Page 18 - ARUBA TODAY

A18 SPORTS
Tuesday 21 November 2017

Nascar surrounding Homestead
was about Earnhardt’s final
race, but as he celebrated
Continued from Page 17 ries race. Both are 19. Byron Custer’s first career Xfin-
is going Cup racing next ity win, he said the sport is
The changing of the guard year for Hendrick Motors- healthy with talent.
has raised red flags through ports and Custer has a long “There’s a great crop of
NASCAR all season long, future in the Stewart-Haas young guys coming into
though championship Racing organization. the sport,” Stewart said.
weekend at Homestead- Martin Truex Jr., a journey- “The sport is going to be
Miami Speedway briefly man in NASCAR, closed the just fine. There’s plenty of
calmed any concerns. weekend with his first Cup good talent that’s com-
NASCAR crowned three championship . Although ing along that are making
new champions across its he is 37, he beat three for- names for themselves that
national series and cel- mer champions, Busch in- will take the places of the
ebrated a pair of first-time cluded. guys that are leaving.”
race winners. Chairman Brian France Martin Truex Jr. celebrates in Victory Lane after winning a Stewart then told a story
Christopher Bell opened wasn’t concerned about NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Homestead-Miami Speedway straight out of “Days of
the weekend by winning not having proper replace- in Homestead, Fla., Sunday, Nov. 19, 2017. Thunder,” in which he
the Truck Series champion- ments during this exodus Associated Press claimed he was sum-
ship, while Chase Briscoe of stars. “Go down the who has primed himself championship finale, while moned NASCAR’s head-
went to victory lane for the list, we’ve got a loaded for the future with a stout Darrell Wallace Jr. will drive quarters in Daytona Beach
first time in his career. Both group,” France said before lineup. Although Joey Lo- for Richard Petty Motors- for a lecture from France.
drivers are 22 and headed Sunday’s finale. “We’re in gano and Brad Keselowski ports next season. “He told me something
to the Xfinity Series next a transition. But that hap- are considered series veter- Kyle Larson is 24 and the that always stuck with me.
year, Bell for Joe Gibbs pens from time to time. ans, Logano is only 27 and star at Chip Ganassi Rac- He said,
Racing and Briscoe in a Not usually in the concen- Keselowski is 33. Added to ing, while Richard Childress ‘This sport has been here
shared ride announced by trated manner that we the mix next year will be has both of his grandsons to long before you got here,
Roush Fenway Racing. Bris- have now, but it happens. 23-year-old Ryan Blaney, carry the family race team and it’ll be here long after
coe will share the seat with But we’re excited — we’ve rapidly establishing himself far into the future. you’re gone.’ It really is the
18-year-old Austin Cindric got a great, great bunch of as a future star. His buddies Stewart, co-owner of truth,” Stewart said. “There
and Ty Majeski, who is 23. (young drivers) and they’re are in the Cup Series, too. Custer’s team, has a differ- were great drivers here be-
William Byron won the Xfin- talented, so we’re in good Chase Elliott drives for Hen- ent view now that he is out fore I got here, and there’s
ity championship while shape.” The sentiment was drick Motorsports and nar- of the driver’s seat. He not- great drivers coming be-
Cole Custer won his first se- echoed by Roger Penske, rowly missed a spot in the ed that much of the buzz hind us.”q