Rodney Childers will join JR Motorsports as crew chief of its No. 1 car for the 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, currently known as the Xfinity Series, the team announced Wednesday evening.
Driving the No. 1 Chevrolet will be a split of two teammates as current driver Carson Kvapil and Connor Zilisch will share racing responsibilities in what the team deemed a “dual role.” Both are competing in their rookie Xfinity seasons in 2025. Zilisch has earned a series-best nine wins driving the No. 88 Chevrolet and will move full-time to the NASCAR Cup Series in 2026 with Trackhouse Racing. Kvapil currently sits fourth in the Xfinity Playoffs Standings, 16 points above the cutline entering Saturday’s race at Kansas Speedway (4 p.m. ET, The CW, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
Childers’ move returns him to NASCAR’s national level after parting ways as crew chief of the No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet in the NASCAR Cup Series in April. Childers won the 2014 Cup Series championship as crew chief for Kevin Harvick and the No. 4 Stewart-Haas Racing team, kicking off an 11-season tenure at the now-defunct SHR and propelling Childers to 37 of his 40 career wins at the Cup level. In addition to his time at SHR, where he crew-chiefed for Harvick (2014-2023) and Josh Berry (2024), Childers previously spent time as crew chief at Evernham Motorsports and Michael Waltrip Racing before joining Spire for the 2025 season with Justin Haley.
“I’m so excited to be joining the JRM family,” Childers said in a team release. “To see what (team co-owners) Dale (Earnhardt Jr.), Kelley (Earnhardt Miller) and Mr. H (Rick Hendrick) have built here is quite amazing and their results show for themselves. Dale and Kelley have meant a lot to me for some 30 years and I can’t wait to be part of this group. Plus, I get to be the lucky guy to lead two amazing young men that have a huge amount of talent and a big future in our sport.”
Andrew Overstreet currently heads the No. 1 team with Kvapil, together producing six top fives and 13 top 10s in 27 races. This year marks Overstreet’s first serving as crew chief with one full-time driver after heading the part-time No. 88 Chevrolet in 2024 and has been with the company since 2020. JRM says Overstreet “will remain a key player” within the organization in 2026.
Here’s what’s happening in NASCAR with New Hampshire Motor Speedway in the rearview and Sunday’s Hollywood Casino 400 Presented by ESPN BET at Kansas Speedway up next (3 p.m. ET, USA Network, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, NBC Sports App).
1. Toyota gives an inch at Loudon; is Hendrick going to take a mile?
Joe Gibbs Racing and 23XI Racing failed to capitalize on a maximal opportunity at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, allowing Team Penske to win and Hendrick Motorsports to get back in the fight. Will their edge be further whittled down this weekend at Kansas Speedway?
A decade-plus in, there’s enough evidence to say somewhat definitively: The NASCAR Playoffs are all about momentum. Gaining it, holding it or losing it can be the crux of the most dramatic of playoff letdowns, while also being the vehicle that drives some of the most historic title runs we’ve seen yet.
So it was puzzling to see the equity Joe Gibbs Racing and 23XI Racing built to open the playoffs through one of the most dominant postseason rounds we’ve ever seen all but evaporate into thin air Sunday at Loudon, an almost-impressive disappearing act fit for the “Magic Mile.”
Toyota entered New Hampshire with a remarkable edge, having swept the first three races of the playoffs convincingly, with arguably the manufacturer’s best track ahead in the Round of 12 opener at Loudon — a track that title heavyweight Christopher Bell tested at mere weeks earlier. The race told a different story, however, and even though Bell was Toyota’s top finisher in sixth … he was their top finisher. In sixth.
This came packaged with watching Team Penske eviscerate the field for its first win of the playoffs and Hendrick Motorsports’ trio excel at a track at which they’d been somewhat written off coming in, with no wins at New Hampshire since 2012. And on top of that, 23XI’s Tyler Reddick and Bubba Wallace entered looking like surefire Round of 8 contenders before each landed outside the top 20. They now jointly occupy the bottom of the standings.
The opportunity was there to mash the gas on the momentum they built up and suffocate the playoff field with it; Toyota instead left the door wide open for their fellow contenders to barrel through.
Still, Bell left New England plus-29 to the cut and should be a near-lock to advance, but can he be happy after the “Magic Mile” misfire?
“That’s a loaded question,” the No. 20 driver said on pit road after Sunday’s 301-lapper. “I think from a points standpoint, we did well. I know a lot of people are going to look at me and say how can I be frustrated at Gateway and not today. Well, this weekend really was a whole different story. We just didn’t have the pace. We didn’t have the pace to run with the top competitors. We walked out of here with a lot of points, so I think it was a successful day.”
Successful on paper, sure, but questions remain.
Reddick and Wallace, in particular, have found Kansas Speedway, site of this coming Sunday’s romp, a tougher venue lately than expected with recent finishes well off their earlier success at the track. Their falloff at Kansas, combined with New Hampshire’s snafu, has put them under pressure, especially with the Round of 12 rapidly approaching its critical tipping point.
“Yeah, there’s just a lot of question marks honestly. Places we have had speed at, we don’t bring speed. That’s been one of them for us,” said Reddick, 23 points below the bubble. “Yeah, we need something special to happen. I’m hoping we find the answer.”
Wallace, 27 points down and staring up at 11 drivers, did not walk out of Loudon any more upbeat.
“Just a miss all around really. We couldn’t really seem to get things going,” said the No. 23 driver. “Our best run lasted for five laps, the caution came out and then it was just right back to no good. I hate it. I felt really optimistic and marched forward at the start and it just never really went anywhere. We kind of plateaued Lap 5 and that was it. I hate that. It’s just a head scratcher. I told our team we’re way better than that. We know it. As much of a gut punch as this one is, we’ll move on. This is what we’ve got to do.”
Meanwhile, Hendrick Motorsports has made Kansas its home, home on the range, with Kyle Larson alone winning three times there since 2021 including a dominant 221-lap stomping in May’s race. The Chevy powerhouse’s ability to consistently place cars in the top two in six of the last eight Kansas races signals not just talent but deep organizational mastery over this intermediate 1.5-mile oval and its at-times chaotic style of racing in the Next Gen era.
Add to that the steady performances of William Byron and even ousted playoff driver Alex Bowman at the track, it points to this potentially being the team’s first place to strike in the playoffs. That’s perhaps especially notable considering the fall Kansas winner has gone on to win the championship four times.
This Round of 12 weekend has the feel of a defining moment ahead. Penske suddenly looks headed toward one of its drivers holding a giant trophy after Phoenix for the fourth straight season. Hendrick has forcefully seized the inch given to them at Loudon, and it now appears they could stretch that into a full mile (and a half?) at Kansas. JGR and 23XI just had a wicked bad time in New Hampsha.
That’s where things stand, with Sunday looking like it could be all Hendrick.
But that’s also what it looked like last week for JGR and Toyota on the stats sheet — and that’s why we race ‘em in real life.
Jamie Squire | Getty Images
2. Did Kansas Speedway just become a must-win race?
… for 11 drivers, at least. Loudon winner Ryan Blaney can sleep easily this week, but the rest of the 2025 Cup Series Playoffs field has no idea what to expect this weekend at Kansas — except that all will do anything possible to dodge Roval drama the week after.
Ryan Blaney collected the surf Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway before the rest of the playoff contenders tussle for turf this weekend at Kansas Speedway. The Loudon win and the (freaking) lobster that went with it put him firmly and comfortably in the Round of 8, locking in his place and giving him a breather for now. But for everyone else in the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, Kansas represents less of a slow-burning, barbecue kind of weekend and something more along the lines of a pressure-cooker.
After the unexpected way Loudon played out — Blaney picked a great time for his first NHMS win, in the track’s first playoff race since 2017 — and with the unknowns ahead at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval, Kansas feels like a must-finish-near-the-front kind of race for the 11 drivers remaining, and certainly a must-win for some.
William Byron leads the un-locked-in contingent with a hefty, 47-point advantage above ninth place, followed closely by Hendrick counterpart Kyle Larson (plus-41) and Joe Gibbs Racing’s Christopher Bell (plus-29). JGR’s Denny Hamlin, Penske’s Joey Logano, Hendrick’s Chase Elliott and Chase Briscoe, in his first playoff run with JGR, all currently hold spots above the cutline, but the margin is anything but safe, ranging from 27 points to just 12. Then comes a cohort living dangerously below the cutoff line, and quite possibly looking at a Kansas win as their only realistic path to advance from here: Trackhouse Racing’s Ross Chastain (minus-12) and Austin Cindric in the No. 2 Penske Ford (minus-19).
23XI Racing’s Tyler Reddick (minus-23) and Bubba Wallace (minus-27) bring up the rear, and history isn’t on their side. Since the current elimination format’s inception, the largest comeback to advance from this round is 22 points.
With the chaotic Charlotte Roval around the corner, drivers and teams alike know at the very least there’s no room for error here this weekend. The Roval’s volatility is well documented: tight, technical and treacherous … and that was before SVG was a full-time Cup driver. Shane van Gisbergen, ousted from the Round of 16 but increasingly lethal on road courses, is widely expected to be in the mix for the win there, further reducing the odds for bubble drivers to secure their futures through luck or chaos alone. Kansas represents the last best chance to lock in a safer passage to the next round without leaving it to a dice roll at Charlotte.
Obviously, those under the heaviest microscope are the 23XI duo of Reddick and Wallace. After strong moments earlier in the season (and even in the playoffs), both have stumbled recently but also at Kansas lately, with puzzling finishes the past few times out compared to the past few (winning) trips before that.
With Ryan Blaney safe and sound at the top, the rest face a daunting weekend. The margins are razor-thin, the history demanding and the consequences nothing less than playoff-defining.
Steve Letarte, Adam Alexander and Alex Weaver dive into Chase Elliott’s qualifying woes and what could possibly help the No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet.
4. Will a non-playoff driver steal the show at Kansas?
Drivers out of contention for the Cup Series Championship (**) have won an astounding five of the last 13 Round of 12 races, with Kyle Larson the only repeat Round of 12 winner in the last four seasons. With some hungry non-playoff heavyweights looking to finish strong, will one snatch away a chance at a guaranteed Round of 8 bid? (Credit: Racing Insights)
Date
Track
Winner
9/26/2021
Las Vegas
Denny Hamlin
10/4/2021
Talladega
**Bubba Wallace
10/10/2021
Charlotte Roval
Kyle Larson
9/25/2022
Texas
**Tyler Reddick – eliminated in Round of 16
10/2/2022
Talladega
Chase Elliott
10/9/2022
Charlotte Roval
Christopher Bell
9/24/2023
Texas
William Byron
10/1/2023
Talladega
Ryan Blaney
10/8/2023
Charlotte Roval
**AJ Allmendinger
9/29/2024
Kansas
**Ross Chastain
10/6/2024
Talladega
**Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
10/13/2024
Charlotte Roval
Kyle Larson
9/21/2025
New Hampshire
Ryan Blaney
5. Catch the pack — news and notes from around the garage
Now that the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Committee has met for the last time, the final decision on a new championship format will head to the executive level.
“The next step is NASCAR is going to get its leadership in position and really have a discussion and lock ourselves in a room and figure it out from there,” NASCAR managing director of communications Mike Forde said on the latest episode of the “Hauler Talk” podcast. “Take all the feedback from the committee and come up with the best decision for the entire sport and our fans moving forward.”
Forde said there will be no further news on the future of the playoffs until after the 2025 champion is crowned in the Nov. 2 season finale at Phoenix Raceway.
“We don’t want to announce a format prior to Phoenix and then have everyone either devalue this year’s championship or sort of make another set of points of who would be the champion if a new format was in place,” Forde said. “So I think that would be after this year.”
Forde said NASCAR’s board of directors, which consists of Jim France, Lesa France Kennedy, Gary Crotty, Steve Phelps and Mike Helton, likely would have the final approval of a change to the playoffs.
During the Sept. 17 meeting of the Playoff Committee, Forde said there was support from several members for reverting to a full-season champion (which was how NASCAR determined the title until 2004), but others lobbied for keeping some form of the playoffs. Forde noted a track president said fan interest spiked in playoff races, making it easier to sell tickets.
There also was debate about the clarity of playoff points and possibly replacing them with more points for a win.
Forde said a four-race championship round also was considered.
“I would be very surprised if the one-race championship is still around,” Forde said. “That was a big talking point of we need a bigger sample size if we’re going to keep the playoffs, and the championship needs to be more than one race.”
During the podcast, Forde and NASCAR senior director of racing communications Amanda Ellis also were joined by NASCAR managing director of aerodynamics Chris Popiela, who discussed the approval process for Ram’s entry into the Craftsman Truck Series for the 2026 season.
Other topics covered by Forde and Ellis during the 34th episode of “Hauler Talk,” which explores competition issues in NASCAR:
— The performance of a new tire at New Hampshire Motor Speedway that also will be used in the season’s final two races at Martinsville Speedway and Phoenix Raceway.
— A tire test being scheduled for Bristol Motor Speedway in mid-November.
— A new right-side tire that will be used at Kansas Speedway and Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Click on the embed above to listen or search for “Hauler Talk” wherever you download podcasts to hear it on your phone, tablet or mobile device.
Nate Ryan has written about NASCAR since 1996 while working at the San Bernardino Sun, Richmond Times-Dispatch, USA TODAY and for the past 10 years at NBC Sports Digital. He is a contributor to the “Hauler Talk” show on the NASCAR Podcast Network. He also has covered various other motorsports, including the IndyCar and IMSA series.
After an off week, the NASCAR Xfinity Series heads to Kansas Speedway to continue the Round of 12 with race No. 2 of the playoffs. Teams will hit the track for practice at 10:30 a.m. ET with qualifying to follow at 11:35 a.m. ET on The CW app.
The NASCAR Cup Series continues the Round of 12 this weekend with its second trip of the season to Kansas Speedway. Teams will practice beginning at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday with qualifying to follow at 2:10 p.m. ET on truTV.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — In a triumphant return to the pinnacle of grassroots racing, Jacob Goede captured his second career NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series (NAAPWS) National Championship after winning the Late Model Feature this past weekend at Elko Speedway. The Minnesota native, who last earned the title in 2019, solidified his standing as one of the Midwest’s most dominant short-track racers with a season defined by consistency, speed, and veteran savvy.
“It feels like a huge weight is off your shoulders when this battle is over,” said Goede. “Overall, very proud of the effort we put in, very proud to bring it home to the Midwest.”
Goede’s 2025 season was anchored by strong performances across three premier Midwest tracks— Dells Raceway Park (Wis.), LaCrosse Fairgrounds Speedway (Wis.), and Elko Speedway (Minn.). Over the course of the season, he racked up 10 wins and an impressive 25 top-five finishes, showcasing his signature blend of patience and precision behind the wheel, and a testament to the grassroots racing that the NAAPWS is all about.
“The NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series is all about recognizing and celebrating the best short track racers in the country — the drivers who keep the spirit of local racing alive week in and week out,” said Joey Dennewitz, Managing Director, NASCAR Regional. “Jacob Goede embodies that mission. To win this national championship once is impressive, but to do it again, six years later, speaks volumes about his talent, commitment, and longevity in the sport.”
This latest title adds to an already decorated racing résumé. In addition to his two national championships, Goede is a five-time NAAPWS Midwest Region champion, a 10-time Minnesota state champion, two-time Wisconsin state champion, and a 10-time track champion at Elko Speedway— a venue he’s made his proving ground over the past decade.
And his season isn’t over yet.
Goede is still chasing one more major title in 2025— the LaCrosse Fairgrounds Speedway track championship. After finishing second in the standings last year, he enters the final weekend of the season leading the points by a razor-thin one-point margin. With double features scheduled for both October 9 and 10, the championship is far from decided.
Jacob Goede scored wins at Dells Raceway Park, Elko Speedway and LaCrosse Fairgrounds Speedway en route to the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series National championship. (Photo: Forte Design LLC/Mary Schill )
“We got to perform one more time,” Goede said. “I’m looking forward to Saturday of Oktoberfest when the points racing is over and we can just go racing and not have to worry about points, but it’d really mean a lot to win a championship at LaCrosse. … I’ve won 10 championships at Elko. I haven’t won a championship anywhere else, and I feel like I need to do that.”
Goede’s journey to short track greatness began when he was just 7 years old, racing quarter midgets. He transitioned to late models at age 15, dedicating an entire summer solely to practice before ever entering a competitive race. That early discipline, instilled by his father and carried through his entire racing career, continues to pay dividends.
“It’s always the strive to be better,” said Goede. “That’s my motivation; I want to be better. I’m super competitive. I want to win when I go to the race track. It’s what keeps me going. It’s what makes me lose sleep at night. It’s everything.”
Though he spent years traveling the country racing, Goede eventually returned home to Minnesota in 2011 after getting married. With three children and a family that’s never far from the pit wall, racing close to home now offers something even more valuable than trophies— quality time with loved ones.
“I’m very thankful to my family for allowing me to put in the time that I do,” said Goede. It takes a full commitment to do this thing, so to have the work actually pay off is really special.”
While trips to victory lane never come easy for anyone, it’s become a familiar place for Goede. With each win and each championship, his confidence grows— along with the expectations. But for Goede, the pressure only fuels the fire.
“You always got to be trying to be better, and that can be hard, but like I said, it’s what keeps me going, said Goede. “It’s what I love to do. I love to compete. I’m an engineer by trade; I love to try and figure out how to make things work better.”
As the 2025 NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series season comes to a close, Jacob Goede once again stands atop the landscape— a testament to years of dedication, a relentless pursuit of excellence, and a deep-rooted love for the sport.
Gratitude is the first word that comes to mind when Jason Ratcliff, crew chief for Taylor Gray in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, reflects on his career in NASCAR. For those who have worked with him at Joe Gibbs Racing, there is plenty of that, too. “I love Jason” are the first words that come to mind for Xfinity Series wins leader Kyle Busch and 13-time Cup Series victor Christopher Bell.
To say Gray has one of the best in his corner as he tries to advance to the Round of 8 in the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs might be an understatement. Ratcliff is the current wins leader among Xfinity crew chiefs with 57 as the series heads to Kansas Speedway for Saturday’s Kansas Lottery 300 (4 p.m. ET, The CW, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
Looking back on his career, Ratcliff began working with his father, George, buying and selling used cars and without a plan to be in NASCAR someday. He worked as a mechanic before helping a high school girlfriend’s father with his dirt sprint car. Between bouncing around Texas and Louisiana, he always enjoyed the aspect of local racing.
With family centered not far from Talladega Superspeedway, Ratcliff caught the NASCAR bug. Still, he gave little thought to making a career in the sport; instead, he worked for an electrical business after high school.
“NASCAR was always something right there in the forefront, but never anything that I thought I’d be a part of someday,” Ratcliff told NASCAR.com.
After stopping at Sadler Brothers Racing for his first NASCAR gig, Ratcliff served as crew chief for Brewco Motorsports, where he scored a pair of victories with Jamie McMurray in 2002 and three more in 2003 with David Green, placing second in the championship battle to Hendrick Motorsports’ Brian Vickers.
That success opened the eyes of Joe Gibbs Racing. In 2005, Ratcliff jumped at an opportunity to crew chief J.J. Yeley in the Xfinity Series. It wasn’t until 2008 that he scored his first victory with JGR, when he was paired with Kyle Busch. Joining Toyota that same year was a bonus.
“When Toyota came in, I felt like we were making progress as a team, but we got the extra resources we needed to revamp everything,” Ratcliff said. “We had to change bodies, manufacturers, so you have to relocate engine mounts, and it’s a big undertaking and a good time that if there were things we could do differently, now is the time to do it.”
Connecting with Busch — who joined JGR from Hendrick Motorsports — was the catalyst for Ratcliff’s career. The then-12-time Cup Series victor opted to run the full 2009 Xfinity schedule with JGR to chase the driver’s championship. Mission accomplished, with the No. 18 team winning nine races, leading a series record 2,698 laps and winning the championship.
As Ratcliff became more familiar with Busch — who returned for the bulk of the 2010 campaign — the duo set out on a mission to break Sam Ard’s record of 10 victories in a single season, which had stood since 1983. They won 13 races, setting the new benchmark.
“Before the season even started, we said, let’s tie that record,” Ratcliff said. “To get it and then surpass it was not anything we expected we could do, but it was a great time and a great accomplishment. Records are made to be broken; somebody will do it.”
“I think the thing with Jason was the mutual respect for one another,” said Busch, who looks back fondly on his days with Ratcliff. “I got to work with him at JGR and could understand why this guy is as good as he is. He is one of my favorite crew chiefs that I’ve had over the years.”
After collecting eight additional trophies with Busch in 2011 and Greg Zipadelli departing JGR for Stewart-Haas Racing, Ratcliff remained patient, receiving his first shot as a Cup Series crew chief with Joey Logano. When Matt Kenseth replaced Logano in the No. 20 car for the 2013 season, the new pairing had instant chemistry. They won their third race together at Las Vegas Motor Speedway en route to a six-win season and finished runner-up to Jimmie Johnson in the championship battle. In six years calling the shots for the No. 20 Cup car, Ratcliff compiled 15 victories.
“Until you’re there, you feel like you can do it, but until you go out and do it, there is a little bit in the back of your mind saying, ‘am I capable?'” Ratcliff said of his Cup experience. “I’ve been fortunate to work with some of the greatest drivers that this sport has seen.”
Brian Lawdermilk | Getty Images
With a JGR driver shuffle ahead of 2018, Ratcliff returned to the Xfinity Series to crew-chief Bell. Originally, he thought it was a confusing internal move, but it turned out to be a blessing in disguise, winning 15 races in two seasons together. Ratcliff returned to the Cup Series in 2020 as Bell joined Leavine Family Racing for a stopgap season.
“While I didn’t really want to do that deal — not that it had anything to do with Christopher — I felt like I belonged in Cup,” Ratcliff said, “but what a blessing in disguise for me. If you would ask me if I would go back and do something different, no way.”
Bell, who was originally bummed about being split from Ratcliff ahead of the 2021 season, believes he played an integral role in his development.
“I remember having him instill confidence in me and knowing what to expect going into the weekends and having my back and feeling like we’re on the team together,” Bell said. “He was a great leader of the group. He is in the top of crew chiefs that I have ever driven for.”
Ratcliff hopped off the road following the 2023 season and became the equivalent of JGR’s competition director, splitting time between working with drivers and crew chiefs. With a late crew chief change internally at JGR for the 2025 season, team owner Joe Gibbs called Ratcliff and asked for a favor, hoping he would call the shots for rookie Gray. Ratcliff agreed, though he knew it wasn’t a long-term position.
Ratcliff is 70% certain that he will return to the pit box in 2026, wanting to see things unfold.
“I like what we’re doing this year and feel like we’ve made a lot of progress,” Ratcliff said. “I think Taylor is poised to be a championship contender. As long as we’re making progress, it keeps me fired up and going. I’m willing to come back next year.”
Whenever Ratcliff hangs up the headset, he will be the winningest crew chief in Xfinity Series history (currently with 57). And there are no words to express the ride.
“Until I’m actually removed from the sport, I’m not sure that it will sink in as long as I’m competing,” Ratcliff said. “It’s pretty amazing, and I have a lot of people to be thankful to for not only working with me but supporting me.”
Goodyear will provide a new right-side tire for both the NASCAR Cup Series and Xfinity Series this weekend at Kansas Speedway.
The new right-side construction will pair with a left-side Goodyear Racing Eagle that’s been used at similar-sized tracks this season. Goodyear officials indicated that the tire setup for the Cup Series’ Hollywood Casino 400 Presented by ESPN Bet on Sunday (3 p.m. ET, USA Network, HBO Max, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, NBC Sports App) and the Xfinity Series’ Kansas Lottery 300 on Saturday (4 p.m. ET, The CW, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) will also be used at the 1.5-mile Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Oct. 11-12.
“Kansas presents a unique set of conditions for teams — known for its relatively smooth surface, multiple grooves and close finishes — but recent races have shown notable tire wear,” Justin Fantozzi, Goodyear operations manager for global race tires, said in a release provided by the tire maker. “For both series, new right-side tires are being introduced after undergoing construction changes to increase strategy options for the crew chiefs. This weekend, teams will need to balance grip with outright speed to maximize performance of these new Goodyear Racing Eagle tire setups.”
Cup Series teams will each have 10 sets of tires in their weekend allotment at Kansas — eight new sets for the 267-lap, 400-mile event, one for practice and one for qualifying that carries over to the race. Xfinity Series teams will each have six sets — four new sets for the race, one for practice and another for qualifying to transfer to the 200-lap, 300-mile race.
The Cup Series previously used the same left-side tire this season at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Michigan International Speedway, Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Darlington Raceway earlier this month. The Xfinity Series’ left-side tire for this weekend was also used at Las Vegas, Charlotte, Texas Motor Speedway and Nashville Superspeedway.
Late Model Stock veterans Ronnie Bassett Jr. and Woody Howard come from two similar but different backgrounds.
Bassett was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and diligently worked his way up to the NASCAR Xfinity Series before returning to his short track roots. Howard, a Chesapeake, Virginia, native, has spent his entire career competing on short tracks, whether that has been at the regional level or with the now-defunct USAR Pro Cup Series.
Despite their differences, the two competitors do share one thing in common heading into Saturday’s ValleyStar Credit Union 300 at Martinsville Speedway (7 p.m. ET on FloRacing), they are tied for second in the Virginia Late Model Triple Crown standings with a 6.5 average finish.
Although Bassett has endured plenty of emotions at Martinsville during his career, he enters a busy weekend with plenty of optimism. Last year’s ValleyStar Credit Union 300 saw Bassett finish eighth, which is why he is confident about improving on that showing Saturday evening.
“We’ve had some really good runs [at Martinsville],” Bassett said. “We’ve gotten into some late-race incidents and have had some controversies go on between me and my brother [Dillon], but [the ValleyStar Credit Union 300] has always been a good race for us and we’re looking forward to getting back.
“Hopefully we can bring a grandfather clock back to Winston-Salem.”
A key difference for Bassett this year compared to his previous ValleyStar Credit Union 300 attempts is that he will not be bringing his family-owned car to Martinsville.
Instead, Bassett is teaming up with Shane Wilson, who has served as his Late Model Stock crew chief this year. Wilson previously worked with the Bassetts when they still had their Xfinity Series program but has also served as a crew chief for teams like Richard Childress Racing, Team Penske and ThorSport Racing, among others.
Martinsville will be Wilson’s first race with his own operation, but Bassett does not envision the two having many issues throughout the weekend. Wilson has been a vital resource for Bassett, so he wants to return the favor by delivering a strong performance in Wilson’s No. 62.
“Every time we go to the race track, I feel like we’ve got a chance to win the race,” Bassett said. “I don’t look at it no differently going to Martinsville. Shane [Wilson] has been around the Late Model [Stock] scene for a while and I have as well. With the help of a bunch of good people and his knowledge, we’ll be just fine.”
Finishes of fifth and eighth in the 2025 Virginia Late Model Triple Crown have Ronnie Bassett Jr. tied for second in the point standings. (Photo: Ted Malinowski/NASCAR)
The primary conundrum Bassett and others face with the ValleyStar Credit Union 300 is no matter how strong their car is, one wrong move in the qualifying races can end a promising weekend before it begins, especially with the quality of competition in the field.
Howard is among those Bassett will have to fight for a spot on the 40-car ValleyStar Credit Union 300 starting grid. Howard failed to qualify for the ValleyStar Credit Union 300 during his most recent attempt in 2021, but he has enjoyed success at the track in the past, with his best performance being a seventh-place finish in 2009.
Originally, there was no plan for Howard to go for the Virginia Triple Crown until he was convinced by his team to head to South Boston Speedway in June for the Thunder Road Harley-Davidson 200. Being in contention for the championship going into Martinsville is something Howard credits to all the hard work his team has put in.
“I’m kind of surprised we’re even in the running for the Triple Crown,” Howard said. “I kind of got out of racing 10 years ago but slowly started getting back into it. Over the last couple years, we got a lot of good partners that helped us step up our program. We’re all super motivated and I’m pretty excited to have a good showing out at Martinsville.”
Howard’s ninth place run at South Boston kicked off his pursuit for the Virginia Triple Crown. He backed that performance up with another stellar outing at his home track, Langley Speedway, where he successfully managed his tires all evening to secure a fourth-place finish in the Hampton Heat.
Having five USAR Pro Cup Series wins and countless Late Model Stock appearances to his name, Howard is no stranger to performing under pressure. Despite this, Howard understands how different Martinsville is compared to other races but feels a more concerted endeavor on his behalf will work as an advantage this weekend.
“It’s been a while since I’ve been [to Martinsville],” Howard said. “The last couple times I attempted, it was more for fun. This year though, we’re putting in a lot of extra effort and are trying to look at every little detail. It’s a long race, but we’ve got to make the race and stay out of trouble.”
A local Langley Speedway competitor, Woody Howard has been pleasantly surprised by his consistent Virginia Late Model Triple Crown campaign. (Photo: Ryan M. Kelly/NASCAR)
Bassett has been equally as consistent as Howard. Although Bassett finished behind Howard at Langley in eighth, he earned a top five finish at South Boston, which was crucial towards him moving to second in the standings alongside Howard.
For as good as their respective Virginia Triple Crown campaigns have been, both Bassett and Howard still trail Connor Hall by a significant margin. Hall possesses an average finish of 1.5 following his South Boston victory and a runner-up showing at Langley.
Hall is also locked into the ValleyStar Credit Union 300 by winning at South Boston, so Howard and Bassett will need to execute in qualifying to make sure they make the race. From their own individual experiences, the two drivers know that making the field is by no means a guarantee due to circumstances within and outside of their control.
Expectations are high for Howard ahead of the ValleyStar Credit Union 300, but he is not feeling any stress before qualifying. Howard has enjoyed the journey towards this moment and intends to cherish the experience of having a competitive car for Martinsville, all while hoping he can find his way to Victory Lane.
“I’ve got a lot of big wins, but [Martinsville] would be at the top of the list for me,” Howard said. “If you had asked me earlier this year, I would have said we weren’t going to Martinsville. We’re just excited to be a part of it no matter how it turns out, but we hope we can make the race and have a good showing.”
Like Howard, Bassett has been thrilled by his consistency in the Virginia Triple Crown this year and hopes to carry that into Martinsville with Wilson’s upstart program. With so many extraneous factors at play that will include an intense qualifying race, Bassett plans to control what he can and be methodical through all 200 laps.
Bassett remembers the mechanical issues Hall had at Martinsville last year. If everything goes his way, Bassett knows he can leave Martinsville with both a grandfather clock and a Virginia Triple Crown.
“We’ve kind of struggled the past couple months, so it would be awesome to win [Martinsville] for [Wilson] in this car’s first race out,” Bassett said. “My brother chased the Triple Crown deal a long time ago, so it’s kind of neat to be in a position to have a shot at it. All we can ask for is to go to Martinsville, do the best we can and see where we end up.”
Bassett and Howard may possess many similarities and differences, but they both remain stalwart, consistent competitors in the Late Model Stock discipline. One more strong run at Martinsville on Saturday evening is all that separates them from potentially earning two of the biggest accomplishments of their respective careers.
Team Penske held all the power Sunday at the “Magic Mile,” with its championship-winning drivers dominating the 301-lapper and Ryan Blaney claiming his third checkered flag of the season. The No. 12 driver’s close friend, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports driver Chase Elliott, had perhaps the drive of the race at Loudon, scraping together a top-five finish after arguably his most disappointing qualifying effort of the season. Will he keep the Round of 12 magic going in the Midwest?
NASCAR.com’s Pat DeCola ranks the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs contenders after the Mobil 1 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway and before Sunday’s Hollywood Casino 400 Presented by ESPN Bet at Kansas Speedway (3 p.m. ET, USA Network, HBO Max, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, NBC Sports App).
Analysis: It’s hard to look much more powerful than Blaney did Sunday at Loudon, where he carried the fastest long-run speed car all weekend to his first New Hampshire victory, finally claiming “that (freaking) lobster” and punching an early ticket to the Round of 8. Blaney seems to have a rocket ship every week and gave every indication he intends to continue pressing at Kansas and the Charlotte Roval, so it’s possible this really could be the Round of “12.”
Analysis: Byron not only collected his first top 10 at Loudon in his eighth try Sunday, but he held one of the few cars that seemingly had a sniff of a chance against Team Penske and landed third on the results sheet. A runner-up at Kansas Speedway last fall, look for Byron to carry that speed into perhaps his first win there this weekend.
Analysis: The newfound Hendrick Motorsports speed at Loudon extended to Larson, who once again looks headed toward a potential Championship 4 appearance as the No. 5 team continues to dial things in when it matters. There’s a strong chance that’ll be the car to beat at Kansas as well, seeing as it’s the site of Larson’s most recent win and he’s been lights out there in Hendrick equipment (three wins since 2021).
Analysis: It’s a tough pill to swallow when a driver is one of three guys to test a track in July — a track at which he’s the unquestioned favorite — and then races at said track in September with his team riding three straight wins … and doesn’t lead a lap. Not the weekend Bell was hoping for, but he still walked out a respectable sixth on the pylon and now heads to a track at which he has eight top 10s in 11 starts. Could be worse.
Analysis: Logano was very much hoping to win Sunday and wasn’t pleased with not doing so, but he still secured three straight top fives for the first time since 2019, walking away well above the bubble with the second-most points of the race behind his race-winning teammate. The three-time Kansas winner could contend at the 1.5-mile facility this weekend, but the track has been hit-or-miss for him since his last victory there in 2020.
Analysis: Along the same lines as Bell, Hamlin expected a much better result at Loudon on Sunday, though who knows what would’ve happened if this situation had played out a little smoother. The four-time Kansas winner has also led in five straight races there, so the 2025 wins leader should, in theory, get back to his dominant ways on Sunday.
Analysis: Elliott has a pair of single-point, dismal days in the past six races, and yet, there’s no denying that we saw a championship-capable performance out of him and the No. 9 team on Sunday to rally back from a whiff in qualifying on Saturday. When they’re on, there’s arguably no more fearsome group in the garage, and they now get to finish out the Round of 12 with two quite favorable race tracks ahead.
Analysis: A lot of eyes were tracking how Briscoe would be able to attack the “Magic Mile” now in JGR’s A-tier equipment, and the returns were reasonable (10th, 19 laps led), but a bit underwhelming after landing runner-up last year for the shuttered Stewart-Haas Racing. A similar story could play out this weekend at Kansas, where he owns a 19.6 average finish but finally nabbed his first top 10 earlier this year.
Analysis: Though Chastain wasn’t able to snap Chevrolet’s long-running Loudon drought, he did halt a five-race skid outside the top 10. It’s hard to see how this train keeps rolling into the Round of 8 with just 72 laps led on the season so far, but he does have one pretty good thing going for him: He enters the Kansas weekend as the defending race winner.
Analysis: Cindric moves up because of some dippers below him, but it was not a great weekend for the No. 2 team, which sits below the bubble after struggling to find the speed his pole- and race-winning teammates deployed all weekend at will. To make matters worse, Cindric has never led a lap or finished in the top 10 at Kansas and, short of a Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval win, now needs to.
Analysis: Reddick is unfortunately proving that his Darlington runner-up was perhaps more of a fluke than what to expect from him and the No. 45 team in these playoffs, because it’s his lone top 10 in the past six races, all of which were otherwise 15th or worse. Normally, on paper, Kansas would be a potential significant rebound spot for him and 23XI, but not with the way this team is running and with the organization’s loosening grip on the Kansas City track.
Analysis: Wallace opened the playoffs looking bound for his first Championship 4 appearance, and now doesn’t even appear likely to see his first Round of 8. A win at Kansas is still absolutely possible, but everything that was just said about Reddick applies here as well, with the one saving grace being that the No. 23 car had led in five straight races before Loudon. They’re capable, but they’re running out of time.
