NASCAR
#17-Ricky Stenhouse Jr. won the GEICO 500 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway for his 1st career win in his 158th start. Stenhouse Jr. led 14 laps. Stenhouse Jr. is the 11th driver to score their first career Cup win at Talladega. Stenhouse Jr. won from the pole.
#1-McMurray finished 2nd followed by #18-Busch, #43-Almirola, #5-Kahne, #41-Busch, #2-Keselowski, #27-Menard and #38-Ragan.
Points leader, #42-Kyle Larson, hit the wall a few times, was a lap down for a while, but was able to recover and finish 12th. Larson leads the Driver Points by 54 over #78-Truex Jr.
The race ended under NASCAR Overtime, adding 3 laps after a late crash involving #31-Newman, when he got turned on lap 185.
The race was tame but exciting until lap 169 when #47-Allmendinger, while running 3rd, got into the left rear of the 2nd place car, #24-Elliott, sending the #24 spinning in front of many cars getting collected by #22-Logano, #95-McDowell and #6-Bayne. The #24 got airborne and on its side. The #47 Chevy ended up on the roof. The crews had Allmendinger stay in the car until they could flip it back over.
Eighteen cars were involved: #2-Keselowski, #3-Dillon, #4-Harvick, #6-Bayne, #10-Patrick, #20-Kenseth, #22-Logano, #23-Gaulding, #24-Elliott, #32-DiBenedetto, #38-Ragan, #41-Busch, #47-Allmendinger, #72-Whitt, #77-Jones, #78-Truex Jr., #83-LaJoie and #95-McDowell.
Career best finishes for #15-Gase (21st) and #23-Gaulding (20th)
There were 26 lead changes among 14 drivers and 8 cautions for 33 yellow flag laps and a 26:51 minute red flag for the big wreck.
Aric Almirola faces points penalty after failing Talladega inspection
By: Bob Pockrass
Aric Almirola faces a potentially pivotal points penalty after his fourth-place car at Talladega Superspeedway failed postrace measurements on Sunday. The Richard Petty Motorsports driver could lose 35 points -- the amount Brad Keselowski lost for his car failing the laser inspection station in March -- as well as see crew chief Drew Blickensderfer suspended for three races. NASCAR likely would announce any penalties on Wednesday.
Carl Edwards breaks 230 mph — in a Toyota SUV
www.foxsports.com/nascar/story/exclusive-carl-edwards-breaks-230-mph-in-an-suv-050817
NEXT RACE: This Saturday night at Kansas Speedway; TV live on FS1 at 4:30 p.m. PT
NHRA
TORRENCE, CAPPS, BUTNER AND TONGLET TAKE HOME WALLY TROPHIES AT THE LUCAS OIL NHRA SOUTHERN NATIONALS
Ron Capps raced his NAPA Auto Parts Dodge Charger R/T to his third consecutive Funny Car victory this season Sunday at the 37th annual Lucas Oil NHRA Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway. Steve Torrence (Top Fuel), Bo Butner (Pro Stock) and LE Tonglet (Pro Stock Motorcycle) were also winners in their respective categories at the seventh event of 24 on the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing series schedule.
Defending world champion Capps raced a 3.991-second pass at 317.79 mph to defeat Tim Wilkerson in his Levi, Ray & Shoup Ford Shelby Mustang. This is Capps' second victory at Atlanta Dragway and 52nd of his Top Fuel career.
Capps sailed passed J.R. Todd, 16-time world champion John Force and Robert Hight, who set the track elapsed time record with his 3.880 pass in the semifinals, en route to the victory.
Top Fuel driver Steve Torrence piloted his Capco Contractors dragster to the winners circle back-to-back races after a 3.745 pass at 320.81 to defeat U.S. Army driver Tony Schumacher. This is Torrence's third consecutive final round appearance.
During eliminations, Leah Pritchett set the elapsed time track record with a pass of 3.699, while teammate Antron Brown set the track speed record of 329.91 mph.
Butner, who made his Pro Stock debut at Atlanta in 2015, powered his Jim Butner's Auto Chevy Camaro to the second victory of his career after a 6.569 pass at 211.26 that bettered two-time world champion Erica Enders. Enders raced her Elite Motorsports Chevy Camaro to a 6.593 pass at 210.97 in her first final round appearance since Las Vegas 2 in 2015.
In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Tonglet raced to back-to-back wins this season after he rode his Nitro Fish Racing Suzuki to a 6.843 pass at 194.35 defeating teammate and defending world champion, Jerry Savoie. This is Tonglet's 12th career win and second at Atlanta Dragway.
NEXT RACE: Menards NHRA Heartland Nationals, May 19-21, at Heartland Park Topeka.
INDYCAR
VIDEO: 'INDYCAR: NEXT' COMPLETE JAMES HINCHCLIFFE EPISODE
http://www.indycar.com/Videos/2017/05/05-08-NEXT-Hinch-LB-full-episode
Andrettis rally behind John's #checkitforAndretti campaign
By RACER Staff
John Andretti's decision to turn his Stage IV colon cancer diagnosis into an awareness campaign has seen an outpouring of feedback for the 54-year-old and his #checkitforAndretti campaign.
John's son, Jarett, and cousin Michael held a news conference Thursday to speak on John's behalf and to advocate for people over 50 to have the screening that might have found John's cancer earlier.
"It felt like it went from colonoscopy to chemo in about two weeks," Jarrett said. "It may have been a little bit longer but it evolved very quickly, and I think that just shows the importance of getting a colonoscopy. Even couple weeks, a couple months could have made a huge difference."
Michael Andretti said the message is simple: Don't procrastinate.
"John hates the attention that he's getting on it because he's a very private person," he said. "But [John's] message is go out and get it done. Had he done it the year before he probably, everything would be all fine. It was only because he was procrastinating, because he knew he had to do it, but again, he was always too busy. So I think that's the whole message we're trying to put out here."
John Andretti released a statement on social media, thanking everyone for their support after WTHR-TV released a series of reports on John's cancer fight.
"I have been overwhelmed and humbled by everyone that has reached out to me by phone, text, social media or otherwise to send their prayers, well wishes and offer support," Andretti's statement begins. "My goal is to make people aware of the importance of screening through a colonoscopy. If you are 50 or your family has a history of colon cancer, waiting is not an option. You must be your own health care advocate. If you don't want to do it for yourself, do it for your family.
"Early detection is key and had I been screened sooner, my diagnosis would be much better. Bottom line is that colonoscopies save lives. PLEASE DO IT!
"Let us know when you decide to #checkitforAndretti."
NEXT RACE: This weekend's IndyCar Grand Prix at Indianapolis Motor Speedway; TV Live on ABC Saturday at 12:30 p.m. PT
SONOMA RACEWAY
- Wednesday Night Drags, Sonoma Drift and Top the Cops on Wednesday
Overlook Trail Hike this Saturday: www.sonomaraceway.com/media/news_archive/sonoma-raceway-offers-unique-open-space-hike-665477.html
