FedEx reveals fan chosen paint scheme for Denny Hamlin at Sonoma

The people have spoken.

Last month, FedEx announced an online vote to determine Denny Hamlin‘s paint scheme for Sunday’s race at Sonoma Raceway. Fans were given three choices and the winning look was shown off today in San Francisco.

The vote was part of the sponsor’s “FedEx Cares” initiative. For each vote, FedEx would donate $1 – up to $55,000 — to the five charitable organizations that will be on Hamlin’s car: the USO, Safe Kids Worldwide, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, JA Worldwide and Urban League.

The winning car was “#FedExCares3” and was revealed in the shadow of the Golden Gate Bridge.

 

FedExVerified account‏@FedEx

Revealed! Fans voted & we're excited to unveil the #FedExCares @RaceSonoma paint scheme today in San Francisco!

 

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Kansas will perform prior to Southern 500

Just like last year, Darlington Raceway is making sure the throwback weekend surrounding the Southern 500 has the proper soundtrack.

As a follow-up to Grand Funk Railroad’s pre-race concert last year, Darlington has announced that Kansas, the band responsible for the songs “Carry on Wayward Son” and “Dust in the Wind,” will perform before the Sept. 4 race.

Among Kansas’ achievements are eight gold albums and three sextuple-Platinum albums. Their first album, the self-titled “Kansas,” was released in 1974. That year, the Southern 500 was won by Cale Yarborough as he lapped the entire field.

“Kansas was an iconic band in that era whose hit songs you can still hear on classic rock stations to this day,” said track president Chip Wile in a press release. “We’re excited for them to perform for our fans and give the Bojangles’ Southern 500 pre-race ceremonies a nostalgic feel as we celebrate the history and heritage of NASCAR on Labor Day weekend.”

The band will perform on a stage on the frontstretch. In addition to a general race ticket, a pre-race access pass may be purchased for an additional $45. This pass will not only give fans stage front access for the concert, but will also include an up close view of the Sprint Cup Series stars as they are introduced to the crowd. Supplies are limited.

The Southern 500 can be seen on Sept. 4 on NBC.

Watch LIVE: NASCAR America at 6 p.m. ET on NBCSN

Today’s episode of NASCAR America airs from 6 – 7 p.m. ET on NBCSN.

Mike Massaro hosts with Parker Kligerman in Stamford, Connecticut. They are joined by Steve Letarte and Kyle Petty from Burton’s Garage.

Today’s episode gives you a final preview of the race weekend at Sonoma Raceway, one of two road courses the Sprint Cup Series visits.

We also bring you a look at Denny Hamlin‘s ride through San Francisco.

Also included:

• Four drivers with road-course victories will be seeking their first win of 2016 and a potential playoff spot at Sonoma.  Tune in for the breakdown by Parker, Kyle and Steve on which drivers will overcome the 12 twists and turns of the Sonoma road course.

• Parker Kligerman jumps into the simulator to show us the kind of challenges a driver faces at Sonoma, including various passing techniques.

• How would you compare a Modified to a Sprint Cup car?  Some may say they sound unlike any other car you’ve heard; the smell, unique in itself; and the feel you get as they fly by is indescribable.

• Before the Cup series heads to Daytona this year, it makes a stop at Sonoma Raceway in California.  The Golden State has been making an impact on NASCAR for well over 60 years. Eli Gold takes us through the racing history of the nation’s 31^st state.

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.

Friday schedule at Sonoma Raceway

The Sprint Cup Series is back on track today after a week off. Teams will practice for the Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway.

Here today’s schedule with TV information.

All times are Eastern.

11:30 a.m. – 9 p.m. – Sprint Cup garage open

3 – 4:55 p.m – Sprint Cup practice (Fox Sports 1)

6:30 – 7:55 p.m. – Final Sprint Cup practice (Fox Sports 1)

Erik Jones makes return to Truck series at Gateway

Thanks to a scheduling conflict for part-time driver Cody Coughlin, defending Camping World Truck Series champion Erik Joneswill make his first start of the season in the series this weekend at Gateway Motorsports Park.

Jones will start in the No. 51 Toyota due to Coughlin, Kyle Busch Motorsports and Joe Gibbs Racing agreeing Coughlin should devote his weekend to his championship efforts in the CRA Super Series (Super Late Model) and CRA/JEGS All-Star Tour (Pro Late Model).

The Drivin’ for Linemen 200 would have been Coughlin’s fourth of 11 scheduled starts this season. Instead Jones, a full-time driver in the Xfinity Series, will be in a truck for the first time since clinching the title at Homestead-Miami Speedway last November.

It will be Jones’ third start at Gateway. However, the 20-year-old failed to finish in his first two starts due to a crash and an electrical problem.

“It’s a place I took a liking to after making my first laps there in 2014,” Jones said in a press release. “We were really fast there the last two years, just didn’t have good endings. It’s always tough to pass there, so you need to qualify well and keep good track position if you are going to get a win.”

Jones did earn the pole at Gateway last year and led 84 laps before he dropped out of the race after 145 laps.

If Jones earns a win Saturday, it would be the 50th for Kyle Busch Motorsports. Of the 49 it has so far, Jones has been responsible for seven of them.

Jones is currently seventh in the Xfinity Series standings after earning two wins so far this season.

NASCAR’s weekend schedule at Sonoma, Gateway

After a week off the Sprint Cup Series returns this weekend with the Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway. Meanwhile, the Camping World Truck Series is still in the Midwest as it visits Gateway Motorsports Park for its Drivin’ for Linemen 200.

Here is the full weekend schedule for both series, including TV and radio times.

All times are Eastern.

Sonoma Raceway

Friday, June 24

11:30 a.m. – 9 p.m. – Sprint Cup garage open

3 – 4:55 p.m – Sprint Cup practice (Fox Sports 1)

6:30 – 7:55 p.m. – Final Sprint Cup practice (Fox Sports 1)

Saturday, June 25

10 a.m. – 6 p.m. – Sprint Cup garage open

2:15 p.m. – Sprint Cup qualifying; multi-car/two rounds (FS1, Performance Racing Network, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)

Sunday, June 26

10 a.m. – Sprint Cup garage opens

1 p.m. – Driver-crew chief meeting

2:30 p.m. – Driver introductions

3 p.m.  – Toyota/Save Mart 350; 110 laps, 218.9 miles (FS1, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)

Camping World Truck Series

Saturday, June 25

8 a.m.  – Truck garage opens

9:30 – 10:25 p.m. – Truck practice (No TV)

11: 30 a.m. – 12:55 p.m.  – Final Truck practice (FS1)

4 p.m. – Driver-crew chief meeting

5:45 p.m. – Qualifying; multi-car/three rounds (Fox Sports 2)

8 p.m. – Driver introductions

8:30 p.m. – Drivin’ for Linemen 200; 160 laps, 200 miles (Fox Sports 1, Motor Racing Network, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)

Chase Elliott will get extra track time and extra help at Sonoma

Chase Elliott will do double duty this weekend at Sonoma Raceway, competing in Sunday’s Sprint Cup race and Saturday’s K&N Pro Series West race.

This weekend marks Elliott’s first time at Sonoma Raceway, a 1.99-mile road course. It’s not uncommon for drivers competing there for the first time to run the companion K&N West race to gain more track time.

Trevor Bayne competed in the K&N West race last year, finishing 10th, a day before his first Cup start at Sonoma. Austin Dillonplaced sixth in last year’s K&N West race to gain extra experience on the road course a day before his second Cup start there. Kyle Larson won the 2014 K&N West race a day before his first Cup start at that track. Elliott is the only Sprint Cup driver on the preliminary entry list for this weekend’s K&N West race.

Elliott has competed in seven road course races in his NASCAR career, six in Xfinity and once in the Camping World Truck Series. He won the 2013 Camping World Truck race at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park after contact with leader Ty Dillon on the final corner of the last lap.  

Also this weekend, Hendrick Motorsports stated that Elliott’s father, NASCAR Hall of Famer Bill Elliott, will serve as a second spotter. It’s not uncommon for teams to use a second spotter on the road course to help with a portion of the track the main spotter might not have as good a view.

Elliott enters this Cup weekend having scored six consecutive top-10 finishes. Kurt Buschhas the series’ longest active streak of top-10 finishes with nine.