Motorsports

NASCAR Daytona takeaways: A thrilling throwback, playoff predictions and more

Published

4 months ago

August 25, 2025

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — In NASCAR’s Next Gen Era, Daytona racing has become frustratingly repetitive: Major fuel savings for much of the race, an inability to pass with an emphasis on track position, a big wreck at the end when everyone decides to finally go for it and a “leader at the moment of caution” controversy to decide the winner.

It’s been frustrating for nostalgic fans who remember how good superspeedway racing used to be, when drivers could slice their way through the pack by taking big runs. These days, it’s felt like even Dale Earnhardt Sr. would have been stuck in line with nowhere to go in this car — whether he could “see the air” or not.

But then came Saturday, when Ryan Blaney passed a dozen cars in the final two laps — 13th to first! in two laps! — to break the hearts of five potential win-and-in drivers staring at their last gasp to make the playoffs, change their seasons and perhaps even alter their careers.

WHERE DID HE COME FROM?!

RYAN BLANEY WINS IN A THRILLING LAST LAP AT DAYTONA! pic.twitter.com/H6IW6dtclh

— NASCAR (@NASCAR) August 24, 2025

Blaney saved Alex Bowman’s year at the same time, somehow threading his way to the front of the pack in a four-wide finish — an ending which came relatively cleanly and in regulation! And all that despite the sheer desperation of those drivers who were facing elimination if they didn’t win.

“They raced really smart and well and didn’t throw their cars in any foolish situations,” Blaney said. “Everyone did a great job of having a great race but also keeping it clean as well.

“Props to everybody where you didn’t have a guy who needed to win that was just the absolute hammer out there. They were really, really respectful of everybody else, and it was a good race.”

That’s incredibly refreshing and reminded us of Daytona’s thrilling nature. Often, the best Daytona races are about the threat of disaster rather than actually seeing it; when drivers race right up to the edge of chaos and somehow emerge unscathed, few things in all of motorsport are more thrilling.

In fact, according to NASCAR Insights, the separation between the top four finishers — 0.049 seconds — is the “closest known top four finish” in Cup Series history. And it wasn’t just Blaney who made huge gains in the final laps, either. Daniel Suárez went from 19th to second. Erik Jones went from 25th to fifth.

The ability to take runs and race it out at the finish? Check. Maximizing the drama from what the win-and-in format was designed to do? Check. A finish with no big wreck, no controversy and no overtime? Check. It didn’t even rain on race day.

All of those things added up to reasons why Saturday night almost felt too good to be true. Except it wasn’t.

Checking our results

Both Jordan Bianchi and I correctly predicted 12 of the 16 playoff drivers. We both missed the inclusion of Josh Berry, Austin Cindric, Austin Dillon and Bubba Wallace. My predicted four drivers in their place were Chris Buescher, Ty Gibbs, Michael McDowell and Brad Keselowski (Bianchi had Kyle Busch instead of Keselowski).

Where did I go wrong with my picks? Buescher finished 10th in the regular-season standings with the seventh-best average finish in the series, but ended up as the first driver out (33 points behind Bowman). Gibbs (16th) and Keselowski (19th) both had miserable starts to the season that doomed their chances of making it on points, then couldn’t find their way to victory lane in time. I was sure McDowell (20th) would be better at Spire Motorsports than he was at Front Row Motorsports, and while his average finish has improved by two spots, he’s on pace to have fewer top-10 finishes than in the previous three years.

Ultimately, this playoff field has few major surprises: All four Hendrick Motorsports cars made it (though it was obviously a close call for Bowman), powerhouse teams Joe Gibbs Racing and Team Penske added three cars each, everyone thought Shane van Gisbergen would win at least one road course race (he won four) and Tyler Reddick missing the field the year after making the Championship 4 would have been a shock.

More predictions

With the playoffs stacking up exceptionally well for Team Penske, which has won all three championships so far in the Next Gen Era, I’m picking them to do it again. Specifically, Joey Logano and Paul Wolfe seem to have mastered this format and now have even better tracks that suit them (Gateway and New Hampshire joined the playoffs this year in place of Watkins Glen and Homestead).

So Logano and Blaney are in my Championship 4, along with two JGR cars — Chase Briscoe, who has been great in the second half of the regular season, and Denny Hamlin, who has been oddly under the radar in terms of performance despite tying for the series lead in victories (and having a constant spotlight on him due to both his podcast and ongoing lawsuit against NASCAR).

My final eight include Cindric, William Byron, Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell — it’s just that I don’t think Hendrick is set up to win the championship this season, so I don’t have any of their drivers in the final four.

Berry makes it through to the Round of 12 based on his short track prowess and his Penske alliance, and is joined by Reddick, Bowman and Chase Elliott.

And my first cuts are Dillon, Wallace, Chastain and van Gisbergen — despite SVG’s playoff points, escaping a round that includes a track he’s never seen before (Gateway) will be a challenge.

Joey Logano, master of this playoff format, appears set up well for another deep run. (Meg Oliphant / Getty Images)

Win-and-in does the trick

Now that the regular-season standings are complete, we can note six of the eight one-win drivers would have missed the playoffs had they not scored their lone victory of the season. Obviously, these must be taken as separate instances — but if any one of these wins did not occur, these drivers would have been out based on finishing below Buescher in the regular-season points:

• Wallace (11th in the standings) would have missed by 15 points had he not won the Brickyard 400;

• Logano (12th) would have missed by 16 points had he not won at Texas;

• Chastain (13th) would have missed by 25 points had he not won the Coca-Cola 600;

• Cindric (15th) would have missed by 111 points had he not won at Talladega;

• Berry (21st) would have missed by 151 points had he not won at Las Vegas;

• Dillon (26th) would have missed by 182 points had he not won at Richmond.

Elliott (fourth) and Briscoe (eighth) would have made it on points even without their respective victories at Atlanta and Pocono.

Zilisch rises

After one of the quickest ascensions we’ve seen, 19-year-old Connor Zilisch was announced as a full-time Cup Series driver for next season at Trackhouse Racing — less than 18 months after making his first NASCAR national series start.

During his short time in the sport, Zilisch has wowed fans and those in the garage with his elite talent and wise-beyond-his-years maturity. He conducts himself and speaks like a 35-year-old veteran, not a teenager.

But now he’s on the precipice of Cup Series racing, a stressful, no-fun environment that has reshaped many a young driver. Over the last couple of decades, we’ve seen many drivers enter the Cup Series a certain way and quickly become a different person; it’s tough not to be affected by all the outside forces.

The last thing anyone wants is to see Zilisch change, since he’s so refreshing and has all the potential of a budding superstar. Yet he’s so young, it will be tough to avoid becoming reshaped by the relentless grind and pressure of Cup racing.

So we wondered: What’s his outlook on all of it? Here’s his answer, thoughtful as usual:

“You get to Sunday and all of a sudden this becomes a job and your finishing position determines if you’re going to stay in the sport or not,” Zilisch said. “And obviously that adds pressure and makes things more difficult, and it certainly adds to the fact that this is no longer all about having fun.

“But that’s what I’m going to try and do my best to keep every Sunday, is to make sure that I’m enjoying it and enjoying the ride. You can’t travel 38 weeks a year around the country and be miserable and expect to do well. So you have to enjoy it.

“The good days are going to be special and the bad days are part of it. That’s what you’ve got to understand from the get-go. There’s nothing that can really prepare you for this jump, and only time will tell how it affects me. But I’m going to do my best to stand on my ground and stay true to who I am.”

Just 19 years old, Connor Zilisch will be full-time in the Cup Series next season for Trackhouse Racing. (James Gilbert / Getty Images)

Trackhouse changes

Last week, Heavy.com reported that Trackhouse fired two members of its competition department, including competition director Tony Lunders. Though the timing right before the playoffs seems unusual, Trackhouse owner Justin Marks said the moves were about “establishing the standard of the company.”

“The direction we’re going is going to require really, really aggressive pursuit of excellence inside the business,” Marks said. “There are people in the business who show up every day and think anything is possible and work toward the goal that I stated — which is being the best team in the business. And there are some that are not.

“We have to just cultivate a workforce of people who believe we can do it and fight all day, every day, to be able to do it.”

Nix-ville

NASCAR scheduled next year’s Richmond race on a Saturday night directly against the Knoxville Nationals, meaning Larson won’t be able to participate in the world’s biggest sprint car race.

“Sure, I wish the schedule would work out to where I could run all the big (sprint car) races,” Larson said. “But I’ve missed it before, so it’s kind of whatever.”

Larson said he saw an earlier version of the schedule that looked like it would allow him to compete, but then realized there was a conflict when the NASCAR schedule was released last week.

Though Knoxville is popular on its own — its 20,000-seat grandstands sold out again this year — Larson represents a major bridge between the sprint car world and NASCAR, since he is an elite driver in both. His presence at Knoxville, which this season required flying back and forth from Watkins Glen, is a great addition to the event.

But ultimately, Larson said, “it’s two different series and they both have to worry about themselves.”

“So it’s fine,” he said. “It shouldn’t revolve around me anyway.”

(Top photo of Ryan Blaney taking the checkered flag in Saturday’s regular-season finale at Daytona: Michael Bush / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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Motorsports

Early 2026 Daytona 500 favorite slides as NASCAR season nears

Published

51 minutes ago

December 25, 2025

Your Sports Nation

DraftKings Sportsbook’s betting odds to win this coming February’s season-opening Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway have shifted a number of times since the NASCAR Cup Series offseason began just over a month and a half ago.

From the get-go, Team Penske teammates Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano were listed as co-favorites to win the 68th running of the “Great American Race”, and they were later joined by teammate Austin Cindric, even ahead of two-time reigning race winner William Byron of Hendrick Motorsports.

However, things have changed again over the weekend, and with just over seven weeks to go until qualifying, Cindric is no longer listed as one of the favorites. In fact, his odds haven’t just shifted; he has dropped a bit down the order, as he is no longer even listed third behind Blaney and Logano.

Austin Cindric no longer a Daytona 500 favorite

Blaney and Logano are still listed at +1000, but the 2022 race winner, who nearly won it again in 2025 to break one of Richard Petty’s long-standing Daytona records, is now listed at +1200.

Byron, who had been listed at +1200, has moved up slightly and now finds himself at +1100. No driver has ever won the Daytona 500 three years in a row.

Hendrick Motorsports teammates Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott are listed closely behind at +1400, followed by RFK Racing’s Brad Keselowski, who is expected to be back in time for the race after breaking his right leg, and Joe Gibbs Racing’s Denny Hamlin, the only active three-time winner, at +1600.

Rounding out the top 10 at +1800 are Richard Childress Racing’s Kyle Busch and Joe Gibbs Racing’s Christopher Bell.

Full Daytona 500 betting odds can be found here and are always subject to change.

The 68th annual Daytona 500 is set to be shown live on Fox from Daytona International Speedway beginning at 2:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, February 15, 2026.

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Motorsports

Kyle Larson Addresses Possibility of Racing Rolex 24 Again

Published

1 hour ago

December 25, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Getty

WINSTON SALEM, NORTH CAROLINA – FEBRUARY 01: Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet looks on prior to practice for the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium on February 01, 2025 in Winston Salem, North Carolina. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

Two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson has again raised interest in a possible return to the Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona, one of motorsports’ toughest endurance races.

Kyle Larson spoke about the topic during a recent appearance on the Dinner with Racers podcast, where he looked back on his experience at Daytona and explained why the event still matters to him. Larson last raced the Rolex 24 in 2016, but his comments confirmed that the door is not closed on another start if the right situation comes together.

Kyle Larson’s Past Success at Daytona

Kyle Larson’s history with the Rolex 24 began in 2014 and peaked in 2015. That year, he competed with Chip Ganassi Racing alongside Scott Dixon, Tony Kanaan, and Jamie McMurray. Driving a Riley-Ford prototype, the team dominated the race and completed 740 laps to earn the overall victory.

According to Joey Barnes of Motorsport.com, Larson explained that his interest in the race remains strong. “I think at this stage in my career, yeah, I’d do it again, said Kyle.” “I had fun those three years I did it. I didn’t want to keep doing it every year.”

Larson made three total Rolex 24 starts between 2014 and 2016. His overall win in 2015 remains one of the most notable crossover victories by a NASCAR driver in the modern IMSA era.

A Growing List of Commitments

Since his last Rolex 24 appearance, Kyle Larson’s schedule has become much fuller. He currently drives the No. 5 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports and has won NASCAR Cup Series championships in 2021 and 2025. He also competes regularly in dirt racing and co-owns the High Limit Sprint Car series.

Larson acknowledged that managing those responsibilities is harder now than it was earlier in his career. “The offseasons have only gotten busier, Larson said, according to Barnes.” “There are more races and stuff. I go to Australia now, Chili Bowl, and West Coast Midget races. It’s just a lot, and I kind of want time off. But it’s been so long since I ran it that you almost get to the point where you forget a little bit about it, right? And I just remember having a blast doing that race, so I just want to go there and relive it.”

Even with that workload, Larson said being away from the Rolex 24 for so long has made him think about it more. He noted that memories from his earlier starts, especially the enjoyment of the event, still stand out.

What a Return Would Require

While Larson remains open to returning, he made it clear that any entry would need to be competitive. In the same Motorsport.com report, Larson said, “I want to be in the best car.”

Family considerations also play a role. Larson noted that his oldest child was a newborn when he won the race in 2015, and he said being able to share the experience with his kids now would add to the appeal.

The 2026 Rolex 24 is scheduled for January 24–25 at Daytona International Speedway. IMSA is expected to once again feature strong fields across its top classes. For now, no plans have been announced, but Larson’s comments confirm that a return remains a realistic possibility under the right conditions.

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

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Motorsports

FIA greenlights pure genius Mercedes 2026 F1 engine

Published

1 hour ago

December 25, 2025

Your Sports Nation

As the Formula 1 world gears up for the revolutionary 2026 regulations, a storm has brewed over Mercedes’ (and reportedly Red Bull’s) approach to the new power unit rules. Headlines scream “loophole” and “cheating,” with fans on social media branding Mercedes as repeat offenders.

–by Mark Cipolloni–

But strip away the hyperbole, and what’s left is a classic tale of F1 at its best: innovative engineering pushing the boundaries of the regulations—exactly within them.

The crux of the issue lies in the 2026 engine rules, which cap the geometric compression ratio at 16:1, down from 18:1 in previous years. This change was intended to simplify designs and attract new manufacturers like Audi. The regulations explicitly state that this ratio is measured under static conditions at ambient temperature—a procedure unchanged from prior rules and approved by the FIA in each manufacturer’s homologation dossier.

Related Article: Formula 1 News: Engine row erupts over ‘alleged’ 2026 compression loophole

Mercedes engineered their power unit to comply precisely with this measurement when cold and stationary. However, like any engine, thermal expansion occurs when it reaches operating temperatures on track. This natural phenomenon can effectively increase the compression ratio during actual running, potentially unlocking extra performance—estimates suggest around 10-13 horsepower, worth 0.3-0.4 seconds per lap on certain circuits.

Rivals Ferrari, Honda, and Audi cried foul, arguing the rule should apply “at all times,” including under hot conditions. They sought clarification from the FIA, fearing an unfair edge for Mercedes-powered teams (Mercedes, McLaren, Williams, Alpine) and Red Bull’s outfits.

Yet the FIA has stood firm: the rules are clear, measurements are at ambient temperature, and no hot-condition checks are mandated. Mercedes developed this in open dialogue with the governing body, receiving reassurance that their interpretation aligns with the wording. Changing the rules now—mere months before homologation—would punish innovation while rewarding those who didn’t spot the opportunity.

This isn’t cheating; it’s brilliance. Formula 1 has always rewarded the sharpest minds who exploit every gray area the regulations allow. Think of Mercedes’ dominant 2014 hybrid era, born from superior interpretation of complex turbo-hybrid rules. Or Brawn GP’s double diffuser in 2009, Red Bull’s flexed wings, or Ferrari’s infamous engine tricks in 2019. The sport thrives on this cat-and-mouse game between engineers and rule-makers.

Calling Mercedes “cheaters” ignores the essence of F1: design genius usually wins. Their engineers outsmarted the field by optimizing for real-world performance while ticking every regulatory box. If rivals missed this thermal dynamic, that’s on them—not Mercedes bending rules, but mastering them.

As engines homologate in early 2026, the grid may face a Mercedes advantage out of the gate. But that’s the thrill of a new era. Protests could fly, rules might tighten for 2027, but for now, this “loophole” highlights what makes Formula 1 unparalleled: the relentless pursuit of advantage through intellect and innovation.

In a sport where milliseconds matter, smarter engineering isn’t controversy—it’s victory.

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Motorsports

Merry Christmas to one and all

Published

5 hours ago

December 25, 2025

Your Sports Nation

🎄 Merry Christmas from AutoRacing1.com 🎅

As the holiday season races in, we want to take a moment to thank you for being part of our journey this year. Your passion for motorsports fuels everything we do, and we’re incredibly grateful for your continued support.

From all of us at AutoRacing1.com, we wish you and your loved ones a joyful, peaceful, and high-octane Christmas. May your holidays be filled with warmth, laughter, and plenty of horsepower!

Here’s to a thrilling new year ahead — we can’t wait to cross the finish line with you in 2026.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

🏁
The AutoRacing1.com Team.

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Motorsports

Acquisition deal breathes new life into Memphis International Raceway

Published

8 hours ago

December 25, 2025

Your Sports Nation

MILLINGTON, Tenn. (WMC) – The dilapidated Memphis International Raceway will see tires on the track again.

This week, the International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) closed on the property at 5500 Victory Lane, which is also known as the Memphis Motorsports Park.

It’s been closed since 2022 and currently sits empty.

Located in the neighboring City of Millington, the Memphis International Raceway has played a significant role in the national motorsports scene since its opening in the late 1980s.

“This is a special place in American motorsports,” said Darryl Cuttell, CEO of IHRA. “This facility has a deep history in drag racing and stock car competition, and our goal is to honor that legacy while building a strong, sustainable future. We are committed to bringing meaningful racing back to this property while expanding its role as a destination for a wide range of events that serve racers, fans, and the surrounding community.”

Under its new ownership, the track will operate as a multi-use destination for drag racing, car competitions, and more.

“Memphis Motorsports Park has long contributed to tourism and economic activity in Millington and Shelby County, and IHRA’s acquisition represents a positive step forward for the facility and the community. This investment supports the continued use of the track as a regional destination while creating opportunities for local businesses and future growth. The Millington Area Chamber of Commerce looks forward to working with IHRA as this next chapter takes shape,” said Chris Thomas, executive director of the Millington Area Chamber of Commerce.

IHRA officials say facility improvements and operational preparations will begin in the coming days.

An event schedule has yet to be released.

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Motorsports

K1 Speed champions get new route into Porsche series

Published

9 hours ago

December 24, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Photo credit: Porsche

Porsche Motorsport North America is adding an indoor-karting pipeline to its driver development ladder through a new multi-year partnership with K1 Speed, the companies announced. The agreement is aimed at turning K1’s points-based monthly racing structure into a more direct on-ramp for standout drivers to reach Porsche Sprint Challenge North America or Porsche Sprint Challenge USA West.

The arrangement has a public-facing branding component and a competitive incentive. Porsche Motorsport branding will be displayed across all 72 K1 Speed karting centers in the United States, while K1 Speed decals will appear on the front bumper of cars competing in Porsche Carrera Cup North America, Porsche Sprint Challenge North America, Porsche Sprint Challenge USA West, and Porsche Endurance Challenge North America.

At the sporting level, the companies plan to select two drivers from among the top racers who reach K1 Speed’s national competition, one from the teen class and one from the adult class. For those two drivers, the entry fee for a future season in Porsche Sprint Challenge North America or USA West will be waived, according to the announcement.

‟K1 Speed hosts thousands of motorsports enthusiasts each year and all of us at PMNA look forward to connecting with them,” Volker Holzmeyer, President and CEO of Porsche Motorsport North America, said. ‟Whether they are casual fans of motorsport or are searching for a path into professional racing, we are excited to introduce them all to the Porsche Motorsport Pyramid and the opportunities that it offers.”

K1 Speed said its arrive-and-drive model and monthly race series create an accessible starting point, with points earned locally and top finishers advancing to state and then national-level competition. ‟It’s an immense honor for K1 to partner with Porsche Motorsport North America to provide up-and-coming American racers with an extraordinary opportunity,” said David Danglard, CEO and Founder of K1 Speed and K1 Circuit. ‟We built K1 on the belief that future champions start here, and this partnership with Porsche creates a pathway to take them from our indoor tracks to the country’s greatest circuits.”

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