DARLINGTON, S.C. — Contrary to the reactions of most drivers who drive out of the Darlington Raceway garage area to run a first lap on the old track, Chase Briscoe remembers being almost delighted.
“Honestly, I loved this place from the first laps I ran around it,” Briscoe said Saturday on the eve of the Goodyear 400 (Sun., 3 p.m. ET, FS1, HBO Max, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). “I don’t know, just something clicked right away. I still had a lot to learn my first time coming here, but the style of racing here reminded me so much of sprint car racing, where you’re constantly changing what you’re doing.
“You’re always searching and trying to find that little bit more grip. You go to some of these race tracks and you’re pretty repetitive. Like you just do the same thing time in, time out. Here, you don’t ever run two laps the same. Every lap your car is just changing so much, so you’re always adapting, and that’s what I kind of loved about this place from the get-go, and then you just add the fact that you’re sliding all over the place.”
Darlington loved Briscoe back. He finished a solid sixth in 2019 in his first O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race at the track. In his first Cup race, in 2021, he was 11th. He learned quickly, and he enters Sunday’s marathon as the winner of two of the past three Cup races at the track. In winning the Southern 500 last year, Briscoe led 309 laps, the most laps led in a Darlington race since Dale Earnhardt ran a dominant race in 1986, leading 335 laps on the way to a win.
Darlington is Briscoe’s top track in the category of laps led. He has been out front over the speedway’s 1.366 miles a total of 338 laps. Second on his laps-led list is Martinsville Speedway at 142.
“Really, from the first time I came here, I was like, man, this is one of my favorite places, and then as the success came in, it obviously got closer and closer to the top,” Briscoe said. “So yeah, I’ve always loved Darlington. It’s been a very influential place in my career and really my life in general.”
Briscoe is expected to be among the favorites in Sunday’s race, although the Darlington debut of this year’s new high-horsepower package has added a level of uncertainty to what might transpire across 400 hard miles. Will those who have figured out Darlington be in better shape, or could the new landscape lift up those who previously have struggled?
“I think there’s a probability that good guys miss it and some of the guys that are more mid-pack nail it and find the way forward,” said Tyler Reddick, three times a winner this year but 0-for-13 at Darlington. “But I think it will be the players you expect. I don’t think it’s going to be someone that’s bad here, figuring it out.”
And what makes the good guys good?
“It’s their feel,” Reddick said. “Their kind of driver understanding and their senses. This is a place that wears the tire out, and you just have to make adjustments constantly. You feel like the drivers that can really keep up with that are really good. But you’re not going to be able to lean too much on past experiences. It’s kind of like starting over.”
Briscoe is among those who enter Sunday with some wonder about conditions and results.
“I think that it’s such an unknown right now with what this thing is going to drive like that nobody really knows,” he said. “I would think certainly the guys that are good on the long runs and are good when the car is slipping and sliding around, those would be the guys I would think would be good just because I think that’s how the cars are going to drive. So, it will be interesting to see.”
Briscoe needs a boost. Through five races, he has three finishes of 36th or worse and is mired in 26th position in points, one of six 2025 playoff drivers who are outside the Chase qualification window.
Three teams failed pre-race NASCAR Cup Series technical inspection twice at Darlington Raceway on Saturday, leading to the ejection of crew members.
The No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet, the No. 17 RFK Racing Ford and the No. 66 Garage 66 Ford each failed to pass inspection on their second time through inspection ahead of practice and qualifying for Sunday’s Goodyear 400 (3 p.m. ET, FS1, HBO Max, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
As a result, each team lost the ability to choose its pit stall for Sunday’s 293-lap race. Additionally, No. 9 car chief Matt Barndt, No. 17 car chief Joshua Sisco and No. 66 car chief Dylan Roberts were ejected from the race weekend.
Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 9 Hendrick Chevrolet, enters the race weekend fifth in the NASCAR Cup Series standings after five races, 87 points behind series leader Tyler Reddick. Chris Buescher, driver of the No. 17 RFK Racing Ford, is ninth in the standings, 109 markers behind Reddick. Timmy Hill, driver of the No. 66 Ford, is competing on a part-time basis and will make his first Cup start of the 2026 season, the 145th of his career.
After a two-race West Coast swing, the NASCAR Cup Series and O’Reilly Auto Parts Series return to the East Coast for a trek to the historic Darlington Raceway, while the Craftsman Truck Series returns from a two-week hiatus at the South Carolina oval. Bookmark this page and come back often for your race-week essentials — from links to qualifying order, average practice speeds, results and more.
NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Sport Clips Haircuts VFW Help a Hero 200 at Darlington Raceway on Saturday (5:30 p.m. ET, The CW, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Buckle Up South Carolina 200 at Darlington Raceway on Friday (7:30 p.m. ET, FS1, FOX One, NRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
DARLINGTON, S.C. – There were two consolations for Kaden Honeycutt in Friday night’s Buckle Up South Carolina 200 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Darlington Raceway.
Honeycutt, who has put together one of the strongest starts of the Truck season, finished fourth Friday, and that was an item to place in the plus column after an evening of hard racing among the race’s front pack. And, as Honeycutt mentioned several times after the race, he had the best truck.
Honeycutt needed positives to hang his helmet on after a night that seemed to hold the promise of his first Truck Series victory. Earlier in the day, he had scored the first pole position of his short Truck Series career, and there was anticipation that he would be a force when the lights came on for the 200-mile race. In the end, he watched teammate Corey Heim surge to the win on the final overtime lap after Cup Series visitors Ross Chastain and Carson Hocevar showed their strength in the top five over the closing miles of the race. In Honeycutt’s view, Hocevar and Chastain went overboard in pushing their way through.
“We definitely had the best truck tonight,” Honeycutt said. “Just, when you’ve got nothing to lose and you come here and race in our series, you just do whatever you want. This is disappointing for sure. I’ve been on the verge of winning one of these races and just can’t close it, just from idiotic stuff from other people getting into me. So, it is what it is.”
He started on the outside alongside Chastain at the front on the final green flag but didn’t have a shot at taking the lead. “The top just wasn’t very good going in,” he said. “The bottom was preferred. I just couldn’t get going, spun the tires really hard. I did what I could and managed that and maximized what I could there.”
Honeycutt said both Chastain and Hocevar punted him in the race’s final segment. Still, he had a shot in the two-lap overtime but lost to Heim, who had fresher tires, and faded behind the aggressive runs of Chastain, who took second, and third-place Christian Eckes.
“By the time the 5 (Heim) got by me and then the 91 (Eckes), I pretty much committed to helping the 5 and see if he could get up there and win the race,” Honeycutt said. “I don’t know how he did, but he did, so great job for Toyota and everyone at Tricon.”
Honeycutt led a race-high 59 laps, his career high, and won the second stage.
Still, missing a good chance at a first win hurt.
“This is what happens when people fence each other,” he said. “That’s what happens. You feel like they have nothing to lose and you have everything. What the hell do they care about, right? I understand racing for a win, but they knew I had the best truck, so they did what they had to do to take me out of it. I’m just really upset that I haven’t been able to close one.”
Chastain had a different version of the closing segment.
“When I pushed Carson through, I pushed another Chevy, for sure,” he said. “On the restart when he got inside of him, Kaden missed the bottom into (Turn) 1 or gave Carson the bottom, and I pushed Carson through a couple restarts before the end. Yeah, I might’ve got him (Honeycutt) off of (Turn) 2, but not sure. I’ll have to go back and look, and if I did, I mean, definitely didn’t mean to. That guy’s great.”
Through four Truck Series races this season, Honeycutt has finishes of eighth, 21st, fifth and fourth. His Darlington finish moved him up four spots in the Truck Series standings to second place, 33 points behind series leader Chandler Smith.
DARLINGTON, S.C. — Same guy. Different truck. Same result.
Driving the No. 5 Tricon Garage Toyota on a part-time basis, Corey Heim shocked race leader Ross Chastain with a last-lap pass and collected his second straight victory at Darlington Raceway in Friday night’s Buckle Up South Carolina 200.
Last year, the No. 11 Tricon Tundra carried Heim to a record 12 victories and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship.
This year, the No. 5 truck carried him to a two-overtime win in his second series start of the season, as Heim is running a cobbled-together schedule of Truck Series, O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and Cup Series races.
Heim also collected the $50,000 Triple Truck Challenge bonus for the victory. Should he run again on April 3 at Rockingham Speedway, he would be eligible for a $150,000 prize available to a driver who wins two races in “The Trip.”
Heim’s overtime victory on Friday night was unlikely enough, and it boiled down to strategy. On Lap 145, with three laps left in regulation, Heim brought his Tundra to pit road for scuffed tires that were five laps fresher than those of Chastain and other frontrunners.
Restarting 15th on the first attempt at overtime, Heim gained six spots before the ninth caution for a wreck involving Jake Garcia, Tyler Ankrum, Corey LaJoie and Stewart Friesen.
Heim was ninth for the final restart and used his tires to excellent advantage, making the pass for the win through Turns 3 and 4 on the final lap.
“I’m out of breath, for sure,” said Heim, who led three times for 28 laps and picked up his 24th win in 91 Truck Series starts. “Man, we had a set of scuffs laying, and they were five laps fresher than everyone else’s. It was worth a shot. I didn’t think we could win from where we were at.
“I felt like I made all the right moves. I had it three-wide coming to the white (flag) and bombed on in there on Ross (into Turn 3). I was shocked he gave me the bottom like that with fresher tires.”
Chastain, who led 35 laps and controlled both overtime restarts, thought he had the race won.
“I have no idea what just happened,” said Chastain, who is running races in all three NASCAR series this weekend. “We did so much right… I think that’s on us as a whole that we didn’t catch that.
“Of course, I would have run the bottom if I thought he would have been close, but I thought I got a good restart. Bummer.”
Kaden Honeycutt, who won his first career pole earlier in the day, led a race-high 59 laps in the No. 11 Tricon Garage truck Heim drove last year. Honeycutt restarted second and chose the top lane for both overtimes, but faded to fourth after the final restart.
“That last restart, the top lane wasn’t preferred,” Honeycutt said. “It was like that all night, obviously. The bottom was really good. I tried not to spin the tires as much as I possibly could…
“By the time the 5 (Heim) got by me and the 91 (third-place finisher Christian Eckes) was in front of him, I pretty much just committed to helping (Heim) and see if he could get up there and win the race. I don’t know how in the world he did, but he did.”
Connor Mosack finished fifth, followed by Christopher Bell, Grant Enfinger, Gio Ruggiero, Daniel Hemric and William Sawalich.
Carson Hocevar used a sharp restart with 20 laps remaining to dive left on then-leader Kaden Honeycutt entering Turn 1, charging his No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet to the lead for the first time all night. But a flat right-front tire with four laps remaining sent Hocevar into the Turn 1 wall and into a spin, ending his chances of victory and necessitating the final caution flag of regulation.
A crash at Lap 121 created drama for three prominent Truck Series regulars. Layne Riggs entered Turn 1 side-by-side with Ty Majeski and attempted to slide in front of Majeski’s front bumper. Riggs’ No. 34 Ford was not clear, however, sending both trucks hard into the outside wall. Following them into the corner was Andrés Pérez, who slid into Majeski’s truck before hitting the barrier himself. Majeski and Pérez were both unable to continue, finishing 31st and 32nd, respectively.
Ben Rhodes entered Friday’s race second in points but exited early after a hard hit into the Turn 1 SAFER barrier at Lap 3. Rhodes and Ankrum made slight contact coming off Turn 4 to complete Lap 2, which bent Rhodes’ left-front fender toward his tire. That damage sliced his left-front tire entering the corner, sending Rhodes into the wall and ending his day. After a last-place finish, Rhodes drops to seventh in the standings, 53 points behind series leader Chandler Smith.
Chandler Smith ran 17th but left Darlington with a 33-point lead over second-place Honeycutt in the series standings.
Note: Post-race inspection in the Craftsman Truck Series garage concluded without issue, confirming Heim as the Darlington winner.
Four entries for Friday’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Darlington Raceway failed pre-race inspection twice, resulting in the ejection of their respective truck chiefs.
Three of Kaulig Racing’s five Ram entries were among the quartet of trucks dinged during Friday’s inspection process, including the Nos. 10, 12 and 25 machines driven respectively by AJ Allmendinger, Brenden Queen and Corey LaJoie. Also found in violation was the No. 1 Tricon Garage Toyota piloted this weekend by William Sawalich.
Due to Friday’s inspection failures, the following truck chiefs were ejected from the event, and their teams will lose pit-stall selection for the series’ next race at Rockingham Speedway on April 3:
No. 1 truck chief Bayley Currey
No. 10 truck chief Ethan Hutchens
No. 12 truck chief Ryan Richmond
No. 25 truck chief Donald Colwell
Additionally, two Team Reaume entries — the No. 22 Ford driven by Josh Reaume and the No. 33 Ford driven by Frankie Muniz — will start from the rear after making unapproved adjustments after practice and qualifying.
The Truck Series will compete in the Buckle Up South Carolina 200 on Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET on FS1, NRN Radio and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Editor’s Note: Keep tabs on this page for lineup advice following qualifying, including changes you should consider.
Fantasy Update: An intriguing practice session where lap times drastically fell off was topped by Tyler Reddick over the long haul. The No. 45 Toyota blistered the field — and his right-rear quarter panel — in qualifying, backing up his quick pace from practice. The primary changes in this lineup for Sunday’s Goodyear 400 are adding Bubba Wallace and Brad Keselowski into the rotation, replacing William Byron and Chase Briscoe. Qualifying toward the front was of the essence for Keselowski, and with a fifth-place starting spot, he is my new 36 for 36 pick.
My lineup: Tyler Reddick, Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin, Bubba Wallace, Brad Keselowski. Garage: Chris Buescher.
Anticipation levels are high for this weekend’s Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway. With Darlington on the list of venues using the higher horsepower, lower downforce aerodynamic package in 2026, multiple drivers believe tire falloff could exceed four seconds throughout the course of a run. Chase Briscoe said last week that he wrecked nearly every sim session he ran. All of that is going to make it challenging for fantasy!
Returning to Fastlane this year is my weekly NASCAR 36 for 36 pick, where you can play along. It’s a season-long points battle introduced in 2024 where strategy is the primary emphasis. With 36 chartered cars and 36 races on the 2026 schedule, players can choose each car once for the duration of the season.
Driver:Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 11 Toyota Selections remaining: 8 Comment: When it comes to managing tires, few drivers in the modern era are better than Hamlin. The 61-time Cup winner is notorious for taking care of his equipment and pouncing at the end of runs. Aside from his five victories, his 7.9 average finish is the best all-time among drivers with more than two starts.
Driver:Chase Briscoe, Joe Gibbs Racing, No. 19 Toyota Selections remaining: 10 Comment: Briscoe just needs a clean Darlington after an erratic start to the season, placing 26th in the regular-season championship standings. The good news is, Briscoe has won two of the last three Darlington races and put on a masterclass last fall by leading 309 of 367 laps.
Driver:William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports, No. 24 Chevrolet Selections remaining: 9 Comment: It was the spring Darlington race last year that Byron nearly perfected, leading the opening 243 laps from the pole. Ultimately, he dropped to second, one of his five finishes of eighth or better in the last seven trips to South Carolina.
Alejandro Alvarez | NASCAR Digital Media
DRIVERS TO AVOID
Driver:Ryan Blaney, Team Penske, No. 12 Ford Selections remaining: 7 Comment: Darlington’s moniker of being the track “Too Tough to Tame” rings true for Blaney. In 18 attempts, he has a single top five finish and an average finish of 18.7. Three of his four Darlington top 10s have come in the last six races.
Driver:Joey Logano, Team Penske, No. 22 Ford Selections remaining: 8 Comment: Since nudging Byron out of the way for the win in the closing laps of the 2022 spring Darlington race, the numbers have gone downhill at the 1.33-mile, egg-shaped track for the three-time Cup champion. Logano has just one top 10 in the last six Darlington races and hasn’t led a single lap during that span.
Brittney Wilbur | NASCAR Digital Media
SLEEPERS OF THE WEEK
Driver:Brad Keselowski, RFK Racing, No. 6 Ford Selections remaining: 9 Comment: Broken leg or not, Keselowski is quietly posting consistent finishes, ranking 12th in the Cup Series standings. His lone win since becoming a team owner came in this race two years ago. In his last seven Darlington bids, he has six top-15 finishes, including four finishes of seventh or better.
Driver:Erik Jones, Legacy Motor Club, No. 43 Toyota Selections remaining: 10 Comment: Whenever Darlington is looming, Jones, a two-time Southern 500 winner, perks up. His six top-five and nine top-10 efforts at Darlington are his most at any race track. He finished third in last year’s Southern 500, with both Legacy Motor Club entries cracking the top five.
Alejandro Alvarez | NASCAR Digital Media
FEATURED MATCHUPS
Denny Hamlin vs. William Byron Pick: Hamlin Comment: This matchup has the potential to come down to the wire, as both drivers shine at Darlington. Hamlin gets the nod, though, as nobody in Cup history can touch his level of consistency at the “Lady in Black.”
Chase Elliott vs. Christopher Bell Pick: Bell Comment: Neither driver has reached Victory Lane at the Cup level at Darlington, but the No. 20 team has been close recently. Bell has a pair of third-place finishes in the last three Darlington races, while Elliott has two top-five finishes across the last 12 races here.
Ross Chastain vs. Daniel Suárez Pick: Chastain Comment: Bad blood between the former Trackhouse Racing teammates spilled into Las Vegas Motor Speedway last weekend and their strained relationship became more clear during the week. Chastain is normally a contender at Darlington, finishing 11th or better in five straight races here. Meanwhile, Suárez has one top 10 in 16 starts.
Brad Keselowski vs. Ty Gibbs Pick: Keselowski Comment: Gibbs is on the best stretch of finishes of his Cup career — three straight top fives for the first time in his career — but Keselowski is the pick. Sure, Gibbs finished runner-up here in 2024, but it was to Keselowski, who is a two-time Darlington victor.
MY LINEUP
Starting five: Denny Hamlin, Chase Briscoe, William Byron, Kyle Larson, Tyler Reddick. Garage: Chris Buescher
36 FOR 36
Pick: Erik Jones, Legacy Motor Club, No. 43 Toyota Comment: Bringing back the famed Petty blue livery for Darlington jumps Jones to the top of the list for best paint scheme of the weekend. That No. 43 car could surge toward the front of the field, as Darlington has historically been Jones’ best race track. He has three top 10s in his last seven tries while wheeling the famed No. 43 car, which includes winning the 2022 Southern 500.
Michael Bumgarner, Carson Haislip, Ryley Music, Chase Johnson and Penn Sauter are now set to embark on a season-long journey for the prestigious Kulwicki Cup, with each of them receiving $7,000 along with training across several fields. More than $30,000 will be distributed between the drivers who finish top three in the Kulwicki Cup standings.
Established in honor of 1992 NASCAR Cup Series champion Alan Kulwicki, who was killed in a plane crash the following year, the Kulwicki Driver Development Program has assisted drivers with their motorsports ambitions since 2014. The program accomplishes this by providing financial assistance along with resources in areas like networking, marketing and publicity.
The list of drivers who have won the Kulwicki Cup include Ty Fredrickson, Luke Fenhaus and 2023 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion Ty Majeski. Other notable Kulwicki Driver Development Program alums include Carson Kvapil, Cole Butcher, Evan Shotko, Derek Griffith and Kole Raz.
Each member of the current Kulwicki Driver Development Program possesses a unique story like the one Kulwicki experienced as he worked his way toward NASCAR’s top levels. Some are fresh off a track championship; others are continuing a family tradition. All seek to embody the same spirit and mindset that are now synonymous with Kulwicki’s legacy.
Below is a breakdown of the drivers who will participate in the Kulwicki Driver Development Program for the 2026 season.
Michael Bumgarner enters 2026 having won the last two Hickory Motor Speedway track championships. (Photo: Adam Fenwick/NASCAR)
Michael Bumgarner
Fresh off his second consecutive track championship at Hickory Motor Speedway, Michael Bumgarner’s 2026 is already off to a solid start.
A couple days after taking home Hickory’s Late Model Stock season-opener, Bumgarner was named as a finalist for the Kulwicki Driver Development Program. Already with momentum on his side, Bumgarner intends to capitalize on the opportunity with the Kulwicki Driver Development Program by putting together his best year to date.
Bumgarner considers Kulwicki the ideal role model for drivers with small operations; an underdog whose focus and resolved propelled him to the top of the NASCAR pedestal against the powerhouse organizations of his era.
“[Kulwicki’s] determination [with] a small team and a small budget he built from the ground up [was amazing],” Bumgarner said. “To reach the heights and accomplishments he did in the Cup Series with the same small group of guys is really inspiring in that way.
“Comparing it kind of to our small team and the success we’ve had, it really means a lot [to be part of the Kulwicki Driver Development Program].”
Bumgarner developed a passion for racing through his father Keith, who earned a track championship at Hickory back in 2005. Watching Keith excel at the historic track convinced Bumgarner to start a motorsports career of his own, a journey that would eventually see him work his way into Hickory’s premier Late Model Stock division.
Through every phase of that journey, Bumgarner has followed one key piece of advice from Keith: Live in the moment. While he strives to one day make it to one of NASCAR’s top three series, Bumgarner also wants to appreciate everything he is accomplishing now instead of staying too focused on the next step.
From Bumgarner’s perspective, being part of the Kulwicki Driver Development Program is only going to help reinforce that mindset. Not only does Bumgarner get to enjoy the resources provided by the program, but a top-three finish in the Kulwicki Cup standings and the accompanying rewards could be crucial toward more years of on-track success.
Expectations are high for Bumgarner as both a finalist for the Kulwicki Driver Development Program and as the reigning Hickory track champion. If he sticks to the values instilled into him by Keith, Bumgarner knows he can excel on both fronts and reward the faith so many people have in him.
“Out of 103 drivers that initially applied for the program, it really is special to be one of the drivers chosen,” Bumgarner said. “That’s a competitive application process, and the final five finalists are really stacked. It’s going to be hard [to get the Kulwicki Cup], but I’m thankful for the opportunity, and I hope it works out.”
Carson Haislip won the Late Model Stock title at Wake County Speedway in 2025 by winning 11 races. (Photo: Kulwicki Driver Development)
Carson Haislip
When Carson Haislip first started competing professionally in motorsports six years ago, he never imagined he would be in his current position.
The 2025 season at Wake County Speedway saw Haislip put together a dominant campaign in which he secured the track championship by winning 11 of the 18 races he entered. Haislip’s efficiency played a vital in his selection as one of five drivers chosen as finalists for the Kulwicki Driver Development Program.
Since Day 1, Haislip feels he has embodied all the characteristics shared by Kulwicki and many other competitors with limited resources. From Haislip’s perspective, strenuous effort off the track will always show up on track.
“The way [Kulwicki] went about his racing, it replicates the stuff we do,” Haislip said. “Working hard in the shop, making sure our stuff is really well maintained and making sure we show up to the track with a really good race car, that’s something he always did. He made sure he could get the best out of what he had. I feel like that’s something we do very well.”
Haislip’s career began two wheels instead of four, as he competed on dirt bikes during his youth. While attending Wake Christian Academy in Raleigh, Haislip grew curious about Wake County Speedway across the street after constantly hearing races Friday evenings. That convinced him and his dad to start attending the weekly events.
Haislip’s curiosity quickly morphed into a desire to start racing, with him and his dad eventually renting their first car. As time progressed, Haislip grew more comfortable around Wake County’s bullring layout, winning races in Bandoleros and Legends before working his way into the facility’s Late Model Stock class.
Nothing about Haislip’s journey to a Late Model Stock title at Wake County has been easy, but each challenge overcome served to bolster his confidence. While Haislip admits he can be hard on himself from a performance standpoint, those self critiques are a primary source of motivation he plans to always carry with him.
A more diverse schedule awaits Haislip in 2026, but he intends to keep improving on everything that worked for him at Wake County. Refining every aspect of his career is going to be a pertinent focus for Haislip, especially as a finalist for a driver development program named after one of NASCAR’s most inspirational underdogs.
“I want to mature more not only as a person, but as a driver,” Haislip said. “I want to push myself this year to have more consistent finishes, run up front in the big races. We don’t have to win everything, but I want to show people what we do have. [We’re not] a one-track team, we can go to other places and be just as good.
“I’m going to keep doing what I’m doing. [Kulwicki] and I represent each other well, so I want to support his program in the right way.”
After earning his first Late Model Stock victory at Langley Speedway last year, Ryley Music intends to put together an even stronger 2026. (Photo: Ted Malinowski/NASCAR)
Ryley Music
The grandson of Late Model Stock legend Phil Warren, Ryley Music always had a firm understanding of the fundamentals needed to excel in racing.
Music has methodically crafted a solid resume at Virginia’s Langley Speedway, the same track where Warren earned seven championships during his career. The accomplishments Music has accumulated include two titles in Langley’s Bandolero division along with his first Late Model Stock victory at the facility last year.
The time Music has spent around Warren helped him adopt a hands-on approach to racing like that of Alan Kulwicki. As a finalist for the Kulwicki Driver Development Program, Music wants to continue tallying victories against many of the best not only at Langley, but across the Late Model Stock discipline.
“It was impressive what [Kulwicki] was able to do at the top level against the smartest guys each and every week,” Music said. “I feel like it’s the same way with some of us local guys when we [do touring races]. We’re working our butts off in the shop, and you’re going up against those really smart guys like he was.
“How we run our program is probably a lot like how he ran his program.”
For all the accolades Warren obtained, Music said his grandfather has always encouraged him to approach his career in a different way. Music recalls Warren discussing how networking and self-marketing were not high priorities during his youth, as his focus was centered on staying one step ahead of his fellow competitors.
The social media presence Music possesses is an area that has garnered praise from Warren. Whether it involves a recap of the previous night’s performance or charitable activities, Music believes he and his family have excelled in building his brand and keeping fans up to date on where he is racing and the progress being made.
A key factor behind Music’s improvement is the group of people around him. Music got the chance to work with Brenden ‘Butterbean’ Queen while Warren served as his Late Model Stock crew chief, but he has also spent time with other stalwarts in the discipline like Peyton Sellers and Chad Bryant.
For Music, any way he can acquire knowledge and input can only make him a more refined driver. The Kulwicki Driver Development Program is another resource at Music’s disposal, one he intends to utilize so he can properly honor Kulwicki’s memory and make his own mark on Langley’s proud history.
“I at least want to double my win count from last year, which was only one.” Music said. “I feel like our race cars are really good this year from testing them, so I have a lot of confidence. This is a big special deal that I don’t really know how to explain. It’s big for somebody like me who never thought I’d be as far as I am already.”
A stellar rookie season for Chase Johnson in Div. I of the NASCAR Local Racing Series saw him earn a track title at Dominion Raceway and finish runner-up in national points. (Photo: Ted Malinowski/NASCAR)
Chase Johnson
The first full season for Chase Johnson in Division I of the NASCAR Local Racing Series far exceeded his own expectations.
Going into 2025 with a goal to simply gain experience, Johnson instead put together a stellar campaign at Dominion Raceway that saw him earn not only a track title, but also the Southeast Regional championship with 15 victories and 21 top fives. That efficiency also helped Johnson become Rookie of the Year at both the national and regional levels.
Now Johnson looks to build off a standout rookie season as a finalist for the Kulwicki Driver Development Program. With the blue-collar approach Johnson implements with his small team, he sees a lot of similarities between his journey and the one on which Alan Kulwicki embarked.
“I look at [Kulwicki] as a big role model,” Johnson said. “I’ve worked on my own with a lot of my race cars. It’s just my dad and a couple of guys we have in the race shop. We’re kind of like how he was, being an independent team and pretty much doing everything yourself. That’s how I really relate to him the most.”
Johnson also has plenty of influences in his family that helped mold his perspective on motorsports. His grandfather Cal competed during the 1950s and 60s, while Johnson’s father Eddie developed a reputation as a stalwart Late Model Stock driver with several track Virginia titles and two victories at Martinsville Speedway.
Patience is a quality Eddie and Johnson’s older brother Chris, a driver himself, have instilled into him throughout his brief career. By being calculative and staying composed, Johnson felt he was able to stay one step ahead of his competition at Dominion, which translated into him winning the track championship by 104 points.
A title defense at Dominion is on the agenda for Johnson in 2026, but he also intends to branch out more in a full-bodied stock car. Johnson’s planned schedule includes a handful of appearances at South Boston Speedway along with contesting the entire Virginia Triple Crown after attempting the final two legs last year.
Even though his program is small, Johnson believes his 2025 was evident of how determination can lead to success regardless of circumstances, just like Kulwicki did decades ago. Johnson is proud to be a part of the Kulwicki Driver Development Program and looks forward to putting together another strong campaign while under their banner.
“The goal is to try and win a Division I national title,” Johnson said. “We came about eight points short last year, and we think we’ve got a decent shot to win it this year. I want to represent [Kulwicki] well on and off the race track the best we can by doing everything we can to better ourselves and make the Kulwicki program look as best [as possible].”
The grandson of short track legend Jim Sauter and son of Johnny Sauter, Penn Sauter looks to carry on his family’s proud racing heritage. (Photo: Kulwicki Driver Development)
Penn Sauter
Having grown up in the Midwest, Penn Sauter is familiar with the impact Alan Kulwicki has on the region’s short-track community.
Kulwicki’s journey from the short tracks of Wisconsin to the top levels of NASCAR has inspired countless Midwest competitors that includes the Sauter family, whose members have raced for over seven decades. Penn is now carrying on that legacy at 16 years of age with a full slate of Super Late Model events planned for 2026.
Given his family’s own history with Kulwicki, Penn considers it both fitting and rewarding to be one of the finalists for the Kulwicki Driver Development Program.
“My grandpa [Jim] raced Kulwicki,” Penn said. “My dad [Johnny] sat on the hill some nights at Wisconsin [International Raceway] and watched Kulwicki. Being a guy from the Midwest, he took his little team to a NASCAR Cup [Series] championship. He just sounded like a good guy all around, and I’m honored to be a part of this. I’m striving to be more like him.”
Success has followed the Sauters in nearly all their racing ventures. Jim Sauter’s accomplishments include back-to-back ARTGO Challenge Series titles in 1981 and 1982, and Johnny Sauter earned a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series title in 2016 and has 27 combined victories between Trucks and the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series.
Penn’s uncles Jay and Tim Sauter also earned plenty of accolades during their respective racing careers. While he primarily leans on Johnny for input, Penn said the experience and knowledge Jay and Tim possess gives him the option to ask them for advice on setups or how to approach a certain race track.
The guidance from every member of his family has been crucial for Penn during his transition from running Pro Late Models at Dells Raceway Park to battling many of the best Super Late Model drivers from around the country. That process is ongoing, but Penn feels fortunate that he can travel around and learn from veterans with over a decade of experience.
Penn is approaching his busy schedule one race at a time as he and Johnny figure out how to maximize the speed of their cars. With the prestigious Kulwicki Cup on the line, Penn hopes he can take the next step forward in his development while simultaneously living up to the traits that made Kulwicki so influential to his family and many others.
“I’ve always been a go-getter,” Penn said. “As soon as they drop the green flag, I want to go get it. Running these longer Super Late Model races now, they preach patience. That’s been a huge help for me because tire management is a part of those races. Being patient and managing your stuff are two big things [I’ve learned].
“Representing Kulwicki’s name is going to be big, but consistency throughout this year is going to be key.”
After a two-week break, drivers in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series will return to competition in Friday night’s Buckle Up South Carolina 200 at Darlington Raceway (7:30 p.m. ET, FS1, NASCAR Racing Network Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
Last year’s series champion, Corey Heim, returns to Truck Series competition for the first time since the second race of the season at EchoPark Speedway near Atlanta. The defending race winner at Darlington will drive the No. 5 Toyota for Tricon Garage.
Triple-duty driver Ross Chastain, who won the 2024 Craftsman Truck Series race at the “Lady in Black,” should provide strong competition in the No. 45 Niece Motorsports Chevrolet.
Christopher Bell, who also will compete in all three NASCAR races this weekend, will drive the No. 62 Toyota for Halmar Friesen Racing in Friday’s Truck Series race. Bell made one start in the series last year and one in 2024.
Series regulars Chandler Smith and Layne Riggs, both of Front Row Motorsports, have won two of the first three races this season (at Daytona and St. Petersburg, respectively), with Kyle Busch taking the checkered flag at EchoPark Speedway near Atlanta.
Riggs won the pole for last year’s Darlington race but finished 17th.
“Knocking down the first win of the season is a big weight off of everyone’s chest,” Riggs said of his victory on the St. Petersburg Street Course. “It’s a huge confidence booster. I have always enjoyed the challenge that Darlington brings.
“We have qualified well there in the past, but we can’t seem to put together a full race. It’s a place where there’s not much room for error. We’re excited to get back to racing, though, and I know this team will come out swinging.”
