By Jared Turner Just when it seemed that Martin Truex Jr. might be slightly vulnerable in his pursuit of his first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series championship, the Furniture Row Racing driver threw cold water on any such notion with a convincing victory in the Bank of America 500. His berth in the Round of 8 now 100 percent secure, Truex can take the next two weekends and simply focus on piling up even more playoffs points for the next round — which he’s already poised to begin with a substantial lead, thanks to his numerous race wins and stage wins this…

By Jared Turner Kyle Busch started Sunday’s race red hot, thanks to wins in two of the past three weeks. He finished Sunday red hot, too — literally. After smacking the wall multiple times and struggling throughout, a 29th-place finish proved to be the least of Busch’s concerns when, immediately after the race, he laid down on the ground and had to be treated for a heat stroke. Thankfully, the Joe Gibbs Racing driver turned out to be OK. “After I first tore it up, it was just a handful from there,” Busch said of his damaged car. “Literally as soon as…

By Jared Turner Even though Dale Earnhardt Jr. has finished relatively well the past two races when comparing them to most of 2017, NASCAR’s 14-time most popular driver is none too pleased about missing the playoffs in his last season of full-time racing. Asked at Charlotte Motor Speedway if missing the playoffs actually enabled him to enjoy the season’s stretch run more than he otherwise might, Earnhardt Jr. was quick to squash the suggestion. “I think that the fans would be having more fun if we were racing for the championship, and then I would be having more fun interacting with them…

By Jared Turner Since moving to NASCAR’s top series and taking over the iconic No. 24 Chevrolet of Hendrick Motorsports at the beginning of 2016, young Chase Elliott has yet to win a race. But the second-generation driver has sure proven he knows how to finish second. Elliott made it six runner-up finishes on the season and eight for his Monster Energy Series career by coming home the bridesmaid once again as Martin Truex Jr. took the checkered flag in Sunday’s Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. “It’s frustrating to run like this,” said Elliott, who proved no match for…