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Kyle Busch to miss NASCAR events at Charlotte due to severe illness

By
Andrew Kim
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Photo by Tim Jarrold for SpeedwayMedia.com.

Kyle Busch will not be competing in any NASCAR national touring series events at Charlotte Motor Speedway this upcoming weekend due to being hospitalized for a severe illness.

The news was made on Thursday, May 21, from a released statement from Kyle Busch’s family through social media. Per the statement, Busch is currently undergoing treatment for his illness and will not compete in any on-track NASCAR activities at Charlotte entering this year’s Memorial Day weekend. This includes Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 event on May 24, in which Busch won at in 2018. This also includes Friday’s Craftsman Truck Series’ North Carolina Education Lottery 200 event on May 22, in which Busch won at eight times.

As a result, Busch has his current consecutive streak of competing in the Cup division snapped at 397, which spans back to the 2015 Coca-Cola 600. He is coming off a double-duty role between the NASCAR Craftsman Truck and Cup Series division this past weekend at Dover Motor Speedway. During the weekend, Busch won the Truck event and finished 17th in the Cup Series’ All-Star Race.

Richard Childress Racing (RCR), Busch’s Cup Series team, also took to social media with a released statement by extending their well wishes for Busch’s recovery. From the announcement, Austin Hill, who competes for RCR on a full-time basis in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series division, will pilot Busch’s No. 8 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 entry for Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte. The latter event will mark Hill’s 18th career start in NASCAR’s premier series and third of the 2026 season.

Spire Motorsports, the team in which Busch was scheduled to compete with for Friday’s Truck Series event at Charlotte, has yet to announce an alternate driver of the No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado RST entry. The latter event will air at 7:30 p.m. ET on FS1, NASCAR Racing Network and SiriusXM.

The 2026 Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway is scheduled to occur on Sunday, May 24, and air at 6 p.m. ET on Prime Video, PRN Radio, SiriusXM and HBO MAX.

Hendrick Motorsports Media Advance: Charlotte

By
Official Release
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Charlotte Motor Speedway
Sunday, May 24
1.5-Mile Quad-Oval
6 p.m. ET
Location: Concord, North Carolina
TV: Fox
Event: NASCAR Cup Series (Race 13 of 36)
RADIO: SiriusXM

5 KYLE LARSON
Age: 33 (July 31, 1992)
Hometown: Elk Grove, California
Last Race: 26th (All-Star Race at Dover)
Crew Chief: Cliff Daniels
Standings: 8th

No. 5 HendrickCars.com Patriotic Chevrolet

  • Kyle Larson has six wins on 1.5-mile tracks in the Next Gen era, two more than his closest competitor. The Elk Grove, California, native has 17 stage wins on 1.5-mile tracks in that same span with no other driver having more than 10.
  • The 33-year-old has led 140 laps on 1.5-mile tracks in 2026, second most in the NASCAR Cup Series. He has run 62.1% of his laps in the top 10 on 1.5-mile tracks this year.
  • Larson dominated the 2021 Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, leading 327 of 400 laps and sweeping all four stages en route to Hendrick Motorsports’ record-breaking 269th Cup victory, the most by any organization in series history.
  • The No. 5 HendrickCars.com team will honor Staff Sergeant Ryan Christopher Malm on the car’s windshield during the Coca-Cola 600. He was a devoted American soldier, leader, and protector whose life was defined by selfless service, serving honorably as a forward observer with the United States Army and the prestigious 82nd Airborne Division during deployments to the Middle East and Afghanistan alongside his fellow paratroopers.

9 CHASE ELLIOTT
Age: 30 (Nov. 28, 1995)
Hometown: Dawsonville, Georgia
Last Race: 32nd (All-Star Race at Dover)
Crew Chief: Alan Gustafson
Standings: 3rd

No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Patriotic Chevrolet

  • Chase Elliott is one of five drivers to finish in the top 10 in all three 1.5-mile events in 2026. Outside of his win at Texas Motor Speedway, Elliott finished runner-up at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and eighth at Kansas Speedway. His 87 laps led across those events is fourth most and his average finish of 3.7 ranks second.
  • The 2020 NASCAR Cup Series champion is tied for the fourth-most wins (three) in the Next Gen era on 1.5-mile tracks.
  • Elliott is the only stage winner in the last six Cup races on 1.5-mile tracks to win.
  • This season through 12 races, Elliott has the third-best average finish (10.17) and is one of two drivers with multiple wins (Martinsville Speedway and Texas).
  • This weekend, the Cup Series heads to Charlotte Motor Speedway for the Coca-Cola 600. Elliott previously won on the track’s oval configuration in a 208-lap makeup race in 2020.
  • The 30-year-old has led in seven consecutive Coca-Cola 600s, the longest active streak. He’s also tied for the second-longest top-10 streak in the event with two.
  • This weekend, the No. 9 team will honor Staff Sergeant Frank Perrone, great uncle of team tire specialist Jack Rickelmann, on the windshield of the NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet. Perrone served in World War II as a gunner for the United States Army Air Forces.

24 WILLIAM BYRON
Age: 28 (Nov. 29, 1997)
Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina
Last Race: 7th (All-Star Race, Dover)
Crew Chief: Rudy Fugle
Standings: 12th

No. 24 RAPTOR Chevrolet

  • William Byron has an average finish of sixth in three races at 1.5-mile tracks so far in the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season, tied for third best. He is one of five drivers to finish in the top 10 in all three of those races. His streak of three straight top 10s on 1.5-mile tracks is tied for the second longest.
  • The Charlotte, North Carolina, native has a series-best average finish of 9.45 on 1.5-mile tracks in the Next Gen era.
  • In last year’s Coca-Cola 600, Byron led 283 laps and swept all three stages before crossing the finish line in second. His laps led in that event in 2025 are the most by a non-winner in the event since Junior Johnson in 1963 (289). He’s won five of 10 stages in the last three 600-mile races.
  • Byron is still the youngest driver to win the pole for the Coca-Cola 600, starting from the point in 2019 at 21 years, five months and 24 days. He has two pole awards for the event, and three total on the Charlotte Motor Speedway oval.
  • Overall, Byron has nine starts at Charlotte with two runner-up finishes (2023, 2025), four top fives and five top 10s. In the last five races on the oval at his home track, Byron has led the most laps with 443.
  • Of drivers with more than two starts in the Coca-Cola 600, Byron has the third-best average starting position ever at 5.88, ranking behind only David Pearson (5.21) and Fireball Roberts (5.4). He also is on a streak of three consecutive top-10 finishes, longest in the field, with two runner-up results and a third.
  • For this weekend’s 600 Miles of Remembrance, the No. 24 Chevy will have Capt. William W. Jacobsen Jr.’s name on the windshield. He was a skilled officer and loved by his men. His awards include the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and Combat Infantryman Badge. He made the ultimate sacrifice while commanding A Company, 1-24 Infantry, 25th Infantry Division in Iraq in 2004.

48 ALEX BOWMAN
Age: 33 (April 25, 1993)
Hometown: Tucson, Arizona
Last Race: 9th (All-Star Race, Dover)
Crew Chief: Blake Harris
Standings: 34th

No. 48 Ally Chevrolet

  • In Alex Bowman’s last 14 starts on 1.5-mile tracks in the NASCAR Cup Series, the 33-year-old has earned 10 top-10 finishes.
  • Bowman is set to make his 11th Coca-Cola 600 start this Sunday at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
  • The Tucson, Arizona, native has a best finish of fifth in this event (2021) and has earned five top 10s and led 177 laps. In six of the last eight 600-mile events at Charlotte, Bowman has finished 12th or better.
  • This weekend, the Ally No. 48 team will honor United States Army Sgt. Reuben Marcus Fernandez, III, who made the ultimate sacrifice in 2008 while serving his second tour in Iraq. Fernandez is remembered as a brave, young soul who believed in and embraced his duty as a solider. He was all smiles, all heart and a friend to everyone. This week’s patriotic scheme was designed to honor Fernandez, including the Army camo base and U.S. Army dog tags with his name displayed on the hood.

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

  • Corey Day captured his second NASCAR O’Reilly Series victory of the season at Dover Motor Speedway last Saturday after qualifying third in his first career start at the Monster Mile.
  • The Clovis, California, native has made 14 starts this season, collecting two wins, five top-five finishes and 10 top 10s while leading 195 laps.
  • Across the 2025 and 2026 NOAPS seasons, Day has made eight starts on 1.5-mile tracks, with a career-best finish of fourth at Las Vegas Motor Speedway last October.
  • The 20-year-old will make his first career start this weekend on Charlotte Motor Speedway’s 1.5-mile quad-oval.
  • The No. 17 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet visited victory lane at Charlotte in May 2025, with Hendrick Motorsports teammate William Byron behind the wheel. Chase Elliott won in the car the year prior.
  • Day will pull double duty this weekend, running Friday’s NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series event in the No. 7 Spire Motorsports truck in relief of Kyle Busch.

Hendrick Motorsports

2026All-TimeCharlotte
Races121,42977
Wins2322*21*
Poles0259*19
Top 5121,334*72*
Top 10212,281*118*
Laps Led72986,096*6,396*
Stage Wins514212*


 
*Most
**Tied for most

  • Hendrick Motorsports enters this weekend’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway as the facility’s all-time leader in NASCAR Cup Series wins (21), top fives (72), top 10s (118), laps led (6,396) and stage wins (12). In terms of the 600, the team’s 12 victories are six more than any other organization. It tops most statistical categories in the crown jewel event including poles (13), top fives (41), top 10s (66), laps led (4,151) and stage wins (11).
  • Since 2021, Hendrick Motorsports has led 979 of 1,862 laps run in the Coca-Cola 600. One of the organization’s drivers has won stage one in the last six of those races.
  • At least three Hendrick Motorsports drivers have finished in the top 10 in each of three races held at 1.5-mile tracks this season.
  • Corey Day will look to win the organization’s third straight spring race at Charlotte in the NASCAR O’Reilly Series. William Byron was victorious in the event last year with Chase Elliott visiting victory lane in 2024.
  • The Hendrick Motorsports engine department enters the weekend with 569 victories across all three national NASCAR touring series including 11 of 14 events in the NOAPS this season.
  • Hendrick Motorsports remains the Cup Series’ all-time standard bearer in wins (322), poles (259), top-five finishes (1,334), top 10s (2,281), laps led (86,096) and championships (15).

QUOTABLE

Kyle Larson, driver of the No. 5 Chevrolet, on the Coca-Cola 600: “It’s a long race — a lot longer than a normal race for us — but we also look forward to honoring the military and the men and women who serve. There’s so much that makes this event special, from the pre-race festivities to honoring a fallen soldier on our windshield.”

Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 9 Chevrolet, looking back on his 1.5-mile win at Texas Motor Speedway: “I thought we had one of the best weekends we’ve had in some time; certainly throughout the race, just the performance throughout the day and just how we executed the whole thing. Our pit crew was doing an incredible job. I thought Alan (Gustafson, crew chief) called a good race. I felt like I managed things behind the wheel well. I just felt like everything was clicking. I have always had the belief of, man, when we’re clicking and we’re all doing our jobs to the best of our ability, I feel like we can really be one of the very best groups out here.”

William Byron, driver of the No. 24 Chevrolet, on the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway: “I definitely have this race circled for many reasons. To win at home would be huge. I grew up going to the [Coca-Cola] 600, Hendrick Motorsports is across the street, and I have family and friends here watching. Plus, it’s just a crown jewel race of our sport. I really thought we had it last year. We had a dominant car; it just fell off at the end unfortunately. I know we’re still working out some kinks this year with the new Chevy body, but our mile-and-a-half program has still been solid. If we can somehow combine the two, hopefully we’re in a position to close it out this time.”

Alex Bowman, driver of the No. 48 Chevrolet, on a special paint scheme for the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway: “In my opinion, the 600 paint scheme is always the best one of the year. There’s a lot of meaning behind it and it’s an honor to be a part of that. This year, our Ally 48 team will have U.S. Army Sgt. Reuben Marcus Fernandez, III riding with us. I had the opportunity to meet his family over Zoom last week, to hear them talk about Sgt. Fernandez, how much he meant to so many people and the impact he made, that isn’t something we take lightly. We’re excited to have them at the track this weekend and we’re ready to put together a good race.”

Corey Day, driver of the No. 17 Chevrolet, on last week’s win at Dover Motor Speedway and this week’s race at Charlotte Motor Speedway: “This past weekend at Dover was one I’m really proud of. My win there felt earned and I’m excited to take that energy into this weekend with my No. 17 HendrickCars.com team. When I think of NASCAR, I think of Charlotte Motor Speedway. This is the sport’s home; there’s so much history here especially with the [Coca-Cola] 600. The track here always puts on really good racing, and it seems like a lot of fun. It’s bumpy, you can move around, it just has a lot of character to it so I’m excited for that. My guys keep bringing me great cars every week, so I know I’ll have a shot. I was there last year when William won running in the No. 17, so I’ll be taking some notes from him this week and will use that to study and prepare.”

Three-Time World Series Champion Matt Cain Named Honorary Race Official For Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway

By
Official Release
-

Cain to deliver official invocation ahead of green flag for NASCAR Cup Series race

SONOMA, Calif. (May 21, 2026) – Sonoma Raceway announced today that former San Francisco Giants ace pitcher and three-time World Series champion Matt Cain will serve as an Honorary Race Official for the Toyota/Save Mart 350 NASCAR Cup Series race on Sunday, June 28.

Cain will deliver the official invocation prior to the green flag for Northern California’s premier NASCAR race, the Toyota/Save Mart 350 NASCAR Cup Series race. The race will air live nationally at 12:30 p.m. PT on TNT Sports.

One of the most accomplished pitchers in Giants history, Cain helped lead San Francisco to World Series championships in 2010, 2012 and 2014. A three-time MLB All-Star, Cain remains beloved by Bay Area sports fans for his consistency on the mound and his perfect game thrown on June 13, 2012 — the first in Giants franchise history.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Matt Cain to Sonoma Raceway as part of our Toyota/Save Mart 350 race day,” said Sonoma Raceway Executive Vice President and General Manager Brian Flynn. “Matt is one of the most respected athletes in Bay Area sports history, and his championship pedigree and connection with Northern California fans make him a perfect fit for this incredible NASCAR event.”

The Toyota/Save Mart 350 marks the only NASCAR Cup Series race in Northern California and annually attracts fans from across the country for world-class racing, entertainment and hospitality in the heart of Sonoma wine country.

“I’m honored to be part of such an iconic event at Sonoma Raceway,” said Cain. “Northern California has always been home for me, and I’m looking forward to experiencing the excitement and energy of NASCAR race day.”

Tickets, camping, upgrades, premium options and much more are all available at SonomaRaceway.com or by calling (800) 870-RACE [7223].

Sonoma Raceway is a 2.52-mile, 12-turn road course and quarter-mile dragstrip located at Sears Point in Sonoma County, California. Built in 1968 the track is carved into rolling hills with 160 ft of total elevation change. It is host to one of the few NASCAR Cup Series races each year that are run on road courses. It is one of the world’s busiest racing facilities, with track activity scheduled an average of 340 days a year. A complete and versatile motorsports complex, it is home to one of the nation’s only high-performance automotive industrial parks with approximately 70 tenants.

STAMPEDE OF SPEED TAKES OFF WITH BLOCKBUSTER STARS OF TEXAS MUSIC FESTIVAL LINE-UP AND NHRA CHAMPIONSHIP DRAG RACING

By
Official Release
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ENNIS, Texas (May 20, 2026) – Tickets for the Stampede of Speed including the Stars of Texas Music Festival and the NHRA Texas Fall Nationals are on sale now. The sixth annual Stampede of Speed, the 10-day family-friendly Texas themed country music festival and NHRA Countdown event, will bring some of the biggest names in music and racing to the Texas Motorplex, Oct. 9-18. Opening weekend will feature the Stars of Texas Music Festival, Oct. 9-11, with a three-day headliner line-up including Aaron Watson (Friday), Brad Paisley (Saturday) and Travis Tritt (Sunday).

Beginning on Wednesday, Oct. 14, the biggest names in sportsman and professional NHRA drag racing will begin closing in on the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series world championship and celebrating the 75th anniversary of the NHRA, with qualifying sessions through Saturday before tens of thousands of fans will be thrilled by final eliminations on Sunday, Oct. 18. Single day and weekend tickets are available now at www.stampedeofspeed.com and there is even a 10-day ticket option that allows fans to join us for all the unforgettable moments of this historic event.

“Our three-day line-up of acts will be a real barnburner for country music fans. You add in the 75th anniversary of the NHRA with racing legends events and the Countdown and it will be nearly two weeks of incredible entertainment,” said Christie Meyer Johnson, Texas Motorplex co-owner. “The entire family will be able to enjoy multiple days of music or racing. When you look at the value of our full day tickets, we are excited to be offering families a chance to come to Texas Motorplex and not break the bank. When my family built the Texas Motorplex over 40 years ago, we knew we wanted to have a facility that could provide a great entertainment value and that is what we are looking to build on this year.”

Last year the Texas Motorplex celebrated 40 years of racing and entertainment and in 2026 the facility is looking to build on its amazing legacy. Fans will be thrilled by the biggest names in drag racing competing for the Mission Foods Drag Racing Series world championships as well as the JEGS All-Star Race and the JEGS Friday Night Live event, Oct. 16. Plans are in the works through the racing events to celebrate and highlight the NHRA’s 75 years of professional drag racing including celebrating Hall of Fame driver and Texas Motorplex track owner Billy Meyer. During the Stampede of Speed fans from across the country will be treated to country music, drag racing, bull riding, a massive beer expo, BBQ contests, vendors and this year’s ten days of speed and music will continue to raise the bar.

“Starting with the free cattle drive through downtown Waxahachie on Friday at high noon the Stars of Texas Music Festival will be a true cavalcade of Texas-themed entertainment with bull riding, a beer expo, BBQ contests, drag racing and so much family fun entertainment,” said Meyer Johnson. “Saturday’s and Sunday’s concerts will be capped off with magical lantern releases which is always an emotional moment. Our goal is to make sure that the fans that come from across the country leave with a Texas-size smile on their faces.”

Tickets for the Stars of Texas Music Festival and the entire NHRA Texas Fall Nationals Stampede of Speed are on sale now at texasmotorplex.com and stampedeofspeed.com. For more information on NHRA, visit 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.

Logano Helps Unveil Team Penske 60th Anniversary Exhibit at NASCAR Hall of Fame

By
Official Release
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Ford Racing Notes and Quotes
NASCAR Cup Series
Team Penske NASCAR Hall of Fame Exhibit Unveil
Thursday, May 21, 2026

The NASCAR Hall of Fame celebrated Team Penske’s 60th anniversary by unveiling a new exhibit that highlights some of the organization’s most memorable moments. Joey Logano, driver of the No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Ford Mustang Dark Horse, has 35 career NASCAR Cup Series victories and three championships since joining the organization in 2013. He, along with Executive Vice President Walt Czarnecki, was at the event and spoke about what it means to be part of Roger Penske’s legacy.

JOEY LOGANO, No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Ford Mustang Dark Horse – WHAT IS IT LIKE TO SEE YOUR 2024 CHAMPIONSHIP MUSTANG SITTING HERE IN THE NASCAR HALL OF FAME AS PART OF THIS EXHIBIT? “I guess it’s a pretty neat thing. I haven’t thought about it that much. I’m very fortunate. I have a boss and an owner of the car that is willing to display it and give me the opportunity to see it. Obviously, all of these cars that are in the Penske exhibit changed people’s lives one way or the other and all of them in positive ways because they’re all very special cars. Whether it’s the people that built it or the drivers themselves that have very fond memories of very special times. It’s special to come in here and get to watch the video that was done. I haven’t seen it since it was completed, so it was great kind of reliving the moment a little bit of how special that weekend really was and what went into it, and hearing it from the perspective of a couple other people that were on the team, hearing it from their point of view, is really fun too. I look forward to coming down here again. Like I said, bringing my family down here. I’ll encourage the team to come down here as well and learn a little bit more about the company that we work for and the pioneers of Team Penske that built what we have today.”

YOU ARE 38 POINTS BELOW THE CHASE CUTLINE. LOOKING AHEAD TO THE 600 WITH FOUR STAGES, HOW MUCH OF AN ADDED EMPHASIS IS THERE ON THIS WEEKEND? “It’s the same amount every week. You can’t do more than 100 percent because you’re already at it. It’s hard to find a little bit more. We’re as focused as we know how to be and doing everything we can to make up the deficit that we’re at. Obviously, we’re way behind compared to where we’ve been in the past and where we should be, so we’ve got work to do and hopefully this weekend we’re able to turn it around a little bit.”

YOU HAVE TWO OF YOUR MUSTANG RACE CARS ON DISPLAY HERE IN THE NASCAR HALL OF FAME. THAT MUST BE PRETTY SPECIAL, RIGHT? “It really is special. Honestly, when I walked in here I saw Glory Road and saw my car in the front I was like, ‘Whoa. Is that for today because we’re here doing this?’ And they said, no, it was going to be up here for three years or something like that, so that’s gonna be something I take a lot of pride in. It’s a pinch yourself kind of moment. It feels surreal because I still see myself as a normal Joe who gets to drive race cars. I’ve been so blessed to work for an incredible team that’s allowed me to have some success in this sport and have a car in the Hall of Fame. I would have never guessed that. I think of my career before Team Penske and what it was looking like and what it was gonna be to where it is today and it just goes to prove that it depends a lot on who is around you and the team that is there. I wish I could tell everyone how to do that. I really think I just got lucky. I think God just put the right people in my life to help me be successful and at that point it’s up to you on how you handle success and what you do with it, how you make more of it, but it’s definitely a special moment. It’s really cool to be here.”

WHAT MEMORIES DO YOU HAVE WHEN YOU SEE THESE TWO CARS SITTING HERE? “There are memories when you look at the cars, but the videos to me matter the most. A photo can say 1000 words and watching that back, like I said, might be even better than any of it is hearing it from the perspective of the other people on the team because you don’t truly know how they felt. I remember how I felt and how special it was, but to see how special it was to everyone else on the team and hearing it from their perspective, those interviews to me mean a lot. I’m gonna ask them to send me that video because I want to have it for years down the road. A championship is what it’s all about. That’s the bottom line. That’s all we care about is about winning a championship, so those moments you cannot experience it any other way. I’m fully convinced there’s not another way in life that you can experience the moment of winning a sport’s championship as a competitor. There’s nothing like it. Getting married, having kids, all amazing milestones in life, but they’re in different categories. Those are equally amazing, but a different category than winning at a sport. It all happens like that (snapping his fingers). You don’t know you’ve got it until it happens and emotions hit you all at one time. It was pretty surreal at those moments. It’s pure celebration, joy, screaming and yelling. There are no words to describe it, and I’ve been very fortunate to get to experience that three times.”

DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE CAR THAT ISN’T ONE OF YOURS THAT IS IN THE DISPLAY? “I probably go more towards the nostalgic stuff. The F1 car is amazing and the Indy cars are cool, but I’d probably go with Rusty’s car. It’s just incredible and also the history from the NASCAR side of Team Penske. Obviously, that’s the area I’m specialized in, so the history with that car is really special, but also I just think it looks really cool and it’s a really pretty car. I can’t really fit in any of the other ones, if I’m being honest. I have zero chance of driving them – not that anyone is really driving these cars – but I would have no chance of driving those.”

HOW MUCH PRESSURE WAS ON YOU WHEN YOU MOVED TO TEAM PENSKE? DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT THAT WAS LIKE? “There’s pressure on you all the time to succeed in sports. You either perform or you’re out. We all know that when we signed up for it, but you do it for the hopes of that moment. That’s why you do it, but it’s tough. It’s a lot of pressure, but pressure is earned. You want to find ways to put pressure on yourself. That means you’re doing something and as a driver you want to put yourself in the highest pressure moments you can be in. If you drive for a mediocre team, there’s probably not that much pressure on you to be successful. There’s a backup excuse built in and you can blame it on the car. When you drive for Team Penske, you can’t blame it on the car. You can’t blame it on the team. There’s one finger it’s pointed to and it’s gonna be the driver because everything else is in place. I knew that coming in, but isn’t that what you want? If you really want to be successful, don’t you want to have the team there? Sure, you’re gonna feel that and, sure, it’s gonna be uncomfortable. There are gonna be sleepless nights and there are gonna be moments you feel like you shouldn’t be there. I get it. I’ve done all that, but I’d still rather have it that way than any other way.”

YOU HEAR A LOT OF DRIVERS SAY THEY’LL LOOK BACK ON THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS WHEN THEY GET OLD AND RETIRE. WHAT IS IT LIKE TO HAVE A FACILITY LIKE THIS THAT YOU CAN APPRECIATE WHAT YOU’VE DONE WHILE YOU’RE STILL IN THE PRIME OF YOUR CAREER? “This feels like I’m a little too young to be in here because my career is still going. These are typically things that you see post-career or years later, but I take a lot of pride in working somewhere for a long period of time. Walt was talking about how there are a lot of employees that have been there for 30 years. I want to be one of those people. I’ve only been there for 15, but I’ve really enjoyed being there and when you’re able to be somewhere for a long period of time the equity that’s built up, the relationships that are there, when you come to something like this you take a little bit more ownership in it. If you bounce around from team to team or job to job, you don’t have that sense of pride when you see a team’s success. I know there are a lot of employees at Team Penske that are gonna feel the same way I do because they’ve been there a long time. They say, ‘I was a big part of that because I’ve been here forever.’ And I think that’s something that’s gonna be really special for everybody here. I think I say it at the end of the video about how important it is to me to be driving the same car for as long as I have. The brand identity that is there when you see that car. It’s tied directly to Team Penske, Ford, Shell and Joey Logano. That’s what people know that car as. No one is guessing. Everybody knows it at this point. That’s really special in this day and age. There aren’t many people that stay in the same job for very long and there may be different reasons for all those things, but, for us, it’s the best scenario I could ever be in and I just don’t want to ruin it. I don’t want to screw that up (laughing).”

YOUR 2022 and 2024 PHOENIX MUSTANGS ARE HERE. HOW SIMILAR WERE THOSE TWO CARS? “Obviously, they’re both Next Gen cars, so there’s not much different between any of them. You see some body differences – little things – but honestly those two championships were so close in time that the cars themselves aren’t that much different. You can go back to the 2018 car, that one looks much different, obviously. That one is really fun for me to look at because it’s quite some time ago and how different the cars are now. You tend to forget a little bit about the nuances of that car because you’re so in tune with what’s going on with today’s car, so that one is a lot of fun to go back and look at, but this one (‘24) when I look at it I go, ‘Yeah, that looks like the one I’m racing this weekend.’ There’s really not a whole bunch different.”

Peterson Racing Partners with Purple Heart Homes at Charlotte

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Official Release
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May 21, 2026 (Sanford, North Carolina) – Peterson Racing is proud to announce a partnership with Purple Heart Homes for the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series event at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Austin Green will pilot the No. 87 Purple Heart Homes Chevrolet in the running of the Charbroil 300 at the 1.5-mile speed plant in Concord, North Carolina this Saturday, May 23, 2026.

Co-founded by two combat-wounded veterans, Purple Heart Homes has been bringing communities together to provide safe, barrier-free housing solutions for qualified veterans since its founding in 2008. A nonprofit organization based in Statesville, North Carolina, Purple Heart Homes supports service-connected disabled and senior veterans from all eras across all 50 states and Puerto Rico through a growing network of local chapters. Programs include critical home repairs and renovations to help veterans live independently in their homes, homeownership programs and transitional housing through partnerships with other nonprofit organizations. Learn more at purplehearthomesusa.org.”

“Purple Heart Homes is honored to partner with Peterson Racing and Austin Green for the Charbroil 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway”, stated Jennifer Gipp, Vice President of Philanthropy & Marketing. “There’s no weekend more fitting than Memorial Day weekend to share our mission with race fans across the country. Seeing the No. 87 Chevrolet wrapped in Purple Heart Homes branding is a powerful tribute to the service-connected disabled and aging Veterans we serve every day. We’re grateful to Peterson Racing for this platform to honor those who have sacrificed so much for our nation.”

Austin and the Peterson Racing team are coming off two strong performances with their No. 87 Chevrolet at Watkins Glen and Dover. The group looks to continue the strong showing at a home race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Austin has a strong background at the 1.5-mile facility featured by leading 53 of 100 laps on his way to a victory in last year’s ARCA Menards Series event at the track as well as a runner up in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series event on the Roval course.

“I’m excited to represent Purple Heart Homes and 3Dimensional Services on Memorial Day weekend at my home track,” stated Austin. “I’m looking forward to building on the momentum we’ve had from the past couple of weeks. Thank you to Mr. Peterson and our entire team.”

The running of the Charbroil 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway will be held on Saturday May 23, 2026, at 5:00 pm ET. The race will be televised LIVE on the CW and can be heard on Performance Racing Network (PRN).

Daytona International Speedway to Install State-of-the-Art Musco LED Lighting System, Setting New Global Standard for Motorsports Venues

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Official Release
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The World Center of Racing will be the largest sports facility in the world and first major motorsports facility in North America with Musco’s LED lighting system

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (May 21, 2026) – Daytona International Speedway today announced a transformative, venue-wide LED lighting project that will introduce the next generation of lighting technology to the “World Center of Racing,” marking the next step in how motorsports are experienced by fans, competitors and viewers around the world.

In collaboration with Musco, Daytona International Speedway will install LED lighting across all existing oval track high mast pole-mounted fixtures, the road course, infield, pit box and emergency lighting systems. The project will also feature LED RGB accent lighting on track light poles synchronized with the caution light system, as well as uplighting for the upper-level underside of grandstand seating—creating dynamic, visually engaging moments throughout race events.

Daytona International Speedway lighting

“The new LED lighting system at Daytona International Speedway underscores NASCAR’s continued commitment to reinvest in its facilities, enhancing the overall experience for fans attending events at Daytona as well as those watching around the world,” said Ben Kennedy, Chief Operating Officer, NASCAR. “The project will create new, visually compelling moments that drive fan engagement, elevate partner visibility and generate excitement across the sport.”

This comprehensive upgrade represents more than a modernization—it is a generational leap that reinforces Daytona International Speedway’s legacy of innovation while positioning the iconic venue to lead motorsports into its next chapter.

“Daytona International Speedway has long set the standard for motorsports venues, and this project ensures we continue to do so for the next generation of race fans,” said Frank Kelleher, President, Daytona International Speedway. “From enhanced visibility for drivers to a more immersive atmosphere for fans in the stands and watching at home, we are proud to partner with Musco for this new LED lighting system that will transform the racing experience.”


The new Musco LED lighting system will deliver brighter, more consistent illumination across the facility, significantly improving visibility for competitors and race teams, enhancing the in-person fan experience, and elevating broadcast quality for global audiences. Additionally, the new lights are expected to reduce energy consumption by approximately 50 percent, supporting NASCAR Impact’s broader goal of achieving net zero operating emissions by 2035.

Daytona International Speedway lighting

“We’re excited to partner with NASCAR to relight the iconic Daytona International Speedway,” said Musco CEO Jeff Rogers. “We installed the original system in 1998 and appreciate our long-standing relationship to deliver exciting new LED solutions for drivers, television, and fans.”

The project officially began in April and is expected to be completed in Jan. 2027.

Daytona International Speedway Continues Legacy of Innovation

Since breaking ground in Nov. 1957 and opening with the inaugural DAYTONA 500 in Feb. 1959, Daytona International Speedway has been synonymous with NASCAR’s most defining moments. The track once again raised the bar in 1998 when it installed lights, becoming the largest lighted outdoor sports facility in North America at the time, with the Coke Zero Sugar 400 serving as its first night race.

From 2013 to 2016, the $400 million “Daytona Rising” redevelopment reimagined the facility as a world-class motorsports stadium. The new LED lighting project continues that tradition of reinvestment, ensuring the venue remains at the forefront of innovation for generations of fans.

Industry-Leading Technology with Musco

Through its partnership with Musco, a global leader in sports lighting for 50 years, Daytona International Speedway will become the largest sports facility in the world to feature Musco’s state-of-the-art LED lighting system—and the first major motorsports facility in North America to do so.

Musco’s lighting solutions, known for innovations in glare reduction and precise light control, are utilized across a wide range of venues, from local fields to premier global sporting events, including NFL and MLB stadiums, NBA and NHL arenas, collegiate facilities, and the Olympic Games.

The addition of RGB lighting—capable of producing more than 16.7 million color combinations—will allow for synchronized lighting effects tied to race action and cautions, creating new opportunities for fan engagement, partner integration and broadcast storytelling.

Upcoming Race Events

NASCAR returns to the World Center of Racing for intense action as the NASCAR Cup Series closes out the regular season during the Coke Zero Sugar 400 on Saturday, Aug. 29. The NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series will compete in the Wawa 250 Powered by Coca-Cola on Aug. 28.

The 65th running of the Rolex 24 will take place Jan. 28-31, 2027, preceded by the Roar Before the Rolex 24 on Jan. 22-24, 2027.

The 69th running of the DAYTONA 500 is scheduled for Feb. 21, 2027.

Tickets for all Daytona International Speedway events are available at www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling 1-800-PITSHOP. Fans can also follow @DAYTONA on social media for the latest updates.

About Daytona International Speedway

Daytona International Speedway is a state-of-the-art motorsports facility and was awarded the SportsBusiness Journal’s prestigious Sports Business Award for Sports Facility of the Year in 2016. Daytona International Speedway is the home of The Great American Race – the DAYTONA 500. Though the season-opening NASCAR Cup Series event garners most of the attention – as well as the largest audience in motorsports – the approximately 500-acre motorsports complex, also known as the World Center of Racing, boasts the most diverse schedule of racing on the globe. Some of the exciting racing events include January’s Rolex 24 At DAYTONA and Roar Before The Rolex 24, February’s DAYTONA 500 and Speedweeks Presented by AdventHealth, March’s Bike Week At DAYTONA featuring DAYTONA Supercross and the DAYTONA 200, the August Coke Zero Sugar 400 weekend, and much more. The Speedway grounds are also used extensively for other events that include concerts such as Welcome to Rockville, sporting events including CLASH DAYTONA, civic and social gatherings, car shows, photo shoots, production vehicle testing and police motorcycle training.  

About Musco

For nearly 50 years, Musco has specialized in sports lighting and technology, with innovations in glare reduction and light control responsible to the needs of facility owners, players, fans, neighbors, and the night sky. Musco’s TLC for LED® system, Show-Light® Pro special effects technology, and Mini-Pitch System™ modular sports solution provide unmatched quality, performance, and reliability. Musco’s solutions are found at neighborhood ballfields, professional tracks and speedways, NFL and MLB stadiums, NBA and NHL arenas, major collegiate facilities, and the Olympic Games. Every Musco system is backed by a long-term parts and labor warranty, eliminating maintenance concerns and costs well into the future. Learn more at www.musco.com.

Wood Brothers Racing – Race Week Briefing: Charlotte Motor Speedway

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Official Release
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Event: Coca-Cola 600
Date/Time: Sunday, May 24, 2026, 6 p.m. ET
Location: Charlotte Motor Speedway, Concord, North Carolina
Layout: 1.5-Mile Oval
TV/Radio: Prime Video, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Charlotte Motor Speedway’s 600 Miles of Remembrance has become a Memorial Day weekend tradition for the NASCAR Cup Series, with each car in the Coca-Cola 600 carrying the name of a fallen service member on its windshield.

This year, Josh Berry and the No. 21 eero Ford Mustang Dark Horse team will honor John Calvin Morgan of Fayette County, Georgia, who lost his life on Nov. 29, 1944, during the Battle of Leyte Island, one of the pivotal campaigns in the Pacific during World War II.

Morgan grew up in a family of sharecroppers and enlisted in the U.S. Army at age 29. He served with the 184th Infantry, 2nd Battalion Medical Department, where he worked as a medic.

In one of his final letters home, Morgan expressed hope that the war would soon end so he could return home to help his family with the harvest. In February 1945, the Morgan family received word that he had been posthumously awarded the Purple Heart in recognition of his service and sacrifice.

Five years later, Morgan’s remains were returned home and laid to rest in the family cemetery. While an early monument honoring fallen service members in Fayette County unintentionally omitted his name and several others who served in World War II, a later memorial in a county park corrected those oversights.

Now, more than 80 years later, Morgan’s legacy will be recognized at Charlotte Motor Speedway, where his sister, niece and several members of his family are expected to attend the race weekend.

For Berry and the No. 21 eero team, NASCAR’s longest race also presents an opportunity to regain momentum after a challenging stretch on intermediate tracks.

“We’ve certainly had our troubles,” Berry said in a recent interview. “Intermediate tracks have been our biggest disappointment.”

Ironically, it wasn’t that long ago that intermediate tracks were among the team’s stronger tracks.

“The focus is to get back to that performance level as quickly as possible,” Berry said. “I feel good about the relationship with [crew chief] Miles [Stanley]. We’re working hard to get performance back where we want.

“It’s tough in this sport. It’s all about learning and moving forward.”

Practice for the Coca-Cola 600 is scheduled for Saturday at 1:30 p.m. ET, followed by qualifying at 2:40 p.m. ET.

Sunday’s 400-lap, 600-mile race is scheduled to begin shortly after 6 p.m. ET, with Stage 1 concluding at Lap 100, Stage 2 at Lap 200 and Stage 3 at Lap 300.

Prime Video will carry television coverage throughout the weekend.

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.

JR Motorsports — NOAPS Charlotte Motor Speedway Preview

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Official Release
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JR Motorsports O’Reilly Auto Parts Team Preview
TRACK – Charlotte Motor Speedway (1.5-mile quad-oval)
NOAPS RACE – Charbroil 300 (200 laps / 300 miles)
TUNE IN – CW, PRN, SiriusXM Channel 90 at 5:00 p.m. (ET)

Connor Zilisch

No. 1 – Registix Chevrolet

Zilisch 2026 NOAPS Stats

Starts: 5

Wins: 2

Top 5s: 2

Top 10s: 3

Laps Led: 105

Avg. Finish: 10.2

Points: N/A

Connor Zilisch will make his sixth NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series start of the 2026 season Saturday afternoon at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

In May 2025, Zilisch scored a second-place finish on the 1.5-mile quad-oval at Charlotte, the first of 18 consecutive top-five finishes, a streak that ran through the Las Vegas Motor Speedway event on Oct. 11.

Zilisch has two NOAPS victories this season entering Saturday’s race at Charlotte: Bristol Motor Speedway on April 11 and most recently at Watkins Glen International on May 9.

Zilisch enters the Charlotte race fresh off his second victory of the 2026 season at Watkins Glen. The driver of the Registix Chevrolet claimed his seventh road-course victory after starting 17th. Zilisch won his third consecutive race at Watkins Glen, joining Terry Labonte (1994 – 1996) and Marcos Ambrose (2008 – 2010) in accomplishing the feat.

Connor Zilisch

“I’m really looking forward to the Charlotte race with JR Motorsports. We’ve won a couple of races this season and I think we have a great opportunity to run well this weekend in our Registix Chevrolet. Starting late in the afternoon will be a challenge but I’m confident that Rodney (Childers, crew chief) and I will keep up with the balance of the car with the changing track conditions.”

Justin Allgaier

No. 7 Liquid I.V. / Hellmann’s Chevrolet

Allgaier 2026 NOAPS Stats

Starts: 14

Wins: 3

Top 5s: 10

Top 10s: 12

Laps Led: 336

Avg. Finish: 6.9

Points: 1st

Justin Allgaier is a former NOAPS winner at Charlotte, capturing the checkered flag in this event in 2023 after starting from the pole and leading for 83 laps.

Overall, in 23 NOAPS starts at the 1.5-mile quad-oval, Allgaier has amassed seven top-fives and 13 top-10s to accompany the 2023 victory.

Additionally, dating back to this event in 2022, Allgaier has for 36 percent (289 out of 805) of all the laps run at Charlotte.

This Memorial Day weekend, Allgaier will be carrying the logos of the Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) and the Round Canopy Parachuting Team on board his red, white and blue patriotic No. 7 Liquid IV / Hellmann’s Chevrolet.

Justin Allgaier

“We have been really strong here in Charlotte the past couple of years. This place is just such a fun track to race around, especially as the groove widens out. It’s a really special weekend overall with not only us getting the opportunity to race in our own backyard, but to be racing on Memorial Day Weekend. What makes it even more special is that we get to carry the red, white and blue colors and have the Defense Commissary Agency and Round Canopy Parachuting Team on our car once again. I can’t thank Liquid IV and Hellmann’s enough for being able to work with those great and I can’t wait to see what we can do on the track this weekend.”

Sammy Smith

No. 8 Alpha Craft Technologies Chevrolet

Smith 2026 NOAPS Stats

Starts: 14

Wins: 0

Top 5s: 5

Top 10s: 8

Laps Led: 17

Avg. Finish: 10.3

Points: 6th

Sammy Smith will make the quick drive to Charlotte this Saturday for his fourth NOAPS race at the 1.5-mile quad-oval.

Smith has one top-five and two top-10 finishes at Charlotte, with the best of third coming in this event in 2024.

In 56 starts on tracks measuring 1-2 miles, Smith has tallied two wins, nine top-fives, 27 top-10s and led 176 laps.

The JRM No. 8 will feature a fresh paint scheme with new partner Alpha Craft Technologies. Alpha Craft is a fourth-generation, women-owned electrical contractor. They service North Carolina and Virginia, specializing in electric work for data centers, industrial facilities and a wide variety of commercial products.

Sammy Smith

“I’m looking forward to the home race this weekend in Charlotte and having Alpha Craft Technologies on the No. 8 for the first time. It’s great when we can introduce companies and people to the sport. JRM has brought fast cars to Charlotte in the past so I’m ready to get there and see what we can do.”

Ross Chastain

No. 9 Carolina Carports Chevrolet

Chastain 2026 NOAPS Stats

Starts: 6

Wins: 0

Top 5s: 1

Top 10s: 4

Laps Led: 90

Avg. Finish: 9.0

Points: N/A

Ross Chastain will return to the No. 9 JRM Chevrolet this weekend at Charlotte, with Carolina Carports serving as the primary partner for the Charbroil 300.

Through six NOAPS starts this season, Chastain has recorded one top-five, four top-10s, led 90 laps and posted an average finish of ninth.

Chastain heads to Charlotte coming off a strong run at Dover, where he started from the pole, won Stage Two and led 68 laps before finishing 13th.

In 11 career NOAPS starts at Charlotte, Chastain has earned one top-five, one top-10 and a best finish of second, coming in the 2018 event.

Chastain has also found success recently at Charlotte in NASCAR Cup Series competition, winning the 600 in 2025 after starting 40th.

The No. 9 Carolina Carports Chevrolet will represent the North Carolina-based company at its home-state track, as Chastain looks to build off the speed shown last weekend at Dover.

Ross Chastain

“I’m looking forward to getting to Charlotte with JR Motorsports and Carolina Carports on our No. 9 Chevrolet. We had a really fast car at Dover and led a lot of laps, just didn’t get the finish we wanted. Charlotte is a place that means a lot, and it’s one where you have to keep working on your car all race long. We’ll go there, keep digging and try to put ourselves in position at the end.”

Rajah Caruth

No. 88 HENDRICKCARS.COM Chevrolet

Caruth 2026 NOAPS Stats

Starts: 14

Wins: 0

Top 5s: 1

Top 10s: 4

Laps Led: 52

Avg. Finish: 18.1

Points: 14th

Rajah Caruth will make his ninth start for JRM of the 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Series season this weekend at Charlotte in the No. 88 HENDRICKCARS.COM Chevrolet.

Caruth will sport a HENDRICKCARS.COM patriotic Chevrolet scheme as part of HendrickCars.com’s Four-Car Salute to America for Memorial Day weekend.

Caruth has made one previous NASCAR O’Reilly Series start at Charlotte, finishing 19th.

In three career NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series starts at Charlotte, Caruth has a best finish of ninth.

Caruth enters the weekend 14th in the NASCAR O’Reilly Series standings, just below the playoff cut line.

Rajah Caruth

“I’m ready to get to Charlotte this weekend with our No. 88 HENDRICKCARS.COM Chevrolet, especially with the patriotic scheme for Memorial Day weekend. It’s always special to race close to home, and Charlotte is a place where track position and execution mean a lot. Mardy (Lindley, crew chief) and everyone on this team have been working hard, and I’m focused on doing my part and putting together a complete race.”

JRM Team Updates

JR Motorsports at Charlotte Motor Speedway: JR Motorsports has competed at Charlotte Motor Speedway a combined 88 times in the NOAPS. In those starts at the 1.5-mile quad-oval, the organization has recorded two wins, 24 top-fives and 43 top-10s. The average finish is 13.8.

Souvenir Rig: JRM drivers Carson Kvapil, Justin Allgaier, Sammy Smith and Rajah Caruth will be signing autographs at the JR Motorsports / HMS WB + AB souvenir rig on Saturday, May 23 from 1:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. ET.

TOYOTA RACING Weekly Preview 05.20.26

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Official Release
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This Week in Motorsports: May 18 – 24, 2026

NCS/NOAPS/NCTS: Charlotte Motor Speedway – May 22-24
ARCA West: Colorado National Speedway – May 23

PLANO, Texas (May 20, 2026) – NASCAR heads to Charlotte Motor Speedway for its annual Memorial Day weekend of racing around the 1.5-mile oval, culminating with the Crown Jewel Coca-Cola 600 Sunday night. Meanwhile, the ARCA Menards Series West heads to Colorado National Speedway Saturday night for its fifth race of 2026.

NASCAR National Series – NCS/NOAPS/NCTSS

Toyota seeks another Coca-Cola 600 triumph … Team Toyota enters this weekend’s Coca-Cola 600 in search of its eighth victory in the Crown Jewel event. Christopher Bell was the most recent winner in a Toyota Camry in 2024. Martin Truex Jr. has the most Coke 600 wins for Toyota with two – 2016 and 2019.

Hamlin looks to continue 600 success … Denny Hamlin has a knack for putting up strong finishes in the Coca-Cola 600. Sunday night will be his 21st start in the Crown Jewel event, where he has top-10 finishes in three of the last five Coca-Cola 600s, including his win in 2022. In 34 starts on the Charlotte Motor Speedway oval – which includes the fall race which was last run in 2017 – Hamlin has 12 top-fives and 21 top-10s, as well as poles in the 2013 Coca-Cola 600 and the 2017 fall race.

Heim returns to the No. 67 … 23XI Racing’s Corey Heim is back behind the wheel of the No. 67 Toyota Camry XSE this weekend in the Coca-Cola 600. Should he qualify for the event, Heim would make his 11th career Cup Series start and fourth of the 2026 season. In his last start at Texas Motor Speedway earlier in the month, Heim led 69 laps before an incident resulted in a 31st-place finish. Heim returns to Charlotte after sweeping both Truck Series races there last year on the oval and the ROVAL – enroute to his Truck Series title.

Thompson returns to favorable Charlotte … Charlotte Motor Speedway has become one of the better tracks for Sam Hunt Racing’s Dean Thompson. The driver of the No. 26 Toyota GR Supra earned his best career O’Reilly Series finish in last season’s race at Charlotte, coming home fifth in his second start at the track. In his time in the Truck Series, Thompson earned two top-10s in three starts on the 1.5-mile North Carolina oval, which includes a third-place result in 2023.

Jones continues strong run … With his sixth-place finish last weekend at Dover Motor Speedway, Brandon Jones now has five consecutive top-10 finishes in the O’Reilly Series dating back to Kansas Speedway in April. In total, Jones has eight top-10s, and three top-fives, in 14 races so far this season. Jones currently sits fifth in the driver’s point standings entering this weekend in Charlotte, which will be his 350th career O’Reilly Series start.

Honeycutt continues strong 2026 start … Kaden Honeycutt extended his strong start to the 2026 Truck Series season with a fourth-place finish last weekend at Dover. Honeycutt now has seven top-10s and six top-fives in nine Truck Series races this season, and remains in the points lead, 38 points atop the standings. He makes his third career start on the Charlotte oval this weekend, where he’s finished inside the top-10 in both previous starts – seventh in 2024 and third in 2025.

Jones, Sawalich again do double duty … Jones and William Sawalich will again take on double duty, this time at Charlotte this weekend. Jones, who will drive the No. 1 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro for TRICON Garage on Friday, makes his third Trucks start this season after a sixth-place finish at Dover last weekend. Jones also finished fourth at Texas. Sawalich, who will pilot the No. 5 Tundra TRD PRO for TRICON, makes his fourth Trucks start of 2026. He’s coming off a 14th-place finish in the Dover race and makes his Truck Series debut at Charlotte this weekend.

NASCAR Regional Series – ARCA Menards Series West

Lovell takes on Colorado … In Saturday night’s ARCA Menards Series West race at Colorado National Speedway, Mia Lovell will pilot the No. 15 Toyota Camry for Nitro Motorsports. Lovell makes her fifth start in the West Series this season and is coming off two top-10 finishes at Tucson Speedway (eighth) and Shasta Speedway (ninth).

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in the U.S. for nearly 70 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our nearly 1,500 dealerships.

Toyota directly employs approximately 48,000 people in the U.S. who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of more than 36 million cars and trucks at our 11 manufacturing plants. In 2025, Toyota’s plant in North Carolina began to assemble automotive batteries for electrified vehicles.

For more information about Toyota, visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.

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