Ask anyone in Kenya who has shopped for a second-hand car and they will tell you the first decision is not the make or model. It is whether to go for a car that has just arrived from abroad or one that has already spent years on Kenyan roads. Both routes have loyal supporters, and both can end in a great purchase or an expensive lesson. This guide compares the two honestly: how much you can trust the mileage, what condition to expect, how features and specifications differ, what paperwork is involved and which type of buyer each option tends to suit.
What the two terms actually mean
A foreign used car, sometimes called “freshly imported”, has been used in another country, commonly Japan, the United Kingdom or elsewhere, and shipped to Kenya for sale. It has not yet been driven locally beyond the trip from the port and may still be awaiting its first Kenyan registration. A locally used car has already been registered in Kenya and driven here, sometimes by one careful owner, sometimes by several.
Many of the cars sold in Kenya were originally built and registered abroad, so in practice the difference is really about timing: whether the car is on its first local owner or its third. The labels describe history, not quality. A well-kept locally used car can be a far better buy than a tired import, and the reverse is just as true. Comparing both kinds of listing side by side on a site such as cars45.co.ke quickly shows how wide the overlap is, in model years, condition and asking prices, and helps you decide which route fits your budget before you start booking viewings.
Mileage records and the risk of tampering
Mileage is often the first number buyers look at, and it is also the easiest one to fake. Odometer tampering, or “winding back” the clock, is a known problem on both sides of the market, so treat any reading as a claim to be checked rather than a fact.
Imports from some markets come with records such as auction sheets or export inspection documents that note the mileage and condition at the time the car left its country of origin. These can be useful, but documents can also be altered or swapped, so check that the chassis number on the paperwork matches the car itself. With a locally used car, look for service receipts, a stamped service book or garage records that show the mileage rising steadily over time. Sudden drops or long gaps are warning signs.
Whatever the type, look for wear that does not match the reading: a shiny, worn steering wheel, sagging driver’s seat, worn pedal rubbers or a heavily scuffed gear knob on a car showing very low mileage should make you cautious.
Condition and wear from Kenyan roads
Many imports have spent their lives on smooth tarmac in mild climates, which can mean tighter suspension, fewer underbody knocks and less dust in the cabin. That advantage is not guaranteed, though.
Locally used cars have faced potholes, speed bumps, rough murram roads, dust and, in some regions, heat and humidity. Expect more wear on suspension bushes, shock absorbers, steering components, tyres and air filters. On the other hand, it has already shown how it copes with local fuel and roads, and early problems may already have been fixed.
History and transparency
A foreign used car may come with more formal paperwork from its first market, but you rarely know how it was treated between owners abroad. A locally used car may have less formal paperwork, yet you can often talk to the current owner, see how they drive and ask direct questions about accidents, repairs and why they are selling.
Neither type is automatically more transparent; what matters is how much you can verify about the specific car.
Price differences in plain terms
As a broad pattern, a freshly imported car of a given model and year often costs more than a comparable locally used one. Buyers pay for the perception of lower mileage and less local wear. Locally used cars tend to be cheaper for the same model year, which can stretch your budget to a newer or better-equipped version.
That gap is not fixed. It varies by model, demand, condition and how quickly a seller wants to sell. A locally used car with full records and one owner can hold its value very well, while an import with doubtful paperwork may be worth less than its sticker suggests.
Trims, features and specification differences
Imports can bring trim levels and features that were never sold new in Kenya, such as particular engine options, hybrid versions or extra safety equipment. That variety is part of the appeal. However, cars built for other markets can also come with quirks:
Infotainment and menus: cars from Japan may have dashboard screens, navigation and settings menus in Japanese. Some units can be switched or replaced, but budget time for that.
Radio bands: some imported head units use different FM frequency ranges, which can limit the stations you receive until the unit is converted or swapped.
Market-specific parts: versions sold only abroad may need parts that are harder to find locally. Ask a mechanic how easy it is to source service items for that exact variant.
Driving position: Kenya drives on the left, so right-hand drive cars are the norm. Imports from Japan and the United Kingdom suit this; be wary of anything that has been converted.
Locally used cars, especially those originally sold new in Kenya, are more likely to have specifications chosen for local conditions, such as raised suspension or tougher filters on some models. Check what a particular car actually has rather than assuming.
Import rules and registration timing
Imported vehicles must meet Kenyan import rules, which include an age limit and pre-shipment inspection requirements. These rules change from time to time, so confirm current requirements with the relevant authorities before committing to an import, particularly if you plan to bring one in yourself rather than buying one already landed.
Registration timing also differs. A locally used car already has its number plates and logbook, so the main task is transferring ownership. A freshly imported car may still need to be registered, which can add steps and waiting time between paying and driving. Ask the seller exactly what stage the paperwork is at and who handles it.
Warranty and after-sales support
Some dealers selling imported cars offer a short warranty or a period during which they will fix certain faults. Read the terms carefully: what is covered, for how long and where repairs must be done. A vague promise is worth little.
Private sales of locally used cars usually come with no warranty at all. In both cases, your best protection is a proper inspection before you pay.
What to check for each type
Foreign used
Documents: auction sheet or export inspection paperwork, and a chassis number that matches the car.
Storage effects: flat-spotted or aged tyres, weak battery, dried seals and rust underneath from sea transport or long storage.
Electronics: whether the screen, radio and warning lights work and can be set up for local use.
Registration status: what has been done, what remains and who is responsible.
Locally used
Service history: receipts, stamps and records that support the mileage.
Suspension and steering: knocks over bumps, uneven tyre wear and pulling to one side.
Accident repairs: mismatched paint, uneven panel gaps and overspray on rubber seals.
Ownership chain: how many owners and whether the logbook name matches the seller.
Verify before you pay
Whichever route you choose, two steps are worth the time. First, have a trusted mechanic inspect the car, ideally one you choose rather than one suggested by the seller. A good inspection covers the engine, gearbox, suspension, underbody, electrics and a road test, and it often finds issues you can use in negotiation.
Second, confirm ownership through an official NTSA search before any money changes hands. This helps you check that the seller is the registered owner and whether there are issues recorded against the vehicle. Never pay a deposit to “hold” a car you have not seen and verified.
Who each option suits
Foreign used tends to suit buyers who want a specific trim or feature, prefer lower recorded mileage and can manage a slightly higher budget and some registration steps. Locally used tends to suit buyers who want better value for money, need a car quickly with plates already on it, and are comfortable judging condition through inspection and service records. For a buyer chasing a particular version, an import may be the only way to get it.
The bottom line
Neither foreign used nor locally used is automatically the better buy. The right choice is the individual car with verifiable mileage, honest paperwork, a clean inspection report and a confirmed owner. Decide which trade-offs matter to you, compare plenty of examples of both types, insist on a mechanic’s inspection and an official ownership search, and be ready to walk away from any car, however attractive, that cannot pass those checks.
Look at the front wing of the 2026 Williams and you will find a crypto exchange’s name on it. Five years earlier, crypto in racing meant something much smaller and stranger: a single NASCAR driver’s paycheck.
Between those two moments sits a full race’s worth of drama. There were big signings, a sudden red flag, and a quieter recovery that has left crypto brands spread across the paddock. Here is how it played out, and what it means for fans who are curious about crypto themselves.
2021: the green flag
In June 2021, Landon Cassill became the first NASCAR driver paid entirely in crypto, through a deal with Voyager Digital. It made headlines well beyond the stock car world, because it turned an abstract idea into something fans could picture: a racer’s salary arriving in digital coins.
In a series where sponsorship keeps many smaller teams running, a new kind of money was always going to get attention. Crypto companies wanted fans, and racing had plenty of them.
The same year, crypto money started arriving at the top of the sport. Crypto.com signed a global partnership with Formula 1 in 2021 and went on to become title sponsor of the Miami Grand Prix. That relationship has lasted, with F1 extending it through 2030.
For teams, the attraction was obvious. Crypto companies had money to spend and wanted global attention, and racing delivers both. For the crypto brands, a logo on a car or a race title offered instant visibility in front of millions of viewers.
2022: red flag
Then the market turned. In July 2022, Voyager Digital, the company behind Cassill’s crypto paycheck, filed for bankruptcy.
Celsius filed the same month. Customer funds held in custody on both platforms were frozen.
In November 2022, FTX collapsed. The exchange had been a sponsor of the Mercedes F1 team, and Mercedes removed FTX branding from its cars during the Brazilian Grand Prix weekend that same month.
Teams can tape over a logo between sessions. People who had money sitting on a failed platform could not fix their problem so quickly.
The custody lesson from the pit lane
This is not a story about any one driver’s finances. It is about a simple rule that the 2022 failures made painfully clear: if a company holds your crypto, you carry that company’s risk.
Being paid in crypto is one decision. Where you keep it afterwards is another.
Crypto held by a custodial platform depends on that platform staying solvent. Crypto in a wallet you control, where only you hold the recovery phrase, carries a different risk, mainly losing your keys, but no company’s bankruptcy can freeze it.
The same thinking now shapes how some people buy and sell. Peer-to-peer marketplaces with smart-contract escrow, such as senpero.com, let users trade from their own wallets: the crypto is locked on the blockchain during a trade and released when the seller confirms the payment arrived. Large exchanges and payment apps remain the more familiar route for most people, and each model has its own trade-offs.
2023 to 2026: back on track
The collapses did not end crypto sponsorship in racing. They reshuffled the grid.
Kraken became Williams’ crypto partner in 2023 and renewed long-term in January 2026, moving onto the front wing of the 2026 car. The front wing is prime real estate on any F1 car, visible in head-on shots, on the grid and in the pit lane.
OKX partners with McLaren. Red Bull had a reported $150 million three-year deal with Bybit before moving to a partnership with Gate.io in 2025.
By 2025, crypto and fintech sponsorship in F1 reached about $273.6 million across 21 partners. That is serious money, and it means crypto logos will keep appearing on cars, team kit and trackside boards for years to come.
The lesson the paddock seems to have taken from 2022 is not to avoid crypto sponsors. It is to expect that some partners will come and go, and to be ready to change the livery when they do.
What curious fans should know
A crypto brand on your favorite car is advertising, not advice. If the sponsorships have made you curious, a few basics will keep you safer.
Know who holds your coins. On an exchange app the company does, while in a self-custody wallet you do. Your recovery phrase is the only key, so write it on paper and never share it with anyone.
Use escrow when buying from a person. Sending money to a stranger and hoping crypto comes back is how people get burned. Escrow locks the crypto until the payment is confirmed, so neither side has to go first on trust alone.
Be wary of scams that borrow racing hype. Treat giveaways that use driver or team names, “official” tokens promoted in comment sections, and livestreams that promise to double any crypto you send as red flags. Teams and drivers do not ask fans to send crypto to get more back.
Slow down. The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center recorded about $11.4 billion in crypto-related losses in 2025, with crypto investment scams alone accounting for $7.2 billion. Urgency is the scammer’s favorite tool.
Pit board: the short version
Sponsors come and go. A logo on a car is not a safety rating.
Know whether a company or you holds the keys to any crypto you own.
Do not leave balances on any platform longer than you need to.
Buy from individuals only through escrow, and never act on a payment screenshot.
Ignore any “send crypto, get double back” offer, whoever’s name is on it.
Remember taxes: in the US, the IRS treats crypto as property, so selling or swapping can trigger capital gains.
Most vehicle problems do not begin as major breakdowns. A slightly soft tyre, an unusual vibration, a warning light, or a small change in handling can seem easy to ignore when the car is still running normally. For motorists who notice tyre problems and need a convenient solution, Mobile tyre fitting Derby can provide professional assistance without requiring a trip to a traditional tyre centre.
The temptation to postpone minor vehicle maintenance is understandable, particularly when drivers are busy. However, delaying seemingly small problems can eventually result in higher repair costs, reduced vehicle performance, and potentially greater safety risks.
Small Problems Can Become Expensive
A minor issue rarely becomes more complicated overnight. Instead, continued driving can gradually increase wear on related components.
For example, driving with incorrect tyre pressure can contribute to uneven tread wear and increased rolling resistance. Similarly, ignoring a vehicle that consistently pulls to one side could allow an alignment or suspension issue to continue affecting the tyres.
Addressing problems early is generally simpler than waiting until several components are affected.
Tyres Are Particularly Easy to Overlook
Tyres gradually lose tread through normal use, making deterioration difficult to notice from behind the steering wheel. Drivers may become accustomed to how their vehicle feels and fail to recognise that braking, grip, or handling has changed over time.
Regularly checking tyre pressure, tread depth, and sidewall condition can help identify problems before they become more serious.
Look for signs such as:
Uneven tread wear
Cracks or cuts
Bulges in the sidewall
Repeated loss of air pressure
Objects embedded in the tread
Excessively worn tread
Any significant damage should be professionally assessed.
Delayed Maintenance Can Affect Fuel Efficiency
Vehicle maintenance is not only about avoiding breakdowns. Small mechanical issues can also influence how efficiently a vehicle operates.
Underinflated tyres increase rolling resistance, meaning the engine has to work harder to move the vehicle. Poor wheel alignment can also contribute to uneven tyre wear and inefficient driving.
Maintaining tyres at the manufacturer’s recommended pressure and addressing alignment problems can therefore help drivers avoid unnecessary running costs.
The Safety Factor
The biggest potential cost of ignoring vehicle problems is not financial—it can be the impact on road safety.
Tyres influence traction, steering, braking, and stability. A damaged or excessively worn tyre may perform differently from a healthy one, particularly on wet or slippery roads.
Drivers should not wait for a tyre to fail completely before taking action. Regular checks provide an opportunity to identify deterioration and arrange replacement when necessary.
Convenience Can Remove a Common Barrier
One reason drivers delay maintenance is the inconvenience involved. Taking time away from work or other commitments to visit a garage can make even necessary repairs easy to postpone.
Modern mobile automotive services have changed this. In many cases, motorists can have Tyres fitted at home, at their workplace, or at another suitable location, depending on the service and circumstances.
This approach makes routine tyre replacement more accessible and can help drivers address problems sooner rather than waiting for a convenient garage appointment.
Listen to Changes in Your Vehicle
Drivers often notice changes before they become obvious during a routine inspection. A new vibration, unusual noise, steering change, or difference in braking performance can be an early indication that something requires attention.
Rather than assuming these symptoms will disappear, motorists should investigate persistent changes. Early diagnosis can prevent a small issue from developing into a more expensive repair.
Prevention Is Usually Cheaper Than Repair
Routine maintenance may appear to be an additional expense, but preventative care can help control long-term vehicle costs.
Replacing a worn tyre at the appropriate time is generally preferable to dealing with a roadside failure. Similarly, correcting alignment or tyre pressure issues early can help prevent premature wear on an otherwise healthy set of tyres.
Keeping basic maintenance records can also help drivers understand when tyres and other components were last inspected or replaced.
A Simple Maintenance Routine
Drivers do not need specialist mechanical knowledge to stay on top of basic vehicle care. A simple routine can include:
Check the tyre pressures regularly.
Inspect the tyres any for visible damage.
Monitor tread wear.
Watch for changes in steering and braking.
Check dashboard warning lights.
Follow the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance schedule.
Arrange professional inspections when something doesn’t feel right.
These simple habits can help identify problems before they become emergencies.
Final Thoughts
Ignoring a small vehicle problem rarely makes it disappear. In many cases, postponing maintenance lets the underlying issue worsen, potentially increasing repair costs and creating avoidable safety concerns.
Regular checks and timely professional attention can help drivers protect their vehicles, reduce unexpected expenses, and maintain better road performance. With increasingly convenient service options available, there are fewer reasons to put essential vehicle maintenance off because just a minor problem will become a major one.
For drivers used to well-marked highways and predictable traffic, the Dominican Republic can be a different kind of challenge, and a different kind of fun. Punta Cana, the country’s main resort hub, sits on paved, reasonably well-maintained roads close to the coast, but head inland or toward smaller towns and the driving experience changes fast: narrower lanes, mixed traffic with motorbikes and trucks, and signage that’s inconsistent at best.
That’s exactly why choosing the right vehicle matters more here than in most destinations. A compact sedan is fine for resort-to-airport transfers, but anyone planning day trips toward Hoyo Azul, the Saona Island ferry points, or the Scape Park area will want a vehicle with a bit more ground clearance. A compact SUV is usually the sweet spot between manageability and comfort on uneven roads.
Local rental agencies in Punta Cana generally fall into two camps: large international chains with airport counters and premium pricing, and local operators who offer door-to-door delivery, often at a noticeably lower cost, with comparable insurance coverage. The second group has become popular with return visitors precisely because it skips the airport-counter markup and handles delivery and pickup directly at hotels or villas, which matters when flights land late or early.
A few mechanical and practical notes worth knowing before booking. Fuel is sold in Dominican pesos per gallon, not per liter, so cost comparisons to home prices can be deceptive; budget roughly four to five US dollars per gallon. Automatic transmissions are standard across nearly all tourist-zone rental fleets, so manual-only drivers don’t need to worry about availability. Full-coverage insurance is worth paying for outright rather than relying on a credit card’s rental protection, since minor traffic incidents, particularly involving motorbikes, are common enough that zero-deductible peace of mind is worth the extra few dollars a day. A valid driver’s license from home, plus a passport, is all that’s required; no international driving permit is needed for stays under ninety days.
Road etiquette also deserves a mention. Right of way is often informal, horns are used as a courtesy signal rather than an insult, and it’s common for motorbikes to pass on either side in slow traffic. Driving defensively, leaving extra following distance, and avoiding night driving on unlit rural roads will make the experience far less stressful for anyone unfamiliar with the local rhythm.
For travelers heading beyond the resort strip, toward Bavaro’s quieter beaches, Macao, or the inland countryside, a rental car genuinely unlocks a different side of the Dominican Republic than package tourists usually see. Just drive defensively, expect the unexpected from other road users, and budget a little extra time since GPS occasionally loses the plot on unpaved stretches.
Booking through a company that offers transparent per-day pricing and flexible hotel delivery, such as Vroom.do, tends to save both money and hassle compared to counter rentals, a detail more seasoned travelers factor into their trip planning every year. Whichever route you choose, reserving ahead of arrival, rather than negotiating at the curb, remains the single best way to lock in both the price and the vehicle class you actually want for exploring the island properly.
Weekends often slip by faster than expected. You finish errands, catch up on jobs around the house, and suddenly Sunday evening arrives. Adding more enjoyment to your free time does not always require extensive trips or a packed schedule. Small changes can make ordinary days feel more memorable. When you choose activities with a little more intention, you can create opportunities to relax, connect with others, and try something different from your usual routine without turning the weekend into hard work.
Turn Everyday Outings into Mini Adventures
Many people save exploration for holidays, but you can discover something new much closer to home. A nearby town, nature reserve, heritage site, or local market can provide a fresh experience without requiring extensive planning. Instead of visiting the same café or walking route each week, pick a destination you have never explored before and spend a few hours there.
The change of scenery often helps break routine while giving you interesting stories and photos to look back on. For example, a visit to a local food festival can introduce you to businesses and dishes you would otherwise never encounter. Even a short train journey can make the day feel more special than staying in familiar surroundings.
Make Social Time More Interactive
Meeting friends does not always have to revolve around sitting in the same pub or restaurant. Activities that involve participation often create stronger memories because everyone shares the experience together. Quiz nights, escape rooms, board game cafés, and amateur sports sessions encourage conversation more naturally.
A group evening at an escape room, for instance, gives everyone a shared objective and plenty to laugh about later. These types of activities also help quieter people contribute because the focus shifts from making conversation to solving problems or working together. Try suggesting an activity-based meet-up when organizing your next social gathering.
Create a Simple Home Entertainment Night
Staying at home can still feel like a treat when you introduce a small element of novelty. Rather than scrolling through streaming services for an hour, build an evening around a theme. You might choose a film genre, cook a meal inspired by another country, or challenge family members to a friendly game night.
Some adults also enjoy casual digital entertainment during their downtime. If you decide to explore options such as slot games online, approach them as a form of leisure activity rather than a way to make money. Setting a clear budget and time limit helps keep the experience enjoyable and responsible while ensuring it remains only one small part of a wider weekend plan.
Learn Something New Through a Hobby
A hobby can make weekends feel more rewarding because you finish the day with a sense of progress. Photography, baking, pottery, gardening, and learning a language all provide opportunities to develop skills at your own pace. Unlike work-related tasks, hobbies allow you to focus on personal interests without pressure.
When you commit a few hours each weekend to learning something new, you gradually build knowledge and confidence. Someone who spends an hour practicing photography might soon feel comfortable exploring local landmarks with a camera, while a beginner baker could end up creating cakes for family celebrations. Choose one skill that genuinely interests you and give it consistent attention over the next month to see how far you can develop it.
Bubba Wallace claimed a strong eighth-place result in the 2026 South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday, October 4, after being within striking distance of achieving his first elusive victory of this year’s NASCAR Cup Series season.
The 2025 Brickyard 400 champion from Mobile, Alabama, qualified in ninth place for Sunday’s main event and executed a consistent run within the top-10 mark throughout the first stage period that lasted for 80 laps, in which he wheeled his No. 23 Robinhood Toyota Camry XSE entry to a seventh-place result and notch four critical stage points. During the first stage’s break period, however, Wallace leapt five spots up to second place as he exited behind Chase Briscoe on pit road, but was sent to the tail end of the field due to an equipment interference that was caused by Wallace’s pit crew. The interference was for a wheel that rolled from Wallace’s pit stall to Austin Dillon’s pit stall and caused one of Dillon’s crew members to jump to dodge the wheel.
Mired within the top-30 mark when the second stage period commenced on Lap 87, Wallace managed to carve his way back into the top-10 mark on Lap 101. Following a cycle of green flag pit stops, Wallace continued his steady march back to the front and steer his way up to fifth place when the second stage period concluded on Lap 165. By then, he notched six additional stage points. Restarting in fifth place for the final stage period with 96 laps remaining, Wallace began to flex his muscles and contend for the victory. After mixing it up with the competition and fellow Chase contenders within the top-five mark in the early stages of the final stage period, Wallace navigated his way into the runner-up spot with 67 laps remaining.
With 51 laps remaining, Wallace tracked the leader, Chase Briscoe, both on and off pit road following their respective pit services as the former was within striking distance of challenging the former through the long runs. By the time both Briscoe and Wallace cycled back up to first and second on the track, the battle for the lead brewed as Wallace started to reel in Briscoe through the turns and straightaways while lapped traffic played a role in briefly stalling Briscoe’s momentum. Despite narrowing the deficit down to a tenth of a second on multiple instances, Wallace was unable to navigate his way around Briscoe. As the laps dwindled, Wallace started to lose tire grip and his momentum amid his late challenges and reels on Briscoe, which allowed Kyle Larson and Tyler Reddick to overtake Wallace within the final 10 laps. Wallace would then slowly slip out of the top-five mark and be overtaken by Chasers Austin Cindric, William Byron and Ryan Blaney before he took the checkered flag in eighth place.
With the result, Wallace notched his 15th top-10 result of the 2026 season, which is a career-high stat for the Alabama native in a single Cup season. He also recorded his fourth top-10 result in his 18th start at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and his fourth top-10 result through the first five Chase events of the 2026 season.
Prior to Las Vegas, Wallace was ranked in 10th place in the 2026 Chase standings and he trailed the points lead by 140 points. Despite retaining his points position, he shaved off three points from his deficit (137). Amid the disappointment in rallying from his early pit road penalty, navigating through humid conditions and falling short of notching his first victory of the 2026 season, Wallace was pleased with the outcome and gave props to his 23XI Racing pit crew that kept the driver of the No. 23 Toyota entry in contention in the closing laps.
“[I] just tried to replay every scenario,” Wallace said on USA Sports. “[Briscoe’s] car was just good enough to keep that buffer out in front of us. I tried to make one last charge at him, catch him sleeping into [Turn] 1 and just didn’t work and got super tight. That ultimately paid a price on our front tires. Fell off pretty hard there, but just that we had that [pit road] penalty. Trying to come from the back. It’s difficult in the Chase. You can’t have any mistakes. Pit crew rebounded, so I do appreciate that. Just a hard fought day. Just wasn’t meant to be.”
Bubba Wallace’s 2026 Chase for the NASCAR Cup Series championship resumes next Sunday, October 11, at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina, for the Bank of America 400. Wallace holds a single top-five result in 10 prior Cup starts at Charlotte as he strives to remain within striking distance of his first Cup Series championship. The broadcast time of next Sunday’s 2026 Bank of America 400 event is scheduled to commence at 3 p.m. ET on USA Network, PRN Radio, SiriusXM and HBO MAX.
Denny Hamlin missed an opportunity to regain ground on points leader Kyle Larson with a 16th-place result in the 2026 South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday, October 4.
The three-time Daytona 500 champion from Chesterfield, Virginia, commenced his weekend at Vegas by securing his 53rd Cup Series career pole position and his fifth of the 2026 season a day prior to the main event. Once he took the green flag from pole position, he dominated by leading the first 34 laps before he made a scheduled pit stop under green a lap after. Hamlin would cycle his way back to the lead just before a caution for Zane Smith spinning in the fourth turn flew. During the caution period, split strategies ensued as Hamlin was among a handful of competitors who opted to return to pit road for service while teammates Chase Briscoe and Christopher Bell remained on the track.
Despite restarting in 10th place for the next restart on Lap 49, Hamlin marched his way back towards the front and got up as high as fourth place as the laps in the first stage period dwindled. Then with three laps remaining in the stage period, Hamlin, who was trying to reel in teammate Christopher Bell and Ryan Blaney for podium spots, got sideways while running towards the outside wall in Turns 3 and 4. This caused Hamlin to spin his No. 11 National Debt Relief/Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Camry XSE entry from the top to the bottom of the track as he came to a 360-sliding halt towards the entrance of pit road. With the event remaining under green flag conditions, Hamlin managed to proceed, but missed out on securing critical stage points from the first stage period as he ended up in 28th place.
Restarting in 23rd place for the second stage’s start on Lap 87, Hamlin navigated his way up within the top-15 mark at the Lap 100 mark before he dropped to 20th place 10 laps later. With the front splitter of Hamlin’s entry being damaged from his spin, the Virginia native could not march his way further forward as he settled in 14th place when the second stage period concluded on Lap 165, thus missing out on notching stage points for a second consecutive stage period.
Following the pit stops during the second stage period, Hamlin was poised to line up just outside the top-10 mark for the start of the third and final stage period. He, however, endured fuel pressure issues that caused him to fall off the pace during the caution period and drop back to 24th place. For the event’s remainder, Hamlin primarily raced within the top-20 mark before he took the checkered flag in 16th place for his second-lowest result through the first five Chase events of the 2026 Cup Series season.
Prior to Las Vegas, Hamlin, who emphasized the importance and needing to win to maintain his championship hopes a week ago at Kansas Speedway, trailed points leader Kyle Larson from the runner-up spot by 26 points. After Las Vegas and with Kyle Larson rallying to finish in second place, Hamlin’s deficit to the latter increased to 40.
“I guess there was marbles up there [when I spun],” Hamlin said on USA Sports. “[I was] Just trying to get back to track position that we lost. [I] Just went up there and gotten the marbles and spun out. Obviously, damaged the car to where it was nothing like it was before. There’s nothing you can do now post race. You just got to go on to the next race and see if you can find a way to win. Charlotte will be good for us, but today certainly didn’t live up to what we expected.”
With Las Vegas in the rearview mirror, Denny Hamlin shifts his focus to the next Chase event, which is the Bank of America 400 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina. In 35 previous starts at Charlotte, Hamlin holds a single victory, which occurred in the prestigious Coca-Cola 600 event in May 2022. His best result at the venue in the fall is a runner-up result from the 2012 season as he strives to rally and regain the points ground lost to Larson while remaining in contention for his first Cup Series championship.
The 2026 Bank of America 400 at Charlotte Motor Speedway is scheduled to occur next Sunday, October 11, at 3 p.m. ET on USA Network, PRN Radio, SiriusXM and HBO MAX.
Chase Briscoe rallied after being outdueled by Kyle Larson a week ago at Kansas Speedway, outdueling both Larson and Tyler Reddick on the final lap to win the South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday, October 4, and notch maximum points in the process.
The two-time Southern 500 champion from Mitchell, Indiana, led three times for a race-high 175 of 267 scheduled laps in an event where he qualified in fourth place behind his three Joe Gibbs Racing teammates and assumed the lead for the first time during the event’s first caution period on Lap 42 amid split pit strategies within the field. After leading the field to the ensuing restart on Lap 47, Briscoe proceeded to win the first stage period. Briscoe retained the lead for a majority of the second stage’s start before another cycle of green flag pit stops jumbled the leaderboard, but he managed to reel in and overtake Austin Cindric for the lead with three laps remaining to secure his second consecutive stage victory on Lap 165.
Briscoe continued to dominate for a majority of the third and final stage period before another late cycle of green-flag pit stops that commenced with less than 60 laps remaining jumbled the leaderboard, but he managed to cycle back out in front with 40 laps remaining. After fending off late challenges by Bubba Wallace while navigating his way through lapped traffic, Briscoe was challenged by Kyle Larson as the laps dwindled. Amid Larson’s late charge, with Tyler Reddick also joining the battle nearing the final lap, Briscoe managed to fend off the challenges and motor away from the latter two wrecking entering the final turn while trying to reel in Briscoe for Briscoe to cash in on a dominant event in Sin City and maintain his NASCAR Cup Series championship hopes for the 2026 season.
With on-track qualifying determining the starting lineup on Saturday, October 3, Denny Hamlin secured his fifth Cup pole position of the 2026 season with a pole-winning lap of 186.787 mph in 28.910 seconds. Teammate Ty Gibbs qualified in second place with a lap of 186.677 mph in 28.927 seconds.
Prior to the event, Josh Berry and Noah Gragson dropped to the rear of the field after both wrecked separately during Saturday’s practice session, with Berry racing in a backup car and Gragson racing with unapproved adjustments (repairs) made to his primary entry.
When the green flag waved and the event commenced, early trouble struck at the rear of the field as Noah Gragson bumped and sent Cody Ware spinning below the frontstretch’s apron. Amid Ware’s spin, which he proceeded without further contact, the event proceeded under green as the field cycled through the first two turns and the backstretch. When the field returned to the frontstretch, pole-sitter Denny Hamlin led the first lap over teammates Chase Briscoe and Ty Gibbs. Amid blazing temperatures around Las Vegas Motor Speedway and inside of the drivers’ cockpits that reached 98 degrees, Hamlin retained the lead through the fifth lap ahead of teammates Gibbs, Briscoe and Christopher Bell while Kyle Larson pursued in fifth place ahead of 23XI Racing’s Tyler Reddick and Bubba Wallace.
Through the first 10 laps, the top-15 spots on the track were occupied by Chase contenders as Hamlin led by six-tenths of a second over Gibbs while Briscoe, Bell and Wallace, Larson, Reddick, William Byron, Austin Cindric, Carson Hocevar, Chris Buescher, Ryan Preece, Daniel Suarez, Chase Elliott and Ryan Blaney followed suit, respectively. Meanwhile, Joey Logano was the lowest-running Chase contender in 22nd place as Brad Keselowski was the highest-running non-Chaser in 16th place ahead of Michael McDowell, Alex Bowman, Riley Herbst, AJ Allmendinger and Ross Chastain, respectively.
Fifteen laps later, Hamlin extended his early advantage as he led by more than a second over Gibbs while Briscoe, Bell, Reddick and Wallace trailed in the top-six mark, respectively. Behind, Byron, Cindric, Hocevar and Elliott pursued in the top 10 while Larson, who had steadily fallen out of the top-10 mark over the previous 15 laps, slipped to 12th place as he was overtaken by Blaney. With Buescher and Suarez just trailing Larson on the track, Preece dropped to 18th place while Logano was up in 19th place. Amid the early competition, Hamlin stabilized his one-second advantage at the Lap 30 mark.
On Lap 33, Larson, who had fallen to 14th place, pitted his No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 entry under green for fresh tires, fuel and adjustments. Chastain and Preece also pitted with Larson, which commenced the event’s first cycle of green-flag pit stops, before a bevy of competitors led by the leader Hamlin pitted by Lap 35. Chasers Gibbs, Briscoe, Bell, Byron, Cindric, and Buescher also pitted behind Hamlin before Reddick and Elliott pitted on Lap 36. As Logano also pitted, Wallace pitted during the next lap while Gibbs was penalized and forced to drive through pit road under reduced pace due to speeding on pit road during his green-flag pit service. With the event nearing its Lap 40 mark, Blaney, who was among a handful of competitors who have yet to pit, was leading while Larson was mired a lap down following his extensive green flag pit service due to adjustments from his early handling issues.
On Lap 41, Hamlin cycled his way back into the lead as Chasers Blaney, Hocevar and Suarez pitted their respective entries under green. Two laps later, the event’s first caution flew when Zane Smith slid and spun his No. 38 Losi RC Cars Ford Mustang Dark Horse entry towards the outside wall in Turns 3 and 4 after he sustained a flat tire as he was dodged by oncoming traffic. During the caution period, some led by Hamlin returned to pit road for service while the rest led by Briscoe and including Chasers Bell, Elliott, Blaney, Hocevar and Suarez remained on the track. In addition, Larson used the wave around to cycle back on the lead lap.
The event’s next restart on Lap 49 featured the leader Briscoe quickly steering to the right in front of teammate Bell as the field navigated around Las Vegas Motor Speedway for a full lap, where Briscoe led the next lap over Bell and Blaney. While Elliott occupying fourth place in front of Suarez, Hocevar, Wallace and the field, Suarez and Elliott battled for fourth place while Reddick, who was dealing with an alternator issue and who pitted during the recent caution, carved his way into sixth place after he overtook Hocevar on the track. Behind, Hamlin navigated his way into the eighth place ahead of Wallace and Michael McDowell as Reddick proceeded to overtake Hocevar for fifth place. Meanwhile, Larson was mired in 26th place while Briscoe led by nearly a second over Bell on Lap 55.
Just past the Lap 60 mark, Briscoe slightly extended his advantage by one-and-a-half seconds over Bell while Blaney, Suarez, Reddick, Hamlin, Hocevar, Wallace, McDowell and Cindric occupied the top-10 spots ahead of Elliott, Byron, Riley Herbst, Buescher and Alex Bowman, respectively. Meanwhile, Chasers Logano, Preece, Gibbs and Larson were mired in 18th, 21st, 22nd and 26th, respectively, as Briscoe proceeded to lead by nearly two seconds over Bell at the Lap 70 mark.
Then with three laps remaining in the first stage period, early trouble struck for Hamlin, who was trying to reel in Blaney for third place, when he slid sideways towards the outside wall through Turns 3 and 4 before he spun his No. 11 National Debt Relief Toyota Camry XSE entry below the track and towards the pit road entrance. Amid Hamlin’s issues, he proceeded and the event remained under green flag conditions as Hamlin, who managed to remain on the lead lap, plummeted towards the top-30 mark.
When the first stage period concluded on Lap 80, Briscoe captured his first elusive Cup stage victory of the 2026 season. Bell, Blaney, Reddick, Cindric, Suarez, Wallace, Hocevar, Bowman and McDowell followed suit in the top 10, respectively. By then, eight of the 16 Chase contenders (Briscoe, Bell, Blaney, Reddick, Suarez, Cindric, Wallace and Hocevar) cashed in on the event’s first round of stage points while the remaining Chasers that include Buescher, Logano, Byron, Elliott, Gibbs, Preece, Larson and Hamlin were mired in 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 20th, 21st, 24th and 28th, respectively.
Under the event’s first stage break period, the field led by Briscoe pitted for service. Following the pit stops, Briscoe exited pit road first while Wallace, Suarez, Blaney, Bowman, Hocevar, Buescher, Bell, Logano and McDowell followed suit, respectively. During the pit stops, Cindric endured a slow pit service when the Jackman tripped over the front-tire changer while the changer was trying to tighten the right-front wheel. Reddick also endured an extensive pit service to have his alternator issue addressed while teammate Wallace was penalized for an equipment interference due to a wheel rolling from Wallace’s pit stall to Austin Dillon’s pit stall.
The second stage period started on Lap 87 as Briscoe and Suarez occupied the front row. At the start, Briscoe motored his No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota Camry XSE entry ahead of Suarez, Blaney and the field that fanned out to retain the lead through the first two turns and the backstretch. Amid a brief charge by Suarez, Briscoe led the next lap as the field fanned out as wide as four lanes through the frontstretch. While Briscoe maintained a steady lead over Suarez at the Lap 90 mark, Bowman occupied third place in front of Logano, Bell, Hocevar, Blaney, Buescher and Gibbs, respectively, while Cindric, Hamlin, Reddick, Preece and Wallace were all mired outside the top-20 mark.
On Lap 92, the caution returned due to debris detected at the pit entry. During this caution period, some led by Suarez and including Bowman, Hocevar, Gibbs, McDowell, Elliott, Larson, Byron, Cole Custer, Noah Gragson and Cindric pitted while the rest led by Briscoe remained on the track.
As the event restarted on Lap 98, the field fanned out as Briscoe maintained the lead for a full circuit ahead of Logano. Briscoe proceeded to lead the Lap 100 mark as Logano, Blaney, Bell, Shane van Gisbergen, Buescher, Herbst, Keselowski, Suarez and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. followed suit in the top 10, respectively, ahead of Wallace, Austin Hill, Hamlin, Bowman, Gibbs, Reddick, Hocevar, Cindric, Chastain and Erik Jones. Meanwhile, Larson and Byron were mired in 22nd, 27th and 28th, respectively, while Preece was the lowest-running Chaser in 31st place. Amid the action-packed racing within the field, Briscoe extended his advantage up to a second on Lap 105 and by two seconds on Lap 110 while teammate Hamlin had fallen to 20th place while being three spots ahead of Larson.
Through the Lap 125 mark, Briscoe stabilized his advantage by more than a second over teammate Bell while Blaney, Logano, Buescher, van Gisbergen, Wallace, Herbst, Cindric and Hcoevar raced in the top 10 ahead of Gibbbs, Elliott, Suarez, Chastain and Reddick, respectively. Behind, Hamlin was in 16th place ahead of Byron and Larson was scored in 19th place while Preece was mired in 27th place while trailing the lead by more than 22 seconds. Seconds later, Buescher pitted from the top 10 not long after his teammate/co-owner Brad Keselowski and McDowell also pitted.
By Lap 126, Logano and van Gisbergen pitted under green before Gibbs, Reddick, Stenhouse and Austin Dillon pitted their respective entries during the next lap. Briscoe then pitted from the lead on Lap 128 along with Wallace and Hamlin before Blaney pitted during the next lap. Bell, who cycled to a brief lead, then pitted from the lead on Lap 130 along with Josh Berry as Cindric cycled to the lead. Amid the mixed strategies ensuing within the field, Cindric retained the lead over Hocevar, Elliott, Byron, Suarez and Larson at the event’s halfway mark on Laps 133 and 134 while Bell reported a power steering issue to his entry.
Nearing the Lap 140 mark, teammates Hocevar and Suarez pitted from second and seventh, respectively, on the track as Cindric led by more than two seconds over Elliott. By then, Hendrick Motorsports’ four competitors (Elliott, Byron, Larson and Bowman) occupied the remaining top-five spots behind Cindric while Briscoe and Bell were scored just outside of the top-10 mark in 11th and 12th, respectively. Meanwhile, Hamlin was mired in 23rd place while Buescher, Blaney, Logano, Wallace, Reddick and Gibbs were in 13th, 14th, 16th, 17th, 19th and 20th, respectively. As Briscoe continued his march forward, he was in fifth place by Lap 150 while the top-four competitors led by Cindric and including Elliott, Byron and Larson occupied second through fourth, with the latter four attempting to maintain their tires to the second stage’s conclusion.
Then on Lap 162, Briscoe, who despite reported a left-side tire going flat and had reeled in the top-four competitors, reeled in and overtook Cindric for the lead. Briscoe proceeded to achieve his second consecutive Cup stage victory of the event and of the 2026 season when the second stage period concluded on Lap 165. Cindric settled in second ahead of Bell, who managed to conclude the second stage period towards the front amid his power steering issues, while Blaney, Wallace, Logano, Elliott, Byron, Buescher and Larson were scored in the top 10, respectively. By then, the latter 10 Chasers notched up the event’s second round of stage points while the remaining Chasers that include Reddick, Gibbs, Hamlin, Hocevar, Suarez and Preece were mired in 11th, 12th, 14th, 15th, 16th and 28th, respectively.
During the event’s second stage break period, the field led by Briscoe pitted for service. Following the pit stops, Briscoe retained the lead by exiting pit road first while Blaney, Cindric, Elliott, Wallace, Logano Buescher, Byron, Larson and Gibbs.
With 96 laps remaining, the final stage period commenced as Briscoe and Blaney occupied the front row. At the start, the field scrambled and fanned out for a full circuit as Blaney challenged Briscoe for the lead. Amid Blaney’s challenge, Briscoe managed to fend off the latter and lead the next lap. Amid a series of on-track battles and the field continuing to fan out, Briscoe extended his late advantage by more than a second with 90 laps remaining while Elliott, Wallace, Cindric, Reddick, Logano, Larson, Buescher, Byron and Gibbs followed suit in the top 11, respectively. Behind, Hamlin, who was battling fuel pressure issues and had to restart towards the rear of the field for failing to maintain pace when the fuel pressure issues occurred, was mired in 24th place ahead of teammate Bell and teammates Hocevar and Suarez were in 13th and 14th while Preece was in 30th.
Down to the final 80 laps, Briscoe increased his advantage by more than two seconds over Blaney while top-five contenders Wallace, Elliott and Cindric trailed by five seconds. As Reddick, Larson, Byron, Logano, Buescher and Gibbs continued to trail in the top-11 mark, respectively, Hocevar and Suarez continued to race in 13th and 14th, respectively, while Hamlin was mired in 20th place. Meanwhile, Bell, who was told to nurse his entry with the power steering unit broken home to the finish, was strapped in 25th place while Preece was the lowest-running Chaser in 29th place. As Briscoe proceeded to extend his lead up by more than three seconds with 75 laps remaining, his lead increased up to four seconds five laps later.
As the event reached its final 60-lap mark, Briscoe stabilized his lead by more than three seconds over Wallace as Cindric, Blaney and Reddick occupied the top-five spots over Larson, Byron, Elliott, Logano and van Gisbergen. Behind, Gibbs slipped within the top-15 mark as he was mired with Buescher, Hocevar and Suarez while Hamlin was in 18th place. Behind, Bell was navigating his way into 24th place while Preece was mired a lap down in 28th place.
Five laps later, Gibbs pitted from the top-15 mark under green. Bowman and Austin Dillon pitted a lap later. Elliott then pitted from the top-10 mark another two laps later along with Keselowski, with Noah Gragson and Austin Hill having already pitted, before the leader Briscoe along with Wallace, Reddick, Larson, Byron, Logano and AJ Allmendinger pitted under green with 51 laps remaining. As the green flag pit stops ensued, Cindric, who cycled to a brief lead, pitted a lap later and teammate Blaney assumed the lead while Briscoe managed to exit pit road ahead of Wallace.
More names including Hamlin, Buescher and Preece pitted as the laps dwindled before Suarez and Hocevar pitted with 47 laps remaining. Blaney then pitted from the lead a lap later, which allowed Bell to cycle to the lead as both Briscoe and Wallace reeled in from second and third, with Wallace also starting to reel in Briscoe. As Bell continued to remain on the track with the lead with 40 laps remaining, Briscoe narrowed the deficit down to six-tenths of a second from the runner-up spot while Wallace trailed Briscoe by three-tenths of a second. Meanwhile, Blaney, who has fresher tires than Briscoe and Wallace, was mired in eighth place and trailing the lead by 10 seconds before both Briscoe and Wallace overtook Bell by the next lap, with Briscoe cycling back to the lead.
With 35 laps remaining, Briscoe retained the lead by three-tenths of a second over a hard-charging Wallace while Larson, who was faster than the two leaders, trailed by more than three seconds in third place. As Bell pitted a lap later, Wallace narrowed the deficit down to a tenth of a second, but he could not execute an overtake on Briscoe as the latter continued to lead by two-tenths of a second with 30 laps remaining. Meanwhile, Larson trailed in third place by more than two seconds while Reddick, Cindric, Byron, Blaney, Elliott, van Gisbergen and Logano were in the top 10 ahead of Gibbs, Bowman, Buescher, Suarez, Allmendinger, Hamlin and Suarez, respectively.
Down to the final 25 laps, Briscoe, who had his lead shrink down to a tenth of a second four laps earlier, grew it up to nine-tenths of a second over Wallace as Larson started to reel in the two leaders while trailing by more than a second. Despite being mired in lapped traffic, Briscoe stabilized his advantage by eight-tenths of a second over Wallace while Larson only trailed Wallace by two-tenths of a second with 20 laps remaining. With more lapped traffic interfering Briscoe’s path, Wallace reduced Briscoe’s advantage down to three-tenths of a second while Larson remained within striking distance (six-tenths of a second) in third place with 15 laps remaining.
Then with 12 laps remaining, Larson overtook Wallace for the runner-up spot with a bold slide move in front of Wallace entering the frontstretch as the latter two trailed Briscoe, who continued to navigate his way through lapped traffic, by half a second. As Briscoe maintained the lead by three-tenths of a second for the next lap, Wallace started to lose ground and was overtaken by teammate Reddick, who had been stalking and slowly reeling in the three leaders, for third place another two laps later while Larson only trailed Briscoe by two-tenths of a second. With third-place Reddick trailing by nine-tenths of a second and teammate Wallace trailing by more than two seconds in fourth place, Larson trailed the leader Briscoe by three-tenths of a second with five laps remaining.
When the white flag waved and the final lap started, Briscoe remained in the lead by two-tenths of a second over a hard-charging Larson as Reddick only trailed by half a second. Larson used the outside lane through the first two turns to try and reel in Briscoe, but the latter maintained the advantage through the backstretch. Then through Turns 3 and 4, Larson tried to use the outside wall to try and gain a reeling advantage entering the frontstretch. Instead, he got loose entering the frontstretch and smacked the wall on the right side. In the process, Reddick collided into Larson and slid below through the frontstretch’s infield. Amid the last-lap carnage, Briscoe cruised to the race victory by more than a second.
With the victory, Briscoe achieved his seventh NASCAR Cup Series career win in his 211th start, his second of the 2026 season, his first since Chicagoland Speedway in early July and his first at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Briscoe’s fall Las Vegas victory marked his fifth victory driving Joe Gibbs Racing’s No. 19 entry along with the ninth victory of this season for Joe Gibbs Racing and the 16th victory for Toyota.
Prior to Las Vegas, Briscoe was ranked in eighth place in the 2026 Chase standings and trailed points leader Larson by 123 points. By sweeping all three stages of the 2026 South Point 400 event en route to the victory and leading the most laps (175), the Indiana native jumped to sixth place and is 84 points behind Larson while maintaining his hopes of being in contention for his first Cup Series championship approaching the final five Chase events.
Photo by Brecken Stock for SpeedwayMedia.com.
“We could add another win, but I don’t think I would’ve been able to get on the plane [if I had lost],” Briscoe said on the frontstretch on USA Sports. “[The No. 19 team] would all kick my butt. [Crew chief] James [Small], definitely. I was scared to death to see him if I didn’t pull that one off. What an amazing day. So thankful to get this Bass Pro Shops, Tracker [Boats] Toyota back to Victory Lane. It’s been not a rough year, but just not the results that we necessarily want. Honestly, [I was looking] more [to] the windshield, except for when Larson would get really, really close. The aero is such a big deal. [Turns] 1 and 2, I felt like, if I could just get somewhat cover where he was at, it’s a huge guessing game. I knew in [Turns] 3 and 4, if I just hit the bottom properly and slow down, which I’m normally not good at, that he was gonna have a hard time getting by me. Glad I was able to hold on. Last week was not a very fun mental place to be after throwing one away. Just super cool. ”
Following the final-lap incident, Larson managed to limp his entry, which was scraped on the right side, into the runner-up spot, while Reddick managed to claim third place despite his spin through the frontstretch and drive through pit road.
For Larson, his late rally from losing a lap to the leaders and managing handling issues enabled him to secure his fifth consecutive top-five result through the Chase’s first five events and his fourth in a row within the top-two spots. The runner-up result provided a bittersweet moment for Larson, who sported a special yellow, blue and red livery to his No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 entry while paying tribute to the late two-time Cup Series champion, Kyle Busch, during Busch’s hometown event at Las Vegas. Despite ending up a spot short of notching back-to-back victories over Briscoe, Larson extended his points lead from 26 to 40 in the Chase standings and remains in contention for his title defense and third title overall.
Photo by Brecken Stock for SpeedwayMedia.com.
“[Today] was a fight,” Larson said. “[I] just tried to stay patient, but my tires were getting burned off by the time I got there. [I] Tried to do what I could to try to win. I moved up I feel like at the right time and did a decent job with it. [I] Was trying to push hard through [Turns] 3 and 4, build some momentum at him to get by him down the straightaway. [I] Just got really loose and over-corrected it into the wall. Thankfully, [I] was able to limp it home. Thankfully, Reddick was able to come away third still as well. That got exciting. I wish we could’ve won in this paint scheme and honoring Kyle [Busch] because that would’ve been very Kyle Busch fashion, but yeah, a great fight again by our team. Happy I’m plus 40 [in the standings], but I also look at it like, ‘Dang, if we could’ve just fired off more in the ballpark, we could’ve had another 10 points minimum. We’ll just keep learning and keep after it.”
For Reddick, who rallied from early alternator issues, his third-place result marks his second top-three result in the 2026 Chase and his 13th top-five result overall. The result kept Reddick in seventh place in the standings, but he managed to decrease his points deficit to 106. Nevertheless, he was left with mixed emotions as he still trails the points lead by triple digits.
Photo by Brecken Stock for SpeedwayMedia.com.
“We just had to dig deep,” Reddick said. “Unfortunately, at the point, it’s pretty much norm to have issues all day long for us on this team. That’s just what we’re used to. So we know what to do. We know how to fight through it. We fought through everything that we had really well today. It’s just still, yeah, we gained five points. Whoop-de-doo. We have to capitalized when we have Toyota Camrys as fast as this. We have to win those races. The key to that is being clean and executing. We just haven’t done that in a very long time.”
Austin Cindric and Ryan Blaney finished in the top five while William Byron, Chase Elliott, Bubba Wallace, Shane van Gisbergen and Joey Logano completed the top 10 in the final running order. With nine of 16 Chase contenders (Briscoe, Larson, Reddick, Cindric, Blaney, Byron, Elliott, Wallace and Logano) finishing in the top 10, the remaining Chasers, including Carson Hocevar, Chris Buescher, Daniel Suarez, Denny Hamlin, Ty Gibbs, Christopher Bell and Ryan Preece, finished 12th, 13th, 14th, 16th, 17th, 23rd and 28th, respectively.
The fifth Chase event of the 2026 Cup Series season produced 12 lead changes among seven leaders and four cautions for 21 laps. In addition, 21 of 36 starters finished on the lead lap.
Race Results:
Chase Briscoe, 175 laps led, Stages 1 & 2 winner
Kyle Larson
Tyler Reddick, one lap led
Austin Cindric, 33 laps led
Ryan Blaney, 10 laps led
William Byron
Chase Elliott
Bubba Wallace, one lap led
Shane van Gisbergen
Joey Logano
Alex Bowman
Carson Hocevar
Chris Buescher
Daniel Suarez
AJ Allmendinger
Denny Hamlin, 39 laps led
Ty Gibbs
Riley Herbst
Austin Dillon
Noah Gragson
Michael McDowell
Austin Hill, one lap down
Christopher Bell, one lap down, eight laps led
Brad Keselowski, one lap down
Erik Jones, one lap down
Josh Berry, one lap down
Cole Custer, one lap down
Ryan Preece, two laps down
John Hunter Nemechek, two laps down
Ross Chastain, two laps down
Ty Dillon, two laps down
Ricky Stenhouse Jr., three laps down
Todd Gilliland, three laps down
Cody Ware, four laps down
Connor Zilisch, five laps down
Zane Smith, five laps down
*Bold indicates Chase Drivers
Following the fifth Chase event of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season, Kyle Larson continues to lead the standings by 40 points over Denny Hamlin, 55 over Christopher Bell, 71 over Joey Logano, 80 over Ryan Blaney, and 84 over Chase Briscoe. The rest of the 16-car Chase field is displayed below.
Chase Standings:
Kyle Larson
Denny Hamlin -40
Christopher Bell -55
Joey Logano -71
Ryan Blaney -80
Chase Briscoe -84
Tyler Reddick -106
Ty Gibbs -110
Austin Cindric -128
Bubba Wallace -137
Carson Hocevar -158
William Byron -160
Chase Elliott -163
Daniel Suarez -195
Chris Buescher -196
Ryan Preece -200
With the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series’ Chase reaching its halfway mark, the next Chase event on the schedule is the Bank of America 400 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, North Carolina. The event is scheduled for next Sunday, October 11, and will air at 3 p.m. ET on USA Network, PRN Radio, SiriusXM, and HBO MAX.
BRISCOE DRIVES TOYOTA TO VICTORY LANE IN VEGAS Chase Briscoe delivers Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing third straight Las Vegas triumph
LAS VEGAS (October 4, 2026) – Chase Briscoe delivered a dominating performance for Team Toyota winning both stages and claiming his first Las Vegas victory on Sunday evening. Briscoe scored the third straight win for Joe Gibbs Racing and Toyota at the track. It is Briscoe’s second win of the season (Chicagoland), and seventh of his career.
Despite running top-six for the early portions of the race several members of Team Toyota battled adversity throughout the race, including Tyler Reddick, who rebounded to finish third after changing a battery. Both Bubba Wallace and Ty Gibbs recovered after pit road penalties, while Denny Hamlin (spin) and Christopher Bell (power steering failure) both suffered woes while battling for the race lead. With five races remaining in the season, Hamlin and Bell continue to battle for the title with Hamlin 40 points out of the lead and Bell 55 points back.
TOYOTA RACING Post-Race Recap NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) Las Vegas Motor Speedway Race 31 of 36 – 400.5 miles, 267 laps
TOYOTA FINISHING POSITIONS
1st, CHASE BRISCOE
2nd, Kyle Larson*
3rd, TYLER REDDICK
4th, Austin Cindric*
5th, Ryan Blaney*
8th, BUBBA WALLACE
16th, DENNY HAMLIN
17th, TY GIBBS
18th, RILEY HERBST
23rd, CHRISTOPHER BELL
25th, ERIK JONES
29th, JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK
*non-Toyota driver
TOYOTA QUOTES
CHASE BRISCOE, No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota Camry XSE, Joe Gibbs Racing
Finishing Position: 1st
How uneasy was today’s race?
“It was definitely uneasy on the long run. On the short run, I felt phenomenal. I don’t know what else I could have needed. After 30 or so laps, I would kind of be hanging on. It would seem like even if I could stretch it even four seconds, they would ultimately catch me right before we pitted. I’ll be honest, with 35 to go, I was thinking I don’t know if I am going to be able to pull this off after leading all day. James (Small, crew chief) made an adjustment at the end and that was a huge deal there. It was definitely an exciting race from my point of view. I know the middle part, maybe not so much, but at the end it was like cat and mouse game of a couple of different guys, and then there was that group of seven or eight lap cars. It is really cool to get Bass Pro Shops, Toyota, Free Bird, Columbia Bank, Mobil 1, Zep, Lance Crackers, WIX Filters – all of our partners in victory lane. It has not been a terrible year, but it hasn’t been the year we’ve wanted, so this is really cool.”
TYLER REDDICK, No. 45 Jordan Brand Toyota Camry XSE, 23XI Racing
Finishing Position: 3rd
Can you talk about what happened in the closing laps there?
“That pretty much sums up what today was like. Just one thing after another for us. Just really proud of everyone’s effort on this Jordan Brand Toyota Camry. We didn’t lose a lap changing the battery there, and we able to drive back to the front – it just took too long. It put us in a spot where we had to be perfect on that final run, and unfortunately, we had some more mistakes and we came out behind the 5 (Kyle Larson) after we got by him in the first part of that run. I think ultimately that was the difference. If we could have stayed ahead of him leaving pit road, I think we get to those cars first and maybe don’t burn up as much. I think we could have won today.”
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for nearly 70 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our more than 1,800 dealerships.
Toyota directly employs nearly 64,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of over 50 million cars and trucks at our 14 manufacturing plants. In 2025, Toyota’s plant in North Carolina began to assemble automotive batteries for electrified vehicles.
NASCAR Cup Series Las Vegas Motor Speedway South Point 400 Team Chevy Post-Race Report October 4, 2026
Larson Keeps Top-Five Streak, Points Lead Alive at Las Vegas Motor Speedway
A valiant last-lap effort by the reigning champion, Kyle Larson, saw the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet team lead the manufacturer with a second-place finish in the South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. While it was a challenging day of battling handling issues throughout the first-two stages, it was the final run that saw the team back in race winning contention that ultimately continued their top-five streak in The Chase alive. Officially reaching the halfway point of the title run, Larson will head to Charlotte Motor Speedway with a 40-point lead over Denny Hamlin.
Four Chevrolet-powered machines earned results within the top-10 at the Nevada-based oval with Larson leading his Hendrick Motorsports teammates and fellow Chase title contenders, William Byron and Chase Elliott, in the sixth and seventh positions, respectively, with Trackhouse Racing’s Shane van Gisbergen driving to an impressive oval performance to earn a ninth-place result.
RACE RECAP:
Stage One:
Showing speed early in yesterday’s practice session, Kyle Larson went on to lead Team Chevy in qualifying with a sixth-place starting position for the South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. While maintaining the position for the opening laps of the stage, the points leader made an early report that his Chevrolet was edgy and lacking grip. While fighting the handling issues, Larson fell outside the top-10 as the race approached the first green flag pit cycle that ultimately began on Lap 34. Crew Chief, Cliff Daniels, was the first to call his driver to pit road for a lengthy stop that included a major front-end adjustment to try to help the balance of his Chevrolet. Buried in traffic and one lap down, it was only a 10-lap run before the first caution of the day flew for the No. 38. Varying pit strategies saw Daniels make the call to stay out and take the wave around to lineup 30th for the restart and 31 laps to go in the opening stage. Among the eight teams on the lead lap that chose to stay out included title contender, Daniel Suarez, who ultimately earned a hard fought six-place finish to lead Team Chevy to the end of Stage One.
Stage Two:
Despite a challenging opening stage that resulted in a 23rd-place finish, Larson reported that the first adjustment made an improvement but he was still lacking grip in the rear of his Chevrolet. Now just facing smaller adjustments to continue the progress, it was a standard four-tire and fuel stop that put the No. 5 team in the 18th position for the start of Stage Two. The culmination of a two-position gain in the race off pit road and a pit road penalty for the No. 23 saw Suarez inherit a spot on the front row to lead the field to the green flag for Stage Two. While settled into second for the opening laps of the stage, Suarez kept the Stage One winner, Chase Briscoe, right within reach – managing a three-second margin for a 14-lap run that ended with a caution for debris. While the No. 19 team stayed out, a late call by Crew Chief, Ryan Sparks, brought Suarez to pit road to lead a handful of cars for a two-tire stop. While it was a split strategy throughout the field, all of Chevrolet’s Chase drivers chose to pit for right-side tires, while also putting them in a position on fuel that lent the opportunity to make it to the end of stage. On the alternate strategy, the Stephen Doran-led team opted to capitalize on the track position and forgo the trip to pit road, boosting the No. 97 up to fifth for the restart. Van Gisbergen put on an impressive showing during the green flag run, maintaining a top-six running position despite the disadvantage of older tires. Just past the halfway mark of the stage saw the start of the green flag pit cycle for those that didn’t pit under the caution. The trio of Hendrick Motorsports Chase contenders made the gamble to run the stage out with Chase Elliott cycling up to second and leading Byron (third) and Larson (fourth) for the stretch to the second green-white checkered flag. While those on fresher tires started to make a charge late in the stage, the trio put up a valiant effort to all drive to a points-earning effort.
Final Stage:
The No. 9 pit crew powered their driver to a two-position gain in the race off pit road during the stage break, putting Elliott in fourth to lead the Bowtie brigade to the start of the final stage. With a green flag run building, Elliott maintained a top-five running position while still fighting the handling in the rear of his Chevrolet. Through yet another green flag pit cycle, the trio of Hendrick Motorsports drivers quickly cycled back up into the top-10 for what was building for a long run to the finish. While the first-two stages were a challenge for the No. 5 team, it was the final run of the race that saw the reigning champions back in race winning contention. While hovering around a three-second deficit, Larson quickly closed in on then-race leader, Briscoe, to just one-second with 20 laps to go. Enduring a flurry of lap traffic in the closing laps, Larson made the pass for second with 12 laps to go and quickly went to work on the battle for the lead. Reaching the rear of the No. 19 in lap traffic, Larson made a valiant last-lap effort before going on to cash-in on a strong second-place finish and lead Chevrolet to the checkered flag and the halfway point of The Chase.
Team Chevy Unofficial Top-10 Results Pos. Driver
2nd – Kyle Larson 6th – William Byron 7th – Chase Elliott 9th – Shane van Gisbergen
Chevrolet’s season statistics with 30 NASCAR Cup Series races complete:
The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Chase will continue at Charlotte Motor Speedway with the Bank of America 400 on Sunday, October 11, at 3 p.m. ET. Live coverage can be found on the USA Network, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.
Post-Race Driver Quotes:
Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Finished: 19th
“Proud of the work from everyone on the No. 3 Toys for Tots Chevrolet team. Our car was better on the long runs, and we struggled all race on the restarts and shorter runs. We kept working at it, but the car was just too loose overall and we lacked grip and downforce. We’ll take our 19th place finish, leave Las Vegas Motor Speedway with plenty of notes for next spring and now get to work for Charlotte next week.”
Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Finished: 2nd
“It was a fight all day long for this No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet team. I was surprised about how far off we were there in that first run. I was just doing all I could to hold onto it and get to the pit stop. Cliff (Daniels, crew chief) said it was going to be a lengthy pit stop, but I didn’t know it was going to be that long. We came out a lap down. I think, thankfully, that caution came out and we could take the wave around. I think that really saved us from being stuck a lap down a lot longer. My car got better, but getting track position was just difficult. We just chipped away at it all race long. We had a good green flag pit cycle, and I could tell I was gaining on him (Chase Briscoe, race winner) pretty quickly. I just tried to stay patient, but my tires were getting kind of burnt off by the time I got there. I did what I could to try and win. We did a decent job with it, but I was just trying to push it through (turns) three and four to build some momentum at him and try to get by him down the straightaway. I just got really loose and overcorrected it into the wall. Thankfully, I was able to limp it home. It got exciting, for sure. I wish I could have won in this paint scheme while honoring Kyle because that would have been in very Kyle Busch fashion, but again, it was a great fight by this team.”
William Byron, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Finished: 6th
“We were just kind of in the back-half of the top-10 throughout most of the day. We just couldn’t really advance past that. And then under the green flag run, we would just get kind of stuck. I thought that during the last run, our No. 24 HP Chevrolet got tighter. We just needed a little bit more.”
Chase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Finished: 7th
“I thought our No. 9 NAPA Chevy was, honestly, pretty good most of the day. We ran long with the No. 2 (Austin Cindric) there and the right-front came apart. For whatever reason, after that, I just kept getting looser and looser. I just kind of faded back a little bit at the end. We took a bunch of fuel and that didn’t help for those runs that went green. But overall, I thought it was a pretty solid day. It’s nice to have two solid days back-to-back for this team. There were some high spots in there. I thought our car did some really good things at different times throughout the day. I had some good feels at different points, and it was definitely something that we can build off of.”
Austin Hill, No. 33 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Finished: 22nd
“Solid day for our BetMGM team. All in all, to leave here with a top-25 is a stepping stone for our group. On the initial run, we were really good and drove forward. Gained over 12 spots in the first stage and put ourselves in a decent spot. As the race went on, our Chevrolet got tight, especially on fire off. Andy (Street, crew chief) and the guys kept working on the balance and got the front end in a good spot, but then we were too loose on the last run at the end. We will keep building as much as possible in these last handful of weeks.”
Michael McDowell, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
Finished: 21st
“It was a up and down day in Vegas, not the result we wanted, but today was just so unpredictable. Staying out, two tires, or four tires were all options and late in those runs was really where it made a difference with tire life. There was a time where we were running in the top 15 for some of the day, then the strategy didn’t come back to us the way we had hoped. Regardless, I feel like it was a step in the right direction with our 1.5-mile program. Special thank you to Fly Alliance for their support this weekend, hopefully we can continue to progress with our intermediate setups next weekend in Charlotte.”
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