Now the Grind Really Begins

Twelve races in and with June right around the corner, the dog days of summer are nearly here.

The Sprint Cup Series is beginning one of the more unenviable stretches of the 36-race season. This weekend it’s Dover. The next is Pocono. The one after that is Michigan.

Hardly anyone looks forward to visiting these venues, but “this is when you separate the men from the boys,” said Elton Sawyer, the competition director at Red Bull Racing Team. “The 83 is still right there. They are 21st in points, but they are in contention. We’re optimistic and excited about our cars. They’ve shown a lot of speed and have been competitive. The 83 can make a run to get in the Chase. That’s a legitimate goal for those guys. The 84 guys are making some strides. We still need to get better and get that car in the top 35, but the team as a whole is improving.

“Yes, the next couple of months, June and July, is the grind. It’s really important to be well prepared.”

The two Red Bull Toyotas were near the top of the speed charts throughout Friday’s practice at one-mile Dover International Speedway. They’ll qualify for the Best Buy 400 at 3:10 p.m. ET.