Nascar news

• The Chase: Winners, Losers of the New NASCAR Championship Format

  13-01-2026 16:32 via sports.yahoo.com
  Peter Casey-USA TODAY SportsNASCAR delivered the news everyone around the sport had been waiting years to here, the old single-race championship is gone and “The Chase” is back for the 2026 season. Fans, drivers, racing legends and reports are all celebrating the new changes coming for the 2026 season and beyond, but not everyone will come out a winner from this move.Let’s dive into the winners and losers from the new NASCAR championship format.Winner: Denny HamlinGary A. Vasqu
  
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• Starting lineup for the 2026 Daytona 500

  13-02-2026 04:25 via sports.yahoo.com
  NASCAR has set the starting lineup for the 2026 Daytona 500, which pole-sitter Kyle Busch will lead to the green flag in search of his first victory in the Cup Series season opener.Chase Briscoe will start second.After a win in each of Thursday night's qualifying races, Joey Logano (starting third) and Chase Elliott (fourth) will comprise the second row.William Byron, who is trying to become the first driver with three consecutive Daytona 500 victories, will start 39th in the 41-car field.Here's
  
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• Daytona 500: Joey Logano and Chase Elliott win Duel qualifying races as Casey Mears and Anthony Alfredo race their way in

  13-02-2026 04:23 via sports.yahoo.com
  Chase Elliott and Joey Logano won the two Daytona Duel races ahead of the Daytona 500.Logano won the first Duel while Elliott got the checkered flag in the second race. Casey Mears got into the Daytona 500 on the final lap after Corey LaJoie and Chandler Smith were each caught in late passes.With 39 of the 45 drivers attempting the race locked in via charters (36 drivers), qualifying speed Wednesday night in pole qualifying (Justin Allgaier and Corey Heim) and a NASCAR-issued provisional for wel
  
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• Daytona 500 starting lineup after Daytona Duel. NASCAR season awaits

  13-02-2026 04:20 via sports.yahoo.com
  We now know who's in and who's out, and among the in-crowd, we know where they'll line up Sunday to start the 68th Daytona 500. Thursday night's 150-mile Duels settled things among those without automatic entry. Four drivers and their teams loaded the haulers for the lonely ride home. On the other hand, 41 drivers, cars and teams remain for the Great American Race, which can either make a new legend or cement one.Here's how they'll line up for the first of at least 200 laps Sunday afternoon.Sund
  
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• Chase Elliot wins Duel #2 as an emotional Alfredo locks into Daytona 500

  13-02-2026 04:17 via sports.yahoo.com
  Motorsport photoAfter a wildly chaotic Duel #1, things were far calmer in the second Duel qualifying race. Chase Elliott captured the checkered flag in the No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, followed by Carson Hocevar, Kyle Larson, Michael McDowell, and Christopher Bell.The two Hendrick and Spire cars up front worked closely together to control the finish, and none of them made a move on each other until the finish line was in sight."A great way to get the blood pumping for sure on a Thursday
  
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• Who won NASCAR Daytona Duels? Duel 1 winner is Joey Logano, plus full results

  13-02-2026 04:08 via sports.yahoo.com
  Joey Logano won the Daytona 500 Duel No. 1 in overtime on Feb. 12, the first of two qualifying races for the NASCAR Cup Series opener on Feb. 16 at Daytona International Speedway.It was Logano's fourth Duel win. He will go for his second Daytona 500 victory on Sunday.Ryan Blaney was second, Austin Dillon was third.Ryan Preece, who led 38 laps, finished ninth.Here are the NASCAR Cup Series Daytona 500 Duel 1 results from Feb. 12:Daytona 500 duels results: Duel 1 finishing order1. Joey Logano
  
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• Who won NASCAR Daytona Duels? Duel 2 winner is Chase Elliott, plus full results

  13-02-2026 04:05 via sports.yahoo.com
  Chase Elliott won the Daytona 500 Duel No. 2 on Feb. 12, the second of two qualifying races for the NASCAR Cup Series opener on Feb. 16 at Daytona International Speedway.It was Elliott's third career win in the Duels.Carson Hocevar was second, and 2025 NASCAR Cup champion Kyle Larson was third in the caution-free race.Anthony Alfredo finished 18th in the No. 62 Beard Motorsports Chevrolet to earn an open spot in the Daytona 500.Joey Logano won the first Duel. He will go for his second Daytona 50
  
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• Daytona Duels 2026 results: Joey Logano, Chase Elliott claim wins in Daytona 500 qualifying races

  13-02-2026 03:55 via sports.yahoo.com
  Daytona Duels 2026 results: Joey Logano, Chase Elliott claim wins in Daytona 500 qualifying races originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Cup Series calendar kicks off in earnest with Daytona Duels. It's a welcome sight for NASCAR fans. After all, it indicates that the greatest spectacle in stock car racing -- the Daytona 500 -- is on the horizon.Kyle Busch and Chase Briscoe embraced the spotlight during Wednesday's qualifying se
  
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• “That One’s on Me”: Noah Gragson Owns Up to 2026 Daytona 500 Qualifying Mistake

  13-02-2026 03:01 via sports.yahoo.com
  Feb 11, 2026; Daytona Beach, Florida, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Noah Gragson (4) during qualifying for the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway | Credits- Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn ImagesNoah Gragson recently learned that old habits die hard. His qualifying time at Daytona on Wednesday was wiped after he forgot about the new rule placed by NASCAR that bars drivers from placing a hand on the window net.At superspeedway tracks like Daytona, Atlanta, and Talladega, drivers had made it seco
  
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• Casey Mears makes Daytona 500 after Corey Lajoie final-lap crash in NASCAR Daytona duels

  13-02-2026 02:43 via sports.yahoo.com
  Casey Mears was a lap down with four laps to go, but made the Daytona 500 field anyway in NASCAR Daytona Duel No. 1 on Feb. 12 at Daytona International Speedway.Mears got his lap back via a free pass after a late caution ahead of an overtime restart, then took advantage of Corey Lajoie's final-lap crash to become the top open car finisher and lock into the Daytona 500.Casey Mears! What an effort! pic.twitter.com/MqwdrH3cjs— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) February 13, 2026Mears, driving in the
  
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• Joey Logano wins Duel #1 as Mears full-throttles into wreck to make the Daytona 500

  13-02-2026 02:39 via sports.yahoo.com
  Motorsport photoThe first Duel at Daytona ended in dramatic fashion. Joey Logano captured the checkered flag in a 1-2 finish for Team Penske, but all eyes were on the battle to make the Daytona 500.Looking at the open cars, Casey Mears had spun in an earlier incident, and Chander Smith suffered damage in another wreck. That cleared the way for Corey LaJoie to make the race, but he got turned on the final lap in a multi-car melee.In a scene straight out of Days of Thunder, Mears did not lift, dri
  
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• Bubba Wallace wrecked from lead in NASCAR Duels late multi-car crash

  13-02-2026 02:35 via sports.yahoo.com
  After taking the lead in the Daytona Duel No. 1, Bubba Wallace spun out, bringing out the second caution flag in the 60-lap race at Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 12.Wallace, who had aggressively overtaken Joey Logano for the lead coming off turn 2, avoided contact and only had to take tires during the caution. The flaps on Wallace's No. 23 Toyota Camry prevented it from flipping.Austin Dillon, Chandler Smith, Chris Buecher, William Byron were also involved in the crash.The crash forced
  
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• Jenson Button reveals Ross Brawn’s warning about becoming Lewis Hamilton’s team-mate

  13-02-2026 00:51 via sports.yahoo.com
  Motorsport photoFormer Formula 1 driver Jenson Button has described his time as Lewis Hamilton's team-mate as the new challenge he needed after winning the drivers' championship.Button joined the seven-time champion at McLaren in 2010, and while his former boss Ross Brawn advised against the move to the Woking outfit, the 46-year-old relished the challenge of beating Hamilton in the same machinery."Yes, I was team-mates with Lewis for three years. When I left Brawn in 2009 as a world champion, I
  
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• Is NASCAR going to let Garrett Mitchell be Cleetus McFarland?

  13-02-2026 00:30 via sports.yahoo.com
  Motorsport photoThere is no way that NASCAR is going to let Garrett Mitchell just use a made-up name for his Truck Series debut on Friday night, right?As it turns out, it was very much a tug-of-war between the Sanctioning Body and the popular YouTuber and amateur racer who goes by the name ‘Cleetus McFarland.’ NASCAR says there is no clearly defined policy for licensing purposes but they were not just going to let him completely use his fictional name either.But ‘McFarland&rsqu
  
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• Tony Stewart Jokes After Being Told to Park Behind NASCAR Hauler

  13-02-2026 00:11 via sports.yahoo.com
  During his NASCAR career, Tony Stewart was no stranger to the NASCAR hauler. There were many times when Stewart had to go to the hauler and get his talking to, punishment, penalty, and other such consequences. Tony Stewart was on the track today for Truck Series practice. Shortly after pulling back into the garage area, he was told to park behind the NASCAR hauler. At first, it felt like he was back in a familiar position, but he wasn't even sure what he had done. Well, turns out, it was a littl
  
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• Frankie Muniz Recalls Being 'One of the Last' People to Speak to NASCAR Legend Dale Earnhardt Before Fatal 2001 Crash

  12-02-2026 23:50 via sports.yahoo.com
  Frankie Muniz in 'We've Lost Dale Earnhardt: 25 Years Later' (left); Dale Earnhardt in 2001. Courtesy of FOX SportsNEED TO KNOWFrankie Muniz is looking back on meeting NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt Sr. on the day of his fatal crash at the Daytona 500Muniz, who was 15 years old at the time and starring on Malcom in the Middle, was tapped to be the race's grand marshalYears later, the actor would go on the compete at Daytona himself, recently securing a 10th place finish at the famous racewayOn Feb
  
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• Tony Stewart returns to NASCAR in rare media form

  12-02-2026 23:46 via sports.yahoo.com
  Motorsport photoFor the briefest of moments, Tony Stewart is back in NASCAR, and it sounded like he never left.The three-time Cup Series champion is returning to the Craftsman Truck Series in a one-off appearance at Daytona International Speedway to commemorate the return of RAM and he was in rare form indeed.'Smoke' ribbed the media and scoffed at NASCAR officials who earned his scorn since his departure from the industry but also showed the softer side that has emerged in recent years as a hus
  
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• Daytona Duels 2026 live updates, results, highlights from Daytona 500 qualifying races

  12-02-2026 23:20 via sports.yahoo.com
  Daytona Duels 2026 live updates, results, highlights from Daytona 500 qualifying races originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Cup Series calendar kicks off in earnest with Daytona Duels. It's a welcome sight for NASCAR fans. After all, it indicates that the greatest spectacle in stock car racing -- the Daytona 500 -- is on the horizon.Kyle Busch and Chase Briscoe embraced the spotlight during Wednesday's qualifying session, burs
  
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• Don't Expect A Full-Blown NASCAR Comeback For Tony Stewart

  12-02-2026 22:27 via sports.yahoo.com
  Tony Stewart has shut down any rumors that he's planning an expanded return to the NASCAR garage. | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn ImagesDAYTONA BEACH, Florida -- No, Tony Stewart is not mounting a NASCAR comeback. For those thinking that was the reasoning behind the 54-year-old living legend's decision to compete in Friday night's NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Fresh From Florida 250 at Daytona International Speedway, Stewart reiterated in a media availability on Thursday that the start behind the wheel
  
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• From YouTuber to NASCAR driver: Cleetus McFarland expands his racing resume at Daytona

  12-02-2026 22:02 via sports.yahoo.com
  DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Garrett Mitchell is better known as “Cleetus McFarland” to his millions of followers gained over the years as a racing influencer. He's pretty much always been called a YouTuber, until he was out to dinner last week when a fan stopped by and referred to him as a NASCAR driver.It was the first time anyone has given McFarland that title.“I’ve been called a YouTuber forever,” McFarland told The Associated Press on Thursday. “I was
  
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• Tony Stewart Brushes off Talking to NASCAR President Steve O'Donnell

  12-02-2026 21:56 via sports.yahoo.com
  With Tony Stewart racing in NASCAR again, is there any chance of confrontation between him and the sport's leadership? Let's not forget, Richard Childress wasn't the only person named in texts and messages between executives when it all was brought out in court. NASCAR executives expressed concern over Tony Stewart's SRX Racing series. They more or less said they wanted to end the series to prevent their drivers and team owners from going over there. It seemed that NASCAR felt legitimately threa
  
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• Smoke returns: Tony Stewart set for Daytona Trucks Series debut

  12-02-2026 21:52 via sports.yahoo.com
  DAYTONA BEACH — Tony Stewart built a Hall of Fame career — and a fiercely loyal following — by racing anything, anytime, anywhere.From midgets to Indy cars, from sprint cars to stock cars, Stewart was at home behind the wheel. But at 54, with three NASCAR Cup Series championships and 49 wins, he still had something on his racing bucket list.On Friday night, he plans to check it off.Stewart will make his return — and Craftsman Truck Series debut at Daytona International Sp
  
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• Tony Stewart Announces Final Decision On Daytona 500 Plans

  12-02-2026 21:49 via sports.yahoo.com
  It's been 11 years since Tony Stewart revved his engine at Daytona in February. With the four-time NASCAR champion slated to compete there in the truck race this year, people are wondering if there's any chance he tries to compete in the Daytona 500 one more time.Unfortunately for the hopeful fans, the answer is a pretty resounding no. Speaking to the media on Thursday, Stewart said that his race with Kaulig Racing at Daytona in the truck series will be his only truck race of 2026. More importan
  
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• Dale Jr. Sets Expectations Straight as Jimmie Johnson Partners Up With Tom Brady& Co.

  12-02-2026 21:42 via sports.yahoo.com
  Dale Jr. and Tom Brady ©Dale Jr. and Tom BradyDespite Jimmie Johnson’s star power, Legacy Motor Club has yet to achieve success in the NASCAR Cup Series. The team’s statistics have been nothing better than average. Johnson realized this last year and made some smart investments, which, according to Dale Jr., could bear fruit this season.Dale Jr. analyzes Jimmie Johnson’s revised strategyDale Earnhardt Jr. recently discussed the situation for Legacy Motor Club and how Johns
  
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• Logano, Elliott win Duel races; Mears, Alfredo lock into Daytona 500

  12-02-2026 21:40 via sports.yahoo.com
  Joey Logano won the first of Thursday evening’s Duel qualifying races at Daytona International Speedway.The caution came out on the final lap as the pack roared down the backstretch toward Turn 3 as Corey LaJoie spun and crashed into the outside retaining wall. LaJoie was one of three Open drivers looking to qualify their way into Sunday’s Daytona 500 in the first Duel, but will miss the show as Casey Mears, who hit the rear-end of Daniel Suárez’s No. 7 Spire Motorsports
  
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• Joey Logano wins first Duel race; Mears locks into Daytona 500

  12-02-2026 21:40 via sports.yahoo.com
  Joey Logano won the first of Thursday evening’s Duel qualifying races at Daytona International Speedway.The caution came out on the final lap as the pack roared down the backstretch toward Turn 3 as Corey LaJoie spun and crashed into the outside retaining wall. LaJoie was one of three Open drivers looking to qualify their way into Sunday’s Daytona 500 in the first Duel, but will miss the show as Casey Mears, who hit LaJoie in the incident, kept his No. 66 Garage 66 Ford straight and
  
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• Casey Mears, Anthony Alfredo seal Daytona 500 starting spots in Duel qualifying races

  12-02-2026 21:38 via sports.yahoo.com
  DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Casey Mears and Anthony Alfredo raced their way into the Daytona 500, securing the final two starting spots Thursday night in the Duel qualifying races.Mears scraped his way through an overtime stack-up to an eighth-place finish behind winner Joey Logano in the opening America 250 Florida Duel race, putting the No. 66 Garage 66 Ford into the 41-car field for Sunday’s Daytona 500 (2:30 p.m. ET, FOX, HBO Max, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). Alfredo clinched in
  
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• NASCAR Announces Extension with Coca-Cola, Names BodyArmor Official Sports Drink

  12-02-2026 21:37 via sports.yahoo.com
  One of the most iconic partnerships in motorsports, NASCAR and Coca-Cola, will continue on for the foreseeable future. In addition, NASCAR has named BodyArmor as the official sports drink of the sport. That's a big deal. It has been a long time since the Gatorade/Powerade wars of the 2000s. Now, NASCAR turns to BodyArmor as the official sports drink of the sport. BodyArmor is also a Team Penske sponsor, primarily with Ryan Blaney. Of course, the deal with Coca-Cola is good news. Having a top tie
  
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• Nascar driver caught out by new track rule: ‘I feel like an idiot’

  12-02-2026 21:27 via sports.yahoo.com
  Noah Gragson has been caught red-handed by NASCAR.He became the first driver busted during Daytona 500 qualifying for violating a new rule banning drivers from sticking their hands out the opening of the window during the qualifying run.Gragson's time in the No. 4 Ford for Front Row Motorsports was thrown out Wednesday because he used his left hand in an attempt to deflect air and gain an advantage on the track.“I completely forgot about that rule so that one's on me,” Gragson said.
  
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• Daytona 500 Odds 2026: Updated Lines, Favorites & Best Value Bets

  12-02-2026 21:15 via sports.yahoo.com
  Daytona 500 odds are on the move as we close in on the start of the 2026 NASCAR season, with the full starting grid to be determined in Thursday night's Duels at Daytona.The February 15 event, sometimes described as the Super Bowl of stock car racing, sees a wide-open betting board, with Denny Hamlin among the more popular choices.Let's take a look at the latest NASCAR Cup Series odds to win the Daytona 500.Daytona 500 oddsDriverDenny Hamlin<<+900>>Ryan Blaney<<+1000>>Wil
  
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