Just Sayin’: Kyle Busch Plays the Villain Role Well

By Jared Turner Fans love to loathe Kyle Busch. This was never more evident than on Saturday at Bristol, where boos rained down on the 2015 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series champion after his victory in the Bass Pro Shops / NRA Night Race. The victory capped an amazing four-day stretch for Busch, who won the NASCAR XFINITY Series race a night earlier after going to Victory Lane in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race two nights before that. When Busch parked his No. 18 Toyota at the start/finish line and emerged from his car with arms raised in celebration after…

Comments Off on Just Sayin’: Kyle Busch Plays the Villain Role Well

Perfect Lines: Forgette Keeps RPM’s Fords Sleek

By Ben White Joey Forgette, body template specialist for Richard Petty Motorsports and driver Aric Almirola, was introduced to stock car racing as a child through his father’s job at a local short track. “To be honest, I wasn’t real big into it while I was growing up,” Forgette said. “My Dad and I used to go to a local short track close to my hometown in Norway, Mich. It was a small quarter-mile paved track. He would drive the wrecker for races there and for work and stuff.” Forgette started his career with Key Motorsports and PPC Racing, as well as…

Comments Off on Perfect Lines: Forgette Keeps RPM’s Fords Sleek

Aric Almirola Counts His Blessings After Scare

By Joseph Wolkin It’s been a few weeks since Aric Almirola stepped back into his racecar. The driver of the No. 43 Ford for Richard Petty Motorsports is not only thankful for his ride, but grateful to be alive after a scary incident at Kansas Speedway. How much of a relief is it to get back into the car and not feel pain? “It’s a huge relief. When you break a bone or have an injury of the sort of nature that takes you out of your day-to-day routine, that’s a struggle in of itself. But when it takes away from your…

Comments Off on Aric Almirola Counts His Blessings After Scare

Five to Watch at Bristol

By Jared Turner Kyle Busch is a five-time Bristol winner, but the Joe Gibbs Racing driver has not prevailed in Thunder Valley since 2011. Like younger brother Kyle, Kurt Busch is a five-time winner at Bristol. However, also like Kyle, it’s been a long time since Kurt won here. Bristol has historically not been one of Jimmie Johnson’s best tracks, but you wouldn’t have known it from his win at Thunder Valley back in April. Kevin Harvick is the defending winner of the Bristol night race, having prevailed at the World’s Fastest Half-Mile last August. Fresh off a thrilling victory at Michigan,…

Comments Off on Five to Watch at Bristol

Bristol Preview: Drivers on the Bubble Will Be Aggressive

By Jared Turner Few if any NASCAR events are more of an institution than the annual fall night race at Bristol Motor Speedway, a place where the old idiom “rubbing’s racing” is more of a reality than just a cool catchphrase. Bristol night races through the years have taken some pretty bizarre twists and turns, with aggression being generally accepted if not expected. Want to go for broke? Well, Bristol — a .533-mile high-banked oval — is just the place to do it, especially if you’re one of the drivers still needing a win to earn a spot in the Monster Energy…

Comments Off on Bristol Preview: Drivers on the Bubble Will Be Aggressive

Michigan Lesson No. 1: Kyle Larson Is Part of an Elite Michigan Club

By Jared Turner With his victory on Sunday at Michigan International Speedway, Kyle Larson joined NASCAR legends David Pearson and Bill Elliott as the only drivers to ever win three consecutive races at MIS. Both Pearson and Elliott are in the NASCAR Hall of Fame, so to be counted a winner of three consecutive races at Michigan is a pretty elite club. “That's some awesome company, for sure,” Larson said. Unlike in his two previous Michigan triumphs, Larson did not have the best car this time around. But, buoyed by a tremendous final restart with two laps to go, Larson was out…

Comments Off on Michigan Lesson No. 1: Kyle Larson Is Part of an Elite Michigan Club