Lee Spencer RACINBOYS EXCLUSIVE - BROOKLYN, Mich.— After a half-century and 100 NASCAR Cup races at Michigan International Speedway, the track has never celebrated a native from the Wolverine State in Victory Lane.

Lee Spencer RACINBOYS EXCLUSIVE - BROOKLYN, Mich.—Austin Hill might get a Christmas card from Matt Crafton after all.

Lee Spencer RACINBOYS EXCLUSIVE - BROOKLYN, Mich.—Ryan Blaney’s lip didn’t quiver when he ran alongside Jimmie Johnson during practice at Michigan International Speedway on Saturday.

Lee Spencer RACINBOYS EXCLUSIVE - BROOKLYN, Mich.—Like Aretha Franklin, Jimmie Johnson is looking for a little R-E-S-P-E-C-T. But he shouldn’t expect any from Ryan Blaney any time soon.

Lee Spencer RACINBOYS EXCLUSIVE - As the defending winner of the Knoxville Nationals, Brad Sweet was greeted at the Sprint Car Capital of the World with the unveiling of his championship pole.

Lee Spencer RACINBOYS EXCLUSIVE - Kyle Larson has found his happy place—playing in the dirt. On Monday, Larson returned to the Hawkeye State. His first stop—Southern Iowa Speedway for the Front Row Challenge to defend last year’s victory. His effort resulted in a second-place finish to Daryn Pittman.

Lee Spencer RACINBOYS EXCLUSIVE - WATKINS GLEN, N.Y.—Kyle Busch usually has the speed and the talent to run away from his Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series rivals.

Lee Spencer RACINBOYS EXCLUSIVE - WATKINS GLEN, N.Y.—Chase Elliott bowled down the competition at Watkins Glen International on Sunday. Elliott started from the pole and led 80 of 90 laps en route to his second win on the 2.45-mile road course.

Lee Spencer RACNBOYS EXCLUSIVE = WATKINS GLEN, N.Y.—With time running out for Jimmie Johnson, Hendrick Motorsports could not afford to wait another week to change the dynamic on the No. 48 Ally race team.

Lee Spencer RACINBOYS EXCLUSIVE - WATKINS GLEN, N.Y.—Chase Elliott will start the Go Bowling at The Glen where he left off last year—from the point. Elliott won his first Watkins Glen pole on Saturday with a speed of 127.297mph.

Lee Spencer RACINBOYS EXCLUSIVE - WATKINS GLEN, NY -- Cindric celebrates breakthrough win at The Glen. WATKINS GLEN, N.Y.—Austin Cindric screamed joyfully after taking his first checkered flag in the NASCAR Xfinity Series at Watkins Glen on Saturday.

Lee Spencer RACINBOYS EXCLUSIVE - WATKINS GLEN, N.Y.—Noah Gragson wasn’t his happy-go-lucky self on Friday. Despite picking up the pace from one Xfinity Series practice to another, the driver of the No. 9 JR Motorsports wasn’t optimistic entering this weekend’s Zippo 200 at The Glen.

Lee Spencer RACINBOYS EXCLUSIVE - WATKINS GLEN, N.Y.—William Byron helped his case for a Playoff bid with his fourth-place finish last Sunday at Pocono Raceway, where he started 31st after a post-qualifying inspection failure.

Lee Spencer RACINBOYS EXCLUSIVE - David Pearson was prophetic. More than a decade ago, when the three-time champion was asked about repaving certain tracks, he offered a different solution altogether.

Lee Spencer RACINBOYS EXCLUSIVE - CHARLOTTE, N.C.—Richard Childress wants the best for Tyler Reddick. And if it’s up to the team owner, the best place for Reddick will be behind the wheel of a Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series in 2020.

Lee Spencer RACINBOYS EXCLUSIVE - Jimmie Johnson will have a new crew chief this weekend when NASCAR rolls into Watkins Glen International. Hendrick Motorsports announced Cliff Daniels will replace Kevin Meendering as crew chief of the No. 48 team effective immediately.

Lee Spencer RACINBOYS EXCLUSIVE - Denny Hamlin found redemption in the drama-filled Gander RV 400 at Pocono Raceway on Sunday. Hamlin motored by his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Erik Jones in Turn 3 with 14 laps remaining in the race.

Lee Spencer RACINBOYS EXCLUSIVE - When Denny Hamlin and his 37 fellow Monster Energy NASCAR Cup competitors take the green flag and Pocono Raceway on Sunday, there’s one stick-and-ball call they won’t have to worry about anymore.

Lee Spencer RACINBOYS EXCLUSIVE - Kevin Harvick kept the party going in the Poconos on Saturday. After winning his first Monster Energy NASCAR Cup race of the season last Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Harvick picked up his first career pole at Pocono Raceway.

Lee Spencer RACINBOYS EXCLUSIVE - Ryan Blaney hopes the bad luck is behind him. Between the wrecks, mechanical issues and a couple of penalties on pit road, the first half of Blaney’s season did not produce the consistency the No. 12 Team Penske crew had expected.