Ryan Newman won the pole on Friday for Sunday’s Sylvania 300 Sprint Cup race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.
To get the pole, Newman had to wait out a rain delay that began with him and four other drivers still in the pits and waiting to qualify.
Second on the starting grid will be Kasey Kahne and [...]

In today’s Morning Memo we find that:
The fuel-mileage element to NASCAR races is out of control.
Yes, the race to get to the checkered flag before the cars start stuttering and gasping and slowing can add an element of drama to race-track proceedings. Theatrical-like drama.
But lost in that drama are such things as, well, auto [...]

RacinToday.com
NASCAR’s Brad Keselowski emerged from a summer of mettle-testing pain to top balloting in third quarter Driver of the Year voting, leading a unique 1-2 sweep for team-owner Roger Penske.
Keselowski, who drives for Penske’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team, earned 10 first-place ballots and 117 points under the DOTY voting system. Meanwhile, Will Power _a [...]

In Racin’ News today:
Michael Waltrip Racing today named Scott Miller executive vice president of competition effective at the conclusion of the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup season.
Miller has served in several roles throughout his 16-year stint in NASCAR, most recently as director of competition at Richard Childress Racing. Miller has been a winning crew chief and [...]

Larry Woody | Senior Writer
RacinToday.com
If Clint Bowyer goes overboard at Richard Childress Racing as anticipated, he has two choices: sink or swim.
Clint undoubtedly will swim, and reportedly is exploring a new ride next year with Michael Waltrip Racing.
He could be a force to be reckoned with, wherever he lands. Bowyer is a gifted racer despite [...]

By Jim Pedley | Managing Editor
RacinToday.com
JOLIET, Ill. – Dale Earnhardt Jr.‘s optimism and good mood during Friday’s media gathering at Chicagoland Speedway almost seemed bizarre.
Yes, he was in the Chase and still mathematically involved in a run for the 2011 championship. But, come on: He was also having one of his typical Dale Earnhardt Jr. [...]

RacinToday.com
Tony Stewart went 0 for 26 in the regular portion of the 2011 Sprint Cup season, but on Monday at Chicagoland Speedway, he moved to 1 for 1 in the Chase as he won rain-delayed, playoff-opening Geico 400 in Joliet, Ill.
Stewart, whose last victory had come at Auto Club Speedway in October of 2010, led [...]

(Editor’s Note: The Geico 500 scheduled for Sunday at Chicagoland Speedway has been postponed until noon Eastern on Monday. Persistent rain forced the postponement.)
JOLIET, Ill. – This year’s edition of the Chase for the Sprint Cup Championship starts today in Chicago-ish. Though the field was determined with a new wild card format, it still features [...]

JOLIET, Ill.—Matt Kenseth will start the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup from the pole position in the playoff’s first race.
Kenseth won the pole for the Geico 400 by posting a qualifying lap Saturday at Chicagoland Speedway  at 183.243 mph (29.469 seconds) to edge Paul Menard (183.125 mph) for the top starting spot.
The pole was [...]

By Jim Pedley | Managing Editor
RacinToday.com
JOLIET, Ill. – Fans will see very, very few “caution: moose crossing” signs on the roads leading into this weekend’s Sprint Cup race. Local menus featuring “fresh lobster” should be eyed with healthy skepticism this weekend.
But this is indeed Week 27 in Cup. This is mid-September and this is the [...]