NASCAR family offers condolences and tributes to Steve Byrnes

By Jerry BonkowskiApr 21, 2015, 2:21 PM EDT

The NASCAR community took to Twitter Tuesday afternoon to offer condolences and remembrances of Fox Sports broadcaster Steve Byrnes, who passed away earlier in the day after a courageous battle with cancer.

Byrnes was 56.

MORE: Fox Sports broadcaster Steve Byrnes passes away

These were Byrnes’ last two tweets following Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race that was co-named in his honor, the Food City 500 In Support Of Steve Byrnes. It is so fitting of the kind of person Steve was:

Thanks to all for a remarkable day, my teammates @NASCARONFOX. Miss you all. Thanks for your love. @SU2C @nascar and @BMSupdates. #1Fans!

— Steve Byrnes (@SteveByrnes12) April 20, 2015

@maxinem I went the distance

— Steve Byrnes (@SteveByrnes12) April 20, 2015

Byrnes was beloved not just in NASCAR, but in all forms of motorsports.

MORE: Racing community reflects on the loss of Fox Sports’ broadcaster Steve Byrnes

The following tweets speak for themselves, remembering a true professional and NASCAR and fan favorite who will be greatly missed:

It is with great sorrow we announce the passing of our friend and colleague Steve Byrnes » http://t.co/GubihPaSCt pic.twitter.com/2Nx3plCtH6

— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) April 21, 2015

My hope is Steve was able to see how much he was loved & appreciated by so many. Rest easy friend. Prayers to his family. #ByrnesStrong

— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) April 21, 2015

So sad to hear that @SteveByrnes12 passed away. His last tweet-"I went the distance",You did my friend. Heaven gained a real fighter today!

— Danica Patrick (@DanicaPatrick) April 21, 2015

My heart goes out to the Byrnes Family. #ByrnesStrong

— Jimmie Johnson (@JimmieJohnson) April 21, 2015

Steve passed away today. Thinking about him. #ByrnesStrong https://t.co/twozGXJMiQ

— Brad Keselowski (@keselowski) April 21, 2015

And more my friend. We gonna miss you. https://t.co/OSLSvRf2zt

— Brad Keselowski (@keselowski) April 21, 2015

So sad to hear the passing of Steve, but at the same time to know Steve was able to see what he meant to all of us and the sport of Nascar..

— AJ Allmendinger (@AJDinger) April 21, 2015

This past weekend in Bristol. I feel honored to be fortunate enough to have had Steve's name above my window. I will always remember Steve..

— AJ Allmendinger (@AJDinger) April 21, 2015

As one of the most genuine, nicest most caring people I have ever met. My heart goes out to his family. We will all miss him.

— AJ Allmendinger (@AJDinger) April 21, 2015

Very sad day. We lost one of the very best!! RIP @SteveByrnes12 #ByrnesStrong

— Clint Bowyer (@ClintBowyer) April 21, 2015

Very sad to hear about our friend Steve Byrnes passing today. Huge loss for our racing family. He was one of the best ever! We will miss you

— Tony Stewart (@TonyStewart) April 21, 2015

So sorry to hear about Steve, my thoughts and prayers go out to his family. #ByrnesStong

— Joey Logano (@joeylogano) April 21, 2015

RIP @SteveByrnes12. You were a great talent on camera and an amazing person off camera. #ByrnesStrong

— Aric Almirola (@aric_almirola) April 21, 2015

Steve Byrnes was truly the best. Our deepest condolences to Steve's wife Karen, son Bryson, the Fox Sports family, & everyone Steve touched.

— JR Motorsports (@JRMotorsports) April 21, 2015

Thoughts and prayers are with the Byrnes family. Steve was the nicest person. Always went out of his way to say hello. RIP Steve Byrnes

— Timothy Peters (@TimothyPeters17) April 21, 2015

RIP @SteveByrnes12 Our hearts go out to the family. #ByrnesStrong #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/PL9k8fkYeO

— Petty Family (@PettyFoundation) April 21, 2015

It isn't when born or when passed-it's all about what you did in "the dash" and @SteveByrnes12 just defined "the dash" in my book

— Steve O'Donnell (@odsteve) April 21, 2015

My hope is Steve was able to see how much he was loved & appreciated by so many. Rest easy friend. Prayers to his family. #ByrnesStrong

— Dale Earnhardt Jr. (@DaleJr) April 21, 2015

Bidding farewell to @SteveByrnes12 w/ heavy hearts. Here's the @NASCARONFOX open honoring him: https://t.co/QOPCVJk9Ef #NASCAR #ByrnesStrong

— Kentucky Speedway (@KySpeedway) April 21, 2015

Our hearts are broken today as we have heard the news – we have lost @SteveByrnes12. Sending prayers to the Byrnes family. #WeLoveYouSteve

— Darlington Raceway (@TooToughToTame) April 21, 2015

Our hearts & prayers are w @SteveByrnes12 family. Heaven just got a bit brighter w Steve's smile. #ByrnesStrong pic.twitter.com/0WYdhygPmp

— RCR (@RCRracing) April 21, 2015

We are saddened by the passing of Steve Byrnes. Our prayers are with his family. We’re thankful to have known and worked with this great man

— Joe Gibbs Racing (@JoeGibbsRacing) April 21, 2015

We’re heartbroken about the passing of our friend Steve Byrnes. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and everyone he touched.

— Hendrick Motorsports (@TeamHendrick) April 21, 2015

Our thoughts and prayers are with family, friends and fans of @SteveByrnes12. He will never be forgotten by NASCAR community. #ByrnesStrong

— XFINITY Racing (@XFINITYRacing) April 21, 2015

Watch the touching tribute to NASCAR's Steve Byrnes that aired days before he passed away – http://t.co/OHokpdEPZg

— For The Win (@ForTheWin) April 21, 2015

RIP Steve Byrnes. This one hits me hard. What an incredible man. His passion for the sport and the people will live on for ever. So sad.

— NASCAR Roast (@NASCARoast) April 21, 2015

Sometimes life blows my mind. The fact the very last race Steve Byrnes watched in this life was dedicated to him, makes me smile. #NASCAR

— NASCAR Roast (@NASCARoast) April 21, 2015

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Talladega Xfinity starting lineup: Austin Hill wins pole

By Dustin LongSep 30, 2022, 7:11 PM EDT

TALLADEGA, Ala. — Austin Hill will lead the field to the green flag Saturday at Talladega Superspeedway after scoring his first career Xfinity Series pole.

Hill won the pole Friday with a lap of 182.036 mph. He will be joined on the front row by fellow playoff contender Ty Gibbs (181.981 mph).

MORE: Talladega Xfinity starting lineup

Playoff drivers will start in seven of the top eight spots. The exception is Sheldon Creed, who will start third after a lap of 181.870 mph. Hill and Creed give Richard Childress Racing the first and third starting spots.

Justin Allgaier (181.529) qualified fourth and Brandon Jones (181.305) completed the top five. Noah Gragson, who has won four races in a row, starts sixth after a lap of 181.134 mph and is followed by playoff drivers Josh Berry (181.052) and AJ Allmendinger (180.932).

The Xfinity Series race is scheduled for 4 p.m. ET Saturday on USA Network.

Talladega Truck starting lineup: John Hunter Nemechek wins pole

By Dustin LongSep 30, 2022, 5:09 PM EDT

TALLADEGA, Ala. — John Hunter Nemechek will start on the pole for Saturday’s Camping World Truck Series race.

Nemechek earned the pole with a lap of 178.767 mph.

Nemechek is one of four playoff drivers starting in the top six: Chandler Smith (second, 177.732 mph), Zane Smith (fourth, 177.061) and Ty Majeski (sixth, 176.744). Majeski clinched a spot in next month’s championship race at Phoenix with his Bristol win.

MORE: Talladega Truck starting lineup

Also qualifying in the top five were Carson Hocevar (177.068) in third and Matt Crafton (176.960) in fifth.

Failing to qualify are Tim Viens, Spencer Boyd, Jason White and Natalie Decker.

Saturday Talladega Xfinity race: Start time, TV info, weather

By Dustin LongSep 30, 2022, 3:00 PM EDT

The second race of the opening round of the Xfinity playoffs takes drivers to Talladega Superspeedway.

Noah Gragson secured his spot in the next round by winning last weekend at Texas. Ryan Sieg holds the final transfer spot. Riley Herbst is the first driver below the cutline, one point behind Sieg. Also below the cutline are reigning series champion Daniel Hemric (-8 points), Brandon Jones (-12) and Jeremy Clements (-28).

Details for Saturday’s Xfinity race at Talladega Superspeedway

(All times Eastern)

START: The command to start engines will be given at 4:09 p.m. … Green flag is scheduled to wave at 4:21 p.m.

PRERACE: Xfinity garage opens at 1 p.m. … Driver introductions are at 3:30 p.m. … The invocation will be given at 4 p.m. … The Brookwood High School choir will perform the anthem at 4:02 p.m.

DISTANCE: The race is 113 laps (300.58 miles) on the 2.66-mile speedway.

STAGES: Stage 1 ends at Lap 25. Stage 2 ends at Lap 50.

TV/RADIO: USA Network will broadcast the race at 4 p.m. Countdown to Green begins at 3:30 p.m. on USA Network. … Motor Racing Network coverage begins at 3:30 p.m. and also will stream at mrn.com. SiriusXM NASCAR Radio will carry the MRN broadcast.

STREAMING: NBCsports.com

FORECAST: Weather Underground — Sunny with a high of 78 degrees and no chance of rain at the start of the race.

LAST TIME: Noah Gragson won and was followed by Jeffrey Earnhardt and AJ Allmendinger.

Could Talladega open door for a record 20th winner?

By Mike HembreeSep 30, 2022, 2:00 PM EDT

Talladega Superspeedway is known for fast speeds, huge drafting packs, sensational wrecks and tight finishes.

On Sunday (2 p.m. ET on NBC), it could be the site of an unexpected record.

Nineteen different drivers have won Cup races this season, tying a record. If a new winner shows up in Talladega victory lane Sunday, it will mark the first time in the sport’s history that 20 drivers have won races in a single season.

One of the remarkable things about that possibility is that the driver who has far and away the best record at Talladega among active drivers is among the group still looking for a win in 2022. That’s Brad Keselowski, who has won six times at NASCAR’s biggest track. No other active driver has more than three. (Keselowski is tied for second on the all-time Talladega win list with Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Jeff Gordon. Dale Earnhardt tops that list with 10).

Talladega and Daytona tend to reject repeat winners. The past nine races at the two tracks have been won by nine different drivers.

Other seasonal non-winners who could break through at Talladega:

Ryan Blaney — Blaney’s only win this year is in the All-Star Race, so he’s still looking for his first points win while continuing to chase the championship. He won at Talladega in 2019 and 2020.

Martin Truex Jr. — Superspeedways have been a pox on Truex’s career. In 70 races at Talladega and Daytona, he has failed to win.

Aric Almirola — In what has been a disappointing season, Almirola’s best finish is a fifth — twice. He won at Talladega in 2018 but hasn’t had a top 10 in his last four runs there.

Michael McDowell — McDowell’s best finish at Talladega is a third, but he is usually very competitive in the Talladega and Daytona drafts, winning the 2021 Daytona 500.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. — Stenhouse won at Talladega in 2017 and usually is a factor in the draft.

Harrison Burton — Burton has had a tough rookie season, but the peculiarities of the Talladega draft should play in his favor. The No. 21 team’s next win will be its 100th.

Justin Haley — Haley has no top-10 runs in five Talladega starts, but he showed potential last week with a third-place finish at Texas.

Corey LaJoie — LaJoie has started nine Cup races at Talladega and has led exactly one lap. His best finish is a seventh.

Noah Gragson — Gragson, the star of this Xfinity season, is in the No. 48 for Hendrick Motorsports with Alex Bowman out because of concussion-like symptoms. In the Talladega draft he could be a threat.

MORE: Talladega Xfinity starting lineup

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Details for Saturday’s Xfinity race at Talladega Superspeedway

(All times Eastern)

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