Motor Racing | Journal Gazette

Ganassi foursome endures trying day

Gary Graves — Tue, 21 May 2013 03:00:00 EST

Once again, Chip Ganassi Racing will start the Indianapolis 500 packed close together.

Americans lead 9 2nd-day qualifiers

Michael Marot — Mon, 20 May 2013 03:00:00 EST

Bump Day at Indianapolis followed the script.

Johnson keeps winning and shrugging off haters

Jenna Fryer — Mon, 20 May 2013 03:00:00 EST

It's only fitting that Jimmie Johnson's latest romp through the record books was shrouded in post-race controversy.

Carpenter's pole win has family feel

Michael Marot — Sun, 19 May 2013 03:00:00 EST

Ed Carpenter turned Pole Day into a family celebration. The stepson of IndyCar founder Tony George became the first member of the Hulman family to win the biggest pre-race event in the series - the Indianapolis 500 pole.

Charlotte special for Earnhardt Jr.

Associated Press — Sun, 19 May 2013 03:00:00 EST

At the height of his father's success at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Dale Earnhardt Jr. would sit in the Turn 1 condos overlooking the track.

Will Power grabs early lead in race for Indy pole

GARY GRAVES — Sat, 18 May 2013 19:18:40 EST

INDIANAPOLIS Ed Carpenter knew he was capable of another fast run, and it earned him the pole for the Indianapolis 500.

Jimmie Johnson races to record 4th All-Star win

JENNA FRYER — Sat, 18 May 2013 23:55:26 EST

CONCORD, N.C. Jimmie Johnson became the first four-time winner of

De Silvestro finds groove

Ben Smith — Sat, 18 May 2013 03:00:00 EST

She knew she was in the club the day her new teammate started leaving her gifts. This particular day, it was grease. Smeared it all over the door handle of Simona de Silvestro's car, Tony Kanaan did. Yet another prank from the acknowledged king.

Tracks raising money to help injured driver

Ben Smith — Sat, 18 May 2013 03:00:00 EST

It started out as heartwarming. It wound up being gut-wrenching.

Edwards on pole for All-Star race

Associated Press — Sat, 18 May 2013 03:00:00 EST

Carl Edwards captured the pole for the Sprint All-Star race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, paying tribute to the late Dick Trickle along the way. Edwards, the 2011 winner in the exhibition event, completed three laps and a four-tire pit stop Friday night in 1 minute, 51.297 seconds.

Sheriff: Ex-NASCAR driver Dick Trickle dead at 71

STEVE REED — Fri, 17 May 2013 06:34:19 EST

There is that lasting image of Dick Trickle in the Winston 500 lighting up a cigarette while driving his stock car with his knees during a caution lap.

Fewer seats, not fewer fans, at Indianapolis 500

Associated Press — Thu, 16 May 2013 15:01:33 EST

INDIANAPOLIS – The Indianapolis 500 this year will have its smallest seating capacity since 2000, but don’t expect to find fewer fans on race day.

Autopsy planned after NASCAR fan's body found

Associated Press — Wed, 15 May 2013 08:30:44 EST

Sheriff's officials say they plan an autopsy on the body of a NASCAR fan was reported missing from a campground outside the Talladega Superspeedway, but they do not suspect foul play.

Kenseth destroys hurdles for Darlington win

Pete Iacobelli — Mon, 13 May 2013 03:00:00 EST

Matt Kenseth has rarely been more pleased in victory than he was this weekend at Darlington Raceway. Maybe that's because of what he overcame to achieve the win.

Kenseth captures flag with late pass of teammate

Pete Iacobelli — Sun, 12 May 2013 03:00:00 EST

Matt Kenseth passed his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Kyle Busch with 13 laps to go to win his first Southern 500 on Saturday night.

Piece of history at every turn

Ben Smith — Sat, 11 May 2013 03:00:00 EST

Fifty years along now, and still Moose Myers remembers the price of fame: Twenty dollars.

Kenseth passes Busch for 1st Darlington victory

PETE IACOBELLI — Sat, 11 May 2013 22:52:00 EST

DARLINGTON, S.C. Matt Kenseth passed his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Kyle Busch with 13 laps to go to win his first Southern 500 on Saturday night.

50-year-old track getting spruced up

Ben Smith — Sat, 11 May 2013 03:00:00 EST

The door to the press box stands open this fine spring day, and out of it wafts the heady scent of fresh plywood. Stick your head inside, and there are new windows and surfaces everywhere awaiting paint, the scent of starting-anew growing ever stronger.

Regulars at track like family to each other

Ben Smith — Sat, 11 May 2013 03:00:00 EST

Skinny sun-weathered guy named Ron Gruss. That's who this place is about.

Kurt Busch turns record lap for pole

Pete Iacobelli — Sat, 11 May 2013 03:00:00 EST

Kurt Busch ended up on top at Darlington Raceway a week after finishing upside-down at Talladega. Five days ago, Busch went airborne near the end of the Aaron's 499 and crash landed on Ryan Newman.

Teams, drivers eager for Indy

Michael Marot — Sat, 11 May 2013 03:00:00 EST

The Indianapolis 500 is getting its mojo back.

Outspoken Newman might pay up again

Jenna Fryer — Tue, 07 May 2013 03:00:00 EST

Ryan Newman had to open his checkbook the last time he spoke out at Talladega.

Ragan wins with push on final laps

JENNA FRYER — Mon, 06 May 2013 03:00:00 EST

A pair of Davids slayed the Goliaths at Talladega Superspeedway.

Daring Hinchcliffe wins at Sao Paulo

TALES AZZONI — Mon, 06 May 2013 03:00:00 EST

On the final turn of the final lap, James Hinchcliffe finally saw an opening - and made sure he squeezed into it.

Edwards gets pole thanks to rainout

Jenna Fryer — Sun, 05 May 2013 03:00:00 EST

Steady rain Saturday washed out qualifying at Talladega Superspeedway, where the field was set by practice speeds.

Hunter-Reay captures pole

Tales Azzoni — Sun, 05 May 2013 03:00:00 EST

American Ryan Hunter-Reay set a track record Saturday to win the pole position for IndyCar's Sao Paulo 300. The defending IndyCar Series champion had a lap of 1 minute, 20.430 seconds at the Anhembi street track, 0.307 ahead of Venezuelan EJ Viso and 0.461 in front of Scotland's Dario Franchitti.

Hamlin back in car, coy about race plans

Jenna Fryer — Sat, 04 May 2013 03:00:00 EST

Denny Hamlin ran 16 laps at full speed Friday, turned his car over to Brian Vickers and then didn't exactly rule himself out of running a full race this weekend as he recovers from a back injury.

IndyCar leader faces test in Brazil

Tales Azzoni — Sat, 04 May 2013 03:00:00 EST

Helio Castroneves can't count on home advantage against rival teammate Will Power at the Sao Paulo 300 on Sunday.

Board upholds Penske penalties

Jenna Fryer — Thu, 02 May 2013 03:00:00 EST

A three-member appeals board upheld NASCAR's sweeping penalties against Penske Racing on Wednesday for a failed inspection last month at Texas and team owner Roger Penske vowed to take the ruling to the series' highest level.

NASCAR test speeds leave drivers in awe

Staff, news services — Wed, 01 May 2013 03:00:00 EST

A new environmentally friendly tire and cool morning temperatures had NASCAR drivers clocking speeds they weren't even sure were possible Tuesday.

Late caution ruins shot at rare win for Montoya

Jenna Fryer — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 03:00:00 EST

It's been a season of bad breaks for Juan Pablo Montoya, so it was only fitting when things again didn't go his way.

NASCAR drivers find paybacks costly

Liz Clarke — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 03:00:00 EST

NASCAR's grass-roots popularity was fueled by the Richard Petty-Bobby Allison feuds of the 1970s and '80s, followed by the showdowns between the menacing Dale Earnhardt Jr. and precocious Jeff Gordon in the 1990s.

Toyota pulls engines for Waltrip's team

Associated Press — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 03:00:00 EST

A parts review by Toyota after Matt Kenseth's penalty led the manufacturer to pull three engines from Michael Waltrip Racing's inventory as a precautionary move.

Harvick wins Richmond after 2-lap overtime sprint

Jenna Fryer — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 23:23:05 EST

RICHMOND, Va. - Kevin Harvick won Saturday night's race at Richmond International Raceway by plowing through traffic on a two-lap sprint to the finish.

Kenseth too strong out of pit at Kansas

Dave Skretta — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 03:00:00 EST

Matt Kenseth knew that he had a front-running car Sunday. It was simply a matter of getting there. So when a caution flag came out with several leaders on pit road, and Kenseth found himself leading the pack into the pits, he had a feeling things were going his way.

Sato posts IndyCar 1st

Jenna Fryer — Mon, 22 Apr 2013 03:00:00 EST

Takuma Sato became the first Japanese driver to win an IndyCar race on Sunday in the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach.

Sato 1st Japanese driver to win an IndyCar race

JENNA FRYER — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 20:16:52 EST

LONG BEACH, Calif. Takuma Sato became the first Japanese driver to win an IndyCar race on Sunday in the Toyota Grand Prix of

Carlos Munoz wins Long Beach for 2nd win of year

Associated Press — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 18:40:19 EST

LONG BEACH, Calif. Carlos Munoz won the crash-filled Indy Lights race at

Kenseth holds off Kahne to win at Kansas Speedway

Dave Skretta — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 16:42:12 EST

KANSAS CITY, Kan. – Matt Kenseth captured his second straight race at Kansas Speedway on Sunday, holding off Kasey Kahne to become the third straight Sprint Cup driver to win from the pole.

Keselowski learning his lesson

Dave Skretta — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 03:00:00 EST

Jeff Gordon learned his lesson over time. So did Jimmie Johnson and Matt Kenseth.

Franchitti beats buzzer for pole

Jenna Fryer — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 03:00:00 EST

Dario Franchitti arrived at Long Beach last in the IndyCar standings and off to the worst start of his career. Despite the deep hole he found himself in, the four-time IndyCar champion insisted he wasn't worried about finding a way back to the top.

Kenseth captures rare pole

Dave Skretta — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 03:00:00 EST

Matt Kenseth did his best Friday to erase his reputation as a poor qualifier. Kenseth rolled to the pole for Sunday's race at Kansas Speedway, setting a track qualifying record of 191.864 mph in cold, windy conditions to bump Carl Edwards out of the top spot and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. into the second row.

Briscoe has line on big IndyCar year

Associated Press — Sat, 20 Apr 2013 03:00:00 EST

Out of a ride at the start of the year, Ryan Briscoe is in position to pull off a prestigious sweep.

Penske team under microscope

JENNA FRYER — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 03:00:00 EST

If garage gossip is to be believed, somebody dropped a dime on NASCAR champion Brad Keselowski and his Penske Racing team at Texas Motor Speedway.

NASCAR draws '12 champ's ire

STEPHEN HAWKINS — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 03:00:00 EST

Brad Keselowski had plenty of good things to say about his team for all it overcame for another top-10 finish.

Texas ideal spot for Biffle to jump-start season

Stephen Hawkins — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 03:00:00 EST

Greg Biffle was looking forward to a do-over on a 1 1/2 -mile track in the new Sprint Cup car.

Kyle Busch gets NASCAR weekend sweep at Texas

STEPHEN HAWKINS — Sat, 13 Apr 2013 23:28:47 EST

FORT WORTH, Texas Kyle Busch took advantage of a late caution to regain the lead and held on for the final 16 laps after the last restart Saturday night to win the Sprint Cup race at Texas, completing a NASCAR weekend sweep.

Busch brothers take top spots in Texas

Stephen Hawkins — Sat, 13 Apr 2013 03:00:00 EST

Move over, brother. The Busch brothers will start on the front row for the second time in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series after younger brother Kyle set a Texas qualifying record with a lap of 196.299 mph Friday night. That knocked Kurt off the pole, but not off the front row for tonight's race.

Martinsville victory old hat for Johnson

HANK KURZ Jr. — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 03:00:00 EST

Jimmie Johnson dominated Martinsville Speedway again. Johnson led a career-best 346 laps Sunday and pulled away on a restart with eight laps to go for his eighth career victory at Martinsville Speedway on Sunday.