Lee Spencer RACINBOYS EXCLUSIVE -- TALLADEGA, Ala.—Just when competitors thought they had dialed in the latest package at Talladega Superspeedway, NASCAR’s competition department called an audible.

Lee Spencer RACINBOYS EXCLUSIVE -- TALLADEGA, Ala.—After nine races in 2019 without a win, Chevrolet would take a victory anywhere.

Lee Spencer RACINBOYS EXCLUSIVE -- What a gift for Justin Haley. The Xfinity Series Rookie-of-the-Year candidate is expected to make his Monster Energy Cup Series debut at Talladega Superspeedway on his 20th birthday, driving the No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet.

Lee Spencer RACINBOYS EXCLUSIVE -- Paul Menard is on the bubble. Yes, it’s only one-fourth of the way through the 2019 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series season, and plenty can happen over the next 17 races.

Lee Spencer RACINBOYS EXCLUSIVE -- Even Cole Pearn seemed a bit surprised at Martin Truex Jr.’s Richmond Raceway win. The crew chief’s curiosity had nothing to do with his driver’s level of talent. Or that Truex had never won at a short track prior to last Saturday night.

Lee Spencer RACINBOYS EXCLUSIVE - RICHMOND, Va.— Martin Truex Jr., a Joe Gibbs Racing driver, won the aptly named Toyota Owners 400. The driver of the No. 19 Auto Owners Insurance Camry led 186 laps en route to his first career short-track win.

Lee Spencer RACINBOYS EXCLUSIVE - RICHMOND, Va.—Martin Truex Jr., finally slew a short track. Truex led 186 laps en route to his first win at Richmond Raceway—or any track of less than a mile—in 81 attempts. He pulled off the feat in his 486th-career Monster Energy NASCAR Cup start.

Lee Spencer RACINBOYS EXCLUSIVE - RICHMOND, Va.—Mother Nature held off the rain as Cole Custer held off the field at Richmond Raceway on Friday night.

Lee Spencer RACINBOYS EXCLUSIVE RICHMOND, Va.—Christopher Bell has a stock answer when it comes to his 2020 NASCAR plans. “Not a clue,” says Bell.

Lee Spencer RACINBOYS EXCLUSIVE -- Can anyone derail the Kyle Busch Express as it rolls into Richmond?

Lee Spencer RACINBOYS EXCLUSIVE -- Wherever Kurt Busch goes, success follows. The 2004 NASCAR champion has elevated every program he has joined--particularly in his last four rides.

Lee Spencer RACINBOYS EXCLUSIVE - Ever wonder what happened to Jimmie Johnson’s golden horseshoe, the lucky charm that supposedly helped the seven-time champion recover from setbacks that seemingly would have devastated anyone else?

Lee Spencer RACINBOYS EXCLUSIVE - BRISTOL, Tenn — Kyle Busch defended the Food City 500 convincingly in a brotherly civil war on Sunday.

Lee Spencer RACINBOYS EXCLUSIVE - BRISTOL, TN —“Show me the money, baby,” the No. 20 team said, as Christopher Bell scored his first Xfinity Series win at Bristol Motor Speedway on Saturday and collected the $100,000 Dash4Cash bonus.

Lee Spencer RACINBOYS EXCLUSIVE - BRISTOL, TN — Ryan Newman wasn't about to walk away. The driver of the No. 6 Roush Fenway Racing Ford had already satisfied his media obligations. But he wasn’t close to overstaying his welcome.

BRISTOL, TN — Denny Hamlin wonders what it’s going to take to quiet his critics. He’s enjoying his best season in 13 years with Joe Gibbs Racing. The 38-year-old racer has two wins in the first seven races for the first time in his career.

Lee Spencer RACINBOYS EXCLUSIVE -- Don’t be surprised if Kyle Larson has a little more pep in his step this week. Bristol Motor Speedway—his favorite track—is next on the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup schedule. Over the last five races at Thunder Valley, Larson has scored more points than any other driver on the tour at the half-mile track.

NASCAR officially unveiled the 2020 schedules for both the Xfinity and Gander Outdoors Truck Series on Wednesday. Perhaps the most interesting nugget will be all three of NASCAR’s top national tours holding the penultimate race of the season—and the Championship 4 cut-off event—at Martinsville Speedway, the oldest track on the circuit.

Lee Spencer RACINBOYS COLUMN - Kevin Harvick wasn’t so much at a loss for words than at a loss for solutions at Texas Motor Speedway. The 2014 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup champion had exhausted his bag of tricks behind the wheel of the No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing Ford on Sunday.

Lee Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service - FORT WORTH, TX - A fast car can cure a lot of mistakes. Just ask Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin. The reigning Daytona 500 winner overcame a slew of penalties — some self-inflicted — to win the O’Reilly Auto Parts 500 at Texas Motor Speedway.