Carson Hocevar’s search for a first NASCAR win goes on after he was denied by a blown tire in Michigan – but Denny Hamlin is in no doubt he will be a future superstar
Denny Hamlin thinks Carson Hocevar has a bright future in the NASCAR Cup Series(Image: Meg Oliphant, Getty Images)
Racing sensation Denny Hamlin has championed Carson Hocevar as a “superstar,” touting him as one of the next “five to six elite drivers” destined for stardom in NASCAR’s top series soon.
Hamlin, fresh off his victory at Michigan and stirring up fans with post-race festivities, acknowledged that Joe Gibbs Racing’s unconventional strategy is seeing results. Hocevar, despite an unfortunate tire blowout that dashed his chances in the No. 77, led impressively for 32 laps and didn’t mince words in a pointed remark directed at Rick Hendrick post-race.
While Hocevar’s quest for his inaugural win continues amid some critique for his bold driving – including remarks from Hamlin on his podcast – the No. 11 car’s driver still views the youngster with limited pity due to his immense potential.
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Following the checkered flag, Hamlin couldn’t help but sing praises for Hocevar’s abilities, predicting a sure-fire rise to success once he refines some aspects of his technique.
During his post-race media session, a candid Hamlin shared his perspective: “Where I don’t feel sorry for him is he actually is half my age and so I know he’s got way more time to win those races.”
“You can’t run as fast as he’s running, being up front as much as he’s up front, without eventually winning.
Hocevar is known for his aggresive driving style(Image: Getty)
“And I know that panic sometimes can set in, but he’s with a team that’s on the rise, he is on the rise. It’s just a matter of time. None of us will be shocked if it’s next week, a month from now or whenever it is.
“I certainly give him his fair share of —- on Monday on my podcast, bit that doesn’t mean I don’t respect him. Absolutely just a superstar when it comes to actual raw talent.
“When he figures out how to harness that and pick and choose the moments where he is aggressive, he’s going to put it all together and just be the next whoever.
“There’s five to six elite drivers in this series, and he could be one of those five or six very easily when he puts it all together.
“He’s got all the tools. He’s got all the pieces to the puzzle right there in front of them. He’s not missing anything. When he figures out how to put it all together, he’s going to be a future star.”
AVONDALE, ARIZONA – OCTOBER 31: Chandler Smith, driver of the #38 QuickTie Ford, looks on during qualifying for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway on October 31, 2025 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)
Front Row Motorsports announced that Chandler Smith will return to the team for the 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season. Smith will again drive the No. 38 Ford F-150, continuing a pairing that produced strong results in 2025.
The decision keeps the team’s Truck Series lineup intact, with Smith returning alongside Layne Riggs. Smith, 23, earned two wins during the 2025 season and finished eighth in the final standings.
Front Row Motorsports said the move reflects confidence in the progress made during their first year together and provides stability heading into the 2026 season, which opens at Daytona International Speedway in February.
Chan the man is back again.
We’re excited to announce that Chandler Smith will return to drive the No. 38 in the Craftsman Truck Series in 2026! pic.twitter.com/OmfUQctRkE
Chandler Smith’s 2025 season with Front Row Motorsports
Smith joined Front Row Motorsports ahead of the 2025 season with a short turnaround. Even with limited preparation time, he quickly became a factor in the championship picture. He won two of the first six races and showed early title pace, including a victory at Bristol, where he raced Kyle Larson for the win, as reported by Toby Christie of TobyChristie.com.
As the season went on, Smith and the No. 38 team faced challenges during the playoffs that slowed their momentum. Despite that, Smith finished the year eighth in the championship standings. It marked his first full season with Front Row Motorsports and laid the foundation for continued improvement.
“It’s incredible what this group accomplished in just one season,” Smith said in a press release. “When I came to Front Row on such short notice, no one expected us to make a playoff run, but this team never backed down.”
Front Row Motorsports keeps its lineup and leadership
The announcement confirms that Front Row Motorsports will bring back the same two-driver lineup in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Smith will continue as the teammate to Layne Riggs, who drives the No. 34 Ford F-150. Team officials said continuity was an important factor in the decision, according to TobyChristie.com.
Crew chief Jon Leonard will also return to the No. 38 team in 2026. Leonard enters his sixth season as a Truck Series crew chief and worked closely with Smith throughout the 2025 campaign.
“I’m looking forward to working with Chandler again, Leonard said.” “We have a mutual trust for each other; we just click. He knows what he needs out of the truck, and he communicates that well.”
Front Row Motorsports said sponsorship partners for Smith and the No. 38 truck will be announced at a later date.
Focus shifts to the 2026 Truck Series season
With Smith confirmed for 2026, Front Row Motorsports now turns its attention to the upcoming Truck Series schedule. The season will feature races across a wide range of tracks, starting at Daytona and ending at Phoenix Raceway.
Smith said the team plans to build on what it learned during its first year together. “The work, the belief, and the effort they put in made all the difference, he said.” “I’m excited for what’s ahead and confident in what we can achieve together.”
Offseason preparation is expected to begin soon as Smith and the No. 38 team look to improve on their 2025 results. Front Row Motorsports said more updates will be shared before the season begins.
Dogli Wilberforce is a sports writer who covers NASCAR, Formula 1 and IndyCar Series for Heavy Sports. With bylines at Total Apex Sports and Last Word on Sports, Wilberforce has built a reputation for delivering timely, engaging coverage that blends sharp analysis with accessible storytelling. Wilberforce has covered everything from major football transfers to fight-night drama, bringing readers the insight and context behind the headlines. More about Dogli Wilberforce
Nissan has a long, proud history in motorsport, which began with a victory in 1958 at the 10,000-mile Round Australia Trial with a Datsun 210. Peter Brock’s BRE Datsun program brought success to America with SCCA dominance throughout the late 1960s and early ’70s. The 1984 founding of Nissan Motorsports International, or NISMO, sharpened Nissan’s efforts to a fine point, and over the next several decades we saw Nissans competing at the sharp end of the grid in motorsports as diverse as Group C endurance racing, GT and touring cars, rallying, and Baja-style off-road events. And with the company’s on-track successes, NISMO performance parts trickled down to the company’s production cars.
NissanStefan Lombard
Performance enthusiasts take note, then, because in an effort to add more verve to its current lineup, Nissan announced yesterday that is launching new initiatives aimed at enhancing the brand through new motorsport activities and by growing the NISMO lineup.
According to a press release shared on the company’s global newsroom, this will include the introduction of new prototype performance cars for racing as well as to “accelerate technological advancements in both hardware and software development for racing purpose and car lineup expansion.” This initiative is set to begin in 2026.
Cameron Neveu
Further, for 2026, the company aims to increase the number of NISMO-branded offerings, which currently includes vehicles such as the Z NISMO, Armada NISMO in the U.S. And by 2028, Nissan plans to increase the volume of NISMO vehicles from approximately 100,000 to 150,000. “In pursuit of added customer value,” the statement says, “Nissan will actively consider collaborations with external partners to expand its NISMO car lineup business.” No further information is provided, so we’ll have to see how that shakes out.
With more than just a focus on new performance cars, Nissan is also doubling down on its restoration and heritage efforts. To that end, Nissan Motorsports & Customization Co. (NMC) “will grow its restoration, restomod, and parts sales businesses, with an initial focus on expanding around the Skyline GT‑R R32, R33, and R34, with more vehicles and regional offerings to follow.” As more and more of these hot JDM machines hit the market, increased factory renovation efforts can only help from a brand identity standpoint, as well as from the perspectives of preservation and values.
We’ve commented recently that these are turbulent times for Nissan, but the tone of yesterday’s release carries a lot of excitement. A bigger selection of high-performance Nissans, more actively engaged in global motorsport, with an eye on heritage preservation, to boot, bodes well for the company and its loyal fans.
DGM Racing has tapped Mason Maggio to join its driver lineup for the 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series campaign, the team confirmed on Wednesday.
Maggio will get behind the wheel of the No. 91 Chevrolet in select events throughout the upcoming season, beginning with the February 14 season-opener at Daytona International Speedway.
From Florida roots to the Florida team ?We’re excited to have @MasonMaggio1 join the #DGMFamily for the 2026 season.
Fittingly, his first race will be the season-opener at @DAYTONA just two hours from Mason’s hometown and DGM’s HQ!
Sponsorship details and Maggio’s full schedule of events behind the wheel of an entry for DGM Racing will be announced in the coming weeks.
“I’m super excited and thankful for the opportunity to be driving for DGM Racing in 2026. It is really cool to be able to have the Florida driver work with the Florida team on a regular basis next year,” said Maggio. “A huge thanks to the entire team, my family, partners, and fans for their support and for making this possible. I’m really looking forward to a great season in the inaugural NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series.”
The 21-year-old driver has made 47 starts across the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, competing for a number of different organizations. In 2025, Maggio had his biggest season yet, running 12 events in the second-tier series — including one for DGM Racing at Talladega Superspeedway, where he finished 22nd-place.
“We’re excited to welcome another driver from The Sunshine State to our racing family,” said Mario Gosselin, owner of DGM Racing. “Mason is a young, eager driver who isn’t afraid to put in the work to grow on and off track. His demeanor and professionalism at such a young age are refreshing, and I am impressed with his work ethic and willingness to learn.”
Maggio will be partnered with Josh Williams, another Florida-native, for the season-opener at Daytona. Williams was announced earlier in the off-season as the full-time driver of the No. 92 Chevrolet for DGM Racing.
In 20 career starts in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, Maggio has managed to put up a pair of top-20 results, both with Joey Gase Motorsports with Scott Osteen, at Daytona in the Summer (15th) and Atlanta Motor Speedway in the Fall of 2024.
Maggio also has a total of 27 starts in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series over the last three seasons, including three top-20 results — a 15th in the season-opener at Daytona for Hettinger Racing, an 18th at Talladega in the Fall of 2024, and a 20th-place finish at Nashville Superspeedway in 2023.
The NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts season opener at Daytona International Speedway will take place on Saturday, February 14, at 5:30 PM ET on The CW, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.
As William Byron continues to chase his elusive first NASCAR Cup Series championship, he’ll officially have a longtime partner returning for another year of sponsorship. Liberty University will return to the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports team as a three-race primary sponsor during the 2026 season.
Hey LibertyU and @TeamHendrick fans! 2025 NASCAR Cup Series regular season champion and two-time DAYTONA 500 winner @WilliamByron will be racing the LU24 Chevrolet for three races in 2026 – check out the schedule now! https://t.co/yIn7qcr2hQ pic.twitter.com/iSW6QMGa7V
The red, white, and blue Liberty University colors will first adorn Byron’s No. 24 Chevrolet at Watkins Glen International on Sunday, May 10. Liberty University will return as the primary in the crown jewel Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 26, and the company will round out its three-race schedule on Sunday, November 1 at Martinsville Speedway.
While the No. 24 Liberty University Chevrolet paint scheme features slight tweaks from last year, the basis of the paint scheme remains the same with white flames down the blue sides of the race car, and the No. 24 is easy to spot in red on the doors.
Of Byron’s 16 career NASCAR Cup Series wins, three have come with Liberty University serving as the primary sponsorship partner. Byron’s most-recent victory with LU’s colors on his car came at Texas Motor Speedway in the Fall of 2023.
Although Liberty University, which has partnered with Byron since his NASCAR K&N Pro East Series season in 2015, is returning for the 2026 season, the three-race slate marks a decrease in overall primary sponsorship races for Liberty University, and it’s the second consecutive season the university has shed some races aboard the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet.
In 2024, Liberty University was a 12-race primary sponsorship partner. However, in 2025, the university cut that commitment in half to a six-race primary sponsorship schedule. The Liberty University schedule would be cut in half again heading into the 2026 campaign.
Despite the decrease in Liberty University-backed races, don’t expect Byron, who has blossomed into one of the best drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series, to be short on sponsorship in 2026. Byron, 28, comes into the 2026 season seeking his third consecutive win in the Daytona 500, a mark that would put him in a category of his own in the history of the iconic race, which stretches back to 1959.
Additionally, Byron will look to work his way into the Championship 4 for a fourth straight season in 2026. And who knows, with a change in scenery for the season finale (Homestead-Miami Speedway takes over the final race from Phoenix Raceway this year), perhaps it’s time for Byron’s breakthrough to hoist a Bill France Cup.
Nigel Kinrade | LAT Images for Toyota GAZOO Racing
The antitrust lawsuit between 23XI Racing, Front Row Motorsports, and NASCAR may be over, but that hasn’t resolved all of the hard feelings and animosity within the sport. On Tuesday, Denny Hamlin blasted Larry McReynolds and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio for what he perceived to be unfair coverage in the lead-up to the antitrust trial.
Responding to McReynolds’ post on X, where he was giving his followers a preview of what was on tap for his SXM show “On Track” for the day, Hamlin unloaded.
“Good morning,” Hamlin replied to McReynolds. “Now that the case is settled and the evidence is out will you or anyone on channel 90 be issuing an apology for what you all said about 23XI/FRM when the lawsuit was filed?”
Hamlin continued, “I believe it was ‘how dare them for trying to come in and change the sport. 23XI hasn’t been around long enough and FRM wasn’t good enough’. Also how about ‘I don’t know what their problem is, 13 other teams signed it’. Just to name a few examples.”
My, oh, my.
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Hendrick Motorsports
Prime Video will return as a three-race primary sponsor for Chase Elliott in 2026, and on Tuesday, a refreshed paint scheme was revealed by Prime Video and Hendrick Motorsports.
In 2026, the Prime Video scheme takes a much darker look than a year ago. Elliott will pilot the car at Talladega (April 26), Texas (May 3), and the All-Star Race at Dover (May 17).
London, UK – 17 December, 2025 – Multi-Formula 1 championship-winning team boss Ross Brawn will receive the prestigious Autosport Gold Medal at the 2026 Autosport Awards this January, recognising a lifetime of achievement that has shaped the competitive and cultural fabric of modern grand prix racing.
The accolade, introduced in 2021 and previously awarded to Jean Todt, Roger Penske, and Sir Jackie Stewart, celebrates individuals whose service, leadership and innovation leave an enduring legacy for generations of fans and competitors.
Brawn’s influence on Formula 1 spans more than four decades. He engineered Michael Schumacher’s championship success at Benetton and went on to mastermind Ferrari’s dominant era in the early 2000s, forging one of the most successful partnerships the sport has ever seen.
In 2009, his own team, Brawn GP, stunned the world by winning both the F1 Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships in its only season, with Jenson Button’s title run becoming one of the most remarkable stories in the sport’s history. Widely regarded as one of the true architects of modern Formula 1, Brawn later played a defining role in shaping the sport’s current regulatory landscape and competitive future.
The Autosport Gold Medal incorporates the Gregor Grant Award, honouring Autosport’s founder and the values that continue to define the sport today. In 2025, the Awards marked a milestone moment by recognising Bernie Ecclestone with a special 75th Anniversary Trophy, underscoring the legacy awards among motorsport’s most significant distinctions.
Werner Brell, CEO at Motorsport Network, added: “The Autosport Awards are about celebrating the very highest achievers in motorsport. After recognising so many legends over the years, we’re delighted to be able to honour Ross Brawn in January. Ross has been one of the iconic figures of Formula 1 in the last 40 years. Starting out as an engineer he went on to lead the technical department at Benetton and won multiple world titles. His partnership with Michael Schumacher continued at Ferrari, where they dominated the sport in the 2000s. He then won the world championship with a team in his own name. I can’t think of a more worthy recipient for the Gold Medal. It should be a great night when he receives his medal honoured by his peers.”
BUSINESS OF RACING NOMINEES REVEALED
Alongside honouring icons of the sport, Autosport Awards also recognise the broader ecosystem driving motorsport forward – across innovation, commercial leadership, promotion, and fan engagement.
Brand Partnership of the Year
Brand partnerships continue to play a central role in how motorsport teams and series connect with audiences, deliver value, and build long-term brand equity. This year’s nominees reflect partnerships that have gone beyond visibility to drive meaningful engagement and storytelling across the sport.
Nominees: Elemis (Aston Martin), Marriott Bonvoy (Mercedes), Santander (F1), Shell, IBM (Ferrari), Ford (Red Bull Racing)
Promoter of the Year
From global destination races to heritage events with decades of history, promoters are increasingly responsible for shaping the live motorsport experience. According to the Motorsport Network x Formula 1 2025 Global F1 Fan Survey, intent to attend in-person events is rising: 41% of surveyed fans who haven’t attended an F1 fan experience plan to do so in the future.
The 2026 nominees recognise events that delivered strong attendance, commercial success, and continued investment in the fan experience.
Nominees: Miami Grand Prix, Goodwood Festival of Speed, Silverstone, Singapore Grand Prix, Las Vegas Grand Prix
Pioneering & Innovation
As motorsport enters a period of rapid change, innovation is increasingly shaping how the sport is raced, regulated, and experienced. This year’s nominees reflect the ideas and initiatives actively redefining motorsport’s next chapter.
Nominees: More than Equal, A2RL, Le Mans Ultimate, Formula E Pit Boost
Ends
About Autosport Awards
A Motorsport Network event, the prestigious Autosport Awards are an annual celebration of excellence in motorsport, uniting champions and innovators from across the sport, from Formula 1 to MotoGP, Formula E, IndyCar, NASCAR, World Rally Championship and more. At the heart of the Autosport Awards are the fans, who vote on eight major categories, from Driver of the Year, to Rookie of the Year and Moment of the Year. This year, a new category, Creator of the Year reflects the rise of creator-led storytelling and the expanding influence of fan-driven voices in the sport. Since 2024, the Autosport Awards have been held at the iconic Roundhouse in London, with the 38th edition taking place on 21 January, 2026.
About Motorsport Network
Motorsport Network is the world’s largest independent motorsport and automotive media platform, reaching more than 40 million unique users each month and engaging over 15 million followers across its social media channels. Its portfolio includes leading global brands such as Motorsport.com, Autosport, InsideEVs, RideApart, Motor1, and GPOne. Motorsport Network connects fans, brands, and the wider motorsport community, partnering with companies worldwide on sponsorship, advertising, and event collaborations that shape the future of the industry.
About Autosport Business Exchange
Launched in 2025, Autosport Business Exchange (ABX) is a global event series that serves as the premier platform for strategic dialogue and networking in the motorsport industry. Following successful editions in London, New York and Monaco, ABX has brought together senior leaders from across the world of racing, featuring headline speakers such as Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff, McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown, and Apple’s Eddy Cue. The U.S. debut of ABX in New York centred on the theme of The Rise of Racing in America, marking a major milestone for the series. The next edition will take place in London on the morning of 21 January, 2026, ahead of the Autosport Awards.
