Event: Cracker Barrel 400 Date/Time: Sunday, May 31, 2026, 7 p.m. ET Location: Nashville Superspeedway, Lebanon, Tennessee Layout: 1.33-Mile Oval TV/Radio: Prime Video, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio
Josh Berry and the No. 21 team head to Nashville Superspeedway this weekend for Sunday’s Cracker Barrel 400 looking to build on the pace they showed in last weekend’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway before getting collected in an accident.
The trip to Nashville carries added significance for Berry, whose hometown of Hendersonville, Tenn., sits about 30 minutes from the 1.33-mile concrete oval. This weekend also marks the second consecutive race that the Wood Brothers Racing team will carry the familiar eero colors aboard the No. 21 Ford Mustang Dark Horse.
Berry has shown speed at Nashville in the past. In the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series event at Nashville, he qualified on the outside pole. He also owns two top-five finishes in three starts at the track in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series.
Berry believes the No. 21 team is capable of putting together a strong performance this weekend.
“It’s always great getting back to Nashville,” Berry said of racing at his home track. “Racing there is something I always look forward to, and it’s a weekend that definitely means a little extra to me.
“I felt like we were putting together one of our stronger intermediate-track races of the season at Charlotte before getting collected late, so hopefully we can carry over what we learned there and put together a strong weekend for the No. 21 team.”
Practice for the Cracker Barrel 400 is scheduled for Saturday at 4:30 p.m. ET, followed by qualifying at 5:40 p.m. ET.
Sunday’s 399-mile, 300-lap race is scheduled to take the green flag just after 7 p.m. ET, with Stage 1 ending on Lap 90 and Stage 2 concluding on Lap 185.
Prime Video will provide television coverage throughout the weekend.
Saturday, May 30
Berry will participate in a Q&A session at the Ford Racing activation at 1 p.m. local time in the Nashville Superspeedway fan zone.
Berry will sign autographs at the Team Penske/Wood Brothers merchandise hauler beginning at 1:15 p.m. local time in the Nashville Superspeedway fan zone. 100 wristbands will be distributed on a first come, first-served basis.
Sunday, May 31
Berry will participate in a Q&A session at the Pre-Race Stage on race day at 3:45 p.m. local time.
Josh Berry
Age: 35 (Oct. 22, 1990)
Hometown: Hendersonville, Tennessee
Crew Chief: Miles Stanley
IG: @joshberry88
X: @joshberry
About eero eero was founded to make wifi and networking the way they should be—fast, reliable, secure, and, most importantly, easy to use. After introducing the first home mesh wifi system with a high-quality design that blends into its environment and technology that intuitively works behind the scenes, eero became known for sweating every single detail and delivering award-winning hardware and software for homes, businesses, communities, and service providers. Founded and headquartered in San Francisco in 2014, eero is an Amazon company. For more information, visit eero.com.
Trauma from exploitation can affect every part of a survivor’s life, including safety, finances, health, and emotional well-being. Many families across California may not realize that survivors often have important legal protections available under both state and federal law.
Access to legal help for sex trafficking survivors may provide guidance on safety planning, compensation options, restraining orders, and civil claims against responsible parties. Survivors are not required to face these situations alone. California laws continue to expand protections for victims of trafficking, abuse, and exploitation.
Here are five important legal rights survivors and families should know moving forward.
1. Survivors Have the Right to Seek Protection
Safety is often the first concern after escaping exploitation. California courts may issue restraining orders or protective orders to help keep traffickers or related individuals away from survivors and their families.
These legal protections may help with:
Preventing contact or harassment
Limiting stalking or intimidation
Increasing personal safety at home or work
Supporting ongoing investigations
Under California Penal Code Section 236.1, sex trafficking is a serious criminal offense involving force, fraud, coercion, or exploitation.
2. Survivors May Pursue Financial Compensation
Many survivors experience financial harm alongside emotional trauma. Some may lose wages, housing, education opportunities, or personal property during exploitation.
Civil claims may help survivors pursue compensation for:
Possible Damages
Examples
Medical expenses
Therapy, hospital visits, medications
Lost income
Missed work or inability to return to work
Emotional distress
Anxiety, PTSD, depression
Relocation costs
Emergency housing or safety expenses
In some situations, claims may also involve businesses, organizations, or third parties that failed to prevent exploitation.
3. Survivors Have the Right to Confidential Support
Fear and shame often prevent victims from seeking assistance. However, California offers confidential resources and protections for victims designed to support survivors privately and safely.
This may include:
Confidential victim advocacy services
Trauma-informed legal guidance
Privacy protections during court proceedings
Access to counseling and crisis services
Seeking legal help for sex trafficking survivors may also help families identify available local resources without immediately entering a public legal process.
4. Survivors Can Report Abuse Without Facing Blame
Many trafficking survivors fear they will be judged, arrested, or blamed for what happened. California law recognizes that trafficked individuals are victims of exploitation.
Important protections may include:
Support for minors exploited through trafficking
Victim-centered investigations
Protection against retaliation or intimidation
Access to victim compensation programs
Traffickers often use fear, manipulation, threats, or financial control to maintain power. Survivors should never feel responsible for crimes committed against them.
5. Survivors Have the Right to Legal Representation
Sex trafficking cases can become legally and emotionally overwhelming. Survivors may face criminal investigations, immigration concerns, financial hardship, or pressure from abusers.
Working with legal professionals may help survivors:
Review possible civil claims
Gather evidence safely
Communicate with investigators
Pursue compensation or protection orders
Protect long-term rights and privacy
Early documentation may also strengthen future legal actions. Families are often encouraged to preserve:
Text messages or online communications
Photos or medical records
Witness information
Financial records or transaction history
Accessing legal help for sex trafficking survivors early may help survivors make informed decisions while focusing on recovery and safety.
Support Is Available for Survivors and Families
No survivor should feel isolated after experiencing trafficking or exploitation. Legal and community support may help individuals regain stability, safety, and confidence during recovery.
If you or someone you care about needs support after a trafficking-related situation, get support today – Free and confidential consultation.
NASCAR released the penalty report following this past weekend’s triple-header weekend of racing at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Wednesday, May 27.
In the Cup Series division, Ian Schulz and Deiontae Jones, crew members of the No. 78 Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 entry, have been suspended for the upcoming two Cup Series events. The penalty report specifies that they were both found to have violated Sections 8.8.10.4.A&D of the NASCAR Rule Book. This refers to the loss/separation of an improperly installed tire/wheel from the vehicle during an event.
During this past Sunday’s Cup Series’ Coca-Cola 600 event at Charlotte, Katherine Legge, who was driving the No. 78 Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet entry, had a right-front wheel that detached from her entry on Lap 209. It happened as she was trying to navigate her way to pit road from the apron in Turns 3 and 4.
Legge, who earlier made history in becoming the first female competitor to compete in both the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 on the same day, finished 31st in the 39-car field during the latter event, 11 laps down. Daniel Suarez and Spire Motorsports would win the 2026 Coca-Cola 600 event, which was shortened by 27 laps of its scheduled distance due to inclement weather.
In the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series division, Michael Roberts, the penalty report specified that a crew member for the No. 9 JR Motorsports (JRM) Chevrolet Camaro entry has been issued a one-race suspension. It states that the team violated Sections 8.8.10.4a & 10.5.2.5g in the rule book. It pertains to safety violations with tires and wheels, and lug nut(s) not properly secured. During the post-race inspection process, the No. 9 JRM entry had two missing lug nuts. The entry was piloted to Victory Lane by Ross Chastain this past Saturday evening amid a rain-shortened event.
Lastly, the penalty report noted that Evanna Howell, a senior account manager at 23XI Racing, has been indefinitely suspended from NASCAR after violating Section 4.4 A, which involves the behavioral section of the rule book.
There were no penalties levied towards any competitors or teams from Sunday’s rain-postponed/shortened Craftsman Truck Series event at Charlotte that was won by Front Row Motorsports driver, Layne Riggs.
The NASCAR Craftsman Truck, O’Reilly Auto Parts and Cup Series divisions all return to action for a triple-header weekend of racing at Nashville Superspeedway in Lebanon, Tennessee. The Truck Series commences the weekend with the Allegiance 200 on Friday, May 29, at 8 p.m. ET on FS1, NASCAR Racing Network and SiriusXM. The O’Reilly Auto Parts Series follows suit with the Sports Illustrated Resorts 250 on Saturday, May 30, at 7:30 p.m. ET on the CW Network, PRN Radio and SiriusXM.
The Cup Series caps off the weekend with the Cracker Barrel 400 on Sunday, May 31, at 7 p.m. ET on Prime Video, PRN Radio, SiriusXM and HBO MAX.
I used to spend almost an entire day making a few short videos. Now I can plan and generate a full week of content in about an hour.
The shift didn’t come from working faster, but from working differently.
AI handles the repetitive parts while I focus on ideas and direction. One idea becomes 、
multiple videos instead of one polished post. That’s where the real time savings come from.
Let me walk you through the exact workflow I use.
Why Social Media Video Production Still Takes Too Much Time
Most creators I talk to don’t struggle with ideas. They struggle with time.
Every platform wants consistency, and that turns into a daily production cycle that never really stops. Even a simple short video involves scripting, editing, resizing, captioning, and publishing.
The problem is not that tools are missing. It’s that the workflow is fragmented. You jump between apps for scripting, editing, subtitles, thumbnails, and scheduling. Each switch adds friction, and that friction quietly eats your day.
Short-form content makes this worse. One platform turns into three, then five, and suddenly you’re not creating content anymore. You’re managing output. That’s where burnout usually starts.
What Changed With AI Video Workflows
AI didn’t just make video creation faster. It changed the structure of how content gets made. Instead of building one video at a time, I now think in systems. One idea becomes a batch of assets designed for different platforms and formats.
The biggest shift is from manual editing to orchestration. I don’t “edit” every video anymore. I guide a workflow that produces multiple variations at once.
AI video agents are a big part of this shift. Instead of prompting one output at a time, they can take a single input and generate structured content variations. That means I can go from concept to multiple ready to post videos in one cycle.
Creators are also moving from single posts to content batches. That alone changes everything about how you plan your week.
The One Hour AI Workflow for Creating a Week of Social Videos
My workflow is simple, but structured. I don’t try to create perfect videos. I focus on creating enough high-quality variations that I can post consistently across the week.
The goal is not perfection. The goal is volume with consistency and clarity.
Start with one core content idea
Everything starts with a single idea. It could be a product insight, a design tip, or a simple opinion that fits your niche. I try to pick something that can naturally branch into multiple angles.
For example, if my idea is “why most short videos fail,” I already know I can turn that into tips, examples, mistakes, and comparisons. One idea becomes the foundation for an entire content batch.
Turn one idea into multiple content angles
Once I have the core idea, I break it into variations. I usually aim for five to seven angles. Each one should feel slightly different in tone or purpose.
One angle might be educational, another might be opinion-based, and another might focus on a quick takeaway. This step is important because it removes the pressure of constantly thinking of new topics.
Generate scripts with AI
This is where AI like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini really saves time. I feed the idea and angles into an AI tool and generate short scripts for each video. I don’t aim for long scripts. Short form content works best when it is direct and structured.
At this stage, I usually refine my tone slightly to match my style. But I avoid over-editing. The goal is speed, not perfection.
Create visual assets and footage with AI
Once the scripts are ready, I move into visuals. This is where AI video tools come in. Instead of shooting or searching for clips, I generate visuals based on the script.
This is also where tools like text to video AI become useful because they can turn simple descriptions directly into video. It removes a large part of traditional production work.
Generate multiple video versions at once
One of the biggest advantages of AI workflows is variation generation. I don’t just create one video per script. I generate multiple versions with slight differences in pacing, visuals, or hooks.
This matters because different platforms respond differently to content. A hook that works on one platform might not work on another. Having variations gives me flexibility without extra work.
Resize content for different platforms
After generation, I quickly adapt each video for different formats. Most tools now handle resizing automatically, but I still review framing to make sure key visuals are not cut off.
This step ensures that one piece of content works across multiple platforms instead of being locked into a single format.
Add captions music and final polish
The final step is cleanup. I add captions because most viewers watch without sound. I adjust pacing slightly if needed and make sure each video feels complete.
I don’t overthink this stage. If the structure is good, polishing is fast.
Example Creator Workflow From One Prompt to Seven Videos
Let’s take a simple example. Imagine my prompt is “three mistakes new creators make with short videos.”
From that one prompt, I can quickly generate multiple directions:
One video becomes a mistake breakdown with examples. Another becomes a quick list of fixes. Another turns into a storytelling format about my own experience.
One becomes a “do this instead” comparison. Another focuses on a common myth.
One becomes a fast tip style video. And another becomes a reaction style breakdown.
This is where AI really changes the game. Instead of thinking in terms of one polished video, I think in terms of content systems.
At this point in my workflow, I usually use Loova AI because it lets me move between generation, editing, and variation creation in one place. Instead of switching tools, everything happens in one system.
Loova also supports multiple AI models, including the most trendy Seedance 2.0 AI video generator, so you can test different outputs without leaving the platform.
Once I have this structure, I can also reuse it across platforms. A TikTok version might be fast and direct, while a YouTube Shorts version might include slightly more context.
How Designers and Visual Artists Can Scale Content Faster
For designers and visual artists, this workflow is even more powerful. Instead of talking head content, you can turn your portfolio into dynamic video content.
A single design project can become a walkthrough, a breakdown of decisions, a transformation sequence, and a visual showcase. Each version highlights a different part of your creative process.
You can also turn static images into motion-based content. This helps your work feel more alive and engaging without needing new production every time.
The key is consistency. Once you build a repeatable system, your portfolio becomes a content engine instead of a static gallery.
How E-Commerce and Advertising Teams Use AI Video Workflows
Even outside of creators, this workflow works well for product-focused content. A single product can generate multiple video variations for testing different angles.
One version might focus on features. Another might focus on lifestyle use. Another might focus on comparison with alternatives. This helps quickly identify what resonates with audiences.
Instead of producing one high-effort ad, teams can test multiple low-friction variations. That speeds up learning and reduces wasted effort.
Common Mistakes That Slow Down AI Video Creation
The biggest mistake I see is tool overload. People use one tool for scripts, another for visuals, and another for editing. That breaks the workflow into too many steps.
Another issue is restarting from scratch every time. If you don’t reuse structures, you end up repeating effort instead of building momentum.
Some creators also focus too much on output quality and not enough on volume testing. With AI workflows, speed and iteration matter more than perfect execution.
Finally, many people ignore platform differences. A video that works on one platform may need adjustment for another. Skipping this step reduces performance.
The Future of AI Video Creation Is Agent Driven
The direction everything is moving toward is simple. Instead of manually building each video, creators will define goals and let AI agents handle execution.
That means less time inside editing tools and more time shaping ideas and strategy. The system becomes more important than the individual output.
AI video agents will likely handle variations, formatting, and even scheduling in the future. Creators who build systems now will adapt more easily when that shift happens.
The main shift is not about replacing creativity. It is about removing friction so creativity can scale.
Final Thoughts
Creating a week of content in one hour sounds unrealistic until you change how you think about production. The key is moving from single videos to structured content systems.
Once you stop treating each video as a separate project, everything becomes faster. AI handles repetition while you focus on direction and ideas.
Tools like Loova make this workflow practical by combining generation, editing, and variation in one place, instead of forcing you to switch between multiple tools.
At the end of the day, the goal is simple. Spend less time producing and more time creating ideas worth sharing.
FAQ
Can AI really create a week of social media videos in one hour
Yes, but only if you use a structured workflow. The speed comes from batching ideas, generating variations, and reducing manual editing steps. AI handles execution while you focus on direction.
What types of social videos work best with AI
Short-form content like tips, opinions, product showcases, and storytelling formats work best. These formats can be easily broken into multiple variations from a single idea.
Do I still need video editing skills
Basic understanding helps, but advanced editing is no longer required for most social content. AI tools handle most of the assembly and formatting work.
Can I create content for multiple platforms at once
Yes. A single AI generated video can be adapted for TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts with minor adjustments in format and pacing.
What is an AI video agent
An AI video agent is a system that can take a content idea and automatically generate structured outputs like scripts, visuals, and video variations without needing step-by-step manual control.
How many videos can I create from one idea
Typically, one strong idea can become five to ten videos depending on how many angles you break it into. AI makes this expansion process much faster.
What tools help automate social media video creation
Tools that combine scripting, generation, and editing in one system are the most efficient. Platforms like Loova help reduce tool switching and speed up batch content creation workflows.
Race weekends are built on motion, noise, and quick impressions.
A fan may only spend a few seconds at a team trailer, sponsor activation, or local short-track booth before moving on to the next thing. In that short window, the items people see and touch can shape how they remember a brand long after the engines go quiet.
That is why merchandise still matters in motorsports. Not as an afterthought, and not just as something to sell, but as a practical part of how teams, sponsors, and event organizers stay visible. The most effective items are usually not the flashiest ones. They are the ones people actually use.
At every level of racing, from national series to grassroots events, small branding choices can create a stronger connection than a banner that gets glanced at once and forgotten.
The difference between being seen and being remembered
Motorsports already offers plenty of visual competition.
Cars are wrapped in logos. Pit boxes carry sponsor colors. Signage fills the infield and midway. Screens, uniforms, haulers, and hospitality areas all compete for attention.
That environment makes it harder for any single message to stick.
A useful item solves that problem because it continues the interaction after the event. A person who takes home a wearable item keeps seeing that logo in the mirror, in the garage, at the grocery store, or on the drive to work. That kind of repeated exposure feels more natural because it is woven into everyday life.
In other words, the value of merchandise is not limited to the moment it is handed out. Its real strength comes later.
What fans actually keep
Anyone who has spent time around race events knows that not every giveaway has a long life.
Some pieces are collected and forgotten. Others are tossed before the parking lot empties. The items that last tend to share a few traits: they are comfortable, easy to carry, and useful in normal life. Headwear consistently fits that pattern.
At a racetrack, a cap serves an obvious purpose. It helps with sun, heat, and long hours outdoors. Away from the track, it still works. That makes it more likely to become part of a regular routine instead of a one-day souvenir.
This is one reason many teams and event marketers still lean into classic styles such as custom trucker hats when planning merchandise tables, sponsor giveaways, or fan-zone handouts. They feel casual, wearable, and familiar, which gives them a better chance of staying in rotation.
That matters for smaller teams in particular. A local or regional operation may not have the budget for a huge activation, but it can still make a lasting impression by offering something people want to wear more than once.
Why practicality often beats novelty
There is always a temptation to create something unusual for attention.
Sometimes that works. But in many cases, novelty wears off quickly. Practical items usually have a better return in terms of long-term visibility because they do not require extra effort from the person receiving them.
A fan should not need to figure out how to use the item, where to store it, or whether it fits into normal life. The easier it is to wear or carry, the more often it gets used.
That same principle applies to design.
A cap with a clean front mark, readable text, and colors that work outside the track often gets more wear than one overloaded with graphics. Racing culture loves bold visuals, and there is definitely a place for that. But everyday wearability still matters.
The sweet spot is often a design that nods to motorsports without making the item too event-specific to use elsewhere.
The sponsor angle is bigger than a logo placement
For sponsors, merchandise can do more than add another logo to the mix.
When handled well, it gives a brand a role in the fan experience. Instead of being one more decal in a crowded field, the sponsor becomes associated with something useful and visible.
That works especially well when the item feels connected to the setting. At a warm, sunny race weekend, headwear makes sense. At a night race in changing weather, outerwear may make sense. Context helps the brand feel integrated rather than forced.
This also opens the door for more thoughtful collaborations.
A sponsor and team do not have to produce a generic item with oversized marks slapped across every panel. They can create something that reflects both identities while still looking like a piece of apparel someone would choose on their own.
That shift matters because fans are more selective than many marketers assume. People can tell when an item was made to be worn and when it was made only to carry advertising.
Local tracks and smaller events can benefit the most
Major race weekends naturally attract attention, but merchandise can be even more valuable at the local level.
Short tracks, regional series, charity races, and community motorsports events often rely on repeat attendance and word-of-mouth support. In that environment, a wearable item becomes a simple but effective reminder between events.
A regular fan wearing a cap around town can quietly reinforce awareness in a way that feels authentic. It can spark conversations, signal loyalty, and help a local event stay present in people’s minds.
For smaller organizers, that kind of visibility is useful because it extends beyond the event calendar. It keeps the brand alive during the weeks when there is no race to promote it.
It can also help unify volunteers, pit crews, and supporters. Even a small run of merchandise can make an operation feel more established and cohesive.
A few details that make merchandise more effective
Not every piece of branded apparel needs to be elaborate, but small choices do make a difference.
Fit matters. If something is uncomfortable, it will not be worn.
Material matters. Track environments are hot, dusty, and long. Breathability and durability go a long way.
Design placement matters. Clear logos and restrained graphics often age better than cluttered layouts.
Color matters too. Team colors are important, but if the item only works with one very specific look, people may wear it less often.
Quantity matters. It is often better to produce a smaller batch of well-considered merchandise than a large batch of forgettable items.
These are not huge strategic shifts. They are simple decisions. But taken together, they can improve how fans respond and how long the item remains visible.
Merchandise as part of the race-day memory
There is also an emotional side to all of this.
People do not just keep race merchandise because it is useful. They keep it because it reminds them of where they were, who they were with, and what they watched. A good item becomes part of the memory.
That is especially true in motorsports, where traditions run deep. Fans remember their first race, their favorite driver meet-and-greet, a dramatic finish, or a family weekend at the local oval. Merchandise tied to those moments can last for years because it carries a story.
That is why thoughtful branded gear still has a place in modern racing culture. It is practical, visible, and personal at the same time.
Conclusion
In a sport filled with noise and visual overload, the smallest items can sometimes do the most lasting work. Useful merchandise helps teams, sponsors, and event organizers stay present long after race day ends. More importantly, it gives fans something they can actually keep and use.
The strongest branding choices are often the simplest ones: items that fit the setting, feel good to wear, and become part of everyday life. At the track and beyond, those are the pieces people remember.
The right upgrades enable a Duramax to tow heavier without the extra stress on the engine and transmission, as well as reduce the deterioration of OEM service-life components that factory powertrain tuning tends to accelerate. Optimal tailoring of airflow, fueling, cooling, and tuning can introduce a significant new torque curve precisely where you need it for towing, often 100 to 200 lb-ft based on platform and aggressiveness. But that isn’t ultimately what counts.
What counts is the reliability with which that power is delivered and just how ably the supporting details absorb all the heat and stress connected to hauling. A truck can feel as though it makes all the right numbers on a dyno until it starts to glow blue while hauling a 5 th wheel up a canyon. Tow vehicles should be seen to give the best, most repeatable performance, and aside from the competition, this factor influences every decision a smart tower makes.
What Limits Duramax Towing Power From the Factory
As you might imagine, GM has built the Duramax with a conservative tune, because they’re accounting for the worst owner on planet Earth: cheap fuel, missing oil changes, severe weather, total abuse. That conservatism leaves power on the table. The stock calibration limits fueling and timing to keep the truck emissions compliant, and (more importantly), to keep the drivetrain alive over thousands of miles in wildly different conditions. Massive constraints also come from heat. Towing drives exhaust gas temperatures into the realm of the unbelievable, and the OEM cooling and exhaust systems are designed to be just enough, not too much.
Tow a trailer behind an LML or L5P while climbing a long grade in July, and EGTs and trannie temps will slip up enough that the truck has to kill timing and tone down power just to stay alive. This is what you experience as sluggishness halfway up a mountain pass, or ATF FLUSHED every 2 hours.
The Allison transmission that will come as part of these powertrains is quite robust, but its factory shift logic is aimed at promoting longevity and smooth operation rather than keeping gears engaged under load. Factory torque converter lockup strategy and shift firmness aren’t dialed in for someone pulling 15k either, so there’s more clutch slip and heat than necessary.
Which Upgrades Actually Improve Towing
Tuning is the most beneficial modification to tow, and doesn’t involve throwing everything but the kitchen sink at the truck. A well-built can or custom tow tune modifies fueling, timing, and transmission character to provide additional torque at lower rpm, and stabilize shifts so the Allison isn’t slipping under load. Properly implemented, a tow tune can add up to 100 rwhp and a good bit of low-end torque without raising EGTs to unacceptable levels. Better airflow is also key.
More intake area and a less restrictive exhaust allow the engine to breathe better, reducing exhaust heat and aiding turbo spool up. Cooler intake charge and less backpressure mean less work for the same power, and cooler EGTs mean more recovery time in the heat.
They are underrated by the people that are chasing their dyno numbers, but they are great for anyone that tows on a regular basis. Once again, an upgraded transmission cooler, an upgraded intercooler, and even an upgraded engine oil cooler helps keep those vital fluids in their happy spots when towing for long periods of time.
How Reliability and Power Work Together
A lasting myth is that the more power you push through the engine, the less reliable it gets. But with Duramax, it is a bit more complicated. As many performance modifications, actually lower the mechanical and thermal loading, which ultimately aging the engine. Lower EGT’s, cleaner fuel atomization, better clutch and hard transmission control all contribute to increase output while extending the life of engine.
The reliability improvements are most easily observed in increased longevity and mileage. A truck operating 150 degrees cooler, which shifts cleanly instead of slipping, and isn’t constantly battling clogged emissions equipment, just sustains less wear at each mile towed. Owners who build with care often notice their vehicles are more solid and reliable at 200,000 miles than a regular stock truck is at 120,000.
This reasoning isn’t unique to GM trucks either. Owners building their Ram Cummins rigs for serious towing chase the exact same goals: lower EGTs, cleaner shifts, and cooler fluids under sustained load. The platforms differ, but the build philosophy is identical.
This is where many Duramax owners turn to comprehensive solutions like Duramax delete kits that address the emissions hardware known to clog, restrict airflow, and trigger limp-mode events under heavy load. The appeal for serious towers is straightforward: removing the components most prone to failure and restriction tends to lower operating temperatures and improve throttle response, which directly benefits both power delivery and long-term consistency. The trade-off is that this kind of modification carries legal and warranty considerations that vary by jurisdiction, so it’s a decision each owner has to weigh against their own use case and local requirements.
What These Upgrades Cost and How to Prioritize
Budget determines the order of operations that are smart. A solid tow tune is just a few hundred dollars and gives the greatest bang for the buck out of anything you can do, which is why it should almost always come before other modifications. Intake/exhaust work falls into the same ballpark together, and is a natural complement to tuning; tuning can capitalize on the airflow. The last tier of the cooling and supporting category is probably a couple hundred to a grand higher than the last given how aggressive you want to get.
For someone who hauls a lot of weight around and a lot, I can see the appeal in this tier far better than trying to squeeze more horses out of a car, despite the lack of fun dyno bragging numbers. You are just paying out money here to get some insurance against possible expensive failures, and if you asked any veteran heavy hauler, that would more than likely be the answer they give you.
Other dynos also produced varying results between different generations of Duramax. The previous, older LB7 and LLY engines will have more low-hanging fruit and fewer emissions barriers, while newer L5P platforms have locked-down ECMs, making them more difficult and costly to tune.
INDIANAPOLIS (May 27, 2026) – NHRA officials announced today that VizionOne Hand Cleaner has been named the Official Hand Cleaner of NHRA, launching a multi-year partnership focused on the mechanics, crew members, and racers whose hands help power one of the most demanding forms of motorsports.
Owned by veteran racer and businessman Rodger Brogdon, VizionOne was created by Texas emergency room physician and drag racer Dr. Ashton “Doc” Hudson, who developed the formula with an emphasis on removing stubborn grease, oil, clutch dust, carbon and racing grime while promoting healthier skin for people who rely on their hands every day.
Originating in Texas and made in America, VizionOne has continued to grow in popularity for those seeking a hand cleaner strong enough for the dirtiest jobs yet refreshing enough for repeated daily use.
The agreement also gives VizionOne an active presence throughout NHRA competition, contingency programs and at NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series events.
“We believe in the NHRA’s platform and know the teams at the NHRA are the perfect demographic to benefit from VizionOne Hand Cleaner,” Brogdon said. “The NHRA provides the perfect atmosphere to deliver what we know to be an incredible product that’s going to take the world by storm.”
As part of the multi-year agreement, VizionOne plans to support racers and crew members through at-track engagement and special programs honoring the behind-the-scenes workers who keep Top Fuel and Funny Car teams competitive.
The company’s involvement reflects a growing commitment to drag racing’s blue-collar backbone — the mechanics, divers, clutch specialists and crew members whose work often happens outside the spotlight.
“VizionOne is a natural fit for NHRA and we’re excited to welcome them as an official partner,” NHRA Senior Director of Advertising Jeff Morton said. “Our teams, crews and racers work in one of the toughest and most demanding environments in motorsports, so having a product built to handle that is extremely important. VizionOne has a strong commitment to quality and performance and we look forward to introducing their products to our teams and fans.”
Created with working professionals in mind, VizionOne was designed for people whose hands are repeatedly exposed to grease, grime, chemicals, and constant washing. The product’s formula focuses on deep-cleaning performance while helping maintain healthier skin.
For more information, visit www.viziononehandcleaner.com. For more information about NHRA, including the full 2026 75th-anniversary 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.
LEGACY MOTOR CLUB: NASHVILLE SUPERSPEEDWAY PRE-RACE ADVANCE EVENT: Cracker Barrel 400 DATE: May 31, 2026 Race: NASCAR Cup Series 14 of 36 TRACK: Nashville Superspeedway | 1.33-Mile, Concrete Oval
JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK NO. 42 PYE-BARKER FIRE & SAFETY TOYOTA CAMRY XSE JHN AT NASHVILLE: John Hunter Nemechek has two NASCAR Cup Series starts at Nashville in 2024 and 2025 with a best finish of 27th in June 2025. In the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, Nemechek has two starts, where he finished sixth in June 2023, and earned a race win in June 2024. In the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, he earned top-10 finishes in both of his starts.
WINNER AT NASHVILLE: In June 2024, Nemechek took home the checkered flag in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race after starting 15th. He led 76 out of 188 laps and won with a .366 second margin of victory over Chandler Smith. Nemechek ran 11 races in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series in 2024, and Nashville marked his second win that season.
PYE-BARKER TURNS 80: This weekend at Nashville Superspeedway, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB and Pye-Barker Fire & Safety will celebrate Pye-Barker’s 80th anniversary, highlighting its growth from a small family-owned business in 1946 to a nationwide leader in fire protection and life safety services. The partnership will feature a special pain scheme on the No. 42 Toyota Camry XSE driven by John Hunter Nemechek and recognize the company’s long-standing history, its dedicated workforce, and its continued commitment to innovation and customer service.
T-MACK AT NASHVILLE: Sunday’s race will be crew chief Travis Mack’s fifth NASCAR Cup Series race at Nashville. His first outing came in June 2021 with Daniel Suárez. The duo competed in three races together through the end of 2023 and earned a highest finish of seventh in June 2021. In 2024, Mack returned with A.J. Allmendinger. In June 2025, Mack called his first race at Nashville with Nemechek.
JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK QUOTE: “Nashville has been a good track to me in the other series, so I’m excited to get going this weekend. This track is super unique, so it’s important for us to adapt and execute the way we need to. This weekend is special with our partnership with Pye-Barker Fire & Safety, and what better way to celebrate their 80th anniversary than with a trip to victory lane.”
TRAVIS MACK QUOTE: “We learned a lot at Dover that I feel like we can apply to Nashville. Even though we didn’t get to finish it out, we brought strong cars to Dover. We showed a lot of speed at Nashville last year, and John Hunter seems to finish well there. If we can build off our speed at Dover and Nashville last year, we should be in a good spot for Sunday.”
ERIK JONES NO. 43 DOLLAR TREE TOYOTA CAMRY XSE JONES NASHVILLE STATS: Sunday’s Cracker Barrel 400 will mark Jones’ sixth NASCAR Cup Series start at Nashville where he only owns one finish outside the top-20. After starting ninth in his first race at the 1.333-mile oval in June 2021, he earned a 19th-place finish. He followed that up in June 2022 with an 11th-place finish after starting 23rd. His best finish came in his third start there in June 2023 where he once again started 23rd but found himself in eighth by the checkered flag.
BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION: Erik Jones will celebrate his 30th birthday on Saturday, May 30 prior to Sunday’s Cracker Barrel 400. Born on May 30, 1996 in Byron, Michigan, Jones has spent the past 28 years chasing and now living his dream of being a NASCAR Cup Series driver. His hope is to bring home Sunday’s trophy as his birthday present.
OSCAR JAMESON JONES: Jones’ loyal companion and best friend, Oscar Jones, also celebrates his ninth birthday this week on Monday, June 1. The Michigan-native first brought this social media famous German Shepherd home in July 2017. Often seen on Jones’ social or his own Instagram, Oscar has become a key mascot in the Erik Jones brand. Follow along for Oscar’s adventures on his official Instagram @OscarJamesonJones.
LAST YEAR AT NASHVILLE: In last year’s Cracker Barrel 400 at Nashville, Jones started 14th for the 300-lap event. He ran well inside the top-15 for a majority of the race and brough home an impressive seventh-place result. It was his second top-10 result of the 2025 season.
ALEXANDER AT NASHVILLE: Sunday’s Cracker Barrel 400 at Nashville will mark Justin Alexander’s fourth NASCAR Cup Series race on top of the box at the 1.33-mile oval. He earned a best finish of 12th in June 2021 with Austin Dillon.
THE OSCAR PLUSH: The Oscar Jones collectible plush is back in stock! Modeled after his eight-year-old German Shepherd, the Oscar plush started to be sold at Indianapolis last year and has been in such high demand that they sold out online. A portion of the sale of the plush will go back to the Erik Jones Foundation to support the funding of grants for its animal welfare pillar of giving. Since its launch in 2021, the Erik Jones Foundation has gifted more than $40,000 in grants to organizations promoting animal welfare and supporting the training of working animals. Fans can purchase their own Oscar plush at ErikJonesRacing.com or at the Toyota Merchandise Hauler.
ERIK JONES QUOTE “Nashville has historically been a pretty good track for us in the past, especially in the NextGen car. It’ll be a bit different with the package we’re bringing – the lower downforce and the higher horsepower, so we’ll see how that all reacts. I think in general we’ve done a solid job of taking a good guess and getting close on balance even with the new rules package. Looking forward to getting there. Hopefully the track is super wide so we can move around and do different stuff. I really enjoy going to Nashville for this race.”
JUSTIN ALEXANDER QUOTE “Nashville is an interesting track because it’s concrete but it’s also somewhat of a cross between a short-track and an intermediate. The track is different and sort of unique from that standpoint as it’s not really like any other track with the surface and the size. It’s smaller than your mile-and-a-half track, and it’s definitely a unique animal to tackle on the schedule. You’ll see some guys experiment with lines at Nashville as the rubber can build up on the seams – your typical concrete-track issue. The key is finding your speed.”
CLUB MINUTES: JJ AT NASHVILLE: While NASCAR added Nashville Superspeedway to the Cup Series schedule after LEGACY MOTOR CLUB owner Johnson retired from full-time racing, he does have one lone start there in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series from April 2001 prior to the repave and improvements. He started 31st for the race and finished 28th after an accident ended his day on lap 203 of 225.
BAYNE AT NASHVILLE: LEGACY MOTOR CLUB ambassador Trevor Bayne has made six total NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series starts at Nashville Superspeedway. Although bad luck found him in two of his starts where his day ended early because of wrecks, he didn’t finish worse than 12th in his other four starts. His best finish of second came in his most recent start in June 2022 when he ran a part-time schedule with Joe Gibbs Racing. He started third for the 188-lap race and scored a runner-up result.
RACING IN MUSIC CITY: Despite its recent addition to the NASCAR Cup Series schedule circuit, Nashville Superspeedway has held events for the top-three series in the past. Nashville held its first NASCAR Cup Series race in June 2021, but prior to that it has held NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and Craftsman Truck Series races there from 2001 to 2011. After a 10-year hiatus all three series returned to the track in a triple-header weekend. The track’s surface has aged over that time to create intense racing for all three series in the extreme heat of the summer.
HASHTAG SPORTS AWARDS FINALIST: Each year, Hashtag Sports honors the best campaigns, content, and media in all of sports entertainment. LEGACY MOTOR CLUB created film, “The Climb to Mt. Fuji | Building NASCAR for Japan”, is a finalist in the Best Original Film or Series: Long Form category. The film tells the story of LEGACY MOTOR CLUB’s journey to Japan last November and gives a behind-the-scenes look at the preparation and events leading up to and during the trip. The winner will be announced Tuesday, June 2.
SOCIAL SPOTLIGHT:
CLUB APPEARANCES: John Hunter Nemechek will be trackside merchandise trailer in the fan zone for an autograph session on Saturday, May 30 at 11:30 a.m. local time, followed by an appearance at the Sports Illustrated Resorts tent at 2 p.m. local time. On Sunday, May 24, he will visit the Toyota Racing Experience in the fan zone for a Q&A session at 2 p.m. local time.
On Saturday, May 30, Erik Jones will visit the Sports Illustrated Resorts tent in the fan zone at 1:30 p.m. local time for an autograph session. Then he’ll come back out on Sunday, May 31 for an autograph session at the Dollar Tree display in the fan zone.
TUNE IN: Fans can tune in to watch the Cracker Barrel 400 at Nashville Superspeedway on Sunday, May 31 at 7 p.m. EDT on Prime, 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.
Ford Racing Notes and Quotes NASCAR Cup Series Ford Racing Media Zoom Call Wednesday, May 27, 2026
Zane Smith, driver of the No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford Mustang Dark Horse, is coming off a 10th-place finish in last week’s Coca-Cola 600. That marked his fourth top 10 finish of the year, which is only one off his personal best for a single season. He spoke about what lies ahead in Sunday’s Cracker Barrel 400 at Nashville Superspeedway earlier today.
ZANE SMITH, No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford Mustang Dark Horse – COMING OFF A 10TH PLACE FINISH ON SUNDAY, HOW WERE YOU ABLE TO DEAL WITH THE WEATHER AND THE WAY THAT RACE ENDED? WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR YOU AND YOUR TEAM TO COME AWAY WITH A SOLID RESULT? “It certainly did a lot for our team, but going into the weekend the weather did not look good, and I did not think we were even gonna have a shot to get the 600 in on Sunday. Fortunately, the sun poked out and that brought some unknowns. I kind of touched on it after practice because Charlotte is super temperature sensitive and we practiced on a pretty cool day, where no sun was out and I liked my car. I knew that if somehow the sun was gonna come out it was gonna change some things. Sure enough, it poked out and it got super muggy and hot. That just made the track super greasy, and I honestly felt like that played into our favor for how our car was, and then once we got to around lap 300 or so, I started hearing about how there are these tiny little pockets of rain coming and to try to get what I could. But there wasn’t a whole lot of concern, it sounded like to me, where it was just maybe gonna rain for a couple minutes and then we were gonna go back at it. That’s what it seemed like once it did start raining a little bit on our windshield. It wasn’t even raining in turns three and four, it was just some in one and two. And then that’s where it became annoying. It was off and on and then we rolled off of pit road and I’m like, ‘It’s probably raining harder than it has been,’ and normally I feel like if you’re midpack you’re like, ‘Screw it, we’ll go. The leader’s got to hit it first,’ but we were inside the top five and just wanted to be smart there, and then all of a sudden it really started raining. So, we took the green and I think we went two laps maybe and the bottom fell out, so with that our day was full of ups and downs and just little things not really going our way, but our car was really good. We made some good moves to make our way back through the field and race up inside the top 10. I felt like once I got the lucky dog and once we kind of got back on track after my right-front was cording, I felt like we drove up inside the top 15 twice or something, and I knew if I could start there, we could definitely get up inside the top 10 and certainly the top five I felt and race around those guys. I felt good about everything. One of the restarts went really well and then the other one went really well at first and then just kind of lost my momentum. There were guys on both sides, one on the bottom and someone ripping the fence and I was kind of trapped in the middle. It doesn’t take much to lose your momentum and it just kills you, but I was happy to hold on for a top 10 and those days certainly feel great for our team.”
FORD DOES WELL AT NASHVILLE AND SO DO YOU. WHAT DO YOU ATTRIBUTE THAT TO? “For some reason, Nashville has always been super good to me, so I’m excited for this weekend, especially coming off some momentum. Looking back to even my truck starts, I probably had four or five truck starts there and I think besides one they’re all second place finishes, which sucks, but it’s been a great racetrack for me. This is kind of funny. I was talking about this the other day. I finished second there like three years in a row in the Truck Series, and then I’m in my rookie year in Cup and I’m like, ‘OK, the second place streak is definitely probably coming to an end this year,’ and somehow I finished second again. It’s just funny. I definitely want to be one spot better, but last year, my first year with the 38 Cup car and that whole group. we had another great showing. I felt like we raced up inside the top 12 and I think we were racing around seventh or eighth a lot of the day at one point, and something happened on pit road during a green flag stop and that set us back to maybe 15th or 16th, and was able to get back to 12th or 13th at the end. That was a good day for us, but I just remember my car drove pretty good there and I just enjoy concrete racetracks. Nashville is a really fun town and I’ve had some good runs there, so it makes me excited to go back.”
IT WAS AN EMOTIONAL WEEKEND AT CHARLOTTE AND THEN EVERYONE WAS OFF ON MONDAY. WHAT WAS THE FEELING LIKE YESTERDAY AND THE PROCESS OF GETTING BACK TO WORK? “To be honest, I don’t think it will ever feel normal. It is so weird still. I feel like when you’re Cup racing, there’s never any time off. Even though Mondays are a time off for most of the drivers, you’re still thinking about the upcoming weekend and, for us, we have meetings on Tuesday to talk about the weekend and so there are many thoughts running through my head of what happened throughout the race. So, my brain is always thinking about racing. To touch on the Kyle stuff, it was just incredibly sad. I have no other word for it. It doesn’t feel real still, but it was really cool what our sport did, where we were able to rally behind the Busch family with all the drivers there on pit road. That was incredibly sad, but it was cool to show that we all have their back and there was a way to show that we appreciate everything that Kyle did to impact our sport massively, but it doesn’t feel real. I caught myself thinking once we had our moment of silence at the halfway break, which is honestly an amazing thing as well. We go from the loudest place on earth to dead silence for a time there. It’s just really special, and then once we rolled back out I just thought to myself, ‘Man, Kyle is not out here,’ and it’s just so weird to me. It really just goes back to thinking about how fragile life is and how really every day is a gift, so it was a sad weekend for sure, but there was also a lot of special in it where we were able to rally behind them and show our support.”
WHAT DID YOU DO FOR MEMORIAL DAY AWAY FROM THE TRACK? “For me, typically my Mondays are somewhat off, like I was saying. I had some family in town and just spent it with some family and friends over at my house hanging out by the pool. I was happy. We slept in because it was a late night. I got back around two in the morning. I opened up the blinds and the sun was out when I was expecting it to be raining, so we spent the day in the pool and just hung out.”
YOU HAVE A LOT OF MOMENTUM AFTER THE PIT CREW CHALLENGE WIN AND SUNDAY’S FINISH. HOW DO YOU KEEP THIS MOMENTUM GOING INTO NASHVILLE? “Momentum is certainly a very real thing in our sport. There is the momentum off the track, like the mental side, and then there is momentum on the track. From a team standpoint, I feel like it is as high as ever. To your point, we just won the Pit Crew Challenge. My pit crew showed out again at the 600 and I’m just thankful for that group because a lot of passing is made on pit road and we’re fortunate to have them. It’s just a really fun and a good group of guys. We’re thankful to have them as part of the 38 team, and then just a good run at the 600. That goes a long way of showing the depth of how good our car was and the moves I was able to make. That’s a hard race to have that, too. When we were really good early in the race and the sun was out and I was leading, I was excited, but at the same time I’m like, ‘How is this thing gonna drive at night?’ If anything, it drove a little bit better, so it just says a lot about our team of staying caught up with the racetrack and just bringing a good car. The attention to detail is everything in our sport from the car build standpoint, and every week, no matter if we get wrecked weeks in a row, have a great run, the car prep is still there and that goes a long way, so having runs like that means a ton to them. From my side, fortunately I’ve always been confident within myself, but being able to drive through the field multiple times and be able to make moves like I’ve done in the past, where now my car will allow it, it feels good to know you can still do that. Hopefully, we can have some more of that this weekend in Nashville.”
WHAT IS THE STORY BEHIND THE PAINTING IN THE BACKGROUND? “That was a gift from a past sponsor, but also a close friend. It was a wedding gift and it’s done by an artist in Atlanta, I believe, and he combined some special moments in my career. I think one is from my championship and the other from one of my first Cup starts with my wife. It’s a super cool painting. We were trying to figure out where it should go and I’m like, ‘Man, I know the perfect place for that,’ so it lives in my office now.”
MICHIGAN IS COMING UP AND THAT IS STATISTICALLY YOUR BEST TRACK. WHY? “I don’t know. It typically lands right on my birthday, so I feel like that would be a really cool one to win. The mile-and-a-halves, any of them, are good for us and our team and I guess my style of racing, but I just feel like Michigan provides some good racing. The cool story would probably be like I got my first NASCAR win there in the Truck Series, so I always enjoy going to Michigan. I’m gonna go down there a little bit early this year and spend some time down there, but we were fast there last year, and I feel confident for what we just learned at Charlotte that we can be a little bit better. It doesn’t take much if you get in the lead and take control. Who knows how it plays out, but I feel confident that’s a place we could do that.”
SAN DIEGO IS AFTER THAT, SO HOW EXCITED ARE YOU TO GET TO THE NAVAL BASE? “I’m super excited. I think it was maybe two weeks ago that I ran my first laps on the sim there. It’s a crazy road course, or whatever you want to call it. It’s gonna be a lot of fun. It’s really fast, sketchy, but I feel like not as narrow. Chicago was sketchy because of how narrow it was. I don’t feel like it’s nearly as narrow as what Chicago was, but there are some extremely fast sections where it’s bumpy, really bumpy and our cars are a handful over bumps. And then, man, I don’t know if they’re actually gonna have it or not, but some of the views are gonna be insane. We are literally racing alongside aircraft carriers and the ocean. It’s gonna be just an insane weekend, but I’m excited to get back home and be a part of that weekend.”
CAN YOU DESCRIBE AS A DRIVER THE SUPPORT OR LOVE WITHIN THE GARAGE FROM EVERYONE WHEN DEALING WITH SOMETHING LIKE KYLE? “Our sport is super interesting. We are all living it together, but from the driver’s standpoint we talk because we’re with each other every weekend and we’re with each other around our families. Going back to where our sport is super unique is we’re not teammates. We’re competing for the same thing, the same trophy, the same money, the same job and so it’s just really interesting in that sense, but when something happens, you do realize that our sport is really close and we can rally. The fan support of what I’ve seen – Brexton has a long way in his career and lot of racing left, but our whole sport is gonna have his back. I don’t think there is one driver out there that’s not gonna have his back if he ever needs anything, and that goes the same whether it’s our wives or whoever for Samantha and, of course, Lennix. It was incredibly sad, but it was super special, like I said, with how we rallied behind that. It’s just a tough weekend to say the least. Honestly, I can’t believe Samantha and everyone showed up on race day. That takes some serious guts. That was super sad, but, at the same time, Brexton seeing all of us with his merch on and all of us supporting his dad, I know that hit him and I know he has to realize that we all have his back. If he ever needs anything, he can reach out.”
IS THERE ONE THING YOU REMEMBER MOST ABOUT KYLE? “I for sure have to go with my story from when I was truck racing with Kyle once we came back from COVID. It was an eerie scene seeing this, but the move I made to get the lead in the 600 and lead those laps, I did the exact same move on Kyle in 2020, so six years later I did it in a Cup car, but it was identical. I reposted it, but that was crazy and I honestly didn’t even think about it, but I remember once I did that, Kyle spoke very highly of me and that allowed my phone to start getting some interest from team owners, whether it was in the Truck Series or O’Reilly Series or the Cup Series. That was special. Kyle could have been mad or annoyed with me with moves like that, but he respected that I was trying to make a name for myself. Ultimately, I didn’t care who he was, but, at the same time, there’s a picture of me when I’m like 10 years old waiting in line for a picture with Kyle Busch, so I very well knew who I was racing against. I had a tremendous amount of respect for Kyle. There was simply no one better than him. He was just good at everything. That’s what made Kyle Kyle. There are 100 little things that fans don’t see but we see throughout the data and Kyle was always at the top. That’s just what made him special.”
WHAT IS THE ENVIRONMENT LIKE IN NASHVILLE ON RACE WEEKEND? “There’s a difference between when I go there for fun and then go there for work, for sure. Nashville is a really fun town. It would be cool going back to the fairgrounds. I got my first bigger stock car win there. I got my first ARCA win there and got a guitar, and that was really cool, so I’m excited to get back there and see some familiar faces, and then making some trips down on Broadway with some different appearances I’m doing. Outside of that, Nashville is a ton of fun. I celebrated my championship banquet there in 2022 and that’s just a really fun city to do that. It always holds a special place in my heart, but there’s certainly a difference between going out in Nashville for fun and going to Nashville for work because I probably wouldn’t be able to show up for work if I did the fun side.”
MORE HORSEPOWER THIS WEEKEND COMPARED TO LAST YEAR. WHAT KIND OF AN IMPACT MIGHT THAT HAVE, ALONG WITH BRAKING? “It’s a great point. Nashville falls in the category of one of those awkward lengths of how much brake we use, so you see those issues and it’s something I’m sure we’ve looked into, but I feel like the concrete racetracks give a different feel on that. It doesn’t feel a whole lot different, if any different, just because it goes back to the fact we’ve kind of gotten used to it from the immediate engine power, but you really feel the difference later in the run. You’re like, ‘Man, I have really overheated my rears,’ or just the fall off is a lot more. With the concrete, that’s a little bit different, so I don’t know. With this package, from my past two times we’ve run it, the dirty air moments are way bigger to me, and so that’s something we battle at Nashville. I feel like that’s where a lot of my attention is. Going out late in qualifying, hopefully I get a good qualifying run, which I’ve seen both sides of it at Nashville. I’ve seen guys go out kind of early and put up a good lap and then, as always, it seems like the track gets a little bit better, but I’m just trying to start up front, keep good air, and we know our car will drive a lot better in that case.”
CAN YOU EXPLAIN THE DIRTY AIR ISSUE IN MORE DETAIL? “You would think that when we take off this underbody that puts a huge hole in the air for the car behind it would make it a less dramatic feel, but since we have less overall downforce, I feel like when you are in the midpack you have lesser downforce and the cars are just insanely hard to drive. At the same time, you just can’t really go anywhere. You land in a corner and you can’t turn. The front tires are just sliding and then if you’re on the free side of things, you’re also losing rear downforce and you land in the corner and you’re just in a slide, so that’s the easiest way to explain it. Each car you pass it drives a little bit better. We saw it at Dover. The 11 was lights out and he caught the back of the pack where he was way faster then and he is stuck. He cannot pass, so when you’re in a group where they are two or three-wide in front of you, you have nowhere and it’s really difficult to pass. So, hopefully, Nashville widens out and we get some opportunity to do that, but that will be the name of the game, fighting for clean air this weekend.”
WITH THIS NEW TIRE AND TRYING TO MAKE IT WEAR MORE, IS IT HARDER TO TRY AND EXTEND A RUN AS OPPOSED TO MAYBE CUTTING A STAGE IN HALF TO PIT? IS THE GAME CHANGING? “Absolutely. I think you’re always gonna see guys taking two tires. I feel like that’s a big strategy play. A lot of the time it’s not so much wear, it’s heat in your tires that’s making it drive bad, so if you can manipulate some of that and try to keep heat out of your tires. This is a night race, which is kind of rare for us, so I think that helps some things, but it’s gonna be a fight for track position, but, at the same time, I think it’s the same tire we just had this past weekend and I had two big cording issues. I think my tire came apart with like seven laps to go and I was like 15 seconds ahead of the leader and he passed me with like two to go because I was just limping around to not come to pit road, and so who knows what it will do at Nashville. I wouldn’t be shocked if it comes apart and you’re forced to pit, but you’re gonna see guys that risk some of that for sure.”
JUNE 01: Ryan Blaney celebrates with a burnout after winning the NASCAR Cup Series Cracker Barrel 400 at Nashville Superspeedway on June 01, 2025 in Lebanon, Tennessee. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)
This weekend, NASCAR travels to Nashville Superspeedway. All three national divisions will compete for a full racing schedule. In the five Cup Series races held at Nashville, there have been five different winners. Ryan Blaney is the defending race winner after his victory on June 30, 2024.
NASCAR Cup Series Notes:
Previous Cup Series drivers who have won at the 1.33-mile concrete paved track include Kyle Larson (2021), Chase Elliott (2022), Ross Chastain (2023), Joey Logano (2024), and Ryan Blaney (2025).
Chase Elliott was also the youngest driver to win at Nashville (26 years, 6 months, 29 days)
Joey Logano was the oldest driver to win at Nashville (June 30, 2024 – 34 years, 1 month, 6 days).
O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Notes:
The first NASCAR national series race at Nashville Superspeedway was an Xfinity Series event on April 14, 2001. It was won by Greg Biffle in an RFK Racing Ford.
JR Motorsports has had at least one car finish in the Top 10 in 72 consecutive races, the second-longest streak all-time. In 2026, the team leads all drivers with 3 wins, 6 Top 2s, 10 Top 5s, 12 Top 10s, 8.4 average finish and 5 stage wins.
Craftsman Truck Series Notes:
The first Craftsman Truck Series race at Nashville Superspeedway was on August 10, 2001. Scott Riggs won, driving a Dodge for owner Jim Smith.
Rajah Caruth is making his first Truck start of 2026 and is the defending race winner at Nashville.
Friday, May 29
4 p.m.: Craftsman Truck Series Practice – FS1 5:05 p.m.: Craftsman Truck Series Qualifying – FS1 8 p.m.: Craftsman Truck Series Allegiance 200 Stages end on Laps: 45/95/150 FS1/SiriusXM Purse: $789,700 Post race: NASCAR Press Pass
Saturday, May 30
2 p.m.: O’Reilly Auto Parts Practice – CW App 3:05 p.m.: O’Reilly Auto Parts Qualifying 4:30 p.m.: Cup Series Practice – Prime/PRN/SiriusXM 5:40 p.m.: Cup Series Qualifying – Prime/PRN/SiriusXM 7:30 p.m.: O’Reilly Auto Parts Sports Illustrated Resorts 250 CW/PRN/SiriusXM Stages end on Laps 45/90/188 Purse: $1,653,590 Post race: NASCAR Press Pass
Sunday, May 31
7 p.m.: Cup Series Cracker Barrel 400 Prime/PRN/SiriusXM Stages end on Laps 90/185/300 Purse: $11,233,037 Post race: NASCAR Press Pass
