Motorsports
Inside the chaos that decided NASCAR’s final playoff spot
Alex Bowman owes Ryan Blaney seven million beers. He offered.
Blaney won the race — but had five winless drivers all behind him crossing the line — and any of them winning their way into the playoffs would have eliminated the previously crashed-out Bowman.
– Daniel Suarez
– Justin Haley
– Cole Custer
– Erik Jones
– Chris Buescher
Watch: Four-wide finish! Ryan Blaney wins regular-season finale at Daytona
Oh, to be in the shoes of Bowman, watching from elsewhere in the infield as his playoff hopes hung in the balance against the unlikeliest of odds. The list above doesn’t even include race winning contenders Ryan Preece, John Hunter Nemechek and Cody Ware.
Yes, that Cody Ware, who led 23 laps!
In baseball, win probability charts are graphs that show the likelihood of a team winning over the course of a game, and if such a thing existed in NASCAR, Bowman’s playoff odds would have fluctuated in dizzying fashion.
So yeah, Blaney finding a way to drive from 13th to the win over the final two laps against all that desperation is a cause for seven million beers, one at a time.
“Oh, I’ll take 5 million,” Blaney said while sipping a beer during his post-race press conference. “I’ll save him some money. Someone told me that he got in because I won, right? Like if the 41, the 7, 99 would have won, he would have been out? I’ll take that offer.
“I do need a refill if he’s still here. I can start with one.”
Meanwhile, each of those eliminated had different reasons to drink after the race, commiserating over all the what could have been — their own playoff odds graphics being tossed around like a ship at sea.
Preece said with assurance ‘I felt like we were going to win that race,’ shortly after climbing out the car. His RFK Racing team have one of the best superspeedway packages and was in the mix until Kyle Larson shucked him out of the groove inside of five laps to go.
Hendrick’s mission to ensure a repeat winner
The field races to two laps to go
Photo by: Jonathan Bachman – Getty Images
“Man, I felt like we were going to win that race,” Preece said. “You want to talk about having the best scenario play out for how we wanted it to, I was just leaving (Haley) there. (Buescher) was doing a great job just letting him stay there and there is nothing you can do.
“The problem is you know (Chase Elliott and Larson) were worried about their teammate that would have been bumped out, so it was a tough situation. I thought we were going to win that one because we did everything right today and it just didn’t work out.”
This was a key storyline late in the race, by the way.
Larson had also similarly placed Erik Jones into a bad spot the lap before and it was simply clear that the Hendrick Motorsports drivers were not going to push any must-win driver into the lead.
If they won, it served their goal of locking Bowman into the championship, but Larson was absolutely not going to push Preece or Jones into the lead.
Period.
“He got me out of shape pretty good the lap before and then just really out shape, all but wrecked,” Jones said. “I mean, wrecked to the left and kind of gathered it up and then he shoved me again and hooked me to the right, and saved that again.
“I’ve never raced with Kyle a lot on the speedways but I was working really well with everybody else before that, and they had no problems knowing how to push, so I think Kyle knows how to push and you know it seemed a little aggressive.”
Erik Jones, Legacy Motor Club Toyota
Photo by: James Gilbert / Getty Images
When told that Larson set Preece up in a bad spot too, Jones still didn’t like the level of aggression.
“I mean, I was aware of the situation but that is definitely putting a lot of faith in my hands,” Jones added. “I’m not just going to wad up the whole field too. I mean, he had me pretty spun around on the straightaway so either he thinks I’m really good or he is just trying to shove me and help me out.
“I don’t know. I need to ask him.”
Almost a fairytale ending for Custer and Haley
NASCAR Cup photo finish with Ryan Blaney winning
Photo by: Chris Graythen – Getty Images
Less aggravated and more happy to be here with a chance to win was Custer and Haley. They are both in the 30s in the championship standings and just seemed to be pleased to be in the picture at the finish line.
Custer was downright exuberant upon climbing out of the car.
“Yeah, at the end of the day, we had a shot to win and that’s all you can really ask for at these plate races, you know,” Custer said. “You’re always going to look back and wish you did something different but at the end of the day all you can do it hope to be up there and have a shot at it and make the moves that you’re dealt with.”
That isn’t to say Custer and Haley both didn’t immediately start picking apart their race because they did but at least they had something to second guess.
The likes of Kyle Busch, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Noah Gragson and Carson Hocevar all fell out early due to crashes or mechanical failures.
And despite the first stage crash that eliminated Busch, Stenhouse and Gragson, and the desperation that should have caused so much more chaos, everyone who needed to win drove relatively cautious.
Blaney had a good view of everyone racing with that respect on his way through the top-10 in the final laps.
“The biggest one I saw tonight was probably Justin Haley on Cole, but that’s — I thought that was fine,” Blaney said. “It is what it is. It didn’t cause a wreck. They got through it. It cleared the way for me.
“Yeah, I thought they raced really smart and well and didn’t throw their cars in any foolish situations. I thought everyone did a great job of having a great race but also keeping it clean as well.
“I think props to everybody where you didn’t have a guy that needed to win that was just the absolute hammer out there. They were really, really respectful of everybody else, and it was a good race.”
It’s even better when you’re the winner and someone owes you seven million beers.
Photos from Daytona – Race
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Motorsports
NASCAR Truck: Ross Chastain remains with Niece


By AMANDA VINCENT
NASCAR Cup Series regular Ross Chastain will run a partial NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series schedule for Niece Motorsports.
“It’s great to be back with Niece Motorsports in a larger capacity this year,” Chastain said. “When I heard about the rule change, I knew we had to run more races together. We’ve got a great core group of people here in Salisbury and I want to bring them all back to victory lane. I’m thankful to have the opportunity and appreciate the ownership group and our partners for making it happen, along with everyone at Trackhouse for allowing me to run in the Truck Series.”
NASCAR recently modified a rule to increase the number of Truck Series races a Cup Series driver is allowed to enter to eight. Chastain’s specific schedule with Niece has not been released. He will share the No. 45 Chevrolet with Landen Lewis. Phil Gould will be crew chief.
“We’re thrilled to have Ross in our trucks for more races this year,” Niece Motorsports CEO Cody Efaw said. “Ross has been a huge part of our team since he first joined us, and his input is invaluable. Considering the young group of drivers we have in the fold this year, Ross will be a tremendous asset for those guys to learn from. We look forward to having him contend for wins each time he straps into the No. 45 truck this year.”
Chastain has been with Niece since 2018 and has five wins with the team, including Niece’s first win at Kansas Speedway in 2019. He raced full-time in the Truck Series in 2019 and finished that season second in the championship standings.
Motorsports
23XI Racing, Reddick Announce Multi-Race Partnership with SupplyHouse
Tyler Reddick and the No. 45 23XI Racing team will have a new multi-race primary sponsorship partner for the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season, as SupplyHouse, an e-commerce provider of plumbing, HVAC, and electrical supplies, has signed on as an Official Partner of the organization.
“We are excited to welcome SupplyHouse to the 23XI family and proud to bring another new brand into the sport,” said Steve Lauletta, 23XI team president, in a press release. “We know that many of the professionals who rely on SupplyHouse are also NASCAR fans, and we look forward to representing them throughout the season and giving them a team to cheer for each weekend.”
According to a press release from 23XI, SupplyHouse will serve as a primary sponsorship partner for Reddick and the No. 45 team beginning with the April 19 event at Kansas Speedway, and will return for “several” races in 2026. A full sponsorship schedule and the total number of races that SupplyHouse will adorn the No. 45 Toyota Camry XSE were not revealed in Monday’s announcement.
In addition to the primary sponsorship agreement, SupplyHouse will also serve as a full-season associate sponsorship partner for Reddick and the No. 45 team, and will be featured on the team’s equipment and Reddick’s driver uniform this season.
SupplyHouse feels the partnership with Reddick and 23XI Racing gives the company a chance to further connect with its customer-base in a platform that they already enjoy — NASCAR racing.
“This partnership gives us a meaningful way to connect with the pros who drive our industry forward,” said Kaylin Staub, Chief Marketing Officer of SupplyHouse. “Our customers value hard work, smart problem-solving, and high performance – the same qualities that define 23XI. Partnering with them allows SupplyHouse to show up in a space our customers already enjoy, while giving us a unique platform to highlight the importance of the trades. From a marketing standpoint, it’s an opportunity to deepen relationships, build visibility, and engage with current and future customers in an environment that reflects our shared energy for rolling up our sleeves, doing great work, and celebrating a job well done.”
SupplyHouse, which was founded in 2004, plans to host tradespeople at various races during the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season in an effort to show appreciation for those who are involved in plumbing, HVAC, and electrical work. Representing the tradespeople in the field is a great honor for Reddick.
“As anticipation heats up for the 2026 season, I’m excited to welcome SupplyHouse to the 23XI team,” said Tyler Reddick, driver of the No. 45 Toyota Camry XSE. “SupplyHouse supports some of the most vital workers in our economy, and I’m honored to represent all those tradespeople and the work they do.”
Reddick, 30, is an eight-time race winner in the NASCAR Cup Series ranks, and has made the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs in each of the last five seasons. Last year, Reddick saw his three-season streak of capturing a win in the series come to an end, but he finished the year ninth in the championship standings despite the lack of a win.
In addition to his Playoff run, Reddick had to navigate the personal struggles of the health of his infant son, Rookie Reddick, who was hospitalized during the Playoffs last season with signs of heart failure, but has since returned home.
Reddick and the No. 45 23XI Racing team will look to return to victory lane in 2026.
Motorsports
Razgatlıoğlu’s MotoGP leap begins in Siena with new bike unveiling
Three-time World Superbike champion Toprak Razgatlıoğlu will take his first official step into MotoGP on Tuesday, when his 2026 machine is unveiled in Siena, Italy, marking the start of a new era for both the Turkish star and Yamaha.
Razgatlıoğlu, a Red Bull athlete and one of the most dominant figures in WorldSBK history, will make his MotoGP debut with factory-supported Prima Pramac Yamaha.
The unveiling will present the Pramac Yamaha bike he will race in 2026, his rookie season in the premier class, as anticipation builds around one of the most talked-about transitions in modern motorcycle racing.
After winning WorldSBK titles in 2021, 2024 and 2025, Razgatlıoğlu opted to chase his long-held MotoGP ambition rather than extend his reign in superbikes.
The move also brings him full circle to Yamaha, the manufacturer with which he claimed his first world championship and established his reputation as an elite talent.
In 2026, Razgatlıoğlu will race with the No. 7 and benefit from full access to Yamaha’s factory data, technical support and development resources, an uncommon level of backing for a MotoGP rookie.
That support is designed to ease his adaptation from production-based machines to MotoGP prototypes, where margins are razor-thin and development is relentless.
Prima Pramac Racing, one of the paddock’s most respected independent teams, enters a fresh chapter alongside Razgatlıoğlu.
The Italian outfit made history in 2024 by winning the MotoGP riders’ title, underlining its ability to compete at the highest level.
Now aligned with Yamaha, Pramac aims to play a key role in the manufacturer’s push to return to the front of the grid.
Razgatlıoğlu’s WorldSBK resume speaks for itself.
He ended Jonathan Rea’s long-standing dominance in 2021, then delivered back-to-back titles with BMW, combining fearless braking, aggressive race craft and adaptability across different machinery.
Those traits have fueled belief that, while the MotoGP learning curve will be steep, his ceiling is exceptionally high.
Motorsports
Chef Boyardee Returns to Nascar at the Daytona 500 with Record Fan Giveaway and New NASCAR Cup Series Motorsports Partnership
CHICAGO, Jan. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Hometown Food Company acquired the Chef Boyardee business from Conagra in June 2025 and is now significantly increasing the marketing investment behind the famous Chef Boyardee brand. Chef Boyardee is heading to the Daytona 500 in a big way—fueling race fans with food, fun, and nostalgia through a new NASCAR Cup Series motorsports partnership with KHI Management and Hyak Motorsports.
Through this partnership, Chef Boyardee will activate alongside Hyak Motorsports’ No. 47 Chevrolet, driven by Ricky Stenhouse Jr., delivering the brand’s largest-ever race-week fan experience and celebrating the next chapter of growth following the brand’s recent acquisition by Hometown Food Company, a portfolio company of Brynwood Partners.
Ricky has been an incredible ambassador for our brands in the 12 years that we have been sponsoring his car in the Cup Series,” said Henk Hartong, Chairman and CEO of Brynwood Partners. “We are excited to bring Chef Boyardee back to the track at Daytona and Talladega this season, both places where Ricky has taken the checkered flag previously. We look forward to bringing the Chef Boyardee 47 to Victory Lane at Daytona in February.”
Fueling Fans with a Record-Setting Giveaway
Throughout race week, Chef Boyardee will seek to distribute more than 100,000 meals directly to fans, marking one of the largest single-event food giveaways in the brand’s history. The effort comes at a time when grocery prices remain top of mind for households nationwide, reinforcing the brand’s role as a familiar, affordable staple for generations of families.
Meet the Ravioli Roamer
At the center of the activation is the Ravioli Roamer, a custom Chef Boyardee vehicle that will travel across the infield, midway, and campgrounds delivering surprise-and-delight meal giveaways during peak moments—from campground check-ins to post-race snack runs and late-night munchies.
Additional fan experiences include:
- A Chef Boyardee Fan Hub with interactive games and photo moments
- Surprise appearances by Ricky Stenhouse Jr., joining fans in select zones for meet-and-greets and giveaways
- High-energy sampling moments designed to keep fans fueled all weekend long
A Look Ahead Under New Ownership
The Daytona 500 activation offers a preview of what’s next for Chef Boyardee under Brynwood’s ownership, with plans for brand refreshes, product innovation, and new product launches beginning in 2026, while staying true to the flavors and formats that have made the brand a household name.
By pairing one of motorsports’ most iconic races with one of America’s most iconic food brands, Chef Boyardee’s Daytona 500 presence celebrates comfort, culture, and connection—one plate at a time.
A Motorsports Partnership Built for Fans
The Daytona 500 activation brings together legacy brands and high-performance racing at one of the most culturally significant sporting events in the country. KHI Management, a full-service sports and entertainment marketing agency founded by NASCAR Cup Series champion Kevin Harvick, played a critical role in connecting Chef Boyardee and Hyak.
Chef Boyardee will activate through Hyak Motorsports, the NASCAR Cup Series team formerly known as JTG Daugherty Racing. Rebranded in late 2024, Hyak Motorsports is led by principal owner Gordon Smith alongside co-owners Brad Daugherty, Mark Hughes, and Ernie Cope, and fields the No. 47 Chevrolet for Stenhouse Jr. The team maintains a technical alliance with Hendrick Motorsports. The name “Hyak,” meaning “fast,” reflects the organization’s renewed focus on performance on and off the track.
About Chef Boyardee
Chef Boyardee® is a classic American food brand rooted in Italian culinary tradition. Founded in 1928 by Chef Hector Boiardi, the brand has become a household staple, bringing convenient, comforting pasta meals to families for nearly a century. The Chef Boyardee® plant in Milton, PA, remains the heart of its production and heritage.
About Hometown Food Company
Hometown Food Company, based in Chicago, IL, was formed by Brynwood Partners in August 2018. The portfolio includes the exclusive U.S. rights to the iconic Pillsbury™ brand’s shelf-stable baking products, including Funfetti®, along with Hungry Jack®, Birch Benders®, Arrowhead Mills®, White Lily®, Jim Dandy®, De Wafelbakkers®, Martha White® and Chef Boyardee brands.
About Brynwood Partners
Based in Greenwich, CT, Brynwood Partners, is an operationally-focused private equity firm that has been making control investments in North American-based lower middle market companies since 1984. The firm targets non-core brands and companies operating in the consumer sector. Brynwood Partners currently manages more than $2.3 billion in assets for its limited partners, which include U.S. and international pension funds, fund-of-funds, endowments, foundations, high net worth family investment offices and financial institutions. For more information, please visit www.brynwoodpartners.com.
SOURCE Hometown Food Company

Motorsports
SupplyHouse Joins 23XI Racing as an Official Partner for 2026 Season
Leading Online Plumbing, HVAC, and Electrical Supplier to be Featured as Primary Partner
with Tyler Reddick and the No. 45 Team
Huntersville, N.C. (Jan. 12, 2026) – 23XI Racing announced today that SupplyHouse, a leading e-commerce provider of plumbing, HVAC, and electrical supplies, has joined the team as an Official Partner.
The partnership will feature the SupplyHouse brand as the primary paint scheme for several races with Tyler Reddick and the No. 45 team, debuting at Kansas Speedway on April 19.
The relationship marks the company’s first entry into the sports world, highlighting its commitment to supporting the trades and expanding its connection with skilled professionals nationwide.
In addition to the SupplyHouse-branded paint schemes on Reddick’s No. 45 Toyota Camry XSE, SupplyHouse will be an associate partner throughout the season and will appear on the No. 45 team’s equipment and Reddick’s driver uniform.
SupplyHouse also plans to host tradespeople at various races to show appreciation for the many men and women who are involved in plumbing, HVAC, and electrical work.
Founded in 2004, SupplyHouse provides professional-grade plumbing, HVAC, and electrical products to contractors, trade professionals, and DIYers nationwide.
With more than 280,000 active SKUs, fast shipping from distribution centers across the country, and an industry-leading focus on customer experience, SupplyHouse continues to redefine how the trades shop online.
As part of the partnership, the company will look to grow its loyal customer base by connecting with NASCAR’s passionate community of tradespeople and fans.
“This partnership gives us a meaningful way to connect with the pros who drive our industry forward,” said Kaylin Staub, Chief Marketing Officer of SupplyHouse.
“Our customers value hard work, smart problem-solving and high performance – the same qualities that define 23XI. Partnering with them allows SupplyHouse to show up in a space our customers already enjoy, while giving us a unique platform to highlight the importance of the trades.
From a marketing standpoint, it’s an opportunity to deepen relationships, build visibility, and engage with current and future customers in an environment that reflects our shared energy for rolling up our sleeves, doing great work, and celebrating a job well done.”
“We are excited to welcome SupplyHouse to the 23XI family and proud to bring another new brand into the sport,” said Steve Lauletta, 23XI team president.
“We know that many of the professionals who rely on SupplyHouse are also NASCAR fans, and we look forward to representing them throughout the season and giving them a team to cheer for each weekend.”
“As anticipation heats up for the 2026 season, I’m excited to welcome SupplyHouse to the 23XI team,” said Tyler Reddick, driver of the No. 45 Toyota Camry XSE.
“SupplyHouse supports some of the most vital workers in our economy and I’m honored to represent all those tradespeople and the work they do.”
About SupplyHouse:
Founded in 2004, SupplyHouse is a leading e-commerce company specializing in plumbing, HVAC, and electrical supplies.
Headquartered in Melville, N.Y., with distribution centers in Nevada, Texas, Ohio, and New Jersey, the company is redefining what it means to support the trades — from providing access to top-quality products to fostering education and recognition programs that strengthen the future of skilled labor.
About 23XI Racing:
23XI Racing – pronounced twenty-three eleven – was founded by NBA legend Michael Jordan and three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin in 2020. With rising NASCAR star Bubba Wallace selected to drive the No. 23 Toyota Camry, the team made its NASCAR Cup Series debut in the 2021 Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway.
Wallace made history on October 4, 2021, when he captured his first career Cup Series win, becoming just the second African American to win in the Cup Series, and earning 23XI its first-ever victory. 23XI expanded to a two-car organization in 2022 with Cup Series Champion and Hall of Famer Kurt Busch driving the No. 45 Toyota Camry.
With a win at Kansas Speedway in May of 2022, Busch earned 23XI the team’s first-ever playoff berth. Tyler Reddick joined the team in 2023 to drive the No. 45 car. In 2024, Reddick won the Regular Season Championship and raced to a spot in the Championship 4, a first for both the team and Reddick.
23XI currently features the lineup of Bubba Wallace in the No. 23 Toyota Camry XSE, Tyler Reddick in the No. 45 Toyota Camry XSE and Riley Herbst in the No. 35 Toyota Camry XSE.
Corey Heim currently serves as the team’s development driver and races occasionally in the No. 67 Toyota Camry XSE.
The team operates out of Airspeed, a state-of-the-art facility in Huntersville, N.C.
Source: 23XI Racing
Motorsports
Hyak Motorsports Introduces New 3-Race Sponsor for Stenhouse in 2026
Get the can opener ready, Chef Boyardee is set to become a primary sponsorship partner of Ricky Stenhouse Jr., and the No. 47 Hyak Motorsports team during the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season. On Monday, the race team announced a three-race primary sponsorship agreement with the iconic brand.
Additionally, Chef Boyardee will receive associate sponsorship placement for the entirety of the upcoming NASCAR season.
“We’re excited to welcome Chef Boyardee to the Hyak Motorsports family. They’re a brand everyone knows, and bringing them into NASCAR is something the entire team is looking forward to,” said Stenhouse in a team press release. “We’re ready to start the season off strong and represent Chef Boyardee throughout the year.”
The Chef Boyardee colors will adorn the No. 47 Chevrolet beginning with The Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium on Sunday, February 1. After the annual pre-season exhibition event, the brand will return to sponsor Stenhouse in the Daytona 500 on Sunday, February 15. Chef Boyardee’s three-race primary sponsorship stint will wrap up at Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday, April 26.
Brynwood Partners, which owns the Chef Boyardee brand, has been aligned with Stenhouse for more than a decade as a primary sponsorship partner. The company couldn’t be prouder to continue its commitment to the 2023 Daytona 500 champion in the upcoming NASCAR Cup Series season.
“Ricky has been an incredible ambassador for our brands in the 12 years that we have been sponsoring his car in the Cup Series,” said Henk Hartong, CEO of Brynwood Partners. “We are excited to bring Chef Boyardee back to the track at Daytona and Talladega this season, both places where Ricky has taken the checkered flag previously. We look forward to bringing the Chef Boyardee 47 to Victory Lane at Daytona in February.”
According to the press release, Chef Boyardee will collaborate with Hyak Motorsports through on-car branding, team assets, and integrated fan-engagement activations designed to reach audiences both at the track and at home. Additionally, the sponsorship will include digital and social media content, behind-the-scenes features, and fan-focused activations, which will be designed to highlight the connection between Chef Boyardee, Hyak Motorsports, and NASCAR’s most ardent fans.
Stenhouse, 38, has collected four wins in the NASCAR Cup Series over a career that has spanned 475 starts. Stenhouse’s four wins have come at Daytona International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway, where he has collected two wins apiece. Stenhouse started off the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season strong, as he found himself in Playoff contention through an 11th-place finish in the Coca-Cola 600, the 13th race of the season.
However, Stenhouse found bad luck in the weeks after the Coca-Cola 600, which continued for the duration of the season. Among the bad luck was an ongoing one-sided feud with Spire Motorsports driver Carson Hocevar, which was seemingly resolved.
Stenhouse would end the 2025 campaign 30th in the championship standings. He’ll look to rebound in a big way in 2026.
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