NASCAR to resume season May 17 with 7 races in 10 days
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — NASCAR announced Thursday that it will resume its season without fans starting May 17 at Darlington Raceway in South Carolina with the premier Cup Series racing three more times in a 10-day span.NASCAR joins the UFC as the first major sports organization to announce specific return to play plans since the coronavirus pandemic shut down U.S. sports in mid-March.“NASCAR and its teams are eager and excited to return to racing, and have great respect for the responsibility that comes with a return to competition,” said Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR executive vice president and chief racing development officer. “NASCAR will return in an environment that will ensure the safety of our competitors, officials and all those in the local community.NASCAR's revised schedule goes only through May and has a pair of Wednesday races, fulfilling fans longtime plea for midweek events.
Matt Kenseth back to NASCAR as Larson replacement at Ganassi
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Former NASCAR champion Matt Kenseth will again come out of retirement to compete for Chip Ganassi Racing as the replacement for fired driver Kyle Larson.Larson lost his job two weeks ago for using a racial slur while competing in a virtual race.
Earnhardt race car up for auction to fund virus relief work
WELCOME, N.C. — NASCAR team owner Richard Childress is auctioning off one of racing legend Dale Earnhardt’s cars to raise money for coronavirus relief efforts.The Charlotte Observer reports that this is the first time Childress has sold or given away an original Earnhardt car from his personal collection.A news release Thursday from Richard Childress Racing officials doesn’t specify which of Earnhardt’s trademark No. 3 race cars is up for auction.Childress tweeted Friday that parting with one of his cars is “a small sacrifice” for him to make.Earnhardt died in a crash during the last lap of the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway in 2001.The eBay site for the auction doesn’t list a deadline for bidding on items.Richard Childress Racing is based in Welcome, North Carolina.
Sports leagues seek return to play but with no guarantees
LOS ANGELES -- With no games being played, recent sports headlines have centered around hopes and dreams — namely, the uncharted path leagues and teams must navigate to return to competition in the wake of the pandemic.Virtually all leagues talk publicly about their desire to return before summer.
NASCAR's Kyle Larson suspended for racial slur in virtual race
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Kyle Larson was suspended indefinitely by NASCAR and without pay by Chip Ganassi Racing on Monday for using a racial slur on a live stream during a virtual race.
NASCAR's Joey Logano sets up $1M coronavirus recovery fund
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- NASCAR star Joey Logano has established a $1 Million COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund.The fund is from the Joey Logano Foundation in partnership with Elevation Church.The money will be used to address a variety of needs, including educational equity and access, medical supplies, food distribution, and financial shortages throughout the greater Charlotte, North Carolina area and communities across the United States.
NASCAR, IndyCar both postpone weekend races over virus concerns
ATLANTA -- NASCAR and IndyCar both reversed course Friday and pulled the plug on racing this weekend, with IndyCar suspending its season through the end of April due to concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic.NASCAR only suspended Sunday's race at Atlanta Motor Speedway and next week at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
Ryan Newman remains in serious condition after scary crash at Daytona 500
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Ryan Newman, leading the final lap of NASCAR's Daytona 500, was involved in a fiery crash Monday that saw his car spin and go airborne, flipping several times.FOX television commentators said Newman was removed and taken directly to a local hospital."Ryan Newman is being treated at Halifax Medical Center," according to a statement posted on Twitter by Roush Fenway Racing. "He is in serious condition, but doctors have indicated his injuries are not life threatening."The 42-year-old racer is in his 19th full season in the NASCAR Cup series, according to his profile on the association's website.
President Trump looks to rev up his base at Daytona 500
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is out to rev up his appeal with a key voting demographic — NASCAR fans — as he takes in the Daytona 500 on Sunday.NASCAR drivers may veer to the left during their trip around the oval racetrack, but their fans lean right, which helps explain the regularity with which GOP presidents have made their way to the track.President Trump will be the second sitting president to attend the Daytona 500, after George W.
NASCAR trivia: A game to get you ready for the Daytona 500 race
DAYTONA, Fla. — We’re gearing up for the biggest NASCAR race of the year — the Daytona 500.
NASCAR drivers anticipate changes to Speedweeks next year
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Speedweeks is facing a significant shakeup.
NASCAR legend Junior Johnson, "The Last American Hero," dies at 88
Robert Glenn “Junior” Johnson, a moonshine runner turned NASCAR driver described as “The Last American Hero” by author Tom Wolfe in a 1965 article for Esquire, died Friday.
7-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson to retire after 2020
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Jimmie Johnson is the latest NASCAR superstar to climb out of his car, with the seven-time champion announcing Wednesday that 2020 will be his final season of full-time racing.The winningest driver of his era will have a 19th season in the No. 48 Chevrolet and once again chase a record eighth championship.
Bell restarts fast, wins NASCAR Xfinity race at Road America
ELKHART LAKE — Christopher Bell pulled away from the field on a restart with two laps to go, then held on to win the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Road America on Saturday.It was the sixth win of the season for Bell, who is expected to make the jump to the Cup Series next season.Austin Cindric finished second at the 4.048-mile road course in central Wisconsin, followed by Tyler Reddick, Noah Gragson and Kaz Grala.AJ Allmendinger appeared to be in good position to challenge Bell in the closing laps.
Allmendinger wins pole at Road America in Wisconsin
ELKHART LAKE — AJ Allmendinger turned a lap of 109.792 mph during qualifying on Saturday to earn pole position for the NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Road America.Matt DiBenedetto qualified second at the 4.048-mile road course, followed by Austin Cindric, Cole Custer and Noah Gragson.
NASCAR shuffles 2020 schedule to freshen stagnant schedule
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — NASCAR made the first significant changes to its schedule in years by shuffling the 2020 season into a freshened new sequence that tries to meet the wants of fans to the best of its current ability.The 2020 schedule was released Tuesday at ISM Raceway outside Phoenix, which will host the season finale.Indianapolis Motor Speedway got July 5th to give the iconic track back-to-back summer holiday weekends.
'It's a rush:' NASCAR pit crew members ready to jump into action as soon as car hits pit road
LAS VEGAS -- They jump into action as soon as the car hits pit road.
Denny Hamlin cruises to 2nd Daytona 500 victory in 4 years
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Denny Hamlin won the Daytona 500 for the second time in four years, leading a 1-2-3 sweep for Joe Gibbs Racing.The victory Sunday honored J.D. Gibbs, who died last month after battling a degenerative neurological disease.