Category Archives: Sprint Cup Series

Edwards leads final 10 for first All-Star victory

Carl Edwards' No. 99 crew didn't win Thursday's Sprint Pit Crew Challenge -- they waited until it really counted.

Ragan wins Showdown; Keselowski advances

Pole-sitter David Ragan passed Brad Keselowski for the lead on the next-to-last lap of Saturday night's Sprint Showdown, as both drivers advanced to the Sprint All-Star Race that followed the 40-lap qualifier.

Today in History: May 21

1983: Morgan Shepherd leads the final 115 laps of the 150-lap Southeastern 150 at Bristol and wins by a lap over Dale Jarrett. Tommy Ellis is third. It is Shepherd's first of four Nationwide Series victories at Bristol. He has more wins at Bristol than at any other track in the series. Shepherd, who is still racing full time in the series at age 69, has 15 victories in 299 Nationwide starts in 26 seasons.

Teammates take different paths to moving on

After five years of competing in what is now called the Sprint All-Star Race, Kyle Busch has finally figured out the rules.

Busch ready to bring home big check from pole

Kyle Busch, the last of 18 drivers to make a qualifying attempt, edged Clint Bowyer for the pole for Saturday night's Sprint All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Notes: Earnhardt determined to win Showdown

Dale Earnhardt Jr. is promising an all-out assault on Saturday's Sprint Showdown.

All-Star Race can pit friend, foe and family

Darrell Waltrip's love for the All-Star Race did not come at first sight. In fact, when he heard of the plan to have the first one back in 1985, he wasn't even sure he wanted to participate. A racing purist, he wasn't interested in putting on "shows."

Smith replaces Bayne in burnout competition

Regan Smith will replace Trevor Bayne in Saturday's Pennzoil Ultra Victory Challenge, a contest to rate participants' best burnouts.

No. 11 team repeats as Pit Crew Challenge winners

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing team, which pits the car of driver Denny Hamlin, became the first back-to-back winner of the Sprint Pit Crew Challenge, defeating the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports team, which pits the car of five-time defending Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson.

Notebook: Showdown could be as competitive as main event

The format of Saturday's Sprint All-Star Race alone -- a 100-lap race with a 10-lap dash to the finish -- all but guarantees the sort of intensity we've come to expect from the non-points race for a $1 million top prize.

Indianapolis expects more empty Brickyard seats

Ticket sales for this year's Brickyard 400 are lagging behind last year's pace, and race organizers worry it could produce a second consecutive record-low turnout for the July 31 race.

Logano to defend title in Ultra Victory Challenge

Pennzoil announced Tuesday the lineup of drivers who will compete in this year's Pennzoil Ultra Victory Challenge, set to take place at 6 p.m. ET Saturday at Charlotte Motor Speedway as part of the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race pre-event festivities.

Tickets for Speedweeks 2012 are on sale

Tickets to NASCAR's biggest, richest and most prestigious race -- the 54th annual Daytona 500 on Feb. 26 -- are on sale.

Vickers celebrates on emotional anniversary

A year ago this weekend, Brian Vickers sat in a hospital bed with IVs plugged into both arms, his future as a Sprint Cup Series driver the furthest thing from his mind.

Ambrose finds his groove on the concrete at Dover

Why some drivers do better on certain surfaces can lead to some abstract thinking. But in the case of Marcos Ambrose, the reasons for his third-place finish Sunday at Dover International Speedway are freshly cemented in his mind.

Notes: Four tires ruin Johnson’s run at Dover

DOVER, Del. -- Jimmie Johnson thought the late four-tire call was the way to go -- until he saw how many cars had taken two tires ahead of him.

Martin, McGrew make call, score runner-up

DOVER, Del. -- Mark Martin and Lance McGrew were sick of ending up back in the Sprint Cup pack with good race cars, so Sunday at Dover International Speedway they turned a no-tire call into a runner-up finish in the FedEx 400 benefiting Autism Speaks.

Latecomer Kenseth steals a victory at Dover

Matt Kenseth came late to the party -- and took home the prize.

Notebook: Johnson not worried about Busch-Harvick clash

Five--time Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson says it's too early to factor the feud between Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch into the title equation this year.

New procedure sets Cup starting lineup for first time

Five-time defending Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson has 54 career victories, including six at Dover International Speedway while A.J. Allmendinger has none in 126 career starts.