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Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images By Adam Carabine The Penske resurgence continued at New Hampshire Motor Speedway this past weekend, as Ryan Blaney returned to Victory Lane for the third time this season. What started as a wet-weather race ended up drying up and showcasing a fairly entertaining short track show. Let’s have a look at how it all shook down! Pre-Race: Carson Hocevar spun on the warm-up laps, and then the rain picked up a bit more. Cars were brought down pit road and covered for a bit while they dried some standing water on the track. Lap 1: Tyler Reddick qualified on the pole, with Josh Berry beside him. Before the first lap was through, Reddick spun on his own and brought out the caution. He didn’t hit anything, but it stopped up Denny Hamlin as well and they lost a ton of track position early. Lap 7: Back to green, this time with William Byron the leader. Lap 12: John Hunter Nemechek spins on his own, but manages to keep it straight and it stays green. Lap 26: Shane Van Gisbergen passes Byron for the lead, he looks strong on these wet weather tires. Lap 38: There’s some smoke coming out of Ross Chastain’s car – he’s trying to nurse it another couple of laps for the competition caution that’s coming out at Lap 40. Lap 40: The caution is thrown, NASCAR allows everyone to put slicks on their cars as the rain has mostly dried up. Pit stops are non-competitive, so no one loses any position. However, Chastain’s car is done for the day here. Lap 50: Green flag – SVG and Josh Berry on the front row. Everyone’s on slick tires. Lap 52: CAUTION – Ricky Stenhouse Jr. spins and backs it into the wall. Lap 56: Green flag – SVG leads William Byron this time. Lap 57: Starting from third, Kyle Larson now powers up to the lead – looks like SVG’s car isn’t as strong on the slicks, as he’s falling back quickly. Lap 58: SVG back to 6th already. Lap 70: Kyle Larson wins Stage 1. Followed by 20, 77, 24, 21, 54, 12, 60, 97, 19. Lap 73: Messy pit stops for a few drivers. William Byron takes a wrench with him outside of the box, Christopher Bell nearly drags his tire carrier with him all the way out. There’s a mixture of strategies with both two and four-tire stops. Lap 79: Green flag. Ryan Preece and Zane Smith stayed out at this caution and are now the leaders. Lap 84: CAUTION – Contact between Connor Zilisch and Carson Hocevar. Hocevar gets the worst of it. Joey Logano and Austin Dillon are also involved as they try to avoid the wreck ahead of them. Lap 90: Back to green. Preece again with Berry. Lap 91: Berry makes quick work of Ryan Preece and takes the lead. Lap 97: Ryan Blaney looking strong, he’s making moves and is up to P2 now. Lap 114: Reports on some driver radios of some raindrops, but things stay green. Lap 118: Berry is still the leader, Blaney is behind him. Bubba Wallace in P3, about 5 seconds back. Lap 120: Pit cycle starts with Chase Elliott heading down pit road. The window is officially open to make it to the end of this stage on fuel. Lap 123: Ryan Preece pits, though he’s on a different strategy than the other leaders. Lap 130: Pit stops are continuing, but with new tires not showing a ton of advantage, it’s a slow trickle rather than an onslaught. Lap 134: Leaders pit now, Berry beats Blaney to the line and retains the provisional lead. Lap 149: New leader, Ryan Blaney as he passes Berry finally. Lap 185: Ryan Blaney wins Stage 2. Followed by 21, 23, 60, 5, 6, 17, 54, 11, 20. Lap 191: Slow stop for Ryan Blaney, as the front left wheel isn’t tight and they have to re-jack the car. He loses a lot of spots on pit road. Lap 194: Green flag, Bubba Wallace and Josh Berry. They’re back and forth for a while but Berry eventually takes the lead. Lap 203: CAUTION – Hocevar is around on his own. Lap 209: Back to green, with Berry and Wallace at the front. Lap 210: This time Bubba Wallace has a good restart and retakes the lead. Lap 222: Some contact from Josh Berry as he takes over the lead from Bubba Wallace! Lap 223: They start trading some blows back and forth, and trading the lead! Lap 224: With the two leaders duking it out, Ryan Preece has come up behind them. Lap 225: CAUTION – Riley Herbst with a huge hit after some contact with Michael McDowell. Then Connor Zilisch, much later, somehow gets into Herbst who is stopped up against the fence. This ends Herbst and Zilisch’s days. Lap 232: Back to green again, Blaney is the leader. Lap 233: CAUTION – William Byron loses a wheel! Lap 238: Back to green, Ryan Blaney and Chase Briscoe are battling it out for the lead. Lap 267: Blaney still leads, Bubba Wallace in 2nd, about a second back. Lap 271: Josh Berry finding some speed, back up to P3 now. Lap 291: Blaney is getting caught up in some lapped traffic. Bubba Wallace and Josh Berry are catching up to him, but is there enough time left? Lap 301: Ryan Blaney holds on to win the race! This is Ryan Blaney’s 20th Cup Series win, and his second win at New Hampshire, after winning last year’s race there too. With one more week left in the Regular Season, there are three drivers now vying for two spots left in The Chase. Austin Cindric +44 SVG +29 --- Ryan Preece -29 Next weekend is the Regular Season Finale in Daytona!

Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images By Adam Carabine The StatChat Power Rankings return in 2026! While finishing position is important, it’s not always indicative of the full picture. StatChat rankings are determined using a large number of statistical inputs. Let's look at the Top 10: Tyler Reddick – This week: 10 – Last week: 17 Reddick being on a cooler this summer has been well-documented. After having a commanding lead over the rest of the field, he now sits 4th in points. However, Richmond might have been a sign of things turning around for the 45 team. While they wound up on the wrong tire strategy, they still pulled off a P11 finish. Reddick also had the best pass differential of any driver on Saturday evening. William Byron – This week: 9 – Last week: 7 Byron continues to baffle me, but he still manages to be in the Top 10 of the Power Rankings. He has been pretty under the radar, he hasn’t won all year, and yet he sits comfortably above the cutline for The Chase (+113 pts). He earned two additional stage points at Richmond, and finished in the Top 10. Bubba Wallace – This week: 8 – Last week: 8 Bubba Wallace looked to have a pretty good car earlier on in the race at Richmond, but things didn’t stay that way. Whether it was some bad adjustments on pit road, or difficulty managing tire wear, Bubba fell back and eventually ended the race in 20th. He did score points in Stage One, and led three laps, which probably helped him to stay in the same position as last week in our Power Rankings. SVG – This week: 7 – Last week: 10 I had originally pencilled in Richmond as SVG’s best shot at a win on an oval this year. While that didn’t happen, he continues to show more and more growth on the left-turn-only tracks. He didn’t get any help in our Power Rankings from his impressive run in the Truck race, but he clearly is focused on improving this part of his NASCAR career and it really is only a matter of time. Christopher Bell – This week: 6 – Last week: 4 Is Bell sad he didn’t win at Richmond? Or happy that he didn’t finish 2nd again. Like Reddick, Bell was on the wrong tire strategy at the end, and was easily passed for the lead by other cars who had newer tires. P7 is nothing to scoff at, but he still falls a few spots in our Power Rankings. Chase Briscoe – This week: 5 – Last week: 6 Since Atlanta, Briscoe has moved up an impressive five positions in the overall points standings. His P2 at Richmond helped him to clinch a spot in The Chase, and gave him a 20-pt gap over 6th-placed Chase Elliott. Briscoe might be a bit annoyed to have had the win slip out of his hands at Richmond, as he was likely the better car in the final run, but the 19 team is in good form heading to The Chase. Ty Gibbs – This week: 4 – Last week: 3 It was a solid effort at Richmond for Ty Gibbs. Coming off his second win of the season last week in Iowa, Gibbs was looking good early. A speeding penalty on pit road derailed his day a bit, but he still managed to rally back to an impressive P15 finish. He’s also clinched into The Chase, and he’s a legitimate contender for the Championship. Denny Hamlin – This week: 3 – Last week: 1 Hamlin had another solid outing at Richmond, and yet somehow tumbles two spots in the Power Rankings. The scoring metric is very tight at the top of our rankings, and Hamlin’s fall is more likely related to the good performance of the other two drivers who moved up. Denny led some laps, scored points in both stages, and finished P4, as he continues to lead the regular season scoring title. Joey Logano – This week: 2 – Last week: 5 Good old “even-year-Logano” is at it again. Weeks ago he wasn’t even in the Top 16 in points, and now he’s won twice and looks like he could be a title contender after all. He’s certainly got his work cut out for him, since he did dig himself a bit of a hole through the first half of the season, but he looks strong. Penske has looked good at these flatter ovals, and so we’ll see how he fares when The Chase starts, and we start returning to some heavier banking, but regardless, Logano will still be happy with a win at Richmond this weekend. Ryan Blaney – This week: 1 – Last week: 2 Ryan Blaney had the car to beat at Richmond… if the race had ended at Stage One. Unfortunately for Blaney, they weren’t able to keep up with the adjustments in the same way the other teams did, and he wound up fading back to finish 13th. However, he did win Stage One, led 88 laps, and also scored the point for the fastest lap of the race. He moves back to the top of our Power Rankings. Biggest Movers Chris Buescher – This week: 16 – Last week: 12 Falls 4 places Todd Gilliland – This week: 19 – Last week: 15 Falls 4 places Tyler Reddick – This week: 10 – Last week: 17 Gains 7 places Rest of the List 11. Carson Hocevar LW: 9 -2 12. Ross Chastain LW: 11 -1 13. Austin Cindric LW: 14 +1 14. Chase Elliott LW: 16 +2 15. Daniel Suarez LW: 13 -2 16. Chris Buescher LW: 12 -4 17. Ryan Preece LW: 18 +1 18. Kyle Larson LW: 19 +1 19. Todd Gilliland LW: 15 -4 20. Brad Keselowski LW: 21 +1 21. Josh Berry LW: 27 +6 22. Austin Dillon LW: 22 -- 23. Zane Smith LW: 20 -3 24. Michael McDowell LW: 24 -- 25. Noah Gragson LW: 29 +4 26. Riley Herbst LW: 23 -3 27. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. LW: 26 -1 28. Erik Jones LW: 25 -3 29. Alex Bowman LW: 28 -1 30. JH Nemechek LW: 31 +1 31. Ty Dillon LW: 32 +1 32. AJ Allmendinger LW: 30 -2 33. Cole Custer LW: 33 -- 34. Cody Ware LW: 34 -- 35. Connor Zilisch LW: 35 --

Photo from www.x.com/f1 By Ryan Wu What appeared to be another dominant weekend for Championship leader Kimi Antonelli ended in disaster when a late issue with his front left wheel shield made the car difficult to control. The problem led to multiple off-track excursions before ultimately triggering a safety car period, and Antonelli could manage only a 16th-place finish. Lewis Hamilton secured sprint pole position at his home race, edging Antonelli by just over one hundredth of a second. However, it was the young Italian who emerged victorious in the sprint, finishing just ahead of Hamilton. Antonelli then went on to claim pole position for the Grand Prix, but victory ultimately belonged to Charles Leclerc, who started alongside him on the front row. Leclerc secured his first race win since Austin in 2024, while George Russell and Lewis Hamilton completed the podium. Race Recap Ferrari rediscovered its race-start magic from earlier in the season as both Leclerc and Hamilton overtook pole sitter Antonelli when the lights went out and charged into Turn 1. Unfortunately for Hamilton, he was judged to have moved before the start lights were extinguished, earning a five-second penalty. The opening lap brought further drama as Oscar Piastri suffered front-wing damage, forcing him to make an early pit stop. Antonelli finally reclaimed second place on lap 11 by passing Hamilton, who later served his penalty on lap 24. Russell also managed to get ahead of Hamilton during the pit stop sequence. Hamilton and Russell produced some thrilling wheel-to-wheel racing in their battle for fourth place, going side by side through several high-speed corners around the midway point of the race. In a trend that has become a defining feature of the 2026 season, their duel soon evolved into a contest of battery management and deployment, with the former teammates exchanging positions multiple times. Russell's run of bad luck continued on lap 34 when he was informed of a left-rear puncture. Remarkably, he was still attempting to overtake Verstappen at the time before finally coming into the pits a lap later. Race leader Antonelli stopped for fresh hard tires on lap 36, allowing Leclerc to regain the lead. The complexion of the race changed dramatically on lap 41. Antonelli reported damage to his car over the radio and quickly began losing pace, dropping to third place. Replays later revealed a failure of his front-left brake duct after he drove over an exit curb. With the car visibly difficult to control, Antonelli pitted again on lap 44 so his mechanics could manually remove the damaged component in the hope of salvaging points. The teenager's determination was evident over the closing laps, as he repeatedly resisted calls to retire the car and instead pushed to remain in the points while running tenth. However, his task became even more difficult when he received a five-second penalty for exceeding track limits, much to the frustration of the team. On lap 48, Max Verstappen ran wide after losing front-end grip, triggering a safety car. Any hopes of a racing finish quickly disappeared as it took considerable time for the unlapped cars to reorganize themselves. Although there were indications that the safety car might come in for a final lap sprint, that never materialized and the Grand Prix ended under caution. Ferrari elected to pit both drivers in anticipation of a late restart that never came. The decision had little impact on Leclerc because of the substantial lead he had built, but it cost Hamilton second place. Mercedes chose not to pit Russell, allowing him to move ahead of Hamilton and secure the runner-up position. Antonelli was never given the opportunity to build the five-second gap needed to offset his penalty and ultimately fell to 16th place. Russell has now reduced Antonelli's championship lead to 25 points, while Hamilton sits just seven points further back, ensuring the title fight remains very much alive. Terrific Showing for the Racing Bulls It was a great day for Red Bull associated drivers not named Max Verstappen as Isack Hadjar finished in fifth. Moreover, Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad claimed a double points finish by crossing the line in sixth and seventh, respectively. Racing Bulls are now one point behind Alpine for the ‘best of the rest’ moniker and provided a huge boost in what would be remembered as a frustrating day for the main team. Racing Refresh Driver of the Day Charles Leclerc, Red Bull Final Points Finishing Positions (Provisionally) 1st: Charles Leclerc 2nd: George Russell 3rd: Lewis Hamilton 4th: Lando Norris 5th: Isack Hadjar 6th: Liam Lawson 7th: Arvid Lindblad 8th: Gabriel Bortoleto 9th: Franco Colapinto 10th: Pierre Gasly Next on the F1 Schedule: Belgium Grand Prix: July 17th-19th

Photo from www.x.com/F1 By Ryan Wu George Russell added further intrigue to this year's Championship race with a narrow victory over Max Verstappen and Kimi Antonelli as both drivers finished within two seconds of the English driver. Russell has now cut Antonelli’s championship lead to 40 points with plenty more to be contested, especially with a sprint race weekend upcoming at Silverstone. A week after winning his maiden race for Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton finished in fifth place after qualifying in third, with his teammate Charles Leclerc down in a disappointing eighth after starting the race in the front row. Race Recap The opening lap of the race began with great drama as the Ferraris swapped places with Hamilton overtaking Leclerc within a few corners. Antonelli went off the track a few times in the first two laps trying to overtake Charles Leclerc and was eventually able to gain fourth place on lap seven of the race. Max Verstappen and Hamilton had a great duel through the first third of the race as the two World Champions battled for third place and track position as they went back and forth with overtakes. Carlos Sainz’s retirement on lap 24 brought some misfortune for Antonelli, as he had stopped for new tires just before the Virtual Safety Car was deployed, effectively eliminating the advantage drivers typically gain by pitting under caution conditions. Ferrari appeared to struggle with tire temperature management, as Lewis Hamilton was forced to make an additional stop shortly after pitting during the Virtual Safety Car period. The extra stop cost him track position and allowed Oscar Piastri to overtake him. The Red Bulls were showing great pace, allowing Isack Hadjar to climb up to P6 with a brilliant overtake on Leclerc during the late stages of the race. It was a sprint to the finish in the closing stages of the race as Russell held off Verstappen to secure his second victory of the season. The Dutch driver reduced the gap to just 1.6 seconds by the chequered flag, while Antonelli remained close behind, finishing only 1.9 seconds adrift of his teammate. It was a crucial result for Red Bull, as the team gained valuable points in its pursuit of last year's Constructors' Champions, McLaren, for third place in the standings. Further ahead, Mercedes extended its advantage over Ferrari in the Constructors' Championship, increasing its lead to 302 points compared to Ferrari's 204. Racing Refresh Driver of the Day Max Verstappen, Red Bull Final Points Finishing Positions (Provisionally) 1st: George Russell 2nd: Max Verstappen 3rd: Kimi Antonelli 4th: Oscar Piastri 5th: Lewis Hamilton 6th: Isack Hadjar 7th: Lando Norris 8th: Charles Leclerc 9th: Liam Lawson 10th: Arvid Lindblad Next on the F1 Schedule: Great Britain Grand Prix: July 17th-19th

by Crystal Clay SONOMA, Calif. — Shane van Gisbergen left Sonoma Raceway with another NASCAR Cup Series trophy Sunday, but by his own measure, it still wasn’t his best. Van Gisbergen completed a weekend sweep at Sonoma after winning Saturday’s NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race, but Sunday’s Cup victory proved to be the more difficult half of the accomplishment. The biggest surprise, he said, was how much better the No. 97 Chevrolet was on race day after a difficult Saturday. “I think my team did an excellent job making my car better,” van Gisbergen said in Victory Lane. “It was a real battle yesterday. So yeah, it surprised me that we made it better. It was awesome.” Even with those improvements, van Gisbergen admitted the car never reached the standard he expected. Shane van Gisbergen removes his helmet after completing a weekend sweep with victory in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway. (Photo: Eric Thompson/Shamboozled Photography) “I thought we were a lost cause,” he said. “It was a pretty amazing day, really, to improve it as much as they did.” As the race unfolded, however, his confidence began to grow. “As soon as the race started, I still felt average, but I saw other people had similar issues or worse. Then that gave me confidence,” van Gisbergen said. Crew chief Stephen Doran echoed his driver’s assessment, admitting the No. 97 wasn’t at the level the team expected. “I have to say that it wasn’t a good car we gave him today,” Doran said. “Luckily we had him driving it to get here.” After a difficult Saturday, Doran said the team spent the night trying to improve the No. 97 Chevrolet. “We did a lot of work overnight trying to get better,” Doran said. “He obviously hated the car all weekend. I would say it was slightly better today, but still not great. Not as good as it was last year.” Even so, Trackhouse’s strategy and van Gisbergen’s ability to manage his tires put the New Zealander in position to win. “Stephen made great calls all day,” van Gisbergen said. “That group did an amazing job with the strategy and where I’d come out. Even that last stop, coming out in front and being able to manage my tires and manage that gap, it was really cool.” The closing laps, however, were anything but comfortable. “There was a lot of pressure at the end,” van Gisbergen said. “The last ten laps I was really in a world of hurt. It got pretty tense at the end.” Behind him, Chase Briscoe believed he had the better car but admitted a late mistake entering Turn 1 cost him a chance at the victory. “I definitely had the better car,” Briscoe said. “I didn’t do as good of a job as he did driving.” Briscoe said he nearly lost control while trying to close the gap. “It was just such a razor’s edge, and I about crashed,” Briscoe said. “If I don’t make that mistake, I’m probably ahead of him at the end.” Van Gisbergen agreed another lap or two could have changed the outcome. “If there was a lap or two more, I would have been in trouble,” he said. “I’m really thankful it wasn’t one or two laps longer.” The victory helped make up for last week’s early exit at the inaugural NASCAR San Diego weekend, where van Gisbergen was collected in a multicar accident. “I was certainly pissed at the start of the week,” he said. “This really makes up for it, sharing it with these guys.” The relief extended beyond the driver. Former Oakland Raiders linebacker and current No. 97 jackman Marshall McFadden said last week’s early exit in San Diego motivated the entire team. “Obviously, in San Diego, things didn’t happen in our favor, so all of us kind of chomped on it a bit,” McFadden said. “We all came out like mad men.” For McFadden, returning to Northern California ended on a much different note. “At the end of the day, we had to execute,” he said. “SVG, the car chief, the crew chief—everybody executed well. We came out with it.” Despite another road-course victory, van Gisbergen’s attention quickly shifted to the upcoming stretch of oval races. Asked what he wants the team to carry forward, he said improvement remains the priority. “I’m still the weak link as a driver, but I’ve got good teammates and the other cars, and they’re struggling as well,” van Gisbergen said. “So we all as a team need to improve.” “It’s just going to come through hard work and trying to emulate what the other Chevys are doing. They’ve really stepped up the last couple of months. We need to do the same.” “I just have to do my best every week and keep improving, don’t do anything stupid,” he said. “Just accumulate points. Qualify well. Start up front. Hopefully we get better.” “Against that guy,” Briscoe said, “you’ve got to be absolutely perfect.”

by Crystal Clay SONOMA, Calif. — Great wine doesn’t become great by becoming something else. It matures, refines itself and gains character over time. Five hundred NASCAR Cup Series starts into his career, AJ Allmendinger has found the same is true of a race car driver. The Northern California native reaches the milestone this weekend at his home track, Sonoma Raceway; a fitting setting for a driver whose career has been defined by resilience, reinvention and an unwavering commitment to improvement. SONOMA, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 27: AJ Allmendinger, driver of the #16 EchoPark Automotive Chevrolet, looks on during practice for the NASCAR Cup Series Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway on June 27, 2026 in Sonoma, California. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images) Allmendinger admitted the milestone caught him somewhat by surprise. “I’ll be real honest, the fact that I’m the 48th person, I just thought there was more people that have done it,” Allmendinger said. “That kind of shocked me that I guess I’m number 48 to reach that milestone.” For now, however, the accomplishment isn’t something Allmendinger is ready to dwell on. “I think it’s something I’ll look back on when I’m done and kind of go through the fun times,” Allmendinger said. “Maybe at the end of it, look back and like, ‘Hey, that’s pretty amazing I’ve gotten to do so many of them.’ But right now I just want to be better.” That desire to keep improving has shaped Allmendinger’s approach throughout his career, even as the road-course landscape around him has changed. Road-course racing has evolved dramatically since Allmendinger first established himself as one of NASCAR’s aces. New talent has emerged, new benchmarks have been set and today’s standard is often measured against Shane van Gisbergen. But after 500 Cup starts, Allmendinger understands there is a difference between learning from greatness and trying to become someone else. “You know, you still learn from what makes him so good,” Allmendinger said. “But with that said, it’s like, you go out there and you try to drive exactly like him… it makes some of the things I think I’m strong at weak, trying to do that. So, it’s just a balance.” Instead, Allmendinger studies what works while remaining true to the strengths that have carried him through nearly two decades in NASCAR’s premier series. “More than anything, he’s so smooth and the way he takes care of the rear tires,” Allmendinger said of van Gisbergen. “If you watch his in-car stuff, it looks slow. If you don’t put a stopwatch on it, you’re like, ‘It’s not very fast,’ but obviously it is.” Even with 500 starts behind him, the learning hasn’t stopped. “So, yeah, there’s always a little bit of mix in there. I still study, though.” That mindset has become one of Allmendinger’s defining traits both as a driver and as a teammate. Kaulig Racing teammate Ty Dillon said Allmendinger’s intensity was immediately apparent when they first began working together. Over time, however, Dillon came to appreciate the work ethic and openness behind that competitive edge. “AJ is probably my favorite teammate I’ve worked with,” Dillon said. “He’s an absolute grinder, hard worker, puts so much effort into it. You put him in any situation, he’s gonna get the most out of it.” Dillon credited Allmendinger’s willingness to share information and work collaboratively with helping elevate not only his own road-course performance, but Kaulig Racing as a whole. “He’s been such a good teammate,” Dillon said. “He’s helped me so far in these road courses come a long way… When you have two teammates that are pretty open and vulnerable with each other about what they need to get better, it’s helped our whole program.” Five hundred starts also brings perspective. For Allmendinger, that means knowing what lessons to embrace, which strengths to preserve and understanding that growth never truly ends. Like a great wine, the best version of AJ Allmendinger wasn’t created overnight. It's been refined, one start at a time.

by Crystal Clay SONOMA, Calif. — A year ago, Connor Zilisch summed up the challenge of racing Shane van Gisbergen at Sonoma Raceway in a single sentence. “You have to be perfect to beat Shane.” Saturday’s NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race added another chapter to that story. Zilisch overcame a start at the back of the pack, a pit-road speeding penalty and two charges through traffic to finish second. But even one of the most impressive recovery drives of the season wasn’t enough to catch van Gisbergen, who led 66 of 79 laps and delivered another methodical road-course victory in the Pit Boss/FoodMaxx 250. “I think I saved enough (fuel) early,” van Gisbergen said. “Sorry it wasn’t the most exciting—I guess boring’s good when you’re the one leading. “What an amazing car, to lead like that. The car was so good the whole race. It’s great to get another one for these guys.” Shane van Gisbergen celebrates with JR Motorsports owner Dale Earnhardt Jr. in Victory Lane after winning Saturday's NASCAR O' Reilly Auto Parts Series Pit Boss/FoodMaxx250 at Sonoma Raceway. (Photo: Eric Thompson/Shamboozled Photography) The victory marked van Gisbergen’s second NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series win at Sonoma Raceway and the sixth of his career, with all six coming on road or street courses. When the celebrations began, one of the first drivers to congratulate him was Zilisch, the same driver who beat him at Sonoma one year ago. “It was a bit of déjà vu, but the opposite,” van Gisbergen told Racing Refresh. “We had the same, opposite last year. Yeah, cool to get one back.” Van Gisbergen also credited the strength of JR Motorsports, whose No. 9 Chevrolet proved untouchable for much of the afternoon. “They’re just good,” he said. “Every week, all four or five cars, however many are running, all have a chance to win. So pretty special to get to drive one and just execute all day.” Smoke fills the front stretch as Shane van Gisbergen celebrates his Sonoma victory with a post-race burnout.(Photo: Eric Thompson/Shamboozled Photograpy) Although the final margin appeared comfortable, the race unfolded differently than van Gisbergen expected. Asked by Racing Refresh what surprised him most, van Gisbergen pointed to the variety of pit strategies throughout the field. “Probably how many people went off strategy,” he said. “I thought more people would short the stages with us, but a few of the good cars stayed out and took points. So I guess they’re racing for their championship. “They were kind of mixed up behind us all day. That didn’t play out how I thought it would.” The strategic divergence ultimately worked in van Gisbergen’s favor. After short-pitting before the end of Stage 2, he regained control following the stage break and spent the final 30-lap green-flag run balancing fuel conservation with maintaining a comfortable advantage over Zilisch. Despite another dominant road-course performance, van Gisbergen doesn’t believe the rest of the field is standing still. Asked by Racing Refresh whether he feels the gap between himself and the competition is closing, he acknowledged both realities. “I think it’s a bit of both,” he said. “I certainly feel everyone’s really good, and they always have been, but I’m learning too. I’m learning what I want from the O’Reilly car and also my Cup car. I’m developing that to be more to my style as well. “So, yeah, hopefully I’m improving as well as they’re catching up, I guess.” It’s an important distinction. While NASCAR’s road-course aces continue to improve, van Gisbergen believes he is evolving alongside them; refining both his O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and Cup Series cars to better suit his driving style rather than relying solely on the experience that made him a three-time Australian Supercars champion. Behind van Gisbergen, Zilisch’s runner-up finish capped a remarkable recovery after starting at the rear because of an unapproved adjustment and later serving a pass-through penalty for speeding on pit road. Brent Crews finished third for Joe Gibbs Racing, followed by Anthony Alfredo and Parker Retzlaff. Connor Zillisch speaks with the media after charging from the rear of the field twice to finish second in Saturday's NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series race at Sonoma Raceway. (Photo: Eric Thomspon/Shamboozled Photography) The race featured eight lead changes among six drivers and four cautions for 11 laps, though the final stage ran caution-free as van Gisbergen controlled the pace from the front. A year after Zilisch proved it was possible to beat Shane van Gisbergen at Sonoma, Saturday offered a different reminder. As the rest of the field continues to improve, van Gisbergen believes he’s improving too. And that’s what continues to set him apart.

by Crystal Clay SONOMA, Calif. — The driver everyone expected to beat this weekend won’t start from the front. Instead, Ty Gibbs earned the Busch Light Pole Award for Sunday’s Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway, edging Carson Hocevar by just 0.025 seconds while defending Sonoma winner and defending pole sitter Shane van Gisbergen qualified sixth. Credit: SONOMA, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 27: Ty Gibbs, driver of the #54 SAIA Freight + Logistics Toyota, poses for photos after winning the pole award during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway on June 27, 2026 in Sonoma, California. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images) Gibbs turned a lap of 74.829 seconds (95.738 mph) around the 1.99-mile, 11-turn road course to secure his first pole of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season, his first on a road course and the third of his Cup career. After his opening lap in qualifying, Gibbs believed there was still speed left in his No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota. His instincts proved correct. “The re-runs are just super weird here,” Gibbs said. “Sometimes you can go a lot faster. Sometimes you don’t. I felt like I just had some more speed out there. The car is really fast this weekend, and we’re really excited to race tomorrow.” Although Gibbs will lead the field to green, he emphasized that qualifying speed and race pace are rarely the same at Sonoma. “Tomorrow is a whole different program,” Gibbs said. “You’re going to be a lot easier on the car instead of hammering it, like in qualifying. So, it’s just completely different. “You could be on the pole today and suck tomorrow. You just have to be really focused on the race, and that’s the most important part. We’ll stick to that.” Gibbs also praised the balance of his car after Saturday’s session. “I’m really happy with it,” he said. “The team did a really good job and I did a good job as well. We’ve just got to keep getting better, but I feel like we’ll be pretty strong tomorrow.” The 23-year-old said Sonoma’s flowing layout has become one of his favorite stops on the schedule. “It’s definitely really a lot of flow, a lot of elevation,” Gibbs said. “It’s really fun. Sonoma is a great track. One of my favorites on the schedule.” Hocevar will start alongside Gibbs after narrowly missing his first Cup Series pole. “I didn’t feel like my lap was very good,” Hocevar said. “I was getting ready to run another, and I got through Turn 10, and they said, ‘P1.’ I was like, ‘Well, shoot, I don’t have to do another. I’m already P1.’ “So I was super happy about that, the lap time, but I didn’t think it was amazing.” Photo: Eric Thompson/Shamboozled Photography Two-time Sonoma winner and reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson qualified third, followed by Michael McDowell and Ross Chastain. Van Gisbergen, meanwhile, will roll off sixth after entering the weekend as one of the favorites on the road course where he swept the pole and victory one year ago. The Trackhouse Racing driver reported handling issues during practice before posting the sixth-fastest qualifying lap, meaning he will have work to do if he hopes to defend his Sonoma victory. Chase Briscoe and AJ Allmendinger, first-round opponents in NASCAR’s In-Season Challenge, qualified seventh and eighth, respectively, while Denny Hamlin and Joey Logano completed the top 10. Championship leader Tyler Reddick will start 11th. Credit: SONOMA, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 27: Bubba Wallace, driver of the #23 Robinhood Toyota, looks on during practice for the NASCAR Cup Series Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway on June 27, 2026 in Sonoma, California. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images) One notable setback belonged to Bubba Wallace, whose No. 23 Toyota crashed early in Group 2 qualifying. Wallace will start Sunday’s race from a backup car. While Gibbs celebrated another milestone in qualifying, he made it clear his focus remains fixed on Sunday, where 110 laps around Sonoma’s demanding road course will ultimately determine whether Saturday’s speed translates into victory.

SONOMA, Calif. — “You have to be perfect to beat Shane.” Connor Zilisch’s words echoed throughout the NASCAR garage after last year’s Sonoma Raceway thriller, where the teenager held off Shane van Gisbergen in one of the season’s defining road-course battles. It wasn’t just that Zilisch won. It was that he did what few drivers have managed in recent years: execute nearly flawlessly against NASCAR’s benchmark on road courses. Nearly twelve months later, van Gisbergen has put himself back in the same position. The New Zealander claimed the Kennametal Pole Award for Saturday’s NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Pit Boss/FoodMaxx 250, turning a lap of 75.029 seconds (95.483 mph) in the No. 9 SuperFile Chevrolet for JR Motorsports. It marked his sixth career series pole, his first of the 2026 season and his third pole in three Sonoma starts. Credit: SONOMA, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 26: Shane Van Gisbergen, driver of the #9 SuperFile Chevrolet, poses for photos after winning the pole award during qualifying for the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series Pit Boss/FoodMaxx 250 at Sonoma Raceway on June 26, 2026 in Sonoma, California. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) “It’s a tricky track with the wind, the way the direction was today, especially into Turn 11,” van Gisbergen said. “It’s hard to pull the car up, but yeah, it’s always fun.” The gusty conditions added another variable to an already technical circuit, though van Gisbergen said the consistency of the wind matters more than its strength. “Especially today, how gusty it is, but it doesn’t really matter as long as it’s consistent,” he said. “Hopefully it’s the same direction tomorrow. If it’s no wind or changes, it’ll be a little different.” While Friday’s pole put him in prime position for another Sonoma victory, van Gisbergen admitted last weekend’s disappointment in San Diego lingered longer than he expected. After being collected in an incident while contending near the front, he said it took time to move on. “It took me a couple days for sure,” he said. “Pretty pissed about that and a good opportunity going wasted. But the best thing about the sport is it either brings you back down to earth pretty quick or picks you back up. You can race again the next week and reset.” By the time the series arrived in Wine Country, that reset had come. “So yeah, I feel pretty reset today.” The three-time Supercars champion also acknowledged the importance of building momentum as the season enters its final stretch. “We really need a good weekend,” he said. “That hurt us on that cut line. I need to get some momentum going, and hopefully this weekend starts it.” Starting up front has historically been an advantage at Sonoma, where passing can be difficult without a significant pace advantage. “It’s hard to pass,” van Gisbergen said. “You have to be a lot quicker than someone or qualify up front.” That reality is one reason he continues to race double duty on road-course weekends. Although the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series car differs significantly from the Cup car, van Gisbergen said the extra laps help him understand how the racing surface evolves throughout the weekend. “You get more track time. You get to see what’s changed,” he said. “There’s always differences, and I really think it’s worth doing both.” Asked whether NASCAR should return to last week’s inaugural San Diego street course, van Gisbergen was complimentary of the event while suggesting only minor refinements. “For a first event, I thought it was fantastic,” he said. “There were a lot of passing zones for a street circuit, which is always tough to make happen.” If the race unfolds anything like it did a week ago or even a year ago, van Gisbergen knows the pole guarantees nothing. Last July, he led the field to green only to find himself locked in a race-long chess match with Zilisch, who studied the veteran’s tire management, matched his pace over a long green-flag run and ultimately delivered the kind of flawless performance he later described with a simple assessment: “You have to be perfect to beat Shane.” Saturday will reveal whether anyone can do it again.

by Crystal Clay SONOMA, Calif. — Sonoma Raceway will posthumously induct two-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion Kyle Busch into its Wall of Fame on Sunday, honoring one of the most accomplished drivers in NASCAR history and one of the road course's most successful competitors. The ceremony announced by Sonoma Raceway, will feature the unveiling of Busch's Wall of Fame plaque, with members of the Busch family accepting the honor on his behalf. tributes from members of the NASCAR community, former competitors and special guests are also planned. Busch's commemorative title is already in place at Sonoma Raceway ahead of Sunday's ceremony. The Sonoma Raceway Wall of Fame ahead of Sunday’s induction ceremony honoring Kyle Busch. Busch’s commemorative tile is already installed among the legendary drivers, owners and racing figures recognized by the Northern California road course. A raised flower bed has been placed at the center of the wall with an opportunity for fans to donate to Samantha and Kyle Busch's Bundle of Joy Fund. (Photo: Crystal Clay / Racing Refresh) A two-time winner at Sonoma in 2008 and 2015, Busch enjoyed sustained success on the 1.99-mile road course throughout his Cup Series career. He recorded seven top-five finishes and nine top-10s at Sonoma, establishing himself as one of the track’s most accomplished competitors. His 2015 victory proved especially significant. Returning just five races after suffering serious leg and foot injuries in the season-opening NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Daytona, Busch chased down Jimmie Johnson late to earn the victory and edge his brother, Kurt Busch, for the first Busch brothers 1-2 finish in NASCAR Cup Series history. The win revived his championship hopes and became the launching point for the remarkable comeback season that culminated in his first Cup Series championship later that year. "Kyle Busch was one of the fiercest competitors this sport has ever seen," Sonoma Raceway Executive Vice President and General Manager Bryan Flynn said in a statement. "He embraced every challenge our road course presented and consistently delivered unforgettable moments for our fans. While we deeply wish he could be here to accept this honor himself, we are proud to celebrate a legacy that will forever be a part of Sonoma Raceway." Busch won 63 NASCAR Cup Series races and captured championships in 2015 and 2019. He also became the winningest driver across NASCAR's three national touring series, leaving a lasting legacy as one of the sports greatest competitors. The Sonoma Raceway Wall of Fame recognizes drivers, team owners, and other influential figures whose achievements have helped shape the history of Northern California.

Photo from www.x.com/f1 By Ryan Wu The legends find a way. After 31 races and an entire 2025 season without a podium, Lewis Hamilton added to his Formula 1 record with the 106th win of his career and the first for the Scuderia. He became the first non-Mercedes driver to win a race this season. Hamilton was joined by George Russell and Lando Norris who took the remaining podium places, recovering nicely from two straight DNFs in his last two races. Race Recap Russell started the race from pole position and came under immediate pressure from Hamilton on the opening lap, while Championship leader Antonelli followed closely behind. Hadjar, who qualified sixth, dropped all the way to 13th on the first lap after a poor start but quickly began recovering positions. He ultimately finished where he started, continuing a strong run of form. The French driver has now finished sixth or better in each of the last three races. At the front, tire choice and race strategy proved crucial. Ferrari committed to a three-stop strategy, with Hamilton pitting on laps 11 and 27, while his Mercedes rivals opted for a longer second stint. The strategy allowed Hamilton to carve through the field at a pace roughly two seconds per lap quicker than the Silver Arrows. He made quick work of Oscar Piastri and became the net race leader on lap 29. The two Mercedes drivers were engaged in a fierce battle on lap 33, which undoubtedly allowed their pursuers to gain valuable time. Russell made his final stop on lap 36, with Antonelli following a lap later, allowing Hamilton to move ahead of both drivers. A timely virtual safety car, triggered by a Fernando Alonso retirement, allowed Hamilton to make his third and final stop on lap 41 without losing time to Russell. He emerged from the pit lane as the race leader just before the virtual safety car period ended. Antonelli made a bold move into Turn 1 on lap 61 to take second place from Russell, a move that appeared to further damage the British driver's championship hopes. Unfortunately for the young Italian, his car lost power shortly afterward. At nearly the same time, Charles Leclerc suffered a power steering failure while running sixth, forcing both drivers to retire from the race. Hamilton then cruised to victory, finishing more than 19 seconds ahead of Russell. Over the radio, an emotional Hamilton celebrated the win, finally answering the question of when he would claim his first victory with Ferrari. Racing Refresh Driver of the Day Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari Final Points Finishing Positions (Provisionally) 1st: Lewis Hamilton 2nd: George Russell 3rd: Lando Norris 4th: Max Verstappen 5th: Oscar Piastri 6th: Isack Hadjar 7th: Pierre Gasly 8th: Liam Lawson 9th: Arvid Lindblad 10th: Franco Colapinto Next on the F1 Schedule: Austrian Grand Prix: June 26th-28th