Green Flag: NASCAR extends deal with 23 tracks

NASCAR announced agreements with 23 tracks to field NASCAR Sprint Cup Series races for the next five years. Additionally, 24 tracks will host NASCAR XFINITY Series races through 2020. NASCAR also announced its 2016 schedule for both of these national series. The schedule and actual placement of the dates within each given season's schedule beyond 2016 will be part of the on-going discussions between NASCAR and the tracks. Details are being finalized for the 2016 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series schedule to be announced at a later time. NASCAR will kick off the 2016 season against the new backdrop of a completely…

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Modest Improvement: Danica’s Third Season Was Eventful

By Aaron Burns The statistics don’t show it, but Danica Patrick’s third season in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series was easily her best. Eight races into the campaign, Patrick was in contention for a Chase for the Sprint Cup berth. The 33-year-old native of Roscoe, Ill., had two top-10 finishes, was 13th in points and appeared ready to take the next step toward Victory Lane. But as has often been the case since Patrick left Indy car racing for NASCAR in 2012, things quickly came unglued. Patrick proved her short-track prowess by finishing seventh at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway in March and ninth…

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The 2015 ROARies: ROAR! reflects back on an emotional season

Best driver: Kyle Busch Busch suffered devastating injuries (broken right leg, fractured left foot) in the Xfinity Series season opener at Daytona. While many believed it would take a year or more for him to fully heal, the younger Busch brother became a man on a mission. Just three months and 11 missed races after the worst wreck of his career, he returned to racing, quickly winning four races and qualifying for the Chase. The best medicine of all: winning the biggest race of his life in the season finale, capturing the Sprint Cup championship. Best Moment: Jeff Gordon’s win at Martinsville…

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Big Year for Teenager Byron

By Joseph Wolkin HScott Motorsports with Justin Marks dominated the K&N Pro Series East this season. When the final checkered flag flew on a rainy day at Dover International Speedway in October, it was rookie William Byron who had claimed the championship crown. The 17-year-old racer from Charlotte, North Carolina, emerged as a title contender early in the season, leading all 152 laps at South Carolina’s Greenville-Pickens Speedway en route to his first triumph. As the season continued, Byron’s No. 9 Chevrolet visited the winner’s circle three more times – at Iowa Speedway, Virginia’s Langley Speedway and New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Holding…

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Steckly Claims Fourth Title

By Joseph Wolkin Redemption was certainly sweet for Scott Steckly. The 43-year-old racer from Perth East, Ontario, entered the 2015 season with high hopes after falling short of winning back-to-back titles. He finished fourth in points in 2014, a year after his third NASCAR Canadian Tire Series championship. The 2015 season brought back old memories for Steckly. Holding off Jason Hathaway, who was a title contender for the first time in his ninth season on the tour, Steckly was crowned champion for the fourth time. The title battle was intense entering the finale at Ontario’s Kawartha Speedway as Steckly had a nine-point…

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