ally
NASCAR Nashville Preview Auto Racing FILE - Alex Bowman waits for the start of a NASCAR Cup Series auto race on June 20, 2021, in Lebanon, Tenn. The weekend opened just fine: Hendrick Motorsports announced a two-year contract extension with Bowman that locked him in the No. But Ally also had gone all-in on NASCAR's return to Music City as the title sponsor of the first Cup race in the Nashville area in 37 years. “I feel like we definitely underperformed at Nashville,” Bowman said. Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Burton and Steve Letarte will be the analysts for both the Cup race on Sunday and the Xfinity Series race on Saturday.
wftv.comChase Elliott wins at Dover to snap 26-race winless streak
NASCAR Cup Series Dover Auto Racing Chase Elliott (9) races in the NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Dover Motor Speedway, Sunday, May 1, 2022, in Dover, Del. — (AP) — Chase Elliott snapped a 26-race winless streak when the 2020 NASCAR champion pulled away down the stretch to win the Cup Series race on Monday at Dover Motor Speedway. Speedway Motorsports bought the track (Dover Motorsports) late last year. UP NEXTThe Cup Series races next Sunday at Darlington Raceway in South Carolina. Toyota is set to celebrate its 1,500th NASCAR race during Darlington’s annual Throwback Weekend.
wftv.comCuster wins pole at dirt-covered Bristol through heat races
NASCAR Bristol Auto Racing Cole Custer leads Alex Bowman (48) and Ross Chastain (1) during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series auto race Saturday, April 16, 2022, At Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne) (Wade Payne)BRISTOL, Tenn. — (AP) — Cole Custer won the first pole of his career Saturday through a formula designed for qualifying via heat races at dirt-covered Bristol Motor Speedway. Drivers accumulated points for both finishing and passing and Custer started ninth in his heat and then won it — good enough for his first pole in 84 career Cup starts. Fox a year ago asked NASCAR to add a dirt race to the 38-race Cup schedule and Speedway Motorsports volunteered its .0533-mile Bristol bullring. He also said ticket sales have proven there's a demand for dirt racing and the 2023 race at Bristol will again be on dirt. The crowd expected Sunday was on track to be the largest for Bristol's spring race in years.
wftv.comRecipe for success at Martinsville: Beating and banging
That physicality is likely to be more evident than anywhere at Martinsville Speedway, the circuit's shortest track at 0.526 miles and oldest at 75 years. Last week at Richmond, he ticked off Ryan Blaney by moving him up the track. “I feel like it’s going to be a little bit more physical tomorrow night, not only because it’s 100 laps shorter. “That’s what Martinsville is all about, and I think you get a car that can take it, you’re gonna see more of it. ... Just like last week at Richmond, Martin Truex Jr. arrives having won three of the last five races here.
wftv.comRoss Chastain bangs Trackhouse Racing into 1st victory lane
NASCAR Austin Auto Racing Ross Chastain celebrates after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Circuit of the Americas, Sunday, March 27, 2022, in Austin, Texas. Trackhouse is owned by former NASCAR driver Justin Marks and entertainer Pitbull and is in its second season of competition. Chastain and Allmendinger restarted second and third, while sitting back in fourth was Alex Bowman. Bowman also jumped past Reddick and closed the gap on Chastain and Allmendinger as the two friends jostled and bashed for the lead. That spun Allmendinger, winner of the Xfinity Series race on Saturday, into Bowman and Allmendinger went from second to 33rd.
wftv.comUncomfortably numb: Reddick deals with leg issues at Phoenix
The only issue is Reddick can't seem to get comfortable in his Chevrolet's seat, leading to numbness in his legs. If Reddick can find a way to fix his leg issues, he might just find a spot in victory lane for the first time in his NASCAR career. Reddick said it's been hard to diagnose his leg problems because it's difficult to recreate racing conditions in the garage. “I'm not sure anybody's gone down there with the Next Gen car yet, just because of how rigid the car is and how things happen when the car hits the ground." But the 46-year-old hasn't won at the track since 2018 and the Next Gen car provides another wrinkle for the veteran driver to navigate.
wftv.comUncomfortably numb: Reddick deals with leg issues at Phoenix
Tyler Reddick is enjoying his status among NASCAR's fastest drivers through the season's first three races, adapting quickly to the sport's Next Gen car that has provided solid racing and a new degree of difficulty for many drivers. The only issue is Reddick can't seem to get comfortable in his Chevrolet's seat, leading to numbness in his legs. “You know, I just think I was in a really good place in that old car for such a long time and didn’t realize how easy or how bad you could end up missing it, the comfort side of things,” Reddick said.
news.yahoo.comBowman edges Larson in OT to win NASCAR race at Las Vegas
LAS VEGAS — (AP) — Alex Bowman beat NASCAR champion Kyle Larson in a door-to-door overtime battle at Las Vegas Motor Speedway that sent Hendrick Motorsports to victory lane for the second consecutive week. Las Vegas native Kyle Busch and teammate Martin Truex Jr. were in a lap-by-lap chess match for the win until the 12th caution ended the stirring duel. The Hendrick trio of Bowman, Larson and William Byron all changed just two tires to get off pit road first through third. Larson, the defending Las Vegas winner and winner last week in California, chose the outside line for the restart with Bowman on his inside. Hendrick snuffed out any drama, evidenced by the clean overtime racing for the win between Bowman and Larson.
wftv.comMore than 100K race fans pack into sold out Daytona 500
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The green flag is set to drop on the Daytona 500 on Sunday. WATCH: Sold out Daytona 500 set to bring an economic overdrive to Daytona Beach businessesForty drivers are looking to score the trophy for the 500-mile race. More than 100,000 people will be at this year’s sold-out Daytona 500. Photos: More than 100K race fans pack into sold out Daytona 500Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 15 More then 100K race fans pack into sold out Daytona 500Daytona International Speedway president Frank Kelleher said the race sold out a month early for the first time in 14 years. READ: NASCAR revs up at Daytona with new car, new teams, new lookDenny Hamlin is one of the favorites to win Sunday’s race.
wftv.comNASCAR revs up at Daytona with new car, new teams, new look
NASCAR revs up at Daytona with new car, new teams, new lookDAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — (AP) — Brad Keselowski knew his father was losing his battle with cancer when he promised him he’d win last year’s Daytona 500. I said, ‘Dad, we’re going to win the Daytona 500,’” Keselowski said. After a Hendrick Motorsports rout in the Daytona 500 time trials, the Ford fleet has shown to be race ready. — Jacques Villeneuve, the former Formula One champion and Indianapolis 500 winner, will make his first Daytona 500 start for European startup Team Hezeberg. FanDuel lists both three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin and reigning NASCAR champion Kyle Larson as the 19-2 race favorites.
wftv.comNASCAR revs up at Daytona with new car, new teams, new look
I said, ‘Dad, we’re going to win the Daytona 500,’” Keselowski said. And, after a Hendrick Motorsports rout in Daytona 500 time trials, the Ford fleet has shown to be race ready. — Jacques Villeneuve, the former Formula One champion and Indianapolis 500 winner, will make his first Daytona 500 start for European startup Team Hezeberg. And, on Sunday, Jusan Hamilton will become the first Black race director to call the Daytona 500 in its 64th running. FanDuel lists both three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin and reigning NASCAR champion Kyle Larson as the 19-2 race favorites.
wftv.comNASCAR's Bowman drives on, shrugs off Hamlin 'hack' label
Bowman infuriated championship contender Denny Hamlin with six laps remaining Sunday at Martinsville Speedway when he spun Hamlin out of the lead. It sent the race into overtime, which Bowman won for his fourth victory of the season. Bowman has insisted the contact that spun Hamlin from the lead was accidental, but Hamlin still attacked Bowman's talent level. “Look, he’s won four races this year. Reigning Cup champion Chase Elliott and title favorite Kyle Larson in a pair of Chevrolets will square off against Toyotas driven by teammates Hamlin and Martin Truex Jr. of Joe Gibbs Racing.
wftv.comBowman wins as tension builds ahead of NASCAR title race
It sent the race into overtime and Bowman held off Kyle Busch and Brad Keselowski to win. The well-filled grandstands erupted in cheers when Bowman spun Hamlin, and loudly booed him when he was interviewed over the public address system. Both he and Larson, the heavy favorite and a nine-race winner, have never won a NASCAR championship. UP NEXT: The championship finale Sunday at Phoenix Raceway, where Elliott won the race last year to claim his first Cup championship. Truex won in March.
wftv.comTalladega race delayed by rain in NBC's tight NFL window
NASCAR Talladega Auto Racing Team members walk through pit row in the rain before a NASCAR Cup series auto race Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, in Talladega, Ala. (AP Photo/John Amis) (John Amis)TALLADEGA, Ala. — (AP) — The start of Sunday's playoff race at Talladega Superspeedway has been delayed by rain and NBC has a tight television window for the important NASCAR race because of the evening airing of Tom Brady's return to New England. Drivers have been on edge headed into Sunday's race because of the unpredictability of the 2.66-mile superspeedway and the risks of pack racing. Both the Truck Series race and Xfinity Series race doubleheader on Saturday were crash-marred and won by non-playoff drivers. “I'm going into a superspeedway race below the cutoff line, so it's definitely a stressful weekend,” Alex Bowman, ranked 11th out of 12 drivers, said before Sunday's race. ___More AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsCopyright 2021 The Associated Press.
wftv.comNASCAR charges into Talladega for unpredictable playoff race
TALLADEGA, Ala. — (AP) — Denny Hamlin is already through to the third round of NASCAR's playoffs with nothing to worry about at Talladega Superspeedway. ODDS AND ENDSDenny Hamlin is the 9/5 favorite to win Talladega, according to FanDuel. Since the start of the playoffs in 2004 the winner of the Talladega playoff race has never gone on to win the Cup title. The Talladega winner did finish second in the final standings, twice. ... A non-playoff driver has won Talladega five times in 17 races.
wftv.comHendrick stars dodging playoff elimination at Bristol
Alex Bowman and William Byron both start Saturday night's race at Bristol Motor Speedway below the cutline, and reigning series champion Chase Elliott isn’t breathing any easier than his Hendrick teammates. He was sixth at Bristol in the spring, but that race was run on dirt and delayed a day by dangerous rain and flooding. He likes Bristol, but in 21 career starts has an average finish of 30th. Nutrien AG is in its third season of sponsorship and funds 19 Xfinity Series races for Jeb Burton. If he's not retained in the Xfinity Series, he could have a shot at driving the second Cup car that Kaulig will field as a “trophy hunter” driven by specialists.
wftv.comNASCAR penalizes Hendrick Motorsports for engine infractions
NASCAR has penalized the Hendrick Motorsports teams of reigning Cup champion Chase Elliott and Alex Bowman for engine allocation infractions at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Elliott's No. 9 team and Bowman's No. 48 were found in violation of a rule that covers engine assembly. A statement from Hendrick Motorsports released Thursday said the violations were the result of an administrative error that resulted in a sealed engine assigned to Elliott’s No. 9 Chevrolet being unintentionally allocated to the No. 48.
news.yahoo.comBowman zips past Larson after late flat and wins at Pocono
Larson had won three straight Cup races and was in prime position to take this one at Pocono when he passed Bowman with three laps left in the race. Bowman was in the right spot to take advantage and win for the third time in his last 10 races. “I don’t know what to say.”For team owner Rick Hendrick, the wins keep coming. The Xfinity Series races Sunday followed by the second Cup race. Bowman is in his sixth full season of Cup racing and his fourth with Hendrick.
wftv.comBowman parks 48 in familiar spot in victory lane at Dover
48 Chevrolet in its familiar spot in victory lane at Dover International Speedway, leading a dominant outing for Hendrick Motorsports on Sunday. Bowman won his second race of the season and passed 1,000 laps led in his career. Jimmie Johnson, the seven-time NASCAR champion now in IndyCar, won a track-record 11 times at Dover in the 48. The 1.33-mile concrete track was built in 2001 by Dover Motorsports and hosted NASCAR and IndyCar events until 2011. Dover hosted one race weekend in 1969 and 1970 and then held two races every season from 1971 to 2020.
wftv.comChase Elliott ends week of misery with overdue Cup victory
Chase Elliott does a burnout after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Charlotte Motor Speedway Thursday, May 28, 2020, in Concord, N.C. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)CONCORD, N.C. NASCAR's grueling return to racing finally ended with a Cup victory for Chase Elliott. The event, postponed Wednesday night, was the fourth Cup race since the series resumed racing May 17. Man this is a tough week, we've had some tough losses," Elliott said from the frontstretch. Elliott reeled in Kevin Harvick with 27 laps remaining and closed out the victory. Elliott's victory was the first for a Chevrolet driver in NASCAR's return to Cup racing.
NASCAR Cup race in Charlotte pushed back day because of rain
A man walks through the infield as rain falls before a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Charlotte Motor Speedway Wednesday, May 27, 2020, in Concord, N.C. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)CONCORD, N.C. Rain washed out the Cup Series race Wednesday night at Charlotte Motor Speedway a slight break for NASCAR teams taxed by a grueling return to racing. The race was rescheduled for Thursday night at 7 p.m., which in turn forced NASCAR to move the Xfinity Series race scheduled for Saturday at Bristol Motor Speedway. The Xfinity Series race will instead be run Monday night, a day after the Cup Series. The second consecutive Wednesday night race would have been the fourth for the elite Cup Series since May 17. The starting order for the second Cup race at Charlotte this week was set based on the finishing order of the Coca-Cola 600 but with an inversion.
Keselowski looks to heat up market with 2nd Charlotte win
Then a caution with two laps remaining at Charlotte Motor Speedway cluttered Elliott's clear path to the win and gave Keselowski an opening. Now Keselowski returns to Charlotte Motor Speedway for a Wednesday night race and a shot at consecutive victories. That was the situation we were put in.Both Keselowski and Busch could empathize with Elliott's heartbreak at Charlotte. Keselowski spoke with Elliott as the two switched spots in front of a laptop during the post-race Zoom media availability. But Elliott's team has been the most consistent late in races and Wednesday brings another chance for the driver to finally get his first win of the season.
Harvick wins at Darlington as NASCAR returns to racing
I just want to thank everybody from NASCAR and all the teams for letting us do what we do, Harvick said. Gray smoke billowed during a caution, which isn't that odd a sight at a NASCAR race. It was the 50th career victory for Harvick, in a Ford for Stewart-Haas Racing. A previous winner at Darlington, Harvick led 159 of the 293 laps. Harvick tied Hall of Famers Junior Johnson and Ned Jarrett for 12th on NASCAR's all-time wins list.
NASCAR picks up at tricky Darlington after 10-week hiatus
FILE - In this May 11, 2012, file photo, drivers take the green flag for the start of the NASCAR Nationwide Series auto race at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, S.C. NASCAR will re-fire the engines moments after mask-clad drivers climb into their cars at Darlington Raceway. (Tyler Barrick/Pool Photo via AP, File)DARLINGTON, S.C. NASCAR will not be as you remember it when racing returns at old egg-shaped Darlington Raceway. He tested at Darlington shortly before the season was suspended and determined then he was fit to race again. Busch and Hill are adding Xfinity Series races at Darlington and Charlotte, and a Truck Series race at Charlotte to their calendar. His only victory so far this season was the Truck Series race at home track Las Vegas.