NASCAR

Denny Hamlin Wins Wild Sprint Unlimited At Daytona International Speedway

Published

10 years ago

February 13, 2016

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) – Running up front paid off long before the checkered flag Saturday night for Denny Hamlin. Leading the field for the last 16 laps kept him clear of two late-race cautions and enabled him to win the Sprint Unlimited for the third time at Daytona International Speedway.

It marked the third consecutive Sprint Unlimited victory and fourth in the last five years for Joe Gibbs Racing. Hamlin (No. 11 FedEx Express Toyota Camry) took the checkered and caution flags simultaneously, after a multi-car mishap during an “overtime” finish that extended the race four laps beyond its scheduled distance of 75 laps.

There were seven cautions on the night. The one that necessitated the overtime was caused by a Lap 73 backstretch incident that involved six cars including the No. 18 M&M’s 75 Toyota Camry of reigning NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Kyle Busch.

Reigning DAYTONA 500 champion Joey Logano (No. 22 Shell Pennzoil Ford) finished second, after starting last in the 25-car field. Paul Menard (No. 27 Peak Antifreeze/Menard Chevrolet) finished third.

“This is a great team win,’ Hamlin said. “We’re looking forward to [the DAYTONA 500].”

Former Sprint Unlimited champions and former DAYTONA. 500 pole winners who competed full time in 2015 were eligible for this year’s annual “all-star” race, as were all drivers from the 2015 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. Any remaining open positions were filled based on 2015 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship driver points. There also was a notable substitution, with Brian Vickers filling in for injured Tony Stewart, a three-time Sprint Unlimited champion. Vickers exited the race early, following a Lap 23 accident that also ended the night for three-time event champion Kevin Harvick.

The starting grid was determined Friday by a drawing involving the crew chiefs for the 25 drivers entered. Jimmie Johnson’s crew chief Chad Knaus drew the top spot for his driver, a two-time DAYTONA 500 champion and six-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion.

The non-points event was divided into two segments with a competition caution at Lap 25 separating the segments.

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On Sunday, starting at 1:15 p.m. (ET), DAYTONA 500 Qualifying Presented By Kroger will begin the qualifying process for the Feb. 21 DAYTONA 500. The session will “lock in” the first two starting positions for the DAYTONA 500 and also will determine the starting grids for the Feb. 18 Can-Am Duel, a pair of 150-mile races that establish the remaining positions in the 40-car DAYTONA 500 field.

* * * * *

Prior to the Sprint Unlimited, John Wes Townley drove his No. 05 Zaxby’s Chevrolet to Gatorade Victory Lane in Saturday’s Lucas Oil 200 Driven by General Tire, the season-opening race for the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards.

Townley started fifth in the 40-car field and went out to claim his second Lucas 200 Driven by General Tire title, beating the second-place No. 55 Liberty University Toyota of William Byron by 0.209 seconds. The No. 58 Lira Motorsports Ford of Kyle Weatherman completed the top three.

“It was quite a ride there for a while,” Townley said, after successfully negotiating the nuances of drafting on Daytona’s high banks. “We were really having to fight for it. Once you get up there [in the lead], that’s when the heart-stopping starts. You’re kind of a sitting duck, especially when you start to gain a little bit and once you get a car-length or two [ahead], you’re looking in your mirror you’re just saying, ‘Oh my gosh, it’s a matter of time before they get a run, come up here and pass me.’”

Eight-time Lucas Oil 200 event champion of Bobby Gerhart Jr. fell victim to a nine-car collision on Lap 3. The accident ended the No. 5 Lucas Oil-Lucas Oil TV Racing Chevrolet’s night, and Gerhart’s chances of being one step closer to his 10-title goal at Daytona. Of the 40 cars, 17 finished on the lead lap.

Auto Racing

Chris Buescher Wins, Bubba Wallace Clinches Playoffs at Daytona’s Coke Zero 400

Published

3 years ago

August 27, 2023

Mike Brodsky

Photo Credit: Rafael Crisostomo

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Florida National News) – Chris Buescher has won the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway, and Bubba Wallace has secured the 16th and final spot in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs. This will be Wallace’s first time racing for a championship.

Chris Buescher in Victory Lane after the Coke Zero 400. Photo Credit: Mike Brodsky (Florida National News)

Wallace had entered the race in 16th place, but a victory from a driver below the cut line could have knocked him out of the playoffs. An early accident took out several drivers including Ty Gibbs, Ryan Blaney, and several others. A spectacular crash late in the race by Ryan Preece had him flipping at least ten times over the grass. Fortunately, he was able to exit the vehicle.

Bubba Wallace clinches Playoffs. Photo Credit: Mike Brodsky (Florida National News)

The sixteen drivers in the Playoffs include the points leaders William Byron, Martin Truex Jr., Denny Hamlin, Chris Buescher, Kyle Busch, Kyle Larson, Christopher Bell, Ross Chastain, Brad Keselowski, Tyler Reddick, Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney, Michael McDowell, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Kevin Harvick, and Bubba Wallace.

NASCAR’s first Playoffs Round of Sixteen race takes place next weekend at Darlington, Sunday, September 3rd. Each three-week round of the playoffs will reduce the field by four drivers, leading up to the Season Finale on Sunday, Nov. 5th at Phoenix Raceway, featuring the final four drivers competing for the NASCAR Cup Series championship.

Be sure to stay tuned to Florida National News (www.FloridaNationalNews.com) and Florida Sports Channel (www.FloridaSportsChannel.com) for more.

Auto Racing

Last Chance For NASCAR Playoffs at Coke Zero 400 in Daytona

Published

3 years ago

August 25, 2023

Mike Brodsky

Photo Credit: Mike Brodsky (Florida National News)

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Florida National News) – NASCAR fans are already packing the Daytona International Speedway as the regular season comes to its finale Saturday, August 26, with the Coke Zero 400. While fifteen drivers have already secured a spot in the playoffs, the 16th is still up for grabs based on the race results.

Fans at Daytona International Speedway. Photo Credit: Mike Brodsky (Florida National News)

The fifteen drivers who are already guaranteed a spot in NASCAR’s first Playoffs Round of Sixteen race at Darlington, Sunday, September 3rd include the current points leaders Martin Truex Jr., Denny Hamlin, William Byron, Christopher Bell, Kyle Larson, Brad Keselowski, Chris Buescher, Ross Chastain, Ryan Blaney, Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch, Tyler Reddick, Joey Logano, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Michael McDowell. The top two drivers, Truex and Hamlin, will compete Saturday night to win the Regular Season Championship. There are seventeen drivers who are competing at the Coke Zero 400 for that final spot in the postseason. Bubba Wallace is currently in 16th place, and could clinch with 24 points. Ty Gibbs and Daniel Suárez could clinch with enough points to pass Wallace or with a victory. AJ Allmendinger, Alex Bowman, Chase Elliott, Austin Cindric, Justin Haley, Ryan Preece, Aric Almirola, Todd Gilliland, Corey LaJoie, Erik Jones, Austin Dillon, Harrison Burton, Chase Briscoe and Ty Dillon need to win on Saturday night to secure their spot in the playoffs.

Bubba Wallace competes for a spot in the Playoffs. Photo Credit: Mike Brodsky (Florida National News)

Each three-week round of the playoffs will reduce the field by four drivers, leading up to the Season Finale on Sunday, Nov. 5th at Phoenix Raceway, featuring the final four drivers competing for the NASCAR Cup Series championship. Joey Logano is the reigning champ after winning in Phoenix last season.

The action begins Saturday night at 7:00 p.m. Be sure to stay tuned to Florida National News (www.FloridaNationalNews.com) and Florida Sports Channel (www.FloridaSportsChannel.com) for more.

Entertainment

Multi-Platinum Country Artist Chase Rice to Perform Saturday Night Infield Concert at Talladega Superspeedway During NASCAR Playoffs Weekend

Published

4 years ago

August 11, 2022

FNN NEWS

Country star Chase Rice. Photo via NASCAR.

TALLADEGA, Ala. – Talladega Superspeedway is proud to announce that multi-Platinum singer-songwriter Chase Rice, who also has NASCAR ties, will be the featured artist for the track’s traditional Saturday Night Infield Concert, Oct. 1, during an exciting NASCAR Playoffs weekend, featuring the YellaWood 500.

Rice will take the stage at NASCAR’s “Party Capital” just hours after the conclusion of the Sparks 300 (NASCAR Xfinity Series) and Chevy Silverado 250 (NASCAR Camping World Truck Series) races, and the night before the YellaWood 500 NASCAR Cup Series event (Sunday, Oct. 2). It will mark the second time that Rice has performed at the biggest and baddest race track on the planet (spring of 2015). The best part about the concert is that admission is FREE with the purchase of a Sunday race ticket for the YellaWood 500. Breakout country artist Bailey Zimmerman will open the anticipated night.

“We are thrilled to have Chase Rice back with us at Talladega Superspeedway for our popular Saturday Night Infield Concert,” said Talladega Superspeedway Chairman Brian Crichton. “We have amazing fans, and knowing what an incredible entertainer Chase is, everyone in attendance is going to have an incredible time. Chase will continue the tradition in our world-famous infield, and it’s one fans will not want to miss.”

With more than 2.3 million albums sold and over 2.3 billion total streams, plus a legion of passionate fans at his high-energy concerts across the globe, Rice has established himself as a powerful force in Nashville and beyond. With a forthcoming album crafted in his rural Tennessee home-turned-studio, his sound continues to evolve to reflect the realities of his life, as evidenced by recent single “If I Were Rock & Roll” and his latest release, “Key West & Colorado.” The new music serves as a follow up to his three-part project, The Album, featuring his latest Platinum-certified No. 1 hit, “Drinkin’ Beer. Talkin’ God. Amen. (featuring Florida Georgia Line)” and Platinum-certified Top 10 hit “Lonely If You Are.”

This is the same gravelly-voiced Chase Rice fans first fell in love with years ago – but better. Freer. Unbeholden and uninhibited, somehow capable of evoking Chris LeDoux and The Chronic, campfire singalongs and stadium anthems, all at once. The new music builds upon the success of his sophomore album, Lambs & Lions, which featured the Triple-Platinum, two-week chart topper “Eyes On You” – Rice’s first No. 1 as an artist and the most-streamed song of his career.

In addition to a hugely successful music career, Rice also has an athletic background as a former linebacker at the University of North Carolina, and was a part of the sport of NASCAR, serving as a rear tire carrier for the Hendrick Motorsports team pit crew before moving to Nashville to pursue music full-time.

Warner Music Nashville / Elektra Music Group breakout country artist Zimmerman is following an explosive trajectory after an unexpected, whirlwind rise. His undeniable smash “Fall In Love” features Zimmerman’s “blistering…effortlessly gritty, fervent vocal” (Billboard). The song is currently racing up the country radio charts and multiple all-genre Billboard charts, having already charted at No. 1 on Apple Music’s Top Country Songs chart and SiriusXM The Highway’s Top 30 Countdown earlier this year.

A victory by a playoff eligible driver in any of the trio of October events will make it to the next round of their respective NASCAR Playoffs series. The YellaWood 500 will serve as the second race in the Round of 12 and will feature NASCAR’s ’Next Gen’ car. Bubba Wallace is the defending Champion of the YellaWood 500. Brandon Brown won last year’s Xfinity Series race while Tate Fogleman took the top honors in the Camping World Truck Series race.

Guests attending the weekend can be immersed into the sport of NASCAR by being a part of the Talladega Garage Experience, which gives the ability to be up-close to NASCAR’s top drivers and teams via a fan walkway under the same roof as the NASCAR Cup Series garage bays. For all race weekend ticket information, log onto www.talladegasuperspeedway.com.

Fans are encouraged to keep up with all the happenings at the biggest, baddest race track on the planet by following Talladega Superspeedway on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, as well as the all-new NASCAR Tracks App. for the latest speedway news.

Follow Chase Rice at:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/chasericemusic

Twitter: @chasericemusic

Instagram: @chaserice

TikTok: @chasericemusic