By John Schutt
NASCAR Cup Series, The Cook Out Southern 500, Darlington, S.C., Darlington Speedway, Sunday, Sept. 1.
Bubba Wallace won the pole, but in the end Chase Briscoe held off Kyle Busch to win his first race of the season! In third place was Chris Bell, Kyle Larson in fourth, and Ross Chastain in fifth.
Martin Truex, Jr. wrecked on the second lap of the race and Larson won the first stage.
Second stage winner was Denny Hamlin, who passed Larson at the end of the stage for the victory.
Near the start of the third stage, Todd Gilliland and Buescher collided and spun into the wall.
Wallace was in the lead until Briscoe passed to get into first place.
With 21 laps left in the race, a big wreck occurred involving Noah Gragson, Wallace, Ty Gibbs, William Byron, and Josh Berry.
With five laps to go, Kyle Busch climbed to second place. However, he did not have the momentum to catch up to Wallace, who won by 2/10ths of a second.
NASCAR Cup Series, Coke Zero Sugar 400, Daytona, Fla., Daytona International Speedway, Sunday, Aug. 24.
The surprise winner of this year’s Coke Zero Sugar 400 was Wood Brothers Team driver Harrison Burton, with Kyle Busch close behind. In third place was Austin Hill, Bell in fourth, and Gibbs in fifth.
The pole winner was Mike McDowell and first Josh Berry won the first stage.
Early in the second stage a wreck occurred involving Denny Hamilin, Truex, Jr., Corey Lajoie, Ross Chastain and four other drivers.
Winner of second stage was Joey Logano.
Kyle Larson made contact with John Hunter Nemecheck who spun out and hit the wall.
In the third stage with 10 laps to go Mike McDowell was in the lead ahead of Kyle Larson.
At lap 9 there was the biggest wreck of the race involving Logano, McDowell, Wallace, Larson, Tyler Reddick, and Buescher. A total of 14 cars were involved.
Another multi-car incident occurred with Austin Dillion, Eric Jones ,William Byron, Gilliland, and Josh Berry, who flipped his car.
After the wreck a Green White Checker finish was issued and Burton won.
•Denny Hamlin’s team got a heavy fine for engine infractions for an earlier race
•Stewart Hass NASCAR team will fold after this season, due to Tony Stewart wanting to pursue other things such as drag racing.
NASCAR Cup Series, FireKeepers Casino 400, Michigan International Speedway, Irish Hills Mich., Sunday, Aug. 19.
Race started after a two hour rain delay. Reddick won the pole position and won the race. In second place was Byron, Ty Gibbs in third, Kyle Busch in fourth, and Brad Keselowski in fifth.
Kyle Larson took the lead after 10 laps.
Hamlin spun out trying to pass Wallace at the end of the stage.
After pit stops Ryan Blaney got to the front and won the first stage.
The second stage started and another rain delay was issued which lasted until the next day.
At the restart next day, Truex, Jr was in the lead position.
With 11 laps to go in the second stage Logano had three tires blowout.
With 4 laps to go, Larson, Buecher, Bell spun out.
Kyle Busch won stage two under a yellow caution.
In the third stage with 62 laps to go, Lajoie spun out and flipped his car after contact on the back stretch.
Truex, Jr. brushed the wall with six laps to go, which set up a green white checker finish.
Ross Chastain spun out on the first lap of the green white checker.
Reddick stayed in front for the victory.
NASCAR Cup Series, Cook Out 400, Richmond Raceway, Richmond, Va., Sunday, Aug. 11.
The pole sitter was Hamlin with the controversial victory going to Austin Dillion. Following in second was Hamlin, Reddick in third, Wallace in fourth, and Chastain in fifth.
The first stage was won by Bell.
Second stage went to Daniel Suarez.
Truex, Jr. had his engine blowout early in stage three.
With 38 laps to go Dillion took the lead from Hamlin.
With three laps to go there was a accident between two cars. A green white checker finish was set up, with Logano in the lead. On the final lap, going into turn one, Dillion slammed into the back of Logano and pushed him out of the way. Dillon was able to take the lead and won the race.