Inside Circle Track

Michael McDowell’s victory increases NASCAR Playoffs pressure

Any NASCAR Cup Series team will tell you that it’s never too early to start thinking about making the NASCAR Playoffs. For that matter, doing so becomes the primary focus in race shops throughout North Carolina almost immediately after the previous season ends. So this year coming out of the season-opening Daytona 500, an extra bit of pressure has been added to the mix for those teams who typically consider themselves to be in the hunt for a championship. Joe Gibbs Racing, Hendrick Motorsports, Stewart-Haas Racing, Team Penske, Richard Childress Racing, and Chip Ganassi Racing all placed at least one…

Daytona 500 Race Day Live Updates

During today’s race I will be offering a ‘Live Updates’ sort of blog presentation on this page that will feature updates of the significant moments within the Daytona 500, driver quotes from those moments, scanner chatter, and running orders throughout the day as well as the final finishing order. These updates will be in addition to posts from @RichardAllenIDR & @ICTwebsite on Twitter. Scroll through the page regularly as information will be added frequently. The 63rd annual Daytona 500 will be aired live on Fox with ‘NASCAR Race Day’ beginning at 1:00pm(eastern). Actual race coverage begins at 2:30pm. Engines will…

Despite ARCA disappointment, Derek Griffith garners second World Series of Asphalt crown

Derek Griffith may not live in Florida but he has certainly made himself right at home over the last two winters in the Sunshine State. For the second consecutive year, the Hudson, NH native earned the World Series of Asphalt championship in the David Rogers Super Late Model division at New Smyrna Speedway. The 24-year-old driver won three of the seven feature races contested over the course of the nine-day racing event. While Griffith’s 9th place result in the Orange Blossom 100 finale at the track located not far from the Daytona International Speedway was his worst effort of the…

Stephen Nasse claims World Series of Asphalt finale at New Smyrna

The World Series of Asphalt wound to its conclusion on Saturday evening after nine nights of racing action. The David Rogers Super Late Model division took center stage on this final night at New Smyrna Speedway to contest the Orange Blossom 100. In the end, it was Pinellas Park, FL driver Stephen Nasse who would claim his first ever win in this event and his eighth overall career triumph in SLM competition at the World Series. It was Nasse’s second win of the weekend after having taken the Pro Late Model feature at New Smyrna on Friday night. Derek Griffith…

The Daytona Duels have outlived their original purpose

To be clear, having racing to watch is far better than not having racing to watch. That said, however, the Daytona Duel races traditionally held on the Thursday prior to the Daytona 500 and used to set the starting lineup for the ‘Great American Race’ don’t hold the significance they were originally intended to hold. So in terms of being an important part of the SpeedWeeks program, these races have really outlived their original purpose. Years ago, the top-14 or top-15 finishers(depending on the finishing position of the two drivers who earned front row starting positions in time-trials) in each…

Busch Clash finish proves that friendship means little on the last lap

All’s fair in love and war … and on the last lap of a season opening NASCAR Cup Series exhibition race. On top of that, friendships don’t matter when it come to going for a win with big money and no points on the line. Good buddies Ryan Blaney and Chase Elliott were running first and second on the 35th and final lap of the Busch Clash at the Daytona International Speedway road course on Tuesday evening. As the two cars entered the final chicane with the checkered flag in sight, the second running Hendrick Motorsports car of Elliott closed…

Sammy Smith claims Sunday World Series SLM win at New Smyrna

While the Super Bowl was going on across the state, the 55th annual World Series of Asphalt was taking place at the New Smyrna Speedway. The Super Late Model division staged third feature on Sunday night with Sammy Smith coming away from the Florida track as the winner in a race shown live by NBC TrackPass. It was the Des Moines, Iowa driver’s first victory since joining the Donnie Wilson Racing team to drive cars produced by Rowdy Manufacturing after having driven for Kyle Busch Motorsports previously. Jesse Love was fastest in Super Late Model qualifying with a lap of…

Tyler Reddick would consider owning a Dirt Late Model team … but not yet

Racers love to race. Even though someone in that profession might have reached the highest of levels does not meant they have forgotten those others forms of racing that helped push them to the top. And for one current NASCAR driver, there is at least some degree of interest in reconnecting with one of the types of racing that proved to be a stepping stone in his career. Tyler Reddick’s rise through the racing ranks has been a rapid one. And along the way, the Corning, CA native has accomplished a number remarkable feats. Some of those achievements came at…

Derek Griffith dominates on night 2 of World Series at New Smyrna

For the second of what is scheduled to be nine nights in the 55th annual World Series of Asphalt the David Rogers Super Late Model division took to the half-mile New Smyrna Speedway. At the end of the evening, it was defending WSoA champion Derek Griffith who claimed the win in a caution free race shown live by NBC TrackPass. The New Hampshire native followed up a podium finish from Friday night with a dominating win on Saturday. Rain showers washed out qualifying so the starting lineup was set based on the previous night’s finish with an invert of the…

Ryan Moore takes first Super Late Model feature of World Series at New Smyrna

The 55th annual World Series of Asphalt got underway on Friday night at Florida’s New Smyrna Speedway. The David Rogers Super Late Model division took to the historic track for the first time in this year’s version of SpeedWeeks in a race shown live by NBC TrackPass. After an intense and sometimes chaotic evening of racing, it was former World Series champion Ryan Moore who scored the win and earned early bragging rights among his competitors. Jett Noland was fastest in Super Late Model qualifying with a lap of 17.581 seconds around the half-mile paved oval. That effort topped Jacob…