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NASCAR and Coca-Cola Celebrate America’s 250th Anniversary by Honoring Military Service Members through NASCAR Heroes Pass Promotion as part of NASCAR Salutes

Selected Active-Duty Service Members and Veterans will receive Two Tickets Annually for 20 years

Charlotte, North Carolina (May 1, 2026) – NASCAR and Coca-Cola are expanding their shared commitment to the military community this May with the return of NASCAR Salutes Together with Coca-Cola, while also honoring America’s 250th anniversary through a special evolution of the program: NASCAR Salutes 250 Together with Coca-Cola.

The annual initiative recognizes and supports active duty servicemembers, veterans, military families and fallen heroes through a series of programs throughout Military Appreciation Month, including special recognition in the 600 Miles of Remembrance at the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 24 and culminating at Nashville Superspeedway on May 31.

As part of this year’s enhanced platform, NASCAR and Coca-Cola will introduce the NASCAR Heroes Pass, a fan-driven initiative designed to honor military service members in a lasting and meaningful way.

From May 1 through May 31, fans can visit NASCAR.com/Salutes to nominate a deserving active duty service member or veteran from any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces. GOVX will verify nominees to ensure authenticity and integrity of the program. A total of 250 recipients will be selected to receive a NASCAR Heroes Pass, granting them lifetime access to NASCAR races — defined as two tickets to one participating track annually for 20 years.

The program is designed to go beyond recognition by creating a lifelong connection between NASCAR and those who serve, while encouraging fan participation and storytelling throughout the month.

“For more than a decade, NASCAR Salutes has been a cornerstone of how our sport honors the military community,” said Jess Smith, Vice President of Brand at NASCAR. “With the introduction of the NASCAR Heroes Pass as part of NASCAR Salutes 250 Together with Coca-Cola, we’re deepening that commitment in a way that creates lasting impact and celebrates service for years to come.”

NASCAR Salutes Together with Coca-Cola has delivered meaningful at-track experiences for servicemembers and their families, united partners across the motorsports industry and driven critical investments in military and veteran service organizations through NASCAR Impact and other league-wide efforts. The program builds each year toward Memorial Day Weekend and the 600 Miles of Remembrance, where every NASCAR Cup Series driver takes the green flag with the name of a fallen service member displayed on their car.

“As Coca‑Cola proudly celebrates America’s 250th anniversary throughout the year, this Military Appreciation Month is especially meaningful,” said Don Rouse, Vice President of Sports & Entertainment at Coca‑Cola North America. “NASCAR Salutes Together with Coca‑Cola is a cornerstone of our partnership, and we’re honored to provide Heroes Passes to deserving servicemembers and veterans so they can experience the excitement of NASCAR for years to come.”

Honor and Remember will again collaborate with NASCAR teams to host Gold Star Families at Charlotte Motor Speedway as part of the 600 Miles of Remembrance. As a NASCAR Impact partner, the organization continues to support families who have lost loved ones in the line of duty.

NASCAR Impact will also continue its work with Sound Off, a nonprofit focused on expanding access to mental health resources for veterans and active duty servicemembers through a peer-to-peer support platform.

As part of this year’s NASCAR Salutes 250 Together with Coca-Cola program, NASCAR will:

Host at-track experiences for military members, veterans and their families, including:

– Discounted grandstand tickets for military members all season long through NASCAR MilTix Presented by GOVX. Active military and veterans can verify their status and purchase tickets by visiting NASCAR.com/miltix.

– Complimentary grandstand tickets and VIP experiences throughout May for service members from local bases, made possible by Chevrolet’s NASCAR Troops to the Track program and Vet Tix.

– The “Mobility Pit Box,” which will welcome mobility-impaired race fans and veterans at select events, continuing Toyota’s commitment to “Mobility for All.”

Bring together the motorsports industry in recognition of the military, including:

– O’Reilly Auto Parts, featuring patriotic red, white and blue windshield headers during the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

– Craftsman, displaying red, white and blue windshield decals on all NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series entries during race weekend at Charlotte.

– Goodyear, continuing its tradition of replacing its iconic “Eagle” sidewall design with “Honor and Remember” for the Coca-Cola 600.

– Mechanix Wear, outfitting NASCAR officials with special camouflage gloves for race weekend.

Invest in veteran and military service organizations so they can continue their critical work, including:

– Sound Off

– Honor and Remember

NASCAR Salutes 250 Together with Coca-Cola represents an evolution of one of the sport’s most meaningful initiatives — bringing fans, partners and the industry together to honor service, celebrate America’s legacy and create lasting connections with the military community for years to come.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Contest begins 5/1/26 and ends on 5/31/26. Open to U.S. residents, 18+. See Official Rules for eligibility and complete details: nascar.com/salutes. NASCAR, LLC, NASCAR Digital Media, LLC, and The Coca-Cola Company are not sponsors of this Contest.

About NASCAR

The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States and owner of 14 of the nation’s major motorsports entertainment facilities. NASCAR sanctions races in three national series (NASCAR Cup Series™, NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series™, and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series™), four international series (NASCAR Brasil Series, NASCAR Canada Series, NASCAR Euro Series, NASCAR Mexico Series), four regional series (ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East & West and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour) and a local grassroots series (NASCAR Local Racing Series Powered by O’Reilly Auto Parts). The International Motor Sports Association™ (IMSA®) governs the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship™, the premier U.S. sports car series. NASCAR also owns Motor Racing Network, Racing Electronics, and ONE DAYTONA. Based in Daytona Beach, Florida, with offices in five cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races annually in 11 countries and more than 30 U.S. states.

For more information visit www.NASCAR.com and www.IMSA.com, and follow NASCAR on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, X and Facebook.

Blues Hog Forms Partnership with Niece Motorsports

The Partnership sees the brand as a primary sponsor for Cleetus McFarland at Talladega

Fort Worth, TX (May 1, 2026) – Niece Motorsports is proud to announce a new partnership with Blues Hog, a leading BBQ sauce, rub, and marinade brand. The brand becomes the “Official Grilling Partner of Niece Motorsports”.

Ross Chastain will debut the branding on Friday at Texas Motor Speedway as he makes his third start of the season behind the wheel for Niece Motorsports.

“I love seeing what Blues Hog has been doing in NASCAR, and we’re all super thrilled to welcome them to Niece Motorsports,” said Chastain. “Our fans love barbecuing, and we think their brand is a perfect fit for our team.”

In addition to the brand’s associate placement on the No. 45, Blues Hog will serve as the primary sponsor for Garrett Mitchell, aka “Cleetus McFarland”, in the No. 4 Chevrolet Silverado at Talladega Superspeedway on October 23.

After a strong runner-up finish in the ARCA Menards Series race at Talladega, McFarland is ready to run it back with Blues Hog in the Truck Series.

“I’m FIRED UP to be driving the Blues Hog Silverado for Niece Motorsports at ‘Dega,” said McFarland. “We are all hoping to take it to the front!”

Headquartered in Washington, MO just outside St. Louis, Blues Hog has exploded in the BBQ industry since its initial blend was first created in the mid 1980’s by founder, Bill Arnold. A visionary behind the brand’s success, Arnold won several awards for his cooking, and was inducted into the Barbecue Hall of Fame in 2023.

Under the leadership of Tim Scheer, the brand has expanded its offering of products to now include snack sticks and ready-to-eat meats, all of which can be found online or in grocery stores throughout the country.

Scheer, a longtime NASCAR fan, believes the sport is a perfect opportunity to partner with Niece Motorsports.

“Blues Hog is proud to be out front in the barbecue category just like Niece Motorsports likes to be out front in the race,” said Scheer. “We’re looking forward to jumping in on the hottest thing going in NASCAR with Cleetus McFarland, Ross Chastain, Landen Lewis, and the Niece Motorsports family. Be like Biff, Do it for Dale, and Stay Saucey!”

Blues Hog will appear on the No. 45 Chevrolet Silverado driven by Ross Chastain and Landen Lewis for the remainder of the NCTS race season.

Lewis, who has made a handful of starts already this year, eyes racing with support from Blues Hog through the latter portion of the schedule.

“I’m proud to represent everyone at Blues Hog on our No. 45 Chevy,” said Lewis. “Their sauces taste incredible, and I’m looking forward to seeing what this partnership will grow into with our team in the future.”

This weekend also marks the inaugural Blues Hog BBQ Showdown at Texas Motor Speedway.

Drivers Chastain and Lewis will greet the competitors on Friday before the Truck Series race. On Saturday, Pitmasters face off for competition day. Before Sunday’s Cup Series race, awards and shares of the $25,000 prize pot will be presented on the main stage prior to driver introductions.

Whether you’re craving barbecue, wings, snack sticks, or other recipes, Blues Hog has fans covered. Visit www.BluesHog.com to find the brand’s full listing of products.

About Blues Hog: Blues Hog is a nationally recognized producer of premium barbecue products, trusted by top chefs, champion pitmasters, and restaurateurs worldwide. Known as “The Award-Winning Choice of Champions,” Blues Hog offers a diverse lineup of sauces, seasonings, marinades, fuels, meat sticks, and heat-and-eat meats—all crafted to elevate any barbecue experience, from backyard cookouts to elite competitions. With an unwavering commitment to exceptional flavor and quality, Blues Hog delivers next-level taste by blending authentic barbecue tradition with modern convenience. For more information, visit www.BluesHog.com.

About Niece Motorsports: Niece Motorsports is a professional auto racing team that has competed in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series since 2016. The team is owned by Josh Morris of DQS Solutions and Staffing and the Fowler Family of J.F. Electric and Utilitra, and was founded by United States Marine Corps Veteran Al Niece. At its 80,000 sq. ft. headquarters in Salisbury, NC, Niece Motorsports is a full-service race vehicle build shop as well as a customizable fabrication shop for any manufacturing needs.

Follow the Team: To keep up to date with the latest team news, visit niecemotorsports.com or connect on Facebook and Instagram (@NieceMotorsports) as well as X (@NieceMotorsport).

THE COCA-COLA COMPANY PARTNERS WITH 23XI RACING; BUBBA WALLACE REJOINS THE COCA-COLA RACING FAMILY OF DRIVERS

Partnership expands on current relationship with Coca-Cola Consolidated

Huntersville, N.C. (May 1, 2026) – The Coca-Cola Company has joined 23XI as the Exclusive Beverage Partner of Bubba Wallace and the No. 23 team. The partnership builds on a relationship that began last year with Coca-Cola Consolidated that included branding on Wallace’s No. 23 Toyota Camry XSE and engagement opportunities on and off the track.

The partnership pairs one of NASCAR’s newest teams with one of the most recognizable and longest tenured brands in NASCAR. Coca-Cola has a long history in motorsports, including over 40 years of title sponsorship of the Coca-Cola 600, one of NASCAR’s most prestigious races. Coca-Cola’s storied partnership in NASCAR also includes the Coca-Cola Racing Family, which launched in 1998. Wallace will return to the Coca-Cola Racing Family of drivers after being a member from 2018 through 2020.

To kick off the expanded collaboration, Coca-Cola will debut a co-branded paint scheme with Hardee’s on Wallace’s No. 23 Toyota Camry XSE for the upcoming NASCAR Cup Series race at Watkins Glen International on May 10th. The car will premiere as The Coca-Cola Company celebrates its 140th anniversary. The iconic beverage brand will also be featured on Wallace’s firesuits throughout the season, as well as on the No. 23 team’s uniforms and equipment.

For Wallace – who has had a strong start to the season – the partnership is a full-circle moment.

“I couldn’t be happier to be back in the Coca-Cola Racing Family,” said Wallace. “I enjoyed the work we did together in the past and look forward to again connecting with race fans as part of this program. I’m known to have an ice-cold Coca-Cola after the race, so this is the perfect partnership. Now, it’s going to be even better to share a Coke with the 23 team here at 23XI.”

“NASCAR has long been part of Coca‑Cola’s story, and welcoming Bubba Wallace back to the Coca‑Cola Racing Family through our partnership with 23XI Racing is a natural extension of that legacy,” said Don Rouse, VP of Sports & Entertainment Marketing, Coca-Cola North America. “Together, we’re connecting with fans through a program built on authenticity, shared values, and a genuine love for the sport.”

About The Coca-Cola Company

The Coca‑Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is a total beverage company with products sold in more than 200 countries and territories. Our company’s purpose is to refresh the world and make a difference. We sell multiple billion-dollar brands across several beverage categories worldwide. Our portfolio of sparkling soft drink brands includes Coca‑Cola, Sprite, and Fanta. Our water, sports, coffee, and tea brands include Dasani, smartwater, vitaminwater, Topo Chico, BODYARMOR, Powerade, Costa, Georgia, Fuze Tea, Gold Peak, and Ayataka. Our juice, value-added dairy, and plant-based beverage brands include Minute Maid, Simply, innocent, Del Valle, fairlife, and Santa Clara. We’re constantly transforming our portfolio, from reducing sugar in our drinks to bringing innovative new products to market. We seek to positively impact people’s lives, communities, and the planet through water replenishment, packaging recycling, sustainable sourcing practices, and carbon emissions reductions across our value chain. Together with our bottling partners, we employ more than 700,000 people, helping bring economic opportunity to local communities worldwide. Learn more at www.coca-colacompany.com and follow us on InstagramFacebook, and LinkedIn.

About 23XI Racing

23XI Racing – pronounced twenty-three eleven – was founded by NBA legend Michael Jordan and three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin in 2020. With rising NASCAR star Bubba Wallace selected to drive the No. 23 Toyota Camry, the team made its NASCAR Cup Series debut in the 2021 Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Wallace made history on October 4, 2021, when he captured his first career Cup Series win, becoming just the second African American to win in the Cup Series, and earning 23XI its first-ever victory. 23XI expanded to a two-car organization in 2022 with Cup Series Champion and Hall of Famer Kurt Busch driving the No. 45 Toyota Camry. With a win at Kansas Speedway in May of 2022, Busch earned 23XI the team’s first-ever playoff berth. Tyler Reddick joined the team in 2023 to drive the No. 45 car. In 2024, Reddick won the Regular Season Championship and raced to a spot in the Championship 4, a first for both the team and Reddick. In 2026, Reddick made history by winning the first three Cup Series races of the season, including the Daytona 500. 23XI currently features the lineup of Bubba Wallace in the No. 23 Toyota Camry XSE, Tyler Reddick in the No. 45 Toyota Camry XSE and Riley Herbst in the No. 35 Toyota Camry XSE. Corey Heim currently serves as the team’s development driver and races occasionally in the No. 67 Toyota Camry XSE. The team operates out of Airspeed, a state-of-the-art facility in Huntersville, N.C.

Dover Motor Speedway Welcomes NASCAR Cup Series Champion Brad Keselowski for Fan-Filled Open House Ahead of All-Star Weekend at The Monster Mile

  • Dover Motor Speedway hosted hundreds of fans for a special Open House event featuring 2012 NASCAR Cup Series champion Brad Keselowski ahead of NASCAR All-Star Weekend.
  • Fans enjoyed free access to The Monster Mile, including the ability to walk the track, a live Q&A, and an autograph session with Keselowski.
  • The event helped build anticipation for NASCAR All-Star Weekend, set for May 15-17, highlighted by the longest All-Star Race in NASCAR history.

DOVER, Del. (April 30, 2026) – Dover Motor Speedway welcomed an enthusiastic crowd of hundreds of fans Thursday afternoon as 2012 NASCAR Cup Series champion Brad Keselowski headlined a special Open House event at The Monster Mile, previewing the upcoming NASCAR All-Star Weekend and kicking off the NXL Paintball Mid-Atlantic Open happening on property at Dover Motor Speedway this weekend.

Fans were invited inside the Speedway to walk the track, visit Victory Lane and participate in a live Q&A session with Keselowski on the famous Monster Monument. The Open House also coincided with the opening day of the NXL Paintball Mid-Atlantic Open, bringing a different kind of high-speed action to the Speedway. Keselowski joined in on the fun, taking part in paintball activities, including coaching a team and even shooting some paintballs at Tanner Hollis, Dover Motor Speedway’s manager of marketing.

“I did hit [Tanner] repeatedly… and he was unarmed, so I’m not sure if that was a paintball war crime,” Keselowski said with a laugh. “But I had a lot of fun.”

Afterward, the NASCAR champion and RFK Racing co-owner spent time enjoying lunch with members of the local media and took them for a hot lap in Dover Motor Speedway’s official Ford Mustang Dark Horse pace car.

“I always think the best reactions are when people say, ‘I’ll never do that again,’” Keselowski said. “That means you pushed them right to the edge a little bit.”

He then made his way over to the Monster Monument for a fan Q&A, joined by Dover Motor Speedway president and GM Mike Tatoian. Fans had the chance to ask questions to the NASCAR champion and speedway leadership ahead of NASCAR All-Star Weekend, set for May 15-17.

“It’s days like this that remind you how special this place is,” Tatoian said. “You can really feel things starting to build, and it was great to welcome fans back to The Monster Mile. There was a great atmosphere out in Victory Plaza when Brad came on stage, and it really sets the tone for what’s ahead as we get closer to All-Star Weekend.”

The event served as an early spark around the property, with fans already looking ahead to returning to The Monster Mile in just two weeks.

The 2026 NASCAR All-Star Weekend at Dover Motor Speedway will mark the first time the All-Star Race has ever been held in the Northeast. The race will feature all drivers competing in the opening two segments before a final 200-lap segment cuts the field down to 26 drivers, making it the longest All-Star Race in NASCAR history.

“When you’re a team owner and a driver, you’ve got a lot of bills to pay, so a million dollars would be really nice,” Keselowski said. “Those 350 laps are going to give the field a chance to work its way through strategy, and that final segment is going to be really important.”

NASCAR All-Star Weekend will feature the ECOSAVE 200 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race on Friday, May 15, the BetRivers 200 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race on Saturday, May 16, and the NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race on Sunday, May 17. The event marks the 108th NASCAR Cup Series race at The Monster Mile.

With Keselowski at the center of it all, Thursday’s Open House event gave fans a free chance to experience The Monster Mile up close, setting the stage for All-Star Weekend.

“We had a lot of fun,” Keselowski said. “The paintball experience was really cool. It was my first time driving the Dark Horse… it was a blast, and it’s good to be back here with a community that supports the races.”

Thursday’s Open House brought fans together at The Monster Mile and continued to build anticipation for NASCAR All-Star Weekend on May 15-17.

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

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

NASCAR Drivers Share What Fans Can Expect at The ​​​​​​​Coca-Cola 600

Each year, ahead of the Coca-Cola 600, all six branches of the military gather to set the tone, where patriotism and racing tradition come together on Memorial Day weekend. (CMS photo)
  • NASCAR Cup Series drivers tell fans to expect a Memorial Day weekend at the Coca-Cola 600 featuring 600 miles of intense racing, powerful military tributes, and a uniquely patriotic, high-energy atmosphere
  • Fans can purchase Coca-Cola 600 weekend tickets online at www.charlottemotorspeedway.com or call 1-800-455-FANS (3267). Kids 12 and under get in for just $10 on Sunday

CONCORD, N.C. (April 30, 2026) – No place in NASCAR delivers a Memorial Day weekend experience quite like Charlotte Motor Speedway, with the Coca-Cola 600 at the center of it all. From the moment fans arrive to the final laps under the lights, it’s a full day built around atmosphere, tradition and 600 miles of nonstop action.

Ahead of Sunday’s race, NASCAR Cup Series drivers share what fans can expect when they arrive at Charlotte Motor Speedway for one of the sport’s most meaningful and memorable weekends:

Kyle Busch, No. 8, 2018 Coca-Cola 600 Winner

“I think what fans expect is obviously just a great show. Everything from the beginning to the middle to the end of that race. It’s a long race, but what’s cool about coming to the Coke 600 is you still have all of the highlights of the IndyCar race finishing up and then transitioning into the NASCAR race. You’ve got all your military service members that are there doing a show in the infield, and we’re all there to honor them and everything that they mean for us and serving for our freedom.”

Denny Hamlin, No. 11, 2022 Coca-Cola Winner

“You can ultimately see one of the best salutes to our military that you’ll see at any sporting event. I know that SM (Speedway Motorsports) and Charlotte Motor Speedway do a phenomenal job paying respects to those that paid the ultimate sacrifice, and you’ll see that on full display before the race for the Coke 600.”

Chase Briscoe, No. 19, Joe Gibbs Racing

“I think when you come to Charlotte Motor Speedway on Memorial Day weekend, you have to expect just an incredible pre-race ceremony. Whether it’s the concert or just the military doing all that they do, and then you’re going to see 600 miles and some of the best racing you’ll see all year long. That track is just aged perfectly and our cars put on incredible racing there.”

Josh Berry, No. 21, Wood Brothers Racing

“I think the coolest part of the (Coca-Cola) 600 on Memorial Day weekend is the pre-race festivities. They’re always so cool and you just get chills getting ready for that race. Obviously, it’s the longest race of the year for us, and it’s a grind, but it makes it really special when you complete all the laps.”

Bubba Wallace, No. 23, 23XI Racing

“I think the biggest thing is probably, aside from the race, a massive military presence. It’s awesome to be part of.”

Zane Smith, No. 38, Front Row Motorsports

“Just a special weekend. You get to see so much more other than racing. It’s always just great weather. A fun, fun weekend and just an unbelievable weekend honoring those who served.”

Alex Bowman, No. 48, Hendrick Motorsports

“The 600, it’s obviously super patriotic. It’s really cool to be a part of all that. Just to be able to say thank you to everybody who served, and then on the racetrack. It’s a long night. Hard to, stay perfect for 600 miles, but we try our best.”

Connor Zilisch, No. 88, Trackhouse Racing

“Charlotte (Motor Speedway) on Memorial Day weekend is a one-of-a-kind event. Everybody is patriotic and everybody’s having a good time, and it makes it fun for us, too.”

TICKETS:

Fans can purchase Coca-Cola 600 weekend tickets online at www.charlottemotorspeedway.com or call 1-800-455-FANS (3267). Kids 12 and under get in Sunday for just $10.

MORE INFO:

Fans can connect with Charlotte Motor Speedway and get the latest news by following on X and Instagram, or becoming a Facebook fan. Keep up with all the latest news and information with the Charlotte Motor Speedway mobile app.

Hendrick Motorsports Media Advance: Texas

Texas Motor Speedway
Sunday, May 3
1.5-Mile Quad-Oval
3:30 p.m. ET
Location: Fort Worth, Texas
TV: Fox
Event: NASCAR Cup Series race (11 of 36)
RADIO: SiriusXM

5 KYLE LARSON
Age: 33 (July 31, 1992)
Hometown: Elk Grove, California
Last Race: 40th (Talladega)
Crew Chief: Cliff Daniels
Standings: 6th

No. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM Chevrolet

  • Kyle Larson has led 1,920 laps on 1.5-mile tracks in the Next Gen car, more than double the next-closest driver (William Byron, 912).
  • Larson has led laps in each of the last five Texas Motor Speedway races in the NASCAR Cup Series, the longest active streak. In that stretch, he’s paced 541 of the 615 laps he’s led there for his career. With one lap led on Sunday, he will eclipse 500 for the 2026 season.
  • The 33-year-old has run 629 laps inside the top five at Texas in the Next Gen era, ranking first, 124 ahead of second place.
  • The defending Cup Series champion has run nearly 50% of laps so far in the 2026 season inside the top five.
  • Larson will drive the No. 88 HENDRICKCARS.COM Chevrolet for JR Motorsports in Saturday’s NASCAR O’Reilly Series race at Texas Motor Speedway. Later that evening, he will drive a sprint car in High Limit Racing’s at the complex’s dirt track.

9 CHASE ELLIOTT
Age: 30 (Nov. 28, 1995)
Hometown: Dawsonville, Georgia
Last Race: 4th (Talladega)
Crew Chief: Alan Gustafson
Standings: 4th

No. 9 Prime Video Chevrolet

  • This weekend, the NASCAR Cup Series heads to Texas Motor Speedway, where Chase Elliott is a previous winner. He led 39 laps en route to the victory in April 2024.
  • His average finish of 12.47 at the track ranks eighth all time among Cup drivers with three or more starts.
  • This season in two races on 1.5-mile tracks, Elliott is one of nine drivers to finish in the top 10 in both, placing second at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and eighth at Kansas Speedway.
  • In the previous 15 Cup Series races at 1.5-mile facilities, Elliott has 10 top-10 results, including his win at Kansas last fall.
  • Through 10 events in 2026, the 30-year-old has the second-best average finish (9.7).

24 WILLIAM BYRON
Age: 28 (Nov. 29, 1997)
Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina
Last Race: 35th (Talladega)
Crew Chief: Rudy Fugle
Standings: 11th

No. 24 Valvoline Heavy Duty Chevrolet

  • William Byron is one of nine drivers to finish top 10 in both races at 1.5-mile tracks in the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season. He finished third at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and seventh at Kansas Speedway.
  • Since 2023, Byron has the most top-five finishes (12), top 10s (17) and the best average finish (8.4) on 1.5-mile tracks. He has two runner-up results and 10 stage wins, ranking second to teammate Kyle Larson. The driver of the No. 24 has also led the third-most laps (795) and has the third-best average starting position (8.4).
  • His average finish of 9.5 in the Next Gen era at this track type is tops in the sport. At Texas Motor Speedway in the same span, Byron has run the fifth-most laps in the top five (308) and the second-most laps in the top 10 (799). He has also earned the most points of any driver (158), including a victory in the fall of 2023 which was also the 300th for Hendrick Motorsports.
  • The Charlotte, North Carolina, native has an average finish of 11.36 at Texas, his best among all 1.5-mile tracks and fourth best all-time among Cup drivers. In the last five races at the Texas-based track, Byron has four finishes of seventh or better.
  • With crew chief Rudy Fugle on top of the pit box for five Cup Series races at Texas, the duo has an average finish of 5.2 – best in the field.
  • This weekend, Byron will sport a new Valvoline livery that celebrates the brands heavy duty engine oil that provides power and durability to diesel engine trucks.

48 ALEX BOWMAN
Age: 33 (April 25, 1993)
Hometown: Tucson, Arizona
Last Race: 3rd (Talladega)
Crew Chief: Blake Harris
Standings: 36th

No. 48 Ally Chevrolet

  • Alex Bowman earned his first stage points of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season en route to a third-place finish last weekend at Talladega Superspeedway. It marked the No. 48 team’s first top five of the season.
  • Bowman has earned two top-five finishes at Texas Motor Speedway, notching his best finish of fifth twice (2019, 2020) and leading 59 total laps. In the NASCAR O’Reilly Series, Bowman has made two starts at Texas, earning the pole in both starts.
  • On 1.5-mile tracks, Bowman has finished inside the top 10 in nine of his last 13 events.
  • Alex Bowman and the No. 48 team are eligible for the  2026 NASCAR All-Star Race Fan Vote with the winning driver earning entry into the NASCAR All-Star Race at Dover Motor Speedway on May 17. Fans can vote up to five times per day per unique email address until 9 a.m. ET on race day.  

17 COREY DAY
Age: 20 (November 28, 2005)
Hometown: Clovis, California
Last Race: 1st (Talladega)
Crew Chief: Adam Wall
Standings: 4th

  • In his 22nd NASCAR O’Reilly Series start, Corey Day earned his first career NOAPS victory at Talladega Superspeedway last Saturday after qualifying third.
  • The Clovis, California, native has recorded four top-five finishes and nine top 10s in 11 starts this season.
  • Day returns to Texas Motor Speedway for the second time in his pavement career. Last spring, he made his second career NOAPS start, rolling off 33rd and advancing to a 16th-place finish at the track.
  • On 1.5-mile tracks, Day has made four career starts, posting an average starting position of 17.3 and an average finish of 10th. He has led 35 laps on this track type while earning one top-five and two top-10 finishes.
  • Day is also scheduled to run his sprint car on Thursday, April 30 and Saturday, May 2 at the Texas Motor Speedway Dirt Track.

Hendrick Motorsports

2026All-TimeTexas
Races101,42745
Wins1321*12*
Poles0259*8*
Top 5101,332*46*
Top 10182,278*81*
Laps Led64286,009*3,263*
Stage Wins41415
  • Hendrick Motorsports enters this weekend’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway as the facility’s all-time leader in wins (12), poles (eight), top fives (46), top 10s (81) and laps led (3,263). Kyle Larson (2021), William Byron (2023) and Chase Elliott (2024) have combined to win three of the last five races at the 1.5-mile quad-oval.
  • At least two of the organization’s four drivers have finished in the top five in three of the last six Cup events.
  • The Hendrick Motorsports engine department enters the weekend with 565 victories across all three national NASCAR touring series including eight of 11 events in the NASCAR O’Reilly Series.
  • Hendrick Motorsports remains the premier series’ all-time standard bearer in wins (321), poles (259), top-five finishes (1,332), top 10s (2,278), laps led (86,009) and championships (15).

QUOTABLE

Kyle Larson, driver of the No. 5 Chevrolet, on Texas Motor Speedway: “I think if you can get your car to handle, because it’s hard to make it work well on both ends of the racetrack, but if you can get through turns one and two with speed, then you have just enough comfort to carry that speed through three and four, you can have a good day.”

Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 9 Chevrolet, on approaching Texas Motor Speedway: “I’m certainly encouraged by how we ran at [Las] Vegas [Motor Speedway]. I thought there were periods of the race [at] Kansas [Speedway] that I thought we were really respectable there as well. Certainly, needed a little bit, I thought, in both of those cases, but we were close, which was nice. Texas [Motor Speedway] has been a really tough track for me throughout its reconfiguration, but I feel like we made some small gains there the last few trips. Got a win there, weren’t the best car that day, but got a win and kept ourselves in position. I’m curious to get out there and kind of keep assessing where we are.”

William Byron, driver of the No. 24 Chevrolet, on Texas Motor Speedway: “I’m glad Texas [Motor Speedway] is after Talladega [Superspeedway] because we need a good solid weekend. I’m confident in our mile-and-a-half program, even this year with the body changes. We need a weekend like that though, where we get back to where we excel. Texas is one of the better mile-and-a-halves for our team, and I hope that shows once again.”

Alex Bowman, driver of the No. 48 Chevrolet, coming off a top five at Talladega Superspeedway and heading to Texas Motor Speedway: “Having a good finish was really good for our Ally 48 team last weekend. With how hard these guys have worked, and everything that has been thrown at them this season, they deserve to have those finishes every week. Momentum at this level isn’t fake; our top-five finish last weekend puts us on the right side of practice and qualifying for Texas, which we haven’t had yet this season. We’re continuing to work hard and focus on our execution to get these results every week.”

Corey Day, driver of the No. 17 Chevrolet, on carrying momentum from a win at Talladega Superspeedway to Texas Motor Speedway: “This past weekend at Talladega [Superspeedway] was a dream come true. I couldn’t have asked for a better team to help get me to my first victory lane. We’re really excited to build on the momentum and I’m looking forward to heading back to Texas [Motor Speedway]. All of the tracks that I’ve gotten to go back to for a second or third time, I’ve had pretty good success at. As new as I am to this it’s really beneficial for me to have laps in the No. 17 HENDRICKCARS.COM Chevrolet at tracks. Texas was great last year for my second NOAPS start. I love the mile-and-a-half style of racing; the throttle time is my favorite.”

RFK Racing to Host Annual Fan Day May 22nd

Autograph Sessions, Shop Tours, and Signature Collectible Opportunities Highlight the Event

CONCORD, N.C. (April 30, 2026) – Roush Fenway Keselowski (RFK) Racing will welcome fans to its Concord, North Carolina headquarters on Friday, May 22 for its annual Fan Day celebration, just ahead of the famed Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day Weekend. Admission to Fan Day is free, but fans are asked to register in advance at rfkracing.com. This year’s event will include autograph sessions with RFK Racing drivers, guided shop tours, rare collectible memorabilia opportunities, and interactive partner displays.

Fans will have the opportunity to meet their favorite drivers during a series of autograph sessions throughout the day, with appearances from Brad Keselowski, Chris Buescher, and Ryan Preece. Tickets will be handed out 30 minutes before each session on a first-come, first-served basis, with 100 tickets available per driver. Each ticket includes one autograph. If fans make a purchase in the team store beforehand, they can also get that item signed.

Ticket distribution for Keselowski will begin at 8:30 a.m. ahead of his 9 – 10 a.m. session, followed by Buescher with tickets at 9:30 a.m. for his 10 – 11 a.m. appearance, and Preece with tickets at 10:30 a.m. for his 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. session.

Also returning this year are guided tours of the RFK Racing shop, offering fans an inside look at the team’s day-to-day operations led by RFK Racing team members. Shop tour tickets will be distributed throughout the day on a first-come, first-served basis, with 30 tickets available per tour. Tours will run every 30 minutes from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., giving fans multiple opportunities to experience the inner workings of the shop.

A limited selection of unique RFK Racing memorabilia will be available during Fan Day, providing a chance to own a piece of the team’s history. Select body panels from Ryan Preece’s Clash-winning car will be offered for purchase, with Preece on hand to autograph those pieces. In addition, panels from the team’s Darlington throwback schemes, featuring Greg Biffle’s iconic numeric font, will be available for purchase with a portion of proceeds benefiting the Biffle Family Legacy Impact Fund.

RFK Racing’s valued partners will be engaging with fans throughout the day with interactive displays and branded experiences. Participating organizations include BuildSubmarines.com, Consumer Cellular, Fifth Third Bank, Castrol, Kroger Racing, Athletic Brewing Company, Farm Rich, Force Factor, Jack Link’s, Kimberly Clark, Trimble, Fastenal, Checkered Flag Foundation, DRIVEN, Ford, Roush Performance, NTangible, Graza, Roush Yates Engines, and more!

Other Fan Day attractions include a wide range of interactive and family-friendly experiences, highlighted by the Ryan Preece Clash trophy on display, racing simulators, and a tire-changing pit crew station. Fans can also enjoy hauler walk-throughs, slot track racing, lawn games, and a live DJ, along with food trucks and full access to the team store, with even more surprises throughout the day.

RFK’s team store hours during Coca-Cola 600 week and weekend are as follows:

Monday-Thursday: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. ET
Friday: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. ET
Saturday: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. ET

For more details and updates relating to Fan Day, stay tuned to RFK’s social channels (rfkracing) in the coming days and weeks.

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

Wood Brothers Racing – Race Week Briefing: Texas Motor Speedway

Event: Würth 400
Date/Time: Sunday, May 3, 2026, 3:30 p.m. ET
Location: Texas Motor Speedway, Fort Worth, Texas
Layout: 1.5-Mile Oval
TV/Radio: FS1, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

As the Würth 400 takes center stage at Texas Motor Speedway, Josh Berry’s No. 21 Ford Mustang Dark Horse will carry the same Würth look on track, with the Würth Group – a global leader in assembly and fastening materials – featured across both the race and the car.

Texas Motor Speedway, a 1.5-mile oval near Fort Worth, is one of several intermediate tracks on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule, but its layout presents a unique challenge with two distinctly different ends of the track.

“Texas itself is definitely very unique,” Berry said. “Both ends of the track are so much different.

“[Turns] One and Two is a good bit less banking and kind of a more disciplined-based corner in a way. It’s easy to get high, easy to get out of line.

“Then Three and Four is just hammer down, but obviously you have that bump to navigate through off of Four, so it’s definitely a very interesting place.

“It’s a unique mile-and-a-half for sure.”

Berry will make his third NASCAR Cup Series start at Texas this weekend as the Wood Brothers Racing team looks to bounce back after getting caught in an accident at Talladega Superspeedway.

Practice for the Würth 400 is set for Saturday at 12:30 p.m. ET, followed by qualifying at 1:40 p.m. ET, with coverage on Prime Video.

Sunday’s 267-lap, 400.5-mile race is scheduled to take the green flag just after 3:30 p.m. ET with television coverage on FS1. Stage 1 is set to end at Lap 80, with Stage 2 concluding at Lap 165.

Saturday, May 2

Berry will sign autographs at the Team Penske/Wood Brothers merchandise hauler beginning at 2:10 p.m. local time in the Texas Motor Speedway fan zone. 100 wristbands will be distributed on a first come, first-served basis.

Josh Berry

Age: 35 (Oct. 22, 1990)

Hometown: Hendersonville, Tennessee

Crew Chief: Miles Stanley

IG: @joshberry88

X: @joshberry

About The Würth Group
Würth is Quality. The Würth Companies of North America provide customers with everything they need to succeed in the Automotive, Industrial and Woodworking Industries. From body shops to fleet garages, Wurth USA is the leading supplier of high-quality products and services for the transportation maintenance and repair industry. Würth Industry of North America specializes in the creation and management of vendor managed inventory programs for industrial production. With 420,000 line items available, Würth Industry of North America is the most complete C parts supplier in the industry. Würth North American Wood Division companies build strong partnerships for the cabinet and woodworking professional by providing premier manufacturer brands combined with superior delivery systems through their own fleet. The Würth Group’s 400 companies throughout 84 countries proudly serve over 3 million customers every day.

Mattermost Secures Naming Rights for Turn 11 Suite Structure at NASCAR San Diego Weekend, June 19-21

SAN DIEGO (April 30, 2026) – NASCAR San Diego announced today that Mattermost, the leading sovereign collaboration platform purpose-built for mission-critical operations, will serve as the naming rights sponsor of the Turn 11 suite structure during NASCAR San Diego Weekend presented by Anduril at Naval Base Coronado.

Situated at one of the most technical and action-packed sections of the 16-turn, 3.4-mile circuit, the newly branded Mattermost Suites will provide a premium hospitality experience with commanding views as drivers navigate the challenging Turn 11 complex. The Mattermost Suites will serve as a premier gathering space for partners, customers and invited guests to connect while taking in world-class racing at the first NASCAR event ever held on an active military base.

“Mattermost is an innovative company with deep roots in operational sovereignty and secure collaboration, making them a natural fit for this historic event at Naval Base Coronado,” said Amy Lupo, President of NASCAR San Diego. “The Mattermost Suites will offer an exceptional experience for guests while showcasing a brand that shares our commitment to precision, performance and teamwork. We’re proud to welcome Mattermost aboard for this historic weekend.”

Mattermost delivers secure, workflow-centric collaboration for the world’s most demanding operational environments. Built for national security, intelligence, public sector, and enterprise teams, it enables organizations to move fast, coordinate with precision, and maintain full operational control — even in disconnected, classified, or high-threat conditions — aligning seamlessly with the spirit of innovation and operational excellence that defines NASCAR San Diego Weekend.

“Mattermost was built for mission-critical operations where control, resilience, and speed determine outcomes,” said Leigh Dow, Chief Marketing Officer at Mattermost. “Naval Base Coronado represents the standard our customers operate at every day. This isn’t just a sponsorship — it’s a reflection of our commitment to the operators, missions, and environments that demand secure, sovereign coordination at scale. We’re proud to support a weekend that brings that standard to life and honors the Navy’s 250-year legacy of service to this nation.”

NASCAR San Diego Weekend presented by Anduril begins with Navy Community Day on Friday, June 19, 2026. Access that day will be open exclusively to members of the U.S. Navy stationed at Naval Base Coronado and a limited number of Coronado residents, culminating with the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race.

Ticket holders from the general public will be welcomed aboard June 20–21, 2026. The NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series will take center stage on Saturday, June 20, and the stars of the NASCAR Cup Series will compete in the Anduril 250 Race the Base on Sunday, June 21.

For more information and ticket details, visit NASCARSanDiego.com

About Mattermost

Mattermost is a leader in sovereign collaboration for mission-critical operations. Trusted by the world’s most security-conscious organizations, Mattermost helps national security, government, and enterprise teams communicate and coordinate with speed and compliance. The platform is available in cloud, self-hosted, and air-gapped configurations to meet the highest standards of security and data control.

Visit mattermost.com to learn more.

About NASCAR

The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States and owner of 15 of the nation’s major motorsports entertainment facilities. NASCAR sanctions races in three national series (NASCAR Cup Series™, NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series™, and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series™), four international series (NASCAR Brasil Series, NASCAR Canada Series, NASCAR Euro Series, NASCAR Mexico Series), four regional series (ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East & West and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour) and a local grassroots series (NASCAR Local Racing Series powered by O’Reilly Auto Parts). The International Motor Sports Association™ (IMSA®) governs the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship™, the premier U.S. sports car series. NASCAR also owns Motor Racing Network, Racing Electronics, and ONE DAYTONA. Based in Daytona Beach, Florida, with offices in five cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races annually in 11 countries and more than 30 U.S. states.

For more information visit www.NASCAR.com and www.IMSA.com, and follow NASCAR on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, X and Facebook.

About Naval Base Coronado

Naval Base Coronado is home to 17 squadrons, three aircraft carriers, four SEAL Teams, Navy Expeditionary Combat Command squadrons, and other air, surface and subsurface commands. Notable commands include Commander Naval Air Forces, Naval Surface Force Pacific, Commander Naval Special Warfare, and the Fleet Readiness Center Southwest. For more information about Naval Base Coronado and its tenant commands, visit cnrsw.cnic.navy.mil/Installations/NAVBASE-Coronado and follow Naval Base Coronado on Facebook.

About Sports San Diego

Recognizing that San Diego is a premier tourist destination, the mission of Sports San Diego, a non-profit 501c3 organization, is to generate tourism, visibility, and economic impact for the San Diego region by producing the Rady Children’s Invitational, Holiday Bowl, California State Games, and recruiting outstanding sports events and experiences to San Diego. Since 1978, the association has generated more than $1 billion in economic benefit for the San Diego region.

RCR Race Preview: Texas Motor Speedway

Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series at Texas Motor Speedway… Richard Childress Racing has three wins among 126 starts in the NASCAR Cup Series at Texas Motor Speedway. The Welcome, North Carolina-based race team most recently appeared in Victory Lane with Tyler Reddick in 2022, leading the final 24 laps en route to his first win in the Lone Star State. Austin Dillon was victorious at the Fort Worth facility in 2020. Dillon led the final 10 laps and edged teammate Reddick by just 0.149 seconds to score the win – his first at Texas Motor Speedway and the 109th all-time Cup Series victory for RCR. RCR first found Victory Lane with Jeff Burton in April 2007. Burton only led the final lap as he secured his 19th career Cup Series victory. RCR has earned 11 top-five and 39 top-10 finishes on the 1.5-mile quad-oval.

Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series at Texas Motor Speedway… Richard Childress Racing has 104 starts in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series at Texas Motor Speedway, acquiring five wins, all earned by Kevin Harvick (2001, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2012). RCR has earned 27 top-five and 58 top-10 finishes along with six pole awards as an organization. Last season, both Austin Hill and Jesse Love scored top-10 finishes with Hill finishing fourth and Love finishing seventh in the race. Hill has reeled five consecutive top-10s for RCR at Texas Motor Speedway, including a second-place finish in the fall 2022 race.

Three Times the Fun… This weekend at Texas Motor Speedway, RCR will field three O’Reilly Auto Parts Series teams, with Austin Dillon driving the No. 3 Boot Barn Chevrolet. This weekend marks Dillon’s first start in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series since he raced at Iowa Speedway last August.

Helping A Hero… This past week, RCR Chairman and CEO Richard Childress hosted the Lee Greenwood Patriot Awards at Childress Vineyards in Lexington, North Carolina alongside the Helping A Hero organization. Helpingahero.org is a 501(c)(3) that awards adapted homes to catastrophically wounded heroes injured in the Global War on Terror. To-date, more than 58 heroes in 21 states have been awarded homes as part of the 100 Home Challenge, an initiative launched by Bass Pro Shops founder and lead outfitter, Johnny Morris. Morris is funding 25 percent of the cost for 100 homes. Special guests at this year’s event included Rob Schneider, AJ Buckley, Paula Deen, Joey Jones and Lee Greenwood.

Catch Saturday’s Action… The O’Reilly Auto Parts Series’ Andy’s Frozen Custard 340 at Texas Motor Speedway will be televised live on Saturday, May 2 at 3:30 p.m. ET on The CW. The live radio broadcast can be heard on the Performance Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. Friday afternoon’s practice and qualifying sessions will be shown for free on The CW App beginning at 5 p.m. ET.

Catch Us on FS1… The Cup Series’ Würth 400 at Texas Motor Speedway will be televised live on Sunday, May 3 at 3:30 p.m. ET on FS1. The live radio broadcast can be heard on the Performance Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. Saturday’s practice and qualifying sessions will be shown for free on air live on Prime Video beginning at 12:30 p.m. ET. Ride shotgun all season long with live, in-car camera feeds and scanner audio with a paid subscription to Max as part of their NASCAR driver cam experience during the race.

Austin Dillon and the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops/Winchester AA White Flyer Chevrolet at Texas Motor Speedway… In 21 NASCAR Cup Series starts at Texas Motor Speedway, Austin Dillon has earned one win (2020), one top-five, and four top-10 finishes. The North Carolina native also earned the pole award at the 1.5-mile track in 2016. Dillon has 11 starts in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series at the track, most recently finishing fourth in 2017. The 2011 NASCAR Truck Series Champion has five Truck Series starts at Texas with a career-best finish of second in 2011, and a pole award in 2010.

Winner, Winner… Dillon won the Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway in July 2020, the third of his six career victories in the series. The Texas win was part of a 1-2 finish for RCR, with former teammate Tyler Reddick finishing second. The victory earned Dillon an automatic berth to the Cup Series Playoffs and marked RCR’s first 1-2 finish in the premier series since 2011.

Did You Know? Dillon’s 2016 pole award at Texas Motor Speedway remains RCR’s lone Cup Series pole in 126 Series starts at the Fort Worth track. In total, Dillon owns six poles in Cup Series competition, most recently sitting on the pole in 2019 at Chicagoland Speedway.

Last Week… After qualifying was rained out, Dillon began last Sunday’s race at Talladega Superspeedway from the 18th position. From the very beginning of the race, the No. 3 team showed speed by running up front and leading laps during Stage 1. When the “Big One” occurred during Stage 2, the six-time Cup Series winner avoided the chaos in front of him and escaped with minimal damage. During the race’s final stage, Dillon ran in the top-10, steadily working his way forward and was in position for a top-five finish before a crash on the final lap involving the veteran driver resulted in a 19th-place finish.

Double Duty… In addition to his driving duties in Sunday’s Cup Series race, Dillon will pilot the No. 3 Boot Barn Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet in Saturday’s O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race.

About Bass Pro Shops… Bass Pro Shops, North America’s premier outdoor and conservation company, was founded in 1972 when avid young angler Johnny Morris started selling tackle out of his father’s liquor store in Springfield, Missouri. That was the company’s sole location for the first 13 years, and it has since grown to nearly 200 retail locations throughout North America. Today the company provides customers with unmatched offerings spanning premier destination retail, outdoor equipment manufacturing, world-class resort destinations and more. In 2017 Bass Pro Shops united with Cabela’s to create a “best-of-the-best” experience with superior products, dynamic locations and outstanding customer service. Bass Pro Shops also operates White River Marine Group, offering an unsurpassed collection of industry-leading boat brands, and Big Cedar Lodge, America’s Premier Wilderness Resort. Under the visionary conservation leadership of Johnny Morris, Bass Pro Shops is a national leader in protecting habitat and introducing families to the outdoors and has been named by Newsweek as “America’s Best Outdoor Retailer” for four consecutive years and “America’s Most Trusted Retailer for Outdoor Gear.”

Winchester Ammunition and AA White Flyer… For more than 60 years, Winchester AA® shotshells have been recognized as one of the finest quality target shotshells ever developed. The AA® line of shotshells are loaded with proven, hard shot for tighter, hard-hitting patterns. The reloadable, high-strength hull offers reliable performance. The specially designed AA® wad helps reduce felt recoil and improves pattern performance. Loaded with best-in-class primers and powder, AA® is consistent, dependable, and clean-burning ammunition.

Since 1892, White Flyer has produced state-of-the-art targets and currently serves more gun clubs and shooters than any other target manufacturer in the world. Whether it is Trap, Skeet, Sporting or International targets, White Flyer ensures that each and every target manufactured meets standards and weight specifications required by the Amateur Trapshooting Association (ATA), National Skeet Shooting Association (NSSA), National Sporting Clays Association (NSCA), and the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF). Together, Winchester AA® and White Flyer targets are the choice of champions. Shoot the best. Break the Best.

Meet Dillon… Fans will have two opportunities to see Dillon this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway. On Sunday, May 3 at 9:45 a.m. Local Time, Dillon is scheduled to sign autographs at the RCR Merchandise Hauler located in the Fan Zone. Shortly afterwards, the 36-year-old is scheduled to make an appearance at the Chevrolet Display in the Fan Zone for a question-and-answer session. Stop by and visit Dillon before the green flag waves.

AUSTIN DILLON QUOTES:

What are your thoughts on Texas Motor Speedway? 

“The place is fast and it’s big. You’ve got to go out there and commit to Turns 3 and 4. It’s one of the fastest tracks we go to all year long. I have confidence going there for sure. We’ve just got to go out there, qualify well, execute, and make it happen when it counts.”

What’s one moment at Texas Motor Speedway that sticks out to you? 

“There are a lot of memorable moments at Texas Motor Speedway, but one that really sticks out is winning against my teammate, Tyler Reddick, there a couple years back in the NASCAR Cup Series. We were battling out those restarts at the end. We weren’t a great car that day. We were probably a 10th-12th place car, and both of us decided to take two tires to get up front and tack control of the race. And then, with clean air our cars took off. My confidence was high. We just kept having restarts and were able to make it happen.”

What do you enjoy most about being in Texas? 

“I love Texas. I grew up hunting down there as a kid. I have a lot of memories deer hunting with my grandfather, so I fell in love with the state early on. I’ve had some success at Texas Motor Speedway. Texas is a cool place. I feel more like a cowboy when I’m there. Some of our bull riders on the PBR Teams Series are based in the Fort Worth area, so I get to visit them and do a little racing also.”

Kyle Busch and the No. 8 zone Watermelon x Circle K Chevrolet at Texas Motor Speedway… Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Texas Motor Speedway will mark Kyle Busch’s 36th career Cup Series start at the track. Busch has four wins at the mile-and-a-half oval (the spring races in 2013, 2016 and 2018, as well as the fall race in 2020). Additionally at Texas, Busch has 14 top-five and 19 top-10 finishes, 1,069 laps led, an average starting position of 14.4, an average finishing position of 12.5, and has completed 94.9 percent (10,921 of 11,488) of the laps he’s contested there.

Birthday Wishes… This Saturday, May 2, Busch celebrates his 41st birthday. The two-time Cup Series champion, alongside NASCAR Hall of Famers Cale Yarborough and Matt Kenseth, are the only three drivers in NASCAR history to win a Cup Series race on their birthday. The soon-to-be 41-year-old accomplished the feat twice by winning at Richmond Raceway in 2009 and at Kansas Speedway in 2021. Busch and Yarborough are the only two drivers to win twice on their birthday.

Texas Four Step… Busch is the winningest active driver at Texas Motor Speedway. He earned his first Cup Series victory at the Lone Star State track in April 2013. He took the lead after a lightning-fast pit stop during the final caution, leading the final 19 laps en route to his first Cup Series victory at the 1.5-mile speedway. In April 2016, Busch went on the outside of Turn 4 during the final restart to take the lead. He remained out front for the final 32 laps to capture the win, doing so by nearly four seconds over second-place finisher Dale Earnhardt Jr. Busch earned his third victory at Texas Motor Speedway and the 44th of his Cup Series career in April 2018 after leading four different times for a race-high 116 laps. His most recent Texas Motor Speedway win was in October 2020, when Busch led five times for 90 of the 334 laps to claim his fourth victory at the track.

Top of the Box… RCR announced a leadership adjustment within its Cup Series program this week, reinforcing the organization’s continued focus on improving on-track performance and delivering stronger, more consistent results. Andy Street will assume crew chief responsibilities for the No. 8 Chevrolet, working alongside Busch for the remainder of the 2026 season. Jim Pohlman will transition into a leadership role within RCR’s competition department.

Street and Busch previously worked together during the final five races of 2025, highlighted by an eighth-place finish at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and a fifth-place result at Phoenix Raceway in the season finale.

Last Week… After qualifying was rained out, Busch began last Sunday’s race at Talladega Superspeedway from the 34th position. During Stage 1, the 63-time Cup Series winner moved his way to the front of the field and ran up-front for the majority of the first stage. Early in Stage 2, the Las Vegas native was one of 26 cars involved in the “Big One.” Despite getting caught up in the wreckage, the No. 8 team was able to repair the damage to the front end, battling back from a lap down to be out front in the final laps of the race. After avoiding a last lap crash, Busch finished 10th, the team’s first top-10 of the season.

Double Duty… In addition to his driving duties in Sunday’s Cup Series race, Busch will pilot the No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado for Spire Motorsports in Friday’s Truck Series race.

Zoning in on zone™… An ITG Brands innovation, zone™ is the next generation of nicotine pouches that delivers a superior tobacco-free experience and outperforms competitive products where it matters most. Available in 6mg and 9mg strengths, zone pouches are made with top shelf ingredients and high-quality materials to provide immediate nicotine intensity, longer-lasting flavor, and extra soft comfort. zone pouches are carefully crafted and designed to meet the needs of 21+ adult nicotine consumers, providing the best experience from the first pouch to the last.

Ahead of this Sunday’s race in Fort Worth, zone will introduce a new Watermelon flavor, available exclusively at Circle K stores beginning May 1. A splash of bold and juicy watermelon flavor just in time for summer, the new profile delivers instant nicotine satisfaction and long-lasting taste. To celebrate the launch, Circle K shoppers can take advantage of a “Buy 2 Get 1 Free” in-store promotion running May 1 through June 30.

Meet Busch… On Saturday, May 2 at 3 p.m. Local Time, Busch is scheduled to sign autographs at the RCR Merchandise Hauler located in the Fan Zone at Texas Motor Speedway. Stop by to meet the driver of the No. 8 Chevrolet and purchase new gear before the green flag waves on Sunday.

KYLE BUSCH QUOTES:

How do you balance each corner being so different at Texas Motor Speedway?

“Texas Motor Speedway is a tough place. Turns 1 and 2 being really wide, and kind of flat, and then Turns 3 and 4 being a little bit narrower, but also being really, really fast with a lot of banking. You’ve got to setup for Turns 1 and 2 and you’ve got to setup for the end of the racetrack where you’re off the throttle the most, and then just take what you can get at the other end. It’s a little bit of a compromise at that place, but it’s fun to race there. You’ve got to really work on your runs through Turns 3 and 4 and down the front straightway to make those moves getting into Turn 1.”

Turns 1 and 2 are very different from Turns 3 and 4. How do you approach that racetrack from a setup perspective with two very different turns?

“At Texas Motor Speedway you have to sort of focus on Turns 1 and 2 because that’s the end of the racetrack where you’re out of the throttle, and you want to be out of the throttle the least amount possible, and then you just take whatever the car gives you in Turns 3 and 4. That’s how we focused our setups the last couple of years. Last year I felt like we were really good. We had a great car. We made some air pressure adjustments to it during the race, we got faster and we were up towards the front. I thought I had a shot to go race for the win, and I was like ‘this is my moment, Larson is slow, he’s vulnerable, I better go get him.’ I tried too hard in the middle of Turns 3 and 4, hit the bump and spun myself out. So, it’s hard to get it all right there all day long.”

What’s the toughest part about driving at Texas Motor Speedway?

“The last couple of years, the bump in Turns 3 and 4 have certainly been the tricky part for us. We had some really good speed there last year. We were running in third place chasing down the leaders, trying to make some moves to win the race. I pushed pretty hard after a restart and the car bottomed out, spun out on me and we ended up backed in the fence. That’s the unfortunate part about Texas Motor Speedway, just how on edge you are and how tricky it is to just make sure you keep the grip in your racecar. Some of those bumps have gotten worse over time, which is fine. It’s character. It’s good to have some of that. You just got to be able to know how to attack, when to attack and how hard to attack. I misjudged that last year and put ourselves in a bad spot of spinning out. That’s something we’ll focus on this time around.”

What’s the vibe when you come down to Texas for a race?

“The party scene at Texas is like no other. It always has great camping, great nightlife—you can always hear everybody playing their music and having a good time, enjoying the camaraderie of the area and what that brings. We’ve been fortunate enough the last few years to have good weather. I’m hoping for that again.”

Jesse Love and the No. 2 Samsara Chevrolet at Texas Motor Speedway… Jesse Love has made two career NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series starts at Texas Motor Speedway. In both starts, Love has started and finished inside the top-10 (ninth in 2024 and seventh in 2025).

Cup Experience at Texas… Last season, Love piloted the No. for 62 Beard Motorsports at Texas Motor Speedway, marking his second of five Cup Series starts in 2025. The Menlo Park, California native qualified 35th and gained valuable experience during the 400-mile event, ending with a 31st-place finish.

Last Week… Starting from the pole during last Saturday’s race at Talladega Superspeedway, Love was a consistent force out front, leading a race-high 37 laps. The young gun was in contention for the win during the closing moments of the race, leading the field before getting passed with three laps to go, ultimately finishing seventh.

Did You Know? Love’s pole last weekend at Talladega Superspeedway was the tenth of his career in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. Love joins Kevin Harvick and Austin Dillon in an exclusive club of drivers who have earned 10 or more poles in the Series under the RCR banner.

Consistency Continues… Love’s average finish of 9.0 is fourth-best among full time drivers in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series.

Still Streaking… Love currently holds the longest active streak of running at the finish of races, with 24 straight events without a DNF.

Get to the Points… Love remains third in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series driver championship point standings, 141 points behind points leader Justin Allgaier and 36 points behind second-place Sheldon Creed.

About Samsara… Samsara (NYSE: IOT) is the pioneer of the Connected Operations® Platform, an open platform that connects the people, devices, and systems behind some of the world’s most complex operations. By bringing real-time data and AI together in one place, Samsara helps organizations turn day-to-day activity into clear, actionable insights to run safer, more efficient operations. With tens of thousands of customers across North America and Europe, Samsara serves the teams who keep the global economy moving—from transportation and logistics to construction, field services, manufacturing, utilities and energy, government, healthcare and education, food and beverage, and more—making these essential operations safer, more efficient, and more sustainable.

Meet Love… On Saturday, May 2 at 11:30 a.m. Local Time, Love, joined by RCR teammate Austin Hill, is scheduled to sign autographs at the RCR Merchandise Hauler in the Fan Zone. Stop by to meet Love and purchase new No. 2 gear.

JESSE LOVE QUOTE:

What are your thoughts entering Texas Motor Speedway, a track where you’ve shown speed in the past?

“Texas Motor Speedway should be good. It’s a place that I’ve sat on the pole at two years ago. I’ve been really loose there before, and really tight, so I feel like we know kind of where our balance needs to be coming back this weekend, and I think we’re going to be pretty good. I’m looking forward to it. I’m ready to get our first win of the year.”

Austin Dillon and the No. 3 Boot Barn Chevrolet at Texas Motor Speedway… This weekend will mark Dillon’s first NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series start at Texas Motor Speedway since 2017. The veteran driver has made 11 starts at the track in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series with a career-best finish of third in 2015 after starting from the pole position for the 300-mile race. In total, Dillon owns six top-five finishes at the track, an average finish position of 5.7, and has never finished worse than 10th.

Promoted from Within… Ryan Chism will serve as crew chief for the No. 3 Boot Barn Chevrolet this weekend. Chism, a 20-year motorsports veteran, brings a wealth of knowledge and a championship pedigree to the team, having secured four Cup Series wins as Dillon’s car chief, including a dominant run at Richmond Raceway over the last two years.

Returning to Familiar Territory… Although Dillon has spent most of the last 14 years in the Cup Series, the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series remains familiar territory. The 2013 Series’ champion has made 156 career starts in the series, acquiring nine wins, 65 top-five finishes and 107 top-10 finishes.

About Boot Barn… Boot Barn is the largest western and workwear retailer in the nation. Founded in 1978, Boot Barn operates 530+ stores across 49 states, in addition to several e-commerce sites. Boot Barn says that their customers feed America, build America, and protect America. With an uncompromising desire to support the local communities they serve, Boot Barn proudly offers the broadest selection of cowboy boots, work boots, western wear, workwear, western-inspired fashion pieces, and outdoor gear to support the varying lifestyles of the people who make our country so great. For more information, visit www.bootbarn.com.

AUSTIN DILLON QUOTES:

How are you feeling about running Saturday’s O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race?

“I’m excited to get to Texas Motor Speedway and run the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series car on Saturday. It’s a welcome return to the Series, since I haven’t done it in a long time, and it should help us a little bit more on the Cup Series side as well to be able to see the track early on, prior to Sunday’s race.”

When you go to Texas Motor Speedway, what are you focused on?

“You’ve got to go out there and really commit to Turns 3 and 4. It’s one of the fastest tracks we go to all year, and I think having confidence in Turns 3 and 4 is key, for sure.”

Austin Hill and the No. 21 DWC Chevrolet at Texas Motor Speedway… Austin Hill has made seven career NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series starts at Texas Motor Speedway, posting three top-five and five top-10 efforts (best finish of second in fall 2022). In last year’s event at the 1.5-mile oval, Hill started the race on the pole, led 57 laps, won Stage 2 and came home in fourth place. The Winston, Georgia native also has 10 NASCAR Truck Series races on his resume at the Fort Worth, Texas track, earning three top-five and four top-10 finishes (best result of second in 2020).

Top-10 Streaking in Fort Worth… In Hill’s last five O’Reilly Auto Parts Series races at Texas Motor Speedway, the veteran racer has secured five top-10 results and never finished worse than seventh-place.

Get to the Points… Following last weekend at Talladega Superspeedway, Hill sits eighth in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series driver championship standings. The 15-time Series winner is 223 points behind leader Justin Allgaier and only 10 points behind seventh-place Carson Kvapil.

About DWC… Distributor Wire & Cable (DWC) is a master distributor of specialty electrical wire and cable products headquartered in Aurora, Colorado. Founded in 2008, DWC serves wholesale electrical distributors nationwide through its network of Cable Distribution Centers, delivering specialty wire and cable products with industry-leading turnaround times, competitive pricing, and no cut charges or reel minimums. The company’s FastQuote portal provides customers with rapid pricing and streamlined order management, reinforcing DWC’s commitment to making electrical distributors more competitive in their markets. For more information, visit www.distributorwire.com.

Welcome to Houston… Earlier this month on April 9, DWC announced the opening of a new 169,000 square foot Cable Distribution Center (CDC) in the Houston metro area, expanding its capacity to support the region’s fast-growing energy and infrastructure markets. The Houston hub brings inventory closer to electrical distributors across a 250-mile radius, with same-day and next-day delivery available. The Houston CDC in Missouri City, Texas is fully operational and its doors are open and ready to serve electrical distributors through the Gulf Coast region to place specialty cable orders for their biggest projects.

Meet Hill… On Saturday, May 2 at 11:30 a.m. Local Time, Hill, joined by RCR teammate Jesse Love, is scheduled to sign autographs at the RCR Merchandise Hauler in the Fan Zone. Stop by to meet Hill and purchase new No. 21 gear.

AUSTIN HILL QUOTE:

With Texas Motor Speedway having two different ends of the track, describe the racing action and what a driver needs out of the car to compete for the win.

“Texas Motor Speedway is a very unique racetrack. It’s a different mile and a half than most of the intermediate tracks we go to. Turns 1 and 2 are really flat and wide, which leads to a lot of space where errors can be made, especially when you are inside of another car. If someone gets tight on your door, it’s a very easy spot for you to loop it around and back into the fence. Then on the other end of the track in Turns 3 and 4, you give it all you have. If you can hold it wide open in Turns 3 and 4, you probably have a fast race car. You need a car that handles well in Turns 1 and 2 and then hang it out as much as you can in Turns 3 and 4. Personally I have always enjoyed racing at Texas, and I feel like it’s a place that our DWC team can be successful at.”