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Why many drivers cap online gambling to keep maintenance budgets intact

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SM
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Car ownership already has enough surprise invoices. A tyre puncture on Monday, an MOT retest on Thursday, and a warning light before payday can wipe out a relaxed month. That is why some drivers treat gambling money like screen-wash: measured, limited, and never confused with the repair fund. They know a £300 alternator does not care who had a lucky Friday. Nor does winter rubber. A careful driver leaves fuel, insurance, tax, parking, and servicing money in boring places, because boring places save cars. Entertainment sits in a smaller pot. One driver might read repair quotes first, then browse online slots games on online gambling Azerbaijan alongside trusted casino sites after setting a £20 cap for the week. Then the phone goes down. Simple.

A separate check matters too. Casino sites near belgium online casino show clear deposit options, which helps a driver see the spend before the card is touched. The point is plain: brake pads beat another spin every time.

The garage bill arrives before the fun money

A driver who caps play is not acting gloomy. He is doing basic math. A mid-range set of front brake discs and pads can land near £220 at an independent garage, more if the caliper fights back. Add wheel alignment, wipers, and a bulb, and the little jobs stop looking little.

The car keeps score.

Online gambling has a different rhythm. Small deposits feel harmless because they do not smell like oil or look like a cracked tyre sidewall. A £10 top-up on Friday, another on Saturday night, and one more after football can equal the diagnostic fee for an engine light. Drivers who set a hard cap before opening an app protect the money already promised to the car. They do not need a lecture. They need a number that cannot move after a loss.

Many use separate current accounts. Some still use cash envelopes. Old-fashioned works.

Service schedules punish loose spending

Mileage turns fixed dates into real bills. At 10,000 miles, oil and filters are due. At 40,000, spark plugs, brake fluid, or a timing belt inspection may join the list. A commuter covering 55 miles a day reaches those marks faster than a weekend driver, so the maintenance pot needs steady feeding.

No drama. Just miles.

A gambling cap helps because it turns a soft wish into a rule. The driver decides that £15 or £30 is the weekly ceiling, then treats a lost stake as gone, not as a debt to chase. Chasing is where tyre money disappears. The same pattern shows up after overtime pay, tax refunds, or a match win at the betting shop. Extra cash feels loose. The car, however, is already waiting with wear in the tread and rust on the exhaust clamp.

A cap says, enough for tonight.

Apps make tiny losses feel invisible

Phone payments remove friction. A driver does not see coins leaving a hand or a note missing from a wallet. Tap, face scan, done. That speed is convenient, but it blurs the line between a planned £10 play and four extra deposits during a late match.

Receipts tell the truth.

Some drivers set bank alerts at £5, or block gambling merchant codes after a fixed hour. Others place the gambling app on a second screen, away from maps, fuel apps, and parking tools. The aim is clear distance rather than moral purity. A person standing beside a car with a flat battery will rarely regret skipping one more roulette round. He will regret an empty account at 7 a.m.

Caps work best when they are boring: same amount, same day, no exception for a “sure thing.” Cars love boring owners.

A repair fund needs walls

The cleanest system is physical separation. Maintenance money goes out first, right after wages land. Insurance, tax, expected servicing, and a small emergency buffer sit in a place that gambling apps cannot touch. A normal hatchback can swallow £600 in a bad month without being dramatic: two tires, a battery, and labor will do it.

That bill is real.

After that, entertainment gets its line. If the cap is £25, the driver stops at £25. If the cap is monthly, the app stays shut until the next month. The rule should be written somewhere dull, such as a notes app beside the tyre pressure figures. Dull helps.

The next step is simple. Before the next deposit, a driver can check three numbers: current maintenance balance, next service date, and the cheapest likely repair. If the answer feels tight, the cap drops. The car will not clap, but it will start on Monday. A glovebox note with the cap and the next garage booking sounds silly. It works because it interrupts impulse spending before any payment.

How Does Crazy Time Work | A Beginner’s Guide to the Wheel

By
SM
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A presenter showing a crazy time spinning wheel in the live casino studio.

How Does Crazy Time Work? A Beginner’s Guide

Just scroll through a live casino lobby, and you will find an enormous, colorful wheel being spun by a host via video broadcast. This is Crazy Time – one of the most popular live game shows, and it’s quite understandable why everyone gets hooked from the first minute of watching. But before jumping right into how to play crazy time, it’s crucial for you to understand what’s going on at the wheel.

This guide breaks down how Crazy Time works in plain, simple language. No confusing jargon, no assuming you already know the rules – by the time you finish reading, you’ll understand the wheel, the bonus rounds, and how the betting actually works.

How Does Crazy Time Work? The Basics

Crazy Time uses a huge vertical wheel with 54 segments. Most of these are simple numbers – 1, 2, 5, and 10 – and each one pays out based on the number you bet on. Four special bonus segments make up the rest of the wheel: Coin Flip, Pachinko, Cash Hunt, and Crazy Time itself.

Before every spin, you make a wager based on the segment that you believe the ball is going to land in. This is because betting on a few segments at once is a popular strategy for newbies due to its lower risk.

What Happens After You Bet?

Once betting closes, the host spins the wheel. Land on a number you backed and you win a payout based on that number. Land on one of the four bonus segments instead, and the game shifts into a short bonus round – this is where Crazy Time earns its reputation for big multipliers. 

How Does Crazy Time Work During the Bonus Rounds?

Each bonus segment plays out a little differently:

  • Coin Flip – a two-sided coin lands on one of two multiplier values, and your win carries that multiplier
  • Pachinko – a puck drops down a pin board and lands on a multiplier, or on a “Double” spot that sends it up for another chance
  • Cash Hunt – you pick one symbol from a grid of 108 hidden spots, each hiding its own multiplier
  • Crazy Time – the biggest bonus round; it takes you into a separate virtual space with its own wheel and huge multiplier potential

Once you understand how does crazy time work round to round, the bonus games make a lot more sense, and you’ll start noticing the rhythm the host follows in each one.

Simple Tips for Beginners

Once you get comfortable with how does crazy time work, feel free to experiment a little. Until then, these basics go a long way:

  • Bet small on number segments while you’re still learning the flow of the game
  • Don’t chase big multipliers – treat bonus rounds as a nice surprise, not a plan
  • Watch a few rounds first without betting, just to see how everything unfolds
  • Split small bets across a couple of numbers instead of risking it all on one

Manage Your Playing Funds Wisely & Play Responsibly

Crazy Time can look thrilling with those big multiplier numbers flashing across the screen. It’s still a game of chance, though, and no strategy can guarantee how a round ends. Set a budget before you start, and stick to it no matter how a round goes. If you’re looking for a reliable place to try it, online live casino in india platforms usually list Crazy Time under their live game show section, alongside other well-known titles.

Take breaks between sessions, skip playing when you’re tired or stressed, and never treat it as a way to make up for a loss. Most licensed platforms also offer deposit limits and time-out tools if you want extra control.

Final Thoughts

By now, you have a clear answer to how does Crazy Time works?. It’s a mix of simple number betting and four unpredictable bonus rounds, each with its own way of multiplying your original bet. It is fast-paced, simple to play, and does not require any complex strategy. Hence its popularity in live casino lobby games. Just play it for fun, allocate a budget that you can afford, and then take some breaks. This is actually the best way to go about it.

REIGNING WORLD CHAMP J.R. GRAY WINS IN JBS EQUIPMENT NHRA PRO MOD SERIES AT THE BIG GO IN INDY

By
Official Release
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INDIANAPOLIS (Sept. 7, 2026) – J.R. Gray, the reigning world champion in the JBS Equipment NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Elite Motorsports, enjoyed one of the biggest moments in his career on Monday at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, knocking off Justin Bond to win the prestigious Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals.

This weekend’s event was powered by CFH Superchargers and presented by Shelton Insurance, and marked the eighth of 11 races during the 2026 campaign.

It was also the second of five races in Pro Mod’s Road to the Championship and Gray cashed in on drag racing’s biggest stage, going 5.701-seconds at 252.47 mph in his Al-Anabi Performance Chevrolet Camaro to get past Bond’s 5.759 at 251.72. It is Bond’s sixth NHRA Pro Mod win in his career and his first this season, as he enjoyed a special moment winning Indy for the first time.

“That final round, it was all or nothing,” Gray said. “I want to thank all the guys for their hard work. We had to swap motors after the first round, and we just kept on digging and came out with this Diamond Wally. It’s been hard-fought for us to get to this point and I’m so grateful for my team to get this win and get a little closer to that No. 1 spot (in the standings).”

Gray reached the finals thanks to round wins against Alex Laughlin, Mike Thielen and Billy Banaka.

Bond, who qualified No. 1 at The Big Go, reached the finals for the third time this season thanks to round wins against Chip King, Stan Shelton and Michael Stavrinos.

After two races in the NHRA Pro Mod playoffs, Bond is now the points leader, holding a seven-point advantage over Stavrinos. Banaka is just 10 points out of first, while Bond moved up to fifth, 40 points behind Bond.

The JBS Equipment NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Elite Motorsports returns to action Sept. 25-27 with the NHRA Nationals at the Rock at Rockingham Dragway in Rockingham, N.C.

INDIANAPOLIS — Final finish order (1-16) at the 72nd annual Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park. The race is the eighth of 11 events in the JBS Equipment NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Elite Motorsports.

PRO MODIFIED:

  1. JR Gray; 2. Justin Bond; 3. Mike Stavrinos; 4. Billy Banaka; 5. Stan Shelton; 6. Peter Norton; 7. Derek Menholt; 8. Mike Thielen; 9. Chip King; 10. Rickie Smith; 11. Lyle Barnett; 12. Kevin Rivenbark; 13. Nick Januik; 14. Alex Laughlin; 15. Tony Wilson; 16. Sidnei Frigo.

INDIANAPOLIS — Monday’s final results from the 72nd annual Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park. The race is the eighth of 11 events in the JBS Equipment NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Elite Motorsports.

Pro Modified — JR Gray, Chevy Chevy Camaro, 5.701, 252.47 def. Justin Bond, Camaro, 5.759, 251.72.

INDIANAPOLIS — Final round-by-round results from the 72nd annual Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, the eighth of 11 events in the JBS Equipment NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Elite Motorsports.

PRO MODIFIED:

ROUND ONE — Stan Shelton, Ford Mustang, 5.748, 251.30 def. Lyle Barnett, Chevy Camaro, 5.768, 249.16; Mike Thielen, Mustang, 5.739, 246.35 def. Sidnei Frigo, Chevy Corvette, 10.265, 83.58; Justin Bond, Camaro, 5.669, 252.99 def. Chip King, Dodge Charger, 5.696, 248.84; Derek Menholt, Corvette, 5.739, 249.95 def. Kevin Rivenbark, Mustang, 5.772, 249.07; Billy Banaka, Camaro, 5.743, 253.42 def. Rickie Smith, Mustang, 5.696, 251.63; JR Gray, Camaro, 5.758, 233.56 def. Alex Laughlin, Camaro, 6.039, 242.89; Peter Norton, Camaro, 5.751, 248.29 def. Tony Wilson, Chevy Willys, 6.381, 164.97; Mike Stavrinos, Camaro, 5.715, 251.95 def. Nick Januik, Camaro, 5.775, 251.63;

QUARTERFINALS — Banaka, 5.732, 252.19 def. Norton, 5.775, 248.43; Stavrinos, 5.719, 250.92 def. Menholt, 6.354, 164.39; Bond, 5.684, 254.47 def. Shelton, 5.745, 253.28; J. Gray, 5.729, 245.00 def. Thielen, 9.391, 94.05;

SEMIFINALS — Bond, 5.688, 254.23 def. Stavrinos, 6.020, 195.96; J. Gray, 5.719, 251.53 def. Banaka, Foul – Red Light;

FINAL — J. Gray, 5.701, 252.47 def. Bond, 5.759, 251.72.

INDIANAPOLIS — Point standings (top 10) following the 72nd annual Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, the eighth of 11 events in the JBS Equipment NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Elite Motorsports.

Pro Modified

  1. Justin Bond, 923; 2. Mike Stavrinos, 916; 3. Billy Banaka, 913; 4. Derek Menholt, 908; 5. JR Gray, 883; 6. Stan Shelton, 834; 7. Mike Thielen, 833; 8. Lyle Barnett, 826; 9. Kevin Rivenbark, 805; 10. Jason Collins, 803.

LANGDON, BECKMAN, GLENN & M. SMITH GO BIG EN ROUTE TO WINS AT CORNWELL QUALITY TOOLS NHRA U.S. NATIONALS

By
Official Release
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  • Langdon gets TF victory at The Big Go
  • Beckman powers to FC win
  • Glenn wins Indy for first time
  • M. Smith rolls to PSM victory

INDIANAPOLIS (Sept. 7, 2026) – Shawn Langdon finished off an impressive weekend with a victory on Monday at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, defeating Tony Stewart in the final round of the prestigious 72nd annual Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals.

Jack Beckman (Funny Car), Dallas Glenn (Pro Stock) and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) all won the 14th of 20 races during the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season.

Langdon went 3.804-seconds at 333.99 mph in his 12,000-horsepower SealMaster dragster for Kalitta Motorsports to hold off Stewart’s 3.904 at 315.27, earning his fifth victory in what’s been a standout season for the past world champion.

After qualifying No. 1, Langdon defeated Clay Millican, Justin Ashley and Leah Pruett to reach the final round before picking up his third U.S. Nationals victory. It is Langdon’s 27th career win and he will enter the Countdown to the Championship playoffs second in points, also handing Brian Husen his first Indy win as a crew chief.

Stewart reached the finals at Indy for the second straight year, defeating T.J. Zizzo, Antron Brown and Doug Kalitta, but couldn’t track down Langdon, who posted a strong .048 reaction time and led wire-to-wire to win the biggest race of the season.

“It’s Indy, so it’s exciting for sure,” Langdon said. “For Brian to win his first U.S. Nationals and to step out from working with Alan Johnson the last couple of years and really make his mark makes me happy to be his driver and that I get the opportunity to be a small piece of his success.

“Also, on top of that, a few of the crew guys – it was their first Indy win, so it was special for a lot of people for a lot of reasons. These are hard to come by and the competition is so good. It’s nice to get back in the winner’s circle and it’s always great to win Indy.”

Langdon’s teammate, reigning world champion Kalitta, clinched the regular season championship and the $150,000 prize on Monday, opening the Countdown to the Championship as the points leader.

Funny Car’s Jack Beckman finished off a spectacular two days, following Sunday’s victory in the PlayNHRA Funny Car All-Star Callout with a Monday victory at The Big Go, taking down regular season world champion Matt Hagan in the championship round with a standout run of 3.965 at 327.35 in his 12,000-horsepower PEAK Chevrolet SS for John Force Racing.

Beckman was dominant on Monday, posting the best run of each session and reaching the finals by defeating Jeff Arend, teammate Alexis DeJoria and Austin Prock, who was looking to become the first driver in Funny Car history to win the U.S. Nationals three straight years.

But Beckman, sporting an epic John Force throwback look from his incredible 1996 championship season, couldn’t be denied the past two days, going 3.962 at 327.35 in the semifinals en route to getting his second victory of the 2026 campaign and the 39th of his career.

It’s also his third victory at the U.S. Nationals and following his double-up on Sunday and Monday, it will be a weekend Beckman, who moved to third in points, won’t soon forget.

“I could truthfully tell you this is the greatest weekend I’ve ever had holding the steering wheel,” Beckman said. “This was just a phenomenal weekend. This one might be more significant because we did it in John Force’s tribute car. The car ran once and won once, and then yesterday we did the All-Star Callout, and it ran twice and won twice, and then today we start clicking off the round wins.

“We didn’t really benefit from any luck today. We went out there and we dominated every session. In the final round, it was 127 degrees. I rolled in shallow so the car would have run a 3.96. That’s an exclamation point. Nobody gave us anything this weekend. We went out, and we earned every single win, and it’s the same trophy, but we know how much we kicked butt today.”

Hagan reached the final round for the fourth time this season by defeating Hunter Green, Paul Lee and Ron Capps. The semifinal round against Capps was pivotal, as it handed Hagan the regular season championship and the $150,000 prize, as well as the points lead heading into the Countdown to the Championship.

Pro Stock’s Dallas Glenn knows about winner-take-all dramatics and the reigning world champion delivered yet again on a big stage, winning Indy for the first time and capturing the regular season championship in the process after going 6.599 at 207.56 in his RAD Torque Systems Chevrolet Camaro to knock off Jeg Coughlin Jr. in the final round.

Glenn needed an early exit by Greg Anderson and a victory at The Big Go to win the regular season championship for the second straight year and it all went his way, as Anderson lost in the second round to Coughlin. That laid the groundwork for Glenn, who then knocked off defending event winner Erica Enders to reach the final round.

He quickly tracked down Coughlin, erasing previous Indy disappointments to win the U.S. Nationals and claim the $55,000 prize as the points leader at the end of the regular season. It also gave Glenn his fourth victory of the season and the 25th in his career, as he takes the points lead into the playoffs for a second straight year.

“It’s been a roller coaster because we’ve been fighting the car a little bit and picking away at it. I was just trying to make sure everything was good going into Indy, and I was just coming in here just trying to win the race. I wasn’t thinking about points until Jeg eliminated Greg there in the second round, and I was like, okay, well now the pressure’s on to win the regular season championship,” Glenn said.

“To go into the final round and make another good run to make up for when I went red against Greg Anderson a few years before that, it definitely took a huge weight off my shoulders to be able to check Indy off the list.”

Coughlin reached the finals for the first time this season by defeating Chris Vang, Anderson and No. 1 qualifier Matt Hartford.

In Pro Stock Motorcycle, a dominant weekend for Matt Smith Racing finished in fitting fashion, as six-time world champion Matt Smith defeated his wife, Angie, in the final round with a run of 6.791 at 198.58 on his Denso Auto Parts Buell.

It marks Smith’s fourth career win at Indy and third since the 2022 campaign, as the longtime standout also won for the third time this season. After qualifying No. 1, Smith defeated Chris Bostick, Clayton Howey and reigning world champion Richard Gadson to set up a thrilling matchup with his wife.

Angie advanced to her third final round of the year thanks to round wins against Kelly Clontz, Geno Scali and Gaige Herrera, who had won two straight in Indy. She slowed to a 6.834 at 194.80 in the final round against her husband, as M. Smith earned his 45th career win. As the weekend proved, Smith and his entire team are peaking at a perfect time and he was thrilled to pick up a win on drag racing’s grandest stage.

“We wanted to come up here and win. We wanted to show how good we were and that we’re ready for this Countdown, and I think we put a point on that,” Smith said. “It’s awesome, man. You know, we worked really hard to get back here.

“We did a lot of testing since Norwalk. We did a lot of tests in Rockingham in these hot, humid conditions. We spent two days down there, just nonstop in 100-degree temperatures, and we learned a lot. We learned stuff with the clutches and it made us better for here because I was consistent.”

Gadson claimed the regular season world champion by advancing to the semifinal round, winning the $15,000 prize and taking the points lead into the Countdown to the Championship, where he will try to win back-to-back world titles.

The NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs begin with the inaugural Dodge NHRA Great Lakes Nationals presented by MOPAR, which takes place Sept. 18-20 at U.S. 131 Motorsports Park at Martin, Mich.

-NHRA-

INDIANAPOLIS — Final finish order (1-16) at the 72nd annual Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park. The race is the 14th of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series.

TOP FUEL:

  1. Shawn Langdon; 2. Tony Stewart; 3. Leah Pruett; 4. Doug Kalitta; 5. Antron Brown; 6. Maddi Gordon; 7. Tripp Tatum; 8. Justin Ashley; 9. T.J. Zizzo; 10. Billy Torrence; 11. Will Smith; 12. Josh Hart; 13. Jasmine Salinas; 14. Shawn Reed; 15. Ida Zetterstrom; 16. Clay Millican.

FUNNY CAR:

  1. Jack Beckman; 2. Matt Hagan; 3. Ron Capps; 4. Austin Prock; 5. Paul Lee; 6. Jordan

Vandergriff; 7. Alexis DeJoria; 8. Daniel Wilkerson; 9. J.R. Todd; 10. Chad Green; 11. Hunter Green; 12. Jeff Arend; 13. Spencer Hyde; 14. Julie Nataas; 15. John Smith; 16. Cruz Pedregon.

PRO STOCK:

  1. Dallas Glenn; 2. Jeg Coughlin; 3. Matt Hartford; 4. Erica Enders; 5. Matt Latino; 6. Greg

Anderson; 7. Cody Anderson; 8. Greg Stanfield; 9. Troy Coughlin Jr.; 10. Mason McGaha; 11. Chris Vang; 12. Aaron Stanfield; 13. Shane Tucker; 14. Jerry Tucker; 15. Eric Latino; 16. Kenny Delco.

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:

  1. Matt Smith; 2. Angie Smith; 3. Gaige Herrera; 4. Richard Gadson; 5. Ryan Oehler; 6. Clayton Howey; 7. Michael Ray; 8. Geno Scali; 9. John Hall; 10. Malcolm Phillips Jr.; 11. Chase Van Sant; 12. Steve Johnson; 13. Kelly Clontz; 14. Hector Arana Jr; 15. Marc Ingwersen; 16. Chris Bostick.

INDIANAPOLIS — Monday’s final results from the 72nd annual Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park. The race is the 14th of 20 in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series:

Top Fuel — Shawn Langdon, 3.804 seconds, 333.99 mph def. Tony Stewart, 3.904 seconds, 315.27 mph.

Funny Car — Jack Beckman, Chevy Camaro, 3.965, 327.35 def. Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 4.030, 318.84.

Pro Stock — Dallas Glenn, Chevy Camaro, 6.599, 207.56 def. Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 6.629, 206.51.

Pro Stock Motorcycle — Matt Smith, Buell, 6.791, 198.58 def. Angie Smith, Buell, 6.834, 194.80.

Top Alcohol Funny Car — Sean Bellemeur, Chevy Camaro, 5.486, 266.58 def. Shane Westerfield, Camaro, 5.513, 261.42.

Top Alcohol Dragster — Richie Crampton, 5.255, 272.56 def. T.J. Tindle, 6.896, 132.95.

Competition Eliminator — Donald Thomas, Dragster, 6.950, 163.97 def. Jeff Taylor, Dragster, 21.956, 31.16.

Super Stock — Peter D’Agnolo, Chevy Camaro, 9.603, 122.53 def. Michael Reynolds, Camaro, Foul – Red Light.

Stock Eliminator — Hunter Pierdolla, Chevy Camaro, 10.259, 122.74 def. Ray Thurston, Plymouth Barracuda, 11.003, 117.08.

Super Comp — Brian Harris, Dragster, 8.906, 169.70 def. Kevin Thorp, Dragster, 8.883, 172.41.

Super Gas — Rob Kropfeld, Chevy Camaro, 9.865, 167.38 def. Jordan Pratt, Chevy Corvette, 9.862, 171.84.

Top Sportsman — Brandon Baxter, Dodge Stratus, 6.698, 179.68 def. Doug Gbur, Pontiac GXP, Broke.

Top Dragster — Zach Sackman, Dragster, 6.200, 224.02 def. Thomas Bayer, Dragster, 6.157, 231.87.

Pro Modified — JR Gray, Chevy Chevy Camaro, 5.701, 252.47 def. Justin Bond, Camaro, 5.759, 251.72.

Factory Stock Showdown — Scott Libersher, Chevy Camaro, 7.770, 178.05 def. Jonathan Allegrucci, Ford Mustang, 8.403, 176.44.

Outlaw Street — Scott Taylor, Camaro, 3.703, 205.47 def. Kyle Canion, Camaro, Foul – Red Light.

INDIANAPOLIS — Final round-by-round results from the 72nd annual Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, the 14th of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series:

TOP FUEL:

ROUND ONE — Justin Ashley, 3.750, 329.58 def. Shawn Reed, 4.358, 258.37; Tripp Tatum, 3.731, 332.02 def. Jasmine Salinas, 4.086, 203.12; Tony Stewart, 3.717, 334.40 def. T.J. Zizzo, 3.768, 333.41; Shawn Langdon, 3.709, 340.22 def. Clay Millican, 8.012, 83.38; Doug Kalitta, 3.681, 341.68 def. Will Smith, 3.812, 331.20; Maddi Gordon, 3.763, 336.99 def. Billy Torrence, 3.774, 334.98; Leah Pruett, 3.713, 333.66 def. Josh Hart, 3.869, 282.84; Antron Brown, 3.737, 333.74 def. Ida Zetterstrom, 4.760, 154.92;

QUARTERFINALS — Stewart, 3.740, 336.74 def. Brown, 3.838, 319.82; Pruett, 3.975, 265.38 def. Gordon, 4.126, 216.24; Langdon, 3.791, 323.19 def. Ashley, 4.533, 181.74; Kalitta, 4.209, 210.24 def. Tatum, 4.304, 245.18;

SEMIFINALS — Langdon, 3.816, 332.51 def. Pruett, 5.172, 183.42; Stewart, 3.885, 279.56 def. Kalitta, 5.473, 176.42;

FINAL — Langdon, 3.804, 333.99 def. Stewart, 3.904, 315.27.

FUNNY CAR:

ROUND ONE — Paul Lee, Dodge Charger, 3.925, 326.87 def. Spencer Hyde, Ford Mustang, 4.119, 252.57; Jack Beckman, Chevy Camaro, 3.885, 328.94 def. Jeff Arend, Charger, 4.019, 320.28; Austin Prock, Mustang, 3.917, 330.15 def. Julie Nataas, Toyota GR Supra, 4.515, 195.85; Ron Capps, GR Supra, 3.908, 333.66 def. John Smith, Charger, 4.759, 181.74; Matt Hagan, Charger, 3.917, 333.25 def. Hunter Green, Charger, 4.002, 322.65; Alexis DeJoria, Camaro, 3.937, 326.16 def. Chad Green, Mustang, 3.977,

321.73; Jordan Vandergriff, Camaro, 3.908, 331.61 def. J.R. Todd, GR Supra, 3.908, 336.07; Daniel Wilkerson, Mustang, 3.942, 324.59 def. Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 5.071, 145.63;

QUARTERFINALS — Hagan, 3.959, 330.96 def. Lee, 4.007, 323.66; Capps, 3.989, 320.97 def. Wilkerson, 7.835, 98.32; Beckman, 3.924, 329.75 def. DeJoria, 5.323, 137.44; Prock, 3.935, 328.86 def. Vandergriff, 4.055, 314.46;

SEMIFINALS — Hagan, 4.020, 327.35 def. Capps, 9.500, 69.72; Beckman, 3.962, 327.35 def. Prock, 10.328, 83.63;

FINAL — Beckman, 3.965, 327.35 def. Hagan, 4.030, 318.84.

PRO STOCK:

ROUND ONE — Greg Stanfield, Chevy Camaro, 6.581, 207.94 def. Eric Latino, Camaro, Foul – Red Light; Matt Latino, Camaro, 6.570, 207.66 def. Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 6.568, 208.33; Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.583, 208.65 def. Jerry Tucker, Camaro, 6.598, 206.61; Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 6.595, 207.91 def. Chris Vang, Camaro, 6.585, 206.99; Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.568, 208.94 def. Kenny Delco, Camaro, Foul – Red Light; Cody Anderson, Camaro, 6.573, 207.05 def. Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.589, 206.76; Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.570, 207.56 def. Mason McGaha, Camaro, 6.579, 208.49; Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.573, 207.50 def. Shane Tucker, Camaro, 6.596, 207.85;

QUARTERFINALS — Enders, 6.691, 208.65 def. C. Anderson, 7.752, 140.08; Coughlin, 6.622, 207.43 def. G. Anderson, 6.621, 207.72; Glenn, 6.596, 207.82 def. M. Latino, 6.581, 207.94; Hartford, 6.580, 209.17 def. G. Stanfield, Foul – Red Light;

SEMIFINALS — Glenn, 6.607, 207.50 def. Enders, 13.826, 62.51; Coughlin, 6.643, 207.34 def. Hartford, 6.856, 207.98;

FINAL — Glenn, 6.599, 207.56 def. Coughlin, 6.629, 206.51.

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:

ROUND ONE — Clayton Howey, Suzuki, 6.857, 195.42 def. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.878, 194.16; Angie Smith, Buell, 6.780, 198.99 def. Kelly Clontz, Suzuki, 6.895, 196.02; Michael Ray, Buell, 6.809, 198.50 def. Chase Van Sant, Suzuki, 6.869, 195.34; Geno Scali, Suzuki, 6.869, 195.19 def. John Hall, 6.840, 196.82; Ryan Oehler, 6.788, 198.79 def. Malcolm Phillips Jr., Suzuki, 6.846, 196.67; Richard Gadson, Suzuki, 7.073, 196.50 def. Marc Ingwersen, Foul – Red Light; Matt Smith, Buell, 6.744, 197.19 def. Chris Bostick, Suzuki, 6.959, 188.75; Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 6.781, 199.29 def. Hector Arana Jr,

Foul – Red Light;

QUARTERFINALS — Gadson, 6.856, 196.76 def. Oehler, 6.841, 197.25; A. Smith, 6.796, 198.50 def. Scali, 6.905, 195.19; Herrera, 6.809, 197.83 def. J. Evaristo, 6.886, 196.93; M. Smith, 6.762, 199.88 def. Howey, 6.863, 194.94;

SEMIFINALS — A. Smith, 6.794, 199.14 def. Herrera, 6.791, 198.93; M. Smith, 6.773, 200.26 def. Gadson, 6.878, 197.25;

FINAL — M. Smith, 6.791, 198.58 def. A. Smith, 6.834, 194.80.

INDIANAPOLIS — Point standings (top 10) following the 72nd annual Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, the 14th of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series –

Top Fuel

  1. Doug Kalitta, 1,352; 2. Shawn Langdon, 1,344; 3. Leah Pruett, 1,095; 4. Tony Stewart, 900; 5. Antron Brown, 893; 6. Maddi Gordon, 863; 7. Josh Hart, 754; 8. Billy Torrence, 710; 9. Justin Ashley, 691; 10. Clay Millican, 589.

Funny Car

  1. Matt Hagan, 1,083; 2. Ron Capps, 1,056; 3. Jack Beckman, 1,043; 4. Jordan Vandergriff, 1,014; 5. J.R. Todd, 966; 6. Austin Prock, 890; 7. Alexis DeJoria, 822; 8. Chad Green, 807; 9. Daniel Wilkerson, 695; 10. Spencer Hyde, 667.

Pro Stock

  1. Dallas Glenn, 1,235; 2. Greg Anderson, 1,230; 3. Greg Stanfield, 1,025; 4. Matt Hartford, 991; 5. Erica Enders, 842; 6. Matt Latino, 798; 7. Jeg Coughlin, 787; 8. Aaron Stanfield, 783; 9.

Cody Anderson, 657; 10. Troy Coughlin Jr., 645.

Pro Stock Motorcycle

  1. Richard Gadson, 795; 2. Matt Smith, 726; 3. Gaige Herrera, 723; 4. Angie Smith, 715; 5. John Hall, 461; 6. Ryan Oehler, 426; 7. Chase Van Sant, 416; 8. Jianna Evaristo, 407; 9. Clayton Howey, 393; 10. Steve Johnson, 358.

Why the first inch is the hardest lift a scissor car lift ever makes

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SM
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The jobs that get scheduled before the salt goes down

Early September is when American garages fill with work that has a deadline attached. Brake lines get inspected, undercoating goes on, and summer tires come off before the first road salt. Every one of those jobs starts the same way: the car has to come off the ground. A scissor car lift does that in a footprint a two-post cannot match, which is why it keeps showing up in home shops and small service bays.

What surprises people who use one for the first time is where the effort actually goes.

The arms start almost flat, and that is the whole problem

A scissor mechanism is a pair of crossed arms driven by a hydraulic cylinder. The cylinder does not push the car upward. It pushes the arms apart horizontally, and the geometry converts that into vertical travel.

Nearly closed, the arms sit almost flat. At that angle, a large horizontal push produces a very small vertical rise, so the cylinder works at its worst mechanical advantage exactly when it has to break the full weight of the car off the ground.

How does a scissor lift work once the arms pass halfway open

The ratio improves as the angle opens. Past halfway, the same cylinder force produces noticeably more lift, which is why the platform seems to speed up near the top.

Anyone asking how does a scissor lift work usually assumes the hydraulics are strongest at full extension. It is the reverse: peak pressure occurs in the first few inches, and cylinder sizing is set by that moment, not the rated height.

A portable scissor car lift trades setup time for floor space

Portability is not free. A portable scissor car lift has to be positioned and checked for level every time it moves, because the arms transmit an uneven floor straight into the platform as a twist.

The compensation is a clear bay when the lift is not in use. For a shop that also welds, stores a project car, or parks a second vehicle overnight, that floor space is worth more than the setup minutes.

Lift points decide where the load enters the car

The pads meet the vehicle at manufacturer-designated points where the frame or reinforced pinch weld can accept a concentrated load. Elsewhere, that same force lands on sheet metal never meant to carry it.

Getting this wrong rarely fails immediately. It bends a sill or crushes a seam, and the damage is found later by someone who was not there.

What a mid rise scissor car lift gives up for its height

A mid rise scissor car lift stops well short of standing height, and the trade is specific rather than general:

  • Wheels and brakes: full access, comfortable working height
  • Exhaust and driveline: reachable, but seated or kneeling
  • Transmission work: not practical at this height

Knowing which of those three the shop does most often settles the choice faster than comparing capacity figures — the equipment guidance from TMG Industrial makes the same point about matching lift height to the job rather than the vehicle.

Two changes worth watching in the mid-rise class

Wireless controls are moving down from commercial lifts, which matters because the operator can stand where the pads are visible. Wider platform pads are also becoming common as vehicle weights climb.

Neither changes the selection order. Decide which jobs the lift serves and how much floor the shop can spare, then let those answers set the height before capacity or price enters the conversation.

What on-demand 4WD actually changes about how a utility ATV finds traction

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SM
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Photo by Elievan Junior on Unsplash

The jobs that pile up before the ground freezes

By early September, a Canadian property owner is working against a deadline nobody set on paper. Fence lines need walking, firewood needs moving, culverts need clearing while the ground is still soft. A utility ATV earns its place in those weeks because it carries a load across ground a truck would rut, and a tractor is too wide for.

What separates one machine from another is rarely engine size. It is how the drivetrain decides which wheels get power, and when.

The rear axle does the work until it stops working

In two-wheel drive, an ATV sends everything to the rear. On packed trail, that is the efficient choice: less driveline drag, lighter steering, less tire scrub in turns.

It holds until one rear wheel finds something slick. Torque follows the path of least resistance, so it goes to the spinning wheel rather than the one still gripping. The machine stops moving while the engine keeps working, which is why a stuck ATV sounds busy.

On-demand 4WD waits for slip, selectable does not

Selectable four-wheel drive asks the operator to predict trouble and engage the front axle before reaching it. On-demand predicts mechanically: the front axle stays disengaged until the system senses the rear turning faster than the front, then couples it in.

The difference is not convenience but timing. A utility ATV with on-demand 4WD engages at the moment traction is actually lost — often earlier than an operator would have chosen, and always earlier than one who forgot.

Utility ATV towing capacity is set by weight transfer, not horsepower

Pulling a loaded trailer shifts weight rearward and lifts load off the front tires — the ones that steer. The same pull that helps traction at the back quietly reduces control at the front.

So utility ATV towing capacity is a chassis and hitch figure, not an engine one. The limit arrives when tongue weight unloads the front end, not when the motor runs out.

What an ATV front differential lock adds on top

On-demand 4WD gets power to the front axle. It does not decide how that power splits between the front wheels, and an open differential still hands it to whichever is slipping.

An ATV front differential lock closes that gap by forcing both front wheels to turn together. It costs turning ability while engaged, which is why it is a switch rather than a permanent setting:

  • Open front: normal steering, one wheel can spin
  • Locked front: both wheels pull, wide turning
  • Rear locked: strong drive, heavy trail damage

Where the load sits decides whether any of it helps

One operator hauling fence posts kept losing traction on a mild grade until the load moved from the rear rack to the front. The drivetrain had not changed; the weight over the wheels had.

Traction aids only redistribute what is already there. On soft ground, tire pressure and load placement change the outcome more than any setting — the equipment guidance from TMG Industrial makes the same point about matching tires to the season rather than to the machine.

Two shifts worth watching in the utility class

Electronic power steering is moving into mid-displacement machines, which matters most when a front differential lock is engaged and the wheel fights back. Sealed cargo boxes are also becoming standard rather than an accessory.

Neither changes how a utility ATV should be chosen. Decide what it has to pull and where, then let those two answers set the drivetrain before displacement or price enters the conversation.

ARCA Menards Series at DuQuoin State Fairgrounds: Audubon Park 100 Post-race Notes

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Official Release
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  • Carson Brown (No. 28 Klean Freak Chevrolet) dominated the ARCA Menards Series Audubon Park 100 at DuQuoin State Fairgrounds to score his second series victory of the season. Brown, who also won in his ARCA Menards Series debut earlier this season at Phoenix Raceway, started from the Sioux Chief PowerPEX Pole Award in qualifying earlier in the day and led the most laps en route to the victory.
  • ARCA Menards Series championship points leader Jake Bollman (No. 20 Nitro Motorsports Toyota) avoided several opportunities to become involved in other drivers’ problems to finish second, matching his career best set in the season opener at Daytona International Speedway and matched at Michigan International Speedway and Elko Speedway. He unofficially extends his lead in the standings over his Nitro Motorsports teammate Thomas Annunziata (No. 70 JBL Audio Toyota) to eight points with three races remaining.
  • Home state favorite Kelly Kovski (No. 16 Brandt Ag / Schluckebeir Farms / Allgaier Performance Chevrolet) swapped paint with Gavan Boschele (No. 25 Toyota Racing Toyota) over the final two laps and even bounced off the outside wall in a drag race to the checkered flag to finish third. Kovski, who has raced the two ARCA Menards Series dirt races for 20 years, has stated this would be his final dirt race in the series.
  • Boschele took the lead from Brown on lap 87 and led until a Brown reassumed the lead on the final restart of the day at lap 93; he was pushed out of the groove in turns three and four and gave up three positions and faded to fourth, where he ended up at the finish.
  • Annunziata recovered from an early-race spin to finish fifth, his twelfth consecutive top-ten finish and his tenth top-five finish of the season.
  • Taylor Reimer (No. 77 Buzzballs Chevrolet) spun on her qualifying lap and started shotgun on the 24-car field, but raced through the field to the top ten within the first dozen laps. She dropped two laps off the pace early in the race due to overheating issues but was able to earn the free pass on two late-race cautions. She raced from the final car on the lead lap in tenth to sixth over the final eight laps.
  • The Kitzmiller family, Jason (No. 97 A.L.L. Construction / Carter CAT Chevrolet) and Isaac (No. 79 A.L.L. Construction / Carter CAT Chevrolet) finished seventh and eighth. Jason recovered from involvement in the first two cautions of the night while Isaac raced near the front of the field all night before being pushed into the loose dirt in turns three and four on a restart and losing a handful of positions.
  • Chase Howard (No. 89 Two Fellas Moving Chevrolet) finished ninth, his second career top-ten finish; he finished seventh at DuQuoin in 2025.
  • Ryan Vargas (No. 91 Castle Pack Products Chevrolet) finished tenth, the last driver on the lead lap. Based on his finish, Vargas earned the 2026 CGS Imaging Four Crown championship which encompasses races at Talladega Superspeedway, Toledo Speedway, Watkins Glen International, and DuQuoin.
  • There were 7 cautions for 39 laps which held the average speed to 73.111 miles per hour.
  • There were 8 lead changes among 5 drivers.
  • Brown’s margin of victory 4.137 seconds.
  • The next race for the ARCA Menards Series is the Spruce 212 at the Salem Speedway on Saturday, September 12. The race, set to begin at 8 pm ET, will be televised live on FOX. 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.

Wood Brothers Racing – Race Report: Darlington Raceway

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Official Release
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Event: Cook Out Southern 500

Location: Darlington Raceway, Darlington, South Carolina

Date: Sunday, September 6, 2026

Start: 14th

Finish: 7th

Josh Berry and the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane team earned their sixth consecutive top-10 finish with a seventh-place result in Sunday night’s Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway.

The finish continued an impressive stretch for Berry and the Wood Brothers Racing team, which has now recorded six straight top-10s dating back to Indianapolis Motor Speedway in late July.

With practice and qualifying cancelled due to weather, Berry lined up 14th based on NASCAR’s metric and steadily worked his way forward throughout the 500-mile event.

Berry spent much of the opening stage inside the top 15 before finishing the segment in 11th. The Motorcraft/Quick Lane Mustang Dark Horse continued to improve as the race progressed, with Berry moving into the top 10 during Stage 2 and earning four stage points with a seventh-place finish.

The No. 21 became an even bigger factor during the final segment as Berry raced his way into the top five and remained there for much of the closing portion of the race.

A brief rain delay set up the final round of pit stops, with Berry coming to pit road from inside the top five for fresh tires. Several competitors elected to remain on track, putting Berry eighth for the ensuing restart.

After briefly falling outside the top 10, Berry began working his way back through the field. He moved into seventh with 12 laps remaining and held the position through the finish, giving the Motorcraft/Quick Lane team another strong result on one of the NASCAR Cup Series’ most demanding nights.

“It was a lot of fun,” Berry told reporters at the track. “There were a couple of runs where I thought we were super, super good. I just struggled a little bit firing off, but the trade-off of that was we were kind of always moving forward throughout the runs and then just how the race played out at the end.”

Berry felt taking tires following the rain delay was the right decision, although the restart didn’t unfold quite as he had hoped.

“I probably should have picked the top, but all-in-all the guys did a really good job. We had a really solid car for no practice. That’s all you can ask for.”

Berry’s seventh-place finish made him the highest-finishing driver outside the Chase field in the opening race of the 10-race championship stretch. While pleased to keep the team’s top-10 streak intact, he felt the strength of the No. 21 throughout the night left an opportunity for an even better result.

“But I feel like there was more out there tonight,” he said.

Berry and the Wood Brothers team will look to carry their momentum to World Wide Technology Raceway near St. Louis for Sunday’s Enjoy Illinois 300 on the 1.25-mile oval.

Team Penske NASCAR Cup Series Race Report – Darlington

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Official Release
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Cook Out Southern 500
Darlington, South Carolina – September 6, 2026

AUSTIN CINDRIC No. 2 DISCOUNT TIRE FORD MUSTANG DARK HORSE

START: 6TH STAGE 1: 8TH STAGE 2: 10TH FINISH: 13TH POINTS: 14TH

RACE RUNDOWN: Austin Cindric and the No. 2 Discount Tire team finished 13th in Sunday night’s Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway after spending much of the 367-lap event inside the top 10. Cindric started sixth after inclement weather canceled Saturday’s practice and qualifying sessions and the lineup was set per the NASCAR Rulebook. He moved to fourth by the Lap 35 competition caution while reporting that the balance of his Ford Mustang Dark Horse was close, despite being on edge from a ride-quality standpoint. Cindric settled into the top 10 through the remainder of the opening stage as the team worked to improve a free condition on corner entry, ultimately finishing Stage 1 in the eighth position. Cindric continued to battle inside the top 10 throughout Stage 2 as the No. 2 team made air pressure adjustments to improve stability and overall balance. He finished the stage 10th before a quick stop by the crew gained three positions on pit road for the start of the final stage. Cindric reported his Ford fired off the best it had all night following the restart and continued to maintain position near the front of the field. He made a scheduled green-flag stop on Lap 279, just a few laps before the caution flag was displayed, but remained on track. A late caution followed by a red flag for rain with 30 laps remaining shuffled the running order and ultimately positioned Cindric on the outside of the front row for the ensuing restart. He battled through the closing laps before taking the checkered flag in the 13th position.

CINDRIC’S THOUGHTS: “I thought we had a pretty solid night overall with our Discount Tire Ford Mustang. We were able to run inside the top 10 for a lot of the race, score a few stage points and continue to work on the balance throughout the night. The finish probably doesn’t reflect where we were for most of the race, but there are definitely some positives to take away from it. It’s a long 10 weeks, and we’ll keep building on it and go to Gateway looking for a little more.”

RYAN BLANEY No. 12 MENARDS/RICHMOND FORD MUSTANG DARK HORSE

START: 24TH STAGE 1: 5TH STAGE 2: 6TH FINISH: 4TH POINTS: 3RD

RACE RUNDOWN: Ryan Blaney and the No. 12 Menards/Richmond Water Heaters Ford Mustang Dark Horse started 24th and finished fourth in Sunday’s Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. With practice and qualifying canceled due to weather, Blaney steadily worked his way through the field, overcoming a tight-handling condition early in the race to position himself inside the top five by the end of Stage 1. Following a scheduled competition caution on Lap 35, Blaney climbed to eighth by Lap 48 despite reporting the car was tight, particularly running the high side of the track. The No. 12 team made routine adjustments during pit stops, helping Blaney finish the opening stage in fifth place. In Stage 2, the No. 12 remained a consistent contender near the front, running as high as fourth while balancing changing track conditions and a car that became freer. Blaney concluded Stage 2 in sixth, reporting the car was too tight before the team made another four-tire stop with fuel and air pressure adjustments. Following a short rain delay, the Menards/Richmond Water Heaters Ford Mustang remained in contention as the team continued to adjust in pursuit of a strong finish. Blaney later pitted for four fresh tires and restarted inside the top 10 before making a late charge to secure a fourth-place finish.

BLANEY’S THOUGHTS: “Overall, it was a solid day for us. We scored good stage points and were able to come away with a decent finish. The track changed quite a bit as the sun went down and we got a little tight, so it took us some time to get the balance back where we needed it. The guys stuck with it all night, especially there at the end when we took tires and were able to make up some ground. I’m proud of the effort. We ran all the laps, got a solid result out of it and we’ll keep building from here.”

JOEY LOGANO No. 22 PENNZOIL ULTRA PLATINUM FORD MUSTANG DARK HORSE

START: 13TH STAGE 1: 14TH STAGE 2: 13TH FINISH: 9TH POINTS: 8TH

RACE RUNDOWN: Joey Logano and the No. 22 Pennzoil Ultra Platinum Ford Mustang Dark Horse brought home an eighth-place finish in Sunday’s Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway to open the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Chase for the Championship. Logano spent much of the race battling near the edge of the top 10. After running 11th on Lap 14 and advancing to eighth by Lap 35, Logano reported a loose condition before the competition caution. The handling shifted throughout the opening stage, with the car alternating between tight and free conditions over the course of a run. Following adjustments by crew chief Paul Wolfe and the No. 22 team, Logano noted improvements in both drive-off and center turn, but varying pit strategies and competitors on fresher tires shuffled him back in the running order, resulting in a 14th-place finish in Stage 1. During Stage 2, Logano climbed back to 11th and remained optimistic that the green-flag pit cycle would improve the car’s turning ability. The team elected to make an early pit stop to gain track position, but Logano later reported an intermittent engine issue. Despite the concern, he continued to battle inside the top 15 and finished Stage 2 in 13th position. In the final stage, the No. 22 team continued making routine service stops and strategic calls to gain track position, with Logano running 11th by Lap 300. Following a short rain delay, the team elected to stay out as track conditions changed, keeping the Pennzoil Ultra Platinum Ford Mustang in contention through the checkered flag. Logano battled over the final 30 laps to bring home an eighth-place finish.

LOGANO’S THOUGHTS: “We fought our own issues there, but it was much better than the last time we were here. We were about a ninth or 10th place car and we finished there. A couple of restarts from the end we kind of drove up there to seventh or so and I’m like, ‘Oooh, I’ve got something.’ And then we tried to stay out and make something happen. Four laps is kind of right at that edge and Larson hung pretty good with clean air, but if you don’t have that it’s pretty tough. We fought and battled to try to just go back to where we were, so it was a net neutral, but then you go and look at the 12 and the 12 got us way back up there to fifth or so. We were ahead of him when the caution came out, but we’re at that spot I think where those risks are well warranted. We didn’t get any stage points, so you kind of have to go for it.”

The NASCAR Cup Series Chase continues next weekend at World Wide Technology Raceway near St. Louis. Catch coverage of the Enjoy Illinois 300 beginning at 3 p.m. ET on USA, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

RFK Racing Darlington II Executive Summary

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Official Release
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RFK RACING
DARLINGTON RACEWAY – EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Date: September 6, 2026
Series: NASCAR Cup Series
Location: Darlington Raceway (1.3 mile egg-shaped oval) – Darlington, SC
Format: 501 miles / 367 laps with three stages. Stage 1: Ends at lap 115, Stage 2: Ends at lap 230, Stage 3: Ends at lap 367
NOTES Qualifying was cancelled due to weather and the starting order was set by the rule book.

RFK Racing RACE SUMMARY: Ryan Preece isn’t satisfied with his Cinderella Daytona story. He wants more. He and the 60 team persevered at Darlington, adjusting throughout the race to dial in the Consumer Cellular Ford Mustang and capture a top ten finish in the Chase opener. While Preece led the Roush Fenway Keselowski (RFK) trio, teammates Chris Buescher and Brad Keselowski fought through adversity. Using strategy and determination Buescher and crew chief Scott Graves overcame a bent toe link to turn in a 20th place finish. Team owner / driver Brad Keselowski clawed his way back from an early race incident to finish 23rd.

DRIVER HIGHLIGHTS

Ryan Preece – No. 60 Consumer Cellular Ford Mustang Dark Horse

Finish: 10th
Start: 3rd
Laps Led: —
Stage Results: S1-7th, S2-20th
Headline takeaway: Ryan Preece clawed and scrapped his way back from at one point being a lap down, to rally to strong top ten finish in the Chase opener. In the process Preece has moved up one spot in the standings.

Preece Quote: “It was definitely a team effort. I thought the Consumer Cellular Ford Mustang was good, not phenomenal. But (crew chief) Derrick (Finley) kept working on it, and some nghts you’ve got to persevere like this. So thanks to Derrick, the guys and everybody on the pit crew for putting together a good night when we needed it and just keep plugging away. Nine more and I feel good about Gateway so I’m looking forward to it.”

Chris Buescher – No. 17 Kroger / Gold Peak Ford Mustang Dark Horse

Finish: 20th
Start: 35th
Laps Led: —
Stage Results: S1-17th, S2-30th
Headline takeaway: In the midst of an incredible charge through the field, working his way from 35th starting position into the top 15, Buescher sustained damage that cost track position. Buescher never wavered and after the 17 team made repairs he recovered to finish 20th.

Buescher Quote: “We had good fire off and got going and were able to pass a ton of cars after unfortunately getting qualifying rained out, so it was a big start. We kind of got rolling there. I don’t know where we were running exactly, but I had a moment off four and got the fence and bent some rear suspension and spent most of the race just hanging on until we had a chance to fix it under yellow. That was all of the second stage waiting and then we finally got it fixed and was just trying to get our laps back. We finally got them there with 30 laps to go and just didn’t have enough racing left to recover. It’s unfortunate. I screwed up and I hate it for this team. They had a lot of high hopes coming in here and didn’t get the result out of it. I’m a big fan of what the chase format and the fact that we can still reset and keep digging, but we’re gonna need some phenomenal weeks to really get back in the hunt here after that, which we kind of knew from the get-go that it was gonna take that. A couple more tracks coming up in the immediate future and I really don’t feel like we have any bad ones, so we’ll be in a good spot.”

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

Finish: 23rd
Start: 12th
Laps Led: —
Stage Results: S1-19th, S2–25th
Headline takeaway: A early race collision from behind forced Brad Keselowski into the wall and resulted in a subsequent spin. The 6 rallied afterwards to make up some of the lost ground and finished 23rd.

Keselowski Quote: “We had a good race car early on. We were really good on long runs and were biding out time waiting to make adjustments. It’s a long race and we felt like we had something to work with. Unfortunately we had an incident with another car and it impacted our night. We were playing catchup from there.”

Point Standings:

Buescher: 11th
Preece: 15th
Keselowski: 18th

Next Up:

The next event on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule is September 13 at World Wide Technology Raceway (1.25 Mile egg-shaped oval – Madison, IL). The race begins at 3:00 p.m. EDT with live coverage provided by USA Sports and the Motor Racing Network.

About RFK Racing 

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

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