NASCAR
Truex wins the strategy game, grabs first victory at Watkins Glen
WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. - At a track where his father raced, and a track where he was a "garage rat" as a child, Martin Truex Jr. won Sunday's I Love New York 355 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race by slowing down over the closing laps. Truex let Brad Keselowski pass him for the lead on Lap 77 of 90. On instructions from crew chief Cole Pearn, Truex also let Ryan Blaney past his No. 78 Furniture Row Racing Toyota on Lap 83. All the while, Truex was saving fuel, with Pearn calculating that both Keselowski and Blaney would have to stop for a splash of gas. The strategy played out as expected, with Keselowski giving up the lead for a trip to pit road on Lap 87 and Blaney following a lap later. That left Truex to hold off a desperate charge from Matt Kenseth on the final lap, with Truex streaking across the finish line .414 seconds ahead of the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Camry. Kenseth's teammate, Daniel Suarez, rolled home in third to register a career-best result.
Notes: Truex expanded his series lead to 116 points over Kyle Busch, who moved past 23rd-place finisher Kyle Larson for second place. ... Truex also increased his playoff point total to 34. Three-time winner Jimmie Johnson is second with 16. ... Busch collected his ninth stage win to raise his playoff point total to 14. ... The three winless drivers currently in playoff-eligible positions (Chase Elliott, Jamie McMurray and Kenseth) are seventh, eighth and ninth in the standings, respectively, all within an 11-point range.
Kahne released from Hendrick Motorsports
Hendrick Motorsports and Kasey Kahne will end their six-year run together following the 2017 NASCAR Cup Series season. The driver has been released from the final year of his contract, allowing him to immediately pursue opportunities for 2018.
NHRA
BROWN, HIGHT AND SKILLMAN NOTCH VICTORIES AT NHRA NORTHWEST NATIONALS
SEATTLE - Antron Brown piloted his dragster to the Top Fuel victory Sunday at the 30th annual NHRA Northwest Nationals at Pacific Raceways. Robert Hight (Funny Car) and Drew Skillman (Pro Stock) were also victorious in their respective categories at the 16th of 24 events in the 2017 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series schedule.
The 2017 NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series season continues with the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd International Raceway, Aug. 17-20.
INDYCAR
The Verizon IndyCar Series resumes with the ABC Supply 500 at Pocono Raceway on Aug. 20.
GET YOUR INDYCAR FIX WITH ARRAY OF MID-OHIO VIDEO RECAPS - http://www.indycar.com/News/2017/08/08-07-Mid-Ohio-video-recap
Current INDYCAR Point Standings
Place Name Team Wins Poles Points
1 Josef Newgarden Team Penske 3 0 453
2 Helio Castroneves Team Penske 1 3 446
3 Scott Dixon Chip Ganassi Racing 1 1 445
4 Simon Pagenaud Team Penske 1 1 436
5 Will Power Team Penske 2 5 401
This week at Sonoma Raceway:
Wednesday Night Drags, Aug. 9 (No Sonoma Drift)
Professional Motorcycle Racing Returns to Sonoma Raceway, Aug. 11-13 - http://www.sonomaraceway.com/events/motoamerica-superbike-races/
