Author: Mike Haag

FORT WORTH, Texas – Newly crowned Indianapolis 500 winner Will Power has his eye on the prize. Power, who two weeks ago scored his first-ever Indy 500 win in 11 tries, hopes to become the third driver in Texas Motor Speedway history to score a back-to-back victory Saturday night when the Verizon IndyCar Series returns to Texas for the DXC Technology 600. Last year at TMS, Power led 180 laps and notched his second victory at TMS where he survived a massive battle of attrition to win the Rainguard Water Sealers 600. “I always love coming to Texas and racing…

DXC Technology 600 Fast Facts Race weekend: Friday, June 8 – Saturday, June 9 Track: Texas Motor Speedway, a 1.5-mile oval Race distance: 248 laps / 357.12 miles Entry List: DXC Technology 600 (PDF) Firestone tire allotment: Thirteen sets for use through the weekend Twitter: @TXMotorSpeedway @IndyCar, #DXC600, #IndyCar Event website: www.TexasMotorSpeedway.com INDYCAR website: www.IndyCar.com 2017 race winner: Will Power (No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet) 2017 Verizon P1 Award winner: Charlie Kimball (No. 83 Tresiba Honda), 46.5861 seconds, 222.556 mph (two laps) Qualifying records (based on track distance of 1.44 miles) One lap: Charlie Kimball, 23.2730, 222.747 mph, June 9, 2017 Two laps: Charlie Kimball, 46.5861 seconds, 222.556 mph, June 9, 2017…

Courtesy of Texas Motor Speedway Media Relations FORT WORTH, Texas – James Hinchcliffe is learning pretty quickly that it takes more than a few good dance moves to earn an official spot in the Texas Motor Speedway Bobblehead Series lineup. The self-proclaimed Mayor of Hinchtown and runner-up on “Dancing with the Stars” in 2016, Hinchcliffe – or more accurately, his bobblehead – was forced to answer some TMS-related questions from already established bobbleheads Danica Patrick and Graham Rahal. Both had their bobbleheads revealed in April and June of 2017, respectively. Hinchcliffe was kind enough to provide the voiceover for his life-sized bobblehead while Texas Motor Speedway’s…

Courtesy of the NHRA DINWIDDIE, Va. — After a frustrating three-race stretch that dropped Matt Hagan out of the points lead, a final round appearance followed by a No. 1 qualifier last weekend showed the two-time Funny Car world champion that things may again be headed back on the right path. Hagan hopes the next step is securing his second win of the 2018 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season at this weekend’s inaugural Virginia NHRA Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park. Racing just four hours from home, the Christiansburg, Va., native is anxious to return to the track for…

Courtesy of the NHRA DINWIDDIE, Va. — With two final round appearances in the past three NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series races, Top Fuel standout Leah Pritchett is eager to continue that momentum at this weekend’s inaugural Virginia NHRA Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park. It is the first NHRA race at the facility since 2009, which also means it will be Pritchett’s Top Fuel debut at the track in her 10,000-horsepower FireAde dragster. Already sensing the great anticipation for the race from the huge fanbase in the area, Pritchett, who is currently third in Top Fuel points, is looking…

By Holly Cain, NASCAR Wire Service DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Reigning Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion Martin Truex Jr.’s win at Pocono Raceway over the weekend provided a good glimpse at how the 2018 title hunt may well shape up. Truex picked up his second victory of the season and is the only driver other than five-time winner Kevin Harvick and four-time winner Kyle Busch with more than one win. And those two sure-bet title chasers were right on Truex’ No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Toyota’s bumper – finishing third and fourth, respectively. Just behind Truex, however, was 24-year old…

Courtesy of the Verizon IndyCar Series DETROIT – After Ryan Hunter-Reay won a Verizon IndyCar Series race for the first time in 43 starts, he celebrated by taking a dip in the James Scott Memorial Fountain at Belle Isle Park. Hunter-Reay raced to victory in Sunday’s second half of the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear doubleheader, winning by 11.3549 seconds over Will Power. It was the 17th Indy car victory for the Floridian and first since a win at Pocono Raceway in August 2015. “To be that much faster than the rest of the field, yeah, it’s…

Courtesy of the NHRA JOLIET, Ill. – Clay Millican raced to his second straight victory of the season with a win on Sunday at the 21st annual JEGS Route 66 NHRA Nationals at Route 66 Raceway. Robert Hight (Funny Car), Jeg Coughlin Jr. (Pro Stock) and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were also winners in their respective categories at the ninth of 24 events on the 2018 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule. Millican piloted his Parts Plus/Great Clips dragster to 3.894-second pass at 289.32 mph to secure his third career win. He defeated Pat Dakin, Scott Palmer,…

By Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service LONG POND, Pa. – Taking charge of Sunday’s Pocono 400 by staying out under caution on Lap 140 of 160, reigning Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion Martin Truex Jr. pulled away after a restart with seven laps left to win the race and inject himself emphatically into the title conversation. The outcome was all about control. Five-time winner Kevin Harvick had it for most of the event, leading a race-high 89 laps. Four-time winner Kyle Busch had it late, winning the race off pit road on Lap 126 and leading Truex and Harvick until a…

By Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service Ryan Blaney perseveres through trying day at Pocono LONG POND, Pa. – A promising Friday didn’t produce a satisfying Sunday for defending Pocono 400 winner Ryan Blaney. After winning the pole position for the 14th Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race of the season, Blaney stayed out front for the first 11 laps of the event at Pocono Raceway before Kevin Harvick passed him for the lead. That was the last time Blaney would hold the top spot. After starting a cycle of green-flag pit stops on Lap 16, Blaney couldn’t contend with the…