Cup – Page 3 – Inside Circle Track

NASCAR Features Archive by category "Cup" (Page 3)

Kyle Larson’s Coca-Cola 600 goal is clear

Everyone who watches the NASCAR Cup Series on a regular basis has seen the statistics. Kyle Larson wins sometimes, but he finishes second more often. Indeed, the Elk Grove, CA native is currently on a streak of three consecutive runner-up results and has finished in that spot a total of four times in the first fourteen races of the 2021 season. Perhaps more frustrating to Larson and his fans is that he has seemingly had the car to beat multiple times this year in which he ultimately did not come away as the victor. Away from the NASCAR Cup Series…

Chad Knaus a bit surprised by Hendrick Motorsports revival

Any discussion of the greatest crew chiefs in NASCAR history must include the name Chad Knaus. The pit boss is best known as the leader of the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports team that piled up race wins and championships with driver Jimmie Johnson. Now, however, the 49-year-old from Rockford, Ill. has a new role with the organization at which he has spent most of his career in racing. After a stint in which he served as crew chief for young William Byron, Knaus stepped down from the pit box late in 2020 to assume the role of vice president of…

William Byron and Rudy Fugle clicking on all cylinders for HMS

If a follower of the NASCAR Cup Series had been told coming into the 2021 season that after twelve races there would be a driver who was working on a string of ten consecutive top-10 finishes several names probably would have come up before arriving at William Byron as the choice. However, that is exactly the case for the 23-year-old driver of the famed No. 24 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports as the Charlotte native has collected one win as a part of those top-10 results which have him ranked third in the overall standings. Compared to the first twelve races…

Kyle Larson hoping to capitalize on recent strong runs with Dover win

Kyle Larson has scored one win so far in 2021 but it feels as if the Hendrick Motorsports driver should have more victories considering that he has been in contention on multiple occasions. The Elk Grove, CA native did wheel the No. 5 Chevrolet into victory lane at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway but came up short in other events after looking like a potential winner. Larson led 269 laps at the Atlanta Motor Speedway before being tracked down by Ryan Blaney late in the going and ultimately finishing second. He ran at the front of the field for 132…

Ben Beshore adapting to the pressure of being Kyle Busch’s crew chief

Being selected to serve as a crew chief for one of NASCAR’s top organizations would no doubt be a dream come true for many aspiring team members. But at the same time, there is immense pressure that comes along with that role. And more, being named as the pit boss for one of the biggest stars in the sport’s history adds even more to the weight of the assignment. That is the position Ben Beshore has found himself in since being named as the team leader for the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 18 Toyota. Heading up any of the crews…

Matt DiBenedetto remaining focused and not stressing over 2022 status

Some NASCAR Cup Series drivers are uncertain as to whether or not they will be returning to their current rides in 2022. However, Matt DiBenedetto does not find himself in that situation as he knows he will not return to the seat he now occupies. At the same, however, the 29-year-old racer does not know exactly where he will be next season. DiBenedetto is currently the driver of the famed No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford, which has an alliance with powerful Team Penske Racing. But at the end of this campaign, the Grass Valley, CA native will yield that…

Christopher Bell seeking more consistency as season progresses

Christopher Bell came to the NASCAR Cup Series with as much fanfare as any rookie driver in recent memory. However, the 2020 season spent in the Leavine Family Racing Toyota did not pan as many had thought it would. The driver who had amassed 16 career wins in the NASCAR Xfinity Series during the early part of his career was only able to manage a 20th place result in the final standings in the No. 95 car with no wins and only seven top-10 finishes. But for his second full season at the NASCAR Cup Series level, the 26-year-old racer…

Mike Marlar explains the challenges and fulfillment of racing in NASCAR

For the second time in his career, Mike Marlar parlayed his racing skills into a NASCAR opportunity on dirt. The Winfield, TN native scored a top-5 finish in the Eldora Dirt Derby at Ohio’s Eldora Speedway back in 2019 driving a Camping World Truck Series entry for Josh Reaume. Two weekends ago, the 43-year-old driver not only competed in the NCWTS event at the Bristol Motor Speedway but also made his first start in the NASCAR Cup Series main event on his home state track. Marlar has also made one NASCAR start on pavement when he took the green flag…

Kyle Larson wowed by first trip to Tazewell Speedway

Most people are quite amazed when they see the Tazewell Speedway for the first time. The third-mile dirt track which features incredibly steep banking has long been loved by fans for its high speed excitement. At the same, some competitors also love the facility referred to as ‘The Bad Fast Taz’ while others who race there have a very different opinion of the clay oval. Count NASCAR Cup Series star Kyle Larson among those who loves racing on the track located in the upper northeastern corner of Tennessee. The Elk Grove, CA driver made his first trip to Tazewell on…

Larson, Busch offer thoughts on Bristol’s racing surface

With the NASCAR Cup Series race on the dirt covered Bristol Motor Speedway fast approaching, one of the major concerns will be how the racing surface will hold up with heavy machines that have not raced on dirt in decades ripping around it for 250 laps. To prepare for the Food City Dirt Race, several NASCAR drivers entered last week’s Karl Kustoms Bristol Dirt Nationals to get a feel for the half-mile speedway. Among those drivers were Kyle Larson and Kyle Busch. On Friday night, Larson set the fast time in qualifying then went on to win his heat race…