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.

Tony Stewart says his presence in owner meetings feels ‘like an episode of Sesame Street’

FORT WORTH, Texas – The end of Tony Stewart‘s Sprint Cup racing career is less than six weeks away, but the co-owner of Stewart-Haas Racing has already gotten a taste of what the life of a full-time owner will be like.

‘The fun thing is I’ve been to a couple of the owners meetings and it’s pretty cool to sit in the room with Roger Penske, Chip Ganassi, Richard Childress and Joe Gibbs and those guys,” Stewart said Wednesday at Texas Motor Speedway.

But the three-time Sprint Cup champion said his attendance made the meetings with giants of the auto racing industry feel “like an episode of ‘Sesame Street.'”

“There’s one thing in the room that doesn’t belong and it’s not like the others and they point at me,” said Stewart, who was holding his annual “Smoke Show” Fantasy Camp benefiting Speedway Children’s Charities.

But even though he’s been co-owner of SHR since 2009, Stewart still doesn’t feel like an owner.

“I won’t say I’m a part of that group yet because I still feel like I’m just a driver right now,” said Stewart, who leaves his NASCAR driver’s seat behind on Nov. 20 at Homestead-Miami Speedway. “To be able to work with those guys on behalf of the sport I think is going to be a lot of fun.”

At some point in the next six weeks will be Stewart’s final Sprint Cup Drivers Council meeting. Stewart is one of nine drivers on the council that was founded last year. With him on it are Brad Keselowski, Jimmie Johnson, defending series champion Kyle Busch, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Kyle Larson, Kevin Harvick,Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano.

“The thing that I’m most excited about with the drivers council is I feel like it’s a good group of guys in there right now,” Stewart said. “I feel like their mindset and their ability to work together for the reason and the right causes and goals.”

Stewart’s presence on the council has had an impact this season. NASCAR’s year-long odyssey regarding lug nuts began with Stewart’s rant about the issue in April.

In January he criticized NASCAR CEO and Chairman Brian France for not have a presence in the meetings. France then attended an April meeting in Talladega, an act appreciated by the drivers.

He’s also been an encouraging voice for young drivers like Larson, who admitted that at first he didn’t feel deserving of a spot on the council.

“If you don’t say anything, why are you on this?’’ Stewart told Larson. “You have an opinion, speak up.’’

Stewart has opinions. On everything. But he recently said he’s ready to no longer be the voice of the garage.

Is there any opinion “Smoke” has kept to himself, waiting to drop on the drivers council right before he puts both feet into his role as an owner?

“I’m going to save that for when I get out of the car at Homestead I think,” Stewart joked at TMS. “The hard part is I wish we could tell you guys all the stuff that’s discussed in it but it’s not the right thing to do.”

Stewart is “proud” of what the council has accomplished in it first two years and is a little surprised at how unselfish its members have been.

“It would be really easy in our sport to be selfish and try to work on things that you think are going to benefit you,” Stewart said. “But the driver council does a really good job of not doing that. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised about that, but I guess to a certain degree a little bit I was surprised that everybody really cared more about the sport than they were about what their individual organizations were working on.”

Mobil 1 will remain with Stewart-Haas Racing after Tony Stewart’s retirement

ExxonMobil will stay with Tony Stewart‘s team after the three-time Sprint Cup champion’s career ends.

In a Friday announcement, the company extended its deal as a primary sponsor at Stewart-Haas Racing. Its Mobil 1 brand will appear as a primary sponsor at “various premier series races” on the cars of Kevin Harvick, Danica Patrick, Clint Bowyer and Kurt Busch. It also will remain an associate sponsor at all races with SHR drivers.

Mobil 1 has been a partial-season sponsor on Stewart’s No. 14 Chevrolet since the 2011 season and also has sponsored a few races for Harvick and Patrick this year.

Here’s a news release on the announcement:

ExxonMobil today announced it will be extending the Mobil 1TM brand’s sponsorship of Stewart-Haas Racing in a multiyear deal.

Beginning next year, Mobil 1, the “Official Motor Oil of NASCAR®,” will provide full primary sponsorships across SHR’s four NASCAR premier series drivers. Kevin Harvick’s No. 4 car, Danica Patrick’s No. 10, Clint Bowyer’s No. 14 and Kurt Busch’s No. 41 will see Mobil 1 full primaries at various NASCAR premier series races throughout the year. At the same time, the Mobil 1 brand will remain an associate sponsor for all SHR drivers at all other races.

“ExxonMobil and Mobil 1 lubricant technology have been integral to my success with SHR and my 2014 Championship, so I’m excited they’re coming back,” said Harvick. “I’m also honored to step in as the lead representative for the Mobil 1 brand both on and off the track.”

Tony Stewart, who has represented Mobil 1 since the brand joined SHR in 2011, is retiring as a NASCAR driver at the end of the 2016 season. He will remain a brand ambassador for Mobil 1 in his role as a team owner, as he co-owns SHR with industrialist Gene Haas, founder of Haas Automation.

Additionally, the Mobil 1 brand will be an associate sponsor of SHR’s new NASCAR XFINITY Series™ for the 2017 season, where Cole Custer will run for rookie of the year.

The company has been providing lubricant technology support to the team since 2011, which helped Stewart and Harvick earn premier series championships for SHR in 2011 and 2014, respectively.

“With two championships already, our partnership with Stewart-Haas Racing has been pushing performance limits since day one. Finishing this year and going into 2017, we’re ready to add more wins and titles to the collection,” said Kai Decker, global motorsports manager at ExxonMobil. “Our engineers are continuously working to advance our lubricant technology and SHR plays a large role in how we test our engine lubricants – ensuring consumers and race fans are getting the best product available.”

After announcing the partnership in 2010, SHR and Mobil 1 engineers began working closely together to tackle racing challenges. The 2017 season continues a collaborative engineering relationship used to develop lubricant packages and push technology limits to new frontiers. This relationship helps the SHR team win races and ExxonMobil continue to improve the performance of Mobil 1 branded lubricants with improved power, fuel mileage, engine efficiency and reliability.

“We’re thrilled to continue our partnership with ExxonMobil for the 2017 race season and beyond,” Stewart said. “They’ve been an incredible partner. “The success we’ve achieved has been greatly helped by Mobil 1 lubricant technology and our engineers working hand in hand with their engineers.”

Including the 2016 season, the partnership with ExxonMobil has led to significant on-track success for SHR, compiling two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series titles, 34 race wins, 140 top-five finishes, 266 top-10 finishes and 28 poles.

Along with its association with SHR, Mobil 1 is entering its 15th year as the “Official Motor Oil of NASCAR.” Mobil 1 is used by more than 50 percent of the teams in NASCAR’s top-three series.

Stewart: 'I feel like I'm looking at myself'

Tony Stewart describes his out-of-body experience over the No. 14 team communications as he looks at Joey Logano and Carl Edwards' throwback paint schemes at Darlington Raceway.

Kurt Busch seeks NASCAR record this weekend at Pocono

Kurt Busch seeks to do something this weekend that hasn’t been done in NASCAR.

Run every lap for the most consecutive races to start a season.

Busch enters Sunday’s race at Pocono Raceway on NBCSN having completed all 5,673 laps in the first 20 races. No driver has completed every lap through the the first 21 Cup races in a season.

Busch tied Dale Earnhardt Jr. for the record this past weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway when Busch completed every lap on the way to finishing 16th.

Earnhardt set the mark in 2012 by completing every lap in the first 20 races of the season. In the 21st race, which was at Pocono, Earnhardt fell 18 laps short of the distance in the rain-shortened race.

Busch heads to Pocono having won the June race there. In this race a year ago, he finished 37th after he was involved in an accident, He finished 10 laps behind the leaders.

Busch’s consistency this season has led to 15 top-10 finishes, second only to Stewart-Haas Racing teammate Kevin Harvick, who has 16.

Drivers who have run the most laps in Cup this season:

100% — Kurt Busch (5,673 laps)

99.86 — Brad Keselowski (5,665)

99.67 — Trevor Bayne (5,654)

99.38 — Martin Truex Jr. (5,638)

98.71 — Kevin Harvick (5,600)

98.55 — Jamie McMurray (5,591)

98.20 — Austin Dillon (5,571)

97.76 — Landon Cassill (5,546)

97.76 — Matt Kenseth (5,546)

97.48 — Carl Edwards (5,530)

NASCAR America: Value of winning goes beyond the trophy

Team Penske has won 25.5 percent of the 90 Sprint Cup races run since 2014 and does not appear to be slowing any time soon after back-to-back wins by Brad Keselowski.

The NASCAR America crew discusses the value of wins even for teams all but set to make the Chase already, noting how Kyle Busch needed the bonus points from his four regular-season wins to advance to the second round of the Chase last year.

Since the start of the 2014 season (90 Sprint Cup races), here’s how many races have been won by each organization:

24 – Hendrick Motorsports

23 – Team Penske

23 – Joe Gibbs Racing

14 – Stewart-Haas Racing

2 – Furniture Row Racing

2 – Roush Fenway Racing

1 – JTG Daugherty

1 – Richard Petty Motorsports

NASCAR America: The state of Stewart-Haas Racing

The NASCAR America team talks about the state of Stewart-Haas Racing after Tony Stewart‘s surprising victory at Sonoma.

Who had more fun Sunday, Tony Stewart or crew chief for first career win?

Mike Bugarewicz has a hard enough job as a NASCAR Sprint Cup crew chief.

But that job just got a little easier – at least for one race – after his driver, Tony Stewart, won Sunday at Sonoma.

Not only was it Stewart’s first win since 2013 – and the 49th of his Sprint Cup career – it was also Bugarewicz’s first win atop a Cup pit box.

“I’ve only worked at Stewart-Haas (Racing), this is my third year, (the first) two years with Kevin (Harvick) as his engineer,” Bugarewicz said. “Every win is sweet whether I’m a race engineer or crew chief or whatever, it’s all great.

“It hasn’t sunk in yet that it was my first, but our goal from the beginning of the year was to get Tony back in victory lane, and I’m just so glad that we could get him there.”

Stewart made headlines Friday when he said during his weekly media availability that “driving a Sprint Cup car does not make me happy right now” ,and that is why he’s looking so forward to retiring at season’s end.

But after Sunday’s win, Bugarewicz said his driver’s mindset might have changed a bit more to the positive side of things – and that he certainly had some fun in Sunday’s win.

“I did not remember to ask him that,” Bugarewicz said about failing to ask Stewart if he was having fun before Sunday’s race. “I just assumed by the look of his face that he was enjoying it.

“One thing I will say, no matter what, every week it’s the last thing I say to him before I leave the car and he actually reminded me of that today.

“He said, ‘If I get angry and start yelling at you today, just remind me to have fun.’ I said, ‘Yeah, I know how that’ll work out for me.’ But no, we always talk about that. What’s most important for all of us is just enjoy it, take it in. You have to do that.”

While Bugarewicz and his team did everything they could to help Stewart to victory lane, in the end it was Stewart who did what he needed to do.

That included being mum on the team radio on the final lap.

“I stayed pretty quiet,” Bugarewicz said. “The spotter was keeping in touch with him. He didn’t say much, either.

“In those situations I just like to let (Stewart) concentrate and let him do his thing. He’s got a lot going on, especially at a place like this, so we just let him focus.”

But Bugarewicz also had something that only one other Sprint Cup team (six-time champ Jimmie Johnson) has — a driver with multiple Cup titles.

“Having a three-time champion who knew he had an opportunity today is a big thing,” Bugarewicz said. “At the end of the day, we only won because of his desire and his drive and his want.

“I truly believe that with these competitors and how good all the cars are and these top-tier drivers, that’s all it is. It’s a matter of who wants it more at the end of the day in most cases. Today, Tony wanted it more.”

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NASCAR issues warnings to six Sprint Cup teams

NASCAR gave warnings to six Sprint Cup teams for inspection issues last weekend at Pocono Raceway.

Regan Smith‘s Tommy Baldwin Racing team received its fourth warning after failing the Laser Inspection Station twice before last weekend’s race. Smith’s team will lose its pit stall selection this weekend at Michigan International Speedway. Teams lose their pit stall pick after every fourth warning.

Other Sprint Cup teams that received warnings Wednesday:

Matt DiBenedetto‘s BK Racing team received its second warning after failing the Laser Inspection Station twice before last weekend’s race.

Circle Sport-Leavine Family Racing, which had Ty Dillon in its car last weekend, received its second warning after failing template inspection twice before qualifying.

Jamie McMurray‘s Chip Ganassi Racing team was issued its first warning after failing template inspection twice before the race.

Aric Almirola‘s Richard Petty Motorsports team received its first warning after failing the Laser Inspection Station twice before qualifying.

Danica Patrick‘s Stewart-Haas Racing team received its first warning after failing template inspection twice before qualifying.

Ty Dillon focused on final ride in Tony Stewart’s No. 14 car

That Ty Dillon will race in Sunday’s Sprint Cup race at Talladega Superspeedway is what he was hoping for a year ago.

He just didn’t think it would be in a relief role.

“I was hoping to maybe be full-time this year in the Sprint Cup Series by this time last year,’’ the 24-year-old said Friday. “That’s where I had my goals set. The opportunity didn’t come along.’’

Unable to secure sponsorship, Dillon instead is racing full-time in the Xfinity Series for Richard Childress Racing. He entered the weekend third in the standings behind series leader Daniel Suarez and Elliott Sadler.

Dillon will appear in his sixth Cup race Sunday when he relieves Stewart after the first caution, if not sooner. It will mark Dillon’s final appearance in the No. 14 car for Stewart-Haas Racing with Stewart scheduled to return to full-time duty next weekend at Kansas Speedway.

Dillon has driven three races for Stewart-Haas and two races for Circle Sport – Leavine Family Racing this Cup season. His best finish is 15th at Phoenix, driving Stewart’s car.

“I can’t thank Stewart-Haas and their organization enough for giving me the opportunity to fill in this year with Tony being out,’’ Dillon said. “Not only has it helped me with my career and getting better as race car driver but it’s helped me show people that I can get the job done.’’

Dillon is scheduled to drive the first Cup practice today in Stewart’s car and qualify the car Saturday before taking over from Stewart during Sunday’s race.

“I feel like I’m ready to be in the (Cup) series full-time as a driver, mentally and physically, but this year I’m focused on winning the Xfinity championship to make my prospects a little bit better,’’ he said.

Should Dillon win as a relief driver Sunday, it would provide the victory Stewart would need to qualify for the Chase — upon climbing into the top 30 in points. Dillon was asked what that would mean.

“First of all, it would mean I won a Sprint Cup race, and I would be pretty excited to begin with,’’ Dillon said. “On top of that, to be able to get Tony a step closer to be locked into the Chase would be really cool. I haven’t started a race without the goal of winning in my entire career. That’s where my focus is.

“If it all comes together and we do win the race, I’m sure it will be a heck of a party and everybody is going to be happy.’’

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles sponsoring race, Danica Patrick at Chicagoland

The Sprint Cup Series race at Chicagoland Speedway this season found its sponsor somewhere in the Chicago sewer, probably eating pizza.

The race that opens the Chase for the Sprint Cup will be sponsored by turtles. But not just any turtles. The race will be sponsored by the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

At an event in Chicago, the track announced with Danica Patrick that the Sept. 18 race will be called the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 400.

Not to be confused with the movie being released in June, the race is sponsored by the cartoon series that airs on Nickelodeon. The series will also sponsor the No. 10 Chevrolet of Patrick, who is a native of Roscoe, Illinois.