RICK WARE RACING Enjoy Illinois 300 Date: Sept. 13, 2026 Event: Enjoy Illinois 300 (Round 28 of 36) Series: NASCAR Cup Series Location: World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Illinois (near St. Louis) Layout: 1.25-mile oval Format: 240 laps, broken into three stages (45 laps/95 laps/100 laps) Note: Race extended seven laps past its scheduled 240-lap distance due to a green-white-checkered finish.
Race Winner: Kyle Larson of Hendrick Motorsports (Chevrolet) Stage 1 Winner: Joey Logano of Team Penske (Ford) Stage 2 Winner: Kyle Larson of Hendrick Motorsports (Chevrolet)
RWR Finish:
● Cody Ware (Started 30th, Finished 22nd / Running, completed 247 of 247 laps)
RWR Points:
● Cody Ware (35th with 217 points)
RWR Notes:
● Ware earned his seventh top-25 of the season and his first top-25 in four career NASCAR Cup Series starts at World Wide Technology Raceway.
Race Notes:
● Kyle Larson won the Enjoy Illinois 300 to score his 33rd career NASCAR Cup Series victory, his first of the season and his first at World Wide Technology Raceway. His margin over second-place Alex Bowman was .333 of a second.
● This was Chevrolet’s 888th all-time NASCAR Cup Series victory and its seventh of the season. Chase Elliott won for the Bowtie Brigade March 29 at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway, Carson Hocevar won April 26 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway, Elliott won again May 3 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Shane van Gisbergen won May 10 at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International, Daniel Suárez won May 24 at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway and van Gisbergen won again June 28 at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway.
● This was Chevrolet’s second NASCAR Cup Series victory at World Wide Technology Raceway. Chevrolet won its first race at the track on June 4, 2023, with Kyle Busch.
● There were 18 caution periods for a total of 87 laps.
● Twenty-six of the 36 drivers in the race finished on the lead lap.
● Denny Hamlin remains the championship leader after the Enjoy Illinois 300 with a nine-point advantage over second-place Larson.
Sound Bites:
“It was a good day results-wise for the team. Got some damage early on in Stage 1. Lot of wrecks, a lot of attrition today, and had to kind of mitigate a lot of the aero damage we got early in the race. But the team did a good job keeping us in the hunt and getting us back on the lead lap. So it was definitely a day of dealing with adversity and never giving up. Now, we’ll just head off to Bristol and get ready for 500 laps under the lights.” – Cody Ware, driver of the No. 51 Rocket Doctor Chevrolet
Next Up:
The next event on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule is the Bass Pro Shops Night Race on Saturday, Sept. 19 at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway. The third race in the 10-race Chase starts at 7:30 p.m. EDT with live coverage provided by USA Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
NASCAR Cup Series World Wide Technology Raceway Enjoy Illinois 300 Team Chevy Post-Race Report September 13, 2026
Larson Continues Title Fight with a Trip to Victory Lane at World Wide Technology Raceway Team Chevy Earns Season-Best Seven Top-10 Results
Reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion, Kyle Larson, drove to a statement performance at World Wide Technology Speedway to put the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet team right back into the title fight. Battling through a race that saw a history-making 18 cautions and an overtime finish, the Elk Grove, California, native snapped a 51-race winless streak and take the checkered flag in the Enjoy Illinois 300. The victory – Larson’s first at WWTR and 33rd all-time in NASCAR’s top division – put the team up into the second position of the points standings and just nine points out of the lead.
It was a season showing by the Bowtie brigade with Larson leading the manufacturer to seven of the top-10 finishing positions. Hendrick Motorsports owned three of the top-five with Alex Bowman’s career-best WWTR effort of second followed by William Byron’s rebound fourth-place finish. Three ECR-powered Chevrolet’s joined in on the strong afternoon at the Illinois-based circuit with Trackhouse Racing’s Ross Chastain finishing fifth and Connor Zilisch in seventh, with Richard Childress Racing’s Austin Dillon coming home in sixth. After a loose wheel in the final stage, Spire Motorsports’ Chase contender, Carson Hocevar, salvaged an eighth-place finish to round out the Team Chevy top-10.
RACE RECAP:
Stage One:
Reigning champions, Kyle Larson and the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet team, continued their strong start to their title-defending campaign in yesterday’s qualifying session – earning a front row starting position for the Enjoy Illinois 300 at World Wide Technology Raceway. The 45-lap opening stage was marred with early cautions, and through three restarts before the halfway point, Team Chevy Chase contenders, Larson and Carson Hocevar, managed to hold on to positions within the top-five. But a restart with 13 to go in the stage saw Larson test his strength in the top lane – making a masterful three-wide move to jump back up into the third position. With the leaders quickly singling out, the California native settled into position and kept the top-two contenders at a margin under 1.7-seconds en route to the first green-white checkered flag.
Stage Two:
Varying pit strategies during the eventful opening stage saw a shake-up in the lineup with the top-11 cars opting to forgo a trip to pit road under the stage break. Stage winner, Joey Logano, and Larson were the first-two cars on a four-tire strategy to start the stage with the No. 5 taking the green flag for the next 95-lap run from the 16th position. With a similar start to the second stage, a pair of cautions brought the field within their fuel window early in the run. While six cars stayed out, Larson was among the group that hit pit road with crew chief, Cliff Daniels, calling for two tires and fuel. Among those that stayed out was his Team Chevy teammate, Ross Chastain, who went on to inherit the lead for the restart. Despite having nearly 20-lap older tires, Chastain put up a valiant effort to defend Larson, but the No. 5 ultimately made the pass for the lead and set sail just past the one-third mark of the stage. With the first long green flag run finally underway, Larson continued to hold a strong lead as the leaders worked their way through lap traffic. With 10 laps to go, it was a close call for Larson when Zane Smith blew a brake rotor within a handful of car links in front of his Chevrolet. A heads-up move saw Larson escape damage, and with the timing of the caution, the incident ultimately brought Stage Two to a close with the reigning champion going on to collect the win.
Final Stage:
Pitting for four tires, fuel and a slight balance adjustment, Larson was the second car off pit road to regain a spot on the front row for the start of the final stage. But a quick yellow on the opening lap brought the race back under the caution, with the incident seeing his Hendrick Motorsports teammate, William Byron, collected with minor damage. Restarting from the inside line proved to be a slight challenge for Larson, with the driver ultimately filing into the third position after the restart. But back-to-back cautions opened up the opportunity for pit strategy once again for teams to try and make it on fuel. While the majority of the field made the turn to pit road, Larson was among the two cars to make the gamble to stay out. While the restart saw Larson make a quick fall down the top-10 of the leaderboard, a caution just a handful of laps later allowed Daniels to call Larson to pit road for a four-tire and fuel stop – ultimately putting his driver on the offense while sitting in a safer position on fuel mileage. On the same strategy as the majority of the field, it was the Luke Lambert-led No. 77 team that took their turn back at the front of the Bowtie brigade as they were settled within the top-four as the race hit 50 laps to go. While under caution for yet another blown brake rotor, the field sat on the horizon of what could have been the last trip to pit road. With just five cars staying out, then-race leader, Logano, led the rest of the field to pit road including Team Chevy Chase drivers Hocevar, Larson and Elliott. With yet another gamble from atop the No. 1 Trackhouse Racing pit box, Chastain found himself back within the top-five for the restart. While at a nearly 30-lap deficit on his tires, Chastain was putting on a strong fight to maintain his running position in fourth when a caution with 27 laps to go flew for Elliott, whose top-10 effort came to an unfortunate end when he became the next victim to a blown brake rotor. With 13 laps to go, Larson made a power move on the restart to regain the lead just as a multi-car accident mid-pack ultimately brought the race under red flag conditions. Lining up on the outside lane of the front row with his Hendrick Motorsports teammate, Alex Bowman, in his rearview mirror, a push on the restart saw Larson clear Logano with seven laps to go and start his quest back to victory lane. Surviving an overtime finish, Larson went on to make his first trip to victory lane of the season and leading Team Chevy to seven top-10 results.
Team Chevy Unofficial Top-10 Results
Pos. Driver
1st – Kyle Larson
2nd – Alex Bowman
4th – William Byron
5th – Ross Chastain
6th – Austin Dillon
7th – Connor Zilisch
8th – Carson Hocevar
Chevrolet’s season statistics with 28 NASCAR Cup Series races complete:
Wins: 6
Poles: 6
Top-Fives: 44
Top 10s: 90
Stage Wins: 18
The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Chase will continue at Bristol Motor Speedway with the Bass Pro Shops Night Race on Saturday, September 19, at 7:30 p.m. ET. Live coverage can be found on the USA Network, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.
Post-Race Driver Quotes:
Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Finished: 5th
“I mean, I was backwards right here on the frontstretch at one point. To recover from that and then stay out with that last strategy with older tires; it was enough to hold on with this No. 1 Busch Light Chevy. We just needed to protect the top. I couldn’t let anyone get to my right-rear. The 5 and 24, they went by me on fresher tires on the bottom on the restarts. We just could not get off the corner on the bottom, especially off of (turn) two on the restarts. But I’m very, very happy after the year this team has had. This feels really good.”
Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Finished: 6th
“Really proud of the entire No. 3 Bass Pro Shops/Winchester Deer Season XP Chevrolet team. We finished sixth, which feels great compared to where we’ve been ending the day. We went from one of the lowest of lows after Darlington to a really good finish for us here today. I knew if I could keep clean air on the nose there, my car was pretty good at the end. When the track cooled down, I got a lot of grip so that was pretty nice. We’re just going to keep grinding away. If we can finish the season with eight more races like this, we’ll be in a good spot for 2027.”
Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Finished: 1st
Much has been made about 51 races for Kyle Larson. We don’t have to talk about that anymore. Tell me what it feels like, the relief, to get back to Victory Lane.
“Yeah, it feels great. And honestly, I mean, it doesn’t feel like it’s been 51 races. You know, I feel like we’ve been in contention and had shots to win. We’ve just had to work really hard at it; stay patient and trust in the process. I’m so proud of the team; proud of Cliff Daniels (crew chief), the pit crew, everyone at Hendrick Motorsports. What a day for Hendrick Motorsports. Three in the top-five at a track that doesn’t suit our style, that just shows the hard work that’s gone into it. I did not think that I would break the streak here, I was more looking at next week, but this definitely built some momentum and we just have to keep it going. There’s still a lot of racing left, but we need more days like today.”
Regarding restarts, the one where you got the lead, what was the key to getting the lead on Joey?
“The key was having my teammate behind me, and Alex (Bowman) gave me a great push. He popped me right at the right time. I knew if I could just stay side-by-side with Joey, I would at least have a shot. But I was able to tag enough of a side draft on them to have the momentum and leverage into one, and off of two, and gain control, and I was hoping it would just stay green from there. I knew I had a tire advantage on him, but people kept breaking rotors and crashing, and so we had to go through it. But you know, without Alex, I would not be in Victory Lane right now, and so I want to dedicate this one to him, for sure.
Just, again, proud of everybody at Hendrick Motorsports, HENDRICKCARS.COM, Chevrolet, Valvoline, everybody that is a part of it. I think my family is at the airport right now. They flew in to pick me up, so I hope they can find some time and find a route to get in here to celebrate with us.”
Chase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Sidelined by damage sustained after a brake rotor failure during the final stage.
Finished: 31st
A brake issue, what feedback were or weren’t you getting from your car before that?
“Yeah, really nothing that said it was fixing to break, unfortunately. I knew that there had been some issues throughout the day, obviously. I was right behind Ryan (Blaney) when he blew his. I guess it’s kind of the luck of the draw, unfortunately. I just went to make a move on the No. 19 (Chase Briscoe) there. I stepped on the brakes, exploded a rotor and that was about it.
It’s really unfortunate. I thought the No. 9 LLumar Chevrolet team was having a really solid day. We were right there around the top-five. I thought we had the right strategy there at the end. We were able to kind of continue to march forward there. Proud of the effort today. Hate to have another bad week, but we had some good pace and some good stuff to hopefully build on. We’ll try and go get them next weekend at Bristol (Motor Speedway).”
William Byron, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Finished: 4th
“I think with how the race was going for us and getting in that caution with the No. 23 (Bubba Wallace), it’s nice to finally have some stuff go our way. I’m glad that the No. 5 (Kyle Larson) could get the win. I tried to help all that I could. They had a good Chevy, so hopefully we can learn something from that. We were okay today. We made a lot of adjustments once we had the damage, and we were able to make our car a lot better. Our No. 24 Phorm Energy Chevrolet was good there at the end. I’m happy with it, we just have to keep digging. We don’t quit.”
Austin Hill, No. 33 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Finished: 21st
“Up and down race for our Lucas Oil team, but at the end; we came home 21st. Our Chevrolet fired off tight rolling to the center, but the dirty air in the back didn’t help our situation any. Once we would run five or so laps, the car would be able to run the bottom and make up some ground. We definitely passed a lot of cars though. Drove up to the top-15, something would happen for us to end up in the back, and we would start it all over again. Felt like we did it a few times today. The guys kept working on it until the end. It was a battle to the finish with missing a bunch of wrecks.”
Alex Bowman, No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Finished: 2nd
“It feels good to get a top-five with this No. 48 Ally Chevrolet team. I’m really happy for Kyle (Larson, race winner). I hate to be one spot short, but just really proud of this team. We’ve certainly struggled here in the past, so I’m just glad we could have a good, solid day. Certainly, the pushes on the restarts were really important. I’m just glad I was able to help (his teammate, Kyle Larson) and make it happen. Glad it worked out.”
Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
Finished: 8th
“Every time there was a wreck or it got chaotic, we were having to make up track position. I didn’t get to see a lot of the chaos, but I’m glad it helped us, obviously. We had to come from the back twice. Our No. 77 Spectrum Chevrolet was fast, so luckily, we could do that and we could just move around. I was worried that we were just going to run out of laps, but people just kept wrecking, so it made our lives a little easier.”
“It was certainly a chaotic day, but we survived and we were able to get ourselves back into a decent spot at the end there. We had a few restarts at the end and this No. 88 Very Good Ventures Chevrolet team was able to come home with a solid day. I hate that Shane (van Gisbergen) got wrecked there at the end. We had three Trackhouse cars in the top-10 during one of those overtime restarts, so it’s just unfortunate that happened. But overall, it was a good day for us nonetheless.”
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.
HAMLIN RECOVERS FOR TOP-10 TO LEAD TOYOTA AT GATEWAY Season-high in cautions leads to damage for several Team Toyota drivers
MADISON, Ill. (September 13, 2026) – Denny Hamlin bounced back from a slow pit stop to lead Toyota with a ninth-place finish in a chaotic race at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway on Sunday evening.
Seven of the nine Team Toyota drivers, all but Hamlin and John Hunter Nemechek, suffered damage in one or multiple of the 18 cautions that fell during the race.
Hamlin maintained the points lead – by nine over Kyle Larson, with Christopher Bell only 18 points out.
TOYOTA RACING Post-Race Recap NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway Race 28 of 36 – 240 miles, 300 laps
TOYOTA FINISHING POSITIONS
1st, Kyle Larson* 2nd, Alex Bowman* 3rd, Joey Logano* 4th, William Bryon* 5th, Ross Chastain* 9th, DENNY HAMLIN 13th, ERIK JONES 14th, BUBBA WALLACE 15th, JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK 18th, TY GIBBS 19th, CHRISTOPHER BELL 25th, TYLER REDDICK 32nd, CHASE BRISCOE 34th, RILEY HERBST *non-Toyota driver
TOYOTA QUOTES
DENNY HAMLIN, No. 11 King’s Hawaiian Cinnamon Bites Toyota Camry XSE, Joe Gibbs Racing
Finishing Position: 9th
How would you summarize your team’s day?
“Not a great day for sure. I wasn’t good on restarts. I couldn’t get the car to do what I needed to on restarts, and then obviously we had that bad stop which put us further back with a car that wasn’t very good on restarts and a driver that wasn’t good on restarts. Just a bad combination. Needed others to have issues to get a good finish out of it.”
Are you starting to feel the pressure?
“No. I think we are so fortunate. We were strong last week, and this week we were not strong, and still, we maintained the lead. With all of the tracks coming up, we have a good notebook on. Here was the first one where we were coming back with a new package. We haven’t been good all year with this package at this track for the first time. I feel like we’ve been given a second chance. We just have to go and be better now.”
CHRISTOPHER BELL, No. 20 Rheem Toyota Camry XSE, Joe Gibbs Racing
Finishing Position: 19th
What happened on that restart with 18 to go?
“I haven’t seen it, so I don’t exactly know, but I ended up in a three-wide battle with Josh (Berry) beside me and he was just laying on me, and then he missed the turn. I don’t know. Just a missed opportunity. I’m really bummed that it looked like it was going to be a really good points day for us, and I thought I was in position to win, and if I wasn’t going to win get a top-five and ended up with a 19th place finish, which in the grand scheme of things – we are still in the hunt, which is awesome, but just a missed opportunity for this Rheem Toyota team.”
TYLER REDDICK, No. 45 Comparion Insurance Toyota Camry XSE, 23XI Racing
Finishing Position: 25th
What was going on out there?
“I mean, for us, we were just getting caught up in everyone’s messes. Whether it was early on there – the 7’s (Daniel Suarez) mistake, and I don’t know what happened with Bubba (Wallace) and (Josh) Berry there. Yeah, just tried to bring it home and get a good finish, and couldn’t even do that. It is just kind of where we are used to at this point, for us, we did a really good job at bouncing back from the issues early. We had some splitter damage on lap two or three when we had that contact with the 7, and yeah, it just looked like we were going to crawl our way out of there and get a top-10, and just move on with a good day, and I truly don’t know what happened with those two, but it is kind of the trend, we just get in everyone else’s mess.”
CHASE BRISCOE, No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota Camry XSE, Joe Gibbs Racing
Finishing Position: 32nd
What are the Chase implications of today? Is there room for a mulligan?
“We won’t know the implications until the end of the day. There is a lot of chaos still happening. Just wrong place, wrong time for our Bass Pro Shops, Tracker Boats Toyota Camry. Just have to go the next eight weeks and try to win as many of them as we can. We kind of used nine lives today and kept trying to find our way back up there and at the end wasn’t in the place where we needed to be. Will go to the deer stand tomorrow and reset.”
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.
BRISTOL, Tenn. (Sept. 13, 2026) – Fans can find out all the latest news about the upcoming Bass Pro Shops Night Race Cup Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway via a 70-page commemorative souvenir program available for free in both printed and digital formats.
The souvenir program will be available in the reformatted Broadway Play “Playbill” style size that is more convenient for fans to carry with them while they are at the track. A limited number of printed programs will be available to guests to pick up at a variety of locations on property during the event, including several entry gates, at BMS Guest Services locations, BMS souvenir stands, BMS operated camp grounds and BMS ticket booths, while supplies last.
The program features a special cover tribute design “Celebrating Kyle Busch at his beloved Bristol.” Before his tragic and untimely death earlier this year, Busch won 23 times at Bristol during his storied career, including 9 victories in the Cup Series, 9 victories in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and five times in the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series.
The cover story complete with plenty of full-color photos, is a remembrance of Kyle Busch’s Top 10 Moments at Bristol Motor Speedway, which include his two amazing triple-sweeps that only he has accomplished in NASCAR history.
The program also includes the weekend schedule, an expanded Speed Reading section with tons of track news and information, driver rosters and photo hero pages for the Cup, O’Reilly and CRAFTSMAN Truck Series teams, a story previewing the full race weekend, track history, track stats and a track map.
The 2026 commemorative Bass Pro Shops Night Race souvenir program was designed by Learfield-IMG College Publishing in Lexington, Ky.
Some of the most memorable moments in NASCAR history have taken place during the Bass Pro Shops Night Race on the super-challenging .533-mile high-banked concrete oval. NASCAR’s best drivers will go doorhandle to doorhandle – NASCAR Playoff style – and only the strongest will survive 500 laps of mayhem and chaos on the iconic short track.
In addition to celebrating Kyle Busch’s amazing legacy at Bristol, the Bass Pro Shops Night Race on will feature a star-studded entertainment lineup, including Academy Award-winning actor and producer Brad Pitt as a Grand Marshal and two-time Indianapolis 500 winner and two-time INDYCAR Series champion Josef Newgarden as the honorary pace car driver leading the NASCAR Cup Series field to green. Saturday’s festivities also will include appearances by WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair, a pre-race concert by Brian Kelley, Bristol’s signature driver introductions featuring music personally selected by the competitors, a children’s choir performing the national anthem, and Lee Greenwood singing “God Bless the USA” as a bald eagle soars above the stadium, followed by a dramatic flyover featuring two U.S. Air Force C-130s. Fans also will receive yellow “Rowdy Towels” and unite for an emotional Lap 18 tribute honoring Kyle Busch and his unmatched success at Bristol—another powerful, only-at-Bristol moment before the NASCAR Cup Series’ biggest stars battle under the lights in one of America’s most iconic sporting events.
The Bass Pro Shops Night Race weekend, Sept. 17–19, will transform Bristol Motor Speedway and the surrounding Northeast Tennessee region into a three-day celebration of racing, music and unforgettable entertainment. Championship competition in all three of NASCAR’s national series begins Thursday with the Bush’s Beans 200 ARCA Menards Series race and the UNOH 250 presented by Ohio Logistics, which opens the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Chase, followed by Bristol’s popular Foam Party. Friday features Nobody Trashes Tennessee Qualifying, the Food City 300 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Chase race and a post-race concert featuring Tim Dugger. The weekend culminates Saturday night with the 500-lap, post-season Bass Pro Shops Night Race for the NASCAR Cup Series.
To purchase tickets or obtain more information about the race weekend, please visit www.bristolmotorspeedway.com or call (866) 415-4158.
About Bristol Motor Speedway Bristol Motor Speedway, known as The Last Great Colosseum, sits in the mountains of Northeast Tennessee near the Virginia state line. The 0.533-mile concrete oval, with 28-degree banking, hosts two major NASCAR Cup Series weekends each year, the tradition-rich Food City 500 and the crown jewel Bass Pro Shops Night Race. The venue has staged iconic moments such as the 2016 Pilot Flying J Battle at Bristol football game between the University of Tennessee and Virginia Tech (NCAA-record 156,990 fans), the 2025 MLB Speedway Classic between the Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds (MLB regular-season record crowd of 91,032), the 2020 NASCAR All-Star Race, the rebirth of NASCAR Cup Series racing on dirt from 2021–2023 and sold-out concerts for Morgan Wallen and Kenny Chesney. Fans enjoy Colossus TV, the world’s largest outdoor, center-hung, four-sided video board. The adjacent Bristol Dragway is home to the NHRA Super Grip Thunder Valley Nationals, and the dragway can transform into the Thunder Valley Amphitheatre for music concerts. Opened in 1961 and acquired by Speedway Motorsports in 1996, Bristol remains one of America’s most unique and versatile sports and entertainment destinations. For more information, please visit www.bristolmotorspeedway.com.
If you are searching for the best TV for NASCAR streaming, do not choose a television by resolution alone. Fast motion handling, screen brightness, reflections, viewing angle, app support, Wi-Fi stability, and easy control matter more during a three-hour race than a long list of marketing features.
That matters even more in 2026 because NASCAR viewing is spread across multiple platforms. NASCAR’s official viewing guides show Cup Series coverage across FOX Sports, NBC Sports/USA, Amazon Prime Video and TNT Sports. Prime Video carries five Cup Series races in 2026, while TNT Sports also carries five mid-season Cup races. Meanwhile, Nielsen reported that streaming represented 48.5% of U.S. TV watch time in June 2026.
For many fans, the best TV for NASCAR streaming is therefore not simply the TV with the sharpest demo reel; it is the one that handles racing motion well and makes switching among apps and services painless.
A smartphone can complete that setup. With the right TV and a compatible phone app, you can search for races, change volume, switch inputs, launch streaming apps, and recover quickly when the physical remote disappears.
1. What Makes the Best TV for NASCAR Streaming?
The best TV for NASCAR streaming should make a fast-moving race look clean, bright, and easy to follow. NASCAR is visually demanding because the picture constantly combines moving cars, fences, track textures, camera pans, sponsor graphics, timing towers, and rapidly changing shots.
Start with five priorities:
A native 120Hz-class panel or better for strong motion performance
Good image processing for lower-bitrate or compressed streams
Enough brightness and reflection control for daytime races
Wide viewing angles if friends watch from different seats
A smart TV platform that supports the services you use
A 4K panel is still the sensible baseline for a new television, but 4K resolution by itself does not guarantee a better race.
A cheaper 60Hz set with weak motion processing may look less convincing during a high-speed camera pan than a stronger 120Hz model. This is particularly noticeable when the camera follows a pack of cars through a corner and the background moves rapidly across the screen.
That is why our definition of the best TV for NASCAR streaming starts with motion and usability rather than resolution alone.
In practical terms, the best TV for NASCAR streaming should preserve car detail during pans without making the broadcast look unnaturally smooth.
For example, imagine watching the Daytona 500 on two 65-inch TVs. Both are 4K. One uses a basic 60Hz panel while the other has stronger 120Hz motion handling. During static interviews, they may look similarly sharp. Once the field reaches racing speed, differences in motion clarity can become much more obvious.
2. Why Motion Handling Matters More Than a “4K” Sticker
Race cars can cross the frame in a fraction of a second. If the television has slow pixel response, poor motion processing, or aggressive smoothing, the image can look blurry, smeared, or unnaturally processed.
For NASCAR, you want a TV that keeps numbers, sponsor logos, and the edges of cars reasonably clear while the camera follows the field.
A native 120Hz panel is a strong target even when the stream itself is delivered at a lower frame rate.
The additional panel capability gives the TV more flexibility for motion processing and also makes the television more useful for gaming or other high-frame-rate content.
For example, LG lists the 2026 OLED evo C6 with a 120Hz native panel and VRR support up to 165Hz. Samsung’s 2026 S95H OLED includes high-refresh Motion Xcelerator features, while TCL lists the QM8K with a native 144Hz panel.
Those specifications do not automatically make one model the best TV for NASCAR streaming, but they are relevant indicators for fast sports.
Do not simply turn every motion setting to maximum.
Excessive interpolation can create artifacts around cars, safety fences, wheels, and on-screen graphics. Start with a Sports or Standard preset, then increase motion smoothing only enough to improve clarity without making the broadcast look artificial.
This is where testing matters. Watch a camera pan across the grandstands or follow a car through a high-speed turn. If details remain reasonably clean without strange halos, you are moving in the right direction.
3. Choose the Right Screen Size for Your NASCAR Setup
A large screen makes racing easier to follow because you can see more detail in the pack, timing graphics, and trackside action.
But the best TV for NASCAR streaming is not automatically the largest model that fits through the door.
Think about seating distance and room layout.
For a typical living room, 65 inches is a strong all-around size. If you sit farther away or regularly host race-day groups, 75 to 85 inches can create a much more immersive experience.
In a smaller room, 55 inches may still be ideal because the entire screen remains easy to scan.
Consider this practical example:
Screen size
Good use case
55 inch
Small room or closer seating
65 inch
Balanced living-room option
75 inch
Group viewing and larger rooms
83–85 inch
Premium race-day setup
The important point is visibility.
The best TV for NASCAR streaming should let you read position graphics and identify cars without forcing you to lean forward.
For race-day groups, the best TV for NASCAR streaming also needs enough size and off-axis consistency for people sitting away from the center seat.
Imagine six people watching Talladega from a wide sectional sofa. A display that looks fantastic only from the center seat may be less useful than one that maintains good color and contrast farther to the side.
That is why viewing angle belongs on your checklist alongside refresh rate and brightness.
4. Bright-Room Performance Can Make or Break a Daytime Race
Many NASCAR events happen during the day, which means your TV may be competing with windows, lamps, and room reflections.
That makes brightness and anti-reflection performance especially important.
OLED TVs offer excellent black levels and very fast pixel response, but a bright room can still favor a television with strong reflection handling.
Mini-LED TVs can also be attractive for daylight viewing because they can deliver high brightness across large areas of the image.
Samsung’s S95H is a useful example because Samsung lists Glare Free anti-reflection technology and an Ultra Viewing Angle on the model.
That combination is relevant for a room where several people watch from different seats.
TCL’s QM8K uses a QD-Mini LED backlight, a 144Hz native panel, and emphasizes strong brightness performance.
LG’s C6 combines OLED response with its current Brightness Booster processing and OLED Motion features.
For a dark media room, OLED contrast may be the priority. For a sunny living room, the best TV for NASCAR streaming may be the model that controls reflections better, even if another television wins in a dark showroom.
That bright-room advantage can matter more than absolute black level when choosing the best TV for NASCAR streaming for afternoon races.
Before buying, look at your room at the actual time races are normally on.
If a window reflects directly into the screen at 2 p.m., that real-world condition should influence your decision more than a specification sheet.
5. Three Strong TV Types to Consider in 2026
There is no single best TV for NASCAR streaming for every room and budget, but three current models illustrate what to prioritize.
TV
Why it suits NASCAR
Smart advantage
Best for
LG OLED evo C6
120Hz native OLED, fast response, strong contrast
webOS 26, ThinQ, AirPlay, Google Cast
Balanced premium setup
Samsung OLED S95H
Glare Free screen, wide viewing angle, strong motion features
Tizen, SmartThings, Google Cast
Bright rooms and groups
TCL QM8K
Native 144Hz QD-Mini LED panel
Google TV, Chromecast, AirPlay 2
Large-screen value
LG OLED evo C6: balanced premium choice
LG’s 2026 C6 is a compelling candidate for the best TV for NASCAR streaming because it combines OLED pixel response with a 120Hz native refresh rate, modern video processing, Wi-Fi 6, and current streaming features.
LG also lists Google Cast, Apple AirPlay, webOS 26, and LG ThinQ phone-remote support.
This combination makes sense for viewers who want NASCAR, movies, console gaming, and general streaming from the same display.
Samsung S95H: strong for reflections and side seating
The S95H stands out when daytime glare is a major problem.
Samsung lists Glare Free anti-reflection, an Ultra Viewing Angle, OLED HDR processing, and advanced motion features. It also includes SmartThings functionality and mobile-to-TV features.
If your race-day gathering includes several seats across a wide room, those characteristics are particularly relevant.
TCL QM8K: large-screen, high-refresh alternative
TCL’s QM8K uses Google TV, a native 144Hz panel, and QD-Mini LED technology.
It also supports Chromecast, AirPlay 2, and Wi-Fi 6 on major sizes, giving it a strong smart-platform foundation.
These are examples, not the only good choices.
The best TV for NASCAR streaming is ultimately the model that fits your room, preferred apps, and budget.
A useful shortlist should therefore compare best TV for NASCAR streaming candidates by room conditions as well as panel technology.
6. Check NASCAR Streaming Apps Before You Buy the TV
App compatibility is more important in 2026 because NASCAR Cup Series coverage is divided among several rights holders.
NASCAR’s official 2026 guides show early-season coverage on FOX and FS1, five Cup Series races on Prime Video, five mid-season Cup races on TNT Sports, and late-season coverage across NBC and USA.
For Prime Video specifically, NASCAR lists five 2026 Cup Series races: Charlotte, Nashville, Michigan, Pocono, and Naval Base Coronado.
TNT Sports similarly carries five mid-season Cup Series races, with streaming availability through HBO Max’s sports offering.
That fragmentation changes how you should evaluate the best TV for NASCAR streaming.
Before buying, verify whether the TV platform supports the services you actually use.
Viewing need
What to verify
FOX / FS1
Live-TV provider or supported streaming app
Prime Video
Current Prime Video app
TNT Sports
TV provider and Max availability
NBC / USA
Peacock and live-TV setup
NASCAR extra content
Supported FAST and streaming services
NASCAR’s September 2026 viewing guide also lists the NASCAR 24/7 channel on Prime Video, Roku, Samsung TV Plus, Tubi, and Xumo.
A fast processor and good smart-TV platform therefore contribute directly to the best TV for NASCAR streaming experience.
If the interface is slow or a required app is unavailable, excellent panel quality will not fix the inconvenience.
In 2026, app coverage is part of the best TV for NASCAR streaming decision because a season can move between several services.
7. Turn Your Smartphone Into the Race-Day Remote
Once you have the best TV for NASCAR streaming for your room, your smartphone can become the control center.
For an iPhone household, a compatible remote control app for ios can be useful when the television supports network control.
LG, Samsung, Google TV, Roku, and other ecosystems offer different forms of phone-based interaction.
The smartphone’s biggest advantage is text entry.
Suppose you want to search:
NASCAR Cup Series Michigan
Typing that phrase with a phone keyboard can be much quicker than moving across an on-screen keyboard one letter at a time.
A good remote TV app is also useful for changing volume, navigating menus, and launching apps when the original physical remote is across the room.
Your phone is especially helpful during a race weekend when you may switch among qualifying, pre-race shows, live timing, and the main race.
The objective is not to eliminate every physical remote.
Instead, use the phone as a second control point so the TV is easier to operate during long race-day sessions.
8. How to Set Up Phone Control Before the Green Flag
Do not wait until the formation lap to configure your phone.
Step 1: Put the phone and TV on the same network
Many smart-TV control systems use the local network.
Confirm that your smartphone and television are connected to the same home Wi-Fi rather than separate guest and primary networks.
Step 2: Install the correct control app
Start with your TV manufacturer’s supported application.
If you prefer a third-party remote control app for TV, check its current compatibility, pricing, privacy permissions, and supported functions.
If you decide to download remote TV app software, verify that basic commands such as navigation, mute, volume, app launching, and Home work with your television.
Step 3: Pair your phone
Select the television from the app.
Your TV may display a PIN or permission prompt. Approve it, then test:
Home
Back
Direction pad
Volume
Mute
App navigation
Step 4: Test the NASCAR workflow
Open the platform carrying the race.
Search for the event, launch the stream, adjust the volume, and return to the home screen once to confirm everything works.
For a household with several TV brands, you may instead choose to download universal remote TV app software and build separate device profiles.
The best time to test all of this is 15 to 30 minutes before the broadcast begins.
That preparation helps the best TV for NASCAR streaming deliver a smooth experience instead of becoming another device you have to troubleshoot when the race starts.
9. Optimize Picture Settings for NASCAR
Even the best TV for NASCAR streaming can look disappointing with poor settings.
Start with the television’s Sports, Standard, or Custom mode rather than an extremely vivid showroom preset.
Motion
Use moderate motion processing.
The goal is clearer camera pans, not an artificial video look.
Watch the timing tower and individual cars while the camera follows the field. If outlines begin to shimmer or break apart, reduce interpolation.
Brightness
In a sunny room, use a brighter picture mode or the TV’s ambient-light controls.
At night, reduce brightness to a comfortable level.
The ideal setting for a 2 p.m. race may be very different from one used for a night race at Daytona.
If the announcers are difficult to hear, try Clear Voice, Dialogue Enhancement, or the equivalent feature before simply increasing overall volume.
The best TV for NASCAR streaming is the television you can comfortably watch for several hours.
More processing is not always better.
A calibrated, comfortable picture usually makes the best TV for NASCAR streaming more enjoyable than a hyper-bright showroom preset.
10. Fix Streaming or Remote Problems Quickly
When something goes wrong, separate the TV-control problem from the streaming problem.
Symptom
Likely problem
First action
Phone cannot find TV
Network mismatch
Check Wi-Fi on both devices
Phone remote lags
Weak local network
Improve Wi-Fi signal
Race buffers but remote works
Internet or streaming service
Test the connection
TV app crashes
App/software issue
Restart app, then TV
Motion looks blurry
Source/settings issue
Adjust motion controls
Audio and video drift
Stream/device sync
Restart the stream
A useful diagnostic rule is simple: if your phone changes the television volume instantly but the race keeps buffering, the remote application is probably working.
If you use a remote control app for ios, keep both the app and TV firmware reasonably current.
A wired Ethernet connection can also help when the television is far from the router.
Wi-Fi 6 support, available on models such as the LG C6 and many TCL QM8K sizes, can be useful on a modern home network, but good router placement still matters.
The best TV for NASCAR streaming cannot compensate for an overloaded or unstable internet connection.
Reliable networking is therefore part of the best TV for NASCAR streaming setup, particularly when several household members are streaming or gaming simultaneously.
11. Frequently Asked Questions
Is OLED or Mini-LED better for NASCAR?
Both can work extremely well.
OLED provides fast pixel response, excellent contrast, and strong viewing angles. Mini-LED can provide excellent brightness for daytime viewing.
The best TV for NASCAR streaming depends on whether your main priority is dark-room contrast, bright-room visibility, screen size, or budget.
Do I need a 120Hz TV for NASCAR streaming?
No, but a native 120Hz-class panel is a strong choice for fast sports.
It gives the television more flexibility for motion processing and is commonly found on higher-performance TV models.
For a long-term purchase, 120Hz is a sensible target.
Does NASCAR stream in 4K?
Quality varies by race, broadcaster, provider, and streaming platform.
Do not buy a television assuming every NASCAR event will be delivered in native 4K.
A good 4K TV still matters because its processor must upscale and clean up HD or compressed streams.
Can I control NASCAR streaming from my smartphone?
Yes, when your television supports phone-based control.
Depending on the TV, you may use the manufacturer’s app or a compatible universal remote TV app to handle navigation, volume, playback, and other common controls.
What TV size is best for NASCAR?
For many living rooms, 65 inches offers a strong balance.
A 75- to 85-inch screen works well for larger spaces and race-day groups.
The best TV for NASCAR streaming should be large enough for timing graphics and car numbers to remain readable from your normal seat.
12. Final Thoughts
Choosing the best TV for NASCAR streaming is really about selecting a television that handles racing conditions well: fast motion, long viewing sessions, daytime reflections, multiple streaming apps, and group seating.
For a balanced premium setup, the LG OLED evo C6 is a strong example because it combines OLED response, a 120Hz native panel, current streaming support, and smartphone control through LG ThinQ.
Samsung’s S95H is particularly attractive for bright rooms because of its Glare Free screen and wide viewing angle.
TCL’s QM8K is worth considering when you want a large, bright Mini-LED display with Google TV and a native 144Hz panel.
The streaming side matters just as much.
NASCAR’s 2026 Cup Series coverage spans FOX Sports, NBC/USA, Prime Video, and TNT Sports, while Nielsen reported that streaming represented 48.5% of U.S. TV watch time in June 2026.
A modern smart-TV platform is therefore part of what makes the best TV for NASCAR streaming, not an afterthought.
Finally, connect your phone before race day.
A reliable universal remote TV control setup gives you a quick way to search, switch services, change volume, and control the television if the physical remote goes missing.
The result is not just a better television. It is a smoother NASCAR viewing system from green flag to checkered flag.
Sources
NASCAR.com — How to watch NASCAR races on Amazon Prime Video, January 28, 2026. Five Cup Series races are carried on Prime Video in 2026.
NASCAR.com — How to watch NASCAR races on FOX Sports, January 28, 2026.
NASCAR.com — How to watch NASCAR on TNT Sports, HBO Max and truTV, January 28, 2026.
NASCAR.com — How to watch NASCAR races on NBC, USA, August 5, 2026.
Nielsen — June 2026 Gauge report: streaming represented 48.5% of TV watch time.
A sellout crowd braved the weather inside Historic Crew Stadium to kick off the
2026 Monster Energy SMX World Championship Playoffs.
Levi Kitchen Emerges in 250SMX Class with Consistent Performance
COLUMBUS, Ohio (September 12, 2026) – Playoff 1 for the 2026 Monster Energy SMX World Championship got underway amidst rainy conditions inside Historic Crew Stadium, which presented an unpredictable and challenging dynamic for the start of the postseason. A passionate and enthusiastic sellout crowd braved the weather as a muddy afternoon of racing saw Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan break through for his first premier class victory in the 450SMX Class, while Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Levi Kitchen came out on the winning end of a tiebreaker to prevail in the 250SMX Class.
Due to the weather and wet track conditions, the first motos for each class were shortened to 15 Minutes + 1 Lap, while the second motos were shortened to 12 Minutes + 1 Lap in an effort to help preserve the racing surface.
The opening moto for the 450SMX Class got underway with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jorge Prado leading the field to the holeshot with Deegan and Quad Lock Honda’s Joey Savatgy in tow. Further back in the field Honda HRC Progressive’s Hunter Lawrence, the top seed and newly crowned Pro Motocross Champion, went down and started last.
Deegan closed in on the Spaniard and made the pass right before the completion of the first full lap. Progressive Insurance Cycle Gear Suzuki’s Ken Roczen, the reigning Supercross Champion, soon followed into second. As the leaders settled in, Lawrence encountered more misfortune and found himself on the ground once more, which effectively eliminated him from contention for the afternoon. Back up front, Deegan opened a multi-second lead over the field. Roczen started to take significant chunks out of his deficit, but Deegan responded to end the threat and carried on to his first checkered flag in the premier class by 17.2 seconds over his Suzuki counterpart. Prado finished in third, with Troy Lee Designs Red Bull Ducati Factory Racing’s Dylan Ferrandis in fourth and Twisted Tea Suzuki Progressive’s Jason Anderson in fifth.
The second moto kicked off with Deegan leading the way to the holeshot ahead of Prado and Roczen. Deegan took advantage of the clear track and tried to inch away, but Roczen made the move on Prado and tracked down Deegan to begin a brief battle for the lead. Behind them, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cooper Webb made the pass around Prado for third. Out front, Deegan fended off Roczen’s early pressure to stabilize his advantage.
As Deegan took advantage of lapped riders to extend his lead over Roczen, Webb and Prado traded positions, with the Spaniard able to briefly reclaim the position before Webb overtook him once more. Deegan, meanwhile, continued to show impressive poise in the treacherous conditions and completed a wire-to-wire moto win to sweep the day by 17.1 seconds over Roczen, who overcame a fall late in the race. Webb finished third, just ahead of Prado.
Deegan’s 1-1 performance netted him the first premier class victory in his 12th career start. Roczen enjoyed a consistent afternoon to finish in the runner-up spot (2-2) in his first start since capturing the Supercross title in May, while Prado rounded out the podium (3-4) in his SMX Playoff debut.
With his third-place finish, Prado improved upon his second seed in the 450SMX Playoff to move atop the standings and grab possession of the red plate for the first time. He holds a two-point lead over Deegan, who climbed from seventh to second, while Webb remains third, four points back. Roczen moved up from 10th to fourth (-8), while Lawrence’s 15th-place finish saw him drop from first to sixth (-10).
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan began the postseason with his highly anticipated maiden 450SMX Class victory in a 1-1 effort.
Haiden Deegan (1-1) – 1st Place – 450SMX Class “This is a dream come true. I just won a 450 race. This is crazy. I can’t express how happy I am right now. It’s just a weight off my shoulders, especially on a day like today when conditions were like this and I’m racing against guys with a lot more experience on a track like this. I’m just so happy and ready to keep it going.”
Ken Roczen (2-2) – 2nd Place – 450SMX Class “Just nice and content [today]. That was my gameplan coming into here. I had a blast out there. To get a 2-2 [effort], I couldn’t ask for anything more, honestly. What a solid weekend. I can’t wait for the next [race].”
Jorge Prado (3-4) – 3rd Place – 450SMX Class “I really don’t know what to say. My worst races came in the mud this year and I got up here on the [podium], which is amazing for me. Just improvement, from being in the top 15 [earlier in the season] to getting on the podium. We’re now leading the SMX series, and I cannot be happier than this.”
250SMX Class
The first moto for the 250SMX Class started with Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cole Davies out front with the holeshot ahead of Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Daxton Bennick and Kitchen. Davies, the top seed and reigning Eastern Divisional Supercross Championship and Pro Motocross Champion, took full advantage of the clear track to open a significant lead over the field.
Davies dominated the first 12 minutes of the moto, opening an advantage of nearly 20 seconds and lapping up to 10th place. However, with just over three minutes left on the race clock Davies appeared to encounter issues with his Yamaha and eventually came to a stop on one of the track’s jumps, ending his race. That allowed Bennick to move into the lead as the Husqvarna rider kept it on two wheels and captured the moto win by 18.1 seconds over Kitchen, while Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Ryder DiFrancesco followed in third. ClubMX Yamaha’s Max Vohland finished fourth, with Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Caden Dudney in fifth. Davies’ DNF relegated him to 22nd place.
The second moto began with Bennick out front for the holeshot, but he was passed by Davies in the first rhythm section, while Honda HRC Progressive’s Chance Hymas slotted into third ahead of Kitchen. Much like the first moto, Davies stormed out to a healthy lead of more than 10 seconds, while Bennick asserted his hold of second. Behind them, the battle for third unfolded between Hymas and Kitchen, with the Kawasaki rider able to make the move.
As Davies continued to pull away, Bennick started to lose ground to Kitchen, who made a push over the second half of the race. He continued to inch closer to the Husqvarna and moved within striking distance coming to the white flag. Kitchen pulled the trigger on a quick and decisive pass to move into second, which had a significant impact on the overall classification.
Out front, Davies was in a class of his own and bounced back from the heartbreak of Moto 1 to take the second moto win by 16.5 seconds over Kitchen, with Bennick in third and DiFrancesco in fourth.
With his late pass and runner-up finish, Kitchen (2-2) and Bennick (1-3) finished the afternoon tied atop the overall classification with four points apiece. The second moto tiebreaker went in Kitchen’s favor to give him the first Playoff win of his career, while Bennick secured his fifth career SMX podium. DiFrancesco rounded out the overall podium in third (3-4), while Davies’ salvaged 11th overall (22-1).
Kitchen now sits atop the 250SMX Playoff standings after entering the weekend as the second seed. He holds a seven-point lead over DiFrancesco, who entered as the third seed, while Davies dropped to third, 10 points out of the lead.
Even though he missed out on a moto win, a consistent 2-2 effort from Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Levi Kitchen gave him the win and points lead.
Levi Kitchen (2-2) – 1st Place – 250SMX Class “We were coming to the white flag and I saw Dax [Bennick]. I knew if I could get him I might have a chance, but I really had no idea. That was nice, I was able to put two motos together. This was a great race to have [to begin the Playoffs]. I’m feeling better and looking forward to next weekend.”
Daxton Bennick (1-3) – 2nd Place – 250SMX Class “I gotta be happy with [today]. Two solid motos. I had [the win] with two laps to go but Levi [Kitchen] was riding good. Gotta give it to him. I’m just grateful for a great day and excited to start the Playoffs like this.”
Ryder DiFrancesco (3-4) – 3rd Place – 250SMX Class “I just tried to get a good start and ride consistent laps. I figured if I could do that it would work out and that’s what happened. Excited to try and keep this going into next weekend.”
The SMX Next World All-Stars contested a shortened 6 Minutes + 1 Lap Main Event for the first of two Playoff races, which started with Monster Energy Kawasaki Team Green’s Kade Johnson out front with the holeshot. However, he was quickly passed by ClubMX Yamaha’s Ryder Malinoski while KTM Orange Brigade’s Wyatt Thurman gave chase from third.
The battle for the lead continued as Johnson made the pass to regain control of the race. Malinoski made another push to try and pass for the lead but lost control and dismounted his Yamaha. That allowed Thurman to take control of second. Malinoski briefly resumed in third but went down again and eventually dropped out of contention as Monster Energy Kawasaki Team Green’s Vincent Wey slotted into podium position.
Johnson kept it clean the rest of the way and took the second SMX Next victory of his career by 10.6 seconds over Thurman, while Wey rounded out the podium. Johnson has now amassed a four-race podium streak in SMX Next competition and will lead the All-Stars standings entering next weekend’s championship-deciding race, with a two-point lead over Thurman and a five-point lead over Wey.
Kade Johnson – 1st Place – SMX Next World All-Stars “I was just patient. I’m trying to prove myself to get a pro contract. I just tried to ride my best, keep it on two wheels, and get the best result I could. I’ve been consistent recently and now have five podiums in-a-row. I think the start was critical there and it definitely helped [put me in a position to win].”
The Monster Energy SMX World Championship postseason will continue next Saturday, September 19, with Playoff 2 from Los Angeles’ Dignity Health Sports Park. Live comprehensive broadcast coverage will be available 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.
Moving from Toronto to another province is not complicated because of one single task. It becomes complicated because dozens of small things have to line up at the same time.
There is the pickup date, building access, packing, truck space, travel distance, delivery timing, insurance, and the question of what happens if your new home is not ready exactly when the shipment arrives. A move to Calgary, Vancouver, Winnipeg, Montreal, Edmonton or Halifax can cover thousands of kilometres, so small planning mistakes tend to become much more noticeable than they would during a local move.
That is why it helps to speak with experiencedlong-distance movers in Toronto before your moving date is close. A good moving company should be able to explain how the shipment will travel, how delivery timing works, what is included in the price, and who will be responsible for your belongings while they are in transit.
Start With the Route, Not the Boxes
People often begin a move by thinking about packing. For a long-distance relocation, the route and schedule should come first.
The distance between Toronto and Montreal is very different from the distance between Toronto and Vancouver. A moving company may also operate those routes differently depending on how its trucks are scheduled.
Before asking for a quote, have at least a rough idea of:
– where you are moving from and to; – your preferred pickup period; – when you can accept delivery; – how much furniture and how many boxes you expect to move; – whether either property has elevators, stairs, or limited truck access.
You do not need a perfect inventory on the first call, but the more accurate the information is, the more useful the initial estimate will be.
It is also worth asking whether the mover actually operates the route you need on a regular basis. A company that frequently runs between Ontario and Western Canada, for example, may be able to offer a more predictable schedule than one arranging the trip only occasionally.
The Cheapest Quote Can Be the Most Expensive One
Long-distance moving quotes can vary dramatically.
One company may appear hundreds of dollars cheaper than another, but that number means little unless you know what is included.
Ask whether the quote covers:
– loading and unloading; – furniture wrapping; – disassembly and reassembly; – stairs or long carries; – packing materials; – storage if required; – additional pickup or delivery stops; – fuel and transportation charges.
The important question is not simply, “How much does the move cost?”
It is, “Under what circumstances can this price change?”
A quote that looks slightly higher but clearly defines the service can be far more useful than a low estimate followed by extra charges once the truck is loaded.
Ask Who Is Actually Moving Your Belongings
This is an easy detail to overlook.
Some moving companies handle the entire relocation with their own crews and trucks. Others may subcontract parts of the transportation to third-party carriers.
That does not automatically make one model better than the other, but you should know what you are buying.
Ask whether the same company will pick up and deliver the shipment. Find out who you contact while the truck is in transit and whether you will receive updates along the route.
For a move lasting several days, knowing who has your belongings and how to reach someone directly can make a significant difference.
## Dedicated and Consolidated Moves Work Differently
Long-distance household shipments generally move in one of two ways.
A dedicated move means the truck or a substantial portion of it is assigned specifically to your shipment. This gives the mover more control over pickup and delivery timing and may reduce handling along the way.
The downside is cost. Sending a truck thousands of kilometres for one household is expensive.
A consolidated move combines compatible shipments travelling in the same direction. For example, several customers moving from Ontario toward Alberta or British Columbia may share truck capacity.
This usually lowers transportation costs because the truck is not travelling partially empty.
The trade-off is scheduling flexibility. A consolidated truck may need to complete several pickups and deliveries along the route, so the delivery window can be wider.
Neither option is automatically better. A family with a strict possession date may value a dedicated move. Someone with flexible timing may save considerably by choosing consolidation.
Get the Price in Writing
A long-distance move is not the place for vague verbal pricing.
The written quote or contract should explain the expected cost and the conditions that could change it.
Pay particular attention to how the mover calculates the shipment. Ask whether pricing is based on weight, volume, truck space, or another method.
Also confirm how additional services are handled.
If your inventory increases before moving day, there should be a clear method for updating the quote rather than discovering a new price after everything has been loaded.
The same applies to access problems. If the truck cannot park near the entrance or a building requires a long carry, it is better to know in advance whether that changes the cost.
Insurance and Transit Updates Are Worth Asking About Early
Long-distance moves involve more time on the road and more handling than most local moves, so insurance or valuation coverage deserves attention.
Ask what protection is included automatically and whether additional coverage is available.
You should also understand how damage claims are handled. Keep photographs of valuable furniture and other important belongings before they are loaded.
Communication matters just as much.
Find out:
– who your point of contact will be; – how often transit updates are provided; – whether delivery windows are confirmed in advance; – what happens if weather or road conditions create a delay.
A mover that explains these details clearly before pickup is usually easier to deal with if the schedule changes later.
Do Not Pack Everything Just Because You Own It
Cross-country moving costs are closely connected to how much space your belongings occupy.
That makes a long-distance relocation a good time to decide what is actually worth transporting.
Large, inexpensive furniture can sometimes cost more to move than to replace. The same is true for items that have been sitting unused in a basement or garage for years.
Before packing, separate belongings into four groups:
– move; – sell; – donate; – discard.
Reducing the shipment can lower costs and save time at both ends of the move.
For furniture that is travelling, remove loose parts where possible and keep hardware in labeled bags. Protect finished surfaces with moving blankets or appropriate wrapping.
Take photographs of valuable pieces and make a simple inventory before loading.
Documents, medication, passports, jewelry, electronics containing important data, and anything you may need immediately should stay with you rather than going on the moving truck.
Toronto Has Several Common Cross-Canada Moving Corridors
Toronto is one of the main starting points for long-distance household moves in Canada.
Common routes include:
– Toronto to Calgary; – Toronto to Edmonton; – Toronto to Vancouver; – Toronto to Winnipeg; – Toronto to Montreal; – Toronto to Halifax.
The route matters because distance is only part of the equation.
A frequently travelled corridor may offer more scheduling flexibility because moving companies already have trucks operating in that direction. Less common destinations may require additional coordination.
Weather also plays a role. A winter move across the Prairies or through Northern Ontario can operate very differently from the same route in summer.
When comparing companies, ask how often they service your destination and what delivery window they would normally expect for that particular route.
Leave Some Flexibility Between Pickup and Delivery
One of the easiest ways to make a long-distance move unnecessarily stressful is to plan everything around one exact delivery hour.
Road conditions, weather, previous deliveries and building restrictions can all affect timing.
If possible, avoid scheduling something critical immediately after the earliest expected delivery date.
Keep enough clothing, medication, work equipment and daily essentials with you to manage for a few days without the shipment.
That small buffer can turn an ordinary schedule change into a minor inconvenience instead of a major problem.
The Questions Matter More Than the Sales Pitch
Most moving companies can give you a polished estimate and promise that the move will go smoothly.
The useful information usually comes from asking more specific questions.
Who owns the truck?
Will another carrier handle the shipment?
Is the price fixed?
How is the shipment separated if the truck is consolidated?
What happens if the delivery window changes?
Who provides updates during transit?
How is damage coverage calculated?
Those answers tell you much more about the actual service than a low headline price or a few broad promises on a website.
A long-distance move from Toronto will always involve some variables. The goal is not to eliminate every one of them. It is to know, before moving day, which company is responsible for each part of the process, what you will pay, and what should happen between pickup and delivery.
Motorsports content moves quickly. A single race weekend can produce practice updates, qualifying news, driver interviews, technical discussions, race previews, live reactions, post-race analysis, photography, and fan conversations. For publishers and independent creators, the challenge is not finding stories. The challenge is turning those stories into clear, engaging content quickly enough for the audience.
AI video tools can support this process by helping creators develop visual concepts, organize short scripts, and produce additional video formats from existing race-week information. They do not replace reporting, photography, interviews, or editorial judgment. Instead, they can make it easier to transform verified motorsports information into useful visual content.
A practical grok video ai workflow can be evaluated for short explainers, race-week summaries, social media clips, and visual story ideas. The most important rule is simple: verify the information before it becomes part of a published video.
Why Motorsports Media Is a Strong Fit for Short Video
Racing is naturally visual. Cars, tracks, pit stops, helmets, team garages, timing screens, tire choices, and driver reactions can all support short-form storytelling.
A written report may explain what happened, but a short video can help viewers understand the context. For example, a video can introduce a track, explain a race-week schedule, summarize a major storyline, or show why a particular strategy attracted attention.
Short videos can also reach audiences who do not read every article. A social media viewer may watch a 45-second explainer and then decide to read the full race preview. In this way, video becomes a supporting format rather than a replacement for detailed journalism.
Race-Week Content Ideas for AI Video
The best AI video concepts are connected to real editorial needs. Motorsports publishers can use video for several recurring formats.
Pre-race previews are one useful example. A short video can introduce the upcoming event, explain the schedule, highlight confirmed storylines, and tell viewers what to watch during the race.
Track explainers are another option. A creator can describe the general character of a circuit, the importance of braking zones, or the difference between short tracks, road courses, and superspeedways. Check any technical or historical detail against reliable sources before publication.
Post-race summaries can turn a completed event into a concise visual recap. The video might present the official result, a key moment, a strategy discussion, and the next question for the championship or team.
Driver and team features can also benefit from visual storytelling. A creator might produce a short profile based on verified public information, official statements, and approved images. The video should clearly distinguish confirmed facts from commentary.
How to Build a Motorsports AI Video
Step 1: Choose One Editorial Question
Every short video should answer one main question. Examples include:
What should fans know before this weekend’s race?
Why is this track different from the previous venue?
What was the main storyline after the race?
How did a team’s strategy affect the final result?
What should viewers watch during qualifying?
A focused question prevents the video from becoming a collection of unrelated facts.
Step 2: Gather Verified Information
Before writing the script, collect the information that the video will use. This may include an official schedule, a confirmed entry list, a published team release, a verified interview quote, a race result, or previously published editorial analysis.
Do not ask an AI system to guess missing information. It should not invent lap times, driver comments, penalties, championship standings, sponsorship details, or race results.
Create a short fact sheet with the following fields:
• Event name • Date and time • Series • Location • Confirmed participants • Main storyline • Source of each fact • Editorial angle
This makes the script easier to review.
Step 3: Write a Short Script
A practical race-week video can use a simple structure:
Opening: Tell viewers what the video is about.
Context: Explain why the topic matters.
Details: Present two or three verified points.
Analysis: Add a clearly identified editorial observation.
Conclusion: Tell viewers what to watch or read next.
For example:
“This weekend’s race deserves attention for three reasons. First, the venue presents a different challenge from the previous event. Second, several teams are entering the weekend with important questions to answer. Finally, the schedule creates a short window for preparation. Here is what fans should watch before the green flag.”
The script should be direct and easy to follow.
Step 4: Develop Visual Concepts
A motorsports video doesn’t need to recreate a race that didn’t happen. It can use supporting visuals instead.
Possible scenes include:
• A stylized racing circuit • A close-up of a racing helmet • A generic pit-lane environment • A moving schedule graphic • A simplified tire or strategy illustration • A dramatic view of cars entering a corner
When using generated visuals, clearly separate illustrative scenes from real race photography. The audience should not mistake a fictional visual for actual event footage.
Creators exploring visual direction can use grok imagine as a reference point for developing race-themed concepts, color palettes, and visual storyboards. Generated visuals should support the editorial message instead of presenting unverified events as real.
Step 5: Add Captions and Data Carefully
Captions are essential for mobile viewers and people watching without sound. Keep them short and place them where they do not cover the main visual.
If the video includes dates, times, standings, or results, check every number before publishing. A small error in a schedule or result can quickly erode trust.
Use graphics for simple information:
• Race weekend schedule • Session names • Confirmed result • Key question • Next event
Avoid putting too much data on one screen. A short video should guide the viewer toward the most important information.
Step 6: Create Multiple Versions
One race-week article can support several video formats.
A detailed preview can become:
• A 30-second social media summary • A one-minute schedule guide • A track-focused explainer • A post-race question • A short audio-visual quote card
This approach helps a newsroom or independent creator reuse research without repeatedly copying the same video. Each version should serve a different purpose and start differently.
Editorial Rules for Responsible AI Video
Accuracy is the most important standard in motorsports media. AI-generated content should never fabricate a driver quote, simulate a real crash, alter a race result, or imply that a fictional scene is authentic event footage.
Creators should also consider image rights, music rights, team branding, driver likeness, and platform rules. If a visual is illustrative, label it appropriately when necessary.
A responsible workflow includes human review at three points:
Before production, verify the facts.
During production, check that visuals do not imply false events.
Before publishing, review the final video for accuracy, clarity, and rights concerns.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can AI video replace motorsports journalism?
No. AI video can support presentation and production, but reporting, interviews, verification, analysis, and editorial responsibility remain human tasks.
What type of racing content works well in short video?
Race previews, schedule guides, track explainers, post-race summaries, strategy discussions, and verified team or driver features can all work well.
Should generated visuals look like real race footage?
Not necessarily. Illustrative visuals may be safer and clearer when they are obviously stylized. Real event footage should come from approved or properly licensed sources.
How long should a race-week video be?
The ideal length depends on the topic and platform. A focused explanation can often be delivered in under two minutes, while a deeper analysis may require a longer format.
What should be checked before publishing?
Verify names, dates, times, results, quotes, statistics, team details, visual rights, captions, and any statement that could be interpreted as factual.
Conclusion
AI video tools can help motorsports media create more timely and accessible content around race weekends. The strongest workflow begins with verified information and a clear editorial question. From there, creators can write a short script, build supporting visuals, add accurate captions, and adapt the story for multiple formats.
The technology should support the reporting rather than replace it. When human judgment, fact-checking, and creative direction remain at the center, AI video can help racing publishers explain events more clearly, reach new audiences, and keep fans engaged between races.
MADISON, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 12: Jesse Love, driver of the #2 Whelen Chevrolet, and crew celebrate in victory lane after winning the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series Nu Way 225 Powered by Bobcat and Sauced by Blues Hog at WWT Raceway on September 12, 2026 in Madison, Illinois. (Photo by Amy Kontras/Getty Images).
Jesse Love made an emphatic return to Victory Lane in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series by storming his way to a late victory in the Nu Way 250 at World Wide Technology Raceway on Saturday, September 12.
The reigning O’Reilly Auto Parts Series champion from Menlo Park, California, led four times for 70 of 180-scheduled laps in an event where he qualified on the front row, settled in fifth place following the first stage period, and steered clear of a bizarre stack-up and incident on pit road prior to the second stage period to restart on the front row for the latter stage’s start. Love then managed to lead for the first time on Lap 78 and cruise to the second stage victory.
After reassuming the lead from teammate Austin Hill to lead a majority of the early stages in the third and final stage period, Love, who withstood three cautions and restarts throughout the final stage, lost the lead to Kvapil at the start of a 41-lap shootout, but the former reassumed it with 16 laps remaining. From there, Love established a reasonable gap between himself and Sheldon Creed to achieve his first O’Reilly victory of the 2026 season and draw himself into the championship picture.
With on-track qualifying that determined the starting lineup occurring on Saturday, Chaser Carson Kvapil qualified on pole position for a second consecutive event with a pole-winning lap at 133.825 mph in 33.626 seconds. Chaser Jesse Love qualified in second place with a lap of 133.412 mph in 33.730 seconds.
Before the event, Lavar Scott and Josh Williams dropped to the rear of the field after unapproved adjustments to their respective entries.
When the green flag waved and the event commenced, pole-sitter Carson Kvapil gained an early jump from the outside lane, and he moved in front of Jesse Love exiting the frontstretch and entering the first two turns. As the field jostled for early spots for a single circuit, Kvapil cycled his No. 1 Wilde Chevrolet Camaro entry back to the frontstretch and led the first lap.
Over the next four laps, Kvapil stretched his early advantage up to seven-tenths of a second over Love while Chasers Corey Day and Austin Hill, along with non-Chaser William Sawalich, followed suit in the top five, respectively. Behind, Chasers Justin Allgaier and Sheldon Creed were racing in sixth and seventh, respectively, ahead of rookie Brent Crews and Chasers Rajah Caruth, Sammy Smith and Taylor Gray. Meanwhile, Sam Mayer, Brandon Jones and Parker Retzlaff were the three lowest-running Chasers in the field as they were in 12th, 16th and 17th, respectively, while Kvapil proceeded to lead by more than a second at the Lap 10 mark.
On Lap 12, the event’s first caution flew when Taylor Gray, who was in 10th place, spun beneath Rajah Caruth through the first two turns while both were battling for ninth place. Four laps later, the event restarted, and Kvapil mirrored his launch from the event’s start by motoring away from the field from the outside lane. As Kvapil led, Day motored his way into the runner-up spot while Austin Hill battled teammate Love for third place. While Allgaier and Creed battled for fifth place in front of Crews and Sawalich, Kvapil led the next lap. Kvapil proceeded to lead by six-tenths of a second over Day on Lap 20 while Love, Allgaier, Hill, Creed, Crews, Sawalich, Caruth and Sammy Smith followed suit, respectively.
Through the Lap 25 mark, Kvapil was leading by a second over Day while Allgaier, Love, Hill and Creed, all of whom were in the Chase, were racing in the top-six mark, respectively, with Creed trailing the lead by more than three seconds. Behind, teammates Crews and Sawalich occupied seventh and eighth on the track while Caruth, Mayer, Sammy Smith and Retzlaff rounded out the top-12 mark, respectively. Meanwhile, Brandon Jones was mired in 17th place and Gray, who pitted following his early spin, was up in 25th place.
Five laps later, Kvapil stabilized his advantage by more than a second over Day while Allgaier, who occupied third place in front of Richard Childress Racing’s Love and Hill, trailed by three-and-a-half seconds. Another three laps later, Love got loose through Turns 3 and 4, which allowed both Hill and Creed to overtake for top-five spots. As Love battled back Creed for fifth place, Crews and Sawalich reeled in from behind. Meanwhile, Caruth dropped to 11th while Mayer and Retzlaff moved up to ninth and 10th, respectively. While teammates Jones and Gray were mired in 17th and 27th on the leaderboard, Kvapil maintained the lead by more than a second over Day by Lap 40.
When the first stage period concluded on Lap 45, Kvapil cruised to his third O’Reilly stage victory of the 2026 season by half a second. Day followed suit in second ahead of Allgaier, Hill, Love and Creed while Crews, Sawalich, Mayer and Retzlaff were scored in the top 10, respectively. With eight of 12 Chasers securing the event’s first round of stage points, the remaining Chasers, including Sammy Smith, Caruth, Jones and Gray, were mired in 11th, 12th, 17th and 28th, respectively.
During the event’s first stage break period, the field led by Kvapil pitted for a first round of pit service. During the pit stops, a major and bizarre incident struck on pit road when Caruth, who entered pit road with the field under a cautious pace, got rear-ended by Nick Sanchez, and the latter two spun and collided into Brent Crews’ entry that was being serviced. The collision collected a handful of Crews’ pit crew members and occurred in front of Day as Day’s entry was being serviced with no contact. The collision also triggered a stack-up and accordion effect that involved a majority of the field racing within the top mid-pack region while damaging some that included Anthony Alfredo, Jeremy Clements, Harrison Burton, Brandon Jones, Dean Thompson, Ryan Sieg and Jeb Burton.
The multi-car incident on pit road was enough for the event to be placed in a red flag period for seven minutes and 54 seconds to have the carnage cleared. Once the red flag was lifted and the event proceeded at a cautious pace, all of the crew members were reported to be okay amid the collision, including Allgaier, who had a loose wheel, and the damaged entries pitted as Kvapil, who was among a handful of drivers who were ahead of the carnage, had beaten the field off pit road first to retain the event’s overall lead.
The second stage period started on Lap 53 as Kvapil and Love occupied the front row. At the start, Kvapil maintained the lead for a full cycle. As Kvapil led by half a second at the Lap 55 mark, Love outdueled Hill, Mayer and Sawalich for the runner-up spot. Behind, Day battled Creed for sixth place in front of Retzlaff and Sammy Smith while Gray navigated his way up to 10th place. As Allgaier navigated his way up to 14th place, Caruth and Jones were mired in 25th and 28th, respectively, with damaged entries while Kvapil stretched his lead out by eight-tenths of a second on Lap 60.
Through the Lap 70 mark, Kvapil extended his lead by three seconds over Mayer as Mayer overtook Love for the runner-up spot a lap prior. Meanwhile, Hill, Love’s teammate who pitted two laps earlier due to a loose wheel, plummeted to 30th while Sawalich, Creed, Day, Retzlaff, Sammy Smith, Allgaier and Gray were racing in the top 10, respectively. Further behind the top-10 mark, Caruth and Jones were racing in 21st and 24th, respectively.
Two laps later, the caution returned due to debris reported on the frontstretch. Prior to the caution, Alfredo had fallen off the pace due to a flat left-front tire on his entry. During this caution period, some, including Caruth and Jones, pitted while the rest, led by Kvapil, remained on the track. In addition, Hill cycled back to the lead lap by being the first competitor to score a lap down.
The event’s next restart on Lap 78 featured Kvapil battling Love as the field nearly fanned out from the frontstretch and through the first two turns. With Mayer occupying third place in front of the field, Love managed to overtake Kvapil entering the frontstretch and lead the next lap. Love led by three-tenths of a second over Kvapil by Lap 80 while Mayer and Creed followed suit. Meanwhile, Sawalich held fifth place over Day, Allgaier and Retzlaff while Love was being pressured by both Kvapil and Mayer for the lead at the Lap 85 mark.
When the second stage period concluded on Lap 90, Love outdueled Mayer and Kvapil to capture his fourth O’Reilly stage victory of the 2026 season. Mayer and Kvapil settled in second and third, respectively, while Creed, Sawalich, Allgaier, Day, Retzlaff, Sammy Smith and Ryan Sieg were scored in the top 10, respectively. By then, eight of 12 Chasers secured the event’s second round of stage points while the remaining Chasers, including Gray, Caruth, Jones and Hill, were mired in 14th, 16th, 23rd and 30th, respectively.
During the event’s second stage break period, the field led by Love returned to pit road for service. Following the pit stops, Love exited pit road first over Sawalich, Mayer, Kvapil and Creed while Allgaier lost two spots and exited pit road in eighth place behind Day and Retzlaff. Meanwhile, Hill, who remained on the track, inherited the lead.
With 82 laps remaining, the final stage period commenced as teammates Hill and Love occupied the front row. At the start, Hill received a push from Sawalich to gain a brief advantage from the outside lane through the frontstretch, but Love stormed back atop the leaderboard from the inside lane through the first two turns. Amid a brief scramble towards the front, Love led the next lap over Hill, Mayer and Day while Sawalich was trying to retain fifth place over Kvapil and Creed. Behind, Allgaier and Retzlaff battled for eighth place in front of Gray, Sammy Smith and Crews while Love maintained the lead by four-tenths of a second with 80 laps remaining.
Down to the final 70 laps, Love stretched his late lead by up to one-and-a-half seconds over Mayer while Day, Kvapil and Sawalich occupied top-five spots ahead of Creed, Allgaier, Hill, Gray, Retzlaff and Sammy Smith, respectively, on the track. Meanwhile, Caruth and Jones were mired in 16th and 22nd, respectively, as Love continued to extend his lead, where he led by more than two seconds over Mayer with 60 laps remaining.
Then with 54 laps remaining, the caution flew when Lavar Scott spun and backed his entry into the outside wall in Turns 3 and 4, where he sustained significant rear-end damage as he was reeling in Brandon Jones. At the time of caution, Love was leading by more than three seconds over Kvapil while Mayer, Day, Sawalich, Creed, Allgaier, Gray, Retzlaff and Hill were in the top 10. During this caution period, the field led by Love pitted, and Love retained the lead by exiting pit road first ahead of Kvapil, Mayer, Creed, Sawalich, Day, Gray, Allgaier, Sammy Smith and Retzlaff, respectively.
For the event’s next restart with 48 laps remaining, Love and Kvapil dueled for the lead in front of two-stacked lanes until Love, who restarted on the inside lane, motored ahead through the first two turns. Love proceeded to lead the next lap, and Kvapil retained the runner-up spot over Creed and Mayer while Sawalich and Day traded paint, bumped and fiercely battled for fifth place in front of Allgaier. Amid the late-race rubs, Day’s steady run at Gateway came to an end when he got bumped on the side by Sawalich, hit in the rear by Allgaier, sent for a spin down to the backstretch’s infield, and collided into the inside wall hard. This marked the second consecutive event where Day and Sawalich, who sustained a heavy tire and fender rub on his left side, had a run-in on the track after both tangled and rubbed fenders last weekend at Darlington Raceway.
As the event restarted with 41 laps remaining, the field fanned out as Love and Kvapil dueled for the lead through the first two turns before Kvapil motored ahead through the backstretch. As Creed overtook Love for the runner-up spot, Kvapil cycled back to the frontstretch and led the next lap. With Sammy Smith and Crews navigating their way into the top five, Crews was pressured by Mayer and Gray for fifth place while Allgaier was mired in 10th place behind Hill and Retzlaff. Allgaier would be overtaken by Kyle Sieg for 10th place, and both Mayer and Gray overtook Crews on the track for fifth and sixth, respectively, while Kvapil led by four-tenths of a second over Creed with 35 laps remaining.
Down to the final 30 laps, Kvapil was leading by two-tenths of a second over Creed while third-place Love trailed by a second. Seconds later, the caution flew due to a multi-car wreck that involved Brad Perez, Josh Bilicki and Joey Gase through the first two turns. During this caution period, select names, including Allgaier, pitted while the rest, led by Kvapil, remained on the track.
With 24 laps remaining, the event’s next restart featured Kvapil receiving a push from Creed to motor ahead of Love from the outside lane through the frontstretch before Kvapil transitioned to the inside lane entering the first two turns. As Kvapil completed a full cycle around Gateway before he led the next lap, Creed maintained the runner-up spot in front of a side-by-side battle for third place between Love and Mayer while Gray also tried to join the battle. Love would outduel Mayer for third place and overtake Creed for the runner-up spot over the next two laps as Kvapil maintained the lead by three-tenths of a second with 20 laps remaining.
Then with 17 laps remaining, Love, who had been reeling in Kvapil, seized an opportunity by driving to the rear of Kvapil’s entry through Turns 3 and 4 before the latter dueled with the former through the frontstretch. As both Creed and Mayer joined the battle, Love made the inside lane work to his advantage through the first two turns and resumed the lead. As Love led by four-tenths of a second with 15 laps remaining, Creed and Mayer overtook Kvapil for second and third, respectively, while Gray trailed in fifth place by under a second.
Down to the final 10 laps, Love stretched his late lead in his No. 2 Whelen Chevrolet Camaro entry by nine-tenths of a second over Creed while Mayer and Gray trailed by a second. Meanwhile, Kvapil lost fifth place to Austin Hill as Retzlaff, Crews, Sammy Smith and Kyle Sieg were racing in the top 10, respectively. Another five laps later, Hill made a second unscheduled pit stop under green to have a right-side tire addressed. With Hill dropping out of contention, Love continued to lead by more than a second over Creed.
When the white flag waved and the final lap started, Love remained in the lead by more than a second over Creed. With no competition lurking or reeling in from behind, Love smoothly navigated his way around Gateway for a final time before he cycled back to the front stretch and claimed his first elusive checkered flag of the 2026 season.
With the victory, Love recorded his fourth career win in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series division, his first at Gateway’s World Wide Technology Raceway and his first since he won both the finale and the 2025 championship at Phoenix Raceway this past November. Love, who also became the 12th competitor overall to win an O’Reilly event at Gateway, recorded the 23rd victory of the 2026 O’Reilly season for Chevrolet and the third for Richard Childress Racing.
Love, who entered Gateway situated in sixth place in the Chase standings, jumped two spots to fourth place and he trails the points lead by 16 points. He has seven events remaining to reel in and defend his O’Reilly championship with Richard Childress Racing before he graduates to full-time Cup Series racing with Wood Brothers Racing in 2027.
MADISON, ILLINOIS – SEPTEMBER 12: Jesse Love, driver of the #2 Whelen Chevrolet, celebrates with a burnout after winning the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Nu Way 225 Powered by Bobcat and Sauced by Blues Hog at WWT Raceway on September 12, 2026 in Madison, Illinois. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
“[I] Guess we had to put’em on the dash,” Love said on the frontstretch on the CW Network. “Just proud of our crew. Proud of my pit crew. Proud of my whole Whelen Engineering team…everybody that’s been so involved in repeating a championship this year. It’s been really hard, but I knew that if I keep my grit, if I keep my tenacity, if I keep my work ethic, not just keep it, but improve it, then eventually, one of these opportunities is gonna be there and I’m gonna freakin’ take it, which we freakin’ did tonight…Man, I’m just so grateful.”
Sheldon Creed, winner of last weekend’s Chase opener at Darlington Raceway, settled in the runner-up spot ahead of teammate Sam Mayer, the latter of whom continues his search of his first victory this season. Taylor Gray and Carson Kvapil, the latter of whom led a race-high 105 laps compared to Love’s 70, finished in the top five.
Parker Retzlaff, Brent Crews, Sammy Smith, Kyle Sieg and Jeb Burton completed the top 10 in the final running order. Notably, Crews, Sieg and Burton were the three highest-finishing non-Chasers in the top-10 mark. Meanwhile, the remaining Chasers, including Rajah Caruth, Justin Allgaier, Brandon Jones, Austin Hill and Corey Day, ended up 11th, 13th, 15th, 29th and 33rd, respectively.
The second NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series’ Chase event of the 2026 season featured eight lead changes for four different leaders, and seven cautions for 37 laps. In addition, 27 of 36 starters finished on the lead lap.
Race Results:
Jesse Love, 70 laps led, Stage 2 winner
Sheldon Creed
Sam Mayer
Taylor Gray
Carson Kvapil, 105 laps led, Stage 1 winner
Parker Retzlaff
Brent Crews
Sammy Smith
Kyle Sieg
Jeb Burton
Rajah Caruth
Dean Thompson
Justin Allgaier
Ryan Sieg
Brandon Jones
William Sawalich
Patrick Staropoli
Josh Williams
Brennan Poole
Blaine Perkins
Mason Maggio
Anthony Alfredo
Jordan Anderson
Ryan Ellis
Myatt Snider
Josh Bilicki
Joey Gase
Brad Perez, one lap down
Austin Hill, one lap down, four laps led
Lavar Scott, one lap down
Jeremy Clements, 12 laps down
Austin J. Hill – OUT, Electrical, one lap led
Corey Day – OUT, Accident
Nick Sanchez – OUT, Accident
Harrison Burton – OUT, Accident
Dawson Cram – OUT
*Bold indicates Chase Drivers
Following the second Chase event of the 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season, Sheldon Creed leads the standings by three points over Justin Allgaier, nine points over Carson Kvapil, and 16 over Jesse Love. The rest of the 12-car Chase field is displayed below.
Chase Standings:
Sheldon Creed
Justin Allgaier -3
Carson Kvapil -9
Jesse Love -16
Sam Mayer -61
Austin Hill -61
Sammy Smith -64
Corey Day -69
Brandon Jones -76
Parker Retzlaff -83
Taylor Gray -86
Rajah Caruth -118
Next on the 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series schedule is the Food City 300 at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee. The event is scheduled to occur next Friday, September 18, and air at 7:30 p.m. ET on the CW Network, PRN Radio, and SiriusXM.
Max Reaves (No. 18 Cook Out Toyota) started from the Sioux Chief PowerPEX Pole and led every lap on his way to his fourth ARCA Menards Series win of the season in Saturday’s Spruce 212 at Salem Speedway. This win is the eighth of the year for the Joe Gibbs Racing No. 18 team; they have four wins with Reaves, Elko Speedway, Berlin Raceway, Illinois State Fairgrounds, and tonight at Salem, and four with Giovanni Ruggiero, Daytona International Speedway, Kansas Speedway, Michigan International Speedway, and Pocono Raceway.
ARCA Menards Series championship points leader Jake Bollman (No. 20 Nitro Motorsports Toyota) finished second for the second straight week and fifth time overall in 2026. Bollman also has finished in the runner-up position at Daytona, Michigan, Elko, and last week at DuQuoin State Fairgrounds. He unofficially leads the ARCA Menards Series standings by 13 points over Nitro Motorsports teammate Thomas Annunziata (No. 70 JBL Toyota) with two races remaining.
Annunziata finished seventh after being involved in the race’s ninth caution; he was lapping to the outside of Ben Peterson (No. 06 Peterson Motorsports Ford) when the two made contact, sending Annunziata into a spin and damaging the left front corner of his car. Annunziata’s Shannon Rursch-led team made quick repairs and kept him on the lead lap, allowing him to pick up two positions in the final ten laps.
Hometown favorite Will Kimmel (No. 69 Aviation Tech / Burger Foundation Ford) rallied from brake issues under the first caution flag of the night to finish third. It was Kimmel’s 23rd career top-five finish and his best ARCA Menards Series finish since he finished fourth at Salem in 2024.
Landon S. Huffman (No. 97 Hoosier Daddy / Hoosier Mamma Car Care Products Chevrolet) recovered from a spin at lap 125 and a brush with the wall inside the final 20 laps that left the right rear quarter panel barely hanging on to finish fourth. It’s Huffman’s second top-five finish three career ARCA Menards Series starts; he finished third in his most recent start at Chicagoland Speedway in July.
Isabella Robusto (No. 55 Mobil 1 Toyota) scored her first top-five finish, fifth, since she finished fifth at Berlin Raceway in June; it was her 14th career top-five finish, extending her ARCA Menards Series record for most top-five finishes by a female driver.
Tristan McKee (No. 77 Spectrum Chevrolet) fought back from a broken right front sway bar arm, which was replaced under the second race break of the night, to finish sixth.
Gavan Boschele (No. 25 Toyota Racing Toyota) recovered from a spin caused by a soft right rear tire just before the second race break to finish eighth. Boschele lost two laps as a result, but was helped by two late-race cautions to regain his lead lap status.
Austin Vaughn (No. 91 TMI Gifts / Wood Sales Inc. Ford) received a series record six free passes to finish ninth, the final car on the lead lap.
Carson Brown (No. 28 Grizzly Coolers Chevrolet) spun after contact with Robusto to send the race into overtime. Brown, who has wins this season at Phoenix Raceway and last week at DuQuoin, finished tenth.
There were ten cautions for 61 laps which held the race’s average speed to 64.868 miles per hour.
Reaves’ margin of victory was 0.381 seconds.
The next race for the ARCA Menards Series is Bush’s Beans 200 at the Bristol Motor Speedway on Thursday, September 17. The race, set to begin at 5:30 pm ET, will be televised live on FS1. ARCARacing.com will have live timing & scoring data throughout all on-track activity and live race audio. Follow @ARCA_Racing on X (formerly Twitter) for up-to-the-minute updates.
About ARCA The Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA), founded in 1953 by John and Mildred Marcum in Toledo, Ohio, and acquired by NASCAR in April 2018, is the leading grassroots stock car sanctioning body in the United States. Bridging the gap between NASCAR’s top three national touring series and weekly and regional tour racing all across the country, the organization to sanctions over 100 races per year in the ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East, ARCA Menards Series West, ASA STARS National Tour, ASA CRA Super Series, ASA Midwest Tour, ASA Southern Super Series plus weekly racing at Toledo and Flat Rock Speedways. For more information about ARCA visit , or follow ARCA on Facebook (@ARCARacing) and Twitter (@ARCA_Racing).
About Menards A family-owned and run company started in 1958, Menards is recognized as the retail home center leader of the Midwest with 236 stores in 15 states. Menards is truly a one-stop shop for all of your home improvement needs featuring a full-service lumberyard and everything you need to plan a renovation or build a home, garage, cabin, shed, deck, fence or post frame building. You’ll find a large selection of lumber, roofing, siding, construction blocks, trusses, doors and windows, plus cabinets, appliances, countertops, flooring, lighting, paint, plumbing supplies and more. To complete the job, Menards has quality hand tools, power tools, fasteners, electrical tools plus storage options and supplies for everyone from the weekend warrior to the pro!
Menards has what you need to complete your outdoor projects and keep your yard in tip-top shape including mowers, trimmers, blowers, pressure washers and more, plus a beautiful garden center stocked with plants, shrubs, trees, landscaping tools, grass seed, fertilizer options, outdoor décor and patio furniture. Menards also has everyday essentials like health & beauty products, housewares, pet and wildlife supplies, automotive items and even groceries. And at Christmas, an Enchanted Forest display area with impressive trees, lighting, decorations, ornaments, inflatables and more.
Menards is known for friendly Customer Service and as the place to “Save Big Money” with low prices every day, and sales too! For more information, please visit Menards.com to learn about our store locations, offerings and services.
