Texas Motor Speedway #NASCAR Race Schedule

Trucks on Friday; O’Reilly’s on Saturday; Cup Series on Sunday (ARCA East & ARCA West Race on Saturday)

 

Texas Motor Speedway is a 1.500 mi quad-oval intermediate speedway in Fort Worth, Texas. The facility will play host to a #NASCAR Tripleheader this weekend.

 

WARNING: The latest forecast shows a rain-heavy Friday, followed by a sharp shift into warm, stable conditions for the rest of the weekend — a split that could impact everything from track time to race execution.

 

Friday, May 1, 2026

• 9:00 AM---NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series Haulers Enter
• 11:00 AM---NASCAR Cup Series Haulers Enter
• 1:00 PM ---Fan Parking Lots Open
• 1:00 PM---Fan Assistance Shuttles & Trams Running
• 1:00 PM---Fan Zone Open
• 1:30 PM---Gate 4 & Pedestrian Tunnel Open
• 1:35 PM---NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Practice
• 2:35 PM---NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Machinery Auctioneers & Byrd Oilfield Services Qualifying
• 4:00 PM---NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series Practice
• 4:30 PM---Gates 3,5, Turn 1 Terrace & Suites Open
• 5:05 PM ---NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series Machinery Auctioneers & Byrd Oilfield Services Qualifying
• 6:40 PM---NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Driver Introductions
• 7:00 PM---SpeedyCash.com 250 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Race
• Stages:
• 40
• 80
• 167
• = 250.5 Miles)

Saturday, May 2, 2026

• 9:30 AM---Fan Parking Lots Open
• 9:30 AM ---Fan Assistance Shuttles & Trams Running
• 10:00 AM---Fan Zone Open
• 11:00 AM---Gates 3,4,5,6, Turn 1 Terrace, Pedestrian Tunnel & Suites Open
• 11:00 AM---Speedway Children's Charities Live Auction (Cracker Barrel Fan Stage)
• 11:30 AM---NASCAR Cup Series Practice
• 12:40 PM---NASCAR Cup Series Machinery Auctioneers & Byrd Oilfield Services Qualifying
• 1:25 PM---Neon Prophets (Cracker Barrel Fan Stage)
• 1:50 PM---NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series Driver Introductions
• 2:30 PM---Andy's Frozen Custard 340 NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series Race
• Stages:
• 45
• 90
• 200
• =300 Miles
• 5:30 PM---Dirt Track Gates & Suites Open
• 7:30 PM---Drydene Stockyard Stampede Powered by RelaDyne Interstate Batteries High Limit Racing
• 8:00 PM---Big Hoss TV: Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning

Sunday, May 3, 2026

• 8:30 AM---Fan Parking Lots Open
• 9:00 AM---Fan Assistance Shuttles & Trams Running
• 9:00 AM---Fan Zone Open
• 9:30 PM---TXARM Church Service (LoneStar Circle Campground Tent)
• 11:00 AM---Gates 3,4,5,6, Pedestrian Tunnel, Turn 1 Terrace & Suites Open
• 11:00 AM---Track Pass Access Open
• 12:30 PM---Crav'n Flavor Pre-Race Concert featuring Chris Janson (Start/Finish Line)
• 1:55 PM---NASCAR Cup Series Driver Introductions
• 2:30 PM---WÜRTH 400 presented by LIQUI MOLY NASCAR Cup Series Race
• Stages=
• 80
• 165
• 267
• = 400.5 Miles

A Trophy fit for Texas. 😮‍💨 @ParkerCoBeef | #WURTH400 pic.twitter.com/rTwICRlBAy

— Texas Motor Speedway (@TXMotorSpeedway) April 30, 2026

NOTE:

 

The ARCA Menard Series East will race on Saturday, May 2, 2026 at 8:00 p.m. CT in the ‘Cook Out Music City 150’ at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway.

 

The ARCA Menard Series West will race on Saturday, May 2, 2026 at 8:30 p.m. PT in the ‘Bill Schmitt Memorial 173 presented by the West Coast Stock Car Motorsports Hall of Fame’ at Shasta Speedway.

 

Two series. Two races. One ARCA Night in America.

📺 NASCAR Channel and @FloRacing
⏰ Saturday at 8:30 p.m. ET pic.twitter.com/3q9Ybafy6l

— ARCA Menards Series (@ARCA_Racing) April 28, 2026

 

source: Texas Motor Speedway Media

NASCAR / ARCA Race Weekend Recap (Kansas Speedway)

Winners: Tyler Reddick (Cup); Taylor Gray (O'Reilly); plus Gio Ruggiero (ARCA)

NASCAR Cup

Reddick Prevails in OT for Fifth Cup Series Win of 2026

Tyler Reddick holds out his five fingers, indicative of his race wins so far in 2026.

 

Tyler Reddick holds out his five fingers, indicative of his race wins so far in 2026.

Tyler Reddick scraped the outside wall in the closing laps. His fuel system stumbled at a critical moment. He collided with fellow Toyota driver Christopher Bell in overtime. He fell behind defending NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson on the final restart.

 

Yet, in a magical season for the driver of the No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota, Reddick won Sunday’s AdventHealth 400 at Kansas Speedway in spite of all the adversity.

 

Reddick cleared Larson through the final two corners and crossed the finish line 0.118 seconds ahead of the reigning champion.

 

“Just really blessed with the late caution,” said Reddick, who won for the fifth time this season, the second time at Kansas and the 13th time in his career. “Was that nuts or what? I couldn’t believe it.

 

“I mean, first off, I feel like I have to say, obviously, just for how I feel. I never like being on the inside of it – really hate that for Christopher Bell. Good, hard racing. The 11 (Hamlin) came up. I mean, I took off tight. Not thrilled I got Christopher there. I hate that for him because he was having a good, solid day.

 

“Man, these late race restarts get crazy. I obviously had a run on the 5 (Larson). I was shocked I was able to get to his inside there. An incredible SupplyHouse Toyota Camry all day long.”

 

Reddick is the first driver since Dale Earnhardt in 1987 – and fourth all-time – to win five of the first nine races of a season in NASCAR’s top division. His series lead increased to 105 points over second-place Hamlin, who won the first stage.

 

This never gets old 😁🏁 pic.twitter.com/deyIkbtUjm

— Tyler Reddick (@TylerReddick) April 19, 2026

Pole: Tyler Reddick

Click Here for Race Results

Next Race: The Cup Series will return on Sunday, April 26, 2026 at 3:00 pm ET for the ‘Jack Link's 500’ at Talladega Superspeedway.

NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series

Gray Fends Off Creed for 2nd Career NORAPS Win at Kansas

Joe Gibbs Racing driver Taylor Gray celebrates with his No. 54 Toyota team

 

The early bird got the victory on Saturday night.

 

The first of the frontrunners to pit during the final 95-lap green-flag run in the Kansas Lottery 300, Taylor Gray grabbed the lead during the cycle and held off charging Sheldon Creed to score the second NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series victory of his career.

 

Crew chief Jason Ratcliff, who won at Kansas with driver David Green in 2003, called Gray into the pits on Lap 143 of 200. Creed and Brandon Jones, running first and second on Lap 146, emerged from pit road after stops on Lap 147 roughly three seconds behind Gray.

 

“How about Jason Ratcliff?” Gray exclaimed after climbing from his No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota. “That pit call was awesome. We had a car capable of winning. I thought the 20 (Jones) was a little better than us before the green-flag cycle started, but we just had to stay locked in, and we had to be a little bit freer.

 

“Jason made a really good adjustment on the car and a really good pit call and got us in clean air. It’s been a long start to the year, man — not that we’re not bringing speed to the race track. It’s just that things haven’t really gone our way. So it’s nice to finally be able to close one out.”

 

As it turned out, Creed also had plenty of reasons to celebrate. By finishing first among four eligible drivers, he earned a $100,000 Dash 4 Cash bonus for the first time in his career. It was Creed’s fifth attempt to win the Dash 4 Cash prize money.

 

Made a call. Won the race. pic.twitter.com/1yMEpCyxbP

— NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts (@NASCAROReillyAP) April 19, 2026

Pole: Carson Kvapil (no qualifying)

Click Here for Race Results

Next Race: The NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series will return on Saturday, April 25, 2026 at 4:00 pm ET for the ‘Ag-Pro 300’ at Talladega Superspeedway.

NASCAR Trucks

The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series did not race this weekend

A date “WÜRTH” saving. 🤩🗓️

NASCAR rolls through the Lone Star state May, 1-3 2026!

READ MORE: https://t.co/2L2idcjfhq#WURTH400 | #Andys340 | #SpeedyCash250 pic.twitter.com/NeHrwwQhvT

— Texas Motor Speedway (@TXMotorSpeedway) August 20, 2025

Next Race: The Truck Series will return on Friday, May 1, 2026 at 8:00 pm ET for the ‘SpeedyCash.com 250’ at Texas Motor Speedway.

ARCA

Late-race restarts at Kansas propel Gio Ruggiero

 

In two starts so far during the 2026 ARCA Menards Series season, Gio Ruggiero found Victory Lane in both.

 

Ruggiero’s second win of the year proved to be slightly more difficult compared to his season-opening triumph at Daytona International Speedway. After fading during the final long green flag run, Ruggiero used two overtime restarts to cycle back to the front and emerge victorious Saturday in the Tide 150 at Kansas Speedway.

 

Multiple factors motivated Ruggiero’s drive to the win. Not only was he determined to overcome the loss in speed his car experienced in the closing stages, but he also wanted to reward the hard work his entire crew puts in both on and off the track.

 

“You just got to do whatever it takes to win,” Ruggiero said. “That’s what I did. I thought we had a really strong car, and I just couldn’t let these guys down and lose the race. My crew chief Matt Ross just had a baby, so I needed to get him a nice gift, [which was] to win. I definitely executed on those last restarts and did what it took.”

 

💪 Gio got it done!

A perfect final overtime restart at @kansasspeedway secured @Gio_Ruggiero1 his second career ARCA victory! ✌️ pic.twitter.com/tFq13ZxOE9

— ARCA Menards Series (@ARCA_Racing) April 18, 2026

Pole: Jack Wood

Click Here for Race Results

Next Race: The ARCA Series will return on Saturday, April 25, 2026 at 1:30 p.m. EST for the ‘Alabama Manufactured House’ at Talladega Superspeedway.

 

source: NASCAR  and ARCA Media

Where to watch ARCA Menards Series Today

Tide 150 at 12:30 p.m. ET Today

 

A full weekend of NASCAR racing action kicks off at the Kansas Speedway, starting with the ARCA Menards Series ‘Tide 150’ on today at 12:30 p.m. ET.

 

Here’s what you need to know about the race, and how to watch it for free.

 

The ARCA Menards Series at Kansas will air on FS1, and streams live on fuboTV (free trial).

 

• What: Tide 150, an ARCA Menards Series race
• When: Saturday, April 18
• Where: Kansas Speedway, Kansas City, Kansas
• Time: 12:30 p.m. ET
• TV: FS1
• Live stream: fuboTV (free trial), DIRECTV (free trial), Sling, Hulu + Live TV

Kansas is calling ☀️

📺 Saturday at 11:30 a.m. CT / 12:30 p.m. ET on @FS1 pic.twitter.com/VDdY5Cd5u8

— ARCA Menards Series (@ARCA_Racing) April 15, 2026

Frank Kimmel has the most Kansas wins in ARCA Menards Series history with three (2002, 2006, 2013). Alex Bowman, Connor Mosack, Nick Sanchez and Corey Heim each have two wins at the venue. Nobody else has more than one win at this particular track in the ARCA Menards Series. Kimmel also has one win at Kansas in what’s now the ARCA Menards Series West, which has raced at the track just twice (2001 and 2002).

 

source: Syracuse.com Media

Rockingham Speedway #NASCAR / #ARCA Race Schedule

NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series on Friday. NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series & ARCA Menard's Series East on Saturday

 

The ARCA Menards Series East will return to the North Carolina Sandhills April 3-4, 2026, when Rockingham Speedway again hosts a tripleheader weekend that will include one of NASCAR’s top developmental series alongside the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. 

 

There is no NASCAR Cup Series race scheduled for this weekend (April 4-5, 2026), as the series is on a break for Easter. The season resumes with the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway on Sunday, April 12, 2026, at 3:00 PM ET on FS1.

 

Friday, April 3, 2026

• Fan Zone Opens - 10:30 a.m.
• Ticket Gates & Suites Open - 10:30 a.m.
• NCTS Practice & Qualifying - 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
• NOAPS Practice & Qualifying - 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
• Truck's Black's Tire & Auto Service 200 - 4:30 p.m.

Four races into the 2026 campaign, and it's @CSmith_Racing on top of the standings by 33 points. pic.twitter.com/TKpexYmdSt

— NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Trucks (@NASCAR_Trucks) April 1, 2026

Saturday, April 4, 2026

• Fan Zone Opens - 8:30 a.m.
• Ticket Gates & Suites Open - 8:30 a.m.
• AMSE Practice - 9:00 a.m.-9:50 p.m.
• AMSE Qualifying - 10:05 a.m.-10:25 p.m.
• ARCA Menard's Series East Race - 11:30 a.m.
• NC Education Lottery 250 - 2:30 p.m.

He's never won three races in a row.

Will @J_Allgaier's momentum roll into @Rockingham1965? pic.twitter.com/Xe8gVUrq0X

— NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts (@NASCAROReillyAP) April 1, 2026

 

source: Rockingham Speedway Media

NASCAR / ARCA Race Weekend Recap (Phoenix)

Winners: Ryan Blaney (Cup); Justin Allgaier (O'Reilly); plus Carson Brown (ARCA)

NASCAR Cup

Ryan Blaney Rallies Late to Claim Second Straight Win at Phoenix

 

Ryan Blaney seized control late and held off a hard-charging and dominant Christopher Bell to win Sunday’s Straight Talk Wireless 500 at Phoenix Raceway. 

 

Ryan Blaney completed a Team Penske sweep on March 8 at Phoenix Raceway.

 

Blaney held off Christopher Bell to win his first race of the year, winning the Phoenix NASCAR race. It came a day after Hendersonville native Josef Newgarden won the IndyCar race at Phoenix for Penske.

“Perseverance. That’s a great word to kind of describe our day. I had a couple mistakes on pit road and learned from them and moved forward, and I didn’t have a mistake the rest of the day. It was unfortunate that they happened back-to-back, but these guys learned from it and rectified it and we were able to stay in the game. Our car was fast enough to be in the game. I thought the 20 was the best car on the day for sure, but we stayed in the game enough and Jonathan made a great call for two on the last caution and we were able to get the lead there and then hold the 20 off. I don’t know how many more laps I could have held him off, but it was enough laps to do it. I’m proud of the whole group for sticking with it all day and cool to win here again, just a handful of months later,” commented Blaney.

It also marked the first win in 2026 by a driver not named Tyler Reddick, who won the first three NASCAR Cup Series races of the season.

 

A @Team_Penske SWEEP OF THE DESERT DOUBLE. Ryan @Blaney WINS at Phoenix! pic.twitter.com/4UiD0smO2Y

— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) March 8, 2026

Pole: Joey Logano

Click Here for Race Results

Next Race: The Cup Series will return on Sunday, March 15, 2026 at 4:00 pm ET for the ‘Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy Lube’ at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series

Justin Allgaier Overcomes Slow Stop to Win O’Reilly Series Race

 

JR Motorsports driver Justin Allgaier pushed forward when it mattered most, his No. 7 Chevrolet leading only the last 11 laps of Saturday night’s GOVX 200 at Phoenix Raceway to claim his third win at the 1-mile Arizona oval and take over the championship lead in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. 

Allgaier had to pass the night’s most dominant driver, Richard Childress Racing’s Jesse Love, to earn the trophy. Love came into the race with the best average finish in the last four Phoenix races and again proved how good he is in the desert, leading a race-best 114 of the 200 laps.

“So proud of this team,” said Allgaier, praising the team for overcoming a poor stop early. “It wasn’t for lack of adversity and it seems like those are the ones that are big for us. I cannot say enough about this team.

 

“It never gets old winning,” added Allgaier, who has now won at least one race for a record 10 consecutive seasons. “This team rallied and never gave up.”

 

Now it’s time to party! 🥳 pic.twitter.com/39z3EXoBZi

— NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts (@NASCAROReillyAP) March 8, 2026

Pole: Taylor Gray

Click Here for Race Results

Next Race: The NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series will return on Saturday, March 14, 2026 at 5:30 pm ET for the ‘The LiUNA!’ at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

NASCAR Trucks

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series is not Racing this Weekend

Next Race: The Truck Series will return on Friday, March 20, 2026 at 7:30 pm ET for the ‘Buckle Up South Carolina 200’ at Darlington Raceway.

ARCA

Carson Brown Dominates at Phoenix, Wins his First National ARCA Menards Series Start

 

Carson Brown led almost every lap of the General Tire 150 prior to Dustin Hillenburg’s spin that brought out the final yellow of the day. The pressure of the situation did not phase Brown, who was thrilled to bring Pinnacle Racing Group back to Phoenix’s Victory Lane.

 

Brown withstood a charge from his teammate Tristan McKee to prevail in his maiden national ARCA Menards Series start, which also resulted in Pinnacle Racing Group’s first one-two finish with McKee following Brown across the start-finish line.

 

“All the guys back at PRG, [I have to give] a big thank you to them,” Brown said. “That green-white-checkered got a little hairy there. [McKee and I] made a little contact coming off [turn] two, but I thought I could kind of persevere there and make it to the finish line.

 

What a dominant day for Carson Brown! 🤩

📺 @FS1 | @phoenixraceway | @RacePRG pic.twitter.com/uwmklcmkYn

— ARCA Menards Series (@ARCA_Racing) March 6, 2026

Pole: Carson Brown

Click Here for Race Results

Next Race: The ARCA Series will return on Saturday, March 28, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. EST for the ‘Hickory 200’ at Hickory Motor Speedway.

 

source: NASCAR  and ARCA Media

Facts & Schedule – ARCA’s General Tire 150 at Phoenix Raceway

ARCA Menards Series 2026: Race 2 of 20 / ARCA Menards Series West 2026: Race 2 of 13

 

It’s race day in the desert.

 

Below is what you need to know ahead of today’s ARCA Menards Series and ARCA Menards Series West combo event at Phoenix Raceway. 

 

General Tire 150 - Facts

• Race --- General Tire 150
• Date --- Thursday, March 5, 2026
• Track --- Phoenix Raceway
• Layout --- One-mile paved oval
• Location --- Avondale, Arizona
• Start time --- 4 p.m. MT / 6 p.m. ET
• Laps --- 150
• Miles --- 150
• TV Channel --- FS1
• Live stream --- FOX Sports App
• Radio --- ARCARacing.com

It’s race day in the desert 🏜️

📺 4 p.m. MT / 6 p.m. ET on FS1 pic.twitter.com/Nl4bQltKYP

— ARCA Menards Series (@ARCA_Racing) March 5, 2026

General Tire 150 - Schedule

• 6 a.m. – 3 p.m. --- AMS Credential Hours (City of Avondale Conference Center – 11490 W. Center Drive)
• 7 a.m. --- Haulers Enter (Parking Only)
• 8 a.m. – 9 p.m. --- Garage Hours
• 8:05 a.m. --- Crew Chief Meeting (AMS Administration Hauler)
• 11:30 a.m. --- Driver and Spotter Meeting (Drivers Meeting Room)
• 11:45 a.m. --- First Time AMS Driver Meeting (Drivers Meeting Room – Drivers with no previous AMS platform experience)
• 1:30 – 2:15 p.m. --- Practice
• 2:30 – 2:50 p.m. --- Qualifying (Timed Session)
• 3:40 p.m. --- Driver Introduction (Standing at Cars)
• 4 p.m. --- Race (150 Laps / 150 Miles)

 

source: ARCA Media

ARCA's General Tire 150 Entry List

ARCA Menards Series heads to Phoenix Raceway for annual combo event with West Series.

 

As has become an annual tradition, the ARCA Menards Series and ARCA Menards Series West will unite Thursday for the running of the General Tire 150 at Phoenix Raceway (4 p.m. MT / 6 p.m. ET on FS1).

 

Thursday’s event, which is the second race of the season for both divisions, marks the seventh time the ARCA Menards Series will compete a the one-mile oval located in Avondale, Arizona. The West Series, on the other hand, has competed at Phoenix more than 50 times dating back to 1977.

 

ARCA's General Tire 150 Entry List

 

Highlights from the West Series season opener at @KernRaceway! pic.twitter.com/TNoqqkHd68

— ARCA Menards Series (@ARCA_Racing) March 1, 2026

Alonso Salinas Making ARCA Menards Series West Debut

With PP1M at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway

 

Alonso Salinas, a 24-year-old driver from Mexico, will drive the iconic No. 77 for Performance P-1 Motorsports (PP1M) in the 2026 ARCA Menards West Series season opening race at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway. 

 

The goal is to be able to participate in the full season, subject to additional funding, and to win the Rookie of the Year title.

 

“I started competing at 12 years old and grew up watching all kinds of motorsports like Motocross and Supercross, F1, MotoGP, NASCAR and IndyCar,” Salinas said.

 

 

A champion in the Rotax Max Challenge Senior series in 2017 and 2020, he then moved to stock car racing in Mexico in the NASCAR Trucks Mexico Series in 2021. He won the championship in 2024. In 48 races, he has 4 wins, 22 top-5 finishes, and 35 top-10 finishes.

 

In 2025, he moved up to the NASCAR Mexico Challenge (a class integrated into the NASCAR Mexico Series) and in his first season, he finished in the top eight of the regular season and participated in the playoff final. In 14 races, he achieved four top-five finishes and 13 top-ten finishes with the Alpha Racing team.

 

What is Salinas’ goal at Bakersfield?

 

“Getting to know the car and the team. Also, the race regulations are different from those in Mexico, so finding my pace as quickly as possible,” Salinas said.

 

The No. 77 Toyota will be sponsored by King Taco, REX MD, and Wallace Signs. Other sponsors will be announced later. The experienced Roger Bracken will be his crew chief.

 

The 2026 ARCA Menards West Series championship will consist of 13 races between February and October, with appearances at prestigious tracks such as Phoenix Raceway and Sonoma Raceway.

 

 

Salinas will debut at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway half-mile paved oval in Bakersfield, CA on Saturday, Feb. 28, for the first race of the season, the Oil Workers 150 presented by the West Coast Stock Car Motorsports Hall of Fame. 

The race will be streamed live on FloRacing.

 

 

source: ARCA Racing Media

Feb. 28th Night of Destruction + ARCA West

Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway

 

Night of Destruction returns to Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway to kick off the 2026 season in explosive fashion. Spectator gates open at 3:00 PM, with main events starting at 5:00pm as the sun sets and the lights take over.

 

The night is headlined by the ARCA Menards Series West Oil Workers 150, bringing elite stock car racing to Bakersfield.

 

Fans will also experience Kern Raceway’s signature specialty events, including Enduro racing, Figure-8, Skid Plate racing, Drag-A-Boat, and the Jet Car. Cool evening temperatures and a stacked lineup make this one of the biggest nights of the year.

 

Click Here for Tickets 

source: Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway Media

NASCAR / ARCA Race Weekend Recap (Daytona)

Winners: Tyler Reddick (Cup); Austin Hill (O'Reilly Series); Chandler Smith (Trucks) plus Gio Ruggerio (ARCA)

NASCAR Cup

Tyler Reddick Triumphs in 68th running of Daytona 500

 

Tyler Reddick waited for the last possible moment to make his move – and it paid off with victory in Sunday’s 68th running of the Daytona 500.

In the final 500 yards of the “Great American Race,” Reddick got a welcome push from teammate Riley Herbst, muscled his way past Chase Elliott and powered his No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota toward the finish line.

 

As the Daytona track exploded in chaos behind him, when Herbst tried an ill-fated late block on Brad Keselowski and a knot of cars slid sideways across the finish line, Reddick already was celebrating a 0.308-second victory over 2023 Daytona 500 winner Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

 

Reddick was the 25th different leader — a record for the race — and the only lap he led was the last one.

 

“Last year was really hard for all of us, hard for me,” Reddick said. “When you’re a Cup driver and you get to this level and drive for Michael Jordan, it’s expected you win every single year.

 

“For us to go on that drought, it made us look hard in the mirror, and I am really proud of everyone on our Chumba Casino Toyota Camry. Worked really hard in the offseason, and there were many points in this race where we weren’t making decisions we wanted to, but we just reset, and every opportunity we got to reset, we went back at it.

 

“Just speechless. I didn’t know if I’d ever win this race. It’s surreal, honestly. The best part is my son (Beau) asked before this race, ‘Are you finally going to win this race?’ Something about today just felt right.”

 

The finish everyone is talking about. #DAYTONA500 pic.twitter.com/3bmKf5QJ49

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) February 16, 2026

Pole: Kyle Busch

Click Here for Race Results

Next Race: The Cup Series will return on Sunday, February 22, 2026 at 3:00 pm ET for the ‘Autotrader 400’ at EchoPark Speedway.

NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series

Austin Hill Wins O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Season Opener

 

Austin Hill continued his mastery of NASCAR’s big tracks, dominating Saturday’s United Rentals 300 at Daytona International Speedway — the Georgia native’s fourth win in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season opener here in the last five years.

 

And as so typically happens on Daytona’s 2.5-mile superspeedway, the outcome came down to the dramatic last few laps and the race was decided by a split second.

 

Although he started from pole position and led a race high 78 of the 120 laps, Hill was tested all night — ultimately having to prevail on three restarts in the final 12 laps. His No. 21 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet beat JR Motorsports driver Justin Allgaier’s Chevrolet to the finish line by 0.081 seconds.

 

It marked Richard Childress Racing’s fifth consecutive win in this race, tying a mark set by Dale Earnhardt Inc. from 1990-94. It was Hill’s 15th career victory and 11th on a drafting style track.

 

“Just shows how good this team is,” Hill said of being able to pit late and out of sequence but still move forward when it mattered most. “It was a really tough decision to go from being 14th or wherever it was we restarted. But it just goes to show how good this team was. We had that restart and no one was going middle, so I was like, ‘Sure I’ll take it.’ Drove right up through there.”

 

“Daytona has just been so good to me,” said Hill, who swept both stage wins in addition to leading the most laps. “I love this place and it’s always fun to win.”

 

Austin Hill is a four-time winner at The World Center of Racing! pic.twitter.com/8Yw7u7cHdb

— NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts (@NASCAROReillyAP) February 15, 2026

Pole: Austin Hill

Click Here for Race Results

Next Race: The NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series will return on Saturday, February 21, 2026, at 5:00 pm ET for the ‘Bennett Transportation & Logistics 250’ at EchoPark Speedway.

NASCAR Trucks

Chandler Smith Storms through to Triumph

 

Chandler Smith  came from the middle of nowhere to win Friday’s ‘Fresh From Florida 250’ at Daytona International Speedway and immediately gave credit where credit was due.

 

“Thank you, thank you, thank you, Ty Majeski!” Smith shouted after taking the checkered flag in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season opener at the 2.5-mile superspeedway.

 

Driving the No. 38 Front Row Motorsports F-150, Smith was sixth as the lead group rounded Turn 3 on the second lap of overtime, with John Hunter Nemechek out front. But as Nemechek moved up the track to attempt a late block on Gio Ruggiero, Smith steamed through in the open bottom lane with a strong push from Majeski.

 

“He is all credit to how we just won that race, truthfully,” Smith said of Majeski’s push. “He stayed committed to a Ford and pushed a Blue Oval to a win.

 

Race as a team. Win as a team. 🤝 pic.twitter.com/PYOJ81Sbir

— NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Trucks (@NASCAR_Trucks) February 14, 2026

Pole: Ty Majeski

Click Here for Race Results

Next Race: The Truck Series will return on Saturday, February 21, 2026 at 1:30 pm ET for the ‘Fr8 Racing 208’ at EchoPark Speedway.

ARCA

Gio Ruggerio Delivers Joe Gibbs Racing its First Daytona ARCA Menards Series Victory

 

There was plenty of significance behind Gio Ruggiero’s victory Saturday in the General Tire 200 at Daytona International Speedway.

 

Not only was it Ruggiero’s first triumph in the national ARCA Menards Series, but it also marked the first time Joe Gibbs Racing prevailed at Daytona on the platform.

 

Ruggiero was no stranger to success on drafting tracks entering Saturday’s 80-lap race, having earned his maiden NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series win at Talladega Superspeedway last year. The comfort Ruggiero has found on drafting tracks is why he felt confident about winning the General Tire 200 in a Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota.

 

“Obviously last year, my first ever race in the Truck Series, I finished second,” Ruggiero said. “I think there was a little bit of luck in that with the winner being DQ’d. Since then, I’ve had really strong cars and feel like I’ve just made the right moves on the superspeedways.”

 

🤩 @Gio_Ruggiero1 celebrates his first ARCA Menards Series win at @DAYTONA! pic.twitter.com/YIjbv7JL5E

— ARCA Menards Series (@ARCA_Racing) February 14, 2026

Pole: Gus Dean

Click Here for Race Results

Next Race: The ARCA West Series will return on Saturday, February 28, 2026 at 5 p.m. PT for the ‘Oil Workers 150 presented by the West Coast Stock Car Motorsports Hall of Fame’ at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway.

 

source: NASCAR Media

High banks of Daytona await ARCA Menards Series Drivers for 2026 Season-Opener

 

Just like NASCAR’s three premier divisions, the ARCA Menards Series opens every season with a trip to the historic Daytona International Speedway.

 

Daytona has hosted events for the ARCA Menards Series since the 1964 season, with the first checkered flag belonging to Nelson Stacy. Since that day, numerous other notable names have visited Daytona’s Victory Lane in an ARCA Menards Series race, such as Iggy Katona, Jack Bowsher, Benny Parsons, Tim Richmond, Bobby Gerhart and Kyle Busch.

 

The racing at Daytona has changed in numerous regards over the past several decades. Following the introduction of restrictor plates, drafting is now a cornerstone of every ARCA Menards Series Daytona event, which requires drivers to be patient and time out their runs to move toward the front and avoid getting collected in a major accident.

 

Daytona’s prestige has once again attracted a large field of competitors for this year’s race, with 50 cars vying for 40 starting positions. Every driver entered has the same goal in mind: Keep the car in one piece and fight for an opportunity to be immortalized as a Daytona ARCA Menards Series winner.

 

Race day weather for the General Tire 200 looks pretty damn good! It's a sign.@ARCA_Racing @DAYTONA @TeamChevy @NASCAR pic.twitter.com/A60jPhrAGI

— Nolan Wilson Racing (@nolan__wilson) February 8, 2026

 

source: ARCA Racing Media

Sioux Chief PowerPEX Plumbing Products to sponsor ARCA Menards Series pole award in 2026

 

Sioux Chief Manufacturing, one of America’s leading manufacturers of rough plumbing products, will sponsor the pole award across the ARCA Menards Series platform in 2026.

 

Naming rights for the pole award, now known as the Sioux Chief PowerPEX Pole Award, is the latest evolution of the relationship between Sioux Chief and the ARCA Menards Series that is now in its second decade.

 

“We’re proud to continue our long-standing relationship with the ARCA Menards Series by sponsoring the Sioux Chief PowerPEX Pole Award,” said Joe Ismert, President of Sioux Chief Manufacturing. “Performance, precision, and reliability are at the core of everything we do, and those same qualities define what it takes to earn the pole in racing. This partnership is a perfect way to celebrate excellence and American-made innovation.”

 

“There are two things every driver wants to do every week, and that’s win the pole and win the race,” said ARCA president Ron Drager. “Sioux Chief has been a great partner of the ARCA Menards Series for over a decade and we’re thrilled that every pole winner in 2026 will receive the Sioux Chief PowerPEX Pole Award flag throughout the season.”

 

The ARCA Menards Series season lifts off with the General Tire 200 on Saturday, February 14. Practice is slated for Thursday, Feb. 12, and the first Sioux Chief PowerPEX Pole Qualifying session of the season is set for Friday, Feb. 13.

 

The race will be televised live on FOX starting at Noon ET. It will also be broadcast on select affiliates of the MRN Radio network nationwide and on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. Live timing & scoring data from all on-track activity will be available at ARCARacing.com; follow @ARCA_Racing on X (formerly Twitter) for up-to-the-minute updates.

 

 

source: NASCAR Media

ARCA Menards Series Names 2026 Road to Daytona Participants

Drivers from the ARCA Menards Series East and West, NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, NASCAR Weekly Series, ASA CRA Super Series, ASA Midwest Tour, and ASA Southern Super Series

From left: Robbie Kennealy, Craig Lutz, Isaac Kitzmiller and Brad May

 

Several grass roots champions and rookies of the year will make their first laps at Daytona International Speedway during the ARCA Menards Series “Road to Daytona” program at the series’ annual pre-race practice on Jan. 9-10.

 

Drivers from the ARCA Menards Series East and West, NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, NASCAR Weekly Series, ASA CRA Super Series, ASA Midwest Tour, and ASA Southern Super Series will make laps in cars prepared by 1995 ARCA Menards Series national champion Andy Hillenburg’s Fast Track High Performance Racing Team with support from Ilmor, Hoosier Tire, Sunoco, Eibach Springs, and JRI Shocks.

 

Participating drivers for 2026 include:

• Isaac Kitzmiller – 16 years old from Maysville, West Virginia, Kitzmiller is the 2025 ARCA Menards Series East champion. The son of ARCA Menards Series driver Jason Kitzmiller, Isaac drove to the East Series championship with three top-five and eight top-10 finishes in eight starts including a best finish of fourth at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway and Dover Motor Speedway.



Isaac Kitzmiller

 

• Robbie Kennealy – 19 years old from Madera, California, Kennealy is the 2025 ARCA Menards Series West Bounty Rookie of the Year. Kennealy scored an emotional first career victory at All American Speedway from the pole, winning a year after his father Gary passed away. He finished third in the West standings with 10 top-10 finishes in 12 starts.




New role, same leadership.

At just 19, @robbie_kennealy will serve as a mentor to his Jan's Racing Team rookie teammate Cole Denton for the 2026 West Series season.https://t.co/rx8WiVMfYi pic.twitter.com/uZds4b44iO

— ARCA Menards Series (@ARCA_Racing) January 28, 2026




• Craig Lutz – 31-year-old from Miller Place, New York, Lutz was the third-place finisher in the 2025 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour standings. He has six career NWMT wins, including two in 2025 at North Wilkesboro Speedway and Richmond Raceway. A perennial contender at the annual World Series of Asphalt at New Smyrna Speedway, Lutz had nine top-five and 12 top-10 finishes in 16 NWMT starts in 2025.




Road to Daytona participant Craig Lutz hasn’t NOT seen his tires since 2011 when he raced a late model. pic.twitter.com/Aw3vjF6IGb

— ARCA Menards Series (@ARCA_Racing) January 12, 2026




• Kody King – 18 years old from Cedar Lake, Iowa, King is the 2025 ASA Midwest Tour Rookie of the Year; finished fifth in 2025 ASAMWT standings with one top-five finish in 10 starts. King is the 2022 late model champion at Hawkeye Downs Speedway and finished fifth in the 2022 CARS Tour Pro Late Model standings.
• Brad May – 48 years old from Orlando, Florida, May is a multiple-time Super Late Model champion at New Smyrna Speedway and NASCAR Weekly Series Florida State champion. May scored seven feature wins in nine starts en route to the 2025 track championship.
• Albert Francis – 24 years old from Painesville, Ohio, the son of renowned engine builder Dale Francis, finished sixth in the ASA CRA Super Series standings. Francis scored an impressive win in the ASA JEGS All-Star Tour at Winchester Speedway the day before the Winchester 400.
• Hudson Bulger – 18 years old from Perry, Georgia, Bulger will represent the ASA Southern Super Series. He was the 2024 rookie of the year at New Smyrna Speedway before branching out to touring series competition in 2025.

Notable Road to Daytona participants over the years include 2024 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion Ty Majeski (2014), former ARCA Menards Series race winner and current mechanic for Hendrick Motorsports’ No. 48 Chevrolet Travis Braden (2013), NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship contender Layne Riggs (2022), former Daytona ARCA 200 winner Greg Van Alst (2020), and former NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour champion Justin Bonsignore (2024).

 

The 2026 ARCA Menards Series season kicks off at Daytona with practice on Thursday, February 12, Pole Qualifying on Friday, February 13, and the 63rd Annual Daytona ARCA 200 set for 12 noon ET on Saturday, February 14. The race will be televised live on FOX and broadcast nationwide on select affiliates of the MRN Radio Network. Live timing & scoring for all on track sessions is available at ARCARacing.com.

 

 

source: ARCA Racing Media

Joe Gibbs Racing Celebrating 35th Anniversary

JGR will Honor Team's Past Drivers, Employees, Fans and Sponsors

 

Joe Gibbs Racing, the winningest team of all-time across NASCAR’s three national series, is set for its 35th season in 2026. The organization has a variety of activations planned to celebrate the team’s history, fans, partners, and the Gibbs family.

 

Over the team’s history, Joe Gibbs Racing has earned 448 victories in NASCAR national series competition, including 227 NASCAR Cup Series wins and 221 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series wins. JGR’s pedigree includes championships with Kyle Busch, Bobby Labonte, and Tony Stewart in the Cup Series, and O’Reilly Auto Parts Series championships with Busch, Ty Gibbs, Daniel Hemric, and Daniel Suárez. The team also helped launch the careers of other standout drivers like Christopher Bell, Denny Hamlin, Erik Jones and Joey Logano.

 

“It’s hard to believe we’re celebrating our 35th season,” said Dave Alpern, President of Joe Gibbs Racing. “What started as Coach’s dream on a piece of paper has grown into something truly special. From day one, he’s said you win with people—and that’s been true every step of the way. We’re excited to celebrate this milestone with our JGR family, past and present drivers, and all the partners and fans who make all of it possible.”

 

This season, JGR 35th Anniversary branding will be displayed on all of the team’s entries in the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and the ARCA Menards Series, as well as on team equipment and apparel.

 

One significant event to celebrate the anniversary will be Joe Gibbs Racing Fan Day returning to the team’s Huntersville, North Carolina, headquarters for the first time since 2019. The event on Friday, October 9, will include appearances from current and past JGR drivers, sponsor activations, and more. Additional details will be announced at a later date.

 

JGR will also reward fans with unprecedented promotions throughout the year, including access to team members, unique experiences both at the track and at the shop, and chances to win one-of-a-kind pieces of memorabilia from the organization’s history.

 

Celebrating the big 3️⃣5️⃣❗️

2026 marks our 35th season! Follow along as we have a variety of activations planned to celebrate the team’s history, fans, partners, and the Gibbs family. pic.twitter.com/9wisK2tWhS

— Joe Gibbs Racing (@JoeGibbsRacing) January 27, 2026

JGR will also shine light on memorable moments from the organization’s 35-year history with behind-the-scenes content across the team’s social media channels – Facebook, X,  Instagram, and TikTok.

 

 

source: Joe Gibbs Racing Media

Alli Owens - Single Mom, Race Car Driver

The Ultimate Balancing Act

Single Mom, Race Car Driver, Dog Rescuer, Influencer ... and so much more.

 

Alli Owens recently released an interesting linked in post

 

Who is Alli Owens? From her website: “she is a single mom of three who trades the parent pick up line for high speed race tracks and manages to make it look effortless. That's Alli Owens – a NASCAR driver who's competed in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and ARCA Racing Series, but her real superpower isn't just handling 200mph on the track. It's juggling life with two teenage daughters and a one-year-old son, a house full of dogs (including fosters she can't help but rescue), coaching youth sports for rec centers and middle school, and still finding time to chase checkered flags. When Alli steps into that race car, she's not just representing herself – she's showing her kids and every other parent out there that dreams don't have expiration dates.

 

Alli’s Linkedin Post:

 

Dear NASCAR leadership and community,

 

There was a time in my career when I was told — directly and indirectly — that I didn’t fit the image NASCAR wanted to project. I was a teenager with grit, determination, and a blue-collar background. I didn’t come from wealth or legacy; I came from hard work, from family, and from the kind of community that used to fill the grandstands every weekend.

 

As a sole custody single mother of three right here in Daytona, I’ve built everything I have from nothing, and in doing so, I’ve come to represent the very people who this sport needs again: the working parents, the single moms, the families who sacrifice to chase their dreams, the children in desperate need of real life heroes and the communities that come together around a shared love of racing.

 

Over the years, I’ve watched the sport evolve — striving to reconnect with its roots while seeking relevance in a changing world. I believe this moment, right now, is an opportunity for NASCAR to fully embrace what it has always claimed to stand for: resilience, authenticity, and the American spirit.

 

I’m not writing this to criticize or reopen old wounds. I’m writing because I believe in what this sport can still become. NASCAR doesn’t need polished perfection or made-for-TV storylines. It needs real people — those who reflect the fans watching from their garages, living rooms, and local short tracks. It needs representation that shows the struggle, the work ethic, and the heart that built stock car racing from the ground up. It’s my mission to prove that people will support what they feel connected to.

 

My story isn’t about rejection — it’s about redemption and purpose. I’ve turned what once was considered “not the right fit” into something deeply relatable and needed: a brand built on family, perseverance, and community. I represent the blue-collar foundation that NASCAR’s future depends on — and the families who still see themselves in the roar of an engine and the pride of a hometown driver.

 

I’m returning to the drivers seat at Daytona in the ARCA Series, and choosing to not be backed by a major sponsor, but funded by people rooting for a hometown hero and local community businesses. To Tell my story and everything I went through of not succeeding in this sport and being a single mother now of teenagers and toddler. Tell the truths of the fans you’re losing or new ones you’re not capturing. Tell what’s real in the daily life of our community and then get on that track and do it for all the people just like me. Research and colleges degrees aren’t needed to rebuild the fanbase, just listen and know who we are outside of statistics.

 

Let’s work together to reignite the connection between NASCAR and the people who have never stopped believing in it — the everyday Americans who have kept this sport alive for decades. It’s time to bring authenticity back to the forefront and to show that the true face of racing has never been about image — it’s about heart

 

NASCAR is a rough and tough business. NASCAR Race Mom will certainly be watching as Ms. Owen’s ARCA return to the track at Daytona will provide a compelling chapter in this single mom’s story.

 

Interesting Note: Alli Owens earned an outside pole position at Daytona 2009. The ‘2009 Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200’ entry list included future NASCAR Stars Joey Logano and Parker Kligerman.

 

Alli Owens Raising Hearts Building Futures RHBFF #68 Kimmel Racing scheme she will run at Daytona in 2026. pic.twitter.com/DVGzJPuLei

— ARCA News Central (@arcafan_news) (@arcafan_news) November 17, 2025

 

source: Alli Owens’ Linkedin Page Media