ON THE TRACKS Today’s auto racing roundup

NASCAR

Busch masters Charlotte’s ‘roval’ to win pole

CONCORD, N.C.

Kurt Busch felt like a kid again this week.

He spent two full days in a testing simulator, trying to figure out the best way to maneuver around the new “roval” course at Charlotte Motor Speedway, a hybrid of a road course and oval that has NASCAR drivers staying up at night pondering how to conquer it — or at least a way to avoid crashing and advance to the next round of the playoffs.

Busch may have found something in the testing that others are still trying to learn, beating out A.J. Allmendinger to take the pole for Sunday’s race in his No. 41 Ford.

“I turned 40 this year and there I am on the simulator acting like it’s a video game,” Busch said with a laugh. “But you have to do those things.”

Busch the said key is to not “overdrive “in the next corner trying to pick up time lost in the previous corner.

“I think that’s an important fundamental aspect of going into a new style of track,” Busch said.

Busch called it “really special” to lead the field at the roval, his fourth pole of the season.

The roval is unlike anything used before in NASCAR featuring a 17-turn, 2.28-mile course has a 35-foot change in elevation. It is going to require drivers to think outside the box, particularly those who enter the elimination race in need of a good showing to advance to the round of 12.

“This track is really slick and it’s challenging in a lot of areas,” said playoff contender Erik Jones, who qualified 12th.

Denny Hamlin, one of four drivers on the outside looking in at the playoff race and in need of a strong finish Sunday, was one of several drivers who had problems adjusting to the new circuit which runs part of the race in the infield at CMS.

He wrecked earlier in practice and qualifying and will start 27th.

Hemric promoted to Childress’ Cup team

CONCORD, N.C.

Daniel Hemric sat next to Richard Childress, prepared to discuss his promotion NASCAR’s top level.

As his childhood dream was finally realized, he choked away tears and took a moment to compose himself.

“So many people want to have this opportunity and they work their whole life for it,” Hemric said.

Hemric was announced Friday as the driver of the No. 31 Chevrolet next season at RCR, which let Ryan Newman leave to create an opening for the 27-year-old. Newman has landed a deal with Roush Fenway Racing and Hemric will move up a level from the Xfinity Series, where he is currently second in the standings.

A native of nearby Kannapolis, he becomes the second driver from the North Carolina mill town to make it to the big leagues with Childress. The first? Seven-time NASCAR champion Dale Earnhardt, who drove RCR’s famed No. 3 Chevy.

“I’ve been watching Daniel since he was a young boy,” Childress said.

Hemric is scheduled to make his Cup Series debut on Sunday on the roval at Charlotte Motor Speedway. He spent two seasons racing in NASCAR’s Truck Series before landing an Xfinity ride with Childress. Hemric finished fourth in the championship race last season and is trying to make it to NASCAR’s championship round for a second consecutive season.

He looked around at other opportunities before the promotion at RCR opened for Hemric.

“All along in my heart, I knew where I wanted to be and this was the path and this is where I wanted to land no matter how it shook out,” Hemric said. “There were times where I looked at (Childress) and said, ‘Please help me not make this decision.’

“And that’s exactly what he did. He made it to where he knew this is where I wanted to be and no matter what was being offered or thrown at me that if it can be worked out in some way, shape or form, RCR was my home.”

Preece finally lands Cup Series ride

CONCORD, N.C.

Ryan Preece believed if he could get in a fast car, he could prove he deserved a competitive ride.

Pulling it off required Preece to give up a full-time job, step back into a partial ride and show he wasn’t a fool for taking a gamble. It took him two years but Preece on Friday landed that big job when he was hired by JTG Daugherty Racing to replace AJ Allmendinger next season.

“I just knew that I had tried everything to get the opportunity that I needed, and it just wasn’t happening,” Preece said. “And it wasn’t because of not being able to win. I’ve won a minimum of 17 races for the past four years, or whatever it may be. There have been plenty of wins. It’s just I haven’t gotten that opportunity, and I really want to thank these guys again, because this a true opportunity.

“It’s really nice being wanted, you know what I mean?” he said.

JTG signed Preece to a multi-year contract to drive the No. 47 Chevrolet beginning with next season’s Daytona 500 opening race. The 36-year-old Allmendinger has spent the past five seasons with the team with one victory and a spot in the 2014 playoff field, but the team felt it could build for the future with the 27-year-old Preece.

Preece is an established racer in the Northeast with 22 victories in NASCAR’s Whelen Modified Tour. He won the series championship in 2013 and was part of NASCAR’s developmental class of future stars in 2013 and 2014.

Associated Press