The question of when will Ty Gibbs finally score his first NASCAR Cup Series win has been officially answered. Gibbs was able to hold off Ryan Blaney in an overtime finish to score his maiden NASCAR Cup Series win in Sunday’s Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Gibbs, who had 95-lap older tires than Blaney, stayed out during a late caution and inherited the race lead. Blaney, who had fresh tires, sliced his way back to the front, but just came up shy of snagging the win.

After the race, Gibbs admitted that he didn’t care in the moment if he scored the win or not, as he was too busy enjoying the fun battles on track with Blaney and Kyle Larson.

“Honestly, I didn’t really know or care if I was going to win or not. I thought the race was awesome. I thought we all put on the racing was great,” Gibbs explained. “Feel like it’s been us the whole year. I really appreciate always racing Ryan Blaney and Kyle too. Those guys always run me real well. We all run together and hard. Hopefully, we put a great show on for the fans. Thank you for Team 54, everybody that’s a part of this whole deal. What a great day.”

Larson, who led a race-high 238 laps and won Stages 1 and 2, would go on to finish third.

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OFFICIAL RACE RESULTS

Tyler Reddick was able to maintain his NASCAR Cup Series point lead with a fourth-place finish in Sunday’s race, and he now holds a 62-point lead over Blaney, who finished runner-up in the Food City 500.

Gibbs, with his win, moved up from sixth to fourth in the standings and is 105 points behind Reddick.

Shane van Gisbergen finished 34th, and nearly fell outside of the 16-driver Chase Grid, but was able to hang on by one point. With 18 races remaining until the Chase begins, Chase Briscoe (-1 point), Austin Cindric (-5), and Michael McDowell (-6) are breathing down SVG’s neck for the final slot in the Chase Grid.

OTHER NASCAR HEADLINES

• Alex Bowman Gets Second Chance After Thinking Career Was Over

• Zilisch Outduels Larson On Older Tires To Win O’Reilly Race At Bristol

• Christopher Bell Takes Bristol Truck Win After Chaotic Final Stage

• Alex Bowman Medically Cleared, Will Race At Bristol

Additional Resources:

• 2026 Schedules: Cup | Xfinity | Trucks

• 2026 Driver/Team Charts: Cup | O’Reilly | Trucks

• 2025 Driver Points: Cup | Xfinity | Trucks

• 2025 Owner Points: Cup | Xfinity | Trucks

• 2025 Rookie Standings: Cup | Xfinity | Trucks

• 2025 Manufacturer Standings: Cup | Xfinity | Trucks

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Connor Zilisch has had a less-than-stellar start to his NASCAR Cup Series rookie season. Even one of the hottest prospects in NASCAR history can have their confidence wane under these circumstances.

Zilisch got just what the doctor ordered with a confidence-building win in Saturday night’s NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Suburban Propane 300 at Bristol, as he topped Kyle Larson, the race’s dominant driver, for the victory.

“Yeah, man, that was awesome. It’s been a tough past few weeks for me in the Cup Series. It feels good to come back down here into the O’Reilly Series and remember that I can still do it,” Zilisch said. “It’s tough, you finish in the back every week, and you forget who you are.”

Zilisch’s crew chief, Rodney Childers, made a strategy call on a caution with under 30 laps to go, and kept his 19-year-old driver on track with older tires, while Larson, who had led 230 laps on the night, was among a large contingent of drivers that came to pit road.

While Larson got back to Zilisch, he slid up the track with three laps to go, and Zilisch cruised to the win.

Brent Crews would finish third behind Zilisch and Larson.

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OFFICIAL RACE RESULTS

Ryan Blaney Shakes Off Loose Lap 1 To Take Food City 500 Pole

Ryan Blaney slipped up badly in Turns 1 and 2 on the opening lap of his qualifying run on Saturday at Bristol Motor Speedway, but the Team Penske driver didn’t let that get into his head. He refocused and turned a blistering second lap, which allowed him to top Tyler Reddick for the pole position in Sunday’s Food City 500.

“Yeah, just kind of got free [on] Lap 1, landing into 1, and then, it was just kind of like, alright gather yourself up back up for [Turns] 3 and 4 to try to get a second lap,” Blaney explained. “Luckily, the rear tires came in better the second lap in [Turns] 1 and 2, and then 3 and 4, I thought was a really good corner. Really great job by the whole 12 boys.”

Chase Briscoe will start third, and Riley Herbst will join him on the outside of Row 2, in what was a career-best fourth-place qualifying run.

Ty Gibbs, Ross Chastain, Chris Buescher, Kyle Larson, Austin Cindric, and Carson Hocevar rounded out the top-10 qualifiers for Sunday’s race.

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OFFICIAL STARTING LINEUP

Alex Bowman Gets a Second Chance After Thinking Career Was Over

In a media availability at Bristol Motor Speedway on Saturday, Alex Bowman finally got the chance to open up about the vertigo symptoms he experienced in the car at Circuit of the Americas, which led to him sitting out of four NASCAR Cup Series races.

Bowman said he experienced dizziness and nausea inside the car at COTA, and admitted that he felt when he exited the race early at COTA that his career was likely over.

“I mean, honestly, yeah," Bowman answered when pressed on if he thought he was close to not racing again, "when I got out at COTA, I was like, this is probably it. That was what was going through my head. So, yeah, that sucked, and I'm thankful that I got another shot at it.”

Bowman credits a lot of time with a lot of doctors for allowing him a second chance at his NASCAR Cup Series driving career, and he is set for 500 laps around the ultra-fast, high-banked Bristol Motor Speedway on Sunday. Not exactly the best recipe for someone coming off of a bout with vertigo.

"Yeah, it's probably the worst place possible to come back to," Bowman stated. "You know, I think not just from it’s physical, but it's a track that is extremely difficult. The margins from the front to the back of the field are tiny."

Bowman says ultimately, he’s a racer, and if his medical team tells him it’s safe to compete, he’s going to race. Bowman will start from the 27th position in Sunday’s Food City 500 at Bristol.

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Additional Resources:

• 2026 Schedules: Cup | Xfinity | Trucks

• 2026 Driver/Team Charts: Cup | O’Reilly | Trucks

• 2025 Driver Points: Cup | Xfinity | Trucks

• 2025 Owner Points: Cup | Xfinity | Trucks

• 2025 Rookie Standings: Cup | Xfinity | Trucks

• 2025 Manufacturer Standings: Cup | Xfinity | Trucks

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Bowman says he experienced dizziness and threw up on himself inside the car.

According to Bowman, he truly felt lik…

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While Christopher Bell wasn’t the dominant driver in Friday night’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Tennessee Army National Guard 250 at Bristol Motor Speedway, as that honor belonged to Christian Eckes, Bell was good when it mattered most.

Bell worked his way around Eckes for the race lead with 63 laps remaining in the 250-lap contest and was able to hold Chandler Smith at bay for the win in the closing laps. For Bell, it had been a long time since he had won a race in the NASCAR Truck Series.

“Oh man, that was just so awesome to be able to win a truck race,” Bell said in his victory interview on FS1. “Man, it’s been what, since 2017, since I’ve won one of these things. So, it’s a lot of fun racing with this group, this HFR group.”

Eckes would fade to a fifth-place finish. However, Eckes was also involved in the most controversial moment of the race, when he collided with Corey Heim, who had just nudged past him for the race lead with 70 laps to go.

The contact sent Heim hard into the wall, and Heim also collected Kaden Honeycutt, the series points leader heading into the night.

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OFFICIAL RACE RESULTS

With Chandler Smith’s runner-up finish, and Kaden Honeycutt finishing 31st after the incident with Eckes and Heim, there is a change atop the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship standings.

With 12 races left until the Chase begins, Tyler Ankrum has fallen outside of the top-10, and is three points below the cutline.

OTHER NASCAR HEADLINES:

• Underdog NASCAR O’Reilly Team Leaning On AI Company to Bridge Gap

• NASCAR TV Schedule: Bristol Motor Speedway (April 10-12)

• Alex Bowman Medically Cleared, Will Race At Bristol

• LEGACY MOTOR CLUB Acquires Michael Guttilla As President

• Gray Gaulding to Make First NASCAR Start In Three Years At Bristol

• Cleetus McFarland Not Approved For Talladega In O’Reilly Series After Rockingham Start

• Seven NASCAR Cup Drivers To Compete In Bristol NASCAR Truck Race

• Chase Briscoe Joining TRICON for Bristol Craftsman Truck Series Start

Additional Resources:

• 2026 Schedules: Cup | Xfinity | Trucks

• 2026 Driver/Team Charts: Cup | O’Reilly | Trucks

• 2025 Driver Points: Cup | Xfinity | Trucks

• 2025 Owner Points: Cup | Xfinity | Trucks

• 2025 Rookie Standings: Cup | Xfinity | Trucks

• 2025 Manufacturer Standings: Cup | Xfinity | Trucks

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After four races on the sidelines, recovering from symptoms stemming from a vertigo diagnosis, Alex Bowman is slated to return to the NASCAR Cup Series to compete in Sunday’s Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Hendrick Motorsports confirmed on Thursday that Bowman had been medically cleared to return to competition.

“I’m grateful for the support I’ve had from Hendrick Motorsports, my sponsor Ally, our fans, and the medical team throughout this process,” Bowman said in a release from the team. “It’s been tough being out of the car, but we all wanted to make sure I was 100% ready before returning. I feel really good, and I’m excited about being at the track with my team and getting back to racing.”

According to the team, Bowman turned laps around the Ten Tenths Motor Club road course in Concord, NC, on Tuesday in a street car. The following day, the driver participated in pit stop practice, simulator testing, and had a medical evaluation. Following the rigorous schedule, and suffering no setbacks, Bowman was formally cleared for competition, and the team notes that he has been given no restrictions.

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OTHER NASCAR HEADLINES:

• NASCAR TV Schedule: Bristol Motor Speedway (April 10-12)

• LEGACY MOTOR CLUB Acquires Michael Guttilla As President

• Gray Gaulding to Make First NASCAR Start In Three Years At Bristol

• Cleetus McFarland Not Approved For Talladega In O’Reilly Series After Rockingham Start

• Seven NASCAR Cup Drivers To Compete In Bristol NASCAR Truck Race

• Chase Briscoe Joining TRICON for Bristol Craftsman Truck Series Start

• Entry List: 2026 NCTS Tennessee Army National Guard 250 at Bristol

• Entry List: 2026 NOAPS Suburban Propane 300 at Bristol

Additional Resources:

• 2026 Schedules: Cup | Xfinity | Trucks

• 2026 Driver/Team Charts: Cup | O’Reilly | Trucks

• 2025 Driver Points: Cup | Xfinity | Trucks

• 2025 Owner Points: Cup | Xfinity | Trucks

• 2025 Rookie Standings: Cup | Xfinity | Trucks

• 2025 Manufacturer Standings: Cup | Xfinity | Trucks

Share TC Daily Pit Stop

In this week’s episode, Rowdy leans into concrete-track data from Bristol and Dover, breaking down Fantasy Live head-to-head matchups, analyzing key performance metrics, and scanning the sportsbooks for value, long shots, and his bold “winner winner” pick. If you’re setting your lineup or building a betting card, this episode is loaded with numbers that matter.

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

🏁 Chase Elliott vs. Brad Keselowski — Do Elliott’s superior Next Gen averages and 4-2 head-to-head edge at Bristol give him the nod?

⚡ Denny Hamlin vs. Kyle Larson — Nearly identical metrics across the board, but which way will Rowdy lean?

🔥 Ty Gibbs vs. Chase Briscoe — A statistical sweep for Gibbs, who dominates every key category and continues to outperform his teammate.

🧠 Carson Hocevar vs. Josh Berry — Hocevar’s has stronger averages and a 3-1 head-to-head advantage, but is he the clear play in this matchup?

💸 Sportsbook breakdown — Kyle Larson (+450) leads the board, followed by Denny Hamlin (+550) and Ryan Blaney (+650), with Christopher Bell (7-1) and Ty Gibbs (9-1) rounding out the top tier.

🚨 Long shots to watch — Bubba Wallace offers solid top-10 value (+200) if execution holds, while Carson Hocevar brings sneaky upside with improving consistency and a recent surge on concrete tracks.

🏆 Rowdy’s “winner winner” pick — Ty Gibbs, banking on elite recent Bristol speed, a high floor with four top-10s in his last five starts, and the potential to finally break through for his first Cup Series win.

Rowdy also checks in on his season-long Fantasy Live performance, explains why Bristol often mirrors Martinsville in terms of dominance by top-tier drivers, and emphasizes how practice and qualifying will be critical in shaping final decisions.

Whether you’re locking in your Fantasy Live head-to-heads, hunting for plus-money betting value, or preparing for 500 laps of Bristol chaos, this episode delivers the insight you need before the green flag drops.

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

Cleetus McFarland will not scream around the high banks of Talladega Superspeedway like a bald eagle in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series in a few weeks, as NASCAR has not approved him to compete in speedways in the series.

McFarland competed at Rockingham last weekend in hopes that he could gain approval, but a 32nd-place finish, six laps off the pace, on a day where he had four near-crashes, was not enough for NASCAR to justify approval on larger tracks.

McFarland says while the decision is a “kick in the nuts,” he agrees that he needs more seat time to deserve approval. NASCAR reiterates that McFarland remains approved for short tracks in the NASCAR O’Reilly Series, and all tracks in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and ARCA Menards Series.

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LEGACY MOTOR CLUB Acquires Michael Guttilla As President

On the heels of the announcement that legendary singer/songwriter Darius Rucker has joined LEGACY MOTOR CLUB as a co-owner, the team announced the acquisition of Michael Guttilla, who will serve as the team’s president, on Wednesday.

Guttilla is the former Chief Operating Officer of Joe Gibbs Racing. According to a press release from LMC, Joe Gibbs Racing helped facilitate Guttilla’s move to LMC, and the move keeps Guttilla in the Toyota Racing family.

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OTHER NASCAR HEADLINES:

• Gray Gaulding to Make First NASCAR Start In Three Years At Bristol

• Seven NASCAR Cup Drivers To Compete In Bristol NASCAR Truck Race

• Chase Briscoe Joining TRICON for Bristol Craftsman Truck Series Start

• Entry List: 2026 NCTS Tennessee Army National Guard 250 at Bristol

• Entry List: 2026 NOAPS Suburban Propane 300 at Bristol

• Entry List: 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Food City 500 at Bristol

• Chad Finchum to Compete in Food City 500 With Garage 66

• Casey Mears Joins Beard Motorsports for Five Cup Races

Additional Resources:

• 2026 Schedules: Cup | Xfinity | Trucks

• 2026 Driver/Team Charts: Cup | O’Reilly | Trucks

• 2025 Driver Points: Cup | Xfinity | Trucks

• 2025 Owner Points: Cup | Xfinity | Trucks

• 2025 Rookie Standings: Cup | Xfinity | Trucks

• 2025 Manufacturer Standings: Cup | Xfinity | Trucks

Share TC Daily Pit Stop

Corey Heim just continues to showcase incredible skill in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, as he dominated Friday’s Black’s Tire 200 at Rockingham Speedway, leading 178 of the 200 laps in the event.

However, Heim had to endure issues with his truck in the closing laps, and he had to hold off Kaden Honeycutt, his hard-charging teammate, for the race win. As he had done 24 times prior, Heim was able to cross the finish line first to score a win.

Heim’s 25th career win comes in just his 92nd career start.

Now a part-timer in the series, Heim is tied for the series points lead with Honeycutt, despite competing in two fewer races. By virtue of not running all of the races, though, Heim is not eligible for the Chase.

Chandler Smith, who was the point leader coming into the day, seemingly had his point lead exiting Rockingham, but his car failed post-race inspection heights, and he was disqualified from a fourth-place finish.

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OFFICIAL RACE RESULTS

UPDATED NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series DRIVER STANDINGS

Corey Day Makes Statement With First O’Reilly Series Pole

While Corey Day had many doubters about whether he was ready for a full-time NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series ride with Hendrick Motorsports at the beginning of the season, the developmental talent likely has few, if any, doubters now.

After becoming one of the most consistent drivers in the series over the last several races, Day collected his first-career NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series pole position on Friday at Rockingham Speedway, and he’ll lead the field to green in Saturday’s NC Education Lottery 250, as he seeks his first career win.

Jesse Love, the defending series champion, will start alongside Day in Row 1.

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CLICK HERE FOR THE COMPLETE STARTING LINEUP

OTHER NASCAR HEADLINES:

• Chad Finchum to Compete in Food City 500 With Garage 66

• Casey Mears Joins Beard Motorsports for Five Cup Races

• Daniel Dye Resigns from Kaulig Racing; Corey LaJoie to Drive No. 10

• Lance Crackers Sponsoring Chase Briscoe at Bristol

• Desnuda Organic Tequila Joins Freedom Racing Enterprises

• Dystany Spurlock Impresses With Seventh in ARCA East Debut at Hickory

• Panini America Partners with Team Reaume, Frankie Muniz

• Dear Chase Elliott Fans: Stop Trying to Fire Alan Gustafson

Additional Resources:

• 2026 Schedules: Cup | Xfinity | Trucks

• 2026 Driver/Team Charts: Cup | O’Reilly | Trucks

• 2025 Driver Points: Cup | Xfinity | Trucks

• 2025 Owner Points: Cup | Xfinity | Trucks

• 2025 Rookie Standings: Cup | Xfinity | Trucks

• 2025 Manufacturer Standings: Cup | Xfinity | Trucks

Share TC Daily Pit Stop

Martinsville delivered absolute chaos—and Chase Elliott finally breaks through with his first win of the season in dramatic fashion! But the real story? Drivers are NOT holding back as NASCAR faces serious backlash over long caution periods that are shaking up the sport.

Meanwhile, Denny Hamlin looked unstoppable all day… only to come up ONE spot short in a brutal finish that will have fans talking all week.

We break down the Cup Series Top 10 Championship Standings, and trust us—you won’t believe how tight things are getting this early in the season.

Plus, the 2027 NASCAR Hall of Fame nominees are here, and some of the names will absolutely shock you

And in one of the wildest crossover moments yet, YouTube star Garrett Mitchell (aka Cleetus McFarland) makes his NOAPS Series debut with Richard Childress Racing—is this just the beginning?

Is Kyle Busch washed up? The guys debate his current situation.

We wrap it all up with a full preview of Rockingham Speedway as NASCAR heads into another massive weekend.

NASCAR News Provided By:

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-Click To Play Fantasy NASCAR With Us!

-Giving Fun Is Here: Patreon.com/thefinallap

Additional Resources:

• 2026 Schedules: Cup | Xfinity | Trucks

• 2026 Driver/Team Charts: Cup | O’Reilly | Trucks

• 2025 Driver Points: Cup | Xfinity | Trucks

• 2025 Owner Points: Cup | Xfinity | Trucks

• 2025 Rookie Standings: Cup | Xfinity | Trucks

• 2025 Manufacturer Standings: Cup | Xfinity | Trucks

Share TC Daily Pit Stop

For a three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion like Joey Logano, a run similar to the one that he endured last weekend at Darlington Raceway is a major culture shock.

The driver of the No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Ford Mustang Dark Horse was shaken to his core last weekend at the 1.366-mile racetrack, after finishing a dismal 33rd, three laps off the pace of the leader.

However, the more troubling part about Darlington wasn’t even the major loss of potential points; it was the fact that the Team Penske driver didn’t sustain any damage in the race, wasn’t involved in a wreck, and didn’t have any catastrophic issues… he was just slow.

This past weekend at Martinsville, though, the No. 22 looked like an entirely different team.

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Dystany Spurlock Impresses With Seventh in ARCA East Debut at Hickory

As the ARCA Menards Series East travelled to Newton, North Carolina, for its inaugural event at the iconic Hickory Motor Speedway, there was one driver, Dystany Spurlock, who made some history of her own.

Piloting the No. 66 Foxxtecca Chevrolet SS for MBM Motorsports, Spurlock became the first Black woman to compete in the ARCA Menards Series, making her debut in the season-opening event at the one-third-mile racetrack.

Her path to reach the ARCA Menards Series is one of the most unconventional in recent memory, building her reputation by competing in motorcycle drag racing. Spurlock became the first woman to win the Real Street Class in the XDA Motorcycle Drag Racing Series, and in the process, set a world record.

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Entry List: NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series NC Education Lottery 250 (Rockingham)

There are 39 cars on the entry list for Saturday’s NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series North Carolina Education Lottery 250 presented by Black’s Tire at Rockingham Speedway, the eighth race of the 2026 season.

With up to 38 cars being permitted to start races in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, one driver and team will head home after this week’s qualifying session.

Justin Allgaier, who won last weekend’s event at Martinsville Speedway, will return this weekend behind the wheel of the No. 7 JR Motorsports Chevrolet with primary sponsorship from Jarrett Logistics.

Notable entries include:

• No. 5 – JJ Yeley – Hettinger Racing

• No. 32 – Andrew Patterson – Jordan Anderson Racing

• No. 33 – Cleetus McFarland – Richard Childress Racing

• No. 55 – Blake Lothian – Joey Gase Motorsports

• No. 74 – Dawson Cram – Mike Harmon Racing

• No. 91 – Alex Labbe – DGM Racing

ENTRY LIST

Entry List: NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Black’s Tire 200 (Rockingham)

There are 38 drivers on the preliminary entry list for Friday’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Black’s Tire 200 at Rockingham Speedway, the fifth event of the 2026 NASCAR Truck Series campaign.

With the maximum field size for all NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series events set at 36 entries, there will be two drivers headed packing before the drop of the green flag on Friday evening.

Corey Heim, winner of the most-recent NASCAR Truck Series event at Darlington Raceway, is entered in Friday’s event, albeit in a different vehicle. Heim will drive the No. 1 Robinhood Toyota Tundra TRD Pro in the Black’s Tire 200.

The No. 5 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro for TRICON Garage will be driven by Adam Andretti this weekend, as he tackles his third career start in the NASCAR Truck Series, and his second on an oval.

ENTRY LIST

OTHER NASCAR HEADLINES:

• Dear Chase Elliott Fans: Stop Trying to Fire Alan Gustafson

• Panini America Partners with Team Reaume, Frankie Muniz

• Chase Elliott Dethrones Denny Hamlin From Cook Out 400 Martinsville Dominance

• Kevin Harvick Among New Nominees to NASCAR Hall of Fame’s Class of 2027

• Justin Allgaier Continues Hot Start to 2026 With Chaotic Martinsville Win

• Brad Keselowski Would Like To Reach 800 Career Cup Starts

Additional Resources:

• 2026 Schedules: Cup | Xfinity | Trucks

• 2026 Driver/Team Charts: Cup | O’Reilly | Trucks

• 2025 Driver Points: Cup | Xfinity | Trucks

• 2025 Owner Points: Cup | Xfinity | Trucks

• 2025 Rookie Standings: Cup | Xfinity | Trucks

• 2025 Manufacturer Standings: Cup | Xfinity | Trucks

Share TC Daily Pit Stop

Denny Hamlin had everybody’s number in Sunday’s Cook Out 400 at Martinsville Speedway, but with an amazing strategy call (which should probably result in a raise), Alan Gustafson made sure that Chase Elliott was the driver to break Hendrick Motorsports’ losing streak.

The Dawsonville, Georgia-native had been a top-10 contender throughout much of the afternoon at the iconic half-mile paperclip, but was nowhere near the raw speed or capabilities of Hamlin, who led a race-high 292 laps.

However, it was a conscious decision by Gustafson, a veteran NASCAR Cup Series crew chief, to split the stage into three equal pieces that gave Elliott a chance to fight for the victory, pitting at Lap 261 and being the beneficiary of a caution for debris at Lap 312.

That, coupled with a tough restart for Hamlin trying to maneuver his way around Ross Chastain, who had stayed on the racetrack with 22-lap-old tires, cost the Joe Gibbs Racing driver the lead at the start of the race’s final run, a position he was never able to regain.

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RACE RESULTS

Kevin Harvick Among New Nominees to NASCAR Hall of Fame’s Class of 2027

Prior to Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series event at Martinsville Speedway, NASCAR officially named the 15 nominees for the NASCAR Hall of Fame’s Class of 2027, as well as the five nominees for the Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR.

2014 NASCAR Cup Series champion Kevin Harvick, who currently serves as an analyst for FOX Sports’ coverage of NASCAR’s highest level, is the most notable addition to the Modern Era Ballot, in what is his first year of eligibility post-retirement.

A 60-time race-winner in the NASCAR Cup Series, Harvick retired from full-time competition after the 2023 campaign. The Bakersfield, California-native is also a champion in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, and began his career as the replacement for the late Dale Earnhardt, after his passing in a last-lap accident at Daytona in 2001.

Joining Harvick as newcomers to the Modern Era Ballot are six-time ARCA Menards Series West champion Ray Elder and 1988 NASCAR Cup Series championship-winning crew chief Ernie Elliott.

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Justin Allgaier Continues Hot Start to 2026 With Chaotic Martinsville Win

Justin Allgaier, one of the oldest full-time drivers in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, continues to take it to the youth and up-and-coming talent in NASCAR’s second-tier division, putting on another commanding performance in Saturday’s NFPA 250 at Martinsville Speedway.

The Riverton, Illinois-native succeeded in holding off Corey Day and Sammy Smith on a late-race restart to capture his third victory of the season, already matching his win total from last year in the opening seven races of 2026.

Allgaier, driving the No. 7 BRANDT Fresh Agriculture Chevrolet Camaro for JR Motorsports, started from the pole position in Saturday’s event, after qualifying was axed Friday evening due to inclement weather. With track position on his side, the 39-year-old dominated the first stage.

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RACE RESULTS

OTHER NASCAR HEADLINES:

• Denny Hamlin Dashes to Cook Out 400 Pole at Martinsville

• Brad Keselowski Would Like To Reach 800 Career Cup Starts

• 3 Best Surprises to Start the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Campaign

• Advance Auto Parts Returns For Four-Race Sponsorship of Blaney in 2026

• Jake Finch Joins JR Motorsports For Five-Race O’Reilly Series Schedule in 2026

• Cindric Looks to Carry Momentum Of Darlington Finish Into Martinsville

• Can Martinsville Spark Cup Series Season For Hendrick And Chevrolet?

• Brad Keselowski Making 600th Cup Series Start at Martinsville

Additional Resources:

• 2026 Schedules: Cup | Xfinity | Trucks

• 2026 Driver/Team Charts: Cup | O’Reilly | Trucks

• 2025 Driver Points: Cup | Xfinity | Trucks

• 2025 Owner Points: Cup | Xfinity | Trucks

• 2025 Rookie Standings: Cup | Xfinity | Trucks

• 2025 Manufacturer Standings: Cup | Xfinity | Trucks

Share TC Daily Pit Stop

In this week’s episode, Rowdy digs deep into Next Gen trends at comparable short flats like Phoenix and New Hampshire, breaking down the Fantasy Live head-to-head matchups, analyzing career stats and loop data, and scanning the sportsbooks for outright value and sneaky finishing-position plays. If you’re trying to gain an edge before the green flag, this episode delivers the insight you need.

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

🏁 Tyler Reddick vs. Christopher Bell — Bell has superior laps-led totals, top-10 rate, and overall Martinsville résumé, but does that give him a clear advantage in this Toyota showdown?

⚡ Carson Hocevar vs. Brad Keselowski — A fascinating matchup where experience and short-track savvy could prove decisive as track position becomes everything.

🔥 William Byron vs. Kyle Larson — Hendrick teammates collide, with Rowdy weighing Byron’s consistency against Larson’s elite upside when long-run speed comes into play.

🧠 Bubba Wallace vs. Joey Logano — Strategy, pit execution, and restart aggression could swing this head-to-head at one of NASCAR’s most rhythm-dependent tracks.

💸 Sportsbook breakdown — Rowdy highlights how short-track variance can create value deeper on the odds board, especially for drivers with strong average running position and green-flag speed metrics at Martinsville and similar venues.

🚨 Long shots to watch — Rowdy continues to lean into his recent success, identifying deep sleepers capable of delivering top-10 upside if cautions and track position fall their way.

🏆 Rowdy’s “winner winner” pick — Christopher Bell, banking on elite short-flat performance trends, strong tire management, and a history of converting speed into results at Martinsville.

Rowdy also explains how he’s incorporating additional loop data categories into his weekly process, why Martinsville punishes over-aggression, and how practice and qualifying could dramatically shift fantasy and betting outlooks before race day.

Whether you’re finalizing your Fantasy Live lineup, hunting for plus-money betting value, or just gearing up for one of NASCAR’s most iconic short-track battles, this episode is packed with actionable insight.

👉 Subscribe on Substack, fire up the latest episode, and let Rowdy Dragon help guide your fantasy picks and sportsbook strategy for Martinsville. 🏁🐉

Tyler Reddick reached racing immortality with his fourth win through the opening six races of the NASCAR Cup Series season, joining Dale Earnhardt (1987) and Bill Elliott (1992) as the only drivers who have accomplished the feat.

However, both Earnhardt and Elliott had drastically different seasons in those years as Earnhardt went on to 11 wins and a championship, while Elliott’s winning stalled out at five wins, and he ended up runner-up in the championship fight.

Will Reddick’s 2026 season ultimately mirror Earnhardt’s or Elliott’s season more closely? How many wins can the 23XI Racing driver truly rack up the rest of the season? Toby Christie dives into that.

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3 Best Surprises to Start the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Campaign

Six races into the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season, there have been a lot of surprises (good and bad). However, three drivers and teams stand above the rest as the most pleasant surprises through the opening portion of the NASCAR Cup Series season.

Joseph Srigley breaks down who they are and why.

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OTHER NASCAR HEADLINES:

• Advance Auto Parts Returns For Four-Race Sponsorship of Blaney in 2026

• Jake Finch Joins JR Motorsports For Five-Race O’Reilly Series Schedule in 2026

• Cindric Looks to Carry Momentum Of Darlington Finish Into Martinsville

• Can Martinsville Spark Cup Series Season For Hendrick And Chevrolet?

• Brad Keselowski Making 600th Cup Series Start at Martinsville

• NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts NFPA 250 Entry List (Martinsville)

• NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out 400 Entry List (Martinsville)

• Luke Baldwin Joins Hettinger Racing for O’Reilly Series Debut at Martinsville

Additional Resources:

• 2026 Schedules: Cup | Xfinity | Trucks

• 2026 Driver/Team Charts: Cup | O’Reilly | Trucks

• 2025 Driver Points: Cup | Xfinity | Trucks

• 2025 Owner Points: Cup | Xfinity | Trucks

• 2025 Rookie Standings: Cup | Xfinity | Trucks

• 2025 Manufacturer Standings: Cup | Xfinity | Trucks

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Darlington Raceway race just delivered another wild chapter in the 2026 season — and Tyler Reddick is officially on FIRE.

Reddick grabs his 4th win in just 6 starts, driving for 23XI Racing, the powerhouse team owned by Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin. Is this the start of a historic season run?

Behind him, Brad Keselowski brings it home P2, while Ryan Blaney rounds out the podium in P3 — but the real story might be what this means for the championship battle moving forward.

OFF the track, the NASCAR world just got even more star power as Darius Rucker (of Hootie & the Blowfish fame) joins Jimmie Johnson’s Legacy Motor Club ownership group — another massive celebrity move shaking up NASCAR ownership.

What is going on with Hendrick Motorsports? Are they out to lunch?

PLUS:

• Ryan Blaney lands a continuing Advance Auto Parts sponsorship

• Rising talent Jake Finch joins JR Motorsports under Dale Earnhardt Jr.

• Championship momentum swings after Darlington

And of course, Rowdy Dragon is back with his must-have Fantasy NASCAR picks for the Martinsville Speedway race— don’t set your lineup without this.

Hosted by Kerry Murphey and Toby Christie, this episode brings the heat with race reactions, breaking news, and bold predictions you won’t hear anywhere else. And...what exactly is a 36:20 nap?

NASCAR News Provided By:

http://tobychristie.com

-Listen on Spotify

-Listen on Apple Podcasts

-Click To Play Fantasy NASCAR With Us!

-Giving Fun Is Here: Patreon.com/thefinallap

Additional Resources:

• 2026 Schedules: Cup | Xfinity | Trucks

• 2026 Driver/Team Charts: Cup | O’Reilly | Trucks

• 2025 Driver Points: Cup | Xfinity | Trucks

• 2025 Owner Points: Cup | Xfinity | Trucks

• 2025 Rookie Standings: Cup | Xfinity | Trucks

• 2025 Manufacturer Standings: Cup | Xfinity | Trucks

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Darius Rucker, who appeared on the Dan Patrick Show on Wednesday wearing a LEGACY MOTOR CLUB hat, would reveal during the interview that he has officially joined the NASCAR Cup Series team as a co-owner.

“We can announce now that I’m one of the investors and one of the owners of LEGACY MOTOR CLUB,” Rucker said. “So, you know, I own NASCAR teams now, Dan. Look at me.”

Rucker continued, “It’s cool. You know how much I love motorsports. You know how much I’ve loved NASCAR for years, so this is pretty cool for me.”

According to LEGACY MOTOR CLUB, “As an investor, Rucker will collaborate with the organization on select initiatives that bridge sports, music, and fan engagement, while supporting the CLUB’s continued business and brand development.”

READ MORE

OTHER NASCAR HEADLINES:

• Jake Finch Joins JR Motorsports For Five-Race O’Reilly Series Schedule in 2026

• Cindric Looks to Carry Momentum Of Darlington Finish Into Martinsville

• Can Martinsville Spark Cup Series Season For Hendrick And Chevrolet?

• Brad Keselowski Making 600th Cup Series Start at Martinsville

• NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts NFPA 250 Entry List (Martinsville)

• NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out 400 Entry List (Martinsville)

• Luke Baldwin Joins Hettinger Racing for O’Reilly Series Debut at Martinsville

• Brad Keselowski Leads RFK Racing in Banner Day at Darlington

Additional Resources:

• 2026 Schedules: Cup | Xfinity | Trucks

• 2026 Driver/Team Charts: Cup | O’Reilly | Trucks

• 2025 Driver Points: Cup | Xfinity | Trucks

• 2025 Owner Points: Cup | Xfinity | Trucks

• 2025 Rookie Standings: Cup | Xfinity | Trucks

• 2025 Manufacturer Standings: Cup | Xfinity | Trucks

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Coming off of a second-place finish last weekend at Darlington Raceway, Brad Keselowski is set to make his 600th career NASCAR Cup Series start this weekend in the Cook Out 400 at Martinsville Speedway.

In achieving the milestone, Keselowski will join just 34 other drivers who have reached 600 starts in NASCAR’s premier series.

Keselowski, who has two career wins at Martinsville Speedway, will look to become just the second driver to ever win start No. 600, as he could join Richard Petty, who pulled it off at Richmond in February 1973.

READ MORE

OTHER NASCAR HEADLINES:

• NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts NFPA 250 Entry List (Martinsville)

• NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out 400 Entry List (Martinsville)

• Luke Baldwin Joins Hettinger Racing for O’Reilly Series Debut at Martinsville

• Brad Keselowski Leads RFK Racing in Banner Day at Darlington

• Incident With Denny Hamlin ‘Definitely A Bummer’ For Erik Jones

• Tyler Reddick Grabs Fourth Win of 2026 After Gutsy Day at Darlington

• Larson Dominates; Loses Race to Allgaier After Slow Stop

• Corey Heim Blindsides Ross Chastain on Final Lap to Win Darlington

Additional Resources:

• 2026 Schedules: Cup | Xfinity | Trucks

• 2026 Driver/Team Charts: Cup | O’Reilly | Trucks

• 2025 Driver Points: Cup | Xfinity | Trucks

• 2025 Owner Points: Cup | Xfinity | Trucks

• 2025 Rookie Standings: Cup | Xfinity | Trucks

• 2025 Manufacturer Standings: Cup | Xfinity | Trucks

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Luke Baldwin, the two-time and reigning champion of the SMART Modified Tour, will join forces with Hettinger Racing to make his NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series debut this weekend at Martinsville Speedway, driving the No. 5 Victory Custom Trailers Ford Mustang Dark Horse.

The 19-year-old driver is considered one of NASCAR’s brightest prospects, coming up through the ranks of the Northeast Modified Tour. Saturday’s 250-lapper at Martinsville is part of an expanded NASCAR program for Baldwin in 2026, which includes a 12-race stint in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series for Team Reaume.

The first of Baldwin’s 12 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series starts in 2026 will take place at Rockingham Speedway on Easter Weekend.

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NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out 400 Entry List (Martinsville)

There are 37 drivers on the preliminary entry list for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series Cook Out 400 at Martinsville Speedway, the seventh event on the 36-race schedule for the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series.

Aside from the 36 drivers and teams that are contractually obligated to enter every single NASCAR Cup Series event in 2026 (due to the newly-signed Charter Agreement), only Austin Hill and Richard Childress Racing are entered in the Cook Out 400. Hill will make his second NASCAR Cup Series start of the season, driving the No. 33 United Rentals Chevrolet Camaro ZL1.

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NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts NFPA 250 Entry List (Martinsville)

There are 40 cars on the preliminary entry list for Saturday’s NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series NFPA 250 at Martinsville Speedway, the seventh event on the 33-race schedule for the 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series.

With a maximum field size of 38 entries for all NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series events in 2026, there will be two teams heading home before the green flag on Saturday.

Notables include: 5-Baldwin, 9-Pulliam, 30-Snider, 35-TBA, 42-Perez, 88-Caruth, and 91-Chastain.

READ MORE

OTHER NASCAR HEADLINES:

• Brad Keselowski Leads RFK Racing in Banner Day at Darlington

• Incident With Denny Hamlin ‘Definitely A Bummer’ For Erik Jones

• Tyler Reddick Grabs Fourth Win of 2026 After Gutsy Day at Darlington

• Larson Dominates; Loses Race to Allgaier After Slow Stop

• Corey Heim Blindsides Ross Chastain on Final Lap to Win Darlington

Additional Resources:

• 2026 Schedules: Cup | Xfinity | Trucks

• 2026 Driver/Team Charts: Cup | O’Reilly | Trucks

• 2025 Driver Points: Cup | Xfinity | Trucks

• 2025 Owner Points: Cup | Xfinity | Trucks

• 2025 Rookie Standings: Cup | Xfinity | Trucks

• 2025 Manufacturer Standings: Cup | Xfinity | Trucks

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Tyler Reddick finally got his first career win at Darlington Raceway, a track he has contended at for years. And he had to overcome a slew of issues throughout Sunday’s Goodyear 400 in order to do so.

Reddick suffered from alternator issues, brake problems, and a late-race run-in with Chris Buescher. And in the end, he had what he needed in his No. 45 Toyota, thanks to a strategy call by crew chief Billy Scott, which allowed him to have fresher tires on the final run of the race.

Reddick would easily cruise past Brad Keselowski, who led the most laps on the day and won Stages 1 and 2, and wouldn’t look back as he won the race by nearly six seconds.

With the win, Reddick became the third driver in the history of the NASCAR Cup Series to collect four wins through the opening six races, joining Bill Elliott (1992) and Dale Earnhardt (1987).

RACE RECAP
RACE RESULTS

OTHER NASCAR HEADLINES:

• Larson Dominates; Loses Race to Allgaier After Slow Stop

• Daniel Suarez Opens Up About Strained Relationship With Ross Chastain

• Will 2027 Be Denny Hamlin’s Final Season in the Cup Series?

• Corey Heim Blindsides Ross Chastain on Final Lap to Win Darlington

• What Does Hocevar Think About His Comparisons To Earnhardt?

• Drivers Expect Sunday’s Race At Darlington To Be A ‘Wild Card’

• Longtime Jordan Anderson Racing Employee Gets Eight-Race Stint As Driver of No. 32 Car

Additional Resources:

• 2026 Schedules: Cup | Xfinity | Trucks

• 2026 Driver/Team Charts: Cup | O’Reilly | Trucks

• 2025 Driver Points: Cup | Xfinity | Trucks

• 2025 Owner Points: Cup | Xfinity | Trucks

• 2025 Rookie Standings: Cup | Xfinity | Trucks

• 2025 Manufacturer Standings: Cup | Xfinity | Trucks

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Kyle Larson unquestionably had the best car in Saturday’s NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series event at Darlington Raceway, as he led every lap in the opening two Stages of the race from the pole.

However, there’s a reason they don’t hand out trophies until the checkered flag is thrown, and Larson was shown a prime example of why.

On a late-race pit stop, Larson fell to fifth in the running order, and was unable to charge back to the front after his car faltered without track position and changing track conditions.

On the other side of the dial, Justin Allgaier was able to come to life in the closing laps as he passed Brandon Jones for the lead on the final restart of the race, and blasted to his second win of the season and 30th career NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series win.

RACE RECAP
RACE RESULTS

Tyler Reddick Leads 23XI Racing Sweep of Darlington Front Row

23XI Racing has had a dream start to the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season as Tyler Reddick comes into the Goodyear 400 at Darlington after winning the opening three races of the season, and is in firm possession of the point lead. His teammate, Bubba Wallace, has also had a solid start to the season, as he ranks second in points.

Both drivers continued their stout start to the year on Saturday as they secured the second-ever front row sweep for 23XI Racing in qualifying for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway.

READ MORE
OFFICIAL STARTING LINEUP

OTHER NASCAR HEADLINES:

• Daniel Suarez Opens Up About Strained Relationship With Ross Chastain

• Will 2027 Be Denny Hamlin’s Final Season in the Cup Series?

• Corey Heim Blindsides Ross Chastain on Final Lap to Win Darlington

• What Does Hocevar Think About His Comparisons To Earnhardt?

• Drivers Expect Sunday’s Race At Darlington To Be A ‘Wild Card’

• Kaden Honeycutt Earns First Career Pole at Darlington

• Longtime Jordan Anderson Racing Employee Gets Eight-Race Stint As Driver of No. 32 Car

• Despite Marketing Push, Hocevar Comparisons to Earnhardt Must Be Earned On Track

Additional Resources:

• 2026 Schedules: Cup | Xfinity | Trucks

• 2026 Driver/Team Charts: Cup | O’Reilly | Trucks

• 2025 Driver Points: Cup | Xfinity | Trucks

• 2025 Owner Points: Cup | Xfinity | Trucks

• 2025 Rookie Standings: Cup | Xfinity | Trucks

• 2025 Manufacturer Standings: Cup | Xfinity | Trucks

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Ross Chastain, understandably, thought he had Friday night’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Buckle Up South Carolina 200 at Darlington Raceway all sewn up. The other top contenders on the night — Kaden Honeycutt and Ross Chastain — had found trouble late in the race, and it looked like Chastain was in a class of his own.

However, never count out Corey Heim in the NASCAR Truck Series.

The now part-time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver was able to get scuffed tires in a pit call heading into Overtime, and those slightly fresher, cooler tires paid massive dividends.

Heim clawed from 16th on the initial Overtime restart to the 10th position by the time a caution came out to send the race into Double Overtime. In Double Overtime, Heim sliced and diced his way to the second position heading into the final turns of the race.

Chastin, not knowing that Heim was on newer tires, didn’t expect the run that Heim had, and didn’t attempt to block him. Heim would zoom past him and would cruise to his 24th career win.

RACE RECAP
RACE RESULTS

OTHER NASCAR HEADLINES:

• Kaden Honeycutt Earns First Career Pole at Darlington

• Longtime Jordan Anderson Racing Employee Gets Eight-Race Stint As Driver of No. 32 Car

• Despite Marketing Push, Hocevar Comparisons to Earnhardt Must Be Earned On Track

• Hardee’s Reveals Paint Scheme, Rewards For Fans, In Bubba Wallace, 23XI Partnership

• Daniel Dye Suspended by NASCAR for Making Homophobic Comment

• Alex Bowman (Vertigo) Sitting Out At Least Three More Races

Additional Resources:

• 2026 Schedules: Cup | Xfinity | Trucks

• 2026 Driver/Team Charts: Cup | O’Reilly | Trucks

• 2025 Driver Points: Cup | Xfinity | Trucks

• 2025 Owner Points: Cup | Xfinity | Trucks

• 2025 Rookie Standings: Cup | Xfinity | Trucks

• 2025 Manufacturer Standings: Cup | Xfinity | Trucks

Share TC Daily Pit Stop