Tyler Reddick wins NASCAR Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway by Ron Olds
Kansas City, KS – In an overtime restart, 23XI Racing driver Tyler Reddick made a last-lap pass in the middle of Turns 3 and 4 on Kyle Larson. He took the lead and the eventual race win, scoring his fifth win of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season.
Reddick described the final laps, saying, “It was really chaotic. We had a decent launch on the 11 (Denny Hamlin). The 5 (Kyle Larson) put him middle of the three, and then the 20 (Christopher Bell) got to my outside – yeah, we all ran out of real estate off of turn two.
“It’s a bummer I got Christopher there, and pretty much took his shot of winning the race, or running top-five like he did all day away, so that one in the moment stings. And, you just have to put it behind you really fast and go and win the race for Toyota. I was glad we were able to get back to the 5. I was really surprised we had that kind of grip on those right sides, but I took advantage of it and was able to make the move.”
Kansas Speedway marked the ninth race of the 2026 season. Originally, stages 80-85-102 made up the 267-lap race before going seven laps into an overtime restart as the checkered flag fell at Lap 274. Just two cars went to the rear before the start of the race; Joey Logano for steering and Noah Gragson for adjustments.
During the first stage, Hamlin took the lead as early as Lap 4 and held the lead until the first round of green flag pit stops began around Lap 32. It wasn’t until Lap 38 that race leader Hamlin pitted from the lead, while Reddick pitted a lap earlier on Lap 37.
However, Hamlin cycled back to the lead following pit stops at Lap 41 and led all the way to the end of Stage 1. Hamlin, Kyle Larson, Reddick, Ty Gibbs, Christopher Bell, Chase Briscoe, Carson Hocevar, Bubba Wallace, and Corey Heim were the Top 10. No cautions were seen during the stage.
Stage 2 took place between Laps 88 and 165. One lap after the restart, Larson took the lead from Hamlin as Hamlin slipped to the fourth position. Larson led the majority of the second stage, as the only time he lost the lead was during green flag pit stops. The Hendrick Motorsports driver cycled out to the lead at Lap 130. From there, Larson led the way and took the Stage 2 win. Larson, Hamlin, Reddick, Elliott, Bell, Wallace, Keselowski, Gibbs, Buescher, and Hocevar rounded out the Top 10.
The final stage began with 94 laps to go, with Hamin, Bell, Larson, Reddick, and Wallace the top five. A lap later, Bell took the lead from Hamlin. He led most of the final stage for what was supposed to be the final round of pit stops that began with 49 laps to go. Hamlin was the first to pit with 49 laps to go, followed by Reddick two laps later. Eventually, Bell pitted from the race lead with 46 to go, giving the lead to Hamlin with 43 to go.
Following the stops, Hamlin nearly had a five-second lead over Reddick before Reddick began closing in on the race leader inside 40 to go, cutting the lead to 2.9 seconds. However, Hamlin was able to manage his gap over his team driver Reddick before there was 20 to go. At that point in time, Reddick began slowly erasing the gap, even getting it down to 1.1 seconds at 15 to go.
Eventually, Reddick was able to take the lead with nine laps to go over Hamlin after running him down using the high line. Though the fight was not over, as Hamlin did not give up and started to close back down inside five to go. With two laps remaining, Reddick briefly ran out of fuel, which allowed Hamlin to take the lead.
It looked as though the Joe Gibbs Racing driver would be on his way to an easy victory until a caution came out, as Hamlin was just exiting off of Turn 4 and getting ready to take the white flag.
Hamlin spoke about his frustration after leading 131 laps.
“I mean, obviously, it’s not winning. It’s Cody Ware, six laps down, wrecking. I don’t know. It just added up. I feel like it was the same move that the 5 (Kyle Larson) got me a couple years ago when I was on the inside. I got to learn from those mistakes that I make, not executing those last few laps.”Cody Ware and the No. 51 Rick Ware Racing team brought out the late race yellow (the only for incident throughout the entire race), as Ware spun off Turn 4.
The Top 10 pitted under yellow for two tires, while Briscoe was the first to take four tires and was going to restart in the 11th position. Hamlin, Reddick, Larson, Bell, and Wallace were the top five for the final restart.
Larson made a dive-bomb move going into Turn 1 and briefly took the race lead from Hamlin and Reddick. Bell was also on the top side, making a run off Turn 2. During the process, Reddick made slight contact with Bell, which then saw him make slight contact with the wall and end his shot at the win.
Then, Reddick had momentum in Turns 3 and 4, passing Hamlin for second. On the backstretch, both Larson and Reddick were side-by-side, battling for the race victory. Larson had contact with Reddick, which was enough for Reddick to pass him and drive away with the 13th victory of his career. The win at Kansas was his second at the 1.5-mile racetrack, his first since 2023 in the fall race.
There were three cautions for 20 laps and 17 lead changes among seven different leaders. Reddick led three times for 10 laps en route to victory.
After Kansas, Tyler Reddick leads the series standings by 105 points over Denny Hamlin, 120 over Ryan Blaney, 138 over Ty Gibbs, and 143 over Kyle Larson.
Official Race Results Following The Advent Health 400 at Kansas Speedway
REDDICK CONTINUES TO MAKE HISTORY, WINS AT KANSAS California-native first driver to win five of the first nine races of the season since Dale Earnhardt
KANSAS CITY (April 19, 2026) – Tyler Reddick continued his early season dominance as he claimed his fifth win in the first nine races this season with a stellar last lap pass at Kansas Speedway. Reddick was battling for the win in the closing laps before a late race caution setup an overtime finish, and Reddick was able to make his Camry stick to claim the victory. With the win, Reddick is the first driver since 1987 to win five of the first nine races.
It was a dominate performance for Team Toyota as Camry drivers claimed four of the top-five finishers with Reddick, Chase Briscoe (third), Denny Hamlin (fourth) and Bubba Wallace (fifth). It is the second consecutive Kansas race that Toyota has had four of the top-five and the 16th time in Toyota’s Cup Series history. Toyota now has won seven of the first nine races this season; the most for any OEM since 2007.
Ty Gibbs (ninth) extended his career-best streak of top-10 finishes to seven. Reddick and Gibbs lead the series with seven top-10s this season. 23XI Racing made more history as for the first time in team history that placed four Camrys in the top-15 finishers – Reddick, Wallace, Riley Herbst (14th) and Corey Heim (15th).
TOYOTA RACING Post-Race Recap NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) Kansas Speedway Race 9 of 36 – 400.5 miles, 267 laps
TOYOTA FINISHING POSITIONS
1st, TYLER REDDICK
2nd, Kyle Larson*
3rd, CHASE BRISCOE
4th, DENNY HAMLIN
5th, BUBBA WALLACE
9th, TY GIBBS
14th, RILEY HERBST
15th, COREY HEIM
20th, CHRISTOPHER BELL
22nd, JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK
23rd, ERIK JONES
*non-Toyota driver
TOYOTA QUOTES
TYLER REDDICK, No. 45 SupplyHouse Toyota Camry XSE, 23XI Racing
Finishing Position: 1st
Can you walk us through that finish if you can?
“It was really chaotic. We had a decent launch on the 11 (Denny Hamlin). The 5 (Kyle Larson) put him middle of the three, and then the 20 (Christopher Bell) got to my outside – yeah, we all ran out of real estate off of turn two. It’s a bummer I got Christopher there, and pretty much took his shot of winning the race or running top-five like he did, away.
“So that one in the moment stings, and you just have to put it behind you really fast and go and win the race for Toyota. I was glad we were able to get back to the 5. I was really surprised we had that kind of grip on those right sides, but I took advantage of it and was able to make the move.”
Nine races, five wins. What is it like to be Tyler Reddick right now?
“It is incredible. To be able to capitalize on great days like this – this is SupplyHouse’s first race, to get them their first win with the team with 23XI is really cool. Just announced the Rockstar Energy partnership, so I’m sipping my Rockstar in victory lane for the first time as well. All in all, it’s been pretty great to be us, and we’ve made some good choices but certainly have had some things go our way in some of these races.”
CHASE BRISCOE, No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota Camry XSE, Joe Gibbs Racing
Finishing Position: 3rd
How about that call and what about that last restart?
“Yeah, great call by James (Small, crew chief) there to be on offense. We were not very good. We ran about 10th all day long. We were able to make something out of it in the end on that restart. I would have loved to have another lap. I missed the 11 (Denny Hamlin) – I didn’t quite clear him and it messed both of our momentums up, and it made it where I couldn’t make a move there in the end. I wouldn’t say we are proud of that effort. We kind of got lucky with that caution – we were going to run 12th with two to go, so glad we were able to turn it around and see if we can build on it.”
DENNY HAMLIN, No. 11 National Debt Relief Toyota Camry XSE, Joe Gibbs Racing
Finishing Position: 4th
What was the most frustrating part of those closing laps?
“I mean, obviously it’s not winning. It’s Cody Ware, six laps down wrecking. I don’t know. It just added up. I feel like it was the same move that the 5 (Kyle Larson) got me a couple years ago when I was on the inside. I got to learn from those mistakes that I make, not executing those last few laps.”
BUBBA WALLACE, No. 23 Boys and Girls Club of America Toyota Camry XSE, 23XI Racing
Finishing Position: 5th
What more did you need in that final run?
“I thought once we got past the bubble of eighth or ninth that we would really turn it up. We got to third and the 45 (Tyler Reddick) passed me like I was on jackstands and I’m like never mind (laughter). We are still missing something but hats off to the team. What an incredible year that we are all putting together. It’s an honor to be a part of a good race team with good race cars. It’s a lot of fun. I want it more. I’m pissed that he won; I’m getting tired of it (laughter). No, happy for him. Happy for the team. Pumped for Boys and Girls Club; gave them a good run. Appreciate them coming on board and all of the partners that came on board with then. It was a solid weekend from start to finish, not much you can hang your hat on.”
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for nearly 70 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our more than 1,800 dealerships.
Toyota directly employs nearly 64,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 49 million cars and trucks at our 14 manufacturing plants. In spring 2025, Toyota’s plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, Toyota currently offers 31 electrified options.
NASCAR Cup Series Kansas Speedway AdventHealth 400 Team Chevy Post-Race Report April 19, 2026
Larson Drives to Season-Best Runner-Up Finish at Kansas Speedway
Kyle Larson heads home from the Heartland with his second consecutive podium appearance of the season, with the reigning champion driving to a second-place result in the AdventHealth 400 at Kansas Speedway. Larson continued to build upon his impressive resume at the 1.5-mile oval, bringing his top-five tally to 10 in his 23 career NASCAR Cup Series starts at the track. Collecting points in each stage, including the Stage Two win, Larson closed out the ninth race of the season by bringing his stage points total to 91 – making yet another gain in the points standings to lead Team Chevy in fifth.
RACE RECAP:
Stage One:
Three-time Kansas Speedway winner, Kyle Larson, led Team Chevy in Saturday’s qualifying session – driving his No. 5 Chevrolet to a fourth-place starting position for the AdventHealth 400. Taking the green flag for the opening 80-lap stage, it was Spire Motorsports’ Carson Hocevar that quickly picked up a pair of positions to make his first appearance in the top-five with just four laps in the books. With a green flag run to start the race, Larson found his way back up to the third position as the first pit cycle loomed. Larson’s first report to the team was that his Chevrolet was tight to fire off, but that he was overall happy with the handling during the green flag run. The Lap 37 marker saw Crew Chief Cliff Daniels call his driver to pit road for their first stop of the day, with the team ultimately earning one position in the running order once the cycle was deemed complete. Larson and his Hendrick Motorsports teammates, William Byron and Chase Elliott, were among the handful of drivers to make a gain in track position during the green flag pit cycle – both making their way into the top-10 for the second-half of the stage. Continuing caution-free, the trio went on to lead the manufacturer to the first green-white checkered flag. Larson maintained a two-second margin to then race leader, Denny Hamlin, to collect runner-up stage points to open the race.
Stage Two:
Maintaining position in the race off pit road, Larson inherited a front-row starting position to take the green flag for Stage Two. A clutch restart by the reigning champion saw the No. 5 make the pass on Hamlin during the opening lap of the next 85-lap run to lead his first laps of the race. Capitalizing on clean air, Larson carried an average one-second lead throughout the first-half of the stage. Happy with the overall balance of his Chevrolet, Larson surrendered the lead with 42 laps to go in the stage to make his second routine green flag pit stop of the race. An 8.9-second stop by the No. 5 pit crew put their driver back in the lead with a nearly five-second cushion at the completion of the pit cycle. With a call by Crew Chief Alan Gustafson to pit three laps earlier than the leaders, Elliott ultimately cycled into his race-high running position of second to begin the final run to the stage end. Coming to the end of yet another long green flag run, Larson navigated through lap traffic and still managed to keep a 2.5-second lead en route to the stage win.
Final Stage:
Larson led the Bowtie brigade during the stage break pit cycle in third, going on to line up on the outside lane of the second row to take the green flag for the final stage. Firing off tight to begin the final run, Larson still managed to maintain a top-five running position during the beginning laps of the stage. Through another green flag pit cycle and what looked to be another caution-free stage, Larson was settled in the third position when the caution flew as the leaders were just short of taking the white flag. With the lead pack opting to hit pit road for a two-tire stop, Larson sat in the inside lane of the second row for the overtime attempt. Taking the green flag, Larson powered his Chevrolet below the leaders to make it three-wide – going on to take the checkered flag with a runner-up result.
The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season continues at Talladega Superspeedway with the Jack Link’s 500 on Sunday, April 26, at 3 p.m. ET. Live coverage can be found on FOX, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.
Post-Race Driver Quotes:
Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Finished: 16th
“Solid top-20 day for our Toys For Tots team. Our Chevrolet fired off a little tight, but fought a few different things once we got in clean air. We were too tight for the first half of the race, and then it flipped and we were too loose. It took 10 or 12 laps for our car to come in and then we were on pace with the field. By the end of a run, we were probably a little better than others. Richard Boswell and the No. 3 guys kept adjusting on the balance and made the right calls to not lose track position throughout the race. Proud of the effort from everyone today. We will keep battling.”
Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Finished: 2nd
“It was a good execution on the restart there at the end. I got to the lead and I thought I could cruise right there to the checkered flag, but my balance on two tires was just super, super tight. I didn’t get through (turns) three and four fast enough, and then the No. 45 (Tyler Reddick, race winner) had such a big run on me from behind. I thought I could go to the top to get some load into my front tires, but it still didn’t turn there. That was a bummer, but just overall happy with the day we had.”
Kyle Busch, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Finished: 35th
“This afternoon was a fight from start to finish for the entire No. 8 Nicokick x zone Cranberry Chevrolet team. We fired off tight, lacked turn, and battled right side tire wear early on. While we ended up going a lap down as the race progressed, we were adjusting the car in the right direction and fighting for the Lucky Dog. As we neared the end of Stage 2, we were back in the pits for an unscheduled tire stop, and then lost more track position as we looked into a potential brake issue. All we can do now is make notes, refocus and look to next weekend in Talladega as we try to chase a better finish I know everyone is after.”
AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
Finished: 31st
“It was just disappointing. It was one of those things where we pitted, the No. 12 (Ryan Blaney) was I think three or four boxes behind us. I was watching him the whole time and I was going to check up if he ever dropped the jack before I got to his box. But I passed his box maybe just right as they dropped the jack, and as I turned in, he turned out. I was hoping he’d checkup because I was already committed, but he didn’t and spun us out. I should have just spun the car back around and got back in the box to save us a lot of time. It just really messed us up after that to get back in the box and get tires on the car. I need to be better about being quicker of just what to do there. It’s just disappointing because, honestly, I think we had a really competitive car. It’s hard because you’re on better tires, and then you’re on worse tires, so you’re never really on the same tires as everybody else.”
William Byron, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Finished: 7th
“Today was a struggle honestly. We made some major changes part way through the race and that helped set us up for that last restart. I just appreciate my guys when they keep digging no matter the situation.”
About General Motors
General Motors (NYSE:GM) is driving the future of transportation, leveraging advanced technology to build safer, smarter, and lower emission cars, trucks, and SUVs. GM’s Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC brands offer a broad portfolio of innovative gasoline-powered vehicles and the industry’s widest range of EVs, as we move to an all-electric future.
GM Motorsports, including the Cadillac Formula 1® Team develops and proves advanced technologies in the most demanding environments, accelerating innovation in performance, safety, efficiency, and electrification for its production vehicles. Cadillac Racing is one of the leading manufacturers in the IMSA and FIA World Endurance Championships (WEC). Chevrolet competes in single seaters in the US IndyCar series, and in NASCAR with multiple team partners and drivers. Corvette customer teams compete in GT series across the globe including IMSA and WEC. Learn more at GM.com.
Catsburg, Edgar, McDonald come from deep in LMGT3 field in strong start to season
IMOLA, Italy (April 19, 2026) – TF Sport’s No. 33 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R earned a runner-up spot in LMGT3 Sunday at the end of the Six Hours of Imola to start the FIA World Endurance Championship season. It was the second straight season-opening podium for the team and the Corvette GT3 in the series.
Nicky Catsburg, Jonny Edgar and series rookie Blake McDonald had a nearly flawless race in a new-look lineup for the team. The No. 33 Corvette came from deep in the field and gained 12 spots from start to finish and was just 0.265 seconds from the race win with Catsburg chasing down the class-winning BMW on the last lap.
McDonald started 14th in class for his first race in the FIA WEC and first dealing with Hypercar traffic. By the time he exited the No. 33 and handed over to Edgar, the Corvette was firmly inside the top-five. It led for the first time just shy of the halfway point, not long after Edgar set the fastest lap of the race in his opening stint.
He swapped to Catsburg for the final one hour, 40 minutes of the race with the Corvette in third. Despite a slightly long final pit stop, Catsburg moved into second inside the final 35 minutes and clawed away at what was a three-second deficit down to two-tenths at the end.
The No. 34 Racing Team Turkey TF Corvette finished 16th after a late-race technical issue that forced the car into the garage near the five-hour mark. It was a contender also after an early charge through the pack with Salih Yoluc moving from 10th to fourth after his opening stints, and Peter Dempsey kept the Corvette in podium position until his stop to hand over to Charlie Eastwood just inside the fourth hour when the electrical issue arose.
“The Corvettes all weekend had good pace,” said Eric Warren, GM Vice President, Global Motorsports Competition. “We had a few issues to work out. There were a few issues with a mirror that we had to work on and some electrical issues that we tried to work out. But both cars had speed. The No. 33 had a great chance for the victory and it came down to the very last lap. But a great performance by both the 33 and 34. TF Sport and Corvette Racing should be happy with this start to the season, and we’re looking forward to more this year.”
The next round of the FIA World Endurance Championship is the Six Hours of Spa on May 7-9.
CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R POST-RACE DRIVER QUOTES
NICKY CATSBURG, NO. 33 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “First off all, it’s great to be back in WEC and to come back with a podium is obviously really nice. That’s definitely thanks to my teammates who did an impeccable job today. No mistakes and that’s what you need to be on the podium here. I feel like we got unlucky in the pitlane a couple of times, otherwise I think we could have won. I tried really hard with the BMW at the end but I know Dan Harper really well. He used to be a teammate; I was not expecting to make a mistake, and he didn’t. Unfortunately I couldn’t pass him. In the first stint I struggled behind him quite a lot and destroyed my tires a bit. Overall I think we can be happy with the result and we can look forward to a good season.”
JONNY EDGAR, NO. 33 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “It was a good first race, and I enjoyed my stint a lot. We were on a different tire strategy than other cars around, so we managed to jump to the lead but had a little worse tires for the next stint. I was defending a lot from the McLaren and managed to hold him off most of the stint. We also had an energy advantage on all the cars we were racing and were in a good position. It was really unlucky on Nicky’s last pit stop. We had a wheel gun failure and lost quite a few seconds. Without that, I think we had a good chance of coming out in the lead. It’s a shame to have that happen at an unlucky time. But Blake and Nicky did an outstanding job. Coming from 14th to second is a great start to the season. I’m really happy with this and really enjoyed the car. It was great all week.”
BLAKE McDONALD, NO. 33 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “First WEC race and first WEC podium. I think we had the victory and the car to win and we had the pace as well. A couple of little mishaps put us in P2 but I can’t complain too much about that. Starting from P14 and getting up to P2, leading the race for a portion… Jonny did such a good job and Nicky did such a good job. I couldn’t be more proud. I’ve done a lot of work with TF Sport in Asia and now in the ELMS. To get a podium with them and a trophy with them means everything to me. I get to go into my week-long break before Paul Ricard in ELMS with a lot of momentum. This high will probably take a little while to come down from.”
CHARLIE EASTWOOD, NO. 34 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “Unfortunately it wasn’t the result we wanted. There were a lot of positives throughout the week, we were really quick from FP1. Peter was the fastest driver in Q1. The Corvette had unbelievable pace. It was looking good until it wasn’t. A small electrical issue maybe cost us the race or at least a podium. Not long before Spa to bounce back so we need to get some points on the board there before Le Mans.”
SALIH YOLUC, NO. 34 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “It was pretty eventful but I didn’t make it easy on myself starting farther back than I would have liked. But all in all, it was good for a place like this that is difficult to overtake. Going from 10th to fourth is quite OK.”
PETER DEMPSEY, NO. 34 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “It started off well for us. Salih had good pace at the start. My first stint, we boxed early for a refill and probably burned the rears off a bit too much. I was able to control it better for the second stint. Unfortunately we ran into a technical issue with the car. We lost some time in the cockpit trying to solve the issue and the loss of power. It’s a huge learning experience for me. I know I have areas where I can improve but I think I did a solid job. I’ve got work to do for the next one but I’m happy enough overall.”
Team Chevy high-resolution racing photos are available for editorial use.
About General Motors
General Motors (NYSE:GM) is driving the future of transportation, leveraging advanced technology to build safer, smarter, and lower emission cars, trucks, and SUVs. GM’s Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC brands offer a broad portfolio of innovative gasoline-powered vehicles and the industry’s widest range of EVs, as we move to an all-electric future.
GM Motorsports, including the Cadillac Formula 1® Team, develops and proves advanced technologies in the most demanding environments, accelerating innovation in performance, safety, efficiency, and electrification for its production vehicles. Cadillac Racing is one of the leading manufacturers in the IMSA and FIA World Endurance Championships (WEC). Chevrolet competes in single-seaters in the US IndyCar series, and in NASCAR with multiple team partners and drivers. Corvette customer teams compete in GT series across the globe including IMSA and WEC. Learn more at GM.com.
April 19th, 2026 – Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA recorded an eighth place finish in the No.38 car, at the opening round of the 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship in Imola, picking up four Championship points. The No.12 car finished just outside the points in P13.
The No. 12 Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA V-Series.R, lined up on the grid for the six hour race in P5, with Will Stevens in the car for the first stint. The No.38 Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA V-Series.R, started in 13th position with Earl Bamber in the driving seat.
Both cars made a clean start. Will had a solid first stint, with strong and consistent pace, and by the two hour mark had advanced to P3. Despite also showing encouraging pace, Earl suffered with the traffic, and with overtaking tricky due to the track’s tight and twisty nature, remained in P13.
The team was able to maximise the strategy during the VSC and Safety Car period and execute a number of overtakes. By lap 72, the No.12 car was leading the race. Will however dropped down the pack to P14 after serving a drive through penalty for a technical infringement under yellow flag conditions.
With 90 minutes to go, the rain began to fall, but it wasn’t to last long enough to make a real impact for either car. Both cars continued to chip away at the pack and when the checkerd flag fell, the No.38 car crossed the finish line in P8, with the No.12 taking P13.
Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA heads to Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium for the next round of the WEC on May 9th.
What they’re saying
No. 38 Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA V-Series.R
Sebastien Bourdais: “We knew coming into this race it wasn’t going to be easy, especially starting from the back. The field is so competitive, passing here is extremely difficult, and we saw that throughout the race. Even Earl, who is usually very strong in traffic, was getting trapped behind cars and not able to make much headway.
So for us, the focus was simply on keeping going, executing cleanly and making sure we didn’t make mistakes. In a fairly straightforward race where nobody really drops off or retires, it’s hard to expect much more than P8 today. The field is so tight, everybody seems to have very similar pace and tyre degradation, so opportunities are limited. That’s why it’s also a huge shame for the sister car, because they looked very strong and were in real contention for a fantastic podium result.
For us, the important thing is that we keep learning with the new aero kit, keep understanding these new tyres, and continue dialling ourselves in. If we can start further up the grid, it looks like we may be able to hold our own and fight for podiums.”
No. 12 Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA V-Series.R
Will Stevens: “Obviously I’m frustrated with the penalty, because up to that point it had been a very positive race from our side. I felt like we put together three really strong stints, made good decisions throughout, executed some important overtakes, and worked our way to the front of the race.
That’s what makes it frustrating, but at the same time it gives us a lot of confidence. We’ve learned a huge amount this week, and to be competitive at a track like Imola, which we knew historically has been one of our weaker circuits, is a very positive sign for the rest of the year.”
Jeromy Moore, Chief Engineer Cadillac Racing: “We started the race strongly. The No.12 Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA V-Series.R climbed through the field to P1.
Unfortunately, the No.12 car received a drive through penalty for a yellow flag infringement which put us back significantly. The drizzle came out and the No.38 car could make some gains to P8, but there weren’t enough laps left to make any further progress.
Overall, there are strong signs and a lot of potential to take from the weekend. We’ve made a step forwards from last year and are confident heading into the next round at Spa to get a good result there.
High-res images for editorial use available here
About General Motors
General Motors (NYSE:GM) is driving the future of transportation, leveraging advanced technology to build safer, smarter, and lower emission cars, trucks, and SUVs. GM’s Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC brands offer a broad portfolio of innovative gasoline-powered vehicles and the industry’s widest range of EVs, as we move to an all-electric future.
GM Motorsports, including the Cadillac Formula 1® Team develops and proves advanced technologies in the most demanding environments, accelerating innovation in performance, safety, efficiency, and electrification for its production vehicles. Cadillac Racing is one of the leading manufacturers in the IMSA and FIA World Endurance Championships (WEC). Chevrolet competes in single seaters in the US IndyCar series, and in NASCAR with multiple team partners and drivers. Corvette customer teams compete in GT series across the globe including IMSA and WEC. Learn more at GM.com.
Nate Thrasher Prevails with Eastern Divisional 250SMX Class Win
CLEVELAND (April 18, 2026) – For the first time in three decades the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship visited the shores of Lake Erie, where an enthusiastic crowd inside Huntington Bank Field braved rain showers, cold temperatures, and swirling winds for Round 14 of the 2026 Monster Energy SMX World Championship. The conditions were certainly a factor as the 450SMX Class title fight took yet another dramatic turn in what has become a historic season for the sport’s premier crown. A wild afternoon of racing saw Progressive Insurance Cycle Gear Suzuki’s Ken Roczen prevail with his fourth win of the year following an unbeatable level of consistency across all three races that brought him within a single point of the championship lead after an adversity plagued effort for Honda HRC Progressive’s Hunter Lawrence.
The first of three 12 Minutes + 1 Lap premier class races told a very different story from the final outcome as Lawrence started out front with the holeshot and early lead over Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Justin Cooper and Roczen. The clear track paid big dividends for Lawrence as he established a multi-second advantage over the field that proved to be insurmountable. Behind him, Roczen made the pass on Cooper for second and after a brief push forward elected to settle into the position. Lawrence went unchallenged and began the afternoon with a wire-to-wire win by a margin of 5.4 seconds over Roczen, with Cooper in third. Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Malcolm Start followed in fourth, while Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cooper Webb rounded out the top five.
The field was forced to navigate a wet racetrack, a light drizzle, and increased wind for Race 2, which started with Cooper edging out Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Chase Sexton for the holeshot to grab the early lead. An intense early battle for third unfolded between Stewart, Roczen, and Webb, from which Webb got the upper hand. Lawrence, meanwhile, fought his way forward from a start deep in the top 10. The intensity picked up from Roczen, who made a move on Webb for third and then charged by Sexton for second. Sexton regrouped and fought back to reclaim the position, which helped Cooper open a lead of more than five seconds. Sexton, Roczen, and Webb continued their fight as Roczen once again got by Sexton with less than 30 seconds remaining. Out front, Cooper completed a wire-to-wire effort of his own by a margin of two seconds over Roczen, with Sexton third and Webb fourth. Lawrence fought his way forward to finish fifth, well back of the lead group.
The third and deciding race began with Roczen out front for the holeshot and early lead over Webb, Sexton, and Cooper while Lawrence emerged in eighth. Roczen dropped the hammer in the opening laps and sprinted out to a five-second lead over Webb, while Sexton and Cooper settled into third and fourth, respectively. As he looked to move forward Lawrence crashed in the whoops and fell outside the top 10, reentering the race in 14th place. Back up front, Cooper crashed while running fourth and reentered in ninth, which moved Quad Lock Honda’s Shane McElrath into fourth. A couple laps later, Lawrence crashed again as he looked to move back into the top 10 and dropped to 14th once more. Out front, Roczen ran away from the field to put the finishing touch on his winning performance by a margin of 8.7 seconds over Webb, while Team Tedder Racing KTM’s Justin Hill passed Sexton on the final lap for third. Cooper recovered for seventh, while Lawrence soldiered home in 14th.
An incredibly consistent effort for Roczen easily brought him the overall win with five points on 2-2-1 finishes, as his 27th career victory has moved him into a tie for 10th on the all-time wins list. Webb (5-4-2) and Cooper (3-1-7) finished in a tie for the runner-up spot, six points behind Roczen with 11 points apiece. Webb earned the edge over Cooper by virtue of the Race 3 tiebreaker.
Lawrence’s misfortune in the final race relegated him to sixth overall with 20 points on 1-5-14 finishes. As a result, his points lead went from 10 points to just a single point over Roczen with three races remaining. The battle for the championship could be down to a two-rider affair after Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Eli Tomac was forced to miss the Triple Crown following a crash in qualifying that left him with a hip injury. Tomac’s absence allowed Webb to move into third, 22 points out of the lead, while Tomac is now fourth, 31 points back.
Progressive Insurance Cycle Gear Suzuki’s Ken Roczen dominated the final race to put the finishing touch on his fourth win of the season.
Ken Roczen – 1st Place – 450SMX Class “Wow. I had no idea I was one point back [in the championship]. I am so blown away with the gamble we took with the weather. It was supposed to be clear for the last two races, but it kept raining. That affected my decision with goggles, and I kept sticking with roll-offs just to be safe. After I got the holeshot in the last race I had a clear track and just felt really comfortable. Once I had a gap, I just made sure I didn’t do anything silly. I’m just so grateful I’m able to ride like this.”
Cooper Webb – 2nd Place – 450SMX Class “What a crazy day. Qualifying was great, then the rain came and we had the Triple Crown. I rode bad in the first race but got better for the last two. I didn’t think I had a chance for the podium after the first two [races], so I rode free in the last one. Kenny [Roczen] rode those first laps like it was dry and got away. I was a distant second. Overall, I’m happy with it. We had a good day.”
Justin Cooper – 3rd Place – 450SMX Class “This track was very tricky, and things could go wrong very quickly. I’m happy to get up from the crash unscathed, the concrete hurt. Just glad to be up on the podium still [despite the crash]. I spun off the gate but somehow came out top five and then had that crash. It was a bummer to go down and give away a spot [overall] but just thankful I’m okay. It was still a great night.”
Hunter Lawrence – 6th Place – 450SMX Class “I had a bad start and just made it tough on myself. Another rider checked up and I went down. It was a bit of a [expletive] night at the office. We’ll come back next weekend in Philly.”
250SMX Class
The first of three 10 Minutes + 1 Lap Eastern Divisional 250SMX Class races began with points leader Cole Davies alongside his Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing teammate Nate Thrasher exiting the first turn. While Davies earned the holeshot, he gave way to Thrasher and soon dropped to third behind Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Seth Hammaker, Davies’ championship rival. Davies regrouped and found a rhythm that allowed him to reclaim second from Hammaker and close in on Thrasher for the race lead. The teammates engaged in an exciting battle until Davies went down. The New Zealander remounted quickly and resumed in sixth place. Out front, Thrasher came under fire from Hammaker, who bided his time and made the pass. With the lead in hand, the Kawasaki rider pulled away to grab the Race 1 victory by 4.2 seconds over Thrasher. Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Daxton Bennick finished third, followed by Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Landen Gordon in fourth. Davies overcame another near crash and made a last lap pass for fifth.
A rain shower made for more challenging track conditions for Race 2, which was halted by a red flag following a crash initiated by Davies on the opening lap and resulted in a restart. As racing got underway once again it was Gordon who emerged with his first career holeshot. He led briefly but gave way to Thrasher, while Davies charged up to third to position to put himself a couple spots ahead of Hammaker. The championship rivals soon battled for third, as Hammaker made an easy pass for the position but was later repassed by Davies. The pair duked it out once more, late in the race, as Hammaker reclaimed the position just before the final lap. Back out front, Thrasher easily controlled the race and cruised to victory by a margin of 3.7 seconds over Gordon. Hammaker held off Davies for third, while Bennick completed the top five.
The third and final race got underway with Davies at the head of the pack for the holeshot ahead of Gordon. Behind them, Thrasher started deep in the top 10 while Hammaker made contact with his Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki teammate Nick Romano, went down, and was forced to start at the tail end of the field. Davies seized the moment with his premium track position and quickly established a multi-second lead on the field as Gordron settled into second. Thrasher was able to make early passes and claw his way up to third but dropped to fourth as Bennick moved into podium position. Hammaker, meanwhile, broke into the top 10 a few minutes into the race and continued to move forward. Davies managed his advantage through the slippery conditions to end the day on a high note with a winning margin of 2.6 seconds over Gordon, with Bennick third and Thrasher in fourth. ClubMX Yamaha’s Devin Simonson was fifth, while Hammaker battled back for sixth.
Thrasher’s 2-1-4 finishes put him atop the overall standings with a combined score of seven points for the seventh win of his career. He also extended a personal streak of at least one Supercross victory each year of his professional career, which dates back to the 2021 season. Thrasher is the fifth different Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing rider to win in the 250SMX Class this season for a combined total of 13 victories, which is one shy of the class record for a manufacturer. The runner-up spot went to Gordon, who finished one point behind his teammate for the win following 4-2-2 finishes, while Davies completed a podium sweep for Star Racing in third after the Race 3 victory gave him 10 points with 5-4-1 finishes. Hammaker (1-3-6) finished tied with Davies but settled for fourth by virtue of the Race 3 tiebreaker.
With his podium finish, Davies added to his lead in the Eastern Divisional Championship and now holds a 21-point lead over Hammaker with just two races remaining. Bennick, who finished fifth with 11 points on 3-5-5 finishes, strengthened his grip on third and sits 43 points out of the lead.
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Nate Thrasher broke through for his first win of the 2026 season and the seventh of his career.
Nate Thrasher – 1st Place – Eastern Divisional 250SMX Class “It’s awesome [to be on top of the podium]. The offseason was unreal, honestly. I felt like I was going to be able to contend for the championship but had a little mishap [and injured his shoulder]. That’s part of it, though. We’ve done what we can–fourth [place], second [place], and now first. We’re trending [upward] and it feels good to be back up here.”
Landen Gordon – 2nd Place – Eastern Divisional 250SMX Class “If you would have told me after last weekend [finishing last] I’d be sitting on the podium, that’d be unbelievable. I’ve put in so much work into this. I’m backed by the best team, so I expect this, but it’s truly unbelievable. I have no words. I’m sure it’ll sink in, but right now I’m in shock.”
Cole Davies – 3rd Place – Eastern Divisional 250SMX Class “It was a rough day, but we still managed a podium. I didn’t give up and fought through. Just reset for the last [race] and got the win. It is what it is. Congrats to my teammates, they were riding good.”
The Monster Energy SMX World Championship and Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship will continue next Saturday, April 25, with Round 15 from Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field. Live comprehensive broadcast coverage will be available exclusively on Peacock, beginning at 1 p.m. ET with Race Day Live, followed by the Gate Drop at 7 p.m. ET. A special encore network presentation will air on NBC on Sunday, April 26, at 1 p.m. ET. Additionally, a domestic Spanish language broadcast is available on Peacock while international viewers can choose from dedicated English, French, and Spanish broadcasts via SMX Video Pass (www.SMXVideoPass.com).
All 17 rounds of the 2026 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship and 11 rounds of the Pro Motocross Championship are on sale. Tickets for the SMX World Championship Playoff Rounds and Final are now on sale at SuperMotocross.com. Saturday FanFest will take place at all postseason races, Friday FanFest and camping will be available in Columbus and Ridgedale, additional details to follow.
For information about the Monster Energy SMX World Championship, please visit www.SuperMotocross.com and be sure to follow all of the new SMX social media channels for exclusive content and additional information on the latest news: Instagram: @supermotocross Facebook: @supermotocross X: @supermotocross YouTube: @supermotocross TikTok: @supermotocross
About the Monster Energy SMX World Championship: The Monster Energy SMX World Championship™ is the premier off-road motorcycle racing series in the world that combines the technical precision of stadium racing with the all-out speed and endurance of outdoor racing. Created in 2022, the Monster Energy SMX World Championship Series combines the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship and the AMA Pro Motocross Championship into a 28-round regular season that culminates with the season-ending SMX World Championship Playoffs. Visit SuperMotocross.com for more information.
About Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship: Monster Energy AMA Supercross is the most competitive and highest-profile off-road motorcycle racing championship on the planet. Founded in America and sanctioned by the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) since 1974. Over 17 weeks, Supercross attracts some of the largest and most impressive crowds inside the most recognizable and prestigious stadiums in North America to race in front of nearly one million live fans and broadcast to millions more worldwide. For more information, visit SupercrossLIVE.com.
About Pro Motocross Championship: The Pro Motocross Championship features the world’s fastest outdoor motocross racers, competing aboard homologated bikes from one of seven competing manufacturers on a collection of the roughest, toughest tracks on the planet. Racing takes place each Saturday afternoon, with competition divided into two classes: one for 250cc machines, and one for 450cc machines. MX Sports Pro Racing, the industry leader in off-road powersports event production, manages the Pro Motocross Championship. For more information, visit ProMotocross.com.
About Feld Motor Sports, Inc.: Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is the worldwide leader in producing and presenting specialized arena and stadium-based motorsports entertainment. Properties include Monster Jam®, Monster Energy AMA Supercross, and the Monster Energy SMX World Championship. Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is a subsidiary of Feld Entertainment, Inc. Visit monsterjam.com, SupercrossLIVE.com, and feldentertainment.com for more information.
About MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.: MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc., manages and produces the world’s premier motocross racing series – the Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing. MX Sports Pro Racing is an industry leader in off-road powersport event production and management, its mission is to showcase the sport of professional motocross competition at events throughout the United States. Through its various racing properties, partnerships and affiliates, MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc., organizes events for thousands of action sports athletes each year and attracts millions of motorsports spectators. Visit MXSportsProRacing.com for more information.
Jesse Love and the No. 2 Whelen Chevrolet Team Rebound in Kansas and Finish Inside the Top-Five
Finish: 4th Start: 9th Points: 3rd
“I feel like the last few weeks, and there were some exceptions like Martinsville, we’ve had the same compact speed that we had at the beginning of the year. Maybe not like the knockout speed like we had in Phoenix or Vegas where we dominated, but based on the performance tonight, we’re a top-three to five car. I thought we were on both sides of the balance coin tonight and that tells me as a driver, we probably need a little more speed in our Whelen Chevrolet, not necessarily package or balance. Proud of Danny Stockman for making creative pit calls. My pit crew did a phenomenal job as well which speaks volumes for our pit department at RCR.” -Jesse Love
Early Accident Ends Race Prematurely for Austin Hill and the No. 21 Bennett Transportation & Logistics Chevrolet Team
Finish: 34th Start: 15th Points: 8th
“At the time, I could only go off what my spotter, Derek Kneeland, was telling me. He told me at first that he’s (No. 2) tight on your door but you still have air, and then coming off Turn 4, he put it right on my door. He was going to have the run down the frontstretch with being in the outside lane. I thought we were racing each other really well and it’s a bummer for our No. 21 Bennett Transportation & Logistics Chevrolet. Our team needed to bounce back and I thought Kansas was a place that we could go out, run inside the top-five, and have a shot at the win. It looked like it could have been that. We were one or two adjustments away from being really good. Oh well. We will go to Talladega next week, work together as teammates, and try to win that one.” -Austin Hill
TAYLOR GRAY CLAIMS FIRST VICTORY OF THE SEASON AT KANSAS Joe Gibbs Racing dominated Kansas race winning both stages and the race
KANSAS CITY (April 18, 2026) – Taylor Gray claimed his first win of the season, and second victory overall in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, on Saturday night at Kansas Speedway. Gray took the lead after a great pit call by Jason Ratcliff in the final pit cycle and held it for the balance of the race. Brent Crews finished fifth – his second straight top-five finish – to put two Supras in the top-five, while Joe Gibbs Racing swept the day with Gio Ruggiero winning the ARCA race this afternoon.
Brandon Jones had the dominate car most of the race, winning both stages and leading the most laps, before a pit road penalty relegated his Supra to eighth at the finish. Dean Thompson (11th) – just missed his second top-10 of the year, and gave Toyota four of the top-11.
TOYOTA RACING Post-Race Recap NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series (NOAPS) Kansas Speedway Race 10 of 33 – 200 miles, 300 laps
TOYOTA FINISHING POSITIONS
1st, TAYLOR GRAY
2nd, Sheldon Creed*
3rd, Justin Allgaier*
4th, Jesse Love*
5th, BRENT CREWS
8th, BRANDON JONES
11th, DEAN THOMPSON
20th, WILLIAM SAWALICH
28th, HARRISON BURTON
*non-Toyota driver
TOYOTA QUOTES
TAYLOR GRAY, No. 54 Operation 300 Toyota GR Supra, Joe Gibbs Racing
Finishing Position: 1st
How big is this performance?
“First off – thank you to everyone at Joe Gibbs Racing, TOYOTA RACING, Operation 300 – and how about (crew chief) Jason Ratcliff. Man, that pit call was awesome. I knew we had a car capable of winning. I thought the 20 (Brandon Jones) was better than us in before the green flag cycle, but you just have to stay locked in. We needed to be a little bit freer – Jason made a really good adjustment on the car, a really good pit call. Can’t thank everyone enough. It’s been a long start to the year. Not that we aren’t bringing speed to the race track, things just haven’t gone our way, so it is nice to be able to close one out.”
What did you have to balance in the closing laps?
“I knew the 00 (Sheldon Creed) was starting to catch me. I was starting to get a little bit snug trying to turn down the hill, and it seemed like he was on the freer side. I had navigate lap traffic better than he could and get him to heat up his rears to try to catch me. I think he ended up getting in the wall trying to catch me, it was a fun race. Just glad to be here.”
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for nearly 70 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our more than 1,800 dealerships.
Toyota directly employs nearly 64,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 49 million cars and trucks at our 14 manufacturing plants. In spring 2025, Toyota’s plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, Toyota currently offers 31 electrified options.
If you have been looking at your next car recently, you have probably noticed that electric and hybrid models are no longer sitting on the edge of the market. They are becoming a much more normal part of the conversation. For a lot of drivers, leasing is part of that shift because it offers a way to move into newer technology without committing to full ownership from day 1. In the UK, new car registrations reached 2.02 million in 2025, and almost 1 in 4 buyers chose a battery electric vehicle, showing just how mainstream electrified motoring has become.
That does not mean every driver is suddenly ready to buy an EV outright. In fact, that is one of the reasons leasing has become so appealing. When technology is changing quickly, many people prefer the flexibility of a fixed-term agreement rather than tying themselves to a car they may want to replace in a few years. First Vehicle Finance reflects that demand with dedicated electric and hybrid leasing pages, including electric, hybrid and plug-in hybrid options across a wide range of brands and body styles.
You can see that change in the way people now compare vehicles. It is no longer just about petrol versus diesel. You may be weighing up charging access, running costs, tax efficiency and how future-proof the car feels. Even if you started your search looking at something sporty and familiar, such as a BMW 4 Series Lease, it is increasingly common to also compare electric and hybrid alternatives before making a decision. That reflects a broader market shift rather than a niche trend.
Lower Running Costs Still Matter
One of the biggest reasons more drivers are considering electric and hybrid leasing is simple: running costs still matter. When household budgets are under pressure, fuel efficiency and day-to-day motoring costs become more important.
An electric car can be cheaper to run than a petrol or diesel model, especially if you can charge at home on a suitable tariff. Hybrid cars also appeal because they can reduce fuel use without asking you to switch fully to an all-electric routine. For many drivers, leasing makes that move easier because you can access a newer, more efficient vehicle without the large upfront cost of buying. Recent reporting based on Auto Trader data also found that the average new EV price in the UK has now dipped below the average new petrol car price, which marks a major change from the old assumption that EVs always cost more upfront.
Drivers Like The Flexibility
A lot of people are interested in electric cars, but not everyone wants to own one for 6 or 7 years. That is understandable. Battery technology, charging infrastructure and model choice are all still moving quickly.
Leasing gives you a more flexible route in. You get the chance to drive a newer vehicle for a fixed period, and at the end of the agreement you usually hand it back and reassess what suits you next. That can feel much more comfortable than buying outright if you are unsure how your needs might change. First Vehicle Finance’s leasing guides explain this clearly through its personal and business leasing structure, which is one reason leasing continues to appeal to drivers moving into EVs and hybrids for the first time.
There Are More Models To Choose From
Another reason for growing interest is choice. A few years ago, electric and hybrid leasing could feel limited if you wanted a certain body style, size or badge. That is much less true now.
Today, the market includes electric hatchbacks, family SUVs, saloons, premium models, plug-in hybrids and fully electric company cars across a wide range of manufacturers. First Vehicle Finance’s site shows this clearly, with electric and hybrid options spread across multiple brands rather than being tucked away in 1 small section. That wider choice makes it easier for you to find a car that suits your budget and routine, instead of feeling like you are compromising just to go electric.
The Charging Network Keeps Expanding
Charging used to be one of the first objections people raised when talking about EVs. It is still a genuine consideration, especially if you do not have off-street parking, but the public network is growing.
Zapmap says that at the end of March 2026 there were 119,080 EV chargers across 46,107 locations in the UK, and its Q1 2026 update said the network had grown 13% year on year. That does not mean charging is perfect everywhere, but it does mean the infrastructure is moving forward, which gives more drivers confidence to consider an electric lease than in previous years.
For many people, that growing network makes leasing feel more practical. You may not be ready to commit to full EV ownership forever, but you may now feel there is enough support in place to try one for your next contract.
Business Drivers Still Have A Strong Reason To Look
If you are a company car driver or you run a business, electric and hybrid leasing can be attractive for tax reasons as well as running costs.
HMRC’s company car tax tables show that for 2026/27, zero-emission cars sit at a 4% appropriate percentage, while many petrol and higher-emission cars are taxed much more heavily. Plug-in hybrids can also be treated more favourably than conventional petrol or diesel cars, depending on their emissions and electric range. For business users, that can make a real difference to affordability.
That tax position is one reason electric company cars keep drawing attention. Even with gradual increases already announced for later tax years, zero-emission models remain significantly more attractive than many conventional alternatives.
Drivers Want Newer Technology Without The Long-Term Risk
Cars now come with more software, more driver assistance systems and more connected features than ever. With electric vehicles in particular, that technology story is a big part of the appeal.
But new technology can also make people cautious. You may like the idea of driving an EV, while also wanting to avoid the long-term uncertainty that can come with ownership, resale values or how quickly newer models will improve. Leasing gives you a middle ground. You get access to the latest features and efficiency improvements, but you are not locked into keeping the same vehicle for longer than your agreement.
That is one of the biggest reasons the electric and hybrid lease market continues to grow. It suits people who want to move with the market rather than feel stuck behind it.
It Feels Like A Lower-Pressure Way To Switch
For many drivers, the real attraction is not just financial. It is psychological. Leasing can make the switch feel less daunting.
If you are curious about going electric but still have questions around charging habits, range, or everyday practicality, a lease can feel like a more manageable next step than purchasing outright. The same applies to hybrids. They give you a way to reduce fuel use and emissions while keeping a more familiar driving pattern.
That lower-pressure route matters. It means you can make a practical decision based on how you actually live, not just what sounds good in theory.
Final Thoughts
More drivers are looking at electric and hybrid car leasing because the market has changed. There is more choice, stronger infrastructure, attractive business tax treatment, and a growing sense that leasing fits the pace of change better than ownership for many people.
If you want lower running costs, access to newer technology and a fixed-term way to explore electric or hybrid driving, leasing makes a lot of sense. It gives you flexibility without asking you to make a long-term ownership commitment before you are ready.
Ready To Explore Electric And Hybrid Leasing?
If you are thinking about making the switch, speak to First Vehicle Finance. Their team can help you compare electric and hybrid lease options, explain the agreement clearly, and help you find a vehicle that fits your budget, routine and driving needs.
Picture this. Race day. You’ve spent the morning tailgating, finally found your seats, and somewhere around lap 40 your keys are gone. Maybe they slipped out during the crowd rush. Maybe they’re still in the ignition. Either way, the day just went sideways fast.
It happens all the time at big events. Speedways, stadiums, parking lots — anywhere large crowds gather, keys get lost, locked inside cars, or dropped somewhere they’re never found. Knowing what to do before it happens to you is worth the five minutes it takes to read this.
Your Car Key Is Not What It Used to Be
Most people still picture a car key as a simple metal thing. The kind you’d copy at the hardware store for a few dollars. That world is gone.
Most cars built in the last ten years have a chip inside the key. It’s called a transponder. It talks to your car’s computer every time you start the engine. No chip signal, no start. Doesn’t matter if the key fits the lock — it won’t turn the engine over.
Smart keys took it even further. You keep the fob in your pocket and push a button to start the car. Convenient, until you lose it. Then you’re looking at $300 to $500 if you go straight to the dealership.
There are also laser-cut keys. They’re thicker than a normal key, with a wavy cut down the middle instead of the usual jagged edge. Most hardware stores can’t copy them. They need special machines.
The short version: car keys got complicated. Replacing one isn’t quick or cheap unless you know who to call.
Why a Locksmith Beats the Dealership
Most drivers’ first instinct is to call the dealership. That’s fair. But it’s usually the wrong move.
Here’s what happens when you go to a dealership. Your car gets towed. You wait for an open slot. Sometimes you wait days for a part to ship. Then you pay top dollar for all of it. It’s slow, it’s costly, and in most cases it’s avoidable.
A mobile locksmith does the same work — right where you are. No tow truck. No waiting room. If you’re stuck in the Philadelphia area, a South Philadelphia Locksmith will drive out to you, whether that’s a speedway lot or a side street, and fix it on the spot.
Most key jobs take under an hour. A dealership visit can eat two or three days. The cost is usually half as much, too.
What a Key Replacement Actually Involves
A lot of people are caught off guard by how much goes into Car Key Replacement, especially on newer cars. It’s not just cutting a blank key.
First, a good locksmith checks that you own the vehicle. Once that’s done, they cut the blade on a precision machine. Then comes the programming step.
Programming means linking the new key to your car’s computer. The locksmith plugs into your vehicle’s system and syncs the chip to it. The tools change based on the make, model, and year. A locksmith who does this daily will have what’s needed for most cars on the road.
Start to finish, most jobs take 45 minutes to an hour. A straight lockout with no key issues can be done much faster than that.
Do These Three Things Before You Ever Need Help
Get a spare key cut now. It’s the best thing you can do. A lot of drivers have only one key. If that’s you, fix it soon. It costs little and saves a lot of stress.
Put a Bluetooth tracker on your keychain. They’re small and cheap. If your keys are close by, your phone will find them. It takes about 30 seconds to set up.
Save a locksmith’s number before you need one. Find a local shop that does automotive work, check the reviews, and store the number in your phone now. Searching for help when you’re already stressed is no fun at all.
The Short Version
Getting locked out feels like a big deal. It usually isn’t. The right call to the right person gets you back on the road fast — often within the hour.
Skip the dealership. Use a mobile locksmith. Save their number now. Get a spare key made this week.
Whether it’s a rough race day or just a rough Tuesday, you’ll be glad you did.
