KEVIN HARVICK

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.

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

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?

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

Highlights of this day in history: John Brown raids Harper's Ferry; France's Marie Antoinette beheaded; John Paul II chosen as pope; Chile's ex-dictator Augusto Pinochet detained; 'Baby Jessica' rescued; Novelist James Michener dies. (Oct. 16)

A positive approach to preventative skincare.

Between the frenzied rush of wardrobe changes and photographers readying for shoots, Iman Eldeeb's agency is slowly breaking new ground for Egypt's fashion scene by hiring a diverse line-up of models.

It's the kind of trolling that typically would infuriate Harvick and incite another round of retaliation in his raging feud with Elliott. Harvick was eliminated last week when he wrecked himself as Elliott closed in on his rear bumper. Harvick had wrecked Elliott earlier in the race at Charlotte Motor Speedway as payback for Elliott costing him a win three weeks earlier at Bristol. Elliott then delivered his verbal jab, team owner Rick Hendrick called on NASCAR to intervene, and NASCAR ultimately shut it down. Joey Logano, himself involved in his own share of past feuds, was right in front of Elliott when Harvick wrecked him at Charlotte.

NASCAR has ordered a cease fire in the feud between Chase Elliott and Kevin Harvick, warning of severe consequences if the two drivers continue to tangle on the track.

It only took about a day after Chase Elliott wished Kevin Harvick “a merry offseason and Happy Christmas” for NASCAR's reigning champion to get the zinger on merchandise on his official website. It's the kind of trolling that typically would infuriate Harvick and incite another round of retaliation in his raging feud with Elliott. Elliott need not worry: NASCAR squashed this rivalry in a conference call with both teams before the drivers even arrived at Texas Motor Speedway for Sunday's opening race of the third round of the playoffs.

Looking for the ultimate comfort food? Here's just the thing for you, no matter what season.

Record numbers of Brazilians have been arrested at the U.S. southern border this year, part of the United States' broader migration crisis.

The belief in misinformation and false claims has become a global issue as unproven and untrue information is spread more widely than ever. Nieman Lab deputy editor Shraddha Chakradha joins "CBSN AM" to talk more about the findings of a new study on "illusory truth" and the impact of repeating false claims.

Fall foliage replaced the spring daffodils and masks took the place of mylar blankets as the pandemic-delayed Boston Marathon returned from a 30-month absence and moved to the fall for the first time in its 125-year history. (Oct. 11)

A 30-second stretch at the end of the first half in the Miles City-Laurel game Friday stole two of the top three spots in this week's edition of Gamechangers.

When Harvick delivered his payback, it nearly knocked the reigning NASCAR champion out of the playoffs. Rick Hendrick thought so after a heartburn-inducing Sunday at the racetrack located five minutes from race team headquarters. NASCAR can handle it.”The boss watched for 109 laps as the four Hendrick Motorsports drivers dipped up and down below the playoff elimination cutline. Kyle Larson and Alex Bowman had early electrical issues that could have ruined their races, and when Elliott was nearly sabotaged by a vengeful Harvick, Hendrick had seen enough. The two argued after the race and Harvick vowed to make it difficult on Elliott the rest of the year.

Rick Hendrick wants NASCAR to intervene in the ongoing feud between reigning Cup champion Chase Elliott and Kevin Harvick after another on-track incident between the two.

Harvick laid in wait to deliver his payback on Elliott for Elliott costing him a win at Bristol three weeks ago. The retaliation came about halfway through the race when Harvick sent Elliott into the wall — a wreck that put Elliott on the verge of elimination. GMS RACINGTy Dillon will return to full-time competition next season as the driver for GMS Racing in its inaugural Cup season. The car number dates to the 1990s when current GMS Racing president Mike Beam partnered with Bill Elliott to form Bill Elliott Racing to field the No. The original Bill Elliott Racing shop is still a current part of the GMS Racing facility.

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.

Those were the angry words Harvick had for Elliott after the race at Bristol Motor Speedway, Saturday, Sept. 18, where a feud no one saw coming took center stage. The steadiest guy in the garage is winless this season — he's on a 38-race losing streak — and needs a big day at Charlotte Motor Speedway to avoid playoff elimination. The field will be trimmed from 12 to eight after this race, and Harvick lags nine points below the final transfer position. “I’m kind of a creature of habit, do the same things on a weekly basis, and it’s just another race,” Harvick said. In three starts on the Roval, Elliott has not finished lower than sixth.

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

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.

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

Instead, all four Hendrick drivers go to Las Vegas with their title chances still intact and Larson returning to the site of his first victory of the season. “Las Vegas has been incredible for us,” Keselowski said. That’s really what it boils down to this time of year.”ODDS AND ENDSLarson is the 10-3 favorite to win at Las Vegas, according to FanDuel. ... UFC President Dana White, country music recording artist Matt Stell and comedian Jim Breuer are among the headliners for Las Vegas pre-race activities. ... Keselowski leads all active drivers at Las Vegas with three victories.

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

In fact, moving forward in NASCAR's playoffs, Harvick plans to run all over the reigning Cup champion. Those were the angry words Harvick had for Elliott after Saturday night's race at Bristol Motor Speedway, where a feud no one saw coming took center stage. But when an aggressive sequence for the lead — and probably the race win — resulted in a flat tire for Elliott, he made sure to exact his revenge. If Elliott wasn't going to win the playoff race, then Harvick wasn't going to victory lane, either. He was celebrating as Harvick and Elliott jawed with each other on pit road, Elliott wagging his finger in Harvick's helmet-protected face.

According to Kevin Harvick, Chase Elliott doesn’t race very smart.

In fact, moving forward in NASCAR's playoffs, Harvick plans to run all over the reigning Cup Series champion. Elliott is NASCAR's most popular driver and the defending Cup champion doesn't really make waves on the racetrack.

BRISTOL, Tenn. — (AP) — Kyle Larson denied Kevin Harvick his first win of the season with a masterful pass at Bristol Motor Speedway that was overshadowed Saturday night by a post-race skirmish between Harvick and reigning Cup champion Chase Elliott. Elliott led a race-high 175 laps but Harvick passed him with 33 laps to go in an aggressive sequence in which their cars touched. It caused a flat tire on Elliott's Chevrolet while Harvick was able to drive away unscathed. The slowdown gave Larson a chance to close the gap and Larson made the race-winning move with four laps remaining. But as the eliminated drivers sulked over their fate and Larson celebrated on the frontstretch, Harvick and Elliott fumed on pit road.

Kyle Larson denied Kevin Harvick his first win of the season with a masterful pass at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Kyle Larson won at Bristol Motor Speedway — not really a big surprise or even the most interesting part of NASCAR's first playoff elimination race. The post-race feud between reigning Cup Series champion Chase Elliott and Kevin Harvick stole the show Saturday night, especially when Harvick angrily told the energized crowd: “I’m ready to freakin' rip somebody’s head off." The fickle crowd struggled to pick a side before settling firmly behind Elliott, NASCAR's most popular driver.

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

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.

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.

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.

(AP Photo/Darron Cummings) (Darron Cummings)INDIANAPOLIS — (AP) — William Byron got some help this week preparing for NASCAR's first road race at Indianapolis. The 23-year-old North Carolinian captured the pole for the Brickyard 200, posting a fast lap of 100.044 mph on the 14-turn, 2.439-mile road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It's the first time Cup Series drivers will use the twisting road course instead of the traditional 2.5-mile oval. Chase Briscoe, who won last year's Xfinity Series road race at Indy, will start second on Sunday after going 99.561 mph. Team Penske won twice Saturday, first with Will Power capturing a historic fifth IndyCar win on the road course.

AJ Allmendinger took advantage of two frightening multi-car crashes, the leader getting spun out and a penalty — all in the last five laps — to win the Brickyard 200.

NASCAR Indianapolis Auto Racing Kyle Larson (5) drives through a turn during practice for the NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021. Now, after one short practice session, Cup drivers will spend Saturday night plotting their strategical twists and turns for Sunday's reconfigured and renamed Brickyard 200. Larson is this season's points leader after adding his series-high fifth victory last week on the road course at Watkins Glen. Many wonder if the series' best drivers should even be competing on the road course. Declining attendance and complaints about passing on the 2.5-mile oval have had race organizers searching for ways to inject excitement into Brickyard weekend for years.

NASCAR drivers got their first laps on Indianapolis Motor Speedway's road course in practice — and it opened to mixed reviews.

Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick made their opinions perfectly clear Saturday. Now, after one short practice session, Cup drivers will spend Saturday night plotting their strategical twists and turns for Sunday's reconfigured and renamed Brickyard 200. Larson is this season's points leader after adding his series-high fifth victory last week on the road course at Watkins Glen.

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

The now half-over, two-week hiatus is something Harvick wishes would become a regular thing. “I’d take it off the front end because everybody’s fresh and energized," he said of moving the break to the summer months. “I think having this two-week break really allows these guys in the shop and on the road to be able to actually have two, for-sure weeks off that they can plan around. That’s something very important to the families of those individuals.”Harvick, though, wasn't planning on getting too far away from racing. Harvick won a series-high nine races last year, but like points leader Denny Hamlin, has only visited Victory Lane this season to congratulate other winning drivers.

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.

The race was delayed nearly two hours by rain and NASCAR called it early due to darkness, leaving it eight laps shy of its scheduled conclusion. “There have been so many people that have supported us through the crappiest year ever,” Almirola said. “I love this race track,” he said. “I had this race won a couple of years ago and I lost it. Elliott won the last race on the road course in 2019.

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.

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

Kyle Busch won the NASCAR Cup Series race Sunday 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.

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.

Chase Elliott raced to a short and slippery victory Sunday as rain spoiled the end of NASCAR’s debut at the Circuit of the Americas, where drivers struggled to navigate the winding course in the first rain race in Cup Series history.

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.

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

NASCAR's first new car in seven years has finally arrived.

Kyle Busch celebrated his 36th birthday by winning a two-lap sprint to the finish at Kansas Speedway.

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.

Brad Keselowski made it nine different winners through the first 10 races of the NASCAR Cup Series season last week at Talladega.

Brad Keselowski did it exactly right this time and finally got that last-lap victory, winning in overtime Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway.

AVONDALE, Ariz. – Joey Logano has won a few times at Phoenix Raceway and knows a good restart when he feels one. Truex blew past Logano on the final restart and pulled away for his first NASCAR Cup Series victory of the season and 28th overall. Logano — who led 143 laps — won the second stage after leading the final 35 laps during a long stretch of green-flag racing. But he couldn't hold back Truex, who won his ninth race with JGR. Hamlin was fast early in the race, leading for 31 laps until the competition caution midway through the first stage.

Larson wasn't sure he'd race in NASCAR again until Rick Hendrick took a chance on a him. Last weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Larson raced to his first NASCAR victory since he was reinstated from a nearly yearlong suspension. He was hired by Hendrick Motorsports when NASCAR said the suspension would lift at the start of this year. KEEP IT COOLLast year's spring race in Phoenix was a hot one, with temperatures pushing close to 90 degrees. ... Jason Biggs, host of “Cherries Wild” on NASCAR broadcast partner Fox, is the grand marshal.

William Byron was the third surprise winner through three races this season with his victory Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Byron controlled most of the final two stages at Homestead to win for the second time in 111 Cup starts. Byron entered the weekend as a 28-1 shot to win a race many expected would provide a return to normal for the racing series. The Roush Fenway Racing driver led five times for a total of 57 laps, but he started to fade "when as sunset neared. He ended up getting X-rays, which were negative, and was cleared to work the Cup Series event.

Christopher Bell celebrates at the finish line after winning the NASCAR Cup Series road course auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)HOMESTEAD, Fla. – NASCAR’s postseason landscape has been altered after just two Cup Series races. “The number of unique winners is really going to change how many cars get in on points, right? Although Bell drives for powerhouse Joe Gibbs Racing, he was a rookie for that top team and in his second full season in the Cup series. The Cup Series opened on a superspeedway, then raced on a road course, and now heads to an intermediate track. Whether that’s different markets, different racetracks, it has to be different from year to year.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Michael McDowell was glued to Brad Keselowski’s bumper, watching and waiting for his chance to win the 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. Kyle Larson was back after nearly a year in exile for using a racial slur, and reigning Cup champion Chase Elliott was going for his first Daytona 500 win. And all the way at the back of the field, 1990 Daytona 500 winner Derrike Cope made what he said would be his final NASCAR start. “I wanted to make the pass to win the Daytona 500 and it ended up really bad,” Keselowski said.

Austin Dillon (3) takes the checkered flag to win the second NASCAR Daytona 500 duel qualifying auto race Friday, Feb. 12, 2021, at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The 40 drivers competing in the 2021 Daytona 500, in order of starting position:___No. This is his 20th Daytona 500; he was hired days after Earnhardt's death. Son of two-time Daytona 500 champion and Hall of Fame driver Bill Elliott. Finished a career-best seventh in the 2017 Daytona 500, but has been 27th, 28th and 19th since. McLeodBORN: Nov. 17, 1983AdHOMETOWN: Wauchula, FloridaCREW CHIEF: Frank KerrSPONSOR: NASCAR HeatsTWITTER: @bjmcleod78NOTEWORTHY: Owner-driver racing in his third Daytona 500.

Brad Keselowski (2) and Denny Hamlin (11) race side by side through Turn 4 during the NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Phoenix Raceway, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020, in Avondale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso)AVONDALE, Ariz. – Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski got a big head start on Chase Elliott. Hamlin, Logano and Keselowski never got the caution flag they needed to catch up, with Keselowski finishing second, Logano third and Hamlin fourth. “I would have liked to have one of those late-race yellows like we saw in the Truck race and the Xfinity race,” Keselowski said. Hamlin won the season-opening Daytona 500 and had seven victories this year — two behind leader Kevin Harvick. “As an organization we have got to get a little better, especially on the short tracks,” Hamlin said.

(AP Photo/Jason Minto, File)AVONDALE, Ariz. – NASCAR will take the checkered flag on its season, one of the longest in professional sports, celebrating its ability to work through the pandemic and close its year. The season was suspended March 13 after just four of 36 races had been completed. Nobody makes any money unless NASCAR runs its races and the sport was desperate to get back to work. When the Cup champion is crowned at Phoenix Raceway, all three of NASCAR's national series will have completed their full season. “What we have done during this global pandemic is I think nothing short of remarkable,” Phelps added.

(AP Photo/Ralph Freso, File)AVONDALE, Ariz. – Denny Hamlin is 0-for-3 in championship chances, his shot at an elusive first NASCAR crown ending just short each time. Hamlin on Sunday will try to close his own career-defining season with the Cup title in NASCAR's season finale at Phoenix Raceway. Chase Elliott last week drove Chevrolet and Hendrick Motorsports back into the championship race for the first time since 2016. The 24-year-old is statistically enjoying his best Cup season and advanced to the final four after three previous failures. The last two times I’ve raced for championships I’ve had no regrets.”Hamlin turns 40 exactly 10 days after Sunday's title race and has matured greatly the last several seasons.

That's how it was supposed to play out, at least, after Harvick won a Cup series-high nine races and the regular-season title. Chase Elliott won the high-stakes race to earn his first career berth in the championship four. Just came up short," Harvick said. “It was just a move I had to try knowing that I needed one point," Harvick said. Bill Elliott was 0 for 45 at Martinsville in his Hall of Fame career, and Chase Elliott won in his 11th try.

NASCAR's needed horsepower for its stale playoffs so Martinsville was shuffled to the back of a revamped schedule. So Martinsville was moved to the final elimination race and NASCAR created a high-stakes last-chance Sunday at the historic Virginia paperclip. It means at least one of NASCAR’s top stars and maybe even a legitimate title contender won’t advance out of Martinsville. Hamlin hasn't been great in the playoffs and he holds just a two-point lead over Brad Keselowski above the cutline. “It’s up to us to get it done," said Hamlin, a five-time Martinsville winner.

FORT WORTH, Texas – NASCAR's playoff race at Texas Motor Speedway finally resumed Wednesday, three days after it started. The restart came nearly 72 1/2 hours after the race was red-flagged Sunday because of misty conditions and drizzle in the area that persisted until early Wednesday. It was overcast with temperatures still in the mid-40s when the race resumed, but there was no more precipitation in the forecast. The 40-car field resumed with four caution laps before going green on lap 57. Harvick won the last three fall races in Texas and is a nine-time winner this season, but was running 36th and a lap down.

(AP Photo/Richard W. Rodriguez)FORT WORTH, Texas – The NASCAR Cup Series playoff race at Texas was pushed back yet another day without drivers completing any more laps Monday. Another 115 laps have to be completed to get to the halfway mark of 167 laps that would make Texas an official race. The only other race between Texas and Phoenix is Sunday at Martinsville, the shortest and oldest Cup track. The race cars remained parked in the garage, never rolling to pit road. There were several periods Monday when the track appeared to be drying, before more misty conditions would further soak the track.

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.

Marcus Lemonis, the CEO of Gander RV & Outdoors, which sponsors the Truck Series, agreed to match Harvicks pledge, bringing the total to $100,000 for pandemic relief. Elliott rubbed a little salt in the wound after the race, borrowing Buschs celebratory bow after the race. That is all.It was the first Truck Series race since Feb. 21 when Busch won at Las Vegas. Elliott, John Hunter Nemechek and Brennan Poole were the three full-time Cup drivers eligible to collect the $100,000 bounty. He followed up a fourth-place finish in the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday by winning the Xfinity Series race on Monday in overtime after passing Austin Cindric on the final lap.

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 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.

DARLINGTON, S.C. The win by Kevin Harvick in NASCAR's return to racing over the weekend was a bit predictable considering the enormous task teams are facing in a flurry of rescheduled events. Harvick, a former series champion and former winner at Darlington Raceway, was also the points leader through the first four events. He will try for the sweep when NASCAR returns to Darlington for its first Cup race on a Wednesday since 1984, when Richard Petty scored his 200th and final victory. This anticipated midweek race is just 300 miles 100 fewer than Sunday's return race, and the same distance as next week's junior series Xfinity Series race at Charlotte but still will start a test of stamina. The Cup Series will race for a third time in a week this Sunday in the Coca-Cola 600, the longest race on the schedule.

I just want to thank everybody from NASCAR and all the teams for letting us do what we do, Harvick said. Gray smoke billowed during a caution, which isn't that odd a sight at a NASCAR race. It was the 50th career victory for Harvick, in a Ford for Stewart-Haas Racing. A previous winner at Darlington, Harvick led 159 of the 293 laps. Harvick tied Hall of Famers Junior Johnson and Ned Jarrett for 12th on NASCAR's all-time wins list.

His 50th career Cup Series victory felt like a lot like the others until he climbed out of his No. Harvick is the only driver to finish in the top 10 in each of the Cup Series' five races this season. The 48-year-old Kenseth raced in the Cup Series for the first time since the 2018 season finale. ___6:45 p.m.Two small grass fires broke out at Darlington Raceway behind Turns 1 and 2 during the final stage of the NASCAR Cup Series race. The Real Heroes 400 is underway at Darlington Raceway, without fans and with masks and social-distancing mandates all around.

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.

(CNN) - NASCAR rejected advertisements for its souvenir programs from multiple firearms companies earlier this summer as part of what is being seen as a "gradual shift" in its position on guns. After a third-party advertising vendor solicited ads for an official NASCAR program earlier this year, the vendor followed up with gun companies in August to inform them NASCAR had rejected advertisements that depicted "assault-style rifles/sniper rifles." NASCAR is still open to some of the less controversial gun accessories, concealed carry, or classes." So far NASCAR has appeared unwilling to explain its shifting viewpoint on the gun industry. NASCAR's apparent shift comes as other US companies have begun reevaluating their relationship with the gun industry.

It took 58 laps of close quarter racing, but Ricky Stenhouse Jr.'s No. 17 Ford was sent spinning off Turn 4 by Kurt Busch driving the No. With 62 laps posted, the top drivers were Clint Bowyer, Austin Dillon, Brendan Gaughan, Elliott and Chris Buescher. Logano got an assist from Ricky Stenhouse Jr., who dropped out of line in fifth position to help push Logano's No. 1:37 p.m.All Ford teams pitted on Lap 37, which resulted in a lead change.

There were 17 cars were involved in the Big One accident in Turn 1 on Lap 119 taking out several top contenders for the Coke Zero Sugar 400 win. 2:45 p.m.Austin Dillon led a Chevrolet charge to win Stage 2 of the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway. Bowyer led an outside lane charge by Ford drivers. After the pit stops, the lead drivers were Joey Logano, Ryan Newman, Erik Jones, Austin Dillon and Chase Elliott. [PHOTOS: On the grid before the start of the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona]2:19 p.m.Kurt Busch's No.

2:45 p.m.Austin Dillon led a Chevrolet charge to win Stage 2 of the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway. Bowyer led an outside lane charge by Ford drivers. After the pit stops, the lead drivers were Joey Logano, Ryan Newman, Erik Jones, Austin Dillon and Chase Elliott. On the restart (Lap 87) the top drivers were Austin Dillon, Alex Bowman, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., William Byron and Chase Elliott. At the restart on Lap 79 the lead drivers were the Chevrolets of Austin Dillon, Chase Elliott, William Byron, Alex Bowman and Kyle Larson.

There are 33 laps left in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway. Ford drivers comment on Big One crash in Turn 1. 2:45 p.m.Austin Dillon led a Chevrolet charge to win Stage 2 of the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway. Bowyer led an outside lane charge by Ford drivers. After the pit stops, the lead drivers were Joey Logano, Ryan Newman, Erik Jones, Austin Dillon and Chase Elliott.

There are 33 laps left in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway. 2:45 p.m.Austin Dillon led a Chevrolet charge to win Stage 2 of the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway. [PHOTOS: On the grid before the start of the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona]2:19 p.m.Kurt Busch's No. 1:15 p.m.Joey Logano, who started from the pole position based on points, led the first 15 laps of the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway. The Coke Zero Sugar 400 had gone green at Daytona International Speedway.

5:35 p.m.Justin Haley was declared the winner of the weather-plagued Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway. It takes a minimum of 90 minutes to dry the track, but since the Speedway is equipped with lights, there is a chance the Coke Zero Sugar 400 may resume. There are 33 laps left in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway. 2:45 p.m.Austin Dillon led a Chevrolet charge to win Stage 2 of the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway. [PHOTOS: On the grid before the start of the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona]2:19 p.m.Kurt Busch's No.

The drivers exited their race cars as pit crews covered the stock cars resting on pit road. Ford drivers comment on Big One crash in Turn 1. 2:45 p.m.Austin Dillon led a Chevrolet charge to win Stage 2 of the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway. After the pit stops, the lead drivers were Joey Logano, Ryan Newman, Erik Jones, Austin Dillon and Chase Elliott. 9 Chevy of Chase Elliott, who was ahead a group of Ford drivers.