NASCAR

Martin Truex Jr. won the 20th Annual Kobalt 400, his eighth victory in 408 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series races. This is his first victory and second top-10 finish in 2017.
Kyle Larson (second) posted his second top-10 finish in four races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. It is his second top-10 finish in 2017.
Chase Elliott (third) posted his first top-10 finish in two races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Erik Jones (15th) was the highest finishing rookie.
Brad Keselowski leads the point standings by 1 point over Kyle Larson.

 

Must-Watch Video:

Kyle Busch, Joey Logano fight at Las Vegas NASCAR race:

http://jeffgluck.com/kyle-busch-joey-logano-fight-video-nascar-las-vegas-2017/

 

Pennzoil to sponsor spring Las Vegas race

Pennzoil and Speedway Motorsports Incorporated (SMI) announce Pennzoil motor oil as title sponsor of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (MENCS) race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway (LVMS) starting in 2018. The Pennzoil 400 will anchor a NASCAR tripleheader weekend ending with the main event at the 1.5-mile tri-oval race in early March, 2018.

The Pennzoil 400 is an expanded relationship with SMI and its motorsports properties as well as an extended business-to-business relationship with Sonic Automotive. In addition to key B2B elements, the entitlement offers Pennzoil exclusive, one-of-a-kind experiences to extend to its customers.

 

Atlanta Air Show to be held at Atlanta Motor Speedway

Officials from Atlanta Motor Speedway and B. Lilley Productions announced that the track will host the inaugural Atlanta Air Show, October 14-15. It will be the first air show in history to be held at a motor speedway.

The performer lineup for the inaugural event will include a variety of military and civilian flight team demonstrations including military jets, aerobatic planes, helicopters, parachute team jumps and more. The lineup will be announced in the coming months and will include four hours of flight demonstrations each day.

NEXT RACE: This weekend at Phoenix International Raceway; TV Sunday on FOX at 12:30 p.m. PT

 

INDYCAR

Bourdais drives from last to first in St. Petersburg win

Sebastien Bourdais charged from last to first to win Sunday's Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, the opening race on the 2017 Verizon IndyCar Series schedule.

Bourdais piloted his No. 18 Dale Coyne Racing Honda to a 10.3508-second victory over countryman Simon Pagenaud in the 110-lap race on the 1.8-mile temporary street circuit to secure the 36th victory of his illustrious Indy car career. It moved the 38-year-old Bourdais past Bobby Unser into sole possession of sixth place on the all-time win list.

After crashing his car in the first round of qualifying Saturday, Bourdais started today's race at the rear of the 21-car field. He had advanced to ninth place when the second and last full-course caution flag waved on Lap 26. When seven cars in front of Bourdais made pit stops under the yellow, Bourdais seized the advantage. He passed reigning Verizon IndyCar Series champion Pagenaud for first place on Lap 37 and led 69 of the last 84 laps.

Pagenaud finished runner-up at St. Petersburg for the second consecutive year. The Team Penske driver of the No. 1 PPG Automotive Refinish Chevrolet used the 2016 St. Pete result as a launching pad to his first series championship. Scott Dixon placed third in the No. 9 GE LED Lighting Honda, marking the 90th time the Chip Ganassi Racing driver has finished in the top three and tying the New Zealander with Helio Castroneves for sixth on the all-time podium chart.

Andretti Autosport teammates Ryan Hunter-Reay and Takuma Sato finished fourth and fifth, respectively, giving Honda four of the top five finishers. Bourdais' win is the first for Honda on a temporary street circuit since the manufacturer swept the Houston doubleheader in June 2014, also the last time Dale Coyne Racing won a race.

Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg box score

VIDEO: Conor Daly visor cam: www.indycar.com/Videos/2017/03/03-12-Visor-Cam-Daly

Great NY Times Story about IndyCar: www.nytimes.com/2017/03/10/sports/autoracing/indycar-mark-miles.html?_r=0

NEXT RACE: Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, April 7-9. Live race coverage starts at 1 p.m. PT April 9 on NBCSN.

 

NHRA

Dixon set to return to Top Fuel in Gainesville

Three-time NHRA Mello Yello Top Fuel champion Larry Dixon will bring his own team to 48th annual Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals. Dixon will compete for the first time as a team owner with his Dixon Racing dragster.

Dixon, 50, is returning to the site of his spectacular qualifying accident two years ago at Gainesville Raceway. At that event, Dixon's car went airborne near the finish line but he was able to climb from the wreckage. Dixon was later diagnosed with two fractured vertebrae but managed to return to competition and post a fourth place finish in the season standings.

Now, the four-time NHRA Gatornationals champion comes back to Gainesville with his own Top Fuel dragster and racing team (Larry Dixon Racing). Dixon competed in two NHRA national events in 2016 for another team while developing his own organization.

NEXT RACE: This weekend at the Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla. March 16-19; TV on Sunday LIVE on FS1 at 10 a.m. PT

 

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