12:39 PM ET Bob PockrassNASCAR Close • NASCAR writer for ESPN.com• 2009, 2013 NMPA Writer of the Year• More than 25 years experience covering motorsports The 12 drivers in the second round of the playoffs probably feel better about their chances of advancing than in the first round. Seriously. That’s the way some of them think. There’s good

10:35 PM ET Bob PockrassNASCAR Close • NASCAR writer for ESPN.com• 2009, 2013 NMPA Writer of the Year• More than 25 years experience covering motorsports CONCORD, N.C. — The new Charlotte Motor Speedway road course race, an elimination event of all things in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs, could have crossed the line from cool and innovative to

6:51 PM ET Associated Press CONCORD, N.C. — Ryan Blaney won the debut race on the “roval” at Charlotte Motor Speedway in a chaotic finish in which he slid past leaders Martin Truex Jr. and Jimmie Johnson when they wrecked racing for the victory. Johnson, who wrecked while trying to snap a 58-race winless streak,

7:04 PM ET Bob PockrassNASCAR Close • NASCAR writer for ESPN.com• 2009, 2013 NMPA Writer of the Year• More than 25 years experience covering motorsports CONCORD, N.C. — Jimmie Johnson went for the win Sunday afternoon, not knowing the consequences. Johnson wrecked in the final chicane while battling Martin Truex Jr. for the win on the new Charlotte

8:18 AM ET Bob PockrassNASCAR Close • NASCAR writer for ESPN.com• 2009, 2013 NMPA Writer of the Year• More than 25 years experience covering motorsports Hailie Deegan became the first woman to win a NASCAR K&N West Series race as she executed a bump-and-run move on her teammate for the win Saturday night at Meridian (Idaho) Speedway. The

6:18 PM ET Associated Press CONCORD, N.C. — Chase Briscoe won the first of two big NASCAR races on the new roval at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Briscoe grabbed his first career Xfinity Series victory Saturday on the hybrid track of speedway and road course. NASCAR will adjust a tire barrier after Bubba Wallace and Erik

1:49 PM ET Bob PockrassNASCAR Close • NASCAR writer for ESPN.com• 2009, 2013 NMPA Writer of the Year• More than 25 years experience covering motorsports CONCORD, N.C. — NASCAR adjusted the angle of a tire barrier at Charlotte Motor Speedway prior to Cup Series final practice Saturday so drivers would have more racing room at the exit of

7:24 PM ET Bob PockrassNASCAR Close • NASCAR writer for ESPN.com• 2009, 2013 NMPA Writer of the Year• More than 25 years experience covering motorsports CONCORD, N.C. — AJ Allmendinger hasn’t had much fun in the past 18 months, so frustration turned into disappointment when JTG Daugherty Racing decided to release him after the 2018 season. Kurt Busch

6:37 PM ET Associated Press CONCORD, N.C. — Kurt Busch won the pole for the NASCAR playoff race at the new “roval” at Charlotte Motor Speedway, a hybrid of the road course and oval that has drivers concerned with the complexity of the circuit. Busch, who is eighth in the playoff standings, will be joined

9:30 AM ET The 2018 NASCAR Cup Series season has been dominated by three drivers — Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr. The trio has combined to win 18 of 28 races (64 percent) and has led 3,448 of a possible 7,861 laps (44 percent, as long as you’re OK rounding up from