Harvick takes Southern 500 after leaders Elliott, Truex bump
Harvick didnt dominate the Southern 500 in his series-best eighth victory of the season. The leaders got tangled up there and the next thing you know we were racing for the win, Harvick said. PLAYOFF PUSHAlmiorola is now squarely on the bubble ranked 12th among the 16 drivers after the first playoff race. BLANEY PENALTYBlaney's title chances took a hit just hours before the first playoff race began. UP NEXTThe second playoff race is at Richmond Raceway on Saturday night.
Playoffs begin with 14 drivers chasing Harvick and Hamlin
Kevin Harvick and Denny Hamlin are expected to race head-to-head for the NASCAR Cup title when the 10-week playoff series begin Sunday at Darlington Raceway. That theoretically leaves the 14 other drivers racing for just two spots in the winner-take-all race. Busch joins his older brother, Kurt, Aric Almirola, Clint Bowyer and DiBenedetto as drivers without a win as the playoffs begin. Logano won twice in the first four weeks of the season, while Elliott scored his two wins after racing resumed. Others have been labeled dark horses, but Truex has very quietly made himself a strong challenger to Harvick and Hamlin.
NASCAR drivers cautious of COVID-19 as playoffs begin
CHARLOTTE, N.C. NASCAR has decided it will not grant COVID-19 relief during the playoffs, meaning a positive coronavirus test will end a driver's championship bid. The playoffs begin Sunday at Darlington Raceway in South Carolina without a safety net for the 16 participants during the pandemic. Jimmie Johnson and Austin Dillon both missed one race during the season following a positive COVID-19 test and earned zero points. NASCAR made no changes for the 10-race playoff series, so missing a race would would effectively end a driver's championship chances. Johnson was not suffering symptoms but was tested after his wife received a positive test; Dillon was experiencing mild symptoms.
NASCAR bans Confederate flag from its races and properties
FILE - In this Sept. 5, 2015, file photo, a Confederate flag flies in the infield before a NASCAR Xfinity auto race at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, S.C. Bubba Wallace, the only African-American driver in the top tier of NASCAR, calls for a ban on the Confederate flag in the sport that is deeply rooted in the South. (AP Photo/Terry Renna, File)NASCAR has banned the Confederate flag from its races and properties. NASCAR says Wednesday the Confederate flag runs contrary to our commitment to providing a welcoming and inclusive environment for all fans, our competitors and our industry.Bubba Wallace, NASCAR's lone black driver, called this week for the banishment of the Confederate flag and said there was no place for them in the sport. Former chairman Brian France in 2015 tried to ban the flying of Confederate flags at race tracks, a proposal too broad to enforce and one that angered NASCARs core Southern-based fan base. Wallace was set to drive a Chevrolet with a #BlackLivesMatter paint scheme.
NASCAR all alone on motorsports biggest day of racing
The most celebrated day in motorsports has been whittled down to the third course, 600 miles around Charlotte Motor Speedway in NASCAR's longest race of the year. What began as the World 600 in 1959 became the nightcap to a spectacular day of automobile racing treasured annually by fans. It means NASCAR is alone in the spotlight Sunday night, just as NASCAR has been for the last week. Were right there and James is doing an awesome job.BUSCH VS. ELLIOTTChase Elliott flipped Busch the bird after Busch wrecked Elliott racing for the win Wednesday night. Busch went on to finish second in a 1-2 with Hamlin for Joe Gibbs Racing; Elliott was 38th.
Networks have strong showing during busy sports weekend
(AP Photo/Jenna Fryer)Fans who had been starving for live sporting events had their appetites somewhat sated last weekend. Network executives knew the first weekend with multiple live events would draw good numbers but for the most part they exceeded expectations. It is also only the second weekend this season that Bundesliga matches were viewed by over 100,000 fans on Fox Sports 1. Fox's strong weekend continued with the NASCAR race at Darlington, South Carolina, averaging 6.32 million. Tirico anchored the golf coverage from his home in Michigan, while Mike Joy and Jeff Gordon called the NASCAR race from Charlotte.
Benched: Michigan-native Brad Keselowski on 13 weeks at home, NASCARs return
Rochester Hills-native NASCAR driver Brad Keselowski says hes been filling up his time away from racing. There are a lot of different protocols, Keselowski said. Keselowski says the experience will be different pre- and post-race, but if these protocols are necessary for NASCAR to return then hes all for it. Its not great circumstances, but (it will) definitely be a moment in history.Sundays race at Darlington is called the Real Heroes 400. MORE: Top NASCAR drivers to honor two Henry Ford nurses during Cup Series race
Top NASCAR drivers to honor two Henry Ford nurses during Cup Series race
Two Henry Ford Health nurses will be publicly honored at the upcoming NASCAR race amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Symons, from Livonia, is an ICU nurse at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. Her name will be displayed just above the drivers door handle of NASCAR driver and Rochester Hills native Brad Keselowskis car. Palmer, from Walled Lake, is an emergency department nurse at Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital. MORE: NASCAR picks up at tricky Darlington after 10-week hiatusNASCARs upcoming racing schedule can be found here.