Michael McDowell’s Darlington paint scheme honors Richard Childress’ racing career

Circle Sport – Leavine Family Racing, which is part of a technical alliance with Richard Childress Racing, will honor the owner of its partner team with a paint scheme in the Sept. 4 Southern 500 on NBC.
The No. 95
 
Thrivent Financial Chevrolet of Michael McDowell will bear a paint scheme similar to one used By Richard Childress during his time racing in the Sprint Cup Series. The car borrows from Childress’ No. 3 Captain Jack Chevrolet he drove throughout the 1970s.
“Darlington was one of the races that I attended years ago that spurred my passion for NASCAR,” said Bob Leavine, co-owner of Circle Sport – Leavine Family Racing in a press release. “For our team to participate in the Throwback weekend for the first time is going to be really special. We’re proud to pay tribute to Richard Childress, a true NASCAR Hall of Famer, and honor his driving career with this special scheme.”
In his career Childress never recorded a win, but in 17 starts at Darlington Raceway he earned one top five in his 1973 rookie season.
MORE: 2016 Southern 500 throwback paint schemes 
 
“I loved Darlington, it was one of my favorite tracks,” Childress said in a press release. “It was really narrow back then had guard rails around it. I’ll never forget being there as a rookie and taking it all in.”
McDowell will be making his fifth Darlington start. In his first four attempts, McDowell only finished once, in 2008 when he finished 28th for Michael Waltrip Racing.
“The Darlington Throwback weekend is really cool,” said McDowell in a press release. “I love how we can all look back at our sport and remember the great stories and people who made it what it is today.”

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ELDORA RACE FORMAT

A Kenseth's car fails inspection after New Hampshire win http://nascargillesrobson.blogspot.com/2016/07/kenseth-car-fails-inspection-after-new.html Wednesday night NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race on dirt represents a big change from the normal schedule, but it's nothing to worry about. This "Eldora Explained" article will get you up to speed on the technical aspects of the competition, so you can sit back and enjoy the Aspen Dental Eldora Dirt Derby, scheduled for 9 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

There are two practices on the half-mile dirt track Tuesday. All of the events below take place Wednesday.

Qualifying: Two laps, single truck. Keystone Light Pole Qualifying is scheduled for 5:15 p.m. ET on FS1. A random draw will determine the qualifying order. The fastest qualifier will be awarded the Keystone Light Pole Award, but won't necessarily start first.

The results of qualifying will determine all starting positions for the five qualifying races; the qualifying races themselves set the lineup for the race.

Qualifying Races: Five races, 10 laps each, starting at 7 p.m. ET on FS1, and only green-flag laps will be counted. Lineup for the qualifying races will be based on speeds from Keystone Light Pole Qualifying. The top five trucks from each qualifying race will automatically transfer to the race. Upon completion of the qualifying races, 25 of the 32 trucks in the field will be set for the race.

Last Chance Qualifying Race: This race will be 15 laps, and the lineup for it will be set based on finishing position in the qualifying races. Only green flag laps will be counted, and the top two finishers of this race will fill lineup positions 26 and 27 for the race.

Lineup spots 28-31 will go to the highest-ranking eligible trucks in owner points that haven't already earned a starting position through qualifying. The 32nd lineup spot will go to the most recent eligible past series champion. If the 32nd position is not filled by an eligible champion, it will be assigned based on owner points.

Race: Divided into three segments (40, 50 and 60 laps) with competition cautions at the breaks on Laps 40 and 90. Caution laps will not count during competition cautions and positions can't be improved on pit road. Teams are not required to pit during competition cautions. Those that remain on the track will restart in front of those that pit.
HOW ELDORA RACE LINEUP IS DETERMINED
STARTING SPOT HOW DETERMINED
1 Top finisher in Qualifying Race #1
2 Top finisher in Qualifying Race #2
3 Top finisher in Qualifying Race #3
4 Top finisher in Qualifying Race #4
5 Top finisher in Qualifying Race #5
6 Second finisher in Qualifying Race #1
7 Second finisher in Qualifying Race #2
8 Second finisher in Qualifying Race #3
9 Second finisher in Qualifying Race #4
10 Second finisher in Qualifying Race #5
11 Third finisher in Qualifying Race #1
12 Third finisher in Qualifying Race #2
13 Third finisher in Qualifying Race #3
14 Third finisher in Qualifying Race #4
15 Third finisher in Qualifying Race #5
16 Fourth finisher in Qualifying Race #1
17 Fourth finisher in Qualifying Race #2
18 Fourth finisher in Qualifying Race #3
19 Fourth finisher in Qualifying Race #4
20 Fourth finisher in Qualifying Race #5
21 Fifth finisher in Qualifying Race #1
22 Fifth finisher in Qualifying Race #2
23 Fifth finisher in Qualifying Race #3
24 Fifth finisher in Qualifying Race #4
25 Fifth finisher in Qualifying Race #5
26 Top finisher in Last Chance
27 Second finisher in Last Chance
28 Owner points
29 Owner points
30 Owner points
31 Owner points
32 Past series champ/owner points

DALE JR.: RECOVERY IS GOING TO TAKE 'A LOT OF PATIENCE'

RELATED: Latest updates, timeline on Dale Jr.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. said problems with balance and nausea prevented him from driving in Sunday's New Hampshire 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, and he is encouraged by concussion test results that match his baseline test.

Earnhardt Jr. spoke for about three minutes in "The Dale Jr. Download" on his weekly audio update on Dirty Mo Radio, providing his first comments on his condition since Hendrick Motorsports announced Thursday that he would miss the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at New Hampshire race for concussion-like symptoms.

"The symptoms that I have are balance and nausea," Earnhardt Jr. said in the episode recorded Sunday night. "I've struggled with my balance over the last 4-5 days, and I definitely wouldn't be able to drive a race car this weekend. Making the right decision really was out of the question; I made the decision I had to make."

Earnhardt Jr. said he was encouraged by the results of concussion tests he took, however.

"My mind feels real sharp," Earnhardt Jr. said. "I took the ImPACT tests, which measures thought process and the speed of your thought process, and memory and retaining memory, and my results matched my baseline -- which made me feel confident that my brain was pretty sharp. It feels good."

RELATED: O'Donnell outlines what Junior has to do to return

Earnhardt Jr. repeated that there remains no timeline for his return to the No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. If he cannot race this weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Jeff Gordon already has been tapped to be his replacement. Alex Bowman replaced Earnhardt Jr. in the New Hampshire 301 and finished 26th.

"I'm going to continue to work with my doctors to understand more about the injury and how to treat it," Earnhardt Jr. said. "They can give me a lot of exercises that will retrain my brain to handle what I need to handle. It's just going to take a lot of patience. I put my health and quality of life as a top priority. I'll always do that. I'm going to take this slow and strictly follow the advice of my doctors and try to learn as much as I can to be smarter and wiser."

RELATED: Ives discusses possibility of Gordon in the No. 88

Earnhardt Jr. also praised the performance of Bowman in filling in for him in New Hampshire, and thanked fans and fellow drivers for the supportive messages he's received.

"It's always been a real experience going through this kind of stuff because you learn so much through the experience," he said. "I've got some great doctors to learn from. I miss everybody. I really appreciate all the support I've got. It's really unnecessary, but it really does make me feel good, I have to be honest. To hear everybody wishing me well really does my heart good. This kind of thing can beat you down and get you sad, but I've got a lot of good people around me and a lot of people supporting me."

The full audio recording can be found here.

NASCAR TV SCHEDULE: JULY 18-24

RELATED: Find NBCSN in your area

All times ET
Monday, July 18
3 a.m., NASCAR Victory Lane (re-air), FS1
3:30 a.m., Continental SportsCar Challenge: Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (re-air), FS1
2:30 p.m., NASCAR 120, NBCSN
5 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FS1
5 p.m., NASCAR America, NBCSN

Tuesday, July 19
7 a.m., NASCAR America (re-air), NBCSN
9:30 a.m., Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge: Canadian Tire (re-air), FS1
5 p.m., NASCAR Race Hub, FS1
6 p.m., NASCAR America, NBCSN

Wednesday, July 20
7 a.m., Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge: Canadian Tire (re-air), FS1
3 p.m., NASCAR Masters of the Clock: The Legend of Martinsville (re-air), FS1
4 p.m., A Perfect Storm: The 1979 Daytona 500 (re-air), FS1
5 p.m., NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Keystone Light Pole Qualifying, FS1
5:30 p.m., NASCAR The List (re-air), NBCSN
6 p.m., NASCAR America, NBCSN
7 p.m., NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Heat Races, FS1
8:30 p.m., NASCAR Camping World Truck Series SetUp, FS1
9 p.m., NASCAR Camping World Truck Series #Eldora, FS1

Thursday, July 21
7:30 a.m., NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Keystone Light Pole Qualifying (re-air), FS1
8:30 a.m., NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Heat Races (re-air), FS1
10 a.m., NASCAR Camping World Truck Series #Eldora (re-air), FS1
3:30 p.m., NASCAR Camping World Truck Series #Eldora (re-air), FS1
5 p.m., NASCAR RaceHub, FS1
6 p.m., NASCAR America, NBCSN
7 p.m., NASCAR Whelen Series: All-Star Shootout, New Hampshire (taped), NBCSN
11 p.m., NASCAR K&N Pro Series Race: New Hampshire (taped), NBCSN

Friday, July 22
Midnight, Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge: Canadian Tire (re-air), FS1
Noon, NASCAR XFINITY Series practice, NBCSN
1:30 p.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series practice, NBCSN
3 p.m., NASCAR XFINITY Series final practice, NBCSN
4 p.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series final practice, NBCSN
5:30 p.m., NASCAR America, NBCSN

Saturday, July 23
11:40 a.m., NASCAR XFINITY Coors Light Pole Qualifying, NBCSN
1 p.m., NASCAR America, NBCSN
1:30 p.m. NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coors Light Pole Qualifying, NBCSN
3 p.m., NASCAR XFINITY Series Countdown, NBCSN
3:30 p.m., NASCAR XFINITY Series Lilly Diabetes 250, NBCSN
6 p.m., NASCAR XFINITY Series Post-Race Show, NBCSN

Sunday, July 24
Midnight, WeatherTech SportsCar Championship: Lime Rock Park (taped), FS1
1 p.m., NASCAR RaceDay, FS1
2 p.m., WeatherTech SportsCar Championship: Lime Rock Park (re-air), FS1
2 p.m., NASCAR America Sunday, NBCSN
2:30 p.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Countdown, NBCSN
3 p.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Crown Royal Presents The 'Your Hero's Name Here' at The Brickyard, NBCSN
6:30 p.m., NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Post-Race Show, NBCSN
7 p.m., NASCAR Victory Lap, NBCSN
10:30 p.m., NASCAR Victory Lane, FS1

RACE-WINNING NO. 20 FAILS POST-RACE INSPECTION

RELATED: Kenseth's late charge nets New Hampshire win   The Joe Gibbs Racing No. 20 Toyota of race winner Matt Kenseth failed post-race inspection Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.   The car did not meet compliance in the laser inspection station (LIS) after Sunday's New Hampshire 301. The car will face further scrutiny this week at the NASCAR Research & Development Center in Concord, North Carolina.   The Stewart-Haas Racing No. 14 Chevrolet for race runner-up Tony Stewart passed the LIS platform post-race and will also be taken to the NASCAR R&D Center for further evaluation.   The cars for the remaining top-five finishers -- Joey Logano (third), Kevin Harvick (fourth) and Greg Biffle (fifth) -- plus the random selection of seventh-finisher Ryan Newman were all cleared in post-race inspection at the 1.058-mile track.

MATT KENSETH SURGES LATE FOR NEW HAMPSHIRE WIN

Matt Kenseth came on strong late to get by Martin Truex Jr. and later Denny Hamlin for the win in Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series New Hampshire 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. The driver of the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota also had to survive a rash of cautions late to secure the victory.Kenseth took the lead for first time at Lap 258, passing Truex for the first position. Kenseth then passed his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Hamlin on Lap 271 to take the lead back to stay after Hamlin stayed out under a Lap 264 caution while nearly the rest of the field pitted.The win is Kenseth's second of the season, third at New Hampshire and the 38th of his Sprint Cup career. All of Kenseth's wins at the 1.058-mile track have come in his four years at JGR.Tony Stewart scored the runner-up spot. This was his second straight top-five finish and fourth top-10 result in the past five races. Joey Logano took third. Kevin Harvick and Greg Biffle, finished fourth and fifth, respectively. The fifth-place finish was Biffle's best of the season and his third straight top 10.Kyle Busch and Truex dominated the first two-thirds-plus of the race. Busch led a race-high 133 laps but came home eighth. However, he along with Carl Edwards secured their spots in the top 30 in the point standings and thus locked in their Chase spots. Truex guided his No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Toyota to lead 123 laps but suffered a broken shifter and had clutch issues late in the race. He wound up 16th.Alex Bowman placed 26th as the interim driver in the No. 88 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. Bowman was making his first Sprint Cup start since last season's finale at Homestead, serving as a substitute with Dale Earnhardt Jr. sidelined by concussion-like symptoms.Bowman suffered a blown tire that brought out a caution on Lap 273. Before that, he spent much of the race in the top 15 with some time spent in the top 10 as well.The Sprint Cup Series will be back in action next weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Crown Royal Presents the Combat Wounded Coalition 400 at the Brickyard (Sunday, July 24, 3 p.m. ET, NBCSN, IMS Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).This story will be updated.

HENDRICK ON DALE JR.: 'WE WANT HIM FOR A LONG TIME'

RELATED: Support for Dale Jr.

Team owner Rick Hendrick said he is hopeful for a full recovery and long-lasting return to competition for driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. as he recovers from concussion-like symptoms.

Earnhardt, driver of the Hendrick Motorsports No. 88 Chevrolet since 2008, is sitting out Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

"He and I talked about years beyond next year, around I guess Daytona," Hendrick said before the start of Sunday's New Hampshire 301 (1:30 p.m. ET, NBCSN, PRN, SiriusXM). "If there was something major, major wrong I think they would have seen it already.

"I'm very hopeful and he's very hopeful and I think the doctors want to err on the side of being sure. We want him for a long time. He loves the fans, he loves the sport, he loves to race and we love him in the organization. I'm proud of him."

This story will be updated.

READ MORE: Bowman keeps missing Junior's calls