KYLE LARSON

Kyle Larson will run the Indy 500 and NASCAR's Coca-Cola 600 on the same day in 2024, becoming the first driver to attempt the feat in 10 years.

Larson will become the latest NASCAR driver to run both the Indy 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 in the same day when he competes in the famous IndyCar Race for Arrow McLaren Racing. Larson will be the first NASCAR driver to attempt both races in the same day since Kurt Busch did it in 2014. Larson’s attempt comes two seasons after Jimmie Johnson raced in the Indy 500 for the first time. Johnson is racing part-time in NASCAR in 2023 and is weighing another Indy 500 appearance later this year. Kyle Busch has also mentioned his desire to run in the Indy 500 but a deal hasn’t materialized yet.

Kyle Larson, the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series champion who is considered one of the world's most versatile racecar drivers, plans to race in the 2024 Indianapolis 500.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — (AP) — Kyle Larson will attempt to race the Indianapolis 500 next year with McLaren Racing in a joint effort with NASCAR team owner Rick Hendrick. It also means he will become just the fifth driver to run “The Double” on Memorial Day weekend, driving the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 in Charlotte, North Carolina, on the same day. The team expanded this year to add 2016 Indy 500 winner Alexander Rossi to its roster and hired 2013 Indy winner Tony Kanaan for the 500. Larson is entering his third season driving for Hendrick Motorsports and had been actively pursuing an Indy 500 ride. “It’s going to be very, very special to field a Chevrolet in the Indy 500 as a car owner.

Kyle Larson will attempt to race the Indianapolis 500 in 2024 with McLaren Racing in a joint effort with NASCAR team owner Rick Hendrick.

Joey Logano, Austin Cindric and Chase Briscoe are big winners in Bob Pockrass' award selections. See who else he honors.

The long and unpredictable NASCAR season comes to an end Sunday with a championship race fitting for a year that saw unprecedented parity and never a clear title favorite.

AVONDALE, Ariz. — (AP) — Ross Chastain skyrocketed to motorsports infamy for wall-riding his way into NASCAR's championship race with a video-game style move that has overshadowed the finale and his fellow title contenders. With that comes a ton of pressure on the eighth-generation Florida watermelon farmer and journeyman NASCAR driver who once took a side gig driving a motorhome to races just to earn extra cash. Christopher Bell has been red-hot with two walk-off wins in a pair of playoff elimination races to advance to his first championship. NASCAR's most popular driver won the regular-season crown and led the Cup standings most of the year. “I think you look at the Cup Series specifically, there’s a youth movement in NASCAR,” NASCAR President Steve Phelps said.

Ross Chastain skyrocketed to motorsports infamy for wall-riding his way into NASCAR’s championship race with a video-game style move that has overshadowed the finale and his fellow title contenders.

Ross Chastain’s video game-inspired ride along the wall at Martinsville carried him across the finish line, into the NASCAR championship finale and around the world.

Bubba Wallace returned to the driver's seat at Martinsville Speedway on Sunday and was met with massive boos from race fans. Christopher Bell won the race.

Ross Chastain took a page out of video games to sneak into the Championship Four at Martinsville on Sunday but not all of his NASCAR colleagues were pleased.

Christopher Bell worked his way into NASCAR’s championship round the only way he could, winning at Martinsville Speedway to claim a spot in the finale.

Bubba Wallace hated being sidelined, but said his one-race suspension for retaliatory driving was warranted.

Kyle Larson dominated the race at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Sunday and waved the checkered flag at the finish line one week after his incident with Bubba Wallace.

HOMESTEAD, Fla. — (AP) — Kyle Larson found his way into NASCAR’s headlines for a second consecutive week. Even though Larson can’t win the title, his Hendrick Motorsports team still can — very much in the mix for an owners’ championship. The four-car field for the title race will be decided next week in Martinsville, with seven drivers heading there to compete for three remaining spots. “You’re going to see aggressive driving.”Hamlin is on the wrong side of the cutline going into Martinsville. NEXT YEARHomestead occupies the same spot on the 2023 NASCAR schedule — second-to-last, just before Martinsville and the title race in Phoenix.

Kyle Larson found his way into NASCAR’s headlines for yet another week.

Larson won Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway after Martin Truex Jr. went spinning off his bumper on pit road during the race’s final caution. He led the field onto pit road and Larson unintentionally bumped Truex as Truex slowed down to get into his pit. Larson emerged from pit road in first place and held on for the final 22 laps to win the race. Larson was eliminated in the second round of the driver playoffs at the Charlotte Roval. Busch wasn’t in the driver playoffs after backing out in August.

Around the time that NASCAR drivers at Homestead-Miami Speedway were getting into their cars for Sunday's race, Bubba Wallace was having lunch. Wallace spent his Sunday at the 23XI team headquarters in North Carolina, serving his one-race suspension for deliberately spinning reigning Cup champion Kyle Larson at Las Vegas last weekend in what NASCAR called a “dangerous act” of retaliation before confronting him afterward. Denny Hamlin, one of the 23XI team owners along with Michael Jordan, said Saturday that Wallace would be spending the race “back at the shop, kind of monitoring, similar to what Kurt does."

Udonis Haslem thought he would be able to walk around unnoticed at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Bubba Wallace is missing Sunday’s NASCAR race, and that’s evidently not his only sanction after losing his cool in Las Vegas last weekend.

The focus in NASCAR has yet to shift to the actual playoff racing as only three events remain to crown a new Cup champion. But as the series heads to Homestead-Miami Speedway, the conversation over safety concerns has shifted to retaliation and what is over the line. Wallace had to apologize to Bell and the entire Toyota group of teams and drivers, and the incident now follows NASCAR into the middle race of the third round of the playoffs. “I think (NASCAR is) trying to get the ball back in their court to where they have a little more control probably. Briscoe is not alone in believing NASCAR had to act on the Wallace incident.

The focus in NASCAR has yet to shift to the actual playoff racing as only three events remain to crown a new Cup champion.

The focus in NASCAR has yet to shift to the actual playoff racing as only three events remain to crown a new Cup champion. Bubba Wallace has been suspended for Sunday’s race for intentionally wrecking reigning Cup champion Kyle Larson last week in a dangerous act of retaliation that NASCAR and most of Wallace's competitors found over the line. Retaliation has been an ongoing issue across all three of NASCAR's national series this season with drivers either seeking payback on the track or after in physical confrontations.

Bubba Wallace and Christopher Bell shared a flight home from Las Vegas, and Wallace apologized during the trip to his fellow Toyota teammate for the incident that crippled Bell’s championship chances.

Wallace shoved reigning NASCAR champ Kyle Larson several times following a wreck at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday.

NASCAR suspended Bubba Wallace for the upcoming race at Miami-Homestead on Tuesday after he spun reigning champion Kyle Larson at Las Vegas Motor Speedway over the weekend and then confronted him afterward. NASCAR classified Wallace’s infraction as behavioral, which per the rule book could cover Wallace deliberately spinning Larson, his contact with a NASCAR official and even his shoving match with Larson. Wallace, who is the first NASCAR Cup Series driver to be suspended for an on-track incident since 2015, will miss Sunday’s race in South Florida. ___More AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing and https://twitter.com/AP_SportsCopyright 2022 The Associated Press. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

NASCAR has suspended driver Bubba Wallace for one race following his fracas at Las Vegas Motor Speedway over the weekend.

Bubba Wallace has been suspended for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Homestead-Miami Speedway for his intentional crash of Kyle Larson at Las Vegas. Wallace hooked Larson’s car into the wall after Larson raced him aggressively off Turn 4 in the first stage of the race. Larson was on the inside of Wallace and washed up the track. Wallace’s car hit the wall off the corner and he moved his car down the track to send Larson into the wall.

Bubba Wallace apologized for wrecking and then shoving Kyle Larson in an incident during the South Point 400 in Las Vegas on Sunday.

Bubba Wallace has been accused of anti-Asian hate for attacking Kyle Larson after they crashed at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday. The confrontation began at Stage 2 of the South Point 400, where Wallace — who won Stage 1 — ended up racing side-by-side with Larson in Turn 4 of the track. Larson, who was driving the #5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, bumped Wallace’s #45 McDonald's Toyota into the wall while trying to make a three-wide pass.

Bubba Wallace had a tense exchange with NBC Sports reporter Marty Snider following his crash and altercation with Kyle Larson in Las Vegas on Sunday.

Joey Logano became the first driver to qualify for NASCAR’s championship finale by using fresh tires to chase down Ross Chastain and win at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

LAS VEGAS — (AP) — Bubba Wallace tried to fight reigning NASCAR champion Kyle Larson after a crash Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway that also collected title contender Christopher Bell. The incident began when Larson attempted a three-wide pass — Kevin Harvick in the middle dropped out of the bunch — and Larson slid up the track against Wallace. When Wallace didn't lift to give Larson any room, Larson used his Chevrolet to shove Wallace's Toyota into the wall. Wallace claimed he didn't deliberately wreck Larson, but both Larson and Bell viewed it as clear retaliation. Larson, who hit the wall last week at Charlotte to contribute to his playoff elimination, said he wasn't surprised Wallace hooked him.

Bubba Wallace tried to fight reigning NASCAR champion Kyle Larson after a crash at Las Vegas Motor Speedway that also collected title contender Christopher Bell.

Bubba Wallace was raging at Kyle Larson for bumping him into the wall. Wallace retaliated and then started to shove him after both crashed out.

Bubba Wallace shoved Kyle Larson multiple times after he appeared to intentionally crash Larson after Wallace brushed the wall while the two drivers raced side-by-side off Turn 4 in the first stage of Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Las Vegas. Wallace’s car hit the wall and then went left and hit the right rear of Larson’s car. Kyle Larson hits Bubba Wallace. He pushed Larson multiple times as Larson clearly did not want to engage in a fight of any sort. #NASCAR pic.twitter.com/aaAn0idrJp — NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) October 16, 2022Wallace denied that he crashed Larson on purpose after exiting the infield care center.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — (AP) — NASCAR hit Stewart-Haas Racing with an additional $200,000 in fines Tuesday after ruling Cole Custer and the No. 41 team manipulated the final lap of the playoff elimination race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Briscoe finished ninth, good enough to bump reigning NASCAR champion Kyle Larson from the playoffs as the field was trimmed from 12 drivers to eight. Briscoe earned the eighth and final spot in the next round of the playoffs by two points over Larson. SHR was already appealing Harvick's penalties and said Tuesday it would appeal the latest penalties.

NASCAR hit Stewart-Haas Racing with an additional $200,000 in fines after ruling Cole Custer and the No. 41 team manipulated the final lap of the playoff elimination race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Christopher Bell scored a walk-off victory at the Roval at Charlotte Motor Speedway Sunday. He needed the win to lock in a position in the Round of 8.

CONCORD, N.C. — (AP) — Christopher Bell saved his title chances with an overtime win Sunday on the road course at Charlotte Motor Speedway in a stunning finish that knocked reigning NASCAR champion Kyle Larson from the playoffs. There was little he could do but hope that Briscoe and Cindric didn't gain enough positions to bump him from the playoffs. Advancing to the round of eight were: Bell, Briscoe, Byron, Elliott, Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano, Ross Chastain and Ryan Blaney. But finding a Chevrolet team that can field Busch has not been so easy. Chevrolet, meanwhile, is very open to supplying an engine for Busch, reigning NASCAR champion Kyle Larson or even seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson.

Christopher Bell saved his title chances with an overtime win Sunday on the road course at Charlotte Motor Speedway in a stunning finish that knocked reigning NASCAR champion Kyle Larson from the playoffs.

And the race’s final laps turned into the circus they typically are at the Roval. Larson missed out on going to the third round of the playoffs because of a toe link issue on the rear wheels of the car. But that was before the sign caution happened. Austin Cindric and Daniel Suarez were eliminated from the playoffs along with Larson. Alex Bowman also won’t advance to the third round but he missed the final two races of the second round after suffering a concussion in a crash at Texas.

Chase Elliott raced his way into the next round of the playoffs with a victory Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway in the first clean race yet of this year’s postseason.

After jettisoning four drivers from the chase, the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs starts the Round of 12 at Texas Motor Speedway this weekend. Yahoo Sports' Nick Bromberg is still fading Chastain in the playoffs but suggests finding value in Tyler Reddick at +1400 or Elliott's and Larson's Hendrick Motorsports teammate Alex Bowman at +2000. Weather forecast for the AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 500It will be blisteringly hot for both Saturday's practice and qualifying as well as Sunday's race. Temperatures are forecast for the mid-90s both days the Cup Series is on track, so count on tire degradation being as much a concern as fuel economy for Sunday's race. NASCAR Cup Series playoff standingsChase Elliott - 3,040Joey Logano - 3,025Ross Chastain - 3,020Kyle Larson - 3,019William Byron - 3,015Denny Hamlin - 3,013Christopher Bell - 3,013Ryan Blaney - 3,013Chase Briscoe - 3,009Alex Bowman - 3,007Daniel Suarez - 3,007Austin Cindric - 3,006

After jettisoning four drivers from the chase, the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs starts the Round of 12 at Texas Motor Speedway this weekend. ET (USA, MRN, SiriusXM)Qualifying: 1:20 - 2:30 p.m. ET (USA, MRN, SiriusXM)Sunday, Sept. 25Pre-race show: 2:30 - 3:30 p.m. ET (USA, MRN, SiriusXM)Post-race show: 7:30 - 8 p.m. NASCAR Cup Series playoff standingsChase Elliott - 3,040Joey Logano - 3,025Ross Chastain - 3,020Kyle Larson - 3,019William Byron - 3,015Denny Hamlin - 3,013Christopher Bell - 3,013Ryan Blaney - 3,013Chase Briscoe - 3,009Alex Bowman - 3,007Daniel Suarez - 3,007Austin Cindric - 3,006

Chris Buescher's win at Bristol last week marked the first time in this version of NASCAR's playoffs that drivers who are not racing for the championship swept the three races of the first round.

Chase Elliott is the big favorite for the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series title ahead of the second round. Elliott is at +275 to win his second Cup title at BetMGM. Thirty four points separate Elliott from 12th-place Austin Cindric ahead of the three races in the second round. The second round includes races at Texas, Talladega and the Charlotte Roval and eight drivers will advance to the third round. No drivers scored automatic berths to the second round of the playoffs because of a win in the first round.

Ross Chastain heads into the first elimination race of NASCAR’s playoffs in a pretty comfortable position above the cutline.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — (AP) — NASCAR champion Kyle Larson has signed a three-year contract extension through 2026 with Hendrick Motorsports, the team that welcomed him back last season after a nearly one-year suspension. The extension announced Friday includes sponsor HendrickCars.com, which will sponsor the No. Larson's extension and the sponsorship renewal are concurrent. The 30-year-old Larson was suspended for most of 2020 for using a racial slur and lost his job with Chip Ganassi Racing. Hendrick took him when the suspension was lifted, and Larson won 10 races last season and his first Cup title.

NASCAR champion Kyle Larson has signed a three-year contract extension through 2026 with Hendrick Motorsports.

8 car starting in 2023," Busch said of moving to the team based about an hour north of Charlotte. When Childress joined Busch at the announcement, the Hall of Fame team owner presented Busch's 7-year-old son, Brexton, with a contract option to someday drive for RCR. But before that, Childress handed Busch his “signing bonus,” which was a boxed watch. Childress in 2011 tussled with Busch after a Truck Series race at Kansas Speedway. Childress and Busch, now 37 years old, long ago made amends, which helped make RCR a landing spot for Busch during his excruciatingly long free agency period.

Kyle Busch will move to Richard Childress Racing next season, ending a 15-year career with Joe Gibbs Racing because the team could not come to terms with NASCAR’s only active multiple Cup champion.

Bubba Wallace won his second career NASCAR Cup Series race and denied the playoff field of an automatic spot in the next round for the second straight week when he held off championship contenders Denny Hamlin and Christopher Bell to win at Kansas Speedway.

Erik Jones took the lead when Kyle Busch’s engine blew up, then pulled away from Denny Hamlin after a final restart 20 laps from the end to win the opening NASCAR Cup Series playoff race at Darlington Raceway on Sunday night.

Austin Dillon avoided a massive wreck in the rain to win at Daytona International Speedway and snag a playoff spot in the Cup Series’ regular-season finale.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Officials said the Coke Zero Sugar 400 Cup race at Daytona that was scheduled for Saturday night has been postponed because of weather. The race will start at 10 a.m. Sunday with defending series champion Kyle Larson leading the field to the green flag. Read: Daytona prepares for thousands of race fans ahead of Coke Zero-Sugar 400Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 8 Daytona prepares for thousands of race fans ahead of Coke Zero-Sugar 400Check out this video here:Coke Zero Sugar 400: Local businesses gearing up for race weekend (WFTV)Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. ©2022 Cox Media Group

Keselowski has crashed eight times in his last 11 starts at the superspeedway and finished worse than 30th six times. So maybe Keselowski should feel confident heading into Saturday night’s regular-season finale, where the 2012 Cup Series champion and 14 others are vying for the final two playoff spots. We just need everything to align to make it happen.”In his first year as a driver/owner at Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing, Keselowski needs a victory to make the postseason for the 10th consecutive year. Ryan Blaney and Martin Truex Jr. are the only drivers who haven't yet locked up playoff spots and can make it without winning at Daytona. It’d be quite a story.”Blaney needs 31 points to clinch a playoff spot and could do it during the race.

Brad Keselowski likes his chances at Daytona International Speedway.

Kyle Larson has just two wins this season and both came at the expense of teammate Chase Elliott.

Kyle Larson beat Hendrick Motorsports teammate Chase Elliott on a restart with five laps to go and won the weather-delayed NASCAR Cup race at Watkins Glen International on Sunday.

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. — (AP) — Chase Elliott won the NASCAR Cup pole on Saturday at Watkins Glen International, edging Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kyle Larson for the top spot. Elliott, a two-time winner at The Glen, turned a fast lap of 1 minute, 10.477 seconds around the 2.45-mile natural terrain road course. Larson, who won last year's race at The Glen, finished in 1:10.516, just ahead of Michael McDowell. Former Formula One champion Kimi Raikkonen, who came out of retirement for the chance to enter NASCAR'S top series, qualified 27th in his Cup debut. Raikkonen is driving for TrackHouse Racing and its Project91 program designed to raise NASCAR’s international exposure.

Chase Elliott has won the NASCAR Cup pole at Watkins Glen International, edging Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kyle Larson for the top spot.

Chase Elliott won the NASCAR Cup pole on Saturday at Watkins Glen International, edging Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kyle Larson for the top spot. Elliott, a two-time winner at The Glen, turned a fast lap of 1 minute, 10.477 seconds around the 2.45-mile natural terrain road course. Larson, who won last year's race at The Glen, finished in 1:10.516, just ahead of Michael McDowell.

NASCAR has a record seven different countries represented on the entry list for Sunday's race at Watkins Glen International, and the headliner is 2007 F1 champion Kimi Raikkonen. Now retired, Raikkonen will make his Cup debut on the Watkins Glen road course driving for TrackHouse Racing and its Project91 program designed to raise NASCAR's international exposure. "I'm looking forward to the opportunity to get to race against somebody like that who has strictly just basically road raced his whole life. But Watkins Glen is also welcoming German road-racer Mike Rockenfeller, who will make his NASCAR debut for Spire Motorsports. Larson won last year at Sonoma, Watkins Glen and The Roval at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

NASCAR has a record seven different countries represented in Sunday's race at Watkins Glen International, and the headliner is 2007 Formula One champion Kimi Raikkonen.

Ryan Blaney and Martin Truex Jr. are the favorites as they battle for position to make NASCAR’s playoffs.

Tyler Reddick closed the best month of his NASCAR career with a victory in overtime on the road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

For another, it’s running clockwise on the famous speedway and utilizing the infield road course. ET (NBC, MRN, SiriusXM)Top drivers and best bets for the Verizon 200The Cup series' road race ace Chase Elliott is the favorite according to BetMGM at +450. It's not without precedent, as he has won seven road course races in 22 career starts, including a staggering six wins in 15 starts since 2019. His Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kyle Larson, another road course ringer, and Ross Chastain clock in with the next-best odds at +700, followed by Daniel Suarez and Tyler Reddick both at +1000. Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course layout, what to expectIt’s not quite a speedway, and it’s not quite a traditional road circuit but it is a significant challenge – even without curbs coming loose and causing chaos.

NASCAR Pocono Preview Auto Racing NASCAR driver Kyle Larson, center, talks with members of the Urban Youth Racing School before the start of a race on the grounds of the Please Touch Museum in Philadelphia, Friday, July 22, 2022. The Cup Series will race July 2 against the backdrop of Lake Michigan and Grant Park as part of a three-year deal with Chicago. “I think NASCAR works really hard to try and get to that point,” Larson said. Before he made the short trip to Pocono, Larson had to pay back the program that stood by him in 2020 and offered him a very public second chance. Busch cruised to an 8.654-second victory over Larson in the second race of last season's Pocono twinbill.

Kyle Larson was the start of a Grand Prix in Philadelphia run by the Urban Youth Racing School.

The sanctioning body and the city of Chicago announced Tuesday that the Cup Series will have a street race in downtown Chicago around Grant Park on July 2, 2023. Chicago's presence in 2023 comes at the cost of another date on the Cup Series schedule as NASCAR isn't expanding the already-packed schedule beyond 36 points races. The idea of a Chicago street race is a worth exploration. But adding the Chicago street race at the expense of Road America is a mistake. Will the Chicago street race make it half as long as Chicagoland Speedway did?

Tyler Reddick isn’t about to let up now that he finally has produced his first Cup Series victory and put himself in position for NASCAR’s playoffs.

Tyler Reddick raced to his first NASCAR Cup Series victory Sunday, continuing the season-long trend of first-time winners on road courses.

Chase Elliott won the pole at Road America and will lead the field to green Sunday in his title defense on the Wisconsin road course.

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.

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.