2018 RACING GUIDE
2017 STANDINGS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40
Driver Martin Truex Jr. Kyle Busch Kevin Harvick Brad Keselowski Chase Elliott Denny Hamlin Matt Kenseth Kyle Larson Ryan Blaney Jimmie Johnson Austin Dillon Jamie McMurray Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Kurt Busch Kasey Kahne Ryan Newman Joey Logano Clint Bowyer Erik Jones Daniel Suarez Dale Earnhardt Jr. Trevor Bayne Paul Menard Ty Dillon Chris Buescher Michael McDowell AJ Allmendinger Danica Patrick Aric Almirola David Ragan Landon Cassill Matt DiBenedetto Cole Whitt Gray Gaulding Reed Sorenson Jeffrey Earnhardt Derrike Cope Michael Waltrip D.J. Kennington Billy Johnson
Points 5040 5035 5033 5030 2377 2353 2344 2320 2305 2260 2224 2224 2222 2217 2198 2196 930 871 863 777 668 660 631 593 564 542 531 511 502 447 382 363 322 164 150 145 42 29 17 15
Diff. Races Wins — 36 8 -5 36 5 -7 36 2 -10 36 3 -2663 36 0 -2687 36 2 -2696 36 1 -2720 36 4 -2735 36 1 -2780 36 3 -2816 36 1 -2816 36 0 -2818 36 2 -2823 36 1 -2842 36 1 -2844 36 1 -4110 36 1 -4169 36 0 -4177 36 0 -4263 36 0 -4372 36 0 -4380 36 0 -4409 36 0 -4447 36 0 -4476 36 0 -4498 36 0 -4509 36 0 -4529 36 0 -4538 29 0 -4593 36 0 -4658 36 0 -4677 36 0 -4718 36 0 -4876 27 0 -4890 28 0 -4895 34 0 -4998 15 0 -5011 1 0 -5023 4 0 -5025 1 0
T5 19 14 14 15 12 15 10 15 4 4 3 3 4 6 3 7 10 6 5 1 1 2 2 0 0 1 1 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
T10 26 22 23 21 21 22 18 20 14 11 4 17 9 15 6 13 17 13 14 12 8 6 3 0 4 1 5 1 6 3 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0
DNF 6 4 4 5 4 4 6 7 5 7 5 5 6 7 7 4 4 4 8 6 7 5 3 3 4 2 5 11 3 4 6 6 9 6 5 14 4 0 3 0
Stage Wins Playoff Pts 19 74 14 42 6 17 8 26 3 0 4 0 3 0 8 2 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2018 TEAMS Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates Owners: Chip Ganassi, Felix Sabates Location: Concord, N.C. Drivers: Jamie McMurray, Kyle Larson Cup Championships: 0 Chip Ganassi and Felix Sabates hope that teaming their young rising star (Kyle Larson) with their wiley veteran (Jamie McMurray) will continue to pay dividends. Larson is a favorite of many experts to win the championship this season. There’s good reason for the optimism. Larson won four races in the regular season last year and captured eight stage wins, placing him in prime contention for a title. But a couple of engine failures and two crashes over a four-race span at the most important time of the year killed his championship hopes. The youngster has won three events in a row at Michigan, making him a clear favorite at that two-mile track. McMurray hasn’t won but one race in the last seven years, but he provides a steady, veteran presence for Larson.
Furniture Row Racing Owner: Barney Visser Location: Denver, Colo. Drivers: Martin Truex Jr. Cup Championships: 1 Most Recent Title: Truex, 2017 Once considered little more than a field filler, Martin Truex Jr. restarted his career at Furniture Row. Last season, the organization added a second car driven by Erik Jones. But Truex and the No. 78 team needed little help in winning the team’s first Cup championship. The racing organization thinks outside the box frequently— evidenced by the decision to open up a shop thousands of miles from everyone else in the business— and their renegade spirit paid dividends in a huge way in 2017. Now the organization is back to a single-car operation with Jones moving over to Joe Gibbs Racing, where he has been under contract and on loan to Furniture Row. The last time Truex was defending a title was in 2005 on the XFINITY Series and he successfully won a second championship.
2018 TEAMS
Hendrick Motorsports
Joe Gibbs Racing
Owner: Rick Hendrick Location: Concord, N.C. Drivers: Jimmie Johnson, Chase Elliott, William Byron, Alex Bowman Cup Championships: 12 Most Recent Title: Johnson, 2016
Owners: Joe Gibbs, J.D. Gibbs Location: Huntersville, N.C. Drivers: Kyle Busch, Erik Jones, Daniel Suarez, Denny Hamlin Cup Championships: 4 Most Recent Title: Busch, 2015
What was for several years one of the more veteran teams in the sport is now one of the youngest. Veteran Jimmie Johnson—that’s seven-time champ Jimmie Johnson to you and me—remains the unquestioned leader of this group. Johnson won the championship in 2016, but is coming off the worst season, statistically, of his career. The folks at Hendrick know there’s a lot of racing left in Johnson’s tank and expect him to compete for another title. Rising star Chase Elliott is poised to take the next step in his career and make a serious run for the championship. Awesome Chase from Dawsonville has seven top 5s in eight starts at Michigan and Dover. Alex Bowman takes over the No. 88 and could slip into the Chase. Rookie William Byron is an up-and-comer, but probably won’t rattle many cages in 2018.
This outfit has been the most successful team over the past few years from top to bottom. Of the nine or so drivers with legitimate chances to win the Cup Championship, two drive for Gibbs (Busch and Hamlin). The two finished second and sixth in the standings last year giving the Gibbs garage six drivers in the top 6 over the past two seasons. Busch and Hamlin combined for seven wins last year and 18 stage wins, proving that the Gibbs group has developed a winning strategy with the new scoring rules. Erik Jones takes over the No. 20 car from veteran Matt Kenseth. Jones will have plenty of support as only one of the eight teams fielded the last two seasons (four each year)has missed the Chase, and that was rookie Daniel Suarez last season. No one will be surprised if Gibbs puts four cars in the Chase.
2018 TEAMS JTG Racing
Team Penske
Owner: Brad Daugherty Location: Harrisburg, N.C. Drivers: AJ Allmendinger, Chris Buescher Cup Championships: 0
Owner: Roger Penske Location: Mooresville, N.C. Drivers: Brad Keselowski, Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney Cup Championships: 1 Most Recent Title: Keselowski, 2012
A two-car operation like JTG Daugherty Racing, led by former basketball star and NASCAR analyst Brad Daugherty, is fighting an uphill battle on the Cup circuit. Rolling a competitive car out of the hauler on a weekly basis just hasn’t happened for this organization. Both AJ Allmendinger and Chris Buescher took steps backward last season. They combined for nine DNFs and nine top 10s, which is not the kind of performances that can keep an underfunded team afloat. They finished 25th (Buescher) and 27th (Allmendinger) in the standings last year. Allmendinger, who has a strong history on road courses, finished third in the Daytona 500 last year, which gives the No. 47 team belief that it can compete in 2018.
Brad Keselowski and Joey Logano work as well together as any teammates in the sport, giving the pair an advantage at several tracks. Keselowski finished fourth in points and tallied 15 top 5s, second only to Martin Truex’s 19. Logano, on the cusp of titles in 2015 and 2016, struggled after a hot start last season. After winning at Richmond—finishing off eight top-6 finishes in the first nine races—NASCAR docked the team 25 points due to a failed inspection. The team never fully recovered. Ryan Blaney had a tremendous season driving for Wood Brothers Racing last year with a win at Pocono and five top 10s in the Chase. Penske expects all three drivers to be in the Chase this fall.
2018 TEAMS
Richard Childress Racing
Richard Petty Motorsports
Owner: Richard Childress Location: Welcome, N.C. Drivers: Ryan Newman, Austin Dillon. Daniel Hamric/Brennan Poole Cup Championships: 6 Most Recent Title: Dale Earnhardt Sr., 1994
Owners: Richard Petty, Andrew M. Murstein Location: Concord, N.C. Drivers: Darrell Wallace Jr. Cup Championships: 0
The proud Richard Childress organization, accustomed to winning races and chasing Cup Championships, has struggled to field fast cars over the past several years. The good news is that both Austin Dillon and Ryan Newman won races last year. The bad news is that 12 different drivers have won championships since the last RCR Cup title. In the 2000s, 10 different drivers have hoisted the hardware and six different owners. But RCR has been shut out. But let’s focus on the good news. Newman’s win came early last season at Phoenix and took some pressure off of the team to make the Chase on points. Dillon won the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte. Both drivers will likely spend the entire season on the Chase bubble.
Fair or not, the headlines from the Richard Petty stable this season will likely involve something about diversity and African-American drivers. Richard Petty, still The King to old-schoolers, welcomes Darrell Wallace Jr. to the sport, looking to become the first full-time African-American behind the wheel in NASCAR since 1971. Wallace made four starts for Petty last season and proved he was ready for prime time. The young driver improved his finish in each of the four races and should be more comfortable in 2018. But the reality is that Petty remains underfunded and must overachieve just to compete on a weekly basis. Doing that with an inexperienced driver is pretty tough, if not impossible. If Wallace continues to develop and doesn’t get discouraged by poor results, this team could actually be a factor in the next few seasons.
2018 TEAMS Roush Fenway Racing
Stewart-Haas Racing
Owners: Jack Roush, John W. Henry, Fenway Sports Group Location: Concord, N.C. Drivers: Trevor Bayne, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Cup Championships: 2 Most Recent Title: Kurt Busch, 2004
Owners: Tony Stewart, Gene Haas Location: Kannapolis, N.C. Drivers: Kurt Busch, Kevin Harvick, Aric Almirola, Clint Bowyer Cup championships: 2 Most Recent Title: Harvick, 2014
The Roush organization hasn’t exactly been setting the world on fire over the past several seasons. After missing the Chase with three drivers in 2016—and missing the top 20 in points—Ricky Stenhouse Jr. drove a Roush car back into the Chase thanks to two wins in plate races. Stenhouse’s first two wins of his career came at Daytona and Talladega, which makes the No. 17 team one of the favorites in the plate races this year. Stenhouse was 18th in points heading into the final race of the regular season, so without a win, he will have trouble making the Chase again in 2018. Trevor Bayne had two top 10s in the Chase highlighted by finishing third at Talladega. Both drivers will probably need to win a race to drive their way into the 2018 Chase.
Stewart-Haas Racing is poised to win another Cup title soon, quite possibly this season. Kevin Harvick, the 2014 Cup champion, is a favorite to win another title at some point. Kurt Busch, who won the 2004 Cup title while piloting a Roush Ford, is still very much a Chase contender. In 2016, he began the year with 22 lead-lap finishes, a NASCAR record. That streak included races at superspeedways, intermediates, short tracks and a road course, so Busch has proven versatility, which makes him at least a mild threat every week. Clint Bowyer was second in points back in 2012, so he knows what it takes to run upfront, but he’s now on the fringes of the Chase, at best. Aric Almirola takes over the No. 10 car and should enjoy the upgrade in equipment from his Petty ride.
2018 TEAMS
OTHER TEAM NOTES: Other organizations who will field full-time teams in 2018 hoping to gain respectability: The Wood Brothers enjoyed a couple of nice seasons with rising star Ryan Blaney in the No. 21 car. Now Blaney has moved on to Penske, leaving the Wood brothers searching for a suitable replacement. For now, they’ve found veteran Paul Menard who brings solid financial backing, if not top-notch racing skill. Front Row Motorsports believes it is on the upswing. David Ragan piloted the No. 38 last season to three top 10s and a 24.9 average finish. That marked the best season a Front Row driver has ever produced. Despite delivering solid results at Leavine Family Racing, the organization dumped Michael McDowell in favor of Kasey Kanhe for 2018. That loss is a gain for Front Row. This organization loves to lay it all on the line at the plate tracks, and McDowell has enjoyed success at both Daytona and Talladega. Matt Dibenedetto led 12 laps over the season and finished eighth at Indianapolis in the No. 32 Ford for Go FAS Racing. Most experts believe this team will continue to show improvement in 2018. Leavine Family Racing didn’t hesitate at all when veteran Kasey Kanhe became available after the 2017 season. Kahne won at Indianapolis last season, which earned him a spot in the Chase, where his performance wasn’t exactly Chaseworthy. Ty Dillon returns in the No. 13 Chevy for Germain Racing. The youngster didn’t crack the top 10 at all last season, but posted a pair of 11s, 13s and 14s, so maybe he’s getting close. Circle Sport will run the No. 33 Chevy once again with Jeffrey Earnhardt...Rick Ware Racing has a charter and will employ Ray Black Jr. in the No. 51 Chevy... Premium Motorsports will race the No. 55 with Reed Sorenson...TriStar Motorsports is dipping its toe in the water with Cole Whitt in the No. 72.
Jamie McMurray #1
DOB: 6/3/1976 – 17th year – Birthplace: Joplin, MO
Wins Top 5 Top 10 Starts Career 7 61 160 546 2018 Team: Chip Ganassi Racing Sponsors: McDonald’s, Cessna Manufacturer: Chevrolet Crew Chief: Matt McCall Jamie McMurray has been anything but stellar the past three seasons, but managed to make the Chase all three years. After failing to lead a lap in 2016, he led 13 in the 2017 Daytona 500 before a wreck took him out. McMurray will team with crew chief Matt McCall for the fourth successive season, and their strategy has been to compete hard in plate races, but drive conservatively at other tracks. His seven career wins have come at Daytona (2), Talladega (2), Charlotte (2) and Indianapolis (1). Prediction: Makes the Chase
Brad Keselowski #2 Career
DOB 2/12/1984 – 10th year – Birthplace: Rochester Hills, MI Wins Top 5 Top 10 Starts 24 90 147 305
2018 Team: Team Penske Sponsors: Discount Tire, Miller Lite, Alliance Truck Parts Manufacturer: Ford Crew Chief: Paul Wolfe Brad Keselowski, once again a favorite to contend for the title, must find a way to stay out of trouble. He finished fourth in points last season, but crashed out of five races, earning a total of 43 points in those outings. He’s a fast starter having won a race within the season’s first five races four years in a row now. That takes some pressure off having to charge into the Chase later. He earned his fifth career win at Talladega last fall, and finished out of the top 10 just three times in the Chase. Prediction: Title Contender
Austin Dillon #3
DOB 4/27/1990 – 8th year – Birthplace: Lewisville, NC
Wins Top 5 Top 10 Starts Career 1 9 26 157 2018 Team: Richard Childress Racing Sponsors: Dow, Okuma, American Ethanol Manufacturer: Chevrolet Crew Chief: Justin Alexander Austin Dillon captured the first win of his Cup career at Charlotte in the Coca-Cola 600, which earned him a spot in the Chase for the second consecutive season. But running upfront consistently remains elusive for Dillon and the RCR Chevy team. He led just four races—a total of 12 laps—and didn’t win a single stage, so his 11th place finish in points is a bit misleading. Justin Alexander will sit atop the box for the full season in 2018 after joining the crew just prior to the win at Charlotte. Prediction: Outside the Chase
Kevin Harvick #4 Career
DOB 12/8/1975 – 18th year – Birthplace: Bakersfield, CA Wins Top 5 Top 10 Starts 37 168 307 610
2018 Team: Stewart-Haas Racing Sponsor: Busch, Jimmy John’s, Mobil 1 Manufacturer: Ford Crew Chief: Rodney Childers Since winning the 2014 Cup Championship, Kevin Harvick has finished second, eighth and third in points. The No. 4 team is a contender every week regardless of the type of track. Harvick has won at least one race for eight consecutive seasons, and he shows no signs of slowing down. He’s won on 21 of the 23 tracks he’ll race on this season with his wins at Sonoma and Texas last year the first of his terrific career at those venues. He uncharacteristically struggled on the plate tracks last season. Prediction: Title Contender
Trevor Bayne #6
DOB: 2/19/91 – 8th year – Birthplace: Knoxville, TN Wins Top 5 Top 10 Starts Career 1 5 16 166 2018 Team: Roush Fenway Racing Sponsor: AdvoCare, Liberty Insurance Manufacturer: Ford Crew Chief: Matt Puccia Trevor Bayne enters his fourth season as a full-time driver after winning the Daytona 500 as a part-timer way back in 2011. The young driver was 21st in points entering the Chase, so he wasn’t close to making the playoffs. Bayne’s season began with promise as the No. 6 team finished in the top 16 in nine of the first 12 races, but it would be another 10 races without a top-16 finish before a pair of top 10s at Michigan and Bristol righted the ship. But there still was no consistency as the team fell further behind. Prediction: Out of the Chase MI
Chase Elliott #9 Career
DOB: 11/28/1995 – 4th Year – Birthplace: Dawsonville, GA Wins Top 5 Top 10 Starts 0 22 38 77
2018 Team: Hendrick Motorsports Sponsor: NAPA, SunEnergy1, Kelley Blue Book Manufacturer: Chevrolet Crew Chief: Alan Gustafson Chase Elliott has proven he belongs with the big boys of the sport. Now he needs to win his first race. He’s proven he can run upfront, leading 14 races and winning three stages. Elliott would like to forget the month of May. He fell from second in points to eighth over a span of just four races. If you’re lookng for a track where the young stud might break into the win column, think about Dover and Michigan. He’s made four starts at each track, and never finished worse then eighth, with four runner-ups. Prediction: Easily in the Chase
Aric Almirola #10 Career
Wins 1
DOB 3/14/1984 – 11th year – Birthplace: Fort Walton Beach, FL Top 5 Top 10 Starts 11 32 244
2018 Team: Stewart-Haas Racing Sponsor: Smithfield Manufacturer: Ford Crew Chief: John Klausmeier Aric Almirola takes over the No. 10 ride vacated by Danica Patrick for 2018, coming over from Richard Petty Motorsports. It bears watching how Almirola responds to superior equipment than what he had been running at Petty. Almirola finished fourth in the Daytona 500 and sat in 20th place after 10 races prior to the Kansas race. He suffered a broken vertebra in a crash at Kansas causing him to miss the next seven races. His season never recovered as he finished 29th in points. Prediction: Out of the Chase CA
Denny Hamlin #11 Career
DOB 11/18/1980 – 14th year – Birthplace: Chesterfield, VA
Wins Top 5 Top 10 Starts 31 132 218 434
2018 Team: Joe Gibbs Racing Sponsor: FedEx, Sport Clips Manufacturer: Toyota Crew Chief: Mike Wheeler Denny Hamlin has at least one win in each of the 12 seasons he has been a full-time Cup driver. His entire career has been with one team, with one primary sponsor, both unheard of in today’s climate. The short track demon finished sixth in points last season, just missing out on making the final four cut for Homestead. His 15 top 5s tied for second behind champion Martin Truex Jr. and his 22 top 10s ranked him third. But he had just four stage wins, which left him behind in playoff points. Prediction: Title Contender
Ryan Blaney #12
DOB: 12/31/1993 – 5th year – Birthplace: High Point, NC
Wins Top 5 Top 10 Starts Career 1 8 25 90 2017 Team: Team Penske Sponsor: Menards, REV Group, Fitzgerald Glider Parts Manufacturer: Ford Crew Chief: Jeremy Bullins After a true breakout season with the Wood Brothers No. 21 team, Ryan Blaney moves to Team Penske (a move in the works for some time). Crew Chief Jeremy Bullins, the only Cup crew chief Blaney has teamed with, will continue to work alongside Blaney. The young driver led 10 races and finished second in the Daytona 500 and won at Pocono. He led a season-high 148 laps at Texas, capturing wins in both of the first stages. Blaney made a deep run into the playoffs last season. Prediction: Top 8 Finish
Ty Dillon #13
DOB 2/27/1992 – 5th year – Birthplace: Lewisville, NC Wins Top 5 Top 10 Starts Career 0 0 0 54
2018 Team: Germain Racing Sponsor: GEICO, Twisted Tea Manufacturer: Chevrolet Crew Chief: Matt Borland Ty Dillon’s first full season at the Cup level didn’t yield any top-10 finishes, but there were a few moments that should give Dillon and his No. 13 team confidence that the crew can compete on a weekly basis. Over a span of eight races from May to July, he led three laps at Talladega, led 27 laps at Dover and was leading with 40 laps to go, then was upfront with just three laps to go at the July Daytona race. Still 11th-place finishes at Talladega and Phoenix in the fall were his best results. Prediction: Out of the Chase
Clint Bowyer #14 Career
Wins 8
DOB 5/30/1979 – 14th year – Birthplace: Emporia, KS Top 5 Top 10 Starts 64 180 433
2018 Team: Stewart-Haas Racing Sponsor: Mobil 1 Manufacturer: Ford Crew Chief: Mike Bugarewicz Clint Bowyer was in the top 10 in points last season two-thirds through the season, but engine failure at Darlington and just plain failure at Richmond kept him out of the Chase. He was new to the No. 14 team last season and seemed to jell as the season progressed even though the results didn’t always show it. The cagey veteran hasn’t won since his three-win season of 2012 in which he finished second in points, so he’s starved for some checkers this season. Prediction: Barely makes the Chase
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. #17 Career
Wins 2
DOB 10/2/1987 – 8th year – Birthplace: Olive Branch, MS Top 5 Top 10 Starts 11 26 184
2018 Team: Roush Fenway Racing Sponsors: Fastnal, Fifth-Third Bank, SunnyD Manufacturer: Ford Crew Chief: Brian Pattie Ricky Stenhouse Jr. has run extremely well at the plate tracks for two seasons now, and parlayed that success to a pair of wins last season, which earned a Chase spot for the No. 17 Ford. Stenhouse also found navigating the short tracks to his liking with four top-10 finishes in his six starts. He also ran upfront in both Pocono races. But those darn intermediates—the bulk of the schedule—give Stenhouse fits. Without significant improvement on the one-mile ovals, Stenhouse will struggle to make the Chase again. Prediction: Out of the Chase
Kyle Busch #18 Career
DOB 5/2/1985 – 16th year – Birthplace: Las Vegas, NV Wins Top 5 Top 10 Starts 43 161 241 462
2018 Team: Joe Gibbs Racing Sponsor: M&M’s, Skittles, Pedigree Manufacturer: Toyota Crew Chief: Adam Stevens In 2016, Kyle Busch posted nine top 10s in the 10 Chase events. Last year, he won three times in the playoffs, finishing second to Martin Truex Jr. at Homestead to finish as the runner-up to Truex. Busch’s 14 stage wins put the No. 18 team in terrific position to drive for his second championship. The team emphasized qualifying last year, and their efforts yielded eight poles, 13 starts in the top three and 18 in the first five. That’s a lot of time upfront at the beginning of races. Prediction: Cup Champion NC
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Daniel Suarez #19 Career
DOB 1/7/1992 – 2nd year – Birthplace: Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico Wins Top 5 Top 10 Starts 0 1 12 36
2018 Team: Joe Gibbs Racing Sponsor: ARRIS, Stanley Manufacturer: Toyota Crew Chief: Scott Graves The opportunity of a lifetime fell in the lap of Daniel Suarez last January as Carl Edwards abruptly retired from Joe Gibbs Racing, opening a spot for the Mexican-born Suarez. JGR’s initial plan for their hot shoe was for him to make his Cup debut in 2018. He had not made a single start at the Cup level prior to the 2017 Daytona 500. A crew chief change after five races seemed to help the No. 19 team. A few weeks later, Suarez reeled off four straight top 10s, culminating with a third-place at Watkins Glen. Prediction: Ekes into the Chase
Erik Jones #20
DOB 5/30/1996 – 3rd year – Birthplace: Byron, MI Wins Top 5 Top 10 Starts Career 0 5 14 39
2018 Team: Joe Gibbs Racing Sponsors: DeWalt, Tide, Circle K Manufacturer: Toyota Crew Chief: Chris Gayle Erik Jones, the 2017 Cup Rookie of the Year while driving for Furniture Row Racing, now moves to a seat originally planned for him at Joe Gibbs Racing. Eight crashes last season led to seven races in which he earned single-digit points, four of them just a single point. A string of six consecutive top 10s at the close of the regular season highlighted Jones’ season. He earned the pole at the second Bristol race and led 260 laps before finishing second to Kyle Busch. Prediction: Makes the Chase
Paul Menard #21 Career
DOB: 8/21/1980 – 15th year – Birthplace: Eau Claire, WI
Wins Top 5 Top 10 Starts 1 19 58 399
2018 Team: Wood Brothers Racing Sponsor: Menards, Motorcraft/Quick Lane Manufacturer: Ford Crew Chief: Greg Erwin There is no doubt that Paul Menard is in demand as a NASCAR Cup driver even though he has just one win and a paltry 19 top-5 finishes in 399 starts. But when you bring instant sponsorship from your billionaire family’s home improvement business, then finding a seat isn’t that difficult. Menard likely won’t repeat the success Ryan Blaney had last season in the No. 21 Ford. Four of Menard’s five top finishes in 2017 came on plate tracks for RCR. Prediction: Out of the Chase
Joey Logano #22 Career
DOB 5/24/1990 – 11th year – Birthplace: Middletown, CT
Wins Top 5 Top 10 Starts 18 91 153 327
2018 Team: Team Penske Sponsor: Shell-Penzoil, AAA, Autotrader.com Manufacturer: Ford Crew Chief: Todd Gordon Joey Logano was a popular pick to win the 2017 Cup title after finishing second in 2016 and winning 14 races over three seasons. Logano managed just one win and finished 17th in points, never a factor in the Chase. Logano began the season with a flourish, finishing in the top 6 in each of the first nine races, save a crash at Phoenix. But after his win at Richmond, NASCAR didn’t like something about his rear end and docked the driver 25 points. The team really never recovered, failing to crack the top 20 for five weeks. Prediction: Makes the Chase
William Byron #24
DOB: 11/29/1997 – 1st Year – Birthplace: Charlotte, NC Wins Top 5 Top 10 Starts Career 0 0 0 0
2018 Team: Hendrick Motorsports Sponsors: Axalta, Liberty University, UniFirst Manufacturer: Chevrolet Crew Chief: Darian Grubb Last season William Byron won the XFINITY Series Championship 11 days before turning 20 years old. He has very little experience in racing, but showed veteran driving ability last November with a come-from-behind victory at Homestead to win the title. It bears watching to see how much driving ability can overcome lack of driving experience. Byron is in a terrific situation with Hendrick to succeed. Expect him to continue to progress and to eventually contend for titles. Prediction: Out of the Chase
Daniel Hemric #27
DOB: 1/27/1991 – 1st year – Birthplace: Kannapolis, NC Wins Top 5 Top 10 Starts Career 0 0 0 0
2018 Team: Richard Childress Racing Sponsor: TBD Manufacturer: Chevrolet Crew Chief: TBD Richard Childress Racing is determined to run a third car in 2018, but at press time was having trouble securing full funding. We know the car will be No. 27, but everything else is up in the air at this point. The most likely choice for driver will be Daniel Hemric, a full-time driver on the XFINITY Series. He has yet to sit in a Cup car, so the learning curve will likely be steep. Brennan Poole is another option to drive. The equipment will be competitive, but will the driver? Prediction: Nowhere near the Chase
Ryan Newman #31 Career
Wins 18
DOB 12/8/1977 – 19th year – Birthplace: South Bend, IN Top 5 Top 10 Starts 112 238 584
2018 Team: Richard Childress Racing Sponsor: Caterpillar, Bass Pro, Grainger Manufacturer: Chevrolet Crew Chief: Luke Lambert Ryan Newman won 12 races in his first four seasons as a full-time driver, including taking the checkers eight times in 2003. But he’s won just six times in the 12 years since then. He doesn’t compete for checkers every week, but he drives hard, is difficult to pass and still knows how to win should the car provide the opportunity. He’s had at least two top-5 finishes in each of the past 17 years, and hasn’t missed a race since the beginning of 2002. Newman also provides a valuable veteran presence for RCR. Prediction: Makes the Chase
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Matt DiBenedetto #32
DOB: 7/27/1991 – 4th year – Birthplace: Grass Valley, CA Wins Top 5 Top 10 Starts Career 0 0 3 104 2018 Team: Go FAS Racing Sponsor: Can-Am Manufacturer: Ford Crew Chief: Gene Nead The young Matt DiBenedetto continues to improve on the track. The one-time development driver for Joe Gibbs earned the first two top-10 finishes for Go FAS Racing. DiBenedetto enjoys the plate races, finishing 9th and 13th at Daytona, and he led the lone 12 laps of his season at Talladega in the fall. With his primary sponsors and team returning intact for 2018, the youngster expects to post better results. He is extremely popular among fans, especially on social media. Prediction: Out of the Chase
Jeffrey Earnhardt #33
DOB 6/22/1989 – 3rd year – Birthplace: Mooresville, NC Wins Top 5 Top 10 Starts Career 0 0 0 58
2018 Team: Circle Sport Sponsor: Hulu Manufacturer: Chevrolet Crew Chief: Eddie Pardue Jeffrey Earnhardt struggled to stay in races last season posting 14 DNFs. From engine failure to rear end problems, to brakes, to transmission issues, the No. 33 team couldn’t find durable equipment. His best finish last season was 26th in the Daytona 500 and matched at Indianapolis and Kansas. He earned double-digit points in just five races, topping out at 11. Not good. Earnhardt had no lead-lap finsihes and really wasn’t close. However, the folks at Circle Sport believe they are headed in the right direction. Prediction: Nowhere near the Chase
Michael McDowell #34
DOB: 12/21/84 – 11th year – Birthplace: Phoenix, AZ
Wins Top 5 Top 10 Starts Career 0 1 5 249 2018 Team: Front Row Motorsports Sponsor: TBD Manufacturer: Ford Crew Chief: TBD Michael McDowell ran well despite limited funding at Leavine Family Racing, but was let go when veteran Kasey Kahne became available to LFR. Front Row and McDowell should both benefit from the relationship. Front Row isn’t afraid to go for all the marbles in plate races and McDowell excels at Daytona, finishing 15th in the Daytona 500 and fourth in the July race. He led a total of 10 laps last season spread over three races at Vegas, Texas and Dover. Prediction: Out of the Chase
Chris Buescher #37 Career
Wins 1
Top 5 2
10/29/1992 – 4th year – Birthplace: Prosper, TX Top 10 Starts 6 78
2018 Team: JTG Daugherty Racing Sponsor: Scotts Manufacturer: Chevrolet Crew Chief: Trent Owens A few years ago, Chris Buescher was a driver for Roush on loan to JTG Daugherty, but has since signed a long-term deal with JTG. The team expects Buescher and crew chief Trent Owens to grow together and find success on the track. Buescher’s lone win on the Cup circuit came in 2016 at a rain-shortened event at Pocono. He’s out to prove that was no fluke. He put together three top 10s and an eleventh-place finish over a seven-race stretch in late summer. The next step is to do that for longer periods. Prediction: Just misses the Chase
David Ragan #38
DOB: 12/24/1985 – 12th Year – Birthplace: Unadilla, GA Wins Top 5 Top 10 Starts 2 15 39 398
Career
2018 Team: Front Row Motorsports Sponsor: TBD Manufacturer: Ford Crew Chief: Derrick Finley David Ragan was 27th in points in 2016 after the Daytona 500. Last year, he was 25th after the first race. Both were high water marks for the season. But the veteran is dependable. His failure to qualify for the Homestead race in 2006 marked the last time there was a Cup race Ragan didn’t start. He is always a factor on plate tracks. This team had a pair of 10th-place finishes at Talladega last year and was sixth at the July race at Daytona. The three top-10 finishes are the best ever for a FRM driver. Prediction: Out of the Chase
Kurt Busch #41
DOB: 8/4/1978 – 19th year – Birthplace: Las Vegas, NV
Career
Wins Top 5 Top 10 Starts 29 131 258 612
2018 Team: Stewart-Haas Racing Sponsor: Monster Energy, Haas Automation Manufacturer: Ford Crew Chief: Billy Scott Kurt Busch’s championship season of 2004 is getting farther and farther in rear view mirror, and the former champ turns 40 in August. After winning the Daytona 500 last season, Busch and the No. 41 team struggled to run upfront. He led just 16 laps last season, the lowest total of his career, and just the second time he’s failed to lead as many 160 in a season. Although he made the playoffs, his 14th place finish in points marked just the fourth time in 17 years as a full-time driver that he’s failed to be in the top 12. Prediction: Makes the Chase
Kyle Larson #42 Career
DOB 7/31/1992 – 6th year – Birthplace: Elk Grove, CA
Wins Top 5 Top 10 Starts 5 35 62 147
2018 Team: Chip Ganassi Racing Sponsor: Credit One Bank, First Data Manufacturer: Chevrolet Crew Chief: Chad Johnston It’s been quite a ride for Kyle Larson over the last season and a half. Beginning with the first Dover race in 2016, Larson has scored 24 top 5s over the last 61 races. For those of you who are math challenged, that’s a tad better than 39 percent. He won four times last season and was runner-up eight times. An ugly four-race stretch (39th, 37th, 37th, 40th) in the Chase last season turned his season sour, but there’s no doubt why many experts believe Larson will win a Cup title soon. Prediction: Title Contender
Darrell Wallace Jr. #43
DOB 10/8/1993 – 2nd year – Birthplace: Mobile, AL
Wins Top 5 Top 10 Starts Career 0 0 0 4 2018 Team: Richard Petty Motorsports Sponsor: Click ’n’ Close Manufacturer: Chevrolet Crew Chief: TBD With just four starts last season subbing for Aric Almirola, Darrell Wallace Jr. seeks to make a name for himself on the Cup circuit this season in the famed No. 43 car for Richard Petty. Wallace’s 2017 starts came at Pocono, Michigan, Daytona and Kentucky, and the young driver improved his finish in each race from 26th at Pocono to 11th at Kentucky. He finished on the lead lap twice and was just one lap down in the other two races. He is the first full-time AfricanAmerican driver on the cricuit since 1971. Prediction: Out of the Chase
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AJ Allmendinger #47 Career
DOB 12/16/1981 – 13th year – Birthplace: Los Gatos, CA Wins Top 5 Top 10 Starts 1 10 52 335
2018 Team: JTG Daugherty Racing Sponsor: Kroger Manufacturer: Chevrolet Crew Chief: TBD Until last season, AJ Allmendinger was always a threat on the road courses, where he won at Watkins Glen in 2014, but last season the No. 47 team couldn’t muster enough speed to compete on the two road circuits. A new alliance with Hendrick Motorsports may help this team gain some horsepower, but Allmendinger is still fighting an uphill battle every week. He led a couple of laps in the Daytona 500 and finished third, but spent the majority of the season 27th in points. Prediction: Out of the Chase
Jimmie Johnson #48 Career
DOB 9/17/1975 – 18th year – Birthplace: El Cajon, CA Wins Top 5 Top 10 Starts 83 222 341 579
2018 Team: Hendrick Motorsports Sponsor: Lowe’s, Kobalt Tools Manufacturer: Chevrolet Crew Chief: Chad Knaus Jimmie Johnson is now the oldest full-time driver on the circuit and still the craftiest. He can still win, even without the fastest car, especially at Texas and Dover. He won at both of those tracks and at Bristol last season. But by Jimmie Johnson standards, last season was a bust, the worst of his career. He was fifth in points heading into the Chase, but didn’t win a Chase race for the first time in the Chase Era, to finish 10th in points. There’s plenty of racing left in the tank for the seven-time champion. Prediction: Deep run in the Chase
Ray Black Jr. #51
DOB 5/17/1991 – 1st year – Birthplace: Montgomery, AL
Wins Top 5 Top 10 Starts Career 0 0 0 3 2018 Team: Rick Ware Racing Sponsor: TBD Manufacturer: Chevrolet Crew Chief: TBD Rick Ware bought a charter for 2018 and will employ Ray Black Jr. as a full-time driver, at least to begin the season. The two teamed up for three starts last season, that produced extremely poor results. His best finish was 16 laps down, and the team was actually flagged at Homestead and parked for being too slow. Ouch. The best this team can hope for in 2018 is to maintain sponsorship, learn as much as they can, stay afloat and be competitive in 2019. Prediction: Not in the Chase
Reed Sorenson #55
DOB 2/5/1986 – 14th year – Birthplace: Peachtree City, GA
Wins Top 5 Top 10 Starts Career 0 5 15 290 2018 Team: Premium Motorsports Sponsor: TBD Manufacturer: Chevrolet Crew Chief: TBD In 28 starts last season, Reed Sorenson’s best finish was 25th, which he accomplished twice at Kansas. (Obviously, spending too much time focused on one track.) Owner Jay Robinson believes in profitability over winning, so the results in 2018 probably won’t be much better. However, without some clear signs of respectability and competitiveness, how much longer can the No. 55 team survive? Sorenson’s best season was 2007 when he was driving the Target Dodge for Chip Ganassi. Prediction: Out of the Chase
Cole Whitt #72
DOB 6/22/1991 – 8th year – Birthplace: Alpine, CA
Wins Top 5 Top 10 Starts Career 0 0 0 148 2018 Team: TriStar Motorsports Sponsor: TBA Manufacturer: Chevrolet Crew Chief: TBA In 36 starts last season, Cole Whitt managed just four top 20s with his best finish at Indianapolis where he ran 12th. He somehow led three laps in the Daytona 500 driving a Ford, but spent the remainder of the season sitting in a Chevy. The name of the game for Whitt, the No. 72 team and TriStar Motorsports is to stay afloat long enough to earn the respect of the other teams and hopefully land an alliance with one of the major teams in order to receive decent equipment at some point. Prediction: Out of the Chase
Martin Truex Jr. #78 Career
DOB 6/29/1980 – 15th year – Birthplace: Mayetta, NJ
Wins Top 5 Top 10 Starts 15 67 160 441
2018 Team: Furniture Row Racing Sponsors: Furniture Row, Bass Pro, Five-Hour Energy Manufacturer: Toyota Crew Chief: Cole Pearn There were several amazing aspects of the championship season just put together by Martin Truex Jr. As if winning four races in the regular season weren’t enough, Truex matched that number in the 10-race playoffs. He finished in the top 5 in nine of the 10 Chase events getting caught up in a crash at Talladega after 171 laps. He finished the season with finishes of 1st, 2nd, 2nd, 3rd and 1st. The last time Truex won a series championship, it was back-to-back titles in the XFINITY Series in 2004-05. Prediction: Title Contender
Alex Bowman #88 Career
Wins 0
DOB: 4/25/93 – 4th year – Birthplace: Tucson, AZ Top 5 0
Top 10 Starts 3 81
2018 Team: Hendrick Motorsports Sponsors: Nationawide Insurance, Axalta Manufacturer: Chevrolet Crew Chief: Greg Ives Alex Bowman isn’t a stranger to the No. 88 car, having filled in for the injured Dale Earnhardt Jr. for 10 races in 2016. He drove to three top 10s and led 194 laps from the pole at Phoenix. But Bowman didn’t sit in a Cup car at all in 2017, although he drove in a few XFINITY Series races for Chip Ganassi and won at Charlotte. NASCAR fans will no doubt miss Dale Jr. this season, and it will take Bowman a while for fans to adjust to No. 88 being Alex Bowman’s car and not Dale Jr.’s. Prediction: Out of the Chase
Kasey Kahne #95 Career
DOB 4/10/1980 – 15th year – Birthplace: Enumclaw, WA Wins Top 5 Top 10 Starts 18 92 175 504
2018 Team: Leavine Racing Family Sponsor: WRL General Contractors Manufacturer: Chevrolet Crew Chief: Travis Mack The lone bright spot in 2017 was a win at Indianapolis for Kasey Kahne while driving for Hendrick Motorsports. While that win essentially saved his season and earned the veteran driver a spot in the Chase, it didn’t save his ride. Hendrick released Kahne with a year remaining on his contract. Leavine Family was more than happy to add Kahne to its team. Travis Mack, who has never been a crew chief at the Cup level, also moves over from Hendrick where he worked with the No. 88 team last season. Predcition: Out of the Chase
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Atlanta Motor Speedway
770-946-4211
www.atlantamotorspeedway.com
The 1.54-mile track just outside of Atlanta is one of the fastest tracks on the circuit. Track officials had planned a complete repave last summer, but pushback from drivers have delayed that until after this year’s race. Keeping fresh tires is typically a key to victory. Seventime Cup champion Jimmie Johnson has won five times Seating Diagram at the track in his illustrious career. Chase Elliott has en- Banking/Turns: 24 2017 Winner: Brad Keselowski joyed a couple of solid runs Distance: 1.54 miles here, finishing sixth and fifth. One-lap qualifying record: Shape: Quad-oval GATE
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Auto Club Speedway
800-944-7223
This track is wide and fast and tests engines early in the season. Drivers with enough confidence to run fast in the turns can really blow it out on the straightaways, which pushes the limits of the engines. For that reason, most drivers consider this one of the most fun venues on the circuit. Brad Keselowski has been consistent at Fontana of late, finishing first, ninth and second over the last three years. Banking/Turns: 14
www.autoclubspeedway.com
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2017 Winner: Kyle Larson Distance: 2.0 miles Shape: D-shaped oval One-lap qualifying record: Denny Hamlin, 2017 – 160.166 mph
Bristol Motor Speedway
423-764-1161 www.bristolmotorspeedway.com
The iconic track remains a must-see for NASCAR fans, especially the night race in August. The tight quarters, high banks and 15-second laps provide some of the most exciting racing of the year. It just isn’t possible to leave Bristol without visible battle scars. Last year, the track added some special pavement at the bottom of each corner to improve grip, which should Banking/Turns: 24-28 2017 Winners: Jimmie Johnson Kyle Busch provide more bumping and Distance: 0.533 miles grinding old-school style. One-lap qualifying record: Shape: Oval Denny Hamlin, 2016 – 131.668 mph
Charlotte Motor Speedway The folks at Charlotte have cooked up something quite special at Charlotte this year, and it may have old-schoolers fuming. While the Charlotte Motor Speedway remains an iconic track on the circuit and will continue to host the All-Star race and Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day weekend, the September event will feature a transformation to what officials are calling a “roval.” It will combine part of the existing oval, but also include an 18-turn road course through the infield.
Banking/Turns: 24 2017 Winners: Austin Dillon, Distance: 1.5 miles Martin Truex Jr. One-lap qualifying record: Shape: Quad-oval Kurt Busch, 2014 – 198.771 mph
Chicagoland Speedway NASCAR officials have moved the Chicago race from opening the Chase to July 1, taking much of the prestige away from this event. The venue offers nothing unique and both fans and drivers realize that. Finally, NASCAR agrees and tinkered with the schedule accordingly. If you’re looking for favorites here, Martin Truex Jr. has led 109 laps over the past two years, winning both tilts. Chase Elliott has two starts here in his young career and finished third and second.
800-455-FANS www.charlottemotorspeedway.com
815-727-7223
www.chicagolandspeedway.com
Banking/Turns: 18 2017 Winner: Distance: 1.5 miles Martin Truex Jr. One-lap qualifying record: Shape: Tri-oval Joey Logano, 2013 – 189.414 mph
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Darlington Raceway Each end of the unique 1.366-mile oval at Darlington is a little different making it difficult to hone in on a good setup. With a win last September, Denny Hamlin now has 10 top 10s in 12 starts at the old famed track. He’s never finished worse than 19th here. Kyle Busch’s hard-charging style fits this track—as long as he stays millimeters from the wall and doesn’t actually hit it. Busch has won just once here, but has finished 11th or better for eight years in a row.
866-459-RACE
www.darlingtonraceway.com
Banking/Turns: 25 2017 Winner: Distance: 1.366 miles Denny Hamlin One-lap qualifying record: Shape: Oval Aric Almirola, 2014 – 184.145 mph
Daytona Intl. Speedway 386-254-2700 www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com The Daytona 500 welcomes NASCAR back after a cold winter’s offseason as the sport’s signature event. Every driver wants to win at Daytona in February. Now with Dale Earnhardt Jr. retired, the best plate racer on the circuit just may be Ricky Stenhouse Jr. The “other Junior” won here last July and performed well here and at Talladega. You can probably win a bar bet with the knowlege that Paul Menard finished third and fifth at Daytona in 2017.
Banking/Turns: 31 2017 Winners: Distance: 2.5 miles Kurt Busch, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. One-lap qualifying record: Shape: Tri-oval Bill Elliott, 1987 – 210.364 mph
Dover International Speedway The one-mile oval with 24-degree banking takes guts to navigate at top speeds. Real guts. Seventime champion Jimmie Johnson owns this track. Absolutely owns it. Even during the worst season of his career, Johnson managed a win last June. Johnson, Kyle Larson, Martin Truex Jr. and Chase Elliott each finished in the top 5 in both races last year. Eight starts provide a large enough sample size to know that Larson will eventually win here.
800-441-7223
www.doverspeedway.com
Banking/Turns: 24 Distance: 1.0 miles One-lap qualifying record: Brad Keselowski, 2014 – 164.444 mph
Homestead-Miami Speedway
2017 Winners: Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Busch Shape: Oval
305-230-5000 www.homesteadmiamispeedway.com
Not Bristol, not Talladega, not Charlotte, not Indy, not even Daytona, but Homestead is where NASCAR hands out the season hardware every year. NASCAR has created excitement and drama at the season finale here with the current Chase format. And the drivers haven’t disappointed at all. The winner of this race the last four years has also been the Cup champion. Banking/Turns: 18-20 2017 Winner: Martin Truex Jr. Shape: Oval Drivers love flying into the Distance: 1.5 miles turns using very little braking. One-lap qualifying record: Brad Keselowski, 2014 – 181.238 mph
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Indianapolis Motor Speedway
317-481-8500 www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com
One of the most historic tracks in America didn’t host a NASCAR event until 1994. The flat, 2.5-mile track has four 90-degree turns banked at only nine degrees. Setup is critical as drivers need momentum at this hallowed track, and losing too much speed in turns can really penalize a car. The race will carry a bit more cache this year as NASCAR has scheduled the event as the regular- Banking/Turns: 9 2017 Winner: Kasey Kahne season finale. Kevin Harvick Distance: 2.5 miles One-lap qualifying record: Shape: Oval has 11 top 10s in 17 starts. Kevin Harvick, 2014 – 188.470 mph
Kansas Speedway
913-328-3300
www.kansasspeedway.com
The Kansas Speedway plays an important role in the Chase in October. That bodes well for Martin Truex, Jimmie Johnson and Kevin Harvick. Johnson has won three times in Kansas, and finished 17 of his 23 starts in the top 10. Harvick has a pair of wins and seven top 5s in 24 starts. Truex won both tilts last season in dominating fashion, leading 195 laps across both races. Banking/Turns: 17-20 2017 Winners: Martin Truex Jr., twice There’s no reason to think Distance: 1.5 miles One-lap qualifying record: Shape: Tri-oval Truex will slow down in 2018. Kevin Harvick, 2014 – 197.621 mph
Kentucky Speedway
888-652-7223
www.kentuckyspeedway.com
The newest venue on the Cup circuit, Kentucky Speedway is similar to other 1.5-mile tri-ovals, but here, the turns are a bit longer. The banking in turns 1 and 2 is a bit steeper than 3 and 4, just enough to keep the drivers thinking and on their toes. Veteran Kyle Busch has six top 10s and a 12th in his seven races at Kentucky, making him a perennial favorite. Brad Ke- Banking/Turns: 14-17 2017 Winner: Martin Truex Jr. selowski struggled last year, Distance: 1.5 miles but has three wins here. One-lap qualifying record: Shape: Tri-oval Kyle Busch, 2017 – 190.282 mph
Las Vegas Motor Speedway
800-644-4444
www.lvms.com
For the first time, Las Vegas will host two events on the Cup schedule in 2018. The spring race remains unchanged, but Las Vegas will now kick off the Chase in September. Martin Truex Jr., Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski ran one through five last year and provide a good sampling of who to watch this year. Jimmie Johnson, who has Banking/Turns: 20 2017 Winner: Martin Truex Jr. four wins here, led 19 laps Distance: 1.5 miles and finished 11th last year. One-lap qualifying record: Shape: Tri-oval Kurt Busch, 2016 – 196.328 mph
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Martinsville Speedway
276-956-3151 www.martinsvillespeedway.com
The shortest track on the Cup circuit has much less banking than Bristol and doesn’t allow for speeds much over 100mph. The track is narrow and the straightaways are shorter than three football fields, and lie between two UU pretty flat hairpin turns, makTT SS RR ing for some tight racing. Pit stop quickness and strategy are paramount here, especially late in the race. Lights have been installed, Banking/Turns: 12 2017 Winners: Brad Keselowski Kyle Busch which will allow the fall race Distance: 0.526 miles to be run later in the day. One-lap qualifying record: Shape: Oval Joey Logano, 2014 – 100.201 mph
Michigan International Speedway
800-354-1010 www.mispeedway.com
The two-mile circuit in Brooklyn, Mich., is wide and extremely fast. Drivers love to push the pedal to the metal and let it ride. Because of the width of the track, racers can find grooves up and down the track. Historically, the yellow flag isn’t waved much, which can lead to long periods of boring single-file racing. Kyle Larson has won three consecutive races here and Chase Elliott Banking/Turns: 18 2017 Winners: Kyle Larson, twice has three runner-ups and Distance: 2.0 miles an eighth in his four starts. One-lap qualifying record: Shape: D-shaped oval Jeff Gordon, 2014 – 206.558 mph
New Hampshire Motor Speedway Las Vegas’s gain was New Hampshire’s loss. The new date given to Vegas comes at the expense of the folks in New Hampshire. This flat oval plays faster than one would think based on its configuration. Tires are a must here, so keeping fresh rubber on the road is key. Kyle Larson ran second in both races last year, making him a favorite in 2018. Denny Hamlin won here for the third time in his career last year. The Gibbs cars could finish 1-2-3 this summer.
603-783-4931
www.nhms.com
Banking/Turns: 2-7 2017 Winners: Denny Hamlin Distance: 1.058 miles Kyle Busch One-lap qualifying record: Shape: Oval Brad Keselowski, 2014 – 140.598 mph
Phoenix International Raceway
623-463-5400 www.phoenixraceway.com
Many fans believe that Kevin Harvick owns this track. After all, he has five wins, a runner-up and a fourth-place, a fifth-place and a sixth-place finish in the last nine races in the desert. Jimmie Johnson has 15 top-5 finishes here in his 29 starts, but just one of them has come since 2014. No driver ran inside the top 5 in both races in 2017. Understanding how the heat and changes in temperature Banking/Turns: 8-11 2017 Winners: Ryan Newman Matt Kenseth affect tire wear is critical in Distance: 1.0 miles One-lap qualifying record: Shape: D-shaped oval the desert. Tra
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Pocono Raceway
800-722-3929
www.poconoraceway.com
The Tricky Triangle tests drivers in ways that no other track can. Cars reach speeds in excess of 200 mph down the front stretch, then take the first turn at about 135. The three turns all vary in banking and sharpness, and none of the three straightaways are the same length. Kevin Harvick posted a couple of runner-ups last season and Brad Keselowski was fifth in both races giving Banking/Turns: 6, 8, 14 him eight top 5s in 16 starts. Distance: 2.5 miles
2017 Winners: Ryan Blaney Kyle Busch One-lap qualifying record: Shape: Tri-oval Kyle Larson, 2014 – 183.438 mph
Richmond International Raceway Richmond is a quarter mile longer than Bristol and Martinsville, and that extra quarter mile, along with extra width, gives drivers a tad more maneuverability to find the best line than at the other short tracks. Finding that groove is a key to success here. Joey Logano finished first and second at Richmond a year ago while Denny Hamlin ran third and fifth. Logano’s win was “encumbered” by NASCAR due to some improprieties with the rear end.
866-455-7223
www.rir.com
Banking/Turns: 14 2017 Winners: Joey Logano Distance: 0.750 miles Kyle Larson One-lap qualifying record: Shape: D-shaped oval Jeff Gordon, 2013 – 130.599 mph
Sonoma Raceway Road courses like this one and Watkins Glen, are true wild cards on the NASCAR circuit. The 12-turn (or 10turn) circuit is the slower road course. No one has ever qualified as fast as 100 mph. Drivers are constantly shifting, accelerating, braking or turning. An underrated aspect of this track is the elvation change of 160 feet. Denny Hamlin posted a pair of fourth-place finishes on the road courses in 2017. Clint Bowyer excelled as well, finishing second and fifth.
707-938-8448
No. of Turns: 12 2017 Winner: Distance: 1.99 miles Kevin Harvick One-lap qualifying record: Shape: Road course Rusty Wallace, 2000 – 99.309mph
Talladega Superspeedway The circuit’s biggest track always promises excitement and drama. Drivers believe they’re either going to have an opportunity to win, or will get caught up in “The Big One.” With the retirement of Dale Jr., Ricky Stenhouse Jr. could take on the mantle of best plate racer. Brad Keselowski is a candidate for that honor as well. He has five wins at Talladega and 11 top 10s in 18 starts. Aric Almirola ran fourth and fifth last season and now has better equipment at Stewart-Haas.
www.racesonoma.com
877-GO2-DEGA
www.talladegasuperspeedway.com
Banking/Turns: 33 2017 Winners: Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Distance: 2.66 miles Brad Keselowski One-lap qualifying record: Shape: Tri-oval Bill Elliott, 1987 – 212.809 mph
817-215-8500
www.texasmotorspeedway.com
Banking/Turns: 24 2017 Winners: Jimmie Johnson Distance: 1.5 miles Kevin Harvick One-lap qualifying record: Shape: Quad-oval Tony Stewart, 2014 – 200.111 mph
Watkins Glen International
607-535-2486
www.theglen.com
Guest Services - Sprint Cup 2011
Having good brakes and sound strategy are keys to success at the 7-turn layNO CAMPING out at Watkins Glen. The Glen is much faster than B A the road course at Sonoma, with fewer turns and longer straightaways. Negotiating the inner loop between turns 4 and 5 is critical and in an area of the track where spotters are of little help. Martin Truex Jr. proved he could handle right turns with No. of Turns: 7 a win here last year. Denny Distance: 2.45 miles Hamlin is also a threat here. One-lap qualifying record:
To Rte. 414 & 17/I-86
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The cookie-cutter of all cookie-cutter tracks on the circuit, Texas offers few unique characteristics. One aspect is that the track is wide enough to have several effective racing lines. As tires wear, drivers are constantly adjusting their lines. Consequently, it takes patience, savvy and a good set of tires to win in the Lone Star State. Kevin Harvick has seven straight top 10s at Texas, including his first win there last year. Chase Elliott looks like he can win here.
To Rte. 17 & 390
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Texas Motor Speedway
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Golf Cart Routes around No Drive Zone (Uses access road behind displays on Manuafacturer’s Row.) adraw\maps\facility\GuestServices10Cup.cdr rev. 07/22/10
2017 Winner: Martin Truex Jr. Shape: Road course Marcos Ambrose, 2014 –129.491 mph
2018 XFINITY Series DATE VENUE TV Feb. 17 Daytona FS1 Feb. 24 Atlanta FS1 March 3 Las Vegas FS1 March 10 Phoenix FOX March 17 Auto Club FS1 April 7 Texas FOX April 14 Bristol FS1 April 20 Richmond FS1 April 28 Talladega FOX May 5 Dover FS1 May 26 Charlotte FS1 June 2 Pocono FS1 June 9 Michigan FOX June 17 Iowa FS1 June 30 Chicago NBCSN July 6 Daytona NBCSN July 13 Kentucky NBCSN July 21 New Hampshire NBCSN July 28 Iowa NBCSN Aug. 4 Watkins Glen NBC Aug. 11 Mid-Ohio NBCSN Aug. 17 Bristol NBCSN Aug. 25 Road America NBCSN Sept. 1 Darlington NBC Sept. 8 Indianapolis NBCSN Sept. 15 Las Vegas NBCSN Spet. 21 Richmond NBCSN Sept. 29 Charlotte NBCSN Oct. 6 Dover NBCSN Oct. 20 Kansas NBCSN Nov. 3 Texas NBC Nov. 10 Phoenix NBC Nov. 17 Homestead NBCSN
2018 TRUCK SERIES DATE VENUE Feb. 16 Daytona Feb. 24 Atlanta March 2 Las Vegas March 24 Martinsville May 4 Dover May 11 Kansas May 18 Charlotte June 8 Texas June 16 Iowa June 23 St. Louis June 29 Chicago July 12 Kentucky July 18 Eldora July 28 Pocono Aug. 11 Michigan Aug. 15 Bristol Aug. 26 Bowmanville Sept. 14 Las Vegas Oct. 13 Talladega Oct. 27 Martinsville Nov. 2 Texas Nov. 9 Phoenix Nov. 16 Homestead
TV FS1 FS1 FS1 FS1 FS1 FS1 FS1 FS1 FS1 FS1 FS1 FS1 FS1 FS1 FS1 FS1 FS1 FS1 FOX FS1 FS1 FS1 FS1
2018 IndyCar DATE VENUE March 11 St. Petersburg, FL April 7 Phoenix, AZ April 15 Long Beach, CA April 27 Birmingham, AL May 12 Indianapolis, IN May 27 Indianapolis 500 June 2 Detroit, MI June 3 Detroit, MI June 9 Fort Worth, TX June 24 Elkhart, WI July 8 Newton, IA July 15 Toronto, ON July 29 Lexington, OH Aug. 19 Long Pond, PA Aug. 25 Madison, IL Sept. 3 Portland, OR Sept. 16 Sonoma, CA
TV ABC NBCSN NBCSN NBCSN ABC ABC ABC ABC NBCSN NBCSN NBCSN CNBC CNBC NBCSN NBCSN NBCSN NBCSN
Monster Energy Cup Chase and Points System NASCAR completely overhauled the scoring system for 2017, and the reviews are mostly positive from fans and drivers. As a refresher, each race has three Stages. The first two stages will each be about 25-33 percent of the race depending on the venue. The first 10 finishers in each stage will receive points on a sliding scale from 10 to 1. After a “brief” caution, the cars will visit pit road, then return to the track for the next stage. The third stage will be scored as the end of the race with the winner awarded 40 points, second place 35, third 34 and so on. Each Stage 1 and Stage 2 winner will receive one Playoff Point, should they make the playoffs. Stage 3 (Race) winners receive five Playoff Points. The regular season champion is awarded 15 Playoff Points, second place 10 Playoff Points, third eight, fourth seven, etc. At the end of the regular season (26 races), the 16 drivers with the most wins (as long as they’re in the top 30 in points) qualify for the Chase with ties broken by points. Points are reset to 2,000 for these 16 drivers PLUS any Playoff Points they’ve earned. Once the Chase begins, race winners qualify for the next round and the four drivers with the lowest point totals are eliminated after each three-race round. After the first nine races, only four drivers remain in contention for the championship. Of these four drivers, the driver with the best finish at Homestead is then crowned series champion. No bonus points are awarded for leading laps or leading the most laps. The 150-mile qualifying runs at Daytona also earn driver points for places 1-10.
2018 Monster Energy CUP Schedule DATE TRACK TV Feb. 18 Daytona FOX Feb. 25 Atlanta FOX March 4 Las Vegas FOX March 11 Phoenix FOX March 18 Auto Club FOX March 25 Martinsville FS1 April 8 Texas FS1 April 15 Bristol FOX April 21 Richmond FOX April 29 Talladega FOX May 6 Dover FS1 May 12 Kansas FS1 May 19 Charlotte* FS1 May 27 Charlotte FOX June 3 Pocono FS1 June 10 Michigan FOX June 24 Sonoma FS1 July 1 Chicago NBCSN July 7 Daytona NBC July 14 Kentucky NBCSN July 22 New Hampshire NBCSN July 29 Pocono NBCSN Aug. 5 Watkins Glen NBCSN Aug. 12 Michigan NBCSN Aug. 18 Bristol NBCSN Sept. 2 Darlington NBCSN Sept. 9 Indianapolis NBC CHASE FOR THE CUP Sept. 16 Las Vegas NBCSN Sept. 22 Richmond NBCSN Sept. 30 Charlotte NBC Oct. 7 Dover NBCSN Oct. 14 Talladega NBC Oct. 21 Kansas NBC Oct. 28 Martinsville NBCSN Nov. 4 Texas NBCSN Nov. 11 Phoenix NBC Nov. 18 Homestead NBC *NASCAR All-Star Race