By John Schutt
NASCAR Cup Series, Cook Out 400, Martinsville Speedway, Martinsville, Va., Sunday, March 30.
Pole position was set by Christopher Bell and following was Chase Elliott.
Driver for Penski, and last year’s NASCAR champion, Joe Logano, spun out with 78 laps to go in the final stage. That allowed Denny Hamlin to take the lead and win the race. Following in second was Bell, Bubba Wallace in third, Chase Elliott in fourth, and Alex Bowman in fifth.
With nine laps to go in the first stage, Chris Buescher spun out. Logano took the lead after the caution and won the first stage.
Stage 2 winner was Hamlin.
The final, long stage 3, was interrupted when Austin Cindric tapped Riley Herbst, and into the wall he went.
After that caution Josh Berry was hit by Shane van Gisbergen when his wheel came off after a pit stop.
With 78 laps to go leader Logano spun out and Hamlin’s victory drought was over when he raced first through the checkered flag.
NASCAR Cup Series, Straight Talk 400, Homestead-Miami Speedway, Homestead. Fla., Sunday, March 23.
Kyle Larson, was able to take over the lead and win the race with six laps to go. Following in second was Alex Bowman, Wallace in third, Chase Briscoe in fourth, and Hamlin in fifth.
Pole was set by Alex Bowman.
Stage 1 was won by Ryan Blaney ahead of Bowman.
In the second stage Hamlin won ahead of Kyle Larson.
Blaney had one of the fastest cars and he led two-thirds of the race until his car’s engine had a blow out, with 55 laps to go.
Wallace took the lead with half of stage three remaining, until Bowman took the lead with only 27 laps left in the race.
Then, with six laps remaining Larson took the lead and stayed there for the victory.
NASCAR Cup Series, Pennzoil 400, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Las Vegas, Nev., Sunday, March 16.
The big thrill of the day was the surprise race winner, driver of the Woods Brothers Racing, Josh Berry. Second place was Daniel Suarez, Ryan Preese in third, William Byron in fourth, and Ross Chastain in fifth.
Michael McDowell won the pole.
Austin Cendric won stage 1.
During the stage 2, van Gisbergen’s car tire went down on the back straight.
Many cars received penalties for going too fast into, or out of, the pits.
Larson won the second stage.
With 191 laps into race, during stage 3, there was a big wreck caused when Cindric collided with Noah Gragson. Blaney and Eric Jones were also damaged in same altercation.
When the smoke cleared, Berry took the lead and won his first Cup Series race.
NASCAR Cup Series, Shriner Children 500 Phoenix Raceway, Phoenix, Ariz., Sunday, March 9.
Pole winner was William Byron and race winner was Bell. Following in second was Hamlin, Larson in third, Berry in fourth, and Buescher in fifth.
Early in stage 1 was the first wreck. Most laps led in stage 1, and stage 1 winner was Byron ahead of Tyler Reddick.
In stage 2, at lap 99, there was a wreck involving seven cars, including Herbst. Haley, Briscoe, and van Gisbergen.
Stage 2 was led by Logano, who led most of stage, but Bell took the late lead and won the stage.
Katherine Legge was hit by Suarez and both spun out.
Wallace lead some of the race, but hit the wall with 45 laps to go in the final stage. Bell got to the lead and stayed there for the victory.