Nascar news

• NASCAR: Denny Hamlin Not Concerned About Shoulder Injury

  03-09-2026 02:59 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Denny Hamlin not concerned about shoulder injury ahead of The Chase. GettyDenny Hamlin has been unbothered by a shoulder injury that has nagged him throughout the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season. The driver of the No. 11 plans to have surgery sometime during the offseason.Hamlin enters The Chase as the points leader after clinching the regular-season championship. The Joe Gibbs Racing star has scored four victories in 2026, including three straight back in June (Nashville, Michigan, Pocono).Amid h
  
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• Austin Cindric Opens Up on Losing Pit Crew to Ryan Blaney Ahead of the Darlington Race: “It’s Not My Race Team”

  03-09-2026 11:17 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  May 28, 2022; Concord, North Carolina, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Austin Cindric (L) talks with Ryan Blaney (R) prior to qualifying for the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. © Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY SportsTeam Penske has ordered a pit crew swap between Austin Cindric’s No. 2 team and Ryan Blaney’s No. 12 entry. Cindric opened up on the change and called it a “great opportunity” to seize the remaining 10 races.Blaney has struggled with his pit crew for a
  
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• Jimmie Johnson’s NASCAR team to part ways with John Hunter Nemechek

  03-09-2026 06:10 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Legacy Motor Club, the NASCAR team owned by seven-time Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson and a host of celebrities, now has an open seat to fill ahead of next season.The team announced on Wednesday, Sept. 2 that John Hunter Nemechek would not return to drive the No. 42 Toyota for Legacy next season. The news is both surprising and abrupt considering that Legacy announced sponsors for the 2027 season for Nemechek back in May.“Legacy Motor Club has made the decision to part ways with John H
  
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• The Chase is on for NASCAR's new look playoff format

  03-09-2026 03:49 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Motorsport photoPrior to officially unveiling the Chase for the Championship format in January, NASCAR and Racing Insights conducted over 25,000 simulations to predict how the format could potentially play out.The findings:Overall, drivers won the championship 85 percent of time when seeded inside the top six and 69 percent of the time from the top three. There is a pathway to the championship all the way through the 16th seed but the math doesn’t lie about who the favorites are.The Chase
  
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• NASCAR Cup Series: Denny Hamlin Says One Thing Matters More Than Chase Experience

  03-09-2026 02:27 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 02: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota speaks to the media during the NASCAR Cup Series Chase Media Day at Charlotte Convention Center on September 02, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images) GettyDenny Hamlin enters the 2026 NASCAR playoffs as the No. 1 seed, but the Joe Gibbs Racing driver does not believe his long Chase history will give him a major edge. Hamlin starts the 10-race Chase with 2,100 point
  
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• Matt DiBenedetto to make NASCAR return in Las Vegas O'Reilly race

  03-09-2026 01:49 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Motorsport photoMatt DiBenedetto will be back behind the wheel of a NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series car, driving the No. 42 Young's Motorsports Chevrolet Las Vegas Motor Speedway on October 3. Magnesium Performance Wheels will sponsor the effort.Catchfence.com's Chris Knightbroke the story, with DiBenedetto expressing excitement and gratitude over the opportunity.DiBenedetto is a highly experienced NASCAR driver with 248 Cup starts, 127 O'Reilly starts, and 43 Truck starts. He last s
  
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• NASCAR Cup Series: Carson Hocevar’s Surprising Chase Plan Could Backfire

  03-09-2026 01:46 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 02: Carson Hocevar, driver of the #77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet speaks to the media during the NASCAR Cup Series Chase Media Day at Charlotte Convention Center on September 02, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images) GettyCarson Hocevar is entering his first NASCAR Cup Series Chase with a mindset that is far different from the pressure often linked to a playoff debut. The Spire Motorsports driver says the No. 77 Chevrolet ha
  
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• Denny Hamlin Gets His Trophy After Winning 2026 NASCAR Regular Season Championship

  03-09-2026 01:06 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Denny Hamlin may have bigger hardware on his mind over the next 10 weeks, but NASCAR’s top driver through the first 26 races of 2026 finally has a trophy to show for it.Hamlin finished the regular season atop the NASCAR Cup Series standings, securing the No. 1 seed for the newly revived Chase and a 25-point advantage over Ryan Blaney entering Sunday’s postseason opener at Darlington Raceway.There was just one unusual detail.With NASCAR returning to a 10-race Chase format this season,
  
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• NASCAR Cup stars react to Days of Thunder sequel and meeting Tom Cruise at Daytona

  03-09-2026 00:34 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Motorsport photoAll 16 NASCAR Cup drivers who qualified for the Chase took part in Media Day on Wednesday, and several fielded questions about the long-awaited Days of Thunder sequel that is coming to theaters in June of 2028. Tom Cruise will again star as fictional NASCAR driver Cole Trickle, with Anne Hathaway co-starring as a team owner/engineer.Dale Earnhardt Jr. has been in contact with the minds developing a script for the film for over a year, and is among those very excited to see the mo
  
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• The new Chase for the Championship is different but the same

  02-09-2026 23:58 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Motorsport photoOf the 16 drivers who comprise the newest iteration of the Chase for the Championship, only two of them have competed in the version that predated The Playoffs from 2004-to-2013.Denny Hamlin
  Joey LoganoOn one hand, this gives them both a baseline understanding of how to navigate the next 10 weeks but there are also enough wrinkles that both of them are still curious about what this is going to look like.The most notable difference from the earliest versions of The Chase to this o
  
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• Legacy Motor Club to part ways with John Hunter Nemechek

  02-09-2026 23:40 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Motorsport photoJohn Hunter Nemechek, 29, will not return to Legacy Motor Club for the 2027 NASCAR Cup Series season.Nemechek first. joined the team at the start of the 2024 season, recording points finishes of 34th and 25th. He currently sits 27th in the 2026 championship standings, trailing teammate Erik Jones in 21st by 80 points after Daytona."Legacy Motor Club has made the decision to part ways with John Hunter Nemechek at the conclusion of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season," a statement fr
  
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• "I Might Be"- Joey Logano Embraces ‘Psychopath’ Label As He Publicly Shuts Down Old Chase Comparisons

  02-09-2026 23:21 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  February 11, 2026, Daytona Beach, Fl, USA: JOEY LOGANO 22 of Middletown, CT gets gets ready to practice for Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach , FL. Daytona Beach USA – ZUMAa161 20260211_aaa_a161_006 Copyright: xWalterxG.xArcexSr.x ©IMAGO/ZUMA Press WireJoey Logano finishing ninth in the standings to secure his spot in the Chase, especially as one of the Championship favorites, has to be one of the great comeback stories of the Team Penske driver’s ca
  
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• NASCAR drivers scrambling for cameos after Tom Cruise announces 'Days of Thunder' sequel

  02-09-2026 23:05 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Joey Logano has won 71 NASCAR races and three Cup Series championships during his illustrious career.But the driver of the No. 22 Penske Racing Ford said nothing would make him appear cooler in the eyes of his five children than securing a cameo in the upcoming sequel to “Days of Thunder,” which will star Tom Cruise and Anne Hathaway and is set for release in 2028.“Yeah, are you kidding me — that's like wicked cool dad points to be in ‘D
  
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• Christopher Bell: New format brings "more pressure" and believes he has to start winning

  02-09-2026 23:05 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Motorsport photoThe 'win and you're in' may be gone, but the importance of winning remains critical in the battle to become a NASCAR Cup Series champion. Ryan Preece showed just how valuable a win can be last than a week ago at Daytona International Speedway.And while there is one point between each position on track, that abruptly jumps to 20 points between the runner-up spot and the race winner. That means the gap between P2 and P22 on the track is identical to first and second.Unfortunately f
  
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• Dale Earnhardt Jr. Reveals His Surprising Connection to New ‘Days of Thunder’ Movie

  02-09-2026 22:11 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Dale Earnhardt Jr. wasn’t supposed to be at Daytona International Speedway when Tom Cruise arrived.NASCAR changed that.Earnhardt revealed on the “Dale Jr. Download” that he had initially planned to leave Daytona after the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race. Instead, NASCAR asked him to spend another night in town for a reason that didn’t require much convincing: Cruise wanted to meet him.The two eventually spent about 20 minutes together Saturday morning after Cruise f
  
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• Prank War Helped Buescher, Preece Find Levity in Race to the Chase

  02-09-2026 22:09 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Chris Buescher (right) says that an ongoing prank war with his teammate Ryan Preece (left) has helped lighten the mood for the two drivers. | Danny Hansen, NKP for Ford RacingIt took a walk-off win at Daytona International Speedway for Ryan Preece to make the NASCAR Cup Series Chase for the Cup, but with Preece advancing to the championship fight, RFK Racing will now have two drivers battling it out in the 10-week mental marathon for the sport's ultimate prize.Chris Buescher comes into the Chase
  
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• Ryan Blaney, Austin Cindric react to Penske pit crew swap

  02-09-2026 22:02 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Motorsport photoRyan Blaney is the No. 2 seed in the Chase for the Championship and will start the final 10 races 25 points behind regular season champion Denny Hamlin.Austin Cindric is the No. 15 seed and is 95 points back.For Team Penske, the decision to swap their respective pit crews boiled down to simple mathematics, and everyone with both programs are largely understanding of that decision. Team Penske has a championship to win and the No. 12 with Blaney and crew chief Jonathan Hassler are
  
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• Kevin Harvick Questions NASCAR’s Next-Gen Identity After Daytona Fail- "I Just Don’t Know That That Is the Style of Car We Need"

  02-09-2026 21:35 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Cup Series Championship Qualifying Nov 4, 2023 Avondale, Arizona, USA NASCAR Cup Series driver Kevin Harvick during qualifying for the NASCAR Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway. Avondale Phoenix Raceway Arizona USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xMarkxJ.xRebilasx 20231104_mjr_su5_006 ©IMAGO/USA TODAY NetworkNASCAR brought quite a few changes to its superspeedway package at Daytona this past weekend for the Coke Zero Sugar 400, but th
  
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• Team Penske Makes Major Ryan Blaney Change Days Before NASCAR Chase Begins

  02-09-2026 21:32 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Ryan Blaney will begin his pursuit of a second NASCAR Cup Series championship with a significantly different team around him.Just days before the Chase opens at Darlington Raceway, Team Penske has swapped the pit crews assigned to Blaney’s No. 12 Ford and Austin Cindric’s No. 2 Ford.A Team Penske spokesperson confirmed the change to NASCAR.com.The timing alone makes the move notable. Both drivers qualified for NASCAR’s 16-driver Chase, meaning Penske isn’t simply moving r
  
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• Dale Earnhardt Jr. Calls For Tweak to NASCAR Points System

  02-09-2026 21:23 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Dale Earnhardt Jr. wants to see one tweak to the NASCAR points system.GettyDale Earnhardt Jr. would like to see NASCAR bring back awarding points to drivers who lead a lap and for the one who leads the most laps. The retired Hall of Famer’s comments stem from frustration with drivers not going for the lead in Saturday’s Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona.Prior to NASCAR implementing stage breaks and awarding points to the top-10 finishers in 2017, drivers could earn points from leading a
  
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• Blaney, Cindric react to crew swap before The Chase: 'Best chance to win the championship'

  02-09-2026 21:14 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Ryan Blaney will have a new pit crew on his No. 12 Team Penske Ford to begin NASCAR’s postseason.Blaney inherits the crew that previously serviced Austin Cindric’s No. 2 Ford through the regular season. Per NASCAR Insights, Cindric’s crew ranked 10th-best through 26 races while Blaney’s crew ranked 32nd. As Team Penske confirmed Tuesday, those teams will swap cars ahead of Sunday’s opening race of The Chase presented by Mobil 1.MORE: Penske s
  
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• NASCAR Driver Tyler Reddick Faces a Tough Reality Before the Chase

  02-09-2026 20:42 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA - AUGUST 28: Tyler Reddick, driver of the #45 Jordan Brand Toyota, looks on during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway on August 28, 2026 in Daytona Beach, Florida. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) GettyTyler Reddick enters the NASCAR Chase as the No. 3 seed after a strong 2026 regular season that also exposed some problems at 23XI Racing. Reddick won five Cup Series races, the most in the regular season, including
  
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• Lucas Oil to retire blue paint scheme in honor of Kyle Busch, with one exception

  02-09-2026 20:36 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Motorsport photoGlimpse of new all-red Lucas Oil scheme  
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  Kyle Busch Remembered: Rowdy's most iconic moments from NASCAR at DaytonaSamantha Busch full speech from emotional Kyle Busch InvitationalTo read more Motorsport.com articles visit our website.
  
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• Does Denny Hamlin, NASCAR Chase favorite, get it done at 45?

  02-09-2026 20:28 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Motorsport photoA year after the Final Four format denied him that elusive NASCAR Cup Series championship, Denny Hamlin enters the first year of the second iteration of the Chase for the Championship as the favorite.He is two months away from his 46th birthday and 14 months away from his intended retirement. Next year is not a guarantee and this very well could be his last chance to win the missing championship that he has tried to not let define him.“It would mean a lot personally, but it
  
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• Denny Hamlin Addresses Persistent Injury Ahead of High-Stakes Chase Run

  02-09-2026 20:27 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Cup Practice Feb 13, 2026 Daytona Beach, Florida, USA NASCAR Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin during practice for the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Daytona Beach Daytona International Speedway Florida USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xMarkxJ.xRebilasx 20260213_mjr_su5_045 ©IMAGO/Imagn ImagesDenny Hamlin enters the 2026 Chase as the No. 1 seed and one of the strongest contenders for his first NASCAR Cup Series champions
  
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• NASCAR Darlington Weekend Schedule: Race Times, TV Channels, Qualifying

  02-09-2026 20:24 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  DARLINGTON, SOUTH CAROLINA - MARCH 22: A detail view of the scuffed "Darlington Raceway" wall signage after the NASCAR Cup Series Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway on March 22, 2026 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images) GettyNASCAR heads to one of its most historic tracks this weekend, and the stakes are about to get considerably higher.The NASCAR Cup Series arrives at Darlington Raceway for the Cook Out Southern 500 on Sunday, Sept. 6, kicking off the 10-race Chas
  
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• NASCAR Admits Red Flag Should Have Flown at Daytona

  02-09-2026 19:27 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  NASCAR stated that a red flag should have been flown after a late-race, multi-car wreck forced overtime in Saturday’s Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona. Instead of halting the race to do extensive clean-up, NASCAR opted to keep the race under caution. With nine circuits remaining, Carson Hocevar spun out in turn 3 and collected Erik Jones in a violent two-car collision. The yellow flag was waved and the race did not return to green until four laps over the scheduled 160-lap distance.NASCAR&rs
  
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• Two sides to the season for Tyler Reddick, who enters Chase riding glorious highs and a summertime slip

  02-09-2026 18:59 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Bubba Wallace has a theory that would explain how the early season good fortune of his 23XI Racing teammate Tyler Reddick turned suddenly sour this summer. It involves a seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, his mythical golden horseshoe and a transfer of motorcoach ownership.When Jimmie Johnson’s transportation came into Reddick’s possession, so did the good-luck charm. Or so the theory goes.“Ithinkhisbusbrokedown,andtheymusthavetakenahorseshoeout,&rdq
  
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• Chandler Smith and Carson Brown's RCR tandem a long time coming

  02-09-2026 18:41 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Motorsport photoThe Chandler Smith and Carson Brown tandem in the NASCAR O’Reilly Series at Richard Childress Racing is three years in the making.Danny Lawrence, who oversees division operations for RCR, says the recruitment of Brown has been something he and Chief Operating Officer Mike Dillon have contemplated for quite a long time.“This is going to surprise you,” Lawrence told Motorsport.com, “but Mike called me one day and said ‘there’s a kid in my neighbo
  
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• Despite 50-race drought, Kyle Larson sees a path to Cup Series title

  02-09-2026 18:33 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  CHARLOTTE, N.C. — In his two NASCAR Cup Series championship seasons, Kyle Larson has led a charmed life.In 2021, he was running fourth in the Championship 4 finale at Phoenix when a late caution gave him a chance to win the race off pit road from stall No. 1. Larson parlayed that opportunity into his first title.Last year, Denny Hamlin had the field covered at Phoenix and was leading comfortably with just over three laps left when William Byron‘s blown tire sent the race to overtime.
  
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