KYLE LARSON

Chase Elliott salvaged a crummy day for Hendrick Motorsports and interrupted a potential Toyota rout by winning the rain-drenched race at Nashville Superspeedway on Sunday night.

Denny Hamlin was awarded the pole at Nashville Superspeedway when a surprise rain shower washed out the second round of qualifying.

NASCAR Nashville Preview Auto Racing FILE - Alex Bowman waits for the start of a NASCAR Cup Series auto race on June 20, 2021, in Lebanon, Tenn. The weekend opened just fine: Hendrick Motorsports announced a two-year contract extension with Bowman that locked him in the No. But Ally also had gone all-in on NASCAR's return to Music City as the title sponsor of the first Cup race in the Nashville area in 37 years. “I feel like we definitely underperformed at Nashville,” Bowman said. Dale Earnhardt Jr., Jeff Burton and Steve Letarte will be the analysts for both the Cup race on Sunday and the Xfinity Series race on Saturday.

Alex Bowman felt he underperformed last year when NASCAR brought the Cup Series back to the Nashville area for the first time in 37 years.

Daniel Suárez became the first Mexican-born driver to win a NASCAR Cup Series race on Sunday on Sonoma Raceway.

This is the short course version of a road course, so it's tough.”Road course proficiency is more important than ever in the Cup Series, which has six such circuits on its schedule this season. “It's really tight and narrow for a road course,” Chase Briscoe said of Sonoma Raceway. Defending champion and five-time pole sitter Kyle Larson claimed he didn't notice a huge difference between the road course challenges of COTA and Sonoma, other than deeper braking zones. “I think the new car changes everything (on road courses),” said Truex, who has won on both course layouts at Sonoma. “He can take my opinion or not, and I'm fine with it.”ODDS AND ENDSElliott unsurprisingly is FanDuel Sportbook's 11-to-2 favorite at Sonoma, given his road course acumen.

Gregory, a Modesto native and graduate of California Polytechnic State, returned home in early 2021 to run Sonoma Raceway as executive vice president and general manager of the picturesque road course in wine country. She'd had a longtime career with NASCAR but couldn't pass the opportunity to go home and run Sonoma when the job opened. Ever-changing COVID-19 restrictions in both California and Sonoma County meant Gregory was constantly having to adapt — from crowd restrictions to even holding the race at all — in the lead-up to her first NASCAR weekend. That occasion could come Sunday night after Gregory concludes her second NASCAR race weekend as head of Sonoma. I think fans are thrilled about that, but there's all been a pent-up demand for NASCAR to come back.

NASCAR is bringing its top series to World Wide Technology Raceway near St. Louis for the first time this weekend.

But given everything he drives — stock cars, sprints, midgets — he sees more new tracks than just about anyone. “My schedule is pretty busy and by the time it was Gateway week,” Larson said, referring to the track by its old nickname, “I realized I was racing every day this week. I feel like I adapt pretty quickly, and I have a pretty good track record on tracks I go to the first time." And after taking his practice laps around the 1 1/4-mile hairpin track east of St. Louis on Friday, he was headed back to Tri-City for another race that night. We'll get the hang of it today and go out and qualify on Saturday.”While it's new to NASCAR's top series, Gateway has a rich tradition.

NASCAR is bringing its top series to World Wide Technology Raceway for the first time, and that means for many drivers a first look at the egg-shaped oval east of downtown St. Louis.

“The (Next Gen) car has less side force and less general downforce,” Hamlin said of all the wrecks. Just chaos.”Cup veteran Kevin Harvick expected as much after seeing the uncertainty the Next Gen car has brought this season. “To me, that was the most fun Charlotte race I’ve ever ran,” Briscoe said. You could throw sliders.”He offered high praise for the Next Gen car, too. I’d do another 600 miles for sure.”Hamlin acknowledged there is still a lot that teams needs to learn about the Next Gen car but said that will come in time.

NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 was many things.

Denny Hamlin held off Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Kyle Busch in overtime to win the longest — and perhaps wildest — Coca-Cola 600 in history.

Larson dominated the Coca-Cola 600 by leading 327 of 400 laps in Hendrick Motorsports' 269th career victory — pushing HMS past Petty Enterprises for the record. The group won three straight Cup races and the All-Star race to gain the needed confidence and momentum for its title run. Larson wound up winning 10 races in all and ultimately his first Cup title. “That was so cool to get Mr. (Rick) Hendrick that historic win," Larson said of last year's win at the Coca-Cola 600. Hopefully, we can have the same type of performance this weekend.”But repeating at the Coca-Cola 600 is not easy.

Kyle Larson is hoping a return to victory lane at the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday might propel him to a second straight NASCAR Cup Series championship.

The All-Star race followed a concert by country music superstar Blake Shelton in the infield after the 16-car open race to help complete the field for the main event. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Texas native James Buescher and Daniel Suarez drove their way into the All-Star race earlier Sunday in an open qualifying. Suarez finished in front during the final 10-lap shootout, the third time the Mexican driver has raced into the All-Star field. Texas is the fourth track to host the annual exhibition, but only the second where the All-Star race has been multiple times. The inaugural All-Star race was held in Charlotte in 1985, with Atlanta hosting in 1985 before 33 in a row in Charlotte.

NASCAR All Star Race Auto Racing Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (47) drives during Stage 1 of a NASCAR All-Star auto race at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas, Sunday, May 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Larry Papke) (Larry Papke)FORT WORTH, Texas — (AP) — Kyle Busch led all 25 laps after starting from the pole for the NASCAR All-Star race to take the first stage Sunday night at Texas. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Texas native James Buescher and Daniel Suarez drove their way into the All-Star race earlier Sunday in an open qualifying. Texas is the fourth track to host the annual exhibition, but only the second where the All-Star race has been multiple times. The inaugural All-Star race was held in Charlotte in 1985, with Atlanta hosting in 1985 before 33 in a row in Charlotte.

Ryan Blaney had to go two extra laps after thinking he had already won NASCAR's All-Star race and $1 million.

NASCAR All Star Race Texas Auto Racing Kyle Busch, front, and his crew show off their pole position rings after qualifications for the NASCAR All-Star auto race at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas, Saturday, May 21, 2022. (AP Photo/Larry Papke) (Larry Papke)FORT WORTH, Texas — (AP) — The NASCAR All-Stars during qualifying Saturday night were the pit crew members for Kyle Busch, who earned the pole for the annual $1 million non-points exhibition race. Busch won the final round of an unusual elimination bracket involving the pit crews doing a four-tire pit stop when he beat Ryan Blaney to the finish line. All 20 drivers locked into Sunday night's 24-car All-Star race field went through a normal one-lap qualifying. The remaining four spots for the All-Star race will be determined in a three-segment race earlier Sunday.

The All-Stars during qualifying Saturday night were the pit crew members for Kyle Busch.

Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin founded 23XI Racing with a vision that extended far beyond the race track.

Kurt Busch pinched his way past Kyle Larson for the lead with eight laps to go, then drove his gaudy Jordan Brand-styled car away from the reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion to win Sunday’s race at Kansas Speedway.

NASCAR Darlington Cup Auto Racing Kyle Larson (5) leads a pack of cars down the front stretch during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Darlington Raceway, Sunday, May 8, 2022, in Darlington, S.C. (AP Photo/Matt Kelley) (Matt Kelley)DARLINGTON, S.C. — (AP) — Joey Logano bumped leader William Byron from behind on the last lap to win the Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway on Sunday. Logano, the pole-sitter, tracked Byron for about 25 laps until catching him with one to go and hitting him hard in the rear bumper. Past champions Kyle Busch and Brad Keselowski were also out well before the finish. UP NEXT: The series moves to Kansas Speedway, where Kyle Busch is the event's defending champion. Kyle Larson won the October race in Kansas.

Joey Logano bumped leader William Byron from behind and into the wall on the next to last lap to win the Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway on Sunday.

DARLINGTON, S.C. — (AP) — Former NASCAR Cup Series champions Chase Elliott and Kevin Harvick will start at the rear of the field Sunday at Darlington Raceway. Elliott and Harvick had Saturday in practice. Logano reached 170.720 mph and turned a fast lap of 28.805 seconds to clinch the top spot in qualifying, edging Kyle Larson. Elliott, Harvick and Hamlin couldn't say the same. Harvick blew a left-rear tire in practice and did enough damage that he was unable to make a qualifying attempt.

>> Read more trending newsGordon and Larson paid a visit to Arlington National Cemetery and placed a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. They were accompanied by Speedway Motorsports President and CEO Marcus Smith, Charlotte Motor Speedway Executive Vice President and General Manager Greg Walter and Rep. Richard Hudson (R. - N.C.), who represents the district that contains both Charlotte Motor Speedway and Fort Bragg. Seeing the ceremony for the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was truly special – a huge honor. Charlotte Motor Speedway pays tribute to the nation’s military dead during a pre-race show at the Coca-Cola 600. The Coca-Cola 600 is scheduled for May 29.

Chase Elliott snapped a 26-race winless streak when the 2020 NASCAR champion pulled away down the stretch to win the rain-delayed Cup Series race at Dover Motor Speedway.

Rain postponed Sunday's NASCAR Cup Series race at Dover Motor Speedway to Monday.

Denny Hamlin says he's respects NASCAR's decision to begin sensitivity training after he posted a meme on Twitter that used a clip from the comedy “Family Guy” to mock reigning champion Kyle Larson.

Denny Hamlin said someone sent him a crass anti-Asian meme that poked fun at Kyle Larson's driving and out it went without a care — from his mobile phone to Twitter. “I thought it was hilarious," Hamlin said. NASCAR and scores of fans and casual observers who lashed out at Hamlin for linking Larson's ancestry — he's half Japanese — with an offensive stereotype linked to Asian drivers certainly didn't find the meme funny.

NASCAR has ordered Denny Hamlin to begin sensitivity training this week after he posted a meme on Twitter that used a clip from the comedy “Family Guy” to mock reigning champion Kyle Larson.

TALLADEGA, Ala. — (AP) — Ross Chastain surveyed his situation on the final lap at Talladega Superspeedway and decided his best strategy was to stay right where he was and not make a move for the win. Chastain stole the win Sunday when leader Erik Jones moved out of his way to defensively block reigning NASCAR champion Kyle Larson. It cleared the lane for Chastain, who pointed his Chevrolet straight, slipped past Jones and collected his second career Cup victory. “Looking back, I wish I would have stayed on the bottom and let (Chastain) push me,” Jones said. Chastain and William Byron are the only multiple race winners through 10 Cup events — a quarter of the season.

Ross Chastain surged into the lead as he closed in on the checkered flag Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway to steal his second career Cup Series win.

Christopher Bell won the pole at Talladega Superspeedway by turning the fastest lap as the final driver to qualify.

NASCAR Bristol Auto Racing Cole Custer leads Alex Bowman (48) and Ross Chastain (1) during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series auto race Saturday, April 16, 2022, At Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne) (Wade Payne)BRISTOL, Tenn. — (AP) — Cole Custer won the first pole of his career Saturday through a formula designed for qualifying via heat races at dirt-covered Bristol Motor Speedway. Drivers accumulated points for both finishing and passing and Custer started ninth in his heat and then won it — good enough for his first pole in 84 career Cup starts. Fox a year ago asked NASCAR to add a dirt race to the 38-race Cup schedule and Speedway Motorsports volunteered its .0533-mile Bristol bullring. He also said ticket sales have proven there's a demand for dirt racing and the 2023 race at Bristol will again be on dirt. The crowd expected Sunday was on track to be the largest for Bristol's spring race in years.

Cole Custer won the first pole of his career Saturday through a formula designed for qualifying via heat races at dirt-covered Bristol Motor Speedway.

In scheduling Bristol for Easter, NASCAR stripped the premier Cup Series of all but one off weekend spanning from February until November. The conversion of Bristol to a dirt track last year was the first Cup race on dirt in 50 years. But NASCAR had early experience on the surface prior to the Modern Era with 501 races on dirt from 1949 to 1970. Jim Roper in a Lincoln won the first Cup Series race on dirt in 1948 on 0.75-mile Charlotte (Old) Speedway. ... NASCAR has had 77 different drivers win on dirt, led by Hall of Famer Lee Petty with 46 victories.

NASCAR's top drivers expect some beating and banging to be on the menu when they race at Martinsville Speedway on Saturday night.

Denny Hamlin ran down William Byron with five laps to go and ended the slowest start to a season of his career with a victory in the Toyota Owners 400 at Richmond Raceway.

Martin Truex Jr. left Richmond Raceway a winner in his last visit to the Virginia short track, a playofff victory last September that helped him get into NASCAR's championship round and showed the veteran has plenty left in his tank. The 41-year-old Truex is in the final year of his contract with Joe Gibbs Racing and hasn't decided how long he wants to continue his career. There is no wait-and-see going on with Truex, who in his 17th full Cup Series season is grappling with NASCAR's new Next Gen car.

It was quite the weekend in motorsports, which is typically the bit player on the massive stick-and-ball sporting landscape so eager for its own time in the spotlight.

Wallace still seemed to be in the most enviable position, especially if he could get a helpful push for a slingshot on the final lap. But everyone behind Byron started jostling for position, all of them wanting to put themselves in position to make the winning move. Kyle Busch gave Austin Dillon a slight bump from behind entering the quad-oval, sending Dillon into the wall. “I was in the gas wide open and the 18 (Busch) pushed us and got me loose,” Austin Dillon said. That’s the second week in a row I've been taken out.”At Phoenix, Daniel Suarez made contact with Dillon on the final lap and sent the No.

William Byron has managed to hold off the freight train behind him, taking the checkered flag for his third NASCAR Cup victory at Atlnta Motor Speedway.

William Byron had a freight train in his rearview mirror. While Byron cruised to the checkered flag for the third victory of his NASCAR Cup career, one last crash unfolded behind him Sunday in an appropriate finish to a chaotic, thrilling race at remodeled Atlanta Motor Speedway. “Pretty wild,” the 24-year-old Byron said.

AVONDALE, Ariz. — (AP) — Chase Briscoe raced to his first NASCAR Cup Series victory, executing two great restarts over the final 20 laps to pull away from Ross Chastain and Tyler Reddick on Sunday at Phoenix Raceway. It was an intense late battle between three drivers who had never won in the Cup Series. Kyle Larson won the series championship last year after a fall victory at Phoenix, but engine trouble ended his day early. The final restart in each of the four Cup races this season has come with four or fewer laps remaining. ... Briscoe is the Cup Series' 200th winner.

Chase Briscoe raced to his first NASCAR Cup Series victory, executing two great restarts over the final 20 laps to pull away from Ross Chastain and Tyler Reddick on Sunday at Phoenix Raceway.

Tyler Reddick is enjoying his status among NASCAR’s fastest drivers through the season’s first three races.

Tyler Reddick is enjoying his status among NASCAR's fastest drivers through the season's first three races, adapting quickly to the sport's Next Gen car that has provided solid racing and a new degree of difficulty for many drivers. The only issue is Reddick can't seem to get comfortable in his Chevrolet's seat, leading to numbness in his legs. “You know, I just think I was in a really good place in that old car for such a long time and didn’t realize how easy or how bad you could end up missing it, the comfort side of things,” Reddick said.

LAS VEGAS — (AP) — Alex Bowman beat NASCAR champion Kyle Larson in a door-to-door overtime battle at Las Vegas Motor Speedway that sent Hendrick Motorsports to victory lane for the second consecutive week. Las Vegas native Kyle Busch and teammate Martin Truex Jr. were in a lap-by-lap chess match for the win until the 12th caution ended the stirring duel. The Hendrick trio of Bowman, Larson and William Byron all changed just two tires to get off pit road first through third. Larson, the defending Las Vegas winner and winner last week in California, chose the outside line for the restart with Bowman on his inside. Hendrick snuffed out any drama, evidenced by the clean overtime racing for the win between Bowman and Larson.

Alex Bowman beat NASCAR champion Kyle Larson in a door-to-door overtime battle at Las Vegas Motor Speedway that sent Hendrick Motorsports to victory lane for the second consecutive week.

Rick Hendrick spoke and his drivers heard the boss loud and clear. Hendrick intervened on a competition matter for the first time since Kyle Larson joined the team when he squashed any potential beef between his stars following their run-in last week in California. Larson, the reigning Cup champion, caused Chase Elliott, NASCAR's most popular driver, to wreck last week as the two raced for the win.

FONTANA, Calif. — (AP) — Defending NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson held off Austin Dillon and Daniel Suarez in a tense finish Sunday to win at Fontana for the second time. “There was definitely some guys that were quicker than us, but they had their misfortune,” Larson said. Larson had victory in sight with eight laps to go when Chase Elliott spun and forced a race-record 12th caution. Larson made it out of the pits first, and he led off the restart with four laps to go. Dillon came in second, and Suarez slipped to fourth behind Erik Jones as Chevrolets took the top four spots.

Defending NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson held off Austin Dillon and Daniel Suarez in a tense finish Sunday to win at Fontana for the second time.

Chase Elliott skipped the free agency process and agreed to a five-year contract extension with Hendrick Motorsports announced mere hours before the season-opening Daytona 500.

The NASCAR season opens with the Daytona 500 on Sunday, where more than 120,000 spectators are expected to watch reigning Cup champion Kyle Larson lead the field to green.

The team is now Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing, and Keselowski drives its flagship No. But the win in the first of two 150-mile qualifying races means Keselowski has a fast Daytona 500 car. Then Buescher won the second duel, a victory earned after Joey Logano wrecked on the final lap as he attempted to block a Buescher move for the win. Floyd Mayweather Jr. will make his NASCAR debut Sunday when The Money Team Racing starts the Daytona 500. Roush had won a Daytona qualifier only once before, in 2012 when Matt Kenseth won both the short race and then the 500.

Brad Keselowski has won his first race as owner of his team.

Jacques Villeneuve has qualified for the Daytona 500.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti thought it was nuts to host a NASCAR race inside the Coliseum the first time he heard the idea.

NASCAR is in Los Angeles a week ahead of the Super Bowl with its wildest idea yet.

It was quite a year in the sports world, was it not?

Michelle and Anthony Martin co-founded Philadelphia's Urban Youth Racing School, an organization that connects young people of color with the racing industry.

Larson attended his first ever F1 race as part of his weeklong visit to Dubai and Abu Dhabi during a vacation following his Cup championship win. The seven-time champion seemed so in control that Larson and his group had already headed for the exits when the yellow flew with five laps go. In Abu Dhabi, Larson ran into Fernando Alonso before he even entered the gate, and then Sergio Perez as soon as he got into the paddock. Alpine reserve driver Daniil Kvyat, who attended his first NASCAR race the week before the Cup Series championship in Virginia, recognized Larson immediately. Larson was surprised when IndyCar driver Pato O'Ward both recognized him and knew about his NASCAR season, and then took time to drive Larson around the track in a McLaren 720S.

NASCAR champion Kyle Larson is among those conflicted over the ending of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

NASCAR champion Kyle Larson's first Formula One race was the season finale and he is as conflicted as anyone over the controversial ending of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Funny, Larson was wondering how he could get into Formula One.

Hornets Lakers Basketball Kyle Larson, center, Nascar Cup Series champion, is introduced during the first half of an NBA basketball game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Charlotte Hornets in Los Angeles, Monday, Nov. 8, 2021. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis) (Ashley Landis)LOS ANGELES — (AP) — Kyle Larson was running on empty, still trying to recover from the celebration. The NASCAR champion got a pointless two hours sleep before he was whisked off to Los Angeles for a whirlwind tour with his brand new Cup. When he hit I-10 headed toward L.A. Live, the electronic interstate billboards flashed a promo for NASCAR's big return to La-La-Land. He grabbed a steak at Fleming's at LA Live before NASCAR slotted him courtside at Monday night's game between the Charlotte Hornets and Los Angeles Lakers.

NASCAR champion Kyle Larson is the first driver to get a good look at the site of the season-opening exhibition all-star Busch Light Clash.

The Urban Youth Racing School, the Philadelphia-based program that creates opportunities in racing for minorities, had founders Anthony and Michelle Martin and two students at the track -- and they all got swept up in the championship bash. “I feel like at this point Kyle can’t be denied, on or off the track,” Michelle Martin said.

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.

NASCAR Phoenix Auto Racing Kyle Larson is introduced to the fans before a NASCAR Cup Series auto race on Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021, in Avondale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) (Rick Scuteri)AVONDALE, Ariz. — (AP) — Kyle Larson won. That was the expected result of NASCAR's season-ending championship race, right? Larson closed his comeback season in NASCAR with his first championship Sunday, where he capped his return from a nearly yearlong suspension with a title-winning victory at Phoenix Raceway. It was Rick Hendrick who decided to give him another chance and he hired Larson once NASCAR lifted his suspension. Larson watched last year's championship race from the competition compound on the Hendrick Mototsports' campus in North Carolina.

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.

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.

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

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.

Larson on Wednesday traveled across the Carolinas to present $280,000 to three different food banks as part of the Hendrick Cares social responsibility initiative. Larson presented the Second Harvest Food Bank in Charlotte with $150,000, a check for $50,000 to the Lowcountry Food Bank in Charleston, South Carolina, and $80,000 to the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina in Raleigh. Rick Hendrick offered Larson his second chance once NASCAR lifted Larson's suspension, and Larson joined Hendrick Motorsports unsponsored. As he's rebuilt his image, the Hendrick group has made him the face of its charitable initiatives. Hendrick Cares has also started another program this year built around Larson called "Hendrick, Get Set.

Kyle Larson stepped out of the spotlight during last year’s NASCAR suspension and quietly turned his attention to charitable efforts for communities in need.

NASCAR Kansas Auto Racing Fans watch from the grandstand as race cars cross the start/finish line at the start of a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan., Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021. 5 Chevrolet to victory lane at Kansas Speedway on Sunday, the 17th anniversary of a Hendrick plane crash that killed all 10 people aboard. Larson's car is stylized to resemble Ricky Hendrick's scheme, and hours before Sunday's race, team owner Hendrick texted Larson to stress what a win would mean to him on this date. Larson beat reigning Cup champion and Hendrick teammate Chase Elliott by 3.619-seconds for the win. UP NEXT: The penultimate race of the season, at Martinsville Speedway, where the final three spots in the championship finale will be decided.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

Mackenzie Salmon 'overreacts' to the biggest storylines from the NFL's Week One action in the AFC.

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.

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.

NASCAR Indianapolis Auto Racing Joey Logano (22) waves to fans after crashing during a NASCAR Series auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Sunday, Aug. 15, 2021, in Indianapolis. The vaccine is suddenly a topic in NASCAR, though many drivers don’t want to discuss it. Most drivers said Sunday they believed a negative test should be good enough for NASCAR to greenlight a competitor. Austin Dillon noted there are many ways to isolate drivers from teams in racing, including the use of a helmet. Kyle Larson, a five-time Cup race winner this season and the points leader, said he hasn’t changed anything yet.

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.

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.

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.

NASCAR Larson Sponsored Auto Racing FILE - Bubba Wallace, left, congratulates Kyle Larson after Larson won a NASCAR Cup Series auto race in Las Vegas, in this Sunday, March 7, 2021, file photo. Rick Hendrick gave Kyle Larson a second chance in NASCAR because Hendrick Motorsports had wanted him in its lineup for years. (AP Photo/John Locher, File) (John Locher)CHARLOTTE, N.C. — (AP) — Rick Hendrick gave Kyle Larson a second chance in NASCAR because Hendrick Motorsports had wanted him in its lineup for years. Now that Hendrick has his man, he has locked Larson down for two more seasons with full sponsorship. “My dealerships, the general managers and the employees, they didn't want anyone else on the car,” Hendrick told The Associated Press.

NASCAR Atlanta RepavingA uto Racing FILE - Martin Truex Jr. drives leads during a NASCAR Xfinity Series at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Ga., in this Saturday, March 20, 2021, file photo. After putting off the inevitable project as long as possible, Atlanta Motor Speedway officials, including track president Brandon Hutchinson, on Tuesday, July 6, announced plans to resurface the worn-out track following Sunday's NASCAR race. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson, File) (Brynn Anderson)HAMPTON, Ga. — (AP) — After 24 years, Speedway Motorsports officials could no longer allow drivers to have the final word in delaying the inevitable repaving of Atlanta Motor Speedway. The decision comes in the year Atlanta Motor Speedway is hosting two NASCAR events for the first time since 2010. Atlanta Motor Speedway president Brandon Hutchinson said the resurfacing was overdue, no matter the schedule.

NASCAR Pocono Auto Racing Kyle Busch (18) takes the checker flag to win the NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Pocono Raceway, Sunday, June 27, 2021, in Long Pond, Pa. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum) (Matt Slocum)LONG POND, Pa. — (AP) — Kyle Busch came through in the clutch. Busch busted Hendrick Motorsports’ winning streak and denied the organization a shot at NASCAR history when he raced to his second vicrory of the season Sunday at Pocono Raceway. Busch, runner-up in Saturday’s Pocono race, led a few laps early until a leak in No. “I’m going to need a push truck to get to Victory Lane because I have no clutch,” Busch said on the radio. Hendrick was trying to become the first team since NASCAR’s modern era began in 1972 to win seven straight races.

Larson had won three straight Cup races and was in prime position to take this one at Pocono when he passed Bowman with three laps left in the race. Bowman was in the right spot to take advantage and win for the third time in his last 10 races. “I don’t know what to say.”For team owner Rick Hendrick, the wins keep coming. The Xfinity Series races Sunday followed by the second Cup race. Bowman is in his sixth full season of Cup racing and his fourth with Hendrick.

LEBANON, Tenn. — (AP) — Kyle Larson won again — that's all he does these days — this time in the Cup debut at Nashville Superspeedway, where Hendrick Motorsports' new star drove to victory lane for the fourth consecutive week. Larson led 264 of 300 laps Sunday for his third consecutive win in a points race, fourth straight including last weekend's All-Star race. Nashville Superspeedway re-opened this weekend after a decade of dormancy to host its first ever Cup race. The pair of top-fives came the same day team co-owner Tony Stewart was at his first Cup race since the start of the pandemic. Dover Motorsports owns the track and moved one of its weekends from its Delaware facility to Nashville to reopen the speedway and at last host a Cup race.