Brad Keselowski and Chris Buescher at Bristol Motor Speedway. (HHP/Chris Owens)

The last seven days have been a “whirlwind” for Brad Keselowski and the rest of the people who call RFK Racing home.

It all started with Chris Buescher winning the team’s first NASCAR Cup Series race in five years at the night race at Bristol Motor Speedway. After a celebration at the team’s headquarters in Concord, North Carolina, they then took part in two days of testing at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Then came Saturday at Texas Motor Speedway. Keselowski scored his first Cup pole since 2019 and thus secured RFK Racing its first season since 2013 with multiple poles.

“It’s been a super exciting time for me and for our business here at RFK with a lot of progress we’ve made over the past few months and now it’s starting to show. It’s been a painful but good journey,” said Keselowski after taking his 18th career Cup pole. “It’s just a lot going on in all directions both personally and professionally with this company and my other company and with our foundation. Everything is wide open in all directions. Sometimes it’s hard to stop and reflect on how privileged and blessed I am to be in this position, but a good time nonetheless.

There are plenty of stats to recite that show RFK Racing has grown significantly in 2022 for the first time in nearly a decade.

W team, W photo pic.twitter.com/0Vk3SNlV5M

— RFK Racing (@RFKracing) September 19, 2022

But the last person to ask about that progress is Keselowski, who still has seven races to go in his first season as part owner/driver with the Jack Roush-founded team.

“I live in my own bubble, so I don’t know if it’s fair for me to answer this question (about the team going through a turning point),” Keselowski said. “I think that’s a question best answered by those outside my bubble. It’s definitely a lot of progress. At the media center last week in Bristol, I think I tried to at least articulate that you do things in this sport and it takes six to 12 months for them to happen.

“Anything you do in this sport in a week or two is probably illegal. The majority of things that come together take months and months of behind-the-scenes work to come together. In that sense, it is super painful. It’s really painful. You do things and you don’t get results and everyone is challenging and questioning the decisions that have been made and you kind of have to stay the course.

The team stayed the course as both its cars went winless in the regular season, missed the playoffs and after a 100-point, $100,000 penalty against Keselowski’s No. 6 team for an L2 infraction after the spring race at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Keselowski himself has just four top-10 finishes so far, his fewest since 2010 when he had two in his first full-time season with Team Penske.

Keselowski said much of his first year in his new role was spent in the contentious relationship of wearing both a pilot’s hat and an owner’s hat.

“They look at each other and say ‘not good enough'”. The driver side wants cars to be better and the car owner side says get the finish you can get with the equipment you have,” Keselowski said. “It’s easier said than done on both sides. I was probably a victim of pushing too hard and not having the equipment we needed at the start of the year and not always getting the finishes we needed to move on.

“It was really necessary to run from 15th to 20th because we had cars in 25th and that’s what we have. I probably fell victim to trying to pull too much out of it and making our days worse than they needed to be, but also pushing them in such a way that it was very clear what the limits were with our cars and their performance and what we needed to do to make them better. On the owner side, I think our people are maturing and our processes are maturing. We’ve added great resources in a number of areas. There are a lot of pieces that are sure to fit together.

Keselowski says he’s not the right person to ask about RFK’s progress. But if anyone can vouch for how far the team has come, it’s Texas native Chris Buescher.

Buescher, 29, is a veteran of 250 NASCAR Cup races and was originally signed as a Roush development driver in 2009. Despite tenures with Front Row Motorsports and JTG Daugherty Racing, Buescher has intimate knowledge of the history of RFK Racing over the past decade.

Buescher’s win at Bristol, just his second Cup win, ended a 222-race winless streak (Pocono 2016). But that win came with Front Row Motorsports. Bristol was his first win with RFK Racing since his 2015 Xfinity Series Championship campaign.

“It took a while to come and it was really cool because everyone at RFK has struggled over the years and I’ve been through the peak and the absolute highs and I’ve also seen the lows in along the way.” Buescher said. “To take this turn to get back to where we are competing for wins again and being able to pick up some wins is really special for me and everyone in the business.

“I have so many friends within the organization that I have known for most of my time in North Carolina and it’s something that means a little bit more when you see these guys and girls who really put so a lot of effort during this time frame to be able to see progress. Brad is a champion of our sport and has won I don’t even know how many races. I think it’s really special to start but we haven’t finished. This is not our peak. We have a lot of potential for the future and we will pursue it.

“We might as well go back to my original track and continue here, right?”

William Sawalich in Victory Lane with his crew. (ARC Race Photo)

SALEM Ind. – William Sawalich has earned back-to-back ARCA/CRA Powered by JEGS Super Series victories after passing teammate Jesse Love on lap 83 and taking victory in the Clean Harbors/Safety Kleen Glass City 100 at Toledo Speedway on Saturday night.

Sawalich won the final event of the series on Labor Day weekend at Winchester (Va.) Speedway.

“The car felt really good and seemed to improve as the race progressed,” Sawalich remarked on victory lane. I ran pretty hard with Jesse (Love), I could tell his car was pulling away and we were faster. I just did what I had to do to make the pass and after that we pulled away for the win. I want to thank everyone at Donnie Wilson Motorsports for their hard work and for giving me a great car. Thanks to my family for their continued support of my races. Thank you to everyone who came to see me run tonight!

Kyle Crump took the lead from his starting pole position after Sawalich tied with a six for the reverse start of the event. ARCA Menards Series contender Jesse Love quickly fell behind Crump and began to press for the lead and was able to make the pass and take the lead on lap five.

The event’s first warning flag flew on lap 14 when NASCAR Camping World Truck Series contender Carson Hocevar, who was racing in the top five, slowed down with mechanical issues that would end his night.

Love would keep the lead on the reboot, with Crump fighting hard to take it back. Love began to distance himself from Crump when third-placed Brian Campbell slowed through turns three and four, bringing out the event’s second and final warning on lap 25. Campbell’s night would be over after he had stabilizer bar issues.

Love would again hold Crump on the reboot. Sawalich had moved into third place from his starting sixth position and also managed to get past Crump for second place.

Sawalich slowly found Love and started to push for the lead as Love’s car started to really come loose in the middle of the corners. Sawalich was patient but knew it was time to act.

Sawalich would make the pass after a nudge from behind moved Love onto the track at turn four, taking the lead on lap 83.

Sawalich would then pull away to win by almost a second and a half.

Love would finish second, gaining valuable experience at Toledo Speedway ahead of the ARCA Menards Series season, finally there on October 8.

Michael Simko would finish in third place from his seventh starting position.

Chase Burda would finish in fourth place after a late pass from Crump.

Marco Andretti won the SRX 2022 title on Saturday night at Sharon Speedway.

NASCAR Cup Series driver Chase Elliott is now two for two when it comes to his Superstar Racing Experience appearances.

Elliott, making his second start in the series, passed Tony Stewart with six laps to go to win Saturday night’s second season finale at Sharon Speedway in Ohio.

Elliott took the lead after about three laps of racing side-by-side with Stewart on the dirt road.

After Elliott took the checkered flag, it was a fine finish for second place as Stewart nicked Matt Kenseth on the line.

Elliott is the first rider other than Stewart to win an SRX dirt race. His other SRX win came in the 2021 season finale at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway.

“Knowing how good (Stewart) is at it and being able to work it out with him, I actually thought he was better than me running before,” Elliott told CBS. “Then I was able to watch it at the top and get a few things done.”

Meanwhile, Marco Andretti finished ninth and captured the second SRX Championship, edging Ryan Newman by two points for the title. Although Andretti didn’t win any races this season, he finished second in three of six races. He finished the race without a right front fender and a broken wrist from a late accident.

“The cool thing is that you take damage and you can still play and stay in the head turn,” Andretti said. “I broke my wrist in the last (accident), I got my thumb in the wheel. The last laps were tough. I just wanted to recover and finish where I was supposed to finish. We were able to do it. This (car) was quite robust tonight.

The top five was completed by Ryan Hunder-Reay and Bobby Labonte.

Unofficial results@SharonSpdwy. Chase Elliott 2 for 2″@SRXracingmain events. #campingworldSRX pic.twitter.com/H7BcoV82s0

— Tom Bowles (@NASCARBowles) July 24, 2022

The first warning of the race, on lap 9, was caused when Dave Blaney spun and found himself pointed the wrong way against the outside wall.

The race resumed on lap 9 (cautious laps didn’t count) as Elliott took the lead from Newman.

Dave Blaney issued the second warning on lap 30 when he entered the outside wall and cut his right front tire.

The race returned to green with Newman and Elliott battling side by side for two laps before the warning returned for debris on the track.

The race had barely resumed when Newman was diverted from behind Andretti, allowing Elliott to get away when the warning went out. At the time, Newman and Andretti were the top two drivers in the points standings. There was enough damage to the front right on Andretti’s car that he had to drive to the garage for repairs.

When the race resumed, Labonte was in the front row with Elliott and first in the points standings.

However, Labonte had a bad restart and fell back as Stewart roared into second to challenge Elliott. On lap 34, Stewart got under Elliott and used slip work to take the lead.

On lap 39, Elliott jumped the cushion and went into the wall. Around this time, it was announced that the race had been shortened to 50 laps due to time constraints. With nine laps to go, Kanaan took out the warning for a spin.

On the ensuing restart, Stewart and Elliott traded heads before the warning quickly returned after Ryan Hunter-Reay was spun by Dave Blaney.

In moto two, Dave Blaney led most of the race only for Elliott to pass him near the end and take the win. Blaney brushed the wall and finished fourth behind Elliott, Kanaan, Bobby Labonte and Ryan Newman.

Ryan Newman won Round 1 after an incident in Round 2 sent Matt Kenseth and Ryan Blaney to the garage.

Newman started the main event from pole thanks to his average finish in the heats.

Toyota Tacoma TRD models are all easily identified by the large TRD decals on the bed. Some say “Sport” in the rear, and others say “Off-Road.” They look a lot alike, but why does the Off-Road cost $1,300 more?

Both trucks seem tougher than non-TRD trucks like the SR or SR5, mainly due to their lift and off-road tires. For Tacoma trucks, the SR is the base trim and the SR5 is a mid-level trim with more options available on top-selling trucks. The Sport version is a step up financially, and the Off-Road is one step further. The Limited and TRD Pro are even more expensive.

the kentucky derby announced BMW of North America as the first official luxury automotive partner of the annual horse race held in Louisville, USA.

Taking place from May 5-7 this year at Churchill Downs RacecourseBMW will seek to “enhance the on-site experience” of the competition by showcasing its BMW 7 Series and the first-ever all-electric BMW i7 ahead of their arrival in showrooms.

“The Kentucky Derby is an iconic luxury event that shares many BMW brand values ​​including performance, memorable experiences and the finest hospitality,” commented Broderick McKinneyRegional Vice President, Central Region, BMW of North America.

“This event is a unique opportunity to showcase the new BMW 7 Series and X7 in front of a global audience, while connecting directly with BMW customers and fans in the region in a very authentic way.”

Additionally, the collaboration will include a brand presence at the Taste of Derby culinary event. BMW will also have a large on-site footprint, including an interactive product display located at the main entrance to Churchill Downs Racecourse.

VIP and celebrity guests at the Kentucky Derby and Oaks will enter via an immersive BMW Red Carpet Experience which BMW says features the recently updated BMW X7 Sports Activity Vehicle.

Additionally, on Derby Day, BMW will showcase the American Turf Stakes race, including significant brand exposure through various aspects of the edit, such as saddle towels, pony jackets and the finish line. , winner’s circle and starting gate signage.

Before the race, a BMW i7 commercial will be shown on what the organization has described as the largest 4K video screen in the world.

On May 5, the automaker will also serve as the official luxury vehicle of Taste of Derby – an annual pre-Derby tradition bringing together 1,200 guests in an interactive tasting that celebrates chefs and entertainers across the country, while raising funds and by sensitizing anti-hunger groups. .

At the event, BMW will showcase its BMW M850i ​​xDrive Convertible alongside the official BMW Macaron Bar.

Even the best racehorses need a little friction. After spending the second half of winter on the sidelines, omitted from England’s West Indies tour, James Anderson flew to Old Trafford to Lancashiresecond game of the season.

He was as nimble as ever, a 39-year-old man with no signs of middle age. But for some reason – the unusual Manchester sun, the brisk breeze rustling the ground, forcing spectators to remove their gloves – it became ticketless. His first seven overs went for 21 runs; its next nine for only nine. Maybe he threw a little short, a little wide at times, maybe the toast just landed butter side down.

Gloucestershire had spent the morning spreading the Lancashire international attack of Anderson, Hasan Ali, Saqib Mahmood and Matt Parkinson onto the pitch, the only batting side in the entire Championship not to lose a wicket in the morning session. They then managed to lose six between lunch and tea as Mahmood was rewarded for his accuracy, and Hasan Ali, whose celebrations deserve to be immortalized on stage, played superbly, finishing the day with six wickets.

Another Pakistani international rushed, this time Shaheen Shah Afridi on his middlesex debut against Glamorgan, a day when 16 wickets fell at Sophia Gardens. He finished with three for 35, bowling a bewildered Marnus Labuschagne with a humdinger. Daniel Bell-Drummond made 149 as Kent gradually towards 300 against HampshireZak Crawley out for seven years after dancing unannounced to Mohammad Abbas.

Essex slumped 98 for two to 168 all on a good batting run in Edgbaston, a day made worse when Dan Lawrence limped near the end clutching his hamstring. Tom Westley had been Essex’s last man at 80. Warwickshire were 76 for two at the end, with Alex Davies for an archetypal bish, bang, swish on his Warwickshire debut; Dom Sibley survived to the stumps.

At the County Ground there were more points for Dawid Malan and Harry Brook, who combined 131, but Sri Lanka Test captain Dimuth Karunaratne was dismissed on the cheap. Gareth Berg proved a tricky prospect, finishing with five for 58. yorkshire‘s Jordan Thompson then took two quick Northamptonshire the wickets before the stumps.

At the Riverside, Liam Patterson-White took five wickets as Durham struggled at 230. Haseeb Hameed was not out on the 23rd for Nottinghamshire at the close. Sam Conners took four wickets for derbyshire in the East Midlands derby against Leicestershire, who were fired for 213.

The golden touch of Brett D’Oliveira since its creation Worcestershire captain continued his second century in two games. Dropped on the 19th, he did sussex pay, flourish as the day progresses. Sussex’s main wicket-taker – whose injured list includes winter signings Steven Finn and Ollie Robinson, who are out with a dental infection – was captain and fly-half Tom Haines.