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Where All 36 Cup Drivers Stand After Mexico

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RACE RESULTS: Viva Mexico 250 at Mexico City

Using an average of rankings between Racing America On SI’s Toby Christie, Joseph Srigley, and Zach Evans, here’s where all 36 full-time NASCAR Cup Series drivers stand heading into this weekend’s race at Pocono Raceway.

Estimated Reading Time:9 minutes

1. Christopher Bell

Christopher Bell was no match for Shane Van Gisbergen, but a second-place finish isn’t all that bad for the COTA winner. Hopefully, this returns the No. 20 team to race-winning form. (Previously: 5th)

2. William Byron

He battled back from a 27th-place starting spot to finish respectibly in ninth. The regular-season point lead continues to grow for William Byron with 10 races left until the Playoffs begin. (Previously: 2nd)

3. Chase Elliott

Now, THIS is what we’ve expected out of Chase Elliott. A very good, all around performance, capped off with a podium finish. Top-15s are not the standard, his third-place run in Mexico City is now the bar going forward. (Previously: 8th)

4. Denny Hamlin

Denny Hamlin didn’t compete in Sunday’s Viva Mexico 250, staying home to tend to his fiancée and their newborn son. Ryan Truex drove the No. 11 and finished 23rd. (Previously: 1st)

5. Ross Chastain

After a couple of good weeks on the NASCAR Cup Series circuit, Ross Chastain put together a so-so result on Sunday, fading late to 16th. After having top-10 speed and qualifying in third, the No. 1 team is still showing signs of major speed. (Previously: 3rd)

6. Chris Buescher

Chris Buescher continues to build momentum with his second consecutive top-10 finish. However, Buescher, a skilled road racer, had to be disappointed with a 10th-place result in Mexico City. (Previously: 6th)

7. Ryan Blaney

Ryan Blaney bounced back from disappointment at Michigan with a 14th-place finish at Mexico City. He picked up plenty of stage points with a second-place finish in Stage One and a fourth-place in Stage Two. (Previously: 7)

8. Kyle Larson

It’s been hit or miss for Kyle Larson lately. Sunday, at Mexico City, he was hit by Kyle Busch, which resulted in a miss in the form of a 36th-place finish. Larson now has two top-10s and two finishes of 36th-or-worse in his last four starts. (Previously: 4th)

9. Chase Briscoe

A seventh-place finish is mighty impressive for Chase Briscoe, considering his involvement in the Lap 6 accident with Kyle Busch put him one lap off the pace. No pole position this weekend, but a solid run nonetheless. (Previously: 16th)

10. Tyler Reddick

With three of his eight career wins on road courses, Tyler Reddick was a driver to watch entering the weekend in Mexico City. However, he qualified 22nd and finished 20th, a quiet day. (Previously: 10th)

11. Bubba Wallace

Bubba Wallace has never been shy about discussing his struggles on road courses, so you know he was plenty happy with a 12th-place finish on Sunday. He even picked up stage points in the first stage, making a solid all-around day for Wallace. (Previously: 12th)

12. Ryan Preece

Another solid run for Ryan Preece, who won a Stage, and came home with a 15th-place result at the 2.42-mile road course in Mexico City of all places. (Previously: 17th)

13. Joey Logano

Joey Logano finished 22nd on Sunday, an improvement on his 24th-place result in the first road course event of the season at Circuit of The Americas. He also had a meeting of the fenders with Austin Dillon in the final stage of the race. (Previously: 11th)

14. Erik Jones

He came home in 17th, but overall, Erik Jones had a much better run in Sunday’s Viva Mexico 250. Although he didn’t get the top-15 he deserved, he had another solid effort in a 17th-place finish. (Previously: 13th)

15. Michael McDowell

Michael McDowell earned his first top-five finish of the season with a fifth-place result on Sunday. There have certainly been other opportunities for McDowell to have a run like this, but all the pieces came together in Mexico City. (Previously: 28th)

16. Shane van Gisbergen

He may have been “leaking out of both ends” but Shane Van Gisbergen curbstomped the NASCAR Cup Series field on Sunday, winning by more than 16 and a half seconds. The No. 88 is now going to be in the Playoffs. (Previously: 23rd)

17. AJ Allmendinger

It was a surprisingly quiet but solid 13th-place finish for A.J. Allmendinger. He was another driver tagged during the early multi-car incident, but had a fast car and recovered nicely. (Previously: 19th)

18. Austin Cindric

Austin Cindric was one of just two drivers who stayed out on slicks during the rain showers to start Sunday’s race. It didn’t quite work out as hoped, but Cindric did spend some time near the front of the field and even led a lap before finishing 18th. (Previously: 21st)

19. Josh Berry

Like at Circuit of The Americas, Josh Berry finished 26th at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. Most of the conversation surrounding Berry after the race involved his viewpoint of the conversation between Ricky Stenhouse, Jr., and Carson Hocevar. Not the worst thing to leave the race watching the beef instead of partaking in it. (Previously: 15th)

20. Alex Bowman

Alex Bowman finally stopped the bleeding with a fourth-place run, and in doing so, he put in one of the gutsiest performances of the 2025 season as he was in obvious pain following last week’s insanely hard crash at Michigan International Speedway. (Previously: 25th)

21. Kyle Busch

Kyle Busch went bowling for cars on Lap 7 of Sunday’s race. The end result? A last-place finish, which dramatically drops the driver of the No. 8 in our weekly power rankings. (Previously: 9th)

22. Ty Gibbs

Ty Gibbs looked like the one person who could challenge Shane Van Gisbergen on Sunday, but a poor strategy and the burning of his rear tires prevented him from taking the fight to the eventual race-winner, or even score a top-10. (Previously: 26th)

23. Carson Hocevar

The good news: Carson Hocevar picked up stage points in both stages. The bad news: He finished 34th, one lap down. The worst news: Relations with Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. went from bad to worse after a collision in the stadium section of the circuit on Sunday. (Previously: 14th)

24. John Hunter Nemechek

Nemechek had one of his better runs of the season on Sunday as he collected a sixth-place finish at Mexico City. It’s been a quiet, yet decent year for the LEGACY MOTOR CLUB driver. (Previously: 29th)

25. Brad Keselowski

A rough 25th-place outing for Brad Keselowski, but the driver of the No. 6 RFK Racing Ford isn’t expected to turn many heads on a road course. This weekend at Pocono will be very important for Keselowski’s hopes to win his way into the Playoffs. (Previously: 22nd)

26. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

While hopes of making the Playoffs have slipped away for Ricky Stenhouse and the HYAK Motorsports team, the Olive Branch, Mississippi-native might get some stress relief when he finds Carson Hocevar back in North Carolina. A run-in with Hocevar certainly didn’t help the frustration of a rough afternoon. (Previously: 18th)

27. Daniel Suarez

It’s not the result he was hoping for in front of his home crowd, finishing 19th, but Daniel Suarez managed to score an Xfinity Series victory the day before, so not all was lost during this historically monumental weekend for the Mexican driver. (Previously: 24th)

28. Zane Smith

After some incredible momentum lately, Zane Smith saw his day end early when Kyle Busch went bowling into Turn 1 in the wet weather conditions, collecting the No. 38 and several others. After riding around, another issue sent Smith to the garage before the race’s end, dropping him way down the standings. (Previously: 20th)

29. Todd Gilliland

Todd Gilliland had some speed this weekend in Mexico City, but things didn’t materialize for the No. 34 Ford Mustang, between strategy and an in-race incident or two that cost the team some major track position. A 22nd-place run isn’t terrible, but it doesn’t live up to the potential for Gilliland. (Previously: 31st)

30. Cole Custer

NASCAR Xfinity Series champion Cole Custer put together his best run of the season for Haas Factory Team, spending most of the afternoon inside the top-10, and at times in the top-five, before coming home in eighth. Travel woes be damned, Mexico was a breath of fresh air for the No. 41 team. (Previously: 35th)

31. Austin Dillon

There was a portion of Sunday’s race, where Austin Dillon worked his way inside of the top-10, and it looked like a surprise good finish was incoming. However, it all shook out with a 28th-place finish south of the border. (Previously: 27th)

32. Justin Haley

Justin Haley recovered from being collected in a multi-car incident on lap eight for a 24th-place finish. It wasn’t the kind of result that leaps off the page, but it was an important one to run around what had been a challenging start to the summer for the No. 7 team. (Previously: 33rd)

33. Ty Dillon

Ty Dillon was poised for a great result in Mexico, running in the top 10 throughout the day. However, he finished 33rd, one lap down, after suffering a flat tire following contact on the final restart of the race. (Previously: 30th)

34. Noah Gragson

One of quite a few drivers to feel ill in Mexico City this weekend, Noah Gragson had a pretty tough weekend between his race day sickness, a crash in practice that sent him to a backup car, and some incidents in-race that left him outside the top-30 when the checkered flag was displayed. (Previously: 32nd)

35. Riley Herbst

Riley Herbst had a particularly scary moment at one point, spinning in the stadium section of the course and nearly pulling in front of Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. Herbst finished 29th, which has to sting after an eighth-place finish in stage two. (Previously: 34th)

36. Cody Ware

Road courses are where Ware is expected to be able to gain on the some of the drivers on this list. It just simply didn’t happen in Mexico City as Ware walked out of the Viva Mexico 250 with a 31st-place finish. (Previously: 36th)

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$2.3 Trillion Giant Makes Stunning NASCAR Power Play With Chase Elliott for 2026

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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.





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Ironton Auto Body Challenge Set For Indoor Auto Racing

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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.

 



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Jimmie Johnson confirms Daytona 500 decision as schedule takes shape – Motorsport – Sports

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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.

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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.



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Motorsports journalist Matt Weaver talks NASCAR lawsuit | Racing Report | Ep. 042

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(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.



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LEGACY MOTOR CLUB Takes NASCAR Spirit to Japan with Toyota, Jimmie Johnson, and John Hunter Nemechek – Speedway Digest

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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.

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Why William Byron Leaned on Chase Elliott When He Was Starting At Hendrick Motorsports

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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 within Hendrick 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.



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