Meet the NASCAR Cup Contenders

Who to Watch Heading Into Race Weekend at Nashville Superspeedway

 

As the engines warm up and the anticipation builds for race weekend at Nashville Superspeedway, all eyes are on the drivers poised to make some serious noise. Nashville’s concrete beast isn’t easy to tame, and only the best rise to the challenge. Here’s a look at some of the top contenders heading into the weekend.

 

Joey Logano

A former Cup Series champion, Joey Logano brings a mix of grit, strategy, and confidence to every track he visits. Known for his aggressive style and sharp race instincts, he’s especially dangerous late in a race when the pressure is on. He’s no stranger to chaotic restarts or bold moves when it matters most. At a track like Nashville, where tire wear and late cautions shake things up, he’s exactly the kind of driver who can capitalize. Don’t be surprised if the No. 22 finds his way to the front when it counts.

 

Joey Logano finished the last cup race in seventeenth (17) position.

Finished 17th in yesterday’s #CocaCola600 at @CLTMotorSpdwy . Not the final result we wanted, but at the end of the night, we remember how thankful we are to do what we love, because of those who made the ultimate sacrifice and to those who are currently sacrificing so much to… pic.twitter.com/iubOB9WhbS

— Joey Logano (@joeylogano) May 26, 2025

Kyle Larson

When it comes to versatility and raw talent, Kyle Larson is always in the conversation. He’s proven time and again he can run up front on just about any track, including Nashville. With Hendrick Motorsports behind him and momentum on his side, Larson’s a threat to win every time he straps in.

 

Kyle Larson crashed and finished the last cup race in thirty-seventh (37) position.

"When it's cooler the track has more grip and the speed stays faster..

Typically I prefer warmer conditions..

I'm always studying to see which moves work"@KyleLarsonRacin #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/nGMp7T4Iqt

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) May 21, 2025

Denny Hamlin

Denny knows how to run smart, manage tire wear, and position himself when it counts. If the race turns tactical (and it often does at Nashville), Hamlin could be right there when it matters most.

 

Denny Hamlin finished the last cup race in sixteenth (16) position.

Denny held Byron up… from behind him? 🤣@dennyhamlin | https://t.co/z9Owlg8rlm pic.twitter.com/SJsdy0TPMn

— Dirty Mo Media (@DirtyMoMedia) May 27, 2025

Ross Chastain

Aggressive? Sure. Entertaining? Always. Ross Chastain doesn’t back down, and his fearless driving style helped him claim victory here in 2023. Don’t be surprised if he’s mixing it up near the front again this year, especially if the race turns wild.

 

Ross Chastain won the last cup race! (#1)

Nashville #NASCAR fans, this is your chance to meet last week's #CocaCola600 race winner @rosschastain before he shreds the track at the #CrackerBarrel400

- WHEN: Saturday, May 31st at 10am
- WHERE: 2500 Murfreesboro Pike #106, Nashville, TN 37217@jrmotorsports @teamtrackhouse pic.twitter.com/dJT5pjaTil

— Acceptance Insurance (@AcceptanceHQ) May 27, 2025

William Byron

Byron’s having a breakout season, racking up wins and running with confidence. He’s matured as a driver and has shown he can handle the pressure of big moments. On a track where precision matters, Byron has the tools to shine.

 

William Byron finished the last cup race in second (2) position.

A strong night in Charlotte pushes @WilliamByron to the top of the Cup Series standings.https://t.co/Y1J5lca6yN

— Hendrick Motorsports (@TeamHendrick) May 27, 2025

Christopher Bell

Bell’s dirt track background gives him a smooth, steady style that works well on rougher surfaces. He’s been quietly consistent and always seems to be lurking when it counts. Don’t sleep on the No. 20 car.

 

Christopher Bell finished the last cup race in eighth (8) position.

Built for the unbreakable 💪@cbellracing and @dewalttough Concrete Solutions: the perfect pairing for Nashville Superspeedway’s 1.33 mile concrete track. pic.twitter.com/SReOtBfNAS

— Joe Gibbs Racing (@JoeGibbsRacing) May 28, 2025

The Wild Cards

And of course, don’t forget the underdogs and up-and-comers. A long race, late cautions, or strategy shakeups can put unexpected names at the front. Keep an eye on guys like Tyler Reddick (26th), Alex Bowman (29th), or even a rookie looking to make their mark.

 

Who Will Conquer the Concrete?

Nashville Superspeedway is a unique challenge. The concrete surface, tire wear, and the heat make it as much a mental battle as a physical one. These contenders have what it takes, but as we’ve seen before, anything can happen on race day.

 

 

source: Nashville Superspeedway Media

NASCAR / ARCA Weekend Recap (Texas & Nashville)

Winners: Joey Logano (Cup); Kyle Larson (Xfinity); Corey Heim (Trucks) plus Max Reaves (ARCA)

Recap Graphic by Rolando Ramirez - RTR Graphics

 

NASCAR Cup

Joey Logano Survives Texas Attrition, Lands First Win of 2025 in Overtime

 

On an overtime restart, Joey Logano made it look easy. The reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion cleared teammate Blaney through the first two corners, as RossChastain charged into second from the bottom lane.

 

Two laps later, Logano was on his way to Victory Lane, having scored the second straight win for Team Penske after Austin Cindric won last Sunday at Talladega.

 

“The sport changes so quickly,” Logano said after climbing from his car. “It’s crazy how you can just ride these rollercoasters and just proud of the team. Finally got (sponsor) AAA Insurance into Victory Lane. They’ve been a partner of mine since I’ve been to Penske, so 13, 14 years. I’ve yet to win with them. It was awesome to get that done here.”

 

Logano had to work his way forward from his 27th-place starting position. He did so relentlessly and without the sorts of mistakes that doomed the winning chances of others.

 

“Slowly, methodically, a couple at a time,” Logano said of his drive. “We had a really tough pit stall situation. The pit crew did a good job of managing that and just grabbed a couple (of positions) here and there.

 

“The car was fast. I knew that yesterday. We just did a poor job qualifying. Just grinded it. Just keep grinding a couple here and a couple there and eventually get a win here. It’s nice to get one. Real nice.”

 

Joey, it's time to be a cowboy. 😂 pic.twitter.com/xYOKyHyUdJ

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) May 5, 2025

Pole: Carson Hocevar

Click Here for Race Results
Next Race: The Cup Series will return on Sunday, May 11, 2025 3:00 pm ET for the AdventHealth 400 at Kansas Speedway.

NASCAR Xfinity

Larson is a Super-Sub in Texas, Grabs Xfinity Win in Double OT

 

Crew chief Mardy Lindley called his shot.

 

“We’ve got to stop to win,” Lindley radioed to driver Kyle Larson,  subbing for injured Connor Zilisch in the No. 88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet.

Lindley was right. Larson made a late pit stop and proceeded to win Saturday’s Andy’s Frozen Custard 300 at Texas Motor Speedway in two overtimes.

 

The victory was Larson’s second of the season, his second at Texas and the 17th of his Xfinity career, with Larson charging from the seventh position on a Lap 194 restart — behind six cars that stayed out on older tires — to win in two extra periods.

 

“It was a lot of survival, I felt like in that race,” Larson said. “I got in some wrecks, the balance we had to work on quite a bit. So, it was fun. I felt like if I could ever get the lead, I could stretch it out, but I couldn’t get by Justin (Allgaier). He was running where I needed to be.

 

“Thanks to JRM for letting me come run this thing here today. Obviously, I wish Connor was in the car, but it means a lot that they thought of me to call up to run this thing.”

 

He did what he had to do to get the win. pic.twitter.com/9Q8yhOUVN9

— NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) May 3, 2025

Pole: Austin Hill

Click Here for Race Results

Next Race: The Xfinity Series will return on Saturday, May 24, 2025 at 4:30 pm ET for the BetMGM 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

NASCAR Trucks

Corey Heim Tames Texas, Surges to Third Craftsman Truck Series Win of 2025

 

At age 22, Heim is the youngest driver in series history to reach 14 wins. Friday night’s Truck Series race also was the first to go to overtime after 21 straight events had ended in regulation.

 

Heim was barely ahead when caution stalled the first overtime almost before it began. The restart in the second extra period packed a surfeit of drama into the final two laps.

 

Starting second to Heim’s outside, Ben Rhodes held his ground, racing side-by-side through the first two corners. As the drivers navigated Turn 3, both had to lift off the gas, allowing Daniel Hemric to make a strong move to the inside at the start/finish line.

 

But Heim pressed the accelerator, charged between trucks and surged into the lead, clearing Hemric and Rhodes in Turn 1. Heim pulled away slightly to beat Hemric to the stripe by 0.279 seconds, as Rhodes lost momentum and faded to sixth.

 

“I wasn’t going to let that one get away from me,” said Heim, who led a race-high 96 of 174 laps and gained an extra playoff point by winning Stage 2. “I’ve given up too many this year so far. I’m just overwhelmed — so many restarts there at the end and guys were taking me three-wide.

 

“I wasn’t going to let them take it from me… They tried to take me three-wide into (Turn) 1, and I drove until I couldn’t anymore.”

 

A little Texas flavor from Victory Lane. 🤠 pic.twitter.com/WfzPMikmoT

— NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Trucks (@NASCAR_Trucks) May 3, 2025

Pole: Tyler Ankrum

Click Here for Race Results

Next Race: The Truck Series will return on Saturday, May 10, 2025 at 7:30 pm ET for the Heart of Health Care 200 at Kansas Speedway.

ARCA

Max Reaves Scores Another Convincing Victory

 

Max Reaves put on a clinic Sunday afternoon at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway, capturing his second ARCA Menards Series East victory of the 2025 season with a powerful and poised performance in the Music City 150.

 

Piloting the Cook Out-sponsored Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, Reaves led the majority of the race and only briefly relinquished the top spot following a restart where Tyler Reif surged ahead momentarily. Reaves wasted little time regaining control and drove away to the checkered flag, adding to his growing résumé in the ARCA East ranks.

 

Reif settled for a hard-fought second-place finish, while Nashville’s own Hunter Wright thrilled the hometown crowd with a strong third-place effort. Isaac Kitzmiller and Zachary Tinkle rounded out the top five.

 

The remainder of the top ten included Jackson McLerran, Takuma Koga, Becca Monopoli, Quinn Davis, and Nate Moeller.

 

Reaves’ victory at the historic Nashville Fairgrounds marks a major step forward in the young driver’s campaign, as he continues to establish himself as a title contender in the ARCA Menards Series East standings.

 

🏁 Max Reaves gets his 2nd @ARCA_Racing win in as many tries, dominating the #ARCA East Music City 150 at @RaceFairgrounds! pic.twitter.com/bELekrH4hr

— FloRacing (@FloRacing) May 4, 2025

Pole: Max Reaves

Click Here for Race Results

Next Race: The ARCA Series will return on Friday, May 9, 2025 at 7 p.m. CT for the Tide 150 at Kansas Speedway

 

source: NASCAR Media

Joey Logano – 2024 NASCAR Cup Champion

Ford Performance & Roush Yates Engines Win 3rd NASCAR Cup Series Championship In A Row

 

Team Penske’s Joey Logano won Sunday’s Championship race at Phoenix Raceway, marking his 36th career NASCAR Cup Series victory, fourth of the year, and his fourth at Phoenix. This win also marks the first time Ford has won the NASCAR Cup Series title three years in a row (Logano in 2022, Blaney in 2023, and Logano in 2024) and the first time that has been achieved by Team Penske. Logano is the first Ford driver to win at least three Cup Series championships and the 10th driver in NASCAR history, joining fellow three-time winners Tony Stewart, Cale Yarborough, Darrell Waltrip, David Pearson and Lee Petty; four-time champion Jeff Gordon; and seven-time champions Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt and Richard Petty.

 

 

“Congratulations to Roger, Tim, Paul, Joey, and everyone at Team Penske on a 1-2 finish at Phoenix and the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Championship!,” said Doug Yates, President and CEO of Roush Yates Engines. “Both of the Team Penske cars were fast throughout the race and Joey did an amazing job on that last restart. We’re proud to have powered three NASCAR Cup Series Championships in a row, and it’s an honor to stand alongside such a talented and hardworking team.”

 

 

“I love the playoffs. I love it, man. What a race. What a Team Penske battle there at the end. I had a good restart and was able to get in front of the 12. He had a lot of long run speed there and that was all I had there to hold him off. We have three of them. That’s really special. What a team to fight through today. We went through a little bit of adversity in throughout the race. I can’t thank Ford enough and Shell and Pennzoil and Hunt Brother’s Pizza.  Paul Wolfe, what a crew chief I have. I’ve got the best team. I don’t know if I’m the best driver, but I’ve got the best team and together we’re very well-rounded and can show up when it matters the most. We’ve got a mentally tough team that can make things happen when it matters,” commented Logano.

 

Race Win ✅ | Championship ✅ | 3X Champion ✅@Team_Penske @shellracingus @Pennzoil @FordPerformance @CocaColaRacing #CokePartner #NASCARPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/hgZewQeadf

— Joey Logano (@joeylogano) November 11, 2024

 

 

source: Roush Yate PR

NASCAR Weekend Recap (Atlanta Motor Speedway)

Winners: Joey Logano (Cup) and Austin Hill (Xfinity)

NASCAR Cup

Joey Logano Wins Playoff Opener at Atlanta

Joey Logano and crew celebrate in Victory Lane  after winning the NASCAR
Cup Series Quaker State 400 Available at Walmart at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

 

With a strong last-lap push from Team Penske teammate Ryan Blaney, Joey Logano rocketed into the Round of 12 of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs with an overtime victory in Sunday‘s Quaker State 400 available at Walmart at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

 

In a two-lap shootout that sent the first playoff race of the 2024 season six laps past the posted distance of 260 laps, Logano had the lead by more than a car-length when NASCAR called a caution on the final circuit for a mid-pack wreck behind the leader.

 

The victory was Logano‘s second at Atlanta, his second of the season and the 34th of his career. The driver of the No. 22 Ford vaulted to fifth in the playoff standings, but the win guaranteed him a spot in the next round.

 

“They just give me really fast cars on superspeedways, and we always find ourselves towards the front of them, (but) we just end up wrecking more times than not,” said Logano, who led twice for nine laps, a far cry from teammate Austin Cindric‘s race-high 92.

 

“So, to be able to finally capitalize on a fast race car and win here in Atlanta again, I lived right over there in condo 805 for a long time (as a child racing Legend Cars), waking up dreaming of just racing on this race track.

 

“So, pulling into Victory Lane here is always a special one. We had such a really good team here today. It‘s awesome to get (sponsor) Autotrader into Victory Lane, and the JL Kids Crew (one of Logano‘s charitable enterprises) are here today, so it‘s really cool to finally win with them here.”

 

HE’S THROUGH TO THE ROUND OF 12!@joeylogano wins the #NASCARPlayoffs opener at @ATLMotorSpdwy! pic.twitter.com/GZymH1NH51

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) September 8, 2024

Pole: Michael McDowell

Click Here for Race Results  

Next Race: The Cup Series will return on Sunday September 15, 2024 at 3:00 pm ET for the Go Bowling at The Glen at Watkins Glen International. 

NASCAR Xfinity

Austin Hill Wins Wild Xfinity Series Race at Atlanta for Season Sweep

Austin Hill celebrates with RCR team owner and NASCAR Hall of Famer,
Richard Childress in Victory Lane at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

 

Austin Hill defended stout charges late from numerous competitors to score the NASCAR Xfinity Series victory at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Saturday.

 

Hill, winner of the series’ February visit to the 1.5-mile drafting-style track, was victorious by 0.34 seconds over Parker Kligerman, AJ Allmendinger, Chandler Smith and Corey Heim, who completed the top five.

 

“I‘m speechless right now,” Hill said in Victory Lane. “Our Bennett Chevrolet had speed all day, but the handling just was not there the way that I would like. You come to these superspeedway-style events, and you want to have a car that‘s trimmed out. You don‘t worry too much about handling.”

 

“But I thought handling was going to be an issue, and it definitely played a part today. We made some right moves at the right time between my spotter, Derek Kneeland, and me. We got up to second and when we had that restart (on Lap 150), I was contemplating ‘Do I go top, or do I go bottom? ”

 

“We both agreed that we have to go bottom and try to get to the lead, and if the bottom didn‘t work out, then so be it.”

 

The hometown kid does it again!@_AustinHill gets his fourth win at @ATLMotorSpdwy! pic.twitter.com/rPudq5u3e4

— NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) September 7, 2024

Pole:  Jesse Love

Click Here for Race Results

Next Race: The Xfinity Series will return on Saturday September 14, 3:00 pm ET for the Mission 200 at the Glen at Watkins Glen International.

 

NASCAR Trucks

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series – Off Week

Good thing there aren't beige flags in NASCAR... 😅 pic.twitter.com/HPYsTFNEhS

— NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Trucks (@NASCAR_Trucks) August 28, 2024

Next Race: The Truck Series will return on Thursday September 19, 2024 8:00 pm ET for the UNOH 200 presented by Ohio Logistics at Bristol Motor Speedway.

 

ARCA

ARCA Truck Series – Off Week

Putting his dirt skills to good use, @BrentCrews11 ripped the top on the opening lap to take the lead at the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds, a move that has been selected as the @reeses Sweet Move of the Race! pic.twitter.com/0F29K5fntq

— ARCA Menards Series (@ARCA_Racing) September 3, 2024

Next Race: The ARCA Series will return on Friday, September 13, 2024 at 5:23 p.m.ET for the General Tire 100 at Glen at Watkins Glen International.

 

source: NASCAR Media

This NASCAR Weekend has many New Opportunities for Fans

The 7th annual Pennzoil 400 presented by Jiffy Lube weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway

 

The 7th annual Pennzoil 400 Presented by Jiffy Lube NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway (LVMS) is set to be a fan favorite in 2024. This year’s race weekend provides many exciting opportunities for fans, at and away from track, to meet drivers, get an up-close look at a variety of cool cars, and enjoy a first-class NASCAR race weekend tripleheader.

 

The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race takes place Friday night, March 1st at 6:00 pm PST, followed by the NASCAR XFINITY Series race on Saturday, March 2nd at 2:00 pm PST. NASCAR Cup Series drivers will start their engines for the Pennzoil 400 on Sunday, March 3rd at 12:30 PM PST, and the race will be broadcast live on FOX.

 

"The Pennzoil 400 Presented by Jiffy Lube at Las Vegas Motor Speedway is more than just a race; it's an opportunity for us to share the love of racing and heart-pounding roar of engines with NASCAR fans," shared Bree Sandlin, Vice President of Shell Lubricants North America Marketing. “It gives us the chance to continue to showcase the high-performance of our products on the track, while also celebrating the impressive cars, drivers, and those working behind the scenes motorsports industry to bring fans together to experience the rumble at tracks throughout the country at 180 mph.”

 

Fans will be able to meet drivers at select locations prior to the race and will have the ability to meet influencers and check out a variety of unique cars during the race weekend in the Las Vegas Motor Speedway midway as they enter the track at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Fan Zone Presented by Pennzoil including:

 

• Vehicles on Display:
• The #22 Pennzoil Ford Mustang NASCAR Cup Car, RTR Formula Drift Ford Mustang, Alex Taylor’s Rebelle Rally Jeep Wrangler 4XE, Shelby Hall’s Ford Bronco, and the Pennzoil Ferrari from Dream Racing can all be seen at the LVMS Fan Zone over the race weekend
• Driver Meet & Greets in the Las Vegas Area:
• Meet NASCAR Cup Series Champion Ryan Blaney and INDYCAR driver Scott McLaughlin at the Jiffy Lube on 10440 S. Eastern Ave, Henderson, NV 89052 on Friday, March 1st at 9:00 am PST
• Influencer Meet & Greets at the LVMS Fan Zone:
• Austin Cindric, driver of the No. 2 Team Penske Ford Mustang will make an appearance at the LVMS Fan Zone at 9:30 am PST on Saturday, March 2nd
• Meet RTR Formula Drift drivers Vaughn Gittin Jr. and Loren Healy for Q&A on-stage Sunday, March 3rd at 10:00 am followed by an autograph session at 10:30 am
• Meet Rebelle Rally drivers/navigators on-stage for Q&A at 11:00 am Sunday, March 3rd

Couple of Pennzoil lads hanging out. Come by if you can! https://t.co/6kBwrAUPcB

— Scott McLaughlin (@smclaughlin93) February 29, 2024

Fans also can enter the Pennzoil 400 Social Sweepstakes that runs through Tuesday March 5th, 2024. Four grand prize winners will receive the Grand Prize Pennzoil Tailgate Kit while hundreds of winners can qualify for a number of other great prizes. *No Purchase Necessary. Ends 3/5/24. Void Where Prohibited. Terms Apply. See pennzoil.com for full details.

 

Over the race weekend members of The Rebelle Rally, the first women’s off-road navigation rally raid in the United States, will be present for a special announcement by Pennzoil. Alex and Meg Taylor and their Jeep Wrangler 4XE as well as Rori Lewis and Shelby Hall and their Ford Bronco will be present at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Fan Zone Presented by Pennzoil throughout the weekend, where fans will have an opportunity to meet the drivers and see their vehicles up close.

 

Both Joey Logano, driver of the No. 22 Ford Mustang for Team Penske as well as his teammate and reigning NASCAR Cup Series Champion, Ryan Blaney,  driver of the No. 12 Ford Mustang, will be carrying exclusive Pennzoil paint schemes on their cars. Logano has found the scheme especially lucky in winning the Pennzoil 400 twice in that livery (2019 & 2020) and the fall event at LVMS in 2022 that springboarded him to his second Cup championship.

 

Since 1913, Pennzoil has crafted innovative formulas to help prolong engine life and promote top performance, much of which can be attributed to technical partnerships like those with Team Penske. Pennzoil engineers work closely with Team Penske to develop special motor oil formulations to maximize engine protection and engine performance. Constant improvement developed throughout the season, in the harshest racing conditions, contributes to the advancement of the brand’s technology for your car.

 

“Jiffy Lube is proud to team up with Pennzoil for the seventh year to bring this action-packed NASCAR Cup Series event to race fans,” said Suzanne Clerkin, Chief Marketing Officer, Jiffy Lube International, Inc. “The Pennzoil 400 Presented by Jiffy Lube is a great opportunity to bring two leading iconic automotive brands together both on and off the track to help keep drivers on the road.”

 

At the end of 2022, leaders from Pennzoil and Speedway Motorsports Incorporated, owner and operator of the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, announced a long-term continuation of the Pennzoil 400 Presented by Jiffy Lube NCS race at LVMS, a testament to how synonymous Pennzoil has become with the spring NASCAR weekend. The relationship with SMI provides Pennzoil the opportunity to build long-lasting relationships within the motorsports industry, with customers, and with some of the most loyal fans in all of sports – NASCAR fans.

 

“This will be the seventh year of our partnership with Pennzoil and Jiffy Lube,” said LVMS President Chris Powell. “Pennzoil’s relationship with all forms of motorsports is tops in the racing industry, and we’re looking forward to many more years with the Pennzoil name on our spring NASCAR race.”

 

 

 

source: Las Vegas Motor Speedway Media

Driver Line-Up for Today’s NASCAR Events

UpDate:  Xfinity Race Reschedule to 9:00 pm tonight due to more rain.

 

Xfinity and Cup Series at Daytona

 

Due to wet weather, the Xfinity Series opening race – the United Rentals 300 - was postponed to Monday hours ahead of the Cup race at the Daytona International Speedway.

 

United Rentals 300 Xfinity Series Line-Up

1. #2 - Jesse Love
2. #21 - Austin Hill
3. #16 - AJ Allmendinger
4. #48 - Parker Kligerman
5. #97 - Shane van Gisbergen
6. #7 - Justin Allgaier
7. #51 - Jeremy Clements
8. #20 - John Hunter Nemechek
9. #31 - Parker Retzlaff
10. #5 - Anthony Alfredo
11. #98 - Riley Herbst
12. #8 - Sammy Smith
13. #07 - Patrick Emerling
14. #18 - Sheldon Creed
15. #1 - Sam Mayer
16. #27 - Jeb Burton
17. #00 - Cole Custer
18. #14 - Daniel Suarez
19. #81 - Chandler Smith
20. #19 - Ryan Truex
21. #11 - Josh Williams
22. #9 - Brandon Jones
23. #6 - Garrett Smithley
24. #42 - Leland Honeyman Jr.
25. #91 - Kyle Weatherman
26. #10 - Daniel Dye
27. #92 - Josh Bilicki
28. #15 - Hailie Deegan
29. #32 - Jordan Anderson
30. #36 - Natalie Decker
31. #39 - Ryan Sieg
32. #26 - Sage Karam
33. #44 - Brennan Poole
34. #29 - Blaine Perkins
35. #4 - Dawson Cram
36. #43 - Ryan Ellis
37. #35 - Frankie Muniz
38. #78 - BJ McLeod

The green flag is scheduled for today at 11:00 AM ET

 

I came all the way from Hawaii, my friends - so I ain’t leaving Daytona until I give the command 🏁 💪🏾@NASCAR #DAYTONA500 #PeoplesChamp https://t.co/5sVEs18bWb

— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) February 19, 2024

The 76th season of the NASCAR Cup Series is set to kick off with a bang when the world-famous Daytona 500 takes place on Monday (February 19) at Daytona International Speedway.

 

Daytona 500 NASCAR Cup Series Line-Up

1. #22 - Joey Logano
2. #34 - Michael McDowell
3. #45 - Tyler Reddick
4. #20 - Christopher Bell
5. #9 - Chase Elliott
6. #2 - Austin Cindric
7. #48 - Alex Bowman
8. #11 - Denny Hamlin
9. #77 - Carson Hocevar (R)
10. #42 - John Hunter Nemechek
11. #43 - Erik Jones
12. #21 - Harrison Burton
13. #99 - Daniel Suarez
14. #71 - Zane Smith (R)
15. #54 - Ty Gibbs
16. #6 - Brad Keselowski
17. #5 - Kyle Larson
18. #24 - William Byron
19. #17 - Chris Buescher
20. #14 - Chase Briscoe
21. #1 - Ross Chastain
22. #51 - Justin Haley
23. #84 - Jimmie Johnson
24. #23 - Bubba Wallace
25. #41 - Ryan Preece
26. #36 - Kaz Grala (R)
27. #19 - Martin Truex Jr.
28. #16 - A.J. Allmendinger
29. #7 - Corey LaJoie
30. #4 - Josh Berry (R)
31. #38 - Todd Gilliland
32. #12 - Ryan Blaney
33. #3 - Austin Dillon
34. #8 - Kyle Busch
35. #47 - Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
36. #15 - Riley Herbst
37. #31 - Daniel Hemric
38. #10 - Noah Gragson
39. #62 - Anthony Alfredo
40. #60 - David Ragan

The green flag is scheduled for today at 4:00 PM ET.

 

 

source: NASCAR Media

Race Winner - Hudson Logano

Logano's Oldest Son Join the Ranks of the Next Generation of Racers

 

Joseph Thomas Logano, also known as Joey Logano, is a two-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion (2018 & 2022). Hudson Joseph, his first child, who was born in January 2018, recently collected his first race win. 

Welcome to the next generation of racers Hudson and congratulations on your first checkered flag.

 

 

source:  Facebook

NASCAR Race Weekend Recap (Bristol)

Winners: Christopher Bell (Cup); Joey Logano (Trucks)

NASCAR Cup

Christopher Bell Dominates Late to Win Bristol Dirt Race

 

Before Sunday night‘s Food City Dirt Race at Bristol Motor Speedway, Christopher Bell lamented that a “dirt guy” hadn‘t won the NASCAR Cup Series‘ only race on the red clay in Thunder Valley.

 

Bell fixed the problem—in a race that also saw hard feelings between pole winner Kyle Larson and Ryan Preece boil over.

 

Holding off charging Tyler Reddick in the final stage of the 250-lap race, Bell held a slim lead over Reddick when NASCAR called the 14th caution with 200 yards left in the final circuit.

 

A dirt-track aficionado who won three straight Chili Bowl Midget Nationals from 2017-2019, Bell collected his first victory of the season and the fifth of his career.

 

“Man, let me tell you, these are some of the longest laps of my entire life,” Bell said of the late stages of the race. “This place is so much fun, whether it‘s dirt or concrete. Whenever the cushion got up there on the top, it was very tough, because you couldn’t drive it super hard. Otherwise, you’d get sucked in.

 

“If you got your right front into it, you’d push a little bit. If you got your right rear into it, you’d slide. It was a lot of fun.”

 

This win is for fellow dirt racer Justin Owen. My sincere condolences go out to his family and friends. pic.twitter.com/IRjPYyls5g

— Christopher Bell (@CBellRacing) April 10, 2023

Pole: Kyle Larson

Click Here for Race Results

 

Next Race: The Cup Series will return on Sunday, Apr. 16 - 3:00 PM for the NOCO 400 at Martinsville Speedway. 

 

 

NASCAR Xfinity

Off Week

NASCAR Xfinity Series had Easter Week off.

 

How about a top-10 finish for @derek9kraus in his @NASCAR_Xfinity Series debut!! 😮

Let's go Derek!! 👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/xs832QHTj1

— Kaulig Racing (@KauligRacing) April 1, 2023

Next Race: The Xfinity Series will return on Saturday, Apr. 15 - 6:30 PM for the Call 811.com Before You Dig. 250 at Martinsville Speedway. 

 

 

NASCAR Trucks

Logano Weathers through Cautions, wins Truck Series Race at Bristol

 

The reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion swept the first two stages of the race at Bristol Motor Speedway’s Dirt Track, led 138 of the 150 laps and crossed the finish line 1.241 seconds ahead of ThorSport Racing teammate Ty Majeski.

 

“My fun meter was pegged tonight,” said Logano, who won the second Truck Series race of his career. “I had a lot of fun out here racing at Bristol. The dirt’s a lot of fun.

 

“Hopefully, tomorrow is just as good with the other car.” (Didn’t happen – Logano finished last after adversity)

 

Logano will start 12th in his No. 22 NASCAR Cup Series car in Sunday’s Food City Dirt Race at the half-mile track. He won the inaugural Cup Series dirt race at Bristol in 2021.

“They gave me a great race truck,” said Logano, who pressed Team Penske teammate Ryan Blaney into service as his spotter. “We qualified good in the heat race and were able to drive to the lead pretty early in the race and were pretty much able to control it.

 

“I’m not sure we learned anything for (Sunday) because I didn’t get to race a whole bunch, but it was fun leading all those laps. I had a great spotter up there in Blaney. He kept me entertained and light-hearted and a (was) a whole lot of fun, too.”

 

Majeski ran a strong second but was no match for his teammate.

 

Well, runner-up all night tonight! But a solid points day. Congrats to @joeylogano and @ThorSportRacing on the W!

Awesome debut for our newest partner, @Soda_Sense! Check them out. Let’s get to some asphalt short track racing next week 👊🏼👊🏼 pic.twitter.com/4TS3hvI9et

— Ty Majeski (@TyMajeski) April 9, 2023

Pole: Zane Smith

 

Click Here for Race Results

 

Next Race: The Truck Series will return on Friday, Apr. 14 - 6:30 PM for the Long John Silver's 200 at Martinsville Speedway.

 

 

ARCA

There was no ARCA Racing this weekend.

 

A fun night in California.

Check out some of our favorite images from the West Coast Stock Car Motorsports Hall of Fame 150 at Irwindale Speedway!

📸: https://t.co/VIqrdk8fA1 pic.twitter.com/mZn0EU7MFx

— ARCA Menards Series (@ARCA_Racing) April 3, 2023

Next Race: The ARCA Series West will return on April 22, 2023 for the NAPA Nightvision 150 at Kern County Raceway Park. 

 

 

Superstar Racing Experience

 

Next Race: The SRX Series will return on 07/13/2023 for the SRX Series Season Opener at Stafford Motor Speedway.

 

We’ve got four cars…. We’ve got four people in this tweet… hear me out on this one https://t.co/KdXUd0gGTa

— Superstar Racing Experience (@SRXracing) April 8, 2023

 

source: NASCAR Media

Joey Logano Dominates

ThorSport Teammate Ty Majeski Claims Second

 

Moonlighting in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series on Saturday night, Joey Logano performed the perfect Bristol Stomp in winning the WEATHER GUARD Truck Race on Dirt.

 

The reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion swept the first two stages of the race at Bristol Motor Speedway’s Dirt Track, led 138 of the 150 laps and crossed the finish line 1.241 seconds ahead of ThorsSport Racing teammate Ty Majeski.

 

“My fun meter was pegged tonight,” said Logano, who won the second Truck Series race of his career. “I had a lot of fun out here racing at Bristol. The dirt’s a lot of fun.

 

“Hopefully, tomorrow is just as good with the other car.”

 

Logano will try to pull off the Bristol Dirt Double when he starts 12th in his No. 22 NASCAR Cup Series car in Sunday’s Food City Dirt Race at the half-mile track. He won the inaugural Cup Series dirt race at Bristol in 2021.

 

Majeski ran a strong second but was no match for his teammate.

 

“He’s a two-time Cup champion for a reason,” Majeski said. “Just happy we got ThorSport in Victory Lane. ThorSport deserves to be in Victory Lane—just wish it was us. Just one spot short.

 

“Overall, he was just better than us tonight. I thought maybe at times, if we would have had a long run, I might have been able to match him or at least make him nervous. Just wasn’t in the cards for us.”

 

Long runs were not the order of the day. The race was punctuated by 11 cautions for 64 laps, as trucks rubbed fenders, cut tires and spun on the slick clay surface with predictable frequency. Out front for virtually the entire race, Logano avoided the chaos behind him.

 

Led 138 of 150 laps last night in Bristol. Props to @ThorSportRacing for building a rocket #Hang10CarWash @FordPerformance #F150 🤙🏁 pic.twitter.com/rtT1FwTGAX

— Joey Logano (@joeylogano) April 9, 2023

“They gave me a great race truck,” said Logano, who pressed Team Penkse teammate Ryan Blaney into service as his spotter. “We qualified good in the heat race and were able to drive to the lead pretty early in the race and were pretty much able to control it.

 

“I’m not sure we learned anything for (Sunday), because I didn’t get to race a whole bunch, but it was fun leading all those laps. I had a great spotter up there in Blaney. He kept me entertained and light-hearted and a (was) a whole lot of fun, too.”

 

William Byron, a two-time Cup winner this season, ran third in the No. 51 Kyle Busch Motorsports Chevrolet. Matt Crafton was fourth, followed by Grant Enfinger, Jake Garcia, Chase Briscoe, Tanner Gray, Kaden Honeycutt and Matt DiBenedetto.

 

Dirt late model ace Jonathan Davenport finished 14th, one spot behind Hailie Deegan, who ran as high as third during the early stages of the race.

 

Majeski leads the series standings by 34 points over defending champion Zane Smith, who was collected in a three-truck accident on Lap 95 and finished 21st.

 

 

 

source: NASCAR Newswire

NASCAR Triple Header in Race Weekend Recap (Atlanta Motor Speedway)

Winners: Joey Logano (Cup); Austin Hill (Xfinity); & Christian Eckes (Trucks)

 

NASCAR Cup

Joey Logano Bags Atlanta Victory

 

Deftly maneuvering his No. 22 Ford through the final two laps of Sunday’s Ambetter Health 400, Joey Logano finished the NASCAR Cup Series race where he started – at the front of the field.

 

With a push from Christopher Bell on the backstretch on the final lap, Logano moved to the outside of leader Brad Keselowski with huge momentum and charged past Keselowski’s No. 6 Ford into the lead.

 

Logano pulled down to the inside lane through the final two corners and crossed the finish line .193 seconds ahead of Keselowski and .194 seconds ahead of third-place Bell.

 

“Yeah, first off so special to win Atlanta for me,” said Logano, a Connecticut native who began to refine his talent racing Legends cars at Atlanta. “So many memories of me and my dad racing right here on the quarter mile. This is the full circle for us. So many memories gritting over there with the Legends car, racing, having a big time.

 

“Dreaming of going straight at the quarter mile and going onto the big track. That was always the dream to do it. To finally win here means so much to me here personally, but the team.

 

“The Auto Trader Mustang – this thing was an animal. Very, very fast. Able to lead a ton of laps, race really hard there at the end, get a good push from the 20 (Bell) to clear myself. Huge victory. Nice to get one early in the season. Always feels better, but what a great day for us.”

 

Victory smiles. pic.twitter.com/L64ch5pOcA

— Team Penske (@Team_Penske) March 20, 2023

Pole:Joey Logano

Click Here for Race Results 

Next Race: The Cup Series will return on March 26th for the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas. 

 

 

NASCAR Xfinity

Austin Hill Continues Superspeedway Dominance

 

Austin Hill notched his third Xfinity Series win of the 2023 season, edging Parker Kligerman on an epic final run that saw him hold strong even as Kligerman knocked into him and spun out as he and the field crossed the start-finish line.

 

That final run came thanks to a caution that surfaced with about 10 laps to go. It featured Hill (21 car) taking the inside line and moving and blocking Kligerman (48 car). The 48 car then got hit and was nudged into Hill, but the 21 somehow stayed steady and powered through to victory.

 

“Once I got to the lead, I knew it was wreckers or checkers,” Hill told the remaining fans who’d braved the cold weather. “When the 48 hit me in the right-rear, I’m guessing he got hit or something, I thought I was heading into the outside wall, but I was able to gather it up, bring it on home. This is so special. That was a tough one to win.”

 

🥺 🥺 🥺 @_AustinHill | @RCRracing pic.twitter.com/Ggk8lvNOuG

— NASCAR Xfinity (@NASCAR_Xfinity) March 19, 2023

Pole:Sammy Smith

Click Here for Race Results 

Next Race: The Xfinity Series will return on March 25th for the Pit Boss 250 presented by USA Today at Circuit of The Americas 

 

 

NASCAR Trucks

Christian Eckes Powers to Overtime Victory

 

Christian Eckes finished where he started Saturday’s Fr8 208 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway  – with a lot of turmoil in between.

 

Eckes claimed his second victory in the series in overtime, choosing the bottom lane and front-row position for a restart on lap 136 of 137.

 

“It’s been a tough offseason,” said Eckes, in his first year with owner Bill McAnally after driving for ThorSport Racing in 2022. “I’m driving harder than I ever have – I have a lot to prove. The people know who they are.

 

“I’m really happy. Thanks to (crew chief) Charles (Denike), everybody on this team. They work so damn hard. This is what makes it all worth it. I’m pumped. It’s going to be a really good year.”

 

P1. Thank you @BMR_NASCAR, @NAPARacing, @TeamChevy and so many more. We’re just getting started! pic.twitter.com/HtpamP86zj

— Christian Eckes (@christianeckes) March 19, 2023

Pole: Zane Smith

Click Here for Race Results 
Next Race: The Truck Series will return on March 25th for the XPEL 225 at Circuit of The Americas.