Chase Elliott won a NASCAR Cup race at Pocono in 2022, but it came in the most bizarre fashion.

Long after the race had ended and the track’s grandstands had cleared, the apparent race winner, Denny Hamlin, and the apparent runner-up, Kyle Busch, were disqualified when their cars didn’t pass inspection.

Elliott, who had finished third, found out about his “victory” after he got back home in Georgia.

Matt Barndt found out about Elliott’s win while getting ready to get on a plane at the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport. He was stunned, but happy.

Barndt, a Lower Saucon Township native and Saucon Valley High School graduate, has one wish this weekend as he returns to familiar turf at Pocono Raceway as Elliott’s car chief.

“This time I want us to win because we were the first ones across the finish line,” Barndt said. “I don’t want to win it any other way. And I want to get a celebration in Victory Lane. That didn’t happen the last time.”

Barndt, a 2009 Saucon grad, has been working with Elliott since Elliott joined Hendrick Motorsports on a full-time basis in 2016. Barndt previously worked with NASCAR legend Jeff Gordon, a staple of Hendrick’s dominant racing team.

“Basically, everyone who worked on Jeff”s team went on Chase’s team,” Barndt said.

Bardnt has formed a strong bond with Elliott, who is 29 and five years younger than Barndt.

“His experience far exceeds his years because he grew up in a racing family,” Barndt said. “He’s a great person to work with, and we communicate quite well. We both grew up around race tracks.”

Of course, Barndt must also work with crew chief Alan Gustafson, who has been working with Elliott since 2016 and entered this season as the longest-running driver-crew chief pairing in the Cup Series. Barndt and Gustafson also have a great rapport.

During an interview available on the Hendrick Motorsports website, Barndt said he was fortunate that Gustafson saw something in him when he was ready to graduate from college.

“You transitioned from design engineer to race engineer to car chief in a really short period of time, and you’re still really young.” Gustafson said. “And now you have a really difficult job.”

Barndt said that NASCAR’s newest car, now in its third season, makes it difficult for any team to gain an advantage. That’s one reason why Hendrick, which used to be considered the Yankees of NASCAR because of its all-star lineup and dominance in the Cup series, no longer dominates.

But Barndt said Hendrick remains a great place to work. He started working there on an internship while a sophomore at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, which is located right smack dab in the home base for NASCAR and its teams.

Barndt earned a degree in mechanical engineering, but his heart was in racing, which is something he started at the age of 5.

“I started in quarter-midgets, then did mini-cups, asphalt late-models, and after starting at local tracks, I went to national events around the country,” he said. “My sister was racing, too. We were a racing family. The dream was always to make it to this level of the sport, but it happened in a different capacity. That competitive drive and desire to win when I was a kid is still there. But now I’m not on the track, but you still want to find an edge. I still want to win.”

Elliott, the 2020 Cup Series champion, is a seven-time winner of NASCAR’s Cup Series Most Popular Driver Award as voted on by the fans. His father, Bill, won the same award 16 times.

There are a lot of people who hope Elliott can end a drought and win a Cup points race for the first time since April 2024 at Texas.

While he hasn’t won a race, he has a streak of 16 top-20 finishes going for him.

“I go into every race thinking we can win,” Barndt said. “And I feel the same way about this race. We’ve been running well. We would love to get one at Pocono.”

Win or lose, Barndt, who flew to Pennsylvania late Friday afternoon from Charlotte, said it’s tough to find time to go home and visit with family.

“We now put on two-day shows in NASCAR, and things aren’t spread out like they used to be when you’d get to town on Thursday night,” he said. “From the time we get there, we’ll be going to work and try to figure out what we need to do to be successful.”

Kurt Busch named grand marshal

Kurt Busch made his way into Victory Lane at Pocono Raceway three times and won on the Cup circuit 34 times.

He’s on his way into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in January.

But he will make a pitstop at Pocono Raceway on Sunday to serve as grand marshal of The Great American Getaway 400, the marquee event of NASCAR’s three-race weekend at Pocono.

Governor Josh Shapiro will serve as the honorary starter and wave the green flag for the 2 p.m. race being live-streamed by Amazon Prime.

“We’re honored to celebrate Kurt’s Hall of Fame career with our fans,” Pocono Raceway President Ben May said. “Pocono Raceway is proud to be a small part of that illustrious career with Kurt being a three-time race winner and two-time polesitter.

Busch, 46, won at Pocono in 2005, ’07, and ’16. He also won the pole in 2005 and ’11. He totaled 21 top-10 finishes, including 14 in the top five, in 41 career starts in Monroe County.

In 23 years on the circuit, Busch won the series title in 2004 and the 2017 Daytona 500. He also won at least four times in each of the three NASCAR national series — Cup, Xfinity, and Craftsman Truck.

In addition to being named grand marshal, Busch will be honored by Pocono with “TY KURT” painted on the start/finish line, and the Mattioli Foundation will donate $10,000 to Vet Tix in his honor.

Pocono Raceway schedule

Saturday 

8 a.m. — Gates, Fan Fair & Paddock Open

10 a.m. — NASCAR Xfinity Series practice

11:05 a.m. — NASCAR Xfinity Series qualifying

12:35 p.m. — NASCAR Cup Series practice

1:45 p.m. — NASCAR Cup Series qualifying

3:30 p.m.  —  Explore the Pocono Mountains 250 NASCAR Xfinity Series Race (100 Laps / 250 Miles)

Sunday

8 a.m. — Gates, Fan Fair & Paddock Open

2 p.m. —  The Great American Getaway 400 NASCAR Cup Series Race (160 Laps / 400 Miles)

Originally Published: June 21, 2025 at 7:00 AM EDT

There’s just something about country music and NASCAR, don’t you think? The two pair well with one another, like ketchup and mustard — which, coincidentally, you can get on your hot dog at the racetrack’s concession stand.

Whether racing is considered a “country” sport or not, there are plenty of country music fans who enjoy watching their favorite drivers out on the track on Sunday afternoon. Networks have picked up on this, and many use hit country tracks in their promotional video packages.

And if you’ve been out to the track to take in an event, you know it’s likely the race will feature country music playing in the stands. If you’re really lucky, it will be a country artist singing the national anthem before the first engine is revved up.

Country Music Loves NASCAR

There are quite a few country artists who are fans of the sport of racing. In addition to being a part of race day traditions, it’s not a rare thing for singers and their families to be roaming the infield or the pit area at the tracks in Nashville.

Country artists have also been given the honor of taking part in other pre-race activities, like driving the pace car, waving the checkered flag and delivering the iconic line, “Gentlemen, start your engines.”

And let’s not forget those who have graced the actual cars themselves.

Luke Combs, Bailey Zimmerman and Chris Stapleton are some of those whose names or likenesses have been used on a car’s wrap, thanks to various drivers. We’ve never seen some of these guys move so fast!

The next time you rally up the crew on race day, add these songs to your pre-race soundtrack. Some are sentimental and others are just silly, but they’re perfect for any fan!

Keep scrolling to see the best country songs about NASCAR.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr will have a new spotter for this weekend

Last weekend, NASCAR raced in Mexico City. It marked the first NASCAR Cup Series event in Mexico and the first outside of the United States in several decades.

The haulers were given an escort to the track. However, not everybody had a great time.

Logistics for NASCAR haulers heading to Mexico City are insane

Hyak Motorsports fields the No. 47 in the NASCAR Cup Series. The team is co-owned by Gordon Smith, Brad Daugherty, Mark Hughes and Ernie Cope.

Tab Boyd was the spotter for the No. 47 driven by Ricky Stenhouse Jr. He said he was hustled outside of his hotel and money was snatched. After telling his story online, he was fired.

That’s a disappointing outcome. And it has since been confirmed by the driver of the No. 47…

Mexico Results: June 15, 2025 (NASCAR Cup Series)

Ricky Stenhouse Jr confirms Tab Boyd has been let go

“You know, obviously, that’s an unfortunate deal,” Ricky Stenhouse Jr stated via SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

“The team let Tab Boyd go this week and we got Clayton Hughes to come fill in. I’ve never worked with Clayton.”

“You know, obviously, I think the concern for me is trying to get on the same page as quick as we can knowing that, like you said, the schedule coming up, going to Atlanta next week could be a very important race for our race team and trying to get us into the Playoffs and put us in the right position.”

Mark Martin knocks the NASCAR playoff format

What did Tab Boyd say?

“I’m ready to go home, screw this place, people can talk it up all they want,” Tab Boyd opened from a now deleted X account.

“Can’t even walk out the front door of the hotel without getting hustled and money snatched… in less than 5 minutes.”

He concluded, “Good area my ass.”

NASCAR driver Carson Hocevar was also reprimanded for comments after Mexico City. In his case, his team, Spire Motorsports issued a $50,000 fine to their own driver.

Carson Hocevar fined $50,000 by Spire Motorsports

Ricky Stenhouse Jr confronts Carson Hocevar in Mexico (Video)

Links

Ricky Stenhouse Jr | NASCAR

Front Row Motorsports driver Layne Riggs converted his first career NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series pole into his first victory of the season in Friday’s MillerTech Battery 200 at Pocono Raceway.

Riggs, driving the No. 34 Bare Knuckle Brawl Ford, took advantage of a cut tire and scrape with the wall by defending race champion Corey Heim of TRICON Garage to secure his third career victory. Riggs took control on Lap 61 of 80 and went on to a 3.64-second margin of victory over runner-up Tanner Gray of TRICON Garage. Click HERE for the full results.

“That thing was bad fast, especially that last run right there,” Riggs said. “I am on cloud nine right now. This is not one I had circled (on my calendar). Last year, we wrecked in practice, didn’t qualify and ran around dead-last all day, and today we were the best, so man, this is amazing.”

It was somewhat amazing that Heim did not wind up in Victory Lane for the second year in a row. He was dominant until his mishap, leading three times for a race-high 48 of the first 60 laps. He was able to return to the race, but finished 23^rd.

On the ensuing restart, the leader Riggs started on the inside and Cup Series regular Carson Hocevar of Spire Motorsports on the outside. Hocevar cleared for the lead entering Turn 1, but was black flagged for jumping the restart. Hocevar was then forced to come to pit road to serve his restart violation penalty and handed the lead back to Riggs. Hocevar would go on to finish 13^th.

With Heim and Hocevar out of the way, Riggs took command of the race and quickly opened up a 1.124-second advantage over Gray. Riggs would lead the final 20 laps and was never threatened.

The runner-up, Toyota-powered performance by Gray matched his career-best finish while Niece Motorsports driver Kaden Honeycutt finished third. Joe Gibbs Racing Xfinity Series regular Brandon Jones, driving for TRICON Garage, took fourth and Daniel Hemric of McAnally-Hilgemann Racing was fifth.

“We hadn’t been able to put together any solid races as of lately, so to have a solid day like that is refreshing,” Gray said. “In the past I’ve struggled here. We just haven’t been able to put races together, so it feels good to be able to do that today. It’s refreshing to have a good run, but at the same time it’s tough because we have to win to get into the playoffs and we were one spot away from it there. All in all I’m proud of everybody, but really wanted to be one spot better.”

The weekend will feature a NASCAR national series race each day, with the Xfinity Series Explore the Pocono Mountains 250 up next Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET. The weekend culminates with the sold-out Great American Getaway 400 presented by VISITPA.COM on Sunday beginning at 2 p.m. ET.

For ticket information and news on the NASCAR race weekend, please visit www.poconoraceway.com.

Pocono Raceway PR

(All times Eastern)

Schedule subject to change and/or blackouts

Sunday, June 22

AUTO RACING

7:30 a.m.

FS1 — FIM MotoGP: The Brembo Grand Prix of Italy, Tuscany, Italy

10 a.m.

FS1 — NTT IndyCar Series: Warmup, Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wis.

11 a.m.

FS1 — NXT IndyCar Series: The Grand Prix at Road America, Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wis.

Noon

CBS — ABB FIA Formula-E: The Jakarta Grand Prix – Round 12, North Jakarta, Indonesia (Taped)

NBC — IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship: The Saleh’s Six Hours of Glen, Watkins Glen International, Watkins Glen, N.Y.

1:30 p.m.

FOX — NTT IndyCar Series: The Xpel Grand Prix at Road America, Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wis.

2 p.m.

FS1 — NHRA: Qualifying, Virginia Motorsports Park, North Dinwiddie, Va. (Taped)

PRIME VIDEO — NASCAR Cup Series: The Great American Getaway 400 Presented by VISITPA.COM, Pocono Raceway, Long Pond, Pa.

4 p.m.

CBSSN — FIM Motocross: The MX2, Matterly Basin, Great Britain (Taped)

FOX — NHRA: The Virginia NHRA Nationals, Virginia Motorsports Park, North Dinwiddie, Va.

5 p.m.

CBSSN — FIM Motocross: The MXGP, Matterly Basin, Great Britain (Taped)

BEACH VOLLEYBALL

1 p.m.

CBSSN — AVP League: Week 4 – Day 2, East Hampton, N.Y.

BIG3 BASKETBALL

1 p.m.

CBS — Week 2: Detroit Amps vs. Miami 305, Boston Ball Hogs vs. DMV Trilogy, Houston Rig Hands vs. Chicago Triplets, L.A. Riot vs. Dallas Power, Baltimore

COLLEGE BASEBALL

2:30 p.m.

ABC — Men’s College World Series – Final: LSU vs. Coastal Carolina, Game 2, Omaha, Neb.

ESPNU — Men’s College World Series – Final: LSU vs. Coastal Carolina, Game 2, Omaha, Neb. (UmpCast)

GOLF

1 p.m.

GOLF — PGA Tour: The Travelers Championship, Final Round, TPC River Highlands, Cromwell, Conn.

3 p.m.

CBS — PGA Tour: The Travelers Championship, Final Round, TPC River Highlands, Cromwell, Conn.

GOLF — PGA Tour Champions: The Kaulig Companies Championship, Final Round, Firestone Country Club South Course, Akron, Ohio

NBC — LPGA Tour: The 2025 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship: Final Round, Fields Ranch East at PGA Frisco, Frisco, Texas

HORSE RACING

12:30 p.m.

FS1 — NYRA: America’s Day at the Races

2 p.m.

FS2 — NYRA: America’s Day at the Races

4 p.m.

FS1 — NYRA: America’s Day at the Races

LACROSSE (MEN’S)

Noon

ABC — PLL: Utah vs. Denver, Baltimore

MLB BASEBALL

1:30 p.m.

MLBN — Regional Coverage: Texas at Pittsburgh (1:35 p.m.) OR Atlanta at Miami (1:40 p.m.)

4:30 p.m.

MLBN — Regional Coverage: Kansas City at San Diego (4:10 p.m.) OR Boston at San Francisco (4:05 p.m.)

7 p.m.

ESPN — N.Y. Mets at Philadelphia

ESPN2 — N.Y. Mets at Philadelphia (StatCast)

NBA BASKETBALL

8 p.m.

ABC — NBA Finals: Indiana at Oklahoma City, Game 7

SOCCER (MEN’S)

3 p.m.

TNT — FIFA Club World Cup Group Stage: Real Madrid vs. CF Pachuca, Group H, Charlotte, N.C.

TRUTV — FIFA Club World Cup Group Stage: Real Madrid vs. CF Pachuca, Group H, Charlotte, N.C.

7 p.m.

FOX — CONCACAF Gold Cup Group Stage: U.S. vs. Haiti, Group D, Arlington, Texas

FS1 — CONCACAF Gold Cup Group Stage: Saudi Arabia vs. Trinidad and Tobago, Group D, Las Vegas

9 p.m.

TNT — FIFA Club World Cup Group Stage: Manchester City vs. Al Ain FC, Group G, Atlanta

TRUTV — FIFA Club World Cup Group Stage: Manchester City vs. Al Ain FC, Group G, Atlanta

10 p.m.

FS1 — CONCACAF Gold Cup Group Stage: Mexico vs. Costa Rica, Group A, Las Vegas

FS2 — CONCACAF Gold Cup Group Stage: Dominican Republic vs. Suriname, Group A, Arlington, Texas

SOCCER (WOMEN’S)

10 p.m.

CBSSN — NWSL: Washington at San Diego

SOFTBALL

7 p.m.

ESPNU — Athletes Unlimited: Talons vs. Volts, Norman, Okla.

TENNIS

6 a.m.

TENNIS — London-ATP, Halle-ATP, Berlin-WTA, Nottingham-WTA Finals

11:30 a.m.

TENNIS — Bad Hoburg-WTA Early Rounds

5:30 a.m. (Monday)

TENNIS — Eastbourne-ATP/WTA, Mallorca-ATP, Bad Homburg-WTA Early Rounds

6 a.m. (Monday)

TENNIS — Eastbourne-ATP/WTA, Mallorca-ATP, Bad Homburg-WTA Early Rounds

VOLLEYBALL (WOMEN’S)

10:30 a.m.

CBSSN — FIVB Nations League Pool Play: France vs. U.S., Pool 6, Belgrade, Serbia

WNBA BASKETBALL

3 p.m.

ESPN — Indiana at Las Vegas

7 p.m.

NBATV — New York at Seattle

_____

Copyright
© 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.

Pocono Raceway will feature more than seven hours of on-track action Saturday for the NASCAR Xfinity and Cup series.

The Xfinity Series will be on track at 10 a.m. for a 55-minute practice that will be followed immediately by qualifying for a 100-lap race. The green flag will drop at 3:40 p.m.

The Cup Series will begin a nearly hourlong practice at 12:35 p.m. with each of the two groups getting 25 minutes each of track time. Qualifying will begin at 1:45 p.m. to set the lineup for Sunday’s 160-lap race.

Cole Custer is the defending Xfinity race winner but is absent from this year’s entry list after moving back up to the Cup Series in 2025.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. will be the crew chief for Connor Zilisch as Zilisch’s regular crew chief sits out due to a penalty.

Pocono Raceway Saturday schedule

(All Times Eastern)

Garage open

• 8:30 a.m. – 9 p.m. — Xfinity Series
• 7 a.m. – 3 p.m. — Cup Series

Track activity

• 10 – 10:55 a.m. — Xfinity practice (CW App)
• 11:05 a.m. – noon — Xfinity qualifying (CW App)
• 12:35 – 1:35 p.m. — Cup practice (Prime, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
• 1:45 – 2:30 p.m. — Cup qualifying (Prime, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
• 3:30 p.m. — Xfinity race (100 laps, 250 miles; Stage 1 at Lap 25, Stage 2 at Lap 50; CW Network; MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)

Weather

Saturday: A mixture of sunshine and clouds with a high of 81 degrees and winds from the west at 5 to 10 mph. It’s expected to be 80 degrees with a 15% chance of rain for the start of the Xfinity Series race.