NASCAR
Kyle Busch finds his mojo at Charlotte with Monster Energy All-Star Race win
Kyle Busch took control of Saturday night's Monster Energy All-Star Race on the final restart with 10 laps left and motored away to a 1.274-second victory—his first in a Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series car at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
Busch powered his No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota to the inside of Brad Keselowski's No. 2 Team Penske Ford—the race leader on old tires—as the field roared toward Turn 1 on the final restart. Through the first two corners he cleared both Keselowski and Jimmie Johnson, who had restarted second on the outside to gain the race lead in clean air.
Though Johnson pursued with an intensity befitting the $1 million first prize, he was unable to catch Busch. Kyle Larson, winner of the first two 20-lap stages of the 70-lap non-points event, passed Johnson for second-place on the final lap.
Some of the most dramatic racing of the evening took place in the Monster Open, the 50-lap, three-stage qualifying race that preceded the main event. Clint Bowyer and Ryan Blaney won the first two stages and advanced to the All-Star Race.
Early in the final 10-lap stage, Chase Elliott, Daniel Suarez and Erik Jones were battling for the lead as they entered the tri-oval. Moving to the inside in an attempt to get past Elliott, Jones clipped the infield grass and ruined his chances when the splitter dug in.
Suarez went on to win the stage and made the main event. Elliott was the final addition to the Monster Energy All-Star race field via the Fan Vote.
VIDEO: Kyle Busch's winning move: www.nascar.com/en_us/news-media/franchises/exhilarating-moments-of-the-race.monster-energy-all-star-race-final-laps-kyle-busch-gets-his-first-all-star-win.5442502373001.html
Almirola to miss 8-12 weeks
Richard Petty Motorsports (RPM) driver Aric Almirola, who suffered an acute compression fracture to his T5 Vertebra after a multi-car accident at Kansas Speedway last Saturday night, will be forced to miss races in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series during his recovery. The standard healing time for the injury is eight to 12 weeks. Regan Smith drove the #43 Ford in the Monster Energy Open.
Almirola was on a streak of Top-10 finishes and an XFINITY win before competing Saturday night. Unfortunately, he was involved in a multi-car accident on Lap 199. Returning home, Almirola met with top doctors in the Charlotte area to determine a recovery plan.
Further information regarding the driver of the # 43 Ford will be announced this week.
NEXT RACE: This weekend's Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, TV on FOX Sunday at 3 p.m. PT
NHRA
CAPPS, BROWN AND GRAY TAKE HOME WALLY'S AT THE MENARDS NHRA HEARTLAND NATIONALS
Ron Capps raced his NAPA Auto Parts Dodge Charger R/T to his fourth consecutive Funny Car victory this season Sunday at the 29th annual Menards NHRA Heartland Nationals presented by Minties at Heartland Park Topeka.
Antron Brown (Top Fuel) and Tanner Gray (Pro Stock) were also winners in their respective categories at the eighth event of 24 on the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing series schedule.
Defending world champion Capps raced to a 3.924-second pass at 321.42 mph to defeat teammate and No. 1 qualifier, Matt Hagan, in his Mopar Express Lane Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car. Capps is the first driver since Robert Hight in 2012 to have four consecutive wins in a single season.
In Top Fuel, three-time and defending world champion Brown raced to his first career victory at Heartland Park Topeka, second of this season and 63rd of his career in his Matco Tools dragster. His pass of 3.709 at 332.75 defeated the losing pass of 3.836 at 256.70 of Steve Torrence in his Capco Contractors dragster.
In Pro Stock, Gray clenched the second Wally of his rookie season when Jeg Coughlin Jr. red lit during the final round. Gray powered his Gray Motorsports Valvoline Chevrolet Camaro to a 6.580 pass at 210.87.
Hagan shatters Funny Car marks on record-setting day in Topeka
Matt Hagan set both ends of the NHRA Funny Car national record with a stunning blast of 3.802 seconds at 338.85 mph to lead Funny Car qualifying at the Menards NHRA Heartland Nationals presented by Minties.
NEXT RACE: The 2017 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season continues at the fifth annual NHRA New England Nationals June 2-4 at New England Dragway.
INDYCAR
Dixon captures Indy 500 pole with fastest speed average in 21 years
Scott Dixon thrilled Indianapolis 500 qualifying fans like they haven't been in more than two decades, capturing the pole position for the 101st Indianapolis 500 presented by PennGrade Motor Oil with the fastest average speed since 1996.
The four-time Verizon IndyCar Series champion and fourth-winningest driver in Indy car history completed four on-the-edge laps around the Indianapolis Motor Speedway 2.5-mile oval at 232.164 mph. The 10-mile run in the No. 9 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda was the best speed seen at IMS since Arie Luyendyk set the track record of 236.986 mph in second-day qualifying on May 12, 1996.
Dixon will start on point for the third-fastest field in Indy 500 history, with a 228.400 mph average. Joining him on the front row are Ed Carpenter in the No. 20 Fuzzy's Vodka Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet and defending Indy 500 winner Alexander Rossi in the No. 98 NAPA Auto Parts/Curb Honda.
101st INDIANAPOLIS 500: Qualifying results
IndyCar drivers Dixon, Franchitti robbed Sunday at west-side Taco Bell
Indianapolis 500 pole-sitter Scott Dixon and former 500 champion Dario Franchitti were robbed at Taco Bell drive-thru Sunday night, police said.
The drivers were with Dixon's wife, Emma Davies-Dixon, when they were robbed at gun point in the drive-thru lane at Taco Bell, 3502 W 16th St., about 9:40 p.m. Sunday, according to an Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Report.
Police arrested two boys, age 14 and 15, in connection with the robbery.
Medical update on driver Sebastien Bourdais
Verizon IndyCar Series driver Sebastien Bourdais underwent successful surgery Saturday night for pelvic injuries he sustained while attempting to qualify for the 101st Running of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race.
The Dale Coyne Racing driver sustained multiple fractures to his pelvis and a fracture to his right hip in the incident Saturday. Additional updates on Bourdais' condition will be released when available.
NEXT RACE: This Sunday's 101st running of the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race, LIVE on ABC at 8 a.m. PT
SONOMA RACEWAY
- Wednesday Night Drags, Sonoma Drift and Top the Cops on Wednesday
- It's an all drag racing weekend: Drag Racing Test 'n Tune on Saturday; Memorial Day Bracket Drags on Sunday and Monday
