2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series (Start Your Engines!)

Category:Start Your Engines!
The 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series was the 69th season of professional stock car racing in the United States, and the 46th modern-era Cup series season.
This was the third season of the current 10-year television contract with Fox Sports, NBC Sports, and CBS Sports, and the second of a five-year race sanctioning agreement with all tracks.
Monster Energy became the entitlement sponsor for the series in 2017 after Sprint Corporation decided not to remain as the sponsor. Sprint had been the title sponsor since 2004 when their partner Nextel replaced Winston after the 2003 season, but Sprint became the official sponsor for the 2008 season after buying out Nextel in late 2005. Monster Energy is the third title sponsor for NASCAR's top series since it first established such a sponsorship in 1971.
It marked the last season for road course ringer Boris Said and two-time Daytona 500 winner Michael Waltrip. It was also the last season Chevrolet fielded the Chevrolet SS, replacing it with the Camaro ZL1 starting in 2018.
== Teams and drivers ==
=== Complete schedule ===
Manufacturer	Team 	No.	Race driver 	Crew chief 	Model
Chevrolet 	Cale Yarborough Racing 	98 	Shane Hmiel 	 	2017 SS
Chevrolet 	Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing	1 	Martin Truex Jr. 	Kevin Manion 	2017 SS
Chevrolet 	Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing	3 	Austin Dillon 	Slugger Labbe 	2017 SS
Chevrolet 	Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing	8 	Dale Earnhardt Jr. 	Tony Eury Jr. 	2017 SS
Chevrolet 	Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing	30 	Jeffrey Earnhardt 	Luke Lambert 	2017 SS
Chevrolet 	Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing	31 	Ty Dillon 	 	2017 SS
Chevrolet 	Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing	48 	Jimmie Johnson 	Chad Knaus 	2017 SS
Chevrolet 	Hendrick Motorsports 	5 	Jerry Nadeau 	Keith Rodden 	2017 SS
Chevrolet 	Hendrick Motorsports 	25 	Ricky Hendrick 	Alan Gustafson	2017 SS
Chevrolet 	Hendrick Motorsports 	35 	Landon Cassill 	 	2017 SS
Chevrolet 	Hendrick Motorsports 	50 	Brad Keselowski 	Greg Ives 	2017 SS
Chevrolet 	PPI Motorsports 	32 	Boston Reid 	 	2017 SS
Dodge 	AK Racing 	7 	James Kulwicki 	 	2017 Charger
Dodge 	Bill Davis Racing 	22 	Chase Elliott 	 	2017 Charger
Dodge 	Bill Davis Racing 	23 	Jason Leffler 	 	2017 Charger
Dodge 	Bill Davis Racing 	24 	Scott Wimmer 	 	2017 Charger
Dodge 	Chip Ganassi Racing 	40 	Jamie McMurray 	Matt McCall 	2017 Charger
Dodge 	Chip Ganassi Racing 	41 	Bryan Clauson 	Phil Surgen 	2017 Charger
Dodge 	Chip Ganassi Racing 	42 	Kyle Larson 	Chad Johnston 	2017 Charger
Dodge 	Evernham Motorsports 	9 	Kasey Kahne 	 	2017 Charger
Dodge 	Evernham Motorsports 	19 	Casey Elliott 	 	2017 Charger
Dodge 	Evernham Motorsports 	91 	Casey Atwood 	 	2017 Charger
Dodge 	Leavine Family Racing 	95 	Michael McDowell 	Todd Parrott
Jon Leonard	2017 Charger
Dodge 	Kelman Racing 	86 	Ryan Kelman 	Wally Rogers 	2017 Charger
Dodge 	McDuffie Racing 	170	Crissy Hillsworth 	 	2017 Charger
Dodge 	Moroso-Rudd Racing 	82 	Rob Moroso 	 	2017 Charger
Dodge 	Moroso-Rudd Racing 	83 	Brendan Gaughan 	 	2017 Charger
Dodge 	Pacific Coast Racing 	60 	Chloe Johnson 	Jed Luke 	2017 Charger
Dodge 	Pacific Coast Racing 	69 	Jenny Smith 	Barry Baker 	2017 Charger
Dodge 	Pacific Coast Racing 	80 	Tim Johnson 	Charlie Davis 	2017 Charger
Dodge 	Pacific Coast Racing 	85 	Belle Armstrong 	Scott Smith 	2017 Charger
Dodge 	Petty Enterprises 	43 	Aric Almirola 	 	2017 Charger
Dodge 	Petty Enterprises 	44 	Chad McCumbee 	 	2017 Charger
Dodge 	Petty Enterprises 	45 	Adam Petty 	 	2017 Charger
Dodge 	Team Penske 	02 	Joey Logano 	Todd Gordon 	2017 Charger
Dodge 	Team Penske 	2 	Blaise Alexander 	Paul Wolfe 	2017 Charger
Dodge 	Team Penske 	12 	Paul Menard 	 	2017 Charger
Dodge 	Team Penske 	39 	Ryan Blaney 	 	2017 Charger
Dodge 	Tommy Baldwin Racing 	170	??? 	 	2017 Charger
Ford 	Go Fas Racing 	65 	Matt DiBenedetto 	 	2016 Fusion
Ford 	Medallion Racing 	09 	Sam Hornish Jr. 	 	2017 Fusion
Ford 	Roush Racing 	6 	David Ragan 	Matt Puccia 	2017 Fusion
Ford 	Roush Racing 	16 	Greg Biffle 	 	2017 Fusion
Ford 	Roush Racing 	66 	Ricky Stenhouse Jr.	Brian Pattie 	2017 Fusion
Ford 	Wood Brothers Racing 	21 	Trevor Bayne 	Jeremy Bullins	2017 Fusion
Ford 	Yates Racing 	28 	Davey Allison Jr. 	 	2017 Fusion
Ford 	Yates Racing 	88 	Alex Bowman 	 	2017 Fusion
Ford 	Yates Racing 	96 	Ryan Reed 	 	2017 Fusion
Honda 	Brett Favre Racing 	15 	Parker Kligerman 	 	2017 Accord
Honda 	Brett Favre Racing 	90 	Johanna Robins 	 	2017 Accord
Honda 	Germain Racing 	13 	??? 	 	2017 Accord
Honda 	Michael Waltrip Racing 	17 	Clint Bowyer 	 	2017 Accord
Honda 	Michael Waltrip Racing 	55 	Brian Vickers 	 	2017 Accord
Lincoln 	Front Row Motorsports 	34 	??? 	Donnie Wingo
Seth Barbour	2017 Continental
Lincoln 	Front Row Motorsports 	38 	??? 	Derrick Finley	2017 Continental
Lincoln 	Orr Motorsports 	37 	Regan Smith 	 	2017 Continental
Lincoln 	TriStar Motorsports 	72 	Cole Whitt 	Frank Kerr 	2017 Continental
Nissan 	JTG Daughterty Racing 	47 	A.J. Allmendinger 	Randall Burnett
Ernie Cope
Tristan Smith	2017 Maxima
Nissan 	JTG Daughterty Racing 	137	Chris Buescher 	Trent Owens 	
Nissan 	Premium Motorsports 	01 	Michael Waltrip 	Mark Hillman
Tommy Baldwin Jr.	2017 Maxima
Nissan 	Premium Motorsports 	01 	Reed Sorenson 	Mark Hillman
Tommy Baldwin Jr.	2017 Maxima
Nissan 	Premium Motorsports 	01 	Joey Gase 	Mark Hillman
Tommy Baldwin Jr.	2017 Maxima
Nissan 	Premium Motorsports 	01 	Ross Chastain 	Mark Hillman
Tommy Baldwin Jr.	2017 Maxima
Nissan 	Premium Motorsports 	01 	Kevin O'Connell 	Mark Hillman
Tommy Baldwin Jr.	2017 Maxima
Nissan 	Premium Motorsports 	01 	D.J. Kennington 	Mark Hillman
Tommy Baldwin Jr.	2017 Maxima
Nissan 	Premium Motorsports 	01 	Gray Gaulding (R) 	Mark Hillman
Tommy Baldwin Jr.	2017 Maxima
Nissan 	Premium Motorsports 	01 	Gary Klutt 	Mark Hillman
Tommy Baldwin Jr.	2017 Maxima
Nissan 	Premium Motorsports 	01 	Derrike Cope 	Mark Hillman
Tommy Baldwin Jr.	2017 Maxima
Nissan 	Premium Motorsports 	01 	Mark Thompson 	Mark Hillman
Tommy Baldwin Jr.	2017 Maxima
Pontiac 	Kennedy Racing 	03 	Melvin Kennedy 	Mark Cutter 	2017 G6
Pontiac 	Kennedy Racing 	04 	Louise Kennedy 	 	2017 G6
Pontiac 	Labonte Motorsports 	46 	Michael Annett 	 	2017 G6
Pontiac 	Labonte Motorsports 	46 	Justin Allgaier 	 	2017 G6
Pontiac 	Stewart-Haas Racing 	00 	Ryan Truex 	Tony Gibson
Johnny Klausmeier	2017 G6
Pontiac 	Stewart-Haas Racing 	4 	Kevin Harvick 	Rodney Childers
Daniel Knost	2017 G6
Pontiac 	Stewart-Haas Racing 	10 	Danica Patrick 	Billy Scott 	2017 G6
Pontiac 	Stewart-Haas Racing 	14 	Tony Stewart 	Greg Zipadelli	2017 G6
Toyota 	BK Racing 	123	Joey Gase 	Patrick Donahue
Randy Cox	2017 Camry
Toyota 	BK Racing 	123	Gray Gaulding (R) 	Patrick Donahue
Randy Cox	2017 Camry
Toyota 	BK Racing 	123	Ryan Sieg 	Patrick Donahue
Randy Cox	2017 Camry
Toyota 	BK Racing 	123	Alon Day 	Patrick Donahue
Randy Cox	2017 Camry
Toyota 	BK Racing 	123	Corey LaJoie 	Patrick Donahue
Randy Cox	2017 Camry
Toyota 	Furniture Row Racing 	78 	Kurt Busch 	Cole Pearn 	2017 Camry
Toyota 	Furniture Row Racing 	87 	Daniel Suárez (R) 	Chris Gayle
James Small	2017 Camry
Toyota 	Joe Gibbs Racing 	11 	Denny Hamlin 	Mike Wheeler
Chris Gabehart	2017 Camry
Toyota 	Joe Gibbs Racing 	18 	Kyle Busch 	Adam Stevens
Ben Beshore
Jacob Canter	2017 Camry
Toyota 	Joe Gibbs Racing 	20 	Matt Kenseth 	Jason Ratcliff	2017 Camry
Toyota 	Joe Gibbs Racing 	54 	Carl Edwards 	Dave Rogers
Scott Graves	2017 Camry
=== Limited schedule ===
Manufacturer	Team 	No.	Race driver 	Crew chief 	Model
Chevrolet 	Beard Motorsports 	75 	??? 	Darren Shaw 	2016 SS
Dodge 	MBM Motorsports 	166	Carl Long 	George Church	2017 Charger
Dodge 	MBM Motorsports 	166	Timmy Hill 	George Church	2017 Charger
Dodge 	MBM Motorsports 	166	David Starr 	George Church	2017 Charger
Dodge 	Pacific Coast Racing 	70 	Ace Johnson 	 	2017 Charger
Honda 	Gaunt Brothers Racing	196	D.J. Kennington 	Keith Hinkein
Mike Ford	2017 Accord
Lincoln 	Rick Ware Racing 	51 	Timmy Hill 	Carlos Contreras
Joe Lax
Jeff Spraker
Tony Furr
Jonas Bell	2017 Continental
Lincoln 	Rick Ware Racing 	51 	Cody Ware 	Carlos Contreras
Joe Lax
Jeff Spraker
Tony Furr
Jonas Bell	2017 Continental
Lincoln 	Rick Ware Racing 	51 	Josh Bilicki 	Carlos Contreras
Joe Lax
Jeff Spraker
Tony Furr
Jonas Bell	2017 Continental
Lincoln 	Rick Ware Racing 	51 	B.J. McLeod 	Carlos Contreras
Joe Lax
Jeff Spraker
Tony Furr
Jonas Bell	2017 Continental
Lincoln 	Rick Ware Racing 	51 	Ray Black Jr. 	Carlos Contreras
Joe Lax
Jeff Spraker
Tony Furr
Jonas Bell	2017 Continental
Lincoln 	Rick Ware Racing 	51 	Kyle Weatherman 	Carlos Contreras
Joe Lax
Jeff Spraker
Tony Furr
Jonas Bell	2017 Continental
Nissan 	Premium Motorsports 	155	Reed Sorenson 	Wayne Carroll
Pat Tryson	2017 Maxima
Nissan 	Premium Motorsports 	155	Derrike Cope 	Wayne Carroll
Pat Tryson	2017 Maxima
Nissan 	Premium Motorsports 	155	Tommy Regan 	Wayne Carroll
Pat Tryson	2017 Maxima
Nissan 	Premium Motorsports 	155	Gray Gaulding (R)	Wayne Carroll
Pat Tryson	2017 Maxima
Nissan 	Premium Motorsports 	155	D.J. Kennington 	Wayne Carroll
Pat Tryson	2017 Maxima
Nissan 	Premium Motorsports 	177	Justin Marks 	Kenneth Davis	2017 Maxima
Nissan 	Premium Motorsports 	177	Hermie Sadler 	Kenneth Davis	2017 Maxima
Nissan 	Premium Motorsports 	177	Justin Marks 	Kenneth Davis	2017 Maxima
Pontiac 	Labonte Motorsports 	177	Elliott Sadler 	Kenneth Davis	2017 G6
Pontiac 	Labonte Motorsports 	177	J.J. Yeley 	Kenneth Davis	2017 G6
Pontiac 	StarCom Racing 	05 	Derrike Cope 	Tony Furr 	2017 G6
Toyota 	BK Racing 	183	Corey LaJoie (R) 	Doug Richert
Ryan Dubois
Randy Cox
Doug George	2017 Camry
Toyota 	BK Racing 	183	Ryan Sieg 	Doug Richert
Ryan Dubois
Randy Cox
Doug George	2017 Camry
Toyota 	BK Racing 	183	Stephen Leicht 	Doug Richert
Ryan Dubois
Randy Cox
Doug George	2017 Camry
Toyota 	BK Racing 	183	Brett Moffitt 	Doug Richert
Ryan Dubois
Randy Cox
Doug George	2017 Camry
Toyota 	BK Racing 	183	Gray Gaulding (R)	Doug Richert
Ryan Dubois
Randy Cox
Doug George	2017 Camry
Toyota 	BK Racing 	183	Joey Gase 	Doug Richert
Ryan Dubois
Randy Cox
Doug George	2017 Camry
== Schedule ==
The final calendar – comprising 36 races, as well as exhibition races, which are the Advance Auto Parts Clash, Can-Am Duel qualifying duel races for the Daytona 500 and the All-Star Race – was released on May 5, 2016. At the beginning of the 2017 season, Atlanta Motor Speedway will host NASCAR's 2,500th race, one week after the Daytona 500.
Key changes from 2016 include:
* The O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 at Texas Motor Speedway moved from Saturday night to Sunday afternoon.
* The AAA 400 Drive for Autism moved after the Coca-Cola 600 and before the Pabst Blue Ribbon 400.
* Bristol and Michigan swapped their August race dates, returning to the order that was used through 2015 (the 2016 swap was necessitated by NBC's coverage of the 2016 Summer Olympics).
* Talladega and Kansas swapped their October race dates.
* Pikes Peak moved back between Bristol and Darlington. It was between Watkins Glen and Bristol in 2016.
* The Quaker State 400 was completely removed, due to Kentucky Speedway being deemed unsuitable for racing.
No.	Race title 	Track 	Date 	TV
1 	Honda/Save Mart 350 	Sonoma Raceway, Sonoma 	January 22 	FS1
 	Advanced Auto Parts Clash 	Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach	February 12 	CBS
 	Can-Am Duels 	Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach	February 16 	CBS
2 	Daytona 500 	Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach	February 19 	CBS
3 	Subway Fresh Fit 400 	Rockingham Speedway, Rockingham 	February 26 	Fox
4 	Kobalt 400 	Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Las Vegas 	March 5 	Fox
5 	San Jose 500 	San Jose Motorplex, Gilroy 	March 12 	Fox
6 	Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500 	Atlanta Motor Speedway, Hampton 	March 19 	Fox
7 	TranSouth Financial 400 	Darlington Raceway, Darlington 	March 26 	Fox
8 	STP 500 	Martinsville Speedway, Ridgeway 	April 2 	FS1
9 	O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 	Texas Motor Speedway, Fort Worth 	April 9 	Fox
10 	Diet Coke 500 	Coca-Cola Superspeedway, Denver 	April 16 	Fox
11 	Food City 500 	Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol 	April 24 	Fox
12 	Pontiac Excitement 400 	Richmond Raceway, Richmond 	April 30 	Fox
13 	GEICO 500 	Talladega Superspeedway, Lincoln 	May 7 	Fox
14 	First Union 400 	North Wilkesboro Speedway, North Wilkesboro 	May 14 	Fox
 	Monster Energy Open 	Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord 	May 20 	FS1
 	Monster Energy NASCAR All-Star Race 	Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord 	May 20 	FS1
15 	Coca-Cola 600 	Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord 	May 28 	CBS
16 	AAA 400 Drive for Autism 	Dover International Speedway, Dover 	June 4 	FS1
17 	Pabst Blue Ribbon 400 	The Milwaukee Mile, West Allis 	June 11 	CBS
18 	Motorcraft 400 	Nazareth Speedway, Nazareth 	June 18 	CBS
19 	Budweiser 400 	Riverside International Raceway, Riverside 	June 25 	CBS
20 	Coke Zero 400 	Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach	July 1 	CBS
21 	Music City USA 420 	Fairgrounds Speedway, Nashville 	July 8 	CBS
CMT
22 	Overton's 301 	New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Loudon 	July 16 	CBS
23 	Brantley Gilbert Big Machine Brickyard 400	Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Speedway 	July 23 	NBC
24 	Overton's 400 	Pocono Raceway, Long Pond 	July 30 	NBCSN
25 	I Love New York 355 at The Glen 	Watkins Glen International, Watkins Glen 	August 6 	NBCSN
26 	Pure Michigan 400 	Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn 	August 13 	NBCSN
27 	Bass Pro Shops NRA Night Race 	Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol 	August 19 	NBC
28 	Coors 400 	Pikes Peak International Speedway, Fountain 	August 27 	NBC
29 	Bojangles' Southern 500 	Darlington Raceway, Darlington 	September 3 	NBC
30 	Federated Auto Parts 400 	Richmond Raceway, Richmond 	September 9 	NBCSN
31 	Tales of the Turtles 400 	Chicagoland Speedway, Joliet 	September 17	NBCSN
32 	Tyson Holly Farms 400 	North Wilkesboro Speedway, North Wilkesboro 	September 24	NBCSN
33 	Apache Warrior 400 	Dover International Speedway, Dover 	October 1 	NBCSN
34 	Bank of America 500 	Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord 	October 8 	NBC
35 	Alabama 500 	Talladega Superspeedway, Lincoln 	October 15 	NBC
36 	Hollywood Casino 400 	Kansas Speedway, Kansas City 	October 22 	NBCSN
37 	Iowa Corn 400 	Iowa Speedway, Newton 	October 29 	NBCSN
38 	ACDelco 400 	Rockingham Speedway, Rockingham 	November 5 	NBCSN
39 	Can-Am 500 	Phoenix International Raceway, Avondale 	November 12 	NBC
40 	Ford EcoBoost 400 	Homestead-Miami Speedway, Homestead 	November 19 	NBC
41 	Nintendo Switch 500 	San Jose Motorplex, Gilroy 	November 26 	NBC
42 	Sprite 500 	Coca-Cola Superspeedway, Denver 	December 3 	NBC
43 	Los Angeles Times 500 	Ontario Motor Speedway, Ontario 	December 10 	NBC
== Technical changes ==
2017 saw the third revision to the New Body Program SAFER Cars, in the form of the ME-17 body. While superficially-similar to the SC-15 body used from 2015 to 2016, numerous changes were made to further make the body aero-friendly, including a different body type for restrictor-plate tracks.
Pontiac switched from the G8 to the G6 (which had previously been "run" by Kennedy Racing in 2011 and 2012, the last two years of the NC-07 body).
A new manufacturer also entered NASCAR, this being Nissan, the third Japanese make to enter the Cup Series.
A few facelifts also occurred. Toyota updated its Camry body to the new 2018 XV70 that had been unveiled before the season began. This was controversial due to violating homologation rules, with many accusing Toyota of bribing NASCAR to do so. Dodge also finally updated the Charger to reflect its showroom counterpart, as the production Charger had been facelifted in 2015, but its Cup Series counterpart still used the 2014 nose. The Dart, which had been discontinued in 2016, was pulled from NASCAR competition, and no teams attempted to adapt the SC-15 Darts to the new ME-17 platform.
== Cars used in 2017 ==
WORK-IN-PROGRESS