“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!
- Kasey Kahne will retire from full-time racing at the end of this season
Just a day after NASCAR XFINITY Series regular Elliott Sadler announced that he would be stepping away from NASCAR on a full-time basis, Kasey Kahne took to Twitter to make the same announcement on Thursday.
Kahne currently drives the No. 95 Chevrolet for Leavine Family Racing. At the end of 2018, the 38-year-old driver will have competed in 15 full-time seasons in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, driving for six different team owners: Ray Evernham from 2004 through mid-2007; Gillett Evernham Motorsports from mid-2007 through 2008 (Evernham was still co-owner); Richard Petty Motorsports from 2008 through 2010; Dietrich Mateschitz with Red Bull Racing from 2010 through 2011; and for Rick Hendrick and Hendrick Motorsports from 2012 through the end of last season.
In that time frame, Kahne earned 18 Cup Series victories, including three Coca-Cola 600s and one Brickyard 400. He finished a career high fourth in points in 2012, one of only three times he finished in the top 10 in points.
Kahne also earned eight career wins in the XFINITY Series and five career wins in the Camping World Truck Series. He has earned only one top 10 after 23 races this season, a fourth-place run at Bristol back in July.
Kahne’s sprint car racing driver Brad Sweet won the Knoxville Nationals on August 12th.
- Playoff Grid is set for the Camping World Truck Series
In a rare midweek NASCAR race, the Camping World Truck Series set their playoff field in the final race of the regular season at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Johnny Sauter endured a battle in the closing laps of the race with Stewart Friesen, after dominant driver of the day John Hunter Nemechek experienced fuel pickup issues with just five laps remaining. In the process, Sauter earned his fifth victory of the season and clinched the regular season championship.
Sauter’s win lifted a tremendous burden off of Matt Crafton, who was the last driver in the eight-race Playoff grid heading into the Bristol race. With a repeat winner going to victory lane in Sauter, Crafton was safely locked into the Playoffs.
Sauter and Crafton will join Brett Moffitt, Noah Gragson, Ben Rhodes, Friesen, Grant Enfinger, and Justin Haley in the Playoffs. The current seeding based on Playoff points has Sauter as the current points leader.
The Round of 8 will feature three races: Canadian Tire Motorsports Park on August 26th; Las Vegas Motor Speedway on September 14th; and Talladega Superspeedway on October 13th.
At the end of the race in Talladega, two competitors will be eliminated from Playoff contention and the remaining drivers will move on to the Round of 6. If any of the current Playoff drivers wins in the next three races, they will automatically be locked into the Round of 6. The rest of the field will be determined by points.
Unofficial Full Race Results For The UNOH 200
- John Hunter Nemechek devastated as a dominant run turns sour
John Hunter Nemechek had by far the best truck in the Camping World Truck Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway on Thursday night. Nemechek led 104 of the 200 laps and looked like he was going to drive away with the victory. With Johnny Sauter and Stewart Friesen battling for second place a couple of seconds behind him and some lapped cars in between for good measure, it looked like the 21-year-old driver was going to cruise to his seventh career Truck Series victory.
However, it was not meant to be. With five laps remaining, Nemechek slowed dramatically, allowing Friesen and Sauter to catch up quickly. Nemechek was able to hold on for third, though it was hardly any comfort given how close he was to the victory.
Nemechek is running a part-time scheduled in the Truck Series for family-owned team NEMCO Motorsports, winning at Martinsville earlier this season. He also competes full time in the NASCAR XFINITY Series with Chip Ganassi Racing.
- Kyle Larson, Christopher Bell paced XFINITY Series Thursday practice sessions
The NASCAR XFINITY Series will compete later this evening, which means their practice sessions were held yesterday before the Camping World Truck Series race.
Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series regulars Kyle Larson and Kyle Busch paced the first practice session, respectively. Rookie standout and current points leader Christopher Bell was third quickest, followed by Cup Series regular Joey Logano, and Daniel Hemric.
Bell was then able to lead the second and final practice session for the XFINITY Series. Larson and Busch were second and third, respectively. Brandon Jones and Hemric rounded out the top five.
Full NXS Practice 1 Results From Bristol Motor Speedway
Full NXS Final Practice Results From Bristol Motor Speedway
- Friday Schedule For Bristol Motor Speedway
Both the XFINITY Series and Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series are qualifying today. The Cup Series will also have a couple of practice sessions.
The XFINITY Series will wrap up the day with the Food City 300.
Here is the full schedule:
Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series
- First practice will run from 10:35AM – 11:55AM ET and will air on NBCSN
- Final practice will run from 12:40PM – 1:50PM ET and will air on NBCSN
- Busch pole qualifying will begin at 5:40PM ET and will air on NBCSN
NASCAR XFINITY Series
- Pole qualifying will begin at 3:40PM ET and will air on NBCSN
- The Food City 300 will begin at 7:30PM ET and will air on NBCSN
Press Conference Schedule (Live Stream)
- Kasey Kahne @ 9:00AM ET
- Austin Dillon @ 9:30AM ET
- Kevin Harvick @ 9:45AM ET
- Kyle Busch @ 2:15PM ET
- Martin Truex Jr. @ 2:30PM ET
- Post-Cup Series Qualifying @ approx 6:40PM ET
- Post-XFINITY Series race @ approx 9:30PM ET
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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.
Summer’s Five Things: What You Need To Know For August 17, 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!
Just a day after NASCAR XFINITY Series regular Elliott Sadler announced that he would be stepping away from NASCAR on a full-time basis, Kasey Kahne took to Twitter to make the same announcement on Thursday.
Kahne currently drives the No. 95 Chevrolet for Leavine Family Racing. At the end of 2018, the 38-year-old driver will have competed in 15 full-time seasons in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, driving for six different team owners: Ray Evernham from 2004 through mid-2007; Gillett Evernham Motorsports from mid-2007 through 2008 (Evernham was still co-owner); Richard Petty Motorsports from 2008 through 2010; Dietrich Mateschitz with Red Bull Racing from 2010 through 2011; and for Rick Hendrick and Hendrick Motorsports from 2012 through the end of last season.
In that time frame, Kahne earned 18 Cup Series victories, including three Coca-Cola 600s and one Brickyard 400. He finished a career high fourth in points in 2012, one of only three times he finished in the top 10 in points.
Kahne also earned eight career wins in the XFINITY Series and five career wins in the Camping World Truck Series. He has earned only one top 10 after 23 races this season, a fourth-place run at Bristol back in July.
Kahne’s sprint car racing driver Brad Sweet won the Knoxville Nationals on August 12th.
In a rare midweek NASCAR race, the Camping World Truck Series set their playoff field in the final race of the regular season at Bristol Motor Speedway.
Johnny Sauter endured a battle in the closing laps of the race with Stewart Friesen, after dominant driver of the day John Hunter Nemechek experienced fuel pickup issues with just five laps remaining. In the process, Sauter earned his fifth victory of the season and clinched the regular season championship.
Sauter’s win lifted a tremendous burden off of Matt Crafton, who was the last driver in the eight-race Playoff grid heading into the Bristol race. With a repeat winner going to victory lane in Sauter, Crafton was safely locked into the Playoffs.
Sauter and Crafton will join Brett Moffitt, Noah Gragson, Ben Rhodes, Friesen, Grant Enfinger, and Justin Haley in the Playoffs. The current seeding based on Playoff points has Sauter as the current points leader.
The Round of 8 will feature three races: Canadian Tire Motorsports Park on August 26th; Las Vegas Motor Speedway on September 14th; and Talladega Superspeedway on October 13th.
At the end of the race in Talladega, two competitors will be eliminated from Playoff contention and the remaining drivers will move on to the Round of 6. If any of the current Playoff drivers wins in the next three races, they will automatically be locked into the Round of 6. The rest of the field will be determined by points.
Unofficial Full Race Results For The UNOH 200
John Hunter Nemechek had by far the best truck in the Camping World Truck Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway on Thursday night. Nemechek led 104 of the 200 laps and looked like he was going to drive away with the victory. With Johnny Sauter and Stewart Friesen battling for second place a couple of seconds behind him and some lapped cars in between for good measure, it looked like the 21-year-old driver was going to cruise to his seventh career Truck Series victory.
However, it was not meant to be. With five laps remaining, Nemechek slowed dramatically, allowing Friesen and Sauter to catch up quickly. Nemechek was able to hold on for third, though it was hardly any comfort given how close he was to the victory.
Nemechek is running a part-time scheduled in the Truck Series for family-owned team NEMCO Motorsports, winning at Martinsville earlier this season. He also competes full time in the NASCAR XFINITY Series with Chip Ganassi Racing.
The NASCAR XFINITY Series will compete later this evening, which means their practice sessions were held yesterday before the Camping World Truck Series race.
Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series regulars Kyle Larson and Kyle Busch paced the first practice session, respectively. Rookie standout and current points leader Christopher Bell was third quickest, followed by Cup Series regular Joey Logano, and Daniel Hemric.
Bell was then able to lead the second and final practice session for the XFINITY Series. Larson and Busch were second and third, respectively. Brandon Jones and Hemric rounded out the top five.
Full NXS Practice 1 Results From Bristol Motor Speedway
Full NXS Final Practice Results From Bristol Motor Speedway
Both the XFINITY Series and Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series are qualifying today. The Cup Series will also have a couple of practice sessions.
The XFINITY Series will wrap up the day with the Food City 300.
Here is the full schedule:
Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series
NASCAR XFINITY Series
Press Conference Schedule (Live Stream)
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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.