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written by AJ Appeal The pre-season fanfare for American baseball i ncludes reports on the best and worst prospects heading into Spring Training each year. We are told by tenured sports writers why they feel players will lead the league in strikeouts or home runs, and quite often they are correct in their predictions. Imagine that..in a sport with so many probabilities such as baseball, we almost instantly know who the next rising star is and what they're going to be capable of before their career even begins. It isn't uncommon for predictions of a similar nature to occur in the world of stock car racing. One of the most memorable came in the 2000's when NASCAR legend Mark Martin told the world about young Joey Logano. So much has been made about Logano's earned nickname, ' Sliced Bread', which he was called as a teenager. We watched as Joey made his way through the ranks and it turned out that Martin was correct. Logano demanded the media's attention and won race after race in the then NASCAR Nationwide (Xfinity) Series driving the Gamestop Toyota. His rookie season in Cup he won and became the youngest ever winner in NASCAR's premiere series. As exciting as it was to watch Joey in that era, we all felt like we knew what to expect because of Mark Martin and the media telling us he was the next best thing. The 1990s and 2000s are referred to as NASCAR's Golden Era for several reasons. One of them being an increase in driver personality and average talent which made on-track competition more fierce than ever. As the turn of the century happened we were introduced to dozens of young or previously successful racers who were preparing for their Cup Series careers. Jamie McMurray and Kasey Kahne, Martin Truex Jr. and Clint Bowyer. Countless other men and women strived for greatness. One of the most interesting things that happened was a wave of men named David who felt they had what it took to dethrone the reigning champion. Champions in this era were true juggernauts such as the Labontes, Dale Jarrett, Dale Earnhardt, Jeff Gordon and Tony Stewart...you could call them Goliaths. Every one of those champs became future hall of fame recipients. Many of the Davids that entered the top echelon had a storied career in their past, it only seemed right that they could grow from bench warmer to starting all-star. Some of them earned wonderous accolades while others struggled more than they had hoped. Here are the interesting stories of the same-name underdogs. David Green You probably heard of the Alabama Gang if you're reading content on Racing Refresh. It's possible, perhaps, that you are less familiar with the 'Owensboro Boys'. Most popular from the Owensboro region were the Waltrip brothers Darrell and Michael, but another set of brothers who shared a name with the 'Go!' flag were also born there. The oldest of the Green brothers was David, born in 1958. His brothers Jeff and Mark Green both had their own racing careers that followed in his path. David's Busch Grand National career started in 1989 at Hickory Speedway. He became a mainstay in the series and won his first national stock car event in 1991 at Lanier. In 1994 he won the Busch Grand National championship at the age of 36. His 404 races ran from 1989-2013 placed him at 9th all-time in the middle-tiered championship. He only won 9 times, one to match each day that Ferris Bueller called in sick. Despite not having more checkered flags and trophies, he earned a Top 10 finish 47% of the time! Add 22 poles to that, and his legacy is etched pretty well into the record books. In 1997, Green was given the opportunity to drive most of the season and compete in his Cup Series debut. His first start in the Winston Cup (Premiere) Series was at the Goodwrench Service 400 at Rockingham. He started 14th and finished 38th that day. In total, he raced 78 times between 1997 and 2004. His final Cup appearance was at the 2004 Chevy Rock and Roll 400 at Richmond. He earned only one Top 15 finish in his cup career, a 12th place at Phoenix in 1999. With an average finish of 30.0, his Cup career never compared to his competitive results below. After the 2004 season he focused on Busch Series racing and added a handful of NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races to his calendar. His final Top 5 and Top 10 were sudden. It came in a truck event at Kentucky in 2007. He would never break the top ten again in any national racing series. He retired from driving professionally in 2013 and has mostly been out of the spotlight ever since. In the 2010s he began work officially for NASCAR as an official. He currently holds the title of safety manager and can be seen at the track working during inspections or other events through the weekend. David Starr One of the words previously mentioned for David Green was 'mainstay.' NASCAR racer David Starr has earned a similar title for sure. While he is certainly experienced in all three of the top national touring divisions, his time in NASCAR Xfinity and Truck racing has given him a nearly ageless persona. Starr is mostly remembered for being a tough competitor in NASCAR's Craftsman Truck Series in the early 2000's. From the years of 1998 to 2013 he earned 4 wins and 48 top 5's, most of which behind the wheel of the #75 Spears Manufacturing Chevrolet Silverado. With a diverse success at different types of tracks he was a pre-season contender for the annual truck championship most years from 2002 to 2006. He slowly graduated himself to the Nationwide Series (Xfinity), but continued to race in both for many years. In 2011, at the age of 43, Starr made his NASCAR Cup Series debut at Texas Motor Speedway. He matched the previous David, and finished 38th place in his premiere. Between 2011 and 2021 Starr raced a total of 17 times for several different teams and was not fortunate enough to earn a lead lap finish, pole, or top 10. With lackluster results at the top, he continued to focus on Xfinity Racing. Some of his fans missed him being a more common threat below in the trucks, but his final full-time campaign was in 2011. While his energy was aimed at the Xfinity Series, only 3 Top 10 finishes were earned in 248 career starts. What's to blame for David Starr's onset fame and success in trucks in the early 2000s turned into meme and lapped traffic in the 2020s? He has stayed healthy as he reached his mid 50's and maintained a full time career behind the wheel when other drivers fail to get a job with teams big or small. Perhaps he simply enjoys the adrenaline that comes with driving a car 200mph, but his best days statistically are certainly behind. David Ragan Second generation racer David Ragan entered the sport of NASCAR with big shoes to fill. His father, Ken Ragan out of Unadilla, Georgia was never considered one of the most successful on the track, but he was a driver that was respected in the south. Ken made 50 career starts from 1983 to 1990. David, like so many other drivers dreamt of earning more statistically than his father was able to achieve. Ragan raced in various resume-building series, he first earned the attention of NASCAR Hall of Fame car owner Jack Roush as a participant of the prestigious 'Gong Show' and in 2004 he was competing in the Arca Re/Max, NASCAR Craftsman Truck, and NASCAR Busch Grand National Series'...at the age of 18 years old! Like so many others who were awarded contracts with Roush, he stood in line for the right opportunity. It was Mark Martin's retirement tour in 2005. He and Rusty Wallace celebrated their careers together. At each race the tracks or media would give the two legends gifts such as rocking chairs or enormous trophies. Poppycock celebrations would sometimes distract from the fact that these men were intending fully on truly competing for their final championship season's title. David Ragan was selected to replace Mark Martin. In 2006, however, sponsor AAA and Roush convinced Martin to stay on board for one more full season. At the end of the year, headlines surfaced that Martin was continuing to race yet again, this time part-time with new teams. Ragan finally had his chance to compete regularly. It is nearly impossible for a person to replace a legend of their industry. Ragan strapped his racing shoes on with the pressure of his father's reputation, being charged with the replacement of legend Mark Martin, and let's not forget the pressure of driving for Jack Roush in his best years. While Roush Racing was known for their speed on the 1.5-mile ovals far more than other tracks in that time, Ragan raced with legends like Earnhardt Jr. and Jeff Gordon and competed strong at the restrictor plate tracks of Daytona and Talladega. In 2009 he won a race at Bristol in the Nationwide Series, but a more expected feat happened that same year when he claimed the Nationwide Talladega victory. He led laps and finished high at plate tracks often, but he had to wait until 2011 to finally earn victory in NASCAR's Cup Series. That year, still driving for Jack Roush, David won the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International. It wasn't enough to continue on further with the team. He signed a deal to race with Bob Jenkins' Front Row Motorsports in 2012. In 2013, he and teammate David Gilliland (yes...he will be mentioned soon) finished 1-2 at Talladega. Ragan had won for the second time in NASCAR Cup Series. The years went by and he got the opportunity to race for both Michael Waltrip Racing and Joe Gibbs Racing, but their fast Toyota racing packages didn't earn him another trip to victory lane. Ragan left full-time driving at the end of the 2019 season and has worked in television as an on-air personality ever since. Like many others, he still races on a part-time basis, you guessed it...primarily at Talladega and Daytona where he has proven he still has the speed needed to win. Ragan's career storylines were oftentimes shadowed by Jimmie Johnson and Kyle Busch dominance, but he has nothing to look back at with a slouch. Many have competed longer and earned less. Unfortunately for the Georgian racer, championship dreams never came true. David Stremme It's 7:00am on a weekday morning in 2004. Fan favourite SPEED tv is airing one of few television shows not considered to be local news or 'paid programming'. NBS 24/7 . The show was the first recurring program to show behind the scenes footage of NASCAR racers in a lower series. NBS of course being, the NASCAR Busch Series. David Stremme drove for Akins Motorsports at the time, he was the reigning Busch Grand National Series Rookie of The Year. The show highlighted his team, along with many of the other famed non-cup regulars. His sponsor Trim-Spa and the US Navy in subsequent years earned lots of media attention. In addition to his background in racing in both dirt and asphalt in the ASA, he was considered to be the leading candidate to earn a spot at Chip Ganassi Racing when the time was right. He raced primarily in the Busch Series in his late 20's; an older driver, he didn't make his NBS debut until the age of 26. Despite having limited on-track success, he had a growing fan base and was popular with the media. In 2006 he took over as pilot of the #40 Coors Light Dodge, which had been driven to championship contention and race victories by veteran Sterling Marlin in recent years. In his first two seasons with the team, he earned 3 top-10 finishes, the only top-10's he would ever earn. In total, Stremme raced exactly 200 Cup-level events, finishing a career high of 7th place at Talladega in 2007. He did race back into the lower series and had limited success with about a dozen top-5's in those races. Unfortunately, Stremme did not win a national event in any NASCAR series. He's since taken his career into being a business owner where he makes dirt cars. Both he and his wife are still popular on social media and she has competed in charity events, even winning the 'Better Half Dash' in 2013. Don't expect this David to return behind the wheel of a nationally sanctioned event anytime soon, but fans can look back on his shortened career with smiles. He was likeable and consistent in the Busch Series. He entertained well. David Reutimann The Franchise, David Reutimann comes from a family of dirt racers in the south. Billed out of Zephyrhills, Florida, his father 'Buzzie' Reutimann is one of the most successful dirt racers of all time. He still continues to race and even win big events in their local area. Buzzie had one opportunity in NASCAR. In 1962 he drove to a 10th place finish at Golden Gate Speedway driving a 1960 Chevrolet. For David, his national career came after various success in the regional series. While he had opportunities to attempt races in both Cup and Busch Grand National earlier in his career, he only rarely managed to qualify. In 2004, NASCAR and Toyota cross-promoted the addition of the Japanese automaker to stock car racing. Their first few seasons would include entries in only the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Toyota signed a partnership with Darrell Waltrip, and Waltrip signed David Reutimann to a contract to drive his #17 truck. Reutimann was fast, he often won practices and was one of the better qualifiers in the field. In 2005 at Nashville he won his first Truck race. He started 6th that day and led 41 laps of the 150 that were run. He finished 13th in standings and 3rd the following year in 2006. Darrell Waltrip's brother Michael operated a Busch Grand National team and part time Cup team around that time. Reutimann was awarded the opportunity to compete part time, then in 2007 on a full-time basis with Michael Waltrip and Toyota driving the #99 Aaron's "Dream Machine". He earned another music city win, this time in Busch Series that year at Memphis. That same year, David ran 'full-time' for MWR in the Cup Series driving his family's number, the double-zero. Unfortunately, Toyota was the freshman manufacturer in 2007 and struggled to qualify for races. That year Reutimann only managed to earn a starting spot in 26 of the 36 points paying events. Reutimann struggled in his early years at MWR, but earned a win with crew chief Rodney Childers in the 2009 World 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The event was a rainout and Reutimann had his fair share of critics. That same year he earned 2 poles and 5 top 5's. 2010 consisted of what I'd argue was the greatest success of David Reutimann's career. He won his second career Cup race that year at Chicagoland and passed one of the greatest ever, Jeff Gordon in doing so. Not only did he 'earn' the win, (I'd say all wins are earned), but he had to defeat Gordon under a competitive and long green flag run. Unfortunately, the current 'win and you're in' playoff structure was not yet initiated. David failed to earn a post-season berth in any of his NASCAR Cup seasons. His best finish came in 2009 overall where he finished a career best of 16th place in the standings. He started 235 career events over a 10 year period, most of which were with MWR and Toyota, but in 2012 he was replaced and forced to find work elsewhere. He changed teams a few more times but never returned to his once competitive path. The last time he was a headline was a more infamous moment in his career when his car made an unfortunate stop on the front stretch of Martinsville during green flag racing. He received criticism from many of the fans and drivers for what he reported to be a mechanical failure. His professional NASCAR career came to an end in 2014 at Richmond driving for Bob Jenkins' Front Row Motorsports. In 2015 there were potential rides available for Daytona and beyond but Reutimann did not renew his driving license with NASCAR. He now is a leader in the chassis and dirt modified industry in Sheryl's Ford, North Carolina where he owns Beak-Built Chassis. You can see cars from his shop all over the country. He still attends many dirt races and you'll even catch him racing on the dirt in Tampa from time to time with his father. David Gilliland Fans of the west coast stock racing tours are certainly familiar with veteran retiree Butch Gilliland. He won Winston West championships and competed casually in the NASCAR Winston Cup Series from 1990 to 1999. His son David earned stardom in the midst of an unsponsored NASCAR Busch Series career in 2006. Gilliland came from a deep background on the west coast like his dad but had earned the chance to race on a national tour. That race, the Meijer 300 at Kentucky Motor Speedway went down as one of the largest upsets in several years. He was the only non-Cup winner to earn a victory that season up to that point. Doing so without a major sponsor was even less frequent as engineering and team money were now as important as travel and tire funding. That race was his only ever win in the Grand National division. He was promoted to an opportunity that season in the #38 Ford driving for iconic sponsors MARS/M+M's chocolates. He earned a pole as a part-time rookie that year at Talladega. A full-time opportunity in the NASCAR Cup Series quickly followed with hall of fame car owner Robert Yates heading into the 2007 season. He started the season well in horsepower handling, earning the pole for the 2007 Daytona 500 alongside his teammate Ricky Rudd. His career lasted 12 seasons and he earned a total of four top 5's and three poles... all at restrictor plate race tracks. He is arguably remembered best for his work as a drafting partner at those speedways. In 2011 he was one of the hard chargers in the lead pack when young Trevor Bayne earned his win in the Daytona 500. When previously mentioned David Ragan won at Talladega, it was his teammate David Gilliland who pushed him to the win. They represented the ability to compete in underdog equipment well at the high banks. Over the last several years, David has been a car owner and an coach and advocate for his third generation racer son Todd. Todd currently competes as a rookie in the NASCAR Cup Series for David's prior team Front Row Motorsports. Dave Blaney The Buckeye Bullet, Dave Blaney comes from a family of Ohio dirt track racers and was once one of the most feared drivers in the World of Outlaws and dirt sprint track circuits. Amongst some of his greatest career accomplishments were winning championships in dirt, the 1984 Silver Crown in USAC and the 1995 World of Outlaws Championship. Dave earned his way through the dirt scene and the respect of drivers all over. He was always respected on track for racing clean and winning races with speed rather than aggression behind the wheel. He made his first career start in NASCAR's Cup Series in 1992 before ever having the opportunity to run a Busch Race. The result was a 31st place finish at Rockingham. Seven years later he ran a part time schedule in 1999 preparing for a full-time cup career in year 2000. By that time he had experience in both Cup and Busch Series, but he wasn't earning the podium finishes he once guaranteed in the dirt world. Blaney competed for Bill Davis, Jasper Racing, and for Richard Childress Racing before returning to Davis over several seasons. It took him six seasons to record his first top five. He finished third place behind Ricky Craven and Kurt Busch that year at Darlington. At the time, it was the closest finish between 1st and 2nd place in NASCAR history. Dave's career-best finish was mostly overlooked. Looking back on that day, he actually had speed and may have had something for the other two drivers if there were more laps remaining. Dave was not known for having partnerships with manufacturers that resulted in tremendous funding like Earnhardt or Petty, but he is remembered as one of few drivers in the modern era to have driven for every manufacturer. He spent at least one full season with Chevrolet, Ford, Pontiac, Dodge, and Toyota. He was also one of the first ever to compete for Toyota in 2007. In his Cup career he never won, his best finish ever was third, 3 times. He did run part-time in the Busch Series in 2006 and won a big race in Charlotte, the only national victory of his entire career. Near the end of his Cup career he was leading the Daytona 500 in 2012 when fire in turn 3 melted the asphalt resulting in a red flag. Many fans look back on that event as what would have been one of the biggest upsets ever had Blaney been awarded the 'rain-out' for fire. He isn't one to prefer attention, but Blaney is known for his wit and is now mentioned often as his son pursues annual success at the Cup level. Ryan Blaney is a several time Cup Series winner driving for Roger Penske and has said many times that someday he would like to compete against his father in the premiere events but Dave has determined his days in NASCAR are done. In 2022, they both competed in the SRX series event at their home track Sharon Speedway in Ohio, perhaps making a dream come true for both of them. What was it about the 2000s that gave us so many talented drivers named David, but none of them became the guy to become a top-shelf bottle of booze? They're all so likeable, and have proven their talent in various ways. What is so interesting for them is that it is indeed another David who became one of the greatest of all time. The late David Pearson earned 105 career Winston Cup victories in his career, many of which he defeated King Richard Petty on track for the top spot. For the underdogs in this article, none of them have any reason to hang their heads. They all earned wonderful accolades in their own way, and had the opportunity to race against some of the most accomplished racers of all time such as Dale Earnhardt, Jimmie Johnson, and Tony Stewart. You'd be hard pressed to find a group of underdogs or low-funded drivers who earned as long tenured careers as these men did without having won the sport's largest events. Their careers were true legends that were overlooked by too many in the motorsports community.

Written By: Matt Marr Photo By: Meg Oliphant/Getty Images Tyler Reddick started on the pole position alongside Joey Logano and brought the field to the green to start the Hollywood Casino 400. The caution came out on lap 33 as Kevin Harvick lost the handle of his car coming out of Turn 4 and made hard contact with the outside wall. Christopher Bell kept Ryan Blaney at bay to win Stage 1. After staying out while the rest of the field pitted, Aric Almirola and Michael McDowell led the restart on lap 87 to start Stage 2. Again, the caution came out on lap 115 as multi-car wreck occurred in Turn 1 which involved Harrison Burton, Corey LaJoie and Almirola. More problems for playoff drivers as Kyle Busch blew a right rear tire in the closing laps of Stage 2 that brought out the caution. Alex Bowman held off a hard charging Christopher Bell to win stage 2. Bowman and Bubba Wallace led the start of the final stage. Wallace made the clean pass on Bowman with 67 laps to go to become the new race leader. Bubba would lead the remaining 67 laps to the checkered flag to win the Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway. Hollywood Casino 400 top 5: 1. Bubba Wallace 2. Denny Hamlin 3. Christopher Bell 4. Alex Bowman 5. Martin Truex Jr.

Press Release / JR Motorsports MOORESVILLE, N.C. (Sept. 14, 2022) -- There will be a new face behind the wheel of the No. 9 Chevrolet in 2023. JR Motorsports announced today the signing of 25-year-old Brandon Jones to the organization where he'll compete full time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series next season. Jones is five-time winner and eight-year veteran in the series who has qualified for the NXS Playoffs in six of the last seven seasons. In addition to his five wins - including a popular victory earlier this year at Martinsville Speedway – Jones claims 35 top-five and 97 top-10 finishes, and a best points finish of sixth in 2020. "Brandon's been a tough competitor over the years, and he's a talented addition to JR Motorsports," said Kelley Earnhardt Miller, JRM co-owner and general manager. "He's a series veteran that brings a lot of experience, and we're going to see big things from Brandon and the 9 team in 2023." In 2022, Jones owns one win, five top-five and nine top-10 finishes and sits seventh in the championship points battle with one race remaining before the onset of the playoffs. He also won three out of four ARCA Menards® Series starts he's made in 2022. "To watch how competitive JRM has been over the years is really impressive," Jones said. "They're a threat to win every week, and one of the premier teams in our series. I'm so thankful to Dale (Earnhardt Jr.), Kelley and Mr. Hendrick for allowing me to be part of it. "Reuniting with Chevrolet again is awesome, too. They were a big part of my career early on, and I'm looking forward to building on those relationships and driving a Camaro in 2023." Jones has found Victory Lane at every level of NASCAR national series competition in which he's raced. The Atlanta native lays claim to eight ARCA wins, a K&N East-West Challenge victory and a Truck Series triumph in 2020. JRM's No. 9 team has won three championships (2014, 2017-18) and tallied 20 of the company's 69 overall victories since 2014. Sponsorship and crew chief duties for Jones and the No. 9 team will be announced at a later date.

WELCOME, NC (September 13, 2022) – Richard Childress Racing announced today that Kyle Busch will join the organization’s NASCAR Cup Series stable in 2023, merging one of the NASCAR industry’s most storied teams with one of the sports’ most successful modern era drivers. Since making his NASCAR debut 18 years ago, Busch has grown into a successful driver, team owner and businessman, easily becoming one of the most accomplished drivers in NASCAR’s modern history. He owns 60 wins in the elite NASCAR Cup Series and is the only active multi-time champion. He is currently competing for his third Cup Series championship in the NASCAR Playoffs. In addition to his two Cup Series championships, the Las Vegas native won the 2009 NASCAR Xfinity Series championship and is the all-time wins leader in that series (102) as well as the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (62). As an owner, he has led Kyle Busch Motorsports to 98 career victories and seven owner’s championships, both are Truck Series records. “RCR has an impressive history in NASCAR and I’m honored that Richard is putting his trust in me to come in and continue to build on that legacy,” said Busch. “Growing up in a family of passionate racers myself, I feel like the culture that the Childress family has built within their organization will be an ideal fit for me. As I begin the next chapter of my career, I’m looking forward to driving for RCR and working with everyone there to add more wins and championships to both of our resumes.” From a one-man team in 1969, Childress has grown RCR into one of the most storied organizations in NASCAR, with more than 200 victories and 16 championships, including six in the NASCAR Cup Series with the legendary Dale Earnhardt. RCR was the first organization to win championships in the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Truck Series, and is a three-time winner of the Daytona 500 (1998, 2007, 2018). “The addition of Kyle Busch to the Richard Childress Racing lineup is significant, not only for our organization, but for the sport as a whole,” said Richard Childress, Chairman and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. “Kyle is a proven contender at the highest levels of the sport, and I believe that his experience and dedication to motorsports will elevate our race program across the board. I’ve always admired Kyle’s driving style and his ability to win and race for championships ever since he entered the sport. Who wouldn’t want a proven NASCAR Cup Series Champion driving their car?” Busch, who has more than 220 career wins spread out among NASCAR’s top-three national series, will drive the No. 8 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 under the Richard Childress Racing banner, adding a multi-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion to the Chevrolet Racing camp. Randall Burnett will serve as crew chief. “We’d like to welcome Kyle back to Team Chevy, where he started his NASCAR career,” said Jim Campbell, Chevrolet U.S. Vice President, Performance and Motorsports. “As a 60 Cup race winner and two-time champion, he will be a valuable addition to Richard Childress Racing and the Chevrolet line-up. We look forward to working with Kyle starting in 2023.” Tyler Reddick, who is currently competing for a championship in the No. 8 Chevrolet, remains under contract at RCR and will drive for RCR in 2023. Additional details on the program, including sponsor lineup, will be announced at a later date.

Sept. 11, 2022 By Reid Spencer NASCAR Wire Service KANSAS CITY, Kan. – Driving the same car number that carried teammate Kurt Busch to victory in the May race at Kansas Speedway, Bubba Wallace claimed a dramatic win at the same track in Sunday’s Hollywood Casino 400, the second event in the first round of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. Wallace regained the lead on Lap 225 after the final cycle of green-flag pit stops at the 1.5-mile track and stayed out front for the final 43 circuits as his car owner, Denny Hamlin, chased him to no avail. Wallace crossed the stripe exactly one second ahead of Hamlin, as a driver not competing for the drivers’ champion won for the second straight week. Hamlin finished second for the second straight Playoff race, have trailed Erik Jones to the line last Sunday at Darlington. “Man, just so proud of this team, so proud of the effort that they put in each and every week,” said Wallace, who won for the first time this season and the second time in his career. “Just thankful for the opportunity, right? Took this jump from an idea two years ago from a text from Denny before it all even happened. He was ready to get the deal done… “Just so proud. Pit crew was awesome today. We had one loose wheel. Just thankful. Thanks for the opportunity, and thankful to shut the hell up for a lot of people.” Wallace is competing for the Cup Series owners’ championship in the car Kurt Busch drove for the first 20 races of the season before suffering lingering concussion-like symptoms after a wreck in qualifying at Pocono. With his win, Wallace qualified for the Round of 8 in the owners’ competition. Christopher Bell, who ran third, is the first driver to lock himself into the Playoffs’ Round of 8 on points. The other 15 championship contenders will have to establish their positions in the final 12—or suffer elimination—next Saturday night at Bristol Motor Speedway. During the final run, Hamlin passed Bell for the second position on Lap 252 of 267. With 10 laps left, Hamlin trailed by 2.066 seconds but could get no closer than the final one-second deficit the rest of the way. Hamlin clearly had mixed feeling about his pursuit of the No. 45 23XI Toyota he co-owns with NBA legend Michael Jordan. “It's been a good overall day,” said Hamlin, who recovered from an equipment interference penalty—his 34th pit road infraction of the season—on Lap 27 under a competition caution. “Still frustrated about the first half of the race. We just aren't executing all that well… “Really happy for our 11 Toyota team. They fought hard. They really stepped up that last half. We made the car quite a bit better. Just really happy about the outcome and really happy for that 45 team and Bubba Wallace and (crew chief) Bootie (Barker). Bubba has just really worked hard on his craft, and we've just given him fast race cars, and now he is showing what he has got.” Alex Bowman finished fourth, followed by non-Playoff driver Martin Truex Jr. Championship contenders William Byron, Ross Chastain, Kyle Larson, Ryan Blaney and Daniel Suarez completed the top 10. Other Playoff drivers weren’t as fortunate. A sudden disaster knocked Kevin Harvick out of the race before the end of Stage 1. Racing side-by-side, Chastain and Wallace steered up the track in front of Harvick’s No. 4 Ford as the cars sped through Turn 4. Harvick’s Mustang snapped loose and the right front of his car pounded the outside wall. With damage too severe to repair, Harvick retired from the race in last (36th) place. “When those two cars came up in front of me, I just got super tight,” Harvick said after a visit to the infield care center. “When I lifted, it grabbed and got loose. I just wasn’t expecting them to come up and my car getting that tight.” Harvick entered the race 16th in the Playoff standings. The last-place results puts him in a must-win situation next Saturday at Bristol Motor Speedway. “Yeah, it is what it is,” Harvick said. “We were racing to win anyway today, so that’s what we will do again next week.” Harvick wasn’t the only casualty of the first stage. Pole winner Tyler Reddick blew a right rear tire while leading on Lap 65 and slammed into the outside wall in Turn 2. He brought his No. 8 Chevrolet to pit road, but attempts to repair the car proved futile, and Reddick was eliminated in 35th place. “The right-rear tire just blew like we’ve had a few times,” said Reddick, who fell to 11th in the Playoff standings. “At Fontana (Auto Club Speedway), I was able to save it. But here, it snapped at the worst possible point, and we just killed the wall. “It broke the control arm on the right-front, so our day was over. We leave here with not a lot of points, so we’ll have to fight hard at Bristol.” Troubles continued for Playoff drivers when Kyle Busch, whose team already had incurred two equipment interference penalties on pit road, spun off Turn 4 on Lap 137. Busch’s right-side tires went flat as he skidded toward the infield grass, and Busch lost a lap as he nursed his wounded car to pit road. Busch got his lap back as the beneficiary under caution at the end of Stage 2, but he lost two laps during the final 96-lap green-flag run. His 26th-place finish dropped him two points below the current cut line for the Round of 8, trailing Tyler Reddick and Austin Cindric by that margin. Joining Busch and Harvick in the bottom four are Austin Dillon (14th Sunday) and Chase Briscoe (13th). The Playoff field will be cut from 16 to 12 drivers after next Saturday’s race at Thunder Valley. --30-- NASCAR Cup Series Race - 22nd Annual Hollywood Casino 400 Presented by Barstool Sportsbook Kansas Speedway Kansas City, Kansas Sunday, September 11, 2022 1. (6) Bubba Wallace (P), Toyota, 267. 2. (25) Denny Hamlin (P), Toyota, 267. 3. (4) Christopher Bell (P), Toyota, 267. 4. (3) Alex Bowman (P), Chevrolet, 267. 5. (12) Martin Truex Jr., Toyota, 267. 6. (9) William Byron (P), Chevrolet, 267. 7. (5) Ross Chastain (P), Chevrolet, 267. 8. (7) Kyle Larson (P), Chevrolet, 267. 9. (17) Ryan Blaney (P), Ford, 267. 10. (15) Daniel Suarez (P), Chevrolet, 267. 11. (22) Chase Elliott (P), Chevrolet, 267. 12. (8) Austin Cindric # (P), Ford, 267. 13. (13) Chase Briscoe (P), Ford, 267. 14. (11) Austin Dillon (P), Chevrolet, 267. 15. (10) Chris Buescher, Ford, 267. 16. (23) Michael McDowell, Ford, 267. 17. (2) Joey Logano (P), Ford, 266. 18. (28) Noah Gragson(i), Chevrolet, 266. 19. (27) Justin Haley, Chevrolet, 266. 20. (21) Ty Dillon, Chevrolet, 266. 21. (36) Aric Almirola, Ford, 266. 22. (29) Cole Custer, Ford, 266. 23. (32) Todd Gilliland #, Ford, 266. 24. (31) Landon Cassill(i), Chevrolet, 266. 25. (26) Brad Keselowski, Ford, 266. 26. (20) Kyle Busch (P), Toyota, 265. 27. (30) Cody Ware, Ford, 265. 28. (33) JJ Yeley(i), Ford, 264. 29. (24) Erik Jones, Chevrolet, 264. 30. (35) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Chevrolet, 262. 31. (34) BJ McLeod(i), Ford, 262. 32. (18) Harrison Burton #, Ford, Accident, 115. 33. (19) Corey LaJoie, Chevrolet, Accident, 114. 34. (16) Ty Gibbs(i), Toyota, Accident, 90. 35. (1) Tyler Reddick (P), Chevrolet, Accident, 67. 36. (14) Kevin Harvick (P), Ford, Accident, 33. Average Speed of Race Winner: 126.44 mph. Time of Race: 3 Hrs, 10 Mins, 3 Secs. Margin of Victory: 1.000 Seconds. Caution Flags: 9 for 43 laps. Lead Changes: 16 among 12 drivers. Lap Leaders: T. Reddick (P) 0;J. Logano (P) 1-2;A. Bowman (P) 3-27;T. Reddick (P) 28-65;R. Blaney (P) 66-67;A. Bowman (P) 68;A. Dillon (P) 69-71;C. Bell (P) 72-83;A. Almirola 84-86;M. McDowell 87;M. Truex Jr. 88-111;W. Byron (P) 112-120;A. Bowman (P) 121-199;B. Wallace (P) 200-214;A. Bowman (P) 215-216;D. Suarez (P) 217-224;B. Wallace (P) 225-267. Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led): Alex Bowman (P) 4 times for 107 laps; Bubba Wallace (P) 2 times for 58 laps; Tyler Reddick (P) 1 time for 38 laps; Martin Truex Jr. 1 time for 24 laps; Christopher Bell (P) 1 time for 12 laps; William Byron (P) 1 time for 9 laps; Daniel Suarez (P) 1 time for 8 laps; Austin Dillon (P) 1 time for 3 laps; Aric Almirola 1 time for 3 laps; Ryan Blaney (P) 1 time for 2 laps; Joey Logano (P) 1 time for 2 laps; Michael McDowell 1 time for 1 lap. Stage #1 Top Ten: 20,12,19,47,45,9,18,1,22,3 Stage #2 Top Ten: 48,20,24,45,9,11,5,22,12,1

By Reid Spencer NASCAR Wire Service KANSAS CITY, Kan. – In what is turning out to be a banner season for Noah Gragson, the driver of the No. 9 JR Motorsports Chevrolet scored his fifth NASCAR Xfinity Series victory of the year in Saturday’s rain-shortened Kansas Lottery 300 at Kansas Speedway. Gragson charged from sixth in the running order past cars on older tires—and past the dominant Toyota of Ty Gibbs—to grab the lead after a restart on Lap 76. A light rain interrupted the proceedings on Lap 82, but Gragson held the top spot in a two-lap shootout at the end of Stage 2. When rain began to fall harder and drenched the track, NASCAR red-flagged the race on Lap 94 and subsequently declared Gragson the winner. The victory was Gragson’s second straight, his first at Kansas—the only active Xfinity Series track where he had previously failed to record a top 10—and the 10th of his career. “The 54 (Gibbs) was really fast all day,” Gragson said. “The pit crew did a good job all day keeping us in contention. That restart (on lap 76) was the most important part of the race today. Yeah, it’s a rain victory, but we came off pit road third behind the 54 and 19 (Brandon Jones). “They both took the top, and I chose the bottom, third row. I restarted inside the 19, and I could see the 54 pushing the 07 (Brett Moffitt, who along with Ryan Sieg and Austin Hill had stayed out on older tires). He (Moffitt) was spinning his tires pretty bad. “I got to the lead on those guys, and that kind of was the game-changer on today’s race. I think we all knew that we were racing to halfway or a little after.” After the restart with two laps left in the second stage, there was drama right behind Gragson. As Justin Allgaier battled Stage 1 winner Gibbs for the runner-up spot, Allgaier forced Gibbs’ No. 54 Toyota high into the outside lane. Gibbs brushed the wall and subsequently turned down and door-slammed Allgaier’s No. 7 Chevrolet as the cars approached the finish line. Allgaier held second, .670 seconds behind the race winner, with Gibbs finishing third, 1.266 seconds back. After the race, Gibbs apologized for losing his cool on what proved to be the final lap. “I came back down, frustrated, and hit the 7,” Gibbs said. “The worst part is, I hurt my day more than it’s going to hurt anybody else’s. It’s just stupid of me to do that. I just think I need to fix those things… It’s easy for all of us to get angry—me especially. I just didn’t make the right decision there. “I apologize to them. I apologize to my group. I should be the one taking the door off the race car, because I hit him.” Allgaier had mixed feelings about the stoppage. His car was improving with every pit stop, but the damage he suffered during the run-in with Gibbs would have limited his chances to win, had the race resumed. “If we were to go back green, I think it extremely limited his day and probably was going to limit our day as well,” Allgaier said. “Frustrations get the best of you a lot of times, but I just hate it that we tore up a race car that wasn’t really torn up before that.” Pole winner Brandon Jones ran fourth, followed by Ross Chastain. AJ Allmendinger, Josh Berry, Sammy Smith, Sam Mayer and Moffitt completed the top 10. Mayer and 16th-place finisher Riley Herbst clinched Playoffs spots on points with one race left before the cutoff. NASCAR Xfinity Series Race - 22nd Annual Kansas Lottery 300 Kansas Speedway Kansas City, Kansas Saturday, September 10, 2022 1. (5) Noah Gragson, Chevrolet, 93. 2. (9) Justin Allgaier, Chevrolet, 93. 3. (2) Ty Gibbs, Toyota, 93. 4. (1) Brandon Jones, Toyota, 93. 5. (15) Ross Chastain(i), Chevrolet, 93. 6. (4) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet, 93. 7. (10) Josh Berry, Chevrolet, 93. 8. (11) Sammy Smith, Toyota, 93. 9. (8) Sam Mayer, Chevrolet, 93. 10. (16) Brett Moffitt, Ford, 93. 11. (3) Sheldon Creed #, Chevrolet, 93. 12. (6) Austin Hill #, Chevrolet, 93. 13. (14) Landon Cassill, Chevrolet, 93. 14. (13) Ryan Sieg, Ford, 93. 15. (7) Daniel Hemric, Chevrolet, 93. 16. (12) Riley Herbst, Ford, 93. 17. (20) Brandon Brown, Chevrolet, 93. 18. (22) Anthony Alfredo, Chevrolet, 93. 19. (21) Myatt Snider, Chevrolet, 93. 20. (37) Kris Wright(i), Chevrolet, 93. 21. (17) Jeremy Clements, Chevrolet, 92. 22. (28) JJ Yeley, Ford, 92. 23. (31) David Starr, Ford, 92. 24. (29) Josh Williams, Chevrolet, 92. 25. (27) Rajah Caruth(i), Chevrolet, 92. 26. (34) Stefan Parsons(i), Chevrolet, 92. 27. (35) Derek Griffith, Toyota, 92. 28. (25) Howie Disavino III, Chevrolet, 92. 29. (26) Dillon Bassett, Chevrolet, 92. 30. (36) Joey Gase, Toyota, 92. 31. (24) Mason Massey, Chevrolet, 91. 32. (33) Garrett Smithley, Chevrolet, 91. 33. (38) Ryan Vargas, Chevrolet, 91. 34. (32) CJ McLaughlin, Ford, 91. 35. (23) Bayley Currey, Chevrolet, 90. 36. (18) Jesse Iwuji #, Chevrolet, 89. 37. (30) Brennan Poole(i), Chevrolet, Transmission, 73. 38. (19) Jeb Burton, Chevrolet, Engine, 51. Average Speed of Race Winner: 113.697 mph. Time of Race: 1 Hrs, 13 Mins, 37 Secs. Margin of Victory: Caution Seconds. Caution Flags: 4 for 18 laps. Lead Changes: 6 among 4 drivers. Lap Leaders: B. Jones 1-4;T. Gibbs 5-47;N. Gragson 48;T. Gibbs 49-71;N. Gragson 72;A. Hill # 73-75;N. Gragson 76-93. Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led): Ty Gibbs 2 times for 66 laps; Noah Gragson 3 times for 20 laps; Brandon Jones 1 time for 4 laps; Austin Hill # 1 time for 3 laps. Stage #1 Top Ten: 54,9,19,18,7,07,21,16,8,98 Stage #2 Top Ten: 9,7,54,19,48,16,8,18,1,07 --30--

Editor's Note: "Prepare to be entertained more regularly on Racing Refresh. We pride ourselves in bringing you quality and vetted motorsports news and data weekly. You can still expect to enjoy all of the top notch racing news, but today we present a new recurring feature, 'Motorsports Mockery'. This original content from Racing Refresh will bring humour, ridicule, and satire to your feed for a much needed smile. Elements from pop-culture, the auto racing world, and even a politically charged joke may pop-up from time to time! We hope you enjoy.. We also recognize that most people don't consider it a joy to be compared in looks, this is only in fun and we admire all of the individuals that are involved in these satirical and sometimes ironic posts." Celebrities range in fame and fortune in 2022. In many cases, the men and women that work in the auto racing world become celebs in their own right. Remember when Jeff Gordon hosted SNL? Dale Earnhardt Jr. has starred in movies, music videos, and worked with NBC to cover multiple sports on live television. Let's say we were to make a biopic of the 2022 motorsports season. Who would you have as your lead actors in a male/female starring role? We aren't limiting this to only playoff caliber driving pilots, either! Car owners, broadcasters, and spouses weren't off limits when making this week's list. Below are some of our most appreciated celebrity lookalikes. Kyle Busch headlines hit the internet everywhere this summer when word surfaced that he and Joe Gibbs Racing had not yet locked down a new sponsor to fund his 2023 campaign behind the wheel of the #18 Toyota Camry. In recent weeks rumors have nearly confirmed that he will be driving for Richard Childress and Chevrolet soon. We found that actor and former United States Marine Rob Riggle both looked the part and has experience switching career paths on a short notice. In the live action motion picture, we can hear the voiceover man on the trailer saying something along the lines of 'RIGGLE IS ROWDY!' Mario Andretti goes into history forever as one of the most decorated auto racers that ever lived. His legacy isn't only a history of past driving success, but he is a spokesman for different automotive products and he can be seen at the track each year. His 'Rain-Man' like tradition of remaining in the racing community as he approaches older age is admirable and it would take a skilled veteran entertainer to replicate his career on the silver screen. Fortunately, the man we have in mind happens to share some visual aesthetic. Dustin Hoffman and Mario Andretti are both octogenarians, their heights are only offset by about an inch, and Mario was once sponsored by K-Mart, the only place Raymond Babbitt ever purchased his underwear. Matt Kaulig is a trusted and respected businessperson famed for his growth in the Cleveland, OH market. His Kaulig Brands and other investments continue to grow and his racing program under his and Chris Rice' leadership has put the team on the map as serious contenders in NASCAR's Cup and Xfinity Series. A movie told from the right perspective would easily make his rapid growth come off as the 'bad guy'. in the flick. Which mad millionaire would we compare him to? Evil genius Norman Osborn (aka, Green Goblin) was an innovative leader in the Spiderman universe played by Willem Dafoe. Dafoe's work in the movie was believable and he nearly defeated spiderman in the feature. With a sneaky smile and spiky youth in their grooming, I wouldn't want to be on either of their bad sides... Will Power enters the paddock each week with a trademark smile and an energy that would require the likes of the Hollywood Elite to play him in a motion picture. What is wonderful about Will Power is that there is an actor that lives to the funny name. He does all of his own stunts and even played an auto racer in Days of Thunder. Tom Cruise certainly is a man that has 'will power' and a spirit that is could match what Power carries with him emotionally year by year. Hailie Deegan manages a variety of skills in her daily routine. From her responsibilities with long-time partner Monster Energy, her social media and brand image, and her public appearances, she makes no secret that she has one goal at this stage in her career. That is to be a successful AUTO RACER. Actress Nina Dobrev from Canada provides those who follow her career with a similar pride and focus. She doesn't sing and dance and linger in a new medium of pop-culture and entertainment every six months. Instead, she has loyally followed her acting career wherever it takes her. These young ladies both are originally have lives that involve travelling all over, but in their truest of hearts California is home. Scott Pruett has simply done it all. He holds records for his accomplishments in the 24 Hours of Daytona sportscar race, has competed in the INDYCAR and NASCAR schedules, and his vast talent of road course racing is matched by few. Add a personality and leadership presence that make him a social butterfly and people are attracted to him magnetically when at the track. Tom Bergeron is one of the most versatile entertainers and event hosts in North America. He's even worked with past racers such as Helio Castroneves and Michael Waltrip on Dancing With The Stars. He could definitely add acting to his resume, and would honor Pruett well. Rick Allen's work on the television goes back decades. He's earned recognition and promoted his career over the years and is now most known for his time working lead for NBC NASCAR events on-air. His rise to success wasn't given to him, he's worked hard but was considered the 'kid' by some at a younger time in his career. Michael Fishman of Roseanne and The Conners fame was remembered by most fans as being young DJ, the silly boy that was always finding himself into new trouble. Now, at age 40, he's respected as the adult artist he has become by fans and his castmates alike. Austin Cindric may have grown up in the racing community but he's a rookie and 'young gun', it's just that simple. What is funny, though, is that his youth may be hard to look past for many years. Ron Howard may have earned recognition as one of the most artistic and thorough filmmakers in the United States, but we all think of him as Opie Taylor at least once in a while. Their Daytonas and Oscars are accolades they can continue to share with their fans forever, though. True talents in both. Sterling Marlin brings back memories of the 1990s for many fans. His continued success on large tracks such as Michigan, Daytona, and Talladega made him one of the most beloved drivers anywhere that horsepower was key. He managed the draft and enjoyed a tenured career. Despite some health issues, he still races dirt cars well into his 60's. Jeff Daniels also enjoyed fame in the 1990s with features like 'Speed' and 'Dumb and Dumber' making him a household name. At age 67, though, he has never given up his love for acting, and more recently also gone back to his roots by being a playwright and broadway performer. There will be more Motorsports Mockery coming soon. It won't always be lookalikes, no....It may be funny charts or animations, a piece of total fiction, or something from our own internal 'Found Footage Festival'. Keep visiting Racing Refresh often for everything motorsports. See you soon!

The following is a guest column from Championship Racing Network's Matt Nicholson. You can follow along with his weekly program each Saturday morning live on YouTube or at CRNradio.us. A few weeks ago when we had back to back weeks of guests from the NHRA, first week being Matt Schiess, engine specialist for Lex Joon Racing, and the second week being the pilot himself, Lex Joon, it flipped my switch to “bright” to make it to an NHRA event. I had planned in June to go up to the Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol, but sickness came into play and I couldn’t go. I still was dead set on making it to one this year. The tough part being deciding which one. NHRA isn’t very prevalent in the Southeast much anymore, outside of Charlotte, Gainesville, and Bristol, because Atlanta is no longer operating. So after talking with Schiess a lot, he pretty much had me convinced to experience Indianapolis for the US Nationals at IRP. After the interview with Lex, I had it made up in my mind that Indy it would be. First NHRA race, to be at a crown jewel event for the series??  I would be absolutely insane not to take advantage of it. A good friend of mine, AJ, got me setup with media credentials for the entire event, which I IMMENSELY appreciated him doing when he didn’t have to. He wanted it to count for me as well. I was taking one for the team, because logistics wouldn’t allow Steve to make it with me, which I really hated he couldn’t.  All while doing the show on the road this past Saturday, I was running through my mind what to expect, I had never taken part of an event in drag racing of this magnitude. EVER. Upon arriving in Brownsburg, at IRP, around 3:45PM on Saturday, I was notified that the media parking credential I had was parking areas staged inside of the iconic IRP OVAL. That was a shock! While getting out, I knew one of the Nitro classes was on track, just didn’t know which one. Turned out to be Funny Car. My initial thoughts were “my gracious, what a sound!?". 11,000 horsepower engines were shaking my vehicle, and I was parked 200 yards from the strip. I made darn sure to have my earplugs in my pocket, because I didn’t feel like having to go back to Alabama deaf. While walking down the concourse over to “Nitro Alley”, where the Top Fuel and Funny Car teams were staged, the essence of nitro methane fuel, didn’t just slap me in the chin, it downright threw a haymaker to my face. All I could think was “wow, unreal.” I started up one alley, passing the likes of the TSR paddock, the Schumacher racing paddock, Kalitta, Jim Head, Antron Brown, Cruz Pedregon, Mike Salinas, and other paddocks while on my way to find the area of Lex Joon. Every pit was busy because the drivers were mingling and signing stuff for the fans, all WHILE THE CARS WERE BEING WARMED UP! That made an INSTANT impression on me. I am not accustomed to seeing accessibility like that in NASCAR. Finally, I got over to where Lex and his team were, and was able to get very close to the car. being able to stand less than 8 feet from an 11,000 horsepower engine warming up was insane. It will shake the hairs on your head, and then some. Now the nitro fumes, was exactly what Schiess described to me: Like being in a gas chamber for about 30 seconds. He would know because he is ex military. Those fumes set my eyes on absolute fire, and I could feel my lungs burning to no end. Last thing I wanted to do was get sick as a dog in the first 30 minutes there, and still had 2 full days to go. So off to the media center I went to find AJ. He met me outside and said “come on, we’re going to the line.”  Instantly I said lead me there chief, because the “kid in a candy store” mentality awoke in me. Made it down there to see the start of Q2 of Top Fuel. Schiess said to us on the show it’s like getting hit in the chest when they launch. Boy was he dead on. When Mike Salinas and Will Smith launched for their runs, I felt myself become very, VERY wide eyed. I had never in my life heard and felt something like that. Best way to describe hearing that first run up close for me was “insane”. After staying up there for a few runs, little did I know I was about to cross paths and link up with two hometown family members, that I had zero clue I would run into. While talking to them for a bit, because I hadn’t seen them in many years, I told him I would like to meet Don Schumacher, because they are close friends. I had remembered that from a past time we had talked. He had said that Don wouldn’t be there the rest of the weekend, but he would take care of me on Monday. ....I’m going to fast forward to Monday, because Sunday was a pretty calm day just being between the media center and Lex’s paddock area. Getting to talk to Lex on Sunday was a treat, because he was every bit of a spectacular guy to talk to in person as he was when we interviewed him. He left a high impression on me, being very hospitable and great to talk to, all coming after I had made connection talking to Allie, the Media Relations Director for NHRA, and Allen Rhinehart, the voice of the NHRA. Allen gave me some really good advice that I am going to take and combine it with what Steve, Matt Coulter, Grady, and Dan Lockemy have taught me about broadcasting and PA work in motorsports. So Monday about 9:45 I get a message from one of the family members saying “meet us at the DSR hospitality area”. My radar went off and I headed that way. Bo, one of my family members, said here in a few minutes I am going to introduce you to Tony. He was referring to Tony Schumacher, 8 time NHRA World Champion! I instantly under my breath said, and in my mind went into Tom Brady “LETS GO” mentality. The “lets go” meter went to about the halfway mark. After finding out he was having a debrief session with his CC, we went to walking, Bo and myself. Bobbi, my other family member, stayed back at the tent with others she was good friends with, like Tony’s wife, Summer. Bo proceeds to tell me that “we going to go talk to Matt Hagan.” The let’s go meter inched up a little higher. Got to talk to him, along with his dad, who is very well known in motorsports in Virginia. He didn’t have to say, but I could tell he was going to make this one really count for me, after I told him this was my very first NHRA event. Then he says out of nowhere, we are going to find Bob. As in Funny Car pilot Bob Tasca III. The meter creeps up a little higher again, this time being touching what Id say is about the 13/16 full mark. Bob was busy and couldn’t come out, so he took off and said let’s go talk to Billy and Steve.  I instantly thought “wait a minute, I know he isn’t walking me over to where I think we are going!” Sure enough It was…..walking into the paddock area of Team Capco Contractors to talk to Billy Torrence and Steve Torrence. Now the glass had officially shattered in the meter. Billy and Steve were not busy and took alot of time to talk. Judging from the conversation and how nice they were, you would have thought we had known each other for 25 years. The conversation could not have been better. The real treat was getting to talk to “Mamma Kay”, Billy’s wife and Steve’s mother, whom both said to me “she runs the show”, To which I laughed hysterically. She talked more about driving a McLaren vs. a Corvette, to which she then said she prefers her Porsche. I couldn’t find any words to say to that. After they graciously took a photo with me, we worked our way back to the tent to eat a bite. Now the racer in me came out big because although I wanted to talk to Lex and the team alot more than I got to, they were there to do a job and I didn’t want to disrupt mindset any, because they were one of 25 cars trying to get into a 16 car field, at the biggest drag race on the planet, and I was going to fully respect that with them being a part time team in a massive field. I love the underdogs, and the Never Quit mindset they have.  This Top Fuel field at Indy went down as the fastest field in NHRA History. The track record was broken twice, just for reference, in ET and Speed. When we got back, Tony was available and was very gracious to talk. I got invited to join them at their private table behind the tent, to which ended up sitting with Bo, Bobbi, Tony, Tony’s wife Summer, his uncles, Bob and O.D., and Joe and Cathy Maynard, the owners of Tony’s new team, Maynard Family Racing. Getting invited to come by Schiess, then getting to mingle with the group at Lex Joon Racing was pretty big for me. But getting to mingle and talk to Lex, Tony Schumacher, Matt Hagan, Billy Torrence, and Steve Torrence altogether..I have to rank the conversations 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, and 1e because it would be hard to rank any one over the other, because all the conversations were outstanding, and then some. The past few weeks in my personal life haven’t been the greatest, I am not afraid to admit that. But I feel like the Good Lord put me up in Indy this weekend for a reason. Just to show me there are good times to be had within struggles. I have needed something like this for a while now, and it has exceeded my expectations. The pomp and circumstance of the biggest drag race in the world is 10 times more exciting live, than it is on television. The overall accessibility of the NHRA is extremely impressive, from driver meetings all the way to being very close to the racing action. Ended up making in person connections with Allen Rhinehart, Lex Joon, Matt Hagan, Billy Torrence, Steve Torrence, Momma Kay Torrence, Tony Schumacher, The extended family of Don Schumacher, and Joe and Cathy Maynard. To anyone that has never seen the NHRA Live, I recommend you do it at least once. It is eye opening, in more ways than one. To Matt Schiess: Thank you for talking me into coming to the US Nationals and introducing me to Lex Joon and the NHRA. It was incredible to experience the biggest drag race on the planet, under the team’s wing. To Bo and Bobbi: Thank you for doing what you done for me in Indy and helping me make these added connections that I never thought I would have gotten to do, ever. To the NHRA: YOU WILL SEE ME AGAIN, SOON. Because I am going to say it this simple: I was SOLD after seeing my first run down at most iconic dragstrip in the world. Now, which Dragway is next…………STAY TUNED.

Written By: Matt Marr Photo by: Sean Rayford Joey Logano led the start of race 1 in the NASCAR Cup series playoffs along with Christopher Bell on the front row. Daniel Suarez made a pass through penalty at the start of the race as per NASCAR rules for failing pre race inspection 3 times. William Byron took the lead over from Logano on lap 66. Chase Elliott and Chase Briscoe involved in a hard wreck with 2 laps to go in stage 1 which brought out the caution as Byron was declared the stage winner. Kyle Busch and teammate Denny Hamlin lead the start of stage 2 as Elliott official exits the race due to the damage vehicle policy timed repair ran out. Busch would dominate stage 2 and take the stage victory. Busch and Logano brought the field to green to start the final stage. Caution out for Kevin Harvick as his car bursts into flames on lap 45. 31 laps to go, caution out for Cody Ware, while under the yellow Kyle Busch suffers an engine failure, ending what could have been a round of 12 win entry. Erik Jones, after restarting in the lead with 20 laps remaining, fended off Denny Hamlin to earn his first win of the year at the Cook Out Southern 500. Erik's win at Darlington also marked the 200th career win for Richard Petty as an owner. Cook Out Southern 500 top 5: 1. Erik Jones 2. Denny Hamlin 3. Tyler Reddick 4. Joey Logano 5. Christopher Bell

RALEIGH, N.C. (SEPT. 8, 2022) – Speedway Motorsports and NASCAR announced today that, as part of NASCAR’s 75thanniversary season, the NASCAR All-Star Race will be held at historic North Wilkesboro Speedway in 2023, capping off a three-day event weekend at one of stock car racing’s most storied venues, May 19-21, 2023. “The NASCAR All-Star Race has always been the fans’ race, and I can’t think of a better way to celebrate the fans during NASCAR’s 75th anniversary than returning to North Wilkesboro Speedway,” said Speedway Motorsports President and CEO Marcus Smith. “We couldn’t have made this happen without tremendous support from so many people including Gov. Cooper, our state legislature, NASCAR, Dale Earnhardt Jr., and of course, the people of Wilkes County. We’ve got a lot of work to do, but we’ve got the will to create something special alongside a community and hard-working staff that will get it done.” The announcement was made outside of the North Carolina Museum of History, with North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. and NASCAR Chief Operating Officer Steve O’Donnell joining Smith for the program. “Motorsports are critical to North Carolina’s history, culture and economy, and our investments have helped to get the engines running again in places that needed revival,” said Gov. Roy Cooper. “North Wilkesboro Speedway is back and better than ever, and the All-Star Race will take it to new heights.” In November of last year, an $18M allocation from federal American Rescue Plan funds was designated for infrastructure improvements at North Wilkesboro Speedway through the North Carolina state budget. Earlier this week, Wilkes County awarded construction contracts for the forthcoming work. The General Assembly has agreed in principal to provide a $4M economic grant next year toward additional facility improvements to host the 2023 NASCAR All-Star Race and future special events. “For decades, North Wilkesboro Speedway was at the heart of racing and tourism in Western North Carolina,” Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) and House Speaker Tim Moore (R-Cleveland) said. “We look forward to seeing the renaissance of this track as it transforms into a premier venue for races and events in Wilkes County.” North Wilkesboro, then a dirt track, hosted its first race in May of 1947. Over the next five decades, the 0.625-mile circuit hosted 93 NASCAR Cup Series races – its list of winners a variable who’s who of NASCAR royalty, including Richard Petty, Darrell Waltrip, Dale Earnhardt, Cale Yarborough and hometown hero Benny Parsons. Next year, the 39th running of the NASCAR All-Star Race will mark the first Cup Series event at North Wilkesboro Speedway since 1996. NASCAR Hall of Famer and noted motorsports historian Dale Earnhardt Jr. has been a passionate supporter of the revitalization of North Wilkesboro Speedway. “Some of my best memories as a little boy were going to North Wilkesboro,” said Earnhardt. “And it got even better when I raced there as a teenager. I never thought I’d see that place full again, and then I got to race there this summer in a late model before a full house. There’s just something special about it. I know the track, the fans, and the community will put on a show when we’re back with the Cup cars for the All-Star race.” “North Wilkesboro Speedway boasts a winners list that features the true giants of our sport, and next year, another great will be added as the NASCAR Cup Series stars once again race at this historic facility,” said Steve O’Donnell, NASCAR’s chief operating officer. “As part of our 75th anniversary season, we’re are excited to return to the roots of the sport for the NASCAR All-Star Race. This will be a can’t-miss event as we honor our past and look forward to the future.” Complete schedules for on-track competition and fan entertainment will be announced at a later date, as will the 2023 NASCAR All-Star Race format. Register for the “Join the Movement” email list and follow North Wilkesboro Speedway social channels to stay up-to-date on all the latest information. The NASCAR All-Star Race will be broadcast on FS1, the Motor Racing Network and Sirius XM NASCAR Radio.

In a world of a fully spec series that the INDYCAR Series has become since the introduction of the DW-12 chassis in 2012, there are not many parts on a car that has an "open box" that teams can play around with. Engines have the same power out put as every one else. Aero Kits are mandated by track type in the INDYCAR rule book and must be ran by everyone. The key word I just wrote about was "not many", in the world of INDYCAR, not one set of parts can be changed as much at the suspension system. In this article, we will take a deep dive and explain how it works and what teams can do to get maximum performance on race day. From 2012 to 2017, the series was pretty rigid in the research and development of changes to the DW12 after the series took safety over innovation when it came to the car after the tragic accident involving the loss of Dan Wheldon. Then, starting in 2018, the series allowed some modification to the car involving suspension parts that really separated teams in terms of equipment as all teams were allowed to manufacture and use parts created in house. Unlike in NASCAR, where suspension pieces are more in line with the body of the car. In open-wheel vehicles, the tires stick out and the shocks. On both front and rear the main parts of the suspension or the A-Arms that connect the wheel hub to the chassis of the vehicle. The steering arm also connects to the body side of the A-Arm for additional support. All arms are covered by carbon fiber for additional protection during minor contact. The shocks are connected to rocker arms the use the up and down movement of the entire hub and generates dampening of vertical movement. The Anti-Roll Bar or "sway bar" is one of the most vital pieces of equipment a driver and teams can adjust. As a car goes through a corner, the car will roll over depending on the direction of a turn to one side or another. For example, if AJ Appeal is going into turn one at the IMS oval, AJ could through a series of levers adjust the stiffness of both the front and rear bars at any given time. Since the turns at Indianapolis are left turns, the body wants to roll to the right. If AJ feels the front of the car to be unstable through the turns he could make the front ARB more stiff, giving him more confidence in the stability of the car and be able to attack the corners.

Indianapolis, IN Pro Stock legend Greg Anderson entered the media center at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park full of smiles on Sunday evening after earning the No. 1 Qualifier position. His car had shown speed most of the weekend with the exception of one pass. He gave handshakes to reporters and opened a beverage as he began to settle into being the favourite to win the 'Big Go' the next day. Anderson, a pilot known for his hands-on approach and teamwork effort in the pits holds a tenured legacy in the sport of pro NHRA drag racing. Prior to his career behind the wheel, he started his run of loyalty with General Motors and was in charge of many of the decisions that led to past champion Warren Johnson's success. For fans or readers who may not be familiar with Greg, his 'Driver' status is nothing new. He's been a mainstay on the national tour since 1998, making him one of the most experienced of all active drivers in pro classes. You'd think that being the veteran in a group of pro racers Anderson may be at peace with his day-by-day operations. It has been a high topic in 2022 that he sits at 99 career wins. I'd be of the opinion that he could retire any day and would have nothing to prove. For the driver of the HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro, it's not that simple. Coming off of a season championship in 2021, the speed in 2022 was not competitive enough week to week until lately. The month of August, though set the record straight. Including the weekend's US Nationals, his team has earned the top spot in qualifying three consecutive weeks. "It proves we have a hot rod that can win again. Quite honestly we did not have a car that was up to par and we were getting out run." Anderson said. "We just gotta put it all together on [raceday]." For Anderson, the job is never done. To say he's stressed wouldn't be an unfair label. In fact, it's one that he admits to, and one he embraces. He identified some errors in his driving ritual prior to addressing his mental approach to the weekend. "Hopefully the driver's got his wits about him, because there's no room for mistake in this class.'' Anderson said. "It's been a tough grind. We work everyday on this thing. For the last four or five years it's overall as a class it's been so tough we probably haven't gained 20hp." Anderson continued to discuss his longtime rival Elite Motorsports, which has shown to be the championship favourite in the 2022 season, led by past champion Erica Enders. "We've been working and doing lots of things. We found a few things that work. We can truly say it's been a struggle to move forward...Elite came out this winter/spring and showed they had made BIG gains over the winter, so apparently there was more to be found." Heading into the countdown, Greg Anderson is now a championship contender, not only in the eyes of the media or his fans, but to himself. Only a few weeks ago he did not feel that he'd be there. On Monday, Anderson won the US Nationals for the seventh time in his career. (2001,03-06,2011,2022) The fanfare that is associated with such a big event allowed him to lower his self assigned mental focus, at least for a little while. He was able to savour the monumental victory, which was also his 100th career pro win. "I don't know that I can explain how meaningful it is. It's incredible! I kept asking myself what it was going to take to win [in 2022] and it wasn't meant to be. It was meant to be at Indy obviously, so what a cool cool deal. It means everything to me, Indy means 10x more than me than any other race. Nothing compares to Indy. It's an out of body experience when you win here. I'm a lucky lucky man to not only say that I've won a hundred races, but that I won number 100 here." He continued. "I'm 61 years old, my time may be coming, but i'm not done. I'm gonna win some more. It's a pretty cool deal, I think it's wonderful that it has all of these young guns. I'm loving it!" Nearly four decades ago Greg Anderson entered the sport a novice with only a dream of someday competing. Greg elaborated on his lengthy career and shared additional anecdotes of his love and respect for his mentors John Hagan, Warren Johnson, and Rick Hendrick. Emotionally driven, his answers varied from celebratory to reflective. "I never met anybody in life who failed while working hard. If you just work hard you're going to succeed,'' Anderson said. "It's a valuable lesson I learned because of them." Greg Anderson continues to thrive despite the many obstacles he faced in recent years. His energy and focus is prime. With 100 career wins, he joins an elite group of drivers who can say they've earned triple digits. I'd say it's only a matter of time until he's won 101.

By Adam Carabine

By Reid Spencer NASCAR Wire Service DARLINGTON, S.C. – At the end of a thrilling three-car battle that wasn’t decided until the last corner of the last lap Saturday at Darlington Raceway, Noah Gragson stole a victory from Sheldon Creed and charging Kyle Larson to score his fourth victory of the NASCAR Xfinity Series season. After passing Gragson for second place on Lap 144 of 147, Larson got a strong run on Creed, then the leader, coming to the white flag. Larson steered his No. 17 Chevrolet to the inside of Creed’s Camaro, and the drivers raced side-by-side through the first two corners. Creed brushed the outside wall, and Larson got loose beneath him, allowing Gragson to gain ground. Creed cut down his right front tire and buried his car into Turn three, hitting the outside wall in a shower of sparks. Gragson found room to the inside, slapped the outside wall near the exit of Turn 4 as Creed rode the fence and powered ahead in the last 200 yards to claim his second victory in the last three races at the Lady in Black and the ninth of his career. The late-race pyrotechnics took place under the lights after a rain delay that stopped the proceedings for 2 hours, 37 minutes, 22 seconds. “All you fans, was that cool—did we put on a show for you guys?” Gragson shouted to the crowd from Victory Lane. “Sheldon Creed was really fast… I watched, during that rain delay, him running the top in (Turns) 1 and 2, and I knew there was a lot of speed there. “So I went up there (after a restart on Lap 134), and I found something, and Sheldon pinched me off, and the 17 (Larson) got by me when it was like three (laps) to go, and I was like, ‘Oh, they’re going to get into each other—they’re racing too hard.’ (Sheldon’s) got nothing to lose, He’s racing his tail off, and Kyle’s going for a win.” Gragson’s vision of the immediate future proved prophetic, as the two cars ahead of him made contact. “I was trying to hold on,” Creed said. “I had a really fast car. It was just a little too free to run their speed there at the end. They could run up the hill in (Turns) 1 and 2 and then really get a good run down the backstretch. I had to stay really low to keep the rear of the car underneath me. "I was hoping they were going to get to racing behind me. When Kyle got next to me, my only opportunity was to side-draft as hard as I could. We got that wall, and I felt the right-front start to go down (as I was) going down the backstretch.” Creed held onto second place, crossing the finish line .794 seconds behind the race winner. In the last-lap chaos, Larson slipped to fifth behind Justin Allgaier and AJ Allmendinger. “It was a lot of fun,” said Larson, who will begin defense of his NASCAR Cup Series title in Sunday’s Cook Out Southern 500, the first of 10 Playoff races in NASCAR’s top division. “I was just trying to be patient as I caught them two… I was able to get by Noah, and I saw Sheldon was really loose in front of me, so I was just trying to stay patient behind him. “Coming to white, I didn’t want to get inside him on the frontstretch, because I knew what would happen, but I had such a good run off of (Turn) 4 that I had to make a move. He sat on my door and got me really loose. I had to chase him up the track… He was racing really hard for his first win. It was just a lot of fun from all of our seats. Crazy to be a part of a finish like that.” A victory would have put Creed into the Xfinity Series Playoffs. Instead, he leaves Darlington 13th in the standings, 16 points behind 12th-place Ryan Sieg. There are two races left before the 12-driver Xfinity Playoff field is set. Gragson led four times for 82 laps and dominated the action before the rain delay. --30-- NASCAR Xfinity Series Race - 40th Annual Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Help A Hero 200 Darlington Raceway Darlington, South Carolina Saturday, September 3, 2022 1. (2) Noah Gragson, Chevrolet, 147. 2. (3) Sheldon Creed #, Chevrolet, 147. 3. (19) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet, 147. 4. (6) Justin Allgaier, Chevrolet, 147. 5. (7) Kyle Larson(i), Chevrolet, 147. 6. (5) Ty Gibbs, Toyota, 147. 7. (36) Christopher Bell(i), Toyota, 147. 8. (15) Josh Berry, Chevrolet, 147. 9. (17) John Hunter Nemechek(i), Toyota, 147. 10. (4) Austin Hill #, Chevrolet, 147. 11. (12) Sam Mayer, Chevrolet, 147. 12. (9) Landon Cassill, Chevrolet, 147. 13. (10) Daniel Hemric, Chevrolet, 147. 14. (1) Brandon Jones, Toyota, 147. 15. (11) Ross Chastain(i), Chevrolet, 147. 16. (16) Kyle Weatherman, Chevrolet, 147. 17. (14) Stefan Parsons(i), Chevrolet, 147. 18. (25) Ryan Sieg, Ford, 147. 19. (22) Bayley Currey, Chevrolet, 147. 20. (27) Mason Massey, Chevrolet, 147. 21. (13) Jeremy Clements, Chevrolet, 147. 22. (31) Ryan Ellis, Chevrolet, 147. 23. (38) Kyle Sieg #, Ford, 147. 24. (18) Jeb Burton, Chevrolet, 147. 25. (30) David Starr, Ford, 147. 26. (29) Josh Williams, Chevrolet, 146. 27. (26) Ryan Vargas, Chevrolet, 146. 28. (21) Myatt Snider, Chevrolet, 145. 29. (32) Brandon Brown, Chevrolet, 145. 30. (35) Dawson Cram, Ford, 145. 31. (28) Brennan Poole(i), Chevrolet, Axle, 86. 32. (23) JJ Yeley, Toyota, Engine, 83. 33. (20) Joe Graf Jr., Ford, Accident, 61. 34. (8) Riley Herbst, Ford, DVP, 56. 35. (24) Ty Dillon(i), Chevrolet, Electrical, 55. 36. (34) Kris Wright(i), Chevrolet, Accident, 55. 37. (37) Anthony Alfredo, Chevrolet, Accident, 51. 38. (33) Tommy Joe Martins, Chevrolet, Radiator, 44. Average Speed of Race Winner: 97.979 mph. Time of Race: 2 Hrs, 2 Mins, 58 Secs. Margin of Victory: 0.794 Seconds. Caution Flags: 5 for 39 laps. Lead Changes: 10 among 6 drivers. Lap Leaders: B. Jones 1-3;N. Gragson 4-82;J. Allgaier 83-93;N. Gragson 94;A. Hill # 95-96;J. Allgaier 97;S. Creed # 98-132;N. Gragson 133;S. Creed # 134-145;K. Larson(i) 146;N. Gragson 147. Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led): Noah Gragson 4 times for 82 laps; Sheldon Creed # 2 times for 47 laps; Justin Allgaier 2 times for 12 laps; Brandon Jones 1 time for 3 laps; Austin Hill # 1 time for 2 laps; Kyle Larson(i) 1 time for 1 lap. Stage #1 Top Ten: 9,19,54,7,2,98,21,18,34,48 Stage #2 Top Ten: 7,9,18,19,21,2,54,26,16,8

By Reid Spencer NASCAR Wire Service DARLINGTON, S.C. – In a race that had more twists and turns than a Victorian melodrama, Erik Jones put the vaunted No. 43 Chevrolet back in Victory Lane for the first time since 2014. In a remarkable run to the finish in the season’s first NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race, Jones held off Denny Hamlin in a 20-lap run to the finish to win the Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway for the second time. The Sunday night race took its toll on more than a handful of Playoff drivers, as Jones became the first non-Playoff driver to win the first postseason event since NASCAR introduced the elimination format in 2014. The victory was Jones’ first of the season, the third of his career, and the first for Petty GMS Racing since that organization was former by merger before the 2022 campaign. The win was No. 200 for the 43 car number, which NASCAR Hall of Famer and car owner Richard Petty drove to seven series championships. “Richard hasn't been to Victory Lane at Darlington probably since he last won here,” said Jones, referencing Petty’s 1967 victory in the Southern 500. “It's just awesome. Just so proud of these guys, Petty GMS and (sponsor) Focus Packer Crew. “We've been so close all year, and I didn't think today was going to be the day. It was going to be a tough one to win, I knew, but no better fitting place. I love this track. I love this race. On that trophy twice, man. I was pumped to be on it once, but to have it on there twice—pretty cool.” The victory was the first in the Cup Series for crew chief Dave Elenz. Jones won his first Southern 500 in 2019, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing but was released after the 2020 season in favor of Christopher Bell. On Sunday night, Jones held off a former teammate in Hamlin, who ran out of time in his pursuit of Jones and finished in the runner-up spot, .252 seconds behind the race winner. “Well, I mean, I never lost any belief in myself through any of it,” Jones said. “I knew I could still do it, and I just knew we needed to grow the program to do it, and we have. We've brought on a lot of great people in the last year. Dave Elenz called a great race today. His first Cup win—that's pretty cool for him. “I'm excited, man. We've been talking about this day a long time, and it is redemption in a lot of ways. Very fitting that it's here at this race again. I felt like this was the race that saved my job the first time around, and coming back here with this win, I guess it puts you back on the map.” Tyler Reddick ran third, followed by pole winner Joey Logano, who vaulted to the top of the Playoff standings, six points clear of second-place William Byron, who finished eighth on Sunday. Jones got his chance at the front of the field when Kyle Busch, who had led a race-high 155 laps, suffered a blown engine as he prepared for the final restart. Busch had inherited the top spot when his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate, Martin Truex Jr., suffered a similar failure on Lap 333 of 367. But those retirements barely scratched the surface of the drama that unfolded throughout the race. Disaster befell Chase Elliott and Kevin Harvick. Kyle Larson and his team accomplished an amazing salvage job. And the Playoff picture remained just as uncertain as it had been entering the grueling 500-mile contest at the Lady in Black. After a catastrophic Playoff opener, Elliott, the regular-season champion, is the series leader no more. Elliott spun sideways in Turn 2 on Lap 113—two laps short of the end of Stage 1—cracked the back of his No. 9 Chevrolet and slid down the track into the path of Chase Briscoe, who couldn’t avoid the collision. Elliott nursed his car to pit road where his team tried in vain to repair the damage, but with the right rear toe link and upper and lower control arms broken, the task was hopeless. The 10-minute time allotment under NASCAR’s damaged vehicle policy ran out, and Elliott retired from the race in last place (36th). The 15-point advantage Elliott carried into the Playoffs was gone. Elliott scored the minimum one point for his efforts at Darlington and fell to ninth in the Playoff standings, 14 points ahead of 16th-place finisher Austin Cindric in 13th. “I just hit the wall in (Turns) 1 and 2 and broke something in the right-rear,” Elliott said succinctly. And how would he approach the next Playoff race at Kansas Speedway? “A lot better than we did today.” A solid run by 2014 series champion Harvick went up in flames on Lap 275. As he lost speed while running ninth, Harvick radioed to his crew, “My rocker panel’s on fire.” Flames erupted on both sides of the car. Harvick parked the No. 4 Ford on the apron and scrambled from his smoke-filled cockpit. Harvick exited the race in 33rd place and dopped to the bottom rung of the Playoff standings, 13 points below the current cut line. Larson, the reigning series champion, brought his car to pit road on Lap 79, sensing his engine was about to expire. He lost three laps as his team worked under the hood of the No. 5 but returned to the track and the “gremlins” disappeared after a few laps. Using wave-arounds and his status as beneficiary under caution to advantage, Larson regained the lead lap and finished 12th, averting a major hit in the standings. Notes: The last driver to win a race in the No. 43 was Aric Almirola, who took the car to Victory Lane on July 6, 2014 at Daytona… Logano led the first 37 laps from the pole and 64 overall, but an issue with the left front tire cost him valuable time during a green-flag pit stop on Lap 75, and he never regained the track position he lost… Ross Chastain lost a lap when he returned to pit road for an unscheduled stop on Lap 160 to address a loose wheel. He finished 20th, one lap down… Cindric, Austin Dillon, Briscoe and Harvick are the four drivers below the current cut line with two races left in the Round of 16. --30-- NASCAR Cup Series Race - 73rd Annual Cook Out Southern 500 Darlington Raceway Darlington, South Carolina Sunday, September 4, 2022 1. (15) Erik Jones, Chevrolet, 367. 2. (11) Denny Hamlin (P), Toyota, 367. 3. (4) Tyler Reddick (P), Chevrolet, 367. 4. (1) Joey Logano (P), Ford, 367. 5. (2) Christopher Bell (P), Toyota, 367. 6. (10) Michael McDowell, Ford, 367. 7. (25) Brad Keselowski, Ford, 367. 8. (3) William Byron (P), Chevrolet, 367. 9. (8) Bubba Wallace (P), Toyota, 367. 10. (16) Alex Bowman (P), Chevrolet, 367. 11. (22) Aric Almirola, Ford, 367. 12. (7) Kyle Larson (P), Chevrolet, 367. 13. (9) Ryan Blaney (P), Ford, 367. 14. (30) Cole Custer, Ford, 367. 15. (21) Ty Gibbs(i), Toyota, 367. 16. (6) Austin Cindric # (P), Ford, 367. 17. (13) Austin Dillon (P), Chevrolet, 367. 18. (36) Daniel Suarez (P), Chevrolet, 367. 19. (14) Justin Haley, Chevrolet, 366. 20. (12) Ross Chastain (P), Chevrolet, 366. 21. (28) Harrison Burton #, Ford, 366. 22. (29) Ty Dillon, Chevrolet, 366. 23. (24) Daniel Hemric(i), Chevrolet, 365. 24. (34) Corey LaJoie, Chevrolet, 365. 25. (26) Landon Cassill(i), Chevrolet, 365. 26. (27) Chris Buescher, Ford, 365. 27. (19) Chase Briscoe (P), Ford, 363. 28. (31) Todd Gilliland #, Ford, 363. 29. (35) BJ McLeod(i), Ford, 361. 30. (5) Kyle Busch (P), Toyota, Engine, 345. 31. (17) Martin Truex Jr., Toyota, Water Pump, 336. 32. (32) Cody Ware, Ford, Accident, 331. 33. (18) Kevin Harvick (P), Ford, Exhaust, 274. 34. (33) JJ Yeley(i), Ford, Exhaust, 236. 35. (20) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Chevrolet, Accident, 164. 36. (23) Chase Elliott (P), Chevrolet, DVP, 113. Average Speed of Race Winner: 120.406 mph. Time of Race: 4 Hrs, 9 Mins, 49 Secs. Margin of Victory: .252 Seconds. Caution Flags: 9 for 58 laps. Lead Changes: 21 among 11 drivers. Lap Leaders: J. Logano (P) 1-37;L. Cassill(i) 38;J. Logano (P) 39-65;W. Byron (P) 66-74;B. Wallace (P) 75-76;W. Byron (P) 77-117;K. Busch (P) 118-152;D. Hamlin (P) 153;R. Chastain (P) 154;B. Wallace (P) 155-156;B. Keselowski 157-167;K. Busch (P) 168-193;C. LaJoie 194-197;K. Busch (P) 198-208;M. Truex Jr. 209-220;K. Busch (P) 221-293;M. Truex Jr. 294-319;K. Busch (P) 320;D. Hamlin (P) 321-325;M. Truex Jr. 326-335;K. Busch (P) 336-344;E. Jones 345-367. Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led): Kyle Busch (P) 6 times for 155 laps; Joey Logano (P) 2 times for 64 laps; William Byron (P) 2 times for 50 laps; Martin Truex Jr. 3 times for 48 laps; Erik Jones 1 time for 23 laps; Brad Keselowski 1 time for 11 laps; Denny Hamlin (P) 2 times for 6 laps; Bubba Wallace (P) 2 times for 4 laps; Corey LaJoie 1 time for 4 laps; Landon Cassill(i) 1 time for 1 lap; Ross Chastain (P) 1 time for 1 lap. Stage #1 Top Ten: 24,11,18,20,19,1,8,43,12,45 Stage #2 Top Ten: 18,19,12,22,24,20,48,99,43,34