Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series- Full Race -Big Machine Brickyard 400

please remain standing as Reverend Howard Bremer offers today's invocation we pause to acknowledge you the creator and sustainer of life we have a simple to hear Lord at this incredible racing capital of the world to observe 43 world-class drivers engaged in an awesome display of endurance speed and self-control we pray for the safety and well-being of every driver team member and fan in this time of turbulence and uncertainty in our nation we ask you to guide us by your light protect us by your might and unify us in your sight god bless america in the name of Jesus Christ amen ladies and gentlemen please welcome Big Machine Records Peyton Smith for the singing of the national anthem can you see what so proudly we at the twilight's whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous this fight or the ramparts we watch'd were so gallantly streaming and the Rockets red glare bombs bursting in air gave proof through the night that our flag was still there oh say does that star-spangled banner yet wave the land of the free [Music] and [Music] brain [Music] [Applause] drivers will climb into their cars this is it the last race of the regular season who will be the champion and who will kiss the pricks the days in [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] beautiful the Sun beat down [Music] our track Feeny and our singing [Music] [Music] stewey [Music] running down the drain [Music] would come to me run down a dream [Music] Monster Energy Cup Series racing from Indianapolis telecast presented by Golden Corral for our free race stories let's go trackside starting with Parker Kligerman well Rick William Byron this 24 car in this 24 team know they're in a must-win position if they want to make the playoffs but they've got two good things going for them one Williams won here next miniseries - this team is essentially the entire team that Kasey Kahne won the Brickyard 400 with last year Kelly well Jimmie Johnson is a four-time winner here at the Brickyard if number five comes today it couldn't come at a better time for the first time in postseason history Jimmie Johnson is not locked into the playoffs now in the last race of the regular season last year he had a shot to win before wrecking late the 48 car has not been to Victory Lane for forty eight races Marty they're trying to change that today a lot of pressure on the drivers today final races the regular season a lot of pressure on the crew chiefs as well just talk to that guy Rodney Childers moments ago competition cautions at lap 10 and lap 30 he said it's going to be a mess you're gonna see people pit at lap eight lap eight lap nine lap ten not come at lap thirty it's gonna be all over the board here in this first stage which means it's gonna make it very interesting to call for you Rick Allen well always when you come to Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Brickyard 400 you expect the unexpected a lot of history on the bricks of this racetrack and to get everyone rolling we must first fire the engines let's go trackside for the command and now for the most famous words in Motorsports please welcome the president founder and CEO of big machine records and big machine vodka Scott Borchetta [Music] are you ready for the 25th running of the big machine vodka 400 at the Brickyard let's do this drivers [Applause] [Music] [Applause] well rain may have pushed back the start of this race 24 hours but nothing can push down when you come to Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the history of this place well it's simple Rick is a young boy growing up in this country watching auto racing my heroes were created at this racetrack whether it was unser or Floyd and open-wheel and transition to Gordon and Earnhardt at the Brickyard this racetrack creates racing legends unprecedented weekend there has not been any track time by any of the drivers for this race that has never happened before in the modern era of NASCAR so when these Cup drivers go out there who should be worried well it's the unknown for everyone we've never seen this as you just said and that is a concern for not just a crew chief but the driver as well how hard do they push and it couldn't come at a worse race this is the last race of the regular season so think about two drivers that are currently in the playoffs but just barely it's William excuse me Jimmie Johnson and Alex Bowman just on the inside why they look good on points a surprise winner would absolutely devastate their playoff hopes would that be safe Jamie McMurray he has won the Brickyard before or Ryan Newman another Brickyard 400 winner but I think perhaps the sentimental favorite the driver of the 24 think Jeff Gordon took the 24 to Victory Lane five times in this race a record that's currently stands today could William Byron become the youngest ever Brickyard 400 winner and get a race win in his rookie season and remember this is the last race of the regular season so those playoff points are up for grabs as well we're gonna call this race a little differently than we normally do and we come to Indianapolis we're gonna call it radio style so out in turn two will be XM serious radio and mrn radio Mike Bagley in turn three will be well on the Crowsnest Dale Earnhardt jr. is actually driving the pace car so he'll be up there just a little bit and the mayor Jeff Burton has turned four he will be handing it back off to Steve and I here in the pagoda in this very historic racetrack and let's go to turn two and Mike Bagley what are we gonna see out there Mike see a lot of interesting racing I think Rick this is a very finicky racetrack and it's a very fast racetrack and all of the excitement comes on restarts last year Martin Truex Jr to the inside just has a slight bobble in turn number one slides up makes contact with Kyle Busch everybody had to scatter to avoid and it was amazing to watch everybody scattered their through and make their way through off turn number two and on the back straightaway when you get off to you want a good run you want to get that run down to the inside and you want to be able to complete that pass before you reach turn three that's where Dale Earnhardt jr. will be positioned for us once he leaves the pace car and then once through three another short chute and into the view of Jeff Burton back me everybody wants to win a Brickyard 400 and on top of that you have all the pressure of the playoffs starting next week winning means a great deal finishing well means a great deal we saw the intensity last year pick up you mentioned restarts you exactly right three wide into turn three just plain and simple is not going to work see Jimmie Johnson on the bottom of the racetrack trying to push the issue make something happen the car gets away from him contact big contact in the wall this day over turn four Kurt Busch into the inside wall shoots him back out in front of his teammate Clint Bowyer we're all on the helmet clam nowhere to go incredible impact so these corners three why doesn't work it's hard to make 2y2 work you're going to see some incredible action today and we are looking forward to it the 25th running of the Brickyard 400 is coming up next the green flag will fly we return [Music] [Music] NASCAR on NBCSN is brought to you by Golden Corral your choice rules credit one bank the official credit card of NASCAR and by Toyota let's go places in Annapolis Motor Speedway so much history made here at the Brickyard three-time Cup champion Tony Stewart tells us what it means to him there's just something magical there's always been an energy you can feel have been there in the past you sense that there's something else going on other than what's physically happening to drive across that yard or bricks is something that you can't explain to people [Music] [Applause] that memory of coming down the front stretch and seeing those checkered flags waving I finally have to realize a dream since I was a child I wish I could put in words today he's been my entire life you take somebody that's one the biggest lotteries in the world and that's what it feels like you feel like you're king for a day you feel like you're the most powerful person in the world when you've won the Brickyard the whole team everybody jumps up and climbs the fence everybody gets to line up and kiss the bricks that shows you how significant and how much it means to win - pretty good there's a lot of races to win and there's a lot of races that when you retire you love having that trophy on there but there's no better feeling than winning that's Brickyard he said you celebrate for the day but that stays with you for a lifetime of Brickyard 400 winner take a look at the starting grid brought to you by Golden Corral it will roll across the top of the screen and NBC's own Dale Earnhardt jr. buddy is the pace car driver today leading a field to the start of the race in the 2018 Chevy Camaro zl1 he told us he wasn't gonna use the cruise control hopefully that's true hey Dale genius its Letarte up at the booth man you got a copy yeah I got a copy buddy you hear me oh I got you got you good so you've done so many cool things and racing just tell us what this experience is like leading the field to the start of the 25th Brickyard well some good-looking race cars back there and it's a great feeling there's so much energy you know as you get closer closer to the drop the green flag and I've had so many opportunities to see this sport from so many different perspectives take advantage of every one every opportunity and this is just a new one so on thank Indy and Chevrolet and Kyle Busch forgive me and bumper on the back straightaway he gave so I didn't miss out on being part of this I'd like to do that to the pace car driver so it's been a good one so far well we appreciate you taking that perspective but now hustle over your turn three get up up in the crow's nest here then we got a little replay of your buddy just tie a welcoming you back to the racetrack is what I think this is right here bump and run it's all funny till he spins out the pace car so much fun yeah Milton who knows he's gonna have some fun today he'll be calling the action in turn three today and again to buy to the field set by owners points they have not been on the track at all no practice no qualifying let's find out how the driver of the two Brad Keselowski is doing let's dial him up hey Brad Steve Letarte up in the NBCSN booth you got a copy pal well man you got to tell me the big story historic day no practice no lapse no anything how does that change your approaches you're coming close to the green here at Indy I can't say those changes no it's still a race so a great trophy and uh you know to be able to win [Applause] well this racetrack is so historic this race a crown jewel but it has to be even more special coming here with Roger Penske being your owner he's synonymous with this racetrack what's a mean to drive for Roger Penske here around for over 50 years and won here at Indy more times I can count on my fingers and toes so in that bind it'd be nice to have a a NASCAR Brickyard win in the Cup Series we've got one unfinished years without the cup series so we had a chance to put that mark on the board today and you know based on the last week I'd say it's a good chance to do so well man I just want to thank you on behalf of us at NBC and everyone all the fans listening taking a little bit of time to talk to the fans before starting one of the biggest races of the year we really appreciate it welcome I'm going up there and thanks for everybody I won't tell your boss you don't tell my oh your boss is watching by the way read very closely we're gonna ride along with a few different drivers on today's race one of those being Ricky Stenhouse jr. he has the John Deere onboard and one of the cameras will be the side panel which will be on the right side or passenger side of that car well yeah chase Elliott with a Chevrolet onboard camera and this is going to have a great shot at the work that chase Elliott is putting in looking back at the driver we're going to see just what it's like to take laps around the indy we also have Denny Hamlin with the FedEx on board and the helmet cam FedEx delivers more than just packages FedEx delivers possibilities look at helmet king oh that's a great shot let them know they're ready to go right here we have Kyle Larson the 42 is that credit one bank onboard camera he has this cam wherever the action is this camera could find it 360 degrees all the way around the car Jimmy John's has a camera on Kevin Harvick's car will be able to ride along with him also a 360 cam we can see anything going on anywhere around Kevin Harvick on the racetrack so the Brickyard 400 such a famous race back here in 1990 for the first time the Cup Series came break down this race for us 400 miles 400 miles and a very oddly shaped racetrack it's very historic but it is flat they call it although it's really like a rectangle 160 laps of those 160 laps you broke it down to the stages the first and second stage pull 50 laps in length that leaves 60 laps for the final stage the fuel window is around 40 a little before maybe a little bit after lap 40 Dave so guys keep this in mind Martin Truex Jr was supposed to start third but because he failed technical inspection three times he will start at the rear more importantly he just radioed to his crew the brake pedal it feels squishy add that to his list of challenges as he tries to win his first Brickyard 400 Kelly hey no practice no problem for chase Elliott who said he's fired up and loves the idea of no practice or qualifying crew chief Alan Gustafson said it could be an advantage for this team before saying quote it'll be fun we'll see how much fun he has starting 11th partner oh that's the case for Regan Smith as well who hasn't been in the Cup car for 17 months he's filling in for Kasey Kahne and guys this team did something really odd they came down pit road here under the pace laps to allow him to stop in the box because he hasn't done that so long Marty the field set by owner points so why would the top 2 and the championship standings choose the first two pit stalls on pit road because they're much quicker Rodney Childers told me that even the second saw here on pit road is half a second faster than other stalls further down and to work that out you see Rodney Childers and Adam Sea kind of working strategy for later in the day some of the narrowest pit boxes on the cup circuit here in Indianapolis but also the longest they're gonna work together to make sure there's no problems on pit road today Rick and it looks like Dale jr. is actually going to pull the car off of the racetrack you will pull the pace car off competition caution at lap ten and lap thirty and then of course the end of the stage at lap fifty two by two they come down the front stretch in front of the grandstands we're underway with a Brickyard 400 here come the leaders diving into turn number one Kyle Busch's away with the lead Kevin Harvick will grab second the first battle up for grabs is for third and Logano for a moment slow on purpose way that's Logano in the 22 running in the court spot right now everybody clears turn to cleanly and everybody is in hot pursuit of Kyle Busch who's gotten away to about a four car lately very interesting race no practice whatsoever they have no idea the cars are going to drive something you see a little bit of patience right now ten laps until the competition caution has an early competition caution but excessive tire we're here he's here doors that come out of turn number four Brad Keselowski in the to flocking as he goes to the inside trying to hold off the 14 of Clint Boyer been the 22 of Joey Logano on the outside doesn't normally work side by side when they enter turn one wide open so Joey Logano gets the advantage over his teammate he's running in the fourth position right now because last he's not giving up here's Brad he could hard down low in the two trying to open up the inside line and he's got him lined up at the back door Keselowski down low Logano up high Keselowski will grab the spot he'll go the Ford Logano that yellow and red car will fall the fifth and he's still under fire he was working really hard to keep that position because they're lined up behind him right now Laura's got a big run I picked up two spots in the short there was 22 and that allowed the car to get by him on the inside but now we see chase Elliott in the 9 making the move as well everyone taking advantage of this opportunity on this early restart chase Elliott running in the 10th position right now he is in that white and blue number 9 car and behind him is Denny Hamlin in that FedEx Toyota Jimmie Johnson is there as well along with Erik Jones and here comes Alex Bowman he'll peek to the inside he'll try to get a run as they race down the backstretch I'm seizure right along with Denny Hamlin they're out of that rear bumper cam side-by-side right here Alex Bowman Erik Jones home has got the spot that's where you want to be Erik Jones to back off himself get back to the bottom of the race Byron's trying to take advantage of those issues as he looks to the inside Byron in the 24 trying to take away that spot from Eric Jones as we see Kyle Larson in the 42 in front of the 22 of Joey Logano Larson will go to the number six position there's Logano in the 22 he's seventh his teammate Ryan Blaney right behind him tried to close down and take that spot away Marty and you see Joey Logano started third has fallen back to seventh he said is extremely tight in the middle of the corners and then it snaps loose coming off the corners Jeff I'm assuming and Indianapolis that's not a fun feeling competition caution coming at lap ten Kyle Busch Kevin Harvick running one and two here in Indy [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] catch all the action of NASCAR on NBC with the NBC sports app you can get closer with alternate camera angles driver stats and track information you get it anytime anywhere Marty seven laps in Rick and this competition caution coming up at lap ten it's going to get crazy here on pit road Rodney Childress saying some cars are going to come down at lap eight Adam Stevens agrees may be lap nine for some cars but the problem is if you don't pit on that competition caution you can't take fuel you can only take fuel at lap 10 and lap 30 and not in between those so that kind of puts you in a little bit of a box deep for those tires that track position way more important well yeah it's all about track position so pit road doesn't close like it would before a stage so there's really nothing other than the yellow coming up so I expect a bunch of cars and basically it's all how close part of the leader the front five or six compared without losing the lap but as more cars pit that opens the window for other cars so it's a little bit of a moving target as we see the field completing lap nine here yeah they're on lap nine so they would have to if they want to come before the competition caution they have to come right now we'll see if Kyle Busch or Kevin Harvick take that opportunity Kyle Busch Kevin Harvick Kurt Busch Brad Keselowski foot boy they are the top five and it looks as though they're gonna stay out and complete this lap so they will go all the way to the competition caution which will be lapped in we'll see if any takers come off of turn number four and dive on to pit road this could be tough to this situation but the leaders deciding to stay out I don't think anyone any farther behind them and the pack can come so it looks like everyone's gotta kind of play nice and run the first 10 laps as its intended the whole idea of a competition yellow instant let these crew chiefs look at the tires to see what the wear situation is this track is very hard on tires Xfinity race just getting over a lot of Cup crew chiefs were on pit road looking at the tire wear of the tires that came off the Xfinity cars and that Xfinity race is going to help the track you see there's that light spot on the track a little bit darker groove where the cars are running all that rubber that's put down that was from the Xfinity race yes because there was no and we see now the 18 and the 9 wears giving me the 4 thinking about coming to pit row the 4 does so just before the competition caution is going to come out the 4 of Kevin Harvick has douve onto pit road morning I think they were calling the 18 to pit road as well so maybe a little miscommunication we will follow up on that we see Kevin Harvick coming down pit road no real complaints about the car love these guys have been really complaining and again their first truck laps on the track right now so Kevin Harvick and Rodney Childers coming down pit road here they're going to put on four or fresh Goodyear tires and take a slight air pressure adjustment but no major changes and when everybody else pits at the competition caution they will say out and we're waiting for that caution it just comes out now from my position I was watching the 18 and the four and they both slowed down all the turn four like they were going to pit I think that Kyle Busch he's all he's coming to pit road slowing down he just missed it he tried to carry too much speed to get into pit road and wasn't able to make it so you see he wasn't faking Kevin Harvick he's been faking him out he wouldn't have slowed down that much so that was the state bike by Kyle Busch surprise pork teams didn't try it we'll see it's obvious gonna work out for Kevin Harvick I think I saw the 14 of Clint Boyer also on pit road so hook games of track position the only drawback to that was the King penalty penalty well we just showed the replay and the tires were smoking is he came on to pit road I hadn't heard anything so I assumed he got down to pit road speed we'll see what the penalty was but I was speeding or a tire violation we'll have to get the word from NASCAR but it was an uncontrolled tire that was the penalty for the four team Marty and guys yes they did call Kyle Busch to pit road a little bit too late he knew he was gonna hit that commitment box so he just said I'm not gonna make it not worth it stayed out there Adam Seidman says my bad I should have given you more notice well a good decision by Kyle doctor you know risk hitting that box so we uncontrolled tire on the 4 so basically all the tires have to be in control which is about an arm length away from a crew member you see right here the crew member coming around sure right there that shows exactly what I'm looking for a wheel really way out in front of him yeah it was they say it's within arm's length so one wheel goes ahead and nobody's with it and then the crew member does catch up to it that's a tough call I'm not sure that would have got involved there are 40 cars on pit road but there's only two it's a lot easier to see that and now the field will all come back to pit road because the four will have to come back on pit road now under this competition caution led by the 18 Dave third place Brad Keselowski will bring the two car down pit road trying to win Roger Penske his first Brickyard 400 that car is a little bit loose off of every corner so they'll make some adjustments for that as for the 41 of Kurt Busch running in second place now that adjustment has already been made for his race car the left rear tire going on the 41 car will have reduced air pressure as the crews go to work and hit pit road Marty Kyle just let all 11 laps to this point Dave and there was some debate on the radio about maybe even staying out here at the comp caution Adam Stephen said just bring it here why not so no real changes except the car a little bit too free on exit when Kyle gets back to the gas to good your tires for the 18 of Kyle Busch you will there you see easily win that race off pit road right yeah the race off pit road brought to you by Kroger clicklist and Kyle Busch the two-tire stop very popular with the top four Erik Jones Paul Menard and Byron also employing that same strategy how about a little trickery the 11 decides now we're gonna stay out the only one that doesn't [Music] [Music] [Music] Chevy the most awarded and fastest-growing brand the last four years overall discover why at chevy.com shetty an official vehicle of NASCAR back of Brickyard and after his successful pace car duties juniors back he's in the crow's nest in turn three bagman what have you seen so far I've seen a lot of patience and I've seen a lot of drivers doing a little tiptoeing I'm here not one to push the issue not knowing what they had underneath them it's been clean and green so far Dale jr. welcome to the telecast yeah I don't know 223 yeah it's good to be here I'm excited ready to go green here gonna see some action first action I'll be calling all weekend so let's get to it and into the restart zone green flag flying and now we'll see if Denny Hamlin's call here to stay out is a good one looks like he got a little shoved there from teammate Kyle Busch as he slams it into turn number one and a little bobble there at a Clint Boyer fighting for second lawyers gonna hang on to that race car clout bushes they're down to the inside he'll storm to the number 2 position Boyer back in line in third but he's under fire from Erik Jones on the backstretch Denny Hamlin's stretching it out with those old tires will wonder how long we be able to hold that leaves that backside Kurt Busch on the inside of William Byron William buyer is gonna have to get into position down at the turn three that's the smartest thing to do Jr's just give that spot up if not chase and get a run chase he'll you got a run anyway drives underneath [Music] it's run of the 2 of Brad Keselowski and William Byron now trying to stay in front of that group as Denny Hamlin surprisingly pulling away from Kyle Busch he made the move to stay off of pit road under this competition caution now he's pulling away dropping further back in the field you saw Joey Logano in the red and yellow number 22 he is running right now in the 13th position and he's trying to hang on to what he's got that car not exactly the way he wanted it in the early going right now he's under fire by Joey Alex Bowman trying to find a way to get run to create a pass here in the 3 they look like he's going to get job done here go he's still struggling with that car down into turn 3 hopes up the rest he's gotten behind me this is a good shot from Bowman [Music] down this ball straight away but going and you see the playoff points on the left side of the screen right there on the last position of making it into the playoffs the 88 of Alex Bowman again he would be the first one out if we get a new winner outside of the top 16 here at the Brickyard he is running in the 15th position right now and he is getting a whole lot of company here comes Jamie McMurray opens the inside lane and the birdie will pull to the inside the moment that creates a lot of trouble behind Alex Bowman he might be a freight train down the back straightaway two three four cars look at ronmark tricks junior diving in trying to take that position as well it's a great example of Indianapolis you lose momentum Vickers to return for they're going to gang up on you just kills you see Daniel Defoe's was gonna get him underneath Alex Bowman we heard earlier the 78 potentially had a issue with the brake pedal he started last in the field it doesn't look like any issues to be Rick +21 position since the start of the race up into the 17th as we look up here Kyle Busch and Clint Bowyer continue to battle for the second position Kyle Busch and Clint Bowyer now separated by five car lengths warriors starting to starting to come to life starting to shave up a car leg here in the car link there Jamie Hamlin long gone away from these two Clint Boyer hanging in here with Kyle Busch strong performance from that 40 t down to the turn three you see Clint Boyer so low he is that's what he's got to do he's got to get out of that wake of that 18 car he gets low very early that's what he's forced to do if he tries to stay out [Music] Kevin Harvick had an uncontrolled tire on pit road well the same goes for the 17 of Ricky Stenhouse jr. you see that tire is just getting rolled with no one even near it for five or six feet towards the front of the car Ricky Stenhouse jr. was running 20th currently running 25th so recovering from the penalty but still cost him spots as the battle for second continues to heat up between Clint Boyer and Kyle Busch Clint Boyer right on the tail a Kyle Busch can't really put a run together to get a pass but he's starting to add some more pressure closing in even tighter down to turn three publish to the bottom mark on the 48 car really nice to the turn three minor momentum you can build off and turn three junior by running very low they wanted to where they're approaching really right now Rick what I'm thinking about is that right front tire on the 11 of Denny Hamlin you heard the strategy we showed it to he stayed on the racetrack now remember that Xfinity race has definitely cured the racetrack somewhat some rubber I'm sure that affected their decision but they have to be considering was it the right one with ten laps before the next yellow panel per second continues Clint Bowyer stalking Kyle Busch trying to take that spot away it takes several laps to set up a pass here lawyers getting himself in position it takes several laps but as each lap goes by the tires get hotter and more worn in that pass becomes more and more difficult of a cowboy start to put a little discipline fits between him and Clint Bowyer he did not hit turn three very well though right there he was on out on the bottom leaving the corner cliff helped him gain my boyfriend is treasure and then starting to run just a little bit of these to raise stop three separating themselves the 4 of Kevin Harvick with the penalty what's going on with them Marty he's back up to 23rd he restarted 34th after this one restart a moment ago Rodney Childers after that uncontrolled tire penalty brought him back down pit road they put fuel in the number 4 car just to make sure they could stay on sequence with everybody else Kevin told us in the pre-race show I know at some point today we're going to be in traffic he is in the middle of it right now in 23rd he can't get frustrated back there jr. with a car because he knows he has a quick race car back into turn 3 the 14th close back in on the 18 a great run here toward you Jeff but boy has got a faster race car right now I just can't find a way babbu showed a very good job that corner right there accomplished really took the air away get right through his rear bumper get into one it's got a great rug now staying right in the tire tracks of the 18 Clint Boyer now turns the nose to the inside as they dive into turn number one but still the advantage goes to the 18 of Kyle Busch running second but Clint Boyer is on the back porch there Kyle Busch looks over his shoulder and Clint Bowyer's stalking his every move here's Kyle here's Clint battling for the second spot the separation Dale is now three car lengths this battle right here is allowed any handling to stay comfortably in the lead but it's still heating up between Clint Bowyer and Kyle Busch down into turn three flip or you're right on the bumper there that's close enough to upset the air on the 18 car you're watching Monster Energy Cup Series racing from Indianapolis it's the big machine vodka 400 at the Brickyard [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] monster energy come Series racing from Indianapolis telecast presented by Golden Corral Denny Hamlin still out front with the leap on Wednesdays at 9:00 a.m. make sure to tune in to the morning drive the back man on there as well as Pete goose Tony and this week Parker Kligerman will join the crew that's on NASCAR radio channel 90 serious Axew out front Denny Hamlin about a 7/10 of a second lead over Kyle Busch Kyle Busch and Clint Boyer that battle has continued Kurt Busch running fourth and behind them the 20 of Erik Jones pick about this 11 of Denny Hamlin he was asked earlier in the weekend what does no practice do to the field and he said you know what I think it hurts the big three I think not having any practice for them to work on their race car is gonna help the rest of us right now Marty looks like Danny knew what he was talking about as he has a little under a one-second lead over Kyle Busch plus the strategy calls from Mike wheeler that has him out front and a time hole something different on the 11 car this weekend and he told me I really wish we would have had practice he's getting to good practice right now behind him his teammate Kyle Busch is in second he said I'm too tight I can trap the bottom of a corner but the cars starting to come to him the longer they run and clipboard and third and frustrated saying man even if you have an advantage over the car in front of you you can't pass it's a very difficult passing situation here at Indianapolis Kelly Erik Jones a couple of spots now in six position remember he took two tires during that competition caution and it sounds like Erik now has his hands full with this 20 cars on turn for the team to Sunim got to be patient patients at Indianapolis when the Brickyard 400 is on the line that has to be very difficult as we see the 20 diving into the turn and again Erik Jones running in that sixth spot to it's Denny Hamlin Kyle Busch Clint Boyer Kurt Busch aric almirola Erik Jones Kyle Larson Paul Menard chase Elliott and Brad Keselowski are the top 10 so the 11 of Denny Hamlin headed back into turn two and he's maintaining a great distance between himself and his teammate in Kyle Busch danny has flawless to the bottom of the racetrack but so is Kyle and so is Clint how much they're in the 18 car and of course Clint in the red white and blue the purport team cars are battling for second a note for all these guys trying to win and get into the playoffs look at Denny handle it out here on these old tires driving away from these two guys at least incredible lead at the battle for second still bruised that's a really good comment about what Hammonds doing but behind him aric amirola he put on four tires he started back in 14th and he's driven himself up to fifth so yes much more warning tires or track position back in the back we're on lap thirty this is the second competition caution which is going to come out as soon as the field or at least the top ten get to the start/finish line to complete 30 laps they're on lap 30 now and Denny Hamlin's still out front [Music] watch it aric almirola in the number five position they're coming out of turn two Eric running all by himself having a good run so far he's in the fifth position as he heads to turn three definitely having a great run Eric winless this year but he's had several great opportunities this year what a incredible day it would be for him to get the win today it ended Yankee you know that he feels like he's he's has been shot sample shot to win races boy trying to take that second spot away Clint Boyer does it as they going to turn number one now they're waiting for that competition caution to come out Dave Kurt Busch has come to pit road in the 41 car they will take on tires and fuel Kurt saying the car is still pretty tight till they make an adjustment for that and send it back on his way they can't take fuel News 41 because he pitted before the competition yellow so this is a strategy call to get track position you now see the yellow is on the racetrack that will slow the leaders down that will allow Kurt Busch to have service without losing a lap Marty his teammate Kevin Harvick made the move to pit road before the competition caution came out as well so Rodney Childers making that call once again they're gonna make sure they don't have an uncontrolled tire here hoping to use this to their advantage clearly a very quick car for Kevin Harvick now they're going to get the track position they hope to have what a big call for Rodney Childers he was running 19 he didn't know when the yellow was gonna come out and as the four rolls off pit road the leaders are only 500 or a thousand feet behind him on the racetrack but a thousand feets enough he'll stay on the lead lap the gamble was the pit road would get close as he was slowing down to get on it because when the caution comes out they immediately close pit road so a big gamble but it pays off for Kevin Harvick it pays off because now they will basically line up on the front row teammates Kurt Busch and Kevin Harvick so I like the strategy I like the aggression and looking talked about aggression look at this trip to pit road locks the tires up I tell you one thing Steven I think we're gonna see with we're seeing all these cars did you notice the last competition caution but if I'm leading the race and I know people are pitting I'm not slowing down when the caution comes up and I'm slowing down but I'm not going down as much I'm trying to keep that pace up to try to keep those guys in a position where you could lap them so that's something a little bit of communication to the 11 car if they would have told him hate cars they're on pit road carry as much speed as possible maybe he could have left those two cars on pit road always be paying attention because I agree those games can be played take advantage and another penalty for the 17 team of Ricky Stenhouse jr. this time it's speeding on pit road they were trying everything they could to get into the playoffs but getting snake bit all right didn't ask our coverage when you're on the go with NASCAR mobile official app of NASCAR puts race coverage and live in car cameras right at your fingertips search NASCAR in the App Store or visit NASCAR COMSOL and shutting the car off as he runs around this track but again a speeding penalty for Ricky Stenhouse jr. he's trying to come to pit road like the 41 and the four oh my goodness they got her to back her down there hey one thing to think about guys though practice so no practice for pit road speed either during the day during the weekend great point absolutely all those details no time on track to figure him out Marty Glenn finishes second there as he cop caution comes out at lap 30 he said I don't need much here I need just a little bit well too tight for that 14 car that can make an air pressure adjustment you see the nd Hamlin middle of your screen he was kind of mad at himself he said I kind of didn't run as hard as I could have there at the end of that run I might have been able to put some of those cars a lap down who sort of mad at himself for that there's going to be a very slight air pressure adjustment on the 11 car as well he said it needs a little bit of front turn first teammate Kyle Busch he said on the first stop you guys help the exit I still need help on entry car too tight for Kyle Busch on entry we'll see if that first pit stall pays off for those guys but a lot of to tire changes there you see you're on pit road Rick Boyer Keselowski chase Elliott McMurray all two-tire stops all gaining spots on pit road [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] NASCAR on NBCSN is brought to you by credit one bank the credit card perfect for everyday purchases Sonic's car hop classic get a quarter-pound double cheeseburger or a slinger plus tots for just $2.99 and by Ford going further so you can the Monster Energy Cup Series racing from Indianapolis telecast presented by Golden Corral see a time-lapse switching over from the end of the Xfinity Series race to get the cup cars all in line for this race Marty well it's been a busy time here on pit road Rick for Kevin Harvick and his race team they had to change guns actually the right rear gunner the rear gun failed when they came down pit road under green and they pitted before the cop caution they had to replace that gun as we go back to green here on Indianapolis and now Kevin Harvick restarting on this 3/4 24 foot Boyer dives on the inside of Kurt Busch boy in the 14 Kurt Busch in the 41 those two door-to-door into truth Busch letting it fly on the outside here comes two years push with a strong power boom for the top of turn number two he'll grab the lead as they head down the back straightaway that outside line strum on the restarts in the Xfinity race strong again now the Cup race is clinton his clip boy or looses that lead wanted to turn three Kurt Busch out front to to get the last of the little driver damage hanging on a third that damaged on the 2 of Keselowski that might actually be an advantage if you look at it a little bit by the 3 of Austin Dillon as they come onto the front stretch Cal pushing that 18 trying to get back up toward the front where he was running most of the beginning of this stage but it's Kurt Busch and Clint Boyer that are 1 2 through the short shoot Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch playing catch-up now as they are running seventh and eight take that sixth and seventh respectively they've got a lot of work to do and now they're back in traffic as Hamelin is on the move to the inside of the Murray off to little side draft on the side of the MacMurray moves away to get away from the side draft that he can create on the same car now he gets helped his teammate is closer but we're going to make that pass on James Murray down into turn three accomplished taking full advantage of that opportunity that was opened up late booth falling hammer very smart Hamilton Kyle Busch running sixth and seventh now as they're trying to work their way back up front it's Kurt Busch Clint Boyer Brad Keselowski and chase Elliott in front of them tag-team action there between Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch Hamlin in the 11 Kyle Busch in the 18 they are separated by four car lengths now is a race down the backstretch set this side on the Chevrolet of chase Elliott out front it's got a teammate right behind him Kyle Busch another stroke Gibbs car these guys are working their way through this top five at Denny Hamlin we've seen a lot of speed from Hillman practice recently pointed out the damage to the right rear of the 2 of Brad Keselowski almost a little bit of maybe extra aerodynamic help there but they didn't mean to have that happen no it's flared like you've been to the outside and happened here on pit road you see Brad Keselowski trying to turn into his pit stall right there 12 barely contacts it appeals that quarter panel out towards the right a nice big flare on it so though how much of a help it is but I think it's at least directionally correct if it's not directionally incorrect right now or a hill the truth can certainly make it one got to thank his teammate at your race they're giving him that opportunity look at Jimmy handling barriers tear it down all chase Elliott put pressure on him to try to pick the pin position here details go to the inside so now Denny Hamlin trying to fight by the nine of William Byron Scooby chase Elliott in the 9 and now he's going to bring the 18 with him Kyle Busch takes a spot away as well Denny Hamlin Kyle Busch working together toward the front both those drivers easing to the inside of chase Elliott at the entrance have turned them on not only had they completed the past they pulled away now by five maybe six car lengths and the 11 and the 80 handling the Commish continue to make hey Denny Hamlin down the back straightaway still just a few car lengths ahead of his teammate Kyle Busch these guys working together Tom's not putting enough pressure on Dean upset his car as they work through his top five use that to drive deep breath tray load again if any happens over the whole football with the work here and helping me to get back to the front behind these two gifts cars right here a few physicians back the one of Jamie McMurray currently in seventh some breaking news today Chip Ganassi told The Associated Press that Jamie McMurray wouldn't be full-time wouldn't be back at chip Udacity next year there had been rumors speculation about where that driver would be going who would be driving the one and I don't think we have that answer yet but Dave right out of the owners mouth that Jamie McMurray not back in the one in 2019 yep that report also said that he was off for the Daytona 500 in 2019 and also a managerial position but no response yet from Jamie's camp interestingly on that last stop guys they took two left-side tires on the one and with that story of Jamie McMurray leading this race is Kurt Busch who has said that he wasn't more than likely going to come back to stewart-haas racing and that the one of Jamie McMurray was where he was going to end up at least that was one of the options so that kind of puts that ball rolling as far as the rumor mill of where are people going to end up in the Cup Series in 2019 let's go NASCAR non-stop right front of the 78 [Music] [Music] [Music] you saw it non-stop the third caution has come out at Indianapolis and what a week it has bid for the 7018 mart trucks Jr Cole Pearn the announcement came earlier this week stating that the 78 team would cease operations in 2019 Marni Visser has said that they will not field a car for 2019 and a very difficult time for the entire crew driver of the 78 team as they now will go behind the wall to try to fix whatever happened under the hood that push that hood up and a few drivers taking advantage of this caution coming back to pit road David Rick we had reported that Jamie McMurray running seventh to the left side tires last time this time they go to the right side looks like they'll change all four for McMurray and head to check chassis just a party Kevin Harvick is going to come down pit road in this new rear gun that's on the rear tire changer everything is fine with that so they got all the lug nuts tight under the last caution going to put on tires here they're also going to clean the grill they said there's a lot of grass on the grill Ryan Blaney also on pit road they're gonna fix that damage where he make contact with his teammate Brad Keselowski he's on pit road as well you see Harvick leaving 14 five on his stop you saw the smoke out of the 78 of Martin Truex do you hear he is heading into turn one see anything obvious but something right there you see parts and pieces bouncing off the car smoke it looks like all the tires have air we're gonna have to see what broke on the 78 [Music] [Music] bhaskar drive is your live race day companion you can watch throughout the broadcast select alternate camera angles or ride along with in-car video your favorite drivers visit nascar.com / drive or download the nascar mobile app today so we took another peek at a 78 replay and what we're hearing it was a brake failure remember the report early in the race about a squishy pedal or a brake issue on the 78 we'll look right here as he goes down gets on the brakes into turn one the left front it looks to me like a rotor the left front brake rotor comes apart it destroys the hood the hood is up and I'm expecting all this smoke I can't believe there's that much smoke four brake fluid so what I imagine is as those parts and pieces came off the left front corner they caught some an oil line or maybe the oil pan or something in the oiling system you see right here Martin Truex Jr explaining to his crew member no laps on the racetrack this is an issue they had from the drop of the green flag you have to ask yourself Rick would they have been able to touch this if we would have have practice but no practice means a lot of issues have already taken place at the start of this race let's check in with the guys around the track we'll start with the back man well what's oppressive to me Rick is how Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch have been able to rally their way through the field they've been picking them off one after another Hamlin the escort to Kyle they're just weaving their way through making progress and I think that bear on tap for a great day here at Indy if everything stays together Dale what about you yeah I don't do that and say Clint Boyer is someone who's impressed me I did not see him putting together a pass to take that second position away from Kyle Busch when he did I just didn't feel like that got a strong enough car even you know stronger than Kyle to be able to make the pass the dirty air but he did somehow someway we're going forward and you mentioned Clint boy well that his teammate Kurt Busch Kurt Busch drove away from Clint boy so Kurt Busch showing a lot of a lot of speed here today and remember to playoffs start next week I wouldn't sleep on Kurt Busch hey what you got buddy Martin Truex Jr is who I have and we heard from the pace laps Martin that you were concerned about the brakes what did you feel going to turn three there just left front brake rotor exploded went through the hood I thought I blew a tire initially going into one there oh this is gonna hurt but the car kept turning luckily and I was able to keep it off the wall so just brake rotor exploded I don't know what was going on the brakes we had major issues from the start of the race and obviously you know all that kind of compounded into having a brake issue a major break issues so it's unfortunate auto-owners Toyota was really fast and hard as it is the past year we were getting there making her way to the front and I felt like any time we got clean there we had really good speed so wish we could have raced all day and seeing what we could have done with them but hopefully I'll get this bad luck out of the way and a playoffs before the playoffs start next week with the announcement this week I know you guys were trying to keep a stiff upper lip this weekend Martin yeah I mean we're we got a we got a great bunch of guys here a great bunch of hardcore racers and uh nobody's gonna put their heads down and give up I can promise you that so we're gonna come out swinging to Vegas important stuff comes next week playoff starts guys Danny Hamill made the call this could affect the big three more than anyone and already one of them out of the race field approaching the Geico restart zone [Music] and coming up on lap 46 now just five laps to go until the end of stage one then he handling aggressively to the inside side by side for the lead as they head to you bagman Hamlin took the look to the inside range almost at the three white backs away and let Kurt Busch and Flint Boyer battle for the lead here's foyer to the inside of the back straightaway quit boyars side draft the 41 of Kurt Busch drives away trying to defend against the side draft himself takes the position down into turn three here second closing third hard Clint boy was working to get the lead file he was able to make it happen let's see if he is aggressive the 42 of Kyle Larson will be he was all over the back bumper the 18 has a run now trying to take that spot away working to the inside he pulls away the long ways away from the 18 and completes the pass as he gets into one a textbook Indianapolis pass cinema ball four dropped to the inside drop the hammer complete the pass before you even reach turn one that's exactly what Kyle Larson did as now he pulls away from Kyle Busch and slowly start to close in on Denny Hamlin Boyer still with that lead back here Kyle Larson with a great move on kompis trying to take it take his run up there and picks it up with his good buddy Denny Hamlin as they go through turn three here Kyle Larson beat it was very impressive I didn't really see him having the speed prior to this caution but right now to figure out what look different it's the Sun we haven't seen it for four days here in Indianapolis which started to poke through the clouds we'll have to see if that starts to continue to adjust on the racetrack and see what crew chiefs make adjustments to catch up leaders in the short-sheet headed to to win foyer kurt busch then Denny Hamlin and Kyle Larson then Kyle Busch they work their way onto the back straightaway things are starting to tighten up there between the 42 in the 18 yeah the 18 trying to regain that last position to Kyle Larson he's pushing the 42 of Kyle Larson up to his teammate Denny Hamlin it gets close it up as well see Maccabi the screen coming to two to go at the end of this stage so you know every position every matter you'll make the playoffs we all surprised at Clint Bowyer's up front because he admits Indianapolis is not his best racetrack and he's allowed a lot to fight for here though he has two wins so far this year but he is yet to win a stage two laps to go Boyer would love to finish it off way back in the pack in 23rd is Joey Logano we talked about no practice for these teams Joey Logano and his team actually changed a left front shock on pit road that's no practice coming into Indianapolis but Boyer doing a fantastic job here leading up front right now with two to go [Music] see right here boy you're just driving away trying to get that boy yesterday after the race was rained out and Quinn Boyer said while we're having lunch this is a place where I don't feel I run very well it's a racetrack that I don't look forward to coming to even though it's Indianapolis it's not a place that I feel comfortable on warriors comfortable right now at least from where we're observing low on the racetrack into exactly where you want to be he's got speed to the car jail and he's keeping his team made at arm's length after they keep you out plant boyer but he's not really driving away from his teammate Kurt Busch and behind them Denny Hamlin is closed into that threesome and it's pretty interesting to see these guys how they're working these lines even though it's a one groove track there are things they're doing all the entry and exit to make games see Kyle Busch way in the back he's made an inch to move off the three to try to get a run oh Larson not gonna happen lawyer is gonna win stage number one it'll be a one-two finish burner Haas racing Tony Stewart's grandfather was a mobile oil delivery man in Indianapolis when Tony was a child he's got to feel pretty proud of seeing the Mobil 114 make its way to the number one spot at the end of stage one as well as Kurt Busch finishing second one to four stewart-haas racing [Music] Monster Energy Cup Series racing from the Brickyard this telecast presented by Golden Corral stage one is complete and the field making the way onto pit road David Kurt Busch finishes second in that stage took four tires the first two times he had the opportunity to assume the crew might do the same here car handling well Curtis needs that clean air up front Marty Mike like a rabbit's told Clint Boyer nice job on that restart driver an impressive run for him in that stage again their first stage win of the year they said he can eat anything he said I don't think so a little tape on the grill that's it same case for Denny Hamlin told us guys boys we're really good right here so some tape on the grill of the 11 car that's going to be the only adjustment for him as well all these guys for freshmen your tires and Sunoco fuel and as they race off of pit road it'll be the 12 of Ryan Blaney gaining 11 spots a two-tire change everybody else four tires except for Regan Smith hey race fans when in Las Vegas stay with a racer stay at the South Point Hotel Casino and Spa your ultimate pit stop on the Las Vegas Strip South Point everything you want all under one roof and time now for today's Toyota social spotlight we asked fans what do you think the best post race traditions or celebrations are and of course while we're here at Indianapolis yeah kissing the bricks definitely one of the top responses also Alan Kulwicki yeah you gotta love the Polish victory laughs Alan you turn driver's side to the fans and they can see him as he celebrated then the six shooters at Texas Motor Speedway obviously something very enjoyable for the fans when they get to see that in Victory Lane and how about the backflip Carl Edwards haven't seen that in a long time I would I would celebrate that way if I could do it back it'd be a back fall exact Parker Oh guys how about Paul Menard they're in second staying out once again yet she told me yesterday but he and Greg Irwin plan on doing this they said they were gonna basically put themselves on old tires and further field and see what sticks they're just gonna throw a bunch of things at the wall and see what sticks we'll see if the sticks for them to stay up front and maybe get a win to get in the playoffs they did it here back in 2011 he won this race and if you are Alex Bowman 16th on the playoff grid you do not like to see Paul Menard running well because that win would move him into the playoffs this is what it looked like back in 2011 great strategy call by Slugger Labbe and great execution by Paul Menard working every ounce out of that fuel tank huge win for the Menard family John Menard had been a sponsor and had race teams race here at Indianapolis for so many years but it was his son that got him his first win in Indianapolis couldn't write in Venice right it's it's unbelievable so we continue to see we saw some speeding penalties uncontrolled tire as well the mistakes on pit road continue this time for the 41 of Kurt Busch it looks pretty smooth it comes around tires come off watch the exchange the left rear tire won't go on the jack finally goes up a little bit higher that allows the tire to go on it because of that there were spots lost on pit road Dave Steve sometimes a moment of levity can help you overcome that listen so Kurt laughs yeah my water pressures pretty high but the cars is it 90 the reason they reason that the gauge may be stuck and so they think the car is okay Kurt not too hot but trying to overcome now after losing many spots on pit road how about that the 18 of Kyle Busch trying to warm the tires up just hit the grass I watched that he was cleaning his tires on the left front dipped down into mud spray watch this 18 accomplished Wow be careful that's soft down there but I love that shot out of the back of the pace car look at those guys come to the green and the field approaching the Geico restart zone once again side-by-side fighting for the lead Kyle Busch Paul Menard Kyle Busch rockets away from Paul Menard and brings the floor of Kevin Harvick with him Kyle Busch out front now the fight for second Kevin Harvick has it Paul Menard drops back to third how Busch like he's shot out of a cannon will go back to the lead Kevin Harvick goes back to second challenge william byron look at him go he'll dial up the inside of the racetrack he'll go to third and Menards hands are full on the back straightaway his hands are full with more competition the 3 of Austin Dillon trying to get a run trying to get that quarter panel to be able to make a pass and I think he's going to be there three off the dealt to the inside Apollo didn't quite get down early enough that opened the door for all civilians go take advantage over the shoals [Music] you mentioned Paul Menard how about the 20 year old william byron driving that fave 24 five times that car number has won the Brickyard 400 could he make it six for the car and never get his first career win how about two and three wide diving into turn number one all still fighting for position everybody stacked up coming back into turns one and two MIT packs here's Trevor Bayne it will pull to the inside they set in Matt Kenseth he'll move to the inside of AJ Allmendinger on the back straightaway Kansas got help from seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson down the back straightaway down into turn three they make that pass moving forward here over to you Jeff I've been watching Matt Kenseth Matt Kenseth has a good car he's better that 12-13-14 running with Jimmie Johnson superb feel pretty good cars very well yes he's just a little bit loose right now to start on the run [Music] the result sheet right now the speed he has he might be able to get that on the result sheet this race Peters back into turn two with Boyer in the 14 all the moves he'll pull down to the inside of AJ Allmendinger Clint Boyer now running in the eighth position yeah that 14th been fast all day long as he moves to the field he Joey Logano struggled a little bit to turn two cars down into turn three we got a crash to 40 degrees in the wall at turn three here spitting down in front of cars Oh contact 51 couldn't get slowed down enough cloud I believe Bubba Wallace in the 43 initiate this and then the 51 slides into it David Stark watching this coming down into turn three Bubba got loose a turn by someone coming down and got through the grass contact what the 51 is gonna end both their days let's take a look here guys I just got word that Bubba Wallace came across radio to his brakes went out Junior okay yeah he's so he tried to straighten up the entry I mean that's the same thing that happened to him in Pocono and so you you know your instincts are to aim left and try to you know go through the grass to slow the car down some way somehow and he did a great job staying advocate you know staying out of wall with the issue he had but without breaks he can't stop the car as he's rolling down in front of oncoming traffic typically he would have been on the brakes and be able to stop the car and stop that accident there from happening we talked about Pocono this is exactly what happened here we've look at this replay down and determine one very scary accident really glad to see Bubba get out of the car after such a terrible hit there so the same issues or similar issues here today and it's going to end his day but nothing that he could do there to keep the car from rolling down in front of that oncoming traffic and that's the only issue with you know for those guys is they you know can't avoid that cars is coming down in the trafficking problem catching his breath it's a break you and I were had this is the second break failure we've seen today and I have to think that perhaps this was by the way this was back in Pocono so yeah but this was the day here he's got a little bit of break as you can see the tires locking up somewhat so he had enough to get the car slowed down to keep it out of the fence so junior I was thinking you know we hadn't talked much about just the calendar you know this race used to be in the summer the grip was low the track temperature very high here we are in September it's a much cooler day track temperature much higher it seems like they have more speed is there a chance that the overall lower lap times is more abusive on the brakes and the teens just didn't prepare for it I don't know but it's surprising to have to brake issues already in the race yeah there's great those brake issues of the brake heat is something you monitor throughout the weekend and those guys did not get that opportunity to do that so understanding exactly how much brake heat you're creating the teams don't know so going into today it's hard for them to continue to monitor that during the race you you're not able to really do that so you know they're having some issues and we may see this continue throughout the day with some of the teams as far it's worse as you get back further into the pack and particularly where Bubba's been running getting that dirty air you're gonna use the brakes more the car's gonna be tighter and you're gonna use more and more brake deeper down in the corner and create more and more heat generate more heat and so continue to see this or continue to model this throughout the day and see if we continue to see brake issues for the rest these teams I think an issue we need to think about as well as that's only three laps since the restart so you know it may be a brake heat issue but it's only only would be a brake heated issue because it's spiking the temperatures are very high after these long straightaways we see problems at Pocono and Indy because you have these long straights and the brakes cool so much that you get on the brakes and they instantly heat up and that's what can be the problems actually maybe too much cooling not enough cooling in some cases Marty and gas a moment ago you saw Kyle Busch when you're scuffing in the tires before this last restart you've swerves down hits the grass it looks very innocuous like nothing bad happened there but something did happen take a listen on the radio and you can see him kind of trying to shake that grass off the tires there so Jeff the steering tougher is the quote from Kyle Busch what could be going on with that 18 yeah be honest Bobby I'm not really sure I don't know what could have happened with the steering to make it so that's harder to turn in that situation unless it's just a temporary situation where it will go away but I'm not really sure what currently you go to damage we're just driving through the mud there [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] Scott Nixon the points leader for the Verizon IndyCar Series the four-time IndyCar champion looking for number five but Alexander Rossi is right on his back bumper trying to take away that advantage will power the Daytona 500 winner this year third in points and Joseph Newgarden the young one winning the 2017 IndyCar championship a year ago currently fourth in the points standings can Verizon IndyCar Series points leader Scott Dixon hold on and claim that fifth title find out Sunday when IndyCar grounds and champion on NBCSN coverage to the Grand Prix of Sonoma begins at 6:30 p.m. Eastern it is a double points race and that means that that twenty nine point advantage that Scott Dixon has over Alexander Rossi could disappear with a double points race at a tough track I mean the hills of Sonoma and they run a little longer course than the stock cars they come kind of back in call it what you want carousels bunch of different names to it I get in a corner names at the moment but it's a longer course very difficult I mean Sonoma the twists and turns of Sonoma we've seen it with stock cars it's not any easier in IndyCar swerving around now the 18 of Kyle Busch has mentioned that the steering not what it was before he just touched the grass when he was warming the tires up Rick I got another angle on the Bubba Wallace crash when see entering turn three exactly what Bubba does I'm not sure how how this happen or why he he must have touched the brake pedal noticing no brake pressure and just immediately turn left all four tires were up on the car is he was sliding by so it didn't blow a tire and make that turn that had to been the driver input and you know very scary situation he tried to defuse it Kelly Wallace just released from the infield care center and as you just said we thought that incident seemed reminiscent of Pocono what did you feel the same thing scared the hell out of me for a second and it spun around so fast and I think I dropped the window net before even spun out to let everybody know I'm fine but after he slowed down he got on track I said we're done our brakes are think they blew out broke blew up or something then we got killed there for like an hour and a half later so unfortunate we got to go back to the shop and figure out if it was brakes or if a tire come apart and then rip brake line off but I had no sign of any indication before it was just that instant it just went around so unfortunate started we were starting to make some headway we were struggling on center exit but uh just glad it won like Pocono again so glad to see ok thanks Bubba Marty Kelly we have hit strategy all over the map some teams have pitted at 32 some of 42 summit 52 Adam Stevens is among those precluded at 32 when would you have to come to pit road Adam we can make it into the pit window which was the plan there once we got those quick cautions we really didn't want to see these last couple some of these guys with this long caution will probably come top off and stretch it and we're gonna give up a lot of track position but kind of made our bed at this point and can't predict the future so we'll see what happens Kyle said the steering's a little bit harder after he kind of brushed the grass there any concern there's a concern yes but until we can open the hood and look at it you know I just kind of drove it through the grass there warming the tires but as long as you didn't knock the belt off I think it'll be okay alright Kyle Busch out front Adam Stevens play in the pit strategy and didn't really want to see this last caution Steve you know I love the honesty he said this was our plan we didn't want to see these yellows now we're on the wrong plane we're gonna use a little track position you ask him about his car and he goes okay yeah I'm worried if you knew I was wrong I would take it so we'll just have to keep in mind these guys very successful Brickyard 400 winners two of the last three years [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] Monster Energy Cup Series racing from Indianapolis telecast presented by Golden Corral on Saturday NBCSN has the NASCAR Xfinity series in Las Vegas fourth final race of their regular season at race coverage beginning at 5 p.m. and we saw great fun earlier today on the Xfinity series right here at the Brickyard I mean where should we start 2 3 4 we saw high for a wide finish right here to be able to stage 1 John I don't need a check I'm gonna go laughs Ryan Preece well I'm gonna go right looks like no I down the interstate Allgaier thought he had this stage 1 and he ended up fourth they were separated by thousands of a second yeah that was for the end of stage 1 all guy once again gets beat the photo finish I guess he'll had the last laugh yeah that was the fight for the stage to finishing second and he ends up third checkered flag comes out because it was another dominating performance by the 7 of Justin Allgaier and he gets to kiss the bricks with the family partner guys Paul Menard who was in fifth place when this caution came out just came down pit road he had a right rear tire going down as you see right there completely destroyed came down and changed foot four Goodyear tires unfortunate for a team that used great strategy to put them in position to win here you know they're happy debris when the 43 loss breaks I'm sure it put debris everywhere I made a run over over something back into the restart zone Kyle Busch back into the gas quickly Kevin Harvick as they dive into turn number one Harvick holding on to second and then there comes William firing in the 24 he's up to third once again Austin Dillon on the outside trying to grab for Kyle Busch such a beast on restart took it away in the lead the second William Byron to third and now the stacking up of traffic begins as Matt Kenseth and others all go at it there on the back straightaway now that I straight away is a hit into turn three there's tons of speedy drive down here from the Bubba Wallace crash guys work it through that spinny Drive everybody seem to get through there okay nobody with a face well the third place cards I want to call my attention that 24 who's under attack right now by Matt Kenseth looks to have a little damage on the right rear quarter panel behind the right rear attire that's definitely got a very sensitive area will hurt the 24 as Matt Kenseth continues to attack battle for third Kenseth opens up the inside lane he is there he completes the pass Matt Kenseth number 6 card goes to position number 3 I have to imagine when that kids took the opportunity to come back and drive these race cars long we got a crash on the turn too big rack and vault you see the 47 as well as the 88 so AJ Allmendinger in the 47 a lot of damage to that race car saw the 88 of Alex Bowman trying to avoid but the right front bends up as well as some damage to the left rear and the right rear this is the last thing Alex Bowman wanted to see where he's at in the points position remember it's not about points no one's gonna beat him in points you know it's kind of a race between him and Jimmy Johnson 15th to 16th a new winner is what they're afraid of and now right now with all this damage you're gonna assume his day is gonna be done that's gonna keep him in 16 that means if we do have a new winner he's out and that would secure Jimmie Johnson's position because Jimmie Johnson is not gonna finish pass that full guy Alex Bowman there so yeah Jimmie Johnson you hate to see your teammate have struggles but maybe not a smile but maybe relief relief little relief yeah but obviously disappointed that a teammate has this kind of an issue looks like Allmendinger's loose underneath 88 they get together and hit into the fence heavy contact with the right rear quarter panel for the 88 that was a fight for 16th Junior look at the 41 Kurt Busch and the 17 of Ricky Stenhouse splitting the two spinning racecars another look boy catch the wall and the 47 just got into the back of the 88 both of them sliding into that outside wall and then a hard contact for Allmendinger on the inside wall no RIT safer barriers are getting their work out here Indianapolis but first racetrack to have them great safety innovation the first track that nascar goes to the hats safer barriers here at Indianapolis Motor Speedway you don't want to test them but they've been tested a couple of times already today riding along with Ricky Stenhouse jr. but the inside heat went was able to avoid and the records are definitely getting a workout as well today AJ Allmendinger just not the year they had one little bright spot early in the Sonoma race and that went away with a miss shift and and it's just nothing seems to be going right for the 47 and now we have the 18 of Kyle Busch we heard Adam Stevens say at some point we're gonna have to pit he chose now's the time gives up a lot of track position to come down pit road Parker you see Matt Kenseth in there four Goodyear tires Sunoco fuel what a great run from Matt Kenseth Pitts out third place party the 18 Parker was in such a box to Steve's point they had to come pit down down pit road at some point Adam Stevens said we're gonna take a long stop here that can take some Packer now the right front Kyle feels like he's on the splitter the longer they run so they feel like now is the time to make that adjustment they were gonna have to come down pit road about lap 75 or 78 anyway so here they are on lap 68 coming down pit road for Kyle Busch gave the up that track position but hoping to put themselves in a better position for later in the race little adjustments made again no practice no qualify you're watching Monster Energy Cup Series racing from Indianapolis it's the big big machine vodka 400 at the Brickyard [Music] let me show you some of the things these guys are learning as this day goes on we talked about no practice we look at all the tape up in front of this car for Matt Kenseth those guys are understanding since they didn't get the practice and understand how much tape to have on the car there being a they're able to add more and more with each stop to push the temperature of the car up that also helps the downforce with the car just that all piece of tape tape they've added about three pieces there each one of those doesn't a tremendous amount of improvement to the downforce I love this when Steve put that on the front of car Rick there's not many adjustments that are free and it's not completely free you give up a little water temperature but it's like it's free grip downforce downforce downforce cooler temperatures helping out if they come back into the restart zone and so much action taking place the 11 on the left side the nine on the right side as once again Kevin Harvick having success on the restart this time Kevin Harvick is going to take the lead and try to run away with it 14 of Clint Bowyer in his tire tracks where we environment do not have the best of restarts he got shuffled back to the fourth position on the flip side Kevin Harvick is hammered down on the backstretch you're right you got to be aggressive on those restarts William Mann will have to do better next time down the back straightaway to turn three Clint Bowyer in second place William pirate in Fort William Barney that's the second time he didn't get a good restart see Alex [Music] get it big chef but you can see the tire rub they've told him to bring it back to pit road they have no time left on the damaged vehicle policy for NASCAR they're currently at 5:05 five seconds left to keep clear to minimum speed they clear that clock but they're never gonna make it guys he'd have to complete a lap and it looks like with the tire rubbing there would be very dangerous for the driver to stay out in that condition the worst part for that that puts his playoff hopes in the hands of other competitive someone like William Byron right here who's fighting off Denny Hamlin Kyle Larson could go to Victory Lane and we see a winner outside the top 16 that would eliminate Alex Bowman from the playoffs in the final week of the regular season Denny Hamlin the man on the move he's at fifth right now Kyle Larson just behind him they're all chasing Harvick boyar Blaney and Almirola Almirola new player into the top five currently running fourth and we're hearing that all cars on the track have met the minimum speed so maybe Alex Bowman is able to get back down to pit road and they can do some work on that he won't be on the clock yeah Alex Bowman just ran a 55 22 and we saw all the tires smoking and all the things that were going on and that you see now he's bitten now he can pit they can work on the car as much as they want because they met minimum speed but I want to put that our ABS Bowman great job by just ignoring that smoke nobody could have blown right front tire but he took the risk and he stays out which is something that Steve you mentioned now at least it's back in his hands at least he can get out there and try to battle although it will be very difficult as he's going laps down now to battle with Jimmie Johnson to make sure that he stays in the playoffs it is going to be difficult you see this battle between Denny Hamlin and Kyle Larson position Kyle Larson trying to keep up with Denny Hamlin analyst for the class of the field although he's not at the point he still got a strong race car and Larson is just trying to inch closer to him Dale she's trying to get that slipstream as they work their way to the front and Lynn's got a fast car he's trying to close in on Almirola down into turn three here Marcin close to his tail here trying to get a run track racing speed but these cars is very fast Hawaiian so hard rather than somebody else's but you lose so much mouth words in the corner depart Larsson four seconds behind race leader Kevin Harvick and Larson again trying to catch up with Denny Hamlin Hamlin McGill against aric almirola who has forth so Hamlin inching away and inching closer to that fourth position slowly but surely Hamlin is starting to catch aric almirola who's having a fantastic run this afternoon that car in turn two it's flawless to the bottom of the racetrack in hoax nice and tight and then he swings it out wide on the back straightaway off to Hayes ran a great great line great speeding the car they're closing in on waiting just a little bit three hits back to the last lap late he's running a 4995 67 now berola way out in front of these guys get additionally thank Kevin Harvick in the field you mentioned the late arrival about 49 drop back three positions and you get to chase Elliott currently in the eighth position he's six and a half seconds behind race leader Kevin Harvick they sailing with an up-and-down day so far finds himself in the top ten but he is some seven seconds behind the race leader Elliott comes to turn two following his teammate that's the car right in front of him that's William Fyren who spoke those drivers now off to now they're joined by Jamie McMurray in the 1 car yeah we Myron dropped the seven since this restart trying to stop the bleep here is chase Elliott trying to put the pressure on trying to be able to get up there and disrupt the air around that 24 car so you can get a run and make a pass but a good day for William Byers looking young driver came into the Trinity so you have cautions faucet right now we got a car spun off the turn two 23 car JJ Yeley it's like you've got a flat tire so kind of yes you see the car buckling would you say that is a Burt Reynolds throwback paint scheme on there for the 23 paying respect to the late Burt Reynolds and the tire coming apart for 23 of Gailey an air issue yeah just inside another car we've seen this how fast these corners are you need all the downforce on the side force and it looks like underneath another car the 23 loses the grip JJ spins around slight contact with the tire barrier the car he's laughing there right but joy is a lap down make contact with the right side announce that fences well in that altercation gaily a very established dirt racer was also a part of BC 39 took place on Thursday night in the infield here at Indianapolis which you see right here that's just inside turn three and look at the pack stands a popular popular race over a hundred and fifteen cars enter think about that a hundred and fifteen cars for one race and the thing about this track is is its permanent he'll be here this is good you know it's gonna be an opportunity for them to run the dirt races all week long leading up to the Indy 500 and the Brickyard 400 and I think that's really important to Dale that you mentioned that because think about that that just adds to the entertainment value you come to a racetrack you do try to pick which races you want to come go you can come here see the historic Brickyard and watch a little dirt racing just so many options when you come out to try to spend your entertainment dollars you see on the right half of the screen that 24 of William buyer and on pit road Parker and he leaves the field here of guys you decide to pit they were last on pit road lap 30 choose crew chief Darian Grubb came across for you and said that once they do this stop they only have one more stop to finish the race just struggling being a little bit tight off the corner named Brad Keselowski was 12 he said this far back I'm okay with putting on tires and charged him back through the field Plus as Parker said this hits their one more stop pit window and you'll also notice that no crew member has gave any attention to the right rear quarter panel of the two they're not going to fix that that's what you call it convenient damage drink you just leave that in the right way that might work out for Brad Keselowski they're looking for win number 499 for Penske [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] NASCAR he 3 is available now on the Xbox one Playstation 4 and PC go to NASCAR heap calm today you're watching Monster Energy Cup Series racing from Indianapolis Motor Speedway and again penalties on pit road take another look at what happened here with the 2014 was for the 24 of William Byard they're gonna call it an uncontrolled tire and all I can figure is that that right front tire that was pushed by the tire changer then left the rule is it has to be within arm's reach it's very close to the carrier it is truly a judgment call but I'm gonna tell you Rick if I'm a crew chief imma spend some time in the trailer before the race at Las Vegas I have to understand this rule black and white before we enter the playoffs that's the fifth call justice race today Harvick and Boyer leading the field back across the stripe and Harvick once again with the advantage Boyer now to the outside will try to fight back gets very close to that right rear quarter panel of the four but before still surging ahead the Harvick and white and Blaney is on the scene he looked low off to has to back away and follow Boyer in that number three position Kevin Harvick checks out for that lead Clint Boyer making chase here with Blaney behind him and then Denny Hamlin hit Ford this battle back here about fifth 6/7 going to get heated up a lot of different speeds different strategies different tires look back here to I yeah they're single-file all the way back to about 10th or 11th Logano Kenseth Kurt Busch all back here fighting for those spots and Kurt Busch leading this crowd as we see the 18.2 the inside of Paul Menard trying to take that spot away Jesus to the inside of Menard as they enter turn number one he just took the 16th position famous left open there's the three to the inside of an art go race side by side and Brad Keselowski looking to go three wide I'll turn to his last he's not gonna get some help and Jimmie Johnson here Jimmy's going to try to show anybody these guys days they take a few spots himself down into turn three three one something's gotta give that fake context feeling good job backing out of there and saving all those guys a lot of trouble they're not done yet so to you then still to I into the for coming toward me Michael McDowell in the 34 very close call there between McDowell and the 3 of Austin Dillon look at the contact here McDowell in that 34 trying to take advantage of it had Ryan Newman right in front of him and battle settles down into turn two just watching Kurt Busch under attack Matt Kenseth will slide by in the six now it's Eric Jones's turn Jones pulls to the inside of Kurt Busch on the backstretch Jenna was trying to side wrap look at him getting up the racetrack trying to get to the quarter panel that 41 he knows that the importance of him to make this pass he's going to back it down in the turn through his curtains Bush wildly pulled in behind see his brother Kyle working his way up from the back where they had to sit go to nice job getting up there again Zelasko the Bluebird Torres battlin back here no arrow these cards Jeff Adams Stephen Solt Kyle Busch be very careful coming up to the field so try to be aggressive with the car that has led the most laps today at 27 for Kyle Busch right now in 15th and some very tough traffic back man I'll Busch you're right Marty he is he's got Chris Buescher now he'll overtake him one by one pile is starting to pick him up and put him down and put him in the rearview mirror and Brad Keselowski is coming along for the ride as well Brad's gonna get that position pretty easily from butcher's Busch was gonna pull in behind him next up for butcher Jimmie Johnson his way through the field as well remember Busch would be pitting he came out at 25th that was two cautions ago we started this five in 17 go - good job working his way up Harvick Boyer's Blaney Hamlin Alba roll at the top five then it's Larson chase Elliott Ricky Stenhouse jr. Jamie McMurray and Joey Logano in the top ten watching the brothers Busch come into turns one and two they're fighting for the 13th position hurt in the 41 has it pile in the 18 has tried to take it away then you put Brad Keselowski in this mix he started it's closer and closer right now he's trailing Kyle by about three car lengths down the back straightaway in front of these guys is a fast car Matt Kenseth that kids just ran the third fastest lap [Music] Kenseth is making up some ground let's see who's on the move brought to you by Chevrolet since the restart the one who has made up the most positions has been the driver of the number two Brad Keselowski Keselowski the man on the move nine positions he has made up already since the most recent restart William Byron Erik Jones also making up some ground it's a driver that light blue car that just went out of the bottom of the screen that's the one I'm looking at Rick he's on the same strategy as the 18 of Kyle Busch right there you just heard Marty say he's led 27 laps today so you would soon he'd be the first car whatever strategy he's on that's not the case Matt Kansas that's the first car in that strategy I know he hasn't led laps but that six car is sneaky fast today and backed in front of the grandstands again Marty and Rick there you see it on the left hand side the strategy all over the map Kevin Harvick cannot make it to the end of this stage behind him his teammate Clint Bowyer lifting early saving a lot of fuel they are going to try to make it to the end of the stage along with Ryan Blaney but you see aric almirola and forth he can make it to the end of the Sager pit strategy all over the map and Steve here at Indianapolis if you lift early you have you drive or do that you can save a good amount of fuel you can save a lot of fuel to big strategies lift early and also run part throttle get back to wide open get up on the straightaway get rolling in the right direction and then go to parts roll and ride it down these long straightaways let's listen to the radio on the 14 great information that allows the driver to manage it out the window don't worry about the guy in front manage it out the mirror you know the 12 saving don't worry about him but listen the 10 behind him can make it that's who Clint Bowyer needs to pace himself off from with 14 to go in this stage so they're looking at Kevin Harvick he came to pit road on lap 42 there have been 86 laps complete so you do the math there 44 laps you had mentioned that the fuel winner was around that 44 45 laps but there was a lot of caution laps that they were running as well Marty and add to this Kevin Harvick just came on the radio a moment ago there you see him in turn force and I picked up a vibration here so they're going to send them around a few more times see if that vibration gets any better for Kevin Harvick but he is going to have to come to pit road before the end of the stage when I'm worried about a vibration here sometimes it's a wheel but it can be a tire and at these speeds it could come apart very quickly as he exits turn two in front of badly yeah here he comes in to turn to a vibration that Indianapolis is not something you want right now he just eases it into the bottom of the racetrack slings it wide up onto the back straightaway and right now as you see him inside the car he's cool calm and collected but I'm sure junior he's hold his breath it seems up here and a second fastest lap just that last time I say he's got a great speed running really comfortably no issues with him right now 250 70 picking 119 to Boyer yeah I think for Kevin Harvick right now he's obviously you heard about the vibration but he has plenty of gas if he needs a mate you just slow down just a little bit he's got plenty of gap to Boyer he can slow down as his assess the situation but he doesn't look like he needs to do it he'll push it hard digging once again is Kevin Harvick as he comes up on the lap traffic now in turn number one and a very close call there as Timmy Hill in the 66 didn't give him a lot of room as he'd open would force Harvick down lower than he would have liked to have taken into turn one but he didn't make that pass he pulls away he's running his own race right now unchallenged and all by himself as he heads to three down the back straightaway all out front and clear but in the back Matt kids would still drive it through this field he's passed him Murray closed it in now I'm doing the Gatto dr. Logano reached in house laid that pad so now he's look at it chase Elliott exits six car is fast guys Matt Kenseth is very good at this racetrack is a fiver a streak of top-10s that leads all active drivers action tired old has active drivers so Matt Kenseth is very good at Indian he's on his game today Rick we've talked a lot about drivers that aren't a winless streak how about organizations Roush Fenway brings Matt Kenseth in that's a tough decision to do what they did they say hey Trevor Bayne we're gonna split this ride with you and Matt Kenseth it has taken time but it seems like we're starting to see an improvement now we have the six as one of the fastest cars at the field Parker Frank guys and as you've noted the last five laps he's actually been from the top three fastest cars on the racetrack therefore Matt Kenseth what an incredible run fifth place car and they see the incremental gains getting the top 20 he said by the end of season I just hope we can maybe fight for top 10s he's got more than that Dave Ricky Stenhouse jr. into the top ten now remember only I win can put the 17 into the playoffs at this point he said recently his car was very good and then they told him keep digging for now as you see Kevin Harvick pitting pit road the 17 will keep going hard and not saving yet that'll give the lead to Clint Boyer as Harvick will come to pit road had to do this didn't you morning you didn't have to come to pit road after that vibration report and also clearly they fit at 10 laps earlier than everybody else we showed you that they pitted on lap 42 a little bit too free for the four car but he has been able to turn out some amazing lap for Kevin Harvick and when his teammate Clint Boyer goes by he is completely shut off taking all the fuel he can to make it to the very end here Harvick is going to be in a good spot though when this stage happens to play with a strategy and gain some track position for fresh Goodyear tires here for Harvick and the Sunoco fuel he needs so Harvick tops off with just 10 laps to go as we go NASCAR non-stop from Indy [Music] [Music] [Music] all right six laps to go in the second stage you know what that means get to my fantasy lineup get to your lineup make the change let me go ahead if you had the 78 in he's out he's got a score point hitting your garage make the change now and listen don't forget this is the last race of the regular season starting next week at Las Vegas the new fantasy game the playoff game ten weeks out go sign up start a new league it's going to be a blast Marty Clint Boyer doing everything he can Steve to make it to the end of the stage he is literally shutting the car off at the flag stand and coasting through one and two they need this playoff point to win the stage they got their first stage win earlier today take a listen to the transmission on the radio a moment ago what a gamble for the 14 team see they want this playoff point pretty bad is it worth the risk and you have to decide if you can win the race if they can't win the race and the playoff points all that matters I think they still can't win the race so to be quite honest I'm pretty thankful up here there's way less pressure up here Dave I get to just talk about these pitfalls we'll talk about pit road now for aric almirola on pit road for service it'll be tires and whew to get him to the next stop as well the last stop couldn't make it to the end of the stage or did strategy here Rick I like the gamble I think the 14 should go with it I don't have the fuel numbers but talk about momentum if they could win the stage take this playoff point they're gonna be looking good I like the game but they've done their work in the regular season they've already won a couple races so right now they're at 43 laps now 44 laps that they have gone but remember some caution laps in there yeah and the concern is Denny Hamlin behind the back man the question is if you can't hold off Denny Hamlin and save gas go ahead and pit there's no reason to do both and you see that 11 right here he's probably had enough of Ryan Blaney forces his way through and then they go down the backstretch on the bottom right of your screen you're gonna see that he's continuing to close on the leader and they get in front of turn three Marty and what's going to make it worse all these cars behind Clint Bowyer are going to come to pit road now Denny Hamlin among them also Ryan Blaney gonna come to pit road and Boyer now making decision they're coming to pit road Brent Griffin the spotter calls them to pit road so Boyer going to give up that playoff point come to pit road here along with any Hamlin now the reason they're doing this before the end of stage three that sets them up so that they have been at the end of stage three stay out or take fuel always so this puts these teams in a very good position for track position later in the race boy you're saying his car a little bit too free on that run when you're riding him on board with him he said the same thing very happy with the car I don't want any changes in Ryan Blaney you saw Denny Hamlin kind of nudge him out of the way he said his car a little bit too tight all of these guys making it move now to come to pit road before the end of stage two to set themselves up for Stage three they don't want to make a mistake on pit road like the tendon aric almirola speeding on pit road gentlemen a big factor in all this knew was Matt Kenseth Matt Kenseth was running third he's a turtle at 68 he didn't have to save fuel he was going to be pushing these guys so hard they were going to run wide open Jeff actually Matt came across the radio when he saw those two pits and maybe we should have pitted there because down they're gonna obviously give up the track position when they have to pit you're under caution even when they win this stage and I think it's gonna be really close if the eight team made it before they caught before they closed pit road because they closed it with two laps to go and it looked as though Kenseth made it to the start/finish line before the a team got to the commitment line yeah party they're talking about that on the 18 radio right now the Kyle Busch coming down pit road they're going to finish servicing the car here for the 18 did a great job of taking care of it kind of coming up through the field was able to pass a number of cars but you're going to see a wedge adjustment there on the left side to get the car to handle a little bit earlier and the ruling coming down now yes the 18 team hit it too soon guys Rick can't afford a mistake under green flag stop like that it was just a gutsy call to see if that could beat the leader of heroine I actually thought the six of Matt Kenseth who lets freaky Stenhouse go that will put Stenhouse back on the lead lap I thought the six would come to pit road as well perhaps Adam Stevens did as well but it was I mean it was a blink of an eye from up here I couldn't tell I couldn't tell I have a good vision to start and finish and pit in and I couldn't tell who got where first but you see it at the top your screen NASCAR knows I said the 18 hit the commitment line after Matt Kenseth hit start/finish line that closed pit road before the end of the stage and Matt Kenseth now with almost a four second lead over chase Elliott is going to get the stage win Matt Kenseth coming in for Roush Fenway Racing to try to improve the overall competition and I would say that this is a big improvement because Matt Kenseth will win stage two and indeed [Music] chase Elliott Erik Jones Joey Logano and Kurt Busch rounding out the top five in stage two all getting points Suarez Kozlowski William Byron Ryan Newman and Jimmie Johnson also tacking on some points from that stage but it's Matt Kenseth who's come back to the Cup Series will Crouch Fenway Racing and hate win Stage two [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] and getting ready for the final stage from Indianapolis Motor Speedway Matt Kenseth getting the win in stage two so Clint Boyer wins stage one Matt Kenseth wins stage two and so many different strategies there are a ton of different strategies gonna see right here Matt Kenseth the chase Elliott they'll all hang a left and come to pit road it's all the way down really in the 19th position Clint Boyer he'll probably stay on the racetrack he was on pit road at lap 97 so now all these pit crews need to do their work drivers no penalties drive into too many pit stalls and seen a lot of uncontrolled tires Parker right guys and Matt was not happy about winning that stage he said a stage one is cool but it screwed us in terms of track position in terms of the leaders in that fuschia admitted yes we should have pitted with two to go than you do for cooter tires and Sunoco fuel and also a piece of tape there on the front just for you jr. Kelly Erik Jones pits from the third position they've taken some big swings at this 20 car first to loosen him up and now they need him now he's a little bit too tight I should say they're gonna make an air pressure adjustment four tires and fueled the 9 of chase Elliott said he was pretty good we saw they made a chassis adjustment there to the left rear four Goodyear tires and Sunoco fill for the night and the race off pit road gonna be a tight one here Kenseth and chase Elliott of course she's Elliott how about that gets the nose just in front oh man that's close so chase Elliott gain some position Matt Kenseth drops a position now the way the rule works in stage racing is with two laps to go when the leader of the race goes across the start/finish line with two laps to go that closes pit road and so that is why we had mentioned that it was very close for the 18 of Kyle Busch because he was just getting to the entrance of pit road you see Kyle Busch on the right on the left is to start finish line you'll see the six flyby right there and that's how close it was for Kyle Busch yeah and so basically right now the Kyle Busch he's committed he's gonna go over the line either way the only way he can avoid penalty as you see the light is red is to not stop in his pit box but not sure even Kyle Busch I mean you're busy you trying to get slowed down Bharti I'm not sure you can see the line or everything that was going on yeah well so close they didn't know Adam Sivan says that was completely my fault that's the bad news the good news is that they have won the regular season championship officially for the 18 car they did relay that news to Kyle he came down pit road they actually shut the car off here and they're working on he said the car just didn't have the free roll minutes had the last couple of years when we've been successful here so they took their time went through it made several adjustments to it Adam Siemens also said we're gonna be back in traffic so I'm gonna loosen you up quite a bit so we're gonna have as we've continued to say all day just to jumbled up grid we see we have William Baier currently as the leader he was last on pit road at lap 77 he has 22 laps on his tires well I think Darren Grubbs Terry here is I can only pimp I can put one more time and I can make it you look at the left side you scream boy or Hamlet Harvick Larsen Blaney McMurray Stenhouse jr. all took advantage of that strategy pitting before the end of the stage they also only have to pit one more time as well as chase Elliott Kenseth and all the guys that came at 102 so really the whole field is looking at one more pit stop it's really how fresh your tires and what track position you have Marty now that all of that strategy has unfolded you know Steve all day long we've been wondering like what's gotten into Clint Boyer he always says Hindi's not one of his best racetracks I figured out do you boy here's some tips before this race I've had to run this place smoke now he's a I think he does a little better here than he gives himself credit for but he's done an awesome job today you know all of our cars are fast is trying to minimize mistakes right now that's the only thing that's hurt the 41 in the 10 so the other two guys you know letting Kevin are doing an awesome job just proud of everybody they we got four really fast cars here at Indy you were up here and there was a big talk about whether to go and finish that stage and try and get the playoff point what side were you on you came to pit road I don't know I had bigger balls than the rest of them did I would have taken the chance but you know that's why I also get myself in trouble too I put myself in those positions sometimes but you know did the right thing there I mean we got a fast race car we're back leading the race right now and you know but we could have put ourselves in a really bad spot if he ran out of fuel so the risk versus reward I really didn't make sense and that's uh that's what having a great crew chief that knows how to minimize the risk that's the value to him the boss man smoked up here for Clint Boyer and I would say Boyer is probably having this best Indy race ever got to be something Tony said to him I know it well I know it is guys well we always love to hear from Tony Stewart very candid but he really loves Indianapolis Motor Speedway it's the world capital racing and everybody knows the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and significance in history of it every element of that race has to go perfect for you to win a brick therefore [Applause] there isn't a celebration like what you have when you win at the Brickyard that shows you how significant and how much it means to win it's not like another race it is not like another race at night I used to say this I was very fortunate to be on teams I never was able to win it as a crew chief but I was on Jeff Gordon's teams and won it multiple times and everyone has said oh well you know it's just another race and that's because you haven't wanted and I've been fortunate enough worked with really great drivers great teams and I that moment that 36 inches of brick probably the most valuable real estate in all of auto racing on the front stretch when you kneel there and look up and down the start/finish line up and down the front stretch it starts to sink in the the people who have done this before you it's truly amazing who knew just a simple yard of bricks could be so valuable the racetrack built back in 1909 and as I mentioned before all the greats have been here and been able to capture wins let's take a look at John Deere three-wide Gator well we think about Indianapolis you think about a narrow racetrack don't tell these guys this is three wide down the front stretch another look at it the 21 car forces the issue on the bottom they try to get it sorted out going down at the turn one 21 all but touches the racetrack or the grass another three wide contact here between the three and the 48 that was almost three Y gone bad but they somehow figured it out Parker Steve you noted how William Byron got to lead here knowing that they've gotten back on their strategy where they can pit one more time his team told him get ready to use that blue reserve switch you'll give us a lap and a half extra they're definitely gonna need it this run getting ready for the restart the big machine vodka 400 at the Brickyard they're gonna need all the fuel and he's gonna need a great restart he has to keep that track position William Byron Clint Boyer green flag click boy on the outside has the advantage in one but here comes William Byron in the 24 trying to fight back but he'll be in second then the 11 of Denny Hamlin drops back to third already Boyer Byron you got Hamlin and Kyle Larson all starting to check out as they race their way up the backstretch and Harvick with a little trouble now satellite restart look those guys three or four wide in the back here to Logano trying to move forward move all the gas track his illowsky coming to you Jeff joy Logano they're in the bottle he's struggling all day really strategy-wise nobody could make it to the end of this race they don't have enough fuel they don't have enough fuel in a big move by Matt Kenseth to kind of break free of traffic we heard he was disappointed they didn't try more aggressive strategy where now he's kind of broken free at night time to stretch the legs there Bagley wanted to he's trying to break away and start to track down the leaders as upfront here's a challenge from the number two position Denny Hamlin pulls to the inside I'll turn to Denny Hamlin's side drafting a little bit get a little bit of it knows ahead as they go by William Byron rewiring comes in behind at a later part not allowing the 42 and wash them to make the same move you're Kyle Larson gonna try to lay back this a little bit in three four [Music] run he's gonna get a loan fifty-four to go time to battle it out for the win at the Brickyard 400 to see Kyle Larson diving there underneath William Byron a lot of teams have reported oil down in turns one and two some sort of few Luud Ryan Blaney said he went in there on the restart and absolutely went straight so we've heard a couple of drivers talk about that we'll see if that gets a caution here bags so far green and clean off turn number two leaders hit the back straightaway we're looking three wide yet again chase Elliott Jamie McMurray and others start to stack it up there that all could have been the issue for Harvick on that restart he's starting to gain those positions back the 10th place here looking at McMurray who's having a solid day here in six countries yep Jamie's done very well boon Fenway racing drivers fighting for position but it's Kenseth who easily gets by Ricky Stenhouse jr. and he'll take the ninth position away he will slide underneath Stenhouse he'll take that spot now he's got a lot more work to do he's got William firing directly ahead of him and as you're looking on Boardman Ricky Stenhouse jr. he started to watch Matt Kenseth slowly start to drive away Sten houses elbows up they're trying to keep that car under control off the corner Matt Kenseth track it down William Byron Williams struggling up there with that car after starting on the front row Margaret flavin said they added more tape to that six car and show it right now he's driving up on that 24 and you know inside of that car right now that they have made huge improvements make their move all the way apart remind your Matt Kenseth wins in this race it doesn't affect the playoffs because Matt Kenseth not a full-time driver not in the top 30 in points but we're Matt Kenseth the win huge for Roush Fenway Racing I was gonna say it might not affect the playoffs but it is going to single-handedly affect an organization with a story of the 78 closings you have to ask all these organizations how strong are they think about restaurant and what it would mean to go back to Victory Lane for the team for the businesses for the sponsors it would be gigantic in the sport down into turn three he had that position on fire and now Stenhouse tried to take it as well pit house in the rouse Ford as well having a great run hey you mentioned sent out the other night so this is not the first race lenez place finish in that race that was on Thursday nights went Boyer out front taking that forward around this two and a half mile historic racetrack as we go NASCAR non-stop [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] NASCAR on NBCSN is brought to you by Monster Energy unleash the beast and by Golden Corral your choice rules and after the checkered flag here in Indianapolis stay tuned for NASCAR America post race show presented by Honda power sports rig I don't need to remind you you stood up here next to me last year but the last 46 front late laps of last year's race looked like so well it seems pretty straightforward here and we talked about strategies and which cars are good absolute chaos last year it was caution on top of caution and somehow KCK came through the smoke and was victorious we still have no idea what could be having here as Harvick kind of comes down the racetrack maybe just trying to get a little clean air to the engine times just cool the motor a little bit as a crew chief do you split this in half do you take this last stage 30 laps try to split in half or do you go as far as you can and then have the freshest tires and fuel for the safe last 15 20 laps of this race well it's gonna be a little game of liars poker who's gonna talk on the radio first who's gonna show their hand first personally if I'm Clint Boyer I don't blink first that makes somebody behind me make a decision but if I am Blaney Harvick how about McMurray in six it's a must win for McMurray I think as soon as I'm in my window I come to pit road I force everybody else's hand [Music] and as field continues to work their way around the track time for today's Toyota driver update see the 19 of Daniel Suarez his name came up the second that the 78 team a Furniture Row racing mentioned that they were closing the doors because then we knew that there was going to have to be a spot for last year's champion Martin Truex Jr and Colburn to move into so the first name that came up was Daniel Suarez Daniel is a very good race car driver you know pot and now he's fight for his existence in this series but he's a challenger race car driver just needs a little more time Dave and Rick his crew chiefs name came up this weekend because Scott graves and the team failed technical inspections four times Daniel had to start this race in the rear his car chief was ejected and so exercising was three times enemy to say four times but anyway they had to start the rear of the field has had a fairly decent day one thing to note on the last green flag run they had 28 green flag laps and add a little bit of cording on the right front so Daniels been a little bit more delicate with that car this run can you be delicate and run 13th right now it's where Suarez is you just asked question how you break up the final loan well there's your answer if you're the 19 you know how far you want a right front tire don't pit and force yourself to go 42 laps they may force to be run long to make sure they can make it on the last run front tire that's listen that's a crew chief you gotta be light on your feet and here we go Matt Kenseth continues to inch in on chase Elliott what a great run for him this afternoon I don't think his name was on the tips of any ones tones as a favorite to win today but at the right time with 43 to go jr. that car starting to come to life and he's a factor in this thing it certainly keeps me to make it better every time they come down Dolce cilia to try to take that position in seven hurry all these guys right there together we can get up quickly we're into the top five man these guys down he was pretty far behind them was able to run them down but it's going to be difficult to make it as fast we thought the better all day long how these boarders you lose now boards it's very difficult even if you have a little faster car Kenseth within six and a half seconds of race leader Clint Boyer Denny Hamlin Kyle Larson Ryan Blaney Kevin Harvick are the top five you see chase Elliott he's running seventh McMurray in sixth mentioned Boyer Boyer now has led the most laps as we take a look at today's lap leaders brought to you by Honda power sports 28 laps led by Clint Boyer Kyle Busch at 27 Harvick 22 Denny Hamlin 21 to four different drivers over 90 laps led by those four drivers Marty so the big debate now when does the final window open for that last stop Mike by gravich having a conversation a moment ago with the spotter bright Griffin listen and that window opens in one more lap than esteemed as you mentioned you don't want to be the first one to fit especially through the leader Clint Boyer Kyle Busch also coming down pit road right now he said the right rear that tire that and the car is going down so Kyle Busch coming down pit road with a right rear that is going down and this would be on the very edge of Kyle Busch being able to make it all the way if it cycles out they should be fine because everybody should be pitting in the next five to ten laps we mentioned this the 14 he doesn't want to be first and the reason he's asking his father just this place is so big will you sit down on pit road you can't really see everything it's easy to get kind of tunnel vision forget what's going on so hey that's your my teammate up there don't leave me hanging I definitely don't want to be that 8th or 10th guy he was running 16th and again Kyle Busch came to pit road when pit road was closed at the end of stage to see smoke coming out of the back for chris beuscher i saw him coming into turn three with a flat left rear tire great safe to keep that car out the fence and out of trouble we're gonna stay green stays green meets flood Boyar continues to set the pace around this racetrack Parker guys William Byron just came on the radio said he might have had a tire issue on the right front he's down the on pit row remember he hadn't hit into the lap 77 they were stretching the fuel as far as they couldn't get in the window to do this on one more stop before Goodyear tires Sunoco fuel for the rookie problem with that strategy you will more than likely lose a lap and be a lap down as we go NASCAR non-stop Boyer still in front at Indy [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] Sunday night football has NFC East rivals colliding Eli Manning and the Giants visit Prescott and the Cowboys a coverage begins with football night in America 7:00 p.m. Eastern pick up now at 8:20 p.m. Sunday only on NBC Monster Energy Cup Series racing from Indianapolis this telecast presented by Golden Corral out front the 14 of Clint Boyer now 35 laps he has led he has a 1.1 second lead over Denny Hamlin cliff Boyer comes into turn two again he'll dial up the bottom lane of the racetrack he's been flawless all afternoon long that car is handling perfectly however he doesn't have time to tarry because Denny Hamlin is starting to close in from the back door deftly these two guys have had the two most outstanding cars all day long Clint Boyer showed it earlier today as well as Denny Hamlin great speed by both these guys they stretched their lead out of her Kyle Larson and I'm a slim boy right now I can't get out of my head Bristol had a chance to win Bristol laser race lead II didn't get a great restart he made ends up winning the race well now with 35 to go leading the Brickyard 400 I gotta find a way to make this happen well you see at the top of the screen quit bar is leaving well Denny Hamlin jumps the 14 comes to pit road on lap early Marty tries to get those fresh tires get an advantage on Clint Bowyer Mike wheeler making the call here and really there are only three cars that got to play this strategy not go a lap down Denny Hamlin was one of those three cars only a second behind Clint Boyer Mike wheeler making the call here to bring into pit road a little bit earlier than the 14 see if they can maybe jump him a little bit Hamlin with a clean execution thus far very happy with a race car no changes on this final stop Dave Carney Jamie McMurray's team got his car right about halfway through the race and they've just been working on racing lines since then here he'll take on four Goodyear tires and a full load of Sunoco fuel to try to get the 2010 winner back to the front I think this is a missed opportunity by the 14 I understand how Denny Hamlin got the pit road first because he was in second so you don't know what he's gonna do but the 14 stays on the racetrack it's gonna be interesting to see if this cycles out how much time he's gonna give up to the new taxes Kyle Larson apparently smokes all the tires yeah the pit road Kelly Kelly teal for the 42 of Kyle Larson they had a couple of slowest today tat Johnson told me that they need to find more consistency with the last time they asked Kyle how his car was doing he said it was fun because these are going to make a chassis adjustment there as well as giving them forth under your tires and Sunoco fuel Marty Clint Boyer the leader coming down pit road also Kevin Harvick his teammate also coming down pit road you see Harvick here in this pit stall a little bit of problems with the car running hot not anything they were overly worried about for Kevin Harvick and his race team who at times have been the fastest car here at Indianapolis but running fifth when he came to pit road this time Clint Boyer now coming down pit road Boyer said it starts off too free and then it gets really good but he wanted the air pressures put back like they were on the last run fork went Boyer so obviously the car very good for Boyer and he said there's a lot of pressure when you bring the number 14 to Indian app at Indianapolis obviously the history with AJ Foyt Tony Stewart as well can clip Boyer closed the deal today small air pressure adjustment seeing if they can keep him in the lead here and win at the Brickyard the race right now is Clint Bowyer getting off of pit road in front of the 11 because that would be that advantage you talked about that's right so first it looks like a clean stop so here comes Clint Bowyer bottom riding your screen Denny Hamlin on the front stretch Clint Bowyer will have to use the access road through turn one through turn two it's not doesn't have quite as much grip let's see Danny Hamlin the 11 is gonna easily overtake Clint Boyer right here in turn to remember that extra laps at the 14 grand what's gonna cost them what could be the lead we still have a lot of cars to pit but in my mind that's the lead for the Brickyard 400 unbelievable turn of events you said it Steve I think the 14 obviously lost a little bit of time staying out a little longer staying out that extra lap and it also appears that everything the fool 11 did on pit road as far as getting old at all pit road was much much better now clay Boyer's got to put that behind me though he's got a focus old lap time not a good go to wait that long to pin Marty hey chef Ryan Blaney missed his stall here on pit road he literally slit by it there was another car on pit road when it all went down he actually was in his teammate Joey Logano saw you see him up front there and backed up from there and now the air hose kind of gets caught on the left front this team made a nice rally after contact on pit road with their teammate Brad Keselowski but this is going to be a costly stop for the 12 team take another look at what happened on pit road for the 12 coming into a spot look at him all locked up and that's a missing your Pitt sign situation there as the 22 of Joey Logano coming off a pit road and blending back on the back stretches he chases after the 41 [Music] Parker and guys it was disaster for Matt Kenseth on pit road he pitted out of fifth place but when he came in it was all good on the right side but the car actually fell off the jack on the left side you see the team running around here they're gonna run it on the left side and you can see them try to jack it up and it's gonna fall off and this ensued and pepcid a long time in the pits he's now a lap down from being inside the top five horrible for such a good run that they're having inside that six car we heard Tony Stewart saying earlier you can't make mistakes you have to have a perfect race if you want to run win the Brickyard 400 Dave 17 car of Ricky Stenhouse had a little bit of a loose condition in this race car earlier that's what they'll try to adjust out of it here with four Goodyear tires and Sunoco fuel Stenhouse running member John Deere colors last week at a retro scheme this weekend a brand new scheme for John Deere joining rush Fenway Racing for these two races to Crown Jewels in row [Music] and while that stop continues Kurt Busch out front Kurt stop at lap 102 was the last time he was on pit road everyone from first to fifth will still have to pit Denny Hamlin came on lap 126 and Clint Boyer was on pit road on lap 128 [Music] see Denny Hamlin as about a 20 or 25 car lengths lead over Clint Boyer you mentioned the five half the pimp and that strategies if you get a yellow you want the freshest tires Denny Hamlin knows this is for the Brickyard 400 trying to get by lap traffic Mike trying to stay in front of that 14 lots of work to do for Denny Hamlin to your point Stevie get around the lap traffic and don't let Clint Boyer catch you that's going to be the battle to watch right now Hamlin's in control of that battle junior with a lot of real estate between himself in the 14 Boyer's been faster over the last few laps but slowly chipping away if that distance between him and Danny handling but I just don't know if he'll have enough to get by him it's going to be tough Hamlin's car performing awesome all day long if Boyer has been a little bit faster times hung up a little bit with lat traffic let's go huge role which one of these guys can get through lap traffic but good boy seems to have a little bit bad for a start and the gap between the two about a second as we take a look at today's Ram trucks proven to last while pit mistakes we've seen many we're not sure if they're done pinning if we get yellows they may come to pit road again think about the restarts they've been crazy the yellows will have that and then very simply the pressure we hear the names that have won here the pressure of a crown jewel race Danny Hamlin plant fire both want to win a Brickyard will the pressure of the event change what they do behind the wheel let's listen in to actually the winner of a Daytona 500 Denny Hamlin so we don't know how he'll handle the pressure but this is what they said on the radio [Music] Marty and they don't know what that issue is in the 11 car it could be a power steering issue for Denny Hamlin he's saying is just having to turn the wheel a lot harder all of a sudden to get everything to work that's funny he said that because that's the same thing we heard from his teammate earlier in the race for Kyle Busch maybe something within the gift or they sit in the power steering pump sir you never know but hadn't seem to hurt accomplish the rest of the race is he still motor and old so maybe he's got a big big race pending or an issue they would cost pity to win down the backstretch they go and headed back toward you Junior so Kurt Busch out front still has to stop Brad Keselowski Ryan Newman Jimmie Johnson all have to make a stop Denny Hamlin could make it all the way to the end we go NASCAR non-stop [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] you and cliff Boyer's running Denny Hamlin down got in some lap traffic but the question is hitting at nine when he catches him Denny Hamlin trying to run perfect laughs but he has to deal with lap traffic now so when he comes up on lap traffic it depends on who gets by the quickest Clint Boyer has been able to take advantage of that but does he have a good enough car to catch the 11 on an open racetrack this is the battle for fourth right now wants everyone cycles through this will be the battle for the win at the Brickyard 400 Denny Hamlin Clint Boyer separated by six car lengths off turn two Denny Hamlin to the strong race car today I really don't know if in Boyer is quick enough to stay there but neither one of them seem to be able to work lap traffic better than the other I don't know if boy is going to be able to close the end enough to give get the arrow issue with the 11th car I think slip boy has a faster car but that's the key right there how do you overcome there is a narrow issue and I believe that Clint boys will have to try the rival at traffic try to get Denny Hamlin in a bad spot well you heard my faculty say the leaders have to pit with Brad Keselowski Brian Newman Jimmie Johnson they're leading but they pit at last at lap 102 you see right there Denny Hamlin and Claiborne 126 and 128 that's actually how Denny Hamlin got the lead coming two laps earlier boy you're starting to shut it down now slowly but surely of car lengths at a time boy you're at least heard the south end of the racetrack is starting to cut in to that advantage that did again last lap they ran pretty much equal times 5039 to handling 5042 Boyer Boyer closes on this straightaway but then as they go to the turns his car really getting to the corner here in turn three the board is getting a little bit of a draft down these long straightaways helping him on the straightaway they got a little bit of lap traffic that they're approaching I don't think this will be an issue but you never know Denny Hamlin looking for his second crown jewel he's won the Daytona 500 looking for a Brickyard 400 win Denny Hamlin now just 20 laps away from the checkered flag here at Indianapolis Motor Speedway question is does he have enough to make it to the end as far as the intestinal fortitude that some of this lap traffic will Falls one to dig deep for right now he is in command of this battle and it looks like now that Hamlin start to pull away attack flap traffic in front of both these guys they close in and to turn three here yeah they'll be able to get around and set the 23 car goes hi is Danny handling the bottom he'll be able to exit turn three no problem but this is going to slow up to 14 just a little bit he's he has an inertia a low in the board yeah that actually hurt Clint Boyer bull never hurt any handling for sure and just a lap before the 31 car Ryan Newman he pitted from second place 31 career wins behind the wheel of the 1110 career wins behind the wheel of the 14 the pressure a crown jewel who can put the last 19 laps together slowly but surely we're getting to the end of this one here this afternoon at Indianapolis the question is can Denny have hang on to pick up this crown jewel that bed ex Toyota solid now I'll turn to it onto the backstretch as a lap flying down it gets harder and harder for Clint Boyer to build to close this gap the Leno car seemed to be able to stretch it over the last few corners and you see the gap right there it's a little bit larger handling possibly driving to his first Brickyard 400 win it's a long way to go Junior still 19 to go we've seen both of these drivers get it done click born with two wins this year Diddy hammer with none so far yeah very hungry for Denny Hamlin 36 race winless streak he would like to end today a Monday win he wouldn't care what day you win at the Brickyard any day Denny Hamlin wins is the perfect day for him to task a bigger race on Wednesday morning he wouldn't care he's trying to hang on right now so far so good for Denny he comes through turn number 2 solid as a rock on the bottom of the racetrack and it's interesting one lap did he push together the corners the next lap blitt Boyer puts together a heck of a lap he's closed in just a little bit here coming into turn three lap traffic ahead again the 34 car will then be issued over over Jie Jie yeah I'm with you it's really interesting boy of that lap he's really beat that big hamon by a ton it's been back and forth thank you sailors Flint boy his car coming on strong Barney hey guys chef you know this race teams produced up to the race track every week Denny Hamlin and his team with something new this weekend you see the caution for debris there on the front stretch right almost in front of the flag stand there is debris on the racetrack and so the caution comes out I believe one of your keys was restarts crazy restarts and we're gonna see another one but it starts with pit stops first a crew chief has to make a decision how much do tires matter I don't believe you can pit from the front row of the Brickyard 400 we have seed track position matters so much but someone's gonna pit and we're al off the line will it be will it be forth will it be six as we take a look you see the debris fly onto the racetrack right there a big piece of sheet metal it's gonna have to be picked up so who pits where do they pit from what position then after all that you mentioned a rig through the gears a week ago it was Brad Keselowski x' team who had a great stop and was able to get his car out in front restart so important once again will it come down to a race team making a flawless stop getting their driver out on to the racetrack first while you mentioned that heartbreak well it was at the expense of Kyle Larson he'd led 284 laps to ended up finished third well who's running third currently Kyle Larson Keaney say you haven't seen me all day but guess what I'm gonna sneak up you took my crown jewel I'm gonna take the ring off your finger I'm gonna try to win the Brickyard Denny Hamlin click Boyer Kyle Larson Jamie McMurray Brad Keselowski the top five a man that Jamie McMurray no wins this year you're talking about a guy that has nothing to lose and everything to gain you run in fourth right now Steve Thomas crew chief I want to do whatever I can to give him a shot to win this race if he worked to win this race he's in the playoffs and that would but now and you have to believe Jamie would follow that by doing whatever he had the news broke what a Chip Ganassi say jamie mcmurray will not be back full-time in the one car next year he can run the 500 for us if he wants to but that's it that's his only plans we don't know what the future holds for him I don't know if Jamie knows what the future holds for him but I could show you whatever that future is it wouldn't make much much sweeter if he got to run the rest of 2018 in the playoffs along with Jamie McMurray I think you got to look back and think Daniel Suarez in 9th position this is an opportunity for those guys to throw that Hail Mary we've been talking about all week long hick we've been talking about it for a month leading up to this race the teams will be in position to do something incredibly extraordinary with their pit stop strategy steve is this the moment where one of those guys makes that type of move well I think it's gonna be split right I mean the question is will McMurray start fourth what are the leaders do do they pit it's gonna happen right in front of you Burton over there and turn four I'm excited to watch it I tell you what Jamie McMurray we've seen him win big races he's won this race before so Jamie McMurray I can promise you you give him a shot he is going to batch the gas and do whatever it takes to try to get this win I really think I have to be on the front row if I can't start in the front row I'm thinking tires I think the 11 stays out the 14 stays out but I believe the 42 is gonna drag the rest with them this is what it looks like oh and some guys turn back right but only a few McMurray turned back off of pit road to stay out and give that track position quite a few cars stayed on the track to stay on the lead lap [Music] and Rick it sounds like the 42 team was waiting to see what those leaders ahead of him adieu Kyle Larson pitting from the third position he said he was tight to start but then freed up a little bit Ted Johnson making the call for four Goodyear tires Marty Kyle Busch has worked his way back up into the top ten he and Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano all taking advantage here with some fresh tires we'll see if they can get a very good restart gonna be four for Kyle Busch coming down pit road car was a little bit too free on that run great stop for the 18 team but 42 and 9 will stay in front of them as that race off pit road won by Kyle Larson Rick so many cars stayed on the racetrack it's gonna take a lap for me to figure out who's where we need timing and scoring to refresh because you mentioned it some took the left to come to pit road some went back on the racetrack I think Jamie McMurray saw he was gonna line up on the inside right he saw the 42 pit so he's allowed this puts me on the inside if I can clear whoever's on the outside you know if he can somehow clear him off to her - you never know remember he can win at this racetrack he's done it before did it back in 2010 it was a big year for Chip Ganassi Racing he had won the Daytona 500 earlier wins the Brickyard 400 Chip Ganassi five Indy 500 wins as well so jamie mcmurray whose future and Monster Energy Cup Series is up in the air now after the announcement earlier that he will not be full-time in 2019 with Chip Ganassi Racing and that one car I go back to what Tony Stewart said you mentioned and everything has to go perfect and there's just something about this race it just never is smooth it's never easy 15 to go it looks like it's gonna be a battle between two drivers a piece of debris comes on the front stretch the caution has to be thrown then it's the decision to pit and the pit crews have to perform and now it's going to be about restarts we don't know 1 2 3 we have no idea how many restarts we're gonna get and a place guys Jeff jr. this place is just crazy for restarts through one and two oh it is nuts and I think you're right I think Jamie McMurray I think part of his strategy was he saw one person pit in front of him that means immediately picks up one spot starts on the inside I think it was a good call this gives him his best shot to win but the determination of whether you're gonna win or not could happen at the launch you got to launch well you got to get through turn one well and then of course through there too and we've seen how crazy they get think about last year's race wreck after wreck after wreck it's gonna get wild here if you let yeah I agree yeah I think that this only works if he's willing to do whatever it takes and that's that's you know that's half the most incredible the probably restart of his life here as he bears down on this on this field going into turn one he's got to be a position to to be battling for the lead like see said you want to build that front row that's where that's where we think it'll be decided between those two guys but somehow Jamie has to put himself in that position and take take those two front front spots Dave Matt McCall getting some final conversation with the crew and with Jamie making sure he's not being communicated with go ahead I don't want you to miss anything right now because you stayed out for track position over those tires how was that decision made yeah I mean obviously we need track position you know our cars been ok we got off on the bounce to start the race a little bit Jamie's done a good job maintaining here I mean obviously never last 14 or 15 I don't know what it is right now but we'll see how it pans out I was gonna say we talked this morning and you know he's good here even without practice on most weekends right correct that's uh that's sort of our forte I don't know that's a good thing but it happened more often than not happened just last week two times in practice Marty they didn't they lost an engine and he still only had 12 laps of practice finished ninth at Darlington hoping for a better day today well Dave Mike wheeler and Denny Hamlin have won the Daytona 500 the southern 500 trying for the third crown jewel now with the Brickyard 400 and what worries you about this restart with 13 to go getting through the gears and getting to turn one if we can do that we a good shot obviously got control the race that was big Ken to the guys at the shop enough in the 18 they've worked their butts off the last couple weeks getting this thing ready getting ready for the chase and we've done put ourself position we've heard some power steering issues with the 18 we've heard Denny say that it's kind of tough to steer as well any concern there for this last few laps only concern is on him hang on to it right now again there you go it's gonna be fun Rick to watch this restart what might be the final restart to the side the Brickyard 400 there have been a lot of gambling moves that have taken place we're not even in Vegas yet that comes next week when the playoffs kick off in Las Vegas for the South Pointe 400 that race begins at 3:00 p.m. Eastern on NBC si well you mentioned playoffs let's take a look at the playoffs what's gonna happen in playoff 16 drivers are gonna head into round one Las Vegas short track at Richmond a road course at Charlotte then we're gonna go down to 12 drivers for Dover Talladega and Kansas down to 8th for the short track at Martinsville Texas in Phoenix and then down to the championship for on to Miami what we talked about should they pit should they stay out I love the call of Jamie McMurray because look we're fresh tires line up the first guy on fresh tires is all the way back in 11 so you see at lap 145 that's where that car pitted I like Brad Keselowski he was the last guy on pit road under green in seventh so if you came to pit row you're outside the top ten we're 13 to go you just have to ask yourself Rick is that too far back to win so well I'm gonna send it to the driver Jeff Burton right now I'm thinking about this restart if I'm if I'm Clint Boyer if I'm Denny Hamlin I have a mission I've got to get them a guy behind me pushing me I've got to give him a signal give him the signal to go wait just a minute let them get their front bumper to my root bumper and then accelerate to try to use that to get me in front and to put a lead I'm worried if he gives him that single to the one car the one car is going to take advantage of that and go three wide down in the bottom to turn one and that could just be terrible for everybody except for Jamie Murray obviously we've seen Clint Boyer restart on the outside several times a day he's taken the lead many times doing that I think I've got a clip for you man I'm bent on him to take advantage to this restart and taken to Denny Hamlin to be leading all the turn two could this be the final restart there'll be 12 laps to go on the inside as Denny Hamlin Fed Ex tweeted earlier today we deliver possibilities well it's possible the Brickyard 400 could be won by Denny Hamlin back up through the gears they go Clint Boyer tucks in behind him he's running second just behind him Jamie McMurray trying to make the move now for second here it goes before he gets into Boyer boria will hang on to the car holy cow what about my lawyer the one he'll hang on the second McMurray backs away lets him correct the car in the short chute even with that going on Danny Hamlin has a tremendously what a jump on that restart news jump going on that restart down into turn one had everybody in a sleep that lawyer fight for that second spot lookit Jamie Murray slips up a little bit if he's having a battle right now with Erik Jones Murray had his shot right there it's funny but round chose not to do it now a big lead for Denny Hamlin coming up on 11 laps to go from Indy boy a running second McMurray and Erik Jones up into the fourth position Kevin Harvick drops back to food Jamie McMurray's just trying to hang on to third he has fallen into the clutches of Erik Jones while Kevin Harvick passes Brad Keselowski punch a holding is inside Keselowski will drop down low he will pick up position number five I'll turn to Brad Keselowski to turn three down the back straightaway Dini Hamlin still with a huge lead Clint Boyer second place now the huge lead over James Murray no lap traffic for these guys clear sailing for the leaders Clint boy I still believe flip boards a little bit quicker he was 210 seconds the orders fill at a time when everything perfectly it's all started on the restart you guys mentioned it perhaps the restart of the day maybe the restart of the life the 11 he gets out there and that boy are trying to protect Jamie McMurray he's in a must-win he hits him at the bumper once and like you said Jeff kind of cut him a little slack let him back in line now the 14 has to put laps together try to catch Denny Hamlin but don't sleep on the fourth place guy Brad Keselowski he has about 15 lap fresher tires Rick one more restart and he's going to be right in position and then he handling he's safe man this cars turned a great lap Boyer's a little quicker but only a couple thousand that's not going to be enough as they come to nine to go I'm thinking city puts all the corners together but it's not going to get close enough to make a pass it will be difficult is so hard marked him to make it work top two have separated themselves now the gap as they cross the finish line it was eight tenths of a second handling to Boyer can he continue to close the gap with these nine laps to go in this race we've seen this before in this race this afternoon Clint Boyer trying to catch Denny Hamlin he got to a certain point and then he had to back away trouble for Austin Dillon turn one Dillon is up against the outside wall makes contact flat rate Sylar tires as all just trying to bring that car down to the wall of the racetrack he is Clark he pulls it to the bottom off turn two a lot of damage though as he pancakes the right side of that car and will this bring out a caution that's the big question and if it does Brad Keselowski and those fresher tires is looking wonderful he has passed Jamie McMurray that strategy he knew he couldn't win it pinning early so what do they do they pit late they run to the end of their window here he is in the third position the freshest tires Austin Dillon looks like he's going to be able to get to the access road but here's what happened [Music] contact with the 22 Joey Logano he slit up the racetrack and then two laps later up into the wall for the 3 of Austin Dillon but we stayed green under 8 laps to go now for Denny Hamlin Clint Boyer and Brad Keselowski Keselowski continuing to click off great lap times Boyer the last time by what's the fastest on the racetrack let's got the best car I just don't know he has enough time I would use the that 2 car Keselowski hard to beat I'm thinking he's got to catch the four team and even without the crash crash in the short chute of turn three in four big crash there there's the caution caution comes out Landon Cassill involved [Music] happy damage on the double zero Landon Cassill so he was running 28th also that's the 96 of Jeffrey Earnhardt I saw this accident happened right in front of me Jeffrey Earnhardt on the inside of Landon Cassill gets loose in the middle of turn three corrects the car up into Landon Cassill both guys into the outside wall hard and a ton of damage to the right front actually now flames underneath the hood of the double zero of Landon Cassill Jeffrey Earnhardt about to climb out of the 96 [Music] and it now becomes a shootout or Denny Hamlin and Clint Boyer sitting ducks that last lap break the 2 of Brad Keselowski was seven tenths of a second faster than the leaders will this caution let the leaders cool their tires there's a replay of the crash Jeffrey Earnhardt II see Jeff get loose it's just time aside for the corner is tough here and it takes the side force off of the inside car and if you're if you're in that car you have to be ready and know that and try to anticipate it hard to do though and what a huge impact from both of those cars you see the double zero Landon Cassill kind of got squeezed into the wall and both of those guys is really hard we've already seen Jeffrey Earnhardt climb out of the 96 look at this right here it just squeezes Gasol that is a major impact for both drivers and they're going to clean up that accident that took place in that short chute between three and four both drivers will be headed to the infield care center and we'll be right back [Music] and now just under five laps remaining Monster Energy Cup Series racing from Indianapolis telecast presented by Golden Corral up front Denny Hamlin Clint Boyer will make up Row one still the decision to be made which line will Denny Hamlin and choose he has the option of the inside of the outside Brad Keselowski though a lot fresher tires for Brad Keselowski who's running third Jamie McMurray fourth Erik Jones infom mentioned could it be a new winner here at the Brickyard 400 okay well you mentioned the players hamlin bora Kozlowski how do we get here what was the strategies in the toys as well Denny Hamlin he was the first guy to make a call he was running behind Clint Boyer see Clint Boyer past pit road Denny Hamlin he hangs a left under green flag comes to the service of the number 11 FedEx crew they work flawlessly a beautiful pit stop no issue two laps later to Clint Bowyer than before T also does a nice job jump to pit road the pit stop looks clean no issue but those two extra laps cost the 14 you see right here the 11 takes the lead the story though was it just these two race cars Brad Keselowski he waits 50 laps before he comes to pit road 15 lap pressure tires we think it's never going to matter but Paul Wolfe said you got to give yourself a chance this strategy the much fresher tires he'll be lining up in the third position and that's gonna make that front road nervous Rick well it's gonna be exciting once again we've talked about the restarts and how great they are here at Indianapolis the first guy that will see them as after they're exiting turn one will be Mike Bagley and back man we have seen some great things today yeah we have and I think we're getting ready to see some other things as well some pleasant for some some Pleasant for a lot of others however it's hold-your-breath time at Indianapolis we've seen this play out before we've seen these late race restarts and then caution after caution after caution the laps are precious the time is over but the time is now for somebody to make a move the question is can anybody get around Denny Hamlin and win this race Dale on that last restart Denny ham we got an incredible jump best we've seen all day long what will he do this time those guys saw that trick does he have another trick will he try that restart again and also these games on the front end of this field on restarts are going to create havoc for everyone in the back of the field we saw it last year create issues with crashes and so forth so these last final restarts are going to be very difficult for everyone involved but what well Denny Hamlin try this time to beat Clint Bowyer and Brad Keselowski down to determine one juga I think that's the key how do you break beat at Brad Keselowski not necessarily into one but off of two he's got much much fresher tires so I'm wondering if Denny Hamlin shouldn't pick the outside put Keselowski on the bottom behind boy or get that great launch beat boiler into turn one and now Kozlowski's a carpet head you have a car between you and Keselowski it's a little bit of a gamble but how else are you going to beat someone with that much pressure tires I love everything they're saying about the front two rows but two guys to keep in mind Jamie McMurray outside row two Ryan Newman outside row three of either of those drivers win they are playoff found they are currently outside that is the only ticket available to the playoffs that pushes Alex Bowman out even here we are with four laps to go in the regular season it's still not over it's still not determine what 16 will go to Las Vegas to race for a championship McMurray Newman running fourth and six could they be the spoilers for Alex Bowman today coming back into the restart zone three laps of racing to go to determine the Brickyard 400 winner back up through the gears they go spinning the tires the 14 of Clint Boyer that allows the 2 of Keselowski to stay right on the back bumper of the 11 of Denny Hamlin Hamlin leads Keselowski runs second pressure tires on the two as he wiggled and here comes Keselowski rumbling out of the pocket and he's tried to shut down the distance between himself and Denny Hamlin right now put it at four car lengths on the back straightaway clear sailing for Denny Hamlin I don't know Brad Hills last of those new tires going to work hard he slowed these last few corners coming down to the turn three let's see they're trying to close the gap just a little bit but you see right there Kozlowski I have to carry a dub speed and turn three distance they even to try to beat him all before you put a meter in soul penske in the IndyCar but never in the stock car have they won the Brickyard 400 well the gap is closed now as they dive into turn number one here comes Keselowski right on the back bumper of the 11 of Denny Hamlin less than two laps to go Keselowski is there the question is where can he make the move he is the closest he's been Hamlin slides up Keselowski to the bottom of the racetrack side by side for the lead here it is they touch down the back straightaway side drafting Denny Hamlin back to the corner Pamela - what's gonna happen down here in turn three Denny Hamlin with the position dives down in the corner for Brandon still there oh my gosh this is amazing once again watch Erik Jones coming off turn four these guys gonna get slow side by side brad keselowski takes the lead one lap to go presented by credit one bank Eric Jones up to second Keselowski Jones one and to pave lit bolts back to third holy cow what a what a great last handful of laps we've had at Indianapolis it's about to be the captain and Keselowski getting ready to drive into Victory Lane at the Brickyard Keselowski is called off - Roger Penske is never won the Brickyard 400 two more corners and Brad Keselowski is going to bring him that gift to the boss man here he comes down to turn three a big lead over Erik Jones who is the surprise second-place finish and I not only a big yard 400 win but think about the two car they were trying to hurry up in the regular season two wins in a row now coming to the playoff last week it was the southern 500 this week the Brickyard 400 purchase loose key [Music] everybody a late race caution puts the two in position the fresher tires starting in the second row Denny Hamlin again a great restart was able to pull out front but the fresher tires and the domination of the two wins out to get the Brickyard 400 [Applause] [Applause] we mentioned Team Penske not having a Brickyard 400 win well this win for Team Penske overall is win number 499 for that organization 17 times Roger Penske has won the Indy 500 this is his first Brickyard 400 and the beautiful look of the American flag once again the trademark of what's Brad Keselowski does with every win he will carry the Stars and Stripes with him this moment presented by Sunoco fueling victories all season long if you haven't checked the box Brad K winds and the Monster Energy Cup Series for the second time this year last week it was the southern 500 this week an Indianapolis Motor Speedway your men like Roger Penske like Rick Hendrick major owners in the sport that they race because they love to race they seem to have everything to deliver them something they do not have this for Roger Penske this racetrack is the means the most to Roger Penske he has all the helmets all the pictures from all 17 Indianapolis 500 victories he delivered a championship to Roger Penske now he's delivered a Brickyard 400 so do you think this helmet goes this helmet probably will join those 17 winning on these hallowed grounds first win at Indianapolis since 1999 for Ford it has been a long time since the blue oval has been able to get to Victory Lane here last week it was the first southern 500 wins since 1975 and now collecting the checkered flag for the Brickyard 400 the very first floor for the Penske organization and Marty are you ready for this driver to climb out I am so much history with Team Penske here at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway when you walk into the main conference room at Team Penske there's a very large painting of Roger Penske with all the board war trophies that he has won from the Indianapolis 500 he will now be able to add a Brickyard 400 trophy to that so many years of trying for Team Penske 25 tries they finally make it to Victory Lane for the Brickyard 400 Brad Keselowski Paul Wolfe with a strategy call they're the ones who bring the captain this wonderful win today what a great win for Brad Keselowski and a week ago he had never won a major event in the Cup Series he has now won back-to-back majors with a southern 500 and the Brickyard 400 it's going to be a popular win as he salutes the fans [Applause] [Music] high-five for all the guys on the team folks afford and bradden sounded like there was some emotion in there I've got to know those final few laps with Denny Hamlin that was an outright duel it was you know I got to give credit where credit's due my crew chief Paul wolf you made it a heck of a call to pit there we competed kind of late in the stage or late in that run and the yellow came out with new tires we start at 8 and it was kind of like he gave me the ball you know how that goes Marty to get gave me the ball I had to make a push like dang it's gonna be tough but you know we weren't a dominant car by any means but Paul and everybody executed a incredible race and I just had to do my job and here we are in victory lane at the break yard god I wish our P was here I know he's watching at home and what a day now you've now won back-to-back majors and how about these fans who stuck it out on a Monday to see this thank you very much guys we appreciate you being here this is the Brickyard this is awesome and it's great Murray Keselowski a winner here at Indianapolis bringing the captain the trophy that means the most one from indeed why because Team Penske 17 polls 17 wins and probably the biggest race in the entire world Indy 500 they run on the road course as well he's won the last four IndyCar Grand Prix Road course races he's won the Xfinity race back in 2012 and up until today it had been a cero but no more you can cross that off right now Brad Keselowski he's delivered one to Roger Penske the captain now has a Brickyard 400 and the tradition continues the climbing of the fence Tony Stewart did it with his wins Tony said he immediately regretted that decision but these guys look like they're enjoying every second climbing the fence at Indianapolis the kissing of the bricks will be coming up next the celebration in victory lane the great racing between two incredible drivers Denny Hamlin and Brad Keselowski a champion and now another crown jewel added to his racing resume last week the southern 500 and now giving Roger Penske his very first Brickyard 400 and now the playoff grid is set the 16 drivers that have an opportunity at the big prize at the end of the season now they will work to work their way through the round of 16 the round of 12 the round of 8 and into the championship for with that one chance when they go to Miami to capture the championship well 15 points goes to the regular season champion and that has now been determined Kyle Busch regular season champion is with it Rick let's start with today it was an adventure for Kyle Busch how would you describe it yeah yeah I guess so man what a ugly day one of the ugliest ones we've had here at the Brickyard in a long long time so that wasn't exactly what we were hoping for or what we wanted out of this M&Ms caramel Camry and and for our team but it's the day we were given so you know we had a lot of ups and downs mostly downs and trying to fight back all the time but just didn't have quite the speed we were looking for either you know wish that we could have been faster than what we were and being able to pass cars easier than what we were able to do we just didn't have that today so overall I'm grand scheme of things I guess it's you know pretty good day considering we get to go home with cool new hardware and you know also some more bonus points in order to get ready for Las Vegas my hometown coming up this week and starting the playoffs a couple of upsides there he gets five more bonus points than anybody else for being the regular season champion and with the presentation from NASCAR here Steve Phelps thanks Dave hey Kyle on behalf of NASCAR and our millions of fans worldwide want to congratulate you on being our 2018 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series regular season champion Kyle what do you think of that it's awesome I mean it's it's certainly special you know the the bonus points being a lot the hardware means a lot I'm think NASCAR and Monster Energy and of course Eminem's Interstate Batteries skittles all of our partners that make it so possible for us to be able to go out here and achieve our goals and this is the first step of that you know and they give away a trophy for a regular season championship so we get to take that home thankfully but one currently we want to go after the end of the season championship and take home that bigger trophy right here get the handoff from Steve and the photo ops will begin for Kyle Busch regular season champion after today's Brickyard 400 Kelly back in victory lane now where the celebration can continue for vet Brad Keselowski and this two crew who always like to do a Miller Lite shower here in victory lane and for Brad Keselowski we meet second week in a row man we thought last week's win was a big one with a southern 500 this one win for 99 for Team Penske and of course the first Brickyard how big is this oh it's incredible you know last year I lost this race almost the exact same way and to bring it home this way it it feels really good to make up for kind of my messed up last year and to get Roger Penske his first you know Cup car win here at the Brickyard is just an incredible feeling I'm so happy for everybody Team Penske like I said 499 it's great we were hoping this would be 500 and the Brickyard but that's okay we're we don't care what number is it's the Brickyard where we're so excited and first win for discounts higher for us in the Cup Series that's great they've been so good to us and and this whole team you know the call made today was just phenomenal we weren't the fastest car by far but this team just never gave up on it made the most of strategy and executed a perfect race and that that's something I'm so proud of I know you wish Roger Penske was here you're about to go kiss the brick so what do you think that's going to be like a little good Ronnie never tastes so good enjoy congratulations Kelly mentioned it Roger Penske not here to celebrate this first Brickyard 400 win as we look at the playoff standings entering at Las Vegas Kyle Busch Kevin Harvick will enter with the same amount of points so playoff points will advance from round to round as long as you advance from one round to the next and how about Brad Keselowski now at the last two wins has jumped up into fourth as far as playoff points and I think that's a big deal when I look at this standings right here I look at Alex Bowman basically all the way through maybe chase Elliott even Kurt Busch and Joey Logano though those drivers have to be worth in the first round remember four are gonna be eliminated they have very little if no head start into the round you mentioned a brad keselowski not just momentum but a little safety net always great to get rewarded for your efforts another name that's on this list in 13th Denny Hamlin 2003 points to start the playoffs earlier Parker clicker caught up with him Denny Hamlin finishes third with an aggressive battle against Keselowski there in the closing laps would you maybe need to do to hold them off not have main 'less guys in the back rec I mean I don't know what they're doing crashing with couple laps to go multiple laps down meaningless but besides that we all those cautions allowed the guys who took tires and saved their strategy allow them to come back up there and obviously a lot of the to to kind of rough us up there at the end so very unfortunate but it's it's what happens sometimes I've heard you and wheel say throughout this season you had speed but you haven't able to execute today looked like a day you really execute is this a great momentum into the playoffs I don't even care about the playoffs at this moment all I care about is you know not winning this race and it's a 1 that was a big on my list of races I wanted to win and that the team gave me the car that was certainly capable doing that today and executed flawlessly on pit lane the strategy was good had a fast car just you know circumstances uh you know that cautions cautions killed us at the end lob those guys to come up there that's the statement comes with missing out on the crown jewels of NASCAR and the celebration will continue for the two team they'll cherish this one well Team Penske earlier I'd mentioned that willpower won the Daytona 500 actually won the Indianapolis 500 earlier this year there you see the captain celebrating that Indianapolis 500 win well Chip Ganassi has done this winning the two crown jewels at this racetrack in the same year and now Roger Penske has done it with willpower and Brad Keselowski claiming the Brickyard 400 as I mentioned that celebration is going to go on for quite some time such a big wind we obviously had to wait until Monday to see it but it's oh so sweet to be able to kiss the bricks here didn't we had to wait till Monday and we had to wait to the final restart that's what we've seen out of this Brickyard 400 you heard it in Denny Hamlin's voice disappointed it's absolutely on his list to win he said the team had the strategy gave him the car he feels disappointed but at the end I think he looks you have to look back saying I had a chance but Paul Wolfe brad keselowski they're always the team you're scratching your head trying to figure why they're doing what they're doing what they're doing is giving themselves a chance they didn't have the best car they continued to fight both in strategy on the restarts and in the end brad keselowski what a move wins the biggest race of his year so far we'll see what that momentum does as we head to Las Vegas and that's tough to say because he wins the southern 500 one week and then he comes back with the Brickyard 400 the very next week what an aggressive move those we saw incredible racing on the last lap Denny Hamlin Brad Keselowski fighting side-by-side and the guys out there on the racetrack that saw it closest were Mike Bagley Dale Earnhardt jr. and Jeff Burton it was a fantastic race Rick I'll tell you that couple of interesting takeaways from this race being that Martin Truex Jr had another bad finish is he still considered to be a part of the big three or is it now the dynamic duo and is Keselowski catching fire at just the right time playoffs start next weekend in Las Vegas what does Keselowski Paul wolf and that number 2 car have as they make their way through the playoffs we'll be talking about it on the morning drive on SiriusXM NASCAR radio and NASCAR live Tuesday nights at 7:00 on M RN & M RN com yeah I like what I saw as far as the big three did not dominate this race in fact it's it's it seemed that the rest of the field has Callie's caught up at the right time as we head on in the playoffs what an exciting last few laps I mean this is a great race to watch from my vantage point with all the strategy going on and different things happening on the racetrack but that moved by Brad Keselowski and the aggression was just incredible so a lot of fun for me to watch and I am excited is the play officer next week man I mean this is it's time to really settle this championship and we start that next week in Las Vegas I can't wait to be there so I'm excited Jeff yeah when I think about the playoffs I gotta think about Brad Keselowski he was not on my list of people I thought could win the championship but in two weeks not only did he win the southern 500 and the Brickyard 400 he gained 10 playoff points that he can use to help move him to homestead that is an amazing amount of points again in only two weeks for a guy that we really didn't hear that much from I also think about how well cliff boy I ran and Denny Hamlin Denny Hamlin and struggled this year we've seen speed from them lately in practice but it has not transferred to the race but we did see that today so didn't he Hamlin a good day I know he's disappointed but surely he's got to step back tomorrow and say okay we had great speed and then Clint Boyer he's got his speed back we saw go away a few weeks ago now he's running well also as we head to the playoffs yeah momentum so important as we get ready for the final 10 races of the season Kelley momentum huge let's catch up with the race winning crew chief Paul Wolfe 10 extra playoff bonus points you picked up in the last two races of the regular season how significant is that well it's big but what's more exciting is uh getting this discount tire for in victory lane at Indy and it's something that hasn't been done at Penske and and Rogers had a lot of success here don't a lot of things but obviously this one's for him and wish he was here I didn't think we could top last week but to come here and win two in a row and that Indy man just says a lot about this team never give up we didn't have the fastest car today but you know we never give up and look at what we can do strategy wise and took our play on that and you know we caught a break with the caution and then from there Brad had a good restart and was able to execute a huge strategy call there hey a tradition that continues the kissing of the brakes a moment I'm guessing you've maybe thought of what's it gonna be like out there I don't know it's just amazing like I said we there's so much history here and and everything that Team Penske is weren't able to do to to finally get a cup car and Victory Lane is huge go enjoy well Rick if this was the last race of the regular season and these drivers put moves like that on on the racetrack what are we ever gonna see in the playoffs I don't think there's any way to predict the chaos says getting ready to happen in round one we're gonna take the pressure of the regular season and condense it down into three weeks in three weeks for drivers they no longer have a shot at a championship post race coverage going till 6:30 Eastern tonight and then followed by racing roots and Ryan Blaney it's time to go to Krista Kyle and meet back in the studio this copyrighted telecast may not be reproduced retransmitted or used in any form without the authorized written consent of NASCAR broadcasting NASCAR would like to thank all of our fans for your support and we hope you enjoy today's broadcast you

Channel: NASCAR

Views: 154,420

Keywords: NASCAR, motorsports, racing, stock car, mencs, crash, indianapolis, kyle busch, kevin harvick, martin truex jr, chase elliott, jimmie johnson, denny hamlin, kyle larson, ryan blaney, bubba wallace, joey logano, brad keselowski

Id: hvgZCLucEtE

Length: 238min 42sec (14322 seconds)

Published: Wed Sep 12 2018