It has been a harrowing week for the NASCAR Cup Series after the Coca-Cola 600 was postponed until Monday due to bad weather, then a wreck between Denny Hamlin and Chase Elliott during the race results in a one race suspension for Elliott, and then NASCAR levies the biggest penalty ever to Stewart-Haas Racing’s number 14 team for what they said were counterfeit parts that will see driver Chase Briscoe without his crew chief for the next six weeks.  SHR has elected not to appeal the penalty.

But it was a joyous week for Ryan Blaney who erased a 59 race losing streak to win the Coke 600.

On Tuesday, the teams headed west to St. Louis and World Wide Technology Raceway for the Enjoy Illinois 300.

With Chase Elliott’s suspension and Josh Berry in Portland, Oregon for the Xfinity Series road course race, Corey LaJoie will be driving the number nine car at WWT.  As a result, Spire Motorsports needed a new driver for the number seven car.  Craftsman Truck Series driver Carson Hocevar will get his first ride in the Cup Series driving the number seven car.

Michael Waltrip joins Mike Joy and Clint Bowyer in the broadcast booth this week.

The number 12 car driven by Ryan Blaney and the number six car driven by Brad Keselowski have failed the pre-race inspection process twice; as a result, neither team will be allowed to select their pit stalls for the race.

Brad Keselowski had a left rear tire shred after just seven laps; NASCAR has allowed the number six team an extra left rear tire, saying it could have been a bad tire.

During Memorial Day weekend, Team Penske swept both the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600.  This week, Team Penske driver Joey Logano’s paint scheme features photos of every driver who has won the 100 race wins with Penzoil on the car.

Joey Logano was the fastest driver in Group A practice.  Group B drivers take to the track.

In the words of Carlos Santana, “it’s a hot one!”  Not even 10am local time and the air temperature is already 80 degrees with the track temperature at 100.  Hot temps make for a slick track and a challenge for the drivers.  The hotter the track gets, the slower the speeds.

Aric Almirola tops the list of drivers in Group B practice.

The first driver on the track to make a qualifying run from Group A is JJ Yeley who posted a time of 34.061 seconds.

Denny Hamlin is the first driver to break the 33 second mark with a time of 32.877 seconds.

Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch, Joey Logano, Tyler Reddick, and William Byron will all move on to round two of qualifying from Group A.

The first driver from Group B on the track is Noah Gragson with a time of 33.639 seconds.

Even after slapping against the wall, Corey LaJoie still ran a time of 33.442 seconds.

Ross Chastain, Austin Cindric, Kevin Harvick, Martin Truex Jr, and Ryan Blaney will move on to round two of qualifying from Group B.

Joey Logano is the first driver on the track in round tow of qualifying and sets a time of 33.006 seconds.

The second car out with a time of 32.802, Kyle Busch puts his number eight car in the P1 spot.  And will start the race from the pole on Sunday.  Ryan Blaney will start on the front row missing out the pole by eight thousandths of a second.  This is Busch’s first pole of the season.

The lineup for the Enjoy Illinois 300:
Kyle Busch
Ryan Blaney
Denny Hamlin
Kevin Harvick
Martin Truex Jr
Joey Logano
William Byron
Ross Chastain
Tyler Reddick
Austin Cindric
AJ Allmendinger
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
Daniel Suarez
Harrison Burton
Ty Gibbs
Austin Dillon
Christopher Bell
Alex Bowman
Brad Keselowski
Bubba Wallace
Michael McDowell
Kyle Larson
Justin Haley
Aric Almirola
Chase Briscoe
Carson Hocevar
Chris Buescher
Todd Gilliland
Ryan Preece
Corey LaJoie
Erik Jones
Noah Gragson
Ty Dillon
BJ McLeod
Gray Gaulding
JJ Yeley

Erik Jones and Gray Gaulding will have to start the race from the back of the field after the crews made unapproved adjustments to the cars.

Accompanied by the St. Louis Symphony, BeBe Winans performed the National Anthem before the packed house.

Olympic gold medalist Jackie Joyner-Kersee is the grand marshal and gives the command to start engines.

Out of the museum, Rusty Wallace is behind the wheel of the number two Midnight car making a lap around the track.

Stage one is 45 laps, stage two is 95 laps, and stage three is 100 laps for a total of 240 laps around the mile and a quarter track.  Drivers can run 70 to 74 laps on a single load of fuel.

On a hot June afternoon, Kyle Busch brings the field down for the green flag start of the race with 600 winner Ryan Blaney alongside.  From the inside lane, Kyle Busch gets out in front for the lead as drivers spread out behind them.  Blaney comes up to go side by side with Busch. 

The caution flag comes out on lap two for Tyler Reddick when he spins out without hitting the wall after contact with Ricky Stenhouse Jr.  Just as the caution flag was coming out, Ryan Blaney took the lead of the race.  But when the caution flag comes out, NASCAR goes by the last timing and scoring spot on the track

Driving the number nine car, Corey LaJoie fell back in the field and did not get caught up until the caution flag came out.  The master switch shut off and had to be recycled.

NASCAR has displayed the red flag and brought the cars down pit road when lightening was spotted in the area. 


After a delay of over an hour and a half for lightening, NASCAR has called the drivers to their cars in preparation of going racing again.

At 5:39pm EDT, the engines have fired once again…

After 1:45 minute delay, the cars are moving and back on the track under yellow.

Kyle Busch brings the field down for the green flag restart from the outside lane on lap eight with Ryan Blaney on the inside.  Busch and Blaney go side by side into turn one. 

Lap 10, Kyle Busch finally gets out in front for the lead with Ryan Blaney in second; Denny Hamlin, Martin Truex Jr, and Kevin Harvick round out the top five.

With the exception of a couple of battles, the field has gotten single file.

Lap 13, Kyle Busch has a lead of nearly half a second on Ryan Blaney; Denny Hamlin, Martin Truex Jr, and Kevin Harvick round out the top five.  Joey Logano passes Kevin Harvick for fifth.

Lap 17, Kyle Busch holds on to the lead with Ryan Blaney in second; Denny Hamlin, Martin Truex Jr, and Joey Logano round out the top five.  Kyle Larson has fallen to 27th.

Lap 19, Tyler Reddick has advanced nine spots since the restart after bringing out the caution flag on lap two.

Lap 20, Ryan Blaney has cut the lead on Kyle Busch to a quarter of a second.

Lap 22, Ryan Blaney has caught up to leader Kyle Busch and is challenging for the lead; Denny Hamlin, Martin Truex Jr, and Joey Logano round out the top five.

Lap 27, Kyle Busch holds on to the lead and has increased his lead on Ryan Blaney; Denny Hamlin, Martin Truex Jr, and Joey Logano round out the top five.

Falling to 32nd, Kyle Larson reports that his car is way too loose.

Sitting in for Chase Elliott, Corey LaJoie is in 31st place.

Lap 31, subbing for Corey LaJoie, Carson Hocevar is in 28th place.

Lap 34, Kyle Busch has increased his lead to nearly a second and a half on Ryan Blaney; Denny Hamlin, Martin Truex Jr, and Joey Logano continue to round out the top five.

With nine laps remaining in stage one, Kyle Busch has begun lapping slower cars.

Six laps remain in stage one, Kyle Busch has a lead of nearly a second and a half over Ryan Blaney; Denny Hamlin, Martin Truex Jr, and Joey Logano round out the top five with three cars one laps down.

Making Cup Series start 500, Brad Keselowski is having some issues with his car and has gone a lap down.

With a lead of nearly two seconds, Kyle Busch wins stage one for his first stage win of the season.

The top 10 at the end of stage one:
Kyle Busch
Ryan Blaney
Denny Hamlin
Martin Truex Jr
Joey Logano
Keven Harvick
William Byron
Ross Chastain
Austin Cindric
Daniel Suarez

Drivers come down pit road for service nose to tail.  The pit road at WWT is the narrowest on the Circuit at just 22 feet wide – barely enough for two cars to go side by side.  From pit stall number one, Kyle Busch edges out Ryan Blaney to win the race off of pit road.

Austin Cindric was caught speeding on pit road.

Martin Truex Jr was charged with leaving pit road with equipment – gas can.

Kenny Wallace joins Mike Joy, Michael Waltrip, and Clint Bowyer in the broadcast booth.

Kyle Busch brings the field down for the green flag start of stage two on lap 54 from the outside lane and gets out in front to hold on to the lead. 

Michael McDowell spins out on lap 54 after taking just two tires on lap 54.  He had some contact with Ross Chastain prior to spinning out.

Some of the drivers come down pit road during the caution flag.  With engine issues, Brad Keselowski’s crew changes all eight of the spark plugs in the car.

For the fourth time, Kyle Busch brings the field down for the green flag restart from the outside lane on lap 59.  Busch and Ryan Blaney go side by side before Ryan Blaney gets out in front for the lead on lap 61.

With the top 10 drivers single file, the top five drivers are Ryan Blaney, Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, and William Byron.  Tyler Reddick is just outside the top 10 in 12th after spinning out on lap two.  Carson Hocevar is making his debut in the Cup Series and has moved up to 18th.

Lap 64, Ryan Blaney leads the race with Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick in a battle for second.

Under cloudy skies, the track temperatures are cooling and the drivers are running some of their fastest laps of the day.

Lap 66, his car finally working right, Kyle Larson is starting his move through the field and is currently in 26th.

After making the spark plug changes, Brad Keselowski is two laps down.

Lap 68, Ryan Blaney has pulled out to a lead of over a second on Kyle Busch since taking the lead; Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, and William Byron round out the top five.

The crew reports to Brad Keselowski that there is something wrong within the engine itself and there is nothing that they can do; he is just going to have to ride it out.

Lap 77, Ryan Blaney continues to lead the race with Kyle Busch in second over a second back; Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, and William Byron rounds out the top five.  Carson Hocevar has moved the number seven car into seventeenth place.

Lap 81, Daniel Suarez passes Joey Logano for sixth.

Lap 83, Kyle Busch is very slowly closing the gap on leader Ryan Blaney and is now just over a second behind the leader; Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, and William Byron round out the top five.

Lap 88, Ryan Blaney has a one second lead on Kyle Busch.

With the stage lasting 95 laps, the drivers will have to make a pit stop during the stage.

The caution flag comes out on lap 92 when Carson Hocevar gets into the wall after blowing the right front brake.  He had reported a soft brake shortly before the problem.

Chase Briscoe comes down pit road without any power and a hole in the radiator after possibly hitting some of the debris from Carson Hocevar’s car.  The crew takes the car to the garage.

Now withing their pit window, drivers come down pit road for service with Ryan Blaney winning the race off of pit road after taking only two tires.  In sixth place, Kyle Busch is the first car on the track with four fresh tires.

The crews on pit road have apparently lost their internet connections.  FOX Sports also lost their feed for a short period of time.

Ryan Blaney brings the field down for the green flag restart with Joey Logano alongside on lap 101.  Ryan Blaney gets out in front with drivers three wide through the field.

Carson Hocevar has been checked and released from the infield care center.

Lap 105, Ryan Blaney leads the race with Joey Logano in second; Kyle Busch, Denny Hamlin, and Martin Truex Jr round out the top five.

With 32 laps remaining in stage two, Kyle Larson has moved inside the top 15 in 13th.

Kyle Busch passes Joey Logano for second. With Ryan Blane y a second and a half in front.

Lap 111, Ryan Blaney has a near second and a half lead on Kyle Busch; Joey Logano, Denny Hamlin, and Martin Truex Jr round out the top five.

William Byron passes Martin Truex Jr for fifth.

Lap 120, Kyle Busch has closed the gap on leader Ryan Blaney to less than a second; Denny Hamlin, William Byron, and Joey Logano round out the top five.

Lap 125, Ryan Blaney holds on to the lead with Kyle Busch in second; Denny Hamlin is in third over two anda half seconds back with William Byorn and Joey Logano rounding out the top five.

Lap 130, Kyle Busch has closed the gap on leader Ryan Blaney to just half a second; Denny Hamlin, William Byron, and Daniel Suarez round out the top five.

Lap 132, Kyle Busch continues to eat into Ryan Blaney’s lead and is now just a third of a second back.

Lap 135, there are 32 cars on the lead lap with Carson Hocevar the only driver out of the race.  Chase Briscoe is still off the track with the crew making repairs.

Lap 139, Kyle Larson battles with Martin Truex Jr for 10th place.

Ryan Blaney holds off Kyle Busch to win stage two.

The top 10 at the end of stage two:
Ryan Blaney
Kyle Busch
Denny Hamlin
William Byron
Daniel Suarez
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
Joey Logano
Kevin Harvick
Ross Chastain
Kyle Larson

Chase Briscoe returns to the track 49 laps down.

Drivers come down pit road for service; after taking only two tires, Tyler Reddick wins the race off of pit road.

Tyler Reddick brings the field down for the green flag start of stage three with William Byron alongside.  Drivers spread out three wide with William Byron getting out in front for the lead on lap 149.

Lap 150, the top five are William Byron, Tyler Reddick, Ryan Blaney, Denny Hamlin, and Kyle Busch.

Denny Hamlin passes Ryan Blaney for third.

Daniel Suarez and Kyle Busch battle for fifth.

Lap 151, Denny Hamlin passes Tyler Reddick for second.

Lap 153, William Byron has a lead of over half a second on Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney, Tyler Reddick, and Kyle Busch round out the top five.

Lap 157, William Byron has a half second lead on Denny Hamlin; Ryan Blaney, Tyler Reddick, and Kyle Busch round out the top five.

Mike Joy reports that William Byron hasn’t finished a race outside the top five since April.

Lap 162, with track temperatures finally under 100 degrees, William Byron holds on to a half second lead on Denny Hamlin; Ryan Blaney, Tyler Reddick, and Kyle Busch continue to round out the top five.

Lap 169, William Byron continues to lead the race with Denny Hamlin in second; Ryan Blaney, Kyle Busch, and Tyler Reddick round out the top five.   Reddick took only two tires during the last round of pit stops.

Daniel Suarez passes Tyler Reddick for fifth.  Joey Logano and Tyler Reddick battle for sixth.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr passes a very loose Kevin Harvick for eighth.

Martin Truex Jr believes that he has a piece of the brake rotor from Carson Hocevar’s car stuck in his splitter and causing some issues.

Tyler Reddick brings out the caution flag on lap 173 when he gets into the wall with a possible brake rotor issue.

Teams are withing their pit window to make it to the end of the race.  Drivers come down pit road for service with Kyle Larson winning the race off of pit road after taking only two tires.

William Byron was reporting a possible tire issue at the time the caution flag came out.

Tyler Reddick becomes the second driver out of the race due to a brake issue.

The ambulance is on pit road to see to a crew member for an unknown issue.  The front tire changer from Erik Jones crew was hit by Austin Dillon’s car.  The extent of the crew member’s injuries are not known at this time.  A member from Tyler Reddick’s crew is filling in for the injured member.

Tyler Reddick noted that the brakes were getting soft just before it broke.

With 57 laps remaining in the race, Kyle Larson brings the field down for the green flag restart with Denny Hamlin on the inside.  Drivers spread out three wide across the track.  Kyle Busch gives Kyle Larson a push to put Larson in the lead and then comes up on the outside to take the lead himself.  Kyle Larson comes up on the inside to battle for the lead.

With 55 laps remaining in the race, Kyle Busch retakes the lead with Kyle Larson in second; Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney, and Michael McDowell round out the top five.

Bubba Wallace and Kevin Harvick make it four wide ast they pass Christopher Bell and Martin Truex Jr.

With 52 laps to go, Kyle Busch has a half second lead on Kyle Larson.

Fifty to go, Kyle Busch has a lead of nearly a second on Kyle Larson; Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney, and Michael McDowell round out the top five.

William Byron is reporting a very loose condition in his car.

Lap 192, Daniel Suarez passes Michael McDowell for fifth.

Joey Logano passes Michael McDowell for sixth.  McDowell has taken only two tires on his last few pit stops.

Austin Dillon’s pi reports that there was no contact between him and anyone in Erik Jones’ crew members.

Just 44 laps to go, Kyle Bush has pulled out to a lead of nerly two seconds on Kyle Larson; Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney, and Daniel Suarez round out the top five.  Joey Logano and Daniel Suarez battle for fifth.

Noah Gragson brings out the caution flag after hitting the wall hard with a blown tire.  Gragson is out of the car and walking on his own.  Reports are that it was a third brake rotor issue.

NASCAR has stopped the cars on the track and issued the red flag with 42 laps remaining in the race so that they can get the track cleaned up.

Corey LaJoie reports that he may have run over a piece of the debris.

After a nine minute 21 second red flag, the cars are moving again under the yellow flag.

Pit road is open but only about half of the drivers come down pit road for fresh tires.

Kyle Busch brings the field down for the green flag restart with Kyle Larson alongside with just 37 laps remaining in the race.  Drivers spread out three wide in a battle for position with Kyle Busch getting out in front for the lead; Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney, and Daniel Suarez rounding out the top five.

Christopher Bell brings out the eighth caution flag of the race with 35 laps to go when he spins out after contact from Austin Cindric.

Brad Keselowski is the “lucky dog” and is back on the lead lap with an ailing car.  This is his 500th Cup Series start.

Thomas Hatcher – the injured crewman on Erik Jones’ crew – ran into his own tire carrier and has been takes to a local hospital for further treatment.

Kyle Busch brings the field down for the green flg restart with 31 laps remaining in the race.  Busch and Larson go side by side as the swap the lead back and forth before Kyle Busch finally gets out in front for the lead.

The top five are Kyle Busch, Kyle Larson, Ryan Blaney, Denny Hamlin, and Joey Logano.

Gray Gaulding comes to a stop just outside the entrance to pit road and brings out the caution flag with 28 laps remaining in the race.  Chase Briscoe is the “lucky dog” and gets one of his 49 laps back.

A few drivers came down pit d for service.

Kyle Busch brings the field down for the green flag restart from the outside lane with Kyle Larson on the inside with just 23 laps remaining in the race.  In the latest chapter of the Kyle and Kyle show, Kyle Busch holds on to the lead as drivers spread out back in the field looking for position.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr and Austin Dillon make contact in a battle for 12th place that sends Stenhouse into the wall to bring out the tenth caution flag of the race.  Dillon was clipped by Austin Cindric prior to hitting Stenhouse.  Ricky Stenhouse Jr is the latest car out of the race. 

Austin Dillon is being held for two laps after a Damaged Vehicle Policy (crash clock) violation.

NASCAR has brought out the red flag for the third time in order to repair the “safer barrier” in turn one.  Track officials are bringing bottles of water to the drivers who are waiting in their cars.

After about a five minute delay, the cars are moving once again under the yellow flag.

Kyle Busch brings the field down for the green flag restart once again with Kyle Larson alongside with 15 laps remaining in the race.  Kyle Busch edges out for the lead with Kyle Larson in second as drivers spread out across the track back in the field.

The top five are Kyle Busch, Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney, and Joey Logano.

Drivers are three wide through the field

There are 13 laps to go, Kyle Busch has a half second lead on Kyle Larson as three wide battle continue through the field.

Harrison Burton and Erik Jones make contact with the track stays green.

Austin Dillon takes his car to the garage.

Ten to go, Kyle Busch ahs a lead of over half as second on Kyle Larson.

Just eight laps remain; Kyle Busch has a near one second lead on Kyle Larson with Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney, and Joey Logano rounding out the top five.

Five to go, Kyle Busch has a lead of over a second on Kyle Larson.  Bubba Wallace gets into the wall and brings out the eleventh caution flag of the race; also with a brake rotor issue.

Both the Truck Series and the Xfinity Series races went into overtime; with just five laps remaining in the race and a lot of cleanup to do, will the Cup Series race also end under overtime?

The track at WWT has two long straighaways which gives the brakes time to cool off before they heat up in the corners.  The cycle of heat/cold is what’s causing the brake rotor issues today.

The race officially goes into overtime!

Kyle Busch brings the field down for the two lap overtime shootout to end the race with Kyle Larson on the inside.  Kyle Busch jumps out in front for htel ead with Denny Hamlin taking second; Kyle Larson, Joey Logano, and Ryan Blaney round out the top five.

Kyle Busch takes the white flag with Denny Hamlin in second.

With his 63rd Cup Series win, Kyle Busch takes the checkered flag as wife Samantha and son Brexton look on from the pit box.

After an impressive burnout, Kyle Busch takes the checkered flag for his traditional bow to the crowd as the fans cheer on.

This was not the first win for the Busch family this weekend both Kyle and son Brexton won short track races earlier this weekend.

The unofficial results of the Enjoy Illinois 300:
Kyle Busch
Denny Hamlin
Joey Logano
Kyle Larson
Martin Truex Jr
Ryan Blaney
Daniel Suarez
William Byron
Michael McDowell
Kevin Harvick
Christopher Bell
Chris Buescher
Austin Cindric
AJ Allmendinger
Todd Gilliland
Justin Haley
Ryan Preece
Erik Jones
Aric Almirola
Ty Gibbs
Corey LaJoie
Ross Chastain
Harrison Burton
JJ Yeley
Ty Dillon
Alex Bowman
BJ McLeod
Brad Keselowski
Gray Gaulding
Bubba Wallace
Austin Dillon
Ricky Stenhouse Jr
Noah Gragson
Chase Briscoe
Tyler Reddick
Carson Hocevar