Search this site

Press Release | SPIRE MOTORSPORTS MOORESVILLE, N.C. (May 21, 2024) – Today, Spire Motorsports announced it has signed 19-year-old ARCA Menards Series points leader Andres Perez to pilot the No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado for the June 1 Toyota 200 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS) race at World Wide Technology Raceway. Perez is the full-time driver of Rev Racing’s No. 2 Chevrolet in the ARCA Menards Series and is part of NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity Driver Development Program. He has earned one top-five and three top-10 finishes in the division’s first five races of the 2024 campaign and has a one-point advantage heading into the division’s next stop at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Herdez Brand, Wholly Guacamole, Doña Maria and Telcel will all be featured aboard Perez’s No. 7 Chevy Silverado for his NCTS debut. “I am very thankful and excited for the opportunity to make my NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series debut with a team like Spire Motorsports, driving the No. 7 Chevrolet at World Wide Technology Raceway,” said Perez. “Having Herdez Brand involved in the project makes it even better, especially with all the racing background Herdez has in both USA and Mexico and even in my dad’s racing career. That gives me extra motivation to represent my partners, team and country as best as I can. I’m fully committed to making this chance count and I’m really looking forward to the race.” The Mexico City, Mexico native started racing karts when he was 11-years-old before transitioning to L-A Formula 4 and NASCAR Mexico Trucks competition. Perez is the 2022 NASCAR Mexico Challenge Series Champion and has 26 ARCA Menards Series starts on his resume. He earned 10 top-five finishes in 2023 and finished second in the division’s championship point standings in his first full season competing at the national level. “Andres Perez is a very capable young driver and we’re looking forward to seeing how he does behind the wheel of Spire Motorsports No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado,” said Spire Motorsports president Doug Duchardt. “This is an exciting opportunity for Spire Motorsports to work with a rising star in NASCAR’s Drive for Diversity Program and we think Andres has shown the potential to take the next logical step in the progression of his career. He’ll have the benefit of Brian Pattie calling the shots and a veteran team behind him so we’re confident he’s going to have everything he needs to make the most of the opportunity.” The Toyota 200 from World Wide Technology Raceway will be televised live on FOX Saturday, June 1 beginning at 1:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The12th of 23 NCTS races on the 2024 schedule will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

(Photo Source: Twitter.com/JoeGibbsRacing ) Press Release | JOE GIBBS RACING HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. (May 21st, 2024) - Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) announced today that Josh Bilicki will pilot the No. 19 Toyota GR Supra for multiple races throughout the remainder of the 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) season. The 29-year-old Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin native first entered the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2016 and has since ran 204 races across the top three levels of the sport. In 96 Xfinity Series starts, Bilicki has collected two top-10 finishes and led 16 laps. “Josh (Bilicki) brings a unique skillset to our program that is going to be particularly valuable for us with our road course efforts” said Steve deSouza, Executive Vice President of JGR’s Xfinity Series program. “We’re looking forward to having him in the car as our No. 19 GR Supra continues its owner’s championship campaign.” “This is a huge opportunity for me and my partners,” said Bilicki. “I’ve been blessed to race for a lot of teams but given JGR’s reputation in the Xfinity Series, I’m particularly excited to see what we can accomplish in their equipment.” Bilicki will make his JGR debut on June 1st at 4:30 PM EST at Portland International Raceway in the Pacific Automation 147. The race will be broadcast on FOX Sports 1, MRN Radio, and SiriusXM Radio. The remainder of Bilicki’s schedule with JGR will be announced on a later date.

Press Release | SPIRE MOTORSPORTS MOORESVILLE, N.C. (May 21, 2024) – A fourth-place finish and 200,000 margaritas sold in a single day stamped a standout maiden voyage for Spire Motorsports and Chili’s® Grill & Bar, and the pair announced today a partnership extension for three additional NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) races in 2024 aboard Corey LaJoie’s No. 7 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 beginning with this weekend’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The extended partnership includes associate sponsorship on the No. 7 for the rest of the 2024 season. In addition to this weekend’s annual 600-miler, Chili’s will also be showcased as LaJoie’s primary sponsor at World Wide Technology Raceway on June 2 and again at Darlington Raceway Labor Day Weekend. LaJoie earned a career-best fourth-place finish in Chili’s first foray with the team at the Daytona 500, and just three days later the brand had a banner National Margarita Day, selling more than 200,000 of its signature drinks that day. “Numbers are important, but relationships are everything,” said Chili’s CMO George Felix. “We jumped into NASCAR for the first time this year because we saw a chance to reach this passionate fanbase, but to do that we needed to find the perfect driver and team for Chili’s. We have that with Corey and Spire. We’re excited to solidify this partnership by putting the pepper back on the hood at some of the season’s remaining marquee races.” In keeping with the tradition of honoring fallen service members during NASCAR’s annual Memorial Day Weekend festivities, LaJoie will be racing in honor of U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Jeremie S. Border, of Mesquite, Texas, who died September 1, 2012, by small arms fire while conducting combat operations in Ghazni Province, Afghanistan. Border was assigned to Company Alpha, 1st Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne), Okinawa, Japan and was deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom-Afghanistan. His name will be displayed on the windshield of LaJoie’s Chevy Camaro throughout the race weekend. Border is the brother of long-tenured Chili’s team member DeLaynie Peek, who will be at Charlotte Motor Speedway as NASCAR and its teams honor Gold Star Families for the seventh consecutive year. “I’d put my brother’s name or face on anything if it meant people could learn about the hero and protector he was, so for it to happen in such a visible and memorable way is just amazing,” Border’s sister and Chili’s team member DeLaynie Peek said. “Chili’s wanted to honor someone connected to its family, and that says so much about the company’s culture that they’re making sure this moment didn’t pass without making one of their own feel special. We’re so grateful to them and to Spire and Corey for choosing Jeremie to ride along this weekend.” Border graduated from Mesquite High School in 2002 and attended college at McMurry University in Abilene, Texas earning his bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Communications. He entered the Army in 2006 as an infantryman, where he completed basic training, advanced individual training and basic airborne course at Fort Benning, Ga. His awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terror Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terror Service Medal, Non-commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon with numeral 2, Army Service Ribbon, Special Forces Tab, Expert Infantry Badge and the Army Parachutist Badge. Border was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal with Valor, the Purple Heart, the Meritorious Service Medal, and the Afghan Campaign Medal. “This is always a special weekend,” said LaJoie. “Seeing Staff Sgt. Border’s name on the windshield of our Chili’s Chevy Camaro is incredibly humbling. He put the wellbeing of his fellow soldiers and civilians above his own. Chili’s has stepped up in a big way to honor one of their very own Gold Star Families, and It’s really an honor to represent Chili’s, Staff Sgt. Border and his family.” LaJoie has logged 10 previous NCS starts at the legendary 1.5-mile Concord, N.C. oval and earned a venue/race-best 12th-place finish in the 2019 running of NASCAR’s longest race. Last May, the third- generation racer started 25th and finished 17th. The Coca-Cola 600 from Charlotte Motor Speedway will be televised live on FOX Sunday, May 26, beginning at 6 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. NASCAR’s annual Memorial Day Weekend 600-mile classic will be broadcast live on the Performance Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

(Photo Source: Twitter.com/JoeGibbsRacing ) Press Release | JOE GIBBS RACING HUNTERSVILLE, N.C.  (May 20, 2024) – Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) announced today that Novant Health will extend their agreement to provide sports medicine services to the team’s pit crews, as well as the Joe Gibbs Human Performance Institute (JGHPI), starting with the 2024 season.   As a part of this multi-year agreement, Novant Health will provide expert care to the race team, including support from a team of Athletic Trainers, Team Physicians and Physical Therapists. Novant Health has worked with JGR since the 2018 season. JGR pit crews are in training for 11 months out of the year and perform across 37 race weekends each season. Working out of the race shop in Huntersville, NC, Novant Health provides daily support to the pit crew members to help ensure they maintain their performance levels despite their demanding schedule.   "Novant Health is committed to creating a remarkable future for the communities we serve throughout the Carolinas, and few athletic endeavors have shaped the culture of this area quite like motorsports have. It is a pleasure to partner with Joe Gibbs Racing to provide care and support to the athletes on the track - and on Pit Road - as they share their talents and their work with legions of fans across the country,” said Bryan Edwards, MD, SVP, Clinical Strategy Novant Health Enterprises and System Physician Executive, Novant Health Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Institute. “Novant Health’s team of dedicated athletic trainers, physicians, and physical therapists will ensure that the Joe Gibbs Racing team is equipped with tools and care to reach their peak performance. We are committed to keeping them in optimal health as athletes and as community leaders."   “As a part of our enduring effort to better understand the fundamentals of human movement for performance optimization and injury risk stratification at JGHPI, we are excited to partner with Novant Health to co-develop leading-edge MR imaging and machine learning techniques for the creation of multi-level, personalized musculoskeletal models for individual athletes,” said Matt Osborn, Laboratory Director at JGHPI.

Press Release | FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS MOORESVILLE, N.C. (May 20, 2024) - Quincy Compressor, the Bay Minette, Alabama-based compressor manufacturer, will make a return to the NASCAR Cup Series and Front Row Motorsports (FRM). The program will feature several distributors of Quincy on board the No. 38 and 34 Ford Mustang Dark Horses as primary and associate sponsors. “Our relationship with Front Row Motorsports allows us to continue to grow the Quincy brand, it’s distributors and showcase our products and capabilities,” said Michael Campbell, President of Quincy Compressor. “The Front Row Motorsports team are great ambassadors for our company, and we want to be a part of their continued success.” One of their distributors, Warthog Air Compressor Store, will be on Todd Gilliland’s No. 38 Ford Mustang Dark Horse at Charlotte Motor Speedway for the Coca-Cola 600. Quincy will be an associate sponsor on Michael McDowell’s No. 34 Coca-Cola 600 car. Quincy will also appear on the No. 38 for the Kansas Speedway race in September, featuring another valued distributor, Rasmussen Air and Gas Energy, as the primary scheme. "It is really cool to have Quincy Compressor back on board,” said Gilliland. “They were great partners for us in past years with the 38 team and FRM. It’s great to see the support they have for the team going forward." Founded in 1920, Quincy Compressor is a leading designer and manufacturer of reciprocating and rotary screw air compressors, vacuum pumps and a full line of air treatment components. Headquartered in Bay Minette, Alabama, Quincy has built its reputation on quality and rugged reliability, building tough air compressors for the most demanding applications. With a legacy spanning over one hundred years, they are excited to bring their "True Blue" brand to NASCAR’s premiere series and to its millions of passionate fans. To learn more about Quincy Compressor, fans are encouraged to visit their website at www.quincycompressor.com. Learn more about Warthog Air Compressors at www.aircompressorstore.com.

Press Release | LEGACY MOTOR CLUB STAMFORD, Conn. – May 14, 2024  – Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion   Jimmie Johnson is joining NBC Sports’ motorsports coverage for four races in 2024. Johnson   will contribute to pre-race and race coverage of NBC Sports’ presentation of the 108th Running of the Indianapolis 500 from iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) on May 26 on NBC and Peacock, bolstering NBC Sports’ robust presentation of the historic event. Previously, Johnson contributed to studio coverage at the 2021 iteration of the event. He will also serve as an analyst on NBC Sports’ NASCAR coverage of the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona Superspeedway on Aug. 24 and the YellaWood 500 from Talladega Superspeedway on Oct. 6, one of three playoff races in the Round of 12. In addition, Johnson will contribute to NBC Sports’ coverage for select NASCAR races in which he is competing this year, including the NASCAR Cup Series Championship from Phoenix Raceway on Nov. 10. “To have the opportunity to experience ‘The Greatest Spectacle in Racing’ once again is such an honor,” said Johnson. “I was part of the NBC broadcast team in 2021 and it just fueled the fire I needed to make my childhood dream of racing in the Indianapolis 500 one day a reality. Competing in this race as a driver was a chance of a lifetime, so to be able to experience the pageantry again is just so special. Even though I’ve never been able to do the ‘double’ as a driver, May 26th is going to be a very busy day. After the broadcast, I’ll fly to Charlotte Motor Speedway and drive in the Coca-Cola 600. I’m so thankful to NBC for the opportunity and continued partnership.” “Any time you can add one of the greatest drivers of all time and an icon of the sport, you jump at the opportunity,” said Sam Flood, lead producer for NBC Sports’ motorsports coverage. “We are thrilled to be working with Jimmie and adding his unique perspective on every race he covers, as well as having him become the first person ever to do the ‘double’ – history awaits.” Johnson is one of the most successful NASCAR drivers in the history of the sport. His seven Cup Series championships are tied for the most all time with Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt, and he is the only driver to ever win five consecutive championships (2006-2010). His 83 NASCAR Cup Series race wins are third-most in the modern era (1972-present) and, in 2009, he became the first and only NASCAR driver to ever be named  Associated Press  Male Athlete of the Year. Earlier this year, he was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame. In 2022, Johnson turned his attention to open-wheel racing and competed in the NTT INDYCAR Series, including that year’s Indianapolis 500, where he was named the 2022 Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year. More details about NBC Sports’ Indianapolis 500 broadcast team will be announced soon. Peacock will again be the home of Indy 500 practice and qualifying providing more than 50 hours of coverage, with the first practice session starting earlier this morning exclusively on the platform. The NBC broadcast network will air three hours of Indy 500 qualifying coverage on Sunday, May 19, at 3 p.m. ET to determine the starting grid for “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.” Peacock will simulstream all qualifying coverage on NBC. In addition to practice and qualifying, exclusive coverage of Carb Day, the Indy 500 Parade, and Victory Celebration during race weekend will stream live on Peacock. NBC Sports’ coverage of the 2024 NASCAR season begins Sunday, June 16, with the Iowa Corn 350 Powered by Ethanol at 7 p.m. ET on USA Network.

(Photo Credit: Twitter.com/RaceSonoma ) Press Release | SONOMA RACEWAY SONOMA, Calif. (May 13, 2024) Before the roar of NASCAR Cup Series cars reverberates off the hillsides at Sonoma Raceway, Bay Area native DJ Umami will boost the crowd’s energy in the form of a prerace concert prior to the Toyota/Save Mart 350 on Sunday, June 9.   DJ Umami is currently the resident DJ for the San Francisco Giants, after having entertained fans in that same fashion with the Golden State Warriors from 2012-2021. The unmistakable fervor and flavor she brings to any event, celebration or dance floor has been a constant since she splashed onto the local scene in San Francisco in 2008. Within just a year, she gained residency with the prestigious female DJ crew “Peaches.”    Umami’s rise in the music industry has been punctuated with opening sets for renowned artists such as Dua Lipa, Anderson Paak, and Thundercat. In addition, DJ Umami has made appearances at Outside Lands in San Francisco, Google and the Nike Women’s Marathon and is part of the Creative Collective for Bacardi Ocho Reserve.     While R&B, Soul and Hip Hop are foundational to her musical taste, it’s Umami’s ability to read the energy of a crowd combined with her belief in music as healing that drives her to serve an eclectic menu of sounds. As a Filipina American, her desire is to bring more visibility to the craft, and inspire the next generation of women DJs. Umami’s vibrancy and versatility across varied audiences promises to rev up the crowd in anticipation of the green flag. Fans wanting to get up close to the stage for DJ Umami’s concert will want to get a pre-race track pass ticket upgrade.   Tickets, pre-race track passes and camping are available for NASCAR weekend at SonomaRaceway.com or by calling (800) 870-RACE [7223].

Press Release | SONOMA RACEWAY SONOMA, Calif. (May 9, 2024) – Get ready for a dose of rock ‘n’ roll energy as world-renowned lefty guitarist, singer and acclaimed songwriter Malina Moye takes center stage to perform the National Anthem for the Toyota/Save Mart 350 NASCAR Cup Series race at Sonoma Raceway on June 9. Lauded as a musical pioneer and one of the world’s top guitarists by Guitar World Magazine, she is a singular presence in the rock world and has received critical acclaim across the spectrum for her contributions to music culture. Moye’s musical narrative boasts an impressive and unique resume bolstered by her making history as the first African-American woman to play the National Anthem on guitar at a professional sporting event.  Her latest album “Dirty”, which landed at the top of Billboard’s Blues chart, was listed among the top five albums of the year on Guitar World Magazine’s Greatest Guitar Albums of 2023 list and in March, Moye was featured in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s Revolutionary Women in Music: Left of Center exhibit, marking a first of its kind showcase at the famous museum. Moye’s last album, Bad As I Wanna Be, spent two weeks at No. 1 on the same chart. Her meteoric rise has resonated with fans, with over 70 million impressions across social media platforms and streams. Known for her electrifying performances, Malina Moye is set to kick off the racing action with an exhilarating rendition of the National Anthem that will prepare fans for the thunder about to erupt from the track. With her unique blend of rock, blues, and funk, Moye promises to deliver a performance that will inspire and captivate fans from start to finish. Tickets and camping are available for NASCAR weekend at SonomaRaceway.com or by calling (800) 870-RACE [7223].

Each week here on Racing Refresh we take a look back on the week that was in motorsports on X. Let's get started! 10. The in-season tournament is now a thing. It got a mixed reaction. Loved by new, younger fans. Largely panned by old-school purists. Let's see how it pans out next season. 9. Brad K. Man of the people. 8. Larson has the type of talent to make any move work. We may see something like this again someday. 7. Is there a cooler Victory celebration in NASCAR right now? I don't think so. 6. Seeing Mike Joy in a Speed dress shirt reminds you of a better time and better coverage for a NASCAR fan. Hopefully, NASCAR's new partners can give more than Fox is willing to these days. 5. The King has never been one to mince words or sugarcoat his feelings. If you ask him a question you will get an answer. 4. How cool is this? 3. NASCAR's renewed effort to actively and continuously honor the history of the sport has been so wonderful to see. 2. Kyle Larson is not a Swifty. Maybe. 1. I love the passion. This shows what winning means in NASCAR. You want the drivers to do everything they can to win.

By Adam Carabine Zane Smith – This week: 34th – Last week: 34th Darlington was not a friend to Zane Smith, he had a DNF, and finished 35th. Harrison Burton – This week: 33rd – Last week: 33rd A lead lap finish, P22 is better than we’ve seen from Burton in a bit, but it’ll take more than that to move up. Austin Dillon – This week: 32nd – Last week: 31st What has happened to this team?  Dillon is in a free-fall. Michael McDowell – This week: 31st – Last week: 32nd McDowell has been making his way forward in the Power Rankings with some solid finishes.  A Top 10 at Darlington helped for sure. Austin Cindric – This week: 30th – Last week: 30th When Cindric brings it home in 20th, and that’s seen as an improvement? Not great. Carson Hocevar – This week: 29th – Last week: 28th Hocevar started the year strong, and was leading in the Rookie of the Year battle for a while.  He lost it to Josh Berry this weekend with a P26 finish. Corey LaJoie – This week: 28th – Last week: 29th Finishing just outside of the Top 15, on a tough track like Darlington? Decent weekend for the 7 team. Justin Haley – This week: 27th – Last week: 27th We congratulated Haley on a P18 last week, this week he followed up with a P9.  Maybe he’s finding his footing with Rick Ware Racing. Daniel Hemric – This week: 26th – Last week: 23rd Two consecutive weeks of Hemric plummeting in the Power Rankings.  He finished 33rd at Darlington. Erik Jones – This week: 25th – Last week: 25th Solid, quiet week for Erik Jones in his return from injury.  He can perform better at Darlington, we know, but a Top 20 with a broken back isn’t too shabby. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. – This week: 24th – Last week: 21st Another underwhelming performance from Stenhouse.  P23 isn’t terrible, but nothing shines in his underlying stats either. Ryan Preece – This week: 23rd – Last week: 22nd P17 for Preece.  Sure, it could have been worse, but he was the worst finisher of all the Stewart-Haas cars. John Hunter Nemechek – This week: 22nd – Last week: 20th A rough day for Nemechek, a P31 has him fall two spots. Todd Gilliland – This week: 21st – Last week: 24th A spicy day on the 38’s radio, and a solid day for the Power Rankings.  A Top 15 finish for Gilliland, but he also got extra points in Stage One, and happened to have the most Quality Passes of any driver all day. Josh Berry – This week: 20th – Last week: 26th Biggest mover of the week, Josh Berry finished 3rd at Darlington (after starting 33rd, no less).  It’s no wonder he had the best passing differential on the day too. Daniel Suarez – This week: 19th – Last week: 17th When Suarez won at Atlanta, the overall consensus at the time was that he had saved his seat at Trackhouse.  With what we’ve seen from the 99 team since then, now I’m not so sure. Noah Gragson – This week: 18th – Last week: 19th Make that seven Top 20s in a row for Noah, after a P14 at Darlington.  He’s regaining some of his Xfinity prowess! Bubba Wallace – This week: 17th – Last week: 18th A Top-10 in Darlington for Bubba Wallace moves him up the ladder a little more.  Plus he scored some points in each stage break.  Bubba is in the Top 10 of stage points earned this season. Joey Logano – This week: 16th – Last week: 15th Another woeful finish for Joey Logano.  He did score 7 stage points, and was running in the Top 10 for most of the day, so he’s got that going for him. Chase Briscoe – This week: 15th – Last week: 16th A Top 5 for Briscoe at a track that’s notoriously difficult to drive bodes well for this team.  Hopefully that’s a shift in momentum for them. Chris Buescher – This week: 14th – Last week: 13th Aside from the actual finishing position, Buescher actually had a solid race.  He was in contention until Tyler Reddick’s failed slide job did him in.  P30 drops him one spot this week. Christopher Bell – This week: 13th – Last week: 14th It was a quiet race for Bell this week, but he managed to pull out a P13 at a tough track. Alex Bowman – This week: 12th – Last week: 12th Bowman continues to be underrepresented on TV, as his Hendrick teammates seem to take all the screentime.  He finished P8 at Darlington, that’s four Top 10s in a row now. Kyle Busch – This week: 11th – Last week: 11th Has Kyle Busch started doubting his transition to RCR yet? He was supposed to elevate them, but have they brought him down?  He keeps his position this week but it’s very much in danger. Ryan Blaney – This week: 10th – Last week: 7th It wasn’t entirely his fault, but Blaney had a rough race at Darlington.  DNF, finishing last, and throw in some profanities on his radio too.  He tends to bounce back pretty well, so don’t count him out yet. Ross Chastain – This week: 9th – Last week: 10th It sometimes feels like Chastain and Suarez are not teammates, they tend to run so differently.  A disappointing day for Suarez, but P11 for Chastain is something he can be happy with. Ty Gibbs – This week: 8th – Last week: 8th A really solid day for Ty Gibbs at Darlington.  He gets a runner-up finish, ties for the most stage points on the day, and spent the majority of the day in the Top 5. Brad Keselowski – This week: 7th – Last week: 9th The only reason Gibbs didn’t move up was because of Keselowski’s impressive win.  Did luck play a factor? Yes, but he’s been knocking at the door for a while, too.  He tied Reddick for the best average running position all day, and finally broke the winless streak! Chase Elliott – This week: 6th – Last week: 5th A poor qualifying effort kept Chase Elliott from success at Darlington.  He had good passing numbers, and did eventually make his way up to finish 12th, but the others around him had better days. William Byron – This week: 5th – Last week: 4th It’s hard to imagine a world where Byron finishes P6 and drops a spot, but here we are.  He and Chase Elliott were likely supplanted by the incredible day Reddick had (up until the mistake at the end).  It’s definitely harder to maintain your spot in the Power Rankings at the top. Tyler Reddick – This week: 4th – Last week: 6th Don’t let that P32 fool you.  Reddick had a stellar day, all up until he tangled with Buescher in the final run to the finish.  He led 174 laps (a career high, and the most of anyone all day), had the fastest car on track for 75 laps (again, the most of anyone), and even won a stage.  Yes, the finishing position was bad, but watch out for Reddick. Martin Truex Jr. – This week: 3rd – Last week: 3rd Truex was having a solid day until he got caught in a wreck on a restart stackup.  His car wasn’t the same after that, and they couldn’t seem to find the balance.  However, some decent underlying stats kept him in the Top 3 of the Power Rankings. Denny Hamlin – This week: 2nd – Last week: 2nd Somehow a quiet day for Denny still wound up being a P4.  You didn’t see much of him, but he’s consistently getting results. Kyle Larson – This week: 1st – Last week: 1st Unfortunately for Larson, his tires did not agree with him at Darlington and he wound up crashing out of the race with about 40 laps to go.  He earned plenty of stage points, though, and had some solid passing numbers.  Plus, Larson has been so good, it’s hard to dock him a spot in the Power Rankings for a DNF just yet.

By Matt Marr Pole-sitter Tyler Reddick led Brad Keselowski and the rest of the field to the green flag. Kyle Larson took over the lead from Ty Gibbs with 8 laps to go in Stage One and held on for the win. Thanks to having chosen the first pit stall, Reddick restarted Stage Two with the lead on lap 99. The caution came out for John Hunter Nemechek as he spun and blew a tire on the frontstretch on lap 121. The caution came out quickly again off the restart lap 129, William Byron and Ryan Blaney squeezed Martin Truex Jr. in the middle but it put Blaney in the wall with enough damage to end his day early. Zane Smith went around and into the inside wall on the frontstretch bringing out another caution on lap 164. Reddick won Stage Two. Kyle Larson spun out with a flat tire, bringing out a caution at lap 254. Chris Buescher made it a three-car battle for the lead with Reddick and Keselowski with 31 laps to go. With 29 to go, Buescher took the lead, taking the front two three-wide. In a Hail Mary move, Tyler Reddick got into Buescher along the turn three wall, attempting to slide up ahead of him.  Doing so forced both of them to have to pit for flat tires, handing Keselowski the lead. Brad Keselowski held off a late charge by Ty Gibbs to win the Goodyear 400 throwback race at Darlington, snapping his 110-race winless streak. Goodyear 400 Top 5:  1. Brad Keselowski 2. Ty Gibbs 3. Josh Berry 4. Denny Hamlin 5. Chase Briscoe