8:49 AM ET Ricky Craven Close Ricky Craven is a driver with wins in all of NASCAR’s top three series, including rookie of the year titles in both the 1992 Nationwide Series and 1995 Sprint Cup series. He currently serves as a NASCAR analyst on ESPN studio programs. What makes NASCAR significantly different than all

8:52 AM ET Bob PockrassNASCAR Close • NASCAR writer for ESPN.com• 2009, 2013 NMPA Writer of the Year• More than 25 years experience covering motorsports Most drivers in the NASCAR Cup series playoffs try to limit distractions. Kyle Busch, it seems, almost attracts them. And as long as they are fairly drama free, he accepts them. On the

9:23 AM ET A victory this Sunday would lower Kyle Busch’s average finish for the season to 8.2, which would be the third-best mark since 2000. AP Photo/Derik Hamilton Through all the twists and turns of the 2018 NASCAR Cup series playoffs, we ended up about where we thought we would: Kyle Busch, Kevin Harvick, Martin

8:00 AM ET Everything David Pearson did came with a “but.” And a butt. A cigarette butt. On Monday, Pearson died following a lengthy illness. He was 83. David Pearson might have been the greatest stock car driver who ever lived, but … he wasn’t spit-shine polished and made for TV like Richard Petty. David

8:15 PM ET David Pearson, a three-time champion in what is now NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series, and the winner of 105 Cup races, died Monday at 84, the Wood Brothers Racing team confirmed to ESPN. Inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in its second class in 2011, Pearson won 105 Cup races, second only

9:10 PM ET David Pearson, a three-time champion in what is now NASCAR’s Monster Energy Cup Series, and the winner of 105 Cup races, died Monday at 83, the Wood Brothers Racing team confirmed to ESPN. Inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in its second class in 2011, Pearson won 105 Cup races, second

8:59 AM ET Bob PockrassNASCAR Close • NASCAR writer for ESPN.com• 2009, 2013 NMPA Writer of the Year• More than 25 years experience covering motorsports Martin Truex Jr. doesn’t know if he is seeing a groundswell of fan support over the past three months as he vies for his second consecutive NASCAR Cup Series championship. All he knows

9:00 AM ET Bob PockrassNASCAR Close • NASCAR writer for ESPN.com• 2009, 2013 NMPA Writer of the Year• More than 25 years experience covering motorsports The 2018 NASCAR Cup Series championship quartet is one of experience. All four drivers who will vie for the title this Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway will race in familiar territory. All of them

10:31 PM ET Bob PockrassNASCAR Close • NASCAR writer for ESPN.com• 2009, 2013 NMPA Writer of the Year• More than 25 years experience covering motorsports AVONDALE, Ariz. — In a race that was supposed to be all about Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch spoiled the party. Pun intended. It was an unpredictable day Sunday at the beautifully renovated ISM

7:54 PM ET Bob PockrassNASCAR Close • NASCAR writer for ESPN.com• 2009, 2013 NMPA Writer of the Year• More than 25 years experience covering motorsports AVONDALE, Ariz. — Kevin Harvick, racing amid a swirl of controversy over an illegal rear spoiler from a win a week ago at Texas Motor Speedway, didn’t need to win Sunday at ISM