WEATHER ALERT
Image of Caitlin Clark displayed on hood of Josh Berry's car for Brickyard 400 in Indianapolis
Read full article: Image of Caitlin Clark displayed on hood of Josh Berry's car for Brickyard 400 in IndianapolisCaitlin Clark made her first appearance at Indianapolis Motor Speedway — on Josh Berry’s No. 4 Ford.
Joe Gibbs driver Christopher Bell emerges as a NASCAR championship contender
Read full article: Joe Gibbs driver Christopher Bell emerges as a NASCAR championship contenderChristopher Bell stamped himself a legitimate contender to win the NASCAR Cup Series championship this season after he navigated the wet weather at New Hampshire to win for the third time for Joe Gibbs Racing.
Christopher Bell wins the rain-shortened Coca-Cola 600 for his 8th NASCAR Cup victory
Read full article: Christopher Bell wins the rain-shortened Coca-Cola 600 for his 8th NASCAR Cup victoryChristopher Bell won the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday at Charlotte Motor Speedway after the race was called with 151 laps remaining in a race that was halted for more than two hours because of rain.
Kyle Larson hopes rain and his daughter's misgivings don't ruin Indianapolis 500 debut
Read full article: Kyle Larson hopes rain and his daughter's misgivings don't ruin Indianapolis 500 debutKyle Larson's bid to race both the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday has plenty of supporters.
NASCAR star Kyle Larson is embracing his Indianapolis 500 debut, right down to milking a cow
Read full article: NASCAR star Kyle Larson is embracing his Indianapolis 500 debut, right down to milking a cowKyle Larson has been trying to soak up the Indianapolis 500 experience before making his debut on Sunday.
NASCAR star Kyle Larson finishes 18th in Indy 500 debut, doesn't get to run at Coca-Cola 600
Read full article: NASCAR star Kyle Larson finishes 18th in Indy 500 debut, doesn't get to run at Coca-Cola 600Kyle Larson completed every lap of the Indianapolis 500, finishing 18th in the NASCAR star’s debut in “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” despite a pair of rookie mistakes that cost him a chance to be in the mix at the end.
Noah Gragson to get 2nd chance in NASCAR after personal growth journey following suspension
Read full article: Noah Gragson to get 2nd chance in NASCAR after personal growth journey following suspensionNoah Gragson has spent the last five months working on personal growth and maturity after his “like” of an insensitive meme of George Floyd nearly cost him his NASCAR career.
Leah Pruett to start family with Tony Stewart, who will drive her NHRA Top Fuel dragster in 2024
Read full article: Leah Pruett to start family with Tony Stewart, who will drive her NHRA Top Fuel dragster in 2024Leah Pruett will step away from the NHRA drag racing series in 2024 to focus on starting a family with Tony Stewart.
Josh Berry finally lands his big NASCAR break as Kevin Harvick's replacement in Cup Series
Read full article: Josh Berry finally lands his big NASCAR break as Kevin Harvick's replacement in Cup SeriesJosh Berry will take the final step in his long journey to the top of racing with Stewart-Haas Racing next season as the replacement for future NASCAR Hall of Famer Kevin Harvick.
Sloppy racing could make it tough for NASCAR road ringers
Read full article: Sloppy racing could make it tough for NASCAR road ringersThe upcoming NASCAR race at Circuit of the Americas in Texas will feature two former Formula One world champions, an IndyCar driver and a sports car star who has a win in the 24 Hours of Le Mans on his resume.
AP Exclusive: Jimmie Johnson to retire from full-time racing
Read full article: AP Exclusive: Jimmie Johnson to retire from full-time racingSeven-time NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson tells The Associated Press that he is retiring from full-time racing and will turn his focus toward spending time with family.
Busch leaving Gibbs, Toyota to drive for Childress in 2023
Read full article: Busch leaving Gibbs, Toyota to drive for Childress in 2023Kyle Busch will move to Richard Childress Racing next season, ending a 15-year career with Joe Gibbs Racing because the team could not come to terms with NASCAR’s only active multiple Cup champion.
Larson looking forward to racing Raikkonen at Watkins Glen
Read full article: Larson looking forward to racing Raikkonen at Watkins GlenNASCAR has a record seven different countries represented in Sunday's race at Watkins Glen International, and the headliner is 2007 Formula One champion Kimi Raikkonen.
Wallace says his frustrations result from his passion to win
Read full article: Wallace says his frustrations result from his passion to winBubba Wallace says the pointed criticism he made toward members of his crew last weekend were a result of his passion to win and shouldn’t harm his relationship with them.
Ferrari locks up front row for inaugural Miami Grand Prix
Read full article: Ferrari locks up front row for inaugural Miami Grand PrixFerrari stormed to the front of the grid for the inaugural Miami Grand Prix as Formula One championship leader Charles Leclerc and teammate Carlos Sainz Jr. locked up the front row in Saturday qualifying.
Ross Chastain bangs Trackhouse Racing into 1st victory lane
Read full article: Ross Chastain bangs Trackhouse Racing into 1st victory laneRoss Chastain bumped and banged his way around the final overtime lap at Circuit of the Americas on Sunday for first career Cup win and upstart NASCAR team Trackhouse Racing’s first trip to victory lane.
Briscoe races to first Cup win, pulls away late in Phoenix
Read full article: Briscoe races to first Cup win, pulls away late in PhoenixChase Briscoe raced to his first NASCAR Cup Series victory, executing two great restarts over the final 20 laps to pull away from Ross Chastain and Tyler Reddick on Sunday at Phoenix Raceway.
Praise pours in for Kyle Larson following first NASCAR title
Read full article: Praise pours in for Kyle Larson following first NASCAR titleBefore he headed onto the track for the biggest race of his career, Kyle Larson heard Mario Andretti praise him as one of the most well-rounded drivers in all of motorsports.
Elliott eases into Texas following NASCAR-ordered cease fire
Read full article: Elliott eases into Texas following NASCAR-ordered cease fireNASCAR has ordered a cease fire in the feud between Chase Elliott and Kevin Harvick, warning of severe consequences if the two drivers continue to tangle on the track.
Under darkness, Almirola pulls off shocker at New Hampshire
Read full article: Under darkness, Almirola pulls off shocker at New HampshireWith darkness closing in, Aric Almirola sprung to life late Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway and pulled off a surprise for Stewart-Haas Racing’s first victory of the year.
Logano takes the checkered flag in a haze of Bristol dirt
Read full article: Logano takes the checkered flag in a haze of Bristol dirtBRISTOL, Tenn. – Somewhere under the thick red haze floating over Bristol Motor Speedway, Joey Logano took the checkered flag for NASCAR's first Cup Series race at a dirt track in 50 years. The Logano victory closed a weekend of uncertainty and even some hysteria as NASCAR launched this drive through the dirt. “It’s only my fourth dirt race ever, so I had a lot of fun trying to figure it out," Logano said. It was impossible to handicap this first dirt race because the teams had no idea how to prepare and the drivers had wildly varying experience. "In dirt racing you don’t have a windshield in front of you, so you can pull a tearoff.
Rain swamps Bristol dirt track; NASCAR to try again Monday
Read full article: Rain swamps Bristol dirt track; NASCAR to try again MondayNASCAR canceled all Sunday activity because even if Bristol's converted dirt track could eventually be readied for night racing, the entire facility was a swampy mess. The first Cup Series race on dirt since 1970 was rescheduled for 4 p.m. Monday; trucks were set to run at noon. He openly fretted that a bad show at Bristol would damage the future of NASCAR dirt racing — and NASCAR itself seemed to admit it was a valid concern. Stewart, who has insisted Eldora can successfully host the Cup Series, declined to comment Sunday when reached by The Associated Press. “People need to understand this is not how dirt racing is and I think they need to try and appreciate how hard this is to pull off.
What a Mess: NASCAR worried about first Bristol dirt race
Read full article: What a Mess: NASCAR worried about first Bristol dirt raceAdBristol also made a bold change this year by converting its facility into a dirt race as part of radical changes to the 2021 schedule. NASCAR needed a major shakeup and the dirt race joined an influx of road courses and new venues for the most adventurous schedule in sport history. So when NASCAR broadcast partner Fox pushed for a dirt race on the Cup schedule, Speedway Motorsports said Bristol would be the guinea pig. “That's probably the most uncomfortable I've ever been in a race car,” said Kevin Harvick, running his first Truck Series race since 2015. The first NASCAR Cup Series points-paying sanctioned race in the inaugural 1949 season was on dirt at Charlotte (Old) Speedway.
NASCAR's 'unique' winners already altering playoff landscape
Read full article: NASCAR's 'unique' winners already altering playoff landscapeChristopher Bell celebrates at the finish line after winning the NASCAR Cup Series road course auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)HOMESTEAD, Fla. – NASCAR’s postseason landscape has been altered after just two Cup Series races. “The number of unique winners is really going to change how many cars get in on points, right? Although Bell drives for powerhouse Joe Gibbs Racing, he was a rookie for that top team and in his second full season in the Cup series. The Cup Series opened on a superspeedway, then raced on a road course, and now heads to an intermediate track. Whether that’s different markets, different racetracks, it has to be different from year to year.
Allmendinger back at Daytona in 1st Cup race since 2018
Read full article: Allmendinger back at Daytona in 1st Cup race since 2018Allmendinger will run his first Cup race since the 2018 season finale in Kaulig's first Cup race not at a superspeedway. The longshot Daytona 500 win earned McDowell his first playoff berth and FRM now is positioned to build a once unthinkable cushion. This road course race was added to NASCAR's schedule in December because COVID-19 restrictions would not allow a stop at Fontana, California. AdThe Daytona road course was wedged into the open slot, creating two weekends of very different racing that very much suits Furniture Row. Dillon missed the Cup race in August because he'd received a positive COVID-19 test.
Drivers competing in the 2021 Daytona 500
Read full article: Drivers competing in the 2021 Daytona 500Austin Dillon (3) takes the checkered flag to win the second NASCAR Daytona 500 duel qualifying auto race Friday, Feb. 12, 2021, at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The 40 drivers competing in the 2021 Daytona 500, in order of starting position:___No. This is his 20th Daytona 500; he was hired days after Earnhardt's death. Son of two-time Daytona 500 champion and Hall of Fame driver Bill Elliott. Finished a career-best seventh in the 2017 Daytona 500, but has been 27th, 28th and 19th since. McLeodBORN: Nov. 17, 1983AdHOMETOWN: Wauchula, FloridaCREW CHIEF: Frank KerrSPONSOR: NASCAR HeatsTWITTER: @bjmcleod78NOTEWORTHY: Owner-driver racing in his third Daytona 500.
AP Was There: Earnhardt killed in 2001 Daytona 500 crash
Read full article: AP Was There: Earnhardt killed in 2001 Daytona 500 crash“I guess someone got into Dale because Dale got into me and then we went up,” Schrader said. We’ve lost Dale Earnhardt,” Helton said. The death of Earnhardt left NASCAR reeling in the wake of a 2000 season in which three of its young stars were killed in separate accidents. All three died of the same type of head injuries that apparently killed Earnhardt. “The only reason I won this race is Dale Earnhardt,” Waltrip said.
Michael Jordan's NASCAR team partners with Gibbs, Toyota
Read full article: Michael Jordan's NASCAR team partners with Gibbs, ToyotaThe car will be driven by Bubba Wallace and will be a Toyota in an alliance with Joe Gibbs Racing. (Toyota Racing via AP)CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Michael Jordan expects to field a winning team when 23XI Racing begins NASCAR competition next season. The first move toward victory lane came Friday in a partnership with Joe Gibbs Racing and Toyota. “My main goal for 23XI Racing is to be competitive for a championship as soon as possible,” said Jordan. “Our partnership with Toyota and Joe Gibbs Racing gives us the equipment, resources and expertise to do it.”JGR is the flagship Toyota team and considered one of NASCAR's top organizations.
Chase Briscoe lands childhood hero Tony Stewart's No. 14
Read full article: Chase Briscoe lands childhood hero Tony Stewart's No. 14Briscoe idolized fellow Indiana native Tony Stewart and dreamed of one day driving Stewart's car. and I'd say ‘Man, the dream is to drive the 14,’" Briscoe said in an interview with The Associated Press. Much like Stewart, Briscoe is considered a blue-collar racer who lacks the family wealth needed to clear the path for an aspiring young driver. He had to earn everything on the track, yet nearly every year Briscoe's season plans were 11th hour deals. It’s why he’s ready for the NASCAR Cup Series and why we are so honored to support him.”
Stewart and Evernham team to recreate IROC as SRX All-Stars
Read full article: Stewart and Evernham team to recreate IROC as SRX All-StarsFILE - In this June 26, 2006, file photo, Tony Stewart poses with the trophy after winning the Crown Royal IROC auto race in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Paul Kizzle, File)CHARLOTTE, N.C. Remember the old IROC Series, where the best drivers from various disciplines raced each other in equally prepared cars? It ran for 30 seasons before Tony Stewart won its final championship and the series quietly went away. We envision a hybrid of all different series we dont see it looking like a crazy dunebuggyish type car, Evernham told the AP. Evernham believes drivers will arrive and draw for both their car and crew chief which Evernham hopes comes from a pool of noted industry veterans.
Denny Hamlin wins on a long day at Homestead
Read full article: Denny Hamlin wins on a long day at HomesteadHOMESTEAD, Fla. Denny Hamlin found the magic at Homestead-Miami Speedway, once again. Hamlin went to the lead for the final time with 30 laps left and held off Chase Elliott for his record-tying NASCAR Cup Series victory at Homestead. At Homestead, he led 137 of 267 laps on the 1 1/2-mile track in Joe Gibbs Racing's No. Most of those fans were gone when Hamlin drove under the checkered flag at 10:46 p.m., ending the marathon day. Austin Dillon had a day hell never forget, though his seventh-place finish wasnt even close to the most significant development.
Briscoe finds a way, wins Xfinity race at Homestead
Read full article: Briscoe finds a way, wins Xfinity race at HomesteadHOMESTEAD, Fla. Chase Briscoe lost much of his team and got a win for them. Its just a testament to our team, Briscoe said. With 15 laps to go, it was basically down to a two-car race: Gragson was leading, about 2 1/2 seconds ahead of Briscoe. Gragson never had control of the race again, and Briscoe wound up in victory lane. That was a team win, for sure, Briscoe said.