TWO TUNDRA TOP-FIVES IN TEXAS Honeycutt, Jones Lead Toyota with Third and Fourth Place Finishes
FORT WORTH (May 1, 2026) – TRICON Garage teammates Kaden Honeycutt and Brandon Jones led the Toyota Tundra contingent with third and fourth-place results, respectively, on Friday night at Texas Motor Speedway.
Gio Ruggiero also ran among the top five throughout much of the race, pacing the field for 22 laps late in the race. Tundra drivers led a total of 43 laps (of 172) around the 1.5-mile Texas oval on Friday evening.
TOYOTA RACING Post-Race Recap NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS) Texas Motor Speedway Race 7 of 23 – 250.5 Miles, 167 Laps
TOYOTA FINISHING POSITIONS
1st, Carson Hocevar*
2nd, Kyle Busch*
3rd, KADEN HONEYCUTT
4th, BRANDON JONES
5th, Ben Rhodes*
14th, GIO RUGGIERO
17th, WILLIAM SAWALICH
19th, STEWART FRIESEN
28th, TANNER GRAY
34th, CORY ROPER
*non-Toyota driver
TOYOTA QUOTES
KADEN HONEYCUTT, No. 11 Safelite + Foster Love Toyota Tundra TRD Pro, TRICON Garage
Finishing Position: 3rd
What are some things you can be proud of after today’s race?
“I’m proud to be able to drive a truck like this. It’s disappointing that I just keep failing. There’s no excuse for it. As soon as I got the lead, I didn’t protect it right, I didn’t do the right things and ultimately that’s what led us to lose. I just want to thank this whole 11 crew, Safelite, Foster Love, Toyota Racing, TRICON. All my guys have done such an excellent job. Scott (Zipadelli, crew chief) did really good adjustments all day to help me out and I felt like once we got the track position at that last stage I thought we were one of the best trucks. I thought I could’ve run the 17 (Gio Ruggiero) down on that green flag run and pass him and if it went green, I thought I would’ve won it. Just gotta figure out how to get restarts done. I’ve gotta figure out how to win races. It’s eating me alive, I can promise you that. Just want to thank everyone at Toyota Racing – Toyota Tundras are built here in Texas, and I just wanted to get a win for them today because we definitely had a truck to do it. I’m disappointed that we didn’t but thanks to Scott’s leadership and everyone that we’ll keep on going.”
“Heck, I’ll take that. What a long, crazy night that was. Just trying to learn these trucks again. This was our first of four this year, and just fun to come over to TRICON and have Sprecher Root Beer come on board. They ran some races with us last year and really enjoyed themselves. It was fun to get them a top five and a really nice way to kick off my Truck Series run here. I think we had a really fast truck here tonight and circumstantial – could’ve won the race. It all just depended on what lane you were in. There was a lot of chaos at the end of that race obviously. A lot of beating and banging so it was just about picking the right lane and being in the right place at the right time. I was happy with that. Gio (Ruggerio) almost had one too, so we were really close as an organization, I think. Just really, really fun tonight.”
Can you talk about your race tonight after leading late in the race?
“It was a good race. I definitely held onto track position the whole time. We had a fast truck so it was easy to do that. But yeah, definitely just didn’t finish anywhere near where we should’ve with the truck we had. I’m happy with how good the truck was. I think that’s really good as a team moving forward into the next few races to have that speed. If we can run like that every race, we’ll win a lot of races. Definitely a positive note on that side. Just was tough on those restarts there at the end of the race. It’s so hard to break away from the trucks behind you here. I feel like the draft – they can get such a huge run on you. You just have to really be super aggressive on defense mode. It was tough at the end there. Just have to execute the last restart better and probably would’ve won the race.”
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for nearly 70 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our more than 1,800 dealerships.
Toyota directly employs nearly 64,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of over 50 million cars and trucks at our 14 manufacturing plants. In 2025, Toyota’s plant in North Carolina began to assemble automotive batteries for electrified vehicles.
Carson Hocevar doubled down with the Ride the ‘Dente scheme, prevailing through a wild overtime shootout to win the SpeedyCash.com 250 at Texas Motor Speedway.
The 23-year-old Hocevar from Portage, Michigan, led five times for a race-high 76 of 172 overscheduled laps. He qualified in 11th place and spent a bulk of the event racing at the front. He led 20 laps during the first two stages, finishing second in the first stage and winning the second.
Hocevar was mired with a slow green flag pit service with less than 45 laps remaining, costing him time and the lead. But, Hocevar utilized two late-race cautions due to on-track carnages to engage himself within tight battles for the lead that involved teammate Kyle Busch, Giovanni Ruggiero, Kaden Honeycutt, Layne Riggs and Brandon Jones.
Then, through an overtime shootout, Hocevar prevailed in another late duel with Ruggiero to clear the field prior to the final lap and motor away from the field to achieve his second NASCAR national touring series victory in recent weeks, but his first in the Craftsman Truck Series division under the lights and at the Lone Star State.
On-track qualifying determined the starting lineup on Friday. Ben Rhodes secured his first pole position of the 2026 season with a pole-winning lap at 185.096 mph in 29.174 seconds. Teammate Jake Garcia started alongside Rhodes after he posted the second-fastest lap at 184.925 mph in 29.201 seconds.
Before the event, Cory Roper was the lone competitor who started at the rear of the field due to repairs made to his No. 62 Halmar Friesen Racing Toyota Tundra TRD Pro entry after he hit the Turn 4 outside wall during Friday’s practice session.
When the green flag waved and the event commenced, Ben Rhodes, who elected to start on the inside lane, fended off teammate Jake Garcia and Giovanni Ruggiero through the frontstretch and the first two turns to take an early stab of leading the field through the backstretch. As the field fanned out and jostled for early spots, Rhodes cycled back to the frontstretch and led the first lap. Behind, teammate Garcia fended off Ruggiero to retain the runner-up spot while Ruggiero retained third place in front of Chandler Smith, Tanner Gray, Cole Butcher, Kyle Busch, Stewart Friesen and a hard-charging Carson Hocevar.
Over the next four laps, Rhodes maintained a steady advantage over his hard-charging teammate of Garcia, with Garcia using the turns and straightaways to reel in with every opportunity on deck, while Ruggiero, Smith and Gray remained within pursuit in the top-five mark. Behind, Hocevar moved up into seventh place behind Butcher, Kyle Busch dropped to eighth place, Kaden Honeycutt was scored in 10th place and Layne Riggs carved his way into the top-20 mark after he started towards the tail end of the field. Meanwhile, Rhodes led by two-tenths of a second over Garcia at the Lap 10 mark.
Through the first 20-scheduled laps, Rhodes, who grew his advantage to two seconds over the previous 10 laps, continued to lead teammate Garcia, Smith, Ruggiero and Gray while Hocevar, Kaden Honeycutt, Stewart Friesen, Butcher and Tyler Ankrum trailed in the top 10, respectively. Grant Enfinger, Daniel Hemric, Layne Riggs, Brandon Jones and Ross Chastain were racing in the top 15 while Christian Eckes, Andres Perez De Lara, Ty Majeski, Conner Jones, and Dawson Sutton were mired in the top 20, respectively. Meanwhile, Kyle Busch was mired a lap down and at the tail end of the field in 35th place after he made an unscheduled pit stop on Lap 18 due to getting loose and scraping the Turn 4 wall on his right side earlier.
On Lap 23, the event’s first caution flew when Cory Roper spun in Turn 2 and wrecked his No. 62 Drydene/Halmar Friesen Racing Toyota Tundra TRD Pro entry against the inside wall. During the event’s first caution period, some led by the runner-up Garcia and including Gray, Riggs, Christian Eckes, Ty Majeski, William Sawalich, Parker Kligerman, Kris Wright, Brandon Jones and Toni Breidinger pitted their respective trucks while the rest led by Rhodes remained on the track. Among those who also pitted was Corey LaJoie, whose No. 10 Kaulig Racing pit crew spent extensive time diagnosing an issue beneath the right front of LaJoie’s entry.
The start of the next restart on Lap 29 featured Rhodes and Smith briefly dueling for the lead exiting the frontstretch before Rhodes gained the advantage from the inside lane entering the first two turns. Rhodes’ advantage was due to Hocevar trying to throw a three-wide move beneath Smith and Ruggiero. As Rhodes led the next lap, Hocevar muscled his way into the runner-up spot and Ruggiero trailed in third place while Honeycutt navigated his way into fourth place over Smith, Friesen, Enfinger, Ross Chastain and Ankrum, respectively. Amid a variety of battles around the field, Rhodes continued to lead by the Lap 35 mark despite having Hocevar reeling in and challenging for the top spot.
When the first stage period concluded on Lap 40, Rhodes fended off Hocevar to claim his third Truck stage victory of the 2026 season. Ruggiero fended off teammate Honeycutt to settle in third while Smith, Friesen, Enfinger, Riggs, Majeski and Ross Chastain were scored in the top 10, respectively. By then, 29 of 35 starters were scored on the lead lap while rookie Brenden Queen, who served a pass-through penalty due to pulling out of line before the previous restart, was scored the first competitor a lap down in 30th place over Kyle Busch.
Under the event’s first stage break period, a majority of the field led by Rhodes pitted for service while the rest led by Brandon Jones and including Gray, Kligerman, Sawalich, Kris Wright and Spencer Boyd remained on the track. Following the pit stops with mixed strategies ensuing, Majeski, who only pitted for fuel, exited pit road first over Riggs and Clayton Green while Rhodes, Honeycutt, Enfinger, Ruggiero, Hocevar, Garcia and Friesen followed suit, respectively.
The second stage period started on Lap 47 as teammates Brandon Jones and Tanner Gray occupied the front row. At the start, Jones emerged with the lead from the inside lane through the first two turns while Hocevar, who restarted in 12th place and the sixth truck in line on the outside lane, used the outside lane and four fresh tires to rocket his way through the field. As the field fanned out and jostled for spots, Hocevar rocketed up to fifth place by the next lap as Jones retained the lead over teammate Gray and Kligerman. Hocevar, however, gained another four spots and moved into the runner-up spots over the next two laps.
Then, as Hocevar started to challenge Brandon Jones for the lead with Riggs reeling from behind, the caution returned on Lap 50. This was due to Cole Butcher spinning, wrecking against the outside wall in Turn 2 and destroying the rear end of his No. 13 Atlantic Tilt Load/ThorSport Racing Ford F-150 entry. At the time of caution, Kyle Busch was awarded the free pass to cycle back on the lead lap as he was the first competitor who was scored a lap down.
As the event restarted on Lap 56, Jones received a strong push from Riggs from the inside lane to boost ahead of Hocevar and lead through the first two turns. The field jostled through the backstretch as Jones led the next lap while Riggs fended off Hocevar to claim the runner-up spot. As Rhodes battled Hocevar for third place, Riggs then tried to get beneath Jones and overtake him for the lead. With Riggs unable to clear Jones through the backstretch, Hocevar reeled in the latter two as Jones maintained the lead during the next lap.
Hocevar then used the outside lane and battled dead even with Jones. As both Chastain and Rhodes tried to make the battle for the lead into a tight four-truck battle, Hocevar capitalized on Lap 59 to motor ahead with the lead. Behind, Rhodes moved into second over Chastain, Jones, Gray, and Riggs, the latter of whom hit the backstretch’s outside wall, while Hocevar led the next lap, Lap 60.
At the Lap 65 mark, Hocevar maintained the lead by four-tenths of a second over Rhodes while Riggs and Chastain fiercely battled for third place. Meanwhile, Jones retained fifth place ahead of teammates Gray, Honeycutt and Sawalich while Enfinger and teammate Ruggiero followed suit ahead of Smith, Kligerman, Ankrum, Majeski and Conner Jones. As Riggs overtook Rhodes for the runner-up spot on Lap 69, Hocevar retained the lead by half a second during the next lap.
Following another caution on Lap 73 due to an incident involving Kris Wright in Turn 3, nearly the entire field pitted while Dawson Sutton, Mini Tyrrell and Spencer Boyd remained on the track. Chastain, Honeycutt, Rhodes, Hocevar, Enfinger, Ruggiero, Ty Majeski, Tanner Gray, Chandler Smith and Tyler Ankrum were the first 10 competitors to exit pit road, respectively, while Riggs, who spent extra time in his pit stall to have braces that kept his rear window taped and secured, dropped to the tail end of the lead lap field in 29th place.
With the second stage period restarting with two laps remaining, the field fanned out to four lanes deep as Mini Tyrrell led through the first two turns. Through the backstretch, Tyrrell led through the backstretch before Hocevar used the outside lane and fresh tires through Turns 3 and 4 to reassume the lead as he led the next lap.
When the second stage period concluded on Lap 80, Hocevar captured the stage victory over Honeycutt and Ruggiero. Sutton and Ankrum settled in the top five over Tyrrell, while Enfinger, Tanner Gray, Smith and Andres Perez De Lara were scored in the top 10, respectively. By then, 28 of 35 starters were scored on the lead lap while Riggs was mired back in 26th place. During the event’s second stage break period, Sutton and Tyrrell, along with Chastain, Riggs and Eckes, pitted their respective trucks. The rest, led by Hocevar, remained on the track.
With 81 laps remaining, the final stage period commenced as Hocevar and Honeycutt occupied the front row in front of Ankrum, Ruggiero, Tanner Gray and Enfinger. At the start, Hocevar rocketed ahead with the lead as he led through the first two turns and the backstretch while Ankrum pursued in the runner-up spot. With the field fanning out and jostling for spots around every turn and straightaway, Hocevar led the next lap and nearly lost the lead after he briefly got loose while Ankrum tried to gain a run beneath Hocevar. Hocevar, though, maintained his momentum and continued to lead with less than 80 laps remaining over Ankrum, Honeycutt, Ruggiero and Smith.
Down to the final 75 laps of the event, Hocevar stretched his late lead to a second over a side-by-side battle between teammates Ruggiero and Honeycutt while Ankrum and Smith remained within striking distance of the latter two. As Gray, Enfinger, Friesen, Rhodes and Kligerman raced in the top 10, respectively, Riggs was up into 15th place and Kyle Busch was mired in 12th place while Garcia and Chastain were mired in 17th and 22nd, respectively.
With 70 laps remaining, the battle for the lead started to intensify as Ruggiero reeled in and trailed the leader, Hocevar, by a tenth of a second. Amid Ruggiero’s late surge, teammate Honeycutt pursued within close distance in third place while Hocevar maintained a steady lead through every turn and straightaway. Honeycutt then gained a run and dueled with Ruggiero with 66 laps remaining through the frontstretch before the former assumed the runner-up spot. Despite moving into the runner-up spot, Honeycutt could not reel in close enough towards Hocevar’s rear bumper as the latter led by up to six-tenths of a second with 60 laps remaining.
As the event reached its final 55-lap mark, Hocevar continued to lead by eight-tenths of a second over Honeycutt while third-place Ruggiero remained within striking distance. Meanwhile, Riggs charged all the way back up to fourth place while Hocevar, who made a bold overtake on three lapped competitors two laps earlier, maintained the lead by a second over Honeycutt with 50 laps remaining.
Then, with 46 laps remaining, a late wave of green flag pit stops commenced as teammates Honeycutt and Ruggiero pitted their respective TRICON Garage Toyota Tundra TRD Pro entries. The leader, Hocevar, pitted a lap later, as more names that included Sawalich, Rhodes and Justin Haley pitted. During Hocevar’s pit service, he endured a slow pit service as his pit crew had issues changing the right-front wheel.
While both Ruggiero and Honeycutt cycled ahead of Hocevar on the track, Riggs, who assumed the lead when Hocevar pitted, retained the top spot until he pitted under green flag conditions with 40 laps remaining. Kyle Busch, Ankrum, Jones, Daniel Hemric, Jones and Garcia also pitted with Riggs, while more names that included Friesen and Queen pitted over the next handful of laps. With nearly the entire field having made at least one pit stop, Gray, Eckes and Dawson Sutton were the remaining trio of competitors who had yet to pit.
With 34 laps remaining, Ruggiero cycled to the lead after Sutton pitted. By then, Ruggiero was leading by a second over teammate Honeycutt, while Hocevar’s late, slow pit service proved to be costly as he trailed the lead by more than five seconds in third place. Riggs also trailed by five seconds in fourth place, but he overtook Hocevar for third place shortly after while Honeycutt tried to reel in teammate Ruggiero for the lead.
Down to the final 25 laps of the event, Ruggiero, who was navigating through lapped traffic, led by only two-tenths of a second over his hard-charging teammate, Honeycutt, through every turn and straightaway. Meanwhile, third-place Riggs trailed by more than three seconds and fourth-place Hocevar trailed by more than seven seconds.
A lap later, the caution flew when Ankrum, who was racing in ninth place, was sent spinning through Turn 2 after he made contact with Rhodes, though he managed to straighten his entry and proceed without sustaining any significant damage nor make any contact with the wall. During this latest caution period, some, including Eckes, Kligerman, Sawalich, Chastain and Ankrum pitted while the rest, led by Ruggiero, remained on the track.
The next restart with 19 laps remaining featured an eight-lap shootout of intense side-by-side repetitive battling and swapping between Hocevar, Ruggiero, Kyle Busch, Riggs and Honeycutt for the lead, with the latter five dueling inside of the top-five mark. Throughout this stretch, Honeycutt, who initially reported concerns of having a loose wheel within his No. 77 Chili’s Ride the ‘Dente Chevrolet Silverado RST entry, led the first four laps of the battle before Hocevar assumed the lead with 16 laps remaining.
Then, with 11 laps remaining, the caution returned when Friesen, who was battling Jones for fifth place, ran over the track’s bumpy surface through Turns 3 and 4, spun and had the rear end of his entry hit the outside wall. As Friesen spun back across the track and towards pit road, Enfinger veered to the left and dodged Friesen’s wrecked entry, but he plowed his entry through the frontstretch’s grass and damaged the front splitter. The incident was enough to draw a red flag period for eight minutes and 33 seconds.
When the red flag lifted and the race restarted with six laps remaining, a tight six-truck battle at the front ensued between Hocevar, Busch, Ruggiero, Jones, Honeycutt and Riggs, with neither lifting off the throttle and giving an inch through every turn and straightaway. As Hocevar primarily led since the restart, Ruggiero, who fended off Busch for second place with five laps remaining, reeled in and spent a full lap dueling with Hocevar before he gained the edge with three laps remaining.
Just as Ruggiero began to motor ahead of Hocevar, the caution returned after Garcia, who had made contact with Tanner Gray since the previous restart, blew a tire and hit the outside wall entering Turn 3. As Garcia tried to steer his wrecked entry onto pit road, he was plowed into by Conner Jones while Justin Haley, who just dodged Garcia’s entry, plowed through the frontstretch’s grass. The incident placed the event in a second red flag period for six minutes and 12 seconds.
As the event restarted in overtime, Ruggiero and Hocevar spent nearly a full lap dueling against one another before Hocevar had the upper hand and motored away from Ruggiero entering the frontstretch. By then, Ruggiero lost slight momentum and that allowed teammate Honeycutt and Riggs to pin him in a tight three-wide battle for second place.
When the white flag waved and the final lap started, Hocevar remained in the lead ahead of a three-wide battle between Riggs, Ruggiero and Honeycutt. Then, Ruggiero made slight contact with Riggs and got sideways through the first two turns. Despite keeping his entry straight, Ruggiero lost a bevy of spots as Kyle Busch capitalized on the tight three-wide racing to move into second place. All of the battles, though, allowed Hocevar to motor away from the field. With no competition reeling in through the final two turns, Hocevar cycled back to the frontstretch and claimed the checkered flag by seven-tenths of a second over Busch.
Hocevar, who achieved his first NASCAR Cup Series career victory this past weekend at Talladega Superspeedway, recorded his sixth NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series career win in his 87th series start. He also recorded his second victory at Texas Motor Speedway. It’s the track where he recorded his first Truck victory in 2023. And it’s also his first in the series overall since he won at Kansas Speedway in May 2025.
Hocevar’s latest Truck victory at Texas was the first for Spire Motorsports’ No. 77 entry. It was the second ever for crew chief Chad Walter and the second time this season where the organization’s Nos. 7 and 77 entries finished first and second in a Truck event.
Photo by Ron Olds for SpeedwayMedia.com.
“I mean, it’s unbelievable,” Hocevar said to the fans on the frontstretch on FS1. “Thank you, everybody. It means a lot. I’m going to go burn down Chili’s. I can’t leave, so we go to go burn down Chili’s here somewhere. I don’t know where it’s going to be, but everybody on the fence, thank you. What a fun race.
“We had to reverse order, obviously, the one, two [finish] with Kyle [Busch]. I watched him win a lot of truck races and it’s finally good to put an end to his Texas streak. We were really good on restarts. These [No. 77] guys do a really, really good job. It’s been a struggle on the truck side…great to do it, though, with Spire [Motorsports] and [co-owner] Jeff [Dickerson] and get a one, two [finish].”
Kyle Busch, who rallied from losing a lap and making an early unscheduled pit stop to have his entry’s right side repaired from hitting the frontstretch’s outside wall, settled in second place in his third of eight Truck starts this season.
“We had an eventful night,” Busch said. “[The race] didn’t start off very well. We were just really, really loose and made a lot of adjustments to get [the truck] close. When we put tires on our last set of tires there, we were really fast, felt really good. Finally felt in the racetrack and better, so that moon thing doesn’t work. I was struggling with grip all night long, but [crew chief] Brian [Pattie] and the [No. 7] guys made a lot of good calls to get us dialed back in.”
Kaden Honeycutt, who was in contention for his first Truck career victory, settled in third place for his fourth top-five result of the 2026 season while Brandon Jones and pole-sitter Ben Rhodes finished in the top five.
Layne Riggs, Daniel Hemric, Christian Eckes, Ty Majeski, and Chandler Smith completed the top 10 in the final running order. Notably, Giovanni Ruggiero fell back to 14th place following his last-lap slip through the first two turns.
There were 14 lead changes for nine different leaders. The event featured eight cautions for 39 laps. In addition, 16 of 35 starters finished on the lead lap.
Following the seventh event of the 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season, Kaden Honeycutt leads the standings by 14 points over Chandler Smith, 19 over Layne Riggs, 31 over Giovanni Ruggiero, and 34 over Ben Rhodes.
Results:
Carson Hocevar, 76 laps led, Stage 2 winner
Kyle Busch
Kaden Honeycutt, three laps led
Brandon Jones, 16 laps led
Ben Rhodes, 41 laps led, Stage 1 winner
Layne Riggs, six laps led
Daniel Hemric
Christian Eckes
Ty Majeski
Chandler Smith
Parker Kligerman
Ross Chastain
Brenden Queen
Giovanni Ruggerio, 14 laps led
Tyler Ankrum
Dawson Sutton, five laps led
William Sawalich, one lap down
Toni Breidinger, one lap down
Stewart Friesen, one lap down
Spencer Boyd, two laps down
Mini Tyrrell, two laps down, one lap led
Josh Reaume, three laps down
Frankie Muniz, four laps down
Caleb Costner, four laps down
Corey LaJoie, seven laps down
Clayton Green, seven laps down
Justin Haley – OUT, Accident
Tanner Gray – OUT, Accident, two laps led
Jake Garcia – OUT, Accident
Andres Perez De Lara – OUT
Kris Wright, nine laps down
Grant Enfinger – OUT, Accident
Conner Jones – OUT, Accident
Cory Roper – OUT, Suspension
Cole Butcher – OUT, Accident
Next on the 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series schedule is the Bully Hill Vineyards 176 at The Glen (Watkins Glen International) in Watkins Glen, New York. The event is scheduled for next Friday, May 8, and will air at 4:30 p.m. ET on FS1, NASCAR Racing Network and SiriusXM.
Justin Allgaier rode to his first NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series pole position of the 2026 season for the Andy’s Frozen Custard 340 at Texas Motor Speedway on Friday, May 1.
The event’s starting lineup was determined through a single-car, single-lap qualifying format. In this format, all 38 competitors vying for 38 starting spots cycled around Texas Motor Speedway once to post the fastest lap amongst one another. The competitor who posted the fastest single lap was awarded the pole position.
During Friday’s qualifying session, Allgaier clocked in a single qualifying lap at 188.607 mph in 28.631 seconds. The lap was enough for Allgaier and his No. 7 Roto-Rooter/JR Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro team to claim the top-starting spot for an upcoming O’Reilly event for the first time this season.
With the pole, Allgaier achieved his 13th O’Reilly career pole for his 516th series start and his first at Texas. The 2024 O’Reilly champion currently leads the 2026 driver’s standings by 105 points over Sheldon Creed as he strives to both extend his early momentum and contend for his first victory at Texas during Saturday’s main event.
Allgaier will share the front row with Brandon Jones, the latter of whom posted the second-fastest single-qualifying lap run at 188.075 mph in 28.712 seconds. Like Allgaier, Jones is still striving for his first victory at Texas. The latter is also pursuing his first victory of 2026 and first since he won at Kansas Speedway in September 2025.
Kyle Larson, who is scheduled to make his fourth and final O’Reilly start this season in the No. 88 HendrickCars.com/JR Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro entry, qualified in third place at 187.852 mph in 28.746 seconds. Larson is the reigning O’Reilly winner at Texas, where he piloted the No. 88 entry when he achieved the feat.
Ironically, Connor Zilisch, whom Larson substituted for a year ago, will share the second row with Larson. Zilisch, who is driving the No. 1 Registix/TruckClub/JR Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro entry and is making his first O’Reilly start at Texas, posted the fourth-fastest qualifying lap at 187.357 mph in 28.822 seconds.
Rookie Brent Crews is one of four competitors competing for the fourth and final $100,000 bonus of this season. He will start in fifth place and will share the third row with rookie Corey Day. Day, a Dash 4 Cash contender, achieved his first O’Reilly career victory last weekend at Talladega Superspeedway. Sheldon Creed and Sammy Smith, the remaining two Dash 4 Cash contenders, will start 11th and 15th, respectively.
Austin Hill, Jeremy Clements, Ryan Sieg and Parker Retzlaff completed the top-10 starting grid.
With 38 competitors vying for 38 starting spots, all made the main event.
Texas – Qualifying Position, Best Speed, Best Time:
Justin Allgaier, 188.607 mph, 28.631 seconds
Brandon Jones, 188.075 mph, 28.712 seconds
Kyle Larson, 187.852 mph, 28.746 seconds
Connor Zilisch, 187.357 mph, 28.822 seconds
Brent Crews, 187.318 mph, 28.828 seconds
Corey Day, 186.323 mph, 28.982 seconds
Austin Hill, 186.316 mph, 28.983 seconds
Jeremy Clements, 186.265 mph, 28.991 seconds
Ryan Sieg, 186.091 mph, 29.018 seconds
Parker Retzlaff, 185.976 mph, 29.036 seconds
Sheldon Creed, 185.842 mph, 29.057 seconds
Taylor Gray, 185.816 mph, 29.061 seconds
Rajah Caruth, 185.803 mph, 29.063 seconds
Carson Kvapil, 185.122 mph, 29.170 seconds
Sammy Smith, 184.957 mph, 29.196 seconds
William Sawalich, 184.919 mph, 29.202 seconds
Sam Mayer, 184.414 mph, 29.282 seconds
Anthony Alfredo, 184.237 mph, 29.310 seconds
Austin Green, 184.043 mph, 29.341 seconds
Austin Dillon, 183.974 mph, 29.352 seconds
Jesse Love, 183.899 mph, 29.364 seconds
Dean Thompson, 183.511 mph, 29.426 seconds
Kyle Sieg, 183.449 mph, 29.436 seconds
Harrison Burton, 183.380 mph, 29.447 seconds
Jeb Burton, 182.970 mph, 29.513 seconds
Josh Williams, 182.877 mph, 29.528 seconds
Brennan Poole, 182.822 mph, 29.537 seconds
Patrick Staropoli, 182.797 mph, 29.541 seconds
Blaine Perkins, 182.716 mph, 29.554 seconds
Mason Maggio, 182.328 mph, 29.617 seconds
Dawson Cram, 180.108 mph, 29.982 seconds
Garrett Smithley, 179.527 mph, 30.079 seconds
Josh Bilicki, 179.372 mph, 30.105 seconds
Brad Perez, 178.678 mph, 30.222 seconds
David Starr, 178.094 mph, 30.321 seconds
Joey Gase, 177.451 mph, 30.431 seconds
Lavar Scott, 0.000 mph, 0.000 seconds
Ryan Ellis, 0.000 mph, 0.000 seconds
The 2026 Andy’s Frozen Custard 340 at Texas Motor Speedway is scheduled to occur on Saturday, May 2, at 3:30 p.m. ET on the CW Network, PRN Radio and SiriusXM.
Ben Rhodes scored the pole position for the 2026 SpeedyCash.com 250 at Texas Motor Speedway on Friday, May 1.
The event’s starting lineup was determined through a single-truck, single-lap qualifying format. In this format, all 35 competitors vying for 35 starting spots cycled around Texas Motor Speedway once to post the fastest lap amongst one another. The competitor who posted the fastest single lap was awarded the pole position.
During Friday’s qualifying session, Rhodes, who was the second-fastest competitor during Friday’s practice session, clocked in a single pole-winning lap at 185.096 mph in 29.174 seconds. The lap was enough for Rhodes and his No. 99 TYM/ThorSport Racing Ford F-150 team to claim the top-starting spot over teammate Jake Garcia and the No. 98 Quanta/Curb Records/ThorSport Racing Ford F-150 team, the latter of whom were the fastest during practice.
With the pole, Rhodes, who is in his 11th consecutive season as a full-time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series competitor, achieved his seventh career pole position and his first of the 2026 season. He also recorded his first pole at Texas Motor Speedway and his first since the 2025 season-opening event at Daytona International Speedway.
Rhodes is currently ranked in sixth place in the 2026 driver’s standings and has recorded a pair of top-five results through the first six scheduled events. He will strive to both win for the first time at Texas and erase a 66-race deficit, with his latest victory occurring at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May 2023.
Rhodes will share the front row with teammate Jake Garcia, the latter of whom qualified with a single-qualifying lap at 184.925 mph in 29.201 seconds. Giovanni Ruggiero and Cole Butcher, the latter of whom drives for ThorSport Racing, will start third and fourth, respectively. Tanner Gray qualified in fifth place. Kyle Busch, Stewart Friesen, Chandler Smith, Grant Enfinger and Kaden Honeycutt completed the top-10 starting lineup.
Carson Hocevar, who is coming off his first Cup Series career victory at Talladega Superspeedway and is driving the No. 77 Chili’s Ride the ‘Dente Chevrolet Silverado RST entry for Spire Motorsports, will start in 11th place. In addition, Parker Kligerman, who is driving the No. 25 ‘Free Agent’ RAM 1500 entry for Kaulig Racing, will start in 19th place.
Notably, Layne Riggs will start in 34th place after he lost power during his qualifying attempt. In addition, Cory Roper will start at the tail end of the field in 35th place after he damaged the right side of his No. 62 Halmar Friesen Racing Toyota entry against the Turn 4 wall during practice.
With 35 competitors vying for 35 starting spots, all made the main event.
Texas – Qualifying Position, Best Speed, Best Time:
Ben Rhodes, 185.096 mph, 29.174 seconds
Jake Garcia, 184.925 mph, 29.201 seconds
Giovanni Ruggiero, 184.811 mph, 29.219 seconds
Cole Butcher, 184.767 mph, 29.226 seconds
Tanner Gray, 184.313 mph, 29.298 seconds
Kyle Busch, 184.288 mph, 29.302 seconds
Stewart Friesen, 184.275 mph, 29.304 seconds
Chandler Smith, 184.137 mph, 29.326 seconds
Grant Enfinger, 184.131 mph, 29.327 seconds
Kaden Honeycutt, 184.074 mph, 29.336 seconds
Carson Hocevar, 183.773 mph, 29.384 seconds
Christian Eckes, 183.698 mph, 29.396 seconds
Tyler Ankrum, 183.648 mph, 29.404 seconds
Daniel Hemric, 183.636 mph, 29.406 seconds
Andres Perez De Lara, 183.567 mph, 29.417 seconds
Conner Jones, 183.355 mph, 29.451 seconds
Brenden Queen, 183.324 mph, 29.456 seconds
Brandon Jones, 183.306 mph, 29.459 seconds
Parker Kligerman, 183.225 mph, 29.472 seconds
Ty Majeski, 183.094 mph, 29.493 seconds
William Sawalich, 183.026 mph, 29.504 seconds
Dawson Sutton, 182.865 mph, 29.530 seconds
Ross Chastain, 182.852 mph, 29.532 seconds
Justin Haley, 182.537 mph, 29.583 seconds
Corey LaJoie, 181.959 mph, 29.677 seconds
Kris Wright, 181.622 mph, 29.732 seconds
Toni Breidinger, 181.117 mph, 29.815 seconds
Mini Tyrrell, 180.234 mph, 29.961 seconds
Clayton Green, 178.548 mph, 30.244 seconds
Spencer Boyd, 178.459 mph, 30.259 seconds
Josh Reaume, 175.970 mph, 30.687 seconds
Frankie Muniz, Owner Points
Caleb Costner, Owner Points
Layne Riggs, Owner Points
Cory Roper, Owner Points
The 2026 SpeedyCash.com 250 at Texas Motor Speedway is scheduled to occur on Friday, May 1, at 8 p.m. ET on FS1, NASCAR Racing Network and SiriusXM.
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.
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).
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 Instagram, Facebook, 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 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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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
2026
All-Time
Texas
Races
10
1,427
45
Wins
1
321*
12*
Poles
0
259*
8*
Top 5
10
1,332*
46*
Top 10
18
2,278*
81*
Laps Led
642
86,009*
3,263*
Stage Wins
4
141
5
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.”
