Denny Hamlin earns Pocono pole as William Byron wrecks in wild qualifying session
Denny Hamlin missed the race in Mexico City, but it didn’t seem to impact him as the NASCAR Cup Series rolled into Pocono. With a record seven wins at the 2.5-mile track, it was obvious that the No. 11 Toyota would be fast again, and in qualifying, no one could match his pace. He went […]
Denny Hamlin missed the race in Mexico City, but it didn’t seem to impact him as the NASCAR Cup Series rolled into Pocono. With a record seven wins at the 2.5-mile track, it was obvious that the No. 11 Toyota would be fast again, and in qualifying, no one could match his pace. He went to the top of the charts in his fifth pole position at Pocono but his first of the 2025 season.
“Obviously, because I was a little more rested than the field right there, I was able to get a little more speed,” joked Hamlin.
“I mean, I love all of them,” added Hamlin when asked about Pocono being one of his favorite tracks. “Every week, we have a great shot to win and this team just knows what I need out of the car. And with all the cars and tires and everything that has changed over time, you still make speed at this track the same way. I was able to execute it there in qualifying and that’s a good start for us.”
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Photo by: Jonathan Bachman – Getty Images
Joining Hamlin on the front row will be RFK Racing’s Chris Buescher, who ended the session 0.083s behind Hamlin’s fast lap. Buescher’s first career Cup win came at Pocono back in 2016. Carson Hocevar qualified third, John-Hunter Nemechek fourth, and Cole Custer fifth in some really impressive runs for both the Legacy Motor Club and Haas Factory Team.
Chase Briscoe, Ty Gibbs, Tyler Reddick, Christopher Bell, and Daniel Suarez filled out the remainder of the top ten.
Qualifying trouble
Watch: William Byron hits inside wall hard during qualifying at Pocono
Four drivers didn’t even set a qualifying time. As a result of inspection issues, Brennan Poole’s team was not allowed to take part while Cody Ware crashed in practice and was unable to do so. Josh Berry’s Wood Brothers No. 21 suffered a broken rear diffuser in the practice, which the team was busy repairing.
And then there was Bubba Wallace, whose No. 23 Toyota would not start when it was his time to go. 23XI Racing tried to push start it but to no avail, and he was visibly frustrated inside the car. A.J. Allmendinger and Todd Gilliland were the two slowest drivers on track, partly because they abandoned their laps after sketchy moments.
But the biggest moment came near the end of qualifying. William Byron wasn’t going to challenge for pole, but he was likely going to be inside the top 10 when he lost control through the Tunnel Turn, spinning out and slamming the inside wall. After posting the fastest time in practice, the team will now have to make extensive repairs as they’ve chosen not to go to a backup car.
Byron’s HMS teammate Chase Elliott was on track at the same time and the incident ruined his lap. Luckily, NASCAR allowed him to put on a fresh set of tires and Elliott was allowed to go back out, but that was only good enough for 18th. Shockingly, he was the highest-qualifying Hendrick Motorsports driver. Kyle Larson qualified 24th and Alex Bowman was 25th.
As for Mexico City winner Shane van Gisbergen, he ended up 23rd, matching his best qualifying effort of the season on an oval.
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Bomb threat at Trackside Motorsports prompts evacuation in Lincoln Township | News
LINCOLN TOWNSHIP, Wis. – On Wednesday July 30, Vilas County Dispatch received a bomb threat at Trackside Motorsports near Eagle River. An individual claimed a bomb was placed inside and threatened to detonate it if law enforcement arrived. Authorities evacuated the area and set up a perimeter. Phone calls with the suspect revealed he was […]
LINCOLN TOWNSHIP, Wis. – On Wednesday July 30, Vilas County Dispatch received a bomb threat at Trackside Motorsports near Eagle River. An individual claimed a bomb was placed inside and threatened to detonate it if law enforcement arrived.
Authorities evacuated the area and set up a perimeter. Phone calls with the suspect revealed he was not nearby, and deputies found no devices in the building.
Simultaneously, a separate incident occurred in Eagle River. Teenagers were seen waving BB guns from a vehicle, leading to a traffic stop near Trackside. Despite the proximity, the two events were unrelated.
Both incidents are being investigated by the Vilas County Sheriff’s Office and the Eagle River Police Department.
Kaulig Racing parts ways with Xfinity Series driver Josh Williams
Josh Williams is no longer with Kaulig Racing, the team announced Wednesday. The team stated that it will continue to field the No. 11 car in the Xfinity Series with multiple drivers the rest of the season. The team announced Wednesday afternoon that Carson Hocevar would drive the No. 11 car at Iowa in the […]
Josh Williams is no longer with Kaulig Racing, the team announced Wednesday.
The team stated that it will continue to field the No. 11 car in the Xfinity Series with multiple drivers the rest of the season.
The team announced Wednesday afternoon that Carson Hocevar would drive the No. 11 car at Iowa in the Xfinity race.
Austin Hill will miss Saturday’s Xfinity race at Iowa Speedway.
Williams, who turns 32 on Sunday, had been with the team since last season. In 54 races at Kaulig Racing, Williams had no wins, no top-five finishes and six top 10s. He placed 18th in the points last year and is 19th in the standings this season.
Williams has 240 career Xfinity starts with 17 top-10 finishes.
In a statement posted on social media, Williams wrote: “As most of you have seen, Kaulig Racing has made the decision to release me for the remainder of the season. This has been a difficult day for my family, friends, long-time partners and fans, whom I can’t thank enough for standing by my side through all of this. We will be back soon and looking forward to a much brighter chapter in my racing career. I wish nothing but the best for my guys on the 11 team.”
Josh Williams abruptly released by Kauilig Racing mid-season
NASCAR team Kaulig Racing has parted ways with their driver Josh Williams Josh Williams currently races the No. 11 car for Kaulig Racing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. He’s run every race for the team this season. However, the No. 11 car will have a new driver starting this weekend at Iowa Speedway. The team […]
NASCAR team Kaulig Racing has parted ways with their driver Josh Williams
Josh Williams currently races the No. 11 car for Kaulig Racing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. He’s run every race for the team this season.
However, the No. 11 car will have a new driver starting this weekend at Iowa Speedway. The team says they will rotate drivers in the car for the remainder of the season.
The 31-year-old has raced full time for the team since the start of the 2024 season. With 240 total Xfinity Series races over a 10-year career, Williams has collected 17 top-10 finishes.
Kaulig Racing announces the departure with Josh Williams
On Wednesday, the team made the following announcement:
“Kaulig Racing announced that is has parted ways with NASCAR Xfinity Series driver, Josh Williams, effective today.”
“Kaulig Racing will field the No. 11 Chevrolet with multiple drivers over the remaining 12 NASCAR Xfinity Series races.”
“More announcements regarding the driver lineup will be forthcoming.”
Josh Williams comments
The driver issued the following statement moments after the team release:
“As most of you have seen, Kaulig Racing has made the decision to release me for the remainder of the season,” Williams opened.
“This has been a difficult day for my family, friends, long-time partners and fans, whom I can’t thank enough for standing by my side through all of this.”
“We will be back soon and looking forward to a much brighter chapter in my racing career. I will nothing but the best for my guys on the 11 team.”
FORT WORTH, TEXAS – APRIL 01: Carson Hocevar, driver of the #42 Worldwide Express Chevrolet, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series SpeedyCash.com 250 at Texas Motor Speedway on April 01, 2023 in Fort Worth, Texas. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Update: The team has selected a replacement
For this weekend at Iowa Speedway, the team will have Carson Hocevar in the No. 11 car.
Hocevar will run double-duty at Iowa Speedway as he’ll also drive the No. 77 for Spire Motorsports in the NASCAR Cup Series.
Carson Hocevar comments:
“I love to race, anywhere, anytime, so when I was asked to drive the Kaulig Xfinity car at Iowa, I jumped at the opportunity,” said the enthusiastic Hocevar.
Hocevar added, “I’m grateful to the team at Kaulig Racing for believing in me and to Jeff Dickerson and my Spire team for letting me have some fun with the 11 team this weekend. I promise to make the most of it.”
2025 NASCAR Odds: Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin Early Favorites For Iowa Corn 350
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! The NASCAR Cup Series heads to the Iowa Speedway this weekend for the Iowa Corn 350. When it comes to the odds, bettors can dive into that action and place wagers on which driver they think has what it takes to win outright. Last week at the […]
The NASCAR Cup Series heads to the Iowa Speedway this weekend for the Iowa Corn 350.
When it comes to the odds, bettors can dive into that action and place wagers on which driver they think has what it takes to win outright.
Last week at the Brickyard, Bubba Wallace got into victory lane with a historic win after closing at +1100. The early odds for Iowa have Bubba at +3500.
This week, Kyle Larson opens as the favorite, but he’s tied with Denny Hamlin in this spot at +450.
Who will take the checkered flag this weekend? Let’s dive into the odds at DraftKings Sportsbook as of July 30.
Iowa Corn 350 2025
Kyle Larson: +450 (bet $10 to win $55 total) Denny Hamlin: +450 (bet $10 to win $55 total) Christopher Bell: +500 (bet $10 to win $60 total) Ryan Blaney: +550 (bet $10 to win $65 total) William Byron: +900 (bet $10 to win $100 total) Joey Logano: +1000 (bet $10 to win $110 total) Chase Elliott: +1100 (bet $10 to win $120 total) Tyler Reddick: +1800 (bet $10 to win $190 total) Chase Briscoe: +1800 (bet $10 to win $190 total) Ross Chastain: +2000 (bet $10 to win $210 total) Chris Buescher: +2000 (bet $10 to win $210 total) Kyle Busch: +2500 (bet $10 to win $260 total) Josh Berry: +2500 (bet $10 to win $260 total) Ty Gibbs: +3000 (bet $10 to win $310 total) Carson Hocevar: +3000 (bet $10 to win $310 total) Bubba Wallace: +3500 (bet $10 to win $360 total) Brad Keselowski: +3500 (bet $10 to win $360 total) Daniel Suarez: +4500 (bet $10 to win $460 total) Austin Cindric: +4500 (bet $10 to win $460 total) Alex Bowman: +4500 (bet $10 to win $460 total) Ryan Preece: +5000 (bet $10 to win $610 total) Shane van Gisbergen: +12000 (bet $10 to win $1,210 total) Noah Gragson: +13000 (bet $10 to win $1,310 total) Erik Jones: +13000 (bet $10 to win $1,310 total) Austin Dillon: +13000 (bet $10 to win $1,310 total) AJ Allmendinger: +13000 (bet $10 to win $1,310 total) John Hunter Nemechek: +15000 (bet $10 to win $1,510 total) Todd Gilliland: +20000 (bet $10 to win $2,010 total) Ricky Stenhouse Jr.: +20000 (bet $10 to win $2,010 total) Michael McDowell: +20000 (bet $10 to win $2,010 total) Zane Smith: +25000 (bet $10 to win $2,510 total) Justin Haley: +25000 (bet $10 to win $2,510 total) Cole Custer: +30000 (bet $10 to win $3,010 total) Ty Dillon: +40000 (bet $10 to win $4,010 total) Riley Herbst: +40000 (bet $10 to win $4,010 total) Cody Ware: +50000 (bet $10 to win $5,010 total) Joey Gase: +100000 (bet $10 to win $10,010 total)
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NASCAR paint schemes preview: Larson, Elliott, Byron, Bowman to sport primary paint at Iowa
CONCORD, N.C. – With just four races remaining in the NASCAR Cup Series regular season, it’s time to get down to business for Hendrick Motorsports. Might as well dress the part. Classics abound in terms of paint schemes for this week’s race at Iowa Speedway. The Cup Series made its debut on the 0.875-mile oval last […]
CONCORD, N.C. – With just four races remaining in the NASCAR Cup Series regular season, it’s time to get down to business for Hendrick Motorsports.
Might as well dress the part.
Classics abound in terms of paint schemes for this week’s race at Iowa Speedway. The Cup Series made its debut on the 0.875-mile oval last year with Kyle Larson winning the pole and William Byron (second), Chase Elliott (third) and Alex Bowman (eighth) each earning a top-10 finish.
Larson returns in his No. 5 HendrickCars.com ride, Elliott will roll in his primary No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts scheme, Byron will settle into his green and black RAPTOR colors and Bowman’s set to go in his purple and black Ally livery.
The paint scheme preview is brought to you by Kelley Blue Book.
Here’s how the cars will look when they hit the track this weekend:
Kris Wright Slams The Gas Back With Venturini Motorsports
Alright, race fans, buckle up! Kris Wright is itching to hit the ARCA Menards Series tracks once again, and he’s reuniting with Venturini Motorsports for an action-packed hat trick of races. This isn’t just some casual comeback; it’s more like a “can’t-miss, grab-your-popcorn” event for anyone who loves a good ol’ underdog story. Wright’s been […]
Alright, race fans, buckle up! Kris Wright is itching to hit the ARCA Menards Series tracks once again, and he’s reuniting with Venturini Motorsports for an action-packed hat trick of races. This isn’t just some casual comeback; it’s more like a “can’t-miss, grab-your-popcorn” event for anyone who loves a good ol’ underdog story. Wright’s been around the block in NASCAR’s Xfinity and Truck Series, not to mention his impressive work in sports car racing. But this time, he’s back to where he’s shone before—with Venturini.
What’s the Deal?
If you’re asking, “Why should I care?” then here’s a quick spoiler. Wright isn’t just showing up for the ARCA Menards Series this season; he’s gearing up for three high-stakes tracks. First up? The fast oval of Iowa Speedway on August 1. Then comes the twisting, turning challenge of Watkins Glen on August 8. Finally, he’ll wrap it up on the iconic Kansas Speedway on September 26.
Talk about diversity! This isn’t just another driver dipping their toe in part-time racing. Kris Wright is putting his skills to the test across a serious mix of track styles. Wright himself said, “The combination of Iowa, Watkins Glen, and Kansas gives me a great variety of tracks, and I’m confident we can go out and compete for wins.” Yeah, Kris, you better bring your A-game because these tracks don’t mess around.
Why Should You Root for Kris Wright
For starters, Kris Wright’s stats make a solid case. Across 35 ARCA starts, he’s snagged eight top-five finishes and twelve top-ten finishes. Doesn’t sound too shabby, right? Throw in his full-time 2024 season with Venturini Motorsports, where he finished third in the ARCA national driver championship standings, and you’ve got a racer who knows how to take care of business.
But what makes Wright so intriguing is his versatility. NASCAR Trucks? Check. IMSA Prototypes? Double check. ARCA oval racing? Been there, done that, and he’s still hungry for more. Wright isn’t just a driver; he’s the quintessential motorsport Swiss Army knife, ready to adapt and dominate wherever the team needs him.
Venturini Motorsports Packs a Punch
If you’re not familiar with Venturini Motorsports, here’s a PSA that might help. This isn’t some middling operation; they’re a premier team under the Toyota GAZOO Racing banner. Specializing in blending young talent with gritty veterans, the squad has a knack for punching above its weight. Wright returning to the fold is practically a match made in motorsport heaven. Pair a talented, experienced driver with a rock-solid team, and what do you get? A legit shot at taking the checkered flag—not once, but three times this season.
Mark Your Calendars
Oh, and just a reminder, since some of you are setting alarms for these races, Iowa Speedway is this weekend. Don’t sleep on it. Watkins Glen and Kansas will quickly follow, so it’s a blink-and-you ’ll-miss-it kind of situation. Whether he’s weaving through Watkins Glen’s unforgiving turns or gassing it down Kansas’ straights, Kris Wright entering the fray adds a much-needed spark to the competition. And if you’re someone who loves rooting for a multi-talented underdog, there couldn’t be a better time to jump on the Kris Wright train.
Final Thoughts
Kris Wright isn’t just circling the ARCA schedule in 2025 as a filler driver. No, this guy wants wins and knows how to chase them. Sure, the odds aren’t exactly stacked in his favor, but what’s racing without a bit of chaos? Venturini Motorsports offers him a proven platform; now it’s on Wright to deliver on all that pent-up potential. Keep your eyes peeled, NASCAR and ARCA fans! This three-race deal is going to be worth the hype. Will Wright go all-in and snag a win? Your guess is as good as ours, but one thing’s for sure—we’ll all be watching.