By John Sturbin/Senior Writer
RacinToday.com
Penske Perfection put an almost-predictable wrap on Sunday’s GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma. While Simon Pagenaud won the Verizon IndyCar Series 2017 season-finale, teammate Josef Newgarden finished second to secure the championship for domestic open-wheel racing’s most successful organization.
Pagenaud, the 2016 series champion, out-hustled Newgarden to the finish line by 1.0986-seconds to […]

By John Sturbin | Senior Writer
RacinToday.com
The list of his Team Penske running mates to have won various Indy car drivers championships is a trivia question that cannot stump Helio Castroneves.
“(Gil) De Ferran, (Sam) Hornish Jr., (Will) Power, (Simon) Pagenaud,” said Castroneves, clicking-off the title-winning names from the solitude of a Team Penske motorhome during a […]

By Deb Williams | Senior Writer
RacinToday.com
CONCORD, N.C. – Wind tunnels have been used for decades to perfect the aerodynamics of race cars, but NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle competitor Andrew Hines noted that in his class his body provides the aero package.
“We’re going down the track and we’re trying to do everything we can to stay […]

By Deb Williams | Senior Writer
RacinToday.com
CONCORD, N.C. – NHRA Funny Car champion Ron Capps begins defense of his crown the same weekend that Chase Elliott opens his NASCAR title hopes in his playoffs, but the bond between the two goes beyond sharing the same sponsor – NAPA Auto Parts.
Capps looked up to Chase’s father, Bill, […]

By John Sturbin | Senior Writer
RacinToday.com
Simon Pagenaud amped-up Team Penske’s intramural chase for the 2017 Verizon IndyCar Series championship Thursday, topping the combined practice sheet at the conclusion of an Open Test at Sonoma Raceway for Sunday’s season-ending GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma.
The reigning event and series champion, Pagenaud emerged as the day’s overall leader […]

By John Sturbin | Senior Writer
RacinToday.com
The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series regular-season finale at Richmond Raceway Saturday night will determine the field of 16 championship contenders.
Having trouble deciphering who’s in/who’s out/who’s on the proverbial bubble? Here are the basics, courtesy of Info Manager.
The Federated Auto Parts 400 (7:30 p.m., EDT, NBC Sports Network and SiriusXM Radio and […]

RacinToday.com
On lap 235 of 250 of Friday night’s Xfinity Series race at Richmond International Raceway, Brad Keselowski passed leader Kyle Busch and then pulled away to win by 3.008 seconds.
Afterward, Keselowski said he was happy to get the win and happier still in how he got it.
“When you can race with him (Busch), you know […]

By  John Sturbin | Senior Writer
RacinToday.com
Steve Torrence exited the world’s biggest drag race with championship-caliber confidence Monday after adding a victory in the Top Fuel final of the NHRA’s 63rd annual Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals to his Saturday win in the $100,000 Traxxas Nitro Shootout.
His victory over upset-minded, fellow-Texan Kebin Kinsley at “The Big Go’ […]

By Deb Williams | Senior Writer
RacinToday.com
DARLINGTON, S.C. – Two laps. That was all that remained when the Lady in Black snatched victory from Martin Truex Jr.’s grasp and handed it to Denny Hamlin on Sunday, giving him his second Bojangles Southern 500 win at Darlington Raceway.
It was a gut wrenching experience for Truex, who won […]

By Deb Williams | Senior Writer
RacinToday.com
DARLINGTON, S.C. – Dale Earnhardt Jr. admits he’s allowed thoughts of his final event this season to creep into his mind, but he still doesn’t know what he’ll miss about being a race car driver.
“If I knew what I was going to miss, it would be more emotional and harder […]