NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Owner Standings

Pot	Owner	Car #	Points	Ldr	Nxt	PPos	G/L	Wins	Attempts
1	Hendrick Motorsports	48	3,045	0	0	11	10	3	30
2	Joe Gibbs Racing	20	3,040	-5	-5	4	2	2	30
3	Joe Gibbs Racing	18	3,036	-9	-4	3	0	4	30
4	Team Penske	2	3,034	-11	-2	7	3	4	30
5	Stewart-Haas Racing	41	3,033	-12	-1	8	3	1	30
6	Joe Gibbs Racing	19	3,029	-16	-4	10	4	2	30
7	Furniture Row Racing	78	3,028	-17	-1	1	-6	4	30
8	Joe Gibbs Racing	11	3,012	-33	-16	9	1	3	30
9	Richard Childress Racing	3	3,009	-36	-3	12	3	0	30
10	Hendrick Motorsports	24	3,009	-36	0	6	-4	0	30
11	Team Penske	22	3,006	-39	-3	5	-6	1	30
12	Stewart-Haas Racing	4	3,004	-41	-2	2	-10	3	30
13	Chip Ganassi Racing	42	2,109	-936	-895	14	1	1	30
14	Stewart-Haas Racing	14	2,106	-939	-3	13	-1	1	30
15	Chip Ganassi Racing	1	2,084	-961	-22	15	0	0	30
16	Front Row Motorsports	34	2,070	-975	-14	16	0	1	30
17	Hendrick Motorsports	5	766	-2,279	-1,304	18	1	0	30
18	Richard Childress Racing	31	738	-2,307	-28	19	1	0	30
19	Hendrick Motorsports	88	731	-2,314	-7	17	-2	0	30
20	Roush Fenway Racing	17	658	-2,387	-73	22	2	0	30
21	Wood Brothers Racing	21	655	-2,390	-3	21	0	0	30
22	JTG Daugherty Racing	47	653	-2,392	-2	20	-2	0	30
23	Roush Fenway Racing	6	651	-2,394	-2	23	0	0	30
24	Stewart-Haas Racing	10	577	-2,468	-74	24	0	0	30
25	Roush Fenway Racing	16	548	-2,497	-29	25	0	0	30
26	Richard Childress Racing	27	542	-2,503	-6	26	0	0	30
27	Richard Petty Motorsports	43	539	-2,506	-3	27	0	0	30
28	HScott Motorsports	15	526	-2,519	-13	28	0	0	30
29	Germain Racing	13	467	-2,578	-59	29	0	0	30
30	Circle Sport-Leavine Family	95	452	-2,593	-15	30	0	0	30
31	Front Row Motorsports	38	431	-2,614	-21	31	0	0	30
32	BK Racing	23	398	-2,647	-33	32	0	0	30
33	Tommy Baldwin Racing	7	394	-2,651	-4	33	0	0	30
34	Richard Petty Motorsports	44	371	-2,674	-23	34	0	0	30
35	BK Racing	83	339	-2,706	-32	35	0	0	30
36	Premium Motorsports	98	277	-2,768	-62	36	0	0	30
37	HScott Motorsports	46	268	-2,777	-9	37	0	0	30
38	GO FAS Racing	32	242	-2,803	-26	38	0	0	30
39	Premium Motorsports	55	201	-2,844	-41	39	0	0	25
40	The Motorsports Group	30	165	-2,880	-36	40	0	0	30
41	Front Row Motorsports	35	46	-2,999	-119	41	0	0	3
42	Circle Sport - Leavine Family	59	26	-3,019	-20	42	0	0	1
43	BK Racing	93	15	-3,030	-11	43	0	0	5
44	BK Racing	26	3	-3,042	-12	44	0	0	1
45	Hillman Racing	40	0	-3,045	-3	45	0	0	1

CHRIS BUESCHER REVEALS DARLINGTON THROWBACK LOOK

Chris Buescher is the latest driver to reveal his throwback paint scheme for Darlington's Bojangles' Southern 500 on Sept. 4 (6 p.m. ET, NBC, MRN, SiriusXM).

The Sunoco Rookie of the Year candidate's No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford matches the fuel canopies from sponsor Love's Travel Stops first travel stop in 1981. Check out the scheme in Buescher's tweet below.

My @LovesTravelStop scheme for @TooToughToTame! Matches the fuel canopies from Love’s first travel stop in 1981. pic.twitter.com/40D7cndQ4J
— Chris Buescher (@Chris_Buescher) August 24, 2016

"The Darlington throwback weekend has become a pretty big deal, and it's cool to have Love's Travel Stops bring some of their history into the race weekend with their old colors," Buescher said in a team release. "Darlington is my favorite track, and I can't wait to get there and turn some laps in this special Love's Ford Fusion."

This year's Darlington race will mark Buescher's first event there in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series competition. The 2015 XFINITY Series champion notched one top 10 in four career XFINITY Series starts at Darlington.

Buescher's teammate Landon Cassill unveiled his throwback on Tuesday, which you can see here.

DIVERSITY GRADUATE KYLE LARSON SCORES FIRST SPRINT CUP WIN

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Aug. 28, 2016) – Kyle Larson won Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway to become the first graduate of the NASCAR Drive for Diversity and the NASCAR Next programs to win at the sanctioning body’s top level.

Larson, the 24-year-old Elk Grove, California, native of Japanese-American heritage, has already won in the NASCAR XFINITY Series and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. His first win came in 2013 at Rockingham Speedway in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. He has since won another NASCAR Camping World Truck race, as well as four NASCAR XFINITY Series races.

The win at Michigan was the latest in a long line of 'firsts' accomplished by Larson in his young career. Among the highlights:

In 2014, Larson became the first NASCAR D4D and NASCAR Next product to win a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coors Light Pole (Pocono Raceway), as well as the first to win the Sunoco Rookie of the Year.

In 2013, he became the first NASCAR D4D graduate to win the Sunoco Rookie of the Year Award in the NASCAR XFINITY Series.

Larson previously became the first NASCAR D4D competitor to win a NASCAR Touring Series championship. Driving for Rev Racing, Larson won the 2012 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East title and the Sunoco Rookie of the Year.

On Sunday, the Chip Ganassi Racing driver won the Pure Michigan 400, driving the No. 42 Chevrolet, leading a race-high 41 laps in his 99th career start.

With the win, Larson clinches a spot in NASCAR’s playoffs – the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.

NASCAR Next is an industry-wide initiative designed to spotlight to best and brightest rising young stars in racing. NASCAR Drive for Diversity, operated by Rev Racing, is an academy-style development program for female and multicultural drivers and crew members who have the potential and determination to succeed at the highest levels of NASCAR. Larson raced under both banners in 2012.

BIFFLE HONORS KULWICKI WITH DARLINGTON SCHEME

CONCORD, N.C. – NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Greg Biffle and his No. 16 Roush Fenway Racing team will honor 1992 premier series champion Alan Kulwicki during next month's Bojangles' Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway.

Biffle, along with U.S. Congressman Richard Hudson and Andrew Collier, unveiled a Hooters paint scheme similar to the orange and white scheme featured on Kulwicki's Ford Thunderbird entries from 1991 through the first five races of the '93 season.

"The sport was built on guys like that," Biffle said Tuesday. "He ran his own deal and wanted to do stuff his way. He had five career wins and a championship in 92 -- that's a really, really neat story. It's unfortunate that I never got the chance to meet him."

The popular restaurant chain began its' sponsorship of the No. 7 team at the fifth race of the '91 season at Darlington. Kulwicki was both owner and driver for the single-team organization.

The 1.366-mile track was also the site of Kulwicki's final start – he placed sixth in '93 TranSouth 500.

Kulwicki, the series' 1986 Rookie of the Year, was killed in a plane crash in Blountville, Tenn., on April 1, 1993.

To possibly win with Hooters on the No. 16 Roush Fenway Racing Ford? "How cool would that be?" Biffle asked. "Then to do an Alan Kulwicki victory lap … would be a storybook ending."

Biffle will be making his 16th career start at Darlington, where he has two victories (2005, '06) and a pair of poles. His average starting position at the track is 11.1, best for the 46-year-old among the 22 venues hosting Sprint Cup Series races, while his average finish of 13.6 there is fourth overall.

He has led more laps at Darlington (718) than any track other than Texas Motor Speedway, where he has led 733.

This is the second season the legendary track has hosted a throwback-themed race weekend, with teams sporting paint schemes similar to those seen in the past. The Bojangles' Southern 500 is scheduled 6 p.m. ET, Sunday, Sept. 4 (NBC, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR).

Hooters isn't just on the car as part of the throwback scheme, the restaurant chain is also taking an active role with the team, helping to promote National First Responders Day.

Collier, a machinist in the Hendrick Motorsports engine shop, has been a driving force in trying to establish a national day of recognition for first responders. His brother, Sean, was a police officer with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2013 when he was killed by one of two Boston Marathon bombers.

"Sean was planning on going and hanging out with some friends that night," Andrew Collier said. "He had no idea … that happens to a lot of first responders every year. It's time we honor them; they are our front line here at home. You have an accident … a fire, anything, none of us ever want to see it but if it does happen to us, the first thing we do is count on them.

"It's time to honor them and make this day a reality."

For more information about the effort to establish a national day of recognition, visit www.firstrespondersday.org.

TOP 10 CONSECUTIVE LAP AVERAGES AT MICHIGAN

Average speeds for drivers running 10 or more consecutive laps in NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice at Michigan International Speedway:

Practice 1
Pos
CarDriverFrom LapTo LapAvg Speed
142   
Kyle Larson110194.178
214    
Tony Stewart110193.710

Practice 2
PosCarDriverFrom LapTo LapAvg Speed
118Kyle Busch211199.713
248Jimmie Johnson110199.578
388Alex Bowman(i)211199.403
45Kasey Kahne110198.817
51Jamie McMurray1019198.165
619Carl Edwards1019198.115
724Chase Elliott #211197.939
84Kevin Harvick1019197.802
92Brad Keselowski1423197.462
1015Clint Bowyer110197.177
1183Matt DiBenedetto110192.298

Practice 3
PosCarDriverFrom LapTo LapAvg Speed
142Kyle Larson110196.346
224Chase Elliott110196.015
348Jimmie Johnson110195.995
45Kasey Kahne110195.789
547AJ Allmendinger110195.703
61Jamie McMurray110195.514
741Kurt Busch110195.442
831Ryan Newman110195.322
920Matt Kenseth110194.883
*Required to qualify on time, (i) Ineligible for driver points in this series, #Rookie

KAHNE SEEKS WIN WHILE IN FAMILIAR CHASE BUBBLE SPOT

BROOKLYN, Mich. -- It's an unfortunate yet familiar position for Kasey Kahne, driver of the No. 5 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports.

Unfortunate because with only three races remaining before the 16-team field is set for this year's NASCAR Chase for the Sprint Cup, Kahne finds himself winless on the season and 17th in points.

Familiar because the 36-year-old has been here before.

Kahne slid into the Chase field in 2014, the inaugural season of the format awarding positions to full-time competitors that managed at least one victory through the season's first 26 races, with a late victory at Atlanta, just one stop from the cutoff event.

Three races remain before this year's field is set, beginning with Sunday's Pure Michigan 400 here at Michigan International Speedway (2 p.m. ET, NBCSN, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). Then it's on to Darlington and Richmond to determine the remainder of this year's Chase field before the playoff opener at Chicagoland Speedway.

Two years ago, the final three-race run consisted of stops at Bristol, Atlanta and Richmond.

"I don't think that was anything like this year; I think this is a lot different," Kahne said Saturday at Michigan. "That was a great night for us and we were right there all night, got in the right position on restarts … we were fast all night. I think restarts were big for us. I could run really fast for 15 laps. It's been a while since we've been like that."

Indeed. The Atlanta win was Kahne's 17th but it was also his last. He enters Sunday's race shadowed by a 70-race winless streak. In the meantime, Kahne's Hendrick teammates have won 14 times since his Atlanta victory.

"For us, I think it's been so many areas, so many little things that add up to being four-tenths (of a second) off per lap often," he said. "I don't think it's from a lack of effort because the effort is there. But it's maybe working in the right areas or trying to understand things that will make it easier for me to drive for my driving style. That's been a huge part of the last couple of years.

"It doesn't matter what other guys are doing, (it's) 'what will help Kasey? What will help him with his car because he drives a little different?' I feel like this weekend we've kind of done our thing and it seems to be working pretty well so car."

Ten Sprint Cup drivers have one or more wins this season and sit inside the top 16, virtually assuring themselves of a slot in the Chase. Tony Stewart and Chris Buescher also have one win each, and while further back in points, their status likely leaves only four Chase positions up for grabs.

Seventeen others are still mathematically alive, should they earn a win in one of the next three races. If no different winners emerge, points will be used to determine the remaining spots.

Kahne trails the holder of the last spot in the Chase Grid, Ryan Newman by 39 points, with Trevor Bayne and Kyle Larson sandwiched between the two and chasing one of the final playoff spots as well. Austin Dillon, Chase Elliott and Jamie McMurray and Newman are just on the right side of the Chase bubble as of now.

Hendrick drivers qualified second (Johnson), fifth (Elliott), sixth (Alex Bowman driving in place of Dale Earnhardt Jr.) and 11th (Kahne) at Michigan. It is the seventh time this season Kahne will start from the No. 11 spot on the 40-car grid.

"We run 13th to 18th every week; we qualify there and we race there," Kahne said. "That's just the speed we have. And then we do the same thing the next week. It's nice to do something a little different this week and to have speed to show it's helping."

Kahne, 10th in Saturday's morning practice and fourth in the weather-shortened final session, has qualified for the Chase five times, the last coming in '14.

BRISTOL ADDS ROSIN TO TRACK BEFORE SPRINT CUP NIGHT RACE

RELATED: Key story lines for Bristol night race

BRISTOL, Tenn. -- NASCAR officials applied 18 more inches of rosin to each of the four corners on the bottom groove after Friday night's XFINITY Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway.

A sticky substance that allows drivers to stick and run both the top and bottom grooves, rosin was applied to the track in the same manner on Thursday night prior to Friday's XFINITY Series race.

Officials originally hadn't planned to add any more rosin before Saturday's Sprint Cup race. Drivers such as Friday night's XFINITY winner Austin Dillon supported the addition of more rosin.

"It's interesting to have another lane down there on the bottom," said Dillon, who will also be running Saturday night's Sprint Cup race. "Hopefully they can add a little more (rosin) to the bottom and get that bottom lane just to stay a little bit longer."

Saturday's Sprint Cup Series' Bass Pro Shops NRA night race was set to begin at 8 p.m. ET, but weather forced a rescheduling to 1 p.m. ET on Sunday (CNBC, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

JUSTIN ALLGAIER TO FILL IN FOR AILING ANNETT

Justin Allgaier will make his first NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start of 2016 Saturday at Bristol Motor Speedway. Allgaier will pilot the No. 46 HScott Motorsports Chevrolet in place of Michael Annett, who is experiencing flu-like symptoms, the team announced on Twitter.

Due to flu-like symptoms, Michael Annett won't compete in tonight's event. Justin Allgaier will drive the No. 46 Pilot Flying J Chevrolet.
— HScott Motorsports (@Team_HSM) August 20, 2016

Allgaier drove the No. 51 for HScott Motorsports in 2014 and 2015. He currently drives in the NASCAR XFINITY Series for JR Motorsports.

Allgaier finished second in Friday night's XFINITY Series race, and he's currently third in the series points standings.

In 22 Sprint Cup Series starts this year, Annett's best finish is 20th at Daytona International Speedway in July.

CAIN: EXPANSION AN IMPORTANT STEP FOR JONES, FURNITURE ROW

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. -- The weekend announcement that up-and-coming star Erik Jones will drive a second Furniture Row Racing car in 2017 was one of the worst-kept secrets in recent big-time NASCAR news. And that's a real compliment to Jones and to the organization.

People are intently interested in the championship-worthy team's expansion. All the buzz and grins speak largely about the team's firm place among Sprint Cup Series top shelf. Expansion is a logical next step.

And looking around at team executives, its drivers and Toyota bigwigs last weekend at Watkins Glen International when Jones' new No. 77 5-hour Energy Camry was unveiled, there are both high hopes and high expectations.

"Today has been a long time coming for Furniture Row Racing," team owner Barney Visser acknowledged over the weekend.

Jones, the 20-year-old reigning Camping World Truck Series champion, currently is contending for the XFINITY Series title with three wins this season while driving a Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing.

His ticket to the Sprint Cup was inevitable.

This will be an important step for the young Jones, but also for the Denver-based Furniture Row Racing team that already is hard at work preparing its shop to house and operate a second team -- which, Visser said Wednesday night on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, may only house Jones for one season.

"With how we're running, we will get a very, very good driver after he leaves, if he leaves, and I’m fairly certain he will," Visser said. "We will attract one of the best drivers in the garage for that second slot, I am confident. The cars are just going to be running too well."

When asked again about the likelihood of Jones leaving after one year, Visser said: "I think that’s most likely. We're working on that. What I am saying is the team will go on no matter what and people need to understand that when they come looking for jobs."

From Toyota's standpoint, at least for 2017, this is as natural an evolution as possible. Jones has been "their guy." Pairing him with veteran Martin Truex Jr., driver of the team's current No. 78 Toyota, is the right development right now for manufacturer, team and driver.

From Toyota's perspective, Jones also is truly the first driver the manufacturer has groomed from development series to big league.

"I think it's a great story for Toyota, but probably a greater story for NASCAR and the future of our sport," Toyota Racing Development President David Wilson said at Watkins Glen. "We're all really proud of Erik and think a lot of him not just as a talent, but as a person.

"With Erik, obviously he's a rookie and we like the chemistry of having the veteran Martin Truex side-by-side. And the other great thing is we have the Gibbs drivers to lean on. Our intention is Erik will sit in the competition meetings as early as this season and observe and learn.

"The point we really wanted to make was for Toyota and for Furniture Row adding an additional team, this isn't a one-year deal. My intention is to run at least six Toyotas in the (Sprint) Cup Series from 2017 running forward."

And while initially the expectations will be tightly controlled, below the surface, a real feeling of progress and hope appeared after speaking with the team's executives, and its current championship caliber driver, Truex.

"This goes into the very beginning when we started Furniture Row," team president Joe Garone said. "We just gradually have ramped it up and built the relationships that we felt we've needed to be successful. That comes back to Barney's commitment to invest in the team and our sponsors that Barney brought to the team, Denver Mattress and Furniture Row. … To finally get to a platform that will support multiple cars.

"It's huge. It's at the sacrifice of a lot of hours and a lot of hard work from a lot of people. We're just really excited to be at this platform right now."

Truex, who has qualified for this year's Chase courtesy of one of the most dominating performances in recent years -- he led all but eight laps of the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte -- acknowledged the change in logistics and said, "It's going to be a little more work getting off the ground, but fortunately it's early enough this season to get the cars built and ready for next year."

Truex signed a two-year contract extension with the team earlier last week, as well.

"The biggest thing is I'm excited for Barney and Furniture Row to grow the program," he said. "It's nice to see the success and him having fun with it and able to expand. Two teams should be a more efficient way of doing business and it should make sure we're around for a long time.

"This is no different than the JGR guys welcoming us into the system. We'll all work as one to make our team the best it can be. Erik seems like a great kid and obviously has a lot of talent."

SPRINT CUP CHASE-CLINCHING SCENARIOS FOR WATKINS GLEN

With five races remaining in the regular season, 10 drivers have clinched a spot in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, assuming each start the remaining races.

The 10 clinchers: Brad Keselowski, Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards, Jimmie Johnson, Matt Kenseth, Kevin Harvick, Kurt Busch, Joey Logano, Martin Truex Jr. and Denny Hamlin.

Everyone who has a win this season is in -- except for Tony Stewart and Chris Buescher, both of whom have yet to clinch a top-30 spot.

A number of drivers who currently have no wins can clinch this weekend, but only if they win at Watkins Glen International and leave the race with at least a 165-point lead over Stewart and Buescher. There's also the potential for the points leader to be a guaranteed winner after race No. 26 at Richmond, the final regular-season race. If that's the case, the below drivers would only need to have a 165-point lead over Buescher.

Possible to clinch at Watkins Glen:

Austin Dillon (0 Wins, 549 Points, +268 Points Ahead of 31st)

Ryan Newman (0 Wins, 537 Points, +256 Points Ahead of 31st)

Chase Elliott (0 Wins, 533 Points, +252 Points Ahead of 31st)

Jamie McMurray (0 Wins, 517 Points, +236 Points Ahead of 31st)

Kyle Larson (0 Wins, 508 Points, +227 Points Ahead of 31st)

Kasey Kahne (0 Wins, 488 Points, +207 Points Ahead of 31st)

Trevor Bayne (0 Wins, 480 Points, +199 Points Ahead of 31st)

Ryan Blaney (0 Wins, 480 Points, +199 Points Ahead of 31st)

JIM GIACCONE HONORS BROTHER, OTHER 9/11 VICTIMS BY AIDING OTHERS

RELATED: All the Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award finalists

The tragedy of Sept. 11, 2001 took so much from Jim Giaccone. But it led him to this: honoring the memory of the brother he lost by helping others affected by that dark day.

Giaccone's older brother, Joseph, died in the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City. Joseph was among the 658 employees of the Cantor Fitzgerald financial services firm who were killed. Devastated by grief, Giaccone somehow found the drive to carry on and honor his brother by giving back to others -- especially children -- who likewise were carrying on in the aftermath of 9/11.

During his personal aftermath, Giaccone found his future in the form of Tuesday's Children, an organization dedicated to providing long-term support to those directly impacted by the events of 9/11 and other communities impacted by terrorism and traumatic loss.

Giaccone's involvement in Tuesday's Children is multi-faceted, as a fundraiser, through service on the organization's Mentoring Advisory Board and Family Advisory Board and through what is arguably his most significant contribution: serving as a mentor.

His works have not gone unnoticed. Giaccone, from Bayville, New York, is one of four finalists for The NASCAR Foundation's 2016 Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award Presented by Nationwide. The award will be presented by France -- The NASCAR Foundation's Chairwoman Emeritus and founder -- on Sept. 27 during the inaugural Honors Gala at the Marriott Marquis in New York City. The foundation will donate $100,000 to the charity represented by the award winner and $25,000 to each of the other three finalists' charities. The award winner will be determined via an online vote now underway and running through Sept. 26 at 5 p.m. (ET) at NASCAR.com/Award.

Giaccone, 55, mentors teenage brothers Nicholas and Matthew Reda, who lost their father on 9/11. Suffice to say this is a reciprocal relationship. Giaccone and the boys find healing and comfort in one another. But their time spent together involves more than words. The healing is helped by sharing real-life tasks involving practical skills, such as building rockets and fishing, both activities the boys enjoyed with their father.

Said Giaccone: "I am not a man of great wealth where I can personally make a difference financially. My most valuable asset is my time.

"It's a delicate balance when I try to explain what I get out of this. But obviously, anything that I've gained over the last 15 years I would trade in a second for my brother's life. But … that's not reality. Through the programs that Tuesday's Children is running and seeing the works that they do … it's almost become a therapy for me, to be honest. When I leave Nicholas and Matthew, it's almost as if I have a 'runner's high.' I feel calmer. If those boys get half of what I get out of this, it's a win-win."

More than 10 years and hundreds of hours of service to Tuesday's Children have given Giaccone many rewarding experiences. He wants more, because there is so much more work to do. He has expanded his volunteer efforts to include helping others both domestically and abroad, truly living his life to reflect the organization's motto to "Let Our Past Change the Future."

Giaccone is a longtime NASCAR fan, dating to his childhood when enjoying racing was a family tradition. One of his most cherished memories of NASCAR -- and of his life, overall -- is from August 2001 when he and his brother went to Nazareth (Pennsylvania) Speedway to take part in a fan driving experience.

"I had gone to Las Vegas and done the Richard Petty Driving Experience twice, so I organized the trip (to Nazareth)." Giaccone said. "It was pretty special ..."

As is being a Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award finalist, and representing Tuesday's Children -- in New York City on Sept. 27.

"It's very humbling to be considered," Giaccone said.

To learn more about this year’s finalists for The NASCAR Foundation’s Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award presented by Nationwide, and to cast your vote today, go to www.NASCAR.com/Award. Voting is open now until September 26 at 5 p.m. ET.

TRUEX INKS TWO-YEAR EXTENSION WITH FURNITURE ROW RACING

DENVER, Colo. (Aug. 4, 2016) -- Furniture Row Racing announced today that Martin Truex Jr. has signed a new two-year agreement to drive the team’s No. 78 Toyota Camry in NASCAR’s Cup Series. The new contract takes effect starting with the 2017 season.

The Denver-based racing organization also announced that Bass Pro Shops and Tracker Boats, which joined Furniture Row Racing as a partner in 2016, will increase its primary sponsorship schedule on Truex’s No. 78 Toyota from 12 to 16 races in 2017, starting with the season-opening Daytona 500.

The expansion builds on the long-standing relationship between Bass Pro Shops and Truex Jr., an avid outdoorsman and longtime fishing buddy of Bass Pro Shops founder/CEO Johnny Morris. In addition to serving as Truex’s first sponsor when he started his NASCAR career, Bass Pro Shops and Tracker Boats were the primary sponsors for two NASCAR Xfinity Series championships in 2004 and 2005, as well as the primary sponsor for Truex’s first three years in the Sprint Cup Series.

"The signing of Martin Truex Jr. to a new contract and Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Boats adding more races to its primary sponsorship package are signs of strength and confidence for the future of Furniture Row Racing," said team president Joe Garone. "Martin has proved over and over that he is one of the blue chip drivers in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and we are elated that he will continue to drive our No. 78 Toyota."

Garone added, "Bass Pro Shops has been one of the most visible, committed and respected sponsors in NASCAR for many years. We are grateful that the company is making an additional commitment to our team. Adding Bass Pros Shops, Tracker Boats and Auto-Owners Insurance to our sponsorship family this season has played a vital role, along with Furniture Row and Denver Mattress, in the success and growth of our company."

Bass Pro Shops founder/CEO Johnny Morris said of the announcement: "We are excited to elevate our support and partnership with our good friend Martin Truex Jr., an amazing competitor on the track and a passionate sportsman who loves the outdoors. It brings us tremendous pride to see Bass Pro Shops and Tracker Boats prominently displayed and have Martin personally representing our brands. Together with our longstanding friends at Toyota and Furniture Row Racing, we believe our partnership with Martin has a very bright future."

Truex, 36, said, "I am pleased that we’re going to continue our momentum from this season. This is where I want to be, driving the No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Toyota. We’ve come a long way in a short period of time. There are many reasons to feel excited and optimistic about the future of our racing program starting with the commitment from our team owner Barney Visser, the support from Toyota, the technical alliance with Joe Gibbs Racing and the Bass Pro Shops sponsorship. We definitely have the resources and talent to go after victories and championships. I want to thank Barney and Joe Garone for the confidence that they have placed in me and also want to thank my good friend and hunting/fishing partner Johnny Morris for the continued support from Bass Pro Shops and Tracker Boats."

Truex, who has already clinched a 2016 Chase berth, has been the Furniture Row Racing driver since the start of the 2014 season. As a Chase participant last year, he advanced to the final four.

After 21 races of the current season he has claimed one win, three top fives, nine top 10s, three poles, ranks No. 1 with laps led at 1005 and is eighth in Sprint Cup driver points.

The Mayetta, N.J. native won back-to-back Xfinity Series championships before joining the Cup series full time in 2006.

JIMMIE JOHNSON TO HIGHLIGHT FOUNDATION AT WATKINS GLEN

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (Aug. 2, 2016) -- Six-time NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion Jimmie Johnson will wear the Blue Bunny Helmet of Hope, which features five charities working to improve K-12 public education, this weekend during the Cheez-It 355 at The Glen NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Watkins Glen International. In addition, his No. 48 Lowe's Chevrolet will feature a special Jimmie Johnson Foundation 10th Anniversary paint scheme.

"I am proud to highlight the great work of these charities on my Blue Bunny Helmet of Hope this weekend," Johnson said. "Because of the generosity of our amazing partners, Chandra (wife) and I have been able to support some incredible schools and non-profits in the 10 years since we launched the Foundation. We'd like to thank Lowe's for allowing us to run the Foundation paint scheme for the eleventh time and Blue Bunny for sponsoring the Helmet of Hope program again this year. We are so grateful."

The Blue Bunny Helmet of Hope program allows fans and consumers across the country to nominate and vote on not-for-profit (501c3) organizations that support K-12 public education. Each of the recipients was also awarded a $25,000 grant and a Blue Bunny Ice Cream party.

The 5 recipient charities are:

ArtWell in Philadelphia
Carlos Gilbert Elementary Parents! Teachers! Kids! in Santa Fe, New Mexico
Change for Kids in New York
Inside the Outdoors Foundation in Costa Mesa, California
Mercy Child Advocacy Center in Sioux City, Iowa

"We are extremely proud to once again support the incredible work and commitment displayed by each of the organizations to assist K-12 public education," Wells said. "The passion around the mission of each of these organizations is evident through the rallying of their supporters to vote and ultimately secure additional needed funding. It never ceases to amaze me at how creative and driven all of the organizations are to securing the votes needed."

In addition to the Blue Bunny Helmet of Hope program, the Foundation operates the Champions Grant program in partnership with Lowe's, which provides cash grants to schools in the Johnson's hometowns and where they currently live; Team Up For Technology, a $48,000 technology makeover open to schools nationwide; and the Jimmie Johnson Foundation Wellness Challenge, a series of three athletic events in Charlotte, N.C. as well as a virtual triathlon. To date, the Jimmie Johnson Foundation has contributed more than $8.8 million to schools and non-profits across the country.