Author: Mike Haag

By Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service RICHMOND, Va. – After a dismal two weeks that saw the No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Toyota of reigning Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion Martin Truex Jr. crash out of races at Texas and Bristol, Truex found a welcome stroke of success on Friday at Richmond Raceway. With a lap at 123.859 mph (21.799 seconds) in the final round of knockout qualifying, Truex claimed the Busch Pole Award for Saturday night’s Toyota Owners 400 (6:30 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio), edging Chase Elliott (123.621 mph) for the top starting spot by…

Courtesy of the Verizon IndyCar Series BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – Josef Newgarden has found a home at his “home track.” Winner of two of the last three Honda Grand Prix of Alabama presented by America’s First races, Newgarden led Verizon IndyCar Series practice today for this year’s ninth running that takes place Sunday at Barber Motorsports Park. Newgarden toured the picturesque 17-turn, 2.3-mile permanent road course in 1 minute, 7.4345 seconds (122.786 mph) in the latter of two practice sessions. HONDA INDY GRAND PRIX OF ALABAMA: Practice 1 results; Practice 2 results; Combined practice results Newgarden, who hails from 200 miles away in Nashville,…

By Holly Cain, NASCAR Wire Service DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – It was certainly a rough start to his “return home” for Denny Hamlin Friday at Richmond (Va.) Raceway, but the three-time winner at the track smiled and remained optimistic about his chances come Saturday night’s green flag. The Joe Gibbs Racing team was hard at work on Hamlin’s No. 11 FedEx Toyota from Friday’s opening practice on at the three-quarter mile Richmond track – trying to get it properly prepped for Saturday’s Toyota Owners 400 (6:30 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). By the time Hamlin faced the media…

Courtesy of the Verizon IndyCar Series INDIANAPOLIS – Though he has the most race wins of any active Verizon IndyCar Series driver, Scott Dixon has his eyes set on a new kind of victory in intense competition – being a bona fide “INDYCAR Ninja.” Dixon, 37, will compete in the 10th season of NBC’s hit obstacle-course competition series “American Ninja Warrior,” which will film its city qualifier and city finals episodes in Indianapolis on April 29-30. The top athletes from the first night of competition move on to the city finals round on the second night. From there, the top ninjas move…

By Holly Cain, NASCAR Wire Service DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Kyle Larson is one of the most even-keeled, happy-go-lucky drivers in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series – typically smiling, always willing to sign autographs and even popular with his competitors. But Larson’s runner-up showing to Kyle Busch in Monday’s rain-delayed race finish at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway, stoked some real competitive frustration in the fifth-year Cup driver. And even four days later, speaking with the media in advance of Saturday night’s Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond (Va.) Raceway (6 p.m. ET on FOX, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio), it was apparent…

BAYTOWN, Texas – The NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series rolls into Southeast Texas this weekend for the 31st annual NHRA SpringNationals at Royal Purple Raceway. The event marks the first of two annual NHRA stops in the Lone Star State and the fifth of 24 races during the 2018 NHRA season. The NHRA SpringNationals will feature the high-powered, nitro-burning, 10,000-horsepower and 330-mph Top Fuel and Funny Car classes along with the 200-mph ultra-competitive Pro Stocks. After four races this season the championship points races in the Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock classes are extremely tight in all…

Courtesy of the NHRA BAYTOWN, Texas – With visions of a fourth world championship in the talent-heavy E3 Spark Plugs NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by J&A Service season, the 2018 season couldn’t have started any better for longtime standout Rickie Smith. The three-time world champion won the season-opening event in Gainesville, taking the early-season points lead in his nitrous-powered Bahrain 1 Racing Chevrolet Camaro. But with 11 races remaining and the class deeper than ever heading to Royal Purple Raceway as part of this weekend’s NHRA SpringNationals, Smith knows there can’t be any let-up in his approach.…

By Holly Cain, NASCAR Wire Service DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Fifth-year Monster Energy NASCAR Cup driver Kyle Larson was understandably disappointed – perhaps even miffed – in finishing runner-up to Kyle Busch in Monday’s rain-delayed Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway. Larson led a race best 200 laps compared to 117 for Busch. And in the final 129 laps, the two drivers exchanged the lead four times between themselves. Larson led 65 of those laps, and Busch led 64 – including the final one. Although the expression on Larson’s face after the race hardly disguised the discontent, he was stand-up…

Courtesy of the NHRA BAYTOWN, Texas – More than ready to put a prolonged slump behind her, a visit to Royal Purple Raceway for this weekend’s NHRA SpringNationals might be just the place for Erica Enders to give her 2018 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season the jumpstart it needs. It’s the hometown track for the two-time Pro Stock world champ and also a facility home to an abundance of special memories for Enders, who posted back-to-back Pro Stock wins there during her championship seasons in 2014 and 2015. Enders and her Elite Motorsports team haven’t found their footing…

Courtesy of the Verizon IndyCar Series Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama fast facts Race weekend: Friday, April 20 – Sunday, April 22 Track: Barber Motorsports Park, a 2.3-mile, 17-turn road course (clockwise) in Birmingham, Alabama Race distance: 90 laps / 207 miles Entry List: Honda Indy Grand Prix of Alabama (PDF) Push-to-pass parameters: 200 seconds of total time with a maximum time of 20 seconds per activation. Firestone tire allotment: Seven sets primary, four sets alternate Twitter: @BarberMotorPark @IndyCar, #HIGPA, #IndyCar Event website: www.barberracingevents.com INDYCAR website: www.IndyCar.com 2017 race winner: Josef Newgarden (No. 2 Fitzgerald Glider Kits Team Penske Chevrolet) 2017 Verizon P1 Award winner: Will Power (No. 12 Verizon…