By John Schutt
Nascar (National Association for Stock Car Racing) Cup Series, Cook Out Southern 500, Darlington Raceway, Darlington, S.C. Sunday, Sept. 3.
It had been 55 years since Richard Petty’s No. 43 car won at Darlington, until the race’s 20-lap shoot out with driver Eric Johns in car No. 43, stayed ahead of Denny Hamlin for the victory. Following in third was Tyler Reddick, Joe Logano was in fourth, and Christopher Bell in fifth.
Logano started on pole and led most of the first stage. A light rain shower came down to make the track just slick enough for Chase Elliott to spin out after clipping the wall to take out Chase Bristol. Both were out of the race. The first stage was won by William Byron over Logano.
Early on in the third stage Kevin Harvick’s car burst into flames and was out of the race. New leader, Kyle Busch, soon was passed by teammate Martin Truex, Jr.. With 26 laps to go Truex, Jr. had to retire because he had no power steering and was overheating. Just a few laps later Kyle Busch’s engine had severe issues and he too had to retire from the race.
Jones took the lead with 20 laps to go and was ahead of Hamlin. Jones stayed in the lead for the victory. Jones victory was the 200th victory for the No. 43.
Kyle Busch led 155 laps of the race. Brother Kurt is still out on rehabilitation.
NASCAR Cup Series, Coke Zero Sugar 400, Daytona International Speedway, Daytona, Fla., Sunday, Aug. 28.
Austin Dillon won the race which was a day late due to rain delays. Following in second were Tyler Reddick, Austin Cindric in third, Landon Cassill in fourth, and Noah Gragson in fifth. The pole was won by Kyle Larson.
Early on Hamlin spun out and hit wall to cause a wreck which involved Bell and Harvick. Logano won first stage over Elliott by a few inches.
In stage two there was a wreck with Hamlin and Mike McDowell and other cars got tangle in the mess including Ross Chastain, Truex, Jr,, and Ryan Blaney.
The stage 2 winner was Kyle Busch.
Stage 3 had major accident in turn four involving Dillon, Cole Custer, and Bubba Wallace. Shortly later rain caused the track to get slick and there was another large accident when Logano was hit by Jones. The ensuing wreck caused a major pileup involving the cars of Hamlin, Jones, and Dillion. After the wreck was a three-and-a-half-hour rain-delay.
When the race restarted only 22 cars remained in the race. Dillon crossed the checkered flag first for the victory.
NASCAR Cup Series, Go Bowling at the Glen, Watkins Glen International, Watkins Glen, N.Y., Sunday, Aug. 21.
The pole was won by Elliott.
Race started in the rain with special rain tires for the road course. Hendric Motorsports teammates Kyle Larson and Elliott had a bout in last four laps and Larson moved ahead for the victory. Following in second was A.J. Allmindinger, Logano was third, Elliott was fourth, and Daniel Suarez fifth.
The first stage was won by Chase Briscoe on rain tires. The second stage was by Logano over Kyle Busch.
In the third stage, early Kimi Räikkönen was tapped into the outer barrier in the bus stop area .
Loris Hezemans spun out into sand traps with just seven laps to go.
On the restart with four laps to go, Kyle Larson got ahead of Elliott for the victory.