Bell 11th in points in Pro Series

Tonight is Points Race Seven for the Fernley 95A series at Reno-Tahoe-Fernley Speedway. Modifieds, Pro Stocks, Hobby Stocks, Mod Minis, Pure Stocks and Outlaw Karts are on the program. Spectator gates open at 3 p.m., racing starts at 6 p.m. General admission is $12, with $8 admission for kids 6-12 and seniors over 65. Kids five and younger and military in uniform are free.

•••

Mackena Bell was fifth fastest in K&N Pro Series East practice at Columbus Motor Speedway, but only qualified 13th. She finished in 11th place, the second-highest finishing rookie in the field. Bell is now 11th in season points and third in the Sunoco Rookie of the Year standings. The race will air on SPEED at noon July 25. The next race for Bell in the series will be Aug 2 at Iowa Speedway.

•••

The Andretti Autosport juggernaut has run into a rough patch in IndyCar competition of late, but the Target/Ganassi has roared back thanks to Scott Dixon. The former series champ and Indy 500 winner won both ends of the doubleheader on the streets of Toronto last weekend, extending his win streak to three after a terrible start to the season. Dixon credited a recent test session at Sebring to the team’s resurgence. However, 2012 IndyCar champion Ryan Hunter-Reay must feel a bit better after winning the ESPY award for Best Driver on Wednesday. Hunter-Reay beat out Formula One’s Sebastian Vettel, reigning Sprint Cup champ Brad Keselowski, and 2013 Indy 500 winner Tony Kanaan. He is the first IndyCar driver since Jimmy Vasser in 1997 to receive the award.

•••

This weekend is the last break in the season for the Sprint Cup drivers, although a number of them will race at Chicagoland Speedway in Sunday’s Nationwide race. Congratulations are in order for Brian Vickers’ win at New Hampshire last Sunday, breaking a four-year drought. It is the second victory of the season for Michael Waltrip Racing, with Martin Truex Jr.’s Sonoma victory. MWR isn’t yet ready to challenge the Joe Gibbs organization as the top Toyota team, but they’re definitely in the hunt. An interesting aspect of the New Hampshire race was Jimmie Johnson’s charge from dead last due to a penalty. He ended up sixth, a performance that has to be demoralizing to the competition. Johnson maintains a healthy points lead, with four wins (so far) giving him Chase bonus points. While Johnson retains his point lead, both Kurt Busch and Tony Stewart dropped out of the top 10 at New Hampshire. But with only seven points separating 10th from 14th, we will undoubtedly see more comings and goings between now and the checkered flag at Richmond. It’s exactly the kind of tension and interest that NASCAR intended with the Chase format.

•••

New Hampshire was also interesting for the post-race war of words between Kyle Busch, who called Ryan Newman a big stupid ogre, and Newman, who politely offered to rearrange Kyle’s facial features for him. Methinks this one isn’t over.

•••

Newman, by the way, is entered in Wednesday’s Camping World Truck race at Eldora Speedway along Dave Blaney, Austin Dillon, and Ken Schrader joining the Truck regulars. There are also a few “dirt ringers” thrown into the mix for good measure. Coverage on SPEED begins at 4 p.m. with the green flag schedule some two and a half hours later.