Ty Gibbs to drive for Kurt Busch at Pocono

By Dustin LongJul 24, 2022, 11:50 AM EDT

Ty Gibbs will make his Cup debut Sunday at Pocono Raceway, filling in for Kurt Busch, who was not cleared by NASCAR’s medical staff to compete.

NASCAR stated Sunday: “This morning, Kurt Busch met with doctors in the infield care center for further evaluation following his accident during yesterday’s qualifying session. Following the evaluation, Kurt Busch has not been cleared to race in today’s NASCAR Cup Series event at Pocono Raceway.”

Busch stated that he is “still having concussion-like symptoms” from his crash in qualifying Saturday.

“I will continue to follow the medical team’s recommendations, and appreciate everyone’s support,” stated Busch, whose streak of 269 consecutive Cup starts will end.

Busch crashed off Turn 3 in qualifying. The rear of his No. 45 car slammed the SAFER barrier and the front then snapped back and made a hard impact with the barrier.

Busch was to have started 10th. With the driver switch, Gibbs will start last in the 36-car field for 23XI Racing.

MORE: Hard hits have Cup drivers wondering what’s happening

The 19-year-old Gibbs finished second to Noah Gragson in Saturday’s Xfinity race. Gibbs is third in the Xfinity Series points.

“I’m just learning, piece by piece, a lot information right now,” Gibbs told NBC Sports’ Parker Kligerman during Countdown to Green. “I’m just trying to figure out … all the little tools, I need to use in the race car.”

Gibbs was on a simulator at 1 a.m. preparing for this race. He told Kligerman he’s never been in a Next Gen car before today.

Sunday’s race airs at 3 p.m. ET on USA Network. Pre-race coverage begins at 2 p.m. ET on USA Network.

"All prayers out to Kurt."@TyGibbs_ was up at 1am on the simulator, and now makes his @NASCAR Cup Series debut as a relief driver for Kurt Busch. pic.twitter.com/MOelaznYHz

— NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) July 24, 2022

https://t.co/UJnKUvUhyg pic.twitter.com/0YTMEVFQpx

— Kurt Busch (@KurtBusch) July 24, 2022

Get well buddy. See you next weekend

— Denny Hamlin (@dennyhamlin) July 24, 2022

Rookie stripes are on the No. 45 car for Ty Gibbs.

The team has adjusted the belts and pedals to accommodate Gibbs. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/tEniqTOAYt

— Dustin Albino (@DustinAlbino) July 24, 2022

First look at @TyGibbs_ in his new @23XIRacing @McDonalds fire suit. pic.twitter.com/gzoWQSujfF

— Davey Segal (@DaveyCenter) July 24, 2022

COTA Xfinity starting lineup: AJ Allmendinger takes pole

By Dustin LongMar 24, 2023, 8:21 PM EDT

AJ Allmendinger, who won this race a year ago, will start on the pole for Saturday’s Xfinity race at Circuit of the Americas.

Allmendinger earned the pole with a lap of 92.173 mph Friday on the 20-turn, 3.41-mile road course.

MORE: COTA Xfinity starting lineup

He will be joined on the front row Sammy Smith (91.827 mph).
Ty Gibbs (91.665) will start third. Sheldon Creed (91.652) qualified fourth. Parker Kligerman (91.195) will start fifth.

Cup driver William Byron will start ninth. Byron’s time was disallowed for cutting the esses. Cole Custer, who will start 10th, didn’t make a lap in the final round of qualifying.

Cup driver Aric Almirola (91.269) qualified 13th. Truck Series racer Carson Hocevar (90.669) will start 17th. Alex Labbe (90.476) will start 23rd. He’s filling in for Josh Williams, who is serving a one-race suspension for parking his car at the start/finish line of last weekend’s race at Atlanta.

Brake rotor issue for Custer means he will need to have it repaired and he will start from the rear Saturday.

— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) March 25, 2023

COTA Truck starting lineup: Ross Chastain wins pole

By Dustin LongMar 24, 2023, 6:21 PM EDT

Ross Chastain will start on the pole for Saturday’s Craftsman Truck Series race at Circuit of the Americas.

Chastain earned the top starting spot in Friday’s qualifying with a lap of 91.877 mph. He’ll be joined on the front row by Kyle Busch (91.490 mph).

More: COTA Truck starting lineup

Ty Majeski qualified third with a lap of 91.225 mph. Rookie Nick Sanchez (90.993) will start fourth, and Christian Eckes (90.937) will complete the top five.

Alex Bowman failed to make the race. Bowman had a flat right front on his qualifying lap.

Issues for the No. 7 during Group A qualifying. pic.twitter.com/6PyJIybJKO

— NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Trucks (@NASCAR_Trucks) March 24, 2023

Tyler Reddick leads Cup practice at COTA

By Dustin LongMar 24, 2023, 3:48 PM EDT

Tyler Reddick posted the fastest lap in Friday’s Cup practice at Circuit of the Americas.

Reddick, who won two road course races last season, topped the field in his 23XI Racing Toyota with a lap of 92.989 mph. Kyle Larson was next, posting a lap of 92.618 mph around the 3.41-mile road course.

MORE: COTA Cup practice results

Ross Chastain, who won this race a year ago, was third on the speed chart in practice with a lap of 92.520 mph. He was followed by Kyle Busch (92.498 mph) and Daniel Suarez (92.461 mph).

Jordan Taylor, subbing for the injured Chase Elliott in the No. 9 car for Hendrick Motorsports, was 10th on the speed chart in practice after a lap of 92.404 mph.

Former world champion Jenson Button, driving for Rick Ware Racing, was 28th in practice with a lap of 91.759 mph. Former world champion Kimi Raikkonen, driving the Project 91 car for Trackhouse Racing, was 32nd in practice after a lap of 91.413 mph.

Seven-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson, driving in his first race for Legacy Motor Club since the Daytona 500, was 36th in practice after a lap of 91.072 mph. IndyCar driver Conor Daly was last among the 39 cars in practice with a lap of 90.095 mph.

Cup qualifying is Saturday. The series races Sunday.

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

By Mike HembreeMar 24, 2023, 1:00 PM EDT

Austin Hill, the dominant driver in the NASCAR Xfinity Series through the early weeks of the season, will be looking for his first Xfinity road course win Saturday.

Hill has won three of the season’s first five races, scoring victories at Daytona, Las Vegas and Atlanta.

Hill has been close in previous road course runs. He has a second at COTA, a third at Portland, a fourth at Road America and a ninth at Indianapolis.

MORE: Dr. Diandra takes a look at top Cup road course drivers

Kyle Busch and AJ Allmendinger own wins in the previous Xfinity races at COTA.

Allmendinger and three other Cup Series regulars — Aric Almirola, William Byron and Ty Gibbs — are scheduled to race in the Xfinity event.

Details for Saturday’s Xfinity race at Circuit of the Americas

(All times Eastern)

START: The command to start engines will be given at 5:08 p.m. … The green flag is scheduled at 5:19 p.m.

PRERACE: Xfinity garage opens at 2 p.m. … The invocation will be given by Jordan Thiessen of Pit Boss Grills at 5 p.m. … The national anthem will be performed by recording artist Payton Keller at 5:01 p.m.

DISTANCE: The race is 46 laps (156 miles) on the 3.41-mile track.

STAGES: Stage 1 ends at Lap 14. Stage 2 ends at Lap 30.

TV/RADIO: FS1 will broadcast the race at 5 p.m. … NASCAR RaceDay airs at 4 p.m. on FS1. … Performance Racing Network coverage begins at 4:30 p.m. and can be heard at goprn.com. …SiriusXM NASCAR Radio will carry the PRN broadcast.

FORECAST: Weather Underground — Mainly sunny. Temperature of 82 at race time. No chance of rain.

LAST TIME: AJ Allmendinger won last March’s Xfinity race at COTA. Austin Hill was two seconds behind in second place. Cole Custer finished third.

MORE: Hard hits have Cup drivers wondering what’s happening

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MORE: Dr. Diandra takes a look at top Cup road course drivers

Details for Saturday’s Xfinity race at Circuit of the Americas

(All times Eastern)

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