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Jorge Prado Prevails with Memorable Playoff 2 Victory After Captivating Battle in Los Angeles

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Official Release
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The 2026 Monster Energy SMX World Championship made its anticipated return to Southern California for Playoff 2 from Dignity Health Sports Park.

Julien Beaumer Captures 250SMX Class Win for KTM Sweep

LOS ANGELES (September 19, 2026) – The penultimate race of the 2026 Monster Energy SMX World Championship saw the series return to Southern California for Playoff 2 inside Dignity Health Sports Park, where abundant sunshine provided drastically different track conditions from last weekend’s rain-drenched postseason opener. Double points were on the line, providing an opportunity for a shakeup in the Playoff standings. What followed was a truly memorable afternoon and evening of racing, from which Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jorge Prado prevailed with his first postseason victory following a captivating battle in the 450SMX Class, adding to his points lead. In the 250SMX Class, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Julien Beaumer made it a sweep for the Austrian brand with a decisive win.

The premier class started its first 20 Minutes + 1 Lap moto with Prado out front for the holeshot ahead of the Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing pair of Cooper Webb and Haiden Deegan, while Progressive Insurance Cycle Gear Suzuki’s Ken Roczen slotted into fourth. Prado inched away to assert his hold of the position while the trio behind him swapped spots, with Roczen able to get by both Yamaha riders to take control of second as Deegan slotted into third. Behind them, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Eli Tomac moved into fourth.

Prado and Roczen proceeded to trade fast laps through the first half of the moto, with the lead hovering as just over a second. Then, just before halfway, Roczen made his move with an aggressive and decisive pass on the Spaniard to seize control of the lead. Once out front, the Supercross Champion quickly opened an advantage of more than two seconds. The lead stabilized until inside the final five minutes when Prado was able to close back in on the German native as they navigated lapped riders. Deegan put in a charge as well to close in from third.

The lead duo was separated by less than a second to begin the final lap. The international champions duked it out, to the thrill of the crowd, but Roczen held off Prado to take the moto win by 1.3 seconds. Deegan finished in a close third, with Pro Motocross Champion and Honda HRC Progressive rider Hunter Lawrence fourth. Webb rounded out the top five.

The final moto saw Lawrence emerge with the holeshot but he was soon passed by Prado. Moments later, a bobble by the Spaniard allowed the Australian to reclaim the lead. Behind them, Webb slotted into third, while Roczen charged up to fourth ahead of Deegan. Lawrence was able to move out to a lead of more than a second over Prado, as Roczen made the move on Webb for third. As the opening five minutes drew to a close, Lawrence’s lead grew to more than three seconds. Prado fended off heavy pressure from Roczen to maintain his hold of second, while both Webb and Deegan remained within striking distance of the top three.

At the halfway point of the moto Prado went down in the sand. As they made their way around the downed KTM, Deegan made the pass on Roczen for second. Prado remounted in fourth and went back on the attack, catching Roczen and making the pass for third. Each pass during this thrilling sequence carried major implications in the championship standings, as a four-way tie for first in the overall classification was in play.

With three minutes left on the race clock an intense battle for second between Deegan and Prado took shape until Deegan went down in the sand. As Prado carried on in second, Deegan and Roczen got tangled up as Deegan reentered the race. That allowed Webb to slip past both riders, only for Deegan to make contact during a pass by his teammate that put Webb on the ground. Deegan continued in third, with Roczen fourth, while Webb lost touch in fifth.

Lawrence enjoyed a dominant, trouble-free moto and stormed to the moto win by 14.9 seconds. Prado secured a resilient second-place finish, with Deegan third and Roczen fourth.

Prado’s consistent 2-2 effort put him atop the overall classification by a single point over Lawrence (4-1) and Roczen (1-4), who finished tied for second. Lawrence’s second moto win gave him the tiebreaker for the runner-up spot, leaving Roczen third. Deegan finished just off the overall podium in fourth despite two moto podiums (3-3).

Prado added to his lead in the SMX World Championship standings, as double points moved him 16 points ahead of both Deegan and Lawrence, who sit tied for second. Roczen sits 18 points out of the lead in fourth, while Webb, who finished fifth (5-5), is 20 points back. Triple points will be up for grabs at the Final, setting the stage for an exciting conclusion to the postseason.

Jorge Prado
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jorge Prado broke through for his first postseason victory and his first win inside a stadium to add to his points lead.

Jorge Prado (2-2) – 1st Place – 450SMX Class
“We just keep improving. We got out of the gate good and made a pass [for the lead], but then I almost went down. I knew this race was going to be hard. I tried to risk it in the sand and ended up on the ground. Sometimes you have to take those risks. I put in a charge and tried to wait for my chance, then Haiden [Deegan] went down and then I rode safe to get to the finish.”

Hunter Lawrence (4-1) – 2nd Place – 450SMX Class
“The start was everything. The track was pretty simple and didn’t offer much for separation. I’m happy to finish that one off with a good race win. We’ll see everyone in Missouri.”

Ken Roczen (1-4) – 3rd Place – 450SMX Class
“I’m very happy with my effort in the first moto, but I don’t remember the last time I raced two motos [like this]. You can’t buy that kind of intensity. I’ll absorb it and it’ll benefit me for next weekend. Happy to get this one out of the way and looking forward to improving.”

250SMX Class

The opening 20 Minute + 1 Lap 250SMX Class moto began with Beaumer out front ahead of Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Ryder DiFrancesco. A collision between several riders bunched the field and allowed the Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki duo of Drew Adams and Levi Kitchen to move into third and fourth, respectively. Beaumer quickly established his hold of the lead while DiFrancesco settled into second. Further back, Kitchen, the points leader, and Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cole Davies closed in on Adams for third. Davies then made the move around both Kawasaki riders to take control of the position.

The top three settled in through the middle of the moto, with Adams staying within striking distance from fourth. Kitchen, meanwhile, went down while running fifth and dropped to 11th. Back up front, Davies began to pressure DiFrancesco for second, which pushed them closer to Beaumer. The top three were separated by less than 1.5 seconds with just over five minutes to go. As he looked to make the pass on DiFrancesco, Davies went down in the sand, which dropped him to fourth behind Adams.

Beaumer never put a wheel wrong and completed the wire-to-wire performance for his first moto win in postseason competition. DiFrancesco followed 5.6 seconds behind in second, with Adams in third. Davies finished fourth, followed by his Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing teammate Kayden Minear in fifth. Kitchen recovered to finish seventh.

The second and deciding moto saw Beaumer lead the field with the holeshot once again, with DiFrancesco and Davies in tow. As Beaumer sprinted out to a lead of more than a second, Davies made the pass on DiFrancesco, while Kitchen moved his way into fourth. As he looked to give chase to Beaumer, Davies crashed hard out of second, which caused DiFrancesco to hit his motorcycle and go down. DiFrancesco dropped outside the top 10 before continuing, while Davies eventually remounted and retired from the race.

Amidst the chaos, Beaumer maintained his hold of the lead ahead of a hard-charging Kitchen, who moved up to second, while Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Landen Gordon slotted into third. Kitchen continued to chip away at Beaumer’s lead and with just under 13 minutes to go on the race clock he made the pass. Once out front, Kitchen quickly opened an advantage of more than three seconds. Several laps later, Honda HRC Progressive’s Jo Shimoda, the reigning SMX World Champion, made the pass on Gordon for third. The Japanese rider didn’t stop there. He methodically closed in on Beaumer and made the move for second with just over a minute to go. Further back, DiFrancesco’s recovery from his early misfortune saw him make a valiant charge into the top five, which loomed large in the overall classification.

Kitchen was never challenged the rest of the way and took his first postseason moto win by 5.7 seconds over Shimoda, with Beaumer in third.

By virtue of his consistent 1-3 performance Beaumer easily secured his first ever Playoff triumph, continuing an incredible comeback story from a broken back suffered one year ago. DiFrancesco’s late-race pass for fifth moved him from fourth to second overall (2-5), for a pass worth eight points in the championship standings. Kitchen bounced back from a challenging first moto to round out the overall podium (7-1).

Kitchen maintained his possession of the points lead and will carry a three-point lead over DiFrancesco into the SMX World Championship Final. Beaumer gained seven positions in the standings with the win to move into third, 16 points out of the lead. The three riders all remain within the thick of the title fight with triple points on the line next weekend.

Julien Beaumer (1-3) – 1st Place – 250SMX Class
“I saw Davies was down and kind of knew where I was at. I wasn’t really myself [in Moto 2], but I also know Levi [Kitchen] and Jo [Shimoda] weren’t a factor for the win, so I didn’t risk it. It’s good to get a win and get things going back in the right direction.”

Ryder DiFrancesco (2-5) – 2nd Place – 250SMX Class
“My riding was really good today. I was unlucky when Davies went down. I tried to avoid hitting him but hit the bike and went down. I knew I had to fight to get back into this championship. I executed the way I wanted to, but it went south, but we’ve got a shot in Missouri and that’s what matters.”

Levi Kitchen (7-1) – 3rd Place – 250SMX Class
“I don’t know who was riding in the first moto, but it wasn’t me [laughs]. I ended up with a flat tire after the sight lap [for Moto 2] and luckily my mechanic caught it. He saved me. Still in the points lead, which is great, so we’ll carry that momentum into the final race.”

SMX Next

The championship-deciding 8 Minute + 1 Lap SMX Next World All-Stars Main Event got underway with KTM Orange Brigade’s Wyatt Thurman out front for the holeshot ahead of ClubMX Yamaha’s Ryder Malinoski and Monster Energy Kawasaki Team Green’s Kade Johnson, the points leader. Thurman and Malinoski battled early for the lead until Thurman went down, which put the Yamaha rider out front ahead of Johnson and KTM Orange Brigade’s Luke Fauser. It didn’t take long for Malinoski and Johnson to sprint away from the field to make it a two-rider battle for the win. Behind them, Fauser lost his hold of third to Altus Motorsports bLUcRU Yamaha’s Kane Bollasina.

Malinoski strengthened his hold of the lead in the closing stages of the race and carried on to take the win by 3.9 seconds over Johnson, with Bollasina in third.

With his runner-up effort, Johnson was crowned the 2026 SMX Next World All-Stars Champion.

Kade Johnson – SMX Next World All-Stars Champion
“I qualified fastest in practice and timed qualifying, so I really wanted to make a statement today. This is my fifth straight SMX Next podium. I really wanted the win, but Ryder [Malinoski] was riding awesome. I didn’t want to risk throwing away the championship, so I’m satisfied with that. I’m just so happy and so proud of myself to accomplish this. I’m ready for someone to give me an opportunity [at the professional level].”

The Monster Energy SMX World Championship postseason will come to a dramatic and exciting conclusion next Saturday, September 26, with the Final from Thunder Ridge Nature Arena in Ridgedale, Missouri. Live comprehensive broadcast coverage will be available exclusively on Peacock, beginning at 1 p.m. ET with Race Day Live, followed by a Pre-Race Show at 6:30 p.m. ET and Gate Drop at 7 p.m. ET.

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 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.

Team Penske NASCAR Cup Series Race Report – Bristol

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Official Release
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Bass Pro Shops Night Race
Bristol, Tennessee – September 19, 2026

AUSTIN CINDRIC No. 2 MENARDS/RICHMOND FORD MUSTANG DARK HORSE

START: 8TH STAGE 1: 7TH STAGE 2: 12TH FINISH: 11TH POINTS: 11TH

RACE RUNDOWN: Austin Cindric started Saturday night’s Bass Pro Shops Night Race from the eighth position in the No. 2 Menards/Richmond Ford Mustang Dark Horse after qualifying was canceled Friday due to inclement weather and ran around the top five for much of the opening stage. Cindric battled a free-handling condition throughout the early portion of the race and finished Stage 1 in the seventh position. Cindric restarted deeper in the field following service during the stage break and worked his way forward as the handling of the No. 2 Ford shifted toward the tight side firing off. He climbed back to 12th by the end of Stage 2 before the team made additional adjustments to help improve his ability to turn through the corners. A lap down in the final segment, Cindric remained in position for the free pass and returned to the lead lap with 70 laps remaining. Cindric restarted 10th following another trip to pit road and navigated several late-race cautions before taking the checkered flag in the 11th position. He leaves Bristol 11th in the NASCAR Cup Series standings as The Chase continues next weekend at Kansas Speedway.

CINDRIC’S THOUGHTS: “We kind of hurt our own day, but got saved with staying out there with a long run, but we had a pretty decent Menards Ford Mustang, just not able to capitalize. A lot of those cautions at the end got us cycled around on tires and all that. It’s good to salvage some decent points, but I thought we had a bit more today.”

RYAN BLANEY No. 12 WABASH FORD MUSTANG DARK HORSE

START: 29TH STAGE 1: 6TH STAGE 2: 1ST FINISH: 33RD POINTS: 6TH

RACE RUNDOWN: Ryan Blaney and the No. 12 Wabash Ford Dark Horse Mustang team led a race-high 202 laps in Saturday night’s Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway yet will leave with a 33rd-place finish following a late-race incident with Carson Hocevar. Blaney started the race from the 29th position after Friday’s qualifying session was rained out, but crew chief Jonathan Hassler began working his strategy for gain track position early at the Lap 40 competition caution as he kept Blaney on track to restart fourth. Hassler would call Blaney to pit lane on Lap 97 for four tires and fuel, setting the Wabash crew up for a sixth-place finish in the first stage. Blaney restarted from the top spot when the second stage began, the same position in which he would finish at the end of the stage to continue to rack up valuable points. With all of the other lead lap cars electing pit at the end of the stage, Blaney was able to hold the top spot on pit lane with all cars having reset their strategy for the final stage. After briefly losing the lead to Ty Gibbs on Lap 326, Blaney reclaimed the lead during the pit cycle before being called to pit lane on Lap 396. Unfortunately, a yellow flag came out after Blaney had passed the pit lane commitment line but before he actually entered pit lane and Blaney made a swift move back on the racing surface. Since he had committed to pit lane, he was forced to restart at the end of the lead lap cars after eventually making his pit stop. Blaney made his third pit stop of the day on Lap 400 and after restarting in the ninth position, he was able to maneuver his way to second in the running order. Blaney restarted fourth on Lap 50 following another caution period and on Lap 457 Hocevar made contact with the rear bumper of the No. 12 machine, resulting in significant damage that was deemed to much to continue. The finish drops Blaney to sixth in the standings, 52 points behind the leader.

BLANEY’S THOUGHTS: “Really disappointing end to the night for everyone on the No. 12 Wabash team. I thought we had a really strong car and did a great job working our way through the field after starting toward the back. We led a lot of laps and put ourselves in position to have a good finish, so it’s frustrating not to be able to see it through. I’m proud of the effort from everyone on this team, and we’ll move on and get ready for Kansas.”

JOEY LOGANO No. 22 SHELL-PENNZOIL FORD MUSTANG DARK HORSE

START: 2ND STAGE 1: 1ST STAGE 2: 3RD FINISH: 1ST POINTS: 3RD

RACE RUNDOWN: In Saturday night’s Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway, Joey Logano and the No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Ford Dark Horse Mustang team proved they are one of the best closers in the NASCAR Cup Series garage by charging from the fourth position with nine laps remaining to pick up their third win in the last 10 races. The victory marks Logano’s third win at BMS and the 40th of his championship career, tying him with Mark Martin for 20th on the all-time wins list. After qualifying and practice were rained out on Friday afternoon, Logano began the race from the second position as the lineup was set by the NCS rulebook. Crew chief Paul Wolfe made the call to leave Logano on track at the Lap 40 competition caution and Logano restarted from the lead as he cruised to the win in the first stage. Following his first pit stop of the day under the stage break, Logano took the green flag for the second stage in the 16th position. This was where the speed in the Shell-Pennzoil Ford became evident as he was able to carve his way through the field to finish third in the stage. Throughout the final stage, Logano was a fixture at the front of the field yet unfortunately fell to the fifth position with just 58 laps remaining. However, a final caution on Lap 477 set up a chaotic finish in which Logano was able to drive under the three entries fighting for the lead after they ran up the track with six laps remaining. By taking the checkered flag, Logano is now the winningest NCS driver in Team Penske history with his 38th victory and now sits just 16 points out of the championship lead.

LOGANO’S THOUGHTS: “I love NASCAR racing. This is so much fun and to be a part of it is electric. Being here at Bristol. Hearing the fans scream and yell. What else can you want? … Our cars have been good and have been getting better. Paul has been doing good. Joe’s been awesome. The pit crew has been good. I’ve got a great team. We’ve got a team that knows how to win championships. I thought there for a minute I was like, ‘OK, I might just finish third or fourth here tonight,’ and then they all kind of worked their way up and I was like, ‘Well, Merry Christmas to me.’ I got a gift there. There’s nothing like the Bristol Night Race. This is just the coolest experience as a race car driver being in front of all you fans down here, hearing everyone scream and cheer – sometimes boo, that’s alright. It’s pretty awesome.”

The NASCAR Cup Series Chase for the Championship continues next weekend at Kansas Speedway. Catch coverage of the Hollywood Casino 400 beginning at 3 p.m. ET on USA, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

Wood Brothers Racing – Race Report: Bristol Motor Speedway

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Official Release
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Event: Bass Pro Shops Night Race

Location: Bristol Motor Speedway, Bristol, Tennessee

Date: Sunday, September 19, 2026

Start: 32nd

Finish: 6th

With their sixth-place finish in Saturday night’s Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway, Josh Berry and the No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing team earned their ninth top-10 finish of the season and seventh in the past eight races.

After Friday’s qualifying session was washed out, Berry lined up 32nd in the No. 21 Würth Ford Mustang Dark Horse for the 500-lap race. Starting deep in the field at the fast, half-mile track put Berry in early danger of falling a lap down to the leaders, and he eventually went one lap down during the opening run.

Berry minimized the setback, however, working his way into the free pass position just before the competition caution flew at Lap 40. Back on the lead lap, he steadily worked his way forward and ended Stage 1 in 15th.

The No. 21 team had elected to pit for four fresh tires during a mid-stage caution, allowing Berry to stay on track during the stage break and move up to seventh for the start of Stage 2. From there, Berry continued his charge through the field, racing inside the top five throughout the 125-lap segment before finishing Stage 2 in fourth and collecting seven stage points.

Berry and the Würth team continued to run among the leaders throughout the final segment, maintaining a position inside the top eight despite sustaining minor nose damage while working through lapped traffic. Berry ultimately took the checkered flag in sixth, leading all non-Chase competitors and continuing a strong stretch for the No. 21 team.

“Our car was honestly really strong,” Berry told reporters after the race. “We were pretty tight early and took a swing at it, and then the car was really strong from there.

“I got a little damage coming through lapped traffic. The 42, I was going by him on the outside and the 42 decided to block me instead of running the bottom like the 10 laps before.

“I ran into him and got a little nose damage. I don’t know if that hurt it, but all in all, a good car. I would have loved a top five, but we’ll keep it going next week.”

RFK Racing – Bristol II Executive Summary

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Official Release
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RFK RACING
BRISTOL MOTOR SPEEDWAY – EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Date: September 19, 2026
Series: NASCAR Cup Series
Location: Bristol Motor Speedway (1/2 mile high-banked concrete oval) – Bristol, TN
Format: 266.5 miles / 500 laps with three stages. Stage 1: Ends at lap 125, Stage 2: Ends at lap 250, Stage 3: Ends at lap 500

RFK Racing RACE SUMMARY: As the NASCAR Cup Series raced in Thunder Valley Saturday night, it was ‘Preece Lightning’ that led the way for Roush Fenway Keselowski (RFK) Racing. Ryan Preece continues proving he is more than a Cinderella Chase driver, putting together another strong top ten finish. Following Preece’s 10th place finish, Chris Buescher fought hard, charging from the 23rd starting position, to finish 13th, collecting stage points (Stage Two) along the way. Brad Keselowski scored stage points in Stage One, as he clawed his way to a 15th place finish.

DRIVER HIGHLIGHTS

Ryan Preece – No. 60 Body Guard by Fastenal Ford Mustang Dark Horse

Finish: 10th
Start: 16th
Laps Led: —
Stage Results: S1-16th, S2-13th
Headline takeaway: Preece capitalized on perseverance and opportunity. Despite catcthing a bad break that put him a lap down, Preece continued to fight. Once back on the lead lap, via the ‘Lucky Dog’ free pass, he pounced and gained enough spots to secure a tenth place finish.

Preece Quote: “We didn’t have quite he speed to win but I thought we had a solid race car. The untimely caution kind of caught us off guard and we fought all the way to the very end and we finally got back on the lead lap. So thanks to Derrick (Finley). Thanks to everybody at RFK, Ford, Fastenal, Kroger and all of our partners.”

Chris Buescher – No. 17 Kroger / Kool-Aid / Little Bites Ford Mustang Dark Horse

Finish:13th
Start: 23rd
Laps Led: —
Stage Results: S1-12th, S2-10th
Headline takeaway: Highlighted by a 10th place finish in Stage Two, Chris Buescher recorded a solid night in Bristol. He overcame an untimely caution that set him back a lap, to finish 13th.

Buescher Quote: “The day was a little up and down but I would say better than we’ve been here last race. I thought we had a better racecar. That pit cycle trapped us and we just fought that the last 200 laps I felt like so we never quite got it back. If we could have, I think we had a top ten car but we just never got there.”

Brad Keselowski – No. 6 BuildSubmarines.com Ford Mustang Dark Horse

Finish:15th
Start: 11th
Laps Led: —
Stage Results: S1-9th, S2-17th
Headline takeaway: The BuildSubmarines.com Ford was on the move early, claiming stage points in the opening segment. As the race wore on a torrid pace was set by the leaders and Keselowski battled to finish 15th.

Keselowski Quote: “We just weren’t fast enough tonight. We need to be better.”

Point Standings:

Preece: 14th
Buescher:15th
Keselowski:18th

Next Up:

The next event on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule is September 27 at Kansas Speedway (1.5 Mile D-shaped oval – Kansas City, KS). The race begins at 3:00 p.m. EDT with live coverage provided by USA Sports and the Motor Racing Network.

About RFK Racing 

RFK Racing, in its 39th season in 2026, features an ownership lineup pairing one of the sport’s most iconic names, Jack Roush, along with NASCAR Champion, Brad Keselowski, and Fenway Sports Group owner John Henry. Roush initially founded the team in 1988 and it has since become one of the most successful racing operations in the world, propelling him to be the first NASCAR owner to amass three hundred wins and capturing eight championships, including back-to-back NASCAR Cup titles in 2003 and 2004. Keselowski, a former owner in the NASCAR Truck Series, is the 2012 NASCAR Cup Series Champion. In 2007, Roush partnered with Henry, who also owns Major League Baseball’s Boston Red Sox, English Premier League’s Liverpool F.C., and the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins, to form Roush Fenway Racing. Off the track, RFK is a leader and proven winner in NASCAR marketing solutions, having produced multiple award-winning social media, digital content and experiential marketing campaigns. Visit https://www.rfkracing.com/ and follow the team on all social platforms @rfkracing.

Logano Keeps Mustang Rolling with Dramatic Bristol Night Race Victory

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Official Release
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Ford Racing Notes and Quotes
NASCAR Cup Series
Bristol Night Race — Bristol Motor Speedway
Saturday, September 19, 2026

JOEY LOGANO KEEPS MUSTANG ROLLING WITH THIRD WIN OF 2026

  • Joey Logano won his third race of 2026 today, which is the eighth time in his career he has won at least three races in a season.
  • Ford has won four of the last six Cup races and six of the last 10: Joey Logano (3) , Ryan Blaney (2) and Ryan Preece (1).
  • The win is Logano’s 40th of his Cup Series career and 38th with Ford.
  • Those 38 wins put him third on the all-time Ford win list.
  • Team Penske has now won 113 times in the Cup series with Ford.
  • Today’s win is Ford’s 755th all-time in NASCAR Cup Series competition.

JOEY LOGANO, No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Ford Mustang Dark Horse – VICTORY LANE INTERVIEWS – HOW DID YOU GET TO VICTORY LANE? “I love NASCAR racing. This is so much frickin’ fun and to watch to be a part of it is electric. Being here at Bristol. Hearing the fans scream and yell. What else can you want?” YOU WANTED TO MAKE A STATEMENT, SO HOW MEANINGFUL IS IT TO WIN? “It’s huge. We’re in the hunt now. We’re right where we need to be. We had a solid run last week and capitalized again with huge points again tonight, so we’re there.” HAVE THE SEAS EVER PARTED LIKE THAT FOR YOU? “Come on, Bristol. I hear you down here. That was awesome. We had a good race car. Team Penske put together a great car. We led the first stage there and you know it’s gonna get aggressive there at the end and we were in the right place at the right time.” THE BOOS ARE COMING DOWN. “That’s alright. There are a lot of 22 guys out there, too. For the haters, baby.” YOU SAID COMING INTO THE WEEKEND THAT YOU JUST HAD TO GET 20 POINTS BACK. YOU ARE NOW 16. DID YOU IMAGINE THIS RUN FROM THE 22 TEAM? “I did. Our cars have been good and have been getting better. Paul has been doing good. Joe’s been awesome. The pit crew has been good. I’ve got a great team. We’ve got a team that knows how to win championships. I thought there for a minute I was like, ‘OK, I might just finish third or fourth here tonight,’ and then they all kind of worked their way up and I was like, ‘Well, Merry Christmas to me.’ I got a gift there. There’s nothing like the Bristol Night Race. This is just the coolest experience as a race car driver being in front of all you fans down here, hearing everyone scream and cheer – sometimes boo, that’s alright. It’s pretty awesome.”

Ford Unofficial Finishing Results:

1st – Joey Logano

6th – Josh Berry

10th – Ryan Preece

11th – Austin Cindric

13th – Chris Buescher

15th – Brad Keselowski

16th – Noah Gragson

19th – Todd Gilliland

28th – Zane Smith

33rd – Ryan Blaney

37th – Josh Bilicki

RYAN BLANEY, No. 12 WABASH Ford Mustang Dark Horse – WHAT DID YOU SEE THERE? “We got crashed.” IS THERE ANYTHING YOU COULD HAVE DONE? “I don’t know. Understand who was beneath me, I guess. I mean, I protected. I protected pretty early and he just kept coming left and never lifted and crashed me.” ANOTHER INCIDENT WITH THE 77. ARE YOU GOING TO SAY SOMETHING TO HIM? “Yes. Something is gonna happen.” ARE YOU GOING TO TALK TO HIM TONIGHT? “Yeah, probably.” WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN? “I don’t know yet.” WAS YOUR CAR HAMPERED BY NOT BEING ABLE TO RUN THE OUTSIDE AS GOOD AS THE INSIDE? “It probably preferred the bottom. The top was kind of a crush and not as good as I wanted to be up there, but we were still making it work, but I never got to finish the race.” DID YOU FEEL THE CONTACT CAME AS YOU WERE PROTECTING OR AFTER? “I have no idea. I just felt like he didn’t lift. I left him plenty of room for a lap before that. I didn’t chop him. I didn’t run him into the fence or nothing like I easily could have. I protected the bottom and he just decided he wanted to be there and didn’t lift and wrecked me.” HAS IT GONE ON TOO LONG? “Yeah. I haven’t had a problem with him for probably a year and a half, but it’s getting old.” WHAT HAPPENED WHEN THE CAUTION CAME OUT? “We were committed and then I got told to go back on the racetrack and it was a knee-jerk reaction. I did it and I shouldn’t have done it.”

JOSH BERRY, No. 21 WURTH Ford Mustang Dark Horse – ARE YOU SURPRISED ABOUT THE POST-RACE INCIDENT WITH BLANEY AND HOCEVAR? “I didn’t really see exactly what happened, but I don’t think that’s gonna be the last time that happens.” IS THAT A LONG TIME COMING? “Yeah, I would say so. I didn’t really see the accident to see what actually caused it, but it was a long time coming.” ANOTHER REALLY GOOD RACE FOR YOU GUYS. “Our car was honestly really strong. We were pretty tight early and took a swing at it and then the car was really strong from there on. I got a little damage coming through the lap traffic. I haven’t looked at it yet. The 42, I was going by him on the outside and the 42 decided to block me, instead of running the bottom like the 10 laps before. I ran into him and got a little nose damage. I don’t know if that hurt it, but, all in all, a good car. I would have loved a top five, but we’ll keep it going next week.”

RYAN PREECE, No. 60 Body Guard by Fastenal Ford Mustang Dark Horse – “I thought we maximized our day. An untimely caution almost locked us, but P10.”

AUSTIN CINDRIC, No. 2 Menards/Richmond Ford Mustang Dark Horse – “We kind of hurt our own day, but got saved with staying out there with a long run, but we had a pretty decent Menards Ford Mustang, just not able to capitalize. A lot of those cautions at the end got us cycled around on tires and all that. It’s good to salvage some decent points, but I thought we had a bit more today.”

TOYOTA RACING – NCS Bristol Post-Race Report – 09.19.26

By
Official Release
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GIBBS BATTLES FOR WIN AT BRISTOL
Denny Hamlin, Christopher Bell continue to be a part of close championship battle

BRISTOL, Tenn. (September 19, 2026) – Ty Gibbs battled for the win late in a wild finish at Bristol Motor Speedway before finishing fifth in the NASCAR Cup Series race on Saturday evening. Christopher Bell was the top Toyota finisher in fourth.

Bell and Denny Hamlin continue to be a part of a fierce battle with Kyle Larson and Joey Logano for the championship points lead as the four drivers are separated by a total of 17 points with seven races remaining.

TOYOTA RACING Post-Race Recap
NASCAR Cup Series (NCS)
Bristol Motor Speedway
Race 29 of 36 – 266.5 miles, 500 laps

TOYOTA FINISHING POSITIONS

1st, Joey Logano*

2nd, Kyle Larson*

3rd, Carson Hocevar*

4th, CHRISTOPHER BELL

5th, TY GIBBS

7th, BUBBA WALLACE

8th, DENNY HAMLIN

18th, TYLER REDDICK

25th, JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK

27th, CHASE BRISCOE

32nd, ERIK JONES

34th, RILEY HERBST

*non-Toyota driver

TOYOTA QUOTES

CHRISTOPHER BELL, No. 20 DEWALT Toyota Camry XSE, Joe Gibbs Racing

Finishing Position: 4th

Can you take us through your race tonight?

“Yeah, I don’t know. It was close, but just in the Spring, I was able to pass everybody – tonight I wasn’t. When I had the track position, I could maintain it, but wasn’t good enough to drive up there and take the lead. Overall, it was a good day to keep us in the hunt for our DEWALT Toyota team. Whoever is the champion is going to have to be great. We are very much alive.”

TY GIBBS, No. 54 M&M’s Kyle Busch Tribute Toyota Camry XSE, Joe Gibbs Racing

Finishing Position: 5th

What happened with the 48 and with the end of the race?

“I don’t know. It just sucks. The M&M’s Camry was a fun time tonight. I just tried to stay up too high in (turns) one and two, and tried to block the 77 (Carson Hocevar) from getting a run – and the 5 (Kyle Larson) snuck in there and got us all bottled up. Just unfortunate, but we will keep going.”

BUBBA WALLACE, No. 23 OUTLAW LIGHT Toyota Camry XSE, 23XI Racing

Finishing Position: 7th

Not bad tonight. How was your race?

“Just kind of ran our own race. Had a couple of close calls, but for the most part our OUTLAW LIGHT Toyota team did a good job all night. We were seventh to 10th when we come here and we were on the front side of that tonight, so we are making improvements. I really appreciate the work on the short track program. Just wanted more. I started licking my chops there at the end, but just a little bit too far back. All-in-all, pretty good. Excited for the next three weeks, mile-and-a-halves. Toyotas are super strong, and get some separation and get away from the hornets’ nest that I feel like we’ve been in for the last month or so, and get some Toyotas back on top and back in victory lane.”

DENNY HAMLIN, No. 11 National Debt Relief Toyota Camry XSE, Joe Gibbs Racing

Finishing Position: 8th

You leave Bristol one point out of the championship lead. How would you assess your race?

“We just have to get to running a little bit better. Today, I thought early on – in the first stage – I really liked my National Debt Relief Toyota. I thought we had a car that would contend for the win, and then second stage, when we took the stage points in stage one that put us to the back, and once we lost track position, it just wasn’t quite as good. I think the track changed on us as well. Then we got caught by that caution, so that was unfortunate. It is the way it is, but we move on.”

TYLER REDDICK, No. 45 SiriusXM Toyota Camry XSE, 23XI Racing

Finishing Position: 18th

What was going on with your race car today?

“Yeah, that is a good question. Our SiriusXM Camry didn’t drive bad, we were just one of the slowest cars on the race track. It is unacceptable any time of year, but especially in the Chase and after a tough day in Gateway. Just off where we need to be currently.”

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 over 50 million cars and trucks at our 14 manufacturing plants. In 2025, Toyota’s plant in North Carolina began to assemble automotive batteries for electrified vehicles.

For more information about Toyota, visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.

CHEVROLET NCS AT BRISTOL 2: Post-Race Report

By
Official Release
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NASCAR Cup Series
Bristol Motor Speedway
Bass Pro Shops Night Race
Team Chevy Post-Race Report
September 19, 2026

Larson Earns the Points Lead After Runner-Up Finish at Bristol Motor Speedway
 
In his quest for the championship title, Kyle Larson and the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet team came just short of making back-to-back trips to victory lane. With a late-race pit call by crew chief, Cliff Daniels, to stay out, prime track position put the California native back in race-winning contention before coming home with a runner-up finish in the Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway. The result, Larson’s ninth top-five finish in his past nine starts at the famed half-mile, was enough to put the Team Chevy driver at the top of the Chase standings with an one-point lead over Denny Hamlin. Three Team Chevy Chase contenders earned top-10 results, with Carson Hocevar earning his career-best Bristol finish of third, with William Byron coming home with a ninth-place finish.

RACE RECAP:

Stage One:

Sitting on the pole position, last week’s winner, Kyle Larson, led the NASCAR Cup Series to the green flag for the Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway. With weather forcing the cancellation of the series’ on-track action on Friday, the field was racing to a competition caution that was set to fly around the 40-lap marker. For a caution-free run to start the race, it was the No. 5 Chevrolet that paced way – making quick work around the famed half-mile to reach lap traffic in just 20 laps. Under the competition caution, five cars opted to stay out, with Larson ultimately exiting pit road as the first car on a four-tire strategy with a spot in the sixth position for the restart. The second run proved the importance of track position as those that opted to stay out were able to maintain their track position. Settled in the fifth position for much of the run, the first natural caution of the day flew with 30 laps to go in the stage for a spinning Erik Jones. With a split pit strategy among the leaders, Larson was among those that opted to stay out to restart third. The reigning champion quickly went to work on the lead, finding the second position and keeping then race leader, Joey Logano, just within reach as they approached the first green-white checkered flag. Larson collected nine points, leading Chevrolet to three top-10 finishers in the opening stage.

Stage Two:

The stage break opened up the opportunity for varying pit strategies once again. While on a four-tire strategy, the No. 5 pit crew got their driver off pit road first but landed in the 15th position for the start of Stage Two. On the opposite strategy than his teammate, William Byron and the Rudy Fugle-led team cycled up into the second position to lead the Bowtie brigade to the green flag after choosing to forgo a trip to pit road. Within early laps of the stage, Byron reported that he was battling a loose-handling car in both entry and exit of the corner. Despite the ill-handling conditions, the North Carolina native held on to a running position within the top-eight throughout entirety of the stage. Fellow Chase contender, Carson Hocevar, was the second-highest mover in the stage, driving his No. 77 Chevrolet to a 16-position gain to earn a seventh-place finish and lead Team Chevy to the end of Stage Two.

Final Stage:

With a four-tire call by crew chief Luke Lambert under the stage break, an one-position gain in the race off pit road put Hocevar in the sixth position to take the green flag for 239 laps to go in the race. The opening lap of the final stage saw Hocevar already make an appearance back in the top-five, settling into the position as the race entered another long green flag run. While quickly having to start maneuvering through lap traffic, Hocevar was able to maintain the fifth position and sat at an eight-second margin to the leader as a green flag pit cycle got underway with 120 laps to go. Hocevar made his way up into the second position during the cycle and just as Lambert called Hocevar to pit road, a caution for Riley Herbst saw Hocevar and then race leader, Ryan Blaney, as the only lead lap cars that had yet to make their stops. With Blaney facing a commitment line violation for his attempt to hit pit road as the caution flew, it was Hocevar that inherited the lead for the first time of the evening. While in a tight battle for the lead with Ty Gibbs, a three-wide move in lap traffic saw the caution fall with 69 laps to go. While Gibbs opted not to pit, Lambert called his driver to pit road for a pair of right-side tires. The fresh tires paid early dividends as the Michigan native quickly made his way back up into the second position to challenge for the lead. But it was a call by Daniels to stay out that put Larson back in race winning contention once again, with the No. 5 team making the pass for second on the final lap to lead Team Chevy to the checkered flag.

 
Team Chevy Unofficial Top-10 Results

Pos. Driver

2nd – Kyle Larson

3rd – Carson Hocevar

9th – William Byron

Chevrolet’s season statistics with 29 NASCAR Cup Series races complete:

Wins: 7

Poles: 6

Top-Fives: 50

Top 10s: 98

Stage Wins: 19

The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Chase will continue at Kansas Speedway with the Hollywood Casino 400 on Sunday, September 27, at 3 p.m. ET. Live coverage can be found on the USA Network, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

Post-Race Driver Quotes:

Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

Finished: 17th

“Long night for the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops/Winchester Patriotic Chevrolet team at Bristol Motor Speedway. We started ninth and we held our own to start the race but ultimately struggled with handling issues. We worked on the balance of the car throughout the race, but couldn’t get it right. I couldn’t run the top and just lacked grip overall, and our Chevrolet just landed bad. We started tight then swung sideways loose. We’ll take what we can from this one and turn our focus to Kansas.”

Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Finished: 2nd

“It was just a good fight all around for the No. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM Chevrolet team. I don’t think we were a top-five car, but we did a great night executing tonight and that’s what it takes. We didn’t have the best car tonight, but we still came home with a top-two finish. We weren’t too hot there in the second stage, and really the majority of the final stage, but I’m proud of the pit call and the fight we had to hang on there. We got good stage points early, so we’ll take it and try to have more days like today. I’m happy with the effort, and we’ll go to Kansas (Speedway) and continue to go to work.”

Austin Hill, No. 33 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

Finished: 29th

“Not a great night for our Rebel Bourbon team. Our Chevrolet was really tight rolling across the center and couldn’t get pointed for the exit. As the race went on, the whole car was light on entry and not in the track. It felt like the car wasn’t connected in all three sections of the corner – entry, center and exit. The car would snap loose on exit which stopped me from throttling down hard. We pitted every time we could to try and learn something from the race. Onto Kansas next week.”

Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

Finished: 3rd

From your perspective, was there anything you needed to do differently on that move on the race track?

“No, I didn’t think so. I thought we were racing fine. I went to cross them over just to try to get to the bottom, and I thought it was going to work out fine. You just can’t turn left. I mean, I was full on the brakes, but you can’t really stop with that big of steam.”

 

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.

LOGANO POWERS PAST TANGLED HOCEVAR, GIBBS AND BLANEY TO TAKE VICTORY AT BASS PRO SHOPS NIGHT RACE AT BRISTOL

By
Official Release
-

BRISTOL, Tenn. (Sept. 20, 2026) – When Ty Gibbs finally ran out of magic, Joey Logano took full advantage.

Thanks to a dramatic pass through a gaggle of traffic on Lap 494 of 500, Logano stole a victory in Saturday’s Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway and moved close to the lead in the NASCAR Cup Series Chase Presented by Mobil 1.

As Logano celebrated on the frontstretch, his Team Penske teammate, Ryan Blaney, traded punches with Carson Hocevar on pit road. Moments after taking second place from the Spire Motorsports driver, Blaney wrecked off Hocevar’s front bumper on Lap 458, leading to an aggressive confrontation after the race.

The victory was Logano’s third at the 0.533-mile concrete track, fourth at Bristol including his 2022 Food City Dirt Race win, his third of the season and the 40th of his career, tying him with NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin for 20th all-time.

The three-time Cup Series champion climbed four positions to third in the Chase standings, 16 points behind race runner-up Kyle Larson, who took over the series lead by one point over top-seeded Denny Hamlin, Saturday night’s eighth-place finisher.

As Hocevar and Gibbs raced side-by-side for the lead after the final restart—with Larson immediately behind Hocevar in the top lane—Logano rolled the bottom past the trio of cars and moved up the track with the lead. As Gibbs faded to fifth, Larson moved into second place.

After climbing from his No. 22 Ford on the frontstretch, Logano was greeted with a chorus of boos by the same partisans who had waved yellow M&M’s hand towels honoring Busch (distributed by the track) when Gibbs was out front.

“I’ve got a great team,” said Logano, who led twice for 93 laps. “We’ve got a team that knows how to win championships. I thought there for a minute, I was like, ‘OK, I might just finish third or fourth here tonight,’ but (we) kind of worked our way up, and I was like, ‘Well, Merry Christmas to me. I got a gift there.’

“There is nothing like the Bristol Night Race, man. This is just the coolest experience as a race car driver, being in front of all you fans down here, hearing everyone screaming, cheering, sometimes booing. That’s all right. It’s pretty awesome.”

In arguably the fastest car, Gibbs ran an exceptional race in a Toyota featuring a throwback M&M’s point scheme honoring the late Kyle Busch. Gibbs led 120 laps and appeared victory-bound until he succumbed to relentless pressure from Hocevar (who finished third) and Logano, who came from fourth on the final restart to win the race.

Ostensibly channeling some of Busch’s prowess and good fortune at a track where the driver nicknamed “Rowdy” won nine Cup Series races, Gibbs survived a three-wide accident at the start/finish line immediately after passing Hocevar for the lead on Lap 432.

Busch tried to split the middle between the cars of Alex Bowman and Cole Custer, but Bowman moved up the track, sandwiching Gibbs’ Toyota between the two cars. Miraculously, despite contact from both sides—enough to put Bowman out of the race—Gibbs was able to continue and maintain the speed he showed before the wreck.

“It was an honor to drive the M&M’s Camry and it was something I’ll never forget,” Gibbs said. “That was such a fun race. Unfortunate that we lost it. I just tried to stay up a little bit too long in (Turns) 1 and 2 that shut the 77 (Hocevar) off, and then the 5 (Larson) got in there, and we just missed it a little bit.

“But I had a blast tonight, and it was so much fun. We’ll just keep working hard and keep getting better.”

Blaney led a race-high 202 laps and regained track position after a commitment line penalty caused by an inopportune caution on Laps 397 near the end of a cycle of green-flag pit stops.

After passing Hocevar for the second on Lap 457, he moved down the track to block Hocevar’s line. Hocevar didn’t lift and knocked Blaney into the outside wall in Turn 1. Blaney’s Ford was damaged too extensively to continue, and he exited race in 33rd place, dropping three positions to sixth in the Chase standings, 52 points out of the lead.

On pit road after the race, Blaney approached Hocevar aggressively with a hand to Hocevar’s shoulder. The Spire driver landed two punches in return. After the second blow, Blaney lost his balance and fell backwards. He got to his feet and landed a left hand to Hocevar’s face before officials and crew members pulled them apart.

“I just felt like he didn’t lift,” Blaney said of the wreck. “I left him plenty of room for a lap before that. I didn’t chop him. I didn’t run him into the fence or nothing like I easily could have. I protected the bottom, and he just decided he wanted to be there and didn’t lift and wrecked me.”

Hocevar seemed all but nonchalant after the fight.

“There wasn’t a whole lot of talking,” he said. “He just kind of said one thing and then went after me, and I wasn’t going to take it.

“I mean, that was fun with the 54 (Gibbs). I got ran into a lot for the win. I mean, that was for second and he wants to come fight… They got an old-school Bristol show here.”

Christopher Bell finished an unassuming and non-controversial fourth on Saturday and leaves Thunder Valley fourth in the standings, 17 points behind Larson, the only driver to have scored top fives (fifth, first and second) in all three Chase races so far.

“Yeah, I mean, it’s good,” Larson said. “It’s good. But there’s still so much racing left. Just got to keep having good, consistent days. It’s three top fives to open the Chase and looks like leading the points now by just a point.

“But we’re going to some good tracks for us but also good tracks for the Toyotas—Vegas and Kansas, Charlotte. It could easily change a lot here in the upcoming weeks. But we’ve just got to be ready for anything and keep plugging away.”

Josh Berry finished sixth, the only non-Chase driver in the top 11. Bubba Wallace, Hamlin, William Byron and Ryan Preece completed the top 10.

Kansas Speedway is next on the Chase schedule with the Sept. 27 Hollywood Casino 400 (3 p.m. ET on USA Network, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

-Story by NASCAR Newswire

NASCAR Cup Series Race – Bass Pro Shops Night Race
Bristol Motor Speedway
Bristol, Tennessee
Saturday, September 19, 2026

            1. (2)  Joey Logano (C), Ford, 500.

            2. (1)  Kyle Larson (C), Chevrolet, 500.

            3. (5)  Carson Hocevar (C), Chevrolet, 500.

            4. (12)  Christopher Bell (C), Toyota, 500.

            5. (13)  Ty Gibbs (C), Toyota, 500.

            6. (32)  Josh Berry, Ford, 500.

            7. (10)  Bubba Wallace (C), Toyota, 500.

            8. (3)  Denny Hamlin (C), Toyota, 500.

            9. (4)  William Byron (C), Chevrolet, 500.

            10. (16)  Ryan Preece (C), Ford, 500.

            11. (8)  Austin Cindric (C), Ford, 500.

            12. (7)  Ross Chastain, Chevrolet, 500.

            13. (23)  Chris Buescher (C), Ford, 499.

            14. (28)  Daniel Suarez (C), Chevrolet, 498.

            15. (11)  Brad Keselowski, Ford, 498.

            16. (36)  Noah Gragson, Ford, 498.

            17. (9)  Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 498.

            18. (20)  Tyler Reddick (C), Toyota, 497.

            19. (24)  Todd Gilliland, Ford, 497.

            20. (22)  Shane Van Gisbergen, Chevrolet, 497.

            21. (21)  Michael McDowell, Chevrolet, 497.

            22. (18)  AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet, 497.

            23. (27)  Chase Elliott (C), Chevrolet, 497.

            24. (15)  Connor Zilisch #, Chevrolet, 496.

            25. (19)  John Hunter Nemechek, Toyota, 495.

            26. (17)  Cole Custer, Chevrolet, 495.

            27. (26)  Chase Briscoe (C), Toyota, Suspension, 494.

            28. (35)  Zane Smith, Ford, 494.

            29. (25)  Austin Hill(i), Chevrolet, 494.

            30. (31)  Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Chevrolet, 490.

            31. (30)  Cody Ware, Chevrolet, 489.

            32. (14)  Erik Jones, Toyota, 483.

            33. (29)  Ryan Blaney (C), Ford, Accident, 457.

            34. (34)  Riley Herbst, Toyota, Suspension, 432.

            35. (6)  Alex Bowman, Chevrolet, Accident, 428.

            36. (33)  Ty Dillon, Chevrolet, 402.

            37. (37)  Josh Bilicki(i), Ford, Suspension, 338.

Average Speed of Race Winner: 87.697 mph.

Time of Race: 3 Hrs, 2 Mins, 20 Secs. Margin of Victory: 1.248 Seconds.

Caution Flags: 10 for 78 laps.

Lead Changes: 13 among 6 drivers.

Lap Leaders: K. Larson (C) 0;K. Larson (C) 1-44;J. Logano (C) 45-130;K. Larson (C) 131;R. Blaney (C) 132-254;C. Bell (C) 255;R. Blaney (C) 256-324;T. Gibbs (C) 325-386;R. Blaney (C) 387-396;C. Hocevar (C) 397-430;T. Gibbs (C) 431;C. Hocevar (C) 432-434;T. Gibbs (C) 435-491;C. Hocevar (C) 492-493;J. Logano (C) 494-500.

Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led): Ryan Blaney (C) 3 times for 202 laps; Ty Gibbs (C) 3 times for 120 laps; Joey Logano (C) 2 times for 93 laps; Kyle Larson (C) 2 times for 45 laps; Carson Hocevar (C) 3 times for 39 laps; Christopher Bell (C) 1 time for 1 lap.

Stage #1 Top Ten: 22,5,11,1,54,12,2,77,6,23

Stage #2 Top Ten: 12,54,22,21,20,23,77,24,5,17

Vintage Heritage Meets Modern Power: The Rise of the Toyota Land Cruiser Restomod

By
SM
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Classic four-wheel-drive trucks occupy a unique and revered place in the automotive universe. Unlike exotic supercars that demand mirror-smooth tarmac and climate-controlled storage, iconic vintage 4x4s were designed from inception to conquer the wild, traverse unforgiving terrain, and endure decades of relentless abuse. Among these legends, the Toyota Land Cruiser stands as the undisputed benchmark of global overland endurance. From the deserts of the Middle East to the rugged Australian Outback and the remote mountain trails of the American West, its boxy silhouette, stamped-steel front grille, and round headlights evoke an adventurous era of pure analog motoring.

However, anyone who has driven an original, unrestored 1970s or 1980s Land Cruiser on modern high-speed highways knows the harsh mechanical reality: screaming high-RPM engines struggling to maintain 60 mph, heavy unassisted recirculating-ball steering that fights every rut in the asphalt, four-wheel drum brakes that require immense leg effort, and sweltering summer heat inside an uninsulated steel cabin.

This reality has catalyzed the rise of the modern toyota land cruiser restomod—an elite movement in custom automotive craftsmanship that seamlessly marries the timeless soul and rugged aesthetic of classic vintage sheet metal with modern horsepower, refined chassis dynamics, and luxurious everyday drivability.

What Exactly Is a Restomod?

The term “restomod” combines restoration and modification. Unlike a strictly original museum-grade preservation where every single nut, bolt, and gasket must match assembly-line factory specifications, a restomod selectively updates key mechanical, electrical, and safety systems while celebrating the vehicle’s authentic historical personality.

In the world of vintage Land Cruisers, a restomod does not dilute or compromise the truck’s iconic character; it liberates it. It transforms a vehicle that was once restricted to slow, low-speed weekend backroad trips into an all-weather machine capable of cruising comfortably at 80 mph on interstate highways with ice-cold air conditioning, handling mountain twisties with composure, and tackling technical off-road trails with push-button ease.

The Heart of the Machine: Modern V8 Powertrain Conversions

The factory Toyota 2F and 3F inline-six engines are legendary for their longevity and tractor-like reliability, but they are heavy, low-revving, and fuel-thirsty powerplants that produce modest horsepower (roughly 125 to 135 hp). For modern drivers attempting to merge into fast-moving highway traffic or ascend high-altitude mountain passes with camping gear, upgrading the engine is the single most transformative aspect of a restomod build.

1. General Motors LS3 & L83 V8 Conversions

The modern gold standard for Land Cruiser restomods is the fuel-injected GM small-block V8 platform:

  • Proven Reliability & Global Parts Sourcing: Whether traveling through remote desert towns or cruising through suburban corridors, GM powertrain parts and diagnostic tools are readily accessible anywhere in North America.
  • Effortless Power Delivery: A modern Gen-IV LS3 (6.2L) or Gen-V L83 (5.3L) produces between 355 to over 430 horsepower and massive low-end torque across the RPM band. This translates into smooth, linear acceleration, instantaneous throttle response, and robust towing capability.
  • Favorable Weight Distribution: Modern aluminum-block V8s actually weigh less than the massive cast-iron Toyota inline-six engines they replace. This noticeable weight reduction lightens the front axle, dramatically improving steering turn-in response and overall handling agility.

2. Modern Electronic Overdrive Transmissions

Original 3-speed and 4-speed manual gearboxes lack the tall overdrive ratios necessary for relaxed highway cruising. Professional builders pair modern V8s with heavy-duty GM 4L65E, 6L80E, or 8L90E electronic automatic transmissions, or robust Tremec 5-speed manuals. When mated to modern dual-range transfer cases (such as the bulletproof Advance Adapters Atlas II), these setups deliver whisper-quiet, low-RPM highway travel at 1,800 RPM alongside ultra-low crawl ratios for rock crawling.

Reinventing Handling, Chassis Dynamics, and Safety

The classic Land Cruiser was engineered for low-speed agricultural and expedition tasks over rutted dirt roads. Transforming it into a confident, composed daily driver requires re-engineering the chassis from the ground up.

Suspension Engineering

The days of bone-jarring, multi-leaf spring packs that rattle passenger teeth over expansion joints are over. Premier builders employ advanced suspension geometry:

  • Custom Parabolic Springs or Coilover Conversions: Offering progressive spring rates that absorb harsh potholes while maintaining stability under heavy payload.
  • Precision Fox Racing or Bilstein 5100 Damping: Tuned specifically to the corner weights of the vehicle to eliminate high-speed body sway and floating sensations.
  • Heavy-Duty Front and Rear Anti-Sway Bars: Engineered to drastically reduce high-center-of-gravity body lean when navigating highway cloverleaf exits or emergency avoidance maneuvers.

Pinpoint Steering and High-Performance Disc Brakes

  • Hydraulic Power Steering: High-output Saginaw or Hydroboost power steering systems provide effortless, fingertip maneuverability in parking lots while delivering precise, confidence-inspiring road feel at high speeds.
  • Four-Wheel Disc Brake Conversions: Replacing factory drum brakes with massive vented and slotted rotors gripped by Wilwood multi-piston calipers and braided stainless-steel lines. This setup completely eliminates terrifying brake fade during long mountain descents and reduces stopping distances by up to 40%.

Handcrafted Luxury: Where Rugged Utility Meets Executive Elegance

While the exterior retains its unapologetic utilitarian charm—including split rear ambulance doors, rear-mounted spare tires, and classic safari tops—stepping into the cabin of a bespoke restomod reveals bespoke craftsmanship on par with high-end luxury SUVs.

  • Acoustic and Thermal Insulation: Multi-stage vibration dampening (such as Dynamat Extreme) and closed-cell acoustic foam line the floorboards, firewall, door cavities, and roof. This reduces cabin ambient decibel levels by up to 50%, transforming a noisy steel box into a serene sanctuary where phone calls and music are crystal clear.
  • Bespoke Hand-Stitched Leather: Custom-contoured Recaro or hand-fabricated bucket seats are upholstered in rich, full-grain Italian leather or waterproof marine vinyl. Contrasting double-diamond stitching, leather-wrapped roll bars, and matching fold-down rear jump seats deliver timeless visual appeal.
  • Integrated Modern HVAC: Custom-engineered Vintage Air climate control systems blow freezing cold air conditioning and provide rapid winter defrosting through discreet billet aluminum dashboard vents.
  • Discreet Audio and Connectivity: Retro-styled dashboards conceal modern technology, including Apple CarPlay, hidden focal component speakers, compact subwoofers, USB-C fast charging ports, and integrated high-definition backup cameras that appear seamlessly in rearview mirrors.

The Market Landscape: Building vs. Buying Turnkey

As interest in classic four-wheel drives continues to expand among collectors and lifestyle drivers, commissioning a ground-up custom build often requires patience, with lead times stretching from 12 to 24 months. For enthusiasts seeking immediate adventure without the agonizing wait of custom fabrication, finding an expertly restored land cruiser for sale from a proven restoration specialist offers the ultimate turnkey gateway to classic 4×4 ownership.

Conclusion

The modern Toyota Land Cruiser restomod represents the ultimate expression of automotive passion. It refuses to consign legendary engineering to the pages of history books or quiet museum floors, choosing instead to empower iconic design with modern safety, relentless horsepower, and bespoke luxury. It is a machine that bridges generations—a timeless heirloom ready to conquer mountain passes, coastal highways, and city boulevards with effortless style.

Ryan Blaney, Carson Hocevar fight following late run-in at Bristol

By
Andrew Kim
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BRISTOL, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 19: Carson Hocevar, driver of the #77 Zeigler Auto Group Chevrolet, (L) and Ryan Blaney, driver of the #12 WABASH Ford, get into an altercation after the NASCAR Cup Series Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on September 19, 2026 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images).

Teammate Ryan Blaney and Carson Hocevar captured the ultimate spotlight on pit road at the conclusion of the 2026 Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on Saturday, September 19, when a late run-in on the track escalated with the duo engaging in a fierce fight with swings and punches thrown.

The cause of the post-race fight between Blaney and Hocevar instigated on the track with 43 laps remaining. Blaney, who had reeled in Hocevar for the runner-up spot, threw a bold move beneath the latter through Turns 3 and 4 before the former slid up in front of Hocevar through the frontstretch to assume the runner-up spot. Despite briefly clearing and getting in front of Hocevar, Hocevar then tried to execute a crossover move beneath Blaney exiting the frontstretch, but Blaney turned to the left to block and stall Hocevar’s momentum. 

Amid Blaney’s blocking attempt, both he and Hocevar’s entries made contact and Blaney was turned, sent spinning, sliding up the track and wrecking against the first turn’s outside wall. Blaney’s damaged entry then slid back down the apron as the former Cup Series champion was unable to finish the event. Meanwhile, Hocevar proceeded to contend for the victory before he settled in third place at the drop of the checkered flag.

Prior to the finish, Blaney, who was released from the infield care center and was scored in 33rd place in the final running order, was straightforward with his perspective on the incident with Hocevar, citing Hocevar never lifted off the throttle when trying to cross beneath Blaney and wrecked him, while speaking with USA Network.

“We got clear off of [Turn] 4, and I tried to protect the bottom [lane]. [Hocevar] crossed and never lifted and [I] got crashed. That’s what I thought happened. That’s what it looked like happened. Each person is gonna say they did nothing wrong.”

Blaney would later state that something is bound to occur between him and Hocevar when asked if he had any response towards the latter. Sure enough at the event’s conclusion, Blaney approached Hocevar and was swift to lunge a chest grab at Hocevar. Amid the scramble, Hocevar swung two closed fist punches across Blaney’s face and the former was restrained while the latter was dragged to the ground while being restrained by Hocevar’s pit crew. Once brought back up from the ground, Blaney, who was being restrained by one of his Team Penske crew members, vented words towards Hocevar before he broke free, bolted back to Hocevar and threw a single punch towards Hocevar’s face before he was restrained by NASCAR officials. 

In the aftermath, Blaney was directed back behind the wall while Hocevar energized the crowd that was mixed with cheers and boos by waving his arms up in the air. The duo’s run-in at Bristol was not their first instance of a on-track skirmish as Hocevar had bumped and sent Blaney for a spin at EchoPark Speedway in February 2025 in the closing laps while both were racing upfront. Compared to Bristol, Hocevar and Blaney discussed with incident with no physical fights ensuing then.

Blaney declined to discuss his fight with Hocevar while the latter offered his perspective of both the fight and incident, the latter of which he cited that he had no intentions of wrecking Blaney upfront.

“I wasn’t trying to wreck [Blaney],” Hocevar said on USA Network. “It just looked like, to me, I got a run and went left and he spun. I spun him. There wasn’t a whole lot of talking. He just kind of like said one thing and then went after me, and I wasn’t going to take it. I got ran into a lot for the win. That was for second and he wans to come fight. I don’t think anybody’s [the fans] left behind me. They got a old school Bristol show here. I don’t know what I did wrong there. I got a run to cross him over. He looked like spun himself and then, he wants to institgate a fight. I was gonna finish. It seemed like the crowd was pretty pumped up, so I was going to play the audience for a second.”

Hocevar’s fight with Blaney marks his latest run-in with another competitor in the former’s rising career that has been hovered with several run-ins and tensions mounting within the garage area over Hocevar’s aggressive style of driving, most recently, Brad Keselowski during the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway after Hocevar bumped and sent Keselowski for a spin.

With both Hocevar and Blaney also being two of 16 competitors duking against one another in the 2026 Chase for the Cup Series championship, Hocevar managed to jump from ninth to eighth in the Chase standings while Blaney dropped from fourth to sixth. Despite Blaney and Hocevar being 52 and 85 points behind the points lead, respectively, all eyes remain tight on both to see if their run-in at Bristol carries forth throughout the remaining seven Chase events and their respective pursuits for the 2026 championship.

The Chase for both Ryan Blaney and Carson Hocevar continues next Sunday, September 27, at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas, for the Hollywood Casino 400. The event’s broadcast time is scheduled to commence at 3 p.m. ET on USA Network, MRN Radio, SiriusXM and HBO MAX.

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