DENNY HAMLIN

NASCAR veteran Aric Almirola will retire from competition at the end of the 2022 season to spend more time with his young family.

Before he headed onto the track for the biggest race of his career, Kyle Larson heard Mario Andretti praise him as one of the most well-rounded drivers in all of motorsports.

Kyle Larson closed out his comeback season in NASCAR with his first national title.

Phoenix Raceway will finally get to host championship weekend in front of a packed house.

Always a threat on the track, Truex is the most unassuming championship contender in Cup. But last season, Truex stumbled in the first season he was paired with crew chief James Small. He has 28 of his 31 career wins since 2016 and is a perennial championship contender. JGR teammate Hamlin has two wins and time is running short for the veteran to win his first Cup championship. With a win, Truex would join Kyle Busch as the only active drivers with two championships.

Martin Truex Jr. is racing for his second career NASCAR Cup Series championship.

Alex Bowman spun Denny Hamlin from the lead with six laps remaining at Martinsville Speedway and then went on to win his fourth race of the season.

Bowman infuriated championship contender Denny Hamlin with six laps remaining Sunday at Martinsville Speedway when he spun Hamlin out of the lead. It sent the race into overtime, which Bowman won for his fourth victory of the season. Bowman has insisted the contact that spun Hamlin from the lead was accidental, but Hamlin still attacked Bowman's talent level. “Look, he’s won four races this year. Reigning Cup champion Chase Elliott and title favorite Kyle Larson in a pair of Chevrolets will square off against Toyotas driven by teammates Hamlin and Martin Truex Jr. of Joe Gibbs Racing.

It's time to put up or shut up, Denny Hamlin. Long recognized alongside Mark Martin as the greatest NASCAR driver to never win a championship, Hamlin gets a fifth try Sunday to at long last grab that elusive Cup Series title. Johnson sliced Hamlin's points lead by more than half to 15 points that day, but more importantly he stripped Hamlin of his confidence headed into the finale.

It is a winner-take-all conclusion at sold-out Phoenix, where Elliott's victory a year ago clinched the first Cup championship for NASCAR's most popular driver. “My fans don’t care either, by the way.”This championship is Hendrick vs. Gibbs in head-to-head competition, but four drivers will be individually racing for NASCAR's top prize. Hamlin led the Cup standings for 22 consecutive weeks but lost the regular-season championship to Larson over the final three weeks. It's overshadowed Elliott's championship season, but he was a late bloomer last season, when he ended Hendrick's three-year losing shutout from the championship race. As seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson drove his final NASCAR races, Elliott stepped up for Hendrick and won three of the final five races for his first Cup.

Rick Hendrick, the winningest team owner in NASCAR history, is sending Kyle Larson and reigning Cup champion Chase Elliott to Phoenix Raceway next Sunday in search of a 14th title for mighty Hendrick Motorsports. It is a winner-take-all conclusion at sold-out Phoenix, where Elliott's victory a year ago clinched the first Cup championship for NASCAR's most popular driver. “My fans don’t care either, by the way.”This championship is Hendrick vs. Gibbs in head-to-head competition, but four drivers will be individually racing for NASCAR's top prize. It's overshadowed Elliott's championship season, but he was a late bloomer last season, when he ended Hendrick's three-year losing shutout from the championship race. As seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson drove his final NASCAR races, Elliott stepped up for Hendrick and won three of the final five races for his first Cup.

The NASCAR championship will pit Rick Hendrick against Joe Gibbs as both team owners put a pair of drivers in the final four.

It sent the race into overtime and Bowman held off Kyle Busch and Brad Keselowski to win. The well-filled grandstands erupted in cheers when Bowman spun Hamlin, and loudly booed him when he was interviewed over the public address system. Both he and Larson, the heavy favorite and a nine-race winner, have never won a NASCAR championship. UP NEXT: The championship finale Sunday at Phoenix Raceway, where Elliott won the race last year to claim his first Cup championship. Truex won in March.

Alex Bowman spun Denny Hamlin out of the lead at Martinsville Speedway and then won in overtime as the field for NASCAR's championship race was set Sunday.

Brad Keselowski is in the final two races of his NASCAR career with Team Penske and would love nothing more than to close his 12-year run with another Cup championship.

Kyle Larson drove to his ninth victory of the season and most meaningful to date in his new job with Hendrick Motorsports.

A conversation on driver code and on-track etiquette is raging in NASCAR, and with it comes debate about the expectations of non-playoff drivers.

Tensions are high at every level of NASCAR as its grueling, 11-month season enters the homestretch with three weeks remaining to crown three series champions. All eyes had been on feuding drivers Chase Elliott and Kevin Harvick, but NASCAR last week demanded the they knock it off — a directive that sucked all the drama out of what could have been a nail-biting rivalry capable of derailing Elliott's shot at a second consecutive Cup Series title. Are drivers taking too many risks trying to make it to the championship round?

FORT WORTH, Texas — (AP) — Kyle Larson claimed the first of four championship-contending spots in NASCAR's season finale with a dominating victory at Texas on Sunday to start the round of eight in the playoffs. There were two laps remaining on the final restart, and Larson was able to stay out in front of teammate William Byron. The seven remaining playoff contenders leave Texas with two more chances to get into the championship four, with Kansas and Martinsville left before the finale. Texas had always been the eighth of the final 10 races, and the middle race of the third and final elimination round, before this season. He also won at Texas in the $1 million, non-points All-Star race in June.

The third round of NASCAR's playoffs are getting started in Texas.

Kyle Larson rallied from early electrical issues Sunday to win for the seventh time this season and storm into the third round of NASCAR’s playoffs.

Kevin Harvick has never been knocked out of the playoffs in the second round since NASCAR introduced the format in 2014.

It's been nearly 16 months since Bubba Wallace was waiting out a rainstorm in his motorhome in the Talladega Superspeedway infield when NASCAR informed its only full-time Black driver that a noose had been found in his garage stall. Wallace never saw the noose, never even stepped foot in the garage. It wasn't Wallace who called in the FBI — NASCAR did that — and from what he'd been told, Wallace was led to believe he'd been the victim of a hate crime.

Wallace is in his first season driving for 23X1 Racing, a team owned by Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan. Later he dedicated the win to kids, saying they shouldn't "let the nonsense get to you."

NASCAR Talladega Auto Racing Bubba Wallace celebrates next to the trophy after winning a NASCAR Cup series auto race Monday, Oct. 4, 2021, in Talladega, Ala. Wallace had driven through a crash and to the front of the field five laps before the second rain stoppage of the race. Wallace is in his first season driving for 23X1 Racing, a team owned by both Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan. Glad I was a witness.”In June 2020 at Talladega, NASCAR discovered a noose in the garage stall assigned to Wallace. He said he never thought about the significance of earning his first career Cup race at the same track in his native Alabama; he was born in Mobile.

Bubba Wallace has become the second Black driver to win a NASCAR Cup Series race.

NASCAR Talladega Auto Racing Team members walk through pit row in the rain before a NASCAR Cup series auto race Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, in Talladega, Ala. (AP Photo/John Amis) (John Amis)TALLADEGA, Ala. — (AP) — NASCAR's playoff race at Talladega Superspeedway was washed out and rescheduled for Monday because persistent rain backed the series into too tight of a window to run as scheduled. Talladega does not have lights — the Xfinity Series race on Saturday ended six laps early because of impending darkness — and the lengthy delay meant NASCAR would flirt with sunset if it even started the race. Compounding the scheduling issue was that the Cup Series race was the lead-in to NBC's airing Sunday night of Tom Brady's return to New England, an NFL game that would have taken priority over the race. Both the Truck Series race and Xfinity Series race doubleheader on Saturday were crash-marred and won by non-playoff drivers. ___More AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsCopyright 2021 The Associated Press.

NASCAR Talladega Auto Racing Team members walk through pit row in the rain before a NASCAR Cup series auto race Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021, in Talladega, Ala. (AP Photo/John Amis) (John Amis)TALLADEGA, Ala. — (AP) — The start of Sunday's playoff race at Talladega Superspeedway has been delayed by rain and NBC has a tight television window for the important NASCAR race because of the evening airing of Tom Brady's return to New England. Drivers have been on edge headed into Sunday's race because of the unpredictability of the 2.66-mile superspeedway and the risks of pack racing. Both the Truck Series race and Xfinity Series race doubleheader on Saturday were crash-marred and won by non-playoff drivers. “I'm going into a superspeedway race below the cutoff line, so it's definitely a stressful weekend,” Alex Bowman, ranked 11th out of 12 drivers, said before Sunday's race. ___More AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsCopyright 2021 The Associated Press.

TALLADEGA, Ala. — (AP) — Denny Hamlin is already through to the third round of NASCAR's playoffs with nothing to worry about at Talladega Superspeedway. ODDS AND ENDSDenny Hamlin is the 9/5 favorite to win Talladega, according to FanDuel. Since the start of the playoffs in 2004 the winner of the Talladega playoff race has never gone on to win the Cup title. The Talladega winner did finish second in the final standings, twice. ... A non-playoff driver has won Talladega five times in 17 races.

NASCAR's playoffs shift to Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday for the middle race of the second round.

LAS VEGAS — (AP) — Denny Hamlin will reach the third round of the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs next month having faced the make-or-break pressure of the postseason only twice. Two playoff races, two tickets punched — and four ensuing opportunities to race with no weight on Hamlin's shoulders. “It’s just such an advantage to win any race in the playoffs, but certainly the first race of any round,” said Chris Gabehart, Hamlin’s crew chief. Before Sunday's race in Vegas, Harvick compared his dialogue with Elliott to a conversation with his own 9-year-old son, Keelan. “From my standpoint, it’s a free pass to go there and try to lead every lap (and) win the race,” Hamlin said.

Denny Hamlin will reach the third round of the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs next month having faced the make-or-break pressure of the postseason only twice.

LAS VEGAS — (AP) — Denny Hamlin earned his first career victory at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday night, holding off Chase Elliott and kicking off the second round of the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs with his second win in September. A breakthrough victory in Vegas proves Hamlin has emerged as a serious contender for his first Cup Series championship after a 17-year career filled with near-misses. “It feels so good to win in Vegas,” Hamlin said. The Las Vegas natives have been racing this track on the far north end of Las Vegas Boulevard since it opened as a 1 1/2-mile oval in 1996. UP NEXT: The NASCAR Cup Series playoff race continues at Talladega next Sunday.

Denny Hamlin earned his first career victory at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday night.

Kyle Larson returns to Las Vegas Motor Speedway looking for yet another victory.

Hendrick Motorsports is in a precarious position heading into first playoff elimination round.

NASCAR Richmond Auto Racing Denny Hamlin (11) and Martin Truex Jr., (19) lead the field st the start of the NASCAR Cup series auto race in Richmond, Va., Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. Homestead was given a second chance for 2022 with an Oct. 23 race date that makes it the middle race of the third round of the playoffs. The 1.25-mile oval has held NASCAR national series races since 1997 and IndyCar the past six seasons. It is the only new track added to the 2022 Cup schedule. The Cup Series will be 36 races as always, but Pocono Raceway lost one of its two dates to get the race near St. Louis.

NASCAR Richmond Auto Racing Denny Hamlin (11) leads Kurt Busch (1) and Joey Logano (22) into turn one during the NASCAR Cup series auto race in Richmond, Va., Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. (AP Photo/Steve Helber) (Steve Helber)CHARLOTTE, N.C. — (AP) — NASCAR will open the 2022 season inside Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in one of the biggest shakeups to its schedule in years. The annual exhibition Clash, held at Daytona International Speedway since 1979, will shift to Los Angeles next year. The invitation-only race was always the kickoff to competitive NASCAR racing and held the week before the season-opening Daytona 500. “Los Angeles is synonymous with major sports and entertainment events, so we seized an innovative opportunity to showcase NASCAR at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum,” said Ben Kennedy, NASCAR senior vice president of strategy and innovation.

NASCAR will open the 2022 season inside Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in one of the biggest shakeups to its schedule in years.

RICHMOND, Va. — (AP) — Two races into the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs, regular-season champion Kyle Larson is still the points leader, but the stable of contenders at Joe Gibbs Racing is making the most noise with victories in the last two races. It was during that winless spell that Larson really asserted himself, winning four times. “We had a lot of tough luck and a lot of crashes and got caught in the rain a few times. “In general, I think we felt good coming into the playoffs. He led 197 laps on Saturday and won both stages, just as he had in April when he led 207 laps.

Two races into the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs, regular-season champion Kyle Larson is still the points leader.

Martin Truex Jr. assumed the lead when Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Kyle Busch was penalized with about 50 laps to go and won the NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond Raceway.

Martin Truex Jr. assumed the lead when Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Kyle Busch was penalized for speeding with about 50 laps to go and won the NASCAR Cup Series race at Richmond Raceway on Saturday night. The victory was the third for Truex in the last five races at Richmond. Truex led a 1-2-3 finish for JGR — the sixth in its history — with Denny Hamlin finishing second and Christopher Bell third.

DARLINGTON, S.C. — (AP) — Denny Hamlin held off Kyle Larson after their cars hit nose to tail racing to the finish line Sunday night in the Southern 500 to open the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs. But Hamlin held firm up near the wall to take the checkered flag“He was going to have to go through me,” Hamlin said. Hamlin broke out ahead of Larson on the restart 36 laps from the end. Earlier, Daytona 500 winner Mike McDowell hit the wall on the backstretch on lap 30 and was done for the day. UP NEXTThe NASCAR Cup series playoffs continue at Richmond, Virginia, on Saturday.

Denny Hamlin held off Kyle Larson after their cars hit nose to tail racing to the finish line Sunday night in the Southern 500 to open the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs.

Denny Hamlin gets first win of 2021 and advances to 2nd round of NASCAR playoffs

NASCAR Darlington Xfinity Auto Racing Carson Ware gets sideways as he comes out of Turn 4 in a NASCAR Xfinity Series auto race Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, in Darlington, S.C. (AP Photo/John Amis) (John Amis)DARLINGTON, S.C. — (AP) — Noah Gragson held off Harrison Burton in a two-lap overtime shootout at at Darlington Raceway on Saturday for his first NASCAR Xfinity Series victory of the season. It looked like no one, including Gragson, would be able to outrun Cup Series star Denny Hamlin late in the race. Gragson had a final challenge after a caution came out on the 144th of 147 laps because of debris on the track. Justin Haley finished fourth followed by Jeb Burton, Justin Allgaier, Cup Series regular Tyler Reddick, Jeremy Clements, Myatt Snider and Alex Labbe making up the top 10. After a burnout, Gragson and some of his team members climbed the fence at Darlington to celebrate with fans.

Noah Gragson held off Harrison Burton in a two-lap overtime shootout at at Darlington Raceway on Saturday for his first NASCAR Xfinity Series victory of the season.

Tyler Reddick finished fifth in the NASCAR Cup Series regular-season finale Saturday night and secured the final spot in the 16-car postseason field.

Reddick needed only to beat Richard Childress Racing teammate Austin Dillon and hope for a repeat winner to earn his first playoff berth. It meant only a first-time race winner could edge Reddick or Dillon for the final spot. “To miss that playoff spot by one spot, that’s a tough ending to a day,” Buescher said. McDowell clinched a spot in the playoffs with his Daytona 500 victory so the early exit didn't affect his playoff chances. Kevin Harvick is the defending race winner and Martin Truex Jr. won at the South Carolina track in May.

Ryan Blaney won for the second consecutive week when the race Saturday night at Daytona International Speedway ended under caution in overtime with a typical fiery finish.

Kurt Busch has a multiyear deal with 23XI Racing, the NASCAR team owned by basketball great Michael Jordan and fellow driver Denny Hamlin. Hamlin released more details Saturday about the new partnership and said he is in the final stages of securing a charter for Busch's No. 45 Toyota in 2022. Without one, Busch would have to qualify for every race.

NASCAR 23XI Kurt Busch Auto Racing FILE - In this July 18, 2021, file photo, Kurt Busch smiles at a NASCAR Cup Series auto race in Loudon, N.H. Busch will drive next season for 23XI Racing, the NASCAR team owned by Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan, in a long expected expansion move for the first-year organization. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File) (Charles Krupa)CHARLOTTE, N.C. — (AP) — Kurt Busch will drive next season for 23XI Racing, the NASCAR team owned by Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan, in a long expected expansion move for the first-year organization. Seeing the number compete again, under the 23XI Racing banner, with Kurt behind the wheel, is exciting for us. Both Hamlin and Busch are qualified for the 10-race playoffs, while Hamlin is racing for the regular season title Saturday night. Ganassi in July announced he was selling his two-car NASCAR team to Trackhouse Racing, and Trackhouse kept Ross Chastain for its second seat.

Kurt Busch will drive next season for 23XI Racing, the NASCAR team owned by Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan.

Ryan Blaney took the lead from William Byron on a late restart and bobbed and weaved his way across the final seven laps to win at Michigan International Speedway.

(AP Photo/Darron Cummings) (Darron Cummings)BROOKLYN, Mich. — (AP) — Chase Briscoe and Denny Hamlin spent the week trading barbs about their chaotic finish at Indianapolis. “We can’t race that way,” Hamlin said after Briscoe sent Indy’s race leader spinning on the second-to-last lap. Then in the second overtime and final restart, Hamlin forced Briscoe wide heading into the first turn, and as Hamlin navigated the course, Briscoe drove through the grass and came out side by side with Hamlin. Hamlin has already clinched a playoff spot despite not winning yet this season. Last year's Michigan race was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

One week after Denny Hamlin and Chase Briscoe tangled on the track in NASCAR's Cup Series, they'll be back in action Sunday at Michigan.

INDIANAPOLIS — (AP) — AJ Allmendinger took advantage of two frightening multi-car crashes, the leader getting spun out and a penalty — all in the final five laps — to win the Brickyard 200 on Sunday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Making only his second NASCAR Cup start of the season, the 39-year-old Allmendinger raced to his second career Cup victory and gave Kaulig Racing its first win in only the organization's seventh series start. But the 0.929-second victory over Ryan Blaney in the first Cup race on the 14-turn, 2.439-mile road course was marred by two huge pileups that brought out red flags. A few moments later, seven more cars crashed in the same spot and again the race was halted. UP NEXTAfter back-to-back road races, the Cup circuit returns to an oval next Sunday at Michigan International Speedway.

NASCAR Watkins Glen Auto Racing Kyle Larson drives through the Bus Stop during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race in Watkins Glen, N.Y., on Sunday, Aug. 8, 2021. Larson also held off Elliott in overtime to win on the road course at Sonoma in June. Larson had a lead of nearly three seconds on Truex as the laps began to wind down, but Elliott continued to charge. Truex, Bell and Larson were in a three-car breakaway early on the 50-lap final stage. Bell challenged Truex for the lead with Larson on lap 48 but couldn’t make it stick and backed off.

Kyle Larson won the NASCAR Cup Series race at Watkins Glen International, building a big lead in the final stage and keeping Hendrick Motorsports teammate Chase Elliott at bay over the final laps.

Chase Elliott is going for a three-peat at Watkins Glen International.

Jimmie Johnson returns to IndyCar on Sunday to tackle the street course in Nashville.

Kevin Harvick headed into NASCAR’s two-week break during the Tokyo Olympics delighted to be away from his own race car, but with plans to be wrapped up in his young son’s fledgling career behind the wheel.

LOUDON, N.H. — (AP) — The 23XI Racing team posted a slideshow of the Bubba Wallace firesuit collection and asked fans to comment on their favorite. For a driver who spent most of his NASCAR career scraping together sponsorship deals for underfunded teams, Wallace is flush with Fortune 500 cash. Jordan said at NASCAR’s kickoff at Daytona that Wallace should “probably win at least a couple races.”Cool. Wallace, driver Corey LaJoie and New England Patriots return specialist Gunner Olszewski, the honorary pace car driver, tossed around the football with fans during a rain delay in Sunday's race. Busch’s deal was up and Chip Ganassi, his current car owner, sold his NASCAR team to Trackhouse Racing owner Justin Marks.

Bubba Wallace has struggled to find success driving for Michael Jordan.

With darkness closing in, Aric Almirola sprung to life late Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway and pulled off a surprise for Stewart-Haas Racing’s first victory of the year.

Matt DiBenedetto could be out of NASCAR Cup Series options for 2022 after losing his ride with Wood Brothers Racing.

Kurt Busch raced to his first victory of the season, 33rd overall and the fourth of his career at Atlanta. “Hell yeah, we beat Kyle!” Kurt Busch said. Kurt Busch took advantage of lapped traffic to pass his brother. Kyle Busch won the Xfinity Series race Saturday, giving him five wins in his maximum five races in the series this season. Atlanta Motor Speedway president Brandon Hutchinson said the resurfacing was overdue.

Kurt Busch passed brother Kyle with 24 laps left and won the NASCAR Cup Series race Sunday to complete a sibling weekend sweep at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott are looking for redemption at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Chase Elliott won the NASCAR Cup Series race at Road America on Sunday to continue his uncanny success on road courses and wrap up a playoff spot.

Justin Marks is a former race car driver who just bought a seat at the table with NASCAR's biggest powerbrokers.

Kyle Busch won the NASCAR Cup Series race Sunday at Pocono Raceway.

Alex Bowman made it six straight wins for Hendrick Motorsports when he took the checkered flag at Pocono Raceway.

Kyle Larson went to victory lane for the fourth consecutive week after a dominating run in the first Cup race at Nashville Superspeedway.

NASCAR Xfinity Nashville Auto Racing Cars come down the main straightaway at Nashville Superspeedway during a NASCAR Xfinity Series auto race Saturday, June 19, 2021, in Lebanon, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey) (Mark Humphrey)LEBANON, Tenn. — (AP) — New track, same old names atop the leaderboard. William Byron, Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott paced the first ever Cup Series practice at Nashville Superspeedway in yet another display of how dominant Hendrick Motorsports is right now. Asked what it will take to beat a Hendrick driver, Ryan Blaney of Team Penske had only one idea: “Wreck ’em, I guess." Dover Motorsports owns the track and moved one of its weekends from its Delaware facility to Nashville to re-open the speedway and at last host a Cup race. Ryan Preece, Kyle Busch and Ross Chastain all entered Friday night's Truck Series race and Preece won in his first career start in a truck.

William Byron, Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott paced the first ever Cup Series practice at Nashville Superspeedway in yet another display of how dominant Hendrick Motorsports is right now.

Hendrick Motorsports’ quest to pass Petty Enterprises as the all-time winningest NASCAR Cup Series race team got off to a good start when Kyle Larson captured the pole for the Coca-Cola 600.

NASCAR is set to race the Circuit of the Americas for the first time and all eyes are on Chase Elliott and a wet weather forecast that could make the inaugural Texas Grand Prix a wild one.

All the information you need to get ready for Sunday's Drydene 400 NASCAR Cup Series race at Dover International Speedway.

NASCAR driver Kyle Larson made a virtual visit with students at the Urban Youth Racing School.

Martin Truex Jr. powered his way around Darlington Raceway, sweeping both stages and leading the final 105 laps Sunday.

NASCAR unveiled its new car for next season and believes the sleek new pony cars have put the stock back into stock car racing.

NASCAR Kansas Auto Racing A limited amount of fans watch the start of a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan., Sunday, May 2, 2021. Busch had stalked Kyle Larson all day before beating him on a late restart to take the lead. Then, after another caution in the closing laps, Busch followed up his Truck Series win Saturday night with another trip to victory lane. “That's a Kyle Busch win right there,” he said. Even after he was beaten by Busch on that late restart, he had another chance when Christopher Bell got sideways in Turn 4 to bring out another caution.

And heading to Kansas Speedway this weekend, the former NASCAR Cup Series champion has yet to reach victory lane, even though it seems as if just about everybody else has. “It's not a position we haven't been in before,” said Harvick, whose three Kansas wins are tied for most in history. It's not that Harvick and Hamlin haven't been fast; the two have spent most of the season running in the top 5. Especially when you have a great opportunity to win.”Like Harvick and Hamlin, Kyle Busch and Chase Elliott hope to turn their success at Kansas into a long-awaited win. ... Xfinity Series driver Matt Mills will make his Cup Series debut for BJ McLeod Motorsports in the No.

Daytona Beach, Florida — Somebody had to make a move to win the Daytona 500, and maybe Michael McDowell would have pulled out of traffic to take his shot at a monster upset. It was the journeyman's first career NASCAR Cup Series win in his 14th season, notes CBS Sports. "Such a great way to get a first victory - a Daytona 500. Denny Hamlin was trying for a record third-consecutive Daytona 500 victory, and the team he started with Michael Jordan was debuting with driver Bubba Wallace. "I wanted to make the pass to win the Daytona 500 and it ended up really bad," Keselowski said.

Daytona Beach, Florida — Somebody had to make a move to win the Daytona 500, and maybe Michael McDowell would have pulled out of traffic to take his shot at a monster upset. It was the journeyman's first career NASCAR Cup Series win in his 14th season, notes CBS Sports. "Such a great way to get a first victory - a Daytona 500. Denny Hamlin was trying for a record third-consecutive Daytona 500 victory, and the team he started with Michael Jordan was debuting with driver Bubba Wallace. "I wanted to make the pass to win the Daytona 500 and it ended up really bad," Keselowski said.

John Harrelson | Getty ImagesIt's been an interesting few weeks for Michael Jordan. Jordan is the first Black majority owner of a full-time racing team in the NASCAR series since legendary driver Wendell Scott. Jared C. Tilton | Getty ImagesCompelling partnershipIn a press release announcing the move, Jordan expressed excitement in becoming a NASCAR team owner and mentioned its struggle with diversity. That could only help his NASCAR team solicit other sponsorships. "If you're a corporation, wouldn't you want to support Michael Jordan and Bubba Wallace as they try to promote positive change?"

Chase Elliott does a burnout after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Charlotte Motor Speedway Thursday, May 28, 2020, in Concord, N.C. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)CONCORD, N.C. NASCAR's grueling return to racing finally ended with a Cup victory for Chase Elliott. The event, postponed Wednesday night, was the fourth Cup race since the series resumed racing May 17. Man this is a tough week, we've had some tough losses," Elliott said from the frontstretch. Elliott reeled in Kevin Harvick with 27 laps remaining and closed out the victory. Elliott's victory was the first for a Chevrolet driver in NASCAR's return to Cup racing.

Then a caution with two laps remaining at Charlotte Motor Speedway cluttered Elliott's clear path to the win and gave Keselowski an opening. Now Keselowski returns to Charlotte Motor Speedway for a Wednesday night race and a shot at consecutive victories. That was the situation we were put in.Both Keselowski and Busch could empathize with Elliott's heartbreak at Charlotte. Keselowski spoke with Elliott as the two switched spots in front of a laptop during the post-race Zoom media availability. But Elliott's team has been the most consistent late in races and Wednesday brings another chance for the driver to finally get his first win of the season.

The tungsten is required to meet minimum weight requirements on the car and the NASCAR rule book states if it is separated at any point it is an automatic four-race suspension for the crew chief, car chief and engineer. Chris Gabehart, the crew chief, was suspended along with car chief Brandon Griffeth and engineer Scott Simmons. Sam McAulay will be the crew chief, while Eric Phillips will be car chief and Scott Eldridge the engineer. NASCAR's next four races are at Charlotte, Bristol, Atlanta and Martinsville between Wednesday night and June 10, when the suspension ends. Hamlin won not only the season-opening Daytona 500 but also won last Wednesday night at Darlington Raceway.

The most celebrated day in motorsports has been whittled down to the third course, 600 miles around Charlotte Motor Speedway in NASCAR's longest race of the year. What began as the World 600 in 1959 became the nightcap to a spectacular day of automobile racing treasured annually by fans. It means NASCAR is alone in the spotlight Sunday night, just as NASCAR has been for the last week. Were right there and James is doing an awesome job.BUSCH VS. ELLIOTTChase Elliott flipped Busch the bird after Busch wrecked Elliott racing for the win Wednesday night. Busch went on to finish second in a 1-2 with Hamlin for Joe Gibbs Racing; Elliott was 38th.

A furious Elliott waited for Busch on the apron of the track and flipped Busch the middle finger as he passed. As NASCAR cleaned the track, it started to rain and the cars were called to pit road under red-flag. Hamlin has won three times at Darlington and has two wins this season. Its a drivers race track, he said. Fox Sports again broadcast the race primarily from a studio in Charlotte, North Carolina, with just one pit reporter at Darlington.

FILE - In this May 11, 2012, file photo, drivers take the green flag for the start of the NASCAR Nationwide Series auto race at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, S.C. NASCAR will re-fire the engines moments after mask-clad drivers climb into their cars at Darlington Raceway. (Tyler Barrick/Pool Photo via AP, File)DARLINGTON, S.C. NASCAR will not be as you remember it when racing returns at old egg-shaped Darlington Raceway. He tested at Darlington shortly before the season was suspended and determined then he was fit to race again. Busch and Hill are adding Xfinity Series races at Darlington and Charlotte, and a Truck Series race at Charlotte to their calendar. His only victory so far this season was the Truck Series race at home track Las Vegas.

Then Newman's car angled back into traffic, creating the most violent and frightening wreck at Daytona since the death of Dale Earnhardt in 2001. Here's what we know:Race-winner Denny Hamlin gave Blaney a huge shove that pushed him toward leader Newman and caused Blaney's car to wobble. "We pushed Newman there to the lead and then we got a push from (Hamlin). The impact caused Newman's car to flip onto its roof and then its side. Newman's car again landed on its roof and skidded past the finish line to a stop, spewing sparks and fuel that caused a fire.

Then Newman's car angled back into traffic, creating the most violent and frightening wreck at Daytona since the death of Dale Earnhardt in 2001. Here's what we know:Race-winner Denny Hamlin gave Blaney a huge shove that pushed him toward leader Newman and caused Blaney's car to wobble. "We pushed Newman there to the lead and then we got a push from (Hamlin). The impact caused Newman's car to flip onto its roof and then its side. Newman's car again landed on its roof and skidded past the finish line to a stop, spewing sparks and fuel that caused a fire.

Then Newman's car angled back into traffic, creating the most violent and frightening wreck at Daytona since the death of Dale Earnhardt in 2001. Here's what we know:Race-winner Denny Hamlin gave Blaney a huge shove that pushed him toward leader Newman and caused Blaney's car to wobble. "We pushed Newman there to the lead and then we got a push from (Hamlin). The impact caused Newman's car to flip onto its roof and then its side. Newman's car again landed on its roof and skidded past the finish line to a stop, spewing sparks and fuel that caused a fire.

Every time you turned around Sunday afternoon, another handful of cars were towed off to the land of parting gifts at Daytona International Speedway. 20 of Erik Jones looked like itd been tossed down a mountain into Victory Lane. Hamlin took what was left of his car and pushed what was left of Jones car during the final lap, which seemed as if itd never come. And in a testament to what modern racing has become at Daytona, there were hardly any hard feelings after the multiple episodes of mayhem. The only surprise during pole qualifying was that a Hendrick Motorsports car didnt win the pole for the Daytona 500.

DAYTONA BEACH Well, now, it appears the old Firecracker 400 wont just fizzle into the darkness in its final Independence Day visit to Daytona. Brad Keselowski nearly triggered the Big One in practice, mind you and afterward suggested he's ready to light off another bottle rocket if necessary. Change of the times, I guess.Since 2002, Daytonas July race, like Februarys Daytona 500, has been preceded by an Xfinity Series race. In the 17 seasons with two Xfinity races at Daytona, the only sweep came in 2003 when Dale Earnhardt Jr. did it. Following the Xfinity cars, the Cup Series cars will begin qualifying at 4:35 to determine rows 1 through 20 for Saturday nights race.