2 hours ago
Denny Hamlin's name has come up in NASCAR headlines following Alex Bowman's announcement to retire after the 2027 Cup Series season. With Hamlin's contract running through 2027, the driver of the No. 11 car has previously stated it will be his last contract. However, the Joe Gibbs Racing competitor hasn't officially announced his retirement.
Will Hamlin still retire after the 2027 NASCAR season? The current Cup Series points leader provided an update in a press conference on whether he has changed his thought process.
"No, I've just been so focused on the week-to-week that I haven't really thought too much about the future," Hamlin said. "Obviously, [Joe Gibbs Racing]'s got good plans set in place and whatnot for that. So, no, not really, haven't put any more thought into it or second thoughts or anything like that. So, it just really riding the wave of week to week right now and continue trying to get more wins."
Brent Crews figures to be the successor to Hamlin in the No. 11 car for Joe Gibbs Racing, but the latter is still at the top of his game. Many have wondered if the Joe Gibbs Racing driver might change his mind with his recent success. While Hamlin hasn't thought much about retirement, 2027 could be his final season.
Austin Cindric reveals major update on NASCAR future for 2027 season
#hamlin #season #week #retire
Will Hamlin still retire after the 2027 NASCAR season? The current Cup Series points leader provided an update in a press conference on whether he has changed his thought process.
"No, I've just been so focused on the week-to-week that I haven't really thought too much about the future," Hamlin said. "Obviously, [Joe Gibbs Racing]'s got good plans set in place and whatnot for that. So, no, not really, haven't put any more thought into it or second thoughts or anything like that. So, it just really riding the wave of week to week right now and continue trying to get more wins."
Brent Crews figures to be the successor to Hamlin in the No. 11 car for Joe Gibbs Racing, but the latter is still at the top of his game. Many have wondered if the Joe Gibbs Racing driver might change his mind with his recent success. While Hamlin hasn't thought much about retirement, 2027 could be his final season.
Austin Cindric reveals major update on NASCAR future for 2027 season
#hamlin #season #week #retire
4 hours ago
The Clash is expected to have a new home in 2027. According to The Athletic's Jordan Bianchi, the Clash is expected to return to Daytona International Speedway after a six-year hiatus. After a two-year run at Bowman Gray Stadium, NASCAR will go back to Daytona for its opening exhibition event.
According to Bianchi, the Clash at Daytona is expected to be held on Saturday, February 13, 2027, which is one day before the Super Bowl and a week before the Daytona 500. The NASCAR insider also says a new sponsor is expected to partner with the Clash next season.
NASCAR should run the Clash at Daytona, as there is no better fit for the opening weekend of the season. While Bowman Gray and Los Angeles put on good shows, Daytona is where the Clash belongs. The 2027 NASCAR season isn't here yet, but excitement is already in the air about the possibility.
Front Row Motorsports addresses Layne Riggs' NASCAR Cup future in 2026
This article originally appeared on Motorsports Wire: NASCAR expected to bring Clash back to Daytona oval in 2027
#clash #nascar #bianchi
According to Bianchi, the Clash at Daytona is expected to be held on Saturday, February 13, 2027, which is one day before the Super Bowl and a week before the Daytona 500. The NASCAR insider also says a new sponsor is expected to partner with the Clash next season.
NASCAR should run the Clash at Daytona, as there is no better fit for the opening weekend of the season. While Bowman Gray and Los Angeles put on good shows, Daytona is where the Clash belongs. The 2027 NASCAR season isn't here yet, but excitement is already in the air about the possibility.
Front Row Motorsports addresses Layne Riggs' NASCAR Cup future in 2026
This article originally appeared on Motorsports Wire: NASCAR expected to bring Clash back to Daytona oval in 2027
#clash #nascar #bianchi
4 hours ago
Chandler Smith has been executing at a very high level in the NASCAR Truck Series during the 2026 season. With Front Row Motorsports thriving, there were rumors of Smith moving to the NASCAR Cup Series in place of Noah Gragson. However, Front Row Motorsports announced that he will not return to the organization in 2027.
So, what does Smith think about his Cup Series future? While running at NASCAR's top level is the ultimate goal, as long as Smith is behind the wheel, he will be happy. This interview was before the announcement.
"I just want the Lord's will, whatever that means," Smith said to NASCAR.com. "If that's to race trucks for the rest of my life, that's what I want to do. If the Lord obviously presents me and pushes me into an opportunity that lands in my lap and is just there and it's pretty evident, then I want to just submit myself and be a vessel. I mean that wholeheartedly, truthfully."
There was a time when Smith's future in NASCAR was uncertain, but it seems like he is set up for the 2027 NASCAR season. According to FOX Sports' Bob Pockrass, Smith is expected to sign with Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR O'Reilly Series. This means Smith is one step closer to the Cup Series.
Richard Childress Racing's leading candidate for No. 33 car revealed
#nascar #series #richard #childress
So, what does Smith think about his Cup Series future? While running at NASCAR's top level is the ultimate goal, as long as Smith is behind the wheel, he will be happy. This interview was before the announcement.
"I just want the Lord's will, whatever that means," Smith said to NASCAR.com. "If that's to race trucks for the rest of my life, that's what I want to do. If the Lord obviously presents me and pushes me into an opportunity that lands in my lap and is just there and it's pretty evident, then I want to just submit myself and be a vessel. I mean that wholeheartedly, truthfully."
There was a time when Smith's future in NASCAR was uncertain, but it seems like he is set up for the 2027 NASCAR season. According to FOX Sports' Bob Pockrass, Smith is expected to sign with Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR O'Reilly Series. This means Smith is one step closer to the Cup Series.
Richard Childress Racing's leading candidate for No. 33 car revealed
#nascar #series #richard #childress
4 hours ago
Nick Sanchez has earned more races with Peterson Racing Group in the NASCAR O'Reilly Series. Sanchez will drive the No. 87 car for Peterson Racing Group in the next five races during the 2026 O'Reilly Series season, as announced by the team. This comes after the former AM Racing driver's first batch of races with the organization.
Austin Green served as the full-time driver of the No. 87 car to start the 2026 NASCAR season, but Peterson Racing Group decided to give Sanchez a chance in its race cars. It has worked out well, as Sanchez came close to winning the O'Reilly Series race at EchoPark Speedway in July.
Now, Sanchez has earned the next five races with the organization, and it could help him return to a full-time seat on the O'Reilly Series grid for the 2027 NASCAR season. After all, Sanchez has been impressive in the No. 87 car, and Peterson Racing Group could be a potential landing spot in 2027.
NASCAR, IndyCar, and F1 all off with break to start August in 2026
This article originally appeared on Motorsports Wire: Nick Sanchez earns more NASCAR O'Reilly Series races in No. 87 in 2026
#racing
Austin Green served as the full-time driver of the No. 87 car to start the 2026 NASCAR season, but Peterson Racing Group decided to give Sanchez a chance in its race cars. It has worked out well, as Sanchez came close to winning the O'Reilly Series race at EchoPark Speedway in July.
Now, Sanchez has earned the next five races with the organization, and it could help him return to a full-time seat on the O'Reilly Series grid for the 2027 NASCAR season. After all, Sanchez has been impressive in the No. 87 car, and Peterson Racing Group could be a potential landing spot in 2027.
NASCAR, IndyCar, and F1 all off with break to start August in 2026
This article originally appeared on Motorsports Wire: Nick Sanchez earns more NASCAR O'Reilly Series races in No. 87 in 2026
#racing
21 hours ago
Carson Hocevar's unfiltered personality has quickly made him one of NASCAR's rising stars and a fan favorite.
And while his racing tactics may not endear him to other drivers (and those drivers' fans), the 23-year-old's passion for racing is not disputed.
Hocevar is an avid iRacing user who also does his fair share of late-model racing at short tracks around the country when allowed by his busy NASCAR schedule that includes the full-time Cup slate as well as a part-time Truck Series itinerary.
In that context lies Hocevar's thoughts on July 28 on NASCAR's current status as a TV product while watching the 2000 Talladega fall race, notable for being Dale Earnhardt's final Cup Series victory 26 years ago.
"It's insane we as a sport produce the product we give to fans and wonder why fans have lost interest," Hocevar wrote on social media. "This race is beautiful. The sights, the sounds, the cars, the production, the commentators.
#race
And while his racing tactics may not endear him to other drivers (and those drivers' fans), the 23-year-old's passion for racing is not disputed.
Hocevar is an avid iRacing user who also does his fair share of late-model racing at short tracks around the country when allowed by his busy NASCAR schedule that includes the full-time Cup slate as well as a part-time Truck Series itinerary.
In that context lies Hocevar's thoughts on July 28 on NASCAR's current status as a TV product while watching the 2000 Talladega fall race, notable for being Dale Earnhardt's final Cup Series victory 26 years ago.
"It's insane we as a sport produce the product we give to fans and wonder why fans have lost interest," Hocevar wrote on social media. "This race is beautiful. The sights, the sounds, the cars, the production, the commentators.
#race
21 hours ago
Carson Hocevar's unfiltered personality has quickly made him one of NASCAR's rising stars and a fan favorite.
And while his racing tactics may not endear him to other drivers (and those drivers' fans), the 23-year-old's passion for racing is not disputed.
Hocevar is an avid iRacing user who also does his fair share of late-model racing at short tracks around the country when allowed by his busy NASCAR schedule that includes the full-time Cup slate as well as a part-time Truck Series itinerary.
In that context lies Hocevar's thoughts on July 28 on NASCAR's current status as a TV product while watching the 2000 Talladega fall race, notable for being Dale Earnhardt's final Cup Series victory 26 years ago.
"It's insane we as a sport produce the product we give to fans and wonder why fans have lost interest," Hocevar wrote on social media. "This race is beautiful. The sights, the sounds, the cars, the production, the commentators.
#fans #hocevar #time #nascar
And while his racing tactics may not endear him to other drivers (and those drivers' fans), the 23-year-old's passion for racing is not disputed.
Hocevar is an avid iRacing user who also does his fair share of late-model racing at short tracks around the country when allowed by his busy NASCAR schedule that includes the full-time Cup slate as well as a part-time Truck Series itinerary.
In that context lies Hocevar's thoughts on July 28 on NASCAR's current status as a TV product while watching the 2000 Talladega fall race, notable for being Dale Earnhardt's final Cup Series victory 26 years ago.
"It's insane we as a sport produce the product we give to fans and wonder why fans have lost interest," Hocevar wrote on social media. "This race is beautiful. The sights, the sounds, the cars, the production, the commentators.
#fans #hocevar #time #nascar
22 hours ago
Corey Heim, who has won two NASCAR Cup races as a part-time driver for 23XI Racing in 2026, will not use the No. 67 when he becomes a full-time driver for the team owned by Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin in 2027.
Why? "Because he says (67) is a stupid, goofy number," Hamlin said.
Hamlin said on his "Actions Detrimental" podcast that Heim will switch from the No. 67 to the No. 35 in 2027.
COREY HEIM FINE WITH PART-TIME STATUS: Corey Heim has NASCAR Cup win in part-time race schedule. Why 23XI driver isn't complaining
Hamlin wondered if Heim, 24, who won the NASCAR Indianapolis Brickyard 400 on July 26 and at the Naval Base Coronado in San Diego on June 21, might want to keep the No. 67 for good luck?
#time #corey #racing
Why? "Because he says (67) is a stupid, goofy number," Hamlin said.
Hamlin said on his "Actions Detrimental" podcast that Heim will switch from the No. 67 to the No. 35 in 2027.
COREY HEIM FINE WITH PART-TIME STATUS: Corey Heim has NASCAR Cup win in part-time race schedule. Why 23XI driver isn't complaining
Hamlin wondered if Heim, 24, who won the NASCAR Indianapolis Brickyard 400 on July 26 and at the Naval Base Coronado in San Diego on June 21, might want to keep the No. 67 for good luck?
#time #corey #racing
22 hours ago
Corey Heim, who has won two NASCAR Cup races as a part-time driver for 23XI Racing in 2026, will not use the No. 67 when he becomes a full-time driver for the team owned by Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin in 2027.
Why? "Because he says (67) is a stupid, goofy number," Hamlin said.
Hamlin said on his "Actions Detrimental" podcast that Heim will switch from the No. 67 to the No. 35 in 2027.
COREY HEIM FINE WITH PART-TIME STATUS: Corey Heim has NASCAR Cup win in part-time race schedule. Why 23XI driver isn't complaining
Hamlin wondered if Heim, 24, who won the NASCAR Indianapolis Brickyard 400 on July 26 and at the Naval Base Coronado in San Diego on June 21, might want to keep the No. 67 for good luck?
#heim #time #driver #michael
Why? "Because he says (67) is a stupid, goofy number," Hamlin said.
Hamlin said on his "Actions Detrimental" podcast that Heim will switch from the No. 67 to the No. 35 in 2027.
COREY HEIM FINE WITH PART-TIME STATUS: Corey Heim has NASCAR Cup win in part-time race schedule. Why 23XI driver isn't complaining
Hamlin wondered if Heim, 24, who won the NASCAR Indianapolis Brickyard 400 on July 26 and at the Naval Base Coronado in San Diego on June 21, might want to keep the No. 67 for good luck?
#heim #time #driver #michael
1 day ago
Corey Heim is a special driver, and I think we were already aware of that even before his recent Cup victories. He's won 26 Truck races in less than 100 starts, and toppled various records there en route to his 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series **** le.
But there's always an adjustment period when a rising star moves up to Cup, right? Well, maybe not for Heim. 23XI Racing being a top-level team certainly helps, but Heim is actively beating fellow Toyota drivers like Reddick, Hamlin and Bell in head-to-head battles.
He won at the San Diego Street Course by passing Reddick late in the race, and he reclaimed the lead from Hamlin on the final restart of the Brickyard 400, before withstanding the pressure of Bell in the closing laps to win that race as well.
In doing so, Heim is accomplishing feats NASCAR hasn't seen in literally decades.
Corey Heim is the first driver to win two races in just his first 15 career starts as a NASCAR Cup driver since A.J. Foyt did it in 1965 -- 61 years ago. Foyt managed to win the summer Daytona race in both 1964 and 1965 while competing part-time. The legendary driver also won those races with two different race teams, which even Heim won't can't match.
#heim #truck #hamlin
But there's always an adjustment period when a rising star moves up to Cup, right? Well, maybe not for Heim. 23XI Racing being a top-level team certainly helps, but Heim is actively beating fellow Toyota drivers like Reddick, Hamlin and Bell in head-to-head battles.
He won at the San Diego Street Course by passing Reddick late in the race, and he reclaimed the lead from Hamlin on the final restart of the Brickyard 400, before withstanding the pressure of Bell in the closing laps to win that race as well.
In doing so, Heim is accomplishing feats NASCAR hasn't seen in literally decades.
Corey Heim is the first driver to win two races in just his first 15 career starts as a NASCAR Cup driver since A.J. Foyt did it in 1965 -- 61 years ago. Foyt managed to win the summer Daytona race in both 1964 and 1965 while competing part-time. The legendary driver also won those races with two different race teams, which even Heim won't can't match.
#heim #truck #hamlin
4 days ago
Brickyard 400 NASCAR Cup Series qualifying takes place on July 25 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Toyota should be back in front given the track type and the manufacturer's form this year. The top five in practice was made up completely by Toyota cars.
Bubba Wallace is the defending race winner.
Here is what you need to know about NASCAR Cup qualifying at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Qualifying time: 1:30 p.m. Eastern/12:30 p.m. Central on July 25
#speedway
Toyota should be back in front given the track type and the manufacturer's form this year. The top five in practice was made up completely by Toyota cars.
Bubba Wallace is the defending race winner.
Here is what you need to know about NASCAR Cup qualifying at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Qualifying time: 1:30 p.m. Eastern/12:30 p.m. Central on July 25
#speedway
4 days ago
Brickyard 400 NASCAR Cup Series qualifying takes place on July 25 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Toyota should be back in front given the track type and the manufacturer's form this year. The top five in practice was made up completely by Toyota cars.
Bubba Wallace is the defending race winner.
Here is what you need to know about NASCAR Cup qualifying at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Qualifying time: 1:30 p.m. Eastern/12:30 p.m. Central on July 25
#qualifying #july #motor #brickyard
Toyota should be back in front given the track type and the manufacturer's form this year. The top five in practice was made up completely by Toyota cars.
Bubba Wallace is the defending race winner.
Here is what you need to know about NASCAR Cup qualifying at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Qualifying time: 1:30 p.m. Eastern/12:30 p.m. Central on July 25
#qualifying #july #motor #brickyard
4 days ago
CUMBERLAND – What is now a shopping plaza that includes a Stop & Shop and a McDonald's holds a noted place in American auto racing history: It is the site of the first sanctioned stock car race in the United States outside the South.
Not only would the first stock car races in the North be held in ***** berland, but the national championship would be decided there.
On Oct. 26, 1947, Fonty Flock, of Atlanta, won the national championship race on the one-third-mile, high-banked, paved oval track of the Lonsdale Sports Arena off Mendon Road on the bank of the Blackstone River, just downstream from Pratt Dam.
A crowd of 18,000 watched the seven races that Sunday afternoon, part of a program sanctioned by National Stock Car Circuit head Bill France, who, a couple of months later, would become head of the newly formed NASCAR, the governing body of stock car auto racing.
Only days before the history-making auto races, Lonsdale Sports Arena made history in another sport: The bowl-shaped arena hosted 32,000 spectators in what was the largest football crowd ever in Rhode Island at that time, as Cranston High School beat La Salle Academy, 20-2. The huge crowd snarled traffic for hours in the area.
#auto #cumberland
Not only would the first stock car races in the North be held in ***** berland, but the national championship would be decided there.
On Oct. 26, 1947, Fonty Flock, of Atlanta, won the national championship race on the one-third-mile, high-banked, paved oval track of the Lonsdale Sports Arena off Mendon Road on the bank of the Blackstone River, just downstream from Pratt Dam.
A crowd of 18,000 watched the seven races that Sunday afternoon, part of a program sanctioned by National Stock Car Circuit head Bill France, who, a couple of months later, would become head of the newly formed NASCAR, the governing body of stock car auto racing.
Only days before the history-making auto races, Lonsdale Sports Arena made history in another sport: The bowl-shaped arena hosted 32,000 spectators in what was the largest football crowd ever in Rhode Island at that time, as Cranston High School beat La Salle Academy, 20-2. The huge crowd snarled traffic for hours in the area.
#auto #cumberland
5 days ago
Front Row Motorsports will lead the NASCAR Truck Series starting lineup for the race at Lucas Oil Raceway in July. Layne Riggs won the pole for the 2026 TSport 200 at Lucas Oil this weekend. Chandler Smith will join Riggs on the front row for Friday night's event. It is Riggs' third pole position of the 2026 Truck Series season.
Nick Sanchez and Christian Eckes will follow the two drivers on the second row. Most notably, Ben Rhodes, Harrison Burton, Justin Haley, Conor Daly, Toni Breidinger, and Frankie Muniz all start 20th or worse for Friday's event. Justin Carroll and Jonathan Shafer missed the event.
The full NASCAR Truck Series starting lineup at Lucas Oil in July 2026 is below!
No. 34 Layne Riggs
No. 38 Chandler Smith
#riggs
Nick Sanchez and Christian Eckes will follow the two drivers on the second row. Most notably, Ben Rhodes, Harrison Burton, Justin Haley, Conor Daly, Toni Breidinger, and Frankie Muniz all start 20th or worse for Friday's event. Justin Carroll and Jonathan Shafer missed the event.
The full NASCAR Truck Series starting lineup at Lucas Oil in July 2026 is below!
No. 34 Layne Riggs
No. 38 Chandler Smith
#riggs
5 days ago
Series leader Layne Riggs looks for a second straight win on the short track at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park as the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series TSport 200 returns on Friday night.
NASCAR Truck Series drivers Derek Lemke (22) and Ben Rhodes (99) race during the Allegiance 200 at Nashville Superspeedway in Lebanon, Tenn., Friday, May 29, 2026.
When: Friday, July 24, 2026
Start Time: 8:00 PM ET
Channel: FOX Sports 1
#truck #indianapolis #raceway #park
NASCAR Truck Series drivers Derek Lemke (22) and Ben Rhodes (99) race during the Allegiance 200 at Nashville Superspeedway in Lebanon, Tenn., Friday, May 29, 2026.
When: Friday, July 24, 2026
Start Time: 8:00 PM ET
Channel: FOX Sports 1
#truck #indianapolis #raceway #park
5 days ago
Tyler Reddick looked nearly untouchable through the opening months of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season.
The 23XI Racing driver became the first competitor in NASCAR's modern era to win the season's opening three races, collected five victories through the first 15 events and built what once seemed like a commanding lead atop the regular-season standings.
Six races later, that advantage is gone.
After a difficult stretch that included bad luck, mechanical issues and crashes, Reddick now trails Denny Hamlin in the battle for the regular-season championship entering Sunday's Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Even so, the No. 45 driver isn't sounding the alarm.
#nascar #series
The 23XI Racing driver became the first competitor in NASCAR's modern era to win the season's opening three races, collected five victories through the first 15 events and built what once seemed like a commanding lead atop the regular-season standings.
Six races later, that advantage is gone.
After a difficult stretch that included bad luck, mechanical issues and crashes, Reddick now trails Denny Hamlin in the battle for the regular-season championship entering Sunday's Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Even so, the No. 45 driver isn't sounding the alarm.
#nascar #series
5 days ago
Alex Bowman's surprise retirement announcement caught much of the NASCAR world off guard Thursday, but the Hendrick Motorsports driver says the decision wasn't driven by the reason many fans ***** umed.
Speaking Friday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, one day after announcing he will retire from full-time Cup Series competition following the 2027 season, Bowman explained that his future plans are centered less on what he's leaving behind and more on the life he wants to build once he's steps away from racing.
Despite battling concussions, a broken back and, more recently, a bout of vertigo earlier this season, Bowman said his health wasn't the deciding factor.
Instead, after nearly two decades chasing a racing career, he's ready for something different.
Bowman acknowledged the physical toll racing has taken but made it clear he still believes he can compete at NASCAR's highest level.
#bowman #racing
Speaking Friday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, one day after announcing he will retire from full-time Cup Series competition following the 2027 season, Bowman explained that his future plans are centered less on what he's leaving behind and more on the life he wants to build once he's steps away from racing.
Despite battling concussions, a broken back and, more recently, a bout of vertigo earlier this season, Bowman said his health wasn't the deciding factor.
Instead, after nearly two decades chasing a racing career, he's ready for something different.
Bowman acknowledged the physical toll racing has taken but made it clear he still believes he can compete at NASCAR's highest level.
#bowman #racing
5 days ago
INDIANAPOLIS – One weekend before NASCAR returned to Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Brickyard 400, IndyCar legend Scott Dixon criticized the length of NASCAR Cup Series races.
The six-time IndyCar champion was asked about the original distance of IndyCar's Music City Grand Prix, which was set to be 300 laps and nearly 400 miles before it was postponed and shortened. Dixon said he didn't know if he'd like more IndyCar races of a similar distance, citing his problem with the length of Cup races.
"I don't know," Dixon said in an interview with Frontstretch.com. "I find it really hard to watch Cup races. It allows for a nap. Maybe that's good. I don't know."
The comments drew the ire of many NASCAR fans and commentators, who disagreed with Dixon's ******* sment. This year, the shortest Cup race on an oval is 267 miles and the longest is 600. The shortest oval races typically take around three hours while longer races can exceed four hours. Last year's Brickyard 400 took three hours and 22 minutes.
While many felt Dixon's comments were out of line, 2024 Brickyard 400 winner Kyle Larson understood Dixon's point.
#races #indycar #know
The six-time IndyCar champion was asked about the original distance of IndyCar's Music City Grand Prix, which was set to be 300 laps and nearly 400 miles before it was postponed and shortened. Dixon said he didn't know if he'd like more IndyCar races of a similar distance, citing his problem with the length of Cup races.
"I don't know," Dixon said in an interview with Frontstretch.com. "I find it really hard to watch Cup races. It allows for a nap. Maybe that's good. I don't know."
The comments drew the ire of many NASCAR fans and commentators, who disagreed with Dixon's ******* sment. This year, the shortest Cup race on an oval is 267 miles and the longest is 600. The shortest oval races typically take around three hours while longer races can exceed four hours. Last year's Brickyard 400 took three hours and 22 minutes.
While many felt Dixon's comments were out of line, 2024 Brickyard 400 winner Kyle Larson understood Dixon's point.
#races #indycar #know
5 days ago
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Ryan Blaney faces a high-stakes weekend in Indianapolis.
He's hoping to put Roger Penske back in victory lane at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and he'd like to add a second crown jewel win to his resume. At the same time, he's chasing a $1 million pay day — if he finishes ahead of surprise finalist Todd Gilliland in NASCAR's second In-Season Challenge.
Blaney's solution is to simplify matters by sweeping both ******* les Sunday with one amazing Brickyard 400.
"We obviously understand what we're going for with the In-Season Challenge," Blaney said before Friday's short practice. "But at the same time, you're trying to win the race. That's the big one here — and trying to win for Roger at this place is incredibly important in our race shop and to everyone on this team. So I've looked at it as like, just go try to run the best race you can and focus on that."
Blaney heads into race weekend as the favorite in the final round of the challenge. The 2023 Cup champion has strung together 11 consecutive finishes of 11th or better, a feat he's achieved in 17 of 21 races this season. Two weeks ago in Atlanta he captured his second win of the year.
#weekend
He's hoping to put Roger Penske back in victory lane at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and he'd like to add a second crown jewel win to his resume. At the same time, he's chasing a $1 million pay day — if he finishes ahead of surprise finalist Todd Gilliland in NASCAR's second In-Season Challenge.
Blaney's solution is to simplify matters by sweeping both ******* les Sunday with one amazing Brickyard 400.
"We obviously understand what we're going for with the In-Season Challenge," Blaney said before Friday's short practice. "But at the same time, you're trying to win the race. That's the big one here — and trying to win for Roger at this place is incredibly important in our race shop and to everyone on this team. So I've looked at it as like, just go try to run the best race you can and focus on that."
Blaney heads into race weekend as the favorite in the final round of the challenge. The 2023 Cup champion has strung together 11 consecutive finishes of 11th or better, a feat he's achieved in 17 of 21 races this season. Two weeks ago in Atlanta he captured his second win of the year.
#weekend
5 days ago
NASCAR schedule 2026: Dates, times, TV channels, live streams, winners for every Cup Series race originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
From the Clash at Bowman Gray through a relocated Championship Weekend, the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season promises start-to-finish excitement.
The schedule features several new wrinkles, including a street race in San Diego, the All-Star Race moving to Dover, and former All-Star host North Wilkesboro staging its first points race since 1996.
BUY NOW:Get tickets for every 2026 NASCAR Cup Series race on StubHub
One of the biggest changes comes at the very end, as Championship Weekend returns to Homestead-Miami Speedway for the first time since 2019 after the series capped its last six seasons in Phoenix.
#sporting #weekend #every #first
From the Clash at Bowman Gray through a relocated Championship Weekend, the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season promises start-to-finish excitement.
The schedule features several new wrinkles, including a street race in San Diego, the All-Star Race moving to Dover, and former All-Star host North Wilkesboro staging its first points race since 1996.
BUY NOW:Get tickets for every 2026 NASCAR Cup Series race on StubHub
One of the biggest changes comes at the very end, as Championship Weekend returns to Homestead-Miami Speedway for the first time since 2019 after the series capped its last six seasons in Phoenix.
#sporting #weekend #every #first
5 days ago
Drinking games are sometimes popular among TV viewers.
This weekend, I say line 'em up and toss one back every time you hear the word history or historic. Oh, what the ******* , toss in iconic, that overused label thrown around by the hype pushers.
At least this time, there really is history because it's the most famous speedway in the world: Indianapolis, where the familiar pagoda and that front straight, enveloped by nearby grandstands, can both rightly be called iconic.
Stream NASCAR live on Sling
The actual racing? Not always great, but we'll see how it goes with the Cup and O'Reilly cars racing at the Brickyard, while the Trucks and ARCA will be racing across town at Lucas Oil Speedway, which you might remember as Indianapolis Raceway Park.
#indianapolis #toss #time
This weekend, I say line 'em up and toss one back every time you hear the word history or historic. Oh, what the ******* , toss in iconic, that overused label thrown around by the hype pushers.
At least this time, there really is history because it's the most famous speedway in the world: Indianapolis, where the familiar pagoda and that front straight, enveloped by nearby grandstands, can both rightly be called iconic.
Stream NASCAR live on Sling
The actual racing? Not always great, but we'll see how it goes with the Cup and O'Reilly cars racing at the Brickyard, while the Trucks and ARCA will be racing across town at Lucas Oil Speedway, which you might remember as Indianapolis Raceway Park.
#indianapolis #toss #time
5 days ago
Dystany Spurlock continues to be a disruptor. The 34-year-old will make her fifth ARCA Menards Series start of the year at Indianapolis Raceway Park on Friday.
In March, Spurlock (whose first name is ******* ounced Destiny) became the first Black woman to compete in a NASCAR-sanctioned series when she raced in the ARCA Menards Series East at Hickory Motor Speedway in Hickory, North Carolina. After doing two races in the East series, Spurlock made it to the premier ARCA series in April, when she finished 10th at Kansas Speedway.
Less than a year after Spurlock raced in her second NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle race at IRP, she’ll return to the track, but in a stock car this time.
“To be able to know that I raced over there on the drag strip and now I'm over here on the circle track,” Spurlock told IndyStar, “that means so much to me because I did not know that this would happen so fast within a year’s time.”
Most of Spurlock’s experience before this year came in motorcycle drag racing. She has also raced arena carts and drove in Skip Barber’s Formula 4 series in 2023.
#year #arca #raced #hickory
In March, Spurlock (whose first name is ******* ounced Destiny) became the first Black woman to compete in a NASCAR-sanctioned series when she raced in the ARCA Menards Series East at Hickory Motor Speedway in Hickory, North Carolina. After doing two races in the East series, Spurlock made it to the premier ARCA series in April, when she finished 10th at Kansas Speedway.
Less than a year after Spurlock raced in her second NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle race at IRP, she’ll return to the track, but in a stock car this time.
“To be able to know that I raced over there on the drag strip and now I'm over here on the circle track,” Spurlock told IndyStar, “that means so much to me because I did not know that this would happen so fast within a year’s time.”
Most of Spurlock’s experience before this year came in motorcycle drag racing. She has also raced arena carts and drove in Skip Barber’s Formula 4 series in 2023.
#year #arca #raced #hickory
5 days ago
Dystany Spurlock continues to be a disruptor. The 34-year-old will make her fifth ARCA Menards Series start of the year at Indianapolis Raceway Park on Friday.
In March, Spurlock (whose first name is **** ounced Destiny) became the first Black woman to compete in a NASCAR-sanctioned series when she raced in the ARCA Menards Series East at Hickory Motor Speedway in Hickory, North Carolina. After doing two races in the East series, Spurlock made it to the premier ARCA series in April, when she finished 10th at Kansas Speedway.
Less than a year after Spurlock raced in her second NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle race at IRP, she’ll return to the track, but in a stock car this time.
“To be able to know that I raced over there on the drag strip and now I'm over here on the circle track,” Spurlock told IndyStar, “that means so much to me because I did not know that this would happen so fast within a year’s time.”
Most of Spurlock’s experience before this year came in motorcycle drag racing. She has also raced arena carts and drove in Skip Barber’s Formula 4 series in 2023.
#spurlock #series #year #speedway
In March, Spurlock (whose first name is **** ounced Destiny) became the first Black woman to compete in a NASCAR-sanctioned series when she raced in the ARCA Menards Series East at Hickory Motor Speedway in Hickory, North Carolina. After doing two races in the East series, Spurlock made it to the premier ARCA series in April, when she finished 10th at Kansas Speedway.
Less than a year after Spurlock raced in her second NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle race at IRP, she’ll return to the track, but in a stock car this time.
“To be able to know that I raced over there on the drag strip and now I'm over here on the circle track,” Spurlock told IndyStar, “that means so much to me because I did not know that this would happen so fast within a year’s time.”
Most of Spurlock’s experience before this year came in motorcycle drag racing. She has also raced arena carts and drove in Skip Barber’s Formula 4 series in 2023.
#spurlock #series #year #speedway
6 days ago
CONCORD, N.C. (AP) — NASCAR driver Alex Bowman will retire from full-time racing following the 2027 season.
Bowman, who had been in the final year of his contract at powerhouse Hendrick Motorsports, signed a one-year extension before announcing his future plans on Thursday.
The 33-year-old Bowman missed four races earlier this season because of vertigo and also was sidelined in 2022 because of a concussion and the following year because of a back injury. He drives the No. 48 Chevrolet for Hendrick and currently sits 29th in points, well below the 16-driver cutline for the postseason.
"I've spent a lot of time thinking about what's next, and this feels like the right decision at the right time," Bowman said. "The sport asks a lot of you, and I've learned it's important to listen to your body and make the right choices for yourself."
"My focus now is on making the most of my time on the racetrack and competing for wins. We still have a lot to accomplish, and I want to close my career on a high note for our team and our fans. To have the chance to do that with this organization and these people is really special."
#i 've #following
Bowman, who had been in the final year of his contract at powerhouse Hendrick Motorsports, signed a one-year extension before announcing his future plans on Thursday.
The 33-year-old Bowman missed four races earlier this season because of vertigo and also was sidelined in 2022 because of a concussion and the following year because of a back injury. He drives the No. 48 Chevrolet for Hendrick and currently sits 29th in points, well below the 16-driver cutline for the postseason.
"I've spent a lot of time thinking about what's next, and this feels like the right decision at the right time," Bowman said. "The sport asks a lot of you, and I've learned it's important to listen to your body and make the right choices for yourself."
"My focus now is on making the most of my time on the racetrack and competing for wins. We still have a lot to accomplish, and I want to close my career on a high note for our team and our fans. To have the chance to do that with this organization and these people is really special."
#i 've #following
6 days ago
INDIANAPOLIS — Five-time Brickyard 400 winner Jeff Gordon has returned to one of the most important places in his racing life — this time as the centerpiece of history.
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum has opened "Jeff Gordon," its newest rotating exhibition, marking the first time the museum has dedicated an entire exhibit to a single NASCAR driver. The exhibit traces Gordon's journey from quarter midgets and sprint cars to becoming a four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and the winningest driver in Brickyard 400 history.
"It's more than a dream come true," Gordon said. "You just hope as a young kid who becomes a race car driver that you get to do it professionally, that you can have success doing it professionally, and do it as long as possible and stay healthy doing it. I got to do that and a whole lot more."
Open through February, the exhibit features 13 race cars spanning every stage of Gordon's career, more than 70 helmets and never-before-displayed artifacts, including his first bicycle racing trophy, the first Jeff Gordon T-shirt, the firesuit from his first sprint car victory and the Williams Formula One steering wheel he used during his 2003 seat swap with Juan Pablo Montoya at IMS.
"I look at this room and walk through the timeline, and that's what comes back is just all the dreams and the hard work and everything paying off," Gordon said.
#gordon #time #indianapolis #nascar
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum has opened "Jeff Gordon," its newest rotating exhibition, marking the first time the museum has dedicated an entire exhibit to a single NASCAR driver. The exhibit traces Gordon's journey from quarter midgets and sprint cars to becoming a four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and the winningest driver in Brickyard 400 history.
"It's more than a dream come true," Gordon said. "You just hope as a young kid who becomes a race car driver that you get to do it professionally, that you can have success doing it professionally, and do it as long as possible and stay healthy doing it. I got to do that and a whole lot more."
Open through February, the exhibit features 13 race cars spanning every stage of Gordon's career, more than 70 helmets and never-before-displayed artifacts, including his first bicycle racing trophy, the first Jeff Gordon T-shirt, the firesuit from his first sprint car victory and the Williams Formula One steering wheel he used during his 2003 seat swap with Juan Pablo Montoya at IMS.
"I look at this room and walk through the timeline, and that's what comes back is just all the dreams and the hard work and everything paying off," Gordon said.
#gordon #time #indianapolis #nascar
6 days ago
Alex Bowman isn't done driving just yet, but he'll be calling it quits on his NASCAR career soon.
Hendrick Motorsports announced Thursday, July 23, that Bowman has signed a one-year extension to continue driving the No. 48 Chevrolet but will retire from full-time racing after the 2027 season.
The 33-year-old Bowman has been a full-time driver in the top-level Cup Series since 2014, but has just one victory in the last four seasons and missed four races earlier this year because of vertigo. He also missed three races in 2023 because of a fractured vertebra and five races in 2022 after suffering a concussion.
"Alex has meant so much to our organization for a long time," said Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports. "He's overcome adversity, won big races and represented our team and partners with professionalism, personality and class. Alex is a tremendous talent in the race car and an even better person outside of it. We're proud he'll have the opportunity to finish his full-time career with us on his terms. He's family."
A native of Tucson, Arizona, Bowman has eight victories across 371 Cup Series races and holds the record for most consecutive starts on the front row of the Daytona 500 with six. He won the pole at the Super Bowl of stockcar racing three times in his career.
#races #full
Hendrick Motorsports announced Thursday, July 23, that Bowman has signed a one-year extension to continue driving the No. 48 Chevrolet but will retire from full-time racing after the 2027 season.
The 33-year-old Bowman has been a full-time driver in the top-level Cup Series since 2014, but has just one victory in the last four seasons and missed four races earlier this year because of vertigo. He also missed three races in 2023 because of a fractured vertebra and five races in 2022 after suffering a concussion.
"Alex has meant so much to our organization for a long time," said Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports. "He's overcome adversity, won big races and represented our team and partners with professionalism, personality and class. Alex is a tremendous talent in the race car and an even better person outside of it. We're proud he'll have the opportunity to finish his full-time career with us on his terms. He's family."
A native of Tucson, Arizona, Bowman has eight victories across 371 Cup Series races and holds the record for most consecutive starts on the front row of the Daytona 500 with six. He won the pole at the Super Bowl of stockcar racing three times in his career.
#races #full
6 days ago
CONCORD, N.C. (AP) — NASCAR driver Alex Bowman will retire from full-time racing following the 2027 season.
Bowman, who had been in the final year of his contract at powerhouse Hendrick Motorsports, signed a one-year extension before announcing his future plans on Thursday.
The 33-year-old Bowman missed four races earlier this season because of vertigo and also was sidelined in 2022 because of a concussion and the following year because of a back injury. He drives the No. 48 Chevrolet for Hendrick and currently sits 29th in points, well below the 16-driver cutline for the postseason.
"I've spent a lot of time thinking about what's next, and this feels like the right decision at the right time," Bowman said. "The sport asks a lot of you, and I've learned it's important to listen to your body and make the right choices for yourself. ...
"My focus now is on making the most of my time on the racetrack and competing for wins. We still have a lot to accomplish, and I want to close my career on a high note for our team and our fans. To have the chance to do that with this organization and these people is really special."
#bowman #right #season
Bowman, who had been in the final year of his contract at powerhouse Hendrick Motorsports, signed a one-year extension before announcing his future plans on Thursday.
The 33-year-old Bowman missed four races earlier this season because of vertigo and also was sidelined in 2022 because of a concussion and the following year because of a back injury. He drives the No. 48 Chevrolet for Hendrick and currently sits 29th in points, well below the 16-driver cutline for the postseason.
"I've spent a lot of time thinking about what's next, and this feels like the right decision at the right time," Bowman said. "The sport asks a lot of you, and I've learned it's important to listen to your body and make the right choices for yourself. ...
"My focus now is on making the most of my time on the racetrack and competing for wins. We still have a lot to accomplish, and I want to close my career on a high note for our team and our fans. To have the chance to do that with this organization and these people is really special."
#bowman #right #season
6 days ago
Alex Bowman signed a one-year contract extension with Hendrick Motorsports and will retire from NASCAR Cup Series racing after the 2027 season, the team announced on July 23.
Bowman, 33, missed four races this season while battling vertigo. He has four top-10 finishes in 17 starts and will likely miss the NASCAR playoffs/Chase for the first time since 2023.
"I've spent a lot of time thinking about what's next, and this feels like the right decision at the right time," Bowman said via Hendrick Motorsports' announcement. "The sport asks a lot of you, and I've learned it's important to listen to your body and make the right choices for yourself."
2027 will be Bowman's 10th full-time season with Hendrick Motorsports in the Cup Series. He has totaled eight wins and 49 top-5 finishes through nine seasons entering this weekend's Brickyard 400 race at Indianapolis.
The news creates a rare thing in NASCAR — a full-time opening with the Cup Series' all-time winningest team, and more than a year before it has to be filled.
#motorsports #series #right #i 've
Bowman, 33, missed four races this season while battling vertigo. He has four top-10 finishes in 17 starts and will likely miss the NASCAR playoffs/Chase for the first time since 2023.
"I've spent a lot of time thinking about what's next, and this feels like the right decision at the right time," Bowman said via Hendrick Motorsports' announcement. "The sport asks a lot of you, and I've learned it's important to listen to your body and make the right choices for yourself."
2027 will be Bowman's 10th full-time season with Hendrick Motorsports in the Cup Series. He has totaled eight wins and 49 top-5 finishes through nine seasons entering this weekend's Brickyard 400 race at Indianapolis.
The news creates a rare thing in NASCAR — a full-time opening with the Cup Series' all-time winningest team, and more than a year before it has to be filled.
#motorsports #series #right #i 've
6 days ago
NASCAR fans tuning into this weekend's racing Indianapolis Motor Speedway will notice more than just a new battle on the track.
Beginning with Sunday's Cup Series race, NASCAR is introducing a new broadcast presentation that will remain in place for the rest of the 2026 season, including every race in The Chase.
The change comes as USA Sports officially takes over coverage of the final 14 Cup Series events, bringing new branding, familiar broadcast voices and several additions designed to give viewers a different perspective throughout race weekends.
Here's what fans can expect.
NASCAR confirmed Wednesday that USA Sports will brand every remaining Cup Series broadcast beginning at New Hampshire and continuing through the championship race at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
#nascar
Beginning with Sunday's Cup Series race, NASCAR is introducing a new broadcast presentation that will remain in place for the rest of the 2026 season, including every race in The Chase.
The change comes as USA Sports officially takes over coverage of the final 14 Cup Series events, bringing new branding, familiar broadcast voices and several additions designed to give viewers a different perspective throughout race weekends.
Here's what fans can expect.
NASCAR confirmed Wednesday that USA Sports will brand every remaining Cup Series broadcast beginning at New Hampshire and continuing through the championship race at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
#nascar
6 days ago
This is a big weekend for motorsport fans, with Formula 1 rolling into Hungary for Round 11 and NASCAR's Cup Series tackling the legendary Brickyard. Here's everything you need to know about session times, where to watch, and how the championship battles currently stack up.
The Hungaroring hosts Round 11 of the season this weekend. Practice 1 goes green Friday, July 24 at 7:30 a.m. ET, followed by Practice 2 at 11:00 a.m. ET. Saturday brings Practice 3 at 6:30 a.m. ET and Qualifying at 10:00 a.m. ET, before Sunday's race gets underway at 9:00 a.m. ET over 70 laps.
Where to watch: Apple TV is the new home of F1 in the U.S. this season, with F1 TV Pro also carrying the international broadcast and timing data for fans who want every angle of the action.
Kimi Antonelli leads the drivers' standings with 204 points, ahead of Lewis Hamilton (159) in his first year at Ferrari and George Russell (154). Charles Leclerc (126) and Lando Norris (103) round out the top five, while Max Verstappen sits seventh on 91 points, well off his usual pace heading into the summer break.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway hosts a full weekend of NASCAR action. The Craftsman Truck Series opens things up Friday, July 24 with the TSport 200 at 8:00 p.m. ET on FS1. The Xfinity Series runs the Pennzoil 250 Saturday, July 25 at 4:00 p.m. ET on The CW. The headline event, the Cup Series' Brickyard 400, goes green Sunday, July 26 at 2:00 p.m. ET on TNT Sports.
#Friday
The Hungaroring hosts Round 11 of the season this weekend. Practice 1 goes green Friday, July 24 at 7:30 a.m. ET, followed by Practice 2 at 11:00 a.m. ET. Saturday brings Practice 3 at 6:30 a.m. ET and Qualifying at 10:00 a.m. ET, before Sunday's race gets underway at 9:00 a.m. ET over 70 laps.
Where to watch: Apple TV is the new home of F1 in the U.S. this season, with F1 TV Pro also carrying the international broadcast and timing data for fans who want every angle of the action.
Kimi Antonelli leads the drivers' standings with 204 points, ahead of Lewis Hamilton (159) in his first year at Ferrari and George Russell (154). Charles Leclerc (126) and Lando Norris (103) round out the top five, while Max Verstappen sits seventh on 91 points, well off his usual pace heading into the summer break.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway hosts a full weekend of NASCAR action. The Craftsman Truck Series opens things up Friday, July 24 with the TSport 200 at 8:00 p.m. ET on FS1. The Xfinity Series runs the Pennzoil 250 Saturday, July 25 at 4:00 p.m. ET on The CW. The headline event, the Cup Series' Brickyard 400, goes green Sunday, July 26 at 2:00 p.m. ET on TNT Sports.
#Friday
6 days ago
Going by the numbers, no driver across NASCAR's top three national touring circuits is as popular as Toni Breidinger.
The 27-year-old who was the first Arab-American woman to compete in the top level of stockcar racing has more than 5.8 million combined followers across Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, X and YouTube.
After being the only woman to race full-time in NASCAR last season, fans haven't heard much from her on the track this year. Due to her part-time schedule with Rackley W.A.R., Breidinger hasn't gotten behind the wheel of the No. 27 Chevrolet in the Craftsman Truck Series since the May 15 race at Dover — the race that wound up being Kyle Busch's last win before his shocking death.
But Breidinger has quietly been working on her racecraft. She's getting back to her roots this year and returned to racing late-models, winning a competition at the historic Hickory Motor Speedway on July 11. Days later, she was in New York City, stunting on the red carpet at the ESPYs — a display of how she's able to successfully balance her on-track aspirations with her modeling career.
This weekend, Breidinger returns to NASCAR when the Truck Series races at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park in Brownsburg, Indiana on Friday, July 24 at 8 p.m. ET. In the TSport 200, Breidinger will drive the No. 27 Chevrolet splashed with a Celsius paint scheme.
#year #july #woman
The 27-year-old who was the first Arab-American woman to compete in the top level of stockcar racing has more than 5.8 million combined followers across Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, X and YouTube.
After being the only woman to race full-time in NASCAR last season, fans haven't heard much from her on the track this year. Due to her part-time schedule with Rackley W.A.R., Breidinger hasn't gotten behind the wheel of the No. 27 Chevrolet in the Craftsman Truck Series since the May 15 race at Dover — the race that wound up being Kyle Busch's last win before his shocking death.
But Breidinger has quietly been working on her racecraft. She's getting back to her roots this year and returned to racing late-models, winning a competition at the historic Hickory Motor Speedway on July 11. Days later, she was in New York City, stunting on the red carpet at the ESPYs — a display of how she's able to successfully balance her on-track aspirations with her modeling career.
This weekend, Breidinger returns to NASCAR when the Truck Series races at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park in Brownsburg, Indiana on Friday, July 24 at 8 p.m. ET. In the TSport 200, Breidinger will drive the No. 27 Chevrolet splashed with a Celsius paint scheme.
#year #july #woman
