Photo from www.x.com/f1 By Ryan Wu For the first time in five years, Formula 1 has a new World Champion. After narrowly missing the chance to secure his maiden title a week earlier in Qatar, Lando Norris delivered on the preseason expectations for both himself and his team, capturing his first F1 World Championship. His coronation required the full 24-race calendar, with Max Verstappen closing from 102 points behind and threatening with what could have been a historic comeback. The momentum seemed firmly in the Dutchman’s favor, especially after the McLaren drivers collided in Austin and were later hit with a double disqualification in Las Vegas. However, to be the best, you have to beat the best. Lando Norris dethroned Verstappen and ended his four-year championship run. In doing so, he proved that champions come in different forms. He may not possess Verstappen’s intensity or Lewis Hamilton’s charisma, but in Formula 1, what matters most is crossing the finish line first. Though he did not come away with the win in Abu Dhabi, Norris claimed the ultimate prize. Race Recap Verstappen delivered when it mattered in qualifying. His final laps in Q3 were exceptionally fast, allowing him to snatch pole position from Norris and Piastri, who started second and third, respectively. There was considerable speculation before the race that the run to the first corner would create drama and potentially open a path for Piastri to slip through. Fortunately for everyone involved, no incidents occurred, and the race unfolded with very few disruptions. Oscar Piastri, who gambled by starting on hard tires, made an excellent move on Norris during the opening lap to take second place. He needed at least a top two finish and hoped for chaos to impact his two remaining rivals. His strategy reflected that hope, as he did not stop for tires until lap 41 of 58, once it became clear that no late crash or safety car was likely. Norris was the first of the leading trio to pit for new tires. He entered in third and exited in ninth on a set of hards, before immediately attacking the field. Like a player boosted by the yellow star in Mario Kart, he sliced through the pack over the next few laps, picking off Kimi Antonelli, Carlos Sainz and climbed to sixth by the end of lap 19, including a bold overtake of both Lance Stroll and Liam Lawson on the back straight. Although Norris only needed a podium finish to secure the Championship, he refused to become conservative. The charge was smooth until he challenged Yuki Tsunoda, who had not yet pitted, on lap 23. Norris appeared to complete the overtake off the track, raising concerns of a potential penalty that would have severely damaged his title hopes. However, the stewards determined that Tsunoda forced Norris wide by weaving three times across the track. At the time, Charles Leclerc was only 1.6 seconds behind in fifth, so a five or ten second penalty would have been costly. Norris held third place comfortably and was never under serious threat, ultimately finishing more than seven seconds ahead of fourth place Leclerc. Standings Implications Mercedes secured second place in the Constructors’ Championship thanks to George Russell’s fifth place finish. The result carries significant financial implications, as the difference in prize money between second and third can amount to tens of millions of dollars. Williams also clinched fourth place, capping an incredible season for a team that chose not to significantly develop its car after April, instead allocating substantial resources toward next year’s new generation of cars. After years of difficulty, there is renewed optimism, as they appear to have established a stable and at times inspiring driver pairing in Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz, who finished eighth and ninth in the Championship, respectively. Odds and ends No rookie finished in the points in this race, marking the first time this has happened since the British Grand Prix in July and only the second time all season. Furthermore, Hamilton’s eighth place finish confirmed that he completed his first Ferrari season without a podium, the first time this has occurred in his career. Racing Refresh Driver of the Day Lando Norris, McLaren Final Points Finishing Positions 1st: Max Verstappen 2nd: Oscar Piastri 3rd: Lando Norris 4th: Charles Leclerc 5th: George Russell 6th: Fernando Alonso 7th: Esteban Ocon 8th: Lewis Hamilton 9th: Nico Hulkenberg 10th: Lance Stroll

Photo from www.x.com/f1 By Ryan Wu Sprint Recap - Piastri Fights Back Oscar Piastri showed signs of life as he won the sprint race ahead of his main Championship rivals. He also gained valuable points over Lando Norris, who finished third, and Max Verstappen, who came fourth. George Russell followed up last week’s podium in Las Vegas with a second-place finish in the sprint. Race Recap - Verstappen and Piastri Show Courage and Strategy Calls Loom Large Oscar Piastri followed up his strong sprint performance by starting from pole, ahead of Lando Norris and Max Verstappen. Verstappen made an excellent start and immediately passed Norris. Pierre Gasly ran into trouble early when he was noted for rejoining the track unsafely. His race deteriorated further when he collided with Nico Hulkenberg on lap 7, bringing out the safety car and ending Hulkenberg’s afternoon. Most drivers chose to pit for fresh tires during the caution, but Esteban Ocon and the two McLarens stayed out. This dropped Verstappen to third. Norris’ race engineer explained that the choice to stay out was intended to give the team more strategic flexibility later on. This mattered because Pirelli had imposed a maximum of 25 laps per tire set for the weekend, making the race a mandatory two-stop event. During this period Ocon was also noted for moving at the race start, earning a five second penalty. After the restart, Piastri immediately pulled clear of Norris, opening a gap of 1.3 seconds within a single lap and keeping his teammate out of DRS range. The advantage grew to more than three seconds as both McLarens pushed hard to create a buffer to the rest of the field. The differing pit strategies briefly handed Verstappen the lead once the McLarens made their stops, but the running order eventually returned to the original starting positions once all drivers completed their mandatory stops. Lance Stroll also endured a difficult afternoon and received a ten second stop and go penalty. Norris faced a deficit of more than six seconds to Piastri on lap 37 when he ran slightly off track at turn 14 due to oversteer. He reported damage and lost more than a second as a result. He then extended his second stint until lap 44, stopping after Piastri in the hope that a late safety car would help him recover lost time. Instead, he rejoined the race in fifth behind Kimi Antonelli and Carlos Sainz. With only thirteen laps to go, Norris had to chase them down to fight for a podium finish. Antonelli defended brilliantly but went wide at the start of the final lap, allowing Norris to slip past. Norris then had a single lap to catch Sainz, but the Spaniard held firm and secured his second podium of the year. At the front, Verstappen had built a dominant lead and ultimately won the race by more than ten seconds. He delivered a flawless performance, and the team’s decision to pit under the safety car proved decisive. The win also moved him into second place in the Championship for the first time since Japan. One has to question the strategy call by McLaren during the safety car. By opting to not favor one driver over the other, they didn’t split the strategy which allowed a great opportunity for Verstappen to snatch the victory. As a result, the World Championship will be decided at the final round in Abu Dhabi next weekend. Standings of the Championship contenders after Qatar: Norris 408 Verstappen 396 Piastri 392 Racing Refresh Driver of the Day Max Verstappen, Red Bull Final Points Finishing Positions 1st: Max Verstappen 2nd: Oscar Piastri 3rd: Carlos Sainz 4th: Lando Norris 5th: Kimi Antonelli 6th: George Russell 7th: Fernando Alonso 8th: Charles Leclerc 9th: Liam Lawson 10th: Yuki Tsunoda Next on the F1 Schedule: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: December 5th-7th

Photo from www.x.com/f1 By Ryan Wu Well, this result certainly will not be staying in Vegas. Lando Norris, who initially finished second, and Oscar Piastri, who originally finished fourth, were both disqualified after the Las Vegas Grand Prix this weekend. With Max Verstappen taking the win, he is now level with Piastri at 366 points while Norris remains ahead on 390 points. Norris can still clinch the World Championship next weekend in Qatar if he finishes the weekend, which includes a sprint, at least two points ahead of both Verstappen and Piastri. Norris had been 30 points clear of Piastri and 42 ahead of Verstappen after the race, but post race scrutiny found that both his and Piastri’s rearmost skidplates were below the 9 millimeter minimum limit. The last time this happened was in Shanghai when Lewis Hamilton’s skidplate was found to be below the limit. Verstappen’s Clutch Win With a win, Max Verstappen drastically improved his chances of securing a fifth straight Championship. He capitalized on Norris running wide in turn one to take the lead, a position he would hold for the entire evening. Verstappen also pitted much later than many of the drivers around him, stopping for a set of hard tires on lap 25, which was three laps later than Norris and eight laps later than Russell. He rejoined the race still in the lead. George Russell challenged the Dutchman throughout the night, and it was only after Russell was overtaken by Norris with 16 laps remaining that Verstappen looked firmly on course for another victory in Las Vegas. Norris ultimately could not catch him, and he was instructed by his engineer to lift and coast, which made the final gap of 20 seconds seem deceptively comfortable for Verstappen. In reality, it had been a spirited race and the reigning World Champion earned every bit of this victory. Ferrari Responds Lewis Hamilton’s weekend was once again looking like it was heading towards ‘nightmare’ territory as he started at the tail end of the pack in 19th (only Yuki Tsunoda was worse, having to start from the pit lane) but he drove valiantly and finished 8th. Charles Leclerc added to their points haul with a fourth place finish and Ferrari now find themselves 13 points back of Red Bull for third in the Constructors standings. Racing Refresh Driver of the Day Max Verstappen, Red Bull Final Points Finishing Positions 1st: Max Verstappen 2nd: George Russell 3rd: Kimi Antonelli 4th: Charles Leclerc 5th: Carlos Sainz 6th: Isack Hadjar 7th: Nico Hulkenberg 8th: Lewis Hamilton 9th: Esteban Ocon 10th: Oliver Bearman Next on the F1 Schedule: Qatar Grand Prix: November 28th-30th

Photo from www.x.com/f1 By Ryan Wu Norris Inches Closer to Claiming Maiden Title, Verstappen Makes Charge Lando Norris extended his championship lead after winning the São Paulo Grand Prix in Brazil. He now holds a 24-point advantage over Oscar Piastri with three races remaining in what has been an incredible battle for the World Championship. Piastri is also under pressure from Max Verstappen, who finished third in Brazil after starting from the pit lane due to a power unit change. Verstappen had failed to advance from Q1 for the first time in his career and now sits 25 points behind Piastri and 49 points off the overall lead. Piastri could only manage a fifth-place finish after crashing out of the sprint race, losing valuable points to his two title rivals. Race Recap A safety car following a restart led by Gabriel Bortoleto and a subsequent 10-second penalty for Oscar Piastri proved to be the defining moment of the race early on lap 2. Bortoleto made contact with Lance Stroll’s Aston Martin and crashed into the barrier. Shortly after, Piastri locked up on the main straight and collided with Kimi Antonelli, whose Mercedes was then pushed into Charles Leclerc, forcing Leclerc out of the race. Piastri served his penalty on lap 38, which required an additional pit stop later on and effectively ended his chances of winning. Meanwhile, Max Verstappen charged through the field, easily dispatching any driver who tried to hold him back. He pushed hard until the end, overtaking George Russell with nine laps to go but was unable to get past Kimi Antonelli, ultimately finishing within a second of the young driver, who celebrated the second podium of his career. Norris was able to drive for the rest of the race somewhat unchallenged as he claimed his seventh win of the season. Awful Weekend for Ferrari Put simply, it was a weekend to forget for Ferrari. Charles Leclerc’s strong start, with a fifth-place finish in the sprint and a third-place qualification for the main race, ended abruptly when Kimi Antonelli collided with him after the safety car restart on lap 6, knocking off his front left tire. Lewis Hamilton’s race also unraveled early after contact with Franco Colapinto’s Alpine on lap 1 damaged his front wing, forcing an early pit stop that left him at the back of the field. His situation worsened when he received a five-second penalty for causing the collision, and he eventually retired on lap 37, sealing a double DNF for Ferrari. To make matters worse, the team has now fallen 36 points behind second place in the Constructors Championship, losing significant ground to Mercedes after their drivers finished second and fourth. Red Bull also pulled ahead, now sitting four points clear of the Prancing Horse. Rookie Report It was a strong weekend for the young drivers in Brazil. Kimi Antonelli held off the four-time defending World Champion to secure his second podium of the season and valuable points for Mercedes in their fight for second in the Constructors Championship. A bit further back, Oliver Bearman, Isack Hadjar, and Liam Lawson all scored points, finishing fifth, sixth, and seventh respectively. Racing Refresh Driver of the Day Max Verstappen,  Red Bull Final Points Finishing Positions 1st: Lando Norris 2nd: Kimi Antonelli 3rd: Max Verstappen 4th: George Russell 5th: Oscar Piastri 6th: Oliver Bearman 7th: Isack Hadjar 8th: Liam Lawson 9th: Nico Hulkenberg 10th: Pierre Gasly Next on the F1 Schedule: Las Vegas Grand Prix: November 20th-22nd

As Phoenix's six-year championship run ends, NASCAR's finale delivered two worthy champions whose victories blurred the line between triumph and heartbreak. By Crystal Clay Photo Credit: Crystal Clay PHOENIX (Nov. 2, 2025) — NASCAR’s championship weekend at Phoenix Raceway closed a six-year run as the sport’s title stage, ending an era that saw all three national series crown their champions in the desert. The finale delivered everything the format promises: late-race chaos, perfect execution and heartbreak in equal measure. Each title came down to a NASCAR overtime two-lap shootout that tested the line between precision and luck. (Editor’s note: The Truck Series finale is covered separately.) Larson Claims Second Cup Series Title Kyle Larson captured his second NASCAR Cup Series championship Sunday night, outlasting the field in a race that showcased every element of modern NASCAR: strategy, composure and timing. Larson’s No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet suffered a right-front tire failure around Lap 216, costing him a lap and his championship momentum. Larson confirmed after the race that the issue forced him to the pits and left him relying on a timely caution and wave-around to rejoin the lead lap. Chase Briscoe received the free pass moments earlier before Larson clawed back into contention. When the final caution set up a two-lap overtime shootout, Denny Hamlin, who led 208 laps, called for four fresh tires. It was a strategy similar to the one that won the Truck Series title Friday night. Larson’s crew chief, Cliff Daniels, chose two tires instead, a call that flipped the race and ultimately the championship. Larson never led a single lap, a testament to how chaos, timing, and composure can outweigh domination under NASCAR’s playoff format. Still, he executed when it mattered most, earning his second title in four seasons. Denny Hamlin exits the No.11 JGR Toyota on pit road at the finish of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Championship (Photo Credit: Yulanda Gilliam/PBY Media) “Sure I’m happy,” Larson said. “But there’s definitely a piece of me that’s sad for him.” Hamlin, still seeking his first championship after 20 seasons, was subdued. “Man, if you can’t win that one, I don’t know which one you can win,” he said on pit road. Larson called the night “insane,” a word that captured both the unpredictability of the finish and the awkwardness of celebrating while a friend’s heartbreak unfolded beside him. Love Captures Xfinity Title in Emotional Finish A night earlier, 20-year-old Jesse Love delivered one of the most complete performances of his young career to claim his first NASCAR Xfinity Series championship. After an early struggle that dropped him outside the top 10, Love and crew chief Danny Stockman made key adjustments and relied on their pit crew’s fastest stop of the season to put the No. 2 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet in control late. Love drove away on the final overtime restart to win both the race and the title, saying afterward that they “didn’t just luck into this” but “did it on speed.” Jesse Love wins the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship as Aric Almirola seen in background celebrating the 2025 Owner's Championship in the No. 19 for Joe Gibbs Racing (Photo Credit: Yulanda Gilliam/PBY Media) Connor Zilisch, Love’s closest friend and fiercest rival, had been in the fight all night. He grabbed the lead multiple times, including before the final caution, and looked poised to cap his 10-win season with a championship. But when the field lined up for the two-lap overtime, Love’s car came alive while Zilisch’s balance faded. “We were never the best car,” he said. “I got the lead both times, but every run we just tanked. I don’t know if I was pushing too hard or what it was. After 20 laps, I just couldn’t hang on.” Despite the heartbreak, Zilisch carried himself like a veteran. “You work so hard for 38 weeks,” he said. “Coming up short sucks.” When asked if it helped that his best friend won, he smiled through the disappointment and said, “No, it doesn’t make it feel any better. But good for Jesse, I’m really happy for him. He works hard and deserves it.” After finishing his interviews, Zilisch stepped quietly out of the media center, tears slipping down his face, the kind that come from both heartbreak and pride. It was a moment that said everything about his composure. He didn’t lose his class. He just let his heart show. A Format That Defines Eras NASCAR’s playoff system once again produced the drama it promises: championships decided in a handful of laps and emotions that linger long after. The structure rewards execution under pressure as much as season-long consistency, a reality every driver understands. As of the State of the Sport address, NASCAR leadership (Steve Phelps and Steve O'Donnell) did not announce any format changes for 2026. They said the sanctioning body continues to evaluate the playoff format, but nothing is finalized. So for now, the current elimination-style format with a one-race championship remains in place. Veteran Justin Allgaier summed it up simply: “The format is the format. Our job is to race to it.” For Larson and Love, that meant mastering chaos. For Hamlin and Zilisch, it meant learning how close perfection can come to heartbreak. Phoenix Hands Off the Crown After six consecutive seasons as NASCAR’s championship host, Phoenix Raceway’s run came to a close with one final, dramatic weekend. Future title weekends will continue to feature all three national series, but the desert’s era as the annual home of the sport’s biggest moment has ended. This weekend also marked the end of an era for NASCAR's second-tier division as Xfinity wrapped its 11-year run as title sponsor. Introduced in 2015, the partnership helped elevate the series' identity through digital engagement and driver development, leaving a lasting mark on how fans connected with the sport's rising stars. Kyle Larson celebrates 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Championship on the frontstretch with his children at Phoenix Raceway. (Photo Credit: Crystal Clay) As the sun set behind the mountains Sunday night, three champions stood tall and nine contenders walked away hollow-eyed, a fitting end to a venue that has come to define the thrill and cruelty of NASCAR’s modern era. The desert crowned worthy champions. It just didn’t spare anyone’s heart.

By Crystal Clay AVONDALE, Ariz. (Nov. 1, 2025) — Before Trevor Huddleston lifted the ARCA Menards Series West championship trophy at Phoenix Raceway, the idea for his winning car was drawn nearly four decades earlier in a Los Angeles high-school auto-shop class. Photo Credit: Yulanda Gilliam/PBY Media Huddleston, 29, clinched his first ARCA West title Friday night driving the No. 50 Ford for his family-owned High Point Racing team. The championship fulfilled a story that began at University High School in West Los Angeles, where his father, Tim Huddleston, was part of a six-student auto-shop group guided by teacher Glen Werdon. According to a 1988 Los Angeles Times report, Werdon himself a longtime stock-car racer, taught his students how to rebuild and race a 1971 Chevelle at Saugus Speedway, paying roughly $6,000 in parts out of pocket and turning the project into a full racing effort. One of those students, Tim Huddleston, drew the car’s design on paper and later carried that vision into what became High Point Racing. “My dad started this as a high-school auto-shop project,” Trevor Huddleston said. “They built a car, pulled a name out of a hat, and my dad got to drive. If it wasn’t for that, I probably wouldn’t be sitting here today.” The Agoura Hills, California, native began racing Bandoleros at 12 before advancing through sportsman and super-late-model ranks. He won his first Irwindale Speedway late-model championship in 2015 and finished second nationally in NASCAR’s Weekly Series standings in 2017 with 22 wins in 35 starts. Since joining the ARCA West tour in 2018, Huddleston has collected six series victories and become one of its most consistent veterans. His 2025 season began with a dominant win at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway and ended with a title-clinching run in the Desert Diamond Casino West Valley 100 at Phoenix. “It’s not like I won this in some random car,” he said. “This is literally a car my dad designed on paper when he was 16. To win the championship in that same lineage, with our family team, it’s beyond special.” High Point Racing remains a small, tight-knit operation. The team used the same Robert Yates-built engine in all 12 events this season, logging roughly 1,700 miles without a failure. “My mom and dad are the dynamic duo,” Huddleston said. “They feed off each other, and my mom keeps my dad grounded when he gets a little crazy. She’s been at the track since I was a kid, even when I wasn’t racing, she was still there.” Huddleston grew up at Irwindale Speedway, which closed earlier this year. He called its loss a blow to Southern California racing but said the region remains resilient. “I was there when we were tearing the grandstands down,” he said. “That’s where I was raised. But you’ve got to bounce back. Racing out here is still strong — we just have to fight harder for it.” Huddleston pointed to Harvick’s investment in Kern Raceway and the emerging Cars Tour West as signs of renewed momentum for grassroots racing on the West Coast. “Kevin Harvick partnering with Kern really sparked the joy for a lot of us,” Huddleston said. “It reminded people on the East Coast that the West still exists. We’re on the rise again.” The celebration in Phoenix was a family affair, with friends and former classmates from Los Angeles joining the crew. “We might be drinking Martinelli’s right now,” Huddleston joked, “but when we get home, it’ll be more than that. This is one we’ll celebrate for a long time.” Editor’s note: Background information about University High School’s 1980s auto-shop class and instructor Glen Werdon was reported by Karl Kahler in the Los Angeles Times on Dec. 8, 1988, under the headline “Taking Stock in Their Class: Auto Shop Teacher Revs Up His Students With Track Lessons.”

By Crystal Clay AVONDALE, Ariz. — Corey Heim didn’t so much win the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship as refuse to let anyone else touch it. Photo Credit: Yulanda Gilliam/PBY Media The moment that’s going to run on loop all winter is obvious. Overtime. Phoenix Raceway under the lights. The field explodes seven-wide into Turn 1 like a pack of shopping carts breaking loose, and the No. 11 Safelite Toyota just knifes under all of it. Paint, pride, whatever was left. Heim drags it along the inside wall, committed, unapologetic, and comes out the other side already hunting Ty Majeski’s bumper. But that’s not where the night started for him. And it’s definitely not where the season did. “I’ve been, like, so terrible to talk to as a person,” he said, still in his firesuit. “So stressed out. Ever since we went to the Roval, I’ve just been wound up.” That’s not bravado. That’s a 23-year-old who walked into Phoenix Raceway as “ him” . Not “one of four.” HIM. The one with 11 wins in 24 races coming in. The one who had already rewritten the record book before the green flag even fell. And the one who knew, if he didn’t close, people were going to talk about everything except how good he really is. “This year we came back and broke just about every record you possibly could,” Heim said. “I felt the pressure that if I didn’t get the championship, that cherry on top… even if we had no wins to our name in 2025, we were trying to win the championship. That was the number one goal.” This wasn’t his first shot. Heim has been in the Championship 4 three consecutive seasons. In 2023, he said, things “got out of control.” In 2024 he felt like “it was our year,” and he left Phoenix talking about how they “got our teeth kicked in.” This time? No. Not again. And he had help. The box score from Friday night at Phoenix is going to look clean in the archives. Corey Heim swept Stages 1 and 2. He led 100 of 161 laps. He cleared the defending Champion Ty Majeski on the final restart and won by 0.993 seconds in double overtime. He finished off his twelfth win of the season, extending the Truck Series single-season wins record, and finally left the desert as the 2025 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion. But in real time, it wasn’t that calm. Photo Credit: Yulanda Gilliam/PBY Media With just over two laps left in regulation, Layne Riggs was out front. Heim was chasing. And the math was about to get weird: Riggs, eliminated from the driver Playoffs last week at Martinsville on a tiebreaker, was still alive for the owners’ championship. Had the race ended under green right there, Riggs likely would’ve walked off with the win and owners’ title, and Heim would have locked the driver’s championship by finishing second. Then Connor Mosack hit the Turn 4 wall. Caution. Everything reset. For TRICON Garage crew chief Scott Zipadelli, that yellow was a decision point. For Heim, it was a test of faith. All night, the 11 had speed. Heim said they “struggled all weekend in practice a little bit,” and “missed it a little bit” in qualifying. The speed was there, the handling wasn’t. Zipadelli and the 11 crew had to build that balance in real time as Phoenix cooled down under the lights. And suddenly, with the title on the line, they had to choose tires. Zipadelli called for four. On paper, that’s the “safer” call. In reality, at Phoenix with two to go, it’s a trap: Championships here are won on pit road. You give up all the track position you’ve spent 150 laps earning and just pray you get to use the grip before you run out of laps. Heim hated watching the world drive past him. “Yeah, I was disappointed to see everyone roll by me,” he said. “It’s a track position racetrack. I really did think two tires was the call, to be honest with you. But that’s why I’m not a crew chief.” He came off pit road as the first truck on four tires, in 10th. And that’s the point where most drivers start thinking about everything that can go wrong. Heim didn’t. He flipped into something closer to obligation. “Nobody was going to beat me tonight,” he said. “I don’t care if I was on hundred-lap tires, nobody was going to beat me tonight. It wasn’t going to happen.” On the first overtime restart, Heim took the bottom. He’d already made up his mind that he’d rather control his fate shoving up than be the guy on the outside waiting to get slid into. “When you’ve got a guy that stayed out on 50-lap tires, you put him on the front row,” he said. “If you don’t give yourself a gap, you’re screwed.” Photo Credit: Yulanda Gilliam/PBY Media He gave himself a gap. What happened next is the clip. Coming to green, he told his spotter, basically: I can’t really see; coach me. Once they hit the line, instinct took over. He downshifted to third early. Dropped to the apron so far left he was nearly scraping the inside wall. Stayed in the throttle. Trusted the tires. Trusted the fact that, for once, he wasn’t reacting to chaos, he was creating separation. “I figured we’d be three or four wide,” he said. “Not seven wide.” Seven-wide into Turn 1 of Phoenix Raceway is the kind of thing that usually ends with bent sheet metal and a quiet, embarrassed ride to the infield care center. Heim just drove out of it. “I went lower and lower until [the truck ahead of me] couldn’t anymore and I could with my tires,” he said. “I didn’t think about it very much at all. I went off muscle memory.” By the time they hit Turn 2, he’d gone from 10th to clean air. By the second overtime restart, it was over. He cleared Majeski, drove away, and finally let that pressure go. There are stats to hang on this if you want them. Some of them don’t even sound real. Heim led at least one lap in all 25 Truck Series races this year — no driver in the history of the series had ever done that. When he took the lead from Chandler Smith on Lap 22 Friday, he finished the set. He ends 2025 with 1,625 laps led, breaking the Truck Series single-season record of 1,533 that dated back to Mike Skinner in 1996. He has 12 wins this year, and 23 career Truck wins. He finished this season with zero DNFs. Zero. That’s not just dominance; that’s control. But if you ask him what matters, he doesn’t start with any of that. He starts with his team. “It’s really a big family, honestly,” Heim said. “We won as a family. We’ve had literally every person, other than pit crew, together on that 11 crew since the middle of 2023. Obviously guys want to work for [Scott Zipadelli] and with him. He’s the captain of that.” He talks about Toyota taking a chance on him. About 23XI and the internal prep work. About Trevor and Blake and his sim work. About his spotter. About his dad. “I could probably count on one hand how many races he’s missed in my entire life,” Heim said earlier this week on media day. “He’s always been my number one supporter… I certainly wouldn’t be here without that.” And then, quietly, he talks about responsibility. He knows he came into this weekend with the best equipment in the garage. He said that out loud: “the best truck team in the garage.” He also said that made it heavier, not easier. “To be able to have an opportunity to work with what I think is the best truck team that’s ever been assembled with those guys on the 11 crew, I’d feel bad not being able to prepare to the best of my ability,” Heim said. “Showing up to the racetrack not being prepared? I’d kind of feel guilty, honestly.” That’s not swagger. That’s accountability. So, yeah. Corey Heim is the 2025 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion. That’s the headline. But that’s not the story he was really writing. The story is that after two straight years of leaving Phoenix with a knot in his throat, he showed up to the same place, with the same expectations, and decided he wasn’t leaving empty-handed again. He put it on his own shoulders, told everybody around him to trust him, grabbed third gear on the apron, and drove through the pressure like it wasn’t allowed to exist. “It was meant to be,” he said. And for once, in Phoenix, it actually was.

By Crystal Clay LAS VEGAS — The taste and aroma of nitro hang heavy over The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Fans press against the fence as crews roll cars into the staging lanes. Somewhere in that blur of noise and smoke against the backdrop of desert mountains, John Force leans toward his daughter Brittany’s cockpit and shares a fist bump. A quiet ritual that’s outlasted records, championships, wrecks and time. Photo: Courtesy of NHRA “Drive from the heart.” It’s the line she’s carried her entire career, one that began in the grandstands beside her sisters and her mother, watching her father walk from explosions into championships. He’s recited it before every run, season, and heartbreak. And this weekend it carries more weight than ever. For the first time in over a decade of full-time racing, Brittany Force enters Las Vegas not only as a contender but as a woman preparing to close a significant chapter not only for herself but for the world of racing. She’s fifth in points and technically still in the hunt for the championship, realistically chasing something deeper than standings; presence, peace and purpose, the kind you can only find when you have the last name Force. “You carry so much weight as a driver,” she said. “There’s always pressure. Whether it’s first round or the final, your sponsors are behind you, you’re in the hunt for a championship, and my dad always says, ‘Drive from the heart.’ It means get back to remembering why you love it. Block out the noise and focus on driving your car.” Austin Prock and Brittany Force, 2024 Nevada Nationals. Photo: Courtesy of NHRA Last year’s fall win in Las Vegas still lives vividly in her mind. Her father had just returned to the racetrack after a terrifying wreck in Richmond, one that left him hospitalized for months. Brittany stayed by his side, skipped a race and watched him fight through physical therapy in Phoenix and Pomona. “I knew we were going to win,” she recalled. “It was my dad’s first race back. I had this gut feeling. And we did. We doubled up. Austin Prock and I brought him home two wins for John Force Racing. After everything he’d been through, that weekend will always stand out.” A year later, she returns to the same track carrying both that memory and the knowledge that this run is part of her own comeback. Not from a crash, but from the emotional intensity of closing a 13-year stretch as one of drag racing’s most powerful figures. Force set both ends of the Top Fuel track record at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in 2019 with a 3.659-second pass at 338.17 mph, which at the time was the fastest run in NHRA Top Fuel history. Her team hasn’t visited the winner’s circle since Epping, New Hampshire, but hunger isn’t something you can measure on paper. The goal is simple and familiar: qualify in the top three, turn on four win lights and finish what they started. But beneath the stats is something more human. An understanding that each pass now carries a trace of farewell. At 343.51 mph, Brittany Force holds the national mile-per-hour record. She laughs when people ask if she’s chasing higher numbers. “343 is fast enough for me,” she said. “I don’t want to know what comes after that. We weren’t chasing a record; we were chasing ETs and win lights. The mile-per-hour came in the middle of that. But if someone takes it from me, you better believe I’ll chase it down again.” For now, her chase looks different. Success is still measured in qualifying points and trophies, but also in connection. “If I can inspire somebody by doing what I do, that’s a win in itself,” she said. “And success is enjoying the ride, being in the moment, having your heart in the game and loving every second of it.” Photo: Courtesy of NHRA That mindset has made Brittany one of the most popular drivers in the pits. She’s always signing, always smiling, always giving fans a moment. But those moments come at a price. Behind the schedule, the smiles and the horsepower is a life defined by motion; constant, relentless motion. “I live out of a suitcase,” she said. “We’re in a different city every weekend. I probably do six to eight sponsor appearances on off weeks, too. I miss being home. That’s what I’m looking forward to — being home more than I have in 13 years.” If there’s one moment she’ll carry forward, it won’t be silence though, it’ll be sound. “One of my favorite sounds this season came from Sonoma,” she said, referring to the video of her 340-plus mph run. “Our PR guy filmed from the starting line. The stands were packed. At the end, you hear the roar of the fans. When I saw that video, it was surreal. That sound, that energy — it’s something I’ll never forget.” That same sound will rise again in Las Vegas this weekend. The Strip, with its neon skyline and desert wind, has always been a mirror of the sport itself: glamour mixed with grit, spectacle grounded in sweat. For Force, it’s the stage for one last surge before Pomona, before home or whatever comes next. “It’s a roller coaster of emotions,” she admitted. “Coming into these last two, it’s bittersweet. If I could drive and start a family at the same time, I would, but there’s just not a place for that in this sport. So it’s about bringing everything to the starting line and giving it my all for these final races.” She doesn’t call it retirement, just a pause. The Force family has never been known for staying parked. “I don’t plan on closing the door to driving in the future,” she said. “I don’t know what my future looks like yet. My husband and I plan to start a family, and if that’s not in the cards, that’s OK. But the biggest lesson my dad ever taught me is leading by example; watching him fight back from those crashes, pushing through therapy, staying motivated. That’s what I carry with me.” Courtney Force, John Force, Graham Rahal at 2024 Nevada Nationals. Photo: Courtesy of NHRA Leaning into the unknown, these final races signal one thing for sure. Some NHRA fans may never again see a Force behind the wheel. Their family legacy will always remain, though. And for the loyal fans who have filled the stands and created memories that will last forever, she says: “Our NHRA drag racing fans have always been loyal. They’re the reason we get to do what we love every single weekend. I just want to thank them for supporting me, my dad, John Force Racing, through every up and down, every transition. They’ve been incredible.” As Brittany Force climbs into her Top Fuel dragster this weekend, she won’t overthink the meaning of the moment. She’ll do what she’s always done; clear the noise, steady her breath and drive from her center. Because the legacy she’s built isn’t just measured in Wally trophies, miles per hour or win lights, but in the thousands of fans who’ve felt something because of her. The finish line is still ahead, but the imprint of this weekend, of this chapter, is already written in fire and heart. And for anyone lucky enough to catch a glimpse of John and Brittany do their regular track walk or the casual fist bump in the staging lane, the moment runs much deeper than it appears.

By Adam Carabine Happy weekend everyone, it’s time for another edition of Stats Saturday. This weekend NASCAR travels to Avondale, Arizona for the NASCAR Cup Series Championship at Phoenix Raceway.   Phoenix is a 1-mile oval track with a unique dogleg corner just past the start-finish line.  The track opened in 1964, but NASCAR didn’t start racing there until 1988.  Alan Kulwicki won the first race there that year.  Christopher Bell won in Phoenix earlier this year.  Joey Logano won this race last year en route to his 3 rd  Cup Series Championship.   Tomorrow’s race will be 312 laps long (for a total of 312 miles), with stage breaks occurring at 60 – 185 – 312.  Pit road speed is 45 mph, and the caution vehicle runs at 50 mph.  The fuel window is between 95-105 laps, but tire wear may force pit stops to happen sooner than that.   This year, the NASCAR Cup Series has run 9,261 laps, for 12,540.89 miles so far this season.  No driver has completed every single lap - Tyler Reddick is closest, running 15 laps down.   Top 5 Career Average Finishers at Phoenix: Denny Hamlin 10.60 over 40 races (2 wins) Kyle Larson 10.68 over 22 races (1 win) William Byron 10.80 over 15 races (1 win) Kyle Busch 11.40 over 40 races (3 wins) Ryan Blaney 11.42 over 19 races   Bottom 5 Career Average Finishers at Phoenix: Riley Herbst 37.00 over 1 race SVG 31.00 over 1 race Cody Ware 30.38 over 8 races Michael McDowell 28.34 over 29 races Zane Smith 27.00 over 4 races   For the purposes of this article, Phoenix is a Short Track.   Top 5 Career Average Finishers at Short Tracks: Joey Logano 11.23 over 195 races (13 wins) Chase Elliott 11.53 over 108 races (4 wins) Ryan Blaney 12.10 over 112 races (4 wins) Christopher Bell 12.14 over 64 races (7 wins) William Byron 12.56 over 86 races (5 wins)   Bottom 5 Career Average Finishers at Short Tracks: Michael McDowell 26.39 over 172 races Ty Dillon 25.49 over 84 races Zane Smith 24.55 over 25 races Noah Gragson 24.22 over 33 races JH Nemechek 23.05 over 33 races   Kevin Harvick is the winningest driver at Phoenix, with 9 wins.  Jimmie Johnson and Joey Logano are tied for 2 nd  with 4 wins each.   Drivers who WON their first Cup Series race at Phoenix: Chase Briscoe 40 th  Career Cup Series Start Notable drivers who have not won at Phoenix: Brad Keselowski (has won at 17 other tracks) Ryan Blaney (has won at 11 other tracks) Tyler Reddick (has won at 8 other tracks) Alex Bowman (has won at 8 other tracks) Chris Buescher (has won at 6 other tracks)   Based on average finish, no driver lists Phoenix as their BEST or WORST track.   Based on their point pace, let’s have a look at how this season is comparing to last season for drivers:   Drivers Faring Better than in 2024 Chase Briscoe +337 pts Ryan Preece +238 pts JH Nemechek +235 pts Erik Jones +143 pts Zane Smith +124 pts   Drivers Faring Worse than in 2024 Noah Gragson -205 pts Brad Keselowski -190 pts Daniel Suarez -151 pts Alex Bowman -97 pts Ty Gibbs -75 pts   Next, let’s look at who’s having their best and worst career year by Average Finish:   Best Career Year Christopher Bell 11.20 Chase Briscoe 12.51 Ryan Preece 15.89 JH Nemechek 20.00 Todd Gilliland 20.77   Worst Career Year Cole Custer 23.54 Carson Hocevar 21.40 Zane Smith 20.86   Rookie of the Year Battle SVG 2,189 (5 wins) Riley Herbst 370   The Manufacturer Standings are calculated by awarding points to the highest finisher for each manufacturer according to their finishing position.  (40 for 1 st , 35 for 2 nd , 34 for 3 rd , etc.)  No stage points or playoff points count.   Manufacturer Standings Chevrolet 1,276 Toyota 1,247 Ford 1,177   Here is the same formula, but used on a team-vs-team basis:   Chartered Team Standings Joe Gibbs 1,217 Hendrick 1,186 Penske 1,008 RFK 997 Trackhouse 963 23XI 932 Spire 877 Front Row 805 Legacy MC 788 RCR 786 Kaulig 716 Wood Bros 532 Hyak 493 Haas Factory 471 Rick Ware 231   At each stage break, the Top 10 drivers are awarded points based on their finishing positions.  Here are the leaders this year:   Stage Point Leaders William Byron 317 Kyle Larson 297 Ryan Blaney 296 Denny Hamlin 232 Tyler Reddick 213 Christopher Bell 205 Bubba Wallace 203 Chase Elliott 192 Chase Briscoe 184 Alex Bowman 165   Milestone Watch Kyle Busch This will be his 750 th  Career Cup Series Start SVG This will be his 50 th  Career Cup Series Start Brad Keselowski Looking for his 160 th  Career Top 5 Christopher Bell Looking for his 60 th  Career Top 5 Joey Logano Looking for his 300 th  Career Top 10 Chase Briscoe Looking for his 50 th  Career Top 10 Michael McDowell Looking for his 50 th  Career Top 10 Ryan Preece Looking for his 30 th  Career Top 10   Scorigami Update Martinsville was the first time that: Riley Herbst finished 36 th   Todd Gilliland finished 9 th     Here are the top 10 longest active winless streaks:   Winless Streaks Justin Haley 176 races Cole Custer 132 races Erik Jones 114 races Kyle Busch 92 races Michael McDowell 83 races Daniel Suarez 69 races Brad Keselowski 58 races AJ Allmendinger 55 races Alex Bowman 51 races Chris Buescher 43 races   The race begins Sunday, November 2 nd  at 3:00 pm EST (12:00 pm PST) – Enjoy the race everyone!   Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter  @RacingRefresh   Is there an error? Is there a stat missing that you’d like to see? Let us know!

Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images By Adam Carabine With the Cup Series playoffs in full swing, Power Rankings will now follow only the 16 playoff drivers (even after they’re eliminated) for the rest of this season.     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, with an emphasis placed on the most recent 5 races.   Austin Cindric – This week: 30 – Last week: 33 – Eliminated A Top-15 for Austin Cindric at Martinsville is certainly nothing to scoff at.  It moves Cindric up 3 spots in the Power Rankings, and at least gives him a fighting chance to not finish last after next week’s finale.   Josh Berry – This week: 26 – Last week: 21 – Eliminated Berry’s Top-10 at Martinsville should seemingly bump him up in the Power Rankings, but because the most recent 5 races are the most heavily weighted, Berry’s P10 comes at the expense of a runner-up finish in New Hampshire.    Austin Dillon – This week: 25 – Last week: 25 – Eliminated Austin Dillon took a risky gamble early on a pit stop strategy, staying out at the start of Stage 2.  It didn’t pay off at the time, but he managed to salvage a P16, on the lead lap at Martinsville, and keep his position in the Power Rankings.   Alex Bowman – This week: 20 – Last week: 19 – Eliminated Bowman has had an unfortunate string of races, only buoyed by a P7 finish at Las Vegas.  His P23 at Martinsville adds to an average finish in the last five races of 21 st .  It’s 22 nd  if you count all of the playoffs so far.    Bubba Wallace – This week: 13 – Last week: 13 – Eliminated The newly-announced new (again) dad-to-be had a mediocre day at Martinsville. You don’t necessarily think of Wallace as being a threat at short tracks, but he had a respectable Top 20 finish.  He spent the majority of the day outside of the Top 15, but he manages to maintain his Power Rankings spot.   Ross Chastain – This week: 11 – Last week: 11 – Eliminated It was a solid effort by Ross Chastain at Martinsville this past weekend.  He didn’t have to ride the wall as a Hail Mary to finish the race.  He wound up finishing P4.  He led a few laps, had a solid average running position, and yet due to the competition ahead of him, was only able to maintain his spot in the Power Rankings.   Ryan Blaney – This week: 10 – Last week: 7 – Eliminated All he needed was one more spot, and he would have made it to the Championship Four.  But William Byron brought the bumper to him, and pushed him out of the way, and he finished P2.  It was a solid run all day for Blaney, who started 31 st  and made his way up front pretty early.  A P2 is great in the grand scheme of the Power Rankings, but his last win was 6 races ago, just outside of the 5-race cut-off for more heavily weighted results.    Joey Logano – This week: 9 – Last week: 5 – Eliminated Logano also got himself eliminated at Martinsville this week, though he wasn’t quite as close as Blaney had been.  Logano earned himself some stage points, but never led any laps and finished P8.  He falls out of contention to compete for his fourth Cup Series Championship (and second in a row), and also falls in the Power Rankings.   Chase Elliott – This week: 8 – Last week: 10 – Eliminated Elliott was in major must-win territory at Martinsville, but like Ryan Blaney, came up just short.  A P3 finish for NASCAR’s most popular driver, stage points, and an average running position of 5 th  were enough to give him two extra spots in the Power Rankings, but I’m sure he’d prefer to be fighting for a championship next year.   Chase Briscoe – This week: 7 – Last week: 4 The stakes were lower for Chase Briscoe at Martinsville, and while he certainly wasn’t hanging back and taking a casual Sunday drive, he blew an engine and finished his day early.  A friend texted me asking if maybe JGR was trying something experimental because Hamlin’s engine also gave out, but we’ll likely never know.  Briscoe finished P37, and is the lowest-scored Championship Four driver in the Power Rankings.   Tyler Reddick – This week: 6 – Last week: 8 – Eliminated Reddick didn’t seem to have the winning car at Martinsville this past weekend, but some savvy pit strategy might have earned him some more spots than his car deserved.  He finished P11, led 6 laps, and earned a few stage points to bump his Power Rankings position up a couple spots.   SVG – This week: 5 – Last week: 9 – Eliminated Check out this Kiwi breaking his way back into the Top 5 of the Power Rankings!  Yes, his spot is pushed up by yet another road course win within his last five races, but he was pretty solid at Martinsville too.  He finished P14, earned stage points, finished on the lead lap, and was on the upper end of quality passes made by anyone in the field too.  If he continues to improve the way he has on ovals over the next while, he could be one to watch for next year.   Denny Hamlin – This week: 4 – Last week: 3 Like his teammate Briscoe, there may have been some experimentation on the two JGR engines that were locked into the Championship round, and Denny blew up on lap 334, leading to a DNF.  While his championship hopes are still intact, he does drop one spot in the Power Rankings.  If this was just a random mishap, Denny is probably worried next week.  If JGR was trying to gain an advantage, it doesn’t look like it worked.   William Byron – This week: 3 – Last week: 6 Byron wins his way into the Championship Four for the third year in a row with a win at Martinsville, and he did it in convincing fashion.  He won the pole, won both stages, led the most laps, and ended up winning the race.  If momentum could be measured, Byron would be the favourite in Phoenix, but much can change over the course of one week.   Christopher Bell – This week: 2 – Last week: 2 - Eliminated All Christopher Bell needed to make it to the Championship Four was for none of the drivers below the line to win, and unfortunately for him, Byron pulled it off, eliminating him in the process.  Bell finished P7 in Martinsville, earned stage points, and led everyone with the most Quality Passes of any driver (tied with Austin Cindric).  He may still be in the hunt for the Power Rankings trophy, but his championship hopes are done.   Kyle Larson – This week: 1   – Last week: 1 Larson had a safe, solid day at Martinsville.  He never led a lap, and he managed his distance to competitor Christopher Bell, who was really the only competition he had all day.  As long as he finished within 6 places of Bell, he was going to be in on points, no matter who won.  He finished two spots ahead of Bell in P5, and holds onto the top spot in the Power Rankings for another week.   Biggest Movers   Noah Gragson – This week: 34 – Last week: 27 Falls 7 places   Daniel Suarez – This Week: 18 – Last Weekend: 24 Gains 6 places   Best of the Rest: 12. Todd Gilliland LW: 12 -- 14. Ryan Preece LW: 14 -- 15. Ty Gibbs LW: 20 +5 16. Chris Buescher LW: 16 -- 17. Brad Keselowski LW: 18 +1 18. Daniel Suarez LW: 24 +6 19. Michael McDowell LW: 15 -4 21. Kyle Busch LW: 22 +1 22. Carson Hocevar LW: 17 -5 23. JH Nemechek LW: 26 +3 24. Zane Smith LW: 23 -1 27. Cole Custer LW: 30 +3 28. AJ Allmendinger LW: 28 -- 29. Ty Dillon LW: 31 +2 31. Erik Jones LW: 29 -2 32. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. LW: 32 -- 33. Justin Haley LW: 35 +2 34. Noah Gragson LW: 27 -7 35. Riley Herbst LW: 34 -1 36. Cody Ware LW: 36 --

Photo from www.x.com/f1 By Ryan Wu A New Championship Leader Emerges For the first time since the Bahrain Grand Prix, Lando Norris leads the Drivers’ Championship after winning the Mexico City Grand Prix by just over 30 seconds. He has 357 points, just ahead of his teammate Piastri with 356, as the 2025 season enters its final four races and two sprints. Max Verstappen has also closed the gap to Piastri and now sits at 321 points, only 36 behind. The title race remains wide open, but the momentum is now with the Briton and the Dutchman as Piastri looks to rebound from an uncharacteristically poor run in Mexico. Race Recap Knowing he needed another strong weekend to build on his progress from Austin, Norris put himself in a great position by taking pole position, while Verstappen started fifth and Piastri eighth. Norris was joined at the front by the two Ferraris, with Leclerc qualifying second and Hamilton third. He made an excellent start, fending off an early challenge from Leclerc, while Verstappen went wide as the field went four abreast into the first corner. Leclerc briefly cut the corner at Turn 2 to take the lead, but Norris quickly reclaimed the position. Verstappen soon found himself in a close battle with Hamilton for third, with both drivers pushing track limits. Hamilton was eventually given a 10-second penalty for leaving the track and gaining an advantage. This decision was controversial as he was the sole recipient of a penalty. Meanwhile Verstappen and Leclerc had both left the track, with the former doing so on the first lap and gained an advantage. Verstappen also had to defend against bold overtakes from Oliver Bearman, who challenged the defending World Champion in the opening stages. Midway through the race, Mercedes made a notable strategic call. On lap 41, with Antonelli running fourth and Russell directly behind, the team instructed the drivers to swap positions to allow Russell to chase down Bearman. However, Antonelli soon came under pressure from Piastri, who was closing rapidly on both Mercedes. When both drivers pitted on lap 48, Piastri emerged ahead of Antonelli and later overtook Russell on lap 60 to move into fifth place. Russell then returned the position to his teammate. In the closing laps, Leclerc and Verstappen fought intensely for second place, but a virtual safety car in the final two laps neutralized the battle, preventing Verstappen from attempting a final overtake. Rookie Report What a race it was for Oliver Bearman, who spent much of the afternoon running in podium contention. Entering the weekend, he was carrying 10 penalty points that were set to expire at the end of this race—leaving him perilously close to a one-race ban. Bearman charged through the field, climbing to fourth by lap six. His team later opted for a two-stop strategy to give him a chance to challenge Verstappen for third, but the Dutchman’s tire management proved superior. Even so, this was the best result of Bearman’s young career and a performance that deserves recognition. He was joined in the points by fellow rookies Kimi Antonelli, who finished sixth, and Gabriel Bortoleto, who claimed the final point in tenth. Racing Refresh Driver of the Day Lando Norris, McLaren Final Points Finishing Positions 1st: Lando Norris 2nd: Charles Leclerc 3rd: Max Verstappen 4th: Oliver Bearman 5th: Oscar Piastri 6th: Kimi Antonelli 7th: George Russell 8th: Lewis Hamilton 9th: Esteban Ocon 10th: Gabriel Bortoleto Next on the F1 Schedule: Brazilian Grand Prix: November 7th-9th

By Adam Carabine Happy weekend everyone, it’s time for another edition of Stats Saturday. This weekend NASCAR travels to Ridgeway, Virginia for the Xfinity 500 at Martinsville Speedway.   Martinsville is a 0.526-mile oval, nicknamed “The Paperclip,” because of its shape. It’s the only track that has concrete in the turns, but asphalt on the straightaways.  Martinsville is also the oldest track that is still run on the NASCAR schedule.  It opened in 1947, and Red Byron was the first to win there in 1949.  Denny Hamlin won this race in the spring, and Ryan Blaney won last fall at this exact race.   Tomorrow’s race will be 500 laps long (for a total of 263 miles), with stage breaks occurring at 130 – 160 – 500.  Pit road speed is 30 mph, and the caution vehicle runs at 35 mph.  The fuel window is between 155-170 laps, though tire wear will probably come into play before fuel does.   This year, the NASCAR Cup Series has run 8,761 laps, for 12,277.89 miles so far this season.  No driver has completed every single lap - Tyler Reddick is closest, running 15 laps down.   Top 5 Career Average Finishers at Martinsville: Ryan Blaney 8.47 over 19 races (2 wins) Denny Hamlin 9.82 over 39 races (6 wins) Joey Logano 10.70 over 33 races (1 win) Chase Elliott 11.75 over 20 races (1 win) Chase Briscoe 12.33 over 9 races   Bottom 5 Career Average Finishers at Martinsville: Cody Ware 31.00 over 6 races Riley Herbst 31.00 over 1 race Justin Haley 30.00 over 9 races JH Nemechek 28.60 over 5 races Michael McDowell 27.76 over 29 races   Martinsville is a Short Track.   Top 5 Career Average Finishers at Short Tracks: Joey Logano 11.23 over 194 races (13 wins) Chase Elliott 11.58 over 107 races (4 wins) Ryan Blaney 12.14 over 111 races (4 wins) Christopher Bell 12.23 over 63 races (7 wins) William Byron 12.66 over 85 races (4 wins)   Bottom 5 Career Average Finishers at Short Tracks: Michael McDowell 26.41 over 171 races Ty Dillon 25.45 over 83 races Zane Smith 24.56 over 24 races Noah Gragson 24.07 over 32 races JH Nemechek 23.21 over 32 races   Richard Petty is the winningest driver at Martinsville, with 15 wins.  Darrell Waltrip has the second-most, with 11.  Denny Hamlin has the most of any active driver with 6.   Drivers who ran their first Cup Series race at Martinsville: Michael McDowell 2008, P26 Chase Elliott 2015, P38   Notable drivers who have not won at Martinsville: Tyler Reddick (has won at 8 other tracks) Ross Chastain (has won at 6 other tracks) Chris Buescher (has won at 6 other tracks) SVG (has won at 5 other tracks) Chase Briscoe (has won at 4 other tracks) Based on average finish, no driver lists Martinsville as their BEST track, but Justin Haley lists it as his WORST.   Based on their point pace, let’s have a look at how this season is comparing to last season for drivers:   Drivers Faring Better than in 2024 Chase Briscoe +363 pts JH Nemechek +238 pts Ryan Preece +226 pts Erik Jones +158 pts Zane Smith +130 pts   Drivers Faring Worse than in 2024 Noah Gragson -199 pts Brad Keselowski -186 pts Daniel Suarez -149 pts Alex Bowman -86 pts Ty Gibbs -85 pts   Next, let’s look at who’s having their best and worst career year by Average Finish:   Best Career Year Christopher Bell 11.32 Chase Briscoe 11.79 Ryan Preece 16.18 JH Nemechek 19.97   Worst Career Year Cole Custer 23.74 Carson Hocevar 21.12 Zane Smith 20.74   Rookie of the Year Battle SVG 2,172 (5 wins) Riley Herbst 384   The Manufacturer Standings are calculated by awarding points to the highest finisher for each manufacturer according to their finishing position.  (40 for 1 st , 35 for 2 nd , 34 for 3 rd , etc.)  No stage points or playoff points count.   Manufacturer Standings Chevrolet 1,236 Toyota 1,217 Ford 1,142   Here is the same formula, but used on a team-vs-team basis:   Chartered Team Standings Joe Gibbs 1,187 Hendrick 1,146 Penske 973 RFK 966 Trackhouse 930 23XI 906 Spire 859 Front Row 777 Legacy MC 772 RCR 762 Kaulig 705 Wood Bros 505 Hyak 483 Haas Factory 451 Rick Ware 226   At each stage break, the Top 10 drivers are awarded points based on their finishing positions.  Here are the leaders this year:   Stage Point Leaders William Byron 297 Ryan Blaney 293 Kyle Larson 280 Denny Hamlin 227 Tyler Reddick 211 Bubba Wallace 203 Christopher Bell 194 Chase Briscoe 179 Chase Elliott 178 Alex Bowman 165   Milestone Watch Austin Cindric This will be his 150 th  Career Cup Series Start Brad Keselowski Looking for his 160 th  Career Top 5 Christopher Bell Looking for his 60 th  Career Top 5 William Byron Looking for his 120 th  Career Top 10 Ross Chastain Looking for his 70 th  Career Top 10 Chase Briscoe Looking for his 50 th  Career Top 10 Michael McDowell Looking for his 50 th  Career Top 10   Scorigami Update Talladega was the first time that: Riley Herbst finished SVG finished Todd Gilliland finished 2 nd Chase Elliott finished 40 th  (and he completes the Scorigami)   Here are the top 10 longest active winless streaks:   Winless Streaks Justin Haley 175 races Cole Custer 131 races Erik Jones 113 races Kyle Busch 91 races Michael McDowell 82 races Daniel Suarez 68 races Brad Keselowski 57 races AJ Allmendinger 54 races Alex Bowman 50 races Chris Buescher 42 races   The race begins Sunday, October 26 th  at 2:00 pm EST (11:00 am PST) – Enjoy the race everyone!   Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter  @RacingRefresh   Is there an error? Is there a stat missing that you’d like to see? Let us know!

Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images By Adam Carabine With the Cup Series playoffs in full swing, Power Rankings will now follow only the 16 playoff drivers (even after they’re eliminated) for the rest of this season.     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, with an emphasis placed on the most recent 5 races.   Austin Cindric – This week: 33 – Last week: 27 – Eliminated It was not a great day for Austin Cindric at Talladega.  He now moves to the bottom of the Playoff Power Rankings after a P34 finish. Technically it wasn’t a DNF, as he came back out on the track and ran a few laps to pass Erik Jones, but he finished 116 laps down.   Austin Dillon – This week: 25 – Last week: 26 – Eliminated Austin Dillon seemed to have troubles all day at Talladega this past weekend, and he wound up finishing P27, two laps down.  RCR has been a disappointment this year.   Josh Berry – This week: 21 – Last week: 28 – Eliminated Unfortunately, it was another DNF for Josh Berry in this playoff run, but his finishing position was not indicative of his day.  He actually led 27 laps, and had 204 quality passes.  Berry is making his way up the Power Rankings after an abysmal start to his playoffs.   Alex Bowman – This week: 19 – Last week: 15 – Eliminated It looked like there was some trouble for Alex Bowman about midway through the race.  He wasn’t getting full throttle power and wound up finishing 6 laps down in P29.  He did earn a single bonus point at the end of Stage 2, but he didn’t look like a Hendrick car out there for the rest of the day.   Bubba Wallace – This week: 13 – Last week: 20 – Eliminated Bubba Wallace is really good at drafting tracks.  Already a winner at Talladega, he was in the hunt right until the end, and finished P4.  His playoff hopes are already dashed, but he’s looking to finish the year strong.   Ross Chastain – This week: 11 – Last week: 12 – Eliminated Chastain had some moments of flash in the race at Talladega last weekend, and he ultimately finished P13.  In the mad dash to the finish, he was trying to make that third lane work, but it didn’t come to fruition fast enough for him to capitalize on it.   Chase Elliott – This week: 10 – Last week: 8 Elliott was in the wrong place at the wrong time, and wound up finishing dead last, P40 at Talladega.  Of note, P40 was the only finishing position Elliott had yet to score over the course of his Cup Series career, and so he completed the Scorigami by finishing last.   SVG – This week: 9 – Last week: 10 – Eliminated Look at Shane Van Gisbergen suddenly showing up on ovals! The road course king has been upping his game lately, and despite a poor qualifying performance, he truly held his own at Talladega, bringing his car home P11.   Tyler Reddick – This week: 8 – Last week: 9 – Eliminated Still searching for his first win of the season, Reddick had a solid run late at Talladega, though it wasn’t enough.  The driver of the 45 finished P7, but also earned some decent stage points, led a few laps, and kept a positive pass differential – all good enough to keep him in the Top 10 of the Power Rankings.   Ryan Blaney – This week: 7 – Last week: 6 Ryan Blaney has been put into a must-win situation heading into Martinsville next weekend, despite a solid showing at Talladega.  He led some laps, and was in the conversation at the front of the pack near the end, but his lane got shuffled out of the momentum, and he wound up finishing 23 rd .  He’s -46 to the cut line, with one last chance to get a spot in the championship race.   William Byron – This week: 6 – Last week: 7 A super unfortunate final run messed up Byron’s day at Talladega. If things had been just a tad different in the final 100-or-so feet of the race, we might be talking a different result for the driver of the 24.  He was spun out at the last minute as he was pushing for the win.   He likely couldn’t have caught race winner Chase Briscoe, but he’s now got a 36-pt deficit to make up next weekend in Martinsville.   Joey Logano – This week: 5 – Last week: 5 Logano, like his teammate Ryan Blaney, had a solid try going at Talladega, but was in the wrong lane near the end of the race.  Logano actually led the most laps of anyone, and had the best average running position on the day, but came up short with a P16 finish.  He’ll be in must-win territory for Martinsville as well.   Chase Briscoe – This week: 4 – Last week: 4 – Advanced The qualifying king of 2025, Briscoe turned a front row starting spot into a win at Talladega this past weekend.  His average running position was actually farther back in the pack (around 13 th ) but the only lap that counts is the last one, and he was at the front of the pack.  He earns his spot in the Championship Four, and silences the doubters once and for all with his 3 rd win of the season.   Denny Hamlin – This week: 3 – Last week: 3 – Advanced Hamlin was already locked into the championship race, so originally looked to be taking it easy at Talladega, a place that can be dangerous.  However, he did find himself up front a few times too, even leading three laps on the day.  It was a safe P24 for Hamlin as he’s likely in prep mode for Phoenix in two weeks.   Christopher Bell – This week: 2 – Last week: 2 Bell came into Talladega in a fairly comfortable position, needing just to maintain a decent run to stay above the cutline.  It was a fairly quiet day for the driver of the 20, but he extended his seven-race Top-10 run with a P8 finish.  It’s not mathematically impossible for him to be eliminated, but he’ll be in really good shape heading to Martinsville +37 to the cutline.   Kyle Larson – This week: 1   – Last week: 1 Larson, like his teammate William Byron, was in a decent spot right up to the end of the race in Talladega, but got lost in the late shuffle.  He finished P26, but luckily had a big enough lead over the others, so he heads to Martinsville +36 to the cut line – and perhaps more importantly, at the top of our Power Rankings.   Biggest Movers   Austin Cindric – This week: 33 – Last week: 27 Falls 6 places   Erik Jones – This week: 29 – Last week: 23 Falls 6 places   Daniel Suarez – This Week: 24 – Last Weekend: 34 Gains 10 places   Best of the Rest: 12. Todd Gilliland LW: 19 +7 14. Ryan Preece LW: 13 -1 15. Michael McDowell LW: 16 +1 16. Chris Buescher LW: 11 -5 17. Carson Hocevar LW: 17 -- 18. Brad Keselowski LW: 14 -4 20. Ty Gibbs LW: 18 -2 22. Kyle Busch LW: 21 -1 23. Zane Smith LW: 22 -1 24. Daniel Suarez LW: 34 +10 26. JH Nemechek LW: 33 +7 27. Noah Gragson LW: 24 -3 28. AJ Allmendinger LW: 25 -3 29. Erik Jones LW: 23 -6 30. Cole Custer LW: 35 +5 31. Ty Dillon LW: 31 -- 32. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. LW: 29 -3 34. Riley Herbst LW: 30 -4 35. Justin Haley LW: 32 -3 36. Cody Ware LW: 36 --

Photo from www.x.com/f1 By Ryan Wu Sprint Race Drama It only took one race for McLaren to decide that the collision between Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in Singapore might not have been entirely accidental before more drama unfolded. Starting from second and third place, Norris and Piastri collided once again, with both drivers out of the sprint race before the first lap was even completed. Piastri made an aggressive move into Turn 1 that cut off Nico Hulkenberg, triggering a collision that sent his McLaren into the rear left of Norris’s car. The contact knocked both McLarens out of the sprint and cost the team valuable points. Max Verstappen went on to win the sprint after holding off a strong challenge from George Russell, fresh off a new contract with Mercedes, who attempted an ambitious overtake on lap 12. Verstappen’s victory allowed him to close the championship gap by eight points. The sprint also saw three additional retirements, as both Aston Martin drivers and Esteban Ocon failed to finish. Title Race is Heating Up Don’t look now, but Max Verstappen is only 40 points behind Oscar Piastri in the Drivers’ Championship with five races remaining. The Dutchman converted his pole position into his fifth win of the season, leading every lap and securing his third victory in the last four races. It was a flawless weekend for Verstappen, as he took pole for the sprint race, won the sprint, and then started from pole again for the main event. The RB21 appears to have overcome many of the issues that affected Red Bull and Verstappen earlier in the season. The car has shown impressive pace since the summer break, and the team’s recent form suggests a strong resurgence. The pressure now seems to rest squarely on McLaren, which faces the challenge of managing its two competitive drivers while maintaining harmony within the team. Momentum has clearly shifted toward Verstappen, who also carries the advantage of experience as a four-time defending World Champion. Lando Norris reduced the gap to his teammate with a second-place finish, and the top three in the standings are as follows: Piastri – 346 Norris – 332 Verstappen – 306 Piastri cannot afford any more underwhelming performances like the one he had in Austin, where he failed to finish the sprint race, qualified sixth, and ended up fifth in the main event. If he hopes to become the first Australian World Champion since Alan Jones in 1980 with Williams, he will need to rediscover the form that put him at the top earlier in the season. Leclerc Manages a Podium Finish While Hamilton Comes Close Again Charles Leclerc battled with Lando Norris all race for second place, ultimately ceding the position and finished the race in 3rd. Lewis Hamilton’s first podium with Ferrari will wait at least another week as he came in 4th, around seven seconds behind Leclerc. This is Hamilton’s third 4th place finish of the year and he has five races remaining to cap off a frustrating campaign on a positive note for the Prancing Horses. Rookie Report Oliver Bearman once again scored points for Haas, finishing ninth as he did two weekends ago in Singapore. Liam Lawson narrowly missed out on the points, crossing the line in eleventh place. Kimi Antonelli finished thirteenth after qualifying seventh but was unable to recover following a collision with Carlos Sainz on lap seven. Racing Refresh Driver of the Day Max Verstappen, Red Bull Final Points Finishing Positions 1st: Max Verstappen 2nd: Lando Norris 3rd: Charles Leclerc 4th: Lewis Hamilton 5th: Oscar Piastri 6th: George Russell 7th: Yuki Tsunoda 8th: Nico Hulkenberg 9th: Oliver Bearman 10th: Fernando Alonso Next on the F1 Schedule: Mexican Grand Prix: October 24th-26th

By Adam Carabine Happy weekend everyone, it’s time for another edition of Stats Saturday. This weekend NASCAR travels to Lincoln, Alabama for the YellaWood 500 at Talladega SuperSpeedway.   Talladega is the largest oval on the NASCAR circuit, at 2.66 miles long.  The track opened in 1969, and Richard Brickhouse was the first to win a NASCAR race at the facility that same year.  Last year, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. won this race in the fall.  Earlier this season, the race was won by Austin Cindric.   Tomorrow’s race will be 188 laps long (for a total of 500.08 miles), with stage breaks occurring at 60 – 120 – 188.  Pit road speed is 55 mph, and the caution vehicle runs at 75 mph.  The fuel window is between 40-50 laps.   This year, the NASCAR Cup Series has run 8,568 laps, for 11,764.51 miles so far this season.  No driver has completed every single lap - Tyler Reddick is closest, running 15 laps down.   Top 5 Career Average Finishers at Talladega: William Byron 13.67 over 15 races Chase Elliott 14.05 over 19 races (2 wins) Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 14.42 over 24 races (2 wins) Todd Gilliland 14.71 over 7 races Brad Keselowski 15.64 over 33 races (6 wins)   Bottom 5 Career Average Finishers at Talladega: Cody Ware 26.80 over 10 races Zane Smith 26.50 over 4 races Josh Berry 26.00 over 3 races Michael McDowell 26.00 over 29 races Ty Gibbs 25.67 over 6 races   Talladega is a Super Speedway.   Top 5 Career Average Finishers at Super Speedways: JH Nemechek 16.50 over 11 races Bubba Wallace 16.97 over 32 races (1 win) Chase Elliott 17.25 over 39 races (2 wins) Denny Hamlin 17.33 over 79 races (5 wins) Ryan Blaney 17.55 over 43 races (5 wins)   Bottom 5 Career Average Finishers at Super Speedways: Carson Hocevar 23.38 over 8 races Michael McDowell 23.28 over 58 races (1 win) Cody Ware 23.07 over 19 races Daniel Suarez 22.18 over 35 races Ryan Preece 22.17 over 23 races   Dale Earnhardt is the winningest driver at Talladega, with 10 wins over his Cup Series career.  His son, Dale Jr. is tied for second all-time with Jeff Gordon and Brad Keselowski – they each have 6 wins.   Drivers who ran their first Cup Series race at Talladega: Justin Haley 2019, P32   Drivers who WON their first Cup Series race at Talladega: Brad Keselowski 5 th career race Bubba Wallace 143 rd  career race Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 158 th  career race   Drivers whose most recent Cup Series Victory was at Talladega: Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 38 races ago, 2024 Austin Cindric 23 races ago, 2025   Notable drivers who have not won at Talladega: Kyle Larson (has won at 18 other tracks) William Byron (has won at 11 other tracks) Christopher Bell (has won at 10 other tracks) Alex Bowman (has won at 8 other tracks) Chris Buescher (has won at 6 other tracks)   Based on average finish, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Ty Dillon list Talladega as their BEST track.  No drivers list it as their WORST.   Based on their point pace, let’s have a look at how this season is comparing to last season for drivers:   Drivers Faring Better than in 2024 Chase Briscoe +342 pts Ryan Preece +228 pts JH Nemechek +222 pts Erik Jones +176 pts Zane Smith +114 pts   Drivers Faring Worse than in 2024 Brad Keselowski -193 pts Noah Gragson -187 pts Daniel Suarez -158 pts Ty Gibbs -115 pts Alex Bowman -69 pts   Next, let’s look at who’s having their best and worst career year by Average Finish:   Best Career Year Christopher Bell 11.42 Chase Briscoe 12.12 Ryan Preece 16.21 JH Nemechek 20.15   Worst Career Year Cole Custer 24.30 Carson Hocevar 21.58 Zane Smith 21.09 Ty Gibbs 18.39   Rookie of the Year Battle SVG 2,146 (5 wins) Riley Herbst 379   The Manufacturer Standings are calculated by awarding points to the highest finisher for each manufacturer according to their finishing position.  (40 for 1 st , 35 for 2 nd , 34 for 3 rd , etc.)  No stage points or playoff points count.   Manufacturer Standings Chevrolet 1,205 Toyota 1,177 Ford 1,107   Here is the same formula, but used on a team-vs-team basis:   Chartered Team Standings Joe Gibbs 1,147 Hendrick 1,134 Penske 952 RFK 939 Trackhouse 904 23XI 873 Spire 828 Legacy MC 749 RCR 744 Front Row 742 Kaulig 688 Wood Bros 501 Hyak 482 Haas Factory 419 Rick Ware 220   At each stage break, the Top 10 drivers are awarded points based on their finishing positions.  Here are the leaders this year:   Stage Point Leaders William Byron 290 Ryan Blaney 282 Kyle Larson 271 Denny Hamlin 227 Tyler Reddick 202 Bubba Wallace 197 Christopher Bell 187 Chase Elliott 178 Chase Briscoe 169 Alex Bowman 164   Milestone Watch Kyle Larson This will be his 400 th  Career Cup Series Start Brad Keselowski Looking for his 160 th  Career Top 5 Christopher Bell Looking for his 60 th  Career Top 5 William Byron Looking for his 120 th  Career Top 10 Ross Chastain Looking for his 70 th  Career Top 10 Bubba Wallace Looking for his 60 th  Career Top 10 Michael McDowell Looking for his 50 th  Career Top 10 Zane Smith Looking for his 10 th  Career Top 10   Scorigami Update Las Vegas was the first time that: Noah Gragson finished 13 th Ty Dillon finished 37 th     Here are the top 10 longest active winless streaks:   Winless Streaks Justin Haley 174 races Cole Custer 130 races Erik Jones 112 races Kyle Busch 90 races Michael McDowell 81 races Daniel Suarez 67 races Brad Keselowski 56 races AJ Allmendinger 53 races Alex Bowman 49 races Chris Buescher 41 races   The race begins Sunday, October 19 th  at 2:00 pm EST (11:00 am PST) – Enjoy the race everyone!   Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter  @RacingRefresh   Is there an error? Is there a stat missing that you’d like to see? Let us know!