Connect with us

Motorsports

NASCAR ADVENTHEALTH 400 PREDICTIONS, ODDS & RACE PREVIEW — KANSAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY

Photo By – Imagn Images. NASCAR Cup Series driver Kyle Larson. Kyle Larson opened as a decisive favorite to notch his co-series leading third win of 2025 in the AdventHealth 400 at Kansas Motor Speedway on Sunday, May 11. Is there any beating the NASCAR Cup Series odds favorite this week, and if so, who […]

Published

on


Photo By – Imagn Images. NASCAR Cup Series driver Kyle Larson.

Kyle Larson opened as a decisive favorite to notch his co-series leading third win of 2025 in the AdventHealth 400 at Kansas Motor Speedway on Sunday, May 11.

Is there any beating the NASCAR Cup Series odds favorite this week, and if so, who will take the checkered flag instead? Our free betting picks will sort things out.

Odds to win 2025 AdventHealth 400

Odds as of 5-10.

AdventHealth 400 field

A field of 38 drivers will appear at Kansas Motor Speedway for the AdventHealth 400, with Jesse Love (No. 33 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing) and Corey Heim (No. 67 Toyota for 23XI Racing) joining the 36 chartered competitors.

Kyle Larson opened as the +400 pre-qualifying favorite, far ahead of the four pack of Ryan Blaney, William Byron, Denny Hamlin, and Tyler Reddick at +800 apiece. Last week’s winner, Joey Logano, sits at +1400 in the early wagering.

AdventHealth 400 expert picks and predictions

Odds listed below courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook as of 5-10.

AdventHealth 400 pre-qualifying favorites

Kyle Larson (+400)
Kyle Larson has led an average of nearly 68 laps per race in his last eight Kansas starts. He has two wins (Fall 2021, Spring 2024) to show for it. Still, he has finished eighth or better in all but one race. 

Larson won last year’s spring race for his third consecutive Top-2 finish in the first Kansas visit of the season. He led 61 laps, won the second stage, and finished ninth in the spring Vegas race. On the season, Larson has seven Top-10 finishes in the last eight races, including five Top 5s in the last six. 

William Byron (+800)
He has eight Top-10 finishes in his last 10 starts at Kansas, including a runner-up last fall. William Byron led 24 laps and finished first and fourth, respectively, in the pair of stages that day. 

He led 10 laps and finished fourth this spring in Vegas, netting him six Top-7 finishes in his last seven Vegas starts, too. Byron, the points leader, has three Top-6 finishes in the last four races on the season. 

Christopher Bell (+1100)
Six Top-8 finishes (eighth, fifth, third, 36th, eighth, sixth and seventh) in his last seven Kansas tries and four Top 10 finishes in the last five races overall have Bell as a contender on Sunday. 

He started on the pole and led a race-high 122 of 267 laps last fall. He also finished 12th in Vegas this year. Bell has five Top-10 finishes in his last eight Vegas starts, including a fifth-place run in the 2023 spring race and a runner-up the last two fall races, leading 61 laps in 2023 and 155 last year.

AdventHealth 400 sleepers

23XI Racing
The 45 car swept both races in 2022 via Kurt Busch in the spring and Bubba Wallace (+2200) in the fall. Busch led 116 of 267 laps in that 2022 May race, while Wallace led 58 laps in his fall win. Wallace was also fourth in the 2023 spring race and 17th last spring.  

Tyler Reddick (+800) won in the 45 car in the 2023 fall race and was ninth in the spring race that year, but 20th last year. They finished 17th (Wallace) and 25th (Reddick) last fall, too. In Vegas, they finished 24th (Reddick) and 28th (Wallace) but combined to lead seven times for 54 laps. 

Ross Chastain (+1800)
He won last fall after leading 52 laps and finished fifth in the spring Vegas race for his fifth Top 5 finish in his last seven tries there. Chastain enters Kansas with four Top 7 finishes, including a runner-up last week in the last five races.

Alex Bowman (+2500)
The Hendrick Motorsports driver has 11 Top-11 finishes in his last 12 Kansas tries, including results of ninth, fourth, 10th, seventh and sixth in his last five. Alex Bowman finished seventh in the spring Vegas race. 

Josh Berry (+3000)
Josh Berry finished last in the fall Kansas race, but did win in Vegas this spring and crashed while leading in Texas last week.

Daniel Suarez (+5000)
He finished 27th and 13th in Kansas last year but he’s been strong at Vegas. Daniel Suarez finished 11th and third (led 57 laps), respectively, last year in Vegas and runner-up this spring. Worth a look. 

AdventHealth 400 fades

Ryan Blaney (+800)
He’s hot entering this race with three Top-5 finishes in the last four races. However, Ryan Blaney has one finish better than seventh at Kansas since 2017, and that was a fourth-place result last fall. He does have four Top-10 finishes in that span. He’s finished 16th, 12th, 12th, fourth in his last four Kansas starts and was 35th this spring in Vegas. He has just 10 Top-7 finishes in his last 17 Vegas starts. 

While he was sixth in the 2023 fall race and third last spring, his other four Next Gen finishes are 36th, 28th, 13th, 32nd, and 35th. 

Joey Logano (+1400)
Entering off a Texas win, Logano finished 34th and 14th last year in Kansas and 15th this spring in Vegas. 

Chase Elliott (+1400)
Elliott was seventh and sixth in the pair of Kansas races in 2023, and third and ninth last year, giving him 14 Top-12 finishes in his last 15 Kansas starts. He finished 10th in the spring Vegas event in early March. 

However, his winless streak dates over a year and his best finish is fourth all season. An outright win? Doubtful. A fantasy play is a better option. 

AdventHealth 400 prop pick: Denny Hamlin Top-3 finish

He was fifth here last spring and eighth last fall. Denny Hamlin has eight Top-5 finishes in his last 11 Kansas tries, including three wins and a pair of runner-up results in that span. With this new style of car, his finishes are fourth, second, first, second, fifth, and eighth, respectively.

That’s why, despite finishing 25th in Vegas, he’s a nice prop bet. 

Pick: Denny Hamlin Top-3 finish (+140 at DraftKings)

Popular motor sports futures odds

Kansas Motor Speedway track analysis

Toyota has won seven of the last 11 Kansas races and nine of the last 16.
The manufacturer went 1-3-4-5-6 in the spring race in 2022 (171 of 267 laps led) and 1-2-3-5 in the fall (94 of 267 laps led). They combined to lead 265 of 534 laps (49.6%) for 2022 on this track. In the 2023 spring race, it went 1-4-8-9 and combined to lead 148 of 267 (55.4%). In the playoff race that year, Toyotas led 83 of 268 laps and finished 1-2.

In last year’s spring race, Toyota had two cars in the Top 5, and 78 combined laps led. In the fall, Toyota had two more cars in the Top 5 with 140 laps led. 

However, it was Chevrolet that swept the wins in 2024 by two different teams (Hendrick Motorsports, Trackhouse Racing). Chevy had two of the Top-3 finishers in the spring race and went 1-2 in the fall. 

The closest comparison to this track on the schedule is Las Vegas Motor Speedway, as the drivers who typically excel in the Vegas are also strong at Kansas. 

Since 2011, every Kansas winner has won a series championship, with the exception of Hamlin, Bubba Wallace and Ross Chastain. In fact, only Hamlin, Chastain, Ryan Newman, Mark Martin, Greg Biffle, Joe Nemechek, and Wallace have won at Kansas and not also won a Cup title. Kyle Larson joined that list, but only for a few months in the fall of 2021 before he became a champion.

  • Nine of the last 10 Kansas winners have started in the Top 10. Ross Chastain’s 20th-place start last fall is the exception. Fifteen of the last 18 Kansas winners started in the Top 6 rows.
  • Kansas race winners scored stage points in every first stage under the stage era, with the exception of the 2022 spring race and last year’s playoff race.
  • The eventual race winner finished in the Top 5 in eight of the last 11 second stages. 
  • Oddly, Kansas race winners have won the second stage only twice (2019 playoff race, May 2022).

Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.

AdventHealth 400 info

Location: Kansas Motor Speedway, Kansas City, KS
Date: Sunday, 5-11-2025
Start time: 3:00 p.m. ET
TV: FS1

Previous AdventHealth 400 winners

Kyle Larson interrupted a streak of four straight wins at the AdventHealth 400 by Toyota drivers last year.

Year Winner
2024 Kyle Larson
2023 Denny Hamlin
2022 Kurt Busch
2021 Kyle Busch
2020 Denny Hamlin

How to make AdventHealth 400 picks

NASCAR betting is a nuanced process that can take any number of factors into account, and spans several different types of bets. Fortunately, our How to Bet NASCAR guide walks you through the basics, including how to read odds, different markets that are available, and what to consider when making your bets. 

Pages related to this topic



Link

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Motorsports

Mexico Results: June 14, 2025 (NASCAR Xfinity Series)

NASCAR Xfinity results from Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City NASCAR Xfinity Series drivers are on the grid in Mexico City. Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez is set to host the Chilango 150. View Mexico results for the NASCAR Xfinity Series below. Mexico MenuXfinity: Prac/Qual | RaceCup: Prac | Qual | Race Mexico TV Schedule Daniel Suarez is starting this race for the […]

Published

on


NASCAR Xfinity results from Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City

NASCAR Xfinity Series drivers are on the grid in Mexico City. Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez is set to host the Chilango 150.

View Mexico results for the NASCAR Xfinity Series below.

Mexico Menu
Xfinity: Prac/Qual | Race
Cup: Prac | Qual | Race

Mexico TV Schedule

Daniel Suarez is starting this race for the rear of the field after a crash in qualifying.

Connor Zilisch and Ty Gibbs set the front row. 65 laps of stock car racing are up next…

Ty Gibbs, Connor Zilisch - NASCAR Xfinity Series - Mexico City (1)Ty Gibbs, Connor Zilisch - NASCAR Xfinity Series - Mexico City (1)
Credit: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO – JUNE 14: Ty Gibbs, driver of the #19 Monster Energy Toyota, and Connor Zilisch, driver of the #88 WeatherTech Chevrolet, race during the NASCAR Xfinity Series The Chilango 150 at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on June 14, 2025 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Mexico Xfinity
Stage 1 – Report

Laps: 20 (1-20 / 65)

Green flag, they run side by side into turn one. They bang doors and Ty Gibbs wins the battle off turn two.

Lap 2, Zilisch has a run on Gibbs into turn one. They rub again! Zilisch is off track and in the grass off the front bumper of Gibbs. Gibbs holds the lead as Zilisch falls to 5th.

Lap 3, Sam Mayer wheel hops under brakes, he’s off track and into the tire barrier. The caution is out.

Green, Gibbs throws a block on Sammy Smith. Gibbs holds the lead off turn two.

8 to go in stage one, Zilisch is back to 2nd and he leans on the bumper of Gibbs into turn one in the battle for the lead. Gibbs holds the lead. Christopher Bell spins from 3rd, no caution!

6 to go, Allgaier heads behind the wall with a mechanical failure.

2 to go, most of the leaders head for the pit lane. Zilisch beats Gibbs to the pit exit.

Carson Kvapil stays out and wins stage one in Mexico City!

Mexico Results (Stage 1) : 1. Carson Kvapil; 2. Taylor Gray; 3. Jesse Love; 4. Austin Hill; 5. Nick Sanchez; 6. Brandon Jones; 7. Sage Karam; 8. Matt DiBenedetto; 9. Jeb Burton; 10. Alex Labbe;

Mexico Xfinity
Stage 2 – Report

Laps: 20 (21-40 / 65)

Kvapil and the rest of the cars that haven’t pit head for the pit lane. Zilisch cycles to the race lead.

Green flag on stage two, Zilisch and Bell run side by side into turn one. Zilisch wins the race to the turn two.

Lap 28, Daniel Suarez has climbed from the tail of the field to 3rd.

3 to go in stage two, Christopher Bell is up in smoke and he heads for the pit lane.

2 to go, Zilisch and most of the leaders head for the pit lane.

Sammy Smith stays out and takes the stage two win in Mexico City!

Mexico Results (Stage 2) : 1. Sammy Smith; 2. Taylor Gray; 3. Sheldon Creed; 4. Brandon Jones; 5. Christian Eckes; 6. Daniel Dye; 7. Dean Thompson; 8. Nick Sanchez; 9. Connor Zilisch; 10. Ty Gibbs

Mexico Xfinity
Stage 3 – Report

Laps: 25 (41-65 / 65)

Smith and the rest of the field head for the pit lane. Zilisch cycles back to the race lead.

Green flag on stage three, Gibbs, Zilisch and Suarez form three wide for the lead into turn one! Zilisch is out of track and in the grass. Zilisch spins with heavy damage.

Gibbs and Carson Kvapil bang wheels into turn two. They both run wide and Gibbs is slammed into as cars pile into the scene. The caution is out. Daniel Suarez is the race leader.

Green, Suarez clears Christian Eckes into turn one.

8 to go, Suarez leads Taylor Gray by 1 second.

7 to go, Jesse Love is around and the caution is out.

Green, Suarez and Gray run side by side into turn one. They bang wheels in turn two and Suarez is shoved into the grass. Suarez pops out of the grass with the race lead!

2 to go, Suarez leads Gray by 3 car lengths.

1 to go, Gray drive it deep into the final corner. He barely touches the bumper of Suarez but it’s not enough.

Daniel Suarez wins in Mexico City!

Daniel Suarez wins Mexico City - NASCAR Xfinity Series (1)Daniel Suarez wins Mexico City - NASCAR Xfinity Series (1)
Credit: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO – JUNE 14: Daniel Suarez, driver of the #9 Quaker State Chevrolet, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series The Chilango 150 at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on June 14, 2025 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Mexico City
Race Results
June 14, 2025
NASCAR Xfinity Series

Pos | Driver

1. Daniel Suarez

2. Taylor Gray

3. Austin Hill

4. Christian Eckes

5. Connor Zilisch

6. William Swalich

7. Austin Green

8. Jeb Burton

9. Harrison Burton

10. Sammy Smith

11. Sheldon Creed

12. Dean Thompson

13. Daniel Dye

14. Ty Gibbs

15. Alex Labbe

16. Matt DiBenedetto

17. Kris Wright

18. Jesse Love

19. Carson Kvapil

20. Josh Williams

21. Anthony Alfredo

22. Thomas Annunziata

23. Sam Mayer

24. Josh Bilicki

25. Brandon Jones

26. Brad Perez

27. Blaine Perkins

28. Kyle Sieg

29. Ryan Sieg

30. Andres Perez

31. Nick Sanchez

32. Ryan Ellis

33. Sage Karam

34. Justin Allgaier

35. Parker Retzlaff

36. Jeremy Clements

37. Ruben Rovelo

38. Brennan Poole

39. Christopher Bell

Daniel Suarez in victory lane - Mexico City - NASCAR Xfinity Series (1)Daniel Suarez in victory lane - Mexico City - NASCAR Xfinity Series (1)
Credit: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO – JUNE 14: Daniel Suarez, driver of the #9 Quaker State Chevrolet, celebrates with the Mexican flag after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series The Chilango 150 at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on June 14, 2025 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
NASCAR Xfinity Series
Point Standings

Pos | Driver | Wins | Points

1. Justin Allgaier
3 Wins

2. Austin Hill
3 Wins

3. Connor Zilisch
1 Win

4. Sammy Smith
1 Win

5. Jesse Love
1 Win

6. Brandon Jones
1 Win

7. Sam Mayer
+114

8. Sheldon Creed
+42

9. Carson Kvapil
+35

10. Jeb Burton
+23

11. Harrison Burton
+3

12. Taylor Gray
+0

— Playoff Cutline —

13. Ryan Sieg
-0

14. Nick Sanchez
-15

15. Daniel Dye
-44

16. Dean Thompson
-59

Mexico City
Video Highlights
Links

NASCAR



Link

Continue Reading

Motorsports

Home-country hero Daniel Suárez wins first Nascar race in Mexico since 2008 | Nascar

In all his high hopes and hard work over the last year to promote Nascar’s return to his home country of Mexico, even Daniel Suárez could not have imagined the amazing story of his dramatic win in Saturday’s The Chilango 150 – coming from last place on the grid in a backup car and charging […]

Published

on


In all his high hopes and hard work over the last year to promote Nascar’s return to his home country of Mexico, even Daniel Suárez could not have imagined the amazing story of his dramatic win in Saturday’s The Chilango 150 – coming from last place on the grid in a backup car and charging to Victory Lane.

After victory spinouts, the 33-year old from Monterrey, Mexico, climbed out of his No 9 JR Motorsports Chevrolet, stood on the car’s roof, pounded his chest and pointed upward to the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez grandstands – shouting to the thrilled crowd in his native Spanish and thanking his loyal fans for their support.

“It’s everything I was looking for, just a special day,” said an emotional Suárez, the 2016 Nascar Xfinity Series champion, who led a race-best 19 of the race’s 65 laps and beat Taylor Gray to the checkered flag by .598 seconds in a backup car the team rebuilt after he crashed in the morning qualifying session.

“It’s a very special day to be here in front of my people, all these people that have supported me for many, many years and known me since my Nascar Mexico days. Now I’m fighting with the big boys,” said Suárez, who was forced to use the “international provisional” starting position after his incident in qualifying.

Even after diligently working his way through the 37-car field, Suárez had to earn this win by every definition. The Nascar Cup Series full-timer went door to door with Gray on a restart with three laps remaining, ultimately pulling away – only to have to fend off a fast-approaching Gray again on the final stretch of the last lap.

Suárez first took the lead Saturday in similarly dramatic fashion, prevailing on a three-wide restart with 19 laps remaining.

He emerged out front after going head-to-head with the race’s early leaders, rookie Connor Zilisch and fellow Nascar Cup Series regular Ty Gibbs. The polesitter Zilisch, who led 17 laps, wheel-hopped taking the opening corner of a crowded restart, spun and then hit his JR Motorsports teammate Carson Kvapil as the pileup behind began.

Gibbs, who led 18 laps, moved forward from the initial contact then made contact with Kvapil’s Chevy on the next turn. The ensuing pileup affected 13 cars to varying degrees.

Suárez drove through the melee, drawing a massive cheer from the crowd. The Mexican fans stood on their feet, arms raised, Mexican flags in the air.

Daniel Suárez celebrates with his wife, Julia Piquet, after winning Saturday’s race. Photograph: James Gilbert/Getty Images

Richard Childress Racing’s Austin Hill finished third, Kaulig Racing’s Christian Eckes was fourth and Zilisch recovered to finish fifth in another of the day’s more remarkable efforts.

After that incident with 17 laps remaining, Zilisch fell back to 28th place with damage to the right side of his Chevy, only to move through the field at a remarkable pace – up 14 positions in the three laps after the restart. He was in 10th place with 10 laps to go, finishing among the top five.

“I’m proud of my team for their effort,” said Zilisch, who leaned against his car alone on pit road, obviously disappointed with the outcome after such a strong afternoon.

“Obviously the finish isn’t what we wanted. We probably had a better car than fifth place, but we got caught up in an incident on that last restart. Just proud to be able to come here and get a decent finish.

William Sawalich, Austin Green, Jeb Burton and his cousin, Harrison Burton, and Sammy Smith rounded out the top 10.

There were seven lead changes among six drivers, with Kvapil winning the first stage and Smith winning stage two.

Nascar Xfinity Series championship leader Justin Allgaier had to take his No 7 JR Motorsports Chevrolet behind the wall for repairs before the end of the first stage, ultimately settling for a 34th-place finish, 15 laps down to the winner. Fortunately for the reigning series champion, he held a 92-point advantage over Hill atop the points standings heading into Mexico City. He now leads by 54 points.



Link

Continue Reading

Motorsports

NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Race at Riverhead Raceway Postponed Due to Inclement Weather Forecast – Speedway Digest

NASCAR and Riverhead Raceway have postponed this Saturday’s scheduled NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour event one day to Sunday as a forecast for inclement weather impacts the area. The race will now begin at 2:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, June 15. Earlier this week, NASCAR released the next set of 10 drivers included in the 40 […]

Published

on


NASCAR and Riverhead Raceway have postponed this Saturday’s scheduled NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour event one day to Sunday as a forecast for inclement weather impacts the area.

The race will now begin at 2:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, June 15.

Earlier this week, NASCAR released the next set of 10 drivers included in the 40 greatest NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour drivers, selected based on their accomplishments on the Tour beginning in 1985.

On that list is four-time Tour champion Justin Bonsignore, who sits second on the all-time wins list at 45. Bonsignore will be racing at this home track this weekend, which was also the site of his first career Tour win.

Also on the list is the namesake of this weekend’s race, Steve Park, who finished second in the Tour standings twice before making the jump to race for Dale Earnhardt in the No. 1 Chevrolet in the NASCAR Cup Series.

The rest of the names added to the list this week are well known to fans in New York, and especially at Riverhead. The list is rounded out by Mike Ewanitsko, Wayne Anderson, Charlie Jarzombek, Timmy Solomito, Eric Goodale, Todd Szegedy, “Tiger” Tom Baldwin, and Mike McLaughlin.

For updated event information as available, fans may go to nascar.com/regional.

NASCAR PR



Link

Continue Reading

Motorsports

NASCAR in Mexico safety concerns raised ahead of debut race – Motorsport – Sports

The startling images caught the attention of NASCAR fans — many of whom questioned why the Cup Series was traveling to Mexico City if it seemingly was dangerous. “This is just stupid and pointless and a big waste of money. Not to mention unsafe. What is wrong with NASCAR thinking this was a good idea,” […]

Published

on


The startling images caught the attention of NASCAR fans — many of whom questioned why the Cup Series was traveling to Mexico City if it seemingly was dangerous. “This is just stupid and pointless and a big waste of money. Not to mention unsafe. What is wrong with NASCAR thinking this was a good idea,” one X user wrote.

“Generally curious. If THIS much security is required for the haulers, WHY did NASCAR think visiting Mexico was a good idea? This seems like a recipe for disaster,” another added, with a third chiming in: “We don’t need to down there. Shouldn’t need anything like this to run a race”

NASCAR’s Vice President of racing operations Tom Bryant revealed that the sanctioning body employed the help of Rock-It Cargo, which has worked with Taylor Swift, FIFA and Formula 1 in the past. “Literally every hour from Sunday morning until about noon Tuesday is planned and there are events tied to it,” he said of the crossing. “And by gosh, it better happen on time.

DON’T MISS:

“We’re anticipating no issues… they’ve been doing it for 45 years and haven’t had an issue.”

While addressing the thought that went into planning the crossing and weekend as a whole, Bryant added: “We’re responsible for everything. It’s people. It’s equipment. It’s all the logistics to support all that. It’s security. It’s a ton of contingency planning because, hey, we are going to be way far away from our home base here, right?

“We’re not at North Wilkesboro, where we can run back down to Charlotte and grab pieces and parts. That’s not possible. So every aspect of the event weekend has to be planned for, coordinated, resourced, and ready to go.”



Link

Continue Reading

Motorsports

Team change brings challenges to McDowell – The Morning Call

Switching teams has created a challenge for Michael McDowell. After seven seasons in the No. 34 Ford with Front Row Motorsports, the 40-year-old driver from Glendale, Arizona, is in his first season in the No. 71 Chevrolet of Spire Motorsports. That has meant learning new people, new processes and a new manufacturer. “The cars drive […]

Published

on


Switching teams has created a challenge for Michael McDowell.

After seven seasons in the No. 34 Ford with Front Row Motorsports, the 40-year-old driver from Glendale, Arizona, is in his first season in the No. 71 Chevrolet of Spire Motorsports. That has meant learning new people, new processes and a new manufacturer.

“The cars drive a little different, they feel a little different. So what I needed last year versus what I need this year has been a little bit of difference,” McDowell said. “That’s honestly been a bit of a surprise, but that’s part of that working out process. We’re learning those things. We’re learning those tendencies and trends that maybe aren’t the same as we’ve experienced the past few years.

“But all in all I’m happy with the progress. I’m not happy where we’re at as far as points and finishes. But that’s because as a racer you want more. You feel like you should be doing more. But I feel like everything is in place to be successful. I’m happy where I’m at, happy with the direction we’re going. Just wish we would get there a little faster.”

On Sunday, McDowell and the rest of the NASCAR Cup drivers will compete in the series’ first race in Mexico City at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. Then, they head to Pocono Raceway for next Sunday’s Great American Getaway 400 Presented by VISITPA.com. It is part of a NASCAR tripleheader weekend at the 2.5-mile triangular track in Long Pond that includes the Craftsman Truck Series Miller Tech Battery 200 on Friday and the Xfinity Series Explore the Pocono Mountains 250 on Saturday.

Through 15 races, McDowell has one pole at Las Vegas and one top-10 finish — a seventh at Charlotte. His average finish is 19.1 and he is tied for 22nd in the standings, 37 points in back of Kyle Busch for the 16th and final cutoff spot to qualify for the playoffs over the final 10 races.

“All in all, with the speed we’ve had and some of the results we’ve gotten, I feel really good about where we’re at,” McDowell said. “We’ve had some bad weeks, no doubt about it, some off weeks — we call those character building. There have been some real challenges. At the same time, our car has had a lot of speed. So I feel good about where we’re at.

“Now, we don’t have a race win under our belt and I wish we had more top 10s and top fives to show for it. But we’re still early in the process. I feel like we’re one week away from being great. This is a good week to be great. That’s the mindset we have. Keep building and keep pushing forward.”

This could be the week for McDowell on the road course in Mexico City. The second of his two career Cup Series wins came on the road course at Indianapolis in 2023. His other victory occurred in the 2021 Daytona 500. On Friday, McDowell was the fastest car in the first practice session. On Saturday, he qualified fifth.

If not at Mexico City, then Pocono could possibly be McDowell’s breakthrough. In 22 career starts there, he has two top-10 finishes: eighth in June 2020 and sixth in July 2022. He also started second in the June 2021 race.

“I’ve had some good runs there, some not good runs there,” McDowell said. “But I love coming to Pocono. I feel like the last few years have been solid for me there. I feel like I find a rhythm there quickly. Some places just click and Pocono for me has always been a place that’s just clicked.”

He has a lot of support there, too. Besides Phoenix, McDowell said he has the most amount of fans at Pocono than any other track.

“I really don’t know why,” McDowell said. “It’s something I look forward to. The line of people standing along the fence as you walk out to the garage. There’s probably five or six people that I recognize every year that have been there for 20 years and I say Hi to and make a connection with. It’s just a place I enjoy going to.”

With its three different corners, drivers and teams vary in their philosophies on which one they feel is more important at Pocono. McDowell said you don’t have to be the best in any of them, but you have to be decent in all of them.

“I feel like it’s a compromise place where you’re going to have to live with being a little bit free here or a little bit tight there,” McDowell said. “You have to adapt well, find your rhythm. It is a rhythm race track, but it also is long straightaways with fast corners that challenge you every lap to live on the edge. It is one of those places that, like Indy, where you go, ‘I’m just going to commit to sailing it off in here and I hope it sticks’ because I know this straightaway is so important and so long. You just do that lap after lap after lap. There’s a lot to pushing yourself and being comfortably uncomfortable all day long.”

NASCAR AT POCONO SCHEDULE

Friday, June 20: Craftsman Truck Series practice, 12:35-1:30 p.m.; qualifying, 1:40-2:30 p.m.; Miller Tech Battery 200, 5 p.m.

Saturday, June 21: Xfinity Series practice, 10-10:55 a.m.; Xfinity qualifying, 11:05 a.m.-noon; Cup Series practice, 12:35-1:35 p.m.; Cup qualifying, 1:45-2:30 p.m.; Xfinity Explore the Pocono Mountains 250, 3:30 p.m.

Sunday, June 22: Cup Series, The Great American Getaway 400 presented by VISITPA.COM, 2 p.m.



Link

Continue Reading

Motorsports

George Russell storms to pole ahead of Max Verstappen

George Russell stormed to pole position at the Canadian Grand Prix and will start on the front row alongside his Barcelona rival Max Verstappen. Verstappen was hit with a 10-place penalty and three penalty points after colliding with Russell’s Mercedes during the Spanish Grand Prix. Now, the duo’s fight will head to extra time as […]

Published

on


George Russell stormed to pole position at the Canadian Grand Prix and will start on the front row alongside his Barcelona rival Max Verstappen.

Verstappen was hit with a 10-place penalty and three penalty points after colliding with Russell’s Mercedes during the Spanish Grand Prix. Now, the duo’s fight will head to extra time as they start alongside one another in Montreal.

Russell looked strong all weekend and took his first pole since the Las Vegas Grand Prix, a race he went on to win, with a time of 1m 10.899s.

Verstappen had topped the timesheets until Russell’s final run usurped the Dutchman, while championship leader Oscar Piastri will start third for McLaren.

Piastri’s title rival and team-mate Lando Norris endured a tough afternoon and is down in seventh, starting on the fourth row alongside the Ferrari of Charles Leclerc.

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing

Photo by: Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Images

Andrea Kimi Antonelli starts fourth for the second Mercedes, with Lewis Hamilton fifth and Fernando Alonso taking a standout sixth for Aston Martin. Isack Hadjar and Alex Albon round out the top 10.

Yuki Tsunoda was hit with a 10-place grid drop and three penalty points during the session after stewards ruled on a red flag infringement during FP3. This means he will start from the back of the field having been 11th fastest in Q2.

Franco Colapinto improved on his weekend so far and will start in the 11th spot vacated by Tsunoda, with Nico Hulkenberg and the Haas pair of Oliver Bearman and Esteban Ocon following close behind.

There were some surprising names out in Q1, with Pierre Gasly the slowest and Liam Lawson also knocked out in 19th. Home favourite Lance Stroll struggled on his return from injury and is down in 18th.

There was a delay during the session with a red flag needed after Albon’s Williams shed a large part of bodywork down the back straight.

His team-mate Carlos Sainz was then left fuming with Hadjar, who had clearly impeded the Williams driver as he narrowly missed the cut, with the Sauber of Gabriel Bortoleto also eliminated. 

Photos from Canadian GP – Practice & Qualifying

F1 Canadian GP results – qualifying 

In this article

Mark Mann-Bryans

Formula 1

Be the first to know and subscribe for real-time news email updates on these topics



Link

Continue Reading

Most Viewed Posts

Trending