MONSTER ENERGY CUP FOXWOODS RESORT CASINO 301

Bowman in 3rd car after crash

NASCAR Monster Energy Cup driver Alex Bowman signs an autograph for a fan Saturday at New  Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, N.H. After breaking a drive shaft on his qualifying lap  Friday, Bowman crashed his backup car in practice Saturday. He will drive Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson’s spare car in today’s race.
NASCAR Monster Energy Cup driver Alex Bowman signs an autograph for a fan Saturday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, N.H. After breaking a drive shaft on his qualifying lap Friday, Bowman crashed his backup car in practice Saturday. He will drive Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson’s spare car in today’s race.

LOUDON, N.H. -- Alex Bowman will drive teammate Jimmie Johnson's spare car in today's Foxwood Resorts Casino 301 after wrecking his backup in the final practice at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

Bowman, one of five drivers already in backups for the NASCAR Monster Energy Cup race, struck a wall coming out of a turn in Saturday's practice. Bowman was already in a backup Chevrolet after blowing the drive train in his main car during qualifying Friday.

"We don't have an issue. We've had a run of bad luck -- extremely bad luck," said Jeff Andrews, vice president of competition for Hendrick Motorsports.

Andrews gave an update in the garage as crews worked to switch Johnson's car into one for Bowman, and Andrews said the car will be fine for Bowman today. Bowman won his first career Cup race three weeks ago at Chicago.

"It is pretty rare," Andrews said of having to replace a backup car the day before a race.

Four other drivers will be in backups today. Denny Hamlin wrecked his main Toyota during practice Friday. Ryan Newman also hit the wall during practice Friday and will run his backup Ford.

"I've been here quite a few times and never hit the fence, especially there, but it just caught me off guard," Newman said.

Kyle Larson and William Byron will both be in backup Chevys after bumping the wall during practice Saturday.

Points leader Joey Logano will be starting eighth today in his Team Penske Ford as he goes for his third victory at New Hampshire, which he calls his "home track."

Logano, from Middletown, Conn., said New Hampshire is the first place he saw a Cup Series race and loves racing in front of New England fans.

"There's nothing like winning at your home track so you really want to make it happen there," Logano said.

Logano has won twice at New Hampshire and finished in the top 10 the past two races here.

"I enjoy the challenge of it," he said. "It's definitely one of the most technical race tracks that we go to. You have to be so precise about where you place your car. It's very flat. Cars don't do what you want them to do at all as flat as it is, trying to get the car to turn and trying to get it to accelerate is always a tough thing and there's a lot of variables."

Ryan Blaney had the fastest lap in Saturday's final practice session, averaging 133.572 mph in a Ford. Toyota drivers had the next two fastest times with Hamlin -- in his backup -- averaging 133.226 and Kyle Busch at 132.739.

Brad Keselowski, who clinched the pole in qualifying Friday, was sixth fastest at 132.591. Keselowski will be starting from the pole for the first time in nearly two years as he tries to win at New Hampshire for the first time since 2014.

Larson put an end to any speculation about him and his ride for next season.

Larson said he'll be back with Chip Ganassi Racing, which has him under contract through next year.

"I like being at Chip's place. He's an amazing boss and gave me my shot. I'm very grateful for everything he's done," said Larson, who will start 15th today.

Larson said he was a little caught off guard to hear speculation that he wouldn't be back with Ganassi next year.

"It's not frustrating to me because as long as I know what's going on, I know what the truth is," Larson said. "I don't really care what everybody else thinks. I know where I'll be next year."

Today’s starting lineup

Friday’s qualifying; race today

At New Hampshire Motor Speedway

Loudon, N.H.

Lap Length: 1.053 miles

(Car number in parentheses)

  1. (2) Brad Keselowski, Ford, 136.384 mph

  2. (18) Kyle Busch, Toyota, 136.311

  3. (1) Kurt Busch, Chevy, 136.238

  4. (20) Erik Jones, Toyota, 136.189

  5. (12) Ryan Blaney, Ford, 136.116

  6. (19) Martin Truex Jr, Toyota, 136.082

  7. (95) Matt DiBenedetto, Toyota, 135.990

  8. (22) Joey Logano, Ford, 135.893

  9. (10) Aric Almirola, Ford, 135.883

  10. (48) Jimmie Johnson, Chevy, 135.844

  11. (17) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Ford, 135.723

  12. (9) Chase Elliott, Chevy, 135.709

  13. (41) Daniel Suarez, Ford, 135.607

  14. (4) Kevin Harvick, Ford, 135.496

  15. (42) Kyle Larson, Chevy, 135.395

  16. (14) Clint Bowyer, Ford, 135.236

  17. (21) Paul Menard, Ford, 134.577

  18. (13) Ty Dillon, Chevy, 134.572

  19. (8) Daniel Hemric, Chevy, 134.553

  20. (38) David Ragan, Ford, 134.435

  21. (3) Austin Dillon, Chevy, 134.269

  22. (24) William Byron, Chevy, 134.113

  23. (11) Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 133.962

  24. (34) Michael McDowell, Ford, 133.938

  25. (37) Chris Buescher, Chevy, 133.525

  26. (6) Ryan Newman, Ford, 133.189

  27. (43) Bubba Wallace, Chevy, 133.091

  28. (47) Ryan Preece, Chevy, 133.021

  29. (32) Corey LaJoie, Ford, 132.919

  30. (36) Matt Tifft, Ford, 132.831

  31. (00) Landon Cassill, Chevy, 132.030

  32. (15) Ross Chastain, Chevy, 130.815

  33. (27) Reed Sorenson, Chevy, 129.529

  34. (77) Quin Houff, Chevy, 128.845

  35. (51) Andy Seuss, Ford, 128.376

  36. (52) Austin Theriault, Chevy, 123.366

  37. (88) Alex Bowman, Chevy, no time

photo

AP

Patty Patterson, a security officer at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, carries a bag of ice on her shoulders Saturday. Temperatures reached nearly 100 degrees at the track during Saturday’s practice session.

Sports on 07/21/2019

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