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NASCAR adds Gordon to Chase field
JOLIET, Ill. - Jeff Gordon was added to the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship Friday when NASCAR chairman Brian France used his power to make an unprecedented expansion to the field after two separate investigations into radio chatter revealed numerous instances of race manipulation. France determined Gordon did not have a fair chance to race his way into the 12-driver field last Saturday night at Richmond because of the actions of at least three organizations over the closing laps at Richmond. The four-time NASCAR champion was bumped from eligibility by Joey Logano, who unknowingly received assistance from two Michael Waltrip Racing drivers trying to aid their teammate.
Logano defends his spot in NASCAR's Chase
CHICAGO — Joey Logano defended his place in the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship Thursday, rattling off his season statistics as proof he earned his spot in the 12-driver field regardless of any help he may have received in the deciding race. And make no mistake, Logano said: If anybody helped him at Richmond, he had no clue. The latest driver caught in the fallout of NASCAR’s investigation into Saturday night’s race, Logano learned Wednesday that radio traffic appeared to show Front Row Racing’s crew chief and spotter talking about David Gilliland giving Logano a pivotal spot on the track in exchange for something unidentified from Penske Racing. There’s nothing in Penske radio transmissions to indicate wrongdoing, but NASCAR said Thursday it is still looking into the incident. “That is new stuff to me. Obviously there is no transcript on our radio of anything said about it [and] obviously I would have known about it if that was the case,” Logano said. Logano wondered if a discussion on top of the spotter stand would have been a big deal even if it did occur. “That is stuff that happens week in and week out with spotters.
NASCAR driver Kasey Kahne stops in Roanoke
After he drove his stock car through downtown Roanoke on Wednesday and parked at Market Square, NASCAR driver Kasey Kahne climbed onto a podium and took a few prepared, not-so-difficult questions from fans. Did his pet dog get along with other drivers? (Yes.) What’s his favorite NFL team? (Seattle Seahawks.) What does he typically eat before a race? (A turkey sandwich.) It was lighthearted and fun, all part of a
Driver Clint Bowyer apologizes, does not admit guilt
CONCORD, N.C. — Clint Bowyer feels awful for costing Ryan Newman a win, though his apology for spinning at Richmond is not an admission of guilt. Ryan Newman also feels terrible. Only his sympathy is for Martin Truex Jr., the unwitting participant in a botched race-fixing attempt by Michael Waltrip Racing that has put two friends in an awkward position and spoiled the start of NASCAR’s championship race. “I feel
Sports mailbag: Readers question NASCAR's integrity
Clint Bowyer’s intentional spin, leading to the final race-changing caution flag at Richmond, was blatant cheating. Unlike stretching the rule book to gain a mechanical advantage in a race, Bowyer’s action was a clear and unmistakable attempt to influence the championship in NASCAR’s premier series. This is arguably NASCAR’s equivalent of the “Black Sox Scandal,” in which the Chicago White Sox intentionally lost the 1919 World Series to the Cincinnati
NASCAR penalizes MWR, Newman replaces Truex in Sprint Cup Chase
CONCORD, N.C. — While Clint Bowyer's spin got all the attention at Richmond, a few questions from a puzzled Brian Vickers and the promise of a post-race kiss led to one hefty punishment from NASCAR. Ryan Newman replaced Martin Truex Jr. in the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship on Monday night when NASCAR penalized Michael Waltrip Racing for manipulating the outcome of last weekend's race. MWR was fined $300,000,
NASCAR looks into Bowyer spin at Richmond
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — With one suspicious snap of the steering wheel, Clint Bowyer changed the outcome of a race and maybe the championship, too. Accidental or intentional, his spin in the closing laps at Richmond International Raceway set in motion a chain of events that has shrouded the start of the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship and raised many questions about the potential for a race team to manipulate
Edwards wins NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Richmond; Keselowski misses Chase
RICHMOND - NASCAR will have a new champion. For now, it has yet another conspiracy. Reigning champion Brad Keselowski failed to make the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship Saturday night when an ill-timed caution ruined his run at Richmond International Raceway. Same thing happened to Ryan Newman, who used a pass on eventual winner Carl Edwards with 10 laps to go to take the lead for what should have
NASCAR driver Gordon wins Richmond pole, chases more than Sprint Cup titles
In 21 full seasons as a driver on NASCAR's top circuit, Jeff Gordon has taken more left turns than he can count. When you've raced as long as Gordon, when you've accomplished all he has, you reach a point where you need to make a right turn. Success in NASCAR competition has brought Gordon fame and wealth. He has four championships, is one of the greatest drivers in history and
Keselowski wins Nationwide race on restarts in Richmond
RICHMOND - Brad Keselowski passed Brian Scott on a restart with 11 laps to go Friday night and pulled away after another restart with six laps remaining to win the NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Richmond. Keselowski has five victories and a runner-up finish in his last six series starts. Scott, seeking his first victory in 134 starts in the series, led the first 239 laps before Keselowski made the
Connection nets success for Kenseth, Ratcliff
Communication between NASCAR drivers and their teams is vital for success, so when Jason Ratcliff this season became Matt Kenseth’s third crew chief in the past four years, Ratcliff knew how important quickly building a strong relationship with Kenseth would be. But there was a problem. “He sometimes speaks so fast that I have to say, ‘Whoa, whoa, whoa. Slow down,’ ” Ratcliff said. “ ‘I’m hearing but I can’t
Driver Jeff Burton parts with Richard Childress Racing
One of the most optimistic drivers on the NASCAR Sprint Cup circuit had his upbeat attitude put to an extreme test Wednesday. Jeff Burton, driver of the No. 31 Caterpillar Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing since 2005, announced he will not return to RCR for the 2014 season. Burton, 46, spun the news as a mutual decision, but the longer he talked, the more it became apparent Childress wants to
Tony Stewart expects to attend Richmond
KANNAPOLIS, N.C. — Tony Stewart, upbeat and noticeably thinner, won his first race since breaking his leg in a sprint car accident when he beat an employee around the office at Stewart-Haas Racing in his wheelchair. His injury? The three-time NASCAR champion called it “a small bump in the road” and expects to be back in a race car in time for next year’s Daytona 500. How much extracurricular racing
Chase is on for final 5 spots in NASCAR Sprint Cup championship
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — And then there were five. Five spots, that is, still up for grabs in the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship. Among those jockeying for one of the coveted berths is Martin Truex Jr., who gamely finished third Sunday night at Atlanta while driving with a broken right wrist. Truex had to drive through the field from 18th after an unscheduled pit stop with just more than
Dudley sweeps late model stocks at Franklin County Speedway
CALLAWAY -- Kyle Dudley swept the Late Model Stocks twin features on Sunday at Franklin County Speedway -- his fourth and fifth wins of the season -- and extended his lead in the points standings. Johnny Cash was second in the first race. In the second race, Dudley battled throughout the race with Jason Lawrence, who was racing in his first asphalt track event since he was suspended indefinitely by
Kyle Busch wins NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Atlanta
HAMPTON, Ga. - With a big hand from his pit crew, Kyle Busch locked up his spot in the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship with his fourth victory of the year Sunday night at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Busch emerged with the lead after a rapid-fire series of caution flags near the end, and he held off hard-charging Joey Logano to win by 0.740 seconds. "My boys on pit road,"
Earnhardt Jr. feeling confident with 2 races to go before NASCAR's Sprint Cup Chase
HAMPTON, Ga. — For drivers such as Dale Earnhardt Jr., patience is definitely a virtue at this point in the season. Then again, there’s a sense of urgency with the Chase for the Sprint Cup championship just two races away. Only three drivers are assured of being in the 12-car playoff — five-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, Clint Bowyer and Matt Kenseth — but the outlook could be a lot
NASCAR notes: Allmendinger back on track
HAMPTON, Ga. - Less than 14 months after a devastating blow to his career, AJ Allmendinger reclaimed a full-time ride in the Sprint Cup series. JTG Daugherty Racing announced Saturday that Allmendinger will take over the No. 47 car from Bobby Labonte next season, capping his comeback from a positive drug test in July 2012 that resulted in a NASCAR suspension and losing his job with Roger Penske's Sprint Cup
Racing’s version of musical chairs leaves someone out
HAMPTON, Ga. - When the music stops, everyone hopes to have a seat. A seat behind the wheel of a stock car, that is. NASCAR is going through its own version of musical chairs at the moment, with several big-name drivers moving to new rides or scrambling to land a spot in the 2014 Sprint Cup field. This week, former Cup champion Kurt Busch completed his move to Stewart-Haas Racing
Pulliam, McCaskill to race Friday at Radford
The road to NASCAR’s Whelen All-American Series crown runs through Radford’s Motor Mile Speedway tonight. On a night that could go a long way toward deciding the national title, all eyes will be focused on a pair of North Carolina drivers who currently are 1-2 in the standings heading into the New River Bank Twin 125s. Defending national champion Lee Pulliam, of Semora, N.C., leads Raleigh’s Deac McCaskill by 26
Goodyear's ‘zone tread' to debut for NASCAR races this weekend
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The common denominator among all NASCAR drivers is that they all want more grip from their tires. It has been difficult for manufacturer Goodyear to meet the demand at a track like Atlanta Motor Speedway without sacrificing reliability. But Goodyear has taken steps to address both issues with a new "zone tread" technology, which will be used for the first time at this weekend's race in Atlanta.
1. Britney Spears spotted at Lynchburg restaurant
2. Roanoke resource officer's quick action saved young girl
3. One person injured in Friday night shooting in Roanoke
4. East Carolina poses new challenge for Virginia Tech football
5. Captive in Roanoke County describes harrowing time with angry friend
6. Lowe's tapes may hold clues to Roanoke woman's death
7. William Byrd stuns Salem in football win
8. Roanoke County electrical short quiets 5 Wheeler radio stations
9. History says this one will matter for Virginia Tech
10. Concert review: Timeless Willie Nelson plays to appreciative crowd
THE ROANOKE TIMES
