Kurt Busch on the pole for Sunday’s FireKeepers Casino 400

Posted on by
Reply
Cup Qualifying Press Conference-8751

Kurt Busch speaks to the media after winning the pole for Sunday’s FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway. Eric Young/The SuperSpeedway

BROOKLYN, MICH — Kurt Busch ran a lap of 203.361 miles per hour to win the pole for the 2018 FireKeepers Casino 400 during qualifying Friday.

It was Busch’s 24th career pole position and his second of 2018.

Brad Keselowski qualified second with a speed of 203.166 mph. Kyle Busch barely made it into the second round of qualifying but was good enough for a third-place starting position in the final round with a speed of 203.120 mph. Kevin Harvick qualified fourth and Joey Logano fifth.

“I left a little bit out there,” Keselowski said after his run. “I’m kind of kicking myself in the butt. I don’t know if I could have gotten to Kurt.”

Busch said his run was fun because he knew he needed to go after it hard, but he had confidence in his car.

“Watching all the Forts in practice I knew we had a good shot at it,” Busch said. “The guys tweaked on the tires the right amount. It is a new compound, left and right side, and we didn’t want to get caught up too much in chasing the tires. We went with the status quo. I think it is because of the speed that I like here and Texas and the balance we had in our car in qualifying.”

He said now it is time to put it together for the race.

“Now we need to translate that to race speed,” Busch said. “I enjoy qualifying here. It’s a pleasure to have one of these Fords and have Yates power under the hood. To go 217 miles per hour, to haul the mail going into the corner, I love that feeling.”

Scannable Document on Jun 8, 2018 at 7_04_12 PM

PHOTOS: NASCAR Xfinity Series practice at Michigan International Speedway

Posted on by
Reply

BROOKLYN, MICH. — The NASCAR Xfinity Series is running the same aero package at Michigan International Speedway this weekend as the one they ran at Indianapolis last season and at Pocono last weekend.

While the package appeared to disappoint drivers and fans alike last weekend, it was met with rave reviews after the Brickyard last year. And if practice was any indication Friday, it’s going to be an excellent fit for the 18-degree banked 2-mile Michigan International Speedway. Practice saw packs of cars more reminiscent of a superspeedway like Daytona or Talladega than MIS. Here are some photos from today’s final practice session.

 

Blaney leads first Cup practice at MIS

Posted on by
Reply
Cup Practice-8359

Ryan Blaney turned the fastest lap in the first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice at Michigan International Speedway Friday. Eric Young/The SuperSpeedway

BROOKLYN, MICH. — Ryan Blaney topped the first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice at Michigan International Speedway Friday.

Blaney turned a lap of 202.617 mph. Kyle Busch was second fastest with a 201.925 mph. Brad Keselowski was third at his home track with a 201.867. Kevin Harvick and Chase Elliott rounded out the top five. Last year’s winner Kyle Larson was 16th fastest with a speed of 199.242.

Scannable Document on Jun 8, 2018 at 12_54_39 PM.jpg

Larson: No disadvantage for Chevy this season

Posted on by
Reply
Press Conference-8272

Kyle Larson speaks to the media at Michigan International Speedway Friday. Eric Young/The SuperSpeedway

BROOKLYN, MICH. — While the talk of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season so far has been the disadvantage the new Chevrolet Camaro has versus the Fords and the Toyotas, but defending Firekeepers Casino 400 winner Kyle Larson said Friday during media availability that he’s not buying it.

“I’ve never felt like Chevys have been at a disadvantage this year,” Larson said. “Our team has been pretty solid every race. I think some of the teams maybe just use it as an excuse where we don’t do that.”

After 14 races this season, Larson has five top-five finishes and nine top-10s. He has yet to get a win. Last year Larson was coming into the June MIS race with a victory at Auto Club Speedway.

“Obviously I don’t think we’re as fast as we were at this point last year, but I don’t think we’re that far off either,” Larson said. “Honestly, I feel like maybe we’re kind of where we were at last year, just other teams are a little bit better.”

If Larson wins Sunday, he will become only the second driver in the 50-year history of the track to win four Cup Series races in a row. But he said that isn’t on his mind at this point.

“I don’t really think about it,” Larson said. “It’s honestly just another race to me. I think it’d hit me, I think the importance of it and I would really feel how special it is when we’re standing in victory lane after the race. I think everything before that though, I try not to focus on it or worry about it. Just go out there and do what we do as a team and try to get a win.”

That being said, Larson said it would be special to tie a record set by Bill Elliott with four in a row.

“For sure it’d be special if we did get that fourth win, and then I think you’d start thinking about breaking that record of getting five in a row,” he said. “But there’s no guarantees that we’re going to win this weekend. I would say this one would be tougher than any of them just looking at how fast those three guys (Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick and Martin Truex Jr.) are right now.”

Larson said he is optimistic how the season has been so far and added the team continues to improve.

“We’re making our cars better every week,” he said. “The guys in the shop are really excited about every car that we’ve been bringing to the track because there’s little things that have made them better each week. That’s exciting. I feel like the engine department with Hendrick engines, I don’t think we’re lacking there at all. They’re doing a really good job. We just have to get probably some more downforce and just overall performance and at least the 42 team will be right there competing for wins.”

The Firekeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway is Sunday. The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series will qualify at 4:10 p.m. Friday.

Podcast #63 — Who wrecked the pace car?

Posted on by
Reply

Show Notes:

Recap: Pocono 400

  • Martin Truex Jr. returns to victory lane. Out duals Busch and Harvick.
    • Has Truex now entered the championship discussion?
    • Pit strategy makes for and interesting day.
    • Larson finishes second.
    • Johnson leads first laps of the season.

Xfinity aero package

News Items:

Preview: Firekeepers Casino 400 from Michigan International Speedway

  • Picks
    • Eric: Joey Logano
    • James: Kyle Larson

Dark Horse

    • James: Aric Almirola
    • Eric: Erik Jones
  • Coverage incoming
  • Shoutouts if any
    • Plug the fantasy league
    • Plug Patreon

Close show

  • Where can we be found on social media?
  • James @jameskuch on Twitter
  • Eric @Eric8199 on Twitter
  • The SuperSpeedway @TSuperspeedway on Twitter
  • Facebook @ TheSuperSpeedway

For more of the podcast:

  • Website address: www.thesuperspeedway.com
  • Podcasts will be found on there as well.
  • Find us on iTunes, Google Play and Soundcloud

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series

Next Race: FireKeepers Casino 400

The Place: Michigan International Speedway

The Date: Sunday, June 10

The Time: 2 p.m. ET

TV: FOX, 1:30 p.m. ET

Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Distance: 400 miles (200 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 60),

Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 120), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 200)

 

NASCAR Xfinity Series

Next Race: LTi Printing 200

The Place: Michigan International Speedway

The Date: Saturday, June 9

The Time: 1:30 p.m. ET

TV: FOX, 1 p.m. ET

Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Distance: 250 miles (125 laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 30),

Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 60), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 125)

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series 

Next Race: Rattlesnake 400

The Place: Texas Motor Speedway

The Date: Friday, June 8

The Time: 9 p.m. ET

TV: FS1, 8 p.m. ET

Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Distance: 250.5 miles (167 laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 40),

Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 80), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 167)

Ryan Hunter-Reay wins Detroit Grand Prix Dual 2

Posted on by
Reply

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

DETROIT — Alexander Rossi had the starting position and the strategy to get a win on Belle Isle during the second of two races Sunday in the Detroit Grand Prix Dual 2. But after pressure from teammate Ryan Hunter-Reay in the closing laps, Rossi locked up his tires on two consecutive laps going into turn three — the second time missing the turn and handing the lead to Hunter-Reay.

And that was all Hunter-Reay needed to earn his first victory in the Verizon IndyCar Series since 2015. After chasing down Rossi and taking over the lead, Hunter-Reay led the last seven laps of the race to take the victory. Rossi would end up with a flat tire and fell to 12th in the final finishing order.

Will Power backed up his Indianapolis 500 win one week prior with a second-place finish his his Team Penske, Chevrolet-powered car, coming up just one spot short of getting Roger Penske a win at the race that he brought back to Detroit. Ed Jones would finish out the podium in third.

Rossi’s problems dropped him from first in the points to third. Will Power took over the points lead with 309 points over Scott Dixon in second with 304. Dixon won the first of the two Detroit Grand Prix duals. Ryan Hunter-Reay is fourth in points with Josef Newgarden in fifth.

The Verizon IndyCar series heads to Texas Motor Speedway Saturday this Saturday, June 9, for the DXC Technology 600.

Podcast #62 — Kyle Busch makes history with 600 victory

Posted on by
Reply

Show notes:

Recap: Coca-Cola 600

  • Kyle Busch dominates
    • Leads 377 of 400 laps, wins each stage
    • Has won on every track he’s competed on — first in history to do that

Other races this weekend:

  • Daniel Riccardo leads every lap of the Monaco Grand Prix with power issues to win
  • Will Power wins his first Indianapolis 500
    • Danica Patrick, fitting to her career, crashes out of her last 500

News Items:

Preview: Pocono 400 from Pocono Raceway

  • Picks
    • James: Joey Logano
    • Eric: Ryan Blaney

Dark Horse

    • Eric: Daniel Suarez
    • James: Kasey Kahne
  • Shoutouts if any
    • Plug the fantasy league
    • Plug Patreon

Close show

  • Where can we be found on social media?
  • James @jameskuch on Twitter
  • Eric @Eric8199 on Twitter
  • The SuperSpeedway @TSuperspeedway on Twitter
  • Facebook @ TheSuperSpeedway

For more of the podcast:

  • Website address: www.thesuperspeedway.com
  • Podcasts will be found on there as well.
  • Find us on iTunes, Google Play and Soundcloud

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series
Next Race: Pocono 400
The Place: Pocono Raceway
The Date: Sunday, June 3
The Time: 2 p.m. ET
TV: FS1, 12:30 p.m. ET
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Distance: 400 miles (160 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 50),
Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 100), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 160)
NASCAR Xfinity Series
Next Race: Pocono Green 250
The Place: Pocono Raceway
The Date: Saturday, June 2
The Time: 1 p.m. ET
TV: FS1, 12:30 p.m. ET
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Distance: 250 miles (100 laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 25),
Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 50), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 100)
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
Next Race: Rattlesnake 400
The Place: Texas Motor Speedway
The Date: Friday, June 8
The Time: 9 p.m. ET
TV: FS1, 8 p.m. ET
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Distance: 250.5 miles (167 laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 40),
Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 80), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 167)

Podcast #60 — NASCAR has a nice (aero) package

Posted on by
Reply

Recap: All-Star Race

News Items:

  • XXX

Preview: Coke 600 from Charlotte Motor Speedway

  • Picks
    • Eric: Joey Logano
    • James: Ryan Blaney

Dark Horse

    • James:  Erik Jones
    • Eric: DINGER

Shoutouts if any

  • Plug the fantasy league
  • Plug Patreon

Close show

  • Where can we be found on social media?
  • James @jameskuch on Twitter
  • Eric @Eric8199 on Twitter
  • The SuperSpeedway @TSuperspeedway on Twitter
  • Facebook @ TheSuperSpeedway

For more of the podcast:

  • Website address: www.thesuperspeedway.com
  • Podcasts will be found on there as well.
  • Find us on iTunes, Google Play and Soundcloud

Podcast #59 — Are we STILL talking about penalties?

Posted on by
Reply

Show notes:

Recap: KC Masterpiece 400 at Kansas Speedway

    • Harvick comes out on top again
    • Kyle Larson was the guy until the runin with Blaney
    • Truex stayed out after the contact, Harvick pitted for tires.

 

  • AUDIO (:39) — Rodney Childers didn’t think they were going to win.

 

  • Big wreck

News Items:

 

Preview: All Star Race from Charlotte Motor Speedway

  • NASCAR Raceday Pre-Race Show: 5:00pm/et on FS1
  • Open Race Coverage: 6:00pm/et on FS1
  • NASCAR Raceday Pre-Race Show: 7:30pm/et on FS1
  • All-Star Race Coverage: 8:00pm/et on FS1
  • • The format for the annual non-points event will include four stages – 30 laps, 20 laps, 20 laps and 10 laps.
  • • Only green flag laps will be counted in the Final Stage.
  • • Normal stage break procedures will be in effect, but NASCAR Overtime will be in play for all stages.
  • • There will be no mandatory pit strategy.
  • • The Monster Energy Open will be three stages set at 20, 20 and 10 laps respectively. Each stage winner will advance to the evening’s main event.
  • All-Star Race field; The All-Star race will consist of 21 cars — the 17 eligible drivers, the winner of each stage in the Monster Energy Open, and the fan vote winner.
  • Entry Lists for the Monster Energy Open and All-Star races at Charlotte Motor Speedway are posted.
  • All 17 eligible drivers are entered for the All-Star race.
  • For the open, 21 teams are listed including: #00-Cassill, #15-Chastain, #51-Rhodes, #55-Sorenson, #66-Hill, #72-LaJoie.

 

  • Are we OK with the current criteria?
    • Dave Moody says the race should be more exclusive
  • Expectations?
  • Picks
    • Open Picks
    • James: Chase Elliott, Aric Almirola, Erik Jones FV: Matt DiBenedetto
    • Eric: Chase Elliott, Aric Almirola, Daniel Suarez FV: Darrell Wallace Jr.
    • All Star Picks
    • James: Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
    • Eric: Kyle Larson
  • Shoutouts if any
    • Plug the fantasy league
    • Plug Patreon

Close show

  • Where can we be found on social media?
  • James @jameskuch on Twitter
  • Eric @Eric8199 on Twitter
  • The SuperSpeedway @TSuperspeedway on Twitter
  • Facebook @ TheSuperSpeedway

For more of the podcast:

  • Website address: www.thesuperspeedway.com
  • Podcasts will be found on there as well.
  • Find us on iTunes, Google Play and Soundcloud

 

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series

Next Race: Monster Energy NASCAR All-Star Race

The Place: Charlotte Motor Speedway

The Date: Saturday, May 19

The Time: 6 p.m. ET

TV: FS1, 5 p.m. ET

Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Distance: Open – 3 Stages: 20 Laps / 20 Laps / 10 Laps

All-Star Race – 4 Stages: 30 Laps / 20 Laps / 20 Laps / 10 Laps

NASCAR Xfinity Series

Next Race: Alsco 300

The Place: Charlotte Motor Speedway

The Date: Saturday, May 26

The Time: 1 p.m. ET

TV: FS1, 12:30 p.m. ET

Radio: PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Distance: 300 miles (200 laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 45),

Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 90), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 200)

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series

Next Race: North Carolina Education Lottery 200

The Place: Charlotte Motor Speedway

The Date: Friday, May 18

The Time: 8:30 p.m. ET

TV: FS1, 8 p.m. ET

Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Distance: 201 miles (134 laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 30),

Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 60), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 134)