Jimmie Johnson, who retired from full-time NASCAR Cup Series competition at the end of the 2020 season, is set to enter his fourth year as a part-time driver for Legacy Motor Club, the team he co-owns, this coming February.

After announcing that he plans to compete in the inaugural race at Naval Base Coronado in June, bringing an end to the rumor that he plans to completely retire with exactly 700 starts, he confirmed that he once again plans to compete in the season-opening Daytona 500 as well.

Johnson has run the Daytona 500 every year since 2023, and it is one of just two races he has run in each of the past three years, the other being the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May.

In 2025, he placed third in the “Great American Race”, marking by far his best finish since returning to the series in 2023, and tying his best finish since he scored his 83rd and most recent victory at Dover Motor Speedway in 2017.

Jimmie Johnson at risk of missing the Daytona 500 in 2026?

Johnson’s No. 84 Toyota is one of two confirmed non-chartered (open) cars on the entry list for February’s 200-lap race around the four-turn, 2.5-mile (4.023-kilometer) high-banked Daytona International Speedway oval; the other is the No. 40 JR Motorsports Chevrolet, which is set to be driven by Justin Allgaier.

Two open cars are set to qualify for the race in the single-car qualifying session, and two others are set to qualify in the two Duel races. However, if a world-class provisional is issued, like it was for Trackhouse Racing’s Helio Castroneves earlier this year, an extra car could be added to the starting lineup.

There are six other cars expected to be added to the Daytona 500 entry list between now and qualifying: the No. 33 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, the No. 44 NY Racing Team Chevrolet, the No. 62 Beard Motorsports Chevrolet, the No. 66 Garage 66 Ford, the No. 67 23XI Racing Toyota, and the No. 78 Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet.

Confirmations of these six entries would bring the entry list to 44 cars, including eight open cars. Without the world-class provisional, four of these eight cars would qualify, and the other four would fail to do so.

But Johnson is eligible for the world-class provisional, although whether or not NASCAR has issued it has yet to be confirmed. If he gets it, it would mean that, if he isn’t one of the two drivers who qualifies for the race on speed in the single-car qualifying session and he also isn’t one of the two drivers who qualifies for the race via his Duel result, he would still be added to the field.

It would mean that five open cars, not just four, would get into the race, bringing the car count to exactly 41 for just the second time since 1993, rather than the usual 40.

Trackhouse Racing are not expected to field their PROJECT91 car for Castroneves, or for anybody else, this coming February, so it’s hard to imagine that Johnson would not be granted this provisional, especially since so few other open entries have been formally announced thus far.

Danica Patrick has revealed that she was “blown away” by the negativity and labels she faced after expressing her love for the American flag. Patrick, a former IndyCar and NASCAR star, entered the political arena a couple of years ago, first attending Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest in 2023 as a spectator, before being invited to speak at the political organization’s “United for Change” campaign rally in support of President Donald Trump in October 2024.

Just two days before the November 5 election, Patrick was tapped by Trump to speak at one of his rallies in the final days of the Presidential election, where he was securing his return to the White House for a second non-consecutive term, after defeating Vice President Kamala Harris. However, it was Charlie Kirk’s Turning Point that helped inspire the former motorsports star to step into the realm of politics.

A few months after the founder’s assassination in Utah, Patrick was invited to speak again in front of thousands at TPUSA’s latest political conference. Following Kirk’s death, Patrick was one of many who grieved the passing of the political giant and was compelled to help carry on his legacy.

On stage on Saturday, Patrick revealed how she was “blown away” by labels placed on her for expressing her love for the American flag after stepping into the political arena. To some, she was a MAGA Republican, and not an American first.

“Who else’s first political event? Not just AmFest, but has anyone been to? This was the first one, and I was so blown away, just the energy and the people,” Patrick said. Like, it’s palpable to just be in the room.

Sign up to our NASCAR newsletter here.

“And so it led me on a journey that I couldn’t have expected, of which led me to speaking at AmFest last year, which I think you saw some pictures up here. And the point of that conversation for me was how blown away I was that saying I love this country or loving the American flag, wearing the American flag, meant somehow that I was a MAGA Republican and wasn’t just American.

And I said that the job is not done until that means I’m American, right, to be able to just say I love this country. It should be that easy.”

Patrick also claimed she was a Native American in a past life. She explained how she visited a “regression therapist” to help her discover more about her history. “So I want to share a story with you, and it’s a little bit of a unique story – I did a past-life regression,” she began. “I don’t know if anyone knows what that is, but it occurred to me that maybe somebody wouldn’t.

“So a past-life regression is when you meet with a past-life regression therapist, you get into a very meditative state, very relaxed, and they guide you through being able to access memories to your past lives.

“And I was somewhere in like Nevada or Utah, and I was a Native American. And I had a stick, and I left my tribe. And I journeyed south, and I was on my way to what would have been like original L.A. when it was first sort of civilized.” She then noted that her intention with sharing the bizarre experience was that it showed how those in attendance should live their lives.

“… And the message was that I could be killed for doing what I loved and what was meant for me and my passion, or I could die inside anyway,” she continued. “And that the mission is to stand true to what it is that you want to do and the mission at hand, and let it play out. And I think you guys have probably all heard what Charlie Kirk wanted to be remembered for.”

Unlike mainstream sports that thrive on open fields and basic equipment, motorsports demands far more than raw talent and free afternoons. It requires machinery, beginning with go-karts for young drivers, along with teams, transport, crews, and a steady stream of sponsorship capable of covering staggering expenses. For drivers without a deep-rooted racing lineage, that climb becomes even steeper. Ross Chastain understands that reality better than most.

While Chastain’s father had some familiarity with grassroots racing as a hobby, the family’s livelihood came from watermelon farming, a demanding trade that left little room to bankroll a national racing career. Chastain grew up surrounded by agriculture rather than asphalt.

An eighth-generation farmer from southern Florida, he followed a lineage of fields and harvests, with his father, grandfather, uncle, and generations before them tied to watermelon production. That heritage instilled work ethic and resilience, but it did not come with the financial runway typically associated with professional racing paths.

In 2017, when Chastain began dipping his toes into NASCAR competition on a part-time basis, the financial gap became impossible to ignore. While driving JD Motorsports’ No. 4 Chevrolet in the Xfinity Series, he spoke candidly with Inc. about the numbers behind the dream. His father’s farming operation could support occasional starts in Trucks or Late Models, but the cost of NASCAR racing at higher levels gave a wake-up call. The family immediately searched for ways to bridge the gap and their first stop came naturally.

They approached the National Watermelon Promotion Board, which had previously supported their Late Model efforts, though those contributions covered modest budgets. Melon 1, a distributor and broker, stepped in as well, providing noteworthy backing. Even with that help, the funding puzzle remained incomplete.

Chastain recalled a moment that crystallized the challenge. One evening, the family pulled up a blank image of a race truck on a computer screen and began penciling in potential sponsors. They listed names they believed might contribute five thousand dollars, two thousand five hundred dollars, or perhaps ten thousand dollars.

Before long, the realization hit. The truck simply did not have enough space to fit every name required to cover the costs. “So we figured we might be able to run one race, but after that we would be out of people and money,” he admitted.

He confessed that “That struggle never really ends.” Even while competing nearly full-time, the grind of funding continued. Chastain explained that his team ran thirty-three races each year near the highest level of the sport, yet sponsorship conversations never stopped.

Their vice president of marketing stayed glued to the phone, constantly searching for partners. Progress came, but the financial weight remained severe. “For my team to be competitive costs about $50,000 a race,” he said.

Chastain acknowledged that the figure sounded enormous, yet it remained conservative compared with bigger organizations. Teams like Roush, Gibbs, or Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s operation operated in a different financial universe, often spending between $150,000 and $175,000 per race.

Drivers unable to reach those numbers simply raced with what they could gather, understanding that money directly translated into speed.

Today, Chastain’s circumstances look different. As a Cup Series driver for Trackhouse Racing, sharing the garage with talents such as Shane van Gisbergen and rising prospect Connor Zilisch, his footing has grown firmer. Strong performances over recent seasons have elevated his profile, probably easing the constant scramble for backing.

The engines have cooled, and the grandstands are quiet, but for the team at Speedway Motorsports, the work never truly stops. As the 2025 season officially comes to a close, the industry giant took a moment to pause and recognize the men and women who keep the gears turning behind the scenes.

In a company-wide town hall that felt less like a corporate meeting and more like a family reunion, Speedway Motorsports leadership handed out its most prestigious hardware. It was a day to celebrate the grit, creativity, and sheer determination that define the sport. From the high banks of Bristol to the safety command centers in Dover, the winners of the O. Bruton Smith Award, Promoter of the Year, Speedway of the Year, and Acceleration Award represent the absolute best of the business.

A Salute to Safety: The O. Bruton Smith Award

There is perhaps no greater honor within the company than the award bearing its founder’s name. The O. Bruton Smith Award isn’t just about performance metrics. It’s about character. It’s for the person who embodies the drive, enthusiasm, and heart that Bruton Smith used to build an empire.

This year, that honor went to Jim Hosfelt, the Vice President of Safety and Security at Dover Motor Speedway. If you know race day, you know that safety and security are the invisible foundations of the entire experience.

When fans walk through the gates, they expect to be safe. It’s a massive responsibility, and Hosfelt has shouldered it with a quiet, professional intensity since joining the Monster Mile in 2014.

Hosfelt’s Stint With Dover Motor Speedway

Hosfelt isn’t your average security executive. He’s a Cumberland, Maryland native who spent a quarter-century in law enforcement, retiring as the Chief of Police for the Dover Police Department. He’s an Air Force veteran and a graduate of the FBI National Academy.

When Speedway Motorsports acquired Dover in 2021, they quickly realized they had a star on their hands. Hosfelt didn’t just manage Dover. He stepped up as the Director of Safety and Security for the entire company, acting as the critical link between the tracks, NASCAR, and federal agencies.

Speedway Motorsports COO Mike Burch put it best when he noted that while Hosfelt’s work is often low-profile, it is arguably the most vital thing the company does. Ensuring families can come to a race, feel safe, and go home with happy memories is a heavy burden, and Hosfelt carries it with grace.

Channeling a Legend: Promoter of the Year

The H.A. Humpy Wheeler Promoter of the Year award is special. Humpy was the P.T. Barnum of stock car racing, a man who believed that if you weren’t thinking big, you weren’t thinking at all.

Jerry Caldwell, the President and General Manager of Bristol Motor Speedway, proved he has that same wild spark of creativity in 2025. Caldwell took home the hardware after pulling off one of the most audacious crossovers in sports history: The Speedway Classic.

Turning “The Last Great Colosseum” into a baseball diamond sounded crazy on paper. But Caldwell and his team didn’t just make it work. They made history. The event shattered records, selling over 91,000 tickets, the highest single-event sales figure in Major League Baseball history.

It was a massive swing that connected for a home run, proving that Bristol isn’t just a race track; it’s a global entertainment destination. Marcus Smith noted that Humpy Wheeler himself would have loved the ambition behind building a stadium inside a speedway.

The Gold Standard: Las Vegas Wins Speedway of the Year

Consistency is the hardest thing to achieve in the sports business, yet Las Vegas Motor Speedway makes it look routine. For the 11th time in 14 years, the Las Vegas team took home the Speedway of the Year award. This year was unique for the Vegas crew.

They navigated a significant leadership transition as longtime boss Chris Powell retired, passing the baton to Patrick Lindsay. Usually, a changing of the guard leads to a momentary dip in momentum, not in Vegas. Under Lindsay’s leadership, the track continued its dominance, excelling in attendance, fan friendliness, and financial performance.

To edge out 10 other world-class facilities is no small feat. It requires firing on all cylinders from corporate sales to operations. The fact that Las Vegas continues to hoard this trophy speaks volumes about the culture of excellence embedded in that team.

Gaining Momentum: The Acceleration Award

For the second year running, Sonoma Raceway claimed the Acceleration Award. This recognition is all about year-over-year growth, taking what you have and making it significantly better. Accepted by GM Brian Flynn, the award highlighted Sonoma’s impressive strides in 2025.

The raceway has turned its Turn 11 facility into a hub of activity, driving up track rentals and finding new ways to monetize the beautiful California property. It wasn’t just about making more money, though. It was about smart operations. The team implemented cost-efficiency measures that streamlined the business without sacrificing the fan experience.

Final Thoughts

As 2025 closes, these awards serve as a reminder that while the cars are the stars on Sunday, it’s the people working on Monday morning who keep the sport alive and thriving. Cheers to many more years of success.

Emily Mikkelsen and Michaela Ratliff

13 hours ago

STATESVILLE, N.C. (WGHP) — Officials offered an update Saturday after a deadly plane crash that claimed the life of NASCAR star Greg Biffle and six other people, including his children, on Thursday morning.

The Statesville Regional Airport confirmed a crash just after 10 a.m. Thursday on social media.

NASCAR said that the seven people who died in the crash were Greg Biffle, his wife Cristina Grossu, their son Ryder Jack and his daughter from a previous marriage Emma Elizabeth. Craig Wadsworth, as well as Dennis Dutton and his son Jack Dutton, were also killed in the crash.

The NTSB says a preliminary report should be available within 30 days, but a full report will take closer to a year.

During a conference on Friday, the NTSB said that initial findings showed that the plane took off, turned west and then turned again, back towards the airport. It was flying low, according to witnesses, and then it hit the approach lighting at the airport and trees before coming to rest near a runway and catching fire. The debris field is described as very large and scattered. The crash happened about ten minutes after takeoff.

At Saturday’s conference, officials confirmed that they still do not know the cause of the crash.

“We do not know the circumstances which led the aircraft… to attempt to return to the airport, but that is the focus of our investigation,” officials said.

They also confirmed that a text reading “Emergency landing” was sent from someone on the plane.

“I can confirm that the NTSB is aware of one brief text from a passenger on board the aircraft to a family member that read, and I quote, ‘Emergency landing.’”

“We are not aware of any other communications from passengers on board the aircraft to those on the ground.”

The NTSB also says that at this time, it does not know who the pilot of the plane was.

You can watch the news conference in the video player above.

William Byron emerged as one of the better drivers in the 2025 season, especially after winning the regular season championship. Byron even managed to make it into the Championship-4, but a last-moment incident caused him to lose out on the title win. Now, with the 2026 season start right around the corner, the #24 driver is facing a massive sponsorship setback with Liberty University.

Notably, Liberty University has been backing William Byron for more than a decade now. The educational institution has been sponsoring him since his junior NASCAR days, as he continued to achieve success leading up to the Cup Series. Even for the 2026 season, Liberty was believed to continue the alliance, but potentially at a reduced commitment with the HMS star.

Liberty University had sponsored 12 of William Byron’s races in the 2024 season. But it was significantly cut down to just six races in the 2025 season. Now, for the 2026 season, the educational institute is sponsoring him for just three races. This might mean that the sponsor is looking to back out of the deal completely in the near future, following Byron’s championship-less streak in the Cup Series.

The three races that William Byron will be supported by Liberty University are the Watkins Glen Race, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and the Martinsville Speedway over the 2025 season. The three-race sponsorship means that the number of races sponsored is cut down to half of what it was in the previous season. As such, Byron must look for other primary sponsors for more races to continue to fund his Cup Series dream with Hendrick Motorsports.