By John Schutt
NASCAR Cup Series, Grant Park 200, Chicago downtown street race, Chicago, Ill., Sunday, July 2.
After a month of drought, record-breaking rain fell on Chicago, which flooded many streets. The race had a late start due to water on the track, but NASCAR pulled it off. The surprised winner was a so-called ringer from half a world away, Shane Van Gisbergen from New Zealand. Following in second was Justin Haley, Chase Elliott in third, Kyle Larson in fourth, and Kyle Busch in fifth.
Denny Hamlin won pole position, but spun out in the first few laps and did not take the lead again. Tyler Reddick took the lead over Chris Bell early, until Bell took the lead after Noah Gragson slipped into the tire barrier the wet track.
Bell won stage 1 over Reddick and Bell won stage 2 ahead of Larson.
After the stage 2, NASCAR officials shortened the race from 100 laps to 75, due to lack of natural light.
On lap 50 in the third stage, William Byron crashed into a tire barrier and caused seven others to pile up, and Bell caught up in the carnage.
On the restart after the caution, Haley was in the lead and eventual winner, Van Gisbergen, was in 18th place! Van Gisbergen moved up to third place with 10 laps to go.
With two laps to go Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. and Bubba Wallace went into the tires. That set up an overtime condition where Haley and Van Gisbergen traded places with Van Gisbergen taking the checkered flag.
Van Gisbergen has won more that 80 Supercar races In Australia.
NASCAR Xfinity Series, The Loop 121, Chicago downtown street race, Chicago, Ill., Saturday, July 1.
The Xfinity race, which started Saturday morning, July 1, first stage was won by Cole Custer over Hunter Nemacheck.
In the second stage there was a lightning strike approximately eight miles away, which halted the race with four laps to go. The unrelenting rain started and race was delayed for 24 hours. NASCAR officials had to declare Custer the winner.
NASCAR Cup Series, Ally 400, Nashville Superspeedway, Nashville ,Tenn., Sunday, June 25.
In the night race, pole-sitter, Ross Chastain, won Stage 1, and was the overall winner. Following in second place was Truex, Jr., Hamlin in third, Elliott in fourth, and Larson in fifth.
Early in Stage 2 the leaders went three-wide for five laps. Ryan Blaney got pushed off the track into infield wall during a restart.
Hamlin won stage 2.
In the final 20 laps of the race, Chastain took the lead and stayed there for the victory. Chastain, whose nickname is, Watermelon Man, smashed a watermelon on the track in celebration. His family owns a watermelon farm in Alabama.
Victory was Chastain’s career third. He races for Track House Racing.
NASCAR Cup Series, Save Mart 350, Sonoma Raceway, Sonoma, Calf., Sunday, June 11.
Hamlin started on pole and won stage 1 ahead of Truex, Jr.. However, Truex, Jr. took the victory in Stage 3 and won the race. Following Truex, Jr. was Kyle Busch , Joey Logano in third, Chris Buecher in fourth, and Elliott in fifth.
In the second stage Truex, Jr. got past Hamlin, then just three laps later Kyle Busch and Logano got to the front.
Stage 2 was won by Kyle Busch over Joe Logano.
In stage 3, Truex, Jr. took the lead and led 51 laps for the victory checkered flag.
NASCAR Cup Series, Enjoy Illinois 300, World Wide Technology Raceway, Madison, Ill., Sunday, June 4
The pole and race winner was Kyle Busch. Following in second place was Hamlin, Logano in third, Larson in fourth, and Truex, Jr. in fifth.
There was a 40-minute delay on start of race due to lightning.
Stage 1 was one by Kyle Busch, ahead of Blaney.
Stage 2 was won by Blaney ahead of Kyle Busch.
With 32 laps to go, Gregson was out of the race and Bell spun out with 30 laps to go.
Kyle Busch stayed ahead of his former-teammate, Hamlin, and won the race.