NASCAR America: Dale Jr: Alex Bowman battled through adversity

Alex Bowman was sick last weekend yet still managed to finish in the top 10 at Kansas for a career-best finish. Dale Earnhardt Jr. shared what he thought about Bowman’s gutsy performance in his podcast. Jeff Burton, Kyle Petty and Parker Kligerman discuss Bowman’s career trajectory and what he can expect passed 2016.

NASCAR America: Should Sprint Cup drivers be allowed in Xfinity races?

After a weekend that saw Sprint Cup regular Kyle Busch win the Xfinity race at Kansas Speedway and Cup driver Kyle Larson hinder Xfinity title contender Erik Jones‘ chances of a win or strong finish, talk has again surfaced on if Cup drivers should be competing in the Xfinity Series.

Earlier this week, NASCAR executiveSteve O’Donnell told SiriusXM NASCAR Radio that fans should “stay tuned” for an announcement “fairly soon” on the issue.

With all of that brewing, NBC Sports analysts Jeff Burton and Parker Kligerman debated the issue.

“It’s a very difficult solution,” Burton said on NASCAR America. “The reason I became a Cup driver is because of the opportunity to run in the Xfinity Series and race against Harry Gant, Mark Martinand Dale Earnhardt. Every now and then I could run with them. If none of them were there, I could win. But that propelled me, that gave me the opportunity to get to the Cup Series. A Cup owner, Billy Stavola and Mickey Stavola, they watched me run in the Xfinity Series, they said, ‘Hey that guy every now and then can run with Mark Martin, maybe he can be a Cup driver.’ Without that opportunity I don’t think I’m ever a Cup driver.

“I will say this, when I raced against Mark Martin, he didn’t drive (in the Xfinity Series) for Jack Roush. When I raced (against) Harry Gant, he did not drive for his Cup team. When I raced Dale Earnhardt, he ran his Xfinity team out of a small shop on his property. I wasn’t racing against Richard Childress Racing. I was racing against smaller race teams. As the Xfinity Series has evolved, they’re not miniature Cup teams.”

Burton also said that permitting Cup drivers to race in the series allows Xfinity drivers to stand out to show that they can compete in the Cup level.

Kligerman said: “I’m going to play some devil’s advocate with you and say, ‘OK, if tomorrow Kyle Busch and all the other Sprint Cup regulars could not run the Xfinity Series, then we would not evaluate drivers, young drivers coming up by saying ‘If they can beat Kyle Busch or beat Brad Keselowski.’ ”

Burton noted that “the way we’ve always done things doesn’t mean that is the right way to do it. Racing is always an evolution … and we need to be looking at better ways to do things.”

Watch LIVE:NASCAR America at 6 p.m. ET: Dover recap, look back at Tony Stewart’s final season

A 90-minute episode of NASCAR America begins at 6 p.m. ET on NBCSN and recaps the first elimination race of the Chase for the Sprint Cup.
Mike Massaro hosts with Dale Jarrett and Parker Kligerman in Stamford, Connecticut. Jeff Burton joins them from Burton’s Garage.
In today’s show:
• The Round of 16 is complete as four drivers have been eliminated from the Chase for the Sprint Cup. Gone are Kyle Larson, Jamie McMurray, Chris Buescher and Tony Stewart. The second round is set and the 12 drivers in it are led by Martin Truex Jr., after winning two of the first three Chase races. Jarrett, Kligerman and Burton weigh in on the advances and the surprises, comparing how they their Chase Grids compared to the actual after results of the opening round.
• NASCAR America takes a look back at Tony Stewart’s storied career. He has been eliminated from the playoffs after finishing 13th at Dover. Our analysts reveal how they will remember Tony Stewart’s final season.
• We’ll also feature Sunday morning’s Xfinity Series race where Daniel Suarez joined Elliott Sadler in the second round of the Xfinity Chase. We’ll also get reaction from top-seeded Erik Jones, who now faces elimination this week at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
If you can’t catch the show on TV, you also can watch it via the online stream at http://nascarstream.nbcsports.com
If you plan to stream the show on your laptop or portable device, be sure to have your username and password from your cable/satellite/telco provider handy so your subscription can be verified.
Once you plug-in that information, you’ll have access to the stream.
Click here at 6 pm ET to watch live via the stream.

NBCSN’s coverage of Richmond begins at 5 p.m. ET; Dale Jr. interview featured

NBCSN is your home for tonight’s Sprint Cup race at Richmond International Raceway. Coverage begins at 5 p.m. ET with an expanded NASCAR America.

Countdown to Green airs at 7 p.m. Race coverage begins at 7:30 p.m.

NASCAR America will have an expanded version of Steve Letarte’s exclusive interview with Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Krista Voda hosts the coverage before the race and is joined by analysts Dale Jarrett and Kyle Petty.

Race coverage features Rick Allen in the booth with Jeff Burton and Letarte. On pit road is Dave Burns, Marty Snider, Mike Massaro and Kelli Stavast.

After the race, stay with NBCSN for additional coverage.

If you’re not near a TV, you can watch online or on the NBC Sports app at the NASCAR stream on NBC Sports.

If you plan to stream the coverage on your laptop or portable device, be sure to have your username and password from your cable/satellite/telco provider handy so your subscription can be verified.

Once you enter that information, you’ll have access to the stream.

Kurt Busch ‘shark bombs’ Joey Logano’s interview (VIDEO)

SPARTA, Ky. – Just when Joey Logano thought it was safe to go back in the water …

Before Sprint Cup practice began Thursday afternoon on the repaved Kentucky Speedway, Logano’s interview on NBCSN drew an unexpected interloper: Kurt Busch.

As seen in the video above, Busch made a shark fin while passing behind Logano during the interview.

Busch then looped back from the other direction, passing behind Logano again (and perhaps quietly humming the theme to Jaws).

“You have a shark behind you,” NBCSN analyst Jeff Burton joked. “You might want to be careful.”

Logano laughed, but recent history between the drivers hasn’t been so lighthearted. Busch and crew chief Tony Gibson were hot at Logano after the No. 41 Chevrolet spun on the final lap last Saturday at Daytona after contact with the No. 22 Ford.

But based off Thursday’s interaction, it would seem things were much less contentious a few days later.

NASCAR Next’s Harrison Burton making ARCA debut this weekend

Harrison Burton, the son of former Sprint Cup driver and NBC Sports analyst Jeff Burton, will be the latest NASCAR Next member to make their ARCA Racing Series debut this weekend.

Burton, 15, will compete for Ranier Racing with MDM in Saturday’s ARCA 150 at Iowa Speedway. He will drive the No. 8 DEX Imaging car. Serving as his teammate will be former NASCAR Next member Kyle Benjamin.

Burton follows NASCAR Next members Ty Majeski and Nicole Behar who made their ARCA debuts last month at Madison International Speedway.

“I’m super excited to have the opportunity to run my first ARCA race with RRWMDM,” Burton said in a press release. “It’s going to be a learning experience for me. I will be learning a new car, team and race track, but I am nothing but confident that the guys at the shop and the team at the race track will give me an excellent car. I am looking forward to the weekend.”

Burton, who will also make his Camping World Truck Series debut in October at Martinsville Speedway, is currently competing in the K&N Pro Series East with HScott Motorsports. Through eight races in 2016, Burton is ninth in points with one top five and two top 10s.

Watch LIVE: NASCAR America at 6 p.m. ET: Previewing the Coke Zero 400

Today’s episode of NASCAR America, which airs from 6 – 7 p.m. ET on NBCSN, gives you one last preview of this weekend’s action at Daytona International Speedway.

Dave Briggs hosts with Parker Kligerman from Stamford, Connecticut.

Included in today’s show:

Hear from our crew at Daytona International Speedway, including Krista Voda, Kyle Petty, Dale Jarrett, Rick Allen, Steve Letarte and birthday boy Jeff Burton.
On Saturday, Tony Stewart makes his final start at Daytona as a full-time Sprint Cup driver. Stewart has never won the Daytona 500, but can tie David Pearson’s record of five July Daytona wins this weekend. We’ll look back on his summertime success.
Marty Snider is down in Daytona with the rest of the crew and he spoke with Richard Childress Racing’s Austin Dillon and Ryan Newman as they get ready for Saturday night’s race.
The art of side-drafting has become critical to success everywhere – especially at Daytona. Parker Kligerman jumps in the simulator to break down how drivers use side-drafting to their advantage.
If you’re not near a TV, you can watch online or on the NBC Sports app via at the NASCAR stream on NBC Sports.

If you plan to stream the show on your laptop or portable device, be sure to have your username and password from your cable/satellite/telco provider handy so your subscription can be verified.

Once you enter that information, you’ll have access to the stream.

Click here at 6 p.m. ET to watch live via the stream.

NASCAR racing returns to NBC this weekend with the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona. Coverage begins July 2 at 7:45 p.m. ET on NBC.

Watch LIVE: NASCAR America at 6 p.m. ET: Restarts, Daniel Suarez’ big win and more

Today’s episode of NASCAR America airs from 6 – 7 p.m. ET on NBCSN and looks at more trending stories from last weekend at Michigan International Speedway.

Carolyn Manno hosts with Jeff Burton and Steve Letarte from Stamford Connecticut. Dale Jarrett joins them from NBC Sports Charlotte.

In today’s show:

• Looking at the importance of restarts, particularly at Michigan, where Chase Elliott lost out on a chance at a win.
• Marty Snider interviews Mike Bugarewicz, crew chief for Tony Stewart, who earned his second-best finish of the season at Michigan.
• Feature on Daniel Suarez, who became the first Mexican driver to win in NASCAR’s top three series last weekend with his victory in the Xfinity Series race at Michigan.

If you’re not near a TV, you can watch online or on the NBC Sports app via at the NASCAR stream on NBC Sports.

If you plan to stream the show on your laptop or portable device, be sure to have your username and password from your cable/satellite/telco provider handy so your subscription can be verified.

Once you enter that information, you’ll have access to the stream.

Click here at 6 p.m. ET to watch live via the stream.

Watch LIVE: NASCAR America at 6 p.m. ET: Ganassi Racing report, ThorSport update and more

Today’s episode of NASCAR America airs from 6 – 7 p.m. ET on NBCSN and continues breaking down stories from last weekend at Michigan International Speedway.

Today’s show is hosted by Krista Voda, Steve Letarte, Jeff Burton from Stamford, Connecticut, and are joined by
Dale Jarrett from Burton’s Garage.

Included in today’s show:

–Report from Chip Ganassi Racing by Dave Burns on Kyle Larson, who finished third Sunday at Michigan.

— NBC Sports’ Dustin Long gives an update on ThorSport Racing, which had a fire ravaged its headquarters in Sandusky, Ohio, over the weekend.

— We bring you the sights and sounds of the weekend in Scan All Michigan.

— With NASCAR, IndyCar, and Formula One all racing last weekend, there were many unexpected moments across the world of racing. Catch all the strange, funny, and even furry moments on the track in “Expect the Unexpected”!

· The youth movement is growing bigger and bigger in NASCAR, and it hit a new level in Sunday’s Sprint Cup race with the youngest top three finishers in the history of the sport. We’ll have “The Mayor,” our own Jeff Burton, weigh in on how far this movement can take the sport in years to come.

If you’re not near a TV, you can watch online or on the NBC Sports app via at the NASCAR stream on NBC Sports.

If you plan to stream the show on your laptop or portable device, be sure to have your username and password from your cable/satellite/telco provider handy so your subscription can be verified.

Once you enter that information, you’ll have access to the stream.

Click here at 6 p.m. ET to watch live via the stream.

Post-Charlotte notebook: Truex achievements make for a long list

Martin Truex Jr.’s dominant victory in Sunday night’s Coca-Cola 600 was notable on a number of accounts.

Not only was it his fourth career win in 382 career Sprint Cup starts, it was his first win in nearly a year (34 races, last win was June 2015 at Pocono).

Here are several more nuggets that also are notable (courtesy of Racing Insights).

* In just 13 races this season, Truex has led more laps (809) than he has in any other season in the Sprint Cup Series. The most laps Truex had led in a previous season was 581 in 2007 and 567 in 2015.

* It was the first win by a single-car team in the Coca-Cola 600 since Bobby Labonte for Joe Gibbs Racing in 1995.

* Truex became the first driver in 40 years to win the Coca-Cola 600 from the pole. David Pearson last did so in NASCAR’s longest race of the year in 1976.

* Truex wasted little time in earning the win. In fact, all drivers wasted little time, as it was the quickest race in Coca-Cola 600 history: Just 3 hours, 44 minutes and 8 seconds.

* The average speed in Sunday’s race was also the fastest in Coca-Cola 600 history: 160.644 mph.

* Truex led 98 percent of the 400 laps. That’s the most dominating win in the last 714 races, dating back to September 2000 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, when current NBC NASCAR analyst Jeff Burton led 100 percent of the laps.

* With 13 races, 23 races remain in the 2016 Sprint Cup season. However, time is getting more crucial for drivers to qualify for the Chase for the Sprint Cup. Only 13 races remain to make the Chase. Truex is the eighth driver to win a race in 2016, meaning there still are eight spots remaining to fill the 16-driver Chase field.

* With his late May win at Charlotte, Truex began a new timetable of sorts. All three of his previous Sprint Cup wins came in June.

Poll: Who would you select for next NASCAR Hall of Fame class?

Voters will gather Wednesday in Charlotte, North Carolina, to select the next five-member class to the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

The class will be introduced on NASCAR America at 5 p.m. ET Wednesday on NBCSN. Krista Voda will host and be joined by analysts Steve Letarte and Jeff Burton.

Here are the Hall of Fame candidates followed by a poll for you to make your selection. Which five would you choose?

Buddy Baker, won 19 times in NASCAR’s premier (now Sprint Cup) series, including the Daytona 500 and Southern 500

Red Byron, first NASCAR premier series champion, in 1949

Richard Childress, 11-time car owner champion in NASCAR’s three national series

Ray Evernham, three-time NASCAR premier series championship crew chief

Ray Fox, legendary engine builder, crew chief and car owner

Rick Hendrick, 14-time car owner champion in NASCAR’s three national series

Ron Hornaday Jr., four-time NASCAR Camping World Truck Series champion

Harry Hyde, 1970 NASCAR

Alan Kulwicki, 1992 NASCAR premier series champion

Mark Martin, 96-time race winner in NASCAR national series competition

Hershel McGriff, 1986 NASCAR west series champion

Raymond Parks, NASCAR’s first champion car owner

Benny Parsons, 1973 NASCAR premier series champion

Larry Phillips, five-time NASCAR weekly series national champion

Jack Roush, five-time car owner champion in NASCAR’s three national series

Ricky Rudd, won 23 times in NASCAR’s premier series, including the 1997 Brickyard 400

Ken Squier, legendary radio and television broadcaster; inaugural winner/namesake of Squier-Hall Award for NASCAR Media Excellence

Mike Stefanik, winner of record-tying nine NASCAR championships

Waddell Wilson, won three NASCAR premier series championships as an engine builder

Robert Yates, won NASCAR premier series championship as both an engine builder and owner

Who would you select for the next NASCAR Hall of Fame class? (Pick 5 only)
Buddy Baker
Red Byron
Richard Childress
Ray Evernham
Ray Fox
Rick Hendrick
Ron Hornaday Jr.
Harry Hyde
Alan Kulwicki
Mark Martin
Hershel McGriff
Raymond Parks
Benny Parsons
Larry Phillips
Jack Roush
Ricky Rudd
Ken Squier
Mike Stefanik
Waddell Wilson
Robert Yates

Vote

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