According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Max Verstappen is seriously considering leaving Red Bull at the end of 2025. A major twist so early in the season. Tensions with Christian Horner and doubts about Red Bull’s future power unit project are driving this reflection. Trouble behind the scenes Four-time world champion Max Verstappen isn’t having […]
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Max Verstappen is seriously considering leaving Red Bull at the end of 2025. A major twist so early in the season. Tensions with Christian Horner and doubts about Red Bull’s future power unit project are driving this reflection.
Trouble behind the scenes
Four-time world champion Max Verstappen isn’t having the same comfortable ride in 2025. The once-dominant Red Bull team is facing cracks, both on and off the track.
Reports suggest Verstappen may trigger an exit clause in his contract, which currently runs until 2028. The issues?
A strained relationship with team principal Christian Horner
Uncertainty surrounding the in-house engine for 2026, meant to replace Honda
Aston Martin or Mercedes?
Two teams are reportedly leading the race to sign him:
Aston Martin, with backing from Saudi Arabia’s PIF sovereign wealth fund
Mercedes, where Toto Wolff remains interested, despite confidence in Russell and rookie Antonelli
The situation could echo other seismic F1 moves. Think Hamilton’s bold switch to Mercedes in 2013, which changed the sport forever.
2026: Verstappen’s main concern?
The new 2026 regulations loom large. Verstappen reportedly fears getting stuck with an underperforming engine.
See also
Red Bull is building its own power unit—a bold project, but one with unproven results so far. If it doesn’t deliver, Verstappen may jump ship before it’s too late.
Personally, I wonder if leaving the most dominant team too soon is worth the gamble. What about you? Should Verstappen bet on Red Bull or take the leap to Mercedes or Aston?
Dale Earnhardt Jr. reacts to ‘big night’ for CARS Tour at North Wilkesboro Speedway
Tonight was a big one for Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his CARS Tour Late Model Stock series. A fantastic night of racing at North Wilkesboro. Landen Lewis gets the win, and while JR Motorsports didn’t do great, Earnhardt seems pleased with the overall product. CARS Tour co-owners Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kevin Harvick both had […]
Tonight was a big one for Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his CARS Tour Late Model Stock series. A fantastic night of racing at North Wilkesboro. Landen Lewis gets the win, and while JR Motorsports didn’t do great, Earnhardt seems pleased with the overall product.
CARS Tour co-owners Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Kevin Harvick both had drivers in this race tonight. Both were also calling the race from the FOX Sports broadcast booth along with FloRacing’s Eric Brennan.
Changed out of his suit and into his street clothes, Dale Jr. put out a message for fans. He is beyond thankful for all of the support for his short track series.
“Hey everybody. Just getting wrapped up here after the CARS Tour race at North Wilkesboro and reading some of the feedback on social media,” Dale Earnhardt Jr. said in a selfie video on social media. “I hope that you, if you watched the race I hope you enjoyed it. It was a big, big night for the CARS Tour. We’re very proud and it’s something we’re very, very passionate about. Just an incredible night.
“So, hope everybody enjoyed the broadcast. I had a lot of fun being part of it. But I think the world of this series and its drivers and teams, and I asked everybody to support it this weekend, and if you did, I just wanted to jump on here real quick and say, big thanks, from all of us.”
The race was a little sloppy at first. That is possibly due to the Cup Series tire rubber that was laid down on the track in practice and qualifying. A few CARS Tour drivers and the broadcast booth noted as much. Once the Hoosier Tires started to put rubber down, it was smooth sailing. Well, mostly.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. is passionate about stock car racing. That passion is taking the CARS Tour to new heights every year.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. back in the broadcast booth
For NASCAR fans who have missed hearing Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his excited voice in the booth, tonight was a nice amuse-bouche. A little appetizer for what we are going to get this summer, starting next week at Charlotte.
The Coca-Cola 600 will be Dale Jr.’s debut on Prime Video. He will be in the broadcast booth with Adam Alexander and Steve Letarte. This is going to be a fun 10-race schedule from Prime Video to TNT Sports.
CARS Tour has now raced on FS1 for the first time. When can we get more of that? Motorsports in general are continuing to grow in the 2020s. There is a lot of interest in motorsports again, and the CARS Tour is a perfect late-night series to have on TV. If the right partner comes along.
For now, FloRacing has the rights to CARS Tour races. FloRacing was working together with FOX Sports on tonight’s broadcast and have continued to grow their partnership with the TV network. Would you watch the CARS Tour regularly on FS1 or FS2?
Kyle Larson hopes to stay in winning form at All-Star Race – Field Level Media – Professional sports content solutions
After a strong run at Kansas Speedway led to another NASCAR Cup Series victory, Kyle Larson continues to be one of the two top racers of the season thus far. The season is one-third over entering this weekend’s All-Star Race, and the Hendrick Motorsports driver has already won three times, tying him with Joe Gibbs […]
After a strong run at Kansas Speedway led to another NASCAR Cup Series victory, Kyle Larson continues to be one of the two top racers of the season thus far.
The season is one-third over entering this weekend’s All-Star Race, and the Hendrick Motorsports driver has already won three times, tying him with Joe Gibbs Racing’s Christopher Bell for the series lead. Throw in a pair of wins by JGR’s Denny Hamlin, and those three hotshots account for eight of the 12 checkered flags.
From an organizational standpoint, it runs even deeper: While JGR leads the series with five wins, HMS has been triumphant four times (counting William Byron’s Daytona 500 win) and Team Penske accounts for two victories (Austin Cindric, Joey Logano).
The lone outlier is Josh Berry’s Las Vegas win for Wood Brothers Racing — who have a technical alliance with Penske through Ford — meaning essentially three racing stables have scored all 12 victories so far.
That type of domination is evident in Larson, who will look to win the NASCAR All-Star Race on Sunday night for the second time in the sport’s third race since returning to North Wilkesboro Speedway in the mountains of North Wilkesboro, N.C.
In the 2023 exhibition race, Larson drove from the back of the field and led 145 laps, blazing his way around the reborn, historic short track and beating runner-up Bubba Wallace by 4.537 seconds in the 200-lap event.
The Elk Grove, Calif., native joined elite company with his third win in the non-points race, having previously prevailed in 2019 and 2021. He tied Dale Earnhardt (1987, 1990, 1993) and Jeff Gordon (1995, 1997, 2001) with three All-Star wins. Jimmie Johnson has won four times (2003, 2006, 2012, 2013).
When it comes to dominating North Wilkesboro’s five-eighths-of-a-mile layout, nobody did it better than Logano a year ago when he earned the pole, led all but one of 200 in his No. 22 Ford and ousted Hamlin by 0.636 seconds in the 40th annual race.
Mired in a terrible 2024, Logano had been winless through 13 points races and used the momentum to start a run to his third championship.
In practice on Friday, Tyler Reddick topped the charts with a lap of 18.198 seconds (123.640 mph) to beat Chase Elliott and Wallace as drivers shook down their cars in long runs before their qualifying efforts.
Qualifying consisted of three laps with drivers pitting on the second time around for four tires and fuel before turning a final circuit.
Sporting the purple and gold colors of East Carolina University, RFK Racing’s Brad Keselowski put his No. 6 Ford on the pole with a combined time of 1:27.362. Bell’s No. 20 Toyota was runner-up at 1:28.252.
“It’s one thing I’ve never done in my career,” Keselowski, who is 33rd in points, said of his pole-winning showing in the $1 million payday race. “Total team effort. Pit crew and team gave me a rock-solid car and a rock-solid pit stop … and I nailed the lap.”
The 2012 Cup title winner will have the pole for both a heat race on Saturday and the 200-lap main event on Sunday.
The Spire Motorsports crew of Michael McDowell’s No. 71 Chevrolet won the $100,000 Mechanix Wear Pit Crew Challenge for the fastest stop during qualifying, 12.587 seconds.
Brad Keselowski, Christopher Bell win NASCAR All-Star heats
After Brad Keselowski earned pole position in qualifying on Friday, the rest of the grid was determined by a pair of heat races on Saturday. To put it simply, Heat #1 results decide the inside row for the All-Star Race while Heat #2 results decide the outside row with ten drivers in each heat. On […]
After Brad Keselowski earned pole position in qualifying on Friday, the rest of the grid was determined by a pair of heat races on Saturday. To put it simply, Heat #1 results decide the inside row for the All-Star Race while Heat #2 results decide the outside row with ten drivers in each heat.
On Sunday, the 18 drivers who are not yet locked into the All-Star Race will take part in their own race with the top-two finishers from the ‘Open’ advancing into the main event. Now for a breakdown of Saturday’s heat races:
Heat #1
Brad Keselowski, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
Photo by: David Jensen / Getty Images
It’s been a difficult and at times nightmarish season for Keselowski, but the weekend at North Wilkesboro has offered him some relief. He held off all challengers to win the first heat race of the night, even though a couple of drivers got very close in trying to snatch the top spot away.
When the planned competition caution flew in the middle of the race, Keselowski stayed out while Ross Chastain and several others pitted, taking on a set of fresh sticker tires. Those drivers quickly charged through the field with Chastain drawing even with Keselowski in a fierce battle for the race lead. However, the tires ultimately overheated while running the bottom and he was left defending the runner-up spot for the remainder of the race.
He battled back-and-forth with William Byron and Ryan Blaney as the three drivers fought over the spot that would determine who starts third in the All-Star Race on Sunday. Chastain held on over Byron by just a nose while Blaney finished fourth and Alex Bowman fifth.
Josh Berry was sixth, Tyler Reddick seventh, Austin Dillon eighth, and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. ninth. Kyle Larson’s car did not take part in the heat race since its driver was busy qualifying for the Indianapolis 500 today. So, Larson will come from the last row of the grid on Sunday, which he also did one year ago.
“It doesn’t hurt,” said Keselowski after the win. “It’s been a good two days for everyone on this #6 crew … It’s good to be starting up front with this Ford Mustang. To be running fast, this is fun.”
Speaking about the tire difference, Keselowski added: “Those guys who put tires on were really hard to hold off. I had the preferred groove and just tried to use it to my advantage. We’ll see if that’s the case tomorrow.
Heat #2
Christopher Bell, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Photo by: David Jensen / Getty Images
Christopher Bell was in control of the second heat race from start-to-finish and no one was able to mount a real challenge against him. During the competition caution, nearly the entire field pitted for fresh rubber with most taking four, but Bell took two right-sides instead and narrowly avoided his tire changer on the way out.
Chase Briscoe was the lone driver who rolled the dice and chose to stay out. He inherited the race lead, but it did not last long as he quickly faded through the field. However, he could not get out of the way quick enough, spinning after contact from Daniel Suarez and hitting the door of Denny Hamlin.
This was the only incident of the entire night as Bell set sail for the remainder of the race, taking the win over Joey Logano and Chase Elliott. Kyle Busch and Chris Buescher filled out the rest of the top five while the remainder of the top ten was as follows: Suarez, Briscoe, Austin Cindric, Harrison Burton, Hamlin.
“Maybe the Mobil 1 Camry is a million-dollar Camry,” smiled Bell after the win, guaranteeing him the outside of the front row. “It’s feeling really good. I knew yesterday in practice that if they could get some rear grip in it, I felt like I had a lot of car potential. The guys did an amazing job on just making the car better overnight and it was really refreshing to get out there and just cruise those first 30 laps. Then, I didn’t know how it was going to work with having Joey [Logano] right behind me, but this thing was on rails. I’m really happy and excited about the opportunity tomorrow.”
All-Star Race lineup
Pos.
Driver
Team
1
Brad Keselowski
RFK Racing
2
Christopher Bell
Joe Gibbs Racing
3
Ross Chastain
Trackhouse Racing Team
4
Joey Logano
Team Penske
5
William Byron
Hendrick Motorsports
6
Chase Elliott
Hendrick Motorsports
7
Ryan Blaney
Team Penske
8
Kyle Busch
Richard Childress Racing
9
Alex Bowman
Hendrick Motorsports
10
Chris Buescher
RFK Racing
11
Josh Berry
Wood Brothers Racing
12
Daniel Suarez
Trackhouse Racing Team
13
Tyler Reddick
23XI Racing
14
Chase Briscoe
Joe Gibbs Racing
15
Austin Dillon
Richard Childress Racing
16
Austin Cindric
Team Penske
17
Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
Hyak Motorsports
18
Harrison Burton
Rick Ware Racing
19
Kyle Larson
Hendrick Motorsports
20
Denny Hamlin
Joe Gibbs Racing
21
OPEN RACE WINNER
OPEN RACE WINNER
22
OPEN RACE RUNNER-UP
OPEN RACE RUNNER-UP
23
FAN VOTE WINNER
FAN VOTE WINNER
In this article
Nick DeGroot
NASCAR Cup
Brad Keselowski
Christopher Bell
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The NASCAR All-Star Race weekend continues into May 17 with a pair of heat races at North Wilkesboro Speedway. The two heat races will be 75 laps each, with Heat 1 settling the inside of each row and Heat 2 settling the outside. Brad Keselowski will be the polesitter for the May 18 All-Star Race […]
The NASCAR All-Star Race weekend continues into May 17 with a pair of heat races at North Wilkesboro Speedway.
The two heat races will be 75 laps each, with Heat 1 settling the inside of each row and Heat 2 settling the outside.
Brad Keselowski will be the polesitter for the May 18 All-Star Race nevertheless after winning the May 16 qualifying session.
Keselowski will also be on the pole for Heat 1, with Christopher Bell leading Heat 2 to the green.
Follow along with live updates of NASCAR Cup Series All-Star heat races at North Wilkesboro:
ALL-STAR STARTING LINEUP: NASCAR All-Star Race: Starting lineup, TV schedule for Sunday’s Cup race at North Wilkesboro
Christopher Bell cruises to a Heat 2 win, with Joey Logano in second.
Christopher Bell
Joey Logano
Chase Elliott
Kyle Busch
Chris Buescher
Daniel Suarez
Chase Briscoe
Austin Cindric
Harrison Burton
Denny Hamlin
Chase Briscoe is caught three-wide twice through turns 3 and 4, and he tries to slide in front of Daniel Suarez. But Suarez was there, and Briscoe spins. Caution is out.
Chase Briscoe leads to the restart, but Christopher Bell rockets to the lead. Briscoe’s no-tire strategy has not gone well.
The competition caution is out on Lap 32, with Christopher Bell leading. Denny Hamlin slipped back to 10th with major handing issues through the corners.
Christopher Bell
Chase Briscoe
Joey Logano
Chris Buescher
Kyle Busch
Austin Cindric
Chase Elliott
Daniel Suarez
Harrison Burton
Denny Hamlin
Briscoe stays out, while Bell and Cindric take two tires. Most opt for four tires.
Christopher Bell takes the lead, with Chase Briscoe in second.
Heat 2 will get underway soon. What will the 10 teams do in terms of tires, armed with the results of the first heat?
Brad Keselowski holds off three others to win the first heat race, with Ross Chastain sliding past William Byron for second.
The story of the heat race: Tires mattered, but clean air mattered most. If that’s the case tomorrow, it’ll be a frustrating 250 laps.
Brad Keselowski
Ross Chastain
William Byron
Ryan Blaney
Alex Bowman
Josh Berry
Tyler Reddick
Austin Dillon
Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
Kyle Larson (did not start)
Brad Keselowski is defending against three cars with newer tires — Ross Chastain, William Byron and Ryan Blaney.
But clean air is king.
Brad Keselowski holds off Tyler Reddick for the lead while Austin Dillon and William Byron race for third. Byron has new tires.
The competition caution waves at Lap 32, with Brad Keselowski ahead of Tyler Reddick by a couple car lengths.
Some drivers began the race on older tires and kept their new tires for the second half of the heat. Others started on sticker tires.
Brad Keselowski
Tyler Reddick
Austin Dillon
William Byron
Ryan Blaney
Ross Chastain
Josh Berry
Alex Bowman
Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
Kyle Larson (did not start)
Tyler Reddick moves past Austin Dillon for second, and is hunting the back bumper of Brad Keselowski.
Brad Keselowski takes control on the start, with Austin Dillon charging for second.
A reminder: Kyle Larson is still at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for Indy 500 qualifying, so the No. 5 Chevy won’t run in today’s heat.
Heat 1
Brad Keselowski, No. 6 Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
Alex Bowman, No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
William Byron, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Tyler Reddick, No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota
Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 HYAK Motorsports Chevrolet
Josh Berry, No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford
Justin Allgaier, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Team Penske Ford
Heat 2
Christopher Bell, No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Chase Briscoe, No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Joey Logano, No. 22 Team Penske Ford
Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Chase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Kyle Busch, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Harrison Burton, No. 51 Rick Ware Racing Ford
Chris Buescher, No. 17 Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
Austin Cindric, No. 2 Team Penske Ford
Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Friday’s qualifying locked in the All-Star Race polesitter (Brad Keselowski) and the heat race lineups.
Each heat race is 75 laps, with a competition caution around lap 30 in both heats. OT attempts will be limited to one.
Heat 1 will set the inside of each row behind polesitter Keselowski, while Heat 2 will set the outside of each row.
Sunday’s All-Star Open will settle two All-Star spots, and the All-Star fan vote winner will claim the final spot. All three cars will start at the back.
Heat 1 race start time: 4 p.m. CT Saturday
TV: FOX Sports 2 | Radio: SiriusXM and MRN
Streaming: FUBO (free trial available) and FOX Sports app; NASCAR.com and SiriusXM for audio (subscription required)
Distance: 75 laps
Track: North Wilkesboro Speedway (0.625-mile track) in North Wilkesboro, N.C.
Marcus Armstrong crashes during first day of Indy 500 qualifying – Indianapolis News | Indiana Weather | Indiana Traffic
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Marcus Armstrong, with Meyer Shank Racing, crashed during practice on the first day of qualifying for the Indianapolis 500. Armstrong crashed on Turn 1. He started to lose control and the back of his car slammed against the wall. Armstrong gave a wave and a thumbs up as he was going into […]
Ross Chastain and William Byron battled side-by-side in the closing laps of the first heat, with Chastain holding off Byron for second. Ryan Blaney and Alex Bowman rounded out the top five. Joey Loegano held off Chase Elliott for second in Heat Race No. 2, followed by Kyle Busch and Chris Buescher. The 75-lap heat […]
Ross Chastain and William Byron battled side-by-side in the closing laps of the first heat, with Chastain holding off Byron for second. Ryan Blaney and Alex Bowman rounded out the top five.
Joey Loegano held off Chase Elliott for second in Heat Race No. 2, followed by Kyle Busch and Chris Buescher.
The 75-lap heat races set the starting lineup for Sunday’s NASCAR All-Star Race, which begins at 8 p.m. ET.
-Photo credit: Rusty Jarrett, NKP for Ford Performance
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