Posted on by Neil Paine

With a bunch of his trademark road and/or street courses coming up on the NASCAR Cup Series calendar, we had a hunch that Shane van Gisbergen was about to go on a sizzling summer hot streak. But even against those lofty expectations, what SVG has done on the twisty tracks has been shockingly dominant. In addition to winning from the pole by a margin of 16.6 seconds at Mexico City in mid-June, van Gisbergen fended off a crowded field of would-be challengers to once again claim victory from pole position on the streets of Chicago this past Sunday.

If you’re keeping track, that means SVG has a two-race winning streak on road courses, to go with five consecutive finishes of seventh or higher dating back to Watkins Glen International last September. In three career Cup starts at Chicago specifically, he has two wins, leading 44 of the 177 laps he’s run (24.9%, the highest of any driver) with a series-high average Driver Rating of 118.7. If we also include his Xfinity Series starts at Chicago — where he also won last week — SVG has now won four of the five races he’s entered there, with three poles and an average start of 2.2. Outside of Joey Chestnut at a hot dog-eating contest, it’s hard to think of someone in sports who’s dominated more than SVG on the streets of the “Windy City.”

That, in turn, has the NASCAR world buzzing this week about whether SVG is already the greatest road-course driver in Cup Series history, with another road course on the way at Sonoma Raceway this Sunday (3:30 p.m. ET, TNT Sports/truTV, HBO Max, PRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). There’s certainly a case to be made, though there are plenty of other contenders worth highlighting. (Especially as we head to what was Jeff Gordon’s playground for so many years.) So let’s run through each potential candidate for the crown of best road-course ace in the Cup Series’ modern era (since 1972), along with the metric(s) that give them the strongest case.

Shane van Gisbergen

Metrics: Highest winning percentage (33.3%) and average Driver Rating (113.8) on road courses in Cup Series history*

(* – Driver Rating only available since 2005.)

If you want a driver who maximizes his chances of winning each time out, it’s hard to go against van Gisbergen’s road-course record … at least on a per-race basis. SVG has won a third of the time on tracks with both left and right turns, better than double the success rate of Kyle Larson or even his mentor Marcos Ambrose, who is widely regarded as one of the best road-course ringers in Cup history. Only the late, great Tim Richmond (at 31.3%) was even close to SVG in terms of winning percentage. And it hasn’t been a fluke, either: Going back to 2005, SVG has been the most consistently dominant driver in the series on road courses, with an average Driver Rating that narrowly edges out Ambrose and is far above the mark of Chase Elliott, previously the clear top road-course racer in Cup before his losing streak on those tracks in recent years.

SHOP: Best SVG gear

Jeff Gordon

Metrics: Highest Wins Above Average (+7.9) on road courses in Cup Series history

A major case against SVG is simply one of sample size: He hasn’t sustained his dominance over anywhere near as many races as his rivals for the crown of road-course GOAT. That’s where this metric — Wins Above Average — comes in, as it compares a driver’s actual wins with the number we’d expect from a driver who won at an average rate for the fields he drove against. And by that standard, van Gisbergen still has a fair amount of ground to make up on Gordon, who won nearly eight more races in his career than an average driver would have in the same opportunities. Gordon is, of course, the all-time career leader in total road-course wins as well, sustaining a career full of podium finishes on turning circuits that spanned from a third-place finish at Sonoma in May 1995 to a runner-up at the same track in June 2014, nearly 20 years later. We’ll see where van Gisbergen is in two decades.

Cale Yarborough

Metrics: Highest share of laps led (36.9%), best average finish (7.4) and average start (3.8) on road courses in Cup Series history

As remarkable as SVG’s Cup Series career on road circuits has been, he can’t really hold a candle to Cale Yarborough’s combination of dominance and consistency at those tracks. Though his winning percentage was slightly lower — he won three times in 14 tries, or 21.4% of the time —  Yarborough led 609 of a possible 1,649 laps (entirely at Riverside) in the 1970s and early 1980s, good for an all-time record rate of nearly 37%, roughly 15 percentage points higher than the next-highest (Richmond at 22%). Put another way: The gap in percentage points between Yarborough and Richmond was nearly as high as Gordon’s career share of laps led on road courses. Add in Yarborough’s all-time records for highest average start and finish — Yarborough was the king of absurdly low average start and finish stats in that era — and there’s a good case to be made that the driver of the iconic Junior Johnson No. 11 was also NASCAR history’s top statistical road-racer.

Marcos Ambrose

Metric: Highest Adjusted Points+ index (273) on road courses in Cup Series history

Longtime readers will know that one of my favorite metrics to use when judging a driver’s results is Adjusted Points+ index, which awards points for a driver’s finishes — with more emphasis on wins/high finishes than standard Cup scoring — and then scales that relative to a field average of 100. And when we look at the career leaders in that metric for road courses, nobody comes out looking better than Ambrose. After running a disappointing 42nd in his first career Cup race at Sonoma, the ringer-turned-regular finished eighth or better in 12 of his next 13 road races, a stretch of performances that was better relative to the competition than even SVG in the current era. (Let that sink in!) In the last golden era of true road-course ringers, from Boris Said to Scott Pruett and Jacques Villeneuve, Ambrose rose far above the rest.

Mark Martin

Metrics: Most Adjusted Points above average (+1,278.6) and top 10s above average (+20.8) on road courses in Cup Series history

In addition to being one of the most underrated drivers in Cup history, period, Martin was also one of the best road racers of his era. While his winning percentage of 8.5% lagged behind Gordon, Tony Stewart, Rusty Wallace and other contemporaries, he made up for it with consistently strong finishes across a sample of nearly 50 career road-course outings. No driver in history beat his average opponents in top 10s and total Adjusted Points more than the pride of Batesville, Arkansas — a testament to his talent, adaptability and longevity. During his most iconic era, driving the No. 6 car for Jack Roush from 1988-2006, Martin only had one subpar road-racing season by Adjusted Pts+ (2006) in a 19-year stretch.

Others to Consider

Though he didn’t lead the historical drivers in any of our major categories, Chase Elliott was the only name to rank among the top 10 in all of the stats we mentioned above (aside from average start). No, he hasn’t won at a twisty track since July 2021, 23 road races ago, but Elliott is still shy of his 30th birthday and will have plenty of chances to keep adding to a win tally just two behind Gordon’s all-time record. Also, Ricky Rudd deserves a shout-out here; the longtime driver of the Tide Ride (among many others) is actually the modern Cup leader in top fives above average (+19.3), though he didn’t fare as well in some of the other metrics we tracked. We already mentioned Tim Richmond’s stellar win rate, but it bears repeating as a point in favor of his GOAT case. Likewise, Tony Stewart’s No. 2 ranking in Wins Above Average (+7.2), just behind Gordon, works in concert with being one of only four drivers since 2005 with a triple-digit average Driver Rating on road courses — joining van Gisbergen, Ambrose and Elliott — to bolster his all-time argument. Similar to Martin and Rudd, Kyle Busch should get name-dropped for consistency and longevity; he leads all modern drivers in road course top 10s (33) and is second in top fives (22). Last but not least, Bobby Allison’s penchant for leading road-course laps (he did it 20.8% of the time, third behind Yarborough and Richmond) speaks to his dominance. And all of this is without even getting into pre-modern ringers like Dan Gurney, who won five times at Riverside in the 1960s.

The Verdict

So, who’s the GOAT of NASCAR road racing? As is often the case in these debates, it all depends on what you value the most: If you want the driver with the highest odds to win each time he gets behind the wheel, SVG is already the best. If you still want to see him prove it over a larger sample, Gordon remains the guy to beat, with Stewart not far behind. If you prize leading laps and running high from wire to wire, Yarborough or Allison can make a case — though their road races mostly came at one track, in a very different era. If a nice mix of consistency and dominance is your thing, Ambrose or even Elliott make a strong bid for No. 1. And for longevity, look to Martin, Rudd or Busch.

There’s not really a wrong answer, though some answers clearly have more evidence backing them than others, and van Gisbergen already has the resume to be taken seriously in that conversation, just a few years (and fewer than 10 road races) into his Cup career.

Posted on by John Crane

CONCORD, N.C. — While eliminated drivers (and fans who filled out a bracket) ponder what-ifs, Ty Dillon is taking the In-Season Challenge in stride, and for good reason.

After entering the inaugural bracket-style bout as the No. 32 seed, the No. 10 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet has been on a Cinderella run. The lowest-seeded Dillon kick-started the push by eliminating top-seeded Denny Hamlin at EchoPark Speedway (formerly Atlanta Motor Speedway) in the opening round after the Joe Gibbs Racing driver got caught up in an early wreck. In Round 2, the 33-year-old North Carolina native followed up the upset with an additional dub, knocking off No. 17 seed Brad Keselowski at the Chicago Street Course.

RELATED: Chicago results | In-Season Challenge hub

“It’s been a fun adjustment to our year,” Dillon said Wednesday at the NASCAR Research & Development Center in Concord, North Carolina, regarding the five-race tourney stretch. “I think you look at this point of year in past years, and the focus is so forward on the top 16 guys in points and maybe the top guys in points, where they’re going to end up as the (playoffs) start, and the focus on the broadcast, a lot of the news is more on that and not on the guys that are kind of battling from 18 to 25th in points and in that area, and just the life that’s given our race team.

“In that sense, we came in as the 32nd seed, which I think was a little bit undervalued. We had probably our three worst races in a row in the seeding portion of the season, which is fine because it’s given us a lot of (publicity) going into it and taking down Denny and Brad, the last two. For us, it’s been good momentum. We’ve ran pretty decent.”

Decent indeed, thanks in part to eighth- and 20th-place results at Atlanta and Chicago, respectively. Dillon’s momentum will look to continue at Sonoma Raceway on Sunday for Round 3 (3:30 p.m. ET, TNT Sports/truTV, HBO Max, PRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio), where he will challenge eighth-seeded Alex Bowman, a strong competitor on road courses.

While besting Bowman will be tricky — both in racing and in thinking of colorful banter aimed at the No. 48 driver should Dillon prevail over him — Dillon has enjoyed the battle for the $1 million prize. To Dillon, the In-Season Challenge has also served the purpose of highlighting drivers up and down the points standings. Legacy Motor Club teammates John Hunter Nemechek and Erik Jones will battle in Round 3, while Front Row Motorsports’ Zane Smith will challenge Joe Gibbs Racing’s Ty Gibbs on the opposite end of the bracket.

“There’s some underdog stories here that are getting a lot of attention, and it’s made it a lot of fun for the drivers, the teams and the media and the fans,” Dillon said. “It’s given us a chance at this point in the season to show personality where, usually at this point of the season, it gets real quiet for teams like us, and even though we’re grinding hard and the stories are just as fascinating, we don’t get talked about as much. So I’m a fan of what it’s done, obviously living it firsthand, and I’m looking forward to the continuation of it.”

MORE: Cup Series standings | Cup Series schedule

Dillon, in his first full-time Cup Series campaign since 2023, earned his first and only top 10 of the season thus far two weeks ago at EchoPark and currently ranks 32nd in points. Although the on-track results might not yet reflect in terms of marquee finishes, Dillon is optimistic that, by the 2025 season’s end, momentum will still be pointing in the upward direction.

“I think there’s still a lot of good results that need to come to have the ultimate respect, but I’ve heard it more than I’ve ever heard [it in] my career, that we’re overachieving and we’re doing a great job and it’s nice to hear, but there’s a lot more to go,” Dillon said. “Hopefully that continues that narrative. I think it’s been the best that it’s ever been for my career. I feel like the attention is starting to match up with the work that I’ve been putting in and the race team has been putting in, and now it’s time to double down on that and take ourselves to a team that’s running consistently [from] 15th to 20th, to 15th to eighth. I think if we get to that spot, we’re going to have a lot of opportunity to capitalize on wins.”

Posted on by Pat DeCola

Here’s what’s happening in NASCAR with the Grant Park 165 at the Chicago Street Course in the rearview and the Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway up next.

MORE: Sonoma entry list | In-Season Challenge hub

1. How realistic is an SVG title run in 2025?

Shane van Gisbergen looks entirely unbeatable on road courses at the moment, but there’s only one of those in the 10-race playoffs. Will his oval acumen improve enough by then to carry him deep in the postseason?

Shane van Gisbergen completed his weekend sweep of the Chicago Street Course on Sunday with methodical precision, claiming his second Cup Series win of 2025.

That’s not the surprising part.

What has caught many off guard, however, is that the Cup Series may have a legitimate problem on its hands for years to come in the form of the New Zealand product; an unstoppable force of nature on the sport’s growing list of road courses and steadfast in his dedication to improving on all the other ones.

The three-time Supercars champ is now a three-time Cup Series winner, and in extremely short order, becoming the most successful foreign-born driver in series history a mere 33 starts into his dang career.

It’s why he’s here, of course. Trackhouse Racing didn’t sign a driver with limited stock-car experience in his mid-30s and force him to move halfway around the world to not win races. It also didn’t sign him to just hold the occasional trophy in Victory Lane and hope for the best come playoff time. There’s a legitimate path to a championship run here; the only question is when?

Van Gisbergen’s current positioning is the most unique we’ve seen in the history of this playoff format — No. 88 sits a dismal 27th in the overall Cup Series standings with just 308 points, but is essentially almost expected to tie for the series lead in wins this weekend with another road course on tap. Already claiming two of the three such events in 2025, including a staggering 16.567-second victory margin in Mexico City — the largest winning margin on a road course since Riverside in 1979 — barring catastrophe, a third feels inevitable.

RELATED: Cup Series standings | 2025 schedule

A driver that good, and willing to make that kind of career move, isn’t going to let a steep learning curve on oval tracks weigh him down and keep him from actually seeing this thing through to the end. With all the applicable tools at his disposal and a burning desire to accomplish what is an abundantly obvious goal, who in their right mind would bet against this guy?

At this point, until proven otherwise and as long as multiple road courses still exist in the regular season, you can essentially pencil in SVG to every playoff field moving forward for the foreseeable future. What remains is just how far he’ll be able to take that berth, because of his — completely understandable — “niche” skillset.

SVG’s 22.947 average finish through 19 races reflects the rookie’s consistent struggles on NASCAR’s traditional venues, yet to finish better than 14th on a non-road course in 2025. With the playoffs just a handful of weeks away and nine of the 10 playoff races contested on ovals, including the championship finale at Phoenix on November 2, it’s obviously a bit of a stretch to think a title run could happen this year. But it’s not impossible in the least, and SVG is quite capable of making things interesting — he’s just gotta escape the Round of 16.

“Yeah, that first round is going to be very difficult,” van Gisbergen said after his Chicago win. “It’s got one track I haven’t been to, Gateway. It’s got my favorite oval in it, Darlington. I love that place. And then Bristol, which is what I’ve found (to be) the most difficult track. I feel like I may as well be driving the other way there. It’s so hard. It’s some pretty difficult places for me. But I feel like we’re still making massive leaps on the oval, and there’s still a few weeks left to keep getting better.”

The 36-year-old has accrued 11 playoff points to date — nearly half that of Kyle Larson, who has the most — and it’s conceivable he’ll pad that at least a bit more by September. That could mark the difference between advancing or not into the next three-race round of the playoffs. The Charlotte Roval then potentially awaits him in the Round of 12, and he’ll be favored to win there whether he’s still in title contention or not. Assuming a win there, a ludicrously difficult Round of 8 against NASCAR’s elite remains, but this is absolutely a “never say never” kind of sport — after all, who had him winning his literal first NASCAR start at Chicago in 2023?

There’s no denying SVG is going to improve on ovals over time, but it’s not a given that anybody matches his road-course prowess at any point in his NASCAR tenure.

If the oval ascension comes sooner than later, we could be seeing a non-stop flurry of rugby balls being punted from Victory Lane over the next half-decade-plus.

And one of them might just be after taking the checkered for the Bill France Cup.

MORE: Shane van Gisbergen has raised the bar in NASCAR road racing

James Gilbert | Getty Images

2. How concerning is William Byron’s summer slump?

William Byron, for the second year in a row, clinched a playoff spot before anybody else and raced for months like the title was his to lose. No. 24 also hasn’t won since February, and is suddenly mired in a career-worst stretch at the moment. What gives?

Fresh off his first two Championship 4 appearances, William Byron stormed out of the gate in 2025 by winning his second straight Daytona 500 and proceeding through the first several months looking like he’d easily be racing for the title once again come November.

The wins have dried up since the Daytona triumph, but at first it was no biggie — No. 24 was still manhandling the field, holding the first or second spot in the standings literally every week this season by virtue of a steadily increasing points cushion.

That dominance has evaporated, however, and Byron suddenly finds himself ensnared in an eight-race stretch with five finishes of 24th or worse, the worst duo of which coming the past two weeks.

What once seemed an insurmountable standings lead has shrunk to just 13 points over teammate Chase Elliott after a catastrophic 40th-place finish (and overall weekend) at Chicago, where mechanical issues ended his day after completing just one lap. The summer slide has transformed NASCAR’s early-season favorite into a driver fighting to maintain momentum as the playoffs approach.

Byron’s midseason struggles aren’t new, either. For whatever reason, Byron has made summer inconsistency an annual tradition. Is it a concerning one, though?

Perhaps not.

In 2023, Byron managed just six top-10 finishes in the second half of the regular season with a rough stretch of five races finishing 14th or worse baked in (albeit bookended with victories) — yet still advanced to the Championship 4. Last season, the Charlotte native posted just five top 10s in the second half, this time with no victories … and again reached Phoenix as a title contender.

Perhaps, with a playoff spot clinched, he and crew chief Rudy Fugle utilize summer races as experimental sessions to a degree, while focusing resources on championship-critical races. If so, this strategy has historically worked — Byron has posted 16 top-10 finishes and 11 top fives in his last 20 playoff races, clearly able to turn on the jets come crunch time.

Despite his struggles, Byron remains well-positioned for the playoffs, with his 12 playoff points ranking fourth among race winners. It’s hard not to think he should have a good deal more than that, though, with several near wins wiping the chances of a first-round walk-in-the-park all but away.  Larson’s 23 playoff points and Denny Hamlin’s 19 — with more wins feeling imminent for both — represent significant advantages heading into the elimination rounds.

The concern extends even beyond points to momentum, though. Byron’s early-season performance proved his speed remains elite, but his summer slide — even with past history on his side — raises questions about whether the No. 24 team can recapture that form when elimination pressure mounts, as these past few weeks have displayed an uncharacteristic outward display of frustration for Byron.

There are few drivers generally more unshakeable in the series, however, and his track record suggests optimism. But the margin for error has narrowed considerably.

While history suggests he’ll rebound in the playoffs, the championship landscape has shifted around him with the field feeling significantly more wide open than even a month ago. The next seven races and beyond will determine whether his struggles represent strategic patience or championship-killing complacency.

The points leader’s early season crown may be slipping, but it hasn’t fallen off completely just yet.

Perhaps all it needs is an adjustment, and we’ll once again be toasting the king-in-waiting this weekend in Wine Country.

David Jensen | Getty Images

3. SVG dices up ‘difficult’ first round of playoffs

2025 Chicago Street Race winner Shane van Gisbergen gives his thoughts on the Cup Series Playoffs and how challenging the first-round gauntlet will be.

4. NASCAR Insights: Road-course edition

You won’t be surprised to see who’s at the top of the list for a handful of categories here, but there are some interesting names in the mix — some of whom are still looking for a playoff berth. (Credit: Racing Insights)

RankSpeedLong runPassingDefenseRestarts
1Shane van GisbergenShane van GisbergenShane van GisbergenJoey LoganoRyan Preece
2Kyle BuschChristopher BellChase BriscoeDenny HamlinChristopher Bell
3Chase BriscoeWilliam ByronKyle BuschBrad KeselowskiKyle Busch
4Michael McDowellChase ElliottRyan BlaneyBubba WallaceAJ Allmendinger
5Christopher BellAlex BowmanAJ AllmendingerRoss ChastainAlex Bowman
6William ByronMichael McDowellTyler ReddickWilliam ByronShane van Gisbergen
7Tyler ReddickKyle BuschChristopher BellTy GibbsRyan Blaney
8AJ AllmendingerTyler ReddickWilliam ByronRyan PreeceWilliam Byron
9Kyle LarsonChris BuescherTy GibbsAustin DillonTy Gibbs
10Chase ElliottChase BriscoeBubba WallaceChase BriscoeTyler Reddick

5. Catch the pack — news and notes from around the garage

Paint Scheme Preview: 2025 Sonoma Raceway weekend

Playoff standings: How national series fields shake up heading into Sonoma

Power Rankings: Is Allmendinger the next road ace to shake up playoff field?

NASCAR’s Moran breaks down caution on final lap at Chicago

Happy returns: ‘Epic’ grit from No. 88 crewman helps muscle SVG to Chicago triumph again

Bubba Wallace, Alex Bowman collide in Chicago scrap; cooler heads prevail

In-Season Challenge: Update after Round 2 at Chicago

Ty Dillon on messing with Brad Keselowski: ‘It flowed pretty well’

Ross Chastain, Joey Logano confront each other after Chicago run-in

How mechanical issues plagued McDowell’s Chicago run

Reddick, No. 45 team turn late strategy gamble into third-place finish at Chicago

Trackhouse owner Marks comments on Suárez’s departure: ‘It was time to move on’

@nascarcasm: Fake texts to Chicago winner SVG

Meg Oliphant | Getty Images
Posted on by Nate Ryan

After a 32-second lag in calling a caution for the heaviest front-end impact in the Next Gen era, NASCAR is re-evaluating its camera coverage for future street course races.

During the latest episode of the “Hauler Talk” podcast, NASCAR managing director of racing communications Mike Forde confirmed Cody Ware’s crash into the Turn 6 tire barrier on the penultimate lap of the Chicago Street Race was the heaviest recorded since the debut of the Next Gen car in 2021. The yellow flew on the last lap after Shane van Gisbergen had taken the white flag, negating the possibility of an overtime finish.

Forde said NASCAR officials weren’t immediately privy to the footage that showed Ware approaching the tire barrier at full speed. Race director Jusan Hamilton waited before triggering the caution because Cup drivers previously have been able to wriggle out after having their cars buried deep in a tire pack. Forde said the yellow began when Ware dropped his window net after being unable to reverse out of the tires.

Ware’s in-car camera showed the full-speed collision with the barrier, and Forde said if NASCAR officials had seen that angle, “a caution would have been immediately thrown, but all we saw at that moment in time was the car in the barrier.”

MORE: Caution flies in closing Chicago moments, SVG wins

Although NASCAR has access to all 40 in-car cameras, they aren’t monitored in real-time by race control. In the Turn 6 area where Ware’s collision occurred, there are two cameras to capture cars entering and exiting the corner. Forde said that because the No. 51 Ford was off line entering the turn, Ware was in a blind spot for the fixed camera (which is focused on the racing groove). The cameras monitored in real-time by race control picked up the car only after it had impacted the barrier.

Forde said NASCAR would evaluate improving coverage of Turn 6 by adding cameras in that area if NASCAR returns to the Chicago circuit next year. NASCAR also is building out an off-site race control in Concord, North Carolina, that could offer more support (such as increasing real-time monitoring of in-car cameras) in the future.

“When we say, ‘We missed it,’ it wasn’t that they weren’t watching that particular screen at the time,” Forde said. “When (Cup Series director) Brad Moran says we need to have that footage in the future, what he means is that coverage area needs to be expanded. If we come back to Chicago, the solution there is more cameras in different positions. That’s absolutely something that we need to keep our drivers safe, and something that will be put into place in the future.”

Forde said he confirmed with Hamilton that the timing of the caution for Ware’s wreck was unrelated to an approaching storm that might have caused major delays if the race had entered overtime.

“We have a system where if a lightning strike is within a certain number of miles, we’ll start getting text messages,” Forde said. “We started getting lightning alerts that the strikes were about 27 miles away but approaching us. So I asked (Hamilton) if we held that caution because it was going to be touch and go with a restart, and then we’d have to have a 30-minute hold or more. He said, ‘No, weather was not in my mind whatsoever in this decision at all. It strictly was, let’s see if the 51 can back out.”

Other topics covered by Forde and NASCAR senior director of racing communications Amanda Ellis during the 22nd episode of “Hauler Talk,” which explores competition issues in NASCAR:

— The pause before throwing a yellow flag after Josh Berry’s impact with the wall

— The battle between Alex Bowman and Bubba Wallace and whether NASCAR officiates differently for cars facing off during the In-Season Challenge

— Whether there would be penalties from the incident involving Joey Logano and Ross Chastain

— The details of a caution being called for a spectator medical emergency

— The future of the Chicago Street Race

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.

Posted on by Press Release

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Bowman Gray Stadium is back in action this Saturday night with its second Double Points Night this season, and a lot of money up for grabs.

The Brad’s Golf Cars Modified Series drivers will face a $9,000 Fans’ Challenge in the July 12 Traffic Control Safety Services 100.

One driver expected to take the Fans’ Challenge is Chris Fleming, who just won his first race this season on June 28, but now is looking to pad his wallet this weekend.

“Look, we’re not running for points,” Fleming said. “We’re here for our fans, and they deserve a good show.

“We finally cashed in on the speed we’ve been gaining, so I think we can cash that Fans’ Challenge check (on Saturday).”

Meanwhile, Burt Myers and Tim Brown will look to break their tie on top of the all-time Brad’s Golf Cars Modified Series wins list. Both had chances to get win No. 102 on June 28, but ran out of time to make a winning pass.

“That’s part of it,” Myers says, “you’re not going to win them all, but we’ve definitely had chances to win every race we’ve been in this year.”

Fans will also be treated to a parachute jump from the Special Forces Parachute Team, and one lucky fan will win a John Deere lawn mower.

Gates open at 6 p.m. Saturday night, with racing action to start at 8 p.m. Fans can get tickets online right now at www.bowmangrayracing.com. Tickets are $12 for adults and $2 for kids ages 6 to 11.

Posted on by Press Release

LANCASTER, New York — Racing is often a family affair — and this Saturday night at Lancaster Motorplex, fans will see that bond take center stage as NASCAR legend Ryan Newman and his daughter Brooklyn both make their Lancaster racing debut during the highly anticipated Nitro to NASCAR Weekend.

Newman, a Daytona 500 champion and NASCAR veteran, will strap into the iconic Mystic Missile for car owner Tim Connolly to compete in the Nu-Way Auto Parts 150 for the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour. The race marks Newman’s return to Tour competition and his first-ever start at Lancaster Motorplex.

“I’m excited to get behind the wheel of pretty much anything, but it seems the tour type modifieds have been my go to for the last couple of years,” said Ryan. “I’ll be piloting Tim Connolly’s Mystic Missile for the second time this year and look forward to racing at Lancaster.”

He shared even bigger news about the race weekend in Western New York.

“I’m excited to announce that not only will I be competing in the NASCAR Whelen Modified race at Lancaster Speedway this weekend, but also my daughter Brooklyn will be competing in a Sportsman modified,” added Newman.

The Lancaster Sportsman similar to the crate modified Brooklyn has been racing at the short tracks back home in North Carolina this season.

While Ryan gets set to chase victory in one of the Tour’s most storied cars, his daughter Brooklyn will also hit the track for the first time at Lancaster.

“Mikey Meyers [of Speed Enterprises Entertainment] and I have talked about this for a couple of years,” added Newman, “and he has been instrumental in getting Brooklyn a competitive car”

Brooklyn will compete in a Sportsman entry fielded by the championship-winning Rutherford Racing team, taking on some of Lancaster’s top weekly contenders. The Rutherford team has a long-standing record of success at the track.

The father-daughter duo will share this milestone moment together, each making their Lancaster debut on the same night.

“Having Ryan and Brooklyn Newman compete at Lancaster during our Nitro to NASCAR weekend adds even more excitement to an already strong event. Ryan’s a household name in racing, and it’s great to see Brooklyn making her own mark behind the wheel. Fans are in for a great show,” said Mike Myers of Speed Enterprises Entertainment, special consultant to Lancaster Motorplex.

The weekend kicks off Friday night, July 11, with nitro-powered action on the dragstrip as NHRA standout Scott Palmer brings his High Speed Fuel & Fun Show to town. The weekend kicks off with high-horsepower runs, standout performances, and competitive local drag racing action.

On Saturday, July 12, all eyes will shift to the oval as the Nu-Way Auto Parts 150 brings the stars of the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour to Lancaster. The card will also include a full lineup of local racing divisions, including the Sportsman, Street Stocks, and 4-Cylinders. Before the green flag drops, fans are invited to a special Pre-Race Pit Party from 6:15 to 6:45 p.m., where they can meet Tour drivers, collect autographs, and see the cars up close. The night closes with a fireworks presentation by Skylighters of NY.

Tickets are on sale now for both Friday and Saturday events at LancasterMotorplexNY.com.

Posted on by Staff Report

Nu-Way Auto Parts 150

Lancaster Motorplex

  • Entry list
Car No. Driver Team Crew Chief Chassis Mfg. Sponsor(s)
1 Patrick Emerling KPL Racing LLC Dale Hedquist LFR Fleetworks, Inc.
3 Tyler Rypkema Boehler’s Racing Equipment Greg Fournier Boehler Racing USNE; Northeast Drilling; J&R Pre-Cast
4 Ryan Newman Connolly Racing Tim Connolly FURY Race Cars TBD
7 Luke Baldwin Tommy Baldwin Racing LLC Tommy Baldwin PSR Products Baldwin Automotive
8 John-Michael Shenette Eighty-Two Autosport Scott Morin LFR USNE Power; Eighty-Two Services
14 Jake Lutz Advantage Motorsports Bill Putney LFR Advantage Trucks; Washtronic’s; Anastasi Trucking
18 Ken Heagy Christopher Fleming Greg Gorman FURY Race Cars TBD
21 Stephen Kopcik Wanick Motorsports Nick Kopcik Troyer Wanick Constructions, Inc.; Newtown Pools
22 Kyle Bonsignore Kyle Bonsignore Keith McDermott FURY Race Cars MTT; ChaLew Performance; Munns Auto
26 Gary McDonald Lakeland Avenue Landscape Supply Chad McDonald Chevrolet Lakeland Avenue Landscaping Supply
46 Craig Lutz Goodie Racing Douglas Ogiejko FURY Race Cars Riverhead Building Supply
51 Justin Bonsignore Kenneth Massa Motorsports, LLC Ryan Stone FURY Race Cars Phoenix Communications, Inc.
54 Tommy Catalano Catalano Motorsports Rick Kluth Troyer FX Caprara
56 Trevor Catalano Catalano Motorsports David Catalano Troyer USNE Power
59 Tyler Barry Jody Lauzon Billy Michael Chevrolet Pro Systems Integration; BNP Machine; West Wind Tree Farm
60 Matt Hirschman Pee Dee/Elite Motorsports Mike Stein Troyer Pee Dee Motorsports
64 Austin Beers KLM Motorsports Ron Yuhas Troyer G&G Electrical Supply, FastTrack Electrical, Dell Electric, Lumiere Electrical, Andrew James Interiors, AP Marquadt, Hughes M
77 Michael Christopher Jr. Mike Curb Gary Putnam Troyer Curb Records / Mohawk Northeast
84 Tyler Catalano Catalano Motorsports TBA Troyer Catalano Motorsports
165 George Skora III George Skora Jr TBA LFR Zamkro Homes; Paint Right; East Eden Tavern

 

Posted on by Staff Report

The NASCAR Xfinity Series heads to wine country and Sonoma Raceway on Saturday for the Pit Boss/FoodMaxx 250 (4:30 p.m. ET, The CW, PRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). The CW App will air Xfinity Series qualifying at 5:10 p.m. ET on Friday.

QUALIFYING ORDER: Cup Series | Xfinity Series 

The qualifying order below is determined via metric that combines the previous race finish by owner (70%) and current owner points position (30%).

Saturday’s qualifying session will be just one round, but drivers will be split into two groups with 20 minutes to turn a lap. Thirty-nine cars are entered into the field, meaning one will go home.

MORE: How to watch on The CW | Weekend schedule

# denotes series rookie
(i) denotes ineligible for driver point

Pos.Car No.DriverMetric ScoreGroup
153Sage Karam39.81
25Kris Wright39.51
335Austin J. Hill35.11
417Corey Day34.41
591Josh Bilicki34.11
618William Sawalich #34.01
742Anthony Alfredo32.11
839Ryan Sieg31.11
945Brad Perez30.91
1014Connor Mosack (i)28.41
1151Jeremy Clements28.31
1254Taylor Gray #27.41
1399Matt DiBenedetto26.81
1419Riley Herbst (i)26.61
1571Ryan Ellis26.51
164Parker Retzlaff25.21
1727Jeb Burton22.21
1828Kyle Sieg21.51
1931Blaine Perkins21.31
2070Will Rogers21.21
2110Daniel Dye18.72
2232Austin Green18.02
2320Brandon Jones17.12
247Justin Allgaier16.42
2507Alex Labbe16.22
2616Christian Eckes #15.32
2726Dean Thompson #14.92
2811Josh Williams14.02
2944Brennan Poole13.02
3025Harrison Burton13.02
311Carson Kvapil #13.02
329Shane van Gisbergen (i)11.22
338Sammy Smith7.02
3441Sam Mayer6.82
3548Nick Sanchez #6.52
362Jesse Love5.72
3700Sheldon Creed4.82
3821Austin Hill3.72
3988Connor Zilisch #2.02

 

Posted on by Staff Report

The NASCAR Cup Series will tackle Round 3 of the 2025 In-Season Challenge this weekend, with the rolling hills of Sonoma Raceway being the venue of choice on Sunday (3:30 p.m. ET, TNT Sports/truTV, HBO Max, PRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

QUALIFYING ORDER: Cup Series | Xfinity Series 

All 37 cars will have a chance to post a qualifying time Saturday (2:40 p.m. ET, truTV, PRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). Saturday’s qualifying session will consist of one round, split into two 20-minute groups. The groups below are determined via a metric that combines the previous race finish by owner (70%) and current owner points position (30%).

MORE: How to watch on TNT Sports | Weekend schedule

# denotes series rookie
(i) denotes ineligible for driver points

Pos.Car No.DriverMetric ScoreGroup
134Todd Gilliland35.61
26Brad Keselowski34.31
341Cole Custer33.31
43Austin Dillon33.01
54Noah Gragson30.91
677Carson Hocevar30.81
721Josh Berry30.41
871Michael McDowell29.31
947Ricky Stenhouse Jr.29.21
1051Cody Ware29.01
1199Daniel Suárez29.01
1224William Byron28.31
137Justin Haley24.71
1478Katherine Legge (i)24.41
1510Ty Dillon23.61
1623Bubba Wallace23.51
172Austin Cindric23.41
1843Erik Jones22.91
1935Riley Herbst #22.41
2019Chase Briscoe18.82
2120Christopher Bell18.62
2238Zane Smith17.02
2342John Hunter Nemechek16.52
2417Chris Buescher15.92
259Chase Elliott11.82
2622Joey Logano11.32
2712Ryan Blaney10.52
285Kyle Larson10.02
291Ross Chastain9.42
3060Ryan Preece9.12
3116AJ Allmendinger9.02
3288Shane van Gisbergen #8.82
338Kyle Busch8.62
3448Alex Bowman8.62
3554Ty Gibbs7.12
3611Denny Hamlin4.02
3745Tyler Reddick3.62
Posted on by Staff Report

The Cook Out Clash will return to Bowman Gray Stadium to open the 2026 season, NASCAR officials announced Wednesday.

The historic quarter-mile oval in Winston-Salem, North Carolina will host the season-opening exhibition race on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026, marking the second consecutive year the NASCAR Cup Series will compete in a non-points event at the venerable multi-purpose venue. The race will be broadcast by FOX Sports.

MORE: 2026 Clash ticket information | 2025 Cup schedule

Wednesday morning’s announcement included the news that Cook Out will return as the event’s entitlement sponsor. Details about the race procedures have not yet been announced. The 2025 format featured a 200-lap main event for a 22-car field, which was set after four qualifying heats and a Last Chance Qualifier.

“We wrote a new chapter in the storied history of motorsports at Bowman Gray Stadium with the Cook Out Clash this year,” said Joey Dennewitz, NASCAR Regional’s managing director. “As NASCAR’s first weekly race track, we are proud to bring the 2026 Cook Out Clash back to the original home to grassroots racing. Thanks to the City of Winston-Salem and Winston-Salem State University for their continued partnership at ‘The Madhouse.’ ”

NASCAR’s top division made its long-awaited return to the track in February after a nearly 54-year absence. Chase Elliott fended off Ryan Blaney in a contest between former Cup Series champs for a rousing Clash victory in front of a boisterous sold-out crowd.

The Clash’s Bowman Gray debut prompted a series of capital improvements to the facility, which was dedicated in 1938. Prime among those enhancements was the installation of a new MUSCO lighting system, which illuminated the stadium with a red glow for pre-race ceremonies this year. Officials also upgraded the well-worn guardrail with energy-absorbing SAFER (Steel And Foam Energy Reduction) Barrier.

RELATED: How to lock in your spot | Buy Bowman Gray gear now! 

Bowman Gray has been a crucial piece of NASCAR’s history, with weekly sanctioned race meets beginning on the grounds in 1949 and continuing to this day in the spring and summer months. That run includes Cup Series racing from 1958-1971, when a who’s who of NASCAR Hall of Famers dominated the list of feature winners.

“The City of Winston-Salem is deeply honored to have been chosen to host the 2026 Cook Out Clash,” said City of Winston-Salem Mayor Allen Joines. “The 2025 race was an immensely successful event for all parties involved. We will work hard to ensure that the 2026 Cook Out Clash is even more successful.”

The close-quarters style of racing on a flat oval around a football field led to the stadium’s nickname of “The Madhouse.” That label has also applied to the track’s “Madhouse Scramble” inversion format, plus the fireworks and temper-fueled antics that often stem from the facility’s on-track tendency for contact.

RELATED: Inside the history of ‘The Madhouse’ | Relive 2025 Clash in photos

The France family, NASCAR’s founders, have long been linked to the quarter-mile, partnering with promoter Alvin Hawkins in stock-car racing’s pioneer days to showcase and advance the sport. The Hawkins family ran the racing operations at the city-owned stadium for decades until NASCAR assumed the management duties in March 2024.

Before Ben Kennedy began his role as NASCAR executive vice president, chief venue and racing innovation officer, a highlight of his driving days was a come-from-behind ARCA Menards Series East victory at Bowman Gray in 2013. Kennedy’s grandfather, former NASCAR president Bill France Jr., also met his future wife Betty Jane Zachary at Bowman Gray in 1957.