New Kentucky-Specific Rules Package To Debut This Weekend; Four More Track-Specific Packages Scheduled

A new aerodynamic rules package designed to lower downforce will be implemented by NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams at Kentucky this weekend.

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series

Next Race: Quaker State 400 presented by Advance Auto Parts

The Place: Kentucky Speedway

The Date: Saturday, July 11

The Time: 7:30 p.m. (ET)

TV: NBC Sports Network, 7 p.m. (ET)

Radio: PRN, SiriusXM Ch. 90

Distance: 400.5 miles (267 laps)

 

NASCAR XFINITY Series

Next Race: NASCAR XFINITY July Kentucky Race

The Place: Kentucky Speedway

The Date: Friday, July 10

The Time: 7:30 p.m. (ET)

TV: NBC Sports Network, 7 p.m. (ET)

Radio: PRN, SiriusXM Ch. 90

Distance: 300 miles (200 laps)

 

NASCAR Camping World Truck Series

Next Race: UNOH 225

The Place: Kentucky Speedway

The Date: Thursday, July 9

The Time: 7:30 p.m. (ET)

TV: FOX Sports 1, 7:30 p.m. (ET)

Radio: MRN, SiriusXM Ch. 90

Distance: 225 miles (150 laps)

 

NASCAR SPRINT CUP SERIES

 

New Kentucky-Specific Rules Package To Debut This Weekend; Four More Track-Specific Packages Scheduled

 

A new aerodynamic rules package designed to lower downforce will be implemented by NASCAR Sprint Cup Series teams at Kentucky this weekend.

 

The new aerodynamic package calls for teams to use a 3.5-inch spoiler, instead of a 6-inch one. It also features a radiator pan reduction from 38 inches to 25 inches. The splitter will have 1.75 inches less overhang than what was used in the first 17 races this season.

 

On Tuesday, NASCAR Executive President and Chief Racing Development Officer Steve O’Donnell announced the sanctioning body has updated track-specific rules packages for four upcoming races - Indianapolis, Michigan, Darlington and Richmond.

 

"I think all of this shows that we remain committed to putting the best racing on in the world." O’Donnell said. "And each of these, including Kentucky this weekend, I think shows everybody that we've got several components that make up a rules package each week, and they can certainly be adjusted, and we will do that if we can do something that we believe will improve the racing for the fans at each track."

 

The Missing Link: Gordon Gears Up For Last Chance To Complete Sweep Of Tracks

 

Jeff Gordon has won at 22 of the 23 tracks on the current NASCAR Sprint Cup Series circuit – all except Kentucky. It remains the lone hole in his incredible career. In fact, he’s won at 24 different tracks, with victories at Rockingham and North Wilkesboro as well, both of which are no longer on the schedule. Claiming wins at every NASCAR track in which one has competed is unprecedented. Gordon can become the first by visiting Victory Lane in Saturday’s Quaker State 400 presented by Advance Auto Parts (7:30 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network). He may not have a win, but is one of four drivers who have scored a top 10 in every race the 1.5-mile oval that has hosted since 2011.

 

Keselowski Cruises At Kentucky

 

The University of Kentucky basketball team rarely loses in the Bluegrass State.

 

Neither does Brad Keselowski.

 

Keselowski’s two victories are the most at Kentucky Speedway, which will host its fifth-ever NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on Saturday. The No. 2 Ford driver is also the defending race-winner. He took the checkered flag from the pole at Kentucky last season, leading 199 laps in the process.

 

A win at Auto Club Speedway in March locked up a spot for Keselowski in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. Since then, it’s been a mostly up-and-down campaign. Currently seventh in the driver points standings, Keselowski will look to use Kentucky as a springboard to a second series championship.

 

Rated R For Restricted: Dale Earnhardt Jr. Continues Restrictor-Plate Dominance

 

Dale Earnhardt Jr. won his 10th career restrictor-plate race on Monday morning at Daytona International Speedway to join Jeff Gordon (12) and his father NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt (11) as the third driver with double-digit plate wins.

 

Both of Earnhardt’s wins this season have come at restrictor-plate tracks. The No. 88 Chevrolet driver ranks tied for second in victories with defending NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Kevin Harvick and 2004 champion Kurt Busch.

 

Earnhardt is currently third on the Chase Grid, the same position as his highest career finish (2003).

 

Danica Patrick Makes 100th Start

 

Danica Patrick will make her 100th career NASCAR Sprint Cup Series start in Saturday’s Quaker State 400 presented by Advance Auto Parts at Kentucky Speedway, becoming the first female to reach the milestone.

 

Patrick’s six top-10 finishes are the most all-time among female drivers. She is also the only female driver to earn a NSCS Coors Light Pole Award (2013 Daytona 500).

 

On the season, Patrick ranks 20th in the driver points standings.

 

The No. 10 Stewart-Haas Racing driver is one of 16 female drivers who have competed in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

 

Busch Continues Quest For Chase Berth

 

Following the birth of his son in May, Kyle Busch is looking forward to another "berth" this year.

 

A berth in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.

 

Busch secured his win at Sonoma and now has to make his way into the top 30 of the point standings at the conclusion of the September race at Richmond.

 

Currently, Busch ranks 37th in the driver points standings, 128 points behind Cole Whitt for 30th with nine races left. On Sunday, Busch battled from two laps down to finish 18th at Daytona. If the 30th position continues on its current pace, Busch will need to average a finish of 13th over the next nine regular season races to earn a top 30 spot.

 

A race at Kentucky could help Busch’s Chase chances, as he boasts more top-five finishes at the 1.5-mile track than any other driver (three). He won the inaugural race there in 2011.

 

Chase Watch

 

Nine races remain until the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup.

 

Chances for spots in NASCAR’s playoffs are dwindling, and a number of big names are still looking for their first win of 2015, including Kasey Kahne, Jeff Gordon, Ryan Newman, Aric Almirola, Greg Biffle and AJ Allmendinger, all of whom made last year’s Chase.

 

This weekend, Kevin Harvick can clinch a top 30 spot. That, combined with his multiple wins which guarantees him to be among the top 16 winners, will officially clinch a spot in the Chase, assuming he starts the remaining races in the regular season. With a 48-point victory, Dale Earnhardt Jr. could also clinch, but would need lots of help to clinch a top 30 spot.

 

Here’s a look at the current Chase Grid:

 

The top 10 are virtually locked in with a win.

 

1. Jimmie Johnson 2. Kevin Harvick 3. Dale Earnhardt Jr. 4. Kurt Busch 5. Joey Logano 6. Martin Truex Jr. 7. Brad Keselowski 8. Matt Kenseth 9. Denny Hamlin 10. Carl Edwards 11. Jamie McMurray (+85) 12. Jeff Gordon (+59) 13. Kasey Kahne (+55) 14. Paul Menard (+39) 15. Ryan Newman (+31) 16. Clint Bowyer (+24)

 

On the outside looking in are Aric Almirola (-24), Kyle Larson (-70) and Greg Biffle (-73).

 

History Lesson: Corbin, The Home of KFC … And Petty Dominance

 

Long before Kentucky Speedway, there was Corbin Speedway.

 

Corbin, a small town 150 miles south of Sparta (home of Kentucky Speedway), is best known as the home of Colonel Harlan Sanders and the birthplace of his Kentucky Fried Chicken.  Not as well known is the fact that it hosted Kentucky’s only NASCAR Sprint Cup race in the series’ first 60 years.

 

Like most tracks of its day, Corbin Speedway was a half-mile dirt track. The NASCAR Grand National race in 1954 was a 100-miler, same as most races on the schedule that season.

 

NASCAR Hall of Famer Lee Petty was chasing his first NASCAR championship, after finishing runner-up in 1949 and 1953.  He entered the race in first place, leading fellow Hall of Famers Buck Baker and Herb Thomas.

 

Petty emerged victorious – his sixth win of the season – and all but wrapped up his first championship. He left Corbin 534 points ahead of Baker with just seven races remaining.  He finished the season with seven wins, a career-high at the time, and a feat he matched two other times – in his two other championship seasons (’58, ’59).

 

While Petty, the sport’s Most Popular Driver at the time, was the fan favorite, there was also a local hero in the field. Corbin-native Bub King finished 18th in the race, his final of 35 career NASCAR starts.

 

NASCAR XFINITY SERIES

 

Buescher Has Firm Grasp Of Series’ Standings Lead

 

Sparks flew and tempers flared and in the end, NASCAR XFINITY Series standings leader Chris Buescher grew his points lead over second-place Chase Elliot (-34) and third-place Ty Dillon (-43) after Daytona.

 

Buescher’s restrictor-plate game is on point; in his three starts this season he has posted an average finish of 6.3. But his excellence isn't only reserved for superspeedways -- in his 15 total starts this season Buescher has posted two wins (Iowa and Chicago), eight top fives and 10 top 10s.

 

NASCAR’s Season-To-Date Loop Data details Buescher’s 2015 success. Among series championship contenders he is ranked second in Driver Rating (99.6) and second in Average Running Position (9.5). 

 

Buescher has made two starts at Kentucky posting a best finish of seventh last fall.

 

Elliott Leaps To Second With Standings Lead In Sight

 

Last season’s NASCAR XFINITY Series champion, Chase Elliott, has climbed from 20th in the series points to second in the last 14 races of the season. 

 

His ascent is thanks in larage part to a series leading 12 top 10s and an average finish of 9.3.

 

Season-to-date Loop Data has him ranked first among championship contenders in Driver Rating (100.5) and fifth in Average Running Position (9.7).

 

Elliott has made two starts at Kentucky posting one top five and an average finish of 8.0.

 

Going, Going Gaughan! RCR Driver Returns To Kentucky To Win

 

Richard Childress Racing’s Brendan Gaughan returns this weekend to Kentucky Speedway looking to make consecutive trips to Victory Lane in the Blue Grass State. 

 

Gaughan won the fall race at Kentucky last season, one of two victories the 39-year-old veteran posted in 2015.

 

This season the RCR driver comes to Kentucky looking for his first win of the season. Gaughan sits ninth in the series standings having posted two top fives and seven top 10s. However, Gaughan’s Achilles heel this season has been DNFs – he is tied with teammate Brian Scott (three each) for the most DNFs among drivers in the top 10 in the standings.

 

This weekend could be the one Gaughan breaks through; Kentucky statistically is his best track in the series. In five starts at Kentucky Speedway he has posted one win (2014), four top fives, five top 10s and an average finish of 3.6. 

 

Sunoco Rookie Update: Suarez Closes Wallace’s Points Lead To Four

 

For the third consecutive week Daniel Suarez has closed the points gap on Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings leader Darrell Wallace Jr., bringing the difference to a mere four points as the series heads to Kentucky for the 16th race of the season.

 

Wallace suffered his first DNF of the season at Daytona last weekend, opening the door for Suarez who finished 15th.

 

Suarez’s consistency has played a part in his success this season. In 15 starts he has posted one top five, five top 10s and an average finish of 15.3.

 

"Overall, there are still a lot of things to learn and improve on so we need to keep working hard," Suarez said. "We’ve been fast all year, we’ve run up front, and we just got our first pole. All those things help us gain more confidence as we head into every race weekend."

 

Both Wallace and Suarez will be making their series debuts at Kentucky.

 

JR Motorsports Rolls into the Bluegrass State

 

JR Motorsports is hoping to rekindle its magic in the Bluegrass State this weekend at Kentucky Speedway. 

 

Kevin Harvick won the NASCAR XFINITY Series summer race last year for JRM, but is not entered in this weekend’s event, leaving Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chase Elliott and Regan Smith to defend his title.

 

With two wins in 15 races this season – compared to five wins at this point last season – Kentucky Speedway may be the spot where JRM pads the win total.

 

Level Up: Big Names Highlight Kentucky Entry List

 

Some of the sport’s biggest NASCAR Sprint Cup stars will be joining the NASCAR XFINITY Series this weekend in the Kentucky 300 on the NBCSN at 7:30 p.m. ET. Below is the list of NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers and their pre-race stats heading into this weekend:

 

Dale Earnhardt Jr. will be in the JR Motorsports No. 88 Chevrolet this weekend. Earnhardt has made three starts this season, posting one top five, two top 10s and an average finish of 8.3. This will be the two-time series champ’s NXS debut at Kentucky Speedway. Though, he does have four starts in the NSCS at Kentucky with a best finish of fourth (2012).   

 

Kyle Busch will be back in the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 54 Toyota this weekend. Busch has made two starts this season posting one win and an average finish of 13.5. Busch has made seven series starts at Kentucky posting one win (2004), five top five and an average finish of 8.1. 

 

Brad Keselowski returns to the Team Penske No. 22 Ford this weekend. Keselowski has made three starts this season posting two top fives, three top 10s and an average finish of 5.0. Keselowski has made seven starts at Kentucky posting two wins (2011, 2013), six top fives, seven top 10s and an average finish of 3.0 – his third-best series career track.

 

Paul Menard will be jumping into the red hot Richard Childress Racing No. 33 Chevrolet that is coming off a big win with Austin Dillon in Daytona last weekend. Menard has made two starts this season posting one top five and an average finish of 12.0. Menard has made five starts at Kentucky posting two top fives, three top 10s and an average finish of 12.8.

 

XFINITY Series Owners’ Title Still Up For Grabs

 

At one point this season, it looked like Team Penske's No. 22 just might run away with the NASCAR XFINITY Series owners’ title. Now, on the heels of a Daytona win by the Richard Childress Racing No. 33, that might not be the case.

 

Team Penske’s No. 22 still holds serve in the owner’s standings, 29 points ahead of Roush Fenway Racing’s No. 60 and 39 points ahead of RCR’s No. 33. All three teams have been quite impressive; all three have season-to-date average finishes inside the top 10 – No. 22 team (6.4), No. 60 team (7.4) and No. 33 team (8.0).

 

Paul Menard will strap into the RCR No. 33 Chevrolet this weekend looking to make it back-to-back wins for the organization. This will be Menard’s third start of the season. Though he has yet to win at Kentucky in his five previous starts, he does have three top 10s.

 

Series driver standings leader Chris Buescher will be in the No. 60 for Roush Fenway Racing Ford this weekend. Buescher is looking to win a unified owner and driver championship this season, for the first time since 2009 when Kyle Busch did it with his No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota. Buescher has an average finish of 12.8 at Kentucky Speedway.

 

Team Penske has tapped Brad Keselowski to take the wheel at Kentucky, a track at which he has posted two wins and an average finish of 3.0 in seven starts.

 

NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES

 

Bluegrass State Welcomes New Winner

 

On tap for Friday’s UNOH 225 at Kentucky Speedway is a guaranteed new winner in Victory Lane as no currently active driver has taken a checkered flag in the Bluegrass State. Among the top contenders at Kentucky are series wins leader Matt Crafton, as well as the drivers from Kyle Busch Motorsports. Crafton has won three of the four races on 1.5-mile tracks this season, while KBM has celebrated in Victory Lane twice at Kentucky, including last year following Kyle Busch’s triumph.

 

Matt Crafton - Intermediate Track Man Of Mystery

 

At intermediate tracks, Matt Crafton is "groovy," baby. 

 

After defending his title at Texas Motor Speedway in April, Crafton and his No. 88 team extended their consecutive top-10 finish streak on 1.5-mile tracks to 12 top-10 finishes in 12 starts beginning at Kansas Speedway in 2014.  Included are four wins captured at Texas-1 (2014, 15), Atlanta (2015) and Kansas (2015). The only driver other than Crafton to win at a 1.5-mile track this season was Kasey Kahne at Charlotte.

 

Jones Readies To Stir Up Winning Kentucky Recipe

 

Erik Jones will try to make the rest of the field Kentucky Fried Chicken as he goes for his second straight NASCAR Camping World Truck Series victory in Thursday’s UNOH 225 at Kentucky Speedway (7:30 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1).

 

The 19-year-old NASCAR Next alum won the last NCWTS race at Iowa in June, leading 112 of 200 laps on his way to Victory Lane.

 

Jones continues to dominate the NCWTS loop data statistics. He ranks first in average start (2.3), average running position (3.6), percentage of quality passes (93.1%), fastest laps (402), laps led (592) and driver rating (127.4).

 

Ray Black Jr. Dives Into Kentucky

 

Move over Scuba Steve, Scuba Ray is in the house.

 

Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender Ray Black Jr. may have taken last week off in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series, but he was busy with his other job as a supervisor in the commercial diving business. A fully-licensed deep-sea diver, Black gave media an intro to scuba diving lesson at the Deep Water Training Center in Ocala, Florida. With high waters behind him, Black next sets his sights on Kentucky where he’ll make his first start at the 1.5-mile track.

 

Essay Contest Winners To Serve As Honorary Pit Crew Members, Get Guidance From Gallagher

 

High school students will see the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series up close and in person on Wednesday, July 8 and Thursday, July 9 as winners of Kentucky Speedway’s S.T.E.M. ESSAY Contest will become honorary pit crew members on select NCWTS teams. In an effort to expose students to technology, science and engineering principles in NASCAR, teams will integrate each student into their race crew during technical inspections and on race day.

 

Sunoco Rookie of the Year contender Spencer Gallagher is one of the drivers set to host students with his No. 23 GMS Racing team. And he has plenty of insight to offer. Prior to his NASCAR career, Gallagher worked in Silicon Valley as a software tester for a network syncing company and now serves as the impromptu IT department at the race shop.

Official Nascar Release

Nota: Crafton wins shortened Kentucky truck race after damage to catchfence

Photo: Getty Images for Nascar