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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

by Crystal Clay Cover photo: Scott Haber SAN DIEGO, Calif. — If NASCAR set out to prove that a race on an active military installation could work, mission accomplished. Over three days at Naval Base Coronado, NASCAR San Diego Weekend drew more than 125,000 fans, welcomed thousands of first-time spectators to the sport and transformed one of the Navy’s most recognizable installations into one of the most unique venues on the NASCAR schedule. By the time the checkered flag fell on Sunday’s Anduril 250, NASCAR officials were already discussing lessons learned and the possibility of returning to Coronado. “We said from the start this is more than a race, this is a mission,” NASCAR Chief Operating Officer Ben Kennedy said following Sunday’s race. “I think we all looked around the room today and we said mission has been accomplished.” The winning No. 67 car sits in Victory Lane beneath a “Mission Accomplished” display following the inaugural NASCAR San Diego Weekend at Naval Base Coronado on June 21, 2026. NASCAR officials later described the event as a “tremendously successful” weekend and expressed interest in returning. (Photo: Crystal Clay/Racing Refresh) Kennedy described the inaugural event as a “tremendously successful event” and said NASCAR would welcome the opportunity to return, though no decision has been made regarding the future of the race. “What I can tell you is we feel this is a tremendously successful event,” Kennedy said. “We would love to return.” Kennedy pointed to several indicators of that success. According to NASCAR, fans from all 50 states and 17 countries attended the event, with 67 percent experiencing their first NASCAR race. Female attendance was 11 percent higher than a typical NASCAR event, while Hispanic attendance was three times the series average. “We also welcomed a lot of new fans this weekend, which is icing on the cake,” Kennedy said. Attendance was intentionally capped at approximately 50,000 spectators per day as NASCAR worked through the logistical challenges of hosting an event on an active military installation. Throughout the weekend, officials adjusted operations in real time, adding food trucks and additional concession staff to improve the fan experience. The event represented the latest step in NASCAR’s push toward non-traditional venues following successful ventures at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and the Chicago Street Course. “We weren’t really in the street course business four or five years ago,” Kennedy said. “Chicago was probably the boldest evolution of that. This is the next iteration.” Kennedy said NASCAR will conduct a comprehensive after-action review with the U.S. Navy before determining whether the series will return to Coronado. The organization will evaluate what worked, identify areas for improvement and discuss future opportunities with Naval Base Coronado leadership. The success of the weekend may also influence NASCAR’s future expansion efforts. Kennedy noted that military installations in markets such as the Pacific Northwest, Colorado and the Northeast could present opportunities for similar events down the road. “Sports bring people together,” Kennedy said. “It’s a great unifier for us. It feels authentically NASCAR.” For now, NASCAR’s focus remains on reviewing its first trip to Naval Base Coronado. But after a weekend that combined racing, military partnerships and a substantial influx of new fans, the strongest takeaway may be that Race at the Base proved it belongs on the schedule. And if the numbers, atmosphere and enthusiasm from both NASCAR and the Navy are any indication, plenty of people would welcome a return.

Credit: SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 21: Carson Hocevar, driver of the #77 Spectrum Chevrolet, greets fans during driver intros prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Anduril 250 at Naval Base Coronado on June 21, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) by Crystal Clay SAN DIEGO, Calif. — More than 100,000 visitors attended the inaugural NASCAR San Diego Weekend at Naval Base Coronado, according to the U.S. Navy, as race fans, military families, service members and community members gathered for a historic three-day celebration honoring the Navy’s 250th anniversary. Held June 19-21, the event marked the first time a NASCAR national-series race has been contested aboard an active military installation. The temporary 3.4-mile Qualcomm Circuit wound through Naval Base Coronado, taking competitors past military aircraft, operational facilities and ships including the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson and the littoral combat ship USS Cincinnati. “This weekend showcased the extraordinary partnership between our Navy and the communities we serve,” Naval Base Coronado Commanding Officer Capt. Loren Jacobi said in a Navy release. “Working with NASCAR to host the inaugural NASCAR San Diego Weekend allowed us to showcase the amazing dedication and service of our Sailors and Marines while celebrating 250 years of Naval strategic deterrence.” More than 100 drivers competed across NASCAR’s three national touring series, including the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Navy 250, the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series United Rentals Driven to Serve 250 and the NASCAR Cup Series Anduril 250 Race the Base. Beyond the racing action, the weekend provided opportunities for fans to engage directly with service members while showcasing Navy operations and traditions. Thirty-nine Navy commands across the San Diego region partnered with NASCAR Cup Series drivers throughout the week, giving competitors behind-the-scenes access to ships, squadrons and military facilities. The weekend also featured several high-profile guests, including former San Diego Chargers and New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, who served as Grand Marshal for Saturday’s United Rentals Driven to Serve 250. Brees, who is set to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame later this summer, returned to a city where he spent the first five seasons of his NFL career before leading the Saints to a Super Bowl championship. Speaking before delivering the traditional command for drivers to start their engines, Brees compared NASCAR’s iconic pre-race moment to the call-and-response chant that became synonymous with his time in New Orleans. “‘Drivers, start your engines’ is the equivalent of what our pregame chant was,” Brees said. “It was that calm before the storm, and then all of a sudden when you got to that moment, it was like, ‘Here we go.’” Brees explained that the chant carried military roots, recalling a USO trip to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where he trained alongside Marines before the Saints’ championship season. “There’s some great history and some cool military connections with our chant,” Brees said. “It was inspired from a USO trip where I had a chance to get up one morning with the Marines and do PT.” Additional military ceremonies throughout the weekend included performances by the Navy Leap Frogs parachute team, flyovers from multiple Navy aviation squadrons and a joint-service enlistment ceremony welcoming 20 future service members into the armed forces. Drew Brees poses for a photo with a Sailor during NASCAR San Diego Weekend at Naval Base Coronado. Brees served as Grand Marshal for Saturday’s United Rentals Driven to Serve 250. (Photo: Crystal Clay/Racing Refresh) Members of the U.S. Navy Leap Frogs parachute team carry a giant American flag over Naval Base Coronado during pre-race festivities before the NASCAR Cup Series Anduril 250 in San Diego on June 21,2026 (Photo Credit: Scott Haber) U.S. Navy Reserve officer and NASCAR driver #91, Cmdr. Jesse Iwuji, NASCAR driver #91, right, and U.S. Navy Capt. Loren Jacobi, commanding officer of Naval Base Coronado, speaks after Iwuji's promotion ceremony at NASCAR San Diego Weekend presented by Anduril, on Naval Base Coronado, June 20, 2026. Marking the nation and the Navy’s 250th birthday celebrations, NASCAR San Diego Weekend, hosted aboard Naval Base Coronado June 19-21, delivers a unique, high-profile sports experience that blends motorsports with Navy heritage. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Victoria Rodriguez) One of the weekend’s most notable moments came Saturday when Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Manpower and Reserve Affairs Benjamin Kohlmann promoted Navy Reserve officer and professional race car driver Jesse Iwuji during a pre-race ceremony. Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson also embraced the military theme, piloting a special No. 84 LEGACY MOTOR CLUB Chevrolet honoring the “Blackjacks” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 21. “It is such an honor for us to do this, to feel the reception from everyone on base,” Johnson said in the Navy release. “I know our sport, our fans, everybody is honored to be here.” NASCAR San Diego President Amy Lupo called the event a privilege during a landmark year for both the Navy and the nation. “The success of NASCAR San Diego Weekend at Naval Base Coronado was made possible through shared passion for excellence,” Lupo said. “Bringing NASCAR to the men and women who defend our nation and to the San Diego community in this landmark 250th year of our Navy and nation was an absolute privilege.” According to the Navy, the relationship between NASCAR and the service dates back to 1957, when the Blue Angels performed flyovers for NASCAR beach races in Daytona Beach, Florida. Nearly seven decades later, that partnership reached a new milestone as Naval Base Coronado hosted a race weekend unlike any other in the sport’s history.

Photo by Sean Gardner/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: Chase Briscoe – This week: 10 – Last week: 9 Briscoe has struggled a bit on road courses in the Cup Series, considering what success he had on them in the O’Reilly Auto Parts (Xfinity at the time) Series. Briscoe had a few moments where he popped up on the TV screen, but he finished 17th in a fairly unremarkable day. He manages to stay in the Top 10 of the Power Rankings but will need a bounce back next weekend in Sonoma to stay there. Erik Jones – This week: 9 – Last week: 10 Because the Power Rankings are more heavily swayed by the last five races, Jones gets to move up another spot, despite a not-so-great performance at the San Diego race. He finished P20 – a number which also happened to be his average finish over the first 12 races of this year. In the five races since? It’s been 10.4 – a marked improvement. Chris Buescher – This week: 8 – Last week: 12 We shouldn’t be shocked by this by now, but Chris Buescher is pretty solid on road courses. We saw him beat SVG on speed at Watkins Glen two years ago, but he really showed up to play in San Diego. He led the field with 48 Quality Passes (Green flag passes in the Top 15), scored some stage points, and led 7 laps. P6 finish, and Buescher is comfortably in 7th place in the Season Standings. Carson Hocevar – This week: 7 – Last week: 11 Many might have thought Carson Hocevar got a taste of his own medicine in San Diego this past weekend, as Corey Heim gave him an ill-advised tap on the bumper, sending him spinning. Hocevar was actually a decent sport about the whole thing, but it cost him a good run at the win. Despite some laps led, extra points in both stages, and a starting spot on the front row, he wound up finishing P19. Daniel Suarez – This week: 6 – Last week: 8 Suarez has, sort of quietly, become the points leader at Spire Motorsports. Understandably, Hocevar gets a lot of the attention, but Suarez has been really solid lately, and is perhaps making Trackhouse second guess their decision to cut him. He scored some stage points in San Diego and looked like he made the most of a mediocre-to-solid car. Ty Gibbs – This week: 5 – Last week: 5 Ty Gibbs continues to search for Victory Lane again after his win at Bristol earlier this year. He hasn’t found it yet, but he’s certainly been in the conversation quite a few times. While he didn’t lead any laps at San Diego, he was up front for a good chunk of the day. He earned some stage points, and was second only to Chris Buescher in Quality Passes (45 total). Ryan Blaney – This week: 4 – Last week: 3 When you’re at the top, it’s hard to stay there. Heavy is the crown, they say. Blaney scored the highest of any driver at San Diego when it comes to Power Rankings metrics. He won Stage One, earned an additional 6 points in Stage Two, led the most laps of anyone (12), but still managed to fall a spot in the Power Rankings. Kyle Larson – This week: 3 – Last week: 4 Kyle Larson stole the spot from Ryan Blaney, as they swap positions in the Power Rankings this week. Larson had a great race in San Diego, ultimately finishing 3rd (to Ryan Blaney’s 9th). He also earned some stage points, led a lot of laps, but what set him apart was that he also had the best average running position (6th place) of any driver on Sunday. Tyler Reddick – This week: 2 – Last week: 2 At first it looked like it was not going to be Tyler Reddick’s day. Then some things changed, and it looked like it really would be. And then more changed, and he unfortunately wound up with a flat tire on the second-to-last lap. He finished 25th after challenging for the lead a lap earlier. He showed some speed when he was in the lead, and he did manage to get there after starting in the rear. The points won’t show it, but Reddick made the most of a difficult day up until the end. Denny Hamlin – This week: 1 – Last week: 1 It was a fairly underwhelming day for Denny Hamlin in San Diego, but he didn’t need anything too flashy to stay atop the Power Rankings. He merely needed to just hang on and have a solid, quiet day, which is what he did. No stage points, a negative pass differential, and really nothing too exciting through most of the race. But he’ll be thrilled that the young driver of his 67 car got to victory lane, and even happier that he already had locked the kid up to join them full-time next season. Biggest Movers SVG – This week: 21 – Last week: 6 Falls 15 places Brad Keselowski, Chris Buescher, Josh Berry, Joey Logano, Bubba Wallace, and Carson Hocevar They all each gained 4 spots. Rest of the List 11. Christopher Bell LW: 7 -4 12. Chase Elliott LW: 13 +1 13. Bubba Wallace LW: 17 +4 14. William Byron LW: 14 -- 15. AJ Allmendinger LW: 16 +1 16. Riley Herbst LW: 18 +2 17. Joey Logano LW: 21 +4 18. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. LW: 15 -3 19. Todd Gilliland LW: 22 +3 20. Michael McDowell LW: 19 -1 21. SVG LW: 6 -15 22. Ross Chastain LW: 25 +3 23. JH Nemechek LW: 20 -3 24. Zane Smith LW: 24 -- 25. Ryan Preece LW: 27 +2 26. Austin Cindric LW: 23 -3 27. Ty Dillon LW: 28 +1 28. Brad Keselowski LW: 32 +4 29. Josh Berry LW: 33 +4 30. Alex Bowman LW: 31 +1 31. Cole Custer LW: 29 -2 32. Cody Ware LW: 34 +2 33. Austin Dillon LW: 26 -7 34. Noah Gragson LW: 30 -4 35. Connor Zilisch LW: 35 --

Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images By Adam Carabine Though it was in a slightly different capacity, Denny Hamlin returned to Victory Lane for the fourth week in a row. Hamlin, one of the co-owners of 23XI Racing, was celebrating this weekend as a boss, rather than as a driver, as part-time entrant Corey Heim earned his first ever Cup Series victory at the Coronado Street Course in San Diego! Let’s have a look at how it all shook down! Lap 1: Green flag – to the surprise of no one, Shane Van Gisbergen is on the pole. Carson Hocevar next to him on the front row. Lap 2: Austin Dillon spins on his own, looks like he might not be able to get it refired, but manages to get going again before the caution comes out. Lap 3: Carson Hocevar takes the lead for a short time, but SVG gets it back. Lap 4: Ryan Blaney is now up to the lead. Lap 5: SVG has fallen to third, complaining of no rear grip in his car. Lap 6: Jimmie Johnson overcooks it into a corner and winds up crashing through some tire barriers. No caution. Lap 9: Some takers already on pit road, as tire wear proves to be much more present than teams were expecting. Lap 10: More pitters, Blaney still leads, then it’s Bubba Wallace, SVG and Ryan Preece. Lap 11: Ryan Blaney pits from the front, Wallace takes over the lead. Daniel Suarez and team incur a penalty for crew members over the wall too soon (note that this Coronado Street Course features backwards pit stops – teams approaching from the right rather than from the left). Lap 12: SVG gets back to the lead, but then CAUTION – Ricky Stenhouse Jr. is slow on the track and can’t seem to get any power back up and running. Lap 13: Christopher Bell, sporting a broken wrist from the nasty crash a few weeks back, pits and gets out of the car. Brent Crews is the relief driver climbing in to pilot the 20 car. Lap 14: Green flag – SVG and Chris Buescher on the front row. Lap 16: Contact between Preece and SVG as they duke it out. Blaney has the lead now, but they trade some blows. Lap 17: Some pit road takers – their last chance to flip things ahead of the stage break coming in three laps. Lap 19: CAUTION – Bubba Wallace’s wheel comes off after a botched pit stop. He’ll be held two laps. This ends the stage under caution. Lap 20: Blaney wins Stage One, followed by 60, 5, 54, 16, 34, 77, 22, 88 and 24. Lap 21: Penalty for Chase Elliott, also crew members over the wall too soon. Teams still adapting to the backwards pit stops. Lap 23: Green flag, Preece and Connor Zilisch on the front row. Zilisch gets the lead by Turn 2! Lap 24: SVG gives Chris Buescher a love tap and spins him in a super narrow part of the course. Somehow he doesn’t really hit anyone, and manages to get the car pointed in the right direction again, no caution. Lap 29: Connor Zilisch’s lead is now up to 5 seconds. Lap 30: CAUTION – Brent Crews, who is now driving the 20 car, misses a shift and the engine blows up on him. Lap 32: Green flag, Zilisch and Austin Hill. In turn one there is a BIG WRECK. Austin Hill locked up his rear tires, and pushed himself and Zilisch into the wall. SVG gets major damage being right behind them, Ty Gibbs gets caught up a bit, and others. RED FLAG for TRACK REPAIRS. It’s the end of Zilisch, Hill and SVG’s race. Lap 34: Back to green, Zane Smith gets the lead! Lap 37: Tyler Reddick spun, but didn’t hit anything. It stays green. Lap 38: Zane Smith pits, Kyle Larson takes the lead. Meanwhile Noah Gragson tangles with Kevin Magnussen and hits the wall. Major damage which ends up taking him out of the race, but he managed to limp it back to pit road, no caution. Lap 39: Ryan Preece passes Riley Herbst for the lead after many others have started making their way to pit road. Lap 40: Ryan Preece wins Stage Two. Followed by 35, 17, 16, 12, 77, 7, 1, 34, 22. Lap 43: Green flag, Preece and Buescher on the front row. Big damage in the back of the pack to Josh Berry during a run-in with some others. Lap 44: CAUTION – debris on the track. Lap 46: Green flag, Preece and Buescher again. Lap 47: Now it’s Buescher and Ryan Blaney battling for the lead. Lap 48: Erik Jones and Austin Dillon trade some blows but it stays green. Lap 49: Chase Elliott spins, then Brad Keselowski gets a flat tire from some contact with Ricky Stenhouse Jr. It still stays green, though! Lap 50: Bubba Wallace, who was held two laps earlier in the race, has made his way back on the lead lap and now runs 13th. Lap 51: Pit stops starting with 25 to go in the race. Fuel-wise they should be okay, but tires have been challenging! Lap 53: Kyle Larson is leading, over 5 seconds to Corey Heim in the 67 car, but it’s still mid-pit cycle. Lap 54: Issues for William Byron on pit road – his team is trying to make repairs after some contact with the wall. Lap 55: Ryan Blaney pits. Lap 60: Leaders Larson and Heim pit. Lap 61: CAUTION – Ricky Stenhouse Jr. hit the wall, then blew up, and dropped some fluid on the track. There were some cars still in the midst of the pit cycle, which makes timing and scoring a bit weird. Lap 62: Pit road is open under caution – a bunch of takers. Lap 64: Green flag – Carson Hocevar and Kyle Larson on the front row together. Hocevar gets the lead, but Tyler Reddick pulls up to P2, followed by Corey Heim. Near the end of the lap, Reddick takes the lead, and then Heim bumps Hocevar, sending him for a spin! No caution. Lap 71: Tyler Reddick’s lead is just under a second. Heim is right on his tail. Only five laps remain, but they’re long laps. Lap 73: Side by side battle for the lead with Reddick and Heim! Heim gets the lead! Lap 74: Issue for Reddick, he suddenly has a tire going down. He has to fall back while the tire carcass barely hangs on. Bubba Wallace up to P2. Lap 75: Corey Heim hangs on and wins the race! This is his first Cup Series victory in his 13th start. Reddick with the flat tire ends up finishing 25th. Corey Heim showed that he deserves the Cup Series ride he’s been signed to for next season, as he captured the win in his first ever Cup Series Road Course start. Overall it was a grand success on the Coronado Street Course! Next week we are in Sonoma for more road course racing!

Credit: SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 21: Corey Heim, driver of the #67 Mobil 1/O'Reilly Auto Parts Toyota, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Anduril 250 at Naval Base Coronado on June 21, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images) Editor’s Note: This story was provided by NASCAR Wire Service and has been published with permission. It has been edited for Racing Refresh style and formatting. June 21, 2026 By Reid Spencer NASCAR Wire Service SAN DIEGO, Calif.—Corey Heim arrived at the finish line—and at a career milestone—way ahead of schedule. Winning a pitched battle against 23XI Racing teammate Tyler Reddick in the closing laps of Sunday’s Anduril 250 at San Diego Street Course at Naval Base Coronado, Heim won his first NASCAR Cup Series race in his 13th start and his first in the top division on a road or street circuit. It took Heim three corners to make the winning pass after Reddick slipped in Turn 2 on Lap 73 to give the 23-year-old reigning NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series champion an opening. The teammates ran side-by-side through Turns 3 and 4, with Reddick trying a crossover move into Turn 5 on the 3.4-mile, 16-turn course, the first-ever purpose-built NASCAR circuit on a military installation. Reddick scraped the outside wall, made contact with Heim’s No. 67 Toyota—pushing him toward the wall—but ceded the position and later suffered a flat left-front tire before finishing 25th. Reddick saw his series lead drop to eight points over 14th-place finisher Denny Hamlin, the 23XI co-owner with NBA legend Michael Jordan. Heim reached the finish line 10.365 seconds ahead of Bubba Wallace, giving 23XI the first 1-2 finish in organization history. Wallace rallied from a two-lap penalty for a loose wheel that dislodged from his car and rolled between Turns 9 and 10. Kyle Larson ran third, followed by Zane Smith and AJ Allmendinger. To Heim, recently announced as a full-time driver for 23XI starting next year, the victory in one of NASCAR’s most important races of the season bordered on the surreal. “I'm speechless,” Heim said after completing an extended celebratory burnout. “I mean, we started the race, I think we started 13th. We fell straight back to 20th. Then put on our scuffs from qualifying, struggled just as bad. “I don't know if we made any adjustments. (Crew chief) Bootie (Barker) kept telling me these were our worst two sets of tires, we were going to be fine. He was right. I couldn't believe it. We strapped another set of tires on, and we were just fine. Hit the wall a couple of times and maybe knocked some good into the car. I have no idea. “After stage two, I just took a deep breath. I had high expectations coming into this race. Even playing field for me (as a debut race). You don't see that every day for a young driver like myself. Just kind of took a deep breath, reset and went after it.” Heim led only the final three laps, and though he is running a limited schedule with 23XI this season, Reddick afforded his young teammate significant respect. The series leader declined to take advantage when contact between their two cars got Heim’s Camry briefly out of shape during the battle for the lead. “I thought I was going to be able to hold him off there,” said Reddick, a five-time winner this year. “Yeah, we kind of just struggled with rear tire life all weekend long. Yeah, I got beat by our own stuff, so... “We'll try to figure this out. It definitely stings. First and foremost, congratulations to Corey. I tried to battle back and overdid it. I ran him straight in the wall. That wasn't right. I wasn't going to pass him for the win that way, especially a teammate. “It's a real shame. I don't know if I cut the tire during, before or after (the contact with Heim’s car). I'm not really sure. Really needed a good points day. Had another really bad one, so... We'll try and scrape together and have a decent finish in Sonoma (next Sunday).” Moments after a restart on Lap 33, a violent wreck in Turn 1 wiped out a handful of notable contenders. Racing side-by-side with Connor Zilisch at the front of the field, Austin Hill locked up his brakes and forced Zilisch into the outside wall. Zilisch hit the concrete barriers with jarring force and bounced into the path of Trackhouse racing teammate and pole winner Shane van Gisbergen, who seconds earlier had backed out of a three-wide situation with Zilisch and Hill. “It’s just unfortunate to end the day like that for both Red Bull Chevrolets with Shane and I,” said Zilisch, who led eight laps before exiting in 37th place. “We had a really fast car today. We got out front and it felt really good, but that’s how it goes sometimes. “I had a lot of fun leading my first career Cup Series laps. Just super proud of this entire No. 88 team, but hate to see the day end this short. When you have a chance to go win a race and you’re in a prime spot to do so, but get put in a position like that, it’s extremely tough.” Van Gisbergen was equally disappointed. “A real shame,” said van Gisbergen, knocked out of the race in 38th place. “The Red Bull Chevy was unreal fast once the track kind of rubbered up. Yeah, a real shame.” The Toyota of Ty Gibbs nosed into van Gisbergen’s Chevrolet and also sustained heavy damage, but Gibbs recovered to finish 15th. The race featured seven cautions for 11 of the 75 laps. There were 20 lead changes among 13 drivers, with ninth-place finisher Ryan Blaney leading the most circuits (12), followed by Larson with 11. Reddick led nine laps before Heim tracked him down in the closing stage. Blaney won the first stage under caution, with Ryan Preece taking Stage 2. Chris Buescher, Ross Chastain, Riley Herbst, Blaney and Michael McDowell finished sixth through 10th, respectively. NASCAR Cup Series Race - Anduril 250 San Diego Street Course San Diego, California Sunday, June 21, 2026 1. (13) Corey Heim(i), Toyota, 75. 2. (12) Bubba Wallace, Toyota, 75. 3. (14) Kyle Larson, Chevrolet, 75. 4. (4) Zane Smith, Ford, 75. 5. (15) AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet, 75. 6. (16) Chris Buescher, Ford, 75. 7. (23) Ross Chastain, Chevrolet, 75. 8. (24) Riley Herbst, Toyota, 75. 9. (3) Ryan Blaney, Ford, 75. 10. (9) Michael McDowell, Chevrolet, 75. 11. (7) Ryan Preece, Ford, 75. 12. (30) Chase Elliott, Chevrolet, 75. 13. (6) Daniel Suarez, Chevrolet, 75. 14. (26) Denny Hamlin, Toyota, 75. 15. (11) Ty Gibbs, Toyota, 75. 16. (28) John Hunter Nemechek, Toyota, 75. 17. (22) Chase Briscoe, Toyota, 75. 18. (19) Joey Logano, Ford, 75. 19. (2) Carson Hocevar, Chevrolet, 75. 20. (38) Erik Jones, Toyota, 75. 21. (5) Todd Gilliland, Ford, 75. 22. (31) Austin Cindric, Ford, 75. 23. (39) Cody Ware, Chevrolet, 75. 24. (18) Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 75. 25. (17) Tyler Reddick, Toyota, 75. 26. (20) Alex Bowman, Chevrolet, 75. 27. (21) Kevin Magnussen, Chevrolet, 75. 28. (36) Jimmie Johnson, Toyota, 75. 29. (35) Josh Berry, Ford, 75. 30. (34) Ty Dillon, Chevrolet, 74. 31. (25) Cole Custer, Chevrolet, 72. 32. (27) William Byron, Chevrolet, 68. 33. (33) Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Chevrolet, Radiator, 59. 34. (29) Brad Keselowski, Ford, 59. 35. (32) Noah Gragson, Ford, Accident, 37. 36. (10) Austin Hill(i), Chevrolet, Accident, 31. 37. (8) Connor Zilisch #, Chevrolet, Accident, 31. 38. (1) Shane Van Gisbergen, Chevrolet, Accident, 31. 39. (37) Christopher Bell, Toyota, Engine, 28. Average Speed of Race Winner: 70.561 mph. Time of Race: 3 Hrs, 36 Mins, 50 Secs. Margin of Victory: 10.365 Seconds. Caution Flags: 7 for 11 laps. Lead Changes: 20 among 13 drivers. Lap Leaders: S. Van Gisbergen 1-3;R. Blaney 4-9;B. Wallace 10-11;S. Van Gisbergen 12-15;R. Blaney 16-20;R. Preece 21-22;C. Zilisch # 23-30;A. Hill(i) 31;R. Herbst 32-33;Z. Smith 34-36;K. Larson 37;R. Herbst 38;R. Preece 39-41;C. Buescher 42-47;R. Blaney 48;K. Larson 49-58;C. Hocevar 59-60;C. Buescher 61;C. Hocevar 62-63;T. Reddick 64-72;*. Heim(i) 73-75. Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led): Ryan Blaney 3 times for 12 laps; Kyle Larson 2 times for 11 laps; Tyler Reddick 1 time for 9 laps; Connor Zilisch # 1 time for 8 laps; Shane Van Gisbergen 2 times for 7 laps; Chris Buescher 2 times for 7 laps; Ryan Preece 2 times for 5 laps; Carson Hocevar 2 times for 4 laps; * Corey Heim(i) 1 time for 3 laps; Riley Herbst 2 times for 3 laps; Zane Smith 1 time for 3 laps; Bubba Wallace 1 time for 2 laps; Austin Hill(i) 1 time for 1 lap. Stage #1 Top Ten: 12,60,5,54,16,34,77,22,88,24 Stage #2 Top Ten: 60,35,17,16,12,77,7,1,34,22

by Crystal Clay CORONADO, Calif. — A promising day for Trackhouse Racing ended in frustration Sunday when a restart crash eliminated both Shane van Gisbergen and Connor Zilisch from contention in the inaugural Anduril 250 at Naval Base Coronado. The betting favorite and Trackhouse teammate Connor Zillisch were eliminated in a restart incident during Sunday's inaugural Anduril 250 at Naval Base Coronado. Van Gisbergen entered the race as the clear favorite after winning the pole on Saturday and carrying odds as high as -160 entering race weekend. The New Zealander, who has won seven of his 16 NASCAR Cup Series road-course starts, appeared poised to contend for victory before the incident derailed his afternoon. “Yeah, real shame,” van Gisbergen said afterward. “The Red Bull Chevy was unreal fast once the track kind of rubbed up.” The incident occurred during a restart and collected multiple cars, including both van Gisbergen and Trackhouse teammate Connor Zilisch. Van Gisbergen declined to place blame, instead describing the crash as “just unfortunate.” Still, his disappointment was evident. “I’m filthy,” he said. The frustration extended throughout the Trackhouse camp. Zilisch, who spent much of the afternoon racing near the front alongside van Gisbergen, believed both drivers had positioned themselves for a strong finish. “I’ve been racing with Shane all day,” Zilisch said. “It’s just instinct when you have a chance to go and win a race and you’re in a prime spot. When you get put in a position like that, it’s extremely tough. “I really hate it for everyone at Trackhouse and Red Bull. This was a huge weekend for us, and to have both cars out is what’s hard about it.” Despite a hard impact with the concrete barriers lining the temporary street circuit, Zilisch said he escaped the crash without injury. “My leg’s fine. I feel fine,” Zilisch said. “It was a big hit. The concrete walls are no joke, but I’m thankful for the safety of these cars and how far we’ve come as an industry.” The result stings for a Trackhouse organization that entered one of the most favorable portions of its schedule. San Diego (Coronado Naval Base) and next weekend’s race at Sonoma Raceway are two of only four road-course events on the 2026 Cup Series calendar, tracks where van Gisbergen is widely expected to contend for wins. Fortunately for the organization, another opportunity arrives immediately. “Luckily we’ve got a good one next week,” van Gisbergen said. Zilisch echoed the sentiment. “Just put your head down, forget about this weekend and move on to the next,” he said.

Credit: SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 19: Shane Van Gisbergen, driver of the #97 Red Bull Chevrolet, drives during practice for the NASCAR Cup Series Anduril 250 at Naval Base Coronado on June 19, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images) Shane van Gisbergen earned the pole position for Sunday’s inaugural NASCAR Cup Series race at Naval Base Coronado. The Trackhouse Racing driver will lead the field to green after posting the fastest lap in Saturday’s qualifying session. The full NASCAR Wire Service report follows. June 20, 2026 By Holly Cain, NASCAR Wire Service SAN DIEGO - Although Shane van Gisbergen has strongly maintained the NASCAR Cup Series first-ever visit to the Naval Base Coronado Street Course presents a challenge for him and the field, the series’ reigning road course best-in-show once again proved himself up for the challenge. The Trackhouse Racing driver van Gisbergen, 37, won pole position for Sunday’s Inaugural Anduril 250 (4 p.m. ET, Amazon Prime, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) with a lap of 90.809 mph around the 3.4-mile, 16-turn circuit on the scenic Naval Base in Coronado on Saturday. It’s the sixth career NASCAR Cup Series pole position for the driver of the No. 97 Trackhouse Chevrolet on the sixth different road course. The New Zealander has won the last four races from that lead starting position. “Amazing to get the first pole here (at San Diego),’’ Van Gisbergen said. “Really cool. It's tough, I've said it a couple of times. It's your first lap of the day and there's three, four, five corners you're probably going through for the first time of the day as your qualifying lap starts. And yeah, I made a meal of it, but I guess the rest of the lap was pretty decent and made the time back. “My long runs weren't that great yesterday,’’ he added, “The Nos. 5 [Kyle Larson], 33 [Austin Hill] and 54 [Ty Gibbs] were faster than me yesterday, I believe. But my car is better today than yesterday, so who knows. We're definitely in a good place to start and tomorrow will be a bit of a gamble and a lottery, I think, with the tires. It's going to be hard for the crew chiefs and strategists to get it right tomorrow, for sure.” Spire Motorsports’ Carson Hocevar will start his No. 77 Chevrolet alongside Van Gisbergen on the front row – the best road course qualifying effort in the 23-year-old’s young NASCAR Cup Series career – and it gives Chevy its third front row grid sweep of the season. Team Penske’s Ryan Blaney and fellow Ford driver, Front Row Motorsports’ Zane Smith will start from the second row with Smith’s teammate Todd Gilliland and Hocevar’s Spire Motorsports teammate Daniel Suarez starting together from row three. Roush Fenway Racing’s Ryan Preece, and Van Gisbergen’s Trackhouse teammate Connor Zilisch will start seventh and eighth. The last seven road course races have been won from the front row and 22 of the 28 Next Gen-era road course events have been won from the top-eight positions on the grid. It’s a promising start for the 2024 series champion Blaney, who has not claimed a top-five road course finish in the Next Gen car era. “I’ve said it before, I’m an average road racer, I don’t think I excel at this stuff very often but I work hard to get better and I thought we had an okay day yesterday [in practice],’’ Blaney said. “Had a good lap. Didn’t know I had it until that final chicane, but good overall effort and felt really good after the 12 boys worked on it overnight. I’m looking forward to tomorrow. It’s going to be a heckuva race. Tire degradation is going to be massive so going to be who can manage rears [tires] better. Just a cool event, cool to be out here. “You plan as much as you can but sometimes you’re going to have to audible in the race and understand where you’re at and what you want to do and then see what the tire wear is like tomorrow,’’ a smiling Blaney said. “That’s the fun part about these new things. This whole weekend has been super cool to be here on the base. I appreciate them having us. The fans have been amazing the whole weekend and it should be a great day tomorrow for sure. “As far as racing goes, I don’t know. Manage rear tires and don’t hit any concrete. I hope I can do those two things and we might have a shot.” NASCAR Cup Series championship leader Tyler Reddick, spun and brushed the wall on his second qualifying lap, but the driver of the No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota was 17th fastest on his opening run around the course. Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin - who comes to the weekend on a three-race winning streak and trails Reddick by only 19 points in the championship standings – will roll off 25th in the No. 11 JGR Toyota. His teammate, Christopher Bell, who is nursing a broken wrist from an accident at Michigan two weeks ago, qualified 37th. He said this weekend, it will be a game-time decision whether he starts the race and then hands the car over to Brent Crews to finish the race. Crews has been fast at San Diego, claiming the pole position for Saturday’s NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race on a lap faster than Van Gisbergen’s pole-winning speed. Hendrick Motorsports owns the best road course record – leading the series in poles, wins, top-five and top-10 finishes in the last 15 road course races, however the best qualifying driver Saturday was reigning series champion Kyle Larson, who will roll off 14th on the 39-car grid. Trackhouse Racing’s Project 91 driver, former Formula One racer Kevin Magnussen qualified 21st in his NASCAR debut driving the No. 91 Chevy. Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson, who is competing in his hometown, will start 37th in the No. 84 Legacy Motor Club Toyota.

by Crystal Clay Credit: SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 19: Layne Riggs, driver of the #34 Mattermost Ford, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Navy 250 at Naval Base Coronado on June 19, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)CORONADO, Calif. — Layne Riggs admitted he was “lost” at times during Friday’s inaugural Navy 250 at Naval Base Coronado. Between spotty radio communication, evolving pit strategy and fuel concerns in the closing laps, the Front Row Motorsports driver spent much of the race trying to adapt to circumstances beyond his control. By the end of the evening, however, Riggs found himself in Victory Lane as the winner of NASCAR’s first national series race on the temporary San Diego Street Course. Riggs inherited the lead in the final corners of an overtime finish when race leader Tyler Reif missed the final chicane while attempting to defend the position. “I just pulled out and left to try to scare him, to miss the corner,” Riggs said. “He did just that. I think my experience paid off there.” The victory was Riggs’ fourth of the season and ninth of his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series career, but it came only after surviving a race that tested both strategy and patience. Radio communication proved especially difficult around the 3.4-mile street circuit constructed on Naval Base Coronado. Riggs said there were large portions of the track where crews and drivers struggled to communicate. “Radio communication was very, very tough here,” Riggs said. “Pretty much from Turn 4 all the way to Turn 12, I couldn’t hear anybody.” The communication issues complicated an already challenging strategy race. Teams faced difficult decisions regarding fuel mileage and tire management throughout the event, and Riggs said he was often unsure how the race would ultimately play out. “I was so lost,” Riggs said. “I didn’t know what was going on.” Despite the uncertainty, Riggs and crew chief Dylan Cappello elected to remain on track during a late caution rather than pit for additional fuel. The gamble nearly backfired. “We were going to be fine if it wasn’t a green-white-checkered finish,” Riggs said. “The last lap, I was running out. Pretty much all the left-hand corners, it would stumble.” Riggs said he exhausted his tires while conserving fuel during the closing run, leaving him with limited options when overtime began. “I was cooked,” he said. “I was planning on a top-five finish.” Instead, contact and mistakes ahead of him opened the door. Reif’s error in the final chicane ultimately handed Riggs the opportunity he needed. The victory also carried additional significance given the setting. NASCAR’s San Diego debut brought many first-time spectators to Naval Base Coronado during the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration. “I asked how many people had never been to a NASCAR race before, and about 80 percent raised their hands,” Riggs said. “To come here and put on a performance like that, I think they’re going to be tuning in next week.” For Riggs, the result earned a place in the history books. “It’s one for the history books,” he said. “So cool to be here.” Credit: SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 19: Layne Riggs, driver of the #34 Mattermost Ford, celebrates with a burnout after winning the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Navy 250 at Naval Base Coronado on June 19, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)

by Crystal Clay CORONADO, Calif. (June 19, 2026) — A retired aircraft carrier beneath his tires. Smoke pouring from a stock car against the backdrop of San Diego Bay. As introductions to NASCAR San Diego go, Kyle Larson’s series of burnouts aboard the USS Midway may have been the most American celebration imaginable. Courtesy of NASCAR/iRacing Studios The Hendrick Motorsports driver arrived on the flight deck Thursday evening as part of NASCAR’s official kickoff event for the Freedom 250 at Naval Base Coronado, where he was unveiled as the cover athlete for NASCAR 26. The burnouts also served as a demonstration of a new NASCAR 26 feature that will allow players to celebrate victories with post-race burnouts when the game launches in September. Larson celebrated the announcement with a surprise series of burnouts in the cover car and talking with NASCAR and iRacing executives on stage to discuss the upcoming release. When asked what advice he had for players eager to try the feature for themselves, Larson kept it simple. “Smoke it up,” Larson said. For Larson, the appeal extends beyond the game’s new features. The Cup Series champion said one of his favorite aspects is watching his children load into the virtual cockpit of the No. 5 car and race as their father, a level of immersion that speaks to the realism modern racing gameplay can provide. “It’s cool for them to have their dad a part of it and have them race as me,” Larson said. “I hope a lot of people pick the 5 car to drive.” Less than 24 hours later, Larson traded burnouts for lap times. The NASCAR Cup Series driver paced Friday’s practice session at the Qualcomm Circuit at Naval Base Coronado, but despite topping the speed charts, he wasn’t ready to declare himself comfortable with the temporary street course. “This one’s probably just more mental than any road course so far because you’re just trying to learn something new, learn quick,” Larson said following practice. “Fifty minutes is not enough time.” The challenge didn’t come as a surprise. During Thursday’s reveal event, Larson described the circuit as “really, really tough” after spending time on both iRacing and Chevrolet’s simulator. He pointed to the track’s bumps and several sections that appeared visually tricky on screen. After finally running the course in person, Larson said the virtual preparation translated well. “I felt like the sim and iRacing both visually were pretty close after now getting out there in real life,” Larson said. “So that side of it helped.” While some details differed from what he experienced in simulation, the overall visual presentation closely matched what he expected. “The concrete sections are white, so that’s a little different,” Larson explained. “Some of where the paint lines and stuff line up are a little different, but other than that, it was pretty close.” Larson also noted Thursday that every lap around the new circuit would be a learning experience for the field. Even after posting the fastest time in practice, his comments suggested that the process is far from complete. When asked whether there was anywhere he would refuse to perform a burnout, Larson couldn’t think of a single location. “I would do a burnout anywhere,” he said. And if Sunday’s race ends with Larson standing in Victory Lane, the USS Midway exhibition may have only been a preview. “Well, they said they have to run that car a little bit more this weekend, so it’ll be a bigger burnout, for sure.” The NASCAR 26 cover athlete may have arrived in San Diego with tire smoke and style points, but as the weekend progresses, finding speed around one of the most unique venues on the NASCAR calendar remains the priority. Should that speed carry him to Victory Lane, however, fans can probably expect another memorable celebration. Courtesy of NASCAR/iRacing Studios