LDN - Sports

Auto Racing Glance

[September 08, 2016] The Sports Xchange

NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES: FEDERATED AUTO PARTS 400 (400 laps, 300 miles), Richmond International Raceway; Richmond, Va.

TV: Saturday, Sept. 10, 7:30 p.m. ET -- NBC (Radio: Motor Racing Network/SiriusXM Channel 90).

THEN AND NOW: This will be the 121st Sprint Cup race held at Richmond. Matt Kenseth won this race last year, while Carl Edwards won this year's spring race there. ... This is the final race before the start of the Chase for the Sprint Cup Championship. Thirteen drivers have qualified with wins and being in the top 30 in points, leaving three open spots remaining to fill out the 16-driver Chase field. Entering Richmond, Chase Elliott, Austin Dillon and Jamie McMurray are in the Chase. However, Ryan Newman still has a chance to knock one of those three out and make the Chase. Of course, if a winless driver wins at Richmond, that would also put him or her into the Chase, as well. ... Martin Truex Jr. won last Sunday's throwback-themed Bojangles Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. It was Truex's second win of the season. ... Dale Earnhardt Jr. announced last week that he will not return to racing this season due concussion-like symptoms, but plans to be back in his No. 88 Chevrolet for the 2017 season-opening Daytona 500. ... A total of 13 different drivers have won at least one race thus far in the first 22 races this season: Brad Keselowski (4 wins), Kyle Busch (4), Carl Edwards (2), Jimmie Johnson (2), Matt Kenseth (2), Denny Hamlin (2), Kevin Harvick (2) and one win each by Kurt Busch, Joey Logano, Martin Truex Jr., Tony Stewart, Chris Buescher and Kyle Larson. ... Kevin Harvick (840 points) remains atop the Sprint Cup points standings. Brad Keselowski is second (797), followed by Joey Logano (752), Carl Edwards (746), Denny Hamlin (729), Kurt Busch (728), Kyle Busch (727), Martin Truex Jr. (696), Matt Kenseth (669) and Chase Elliott (659).

NASCAR XFINITY SERIES: VIRGINIA529 COLLEGE SAVINGS 250 (250 laps, 187.5 miles), Richmond International Raceway; Richmond, Va.

TV: Friday, Sept. 9, 7:30 p.m. ET -- NBC (Radio: Motor Racing Network/SiriusXM Channel 90).

THEN AND NOW: Saturday will mark the 66th time the Xfinity Series has raced at Richmond. Chase Elliott won this race last year, while Dale Earnhardt Jr. won this year's spring race in April. ... Elliott Sadler won last Saturday's race at Darlington and dedicated the victory to his boss, sidelined Sprint Cup driver and co-team owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. ... Winners of the first 24 Xfinity Series races this season have been Chase Elliott (Daytona), Kyle Busch (Atlanta, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Texas, Kentucky, New Hampshire and Indianapolis), Austin Dillon (Fontana, Bristol), Erik Jones (Bristol, Dover and Iowa), Dale Earnhardt Jr. (Richmond), Elliott Sadler (Talladega, Darlington), Denny Hamlin (Charlotte), Kyle Larson (Pocono), Daniel Suarez (Michigan), Sam Hornish Jr. (Iowa), Aric Almirola (Daytona), Joey Logano (Watkins Glen), Justin Marks (Mid-Ohio) and Michael McDowell (Road America). ... Elliott Sadler (815 points) remains No. 1 in the Xfinity Series points standings. Daniel Suarez (761) is second, followed by Justin Allgaier (750), Ty Dillon (742), Brendan Gaughan (732), Erik Jones (713), Brennan Poole (705), Brandon Jones (684), Darrell Wallace Jr. (630) and Ryan Reed (596).

NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES: The series is off this weekend. It resumes on Sept. 16 at Chicagoland Speedway.

THEN AND NOW: John Hunter Nemechek won last Sunday at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park outside Toronto in a wild finish. Nemechek forced leader Cole Custer off the track and into the grass and continued on for his second win of the season. Custer was incensed at the move and tackled Nemechek, who was waiting for the checkered flag at the finish line. Custer led 39 laps and finished second despite being forced off-track. ... There have been eight winners thus far this season: Johnny Sauter (Daytona), John Hunter Nemechek (Atlanta, Canada), Kyle Busch (Martinsville), William Byron (Kansas, Michigan, Iowa, Kentucky and Pocono), Matt Crafton (Dover, Charlotte), Christopher Bell (Gateway), Kyle Larson (Eldora), Ben Kennedy (Bristol) and Brett Moffitt (Michigan). ... William Byron remains in the Truck Series points lead (402 points), followed by Daniel Hemric (374), Johnny Sauter (356), Matt Crafton (352), Timothy Peters (350), Ben Kennedy (334), Christopher Bell (333), John Hunter Nemechek (324), Cole Custer (318) and Cameron Hayley (312).

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VERIZON INDYCAR SERIES: The series is off this weekend. It resumes for the final race of the season at Sonoma, Calif., on Sept. 18.

THEN AND NOW: Last Sunday marked the return of Indy cars to the Watkins Glen International road course for the first time since 2010. Scott Dixon won the race in dominating fashion, his fourth win in the seven times the series has visited WGI (he also won from 2005-2007). The race replaced the originally scheduled Grand Prix of Boston, which was canceled in June after public protest. ... It's all but a two-driver battle for the championship with the Sonoma season finale looming. Simon Pagenaud continues to lead the points (555 points) with a 43-point edge over Team Penske teammate Will Power (512). ... This season's race winners thus far are: Juan Pablo Montoya (St. Petersburg), Scott Dixon (Phoenix, Watkins Glen), Simon Pagenaud (Long Beach, Birmingham, Grand Prix of Indianapolis and Mid-Ohio), Alexander Rossi (Indianapolis 500), Sebastien Bourdais (Belle Isle 1), Will Power (Belle Isle 2, Road America, Toronto, Pocono), Josef Newgarden (Iowa) and Graham Rahal (Texas).

NATIONAL HOT ROD ASSOCIATION, MELLO YELLO DRAG RACING SERIES: The series is off this weekend. Action resumes with the start of the six-race Countdown to the Championship playoffs on Sept. 16-18 at zMAX Dragway in suburban Charlotte.

THEN AND NOW: The biggest race of the season -- the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals -- took place this past weekend. Not only is the U.S. Nationals the most prestigious race of the year, it was also the last chance for drivers to qualify for the six-race Countdown to the Championship playoffs that begin Sept. 16 in Charlotte. ... Tony Schumacher won the Traxxas Shootout for Top Fuel racers, while Courtney Force won the Traxxas Shootout for Funny Cars. Both drivers earned $100,000 for their respective victories. ... Schumacher also won the U.S. Nationals' Top Fuel class for a record 10th time in 21 years. Other winners of the sport's most prestigious race were Matt Hagan (Funny Car), Chris McGaha (Pro Stock) and Andrew Hines (Pro Stock Motorcycle). ... Funny Car driver Alexis DeJoria, who suffered a fractured pelvis in a hard crash more than a month ago in a wreck in Sonoma, Calif., made her return to racing this past weekend. ... Aaron Strong pulled off one of the biggest upsets in Pro Stock history when he defeated Victor Nobile in the delayed final round of Pro Stock from the Seattle race. The round was moved to Indianapolis for completion. It was Strong's first career Pro Stock win in only his ninth race in the class. ... With the points standings being reset for the Countdown, here are the 10 drivers/riders in each of the four professional classes that will square off in the playoffs: TOP FUEL: 1. Antron Brown 2,110; 2. Doug Kalitta 2,080; 3. Steve Torrence 2,070; 4.Tony Schumacher 2,060; 5. Brittany Force 2,050; 6. J.R. Todd 2,040, 7. Shawn Langdon 2,030; 8. Clay Millican 2,020; 9. Richie Crampton 2,010; 10. Leah Pritchett 2,000. FUNNY CAR: 1. Ron Capps 2,110; 2. Del Worsham 2,080; 3. Matt Hagan 2,070; 4. Courtney Force 2,060; 5. Jack Beckman 2,050; 6. Robert Hight 2,040; 7. Tommy Johnson Jr. 2,030; 8. John Force 2,020; 9.Tim Wilkerson 2,010; 10. Alexis DeJoria 2,000. PRO STOCK: 1. Jason Line 2,110; 2. Greg Anderson 2,080; 3. Bo Butner 2,070; 4. Allen Johnson 2,060; 5. Vincent Nobile 2,050; 6. Drew Skillman 2,040; 7. Chris McGaha 2,030; 8. Shane Gray 2,020; 9. Erica Enders 2,010; 10. Jeg Coughlin 2,000. PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE: 1. Andrew Hines 2,110 points; 2. Eddie Krawiec 2,080; 3. Angelle Sampey 2,070; 4. Jerry Savoie 2,060; 5. LE Tonglet 2,050; 6. Chip Ellis 2,040; 7. Hector Arana Jr. 2,030; 8. Hector Arana 2,020; 9. Matt Smith 2,010; Cory Reed 2,000.

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