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How to Choose the Right Van for Your Business or Family

By
SM
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Photo by depositphotos at https://depositphotos.com/

A van can be one of the most useful vehicles you ever own. For a small business, it can be the difference between waiting on hired transport and delivering on your own schedule. For a large family, a church group or a school, it can replace two cars and make every journey simpler. Yet vans come in so many shapes, sizes and configurations that choosing the wrong one is surprisingly easy, and an unsuitable van quickly becomes an expensive inconvenience.

This guide explains the main types of van, how to think about size and payload, the petrol versus diesel question, and how to match a vehicle to the work you actually do. It also covers what to inspect on a used van, the paperwork you should verify, and how to keep one or several vans running reliably.

Why Vans Are Worth Getting Right

Unlike a family car, a working van is usually a tool that earns money. Every day it spends off the road means missed deliveries, canceled bookings or disappointed customers. Choosing a van that is too small leads to extra trips and overloading; choosing one that is too large wastes fuel, is harder to park and can cost more to insure and maintain. Taking time at the start to define your needs pays off for years.

It also helps to have a clear view of the market before you buy. Asking prices vary widely with age, mileage, condition, and specification, so compare current offers across several sellers; browsing a broad selection of listings for a van of the type you need will give you a realistic benchmark and make it easier to spot vehicles that are overpriced or look too good to be true.

The Main Types of Van

Panel or Cargo Van

A panel van has seats only in the front and an enclosed load area behind, usually without rear side windows. It is the standard choice for deliveries, trades and distribution. The windowless sides offer security for goods and a clean surface for branding.

Passenger Van or Minibus

Passenger vans have rows of seats in the back and windows along the sides. They suit shuttle services, tours, staff transport, school runs and large families. Seating layouts vary, so count seats and check legroom, ventilation and access to the rear rows.

Crew Van

A crew van combines a second row of seats with a reduced cargo area behind, often separated by a bulkhead. It is ideal for construction teams, maintenance crews and event companies that need to move both people and equipment.

High-Roof Van

High-roof versions give extra internal height, making it easier to stand up inside, load tall items and fit shelving. They suit mobile workshops, couriers carrying bulky parcels and conversions. Check that a taller van will fit into your garage, parking area or loading bay.

Refrigerated and Specialized Conversions

Refrigerated vans carry insulated bodies and cooling units for food, dairy, flowers or pharmaceuticals. Other conversions include mobile shops, ambulances, tour vehicles with pop-up roofs and campervans. When buying a conversion, inspect the conversion itself as carefully as the base vehicle, because poor workmanship can be costly to put right.

Common Van Models

Many different vans are available, but a few names appear again and again. The Toyota Hiace is widely used for both passenger and cargo work thanks to its durability and parts availability. The Nissan NV350, also known as the Caravan, is another common choice with a similar range of body styles. Other manufacturers also offer vans in various sizes, so it is worth comparing several before deciding. Whichever model you consider, check that parts and experienced mechanics are readily available in your area.

Size and Payload

Before looking at specific vans, write down what you need to carry on a typical day and on your busiest day.

  • Payload: The maximum weight the van can safely carry, including passengers and goods. Find the figure for the exact vehicle in its documentation and never exceed it.
  • Load volume: Light but bulky goods, such as furniture or packaged snacks, fill space before they reach the weight limit. Measure your typical items.
  • Length and wheelbase: Longer vans carry more but need more room to turn and park.
  • Access: Consider sliding side doors, rear door opening angle, load floor height and whether you need a ramp or tail lift.

Diesel or Petrol?

Diesel vans are generally favored for heavy loads and high mileage because of their pulling power and efficiency when working hard. They do, however, depend on clean fuel and careful maintenance of filters and injection systems. Petrol vans are often quieter and smoother and can suit lighter loads, shorter urban trips and lower annual mileage. Consider your routes, typical load, fuel availability and the skills of local mechanics before deciding.

Matching the Van to the Job

  • Delivery and courier work: A panel van with easy side access and a durable load floor. Fuel economy matters because of the many stops.
  • Catering: A panel or refrigerated van with washable surfaces and secure racking. Food businesses should check any hygiene requirements that apply to transport.
  • Construction and trades: A crew van or high-roof panel van with a roof rack, internal shelving and a strong bulkhead for safety.
  • Tours and safaris: A passenger van or converted minibus with comfortable seats, good visibility, luggage space and suitable ground clearance.
  • School runs and community transport: A passenger van with working seat belts for every seat, safe doors and reliable brakes and tires.
  • Families: A passenger van with enough seats for everyone plus luggage, and comfortable rear seating for longer trips.

Licensing and Insurance

Using a van for commercial purposes, such as carrying paying passengers or goods for hire, generally requires the appropriate licensing and insurance cover. Private insurance may not cover business use. Before putting a van to work, confirm the current requirements with the relevant authorities and speak to your insurer about the correct policy for how the vehicle will be used.

Inspecting a Used Van

Most used vans have worked hard, so inspect them more thoroughly than a typical private car. View the van in daylight, and bring a mechanic if you can.

Inspection Checklist

  1. Cold start: Listen for knocking, rough running and heavy smoke.
  2. Interior wear: Heavily worn seats, pedals and steering wheel on a low-mileage van suggest the odometer reading may not be accurate.
  3. Load area: Check for dents, holes, damaged floors and signs of overloading, such as distorted wheel arches.
  4. Suspension: Look for sagging, leaking shock absorbers, broken springs and worn bushes.
  5. Clutch and gearbox: Check for slipping, crunching gears or delayed automatic shifts.
  6. Rust: Inspect sills, door bottoms, wheel arches, the floor and the chassis.
  7. Doors: Sliding and rear doors should open, close and lock smoothly.
  8. Brakes and tyres: Check tyre tread and wear patterns and test the brakes firmly.
  9. Conversions: Test refrigeration units, electrics, roof hatches and any added equipment.

Paperwork Checks

  • Verify the logbook and ownership through the official vehicle registration system.
  • Match chassis and engine numbers to the documents.
  • Ask for service records and repair receipts.
  • For imported vans, remember that imported vehicles must meet age and other import rules; confirm current requirements.
  • If the van was used commercially, ask about previous licensing and any outstanding fines.

Maintenance and Fleet Management

  • Follow a service schedule: Shorten intervals for dusty roads, heavy loads and stop-start driving.
  • Carry out daily checks: Drivers should check tyres, lights, fluid levels and warning lights before setting off.
  • Keep a log for every van: Record services, repairs, fuel and mileage to spot problems early and compare vehicle costs.
  • Standardise where possible: A fleet of the same model simplifies spare parts, training and servicing.
  • Train drivers: Smooth driving and correct loading reduce fuel use and wear.
  • Plan replacements: Replacing vans before repair costs spiral can be cheaper overall.

Branding Your Van

A van is also a moving advertisement. Clear, simple branding with your business name, services and contact details can generate inquiries wherever you drive. Vinyl wraps and decals can usually be removed later, which helps protect resale value. Keep the design readable at a distance, and keep the van clean, because a scruffy vehicle reflects poorly on your business. If several drivers use the same vans, agree on simple standards for cleanliness and parking so that every vehicle represents the business consistently.

The Bottom Line

The right van is the one that fits your real, day-to-day needs rather than the biggest or cheapest option available. Define what you carry and how far you travel, choose the body type and fuel to match, confirm licensing and insurance for commercial use, and inspect any used vehicle carefully while verifying its paperwork through official channels. With good maintenance, a well-chosen van will serve your business or family reliably for years.

From in-car distractions to hidden fees: betting app risks on international road trips

By
SM
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Photo by depositphotos at https://depositphotos.com/

A road trip across borders already asks a lot from one driver: toll stickers, unfamiliar signs, tired passengers, and fuel stops that cost more than planned. Add live odds on a phone, and the car becomes a noisy little trading desk. Bad mix. Betting apps promise quick slips during a coffee break, yet they also bring roaming charges, currency spreads, and alerts that buzz at the worst second. At a border service area, even five quiet minutes can disappear fast when passengers need toilets, receipts, sandwiches, and the next charging bay. A traveler comparing global sports market coverage across internationale Wettanbieter can miss bookmaker margins in local markets, especially when a home favorite is priced differently in Austria, Spain, or Croatia. The risk is not moral panic. It is practical: missed exits, angry rental firms, blocked accounts, and card fees that appear three days later.

Payments, accounts, and small-print traps

Border days magnify tiny costs. A €20 bet placed in Switzerland from a UK card can carry a foreign transaction fee, a poor exchange rate, and a cash-advance label, depending on the issuer. Ouch.

Some travelers look for secure deposits through kreditkarten casino sites advertising exclusive promotions, but card networks still decide how a gambling charge is coded. A bonus headline does not cancel a bank rule.

Verification adds another snag. If an app asks for a selfie while the user is parked beside a Slovenian motorway, weak signal can freeze the check and lock the balance. A casino page like dbbet az operates with real money stakes, so a half-finished login is more than a nuisance. It can trap winnings until support reviews documents. Names, addresses, and card details must match, including accents and middle names. One typo follows the driver across the border.

The phone turns into a passenger

A betting alert is designed to interrupt. It flashes before a corner, during a lane change, or right as the satnav says to keep left for Milan. The driver may think a glance takes one second. At 110 km/h, one second is about 30 meters.

That is a bus length plus a zebra crossing.

The safer rule is boring and strict. Bets wait until the car is parked, engine off, handbrake on. Passengers should not read odds aloud if the driver is trying to follow foreign signs. Even a joke about a last-minute goal pulls attention away from mirrors and speed limits. In France, Spain, and Germany, police can fine handheld phone use on the spot, and rental companies add admin charges later. A cheap bet then gets a €35 handling fee before the fine even arrives. Put app alerts on silent before leaving the hotel car park. Better yet, delete live-score notifications for the day.

Border rules change faster than plans

Licensing is not the same across Europe, and the app store does not explain it at a petrol pump. A legal account in one country can become restricted after crossing a bridge or tunnel. Geolocation checks notice. Fast.

Some operators block bets but allow withdrawals. Others freeze both until the user returns to the licensed area. A tourist who opens an account with a hotel address may fail proof-of-residence checks later, even after winning. The boring documents matter: passport, utility bill, payment card, and tax number where requested.

There is also tax confusion. A small tennis win in Portugal is simple for one resident and awkward for a visitor with income rules back home. No driver wants to research gambling tax in a ferry queue. Before the trip, the account holder should read the operator’s country list and save screenshots of withdrawal terms. If the rules feel fuzzy, skip the bet until the next legal stop.

Keep the car boring on purpose

A simple trip rule beats any clever limit screen: no betting while the vehicle is moving. The rule should include traffic jams, border booths, ferries during boarding, and refueling pauses. Park first. Then decide.

Before departure, the traveler can set a daily stake cap, remove stored cards, download offline maps, and turn on bank alerts for foreign charges. Cash for tolls helps too, because a declined card at a booth creates stress that makes impulse betting easier. Keep one payment card for fuel and hotels, another for entertainment, with a hard spending limit.

Receipts deserve a photo. So do app balance screens before and after a country change. If a charge looks wrong, the driver needs dates, merchant names, currencies, and screenshots, not a vague memory after 900 kilometers. The best road trips leave space for bad weather, closed passes, and slow lunches. They do not need a live parlay shouting from the cup holder, so the next stop can be just coffee.

Denny Hamlin, Christopher Bell targeting wins to maintain championship hopes in 2026

By
Andrew Kim
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Photo by Ron Olds for SpeedwayMedia.com.

Denny Hamlin and Christopher Bell are targeting nothing less than race victories to maintain their championship hopes of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season.

Both Joe Gibbs Racing competitors emphasized the winning term as their ultimate approach for the remaining six Chase events after Kyle Larson knocked out the competition by scoring a dominant victory in the Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway on Sunday, September 27, that enabled the latter to extend his lead in the Chase standings over his remaining 15 rivals, including Hamlin and Bell.

Hamlin entered Kansas, the fourth Chase event of the 2026 Cup Series season, trailing Larson by a single point. After taking the green flag in sixth place, the Chesterfield, Virginia, native executed a competitive run at the front for the event’s entirety by securing top-three results and a combined 17 points between the event’s first two stage periods. When the checkered flag flew, Hamlin also outdueled teammate Chase Briscoe to finish in third place for his 15th top-five result of the 2026 season, his 10th in the top-three mark and his 17th top-five result overall at Kansas Speedway in the Cup division. It also marks Hamlin’s third consecutive result in the top-10 mark after rallying from an 18th-place result from the Chase’s opener at Darlington Raceway in early September.

Ultimately, Larson’s victory combined with the latter winning the first two stage periods increased Hamlin’s deficit to 26 points as Hamlin does not conclude a Cup event with the points lead for the first time since Michigan International Speedway in June.

When asked about a missing element to his strong performance and result, Hamlin had a simple response:

“Winning. That’s the only difference,” Hamlin said on USA Network. “Just didn’t quite have it today. Just was hanging around. Obviously, at the end, we ran a lot down, but just not enough time and track position. Overall, just that’s kind of what we had. Third-place car, driver, and everything today. You know, we just got to continue to put together days like this, and we also got to win. We got to win a few races between now and the end of the year.”

Like Hamlin, Bell capped off a strong run with a strong result that left the driver of the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota entry disappointed and looking to regain the group lost to Larson.

The Norman, Oklahoma, native started in third place and notched a pair of fifth-place results along with 12 combined stage points following the event’s first two stage periods. After racing within the top-five mark in the closing laps, Bell would be outdueled by Ryan Blaney on the final lap to end up in sixth place, but it was enough for the former to achieve his 15th top-10 result of the 2026 season, his third top-10 result through the first four Chase events of this season and his 10th at Kansas Speedway.

Despite jumping from fourth to third in the Chase standings, Bell’s points deficit to Larson increased from 17 to 50 and has left this year’s Southern 500 champion and Chase opener winner seeking to regain his competitive mojo and outduel Larson for victories to remain in the title fight.

Photo by John Knittel for SpeedwayMedia.com.

“After Darlington, I was thinking that two more wins would do it,” Bell said on USA Network. “Now with Larson winning, if I’m going to be the champion, I think we’re going to have to win three of the next, whatever it is, six. Larson’s doing a good job and getting some points, and we’re hanging out right now. I just saw that we need to be a lot better.” 

With Kansas Speedway in the rearview mirror, Hamlin and Bell shift their focus to the fifth Chase event of this season, that being Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas, Nevada, for the South Point 400. Hamlin enters Vegas with an advantage as he has won at Vegas three times, including the Cup Series’ last two scheduled visits, while Bell has garnered five top-five results at Vegas, including a pair of runner-up results and top-five finishes in his latest two Cup starts at the venue. With Larson being a three-time winner at Vegas, both Hamlin and Bell will aim to have the upper hand to maximize their on-track competitiveness for race victories and ace both Larson and the competition to regain the points needed to remain in championship contention.

The 2026 South Point 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway is scheduled to occur next Sunday, October 4, at 5:30 p.m. ET on USA Network, PRN Radio, SiriusXM and HBO MAX.

Chase Briscoe ‘frustrated’ on falling short of Kansas victory

By
Andrew Kim
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Photo by Ron Olds for SpeedwayMedia.com.

Chase Briscoe had a late opportunity to spoil Kyle Larson’s dominant run spoiled for himself in the closing laps that ultimately cost him a victory in the 2026 Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway on Sunday, September 27.

The two-time Southern 500 champion from Mitchell, Indiana, started in 23rd place per a qualifying metric formula after inclement weather canceled on-track qualifying initially planned for Saturday, September 26. During the early laps of the event on Sunday, Briscoe managed to navigate his No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota Camry XSE entry up into 15th place prior to a competition caution that flew on Lap 35. After pitting with the field and restarting in 14th place on Lap 40, Briscoe only managed to gain two spots on the track before the first stage period concluded on Lap 80.

Restarting in 10th place to commence the second stage period on Lap 86, Briscoe dodged two early cautions (Lap 113 and Lap 123 restart) by remaining above the top-10 mark on the track. As Briscoe continued to steadily march his way closer to the front, he accumulated seven critical stage points by finishing in fourth place at the second stage’s conclusion on Lap 165.

For the third and final stage period that started with 96 laps remaining, Briscoe restarted alongside Larson on the front row. He then spent a lap outdueling Austin Cindric for the runner-up spot before he reeled in on Larson for the lead a lap after. Despite Briscoe’s charge, he was unable to execute his runs to draw alongside Larson and challenge the latter for the lead. Even as Briscoe strategically pitted from the runner-up spot under green with 52 laps remaining, Larson managed to blend in front of Briscoe and enter pit road first, with Larson just exiting pit road ahead of Briscoe.

Then with 31 laps remaining, an opportunity struck for Briscoe as the latter had methodically reeled in Larson for the lead and used Larson’s aero-blocking moves to gain grounds. With Larson aero-blocking Briscoe through the turns and straightaways, Briscoe had enough momentum to get beneath Larson, drag-race with the latter through the frontstretch, assume the lead a lap later through the first two turns and fend off Larson’s challenge of regaining the lead. 

Despite leading by as high as eight-tenths of a second over a 20-lap run, Briscoe began to have his late advantage shrink due to managing late handling issues labeled, ‘free’ while leading as Larson started to regain his deficit. With 11 laps remaining, both front-runners barely scrubbed the backstretch’s outside wall. Despite keeping their respective entries straight, Briscoe managed to retain the lead over the next four laps before he was overtaken by Larson with seven laps remaining. Briscoe would then barely scrub the backstretch’s outside wall a lap later, which allowed Larson to slightly establish a steady gap. Amid Briscoe’s efforts to reel Larson as the laps dwindled, he made additional scrubs into the outside wall, which allowed Austin Cindric to overtake the latter for the runner-up spot. Ultimately, Briscoe was edged by teammate Denny Hamlin at the finish line for third place, with the latter settling in fourth place in the final running order.

With the result, Briscoe collected his 11th top-five result of the 2026 Cup Series season, his fourth top-five result in a row at Kansas Speedway after he finished third at the venue in mid-April and his highest-finishing result in the 2026 Chase for the Cup Series title. The Hoosier’s fourth-place run gained him and his No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota team a spot in the Chase standings from ninth to eighth, though they trail points leader Kyle Larson by 123 points with six Chase events remaining until this season’s conclusion.

Despite being left disappointed over falling short of winning and garnering additional bonus points, Briscoe shifts his focus to the remaining six Chase events of this season to contend for additional victories like his regular-season victory at Chicagoland Speedway in early July and cap off the Chase on a competitive note.

“[I] Just went really, really free, ultimately,” Briscoe said. “It was actually better for me to be in second. Just being behind [Larson], especially with how much he was aero-blocking. It would just tighten me up and allow me to actually be a little bit better. As soon as I’d get the lead, I would just go really, really free again. Frustrating, for sure. I just felt like I had a win there to stay in contention for a championship…It’s probably not going to happen but yeah, we’ll keep trying for Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Toyota. Just nice to finally have a good Chase. It’s been a rough go to start. I got six more weeks or whatever to try to go win as many races as we can and that’s what we’re doing.”

Chase Briscoe’s 2026 Chase for the Cup Series championship continues next Sunday, October 4, at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas, Nevada, for the South Point 400. Having previously racked up three top-10 results in 11 Cup starts at Vegas, Briscoe, who won both O’Reilly Auto Parts Series event at the venue in 2020, will strive to add a Cup Vegas victory to his resume that could enable him to remain within striking distance of his first Cup Series championship this season.

The 2026 South Point 400’s broadcast time is slated to commence at 5:30 p.m. ET on USA Network, PRN Radio, SiriusXM and HBO MAX.  

Kyle Larson Secures NASCAR Cup Series Victory at Kansas Speedway

By
Briar Starr
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Photo Courtsey of (Ron Olds/Speedway Media)

Kansas City, KS – The fourth race of the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Chase for the Championship took place today at Kansas Speedway. Joey Logano started on the pole after practice, and qualifying was canceled on Saturday morning due to weather. He was looking for his first victory since World Wide Technology Raceway a few weeks ago. However, other Chase drivers were looking to take the spotlight as well.

At the end of the 267-lap race, Kyle Larson would dominate the Hollywood Casino 400 by leading the most laps, sweeping the stages, and even rallying back to take the lead away from Chase Briscoe in the final 10 laps.

“I really thought when Chase (Briscoe) got by, he was just going to stretch out,” Larson said to USA Sports on the frontstretch. “I got some lines going where I could just kind of settle in and try to take care of my tires. I think it’s just easier to be the hunter rather than the hunted. I think a lot of the same. With me out front, I’m just defending and trying to guess on what lines are fast. When he got in front of me, I could see he was starting to get really loose. That was fun. That was such a good day. Max points.

“I was going to be happy with second with how the race went, but to get the lead, that’s a big race for the points. Proud of my team. Happy 50th anniversary to Hendrick Automotive group. All of us (Hendrick Motorsports’ drivers) are just blessed to get to work with such amazing people. Here’s to 50 more amazing years for Hendrick Automotive Group.”

Stages 80-85-102 would make up the 267-lap race.

Stage 1 – Lap 1 – Lap 80

Kyle Larson broke out ahead of pole sitter Logano and Bell to lead the first lap. Ty Gibbs started in the sixth position, but dropped to 11th in the opening laps. At Lap 13, Kansas Spring race winner Tyler Reddick fell all the way back to 33rd place. At Lap 20, Denny Hamlin was up to second, 5.8 seconds back from the race leader, Larson, while Austin Cindric was up to third, just 7.3 seconds from Larson.

There was a competition yellow at Lap 35 because there was no practice or qualifying yesterday due to the weather. Larson was the leader at the time of the yellow and had led every lap to that point unchallenged. At one point, he easily had over a seven-second lead.

The restart came at Lap 40 with Larson and Hamlin as the leaders. At Lap 43, Carson Hocevar was up to the third position. The first stage completed at Lap 80 with no incidents, and Larson wound up the stage winner over Hamlin by 0.374 seconds. The Top 10 for this stage were Larson, Hamlin, Cindric, Hocevar, Christopher Bell, Logano, William Byron, Chase Elliott, Ty Gibbs, and Ryan Blaney. The stage victory was Larson’s seventh of the season.

Larson won the race off pit road to retain the top spot. Alex Bowman had to drop to the rear prior to the Stage 2 restart due to an uncontrolled tire.

Stage 2 – Lap 86 – Lap 165

The Top 10 for the restart were Larson, Hamlin, Bell, Byron, Cindric, Elliott, Logano, Hocevar, Gibbs, and Chase Briscoe. Hamlin briefly challenged Larson for the race lead, but Larson managed the lead position. At Lap 100 (65 laps to go in the stage), Larson had a 2.5-second lead over Hamlin. Five laps later at Lap 105, Cindric moved into the second position and was 4.4 seconds back from Larson.

The third caution and first for incident came out at Lap 113 for the No. 4 of Noah Gragson, as the engine expired going into Turns 1 and 2. The leaders came down pit road for a round of pit stops, but Larson still won the race off pit road regardless.

The restart came at Lap 121 (44 laps to go in the stage) with Larson and Hamlin in the front row, but an immediate caution came out for a multi-car collision going into Turn 1. Hocevar, Bubba Wallace, Josh Berry, Zane Smith, Gibbs, and Erik Jones were involved. According to replay, Brad Keselowski got into the rear bumper of Hocevar, which caused Hocevar to move up into a different lane and thus causing a collision. Hocevar reported on his radio that he could have a toe link and a right-front flat tire.

The following restart would be seen at Lap 127 (38 laps to go in the stage) with Larson and Hamlin still the leaders.

Larson ended up sweeping the stages by winning the second stage. The Hendrick Motorsports driver won the stage over Cindric by 1.392 seconds. For the Top 10, it was Larson, Cindric, Hamlin, Briscoe, Bell, Byron, Blaney, Logano, Gibbs, and Keselowski.

Stage 3 – Lap 171 – Lap 267

The third and final stage went back to green with 96 laps to go, with Larson maintaining the top position over Briscoe. Throughout the final stage, Larson had the lead and was not challenged before the final 60 laps. Briscoe began rallying and started inching closer and closer in an attempt to challenge Larson for the lead. At one point, Briscoe was side-by-side with him and tried two times to take the top spot. With 51 laps to go, Larson and Briscoe both pitted. Larson came out in front of him as they exited pit road. This would begin the final round of pit stops with other Chase drivers following suit.

Unfortunately, there was a long pit stop on Reddick’s machine during this cycle, which caused him to lose valuable seconds in the race.

Briscoe began closing back in on the race leader, Larson, with 33 laps to go. Briscoe finally took the lead from Larson with 30 laps to go off Turn 2. With 20 laps to go, Larson started to close back in on the race leader, Briscoe, but Briscoe would keep Larson at bay.

However, Larson challenged Briscoe for the lead with 10 laps to go, as both made brief contact with the Turn 2 wall. With seven laps to go, Larson took the lead from Briscoe off Turn 4. Briscoe then made slight contact with the wall again on the backstretch after being passed.

Larson would hang on to win despite multiple challenges from Briscoe to win his second race of the season and his first since World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway. It was also Larson’s fourth win at Kansas since April 2025. Furthermore, he led six times for 235 laps en route to victory. This win was also his second Chase for the Championship win as well. 

There were five cautions for 26 laps and seven leaders among 13 lead changes. The margin of victory was 0.565 seconds.

Official Race Results Following the Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway

  1. Kyle Larson, won both stages, led 235 laps
  2. Austin Cindric, led one lap
  3. Denny Hamlin, led two laps
  4. Chase Briscoe, led 23 laps
  5. Ryan Blaney, led four laps
  6. Christopher Bell
  7. William Byron
  8. Chase Elliott
  9. Bubba Wallace
  10. Ryan Preece
  11. Tyler Reddick
  12. Brad Keselowski
  13. John Hunter Nemechek
  14. Daniel Suarez
  15. Ross Chastain, led one lap
  16. Erik Jones
  17. Ty Gibbs
  18. Alex Bowman
  19. Todd Gilliland
  20. Joey Logano
  21. Austin Dillon, 1 Lap Down
  22. AJ Allmendinger, 1 Lap Down
  23. Chris Buescher, 1 Lap Down
  24. Shane Van Gisbergen, 1 Lap Down
  25. Riley Herbst, 1 Lap Down
  26. Austin Hill, 1 Lap Down
  27. Michael McDowell, 1 Lap Down
  28. Ty Dillon, 1 Lap Down
  29. Connor Zilisch, led one lap, 1 Lap Down
  30. Cole Custer, 1 Lap Down
  31. Zane Smith, 1 Lap Down
  32. Ricky Stenhouse Jr., 1 Lap Down
  33. Carson Hocevar, 3 Laps Down
  34. Cody Ware, 5 Laps Down
  35. Josh Berry, 10 Laps Down
  36. Noah Gragson, OUT, Engine

Updated Chase for the Championship Standings

  1. Kyle Larson, 2,282 points
  2. Denny Hamlin, -26
  3. Christopher Bell, -50
  4. Joey Logano, -67
  5. Ryan Blaney, -91
  6. Ty Gibbs, -94
  7. Tyler Reddick, -111
  8. Chase Briscoe, -123
  9. Austin Cindric, -140
  10. Bubba Wallace, -140
  11. Carson Hocevar, -150
  12. William Byron, -158
  13. Chase Elliott, -161
  14. Ryan Preece, -173
  15. Chris Buescher, -186
  16. Daniel Suarez, -187

Up Next – The next NASCAR Cup Series race is next Sunday at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the South Point 400, live at 5:30 p.m./ET on USA Network and the NASCAR Racing Network.

Ford Racing Notes and Quotes – Cindric Charges to Second Place Finish in Kansas

By
Official Release
-

Ford Racing Notes and Quotes
NASCAR Cup Series
Kansas Race 2 — Kansas Speedway
Sunday, September 27, 2026

CINDRIC CHARGES TO SECOND PLACE FINISH IN KANSAS

NASCAR CUP SERIES RACE RECAP

  • Austin Cindric led all Ford drivers at Kansas Speedway finishing second in the No. 2 Discount Tires Ford Mustang Dark Horse.
  • Ryan Blaney’s No. 12 Mustang came to life late in the going to score a fifth place at the checkered flag. Ryan Preece also broke the top ten finishing tenth in the No. 60 RFK Ford.
  • Despite a frustrating finish to his day, Joey Logano holds fourth in the Chase standings, 67 points behind the leader, Kyle Larson. Blaney is fifth (-91). With his runnerup Kansas finish, Cindric is ninth (-140).

Ford Unofficial Finishing Results:

2nd – Austin Cindric

5th – Ryan Blaney

10th – Ryan Preece

12th – Brad Keselowski

19th – Todd Gilliland

20th – Joey Logano

23rd – Chris Buescher

31st – Zane Smith

35th – Josh Berry

36th – Noah Gragson

AUSTIN CINDRIC, No. 2 Discount Tire Ford Mustang Dark Horse – “I definitely wish I would have had a shot there. You know, I thought we were really strong all day. We made some decent adjustments and got ourselves good for those long runs for the final run. We just lost a bit too much time in the pit cycle. I think there’s definitely some things I could have done better. I stayed long in the stall and threw off the stop a bit. When you lose by only half a second, it comes down to all the little stuff. Those guys had a hell of a battle for the lead to give me a shot. Super proud of the effort from everyone at Team Penske, Discount Tire and Ford.I feel like I had a car that could have won today but didn’t. I can be happy and pissed about that at the same time. Hopefully we can transfer that over to next week and the week following because I don’t see the reason why we can’t. I think these are the tracks you have to be critically good on. We saw pieces of this from Chicago and I felt like we took some bits and pieces and applied them to Kansas, and obviously, you can see what it did. I’m super proud of everybody on the team, keeping us in it all day and unloading super close.”

RYAN BLANEY, No. 12 Menards/Cardell Ford Mustang Dark Horse – “We were moving at the end. And, gosh, seven or eight more laps and I might have actually had a shot to win the thing. We were mowing them down rapidly the last 10, 12 laps. Just a good job by them sticking with it. Starting where we did, you know, and just working on it. Getting a little bit better through the day, I thought. Our last run or two of the day was our best run of the day. So really proud of that effort. This is a place where we’ve worked really hard to try to figure out how we can be better here. I thought we had a great day. The 2 [Austin Cindric] had a really good day. It was fast all day. Solid effort. We definitely got better at the start of stage three. I thought that’s where we really got it better. I think a lot of it was just getting some track position, right? You’re buried in traffic and you’re trying to figure out what does your car need to do well there. And then as you get cleaner air, it’s like, all right, now you’re adjusting again and trying to play catch up there. It just kind of took some time to do that. But, they stuck with it and made good changes.”

CHRIS BUESCHER, No. 17 Castrol Ford Mustang Dark Horse – “It’s a tough race. We were just on the tight side at the start. We were able to fight around the top 10 there. We were trying to work forward, to make some adjustments, and then we got caught up in the wreck on the restart and got some damage. It seemed to really put us behind from there. We struggled to get it back. From there, we just weren’t really able to find anything to get us heading in the right direction. Unfortunate. I thought it was gonna be a really good night.”

RYAN PREECE, No. 60 Dillons/Celsius Ford Mustang Dark Horse – “We just kind of fluttered and floated around that eighth to 15th all day. I felt like Derek had a good move strategy wise to get us a top 10. So that was about what we had.”

JOEY LOGANO, No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Ford Mustang Dark Horse – “We had a solid Shell-Pennzoil Ford all day. We stayed in the top 10 and picked up some stage points, but we were chasing the balance a little bit all afternoon. We worked hard to keep ourselves in the mix, so it was frustrating to have the tire issue at the end. We’ll put this one behind us and see if we can keep the momentum heading to Vegas.”

STAVRINOS MOVES INTO JBS EQUIPMENT NHRA PRO MOD SERIES POINTS LEAD WITH ROCKINGHAM WIN

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ROCKINGHAM, N.C. (Sept. 27, 2026) – Michael Stavrinos jumped into the points lead in the JBS Equipment NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Elite Motorsports on Sunday at Rockingham Dragway, defeating Justin Bond on a holeshot in the final round as part of this weekend’s NHRA Nationals at The Rock.

It was the ninth of 11 races in the category and the key Road to the Championship race was powered Culp Lumber this weekend.

In a thrilling final round, Stavrinos’ run of 5.664-seconds at 254.09 mph held up thanks to a .039 reaction time, which was enough to hold off Bond’s 5.656 at 257.29. It gave Stavrinos his second victory this season and fifth in his career, also moving the standout into the points lead.

His lead stands at just nine points over Bond, but the victory over Bond handed Stavrinos the points lead for the first time this season. He defeated Kevin Rivenbark, reigning world champion J.R. Gray and Rickie Smith to reach the final round, turning in another brilliant performance in the final round.

“I was focused as I could be. What a day at Rockingham,” Stavrinos said. “This place is awesome and to get the first win here, that’s just great. I love it here and my team is amazing.”

Bond reached the championship round for the fourth time this year by defeating Mike Castellana, Tony Wilson and Derek Menholt.

With two races remaining in the Road to the Championship, Menholt is third at 43 points out of first, while Billy Banaka is 84 points behind in fourth.

The JBS Equipment NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Elite Motorsports returns to action Oct. 2-4 as part of the NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals at World Wide Technology Raceway in St. Louis.

ROCKINGHAM, N.C. — Final finish order (1-16) at the Inaugural NHRA Nationals at The Rock at Rockingham Dragway. The race is the ninth of 11 events in the JBS Equipment NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Elite Motorsports.

PRO MODIFIED:

  1. Mike Stavrinos; 2. Justin Bond; 3. Rickie Smith; 4. Derek Menholt; 5. Tony Wilson; 6. Nick Januik; 7. JR Gray; 8. Steve Jackson; 9. Billy Banaka; 10. Mike Castellana; 11. Chip King; 12. Stan Shelton; 13. Mike Thielen; 14. Shane Gray; 15. Lyle Barnett; 16. Kevin Rivenbark.

ROCKINGHAM, N.C. — Sunday’s final results from the Inaugural NHRA Nationals at The Rock at Rockingham Dragway. The race is the ninth of 11 events in the JBS Equipment NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Elite Motorsports.

Pro Modified — Mike Stavrinos, Chevy Camaro, 5.664, 254.09 def. Justin Bond, Camaro, 5.656, 257.29.

ROCKINGHAM, N.C. — Final round-by-round results from the Inaugural NHRA Nationals at The Rock at Rockingham Dragway, the ninth of 11 events in the JBS Equipment NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Elite Motorsports.

PRO MODIFIED:

ROUND ONE — Justin Bond, Chevy Camaro, 5.665, 255.54 def. Mike Castellana, Camaro, 5.679, 253.24; Tony Wilson, Chevy Willys, 10.055, 86.72 def. Stan Shelton, Ford Mustang, Foul – Red Light; Derek Menholt, Chevy Corvette, 5.685, 252.10 def. Lyle Barnett, Camaro, Foul – Red Light; Rickie Smith, Mustang, 5.673, 253.24 def. Mike Thielen, Mustang, 5.722, 248.07; Steve Jackson, Camaro, 5.671, 247.39 def. Billy Banaka, Camaro, 5.664, 256.41; Mike Stavrinos, Camaro, 5.669, 251.54 def. Kevin

Rivenbark, Mustang, Foul – Red Light; JR Gray, Camaro, 5.705, 251.40 def. Shane Gray, Camaro, 5.736, 249.86; Nick Januik, Camaro, 5.691, 253.24 def. Chip King, Dodge Charger, 5.681, 255.83;

QUARTERFINALS — Bond, 5.671, 256.12 def. Wilson, 5.691, 252.38; Menholt, 5.691, 249.03 def. Januik, 5.702, 253.38; Smith, 5.669, 251.68 def. Jackson, Broke – No Show; Stavrinos, 5.664, 254.52 def. J. Gray, 14.451, 56.66;

SEMIFINALS — Bond, 5.674, 255.68 def. Menholt, 5.689, 250.56; Stavrinos, 5.671, 254.52 def. Smith, Foul – Red Light;

FINAL — Stavrinos, 5.664, 254.09 def. Bond, 5.656, 257.29.

ROCKINGHAM, N.C. — Point standings (top 10) following the Inaugural NHRA Nationals at The Rock at Rockingham Dragway, the ninth of 11 events in the JBS Equipment NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Elite Motorsports.

Pro Modified

  1. Mike Stavrinos, 1,029; 2. Justin Bond, 1,020; 3. Derek Menholt, 986; 4. Billy Banaka, 945; 5. JR Gray, 940; 6. Stan Shelton, 865; 7. Mike Thielen, 864; 8. Lyle Barnett, 857; 9. Kevin Rivenbark, 837; 10. Chip King, 789.

Rick Ware Racing: Hollywood Casino 400 from Kansas

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RICK WARE RACING
Hollywood Casino 400
Date: Sept. 27, 2026
Event: Hollywood Casino 400 (Round 30 of 36)
Series: NASCAR Cup Series
Location: Kansas Speedway in Kansas City (1.5-mile oval)

Format: 267 laps, broken into three stages (80 laps/85 laps/102 laps)
Race Winner: Kyle Larson of Hendrick Motorsports (Chevrolet)
Stage 1 Winner: Kyle Larson of Hendrick Motorsports (Chevrolet)
Stage 2 Winner: Kyle Larson of Hendrick Motorsports (Chevrolet)

RWR Finish:

● Cody Ware (Started 35th, Finished 34th / Running, completed 262 of 267 laps)

RWR Points:

● Cody Ware (35th with 226 points)

Race Notes:

● Kyle Larson won the Hollywood Casino 400 to score his 34th career NASCAR Cup Series victory, his second of the season and his fourth at Kansas. His margin over second-place Austin Cindric was .565 of a second.

● This was Chevrolet’s 889th all-time NASCAR Cup Series victory and its eighth of the season. Chase Elliott won for the Bowtie Brigade March 29 at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway, Carson Hocevar won April 26 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway, Elliott won again May 3 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Shane van Gisbergen won May 10 at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International, Daniel Suárez won May 24 at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway, van Gisbergen won again June 28 at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway and Larson won Sept. 13 at World Wide Technology Raceway near St. Louis.

● This was Chevrolet’s series-leading 18th NASCAR Cup Series victory at Kansas. Chevrolet won the inaugural race at Kansas on Sept. 30, 2001, with NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon.

● There were five caution periods for a total of 26 laps.

● Only 20 of the 36 drivers in the race finished on the lead lap.

● Larson remains the championship leader after Kansas with a 26-point advantage over second-place Denny Hamlin.

Next Up:

The next event on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule is the South Point 400 on Sunday, Oct. 4, at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The fifth race in the 10-race Chase starts at 5:30 p.m. EDT with live coverage provided by USA Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Kyle Larson takes command of NASCAR Cup Chase with determined Kansas win

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Photo by Ron Olds for SpeedwayMedia.com

By Reid Spencer
NASCAR Wire Service

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Kyle Larson made a statement in Sunday’s Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway.

Retaking the lead from Chase Briscoe with seven laps left, Larson won for the second time in three races and took control of the NASCAR Cup Series Chase presented by Mobil 1.

Larson’s fourth victory at the 1.5-mile track left him 26 points ahead of second-place Denny Hamlin, who entered the Chase as the top seed. Christopher Bell is 50 points back in third after finishing sixth on Sunday.

“I really thought when Chase got by, he was just going to stretch out, but I got some lines going where I could settle in and try to take care of my tires,” said Larson, who lost the lead to Briscoe on Lap 238 of 267. “I don’t know. I think it’s just easier to be the hunter rather than the hunted.

“With me out front, I’m just defending and trying to guess on what lines are fast. When he got in front of me, I could see he started getting really loose. Yeah, that was fun. That was such a good day. Max points. I was going to be happy with second with how the race went, but to get the lead, that’s a big deal for the points.”

The victory was Larson’s second of the season and 34th of his career, tying him with Kurt Busch and Martin Truex Jr. for 26th all-time.

Though Larson, the defending series champion, won the first two stages, led 235 laps, and set the fastest lap (30.076 seconds on Lap 2) to score a maximum 76 points for the day, the win was hardly a foregone conclusion after the final cycle of green-flag pit stops.

After following Briscoe to pit road on Lap 216 with a last-second call, Larson regained the top spot at the end of the pit cycle, but he scraped the wall early in the final run. Briscoe ran Larson down from 1.5 seconds back and passed the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet for the lead on Lap 238.

Briscoe held the top spot for 23 laps, but his No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota developed a loose condition late in the run, and Larson made up the ground he had lost. On Lap 261, Larson darted to the inside of Briscoe’s Camry and completed the winning pass.

Contact with the wall cost Briscoe in the final laps, as both runner-up Austin Cindric and third-place Hamlin passed him on the way to the checkered flag. Briscoe held fourth, followed by Ryan Blaney, who is now fifth in the standings, 91 points behind Larson.

“Yeah, just went really, really loose,” Briscoe said of the closing laps. “I kind of had that the run before when we did the green-flag pit stop. I got it in the wall so many times that I had a little bit of a leak. Just went really, really free ultimately.

“It was better for me to be in second. Just being behind (Larson), especially with how much he was aero blocking, it would just tighten me up and allow me to actually be a little bit better. And then as soon as I would get the lead, I would just go really, really free again.

“So, yeah, frustrating for sure. Yeah, just felt like I had a win there to stay in contention for a championship, and obviously now losing, I don’t know, 123 points back (in eighth place), that’s probably not going to happen.”

With perhaps the fastest long-run car in the race, Cindric closed to 0.565 seconds behind Larson at the finish.

Cindric, however, lost time on the track by pitting one lap later than Larson and Briscoe. He was 4.6 seconds down to the leader when pit stops cycled out and spent the rest of the race trying to close the gap.

“I just feel like that cycle could have gone better for us,” Cindric said. “I feel like just the way it all played out with three cars coming in front, and I slipped through the box a little bit, having some stuff on my tires. I could have done a better job there.

“When you only lose by half a second, I wish I would have had at least a shot at it. I felt like we could have at least joined the fun at least. But, no, proud of the effort and great points for today.”

Cindric scored 52 points to Larson’s 76 and is tied with Bubba Wallace for ninth in the Chase standings, 140 points behind Larson.

Behind Bell, William Byron ran seventh, followed by Chase Elliott, Wallace and Ryan Preece. Tyler Reddick made a remarkable recovery after running 33rd in his ill-handling Toyota early in the race and finished 11th. Reddick’s rally could have been even better, but for a blown pit stop under green in the final cycle.

Joey Logano, who started from the pole by the rule book when rain washed out time trials, finished 20th and fell from third to fourth in the standings, a distant 67 points out of the lead.

Ten of the 16 Chase drivers are now 111 points or more behind Larson, with 14th-place finisher Daniel Suarez 187 points down in 16th place.

After finishing fourth in Stage 1, Bristol pugilist Carson Hocevar was part of a six-car restart wreck on Lap 122. With severe damage to the splitter on his No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet, Hocevar finished 33rd and dropped three spots to 11th in the standings, 150 points in arrears.

NASCAR Cup Series Race – Hollywood Casino 400

Kansas Speedway

Kansas City, Kansas

Sunday, September 27, 2026

            1. (2)  Kyle Larson (C), Chevrolet, 267.

            2. (11)  Austin Cindric (C), Ford, 267.

            3. (6)  Denny Hamlin (C), Toyota, 267.

            4. (23)  Chase Briscoe (C), Toyota, 267.

            5. (25)  Ryan Blaney (C), Ford, 267.

            6. (3)  Christopher Bell (C), Toyota, 267.

            7. (8)  William Byron (C), Chevrolet, 267.

            8. (18)  Chase Elliott (C), Chevrolet, 267.

            9. (7)  Bubba Wallace (C), Toyota, 267.

            10. (9)  Ryan Preece (C), Ford, 267.

            11. (15)  Tyler Reddick (C), Toyota, 267.

            12. (16)  Brad Keselowski, Ford, 267.

            13. (26)  John Hunter Nemechek, Toyota, 267.

            14. (14)  Daniel Suarez (C), Chevrolet, 267.

            15. (13)  Ross Chastain, Chevrolet, 267.

            16. (30)  Erik Jones, Toyota, 267.

            17. (5)  Ty Gibbs (C), Toyota, 267.

            18. (33)  Alex Bowman, Chevrolet, 267.

            19. (20)  Todd Gilliland, Ford, 267.

            20. (1)  Joey Logano (C), Ford, 267.

            21. (19)  Austin Dillon, Chevrolet, 266.

            22. (24)  AJ Allmendinger, Chevrolet, 266.

            23. (12)  Chris Buescher (C), Ford, 266.

            24. (17)  Shane Van Gisbergen, Chevrolet, 266.

            25. (34)  Riley Herbst, Toyota, 266.

            26. (32)  Austin Hill(i), Chevrolet, 266.

            27. (22)  Michael McDowell, Chevrolet, 266.

            28. (36)  Ty Dillon, Chevrolet, 266.

            29. (27)  Connor Zilisch #, Chevrolet, 266.

            30. (29)  Cole Custer, Chevrolet, 266.

            31. (28)  Zane Smith, Ford, 266.

            32. (31)  Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Chevrolet, 266.

            33. (4)  Carson Hocevar (C), Chevrolet, 264.

            34. (35)  Cody Ware, Chevrolet, 262.

            35. (10)  Josh Berry, Ford, 257.

            36. (21)  Noah Gragson, Ford, Engine, 112.

Average Speed of Race Winner: 139.156 mph.

Time of Race: 2 Hrs, 52 Mins, 41 Secs. Margin of Victory: .565 Seconds.

Caution Flags: 5 for 26 laps.

Lead Changes: 13 among 7 drivers.

Lap Leaders: J. Logano (C) 0;K. Larson (C) 1-36;R. Chastain 37;K. Larson (C) 38-39;D. Hamlin (C) 40;K. Larson (C) 41-168;C. Zilisch # 169;K. Larson (C) 170-215;A. Cindric (C) 216;D. Hamlin (C) 217;R. Blaney (C) 218-221;K. Larson (C) 222-237;C. Briscoe (C) 238-260;K. Larson (C) 261-267.

Leaders Summary (Driver, Times Lead, Laps Led): Kyle Larson (C) 6 times for 235 laps; Chase Briscoe (C) 1 time for 23 laps; Ryan Blaney (C) 1 time for 4 laps; Denny Hamlin (C) 2 times for 2 laps; Ross Chastain 1 time for 1 lap; Austin Cindric (C) 1 time for 1 lap; Connor Zilisch # 1 time for 1 lap.

Stage #1 Top Ten: 5,11,2,77,20,22,24,9,54,12

Stage #2 Top Ten: 5,2,11,19,20,24,12,22,54,6

HAGAN, LANGDON, G. STANFIELD & GADSON ROLL TO WINS AT NHRA NATIONALS AT THE ROCK

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  • Hagan gets fourth FC win of 2026
  • Langdon wins with another booming TF run
  • G. Stanfield takes PS points lead with win
  • Gadson tops teammate in PSM final

ROCKINGHAM, N.C. (Sept. 27, 2026) – Funny Car points leader Matt Hagan rolled to his fourth victory of the season for Tony Stewart Racing on Sunday in front of a near-capacity crowd at Rockingham Dragway, defeating Paul Lee in the final round at the NHRA Nationals at The Rock.

Shawn Langdon (Top Fuel), Greg Stanfield (Pro Stock) and Richard Gadson (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also won the 16th of 20 races during the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season and the second of six races in the Countdown to the Championship playoffs.

Hagan went 3.922-seconds at 327.75 mph in his 12,000-horsepower Dodge//SRT Hellcat Funny Car, powering past Lee, who lost traction midway through the run. It is Hagan’s 59th career victory as the four-time world champion defeated Dave Richards, Ron Capps and J.R. Todd to reach the final round.

He now has an 84-point lead over Jordan Vandergriff with four races left in the season, advancing to the finals for the fourth straight race, including back-to-back appearances to open the playoffs.

Hagan won in Brainerd and now Rockingham during that stretch, as he remains in command in his search for a fifth Funny Car world championship, which would pair the veteran with John Force as the only two drivers in NHRA history to win five or more Funny Car world titles.

“It’s unbelievable that I get to have a great race car underneath me, and it’s going down the racetrack, and I know that every time I sit in that car every Sunday morning, I have an opportunity to win, and that’s huge,” Hagan said.

“The points chase is super competitive. There’s six cars that could just change the landscape at any given moment. As much as I’d love to sit here and say how great we’re doing, it takes one or two races of going out the first round, and it changes it. We have to keep working hard and keep putting that foot forward. I want to win this fifth championship not just for me but for my crew chief and the team. I’m excited for what we have. I’ve been very, very successful in this sport as far as four championships and so many races and a bunch of world records and all other stuff that’s happened, but I’ve never had what I’ve had what I have right now with this group.”

Lee reached his first final of 2026 with round wins against Cruz Pedregon, Alexis DeJoria and Austin Prock. Todd is currently third, 106 points behind Hagan.

Top Fuel’s Shawn Langdon saved his best for last and delivered in a big way, giving Rockingham Dragway its first 340 mph run by defeating Kalitta Motorsports teammate Doug Kalitta in the final round on a holeshot with a 3.739 at a booming 342.73 in his 12,000-horsepower Kalitta Air dragster.

Kalitta ran a quicker 3.722 at 330.40, but Langdon left first with a .024 reaction time, holding off the reigning world champion at the finish line, in part thanks to the massive speed in the championship round.

It’s the second time this year the points leader has won three straight races, giving the past world champion his sixth victory of the year and the 29th in his career. This one comes at a perfect time, as Langdon has strung together victories at the U.S. Nationals and now the first two races in the Countdown to the Championship, opening up a 25-point lead over Kalitta.

The pair of teammates have put significant distance between themselves and the next batch of competitors, as Tony Stewart is currently third in points, a distant 155 points behind Langdon. On Sunday, Langdon defeated Cam Ferre, Billy Torrence and Shawn Reed to reach the final round, moving one step closer to a second world title.

“We knew for the final round we had to make a picture-perfect run,” Langdon said. “AJ [Alan Johnson, Doug Kalitta crew chief] has been running really well. He’s got a great handle on that car. The Mac Tools guys have been doing a great job, and Doug’s been really lights-out this year. I knew going to the final, I had to figure out a way to find something on the starting line, and Brian [Husen crew chief] knew we were down four-hundredths in the semis, and we’re going back to that same lane and AJ wasn’t going to lay up. Brian was very, very aware of that, so he was doing some homework and I knew I had to do everything I could.

“Brian’s really worked with the guys and the guys have done a great job working together to be perfect. We’re out here to win races and you have to be perfect in order to do things like this. We’re just bonding together and working hard and keeping our heads, working just as hard for the next one.”

Kalitta reached the finals for the eighth time this season and 134th time in his career with wins against Rit Pustari, Maddi Gordon and Will Smith.

Greg Stanfield helped Elite Motorsports stay undefeated in the Pro Stock championship race, moving into the points lead and knocking off rookie Cody Anderson in the final round on a holeshot with a run of 6.537 at 210.48 in his Janac Brothers Racing car.

Stanfield was a deadly .019 on the starting line, which was enough to hold off Anderson’s 6.525 at 209.99, denying the standout first-year driver his first career win. It gave Stanfield his second victory this season and continued a strong performance in the Countdown to the Championship for Elite Motorsports, following Troy Coughlin’s victory at Martin last week.

It was a huge day for Stanfield, moving past Matt Hartford for the points lead and finishing his day at Rockingham Dragway with his eighth career Pro Stock victory. To reach the final round, Stanfield had to get by his son, Aaron, Matt Latino and reigning world champion Dallas Glenn, posting an incredible .005 reaction time against Glenn in the semifinals.

His lead stands at 31 points over Hartford and 39 over Glenn.

“To be able to do this today, it definitely feels good,” Stanfield said. “Any time you can hold a Wally, it’s a great day. I’m just trying to do the best I can and not let everybody down who works their butt off for me to be able to drive. I think I’ve let our team down through the year, getting to the semis, then not closing it. For me to be able to close it out today, it means a lot. There’s a lot of young drivers that are really talented right now, and for me to try to rise up to their level and race with them is tough.

“Anybody can win in this class right now. I mean, it’s incredible how tight it is. So, the points battle is going to go all the way to the end. I feel like it’s going to be that way. So what’s going to happen next week? I can’t predict it. We’re just going to try to work hard, work smart and if it’s meant to be, it’ll be.”

Anderson reached the final round for the first time in his young career by knocking off Erica Enders, his father, six-time champion Greg Anderson and Hartford.

In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Richard Gadson got the victory on the starting line when teammate Gaige Herrera went red in the championship round, handing the points leader and reigning world champion his third victory of the year on his RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki.

Herrera left .018 early, handing the victory to Gadson, who delivered a solid run of 6.789 at 199.65 en route to his seventh career victory. After an early loss last week in the playoff opener, Gadson got back on track in a major way, opening up a 64-point lead over Herrera with four races remaining.

On Sunday, he got past Geno Scali, Ryan Oehler and Chase Van Sant to reach the final round and set up another marquee matchup with his Vance & Hines teammate. They’re now 3-3 against each other in final rounds, but it was Gadson who took the victory at Rockingham Dragway to keep him in a great position to win a second straight world championship.

“I feel like I got away with one here this weekend. It’s kind of been our M.O. It wasn’t fancy. It wasn’t glamorous. It wasn’t headline-worthy, but you know, we’re here holding our third diamond Wally,” Gadson said.

“Gaige and I are extremely competitive with each other, sometimes to the point where the lines are blurry in our competitiveness because he’s a friend. I’ve got a lot of respect for the guy, but I’m playing mind games the whole time. He’s playing games the whole time, and you know I said. ‘It’s his race to lose,’ hoping that he would lose the race somehow. In order to win the race, you’ve got to be green four times. Gaige went for the E.T., and he got away with it three rounds, but we decided we’re just going to race our lane, so it’s a lot of strategizing, and it paid off.”

Herrera reached the finals for the fourth time this season and 36th time in his career thanks to round wins against Lance Bonham, Clayton Howey and Joey Gladstone. M. Smith is 81 points back in third.

The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series returns to action Oct. 2-4 with the 15th annual NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals at World Wide Technology Raceway in St. Louis.

ROCKINGHAM, N.C. — Final finish order (1-16) at the Inaugural NHRA Nationals at The Rock at Rockingham Dragway. The race is the 16th of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series.

TOP FUEL:

  1. Shawn Langdon; 2. Doug Kalitta; 3. Will Smith; 4. Shawn Reed; 5. Leah Pruett; 6. Maddi Gordon; 7. Clay Millican; 8. Billy Torrence; 9. Tony Schumacher; 10. Dan Mercier; 11. Josh Hart; 12. Cameron Ferre; 13. Antron Brown; 14. Justin Ashley; 15. Tony Stewart; 16. Rit Pustari.

FUNNY CAR:

  1. Matt Hagan; 2. Paul Lee; 3. J.R. Todd; 4. Austin Prock; 5. Jordan Vandergriff; 6. Alexis

DeJoria; 7. Daniel Wilkerson; 8. Ron Capps; 9. Chad Green; 10. Jack Beckman; 11. Cruz Pedregon; 12. Dave Richards; 13. John Smith; 14. Spencer Hyde; 15. Jon Capps.

PRO STOCK:

  1. Greg Stanfield; 2. Cody Anderson; 3. Dallas Glenn; 4. Matt Hartford; 5. Stephen Bell; 6.

Greg Anderson; 7. Troy Coughlin Jr.; 8. Matt Latino; 9. Eric Latino; 10. Erica Enders; 11. Shane Tucker; 12. Deric Kramer; 13. Aaron Stanfield; 14. Kenny Delco; 15. Jeg Coughlin.

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:

  1. Richard Gadson; 2. Gaige Herrera; 3. Joey Gladstone; 4. Chase Van Sant; 5. Clayton Howey; 6. Angie Smith; 7. Matt Smith; 8. Ryan Oehler; 9. Geno Scali; 10. Marc Ingwersen; 11. John Hall; 12. Lance Bonham; 13. Steve Johnson; 14. Marcus Hylton; 15. Malcolm Phillips Jr..

ROCKINGHAM, N.C. — Sunday’s final results from the Inaugural NHRA Nationals at The Rock at Rockingham Dragway. The race is the 16th of 20 in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series:

Top Fuel — Shawn Langdon, 3.739 seconds, 342.73 mph def. Doug Kalitta, 3.722 seconds, 330.40 mph.

Funny Car — Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 3.922, 327.75 def. Paul Lee, Charger, Foul – Outer Boundary.

Pro Stock — Greg Stanfield, Chevy Camaro, 6.537, 210.48 def. Cody Anderson, Camaro, 6.525, 209.99.

Pro Stock Motorcycle — Richard Gadson, Suzuki, 6.789, 199.65 def. Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, Foul – Red Light.

Competition Eliminator — Joe Carnasciale, Chevy Cavalier, 8.876, 152.08 def. Monty Bogan, Pontiac G5, 8.450, 137.57.

Super Stock — Bryan Worner, Chevy Camaro, 9.940, 119.55 def. Dan Fletcher, Camaro, Foul – Red Light.

Stock Eliminator — Cody Phillips, Chevy Corvette, 10.351, 126.76 def. Brad Plourd, Chevy Nova, 10.634, 114.56.

Super Comp — Hayden James, Dragster, 8.920, 167.35 def. Mike Robilotto, Dragster, 8.881, 170.07.

Super Gas — Tim Powell, Chevy Corvette, 9.957, 157.89 def. Jock Lisenby, Chevy Camaro, 9.854, 157.51.

Top Dragster — Brad Plourd, Dragster, 6.202, 224.10 def. Steve Furr, Dragster, Foul – Red Light.

Pro Modified — Mike Stavrinos, Chevy Camaro, 5.664, 254.09 def. Justin Bond, Camaro, 5.656, 257.29.

ROCKINGHAM, N.C. — Final round-by-round results from the Inaugural NHRA Nationals at The Rock at Rockingham Dragway, the 16th of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series:

TOP FUEL:

ROUND ONE — Maddi Gordon, 3.755, 337.08 def. Justin Ashley, 4.005, 241.42; Will Smith, 3.767, 330.88 def. Josh Hart, 3.829, 320.74; Leah Pruett, 3.775, 324.91 def. Tony Schumacher, 3.776, 330.40; Clay Millican, 3.800, 330.40 def. Tony Stewart, 4.069, 222.44; Doug Kalitta, 3.743, 334.57 def. Rit Pustari, 8.382, 84.51; Shawn Langdon, 3.718, 336.83 def. Cameron Ferre, 3.938, 308.22; Billy Torrence, 3.743, 332.59 def. Dan Mercier, 3.796, 330.40; Shawn Reed, 3.783, 327.03 def. Antron Brown, 3.988, 267.86;

QUARTERFINALS — Reed, 3.851, 323.97 def. Millican, 4.522, 179.64; Smith, 3.772, 333.33 def. Pruett, 3.772, 327.75; Kalitta, 3.763, 331.61 def. Gordon, 3.790, 328.95; Langdon, 4.373, 183.97 def. Torrence, Foul – Red Light;

SEMIFINALS — Langdon, 3.797, 333.33 def. Reed, 7.396, 77.84; Kalitta, 3.751, 335.82 def. Smith, 4.472, 192.47;

FINAL — Langdon, 3.739, 342.73 def. Kalitta, 3.722, 330.40.

FUNNY CAR:

ROUND ONE — Jordan Vandergriff, Chevy Camaro, 3.869, 331.61 def. Chad Green, Ford Mustang, 3.912, 330.64; Alexis DeJoria, Camaro, 3.959, 318.92 def. John Smith, Dodge Charger, 4.429, 209.79; Austin Prock, Mustang, 3.892, 331.86 def. Jon Capps, Charger, 6.061, 111.52; Ron Capps, Toyota GR Supra, 3.892, 334.08 was unopposed; Daniel Wilkerson, Mustang, 3.931, 327.27 def. Jack Beckman, Camaro, 3.916, 324.44; J.R. Todd, GR Supra, 3.911, 336.57 def. Spencer Hyde, Mustang, 4.469, 202.13; Paul

Lee, Charger, 3.931, 325.85 def. Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 4.265, 226.70; Matt Hagan, Charger, 3.916, 329.19 def. Dave Richards, Mustang, 4.407, 205.48;

QUARTERFINALS — Lee, 3.923, 328.95 def. DeJoria, 3.924, 328.95; Todd, 3.942, 334.08 def. Wilkerson, 3.961, 324.68; Prock, 3.916, 322.81 def. Vandergriff, 3.905, 329.19; Hagan, 3.941, 328.23 def. R. Capps, 4.035, 309.07;

SEMIFINALS — Hagan, 3.916, 331.86 def. Todd, 3.931, 336.83; Lee, 3.883, 329.91 def. Prock, 5.451, 137.87;

FINAL — Hagan, 3.922, 327.75 def. Lee, Foul – Outer Boundary.

PRO STOCK:

ROUND ONE — Troy Coughlin Jr., Chevy Camaro, 6.517, 210.87 def. Eric Latino, Camaro, 6.514, 210.18; Stephen Bell, Camaro, 6.532, 210.97 def. Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 8.574, 118.51; Greg Stanfield, Camaro, 6.511, 211.67 def. Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, Foul – Red Light; Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.482, 210.28 def. Deric Kramer, Camaro, 6.536, 210.28; Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.518, 209.59 was unopposed; Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.499, 211.67 def. Shane Tucker, Camaro, 6.528, 212.26; Matt Latino, Camaro, 6.507,

209.69 def. Kenny Delco, Camaro, 7.655, 129.83; Cody Anderson, Camaro, 6.499, 209.59 def. Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.523, 210.58;

QUARTERFINALS — Hartford, 6.564, 210.87 def. Coughlin Jr., 13.159, 83.32; G. Stanfield, 6.531, 210.28 def. M. Latino, 16.144, 51.89; Glenn, 6.518, 210.48 def. Bell, 6.568, 209.40; C. Anderson, 6.532, 209.30 def. G. Anderson, 12.026, 73.43;

SEMIFINALS — C. Anderson, 6.562, 209.59 def. Hartford, 6.821, 208.91; G. Stanfield, 6.532, 210.77 def. Glenn, 6.554, 209.69;

FINAL — G. Stanfield, 6.537, 210.48 def. C. Anderson, 6.525, 209.99.

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:

ROUND ONE — Chase Van Sant, Suzuki, 12.540, 42.33 def. John Hall, Buell, Foul – Red Light; Angie Smith, Buell, 6.804, 196.85 was unopposed; Ryan Oehler, 6.742, 199.56 def. Malcolm Phillips Jr., Suzuki, Broke – No Show; Clayton Howey, Suzuki, 6.806, 196.94 def. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 8.156, 131.58; Joey Gladstone, Buell, 6.804, 197.37 def. Marc Ingwersen, 6.948, 197.63; Richard Gadson, Suzuki, 6.742, 200.71 def. Geno Scali, Suzuki, 6.927, 196.08; Matt Smith, Buell, 6.738, 202.43 def. Marcus Hylton, Buell, 12.220, 64.68; Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 6.683, 201.97 def. Lance Bonham, Buell,

Foul – Red Light;

QUARTERFINALS — Van Sant, 6.870, 198.68 def. A. Smith, Foul – Red Light; Gadson, 6.797, 200.09 def. Oehler, Foul – Red Light; Gladstone, 6.876, 181.16 def. M. Smith, 7.544, 125.77; Herrera, 6.699, 201.25 def. Howey, 6.822, 196.59;

SEMIFINALS — Gadson, 6.790, 198.85 def. Van Sant, 6.825, 198.06; Herrera, 6.714, 201.16 def. Gladstone, 6.791, 197.89;

FINAL — Gadson, 6.789, 199.65 def. Herrera, Foul – Red Light.

ROCKINGHAM, N.C. — Point standings (top 10) following the Inaugural NHRA Nationals at The Rock at Rockingham Dragway, the 16th of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series –

Top Fuel

  1. Shawn Langdon, 2,335; 2. Doug Kalitta, 2,310; 3. Tony Stewart, 2,180; 4. Leah Pruett, 2,168; 5. Antron Brown, 2,148; 6. Billy Torrence, 2,131; 7. (tie) Maddi Gordon, 2,128; Josh Hart, 2,128; 9. Will Smith, 2,118; 10. Clay Millican, 2,088.

Funny Car

  1. Matt Hagan, 2,321; 2. Jordan Vandergriff, 2,237; 3. J.R. Todd, 2,215; 4. Ron Capps, 2,209; 5. Jack Beckman, 2,195; 6. Austin Prock, 2,177; 7. Alexis DeJoria, 2,151; 8. Daniel Wilkerson, 2,120; 9. Chad Green, 2,089; 10. Spencer Hyde, 2,065.

Pro Stock

  1. Greg Stanfield, 2,277; 2. Matt Hartford, 2,246; 3. Dallas Glenn, 2,238; 4. Greg Anderson, 2,211; 5. Troy Coughlin Jr., 2,172; 6. Cody Anderson, 2,165; 7. Jeg Coughlin, 2,141; 8. Matt Latino, 2,138; 9. Erica Enders, 2,121; 10. Aaron Stanfield, 2,093.

Pro Stock Motorcycle

  1. Richard Gadson, 2,286; 2. Gaige Herrera, 2,222; 3. Matt Smith, 2,205; 4. John Hall, 2,201; 5. Angie Smith, 2,190; 6. Ryan Oehler, 2,185; 7. Jianna Evaristo, 2,169; 8. Chase Van Sant, 2,155; 9. Clayton Howey, 2,094; 10. Steve Johnson, 2,067.

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