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Martinsville gamble pays off as Elliott edges Hamlin for NASCAR Cup win
12 days ago•Source: Motorsport.com
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9.98 min•20 days ago
Cup Teams Lose Chiefs After Darlington Inspection Failures
Three NASCAR Cup teams failed pre-race inspection twice at Darlington, ejecting their car chiefs—Chase Elliott’s Matt Barndt, Chris Buescher’s Josh Sisco, and Timmy Hill’s Dylan Roberts—and costing them pit-stall selections; all cars passed on the third attempt and will qualify with no further penalties, a reminder that teams push the limits during inspections.
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Reddick seals three-peat start as Jordan cheers 23XI's versatility
Tyler Reddick earned his third straight Cup win to open the 2026 season at Circuit of the Americas, completing a three-race sweep after Daytona and Atlanta. He outdueled Shane Van Gisbergen for the road-course victory, while Michael Jordan lauded the 23XI Racing effort and Denny Hamlin praised Reddick’s all-around development and the team’s autonomy in building a champion-friendly operation.
Reddick grabs Atlanta Cup pole after rain cancels qualifying
Rain at Atlanta washed out Cup qualifying, so the starting lineup for Sunday's race was set by a 2026 metric (30% owner standings, 70% last race finish). Tyler Reddick earned the pole, with Joey Logano second, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. third, Chase Elliott fourth and Brad Keselowski fifth; the top 10 also includes Zane Smith, Chris Buescher, Riley Herbst and Bubba Wallace. The race is Sunday at Atlanta.
Atlanta Cup Weekend 2026: when to watch, weather, and schedule
The 2026 NASCAR Cup weekend moves to EchoPark Speedway in Atlanta for a triple-header. Friday features Truck Series qualifying (3pm ET on FOX Sports 1) and O'Reilly Auto Parts Series qualifying (5pm CW App); Saturday includes Cup qualifying (11am PRIME VIDEO), the Truck race (1:30pm FOX) and the O'Reilly race (4:30pm CW App); Sunday’s action starts with RaceDay at 2pm and the Cup race hitting the green flag at 3:19pm (260 laps, 400 miles). Weather forecasts call for a clear Sunday with a high near 52F, with a chance of rain Friday/Saturday morning. 38 teams are entered; TV: FOX (US), TSN (Canada); streaming: HBO MAX in-car cams and PRIME VIDEO; radio: MRN/SiriusXM.
Reddick's Daytona 500 Triumph Sparks Drama and Celebration
Tyler Reddick edged a chaotic Daytona 500 for 23XI Racing in a dramatic, green-flag finish, while Chase Elliott led late but was involved in the final crash; the race produced a 20-car pileup, highlighted Spire Motorsports’ near‑win and collapse, and saw Riley Herbst drawing mixed praise amid the chaos as NASCAR earned praise for its race management.
Reddick Clinches Daytona 500 in Wild, Jordan-Backed 23XI Finish
Tyler Reddick won the 2026 Daytona 500 for 23XI Racing in a chaotic final lap that saw Carson Hocevar lead on the white flag before a multi-car wreck as Riley Herbst pushed Reddick past Chase Elliott at Turn 4; Stenhouse finished second, Logano third, and all three 23XI cars finished in the top ten, marking a milestone victory for Michael Jordan two days before his 63rd birthday.
NASCAR Shifts Daytona 500 Start to Beat Looming Storms
NASCAR moved the Daytona 500 start up one hour to 1:30 p.m. ET (RaceDay at 11:30 a.m. ET) to dodge forecasted thunderstorms, with the green flag at 2:13 p.m. ET. If lightning or rain arrives, the race could end during daytime for the first time in years. Kyle Busch and Chase Briscoe will lead the field, and the pre-race festivities include Nate Bargatze as grand marshal, Kurt Russell in the pace car, Bart Simpson as honorary starter, and Miranda Lambert headlining the concert.
NASCAR Allows Mid-Race Fueling to Protect The Clash at Bowman Gray
During a sleet-affected Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium, NASCAR race control allowed teams to refuel without penalty mid-race due to the new 750-hp package and uncertain fuel mileage, plus the lack of a true pit road at Bowman Gray and a high number of cautions. Officials said grounding a fuel strategy that could end the race on their example would hurt the show, so teams were permitted to top off and continue, with the aim of avoiding a race decided by fuel and preserving race quality.
Preece conquers chaos in Bowman Gray Clash at the Madhouse
Ryan Preece won the chaotic Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium in a rain- and sleet-delayed race with a record 17 cautions, marking a Clash win before a points-paying Cup victory for theRFK-inspired team. The event spotlighted controversial mid-race fuel/strategy decisions by NASCAR, featured wet-weather oval racing that produced a unique show, and saw Daniel Suarez impress in his debut with Spire while Shane van Gisbergen and Carson Hocevar suffered late crashes. Michael McDowell missed the main after a jump-start in the LCQ.
Midweek Storm Looms Over NASCAR Clash at Bowman Gray
A historic North Carolina snowstorm forced the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray to be moved to Wednesday, and forecasters warn of another storm bringing rain and a potential half-inch of snow into race time. Goodyear has wet-weather tires ready, and organizers say the event could proceed in light rain or mild conditions, though they aim to avoid further postponements. Project manager Justin Swilling cited the cautious decision to postpone, and fans are urged to dress for cold weather as the midweek show will include a pre-race spectacle.
Snowstorm Pushes Bowman Gray Clash to Wednesday
Historic snowfall in North Carolina forced NASCAR to postpone the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium again, rescheduling the event to Wednesday, Feb. 4, as crews clear snow and ice and temperatures rise; NASCAR says safety comes first and is coordinating with local authorities, with a forecast of highs around 39–44F and a chance of showers on race day, and the updated schedule leading to practice/qualifying and the main FOX-broadcast race.