Danica Patrick joins breast cancer survivors to paint curbs pink at Martinsville

               

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and each year folks in NASCAR do their part to spread the word.

On Wednesday, Danica Patrick met up with a group of breast cancer survivors to paint the curbs pink at Martinsville Speedway prior to the Goody's Fast Relief 500, which will kick off the Round of 8 in the Chase for the Sprint Cup.

It looked like a big time for a great cause.

JUNIOR CELEBRATES 'JEANSBORO DAY,' SAYS HE EXPECTS TO RACE '17 DAYTONA

GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. may not be competing in NASCAR's Sprint Cup Series as the 2016 season begins to wind down, but the series' most popular driver still has plenty to keep him busy.

"Going to the races, doing all my (sponsor) appearances, doing everything I was doing before, just not driving," Earnhardt said Wednesday during a stop at the corporate headquarters of Wrangler.

"Take the driving part out of it and everything else I'm still doing."

Earnhardt was joined by team owner Richard Childress to help kick off the second annual "Jeansboro Day" celebration and reminisce about the long relationship Wranger has enjoyed with Childress and Earnhardt.

Earnhardt has been sidelined since midseason after suffering concussion-like symptoms following a pair of crashes. In his absence, drivers Jeff Gordon and Alex Bowman have handled the driving duties in the Hendrick Motorsports No. 88 Chevrolet.

MORE: See: Bowman in the No. 88 car

After missing two races in 2012, this marks the second time in his premier series career that Earnhardt has missed races due to a concussion or concussion-like symptoms. 

Although he won't be back behind the wheel this season, Earnhardt told the crowd that he plans to be back in the car when the 2017 season gets underway atDaytona International Speedway.

"It's coming along pretty good," Earnhardt said when asked about his recovery. "We got dinged up, had a lot of wrecks this year, got dinged up pretty good. …

"(I'm) starting to feel real good, starting to be able to get out and do things, enjoy myself.

"I miss being in the car but we have every expectation of being in the car come February for the Daytona 500."

The Sprint Cup Series heads to Talladega Superspeedway this weekend for Sunday's Hellman's 500 (2 p.m. ET, NBCSN, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). It is the final race of the Round of 12 in this year's Chase, with only the top eight advancing to the next round.

Earnhardt, who has six career victories on the 2.66-mile track, said he plans to be at Talladega "all three days."

But just watching. Not driving, yet.

NO.88 CREW CHIEF GREG IVES FINED, OTHERS RECEIVE WARNINGS POST-KANSAS

NASCAR officials handed down a P2 penalty to the No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports team for not having lug nuts properly installed during Sunday's Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway.

The infraction also brought a fine of $10,000 to Greg Ives, crew chief of the No. 88 Chevrolet. 

The No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing team received a written warning and a loss of 15 minutes practice time for failing pre-race LIS three times.

The cars of Carl Edwards, Kyle Larson andMartin Truex Jr. failed pre-race LIS twice and received written warnings.

The cars of Austin Dillon and Regan Smithfailed pre-race template inspection twice and received written warnings.

Cole Whitt's No. 55 Chevrolet failed pre-qualifying LIS twice and received a written warning.

The cars of Jamie McMurray and Martin Truex Jr. failed pre-qualifying template inspection twice and received written warnings.

Other warnings issued after last weekend's events at Kansas Speedway:

The XFINITY Series cars of Cole Custerand Brandon Brown failed pre-race LIS twice and received written warnings. 

Also, the cars of Brennan Poole andDerrike Cope failed pre-race template inspection three times and received written warnings.

FOX SPORTS, NASCAR RETURN FOR 'BEYOND THE WHEEL'

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. and CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- FS1 and NASCAR Productions will present the second season of the acclaimed documentary series Beyond the Wheel as part of FS1's NASCAR RACE HUB. Created to depict the sport's most pivotal moments and compelling narratives, the short films focus on influential characters -- both past and present -- and the unique stories that have shaped NASCAR as a sport since its inception. The first film premieres on Wednesday, Oct. 26 at 6 p.m. ET during NASCAR RACE HUB on FS1.

The second season of the documentary short film series is comprised of the following:

· Bonneville 71 details how NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Bobby Isaac set 28 land speed records with a banned Dodge Charger Daytona on the Bonneville Salt Flats in 1971, accompanied only by his crew members, a USAC official and a Chrysler engineer. Using the authentic No. 71 K&K Charger and featuring interviews with original crew members Buddy Parrott and Ken Troutt, the documentary pays homage to Isaac's historical runs by revisiting the Salt Flats to shoot all-new footage down a 10-mile straightaway. A remarkable story of innovation, the short film depicts Isaac's desire and dedication to always test the limits of speed, no matter the barriers.

· Sueños de NASCAR follows NASCARXFINITY Series driver Daniel Suárez from his roots in Monterrey, Mexico, to his rise in one of the sport's top series through the NASCAR Drive for Diversity program. As Suárez returns home to visit family and friends, the film explores his place in Mexican racing culture, how the country has embraced stock car racing, and the impact of Mexican drivers on the future of the sport. Illustrating the young driver as a source of inspiration, the documentary also examines Suárez's success as the first Mexican-born driver to win a NASCAR national series race and his current pursuit of the NASCAR XFINITY Series championship.

· Miracle at Daytona -- The Tiny Lund Storyrecounts how DeWayne "Tiny" Lund risked his life to rescue fellow driver, Marvin Panch, from his burning Maserati atDaytona International Speedway before going on to win the 1963 Daytona 500 just days later. The true story of a journeyman driver who was one of the most likeable characters of his era, Lund was also awarded the Carnegie Hero's Medal for his selfless bravery in what became one of the greatest Daytona 500 stories of all time.

The second film in the series featuring Daniel Suárez will premiere on Nov. 9 at 6 p.m. ET, while the original special on Tiny Lund will air in early 2017. Each documentary will also be available on FOX Sports GO and FOXSports.com following its premiere.

NASCAR NAMES PEAK AS TITLE SPONSOR FOR MEXICO SERIES

RELATED: PEAK becomes title sponsor of Mexico Series

NASCAR announced a multi-year agreement with Old World Industries (OWI) to make PEAK title sponsor of the NASCAR Mexico Series, which will run a full slate of races in 2017 and ensuing seasons.
 
The NASCAR PEAK Mexico Series will kick off with an exhibition race on Dec. 3-4 in Mexico City. Its 10th season will begin in 2017 with a full championship schedule that will be announced at a later date.
 
"The NASCAR PEAK Mexico Series is a place where young drivers are honing their skills and competing for a championship against the toughest competition in Latin America," said Steve O'Donnell, NASCAR executive vice president and chief racing development officer. "The series drives interest in stock car racing in Mexico, while cultivating talented drivers and pit crew members who aspire to compete at the NASCAR national series level."
 
NASCAR XFINITY Series star Daniel Suárez -- the first Mexican-born driver to win a NASCAR national series race, earn a national series Sunoco Rookie of the Year award and lead a national series in points -- developed his talents in the NASCAR PEAK Mexico Series. Suárez is currently competing for the NASCAR XFINITY Series championship in its inaugural Chase playoff. Another young talent the NASCAR PEAK Mexico Series has fostered is Ruben Garcia Jr., an alumnus of the NASCAR Next initiative that highlights the sport's top up-and-coming drivers. Both Suárez and Garcia are also alums of the NASCAR Drive for Diversity program.
 
"Without (the NASCAR PEAK Mexico Series), I wouldn't be here right now," Suárez said. "Really, road course racing in Mexico has been popular for many years, but in the last 10 years, with the NASCAR Mexico Series, a lot of drivers have had the opportunity to choose a different path, to choose stock car racing. I was one of those drivers and it felt like the right decision. Because of that, I was able to learn everything, how to race on ovals, how to race in a stock car. After that, I got my first opportunity in the U.S."
 
As part of OWI's deal, PEAK becomes an official NASCAR partner. The NASCAR bar mark will be featured on select PEAK products, including PEAK Antifreeze & Coolant (Official Antifreeze/Coolant of NASCAR) and PEAK Windshield Washer Fluid and Wipers (Official Washer Fluid and Wiper Blade of NASCAR), BlueDEF Diesel Exhaust Fluid and Equipment (Official Diesel Exhaust Fluid of NASCAR and Official Diesel Exhaust Fluid Equipment of NASCAR) and Herculiner Truck & Bed Liners (Official Roll-On and Spray-On Bed Liner of NASCAR).
 
PEAK has been involved in NASCAR since the 1990s. This season, it served as a season-long associate sponsor of Clint Bowyer's No. 15 Chevrolet. PEAK is the title sponsor of NASCAR's eSports partner iRacing.com, which aided in developing current NASCAR Camping World Trucks Series points leader William Byron.
 
"Old World Industries products have been a recognized part of the racing industry for decades, and we're proud to help bring NASCAR to the passionate fans in Mexico and the U.S. for years to come," said Bryan Emrich, chief marketing officer at Old World Industries. "Whether in the garage or on the track, we'll continue to deliver quality products that auto enthusiasts can count on."

LARSON LOVES MIAMI, JOINS TEAMS TESTING AT HOMESTEAD

HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- Kyle Larson is hopeful his fast performance in Tuesday's rain-interrupted NASCAR Sprint Cup Series test at Homestead-Miami Speedway will be a harbinger of good things to come when the series returns to the track for the Nov. 20 season finale.

The 24-year-old, who was eliminated after the opening round of this year's Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup playoffs, would have preferred that his test session work contribute to deciding the Sprint Cupchampionship later at Homestead. But he will gladly go for the track trophy instead this year.

"Homestead is probably my favorite track for racing the trucks and XFINITY series and for Cup, it's my second favorite to Bristol," said Larson, who has a win here in the XFINITY Series.

"I always enjoy coming here and running really close to the wall. It's a real race track where I feel like driver can make up a lot. You always have to have a good car but I feel like the driver can have an impact here."

Larson's No. 42 Target Chevrolet paced the field in the morning session at the 1.5-mile track, just ahead of fellow Chevy driverChase Elliott, who sits 25 points back from the cutoff as the series heads to the Talladega eliminator this weekend. Ryan Blaney was third fastest in the opening session.

Elliott led Larson in the afternoon session, which was extended two hours because of the rainy weather, lasting till 7 p.m. Larson,Kurt Busch, Carl Edwards and Austin Dillon rounded out the top five on the speed charts in the afternoon session.

Many of the teams here were specifically non-specific in their goals for the two-day test, guarding their objectives and the pursuit of them.

Ford driver Brad Keselowski was less circumspect and certainly less technical in explaining his team's intent this week.

"It's always a little complicated to explain," he said smiling. "We're always working on them, always making them better and we've come up with a couple things and we try to validate them on track.

"We put them through all these engineering tests with all these fancy computer simulations telling us if it's going to work or not work. And we get pretty confident it's going to work, but like to backstop check it. We're going through a lot of things we've been doing with the proper implementation of all these gizmos to check things you're allowed to use in testing. Just validating the parts and pieces."

Veteran Carl Edwards said he just likes to get laps here in advance of the series crowning its champion and that his Joe Gibbs Racing Team welcomed the opportunity to try new things.

"We're just working on a bunch of different things," Edwards said. "This sport is evolving so quickly and all of the teams are pushing. I talked to (crew chief) Dave (Rogers) this morning and all the Chase contenders are up there and fast. We're working on a bunch of different things."

Some teams, most notably, Martin Truex Jr.'s Furniture Row Racing team opted not to use the Homestead test -- something Edwards said he understood as well.

RELATED: Truex, No. 78 team to pass on Homestead test

"One of the things that can happen is you can come test and be too confident in what you find out," Edwards said. "We're just kind of going through some things and really having fun.. …Even if we don't gain anything huge for the car, we're having a good time."

The series is set to conduct another full-day test at Homestead on Wednesday.

Radioactive:Kansas -"Get our [expletive] head out of our [expletive]."NASCAR RACE HUB

Check out all the best scanner audio from the Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway

Kevin Harvick crashed the Toyota party at Kansas

When you looked at qualifying and the practice sessions at Kansas Speedway this weekend, I felt like the Hollywood Casino 400 was certainly going to be a Toyota day. Toyotas swept the first two rows in qualifying and Matt Kenseth was fastest in Happy Hour.

Early on, Kenseth made it look like that was going to be the case. He led 116 laps, but close to the halfway point, he got against the wall and the handling changed on his Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota. And that pretty much took him out of contention to win the race.

Again, how many times this year have we talked about it: Chase Elliott, drives up there, takes the lead and just — he just can’t have any luck, that’s all you can say. He and his teammate Kasey Kahne had the same problem with tire rubs at the back of the car that made me go, “Hmmm?”

I knew watching practice on Saturday that Kevin Harvick and the No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet maybe didn’t have that short-run speed, but he definitely had long-run speed and that showed up yesterday.

And as much as we think that once you get them in a hole, they’re not going to get out, they continue to prove, yes they will get out. It’s almost like this situation that they were in motivates them. We’ve seen it for 2 ½ years now. Nobody probably does it better than they do.

The last seven races at Kansas, Harvick has been with two different organizations, and had to race with rules packages all over the place, and yet still, he’s finished first or second five times in those seven races. Harvick told me he’s figured something out there, but he wouldn’t expand on it, and I think the numbers support it.

After his victory, then you look at how the Chase is formatted and how the Round of 12 is playing out.

The top six finishers were all Chase drivers. Austin Dillon raced his guts out and he finished sixth and basically gained three points. He’s still on the outside of the Chase bubble looking in.

Joey Logano finished third and gained six points, but he’s still just barely above the cut line. So that, to me, is what makes this whole format interesting.

But I will say this in closing: For a track to have a repave not too long ago, that place is racing nice and it has a groove from the top to the bottom. So I commend the job that was done on that race track.

Normally, when a mile-and-a-half track gets repaved, you dread the racing for five, six or seven years, knowing you’re going to have one, maybe, two grooves. But at Kansas Speedway, they’re running from the top to the bottom of that race track. And that’s a good thing.

Kevin Harvick - Kansas -'NASCAR Victory Lane'

CUP: Kevin Harvick checks in with the 'NASCAR Victory Lane' crew after winning the Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway.

JUNIOR EAGER TO GET BACK IN A RACE CAR, HAS BEEN DRIVING SIMULATOR

Dale Earnhardt Jr. said in the latest edition of the Dale Jr. Download podcast released Monday that his rehabilitation from a concussion is "going along as planned" and that he has been driving a simulator but still misses competing in a race car most.

Earnhardt Jr. talked for about eight minutes at the start of the podcast, praising the efforts of his substitute driverAlex Bowman, who finished seventh at theHollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway.

Junior added, however, that he wished he could have been the one driving the No. 88Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet.

"We've been running around and trying to do everything we're supposed to be doing outside the car while we're not able to drive just yet," Earnhardt Jr. said. "Boy, today (Sunday) was a day where I would have liked to have been in there for sure running that high side. That's really enjoyable."

He added that he's "still working on all my rehabilitation and doing all the stuff the doctors have been asking me to do. All of that is going along as planned, no setbacks."

The simulator work is part of the "outside the car" activities that have kept him busy in recent weeks, along with sponsor appearances and a visit to Martinsville Speedway last week to help unveil the track's new lights.

RELATED: Martinsville to add lights

"I've been doing that (simulator), which has been a lot of fun," Earnhardt Jr. said.Still, it's no substitute for actually taking the wheel of a race car. Earnhardt Jr. said he will be at Talladega SuperspeedwayFriday through Sunday, and it will be difficult to simply watch; Bowman again will fill in for Earnhardt Jr. in the No. 88.

"There'll be a part of me each lap wanting to be in there making decisions as far as what's going on in the draft," Junior said.

The full podcast can be found here

EARNHARDT-TALLADEGA STREAK TO CONTINUE SUNDAY

The streak lives on -- an Earnhardt will drive at Talladega.

BK Racing announced Monday that Jeffrey Earnhardt will drive the No. 83 Starter Toyota Camry at Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday. Earnhardt will be one of three BK Racing cars on track for the Alabama 500 as he joins teammatesDavid Ragan and Matt DiBenedetto.

It extends one of the sport's great streaks that was in serious jeopardy. An Earnhardt has started every race at Talladega since 1980, with Dale Earnhardt and son Dale Earnhardt Jr. collecting 16 total wins at the 2.66-mile track during their respective careers (10 for Earnhardt, six for Earnhardt Jr.)

Earnhardt Jr. will not drive in Sunday's race as he continues to recover from the effects of a concussion suffered earlier this season. Enter Jeffrey Earnhardt, Earnhardt's grandson and Earnhardt Jr.'s nephew. By putting him in the No. 83, BK Racing ensured Earnhardt will start in the 40-car field (43 cars are on the entry list) because the No. 83 team has a Charter.

"I'm really excited to drive the No. 83 Starter Toyota Camry for the fall race at Talladega," Earnhardt said in a team release. "It's my first Cup Series race at Talladega, my first race with BK Racing, the first time anyone from our family competes in a Toyota and it's the 25th anniversary of my grandfather's victory at Talladega. Having this opportunity with an iconic American partner like Starter is an incredible honor. I can't remember being so pumped up for a race and sincerely appreciate our friends at Starter for their support."

Doug Richert, who was crew chief for Earnhardt Sr. during the 'Intimidator's' first title in 1980, will serve as Jeffrey Earnhardt's crew chief.

"I'm looking forward to once again returning to the track as crew chief with an Earnhardt behind the wheel," Richert said. "The Earnhardt family has played such an important part in my racing career; starting in 1978 with Dale Sr. and then winning a championship with him in 1980, it's very cool to work with the fourth generation of the family."

The Earnhardt streak since 1980 totals 73 races. Sunday's race will be 74 in a row.

LIFELONG HIGH SCHOOL FRIENDS GET SURPRISE OF LIFE FROM KYLE BUSCH

RELATED: Busch gets awesome fan reaction on the road

Kyle Busch will have VIP guests on hand this weekend at Talladega Superspeedway, fresh from a Homecoming Dance where the reigning NASCAR Sprint Cup champ played a role in making it an unforgettable moment.

Auburn (Alabama) High School students Holman Head and Taylor Johnson celebrated this weekend at homecoming after Johnson asked her longtime friend to the dance earlier this month with a NASCAR-themed proposal. Johnson decorated her car with Busch's No. 18 and a makeshift M&M's paint scheme, asking Head, "Will you race to homecoming with me?"

Busch apparently got wind of their special date and Head's status as a dedicated fan in a story first broadcast by WTVM in Columbus, Georgia. The Joe Gibbs Racingdriver arranged for a chauffeured ride to homecoming in an Interstate Batteries Toyota Camry, and surprised the couple in a personal video message.

With both students already overjoyed, Busch sweetened the gift.

"I also think that since we are racing Talladega in a couple of weeks, you two should come out and join us for the race weekend," Busch said, making plans to meet the two this weekend before the sixth of 10 races in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup playoffs.

"When I saw the video I cried," Taylor's mom told WTVM. "I just want to say thank you to Kyle Busch for making their dream come true."

Busch tweeted Monday morning about the two:

Chase Elliott:I don t know what to do following another bad finish

Chase Elliott looked like one of the drivers to beat for the better portion of Sunday’s Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway, but things quickly took a turn for the worst.

After starting 13th, Elliott methodically made his way toward the front early, wrestling the lead from eventual race winner Kevin Harvick on Lap 169. Five laps later, Elliott relinquished the lead for a green-flag pit stop.

Immediately after, Elliott was forced to give up the lead once gain to come back down pit road for a left-rear tire rub. The problem eventually caused him to hit the wall and finish 31st.

Elliott’s crew chief, Alan Gustafson, told him over the radio during the race that he thought he knew what the problem was, but didn’t go into detail.

“I don't know if we got the left rear getting up on the race track, or something and it got into the fender and cut it down,” Elliott said of the issue after the race. “I don't know what to do man, we were trying as hard as we can. We had such a good car today (Sunday) again, and....I don't know what to do. Just keep after it and try to move on."

The rookie is now 25 points behind eighth-place Joey Logano in the Chase standings. Heading into Talladega, it’s not mathematically impossible for Elliott to advance to the Round of 8 on points, but he certainly has his back against the wall in a likely must-win scenario.

"I just will go there, and race our hearts out and try to win I guess,” Elliott said. “That's about all we can do.”

Despite another tough race following a 33rd-place finish at Charlotte Motor Speedway a week prior, a dejected Elliott still managed to look at the positives.

“We have something to be proud of in the way we have been running,” he added. “There are just some things we can't control. I don't know how to fix that stuff. These guys deserve better on this SunEnergy1/ NAPA team.  We are bummed, but what do you do. You just have to move on."