Motorsports

Joe Gibbs Racing NASCAR Cup Series Race Preview – WÜRTH 400 at Texas Motor Speedway – Speedway Digest

JGR AT TEXAS: Joe Gibbs Racing owns nine NASCAR Cup Series victories at Texas Motor Speedway. In 140 combined starts at the 1.5-mile facility, the organization has tallied 37 top-five finishes, 63 top-10s, five pole awards, and 2,272 laps led. Kyle Busch, Carl Edwards, Denny Hamlin, and Tony Stewart have all driven JGR entries to […]

Published

3 weeks ago

April 30, 2025

Your Sports Nation

DENNY HAMLIN

No. 11 Progressive Insurance Toyota Camry XSE

HAMLIN AT TEXAS: Denny Hamlin is a three-time NASCAR Cup Series winner at Texas Motor Speedway after sweeping the track’s races in 2010 and winning again in March 2019. In 34 career starts at the 1.5-mile track, Hamlin has posted eight top-five finishes, 16 top-10s, and 329 laps led. Last spring, Hamlin was leading comfortably before a caution with less than 15 laps remaining. He lost the lead after a quick caution on the ensuing restart. On the next restart, he was involved in an accident that relegated him to a 30th-place finish.

TALLADEGA RECAP: Hamlin finished 21st in last Sunday’s race at Talladega Superspeedway. After earning stage points in the first segment, the No. 11 driver positioned himself second before the final green-flag pit stop. Following the round of pit stops, he slid down the leaderboard and was unable to muster a late charge back towards the front.

SEASON SO FAR: Hamlin is one of three drivers with multiple wins this season. He currently sits third in the overall points standings, 53 points behind the leader. Hamlin ranks second in top-five finishes (five) and average finishing position (10.8). The Virginia native also ranks third in top-10 finishes (six) and laps led (315). Hamlin is the only driver to complete 100% of the laps so far in 2025.

PROGRESSIVE: Hamlin’s No. 11 Toyota Camry XSE will feature Progressive Insurance this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway. Joe Gibbs Racing recently announced that Progressive will be the primary sponsor of the No. 11 Toyota for 18 races this season. For more information on Progressive, visit www.progressive.com.

HISTORY OF THE 11: Throughout NASCAR history, the No. 11 has visited victory lane more than any other car number. Hamlin’s win at Darlington Raceway was the 236th time a No. 11 car has won in the Cup Series. For Hamlin, his 56 wins driving the No. 11 are the most of any driver to take the illustrious car number to victory lane. The list of drivers who have taken the No. 11 to victory lane includes Bobby Allison (3 wins), Mario Andretti (1 win), Buddy Baker (2 wins), Geoffrey Bodine (4 wins), Bill Elliott (6 wins), A.J. Foyt (1 win), Denny Hamlin (56 wins), Ned Jarrett (49 wins), Junior Johnson (11 wins), Parnelli Jones (1 win), Terry Labonte (4 wins), Darrell Waltrip (43 wins), and Cale Yarborough (55 wins).

CHASE BRISCOE

No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota Camry XSE

BRISCOE AT TEXAS: Chase Briscoe has four NASCAR Cup Series starts at Texas Motor Speedway. In all four starts, Briscoe has finished 15th or better with one top-five result and three top-10s. His 9.0-average finishing position is his best at any track on the Cup Series schedule. In four NASCAR Xfinity Series starts, Briscoe collected two top-five finishes and one pole award. He also finished in the top five in both of his NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series starts at the 1.5-mile track.

TALLADEGA RECAP: Briscoe led a season-high 20 laps on Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway. The No. 19 driver started 17th and quickly organized with the rest of the Toyota brigade to move to the front. Briscoe led 15 laps during the first stage prior to pitting before the end of the segment. Similar to stage one, the No. 19 team pitted late in stage two and the strategy gave Briscoe the lead to start the final segment. He led five more laps in the race and ultimately finished 15th.

SEASON SO FAR: The Indiana native ranks 12th in the points standings through ten races. He is currently 25 points above the cutline in the race to qualify for the playoffs. He is one of eight drivers to record three or more top-five finishes so far.

MEET CHASE BRISCOE: Briscoe will sign autographs at the Bass Pro Shops in Fort Worth, Texas (12901 Cabela Drive, Fort Worth, TX 76177) Saturday, May 3, at 5 p.m. CT. 150 wristbands will be distributed at the store beginning Saturday morning at 9 a.m. CT.

JAMES SMALL: 2025 marks James Small’s sixth season as a NASCAR Cup Series crew chief. The first five years of his tenure as crew chief were spent with Martin Truex Jr. as Small led the No. 19 team to eight wins, 46 top-fives, 86 top-10 finishes, and four NASCAR playoffs appearances. The Australia native led Truex to a runner-up finish in the 2021 championship and to the 2023 regular season championship.

BASS PRO SHOPS: Bass Pro Shops is North America’s premier outdoor and conservation company. 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 Newsweek as “America’s Most Trusted Retailer for Outdoor Gear”. For more information or to shop online, visit www.basspro.com.

CHRISTOPHER BELL

No. 20 Interstate Batteries Toyota Camry XSE

BELL AT TEXAS: Christopher Bell has posted three top-five finishes in six NASCAR Cup Series starts at Texas Motor Speedway. He is no stranger to victory lane at the track after finding his way to victory lane in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in November 2019 and in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series in June 2017. Bell also registered a pair of pole awards in the Xfinity Series.

TALLADEGA RECAP: Bell finished 35th in last weekend’s race at Talladega Superspeedway after being involved in an accident on a lap-52 restart. Prior to the misfortune, Bell had found his way to the front and was the leader on that particular restart.

DIRT TRACK: Bell will compete in the High Limit Racing Sprint Car event Thursday night at The Dirt Track at Texas Motor Speedway driving the No. 69k Interstate Batteries entry for team owner, and National Sprint Car Hall of Famer, Don Kreitz Jr.

ADAM STEVENS: Two-time Cup Series champion crew chief Adam Stevens has enjoyed his own success at Texas Motor Speedway. He has led his teams to three Cup Series wins (April 2016, April 2018, and October 2020) and two Xfinity Series victories (April 2013 and November 2014) at the track.

INTERSTATE BATTERIES: Interstate Batteries, the leading replacement battery brand with the largest independent battery distribution system in North America, enters their 34th consecutive season as a primary partner at Joe Gibbs Racing. Earlier this season, the ‘Outrageously Dependable’ brand was featured on the No. 20 Toyota at Daytona International Speedway and Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Following this weekend’s race at Texas Motor Speedway, Interstate Batteries will close out 2025 with the No. 20 team in the season finale at Phoenix Raceway (November 2).

TY GIBBS

No. 54 SAIA LTL Freight Toyota Camry XSE

GIBBS AT TEXAS: Ty Gibbs’ best finish in three NASCAR Cup Series starts at Texas Motor Speedway was a 13th-place result last April. Gibbs proved to be quick at the 1.5-mile facility by qualifying fourth in 2023 and second in 2024. He also finished 12th and third in a pair of NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at Texas.

TALLADEGA RECAP: Gibbs led a race-high 32 laps – all coming during the final stage – and finished 17th in last Sunday’s race at Talladega Superspeedway.

TRENDING UPWARD: With two top-10 finishes in the last three races, Gibbs has vaulted nine positions in the points standings over that stretch. Following the race at Martinsville Speedway on March 30, Gibbs was 60 points below the playoff cutline. Leaving Talladega Superspeedway, his deficit to the cutline is down to 25 points.

TYLER ALLEN: Crew chief Tyler Allen is in his first year leading Gibbs and the No. 54 team. While this is Allen’s first experience as a crew chief at the Cup Series level, he had a standout season in 2024 in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. Allen led JGR’s No. 20 Xfinity Series team to eight victories and a runner-up finish in the owner’s championship.

JGR PR

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Scott McLaughlin destroys car in huge crash ahead of Indianapolis 500 qualifying – Chicago Tribune

INDIANAPOLIS — Scott McLaughlin crashed his Team Penske car in Sunday afternoon practice and ruined his chance to repeat last year’s Indianapolis 500 pole-winning run. McLaughlin qualified Saturday inside the top 12 and was eligible to run for the pole later Sunday. But he spun at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and immediately lifted both hands to […]

Published

16 minutes ago

May 18, 2025

Your Sports Nation

INDIANAPOLIS — Scott McLaughlin crashed his Team Penske car in Sunday afternoon practice and ruined his chance to repeat last year’s Indianapolis 500 pole-winning run.

McLaughlin qualified Saturday inside the top 12 and was eligible to run for the pole later Sunday. But he spun at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and immediately lifted both hands to his helmet as he braced for impact with the Turn 2 wall.

The New Zealanders’ car was destroyed and Team Penske said they’d slot him at 12th and not even attempt a qualifying run Sunday. The car the team was working on for McLaughlin is Penske’s backup speedway car and had been earmarked for teammate Josef Newgarden to use in next week’s pit crew competition.

McLaughlin, who last year led a Penske sweep of the front row in qualifying, was clearly deflated after he was released from the medical center.

“I’m OK, I’m just really, really, really, really, really sorry for everyone at Team Penske,” McLaughlin said. “It was talking to me and I sort of felt it, and I probably should have backed out, but you’re trying to complete a run to see what it feels like and was it worth the risk? Probably wasn’t. I’m incredibly sad.”

He said he felt fortunate the car did not go airborne into the catchfence, but the crash did cause damage to the track surface that IMS workers were fixing during a stoppage created by his wreck.

“They can build a new car for me, but I’m just really gutted more than anything,” McLaughlin said. “It’s hard to take, like you wish it was for something, but it was for nothing, right? In practice.”

McLaughlin was also rattled to see his wife crying after his crash out of concern for him.

“They’re nervous about me,” he said. “I wanted to get out of the car straight away just so she knew I was OK.”

There have been three hard crashes in the last two days at Indianapolis. Marcus Armstrong and Colton Herta both crashed Saturday and Armstrong has to qualify Sunday for the field of 33 using a road and street course backup car. Herta qualified inside the top 30 to lock himself into the field once his car was ready for qualifying.

Originally Published: May 18, 2025 at 2:23 PM CDT

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Motorsports

NASCAR driver Jesse Love, 20, in a hurry, keeping fast company

Not to tamp down the hype a bit, but in all fairness we must say, Jesse Love has not been driving race cars since before he could walk. But boy, he came closer than most. The native Californian (Menlo Park, outside San Francisco) started racing quarter-midgets at age 5, with the blessing of his dad […]

Published

17 minutes ago

May 18, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Not to tamp down the hype a bit, but in all fairness we must say, Jesse Love has not been driving race cars since before he could walk.

But boy, he came closer than most. The native Californian (Menlo Park, outside San Francisco) started racing quarter-midgets at age 5, with the blessing of his dad — as a teen, his father “Duke” Love raced with and against Jeff Gordon, who grew up just down the road in Vallejo.

The wins and championships came fast, in a variety of cars and series, and by 13, he was granted a waiver to race against adults in a professional Late Model series. ARCA, a NASCAR-sanctioned stock-car series, has two feeder circuits — ARCA East and ARCA West. At 15, Love won the ARCA West championship.

He did it again the next year, and along the way, he relocated to NASCAR’s racing hub in Charlotte, N.C. Next came the big haymaker of a season in the 2023 main ARCA Series — 10 wins in 20 starts and the championship, setting up his 2024 move to Richard Childress Racing in the Xfinity Series.

In 45 Xfinity starts over the past one-plus seasons, he’s won twice, and perhaps fittingly given his RCR equipment, both wins came at superspeedways — one each at Daytona and Talladega. He’s slipped into Sunday equipment for three Cup Series races this year, with nothing much to show for it except experience — he’ll explain that difficulty.

He’ll also explain that, yes, there was a third Xfinity win, a few weeks back at Rockingham, but it was taken away when post-race inspection found a faulty piece in the rear suspension.

He lost the official win, but he kept one reminder. More about that, and other stuff, below, from the racer who just turned 20 this past January.

Jesse Love: Big difference between NASCAR’s Xfinity and Cup cars

News-Journal: You’ve gotten your first taste of the Next Gen cars in the Cup Series. Everyone says there are big differences between them and the Xfinity cars. Have you found that?

Love: “Yes, there’s a lot of difference. Everything about them is pretty much different. You have higher-profile tires (in Cup), bigger tires, more grip. The horsepower is about the same, but different transmission, much bigger brakes on a Cup car, and the independent rear suspension — a lot more draggy than an Xfinity car.

“Everything is so different and they drive quite a bit different on the big tracks. On the short tracks, like Bristol, they didn’t really drive much different.”

N-J: Is it safe to assume that increases the difficulty factor when you race on a Sunday?

Love: “For sure. The biggest thing, at the Cup level, the guys are so good already, and they’ve found a way to maximize their car. They know what they’re looking for every week.

“You’re kinda behind the 8-ball all weekend if you’re not full-time, and then obviously you have the added disadvantage of going against guys that are really good and have been able to dial in their cars all year.”

N-J: What kind of track do you prefer?

Love: “I think there are only a couple guys in the field that can say they don’t have to work a whole lot on their road-course stuff. I’m not one of them. I feel like road courses are something I can work on.

“I think the high-grip race tracks are probably where I’m the best — Dover, Bristol or even Nashville. The concrete race tracks I have a good knack for. Intermediate tracks, high banks, high grip, I feel like I do well at those kind of places.”

Jesse Love also does some driving on the golf course

N-J: You’ve started doing YouTube episodes on the “Shake N Bake” show, playing golf with Connor Zilisch and Daniel Dye. You enjoying that?

Love: “Yeah, we started doing that about six weeks ago. It’s pretty easy. We’re basically filming once every three weeks, doing three shows. They make it easy for our schedule.”

N-J: Do you have an official golf handicap?

Love: “I think it’s like a 10.3, 10.1. I’ve only been playing about four years. The last two or three months, the only time I’ve golfed is during the videos.”

N-J: Who was your favorite driver growing up?

Love: “I’d say the classic favorites, like Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, Kyle Larson. And especially guys who came from the dirt world, like Christopher Bell.”

N-J: Since your dad did some racing when he was young, does he come to a lot of the races and ever offer advice?

Love: “He goes to 80 or 90-percent of the races. He raced midgets and sprint cars. He won some races. I think he was in it more for fun. He grew up racing quarter-midgets with Jeff Gordon, and they were close friends.

“He offers advice sometimes. I listen to him. He’s one of the people I listen to. I’d say the best advice I get is from people who don’t drive now.”

Let’s talk about that Rockingham DQ

N-J: So you won at Rockingham last month and the car later failed post-race inspection (a piece in the rear suspension was out of compliance). Walk us through that. First, when did you find out?

Love: “I’d say about three hours. I was driving home when my crew chief called me. I kinda had an idea we were gonna get DQ’d, because if tech ever takes longer than an hour, you’re probably screwed. Once tech took longer than an hour, then went over two hours, I realized something wasn’t right.

“So I was mentally prepared for it a little bit, but it was a bummer. You can’t control it. I just try to control what I can control.”

N-J: What happened to the trophy?

Love: “I have the trophy and I never gave it back. I normally let the team have it and we put it in the shop so everybody can see it. This one I took home.”

N-J: You got started at a very young age racing against people much older. Was that ever awkward or weird?

Love: “It was definitely tough. They were a lot better at racing. Maybe not speed, but better at just racing. It was obviously tough, but you learn a lot more and learn a lot faster.

“It’s a double-edged sword. You’re not gonna have a bunch of success, but you’re gonna learn 10 times faster than if you were racing against other kids your age. It was definitely worth it.”

N-J: Do you have a timeline on a potential move from Xfinity to full-time on the Cup Series?

Love: “I have another year (after this year) on the Xfinity contract with RCR. So I guess next year is when those conversations start.”

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Motorsports

Here’s what fans need to know about parking ahead of the NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway

Published

35 minutes ago

May 18, 2025

Your Sports Nation

It is NASCAR’s All-star Race weekend at North Wilkesboro Speedway, and officials want fans to know some important tips about parking around the track.North Wilkesboro Speedway officials say fans should prepare for three things: plan to carpool, arrive early and buy your parking tickets online.Carpooling cuts down on the number of cars entering the speedway. Arriving early helps cut down on traffic due to so many events, such as fan zone autograph sessions and concerts happening on the speedway grounds. Purchasing your parking ticket in advance can save you time.”When you buy your parking ahead of time online, you can download that pass directly to your phone before you get here,” said Scott Cooper, with North Wilkesboro Speedway. “Then you can follow the Waze app and plug in your actual parking lot, and it will take you to the best route to get to your parking lot no matter what’s happening to the traffic circumstances.”State highway patrol will be directing traffic at the speedway. Lots 2 and 5 are available for fans to park. Keep in mind, lot 2 is grass surface parking located northwest of the speedway, just off Speedway Road near gate one and the fan zone. Lot 5 is also grass surface parking, but located south of the speedway across Highway 421.Fans parking in lot 5 can use the newly installed pedestrian bridge over 421 to get to the speedway.We are told parking fees start at $27 — depending on the type of parking pass you have.

NORTH WILKESBORO, N.C. —

It is NASCAR’s All-star Race weekend at North Wilkesboro Speedway, and officials want fans to know some important tips about parking around the track.

North Wilkesboro Speedway officials say fans should prepare for three things: plan to carpool, arrive early and buy your parking tickets online.

Carpooling cuts down on the number of cars entering the speedway. Arriving early helps cut down on traffic due to so many events, such as fan zone autograph sessions and concerts happening on the speedway grounds. Purchasing your parking ticket in advance can save you time.

“When you buy your parking ahead of time online, you can download that pass directly to your phone before you get here,” said Scott Cooper, with North Wilkesboro Speedway. “Then you can follow the Waze app and plug in your actual parking lot, and it will take you to the best route to get to your parking lot no matter what’s happening to the traffic circumstances.”

State highway patrol will be directing traffic at the speedway.

Lots 2 and 5 are available for fans to park.

Keep in mind, lot 2 is grass surface parking located northwest of the speedway, just off Speedway Road near gate one and the fan zone. Lot 5 is also grass surface parking, but located south of the speedway across Highway 421.

Fans parking in lot 5 can use the newly installed pedestrian bridge over 421 to get to the speedway.

We are told parking fees start at $27 — depending on the type of parking pass you have.

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Motorsports

NASCAR All-Star Race Returns to North Wilkesboro Speedway for Third Consecutive Year – Speedway Digest

North Wilkesboro, NC – The NASCAR All-Star Race, one of the sport’s most prestigious exhibition events, returns to North Wilkesboro Speedway on May 18, 2025, marking the third straight year the historic short track hosts the 41st running of the $1 million spectacle. As the eighth time the All-Star Race ventures outside its traditional home […]

Published

1 hour ago

May 18, 2025

Your Sports Nation

A Star-Studded Field

Twenty-three drivers are set to compete in the 250-lap main event, with 20 already qualified based on their status as 2024 or 2025 race winners, past All-Star Race winners, or full-time NASCAR Cup Series champions. Three additional drivers will transfer from the 100-lap All-Star Open, including the top two finishers and the winner of the fan vote, a title claimed by Noah Gragson in 2023 and 2024. Harrison Burton stands out as the only driver making his All-Star Race debut, adding a fresh face to the high-stakes competition.

The field boasts six past All-Star Race winners: Kyle Larson (2019, 2021, 2023), Joey Logano (2016, 2024), Ryan Blaney (2022), Chase Elliott (2020), Kyle Busch (2017), and Denny Hamlin (2015). Larson, with three wins in the last six years, is tied for the second-most All-Star victories behind Jimmie Johnson’s four. Logano, fresh off his 2024 triumph, carries momentum with a record-setting streak of 10 consecutive top-10 finishes in the event.

Hendrick and Penske Dominate

Recent history favors Hendrick Motorsports and Team Penske, who have split the last five All-Star Races. Hendrick’s 11 victories lead all organizations, with Larson and Elliott contributing to their recent success. Penske’s Logano and Blaney have kept pace, securing Ford’s three wins in the last seven races. Meanwhile, Toyota remains winless since 2017, with Chevrolet claiming four victories in the same span.

Format and Storylines

The 2025 All-Star Race format features 250 laps with a mandatory caution around lap 100 and a promotional caution option before lap 220, ensuring strategic pit stops and restarts. Qualifying for both the All-Star Heat Races and the Open includes a unique three-lap session with a four-tire pit stop on lap two, doubling as the Pit Crew Challenge. Christopher Bell’s No. 20 crew, winners of the $100,000 bonus and trophy in 2023 and 2024, are favored to three-peat, having posted times of 13.012 and 13.223 seconds, respectively.

Two 75-lap Heat Races set the All-Star Race starting lineup, with Heat 1 determining the inside row and Heat 2 the outside. The All-Star Open offers a 100-lap path for non-qualified drivers, with cautions around lap 50 and overtime rules in play. The pole position has proven advantageous, producing seven All-Star Race wins, including Logano’s 2024 victory and Larson’s 2021 triumph.

Championship Implications

The All-Star Race has become a harbinger of championship success, with the winner capturing the Cup Series title in three of the last five years and 13 times overall. All nine winners since 2016 are Cup champions, raising the stakes for drivers like Larson, Logano, and Blaney. Brad Keselowski, however, remains a driver to watch. With 16 All-Star starts and three runner-up finishes—tied for the most without a win—he’s due for a breakthrough.

North Wilkesboro’s Revival

North Wilkesboro Speedway, revitalized after years of dormancy, has embraced its role as the All-Star Race host since 2023. The track’s gritty, short-track racing style has produced memorable moments, though rain canceled the 2023 Heat Races, where Daniel Suarez and Chris Buescher claimed victories. Fans and drivers alike praise the facility’s blend of nostalgia and modern upgrades, making it a fitting stage for NASCAR’s showcase event.

As the 2025 All-Star Race approaches, all eyes are on whether Larson can add a fourth win, if Logano can extend his top-10 streak, or if a new face like Burton can steal the spotlight. With a $1 million prize, a passionate fanbase, and championship implications, North Wilkesboro is poised to deliver another unforgettable chapter in NASCAR history.

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Motorsports

NASCAR news: Corey Heim, Layne Riggs get into heated incident

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at North Wilkesboro Speedway ended in controversy on Saturday as Corey Heim spun out while racing Layne Riggs on the final lap. Heim and Riggs raced hard in overtime. Heim was leading with Riggs on his bumper as they took the […]

Published

1 hour ago

May 18, 2025

Your Sports Nation

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at North Wilkesboro Speedway ended in controversy on Saturday as Corey Heim spun out while racing Layne Riggs on the final lap.

Heim and Riggs raced hard in overtime. Heim was leading with Riggs on his bumper as they took the white flag. Heim claimed the high line as Riggs went low. Heim slid up the track and Riggs was right on his door as they went down the backstretch.

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NASCAR Craftsman Truck driver Corey Heim during qualifying for the Fresh From Florida 250 at Daytona International Speedway on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. (Nigel Cook/News-Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

As the came around Turn 2, Heim spun out. Chandler Smith was able to maneuver around Riggs and took home the victory. Riggs finished in second place.

Heim delivered a message to Riggs after the race.

“Calm down or else I’m going to take care of you,” he said.

Needless to say, Heim was upset with how Riggs raced him and confronted him about it once everyone was back on pit road. Heim called Riggs’ decision on the final lap “scum racing.”

“Just why? More than anything. He tried to do it to the 7 (Carson Hocevar) last week for the win, and mission accomplished for him,” Heim said, via NASCAR.com. “I guess, this week – and it cost him one, too. I don’t know. We’ve given up so many of them this year after dominating the race. The 38 (Smith) was the only other guy that was rightfully good.

NASCAR Truck Series driver Layne Riggs, #34, during qualifying for the Fresh From Florida 250 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida, on Feb. 14, 2025. (Peter Casey-Imagn Images)

HOW TO WATCH 2025 NASCAR ALL-STAR RACE: SCHEDULE, START TIME, TV CHANNEL FOR NORTH WILKESBORO

“I felt like he deserved to win over anyone else, not the 34 (Riggs). I got really loose into (Turn) 3. Just struggled being loose on the short runs, and he had an opportunity, and he wrecked me. Just disappointed.”

Riggs defended his “strong move.”

“If I have a reputation of going for wins, I’m not going to regret that at all,” Riggs said. “You know, I feel like I came from short-track racing, last-lap battles, and feel like that’s what this kind of racing is made for. I feel like it’s not like we’ve seen at Martinsville in the past, and gotten upset. I feel like it was a strong move, and I thought it was going to pay off.

“But sadly, didn’t get the win.”

Heim finished the race in 17th.

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Heim still leads the drivers standings with 450 points – 47 more than Smith. Riggs moved up to eighth in the standings.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor for Fox News Digital.

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What to watch for in NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro

NORTH WILKESBORO, N.C. — Brad Keselowski seeks the perfect weekend. Kyle Larson looks to go from the back to the front. And 21 other drivers also will be vying for $1 million in tonight’s NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Green flag for the All-Star Open is set for 5:38 p.m. ET. The winner, […]

Published

2 hours ago

May 18, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Green flag for the All-Star Open is set for 5:38 p.m. ET. The winner, runner-up and fan vote winner from that race will advance to the All-Star Race.

Green flag for the All-Star Race is set for 8:14 p.m. ET.

Here is what to watch for in tonight’s race:

Promoter’s Caution

The wrinkle in this year’s race is an promoter’s caution that can be used before Lap 220 of the 250-lap race. If the promoter’s caution has not yet been used and a natural caution occurs after Lap 200, the promoter’s caution will no longer be in play.

NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race - Qualifying Heat — NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race – Qualifying Heat

Starting lineup for Sunday’s NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway

Brad Keselowski will lead the field to the green flag in the exhibition race that pays $1 million to the winner.

Teams already know there will be a competition caution around Lap 100. How the promoter’s caution is used by Marcus Smith, CEO of Speedway Motorsports, could make a big impact on the race as Christopher Bell explains:

“It will probably be in the play and then it will be decision time of what you think your best opportunity to win the race is. A lot of times that call depends on what other guys do as well. If you stay out and you have five or six guys stay out with you, then it’s the winning call to stay out.

“But just like the second heat race (Saturday), if you stay out and nobody stays out with you, it was a losing call.”

Can a team’s season turnaround tonight?

Brad Keselowski starts on the pole for tonight’s race and a victory — while it wouldn’t count toward playoff eligibility — would be significant for his team.

Keselowski has never won this race — he’s finished second three times, which is tied for the most in the event without winning it. This season has been dreadful. Keselowski has finished 26th or worse in nine of the first 12 points races.

Christopher Bell, Brad Keselowski score All-Star heat race wins at North Wilkesboro

Heat races set the lineup for Sunday’s All-Star Race.

“I think the team is a pretty resilient group,” Keselowski said after winning the pole. “I don’t care who you are as a team, we all need some positive reinforcement and encouragement.”

He also won his heat race Saturday. A victory tonight would complete a perfect weekend for the RFK Racing team.

Keep an eye on the back of the field

Kyle Larson will start last on the 23-car field because he had Justin Allgaier qualify his car while Larson was at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Larson’s team elected not to compete in Saturday’s heat race since it wouldn’t matter where the car finished because the car would in the rear for the All-Star Race due to the driver change.

Justin Allgaier provides Kyle Larson’s team with key feedback for NASCAR All-Star Race

With Kyle Larson at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Justin Allgaier drove Larson’s No. 5 in practice and qualifying Friday.

Larson will be one to watch.

“I felt like long-run pace, we were really good,” Allgaier, the reigning Xfinity Series champion, told NBC Sports. “When I look at lap 30 or 40 (on a run), our pace was right where we needed it to be.”

Larson had to start at the rear of the field in last year’s race because he also was at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Larson went on to finish fourth in last year’s All-Star Race.

Larson has three All-Star wins, one short of the record held by Jimmie Johnson.

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