Motorsports
Racers Unchained with Paul Tracy: Jimmie Johnson – Chasing Greatness
Paul Tracy sits down with one of the most decorated drivers in motorsports history: Jimmie Johnson. A seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and IndyCar competitor, Johnson’s relentless drive and quiet determination have made him a modern legend. Tracy dives deep with Johnson on his incredible NASCAR dynasty with Hendrick Motorsports, what it took to dominate […]

Paul Tracy sits down with one of the most decorated drivers in motorsports history: Jimmie Johnson. A seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and IndyCar competitor, Johnson’s relentless drive and quiet determination have made him a modern legend.
Tracy dives deep with Johnson on his incredible NASCAR dynasty with Hendrick Motorsports, what it took to dominate an entire era, and how he made the bold leap to open-wheel racing in the latter stages of his career. From the pressure of the Daytona 500 to the challenge of the Indianapolis 500, Johnson reflects on the risks, the rewards, and what still fuels him today.
They discuss the differences between stock cars and IndyCars, how racing culture has evolved, and Johnson’s rare ability to transition across disciplines while staying true to the craft. Expect a candid conversation about legacy, reinvention, and what it means to chase greatness – no matter the arena.
With Paul Tracy’s signature unfiltered style, this episode delivers the rare perspective of a racer who conquered it all, and then started over.
Motorsports
NASCAR Cup Series Standings: Kyle Busch gets playoff boost as Hendrick Motorsports star suffers demotion setback
The latest NASCAR Cup Series standings are in following Sunday’s action at Sonoma Raceway, with Kyle Busch’s playoff chase receiving a boost. Winless so far in 2025, the two-time champion is trying to point his way into the postseason, and heading into this weekend’s race, the Richard Childress Racing driver was 47 points adrift of […]

The latest NASCAR Cup Series standings are in following Sunday’s action at Sonoma Raceway, with Kyle Busch’s playoff chase receiving a boost.
Winless so far in 2025, the two-time champion is trying to point his way into the postseason, and heading into this weekend’s race, the Richard Childress Racing driver was 47 points adrift of Bubba Wallace in 16th in the playoff standings.
READ MORE: Denny Hamlin hit with NASCAR penalty as four Cup Series drivers guilty of same offence
Busch secured another top 10 finish at Sonoma on Sunday, however, which has now seen that gap close to just 37 points. With six races of the regular season to go, Busch has ample time to close that gap, or indeed win a race, which would immediately lock him in.
Wallace is on the bubble in the playoff chase at the moment, with the 23XI star just three points above the cut line and Ryan Preece in 17th.
Hendrick Motorsports driver Alex Bowman sits 15th in the playoff standings, meanwhile, just 32 points above the cut line after finishing 19th at Sonoma, dropping one place compared to last week. Bowman has also been demoted by two positions in the regular season standings, dropping from inside the top 10 to 12th.
His teammate William Byron continues to lead the regular season standings, with fellow Hendrick Motorsports driver Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson in second and third, respectively. Tyler Reddick and Denny Hamlin round out the regular season top five.
With that said, let’s take a look at both the regular season and playoff standings in full below!
NASCAR HEADLINES: Trio set for punishment as penalty verdict revealed over Cup Series fight
NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Standings after Sonoma
Here is how the playoff standings look following Sunday’s action at Sonoma Raceway.
Rank | Driver | Car No. | Wins | +/- to Cut Line |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Kyle Larson | 5 | 3 | LOCKED IN |
2 | Denny Hamlin | 11 | 3 | LOCKED IN |
3 | Shane van Gisbergen | 88 | 3 | LOCKED IN |
4 | Christopher Bell | 20 | 3 | LOCKED IN |
5 | William Byron | 24 | 1 | LOCKED IN |
6 | Ryan Blaney | 12 | 1 | LOCKED IN |
7 | Austin Cindric | 2 | 1 | LOCKED IN |
8 | Joey Logano | 22 | 1 | LOCKED IN |
9 | Chase Briscoe | 19 | 1 | LOCKED IN |
10 | Ross Chastain | 1 | 1 | LOCKED IN |
11 | Josh Berry | 21 | 1 | LOCKED IN |
12 | Chase Elliott | 9 | 1 | LOCKED IN |
13 | Tyler Reddick | 45 | 0 | +149 |
14 | Chris Buescher | 17 | 0 | +34 |
15 | Alex Bowman | 48 | 0 | +32 |
16 | Bubba Wallace | 23 | 0 | +3 |
PLAYOFF CUT LINE | ||||
17 | Ryan Preece | 60 | 0 | -3 |
18 | Kyle Busch | 8 | 0 | -37 |
19 | AJ Allmendinger | 16 | 0 | -50 |
20 | Ty Gibbs | 54 | 0 | -60 |
NASCAR Cup Series regular season standings after Sonoma
Here is how the regular season standings look following Sunday’s action at Sonoma Raceway.
Position | Driver (Car No.) | Team | Points |
---|---|---|---|
1 | William Byron (24) | Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet | 668 |
2 | Chase Elliott (9) | Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet | 654 |
3 | Kyle Larson (5) | Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet | 624 |
4 | Tyler Reddick (45) | 23XI Racing Toyota | 615 |
5 | Denny Hamlin (11) | Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota | 606 |
6 | Christopher Bell (20) | Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota | 597 |
7 | Ryan Blaney (12) | Team Penske Ford | 545 |
8 | Chase Briscoe (19) | Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota | 526 |
9 | Ross Chastain (1) | Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet | 513 |
10 | Chris Buescher (17) | RFK Racing Ford | 500 |
11 | Joey Logano (22) | Team Penske Ford | 499 |
12 | Alex Bowman (48) | Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet | 498 |
13 | Bubba Wallace (23) | 23XI Racing Toyota | 469 |
14 | Ryan Preece (60) | RFK Racing Ford | 466 |
15 | Kyle Busch (8) | Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet | 432 |
16 | AJ Allmendinger (16) | Kaulig Racing Chevrolet | 419 |
17 | Ty Gibbs (54) | Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota | 409 |
18 | Erik Jones (43) | Legacy Motor Club Toyota | 401 |
19 | Michael McDowell (71) | Spire Motorsports Chevrolet | 399 |
20 | Austin Cindric (2) | Team Penske Ford | 396 |
21 | Josh Berry (21) | Wood Brothers Racing Ford | 390 |
22 | John H. Nemechek (42) | Legacy Motor Club Toyota | 384 |
23 | Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (47) | HYAK Motorsports Chevrolet | 378 |
24 | Carson Hocevar (77) | Spire Motorsports Chevrolet | 373 |
25 | Zane Smith (38) | Front Row Motorsports Ford | 373 |
26 | Shane van Gisbergen (88) | Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet | 367 |
27 | Brad Keselowski (6) | RFK Racing Ford | 333 |
28 | Austin Dillon (3) | Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet | 331 |
29 | Daniel Suárez (99) | Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet | 330 |
30 | Todd Gilliland (34) | Front Row Motorsports Ford | 321 |
31 | Ty Dillon (10) | Kaulig Racing Chevrolet | 320 |
32 | Justin Haley (7) | Spire Motorsports Chevrolet | 317 |
33 | Noah Gragson (4) | Front Row Motorsports Ford | 266 |
34 | Cole Custer (41) | Haas Factory Team Ford | 255 |
35 | Riley Herbst (35) | 23XI Racing Toyota | 238 |
36 | Cody Ware (51) | Rick Ware Racing Ford | 147 |
READ MORE: Michael Jordan-owned 23XI could lose NASCAR status within DAYS after major court blow
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Motorsports
Qiddiya showcases the future of motorsports at Goodwood Festival of Speed
Qiddiya City partnered with the legendary Goodwood Festival of Speed this weekend to showcase its plans to place automotive and motorsport culture at the centre of a brand new Saudi Arabian entertainment, sports and culture hub. The ambitious Qiddiya City project, which is currently under construction, aims to build on the passion for all-things automotive […]

Qiddiya City partnered with the legendary Goodwood Festival of Speed this weekend to showcase its plans to place automotive and motorsport culture at the centre of a brand new Saudi Arabian entertainment, sports and culture hub.
The ambitious Qiddiya City project, which is currently under construction, aims to build on the passion for all-things automotive in the Middle East. It will offer a range of motorsport offerings including the Speed Park Track and the Mercedes-AMG World of Performance.
As part of its partnership with Goodwood, Qiddiya City has been welcoming motorsport legends to the Drivers’ Club Lounge, putting it at the heart of an event that includes the latest road cars and more than 500 vehicles from the past, present and future of motorsport.
There are few better places in the world to explore car culture than Goodwood, with F1 machinery in the Ballroom Paddock, millionaire machines in the Supercar Paddock, the latest prototypes in the First Glance Paddock and timeless classics in the Cartier style et Luxe.
The driver entry list includes a ‘Who’s Who’ of motorsport including seven F1 World Champions – Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell, Mario Andretti, Emerson Fittipaldi, Mika Hakkinen, Damon Hill and Jacques Villeneuve – set to get behind the wheel.
The famous Hillclimb also welcomes F1 drivers Esteban Ocon, Ollie Bearman and Gabriel Bortoletto as well as former racers from the eras, including Jacky Ickx, Ricardo Patrese, David Coulthard, Karun Chandhok, Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas, among many others.

Qiddiya City at Goodwood Festival of Speed
Photo by: Qiddiya Media
Meanwhile, in front of the legendary Goodwood House, the popular Central Feature this year showcases one of the greatest ever car culture icons, Gordon Murray, with the most amazing F1 and road car creations from his incredible career on display.
The best of motorsport
This year is arguably one of the biggest ever at Goodwood and as an event partner, Qiddiya City is part of the F1 75 celebrations. These feature 28 title-winning F1 cars in action or on static display – including some of F1’s most successful, memorable and interesting machines.
Starting with an Alfa Romeo 158 of the type Giuseppe Farina used to win the first F1 title, it will include cars from famed designers including Colin Chapman’s Lotuses, Gordon Murray’s Brabhams and McLarens and Adrian Newey’s Williams, Leyton House and McLarens.
Beyond the F1 machinery, the range of vehicles on show at Goodwood could not be richer and more eclectic – from some of the legendary pre-war Grand Prix cars right up to Land Rover’s new Rally Raid Defender, which will be in the Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia next year.
There will also be a celebration of the late 1995 World Rally Champion Colin McRae, including a run for his title-winning Subaru Impreza 555 amongst a field of WRC cars that covers every era of the sport, all the way up to the Championship’s latest machines.
Touring Cars are represented across the eras too, from John Cleland’s 1995 BTCC-winning Vauxhall Cavalier to a modern Aussie V8 Supercar, while even some of the world’s biggest drifting stars and cars will be hitting the Hill, including ‘Mad Mike’ Whiddett’s Mazda RX-7.

Qiddiya City at Goodwood Festival of Speed
Photo by: Qiddiya Media
When it comes to road cars, the leading marques in the automotive world are all on show, including Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche, Aston Martin, Bentley, Rolls-Royce, Bugatti, Lotus and McLaren. Plenty of food for thought, then, if you’re planning a new motorsport city.
Modern marvel in the desert
The valuable car culture insight Qiddiya City has gained through its involvement with Goodwood will feed into the new city project in a modern, high-tech way, creating a unique new motorsport destination with a range of exciting attractions.
F1 is a big part of Qiddiya City’s future plans, but the development is not solely focused on the pinnacle of track racing. Far from it. It aims to encompass all things automotive, including rallying, karting, road cars and all things in between.
Saudi Arabia is already recognised as the modern home of the legendary Dakar Rally and Qiddiya City’s presence at Goodwood aims to gain a deeper understanding of how different forms of motorsport and automotive design drive the passion of the public.
The new city’s attractions will include Mercedes-AMG World of Performance, announced in February, which promises an incredible nine floors of immersive experiences, exhibits and simulators covering the past, present and future of Mercedes-AMG and its F1 team.
Speaking at the launch of the project, Mercedes-AMG F1 Team CEO Toto Wolff said: “Qiddiya City is a cornerstone of the ambitious Vision 2030 plans, and it’s set to become a unique motorsport destination like no other.”

Qiddiya City at Goodwood Festival of Speed
Photo by: Qiddiya Media
The state-of-the-art Mercedes-AMG venue will sit alongside the Qiddiya Speed Park Track, a 21-turn circuit that will combine some of the most iconic corners from tracks around the world and is being developed by ex-F1 driver Alex Wurz and circuit designer Hermann Tilke.
From the ground up
The most incredible thing about Qiddiya City is that it started from a blank sheet of paper and a desert escarpment. At its heart is a desire to take motorsport and automotive culture from around the world and step it up to another level.
Visitors to Goodwood will be introduced to the pioneering project through information and displays and Managing Director Abdullah Aldawood described its attendance as “a unique opportunity to engage with leading global automotive brands and motorsport communities.”
The entire philosophy of Qiddiya City project is based on the ‘Power of Play’ which promises to use entertainment, sports and culture to enhance the quality of life for visitors and residents in the region.
The game-changing destination, which also sponsors the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix and the Autosport Awards, is currently under construction in the heart of the Tuwaiq Mountains, just 40 minutes from the capital of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh.
Once complete, it aims to house over half a million people, with an urban plan that includes distinct, fully serviced districts, spanning the spectrum from healthcare to education offerings alongside the entertainment, sports and culture areas.
In all, the first city built for play will include 27 attractions and 12 theme parks, with 275 rides and 43 international sports and Esports facilities and venues. If the motorsport world thought F1 in Las Vegas was another level, just wait until it arrives in Qiddiya City.

Qiddiya City at Goodwood Festival of Speed
Photo by: Qiddiya Media
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Motorsports
23XI and Front Row Motorsports File Motion for Another Temporary Restraining Order to Remain Chartered in 2025
What’s Happening? Last week was a big week for the NASCAR and 23XI/Front Row Motorsports lawsuit. The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of NASCAR last week, meaning that 23XI and Front Row Motorsports could lose their charters on Wednesday ahead of the race weekend in Dover. As a result, the teams have […]

What’s Happening?
Last week was a big week for the NASCAR and 23XI/Front Row Motorsports lawsuit. The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of NASCAR last week, meaning that 23XI and Front Row Motorsports could lose their charters on Wednesday ahead of the race weekend in Dover. As a result, the teams have filed an additional temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction to maintain their charters for the remainder of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Season.
Bob Pockrass of FOX Sports reported that in their new filing, the teams have submitted new evidence that NASCAR intends to immediately sell or issue the six charters to other NASCAR team owners/interested parties. According to the filing, this puts the teams in “irreparable jeopardy of never getting their charters back and/or going out of business.”
You Need to Know
- The charter negotiations have been a hard-fought legal battle since the beginning of the 2024 season. Initially, it looked as if the NASCAR teams had a united front against NASCAR and its “unfair” new charter proposal. Many teams, considering the amount of money they had spent on their charters, wanted the charters to be made permanent. The desired model is similar to the NBA franchising model Michael Jordan, co-owner of 23XI Racing, is used to.
- Ultimately, the only two holdouts were 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports. This resulted in a lengthy legal battle. Initially, it appeared as though the teams had the upper hand. On December 18th, 2024, a judge ruled that NASCAR had to allow the teams to sign a temporary charter agreement. This meant that they were granted a temporary restraining order for the 2025 season.
- However, after last week’s ruling, the teams are slated to lose their charters as early as Wednesday. This means that they are at risk of going out of business. Open teams in NASCAR only make about a third of the revenue of chartered teams. If this is allowed to occur, it could spell a huge financial loss for both teams involved in the suit.
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Motorsports
Pit road confrontation erupts after close call during Sonoma Cup race
In the middle of the NASCAR Cup race at Sonoma, things were getting heated between drivers and even pit crew members. Near the end of Stage 2, several drivers pitted early to gain track position ahead of the final stage. Ty Gibbs and Brad Keselowski were two of those drivers. Their pit stalls where right […]

In the middle of the NASCAR Cup race at Sonoma, things were getting heated between drivers and even pit crew members.
Near the end of Stage 2, several drivers pitted early to gain track position ahead of the final stage. Ty Gibbs and Brad Keselowski were two of those drivers. Their pit stalls where right next to each other, and the tire carrier for Keselowski was already standing in the box as he prepared for the car to arrive.
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Gibbs was ahead of Keselowski both on the track and in the pits, and as he approached his stall, he cut directly through the RFK Racing stall, getting extremely close to tire carrier, Telvin McClurkin.
McClurkin later told NASCAR on TNT that the tire in his hand got clipped by the car, twisting his wrist. However, he was able to carry on with his duties for the rest of the day.
Immediately after the incident, a furious McClurkin confronted crew members from the Joe Gibbs Racing team. Some words were exchanged, and it quickly escalated into some pushing and shoving between them.
RFK Racing later released video from their pit box, showing what happened to cause the scuffle.
NASCAR reviewed the incident and felt there was no reason to penalize Gibbs as drivers are permitted to drive through (at most) three pit boxes when approaching their own, stating that the No. 54 did nothing wrong.
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Gibbs went on to finish seventh while Keselowski ended the race in 11th. “Going in, I have the right of way,” Gibbs told NASCAR on TNT, pointing out the orange lines in the pit stalls. “They’re on the wall for a reason. They jump for a reason. Those guys like to push it and that’s kind of the consequence you pay.”
Photos from Sonoma – Race
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet, Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet, Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Daniel Suarez, Trackhouse Chevrolet, Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, Zane Smith, Front Row Motorsports Ford
Daniel Suarez, Trackhouse Chevrolet, Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, Zane Smith, Front Row Motorsports Ford
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
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Katherine Legge, Chevrolet
Katherine Legge, Chevrolet
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
AJ Allmendinger, Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
AJ Allmendinger, Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford
Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Joey Logano, Team Penske Ford
Joey Logano, Team Penske Ford
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Ty Gibbs, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Ty Gibbs, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Carson Hocevar, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
Carson Hocevar, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Zane Smith, Front Row Motorsports Ford
Zane Smith, Front Row Motorsports Ford
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Erik Jones, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB Toyota
Erik Jones, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB Toyota
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
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Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing Toyota
Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing Toyota
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Ty Gibbs, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Ty Gibbs, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Chris Graythen – Getty Images
General view
General view
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet, Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet, Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford
Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford
Chris Graythen – Getty Images
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Chris Graythen – Getty Images
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William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Chris Graythen – Getty Images
Brad Keselowski, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
Brad Keselowski, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Chris Graythen – Getty Images
Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford
Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford
Chris Graythen – Getty Images
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
General view
General view
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford
Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
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Joey Logano, Team Penske Ford
Joey Logano, Team Penske Ford
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Todd Gilliland, Front Row Motorsports Ford
Todd Gilliland, Front Row Motorsports Ford
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Katherine Legge, Chevrolet
Katherine Legge, Chevrolet
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Cole Custer, Haas Factory Team Ford
Cole Custer, Haas Factory Team Ford
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford
Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford
Chris Graythen – Getty Images
Justin Haley, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
Justin Haley, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Ryan Preece, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
Ryan Preece, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
Chris Graythen – Getty Images
Ryan Preece, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
Ryan Preece, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
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Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Chris Graythen – Getty Images
Kasey Kahne, Red Bull Racing Toyota
Kasey Kahne, Red Bull Racing Toyota
Jonathan Ferrey Getty Images
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
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Shane van Gisbergen extends winning streak with an intense NASCAR Cup victory at Sonoma
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Motorsports
Road warrior van Gisbergen rolls on with Sonoma win
Shane van Gisbergen proved on Sunday that it’s impossible to keep a road course superstar down for more than a brief interlude. After finishing second to Connor Zilisch in Saturday’s Xfinity Series race, van Gisbergen was back on top on a pleasant Sunday afternoon in wine country, winning the Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway. […]

Shane van Gisbergen proved on Sunday that it’s impossible to keep a road course superstar down for more than a brief interlude.
After finishing second to Connor Zilisch in Saturday’s Xfinity Series race, van Gisbergen was back on top on a pleasant Sunday afternoon in wine country, winning the Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway.
As has become his custom of late, the New Zealander reached a trio of milestones, winning his third straight road/street course race from the pole position to equal Jeff Gordon’s feat from 1998 and ’99.
The victory was van Gisbergen’s third of the season in his first trip around the 1.99-mile, 12-turn circuit in a NASCAR Cup Series car. SVG won for the fourth time in 34 starts, becoming the quickest to four wins since Parnelli Jones won at Riverside in 1967 in his 31st Cup start.
His 97 laps led are the most by a Sonoma winner, eclipsing Jeff Gordon’s high-water mark of 92 set in 2004.
“We had an amazing car,” van Gisbergen said. “Chase Briscoe, what a great racer and gave me respect. Jumped the last (restart) a little bit, and it was pretty tense, but amazing. So stoked for Red Bull, Trackhouse, Chevy. I believe we had a really fun weekend here, some great races, and I hope everyone enjoyed that.”
The winner of 81 Australian Supercars races on the way to three championships in the series, van Gisbergen already is being touted as perhaps the best road course racer in NASCAR history.
“I had an amazing time in Australia, and then to come here and the last couple weeks or years actually has been a dream come true,” said the 36-year-old driver of the No. 88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet. “I’ve really enjoyed my time in NASCAR. Thanks, everyone, for making me feel so welcome. I hope I’m here for a long time to come.”
Winning the second stage despite short-pitting to preserve track position, van Gisbergen advanced to third on the current Cup Playoff grid with 17 Playoff points. He arrived at the finish line 1.128s ahead of consistent Chase Briscoe, but the win was far from guaranteed, given the chaos of the final 15 laps.
SVG had to survive three cautions and subsequent restarts in the late stages of the race to seal the win, as a large group of drivers on better tires chased those who had stayed on the track (including the race winner) after the No. 51 Ford of Cody Ware jettisoned a tire and caused a yellow on lap 97.
Briscoe qualified second and finished where he felt he deserved.
“I thought there was one restart I was maybe going to get clear of him, but truthfully, even if I cleared him, he was probably going to pass me back by the end of the lap,” he said. “Yeah, proud of the effort. We were a second-place car all day and obviously ended up second with it.”
Chase Elliott pitted on lap 97 for fresher tires and came home third after restarting 14th on lap 100. Michael McDowell, on the same strategy as Elliott, climbed to fourth at the finish, while Christopher Bell held fifth on older tires.
“It was nice to be on offense and give ourselves a shot,” Elliott said. “I wish I could have made it happen there. I was trying, but I just couldn’t get going like we needed to there at the end.”
The action on the final few laps was attributable in part to battles within the NASCAR Cup In-Season Challenge. In Sunday’s third round at Sonoma, 32nd seed Ty Dillon bumped the No. 48 Chevrolet of Alex Bowman out of the way on the final lap to finish 17th to Bowman’s 19th and keep his hopes for the $1-million prize alive.
Dillon will face John Hunter Nemechek in next Sunday semifinals at Dover Motor Speedway. Nemechek finished one spot ahead of Legacy Motor Club teammate Erik Jones (28th to 29th) to advance to the fourth round.
“It was a rough couple of laps there,” Dillon acknowledged. “Alex and I race really clean. I told him, ‘Man, if it wasn’t for the million dollars, I probably wouldn’t have done that,’ but I had to. It’s been an incredible run for this No. 10 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet team. We’ve worked so hard for this opportunity…
“We’re going to give it all we’ve got at Dover; put pressure on the guys. I think you’ve seen through this that our team doesn’t quit. I saw the No. 48 there at the end, and I knew it was our opportunity to race hard and go get him. Just proud of this team’s effort.”
Ty Gibbs moved into the tournament semifinals with a seventh-place finish to Zane Smith’s 27th, and Tyler Reddick ousted Ryan Preece with a sixth-place run to Preece’s 12th. Gibbs and Reddick will face off at the Monster Mile for a trip to the finals.
William Byron, Joey Logano and Kyle Busch completed the top 10 in a race that featured six cautions for 17 laps.
RESULTS
Motorsports
Ty Dillon’s last lap gamble bumps Alex Bowman from NASCAR’s $1 million challenge
Motorsport photo When NASCAR and TNT introduced the in-season challenge, a bracket-style tournament with a $1 million prize for the winning driver, absolutely no one would have realistically picked Kaulig Racing’s Ty Dillon as a potential winner. Advertisement And yet, the No. 32 seed defeated Denny Hamlin at Atlanta after Hamlin’s early exit from the race, […]

Motorsport photo
When NASCAR and TNT introduced the in-season challenge, a bracket-style tournament with a $1 million prize for the winning driver, absolutely no one would have realistically picked Kaulig Racing’s Ty Dillon as a potential winner.
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And yet, the No. 32 seed defeated Denny Hamlin at Atlanta after Hamlin’s early exit from the race, later doing the same with Brad Keselowski when the former Cup champion crashed in Chicago.
At Sonoma, however, it wasn’t going to be another easy advancement. Dillon had to actually race head-to-head with Alex Bowman and the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet on Sunday.
And as fate would have it, the duo found each other in the closing laps of the race. Dillon got passed by Bowman, but he remained close as they were both stuck in the middle of the pack.
On the final lap, Dillon gave Bowman a bump in the hairpin, pushing the HMS driver up the track. There was more contact on corner exit, but he passed him mere seconds before they reached the finish line. With that move, he ensured his advancement into the semi-finals with just four drivers left in the entire tournament.
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Both Bowman and Dillon shared a friendly chat after the race, even shaking hands after the tense battle.
“It was a rough couple of laps there,” said Dillon. “Alex (Bowman) and I race really clean. I told him – man, if it wasn’t for the million dollars, I probably wouldn’t have done that, but I had to. It’s been an incredible run for this No. 10 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet team. We’ve worked so hard for this opportunity … I’ve worked so hard to get here and I’m just grateful. All of our partners that are on board, this has just been so much fun.
“We’re going to give it all we’ve got at Dover — put pressure on the guys. I think you’ve seen through this that our team doesn’t quit. I saw the No. 48 there at the end, and I knew it was our opportunity to race hard and go get him. Just proud of this team’s effort.”
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Dillon will now face John-Hunter Nemechek of Legacy Motor Club at Dover, another driver that few pundits expected to make it this far in the tournament. On the other side, it will be Tyler Reddick versus Ty Gibbs in a battle between two Toyota drivers.
Photos from Sonoma – Race
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet, Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet, Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Daniel Suarez, Trackhouse Chevrolet, Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, Zane Smith, Front Row Motorsports Ford
Daniel Suarez, Trackhouse Chevrolet, Kyle Busch, Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, Zane Smith, Front Row Motorsports Ford
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
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Katherine Legge, Chevrolet
Katherine Legge, Chevrolet
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
AJ Allmendinger, Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
AJ Allmendinger, Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford
Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Joey Logano, Team Penske Ford
Joey Logano, Team Penske Ford
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Ty Gibbs, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Ty Gibbs, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Carson Hocevar, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
Carson Hocevar, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Zane Smith, Front Row Motorsports Ford
Zane Smith, Front Row Motorsports Ford
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Alex Bowman, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Erik Jones, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB Toyota
Erik Jones, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB Toyota
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
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Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing Toyota
Tyler Reddick, 23XI Racing Toyota
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Ty Gibbs, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Ty Gibbs, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Ross Chastain, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Chris Graythen – Getty Images
General view
General view
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet, Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet, Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford
Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford
Chris Graythen – Getty Images
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Chris Graythen – Getty Images
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William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Chris Graythen – Getty Images
Brad Keselowski, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
Brad Keselowski, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Chris Graythen – Getty Images
Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford
Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford
Chris Graythen – Getty Images
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
General view
General view
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford
Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
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Joey Logano, Team Penske Ford
Joey Logano, Team Penske Ford
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Todd Gilliland, Front Row Motorsports Ford
Todd Gilliland, Front Row Motorsports Ford
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Katherine Legge, Chevrolet
Katherine Legge, Chevrolet
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Cole Custer, Haas Factory Team Ford
Cole Custer, Haas Factory Team Ford
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford
Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Ford
Chris Graythen – Getty Images
Justin Haley, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
Justin Haley, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Ryan Preece, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
Ryan Preece, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
Chris Graythen – Getty Images
Ryan Preece, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
Ryan Preece, Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
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Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Chris Graythen – Getty Images
Kasey Kahne, Red Bull Racing Toyota
Kasey Kahne, Red Bull Racing Toyota
Jonathan Ferrey Getty Images
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Meg Oliphant / Getty Images
Read Also:
Pit road confrontation erupts after close call during Sonoma Cup race
Shane van Gisbergen extends winning streak with an intense NASCAR Cup victory at Sonoma
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