“Five Things” is a daily column for NASCAR fans to get a recap of everything that happened the day before — such as races, practice sessions, memorable social media moments, and more! While mostly focused on NASCAR, this column may also feature other interesting and exciting moments from the world of motorsports. Enjoy!
- It’s RACEDAY!!!!!
The good thing about mid-week racing is you don’t have to wait very long for the next race.
Tonight is the Eldora Dirt Dirby from Eldora Speedway, the one and only dirt track race of the year in any of NASCAR’s three national series.
Even though the actual main event doesn’t start until 9:00PM ET (the TV broadcast will be on FS1), the on-track activity actually starts earlier in the afternoon to begin the process of setting the field in a format that mimics many other dirt track racing series across the country.
A random draw will determine the order for single-truck qualifying, which will begin at 4:30PM ET on FS1. Each truck will be allowed two laps in their qualifying attempt, which will set the field for the five qualifying races.
Each qualifying race will be 10 laps, with the first race expected to start at 7:00 PM ET. Only green flag laps will count and the top five finishers in each race will automatically qualify for the main event. This will set the lineup for the first 25 trucks in the 32-car field.
Once all five qualifying races have been run, there will be a last chance qualifier with all of the drivers who have not yet qualified for the main event. The drivers will line up according to their finishing positions in the qualifying races. Only green flag laps will count in the 15-lap LCQ, and the top two drivers will set positions 26th and 27th for the main event.
The starting lineup for positions 28-31 will be determined by NASCAR Camping World Truck Series owner points, with the spots going to the highest eligible teams who have not already qualified for the main event.
The 32nd and final position will go to the most recent eligible NCWTS champion, or the highest eligible team in owner points if there is no eligible past series champion. Seven drivers will fail to qualify.
And, finally, the Eldora Dirt Derby!
Stage 1 will be 40 laps; Stage 2 will be 50 laps; and the final stage will be 60 laps. Laps 40 and 90 will be considered competition cautions, and caution laps will not count for either break. Additionally, teams will not be able to advance their position on pit road. However, the teams that decide not to pit will start ahead of those who do. There are no mandatory pit stops.
Enjoy your mid-week racing!
- Charlotte “Roval” Proves To Be a Bit Of A Beast
A 14-driver test yesterday at the Charlotte Roval proved to be treacherous, just as a crash by Bubba Wallace had proven the previous Tuesday.
William Byron got the worst of it yesterday, with an apparent brake failure causing him to crash into the tire barriers in Turn 1, the same place Wallace had crashed the week prior.
“I think just going over the curbs and everything, we just snapped a brake line and the pedal went to the floor,” said Byron after being evaluated and released from the infield care center. “I’ve never had that happen, but it was not fun.”
Turn 3 proved to also be a challenge, with Ryan Blaney, Alex Bowman, and and Erik Jones making minor-to-moderate contact with the wall.
Kyle Busch’s day went a bit more smoothly, as he ran the fastest lap of the session, averaging 106.8 mph on the 2.28-mile course.
During last week’s test, NASCAR had to make adjustments to the chicange in Turn 3 of the oval portion of the track as drivers were cutting right through the chicane rather than going through it as the turn was designed. In an effort to control speeds and encourage competitors to drive it as intended, one of the changes implemented by NASCAR was the addition of rumble strips in that area of the track.
However, the drivers were driving right over the rumble strips, so officials made the decision to remove them.
The two test sessions were in preparation for the first ever race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval, which will run later this fall on September 30th.
Other drivers participating in the test included AJ Allmendinger, Joey Logano, Clint Bowyer, Aric Almirola, Ty Dillon, Jamie McMurray, Austin Dillon, Trevor Bayne, and Chris Buescher.
- Those Darn Lugnuts …
While the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series teams were free of penalties this week (woot! woot!), one team from the XFINITY Series and another from the Camping World Truck Series were not so lucky. Both were for lugnut violations from the past weekend at Kentucky Speedway.
The No. 22 Team Penske team was penalized in NXS, subjecting crew chief Brian Wilson to a $5,000.00 fine. MENCS regular Paul Menard was the driver for the team in Friday night’s race, finishing in the ninth position.
On the NCWTS side, the No. 24 team, driven by Justin Haley, had a lugnut improperly secured as well. Crew chief Kevin Bellicourt was fined $2,500.00. Haley finished 10th in Thursday night’s race.
- Prepping for Eldora
NCWTS drivers and teams were given two chances to practice on Tuesday in preparation for tonight’s Eldora Dirt Derby.
Myatt Snider led the first of two practice sessions with a time of 19.661 seconds at 91.552 mph. Dirt track ace Stewart Friesen was second with a time of 19.693 seconds.
Third was Grant Enfinger, followed by Brett Moffitt and Matt Crafton.
Friesen led the second and final practice of the day with a best time of 20.893 seconds at 86.153 mph. Sheldon Creed was second, followed by Chase Briscoe in third.
Snider and Todd Gilliland rounded out the top five.
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Practice 1
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Final Practice
- Speaking of dirt …
Kyle Larson just can’t get enough on-track time, and Tuesday night he competed in the World of Outlaws race at at Lernerville Speedway.
Oh, and by the way … he won.
Larson led most of the race en route to the victory, the six World of Outlaws victory of his career.
Kasey Kahne — who drives for Leavine Family Racing in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series — also competed in the event, finishing 17th. KKR drivers Brad Sweet and Daryn Pittman finished second and seventh, respectively.
Five Things You Need To Know Today: July 18, 2018
“Five Things” is a daily column for NASCAR fans to get a recap of everything that happened the day before — such as races, practice sessions, memorable social media moments, and more! While mostly focused on NASCAR, this column may also feature other interesting and exciting moments from the world of motorsports. Enjoy!
The good thing about mid-week racing is you don’t have to wait very long for the next race.
Tonight is the Eldora Dirt Dirby from Eldora Speedway, the one and only dirt track race of the year in any of NASCAR’s three national series.
Even though the actual main event doesn’t start until 9:00PM ET (the TV broadcast will be on FS1), the on-track activity actually starts earlier in the afternoon to begin the process of setting the field in a format that mimics many other dirt track racing series across the country.
A random draw will determine the order for single-truck qualifying, which will begin at 4:30PM ET on FS1. Each truck will be allowed two laps in their qualifying attempt, which will set the field for the five qualifying races.
Each qualifying race will be 10 laps, with the first race expected to start at 7:00 PM ET. Only green flag laps will count and the top five finishers in each race will automatically qualify for the main event. This will set the lineup for the first 25 trucks in the 32-car field.
Once all five qualifying races have been run, there will be a last chance qualifier with all of the drivers who have not yet qualified for the main event. The drivers will line up according to their finishing positions in the qualifying races. Only green flag laps will count in the 15-lap LCQ, and the top two drivers will set positions 26th and 27th for the main event.
The starting lineup for positions 28-31 will be determined by NASCAR Camping World Truck Series owner points, with the spots going to the highest eligible teams who have not already qualified for the main event.
The 32nd and final position will go to the most recent eligible NCWTS champion, or the highest eligible team in owner points if there is no eligible past series champion. Seven drivers will fail to qualify.
And, finally, the Eldora Dirt Derby!
Stage 1 will be 40 laps; Stage 2 will be 50 laps; and the final stage will be 60 laps. Laps 40 and 90 will be considered competition cautions, and caution laps will not count for either break. Additionally, teams will not be able to advance their position on pit road. However, the teams that decide not to pit will start ahead of those who do. There are no mandatory pit stops.
Enjoy your mid-week racing!
A 14-driver test yesterday at the Charlotte Roval proved to be treacherous, just as a crash by Bubba Wallace had proven the previous Tuesday.
William Byron got the worst of it yesterday, with an apparent brake failure causing him to crash into the tire barriers in Turn 1, the same place Wallace had crashed the week prior.
“I think just going over the curbs and everything, we just snapped a brake line and the pedal went to the floor,” said Byron after being evaluated and released from the infield care center. “I’ve never had that happen, but it was not fun.”
Turn 3 proved to also be a challenge, with Ryan Blaney, Alex Bowman, and and Erik Jones making minor-to-moderate contact with the wall.
Kyle Busch’s day went a bit more smoothly, as he ran the fastest lap of the session, averaging 106.8 mph on the 2.28-mile course.
During last week’s test, NASCAR had to make adjustments to the chicange in Turn 3 of the oval portion of the track as drivers were cutting right through the chicane rather than going through it as the turn was designed. In an effort to control speeds and encourage competitors to drive it as intended, one of the changes implemented by NASCAR was the addition of rumble strips in that area of the track.
However, the drivers were driving right over the rumble strips, so officials made the decision to remove them.
The two test sessions were in preparation for the first ever race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval, which will run later this fall on September 30th.
Other drivers participating in the test included AJ Allmendinger, Joey Logano, Clint Bowyer, Aric Almirola, Ty Dillon, Jamie McMurray, Austin Dillon, Trevor Bayne, and Chris Buescher.
While the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series teams were free of penalties this week (woot! woot!), one team from the XFINITY Series and another from the Camping World Truck Series were not so lucky. Both were for lugnut violations from the past weekend at Kentucky Speedway.
The No. 22 Team Penske team was penalized in NXS, subjecting crew chief Brian Wilson to a $5,000.00 fine. MENCS regular Paul Menard was the driver for the team in Friday night’s race, finishing in the ninth position.
On the NCWTS side, the No. 24 team, driven by Justin Haley, had a lugnut improperly secured as well. Crew chief Kevin Bellicourt was fined $2,500.00. Haley finished 10th in Thursday night’s race.
NCWTS drivers and teams were given two chances to practice on Tuesday in preparation for tonight’s Eldora Dirt Derby.
Myatt Snider led the first of two practice sessions with a time of 19.661 seconds at 91.552 mph. Dirt track ace Stewart Friesen was second with a time of 19.693 seconds.
Third was Grant Enfinger, followed by Brett Moffitt and Matt Crafton.
Friesen led the second and final practice of the day with a best time of 20.893 seconds at 86.153 mph. Sheldon Creed was second, followed by Chase Briscoe in third.
Snider and Todd Gilliland rounded out the top five.
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Practice 1
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Final Practice
Kyle Larson just can’t get enough on-track time, and Tuesday night he competed in the World of Outlaws race at at Lernerville Speedway.
Oh, and by the way … he won.
Larson led most of the race en route to the victory, the six World of Outlaws victory of his career.
Kasey Kahne — who drives for Leavine Family Racing in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series — also competed in the event, finishing 17th. KKR drivers Brad Sweet and Daryn Pittman finished second and seventh, respectively.