NASCAR
Larson wins at Michigan: #42-Kyle Larson won the FireKeepers Casino 400 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at Michigan International Speedway for his 2nd win of 2017, 1st win at Michigan, and 3rd career win. Larson started from the pole and led 96 of the 200 laps.
#24-Elliott finished 2nd followed by #22-Logano, #11-Hamlin, #1-McMurray, #78-Truex, Jr., #18-Busch, #17-Stenhouse, Jr., #88-Earnhardt, Jr., and #48-Johnson.
Larson takes the points lead from Truex, Jr by 5 points.
Stages 1 & 2 were both won by #78-Martin Truex, Jr.
There were 10 lead changes among 4 drivers and 8 cautions for 34 yellow flag laps.
The average speed of the race was: 143.369mph.
Billy Johnson driving the #43 at Sonoma
Richard Petty Motorsports announced today that IMSA Ford driver Billy Johnson will pilot the #43 Smithfield Ford at Sonoma Raceway and fill in for the injured Aric Almirola. Fresh from competing in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Johnson will make his first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series start this weekend, but this isn't the first time he worked in NASCAR. Johnson made five starts in the NASCAR XFINITY Series and scored a career-best eighth-place finish in Montreal in 2012.
A road course specialist, Johnson has 10 years of road racing experience. He worked with Almirola on his road course racing at the Ford Performance racing school at Miller Motorsports Park in a curriculum he developed with other instructors at the school. He has worked with over 20 Ford drivers to improve their road racing skills in the last six years.
Dale Jr. to Booth in 2018?
Jay Adamczyk, Jayski.com
According to a report on Monday's Sports Business Daily, "NASCAR star Dale Earnhardt Jr. is in talks with Fox Sports and NBC Sports about joining one of their broadcast teams, according to industry sources, the clearest sign yet that Earnhardt is close to a move to the booth."
BK Racing will not enter #83 team at Sonoma
BK Racing plans to bring only one car to Sonoma, the No. 23 for Alon Day (No. 83 car, a non-charter car, will return for Daytona).
NEXT RACE: The Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway, LIVE on FS1 and Fox Deportes at noon PT on Sunday.
NHRA
MILLICAN, CAPPS AND LAUGHLIN TAKE HOME WALLYS AT THE NHRA THUNDER VALLEY NATIONALS
Clay Millican piloted his Parts Plus / Great Clips dragster to his first career Top Fuel victory Sunday at the 17th annual NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway. Ron Capps (Funny Car) and Alex Laughlin (Pro Stock) were also winners in their respective categories at the 11th event of 24 on the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule.
Millican, a Tennessee native, raced a 3.825-second pass at 316.38 mph to defeat Leah Pritchett, who raced a 3.881 at 307.09 in her Papa John's dragster. He became the 103rd different driver to win in Top Fuel. This was Millican's 254th NHRA Top Fuel start and the ninth final round of his career. Millican is seventh in points while Pritchett moved from third to second with the runner-up finish. Torrence now has possession of the Top Fuel points lead.
Defending Funny Car world champion Capps raced to his fifth victory this season and 55th of his career in the NAPA Auto Parts Dodge Charger R/T. He won on a holeshot against Don Schumacher Racing teammate Jack Beckman in his Infinite Hero Foundation Dodge Charger R/T with a pass of 4.054 at 317.05. Capps ties John Force with most Funny Car victories at Bristol Dragway with four apiece on their resume.
In Pro Stock, Laughlin clinched his first Wally of the season and second of his career with a perfect reaction time in the finals. He powered his Gas Monkey Energy Chevrolet Camaro to a 6.718 at 205.04 to defeat Bo Butner in his Jim Butner's Auto Chevy Camaro. Laughlin is the eighth different Pro Stock winner this season.
NEXT RACE: Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals this weekend at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park; TV on FS1 at 3 p.m. PT Sunday.
INDYCAR
DALY READY TO RELEASE HIS TRUE NINJA ON 'AMERICAN NINJA WARRIOR'
It's show time for Conor Daly on "American Ninja Warrior." The AJ Foyt Racing driver in the Verizon IndyCar Series competed in a regional qualifier for the popular obstacle course challenge show on NBC. While Daly has remained mum on how he fared on the course set up along San Antonio's famous Riverwalk in March, the world will get its chance to see what happened when the episode airs at 8 p.m. ET Monday.
Daly follows in the footsteps of three other Verizon IndyCar Series drivers - Helio Castroneves, Tony Kanaan and Josef Newgarden - who competed in an Indianapolis qualifier last year.
NEXT RACE: This weekend's Kohler Grand Prix at Road America; TV Sunday on NBCSN at 9:30 a.m. PT
SONOMA RACEWAY
- No Wednesday Night Drags/Sonoma Drift this week.
- Road course closed pre-NASCAR Monday-Thursday
