SCC is proud to partner with The Samantha and Kyle Busch Bundle of Joy Fund, Kyle Larson Foundation, Joey Logano Foundation and Greg Olsen‘s HEARTest Yard to celebrate the children and families at the heart of each organization‘s mission. Each organization is proud to continue supporting SherryStrong by donating a portion of their proceeds from the night.

The real stars of the night will be the 11 Catwalk Champions who will be paired with celebrity partners and dressed in outfits selected by each child courtesy of Belk before making their runway debut. More than a fashion moment, the Catwalk offers an opportunity to celebrate each child‘s unique personality, strength and journey.

PARTNERS WHO MAKE IT POSSIBLE:

Cook Out
HendrickCars.com
Novant Health
Speedway Motorsports
Chevrolet
Oobe
Joey Logano‘s Huntersville Ford
TA Films
The Nichols Company
American Standard K9

MORE IN STORE:

An exclusive Tiny Gods Jewelry pull will be held during the event. For $100 per box, guests can participate in the exclusive jewelry pull, with a chance to take home an exclusive $10,000 diamond necklace.

The evening will be capped with a special performance by country music artist Chris Lane. The Kernersville, N.C., native is known for his energetic, modern country sound and hits including “Big, Big Plans,” “I Don‘t Know About You” and “Fix.” With multiple No. 1 singles and millions of streams, Lane has become a standout name in country music and is known for his dynamic live performances.

CONTINUING A LEGACY:

Cook Out Catwalk for Causes continues the legacy established by Sherry Pollex, SherryStrong and the Martin Truex Jr. Foundation in 2009. Over the past 15 years, Catwalk for Causes has raised more than $5.5 million, carrying forward Pollex‘s vision of making a meaningful difference in the lives of children and families throughout the Carolinas. The 2025 event raised more than $460,000 for organizations dedicated to improving the lives of children and families facing significant challenges.

With tickets officially sold out, Catwalk for Causes will once again bring the motorsports and community worlds together for a night where the stars on the runway are the children at the heart of the cause.

— Charlotte Motor Speedway —

With more than 25 years of NASCAR experience and a proven record of developing drivers and building race-winning teams, Bullins brings a level of accomplishment and credibility that reflects LEGACY‘s commitment to establishing the No. 84 into a competitive Cup Series program from day one.

“Jeremy Bullins‘ experience and leadership are exactly what we need on the No. 84,” said Jimmie Johnson, co-owner of LEGACY MOTOR CLUB. “He has a proven record of success at every level of NASCAR, but what truly sets him apart is his ability to develop talent, build winning cultures, and embrace innovation. Pairing him with Riley creates a strong foundation for the No. 84 team to compete, evolve, and achieve long-term success.”

Bullins brings a winning pedigree to LEGACY MOTOR CLUB, having won 10 races in the Cup Series and 21 races in the NASCAR O‘Reilly Auto Parts Series with a variety of drivers. After studying mechanical engineering at North Carolina State University, he joined the historic Wood Brothers Racing in 1999 to work on the No. 21 car with Elliott Sadler. He moved to Richard Childress Racing in 2005, where he worked as an engineer for Kevin Harvick and Clint Bowyer, accumulating nine Cup Series wins between the two drivers.

In 2012, Bullins joined Team Penske as the crew chief of the No. 22 O‘Reilly Auto Parts Series team. After building the program, winning races, and claiming the series Owner‘s Championship in 2013, he returned to Wood Brothers Racing in 2015 as the crew chief of the No. 21 car with Ryan Blaney. He later joined forces with Brad Keselowski in 2020, with the duo winning five races between 2020 and 2021. Bullins went on to serve as crew chief for several other Cup Series drivers before joining RFK Racing in 2025.

“Jeremy brings a level of experience and a track record that speaks for itself,” said Riley Herbst, driver of the No. 84 Toyota Camry XSE. “Having someone who has won races and built teams at the highest level of this sport alongside me gives me a lot of confidence heading into 2027. I‘m looking forward to getting to work together and building something special with the No. 84 team.”

“I‘m very excited to get the opportunity to work with everyone at LEGACY MOTOR CLUB with everything that is being built here,” said Jeremy Bullins, crew chief of the No. 84 Toyota Camry XSE. “There are a lot of positive things happening at the team. I was excited to meet Riley Herbst and see how passionate he is about racing, so I‘m excited to give him some leadership to hopefully provide him a good opportunity in 2027.”

“Jeremy is a very respected and successful figure in this sport, and we are thrilled to have him leading the No. 84 program,” said Jacob Canter, SVP, Sporting Director of LEGACY MOTOR CLUB. “His experience building race-winning teams and his ability to develop drivers makes him an outstanding fit for Riley and for what we are building with the No. 84. Jeremy‘s also an organizational thinker who will contribute to LEGACY‘s overall program to the benefit of Riley‘s teammates in the No. 42 and No. 43.”

Bullins will make his LEGACY MOTOR CLUB debut with Herbst at Daytona International Speedway in February 2027.

— Legacy Motor Club —

Richard Boswell, who has led Austin Dillon over the past two seasons as crew chief of the No. 3 Chevrolet in the NASCAR Cup Series, will take on a larger role with the race team as Vice President of Competition. Boswell will provide direction across RCR‘s competition efforts, with a focus on performance, collaboration with key partner Chevrolet and building a stronger foundation for sustained success on the racetrack.

The son of a late model and Busch Series driver and a former driver himself, Boswell brings more than 15 years of professional motorsports experience to his new role. His career includes time at Hendrick Motorsports, JR Motorsports and Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR), where he helped launch the team‘s O‘Reilly Auto Parts Series program and oversaw its competition operations. He made his Cup Series crew chief debut at SHR, earning a victory with Chase Briscoe in 2024. Boswell joined RCR in 2025 and led Austin Dillon to a Cup Series win that same year.

Boswell‘s leadership style, grounded in accountability and discipline, makes him well suited to lead RCR‘s competition efforts. He will finish the current season as crew chief before moving fully into his new role at season‘s end.

In addition to strengthening its competition leadership, RCR is expanding its focus on emerging technology with the creation of a Director of Development and Innovation position. Art Trejo has been appointed to the newly created role, where he will lead the company‘s efforts to identify, develop and implement emerging technologies. Trejo‘s background in military leadership, advanced technology and engineering will strengthen the organization. A 27-year Officer in the United States Navy with degrees from both Princeton University and UCLA, Trejo joins RCR from SpaceX and has extensive experience working in complex, technology-driven environments.

The addition of a dedicated Development and Innovation position represents a continued evolution of RCR‘s approach to technology and innovation. The organization has increasingly incorporated advanced technology into its operations, including engineering, manufacturing and competition, while continuing to explore new opportunities and improve performance across the company.

“Everyone at Richard Childress Racing remains relentless in our desire to win and compete at the highest levels of our sport but we know we‘re not quite where we need to be,” said Richard Childress, Chairman and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. “We‘re announcing these changes now because we want to make sure we have the right people, the right leadership and the right technology in place to compete at the level RCR expects to compete at. Richard Boswell is a talented leader who knows racing, knows how to lead people, and knows what it takes to win. I know he will do a great job taking on a larger role in leading our competition team. Art Trejo brings a completely different set of experiences and a new way of thinking that I believe can help take our racing operations forward. We‘re going to keep pushing, keep investing and keep looking for ways to get better.”

For more information, please visit rcrracing.com.

— Richard Childress Racing —

“Selling out the MISCamping.com Infield for six straight years wouldn‘t happen without the strong community our fans have built at MIS,” said Joe Fowler, President of Michigan International Speedway. “Race weekend is a chance for our fans to reconnect, spend time together and share their love of racing. With NASCAR returning to the Irish Hills on Father‘s Day weekend for the first time in years, we‘re excited to see families and friends carry on old traditions and start new ones.”

Fans can still get in on all the race action with grandstand tickets, outside campsites across Michigan‘s largest registered campground, and hospitality options for the weekend. Campsite areas still available include Brooklyn Trails located on Brooklyn Highway across from the track, Brookfest Acres located outside of turn 4, M50 Creekside located behind turn 3, Graves Family Campground located on US-12, High Banks located outside of turn 3, and Tree Farm which is just outside of turns 3 and 4.

During the FireKeepers Casino 400 earlier this year, Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin won the FireKeepers Casino 400 for the second year in a row. Hamlin led 40 laps in the race, including the final 39 of the 200-lap race and served as Hamlin‘s fourth career Cup Series win at Michigan International Speedway.

The June race weekend at Michigan International Speedway begins with the ARCA Menards Series Henry Ford Health 200 on Friday, June 18, followed by the NASCAR FedEx Freight Truck Series DQS Solutions & Staffing 250 Powered by Precision Vehicle Logistics on Saturday, June 19. The NASCAR Cup Series will cap off the weekend‘s action with the FireKeepers Casino 400 on Sunday, June 20.

Tickets are available for purchase via phone at 888-905-7223 or online at mispeedway.com.

— Michigan International Speedway —

The race was down 3% from last year and aired opposite the Ole Miss-LSU college football game. Bristol‘s social media generated 2.6 million engagements, up 567% from last year.

.@USANetwork averaged a 0.76 rating and 1.449 million viewers for Saturday's NASCAR Bass Pro Shops Night Race @ItsBristolBaby, down 3% from last year.

↙️ The race went up against Ole Miss-LSU.

➡️ Bristol's social media generated 2.6 million engagements, up 567% from last year. pic.twitter.com/hjan0Yda7f

— Adam Stern (@A_S12) September 23, 2026

NASCAR Cup Series Postseason Fast Facts – Race No. 4 (Kansas Speedway)

• The 2026 season marks the seventh time the fourth race in the NASCAR Cup Series postseason has been hosted by Kansas Speedway (2004, 2005, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2024, 2026).
• Kansas Speedway is one of eight different tracks to host the fourth race in the NASCAR Cup Series postseason:
  • Kansas Speedway (2004, 2005, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2024, 2026)
  • Talladega Superspeedway (2006, 2007, 2008, 2012)
  • Auto Club Speedway (2009, 2010)
  • Charlotte Motor Speedway (2015, 2016, 2017)
  • Dover Motor Speedway (2018, 2019)
  • Las Vegas Motor Speedway (2020, 2021)
  • Texas Motor Speedway (2022, 2023)
  • New Hampshire Motor Speedway (2025)
• A total of 18 different drivers have won the fourth race in the NASCAR Cup Series postseason (2004-2025).
• NASCAR Hall of Famer Jimmie Johnson leads the Cup Series in victories in the fourth race of the postseason with three victories (2009, 2011, 2016).
• Seven of the current 16 Chase drivers (bolded in Chart below) have won the fourth postseason race, led by Team Penske‘s Joey Logano with two wins (2014, 2015).

• A total of 19 different crew chiefs have won the fourth race in the NASCAR Cup Series postseason, led by Chad Knaus with three victories (2009 Auto Club, 2011 Kansas, 2016 Charlotte).
• A total of 10 different organizations have won the fourth race in the NASCAR Cup Series postseason, led by Hendrick Motorsports with seven victories (2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2016, 2018, 2023).
• Three times the winner of the fourth race in the NASCAR Cup Series postseason has gone on to win the Cup title in the same season: 2009, 2016 and 2017.

1. In 2009, Jimmie Johnson won the fourth race of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs at Auto Club Speedway and went on to win his fourth-straight series title in the same season. The victory was his second of four wins during his postseason run that season.
2. In 2016, Jimmie Johnson won at Charlotte Motor Speedway (oval) and went on to win his record tying seventh NASCAR Cup Series title that same season. The win was Johnson‘s first of three that postseason.
3. In 2017, Martin Truex Jr. won at Charlotte Motor Speedway and went on to win the series title the same season. It was his first of three wins in that postseason.

• The worst finish by a driver in the fourth NASCAR Cup Series postseason race that later went on to win the title that same season was a 38th-place finish by Jimmie Johnson in 2009 at Texas Motor Speedway.
• Last season, Kyle Larson finished seventh in the fourth race of the postseason at New Hampshire and went on to win the title later that same year.
• Four times a non-Playoff driver has won the fourth race in the NASCAR Cup Series postseason: 2004, 2006, 2022, 2024.

1. In 2004, Joe Nemechek won the fourth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs at Kansas Speedway, he was ranked 21st in the point standings at the time of the victory.
2. In 2006, Brian Vickers won the fourth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs at Talladega Superspeedway, he was ranked 16th in points at the time of the victory.
3. In 2022, Tyler Reddick won the fourth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs at Texas Motor Speedway. Reddick had qualified for the postseason but was eliminated from the Playoffs in the Round of 16, he was ranked 13th in points at the time of the victory
4. In 2024, Ross Chastain won the fourth race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs at Kansas Speedway, he was ranked 17th in points at the time of the victory.

• Kansas Speedway is one of four tracks that has participated in the NASCAR Cup Series postseason since its inception into the series in 2004, alongside Martinsville Speedway, Talladega Superspeedway and Phoenix Raceway.
• Kansas Speedway has occupied seven different positions on the NASCAR Cup Series postseason schedule:
• Second Race: 2022, 2023
• Third Race: 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
• Fourth Race: 2004, 2005, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2024
• Fifth Race: 2015, 2016, 2025, 2026
• Sixth Race: 2012, 2017, 2018, 2019
• Seventh Race: 2020
• Eighth Race: 2021
• A total of 15 different drivers have won the NASCAR Cup Series postseason races at Kansas Speedway.
• Six of the current 16 Chase drivers (bolded in Chart below) have won a NASCAR Cup Series postseason race at Kansas Speedway.
• Team Penske‘s Joey Logano leads the NASCAR Cup Series in postseason race wins at Kansas Speedway with three victories (2014, 2015, 2020).

• A total of 18 different crew chiefs have won a NASCAR Cup Series postseason race at Kansas Speedway. Four of the 18 have won multiple races — Alan Gustafson, Chad Knaus, Greg Erwin, Todd Gordon (two wins each).
• A total of 10 different organizations have won a NASCAR Cup Series postseason race at Kansas Speedway, led by Hendrick Motorsports with five wins (2008, 2011, 2018, 2021, 2025).
• Hendrick Motorsports‘ Chase Elliott is the most recent postseason race winner at Kansas Speedway.
• Five times the NASCAR Cup Series postseason race at Kansas Speedway was won by a non-Playoff driver: 2004 (Joe Nemechek), 2006 (Tony Stewart), 2007 (Greg Biffle), 2022 (Bubba Wallace) and 2024 (Ross Chastain).
• Three times the winner of the NASCAR Cup Series postseason race at Kansas Speedway went on to win the series championship that same season — 2008 (Jimmie Johnson), 2017 (Martin Truex Jr.) and 2021 (Kyle Larson).

Top 16 in the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Chase Standings at Kansas Speedway

 * — Based on last 36 races at Kansas Speedway (2005 — 2026).

Kansas Speedway Stats & Tidbits:

TRACK DATA & INFO

Track Size: 1.5 Mile Asphalt Oval

Banking/Turns: 17 to 20 degrees

Banking/Frontstretch: 10 degrees

Banking/Backstretch: 5 degrees

Frontstretch Length: 2,685 feet

Backstretch Length: 2,207 feet

RACE DATA & INFO

Race Name: Hollywood Casino 400
Season Race: 30 of 36 (Sept. 27, 2026)
NCS Chase Race: 4 of 10
The Purse: $11,233,037
Race Length: 267 laps / 400.5 miles
Stage 1 Length: 80 laps
Stage 2 Length: 85 laps (Ends on Lap 165)
Final Stage Length: 102 laps (Ends on Lap 267)

QUALIFYING & RACE RECORD DATA

Track Qualifying Record: Kevin Harvick, Chevrolet, 197.773 mph, 27.304 secs. October 3, 2014

Track Race Record: Chase Elliott, Chevrolet, 152.057 mph, (02:38:02), October 21, 2018

2025 Pole Winner: Chase Briscoe, Toyota, 180.078 mph, 29.987 secs., September 27, 2025

2025 Race Winner: Chase Elliott, Chevrolet, 123.106 mph, (03:19:35), September 28, 2025

HISTORY

• Groundbreaking for Kansas Speedway was held on May 25, 1999.
• The official opening of Kansas Speedway was in 2001 with the first events being an ARCA Menards Series race and an ARCA Menards Series West race on the same day — June 2.
• The first NASCAR Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway was on September 30, 2001 and the race was won by Hendrick Motorsport‘s driver and NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon (Chevrolet).
• During the 2012 season, between the April and October events, the 1.5-mile track underwent a repave, adding variable banking in the corners (17 to 20 degrees).
• In total, there have been 39 NASCAR Cup Series races at Kansas Speedway, one event from 2001 – 2010 and two races per year since 2011. Of those 39 race 21 have been Playoff events.

STARTS

• A total of 175 different drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway; 137 drivers have competed in more than one.
• Kyle Busch leads the NASCAR Cup Series in starts at Kansas Speedway with 37 starts.
• Denny Hamlin leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in starts at Kansas Speedway with 36 starts.
• Top five in starts at Kansas all-time: Kyle Busch (37), Kevin Harvick (36), Denny Hamlin (36), Kurt Busch (33), Martin Truex Jr. (33) and Joey Logano (33).
• Six drivers all-time have made their first NASCAR Cup Series career start at Kansas Speedway:
• Matt Mills (May 2, 2021)
• Erik Jones (May 9, 2015)
• Ryan Blaney (May 10, 2014)
• Austin Dillon (October 9, 2011)
• Denny Hamlin (October 9, 2005)
• Sheldon Creed (September 10, 2023)
• Of the six drivers that made their NASCAR Cup Series debut at Kansas Speedway, Austin Dillon posted the best finish with a 26th-place result in 2011; after starting in the 26th starting spot.
• Jason Leffler leads the NASCAR Cup Series in average starting position at Kansas Speedway with a 3.5 in two starts.
• Christopher Bell leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series in average starting position at Kansas with a 7.769 in 13 starts.

Top 10 in Average Starting Position at Kansas Speedway (Active Drivers)

POLES

• A total of 21 different drivers have won the pole at Kansas Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series.
• Kevin Harvick leads the NASCAR Cup Series in poles at Kansas Speedway with five poles (fall 2013, 2014 sweep, spring 2018 and spring 2019).
• Christopher Bell (2022, 2023, 2024 sweep) leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in poles at Kansas Speedway with four.
• A total of nine of the 21 NASCAR Cup Series Kansas Speedway pole winners are active this weekend.

• Jason Leffler won the inaugural NASCAR Cup Series pole at Kansas Speedway in 2001 with a speed of 176.499 MPH (Dodge) driving for Chip Ganassi Racing.
• Jason Leffler (2001), Ryan Blaney (2017) and Daniel Hemric (2019) are the only three drivers to post their first-career NASCAR Cup Series pole at Kansas Speedway.
• Christopher Bell (three straight: 2023-2024 sweep), Jimmie Johnson (two straight: 2007-2008) and Kevin Harvick (three-straight: fall of 2013-2014 sweep) are the only three drivers to win consecutive poles at Kansas Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series.
• Youngest Cup Series Kansas pole winner: Ryan Blaney (May 13, 2017 — 23 years, 2 months, 43 days).
• Oldest Cup Series Kansas pole winner: Mark Martin (October 4, 2009 — 50 years, 8 months, 25 days).
• A total of 22 different crew chiefs have won a pole in the NASCAR Cup Series at Kansas Speedway, led by Adam Stevens and Rodney Childers (four poles each).
• A total of 14 different organizations have won a pole in the NASCAR Cup Series at Kansas Speedway; seven of the 14 are active this weekend.

• Joe Gibbs Racing leads the Cup Series in poles at Kansas Speedway with seven poles (2013, 2016, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2024, 2025).
• Four manufacturers have won poles at Kansas Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series, led by Chevrolet with 14; followed by Toyota (11), Ford (nine), and Dodge (four).

WINS

• A total of 20 different drivers have won a NASCAR Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway.
• NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon won the first NASCAR Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway on September 30, 2001.
• Youngest Cup Series Kansas winner: Chase Elliott (October 21, 2018 — 22 years, 10 months, 23 days).
• Oldest Cup Series Kansas winner: Mark Martin (October 9, 2005 — 46 years, 9 months, 0 days).
• Denny Hamlin leads the NASCAR Cup Series in wins at Kansas Speedway with four victories (2012, 2019, 2020, 2023).
• A total of eight of the 20 NASCAR Cup Series Kansas Speedway winners are active this weekend.

• Jeff Gordon, Matt Kenseth, Martin Truex Jr. and Denny Hamlin are the only four NASCAR Cup Series drivers that have posted consecutive wins at Kansas Speedway:
  • Jeff Gordon (2001 and 2002) — the first two series events at Kansas
  • Matt Kenseth (fall 2012, spring 2013)
  • Martin Truex Jr. (2017 sweep)
  • Denny Hamlin (2019 Playoff race and 2020)
• NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon is the only NASCAR Cup series driver to win at Kansas in his first appearance (2001).
• Not one NASCAR Cup Series driver has won their first career race at Kansas Speedway.
• A total of 19 different starting spots in the field have led to victories in the NASCAR Cup Series at Kansas Speedway.
• A total of nine of the 41 NASCAR Cup Series races at Kansas Speedway (21.9%) have been won from the pole or first starting position; the most proficient starting spot in the field.
• Seven different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have won from the pole or first starting position at Kansas Speedway.
• Joe Nemechek (postseason 2004)
• Jimmie Johnson (postseason 2008)
• Matt Kenseth (spring 2013)
• Kevin Harvick (postseason 2013)
• Martin Truex Jr. (postseason 2017)
• Kevin Harvick (spring 2018)
• Kyle Larson (postseason 2021, spring 2025)
• Tyler Reddick (spring 2026)

NASCAR Cup Series Wins by Starting Positions at Kansas Speedway

• A total of 11 the 41 NASCAR Cup Series races have been won from the front row (26%).
• The deepest in the field that a race winner has started at Kansas Speedway is 25th, by Brad Keselowski in the spring of 2011.
• Michael McDowell leads the Cup Series in starts at Kansas Speedway without visiting Victory Lane with 30 starts; followed by Ricky Stenhouse Jr. with 27 and Austin Dillon with 26.
• A total of 23 different crew chiefs have won a NASCAR Cup Series race at Kanas Speedway, led by Alan Gustafson, Chad Knaus, Chris Gabehart, Cliff Daniels and Paul Wolfe with three victories each.
• A total of 10 different organizations have won a race in the NASCAR Cup Series at Kansas Speedway.

• Hendrick Motorsports leads the NASCAR Cup Series wins at Kansas Speedway with 11 victories among four drivers: Jeff Gordon (three: 2001, 2002 and 2014), Jimmie Johnson (three: 2008, 2011 and 2015), Chase Elliott (two: 2018, 2025) and Kyle Larson (three: 2021, 2024, 2025).
• Four manufacturers have won at Kansas Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series; led by Chevrolet with 17 victories, Toyota has 13, Ford with nine, and Dodge has two.
• The most consecutive NASCAR Cup Series wins by a manufacturer at Kansas Speedway is four straight wins by Toyota from 2022 (sweep) and 2023 (sweep).

ADDITIONAL FINISHING POSITIONS

Runner-Up Finishes

• A total of 23 different drivers have finished runner-up at Kansas Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series.
• Kevin Harvick (2014, 2015, 2016, 2020, 2021) leads the NASCAR Cup Series in runner-up finishes at Kansas Speedway with five second-place finishes.
• Denny Hamlin and Kyle Larson lead all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in runner-up finishes at Kansas Speedway with four second-place finishes each.

Top-Five Finishes:

• A total of 44 different drivers have finished in the top-five at Kanas Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series.
• Denny Hamlin leads the NASCAR Cup Series in top-five finishes at Kansas Speedway with 16 top fives.

Top-10 Finishes:

• A total of 69 different drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series have posted top-10 finishes at Kansas Speedway.
• Jimmie Johnson, Martin Truex Jr. and Kevin Harvick lead the NASCAR Cup Series in top-10 finishes at Kansas Speedway with 19 top 10s each.
• Denny Hamlin leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in top 10s at Kansas Speedway with 18.

Average Finish:

• Rusty Wallace (five starts) leads the Cup Series in average finish at Kansas Speedway with an 8.200.
• Chase Elliott (21 starts) leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series at Kansas Speedway with an average finishing position with a 9.810.

LAP LEADERS

• A total of 86 different drivers have led at least one lap in the NASCAR Cup Series at Kansas Speedway.
• Kyle Larson leads all NASCAR Cup Series drivers in laps led at Kansas Speedway with 1,003 in 23 starts.
• The most laps led by the race winner in a single NASCAR Cup Series event at Kansas Speedway was 221 of the 267 scheduled laps (82.7%) by Kyle Larson on May 11, 2025 — he started the race from the pole position.
• The most laps led by a driver that did not win in a single NASCAR Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway was 173 laps of the 267 scheduled laps (64.7%) by Martin Truex Jr. on April 22, 2012 — he started sixth and ultimately finished runner-up.
• The fewest laps led by the race winner in a single NASCAR Cup Series event at Kansas Speedway was two of the 268 scheduled laps (0.7%) by Tyler Reddick on September 10, 2023 — he started the race from the fifth position.

Top 10 NASCAR Cup Series Lap Leaders at Kansas Speedway (All-Time & Active)

FEMALE COMPETITORS

• Danica Patrick is the only female driver that has competed at Kansas Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series:
• Danica Patrick‘s seventh-place finish (2014) at Kansas Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series is the third-highest finish by a female driver in series history.
• Best finish by a female driver in the NASCAR Cup Series is Sarah Christian‘s fifth-place finish (Heidelberg) in 1949.

TRACK / EVENT STATS

• Since the advent of electronic scoring in 1993, the closest margin of victory in the NASCAR Cup Series at Kansas Speedway is 0.001-second — the closest finish in NASCAR Cup Series history. The race was held on May 5, 2024 – with Kyle Larson beating Chris Buescher to the finish line.

Top Five Closest Margins of Victory at Kansas Speedway

Top Five Largest Margins of Victory at Kansas Speedway

• In the 41 NASCAR Cup Series races at Kansas Speedway, eight have resulted in NASCAR Overtime:

• Only one of the 41 NASCAR Cup Series races at Kansas Speedway have been shortened due to weather conditions:

• Of the 41 NASCAR Cup Series races held at Kansas Speedway, only the Sept. 30, 2007 event has ended under caution — for weather — Greg Biffle won the event.
• Qualifying has never been cancelled due to weather conditions in the NASCAR Cup Series at Kansas Speedway.
• The NASCAR Cup Series events from 2019-2021 had their qualifying sessions cancelled due to the pandemic.
• The NASCAR Cup Series Kansas race has never been postponed to another date due to weather conditions.

NASCAR IN KANSAS

• There have been a total of 98 NASCAR national series races among two tracks held in the state of Kansas.

• The first NASCAR national series race held in the state of Kansas was on July 29, 1995 at Heartland Park Topeka in Topeka, Kansas. The event was a NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race, and it was won by NASCAR Hall of Famer Ron Hornaday Jr. (Chevrolet) driving for Dale Earnhardt Inc.

KANSAS DRIVERS IN NASCAR

• A total of 18 different drivers in NASCAR national series history have their home state recorded as Kansas.
• Of the 18 Kansas drivers, only two of them have won a NASCAR national series race; both have won in the NASCAR Cup Series.

— NASCAR —

…

“I know it was kind of a heat-of-the-moment thing, and he probably thought it was just kind of a funny thing to add to the moment,” NASCAR vice president of racing communications Mike Forde said Tuesday during the latest episode of the “Hauler Talk” podcast. “He probably had some frustrations with (Hocevar) as well. But obviously that could be dangerous if that hit someone in the wrong place. If the cap portion of that water bottle hit someone in the eye, that could be a dangerous situation. So we plan to have a conversation this weekend in Kansas with Ty Gibbs, but no penalty.”

…

NASCAR announced Monday that there would be no penalties for Blaney or Hocevar, but that the actions of crew members still were being evaluated.

Forde said the review resulted in no punishments Tuesday.

— NASCAR.com —

Movember will serve as the primary sponsor of Bilicki‘s No. 07 SS Green Light Racing Chevrolet at Las Vegas, bringing the organization‘s iconic mustache and men‘s health message back to the NASCAR stage. The partnership will also continue beyond Las Vegas, with Movember riding with Bilicki for the remaining races of the 2026 season.

Fans will have the opportunity to become part of the race car itself. Anyone who donates through Josh Bilicki‘s official Movember fundraising page will have their name featured on the No. 07 Chevrolet at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The partnership provides an opportunity to build awareness and momentum heading into November, Movember‘s biggest month of the year. The organization leads a global movement focused on improving men‘s health, with an emphasis on mental health and suicide prevention, prostate cancer and testicular cancer.

“I‘m really excited to have Movember back on board with us this year,” said Bilicki. “Last year was a great opportunity to help spread their message throughout the NASCAR community, and I‘m proud that we‘re able to continue building on that partnership. Men‘s health impacts so many people, and being able to use our race program to raise awareness and funds for such an important cause makes this partnership about much more than what happens on the racetrack.”

“We are thrilled to be partnering back up with Josh to champion our cause, both on and off the track,” said Movember U.S. Director Tim Gnaneswaran. “Offering NASCAR fans the opportunity to add their names to the No. 07 car by donating allows our community a chance to cross the finish line with Josh while raising vital funds and awareness for men’s health.”

Bilicki is competing full-time in the NASCAR O‘Reilly Auto Parts Series in 2026 with SS Green Light Racing, driving the organization‘s No. 07 Chevrolet.

Bilicki and the No. 07 SS Green Light Racing Chevrolet will take on Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Saturday, October 3.The race will be televised live on The CW Network at 7:30PM ET.

— Josh Bilicki Racing —

“The biggest blessing of our lives, our baby boy. Otto Suárez Piquet 💙,: Suarez announced on social media.

Suarez and Piquet were married in July 2024.

The biggest blessing of our lives, our baby boy. Otto Suárez Piquet 🩵 @JuliaPiquet pic.twitter.com/fUretNf1PP

— Daniel Suárez (@Daniel_SuarezG) September 22, 2026

This partnership builds upon Timberland PRO‘s new multiyear relationship with NASCAR, connecting a footwear brand built to equip hardworking professionals with the people whose skill, dedication and craftsmanship are essential to putting on a NASCAR race.

“The connection between Timberland PRO and Phoenix Raceway is incredibly authentic because both organizations understand what it means to put in the work,” said Phoenix Raceway President Latasha Causey. “From our track operations and safety teams to the technicians, mechanics and facility crews who work behind the scenes, race day is made possible by people who take tremendous pride in what they do. We‘re excited to celebrate those hardworking professionals while hosting a race that will be so important to the NASCAR O‘Reilly Auto Parts Series Chase.”

In July, NASCAR and Timberland PRO announced a new multiyear partnership naming Timberland PRO the Official Protective Footwear and Official Safety Toe Partner of NASCAR. The partnership is focused on celebrating and supporting the skilled professionals who help power NASCAR, including track workers, technicians, mechanics and other members of the racing community. Timberland PRO will provide protective footwear to NASCAR employees and track workers while working with NASCAR on storytelling, digital content and at-track activations.

The relationship is anchored by Timberland PRO‘s “First Turn, Last Lap, Repeat” campaign, which celebrates the heroes behind the scenes who keep NASCAR moving—drawing a connection between the dedication of NASCAR professionals and the skilled tradespeople who work in demanding environments every day.

“For Timberland PRO, NASCAR represents so much of what we believe in — hard work, craftsmanship, performance and people who take pride in doing their jobs right,” said Ryan Murphy, Head of Marketing, Timberland Americas. “The Timberland PRO 200 is a great opportunity to bring our partnership with NASCAR to Phoenix Raceway and celebrate the people behind the race while the drivers compete in such an important Chase event.”

The partnership is particularly fitting for Phoenix Raceway, where the precision and preparation required to host NASCAR events are matched by the intensity of competition on the track. On October 17, the Timberland PRO 200 will put that focus and determination on display as NASCAR O‘Reilly Auto Parts Series drivers pursue a critical Chase victory at one of NASCAR‘s most challenging and distinctive venues.

Limited tickets remain for Phoenix Raceway‘s NASCAR Chase weekend, October 16-18. Action begins Friday, October 16, with a crucial NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race. It continues Saturday featuring the penultimate race of the ARCA Menards Series West season and the Timberland PRO 200. That all sets the table for Sunday, October 18, when the stars of the NASCAR Cup Series compete in the Freeway Insurance 500.

Tickets are going fast, so fans should purchase their seats and experiences now while supplies last by visiting www.phoenixraceway.com.

— Phoenix Raceway —

Ajinomoto Foods North America Inc., a specialty frozen food manufacturer creating products for well-being, will make its NASCAR partnership debut by supporting Ellis and the No. 02 Young‘s Motorsports Chevrolet while introducing its broad portfolio of frozen food products to NASCAR‘s passionate national fan base.

Ajinomoto is guided by its purpose of making eating every day a happy experience.

Combining culinary craftsmanship with science-backed insights, the company develops flavorful, satisfying foods that bring joy, connection and peace of mind.

Ajinomoto Foods North America‘s consumer brand portfolio includes Ajinomoto®, José Olé®, Ling Ling® and Tai Pei®, with products available at major retailers throughout the United States.

The collaboration marks another milestone in a banner season of partnership growth for Ellis and Young‘s Motorsports.

Together, the driver and organization have successfully introduced an impressive number of new brands to NASCAR, creating valuable connections between those companies and one of the most passionate and loyal fan bases in sports.

Ajinomoto branding will be featured aboard Ellis‘ No. 02 Chevrolet throughout the race weekend, giving the company a national platform to showcase its purpose, products and family of recognizable consumer brands.

“Welcoming Ajinomoto Foods North America to our program is something I‘m incredibly proud of,” said Ellis.

“We have been fortunate to introduce so many new companies to NASCAR this season, and every partnership gives us another opportunity to demonstrate the tremendous value, passion and loyalty surrounding this sport.

“Ajinomoto Foods North America has an incredible story and a family of brands that many people already know and enjoy. Food has a special ability to bring people together, and that connection fits naturally with the strong sense of family and community found throughout NASCAR.

“I‘m looking forward to representing their employees, customers and brands with pride throughout the race weekend.”

For Ajinomoto, the collaboration provides an engaging national platform to introduce its purpose and portfolio of products to the NASCAR community.

The partnership also creates a natural connection between the company‘s belief in bringing people together through food and the shared experiences, traditions and sense of community that define NASCAR race weekends.

“We‘re excited to partner with Ryan as we make our first foray into NASCAR and introduce Ajinomoto Foods North America to a new audience,” said Eugene Imm, SVP, Head of Strategic Branding & Marketing at Ajinomoto Foods North America.

“What made Ryan such a natural partner is that he already knows and appreciates our products, and understands the quality, authenticity and craftsmanship that go into everything we make.

“That shared appreciation, along with our commitment to bringing well-being to more communities, makes this partnership a great fit for us.”

With the 2026 NASCAR O‘Reilly Auto Parts Series calendar winding down toward its early-November finale, Ellis will make his 10th series start at the popular 1.5-mile oval located in the heart of Sin City.

In nine previous appearances at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the Ashburn, Va., native earned a track-best 13th-place finish during his second series start at the facility in 2023.

Encouraged by a string of strong on-track performances, Ellis and Young‘s Motorsports will look to carry their momentum into Las Vegas and add another top-10 result to their season total.

The upswing has strengthened the organization‘s confidence heading into the closing races. Team principal Tyler Young believes the improved results reflect the steady development of the No. 02 Chevrolet program and the collective commitment throughout Young‘s Motorsports.

“Ryan and our No. 02 team have continued to make meaningful gains, and the recent performances are beginning to reflect the work everyone has been putting into this program,” said Young.

“Las Vegas is always challenging, but we believe it is another track where we can continue building momentum.

“If we execute throughout the weekend, give Ryan a Chevrolet he can race with and stay disciplined from start to finish, there is no reason we cannot contend for another strong finish.

“We are also incredibly proud to welcome Ajinomoto to our team and the NASCAR community. We appreciate their confidence in Ryan and Young‘s Motorsports, and our goal is to provide them with a successful and memorable first experience in the sport.”

— Young’s Motorsports —

Cup Series teams will use the same left- and right-side tires they ran at Kansas in the spring. This tire setup has been used several times since that race, most recently at Darlington Raceway earlier this month. The left-side Goodyear Racing Eagle has also been used three other times this season, most recently at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

“We introduced new right-side Goodyear Racing Eagles at this race last fall, which helped give teams different strategy options,” said Rick Heinrich, Goodyear NASCAR product manager. “This weekend will be the third time Cup Series teams have run this setup at Kansas, and the eighth time they have done so this season, so they come to Kansas with valuable data to help with their setups.”

Craftsman Truck Series teams will also run a familiar Goodyear Racing Eagle setup this weekend. The combination has been used at Texas Motor Speedway and Michigan International Speedway, while the left-side tire has been used twice more this season. Craftsman Truck Series teams will also use inner liners at Kansas, as is customary on tracks one mile and longer.

Goodyear Racing Eagles are also in action this weekend in the NHRA Nationals at The Rock at Rockingham Dragway, in Japan with the FIA World Endurance Championship contesting the 6 Hours of Fuji, and in the British Touring Car Championship at Silverstone.

Fast Facts

NASCAR Cup Series
Race: Hollywood Casino 400 (267 laps / 400.5 miles)
Track: Kansas Speedway (1.5-mile intermediate tri-oval)
Date/Time: Sunday, September 27, 3:00 p.m. ET
TV/Radio: USA, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, HBO Max
Tire: Goodyear Racing Eagle
Tire Code: D-5284 left side, D-5290 right side
Previous Usage in 2026: Las Vegas-1, Darlington-1, Kansas-1, Texas, Charlotte-1, Nashville, Chicagoland, Darlington-2, Michigan (LS), Pocono (LS), Indianapolis (LS)
Tire Circumference: 2,263 mm (89.1 in.) left side, 2,277 mm (89.6 in.) right side
Recommended Minimum Inflation: LF — 20 psi, RF — 50 psi, LR — 22 psi, RR — 46 psi
Total Sets: 11 (8 new race / 1 qualifying transfer to race / 2 practice)

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
Race: Race to Stop Suicide 200 (134 laps / 201 miles)
Track: Kansas Speedway (1.5-mile intermediate tri-oval)
Date/Time: Saturday, September 26, 1:00 p.m. ET
TV/Radio: FS1, NASCAR Racing Network, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Tire: Goodyear Racing Eagle
Tire Code: D-6110 left side, D-6140 right side
Previous Usage in 2026: Texas, Michigan, Charlotte-1 (LS), Nashville (LS)
Tire Circumference: 2,225 mm (87.6 in.) left side, 2,250 mm (88.6 in.) right side
Recommended Minimum Inflation: LF — 18 psi, RF — 50 psi, LR — 18 psi, RR — 48 psi
Total Sets: 5 (3 new race / 1 qualifying transfer to start race / 1 practice)

— PitBox 91 —

“I‘m looking forward to working with Sam again,” said Dale Earnhardt Jr. “JRM and Sam know how to win races together and it‘s my belief that Sam has improved as a driver since our past relationship. I appreciate Sam‘s eagerness to win, and I know he‘s excited to get back in the building and get to work. We‘re also excited to welcome Starkey to the team and look forward to building a strong relationship and accomplishing great things together.”

Headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minn., Starkey is a global leader in hearing technology and innovation, known for advancing AI-powered hearing solutions that help people hear more naturally and stay connected to the world around them. Starkey brings together artificial intelligence, advanced engineering and human-centered design to create hearing technology that fits seamlessly into everyday life. Through innovation and partnerships with hearing care professionals, Starkey is helping people hear better, live better and experience more of the moments that matter.

“Great partnerships have the power to change conversations, and this one gives us a platform to do exactly that,” said Brandon Sawalich, President and CEO of Starkey. “Hearing health belongs in every conversation about performance, protection and quality of life. In a sport where sound is a vital part of the experience for both drivers and fans, and hearing is exposed to extreme environments, protecting it should be just as important as protecting any other part of the body. Starkey is proud to bring our leadership in hearing technology and innovation to the racing community and inspire a new generation to think differently about hearing health and conservation.”

Mayer, a native of Franklin, Wis., began his NOAPS career with JRM in 2021 and found much success with the organization, earning a combined seven wins, 33 top-fives, 57 top-10s and a Championship 4 appearance in 2023. Additionally, Mayer previously raced for JRM in their vaunted Late Model program in 2018-19, which included a victory in the prestigious Bobby Isaac Memorial.

“I am really happy to be back with JR Motorsports and back behind the wheel of the No. 1 Chevrolet,” said Sam Mayer. “I‘m really grateful to continue my career with the organization that gave me my start and thankful to Starkey for being an incredible partner and for their continued support in my racing career. There is still some racing left to do this year and I am focused on that, but I can‘t wait to get the 2027 season underway at Daytona with JRM.”

Additional details about the No. 1 Starkey team will be announced at a later date.

— JR Motorsports —

A celebration of life will be held at 4:00 p.m., Friday, September 25, 2026, at Ridge Funeral Home Chapel, 908 Albemarle Road, Asheboro, NC, with Pastor Billy Myers officiating. Friends attending the service are invited to wear Herbie’s racing colors, red or purple.

Herbie was born in Asheboro, NC, on March 31, 1944. He was a graduate of Brittain College and later attended the NC State Truck Driving School. Herbie worked for Hilco Transportation before spending many years with Holiday Tours, from where he eventually retired. His career behind the wheel reflected his dedication, skill, and commitment to the work he took pride in.

Being a professional NASCAR driver was more than a career for Herbie—it was a passion. He loved racing and dedicated 27 years to the sport. In that time, he earned the distinction of being an eight-time Late Model Stock Champion, 1 time modified champion, 246 time late model winner, and 168 pole positions. His Budweiser-sponsored vehicles competed on both dirt and asphalt tracks, where his skill and dedication earned him the respect of fellow racers and fans alike. Herbie‘s accomplishments were recognized with being inducted into the Caraway Speedway Wall of Fame and the Mount Airy Speedway Wall of Fame, honors that reflect the lasting mark he made on the racing community. He was proud to have started with a $99 race car, to earning hundreds of victories.

Herbie was preceded in death by his wife, Barbara Ann Powell Poole; parents, Clifford Poole and Virginia Hutson Poole; sisters, Debra Honea, Loretta Poole; brothers, David Poole, Charles Poole, and Marshall Presnell.

Survivors include his sons, Jason Poole of Randleman, Anthony Bennett (Kelly) of Asheboro; daughter, Kim Combs of Midway; sisters, Judith “Skipper” Newby (Bill) of Randleman, Hilda Latham of Asheboro; grandchildren, Anna-Kaye Poole, Jensen Poole, Kaya Butler, Dakota Combs, Cody Bennett (Megan), Tyler Bennett, Gracie Bennett, Dustin Bennett; three great grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; and caregivers, Lauren Williams, and Melinda Allred.

The family will receive friends from 3:00 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. on Friday at Ridge Funeral Home prior to the service, and again following the service at the home of his son, Anthony, 2383 Country Lane, Asheboro, NC 27205.

Honeyman‘s Toyota Tundra will be sponsored this weekend by DPR Construction, a self-performing general contractor founded in 1990 and based in Charlotte, N.C.

Honeyman will also pilot the No. 62 HFR Toyota at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the Ecosave 250 on October 9, the 150-lap race at Phoenix Raceway on October 16, and in the season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 11.

—Catchfence–

Honeyman Returns @Lelandhoneymnjr is back with HFR and bringing @DPRConstruction to Kansas Speedway.

Kansas marks the first of four remaining starts for Honeyman in the No. 62 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro this season. pic.twitter.com/3tpo0ukxbd

— Stewart Friesen (@StewartFriesen) September 21, 2026

Blaney had been one of the dominant drivers in Saturday night‘s Bass Pro Shops Night Race, leading a race-high 202 laps before contact with Hocevar sent the No. 12 Team Penske Ford into the outside wall with 43 laps remaining. Blaney was unable to continue and finished 33rd.

…

“Yeah, so we ran maybe a lap and a half, two laps side by side trying to clear and got clear off of four. And I left like half a lane to the wall when I did get clear because I wanted to shade to try to stay on the bottom. And he just had a big run and crossed over and, you know, looking back on it, I‘d say it‘s a 50-50.

“I was wanting to protect the bottom. He was wanting to get to the bottom and was, you know, there late by a little bit. And neither of us wanted to give. I wanted the bottom, he wanted there and I ended up, you know, getting turned. So really I‘d put it on both parties. I don‘t think he‘s 100% to blame. I‘m not 100% to blame. I think it was just two guys fighting for the bottom at Bristol.”

— NASCAR.com —

Snowball Derby season starts now! 👊@dawsonsutton_ is back in a Super Late Model this Saturday night in Pensacola, before returning to the #26 @NASCAR_Trucks at @CLTMotorSpdwy! pic.twitter.com/Pc11OC9CwW

— Rackley WAR (@Rackley_WAR) September 21, 2026

The campaign builds upon a shared commitment to honor the sacrifices of America‘s Veterans by expanding access to safe, reliable, and life-changing mobility. Together, the organizations will provide adaptive mobility vehicles to HFOT home recipients with qualifying mobility needs during race weekends nationwide.

The initiative is made possible through a $1 million gift from longtime philanthropists Johnny and Terry Gray, whose generosity fully funds the Rebuilding Lives Through Mobility campaign. The Grays have dedicated their philanthropic efforts to supporting organizations that create lasting change for Veterans, children, and families, helping expand programs that break the cycles of abuse and homelessness. Their longstanding commitment to improving lives also includes advancing healthcare through the Johnny and Terry Gray Surgical Institute at Jupiter Medical Center, which opened in 2023.

The family‘s commitment to honoring Veterans extends to the next generation, with grandsons Taylor Gray and Tanner Gray representing the initiative throughout the 2026 NASCAR season. TRICON veteran Tanner Gray will support the campaign in the NASCAR Truck Series, piloting the Homes For Our Troops-branded Toyota Tundra TRD Pro for two races, helping bring national attention to the mission of restoring independence for severely injured Veterans at both Kansas Speedway and Phoenix Raceway.

“At Homes For Our Troops, rebuilding lives means removing the barriers that prevent our nation‘s severely injured post-9/11 Veterans from living life to its fullest,” said HFOT President/CEO Brigadier General, USA (Ret) Tom Landwermeyer. “Our specially adapted custom homes provide the foundation, and these wheelchair-accessible vans help Veterans get to work, attend medical appointments, spend time with family, and stay connected to their communities. We are grateful to Johnny and Terry Gray for their extraordinary generosity and to TOYOTA RACING, BraunAbility, and TRICON Garage for their partnership in making this initiative possible.”

The campaign‘s mission is to honor America‘s Veterans by providing life-changing mobility through the gift of a Toyota Sienna BraunAbility wheelchair-accessible van. Together, the organizations aim to strengthen independence, empower lives, and create brighter futures for Veterans and their families.

For more than two decades, Homes For Our Troops has been dedicated to rebuilding the lives of severely injured post-9/11 Veterans by building and donating specially adapted custom homes that restore freedom and independence. Through partnerships with organizations that share its mission, HFOT continues to expand opportunities that help Veterans thrive long after their military service has ended.

–TRICON Garage —

Today, NASCAR CEO Steve O‘Donnell appeared as a guest on Kevin Harvick‘s Happy Hour presented by NASCAR on FOX (Timestamp: 1:30). Regarding the incident and decision, O‘Donnell said the following: “If drivers are going to handle their own business, the way we looked at that, how it played out, we‘re not going to encourage fighting, but what we are going to encourage is passion, right? And those are two guys — Blaney‘s showing his passion, showing his fire. So no, there‘s nothing coming from us in terms of [penalties]. We‘ll obviously watch what happens the rest of the way, but nothing in terms of post-race penalties.”

— NASCAR —

“We‘re excited for Jeremy and his family as he embarks on a new opportunity.”

“Jeremy has been a terrific teammate, leader, and vital member of our competition think tank. Not only has he been a trusted voice with the #6 team, but he‘s also brought great value to the garage in sharing strategic insights and historical perspective as we‘ve crafted a shared vision for RFK Racing‘s on-track success.”

“We wish Jeremy nothing but the best.”

—RFK Racing—

A statement from RFK Racing on Jeremy Bullins's departure. pic.twitter.com/QkmWbBX4Th

— RFK Racing (@RFKracing) September 21, 2026

The Kryder Law Group, Accident and Injury Lawyers is a leading personal injury law firm based in Chicago, Illinois focused on helping the victims of negligence in claims related to car, truck and motorcycle accidents, wrongful death, work injuries, medical negligence, construction accidents, aviation disasters, and equipment injuries.

“Being a good neighbor by giving back to our community is a crucial part of our mission at The Kryder Group. I am very proud to be working with Susan G. Komen on this amazing project to save lives and end breast cancer,” said founding member of The Kryder Law Group Andrew Kryder, Esq.

“Garret has been an enthusiastic partner from the very beginning, and I appreciate the dedication he and his team have shown to our cause,” said Kryder. “I‘m excited to raise funds and awareness for Komen in such a visible way, and I can‘t wait for race day.”

With a donation of at least $100 by September 30, fans can submit a recognition name to be featured on Smithley‘s car. Donations can be made on the Susan G. Komen website here: http://www.info-komen.org/goto/kryder-racing-for-a-cure.

“Susan G. Komen is grateful to The Kryder Law Group and Garrett Smithley for their generosity and commitment to our mission,” said Jaclyn Groves, Executive Director, Susan G. Komen Chicago. “This partnership is such a meaningful way to honor those who have been impacted by breast cancer while raising critical funds and awareness. We are thankful to everyone who adds a special name to the car and joins us in driving progress toward a world without breast cancer.”

“Who hasn‘t been touched by breast cancer? Whether it‘s a mother, sister or friend, we all know someone who fought the disease,” said Smithley. “I‘m honored to carry these names to remind everyone that no one fights alone.”

“Several Chicago-area businesses stepped up to join the cause as corporate donors,” said Kryder. “I‘m grateful to the support from Injury Care Network, Preferred Capital Funding, Oasis Financial, Smokeball, Eve Legal, Steno Court Reporting, It‘s Your Serve, Schouest Bamdas Soshea BenMaier, Werner & Diller Accountants, and Wolff-Mills Design.”

The The Progress Group 250 (94 laps | 250.04 miles) is the 31^st of 33 NASCAR O‘Reilly Auto Parts Series races on the 2026 schedule. There is no practice. Qualifying starts on Saturday, October 24 at 9:30 a.m. The field is set to take the green flag later that day at 2:30 p.m. with live coverage on The CW, the Motor Racing Network (Radio), and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90. All times are Central Daylight Time.

— Snow Belt MGMT —

Yes—and no. The post-race brawl at Bristol Motor Speedway certainly was old-school, at least in terms of the two principals. As soon as Hocevar parked his car on pit lane after a third-place run, Blaney strode toward the Spire Motorsports driver and gave him a shove.

Hocevar responded with a glancing right-hand punch that sent Blaney‘s cap flying. Hocevar‘s second punch landed squarely and knocked the Team Penske driver off-balance into the scrum of crew members and officials surrounding the protagonists.

Blaney got to his feet, broke free of No. 12 crew members trying to restrain him and charged through the melee to fire a left hook at Hocevar‘s face. NASCAR officials intervened and ended the fisticuffs.

What fans didn‘t see was the respective crews whaling on each other, something that surely would have happened in the old days. The prohibition against crew members joining the fray is one of NASCAR‘s strongest taboos, and the teams exercised admirable restraint as Blaney and Hocevar engaged in their bare-knuckle brawl.

The wreck that sent Blaney past his boiling point certainly was reminiscent of the late Dale Earnhardt roughing up Terry Labonte for the win in 1999. Blaney passed Hocevar for second place on Lap 457. The next time around, Blaney tried to block Hocevar‘s line into Turn 1.

Hocevar stayed in the gas, turned Blaney‘s No. 12 Ford and finished him off in the corner. The violent impact with the outside wall knocked Blaney out of the race in 33rd place and dropped him to sixth in the Chase standings, 52 points out of the lead.

As he left the infield care center, Blaney vowed that “something is going to happen.” He was true to his word, calling to mind the Bristol of old when emotions ran high and tempers flared into violence.

There was an audible gasp from the packed grandstands when Blaney‘s car hit the wall on Lap 458. Though NASCAR tracks no longer publish attendance figures, the crowd was massive and the atmosphere electric.

When fans in the stands waved yellow towels on Lap 18 to honor the memory of Bristol maven Kyle Busch—as Ty Gibbs drove a Toyota sporting Busch‘s familiar M&M‘s paint scheme—the feeling was reminiscent of Dale Jarrett‘s farewell tour in 2008, when a card section of 35,000 spectators expressed appreciation for DJ‘s accomplishments in the NASCAR Cup Series.

More than anything, “old-school Bristol” is an abstract idea that blossoms under the lights on a summer night in rural Tennessee. On Saturday, that‘s what happened at Thunder Valley. The action on and off the track revived visceral feelings and created indelible memories.

The objective reality was somewhat different. “Old Bristol,” which earned its reputation as a one-lane short track long before the 23-year-old Hocevar was born, is a thing of the past. Progressive banking and the grinding of the top concrete lane in 2012 changed the track, creating the possibility of at least two workable lines and the prospect of side-by-side racing.

With “old Bristol,” passing was difficult and typically required use of the front bumper to move a slower car out of the bottom lane. Passing is still difficult, but superior cars nevertheless were able to overtake in both the top and bottom lanes on Saturday night.

Emblematic was the winning move in the final seven laps, when Joey Logano emerged from a knot of four drivers fighting for the lead and took the checkered flag ahead of Kyle Larson, Hocevar, Christopher Bell and Gibbs.

“What else would you want in a race?” Logano asked rhetorically. “That was exciting from every different angle.

“The fans, you can hear them. I think that was about as awesome as it gets.”

One thing could have made it better—greater tire fall-off. Blaney, who led a race-high 202 laps, got more than 150 laps out of his tires after pitting with 28 laps left in Stage 1. In Saturday‘s race, clean air and track position trumped fresh rubber.

But in fairness to Goodyear, predicting the performance of tires at Bristol in recent years has been harder than conjuring up the correct Powerball numbers.

What fans will remember about this Bristol race, however, is a more impressionistic landscape—Logano‘s dramatic charge to the win, Blaney‘s breathtaking wreck, the fight that followed, the moving tribute to Kyle Busch.

What this race had was a certain undefinable, sparkling ambiance that will make NASCAR aficionados eager to return to Thunder Valley as soon as the Cup Series does.

— NASCAR News Wire —

Race and Commercial Breakdown of the 2026 Bass Pro Shops Night Race

Start time to record race/commercial periods: 7:21 PM
End time to record race/commercial periods: 10:47 PM
Total minutes of complete race broadcast: 206
Minutes of race broadcast: 184
Minutes of traditional commercials: 22
Minutes of side-by-side commercials: 16

Total number of commercials: 102
Total number of companies or entities advertised: 47
Total number of traditional commercials (not split-screen): 63
Total number of companies or entities advertised: 38
Total number of ‘Side-by-Side‘ commercials during the broadcast (split-screen): 39
Total number of companies or entities advertised: 28
Number of times USA utilized ‘Side-by-Side‘ commercials during the broadcast: 8

Companies seen the most in commercials during this broadcast: USA (11 times); Applebees (7 times); NASCAR (6 times); Sonic (6 times); Xfinity (6 times)

— CawsNJaws —

Thanks to a dramatic pass through a gaggle of traffic on Lap 494 of 500, Logano stole a victory in Saturday‘s Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway and moved close to the lead in the NASCAR Cup Series Chase Presented by Mobil 1.

As Logano celebrated on the frontstretch, his Team Penske teammate, Ryan Blaney, traded punches with Carson Hocevar on pit road. Moments after taking second place from the Spire Motorsports driver, Blaney wrecked off Hocevar‘s front bumper on Lap 458, leading to an aggressive confrontation after the race.

The victory was Logano‘s third at the 0.533-mile concrete track, his third of the season and the 40th of his career, tying him with NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin for 20th all-time.

The three-time Cup Series champion climbed four positions to third in the Chase standings, 16 points behind race runner-up Kyle Larson, who took over the series lead by one point over top-seeded Denny Hamlin, Saturday night‘s eighth-place finisher.

As Hocevar and Gibbs raced side-by-side for the lead after the final restart—with Larson immediately behind Hocevar in the top lane—Logano rolled the bottom past the trio of cars and moved up the track with the lead. As Gibbs faded to fifth, Larson moved into second place.

After climbing from his No. 22 Ford on the frontstretch, Logano was greeted with a chorus of boos by the same partisans who had waved yellow M&M‘s hand towels honoring Busch (distributed by the track) when Gibbs was out front.

“I‘ve got a great team,” said Logano, who led twice for 93 laps. “We‘ve got a team that knows how to win championships. I thought there for a minute, I was like, ‘OK, I might just finish third or fourth here tonight,‘ but (we) kind of worked our way up, and I was like, ‘Well, Merry Christmas to me. I got a gift there.‘

“There is nothing like the Bristol Night Race, man. This is just the coolest experience as a race car driver, being in front of all you fans down here, hearing everyone screaming, cheering, sometimes booing. That‘s all right. It‘s pretty awesome.”

In arguably the fastest car, Gibbs ran an exceptional race in a Toyota featuring a throwback M&M‘s point scheme honoring the late Kyle Busch. Gibbs led 120 laps and appeared victory-bound until he succumbed to relentless pressure from Hocevar (who finished third) and Logano, who came from fourth on the final restart to win the race.

Ostensibly channeling some of Busch‘s prowess and good fortune at a track where the driver nicknamed “Rowdy” won eight Cup races, Gibbs survived a three-wide accident at the start/finish line immediately after passing Hocevar for the lead on Lap 432.

Gibbs tried to split the middle between the cars of Alex Bowman and Cole Custer, but Bowman moved up the track, sandwiching Gibbs‘ Toyota between the two cars. Miraculously, despite contact from both sides—enough to put Bowman out of the race—Gibbs was able to continue and maintain the speed he showed before the wreck.

“It was an honor to drive the M&M‘s Camry and it was something I‘ll never forget,” Gibbs said. “That was such a fun race. Unfortunate that we lost it. I just tried to stay up a little bit too long in (Turns) 1 and 2 that shut the 77 (Hocevar) off, and then the 5 (Larson) got in there, and we just missed it a little bit.

“But I had a blast tonight, and it was so much fun. We‘ll just keep working hard and keep getting better.”

Blaney led a race-high 202 laps and regained track position after a commitment line penalty caused by an inopportune caution on Laps 397 near the end of a cycle of green-flag pit stops.

After passing Hocevar for the second on Lap 457, he moved down the track to block Hocevar‘s line. Hocevar didn‘t lift and knocked Blaney into the outside wall in Turn 1. Blaney‘s Ford was damaged too extensively to continue, and he exited race in 33rd place, dropping three positions to sixth in the Chase standings, 52 points out of the lead.

On pit road after the race, Blaney approached Hocevar aggressively with a hand to Hocevar‘s shoulder. The Spire driver landed two punches in return. After the second blow, Blaney lost his balance and fell backwards. He got to his feet and landed a left hand to Hocevar‘s face before officials and crew members pulled them apart.

“I just felt like he didn‘t lift,” Blaney said of the wreck. “I left him plenty of room for a lap before that. I didn‘t chop him. I didn‘t run him into the fence or nothing like I easily could have. I protected the bottom, and he just decided he wanted to be there and didn‘t lift and wrecked me.”

Hocevar seemed all but nonchalant after the fight.

“There wasn‘t a whole lot of talking,” he said. “He just kind of said one thing and then went after me, and I wasn‘t going to take it.

“I mean, that was fun with the 54 (Gibbs). I got ran into a lot for the win. I mean, that was for second and he wants to come fight… They got an old-school Bristol show here.”

Christopher Bell finished an unassuming and non-controversial fourth on Saturday and leaves Thunder Valley fourth in the standings, 17 points behind Larson, the only driver to have scored top fives (fifth, first and second) in all three Chase races so far.

“Yeah, I mean, it‘s good,” Larson said. “It‘s good. But there‘s still so much racing left. Just got to keep having good, consistent days. It‘s three top fives to open the Chase and looks like leading the points now by just a point.

“But we‘re going to some good tracks for us but also good tracks for the Toyotas—Vegas and Kansas, Charlotte. It could easily change a lot here in the upcoming weeks. But we‘ve just got to be ready for anything and keep plugging away.”

Josh Berry finished sixth, the only non-Chase driver in the top 11. Bubba Wallace, Hamlin, William Byron and Ryan Preece completed the top 10.

Kansas Speedway is next on the Chase schedule with the Sept. 27 Hollywood Casino 400 (3 p.m. ET on USA Network, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
— NASCAR News Wire —

See race details at: Race Results, Driver Points Standings, Owner Points Standings, Cumulative Report, Infraction Report.

For complete race information, check out the Bristol race page.

There were no issues for #22-Joey Logano. He is officially the winner of the race.

Logano took to the lead with 5 laps remaining after #77-Carson Hocevar and #54-Ty Gibbs got together while battling for the win. #12-Ryan Blaney was the dominant car on the night, leading 120 laps. However he and Hocevar got together with less than 50 laps remaining and he could not continue.

No cars are returning to the NASCAR R&D Center for inspection.

The Cup Series now heads to Kansas Speedway for the fourth race in the Chase.

For the first time since the end of June, there‘s a new leader atop the NASCAR Cup Series standings. Reigning champion and two-time Bill France Cup holder Kyle Larson emerged from 500 chaotic laps at Bristol Motor Speedway a single point clear of the field.

In the opening stage, Larson appeared to be back to his dominant Bristol form. He had won three of the previous seven races at the “World‘s Fastest Half-Mile” and recorded six top-five finishes during that span. Larson banked nine points in the opening stage, finishing behind Joey Logano.

Fourteen drivers opted not to pit at the end of the opening stage, leaving Larson buried in the middle of the field. He worked his way back to ninth by the end of Stage 2, but his progress was halted on pit road when he made contact with William Byron, causing significant nose damage to the No. 5 Chevrolet.

“I feel like through the first stage we had the track position and all that,” Larson told USA Sports, “and then the rest of the race kind of worked our way forward and kind of settled into ninth or 10th there. That’s kind of about where we were.”

He didn‘t think that the hood damage was much of a hindrance, either.

Larson stated: “I don‘t really feel like I was much different after that as far as running position on the track.”

For much of the second half of the Bass Pro Shops 500, Larson was stuck in the back half of the top 10. He gained needed track position, however, after his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Alex Bowman brought out the caution at Lap 430 and crew chief Cliff Daniels left him on the track. With a rash of late cautions, he was able to stay in contention, passing Carson Hocevar off Turn 4 of the final lap to finish runner-up, 1.2 seconds behind Logano.

“Our team fought really hard, and yeah, just made that good pit call there to stay out and then we had a lot of short runs there,” Larson noted. “Yeah, was happy to come away with a second there at the end. That was better than where I thought we could finish.”

Meanwhile, Denny Hamlin, who sat atop the point standings for 11 consecutive weeks, had an average night. He placed third in the opening stage but missed out on stage points entirely in the second stanza. On Lap 397, he was among the majority of the field that lost a lap during a green-flag pit sequence when Riley Herbst crashed while battling with Zane Smith.

Hamlin was the recipient of the free pass when Carson Hocevar nudged Ryan Blaney out of the way on Lap 457 to bring out another yellow. The No. 11 team rallied to eighth place at the checkered flag.

“We just have to get to running a little bit better,” Hamlin told USA Sports. “Today, I thought early on — in the first stage — I really liked my National Debt Relief Toyota. I thought we had a car that would contend for the win, and then second stage, when we took the stage points in stage one that put us to the back, and once we lost track position, it just wasn‘t quite as good.

“It is the way it is, but we move on.”

Larson knows there‘s still seven weeks before a champion is crowned at Homestead-Miami Speedway. But it‘s the first time Hendrick Motorsports has been atop the standings all season.

“It’s good, but there’s still so much racing left,” he added. “Just got to keep having good, consistent days. It’s three top fives to open The Chase and looks like leading the points now by just a point. But we’re going to some good tracks for us but also good tracks for the Toyotas are [Las Vegas Motor Speedway], Kansas [Speedway], Charlotte [Motor Speedway]. It could easily change a lot here in the next upcoming weeks. But we’ve just got to be ready for anything and keep plugging away.”

Hamlin led 340 of the 914 laps contested at the next three tracks on the calendar — all intermediates — earlier this season (37.2%). All three resulted in finishes of fourth or better, including a runaway triumph in Sin City. Larson finished seventh or better in those same three battles.

The altercation came after contact between the two with 43 laps remaining ended Blaney‘s otherwise dominant night. Blaney was battling near the front entering Turn 1 when Hocevar‘s No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet made contact with the rear of the No. 12 Team Penske Ford, sending Blaney spinning hard into the outside wall and out of the race.

…

After climbing from his car, Blaney was blunt about his view of the contact.

“He crossed and never lifted, and I got crashed,” Blaney said.

The frustration carried to pit road after the 500-lap race. Blaney approached Hocevar after the No. 77 driver climbed from his car and shoved the Spire product. Hocevar responded by throwing punches, and Blaney went back after Hocevar before crew members separated the two.

— NASCAR.com —

A wild scene on pit road. pic.twitter.com/lYzBtdEsqO

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) September 20, 2026

This year, the playlist carries special meaning. As part of Bristol Motor Speedway‘s tribute to the late Dolly Parton during America‘s Night Race weekend, three drivers selected her songs for their walkout moments. Ross Chastain is taking the stage to “Jolene,” Tyler Reddick to “9 to 5” and John Hunter Nemechek to Parton‘s rendition of “Rocky Top” — a fitting and heartfelt salute to one of Tennessee‘s most beloved icons.

The rest of the field brings an eclectic mix of rock, country, hip-hop and a few surprises. Christopher Bell walks out to Metallica’s “For Whom the Bell Tolls” — a nod that needs no explanation. Austin Cindric makes his return with “Goofy Goober Rock” from SpongeBob SquarePants. Connor Zilisch and Erik Jones both chose Natasha Bedingfield’s “Unwritten.” And Cody Ware will enter to “Bling-Bang-Bang-Born” by Creepy Nuts.

Below is the full driver walk-out playlist for the Bass Pro Shops Night Race.

Driver — Song — Artist

AJ Allmendinger — “Drifting” — Tiësto

Josh Berry — “The War” — Angels & Airwaves

Josh Bilicki — “2001: A Space Odyssey” — John Williams and Boston Pops Orchestra

Christopher Bell — “For Whom the Bell Tolls” — Metallica

Ryan Blaney — “Blind” — Korn

Alex Bowman — “Stay Fly” — Three 6 Mafia

Chase Briscoe — “Huntin’, Fishin’ and Lovin Every Day” — Luke Bryan

Chris Buescher — “Rainbow in the Dark” — Liliac

William Byron — “Fireman” — Lil Wayne

Ross Chastain — “Jolene” — Dolly Parton

Austin Cindric — “Goofy Goober Rock” — SpongeBob SquarePants

Cole Custer — “Glycerine” — Bush

Austin Dillon — “The Rowdy Song” — Raytona 500

Ty Dillon — “Heads Will Roll (A-Trak Remix)” — Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Chase Elliott — “Holding My Own” — Eric Church

Ty Gibbs — “All The Small Things” — blink-182

Todd Gilliland — “Father Stretch My Hands, Pt. 1” — Kanye West

Noah Gragson — “the mockingbird & THE CROW” — HARDY

Denny Hamlin — “Sirius” — The Alan Parsons Project

Riley Herbst — “The Nights” — Avicii

Austin Hill — “Southern Land” — Taylor Ray Holbrook and Ryan Upchurch

Carson Hocevar — “Rock You Like a Hurricane” — Scorpions

Erik Jones — “Unwritten” — Natasha Bedingfield

Brad Keselowski — “You’ve Got Another Thing Comin\"” — Judas Priest

Kyle Larson — “Trap Queen” — Fetty Wap

Joey Logano — “Gimme Some Lovin\"” — The Spencer Davis Group

Michael McDowell — “Options” — NF

John Hunter Nemechek — “Rocky Top” — Dolly Parton

Ryan Preece — “Rocket Man” — Elton John

Tyler Reddick — “9 to 5” — Dolly Parton

Zane Smith — “Love Tonight” — Shouse and Robin Schulz

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. — “Money in the Bank” — John Anderson

Daniel Suarez — “Danza Kuduro” — Don Omar

Shane van Gisbergen — “Not Many” — Scribe

Bubba Wallace — “Doses & Mimosas” — Cherub

Cody Ware — “Bling-Bang-Bang-Born” — Creepy Nuts

Connor Zilisch — “Unwritten” — Natasha Bedingfield

— BMS —

The Nos. 17 and 54 cars of Corey Day and Taylor Gray had one loose lug nut and will lose pit-stall selection at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

See race details at: Race Results, Driver Points, Owner Points, Cumulative Report, Penalty Report.

Thanks to an astute call from crew chief Jonathan Toney, Creed had new tires for an overtime restart on Lap 304, and he used them to full advantage in winning Friday night‘s Food City 300 at Bristol Motor Speedway.

The victory, Creed‘s second in three Chase races, left the driver of the No. 00 Haas Factory Team Chevrolet on top of the NASCAR O‘Reilly Auto Parts Series postseason standings, 11 points ahead of top-seeded Justin Allgaier in second.

But the result left Allgaier angry after finishing fourth and left Jesse Love disconsolate and apologetic after running Allgaier into the outside wall after a Lap 286 restart.

Benefitting from a caution with three laps left in regulation, Creed lined up in the inside lane beside race leader William Sawalich on Lap 304. Getting an excellent launch on his new tires—after Toney had called him into the pits for fresh rubber on Lap 280—Creed got an excellent launch and seized the lead.

Sawalich moved to the top of the track in an attempt to counter, but Creed prevailed, beating Sawalich to the finish line by 0.253 second at the end of the two-lap overtime. Creed, who picked up his third victory of the season and third of his career, was credited with leading only the final three laps.

“Just a great call by my crew chief and engineer to put tires on,” said Creed, who lined up eighth for the penultimate restart on Lap 286 and quickly advanced to second. “Great pit stop by my guys to get me out first and be the first one on tires.

“To be honest, I wasn‘t really good all night with the balance of our Chevrolet. Hats off to these guys. They just never give up. I just think the (overtime) restart there, I tried to time the 18 (Sawalich) well. With a lot newer tires, it was just easier for me to get going. I got clear and I was just kind of watching up top.”

Creed has finished first, second and first in the three Chase races, as the O‘Reilly Series faces a week off before resuming in the Focused Health 302 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Oct. 3.

Allgaier was the leader for the Lap 286 restart, but in a bid for the lead, Love ran the No. 7 JR Motorsports Chevrolet into the outside wall shortly after the race went green. As soon as the race ended, with Allgaier in fourth and Love a disappointing 17th, Allgaier strode to Love‘s No. 2 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet to express his dissatisfaction.

“(I was) just questioning why,” said Allgaier, who won the first stage despite creasing the nose of his Camaro during contact with the back bumper of Nick Sanchez‘s Chevrolet in heavy traffic. “The race car we had was so good tonight. I‘m just disappointed at coming out of here the way we did.”

Love, the defending series champion, was contrite and upset over a decision that cost both him and Allgaier the chance for a victory.

“Honestly, I got caught up in the moment racing with him,” said Love, who is fourth in the Chase standings, 41 points behind Creed. “I knew on the last restart (Lap 286), I had to get a good launch, and I was able to accomplish that. I came off (Turn) 4, we were side-by-side, and I needed to run my best corner, and instead I got caught up with racing him, and in turn that led me down a path to make an enemy I needed not to make.

“I made a terrible decision that took ourselves out of contention to win.”

Rookie Brent Crews ran third, with Corey Day securing the fifth spot. Taylor Gray, Sam Mayer, Parker Retzlaff, Dean Thompson and Sammy Smith completed the top 10.

Carson Kvapil led a race-high 156 laps but pitted with smoke trailing from the back of his No. 1 JR Motorsports Chevy with 44 laps left. Kvapil finished 24th, four laps down, but held the third position in the standings, 37 points behind Creed.

Love led 80 laps before the run-in with Allgaier, who was out front for 49 circuits. The only other drivers to lead laps were Sawalich with 13—interrupted by the Lap 297 caution that changed the course of the race after Ryan Sieg slammed the outside wall in close quarters with Day and Retzlaff—and Creed with three.

— NASCAR Wire Service —

See race details at: Race Results, Driver Points, Owner Points, Cumulative Report, Penalty Report.

Having finished fifth in the Chase opener at Darlington Raceway before winning last Sunday at World Wide Technology Raceway, Larson brings considerable momentum to the third race of the NASCAR Cup Series postseason (7:30 p.m. ET Saturday on USA Network, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

“Always coming into here I feel confident,” said Larson, driver of the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. “I do believe we can come here and have a good weekend. At Darlington, I felt like we were back to being ‘5-team-ish‘ in a way. It had been so long since we were battling for a win… So that was fun.”

“To go to Gateway and put on a performance like we did, yeah, I felt like we were getting closer to where we want to be, but still have room to go, for sure—a lot of room to go to be dominant. But at least as far as team prep, execution and all the things it takes, I felt like these first two weeks have gone really strong.”

Chase drivers occupy the first five positions on the starting grid for the Night Race, with Joey Logano lining up next to Larson on the first row in a field set by the rule book (according to metrics) because of the cancellation.

Top seed and Chase leader Denny Hamlin will start third, as he tries to keep Larson at bay. William Byron lines up fourth, followed by Carson Hocevar. Non-Chase drivers Alex Bowman and Ross Chastain will start sixth and seventh, followed by Chase driver Austin Cindric.

Non-Chaser Austin Dillon starts ninth with Chase driver Bubba Wallace 10th on the grid.

Other Chase drivers start as follows: Christopher Bell 12th, Ty Gibbs 13th, Ryan Preece 16th, Tyler Reddick 20th, Chris Buescher 23rd, Chase Briscoe 26th, Chase Elliott 27th, Daniel Suarez 28th and Ryan Blaney 29th.

Bell is third in the Chase standings, 18 points behind Hamlin. Suarez is currently on baby watch for his first child, with NASCAR O‘Reilly Auto Parts Series driver Justin Allgaier on standby for possible relief duties.

“Hopefully, the baby doesn‘t come till Sunday or Monday,” Suarez said. “I think it‘s going to come very soon though. Hopefully, it‘s not tomorrow.”

— NASCAR Wire Service —

See the Bass Pro Shops Night Race Starting Lineup.

For complete race information, check out the Bristol race page.

BRISTOL, Tenn.—Kyle Busch is no longer with us, but his presence at Bristol Motor Speedway will be more than just spiritual on Saturday.

On Ty Gibbs‘ No. 54 Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing unveiled a paint scheme that harkens to Busch‘s heyday in the NASCAR Cup Series.

Honoring Busch, who passed away suddenly in May, Gibbs will run the throwback M&M‘s Camry in Saturday‘s Bass Prop Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway (7:30 p.m. ET on USA, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

“I thought it looked awesome,” Gibbs said, who won this year‘s spring race at Thunder Valley. “I grew up around the M&M‘s car and being able to see it in person is just so cool, especially with the 54 on it, too (instead of Busch‘s No. 18).

“It‘s just so cool to be a part of it this weekend.”

Bristol is the appropriate venue to have the M&M‘s car commemorate Busch‘s legacy. He claimed eight of his 63 Cup Series victories at the track as well as nine wins in the NASCAR O‘Reilly Auto Parts Series and five in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series.

In both 2010 and 2017, Busch swept NASCAR weekends in all three series at Bristol, a feat unequaled by any other driver at any other track.

JGR driver Christopher Bell witnessed the unveiling of the car earlier this week.

“It‘s going to be really weird, for sure, seeing that thing out there,” said Bell, the defending winner of the Night Race. “Just happy (for) the memories. I think it’s going to be a really, really cool tribute, and it’s going to be fun to see it out there.”

Denny Hamlin, Busch‘s long-time teammate, said the unveiling was a family affair, with Busch‘s widow Samantha sharing photos at the occasion.

“It was good to see Samantha and her family there checking things out,” Hamlin said. “There were quite a few funny pictures that I got to check out. It‘s great for them to get that tribute, and it‘s obviously well-deserved.”

Kyle Larson celebrates win with football trip to Kansas City

After ending his 51-race winless streak at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway last Sunday, Kyle Larson was treated to a special kind of celebration the following day.

Through his personal relationship with Kansas City Chiefs general manager Brett Veach, an ardent NASCAR fan, Larson got top-drawer treatment at the Monday Night Football game between the Chiefs and Denver Broncos.

Larson also got to rub elbows with actor Tom Cruise, who announced recently that the NASCAR-centric film “Days of Thunder 2” will be released in 2028.

“Last year I got to sit in on a quarterback meeting prior to one of the practices, but the schedule never allowed me to get to a home game,” Larson said. “To get to go this past Monday, for Monday Night Football, I had a really good time.

“They gave us first-class treatment. It was really cool. I got to go on the field before the game and watch them warm up. They had us up in the suite to watch the game, and then I got to go in the locker room after the game and say hi to some players.”

Cruise spent the majority of the game in a suite with Taylor Swift, among others, but he and Larson talked briefly.

“It was just a quick hello with Tom,” Larson said. “I wasn‘t hanging out in their suite by any means. It was just neat to bump into him again, shortly after seeing him a couple of weeks ago announcing ‘Days of Thunder 2.‘”

NASCAR Awards venue brings new format to postseason celebration

This year‘s postseason recognition of NASCAR drivers and teams will be done South Florida-style.

The NASCAR National Series Awards are scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 10 at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County, featuring significant format changes from years past, the sanctioning body announced Friday.

The Arsht Center in downtown Miami will feature an auditorium/theater-style presentation as opposed to the banquet-style seating arrangement typically used for NASCAR Awards shows.

Dress will be “Miami cocktail chic,” versus the traditional tuxedo-optional attire.

All 16 NASCAR Cup Series Chase drivers will participate and have some sort of on-stage presence in the program, which will take place two days after the final Cup Series Chase race at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Drivers from the NASCAR O‘Reilly Auto Parts Series and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series who were eligible for their respective titles entering the Homestead races also will be included, as will the Rookie-of-the-Year winners from each of the three national series.

“The championship is the culmination of everything our drivers and teams work for all season, and we want the celebration that follows to feel just as big,” said Michael Verlatti, NASCAR Vice President, Signature Experience Group.

“Miami is one of the world‘s most dynamic cities, and it provides an incredible backdrop to celebrate our champions and bring the energy of Championship Weekend into a new setting. We‘re excited to give our fans and industry a NASCAR Awards experience unlike any we‘ve had before.”

The event will be live-streamed exclusively on the NASCAR Channel, starting at 6 p.m.

NASCAR also announced that the 2026 NASCAR Regional, Touring, Weekly & International Awards will take place Friday, Nov. 20 in the Crown Ballroom of the Charlotte (N.C.) Convention Center.

Justin Haley reaches competitive milestone in Kaulig Ram Truck

With a fourth-place finish in the UNOH 250 Presented by Ohio Logistics, Justin Haley scored the first top-five finish for a Ram truck since Kaulig Racing brought the brand to the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series this season.

With a solid, consistent effort on Thursday night at Bristol Motor Speedway, Haley drove the No. 16 Ram 1500 to a 10th-place finish in the opening stage. In a race won by ThorSport Racing‘s Jake Garcia, he climbed into the top five when several frontrunners had late-race issues.

Haley‘s finish was a bright spot for Kaulig, which undertook the formidable task of fielding five trucks in Ram‘s foray into NASCAR racing.

“Obviously, it‘s been a tough season on all of us, but we never gave up, and we believe in ourselves and each other,” Haley said after the race.

“I’m thankful to Ram, (team owner) Matt Kaulig and (team president) Chris Rice for inviting me to come do this deal after last year.

“It‘s pretty cool to run fourth. Man, it‘s been a grind—it‘s been a grind for all five of these trucks. We’ll see what we can learn off this truck and keep the momentum going.”

— NASCAR News Wire —

The move to Miami marks the first time the NASCAR Awards for all three of the sport’s national series will be held together in the city, adding a new destination and fresh energy to one of the sport‘s signature celebrations. Following Championship Weekend, the NASCAR community will come together to celebrate the drivers and teams who conquered the 2026 season and claimed NASCAR‘s ultimate prizes.

The evening will honor the newly crowned champions of the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR O‘Reilly Auto Parts Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, along with the drivers, teams and personalities who helped define the 2026 season.

“The championship is the culmination of everything our drivers and teams work for all season, and we want the celebration that follows to feel just as big,” said Michael Verlatti, NASCAR Vice President, Signature Experience Group. “Miami is one of the world‘s most dynamic cities, and it provides an incredible backdrop to celebrate our champions and bring the energy of Championship Weekend into a new setting. We‘re excited to give our fans and industry a NASCAR Awards experience unlike any we‘ve had before.”

The celebration begins Sunday, Nov. 8, when the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race at Homestead-Miami Speedway crowns the 2026 champion. Two days later, the spotlight shifts from the racetrack to Miami for an evening celebrating the season‘s biggest moments, most memorable performances and newest champions.

The NASCAR Awards ceremony will be livestreamed beginning at 6 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Nov. 10 exclusively on the NASCAR Channel, giving fans around the world a front-row seat to the postseason celebration. The NASCAR Channel is a free, ad-supported streaming channel available on Xumo Play, Tubi, The Roku Channel, Samsung TV Plus and Prime Video.

The NASCAR Awards were most recently held in Scottsdale, Arizona last season. The move to Miami underscores NASCAR‘s continued commitment to bringing its biggest events and experiences to dynamic markets and creating meaningful opportunities to connect the sport with fans beyond the racetrack.

NASCAR will host a celebration for the NASCAR Regional Series (ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East, ARCA Menards Series West, NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour and NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series) and the NASCAR International Series (NASCAR Brasil Series, NASCAR Canada Series, NASCAR Mexico Series and NASCAR Whelen Euro Series), on Friday, Nov. 20 in Charlotte, N.C. at the Charlotte Convention Center.

— NASCAR —

…

Gibbs is arguing to the court that Gabehart has done exactly that on numerous occasions this season and that Spire has enabled this workaround by giving him the ‘Chief Motorsports Officer; title and a ‘all things racing‘ role that JGR is arguing is deceptive in nature.

In the motion, JGR says Spire failed to impose meaningful restrictions on Gabehart within the company until months after litigation commenced.

…

Joe Gibbs Racing says it has testimony that ‘Gabehart attended at least five—and possibly as many as twelve—competition meetings,‘ and that Spire has produced only one competition meeting video recording and three pages of notes. It‘s asking the court to force Spire to produce more.

See much more at Motorsport.

pic.twitter.com/qbUxd8xtjc

— Spire Motorsports (@SpireMotorsport) September 18, 2026

The planned trip follows an incident on Gateway‘s pit road during the NASCAR O‘Reilly Auto Parts Series race on Sept. 12 in which crewmen were struck in a chain-reaction, multicar crash.

According to Racing Insights, pit road at Gateway ranks as the second-narrowest pit lane on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule at just 25 feet wide from the outer wall to the inner wall, only behind Indianapolis Motor Speedway‘s width of 24 feet.

— NASCAR.com —

That was until he was struck by a crashing stock car while trying to service the No. 19 car during last weekend‘s NASCAR O‘Reilly Auto Parts Series race at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway.

Backus was completing routine duties as rear changer on Brent Crews‘ No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota when the field came to pit road for the first time on Lap 49. Just as he arrived at the right-rear wheel of Crews‘ car, so, too, did the careening No. 87 Chevrolet of Nick Sanchez, one of numerous cars involved in a chain-reaction crash at the front end of pit road on Sept. 12.

“Get one lug nut in, and next thing you know, I‘m laying over top of the jack,” Backus told NASCAR.com Thursday evening at Bristol Motor Speedway. “Didn‘t really know what happened at first, but luckily, nobody on the team was hurt, and our race car got the worst of it.”

— NASCAR.com —

“Every thousandth of an inch matters in NASCAR, and that’s exactly the kind of precision Kennametal brings to its customers,” said Bersaglini. “We are proud to work alongside NASCAR’s engineering and manufacturing teams to meet the sport’s unique machining demands and deliver the speed, precision and reliability required to keep this sport performing at the highest level.”

As NASCAR’s Official Tooling Supplier, Kennametal will provide advanced metal cutting solutions and application expertise to support the organization’s demanding manufacturing operations.

“Before this partnership, finding the right tooling often meant searching for solutions and hoping we’d made the right choice,” said NASCAR Competition Partnerships & Contingency Managing Director Bob Duvall. “Today, we have direct access to Kennametal’s expertise, helping us identify the right tooling the first time so we can eliminate the guesswork and move faster with greater confidence.”

The designation builds on years of collaboration between Kennametal and NASCAR, including on-site testing, application support and tooling solutions that have helped optimize NASCAR’s manufacturing operations. Since joining the NASCAR Competition Partner Program in 2023, Kennametal’s applications engineers have maintained a presence at NASCAR’s Research & Development Center in Concord, North Carolina, working alongside the organization‘s engineering and manufacturing teams to evaluate tooling, refine machining strategies and improve manufacturing performance.

“Kennametal’s reputation for quality and performance made this partnership a natural fit,” said Duvall. “When you’re supporting one of the world’s premier motorsports organizations, every manufacturing decision matters. Kennametal’s team has consistently demonstrated that it understands that responsibility.”

— NASCAR —

The partnership unites two Tennessee institutions on the sport‘s grandest stage, as Cracker Barrel — headquartered in Lebanon — brings its commitment to community and Country Hospitality to The Last Great Colosseum for America‘s Night Race weekend.

“Cracker Barrel has already become a great part of the fan experience at Bristol, and we‘re excited to expand that partnership in a big way Saturday night inside The Last Great Colosseum,” said Jerry Caldwell, president and general manager of Bristol Motor Speedway. “Cracker Barrel has a great tradition of bringing people together, and that fits perfectly with the energy and atmosphere at Bristol. With Brian Kelley taking the stage before the Bass Pro Shops Night Race, it‘s going to be an incredible way to get our fans fired up for the action under the lights.”

Cracker Barrel‘s presence at Bristol is the latest expression of the brand‘s growing engagement with Speedway Motorsports, deepening a partnership which originated with the sponsorship of Nashville Superspeedway‘s Cracker Barrel 400 Cup Series race starting in 2025. The “Cracker Barrel Experience” fan zone stage has also become the centerpiece of fan zones across all Speedway Motorsports properties.

Headlining the Cracker Barrel Pre-Race Concert, Brian Kelley will bring his sun-soaked sound and hit-making energy to the Bristol infield stage. First known as the Florida half of the GRAMMY-nominated Florida Georgia Line — which earned 19 career No. 1 hits — Kelley now headlines a thriving solo career with new releases including “Queen Of 30A,” “93 In The Keys” and “Bought A Boat.”

The 500-lap Bass Pro Shops Night Race is the third of 10 postseason races in the NASCAR Cup Series Chase. The race will take the green flag at 7:30 p.m. and will be televised on USA Network and broadcast on PRN Radio.

Tickets for Saturday night‘s Bass Pro Shops Night Race start at $65 for adults. Kids 12 and under are only $10 for Saturday’s Bass Pro Shops Night Race with a paid adult admission.

For more information, visit BristolMotorSpeedway.com or call the BMS Ticket Sales Center at (866) 415-4158.

— BMS —

Earlier this week, moments ahead of the NASCAR 26 Gold Edition launch on Tuesday, iRacing developers were hanging out, anticipating the feedback that was to come. The vast majority of reviews were positive.

“In my history, it‘s one of the smoothest releases I‘ve ever seen,” producer at iRacing, told Jayski.com in a conversation earlier this week.

With iRacing taking over as the new publisher of NASCAR console games in 2025, the company wanted to establish trust through its customers. Prior to last year, there hadn‘t been a NASCAR game in a handful of years, and prior to that, the publishing company had switched multiple times.

The goal with NASCAR 25 was to get all the bugs out of the way. It had nearly two years to develop the first iRacing NASCAR console game, knowing it would need every second of that time as it was developing an entirely new system.

“It was a great foundation to build on and I think fans could see that right away with the driving, physics and some sort of the core gameplay,” Lewis said of the success of NASCAR 25.

New to NASCAR 26 are updated graphics that feature a dynamic cloud system. Sunlight will come out of the clouds at various portions of each track, creating real-life shadows. A welcomed addition this year was the ability of having a post-race celebration via a new particle system for enhanced smoke and debris, burning the tires off the virtual car after capturing the checkered flag.

The biggest difference from NASCAR 25, however, is having a dynamic track, which is featured in races that are at least 13% in length and upward. It‘s a very realistic accessory that takes players through what an entire race weekend would look like.

“The first lap of practice is completely green and then it rubbers in all the way through the last lap of the race and the checkered flag,” Lewis stated. “You will see AI move around to try and find grip like you are, they run different lines, searching around. It adds more strategy aspects.”

The other big change is the ability for cross-platform gameplay. No longer do PlayStation 5 owners only can play against fellow PlayStation holders. Rather, they can compete online against Xbox Series X|S users.

“It‘s been cool these first couple of days to see them being able to play against each other because that‘s what cross-platforming is all about,” he added. “You can create a lobby, turn on cross-platform, which allows other players in other systems to join your lobby.”

Other key features include an improved career mode with performance coaching and tips from eight-time Cup Series winner Jamie McMurray and longtime crew chief and current broadcaster Steve Letarte. That pairing is also involved in the Peak Performance features, showing players the ideal lines, where to accelerate and liftpoints at each circuit.

“Most everybody in the world makes the mistake of overdriving the corner,” Lewis said of newcomers. “They drive in super deep and either jam on the brake or realize they are in trouble and drift up the track and hit the wall. That‘s pretty much everyone‘s first experience.

“The whole design of this is to break that habit. It‘s to show that actually, these guys lift and start braking way earlier than you think they would. The result of that is, it allows them to get on the gas way sooner than you think they would — it teaches that mechanic.”

Users are also enabled to change driver ratings throughout the field. If they grow tired of the normal frontrunners dominating, they can bump their overall standing down for better competition. The original driver ratings were distributed through help from Racing Insights, with updates sporadically coming in October and November.

“If you think Racing Insights is wrong and you want to edit it, you can do that. If you just simply don‘t like a guy and want him to run in the back, you can do that too,” Lewis said with a chuckle. “Conversely, if that‘s your hero and maybe he‘s not so great in real life but you want him dominating, you can bump him up to 99 and do whatever you want.”

With future installments of the game, iRacing is hoping to bump up the release date by two weeks to align with the start of The Chase. Admittedly, getting a game to launch ahead of the Daytona 500 would be a near impossible task as driver lineups and paint scheme submissions would have a deadline around this time of the year.

Given the Sept. 18 release date of the Standard Edition, data shows there will be multiple spikes in purchases, starting this week. Then comes the holiday window prior to February‘s “Great American Race” boost.

“The reality is, if you back everything out and you look at time and how long it takes to finish a game, you basically have to know right now what car you‘re going to drive at Daytona — and how many teams can actually answer that question right now?” Lewis noted. “Drivers move, sponsors are going to change, car numbers can change. There‘s a lot of hurdles that make it very difficult to make it able to ship in that February window.”

There will be multiple downloadable content (DLC) opportunities in the coming months. The last update will likely come in December as then gears will be shifted towards NASCAR 27.

“The challenge is, everything you want to do in that regard has the opportunity to go against NASCAR 27,” he said. “It becomes this balancing act when you‘ve got to either bring in more resources that are either only focused on doing the additional content with DLC. Or you have to make this conscious decision to split the resources over what‘s going on in 2027, and that‘s the part we‘re still figuring out.”

Regardless, the first week reviews from Gold Edition players have been superb.

For the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Chase drivers, it was blunder after blunder.

Driving the No. 98 ThorSport Racing Ford, Garcia took control in the third stage of Thursday night‘s UNOH 250 Presented by Ohio Logistics at Bristol Motor Speedway and went on to win for the first time in his 94th start.

In the Chase opener for the series, Garcia led three times for 104 laps. On Lap 230 of 250, he wrested the lead from Stewart Friesen with an inside pass and held it the rest of the way. Garcia took the checkered flag 1.305 seconds ahead of Bayley Currey, who passed Friesen for the runner-up spot on Lap 247.

“I‘m really proud of all my guys,” said Garcia, who started 12th on metrics per the rule book. “They brought an amazing truck tonight. It was good today (in practice), but qualifying got rained out, so we got a good strategy that helped us come from the back, get some track position… and just kind of took off from there.”

Garcia ended a drought for ThorSport dating to Ty Majeski‘s victory in the 2024 Championship 4 event at Phoenix Raceway, but it was hardly clear sailing to the finish. Garcia lost the lead to Friesen on a Lap 220 restart and spent the next 10 laps trying to regain it.

“Had some adversity on that last restart, but fortunately the truck was fast enough to overcome that,” Garcia said. “ThorSport Racing‘s a really strong team, especially historically, so just proud of all my guys on the 98 team to be able to end that winless streak.”

Currey finished second in his first Truck Series start of the season. With Friesen third, Justin Haley fourth and Tristan McKee fifth—at age 16 the youngest driver in series history to score a top five—no Chase driver finished better than sixth (Giovanni Ruggiero).

“I‘ve still got it, I guess,” said Currey, who was driving the No. 5 TRICON Garage Toyota. “Just huge, huge thank you to everyone at TRICON, Toyota — just a great opportunity and glad we were able to make the most of it.

“I thought I was going to fumble it there at the end, but we were able to fight there and bring it home P2. Obviously wanted to win, but coming off the couch, I‘m all right with it.”

In fact, the top four seeds in the Chase all experienced uncharacteristic difficulty. Top-seeded Layne Riggs started from the pole and won the first two stages wire-to-wire, leading the first 135 laps.
But Riggs was sixth out of the pits for the start of the final stage, and on Lap 156, he radioed to his crew that his No. 34 Front Row Racing Ford had a loose right rear wheel. Riggs pitted for four tires on Lap 161 but lost two laps to the leaders and never recovered.

After contact with the damaged No. 1 Toyota of Nick Leitz late in the race, Riggs was forced to pit road again and finished 32nd, 16 laps down.

The two stage wins proved to be a godsend for Riggs, who retained the Chase lead by three points over Kaden Honeycutt. The driver of the No. 11 Toyota finished eighth despite an unscheduled pit stop with a loose wheel under caution late in the race.

“There was a lot of fighting tonight,” Riggs said. “I‘m just thankful that we had a fast enough truck that we won the first two stages and got some points, but we just came down pit road and had an absolute catastrophe of a stop.

“I don‘t understand how we were that slow on the stop, and we didn‘t get the wheels tight… I‘m very frustrated. I feel like we had the truck to beat again.”

Third-seeded Chandler Smith suffered both a speeding penalty at the Stage 2 break and a tire losing air late in the final run. Smith finished 24th and leaves Bristol third in the standings, 30 points behind Riggs.

The Chevrolet of fourth-seeded Christian Eckes suffered early front-end damage and finished 30th. Eckes dropped four spots to eighth in the Chase standings, 58 points out of the lead.
Behind Ruggiero, William Sawalich, Honeycutt, Majeski and Grant Enfinger completed the top 10.

The Chase resumes for the Truck Series on Sept. 26 in the Race to Stop Suicide 200 at Kansas Speedway (1 p.m. ET on FS1, NRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

— NASCAR Wire Service —

See race details at: Race Results, Driver Point Standings, Owner Point Standings, Cumulative Report, Penalty Report

#5-Bayley Currey and #38-Chandler Smith both had one loose lug nut and will lose pit selection next week in Kansas.

See race details at: Race Results, Driver Point Standings, Owner Point Standings, Cumulative Report, Penalty Report

One week after the veteran driver makes his anticipated return to the NASCAR O‘Reilly Auto Parts Series at Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway, DiBenedetto will return to the No. 42 Young‘s Motorsports Chevrolet for the Blue Cross NC 300 at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway on Saturday, Oct. 10.

The additional race comes through a new partnership with Eranova, a Charlotte-based enterprise AI software company making its first venture into NASCAR competition.

Eranova‘s entry into the sport provides the growing company an opportunity to introduce its brand to NASCAR‘s passionate fan base while strengthening its presence and developing new relationships throughout the transportation and logistics industries.

As an enterprise AI software company, Eranova provides a platform and suite of AI agents that automate work across supply chain and back-office finance operations.

Eranova‘s agents work across existing core systems to automate workflows ranging from shipment quoting, booking and tracking to document processing, accounts payable and accounts receivable.

Headquartered in the heart of NASCAR country, Eranova sees a natural connection between its roots in supply chain and NASCAR‘s deep ties to transportation, technology and innovation.

The partnership with DiBenedetto and Young‘s Motorsports provides the company with a national platform to connect with new customers, build relationships and continue expanding its growing brand.

“We‘re incredibly excited to partner with Matty D and Young‘s Motorsports for our first NASCAR sponsorship,” said Eranova Head of Engineering & Deployment Ethan Barnes. “NASCAR has an incredibly loyal fan base and strong connections throughout the transportation and logistics industries, making it a great fit for Eranova.

“We look forward to becoming part of the NASCAR community, building new relationships and showcasing how AI agents can automate the work behind supply chain and finance operations.”

For DiBenedetto, the addition of Charlotte extends his NASCAR return to consecutive weekends after previously announcing plans to compete for Young‘s Motorsports at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Oct. 3.

The Las Vegas race will mark DiBenedetto‘s first NASCAR national-series start since October 2025 and his debut with the Mooresville, N.C.-based Young‘s Motorsports organization.

“I‘m really excited to add Charlotte to our schedule and incredibly thankful to Eranova for stepping up and making another race possible,” said DiBenedetto.

“What makes this partnership even cooler is that Eranova is based right here in Charlotte, so having their first NASCAR sponsorship happen at their home track makes a lot of sense.

“They‘re doing some really innovative things with AI in the transportation and logistics industries, which have such strong connections throughout NASCAR.

“I‘m looking forward to helping introduce their brand to our fans, representing them well on and off the track and hopefully giving them a memorable first experience in the sport.”

Young‘s Motorsports team principal Tyler Young also welcomed Eranova to the organization.

“We‘re excited to welcome Eranova to Young‘s Motorsports and NASCAR,” said Young. “Having a Charlotte-based company choose its hometown race for its first involvement in the sport makes this partnership even more meaningful.

“Matt brings a tremendous amount of experience to our No. 42 program, and having him behind the wheel for consecutive weekends gives us an opportunity to build some continuity from Las Vegas into Charlotte.

“We appreciate Eranova believing in Matt and our organization, and hopefully this is the beginning of a relationship that can continue growing well beyond Charlotte.”

DiBenedetto, 35, brings more than 240 NASCAR Cup Series starts and 127 NASCAR O‘Reilly Auto Parts Series appearances to his upcoming Young‘s Motorsports debut. His NASCAR résumé also includes a NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series victory at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway in 2022.

The NASCAR veteran will make his return to Charlotte Motor Speedway‘s 1.5-mile oval, where he has competed in each of the past two NASCAR O‘Reilly Auto Parts Series spring events.

DiBenedetto earned a 26th-place finish after qualifying 14th with RSS Racing in 2024 before returning with Viking Motorsports in 2025, qualifying 16th before a suspension issue prematurely ended his afternoon.

— Young’s Motorsports —

The 34-year-old Daly made his seventh career Truck Series start at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park in July. He knows the 1.5-mile, high-speed Kansas oval will present a different challenge than the short track at Indianapolis.

“Indianapolis was all about momentum and tight-quarters racing, but Kansas is a completely different animal,” Daly said. “It‘s fast, aerodynamic-dependent and wide open — you really have to nail your setup and trust the truck through those long corners.”

Daly, known for his high-energy open-wheel background, brings star power to Ram‘s popular rotating-driver program as the manufacturer returns to NASCAR after a 13-year hiatus.

Ram made its highly anticipated return to NASCAR in 2026 as a manufacturer partner with Kaulig Racing. The brand quickly made an impact through the innovative Ram Free Agent Program and its “Race for the Seat” initiative. The reality show evaluated a group of drivers before selecting “Mini” Tyrrell for a full-time opportunity.

Ram has also served as the official pace truck provider for race weekends. These efforts have generated significant fan excitement and elevated the visibility of both Ram and the Truck Series.

“I had an absolute blast racing for Kaulig Racing and Ram at Indianapolis,” Daly said. “The team welcomed me with open arms, the truck was competitive, and getting to race in front of my hometown fans made it a special night. I‘m grateful for the opportunity and excited to keep the momentum going at Kansas.”

Daly boasts an impressive résumé with 133 NTT IndyCar Series starts, including one pole position, six top-five finishes, 26 top-10s and 213 laps led. In the 2026 Indianapolis 500, he led four laps and battled for the lead before finishing 12th. That result marked his fifth consecutive top-12 finish at Indy.

NASCAR fans have already seen Daly compete in 12 Cup Series, O‘Reilly Auto Parts Series and Truck Series races. This appearance adds another high-profile name to Ram‘s Free Agent Program, which has turned the No. 25 into a headline-grabbing showcase.

The truck has featured NASCAR legends and fan favorites, including Tony Stewart, Ty Dillon, Ryan Newman, Elliott Sadler, Jamie McMurray, Colin Braun, Corey LaJoie, Travis Pastrana, Parker Kligerman, Clint Bowyer, AJ Allmendinger, Regan Smith and Carson Ferguson.

Daly joins Kaulig Racing‘s five-truck Ram fleet, which includes full-time entries for Corey LaJoie (No. 10), Brenden “Butterbean” Queen (No. 12), Mini Tyrrell (No. 14) and Justin Haley (No. 16).

Kaulig Racing, founded by entrepreneur Matt Kaulig in 2016, has grown from a part-time secondary-series team into one of NASCAR‘s rising organizations. The team earned its first O‘Reilly Auto Parts Series win in 2018, expanded to the Cup Series in 2020 and fields multiple trucks in the Craftsman Truck Series through its partnership with Ram.

Kansas Speedway is a 1.5-mile tri-oval with variable banking ranging from 17 to 20 degrees in the turns. Trucks reach sustained speeds exceeding 170 mph through the corners on the smooth, progressive surface. The track has played a key role in Truck Series history since hosting its first event in 2001 and remains a favorite stop that rewards strong aerodynamics, tire management and precise handling.

Catch the action live on FS1 and the NASCAR Network at 1 p.m. EDT Saturday, Sept. 26.

— Kaulig Racing —

SPEEDWAY CHILDREN‘S CHARITIES

SCCNH hosted four events — Laps for Charity, a Cornhole Tournament, the Track Walk presented by LeMay Family Goodworks and the Wicked Good Live Auction and Raffle — and offered five other opportunities — an online auction, selling customized bricks, signing a track wall banner, the Track Treasures Shop and the 50/50 Raffle presented by Dollar Tree — during NASCAR weekend for race fans to support New England children in need. These experiences helped SCCNH raise more than $100,000 for local children‘s charities in addition to sending one lucky race fan home with more than $50,000 after winning the 50/50 Raffle.

Each December, SCCNH distributes grants to nonprofit organizations focused on serving New England children. In 2025, 43 grants were distributed totaling $155,600. Since its inception in 2009, SCCNH has distributed more than $2.3 million supporting nearly 1.5 million children throughout the region.

Upcoming and Ongoing SCCNH Fundraising Opportunities

Laps for Charity (Sept. 20): Experience the thrill of driving a personal vehicle or riding in the Official Toyota Camry XSE pace car on the 1.6-mile full road course. Group and VIP sessions are available with VIP sessions offering the opportunity to be the only vehicle on the racetrack with the pace car. Everyone will get a photo taken in victory lane after their laps. Limited spots are available and advanced registration is suggested.

Customized Bricks (Ongoing): Race fans can continue to cement their legacy as a NHMS fan for years to come by purchasing an engraved brick that can be customized with names, family names or even a special message. A 4” x 8” brick is $200 and an 8” x 8” brick is $350. The bricks will soon be used to build a beautiful walkway on NHMS property.

For more information on Speedway Children‘s Charities, including sponsorship and volunteer opportunities, please contact New Hampshire Chapter Director Danielle Cyr at DCyr@NHMS.com.

VOLUNTEER GROUPS

In addition to funds being raised for SCCNH, 25 teams of motivated volunteers from high school and college clubs and sports teams, sororities, Knights of Columbus and more helped NHMS during NASCAR weekend to benefit their respective nonprofit. From ticket scanning and parking assistance to hospitality and ushering, these volunteers from New Hampshire and Massachusetts helped ensure a memorable experience for event attendees from the first green flag to the final checkered flag. In return for their volunteerism, NHMS donated more than $42,000 to the nonprofit organizations they represented.

For more information on volunteering during the Sept. 24-25, 2027 NASCAR Chase weekend at NHMS to fundraise for a local nonprofit, please contact Event Staffing Coordinator Deb O‘Neil at DONeil@NHMS.com.

— NHMS —

The CBOY competition is a regionally acclaimed fundraising competition that brings together businesses across North and South Carolina to raise funds to fulfill the mission of Dream On 3 (DO3). DO3 creates memorable and unforgettable experiences for kids and young adults living with life-altering conditions. Dream On 3 has fulfilled over 300 dreams since the 501c3‘s inception in 2013.

“It means a lot to all of us at SHR to be nominated for Carolinas Business of the Year, and even more so to be partnering with an organization like Dream on 3,” said Sam Hunt, owner of Sam Hunt Racing. “My fulfillment in motorsports has always revolved around the ability to use our NASCAR platform for good, and to help others; and DO3‘s mission aligns perfectly with our core values. We are looking forward to contributing to DO3‘s mission and to making dreams come true into the future.”

Sam Hunt Racing is the first sports organization to be nominated as a finalist in CBOY. Additionally, it is the first organization to simultaneously be nominated and host a Dream event in early 2027.

“Dream On 3 is honored to have Sam Hunt Racing in the huddle for this year‘s Carolina’s Business of the Year competition,” said Elizabeth Lindsey, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Dream on 3. “SHR has created an incredible culture of teamwork, perseverance with family values at the core which aligns so well with DO3. We are excited to see what we can do together to make more dreams a reality for some incredible kiddos in need of hope and encouragement! It‘s going to be an exciting ride.”

CBOY consists of three groups of businesses competing against each other to raise the most funds in each category — small business, mid-size business and large business. SHR is competing in the mid-size business category.

Each team will compete by general fundraising, creating and selling sponsorship opportunities for Dream On 3‘s Dream Gala in February 2027, networking, donating auction items and more. The competition will conclude on February 13, 2027 when the Dream Gala will be held, one week prior to the NASCAR O‘Reilly Auto Parts Series‘ first race weekend of the season at Daytona International Speedway.

Sam Hunt Racing is requesting NASCAR industry members, drivers, teams and partners to be involved in a unique and uplifting opportunity to benefit Dream On 3 through donations, sponsorship opportunities, and auction items.

— Sam Hunt Racing —

But toward the latter end of the season‘s summer stretch, the reigning NASCAR Cup Series Champion was frigid.

In the five races that spanned across Chicagoland through Iowa, the driver of the No. 5 Chevrolet ranked 35th among full-time NASCAR Cup Series drivers in average finish (31.0), 36th in average positions gained (-22.2), 25th in average running position (21.4), and 35th in laps completed on the lead lap (669 of possible 1,490). Add this to a nagging winless streak dating back to Kansas Speedway last May, and any hope for a third Larson title felt mildly laughable — he was 10th points at the time, after all.

Then, the weekend of Richmond came along, scheduled concurrently with a prestigious dirt sprint car race happening over 1,100 miles away: the Knoxville Nationals. Those who know Larson understand that the only thing keeping Kyle Larson away from a dirt track is another race on a different track. And thus, it seemed as if he‘d solely be strapping in for a night of racing on asphalt in the Commonwealth of Virginia amidst one of the worst slumps of his career.

But due to the grace of Mother Nature and the ever-so kind, considerate, and intuitive thinking of NASCAR Communications, Larson was told midway through the race that he‘d be able to forgo his post-race media responsibilities in an attempt to get him to Knoxville in time to race. After a sixth-place result, he booked it to his plane, traveled to the Heartlands, and made it to start from the pole and earn his second coveted Knoxville Nationals title.

Since that night, Yung Money has been cashing in.

In the five races between Richmond and Gateway, Larson has improved massively to fourth in average finish (9.6), fourth in average positions gained (5.6), second in average running position (10.1) while being third in laps led (201) and fifth in laps in the top five and top 10 (551 & 888, respectively). He has also yet to finish outside the top six in this stretch apart from Daytona, which if you ask his son Owen, he just needs to try harder “because he‘s not good at superspeedways.”

Larson was most recently able to end his notable winless drought at 51-races at a track Hendrick Motorsports had only two top-fives at in four previous trips to St. Louis.

“Feel like we got our swagger back a little bit,” he said on the frontstretch after his 33rd career victory, and simultaneously moving up five positions in the Chase standings to second — nine points behind Denny Hamlin.

And if his outing at Gateway wasn‘t enough to put his competitors back on notice, Larson and the No. 5 team head to Bristol Motor Speedway this weekend where no group has been more dominant at a certain track in the Next Gen era.

On the traditional, paved configuration since 2022, Kyle Larson is tied for first in wins (2) while outright ranking first in top fives (6), average finish (7.0), and laps led (1,230) in the last seven races among all Cup drivers.

The outlook doesn‘t get much better for the rest of the Cup field as you look at the rest of the Chase as a whole either, as 14 of his 33 total career wins come at seven of the eight remaining tracks on the schedule, while being a heavy favorite at a handful such as Kansas, Las Vegas, and most certainly Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Watch as Larson looks to make his competitors further fear what might be: a late rally to a third championship with plenty of checkered flags to go with it. The Bass Pro Shops Night Race from Bristol Motor Speedway marks the third race of the Chase and fires off Saturday night (7:30 p.m. ET on USA Network, PRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

— NASCAR News Wire —

The Bristol program marks Dr. Saadiq F. El-Amin III‘s first opportunity to bring his companies into NASCAR. The partnership will introduce the brands to a national motorsports audience through the No. 0 car and the race broadcast on The CW.

“I‘m very excited to partner with Garrett Smithley and his team. I have not had the opportunity to expand into NASCAR until now, so I‘m eager to bring my companies to a new market and industry!” — Dr. Saadiq F. El-Amin III, owner of North Georgia Natural Springs

“Having the support of Dr. El-Amin means a lot. Of course, we need sponsors to get to the racetrack, but beyond that, I‘m excited to introduce our sport to new partners. I‘m very excited to grow this relationship.” — Garrett Smithley

Smithley will compete in the 300-lap, 159.9-mile Food City 300 on Bristol Motor Speedway‘s 0.533-mile concrete oval. The race is scheduled for Friday, September 18.

— SS-GreenLight Racing —

Eliason brings more than a decade of race engineering and shock development experience to LEGACY MOTOR CLUB. A Michigan Technological University graduate, Eliason grew up in a racing family in Duluth, Minn., and began building his technical foundation working on dirt-track cars before joining Hendrick Motorsports as an intern in 2012. During his time at Hendrick, Eliason contributed to Jimmie Johnson‘s 2016 NASCAR Cup Series championship and Kyle Larson‘s 2021 championship season before becoming lead engineer for the No. 48 team. He later held engineering roles with Trackhouse Racing. In 2025, Eliason served as interim crew chief for Shane van Gisbergen at Kansas Speedway, helping the team overcome an opening-lap penalty en route to van Gisbergen‘s first Cup Series top-10 finish on an oval.

This promotion is the culmination of a goal Eliason has spent his career working toward and aligns with LEGACY’s ongoing commitment to developing talent from within and intentionally building for the organization’s future.

“Promoting from within and giving our people the opportunity to grow is central to how we‘re building LEGACY,” said Jimmie Johnson, co-owner of LEGACY MOTOR CLUB. “Chais has shown throughout this season that he‘s ready for this. We‘re looking forward to seeing what he and the No. 42 team can accomplish over these final eight races and into 2027.”

“Chais has done everything we‘ve asked of him and more,” said Jacob Canter, SVP, Sporting Director of LEGACY MOTOR CLUB. “He knows this team, he knows these people, and he knows what it takes to compete at this level. This is his moment and we‘re confident he‘s ready for it.”

“I‘m grateful to LEGACY for the opportunity to take this next step in my career,” said Eliason. “I‘ve learned a lot working with this group throughout the season, and I‘m looking forward to putting that experience to work as we finish out 2026 with John Hunter and begin preparing for 2027. We have a strong group of people around this team, and I‘m excited to lead them through the remainder of the season.”

Travis Mack will depart as crew chief of the No. 42 team. Mack has played an important role in building the people and culture of the No. 42 team during his time with LEGACY.

“We‘re thankful to Travis for his many contributions to LEGACY and the No. 42 team,” said Johnson. “He has played a pivotal role in this organization and helping the CLUB during an important period of growth. We appreciate the foundation for excellence that he has helped build at LEGACY and wish him continued success in his next endeavor.”

As LEGACY MOTOR CLUB continues to build for the future, the organization is excited about the progress in building out the No. 84 team for its first full-season campaign in 2027. LEGACY will announce the complete 2027 lineup for the No. 84 team in the coming weeks.

— Legacy Motor Club —

The NASCAR FedEx Freight Truck Series brings together two brands deeply connected to the trucking industry and the people who keep America moving — pairing North America‘s largest less-than-truckload (LTL) carrier with a NASCAR series defined by toughness, relentless competition, and some of the hardest racing in motorsports.

The agreement also represents a significant milestone for FedEx Freight as a newly independent, publicly traded company. The NASCAR sponsorship marks the first time FedEx Freight has placed its brand behind a sponsorship platform of this scale, using one of the most prominent entitlement positions in American motorsports to build awareness of the standalone FedEx Freight brand and deepen relationships with customers, employees, and business leaders across the country.

“FedEx Freight choosing NASCAR for a brand investment of this magnitude says a lot about where our sport is today and the value our platform can deliver to businesses looking to grow,” said Craig Stimmel, SVP and Chief Commercial Officer, NASCAR. “And there may not be a more natural pairing than FedEx Freight and the NASCAR Truck Series. This is a series built on trucks, toughness, and people who compete incredibly hard to deliver every single week. That same grit, reliability, and get-it-done mentality is embedded in FedEx Freight. As they continue to establish their identity as an independent company, we have an incredible opportunity to put that brand in front of millions of fans while creating real business value throughout the NASCAR industry.”

As part of the agreement, FedEx Freight will also become an Official Partner of NASCAR and NASCAR‘s exclusive freight shipping partner in the United States, Canada, and Mexico beginning January 1, 2027.

The sponsorship gives FedEx Freight a year-round national platform reaching well beyond race-day visibility. Through the NASCAR ecosystem, FedEx Freight will connect with customers, employees, and communities while leveraging NASCAR‘s national reach, highly engaged fanbase, and extensive business network to drive brand awareness, customer engagement, B2B lead generation, employee recognition, and community impact.

“Some partnerships just make sense. As FedEx Freight moves forward in its next chapter as an independent company, we are focused on opportunities that strengthen our brand and support our long-term growth strategy and we are confident the NASCAR FedEx Freight Truck Series will deliver,” said John Smith, president and CEO, FedEx Freight.

“NASCAR and its loyal fanbase represent the same commitment to safety, hard work, reliability, and teamwork that has defined our company for decades,” Smith said. “NASCAR provides a powerful platform to connect with customers, engage our dedicated team members, and introduce the FedEx Freight brand to millions of passionate fans nationwide. This is a series built on trucks and being number one. It is a relationship that reflects our confidence in the future and our commitment to building a strong company positioned for continued success.”

At the center of the sponsorship will be the NASCAR FedEx Freight Truck Series entitlement and targeted activation in key markets surrounding FedEx Freight distribution locations.

For NASCAR, the partnership continues a period of significant commercial momentum as major brands increasingly view the sport as a platform capable of delivering not only consumer engagement and national visibility, but meaningful business-to-business relationships, employee engagement, and long-term brand growth.

The alignment extends beyond their shared connection to trucks. FedEx Freight operates a network of more than 365 locations supported by 40,000 team members, and nearly 30,000 vehicles, providing another natural bridge to NASCAR‘s national footprint and the communities in which the sport races.

Over the coming years, NASCAR and FedEx Freight will work to develop additional opportunities to engage fans, employees, customers, and the broader business community. Together, the organizations will build a platform around shared commitments to performance, safety, reliability, and delivering when it matters most.

— NASCAR–

Parker Kligerman is still recovering from an illness that kept him out of the television booth this past weekend. If Kligerman is unable to compete at Bristol, Nick Sanchez is expected to drive for the Abingdon, Virginia-based Henderson Motorsports team.

The part-time team is also scheduled to compete at Talladega Superspeedway later this fall with Kligerman expected to return as the driver.

— WCYB 5 —

Little update: I won‘t be racing tonight at Bristol in the 75.

As some of you know, I got pretty sick last week & recovery has been slower than I hoped with a few lingering effects. I‘m feeling better every day but not quite race ready, and having the broadcast tomorrow as…

— Parker Kligerman (@pkligerman) September 17, 2026

NASCAR Cup Series Chase Fast Facts: Race #3 (Bristol Motor Speedway)

• The 2026 season marks the seventh-time Bristol Motor Speedway (2020-2026) has hosted the third race of the NASCAR Cup Series postseason. From 2004-2019, Bristol Motor Speedway was scheduled as the 24th-race of the regular season.
• Bristol Motor Speedway is the fifth different track in NASCAR Cup Series history to host the third race of the postseason:
  • Talladega Superspeedway (2004-2005)
  • Kansas Speedway (2006—2010)
  • Dover Motor Speedway (2011-2017)
  • Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL (2018-2019)
  • Bristol Motor Speedway (2020-2026)
• A total of 17 different drivers have won the third race of a NASCAR Cup Series postseason, led by Jimmie Johnson (2008, 2013), Greg Biffle (2007, 2010), Tony Stewart (2006, 2009), Kevin Harvick (2015, 2020) and Kyle Larson (2021, 2025) with two victories each.

• Four times non-postseason drivers have won the third race in the NASCAR Cup Series postseason (2005, 2006, 2007, 2022).
• One non-postseason driver has won the third race in the NASCAR Cup Series Chase at Talladega Superspeedway (2004-2005) — NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Jarrett was 14th in points when he won the 2005 race.
• Two non-postseason drivers have won the third race in the NASCAR Cup Series Chase at Kansas Speedway (2006 – 2010): Tony Stewart was ranked 11th in points when he won the 2006 Kansas Playoff race and Greg Biffle was ranked 14th in points when he won the 2007 Kansas Playoff race.
• One non-postseason driver has won the third race in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs at Bristol Motor Speedway (2020 – 2025): Chris Buescher (2022) was ranked 21st in points when he won.
• Non-postseason drivers did not win the third NASCAR Cup postseason races when they were hosted at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course (2018-2019) or at Dover Motor Speedway (2011 — 2017).
• In total, the winner of the third race in the NASCAR Cup Series postseason has gone on to win the championship four times (2008, 2012, 2013, 2021).
• At Kansas: In 2008, Jimmie Johnson won the third race of the postseason at Kansas Speedway, and went on to win his third consecutive title. It was his first of three Chase wins that season (Kansas, Martinsville-2, Phoenix-2).
• At Dover: In 2012, Brad Keselowski won the third race of the Chase at Dover, and went on to win his first series title. It was Keselowski‘s lone win during the 2012 Chase. In 2013, Jimmie Johnson won the third race of the Chase at Dover, and went on to win his sixth series title. It was his first of two Chase wins that season (Dover-2, Texas-2).
• At Bristol: In 2021, Kyle Larson won the third race of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs at Bristol Motor Speedway and went on to win his first series title. His Bristol Playoff victory was the first of a record tying five postseason wins in a single season (Bristol, Charlotte RC, Texas, Kansas, Phoenix) — tying NASCAR Hall of Famer Tony Stewart (five Playoff wins in 2011).
• The worst finish by a driver in the third Playoff race that went on to win the Cup Series title was:
• At Talladega Superspeedway (2004-2005): In 2004, Kurt Busch finished fifth at Talladega Superspeedway — the third race of the postseason — and went on to win the title later that season.
• At Kansas Speedway (2006-2010): In 2006, Jimmie Johnson finished 14th at Kansas Speedway — the third race of the postseason — and went on to win the title later that season.
• At Dover Motor Speedway (2011-2017): In 2011, Tony Stewart finished 25th at Dover Motor Speedway — the third race of the postseason — and went on to win the title later that season.
• At Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course (2018-2019): In 2019, Kyle Busch finished 37th at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course — the third race of the postseason — and went on to win the title later that season.
• At Bristol Motor Speedway (2020-2025): In 2025, Kyle Larson finished 32nd at Bristol Motor Speedway, the third race of the postseason, and went on to win the title later that season.

NASCAR Cup Series 2026 Top 16 in the Driver Standings at Bristol Motor Speedway

* — Based on last 40 races at Bristol Motor Speedway (2005 — 2026).

At Bristol Motor Speedway: Stats & Tidbits
TRACK & RACE DATA
Season Race: No. 29 of 36 (Date: Sept. 19, 2026)
The Purse: $11,849,963
Track Size: 0.533-miles
Banking/Turns: 24-28 degrees
Banking/Frontstretch: 4-8 degrees
Banking/Backstretch: 4-8 degrees
Frontstretch Length: 650 feet
Backstretch Length: 650 feet
Race Length: 500 laps / 266.5 miles
Stages 1 & 2 Length: 125 laps (each)
Final Stage Length: 250 laps 

TRACK QUALIFYING & RACE RECORDS

Track Qualifying Record:
Chase Elliott, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, 131.713 mph, 14.568 secs., April 5, 2019

Track Race Record:
Kyle Larson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, 101.277 mph, (2:37:53), September 21, 2024

2025 Bristol Chase Race Pole Winner
AJ Allmendinger, Kaulig Racing Chevrolet, 126.930 mph, 15.117 secs., September 12, 2025

2025 Bristol Chase Race Winner
Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, 69.686 mph, (3:48:10), September 13, 2025

HISTORY

• Groundbreaking for Bristol International Speedway, as Bristol Motor Speedway was originally known, took place in 1960. The track was an exact half-mile.
• The first NASCAR Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway was on July 30, 1961, and the inaugural event was won by Jack Smith with relief from Johnny Allen. Allen drove the final 209 laps in relief for Smith. Smith had a three lap lead when Allen took over.
• All of the NASCAR Cup Series races have been scheduled for 500 laps, except for both races in 1976 and the second in 1977, which were 400 laps each.
• In the fall of 1969, the track was reshaped and re-measured to .533-miles.
• The name changed to Bristol International Raceway in 1978.
• The first night race was held in the fall of 1978.
• The surface was changed from asphalt to concrete in 1992 – the first track surfaced in all concrete.
• The name changed to Bristol Motor Speedway in May, 1996 when the track was sold to Speedway Motorsports.
• The track was resurfaced between races in 2007, and progressive banking was added.
• In 2012, the turns were ground down to eliminate part of the progressive banking.
• In 2020, Bristol Motor Speedway hosted the NASCAR Cup Series Open and All-Star Race for the first-time.
• There have been 126 NASCAR Cup Series points-paying races at Bristol Motor Speedway since the first race in 1961.
• Since 1961, the track has hosted two Cup races each season except from 2021-2023 when the track replaced their spring date with the Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt track, and hosted just one event during those three years.

STARTS

• A total of 488 different drivers have competed in at least one NASCAR Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway; 350 have competed in more than one.
• NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty leads the NASCAR Cup Series in starts at Bristol Motor Speedway with 60 starts.
• Top five in Cup starts at Bristol — Richard Petty (60), Ricky Rudd (58), Terry Labonte (58), Dave Marcis (54), Darrell Waltrip (52).
• Denny Hamlin leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in starts at Bristol Motor Speedway with 38 starts.
• Top five in Cup starts at Bristol (active) — Denny Hamlin (38), Joey Logano (32), Brad Keselowski (30), Michael McDowell (29, AJ Allmendinger (28).
• A total of 35 drivers have made their first NASCAR Cup Series career start at Bristol Motor Speedway; the most recent was Jesse Love (April 13, 2025).

• Of the 35 drivers that made their first career NASCAR Cup Series start at Bristol, Jesse Love posted the best finish — finishing sixth on April 12, 2025.
• NASCAR Hall of Famer Fred Lorenzen (12 starts) and driver Charlie Glotzbach (four starts) are tied for the all-time series lead in average starting position at Bristol with a 3.3 each.
• Ryan Blaney leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in average starting position at Bristol Motor Speedway with an 8.2 in 19 starts.

Top 10 in Average Starting Positions at Bristol Motor Speedway (All-Time & Active)

POLES

• A total of 56 different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have won the pole at Bristol Motor Speedway.
• NASCAR Hall of Famer Fred Lorenzen won the inaugural pole at Bristol Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series with a speed of 79.225 MPH in a Holman-Moody Racing He finished 33rd out of 42 cars.
• This weekend, nine of the 56 NASCAR Cup Series Bristol Motor Speedway pole winners are entered in the race.

• NASCAR Hall of Famers Mark Martin (1989, 1993, 1995 sweep, 1996 sweep, 2001, 2009 sweep) and Cale Yarborough (1969, 1970, 1973 sweep, 1975, 1977 sweep, 1980 sweep) lead the NASCAR Cup Series in poles at Bristol Motor Speedway with nine poles each.
• Denny Hamlin leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in poles at Bristol Motor Speedway with four (2013, 2014, 2015, 2019).
• Youngest Bristol Cup pole winner: Joey Logano (March 21, 2010 — 19 years, 9 months, 25 days) — his first NASCAR Cup Series career pole.
• Oldest Bristol Cup pole winner: Harry Gant (August 27, 1994 — 54 years, 7 months, 17 days) — his last NASCAR Cup Series career pole.
• 13 different drivers have posted consecutive poles at Bristol Motor Speedway; Mark Martin is the only driver to win four consecutive:
  • Fireball Roberts (swept 1962)
  • Fred Lorenzen (swept 1963)
  • Richard Petty (1967-‘68)
  • Bobby Allison (swept 1972)
  • Cale Yarborough (swept 1973; swept 1977; swept 1980)
  • Darrell Waltrip (swept 1981, spring 1982)
  • Geoff Bodine (swept 1986)
  • Mark Martin (swept 1995-1996— all four races; and swept 2009)
  • Rusty Wallace (swept 1998, spring 1999)
  • Jeff Gordon (swept 2002)
  • Denny Hamlin (fall 2013, spring 2014)
  • Carl Edwards (2016 sweep)
  • Alex Bowman (2024-‘25)
• Eight different drivers have posted their first NASCAR Cup Series career pole at Bristol Motor Speedway.

• Joey Logano (March 10, 2010) and Erik Jones (August 19, 2017) are the only active drivers to win their first NASCAR Cup Series career pole at Bristol Motor Speedway.
• A total of 36 different organizations have won a pole at Bristol Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series.
• Hendrick Motorsports leads the NASCAR Cup Series in poles at Bristol Motor Speedway with 14 poles.
  • Hendrick Motorsports has 14 poles among six drivers: Geoff Bodine (1984, 1986 sweep), Jeff Gordon (2002 sweep, 2003, 2004, 2007), Mark Martin (2009 sweep), Jimmie Johnson (2010), Chase Elliott (2019), Alex Bowman (2024, 2025).
• This weekend, seven of the 36 NASCAR Cup Series Bristol Motor Speedway pole winning organizations are active.

• A total of nine different manufacturers have won poles at Bristol Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series; led by Chevrolet (40) and followed by Ford (39), Toyota (12), Dodge (8), Pontiac (7), Buick (4), Plymouth (4), Oldsmobile (3) and Mercury (2).
• The longest streak of consecutive NASCAR Cup Series Bristol Motor Speedway pole wins by a manufacturer is nine straight by Ford from 4/2/1995 to 4/11/1999.

WINS

• A total of 46 different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have won at Bristol Motor Speedway; 22 of the 46 Bristol winners have won multiple times at the half-mile track.
• Owner/driver Jack Smith (with relief from Johnny Allen) won the first NASCAR Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway on July 30, 1961 in a Pontiac.
• This weekend, seven of the 46 NASCAR Cup Series Bristol Motor Speedway race winners are entered in the event.

• NASCAR Hall of Famer Darrell Waltrip leads the NASCAR Cup Series in wins at Bristol Motor Speedway with 12 victories in 52 starts; including a NASCAR Cup Series record of seven straight (1978, 1979, 1981 sweep, 1982 sweep, 1983 sweep, 1984, 1986, 1989, 1992).
• Denny Hamlin leads the NASCAR Cup Series among active drivers in wins at Bristol with four victories in 38 starts (2012, 2019, 2023, 2024).
• Youngest Bristol Cup race winner: Kyle Busch (March 25, 2007 — 21 years, 10 months, 23 days).
• Oldest Bristol Cup race winner: Dale Earnhardt (August 28, 1999 — 48 years, 3 months, 30 days).
• Six drivers have posted their first NASCAR Cup Series career win at Bristol Motor Speedway:
  • Dale Earnhardt (April 1, 1979)
  • Rusty Wallace (April 6, 1986)
  • Ernie Irvan (March 25, 1990)
  • Elliott Sadler (March 25, 2001)
  • Kurt Busch (March 24, 2002)
  • Ty Gibbs (April 12, 2026)
• A total of 14 drivers have won consecutive NASCAR Cup Series races at Bristol; led by Darrell Waltrip with seven consecutive victories from 1981-1984.
  • Fred Lorenzen (1963-1964 sweep)
  • David Pearson (1968 sweep)
  • Bobby Allison (1972 sweep)
  • Cale Yarborough did it twice (1974 sweep and four straight from 1976-1977)
  • Richard Petty (1975 sweep)
  • Darrell Waltrip (seven straight: 1981-1984)
  • Dale Earnhardt did it twice (1985 sweep and 1987 sweep)
  • Alan Kulwicki (1992 sweep)
  • Rusty Wallace (2000 sweep)
  • Kurt Busch (2003 sweep and 2004 Spring race)
  • Kyle Busch (2009 sweep and Fall 2017-Spring 2018)
  • Brad Keselowski (Fall 2011-Spring 2012)
  • Denny Hamlin (Fall 2023-Spring 2024)
  • Kyle Larson (Fall 2024, Spring 2025)
• A total of 24 different starting positions have produced at least one NASCAR Cup Series win at Bristol Motor Speedway.
• The race winner has started from the pole or first starting position 27 times (21.09%) – the most productive starting position in the field.
• A total of 16 different drivers have won from the pole or first starting position in the NASCAR Cup Series at Bristol Motor Speedway.
• The most recent driver to win from the pole or first starting position was Brad Keselowski on March 31, 2020.

• Six drivers have won from the pole position or first starting position multiple times: Bobby Allison (1972 twice), Cale Yarborough (1973, 1977 twice, 1980), Darrell Waltrip (1981 twice, 1982), Rusty Wallace (1991, 1993, 1999, 2000), Matt Kenseth (2005, 2015) and Carl Edwards (2008, 2016).
• More than half (75 wins, 58.59%) of the NASCAR Cup Series winners at Bristol Motor Speedway have started in the top-five.
• The deepest in the field that a race winner has started is 38th, by Elliott Sadler in 2001.
• The deepest in the field that an active race winner has started is 20th, by Chris Buescher in 2022.

NASCAR Cup Series Wins by Starting Positions at Bristol Motor Speedway

• A total of 30 different organizations have visited Victory Lane in the NASCAR Cup Series at Bristol Motor Speedway.
• Joe Gibbs Racing lead all NASCAR Cup Series organizations in wins at Bristol Motor Speedway with 17 victories.
• Junior Johnson & Associates has the second-most wins in the NASCAR Cup Series at Bristol Motor Speedway with 16 victories among three drivers: Cale Yarborough (seven wins: 1974, 1976 sweep, 1977 sweep, 1978, 1980), Darrell Waltrip (eight wins: 1981 sweep, 1982 sweep, 1983 sweep, 1984, 1986) and Junior Johnson (1965).
• Eight different manufacturers have won in the NASCAR Cup Series 128 races at Bristol Motor Speedway; led by Chevrolet with 48 victories; followed by Ford (40 wins), Toyota (16), Dodge (8), Pontiac (8), Buick (4), Plymouth (3) and Oldsmobile (1).

ADDITIONAL FINISHING POSITIONS

Runner-Up Finishes:

• A total of 54 different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have finished runner-up at Bristol Motor Speedway, 29 of the 54 have posed more than one runner-up finish.
• NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty leads the NASCAR Cup Series in runner-up finishes with 10 second-place finishes.
• Kyle Larson leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in runner-up finishes at Bristol with three.

Top Five in Runner-Up Finishes at Bristol Motor Speedway (All-Time & Active)

Top-Five Finishes:

• A total of 124 different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have finished in the top-five at Bristol, led by NASCAR Hall of Famers Darrell Waltrip and Richard Petty with 26 top-five finishes each.
• Denny Hamlin leads all active NASCAR Cup Series drivers in top-five finishes at Bristol Motor Speedway with 13 top-five finishes.

Top Five in Top-Five Finishes at Bristol Motor Speedway (All-Time & Active)

Top-10 Finishes:

• A total of 214 different NASCAR Cup Series drivers have finished inside the top-10 at Bristol Motor Speedway, led by NASCAR Hall of Famer Richard Petty with 37 top-10 finishes.
• Denny Hamlin leads the NASCAR Cup Series among active drivers in top-10 finishes at Bristol with 21 top 10s.

Top Five in Top-10 Finishes at Bristol Motor Speedway (All-Time & Active)

Average Finishes:

• Dick Hutcherson leads the NASCAR Cup Series in average finishing position with a 2.4 in five starts.
• Ty Gibbs leads the Cup Series among active drivers in average finishing position at Bristol with an 11.1 in seven starts.

Top 10 in Average Finishing Position at Bristol Motor Speedway (All-Time & Active)

LAP LEADERS

• A total of 144 different drivers have led at least one lap in the NASCAR Cup Series at Bristol Motor Speedway.
• NASCAR Hall of Famer Cale Yarborough leads the Cup Series in laps led at Bristol with 4,305 laps led in 29 starts.
• Kyle Larson leads all active drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series in laps led at Bristol with 2,046 in 20 starts.
• The most laps led in a NASCAR Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway is 500 laps led by Cale Yarborough on March 25, 1973 — he won the event starting from the pole position and led every lap.
• The most laps led by a driver that did not win the event in a NASCAR Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway was 442 laps led by Richard Petty who finished second on July 26, 1964 — he started first. Fred Lorenzen passed Richard Petty for the lead on the final lap of the race to win.
• The fewest laps led in a NASCAR Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway by the race winner was one lap, the final lap, by Fred Lorenzen – who passed Richard Petty to win on July 26, 1964 — Lorenzen started eighth.

Top 10 Laps Leaders at Bristol Motor Speedway (All-Time & Active)

FEMALE COMPETITORS

• Two female drivers have made NASCAR Cup Series starts at Bristol: Janet Guthrie and Danica Patrick.

TRACK/EVENT SPECIFIC STATS

• Two of the 128 Cup Series races at Bristol Motor Speedway have been shortened due to weather conditions.

• Since the advent of electronic scoring (1993) the closest margin of victory in the NASCAR Cup Series at Bristol Motor Speedway is the April 12, 2026 race won by Ty Gibbs with a margin of victory of 0.055 second over Ryan Blaney.

Top Five Closest Margins of Victory in the NASCAR Cup Series at Bristol:

• Qualifying has been cancelled in the NASCAR Cup Series at Bristol Motor Speedway seven times.

• There have been six NASCAR Overtime finishes in the NASCAR Cup Series at Bristol Motor Speedway:

NASCAR IN TENNESSEE

• A total of 399 NASCAR national series races among nine tracks have been held in the state of Tennessee.

• The first NASCAR Cup Series race held in Tennessee was at Tennessee-Carolina Speedway on October 7, 1956 and won by Fireball Roberts.

TENNESSEE DRIVERS IN NASCAR

• A total of 111 different drivers in NASCAR national series history have their home state recorded as Tennessee.
• 15 drivers from Tennessee have won at least one race in NASCAR‘s three national series; totaling 156 wins across all three series.

• Darrell Waltrip, from Franklin, Tennessee, was inducted into the 2012 class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Waltrip is the only Tennessee native driver to win a NASCAR Cup Series championship.
• Only two of the 15 drivers from Tennessee have won at least one race in the NASCAR Cup Series at a track located in the state of Tennessee: Darrell Waltrip (Bristol, 12 wins; Nashville, eight wins) and Joe Lee Johnson (Nashville, one win).

— NASCAR —

Young‘s Motorsports announced Wednesday that the organization and NASCAR O‘Reilly Auto Parts Series driver Ryan Ellis will part ways following the conclusion of the 2026 season.

The partnership comes at a particularly meaningful time, with National Service Dog Day on September 20, shining a national spotlight on the life-changing impact Service Dogs have on the Veterans they serve. K9s For Warriors is the nation‘s leading provider of Service Dogs for Veterans with PTSD and other invisible wounds of war.

Through its program, K9s For Warriors rescues dogs and provides them with extensive training before pairing them at no cost with Veterans who can benefit from a Service Dog. Since 2011, the organization has transformed the lives of more than 1,350 Veterans and saved more than 2,500 dogs — fulfilling its mission of “saving lives at both ends of the leash.”

The partnership will extend beyond the track, with K9s For Warriors activating in the Earhart East Fan Midway at Bristol on Friday and Saturday of race weekend to connect with fans and share the life-changing impact Service Dogs can have on Veterans. The collaboration provides a powerful platform to honor the nation‘s Veterans while highlighting the bond between those who served and the Service Dogs that help them reclaim their independence, confidence and freedom every day.

For McDowell, a longtime supporter of Veterans and the military community, the partnership represents an opportunity to bring greater awareness to the life-saving impact of Service Dogs.

“I‘ve always had a tremendous amount of respect for the men and women who serve our country, and I believe the work K9s For Warriors is doing to support Veterans is incredible,” said McDowell. “Service Dogs can make such a meaningful difference in a Veteran‘s life, and I‘m proud to carry K9s For Warriors on our car at Bristol and help shine a light on their mission, especially around National Service Dog Day.”

“We‘re incredibly proud to bring together RCA‘s partnerships with K9s For Warriors and Spire Motorsports in such a meaningful way,” said Tony Bozzini, President of RCA. “RCA has long been honored to support K9s For Warriors and the extraordinary work they do for our nation‘s Veterans. Together with Spire Motorsports, we have an incredible opportunity to bring that mission to NASCAR fans across the country and help shine a brighter light on an organization that is truly changing lives.”

“This partnership gives us an incredible opportunity to bring the mission of K9s For Warriors to millions of NASCAR fans while honoring the Veterans and Service Dogs at the heart of our work,” said Lindsay Grayson, Chief Revenue Officer of K9s For Warriors. “Seeing our mission represented on Michael McDowell‘s car during the Bristol Night Race, so close to National Service Dog Day, is especially meaningful. We‘re grateful to our long-time partner RCA, as well as Spire Motorsports and Michael for helping us shine a light on the life-saving impact of Service Dogs on Veterans.”

The Bass Pro Shops Night Race will provide an opportunity for K9s For Warriors, RCA and Spire Motorsports to connect with NASCAR‘s passionate fan base while honoring the Veterans who have served the nation and the Service Dogs that help them live fuller, more independent lives.

Fans attending Bristol Motor Speedway can visit the K9s For Warriors booth in the Earhart East Fan Midway throughout race weekend to learn more about the organization and its mission to save lives at both ends of the leash.

The Bass Pro Shops Night Race from Bristol Motor Speedway will be televised live on USA Network, Saturday, Sept. 19 beginning at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The 29th of 36 points-paying races on the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series calendar will be broadcast live on the Performance Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

— Spire Motorsports —

In other words, Riggs, who announced Tuesday that he will be back in the No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford next year, plans to be at the front of the field in the UNOH 250 presented by Ohio Logistics on Thursday night (8 p.m. ET on FS1, NRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

“Who doesn‘t want to be the number one guy with a target on your back?” Riggs asked rhetorically during Tuesday‘s Chase Media Day for the Truck Series. “Somebody else said, ‘How do you like being hunted?‘ I‘m still the hunter, hunting for a bigger points lead.

“I‘m not on defense. I‘m on just as much offense as I have been all year long—and it‘s not going to change.”

Bristol is an excellent starting point for Riggs, who has two victories and four top 10s in five Truck Series starts at the 0.533-mile concrete track. The 24-year-old from Bahama, N.C., who spent part of three pre-Chase off weeks in the Bahamas, is the defending winner of the fall race at Thunder Valley.

Riggs‘ Front Row Motorsports teammate, Chandler Smith—third in the standings and 35 points back to start the seven-race Chase—has an equally enviable record at Bristol. In seven starts at the track, Smith has two wins and six top 10s.

Kaden Honeycutt, who earned second seeding in the No. 11 TRICON Garage Toyota that carried Corey Heim to the series championship last year, has work to do at Bristol. In seven starts there, Honeycutt one pole and one top 10 to his credit—an eighth-place run in the spring of 2025.

Honeycutt starts the Chase 25 points behind Riggs.

— NASCAR News Wire —

Fresh from his NASCAR Cup Series victory at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway — and just nine points behind Chase leader Denny Hamlin — Larson brings renewed confidence to Saturday‘s Bass Pro Shops Night Race (7:30 p.m. ET on USA, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

“I did not think that I would break the streak here,” Larson said after taking the checkered flag at WWT Raceway last Sunday. “I was more looking at next week (Bristol), but this definitely built some momentum, and we just have to keep it going.

“There‘s still a lot of racing left, but we need more days like today.”

Under the lights at Bristol, Larson and Hamlin will go head-to-head at a track where both have had success. Larson has posted seven top fives—including all three of his career victories—in the last eight races at Thunder Valley.

Hamlin has four wins at the 0.533-mile, high-banked concrete track, including three victories in the Night Race. The driver of the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota considered himself fortunate to retain the Chase lead after respective finishes of 18th and ninth in the first two events of the postseason.

“(At Darlington, in the Chase opener), we had good performance,” Hamlin said. “We were really good, and just circumstances. But this week (at WWT Raceway), we weren‘t very good.

“Tough day on pit road at the end, or generally. We were able to come out of it with something, and the competition also helped.”

Indeed. Christopher Bell, 18 points behind Hamlin in third place, had a chance to grab the series lead at Gateway before being collected in a four-car accident on Lap 223 and finishing 19th.

Bell is the defending winner of the Night Race, with seven top-10 finishes in his 10 starts at the track.

Ryan Blaney, fourth in the Chase standings and 33 points in arrears, was a victim of brake rotor failure at WWT Raceway. The driver of the No. 12 Team Penske Ford finished second to Ty Gibbs in the April race at Bristol.

“We‘ve still got a long way to go in this thing,” Blaney said Wednesday in a Zoom meeting with reporters. “There‘s still eight (races) left. It stinks to give points away, but we‘re still not out of it by any means.

“So, we‘ve just got to go into (Bristol), head held high like we normally do, and go try to run well and make up what we lost.”

Despite Hamlin‘s ninth-place result at Gateway, only three Chase drivers gained points on the series leader, with Larson chopping the largest number (40 points) off Hamlin‘s advantage. Eleven drivers, however, lost ground to the top seed.

Larson is the only driver to gain points on Hamlin in both Chase races.

Joey Logano finished third from the pole last Sunday and trimmed his deficit to Hamlin to 51 points. Logano has two Bristol victories, but none since 2015. In last year‘s Night Race, he broke a streak of five straight Bristol finishes outside the top 20 with a fifth-place run. The three-time series champion was seventh in this year‘s spring race.

— NASCAR News Wire —

That‘s a situation the driver of the No. 7 JR Motorsports Chevrolet hopes to remedy in Friday night‘s Food City 300 at Bristol Motor Speedway (7:30 p.m. ET on CW, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

Having lost a lead of more than 200 points at the Chase reset, Allgaier finished 17th at Darlington after late contact with the outside wall and followed that with a 13th-place run at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway.

Allgaier‘s difficulties paved the way for Sheldon Creed to seize the Chase lead with a victory at Darlington and a second-place run last Saturday. Creed comes to Bristol with a three-point edge over the top seed.

“I can‘t think of a better place to head to than Bristol this weekend,” said Allgaier, who has collected two wins and 13 top fives in 27 starts at the 0.533-mile concrete speedway. “This has always been one of my favorite tracks. We‘ve always been really strong here, and I know that we will have that same capability again on Friday.

“(The team) has been locked in all week, and we know what we need to do when we hit the track. We‘ve had this race circled on the calendar, and we‘re ready to get out there and see what we can do.”

Creed managed to finish second at Gateway in the No. 00 Haas Factory Team Chevrolet, despite his crew having to make significant adjustments to the car throughout the race.

“The guys are just doing a really good job and bringing the best stuff we have in the shop right now,” Creed said after the race in a video posted by Braking Bob. “It‘s a fun time to be driving the 00. When we show up and can be fast, even when it‘s not driving great, we‘re still up there towards the front. That makes it really enjoyable.”

Carson Kvapil left the St. Louis-area track with a fifth-place finish and a nine-point deficit to Creed. Gateway race winner Jesse Love is fourth in the Chase standings, 16 points back, but there‘s considerable distance back to the next two places.

Sam Mayer and Austin Hill both are 61 points out of the lead, though Mayer has gained five positions in the standings since the Chase began.

— NASCAR Wire Service —

The updated procedures are as follows:

• To start the race, all cars must have the same tire type (slicks or wet weather), as determined by NASCAR
• After the green flag to start the race, if NASCAR issues a caution flag for rain and deems the racing surface damp, it will be each team‘s choice whether to race on wet weather tires or slicks.
• NASCAR may deem pit road as damp. In this case, any yellow-flag pit stops will be non-competitive.
• Positions will not change on pit road. Cars exiting pit road will be positioned behind cars that stayed out, if applicable.
• Green flag pit stops will remain competitive.

Capriccio Bubbly Sangria is a fruit-forward blend of sparkling red wine and 100% natural fruit juices, featuring flavors of pineapple, pomegranate, orange and grape. One of the best-selling sangrias in the United States, Capriccio is available at major retailers nationwide. The brand will be prominently featured on the No. 31 Chevrolet as Perkins takes on Bristol‘s famed half-mile oval under the lights. The partnership brings the Capriccio brand to one of NASCAR‘s most passionate fan bases during one of the sport‘s signature race weekends, with the Food City 300 scheduled for Friday, September. 18 at 7:30 p.m. ET and airing nationally on The CW.

Perkins, a Bakersfield, California, native, is in his second season with Jordan Anderson Racing Bommarito Autosport, competing full-time in the No. 31 Chevrolet. He joined the organization in 2025 and recorded a career-high four top-10 finishes during his first season with the team.

“I‘m very excited to have Capriccio Bubbly Sangria on our No. 31 Chevrolet for Bristol,” said Perkins. “I‘m happy that we can help introduce this great brand to the world of NASCAR during one of our biggest races of the year. I‘m thankful to have their support this weekend, and hopefully our No. 31 group can give them a solid performance at the ‘Last Great Colosseum!‘”

Sugarlands Distilling Company facilitated the Capriccio-Jordan Anderson Racing Bommarito Autosport partnership in collaboration with Morales Beverage Group, building on relationships across the beverage industry and motorsports. Morales Beverage Group works with both Capriccio and Sugarlands, while Sugarlands has built an extensive presence in motorsports through partnerships with drivers, teams, tracks and racing series across the country.

“Capriccio has been a household name for decades, with a loyal consumer following and a brand that continues to resonate across generations,” said Celia Villanueva, CEO, Quality Brewers, LLC. “This partnership is about building on that legacy and finding new, exciting ways to connect with consumers. Bristol is one of the most iconic stages in NASCAR, and we‘re proud to work alongside Capriccio, Sugarlands and Jordan Anderson Racing to bring the brand to race fans in a big way.”

— Bristol Motor Speedway —

For more than two decades, Nashville Superspeedway has been woven into the fabric of Roush‘s racing legacy. In 2001, Roush Racing and future NASCAR star Greg Biffle won the inaugural NASCAR race at the facility, delivering Biffle‘s first career NASCAR Busch Series victory on the way to a championship season and launching one of the most successful driver development pipelines in modern NASCAR history. Over the years, Roush-owned teams would go on to score a NASCAR-record eight victories at the track across multiple series, while Jack himself became a familiar figure above the speedway skies, performing ceremonial flyovers in his famed P-51 Mustang aircraft before Nashville events.

This month, that racing history returns to Nashville in a different form.

Selections from the legendary Roush Automotive Collection — curated over 38 years of collecting, restoring and preserving race cars, performance vehicles and motorsports artifacts — will headline Mecum‘s Nashville auction with an extraordinary lineup of competition vehicles, one-offs, historic race cars and classic American performance machines. Offered in conjunction with the 50th anniversary celebration of Roush Industries, the event marks the first time vehicles from the private collection will be made publicly available to collectors and enthusiasts.

The company founded by motorsports icon Jack Roush has spent decades building a reputation for engineering innovation, championship-winning race programs and high-performance automotive development. The motorsports organization, including RFK Racing, has earned more than 30 national championships across multiple disciplines while helping shape modern NASCAR, road racing and performance engineering through relentless innovation and competition. The Roush Automotive Collection, located in the Detroit metropolitan area, grew from those accomplishments and now houses more than 150 vehicles and countless artifacts representing the spirit and history behind the Roush name.

Beyond the race wins and trophies, the collection also reflects Jack Roush‘s personal passion for preserving and sharing automotive history. As part of the company‘s 50th anniversary celebration, Roush made the decision to open portions of that legacy to the broader automotive and racing community through this historic offering.

“There‘s a lot of legacy, hard work, passion and history tied to these vehicles,” said Jack Roush. “They represent people, ideas, races and moments that helped shape Roush over the last 50 years. I‘ve always believed cars are meant to be driven, experienced and appreciated, and this felt like the right time to share some of that history with people who truly love automobiles and racing.”

Among the highlights headed to Nashville is the aforementioned 1969 Ford Mustang Boss 429 Fastback featuring a 460 CI short-block Pro Stock V-8 personally built by Jack Roush. Another featured offering is the famed 1995 Ford Mustang Cobra “Nobody‘s Fool” IMSA Road Race Car that earned a class victory at the Rolex 24 at Daytona with drivers including Paul Newman, Tommy Kendall and Mark Martin. Also included is the dominant 1997 Ford Mustang Cobra SCCA Trans-Am car driven by Tommy Kendall to a record-setting 11 victories and a championship season for Roush Racing.

The collection also includes historic NASCAR race cars driven by drivers including NASCAR Hall-of-Famers Mark Martin, Matt Kenseth, Carl Edwards, Kurt Busch and Jeff Burton, along with a variety of landmark ROUSH Performance vehicles, specialty concepts and vintage automobiles tied directly to Jack Roush‘s personal automotive journey.

Two NASCAR vehicles will be auctioned for charity: Greg Biffle‘s 2004 Ford Taurus will benefit the Biffle Family Fund, while Matt Kenseth‘s 2012 Ford Fusion will benefit the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

For motorsports enthusiasts, collectors and NASCAR fans alike, the Mecum Nashville auction will offer a rare opportunity to own a direct piece of one of the most influential legacies in American racing history.

— RFK Racing —

The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge at Pelican, Tampa Bay‘s signature LPGA Tour event, takes place the following week, Nov. 9-15 at Pelican Golf Club in Belleair, Fla.

McDowell, a two-time Cup Series race winner, will race the No. 71 The ANNIKA driven by Gainbridge Chevrolet ZL1 when NASCAR‘S premier division returns to the popular mile-and-a-half South Florida oval for Championship Weekend for the first time since 2019.

Meanwhile, the decklid of McDowell‘s No. 71 Chevy will feature a dynamic look, including a roster showcasing many of the players on the LPGA Tour‘s “Race to the CME Globe” rankings who are currently eligible to compete at the ANNIKA, a season-long points competition in which LPGA Members accumulate points in every Official LPGA Tournament to gain entry into the season-end CME Group Tour Championship. McDowell will also sport a The ANNIKA-themed driver suit featuring a golf-inspired caddie bib and golf pants on race day.

After the checkered flag waves and the 2026 NASCAR season officially comes to a close, the father-of-five will head to Florida‘s Gulf Coast for The ANNIKA to share time with the LPGA Tour players and participate as a celebrity caddie in the Wednesday Pro-Am at Pelican Golf Club on Nov. 11.

“I‘m definitely not the best golfer in the world so it‘s easy for me to appreciate the talented players on the LPGA Tour,” said McDowell. “I‘m really looking forward to visiting Pelican Golf Club to be part of the festivities and seeing the event in person. I know how important this tournament is to our partners at Group 1001 and Gainbridge, so this is a great opportunity for Spire Motorsports to play an important supporting role.”

“I‘m looking forward to meeting Michael at The ANNIKA at Pelican Golf Club in November and watching the No. 71 ANNIKA Chevrolet hopefully take the checkered flag at the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race,” said Sörenstam. “Thank you to our incredible partners at Gainbridge and Group 1001 for this unique partnership – shining a spotlight and elevating women‘s sports.”

The ANNIKA is sponsored by Gainbridge, a Group 1001 company and features a $3.25 million purse, one of the largest on the LPGA Tour, outside of the major championships. Proceeds from the tournament will benefit the ANNIKA Foundation.

With eight races before the close of the 2026 Cup Series campaign, McDowell sits 20th in points while claiming three top-five and six top-10 finishes on the year.

The NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race from Homestead-Miami Speedway will be televised live on NBC Sunday, Nov. 8 beginning at 3:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. The 36th and final race of the 2026 season will be broadcast live in the Motor Racing Network and Sirius XM Satellite Radio Channel 90.

— Spire Motorsports —

The race was up 7% from last year, when it averaged 1.525 million viewers.

.@USANetwork averaged 1.635 million viewers for Sunday's NASCAR Cup Series Enjoy Illinois 300 @WWTRaceway, up 7% from 1.525 million last year. pic.twitter.com/8vZep5oxeP

— Adam Stern (@A_S12) September 16, 2026

…

Some in the sport have mentioned ECR Engines, the sister company of Chevrolet-aligned Richard Childress Racing, as a potential option for Dodge. Ford is unlikely to pursue an engine supply deal with Dodge, according to a person familiar with the matter; Ford declined to comment.

The interest from the other manufacturer in NASCAR, Toyota, was unclear. If it wants to fast track a Cup program, another potential option for Dodge could be to start with their old engine from 2012, one of the people added.

An announcement would likely need to come soon if Dodge is to enter Cup next year given the preparation needed in a series with a short offseason. If it weren‘t able to line up a deal in time, Stellantis could table the decision for 2028 or later.

…

Asked about the potential of Dodge entering NASCAR in ‘27, NASCAR CEO Steve O‘Donnell told SBJ this summer: “I want to make sure that they and the sport get it right, so yes I‘d love to see them in 2027. But it‘s more important for all of us to make it‘s a successful launch for Dodge.”

— Sports Business Journal —

Layne Riggs has had a career year — winning six NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series races and earning the No. 1 seed in the seven-race Chase that will decide who hoists the big trophy at the end of the year.

He confirmed Tuesday during the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Chase Media Day interview session featuring the 10 championship-eligible drivers that he had re-signed with Front Row Motorsports for next season and is eager to continue that tenure with a “champion” in front of his first name.

The series opens its Chase run Thursday under the bright lights on the famous Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway high banks in the UNOH 250 Presented by Ohio Logistics (8 p.m. ET on FS1, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). The defending race winner? None other than Riggs.

The 24-year-old second-generation NASCAR driver was his typically friendly-self during Tuesday‘s interview session, but he was also quick to emphasize that he‘s absolutely ready to raise his game in the championship run. And that says a lot, considering he‘s already claimed a career-best six wins this season, including the most recent race — from pole position, no less — at New Hampshire three weeks ago.

Three of his six wins have come from pole (also Nashville and Indianapolis Raceway Park), and he‘s finished first or second in three of the last four races entering the Chase. He takes a 25-point lead over TRICON Garage‘s Kaden Honeycutt into Thursday‘s Chase opener.

“We‘ve just been getting stronger and keeping our minds sharper in situations that aren‘t ideal for us, and we‘ve just got to keep that same mindset rolling that we‘ve been doing all year long,” said Riggs, who drives the No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford. “This is nothing new for us. We‘ve been points racing the entire year.

“What we‘ve been doing the last two months, keep doing it just have to focus on keep doing that. Don‘t do anything any different if it‘s working.”

He acknowledged there may be the proverbial “target” on his back to decide this title and said he‘s absolutely prepared to meet that challenge.

“I do [have a target] because everybody wants to be me, who doesn‘t want to be the number one guy with the target on the back. Someone asks, ‘how do you like being hunted?‘ I‘m not, I‘m still the hunter, hunting for a bigger points lead. I‘m not on defense, I‘m on just as much offense as I have been all year long and that‘s not going to change.”

Honeycutt leans on championship-caliber team in Truck title pursuit

Entering the Chase second in points, there‘s plenty of reason for Honeycutt to enter this week‘s postseason opener feeling confident and optimistic. And he is both.

The 23-year-old Texan likes the seven-race schedule that will determine the series championship saying he and his team really have “no weak spots” in that stretch. He led the championship (for five weeks) for the first time in his career and enters the Chase 25-points behind Riggs in the points reset — the two drivers dominating first or second place in the standings all season.

It‘s already been a career year for Honeycutt, whose 11 top-five finishes are nearly triple his previous best entire-season tally. Most reassuring to his title chances, he earned his first two career series wins at the Watkins Glen, N.Y. road course and then the Richmond, Va. short oval only two weeks before the pre-championship stretch break.

“If we can go out and start really good at Bristol, be really consistent,” Honeycutt said, noting that Chase competition in the NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR O‘Reilly Auto Parts Series has been quite dramatic already.

“We’ve obviously seen the last couple races for Cup have completely turned upside down for most of the guys,” he added. “I feel like if we just execute, do our own deal, race our race, and not try to do anything else other than that and not focus on points so much, just focus on winning, and everything kind of takes care of itself after that.”

Importantly, his No. 11 TRICON Garage Toyota team is led by one of the winningest crew chiefs in series history, Scott Zipadelli, who led Corey Heim to the championship just last year.

“Having a crew chief like Scott and the whole team that’s a championship caliber team is definitely very easy to get used to,” Honeycutt said. “Scott has helped me tremendously on my race craft and he’s done a lot of things for me outside of truck racing that’s led to winning races.

Championship would provide fitting farewell for Smith, Front Row

Chandler Smith comes into the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Chase ranked third in the seeding — only 35 points behind his Front Row Motorsports‘ teammate Riggs atop the standings – and Smith says he‘s ready to harness a whole lot of that momentum.

It goes beyond his innate competitive push to hoist the season trophy. Only weeks ago, the 24-year-old Georgia native was signed by Richard Childress Racing to return to the NASCAR O‘Reilly Auto Parts Series fulltime in 2027. So, Smith is determined to make this championship-run a celebratory farewell.

The driver of the No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford started the year with a win in the season-opener at Daytona and added his ninth career series victory in July at North Wilkesboro, N.C. He‘s earned top-10 finishes in 12 of the 18 races to date, including the four leading into this Chase run.

“We‘re 35 points out and if you look at the last few races of the regular season how we started cutting that points deficit. … I think our team is in a good spot right now and I‘m driving in a good spot,” Smith said.

“Here recently we‘ve really been consistent and seen the fruits of the labor,” Smith said of the team‘s efforts, praising his team owner Bob Jenkins for “taking a risk” on hiring him two years ago.

“I‘d like to leave them on a good note, leave them with a good solid foundation that whatever driver they have coming in and go out and win races and contend for championships, that they have the notebook, they have the trucks, they have everything at their disposal.”

Smith finished third in the championship in 2022 boasting three trips to Victory Lane, but says he looks forward to the new championship format this year that rewards a season-long effort.

“To be a part of the Chase and be part of a format that I watched Jimmie Johnson and Kyle Busch just dominate, or Tony Stewart, those guys – to be a part of that format is really cool for me,” he said. “I wanted to be a part of it and now here I am, so it‘s a little bit of a dream come true.

“The other thing that makes it different from this year to last year is now we have a most a full other year of working as a team and the fruit of that labor has been showing here recently with the consistent finishes. Chemistry is big. It takes time and patience and I‘m proud to see the 38-team growing and getting better week by week.”

Fourth-seeded Eckes takes big-picture approach into title run

Christian Eckes, driver of the No. 91 McAnally-Hilgemann Racing Chevrolet, enters the Chase ranked fourth among the 10 championship-eligible drivers — 40 points off Rigg‘s lead.

This is the first time he‘s competed in the series fulltime since 2024 when he finished third in the championship and won four races. Eckes is still winless on the year but is taking a big picture approach to this title run. Nearly half (four) of his nine career wins in the series have come at tracks in this postseason stretch. And his 11 top-10 showings on the year are as many as the points leader Riggs.

“For us, it‘s definitely not dragging us down at all,” Eckes said of going into the Chase without a victory yet. “If anything, I‘d say it really puts us into a position where we don‘t have anything to lose because we‘re not the [championship] favorite and we haven‘t been the best running truck throughout the year. So, it puts us in a spot, where whatever happens, happens and we‘ll do the best we can.”

Championship hopefuls brace for hectic Chase opener at Bristol

All of the 10 drivers competing for the 2026 NASCAR CARFTSMAN Truck Series title allowed a slight smile or shook their head when asked about the challenging Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway to open the Chase this week. Many spoke of the action-packed NASCAR Cup Series and O‘Reilly Auto Parts Series Chase openers that have already immediately impacted the championship standings.

TRICON Garage‘s Gio Ruggiero, who drives the No. 17 Toyota and is making his first ever Chase appearance did not mince words. The 21-year-old finished third in the series‘ Spring visit to Bristol and acknowledges the intensity will be picking up this go-round at the half-mile Bullring.

“We’ve been off for a couple weeks now and everybody’s hungry to get back out there and race,” said Ruggiero, who is ranked fifth in the reseeded Chase standings. “Starting up the Chase, everybody’s trying to make up those points now. I feel like it’s going to be a hectic race for sure. I think everybody’s going to race each other hard and restarts there are super important because it can be a hard track to pass at, if the bottom lane is super gripped up. I think the restarts; you’re going to see some really good racing and hopefully not too many wrecks.”

Proven Chase-track winner Enfinger believes championship is within reach

Series veteran Grant Enfinger may head into the Chase ranked seventh among the 10 drivers, but the 41-year-old Alabama-native sounded optimistic about his ability to contend in the right circumstances.

The driver of the No. 9 CR7 Motorsports Chevrolet is a 14-time race winner, hoisting his most recent trophy this July at the Lime Rock, Conn. road course. He‘s finished seventh or better in the championship in seven of the last eight years with a career best showing of runner-up in 2023.

He‘s won at four of the Chase tracks, including the site of the finale, Homestead Motor Speedway.

“We can absolutely do this,” Enfinger said.

–NASCAR Wire Service–

Texas A&M and Haas Factory Team today unveiled a university-themed livery for the Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway. Cole Custer‘s No. 41 Chevrolet Camaro will feature the message “Standing for America” during the Sept. 19 NASCAR Cup Series race, extending a commemoration that began on campus during Texas A&M‘s Red, White and Blue Football Game.

The Sept. 12 game marked the 250th anniversary of the United States and the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. It honored those who were lost, those who answered the call to serve and the enduring American values of courage, unity and selfless service.

Those ideas will now travel from Kyle Field to Bristol, Tennessee, as part of Texas A&M‘s yearlong 150th anniversary celebration and its broader commitment to working together for the good of the nation.

“Standing for America” is a specific expression of Texas A&M‘s brand platform, “Together, We Stand as a Force for Good.” It reflects the university‘s belief that when people stand together and place service above self, they can accomplish extraordinary things for their communities and country.

“Bristol gives Texas A&M another extraordinary national stage on which to demonstrate what we mean by standing together,” said R. Ethan Braden, Texas A&M‘s vice president and chief marketing and communications officer. “Aggies have never understood patriotism as something merely to display. It is something to practice through service, sacrifice and a willingness to work alongside others for the common good. That is the spirit this car carries forward.”

The No. 41 car brings that message to life through a design rooted in Aggie identity and American symbolism.

“Standing for America” appears prominently across the hood, large enough to command attention during overhead television shots. “A Force for Good” is displayed across the rear spoiler. Texas A&M University is featured on the rear quarter panels and behind the No. 41 on the roof, while Block ATM marks appear on the doors and nose. American stars and stripes frame the windshield and sweep along the sides of the predominantly Aggie maroon car.

The livery also extends Texas A&M‘s recent 9/11 tribute at Kyle Field to the track. “United in Remembrance,” accompanied by the years “‘01—‘26,” incorporates artwork directly from the Red, White and Blue tribute shirts worn by nearly 108,000 fans during the Sept. 12 football game. The design carries forward a visual created for that tribute, connecting the No. 41‘s “Standing for America” message with a powerful moment of remembrance and unity shared by the Aggie community.

Together, the elements connect Texas A&M‘s identity, its service-oriented mission and its longstanding commitment to the nation.

“Racing is the ultimate team sport. Every person has a role, and everyone depends on each other to succeed,” Haas Factory Team President Joe Custer said. “That shared commitment to teamwork and working toward something bigger than yourself aligns closely with what Texas A&M represents. We‘re proud to help carry that message on a national stage at Bristol.”

An iconic race under the lights

Known as “The Last Great Colosseum,” Bristol Motor Speedway is one of NASCAR‘s most distinctive and celebrated venues.

Drivers will complete 500 laps around its steeply banked, 0.533-mile concrete oval. The stadium-like setting places spectators nearly on top of the racing and concentrates the sound, speed and intensity of NASCAR inside one of the sport‘s most recognizable arenas.

The Bristol Night Race has become one of the NASCAR Cup Series‘ signature events, distinguished by close-quarters racing under the lights and an atmosphere unlike nearly anything else in motorsports.

The Bass Pro Shops Night Race begins at 6:30 p.m. CT Sept. 19 on USA Network. Last year, the race drew 1.54 million viewers, with nearly another 90,000 attending in person.

National broadcast continues flagship campaign

The broadcast will also include a 60-second version of Texas A&M‘s new flagship brand anthem, “Working Together for the Good of the Nation.”

The cinematic film invites viewers into the Texas A&M story through scenes of Aggie traditions, research, health, engineering, military service and community impact. It is set to a new rendition of the classic song “Let‘s Work Together,” performed by Grammy Award-winning musician and Texas A&M graduate Lyle Lovett ‘79.

Since its Aug. 20 release, the full two-minute film has already received more than 9 million views on Texas A&M‘s YouTube channel. It made its national television debut during FOX‘s broadcast of the inaugural IndyCar Freedom 250 Grand Prix in Washington, D.C.

The film and the race car carry the same underlying message: Texas A&M‘s greatest contribution is not any single program, discovery, tradition or individual achievement. It is what Aggies make possible by working together in service to something larger than themselves.

Building a national motorsports presence

The Bristol activation continues Texas A&M‘s growing presence across two of America‘s premier motorsports series.

In IndyCar, Texas A&M‘s 2026 season-long helmet partnership with Indianapolis 500 champion Felix Rosenqvist and an associate sponsorship with Meyer Shank Racing gave the university a presence at every race, complemented by major activations at the Grand Prix of Arlington and the inaugural Freedom 250 in Washington, D.C.

In NASCAR, Texas A&M and the Haas racing organization are now in the third season of a partnership that has used distinctive university-branded cars and nationally televised events to tell stories about teamwork, service, innovation and national purpose, in addition to numerous paid summer student internships for workforce development.

The relationship began with appearances at Las Vegas and Phoenix in 2024. It continued at the Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte and at Martinsville in 2025 before expanding in 2026 to the Anduril 250 Race the Base in San Diego and now the Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol.

Earlier this season, the Texas A&M car at the Anduril 250 paid tribute to President George H.W. Bush during a weekend celebrating the U.S. Navy‘s 250th anniversary at Naval Base Coronado.

Bush was one of the youngest naval aviators to serve during World War II. He later became an honorary Aggie who saw his commitment to public service reflected in Texas A&M and chose the university as the home of his presidential library and museum, The Bush School of Government and Public Service, and his final resting place.

From San Diego and Washington, D.C., to Kyle Field and now Bristol, each activation is part of a larger, cumulative effort to make Texas A&M‘s character, contributions and public purpose more visible and understandable across the country.

The message carried by the No. 41 car is both timely and enduring: Aggies stand together, serve something larger than themselves and work as a force for good in Texas, across the nation and beyond.

— Player Management International —

Launch Trailer: YouTube

Players can purchase NASCAR 26‘s Gold Edition today for $79.99, unlocking the full game along with the Season Pass, featuring four monthly DLC packs through the end of the year including new paint schemes, fire suits, and career mode perks (VIP employees, 1,000 rep points, and a $10,000 career bonus). Pre-ordering either the Gold Edition or the Standard Edition ($59.99) before September 18 will unlock an additional $5,000 career bonus, 500 career reputation points, and an exclusive Kyle Larson paint scheme.

“The response to NASCAR 25 reflected the momentum we‘re seeing across NASCAR and gave us a strong foundation to build from,” said Nick Rend, Vice President of Interactive & Emerging Platforms at NASCAR. “Over the past year, we‘ve worked closely with iRacing Studios and listened to our community to identify where we could make the experience better. NASCAR 26 is the result of that work, and you can see it across the game, from how the cars drive and tracks evolve to cross-platform play that brings players together.”

Built in collaboration with NASCAR and powered by iRacing Studios’ industry-leading simulation technology, NASCAR 26 continues the franchise’s commitment to delivering the most authentic representation of the sport both on and off the track. Become a legend in the improved Career Mode, take on opponents in competitive cross-platform online multiplayer, and fight for the championship in The Chase, a new standalone mode. There’s also a groundbreaking dynamic track feature that evolves over each race weekend, a new Peak Performance training mode, dramatically improved graphics, lighting and much more.

Key Features

• Favorite Drivers & Tracks: Race across the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR O‘Reilly Auto Parts Series, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and ARCA Menards Series with your favorite drivers and tracks from each series.
• Improved Career Mode: Career Mode returns deeper than ever, featuring new weekly strategic planning decisions with Facility Upgrades that shape your journey from day one, along with performance coaching and tips from NASCAR greats Steve Letarte and Jamie McMurray.
• New Game Modes & Features: Experience the thrill of The Chase, a new customizable standalone mode where you fight for a championship over the last 10 races of the season against the field of your choice, along with a new Peak Performance training mode to perfect your abilities on every track plus cross-platform multiplayer.
• New Upgrades & Enhancements: Enjoy visual upgrades across the entire game, including improved graphics, skies, and dynamic lighting and cloud interactions, plus better replay cameras and an all new particle system for enhanced smoke, debris and additional effects. On the track, you‘ll experience an all new tire and braking model for a more authentic racing experience along  with dynamic track technology that changes the grip over the course of a race weekend.
• And So Much More: Discover a ton of other additions, such as burnout celebrations, an all-new Ram truck, a new spotter (Freddie Kraft), new tracks (including the Qualcomm Circuit at Naval Base Coronado, Chicagoland, and St. Petersburg), a trophy room, an enhanced paint kit, and all new (fully customizable!) driver ratings for 2026.

— NASCAR —

The Bahama, North Carolina-native confirmed on Wednesday, during NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Chase Media Day, that the two-truck team has picked up his option for next season, and he‘ll continue to pilot the No. 34 Ford F-150.

Although Riggs says nothing has officially been signed yet, the 24-year-old driver told members of the media he‘d like to make his debut in the NASCAR Cup Series next season, with the goal of doing so by the end of next year.

— JosephSrigley.com —

Original post 7-19-2026: Layne Riggs has responded to increasing speculation about a potential NASCAR Cup Series move in 2027. However, the leader in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series points states that no decision has been made. As NASCAR’s off-season progresses, the Front Row Motorsports driver stated he’s awaiting the evolving driver market before deciding on his next career step.

“I’d like to know my plans too. I’m not sure either, actually. We don’t have any plans yet. Right now, we’re just seeing how the early silly season plays out to find out if there’s an opportunity for me.”

“I’d love to make my first Cup start at some point. This year would be great, but the timeline isn’t looking ideal with the cutoff before the playoffs. Still, whenever that opportunity comes, I’d love to take it.”

— Yahoo Sports —

🗣️ @LayneRiggs99 says he’s still figuring out his plans for 2027 but could a Cup Series ride be in his future? ⬇️

💭 “It is, I’m working hard every day to try to make sure that happens, but no new news yet.”

More: https://t.co/WGRTG5gnEd pic.twitter.com/BMtrN6Mc1R

— SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Ch. 90) (@SiriusXMNASCAR) July 17, 2026

The Missouri native, Boyd, commented on the fresh relationship, “I remember American Freight from when I was traveling the Midwest going to karting races so it’s fun to now be a spokesperson for them. I‘m proud to represent this new ownership group of the brand with their renewed focus on offering affordable furniture and mattresses, great everyday prices, and serving customers through stores across the country.”

For more than thirty years, American Freight‘s purpose has stayed the same: helping people create comfortable, functional, beautiful homes at prices they can afford. That commitment guides every decision they make — dependable products, honest pricing, and service that puts you first.

“We‘re excited to partner with Spencer Boyd and Freedom Racing at Kansas Speedway as he gets behind the wheel of the No. 76 American Freight Chevrolet Silverado. Just like race day, American Freight is all about speed, value, and delivering for our customers. Our warehouse showrooms across the country are packed with furniture and mattresses ready to take home or deliver today at incredible values, including sofas starting at $299.99 and recliners starting at $199.99. Race into your local American Freight or online at AmericanFreight.com!” said Brock Roberts, Chief Operating Officer of 26 licensed American Freight stores.

To kick off the partnership NASCAR Driver Spencer Boyd will be visiting two stores during the race weekend in Kansas City. He will be signing autographs while the store hosts some great giveaways with details as follows:
• Thursday, September 24 from 5-6pm at 3715 N. Belt Hwy. St Joseph, MO 64506
• Sunday, September 27 from 12-1pm at 2210B S. State Rte. 291 Hwy. Independence, MO 64057

Catch Spencer Boyd driving the American Freight race truck at the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Race at Kansas Speedway, on Saturday, September 26, 2026, at 12:00 PM CT. The 200-mile race will be broadcast live on FS1.

— Freedom Racing Enterprises —

Scott will once again pilot the No. 45 TruShine Car Wash NASCAR O‘Reilly Auto Part Series car on Friday, September 18, featuring the same TruShine paint scheme that appeared at Bristol earlier this season.

TruShine Car Wash, the Official Car Wash of Bristol Motor Speedway, has been a multi-year supporter of Alpha Prime Racing and will again use the Bristol weekend to connect with race fans throughout Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia.

“We‘re excited to be back with Alpha Prime Racing and Lavar at Bristol,” said KD Moore, Owner of TruShine Car Wash. “Bristol is always a special weekend for us, and we‘re proud to once again have TruShine represented on the No. 45. We‘ve enjoyed building this relationship over the past couple of years and look forward to another great race under the lights.”

“TruShine has been a great partner of Alpha Prime Racing, and we always enjoy having them back on the car at Bristol,” said Jusan Hamilton, President of Alpha Prime Racing. “They‘re a strong local brand, they understand NASCAR fans, and this partnership continues to be a great fit for both sides. We‘re looking forward to representing them well again Friday night.”

The partnership continues TruShine‘s commitment to supporting motorsports and engaging with the passionate race fans throughout the Bristol region.

— Alpha Prime Racing —

With approval from the Dollywood Foundation, BMS created a special tribute mark featuring a pink butterfly with “Dolly” across its center. The design will celebrate the late country music icon and proud East Tennessean during race week at “The World‘s Fastest Half-Mile.”

The Dolly Parton tributes will include:

   * Prominent Dolly butterfly signage on the track walls and throughout the BMS property.

   * A race-ready Dolly butterfly decal made available to teams across NASCAR‘s three national series to display on their race cars.

   * A Dolly Parton tribute banner that is 15 wide x 7 tall in the BMS Fan Zone where fans can write messages and add their signatures.

   * Dolly Parton‘s music will be incorporated into the atmosphere throughout the BMS property during race weekend as another tribute to her unmistakable voice and extraordinary legacy.

“Dolly‘s impact reaches far beyond East Tennessee, but she‘ll always have a special place here at home,” said Jerry Caldwell, president and general manager of Bristol Motor Speedway. “We wanted to create a meaningful way for our fans and race teams to join us in honoring her during one of Bristol‘s biggest weekends. We‘re grateful to the Dollywood Foundation for helping us bring this tribute to life.”

In addition to celebrating Dolly Parton‘s life, the Bass Pro Shops Night Race on Sept. 19 will feature a star-studded entertainment lineup, including Academy Award-winning actor and producer Brad Pitt as a grand marshal and two-time Indianapolis 500 winner and two-time INDYCAR Series champion Josef Newgarden as the honorary pace car driver.

Saturday‘s festivities also will include appearances by WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair, a pre-race concert by Brian Kelley, Bristol‘s signature driver introductions featuring music personally selected by the competitors, a children‘s choir performing the national anthem and Lee Greenwood singing “God Bless the USA” as a bald eagle soars above the stadium. Two U.S. Air Force C-130s will follow with a dramatic flyover. Fans also will receive yellow “Rowdy Towels” and unite for a Lap 18 tribute honoring Kyle Busch and his unmatched success at Bristol before the NASCAR Cup Series‘ biggest stars battle under the lights.

The Bass Pro Shops Night Race weekend, Sept. 17-19, will transform Bristol Motor Speedway and the surrounding Northeast Tennessee region into a three-day celebration of racing, music and unforgettable entertainment. Championship competition in all three of NASCAR‘s national series begins Thursday with the Bush‘s Beans 200 ARCA Menards Series race and the UNOH 250 presented by Ohio Logistics, which opens the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Chase, followed by Bristol‘s popular Foam Party. Friday features Nobody Trashes Tennessee Qualifying, the Food City 300 NASCAR O‘Reilly Auto Parts Series Chase race and a post-race concert featuring Tim Dugger. The weekend culminates Saturday night with the 500-lap, postseason Bass Pro Shops Night Race for the NASCAR Cup Series.

— Bristol Motor Speedway —

“Bristol Motor Speedway’s high-banked concrete surface is demanding and continually evolves as rubber is laid down over 500 laps,” said Rick Heinrich, Goodyear NASCAR product manager. “The Goodyear Racing Eagles we have selected for this weekend are designed to effectively rubber in the racing surface creating multiple racing grooves. Teams already have experience with this combination from the spring race.”

The NASCAR O‘Reilly Auto Parts Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series will also race on familiar Goodyear Racing Eagles on the Bristol concrete this weekend. O‘Reilly Auto Parts Series teams have used the setup at Pocono Raceway, Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Iowa Speedway this season, while the left-side tire has been raced five further times, including during Bristol‘s spring race. Craftsman Truck Series teams have raced the left-side tire four times this season; the right-side tire will make its first appearance in the series.

Teams in both series will use inner liners on the right-side tires at Bristol.

Goodyear Racing Eagles are also in action this weekend in the NHRA Great Lakes Nationals at US 131 Motorsports Park, Michigan.

Fast Facts

NASCAR Cup Series
Race: Bass Pro Shops Night Race (500 laps / 266.5 miles)
Track: Bristol Motor Speedway (0.533-mile short track)
Date/Time: Saturday, September 19, 7:30 p.m. ET
TV/Radio: USA, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, HBO Max
Tire: Goodyear Racing Eagle
Tire Code: D-5276 left side, D-5278 right side
Previous Usage in 2026: Bristol-1, Dover (LS)
Tire Circumference: 2,249 mm (88.5 in.) left side, 2,276 (89.6 in.) right side
Recommended Minimum Inflation: LF — 16 psi, RF — 46 psi, LR — 18 psi, RR — 44 psi
Total Dry Weather Sets: 13 (10 new race / 1 qualifying transfer to race / 2 practice)
Total Wet Weather Sets: 4

NASCAR O‘Reilly Auto Parts Series
Race: Food City 300 (300 laps / 159.9 miles)
Track: Bristol Motor Speedway (0.533-mile short track)
Date/Time: Friday, September 18, 7:30 p.m. ET
TV/Radio: CW, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Tire: Goodyear Racing Eagle
Tire Code: D-6106 left side, D-6134 right side
Previous Usage in 2026: Darlington-1 (LS), Rockingham (LS), Bristol-1 (LS), Dover (LS), Darlington-2 (LS), Pocono, Indianapolis, Iowa
Tire Circumference: 2,225 mm (87.6 in.) left side, 2,250 (88.6 in.) right side
Recommended Minimum Inflation: LF — 20 psi, RF — 45 psi, LR — 18 psi, RR — 40 psi
Total Dry Weather Sets: 5 (3 new race / 1 qualifying transfer to start race / 1 practice)
Total Wet Weather Sets: 3

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
Race: UNOH 250 Presented by Ohio Logistics (250 laps / 133.25 miles)
Track: Bristol Motor Speedway (0.533-mile short track)
Date/Time: Thursday, September 17, 8:00 p.m. ET
TV/Radio: FS1, NASCAR Racing Network, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Tire: Goodyear Racing Eagle
Tire Code: D-6106 left side, D-6134 right side
Previous Usage in 2026: Darlington-1 (LS), Rockingham (LS), Bristol-1 (LS), Dover (LS)
Tire Circumference: 2,225 mm (87.6 in.) left side, 2,250 (88.6 in.) right side
Recommended Minimum Inflation: LF — 20 psi, RF — 45 psi, LR — 18 psi, RR — 40 psi
Total Dry Weather Sets: 4 (2 new race / 1 qualifying transfer to start race / 1 practice)
Total Wet Weather Sets: 3

— PitBox 91 —

The November 11 event will feature six teams honoring the six branches of the U.S. Armed Forces, with drivers including Joey Logano, Logan Sargeant, Brad Keselowski, Noah Gragson, Frankie Muniz, and Ben Hobson competing in Mustang Dark Horse Rs.

Tickets go on sale TODAY at www.fordveteransdayclassic.com

• Ford, Zac Brown, NASCAR, Blue Star Families, IMSA and HSR are launching the inaugural Proud to Honor Veterans Day Classic at Daytona International Speedway on November 11.
• Six teams, honoring each of the U.S. Armed Forces branches, will race Mustang® Dark Horse™ Rs featuring Ford Racing drivers like Joey Logano, Logan Sargeant, Brad Keselowski, Noah Gragson, Frankie Muniz, and Ben Hobson.
• Zac Brown Band is the headliner, with more artists to be announced soon.
• Tickets on sale September 14 via Ticketmaster, early bird pricing starting at $110 with a 20% discount for Veterans and Active-Duty Military through GovX. Go to fordveteransdayclassic.com for updates.
• Establishing the Ford Proud to Honor Fund, powered by GlobalGiving. Every dollar donated goes directly to six incredible nonprofits supporting our military and veteran community, no matter where they’re serving: Blue Star Families, Camp Southern Ground, Disabled American Veterans, TAPS, Team Rubicon, and the Travis Manion Foundation.
• Inaugural race will air live on a broadcast partner network, which will be announced at a later date.

On November 11, the Proud to Honor Veterans Day Classic will come to Daytona International Speedway.

Ford, in collaboration with NASCAR, Blue Star Families, IMSA (International Motor Sports Association) and HSR (Historic Sportscar Racing), is bringing together motorsports, music and a shared mission of military support for one unforgettable night, all in support of our service members, veterans and their families. In partnership with Ford Philanthropy, our six military nonprofit partners distributed 1,000 complimentary tickets to eligible military and veteran families within their organizations. It‘s a first-of-its-kind military tribute race, with a headlining performance from the Zac Brown Band.

And there‘s truly no better place to stage it than DAYTONA. The track has been at the center of American racing since it opened in 1959 as the “World Center of Racing,” hosting its first DAYTONA 500 that February in a race so close it was decided by a photo finish. Nearly seven decades later, it’s still one of the biggest stages in the sport, kicking off the NASCAR season every year. Racing there on Veterans Day, with teams racing in honor of every branch of the military, puts this race and concert at a track with the history and scale to match the mission.

We first shared the news with Zac Brown earlier this summer aboard the USS Midway. With the location locked in, here‘s what you need to know.

TICKETS:

Tickets are on sale at fordveteransdayclassic.com. General admission for early bird tickets starts at $110, with a VIP Experience available at $305.  Veterans and Active-Duty Military will receive 20% off through GovX with a verified military ID. Given the importance of this event‘s mission, Ticketmaster is waiving fees for everyone.

THE DRIVERS:

Six teams, each honoring a branch of the U.S. Armed Forces, will compete in one night of fierce, friendly competition. Drivers will race head-to-head in Mustang® Dark Horse™ Rs, creating a unique experience for motorsports fans.

Come see some of the biggest names in Ford Racing lining up for this race: Joey Logano, Brad Keselowski, Logan Sargeant, Noah Gragson, Frankie Muniz, Ben Hobson, and more! We‘ve got even more drivers to announce soon.

THE MUSIC:

Music brings people together, and this night is about celebrating the communities our service members and their families lean on.

For more than a decade, Zac Brown has been a steadfast supporter of America’s service members, veterans, and military families, through performances for troops and his work with Camp Southern Ground. We‘re so excited that Zac Brown Band is headlining, and we’ve got more artists to share in the coming weeks.

SUPPORTING MILITARY AND VETERAN FAMILIES:

This event is about more than a race and a concert — it’s a night built for our military and veteran families, and for the incredible nonprofits that support them, no matter where in the world they’re serving.

That’s why ahead of Veterans Day, Ford is proud to launch the Proud to Honor Fund, powered by GlobalGiving. Every dollar donated will go directly to organizations supporting military members, veterans and their families:

• Blue Star Families
• Camp Southern Ground
• Disabled American Veterans
• TAPS, The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors
• Team Rubicon
• Travis Manion Foundation

A portion of ticket proceeds will also benefit Blue Star Families.

We know that amid the realities of deployment, what matters most isn’t just lasting support, but also moments of connection, community, and joy with the people who understand the journey. The Proud to Honor Veterans Day Classic is designed to give our military and veteran families an experience they will remember long after the checkered flag flies.

In partnership with Ford Philanthropy, our six military nonprofit partners distributed 1,000 complimentary tickets to eligible military and veteran families within their organizations. Last week, Zac Brown shared a personal video message inviting these members to enter for a chance to join us.

WHAT‘S NEXT

Buy tickets now at fordveteransdayclassic.com and opt in for updates as we get closer to race day.

— Ford Racing —

The documentary will have a special preview tonight, Tuesday, Sept. 15, at 9:00 PM ET on FOX Deportes and will also be available on Tubi beginning Saturday, Oct. 17 in the U.S., Mexico and LATAM markets following its FS1 debut.

Set against NASCAR‘s historic return to Mexico City and its first championship race outside the United States since 1958, SUÁREZ follows the three-time Cup Series race winner back to the country that shaped him. After leaving Mexico to pursue his NASCAR dreams in the United States, where he would go on to become the first Mexican-born driver to win a NASCAR Cup Series race, Suárez returns home, racing not just for victory, but for something greater. The full-circle moment underscores what Suárez‘s rise has meant for NASCAR and for a new generation of fans.

“The most compelling sports stories are the ones that resonate far beyond the competition itself, and Daniel‘s is one of them,” said Barry Nugent, Vice President, Development & Original Programming, FOX Sports. “Daniel‘s journey is defined by perseverance, sacrifice and an unwavering pride in where he comes from. He has opened doors, inspired fans and has given the next generation someone to see themselves in. We are proud to partner with WV Alternative and NASCAR Studios to share this deeply personal chapter in Daniel‘s life.”

Through intimate access to Suárez, his family and those closest to him, SUÁREZ traces his journey from his beginnings in Monterrey to the highest level of American motorsports, exploring the experiences, relationships and sense of identity that have shaped his career, including the many sacrifices his family made to support his racing ambitions.

“Coming back to Mexico and racing in front of my home country was something I had dreamed about for a long time, but I don‘t think I fully understood what it would mean until I was there,” said Suárez. “There were so many emotions that weekend, the pressure, the support from my family and fans, and thinking about everything I had gone through to get to that point. Mexico will always be a huge part of who I am, and being able to race there at the highest level was an incredibly meaningful moment in my life. I hope people watching this film can understand where I came from, what this journey has meant to me and feel inspired to chase their own dreams, no matter where they start.”

After an accident in qualifying forces Suárez into a backup car and to the rear of the field for the 2025 NASCAR O‘Reilly Auto Parts Series race, Suárez captures an emotional and historic victory with his home crowd behind him. More than a story of one driver or one race, SUÁREZ is a portrait of a man who never had to choose between where he came from and where he was going.

“Daniel‘s story is one of ambition, sacrifice and perseverance, the kind of story you hope to find and have the opportunity to tell,” said Wilmer Valderrama, Executive Producer, WV Alternative. “We were honored to bring his journey to life and give audiences a deeper look at the person behind the driver. It‘s a story that we believe will stay with you long after the film ends, and we can‘t wait for audiences around the world to experience Daniel‘s journey for themselves.”

“When I first started at NASCAR in the spring of 2024, Daniel‘s story against the backdrop of our planned Mexico City race weekend quickly got my attention,” said John Dahl, NASCAR SVP of Original Content. “I had great experiences working with filmmaker Mario Diaz, and I reached out to him about doing a film on Daniel‘s journey back home. We were soon connected with Wilmer Valderrama‘s WV Alternative team, and it was a perfect match, both in terms of the production and the subject himself. Daniel immediately understood the impact telling his inspiring story could have. He and his wife Julia couldn‘t have been more cooperative in our collective effort to bring this documentary to audiences everywhere.”

SUÁREZ is directed by Mario Diaz and is executive produced by Wilmer Valderrama and Jessica Acevedo of WV Alternative along with Tim Clark, John Dahl and Tally Hair of NASCAR Studios and Eric Shanks, Brad Zager and Nugent from FOX Sports. Ariana Rotstein, Carl Hansen, Michael Vayder, Rita O‘Dea serve as producers.

The film is presented by Freeway Insurance.

— NASCAR —

The No. 47 Chevrolet will feature a new Chef Boyardee paint scheme highlighting two of the brand‘s newest innovations: Chef Boyardee Protein and Chef Boyardee Skillets, both available nationwide.

“We can‘t wait to get our new Chef Boyardee paint scheme under the lights at Bristol. We look forward to giving Ricky a ravioli shower in victory lane, or maybe spaghetti and meatballs, we will just see have to see how the night goes.” said Dan Anglemyer, COO & CMO at Hometown Food Company. “Thanks and a big shout out to our fans for supporting Ricky and the 47 team. We hope you pick up our new products at local grocery stores. Check out our paint job for a hint on where to find them!”

Bristol marks the latest chapter in Chef Boyardee‘s growing partnership with KHI Management and Hyak Motorsports. Throughout the 2026 season, the brand has connected with NASCAR fans through primary sponsorships of the No. 47 Chevrolet at some of the sport‘s most recognizable races, bringing Chef Boyardee to millions of racing enthusiasts nationwide. Building on that momentum, the partnership has been extended through the 2028 season, with Chef Boyardee serving as a primary sponsor for six NASCAR Cup Series races annually, including marquee events such as the Daytona 500 and Talladega.

The Bristol sponsorship also reflects Hometown Food Company‘s continued investment in the iconic Chef Boyardee brand through expanded marketing efforts, consumer engagement, and product innovation. Chef Boyardee Protein, launched last month, delivers 25+ grams of protein per can across fan-favorite varieties, while Chef Boyardee Skillet Meals, launched this Spring, offers consumers a convenient meal solution inspired by familiar Italian flavors. Together, the two innovations represent Chef Boyardee‘s commitment to delivering new offerings that meet evolving consumer needs, while staying true to the flavors families know and love.

— Chef Boyardee —

Kendrick has spent several years working as crew chief for Rackley WAR in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, first serving as shot-caller for the No. 25 Chevrolet Silverado with drivers Timothy Peterson, Matt DiBenedetto, and a host of others from 2021 to 2023, before returning to the organization in 2025 to work with Dawson Sutton on the No. 26.

Willie Allen, co-owner of Rackley WAR, will serve as shot-caller for Sutton this weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway.

—JosephSrigley.com—

“Under the lights at Bristol is the perfect place to showcase our new brand for the first time with RCR,” said Meagen Eisenberg, CMO of Samsara. “The concrete track is unforgiving, the stands are loud, and the racing is tough. That atmosphere directly mirrors the rugged, real-world environments our customers operate in to keep the global economy running.”

Samsara grounded its new identity in the visual language of worksites, truck cabs, and field operations — the places where its customers and operators work every day. The brand‘s ethos, “Built with operators,” was brought to life through the elements that resonated most with its customers, including a high-visibility yellow drawn from the worksite.

“We‘re thrilled to work hand-in-hand with Samsara to help bring their new brand identity to race fans around the world. At Richard Childress Racing we too place great value on the people who work relentlessly to keep operations moving. For us, that means delivering top-tier racecars to the track every weekend. I‘m excited to not only see the reimagined No. 2 Chevrolet hit the track in Bristol, but also the continued value from Samsara‘s technology in our day-to-day operations,” said Mike Verlander, president of Richard Childress Racing.

Samsara is currently in its third year of partnership with RCR. Together, the brands have shown how modern coaching and real-time feedback are reshaping performance on the road and beyond. Earlier this year, RCR‘s Love was featured in a Samsara Super Bowl LX commercial, which unveiled Samsara Coach, an AI-powered coaching experience designed to deliver personalized, real-time guidance to drivers. Love was also revealed as the first avatar available to deliver engaging coaching experiences.

— Richard Childress Racing —

First off, you need to understand that Larson is an elite driver, not a “car guy.” Throughout his career, whether in a sprint car on dirt or in a NASCAR Cup Series car on pavement, Larson has expressed little interest in understanding what makes a race car work.

The construction and setup of his cars are left to others. It may be an oversimplification to say that Larson simply gets behind the wheel and drives, but that‘s a close approximation of reality.

Larson can drive almost any kind of car to its full capability. His feel behind the wheel is exceptional, and his ability to seek and find the fastest racing line is an innate talent enhanced years of experience in widely diverse types of racing vehicles.

Whether to crank a round of wedge into his car or adjust tire pressures—that‘s not Larson‘s bailiwick. He communicates to his crew chief what his car is doing and leaves it to the crew chief to make the corresponding adjustment.

That‘s what makes what happened on Sunday at World Wide Technology Raceway so unusual. When Larson came to pit road for his final stop on Lap 201, he was adamant that his No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet needed four tires, not the right-side-only choice favored by crew chief Cliff Daniels.

“To Kyle’s credit, he made the call,” Daniels said after the race. “He knew what he wanted. He wanted four.”

With fresh tires on all four corners of his Camaro, Larson worked his way forward, aided by a rapid-fire succession of cautions. By the time he lined up for a restart on Lap 228 of 247, he was second in the running order, on the front row to the inside of pole winner Joey Logano.

Larson charged past Logano into the lead through Turns 1 and 2 and held it the rest of the way through three more restarts and two overtimes. When Larson took the checkered flag, his 51-race winless streak was over. The victory lifted Larson into second place in the Chase standings, just nine points behind top-seeded Denny Hamlin.

“He just rolled the bottom really good and cleared me, which is really surprising,” Logano said.

Clearly, four tires made the difference.

“By the time we got the track position to get back to the 22 (Logano) and the 6 (Brad Keselowski), we had the tire advantage,” Daniels said.

After the race, Larson acknowledged that overruling his crew chief wasn‘t typically within his comfort zone.

“So then, yeah, his pit call was ‘We’re thinking two tires,‘” Larson said. “I was like, ‘Man, I don’t want two tires.‘ I’ve never been one to key up on the radio and be like, ‘This is what I’m thinking.‘

“I just really felt confident in that moment. I thought I was too far back in the lineup. Basically, what happened played out. I thought there were going to be some two-tire guys in front of me. I was going to line up behind them on two tires with four tires probably right behind me. I was like, ‘Man, this is going to be tough.‘

“I’m thinking four tires. Still, it’s ultimately up to him. But, yeah, he leaned into that and we took four. It ultimately paid off. Whether we won or not, I thought it was going to be a better call than taking two.”

The trophy Larson received for winning the Enjoy Illinois 300 was a tribute to Kyle Busch, created this year and named “The Rowdy Trophy,” featuring a photo of Busch‘s trademark victory bow framed by St. Louis‘ Gateway Arch.

Busch, whose sudden death in May shocked the sport, earned his 63rd and final Cup Series victory at WWT Raceway in 2023.

In one respect, Busch was the polar opposite of Larson. Busch was thoroughly conversant with the build and setup of his race cars, to the point of calling for specific detailed adjustments from the driver‘s seat.

So perhaps Larson was channeling “Rowdy” when he keyed his radio in the final stage of Sunday‘s race and insisted on four tires.

Whatever the case, Larson found his way to a place familiar to both drivers—Victory Lane.
— NASCAR News Wire —

The souvenir program will be available in the reformatted Broadway Play “Playbill” style size that is more convenient for fans to carry with them while they are at the track. A limited number of printed programs will be available to guests to pick up at a variety of locations on property during the event, including several entry gates, at BMS Guest Services locations, BMS souvenir stands, BMS operated camp grounds and BMS ticket booths, while supplies last.

TO DOWNLOAD A COPY OF THE DIGITAL VERSION OF THE SOUVENIR PROGRAM CLICK HERE

The program features a special cover tribute design “Celebrating Kyle Busch at his beloved Bristol.” Before his tragic and untimely death earlier this year, Busch won 23 times at Bristol during his storied career, including 9 victories in the Cup Series, 9 victories in the O‘Reilly Auto Parts Series and five times in the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series.

The cover story complete with plenty of full-color photos, is a remembrance of Kyle Bush‘s Top 10 Moments at Bristol Motor Speedway, which include his two amazing triple-sweeps that only he has accomplished in NASCAR history.

The program also includes the weekend schedule, an expanded Speed Reading section with tons of track news and information, driver rosters and photo hero pages for the Cup, O‘Reilly and CRAFTSMAN Truck Series teams, a story previewing the full race weekend, track history, track stats and a track map.

To access the free digital version, please visit the Bristol Motor Speedway website or be on the lookout for email messages from Speedway team members as well as invitations to download the program on any one of the BMS social media channels. To access the digital version of the Bass Pro Shops Night Race souvenir program, please click here.

The 2026 commemorative Bass Pro Shops Night Race souvenir program was designed by Learfield-IMG College Publishing in Lexington, Ky.

Some of the most memorable moments in NASCAR history have taken place during the Bass Pro Shops Night Race on the super-challenging .533-mile high-banked concrete oval. NASCAR‘s best drivers will go doorhandle to doorhandle — NASCAR Playoff style — and only the strongest will survive 500 laps of mayhem and chaos on the iconic short track.

In addition to celebrating Kyle Busch‘s amazing legacy at Bristol, the Bass Pro Shops Night Race on will feature a star-studded entertainment lineup, including Academy Award-winning actor and producer Brad Pitt as a Grand Marshal and two-time Indianapolis 500 winner and two-time INDYCAR Series champion Josef Newgarden as the honorary pace car driver leading the NASCAR Cup Series field to green. Saturday‘s festivities also will include appearances by WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair, a pre-race concert by Brian Kelley, Bristol‘s signature driver introductions featuring music personally selected by the competitors, a children‘s choir performing the national anthem, and Lee Greenwood singing “God Bless the USA” as a bald eagle soars above the stadium, followed by a dramatic flyover featuring two U.S. Air Force C-130s. Fans also will receive yellow “Rowdy Towels” and unite for an emotional Lap 18 tribute honoring Kyle Busch and his unmatched success at Bristol—another powerful, only-at-Bristol moment before the NASCAR Cup Series‘ biggest stars battle under the lights in one of America‘s most iconic sporting events.

The Bass Pro Shops Night Race weekend, Sept. 17—19, will transform Bristol Motor Speedway and the surrounding Northeast Tennessee region into a three-day celebration of racing, music and unforgettable entertainment. Championship competition in all three of NASCAR‘s national series begins Thursday with the Bush‘s Beans 200 ARCA Menards Series race and the UNOH 250 presented by Ohio Logistics, which opens the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Chase, followed by Bristol‘s popular Foam Party. Friday features Nobody Trashes Tennessee Qualifying, the Food City 300 NASCAR O‘Reilly Auto Parts Series Chase race and a post-race concert featuring Tim Dugger. The weekend culminates Saturday night with the 500-lap, post-season Bass Pro Shops Night Race for the NASCAR Cup Series.

To purchase tickets or obtain more information about the race weekend, please visit www.bristolmotorspeedway.com or call (866) 415-4158.

— BMS —

Race and Commercial Breakdown of the 2026 Enjoy Illinois 300

Start time to record race/commercial periods: 2:52 PM
End time to record race/commercial periods: 7:11 PM
Total minutes of complete race broadcast: 259
Minutes of race broadcast: 222
Minutes of traditional commercials: 37
Minutes of side-by-side commercials: 11

Total number of commercials: 117
Total number of companies or entities advertised: 52
Total number of traditional commercials (not split-screen): 89
Total number of companies or entities advertised: 47
Total number of ‘Side-by-Side‘ commercials during the broadcast (split-screen): 28
Total number of companies or entities advertised: 25
Number of times USA utilized ‘Side-by-Side‘ commercials during the broadcast: 4

Companies seen the most in commercials during this broadcast: USA (16 times); Busch Light (7 times); Xfinity (6 times); Sonic (6 times); Applebees (6 times); Toyota (5 times); NASCAR (5 times)

— CawsNJaws —

There were no issues for #5-Kyle Larson. He is officially the winner of the race.

The race turned into a war of attrition, with a track-record 18 cautions for 87 laps and two late red flags for track cleanup. The race went to overtime twice before Larson took the checkered flag. He led 80 laps, including the final 13, second only to Logano for most laps led.

The victory ended a lengthy winless streak for Larson, whose previous Cup Series win came at Kansas Speedway in the spring of 2025.

No cars are returning to the NASCAR R&D Center for inspection.

The Cup Series now heads to Bristol Motor Speedway for Saturday night racing.

Holding off pole winner Joey Logano and Hendrick Motorsports teammate Alex Bowman on a succession of late restarts, Larson won the Enjoy Illinois 300 in two overtimes to affirm his status as a contender for a third series championship.

With top seed Denny Hamlin running ninth after a problematic pit stop on Lap 199 of 247, Larson, the defending series champion, gained five positions to second in the Chase standings, nine points behind Hamlin.

The victory was the first for the driver of the No. 5 Chevrolet since May 11, 2025 at Kansas Speedway. Larson, who led 80 laps and won the second stage, prevailed for the first time at WWT Raceway and for the 33rd time in his career.

In a race that featured a track-record 18 cautions for 87 laps, Larson passed Logano to the inside moments after a Lap 228 restart that followed a four-car wreck involving Chase drivers Bubba Wallace, Christopher Bell and Tyler Reddick.

Three more cautions and two attempts at overtime later, Larson took the checkered flag 0.333 seconds ahead of Bowman, who grabbed the second position from Logano on a Lap 242 restart.

Larson had superior speed at the end of the race, thanks to a four-tire call by Larson himself on the team‘s final stop on Lap 203. Logano‘s crew chief, Paul Wolfe, opted for right-side tires on the No. 22 Ford‘s las trip to pit road, and Larson‘s tire advantage—along with strong pushes from Bowman on consecutive restarts—proved decisive.

“Just proud of my team for working so hard, being so patient through all the tough times, the winless streak, all that,” said Larson, who ended a nine-race drought for Chevrolet. “Thanks to the fans, my fans, for also being patient with us, letting us get it figured out,

“How about Hendrick Motorsports? Alex Bowman, can’t ask for a better teammate than him. Gave me the pushes I needed to get clear. Want to dedicate this win to him—and his dog just passed away a couple days ago.”

Bowman, who will retire from full-time Cup racing after next season, executed a solid race, avoiding the pitfalls that caused consternation among other competitors.

“Yeah, super happy for Kyle. Was a really hard weekend just to get on the plane and be here,” Bowman said. “So, yeah, ready to go home. But proud of everybody on this Ally 48 team for helping me through the weekend. Yeah, life is hard sometimes.

“Yeah, I lost my best friend, so just ready to go home.”

Logano, who led a race-high 96 laps and finished third, had mixed feelings about the outcome for the No. 22 Team Penske Ford.

“The restart where Larson took the lead—that’s where I lost it obviously,” Logano said. “He just rolled the bottom really good and cleared me, which is really surprising.

“His first, like, three laps of every run was pretty spectacular. You had a bunch of three-lap runs there at the end. Once he got there, then the 48 (Bowman) got there, the 24 (William Byron) got there. Had no homies with me. No more friends. On my own…

“I mean, it’s a good run, right? Got a lot of stage points, finished in the top five again, which is obviously what we need to do. Thinking about what the 25 points would feel like right about now, it does stink some.”

Logano, who won the first stage and finished second in Stage 2, leaves Greater St. Louis seventh in the Chase standings, having trimmed his deficit to Hamlin from 72 points to 51.

William Byron recovered from a Lap 141 accident to finish fourth, with Ross Chastain in fifth posing his second top five of the season. Austin Dillon was sixth, followed by Connor Zilisch, Carson Hocevar, Hamlin and Austin Cindric.

If Logano was somewhat disappointed with his third-place result, his dissatisfaction paled in comparison with the calamities that befell a succession of Chase drivers. Ryan Blaney blew a brake rotor and fell out in 35th place, falling 33 points behind Hamlin.

Five Chase drivers—Blaney, Daniel Suarez, Chris Buescher, Chase Elliott and Chase Briscoe—had gone to the garage before the race ended. Buescher and Elliott both suffered from exploding rotors, with Elliott collecting Briscoe after his No. 9 Chevrolet spiraled out of control.

Bell, last Sunday‘s winner at Darlington Raceway, finished 19th and fell one spot to third in the standings, 18 points behind Hamlin.

The bottom five drivers in the Chase standings—Byron, Cindric, Buescher, Ryan Preece and Suarez—all are more than 100 points out of first place and losing touch with the top contenders, although there are eight races left before the title is decided.

The Cup Series competes next in the Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway next Saturday (7:30 p.m. on USA, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

Notes: The 18 cautions are the most since that same number occurred in the 2022 Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway… Ricky Stenhouse Jr. finished 26th in his 500th NASCAR Cup Series start.

— NASCAR News Wire —

See race details at: Race Results, Driver Points Standings, Owner Points Standings, Cumulative Report, Infraction Report.

For complete race information, check out the Gateway race page.

The Enjoy Illinois 300, the second race of the 10-race Chase playoff format, represents the 12th Cup Series sellout of the season and first announced sellout of the Chase. The 240-lap, 300-mile race on the 1.25-mile oval will be broadcast live on USA Network, Motor Racing Network (MRN) and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio beginning at 2 p.m. CT.

“The response from our fans and the community has been nothing short of extraordinary,” World Wide Technology Raceway Owner and CEO Curtis Francois said. “Selling out all reserved grandstand seating for the Enjoy Illinois 300 for the fifth consecutive year is a tremendous accomplishment for everyone involved. The foundation we‘ve built is a testament to the passion of NASCAR fans throughout the Metro East and St. Louis region (and beyond) as well as the incredible support from our partners, volunteers, and local leaders.

“I‘m humbled by the continued success of this event, which reinforces what we have believed from the beginning: the future of NASCAR in the St. Louis market is bright, and we remain committed to building on that momentum for years to come.”

The race-day experience also features the return of the popular Confluence Music Festival. Ten-time ACM Award-winning country group Old Dominion will headline the at-track, weekend-long festival with a post-race concert at 7:30 p.m.

NASCAR will return to World Wide Technology Raceway in 2027 with an Aug. 21-22 doubleheader featuring the O‘Reilly Auto Parts Series on Saturday and Cup Series on Sunday. For the latest Enjoy Illinois 300 NASCAR race weekend news and 2027 ticket information, visit www.wwtraceway.com.

— WWTR —

Bartolon-Rodriguez currently attends the University of Northwestern Ohio (UNOH) and plans to pursue a career in communications. She has worked at AutoZone for four years, where she says she developed extensive knowledge of automotive parts, vehicle systems and customer service. She also has worked in hospitality during ARCA Menards Series and NASCAR events, experiences that helped shape her future career goals.

“I have gained experience working in a professional motorsports environment, interacting with teams, sponsors and guests while learning more about the racing industry,” Bartolon-Rodriguez said. “These experiences have reinforced my passion for motorsports and provided me with valuable insight into the operations and culture of professional racing. I have discovered that I love the communication, planning and customer relations side of the industry, and I am eager to begin a role in that part of the business.”

She was excited when she received the news of earning the Dale Earnhardt Jr. Scholarship.

“I‘m incredibly honored and grateful to have been selected as a Dale Earnhardt Jr. Scholarship recipient this year,” Bartolon-Rodriguez said. “The scholarship will definitely help me fulfill my future goals in motorsports. Thanks so much for this incredible opportunity. I am looking forward to experiencing everything at Bristol Motor Speedway during the upcoming Night Race weekend.”

Warren, a senior at Unaka High School, plans to continue her automotive technology studies after graduation. She has worked for two years at Toyota of Kingsport Collision Center and has earned several certifications, as well as a gold medal in Collision Damage Appraisal at the 2026 SkillsUSA Tennessee State Championships. Her high school coursework has included Automotive Paint Refinishing, Body Repair, Estimating and Dual Enrollment. Warren plans to pursue an associate degree in automotive technology refinishing.

“Through my classes I just fell in love with the collision industry,” Warren said. “I enjoy working hands-on, disassembling vehicles and making the necessary repairs. Every vehicle is a puzzle that you solve with the OEM procedures. I love meeting new customers and seeing their satisfaction when their vehicle is restored to its prior condition. After college, I would really like to go back to Toyota and become an instructor in the collision industry.”

“Thank you so much for this amazing opportunity,” Warren said. “I am so grateful for it. Thanks to everyone at Bristol Motor Speedway and the Dale Earnhardt Jr. Scholarship selection committee.”

Created by Bristol Motor Speedway in 2017 as a retirement gift to Earnhardt Jr., the annual scholarship provides each recipient with a one-time payment of $2,088 to assist with college costs, including tuition, housing, books and supplies.

“The Dale Earnhardt Jr. Scholarship is a tremendous opportunity to help the next generation pursue careers in communications, automotive technology and hospitality — areas that are so important to our industry,” said Jerry Caldwell, president and general manager of Bristol Motor Speedway. “We‘re proud to congratulate our newest recipients, UNOH student Kimberly Bartolon-Rodriguez and Unaka High School senior Madison Warren. It‘s also exciting to see that eight of our 13 scholarship recipients have been women, reflecting the growing opportunities and diverse talent entering the automotive and motorsports industries.”

Past winners of the BMS Dale Earnhardt Jr. Scholarship include Jaicee Weaver (2018) and Jace Ketron (2019), both of Tennessee High School in Bristol, Tenn.; UNOH student Caleb James Cate (2021) of Knoxville, Tenn.; 2022 recipients John Clavier of Elizabethton High School and UNOH student Chloe Holman of Essex, Mo.; 2023 recipients Jamie Sullivan of UNOH and Caleb Kent of Happy Valley High School in Watauga, Tenn.; and 2024 recipients Trea‘zur Cassidy of Science Hill High School and UT-Chattanooga, UNOH student Hannah Kelsheimer of Oswego, Ill., and 2025 winner Gavin Shoun of Unaka High School in Elizabethton, Tenn.

To be eligible, students must be seniors at one of the 25 designated high schools or attend one of the nine designated colleges and universities in the Appalachian Highlands region surrounding Bristol Motor Speedway. Students attending the speedway‘s official partner institution, UNOH in Lima, Ohio, also are eligible.

The 27 designated high schools are Abingdon High School; Chuckey-Doak High School; Clinch School; Cloudland High School; Johnson County High School; Unicoi High School; Unaka High School; Daniel Boone High School; David Crockett High School; Dobyns-Bennett High School; Elizabethton High School; Greeneville High School; Hampton High School; Happy Valley High School; Holston High School; John S. Battle High School; North Greene High School; Patrick Henry High School; Tennessee High School; Science Hill High School; South Greene High School; Sullivan East High School; Virginia High School; West Greene High School; Volunteer Hight School; Cherokee High School and West Ridge High School.

The nine designated higher education institutions are East Tennessee State University; Emory & Henry College; King University; Milligan University; Northeast State Technical Community College; Tennessee College of Applied Technology, Elizabethton; Tusculum University; the University of Virginia‘s College at Wise and the University of Northwestern Ohio.

NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. is one of the sport‘s most popular and influential figures. A 26-time NASCAR Cup Series winner, including victories in the 2004 and 2014 Daytona 500, Earnhardt also won consecutive NASCAR Busch Series championships in 1998 and 1999 and a record 15 straight NASCAR Most Popular Driver awards from 2003—17. Today, he remains a prominent voice in the sport as a NASCAR analyst, host of The Dale Jr. Download and owner of championship-winning JR Motorsports.

He solidified his connection with the Bristol Motor Speedway fanbase when he dramatically swept America‘s Night Races in 2004 and famously declared, “It‘s Bristol, Baby!” in Victory Lane during a television interview after winning Saturday’s Cup Series race. That phrase lives on in a monument in the track‘s North Lot.

In addition to celebrating Neighborhood Heroes, the Bass Pro Shops Night Race on Sept. 19 will feature a star-studded entertainment lineup, including Academy Award-winning actor and producer Brad Pitt as a Grand Marshal and two-time Indianapolis 500 winner and two-time INDYCAR Series champion Josef Newgarden as the honorary pace car driver leading the NASCAR Cup Series field to green. Saturday‘s festivities also will include appearances by WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair, a pre-race concert by Brian Kelley, Bristol‘s signature driver introductions featuring music personally selected by the competitors, a children‘s choir performing the national anthem, and Lee Greenwood singing “God Bless the USA” as a bald eagle soars above the stadium, followed by a dramatic flyover featuring two U.S. Air Force C-130s. Fans also will receive yellow “Rowdy Towels” and unite for an emotional Lap 18 tribute honoring Kyle Busch and his unmatched success at Bristol—another powerful, only-at-Bristol moment before the NASCAR Cup Series‘ biggest stars battle under the lights in one of America‘s most iconic sporting events.

The Bass Pro Shops Night Race weekend, Sept. 17—19, will transform Bristol Motor Speedway and the surrounding Northeast Tennessee region into a three-day celebration of racing, music and unforgettable entertainment. Championship competition in all three of NASCAR‘s national series begins Thursday with the Bush‘s Beans 200 ARCA Menards Series race and the UNOH 250 presented by Ohio Logistics, which opens the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Chase, followed by Bristol‘s popular Foam Party. Friday features Nobody Trashes Tennessee Qualifying, the Food City 300 NASCAR O‘Reilly Auto Parts Series Chase race and a post-race concert featuring Tim Dugger. The weekend culminates Saturday night with the 500-lap, post-season Bass Pro Shops Night Race for the NASCAR Cup Series.

— Bristol Motor Speedway —

Sheldon Creed is the championship leader by three points over Justin Allgaier. Carson Kvapil sits nine points back with Love in fourth, 16 points off the lead.

See race details at: Race Results, Driver Points, Owner Points, Cumulative Report, Penalty Report.

Wresting the lead from Carson Kvapil with a gentle rub on Lap 165 of 180, Love held the top spot the rest of the way in winning Saturday night‘s Nu Way 225 Powered by Bobcat Sauced by Blue Hog at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway.

Love crossed the finish line 0.896 seconds ahead of last week‘s Darlington winner, Sheldon Creed, who moved into first place in the Chase standings by three points over top-seeded Justin Allgaier.

Kvapil, who faded to fifth in the closing laps, is third in the standings, nine points behind Allgaier. Love climbed two positions to fourth, 16 points back. Chase drivers Sam Mayer and Taylor Gray came home third and fourth, respectively, in Saturday‘s race.

Parker Retzlaff, Brent Crews, Sammy Smith, Kyle Sieg and Jeb Burton completed the top 10.

Love was convinced a chance for his first victory of the season would come if he maintained his grit and work ethic.

“Eventually, one of these opportunities was going to be there, and I‘m going to frickin‘ take it like the way we frickin‘ did tonight,” an elated Love said after climbing from his car. “Man, I love St. Louis. I got my first national midget win across the street with Chad Boat.

“Had my first truck race start here and got beat here last year—had a good car. Just so proud of my team.”

The win was Love‘s first at Gateway and the fourth of his career.

Love avoided the pitfalls that eventually hurt other Chase drivers—specifically, a blockaded pit road and the latest in a violent string of incidents between Day and Sawalich.

After a restart on Lap 133, Day and Sawalich were racing side-by-side, with Day to the inside, when Allgaier made a move to the bottom of the track with a push from Gray‘s Toyota.

With Gray on his bumper, Allgaier moved Day up the track into the driver‘s side of Sawalich‘s Toyota. Sawalich turned left into Day‘s Chevrolet, knocking it down the track into a spin that ended with hard contact with the inside wall.

The accident knocked Day out of the race in 33rd place and left him eighth in the standings, 69 points behind Creed.

“I just hate it for my 17 guys,” Day said. “It was going to be a minimum top-five day for us. We had a really fast car. It‘s just really unfortunate.

Day had no message for Sawalich after exiting the infield care center. “I don‘t, no. I think he made himself look stupid enough for me (not) to say anything.”

For his part, Sawalich, who finished 16th, opted not to address the incident directly.

“Just worry about next week,” Sawalich said.

The pyrotechnics between two drivers, who also sparred last week at Darlington, followed a bizarre pileup as drivers tried to access their pit boxes.

On Lap 49, during the Stage 1 break, a massive chain-reaction wreck just beyond the entrance to pit road scrambled the field and damaged several Chase cars.

With Day already in the first pit stall after the entrance, Rajah Caruth‘s No. 88 Chevrolet turned off the bumper of Nick Sanchez‘s No. 87 Chevy as the field compressed behind them.

Sanchez‘s car slid toward the No. 19 Toyota of Brent Crews, as the pit crew already was servicing Crews‘ vehicle. The 10-car melee blocked pit road and trapped Day‘s Chevy in its pit stall. Fortunately, no crew members were hurt.

NASCAR red-flagged the race for 7 minutes, 54 seconds to clear pit road. The Chase cars of Brandon Jones and Caruth sustained significant damage and restarted on Lap 54 in the back third of the running order.

Allgaier escaped the accident on pit road, only to leave his stall with a loose wheel. A return trip to the pits left the Chase‘s top seed 19th in the running order, but by the time NASCAR called the third caution on Lap 73 for debris from Anthony Alfredo‘s flat tire, Allgaier had clawed his way back to ninth.

By the end of Stage 2, won by Love, the 2024 series champion had worked his way up to sixth. But Allgaier sustained damage to the right front of his Camaro during the Day/Sawalich dust-up, and his 13th-place finish cost him the series lead.

“This is the first time the No. 7 car hasn‘t been on top of the points in a long time,” Allgaier said. “That just fuels this team. If we have things go our way, we‘ll be right there.”

— NASCAR Wire Service —

See race details at: Race Results, Driver Points, Owner Points, Cumulative Report, Penalty Report.

The only competitor in 36-driver field to crack the 33-second barrier, Logano covered the 1.25-mile distance in 32.817 seconds (137.124 mph) to claim the top starting spot for the second race in the Cup Series Chase (3 p.m. ET Sunday on USA, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

The Busch Light Pole Award was the second of the season for Logano, who won the inaugural Cup Series race at WWTR in 2022. In winning his first pole at the track and the 35th of his career, Logano beat second-place qualifier Kyle Larson (135.980 mph) by 0.276 seconds.

“Honestly, I feel like I‘ve had good cars here for qualifying—I just have always screwed up Turn 1,” said Logano, who is eighth in the Chase standings, 72 points out of the lead. “It‘s nice to have a good clean lap.

“It‘s in your head, right? Before you go out because you‘ve had four qualifying sessions before where you‘ve always screwed up Turn 1. I‘ve overdriven it. I‘ve underdriven it because of that.

“I hit it right this time, so that part was good. I was able to get through it pretty well and have a pretty solid (Turns) 3 and 4, and the car did what it needed to do. The car has got some raw speed in it, which is very encouraging for (Sunday).”

Logano is the only driver in the field who has finished in the top five in each of the four previous races at Gateway.

Chase drivers claimed the top 10 positions during time trials, with Logano‘s Team Penske Teammate, Ryan Blaney, qualifying third at 135.898 mph and last Sunday‘s Darlington winner, Christopher Bell, earning the fourth spot on the grid at 135.767 mph.

Chase Briscoe was fifth fastest, followed by Carson Hocevar, Bubba Wallace, Chase Elliott, Ty Gibbs and series leader Denny Hamlin, who improved significantly from his 30th position on the speed chart during practice earlier in the day.

The remaining six Chase drivers qualified as follows: Austin Cindric 13th, Ryan Preece 14th, Daniel Suarez 15th, Tyler Reddick 18th, Chris Buescher 21st and William Byron 24th. Buescher‘s No. 17 Ford failed inspection twice, resulting in the ejection of crew chief Joshua Sisco and the loss of pit selection for Sunday‘s race.

— NASCAR News Wire —

See the complete qualifying results and the Enjoy Illinois 300 Starting Lineup.

For complete race information, check out the Gateway race page.

MADISON, Ill.— Hendrick Motorsports doesn‘t have a driver development program per se.

As team president Jeff Andrews put it, Hendrick is committed to the “Corey Day Development Program,” as evidenced by the long-term contract awarded the driver earlier this week.

“I think, for us, guys like this don‘t come along very often, so when a talent like Corey Day presents itself…,” Andrews said. “We knew the (learning) curve was going to be steep, but we‘ve been really proud of his progress and the things he‘s accomplished on track and who he‘s become off-track and part of our team and our culture.

“It‘s a lot of things that led to the decision of going forward with the long-term development of Corey Day.”

The 20-year-old driver certainly has exceeded expectations in his first full season in the NASCAR O‘Reilly Auto Parts Series. He picked up his first victory at Talladega in April and followed that with a second win at Dover in May.

After rallying to finish second last Saturday at Darlington Raceway, Day is fifth in the Chase standings, 46 points behind leader Justin Allgaier.

“I think back to when I signed my first deal two years ago, and I was just hopeful that there would be another one, much less another long-term one,” Day said Saturday at World Wide Technology Raceway. “Really cool.

“I‘m really excited for what‘s to come for me in my career. I also talked about the fact that I never really thought I would be much more than just a sprint car guy, which I was fine with that, but it‘s really cool to see where my career is at now.”

The driver from Clovis, California, grew up racing on dirt, but he has handled the transition to pavement adroitly. There hasn‘t been one “light bulb” moment, rather a steady progression.

“I didn‘t expect that one day I would show up at the track and get the pole and win the race,” Day said. “I knew that it was going to be tough and that I was going to learn things at different paces.”

Day‘s new contract includes a plan to run a handful of NASCAR Cup Series races next season in addition to competing for the O‘Reilly Series championship. Because of limitations under the current charter agreement, Hendrick is unable to run a fifth car, even on a limited basis.

Consequently, Day will drive a Spire Motorsports Chevrolet in his Cup Series events, Andrews said.

Beyond 2027, Day‘s future with the organization lacks specifics, but the new contract speaks to Hendrick‘s belief in the young driver, especially after the signing of Connor Zilisch to succeed Alex Bowman in a Cup car, starting in 2028.

Brad Keselowski addresses on-track rivalry with Carson Hocevar

Back in 1991, peer pressure had a noticeable effect on NASCAR Cup Series driver Ernie Irvan.

By the time the series arrived at Talladega Superspeedway for the July 28 Diehard 500, the Salinas, California, driver already had earned the nickname “Swervin‘ Irvan”—undeniably talented but overly aggressive in the eyes of his fellow competitors.

Before the race, drivers Darrell Waltrip and Richard Petty—representing the Cup competitors—held an informal “intervention” with Irvan, counseling him on how to improve his standing inside and outside the garage.

In the subsequent drivers‘ meeting, Irvan apologized to his peers and vowed to try to harness his aggressive tendencies.

RFK Racing owner/driver Brad Keselowski, who spun off Carson Hocevar‘s front bumper in last Sunday‘s Chase opener at Darlington Raceway, doesn‘t think the Irvan approach would work in contemporary NASCAR racing.

After the race, Keselowski asserted, “His day is coming. It‘s coming hard. Watch out, Carson Hocevar.”

Though Hocevar has been involved in incidents with the majority of Cup drivers this season, Keselowski believes attempted peer pressure would prove fruitless.

“We‘re in a different day and age, which is greater than our sport,” Keselowski said Saturday before Cup practice for Sunday‘s Enjoy Illinois 300 at World Wide Technology Raceway (3 p.m. ET on USA, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

“It transcends our society as a whole, where that level of social interaction is not valued the same way it was valued 10, 20, 30 years ago. At some point, everybody just has to touch a hot stove and learn.”

As to the future of the rivalry, which was promoted on posters at WWT Raceway—pitting Hurricane Hocevar vs. Bad Brad Keselowski—the RFK co-owner/driver said, “You live and you figure it out in the moment, and it‘ll play out however it plays out.”

Denny Hamlin downplays past success at WWT Raceway

Denny Hamlin doesn‘t think his results at World Wide Technology Raceway have reflected the potential of his No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota.

That‘s usually something a driver says when he doesn‘t finish as well as he thinks he should.

Hamlin, however, is the defending winner of the Enjoy Illinois 300, which renews as the second Chase race on Sunday, September 13 at 3 p.m. ET on USA, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio. In each of the previous two seasons, Hamlin was runner-up in the Gateway event.

“Yeah, I can’t rely on the results alone,” said Hamlin said, who leads the Chase standings by 12 points over second-place Christopher Bell. “I think that when I dug into this race track this week, I think that while we won, (and) we finished second a few other years, I don’t know that we were that car on pace, right? I think we did a really good job executing.

“I had some fortunate breaks. I had some good restarts, and then you end up winning the race, and so I don’t think that we had that—we had race winning pace when it mattered, but I don’t think we’ve been as good as the results have shown. So, there was a lot to dig into this week and try to get better at and we’ll try to start that today and go practice.”

After the 50-minute practice, Hamlin‘s inclination to downplay his results seemed well-founded. He was 30th-fastest in the session with a lap at 133.670 mph.

— NASCAR News Wire —

…

“It was definitely very surprising to me and shocking news,” Nemechek said. “Like Jimmie [Johnson, majority owner of Legacy M.C.] had said on the [Dale Jr] Download, my contract had gotten renewed for another year.

“It was definitely surprising. I was still under contract for another year.”

…

“I wish I truly did know the full extent of it,” Nemechek said of the reasoning behind the decision. “I was told they wanted to make a change and they felt like the timing was necessary for them to do that with Josh being available and that‘s where it went from there.”

…

“I don‘t think this one will be another reset,” Nemechek said. “I do feel like if I do have to take a step back, going and winning races is the number one priority. I have a fire lit underneath my ass right now, and we‘re going to prove all parties involved that helped make this decision that they are going to regret it.”

— NASCAR.com —

…

On Sept. 3, Buncombe County detectives charged 27-year-old Hailey Bowlin with second-degree burglary, possession of a firearm by a felon, larceny of a firearm, larceny after breaking and entering, and five counts of obtaining property by false pretenses.

…

On Sept. 8, detectives arrested a second person: 29-year-old Cameron Samotis, who is charged with second-degree burglary, officials said. He is also being held in the Henderson County Detention Center.

…

The Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office said most of the items stolen from Marcis’ residence have since been recovered.
— WLOS —

See previous stories:
Arrest made in burglary of former NASCAR driver Dave Marcis‘ home
Dave Marcis‘ home robbed

“Every time I climb into this car, I think about my mom and the decision our family made after she passed away,” said Gase. “As an organ, tissue, and eye donor, she helped save and improve the lives of 66 people, and racing has given me a platform to share her legacy, honor donor families, and remind people that one decision can save and heal so many lives. If someone decides to register because they saw this car, that’s a victory that means more than anything that happens on the track.”

The car is sponsored by Mid-America Transplant, the organization that makes lifesaving organ and tissue transplants possible in eastern and southern Missouri, southwestern Illinois, and northeastern Arkansas. Last year in the region, 280 organ donors and 2,653 tissue donors made 799 organ, 1,665 cornea, and more than 199,000 tissue transplants possible.

“We are grateful to Joey for helping us honor donor families while inspiring more people to say yes to organ and tissue donation,” said Kevin Lee, President and CEO at Mid-America Transplant. “There are more than 100,000 people waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant, including 1,424 here in the St. Louis region. We hope Joey‘s message encourages people to learn more about donation, talk to their families, and register.”

— Joey Gase PR —

Gary Myers passed away Thursday after a period of declining health.

Myers is the father of Burt and Jason Myers son of Billy Myers. Gary is the second of a 4 generation family of racers at Bowman Gray which also includes his grandson Slate.

He won 38 races at Bowman Gray Stadium and was the 1996 SMART Modified Tour Champion.

He was a fixture at Bowman Gray Stadium for more than 60 years, being there watching his father and uncle, Billy and Bobby, race in the 1950s, through his own racing career, and then racing against and helping his son‘s Burt and Jason become the great racers they are.

He also competed in 46 NASCAR Cup Series Races from 1974 to 1978.

Gary Myers was 76 years old.

— FOX8 Photojournalist Chris Weaver —

The race was up 6% in rating and 5% in viewership from last year, when the Southern 500 earned a 0.98 rating and averaged 1.88 million viewers.

.@USANetwork got a 1.04 rating and 1.982 million viewers for Sunday's NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out Southern 500 @TooToughToTame, up 6% and 5%, respectively, from a 0.98 rating and 1.88 million last year. pic.twitter.com/1WaJ1kT2Gj

— Adam Stern (@A_S12) September 10, 2026

The scheme is a throwback to the Hendrick Motorsports car Busch drove to victory at Bristol Motor Speedway in 2007. Busch won the first NASCAR Cup Series race with the Car of Tomorrow in that event.

Larson‘s No. 5 features the same bright HendrickCars.com colors and design inspired by Busch‘s 2007 Chevrolet.

A portion of the royalties received from the sale of Kyle Larson No. 5 HendrickCars.com Kyle Busch Tribute Chevrolet merchandise will support The Samantha & Kyle Busch Bundle of Joy Fund.

— Hendrick Motorsports —

A legacy worth another lap.
 
Kyle Busch‘s history with the No. 5 will be honored at his hometown track in Las Vegas with a special https://t.co/Mrjbwl1iRE paint scheme driven by Kyle Larson.

Learn more about the tribute: https://t.co/k9dTylwGcg pic.twitter.com/tc6hyyUMNo

— Hendrick Automotive Group (@HendrickCars) September 10, 2026

SnowEx has built a tradition of innovation in snow and ice control since 1997, offering a comprehensive line of commercial snowplows, spreaders and liquid sprayers designed to help contractors work efficiently and confidently take on winter weather.

“At SnowEx, we understand what it takes to earn your place in a competitive environment. That‘s why partnering with Josh is such a natural fit,” said Jennifer Walth, Sr. Manager Advertising for SnowEx. “As a Midwestern racer working to make his mark, Josh brings the same grit and determination we see in SnowEx contractors every day. We‘re proud to support him as he continues to build his career and introduce the SnowEx brand to an even broader audience.”

“Being from Wisconsin, I‘m familiar with the need for snow removal products that get the job done quickly and thoroughly. SnowEx and I share the Midwestern mentality of hard work and grit whether its producing exceptional products or on the racetrack,” said Bilicki. “Phoenix is a challenging track, but I plan to use the experience I continue to gain on similar tracks to earn a solid finish.”

The NASCAR O‘Reilly Auto Parts Series Playoff Race at Phoenix (200 laps | 200 miles) is the 30^th of 33 NASCAR O‘Reilly Auto Parts Series races on the 2026 schedule. Practice starts on Saturday, October 17 at 11:00 a.m. followed immediately by qualifying. The field is set to take the green flag later that day at 3:30 p.m. with live coverage on The CW, the Motor Racing Network (Radio), and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90. All times are U.S. Mountain Standard Time.

— Snow Belt MGMT —

In a career defined by outperforming his equipment, the 29-year-old has over 200 starts across NASCAR’s top three divisions, culminating in a career-best, fourth-place finish in the NASCAR Truck Series (NCTS) at Atlanta Motor Speedway in both 2023 and 2025.

This opportunity marks Currey’s return to NASCAR competition in the driver‘s seat for the first time since 2025, when he recorded two top-tens during a partial NCTS campaign. Currey has since shifted to full-time truck chiefing duties, joining TRICON during the 2026 offseason. The Driftwood, TX native has been an instrumental force, helping guide the No. 1 team to two wins, providing valuable experience and insight both behind the wheel and under the hood.

“Bayley‘s been a key addition to our team, and we‘re so excited to see him get an opportunity that he‘s long deserved,” said No. 1 Crew Chief Jerame Donley. “He‘s been putting in the work using all of the TRD tools to perform at the highest level. He may be our competitor at Bristol, but we‘re still certainly going to be cheering him on.”

Joining Currey at Bristol Motor Speedway is Monster Truck Wars most popular Monster Truck, Shark Attack, a four-time and current National Champion. Shark Attack is a worldwide draw at every event. Currey’s No. 5 Tundra TRD Pro will be a fan-favorite with the Shark Attack livery.

“I feel like this is the best opportunity I have had in my career, and I’m excited to show everyone what I’m capable of,” said Bayley Currey. “After being part of the team and seeing all the work that goes into these trucks, I know it will be worth having to wait. Obviously a huge thank you to Monster Truck Wars, TRICON and TRD for the opportunity.”

The UNOH 250 Presented by Ohio Logistics at Bristol Motor Speedway will be televised live on FOX Sports 1 on Thursday, September 17 at 8:00 p.m. ET, with radio coverage provided by SiriusXM and the NASCAR Racing Network.

Pre-orders for the No. 5 Monster Truck Wars Toyota Tundra TRD Pro are available on lionelracing.com.

Future partners will be unveiled for Charlotte Motor Speedway at a later date.

— TRICON Garage —

The agreement, signed Wednesday afternoon, will see Day compete for the NOAPS championship next season driving the No. 17 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet. He also will run a limited Cup Series schedule, with details to be announced at a later date.

A second-generation dirt racing star, Day made the transition to pavement in 2024. Although he has competed in fewer than 70 pavement races in full-bodied cars during his career, the 20-year-old has won twice in his first full NOAPS season and earned a berth in the postseason Chase.

“What Corey has accomplished in such a short time is remarkable,” said Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports. “He came to us with generational talent but almost no experience racing on pavement. The fact that he‘s already competing for a championship at this level is extraordinary, and he‘s just beginning to scratch the surface. We love Corey‘s character and how he fits our organization, and we‘re proud to have him with us for many years to come.”

Day earned his first career NOAPS victory April 25 at Talladega Superspeedway and followed with his second May 16 at Dover Motor Speedway. He opened the 2026 NOAPS Chase with a second-place finish Saturday at Darlington Raceway, moving to fifth in the championship standings.

“There‘s no substitute for seat time, which makes Corey‘s progress even more impressive,” said Jeff Gordon, vice chairman of Hendrick Motorsports. “We see growth every weekend when he gets in the car. He puts in the work and isn‘t afraid to ask questions and apply what he learns. The Cup races next year will give him another opportunity to gain valuable experience and challenge himself at the highest level. It‘s going to be fun to watch.”

A native of Clovis, California, Day first signed with Hendrick Motorsports on Dec. 6, 2024. The 2027 NOAPS campaign will mark his second full season driving the No. 17 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet.

“When I joined Hendrick Motorsports, I knew I had a lot to learn. And I still do,” Day said. “But the people here have really embraced me and invested a lot of time in helping me grow, both as a driver and a person. Mr. and Mrs. Hendrick give us all the resources we could possibly need. I‘m so grateful to them, Jeff Gordon, Jeff Andrews and the 500 teammates who put so much into our success. I‘m focused on winning a championship together this year and bringing many more trophies home to Hendrick Motorsports in the future.”

— Hendrick Motorsports —

As Grand Marshal, La Russa will participate in pre-race ceremonies and address fans prior to the green flag for one of the Midwest’s premier sporting events. He also will be joined by his longtime friend and special guest, CAPT Jim “Guido” DiMatteo, USN (Ret.), to deliver the most famous words in motorsports, the command for drivers to start their engines.

Widely regarded as one of the most accomplished naval aviators of his generation, DiMatteo is often referred to as the “real-life Maverick.” During a distinguished Navy career spanning more than 25 years, he accumulated more than 5,500 flight hours in frontline fighter aircraft, including the F-14 Tomcat, F/A-18 Hornet, F-16, F-5 and A-4. He served as Commanding Officer of both East and West Coast TOPGUN adversary squadrons and is credited with accumulating more TOPGUN adversary flight time than any pilot in U.S. Navy and Marine Corps history.

A member of the Aviation Hall of Fame, DiMatteo’s leadership extended beyond military service as he helped oversee the Navy’s high-performance aircraft programs and later served in key leadership roles with internationally recognized aviation organizations, including the Red Bull Air Race World Championship.

“We are honored to welcome two remarkable icons, Tony La Russa and Jim ‘Guido’ DiMatteo, to World Wide Technology Raceway for the Enjoy Illinois 300,” said Curtis Francois, Owner and CEO of World Wide Technology Raceway. “Few figures in sports are as beloved throughout St. Louis and Southwest Illinois as Tony La Russa. As one of the most successful and popular managers in the storied history of the St. Louis Cardinals, Tony helped create some of the franchise’s most memorable moments while earning the admiration and respect of generations of baseball fans across our region. His Hall of Fame legacy extends far beyond the diamond, making him one of the most recognizable and cherished sports figures in Cardinal Nation. At the same time, Jim ‘Guido’ DiMatteo’s extraordinary service to our nation and unparalleled achievements in military aviation have made him a legend in his own right. Bringing together icons from both the sports and military worlds for this historic NASCAR Cup Series event is a tremendous honor for our raceway, our fans, and the entire region.”

La Russa is one of the most successful managers in Major League Baseball history, earning induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame after compiling more than 2,800 victories and capturing three World Series championships. His decades-long connection to St. Louis and Illinois, and championship pedigree have made him one of the most respected figures in American sports.

Together, La Russa and DiMatteo represent excellence, leadership and achievement at the highest levels. Their participation in Sunday’s Enjoy Illinois 300 will provide a memorable pre-race moment as NASCAR’s biggest stars prepare to battle in the second race of the championship Chase at World Wide Technology Raceway.

World Wide Technology Raceway is proud to welcome these living legends from both the sports and military communities as part of race-day festivities for one of the premier events on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule.

Tickets remain on sale for the NASCAR weekend Sept. 11-13 and are available at wwtraceway.com or by calling the ticket office at (618) 215-8888 ext. 1.

Both Justin Allgaier and Sheldon Creed, however, will have a chance at redemption when the series returns to the 1.25-mile track for Saturday‘s Nu Way 225 powered by Bobcat and sauced by Blues Hog (7:30 p.m. ET on CW, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

In last year‘s race, Creed lost third gear on a Lap 135 restart, stacked up the field in a multicar accident and ultimately finished 30th. Allgaier was nicked with a pit road speeding penalty at the end of the second stage, suffered damage in the Lap 135 crash and finished 28th.

Creed, at least, comes to the banks of the Mississippi River with considerable momentum. In last Saturday‘s O‘Reilly Series Chase opener at Darlington Raceway, the driver of the No. 00 Haas Factory Team Chevrolet picked up the second win of his career and trimmed Allgaier‘s lead in the standings to seven points.

Allgaier, on the other hand, started strong and won the first stage, but contact with the outside wall cost him dearly in the late going, dropping him to 17th at the finish.

In a field that includes no former Gateway winners, both Creed and Allgaier are hopeful for better results. For Allgaier, from Riverton, Illinois, the race is a home game of sorts.

“It‘s always special to be able to come back and race this close to home—not only for me, but for everyone at (sponsor) Brandt Professional Agriculture as well,” said Allgaier, who won a pole at WWT Raceway in 2010. “They are going to have a strong presence at the track this weekend, and hopefully we can go out there and put on a great show for them.

“(Crew chief) Andrew (Overstreet) and all the guys on this team have been working hard all week long, and we are ready to go.”

Allgaier‘s JR Motorsports teammate Carson Kvapil—third in the Chase standings and 19 points back after running 12th from the pole at Darlington—likewise has work to do at Gateway. Kvapil finished 37th in his only start there last year after an engine failure.

“We‘ve have been working hard in the sim this week preparing for St. Louis,” Kvapil said. “I know (crew chief) Rodney (Childers) and this entire No. 1 WILDE Cracker team will unload another rocket ship at the track this weekend.

“We just need to go out and execute like we know we can, and if we do, we will continue to chip away at the points deficit.”

The Chase driver who had the best result in last year‘s race is Brandon Jones, who finished fourth. Jones is eighth in the standings after Darlington, 58 points behind Allgaier.

Richard Childress Racing‘s Jesse Love, the defending series champion, finished fifth last year. Love is sixth in the standings after the Chase opener, trailing Allgaier by 48 points.

And by the way, here‘s one note of caution for Creed. In the 10-year history of postseason racing in the O‘Reilly Series, never has the winner of the postseason opener gone on to win the title.

— NASCAR Wire Service —

As the NASCAR Cup Series prepares for Sunday‘s Enjoy Illinois 300 at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway (3 p.m. ET on USA, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio), “compression” also is an apt descriptor for the Chase standings.

Where top-seeded Denny Hamlin entered last Sunday‘s Cook Out Southern 500 with a 25-point edge over second place Ryan Blaney, now four drivers arrive in Greater St. Louis separated by just 24 points.

Naturally enough, race winner Christopher Bell made the most significant move at Darlington Raceway. With the victory, a stage win and the fastest lap, Bell scored 73 points at the Lady in Black—just three shy of a perfect night—and gained 38 points on Hamlin.

Bell vaulted into second place in the standings, just 12 points behind his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate. Blaney is third in the Chase standings, 16 points off the lead, and Tyler Reddick is fourth, 24 points back.

At Darlington, trouble on pit road and an on-track run-in with Michael McDowell proved costly to Hamlin, who finished 18th and lost 13 points of his postseason lead.

“It was apparent to me, probably around the end of the first stage, that he (Bell) had a car that was coming through the pack and was very, very competitive,” Hamlin said Monday on his “Actions Detrimental” podcast.

“We all knew that ‘CBell’ has clearly had enough speed to win races this year, but their team clearly got it done when it really mattered most at Darlington. Takes him from 50 (points back) to 12. That‘s certainly a big chunk, and certainly that team feels like they don‘t have necessarily any weaknesses in the Chase.”

Hamlin, however, has plenty of reason to stay positive. He‘s the defending winner at World Wide Technology Raceway, and before last year‘s victory, he finished second in the previous two races there.

Bell‘s brilliance at Gateway has not been as consistent, though he did lead 80 laps and win both stages in 2024 before dropping a cylinder in his engine—the result of a broken valve spring.

On the other hand, consistent excellence has been the hallmark of Joey Logano‘s performance at the 1.25-mile track. Winner of the inaugural WWT Raceway event in 2022, Logano is the only driver who has finished in the top five (and top 10) in all four races there.

Logano finished ninth at Darlington and lost seven points to the Chase lead, leaving him eighth in the standings and 72 points in arrears.

From the standpoint of Cup Series manufacturers, Gateway has been a mixed affair. After Logano won the inaugural event in a Ford, Kyle Busch claimed the 63rd and final victory of his career in a Chevrolet in 2023.

A year later, Bell‘s engine problems were serendipity for Austin Cindric, Logano‘s teammate at Team Penske, who picked up the second of his three career victories. With a 13th-place finish last Sunday at Darlington, Cindric gained one position to 14th in the Chase standings but lost seven points to the leader.

Now trailing by 102 points, Cindric certainly could use a second victory at WWT Raceway.

In a season dominated by Toyota drivers led by Hamlin, Blaney consistently has been the top competitor behind the wheel of a Ford. Chevrolet drivers, on the other hand, have swapped their top position within the brand.

After running fifth at Darlington and finishing second in Stage 2, defending series champion Kyle Larson now holds that distinction. The driver of the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet is seventh in the Chase standings, 49 points behind Hamlin.

Larson has finished 12th or better in all four of his WWT Raceway starts, and his top-five result at Darlington has raised his confidence level entering the Gateway race.

“(The fifth-place run) was a good start to our Chase,” said Larson, who led 52 laps at Gateway before finishing 12th last year. “I think it went better than I anticipated based on the last two Darlington races for us, so I was happy with it. It was the first really legitimate shot at a race win we‘ve had in a while, based on car speed and execution, so I was extremely encouraged. I thought our team did a really good job.”

“Last year when we were (at WWT Raceway), I thought we had one of, if not the best car in the field. We were really strong in terms of car speed and grip. I‘m encouraged to go back there and hopeful that we can have a day similar to last year, give ourselves an opportunity to score a lot of points and contend for a win.”

— NASCAR News Wire —

As part of this agreement, Cisco will continue as the Official Technology Partner, Wi-Fi Partner and Networking Technology Partner of both the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and IMS.

“Cisco‘s focus on industry-leading innovation and premier customer service is mirrored by both the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and IMS,” Penske Entertainment Corp. President and CEO Mark Miles said. “Through this ongoing partnership, we will continue to leverage Cisco technology to prioritize a cutting-edge fan experience and culture of speed, connectivity and progress.”

Since the partnership commenced in 2024, Penske Entertainment has leveraged a wide range of Cisco‘s industry-leading technology solutions, including networking infrastructure, collaboration, wireless, cloud management and more to securely connect all aspects of its business.

“In racing, as in technology, performance is everything,” Cisco Head of Global Sponsorships Anne Ristau said. “We are proud to continue providing the technological foundation that allows IMS and the NTT INDYCAR SERIES to scale, innovate and deliver seamless experiences for both their business operations and their passionate global audience.”

In addition, Cisco hosts a Cisco Engage Tech Day at IMS each fall, which provides attendees with immersive technical sessions focused on game-changing business solutions. More than 500 attendees experience tradeshow booths and gain access to practitioners and speakers at The Racing Capital of the World.

— Indianapolis Motor Speedway —

The Nashville native will drive the official Chevrolet Corvette pace car and lead the NASCAR Cup Series field around Bristol’s high-banked, half-mile oval before pulling off the track moments before the green flag. For Newgarden, the honor fulfills a racing wish he made public years before becoming a back-to-back Indianapolis 500 champion.

“I want to do Bristol. I want to do the Bristol Night Race,” Newgarden told Autoweek in 2019 when asked which race topped his personal bucket list. “There’s more, but that’s No. 1. If I get to choose, it’d be the Bristol Night Race. What makes it so great is that there’s nothing like Bristol.”

Newgarden‘s connection to Bristol began long before his championship career. He grew up attending races at the track with his father, experiences that helped spark his love of racing, and he will return for the Bass Pro Shops Night Race with his dad. The children‘s book Josef‘s BIG Dream: An INDY 500 Story includes a Bristol-inspired nod showing young Josef and his father watching open-wheel cars race inside a colosseum-like stadium. The book is available at shop.josefnewgarden.com.

One of the most accomplished American open-wheel racers of his generation, Newgarden won NTT INDYCAR SERIES championships in 2017 and 2019 and captured consecutive Indianapolis 500 victories in 2023 and 2024, becoming only the sixth driver to win The Greatest Spectacle in Racing in back-to-back years. He competes in the No. 2 Team Penske Chevrolet and has earned 34 career INDYCAR SERIES victories, including two during the team‘s 60th anniversary season in 2026 at Phoenix Raceway and World Wide Technology Raceway, respectively. His appearance at Bristol will create another crossover moment during Team Penske‘s milestone season, bringing one of the organization‘s most decorated INDYCAR drivers to a track where its NASCAR Cup Series teams have competed for decades.

Newgarden’s role also creates a personal connection to the night’s celebration of Kyle Busch. Bristol’s concrete oval was listed as Busch’s favorite track to race, while Newgarden was listed as his favorite INDYCAR driver. The official Chevrolet pace car will carry a special decal honoring Busch, bringing two of his racing favorites together as Bristol celebrates the legacy of its all-time winningest driver across NASCAR’s three national series.

“Josef is one of Tennessee’s greatest racing champions, and we’ve known for years how much he has wanted to experience the Bristol Night Race,” said Jerry Caldwell, president and general manager of Bristol Motor Speedway. “Having him lead the NASCAR Cup Series field to green will be a special moment for our fans and for Josef. It becomes even more meaningful on a night when the pace car will carry a tribute to Kyle Busch, who loved racing at Bristol and counted Josef among his favorite drivers.”

The Bass Pro Shops Night Race on Sept. 19 will feature a star-studded entertainment lineup, including Academy Award-winning actor and producer Brad Pitt as a Grand Marshal and two-time Indianapolis 500 winner and two-time INDYCAR SERIES champion Josef Newgarden as the celebrity pace car driver leading the NASCAR Cup Series field to green. Saturday‘s festivities also will include appearances by WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair, a pre-race concert by Brian Kelley, Bristol‘s signature driver introductions featuring music personally selected by the competitors, a children‘s choir performing the national anthem, and Lee Greenwood singing “God Bless the USA” as a bald eagle soars above the stadium, followed by a dramatic flyover featuring two U.S. Air Force C-130s. Fans also will receive yellow “Rowdy Towels” and unite for an emotional Lap 18 tribute honoring Kyle Busch and his unmatched success at Bristol — another powerful, only-at-Bristol moment before the NASCAR Cup Series‘ biggest stars battle under the lights in one of America‘s most iconic sporting events.

— Bristol Motor Speedway —