See where your favorite driver will pit during Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series HighPoint.com 400 at Pocono Raceway (2:30 p.m. ET, USA, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, NBC Sports App).
RELATED: Starting lineup | Key story lines, news | At-track photos
LONG POND, Pa. — Justin Haley will be driving for Rick Ware Racing in 2024, a move away from Kaulig Racing, where’s spent the majority of his NASCAR career.
The decisions behind Haley’s departure were made mutually by Haley and Kaulig leadership, Haley and team president Chris Rice said Saturday at Pocono Raceway. Ultimately, sponsorship was the overriding factor that led Haley away from the No. 31 Chevrolet at year’s end and into one of RWR’s two Ford as a full-time competitor beginning in 2024.
MORE: Full details on Haley’s signing | Pocono schedule
“Everyone was working on getting a deal done,” Haley said of Kaulig Racing. “None of us gave up on each other and we won’t the rest of the year. It’s just where the sport’s at. You know, I think that it’ll probably work out for the better for them to have a driver with a little bit more backing behind them and help them out in that way. And I think Rick took an opportunity on me and I took an opportunity on him.
“And honestly, it’ll probably work out for the best. But I’m excited to stay with Kaulig for the rest of the season and finish it off. I mean, there’s absolutely no bad blood. You know, it’s just not like I left on bad terms or they fired me or anything. I mean, it’s just business.”
Haley, 24, has won four races with Kaulig Racing, all in the Xfinity Series and all at superspeedways — two each at Daytona and Talladega. His lone Cup triumph came in a rain-shortened race at Daytona in 2019 while driving for Spire Motorsports.
Entering Sunday’s HighPoint.com 400 at Pocono (2:30 p.m. ET, USA Network, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, NBC Sports App), Haley sits 21st in points, 46 points beneath the elimination line to qualify for the 16-driver playoff grid with six races remaining in the regular season. Full-time in Cup for just the second year, Haley has totaled four top fives and nine top 10s in his past 56 starts dating back to the start of the 2022 season.
“We love Justin. Justin has done a really good job for us, won a lot of races for us, and we’re gonna miss him for sure,” Rice said. “But he’s still a part of the Kaulig family. We look at Ross Chastain in the same way. We feel like he’s still part of the family. So happy for Justin to continue his tenure in Cup racing. And you never know what, down the road, he might be back with us.
“We’ve had (sponsor) Leaf Filter Gutter Protection for so long, and they’ve done a lot of races and been a big supporter of Justin Haley’s and still are. So yeah, the door wasn’t closed. It wasn’t like, hey, anybody got fired or anything like that. It was just we both had to make a tough decision, Hey, we’ve gotta move a different direction and looking at things for partners in different avenues. So yeah, I think him making his move was because of us telling him that.”
MORE: What to Watch: Pocono | At-track photos
Haley emphasized his relationships with Rice and team owner Matt Kaulig are still well intact. And while he’s moving on from a team he’s plenty familiar with, a new opportunity has the Indiana native ready for a fresh start at a Rick Ware Racing team in the midst of its own revamp.
“Obviously, he’s a businessman and he’s making business decisions,” Haley said of Kaulig. “And I think we were close to doing a deal. I feel like it was a probable option. I feel like I had a few deals. And Rick just kept coming and calling and just gave me a really good deal. And I believe in what they’ve been able to do, especially with the RFK (Racing) alliance.”
Indeed, RWR moved not just onto RFK Racing’s campus for the 2023 season but into its shop. RFK co-owner and driver Brad Keselowski and team president Steve Newmark were present during Haley’s conversations with RWR as well.
“Brad Keselowski and Steve over at RFK were very helpful in my decision process. They were convincing as well,” Haley said. “So I think with our alliance with RFK, Rick Ware … I think maybe on the surface, it might look like an odd move. But there’s a lot more depth to it than you might think.”
Rick Ware Racing has long paid its dues as an underfunded team with an array of drivers behind the wheel, looking to gain experience as a team with its two chartered entries. Team president Robby Benton brought in former car owner and Daytona 500 winning crew chief Tommy Baldwin Jr. earlier this year as the team’s competition director, and the results seem to be paying off. JJ Yeley scored a seventh-place finish two weeks ago at Atlanta Motor Speedway, and Cole Custer was battling inside the top 20 last week at New Hampshire Motor Speedway — marked improvements after years of struggling to break into the top 30.
“I don’t wanna speak (for) Rick, but I think he wants to kind of change the narrative of where he is at on the NASCAR side of things,” Haley said. “And signing a driver like me full-time I think is going to be great for the organization. Obviously, he mentioned that I take care of race cars to the best of my ability and don’t cause a lot of on-track collisions, and that’s big for smaller team. … I just think I think it’s a good fit over there.”
A driver feud that bubbled up years ago at Pocono Raceway found a happy resolution in the same place Saturday, benefiting both goodwill in the NASCAR Cup Series garage and a pair of good causes.
Kevin Harvick presented Joey Logano with a $12,000 donation from one driver’s foundation to the other’s on Saturday. The gift came from T-shirt sales from Harvick’s merch store, with proceeds going to — it turns out — both charitable groups.
The shirts read: “I wear the fire suit in this family,” a play on Logano’s jab toward Harvick and his wife, DeLana, after the two drivers had an on-track run-in during the 2010 season at Pocono. At the time, DeLana Harvick was regularly seen atop her husband’s team’s pit box with a team fire suit, something that the 20-year-old Logano made light of in his remarks after a fiery post-race confrontation.
RELATED: Inside Logano-Harvick rift from 2010
The Harvicks made T-shirts to mark the occasion back in 2010 and recently brought them back in recognition of memorable moments from Kevin Harvick’s career as he navigates his final Cup Series season. The two drivers have become Cup Series champions since then and have long since overcome their differences.
When Logano ran a Shell/Pennzoil throwback to a former Harvick paint scheme from that era, Logano’s wife, Brittany, wore a fire suit in the design’s reveal and on pit road at Darlington Raceway in 2019. Earlier this week, Harvick’s Stewart-Haas Racing team had its own take on the remembrance, putting the driver’s 5-year-old daughter, Piper, in charge of the No. 4 car at the team’s shop.
Both were able to again share a laugh in looking back on their dust-up Saturday while raising funds for their philanthropic efforts. Fittingly, the Logano family was decked out in matching shirts when Harvick made the presentation.
"I wear the firesuit in this family". The phrase that keeps on giving. Right @DeLanaHarvick!?
I had fun surprising @joeylogano with a check from t-shirts sales!#4TheKids @thekhfoundation @JoeyLoganoFDN pic.twitter.com/2DLmEPx22W
— Kevin Harvick (@KevinHarvick) July 22, 2023
Sunday’s HighPoint.com 400 (2:30 p.m. ET, USA, NBC Sports App, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) is set to be Harvick’s final Pocono start. Harvick is scheduled to start fourth in the No. 4 Mustang, with Logano sixth in the No. 22 Team Penske Ford.
Logano reflected on the gesture from Harvick and his foundation before his qualifying effort.
“Well, I’m glad we figured it all out,” Logano said, looking back to what was just his second full year of Cup Series competition. “So here’s the thing, you sometimes grow up in front of everybody. And yeah, Kevin wrecked me that day, and I was mad about it. I probably shouldn’t have brought his wife into the middle of it or made it that personal, but the fact that they made a joke out of it and Kevin and I get along really well now, and to see his kids all involved, they just came over to our bus and gave us a donation to our foundation, the Joey Logano Foundation, and he gave the kids all the ‘I wear the fire suit in the family’ T-shirts and all. So it’s become a fun joke between us now. I still regret saying it, but at least some good things came out of it. They raised a bunch of money for their foundation, and they paid it forward to us, so that’s pretty special. That’s cool.”
Said Harvick: “Joey and I have a good relationship. The thing that I like about Joey is he’s so involved in the sport, he’s all-in. Really since we’ve gotten to know each other over the past several years and having to work on a lot of the same things to help him improve the sport, and as we went down the list of races, that ‘I wear the firesuit’ moment obviously came up. And I talked to Joey before we did everything, and I said, ‘Hey, would you want to play along?’ and he’s always game for stuff like that. We just felt like it would be the right thing to do after all these years to make a nice donation to his foundation.
“He’s always, if there’s something going on, he’s gonna call me, and I’m gonna call him, and we’ll race each other hard, but I think as you look at that, it was just a good moment to look back on something that we all laugh at, and I think as we go forward, a good opportunity to donate to his foundation.”
Hendrick Motorsports’ William Byron earned his third pole position of the year Saturday at Pocono Raceway and will lead the NASCAR Cup Series field to green in Sunday’s HighPoint.com 400 (2:30 p.m. ET, USA Network, NBC Sports App, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
Byron’s time of 57.746 (170.235 mph) in the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet was .122-second quicker than his championship rival Martin Truex Jr. in Busch Light Pole Qualifying at the unique three-turn, 2.5-mile Pocono track and places the current two title leaders alongside one another for the race start.
RELATED: Sunday’s starting lineup | Weekend schedule
Joe Gibbs Racing’s Truex – the 2017 series champion – has two previous wins (2015 and 2018) at Pocono while the 25-year-old Charlotte native Byron is still racing for his first.
“Big thanks to all the guys back at the shop for working hard and getting our cars close, I’m proud of this one,’’ said Byron, who leads the series with four wins and is currently 17 points behind Truex for the regular season championship. “Definitely tomorrow’s a long day so re-hydrate and re-group. I’ve had a long week of racing so hopefully tomorrow is a good result for us. It would be nice to get a win.’’
Tyler Reddick set the NASCAR Cup Series pace all day in his No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota – fastest overall in practice and first-round qualifying – but he will start seventh on the grid. His teammate Bubba Wallace was quickest in Group A qualifying but brushed the wall during his final-round qualifying lap and will start 10th.
Hendrick Motorsports’ Kyle Larson and Stewart-Haas Racing’s Kevin Harvick will start on the second row, followed by Joe Gibbs Racing’s Christopher Bell and Team Penske’s Joey Logano, the reigning series champion.
Reddick will line up alongside his team co-owner, JGR driver Denny Hamlin on Row 4. Team Penske’s Austin Cindric and Wallace comprise Row 5, rounding out the top-10 qualifiers.
Chase Elliott and Todd Gilliland each spun during their opening-round qualifying laps, with both drivers losing control through Turn 2. Elliott’s No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet escaped without any barrier contact, but Gilliland grazed the outside retaining wall with the left-rear corner of his No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford. Elliott, last year’s Pocono winner, will join Gilliland in starting at the rear of the field trying to defend his trophy and more importantly, earn a position in the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs.
There are six races remaining to set that 16-driver playoff field. Elliott missed six races due to a combination of injury and a one-race NASCAR suspension and is 60 points behind Michael McDowell in that 16th-place transfer position.
Hamlin is tied with NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon for most wins (six) in Pocono history. There has not been a repeat winner in the last six Pocono races.
Reddick sets pace in Pocono practice
Tyler Reddick was fastest in NASCAR Cup Series practice at Pocono Raceway, rolling to the top of the leaderboard in Saturday afternoon’s preliminary session.
Reddick’s No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota posted a best lap of 168.596 mph in the second of two 20-minute sessions, which divided the 36-car field into two groups.
MORE: At-track photos: Pocono
Kyle Busch registered the second-fastest lap at 168.483 mph in the No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet. William Byron was third, followed by Kyle Larson and points leader Martin Truex Jr. in the top five of the practice leaderboard. Denny Hamlin, a six-time Pocono winner, was fastest in Group A and seventh-fast overall.
Chris Buescher caused the only stoppage of the combined practice runs when his No. 17 RFK Racing Ford spun through Turn 1 early in Group B action. He ended up with the sixth-fastest speed overall.
Contributing: Staff reports
Only one race remains before the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Playoffs begin at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park — and only 10 drivers will be in contention for the title.
So far, through the season’s first 15 races, there have been six winners who claim points in the Truck Series, meaning that at least three of the playoff spots will be earned via the points path. Drivers on the outside looking in or just above the elimination line will have a huge test next Saturday at Richmond Raceway (7:30 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) that could make or break their championship hopes.
Take a look at the current playoff picture below to see who is in and who is out after the results from Pocono Raceway.
| DRIVER | PLAYOFF STATUS | PROJECTED POINTS | LAST RICHMOND FINISH |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corey Heim | Locked in (two wins) | 2030 | 5th (2022) |
| Zane Smith | Locked in (two wins) | 2024 | 9th (2022) |
| Christian Eckes | Locked in (two wins) | 2019 | 8th (2022) |
| Grant Enfinger | Locked in (two wins) | 2019 | 4th (2022) |
| Carson Hocevar | Locked in (two wins) | 2016 | 10th (2022) |
| Ben Rhodes | Locked in (one win) | 2013 | 18th (2022) |
| Ty Majeski | Locked in (points) | 2008 | 3rd (2022) |
| Nick Sanchez | Not locked in | 2004 | First Truck Series start |
| Matt DiBenedetto | Not locked in | 2003 | 17th (2022) |
| Matt Crafton | Not locked in | 2002 | 7th (2022) |
| ELIMINATION LINE | |||
| Stewart Friesen | Outside looking in | Missing the playoffs | 11th (2022) |
| Tanner Gray | Outside looking in | Missing the playoffs | 16th (2022) |
RELATED: Projected Truck Series Round of 10 | Remaining schedule, tickets
CURRENT LAST IN
Matt Crafton. The three-time Truck Series champion has been a part of the playoffs every year since its inception in 2016. Missing out on the postseason could be a sign of the surging youth movement in the lower series and perhaps a changing of the guard. Crafton has finished the season top-six in points six times in the last eight seasons, including his 2019 championship run. But over the last three seasons, the wins have eluded him. His last trip to Victory Lane came in July 2020 at Kansas Speedway, leaving him fending for his life on points during his last three runs to the postseason. While impressive, it is clearly getting harder for him to sustain this success without reaching Victory Lane. Only nine points above the elimination line, one shaky performance could leave him on the outside for the first time in his career.
CURRENT FIRST OUT
Stewart Friesen. One of the longest-tenured veterans of the series, Friesen won his way into the playoffs last year with a phenomenal performance at Texas Motor Speedway. And though he has yet to rekindle that winning flame, he sits within striking distance of Crafton for the final spot in the Round of 10. That has to be nerve-wracking for both drivers to be so close. That means every single position on the track matters. Friesen got off to a slightly shaky start this season but found nice form with two top four-finishes in a stretch of three races, both coming at pretty difficult tracks in World Wide Technology Raceway and Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. But he lost some ground after a 32nd-place result at Pocono Raceway, leaving him still on the outside of the picture. But he can still make up the points.
CURRENT NEXT DRIVER OUT
Tanner Gray. Gray was in prime position with a strong truck Saturday at Pocono but faltered on Lap 4 and had an early exit after a big crash. On the bright side, that clears up the goal for Gray and the team next week in Virginia: they need to win. But that’s easier said than done. Gray now sits 47 points below the elimination line and will need to pull off the best performance of his career next weekend. It’s not completely out of reach if they can start with the speed they flashed early at the “Tricky Triangle.”
THE REIGNING CHAMP
Zane Smith. Compared to Smith’s pretty dominant title run a season ago, his numbers have been down a bit in the regular season. Nonetheless, he is locked in and is in a comfortable position to defend his Truck Series championship. The rising star and high-value prospect turned it on last year at IRP, the site of this year’s Round of 10 opening race. Jumpstarted by a third-place run in Indianapolis, Smith went on to finish six of the final seven races inside the top 10 — a remarkable run. He has already proven that he knows how to perform when the pressure is on, so he will be among the top contenders and attempt to be the one who earns back-to-back titles in the Truck Series for the first time since Matt Crafton in 2014.
HEY, ROOKIE
Nick Sanchez. If you look back at the above standings, you’ll see only one rookie in the projected playoff field. That tells you everything you need to know about Sanchez’s talent and consistency. Despite narrowly missing out on Victory Lane a couple of times this season, seven top-10 finishes in the first 14 races — including four straight — had him sitting nicely in the playoff picture on points. But an unfortunate error at Pocono left him with damage after starting on the pole position, going on to finish outside the top 15. If he can bounce back at Richmond, the 22-year-old ARCA Menards Series champion could be a serious contender to make the Championship 4 in Phoenix. But just 21 points above the daunting elimination line, one more slip-up could mean the end of his title opportunity.
—
MORE: See every Truck Series winner in 2023 | List of past series champions
Looking at the current standings, Chase Purdy is the third driver out, 54 points below the elimination line. It is all but guaranteed that he and the swarm of other hopefuls below him will have to find their way to the Winner’s Circle in the final competition of the regular season, and it will be a tight race to the finish.
In what was both a thrilling and historic afternoon at Pocono Raceway, Kyle Busch earned a hard-fought win in Saturday’s CRC Brakleen 150 with a last-lap pass for his Kyle Busch Motorsports team’s milestone 100th series victory in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.
Busch made a daring move low on series championship leader Corey Heim in Turn 2 — “The Tunnel Turn” — of the 2.5-mile track, got around cleanly and motored off to a 0.604-second win in the No. 51 KBM Chevrolet to at last secure that unprecedented 100th victory for his decorated team. It marks the second win of the year in five truck starts for Busch, 38, a two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion.
RELATED: Race results | Weekend schedule
“It’s pretty cool, we’ve been around for a long time, but it’s been fun,” said Busch, who now has 64 Truck Series wins, including three at Pocono. “A great ride. Obviously, this [Chevrolet] Silverado today was really, really fast, just mired in traffic. Couldn’t find a way to make a clean move, so had to make a little bit of a racey one, a little bit of a dicey one there at the end, getting into (turn) two. Heim ran a great race. We just needed this hundredth win to get it over with.
“Really proud of the guys and everybody at KBM,’’ he said, adding, “It’s a monumental day, a century mark of being able to win a hundred truck races. We’re a small team, just one that performs in the truck series.’’
WATCH: Kyle Busch discusses milestone win for KBM
Eighteen drivers contributed to that grand win total for Kyle Busch Motorsports – including Heim, who finished runner-up to his former boss on Saturday after leading a race-best 27 of the 60 laps.
“Just unreal,’’ said Heim, who holds a 42-point lead over Zane Smith atop the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship heading into the regular-season finale next week at Richmond Raceway.
“I felt like I did everything right,’’ continued Heim, who drives the No. 11 Tricon Garage Toyota. “Seemed like we had about five laps in the truck before it started tightening up really bad on me. I really did get the run I wanted out of (Turn) 1 and knew his straightaway speed was really good. I was a little upset initially, but realistically, I would have done the exact same thing. Heat of the moment deal there.
“Looking back on it, I’ve just got a lot of respect for Kyle. I raced for him for two years, and he was really good to me and raced me with respect today. He’s a hard racer and didn’t wreck us for the win, and I probably would have done the same thing. Really sucks, really thought we had it there.’’
Heim’s Tricon Garage teammate Taylor Gray finished a career-best third place with another NASCAR Cup Series full-timer, Christopher Bell, in fourth place in the Hattori Racing Enterprises No. 61 Toyota. Grant Enfinger rounded out the top five in the No. 23 GMS Racing Chevrolet.
Ty Majeski, Christian Eckes, Dean Thompson, 2021 series champion Ben Rhodes and Matt DiBenedetto completed the top 10 on Saturday.
It was Heim’s closest championship challenger who dominated early at Pocono. Zane Smith, whose 19 laps led was second only to Heim, won both stages (his third and fourth of the season), giving him bonus points to seemingly narrow the championship gap.
That pit strategy, however, left him vulnerable in the rear of the field during that final stage, and he was among 10 trucks involved in an incident with eight laps remaining that brought out a 13-minute red flag period.
MORE: At-track photos: Pocono
Smith’s truck was too damaged to finish the race, as was another playoff hopeful, Stewart Friesen. The reigning series champion now shows up at Richmond, a longshot to claim the regular season trophy; he is one of five drivers with two wins on the season.
“I don’t really know who wrecked in front of me,” Smith said. “It was obviously just a matter of time with those weapons, but it’s just unfortunate. I got hit right into it, and it just caught on fire. Our First Gold Ford was really fast. We won both stages, so fortunately, we had that. It’s just a bummer we got put back there with those guys where we don’t belong.”
Pole winner, 22-year-old Nick Sanchez, was involved in an accident just before the “Big One” and took out his fellow front-row starter and rookie Jake Garcia in a crash with 15 laps remaining.
Tanner Gray was the race’s first retiree, finishing last in the 36-truck field. The 24-year-old driver completed just three laps before losing control of his No. 15 Tricon Garage Toyota and making heavy contact with the inside retaining wall.
Front-row starters Nick Sanchez and Jake Garcia collided with 15 laps remaining. Sanchez, the pole winner, continued on to a 19th-place result while Garcia was sidelined in 35th.
The Craftsman Truck Series’ next race is the Worldwide Express 250, scheduled for Saturday, July 29 (7:30 p.m. ET, FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) at Richmond. The event is the series’ regular-season finale, which will set the 10-driver playoff field. Heading into Richmond, three-time former series champion Matt Crafton holds a one-point advantage over Friesen for that final 10th-place playoff transfer spot.
Note: Post-race inspection in the Craftsman Truck Series garage is complete with no issues, confirming Busch as the winner.
Contributing: Staff reports
Based on what happened earlier this month in the 2023 Virginia Triple Crown opener, there’s a strong chance the 15th annual Hampton Heat on Saturday will be hotter than usual.
Larry King Law’s Langley Speedway in Hampton, Virginia will once again host the second leg of the prestigious Virginia Late Model Triple Crown. This after an unforgettable Thunder Road Harley-Davidson 200 at South Boston Speedway on July 1.
LIVE STREAM: Watch the 2023 Hampton Heat on FloRacing
JR Motorsports Late Model Stock driver Carson Kvapil crossed the finish line first to win the Triple Crown opener at South Boston, but he and third-place finisher Landon Huffman were disqualified following post-race technical inspection. Bobby McCarty, who crossed the line second at South Boston, was declared the winner.
Kvapil is entered in Saturday’s Hampton Heat hoping to avenge his disqualification with a victory at Langley. But he’ll once again have to beat a jam-packed field of Late Model Stock aces in the likes of McCarty, Brenden “Butterbean” Queen, Peyton Sellers, Connor Hall and Landon Pembelton, among others.
Including the complete entry list and schedule, below is everything to know about Saturday’s Hampton Heat at Langley Speedway.
What TV channel is the 2023 Hampton Heat on?
This year’s Hampton Heat will not broadcast on a traditional TV network, but all of the race action at Langley can be viewed live on FloRacing, the official streaming home for all NASCAR Roots properties.
FloRacing’s live coverage is scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m. ET. The stream will include all of Langley’s support division feature races.
Pre-race ceremonies for the main event are scheduled to start at 8:15 p.m. ET with Late Model Stock driver introductions. The 200-lap race itself is scheduled to take the green flag at 8:45 p.m. ET
| Date | Start time | How to watch |
| Saturday, July 22, 2022 | 6:30 p.m. ET | FloRacing |
Complete schedule for the 2023 Hampton Heat
Late Model Stock drivers will have an open practice on Friday, July 21. And then Saturday will be a busy day at Langley Speedway.
The on-track activity begins at 12:30 p.m. ET, when Late Model Stock drivers will have another open practice. Practice for the local divisions (Legends, Super Streets and UCARs) will follow.
Late Model Stocks will qualify at 4:30 p.m. ET, well ahead of their scheduled race time of 8:45 p.m. ET.
Below is the complete race-day schedule for Late Model Stocks during Saturday’s Hampton Heat at Langley Speedway.
| Time | Event |
| 11 a.m. ET | Gates open |
| 11:15 a.m. – 2 p.m. ET | Inspection line open |
| 11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. ET | Mandatory driver, crew chief and spotter meeting |
| 12:30 – 2 p.m. ET | Open practice (14 cars on track at a time; Five-minute break every 30 minutes) |
| 3:30 p.m. ET | All work complete; cars must be backed out of pit area |
| 4:15 p.m. ET | Teams remove pit stall tents in preparation for qualifying |
| 4:30 p.m. ET | Qualifying (Three laps – one scuff lap, then green-white-checkered) |
| 5:15 – 5:45 p.m. ET | Autograph session (In fan zone near main grandstand entrance) |
| 5:30 – 6 p.m. ET | Remove transporters from infield |
| 6:15 p.m. ET | Invocation and God Bless America |
| 7 – 7:30 p.m. ET | Final work session |
| 8:15 p.m. ET | Driver introductions |
| 8:30 p.m. ET | Invocation and National Anthem |
| 8:45 p.m. ET | 15th annual Hampton Heat (200 laps) |
Entry list
As of Monday, July 17, the entry list for the 2023 Hampton Heat at Langley included 33 Late Model Stocks.
Many of the heavy-hitters in Late Model Stock competition will race at Langley on Saturday, including both the driver who crossed the finish line first at South Boston (Carson Kvapil) and the driver who was eventually declared the winner (Bobby McCarty).
Brenden “Butterbean” Queen already has a handful of big Late Model Stock wins in 2023, and he’ll aim for another in the Hampton Heat after a strong run at South Boston.
Below is the latest entry list for Saturday’s main event at Langley.
| Entry | Car No. | Driver | Hometown | Make |
| 1 | 0 | Landon Pembelton | Amelia, VA | Toyota |
| 2 | 2 | Brandon Pierce | Oak Ridge, NC | Chevy |
| 3 | 2 | Matt Waltz | Carrollton, VA | Chevy |
| 4 | 3 | Trey Williams | Powhatan, VA | Chevy |
| 5 | 03 | Brenden Queen | Chesapeake, VA | Toyota |
| 6 | 04 | Ronnie Bassett Jr. | Lexington, NC | Chevy |
| 7 | 05 | Mason Bailey | Richmond, VA | Chevy |
| 8 | 6 | Bobby McCarty | Madison, NC | Ford |
| 9 | 8 | Carson Kvapil | Mooresville, NC | Chevy |
| 10 | 08 | Cody Bryant | Chesapeake, VA | Chevy |
| 11 | 9 | Rodney Boyd | Yorktown, VA | Chevy |
| 12 | 12 | Nick Smith | Hampton, VA | Chevy |
| 13 | 14 | Chase Burrow | King William, VA | Chevy |
| 14 | 14 | Jared Fryar | Jacksonville, NC | Ford |
| 15 | 15 | Logan Clark | Mechanicsville, VA | Ford |
| 16 | 17 | Stacy Puryear | South Boston, VA | Chevy |
| 17 | 21 | Greg Edwards | Poquoson, VA | Chevy |
| 18 | 25 | Craig Eastep | Poquoson, VA | Toyota |
| 19 | 25 | Jacob Borst | Elon, NC | Chevy |
| 20 | 26 | Peyton Sellers | Danville, VA | Toyota |
| 21 | 29 | Casey Wyatt | Hampton, VA | Ford |
| 22 | 31 | Cole Bruce | Fredericksburg, VA | Chevy |
| 23 | 41 | Woody Howard | Chesapeake, VA | Ford |
| 24 | 42 | Chris Horton Jr. | South Mills, NC | Ford |
| 25 | 47 | Ryley Music | Norfolk, VA | Toyota |
| 26 | 51 | Ryan Matthews | Mechanicsville, VA | Chevy |
| 27 | 57 | Eddie Johnson | Midlothian, VA | Ford |
| 28 | 77 | Connor Hall | Hampton, VA | Toyota |
| 29 | 77 | Trevor Ward | Winston Salem, NC | Chevy |
| 30 | 90 | Terry Carroll | ||
| 31 | 91 | Justin Carroll | Williamsburg, VA | Chevy |
| 32 | 95 | Sam Yarbrough | Myrtle Beach, SC | Ford |
Hampton Heat history, winners
The local heroes of Langley have fared well against outside competition since the inception of the Hampton Heat in 2008.
In the 14-year history of the event, four-time track champion C.E. Falk III has been the most successful driver. Falk won the Hampton Heat two consecutive years in 2010 and 2011 before adding one last victory to his resume in 2014.
Langley regulars and short-track veterans alike will look to write their own Hampton Heat history on Saturday in what is bound to be one of the most grueling Late Model Stock events of the year under the tumultuous summer heat.
Below is the complete list of Hampton Heat winners.
| Year | Winner |
| 2008 | Nick Smith |
| 2009 | Woody Howard |
| 2010 | C.E. Falk III |
| 2011 | C.E. Falk III |
| 2012 | Matt Bowling |
| 2013 | Peyton Sellers |
| 2014 | C.E. Falk III |
| 2015 | Lee Pulliam |
| 2016 | Not held |
| 2017 | Bobby McCarty |
| 2018 | Philip Morris |
| 2019 | Connor Hall |
| 2020 | Brenden Queen |
| 2021 | Josh Berry |
| 2022 | Jared Fryar |
Evergreen Speedway is set to host its most prestigious event of the year, the Summer Showdown, this weekend.
Regularly attracting many of the best short-track competitors from the West Coast, what separates the Summer Showdown from other similar crown-jewel events is the potential bonuses for those who compete in both the Super Late Model and Pro Late Model features.
Any driver who can win both the Summer Showdown 150 for Super Late Models and Summer Shootout 100 for Pro Late Models will earn a bonus of $37,000. To do so, the driver who wins the Summer Shootout 100 must start at the rear of the field for the Summer Showdown 150.
Sweeping the Super Late Model and Pro Late Model events is not the only way drivers can earn bonus money at Evergreen this weekend. If any driver finishes in either first, second or third in the two events, they can earn an additional $5,000, but must also start at the rear for the Summer Showdown.
With more than $79,000 up for grabs this weekend, a healthy field of competitors are set to descend onto Evergreen looking to claim victories in both features. Below is everything you need to know about the Summer Showdown.
What TV channel is the Summer Showdown at Evergreen Speedway on?
All the on-track action for the Summer Showdown at Evergreen Speedway can be seen live on FloRacing, the official streaming partner for all NASCAR Roots properties.
The event will not be shown on a traditional television network.
Below is the complete schedule for FloRacing’s coverage.
| Date | Start time | How to watch |
| Saturday, July 22, 2023 | 6 p.m. PT/9 p.m. ET | FloRacing |
Complete schedule for the Summer Showdown
The 2023 edition of the Summer Showdown is scheduled to take place on Friday and Saturday, July 21-22.
Six different divisions are on the docket for the Summer Showdown, including Mini Stocks, Street Stocks, Legend cars and the Northwest Pro 4 Truck Series. Headlining the on-track festivities is the 100-lap Pro Late Model feature and the 150-lap Super Late Model feature, both of which take place on Saturday this year.
Below is the complete schedule for the Summer Showdown at Evergreen Speedway.
- Friday, July 21 (All times PT)
| Time | Event |
| 8 a.m. | Registration open |
| 9 a.m. | Back gate, tech inspection opens |
| 10:30 a.m. | Late Model driver & spotter meeting (tech trailer) |
| 11 a.m. | Street Stock, Mini Stock & Legend pit meeting (standard tech area) |
| 11:40 a.m. | Mini Stock practice |
| 11:50 a.m. | Street Stock practice |
| Noon | SLM practice |
| 12:30 p.m. | Legend practice |
| 12:55 p.m. | PLM practice |
| 1:25 p.m. | Mini Stock practice |
| 1:35 p.m. | SLM practice |
| 2:05 p.m. | Legend practice |
| 2:30 p.m. | PLM qualifying tech opens |
| 3:15 p.m. | SLM qualifying tech opens |
| 3:30 p.m. | Qualifying (PLM, Legend, Mini Stock, Street Stock, SLM) |
| 5 p.m. | Fan Fest |
| 6 p.m. | Opening ceremonies |
| Immediately after opening ceremonies… | Heat races (Legend, Mini Stock, Street Stock, Legend B-Main) |
| Immediately after heat races… | PLM qualifying heats (20 laps) |
| Immediately after PLM heats… | Mini Stock main event, Street Stock main event, Legend A-Main (40 laps) |
| Immediately after main events… | SLM qualifying heats (20 laps) |
- Saturday, July 22 (All times PT)
| Time | Event |
| 8:30 a.m. | Registration open |
| 10 a.m. | Brief Late Model driver meeting |
| 10:15 a.m. | NW Pro 4 Truck & Legend driver meeting |
| 11 a.m. | PLM practice |
| 11:40 a.m. | NW Pro 4 Truck practice |
| 11:55 a.m. | Legend practice |
| 12:25 p.m. | SLM practice |
| 12:55 p.m. | NW Pro 4 Truck practice |
| 1:10 p.m. | Legend practice |
| 1:45 p.m. | NW Pro 4 Trucks & Legends qualifying |
| 2 p.m. | PLM tech opens |
| 3:15 p.m. | Heat races (Legend, NW Pro 4 Truck, Legend B-Main) |
| 4 p.m. | SLM & PLM driver autograph session |
| 4:50 p.m. | Opening ceremonies |
| 5:10 p.m. | PLM Summer Shootout (100 laps) |
| Immediately after Summer Shootout… | NW Pro 4 Truck main event (30 laps or 30 minutes) |
| Immediately after NW Pro 4 Truck main event… | Legend A-Main (30 laps or 30 minutes) |
| 8:15 p.m. | SLM Summer Showdown (150 laps) |
Summer Showdown entry list
Nearly a dozen drivers are set to compete in both the Summer Shootout and Summer Showdown at Evergreen Speedway.
Leading the stacked entry lists in both Pro Late Models and Super Late Models is Preston Peltier. The veteran competitor earned his fourth Summer Showdown victory ahead of Derek Thorn last year after leading 173 of the 200 laps.
Other notable names chasing the $37,000 bonus include former ARCA Menards Series West competitor Jonathan Gomez along with Naima Lang, who currently leads the weekly Pro Late Model standings at Evergreen by 43 points ahead of Dawson Cox.
West Coast legend Garrett Evans is looking to add a Summer Showdown win to his storied resume. A winner of 49 NASCAR Northwest Series events, Evans’ best finish in eight Summer Showdown appearances is second, which he has obtained three times.
Below are the complete entry lists for the Summer Showdown and Summer Shootout.
| No. | Driver | Division |
| 00, 18 | Naima Lang | SLM, PLM |
| 1 | Kasey Kleyn | SLM, PLM |
| 3 | Wyatt Gardner | SLM |
| 7D | Dawson Cox | PLM |
| 7 | Zach Riehl | SLM |
| 9K | Kaden Holm | PLM |
| 10 | Brian Cottrell | SLM, PLM |
| 10 | Owen Riddle | SLM |
| 12C | Chad Fitzpatrick | PLM |
| 12 | Trenton Moriarity | SLM, PLM |
| 14 | Chris Davidson | SLM |
| 14 | Colton Price | SLM, PLM |
| 15 | Tayler Riddle | SLM |
| 16 | Daniel Moore | PLM |
| 17 | Max Schroeder | SLM |
| 19 | Thomas Stanford | PLM |
| 22 | Jonathon Gomez | SLM, PLM |
| 22 | John Lathrop | SLM, PLM |
| 32 | Chase Gardner | PLM |
| 33G | Nick Gunderson | PLM |
| 45 | Nick Beecher | PLM |
| 48T | Tanner Holm | SLM |
| 48 | Preston Peltier | SLM, PLM |
| 54 | Donny St. Ours | SLM, PLM |
| 55 | Haeden Plybon | SLM, PLM |
| 62 | Robin Faucett | SLM |
| 63 | Kole Raz | SLM |
| 64 | Garrett Evans | SLM |
| 78 | Haley Constance | PLM |
| 82 | Angel Cervantes | SLM, PLM |
| 83 | Dalton Christiani | PLM |
| 88 | Jason Gilbert | SLM |
| 89 | Doni Wanat | SLM, PLM |
| 92 | Logan Jewel | SLM |
| 98 | Greg Bennett | PLM |
Summer Showdown history, winners
In the brief history of the Summer Showdown at Evergreen Speedway, seven different drivers have managed to take home a checkered flag in the event.
The first one to do so was Pete Harding in 2012. Nearly 40 cars took the green flag that night, but when a curfew shortened the race, only three were remaining on the lead lap.
Since Harding’s victory, names like former NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver Cameron Hayley and Super Late Model standout Bubba Pollard have found their way to Victory Lane in the Summer Showdown. The most dominant driver has been Preston Peltier, who won the Summer Showdown three straight times from 2017-2019.
Below is the complete list of winners for the Summer Showdown.
| Year | Winner |
| 2012 | Pete Harding |
| 2013 | Jay Sauls |
| 2014 | Cameron Hayley |
| 2015 | Bubba Pollard |
| 2016 | Taylor Riddle |
| 2017 | Preston Peltier |
| 2018 | Preston Peltier |
| 2019 | Preston Peltier |
| 2020 | Not held |
| 2021 | Owen Riddle |
| 2022 | Preston Peltier |
HighPoint.com 400 at Pocono Raceway
(⏰ Sunday, 2:30 p.m. ET | 📺 USA, NBC Sports App | 📻 MRN, SiriusXM)
Everything you need to know for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race in Pennsylvania, the 21st points-paying race of the 2023 Cup Series campaign.
Weekend schedule | TV schedule | Weather tracker | Pocono 101
📍 Location: Long Pond, Pennsylvania
📐 Track length: 2.5 miles
🎟️ Buy tickets: Find weekend passes, seats for the race
💰 Cup Series race purse: $7,243,361
📏 Race distance: 400 miles | 160 laps
🔢 Stages: 30 | 95 | 160
—
🚪 Entry list: Cup Series drivers entered
📋 Starting lineup: William Byron races to P1
🚗 Pit stall assignments: Where drivers will pit on Sunday
🏆 Most recent winner: Chase Elliott, 2022
Key things to watch 🔑
Saturday’s sessions
William Byron concluded another qualifying session with an additional Busch Light Pole Award to his mantle, with the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports driver claiming his third of the season and his 11th overall in the NASCAR Cup Series. Martin Truex Jr. will start on the front row with Byron, while HMS teammate Kyle Larson will lead the second row in conjunction with Kyle Harvick. Christopher Bell rounded out the top five. | Read the full practice, qualifying recap
Big story line
When will they win? Shockingly, 11 of the 19 race winners from the 2022 season have yet to reach Victory Lane — including Chase Elliott and Alex Bowman. If either fails to make the playoffs this season, it will be the first time since 2016 that Hendrick Motorsports failed to put three or more cars into championship contention. As the dust starts to settle and the regular season rapidly winds down, it is clear that drivers at the top of the standings are separating themselves from the rest of the field. Three drivers — William Byron (4), Martin Truex Jr. (3) and Kyle Busch (3) — combine for half of the trips to the Winner’s Circle this season. Eight other drivers have just one win. And with only five races remaining before the regular-season finale at Daytona International Speedway, time is running out for the others to join them. | Complete look at the current playoff picture
History tells us…
Denny Hamlin will be a contender. Hamlin has six victories at the Pennsylvania triangle, including two in the last six races. He has also led laps in 10 of his last 11 trips to Pocono, an astounding feat. He simply knows how this place works. Continuing off momentum from the seventh-place finish at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, he could very well be the next driver this season to hang a crooked number in the win column. Where he has struggled lately is stringing together consistent finishes, but he should be confident and comfortable this weekend. After all, he is tied with Jeff Gordon for the most wins at the track, and he is likely eyeing being the lone holder of the record. | Power Rankings: Why Sunday could see Hamlin climb the charts
He may not be the betting favorite to win, but watch out for…
Bubba Wallace. Wallace is right near the elimination line, fighting for a berth in the Cup Series Playoffs. As the summer months wane, he and the No. 23 Toyota team have picked up the pace, earning back-to-back top-10 finishes after a string of eight finishes of 14th or worse. To have made it through that sort of a slump and still contending for a Round of 16 spot has to be sort of a relief for Wallace and company. But there is still a lot of work left to do. Wallace opens at a respectable 28-1 opening odds on DraftKings, meaning that people have obviously seen potential in him to shake up the race. He’s not a long shot, but he’s not among the favorites, either. Based on a solid run and eighth-place finish in 2022, preceded by a fifth-place effort in 2021, he could be an interesting pick to win. | Bubble Watch: Full look at the elimination-line battle
Thank you, NASCAR fans! ❤️
For all of the highs and lows in this ever-changing sport, thanks for making the last 75 years the best yet. We couldn’t do it without you.
Familiar favorites ⭐️
Our biggest pieces of the week — get covered for race day from all angles.
• At-track photos: Best shots from Pocono race weekend | Scroll through gallery
• Paint Scheme Preview: Take a look at these incredible new schemes | Pick a favorite
• Fantasy Fastlane: Getting tricky in Pocono | Top plays, sleepers
• Power Rankings: Denny Hamlin targets “Tricky Triangle” trophy yet again | Latest driver rankings
• Betting odds: See which driver is favored to win the race | Top bets, underdog picks
• Stacking Pennies: Kyle Petty fills in for Corey LaJoie | Listen to the podcast
💎 NASCAR 75: Learn more about the history of the sport, from pioneers to current stars | Visit NASCAR 75 hub
Hot off the press 📰
Key stories and breaking news from the week leading up to the race.
• Bubble Watch: Examining where drivers close to elimination line stand | Read more
• Project 91: Shane van Gisbergen returning at Indy road course | Read more
• Justin Haley: Signs new contract for 2024 with Rick Ware Racing | Read more
• ‘Just business’: Haley talks further about move | Read more
• Denny Hamlin: How Cup Series star unintentionally arranged fans’ marriage | Watch video
• Incoming debut: Brodie Kostecki joining RCR for Indy road course | Read more
• Leading laps: Kevin Harvick surpasses 10,000 laps led mark | See where he ranks
• Modifieds: Ryan Preece, Newman take part in tire test at North Wilkesboro | See images
• Kind gesture: Kevin Harvick donates to Joey Logano’s foundation | Read more
• Playoff push: Chase Elliott, Alex Bowman look to clinch postseason bid | Read more
Get in on the action 💰
Think you know NASCAR? Put your mettle to the test with gaming, fantasy and Fan Rewards.
• Fantasy Live: Participate in interactive gameplay from week to week | Choose your lineup
• Fan Rewards: New in 2023, get rewarded for your participation | Learn more
• NASCAR BetCenter: Don’t miss your chance to make picks each week | Visit the BetCenter
• Going the distance: 2023 Cup Series championship odds | See them here
• The Action Network: Michael McDowell presents interesting value at Pocono | Expert analysis
Pocono precision 📐
It’s harder than it seems to navigate the “Tricky Triangle,” so see which drivers have mastered this unique circuit.
• History, tucked inside a triangle: Read up on the allure of the ‘Tricky Triangle’ | Read more
• Do you remember?: Memorable moments at Pocono | Relive them here
• Pit road stats: Looking back at Loudon, preparing for Pocono | Read more
• Best of the best: All-time best drivers at Pocono Raceway | Hamlin, Busch, others
• Memory Lane: Ryan Blaney reflects on first Cup Series win in 2017 | Watch the video
Take some notes 📝
Five hard-hitting, race-relevant statistics, brought to you by the experts at Racing Insights.
• Five drivers without a win in 2023 have won before at Pocono.
• The driver leading the most laps won five of the last seven races of 2023.
• Denny Hamlin won two of the last three Cup races held at Pocono on July 23rd (2006 and 2020).
• Eleven of the 19 drivers that won in 2022, have yet to win in 2023.
• None of the last nine races at Pocono were won by a driver getting his first win of the season.
🔮 Advance to Victory Lane: Racing Insights projects Sunday’s finishing order
The push to the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs is in full swing. Just six races remain until the 16-driver grid is set to determine who will compete for the Bill France Trophy.
Entering Pocono Raceway on Sunday (2:30 p.m. ET, USA, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, NBC Sports App), 11 drivers have locked themselves into the postseason with a victory, leaving five spots still up for grabs. A handful of big names still have yet to solidify their playoff position and before cars hit the “Tricky Triangle” this weekend, see who currently sits just above the cut elimination line, just below and on the outside looking in with stats provided by Racing Insights.
RELATED: Cup standings | Racing Insights’ projected Pocono results
✅ DRIVERS ABOVE ELIMINATION LINE
BUBBA WALLACE
Points above: 2
Trending: Snapped Cold Streak
Pocono outlook — Warming Up: Wallace owns two consecutive top-10 finishes at the “Tricky Triangle” after eight-straight finishes of 14th or worse. His best finish at the track is fifth (2021) and he finished eighth last season.
MICHAEL MCDOWELL
Points above: 1
Trending: Hit or Miss
Pocono outlook — Mostly Cold: McDowell continues to have a steady season as he’s worked his way into the top 16 in points after finishing 13th or better in five of the last six races. However, that could come to a halt on Sunday as the Front Row Motorsports driver owns an average finish of just 26.3. But last season, McDowell brought home the No. 34 Ford in sixth.
☣️ ON THE BUBBLE
DANIEL SUÁREZ
Points below: 1
Trending: Mostly Cold
Pocono outlook — 2022 Snapped Cold Streak: Suárez scored a top-five finish last season after five-straight finishes of 13th or worse. His best run at the track was a second-place result in 2018.
AJ ALLMENDINGER
Points below: 20
Trending: Hit or Miss
Pocono outlook — It’s Been A While: It’s difficult to get a gauge on how the ‘Dinger will perform Sunday as he hasn’t made a Cup start at Pocono since 2018. In his previous Cup starts at the track, he has six-straight finishes of 14th or worse.
TY GIBBS
Points below: 41
Trending: Cold
Pocono outlook — Cold Start: Gibbs’ Cup Series debut came at Pocono as he subbed in for Kurt Busch. While the finish probably wasn’t what Ty expects out of himself, it still caught the attention of the field as he kept the No. 45 Toyota clean and brought it home 16th.
ALEX BOWMAN
Points below: 42
Trending: Cold
Pocono outlook — Mostly Warm: This track may top the list of where Bowman finally breaks through this season to secure his playoff spot. Once the overall points leader, the driver of the No. 48 has had an underwhelming run since returning from a back injury as he’s gone without a top-10 finish in his last 10 starts. But Pocono is one of Bowman’s best tracks as he’s scored three top 10s in his last four starts, including a win in 2021.
🚩 MUST-WIN SITUATION
JUSTIN HALEY
Points below: 46
Trending: Hit or Miss
Pocono outlook — Cold: Haley hasn’t done much in just two outings in the Cup Series at the “Tricky Triangle” with finishes of 27th and 21st. Look for the No. 31 team to be aggressive on pit strategy and go for some stage points to try to close the gap.
MORE: Haley to join Rick Ware Racing in 2024
AUSTIN CINDRIC
Points below: 51
Trending: Cold
Pocono outlook — Cold Start: After making the playoffs in his rookie campaign, Cindric’s sophomore outing has been in a lull with just three top-10 finishes. The No. 2 Team Penske driver finished 31st at Pocono last season.
CHASE ELLIOTT
Points below: 60
Trending: OK Recently
Pocono outlook — Hit or Miss: Elliott is the defending winner at the track after both Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch were disqualified. However, Elliott hasn’t led a lap in his last six starts at Pocono and has logged mixed results in those starts with three finishes of 25th or worse.
COREY LAJOIE
Points below: 91
Trending: Cold
Pocono outlook — Cold: LaJoie hasn’t finished better than 19th in 10 career starts at Pocono and currently owns two consecutive results outside the top 30.
TODD GILLILAND
Points below: 96
Trending: Cold
Pocono outlook — Cold: There’s not much to go off for Gilliland entering this weekend at Pocono as he has just one start at the track where he finished 25th last season. However, the second-year Cup driver has improved his average finish by almost three positions compared to last year.