Rookie Sensation Elliott Needs Win at Talladega

Photo - Patrick Smith/Getty Images

Photo – Patrick Smith/Getty Images

Positioned last on the Chase Grid, a hefty 25 points below the cutoff line in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, Chase Elliott needs a win in the worst way.

The problem: He’s never visited Victory Lane in a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race.

To advance in his quest for the championship, Elliott virtually must earn his first win in Sunday’s Hellmann’s 500 at Talladega Superspeedway at 2 pm  ET on NBCSN. The Sunoco Rookie of the Year frontrunner finished fifth from the pole at the 2.66-mile behemoth in his lone start there in May. Although Elliott hasn’t won a race, he’s shown he’s a contender every week and had near misses in both Michigan races and at Pocono in June. Continue reading

Fan4Racing NASCAR Weekend Preview of Talladega with Hot Topics Sound Off – Thursday, October 20, 2016

Every Thursday 8:30 to 10:30 pm ET with host Sharon Burton and co-host Aaron Bearden

Every Thursday 8:30 to 10:30 pm ET with host Sharon Burton and co-host Aaron Bearden

Join host Sharon Burton and co-host Aaron Bearden on Fan4Racing NASCAR Weekend Preview8:30 to 10 pm ET for your complete guide for the upcoming racing at Talladega Superspeedway.

We’re previewing the NASCAR Sprint Cup and Camping World Truck Series Chase races at Talladega this weekend. We’ll include audio from Carl Edwards, Kurt Busch and Brad Keselowski about testing at Homestead and racing at Talladega.

During NASCAR Hot Topic Sound Off, we’ll discuss the latest news and hot topics from the Sprint Cup, XFINITY and Camping World Truck Series as well as the K&N Pro Series and ARCA Racing Series.

Call 929-477-1790 or tweet @Fan4RacingSite or @AaronBearden93 with any questions or comments during our LIVE broadcast.

Our show begins at 8:30 pm ET on Thursday, October 20, 2016.

As always…Thanks for listening!

Brad Keselowski Plans to Race for Wins Despite Wicked Kansas Finish

Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Miller Lite Ford, is involved in an on-track incident during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway on October 16, 2016 in Kansas City, Kansas. - Photo - Matt Sullivan/Getty Images

Brad Keselowski, driver of the #2 Miller Lite Ford, is involved in an on-track incident during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway on October 16, 2016 in Kansas City, Kansas. – Photo – Matt Sullivan/Getty Images

Brad Keselowski had a terrible day Sunday afternoon at Kansas Speedway, but the 2012 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion isn’t ready to count himself out of a championship yet.

While running inside the top-ten on lap 189 of Sunday’s Hollywood Casino 400, Keselowski’s No. 2 Miller Lite Ford Fusion drifted up the track and directly in front of fellow Chaser Denny Hamlin, but got loose in the process causing Hamlin to hit him from behind.

The contact sent Keselowski sliding wildly and uncontrollably spinning into the infield grass, where the splitter of his car tore into the sodded grass causing colossal front-end damage to his car. Continue reading

2016 Sprint Cup Series Round of 8 Clinch Scenarios — Talladega

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Clinching for Talladega

Note: Jimmie Johnson and Kevin Harvick have already clinched a spot in the Round of 8. With only one race remaining in this round, a new winner would be a win by Joey Logano, Austin Dillon, Denny Hamlin, Brad Keselowski or Chase Elliott. A win by any other driver would be considered a repeat winner for the clinching requirements (so, Johnson/Harvick, or a non-Chase driver, or a driver ahead of Logano in points).

Matt Kenseth (0 Wins, 3074 Points) – Would clinch on points with 13 Points (28th and no laps led, 29th and led at least one lap, 30th and led most laps) and a new winner. If there is a repeat winner,  would clinch on points with 11 Points (30th and no laps led, 31st and led at least one lap, 32nd and led most laps). With a win,  would clinch a next round spot on wins. Continue reading

Problems at Kansas Put Elliott in Precarious Position Heading to Talladega

Chase Elliott, driver of the #24 SunEnergy1 Chevrolet, talks with a crew member in the garage area during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway on October 14, 2016 in Kansas City, Kansas. Photo - Chris Trotman/Getty Images

Chase Elliott, driver of the #24 SunEnergy1 Chevrolet, talks with a crew member in the garage area during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway on October 14, 2016 in Kansas City, Kansas. Photo – Chris Trotman/Getty Images

In the first race of the Round of 12 last weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Chase Elliott led 103 laps before a wreck on lap 258 ended his day and put the rookie driver three points behind the final transfer spot to the Round of 8 heading to Kansas Speedway.

Elliott qualified 13th for Sunday’s Hollywood Casino 400 and was one of just three Chase drivers that started outside the top-12. Elliott cracked the top-three at lap 121 and passed Kevin Harvick for the lead on lap 169 of the 267-lap race before a left-rear tire issue resulted in an unscheduled pit stop. Elliott would lose a lap and return to the track one lap down in the 24th position.

The Dawsonville, Georgia native would get back on the lead lap under the seventh caution of the race at lap 222 but a second tire issue with 23 laps remaining forced the team to come to pit road for the second unscheduled stop of the afternoon. Continue reading