MAX SPORTS: NASCAR Cup Series

Showing posts with label NASCAR Cup Series. Show all posts

Monday, 13 July 2026

RYAN BLANEY PULLS OFF THRILLING NASCAR CUP SERIES VICTORY AT ATLANTA

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In a race that did not finish until early hours of Monday morning, Ryan Blaney put on a dominating performance in the NASCAR Cup Series at EchoPark Speedway.

The driver of the No. 12 led a race-high 171 of 263 laps and outdueled Carson Hocevar on the final lap to win the Quaker State 400 at the EchoPark Speedway in Atlanta. Blaney secured his second win of 2026, 19th career victory, and first triumph at Atlanta.

Christopher Bell finished second, followed by Hocevar third, Ty Gibbs in fourth, and Erik Jones wound out the top five.

Bubba Wallace initially finished the race runner-up, but was penalized for advancing his position below the yellow line down the backstretch on the final lap. Because of this, Wallace finished 29th.

Blaney passes Hocevar on the final lap to win Atlanta

with six laps remaining.

A multi-car crash involving Kyle Larson, Chase Briscoe, Riley Herbst, Austin Hill, and others set up an overtime restart.

Hocevar started up front for the restart and had his No. 77 machine in prime position to take the win as the field took the white flag.

The Spire Motorsports driver had built a gap on the rest of the field. However, a push from Wallace propelled Blaney past Hocevar. The two ran side-by-side, which then opened the door for Wallace to dive three-wide underneath.

With one final push from Bell up top, Blaney crossed the finish line first and scored the win.

The thrilling victory capped a dominant performance for the North Carolina native.

Rain delayed NASCAR’s finish by over three hours

Blaney started on the pole and led the field to the green flag. The 2023 Cup champion led all 60 laps of the opening stage en route to the victory. Tyler Reddick was second and Kyle Larson was third.

Blaney continued to lead for the bulk of the second stage, but swapped the lead with Kyle Larson. At the red flag on lap 108, Blaney was in command with Bubba Wallace second and Reddick third.

The rain delay lasted three hours and nine minutes as the cars did not get re-fired until just after 11:30 p.m. Eastern time. At 12:01 a.m. Eastern time, the race resumed on lap 123.

In the waning laps of the second stage, Blaney held off challenges from Wallace, Joey Logano, and Hocevar to complete the stage sweep. Reddick finished second in stage two, followed by Logano in third.

Gibbs assumed the lead after a round of pit stops and was out front to start the final stage.

With just over 60 laps to go, A.J. Allmendinger’s single-car spin on the frontstretch brought out the fourth caution of the race.On the cycle of pit stops, Bell took over the lead, with Larson in second.

The fifth caution came out with just under 30 laps remaining after Allmendinger slapped the outside retaining wall.

With 23 laps to go, Wallace led the field back to green with Blaney alongside him. Blaney overtook Wallace and held the advantage with 19 laps remaining, when Larson spun through the infield grass and triggered the sixth caution.

With six races until The Chase, Denny Hamlin leads the points standings by 24 over Reddick.

- John Breeden

Saturday, 6 June 2026

NASCAR HALL OF FAMER NED JARRETT HAS PASSED AWAY

The NASCAR family is saddened by the loss of Ned Jarrett, a NASCAR Hall of Famer, two-time Cup Series champion and one of our sport's greatest ambassadors.

We extend our deepest condolences.

- NASCAR

Monday, 1 June 2026

DENNY HAMLIN STORMS BACK FROM POLE-START PENALTY TO TO WIN AT NASHVILLE SUPERSPEEDWAY

Photo by Danny Peters

LEBANON, Tenn. — Denny Hamlin outraced Christopher Bell over the final four laps after a final restart Sunday night to win the Cracker Barrel 400 at Nashville Superspeedway.

Hamlin won for the second time this year and 62nd of his career on a night where he jumped the start off the pole. That penalty put him at the back of the field.

The 45-year-old Hamlin raced his way to the front for the thrilling win that had his Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Bell and Chase Briscoe making it three-wide before Hamlin took the lead down the backstretch to win by 0.115 seconds.

The race started 80 minutes late after rain delayed NASCAR’s Cup Series for a second straight week. The wait was worth it with a record 31 lead changes and 12 cautions at the 1.33-mile, D-shaped oval that is NASCAR’s largest concrete track.

Bell finished second for a second straight race ahead of Briscoe. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. was fourth, and Chase Elliott rounded out the top five.

Long time coming

Ryan Blaney, trying to repeat as champ at this track, led the restart trying to hold off AJ Allmendinger on a one-lap shootout for the first stage. Allmendinger took the lead on the backstretch, then held off Kyle Larson to take stage one for his first stage victory since 2024.

Stage 2 win

Suarez took the second stage after staying out during a caution and took the lead on the restart on lap 182. Then Corey Heim drove his No. 67 Toyota into the back of Todd Gilliland’s No. 34 Ford, sending him backward into the Turn 1 wall. That brought out the seventh caution with Cole Custer spinning out in the crash.

Lots of rotor woes

Rookie Connor Zilisch had the right rotor explode on his No. 88 Chevrolet sending him into the wall and smashing the right side on Turn 1 of lap 72. Zilisch got the Trackhouse Racing car into the garage with some flames coming out from under the right tire, which was stuck and nearly sideway.

He had been running 24th after starting 38th on the last row.

Trackhouse teammate Ross Chastain had his own rotor issue on lap 82 sending him into the wall between Turns 1 and 2. Michael McDowell spun trying to avoid Chastain’s No. 1 Chevrolet. Zilisch called the rotor problems a surprise when both he and Chastain had been moving up.

“Just unfortunate circumstances,” Zilisch said. “Yeah, we’ll learn from it.”

Van Gisbergen is the third member of Trackhouse Racing. His crew told him not to worry with his No. 97 Chevrolet running a completely different brake package. Ryan Preece went to the garage with no water in his No. 60 Ford, and his crew found a piece of rotor broken off into the radiator before he got back on the track.

Then Allmendinger, who was third, had the rotor spark and flame before his No. 16 Chevrolet hit the Turn 1 wall on lap 173 — with 12 laps left in Stage 2.

Chris Buescher was running 17th with 12 laps left when his right rotor went as he entered Turn 3.

Up next

The series will be at Michigan International Speedway next week where Hamlin will be trying to win for a second straight year.

- Associated Press

Monday, 25 May 2026

KYLE BUSCH RECEIVES MID-RACE TRIBUTE DURING INDY 500

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Kyle Busch Honored During Lap 18 of Indy 500

Kyle Busch received a tribute in the middle of the Indy 500 Sunday ... with the crowd falling silent out of respect for him during lap 18 -- a nod to his former number.

A tribute to Kyle Busch on Lap 18 of the Indy 500. pic.twitter.com/ZTYE0kzOgJ @IndyCarOnFOX

Check out the clip ... racers turn out of corner 4 on Lap 17 -- and, as they pass the scoring pylon, a picture of Kyle Busch "1985-2026" flashes on a screen at the venue.

The Indy 500 crowd -- usually a raucous bunch -- falls into a subdued silence ... while pit crew members can be seen standing at attention.

Lap 18 is one of just many tributes at the Indy 500 to Busch ... whose former teammate, Jimmie Johnson, appeared during Fox's pregame show.

Before the Indy 500, @JimmieJohnson, @DanicaPatrick, and @TonyStewart remember Kyle Busch. pic.twitter.com/wemDa2t7Cr @IndyCarOnFOX

Johnson talked about the respect Busch had from everyone about the sport ... while fellow driver Danica Patrick reflected on Busch's love of racing.

As you know ... Busch passed away Thursday after a bout with severe pneumonia that progressed into sepsis, according to his family.

KB won his final race on May 15 -- a Truck Series race ... and the No. 7 vehicle he used was back in action Sunday as well, though it didn't have the happy ending sports fans might've hoped for.

I just can’t express enough how lucky we are that Corey Day’s truck came back to the ground.

Day would’ve went over that wall…My heart sank for a second. pic.twitter.com/PyqEOYGlxB @AustinKonenski

Driver Corey Day ended up in a hard crash during lap 47 when he received contact from Gio Ruggiero. It's a scary-looking crash ... but Day was able to walk off the track under his own power.

Day said, "I just hate it for the No. 7 guys. This is exactly what I didn’t want to do today. I just wanted to deliver them a good run. I feel terrible."

Busch was supposed to drive in the Coca-Cola 600 this afternoon ... and the entire racing world is clearly still reeling from the shocking death.

- TMZ

Sunday, 24 May 2026

KYLE BUSCH DEATH: FRESH DETAILS EMERGE AFTER TRAGIC PASSING OF NASCAR ICON

Photo: Race Pictures

The world of NASCAR and the American motorsport racing scene has been rocked by the tragic passing of Kyle Busch. More details have now emerged surrounding the circumstances of the 41-year-old’s death.

News of the two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion’s passing came suddenly, just hours after he was reportedly admitted to the hospital following a short illness on Wednesday, May 20.

Busch was widely renowned for his success on track across both the NASCAR Cup Series and Truck Series and had been expected to take part in this weekend’s Coca-Cola 600 race prior to his death. However, following the announcement and the initially unclear details surrounding the cause, fresh information has now surfaced regarding the Las Vegas-born driver’s final hours.

Fresh details emerge surrounding Busch’s death

According to a report from CNN, Busch required medical attention on Wednesday after coughing up blood and experiencing shortness of breath while preparing for this weekend’s Coca-Cola 600 event.

The report further states that a 911 call obtained revealed that a caller, whose identity was redacted, requested an ambulance to a training facility in Concord, North Carolina. “I’ve got an individual that’s experiencing shortness of breath, very hot, thinks he’s going to pass out and producing a little bit of blood, coughing up some blood,” the caller said.

Kyle Busch racing at Daytona - Photo: Race Pictures

The report adds that Busch was lying on the bathroom floor but was conscious at the time of the call. The caller also requested that emergency services approach with sirens off and provided directions to the facility. The emergency call, made at approximately 5:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday, came almost exactly 24 hours before NASCAR, Busch’s family, and Richard Childress Racing officially announced his passing.

Further reports indicate that Busch had been testing on a racing simulator earlier that day when he became unresponsive and was subsequently transported to a hospital in Charlotte, according to several unnamed sources familiar with the situation.

Richard Childress Racing pays tribute

Richard Childress Racing, the team Busch drove for up until his passing, has paid tribute to the 41-year-old. The racing outfit announced it will suspend the use of Busch’s No. 8 car and instead field the No. 33 car.

The team has also confirmed that the No. 8 will be reserved for Brexton Busch, his 11-year-old son, who has already begun following in his father’s footsteps and has recorded multiple wins in junior racing categories across the United States.

- Samson Ero

KYLE BUSCH CAUSE OF DEATH REVEALED

NASCAR Legend Kyle Busch Cause of Death Revealed

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NASCAR legend Kyle Busch died from severe pneumonia, which progressed into sepsis ... TMZ has confirmed.

According to a statement from Kyle's family, he passed away "after severe pneumonia progressed into sepsis, resulting in rapid and overwhelming associated complications."

As we reported ... Kyle died Thursday after being hospitalized with a severe illness.

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Before being taken to the hospital, Kyle was in a North Carolina racing simulator Wednesday when he reportedly became unresponsive. TMZ Sports obtained audio from the 911 call ... where someone told dispatch the patient was "coughing up some blood" at the NC training facility while looking like they were going to pass out.

Kyle's death came 11 days after a NASCAR Cup Series race in which he radioed to his crew and asked for a doctor to give him a "shot" after he finished the race.

On TV, they noted Kyle had been battling some sort of sinus cold that was made worse by the intense G-forces and elevation changes at New York's Watkins Glen course. That race was on May 10.

Despite the health issue, Kyle kept competing ... winning a Truck Series race on May 15 and then competing in the NASCAR All-Star Race on May 17, just four days before his death.

Kyle was 41.

RIP

- TMZ Sports

Monday, 23 March 2026

MICHAEL JORDAN REACTS AS TYLER REDDICK WINS 4TH OF 6 | NASCAR CUP SERIES 2026

Tuesday, 17 February 2026

20-YEAR NASCAR CUP SERIES STREAK COMES TO A SCREECHING HALT AT DAYTONA

For the first time since 2005, the NASCAR Cup Series has a full-time No. 97 car.

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing, NASCAR | Jonathan Bachman/GettyImages

There weren't many changes to the NASCAR Cup Series driver lineup from the 2025 to the 2026 season, but the changes that were made were signifcant.

Connor Zilisch has replaced Daniel Suarez at Trackhouse Racing after spending the year with JR Motorsports' Xfinity Series team, and Suarez has moved to Spire Motorsports to replace Justin Haley.

Haley is the only full-time Cup driver from 2025 who is no longer competing full-time in the Cup Series in 2026, as he has dropped down to the Truck Series with Kaulig Racing, reuniting him with the team he drove for in both the Xfinity Series and Cup Series from 2019 to 2023.

But Zilisch isn't driving Suarez's No. 99 Chevrolet in 2026.

Instead, the rookie is using the No. 88 Chevrolet that was used by Shane van Gisbergen in 2025. The No. 88 hadn't been used full-time since Alex Bowman drove it at Hendrick Motorsports in 2020.

The No. 99 shifted back over to RFK Racing, where it hadn't been used since 2016, for their Daytona 500 one-off entry for Corey LaJoie, although he failed to qualify. Van Gisbergen, meanwhile, has reverted to the number he used in Australian Supercars (and during the 2024 Xfinity Series season): No. 97.

As a result, the 2026 season is the first season since 2005 to see a No. 97 in the full-time Cup Series lineup.

The No. 97 is also a former Roush Racing number. Kurt Busch took over behind the wheel of the No. 97 Ford late in the 2000 season, and he drove the car until the antepenultimate race of the 2005 season.

For the final two races of the year, after Busch was cited for reckless driving and became "belligerent with Maricopa County (Arizona) sheriff's deputies during a traffic stop", Kenny Wallace filled in for him at Phoenix Raceway and Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Prior to 2026, the No. 97 hadn't been used in the Cup Series in any capacity since the 2018 season, when Obaika Racing entered the No. 97 Toyota for Tanner Berrhill at Phoenix and Homestead. David Starr also drove the car at Texas Motor Speedway after failing to qualify at Talladega Superspeedway.

Between 2005 and 2018, appearances for the No. 97 entry were few and far between. Jeff Fuller, who failed to qualify the No. 97 Toyota for NEMCO Motorsports for the 2010 Daytona 500, drove the same car later in the year at Talladega.

Kevin Conway drove the same car for the same team twice at Daytona and twice at Talladega in 2011, though his qualifying attempt for the Daytona 500 was unsuccessful.

Bill Elliott got behind the wheel at Talladega and Daytona the following year after failing to qualify for the Daytona 500, before Timmy Hill made a start at Talladega.

- Asher Fair