It looked like this was a race that had Denny Hamlin written all over it. He signed a nice extension with Joe Gibbs Racing, he started on the front row, won both Stages and he led 177 laps. I mean, you could just write this one early and go to bed, right?
Nope.
It was a must win for many drivers Saturday night at Daytona as the hunt to make the NASCAR Cup playoffs entered its final race. A lot of potential scenarios were in play for a number of drivers. But in the end, a driver already in the playoffs won and ended the playoff hopes for the rest.
William Byron didn’t lead all the laps at Watkins Glen but he sure led the most. In a simply dominating fashion, Byron schooled the field with this performance.
On a day that saw RFK teammates leading a combined 190 laps, Chris Buescher kept the field at bay as he won at Richmond and solidified his playoff hopes. Teammate and owner Brad Keselowski showed what strength the team had by leading a race high 102 laps and winning Stage 2.
William Byron won the rain-shortened Atlanta race for his series leading fourth win of the year. Byron was leading the field when the caution for rain flew and with the race past the halfway point, it was a legit finish when the rain made its way to the track.
STAMFORD, Conn. – July 6, 2023 – The NASCAR Cup Series races at Atlanta Motor Speedway this Sunday in primetime at 7 p.m. ET on USA Network, with Countdown to Green pre-race coverage beginning at 6:30 p.m. ET. Immediately following the conclusion of the Quaker State 400 Available at Walmart, post-race coverage will be presented at 10:30 p.m. ET on USA Network and Peacock. (more…)
For the first time ever, the sights, sounds and speed of NASCAR are coming to the streets of downtown Chicago on July 1-2, 2023. One of the most iconic cities in the world, Chicago will add another chapter to its illustrious sports history when the NASCAR Cup Series debuts against the backdrop of Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline in the Grant Park 220 on Sunday, July 2 at 5:30 p.m. ET on NBC, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
After soaking up the only off weekend of the season, the competitors in the NASCAR Cup Series prepare for one of the schedule’s most unique tracks in Nashville Superspeedway with this Sunday’s Ally 400 at 7 p.m. ET on NBC, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90). The D-shaped, concrete oval that stretches 1.33-miles, is the longest concrete surface track on the 2023 schedule and will have drivers and team dancing to find the perfect set-up in their cars for this weekend.
Martin Truex, Jr. returned to form at Sonoma showing off his road course skills by leading 51 of the 110 laps. MTJ was in the Top 10 in both early stages and was obviously set up for the long green flag runs that occurred.
Busch’s bid for a third title seems more and more likely
For the first time since 2010-2011, the Richard Childress Racing organization has put up back-to-back seasons (2022-2023) of at least three NASCAR Cup Series wins. Over the last two years, the one common denominator in the RCR Victory Lane celebrations has been crew chief Randall Burnett, who has led Tyler Reddick to three wins in 2022, and now has led veteran Kyle Busch to three wins this season.
