Motorsports

Larson sets NASCAR Cup Series stage record, leads four Hendrick Motorsports top 10s at Talladega

Published

9 months ago

April 29, 2025

TALLADEGA, Ala. – Kyle Larson fell a little short of his first NASCAR Cup Series win at a drafting track at Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday. But a heaping pile of points in leading another solid showing by Hendrick Motorsports, as well as a little history, were some notable consolation prizes.

Larson scored the most points (52) including winning stage one en route to finishing second. And for the third time already this year, all four of the organization’s cars finished in the top 10. William Byron finished just behind (and alongside) Larson in third with Chase Elliott coming home fifth and Alex Bowman seventh.

The stage win gave Larson the 67th of his career, moving him out of a tie with Martin Truex Jr. for the most in Cup Series history. His third-place showing matched his best run in a race at a drafting track.

“A great day. A stage win, (third) in the second stage and (third) in the final,” Larson said. “Great points day and best career finish at a superspeedway so happy about the performance today from the HendrickCars.com Chevy. Now we’ll get to go to some strong race tracks for us and see if we can get some wins.”

The Hendrick Motorsports contingent flashed its speed at the end of stage one. After hovering around the middle of the pack throughout much of the opening 60 laps, a couple of late cautions regrouped the field. A final restart with three laps to go provided the perfect opportunity as Larson, Byron and Elliott grouped up and surged to the end, finishing first, second and fourth respectively to score early points.

Outside of Larson, the other three Hendrick Motorsports entries each had significant adversity to overcome.

It started with Bowman, who was contacted during a stage-one crash with left-side damage being dealt to the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet. Byron, meanwhile, fought a steering issue throughout stage one and two before the No. 24 Valvoline team went under the hood and corrected the problem in time for the stretch run. Elliott had to make an additional pit stop late in stage two due to a penalty.

And yet, all were able to make their way back to the front throughout a stage three that didn’t feature a caution flag. Larson and Byron were side-by-side in the second row over the final few laps but couldn’t find an opening as the final laps ticked away.

“The guys did a great job getting it to where I could drive it in the third stage,” Byron said. “Just really proud of our team. To be able to overcome that is just a testament to what our team is and the things we’re able to do.

“I felt like I was in a really good spot to win there with 10 to go or eight to go, I’ve just got to look back at that and figure out where that went wrong. But still happy to get a top five and hopefully we can go get a win at Texas (Motor Speedway).”

The NASCAR Cup Series will head to Texas next Sunday with green flag set for 3:30 p.m. Elliott is the defending winner of the event.

Link

Motorsports

2026 season preview: Spire Motorsports

Published

3 minutes ago

January 9, 2026

Your Sports Nation

Editor’s note: Today’s Spire Motorsports preview continues NASCAR.com’s countdown of team previews for the 2026 Cup Series season.

SPIRE MOTORSPORTS

Manufacturer: Chevrolet
Engine: Hendrick Motorsports
Driver-crew chief pairings: Daniel Suárez-Ryan Sparks (No. 7); Michael McDowell-Travis Peterson (No. 71); Carson Hocevar-Luke Lambert (No. 77)

Team outlook: Anyone within the Spire Motorsports camp would probably tell you 2025 was a disappointment. The team showed speed throughout the season and competed for wins, but couldn’t close the deal with any of their three cars. None of their drivers reached the playoffs, but that could and should change in 2026, as Spire understands what they are capable of, attempting to shatter the glass ceiling and make a big statement in the year ahead.

DANIEL SUÁREZ, NO. 7 CHEVROLET

Experience: 9 full-time seasons in NASCAR Cup Series; 323 starts
2025 stats: 29th in final Cup Series standings; 0 wins, 2 top fives, 7 top 10s, 0 poles, 35 laps led

Driver outlook: Suárez had his worst final result in the standings last year since his 2020 campaign with Gaunt Brothers Racing. Going into 2026, he replaces Justin Haley in the No. 7 Chevrolet, and all signs should point toward a far better year for the 34-year-old veteran. Paired with McDowell, the two should be forces to be reckoned with on road courses this year, and Suárez’s recent history at EchoPark Speedway could line him up for a breakthrough multi-win campaign.

MORE: Daniel Suárez driver page

MICHAEL MCDOWELL, NO. 71 CHEVROLET

Experience: 18 seasons in NASCAR Cup Series (full-time the last nine seasons); 537 starts
2025 stats: 22nd in final Cup Series standings; 0 wins, 3 top fives, 6 top 10s, 2 poles, 96 laps led

Driver outlook: Texas and Chicago were ones that got away from McDowell as the long-time veteran was passed by Logano for the lead in the closing laps before crashing with two laps to go from second in the Lone Star State. At Chicago, McDowell started on the front row and led 31 laps before a mechanical failure ruined the No. 71 team’s day. Even at age 41 with many miles logged, the hunger and drive are still there for McDowell and should be in contention for victories this year, maybe even having an outside shot at a championship run.

MORE: Michael McDowell driver page

CARSON HOCEVAR, NO. 77 CHEVROLET

Experience: 2 full-time seasons in NASCAR Cup Series; 81 starts
2025 stats: 23rd in final Cup Series standings; 0 wins, 2 top fives, 9 top 10s, 1 pole, 122 laps led

Driver outlook: Hocevar lived by the moniker of “checkers or wreckers” last season, and it bit him more times than it rewarded. Consistent, race-contending speed is there in the No. 77 Chevrolet, but the goal for Hocevar is to have the discipline to complete the grind of a full race. He showed that at Nashville, finishing runner-up to a dominant Ryan Blaney, but other races got away from him. If he can hone it in consistently and balance aggression through a 36-race calendar, there’s no telling what Hocevar could achieve in his third Cup season.

MORE: Carson Hocevar driver page

Link

Motorsports

Sawyer Brown Pre-Race Concert Presented by Raymer Oil Revs Up Window World 450 – Speedway Digest

Published

11 minutes ago

January 9, 2026

Your Sports Nation

As NASCAR Cup Series points racing returns to North Wilkesboro Speedway for the first time in nearly 30 years, the soundtrack of that era returns as well with multi-platinum country hitmakers Sawyer Brown headline a pre-race concert presented by Raymer Oil. The performance will be part of The Boys and Me Tour, firing up fans before the historic Window World 450 at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 19, 2026.

The Window World 450 marks the first NASCAR Cup Series points race at North Wilkesboro Speedway since 1996 and the first 450-lap Cup Series race in track history. With extended distance and playoff implications, the event is set to be one of the most anticipated races on the 2026 NASCAR calendar.

“North Wilkesboro Speedway and Sawyer Brown both represent eras for racing and music that fans still talk about with passion today,” said Graig Hoffman, executive director of North Wilkesboro Speedway. “As points racing returns to Wilkes County for the first time in three decades, it felt fitting to welcome a band that was defining country music during that same period. This will be a summer doubleheader of entertainment you’ll hear throughout the North Carolina mountains in July!”

Formed in the early 1980s and rocketing to national fame in the mid-1990s, Sawyer Brown has built a reputation on electrifying live shows and songs rooted in real life. With 24 albums, 51 charted singles and the No. 1 hit “Some Girls Do,” the band has spent more than four decades delivering high-energy performances to fans across the country — including more than 6,000 live shows.

Anchored by frontman Mark Miller alongside Gregg Hubbard (keyboards/vocals), Joe Smyth (percussion), and Shayne Hill (lead guitar), Sawyer Brown’s legendary live energy is set to echo through North Wilkesboro Speedway for a 60-minute set beginning at 5 p.m., revving up fans ahead of the return of the highly anticipated Window World 450.

“There’s something special about a place that has stood the test of time,” said Miller. “North Wilkesboro Speedway has that kind of soul. Bringing The Boys and Me Tour to a track with this much history, on a night this meaningful, is exactly the kind of moment we love to be part of.”

Fans can experience the “life songs” of Sawyer Brown’s pre-race concert up close with a $75 Track Pass upgrade, which includes stage-front access to the concert, driver introductions and pre-race festivities.

TICKETS:

Single-day tickets will be available for purchase exclusively at the North Wilkesboro Speedway Box Office, Tuesday, Jan. 13, from noon to 5 p.m. Three-day weekend ticket packages and Track Passes can be purchased online now at www.northwilkesborospeedway.com.

MORE INFO:

Fans can connect with North Wilkesboro Speedway and get the latest news by following on X and Instagram or becoming a Facebook fan.

SMLLC PR

Link

Motorsports

Ram CEO’s new marketing play involves NASCAR, reality TV and Dana White

Published

27 minutes ago

January 9, 2026

Your Sports Nation

Jan. 9, 2026, 8:01 a.m. ET

Ram is working furiously to put its truck sales back on track, and its latest marketing ploy is a NASCAR reality TV show produced by Dana White.

The Stellantis NV brand — which announced last year it would once again sponsor a NASCAR Craftsman truck team for 2026 after 13 years away — is behind a series called “Race For The Seat” that premiers Jan. 25 on Fox.

Link

Motorsports

Mash The Gas Launches Sixth Season of Top-Ranked NASCAR Coverage – Cincinnati.com

Published

3 hours ago

January 9, 2026

Your Sports Nation

Distributed by EIN Presswire

Mash The Gas Accelerates Into Its Sixth Season of NASCAR Coverage

Entering our sixth season reflects the consistency, credibility, and trust we’ve built with NASCAR fans, partners, and the sport we cover week in and week out.”

— Kevin Batstone, Co-Host, Mash The Gas

DAYTONA BEACH, FL, UNITED STATES, January 8, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Mash The Gas, the premier podcast dedicated to NASCAR Cup Series coverage, announces the launch of its sixth season, premiering [February 2nd, 2026]. Entering its most established year yet, Mash The Gas continues to deliver trusted race analysis, insider insight, and engaging weekly discussion for NASCAR fans, industry professionals, and brand partners nationwide.

Over the past five seasons, Mash The Gas has consistently ranked as a Top 5 “Must-Listen” NASCAR Podcast according to Feedspot, a distinction that reflects the show’s credibility, consistency, and growing influence within the motorsports media space.

Mash The Gas is hosted by Jeff Davis, Kevin Batstone, and NASCARSky. Season 6 marks NASCARSky’s second full-time season with the program, further strengthening the chemistry and on-air dynamic that has resonated with listeners. Her NASCAR-focused editorial work and influential social media presence bring a modern, fan-forward perspective to weekly coverage.

Kevin Batstone is a longtime podcaster and media professional, also serving as the host of the successful Discussion Combustion podcast and Happy Friday America, both known for consistent production and loyal audiences. Alongside Jeff Davis, Batstone’s experience anchors Mash The Gas as a polished and reliable NASCAR platform.

Together, the hosts deliver a focused mix of race recaps, pre- and post-race analysis, hot-topic debates, and interviews with drivers, media members, and industry insiders, establishing Mash The Gas as a trusted voice throughout the NASCAR season.

*Season 6 Highlights*

* Launch Date: Season 6 debuts [February 2nd, 2026], beginning with coverage of The Clash and building toward the Daytona 500
* Weekly Coverage: In-depth race previews, post-race breakdowns, and featured guest interviews.
* Growing Reach: Expanding listenership across YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeart, and all podcast platforms

Sponsorship Opportunities

As a consistently Top 5-ranked NASCAR podcast, Mash The Gas offers brands a proven platform to connect with one of sports’ most loyal fanbases. Opportunities include:

* Custom host-read ad placements
* Branded race preview and recap segments
* Social media amplification
* Season-long partnership integrations

*Media & Industry Collaboration*

With a history of covering marquee races and welcoming respected industry voices, Mash The Gas continues to pursue collaboration with NASCAR Media, teams, and content partners to amplify the sport’s stories and engage fans.

Entering its sixth season, Mash The Gas remains committed to delivering credible, entertaining, and insightful NASCAR coverage. Season 6 represents the show’s most refined and impactful year to date.

Mash The Gas Podcast
Discussion Combustion Productions
mashthegaspodcast@gmail.com
Visit us on social media:
Instagram
Facebook
YouTube
X

Legal Disclaimer:

EIN Presswire provides this news content “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability
for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this
article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.

Information contained on this page is provided by an independent third-party content provider. XPRMedia and this Site make no warranties or representations in connection therewith. If you are affiliated with this page and would like it removed please contact pressreleases@xpr.media

Link

Motorsports

Hitachi signs on as title sponsor at South Boston Speedway | Racing

Published

3 hours ago

January 9, 2026

Your Sports Nation

State

Zip Code

Country

Link

Motorsports

Emergency crews respond to commercial building fire in Lawrence County

Published

3 hours ago

January 9, 2026

Your Sports Nation

LAWRENCE COUNTY, Ark. (KAIT) – The Walnut Ridge Fire Department and the Hoxie Fire Department are responding to a fire at the former Cox Motorsports building.

According to Lawrence County Sheriff Tony Waldrupe, dispatch received a call at 7:23 p.m. about a fire in a commercial building on the intersection of Highway 63 and Lawrence County 701.

He identified it as the former Cox Motorsports building.

Sheriff Waldrupe said firemen reported heavy smoke when they arrived.

No injuries have been reported at this time.

To report a typo or correction, please click here.

Link