Author: Mike Haag

Courtesy of the Verizon IndyCar Series INDIANAPOLIS – A new Indy car tested at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, but it was the old guard leading the way. Tony Kanaan, at 43 the elder statesman in the Verizon IndyCar Series this season, was fastest in Monday’s open test at the 2.5-mile oval for drivers with previous Indianapolis 500 experience. The 2013 Indy 500 winner and driver of the No. 14 ABC Supply AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet posted a top lap of 226.181 mph to lead the 21-car field following six hours of on-track activity. “Every year we come back (to Indianapolis) the…

Courtesy of the NHRA COMMERCE, Ga. – The string of three straight NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series races ends at this weekend’s 38th annual NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway, and after two early exits, Top Fuel standout Antron Brown is ready to end this stretch on a strong note, while also adding a pair of noteworthy accomplishments to his impressive resume. The three-time world champion suffered back-to-back first-round losses in Houston and Charlotte, a matter he hopes to rectify in his 10,000-horsepower Matco Tools/U.S. Army dragster at Georgia’s House of Speed. An Atlanta win would give Brown a…

By Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service TALLADEGA, Ala. – Joey Logano led a Ford feast on Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway, beating Kurt Busch to the checkered flag by .127 seconds to win the GEICO 500, the 10th Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race of the season. Logano led the final 42-of-188 laps, a race-high 70 overall, and controlled the action after a 14-car wreck on Lap 166 thinned the field. Logano led the field to the green flag for the final restart on Lap 172 and stayed out front the rest of the way. The victory was Logano’s third at Talladega…

By Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service Hendrick teammates trigger “The Big One” at Talladega TALLADEGA, Ala. – Throughout Sunday’s GEICO 500 at Talladega Superspeedway, seven-time Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson patiently worked his way forward from his 16th-place starting position, running as high as third and battling with the fastest cars in the race. On Lap 166 of 188, however, Johnson’s race fell apart, when he and Hendrick Motorsports teammate William Byron got too close together as they rolled into Turn 3. Johnson slid sideways in dirty air and collected both Byron and Paul Menard, triggering a…

By Holly Cain, NASCAR Wire Service TALLADEGA, Ala. – Chase Elliott climbed out of his No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet on pit road, downed a bottle of water, spoke with his crew and pretty much was left to wonder, “what if?’’ The talented 22-year old finished third in Sunday’s GEICO 500 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway. But unlike other victory near-misses – he’s had eight career runner-up finishes, including one just last week – Elliott conceded this time he was a victim of circumstance. He was the lone Chevy in a top-five scoreboard of Fords at a track when you need…

Courtesy of the NHRA CONCORD, N.C. – Steve Torrence raced to the Top Fuel victory Sunday at the ninth annual NGK Spark Plugs NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway. Cruz Pedregon (Funny Car), Erica Enders (Pro Stock) and Jerry Savoie (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were also winners in their respective categories at the sixth event on the 2018 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule. Torrence piloted his Capco Contractors dragster to a 3.813-second pass at 326.56 mph as he became the first driver to reach three victories on the season. He defeated Doug Kalitta, Terry McMillen and Clay Millican in the final round…

TALLADEGA, Alabama – One of the most popular places to hang out and watch the GEICO 500 NASCAR race at Talladega Superspeedway is Clyde May’s Whiskey Tower Tavern. Located behind Section M in the Tri-Oval Tower, the “Clyde 240 Tavern” features specialty Alabama/Talladega cocktails and more. This place has quickly become one of the fan-favorite places to visit while attending NASCAR races at Talladega. The drink menu features Clyde May’s Alabama Style Whiskey like the Alabama Mule, The Clyde 240, May’s & Mello, Alabama Pride and Clyde and Coke. If you are at the race today or thinking about going to a future…

News, notes, photos and audio courtesy of NASCAR Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Next Race: GEICO 500 The Place: Talladega Superspeedway The Date: Sunday, April 29 The Time: 2 p.m. ET TV: FOX, 1:30 p.m. ET Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Distance: 500 miles (188 laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 55), Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 110), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 188) Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Keselowski Returns For More Glory At ‘Dega More typically, the massive in size and excitement Talladega Superspeedway is a huge “have at it” as they say in big-time NASCAR…

By Holly Cain, NASCAR Wire Service TALLADEGA, Ala. – For the second consecutive week veteran Elliott Sadler claimed the NASCAR Xfinity Series’ $100,000 Dash 4 Cash incentive check – and this time, the veteran joked he’d spend the big money on his kids and . … celebrating his birthday on Monday. “We go watch our kids play ball and maybe I’ll take a midafternoon nap because I am turning 43,’’ Sadler said smiling, “Maybe I need a Laz-Z-Boy. …that’s what happens at this age.” He certainly wasn’t lagging any in Saturday afternoon’s Sparks Energy 300 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway. Sadler led…

By Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service TALLADEGA, Ala. – Taking advantage of an overtime restart and a fuel shortage that hampered some of the race’s strongest cars, Spencer Gallagher grabbed the lead on the final lap and held on to win Saturday’s Sparks Energy 300 at Talladega Superspeedway. In claiming the first NASCAR Xfinity Series victory of his career, Gallagher crossed the finish line .152 seconds ahead of runner-up Brandon Jones. Justin Allgaier recovered to finish third after running out of fuel under the Lap 105 caution that set up the overtime. The only lap Gallagher has ever led in…