Motorsports
RCR Race Preview: Texas Motor Speedway – Speedway Digest
Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series at Texas Motor Speedway… Richard Childress Racing has three wins among 124 starts in the NASCAR Cup Series at Texas Motor Speedway. The Welcome, North Carolina-based race team first found Victory Lane at the track with Jeff Burton in April 2007. Burton led only the final lap […]

Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series at Texas Motor Speedway… Richard Childress Racing has three wins among 124 starts in the NASCAR Cup Series at Texas Motor Speedway. The Welcome, North Carolina-based race team first found Victory Lane at the track with Jeff Burton in April 2007. Burton led only the final lap to grab his 19th career Cup Series victory. Austin Dillon was victorious at Texas in 2020. Dillon led the final 10 laps and edged teammate Tyler Reddick by just .149 seconds to score the win – his first at Texas and the 109th all-time by RCR. In 2022, Reddick led the final 24 laps to grab his first Texas victory. RCR has earned 11 top-five and 38 top-10 finishes on the 1.5-mile quad-oval.
Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series at Texas Motor Speedway… RCR has 102 starts in the NASCAR Xfinity Series at Texas Motor Speedway, acquiring five wins (Kevin Harvick in 2001, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2012). RCR has earned 26 top-five and 56 top-10 finishes along with five pole awards as an organization. Last season, both Austin Hill and Jesse Love scored top-10 finishes (ninth-place by Love, sixth by Hill). Hill has reeled off four consecutive top-10s for RCR at Texas, including a second-place finish in the fall race in 2022. In 2024, Love’s lap of 185.612 miles per hour paced the field, timing in over two-hundredths of a second over second place.
In the History Books… Hill made NASCAR Xfinity Series history with his victory at Talladega Superspeedway on April 26, 2025, surpassing both Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Tony Stewart to become the all-time leader in superspeedway wins in the series. This triumph marked his ninth career win on drafting-style tracks, breaking a tie with the two legends. Hill’s performance at Talladega Superspeedway added to his impressive record, solidifying his status as a dominant force in superspeedway racing.
A Patriotic Unveil… U.S. Military Veterans are invited to RCR’s campus on May 14 to attend Veterans with Coffee, a monthly event RCR hosts in conjunction with Veterans Bridge Home to provide support and resources for area Veterans. The May edition of the popular event will include a special patriotic car unveil. Media are invited to attend and cover the unveil, beginning at 9 a.m.
Catch the Action… The Andy’s Frozen Custard 300 at Texas Motor Speedway will be televised live on Saturday, May 3, beginning at 2 p.m. ET on The CW. The race will be broadcast live on the Performance Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. Download The CW app free of charge to watch NASCAR Xfinity Series Practice & Qualifying.
The Texas 400 at Texas Motor Speedway will be televised live on Sunday, May 4, beginning at 3:30 p.m. ET on FS1. The race will be broadcast live on the Performance Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. NASCAR Cup Series Practice & Qualifying at Texas Motor Speedway will be broadcast on Amazon Prime. Ride shotgun all season long with live, in-car camera feeds and scanner audio with a paid subscription to Max as part of their NASCAR driver cam experience during the race.
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Austin Dillon and the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops/Winchester Chevrolet at Texas Motor Speedway… In 20 NASCAR Cup Series starts at Texas Motor Speedway, Dillon has earned one win, one top-five, and three top-10 finishes. He also earned the pole award at the 1.5-mile track in 2016. Dillon has made 11 NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at the track with a career-best finish of third in 2015 after starting from the pole position for the 300-mile race. Dillon, the 2011 NASCAR Truck Series Champion, has five Truck Series starts at Texas with a career-best finish of second in 2011 and one pole in 2010.
Winner, Winner … Dillon won a NASCAR Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway in 2020, the third of his five career victories in the series. The Texas win was part of a 1-2 finish for RCR, with former teammate Tyler Reddick coming in second. The victory not only marked Dillon’s first win of the 2020 season but also earned him an automatic berth in the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs. The win was especially significant for RCR, as it was their first 1-2 finish in the Cup Series since 2011.
Did You Know?… Dillon’s 2016 pole award at Texas Motor Speedway remains RCR’s lone NASCAR Cup Series pole in 124 Series starts at the Fort Worth-based track. In total, Dillon owns six poles in Cup Series competition, most recently sitting on the pole in 2019 at Chicagoland Speedway.
One Year Ago… In the NASCAR Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway in April 2024, Dillon finished eighth after starting 15th. Despite handling challenges during the race, strategic pit calls and strong restarts contributed to his top-10 result.
Dillon Rides Top-10 Surge… The No. 3 Bass Pro Shops/Winchester Chevrolet team enters Texas Motor Speedway riding a wave of momentum following back-to-back top-10 finishes in the NASCAR Cup Series. A strong performance at the high-banked Bristol Motor Speedway, followed by an impressive run at the unpredictable Talladega Superspeedway, has boosted Dillon’s average finish and provided a much-needed lift in the points standings.
Let’s Ride… This weekend at Texas Motor Speedway, two worlds collide as several professional bull riders who ride for the Carolina Cowboys in the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) Team Series will join Dillon at the track as guests of Richard Childress Racing. Dillon, who is the general manager of the Carolina Cowboys, spends much of his time outside of his No. 3 Chevrolet managing day-to-day operations for the Carolina Cowboys. Many of the riders live in Texas and are preparing for the Individual Season World Finals, the event marks an exciting lead-up to championship action.
Tickets to the 2025 Carolina Cowboys Home Stand Are Available Now … Driven by the same passion for performance that guides his race team, Richard Childress’ latest endeavor brings Professional Bull Riding to the Carolinas. The Carolina Cowboys represent the Carolinas in the PBR Team Series, an elite league featuring the world’s top bull riders competing in games throughout the country. The team is owned by Richard Childress and Jeff Broin with 2018 Daytona 500 Champion Dillon serving as General Manager. Don’t miss the Carolina Cowboys 2025 “Cowboy Days” Home Stand September 12-14 at First Horizen Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina. Tickets are on sale at PBR.com and Ticketmaster.
Dillon Joins Coca-Cola’s Mission 600 at Norfolk Naval Base… Dillon is scheduled to visit Norfolk Naval Base Wednesday on behalf of Coca-Cola as part of the Mission 600 initiative. Now in its eighth year, Mission 600 pairs NASCAR drivers with U.S. military units to help educate the NASCAR community about the U.S. Military and build meaningful connections with our service members. Dillon’s visit underscores his commitment to supporting and connecting with military personnel and helps build up anticipation to one of NASCAR’s most patriotic races, the Coca-Cola 600, which annually takes place over Memorial Day weekend.
About Bass Pro Shops… Bass Pro Shops is North America’s premier outdoor and conservation company. Founded in 1972 when avid young angler Johnny Morris began selling tackle out of his father’s liquor store in Springfield, Missouri, today the company provides customers with unmatched offerings spanning premier destination retail, outdoor equipment manufacturing, world-class resort destinations, and more. In 2017 Bass Pro Shops united with Cabela’s to create a “best-of-the-best” experience with superior products, dynamic locations, and outstanding customer service. Bass Pro Shops also operates White River Marine Group, offering an unsurpassed collection of industry-leading boat brands, and Big Cedar Lodge, America’s Premier Wilderness Resort. Under the visionary conservation leadership of Johnny Morris, Bass Pro Shops is a national leader in protecting habitat and introducing families to the outdoors and has been named by Forbes as “one of America’s Best Employers.” Bass Pro Shops has a long relationship with NASCAR, dating back to 1998. For more information, visit basspro.com.
About Winchester Ammunition… Winchester is the leading small-caliber ammunition brand for hunting, recreational shooting, and law enforcement, and the largest supplier to the U.S. military. The legendary Winchester® brand, with its 159-year history, is founded on principles of integrity, hard work, and a strong commitment to its loyal customers. As a division of Olin Corporation, Winchester shares Olin’s purpose to deliver materials and solutions that enhance and protect lives. Learn more about Winchester and the responsible use of its products by visiting Winchester.com or connecting with us on Facebook at Facebook.com/WinchesterOfficial.
Winchester Safes, Based in Texas… With a long-standing commitment to protecting legacies, Winchester Safes is honored to stand alongside Winchester Ammunition in supporting timeless racing tradition and its fan base. Winchester Safes, the most trusted name in safe innovation and reliability, operates with a remarkable unit capacity of over 1 million safes per year and is strategically located in Texas to offer a significant cost advantage to any shipping point across the United States.
Winchester Safes Grand American™… Crafted for those who protect more than possessions, the new Grand American™ safe secures your legacy with unmatched security. Built to safeguard firearm collections, heirlooms, and history, the Grand American™ carries forward the Winchester tradition of protection.
Meet Dillon… Dillon, along with several professional bull riders who ride for the Carolina Cowboys in the PBR Teams Series, are scheduled to make a stop at the RCR Merchandise hauler in the Texas Motor Speedway fan midway on Sunday, May 4, at 10:45 a.m. Local Time to greet race fans and sign autographs. Stop by and get your new RCR and Carolina Cowboys gear.
Questions, Please… Media covering the Texas Motor Speedway race are encouraged to stop by the infield media center on Sunday at 10:20 a.m. Local Time to learn more about the Carolina Cowboys.
AUSTIN DILLON QUOTES:
What are your thoughts on Texas Motor Speedway?
“Texas Motor Speedway has so much grip now and has changed a lot from the old track to the new track. It has always been a strong track for me, so I am excited to race there this weekend with Bass Pro Shops and Winchester. There is a lot of variety on both ends of the track, which makes it exciting to race. On one end, you are going to have a high-speed and very banked corner, and on the other end, you will have a hard corner that you will have to get turned into and then get back on the gas.”
How would you gauge Richard Childress Racing’s Intermediate Program This Year?
“I’m excited to have Texas Motor Speedway and Kansas Speedway back-to-back. I felt like we had a fast car at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in March and a good car at Homestead-Miami Speedway. We passed a lot of cars in those two races. Emphasis will be on qualifying for us. If we can qualify well at those two tracks, I think we can have a pretty good weekend. Texas Motor Speedway and Kansas Speedway can be tracks where we can put ourselves in a better position in the point standings. You never know what can happen with the opportunity to win.”
How important are these next few weeks building off the positive momentum your team has gained over the past few weeks?
“It’s very important. Bristol Motor Speedway went well. We headed into the Easter break and carried more momentum into Talladega Superspeedway last week and were able to finish in the top-10. Our next goal is to break into the top-20 in points. If you’re in the top-20, you still have the opportunity to go out and be able to be in the second group for practice and qualifying, even if you have a rough weekend the week before. Qualifying late seems to be a big advantage because of how tight the field is. If you’re on that cut line, you know you’re going to have to pass cars, and passing has been tough. It’s very important to build yourself up in that front area of points.”
Kyle Busch and the No. 8 7-Eleven Chevrolet at Texas Motor Speedway… Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway will mark Kyle Busch’s 35th career Cup Series start at the track. Busch has four wins at the mile-and-a-half oval (the spring races in 2013, 2016 and 2018, as well as the fall race in 2020). Additionally at Texas, Busch has 14 top-five finishes, 19 top-10 finishes, 1,069 laps led, an average starting position of 14th, an average finish of 12.2, and has completed 94.9 percent (10,650 of 11,217) of the laps he’s contested there.
5 X 8 = 40… Arguably the most successful driver in NASCAR’s modern era, Busch approaches the Texas Motor Speedway race weekend entering a new decade as the two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion will celebrate his 40th birthday on Friday. Busch began his career driving the No. 5 Chevrolet. While his initial outing didn’t go as scripted (the then 18-year-old made contact with the Turn 4 wall at his home track of Las Vegas Motor Speedway, flat-siding his racecar and retired after completing just 11 laps), he has grown into a formidable force in the sport. Busch enters this weekend at Texas with 63 career wins in the Cup Series, the most among active drivers. In addition, he is a 34x polesitter, and boasts an impressive 252 top-five finishes, 386 top-10 finishes and 19,440 laps led in 724 career Cup Series starts. Today, Busch continues to build on his legacy in the No. 8 Chevrolet.
New Colors … Busch’s Chevrolet will sport new colors this weekend when 7-Eleven debuts as the primary partner of the No. 8.
Texas Fourstep… Busch is the winningest active driver at Texas Motor Speedway. He earned his first Cup Series victory at Texas in April 2013. He took the lead after a lightning-fast pit stop during the final caution put him out front, and he led the final 19 laps to win his first Cup Series race at the mile-and-a-half speedway. In April of 2016, Busch went on the outside of Turn 4 on the first lap after the final restart to take the lead, which he held for the final 32 laps enroute to the win, doing so by nearly four seconds over second-place finisher Dale Earnhardt Jr. In his third victory at Texas, the 44th of his Cup Series career, Busch led four times for a race-high 116 laps after finishing as runner-up in three of that season’s first six races. His most recent Texas win came in October of 2020, when Busch led five times for 90 of the 334 laps. The race started Sunday and was red flagged due to poor weather conditions after 52 laps were completed. 72 hours later, the green flag waved allowing Busch to claim his fourth Texas victory.
Success Not Limited to the Cup Series… In addition to his Cup Series successes at Texas, the veteran racer also has an astonishing 10 wins in 23 starts in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and six more in the NASCAR Truck Series at The Great American Speedway.
Get to the Points… After his 27th-place finish at Talladega Superspeedway, Busch enters Texas 16th in the series standings.
KYLE BUSCH QUOTES:
Let’s talk about what it is about Texas Motor Speedway that you like?
“Texas Motor Speedway is a challenging racetrack, with turns one and two being as flat as they are and as wide as they are. There’s a lot of room and options for where you can go,. but there’s probably only about about six inches of that racetrack that feels really good. That’s the groove that you want to be in, and stay in, in order to get that grip. We’ve been pretty decent at Texas. Last year, we were fast. We had some good speed. Unfortunately, I wrecked in qualifying, which then forced us to go to a backup car, but we were able to come back up through the field and get a top-15 finish. I think if we would have been able to race in the primary, we would have been able to finish in the top 10. We would have had a shot. But, you never know how some of those races play at the end. I remember Denny Hamlin, I think, was really pushing hard, running hard, trying the outside. And he finally busted his butt there towards the end as well, too, and Chase Elliott was able to get the win. So, it’s really, really finicky. It’s very hard to push harder, to find speed, to make speed to catch the guy in front of you or pass the guy in front of you and not overstep that edge.”
Is it a track that’s really sensitive when it comes to the temperature?
“Obviously, it’s in Texas. It gets hot there. It’s probably a track that may have a little bit of different characteristics when you go back each time.”
As the sun and the heat builds up throughout the day, does that track change a lot?
“It does, yeah. That track really changes a lot. I think it changes a lot in the beginning of our races with the Xfinity rubber down from the day before. Then it progressively changes as the day gets hotter in our races or if it goes later and cools off a little bit. It gets faster, it gets more grip. So, you’re always limited on that feel and the grip and how fast you can you feel like you can go. I talk about how treacherous or tricky turns one and two can be as far as being as flat as they are, but the same can be said for three and four with knowing how hard to push. Can you run wide open down there? Do you lift out of the throttle, get back to the throttle early? Do you just part throttle it longer through the corner? There’s a few different ways to run it.”
Jesse Love and the No. 2 Samsara Chevrolet at Texas Motor Speedway… Jesse Love has made one career NASCAR Xfinity Series start at Texas Motor Speedway. Driving the No. 2 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet one year ago, Love earned the pole position, tallied stage points, and brought home a ninth-place effort.
Starting P1… In Love’s young Xfinity Series career of only 44 starts, the Menlo Park, California native has secured seven pole positions – five in 2024 and two in 2025. Love, who most recently claimed the first starting position last week at Talladega Superspeedway, captured his first non-drafting track pole at Texas Motor Speedway in April 2024.
Another Record for the Resume… After capturing the pole position at Talladega Superspeedway, Love became the first driver in Xfinity Series history to win four consecutive drafting track poles.
Sophomore Success… After a successful Sunoco Rookie of the Year campaign in 2024, Love has carried the momentum into his sophomore season. With a third of the current season complete, Love has one win in the season-opening event at Daytona International Speedway, two poles, three top-five, and seven top-10 finishes. Leading in six events for a total of 156 laps, the young gun has recorded an average starting position of 8.1 and an average finishing position of 12.3.
Holding Strong… Through 11 races, Love remains in the fourth position in the Xfinity Series driver championship point standings – only seven points behind third-place Sam Mayer. With his Stage 1 win at Talladega Superspeedway, Love increased his Playoff Point total to six.
Double Duty… Love will make his second career NASCAR Cup Series start on Sunday when the 20-year-old pilots the No. 62 C4 Ultimate Energy Chevrolet for Beard Motorsports. The pair is also slated to compete in one additional Cup Series event in 2025, at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway in July.
About Samsara… Samsara (NYSE: IOT) is the pioneer of the Connected Operations® Cloud, which is a platform that enables organizations that depend on physical operations to harness Internet of Things (IoT) data to develop actionable insights and improve their operations. With tens of thousands of customers across North America and Europe, Samsara is a proud technology partner to the people who keep our global economy running, including the world’s leading organizations across construction, transportation and warehousing, field services, manufacturing, retail, logistics, and the public sector. The company’s mission is to increase the safety, efficiency, and sustainability of the operations that power the global economy.
Samsara Safety… Samsara utilizes AI-powered technology with trillions of data points to help fleet drivers reduce accidents by up to 50%. The Richard Childress Racing hauler drivers utilize the Samsara platform on a weekly basis to be efficient and safe on the roads to and from the racetrack.
JESSE LOVE QUOTE:
With one career start at Texas Motor Speedway, describe your first impressions of the track.
“Texas is fun, fast, and high-speed. It’s a track that is hard to drive and requires you to be technical. It’s extremely hard to pass in Turns 3 and 4, because the track is so narrow at that end. Turns 1 and 2 are wide and flat. Turns 3 and 4 are narrow, bumpy, and banked. Both ends of the track are equally as important to having a good finish. I know our Samsara Chevrolet will have speed in it. Hopefully we are able to get a good qualifying lap in on Friday to set ourselves up for the best possible position during the race.”
Austin Hill and the No. 21 Bennett Transportation & Logistics Chevrolet at Texas Motor Speedway… Austin Hill has made six career NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at Texas Motor Speedway, posting two top-five and four top-10 efforts (best finish of second in fall 2022). In last year’s event at the 1.5-mile oval, Hill qualified in the 13th position, fought a tight handling condition, and finished in sixth-place. The Winston, Georgia native also has 10 NASCAR Truck Series races on his resume at the Fort Worth, Texas track, earning three top-five and four top-10 finishes (best result of second in 2020).
Top-10 Streaking in Fort Worth… In his last four Xfinity Series races at Texas Motor Speedway, Hill has secured four top-10 results and never finished worse than seventh-place.
Win No. 3 of 2025… After starting from the second position, leading 19 laps, and capturing the Stage 2 win, Hill captured his first career victory at Talladega Superspeedway last Saturday. This marked the No. 21 team’s third win of the 2025 Xfinity Series season – a series-leading accomplishment.
Record Breaker… With nine career Xfinity Series drafting track wins, Hill is now the all-time wins leader at that specific style of racing. The 31-year-old passed two NASCAR Hall of Famers – Dale Earnhardt and Tony Stewart – to secure the title.
All-Time Lap Leader Extended… During his win at Talladega Superspeedway, Hill extended his all-time Xfinity Series lead in number of laps led on drafting tracks to 753. Hill accomplished this career feat in 22 drafting track races, 11 starts less than second-place Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Did You Know? Hill has won five of the last six stages on drafting tracks, including the second stage at Talladega Superspeedway. The one stage that Hill didn’t claim was earned by his teammate Jesse Love.
Gaining Ground… With 11 races complete, Hill gained one position and currently holds second-place in the Xfinity Series driver championship point standings – 79 points behind leader Justin Allgaier. Hill has secured a series-leading 20 Playoff points.
About Bennett Family of Companies… McDonough-Ga. based Bennett Family of Companies provides industry-leading logistics solutions that help businesses thrive. Whether you need specialized trucking, warehousing, 3PL, exporting, importing, or crane services, Bennett has the expertise to handle your most complex and time-sensitive freight. From LTL to over-dimensional truckloads, Bennett ensures safe, reliable, and on-time deliveries around the world. With a legacy of excellence since 1974, their family and woman-owned company is dedicated to providing personalized, flexible solutions that meet your unique business needs. Trust Bennett to deliver when it matters most – discover how we can help your business grow at www.bennettig.com. Together we can move anything.
Crane & Rigging… BOSS Crane & Rigging, a division of Bennett Family of Companies, is one of the top competitive providers of crane and rigging solutions. It specializes in the heavy lifting of major components, oversized machinery, oil rigs and components, and trucking transport. BOSS combines the best tools with the best talent to offer a range of services for the Construction, Mining & Steel, Oil & Gas, Petrochemical, and Wind Industries.
Meet Hill… On Saturday, May 3, fans will have two opportunities to meet Hill in the Fan Zone at Texas Motor Speedway. At 9:40 a.m. Local Time, Hill is scheduled to participate in a question-and-answer session at the Gate 3 Stage. Immediately following at 10a.m. Local Time, the veteran racer is scheduled to sign autographs at the RCR Merchandise Hauler. Stop by to meet Hill and purchase new No. 21 gear.
AUSTIN HILL QUOTE:
With Texas Motor Speedway having two different ends of the track, describe the racing action and what a driver needs out of the car to compete for the win.
“Texas Motor Speedway is a very unique racetrack. It’s a different mile and a half than most of the intermediate tracks we go to. Turns 1 and 2 are really flat and wide, which leads to a lot of space where errors can be made, especially when you are inside of another car. If someone gets tight on your door, it’s a very easy spot for you to loop it around and back into the fence. Then on the other end of the track in Turns 3 and 4, you give it all you have. If you can hold it wide open in Turns 3 and 4, you probably have a fast race car. You need a car that handles well in Turns 1 and 2 and then hang it out as much as you can in Turns 3 and 4. Personally I have always enjoyed racing at Texas, and I feel like it’s a place that our Bennett Transportation & Logistics team can be successful at. I would call Texas my second-best mile-and-a-half track behind Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Just haven’t been able to wear the cowboy hat yet.”
RCR PR
Motorsports
NASCAR is “Very Close” to Landing Fifth Manufacturer
What’s Happening? NASCAR Commissioner Steve Phelps has confirmed the sport is “very close” to bringing in a fifth manufacturer. This comes just after Ram announced its official return to the Truck Series and Dodge plans to return to the Cup Series. While no official name has been disclosed, sources strongly suggest Honda is the leading candidate. If […]

What’s Happening?
NASCAR Commissioner Steve Phelps has confirmed the sport is “very close” to bringing in a fifth manufacturer. This comes just after Ram announced its official return to the Truck Series and Dodge plans to return to the Cup Series. While no official name has been disclosed, sources strongly suggest Honda is the leading candidate. If the deal moves forward, a potential debut is targeted for 2027. The last manufacturer to join the Cup Series was Toyota in 2007, and since Dodge left, following the 2012 season, NASCAR has had three manufacturers – Chevrolet, Ford, and Toyota.
- Honda’s presence in motorsports, particularly in IndyCar and Formula 1, makes it a natural candidate for NASCAR expansion.
- NASCAR’s current rules require manufacturers to submit bodywork for approval two years in advance, meaning a 2026 debut would require formal action by September 2024. Given Honda’s ongoing IndyCar commitments through 2026, a 2027 Cup Series entry is the most realistic scenario.
- Brad Keselowski has reportedly been involved in discussions with Honda, and Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing has emerged as a potential team partner if a deal materializes. While no team alignment has been confirmed, garage speculation continues to focus on RFK as a landing spot.
- NASCAR is also using this opportunity to work closely with current and potential OEMs on hybrid engine development, which is expected to arrive soon. Honda’s hybrid experience could give it a technical advantage in the early planning, making a return more attractive.
- Chuck Schifsky, manager of Honda and Acura Motorsports, confirmed that Honda continues to explore multiple options for its future in U.S. Motorsports. Still, Honda has no news to share at this time.
- Fan and industry reaction has been broadly positive, with most seeing Honda as a great addition to the field. The move could help diversify the grid, increase global relevance, and spark renewed interest in manufacturer competition, helping increase the number of overall viewers and fans.
What other manufacturers would you like to see join the sport? Let us know your thoughts on our Discord or X. You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.
Motorsports
Denny Hamlin wins FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan
Daytona Motor Mouths: Nashville brings sigh of relief for Ryan Blaney The guys talk about Ryan Blaney’s win for Team Penske at Nashville, Carson Hocevar’s current spot in NASCAR and Kyle Larson’s merchandise sales. Denny Hamlin won his 57th Cup Series race Sunday at Michigan International Speedway. NASCAR’s Cup and Xfinity Series head to Mexico […]


Daytona Motor Mouths: Nashville brings sigh of relief for Ryan Blaney
The guys talk about Ryan Blaney’s win for Team Penske at Nashville, Carson Hocevar’s current spot in NASCAR and Kyle Larson’s merchandise sales.
- Denny Hamlin won his 57th Cup Series race Sunday at Michigan International Speedway.
- NASCAR’s Cup and Xfinity Series head to Mexico City for road course races next weekend.
Denny Hamlin was driving like a man in a hurry Sunday at Michigan.
That happens when you’re gonna become a dad (again) at any given moment.
While longtime fiancee Jordan Fish is back home awaiting birth of an overdue child (their third), dad was winning the 57th Cup Series race of his future-Hall of Fame career.
Hamlin battled late with William Byron, eventually passed him, then waved goodbye as Byron ran out of gas, leaving the runner-up spot to Chris Buescher, who was one second behind in Hamlin’s wake.
1. Denny Hamlin happily plays the villain role
During his post-race TV interview, Hamlin trotted out one of his favorite lines. He looked up to the grandstands, where a mix of cheers and boos were heard, and said, “Sorry, but I beat your favorite driver.”
On cue, he was asked, “who’s that?”
“All of them,” he replied (again).
He doesn’t care how repetitive that act becomes.
Byron’s premature dive down to the pits as the white flag was waving brought some drama. Did Hamlin have enough fuel? Turns out, he wasn’t all that concerned.
“Once I got to the lead, that’s when I started conserving,” he said.
2. Alex Bowman is alive and well and that’s a testament to modern technology
Bowman was just a kid when the SAFER Barrier and HANS Device became commonplace in NASCAR. All the same, he might want to pen a thank-you letter to the engineers who brought those saviors into the sport.
“I feel OK. It was the biggest hit I’ve ever taken in a stock-car by a mile,” Bowman said of a head-on, Lap 67 crash into the outside wall that wasn’t his fault.
He blamed the inherent turbulence and overall unpredictability of running near the rear of the field at a fast track like Michigan, where straightaway speeds reached 200 mph.
3. Up next: NASCAR goes South of the Border
There’s the South and even the Deep South. Both have long been considered NASCAR strongholds. Now we’ll see how things go in the “Deeper” South, as in Mexico City.
NASCAR’s Cup and Xfinity Series go international this coming week with Saturday and Sunday races on the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez road course. It’ll be the Cup Series’ first road-course race since March 2, and the first of three over the next five weeks.
4. Bonus Takeaway! And yes, it’s a Hemi
The rumors ended Sunday at Michigan, where the folks at Dodge announced they’re going back to NASCAR.
Thirteen years after Dodge left the Cup Series (on the heels of Brad Keselowski winning the championship in a Dodge, by the way), the manufacturer is re-entering NASCAR through the Truck Series, re-introducing the Ram pickup as well as the Hemi engine, whose return was announced earlier in the week.
In terms of “how” Dodge will return — a whole new factory team or an existing team — the details will have to come fairly soon, since Ram brand CEO Tim Kuniskis said he’ll have a truck on the starting grid when the 2026 season opens at Daytona.
“You know, it’s like the kid going to the prom,” Kuniskis said. “I’ve got the tux, got my dad’s car. Just don’t know who the date is going to be yet, but we’ll get there.”
Motorsports
Chase Elliott message speaks volumes as ‘enough is enough’ noise grows – Motorsport – Sports
““Look, there is no one here, and we have some great race fans and I appreciate them, but there is no one here who wants to perform as much as we do. “And we put a lot of effort and work into that, and I think that’s always important to remember because we might not […]

““Look, there is no one here, and we have some great race fans and I appreciate them, but there is no one here who wants to perform as much as we do.
“And we put a lot of effort and work into that, and I think that’s always important to remember because we might not do the flashiest work, but we sure do care a lot.”
And that message was particularly notable given what transpired in the race, with fans flooding replies to the final result posted by his Hendrick No.9 Team account to demand changes, not for the first time.
DON’T MISS:
“When is enough enough?” One fan asked. “AG should’ve been replaced years ago”, while another replied: “No more excuses, Alan needs to be fired. Enough is enough”.
Another fan said: “This was easily the worst display of team effort and coordination in a hot minute. (Sorry @Hendrick9Team admin for being the punching-bag for all this for so long)” and another added: “Terrible. Absolutely terrible. Drastic changes need to come to this team”.
Despite the calls for change growing among his fanbase, Elliott’s post-race interview, consistent with all his comments on his team, indicate he is firmly backing Gustafson and wants his fans to do the same.
Motorsports
Ercoli wins in Euro NASCAR as Davidson takes home podium at American SpeedFest
American SpeedFest 12 brought a pair of NASCAR Euro Series wins for Gianmarco Ercoli, while a large crowd cheered Jack Davidson to a maiden podium at his home event. Champion in 2023, when he scored a similar double at the series’ annual visit to Brands Hatch, Ercoli had only one podium finish in the opening […]

American SpeedFest 12 brought a pair of NASCAR Euro Series wins for Gianmarco Ercoli, while a large crowd cheered Jack Davidson to a maiden podium at his home event.
Champion in 2023, when he scored a similar double at the series’ annual visit to Brands Hatch, Ercoli had only one podium finish in the opening two weekends of 2025. But the Italian’s Ford Mustang set a blistering pace in two-lap superpole qualifying, 0.421 seconds faster than reigning champion Vittorio Ghirelli’s Chevrolet Camaro. A smaller margin separated the next eight drivers.
Ercoli was never headed in Saturday’s opener as British hero Davidson – a second-tier winner last year – starred. Starting fourth, Davidson hung on around the outside of the Druids hairpin and capitalised on the inside line for Graham Hill Bend to pass both Ghirelli and Liam Hezemans.
It took Ghirelli until almost half-distance to find a way back past the Scot. And when a backmarker separated him from Ercoli under a late caution period it was effectively game over. Davidson lost out at a messy restart but others’ penalties returned his third place.
Best lap times in Saturday’s race set Sunday’s grid, leaving Ercoli and Ghirelli on row two behind Hezemans and Paul Jouffreau. The Frenchman, points leader entering the event, was on his third engine of a trying weekend. He lost out to Ercoli at the start before the action was halted by a heavy accident involving local driver Max Marzorati that caused barrier damage.
After a single-file restart, Hezemans withstood Ercoli’s pressure, with Jouffreau and Ghirelli in tow, for three-quarters of the 38 laps. Even then, only fuel-pump failure denied the Dutchman, who was unavoidably rear-ended by Ercoli before the Italian swept by. “I think in this moment we can change the way of the championship,” reflected Ercoli.

Hezemans led the second race until fuel-pump woes intervened
Photo by: Gary Hawkins
Amid Hezemans’ demise, Ghirelli pounced to snatch second as Jouffreau hesitated. Two podiums were a fine reward for Ghirelli’s PK Carsport crew who had worked all night on Friday to completely rebuild his car after a huge testing accident – following suspension failure – with second-tier Open series driver Thomas Dombrowski at the wheel.
“We had to change every single piece of the car, weld the chassis, cut it, weld it again…” said 2013 Auto GP champion Ghirelli. “Really grateful for PK for their hard work.”
Saturday’s Open series contest descended into chaos as a cloudburst engulfed the circuit during the green-flag laps and halted racing after one tour as power surges disrupted circuit communications. Local man Matthew Ellis swept from fourth to first within half a lap of the resumption and held sway until a trip through the Paddock Hill gravel with five laps remaining. Thomas Toffel, of Yvan Muller’s M Racing team, and Melvin de Groot shot past, with de Groot then demoting Toffel a lap later for his maiden win as Ellis fell to eighth.
Martin Doubek robustly rebuffed fellow double-duty driver Thomas Krasonis to win Sunday’s slightly shortened race after Ellis’s engine blew and left a skating rink atop Paddock Hill.
“Christ, that was hard work,” puffed Tim Davis after winning the popular Ford vs Chevy contest’s opener in his Corvette. Fellow Bowtie marque representative Jake Swann (Camaro) topped qualifying as Davis experimented with taking Druids in third gear, avoiding second’s perilously close positioning to reverse on his 1969 C3’s H-pattern ’box.
Swann’s 1966 machine – dominant interloper in the wet Corvette celebration race two years ago – built an early lead before back-up-to-speed 2024 winner Davis closed in and seized the opportunity to run three-wide past a backmarker on Cooper Straight and snatch a decisive lead.

Swann and Davis shared the Ford vs Chevy spoils
Photo by: Gary Hawkins
Early pacesetter Swann held on in Sunday’s rematch, truncated by Patrick Doyle’s open-top Corvette heavily collecting the spinning Ford Boss Mustang of Chad Donner. Among a field of incredible earth-shaking machinery, the Ford team might have fared better but for Donner’s misfortune. He qualified second, only to be pushed off the grid with a flat battery. Sunday’s charge from the back took him to sixth before the Mustang’s front-right tyre deflated – a cut from debris suspected – as he braked for Paddock.
John Young’s Mustang was left as best Ford, narrowly beaten to third by Ray Barrow’s Camaro on Saturday before exacting revenge a day later.
Michael Saunders took his recently rebuilt ex-Lee Caroline TVR Tuscan – title winner in 2003-04 – to a near half-minute victory in the opening Bernie’s V8s bout before its differential failed as he sought a repeat. Sam Wilson therefore came through from eighth on the partially-reversed grid to snare victory in Rikki Cann’s Aston Martin V8 Vantage, repaired after a collision at Pembrey last month. Matthew Ellis, now aboard dad Martyn’s nippy Talbot Sunbeam Lotus, was homing in as the flag fell having cleared Guy Carter (Tuscan) and Swann, who’d switched to a matching 2019 NASCAR Camaro (ex-Ryan Preece).
After champion Dale Gent won an opening Pickup Trucks race with little green-flag running, David O’Regan triumphed twice. The first boiled down to a four-lap dash after a safety car; Gent overhauled Michael Smith on the penultimate tour, with O’Regan following, before the Irishman worked an opening at Clearways and left Gent tumbling to eighth.
Both Mark Willis (throttle cable) and Allen Cooper (sick engine) hit trouble while leading an attritional finale, while Gent’s dog-eared truck was called in after crossing swords with the Hadfield brothers. This meant O’Regan’s mid-race pass of Jonathan Hadfield ultimately proved decisive.
Delight turned to despair for SpeedFest Silhouettes day-one winner Ray Harris, when a driveshaft failed on his Ginetta G40 on the rolling lap of Sunday’s race. Harris had overcome the early challenge of Colin Smith’s similar car for his victory, and it was Smith who won on Sunday – but only after Reuben Taylor was penalised for an earlier pass under yellow flags.
Six typically close Legends races produced six different winners and a widest victory margin of just 0.107s when Oli Schlup held off Connor Mills in Saturday’s wet final. Mills edged Tyler Read in Sunday’s final, while heat wins went to Read, Chris Needham, Jack Parker and Peter Barrable.

The Legends contests were typically close
Photo by: Gary Hawkins
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Motorsports
14-year-old dies after accident during practice at Yadkin County motocross track
Camden Trail died after colliding with another rider in midair near the finish line jump. EAST BEND, N.C. — A 14-year-old from Virginia died Saturday night after an accident during practice at a Yadkin County motocross track. According to East Bend Motorsports, Camden Trail was riding Saturday night when he and another rider collided in […]

Camden Trail died after colliding with another rider in midair near the finish line jump.
EAST BEND, N.C. — A 14-year-old from Virginia died Saturday night after an accident during practice at a Yadkin County motocross track.
According to East Bend Motorsports, Camden Trail was riding Saturday night when he and another rider collided in midair near the finish line jump. Paramedics and other emergency personnel were on the scene within moments, but he ultimately died from his injuries.
An obituary posted by Wright Funeral Services said Camden was from Bassett, Virginia, and loved “anything with a motor, especially his dirt bikes.” He also apparently owned his own yardwork business, Cam’s Lawn Care.
“There is nothing that we would have done any differently, but we do seek to honor Camden, and his parents made it very clear to me in the ambulance that he died doing what he loved,” East Bend Motorsports owner Travis Rominger said in a Facebook post. “Their faith is very strong, this is all the details that I will share at this time, as I would just like the entire ebmx family to lift this family up in prayer during an unthinkable time.”
East Bend Motorsports was open for practice on Sunday. Rominger said keeping the track open for practice was something the entire community needed after Saturday’s tragedy.
“All my six kids have ever known is track life and church life and occasionally a beach/mountain/Disney trip, and of course my boys ride and race, and I used to race, and it’s about time to come back out of retirement and get on a gate,” Rominger said in a Facebook post. “Life is tough and some days it just plan sucks but our only option is to press on. We all grieve and handle things differently, and that’s what make everyone so special.”
Motorsports
NASCAR Cup Series Standings: Ross Chastain rises as Team Penske driver demoted after Michigan race
The latest 2025 NASCAR Cup Series standings are in after Sunday’s race at Michigan, and it’s good news for Ross Chastain and Denny Hamlin. Hamlin won Sunday’s race to take his third Cup Series win of the 2025 season, and in doing so, moved up one spot in the regular season standings to third at […]

The latest 2025 NASCAR Cup Series standings are in after Sunday’s race at Michigan, and it’s good news for Ross Chastain and Denny Hamlin.
Hamlin won Sunday’s race to take his third Cup Series win of the 2025 season, and in doing so, moved up one spot in the regular season standings to third at the expense of his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate, Christopher Bell.
Chastain was the only other riser in the top 10 of the standings after his sixth-place finish at Michigan, moving up one spot in the rankings to eighth position, with Joey Logano’s poor showing in the No. 22 leading to the Team Penske star being demoted to ninth.
One of Logano’s Team Penske teammates, Austin Cindric, also dropped in the standings after the Michigan race, with his 31st-place finish seeing him fall from 13th to 16th. Fortunately, Cindric is already locked into the playoffs having won at Talladega earlier this year.
At the top of the standings, William Byron continues to lead the way ahead of Kyle Larson, even despite the No. 24’s late fuel disaster and subsequent 28th-place finish. Larson is now just 41 points behind.
With that said, let’s take a look at the Cup Series standings in full, including playoff points collected so far!
READ MORE: NASCAR announce late demotion for Cup Series star at Michigan
NASCAR Cup Series standings after Michigan
Pos | Driver | Car No. | Team | Points (Stage) | Playoff Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | William Byron* | 24 | Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet | 576 (172) | 12 |
2 | Kyle Larson* | 5 | Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet | 535 (132) | 23 |
3 | Denny Hamlin* | 11 | Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota | 494 (124) | 18 |
4 | Christopher Bell* | 20 | Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota | 480 (81) | 16 |
5 | Chase Elliott | 9 | Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet | 464 (85) | 0 |
6 | Tyler Reddick | 45 | 23XI Racing Toyota | 460 (116) | 0 |
7 | Ryan Blaney* | 12 | Team Penske Ford | 427 (129) | 8 |
8 | Ross Chastain* | 1 | Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet | 414 (36) | 5 |
9 | Joey Logano* | 22 | Team Penske Ford | 395 (83) | 7 |
10 | Bubba Wallace | 23 | 23XI Racing Toyota | 383 (107) | 2 |
11 | Chase Briscoe | 19 | Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota | 363 (33) | 0 |
12 | Chris Buescher | 17 | RFK Racing Ford | 342 (41) | -4 |
13 | Alex Bowman | 48 | Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet | 335 (83) | 0 |
14 | Ryan Preece | 60 | RFK Racing Ford | 322 (48) | 1 |
15 | Kyle Busch | 8 | Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet | 322 (19) | 0 |
16 | Austin Cindric* | 2 | Team Penske Ford | 318 (95) | 7 |
17 | Josh Berry* | 21 | Wood Brothers Racing Ford | 309 (57) | 6 |
18 | Carson Hocevar | 77 | Spire Motorsports Chevrolet | 304 (78) | 0 |
19 | AJ Allmendinger | 16 | Kaulig Racing Chevrolet | 304 (51) | 0 |
20 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. | 47 | JTG Daugherty Racing Chevrolet | 302 (22) | 0 |
21 | Erik Jones | 43 | Legacy Motor Club Toyota | 286 (26) | 0 |
22 | Zane Smith | 38 | Front Row Motorsports Ford | 285 (12) | 0 |
23 | Michael McDowell | 71 | Spire Motorsports Chevrolet | 285 (14) | 0 |
24 | Ty Gibbs | 54 | Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota | 270 (20) | 0 |
25 | Austin Dillon | 3 | Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet | 270 (4) | 0 |
26 | John H. Nemechek | 42 | Legacy Motor Club Toyota | 270 (21) | 0 |
27 | Todd Gilliland | 34 | Front Row Motorsports Ford | 265 (19) | 0 |
28 | Daniel Suárez | 99 | Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet | 254 (16) | 0 |
29 | Justin Haley | 7 | Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet | 234 (15) | 0 |
30 | Ty Dillon | 10 | Kaulig Racing Chevrolet | 232 (14) | 0 |
31 | Noah Gragson | 4 | Front Row Motorsports Ford | 224 (8) | 0 |
32 | Brad Keselowski | 6 | RFK Racing Ford | 221 (26) | 0 |
33 | Shane van Gisbergen | 88 | Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet | 192 (14) | 0 |
34 | Riley Herbst | 35 | 23XI Racing Toyota | 185 (2) | 0 |
35 | Cole Custer | 41 | Stewart-Haas Racing Ford | 175 (2) | 0 |
36 | Cody Ware | 51 | Rick Ware Racing Ford | 95 (3) | 0 |
37 | Jimmie Johnson | 84 | Legacy Motor Club Toyota | 35 (0) | 0 |
38 | Corey LaJoie | 01 | Spire Motorsports Ford | 24 (5) | 0 |
39 | Katherine Legge | 78 | Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet | 7 (0) | 0 |
40 | Derek Kraus | 44 | NY Racing Team Chevrolet | 5 (0) | 0 |
41 | Chad Finchum | 66 | Garage 66 Ford | 3 (0) | 0 |
42 | Casey Mears | 66 | Garage 66 Ford | 2 (0) | 0 |
43 | Burt Myers | 50 | Team AmeriVet Chevrolet | 1 (0) | 0 |
44 | Martin Truex Jr. | 56 | Tricon Garage Toyota | 1 (0) | 0 |
* Indicates a driver who has qualified for the Cup Series playoffs through winning a regular-season race.
NASCAR HEADLINES: Michael Jordan-owned 23XI could lose ‘millions’ as Bubba Wallace quizzed on future
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