Nascar news

• Penske Shakes up Pit Crews Heading into Darlington NASCAR Chase Opener

  01-09-2026 19:07 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  USA TODAY Network via Reuters ConnectAccording to the NASCAR Roster Portal, Team Penske is making a major change heading into Sunday's Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway, the opening race of the 10-race Chase for the Championship.Beginning with this weekend's event at the 1.366-mile egg-shaped oval in South Carolina, the organization will swap the pit crews that have been performing duties on the No. 2 and No. 12 cars for the entirety of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season.Ryan Blaney, wh
  
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• What channel is the NASCAR O'Reilly Series race at Darlington on today? Time, TV schedule

  05-09-2026 12:05 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  The NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts SeriesChase begins in Darlington with the Fleetio 200 on Sept. 5.The 200-mile race will be the second race at Darlington this season for the series, with Justin Allgaier claiming the win.Allgaier's massive points lead is no more with the nine-race Chase starting this week, now 25 points ahead of teammate Carson Kvapil.The Chase is comprised of 10 Chevrolets and two Toyota teams (Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Brandon Jones and Taylor Gray).Here's how you can watch Satu
  
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• NASCAR Darlington qualifying channel today, time, TV schedule for Southern 500

  05-09-2026 12:05 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  The NASCARDarlington race weekend begins on Sept. 5 with Cook Out Southern 500 qualifying at Darlington Raceway.Denny Hamlin remains the points leader heading into the Chase, but the points reset popped a hole in his lead. Hamlin leads Ryan Blaney by 25 points coming into Darlington.The attention will now be off of the Chase bubble and to the top of the standings, where Ty Gibbs, Tyler Reddick and Chase Briscoe join Hamlin and Blaney in the title race along with the other 11 Chase drivers.Here i
  
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• NASCAR Darlington predictions 2026, expert picks for Southern 500 Cup race

  05-09-2026 12:05 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  The NASCAR Chase begins with the Cook Out Southern 500 on Sept. 5 at Darlington Raceway.The Labor Day weekend tradition is quite the task to open the 10-race run to the Cup Series championship. The 1.366-mile egg-shaped oval is a demand for pit crews, cars and drivers.Denny Hamlin enters the Chase as the top seed, 25 points ahead of Ryan Blaney.Here are The Tennessean's expert picks for Saturday's NASCAR Cup Series race at Daytona:NASCAR predictions for Darlington Cup Series race: Here's who win
  
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• NASCAR Chase picks, surprises: Will Denny Hamlin finally win the Cup Series title?

  05-09-2026 12:05 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  The NASCAR Chase is back, but the angst of playoffs' past remain for the 16 drivers competing for a Cup Series title.The Chase begins on Sept. 6 with the Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington. Denny Hamlin enters the 10-race run for the championship with the points lead as the top seed, 25 points ahead of Ryan Blaney.Toyotas litter the top eight, with Ty Gibbs, Tyler Reddick, Chase Briscoe and Christopher Bell joining Hamlin atop the first half of the Chase standings.But Ford's form is pointed upw
  
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• Christopher Bell Goes From Fearing Season-Ending Injury to NASCAR Championship Contender

  05-09-2026 11:11 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Aug 22, 2026; Loudon, New Hampshire, USA; Joe Gibbs Racing driver Christopher Bell (20) walks to his car before practice at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. © Eric Canha-Imagn ImagesChristopher Bell shared his thoughts on the scary crash at Michigan that nearly ended his title bid. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver has now made the Chase as the sixth seed.Bell experienced a horrifying crash at Michigan when Chase Elliott made contact with the No.20 Toyota. Bell crashed into the outside walls and rec
  
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• DALE EARNHARDT JR. IMPRESSES IN CARS TOUR LATE MODEL DEBUT WITH RUNNER UP FINISH

  05-09-2026 03:50 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Photo by: Mark J. RebilasDale Earnhardt Jr. may have added another impressive chapter to his already legendary racing career Friday night at Florence Motor Speedway.Making his CARS Tour Pro Late Model debut, Earnhardt Jr. drove his No. 23 GMS Racing machine to a remarkable second-place finish, finishing behind race winner Kaden Honeycutt. Treyton Lapcevich rounded out the podium in third.For Earnhardt Jr., simply getting behind the wheel was already a major storyline. The NASCAR Hall of Famer an
  
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• Parker Retzlaff Enters NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Chase As A Spoiler

  05-09-2026 00:27 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Viking Motorsports' Parker Retzlaff could be the spoiler of the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series Chase. GettyViking Motorsports is the surprise of the 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season, and it is all for good reasons.The second-year team, owned by longtime RSS Racing sponsor Don Sackett, is now in The Chase, qualifying for the postseason and defeating some of the sport’s powerhouse organizations.But the true surprise is the development of Parker Retzlaff, driver of Vikin
  
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• Jimmie Johnson Refutes Claim of Physical Altercation With Nemechek

  04-09-2026 21:46 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectJimmie Johnson cleared up a lot of rumors in regard to LEGACY MOTOR CLUB's decision to part ways with John Hunter Nemechek in 2027, in an interview on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio on Friday afternoon. While Johnson says he believes in Nemechek's talent as a race car driver, the choice to go in a different direction for the 2027 season was simply a business decision.@JimmieJohnson on the decision to move on from @JHNemechek at @LEGACYMotorClub"When you look across the lan
  
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• Carson Hocevar Publicly Throws Chevrolet Under the Bus, Lowering Champion Expectations with Blunt Claim

  04-09-2026 21:40 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  ATLANTA, GA – FEBRUARY 20: Carson Hocevar 77 Spire Motorsports Deleware Life Chevrolet looks on during qualifying for the NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Craftsman Truck Series FR8 Racing 208 on February 20, 2026, at EchoPark Speedway in Hampton, GA. Photo by Jeffrey Vest/Icon Sportswire AUTO: FEB 20 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Fr8 Racing 208 EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon260220147 ©IMAGO/Icon SportswireAfter the Brickyard 400, Carson Hocevar reached a new high. The Spire Motorsports driver was fi
  
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• Dale Jr’s Star Confirms Tense JRM Meeting After Agonizing Speedway Wreck

  04-09-2026 21:07 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  DAYTONA BEACH, FL – FEBRUARY 13: Dale Earnhardt Jr. owner of the car driven by Justin Allgaier 40 JR Motorsports Traveller Whiskey Chevrolet waiting in garage during practice for the NASCAR, Motorsport, USA Cup Series Daytona 500 on February 13, 2026 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, FL. Photo by Michael Bush/Icon Sportswire AUTO: FEB 13 NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 EDITORIAL USE ONLY Icon260213059 ©IMAGO/Icon SportswireDale Earnhardt Jr. was not happy with the way
  
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• How to Watch the NASCAR Cup Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington

  04-09-2026 19:51 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectThe Chase for the NASCAR Cup Series championship is officially here. Beginning with this weekend's Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway, 16 drivers will duke it out over a 10-race stretch. The driver with the most points at the conclusion of the 10 races will be crown the series champion.Darlington Raceway, known as "The Lady In Black", due to the outer wall getting a fresh coat of black Goodyear rubber each time NASCAR visits, and the track "Too Tough To T
  
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• Jimmie Johnson dismisses rumors of confrontation with John Hunter Nemechek

  04-09-2026 19:47 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Motorsport photoThis past week, Legacy Motor Club announced that John Hunter Nemechek will not return as the driver of the No. 42 Toyota in 2027, despite earlier plans to keep him as the driver through next season.While Josh Berry is the leading candidate to replace him, the team also announced the addition of a third full-time entry for 2027 with Riley Herbst as the driver of the No. 84.As for Nemechek, a rumor began circulating about an alleged confrontation between Legacy co-owner Jimmie
  
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• Jimmie Johnson explains why the time was right for Legacy to add a third car full time

  04-09-2026 18:49 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Motorsport photoCurrent 23XI driver Riley Herbst is set to join Legacy Motor Club for the 2027 NASCAR season, giving Legacy a third full-time car in the Cup Series. It's a big move for Legacy, but as team co-owner Jimmie Johnson explained this week, it was the right time to make a move.According to Johnson, running on a partial schedule was doing more harm than good in some cases."Running the third car on the limited schedule, we had ambitions to run it more often," Johnson said, appearing
  
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• NASCAR Veteran Defends ‘Rich Kids’ in Racing With Unpopular Take

  04-09-2026 16:45 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  USA TODAY Network via Reuters ConnectThe “rich kid” or “pay drivers” debate has been part of NASCAR for generations. But former Cup Series driver Landon Cassill has just offered an argument that many fans will not want to hear: maybe having a wealthy family does actually put more pressure on you.The issue came back into the spotlight after a heated incident involving CARS Tour drivers Landon Huffman and 19-year-old Tyler Reif at Anderson Motor Speedway. Huffman confronted
  
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• Joey Logano Promises ‘Trash Talk’ if He Wins His Fourth NASCAR Title

  04-09-2026 16:44 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectJoey Logano already knows exactly what he wants to say if he wins his fourth NASCAR Cup Series championship.The Team Penske veteran isn’t hiding the motivation behind his 2026 title chase. After years of hearing critics and haters question his championships and the playoff format that helped deliver them, Logano sees another title as a chance to answer everyone at once.And he admits the celebration could get loud.During The Teardown podcast, Logano was asked
  
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• Spire hits back at Carson Hocevar's loudest critics

  04-09-2026 16:35 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Motorsport photoCarson Hocevar has established himself as one of the largest personalities in NASCAR.Between his aggressive driving on the track and self-assured attitude off the track, he's made plenty of fans and enemies in his still young career in the Cup Series.Spire Motorsports leaned into the controversy of their star driver on Thursday with a post highlighting the many criticisms that have been levied against Hocevar. In the post, Hocevar is seen with words like "MORON," "iPAD KID," and
  
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• NASCAR Cup Series Driver Has Had Enough After Penalties, Critics and a Bitter Fight for Respect

  04-09-2026 16:18 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 02: Ryan Preece, driver of the #60 RFK Racing Ford 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) GettyRyan Preece reached the 2026 NASCAR Chase in the most dramatic way possible. The RFK Racing driver won the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway on Aug. 29, taking his first points-paying NASCAR Cup Series
  
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• 5 Bold NASCAR The Chase Predictions, including Carson Hocevar and Kyle Larson

  04-09-2026 15:42 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectNASCAR’s the 10-race chase begins this weekend at Darlington Raceway, with 16 drivers all competing in a points battle to determine the Cup Series champion in 2026. Chaos and disappointment are a given, but we’re going to attempt to make a few NASCAR The Chase predictions for what happens in the next 10 weeks.Let’s dive into some quick bold NASCAR predictions for The Chase.HEADINGMandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn ImagesThe reigning champion hasn
  
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• Jim Foster named 2027 Squire-Hall Award recipient

  04-09-2026 15:24 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Sept. 4, 2026) — Longtime motorsports journalist and key figure in the creation of the Motor Racing Network, Jim Foster, has been named recipient of the 2027 Squier-Hall Award for NASCAR Media Excellence, becoming the 15th winner of the prestigious award.Foster spent 15 years as a sports journalist, with a newspaper career that included stops at The Salisbury Post and The Greensboro Record, followed by seven years as sports editor of the Spartanburg Herald. It was ther
  
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• How to watch NASCAR Southern 500 at Darlington: Weekend schedule, start time, TV

  04-09-2026 15:05 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Motorsport photoNASCAR Cup drivers must prepare for 500 miles of grueling racing at Darlington Raceway, which will host the 77th running of the Southern 500 and the opening round of the 2026 Chase for the championship.Chase Briscoe is attempting to become the first driver in nearly three decades to win three consecutive Southern 500s, while Denny Hamlin enters the postseason as the No. 1 seed in the championship fight.In this story, you can find all the information you need to watch all the acti
  
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• How to watch NASCAR at Darlington: Weekend schedule, start time, TV

  04-09-2026 15:05 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Motorsport photoNASCAR Cup drivers must prepare for 500 miles of grueling racing at Darlington Raceway, which will host the 77th running of the Southern 500 and the opening round of the 2026 Chase for the championship.Chase Briscoe is attempting to become the first driver in nearly three decades to win three consecutive Southern 500s, while Denny Hamlin enters the postseason as the No. 1 seed in the championship fight.In this story, you can find all the information you need to watch all the acti
  
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• Chase Briscoe Is One Win Away From Joining Jeff Gordon in Southern 500 History

  04-09-2026 14:40 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Aug 31, 2025; Darlington, South Carolina, USA;NASCAR Cup Series driver Chase Briscoe (19) and his son Brooks celebrates his win at the Cookouts Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn ImagesBack-to-back Southern 500 victories have Chase Briscoe chasing a piece of Darlington history that only Jeff Gordon has accomplished before.Winning one Southern 500 is enough to put a driver’s name alongside some of NASCAR’s greatest. On Sunday, Chase Briscoe has a ch
  
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• NASCAR Qualifying Order This Weekend at Darlington: Cup Series Qualifying Info for Cook Out Southern 500

  04-09-2026 14:14 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectSunday night’s Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway is the first race in NASCAR’s The Chase for the Cup Series. It adds to the importance of Cup Series qualifying on Saturday, with starting positions potentially going to influence who is the eventual champion.Let’s take a look at the NASCAR qualifying order this weekend at Darlington for the Cup Series. You can find info on Cup Series qualifying further below.Related: NASCAR Weekend Schedu
  
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• Tom Cruise's teammate or rival? NASCAR drivers pitch for 'Days of Thunder' sequel

  04-09-2026 14:04 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  CHARLOTTE, N.C. — There isn’t another active NASCAR driver that has a list of film and television credits as long and as diverse as Ryan Blaney.The mustached driver of the No. 12 Ford for Team Penske has been in racing movies like “Cars 3” and “Logan Lucky,” but he’s also popped up in roles on television shows like “Taken,” “Magnum P.I.,” and as a voice in the animated “Spider-Man.” Back in June, ahead of NASCAR’
  
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• Carson Hocevar on 'fun' 2026 campaign entering The Chase: 'We're playing with house money'

  04-09-2026 11:09 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  CHARLOTTE, N.C. — No momentum? No problem for Carson Hocevar.The lightning rod of the NASCAR Cup Series enters as the No. 12 seed in The Chase presented by Mobil 1 ahead of Sunday’s opener at Darlington Raceway for the Cook Out Southern 500 (5 p.m. ET, USA Network, HBO Max, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).MORE: Chase standings | Darlington scheduleHocevar made The Chase without a worry, but a dismal stretch of results has his No. 77 Spire Motorsports team fighting a far more uphill
  
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• Analysis: Does Denny Hamlin still need to win a championship?

  04-09-2026 11:09 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  The question dogging Denny Hamlin for virtually the entirety of his NASCAR career — When will he finally win the Cup Series championship? — has been surprisingly supplanted by another.Why does it even matter if he does?Considering the notion now might seem odd.Hamlin will enter the 2026 Chase presented by Mobil 1 as the top seed and the unquestioned title favorite.With the demise of the elimination playoffs that denied him the grand prize several times (most cruelly last year, when h
  
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• Analysis: What opening Chase race trends say about championship aspirations

  04-09-2026 11:08 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  The goal over the next 10 weeks is simple — accumulate the most points to win the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series championship.But with the return of The Chase presented by Mobil 1, where eliminations, rounds and a winner-take-all finale are a thing of the past, this year will require teaching new dogs some old tricks.No. 1 seed Denny Hamlin and fellow Chase competitor Joey Logano are the only drivers with experience in the first iteration of The Chase from 2004-2013, and neither was successful in
  
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• Kurt Busch talks grief with CNN's Anderson Cooper and the loss of brother Kyle

  04-09-2026 07:35 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Motorsport photoNASCAR legend Kurt Busch recently joined CNN anchor Anderson Cooper on his podcast, All There Is, which explores themes of loss and grief. They spoke for nearly 30 minutes about his brother Kyle -- the winningest driver in NASCAR national series history -- who died tragically at the age of 41 earlier this year.It was an emotional interview, with Kurt struggling to hold back tears as he remembered racing with his brother, the sudden nature of his passing, and dealin
  
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• Southern 500 Preview: NASCAR’s Chase Begins at Darlington

  04-09-2026 06:10 via sports.yahoo.com
  
  Photo by: Greg AtkinsThe NASCAR Cup Series is officially entering championship mode.After 26 races of regular season competition, the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Chase begins Sunday at one of the toughest tracks on the schedule: Darlington Raceway. The Cook Out Southern 500 will serve as the opening race of the 10 race championship battle, putting 16 playoff drivers under the microscope from the moment the green flag flies.The race is scheduled for Sunday, September 6, at 5 p.m. ET and will be broadc
  
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