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Denny Hamlin notches second All-Star Race pole at Dover

By
Andrew Kim
-
Photo by Logan Allen for SpeedwayMedia.com.

Denny Hamlin achieved the pole position for the 2026 NASCAR All-Star Race at Dover Motor Speedway on Saturday, May 17.

The event’s qualifying format had each of the 36 competitors registered to take the green flag individually and run a single full lap around Dover before entering pit road for a mandatory four-tire pit stop without gas during the second lap. Once the pit service is complete, the competitors blended back on the racing surface and raced back to the start/finish line. The drop of the green flag to the checkered flag calculated each competitor’s qualifying run and also determined who would win the pole position.

During the qualifying session, Hamlin, who was the third-fastest competitor during Friday’s practice session and recovered from spinning his No. 11 Progressive/Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Camry XSE entry while warming up his tires as he was about to blend on the racing surface to qualify on Saturday, posted a three-lap trial at 98.812 mph in 109.298 seconds. As a result of being the next-to-last competitor to qualify, Hamlin knocked Brad Keselowski off the top of the qualifying charts at the last second to achieve it for himself.

With the pole, Hamlin became the 10th competitor overall to win the All-Star Race’s pole position multiple times. His first All-Star Race pole occurred in 2015, a year in which he also won the event for the first time for himself, Toyota and Joe Gibbs Racing. As the defending Cup race winner at Dover Motor Speedway, Hamlin will attempt to become the 10th competitor to win the All-Star Race during Sunday afternoon’s main event.

“I was just trying to get as much heat to the tires as I possibly could,” Hamlin said when describing his pre-qualifying spin. He continued, “I was just trying to feel it out and it was slick. I just didn’t want to flat-spot [the tires]. I could still feel a little bit of vibration on the lap. The lap was still competitive, even though I didn’t do a great job with the tires on the warm up there. Hats off to the [No. 11] team. They’re the ones that keep you in the game…I liked our car yesterday. It felt like we were pretty strong. If we can go out there and do well in the first segment, I think in traffic is where we typically excel, so it could be a good weekend.”

Hamlin will share the front row with Brad Keselowski, the latter of whom achieved his first All-Star Race pole position a year ago. Keselowski, who posted the second-fastest three-lap trial run at 98.682 mph in 109.442 seconds, will attempt to win his first All-Star Race event in his 18th start this season.

Erik Jones was the fastest competitor of 17 who are currently not guaranteed starting spots for the All-Star Race’s third and final segment after he qualified in third place. Jones’ three-lap trial was at 98.289 mph in 109.880 seconds. To secure a starting spot for the All-Star Race’s final segment, Jones will need to record a low average-finishing result between the first two segments.

Ross Chastain and William Byron will start in the top five, while Christopher Bell (defending All-Star Race winner), Bubba Wallace, Joey Logano, Ty Gibbs and Austin Cindric completed the top-10 starting grid, respectively.

During the Saturday All-Star Race qualifying session, numerous competitors encountered issues both on the track and on pit lane. The issues started when rookie Connor Zilisch spun while trying to slow his No. 88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 as he tried to enter his pit at the proper speed. As a result, he was penalized 10 seconds for speeding on pit road and will start Sunday’s All-Star Race in 27th place.

Michael McDowell, whose No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 team won the 2025 Mechanix Wear Pit Crew Challenge, was penalized 20 seconds for speeding through two segments on pit road and he will start in 30th place. Kyle Larson will start in 29th place after he was penalized 10 seconds for speeding on pit road.

John Hunter Nemechek had his qualifying run disallowed. His left-front wheel was deemed not properly secured as he tried to leave his pit box after service on his No. 42 Legacy Motor Club Toyota Camry XSE team was completed. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. spun his No. 47 Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 entry through the frontstretch before he got to post a qualifying lap, in which he flat-spotted tires and was not able to post a qualifying attempt. AJ Allmendinger was unable to qualify due to electrical issues. Buescher, Nemechek and Stenhouse will start 33rd, 34th and 35th, respectively.

Daniel Suarez had his right-front wheel detached just as he crossed the start/finish line to complete his qualifying run, where he then wrecked dead-straight into the Turn 1 outside wall. As a result, Suarez, who needs to post a low average-finishing result between the first two segments to be eligible for the final segment, will start at the tail end of the field in 36th place.

Chris Buescher spun while exiting pit road and was assessed both a blend line violation and a speeding penalty, which will leave him to start in 32nd place for this year’s All-Star Race. Lastly, Chase Elliott had to reverse his No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 entry to have his left-front wheel tightened, which will place him in the 31st starting spot.

All-Star Race Qualifying Position, Best Speed, Best Time:

  1. Denny Hamlin, 98.812 mph, 109.298 seconds
  2. Brad Keselowski, 98.682 mph, 109.442 seconds
  3. Erik Jones, 98.289 mph, 109.880 seconds
  4. Ross Chastain, 98.261 mph, 109.911 seconds
  5. William Byron, 98.194 mph, 109.986 seconds
  6. Christopher Bell, 98.084 mph, 110.110 seconds
  7. Bubba Wallace, 97.962 mph, 110.247 seconds
  8. Joey Logano, 97.868 mph, 110.353 seconds
  9. Ty Gibbs, 97.815 mph, 110.412 seconds
  10. Austin Cindric, 97.799 mph, 110.431 seconds
  11. Kyle Busch, 97.386 mph, 110.899 seconds
  12. Alex Bowman, 97.379 mph, 110.907 seconds
  13. Noah Gragson, 97.218 mph, 111.090 seconds
  14. Tyler Reddick, 97.084 mph, 111.244 seconds
  15. Ty Dillon, 96.999 mph, 111.341 seconds
  16. Chase Briscoe, 96.737 mph, 111.643 seconds
  17. Austin Dillon, 96.404 mph, 112.028 seconds
  18. Shane van Gisbergen, 96.054 mph, 112.437 seconds
  19. Josh Berry, 95.899 mph, 112.618 seconds
  20. Todd Gilliland, 94.444 mph, 114.354 seconds
  21. Riley Herbst, 94.349 mph, 114.469 seconds
  22. Cole Custer, 93.923 mph, 114.988 seconds
  23. Cody Ware, 93.185 mph, 115.898 seconds
  24. Carson Hocevar, 91.867 mph, 117.561 seconds
  25. Zane Smith, 90.532 mph, 119.295 seconds
  26. Ryan Preece, 88.938 mph, 121.433 seconds
  27. Connor Zilisch, 87.709 mph, 123.135 seconds
  28. Ryan Blaney, 84.942 mph, 127.145 seconds
  29. Kyle Larson, 83.581 mph, 129.216 seconds
  30. Michael McDowell, 83.422 mph, 129.463 seconds
  31. Chase Elliott, 80.981 mph, 133.365 seconds
  32. Chris Buescher, 77.170 mph, 139.950 seconds
  33. John Hunter Nemechek – Qualifying Attempt Discounted
  34. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. – Qualifying Attempt Discounted
  35. AJ Allmendinger – Qualifying Attempt Discounted
  36. Daniel Suarez – Qualifying Attempt Discounted

Zane Smith’s No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford team wins the 2026 Pit Crew Challenge

As Denny Hamlin added another All-Star Race pole position to his resume, the No. 38 Front Row Motorsports (FRM) Ford Mustang Dark Horse team, led by crew chief Ryan Bergenty and piloted by Zane Smith, emerged victorious by winning the 2026 Mechanix Wear Pit Crew Challenge.

During the qualifying session, Smith’s No. 38 FRM Ford team posted the fastest pit service at 12.612 seconds. The pit crew members who contributed to winning the competition included tire carrier Jarren Davis, fueler Ray Hernandez, front tire changer Michael Louria, jackman Nate McBride and rear tire changer Adam Riley.

As a result, Smith’s team was awarded the competition’s prize of $100,000. Ultimately, Smith, who was penalized 10 seconds for speeding, will start in 25th place for Sunday’s All-Star Race with a time of 90.532 mph in 119.295 seconds.

Photo by Logan Allen for SpeedwayMedia.com.

“It means everything to us,” Jarren Davis said. “We take a lot of pride in our job. We work hard. Everybody at our company does. To be able to do it on the one chance that you get for the whole season, it’s a big deal. To finish first today is a huge deal for us.”

Trackhouse Racing’s No. 97 Chevrolet team, led by crew chief Stephen Doran and piloted by Shane van Gisbergen, posted the second-fastest pit stop time at 12.841 seconds. Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing’s No. 17 Ford team (12.886 seconds), 23XI Racing’s No. 23 Toyota team (12.971 seconds) and Joe Gibbs Racing’s No. 11 Toyota team (12.992 seconds) rounded out the top-five fastest pit services from their respective pit crews.

Rounding out the top 10 in pit crew times were Hendrick Motorsports’ No. 24 Chevrolet team (12.994 seconds), Trackhouse Racing’s No. 1 Chevrolet team (13.008 seconds), Hendrick Motorsports’ No. 5 Chevrolet team (13.048 seconds), Hendrick Motorsports’ No. 48 Chevrolet team (13.093 seconds) and Joe Gibbs Racing’s No. 54 Toyota team (13.143 seconds). Notably, Spire Motorsports No. 71 Chevrolet team, which won the Pit Crew Challenge a year ago, had the 14th-fastest pit service in 13.256 seconds.

Pit Crew Challenge Results/Time:

  1. Front Row Motorsports No. 38 Ford, 12.612 seconds
  2. Trakchouse Racing No. 97 Chevrolet, 12.841 seconds
  3. Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing No. 17 Ford, 12.886 seconds
  4. 23XI Racing No. 23 Toyota, 12.971 seconds
  5. Joe Gibbs Racing No. 11 Toyota, 12.992 seconds
  6. Hendrick Motorsports No. 24 Chevrolet, 12.994 seconds
  7. Trackhouse Racing No. 1 Chevrolet, 13.008 seconds
  8. Hendrick Motorsports No. 5 Chevrolet, 13.048 seconds
  9. Hendrick Motorsports No. 48 Chevrolet, 13.093 seconds
  10. Joe Gibbs Racing No. 54 Toyota, 13.143 seconds
  11. Joe Gibbs Racing No. 20 Toyota, 13.153 seconds
  12. Team Penske No. 22 Ford, 13.184 seconds
  13. Legacy Motor Club No. 43 Toyota, 13.184 seconds
  14. Spire Motorsports No. 71 Chevrolet, 13.256 seconds
  15. Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing No. 6 Ford, 13.284 seconds
  16. Trackhouse Racing No. 88 Chevrolet, 13.392 seconds
  17. Richard Childress Racing No. 3 Chevrolet, 13.487 seconds
  18. Wood Brothers Racing No. 21 Ford, 13.512 seconds
  19. Team Penske No. 2 Ford, 13.518 seconds
  20. Kaulig Racing No. 10 Chevrolet, 13.569 seconds
  21. Front Row Motorsports No. 4 Ford, 13.854 seconds
  22. Rick Ware Racing No. 51 Chevrolet, 13.925 seconds
  23. Richard Childress Racing No. 8 Chevrolet, 14.042 seconds
  24. Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing No. 60 Ford, 14.059 seconds
  25. Joe Gibbs Racing No. 19 Toyota, 14.696 seconds
  26. Haas Factory Team No. 41 Chevrolet, 14.919 seconds
  27. 23XI Racing No. 45 Toyota, 15.127 seconds
  28. Front Row Motorsports No. 34 Ford, 15.232 seconds
  29. 23XI Racing No. 35 Toyota, 15.127 seconds
  30. Spire Motorsports No. 77 Chevrolet, 21.517 seconds
  31. Team Penske No. 12 Ford, 31.049 seconds
  32. Hendrick Motorsports No. 9 Chevrolet, 36.779 seconds
  33. Spire Motorsports No. 7 Chevrolet – DNF
  34. Hyak Motorsports No. 47 Chevrolet – DNF
  35. Legacy Motor Club No. 42 Toyota – DNF
  36. Kaulig Racing No. 16 Chevrolet -DNS

The 2026 NASCAR All-Star Race at Dover Motor Speedway is scheduled to occur on Sunday, May 17, at 1 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN Radio, SiriusXM and HBO MAX.

IndyCar postpones 2026 Indy 500 qualifications to Sunday due to Saturday precipitations

By
Andrew Kim
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Photo by Chris Jones (Penske Entertainment).

The first day of the PPG Armed Forces Qualifying Session for the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, which was scheduled to occur on Saturday, May 16, has been canceled due to on-track precipitation.

The first qualifying session was scheduled to commence at 11 a.m. ET and span through 6 p.m. ET. During the session, all 33 competitors entered to compete in the event would post a single qualifying attempt individually based on a qualification draw that occurred on Friday, May 15. Once all competitors posted a qualifying attempt, the teams would have the option to choose from two lanes for second and subsequent attempts. They would have as many attempts as they want until 5:50 p.m. ET, where Positions 16-33 would be determined.

Due to on-track precipitation that remained persistent throughout Saturday, a pre-qualifying practice session was canceled at 8:30 a.m. ET, the qualifying session for this year’s Indianapolis 500 has been postponed and rearranged to Sunday, May 17.

For Sunday’s on-track activities, a single pre-qualifying practice session will occur at 9:30 a.m. ET on FS2 before qualifying commences at noon ET on FS2. Each of the 33 competitors will receive a single attempt to qualify, and the top 12 fastest competitors will transfer to a second round for Sunday afternoon. Positions 13-33 will be determined following the first round. The top-12 qualifiers will then qualify in the second round at 4:30 p.m. ET on FOX before the six-fastest competitors transfer to the Firestone Fast 6 round that will occur at 6 p.m. ET on FOX. The pole winner and the official starting lineup for this year’s Indy 500 will then be determined following the Firestone Fast 6 round.

When the first round of qualifications commences on Sunday, Scott Dixon will be the first competitor to qualify after his name was drawn first to qualify on Friday, May 15.

Christian Lundgaard, Ryan Hunter-Reay, Ed Carpenter, Rinus VeeKay, Scott McLaughlin, Nolan Siegel, Graham Rahal, Josef Newgarden, Will Power, Felix Rosenqvist, Santino Ferrucci, Marcus Ericsson, Conor Daly, Mick Schumacher, Romain Grosjean, Marcus Armstrong, Pato O’Ward, David Malukas, Alexander Rossi, Dennis Hauger, Sting Ray Robb, Kyle Kirkwood, Caio Collet, Helio Castroneves, Takuma Sato, Christian Rasmussen, Louis Foster, Kyffin Simpson, Jack Harvey, Alex Palou, Jacob Abel and Katherine Legge will qualify after Dixon, respectively.

The 2026 Indianapolis 500 is scheduled to occur on May 24 at 12:30 p.m. ET on FOX.

Ross Chastain snaps eight-year O’Reilly poleless streak at Dover

By
Andrew Kim
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Photo by Logan Allen for SpeedwayMedia.com.

Ross Chastain claimed the pole position for the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series’ BetRivers 200 at Dover Motor Speedway on Saturday, May 16.

The event’s qualifying format consisted of a single round with each of the 38 competitors cycling twice around Dover to post the fastest lap. The competitor who posted the fastest lap within the two qualifying laps was awarded the pole position.

During the session, Chastain, who was the 21st-fastest competitor during Saturday’s practice session, utilized his two qualifying laps to post a pole-winning lap at 154.394 mph in 23.317 seconds.

With the pole, Chastain achieved his second career O’Reilly Auto Parts Series pole position and his first since Darlington Raceway in September 2018. Saturday’s main event at Dover is scheduled to mark Chastain’s 219th O’Reilly career start and sixth of this season, driving the No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro entry for JR Motorsports.

Chastain will share the front row with Brandon Jones, the latter of whom posted the second-fastest qualifying lap at 154.030 mph in 23.372 seconds. Jones, who qualified in the top-five mark for a seventh time this season and second on the front row, is currently ranked in fourth place in the 2026 driver’s standings and trails the points lead by 207 points as he continues his season-long pursuit to make the Chase and contend for the series’ championship.

Corey Day, Rajah Caruth and Taylor Gray, the latter of whom was the fastest in practice, will start in the top five, respectively. Sam Mayer, Carson Kvapil, William Sawalich (second fastest in practice), Harrison Burton and Jesse Love completed the top-10 starting grid, respectively.

With 38 competitors vying for 38 starting spots, all made the main event.

Dover – Qualifying Position, Best Speed, Best Time:

  1. Ross Chastain, 154.394 mph, 23.317 seconds
  2. Brandon Jones, 154.030 mph, 23.372 seconds
  3. Corey Day, 153.741 mph, 23.416 seconds
  4. Rajah Caruth, 153.472 mph, 23.457 seconds
  5. Taylor Gray, 153.374 mph, 23.472 seconds
  6. Sam Mayer, 153.276 mph, 23.487 seconds
  7. Carson Kvapil, 152.866 mph, 23.550 seconds
  8. William Sawalich, 152.704 mph, 23.575 seconds
  9. Harrison Burton, 152.542 mph, 23.600 seconds
  10. Jesse Love, 152.252 mph, 23.645 seconds
  11. Ryan Sieg, 152.226 mph, 23.649 seconds
  12. Sheldon Creed, 152.021 mph, 021 seconds
  13. Justin Allgaier, 151.771 mph, 23.720 seconds
  14. Parker Retzlaff, 151.771 mph, 23.720 seconds
  15. Jeb Burton, 151.636 mph, 23.741 seconds
  16. Brent Crews, 151.394 mph, 23.779 seconds
  17. Austin Hill, 151.197 mph, 23.810 seconds
  18. Sammy Smith, 151.064 mph, 23.831 seconds
  19. BJ McLeod, 150.798 mph, 23.873 seconds
  20. Brennan Poole, 150.697 mph, 23.889 seconds
  21. Jeremy Clements, 150.615 mph, 23.902 seconds
  22. Dean Thompson, 150.521 mph, 23.917 seconds
  23. Lavar Scott, 150.470 mph, 23.925 seconds
  24. Kyle Sieg, 150.263 mph, 23.958 seconds
  25. Myatt Snider, 149.682 mph, 24.051 seconds
  26. Austin Green, 149.489 mph, 24.082 seconds
  27. Anthony Alfredo, 149.074 mph, 24.149 seconds
  28. Patrick Staropoli, 148.736 mph, 24.204 seconds
  29. Blaine Perkins, 148.637 mph, 24.220 seconds
  30. Garrett Smithley, 148.289 mph, 24.277 seconds
  31. Andrew Patterson, 148.160 mph, 24.298 seconds
  32. Ryan Ellis, 147.131 mph, 24.468 seconds
  33. Blake Lothian, 146.711 mph, 24.538 seconds
  34. Josh Bilicki, 146.651 mph, 24.548 seconds
  35. Dawson Cram, 145.950 mph, 24.666 seconds
  36. Logan Bearden, 145.596 mph, 24.726 seconds
  37. CJ McLaughlin, 144.364 mph, 24.937 seconds
  38. David Starr, 0.000 mph, 0.000 seconds

The 2026 BetRivers 200 at Dover Motor Speedway is scheduled to occur on Saturday, May 16, and air at 4 p.m. ET on the CW Network, PRN Radio and SiriusXM.

Zane Smith’s Crew Scores $100,000 Pit Crew Challenge Victory at Dover; Hamlin Wins All-Star Pole

By
Official Release
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  • Zane Smith’s No. 38 team won the Mechanix Wear Pit Crew Challenge with a 12.612-second pit stop during NASCAR All-Star Race qualifying at Dover Motor Speedway.
  • Denny Hamlin secured the pole position with a qualifying time of 109.298 seconds at 98.812 mph, marking his second All-Star Race pole and first since 2015.

Zane Smith’s No. 38 team delivered the performance of the session Saturday at Dover Motor Speedway, winning the Mechanix Wear Pit Crew Challenge with a 12.612-second, four-tire pit stop during NASCAR All-Star Race qualifying at The Monster Mile.

The award-winning stop earned the No. 38 crew a $100,000 bonus and the first pit selection for Sunday’s NASCAR All-Star Race, giving the team a major advantage heading into one of NASCAR’s biggest events.

While the crew excelled under pressure on pit road, Smith will start 25th for Sunday’s All-Star Race following the combined qualifying format that included three timed laps and a mandatory four-tire pit stop.

Denny Hamlin ultimately secured the pole position for Sunday’s NASCAR All-Star Race with a total qualifying time of 109.298 seconds at 98.812 mph.

The pole marked Hamlin’s second career NASCAR All-Star Race pole award and his first since 2015, when he went on to win the race from the top starting position. Saturday’s run additionally delivered the eighth All-Star Race pole for Joe Gibbs Racing.

Hamlin’s pole-winning run came despite early adversity after the winner of the last two NASCAR Cup Series races at The Monster Mile spun during his warm-up lap before beginning his official qualifying attempt. The No. 11 team regrouped quickly and delivered the fastest overall effort of the session.

“Hats off to the team,” Hamlin said. “They’re the ones that keep you in the game.”

Saturday’s qualifying and Mechanix Wear Pit Crew Challenge featured no shortage of drama, including multiple on-track incidents.

Daniel Suarez suffered one of the most significant crashes of the session after his right-front wheel came loose exiting pit road during his qualifying run. Suarez entered Turn 1 before the wheel detached completely, sending his car into the outside wall.

“I went into Turn 1 and the tire just fell off,” Suarez said after being evaluated and released from the Infield Care Center. “It’s just crazy how these things happen. I thought my pit crew has been doing an amazing job. I’m just so proud of them.”

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. also endured a chaotic qualifying attempt when his No. 47 Chevrolet broke loose exiting Turn 4. Stenhouse spun multiple times down the frontstretch banking before narrowly avoiding contact with the inside wall.

The incident prevented his crew from getting the opportunity to complete their pit stop during the challenge portion of qualifying.

“Mainly, I was feeling bad for all my guys that they didn’t get the opportunity to do their pit stop,” Stenhouse said. “I’m definitely going to owe them something.”

Despite the spin, Stenhouse remained confident in both his car and team heading into Sunday’s race.

“I hate it for my guys; they brought a really fast Chevrolet,” Stenhouse said. “I was really happy with it in practice yesterday, felt really good right up until that point, so it just jumped out from underneath me and cost us a good shot at starting toward the front.”

The All-Star qualifying and Mechanix Wear Pit Crew Challenge created a high-pressure situation for pit crews at Dover Motor Speedway, putting them front and center for one of the few times during the NASCAR season.

Sunday’s NASCAR All-Star Race at The Monster Mile will feature NASCAR’s top stars battling for one of the sport’s most prestigious victories.

NASCAR TICKETS:
Visit DoverMotorSpeedway.com to purchase tickets for Saturday’s BetRivers 200 or Sunday’s NASCAR All-Star Race, explore camping and parking options, or sign up for email updates.

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NASCAR 2026 All-Star Race Format at Dover Motor Speedway

By
Angie Campbell
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Green flag to start the NASCAR Cup Series AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 400 at Dover Motor Speedway on July 20, 2025 in Dover, Delaware. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

The 2026 NASCAR All-Star Race at Dover Motor Speedway will feature a 350-lap race. It will consist of three segments and a unique qualifying session featuring the Pit Crew Challenge.

The All-Star exhibition race awards a $1 million prize to the winner. You can catch all the action on FS1 with radio coverage provided by MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

This year, qualifying will be even more significant as it will determine the field for Segment 1 (75 laps). In Segment 2 (75 laps), the lineup os will be set by inverting Segment 1’s top 26. The remaining drivers lined up by finish.

The second lap will also feature the Mechanix Wear Pit Crew Challenge, as each pit crew performs a four-tire stop. The drivers will then race back to the start/finish line. Qualifying will include the total time from the green flag to the checkered flag.

The pit crew with the fastest pit stop and no penalties will win the Pit Crew Challenge. These results will determine the pit selection order for the All-Star Race.

The 26-driver field for the final 200-lap segment will include 2025 and 2026 Cup Series race winners, former Cup Series champions who compete full-time, and the Fan Vote winner. The remaining drivers’ starting positions will be based on their finish in Segments 1 and 2.

Voting for the 2026 NASCAR All-Star Fan Vote closes Sunday, May 17, at 9 a.m. ET. The winner will be announced before the start of the NASCAR All-Star Race at Dover Motor Speedway at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, May 17.

As of May 11, the top five are (in alphabetical order): Alex Bowman, Chris Buescher, Noah Gragson, Ryan Preece, and Connor Zilisch.

Leading up to the All-Star Race, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series will headline the action with the ECOSAVE 200 on Friday evening. The NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series will compete Saturday at 4 p.m. in the BetRivers 200.

2026 NASCAR All-Star

There have been a total of 41 NASCAR All-Star Races:

34 at Charlotte Motor Speedway (1985, 1987-2019)
1 at Atlanta Motor Speedway (1986)
1 at Bristol Motor Speedway (2020)
2 at Texas Motor Speedway (2021, 2022)
3 at North Wilkesboro Speedway (2023, 2024, 2025)

NASCAR Cup Series Entry List for Dover Motor Speedway All-Star Race

1Ross ChastainTrackhouse RacingChevrolet
2Austin CindricTeam PenskeFord
3Austin DillonRichard Childress RacingChevrolet
4Noah GragsonFront Row MotorsportsFord
5Kyle LarsonHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
6Brad KeselowskiRFK RacingFord
7Daniel SuárezSpire MotorsportsChevrolet
8Kyle BuschRichard Childress RacingChevrolet
9Chase ElliottHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
10Ty DillonKaulig RacingChevrolet
11Denny HamlinJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
12Ryan BlaneyTeam PenskeFord
16AJ AllmendingerKaulig RacingChevrolet
17Chris BuescherRFK RacingFord
19Chase BriscoeJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
20Christopher BellJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
21Josh BerryWood Brothers RacingFord
22Joey LoganoTeam PenskeFord
23Bubba Wallace23XI RacingToyota
24William ByronHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
34Todd GillilandFront Row MotorsportsFord
35Riley Herbst23XI RacingToyota
38Zane SmithFront Row MotorsportsFord
41Cole CusterHaas Factory TeamChevrolet
42John Hunter NemechekLEGACY MOTOR CLUBToyota
43Erik JonesLEGACY MOTOR CLUBToyota
45Tyler Reddick23XI RacingToyota
47Ricky Stenhouse JrHyak MotorsportsChevrolet
48Alex BowmanHendrick MotorsportsChevrolet
51Cody WareRick Ware RacingChevrolet
54Ty GibbsJoe Gibbs RacingToyota
60Ryan PreeceRFK RacingFord
71Michael McDowellSpire MotorsportsChevrolet
77Carson HocevarSpire MotorsportsChevrolet
88Connor ZilischTrackhouse RacingChevrolet
97Shane van GisbergenTrackhouse RacingChevrolet

TOYOTA RACING – NCS Dover Quotes – Denny Hamlin – 05.16.26

By
Official Release
-

TOYOTA RACING – Denny Hamlin
NASCAR Cup Series Quotes

DOVER, Del. (May 16, 2026) – Joe Gibbs Racing driver Denny Hamlin was made available to the media on Saturday after winning the pole for the NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race from Dover Motor Speedway.

It is his second career All-Star Race pole. He won the pole in 2015 and drove to his only All-Star Race victory.

DENNY HAMLIN, No. 11 Progressive Insurance Toyota Camry XSE, Joe Gibbs Racing

Can you talk about your lap and your spin to getting the pole?

“Yeah, it was quite eventful for sure. I was trying to get an extra rep there on the bottom. I saw so many guys having issues leaving pit road, so I tried to get an extra rep there and it just, I mean, I just spun out. I don’t know. I didn’t think I was being that aggressive but spun out. At that point, just tried to minimize the damage. I mean, I did do some splitter, did do some underbody damage to it. Flat spotted the tires. That wasn’t ideal, but then I just committed to run the lap as hard as I could, and it was still good enough.”

Do you like this qualifying format?

“Yeah, I think it really challenges you. I mean, this is my first – I think the pole I had before was because of the pit crew, if I remember right. I’ve never been close when it comes to qualifying in this type of format towards the front. I just, it’s in my DNA. I’m a little conservative on all aspects. I’m never usually P1 in any metric of coming to pit road or leaving pit road or rolling, I’m usually pretty decent, so this is a challenging format for me, and it has been for all of my career. It is a risk reward. I certainly think that it’s certainly one that challenges the driver, especially having to come in and do it cold like this, overnight, and no reps – just going. It definitely is a team effort that, you know, puts the spotlight on everybody that’s involved.”

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.

Spire Motorsports ECOSAVE 200 Race Report

By
Official Release
-

Race Notes:

  • Kyle Busch won the ECOSAVE 200 at Dover Motor Speedway to score his 69th victory in 184 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series races.
  • This is his second victory and fourth top-10 finish in four starts for Spire Motorsports this season.
  • Friday’s win marks Busch’s fifth victory and seventh top-10 finish in 10 races at Dover Motor Speedway.

Kyle Busch – Driver, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Silverado RST

START: 1ST
FINISH: 1ST
OWNER POINTS: 1ST

It was a flashback Friday at Dover Motor Speedway with Kyle Busch leading a race-high 147 laps in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series ECOSAVE 200 to extend his series-leading win total to 69. Busch dominated in his first Truck Series event at “The Monster Mile” since 2014, extending his win streak in NASCAR’s third division to four and increasing his overall win total in trucks at Dover to five.

Busch collected his 35th career Truck Series pole earlier in the day and remained out front until a caution came out with six to go in the opening stage. After pitting for fresh Goodyear tires and full load of Sunoco fuel, he lined up for the ensuing restart on the top of the second row. He quickly made his way back out front during the one-lap shootout to collect the stage win.

The Las Vegas native picked up right where he left off in Stage 2, checking out to a one-second lead early to maintain the top spot throughout the stage. Busch reported that his HENDRICKCARS.COM Silverado lacked overall grip before visiting pit road at the break. After the over-the-wall crew administered a four-tire and fuel stop with a small chassis adjustment, the 41-year-old driver was the third competitor off pit road. He quickly made his way to the runner-up position after the Final Stage went green and closed in on the leader.

A caution with 70 laps remaining in the race brought Busch to pit road, despite having a tight fuel window to make it to the end of the race, while the leader elected to remain on track. Once the race returned to green, NASCAR’s winningest driver would make his way back in the top spot with just under 60 laps to go. Busch opened up over a two-second lead with 10 to go while continuing to save fuel, and crossed the finish line 3.039 seconds ahead of second place.

The win was Busch’s second of the season in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series and helped the No. 7 team extend their lead by 38 points in the owner’s point standings.

Kyle’s Post-Race Comments
“It’s awesome to be a part of Spire Motorsports. Thanks to Jeff (Dickerson, co-owner), Dan (Towriss, co-owner) and Mr. H for the opportunity, as well as everyone at HENDRICKCARS.COM. It takes a lot of great people behind you and you know Brian Pattie (crew chief) and this bunch on this team were a part of the group from KBM, right, and so it’s nice to be able to come back over here and win some more races again with that group. I love coming to Dover, always one of my favorite places to race, and definitely some managing of the fuel there, managing of the tires there. It was an interesting strategic battle from the driver’s seat. Thanks to all the fans. I appreciate everybody for being here at Dover and the Monster Mile for All-Star Weekend.”

Carson Hocevar – Driver, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Silverado RST

START: 18TH
FINISH: 31ST
OWNER POINTS: 10TH

Carson Hocevar, driver of Spire Motorsports’ No. 77 Delaware Life Chevrolet Silverado RST, endured a tire issue that limited him to a 31st-place finish in Friday afternoon’s ECOSAVE 200 at Dover Motor Speedway.

Hocevar started 18th, but worked the outside lane on the opening lap to reach 12th by the end of the first circuit. As Stage 1 continued, the Portage, Mich., native relayed he was battling a severely loose-handling Chevy, but held on to the 11th position when a Lap-41 caution flag was displayed. Crew chief Chad Walter called the six-time CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race winner to pit road for four tires and fuel, while also making air pressure and chassis adjustments. The No. 77 team picked up three spots on pit road, ultimately lining up 10th for a one-lap shootout to end the segment. Hocevar pulled off multiple daring maneuvers to capture a fifth-place finish in Stage 1.

The 23-year-old driver started Stage 2 in fourth, but finished the stage sixth, registering a total of 11 stage points on the day to aid in the No. 77 team’s fight for a CRAFTSMAN Truck Series owners’ title. During the ensuing stage break, the crew took the opportunity to fix damage on the left-front headlight stemming from an incident near the end of Stage 1. The process forced Hocevar to restart 23rd on Lap 99. After making progress from the drop of the green flag, a flat right-front tire forced Hocevar to pit road under green flag positions. The team continued to fight through tire and handling woes, but was ultimately credited with a 31st-place finish.

Carson’s Post-Race Comments
“Tough day for us. Spent Stage 1 super free, but made an adjustment that made it pretty good. When we had that flat tire, we had to pit under green and just couldn’t recover. Excited to get to Charlotte next week.”

Up Next…
The NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series takes on Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway on Friday, May 22. The North Carolina Education Lottery 200 will be televised live on FS1 at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT).

The 10th of 25 points-paying races on the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series calendar will be broadcast live on the NASCAR Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

To stay up-to-date on all the latest news and exclusive content, follow Spire Motorsports on Facebook, X and Instagram, and visit Spire-Motorsports.com.

About Spire Motorsports …
Spire Motorsports fields full-time entries in the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series and Interstate Batteries High Limit Racing.

The team, co-owned by longtime NASCAR industry executive Jeff Dickerson and TWG Motorsports CEO Dan Towriss earned its inaugural NASCAR Cup Series victory in its first full season of competition when Justin Haley took the checkered flag in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway July 7, 2019. Less than three years later, William Byron drove Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado its first NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series win April 7, 2022, at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway. The team’s most recent victory came May 1, 2026, when Carson Hocevar won the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series’ SpeedyCash.com 250 at Texas Motor Speedway.

In 2026, Spire Motorsports campaigns the Nos. 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1s in the NASCAR Cup Series and the Nos. 7 and 77 Chevrolet Silverado RSTs in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. The Mooresville, N.C., organization also fields the No. 77 410 sprint car in Interstate Batteries High Limit Racing competition.

Dystany Spurlock Makes NASCAR History with Truck Series Debut at Dover Motor Speedway

By
Official Release
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Despite her groundbreaking start in the ECOSAVE 200 ending early, Spurlock became the first Black woman to compete in one of NASCAR’s three national touring series.

DOVER, Del. — Dystany Spurlock made motorsports history Friday at Dover Motor Speedway, becoming the first Black woman to compete in one of NASCAR’s three national touring series with her debut in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series ECOSAVE 200.

Driving the No. 69 Foxxtecca Ford for MBM Motorsports and Garage 66, Spurlock cemented her place in NASCAR history when the green flag dropped at the “Monster Mile.”

The landmark moment ended earlier than expected, however, after an incident in the race’s opening stage cut her debut short.

Spurlock qualified 34th in the 36-truck field, which included Cup Series regulars Kyle Busch, Christopher Bell, and Ross Chastain. After taking the start from Row 17, she settled into a steady rhythm around the high-banked concrete oval and worked her way up to 32nd position in the early going.

But Spurlock said the track conditions had changed significantly from earlier in the day. “After our practice and qualifying, the Cup guys had their practice session, and once we got back out there the track surface was completely different,” she explained. “It was tight everywhere, so I had to really minimize how much throttle I could get into through the corners.”

The race-ending incident took place coming out of Turn 2 on lap 37 as another truck pulled up tightly to her inside. 

“Once that happens, you pretty much have to let him go, which I tried to do as much as I could,” Spurlock said. “But by the time he went past me, it sucked the air from under me and got me really loose. I tried to save it as much as I could, and then another truck came to the other side and sucked the air from that side and just snapped me around. At that point, there was nothing I could do.”

Spurlock was almost able to gather the truck back up before the banking and tight quarters of Dover ultimately sent the No. 69 into the outside wall. The front-end damage was too severe to continue.

“But I was fine,” she added.

While the result was disappointing, the start itself was a monumental achievement, and the experience gained throughout the weekend will serve both Spurlock and the team moving forward.

In fact, it was a challenging day from the start. The team had lost 20 minutes of practice time after failing pre-race technical inspection. Once on track, Spurlock’s truck repeatedly shut off because of a failed crank position sensor, limiting her practice laps. Despite the complications and shortened track time, Spurlock still managed to post a respectable pace.

But the historic significance of the moment remains undeniable. Spurlock’s debut represented another important step forward for diversity and representation in stock car racing while also marking a major milestone in her fast-developing racing career.

Earlier this season, Spurlock became the first Black woman to compete in the NASCAR-owned ARCA Menards Series East when she started—and finished an impressive seventh—at Hickory Motor Speedway. She added another milestone shortly after by stepping up to the national ARCA Menards Series and earning another top-10 finish at Kansas Speedway.

Primary sponsor Foxxtecca remains fully committed to Spurlock both on and off the racetrack as she works toward building experience and creating future opportunities at NASCAR’s highest levels.

“History was made,” said Chris Harris, co-founder of Foxxtecca. “Regardless of the outcome, this moment is monumental for sports, women in sports, and the continued progress of equality and diversity. 

“The competitor in all of us wanted a better result, but that’s racing,” he added. “Foxxtecca will continue to support Dystany and diversity in the mobility industry. There is a lot of change that needs to happen in motorsports and mobility, and Foxxtecca is proud to be a disruptor for positive change. We aren’t going anywhere. On to the next race.”

Based in Detroit and co-founded by Harris and Kellie Crawford, Foxxtecca is an experiential media and events company operating at the intersection of mobility, culture, and technology. The company connects the automotive industry with new and diverse audiences through storytelling, education, and live experiences.

Foxxtecca is also producing the docuseries Driven by Dystany: The Road to NASCAR, which follows Spurlock’s progression through the motorsports ranks. The behind-the-scenes series has helped bring widespread attention to her career while continuing to grow her fanbase and national profile.

Spurlock is scheduled to compete next in the ARCA Menards Series Henry Ford Health 200 at Michigan International Speedway on June 5. The event will mark her first appearance at the fast 2-mile D-shaped superspeedway known for its high speeds, 18-degree banking, and intense racing.

ABOUT FOXXTECCA

Foxxtecca is a Detroit-based experiential events and media company operating at the intersection of mobility, culture, and technology. Co-founded by Chris Harris and Kellie Crawford, Foxxtecca amplifies underrepresented voices in the mobility and technology industries through motorsports, education, and culturally driven experiences.

Should You Upgrade from Third-Party to Comprehensive Car Insurance?

By
SM
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Car insurance is not only a renewal formality; it is a financial decision that affects how well your vehicle and legal liabilities are protected. Many Indian car owners choose basic third-party insurance because it meets the legal requirement under the Motor Vehicles Act. Yet, as repair exposure, traffic density, and vehicle usage patterns change, upgrading to comprehensive cover can offer broader protection.

In this article, you will explore when upgrading makes sense and when third-party cover may still suit you.

Why You Should Upgrade to Comprehensive

Comprehensive car insurance is designed for car owners who want protection beyond third-party liability. While third-party insurance covers liabilities towards another person, vehicle, or property, a comprehensive policy can also cover damage to your own car, depending on the policy wording, add-ons, and applicable terms.

You Want Wider Protection for Your Own Car

A third-party policy keeps you legally compliant, but it does not cover repair expenses for your own vehicle after an accident. This can become a concern when your car is used daily, parked in open areas, driven through busy roads or exposed to unpredictable weather.

A comprehensive policy may cover your own vehicle against events such as:

  • Accidental damage
  • Theft
  • Fire-related damage
  • Natural calamities
  • Certain man-made events
  • Third-party liability

This makes the policy more suitable for car owners who want a wider financial safety net.

Your Car Still Has Good Market Value

Upgrading is worth considering when your car still holds meaningful value. Even a single major repair can affect your savings, especially when parts, labor, and technology-led components are involved.

A comprehensive policy can make sense when:

  • Your car is new or relatively new
  • You rely on your car for daily travel
  • You park in public or shared spaces
  • You drive regularly in high-traffic areas
  • You prefer structured claim support for own-damage events

The aim is not to buy more insurance than you need. The aim is to match your policy with your car’s usage, value and risk exposure.

You Want Add-on Flexibility

One major reason to upgrade from third-party cover is the option to add comprehensive insurance. Add-ons vary by insurer and policy, but they can allow you to customize coverage based on your driving habits and vehicle needs.

Common add-ons may include:

  • Zero depreciation cover
  • Engine protection
  • Roadside assistance
  • Consumables cover
  • Return to invoice cover
  • No-claim bonus protection

These add-ons are usually available at an additional premium and should be selected after carefully reading the policy wording.

You Are Renewing after a Change in Usage

Your car insurance should reflect how you use your vehicle today, not how you used it in the past. For example, a car that was used occasionally may now be used for office travel, family trips or intercity driving.

When you renew car insurance, it is a good time to review:

  • Your car’s age and condition
  • Your current driving frequency
  • Your parking arrangement
  • Your claim history
  • Your need for add-ons
  • Your comfort with paying repair expenses yourself

A renewal should not be treated as an automatic repeat of last year’s policy. It is an opportunity to reassess whether third-party cover is still sufficient.

When to Stick with Third-Party

Third-party insurance may still be suitable for some car owners. The right choice depends on your vehicle, budget, usage and financial comfort.

Your Car Is Older and Used Sparingly

For an older car with lower resale value, some owners may choose third-party cover to handle minor repairs themselves. This may be reasonable when the car is not used often and is driven only for short distances.

Third-party insurance is the minimum legal requirement for driving a car on public roads in India. It protects you against liabilities arising from injury, death or property damage caused to a third party, depending on the applicable law and policy terms.

You Are Comfortable Taking Own-Damage Risk

Some car owners prefer to pay for their own repairs rather than buy comprehensive cover. This choice may suit someone who rarely drives, has a well-maintained older car, and has enough savings to cover repair expenses.

Conclusion

Upgrading from third-party to comprehensive car insurance is usually worth considering if your car is high-value, regularly used, or at higher risk of accidents, theft, or weather-related damage. Third-party cover may suit limited-use or older cars when you mainly need legal compliance. Before you renew car insurance, compare both options carefully, read the policy wording, and choose coverage that matches your vehicle, usage, and financial comfort.

Kyle Busch dominates for second Truck victory of 2026 at Dover

By
Andrew Kim
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Photo by Logan Allen for SpeedwayMedia.com.

Kyle Busch executed a masterclass performance by notching a dominant NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series victory in the ECOSAVE 200 at Dover Motor Speedway on Friday, May 15.

The two-time Cup Series champion from Las Vegas, Nevada, led three times for a race-high 147 of 200 scheduled laps in the No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet. Busch was also the fastest in practice, qualified on the pole position and captured the event’s first two stage periods. After restarting in third place to commence the third and final stage period, Busch spent the following two restarts dueling with Ross Chastain for the lead.

Despite being outdueled by Chastain twice through a pair of restarts amid Chastain’s late tire gamble for track position, Busch used fresher tires by pitting his Spire entry before the final stage with the field to overtake Chastain for a final time with 58 laps remaining. From there, Busch managed through his fuel tank, tires and fended off Ty Majeski for the event’s remainder to add another Truck victory at Dover to his accomplished racing resume.

With on-track qualifying that determined the starting lineup occurring on Friday, Kyle Busch secured his first Truck pole position of the 2026 season with a pole-winning lap at 161.740 mph in 22.258 seconds. Busch shared the front row with Ty Majeski as the latter clocked in the second-fastest lap at 161.544 mph in 22.285 seconds. Before the event, Stewart Friesen dropped to the rear of the field due to unapproved adjustments that were made to his No. 52 Halmar Friesen Racing Toyota Tundra TRD Pro entry.

When the green flag waved and the event commenced, Kyle Busch and Ty Majeski dueled for the lead for half a lap until Busch motored his No. 7 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Silverado RST entry ahead from the outside lane entering Turns 3 and 4. As Busch led the first lap, Majeski retained second place ahead of Kaden Honeycutt. Brandon Jones, Giovanni Ruggiero, Christopher Bell, Ross Chastain and the field pursued amid close-quarters racing.

Over the next four laps, Busch extended his early advantage to six-tenths of a second over Majeski while Honeycutt, Ruggiero and Jones occupied the remaining top-five spots ahead of Bell, Chastain, Jake Garcia, Ben Rhodes and Daniel Hemric. Amid a series of early on-track battles around Dover, Busch proceeded to lead by a second at the Lap 10 mark while Honeycutt started to reel in Majeski for the runner-up spot.

Through the first 20 scheduled laps, Busch was leading by more than a second over Honeycutt, who assumed the runner-up spot from Majeski on Lap 11. Behind, Ruggiero and Bell occupied the remaining top-five spots over Jones. Chastain, Rhodes, Garcia, Hemric, while Layne Riggs, Andres Perez De Lara, Carson Hocevar, Cole Butcher and Chandler Smith trailed in the top 15 ahead of Mini Tyrrell, Grant Enfinger, Parker Eatmon, William Sawalich and Brenden Queen, respectively. Meanwhile, Tanner Gray, Justin Haley, Clint Bowyer, Christian Eckes, Luke Baldwin, Dawson Sutton, Tyler Ankrum, Stewart Friesen, Corey LaJoie and Kris Wright were mired in the top 30, respectively, while Natalie Decker, Dystany Spurlock, Toni Breidinger, Spencer Boyd and Frankie Muniz were all lapped by Busch.

Ten laps later, Kyle Busch added another second to his advantage as he led by more than two seconds over Honeycutt and Majeski while Bell and Ruggiero were racing in the top five ahead of Jones, Chastain, Rhodes, Riggs and Garcia. Meanwhile, Hemric plummeted to the bottom of the leaderboard as he fell off the pace due to a low fuel pressure and coasted his No. 19 CRC Brakleen Chevrolet Silverado RST entry to pit road. Amid Hemric’s issues, Busch retained the lead by more than two seconds over Honeycutt by Lap 35.

On Lap 39, the event’s first caution flew when Dystany Spurlock, who made history in being the first African American female competitor to compete across NASCAR’s top three national touring series at the event’s start at Dover, got loose entering the backstretch as she was racing in front of Andres Perez De Lara. After trying to gain control of her No. 69 Foxxtecca Ford F-150 entry through the backstretch, she then snapped to the right and hit the outside wall head-on, which concluded her debut with a wrecked entry.

During the event’s first caution, select names led by Cole Butcher, Brenden Queen, Dawson Sutton, Stewart Friesen and Corey LaJoie remained on the track while the rest led by Busch pitted. Following the pit stops, Honeycutt exited pit road first over Busch while Majeski, Ruggiero and Chastain followed suit. Amid the pit stops, Honeycutt and Rhodes were sent to the tail end of the field due to speeding on pit road.

When the event restarted for a one-lap dash to cap off the first stage period, Butcher was pushed by Busch ahead of Queen from the outside lane through the frontstretch before Busch used the outside lane to overtake Butcher for the lead through the first two turns. As Busch used his fresh tires to motor away from the field, the field fanned out and jostled through the backstretch before they navigated through Turns 3 and 4. At the front, Busch stormed to the first stage victory over Majeski, Butcher, Chastain, Hocevar, Ruggiero, Garcia, Bell, Enfinger and Riggs, respectively.

Under the event’s first stage break period, the following names that included Butcher, Queen, Sutton, Friesen and LaJoie pitted while the rest, led by Busch, remained on the track.

The second stage period started on Lap 53 as Busch and Majeski occupied the front row. At the start, Busch motored ahead of Majeski from the outside lane through the frontstretch. He then transitioned to the inside lane and retained the lead through the first two turns and the backstretch while the rest of the field trailed and jostled for spots. Busch led the next lap over Chastain while Majeski dropped to third in front of a side-by-side battle with Ruggiero and Hocevar. As Bell navigated his way past Hocevar for fifth place while trailing Ruggiero, Busch continued to lead by eight-tenths of a second on Lap 60.

At the Lap 70 mark, Busch maintained an advantage of a second over Chastain while third-place Majeski trailed by more than a second ahead of Ruggiero and Bell. While Hocevar, Garcia, Riggs, Jones and Enfinger occupied the remaining top-10 spots ahead of Honeycutt, Chandler Smith, Eckes, Tyrrell and Rhodes, Busch maintained his lead by seven-tenths of a second over Chastain by Lap 80.

When the second stage period concluded on Lap 90, Kyle Busch, who was mired in lapped traffic, fended off Chastain by 0.088 seconds to claim his second consecutive Truck stage victory of the event. Majeski, Ruggiero, Bell, Hocevar, Riggs, Jones, Honeycutt and Enfinger settled in the top 10, respectively, while 24 of 36 starters were scored on the lead lap.

During the event’s second stage break period, the lead lap field led by Busch pitted for service. Following the pit stops, Chastain exited pit road first ahead of Majeski, Busch, Ruggiero, Riggs, Bell, Honeycutt, Enfinger, Garcia and Jones, respectively.

With 102 laps remaining, the final stage period commenced as Chastain and Majeski occupied the front row. At the start, Chastain motored ahead of Majeski and Busch through the frontstretch, the first two turns and the backstretch while Busch and Majeski battled for second place. As the field behind jostled for late spots, Chastain led the next lap over Busch, Riggs, Majeski and Ruggiero while Bell fended off Honeycutt for sixth place. In addition, Bowyer, who made contact with Hocevar entering the first turn at the third stage’s start, was mired in 19th place ahead of teammate Mini Tyrrell while Chastain retained the lead by four-tenths of a second over Busch with 99 laps remaining.

With 83 laps remaining, the caution flew when Luke Baldwin, who had a handful of on-track run-ins with Bowyer, got loose entering Turn 3 and made slight contact with Brenden Queen before he slid up the track, hit the outside wall, slid down the Turn 4 track and hit the inside wall. Prior to Baldwin’s wreck, Hocevar made an unscheduled pit stop under green to have a flat right-front tire addressed. During this caution period, the leader Chastain remained on the track while the rest of the field, led by Busch, pitted for service.

The next restart, with 76 laps remaining, featured Busch and Chastain dueling for the lead for nearly a full lap as Chastain managed to fend off Busch from the outside lane despite being on a tire advantage. Amid a series of on-track battles, contact and jostles within the field, Chastain led the next lap and he managed to motor ahead and maintain a steady lead over Busch over the following three laps.

The caution then returned with 72 laps remaining due to Tyrrell spinning his No. 14 Kaulig Racing RAM 1500 entry through the frontstretch and making contact with the inside wall. Tyrrell’s incident was due to the driver getting loose entering the frontstretch while dueling with teammate Bowyer as Bowyer was bolting past Parker Eatmon, as Eatmon remained on the track with worn tires.

As the event restarted under green with 67 laps remaining, Chastain and Busch battled dead even, starting from the frontstretch through the backstretch, before the former prevailed for a second time from the outside lane and with older tires than Busch entering Turns 3 and 4. As Chastain led the next lap over Busch, a series of on-track battles ensued while Majeksi, Riggs and Bell were racing in the top five ahead of Honeycutt. Meanwhile, Bowyer was racing with a left-front tire rub that was generating smoke through the turns. This was due to Chandler Smith getting loose and hitting Bowyer’s left side amid the latest restart, though Bowyer continued to race towards the top-20 mark. Meanwhile, Chastain maintained a steady lead over both Busch and Majeski with 60 laps remaining.

Then, with 58 laps remaining, Busch overtook Chastain and returned atop the leaderboard. Busch proceeded to lead by nearly half a second over Majeski with 50 laps remaining while Riggs, Bell and Honeycutt trailed in the top five, respectively. Meanwhile, Chastain dropped to sixth place as Busch retained the lead by half a second over Majeski with 40 laps remaining.

Down to the final 30 laps of the event, Busch slightly increased his lead to eight-tenths of a second over Majeski while Riggs, Bell and Honeycutt trailed in the top five ahead of Rhodes, Jones, Chastain, Sawalich and Garcia, respectively. Busch grew his lead to a second with 25 laps remaining and to one-and-a-half seconds with 20 laps remaining while Majeski retained the runner-up spot. Meanwhile, Chastain, who pitted his No. 45 Delaware Office of Highway Safety Chevrolet Silverado RST entry for fresh tires under green with 22 laps remaining, dropped to 22nd place and out of the lead lap category.

With 15 laps remaining, Busch grew his lead to more than two seconds over Majeski while Bowyer pitted and spent multiple laps in his pit stall due to a broken wheel on the No. 25 Kaulig Racing RAM 1500 entry. As Busch was told to preserve his fuel tank to the scheduled distance, he had his lead shrink to nearly one-and-a-half seconds with five laps remaining as Majeski tried to reel in Busch. Nevertheless, Busch maintained a steady lead through each turn and straightaway as the laps dwindled.

When the white flag waved and the final lap started, Busch remained in the lead by two-and-a-half seconds over Majeski. With Busch showing no signs of having any fuel issues or stumbling for a final time, he cycled back to the frontstretch to claim the checkered flag by three seconds over Majeski.

With the victory, Busch, who won in his fourth of eight Truck starts this season with Spire Motorsports, notched his 69th career win in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series division, which extends his all-time record of having the most victories in the series. He also notched his second victory of the 2026 season and his all-time leading fifth victory at Dover, with the Truck division returning to race at Dover for the first time since August 2020.

The 2026 season marks Busch’s 18th season of winning multiple Truck events, as he won earlier in mid-February at EchoPark Speedway. Busch’s next two Truck events are over the next two Fridays. The first will be at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina (May 22) and the second at Nashville Superspeedway in Lebanon, Tennessee (May 29).

Kyle Busch
Photo by Logan Allen for SpeedwayMedia.com.

“You never know when the last [win] is,” Busch said on the frontstretch on FS1. “I know all too well, unfortunately, with the Cup stuff, but here with the Truck stuff right now, it’s awesome just to be a part of Spire Motorsports. It feels good to have another Kyle being able to [win] and putting ourselves in Victory Lane. [I] Love coming to Dover. Always one of my favorite places to race and definitely some managing of the fuel there, managing of the tires there. It was an interesting strategic battle from the driver’s seat…It’s nice to be able to come back over here [in the Truck Series] and win some more races again with that [No. 7 Spire Motorsports] group. It’s fun and you want to keep doing it.”

Ty Majeski settled in the runner-up spot for a second time in the 2026 season and for his fifth top-10 result through nine Truck events this season. With the result, Majeski picked up two spots in the points standings and is ranked in fifth place as he continues his season-long pursuit of a first victory in the No. 88 ThorSport Racing Ford F-150 entry.

“[We’re] Trending up,” Majeski said. “We just got to keep it flat right here. What a great recovery from the last couple weeks. [I] Had fast trucks all year. Just circumstances have prevented us from getting some finishes that we’ve deserved. Everybody at ThorSport’s [Racing] been working their guys out during this six-week stretch to keep our trucks competitive. We were in the game today…Sold effort. Can’t wait for Charlotte next week.”

Layne Riggs finished in third place while Kaden Honeycutt and Christopher Bell finished in the top five. Brandon Jones, Christian Eckes, Corey LaJoie, Jake Garcia and Justin Haley completed the top 10, respectively, in the final running order. Notably, Ross Chastain, who led 49 laps, settled in 18th place while Clint Bowyer, who was unable to finish due to his late tire hub issue, settled in 29th place.

There were five lead changes for four different leaders. The event featured five cautions for 28 laps. In addition, 13 of 38 starters finished on the lead lap.

Following the ninth event of the 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season, Kaden Honeycutt leads the standings by 38 points over Layne Riggs, 39 over Chandler Smith, 61 over Giovanni Ruggiero and 70 over Ty Majeski.

Results:

  1. Kyle Busch, 147 laps led, Stages 1 & 2 winner
  2. Ty Majeski
  3. Layne Riggs
  4. Kaden Honeycutt, one lap led
  5. Christopher Bell
  6. Brandon Jones
  7. Christian Eckes
  8. Corey LaJoie
  9. Jake Garcia
  10. Justin Haley
  11. Stewart Friesen
  12. Chandler Smith
  13. Brenden Queen
  14. William Sawalich, one lap down
  15. Grant Enfinger, one lap down
  16. Tanner Gray, one lap down
  17. Kris Wright, one lap down
  18. Ross Chastain, one lap down, 49 laps led
  19. Ben Rhodes, two laps down
  20. Giovanni Ruggiero, three laps down
  21. Parker Eatmon, three laps down
  22. Spencer Boyd, four laps down
  23. Dawson Sutton, four laps down
  24. Frankie Muniz, four laps down
  25. Tyler Ankrum, five laps down
  26. Toni Breidinger, six laps down
  27. Mini Tyrrell, six laps down
  28. Andres Perez De Lara, 11 laps down
  29. Clint Bowyer – OUT, Hub
  30. Daniel Hemric, 23 laps down
  31. Carson Hocevar – OUT, Suspension
  32. Luke Baldwin – OUT, Accident, Accident
  33. Cole Butcher – OUT, Accident, three laps led
  34. Natalie Decker – OUT, Too Slow
  35. Caleb Costner – OUT, Vibration
  36. Dystany Spurlock – OUT, Accident

Next on the 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series schedule is the North Carolina Education Lottery 200 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina. The event is scheduled to occur next Friday, May 22, and air at 7:30 p.m. ET on FS1, NASCAR Racing Network, and SiriusXM.

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