· This weekend marks the 107th running of a NASCAR Cup Series race at Dover Motor Speedway (1969-2025), 2025 is the fifth straight season Dover hosted one race a year.
· The stage end laps for this weekend’s race are laps 120, 250 and 400.
· Denny Hamlin won this race last year, he is the only repeat winner in the last seven Dover races.
· Hendrick Motorsports (eight) and Joe Gibbs Racing (six) combined won 14 of the last 19 Dover Cup races.
· A Dover race winner finished outside the top-10 in a stage in only one of the 24 stages at Dover.
· The stages and race win were swept three times in track history: Kevin Harvick in 2018 and 2020, and Denny Hamlin in 2020.
· Only three of the last eight Dover races had a final green flag stretch less than 62 laps.
· Dover has produced only two first-time Cup winners: Jody Ridley in May 1981 and Martin Truex Jr in June 2007.
· The Dover race winner led at least 68 laps in each of the last eight races.
· None of the last eight Dover races ended in overtime.
· The driver starting first failed to win in the last 24 Dover races.
· The driver leading the most laps won only three of the last nine races including Denny Hamlin last year.
· Laid in 1995, Dover’s concrete track surface is the oldest oval surface on the Cup series schedule.
· Alex Bowman (5/21) and Denny Hamlin (8/20, 4/24) are the only drivers to win in the last 28 Dover races who don’t have a Cup championship.
· The winners of the last five Dover races combined made a total of four green flag pit stops, all were in the last two races (two each).
· Three of the last eight Dover races ended on Monday including two of the last three.
· Alex Bowman’s six top-10 finishes at Dover since the start of 2019 are the most among all active drivers and are tied for the most with Martin Truex Jr. and Kevin Harvick.
· Joey Logano is making his 600th Cup start at Dover this weekend, he made his NASCAR debut in the top 3 series at Dover in 2008 NXS race, finishing sixth. The only driver to win in their 600th Cup start was Richard Petty at Richmond in February 1973.
· Logano will be the youngest driver to make 600 starts.
· Joey Logano will be the sixth driver to make their 600th career Cup start at Dover.
· Chris Buescher will be making his 350th career Cup start and 200th start with RFK Racing this weekend. Three drivers have won in their 350th Cup start, most recently Tony Stewart at Talladega in October 2008.
· Daniel Suarez is making his 200th consecutive start this weekend at Dover.
· Kyle Busch leads all active drivers in Cup Series wins at Dover Motor Speedway with three (2008, 2010, 2017).
· A total of six of the 39 NASCAR Cup Series Dover Motor Speedway race winners are active this weekend:
Active Dover Cup Winners
Wins
Seasons
Kyle Busch
3
2017, ‘10, ‘08
Denny Hamlin
2
2024, ’20
Chase Elliott
2
2022, ‘18
Alex Bowman
1
2021
Kyle Larson
1
2019
Brad Keselowski
1
2012
· There were only five cautions at Dover last April, the fewest in the last five races there.
· Qualifying has only been held in seven of the last 15 Dover races, only twice in the last six.
· No driver has ever won at Dover from below the Playoff cutline in the regular season.
· Under the current points format (2017-2025), only one driver has ever pointed into the Playoffs from below the cutline at this point or later in the season (Clint Bowyer, was -2 in 2019).
· A driver has won their way into the Playoffs at this point or later in the season every year since 2020.
· Bubba Wallace has been on the regular season Playoff bubble (16th or 17th in the standings) more than any other driver in the Next Gen era (22 times).
· In 2024, three drivers that were above the cutline after race 20 ended up missing the Playoffs (Ross Chastain, Chris Buescher, Bubba Wallace).
· The last six consecutive seasons have seen at least one driver above the cutline at this point or later in the season go on to miss the Playoffs.
· Chase Elliott was the best finishing Hendrick Motorsports’ driver in four of the last five races of 2025, he was the best finishing Hendrick driver in only one of the first 15 races.
· Eight Stage 2 winners in 2025 went on to win the race, the most through 20 races in a season and the most in a season since 13 in 2021.
· Shane van Gisbergen’s three wins from pole in 2025 are the most by a driver in a season since Jimmie Johnson in 2008, and are tied for the most of all drivers in the Next Gen era (Joey Logano).
· Kyle Larson’s average finish in the eight races since the Indy 500 is nearly 10 positions worse than the first 12 races of the season.
NCS Clinch Scenarios Following Sonoma Raceway:
Already Clinched
· The following four drivers have clinched a spot in the 16-driver postseason field: Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, Christopher Bell, Shane Van Gisbergen.
Can Clinch Via Previous Wins
· The following drivers could clinch on previous wins with a win by William Byron, Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, Christopher Bell, Ryan Blaney, Chase Briscoe, Ross Chastain, Joey Logano, Shane Van Gisbergen:
• William Byron: Could only clinch with help
• Chase Elliott: Could only clinch with help
Can Clinch Via Win
· The following drivers would clinch on their win alone:
• William Byron, Chase Elliott, Ryan Blaney, Chase Briscoe, Ross Chastain, Joey Logano, Austin Cindric, Josh Berry
Understanding the In-Season Challenge:
· The top 32 in driver points following Nashville were eligible for the In-Season Challenge (Shane van Gisbergen, Cole Custer, Riley Herbst and Cody Ware failed to qualify among full-time drivers).
· The three races at Michigan, Mexico City and Pocono established the seeding for the challenge based on the best driver finishing positions over those races.
· The five races (or Rounds) for the In-Season Challenge are Atlanta, Chicago, Sonoma, Dover and Indianapolis.
· The drivers will compete in a bracket-style tournament until the final two drivers face off in the finale at Indianapolis with the best-finishing driver winning $1 million.
· Four drivers remain in the In-Season Challenge: John Hunter Nemechek, Ty Dillon, Ty Gibbs and Tyler Reddick.
In-Season Challenge Round 4 Matchups:
· John Hunter Nemechek (No. 12 seed) Vs. Ty Dillon (No. 32 seed)
• Dillon has made 11 Cup starts at Dover compared to Nemechek’s three.
• Nemechek (21.3) has a better average finish at Dover than Dillon (25.1).
• Dillon has a best finish of 14th at Dover; Nemechek’s best finish at Dover is 20th.
· Ty Gibbs (No. 6 seed) Vs. Tyler Reddick (No. 23 seed)
• Reddick has made six Cup starts at Dover compared to Gibbs’ two.
• Gibbs (11.5) has a better average finish than Reddick (14.5) at Dover.
• Reddick has two top-10 finishes at Dover; Gibbs has one top-10 finish at Dover.
NASCAR Xfinity Series
Dover Storylines and Insights:
· This weekend marks the 79th running of a NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Dover Motor Speedway (1982-2025).
· 79 races is the third-most races in Xfinity Series history – Bristol-82, Charlotte-80, Dover-79 (includes 2025).
· The NASCAR Xfinity Series has raced at Dover Motor Speedway every season since 1982.
· There are seven races left in the regular season and five Playoff spots remain open.
· Cousins Jeb Burton and Harrison Burton are separated by 16 points at the Playoff cut line, Jeb is in while Harrison is currently out.
· Harrison Burton has been within 16 points of the Playoff cutoff after every race this season; his high was +16 after Atlanta 1 and his low is -16 after Sonoma
· The drivers from 10th-13th in the Playoff standings are separated by 54 points, less than one race.
· Sheldon Creed gained 54 points to the cut in the last two races.
· Carson Kvapil gained 55 points to the cut in the last four races.
· Taylor Gray gained 14 points to the cut at Sonoma.
· Ryan Sieg lost 60 points to the cut in the last three races.
· Connor Zilisch’s win at Sonoma broke a streak of nine different winners in nine races this season.
· Connor Zilisch’s seven straight top fives since returning from back injury is the longest top-five finish streak of the season; Zilisch is the youngest driver with more than five straight top-five finishes.
· JR Motorsports won 10 races this season with a series-record six different drivers, all six drivers won in the last 10 races.
· JR Motorsports is two wins away from 100, only three other teams won at least 100 NXS races (Joe Gibbs Racing-217, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing-138, Richard Childress Racing-100).
· JR Motorsports is the third team all-time to win 10 times in the first 19 races of a season.
· JR Motorsports #88 won four races with three different driver/crew chief combos this season.
· JR Motorsports had all five cars in the top 10 at Sonoma, the third race this season with all five drivers in the top 10.
· JR Motorsports had at least one car finish Top 2 in eight straight races, tied for the third-longest streak all- time.
· JR Motorsports finished top-five in 21 straight races and is one away from tying the longest streak all-time.
· Chevrolet won the last eleven races this season, tied for the longest winning streak by a manufacturer all- time.
· Ross Chastain will drive JR Motorsports’ #9; Chastain finished inside the top-10 in all three starts this season.
· Ross Chastain and Carson Kvapil could become JR Motorsports’ seventh different winner this season.
· Joe Gibbs Racing won 15 times at Dover, more than any other team.
· Ryan Truex will drive Sam Hunt Racing’s #24; Truex won the last two races at Dover.
· 11 different drivers won back-to-back races at Dover; Joey Logano is the only driver to win three or more consecutive Dover races.
· Two active drivers won at Dover in the Xfinity Series: Justin Allgaier (2) and Ryan Truex (2).
· Nine drivers on the entry list won at Dover in either Xfinity, Trucks, ARCA or ARCA East.
· Two drivers will be making Xfinity Series debut at Dover: Jake Finch in Hendrick Motorsports’ #17 and Lavar Scott in Alpha Prime Racing’s #45.
· Rajah Caruth will attempt to make his first start of the season, driving the Jordan Anderson Racing’s #32.
· William Sawalich got his first career top-five finish with a third at Sonoma.
· Five crew chiefs got their first NXS win in 2025: Chad Haney at Atlanta, Sam McAulay at Darlington, Adam Wall at Bristol, Cory Shea at Mexico City & Dale Earnhardt Jr. at Pocono.
· Justin Allgaier’s 28 career wins are ninth on the all-time wins list and one away from tying Matt Kenseth.
· Justin Allgaier is six top 10s away from 300 in his career, he would be the first driver with 300 top 10s.
· Justin Allgaier leads all drivers with 10 top-five finishes and 648 laps led in 2025.
· Justin Allgaier’s 10 top-five finishes in 2025 are his most ever after 19 races in a season.
· Justin Allgaier won the Fastest Lap Award five times this season, no other driver has more than two.
· Sam Mayer leads all drivers with top-15 finishes in 15 of 19 races this season.
· Five races this year ended with a last lap pass.
· Six of the last nine races this season had a pass for the win in the final six laps.
· Seven of the 19 races this season went to overtime.
· There hasn’t been an overtime finish in the last six races, the longest streak without an OT since Sept/Oct 2023.
· Chevrolet led 2,364 of 3,093 laps this season.
· Chevrolet won 17 of 19 races, the most all time by a manufacturer through 19 races in series history.
Race To The Playoffs – Only Five Spots Remain:
· It’s possible to get more than 12 series winners with seven races remaining in regular season.
· If there are more than 12 winners after 26 races, the winner with the fewest regular season points will miss the Playoffs.
· Sam Mayer is currently sixth in the Playoff standings up +163 points on the cutline – the most among winless drivers this season.
· Jeb Burton and Harrison Burton are separated by 16 points at the cut line.
· Harrison Burton has been within 16 points of the cutoff after every race this season; the high was +16 after Atlanta 1, and the low is -16 after Sonoma.
· Sheldon Creed in 10th to Harrison Burton in 13th are separated by 54 points, less than one race
· The three drivers in 15th-17th are all rookies – Dean Thompson (15th), Christian Eckes (16th), Daniel Dye (17th).
NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series
Looking Ahead – Indianapolis Storylines and Insights:
· This season marks the 21st running of a NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.
· Defending series champion, Ty Majeski, has won the last two consecutive Truck races at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park (2023-24). Grant Enfinger (2022) is the only active driver with a win at IRP.
· Ty Majeski currently occupies the 10th and final Playoff transfer spot in the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series driver point standings, up +38 points on Jake Garcia in 11th, and up +65 points on Giovanni Ruggiero in 12th.
· Kaden Honeycutt in eighth (+67) and Grant Enfinger in ninth (+64) hold healthy leads above the Playoff cutline with three races to go.
· Corey Heim has won five of the 15 Truck Series races this season, his best finish at Indianapolis is fifth (2022).
· Corey Heim has accumulated 39 Playoff points this season. The all-time most Playoff points a Truck Series driver has earned to take into the Playoffs is 49 by John Hunter Nemechek in 2021.
NCTS Clinch Scenarios Following Lime Rock Park:
Already Clinched:
· The following seven drivers have clinched a spot in the 10-driver postseason field: Corey Heim, Chandler Smith, Layne Riggs, Daniel Hemric, Tyler Ankrum, Stewart Friesen and Rajah Caruth.
Can Clinch Via Win:
The following drivers would clinch on their win alone:
· Kaden Honeycutt, Grant Enfinger, Ty Majeski, Jake Garcia, Giovanni Ruggiero, Ben Rhodes, Tanner Gray, Connor Mosack, Matt Crafton, Andres Perez De Lara, Jack Wood, Matt Mills, Dawson Sutton, Spencer Boyd, Toni Breidinger and Frankie Muniz.
Can Clinch Regular Season Championship:
Additionally, the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Regular Season Championship could be clinched by the following drivers:
· Corey Heim: Would clinch with 39 points.
NASCAR & Dover, Etc.
Historical and Significant Events at Dover Motor Speedway:
Dover Motor Speedway, a.k.a. ‘The Monster Mile,’ opened in 1969 as a unique dual-purpose facility designed to accommodate both harness racing and motorsports events.
Melvin Joseph owner of Melvin Joseph Construction oversaw the building of the Speedway and served on the Board of Directors until his death in 2005.
The first speedway race was a NASCAR Cup Series race, the “Mason-Dixon 300,” on July 6, 1969 won by Richard Petty.
Attendance at the first race was 22,000. Attendance increased in the 1980’s and the track added seats for 16 consecutive seasons, 1986-2001, to a peak of 135,000. Current capacity is reported to be 85,000.
The NASCAR Xfinity Series has visited the track each season since its inception in 1982.
The first Dover race on the concrete surface was 6/4/1995 won by Kyle Petty from 37th place starting position; the deepest in the field a winner has started.
In 2002, Dover Downs International Speedway became Dover International Speedway as the gaming side of the company split off and Dover Motorsports, Inc. was created to exclusively oversee racing.
Dover Motorsports at one time owned and operated Memphis Motorsports Park, Gateway International Raceway, Nashville Superspeedway and the Long Beach CA Grand Prix, in addition to Dover International Speedway. Denis McGlynn has been the CEO since March 2002.
The 56 seat Monster Bridge over Turn 3 was opened in 2004.
The track has undergone many improvements and additions in recent years. In 2006 the ’’Monster Makeover” was launched This long-term program includes an expanded Media Center, enlarged pit road, new Skybox complex, new sound system, overall beautification, fan plaza and an outdoor concert area.
Miles The Monster the 46-foot tall sculpture at Victory Plaza was introduced in 2008.
A new pit road was constructed for the 2009 season which added a pit stall by extending the length of pit road, bringing the total to 43 stalls at 32 feet each and extended the width of pit road by four feet.
Dover Motorsports Inc. in collaboration with Red Frog Events has hosted the Firefly Music Festival at The Woodlands of Dover Motor Speedway since 2012, a four day music festival held during mid-summer.
Just before the halfway point of the June 2014 race, a piece of concrete came up from the track. Jamie McMurray #1 hit the concrete causing front end splitter damage. The race was red flagged for more than 20 minutes while repairs were made to the track. An epoxy type filler was used which is the same filler that’s used any time repair is required at the track, whether it be asphalt or concrete.
Dover began “right sizing” their facility in 2009 first widening seats reducing capacity from 135,000 to 113,00. In 2014 the first major removal of grandstands reduced capacity to 95,500. Between 2015 and 2015 more removal took the track to its current capacity to 85,000 seats.
With NASCAR reducing the size of its Cup field from 43 to 40 cars, the track removed three pit stalls and increased the length of its stalls from 32 feet to 34 feet. The track is known for having some of the tightest pit stalls on the circuit.
Dover added an additional 500 feet of SAFER Barrier for the October 2016 race on the outside wall in Turn 2, under the walkover bridge, and the outside of Turn 4, entering the front stretch following a violent crash involving Tony Stewart, Danica Patrick and Jamie McMurray.
Dover replaced the guard rails on the inside of Turn 3 with approximately 500 feet of SAFER Barrier for 2017.
1,800 feet of new SAFER barrier was also installed along the front and backstretch.
December 2021 Speedway Motorsports Inc. completed the purchase of Dover making it Dover Motor Speedway.
The most popular driver in NASCAR is about to carry the colors of the most powerful streamer on the planet in a bold new way. For three races in the 2026 season, Amazon Prime Video will sponsor Chase Elliot, flashing a new color scheme for his car.
Elliott’s No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet will unveil a dramatically revised paint scheme for the 2026 season, a visual declaration of Amazon Prime Video’s deepening and aggressive stake in the sport’s future.
Which Races Will Chase Elliott Run With the Amazon Prime Livery in 2026?
Elliott is about to get a new color scheme for his car as Amazon Prime Video is sponsoring Chase Elliot for three races in the 2026 season. We will see the Amazon Prime Video on Elliott’s car next year at the Talladega, Texas, and the Dover All-Star Race.
The 2026 design shifts away from the brighter blues of the 2025 car, opting for darker, more aggressive tones. Added black accents and stronger contrast to give it a sharper, more authoritative look on track. The update deliberately distances the car from other blue-hued competitors, ensuring the $2.3 trillion tech behemoth’s rolling billboard stands utterly alone.
Amazon joined Hendrick Motorsports as a primary sponsor for Chase Elliott starting in 2025. It also became the sport’s first direct-to-consumer media partner this year. Holding roles as a team sponsor and a broadcaster at the same time raised eyebrows in the NASCAR community.
This time, on-car promotions directly precede Prime Video’s second season of broadcasting five exclusive Cup Series races, which begin with the Coca-Cola 600 on May 24. For 2026, Prime Video will again serve as a primary sponsor for Elliott in three select races, continuing a partnership that runs firmly through 2027.
The No. 9 car will first wear the updated livery at Talladega Superspeedway in late April, then at Texas Motor Speedway, with a final primary appearance at the All-Star Race at Dover Motor Speedway in mid-May.
MORE: Chase Elliott’s Long-Ignored Warning Forces NASCAR To Reconsider the Next Gen Car
Prime’s broadcast schedule also features the Cracker Barrel 400 at Nashville Superspeedway on May 31, the FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway on June 7, and the NASCAR Cup Series race at Pocono Raceway on June 14.
Prime Video first sponsored Chase Elliott in 2025 for races at Talladega and Kansas Speedway. Like last year, these races kick off Prime Video’s five-race stretch of NASCAR Cup Series broadcasts.
The Prime broadcast schedule wraps up with the Anduril 250 during NASCAR San Diego Weekend on June 21. The event brings all three of NASCAR’s national series to Naval Base Coronado, where the drivers will tackle a unique 16-turn, 3.4-mile street circuit.
ALLENTOWN, Pa. — When the Indoor Auto Racing Series returns to the PPL Center on January 9-10 for the ninth annual Ironton Global Allentown Indoor Races, TQ Midget drivers will once again have a chance to capture the $10,000 Ironton Auto Body Challenge by sweeping the weekend and winning both features.
In 2024, young driver Tanner VanDoren and Ryan Flores split the TQ Midget mains on the tenth-mile concrete oval. Flores won the Friday opener in 2025, but finished second Saturday to Andy Jankowiak. Although both enjoyed a successful weekend, the $10,000 sweep slipped away in Allentown.
Three weeks later, Flores got a second chance at the Ironton Auto Body bonus and redeemed himself by winning the series finale NAPA Auto Parts Gambler’s Classic inside Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall.
Thanks to renewed support from Ironton Auto Body, the possibility of a $10,000 weekend inside the PPL Center returns for a third straight year. To complete the challenge, Friday’s winner will be offered a guaranteed starting spot in Saturday’s main event — with one caveat: they must start 10th.
As a bonus for accepting the challenge, Friday’s winner will receive $1,000. Should they advance from 10th and win again on Saturday, another $4,000 bonus will be awarded. Combining the $5,000 in bonus money with Saturday’s purse will bring their total to $10,000.
If the weekend sweep isn’t accomplished, Ironton Auto Body will once again roll over a portion of the challenge to the Atlantic City Indoor Race.
With his victory in last year’s NAPA Gambler’s Classic, Flores collected $10,000, including Ironton Auto Body Challenge bonus money as well as support from the AC Sports Commission and Visit Atlantic City.
The headline TQ Midget division will be joined by Slingshots and Champ Karts, with full programs and feature events for all three classes.
NASCAR icon and Legacy Motor Club team owner Jimmie Johnson has all but confirmed that he will be returning behind the wheel for the Cup Series season-opening Daytona 500 in February 2026.
While Johnson, 50, retired from full-time driving after the 2020 season, he has gone on to compete in a handful of Cup Series races behind the wheel of the No. 84 for Legacy, since first investing in the team in 2022.
This has included all three Daytona 500s since, including the 2025 edition, which saw him finish a remarkable third, marking the team’s joint-best result of the season, as William Byron took the checkered flag in the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet for the second consecutive season.
Previously, Johnson’s only confirmed race for 2026 was the inaugural race at San Diego’s Naval Base Coronado, marking the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Navy in his hometown.
However, in a hilarious social media post on Wednesday, Johnson appeared to confirm he will run the 500 again in February, sponsored once again by Carvana.
Sign up to our NASCAR newsletter here.
In a Bob Ross-inspired video, Johnson painted the No. 84’s paint scheme for the race, commenting, “Let’s make some magic here. The key to a happy paint scheme is happy colors…We can’t forget the Carvana happy halos. Because every cardeserves a happy driver.”
The clip was accompanied by the caption, “The 2026 Daytona paint scheme drops tomorrow! Stay tuned to watch your favorite artist (and driver) design a new look for the iconic Carvana 84 car.”
Fans were thrilled by the announcement and justifiably loved the video, with one commenting, “This is quality content.” A second said, “Oh didnt realize Jimmie was making an attempt again for the 500!!! Oh this made my day hearing so.” While another simply replied, “HAPPY COLORS HAPPY CARS.”
Johnson’s decision to run the 500, a race won in 2006 and 2013, adds to what is currently a relatively quiet Cup Series schedule for the No. 84 in 2026. This isn’t a surprise given that back in August, he told fellow former champion Kevin Harvick that while he “would like” to compete this coming season, “I am finding that I am more impactful for the business side of the house out of the car and in the suite or in our hospitality area with our sponsors.”
Johnson will be racing alongside the returning full-time Legacy start Erik Jones and John Hunter Nemechek, who finished 12th and fifth, respectively, at the 2025 500, going on to finish the season 24th and 25th in the drivers’ standings.
To date, Legacy’s only Cup Series win since 2022 came in its inaugural season courtesy of Jones, taking the checkered flag at Darlington Raceway in the Cook Out Southern 500. Beyond NASCAR, it remains unclear if Johnson plans to race in any further events in 2026.
(WGHP) — Join FOX8 Photojournalist Chris Weaver as we show you the world behind the driver’s seat in Racing Report.
Today on Racing Report with Chris Weaver, we’ve got a full breakdown of the settlement between NASCAR, 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports in the antitrust lawsuit filed by the two teams against NASCAR.
Matt Weaver, the senior motorsports editor at Motorsport.com, joins us today to give his detailed analysis of the case. He spent nearly every day in the courtroom during the trial and much of the last year following the proceedings as it came to this point.
With the settlement, NASCAR is giving the teams much of what they asked for in their lawsuit. We’ll break it all down on Racing Report.
Tune in using the video player above or watch it on the MyFOX8+ connected TV app on Roku, AppleTV and Fire TV.
Today, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB released a comprehensive behind-the-scenes video documenting a recent trip to Japan. The YouTube video titled “The Climb to Mt. Fuji | Building NASCAR for Japan” highlights global motorsports culture, fan connection, and the cross-cultural exchange between two countries who share a passion for motorsports. The video recaps the journey made by a ten-member delegation from LEGACY MOTOR CLUB, along with drivers John Hunter Nemechek and Jimmie Johnson to participate in a special exhibition event hosted by the Automobile Business & Culture Association of Japan (ABAJ).
While in Japan, Nemechek drove the No. 42 Mobil 1 Toyota Camry XSE and Johnson piloted the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Garage 56 Chevrolet, the same vehicle that competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The multi-day visit included time in Tokyo, where the drivers explored iconic districts and neighborhoods, as well as extensive fan-focused activities at Fuji Speedway. Johnson and Nemechek participated in media interviews, autograph sessions, and provided ride-along experiences for guests. Both cars completed exhibition pace laps and celebratory burnouts ahead of the Super Taikyu Series endurance championship finale on November 16.
The event at Fuji Speedway offered Japanese fans a rare opportunity to see NASCAR vehicles on their home soil. Fans waved American flags as Johnson and Nemechek, along with Japanese drivers Kamui Kobayashi and Takuma Koga, took their places on the grid before the exhibition laps.
A Trip Focused on Culture and Connection During their stay, Johnson and Nemechek toured Toyota facilities, visited an active volcanic site, explored Tokyo, immersed themselves in the Japanese culture, and connected with hundreds of fans who have followed their careers for years.
“Japan has always had an incredible passion for motorsports,” said Johnson, owner of LEGACY MOTOR CLUB. “Being able to share our sport with fans halfway around the world – seeing them decked out in our gear and experiencing their racing culture firsthand – was something I’ll never forget.”
Nemechek echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the special connection made with fans abroad. He also posted a behind the scenes video exclusive to his YouTube channel which can be viewed HERE.
“Japan welcomed us with open arms,” said Nemechek. “From the action on track to the energy of the fans, this trip showed how powerful motorsports can be as a universal language. I am very thankful to Toyota and the ABAJ for their hospitality and hope we get to go back.”
Inside the Video: A Closer Look at the Journey LEGACY MOTOR CLUB’s behind-the-scenes feature “The Climb to Mt. Fuji | Building NASCAR for Japan” captures the authentic, unfiltered experience of the trip and includes contributions from Johnson, Nemechek, key team members and fans.
Logistics of preparing the NASCAR vehicles and sending them to Japan
Candid moments between Johnson and Nemechek
Build of the two-seater No. 42 Mobil 1 Toyota at LEGACY MOTOR CLUB
Street-level exploration of Tokyo’s districts
Cultural highlights including temples, cuisine, and traditional craft demonstrations
Conversations with Japanese motorsports fans and longtime NASCAR supporters
The lighter side of international travel – traveling across the world and team camaraderie
The video can be seen across LEGACY MOTOR CLUB’s social platforms, in hopes to offer fans an entertaining and immersive look at the international experience. LEGACY MC also released a photo gallery which can be seen HERE.
William Byron’s path to NASCAR’s top tier did not follow the traditional script. But he is pretty much at home alongside the sport’s elite right now. Unlike most drivers who begin in go-karts almost as soon as they can reach the pedals, Byron, 28, did not climb into a race car until his early teens.
Byron’s introduction to motorsports came through iRacing, where he picked up racecraft in a virtual environment before applying those skills to the real world. That unconventional foundation did little to slow his ascent, though.
Once Byron entered NASCAR’s national ranks in 2016, results followed quickly. His early years in the Truck and Xfinity Series progressed impressively. He won seven races during his rookie Truck season in 2017, and followed that with four victories in Xfinity, a performance that saw him win the 2017 championship.
The transition to the Cup Series, however, demanded patience. His first forays at the sport’s highest level proved more challenging. However, during that period, Byron relied heavily on guidance from withinHendrick Motorsports, particularly Chase Elliott.
In 2018, as he continued to learn the Cup Series and its finer details, Byron acknowledged that he was still a work in progress. Despite having legends such as Jeff Gordon available, he frequently turned to Elliott for perspective.
“I think I lean on all of them pretty equally. I think that I lean on Alex [Bowman] the least amount because we’re both new to what’s happening. We have little conversations of what our cars are doing here and there. But it’s not as broad of information as Chase or Jimmie [Johnson],” Byron had said.
The way Byron leaned on some drivers more than others in the team was logical. Elliott and Johnson represented recent success within the organization, and Byron recognized the value of measuring himself against drivers who consistently contended.
“I feel like Chase and Jimmie are the guys I lean on most because those are the guys that have had the most success the last couple [of] years in our organization. I try to gauge myself off of Chase a lot of times because I think we have very similar styles. We’re really close in the shop. It makes a little more sense for me to lean on him,” added Byron.
That willingness to learn has shaped Byron’s growth. Over eight Cup seasons, he has collected 16 wins across 288 starts. The past three seasons have reinforced his growth. Byron finished each year in the top four, securing a spot in the Championship 4.
The #24 driver captured back-to-back Daytona 500 wins in 2024 and 2025, a feat that places him in rare company and reflects his ability to perform on the sport’s biggest stage. Though Byron’s most prolific season came in 2023, when he won six times, his production has remained steady.
Over the last two seasons, Byron added three wins each year, maintaining his presence near the front of the field. And his decision to lean on the stalwarts like Johnson and Elliott seems to have elevated him as one of the top drivers of this generation.
