Connor Zilisch gave himself a late birthday present and a special gift to NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt Jr. by winning the Pennzoil 250 NASCAR Xfinity Series race Saturday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
Xfinity Series rookie sensation Zilisch, who turned 19 on Tuesday, passed fellow rookie Taylor Gray with two laps remaining in the No. 88 WeatherTech Chevrolet co-owned by Earnhardt and held off pole sitter Sam Mayer’s No. 41 Audibel Ford by .339 of a second for his third consecutive victory and fifth win this season.
The win was the 100th in the history of JR Motorsports, co-owned by Earnhardt.
“This is awesome,” Zilisch said. “Those bricks look really kissable, and I’m ready to kiss them. Winning at Indy is awesome and getting 100 wins for JRM is pretty cool, too, so I consider this a pretty awesome day.”
Gray finished third in the No. 54 Operation 300 Toyota, followed by reigning Brickyard 400 winner Kyle Larson in the No. 17 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet. Ryan Sieg rounded out the top five in the No. 39 Sci Aps Ford.
Zilisch led when the 100-lap race was halted due to rain for the second time during a caution period from Laps 92-96 after a crash between the No. 21 Bennett Transportation Chevrolet of Austin Hill and the No. 19 Young Life Toyota of Aric Almirola in Turn 4.
On the restart on Lap 97, Gray got a big jump and an aerodynamic push from behind to take the lead from Zilisch entering Turn 1. Zilisch then dove under Gray in Turn 2 on Lap 98 and pulled even on the back straightaway. But Gray was able to parry Zilisch’s charge and kept the lead.
Zilisch attempted the same move exiting Turn 2 on Lap 99, pulling even with Gray on the back straightaway. But unlike on the previous lap, Mayer tucked behind Zilisch’s rear bumper, which gave Zilisch the aerodynamic boost he needed to clear Gray for good entering Turn 3.
“The second time I got a push from behind, and it helped me clear him,” Zilisch said. “It was actually really racy, and you were able to make moves.”
Mayer also passed Gray but was unable to catch Zilisch over the last 1.5 laps around the fabled 2.5-mile oval.
Zilisch, who led 19 laps, rallied from a slow pit stop early in the race to return to the front. But it appeared late in the race that Justin Allgaier and Larson were the leading candidates to stand on Victory Podium.
But on a restart on Lap 87, Larson’s car pushed high in Turn 2 and hip-checked Allgaier’s No. 7 Hellmann’s Spicy Mayo Chevrolet into the SAFER Barrier, also slowing Larson’s momentum. That incident allowed Zilisch to take the lead, with Gray jumping to second.
2018 Pennzoil 250 winner Allgaier was eliminated from the race in the crash after leading a race-high 37 laps driving another car fielded by JR Motorsports.
“Unfortunately, Indianapolis is one of those places that it doesn’t take much to have an incident like that,” Allgaier said.
While this was the first win at IMS for Zilisch in his first oval race at the Racing Capital of the World, he has stood on the podium here in past road races. Zilisch finished third in the 90-car Spec Miata class in the 2021 SCCA Runoffs at IMS, and he was part of the Era Motorsport team that finished third in the LMP2 class at the 2024 IMSA TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks.
In qualifying for the Brickyard 400 presented by PPG, Indiana native Chase Briscoe won the pole to continue a remarkable streak of qualifying performances in NASCAR Cup Series crown jewel races this season.
Briscoe, a native of Mitchell, Indiana, took the top spot for Sunday’s race with a best lap of 49.136 seconds, 183.165 mph in the No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota fielded by Joe Gibbs Racing. That was good enough to edge Bubba Wallace, who fell just .013 of a second short of Briscoe at 49.149, 183.117 in the No. 23 Chumba Casino Toyota fielded by 23XI Racing, co-owned by basketball legend Michael Jordan and NASCAR star Denny Hamlin.
This was the third pole this season in a marquee Cup Series race for Briscoe, who also drove to the top qualifying spot in the Daytona 500 in February at Daytona International Speedway and the Coca-Cola 600 in May at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
“I’m holding back tears, truthfully,” Briscoe said. “This is such a special moment for me. Even hearing the crowd as I got the pole, it was super cool. Hopefully can keep it up there tomorrow. That’s the one we want to win tomorrow.”
The 160-lap race starts at 2 p.m. ET Sunday.
Erik Jones qualified third at 49.248, 182.749 in the No. 43 Dollar Tree Toyota. Tyler Reddick will join him in the second row after his qualifying lap of 49.267, 182.678 in the No. 45 Xfinity Mobile Toyota.
Ty Gibbs qualified fifth in the No. 54 SAIA LTL Freight Toyota, giving Toyota a sweep of the top five starting spots. Joe Gibbs Racing (Briscoe, Gibbs) and 23XI Racing (Wallace, Reddick) each put two cars in the top five.
Gibbs and Ty Dillon are competing Sunday in the final round of NASCAR’s inaugural In-Season Challenge. Gibbs and Dillon will race at the same time as all the other competitors in the NASCAR Cup Series classic, with the driver finishing ahead earning a $1 million bonus for his team.
Dillon qualified 26th in the No. 10 Sea Best Chevrolet of Kaulig Racing.
While Toyota took the top five spots in the lineup, it could have been six. Hamlin, who led pre-qualifying practice today, appeared to be headed for the pole when he suffered a vicious crash in Turn 2 in the No. 11 Progressive Toyota of Joe Gibbs Racing.
Hamlin was tracking three-tenths of a second ahead of Briscoe when his car wiggled in Turn 2 and brushed the SAFER Barrier with the right rear corner panel. The car then veered across the 2.5-mile oval and smashed the SAFER Barrier inside Turn 2 head-on. Hamlin was shaken up but otherwise unhurt.
“I was super close to doing that in all four corners,” Briscoe said of his qualifying run when asked about teammate Hamlin’s accident. “That was the closest I think I’ve ever got to Indy 500 qualifying, just being on the absolute ragged edge. I thought I was going to lose it a couple of times but was able to hold on to it.”
Visit IMS.com to buy Brickyard Weekend tickets or for more information.
Ram is working furiously to put its truck sales back on track, and its latest marketing ploy is a NASCAR reality TV show produced by Dana White.
The Stellantis NV brand — which announced last year it would once again sponsor a NASCAR Craftsman truck team for 2026 after 13 years away — is behind a series called “Race For The Seat” that premiers Jan. 25 on Fox.
Mash The Gas Accelerates Into Its Sixth Season of NASCAR Coverage
Entering our sixth season reflects the consistency, credibility, and trust we’ve built with NASCAR fans, partners, and the sport we cover week in and week out.”
— Kevin Batstone, Co-Host, Mash The Gas
DAYTONA BEACH, FL, UNITED STATES, January 8, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Mash The Gas, the premier podcast dedicated to NASCAR Cup Series coverage, announces the launch of its sixth season, premiering [February 2nd, 2026]. Entering its most established year yet, Mash The Gas continues to deliver trusted race analysis, insider insight, and engaging weekly discussion for NASCAR fans, industry professionals, and brand partners nationwide.
Over the past five seasons, Mash The Gas has consistently ranked as a Top 5 “Must-Listen” NASCAR Podcast according to Feedspot, a distinction that reflects the show’s credibility, consistency, and growing influence within the motorsports media space.
Mash The Gas is hosted by Jeff Davis, Kevin Batstone, and NASCARSky. Season 6 marks NASCARSky’s second full-time season with the program, further strengthening the chemistry and on-air dynamic that has resonated with listeners. Her NASCAR-focused editorial work and influential social media presence bring a modern, fan-forward perspective to weekly coverage.
Kevin Batstone is a longtime podcaster and media professional, also serving as the host of the successful Discussion Combustion podcast and Happy Friday America, both known for consistent production and loyal audiences. Alongside Jeff Davis, Batstone’s experience anchors Mash The Gas as a polished and reliable NASCAR platform.
Together, the hosts deliver a focused mix of race recaps, pre- and post-race analysis, hot-topic debates, and interviews with drivers, media members, and industry insiders, establishing Mash The Gas as a trusted voice throughout the NASCAR season.
*Season 6 Highlights*
* Launch Date: Season 6 debuts [February 2nd, 2026], beginning with coverage of The Clash and building toward the Daytona 500 * Weekly Coverage: In-depth race previews, post-race breakdowns, and featured guest interviews. * Growing Reach: Expanding listenership across YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeart, and all podcast platforms
Sponsorship Opportunities
As a consistently Top 5-ranked NASCAR podcast, Mash The Gas offers brands a proven platform to connect with one of sports’ most loyal fanbases. Opportunities include:
* Custom host-read ad placements * Branded race preview and recap segments * Social media amplification * Season-long partnership integrations
*Media & Industry Collaboration*
With a history of covering marquee races and welcoming respected industry voices, Mash The Gas continues to pursue collaboration with NASCAR Media, teams, and content partners to amplify the sport’s stories and engage fans.
Entering its sixth season, Mash The Gas remains committed to delivering credible, entertaining, and insightful NASCAR coverage. Season 6 represents the show’s most refined and impactful year to date.
Mash The Gas Podcast Discussion Combustion Productions mashthegaspodcast@gmail.com Visit us on social media: Instagram Facebook YouTube X
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LAWRENCE COUNTY, Ark. (KAIT) – The Walnut Ridge Fire Department and the Hoxie Fire Department are responding to a fire at the former Cox Motorsports building.
According to Lawrence County Sheriff Tony Waldrupe, dispatch received a call at 7:23 p.m. about a fire in a commercial building on the intersection of Highway 63 and Lawrence County 701.
He identified it as the former Cox Motorsports building.
Sheriff Waldrupe said firemen reported heavy smoke when they arrived.
No injuries have been reported at this time.
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Steve Phelps became NASCAR’s first commissioner in March 2025 after previously serving as its president since 2018. However, he will be leaving that position ahead of the 2026 season, and there aren’t any plans to line up a suitable replacement anytime soon. The duties he served will instead be shared by other executives. But what led to this sudden turn of events?
The core cause of his resignation is the inflammatory text messages that were revealed during the antitrust lawsuit proceedings between NASCAR and 23XI Racing/Front Row Motorsports. Phelps had spoken badly about Richard Childress, one of the most respected veterans of the sport, and offensively insulted him in these messages. It led to widespread disruption of NASCAR’s image.
Former driver Kenny Wallace spoke about this in a recent video posted to his YouTube channel, detailing how Phelps might have been NASCAR’s scapegoat to fix everything wrong. He pointed out the statement that Bass Pro Shops CEO Johnny Morris made after the messages came to light. Morris, a longtime friend of Childress and a reputed sponsor in NASCAR, hadn’t sounded very happy in it.
He wrote, “…Such blatant disrespect would probably not sit well with the fans – such a commissioner most likely wouldn’t, or shouldn’t keep his or her job for very long!” This is where Wallace sees the silver lining. He emphasized that Phelps is gone now because NASCAR doesn’t want to antagonize the most powerful and wealthy people in the industry.
Bass Pro Shops has been a long-time supporter of NASCAR, sponsoring Richard Childress Racing since 1998. Firing him was the only way to fix the image issue the promotion was suffering from and move forward.
Wallace added, “So, NASCAR has an image issue. I don’t think Steve Phelps could have walked around the pit area. Could you imagine Steve Phelps the first week at Daytona? How could he have walked around the garage area?” It surely would have been as awkward for the drivers and crew members as it would have been for Phelps himself. In that light, perhaps, this is only for the good.
Wallace was also keen to bring across his opinion that the good work that Phelps did with NASCAR must not go unappreciated because of the one bad thing he did. Again, his resignation was only a plausible outcome of all the fiasco that went down over the past couple of years. Fresh beginnings await the sport with the 2026 season on the horizon.
NASCAR star Kyle Larson has announced that he will be canceling his gym membership after Hendrick Motorsports struck a partnership with Atrium Health, with a new 35,000-square-foot facility set to open on the team’s campus.
Hendrick vice chairman Jeff Gordon announced the exciting new partnership on Thursday, with athletes, crew members, and staff set to receive access to the stunning health facility. Larson reposted Gordon’s post and wrote on X: “Canceling my gym membership now.”
Larson won the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series and is set to be in even better shape heading into next season. Atrium Health already supports more than 20 professional and collegiate teams, over 100 high schools across North Carolina and South Carolina, and now, Hendrick Motorsports.
The new Atrium Health Motorsports Athletic Center will be located on the team’s campus in Concord. The facility includes a “high-performance gym with the latest training equipment, modern locker rooms, a team operations center for race-day competition operations, a nutrition area, athletic meeting and film rooms, and dedicated spaces for physical therapy, hydrotherapy, and recovery.”
The facility also has a dedicated space for sports science research, and features a closed-loop pit stop practice circuit that can accommodate two teams, allowing Hendrick to perfect its craft. In return, Atrium Health will have logo placement on driver fire suits, crew apparel, athletic training gear, and track equipment.
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“The demands of NASCAR are different from any other sport – the schedule is relentless, the margins are extremely tight, and performance is about preparation as much as it is execution,” Gordon said. “This new facility allows our coaches and staff to work side by side with Atrium Health clinicians, ensuring every aspect of training, recovery, and readiness is aligned.
“Everything in this space is designed around our athletes and our teammates. At the end of the day, it always comes back to people, and this new partnership reflects a shared commitment to supporting them the right way every day.”
Hendrick Motorsports owner Rick Hendrick added, “People are the foundation of our organization, and supporting their health and performance is essential to our success. Our new partnership with Atrium Health brings best-in-class clinical and performance resources directly to our campus.
“There’s no facility like this in the world of auto racing. It’s a game-changer. The Atrium Health Motorsports Athletic Center will help our athletes perform at their best and give our teammates convenient access to high-quality health care.
“We value the shared commitment to people that defines both of our organizations, and we look forward to a truly incredible collaboration in the coming years.”
Larson is extremely excited about the new facility, but he isn’t the only driver who will benefit from it. Chase Elliott, William Byron, and Alex Bowman are also on the Hendrick Motorsports roster.
