“Summer’s Five Things” is a daily column for NASCAR fans to catch up on the most recent, relevant, and need-to-know news and information in the sport! While mostly focused on NASCAR, this column may also feature other interesting and exciting moments from the world of motorsports. Enjoy!
- Kurt Busch Expected To Drive for Chip Ganassi Racing in 2019
As we discussed yesterday, rumors were circulating that current Stewart-Haas Racing driver Kurt Busch would replace current Chip Ganassi Racing driver Jamie McMurray in 2019.
On Friday, Motorsport.com’s Jim Utter published a story saying that Busch will, in fact, drive for CGR next year and is expected to replace McMurray.
While Busch would not confirm or deny the reports, he did acknowledge, “I’m talking to a bunch of teams out there. There’s nothing that’s been signed and whatever has been reported is all hearsay.”
Neither Stewart-Haas Racing nor Chip Ganassi Racing wished to comment on the reports either, while SHR co-owner Gene Haas said that he hasn’t “seen anything one way or the other”.
Busch qualified 12th for Sunday’s race at Michigan International Speedway while McMurray qualified 15th.
- Denny Hamlin Showed A Tremendous Amount Of Speed on Friday
The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series had two on-track activities yesterday: a practice session and qualifying.
The first practice session lasted 50 minutes and Denny Hamlin found himself on top of the leaderboard with a time of 35.603 seconds at 202.230 mph. Compare that to second-fastest Kurt Busch, whose fastest lap time was 35.661 seconds at 201.901 mph.
Hamlin followed that practice performance up by, not only winning the pole for Sunday’s race, but sweeping all three rounds of qualifying in the process.
Hamlin’s pole-winning lap was 35.504 seconds at 202.796 mph.
This is Hamlin’s first ever pole at Michigan International Speedway after 25 starts at the track.
The driver of the No. 11 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing has won twice at Michigan — in 2010 and 2011.
Hamlin’s teammate Daniel Suarez did not have as successful of a day. Suarez got into the wall during round one of qualifying and will have to start the Consumers Energy 400 from the 40th and final position.
Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Practice 1
Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Starting Lineup by Row
- XFINITY Series Encounters Rainy Conditions at Mid-Ohio
Unsurprisingly given the weather in recent weeks, the XFINITY Series once again faced a rainy day on what was supposed to allow for significant practice time at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
Two practice sessions were scheduled for the day, and while they were able to get both in, the rain certainly had an impact on how teams decided to utilize the track time.
Roush Fenway Racing driver Ryan Reed paced the first practice session, earning the top spot with a time of 85.829 seconds at 94.709 mph. Road racing specialist Andy Lally is making his first NASCAR start of the season, and was second quickest to Reed. Kyle Benjamin, Brendan Gaughan, and Austin Cindric round out the top five.
In the second and final practice for the XFINITY Series, Brendan Gaughan — who is ineligible for points in the XFNINITY Series — was quickest with a time of 92.649 seconds at 87.738 mph. You’ll notice this is significantly slower than Reed’s time. Only a handful of cars participated in the session due to rain in the area, which also accounts for the slower speeds.
Justin Marks, Christopher Bell, Morgan Shepherd and Stephen Leicht were the only other drivers to make lap times in the second and final session.
NXS Practice 1 Results
NXS Final Practice Results
- Noah Gragson, Dalton Sargeant Pace Camping World Truck Series Practice Sessions
After being pulled from the last Camping World Truck Series race due to illness, Noah Gragson is back and doesn’t show any signs of slowing down.
The now healthy 20-year-old led the first of two practice sessions for the series at Michigan International Speedway, with a time of 38.456 seconds at 187.227 mph.
Veteran Matt Crafton was second fastest behind Gragson followed by Todd Gilliland. Dalton Sargeant and Gragson’s teammate Spencer Davis rounding out the top five.
Sargeant was then able to lead the second and final practice session. Sargeant’s lap was 38.613 seconds at 186.466 mph. Brett Moffitt and Crafton were second and third, respectively, followed by Davis and Myatt Snider.
NCWTS Practice 1 Full Results
NCWTS Final Practice Full Results
- Two Races For the Price Of One
Both the NASCAR XFINITY Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series are racing today, albeit in two different parts of the country.
The Truck Series is racing at Michigan International Speedway while the XFINITY Series will be competing at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
Here is the full schedule for today, including the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice sessions:
Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series
- Practice from 8:35AM – 9:25AM ET (CNBC)
- Final practice from 11:30AM – 12:20PM ET (not televised, streaming on the NBC Sports App)
NASCAR XFINITY Series
- Pole qualifying at 11:30AM ET (not televised, streaming on the NBC Sports App)
- The Rock N Roll Tequila 170 presented by Amethyst Beverage at 3:00PM ET (NBCSN)
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
- Pole qualifying at 9:30AM ET (FS1)
- Corrigan Oil 200 at 1:00PM ET (FS1)
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You can also follow me on Twitter and Instagram.
Summer’s Five Things: What You Need To Know For August 11, 2018
“Summer’s Five Things” is a daily column for NASCAR fans to catch up on the most recent, relevant, and need-to-know news and information in the sport! While mostly focused on NASCAR, this column may also feature other interesting and exciting moments from the world of motorsports. Enjoy!
As we discussed yesterday, rumors were circulating that current Stewart-Haas Racing driver Kurt Busch would replace current Chip Ganassi Racing driver Jamie McMurray in 2019.
On Friday, Motorsport.com’s Jim Utter published a story saying that Busch will, in fact, drive for CGR next year and is expected to replace McMurray.
While Busch would not confirm or deny the reports, he did acknowledge, “I’m talking to a bunch of teams out there. There’s nothing that’s been signed and whatever has been reported is all hearsay.”
Neither Stewart-Haas Racing nor Chip Ganassi Racing wished to comment on the reports either, while SHR co-owner Gene Haas said that he hasn’t “seen anything one way or the other”.
Busch qualified 12th for Sunday’s race at Michigan International Speedway while McMurray qualified 15th.
The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series had two on-track activities yesterday: a practice session and qualifying.
The first practice session lasted 50 minutes and Denny Hamlin found himself on top of the leaderboard with a time of 35.603 seconds at 202.230 mph. Compare that to second-fastest Kurt Busch, whose fastest lap time was 35.661 seconds at 201.901 mph.
Hamlin followed that practice performance up by, not only winning the pole for Sunday’s race, but sweeping all three rounds of qualifying in the process.
Hamlin’s pole-winning lap was 35.504 seconds at 202.796 mph.
This is Hamlin’s first ever pole at Michigan International Speedway after 25 starts at the track.
The driver of the No. 11 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing has won twice at Michigan — in 2010 and 2011.
Hamlin’s teammate Daniel Suarez did not have as successful of a day. Suarez got into the wall during round one of qualifying and will have to start the Consumers Energy 400 from the 40th and final position.
Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Practice 1
Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Starting Lineup by Row
Unsurprisingly given the weather in recent weeks, the XFINITY Series once again faced a rainy day on what was supposed to allow for significant practice time at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
Two practice sessions were scheduled for the day, and while they were able to get both in, the rain certainly had an impact on how teams decided to utilize the track time.
Roush Fenway Racing driver Ryan Reed paced the first practice session, earning the top spot with a time of 85.829 seconds at 94.709 mph. Road racing specialist Andy Lally is making his first NASCAR start of the season, and was second quickest to Reed. Kyle Benjamin, Brendan Gaughan, and Austin Cindric round out the top five.
In the second and final practice for the XFINITY Series, Brendan Gaughan — who is ineligible for points in the XFNINITY Series — was quickest with a time of 92.649 seconds at 87.738 mph. You’ll notice this is significantly slower than Reed’s time. Only a handful of cars participated in the session due to rain in the area, which also accounts for the slower speeds.
Justin Marks, Christopher Bell, Morgan Shepherd and Stephen Leicht were the only other drivers to make lap times in the second and final session.
NXS Practice 1 Results
NXS Final Practice Results
After being pulled from the last Camping World Truck Series race due to illness, Noah Gragson is back and doesn’t show any signs of slowing down.
The now healthy 20-year-old led the first of two practice sessions for the series at Michigan International Speedway, with a time of 38.456 seconds at 187.227 mph.
Veteran Matt Crafton was second fastest behind Gragson followed by Todd Gilliland. Dalton Sargeant and Gragson’s teammate Spencer Davis rounding out the top five.
Sargeant was then able to lead the second and final practice session. Sargeant’s lap was 38.613 seconds at 186.466 mph. Brett Moffitt and Crafton were second and third, respectively, followed by Davis and Myatt Snider.
NCWTS Practice 1 Full Results
NCWTS Final Practice Full Results
Both the NASCAR XFINITY Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series are racing today, albeit in two different parts of the country.
The Truck Series is racing at Michigan International Speedway while the XFINITY Series will be competing at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
Here is the full schedule for today, including the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series practice sessions:
Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series
NASCAR XFINITY Series
NASCAR Camping World Truck Series
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If you would like to receive “Five Things” in your inbox, or just connect with me, you may send me an e-mail at [email protected].
You can also follow me on Twitter and Instagram.