All articles tagged with #nascar cup series
Chase Elliott won the Cook Out 400 at Martinsville Speedway for his first NASCAR Cup Series victory of the season, riding a late two-stop gamble to defeat Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano as Hendrick Motorsports celebrated. Hamlin finished runner-up, Logano third, with Ty Gibbs fourth and William Byron fifth, setting the stage for an Easter break and a strong early push for Elliott and his team.
Tyler Reddick started from pole, overtook Brad Keselowski with 28 laps to go, and held on to win at Darlington for his fourth NASCAR Cup Series victory of the season for 23XI Racing. Keselowski led a race-high 142 laps, but Reddick’s fresher tires helped him pull away to win by 5.847 seconds, marking his first Darlington win and 12th career Cup victory.
Alex Bowman will miss at least three NASCAR Cup Series races to recover from vertigo, with Justin Allgaier substituting the No. 48 through Bristol; Bowman first experienced symptoms at the March 1 Circuit of The Americas race and has also missed Phoenix and Las Vegas, with the team following medical guidance and prioritizing his return when cleared.
Denny Hamlin wins the Las Vegas Cup race, praising his Toyota/JGR organization and family support as he regains his love for racing; Chase Elliott finishes second and notes a strong day despite the heartbreak, while William Byron slides in third and discusses restart luck and what the team needs to build on for future races. The article compiles driver reactions across the top results, offering a snapshot of a competitive, high-pressure Las Vegas event.
Denny Hamlin rebounded from an early pit-road speeding penalty to dominate the Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, leading a race-high 134 laps and earning his first Cup Series win of the season and 61st of his career, beating Chase Elliott by 0.502 seconds. The victory ties Hamlin with Kevin Harvick for 10th on the all-time wins list, and the Cup standings have Tyler Reddick leading by 61 points over Bubba Wallace and 67 over third-place Ryan Blaney as the series moves to Darlington next.
Tyler Reddick remains No. 1 in the NASCAR Cup Series power rankings after three wins to start 2026. Ryan Blaney sits No. 2 after a strong showing at the Circuit of the Americas, still fourth in the standings. Christopher Bell climbs to No. 3 with a podium at COTA, while Chase Briscoe sits No. 4 after a front-running run ended by a transaxle issue, and Chase Elliott stays No. 5 with another solid day. Shane van Gisbergen also makes a notable move in the standings following his COTA performance. The road course results reshape the early-season picture ahead of Phoenix and Las Vegas.
Tyler Reddick won the NASCAR Cup Series race at Circuit of The Americas, becoming the first driver to open a Cup season with three consecutive victories. 23XI Racing also became the first team since 1963 to win the opening three races. Shane van Gisbergen finished second, with Christopher Bell, Ty Gibbs and Michael McDowell making up the top five; the series moves to Phoenix Raceway next.
Tyler Reddick and 23XI Racing sit 2-for-2 to start the Cup Series as EchoPark sets up a road-course run at Circuit of The Americas. The weekend produced a shakeup: Chase Briscoe charged from 34th to 2nd, Carson Hocevar rallied to 4th, and Zane Smith finished 7th; meanwhile Kyle Larson (32nd), Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (36th) and Ty Gibbs (37th) endured rough outings that tighten the early standings ahead of the COTA race.
Tyler Reddick outlasted a wreck-filled Daytona 500 to give 23XI Racing its first Daytona 500 victory, aided by a late push as rivals crashed at the finish. Chase Elliott led late but couldn’t seal the win, while Keselowski recovered from a leg injury to finish in the top five. The circuit now heads to Atlanta Motor Speedway for the next race.
Half the Daytona 500 field was wiped out by a massive wreck on Lap 124 when Justin Allgaier bumped Denny Hamlin, triggering chaos that eliminated 17 cars; Bubba Wallace inherited the stage lead, while Chase Elliott looked set to win before the crash ended his bid.
Denny Hamlin expressed his shock and disappointment after narrowly missing out on the NASCAR Cup Series championship at Phoenix Raceway, highlighting his team's strong effort, the unpredictable tire issues, and the emotional toll of the race's outcome.
Chase Elliott, the points leader in the NASCAR Cup Series, is aiming for his first victory at the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, a race that holds personal significance for him as the son of a former winner. Currently leading the standings and seeking to secure more playoff points, Elliott is motivated to capitalize on his momentum and achieve his long-standing goal of winning at the iconic track.
Chase Elliott, a popular NASCAR driver from Georgia, celebrated a significant victory at Atlanta, ending a winless streak and energizing his fans with a wild race finish. The win, aided by teammate Alex Bowman, was a highlight in his season, boosting his confidence and playoff hopes, and was especially meaningful given his local roots and recent challenges.
Pocono Raceway has sold out the NASCAR Cup Series race for the third year in a row, setting attendance records with fans from all over the world, and expanding camping options, making it the largest crowd since 2010.
NASCAR Cup Series drivers faced a unique challenge at Bristol Motor Speedway as high tire wear led to blown tires and cording, resulting in a race that required strategic tire management. Despite the unusual circumstances, most drivers found the experience enjoyable, likening it to grassroots short-track racing and emphasizing the need for smart driving. While some praised the race's excitement and the need for tire conservation, others, like Kyle Larson, expressed concerns about the excessive tire wear and the challenges it posed. Overall, the race featured a record number of lead changes and left drivers with mixed but mostly positive reactions.