Ryan Preece finds Victory Lane at Iowa in pressure-packed performance

July 29, 2017 By Rob Gray NASCAR Wire Service NEWTON, Iowa — Ryan Preece’s short-lived, but ambitious 2017 NASCAR XFINITY Series schedule began three weeks ago at his de facto home track, New Hampshire Motor Speedway. It ended Saturday in the U.S. Cellular 250 at Iowa Speedway — as confetti swirled and soared to highlight his first career series triumph in Victory Lane. Preece, held off a hard-charging Kyle Benjamin in a green-white checkered finish that came after the third restart in the race’s final 17 pulse-quickening laps. “I thought this race would never end, that’s for sure,” an emotional Preece told…

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XFINITY rookie William Byron holds off Paul Menard in Brickyard debut

July 22, 2017 By Reid Spencer NASCAR Wire Service SPEEDWAY, Ind. – With a new competition package that produced a race-record 16 lead changes and the closest NASCAR XFINITY Series finish at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, William Byron threw more blocks than an NFL fullback in holding off charging Paul Menard to win Saturday’s Lilly Diabetes 250. Byron made the decisive pass for the lead on Lap 85, surging past JR Motorsports teammate Elliott Sadler into the top spot. Menard gained two spots, from fourth to second over a six-circuit stretch from Laps 90 to 96 but couldn’t overtake Byron, who blocked each…

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Backup to the Top: Hamlin Wins Overton’s 301 in Secondary Car

by New Hampshire Motor Speedway LOUDON, N.H. – Denny Hamlin exited Turn 4 during Friday’s first practice session and slid down the frontstretch before crashing into the interior wall. On Sunday, Hamlin’s final exit out of Turn 4 went a whole lot better. With two of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series’ hottest drivers – Kyle Larson and Martin Truex Jr. – on his heels, Hamlin was able to take his backup car to Sunoco Victory Lane at New Hampshire Motor Speedway after winning the Overton’s 301. It was the third-career victory at NHMS for Hamlin, whose last win here came in…

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Kyle Busch wins, and Ryan Preece impresses at New Hampshire

July 15, 2017 By Reid Spencer NASCAR Wire Service LOUDON, N.H. – Kyle Busch’s celebratory burnout produced a cloud of smoke over the frontstretch at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, but Ryan Preece’s first run in top-of-the-line equipment made an even bigger impression in Saturday’s Overton’s 200 NASCAR XFINITY Series race. After a major snafu on pit road took a potential win away from Brad Keselowski, who had arguably the fastest car at the Magic Mile, Busch cruised to a 10.425-second victory, collecting his third win in six starts this season, his sixth at NHMS and the 89th of his career, extending his…

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Martin Truex Jr. survives overtime restart on old tires to win at Kentucky

July 8, 2017 By Reid Spencer NASCAR Wire Service SPARTA, Ky. – After all was said and done, the dominant car won the race – but not without extreme complications. With just over a lap to go in Saturday night’s Quaker State 400 at Kentucky Speedway, Martin Truex Jr. held a lead of more than 15 seconds over second-place Kyle Larson, with only eight cars remaining on the lead lap. But before Truex could take the white flag signaling the final lap, the engine in Kurt Busch’s Ford expired, dumping oil on the 1.5-mile track. Under the caution, only Truex stayed out,…

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Kyle Busch outruns charging Ryan Blaney for 88th XFINITY win

July 8, 2017 By Reid Spencer NASCAR Wire Service SPARTA, Ky. – As Kyle Busch spun his No. 18 Toyota wildly during his celebratory burnout at Kentucky Speedway, the right rear tire exploded with an audible pop after it hit the drain below the apron. It was an astute call by crew chief Eric Phillips that enabled Busch’s tires to survive long enough to win Saturday afternoon’s rain-delayed Alsco 300 NASCAR XFINITY Series race at the 1.5-mile track. In effect, Phillips was the architect of Busch’s second victory this season, his fourth at Kentucky and the 88th of his career, extending his…

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