Speedway, IN  9/6/19

USAC comes to IMS! The Driven2savelives BC39 was held over the past 2 days at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and USAC put on a great show! Wednesday night's finish was one for the record books. What a great memorial for Bryan Clauson!

Thursday night's weather was perfect to watch dirt track racing! As I was wandering around Turn 3 at IMS, I noticed all the drivers that were represented on t-shirts. Each race brings with it it's unique race fans, but I noticed how much overlap there was between USAC drivers and NASCAR drivers. There were just as many cheers for USAC drivers as there were for drivers like Kyle Larsen. How great to see everyone mingling and having a great time!!

I started chatting with a woman in the grandstands and Thursday was her first experience with dirt track racing. She was no novice to IMS, having attended quite a few Indy 500s and Brickyard 400s, but this was a completely different experience for her. She talked about the ambiance and how great the atmosphere was. She remarked about the smells of the fuel and the sounds of the engines. It is completely different from Indycar and NASCAR. She said quite a few times that she kept expecting the drivers to crash as they were coming out of their drifts and she thought the control they showed was amazing! When one of the drivers in one of the heats ended up on their side and the fact that they were able to be righted, and take off with a push start, she was in awe! I think she will be back for a repeat visit!

Today, the Xfinity young guns got behind the wheel and had their first practice in an attempt to take on the veteran NASCAR drivers for the Indiana 250.  Tomorrow the action continues with Cup practice and Xfinity qualifying, capped off by the Xfinity race Indiana 250 at 3pm.

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Tyler Ankrum captured his first career NASCAR Gander Outdoor Truck Series win in the Buckle Up in Your Truck 225 at Kentucky Speedway on Thursday night. 

Ankrum took the lead in the final two laps and went on to take the checkered flag after Moffitt ran out of fuel. 

The DGR-Crosley No. 17 Toyota qualified well and rolled out P9 when the green flag waved in Kentucky. The racing was aggressive from the start, but Ankrum was able to fight his way into the top five at the conclusion of Stage 1. 

When the green flag waved for Stage 2, the action and aggression heated up. Trouble began after Spencer Boyd went around collecting Natalie Decker and Jordan Anderson, ending their nights. With 11 laps to go in Stage 2, Harrison Burton spun after battling with Chastain for position and triggered a multi-truck crash that collected several. After the restart, Grant Enfinger and Brandon Jones crashed off the straightaway battling for position, bringing out another caution with five to go. The stage ended under caution, giving Matt Crafton his third stage win of the season. Ankrum was able to avoid all of the wreckage and finish fourth in the stage. 

Rather than pitting at the end of the stage, Ankrum stayed out and lead the field to green. He was able to maintain his lead for several laps while battle ensued behind him. With 50 to go, the No. 17 pitted from the lead for a change of tires and fuel. He fought his way back up to second and set his sights on Brett Moffitt. 

The GMS Racing No. 24 Chevrolet began conserving fuel when his crew chief informed him they might be two laps short in the final run. Ankrum had more than enough fuel to get him to the checkered flag, so he gave it his all in chasing down Moffitt. 

Moffitt began to slow and Tyler Ankrum went by like breeze with two laps to go in the final stage. He took the checkered flag for the first time in his career after his 12th start in the NASCAR Gander Outdoor Truck Series.  

“I cannot believe I just did this. Man, it’s going to take a lot of work. Honestly, one of my biggest faults is I’ve always doubted myself. I kind of feel like all that has washed away. I can’t thank David Gilliland and DGR-Crosley enough. I just don’t know what else to say.”

Stewart Friesen, Harrison Burton, Ross Chastain and Dylan Lupton rounded out the top five. Grant Enfinger remains the series point leader followed by, Friesen, Moffitt, Crafton and Burton. 

The NASCAR Gander Outdoor Truck Series is back in action on July 27 at Pocono Raceway for the Gander RV 150 at 1:00 PM on FOX. 

Tyler Reddick took the checkered flag in Saturday’s LTi Printing 250 at Michigan International Speedway. 

The RCR wheelman overcame pit mistakes and fuel concerns to get his first win in the Irish Hills. Fuel strategy played a big role at the two-mile speedway. Many of the top contenders found themselves hoping for a caution as stage three was winding down. 

After pitting for the final time on lap 78, Reddick was able to save fuel for the remaining 47 laps. 

With 10 laps to go, Cole Custer and Christopher Bell pitted from the top spots to give Reddick the lead. Bell had a code word mixup on the final caution that forced him to pit under green. Custer was told to mimic Bell’s strategy, meaning he would miss his opportunity to pit under caution and have to pit under green-flag conditions. 

Reddick drove his No. 2 RCR Chevrolet to the top spot and parked it in victory lane for the third time this season. 

“A great team effort. I didn’t do the thing I needed to do on the race track but, man, that was a great car and we put ourselves in position to win.”

The NASCAR Xfinity Series will be back in action on Sunday, June 16 at Iowa Speedway for the CircuitCity.com 250 at 5:30 PM ET. 

Indianapolis—

Let’s do this again the NASCAR Marathon continues at the Indianapolis motor Speedway.

Coming off what is likely the most exciting Xfinty race of the season.

A very emotional Justin Allgaier has won the Xfinity Series race that kicked off a NASCAR doubleheader at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

We are finally able to start the 25^th running of the Brickyard 400.

Twitter action from stage 1  

Early in 400 L10: @KyleLarsonRacin says the biggest issue so far is Turn 4. "I think I hit the wall a little on the short chute between 1 and 2."

#Brickyard400 L22: "That's all I got. I'm trying. Loose off ... but overall not too bad." - Brad @keselowski

#Brickyard400 L26: @keselowski told to follow the leaders to pit road if they stop before the Lap 30 caution.

#Lap32 Elliott goes for "right side only" on tires, gains significant track position.

#Brickyard400 L30: 2nd competition caution. Larson: 5th Kez: 9th Logano: 18th Harvick: 33rd (made his way back to 19th before pitting)

Green flag back out on lap 34. #Brickyard400 #NASCAR

Martin Truex JR lost a brake rotor his day at IMS ended early

Clint Bowyer wins Stage 1 of the Brickyard 400 followed by Kurt Busch

In Stage 2 big crash between David Starr and Bubba Wallace followed by another crash between Alex Bowman and AJ Allmendinger. This huge for Bowman with a playoff spot on the line. Heavy repairs were made to the RF and RR it cost Bowman 3 laps

Next caution JJ Yeley goes for a spin. Teammates Clint Boyer and Kevin Harvick lead field on the restart.

Stage 2 Twitter action

Through 80 (halfway): - Chase Elliott at 7th - Ryan Blaney at 3rd - Austin Dillon 23rd #Brickyard400

Heavy impact between @BubbaWallace and @starr_racing. #Brickyard400

#Brickyard400 L86: @KevinHarvick reporting a vibration. Spotter continues to tell him his gap to 2^nd

@WilliamByron is told he's got a penalty for an uncontrolled tire. He will restart at the tail end of the field. Was running top 10 prior. Lap 78. #NASCAR #Brickyard400

#Brickyard400 L92: @KyleLarsonRacin picks up a spot that lap and moves up to P4 with 8 to go in Stage 2.

@dariangrubb to @WilliamByron: "Really really REALLY slow blue 66 car coming up." Lap 90. #NASCAR #Brickyard400

Matt Kenseth WINS STAGE 2 followed by Chase Elliot.

Final Stage 3...a ton strategies are going to come into play to finish this race

Penalty for Kyle Busch and the Number 18 team hit with a commitment line Violation at the close of stage 2

1 more pit stop for most teams

To start Stage 3: @WilliamByron, @ClintBowyer, @dennyhamlin, @KevinHarvick, and @KyleLarsonRacin are the top 5. #NASCAR #Brickyard400 Lap 104.

Ryan Blayneywas running in top three but disaster on pit road will likely end his of a #BrickYard400 win.

#Brickyard400 L137: Leader @keselowski reports he just hit debris and wants crew to check splitter.

#Brickyard400 L140: @keselowski radio now speaking strategy code: "Page No. 3." He leads Johnson by 2.4 seconds

#Brickyard400 L141: @keselowski pitting this time

Debris on the Front Stretch brings out caution

@KurtBusch reports an ill-handling car. Asks how many cars are on the lead lap. When told 23 cars are on the lead lap, Kurt replies in the only way Kurt can, "expletive". #NASCAR #Brickyard400 Lap 145

1 to go at the line. Restart with 12 to go. Top 5: @dennyhamlin, @ClintBowyer, @jamiemcmurray, @KevinHarvick, and @erik_jones #NASCAR #Brickyard400

#Brickyard400: Hamlin already out to a nearly 1 second lead

Clint Bowyer and Jamie McMurray make contact, but Bowyer hangs on! #Brickyard400

Caution is out for @JEarnhardt1 and @landoncassill with 7 laps to go!

CHECKERED FLAG GOES TO BRAD KESELOWSKI AND THE FIRST BRICKYARD WIN FOR THE CAPTAIN!

Kyle Busch captured the regular-season points title. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver, in the No. 18 Toyota, finished eighth.

The other drivers competing for the Cup title will be: Kevin Harvick, Martin Truex Jr., Kurt Busch, Joey Logano, Clint Bowyer, Kyle Larson, Hamlin, Ryan Blaney, Chase Elliott, Jones, Aric Almirola and Ryan Newman.

Saturday's qualifying was rained out, so the starting grid was determined by points. Sunday's scheduled race also was washed out, forcing the race to be moved to a rare Monday start.

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Indianapolis ---

The rain has cleared out and we have an all-day NASCAR event at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway. I can’t think of a better way to start the week! 650 miles of racing in one day!

Wow what an exciting Lilly Diabetes 250. Holy cow we saw stage 1 end in 4 wide won by John Hunter Nemechek

Stage 2 Strategy and fight for second place won by Christopher Bell, Stage 2 won by Daniel Hemric .

One of the most exciting Xfinity races of the season unfolded right here in Indy.

Unfortunately the day ended badly for Ty Dillion, Austin Cindric , and Elliot Sadler. Sadler recently announcing his retirement. This not the way he wanted to end his last race at Indy.

Elliott Sadler hit Dillon's No. 3 car and both went hard into the third turn wall. Sadler started his final Indy race fourth in points. Then one-lap shootout that John Hunter Nemechek barely won as the cars went four wide.

Stage 3 wasn’t without calamity Brandon Jones made contact with Cole Custer causing heavy contact with the inside wall before sliding down the back stretch. Cole was evaluated and released from the infield Care center

#18 Ryan Preece got loose and slammed into Tire barrier. Creating red Flag conditions for cleanup in turn 2. Preece was evaluated and released from the infield Care center

In the final laps the battle for the lead go 3 wide!  With 10 to go Ryan Truex hits wall and is forced to pit.

Conragts to Justin Allgaier gets his first win at Indy. Congrats also to JR Motorsports!

After a long wait…we finally have a checkered flag wave at Indy! What smoke show here at Indy.  Justin Allgaier “This is one is for my dad…This all about family” Tears flowing this was clearing an emotional win for Justin Allgaier

1. Justin Allgaier
2. Tyler Reddick
3. Ryan Blaney
4. Chase Elliott
5. Daniel Hemric
6. Matt Tifft
7. Christopher Bell
8. Austin Dillon
9. Chase Briscoe
10. Brandon jones
11. Ryan Reed
12. Ross Chastain
13. Ryan Sieg
14. Jeremy Clements
15. Joey Gase
16. BJ McLeod
17. Vinnie Miller
18. David Starr
19. Alex Labbe
20. Garrett Smithley
21. Chad Finchum
22. Ryan Truex
23. Caesar Bacarella
24. Josh Williams
25. John Hunter Nemechek
26. Mike Harmon
27. Tommy Joe Martins
28. Ryan Preece
29. Cole Custer
30. JJ Yeley
31. Michael Annett
32. Morgan Shepherd
33. Ty Dillon
34. Austin Cindric
35. Elliott Sadler
36. Spencer Boyd
37. Brandon Hightower
38. Josh Bilicki
39. Bayley Currey
40. Jeff Green

In other news as we get ready for the 25^th running of the Brickyard 400

Jamie McMurray may be headed into the final Brickyard 400 of his career with Chip Ganassi Racing. McMurray won the race in 2010.

Ganassi says he's offered McMurray a contract to drive the Daytona 500 next season, then move into a leadership role with the organization similar to the one Dario Franchitti holds. Ganassi says McMurray has not decided if he will stay with the team or seek a full-time driving job elsewhere.

The contract confirms the No. 1 Chevrolet will be open at the end of this season, but Ganassi declined to comment on signing free agent Kurt Busch.

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