To celebrate 75yearsworthof memories, the legendary Wood Brothers Racing team will be highlighted throughout the summer with “Wood Brothers Wednesdays”on The NASCAR Channel.
Wood Brothers Racing has been around since 1950, when Glen and Leonard Wood teamed up to pioneer a legacy that has transcended time.
Glen was behind the wheel of their car at Bowman Gray Stadium in 1960 and took the Wood Brothers Racing team to Victory Lane for the first time. The team scored its 101st NASCAR Cup Series victory in 2025, when Josh Berry took thecheckered flagat Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
Bookending those victories were triumphs everywhere from Daytona International Speedway to Darlington Raceway and everywhere in between. Twenty of NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers have piloted a car for the team throughout their storied history, one that is well worth celebrating.
This week, the schedule on The NASCAR channel will celebrate the 1970s, which saw David Pearson and the Wood Brothers team up for an incredible amount of success. Pearson piloted the No. 21 for the team from 1972 to 1979, capturing 43 victories along the way.
His success at Daytona and Darlington, two iconic tracks, will be highlighted throughout the day. Pearson won the 1973 and 1974 Rebel 500s at Darlington, as well as the 1976 Southern 500.
It was another big victory for Pearson, who had already won the Daytona 500 and the World 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, all on his way to a 10-victory season. Pearson’s victory in the 500-mile event came in thrilling fashion as he clashed with Richard Petty on the final lap. The two drivers made contact out of the fourth turn on the final lap, with Pearson and Petty slamming into the wall.
Petty’s car stopped in the infield short of the start/finish line, as his crew frantically sprinted across the infield to try to give him a push to get him going. Pearson got his car going and drove through the infield, passed Petty and grabbed the checkered flag with a heavily damaged race car.
The Daytona 500 will be one of the four full races from the 1970s on The NASCAR Channel, with the other three being Pearson’s three victories at Darlington.
Two additional pieces of content will be on the schedule that day, including “Memory Lane- Reliving the 1976 Daytona 500,” as well as a compilation celebrating the “Best of David Pearson.”
The NASCAR Channel delivers 24/7, always-on content, featuring the latest news and information from around the sport, original programming and race replays.
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Katherine Legge has raced anything and everything. Her storied career includes four Indianapolis 500 starts, most recently in 2024. She found success in sports cars, competing in multiple endurance classics, such as the Rolex 24 at Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring.
With last month’s Indy 500 not on Legge’s racing radar in 2025, she switched her attention to NASCAR. It’s a move that happened by chance, though she first felt the adrenaline of stock car racing in 2018, making four Xfinity Series starts for JD Motorsports.
She fell in love with stock cars immediately, with a best finish of 14th at Road America.
“I loved it and wanted to do more, I just didn’t know how to go about it,” Legge told NASCAR.com about her move to NASCAR. “I’m lucky that my sponsors pivoted with me and we’re all in on NASCAR.
“It was something that I felt incredibly passionate about doing. I have so much fun doing it and am so motivated. I’m working hard at it. I really want to make this home.”
The joy for Legge in her first go-around was jostling the heavy cars around road courses. Her oval debut in NASCAR came at Richmond Raceway in 2018, finishing 28th in a 40-car field.
“It’s super fun to drive the cars; you were wrestling with them the whole time,” Legge reflects on her initial voyage. “It’s like Champ Car — we had to wrestle those beasts around the track.
“[NASCAR is] not easy. It’s one of the hardest championships to chase in the world because of the strength and depth. There are so many good drivers over here that are widely versed in stock car racing.”
Legge began hunting for rides in February when the 2025 season began. She made her Cup debut for Live Fast Motorsports at Phoenix Raceway, though she was initially eyeing Circuit of The Americas one week prior as her first attempt. Her initial race didn’t go as planned as she was involved in multiple incidents and contacted Daniel Suárez in the process, ending his day.
“It was a big uphill battle, but I respect the challenge and am not blind that it is a challenge going in with a team that wants to set out to be a entry to people like me into Cup,” Legge said. “They know where they are at and what they want to achieve. It was going to be my first foray and fly under the radar and that didn’t happen. I wanted to use it to gain experience.”
Jonathan Bachman | Getty Images
After bowing out of full-time competition, Live Fast team owner BJ McLeod wants to turn his part-time entry into a developmental ride to help rising talent. He’s aware of Legge’s credentials and hopes to get her acclimated, with their next opportunity slated for Sunday at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City (3 p.m. ET, Prime Video, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
“It’s the toughest thing that she’s ever come across,” McLeod said of Legge adapting to the Cup Series. “I don’t know that she would tell you that, but I can tell you that the group of drivers that get to do [Cup] every week are truly some of the best drivers in the world. All of them are that good. Not one, not 20, not 30, all 36 or however many are there. They truly are that good, and it makes it extremely difficult for her because even if she’s equally as talented, she doesn’t get to race every week. She is the only part-timer that’s trying to get out there, get up to speed and she has very limited stock car experience.”
Chevrolet paired Legge with Jordan Anderson Racing in the Xfinity Series following her introduction to Cup racing. The goal was to get the England native more starts.
In addition to full-time drivers Jeb Burton and Blaine Perkins, Anderson occasionally fields a third entry. With limited on-track experience, he believes Legge has done a masterful job getting up to speed, even though the results would indicate otherwise.
“I know she’s been baptized through fire coming in this way,” Anderson said. “With [25] minutes of practice, it’s hard enough to learn a track, let alone a new car.
“The speed is there if we make her comfortable. I’ve been impressed with her time in the sim and how she adapts and the things she picks up, the time she has spent studying. This isn’t a fly-by-night project for her; she’s wanting to prove her worth and come in here and learn and do the right things.”
It was key that Legge diversified her schedule. She also wanted to run consecutively, beginning with NASCAR’s return to Rockingham Speedway. She failed to qualify, but the team struck a deal with Joey Gase Motorsports to field her. She led a lap in her second start at Talladega Superspeedway and was running midpack when she was collected in a multicar incident that began towards the front of the field. She has DNF’d in three of four starts and failed to qualify in the series’ most recent race at Nashville Superspeedway.
“It’s been good, bad and indifferent,” Legge said. “I have been taken out in every race in some form or another. The only one that I think was down to me was Phoenix, which started it all. After that, it’s been a lot of carnage.”
Sean Gardner | Getty Images
Legge is delighted that her two car owners are fellow racers with McLeod and Anderson. She has leaned on them, along with AJ Allmendinger, whom she’s known for two decades, and Xfinity veteran Justin Allgaier.
Compared to other racing series, Legge believes breaking into NASCAR is the hardest. She has limited oval starts and is going to new venues. The divisions are also stacked with established talent.
“NASCAR is especially challenging for the sheer number of good drivers,” Legge added. “It’s a tough beast to tame, but I’m up for the challenge.”
While overcoming multiple hurdles in Legge’s short NASCAR stint, she has learned plenty about herself. She is up for any racing task, though she believes she was humbled in some ways.
“I thought that I was a lot better than I am,” Legge admitted with a chuckle. “I have no doubt that I’ll get there. But how quickly? I thought I would drive the car a couple of times and then be up at the sharp end, but it’s taking a little longer than I anticipated.”
The next beast for Legge to tame is the Cup Series’ international debut at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez this weekend, again competing for Live Fast. Her second half of the season continues filling up, with Cup starts at the Chicago Street Race, Sonoma Raceway, Watkins Glen International and Richmond Raceway on the docket. She has a pair of Xfinity Series races left in the No. 32 car at EchoPark Speedway (formerly Atlanta Motor Speedway) and Indianapolis Motor Speedway, though she is trying to bulk up her racing allotment.
The goals for the upcoming events are to log laps and gain experience.
“Bottom line, I’m not going there looking to outpace anyone,” McLeod admitted. “What I’m expecting is to go there and give her a solid car so that she can learn and develop her skills and try to get her closer to reaching her goals.”
Legge hopes to go full time at some point in NASCAR, though she isn’t shutting the door on running the Indy 500 again.
In a Tuesday interview on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, Denny Hamlin said he would stay home and miss Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City if his fiancée hasn’t delivered their baby by the time he needs to leave.
Hamlin and fiancée Jordan Fish have been on baby watch for two weeks, with three-time Xfinity Series winner Ryan Truex waiting in the wings at both Nashville Superspeedway and Michigan International Speedway in case he needed to step into the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota.
Truex would be the reserve driver again for Sunday’s Viva Mexico 250 (3 p.m. ET, Prime Video, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) if Hamlin is unable to make the trip to the Cup Series’ first international points race since 1958.
“I said from the very beginning, if she hasn’t had it by the time I need to leave for Mexico, then I’m not going to go to Mexico,” Hamlin told SiriusXM. “I think that that’s the proper thing to do. But really, just letting her (Fish) call the shots. I think that’s the best thing. When her body and her mind says that it’s time, then that’s what we’ll do. And ultimately, I need to be there for her, during, post-(birth) and all those things. Just going to make sure I spend the proper time with her, and obviously the racing will come second this week.”
If he misses Sunday’s race, Hamlin would have to request a waiver to remain eligible for the Cup Series Playoffs and retain the 18 playoff points he has earned through three race wins and three stage wins this season. Ahead of the 2025 campaign, competition officials listed the birth of a child as one example of circumstances in which a driver could miss an event without forfeiting their playoff points or eligibility.
Entering Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, Hamlin sits third in the regular-season standings, trailing points leader William Byron by 82 markers.
After months of preparation and anticipation, NASCAR is all packed up and on its way south of the border for the Cup Series’ inaugural visit to Mexico City.
Haulers hit the road from the Michigan International Speedway garage Sunday night at approximately 7:30 ET, loaded with what they’ll need for Sunday’s Viva Mexico 250 at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez (3 p.m. ET, Prime Video, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio), the series’ first international points race since 1958. But in reality, this journey started months ago.
Since 2001, the Cup schedule has featured 38 races, a traveling circus moving week to week from race shops in North Carolina to race tracks across the United States and back again like clockwork. The routine became just that — routine — and can be taken for granted at times. Count this an exception.
Immense numbers of people throughout the NASCAR industry have been working tirelessly to properly coordinate a unique international effort.
NASCAR’s vice president of racing operations Tom Bryant and Steve Beres, managing director of racing operations, have been working full speed on this endeavor since February, though planning even began earlier. And while teams ultimately remain responsible for bringing their necessities, it’s the sanctioning body that must ensure everything goes as anticipated.
“We’re responsible for everything,” Bryant told NASCAR.com. ”It’s people. It’s equipment. It’s all the logistics to support all that. It’s security. It’s a ton of contingency planning because, hey, we are going to be way far away from our home base here, right? We’re not at North Wilkesboro, where we can run back down to Charlotte and grab pieces and parts. That’s not possible. So every aspect of the event weekend has to be planned for, coordinated, resourced and ready to go.”
This is where Bryant’s 21 years in the United States Army come in most handy. Serving from 1993-2014, Bryant was deployed multiple times to Iraq and Afghanistan.
“I like to think that the experience I had in moving a brigade from the 101st Airborne from Fort Campbell (in) Kentucky to Iraq, there were definitely some lessons learned during that that I was able to apply to this operation,” Bryant said. “And that’s been our approach to this. My approach to this, from a racing-ops standpoint, is this is an operation. It’s not an event. It’s not a race. It’s an operation. I’ve used a lot of the elements of the military decision-making process and the military planning process to put all this stuff together. It works really well. It’s proven and I just had to change a few words and back off some acronyms.”
One acronym that has remained relevant is PACE.
“We use the PACE method of planning,” he said, “meaning we have the Primary plan, an Alternate plan, a Contingency plan and an Emergency plan. So we’ve got three backups to the primary plan for everything we’re doing. The reality is I believe that most of the things we’ve planned will go off roughly how we’ve planned them. But there are going to be unforeseen incidents and things that occur that are going to force us to adjust. But we try to think through all of what those things could possibly be well in advance and plan for how we’re going to react to that so when it comes time to execute, we’re just performing.”
While Bryant headed planning, Beres has had his hands full handling all things related to teams’ haulers. A 28-year veteran of the Daytona Beach Police Department with 13 years spent on SWAT teams and seven years as deputy chief of police, Beres knows the coordination necessary to pull off significant feats — and significant it’s been.
“It’s been a fun project,” Beres said, “but then again, it’s been a stressful project because of the all the unknowns and just putting a little stuff together. We have 137 trucks going across, 284 drivers, and having to keep track of almost 2,400 different documents has been a challenge. It’s really been something that I don’t think NASCAR has ever taken on, but it’s been fun, and it’s going to be really exciting to see the final product.”
Zach Sturniolo | NASCAR Digital Media
Beres, seen Sunday morning at Michigan with arms folded as he oversaw the first actions on-the-ground, has taken one day off since March 1 — his birthday in late March — in preparation for this weekend’s upcoming event. He is responsible for bringing every truck across the border efficiently, he said, working with customs to ensure all permits are in order. What might be most arduous, though, are the manifests necessary for each and every hauler.
“Everything on-truck has to be documented in a manifest, and then it has to be documented both on a temporary form and a consumable form and a race-car form,” Beres said. “Everything has to be separate. We can only bring in stuff that’s coming back out. In other words, a pit box — we list that on one section of the manifest, and it comes out on that same section. A consumable — if I have a Sharpie marker or roll of tape, that has to be listed separately on different documents.
“It’s a very tedious and a very time-consuming process. And then dealing with every single team with their questions, trying to figure out what they can and can’t take and just working on it day in and day out, sometimes till midnight, every single day.”
One team with fewer questions than most is Hendrick Motorsports. In addition to its four-car Cup program, the organization fielded the Garage 56 entry in 2023 at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, meaning they needed to get the vehicle, parts, pieces, tools and more to France in order to compete.
“I think some of the shock of manifests and carnets and insurance stuff was probably slightly subdued for us just because of doing Garage 56, which was like almost identical, with having to have everything filled out in advance,” Ryan Glenn, Hendrick Motorsports’ team operations manager, said. “So truthfully, it wasn’t a big deal for us. We’re just not used to it collectively as an organization. Garage 56 was a smaller project. Mexico’s involving all four of our teams, right? So, little bit of a learning curve, but not a whole lot, just because our support team has already done it.”
At Front Row Motorsports, No. 4 crew chief Drew Blickensderfer carries previous experience with him into Mexico City. Blickensderfer served as crew chief for RFK Racing (then Roush Fenway) for three (2006-08) of the four years the NASCAR Xfinity Series raced in Mexico City.
“From my memory when I did it 19 years ago, we didn’t leave the week before like we are now,” Blickensderfer said. “We flew our own planes down there. It wasn’t chartered as a group. I think NASCAR has done a good job, and maybe it’s because it’s the premier series in the country versus the support series. But a lot more has gone into making sure we the teams stay together and get down there.”
Because the NASCAR Xfinity Series is also competing in The Chilango 150 on Saturday, June 14 (4:30 p.m. ET, The CW, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio), the unified journey to and across the border truly began Saturday. Since they were off last weekend, Xfinity teams departed from their shops Saturday, June 7, to arrive in Laredo, Texas on Sunday. Those 50 or so vehicles — race team, Champion and series haulers — crossed the border Monday morning and were planned to arrive in Mexico City on Tuesday.
On race-day morning at Michigan, Cup Series cars and equipment necessary to compete at Mexico were delivered to the track on reserve haulers. By 8:30 a.m., the haulers were parked and teams began the swap, rolling their Mexico primary cars, backup cars, spare tractor-trailer tires and more to the primary haulers while the Michigan backups were delivered to the reserve haulers. That meant teams’ Mexico cars had to be completed and ready for transport before Michigan.
“The last two weeks were definitely busier than normal,” Blickensderfer said. “The days off were limited for the road crew. They normally have a Monday off and then come in and work and load on Wednesday night or Thursday at noon. Now, it was come in on Monday all day, work more till 6 at night instead of 4:30 at night. And then on Thursday, show up and work some more to make sure we can get it out.
“But they’ll be able to get some of that back next week because the Mexico car is gone and maybe get ahead of Pocono, which will ease the next three weeks and kind of get some of that time back.”
Alex Daus | NASCAR Digital Media
After the checkered flag at Michigan, the cars that competed were loaded onto the reserve haulers and sent on their way back to North Carolina. The primary haulers — once cleared of any personal belongings from Michigan — began their journey southbound before 8 p.m.
The Cup convoy was set for a 24-hour drive to Laredo, arriving Monday night before crossing the border Tuesday morning and arriving in Mexico City in the early hours of Wednesday.
Unity has been imperative on all fronts. Longtime partners of the sport like Goodyear and Featherlite offered additional support, as did Stepp’s Towing Service.
“We’ve had so many folks who are a part of the industry who have been so helpful, who stood up and said, ‘Hey, how can we assist?’” Bryant said. “For instance, Goodyear is going to have a mobile maintenance team at our staging area in Laredo. So as we receive trucks from North Carolina and Michigan, if somebody’s got a tire issue, anything of that nature, they can fix it right there on-site before we cross the border. Featherlite is making the trip with us. They probably supplied 90-some-odd percent of the trailers that we’re hauling down there — we and the race teams.
“If there’s an issue, Stepp’s Towing (is) actually going to have a recovery vehicle in the very last convoy in case some catastrophic breakdown occurs. They can hook up a trailer and keep on rolling so we can make sure we get everybody to Mexico City. So really great collaboration amongst really important partners to make this happen.”
Because of the flashy nature of a traditional hauler — and dozens traveling together at once — these trailers tend to draw plenty of attention. Drivers are always prepared for those who want pictures or desire to get up close and personal with the haulers, dolled up with colorful sponsors and schemes visible on the road from afar. But precautions have been made to ensure everyone’s safety as well.
“I’ve made a few trips down to Laredo and met with U.S. Customs and Border Protection and with ANAM (the National Customs Agency of Mexico) and coordinated for that crossing,” Bryant said. “They’ve been just fabulous in trying to help expedite that process to get everyone across the border so we can get down there.”
The industry has also been helped immensely by partnering with Rock-It Cargo, a logistics company that specializes in big-time events like Formula One and Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour concerts, which accounted for 200 tractor-trailers worth of equipment.
This endeavor is guaranteed to be one for the history books. NASCAR’s premier series hasn’t competed for points outside the United States since 1958 at the Canadian National Exposition Speedway in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. That will change Sunday afternoon after a months long, exhausting but collaborative effort to see the NASCAR Cup Series and Xfinity Series stars shine on foreign soil.
“Knowing that we’re delivering NASCAR racing to this entirely new fan base in Mexico City and knowing that all the people back in the states who are fans are going to be watching this, that’s really cool,” Bryant said. “It really is a historic event. And at some point — I think probably after we’re done and we get that last vehicle back across the border — I’ll be able to take a breath and say, ‘Wow, that was cool.’ ”
It’s only a matter of time before Carson Hocevar takes the next step.
With a feather-ruffling racing style, the 22-year-old Spire Motorsports driver has taken the NASCAR Cup Series by storm, and while his 29th-place finish at Michigan International Speedway on Sunday might not look glamorous, the upside is astronomical.
“Absolutely, just a superstar when it comes to actual raw talent,” Michigan race winner Denny Hamlin said when discussing Hocevar. “When he figures out how to harness that, pick and choose the moments where he is aggressive, he’s going to put it all together and just be the next whoever. There’s five to six elite drivers in this field. He can be one of those five or six very easily when he puts it all together.
“He’s got all the tools to do it. He’s got all the pieces of the puzzle right in front of him. He has all the pieces. He’s not missing anything. It’s just when he figures out the riddle of how to put it together, he’s going to be a future star.”
The metrics illustrated just what Hocevar is capable of, especially during Sunday’s FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan, his home track. According to NASCAR Insights, the 2024 Sunoco Rookie of the Year victor tallied the top-ranked Passer Rating and Pit Crew Rating. With a fast No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet (more on the speed momentarily), Hocevar’s aggression played well on the passing front, wheeling his way to top-10 finishes in Stages 1 and 2 (10th in Stage 1, third in Stage 2). When fuel strategy was factored into the equation, a top-notch pit crew made the No. 77 stand out that much more.
The statistical success didn’t end there. With a third-ranked Defense Rating and seventh-best Restart Rating, Hocevar not only defended his top-10 track position but reclaimed it following competition yellows, especially during the race’s latter portion when fuel conservation became crucial.
A third-ranked Speed Rating, however, might be most impressive, with Hocevar capitalizing on clean air and leading 32 laps during the race’s final stage. While a left-rear tire issue caused Hocevar to falter with 19 laps to go, the overall performance cannot be overstated.
Two top fives, three top 10s, one pole and 70 laps led already in 2025, the sophomore driver has put the Cup Series on notice, and while the results haven’t yielded a race win yet, it’s just a matter of when for the rising star.
“You can’t run as fast as he’s running, being up front as much as he’s up front, without eventually winning,” Hamlin said. “I know that panic sometimes can set in. It’s like, God, we lost this opportunity. But he’s with a team that is on the rise. He is on the rise. It’s just a matter of time. None of us would be shocked if it’s next week or a month from now or whenever it is.”
Other notables from Sunday:
— A sixth-ranked Defense Rating, coupled with the 10th-best Restart Rating, helped net Zane Smith his second top 10 of 2025.
— Despite starting from the rear, Tyler Reddick’s second-ranked Restart Rating helped salvage a 13th-place finish.
— William Byron, who ran out of fuel coming to the white flag, ranked first or second in four of the five categories.
Denny Hamlin reminded everyone on Sunday in the Irish Hills that he still might be the best driver out there, but the 44-year-old knows those days are numbered. The No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing driver touted Spire Motorsports’ 22-year-old driver Carson Hocevar as a driver who can join NASCAR’s elite after he hangs it up (or sooner), but first, could No. 77 win his first Cup Series this weekend in the first premier series trip to Mexico City?
NASCAR.com’s Pat DeCola ranks the top 20 Cup Series contenders after the FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway and before the Viva Mexico 250 at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez (3 p.m. ET, Prime Video, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
Analysis: Byron dominated Michigan by leading 98 laps and sweeping both stages, but a late fuel miscalculation forced him to pit from the lead in the closing moments to drop him to 28th despite being the fastest car all day yet again. The championship front runner looks like a great bet to claim the series’ first international race this weekend as well. Byron has won at both Watkins Glen and COTA in the last two years and, with Hendrick’s overall road-course pedigree and recent history of successfully racing outside the country in Le Mans, remains the man to beat as the Cup Series heads to Mexico City for the first time.
Analysis: Hamlin sniped a textbook fuel-saving strategy win at Michigan, taking the lead in the closing laps for his third victory of the season and 57th of his career as he looks as dialed in as ever. Though his lone Cup Series road-course win came at Watkins Glen in 2016, No. 11’s experience and recent form make him a real threat on any layout, especially with prior Xfinity laps — and a victory — at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.
Analysis: Larson methodically worked his way to a fifth-place finish at Michigan, collecting crucial stage points and keeping his title chase on track despite a chaotic past month-plus for him. With six career Cup road-course wins — two each at Sonoma, Watkins Glen and the Charlotte Roval — his raw talent and adaptability make him a top contender for Mexico City’s technical challenge and unknowns.
Analysis: Bell battled traffic and pit cycles at Michigan to finish 16th, salvaging points on a day when he lacked front-running speed. Already a three-time Cup road-course winner, including COTA this year, Bell’s precision and recent success on these circuits bode well for NASCAR’s first premier series trip to Mexico City.
Analysis: Elliott ran up front and led laps at Michigan before a pit penalty and late strategy left him 15th at the flag. Still the active leader with seven Cup road-course wins, Elliott’s smooth style and elite track record on left-and-right circuits make him a perennial favorite, even at a brand-new venue.
Analysis: Reddick charged from the rear at Michigan, running in the top five before pit strategy shuffled him to 13th at the finish. With three Cup road-course wins at three different tracks and consistent top-10 speed on these layouts, he’s well suited to the unique demands of Mexico City.
Analysis: Blaney showed top-10 speed at Michigan and earned stage points, but a brush with the wall and spin left him 32nd after a promising run unraveled. He owns a Cup road-course win at the Charlotte Roval and, with Penske’s road-course strength, should bounce back quickly on the international stage.
Analysis: Chastain delivered a steady Michigan performance, picking up stage points and surging to sixth by the checkers. His aggressive style netted him a win at COTA in 2022 and he’s got double-digit top 10s on road courses, making him a potential disruptor in Mexico City’s tight corners.
Analysis: Wallace turned in one of his best drives of the year at Michigan, running top 10 throughout and finishing fourth for his best result since COTA at a much-needed time. While road courses haven’t historically been his strength, his steady improvement and newfound confidence could pay off at a track where everyone is learning on the fly.
Analysis: Logano struggled with handling at Michigan, finishing 22nd after never finding the pace to contend and walking out with just 15 points. He’s a past road-course winner at Watkins Glen and, with Team Penske looking to rebound off a rough showing in an important race for the organization, remains capable of a bounce-back as the series heads to a new challenge, which he’s tended to capitalize on in the past.
Analysis: Buescher surged late at Michigan to finish second after an overall excellent weekend for him to claim his best result of the season, and added a stage win on top. With a breakthrough Cup road-course win at Watkins Glen last year and his overall prowess on these tracks in the Next Gen era, he’s a legitimate contender for Mexico City, especially with RFK’s recent uptick in form.
Analysis: Briscoe started on the pole for the third straight week and ran top five early at Michigan, but faded to 23rd as handling issues set in. He’s a former Xfinity road-course winner with solid Cup runs on technical tracks, so don’t be surprised if he outperforms expectations in Mexico and finally maximizes the speed in his No. 19 Toyota.
Analysis: As expected, Busch snapped a slump with a solid eighth at Michigan for his first top 10 since Darlington after starting on the front row and running in the top 10 all day. A four-time Cup road-course winner and former Xfinity victor at Mexico City, Busch’s experience and racecraft could make him a contender if he keeps the mistakes at bay.
Analysis: Preece put together one of his best races of the season at Michigan, finishing ninth after running in the top 10 for much of the afternoon in a banner day for RFK. He’s shown flashes on road courses and will need to rely on that versatility to keep climbing the standings as the playoff hunt intensifies.
Analysis: Hocevar was in the mix for a career-best Michigan finish and potential first Cup win before a blown tire ended his day in 29th, erasing a shot at history. He continues to impress — along with incensing his peers — and his adaptability and aggression could turn a level playing field in Mexico City into him celebrating on an international stage.
Analysis: Bowman’s Michigan race ended early after being collected in a multicar crash, marking his seventh finish of 25th or worse in the last nine races. He did win last year’s Chicago Street Course race, so if he can shake off the bad luck, his road-course chops could shine in Mexico.
Analysis: Cindric was strong in Stage 2 at Michigan but faded to 31st after late-race issues. A former Xfinity road-course ace, Cindric’s technical skills make him a sleeper pick for Mexico City as he looks to regain some momentum.
Analysis: Berry quietly worked his way to 12th at Michigan, continuing a steady run to the playoffs with a win already in hand. He’s still learning the Cup road-course ropes, but being affiliated with Penske for weekends like this certainly doesn’t hurt.
Analysis: Allmendinger finished 17th at Michigan after a nondescript day, but his Cup road-course résumé — three wins at three different tracks — makes him a perennial threat when the series turns right. Expect him to be aggressive and opportunistic in Mexico City, where his experience could be a difference-maker and his spot in the playoffs could be there for the taking.
Analysis: Jones continued his recent uptick in speed and turned in an 11th-place Michigan finish, running inside the top 10 for stretches and showing Legacy’s improvement. While he’s not a frequent road-course frontrunner, his veteran savvy and momentum could help him capitalize on the unknowns in Mexico.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – One of the most iconic titles in Late Model Stock Car racing just got a major upgrade. FloSports and NASCAR today announced that they will contribute $50,000 to the purse for the Virginia Triple Crown raising the overall champion purse to $20,000 – making it the richest prize in the event’s storied history. FloRacing will now also be the presenting partner of the Virginia Triple Crown.
FloRacing, has established itself as the nation’s leading destination for live and on-demand grassroots motorsports coverage and a significant investor in the success of regional racing. With FloRacing on board, this year’s Virginia Triple Crown isn’t just bigger – it’s bolder, better, and more competitive than ever.
“We’re thrilled to partner with NASCAR to elevate the Virginia Triple Crown to a whole new level,” said Michael Rigsby, GM of FloRacing. “Late Model racing has long been a core focus for FloRacing, and this partnership lets us invest directly in the drivers, teams, and fans who make it so special. We can’t wait to showcase this incredible three-race showdown to a national audience.”
“The Virginia Triple Crown is a celebration of short track culture – where many of NASCAR’s top stars got their start,” said Joey Dennewitz, managing director, NASCAR Regional. “With the support of FloRacing, we’re amplifying the reach and prestige of each event, creating more excitement for fans and more opportunity for drivers. It’s exactly the kind of grassroots investment that strengthens the future of our sport.”
The new payout structure extends to the top 10 finishers in the Virginia Triple Crown standings, up from just three in previous years:
1st – $20,000
2nd – $10,000
3rd – $7,500
4th – $5,000
5th – $2,500
6th–10th – $1,000 each
All payouts will be distributed following the final leg of the crown – the ValleyStar Credit Union 300 at Martinsville Speedway on Sept. 27.
The Virginia Triple Crown presented by FloRacing is determined by average finish across three of the region’s crown jewel events:
June 28 – Thunder Road Harley-Davidson 200 at South Boston Speedway
July 19 – Hampton Heat at Larry King Law’s Langley Speedway
September 27 – ValleyStar Credit Union 300 at Martinsville Speedway
To be eligible for the championship and prize money, drivers must compete in all three events.
“With FloRacing’s involvement in the Virginia Triple Crown, what was already a most sought-after achievement for the drivers to win, at three of the most storied tracks in NASCAR, has a much larger presence,” said Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell. “While this extra incentive will attract more competitors, really, the fans are going to benefit. It’s hard for me to imagine the great racing and drama they will see at South Boston, Langley and Martinsville, whether in person at the track or watching on FloRacing. I’m looking forward to seeing who comes away with the Virginia Triple Crown when the checkered flag drops on the ValleyStar Credit Union 300 on September 27.”
“We’re excited to see the Triple Crown elevated to even greater heights this year and reward drivers who race all in three races,” said South Boston Speedway General Manager Brandon Brown. “We take so much pride in kicking off the Virginia Triple Crown at South Boston Speedway. Our race sets the tone every single year and this year it will mean more than ever. A great run in the Thunder Road Harley-Davidson 200 will be vital to anyone who wants to take home all the money after Martinsville.”
Larry King Law’s Langley Speedway owner and operator Bill Mullis said the sponsorship from FloRacing brings added prestige and value to the Triple Crown.
“This sponsorship adds to the already storied history of the Virginia Triple Crown and brings even more realization to its value and the value the Triple Crown has brought to Late Model Stock Car racing all these years,” Mullis remarked.
“I’m excited to be a part of this, knowing its humble beginnings. The tie between South Boston, Langley and Martinsville is so strong, and this makes it stronger.”
Past Triple Crown champions read like a who’s who of Late Model greatness, including:
Established in 2012, the Triple Crown has been a consistent proving ground for top-tier Late Model talent, paused only in 2016 and 2020.
Fans can watch every lap of the Virginia Triple Crown presented by FloRacing live or on demand with a FloRacing subscription at www.floracing.com or via the FloRacing app.
This summer, three tracks. Three races. One crown.
For the first time in 17 years, the NASCAR Xfinity Series is back in action in Mexico City with the Chilango 150 on Saturday (4:30 p.m. ET, The CW, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
Several Cup Series regulars will be in the field, including Daniel Suárez, who will run the No. 9 JR Motorsports Chevrolet. Joe Gibbs Racing drivers Christopher Bell and Ty Gibbs will also join the mix, as well as Truck Series rookie and Mexico City native Andrés Pérez de Lara.
Forty cars will be allowed to race in this weekend’s event, two more than the usual maximum of 38.
The wait is over with the Cup Series’ highly anticipated event in Mexico City as the series travels south to the road course of Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez for the inaugural Viva Mexico 250 on Sunday (3 p.m. ET, Prime Video, MRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
The road course battle is the second of three races in the quest to set the bracket for the 32 drivers competing in the In-Season Challenge that begins June 28 at EchoPark Speedway (formerly Atlanta Motor Speedway).
Katherine Legge makes the second Cup start of her career this weekend, once again piloting the No. 78 Chevrolet for Live Fast Motorsports.
