1 month ago
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The NASCAR Cup Series playoffs begin at Darlington Raceway with the Cook Out Southern 500. (Sean Gardner / Getty Images)
The NASCAR Cup Series playoffs begin Sunday night at Darlington Raceway, and the Cook Out Southern 500 gives The Chase the kind of opener it deserves. Ryan Preece forced his way into the 16-driver field with a win at Daytona last weekend, grabbing the final playoff spot and adding one more dramatic twist before the ***** le fight officially begins. Now the regular season is over, the field is set, and only 16 drivers have a path to the championship.
Denny Hamlin starts The Chase in the best position, carrying a 25-point lead over Ryan Blaney, while the rest of the field has plenty of ground to make up. Preece enters as the final seed and starts 100 points back, but with 10 races still ahead, there is still plenty of time for chaos, comebacks, and mistakes that can reshape the standings quickly. Darlington is the perfect place to start, with its tire wear, narrow racing groove, and unforgiving walls ready to punish anyone who gets too aggressive too early. The Chase is wide open, and Sunday night is the first real test.
The green flag drops for the first race of The Chase at 5:00 p.m. EDT on Sunday, and racing fans can watch every lap on Sling TV.
#series
The NASCAR Cup Series playoffs begin at Darlington Raceway with the Cook Out Southern 500. (Sean Gardner / Getty Images)
The NASCAR Cup Series playoffs begin Sunday night at Darlington Raceway, and the Cook Out Southern 500 gives The Chase the kind of opener it deserves. Ryan Preece forced his way into the 16-driver field with a win at Daytona last weekend, grabbing the final playoff spot and adding one more dramatic twist before the ***** le fight officially begins. Now the regular season is over, the field is set, and only 16 drivers have a path to the championship.
Denny Hamlin starts The Chase in the best position, carrying a 25-point lead over Ryan Blaney, while the rest of the field has plenty of ground to make up. Preece enters as the final seed and starts 100 points back, but with 10 races still ahead, there is still plenty of time for chaos, comebacks, and mistakes that can reshape the standings quickly. Darlington is the perfect place to start, with its tire wear, narrow racing groove, and unforgiving walls ready to punish anyone who gets too aggressive too early. The Chase is wide open, and Sunday night is the first real test.
The green flag drops for the first race of The Chase at 5:00 p.m. EDT on Sunday, and racing fans can watch every lap on Sling TV.
#series
1 month ago
23XI Racing will lead the NASCAR Cup Series starting lineup for the Chase race at Darlington Raceway in September. Tyler Reddick won the pole for the 2026 Southern 500 at Darlington this weekend. Daniel Suarez will join Reddick on the front row for Sunday afternoon's event. Qualifying was cancelled due to lightning.
Ryan Preece and Denny Hamlin will follow the two drivers on the second row. Most notably, William Byron, Ryan Blaney, Kyle Larson, Ty Gibbs, Carson Hocevar, and Chris Buescher are the Chase drivers starting 20th or worse for Sunday afternoon's event.
The full NASCAR Cup Series starting lineup at Darlington in September 2026 is below!
No. 45 Tyler Reddick*
No. 7 Daniel Suarez*
#darlington
Ryan Preece and Denny Hamlin will follow the two drivers on the second row. Most notably, William Byron, Ryan Blaney, Kyle Larson, Ty Gibbs, Carson Hocevar, and Chris Buescher are the Chase drivers starting 20th or worse for Sunday afternoon's event.
The full NASCAR Cup Series starting lineup at Darlington in September 2026 is below!
No. 45 Tyler Reddick*
No. 7 Daniel Suarez*
#darlington
1 month ago
What time does NASCAR start today? TV schedule, channel, live stream to watch 2026 Darlington playoff race originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Now that the NASCAR regular season is officially over, it's time to head into a thrilling playoff Chase. Drivers will not get much time to ease into competition, as the Cook Out Southern 500 gets things started on Sunday.
With the playoff circuit heading to Darlington, things should get interesting. The South Carolina oval is also known as "The Track Too Tough to Tame", and the Cook Out Southern features a grueling 501-mile stretch that has been humbling drivers for more than 70 years.
This weekend's race serves as the first of 10 postseason competitions that will culminate in a 2026 Cup Series champion. Only 16 drivers qualified for the Chase, with Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney and Tyler Reddick leading points, and Ryan Preece just squeaking in after winning last weekend's ******* e Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona.
Who can make an impression as the NASCAR postseason gets started?
#nascar #drivers #darlington #cook
Now that the NASCAR regular season is officially over, it's time to head into a thrilling playoff Chase. Drivers will not get much time to ease into competition, as the Cook Out Southern 500 gets things started on Sunday.
With the playoff circuit heading to Darlington, things should get interesting. The South Carolina oval is also known as "The Track Too Tough to Tame", and the Cook Out Southern features a grueling 501-mile stretch that has been humbling drivers for more than 70 years.
This weekend's race serves as the first of 10 postseason competitions that will culminate in a 2026 Cup Series champion. Only 16 drivers qualified for the Chase, with Denny Hamlin, Ryan Blaney and Tyler Reddick leading points, and Ryan Preece just squeaking in after winning last weekend's ******* e Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona.
Who can make an impression as the NASCAR postseason gets started?
#nascar #drivers #darlington #cook
1 month ago
Gentlemen from Connecticut, start your engines. The Nutmeg State just doubled its chances in "The Chase."
Berlin native Ryan Preece, with an overtime victory Saturday night at Daytona in the ***** e Zero Sugar 400, the final regular-season race in the NASCAR Cup Series, secured the 16th and final berth in the postseason.
Preece will join Middletown native and former Cup champion Joey Logano in the 16-driver playoff series, which opens Sunday at Darlington Raceway in South Carolina.
On Saturday night at Daytona, Preece triumphed at a track at which he knew mostly trauma. He twice flipped cars at NASCAR's iconic home track, last year during the Daytona 500 and in 2023 at the ***** e Zero Sugar 400.
This time around, Preece dodged mayhem on the final lap when leader Zane Smith got ***** ped and spun into other cars. Preece safely navigated his No. 60 car to the front and took the checkered flag under caution.
#daytona #series #night
Berlin native Ryan Preece, with an overtime victory Saturday night at Daytona in the ***** e Zero Sugar 400, the final regular-season race in the NASCAR Cup Series, secured the 16th and final berth in the postseason.
Preece will join Middletown native and former Cup champion Joey Logano in the 16-driver playoff series, which opens Sunday at Darlington Raceway in South Carolina.
On Saturday night at Daytona, Preece triumphed at a track at which he knew mostly trauma. He twice flipped cars at NASCAR's iconic home track, last year during the Daytona 500 and in 2023 at the ***** e Zero Sugar 400.
This time around, Preece dodged mayhem on the final lap when leader Zane Smith got ***** ped and spun into other cars. Preece safely navigated his No. 60 car to the front and took the checkered flag under caution.
#daytona #series #night
1 month ago
Daytona was roller coaster of a night for Shane van Gisbergen, and it ended in disappointment for the No. 97 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet.
He watched Ryan Preece, Chris Buescher, and Kyle Larson all crash in front of him early in the running, clearing the way for SVG to earn his first-ever oval stage win and secure ten points.
However, Preece pulled off a remarkable save and suffered minimal damage. Even while sliding, he crossed the line in eighth and scored three points. He added another nine in Stage 2, bringing his total to 12.
Van Gisbergen spent the final stint of the race knowing that he had a 29-point cushion, which meant that Preece would have to beat Van Gisbergen by at least 30 positions on track (as SVG would win the tiebreaker) to make the Chase ... unless he won the race.
In a situation where Preece -- who entered Saturday's race 0-248 in Cup wins -- captured the checkered flag, Van Gisbergen couldn't afford to finish any worse than 11th.
#race #points #chevrolet
He watched Ryan Preece, Chris Buescher, and Kyle Larson all crash in front of him early in the running, clearing the way for SVG to earn his first-ever oval stage win and secure ten points.
However, Preece pulled off a remarkable save and suffered minimal damage. Even while sliding, he crossed the line in eighth and scored three points. He added another nine in Stage 2, bringing his total to 12.
Van Gisbergen spent the final stint of the race knowing that he had a 29-point cushion, which meant that Preece would have to beat Van Gisbergen by at least 30 positions on track (as SVG would win the tiebreaker) to make the Chase ... unless he won the race.
In a situation where Preece -- who entered Saturday's race 0-248 in Cup wins -- captured the checkered flag, Van Gisbergen couldn't afford to finish any worse than 11th.
#race #points #chevrolet
1 month ago
DAYTONA BEACH — As an observer, Austin Cindric enjoyed watching Ryan Preece punch his own ticket into NASCAR's Cup Series playoffs. That doesn't mean it came without a little bit of stress, and a lot of communication, before the two-lap overtime period began.
Cindric had all the information he needed as it pertained to fuel and, more importantly, how it pertained to points. He held on for a sixth-place **** e Zero Sugar 400 finish at Daytona International Speedway, good enough to secure one of the final spots into the 16-driver postseason field.
"I know it might sound weird, but it was kind of fun to watch," Cindric said of Preece's victory. "The guy drove a **** of a race, and wins because of it. That doesn't happen at these (events) super often."
Buy our Dale Earnhardt book here
Cindric is one of six playoff qualifiers without a win from the season's 26 races, along with Christopher Bell, Kyle Larson, Chris Buescher, William Byron and Bubba Wallace. The 27-year-old entered the night with a 44-point gap above the cut line, thanks to five previous top-10s and 113 stage points.
#points
Cindric had all the information he needed as it pertained to fuel and, more importantly, how it pertained to points. He held on for a sixth-place **** e Zero Sugar 400 finish at Daytona International Speedway, good enough to secure one of the final spots into the 16-driver postseason field.
"I know it might sound weird, but it was kind of fun to watch," Cindric said of Preece's victory. "The guy drove a **** of a race, and wins because of it. That doesn't happen at these (events) super often."
Buy our Dale Earnhardt book here
Cindric is one of six playoff qualifiers without a win from the season's 26 races, along with Christopher Bell, Kyle Larson, Chris Buescher, William Byron and Bubba Wallace. The 27-year-old entered the night with a 44-point gap above the cut line, thanks to five previous top-10s and 113 stage points.
#points
1 month ago
DAYTONA BEACH — It was an illusion.
For the first two and a half stages, Saturday's ****** e Zero Sugar 400 stayed calm — at least for a NASCAR Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway.
But everyone should know better. Tranquility doesn't exist at Daytona.
Ryan Preece not only claimed his first career points-paying victory but did so to absolutely steal the final spot in the 16-driver Chase.
He resided in front of Daniel Suarez when the caution flag flew for multiple crashes during the second overtime lap.
#international
For the first two and a half stages, Saturday's ****** e Zero Sugar 400 stayed calm — at least for a NASCAR Cup Series race at Daytona International Speedway.
But everyone should know better. Tranquility doesn't exist at Daytona.
Ryan Preece not only claimed his first career points-paying victory but did so to absolutely steal the final spot in the 16-driver Chase.
He resided in front of Daniel Suarez when the caution flag flew for multiple crashes during the second overtime lap.
#international
1 month ago
In what was the biggest race of his life, Ryan Preece not only earned his first career win at Daytona, but he clinched himself into the Chase for the first time in his career. This was not only huge for his season, but this race was personal. Considering the scary crashes Preece experienced in 2023 and 2025 at Daytona, it was fitting for it to be a happy ending this time. Yet, for what seemed like a dream scenario for RFK Racing and this #60 team, it definitely did not go to plan.
Things went array early in the race. As the field came to end stage one, Kyle Larson gave RFK's Chris Buescher a bad push. Buescher would hit the outside wall, while Kyle Larson and Ryan Preece would Tokyo drift through the grass. Preece's involvement in the incident was huge intially. Entering the race, he was one of three drivers who was fighting for the remaining two Chase positions. While this crash didn't eliminate him, it did send him from third to eighth in just a few hundred feet. This would end up costing Preece five points. In addition, his competitor Shane van Gisbergen would benefit from the incident, passing the crash to win the stage. This exchange put him another seven points behind his target.
Preece made up for that loss by clawing his way back in stage two to finish second. Throughout the race, he earned himself twelve stage points, while van Gisbergen only scored the ten. While two points isn't significant, it still is something.
The latter portion of the race was an uneventful strategic battle. With 39 laps to go, Ross Chastain led a group of Chevy's into pit road. Then, another handful of drivers countered with around twenty laps to go. These drivers would attempt to gain an advantage, but it would later be washed away. Preece and others would remain on the track, hoping for some luck.
With around ten laps to go, thing got chaotic while Preece was leading. Then with six laps to go, it snapped. Carson Hocevar made an abrupt move on Preece entering turn three, where he would lose control of his car. Hocevar would then come back onto the track, make hard contact with the outside wall, and collect Erik Jones in the process.
#daytona
Things went array early in the race. As the field came to end stage one, Kyle Larson gave RFK's Chris Buescher a bad push. Buescher would hit the outside wall, while Kyle Larson and Ryan Preece would Tokyo drift through the grass. Preece's involvement in the incident was huge intially. Entering the race, he was one of three drivers who was fighting for the remaining two Chase positions. While this crash didn't eliminate him, it did send him from third to eighth in just a few hundred feet. This would end up costing Preece five points. In addition, his competitor Shane van Gisbergen would benefit from the incident, passing the crash to win the stage. This exchange put him another seven points behind his target.
Preece made up for that loss by clawing his way back in stage two to finish second. Throughout the race, he earned himself twelve stage points, while van Gisbergen only scored the ten. While two points isn't significant, it still is something.
The latter portion of the race was an uneventful strategic battle. With 39 laps to go, Ross Chastain led a group of Chevy's into pit road. Then, another handful of drivers countered with around twenty laps to go. These drivers would attempt to gain an advantage, but it would later be washed away. Preece and others would remain on the track, hoping for some luck.
With around ten laps to go, thing got chaotic while Preece was leading. Then with six laps to go, it snapped. Carson Hocevar made an abrupt move on Preece entering turn three, where he would lose control of his car. Hocevar would then come back onto the track, make hard contact with the outside wall, and collect Erik Jones in the process.
#daytona
1 month ago
Who made The Chase? Saturday night's ***** e Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona marked the end of the regular season in the NASCAR Cup Series. Bubba Wallace, Austin Cindric and Ryan Preece locked up the final three spots, setting up the NASCAR The Chase standings for the 10-race chase.
Immediately below is where you can find The Chase standings and how many points each of the 16 drivers will start with in the playoffs. Further below that are the final Cup Series points leaders after the regular season.
Here are the Chase Standings in the Cup Series entering the 10-race chase.
Pos.
Driver
#chase
Immediately below is where you can find The Chase standings and how many points each of the 16 drivers will start with in the playoffs. Further below that are the final Cup Series points leaders after the regular season.
Here are the Chase Standings in the Cup Series entering the 10-race chase.
Pos.
Driver
#chase
1 month ago
Ryan Preece won the race and won a spot for the Chase.
Preece won the NASCAR Daytona race, holding off Daniel Suarez as wrecks began to happen behind them on the last lap, bringing out the caution. It was Preece's first Cup win in 249 starts.
The top 16 drivers were finalized after the ****** e Zero Sugar 400.
1. Ryan Preece, No. 60 RFK Racing Ford
2. Daniel Suarez, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
#ryan #suarez #race #daytona
Preece won the NASCAR Daytona race, holding off Daniel Suarez as wrecks began to happen behind them on the last lap, bringing out the caution. It was Preece's first Cup win in 249 starts.
The top 16 drivers were finalized after the ****** e Zero Sugar 400.
1. Ryan Preece, No. 60 RFK Racing Ford
2. Daniel Suarez, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
#ryan #suarez #race #daytona
1 month ago
The NASCAR Cup Series Chase field was set after the ****** e Zero 400 race on Aug. 29 at Daytona.
Ryan Preece clinched a Chase spot via his first career win in a frantic final lap at Daytona.
Austin Cindric joined him, clinching with a sixth-place run. Shane van Gisbergen dropped out of the top 16 following a 27th-place finish, giving up track position with a pit stop before the overtime restart.
Denny Hamlin clinched the Chase's top seed last week at New Hampshire and goes into the Chase with a 25-point lead.
Here's a look at the 16 NASCAR Cup Series Chase drivers, with the 10-race Chase beginning next week at Darlington:
#week #zero
Ryan Preece clinched a Chase spot via his first career win in a frantic final lap at Daytona.
Austin Cindric joined him, clinching with a sixth-place run. Shane van Gisbergen dropped out of the top 16 following a 27th-place finish, giving up track position with a pit stop before the overtime restart.
Denny Hamlin clinched the Chase's top seed last week at New Hampshire and goes into the Chase with a 25-point lead.
Here's a look at the 16 NASCAR Cup Series Chase drivers, with the 10-race Chase beginning next week at Darlington:
#week #zero
1 month ago
Shane van Gisbergen won his first stage win on an oval of his NASCAR career.
But it didn't come without controversy.
The Trackhouse Racing driver ******* ped the back of Kyle Larson's Chevrolet as they approached the finish line to end Stage 1 of the ******* e Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona on Aug. 29. Larson then ran into the back of race leader Chris Buescher to send both Larson and Buescher into the frontstretch grass. Larson finished sixth and Buescher went from the lead to 11th and didn't get any stage points.
Ryan Preece, Buescher's teammate, was collected in the wreck by Buescher and Larson when they went across the track to the grass. Preece entered the regular-season finale 17th in points, 31 points behind van Gisbergen for the final spot in the Chase.
Ty Gibbs finished second and Joey Logano finished third.
#larson #finished #points
But it didn't come without controversy.
The Trackhouse Racing driver ******* ped the back of Kyle Larson's Chevrolet as they approached the finish line to end Stage 1 of the ******* e Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona on Aug. 29. Larson then ran into the back of race leader Chris Buescher to send both Larson and Buescher into the frontstretch grass. Larson finished sixth and Buescher went from the lead to 11th and didn't get any stage points.
Ryan Preece, Buescher's teammate, was collected in the wreck by Buescher and Larson when they went across the track to the grass. Preece entered the regular-season finale 17th in points, 31 points behind van Gisbergen for the final spot in the Chase.
Ty Gibbs finished second and Joey Logano finished third.
#larson #finished #points
1 month ago
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The NASCAR Cup Series heads to Daytona International Speedway for the ****** e Zero Sugar 400 with the final playoff spots on the line. (Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
The NASCAR Cup Series regular season comes down to tonight at Daytona, where the ****** e Zero Sugar 400 will set the final 16-driver Chase field. With the playoffs beginning next weekend at Darlington, most of the picture is already in place, but the final race always has a way of creating chaos. Daytona's superspeedway racing means drafting help, late blocks, big wrecks, and surprise winners are all on the table, which is exactly what drivers near the cutline need.
Ryan Preece and Brad Keselowski enter as the last two names still trying to force their way in, and both will need either a win or a wild night around the back end of the current top 16 to keep their championship hopes alive. For the drivers already safe, tonight is about surviving Daytona and building momentum. For everyone on the edge, it is all or nothing. After the checkered flag, only 16 drivers will still have a path to the Cup Series ****** le.
The green flag drops for the final race before the playoffs tonight at 7:30 p.m. EDT, and racing fans can tune in with Sling TV.
#drivers #sugar
The NASCAR Cup Series heads to Daytona International Speedway for the ****** e Zero Sugar 400 with the final playoff spots on the line. (Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
The NASCAR Cup Series regular season comes down to tonight at Daytona, where the ****** e Zero Sugar 400 will set the final 16-driver Chase field. With the playoffs beginning next weekend at Darlington, most of the picture is already in place, but the final race always has a way of creating chaos. Daytona's superspeedway racing means drafting help, late blocks, big wrecks, and surprise winners are all on the table, which is exactly what drivers near the cutline need.
Ryan Preece and Brad Keselowski enter as the last two names still trying to force their way in, and both will need either a win or a wild night around the back end of the current top 16 to keep their championship hopes alive. For the drivers already safe, tonight is about surviving Daytona and building momentum. For everyone on the edge, it is all or nothing. After the checkered flag, only 16 drivers will still have a path to the Cup Series ****** le.
The green flag drops for the final race before the playoffs tonight at 7:30 p.m. EDT, and racing fans can tune in with Sling TV.
#drivers #sugar
1 month ago
What channel is NASCAR on today? TV schedule, start time, live stream for 2026 Daytona night race originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The NASCAR Cup Series heads back to Daytona this weekend for one final race ahead of the playoff Chase — get ready for the ******* e Zero Sugar 400.
After the Daytona 500 in February, NASCAR will return to Daytona International Speedway to wrap up the regular season schedule, this time with a night race. There are still nine playoff spots up for grabs, which means drivers will be competing heavily in the Sunshine State.
There are several drivers currently on the bubble, including Bubba Wallace, Austin Cindric and Shane van Gisbergen, who holds the 16th and final bid. Ryan Preece is currently behind the cut line by 31 points, but a variety of factors could shake up these standings come Saturday.
Who will make their mark as the regular season comes to a close?
#nascar #sporting #final #playoff
The NASCAR Cup Series heads back to Daytona this weekend for one final race ahead of the playoff Chase — get ready for the ******* e Zero Sugar 400.
After the Daytona 500 in February, NASCAR will return to Daytona International Speedway to wrap up the regular season schedule, this time with a night race. There are still nine playoff spots up for grabs, which means drivers will be competing heavily in the Sunshine State.
There are several drivers currently on the bubble, including Bubba Wallace, Austin Cindric and Shane van Gisbergen, who holds the 16th and final bid. Ryan Preece is currently behind the cut line by 31 points, but a variety of factors could shake up these standings come Saturday.
Who will make their mark as the regular season comes to a close?
#nascar #sporting #final #playoff
2 months ago
The NASCAR Cup Series will complete its next-to-last regular-season race with the Dollar Tree 301 on Aug. 23 at New Hampshire.
Tyler Reddick is on the pole despite struggles in practice, with Josh Berry on the outside of the front row.
Shane van Gisbergen qualified in fifth for Trackhouse Racing. SVG is 16th in points heading into the weekend, 50 points ahead of Ryan Preece for the final Chase spot.
Here's how you can watch Sunday's race:
NEW HAMPSHIRE PICKS: NASCAR New Hampshire predictions 2026, expert picks for Dollar Tree 301 Cup race
#hampshire #series
Tyler Reddick is on the pole despite struggles in practice, with Josh Berry on the outside of the front row.
Shane van Gisbergen qualified in fifth for Trackhouse Racing. SVG is 16th in points heading into the weekend, 50 points ahead of Ryan Preece for the final Chase spot.
Here's how you can watch Sunday's race:
NEW HAMPSHIRE PICKS: NASCAR New Hampshire predictions 2026, expert picks for Dollar Tree 301 Cup race
#hampshire #series
2 months ago
The NASCAR Cup Series continues its stretch run to the Chase with the Dollar Tree 301 on Aug. 23 at New Hampshire.
Only New Hampshire and Daytona next weekend remain in the regular season.
Shane van Gisbergen leads Ryan Preece by 50 points at the Chase cutline coming into the weekend.
SVG qualified in fifth, while Preece will start.
Tyler Reddick is on the pole, with Hendersonville's Josh Berry on the outside of the front row.
#hampshire #preece #dollar #only
Only New Hampshire and Daytona next weekend remain in the regular season.
Shane van Gisbergen leads Ryan Preece by 50 points at the Chase cutline coming into the weekend.
SVG qualified in fifth, while Preece will start.
Tyler Reddick is on the pole, with Hendersonville's Josh Berry on the outside of the front row.
#hampshire #preece #dollar #only
2 months ago
When the green flag waves at New Hampshire on Sunday, every car will run the same 301 laps on the same track, chasing the same checkered flag. But with only two races left before the Chase begins, what counts as a good Sunday has a different meaning for every driver.
Start near the back of the Chase picture, where the margin for error is thinnest. Shane van Gisbergen currently holds the 16th and final Chase spot with a 50-point cushion over Ryan Preece. For SVG, Sunday is about keeping Preece from making a significant dent in that advantage. For Preece, it's about closing the gap enough to give himself a realistic shot at taking that final Chase spot when the regular season ends at Daytona.
Move up the standings and the picture changes. Chase Elliott and Christopher Bell have already clinched their Chase spots and enter New Hampshire tied at 695 points. Getting in isn't the problem anymore. Now it's about improving where they'll start when the points reset.
Then there's Denny Hamlin, who's playing an entirely different game. He arrives 115 points ahead of Ryan Blaney with a chance to secure the Chase's No. 1 seed before Daytona. His magic number Sunday is 37 points. Get them, and the No. 1 seed is officially his.
The battle for the win will always demand the most attention. But this Sunday, some of the most important racing may happen nowhere near the lead. They'll all take the same green flag, but a good Sunday won't look the same for any of them.
#sunday #preece #points #start
Start near the back of the Chase picture, where the margin for error is thinnest. Shane van Gisbergen currently holds the 16th and final Chase spot with a 50-point cushion over Ryan Preece. For SVG, Sunday is about keeping Preece from making a significant dent in that advantage. For Preece, it's about closing the gap enough to give himself a realistic shot at taking that final Chase spot when the regular season ends at Daytona.
Move up the standings and the picture changes. Chase Elliott and Christopher Bell have already clinched their Chase spots and enter New Hampshire tied at 695 points. Getting in isn't the problem anymore. Now it's about improving where they'll start when the points reset.
Then there's Denny Hamlin, who's playing an entirely different game. He arrives 115 points ahead of Ryan Blaney with a chance to secure the Chase's No. 1 seed before Daytona. His magic number Sunday is 37 points. Get them, and the No. 1 seed is officially his.
The battle for the win will always demand the most attention. But this Sunday, some of the most important racing may happen nowhere near the lead. They'll all take the same green flag, but a good Sunday won't look the same for any of them.
#sunday #preece #points #start
2 months ago
Austin Cindric took a major step toward a Chase berth with a top-five run in the Cook Out 400 NASCAR Richmond race on Aug. 15.
Cindric earned a third-place finish at Richmond. Combined with 14 stage points, the Team Penske driver moved to 15th in points, 57 points ahead of the Chase cutline.
Joey Logano earned the win at Richmond, moving to eighth in points and staking claim as a 2026 championship contender.
Shane van Gisbergen is 16th in points, 50 points ahead of Ryan Preece at the Chase cutline.
Here's the updated NASCAR Cup Series points standings:
#cook
Cindric earned a third-place finish at Richmond. Combined with 14 stage points, the Team Penske driver moved to 15th in points, 57 points ahead of the Chase cutline.
Joey Logano earned the win at Richmond, moving to eighth in points and staking claim as a 2026 championship contender.
Shane van Gisbergen is 16th in points, 50 points ahead of Ryan Preece at the Chase cutline.
Here's the updated NASCAR Cup Series points standings:
#cook
2 months ago
Austin Cindric took a major step toward a Chase berth with a top-five run in the Cook Out 400 NASCAR Richmond, Virginia, race on Aug. 15.
Cindric earned a third-place finish at Richmond. Combined with 14 stage points, the Team Penske driver moved to 15th in points, 57 points ahead of the Chase cutline.
Joey Logano won the race, moving to eighth in points and staking claim as a 2026 championship contender.
Shane van Gisbergen is 16th in points, 50 points ahead of Ryan Preece at the Chase cutline.
Here's the updated NASCAR Cup Series points standings:
#points #chase #nascar
Cindric earned a third-place finish at Richmond. Combined with 14 stage points, the Team Penske driver moved to 15th in points, 57 points ahead of the Chase cutline.
Joey Logano won the race, moving to eighth in points and staking claim as a 2026 championship contender.
Shane van Gisbergen is 16th in points, 50 points ahead of Ryan Preece at the Chase cutline.
Here's the updated NASCAR Cup Series points standings:
#points #chase #nascar
2 months ago
The NASCAR Richmond race weekend begins with Cook Out 400 Cup Series qualifying on Aug. 14 at Richmond Raceway.
Austin Dillon is the defending race winner and has won the last two Cup events at the 0.75-mile oval.
Austin Cindric sits in the final Chase spot, 29 points ahead of Ryan Preece for 16th in the points standings.
Three races remain in the regular season, with New Hampshire and Daytona also to come this month.
Follow our Richmond qualifying updates below:
#richmond #qualifying #raceway
Austin Dillon is the defending race winner and has won the last two Cup events at the 0.75-mile oval.
Austin Cindric sits in the final Chase spot, 29 points ahead of Ryan Preece for 16th in the points standings.
Three races remain in the regular season, with New Hampshire and Daytona also to come this month.
Follow our Richmond qualifying updates below:
#richmond #qualifying #raceway
2 months ago
Denny Hamlin is closing in on the NASCAR Chase top seed after a top-five finish on Aug. 9 at Iowa.
Hamlin finished fifth, behind winner (and teammate) Ty Gibbs among four Joe Gibbs Racing Toyotas in the top six positions.
Tyler Reddick ceded second to Gibbs after a Lap 4 crash ended the No. 45's day before it really started.
Austin Cindric's points cushion for the final Chase spot is down to 29 points ahead of Ryan Preece.
Here's the updated NASCAR Cup Series points standings:
#iowa #toyotas #tyler
Hamlin finished fifth, behind winner (and teammate) Ty Gibbs among four Joe Gibbs Racing Toyotas in the top six positions.
Tyler Reddick ceded second to Gibbs after a Lap 4 crash ended the No. 45's day before it really started.
Austin Cindric's points cushion for the final Chase spot is down to 29 points ahead of Ryan Preece.
Here's the updated NASCAR Cup Series points standings:
#iowa #toyotas #tyler
2 months ago
Denny Hamlin is closing in on the NASCAR Chase top seed after a top-five finish on Aug. 9 at Iowa.
Hamlin finished fifth, behind winner (and teammate) Ty Gibbs among four Joe Gibbs Racing Toyotas in the top six positions.
Tyler Reddick ceded second to Gibbs after a Lap 4 crash ended the No. 45's day before it really started.
Austin Cindric's points cushion for the final Chase spot is down to 29 points ahead of Ryan Preece.
Here's the updated NASCAR Cup Series points standings:
#gibbs #racing
Hamlin finished fifth, behind winner (and teammate) Ty Gibbs among four Joe Gibbs Racing Toyotas in the top six positions.
Tyler Reddick ceded second to Gibbs after a Lap 4 crash ended the No. 45's day before it really started.
Austin Cindric's points cushion for the final Chase spot is down to 29 points ahead of Ryan Preece.
Here's the updated NASCAR Cup Series points standings:
#gibbs #racing
2 months ago
The race to the NASCAR Chase begins on Aug. 9 at Iowa.
The NASCAR Cup Series returns after a week off for the Iowa Corn 350 at Iowa Speedway, the first of four August races to end the regular season.
Ryan Blaney is on the pole at a track that he drove to victory in 2024.
Austin Cindric holds the final Chase spot coming into the race weekend by 38 points over Ryan Preece. Cindric starts 12th, while Preece begins from 35th.
Follow along with the Tennessean's NASCAR race updates below:
#begins
The NASCAR Cup Series returns after a week off for the Iowa Corn 350 at Iowa Speedway, the first of four August races to end the regular season.
Ryan Blaney is on the pole at a track that he drove to victory in 2024.
Austin Cindric holds the final Chase spot coming into the race weekend by 38 points over Ryan Preece. Cindric starts 12th, while Preece begins from 35th.
Follow along with the Tennessean's NASCAR race updates below:
#begins
2 months ago
The NASCAR Cup Series field is officially set for Sunday's Iowa Corn 350 Powered by Ethanol, but two teams will head into race day with an added obstacle after failing pre-race inspection twice.
NASCAR announced Saturday evening that the No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford driven by David Gilliland and the No. 60 RFK Racing Ford driven by Ryan Preece each failed inspection twice before Sunday's race at Iowa Speedway.
As a result, both teams lost their pit selection for the event, and NASCAR ejected each team's car chief.
For the No. 34 team, car chief Joe Marra was ejected after the second inspection failure.
Ryan Preece's No. 60 team also failed inspection twice, resulting in car chief Jerry Cook being ejected.
#nascar #ejected
NASCAR announced Saturday evening that the No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford driven by David Gilliland and the No. 60 RFK Racing Ford driven by Ryan Preece each failed inspection twice before Sunday's race at Iowa Speedway.
As a result, both teams lost their pit selection for the event, and NASCAR ejected each team's car chief.
For the No. 34 team, car chief Joe Marra was ejected after the second inspection failure.
Ryan Preece's No. 60 team also failed inspection twice, resulting in car chief Jerry Cook being ejected.
#nascar #ejected
2 months ago
Ryan Preece and the No. 60 RFK Racing Ford arrive at Iowa Speedway 38 points outside the top 16 in the driver standings and 13 points below the cut in the owners' standings.
With just four races left in the regular season, Preece needs to close the gap to 16th-placed Austin Cindric, who was very fast in practice, but Preece faced a small setback at Iowa on Saturday.
The RFK Racing car failed pre-race inspection twice, resulting in the ejection of car chief Jerry Cook for the remainder of the weekend. The No. 60 is also losing their pit stall selection.
The same penalty was issued to the No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford of Todd Gilliland, with car chief Joe Marra ejected and a loss of pit stall selection.
Both cars passed on the third attempt, so there will be no further penalties. One more failure would have resulted in a drive-through penalty at the start of the Cup race.
#points #race #selection
With just four races left in the regular season, Preece needs to close the gap to 16th-placed Austin Cindric, who was very fast in practice, but Preece faced a small setback at Iowa on Saturday.
The RFK Racing car failed pre-race inspection twice, resulting in the ejection of car chief Jerry Cook for the remainder of the weekend. The No. 60 is also losing their pit stall selection.
The same penalty was issued to the No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford of Todd Gilliland, with car chief Joe Marra ejected and a loss of pit stall selection.
Both cars passed on the third attempt, so there will be no further penalties. One more failure would have resulted in a drive-through penalty at the start of the Cup race.
#points #race #selection
2 months ago
The NASCAR Iowa race weekend begins with Iowa Corn 350 qualifying on Aug. 8 at Iowa Speedway.
The Cup Series returns after a week off with the final month of the regular season ahead.
Austin Cindric sits in the final Chase spot, 38 points ahead of Ryan Preece for 16th in the points standings.
Practice also takes place ahead of qualifying on Aug. 8.
Qualifying is set to begin at 2:10 p.m. CT at Iowa Speedway. Follow the action with our live updates.
#speedway
The Cup Series returns after a week off with the final month of the regular season ahead.
Austin Cindric sits in the final Chase spot, 38 points ahead of Ryan Preece for 16th in the points standings.
Practice also takes place ahead of qualifying on Aug. 8.
Qualifying is set to begin at 2:10 p.m. CT at Iowa Speedway. Follow the action with our live updates.
#speedway
2 months ago
For nearly two decades, "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby" has remained one of the most recognizable movies ever ***** ociated with NASCAR. Now the sport is bringing that connection back to the track where it all began.
NASCAR announced the launch of Dega-Con, a new fan campaign celebrating the 20th anniversary of Talladega Nights. The celebration will culminate during Talladega Superspeedway's NASCAR Playoffs weekend, Oct. 23-25, with entertainment, fan experiences and collaborations designed to celebrate the movie's lasting place in NASCAR culture.
The campaign marks one of NASCAR's biggest pop culture activations in recent years, tying one of the sport's most famous films directly into one of its biggest race weekends.
According to NASCAR, additional details surrounding Dega-Con will be announced over the coming weeks, but organizers say the event will combine entertainment, nostalgia and fan experiences throughout Talladega's fall race weekend.
The campaign officially launched with a humorous video centered around "Talladega Nights Withdrawal Syndrome," a fictional condition that features Cup Series drivers Chase Briscoe, Noah Gragson, Ross Chastain, Ryan Preece and Riley Herbst.
#nascar #dega #weekend
NASCAR announced the launch of Dega-Con, a new fan campaign celebrating the 20th anniversary of Talladega Nights. The celebration will culminate during Talladega Superspeedway's NASCAR Playoffs weekend, Oct. 23-25, with entertainment, fan experiences and collaborations designed to celebrate the movie's lasting place in NASCAR culture.
The campaign marks one of NASCAR's biggest pop culture activations in recent years, tying one of the sport's most famous films directly into one of its biggest race weekends.
According to NASCAR, additional details surrounding Dega-Con will be announced over the coming weeks, but organizers say the event will combine entertainment, nostalgia and fan experiences throughout Talladega's fall race weekend.
The campaign officially launched with a humorous video centered around "Talladega Nights Withdrawal Syndrome," a fictional condition that features Cup Series drivers Chase Briscoe, Noah Gragson, Ross Chastain, Ryan Preece and Riley Herbst.
#nascar #dega #weekend
3 months ago
NASCAR Cup Series teams won't be racing on the exact same tire combination they used the last time they visited Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Goodyear confirmed Tuesday that Cup teams will receive a new right-side tire for Sunday's Brickyard 400 while continuing to use the same left-side tire from the previous oval race. The updated tire comes after a June test at Indianapolis featuring Ross Chastain, Ryan Preece and John Hunter Nemechek: representing Chevrolet, Ford and Toyota.
The change adds another variable heading into one of NASCAR's most prestigious races as teams continue preparing for the final stretch of the regular season.
According to Goodyear, the new right-side tire features an updated construction and a new tread compound developed specifically for Indianapolis' unique layout.
Unlike many intermediate tracks, Indianapolis Motor Speedway's long straightaways and flat corners place different demands on the tires and reward teams willing to experiment with aggressive setups.
#indianapolis #tire #motor #right
Goodyear confirmed Tuesday that Cup teams will receive a new right-side tire for Sunday's Brickyard 400 while continuing to use the same left-side tire from the previous oval race. The updated tire comes after a June test at Indianapolis featuring Ross Chastain, Ryan Preece and John Hunter Nemechek: representing Chevrolet, Ford and Toyota.
The change adds another variable heading into one of NASCAR's most prestigious races as teams continue preparing for the final stretch of the regular season.
According to Goodyear, the new right-side tire features an updated construction and a new tread compound developed specifically for Indianapolis' unique layout.
Unlike many intermediate tracks, Indianapolis Motor Speedway's long straightaways and flat corners place different demands on the tires and reward teams willing to experiment with aggressive setups.
#indianapolis #tire #motor #right
3 months ago
Tyler Reddick made up a little bit of ground on Denny Hamlin in the fight for the regular season championship lead, closing from 44pts behind to 24pts back after Atlanta. There are now just six races until the Chase grid is set.
After Atlanta, both Hamlin and Reddick also mathematically clinched a spot in the 2026 Chase field.
In the battle around the cut-line, Shane van Gisbergen is 31pts above after another oval top ten, while Erik Jones remains on the bubble, eight points ahead of Joey Logano. Ryan Preece is -26pts, Brad Keselowski -43pts, and Ross Chastain -45pts.
Chastain was also the biggest mover in the standings, jumping two positions from 22nd to 20th, while A.J. Allmendinger was the biggest loser, falling three positions from 19th to 22nd.
Read Also:
After Atlanta, both Hamlin and Reddick also mathematically clinched a spot in the 2026 Chase field.
In the battle around the cut-line, Shane van Gisbergen is 31pts above after another oval top ten, while Erik Jones remains on the bubble, eight points ahead of Joey Logano. Ryan Preece is -26pts, Brad Keselowski -43pts, and Ross Chastain -45pts.
Chastain was also the biggest mover in the standings, jumping two positions from 22nd to 20th, while A.J. Allmendinger was the biggest loser, falling three positions from 19th to 22nd.
Read Also:
3 months ago
Chase Briscoe didn't wreck anybody to make his point this week. He just went on a podcast and said the thing every driver in the Cup Series garage already knows but almost ****** ody puts on the record: NASCAR's disciplinary process has a don't-ask-don't-tell problem, and it keeps turning the sport's biggest stars into bad actors every time a fresh wreck gets reviewed.
The remarks came on the Rubbin' is Racing podcast, days after NASCAR closed the books on two separate Chicagoland Speedway incidents without issuing a single penalty. Briscoe's issue isn't that NASCAR lets drivers settle scores on the racetrack - he's fine with that part. His problem is what happens after the checkered flag, when a driver who obviously wrecked somebody on purpose has to stand in front of reporters and call it a racing incident, because that's the price of staying out of the penalty report. "Everybody knows you're lying about it," Briscoe said, describing the bind NASCAR's own process puts drivers in.
He's not wrong about the bind. He's also sitting on more supporting evidence than he probably realized, because NASCAR has spent this entire season demonstrating, in exhaustive public detail, what actually earns a driver a fine, and intent alone has never been enough.
Rewind to Texas Motor Speedway in early May, before any of the Chicagoland drama existed. Ryan Preece got frustrated with Ty Gibbs, announced his intentions over his own team radio, and turned Gibbs into the outside wall about half a lap later. NASCAR's response was swift and public: a $50,000 fine and a 25-point penalty, among the stiffest behavioral penalties handed out all year. NASCAR's vice president of racing communications walked through the reasoning himself: officials reviewed the team radio, the in-car video and the car's SMT telemetry data, and the combination of Preece stating his intentions and then following through on them was enough to cross into what the rulebook labels actions detrimental to stock car racing. RFK Racing appealed. The National Motorsports Appeals Panel upheld the penalty in late May, and Preece was left admitting it no longer mattered what he thought, the fine and the points were staying gone.
This wasn't Briscoe's first brush with NASCAR's points ledger this year either. His own speeding penalty back in March already put a dent in his playoff cushion, which makes his willingness to needle NASCAR's officiating now feel less like a driver picking a random fight and more like someone who has personally paid the price of the system he's describing.
The remarks came on the Rubbin' is Racing podcast, days after NASCAR closed the books on two separate Chicagoland Speedway incidents without issuing a single penalty. Briscoe's issue isn't that NASCAR lets drivers settle scores on the racetrack - he's fine with that part. His problem is what happens after the checkered flag, when a driver who obviously wrecked somebody on purpose has to stand in front of reporters and call it a racing incident, because that's the price of staying out of the penalty report. "Everybody knows you're lying about it," Briscoe said, describing the bind NASCAR's own process puts drivers in.
He's not wrong about the bind. He's also sitting on more supporting evidence than he probably realized, because NASCAR has spent this entire season demonstrating, in exhaustive public detail, what actually earns a driver a fine, and intent alone has never been enough.
Rewind to Texas Motor Speedway in early May, before any of the Chicagoland drama existed. Ryan Preece got frustrated with Ty Gibbs, announced his intentions over his own team radio, and turned Gibbs into the outside wall about half a lap later. NASCAR's response was swift and public: a $50,000 fine and a 25-point penalty, among the stiffest behavioral penalties handed out all year. NASCAR's vice president of racing communications walked through the reasoning himself: officials reviewed the team radio, the in-car video and the car's SMT telemetry data, and the combination of Preece stating his intentions and then following through on them was enough to cross into what the rulebook labels actions detrimental to stock car racing. RFK Racing appealed. The National Motorsports Appeals Panel upheld the penalty in late May, and Preece was left admitting it no longer mattered what he thought, the fine and the points were staying gone.
This wasn't Briscoe's first brush with NASCAR's points ledger this year either. His own speeding penalty back in March already put a dent in his playoff cushion, which makes his willingness to needle NASCAR's officiating now feel less like a driver picking a random fight and more like someone who has personally paid the price of the system he's describing.
