Track will be named Qualcomm Circuit for historic first NASCAR race at Naval Base Coronado
SAN DIEGO (May 4, 2026) – San Diego-based technology leader Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. has been named as the Official Circuit Partner of NASCAR San Diego Weekend presented by Anduril and will serve as the naming rights partner of the soon-to-be constructed race track at Naval Base Coronado. The 16-turn, 3.4-mile circuit — the first NASCAR track ever constructed on an active military base — will officially be known as the Qualcomm Circuit.
Qualcomm Technologies, NASCAR and its partners are also working to deploy intelligent computing and advanced connectivity to elevate the fan experience and team performance throughout NASCAR San Diego Weekend.
“Qualcomm is synonymous with innovation, and there could not be a more fitting partner to put its name on this groundbreaking circuit,” said Amy Lupo, President of NASCAR San Diego. “The Qualcomm Circuit represents the future of motorsports — built with precision, purpose and performance in mind — all while paying tribute to the extraordinary history of Naval Base Coronado and celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States Navy. We are proud to partner with a San Diego-born global technology leader as we make history together on this remarkable stage.”
Engineered in America and built for the world, Qualcomm’s innovations are critical to maintaining U.S. technology leadership in AI and 6G and advancing the country’s global competitiveness, revolutionizing what’s possible across AI, mobile, automotive, robotics, data center, and advanced communications. With over four decades of technological leadership rooted in the region, Qualcomm Technologies’ sponsorship underscores the spirit of innovation that defines both San Diego and this historic NASCAR weekend.
“Qualcomm Circuit represents the perfect intersection of breakthrough innovation, high-performance competition, and deep community pride. For more than 40 years, San Diego has been home to Qualcomm’s pioneering spirit, and this partnership honors that legacy while celebrating the extraordinary men and women of the U.S. Navy. Just as our AI-powered technologies are driving the future of mobility and connectivity, the Qualcomm Circuit will showcase the pinnacle of racing performance on one of the most unique and innovative tracks in NASCAR history. We’re honored to be part of this groundbreaking venue and bring this historic moment to our hometown,” said Don McGuire, EVP and Chief Marketing Officer, Qualcomm Incorporated.
Construction of the Qualcomm Circuit begins in late May and represents a bold fusion of technology, patriotism and competition, all set against the dramatic backdrop of Naval Base Coronado. Designed to challenge the best drivers in the world, the course blends high-speed straights with technical, precision-driven turns that will test teams across all three national series.
The 16-turn, 3.4-mile layout integrates meaningful landmarks and tributes throughout the course.
The Ellyson Start/Finish Line, named in honor of Commander Theodore Ellyson, Naval Aviator Number One, whose training at North Island laid the foundation for its commissioning as a naval air station in 1917 and eventual recognition as the “Birthplace of Naval Aviation.” Turn 5, Carrier Corner, is a sharp left-hand turn positioned between the docking location of two aircraft carriers, creating one of the most visually striking and technically demanding sections of the track. Turn 8, the Coronado Chicane, begins a challenging sequence that will force drivers to navigate a series of technical turns as they speed toward the interior of the base. Turn 14, Runway Road, sits near the north end of Runway 18/36 at Halsey Field, blending racing action with the operational heartbeat of the installation. In addition, NASCAR has refined the original course design unveiled last October to maximize competitive opportunity. Adjustments include the addition of a small kink at Turn 12 and a chicane prior to Turn 16, both strategically implemented to maximize the circuit’s effectiveness and create more opportunities that will challenge NASCAR’s finest. NASCAR San Diego Weekend presented by Anduril begins with Navy Community Day on Friday, June 19, 2026. Access that day will be open exclusively to members of the U.S. Navy stationed at Naval Base Coronado and a limited number of Coronado residents, culminating with the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race.
Ticket holders from the general public will be welcomed aboard June 20–21, 2026. The NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series will take center stage on Saturday, June 20, and the stars of the NASCAR Cup Series will compete in the Anduril 250 Race the Base on Sunday, June 21.
About NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States and owner of 15 of the nation’s major motorsports entertainment facilities. NASCAR sanctions races in three national series (NASCAR Cup Series™, NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series™, and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series™), four international series (NASCAR Brasil Series, NASCAR Canada Series, NASCAR Euro Series, NASCAR Mexico Series), four regional series (ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East & West and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour) and a local grassroots series (NASCAR Local Racing Series powered by O’Reilly Auto Parts). The International Motor Sports Association™ (IMSA®) governs the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship™, the premier U.S. sports car series. NASCAR also owns Motor Racing Network, Racing Electronics, and ONE DAYTONA. Based in Daytona Beach, Florida, with offices in five cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races annually in 11 countries and more than 30 U.S. states.
For more information visit www.NASCAR.com and www.IMSA.com, and follow NASCAR on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, X and Facebook.
About Qualcomm
Qualcomm relentlessly innovates to deliver intelligent computing everywhere, helping the world tackle some of its most important challenges. Building on our 40 years of technology leadership in creating era-defining breakthroughs, we deliver a broad portfolio of solutions built with our leading-edge AI, high-performance, low-power computing, and unrivaled connectivity. Our Snapdragon® platforms power extraordinary consumer experiences, and our Qualcomm Dragonwing™ products empower businesses and industries to scale to new heights. Together with our ecosystem partners, we enable next-generation digital transformation to enrich lives, improve businesses, and advance societies. At Qualcomm, we are engineering human progress.
Qualcomm Incorporated includes our licensing business, QTL, and the vast majority of our patent portfolio. Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., a subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated, operates, along with its subsidiaries, substantially all of our engineering and research and development functions and substantially all of our products and services businesses, including our QCT semiconductor business. Snapdragon and Qualcomm branded products are products of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. Qualcomm patents are licensed by Qualcomm Incorporated.
Qualcomm is a trademark or registered trademark of Qualcomm Incorporated.
About Naval Base Coronado
Naval Base Coronado is home to 17 squadrons, three aircraft carriers, four SEAL Teams, Navy Expeditionary Combat Command squadrons, and other air, surface and subsurface commands. Notable commands include Commander Naval Air Forces, Naval Surface Force Pacific, Commander Naval Special Warfare, and the Fleet Readiness Center Southwest. For more information about Naval Base Coronado and its tenant commands, visit cnrsw.cnic.navy.mil/Installations/NAVBASE-Coronado and follow Naval Base Coronado on Facebook.
About Sports San Diego
Recognizing that San Diego is a premier tourist destination, the mission of Sports San Diego, a non-profit 501c3 organization, is to generate tourism, visibility, and economic impact for the San Diego region by producing the Rady Children’s Invitational, Holiday Bowl, California State Games, and recruiting outstanding sports events and experiences to San Diego. Since 1978, the association has generated more than $1 billion in economic benefit for the San Diego region.
Jeff Arend Solid Start/True Brand Funny Car Driver for Jim Dunn Racing NHRA Southern Nationals May 1-3 | Adel, Georgia
Event Recap
Jeff Arend, driver of the Jim Dunn Racing Solid Start/True Brand Funny Car:
Earned No. 6 provisional qualifying position in Q1 on Friday (4.035 ET at 311.41 mph)
Fell to No. 12 provisional qualifying position based off of Friday’s Q1 run. The team elected to not make a qualifying run in Q2 on Friday.
Maintained No. 12 provisional qualifying position based off of Friday’s Q1 run. The team elected to not make a qualifying run in Q3 on Saturday.
Secured No. 12 qualifying position based off of Friday’s Q1 run. NHRA canceled Q4 on Saturday due a weather-shortened day.
Eliminated following Round 1 on Sunday:
Round 1: 4.154 ET at 309.77 mph, lost to Jordan Vandergriff (3.950 ET at 330.63 mph)
Notes of Interest
Arend represented Solid Start/True Brand this weekend in Georgia. They are a women-owned, family operated automotive additives manufacturer based in Lakeland, Florida. Founded in 2010 and built upon an automotive additives legacy dating back to 1976, the company produces a full line of performance-driven products designed to enhance engine performance and extend equipment life. Known for innovation, quality, and purpose-driven partnerships, Solid Start/True Brand proudly supports initiatives that strengthen families and communities nationwide.
True Brand is honored to partner with the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) to raise awareness and drive impact in the fight against breast cancer. NBCF is a leading nonprofit organization dedicated to helping women now through early detection, education, and support services. Founded in 1991 by breast cancer survivor Janelle Hail, NBCF provides free, life-saving breast cancer screenings and educational resources to women in need, empowering individuals and families with hope, knowledge, and access to care year-round.
The NHRA Southern Nationals marked Jim Dunn Racing’s highest qualifying position of the 2026 season.
The NHRA visited a new location at South Georgia Motorsports Park for the historic 41st annual NHRA Southern Nationals. The track had a sellout crowd on both Saturday and Sunday. The race marked the first of four new facilities the NHRA will visit in 2026 for the NHRA’s 75th anniversary season.
Arend will be back behind the wheel of the Jim Dunn Racing Funny in Chicago May 14-17 for the Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK.
Jeff Arend, Driver of the Jim Dunn Racing Solid Start/True Brand Funny Car
“Back-to-back events have shown big improvements on the car heading in the right direction. Driving the True Brand car this weekend for Jim Dunn Racing was an honor. In addition, True Brand had some corporate guests attend the race. It was great getting them up to the starting line to see our car run. The car is going right down the track and not hurting any parts. The win lights will be turning on in our lane soon. We’re looking forward to the next event in Chicago.”
Next Up The next event on the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series schedule is the Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK May 14-17 at Route 66 Raceway in Joliet, Illinois.
AUSTIN CINDRIC No. 2 MENARDS/FREIGHTLINER FORD MUSTANG DARK HORSE START: 13TH STAGE 1: 13TH STAGE 2: 16TH FINISH: 15TH POINTS: 15TH RACE RUNDOWN: Austin Cindric finished 15th in Sunday’s Würth 400 at Texas Motor Speedway, closing out a steady afternoon for the No. 2 Freightliner Ford Mustang Dark Horse. After starting 13th, Cindric battled a loose-handling condition through much of the opening run but remained within striking distance of the top 10. A late push in Stage 1 allowed him to recover to a 13th-place finish in the opening segment. The middle portion of the race was marked by multiple cautions that shuffled the field, with Cindric continuing to manage the balance of his Ford Mustang while maintaining track position. He finished Stage 2 in 16th. Over the closing laps, Cindric worked his way forward and put himself just outside the top 10 for a late restart. He continued to fight for positions in the final run to the checkered flag, ultimately crossing the finish line in 15th.
CINDRIC’S THOUGHTS: “Overall, a steady day for our Freightliner Ford. Mustang. We stayed out of trouble and kept it clean. Not quite where we want to be on speed, but these are the kind of clean days that help you stay in the hunt.”
RYAN BLANEY No. 12 MENARDS/KNAUF FORD MUSTANG DARK HORSE START: 31ST STAGE 1: 28TH STAGE 2: 27TH FINISH: 10TH POINTS: 4TH RACE RUNDOWN: Ryan Blaney and the No. 12 Menards/Knauf Ford Mustang Dark Horse team took advantage of a late-race caution to come away with a 10th-place finish Sunday at Texas, marking their seventh top-10 of the season. Despite starting 31st, Blaney worked his way through the field to reach 15th in the running order by lap 30 prior to the first green flag pit cycle of the day. Following a four tire stop under green on lap 37, Blaney was scored 15th by the time the cycle completed prior to the first caution of the afternoon with 11 laps remaining in Stage 1. Blaney was called to pit road for four fresh tires but stalled when exiting the pit box, miring him back to 27th for the ensuing restart in what amounted to a 28th-place finish in Stage 1. He continued to battle to regain track position over the course of the second segment when the caution flew on lap 160, prompting another four tire stop prior to the stage end. Due to a loose wheel following the stop, Blaney was forced to make an additional trip to pit road before the restart, resulting in a 27th-place finish in Stage 2. Crew chef Jonathan Hassler made the call to run long during the opening run of the final stretch, allowing Blaney to take the lead on lap 222 during the green flag pit cycle. Blaney was eventually called to pit road five laps later and was scored 19th when the cycle completed before a caution with 11 laps to go reset the field. A mix of the leaders opted to pit as Hassler made the call to stay out and gained 10 positions, setting up Blaney to take the green flag from the outside of row four with four laps remaining. Blaney was able to defend cars on fresher tires behind him in the closing laps to come away with a 10th-place finish when the checkered flag flew.
BLANEY’S THOUGHTS: “Proud of the effort from this 12 group to stay in it all day. We fought through some struggles early but slowly regained track position throughout those longer runs to get us in a decent spot for that final restart.”
JOEY LOGANO No. 22 DISCOUNT TIRE FORD MUSTANG DARK HORSE START: 23RD STAGE 1: 23RD STAGE 2: 36TH FINISH: 37TH POINTS: 17TH RACE RUNDOWN: Joey Logano and the No. 22 Discount Tire Ford Mustang Dark Horse team were involved in an incident on pit road on lap 94 that brought an early end to the afternoon in Texas Sunday, resulting in a 37th-place finish. After starting 23rd, Logano maintained track position over the course of the opening run before getting the call to pit road on lap 37 during the first green flag pit cycle of the day. A caution with 11 laps left in Stage 1 saw Logano hit pit road in order to stay out prior to the start of the second segment as the Discount Tire Ford lined up to restart 20th with six laps remaining, but was held up in the top lane as he was scored 23rd to cap off the opening stage. Logano began to make a charge towards the top-10 during the first run of Stage 2 when the No. 24 spun off the exit of turn four right in front of him, but narrowly avoided contact before the caution flag flew. Several teams opted to only take right side tires when pit road opened – including the No. 22 team – but when Logano was exiting his stall, his made contact with the No. 41 who was stopped on pit road to allow the No. 54 to exit its stall. The contact resulted in heavy damage around the left front tire as Logano brought it back down pit road the following lap, but was unable to continue on from that point.
LOGANO’S THOUGHTS: “Everyone was trying to take two tires and they were just checked up and stopped ahead of me. You’re trying to look and get up out of the way and I just couldn’t stop in time. Proud of the speed we had today. The Discount Tire Mustang had good speed and was capable of getting up there which makes it hurt even more.”
The NASCAR Cup Series heads to Watkins Glen International on Sunday, May 10 for the second road course event of the 2026 season. Coverage of the Go Bowling at The Glen begins at 3:00 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.
Josh Berry and the No. 21 Würth team came away with a 29th-place finish in Sunday’s Würth 400 at Texas Motor Speedway.
Berry lined up 24th in the No. 21 Würth Ford Mustang Dark Horse and showed early progress, working his way into the top 20 within the opening 10 laps.
The team opted to extend the opening green-flag pit cycle, briefly taking the lead before making their stop on Lap 42. The strategy ultimately netted little track position, as Berry cycled back to 24th once the field completed stops. He remained in the mix inside the top 25 for the remainder of Stage 1, finishing 25th.
Track position continued to be a challenge in Stage 2. Despite that, the team stayed on the lead lap and again finished 25th in the segment.
In the final stage, Berry climbed as high as 14th during another round of green-flag pit stops while running long, but the caution needed to capitalize on the strategy never materialized.
A late caution set up a four-lap sprint to the finish, but Berry was unable to regain ground and slipped from 24th to a 29th-place result.
Berry and the Wood Brothers Racing team now shift their focus to next Sunday’s Go Bowling at The Glen at Watkins Glen International.
RFK RACING TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY – EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Date: May 3, 2026 Series: NASCAR Cup Series Location: Texas Motor Speedway (1.5-mile oval) – Fort Worth, TX Format: 400 miles, broken into three stages (completed at lap 80 / lap 165 / lap 267)
RFK RACING RACE SUMMARY:
Roush Fenway Keselowski (RFK) Racing showcased a combination of speed and race strategy Sunday at the Texas Motor Speedway. Led by native Texan Chris Buescher, who qualified third and backed it up with a determined run that placed him among the top 5 finishers, the RFK Racing trio netted solid finishes across the board. Behind Buescher’s fifth place finish, were Brad Keselowski and Ryan Preece, who both rallied late to score finishes inside the top 15. Keselowski rebounded from a challenging opening stage to become a factor up front, using bold strategy calls to lead late in Stage Two before charging to a strong 13th-place finish. Preece showcased steady pace and smart fuel strategy, climbing through the field across each stage and positioning himself for a solid 14th-place finish. With solid finishes, all three teams remain very much in contention for NASCAR’s Chase.
DRIVER HIGHLIGHTS
Chris Buescher – No. 17 Fifth Third Ford Mustang Dark Horse
Finish: 5th Start: 3rd Laps Led: 0 Stage Results: S1 – 11th, S2 – 7th Headline takeaway: Chris Buescher was a consistent contender throughout the afternoon, overcoming a pit road setback early to run inside the top five late. With a bold strategic call, crew chief, Scott Graves elected to stay out and not pit during a late caution break, taking a shot at contending for the win. While Buescher threatened to win he ultimately came home with a very respectable 5th place finish.
Buescher Quote: “That was another really strong day. Another great mile and a half. We were just outside of being able to compete for the win. We were in a good spot just before the last caution, that caution did give us an outside chance at it. Had a good start and pushed the 11 (Denny Hamlin) out but with old tires and dirty air we washed up in turn one. But it was a good fight. Everybody on this Fifth Third Ford Mustang Dark Horse to come out here and put in that work. Man, it’s killing me to get a win here in Texas but that’s the result of the days that we’ve had here quite a bit over the years so I’m proud of everybody for that.”
Brad Keselowski – No. 6 Body Guard by Fastenal Ford Mustang Dark Horse
Finish: 13th Start: 25th Laps Led: 4 Stage Results: S1 – 26th, S2 – 3rd Headline takeaway: Brad Keselowski and crew chief Jeremy Bullins strategically found ways throughout the day to gain track position, capture stage points and lead laps Sunday. A bold two tire change under caution during the closing laps, allowed Keselowski to rally and pick up several spots in the last 4 laps to finish 13th.
Keselowski Quote: “A good solid day of execution. We made the most of what we had. I would’ve like to have been a little bit faster but I thought our team did a good job of executing with all three cars.”
Ryan Preece – No. 60 Kroger / Ball Park Buns Ford Mustang Dark Horse
Finish: 14th Start: 20th Laps Led: 0 Stage Results: S1 – 14th, S2 – 5th Headline takeaway: It was a day filled with strategy for Ryan Preece and crew chief Derrick Finley. On several occasions the team elected for 2-tire pitstops that helped gain track position. That combined with an aggressive charge following a restart with only a handful of laps remaining, earned Preece a hard-fought 14th place finish.
Preece Quote: “I felt like we had a really fast Ford Mustang Dark Horse, but we ultimately never had the track position to show it. It was a good car and a good day.”
Point Standings:
Buescher: 5th Keselowski: 9th Preece: 12th
Next Up:
The next event on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule is Sunday, May 10 at Watkins Glen International (Watkins Glen, NY). The race begins at 3:00 p.m. EDT with live coverage provided by FS1 and the Motor Racing Network.
Stage 2 Winner: Chase Elliott of Hendrick Motorsports (Chevrolet)
RWR Finish:
● Cody Ware (Started 29th, Finished 30th / Running, completed 265 of 267 laps)
RWR Points:
● Cody Ware (35th with 92 points)
Race Notes:
● Chase Elliott won the Würth 400 to score his 23rd career NASCAR Cup Series victory, his second of the season and his second at Texas. His margin over second-place Denny Hamlin was .407 of a second.
● This was Chevrolet’s 884th all-time NASCAR Cup Series victory, its third of the season and second straight. Elliott won for the Bowtie Brigade March 29 at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway and Carson Hocevar won last Sunday at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway.
● This was Chevrolet’s series-leading 19th NASCAR Cup Series victory at Texas. Chevrolet won its first race at Texas on March 28, 1999 with NASCAR Hall of Famer Terry Labonte.
● There were seven caution periods for a total of 40 laps.
● Only 20 of the 38 drivers in the race finished on the lead lap.
● Tyler Reddick remains the championship leader after Texas with a 109-point advantage over second-place Hamlin.
Sound Bites:
“It was a long, tough day. Started to get the car handling decent and into a good spot there in the final stage, but it was too far into the race at that point. Had some pit road issues, including me making a mistake going through too many boxes. So, some stuff to clean up before we get to Watkins Glen next week.” – Cody Ware, driver of the No. 51 Parts Plus / Costa Oil 10-Minute Oil Change Chevrolet
Next Up:
The next event on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule is the Go Bowling at The Glen on Sunday, May 10 at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International. The race begins at 3 p.m. EDT with live coverage provided by FS1 and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
Heat-stressed vented brake disc on a track car — the engineering principle that bleeds into every road-going aftermarket disc. Image: CarParts247.
Motorsport is the world’s most expensive R&D lab. Every weekend, race engineers push brakes, suspension and drivetrains past breaking point so the rest of us inherit the lessons. The strange part? Most of those lessons end up in the parts catalogue you scroll past every time your daily driver needs a service. Here are five of the biggest, with a quick guide to recognising them when you’re ordering replacements.
1. Brake Discs: Cooling Geometry Is Everything
Walk through any race paddock, and you’ll see the same thing on every car: drilled, slotted, or internally vented brake discs glowing dull red after a stint. That heat is the enemy. Once a disc passes around 700°C, the pad compound begins to glaze and outgas, friction drops, and pedal feel goes spongy. Motorsport solved this in two ways: vane geometry inside the disc that pumps cooler air outwards under rotation, and surface drilling/slotting that vents the gas layer between the pad and the rotor.
On a road car, you don’t need full race-spec rotors, but the same physics decides whether your brakes still feel sharp on lap three of a B-road or after a long downhill in the Lake District. A decent vented OE-grade brake disc, the type any reputable factor will sell you, already inherits vane geometry from racing development. The mistake to avoid is buying the cheapest unit on a price filter; thinner cast iron warps faster and sheds heat slower. Spend 10–20% more for a name-brand disc, and the upgrade pays for itself in pedal feel before it pays for itself in pad life.
2. Brake Pad Compounds: There Is No Universal Pad
Race teams run as many as four pad compounds across a season qualifiers, sprint, endurance, wet, because no single friction material is good at everything. Cold bite, high-temp stability, dust, noise, rotor wear: every variable is a trade-off. Road-car compounds are tuned to a different point on that curve (low noise, low dust, decent cold bite, modest peak grip), but the trade-off still applies.
If you commute mostly in town, a low-metallic OE brake pad set will outlast a “performance” ceramic and feel better at 6 a.m. when the discs are cold. If you do trackdays or live somewhere with serious elevation, step up to a fast-road compound — they don’t bite as hard from cold, but they hold friction past 500°C where a standard pad has already started to fade. The point is to match the pad to how you actually drive, not to the spec sheet of a car you wish you owned.
3. Suspension: Damping Is About Body Control, Not Comfort
Race engineers don’t tune suspension for plushness — they tune it for the time the contact patch spends pressing on the road. A loose, under-damped car loses tyre load every time it pitches over a bump; an over-damped car loses load by skipping. The compromise that motorsport teaches is progressive damping: soft early travel for compliance, firmer mid-stroke for body control, hydraulic bump-stops at the end.
On a road car, this lesson shows up in two places. First, the difference between an OE-equivalent strut and a budget shock you’ll find for £29.99: cheaper units use simpler valving, lose damping after 15–20k miles, and let the front of the car float over uneven motorway surfaces. Second, modern adaptive systems (air struts, electronically controlled dampers) inherit their multi-stage valving philosophy directly from endurance racing. If your car has air suspension, replacement isn’t optional — when the seal degrades, ride height drops on the affected corner overnight, and everything else (geometry, tyre wear, ABS calibration) goes with it.
Multi-stage damper assembly — race-derived valving in a road-car package. Image: CarParts247.
4. Drivetrain: Clutch and Timing Belt Service Is Not Optional
The dirty secret of road-car servicing is that the clutch and timing belt are the two components most likely to take an engine with them when they fail, and both are the components most often skipped to save money. Race teams replace clutches and belts on a calendar interval because they can’t afford a Sunday-morning DNF. Most owner’s manuals tell you the same intervals; most owners don’t follow them.
A timing belt failure on an interference engine is engine-out repair territory, easily £2,500 in labour and parts, yet a quality belt kit (belt + tensioner + idler + water pump) is a few hundred pounds installed. A worn clutch eats your dual-mass flywheel if you keep driving on it, doubling the bill. The motorsport principle here is simple: do the service before the part fails, not after. The catalogue carries kits specifically because mixing belt brands with old tensioners is the single most common reason a ‘fresh’ belt job fails six months later.
Timing belt kit with tensioner, idler and water pump — the calendar-interval service that prevents engine-out repairs. Image: CarParts247.
The last lesson is the most useful for everyday drivers. Race teams don’t always run main-dealer parts — they run the same component, made by the same Tier-1 supplier, sold without the dealer’s markup. Brembo, Bosch, ZF, Sachs, Mahle, Mann-Filter, NGK: most of what comes off the OE assembly line is built by these names, then box-stamped with the carmaker’s badge. The aftermarket version is the same physical part, often the same casting line, just packaged differently.
What you want to avoid is the bottom 20% of the aftermarket — unbranded parts that copy the shape but not the metallurgy or the tolerances. The middle 60% (OE-supplier parts) is where you save money without sacrificing reliability. Any decent online catalogue lets you filter by manufacturer; do that filter before you sort by price, not after.
Where to Apply These Lessons
If you’re servicing a car this month, the highest-leverage upgrades are the ones that change the feel: discs, pads, dampers, belts, and clutches. None of them requires modifying the car. They simply ask you to choose the part that fits you a little more carefully than the price filter would suggest.
We run CarParts247, a UK aftermarket parts catalogue with full Tier-1 supplier filtering, fitment by registration, and the four motorsport-derived categories above all stocked from name-brand manufacturers. Worth a look the next time a service light comes on.
You see the phrase casinos not on Gamban quite a bit now, especially when people start researching how blocking software works. Some are trying to understand what Gamban covers. Others are just curious why certain sites still appear even after restrictions are installed.
And honestly, the topic around casinos not on Gamban is more layered than people expect. It isn’t just about access. It’s about software limits, licensing systems, how websites operate internationally, and how fast the internet changes compared to filtering tools.
Most people think internet blocking works like a locked door. Either open or closed. But online systems are rarely that clean.
What Gamban Actually Does?
Gamban is designed to stop access to gambling-related websites and apps across devices.
Once it’s installed, it works quietly in the background.
It usually blocks:
Gambling websites
Sports betting apps
Casino platforms
Related promotional pages
Certain downloadable gaming apps
For many users, that layer of restriction creates distance between them and online betting environments.
But like most software, it relies on updates.
And updates never happen on a perfectly frozen internet.
Why People Search for Casinos Not on Gamban
This is where assumptions usually start.
Not everyone searching this phrase is trying to avoid restrictions.
Some people are simply trying to understand:
Why certain websites remain visible
How filtering software works
Whether blocking systems are universal
How international licensing works
Why some platforms operate differently from UK-based services
Curiosity plays a bigger role than people think.
There’s also confusion.
A lot of users install blocking software expecting every possible website to disappear immediately.
But internet ecosystems don’t really work that way.
The Internet Moves Faster Than Most Filters
This is probably the biggest reason behind the topic.
Websites appear constantly.
Domains change.
Companies rebrand.
New operators launch under different addresses.
Blocking software has to keep up with all of that.
And keeping up is not always instant.
Think about it like spam filters in email.
Some junk messages get blocked immediately.
Others slip through briefly before detection systems update.
The same logic exists here.
How Some Platforms Sit Outside Gamban Databases
This part matters because people often misunderstand how blocking software functions.
Gamban doesn’t manually inspect every website every second.
Instead, it relies on:
System Component
What It Does
Domain databases
Identifies known websites
Blocklists
Stores flagged URLs
Detection rules
Finds gambling-related patterns
Continuous updates
Expands protection over time
That means newer sites may sometimes exist outside recognition temporarily.
It’s not necessarily intentional.
It’s often just timing.
Licensing Plays a Bigger Role Than Most People Realise
This part gets overlooked.
Not every platform online follows the same licensing structure.
Some operate under UK regulations.
Others exist under international licenses.
And those differences matter.
Here’s a basic comparison:
Licensing Authority
Typical Characteristics
UK Gambling Commission
Strict compliance rules
Malta Gaming Authority
European licensing
Curacao
International operator access
Offshore jurisdictions
Broader global reach
This wider licensing landscape creates variation.
And variation often explains why some websites remain outside certain blocking environments.
Are Casinos Not on Gamban Automatically Unsafe?
No.
But they’re not automatically trustworthy either.
This is where people sometimes oversimplify things.
A website existing outside a blocklist doesn’t instantly mean danger.
But it also doesn’t mean reliability.
The same rules still apply.
Things worth checking include:
Clear licensing information
Transparent payment methods
Privacy policies
Responsible gaming tools
Customer support availability
Security encryption
The presence or absence of Gamban coverage shouldn’t be the only deciding factor.
Why This Topic Keeps Growing
Search interest around this topic has increased because people want answers.
And honestly, there’s still confusion.
Questions usually sound like:
Does Gamban block everything?
Why do some sites still appear?
Are these websites different?
Is blocking software permanent?
People want certainty.
But the internet rarely gives certainty.
It gives systems that constantly adapt.
A Lot of People Expect Technology to Be Perfect
This is true across almost everything online.
People expect software to work instantly and flawlessly.
But even advanced systems rely on maintenance.
Updates.
Recognition.
Human oversight.
New websites launch daily.
Some disappear quickly.
Others change addresses.
Filtering software has to react to that movement.
And reaction naturally comes after change.
That’s not failure.
It’s simply how digital monitoring works.
The Human Side of Blocking Software
What often gets ignored in conversations like this is why people use blocking tools in the first place.
For many users, software becomes part of a bigger support system.
Not the only solution.
Just one layer.
People often combine Gamban with:
Spending limits
Self-exclusion tools
Support communities
Therapy or counselling
Accountability methods
Because behaviour change rarely comes from one app alone.
Technology helps create friction.
But support creates long-term structure.
One Thing That’s Rarely Mentioned
The internet doesn’t stand still.
That sounds obvious, but it explains almost everything.
Blocking software works best in environments that remain predictable.
The online world isn’t predictable.
A platform disappears.
Another launch.
A domain changes.
A company rebrands.
And detection systems adjust behind the scenes.
That constant movement explains why topics like this keep appearing in searches.
People notice gaps.
Then they want to understand why those gaps exist.
Closing Thought
The conversation around casinos not on Gamban isn’t really about bypassing software.
It’s about understanding how filtering technology works in a fast-moving internet.
Some platforms are detected quickly.
Some take longer.
And some operate in spaces that don’t fit neatly into one system.
Understanding that makes the topic easier to look at without assumptions.
FAQs
Does Gamban block every gambling-related website instantly?
No. Gamban updates continuously, but newer domains may appear before they’re added to blocklists.
Why do some websites still appear even with Gamban installed?
Some websites may operate under new domains or international networks that haven’t yet been added to filtering databases.
Are casinos not on Gamban always offshore?
Not always. Some may operate internationally, while others simply exist outside current detection systems.
Is Gamban enough on its own?
For many people, Gamban works best alongside additional support tools such as financial limits or self-exclusion services.
Chase Elliott outdueled Denny Hamlin for a second time this season, with his latest occurrence being in the Würth 400 at Texas Motor Speedway on Sunday, May 3.
The 2020 NASCAR Cup Series champion from Dawsonville, Georgia, led four times for a race-high 87 of 267 scheduled laps, after qualifying in 14th place. He then methodically navigated his way into the top-10 mark on the track and settled in eighth place when the first stage period concluded. Throughout the second stage period, Elliott navigated his way to the front as he assumed the lead for the first time on Lap 152. Despite making a pit stop with a majority of the field and prior to a one-lap shootout to conclude the second stage period, he quickly bolted from third to first and claimed the stage victory.
After dominating the early portions of the final stage period, Elliott strategically made his final pit stop under green flag conditions with 52 laps remaining. Then, with 29 laps remaining, he retook the top spot from Corey Heim. Following a late-race caution that flew with 11 laps remaining when Heim wrecked, Elliott was among eight competitors who remained on the track. In a four-lap shootout, he fended off Hamlin at the shootout’s start and motored away for his second Cup victory of the 2026 season.
On-track qualifying determined the starting lineup on Saturday, May 2. Carson Hocevar, winner of last weekend’s event at Talladega Superspeedway, scored his second consecutive Cup pole position at Texas with a pole-winning lap at 191.340 mph in 28.222 seconds. Hocevar shared the front row with teammate Daniel Suarez, who posted the second-fastest qualifying lap at 191.320 mph in 28.225 seconds.
Before the event, Bubba Wallace and Austin Dillon were the only two competitors who started at the rear of the field. Wallace competed in a backup car after he wrecked his primary car during Saturday’s practice session. Dillon had an engine change made after he encountered engine issues during practice.
When the green flag waved and the event commenced, teammates Carson Hocevar and Daniel Suarez dueled in front of two-stacked lanes through the frontstretch. This continued through the first two turns and the backstretch. Then, entering Turn 3, Hocevar muscled his No. 77 Spectrum Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 entry ahead of Suarez, motoring back to the frontstretch to lead the first lap.
Over the next four laps, Hocevar stretched his early advantage to as high as seven-tenths of a second over Suarez. Behind, Chase Briscoe, who trailed by more than a second, was racing in third place. Teammate Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch followed in fourth and fifth place. Chris Buescher, who qualified in third place, dropped to sixth place. Christopher Bell, Ty Gibbs, Tyler Reddick and Alex Bowman occupied the remaining top-10 spots. Meanwhile,, Hocevar grew his advantage to nearly two seconds over Suarez by the 10th lap.
On Lap 19, Hamlin overtook teammate Briscoe entering the frontstretch after Briscoe briefly lost momentum. This happened as Hocevar cut across the path of Briscoe in a bid for the lead, and overtook Hocevar through the backstretch to assume the lead. Briscoe then overtook Hocevar for the runner-up spot during the next lap as Hamlin continued to lead. Behind, Kyle Busch and Buescher trailed in the top five. Bell, Ty Gibbs, Reddick and Bowman followed while Suarez drifted back to 10th place. He was ahead of Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson, William Byron, Austin Cindric and rookie Connor Zilisch. As Suarez slowly continued to drift out of the top-10 mark, Hocevar was being pressured by Busch and Buescher for third place. Hamlin stretched his lead to more than a second over teammate Briscoe by Lap 25.
On Lap 33, Bell strategically pitted his No. 20 Rheem Toyota Camry XSE entry from the top-10 mark. Bell’s pit service ignited a first wave of green flag pit stops over the next two laps. Hamlin then pitted his No. 11 Progressive Toyota Camry XSE entry from the lead on Lap 36. But by the time he completed his pit service and exited pit road, Briscoe managed to overtake Hamlin on the track. This was due to Hamlin stalling his entry during the completion of his service. Hocevar, who was one of 10 competitors who had not yet pit, led before he pitted on Lap 41. Josh Berry, Brad Keselowski and Cole Custer had not yet pit. Once Keselowski pitted from the lead on Lap 42, Briscoe cycled as the leader over a hard-charging Hamlin.
On Lap 46, Bell navigated past teammates Hamlin and Briscoe to assume the lead. Bell proceeded to lead Briscoe by half a second through the Lap 50 mark. Third-place Hamlin trailed by eight-tenths of a second. Busch, Buescher, Hocevar, Gibbs, Elliott, Bowman and Reddick trailed in the top 10. Byron, Larson, Cindric, Ryan Blaney, Ryan Preece, Zilisch, Erik Jones, Suarez, Joey Logano and Corey Heim occupied the top-20 spots over Ross Chastain, Bubba Wallace, Zane Smith, Berry and Ricky Stenhouse Jr., respectively.
Through the Lap 60 mark, Bell maintained the lead by three-tenths of a second over runner-up Hamlin. He was nine-tenths of a second over Briscoe while fourth-place Kyle Busch remained within sight by more than a second. Four laps later, Buescher overtook Busch for fourth place. Bell, who was mired in lapped traffic, retained the lead through every turn and straightaway over Hamlin. Hamlin then dueled with Bell through the frontstretch on Lap 67 as the former tried to use the inside lane through the first two turns and the backstretch to assume the lead. Bell, though, fought back through Turns 3 and 4 from the outside lane.
Then on Lap 67, the event’s first caution flew. This happened as Todd Gilliland got loose through Turns 3 and 4, and spun towards the outside lane while dodging the outside wall. As Gilliland spun down the track while the leaders approached the latter, Gilliland barely clipped the leader, Bell. This sent Bell spinning, entering the frontstretch before he hit the outside wall on the right side.
During the event’s first caution period, nearly the entire lead lap field led by Hamlin returned to pit road for service. Erik Jones, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Ross Chastain, AJ Allmendinger and John Hunter Nemechek remained on the track. Following the pit stops with mixed pit strategies ensuing, Hocevar exited pit road first. He was followed by Ryan Preece, Hamlin, Briscoe, Busch, Ty Gibbs, Chase Elliott, Buescher, Bowman and Larson.
The event restarted with six laps remaining in the first stage period. The field fanned out as wide as four lanes through the first two turns as Jones and Stenhouse dueled for the lead through the first two turns and the backstretch. Jones then managed to motor ahead of Stenhouse through Turns 3 and 4 and he led the next lap. The field behind bumped, jostled and scattered for spots. As Jones maintained a steady lead, Briscoe was mired in seventh place while Hamlin was struggling to remain inside of the top-10 mark.
When the first stage period concluded on Lap 80, Erik Jones captured his first Cup career stage victory. Hocevar muscled his way into second place over Stenhouse, Gibbs and Briscoe while Busch, Allmendinger, Elliott, Byron and Hamlin were scored in the top 10, respectively. By then, 35 of 38 starters were scored on the lead lap while Bell was officially ruled out of the event following his incident with Gilliland.
Under the event’s first stage break period, some led by Jones and including Stenhouse, AJ Allmendinger, Chastain, Preece, Suarez, John Hunter Nemechek, Connor Zilisch, Noah Gragson, Austin Dillon, Cole Custer, Gilliland, Kyle Larson, Keselowski, Ryan Blaney, Berry, Riley Herbst and Ty Dillon pitted while the rest led by Hocevar remained on the track.
The second stage period started on Lap 88 as Hocevar and Gibbs occupied the front row. At the start, the latter two dueled through the frontstretch, the first two turns and the backstretch. Then, as Hocevar threw a bold block on Briscoe entering Turn 3, Hocevar and Gibbs continued to duel for the lead. Gibbs used the outside lane to lead the next lap. He then continued to duel dead even with Hocevar for the lead in front of Briscoe for another lap. However, Hocevar muscled ahead through Turns 3 and 4. With Gibbs hitting the curb in Turn 3, Briscoe overtook Gibbs as Hocevar motored away to lead Lap 91.
On Lap 92, the caution returned. Byron, who was racing in the top-10 mark, got sideways through Turns 3 and 4 after he ran over the turns’ bumps. He then spun from the outside lane and back across the track and was barely dodged by an oncoming Joey Logano. As he slid towards the frontstretch’s grass. He managed to continue without sustaining any significant damage to the No. 24 Valvoline Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 entry.
During the caution period, a majority of the field led by Hocevar returned to pit road for service. The rest, led by Heim, remained on the track. Following the pit stops and amid mixed pit strategies, Elliott, Buescher, Michael McDowell, Busch, Cindric, Allmendinger, Reddick, Hamlin, Bubba Wallace and Chastain were the first 10 competitors to exit pit road.
Amid the pit stops, a trio of incidents occurred as the competitors scrambled to navigate through pit road. Briscoe, who pitted for only two tires, dropped to 22nd place. This was due to making contact with Larson while trying to exit his pit stall. Then ahead, Logano clipped the right-rear end of Custer as Custer stopped to avoid hitting Gibbs. This caused damage to Logano’s left-front fender and knocked Logano out of contention. Meanwhile, Hamlin got blocked by Zilisch while trying to exit his pit stall, which dropped him to 15th place.
The next restart on Lap 98 featured Heim and Zane Smith occupying the front row. Heim outdueled Smith to motor ahead with the lead. Heim led the next lap ahead of a stacked field. Keselowski navigated his way into the runner-up spot ahead of a battle between Smith and Suarez. The caution then returned on Lap 101.
Gibbs, who was racing within the top-20 mark, was bumped by Preece. He slipped up the track before hitting the outside wall in Turns 3 and 4.
As the event restarted on Lap 106, Heim used the inside lane to pass Keselowski and Suarez through the first two turns. While the field behind jostled for spots, Hocevar overtook Keselowski for second place while Heim led the next lap. Heim led Suarez by more than a second at the Lap 110 mark. Elliott, Keselowski and Stenhouse were racing in the top five ahead of Zane Smith, Buescher, Nemechek, Briscoe and Riley Herbst. Briscoe was recovering from his pit road incident with Larson while Hamlin was mired in 15th place.
At the Lap 120 mark, Heim extended his lead to two seconds over runner-up Elliott. He was more than three seconds over third-place Suarez. Keselowski, Stenhouse, Buescher, Nemechek, Smith, Briscoe and Reddick trailed in the top 10. They were ahead of Hamlin, Herbst, Busch, Wallace, Cindric, Hocevar, Bowman, Shane van Gisbergen, Erik Jones and Byron, respectively.
As the laps progressed, Briscoe drifted back to 21st place while Hamlin methodically carved his way up to fifth place. With the on-track competition at Texas Motor Speedway settling into a normal pace, Heim continued to lead by more than a second over Elliott at the event’s halfway mark between Laps 133 and 134.
By Lap 150, Heim, who was reeling in to lap Briscoe, retained the lead by more than three seconds over Elliott. Hamlin, Keselowski, Buescher, Suarez, Stenhouse, Reddick, Herbst and Nemechek were racing in the top 10, respectively. Two laps later, Heim, who had not pitted since Lap 70, reportedly did not have enough fuel to complete the second stage period. As a result, he surrendered the lead to pit under green.
Heim’s move allowed Elliott to cycle the No. 9 Amazon Prime Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 entry into the lead. He led Hamlin by more than three seconds. By then, Zane Smith, who was also low on fuel, had also pitted under green. Stenhouse, who was trying to stretch his fuel tank to the second stage’s distance, retained sixth place.
Then on Lap 159, the caution flew again. Larson was struggling with the steering of his No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 entry. This resulted in him snapping sideways through the first two turns. He hit the outside wall on the left side while going backwards. During this caution period, most of the leaders led by Elliott and Hamlin pitted. The rest, led by Keselowski and Preece, remained on the track. Heim used his fresh tires to emerge as the first competitor a lap down when the latest caution flew. As a result, he was awarded the free pass to cycle back on the lead lap.
During a one-lap shootout to cap off the second stage period, Elliott went from third to first. He overtook Keselowski to capture his first Cup stage victory of the 2026 season. The second stage period concluded on Lap 165. Reddick settled in second ahead of Keselowski, Hamlin and Preece. Suarez, Buescher, Herbst, Hocevar and Bowman were scored in the top 10, respectively. By then, 30 of 38 starters were scored on the lead lap.
During the event’s second stage break period, a handful of competitors pitted. They were led by Keselowski and Preece, along with McDowell, Briscoe and Cody Ware. The rest, led by Elliott, remained on the track.
With 95 laps remaining, the final stage period commenced as Elliott and Reddick occupied the front row. At the start, the latter two dueled for the lead through the frontstretch, first two turns and the backstretch. Elliott used the inside lane to pull away from Reddick through Turns 3 and 4, leading the next lap. As Elliott led Reddick, Hamlin tracked down both in third place. Suarez, Buescher, Herbst, Hocevar, Bowman, Byron and Stenhouse were racing in the top 10. As various on-track battles ensued within the field, Elliott led by half a second over Reddick with 90 laps remaining.
Down to the final 75 laps of the event, Elliott maintained the lead by three-tenths of a second. He was followed by a hard-charging Reddick. Third-place Hamlin trailed by more than a second. Elliott increased his advantage to nine-tenths of a second during the next five laps and more than a second over the next 10 laps.
Then, with 57 laps remaining, a late cycle of green-flag pit stops commenced. Chastain and Byron pitted their respective Chevrolet entries. Bowman, Busch, Austin Dillon, Erik Jones and Cindric also pitted during the next lap. Chastain was nabbed for speeding on pit road. Zilisch, Preece, Zane Smith, Ty Dillon and Buescher all pitted during the following three laps. The leader, Elliott, and Reddick pitted with 52 laps remaining.
As the green flag pit stops continued, Hamlin led a single lap before he pitted a lap after Elliott and Reddick pitted. With both Elliott and Reddick cycling ahead of Hamlin, the top-seven competitors led by Hocevar remained on the track with 50 laps remaining. Hocevar continued to lead until he pitted with 45 laps remaining. This left the leader Blaney, Heim and Briscoe out as the lone trio of competitors who had yet to pit. Blaney then pitted from the lead and relinquished the top spot to Heim with 40 laps remaining. By then, Elliott trailed the lead by six seconds. Reddick and Hamlin also trailed the lead by seven and eight seconds, respectively.
Down to the final 30 laps, Heim, who was mired behind lapped traffic, continued to lead by over Elliott as the latter overtook Briscoe for the runner-up spot. Another lap later, Elliott overtook Heim for the lead as Heim, who was running low on fuel, pitted under green. With Elliott leading, Hamlin overtook Briscoe for the runner-up spot. He trailed Elliott by more than a second while Reddick, Buescher, Suarez, Bowman, Herbst, Hocevar and Busch were in the top 10, respectively.
With 20 laps remaining, Elliott maintained the lead by more than a second over Hamlin while third-place Reddick trailed by more than three seconds. Buescher and Suarez remained in the top five while Bowman, Herbst, Hocevar, Busch and Byron occupied the top-10 spots ahead of Austin Cindric, Wallace, Nemechek, Preece, Connor Zilisch, Shane van Gisbergen, Austin Dillon, Blaney, Erik Jones and Keselowski, all of whom were scored on the lead lap. Meanwhile, both Heim and Briscoe were mired in 24th and 26th following their late green flag pit stops.
Then with 11 laps remaining, the caution flew when Heim snapped sideways by himself through Turns 3 and 4 and backed his No. 67 Robinhood Toyota Camry XSE entry hard against the outside wall, which damaged the rear end of the entry and terminated Heim’s strong performance. During the caution period, split pit strategies ensued as some led by Reddick pitted while eight competitors, including the leader Elliott and Hamlin, remained on the track.
The next restart with four laps remaining featured Hamlin and Elliott dueling for the lead through the frontstretch and the first two turns before Elliott used the inside lane to muscle ahead of Hamlin through the backstretch. While Reddick was using two fresh tires to motor up to fifth place, Elliott led the next lap. Reddick had his late-race charge stalled as he could not reel in Buescher for fourth place, while Elliott continued to lead by a steady margin over Hamlin.
When the white flag waved and the final lap started, Elliott remained in the lead over Hamlin while Nemechek got wrecked by Kyle Busch through Turns 3 and 4. With Nemechek nursing his damaged entry below the racing surface, the event remained under green flag conditions. As Hamlin was unable to mount a final-lap charge, Elliott was able to cycle back to the frontstretch and claim the checkered flag by four-tenths of a second.
With the victory, Elliott, who won at Martinsville Speedway in late March after beating Hamlin then, notched his 23rd NASCAR Cup Series career win in his 369th series start, his second at Texas in three years and his second of the 2026 season, thus becoming the second repeat winner through 11 events this season. Elliott’s Texas victory was also the second of the 2026 season for Hendrick Motorsports and the third for the Chevrolet manufacturer.
Photo by Jake Daugherty for SpeedwayMedia.com.
“I’ve not been a huge fan of [Texas] and I’ve made that very obvious,” Elliott said on the frontstretch on FS1. “To continue to work hard, I really think this is a testament to not just the whole No. 9 team, but also everybody at Hendrick Motorsports because we’ve not been where we wanted to be throughout portions of this season. Man, everybody’s just been digging in really hard, from the engine shop at Hendrick Motorsports to all the setup shops, to everybody at Team Chevy. Just crazy. To say as much as we struggled out here to have won two races here now in the last few years is pretty wild. Just super grateful for all the people that help make this possible. Looking forward to celebrating with them.”
“I wasn’t really sure whether to go top or bottom [lane during the final restart],” Elliott added. “The bottom had been winning out on a lot of the restarts. I just felt like man, if I didn’t get clear off of [Turn] 2, I was going to be in a lot of trouble. Fortunately, Alex [Bowman] gave me a great push. [I] Was able to execute Turns 1 and 2, get clear and then just kind of manage the last few laps. It worked out really good.”
Denny Hamlin, who led 21 laps, settled in second place for his 10th top-five result in 38 Cup starts at Texas and his fifth top-five result of the 2026 season.
“[The battle] was really close, for sure,” Hamlin said. “Props to the No. 9 team and really, [Reddick] that last third stage. They had some really good speed. I thought I was gonna get there, especially with as hard as [Keselowski] was trying to hold off [Elliott]. Hats off to his whole Progressive Toyota team. We did good. I didn’t have great restarts all day and you get a step behind a little bit. It’s just those little fine small details.
I thought I got a good restart there at the end, side by side, but then, the way the side-draft works right there into Turn 1, with [Elliott] getting a push from [Bowman], it just allowed his momentum to pick up a little bit quicker than mine. I tried to hang on to the side, but I was just getting tighter the closer I was getting to him. Good, decent day. Just one [position] short.”
Alex Bowman notched his second consecutive third-place result while points leader Tyler Reddick and Chris Buescher finished in the top five. Daniel Suarez, pole-sitter Carson Hocevar, William Byron, Bubba Wallace and Ryan Blaney completed the top 10 in the final running order.
Notably, Brad Keselowski and Ryan Preece finished 13th and 14th behind Erik Jones, Kyle Busch ended up in 20th place following his late on-track skirmish with John Hunter Nemechek and Chase Briscoe ended up a lap down in 23rd place. In addition, rookie Connor Zilisch settled in 16th place for his third top-20 result of this season.
There were 23 lead changes for 11 different leaders. The event featured seven cautions for 40 laps. In addition, 20 of 38 starters finished on the lead lap.
Following the 11th event of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season, Tyler Reddick continues to lead the standings. He is 109 points ahead of Denny Hamlin, 117 over Chase Elliott, 155 over Ryan Blaney and 181 over Chris Buescher.
Results:
Chase Elliott, 87 laps led, Stage 2 winner
Denny Hamlin, 21 laps led
Alex Bowman
Tyler Reddick
Chris Buescher
Daniel Suarez
Carson Hocevar, 40 laps led
William Byron
Bubba Wallace
Ryan Blaney, five laps led
Riley Herbst, one lap led
Erik Jones, 13 laps led, Stage 1 winner
Brad Keselowski, four laps led
Ryan Preece
Austin Cindric
Connor Zilisch
Shane van Gisbergen
Austin Dillon
Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
Kyle Busch
John Hunter Nemechek, one lap down
Zane Smith, one lap down
Chase Briscoe, one lap down, four laps led
Ty Dillon, one lap down
AJ Allmendinger, one lap down
Ross Chastain, one lap down
Michael McDowell, one lap down
Noah Gragson, one lap down
Josh Berry, one lap down
Cody Ware, two laps down
Corey Heim – OUT, Accident, 69 laps led
Todd Gilliland, 13 laps down
Chad Finchum, 44 laps down
Kyle Larson, 87 laps down
Cole Custer, 94 laps down
Ty Gibbs – OUT, Accident, one lap led
Joey Logano – OUT, Accident
Christopher Bell – OUT, Accident, 22 laps led
Next on the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series schedule is the Go Bowling at The Glen (Watkins Glen International) in Watkins Glen, New York. The event is scheduled to occur next Sunday, May 10, and air at 3 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN, SiriusXM and HBO MAX.
Austin Dillon and the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops/Winchester AA White Flyer Team Push Forward for Top-20 Result at Texas Motor Speedway
Finish: 18th Start: 38th Points: 27th
“We had to battle through that one. Starting at the back of the field without practice made it a long one for our Bass Pro Shops/Winchester AA White Flyer team but we kept chipping away it. Our Chevrolet was tight from the start, and dirty air definitely didn’t help. We ran some of our fastest laps of the day towards the end of the race though, so we made it better from the start. Proud of this No. 3 team and everyone at RCR and ECR.” -Austin Dillon
Kyle Busch and the No. 8 zone Watermelon x Circle K Chevrolet Team Showcase Top-10 Speed Before Late Race Contact Derails Finish at Texas Motor Speedway
Finish: 20th Start: 6th Points: 26th
“Disappointing end to the day for the No. 8 zone Watermelon Chevrolet team, but we are making steps in the right direction. We ran in the top-10 for most of the race today at Texas Motor Speedway, and started the weekend with a solid sixth-place qualifying effort. Unfortunately, we ended up with right-front damage after contact battling for position on the final lap. It turned our top-10 day into a 20th-place result.” -Kyle Busch
