TC Daily Pit Stop

The Daily Pit Stop: Kasey Kahne is... Back?! Saturday’s NASCAR TV/Streaming Schedule

Toby Christie — Sat, 03 Oct 2026 17:25:07 GMT

Report: Kasey Kahne Nearing Return to NASCAR Full-Time in 2027

Jerome Miron | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

If anyone was able to hit a bingo on their bingo cards with all of the random and unexpected news that has been flying around, congratulations. On Kasey Kahne Friday, a report from The Athletic, citing sources familiar with the situation, suggests that Kasey Kahne is finalizing a deal with Spire Motorsports to return to NASCAR competition full-time in 2027.

According to the report, Kahne, 46, would drive one of the Spire Chevrolet Silverados for the full NASCAR FedEx Freight Truck Series campaign. The 18-time NASCAR Cup Series race winner will serve as the veteran voice for the young, talented drivers in Spire’s developmental pipeline.

The Final Lap Podcast: Kyle Larson DOMINATES Kansas! Brad Keselowski Bombshell, Playoff Shakeup & Las Vegas Preview

Kyle Larson absolutely DOMINATED at Kansas Speedway, and now the big question is: is the Hendrick Motorsports No. 5 team starting another championship-level run at exactly the right time?

Kerry Murphey and Toby Christie break down Larson’s statement victory, what it could mean moving forward in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, and the massive shakeup in the playoff points picture following a wild weekend at Kansas.

Plus, there’s HUGE Brad Keselowski news at RFK Racing that could have major implications for the organization, along with more of the biggest NASCAR News of the Week from Toby Christie at SI.com/racing.

Then we turn our attention to Las Vegas Motor Speedway with a full preview of this weekend’s NASCAR Cup Series race. Who has the speed? Which playoff drivers are under the most pressure? And could Las Vegas completely reshape the championship battle again?

And don’t miss Rowdy Dragon’s Fantasy NASCAR Picks for Las Vegas, with the drivers you need to watch before locking in your fantasy lineup.

Hosted by Kerry Murphey and Toby Christie.

Listen to Show: Apple Podcasts | Spotify

NASCAR TV/Streaming Schedule: Saturday, October 3

2 PM ET: NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Practice; TV: The CW (select markets); Streaming: ESPN App, The CW App
3:05 PM ET: NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Qualifying; TV: The CW (select markets); Streaming: ESPN App, The CW App
4:30 PM ET: NASCAR Cup Series Practice; TV: TruTV; Streaming: HBO Max
5:35 PM ET: NASCAR Cup Series Qualifying; TV: TruTV; Streaming: HBO Max
7:30 PM ET: NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Focused Health 302; TV: The CW (select markets); Streaming: ESPN App, The CW App

FULL WEEKEND SCHEDULE

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The Daily Pit Stop: Chris Rice Denies Keselowski to Kaulig Rumors; NASCAR Adjusts Spoiler Height For Talladega

Toby Christie — Fri, 02 Oct 2026 20:53:24 GMT

Kaulig Racing CEO Denies Brad Keselowski to Dodge Rumors

Karl Anderson | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Since RFK Racing and Brad Keselowski announced that the future Hall of Famer would be departing the team, which he has served as a driver/co-owner of since 2022, many have expected Keselowski’s next move to be joining Kaulig Racing, a team in line to bring Dodge back to the NASCAR Cup Series.

According to Chris Rice, Kaulig Racing’s CEO, that’s not the case.

“No, I have not had any conversations with Brad Keselowski about driving a Dodge, even if Dodge comes back, right," Rice stated in an interview on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio’s The Morning Drive.

Rice continued, “It’s not crossed Matt Kaulig’s or my mind at all. We have a plan of what we’re going to do in 2027; it’s already done.”

While Rice provided a simple answer to whether Keselowski would join Kaulig Racing in the future, you have to wonder if reality will be that simple. The Keselowski family has deep ties to Dodge’s NASCAR program, as his father competed in a Ram Truck for several seasons in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and Brad Keselowski scored his lone NASCAR Cup Series title in 2012, driving a Dodge for Team Penske.

That, and Rice was seen going into Keselowski’s motorhome at a recent race, where the two spoke for roughly 45 minutes. Rice brushed it off as a conversation with Keselowski about a committee that Keselowski is on.

"I walk out of there, I wave at some reporters, and it didn’t even cross my mind. Then the news comes out, and I’m like, oh my god, here we go,” Rice said.

Here we go, indeed.

The Final Lap Podcast: Kyle Larson DOMINATES Kansas! Brad Keselowski Bombshell, Playoff Shakeup & Las Vegas Preview

Kyle Larson absolutely DOMINATED at Kansas Speedway, and now the big question is: is the Hendrick Motorsports No. 5 team starting another championship-level run at exactly the right time?

And don’t miss Rowdy Dragon’s Fantasy NASCAR Picks for Las Vegas, with the drivers you need to watch before locking in your fantasy lineup.

Hosted by Kerry Murphey and Toby Christie.

Listen to Show: Apple Podcasts | Spotify

NASCAR to Shave Rear Spoiler Height For Upcoming Talladega Chase Race

David Leong | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

As NASCAR continues to hone in the superspeedway package for the NASCAR Cup Series cars, the field will see a slight tweak to the improved package that was debuted at Daytona International Speedway in August.

In the upcoming Chase race at Talladega Superspeedway later this month, NASCAR will shave the rear spoiler blade half an inch to 3.5 inches tall, down from 4 inches tall.

This will be the only change to the package from Daytona.

NASCAR also confirmed that the Stage lengths will not be changed for the upcoming race at Talladega from the race's 188-lap format in the spring. Stage 1 will conclude on Lap 98, Stage 2 will conclude on Lap 143, and the race is scheduled to end at the completion of Lap 188.

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The Daily Pit Stop: Brad Keselowski Out At RFK Racing As Driver AND Owner After 2026

Toby Christie — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 20:18:40 GMT

Brad Keselowski to Part Ways With RFK Racing After 2026 NASCAR Season

Scott Kinser | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Silly season is known by that name because, well, sometimes things get really silly. On Tuesday, the collective NASCAR industry got hit with unexpected breaking news, as Brad Keselowski will not return to RFK Racing, the team he has driven for and co-owned since the 2022 season, in 2027.

Keselowski and the team are working through the appropriate next steps to shed Keselowski of his ownership stake in the team as Keselowski looks for his next opportunity in the NASCAR National Series ranks.

In a statement after the announcement was dropped, Keselowski said, "I'm nowhere near ready to be done as a driver. I still have a lot I want to accomplish in this sport, and I'm looking forward to what comes next."

RFK Racing says it will remain a three-car team in 2027 despite only having Charters for two cars. Keselowski wasn’t just the team’s driver, and a co-owner, but he was also the head of the competition department.

Now, RFK Racing faces the difficult task of replacing a future Hall of Fame driver, part of its ownership team, and the competition director, who elevated the team from a four-year losing streak prior to his arrival to seven wins over the last five years.

Toby’s Take: Has the Next Gen Car Lost Its Luster On 1.5-Mile Tracks?

Scott Sewell | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

While the Next Gen car, which was debuted in 2022, has put on lackluster shows on short tracks, road courses, and short tracks since its inception, NASCAR’s seventh generation race car has had outstanding shows, overall, on the 1.5-mile intermediate ovals.

However, last Sunday at Kansas Speedway, that wasn’t the case. A dull race, which was dominated by Kyle Larson, who led 235 of 267 laps on his path to a maximum-point-earning day, was fortunately saved by Chase Briscoe’s car coming to life enough in the final Stage to give Larson a challenge up front.

But was Sunday’s race a reason to feel concern that the show at the 1.5-milers is starting to slip? Or was it simply a case of a team hitting the setup on a weekend where qualifying and practice were rained out?

That remains to be seen, but it’s something to keep an eye on over the next two races at Las Vegas and Charlotte Motor Speedway.

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The Daily Pit Stop: Larson Scores Max Points In Dominant Kansas Performance; Updated Chase Grid

Toby Christie — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 20:14:07 GMT

Larson Scores Maximum Points In Dominant Cup Series Win at Kansas

Josh Calloni | Racing America On SI

Kyle Larson had quite a day on Sunday afternoon in the Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway. The driver of the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet led a race-high 235 laps in the 267-lap event, swept Stages 1 and 2, and turned the fastest lap on his path to a second win of the season.

It was a day that Larson, the point leader coming into the day, scored maximum points (76).

However, while Larson was head-and-shoulders above the competition for the majority of the race, he had to fend off Chase Briscoe in the final Stage of the race.

With 30 laps remaining, Briscoe surprisingly snatched the lead from Larson during a green-flag run, and it looked like he was now in control of the race. Then, Briscoe’s car would snap loose, and Larson would find his groove and chase him down.

With seven laps left, Larson would reclaim the lead, and he’d never look back. Briscoe would collide with the wall and would fade to a fourth-place finish.

Austin Cindric and Denny Hamlin finished second and third behind Larson.

LARSON EXTENDS CHASE LEAD WITH WIN

Kyle Larson scored max points (76 points) in a winning performance at Kansas Speedway, which allowed him to extend his NASCAR Cup Series point lead from one to 26 points over Denny Hamlin.

Here is the updated Chase Grid with just six races remaining in the season:

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The Daily Pit Stop: Hocevar Has No Regrets A Week After Punching Blaney; Sanchez on Truck Pole

Toby Christie — Sat, 26 Sep 2026 15:49:11 GMT

Hocevar Has No Regrets A Week After Punching Blaney at Bristol

Randy Sartin | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Last week at Bristol Motor Speedway, the legend of the ultra-aggressive Carson Hocevar continued to grow with an on-track and off-track scuffle with Ryan Blaney.

After Blaney was crashed from the race with 42 laps to go, Blaney confronted Hocevar after the race, which resulted in Blaney incurring a black eye after two solid punches from Hocevar.

The fight went viral on social media, and created a lot of traction for the sport. Still, were there any regrets for Hocevar a week later?

"No, I don't think so," Hocevar stated.

Initially, after the post-race scuffle was broken up, Hocevar did have one worry on his mind: what would his dad think about it?

“I was a little worried. My dad is probably the least controversial person, you know, he has a local business, so he freaks out if he gets a bad Google review,” Hocevar admitted.

"So, yeah, I texted him, and I said, 'Man, I'm sorry about that.' You know, he was proud that I defended myself," Hocevar said, "and you know, I feel like that's what you'd want to see out of your son, per se, and whatnot."

The Final Lap Podcast: Blaney vs Hocevar Fight Explodes; NASCAR Kansas Preview

Nick Sanchez Gifted Pole Position for NASCAR Truck Race at Kansas

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

What a gift for Nick Sanchez. On Friday afternoon, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series practice and qualifying were washed out, which handed the pole position of the race to him and the No. 77 Spire Motorsports team.

Sanchez, who is making just his third Truck Series start of the year, says his chances at a third career Truck Series win improved mightily with the reduction of track time on Friday.

"It just got a whole lot easier with qualifying being rained out," Sanchez quipped. "And I feel like I have a good handle on Kansas. So, you know, the no practice thing is not really a big deal for me. I'm just looking forward to tomorrow in the Freeway No. 77 [Chevrolet] and chasing a checkered flag."

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The Daily Pit Stop: Tony Stewart is Back! Friday’s TV/Streaming Schedule at Kansas Speedway

Toby Christie — Fri, 25 Sep 2026 18:46:03 GMT

Tony Stewart Returns to Ram’s Free Agent Truck at Talladega

Grady Lundberg | TobyChristie.com

Tony Stewart, a three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, will return to the NASCAR National Series as he is set to make his second NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series start of the 2026 season on October 23 at Talladega Superspeedway.

Stewart will once again pilot the No. 25 Kaulig Racing Free Agent Program Ram 1500 truck in the event, the same truck he finished 36th in during the season-opening event at Daytona International Speedway.

“Anytime you can get into a Ram truck and go racing at a place like Talladega, you jump at it,” Stewart said in a press release. “Daytona in February was a blast, but this trip focuses on having fun while helping Kaulig Racing learn and build their notebook on superspeedways. Ram put a tremendous amount of heart into this NASCAR return. If my experience helps this team sharpen its drafting package and speed up the learning curve, everyone wins.”

The Final Lap Podcast: Blaney vs Hocevar Fight Explodes; NASCAR Kansas Preview

Bristol delivered absolute CHAOS! Joey Logano storms to a huge victory under the lights at Bristol Motor Speedway, but the biggest story may have happened AFTER the race — Ryan Blaney confronts Carson Hocevar and gets punched not once, but TWICE! We break down the wild on-track incident, the pit-road fight, and all the fallout from one of the craziest NASCAR nights of the season.

Then, Toby Christie’s News of the Week from Racing America On SI includes difficult news surrounding NASCAR legend Darrell “DW” Waltrip, plus Tony Stewart is getting back behind the wheel of a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series machine at Talladega!

We also turn our attention to Kansas Speedway as the NASCAR Cup Series Chase continues. Kerry and Toby break down the drivers, storylines and championship implications to watch this weekend before Rowdy Dragon delivers his Fantasy NASCAR picks for Kansas!

It’s Bristol fights, NASCAR legends, Smoke’s return and a full Kansas Speedway preview — all packed into another episode of The Final Lap Weekly!

Hosted by Kerry Murphey and Toby Christie.

LISTEN: Apple Podcasts | Spotify

NASCAR TV/Streaming Schedule for Friday, September 25

5 PM ET: NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series practice at Kansas
TV: FS2; Streaming: FOX One
6:05 PM ET: NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series qualifying at Kansas
TV: FS2; Streaming: FOX One
8 PM ET: ARCA Menards Series Menards 150 at Kansas
TV: FS1; Streaming: FOX One

FULL WEEKEND SCHEDULE

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The Daily Pit Stop: Darrell Waltrip Diagnosed With Cognitive Disease; Bubba Optimistic He Can Go On “Generational Run” in Chase

Toby Christie — Thu, 24 Sep 2026 14:49:16 GMT

NASCAR Legend Darrell Waltrip Diagnosed with Cognitive Disease

Mark J. Rebilas | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

In an official Wednesday evening statement from the Waltrip family, it was revealed that Darrell Waltrip, a three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion driver and legendary television broadcaster, will step away from the public limelight following the diagnosis of a cognitive disease.

According to the family, Waltrip has been diagnosed with Frontotemporal Degeneration (FTD) complicated by possible Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). The Waltrip family believes the medical condition stems from injuries sustained during his 29-year NASCAR driving career.

Waltrip is currently experiencing mild noticeable symptoms. The family says otherwise, Waltrip is happy, healthy, and spending time with his wife Stevie, their children, and his grandchildren.

Bubba Wallace Optimistic of “Generational Run” To End Chase

Jim Dedmon | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

After a consistent performance through the opening three races of the NASCAR Cup Series Chase, Bubba Wallace has vaulted from 14th to 10th in the championship standings; the 23XI Racing driver is gaining confidence heading into the final stretch of the championship fight.

With the next three races being contested on 1.5-mile intermediate ovals, which have been the specialty for Toyota Racing this season, and this weekend’s race being held at Kansas Speedway, a track Wallace has won at before, the driver feels he can go on a generational run to end the Chase.

"I think the next three races is a good indicator of who your champion will be," Wallace said during a Wednesday media Zoom call.

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The Daily Pit Stop: Post-Bristol Power Rankings; Could Keselowski’s Crew Chief Change Be a Blessing In Disguise?

Toby Christie — Wed, 23 Sep 2026 15:06:48 GMT

NASCAR Power Rankings: Logano Strikes Again; Blaney Takes a Beating

Randy Sartin-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

While you would have been hard-pressed to find anyone mid-season who thought Joey Logano was a legitimate championship contender, even-year Logano has gotten hot all of a sudden. After a win at Bristol, Logano now has three wins in his last nine races, and the second consecutive week, he leads the way in the Racing America On SI Power Rankings.

While Logano is soaring, his teammate, Ryan Blaney, suffered another setback with a run-in on-track and off-track with Carson Hocevar.

Toby Christie ranks out all 36 full-time NASCAR Cup Series drivers each week. Find out where your favorite driver ranks heading into this weekend’s race at Kansas Speedway.

Why Keselowski’s Crew Chief Change Could Land Him in the Chase in 2027

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Earlier this week, RFK Racing announced that it had amicably decided to part ways with Jeremy Bullins, Brad Keselowski’s crew chief since the start of the 2025 season. Mike Skarbowski will step in as Keselowski’s crew chief this weekend at Kansas Speedway.

While mid-and-even-late-season changes of this nature have become increasingly rare in the NASCAR Cup Series in recent years, this is a move that seriously makes sense for all parties.

For Bullins, it gives him a chance to possibly pair with a younger driver or fringe team needing his veteran leadership. For Keselowski and the No. 6 RFK Racing team, it gives them a seven-race test session, essentially, to lay the foundation for their 2027 season.

Keselowski is 42 years old and has missed the Chase/Playoffs in each of the last two seasons. The shake-up could be just what the 2012 Cup Series champion needs to become a contender again.

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The Daily Pit Stop: We’re Back, And Apparently... So is Boys Have At It in NASCAR!

Toby Christie — Tue, 22 Sep 2026 18:33:45 GMT

Hey guys, following the elimination of my position at RacingAmerica.com, the last few months have been a whirlwind for me, as I navigated how to get my ducks in a row to make everything in my journalism world make sense for providing for my family.

Thankfully, it looks like I have achieved that, and I am happy to have the time to be back to producing The Daily Pit Stop, our daily newsletter, which keeps you up to date on news in the world of NASCAR. Thanks for being here, and reading everything I do, it means so much! - Toby Christie

NASCAR Not Penalizing Hocevar or Blaney Following Bristol Fight

Chris Graythen/Getty Images

Many wondered what penalties would arise from the post-race altercation and fistfight between Ryan Blaney and Carson Hocevar following last Saturday night’s Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Well, apparently, the answer is none. At least for the drivers involved, that is.

On Monday evening, NASCAR sent out a memo to the media detailing that the sanctioning body had decided not to penalize the drivers for the post-race fistfight, but that further review of the incident is being conducted to determine penalties for any crew members involved in the post-race scuffle. If any penalties are to be handed out, they will be announced later this week.

This is good news for the bank accounts of Hocevar and Blaney, as the previous precedent for fighting in NASCAR had been a $75,000 fine. Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. received a fine of $75,000 after punching Kyle Busch at the conclusion of the NASCAR All-Star Race in 2024. Since then, drivers have been hesitant to throw hands after the races.

Now, it seems not only is self-policing on the racetrack back, but it also seems like the boys are officially allowed to “Have at it” off the track as well.

Ryan Blaney Admits “I Got My Ass Kicked” By Carson Hocevar

Chris Graythen/Getty Images

Two days removed from his post-race fistfight with Carson Hocevar at Bristol Motor Speedway, Ryan Blaney, who didn’t provide much post-fight comment last Saturday night, joined the Actions Detrimental Podcast to talk about the whole ordeal, including the lead-up to the incident, the on-track crash, and the aftermath.

Blaney, who was obviously heated after being crashed from the second position with just 42 laps remaining in the race, says that, looking back at the incident, he would assign 50% blame to himself and 50% blame to Hocevar.

But still contends, "I probably didn't deserve to get absolutely trashed."

Blaney says he didn’t intend to fight Hocevar after the race, and only intended to sternly talk to his competitor. But he came in quite aggressively and grabbed Hocevar, which led Hocevar to swing first. Blaney said he didn’t blame Hocevar for taking the punch given the situation.

The Team Penske driver was embarrassed by his post-race actions.

"There are things that I regret," Blaney stated. "I try to set a good example for kids who are watching, who are fans, their parents who are allowing these kids to watch races and root for their driver. And I try to act a certain way to be what a kid would want to look up to. And I look back on those things, and I definitely regret the way I acted, and that's really unlike me. But I was just frustrated, and you just do these things."

But Blaney did own up to the fact that he DID NOT win the fight.

"And I'll be honest, I went over there, and I got my ass kicked, for sure," Blaney admitted. "I ate a two-piece and got tagged pretty good. I just wanted to show my displeasure."

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Rowdy Dragon’s NASCAR Fantasy Sportsbook: Best Bets For the Coca-Cola 600

Toby Christie — Sun, 24 May 2026 18:41:56 GMT

The NASCAR Cup Series returns to the legendary Charlotte Motor Speedway this weekend for the longest race of the season—the Coca-Cola 600. With 600 miles, 400 laps, changing track conditions from daylight to darkness, and one of the toughest tests of endurance on the calendar, Charlotte is where speed alone isn’t enough. Execution, patience, and long-run performance separate contenders from pretenders.

On this week’s episode of Rowdy Dragon’s NASCAR Sportsbook, Rowdy breaks down the Fantasy Live head-to-head matchups, analyzes Next Gen data from Charlotte, Kansas, Las Vegas, and Texas, and searches for betting value on one of NASCAR’s premier intermediate tracks. Whether you’re setting your fantasy lineup or building a sportsbook card, this episode is packed with actionable insight.

Here’s what’s inside this week’s Charlotte episode:

🏁 Denny Hamlin vs. Ryan Blaney — Hamlin dominates virtually every statistical category Rowdy examined, from average finish and driver rating to speed metrics and head-to-head results. The No. 11 is Rowdy’s easiest matchup pick of the week.

⚡ Christopher Bell vs. Kyle Larson — Bell has the edge in recent Charlotte head-to-heads, but Larson’s elite green-flag speed, driver rating, and intermediate-track performance make the driver of the the No. 5 Chevrolet and intriguing play.

🔥 Bubba Wallace vs. Brad Keselowski — The metrics favor Wallace, but Rowdy sees value in Keselowski’s experience, long-run consistency, and steady improvement in the Next Gen era. Who gets the nod?

🧠 William Byron vs. Tyler Reddick — One of the toughest matchups on the board. Reddick brings elite speed, but Byron’s consistency, execution, and ability to avoid mistakes in a 600-mile race make him Rowdy’s pick.

💸 Sportsbook value play — While Denny Hamlin opens as the favorite at +500, Rowdy believes the best value on the board belongs to William Byron at +850. Three straight podium finishes and five stage wins over the last three Charlotte races make the No. 24 stand out.

🚨 Long shots to watch — Brad Keselowski at 30-1 is Rowdy’s favorite sleeper, citing strong recent intermediate-track form and improving long-run speed. Alex Bowman also makes the list after recent podium finishes and a strong showing in the All-Star Race at Dover.

🏆 Rowdy’s “winner winner” pick — William Byron. With three consecutive podium finishes, top-10 results on every comparable intermediate track this season, and a history of leading laps at Charlotte, Rowdy believes the No. 24 finally breaks through for his first Charlotte victory.

Rowdy also recaps his Watkins Glen performance, reviews his season-long Fantasy Live results, and explains why Charlotte’s unique combination of endurance, speed, and changing conditions makes it one of the most difficult races of the year to handicap.

Whether you’re finalizing your Fantasy Live lineup, hunting for plus-money betting opportunities, or preparing for NASCAR’s marathon event, this episode delivers the data-driven insight you need before the green flag waves.

👉 Subscribe on Substack, fire up the latest episode, and let Rowdy Dragon guide your fantasy picks and betting strategy for the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte. 🏁🐉

TC Daily Pit Stop: Rain Forces Double Postponement of NASCAR Truck Race at Charlotte; NASCAR Allows No. 33 RCR Team to Unload First In Cup Garage

Toby Christie — Sat, 23 May 2026 13:26:44 GMT

Rain Forces Postponement Of NASCAR Truck Race at Charlotte to Saturday At 9 PM ET

Grady Lundberg | TobyChristie.com

Mother Nature just won’t play nice with the NASCAR community. The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series North Carolina Education Lottery 200, which was originally scheduled for Friday evening, was rescheduled to Saturday morning due to persistent rain, it was postponed again thanks to continued rain on Saturday morning.

The race is now set for Saturday evening at 9 PM ET and will be televised on FS1. The race would follow Saturday’s NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Charbroil 300, which is currently set for 5 PM ET.

However, Mother Nature is still expected to play a factor into the rest of the day and evening schedule at Charlotte Motor Speedway, so fingers crossed that we see some racing on Saturday night.

No. 33 RCR Team Allowed To Unload Car First In Touching Gesture By NASCAR

Matt Marrie | Racing America On SI

In a touching gesture by NASCAR, Richard Childress Racing, which endured an unthinkable loss this week with the passing of Kyle Busch, was allowed to unload its renumbered No. 33 Chevrolet before any other team unloaded on Saturday morning in the NASCAR Cup Series garage.

It was a surreal and emotional few moments, as the entire garage stood quiet, and paid respects to Busch, and the Richard Childress Racing team that has now endured the loss of two legends — Dale Earnhardt and Busch.

After the No. 33 Chevrolet was unloaded and pushed to the inspection bay, the No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet was allowed to be unloaded and pushed to inspection. Once that was completed, the entire garage went to work.

Kyle Busch (1985-2026)

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TC Daily Pit Stop: Kyle Busch, Two Time NASCAR Cup Series Champion, Dead At Age 41

Toby Christie — Fri, 22 May 2026 17:08:25 GMT

Kyle Busch, Two-Time NASCAR Cup Series Champion, Dead At 41

Buddy Ghi | TobyChristie.com

On Thursday afternoon, the racing world lost a true legend. Kyle Busch, a two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and 234-time race winner in the NASCAR National Series ranks (the most all-time), passed away at the age of 41.

Busch’s family released a statement on Thursday morning explaining that Busch would not compete in this weekend’s NASCAR National Series events at Charlotte Motor Speedway, as he had experienced a “severe illness” which necessitated the driver being hospitalized.

A few hours after the initial statement, Busch was gone.

In a joint statement from the Busch family, Richard Childress Racing, and NASCAR, all parties confirmed the unfortunate news of Busch’s death.

The joint statement provided by the Busch family, Richard Childress Racing, and NASCAR:

On behalf of the Busch family, everyone at Richard Childress Racing, and all of NASCAR, we are devastated to announce the sudden and tragic passing of Kyle Busch.
Our entire NASCAR family is heartbroken by the loss of Kyle Busch. A future Hall of Famer, Kyle was a rare talent, one who comes along once in a generation. He was fierce, he was passionate, he was immensely skilled, and he cared deeply about the sport and fans. Throughout a career that spanned more than two decades, Kyle set records in national series wins, won championships at NASCAR’s highest level, and fostered the next generation of drivers as an owner in the Truck Series. His sharp wit and competitive spirit sparked a deep emotional connection with race fans of every age, creating the proud and loyal ‘Rowdy Nation.’ Our thoughts are with Samantha, Brexton, and Lennix, Kyle, and Samantha’s parents, Kurt, and all of Kyle’s family, Richard and Judy Childress, everyone at Richard Childress Racing, his teammates, friends, and fans. NASCAR lost a giant of the sport today, far too soon.
During this incredibly difficult time, we ask everyone to respect the family’s privacy and continue to keep them in your thoughts and prayers. Further updates will be shared as appropriate.

Kyle Busch (1985-2026)

NASCAR Community Mourns, Remembers Kyle Busch

Photo by Kena Krutsinger/Getty Images

In the hours after the announcement that Kyle Busch had died at the age of 41, the NASCAR community, which was understandably overcome with grief, began to share their tributes, and memories of racing against Busch, one of the fiercest competitors to ever race in NASCAR.

Among the many that sent out posts were Busch’s former teammates Denny Hamlin Erik Jones, and Jeff Gordon, former team owners Rick Hendrick and Joe Gibbs Racing, and current teammates like Jesse Love.

Austin Dillon Vows To Always Be There For Kyle Busch’s Family In Touching Tribute

Jonathan McCoy | TobyChristie.com

In possibly the most touching tribute post to Kyle Busch, yet, Austin Dillon issued a lengthy letter on Instagram on Friday.

In the letter, Dillon vowed to always be there for Busch’s widow, Samantha, and their two children, Brexton and Lennix. Dillon also called Busch his favorite teammate and driver of all time.

Busch admits in the letter that while Busch wasn’t always popular around the Richard Childress Racing shop, prior to him joining the team in 2023, that he was always secretly a Busch fan, personally.

Dillon also pulled back the curtain on Busch signing with Richard Childress Racing ahead of the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season.

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The Final Lap Weekly: Kyle Busch Hospitalized and Racing's Biggest Weekend Is HERE!

Toby Christie — Thu, 21 May 2026 17:51:12 GMT

The Final Lap Weekly: Kyle Busch Hospitalized and Racing’s Biggest Weekend Is HERE!

The Final Lap Weekly is loaded this week as Kerry Murphey and Toby Christie break down a massive week in motorsports!

SVG does it again on the road course with a huge Watkins Glen win, proving once more that Shane van Gisbergen is becoming one of NASCAR’s most dangerous road-course weapons. Plus, Denny Hamlin captures the NASCAR All-Star Race at Dover, adding another major moment to his already headline-filled season.

Then the show shifts to breaking news: Kyle Busch has been hospitalized with what has been described as a “severe illness” and will miss the Coca-Cola 600 weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway, with Austin Hill stepping into the No. 8 Chevrolet.

Rowdy Dragon stops by with Fantasy NASCAR Picks for the Coca-Cola 600, and the crew previews the biggest racing weekend of the year: Formula 1, the Indianapolis 500, and NASCAR’s marathon crown jewel, the Coca-Cola 600 from Charlotte Motor Speedway. If you love racing, this is the weekend — and this episode covers it all!

This episode is dedicated to my mom, whom I lost on the race morning of Watkins Glen weekend. She was a huge NASCAR fan and Tony Stewart fan; she will be missed. -Kerry

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Exclusive Interview: Denny Hamlin Talks New Progressive Ads, Reddick's Success, Will Dover Be All-Star One And Done?

Toby Christie — Fri, 15 May 2026 16:33:11 GMT

Denny Hamlin took time out of his schedule heading into the NASCAR All-Star Race to talk to me about his new advertising campaign with Progressive, titled “The Car Lives”, and he also spoke about Tyler Reddick’s historic-levels of success this year and how that has helped him elevate his game.

Hamlin also gives his opinion on whether Dover Motor Speedway will be a one-and-done All-Star Race venue.

All that and a lot more. Enjoy my interview with Denny Hamlin!

TC Daily Pit Stop: Katherine Legge Set For Historic Attempt at 'The Double'

Toby Christie — Thu, 14 May 2026 14:38:01 GMT

Katherine Legge Set For Historic Attempt at ‘The Double’

Dirk Bizub | TobyChristie.com

With primary sponsorship from e.l.f. Cosmetics, Katherine Legge is set to attempt ‘The Double’ on Memorial Day weekend this year. Legge, who was already slated to be one of the 33 cars in the Indianapolis 500, driving the No. 11 HMD/A.J. Foyt Racing entry, will now also attempt to compete in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on the same day.

In the Coca-Cola 600, Legge will pilot the No. 78 Chevrolet for Live Fast Motorsports. If Legge is able to make the field for the race in Concord, NC, and weather plays nice for her throughout the weekend, she’ll become the first woman, the first non-American, and the oldest driver to ever pull off ‘The Double’.

Kyle Larson, who competed in ‘The Double’ last season, was the first driver since Kurt Busch in 2014, who was able to compete in both events. Larson attempted ‘The Double’ in 2024, but weather foiled his hopes of competing in the Coca-Cola 600.

John Andretti was the first driver to attempt ‘The Double’ in 1994. Andretti finished 10th in the Indianapolis 500, and 36th in the Coca-Cola 600 that season.

Davy Jones attempted in 1995, but failed to make the field for the Coca-Cola 600.

Robby Gordon attempted ‘The Double’ five times, and his most successful attempt came in 2002, when he completed all but one lap between the two events.

Tony Stewart, who pulled off ‘The Double’ twice, remains the only driver to complete all 1,100 miles of racing in one day, as he finished 6th on the lead lap in the 2001 Indianapolis 500, and then finished third on the lead lap in the Coca-Cola 600.

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TC Daily Pit Stop: Shane van Gisbergen Rallies From 29 Seconds Down In 18 Laps To Win At The Glen

Toby Christie — Mon, 11 May 2026 18:23:26 GMT

Van Gisbergen Rallies From 29 Seconds Down In 18 Laps To Win At The Glen

Rebecca Eisele | TobyChristie.com

If anyone had begun questioning if Shane van Gisbergen was still the top driving talent on road courses in the NASCAR Cup Series after the driver failed to defeat Tyler Reddick at Circuit of the Americas earlier this season, and came up empty at Watkins Glen in starts in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series earlier in the weekend — STOP.

Shane van Gisbergen was flat-out dominant in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series Go Bowling at The Glen, as he led a race-high 74 laps in the 100-lap contest, and even a pit strategy, which placed him 29 seconds behind race leader Ty Gibbs with 25 laps remaining, wasn’t enough to stop him.

Van Gisbergen charged through the field, and in just 18 laps, he erased the 29-second deficit, took the race lead from Gibbs, and pulled away to a decisive win by more than seven seconds over Michael McDowell.

“Unbelievable to win with 97. Yeah, Super File Chevy was great. Thank you to Trackhouse. We weren’t very good in practice, and then qualifying was amazing. Good tweaks, and then today, so what a race car,” van Gisbergen said. “Then [Crew Chief] Stephen [Doran] made great calls. I wasn’t sure how it was going to work. Then to run them down, very, very special to do two in a row.”

The win on Sunday was the seventh of SVG’s NASCAR Cup Series career, and it’s his sixth win in the last seven NASCAR Cup Series road course events.

SVG Moves Inside Top-16 With Win

With 14 races remaining until the NASCAR Cup Series Chase begins, Shane van Gisbergen was able to work himself back inside the top-16 of the championship standings after his dominant win in Sunday’s Go Bowling at The Glen.

SVG sits six points above the cutline, while Chase Briscoe, who finished fourth on Sunday, fell outside of the top-16, and sits six points below the cutline.

Joey Logano, who suffered a last-place finish, now sits 38 points outside the cutline in 18th.

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Rowdy Dragon’s NASCAR Fantasy Sportsbook: At The Glen

Toby Christie — Fri, 08 May 2026 13:59:44 GMT

The NASCAR Cup Series heads to Watkins Glen International this weekend, and Rowdy Dragon is back with another full fantasy and sportsbook breakdown on Rowdy Dragon’s NASCAR Fantasy Sportsbook. With high-speed esses, heavy braking zones, and fuel strategy often deciding the outcome, Watkins Glen remains one of the most technical and unpredictable races on the NASCAR schedule.

In this week’s episode, Rowdy dives into the Fantasy Live head-to-head matchups, compares road-course data from Watkins Glen, Sonoma, and COTA, and scans the sportsbooks for value plays, long shots, and his weekly “winner winner” pick. If you’re setting a lineup or building a betting card for NASCAR’s fastest road course, this episode is packed with insight.

Here’s what’s inside this week’s Watkins Glen episode:

🏁 Shane van Gisbergen vs. Tyler Reddick — Two elite road racers square off, but does SVG’s pure road-course pedigree and growing Cup comfort level give him the edge?

⚡ Chase Elliott vs. Christopher Bell — Elliott’s consistent road-course résumé and experience at The Glen could make him Rowdy’s preferred pick in a razor-close matchup.

🔥 Kyle Larson vs. William Byron — Larson’s aggression and raw pace at Watkins Glen make him dangerous, but is Byron’s cleaner execution something to keep in your mind?

🧠 Ross Chastain vs. AJ Allmendinger — Allmendinger’s road-course expertise and braking consistency make him one of Rowdy’s strongest matchup plays of the week, but could Chastain surprise him?

💸 Sportsbook breakdown — The odds board favors the established road-course stars, but Rowdy highlights value opportunities deeper in the field where strategy, pit calls, and track position can completely reshape the race late.

🚨 Long shots to watch — Michael McDowell offers sneaky top-10 upside, while Chris Buescher continues to provide strong value on technical road layouts.

🏆 Rowdy’s “winner winner” pick — Shane van Gisbergen, banking on elite braking ability, road-course racecraft, and the speed to control the event if strategy falls his way.

Rowdy also breaks down why Watkins Glen races differently from Sonoma and COTA, explains how stage strategy can completely alter the finishing order, and emphasizes why practice and qualifying will be critical before locking in final fantasy and betting decisions.

Whether you’re finalizing your Fantasy Live lineup, chasing sportsbook value, or preparing for one of NASCAR’s premier road-course events, this episode delivers the data-driven insight you need before the green flag drops at The Glen.

👉 Subscribe on Substack, fire up the episode, and let Rowdy Dragon guide your fantasy picks and betting strategy for Watkins Glen. 🏁🐉

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LISTEN TO THIS WEEK’S EPISODE OF THE FINAL LAP WEEKLY

The Final Lap Weekly: Elliott STRIKES Again! Texas Chaos, Hamlin 2nd AGAIN, Busch Controversy & Watkins Glen Preview!

Toby Christie — Thu, 07 May 2026 18:05:13 GMT

Elliott STRIKES Again! Texas Chaos, Hamlin 2nd AGAIN, Busch Controversy & Watkins Glen Preview!

For Show #900, the guys break down the latest in NASCAR. The NASCAR Cup Series delivered non-stop drama at Texas Motor Speedway, and Chase Elliott is back in championship form with his second win of the season! Meanwhile, Denny Hamlin finishes 2nd AGAIN—is this becoming a trend?

We break down a massive weekend, including Alex Bowman showing signs of a comeback after battling vertigo, and the biggest NASCAR controversy of the week:
Why was Ryan Preece penalized… but Kyle Busch wasn’t?!

Plus, major news drops, including a contract extension for Ryan Blaney, and what it means for the future of the Cup Series.

Looking ahead: We preview the high-speed, high-stakes road course action at Watkins Glen International, where anything can happen when NASCAR turns right AND left!

Rowdy Dragon joins the show with his must-have Fantasy NASCAR picks to help you dominate your league this weekend.

️ Hosted by Kerry Murphey and Toby Christie, this is your one-stop shop for NASCAR news, race recaps, fantasy advice, and bold takes you won’t hear anywhere else.

NASCAR News Provided By:

http://tobychristie.com

-Listen on Spotify

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Additional Resources:

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TC Daily Pit Stop: Ryan Blaney, Team Penske Announce Long-Term Contract Extension; Pastrana Joins Kaulig As Ram's Next "Free Agent Driver"

Toby Christie — Thu, 07 May 2026 14:10:19 GMT

Ryan Blaney Lands Long-Term Contract Extension With Team Penske

Jonathan McCoy | TobyChristie.com

Ryan Blaney isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. The driver of the No. 12 Team Penske Ford Mustang Dark Horse will remain in that role for the foreseeable future, after announcing a long-term contract extension with Team Penske on Wednesday.

Blaney, 32, is an 18-time NASCAR Cup Series race winner, and he scored the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series championship. The driver over the last few years has become well known for being able to elevate his finishing position beyond what his car, pit crew have been achieving.

Additionally, Team Penske announced a multi-year contract extension with Menards, which will continue as a major primary sponsorship partner for Blaney and Austin Cindric.

Travis Pastrana: Kaulig Racing’s Latest Free Agent Driver

Grady Lundberg | TobyChristie.com

Kaulig Racing has had some rather large names compete behind the wheel of its No. 25 “Free Agent Program” Ram 1500 this season. Travis Pastrana will be the latest.

On Wednesday, the team announced Pastrana as the driver of the No. 25 Ram in the upcoming NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 22.

Pastrana competed in the season-opening event at Daytona International Speedway, driving for Niece Motorsports. In that race, Pastrana finished 15th.

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TC Daily Pit Stop: Preece Fined, Docked Points For Texas Incident With Gibbs; Kyle Busch Not Penalized; Watkins Glen Entry Lists

Toby Christie — Wed, 06 May 2026 15:41:13 GMT

Ryan Preece Fined and Docked Points for Gibbs Incident; No Penalties For Kyle Busch

Daniel Nelson | TobyChristie.com

Ryan Preece was smacked with a $50,000 fine and was docked 25 points following his incident with Ty Gibbs in last Sunday’s Wurth 400 at Texas Motor Speedway. According to NASCAR’s Mike Forde, in this week’s Hauler Talk Podcast, Preece’s in-car communication, where he threatened to crash Gibbs, paired with the incident, led to the penalties.

Surprisingly, Kyle Busch was not penalized for his incident with John Hunter Nemechek with two laps remaining in Sunday’s race. Forde said that NASCAR was unable to conclude through SMT data, due to the damage of the No. 8 RCR car, if the incident was intentional.

Forde did say that NASCAR will have a discussion with Kyle Busch this weekend as this is the second time in four races that NASCAR has had to decide whether or not to penalize Busch for an on-track incident, and that the benefit of the doubt is wearing thin.

WATKINS GLEN ENTRY LISTS

Entry List: 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Go Bowling at The Glen

Rebecca Eisele | TobyChristie.com

There are 38 cars on the entry list for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series Go Bowling at The Glen at Watkins Glen International. The two “Open” entries this week are the No. 66 Garage 66 Ford, driven by Josh Bilicki, and the No. 78 Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet, driven by Katherine Legge.

FULL ENTRY LIST

Entry List: 2026 NOAPS Misson 200 At The Glen

Rebecca Eisele | TobyChristie.com

There are 39 cars for 38 spots on the entry list for Saturday’s NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Mission 200 at The Glen at Watkins Glen International. Notables include: No. 0 Alex Labbe, No. 1 Connor Zilisch, No. 9 Shane van Gisbergen, No. 32 Ross Chastain, No. 50 Preston Pardus, No. 88 Rajah Caruth, and No. 91 Carson Kvapil.

FULL ENTRY LIST

Entry List: 2026 NCTS Bully Hill Vineyards 176 at The Glen

Rebecca Eisele | TobyChristie.com

There are 38 trucks for 36 spots on the entry list for Friday’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Bully Hill Vineyard 176 at Watkins Glen International. Notables include: No. 1 Brent Crews, 2 Jackson Lee, 4 Shane van Gisbergen, 5 Adam Andretti, 7 Connor Mosack, 20 Toni Breidinger, 22 Natalie Decker, 25 AJ Allmendinger, 33 Stephen Mallozzi, 42 Tyler Reif, 45 Ross Chastain, 56 Timmy Hill, 62 Wesley Slimp, 69 Dystany Spurlock, 71 Connor Zilisch, 76 Nathan Nicholson, and 77 Carson Hocevar.

FULL ENTRY LIST

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