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ALL-STAR VILLAGE to Debut at Dover Motor Speedway During 2026 NASCAR All-Star Weekend

By
Official Release
-
  • ALL-STAR VILLAGE makes its debut as a new centerpiece of NASCAR All-Star Race weekend at The Monster Mile
  • Attractions such as the Timberworks Lumberjack Show and Red, White & Brew Beer Garden highlight new fan destination
  • Music, personality appearances and NASCAR-themed displays add to the energy all weekend

DOVER, Del. (April 8, 2026) — Dover Motor Speedway’s Fan Zone will expand in a big way during NASCAR All-Star Weekend, May 15-17 with the debut of All-Star Village at The Monster Mile. Serving as a new hub for race weekend, All-Star Village will bring together live entertainment, interactive attractions and NASCAR-themed displays, giving fans even more to explore across the property.

Spanning more than two acres and located just steps from the Monster Monument and adjacent to Miles Beach, All-Star Village helps create the largest active Fan Zone footprint in Speedway history, adding even more entertainment, energy and space for fans throughout race weekend.

“All-Star Village brings a whole new level of fun and energy to race weekend,” said Mike Tatoian, President of Dover Motor Speedway. “We’re thrilled to create an expanded space for fans to explore, interact and celebrate as we host the All-Star Race for the very first time at The Monster Mile. With the addition of All-Star Village, we are expanding by more than two acres, creating the largest Fan Zone footprint we’ve ever had and giving fans even more to experience throughout race weekend. With the added footprint, it means more food and beverage, entertainment, interactive attractions and displays. All-Star Village will be a can’t-miss experience for everyone joining us in May.”

All-Star Village will be located adjacent to the Speedway’s Fan Zone, in the grassy area formerly known as “The Grove,” and will be open throughout race weekend.

All-Star Village Hours:
Friday, 12 noon to 5 p.m.
Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sunday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Dover Motor Speedway’s Fan Zone is FREE to the public. Fans can find the latest Fan Zone updates and announcements at DoverMotorSpeedway.com/fans/fan-zone/.

FEATURED ALL-STAR VILLAGE ATTRACTIONS

Timberworks Lumberjack Show: Featuring professional lumberjacks with experience competing across North America, the Timberworks Lumberjack Show brings authentic timber sports to The Monster Mile. Their performers have appeared on ESPN’s Great Outdoor Games, STIHL Timbersports Series and ABC’s Wide World of Sports, delivering fast-paced demonstrations of traditional skills like axe throwing, log rolling, speed climbing and chainsaw cutting throughout the weekend.

Red, White & Brew Beer Garden: Grab a cold drink and take a break in All-Star Village at Red, White & Brew. Featuring a 2-level Busch Light bar and ample seating, this centrally located hub will become a destination to relax and recharge with friends and race fans.

Driver Signage Display: Fans can find and support their favorite drivers with signage featuring every competitor in the NASCAR All-Star Race and their top career achievements. It’s a great way to celebrate the stars of the sport and capture photos throughout the village.

All-Star Highlights Display: From “One Hot Night” to “The Pass in the Grass,” relive some of the most memorable moments in All-Star Race history. This interactive display takes fans through the history of the NASCAR All-Star Race, exploring the excitement, drama and legacy that have defined one of NASCAR’s most unique events.

Track Flags Display: All 26 NASCAR Cup Series tracks will be represented throughout All-Star Village with their official track flags on display, adding color and personality to the village atmosphere.

Music and Appearances: A live DJ will be spinning your favorite songs throughout the weekend and keeping the energy high as fans move through All-Star Village. Fans can also expect driver appearances and special guest appearances throughout the weekend, adding even more excitement to the experience.

Roaming Performers: Performers will be moving throughout All-Star Village all weekend, interacting with fans and popping up throughout the area.

Kiss My Axe: Step right up and test your aim with six lanes of axe throwing fun. Open all weekend and free to play, it’s a quick, hands-on activity where fans can compete against friends and family and see how they stack up against the rest.

Cast in Bronze: A one-of-a-kind musical performance, Cast in Bronze features a traveling carillon with 35 bells weighing a combined four tons, all played live by a single performer. Created by internationally trained carillonneur Frank DellaPenna, the act has performed everywhere from Walt Disney World’s Epcot to national television, delivering a visually striking and powerful show unlike anything else at race weekend.

The King’s Hat: A traveling, six-foot-tall handcrafted sculpture celebrating Richard Petty and the Petty family’s rich history in NASCAR, The King’s Hat features iconic imagery from Petty’s legendary career.

Food & Beverage Options: A variety of delicious food and refreshing beverage options will be available throughout All-Star Village, including pretzels, hot dogs, ice cream, root beer floats, orange crushes, among many other great options. It’s an easy stop for fans looking to grab a bite and stay refreshed during race weekend.

World’s Largest Rubber Duck: A fan-favorite returns to The Monster Mile for its third consecutive appearance in the Fan Zone, this time headlining All-Star Village. Towering more than six stories tall, this iconic attraction remains one of the most popular and most photographed spots on property.

Additional All-Star Village entertainment and attractions may be announced in the coming weeks as NASCAR All-Star Weekend approaches.

Dozens of additional Fan Zone attractions and highlights have been previously announced and can be found by visiting DoverMotorSpeedway.com/fans/fan-zone/. Widely regarded as one of the best Fan Zones in all of NASCAR, Dover Motor Speedway continues to deliver a memorable experience unlike any other sporting event.

The 2026 NASCAR All-Star Weekend at Dover Motor Speedway will feature a full slate of NASCAR competition, including the ECOSAVE 200 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race on Friday, May 15, the BetRivers 200 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race on Saturday, May 16, and the NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race on Sunday, May 17. The event marks the first time the All-Star Race will be held in the Northeast and serves as the 108th NASCAR Cup Series race at The Monster Mile.

NASCAR TICKETS:
Visit DoverMotorSpeedway.com to purchase tickets for NASCAR All-Star Weekend, explore camping and parking options, or sign up for email updates.

FOLLOW US:
Follow Dover Motor Speedway on Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok (@MonsterMile) for the latest news and announcements.

HOOD SCOOPS SET TO RETURN TO NHRA PRO STOCK CATEGORY IN 2027

By
Barry Albert
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2015 world champion Erica Enders

INDIANAPOLIS (April 8, 2026) – NHRA officials announced today that hood scoops will return to Pro Stock bodies beginning in the 2027 season, along with removing the single forward-facing throttle body and replacing it with two top-mounted 4-barrel style throttle bodies. This comes from the NHRA Technical Department’s continued effort to add more parity, continue to increase participation and reduce overall long-term costs for teams.

This announcement comes a decade after the Pro Stock category transitioned from two carburetors and hood scoops to electronic fuel injection (EFI) and flat hoods in 2016.

EFI will remain for 2027, but hood scoops will return to the popular category, which has seen strong participation in recent seasons. After extensive discussion with teams, racers, engine builders and crew chiefs, the strong majority were in favor of adding a hood scoop air entry back to Pro Stock cars, starting next season.

By adding the hood scoop back, along with the new dual throttle body EFI setup, the consensus is it will provide a more beneficial and efficient way to tune the cars, with less variation from car to car.

“The general feeling among competitors and stakeholders is the current low/front air-entry setup makes the engines more difficult to tune and creates more variation from car to car than it should,” NHRA Director of Engineering Clinton Snead said. “By adding the hood scoop and top-mounted/dual throttle bodies, it should eliminate those issues, which should help all teams, but especially the smaller and lower-budget teams.

“We’re excited about the return of hood scoops and the addition of dual throttle bodies in Pro Stock. There was considerable momentum from teams, racers and engine builders to make this move, and we believe this should draw added interest from fans as well, returning to more of the classic look fans have associated with the category.

“The class is in a strong place as far as overall participation, and we’re confident this move will only continue to add to the depth and interest in Pro Stock.”

Along with the strong visual element of hood scoops, the addition was made with an eye on increased E.T. performance.

Hood scoops will only be required to meet a limited number of measurement rules, similar to previous guidelines. The 2027 rules package for Pro Stock will also include loosened rules on throttle bodies, manifolds and air inlets.

The new top-mounted dual throttle body rules will be based on dimensional requirements, allowing teams to build their own units or work with outside companies. The manifold rules will also be opened up to allow for increased innovation and performance.

For more information on NHRA, including the 2026 schedule, visit www.NHRA.com.

About Mission Foods

MISSION®, owned by GRUMA, S.A.B. de C.V., is the world’s leading brand for tortillas and wraps. MISSION® is also globally renowned for flatbreads, dips, salsas and Mexican food products. With presence in over 112 countries, MISSION® products are suited to the lifestyles and the local tastes of each country. With innovation and customer needs in mind, MISSION® focuses on the highest quality, authentic flavors, and providing healthy options that families and friends can enjoy together. For more information, please visit https://www.missionfoods.com/

About NHRA

NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. NHRA presents 20 national events featuring the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series and NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, as well as the JBS Equipment NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Elite Motorsports and NHRA Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown™ at select national events. NHRA provides competition opportunities for drivers of all levels in the NHRA Summit Racing Series and NHRA Street Legal™. NHRA also offers the NHRA Jr. Street® program for teens and the Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League® for youth ages 5 to 17. With more than 100 Member Tracks, NHRA allows racers to compete at a variety of locations nationally and internationally. NHRA’s Youth and Education Services® (YES) Program reaches over 30,000 students annually to ignite their interest in automotive and racing related careers. NHRA’s streaming service, NHRA.tv®, allows fans to view all NHRA national events as well as exclusive features of the sport. In addition, NHRA owns and operates three racing facilities: Gainesville Raceway in Florida; Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park; and In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Southern California. For more information, log on to www.NHRA.com, or visit the official NHRA pages on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

NASCAR Bristol Spring Race Weekend Schedule

By
Angie Campbell
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This weekend, NASCAR travels to Bristol Motor Speedway for some short track racing on the famed 0.533-mile concrete oval.
Kyle Busch leads all active drivers with 38 Cup Series starts at Bristol. He is followed by Denny Hamlin (37), Joey Logano (31), Brad Keselowski (29), and Michael McDowell (28).

Notes:

Kyle Larson is the defending Cup Series race winner. Alex Bowman won the pole at the 2025 spring race at Bristol.

Justin Allgaier will substitute as driver of the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet in the Food City 500 for Bowman

Cup Series regular Kyle Busch will also compete in the Craftsman Truck Series race in the No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will make his third career Craftsman Truck Series start of 2026 at Bristol in the No. 4 Niece Motorsports Chevrolet.

Ross Chastain (Niece Motorsports) and Daniel Suárez (Spire Motorsports) will also participate in the Truck Series event.

Triple Truck Challenge:

The Tennessee Army National Guard 250 at Bristol will be the final race of this season’s Triple Truck Challenge. Corey Heim won the first two races and has already collected $150,000. If he wins at Bristol on Friday evening, his total bonus for winning all three races will be $500,000.

• Win 1 Race: $50,000 bonus ✓
• Win 2 Races: $150,000 total bonus ✓
• Win 3 Races: $500,000 total bonus

O’Reilly Series Dash 4 Cash:

The O’Reilly Series Dash 4 Cash begins this weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway with participants William Sawalich, Brandon Jones, Justin Allgaier and Rajah Caruth.

Win 1 Race: $100,000 bonus and transfer to the next Dash 4 Cash race

The next three highest-finishing O’Reilly Series regulars in the race at Bristol qualify to participate in the next Dash 4 Cash race and the opportunity to win another $100,000.
The rules remain the same for the following Dash 4 Cash races:

• Race 1: Bristol Motor Speedway (April 11).
• Race 2: Kansas Speedway (April 18).
• Race 3: Talladega Superspeedway (April 25).
• Race 4: Texas Motor Speedway (May 2).

Friday, April 10

3:30 p.m.: Truck Series Practice – FS2
4:35 p.m.: Truck Series Qualifying – FS2
7:30 p.m.: Truck Series Tennessee Army National Guard 250
Stages end on laps: 65-130-250
FS1/SiriusXM Purse: $839,700
Post Race: NASCAR Press Pass

Saturday, April 11

2 p.m.: O’Reilly Series Practice – CW App
3:05 p.m.: O’Reilly Series Qualifying – CW App
4:30 p.m.: Cup Series Practice – Prime/PRN/SiriusXM
5:40 p.m.: Cup Series Qualifying – Prime/PRN/SiriusXM
Post Cup Series Qualifying: NASCAR Press Pass

7:30 p.m.: O’Reilly Series Suburban Propane 300
Stages end on laps: 85-170-300
CW/PRN/SiriusXM$1,753,590 Purse: $1,753,590
Post Race: NASCAR Press Pass

Sunday, April 12

3 p.m.: Cup Series Food City 500
Stages end on laps: 125-250-500
FS1/PRN/SiriusXM
Purse: $11,233,037
Post Race: NASCAR Press Pass

*All times are Eastern.

Common Questions People Ask About Junk Cars in Rhode Island

By
SM
-
Photo by Karlee Heck pexels.com

If you have an old vehicle sitting in your driveway, garage, or backyard, you are not alone in wondering what to do with it. In Rhode Island, many people hold on to junk cars longer than they should because they are unsure about the process, the paperwork, or the value. Most of those concerns come down to a few common questions, and once you understand the answers, it becomes much easier to figure out your next step.

What Counts As A Junk Car In Rhode Island?

A junk car is not always a wrecked vehicle that cannot move. In many cases, it is simply a car that costs more to fix than it is worth, has major mechanical issues, failed inspection, or has been sitting unused for a long time. Some vehicles still start and drive, but repairs, rust, or damage have made them too impractical to keep. Once you reach that point, exploring options for fast cash for junk cars in Rhode Island may feel like the simplest way to move on from a vehicle you no longer use.

The definition often depends more on condition and value than appearance alone. A car with transmission trouble, flood damage, a blown engine, or missing parts may still have scrap or resale value, even if it is no longer roadworthy. If you are spending money just to keep it parked, it may already fit the category better than you think.

Do You Need A Title To Sell A Junk Car?

One of the first questions people ask is whether they need a title before selling an unwanted vehicle. In most cases, having the title makes the process easier because it proves ownership and helps prevent delays. If the car has been sitting for years and you cannot find the title, that is something worth dealing with early, instead of waiting until a buyer asks for it.

Even when a vehicle is in poor condition, the paperwork still matters. Buyers want to know the car can be transferred legally, and sellers want to avoid problems after it leaves the property. If anything about ownership is unclear, sorting it out first usually saves time and makes the sale less stressful.

Is A Junk Car Still Worth Anything?

Many people assume an old car has no value once it stops running, but that is not always true. Junk cars can still be worth money because of their metal, parts, and demand in the local market. The amount often depends on the make, model, age, condition, and whether the car is complete. A vehicle with severe damage may still hold value if it has usable components.

It also helps to remember that value is not only about driving conditions. A car may be worth something because of its catalytic converter, wheels, battery, body panels, or engine parts, even if the vehicle itself is no longer practical to repair. That is why two junk cars that look equally worn out can receive very different offers.

Can You Sell A Car That Does Not Run?

Yes, a non-running car can still be sold, and that is one reason junk car services exist in the first place. Many sellers worry that if the engine is dead or the battery is gone, nobody will want the vehicle. In reality, many buyers already expect junk cars to have major issues and are prepared to handle non-running vehicles.

What matters more is being clear about the condition. If the car has been sitting, has flat tires, or cannot be started, that information helps the buyer prepare for pickup. Being honest does not hurt your chances of selling. In most cases, it makes the process easier because everyone knows what to expect from the beginning.

What Should You Remove Before The Car Is Picked Up?

Before the vehicle leaves your property, it is smart to check it carefully for personal belongings and documents. People often forget chargers, tools, registration papers, insurance cards, garage door openers, and small valuables in the glove box, trunk, or center console. An old vehicle can easily become a storage space without you realizing how much is still inside.

You should also remove anything that does not need to go with the car, such as personal plates if required, and keep copies of any paperwork connected to the sale. A few minutes of preparation can prevent a lot of stress later. Once the vehicle is gone, it becomes much harder to recover anything left behind.

How Do You Know When It Is Time To Let It Go?

For many people, the hardest part is not the sale itself but deciding when to stop holding on to the car. If the vehicle has become a source of repeated repair bills, takes up space, or has not been used in months, it may be time to move on. Sentiment is understandable, but it does not change the cost of keeping something that no longer serves a purpose.

A practical decision usually comes down to whether fixing the car still makes financial sense. If keeping it only creates more hassle, selling it is often the better choice. Once you answer the common questions and understand your options, the process feels far less confusing.

Final Thoughts Before Selling A Junk Car

Dealing with a junk car often feels more complicated than it really is. Once you understand what qualifies as a junk car, what paperwork matters, what affects value, and how the sale usually works, the decision becomes much easier. Instead of letting the vehicle take up space and cause more stress, you can move forward with a clearer idea of what makes sense for your situation.

In Rhode Island, the key is to stay informed and handle the small details before the sale. When you do that, the process feels more manageable from start to finish. A little preparation can help you avoid delays, protect your paperwork, and make it easier to let go of a car that no longer fits your needs.

The Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway Outlook and Picks

By
SM Staff
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Photo by Christian Gardner for SpeedwayMedia.com

The NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) heads to Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee, for the Food City 500 on Sunday, April 12, at 3 p.m. ET on FS1.

On April 12, 2025, Alex Bowman captured the pole with a lap of 128.675 MPH (14.912 secs.), and Kyle Larson led twice for a race-high 411 of the 500 laps in a dominant run with an emotional NCS victory for the Hendrick Motorsports organization in the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway on Sunday, April 13, 2025.

Track & Race Information for the Food City 500

Season Race #: 8 of 36 (April 12, 2026)
The Purse: $11,233,037
Track Size: 0.533 miles
Banking/Turns: 24-28 degrees
Banking/Frontstretch: 4-8 degrees
Banking/Backstretch: 4-8 degrees
Frontstretch Length:  650 feet
Backstretch Length:  650 feet

Length and Race Stages for the Food City 500

Race Length: 500 laps / 266.5 miles
Stages 1 Length: 125 laps
Stages 2 Length: 125 laps (Ends on Lap 250)
Final Stage Length: 250 laps (Ends on Lap 500)

Who and what should you look out for at Bristol Motor Speedway?

Kyle Busch leads the NCS among active drivers in wins at Bristol with eight victories in 38 starts, and Busch is the youngest Bristol Cup race winner at 21 years, 10 months, 23 days on March 25, 2007.

Active Bristol Winners (7)WinsSeasons
Kyle Busch82019, 2018, 2017, 2011, 2010, 2009 sweep, 2007
Denny Hamlin42024, 2023, 2019, 2012
Kyle Larson32025, 2024, 2021
Brad Keselowski32020, 2012, 2011
Joey Logano22015, 2014
Christopher Bell12025
Chris Buescher12022

The pole or first starting position is the most productive starting position in the field at (27 wins, 21.3%), and more than half of the NCS winners at Bristol have started in the top-five (74 wins, 58.3%). Also, more than three-quarters of the winners started in the top-10 (100 wins, 78.7%).

The deepest in the field that an active race winner has started is 20th, by Chris Buescher in 2022.

A total of 16 different drivers have won from the pole in the NCS at Bristol. The most recent driver to win from the pole or first starting position was Brad Keselowski on March 31, 2020.

Starting PositionWinsWinning %Starting PositionWinsWinning %
12721.3%1343.1%
21511.8%1421.6%
3118.7%1510.8%
4107.9%1710.8%
5118.7%1821.6%

The Driver Picks For Bristol Motor Speedway

  • Christopher Bell has one pole, one win, four top fives, seven top 10s, and a series-best average finish of 10.778.
  • Ryan Blaney has one pole, four top fives, eight top 10s, and an average finish of 17.056.
  • Denny Hamlin has four poles, four wins, 13 top fives, 20 top 10s, and an average finish of 13.459.
  • Kyle Larson has one pole, three wins, eight top fives, 13 top 10s, and an average finish of 11.579.
  • Chase Elliott has one pole, five top fives, nine top 10s, and an average finish of 12.824.

KYLE LARSON READY TO DEFEND HIS VICTORY IN THE SUBURBAN PROPANE 300 SATURDAY NIGHT IN THE O’REILLY AUTO PARTS SERIES

By
Official Release
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Defending Cup Series champion Kyle Larson is returning to Bristol Motor Speedway to defend his O'Reilly Auto Parts Series victory from one year ago.

BRISTOL, Tenn. (April 7, 2026) — Kyle Larson nearly pulled off the mythical Bristol Trifecta in 2025, which has only been accomplished by Kyle Busch in NASCAR history (2010 and 2017), by winning both the Food City 500 Cup Series race and the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race, now with a new sponsor that’s called the Suburban Propane 300. Larson just missed turning the triple when he finished second in last year’s Craftsman Truck race.

Larson is back to try to add another O’Reilly Series victory to his resume and will be driving the No. 88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet entry when the green flag drops Saturday night at The Last Great Colosseum. Another Cup regular will join him as a part of the Suburban Propane 300 starting-lineup under the lights at the famed Tennessee bullring when Cup Series rookie Connor Zilisch takes over the controls of the No. 1 JR Motorsports Chevy.

Larson had a ball last year weaving his way to the victory on the ultra-challenging track, his second in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series at Bristol (also 2018 Food City 300).

“I just love this place, especially in (the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series),” Larson said after winning this race one year ago. “You can move around, and traffic is just a lot of fun. Just felt like when I could get to traffic, I could get to picking people off. But Justin [Allgaier] did a good job kind of hanging with me there that last run. The pressure was on a little bit. We just had a good enough car to get into the lead, stay in the lead, and be good enough in traffic.”

Both Larson and Zilisch will have their hands full with a strong cast of characters who compete each week in the NASCAR O’Reilly Series, including defending series champ and three-time season winner Justin Allgaier, who pilots the No. 7 Chevy for JR Motorsports. Jesse Love, who drives the No. 2 Chevy for Richard Childress Racing will be in the mix of contenders as will Haas Factory Team’s Sheldon Creed, who recently scored his first O’Reilly Series victory. Creed has posted a couple of recent second place finishes at Bristol and will be hungry to cash in for another victory Saturday night.

Creed enjoys racing at Bristol and says the atmosphere there is really second to none.

“I look forward just Bristol in general,” Creed said. “It’s our one and only stadium race track where you feel like you’re in a football or baseball stadium. That’s really cool, and the vibes are always great. The racing is always good. I feel like the last two years they’ve applied resin instead of PJ one, and that really helps the racing.”

Creed says finally getting that hard-earned victory in the series has been a major boost for the team and he’s looking forward to seeing how many more they can win together this season.

“Five years of trying, to finally get that win and then just have some confidence back in myself, the team, having confidence that we can win together,” Creed said. “I feel like it just kind of built some momentum for us, and it’s helped that we’ve been strong most places.”

A whole host of drivers are on the watch list, including Austin Hill, Corey Day, Carson Kvapil, Taylor Gray, Sammy Smith, Brandon Jones, Rajah Caruth, who will be driving the No. 32 Chevy for Jordan Anderson Racing in this event, and Harrison Burton, who is driving the No. 26 for Sam Hunt Racing.

Category rookie Brent Crews, who won the ARCA race at Bristol this past September, and his Joe Gibbs teammate William Sawalich, who earned his breakthrough win last weekend at Rockingham and has a pair of Bristol ARCA wins himself, are definitely at the front of the radar screen for possible winners from the younger generation on Saturday night.

Sawalich entered his rookie year last year with a lot of high expectations but failed to get a win. Now with that first victory past him he feels like more could be on the way.

“Obviously last year did not go to plan,” Sawalich said. “We started to pick it up in the second half of the season and my guys stood behind me and that helped keep my head up after having some back luck and making some mistakes. But I’ve learned from my mistakes and I honestly believe they helped to get where I am now. Even the start for this year hasn’t gone great, but I have a lot of confidence going to Bristol and I think our points situation is good. This team is showing what we can do now.”

The race weekend kicks off with the Craftsman Trucks on the Bristol high banks on the evening of April 10 for the Tennessee Army National Guard 250 Truck Race (7:30 p.m., FS1, PRN Radio, SiriusXM Radio); On Saturday, April 11, it will be action-packed with the Suburban Propane 300 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race (7:30 p.m., The CW, PRN Radio, Sirius XM Radio) and Bush’s Beans Qualifying for both the Cup Series and O’Reilly Auto Parts Series; The tradition-rich Food City 500 NASCAR Cup Series race will thrill fans on Sunday afternoon, April 12 (3 p.m., FS1, PRN Radio, Sirius XM Radio) and bring the fun weekend to a triumphant finish.

In addition to cheering on their favorite drivers on the track, fans at Bristol Motor Speedway will want to take advantage of so many activities to make a complete weekend of family fun. There will be great video entertainment provided by Colossus TV, the world’s largest center-hung video screen, plenty of music throughout the event including post-race concerts Friday and Saturday night and a pre-race concert Sunday before driver introductions, premium VIP experiences, tailgating, on-site camping, a pre-race track walk on the legendary oval, and other entertainment at the Food City Fan Zone Stage headlined by Trackside Live with Kenny Wallace and John Roberts, great food and beverages in the concession stands throughout the property, and so much more.

Fans can purchase tickets to the Food City 500 weekend of races or any events at Bristol Motor Speedway, please visit the track’s website or call the BMS Ticket Sales Center at (866) 415-4158. You can also purchase tickets at any neighborhood Food City store while supplies lasts.

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 screen video board. The adjacent Bristol Dragway is the 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.

Spire Motorsports Tennessee Army National Guard 250 Race Advance

By
Official Release
-
  • The NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series returns to Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway for the first of two races on the 2026 schedule. In 15 starts at “The Last Great Colosseum”, Spire Motorsports has earned three top-five and seven top-10 finishes, highlighted by Kyle Busch’s runner-up effort in March 2024. Connor Zilisch claimed the team’s lone pole award at Bristol in the September 2024 event.
  • The Tennessee Army National Guard 250 will be televised live on FS1 Friday, April 10 beginning at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). The sixth of 25 points-paying races on the 2026 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series schedule will be broadcast live on the NASCAR Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

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

  • Kyle Busch will pilot the No. 7 HENDRICKCARS.COM Chevrolet Silverado in Friday’s Tennessee Army National Guard 250 at Bristol Motor Speedway for his second start of the 2026 season with Spire Motorsports.
  • Busch will drive Spire Manufacturing chassis SMT-088 on Friday, the same truck he drove to Victory Lane at Atlanta Motor Speedway in February. He earned his third-consecutive victory at the 1.54-mile track, ahead of teammate Carson Hocevar in second, and led a total of 37 laps after starting from the third position.
  • The 40-year-old driver has made 12 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series starts at Bristol, resulting in five wins, eight top fives and nine top 10s. Busch has started from the pole position four times and led a total of 649 laps at “The Last Great Colosseum.”
  • Busch last piloted the No. 7 Silverado at Bristol in March 2024. He started fourth, won the first two stages and led a total of 105 laps before securing a runner-up finish.
  • In addition to his CRAFTSMAN Truck Series experience at the half-mile track nestled in the mountains of Tennessee, Busch has competed in 38 races in the Cup Series, logging eight wins,14 top-five and 19 top-10 finishes. His resume also includes nine O’Reilly Auto Parts Series wins in 27 starts, with 17 top fives and 20 top 10s.
  • Busch holds the record for the most all-time wins at Bristol in the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series and O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, and sits fifth in line for most Cup Series wins at the track behind NASCAR legends Darrell Waltrip (12), Dale Earnhardt (9), Rusty Wallace (9), and Cale Yarborough (9).
  • In August 2010, Kyle Busch drove to victory in all three national touring series races at Bristol to become the first driver in NASCAR history to win in all three series at the same track in the same week. He doubled-down, accomplishing the feat for the second time seven years later.
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  • The Las Vegas native holds the record for most CRAFTSMAN Truck Series wins (68) and highest average finish in series history (6.7), while he ranks second on the series’ all-time laps led list where he’s paced the field for 8,167 circuits.
  • In five starts last season with Spire Motorsports, Busch collected one win (Atlanta Motor Speedway), two top fives and three top 10s.
  • Busch will return to CRAFTSMAN Truck Series competition May 1 at Texas Motor Speedway, where he will again be paired with veteran crew chief Brian Pattie and Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 team.

Kyle Busch Quotes
What makes Bristol such a special track?
“Bristol Motor Speedway is one of the most unique racetracks on the circuit. It’s a fan favorite and that makes it all the more exciting for the drivers. With all the cars being packed on top of one another, it creates a lot of action. It can certainly be frustrating as a driver when it doesn’t go your way, but that’s what creates a good atmosphere for everyone watching in the stands and on TV.”

You’ve had a lot of success at Bristol, what is your outlook as you get back in the Spire Motorsports truck for this weekend’s race?
“Bristol is one of my favorite tracks. Winning there always helps, but it’s always fun to get in the truck and see how we stack up against the guys who race in the series every week. Pattie and the team have done a great job getting things ready and we showed a lot of speed there a few years ago, so I’m looking forward to giving the Spire team another good run. We’ll just have to see how the race plays out, stay out of trouble and put ourselves in position to be there at the end.”

Atop the No. 7 Box – Crew Chief Brian Pattie

  • Brian Pattie calls the shots for Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado, an entry that will see a plethora of all-star caliber drivers behind the wheel throughout the 2026 season.
  • In last week’s race at Rockingham (N.C.) Speedway, Pattie guided Sammy Smith to an 11th-place effort. In five races this season, the No. 7 team has earned one win, two top-five and four top-15 finishes.
  • In his first season with Spire Motorsports in 2024, Pattie led the No. 7 team to two victories across the first seven events of the season, both with Kyle Busch (Atlanta Motor Speedway and Texas Motor Speedway). The duo also won twice across five races in 2023 with Kyle Busch Motorsports.
  • Pattie is a 25-year veteran of the sport, 14 of which came in the NASCAR Cup Series. As a crew chief, he has earned six wins in Cup Series competition and 11 victories in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. In CRAFTSMAN Truck Series competition, Pattie has earned seven wins, four of which since he started with Spire Motorsports in 2024.

Daniel Suárez – Driver, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Silverado RST

  • Daniel Suárez will pilot Spire Motorsports’ No. 71 Freeway Insurance Chevrolet Silverado RST in Friday’s Tennessee Army National Guard 250 at Bristol Motor Speedway.
  • Suárez will pull double duty this weekend and also race Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 NationsGuard Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series’ Food City 500.
  • Suárez has registered 28 career starts in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, highlighted by a victory at Phoenix Raceway (2016). The Mexican-born racer also includes 10 top-five and 16 top-10 finishes on his CRAFTSMAN Truck Series resume.
  • The Monterrey, Mexico, native showed dominant speed in the 2016 UNOH 200 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race at Bristol, leading 77 laps before surrendering the top spot to Kyle Busch Motorsports’ teammate William Byron on a restart with 24 laps to go. Later, a right-rear tire issue caused him to impact the outside retaining wall with 14 laps remaining, resulting in a 29th-place finish.
  • Suárez was last behind the wheel of a truck in a relief effort for Spire Motorsports teammate Carson Hocevar at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway in 2022. Hocevar qualified on the pole, but was relieved by Suárez on Lap 11 after sustaining a leg injury on the final lap at World Wide Technology Raceway, one week prior. Despite falling a lap down due to the driver swap, Suárez drove the truck to a sixth-place finish. He went on to capture his first career NASCAR Cup Series win at the venue one day later.
  • The 34-year-old has been consistently strong at Bristol Motor Speedway in NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series competition, tallying four top-five and five top-10 finishes in six starts, highlighted by a pair of runner-up results in April 2015 and August 2017.
  • In 330 NASCAR Cup Series starts, Suárez has earned 25 top fives and 77 top 10s, claiming victories at Sonoma Raceway (June 2022) and Atlanta Motor Speedway (Feb. 2024).
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  • Suarez will pilot Spire Manufacturing chassis SMT-085 on Friday. The truck has made four starts, most recently last October at Phoenix Raceway with Stefan Parsons at the controls. Rajah Caruth earned a chassis-best eighth-place result at Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway in October 2024.

Daniel Suárez Quote
What does it mean to return to the Truck Series with a crew chief you’ve had success with, and how does that familiarity help you heading into this weekend?
“I’m really excited to get back to the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series—it’s been a few years. The last full race I ran was the dirt race about five years ago, so it’s been a long time since I’ve competed on an oval. Honestly, the last time I did a true oval race was back in 2016, so this is a race I’ve been looking forward to. I’m excited to get back behind the wheel in the No. 71 Freeway Insurance Silverado RST. The last time I worked with this team and Bono, we were able to win a race, so hopefully we can have some fun first and, with a little luck, bring home another trophy.”

Atop the No. 71 Box – Crew Chief Kevin “Bono” Manion

  • Veteran crew chief Kevin “Bono” Manion has called 12 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series races at Bristol, tallying one top five and three top 10s, including Nick Sanchez’s fifth-place result in April of 2024.
  • Manion served as crew chief for Daniel Suárez at Kyle Busch Motorsports in 2016, guiding him to his first and only CRAFTSMAN Truck Series victory at Phoenix Raceway, where the No. 51 team led 34 laps, including the final 12, in the Lucas Oil 150.
  • The Boylston, Mass., native led Martin Truex, Jr., to Victory Lane in NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series competition at “The Last Great Colosseum” in March 2004. Truex led 134 laps en route to his first of six wins on the year.
  • Manion, a 31-year veteran of the sport, founded Spire Motorsports’ CRAFTSMAN Truck Series program alongside industry veteran Mike Greci in 2022. The team claimed victory in its second outing with driver William Byron at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway.
  • “Bono” has racked up six Cup Series victories – including the 2010 Daytona 500 – 17 NASCAR Xfinity Series triumphs and 12 CRAFTSMAN Truck series wins. Manion is also one of 11 crew chiefs to have called wins across all three of NASCAR’s national touring series.

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

  • Carson Hocevar will pilot Spire Motorsports’ No. 77 Delaware Life Chevrolet Silverado RST in Friday’s Tennessee Army National Guard 250 at Bristol Motor Speedway.
  • Hocevar will pull double duty this weekend at Bristol, where he’ll pilot Spire Motorsports’ No. 77 Chevy Silverado prior to his traditional NASCAR Cup Series duties aboard the team’s No. 77 Spectrum Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in Sunday’s Food City 500.
  • The five-time NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race winner has made four series starts at “The World’s Fastest Half Mile”, registering one top five and two top 10s, including a venue-best fourth-place finish in September 2023.
  • The 23-year-old driver, a veteran of 85 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series races, has logged one pole, five wins, 23 top fives and 35 top 10s, while leading 767 laps. He made the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series playoffs in all his three full-time seasons and earned a spot in the 2023 Championship 4.
  • Hocevar, driver of Spire Motorsports’ No. 77 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in the NASCAR Cup Series, currently sits 15th in the division’s championship point standings. His two top fives, two top 10s, 171 points scored and 16.6 average finish are all career highs for the Michigan native through the first seven points-paying races of the season.
  • The Portage, Mich., native registered a victory in one of four CRAFTSMAN Truck Series starts in 2025, guiding the Brian Pattie-led No. 7 team to Victory Lane in the Heart of America 200 at Kansas Speedway. He led 75 of the event’s 134 laps en route to his most recent victory and first aboard a Spire Motorsports-prepared Chevy Silverado.
  • Hocevar will drive Spire Manufacturing chassis SMT-087 Friday evening. Kyle Larson drove the truck to Victory Lane at Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway last March and a runner-up finish at Bristol Motor Speedway two races later. Most recently, Hocevar finished second in the truck at Atlanta after pushing teammate Kyle Busch to the win, and the second one-two finish in team history. Overall, the chassis owns a 10.8 average starting position and an average finishing position of 6.8.
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Carson Hocevar Quote
Despite an outstanding display of speed in your first four CRAFTSMAN Truck Series starts, the results haven’t worked out. What do you need to change that?
”We have had a lot of speed and been up front, but things just haven’t worked out. Just bad luck. It’s part of racing. I know we can and will win some of these, we just need everything to come together.”

Atop the No. 77 Box – Crew Chief Chad Walter

  • Chad Walter calls the shots from the top of the No. 77 pit box, an entry that will see multiple all-star caliber drivers behind the wheel throughout the 2026 season.
  • Walter has called seven CRAFTSMAN Truck Series races at Bristol, logging five top-10 results highlighted by Rajah Caruth’s third-place finish in September 2024.
  • The Albion, N.Y., native has visited Victory Lane twice in NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series competition, leading Kyle Busch and Justin Allgaier to victories in the spring event in 2006 and 2010, respectively.
  • On the dirt configuration at Bristol, the veteran crew chief led Canadian-driver Raphael Lessard to a third-place result in the inaugural Pinty’s Truck Race on Dirt in 2021.
  • Between NASCAR’s O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, the 54-year-old has racked up six wins, 55 top fives and 140 top 10s.
  • Walter earned a mechanical engineering degree from the Cornell University College of Engineering. During his studies, he played defensive end for the Big Red football team.

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

The team, co-owned by longtime NASCAR industry executive Jeff Dickerson and TWG Motorsports CEO Dan Towriss, earned its inaugural NASCAR Cup Series victory in its first full season of competition when Justin Haley took the checkered flag in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway on July 7, 2019. Less than three years later, William Byron drove Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado to its inaugural NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series win on April 7, 2022, at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway. The team’s most recent win came on Feb. 21, 2026, when Kyle Busch took the checkered flag in the Fr8 Racing 208 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

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

Spire Motorsports Food City 500 Race Advanc

By
Official Release
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  • In 22 NASCAR Cup Series starts at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway, Spire Motorsports has logged one top-10 and eight top-20 finishes. Carson Hocevar owns the team’s best finish, a seventh-place effort earned in September 2025. Spire Motorsports fields the Nos. 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1s in the Cup Series with Daniel Suarez, Michael McDowell and Hocevar, respectively.
  • The Food City 500 will be televised live on FS1 Sunday, April 12 beginning at 3 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The eighth of 36 points-paying races on the 2026 Cup Series calendar will be broadcast live on the Performance Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

Daniel Suárez – Driver, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

  • Daniel Suárez will pilot Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 NationsGuard Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in Sunday’s Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway.
  • Suárez will pull double duty this weekend and also pilot Spire Motorsports’ No. 71 Freeway Insurance Silverado RST in Friday’s CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Tennessee Army National Guard 250.
  • The Monterrey, Mexico native has made 15 Cup Series starts at Bristol, earning two top-10 and nine top-20 results with five laps led at the high-banked half-mile oval. His series/venue best came in 2019, where he finished eighth in both races held at the track that season.
  • Suárez reunites with crew chief Kevin “Bono” Manion at Bristol for the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Tennessee Army National Guard 250, reviving the partnership that produced his first series victory, a milestone that came on November 11, 2016, at Phoenix Raceway. He drove the Kyle Busch Motorsports’ No. 51 to Victory Lane in the Lucas Oil 150.
  • In the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series competition, the 34-year-old driver has a pair of starts at Bristol. In 2016, Suárez drove started second and led 77 laps, but finished 29th following an on-track incident. The year prior, he started 16th and finished 30th after encountering an overheating issue.
  • Before the Easter break, Suárez finished 20th at Martinsville Speedway after sustaining damage in the Final Stage, but held on to secure his fifth top-20 finish of the season and seventh in 18 starts at the track.
  • The two-time NASCAR Cup Series winner sits 16th in the driver standings after the first seven races of the season, the second highest of Spire Motorsports’ three NASCAR Cup Series entries, and has earned one top five, two top 10s and 15 laps led. Through seven races, Suárez is averaging a 16.9 finish, four positions better than his average at this point last season.
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Daniel Suárez Quote
Since 2014, winners at Bristol are awarded a sword, what would it mean to you to win this iconic trophy?
“It would be incredible to win the ceremonial Gladiator sword trophy—having one of my own would feel truly special. The level of detail in the design is amazing, and I’d love the opportunity to sit down with the person who created it and learn more about their process.”

Atop the No. 7 Box – Crew Chief Ryan Sparks

  • Ryan Sparks has called 209 NASCAR Cup Series races, earning five top-five and 12 top-10 finishes since making his Cup Series debut atop the pit box in 2020.
  • So far this season, the veteran crew chief has led Suárez to his second top-10 finish at Darlington, following a top-five result at Atlanta Motor Speedway earlier in the year.
  • The Winston-Salem, N.C., native earned his best finish while calling a Cup Series race at Bristol last September, recording a 13th-place result with former Spire Motorsports driver Justin Haley.
  • Sparks joined Spire Motorsports in 2021, where he served as both Crew Chief and Competition Director, leading the organization’s competitive and technical efforts. In 2026, Sparks serves in a singular role as crew chief for Daniel Suárez.
  • Sparks brings more than a decade of experience across all three national series, highlighted by 13 seasons at Richard Childress Racing and contributions to title-winning campaigns in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (2011) and O’Reilly Auto Parts Series (2013).

Michael McDowell – Driver, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

  • Michael McDowell will pilot Spire Motorsports’ No. 71 Delaware Life Chevrolet ZL1 in Sunday’s Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway.
  • Michael McDowell has 28 starts on the high banks of Bristol dating back to August 2010. He made 44 starts prior to his first run at “The World’s Fastest Half-Mile,” qualifying 35th and retiring just 16 laps into the 2010 Night Race due to an engine failure.
  • Dating back to 2020, the Glendale, Ariz., native has two top 10s paired with three 11th-place results at “The Last Great Colosseum”, completing all but 12 of the 4,000 laps contested. In his nine most recent attempts, the Cup Series veteran holds an average finish of 14.8 with only one finish outside the top 25.
  • In his limited time in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts series, McDowell has five starts at Bristol, including a series-best finish of 10th in 2009.
  • After qualifying 20th at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway two weeks ago, the No. 71 team struggled with track position and pace early in the race. As the day progressed, the 41-year-old driver fought to move up the scoring pylon and went on to secure a workman-like 18th-place finish.
  • Across the first seven races of season, McDowell currently sits 17th in points. He has earned one top five, two top 10s and led 15 laps with 28 races remaining on the 2026 calendar.
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Michael McDowell Quote
“Bristol is all about intensity and it’s a place where I’ve had some good success recently with a couple of near top-10 finishes in the NextGen car. We had a few issues last spring, but we have addressed them and feel good about those changes. We knew what needed to be fixed, and that gives me a lot of confidence going back. Spire had a ton of speed at the first Bristol race last year, so we have a strong notebook and feel like contenders. Bristol has a special energy and I always tell fans that if they’ve never been to a race or never been to Bristol, it’s a must. It’s one of the coolest events you can experience as both a fan and a driver. It’s a place that has been pretty good to me over the last few years, so it’s definitely a track we’ve circled to go back and capitalize on.”

Atop the No. 71 Box – Crew Chief Travis Peterson

  • Travis Peterson is a graduate of the Williams States Lee College of Engineering at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. The West Bend, Wis., native earned his Mechanical Engineering Degree in 2012.
  • Across five NASCAR Cup Series races in the crew chief role at Bristol, Peterson has parlayed an average start of 13.4 with an average finish of 15.0, all with McDowell at the controls.
  • The duo of Peterson and McDowell secured a venue-best sixth-place finish in the 2023 Bristol Night Race after qualifying a career-high, fourth.
  • As a race engineer at RFK Racing, the West Bend, Wis., native played a key role in Chris Buescher’s 2022 Bristol win. After qualifying 20th, the team led 169 of the 500 laps en route to Buescher’s second career victory.
  • While working as a race engineer, Peterson collected four top-five results at Bristol Motor Speedway with drivers Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Alex Bowman and Ryan Newman.
  • Across 120 starts serving in the crew chief role, Peterson has called one win, eight poles, eight top-five and 25 top-10 finishes.

Carson Hocevar – Driver, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

  • Carson Hocevar will race Spire Motorsports’ No. 77 Spectrum Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in Sunday’s Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway, marking his sixth start in NASCAR’s premier division at the half-mile oval.
  • Hocevar will pull double duty on the weekend at Bristol, where he’ll also pilot Spire Motorsports’ No. 77 Delaware Life Chevrolet Silverado RST in Friday’s NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Tennessee Army National Guard 250.
  • Through seven events, the No. 77 team is 15th in the series’ point standings, four points above The Chase cutline. Hocevar’s two top fives, two top 10s, 171 points scored and 16.6 average finish are all career highs through the first seven points-paying races of the season.
  • Last spring at “The Last Great Colosseum”, the 2024 Cup Series Rookie of the Year spent the majority of the day racing in the top five. Unfortunately, challenges during their final pit stop with 110 laps remaining dropped the team to the 20th position. Hocevar embarked on a spirited drive as the event drew to a close, ultimately finishing 11th. Despite the setback, he still claimed the fifth-highest average running position (6.78) and fourth-best driver rating (107.1) in the field.
  • In the series’ most recent visit to Bristol last September, Hocevar restarted in the top spot with four laps remaining but was unable to fend off competitors with fresher tires. Still, he held on to finish seventh, a career-high in 16 short track events in NASCAR’s premier division.
  • Last time out at Martinsville Speedway, the 23-year-old driver qualified seventh, a career-best starting position at the half-mile paperclip-shaped track. Despite being involved in a Lap-325 incident that sent him to pit road for cosmetic repair, he recovered to finish 17th, matching his venue-best result from April 2024.
  • In CRAFTSMAN Truck Series competition, Hocevar owns four previous starts at Bristol, earning a venue-best fourth-place finish in September 2023.
  • The Spectrum colors will return to the No. 77 for the first time since February at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Spectrum is a suite of advanced communications services offered by Charter Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:CHTR), a leading broadband connectivity company available to 58 million homes and small to large businesses across 41 states. Founded in 1993, Charter has evolved from providing cable TV to streaming, and from high-speed Internet to a converged broadband, WiFi and mobile experience. Over the Spectrum Fiber Broadband Network and supported by our 100 percent U.S.-based employees, the Company offers Seamless Connectivity and Entertainment with Spectrum Internet®, Mobile, TV and Voice products. More information can be found at corporate.charter.com.

Carson Hocevar Quotes
You have been fast at Bristol, but the finishes don’t reflect that. How do you remain optimistic?
“We’ve been fast at Bristol ever since my first Cup race there in 2023. We have just been very successful there. I really enjoy running there, and it is one of Luke’s (Lambert) favorite tracks. He has a lot of experience there and won races at every level. We are close, we just need everything to come together.”

What about Bristol fits your driving style?
“Bristol is super-fast and I think that suits me. You carry a lot of speed around there and you have to make decisions very quickly and pick between the top and bottom lanes depending on where the lap traffic is. It is almost like running on a dirt track.”

Atop the No. 77 Box – Crew Chief Luke Lambert

  • Crew chief Luke Lambert enters his third season at Spire Motorsports and fourth with Carson Hocevar. The duo has logged one pole award, five top-five and 17 top-10 finishes in 87 races together.
  • The 16-year veteran crew chief has called 26 NASCAR Cup Series events at Bristol, earning one top five and seven top 10s, highlighted by a fifth-place finish in April 2015 with Ryan Newman.
  • As a race engineer at Richard Childress Racing, the Mount Airy, N.C., native led Jeff Burton to Bristol Victory Lane in March 2008. Burton inherited the top spot on a green-white-checkered restart after the leaders tangled, earning the win after leading just two laps and leading the charge on a one-two-three finish for RCR, proving being in the right place at the right time can pay dividends at the famed, high-banked oval.
  • Lambert owns two wins in three NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series races at Bristol. His first win came on March 17, 2012 with Elliott Sadler, followed up by a victory with Noah Gragson in the regular season finale over a decade later on Sept. 16, 2022.

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

The team, co-owned by longtime NASCAR industry executive Jeff Dickerson and TWG Motorsports CEO Dan Towriss, earned its inaugural NASCAR Cup Series victory in its first full season of competition when Justin Haley took the checkered flag in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway on July 7, 2019. Less than three years later, William Byron drove Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado to its inaugural NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series win on April 7, 2022, at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway. The team’s most recent win came on Feb. 21, 2026, when Kyle Busch took the checkered flag in the Fr8 Racing 208 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

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

LEGACY MOTOR CLUB: BRISTOL RACE PREVIEW

By
Official Release
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LEGACY MOTOR CLUB:
BRISTOL PRE-RACE ADVANCE
EVENT: Food City 500

DATE: April 12, 2026
RACE: NASCAR Cup Series 8 of 36
TRACK: Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway | .533-Mile, Concrete Oval

JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK
NO. 42 DOLLAR TREE TOYOTA CAMRY XSE
JHN AT BRISTOL: John Hunter Nemechek has six starts at Bristol Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series. He earned a highest finish of sixth in March 2024. In the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, he made four starts at Bristol, earning two top-three finishes in his last two races at the track in August 2019 and September 2023. He earned a best finish of third, earned twice in August 2019 and September 2023. Nemechek also has ten starts at Bristol in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series where he has earned five top-three finishes and a pole in the Bristol dirt race in March 2021.

T-MACK BRISTOL STATS: Sunday afternoon’s race will be crew chief Travis Mack’s 12th NASCAR Cup Series race at Bristol. He has eight starts on the iconic concrete oval and another three on the dirt track at Bristol between 2021-2023. His first outing came in April 2018 with Kasey Kahne. He returned in March 2021 on the dirt track with Daniel Suárez, where the duo captured Mack’s highest finish of fourth. He stayed with Suarez through the dirt and concrete at Bristol through 2023 before switching to A.J. Allmendinger. His best finish on the concrete oval is a 14th-place result in September 2025 with Nemechek. In the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, Mack has five starts at Bristol with Michael Annett, where the pair earned three top-10 finishes in August 2018 and both races in 2019. Their best finish was a seventh-place result earned in their first outing in August 2018.

JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK QUOTE:
“I’m really looking forward to Bristol. I really enjoy going there and I feel like it suits my driving style. I’ve had success there previously, and we’ve brought solid Toyota Camrys to the racetrack in the past. Qualifying will be a challenge for us, but we’ve found speed there before. and I’m confident we’ll do it again.”

TRAVIS MACK QUOTE: “Bristol is one of John Hunter’s better tracks stats-wise. We’re ready to bounce back after our past few weeks and redeem ourselves. We’re going to be in a bit of a hole going out so early for qualifying, because historically the first ten cars there face some challenges. We’ll do the best we can, and we’re looking at ways to maximize our qualifying effort and race up front. Track position is essential at Bristol, and it will be key as we look to go into Kansas with a better starting spot. It’s time for us to turn things around, and the off week was a good chance for us to reset and come back stronger.”

ERIK JONES
NO. 43 ADVENTHEALTH TOYOTA CAMRY XSE
JONES BRISTOL STATS: Sunday’s Food City 500 will mark Erik Jones’ 16th NASCAR Cup Series start at Bristol Motor Speedway on the concrete oval. In his prior 15 starts, he earned four top-fives, five top-10s, and led 293 laps at the .533-mile oval. He earned a best finish of second from the pole in August 2017 during his rookie season. He led 260 of the 500 laps and finished 1.422 seconds behind race winner Kyle Busch. Jones has an additional three starts on the dirt at Bristol where he has a best finish of ninth in the inaugural dirt race in March 2021. He has an additional seven starts outside of the Cup Series at Bristol – six in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and one in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Jones has an impressive career at Bristol in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series – earning three pole positions (April 2015, April 2016, and August 2016), two wins (April 2016 and April 2017), three top-fives, and four top-10s. In his lone Truck Series start at Bristol in August 2015, Jones started fourth and finished sixth.

WINNER AT BRISTOL: Early in his career, Jones was a contender to win each time he rolled into Bristol in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. Besides his three back-to-back poles between April 2015 and August 2016, Jones owns two victories at the .533-mile, concrete oval. He found himself in victory lane for the first time in April 2016 during his only full-time season in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. He started on the pole, led 62 laps, and beat runner-up Kyle Busch by .418 seconds to find his first of four victories during the 2016 season. He followed that up in April 2017 while he was running his rookie season in the NASAR Cup Series. Jones returned to the series and started fourth in the race at Bristol. He led 27 laps en route to his .344 second win over runner-up Ryan Blaney.

ALEXANDER AT BRISTOL: The Food City 500 will mark crew chief Justin Alexander’s 14th NASCAR Cup Series race on top of the box at the .533-mile, concrete oval of Bristol Motor Speedway. In his 13 prior races, he earned a best finish of sixth in May 2020 with Austin Dillon. Alexander owns another two starts at Bristol in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, where his team never finished worse than 13th and never started worse than fifth. Alexander won at Bristol in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series with Austin Dillon in August 2016 after the duo started fifth and led four laps to best Justin Allgaier by .277 seconds.

ERIK JONES QUOTE:
“Bristol should be a good race. It’s honestly been a somewhat challenging track for me in the NextGen car. I don’t feel like we’ve really hit on it yet so we can have something that’s really good for us. It’s just kind of been a wild card with the tire situation – some races have high tire fall off and shred tires after 50 laps and some races it doesn’t seem like that’s an issue. There are some things you can do to help conserve tires, but it takes away from performance. So, you have to a lot of variables and unknowns going into Bristol, but it’s always a fun track and a really cool one to drive in general. We’ll get there and see what we’ve got.”

JUSTIN ALEXANDER QUOTE:
“There aren’t many similarities between Martinsville and Bristol, other than track length. Both are short tracks but completely different when setting up the cars. This weekend will be the first time with the high horsepower/low downforce package at Bristol, so that will be our biggest challenge going into the weekend. We’ll have to change setups slightly to compensate for the different package. Another challenge we sometimes face at Bristol is high tire wear and falloff. We’re unsure exactly what we’ll see so we have to prepared for anything. Bristol is always an exciting, fast paced race and no matter what kind of race unfolds, it will be fun to watch.”

CLUB MINUTES:
JJ AT BRISTOL: LEGACY MOTOR CLUB owner and seven-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion Jimmie Johnson owns 38 starts in the Cup Series at Bristol Motor Speedway. He collected two wins, 13 top-fives, and 22 top-10s over his career as well as having led 914 laps. He scored his first win at Bristol in March 2010 when he started fourth in the Food City 500. Johnson led a total of 84 laps to finish .894 seconds ahead of Tony Stewart. He won his second race at Bristol in April 2017. He started 11th for the 500-lap race and led 81 laps en route to a 1.199 second margin of victory of Clint Bowyer. Johnson has an additional five starts outside of the Cup Series – four in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and one in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. He earned a best finish of fourth in his March 2001 O’Reilly Auto Parts Series start. In his lone career Truck Series start, Johnson started ninth in August 2008 and led 29 laps prior to being involved in a wreck on Lap 101 that ended his Truck Series debut early.

KENSETH BRISTOL STATS: LEGACY MOTOR CLUB competition advisor and 2003 NASCAR Cup Series Champion Matt Kenseth also owns 38 NASCAR Cup Series starts at Bristol. He accumulated a total of four victories, 15 top-fives, and 22 top-10s as well as 1,583 laps led. Kenseth scored his first victory in the August 2005 Bristol Night Race. He started from the pole and led 415 of 500 laps to finish .511 seconds ahead of Jeff Burton. He followed that up in the August 2005 night race where he started fourth and found himself in victory lane once again after leading 117 laps. He finished .591 seconds ahead of runner-up Kyle Busch. In the August 2013 night race, Kenseth started fifth and led 149 laps to finish .188 seconds ahead of runner-up Kasey Kahne. His fourth and final victory came in the April 2015 Food City 500 where he once again started on the pole. Kenseth led 47 laps en route to a .287 second margin of victory over Jimmie Johnson. Kenseth has an additional 18 starts at Bristol in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. He owns three victories (August 1999, March 2001, and August 2006), 11 top-fives, and 11 top-10s as well as 504 laps led.

THE KING AT BRISTOL: LEGACY MOTOR CLUB ambassador and seven-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion Richard Petty owns 60 starts in the Cup Series at Bristol dating back to July 1961. During his legendary career, Petty earned three wins, 26 top-fives, and 37 top-10s at Bristol in addition to leading 2,212 laps. He earned his first victory from the pole in July 1967 where he led 225 laps. He won again in March 1975 when he started second, led 243 laps, and bested Benny Parsons. His final win came in November 1975 where Petty started fourth and led 218 laps to find victory lane.

SOCIAL SPOTLIGHT:

Take a full walkthrough of the 2027 Newmar Essex used by Legacy Motor Club during the NASCAR season!

CLUB APPEARANCES:
John Hunter Nemechek will make an appearance at the Food City Stage in the fan zone on Saturday, April 11 at 2:45 p.m. local time. He will be at the trackside merchandise trailer at 12:00 p.m. local time to sign autographs on Sunday, April 12.

TUNE IN:
Fans can tune in to watch the Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway on Sunday, April 12 at 3 p.m. EDT on FS1, MAX, PRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90).

LEGACY MOTOR CLUB (LEGACY MC) is a premier auto racing organization owned by seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and 2024 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee, Jimmie Johnson and Knighthead Capital Management, LLC. Drawing from a rich tradition of success, LEGACY MC is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of motorsport and setting new standards of excellence. The CLUB competes under the Toyota Racing banner in the NASCAR Cup Series with the No. 43 Toyota Camry XSE piloted by Erik Jones and the No. 42 Toyota Camry XSE driven by John Hunter Nemechek. Johnson also races on a limited basis in the No. 84 Toyota Camry XSE. With NASCAR legend and Hall of Famer Richard Petty, “The King”, serving as CLUB Ambassador, LEGACY MC blends timeless racing traditions with a new forward-thinking vision. As an inclusive community for motorsport enthusiasts, LEGACY MC honors both its storied past and the promising future of its members, always striving for victory and championship glory at the pinnacle of NASCAR competition.

POWEREDGE RETURNS AS PRESENTING SPONSOR OF DENSO NHRA SONOMA NATIONALS AT SONOMA RACEWAY

By
Official Release
-

SONOMA, Calif. (April 7, 2026) – NHRA officials announced today the return of PowerEdge, a line of high-quality, competitively-priced commercial and heavy-duty truck aftermarket products, as the presenting sponsor of the 38th annual DENSO NHRA Sonoma Nationals at scenic Sonoma Raceway.

The DENSO NHRA Sonoma Nationals presented by PowerEdge takes place July 17-19 in Sonoma and will serve as the 11th of 20 events during the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season, as part of NHRA’s yearlong 75th anniversary celebration.

NHRA’s annual stop at picturesque Sonoma Raceway remains a highlight for racers and fans alike. For nearly four decades, fans have packed the standout facility, which is traditionally one of the fastest tracks on the NHRA tour.

“We’re proud to once again showcase PowerEdge as the presenting sponsor of the DENSO NHRA Sonoma Nationals,” said Jose Ramirez, Senior Manager, Sales. “As the PowerEdge brand continues to gain momentum, this partnership reinforces our commitment to delivering dependable, high‑quality solutions while connecting with the race teams, fans, and communities that share our passion for performance.”

The 2026 DENSO NHRA Sonoma Nationals presented by PowerEdge will again feature the GETTRX NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle All-Star Callout. The top eight riders of the Pro Stock Motorcycle class will compete in the Callout-style specialty event with big money and bragging rights on the line.

DENSO‑sponsored six‑time world champion Matt Smith has dominated the GETTRX Pro Stock Motorcycle All‑Star Callout, winning the event in both 2024 and 2025. This year, he’ll face stiff competition from reigning world champion and event winner Richard Gadson and his teammate, two‑time champ Gaige Herrera.

The 2025 DENSO NHRA Sonoma Nationals presented by PowerEdge featured wins from Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel), Austin Prock (Funny Car), Greg Stanfield (Pro Stock) and Gadson (Pro Stock Motorcycle). Brittany Force wowed fans on Friday night last year as well with an incredible run of 343.16-mph, which served as the fastest run in Top Fuel history until Force again broke the mark later in the year.

Kalitta became the winningest Top Fuel driver in Sonoma with his sixth win at the track last year, while other past Sonoma winners include multi-time world champions Antron Brown, who has five wins, Ron Capps, who leads active Funny Car racers with four wins in wine country, and Greg Anderson, who also has six Sonoma victories.

“We’re thrilled to have PowerEdge return as the presenting sponsor of the DENSO NHRA Sonoma Nationals,” said Brad Gerber, NHRA Vice President and Chief Development Officer. “PowerEdge has established itself as an exciting player in the aftermarket space, and this partnership continues to be a natural fit with NHRA’s passionate fanbase. We’re proud to showcase the PowerEdge brand in Sonoma at one of the most anticipated events during our 75th anniversary season.”

To purchase tickets to the DENSO NHRA Sonoma Nationals presented by PowerEdge, fans can visit www.sonomaraceway.com or call 800-870-7223. For more information about NHRA, including the 2026 schedule, visit www.NHRA.com.

About DENSO and PowerEdge

Globally headquartered in Kariya, Japan, DENSO is a $47.9 billion leading mobility supplier that develops advanced technology and components for nearly every vehicle make and model on the road today. With manufacturing at its core, DENSO invests in around 180 facilities worldwide to provide opportunities for rewarding careers and to produce cutting-edge electrification, powertrain, thermal and mobility electronics products, among others, that change how the world moves. In developing such solutions, the company’s 158,000 global employees are paving the way to a mobility future that improves lives, eliminates traffic accidents, and preserves the environment. DENSO spent around 8.6 percent of its global consolidated sales on research and development in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025. For more information about DENSO’s operations worldwide, visit https://www.denso.com/global/en/.

In North America, DENSO is headquartered in Southfield, Michigan, and employs 27,000+ team members across nearly 50 sites in the U.S, Canada and Mexico. In the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025, DENSO in North America generated $12.5 billion in consolidated sales. To learn more about DENSO operations in the region and explore career opportunities, please visit https://www.denso.com/us-ca/en/. 

PowerEdge® is a value-driven line of high quality and durable aftermarket products, designed to deliver performance, and reliability. Backed by the sales, service, and logistics support of DENSO Products and Services Americas, Inc.—DENSO’s North American aftermarket headquarters in Long Beach, California—PowerEdge brings trusted quality at a competitive price. For more information, visit https://www.poweredgeproducts.com.

About Mission Foods

MISSION®, owned by GRUMA, S.A.B. de C.V., is the world’s leading brand for tortillas and wraps. MISSION® is also globally renowned for flatbreads, dips, salsas and Mexican food products. With presence in over 112 countries, MISSION® products are suited to the lifestyles and the local tastes of each country. With innovation and customer needs in mind, MISSION® focuses on the highest quality, authentic flavors, and providing healthy options that families and friends can enjoy together. For more information, please visit https://www.missionfoods.com/

About NHRA

NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. NHRA presents 20 national events featuring the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series and NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, as well as the JBS Equipment NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Elite Motorsports and NHRA Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown™ at select national events. NHRA provides competition opportunities for drivers of all levels in the NHRA Summit Racing Series and NHRA Street Legal™. NHRA also offers the NHRA Jr. Street® program for teens and the Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League® for youth ages 5 to 17. With more than 100 Member Tracks, NHRA allows racers to compete at a variety of locations nationally and internationally. NHRA’s Youth and Education Services® (YES) Program reaches over 30,000 students annually to ignite their interest in automotive and racing related careers. NHRA’s streaming service, NHRA.tv®, allows fans to view all NHRA national events as well as exclusive features of the sport. In addition, NHRA owns and operates three racing facilities: Gainesville Raceway in Florida; Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park; and In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Southern California. For more information, log on to www.NHRA.com, or visit the official NHRA pages on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

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