This Week in Motorsports: October 5-11, 2026

NCS/NOAPS/NCTS: Charlotte Motor Speedway – October 9-11

PLANO, Texas (October 7, 2026) – TOYOTA RACING finishes up the stretch of intermediate track races with a home race for all of Toyota’s race teams – Charlotte Motor Speedway.

NASCAR National Series – NCS/NOAPS/NCTS

Briscoe plans to add another intermediate win… Chase Briscoe earned his second win of the season – and second on an intermediate track – with his dominating performance on Sunday at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The Indiana-native led 175 of 267 laps to add to his win at Chicagoland Speedway in July. Briscoe is looking for his first win at Charlotte but did win the pole for the 600-mile race in 2025, and led 34 laps there earlier this year.

Bell looks to add another Charlotte victory…Christopher Bell remains in the points picture after battling through no power-steering for the final 100 laps at Las Vegas. Charlotte is the perfect place to rebound. Bell won at Charlotte in 2024 and is riding a streak of three straight top-10 finishes there. He led 44 laps and was battling for the win before the rain came back in May before settling for second.

Toyota six of the top 10… Denny Hamlin and Bell lead six Toyota drivers in the top-10 in the championship battle. Hamlin continues to lead the Toyota contingent in second, with Bell one spot behind in third. Briscoe moved up to sixth after his Vegas win, with Tyler Reddick and Ty Gibbs in close pursuit. Bubba Wallace continues to hold down 10th overall.

Toyota closes in on manufacturer crown… After Briscoe won the 16th race for Toyota on Sunday, Team Toyota continues to close in on the manufacturers title as Toyota holds more than a three-race advantage over Chevrolet with five races remaining. Toyota is searching for its first Cup Series manufacturer title since 2019, and fourth overall.

Taylor Gray plans to extend top-10 streak… Taylor Gray has started the Chase with four consecutive top-10 finishes, including a fifth-place run at Las Vegas on Saturday. Gray is one of two Chase drivers to finish top-10 in every post-season race so far. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver is a former pole winner at Charlotte Motor Speedway and is looking for his first top-10 finish there.

Double-duty for Crews… Toyota Development Driver Brent Crews will make two starts this weekend as he runs both the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota GR Supra, and the No. 1 TRICON Garage Tundra. Crews has been on a strong run recently in both series. On the O’Reilly side, Crews has three top-five finishes in the last four races. Despite four less starts than all of his competitors, his 11 top-five finishes are tied for third-best amongst all drivers. On the truck side, he is coming off a third-place finish in Kansas – his best-ever oval run in Truck competition.

Honeycutt looks to extend points lead… Toyota Development Driver Kaden Honeycutt has had a stellar start to the Chase. The Texan is coming off his first intermediate win – a dominating performance at Kansas Speedway – and comes to another intermediate track looking to extend his 37-point lead in the standings. Honeycutt finished a track best second in May but is three-for-three with top-10 finishes at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Currey back behind the wheel… Bayley Currey showed no rust as he climbed behind the wheel of the No. 5 TRICON Garage Tundra in Bristol, as he finished a career-best second last month. Currey, whose usual job is the Truck Chief of the No. 1 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro, gets another shot at the victory this weekend in Charlotte. In five starts at the track, the Texas-native has a best finish of 13th.

About Toyota

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

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

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

Ford Racing Notes and Quotes
NASCAR Cup Series
Ford Racing Media Zoom Call
Wednesday, October 7, 2026

Joey Logano, driver of the No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Ford Mustang Dark Horse, will be making his 500th career NASCAR Cup Series start with Team Penske this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway. He answered questions about that milestone as well as his position in the Chase standings, where he currently sits fourth, 71 points behind leader Kyle Larson.

JOEY LOGANO, No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Ford Mustang Dark Horse – YOU HAVE A COOL MOSAIC PAINT SCHEME THIS WEEKEND CELEBRATING YOUR 500 STARTS WITH THE TEAM AND 60 YEARS OF TEAM PENSKE. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT? “This has been a really special year for myself, but even more so at Team Penske and for Roger Penske. What this company has been able to accomplish for the last 60 years is second to none. It is truly incredible the motorsports accomplishments that this team has been able to do over different forms of motorsports. Whether it’s sports cars, NASCAR, Indy Car, you name it, Roger has been involved in it. It’s special for me to be a small piece of that and when you look at this car, it is really neat. The pictures have gotten smaller since the one you just showed me, which means there are more wins to be talked about, so it’s a little harder to see on this car than it was the 50th car, but it’s really neat to take a second – I’d invite everyone to take a look at it because it is pretty special, just looking at all the pictures on the car of all the special moments. It’s always kind of a pinch yourself moment when you see your car on there too. You say, ‘Oh, that’s pretty neat and you get to drive this one again.’ So, there are a lot of special moments for Team Penske, but then I also feel like it’s a throwback car in a way as well back to 2016 when we ran this thing a few times. It’s good to go back to some of those days when we were racing it in the playoffs too. It was a great car.”

WHAT WILL IT BE LIKE GETTING TO SHOW THIS SCHEME TO YOUR KIDS ON THE CAR? YOU SAID HUDSON WAS GIVING YOU A HARD TIME FOR NOT WINNING BEFORE BRISTOL. “Yeah. My kids, I think they get their smartassness from me, I think (laughing). Some things are hereditary, I guess. It just goes. It’s fun to talk about a lot of them. The majority of the wins they’ve been around for, which is kind of cool, but there was quite a few before them that they didn’t get to see or hear about. We don’t really talk about racing a whole bunch at home. A lot of times it’s just life, what’s going on there. It will be fun to talk about it a little bit, but, for the most part, it’s not something that comes up in our house a whole bunch.”

WITH THE CHARLOTTE TRACK BEING SO SENSITIVE, WHAT KIND OF RACE DO YOU THINK WE WILL SEE AND CAN ANYTHING FROM KANSAS OR VEGAS TRANSLATE? “Charlotte has been one of the best mile-and-a-halves we’ve had lately, surprisingly enough because at one point everyone didn’t like it. Now, it’s a good one again. It is a great race. I think whether it’s hot and slick, which it won’t be, or cooler or at night depending on how the weather looks, it’s gonna probably be pretty dang racy like it has been. It’s a track that is top, bottom, anywhere you want to go. There are a lot of options. It’s pretty different though than Vegas and maybe some of the setup stuff translates, but it’s also pretty different, especially because of the texture of the track and the bumps. It’s bouncing around a lot in there. It’s pretty rough, especially three and four, so those parts definitely show up a lot more than the other tracks we’ve been to here recently.”

HOW OFTEN DO YOU DO THE MATH IN YOUR HEAD? HOW OFTEN DOES THE NUMBER 71 POP INTO YOUR HEAD AND HOW DO YOU LIKE HAVING THE OVAL TO RACE ON THIS TIME IN THE FALL? “I personally would rather race on oval any moment of the day. There is no doubt what I like. At this point in my career, I know what I’m specialized in and it’s not road courses (laughing). I’m good with what we’ve got there, so I look forward to that part. The points, it’s something that we look at a lot. It’s pretty hard to say exactly what you’re gonna have to do to win this thing. Obviously, you’ve got one car that’s out there by 40 right now and it’s one car and he’s likely to be able to stay running at the pace he’s running. He can do that, but it’s also likely they have some issues. At some point, they’re gonna fight through something. It’s really hard to say, so, if he keeps doing what he’s doing, it’s gonna be really hard to catch him. He keeps running in the top five and scoring those points, it’s really hard to figure out how to catch that, but one bad race and he’s right back to where we’re in contention again and we can run him back down. Each week gets a little bit harder. That 70-point number is pretty far back. It’s something we definitely can do. We’re not talking a log off the fire in any way. We’re going all-in and I like the position we’re in for the reason of if we are racing for a championship, which we are, there’s not much to lose. We’re on the edge of saying we can do it, so we can race kind of all or nothing in a way to try to still go after this championship. We’re there. We’re in the hunt still, we’re just in the back half of the hunt.”

A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE DRAWN A PARALLEL TO WHAT KYLE AND CLIFF ARE DOING TO WHAT JIMMIE AND CHAD DID YEARS AGO. HOW MUCH HAVE YOU STARTED TO GRASP WHAT YOU’RE UP AGAINST WITH FIVE TO GO? “Yeah, there’s definitely a lot of similarities between the two from somebody who has raced against them both. There are a lot of similarities between them. They’re a strong team, there’s no doubt. They’ve been able to tie together quite a few races here. What they did last week is a total Jimmie Johnson type thing, where you start the race and they’re not that great, make a big change and all of a sudden he’s up there contending for the win and you’re like, ‘What the heck? I thought we had them today.’ So, that’s a typical, classic Jimmie Johnson move. He’s strong. They’re tough competitors, there’s no doubt, but we can take them. We can get them. No one is super human. Everyone has weaknesses and it’s up to us to expose those.”

HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT LEAVING CHARLOTTE 70-80 POINTS OUT WITH FOUR TO GO TO FEEL LIKE YOU WOULD BE IN A GOOD SPOT? “I think we can still do it. It’s hard for me to say 80 points out is a really good spot, but I would say that we’re still in contention considering the tracks that are coming our way. You think of Phoenix and Martinsville, and Talladega can go either way. There are moments where we’ve done spectacular there and you can get caught up in a wreck just as quickly. When I look at those three tracks in particular, those can really change some things around. We know exactly what a win is worth. We know if you score stage points in the top two or three in each stage and win a race, you cut into that deficit quite a bit. You can gain 30 points on the whole field. Even if the guy finishes second, you still are gonna gain 25 or so points at least. If you can string a couple of those together, yeah, you’re right there. I think in our case we have to win one of them at least to be able to say we’re gonna go up there and beat them. We’re gonna have to win one if not two, and if we don’t win two, then we’re gonna have to – not that you hope for bad things to happen to people, but you’ve got to hope for some misfortune a little bit from the competitors.”

HAVE YOU NOTICED ANY DIFFERENCE IN STRATEGY SINCE THE NEW RULE OF IF THE CAUTION COMES OUT WITH 10 LAPS OR LESS TO END THE STAGE? “It hasn’t come into play a whole bunch, yet. It has I think maybe once is all I’ve seen. It changes a lot after the stage. If the caution comes out eight laps before it was supposed to, the stage ends that much sooner, then that changes what the next run looks like quite a bit, especially these days too with the amount of tire wear that we’re seeing on these mile-and-a-halves with this tire. You definitely can stretch some of those moments out to where it could add another possible pit stop, a lot of things, you may split it in different ways, so there are lots of different opportunities that they could put into play at times, so it’s a little bit more fluid. It is a conversation that we have every week and I’m sure because we talked about it today, we’re gonna have one this weekend. We’ll just kind of wait and see, I guess.”

THERE IS WEATHER POTENTIALLY THIS WEEKEND AND THEN YOU TAKE ANOTHER 10 LAPS, IT COULD AFFECT THINGS DEPENDING ON THE SERIES. HOW MUCH TIME HAVE YOU BEEN SPENDING ON THAT? “On that itself? To me, it’s a smaller piece of it and strategy is something I’m involved in, but it’s not my number one priority in the race team here. It is part of the conversations, but I don’t know if I’ve dove as deep into this as maybe you were expecting me to say I did. But it could definitely come into play and it could be interesting this weekend if there are scattered storms or something like that or cautions coming out at certain points, sure.”

HOW DO YOU SEEN AUSTIN CINDRIC BLOSSOMING DURING THIS CHASE? “Well, I don’t want to tell you how I just saw Austin Cindric because he just walked by my office and he was making gestures to me in a playful way and a funny way (laughing). I will say that Austin has matured a lot on the track. I don’t know about so much off the track, but on the track quite a bit (joking and laughing). He’s a student of the sport, maybe unlike any I’ve ever seen before. He’s very much in tune with what’s going on out on the racetrack. He studies the game a lot. I said years ago that he was the most improved player in the sport from where he started in this sport. You think about, I remember the first few truck races he ran I thought, ‘Oh, I don’t think this kid is gonna go too far.’ And then it just goes to show the effort that he’s put into it and how much he’s learned over the course of the years and, now, he’s strung together a couple of top fives in the Chase. That’s hard to do, so he’s a true contender at this point.”

KASEY KAHNE IS GOING TO BE BACK FULL-TIME IN THE TRUCK SERIES NEXT YEAR. DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THAT AND WHAT IS YOUR REACTION? “Well, you’re getting it as raw as you can get it here because I had no idea. I didn’t even know that was really a thing. That shows how tuned in I am to that type of stuff. I had no idea, but cool. I think everyone is gonna think that’s pretty neat. I’m looking forward to watching it.”

HOW ARE YOU PLAYING OFF OF AUSTIN AS FAR AS SHARING INFORMATION ON THE COMPETITIVE SIDE? “It’s a good thing. You want your teammates to be pushing you. You want your teammates to be competitive. It’s not healthy for the whole team if there’s only one car that runs good because even if you are the one car that runs good, sure, from a selfish standpoint you’re probably beating your chest, but it doesn’t last for long. Eventually, the one car that might still be ahead them but your running 20th and is that really that great? Nope. We want to win, so I think it’s important to have teammates that push you to become better, push the teams to become better, but also that you can learn from – not just from a pushing standpoint, but also like, what are they doing better than you? And being able to have that open conversation, that dialogue back and forth is ultra important. Something that I think you have to be selfless to understand how important that is inside a race team. To your point, when I was young I did not think that way. When I was young I wanted to be number one. I didn’t care about anything else. Now, it’s like, ‘Yes, I still want to be number one, but I also know how important it is to have the others right there with us and pushing each other.’ Yeah, we’re gonna have to race each other sometimes, but we also need to be an open book to make sure that we’re all up on it and giving Roger, Ford, everyone that works here, our partners, the best chance to win. That’s the only way to do it.”

HIM RUNNING WELL HELPS YOU. IS HE WILLING TO SHARE? “Yeah. We look at everything he does. We talk to him. We ask him what’s going on. We try things. We try and understand what it is and it’s not always the clearest. Even when you’re teammates it’s not always the clearest of, ‘This is what it is. That’s what it is’ because there’s still the human element. We’re not robots inside the race car. We’re still humans and we have different things that we like and that are different, so just trying to maybe pick and choose one or two things. It’s like, ‘Oh, this makes sense or that makes sense, so let’s try that.’ You just try and pick it apart.”

LEGACY MOTOR CLUB:
CHARLOTTE II PRE-RACE ADVANCE
EVENT: Bank of America 400

DATE: October 11, 2026
RACE: NASCAR Cup Series 32 of 36
TRACK: Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway | 1.5-Mile Oval

JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK
NO. 42 DOLLAR TREE TOYOTA CAMRY XSE
JHN AT CHARLOTTE: John Hunter Nemechek has five NASCAR Cup Series starts at Charlotte Motor Speedway, with his highest finish at the track of 13th coming in May 2020. In the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, Nemechek has two starts with a best finish of second in May 2023. In the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, he has earned four top-10 finishes, including two top-fives and a race win in May 2021.

TRUCK SERIES WINNER AT CHARLOTTE: In May 2021, Nemechek took home the checkered flag in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race after starting fourth. He led 71 out of 134 laps and won with a .419-second margin of victory over Carson Hocevar. Nemechek was running a full-time season in the Truck Series in 2021, and Charlotte marked his third of five wins that season.

JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK QUOTE:
“I’m excited for a race at home this weekend. We’ve shown speed in our intermediate program in the past, and I’m hoping we can use that to bounce back after last weekend in Vegas. We’ll see how Sunday plays out.”

ERIK JONES
NO. 43 DOLLAR TREE TOYOTA CAMRY XSE
JONES CHARLOTTE STATS: Sunday’s Bank of America 400 will mark Jones’ 13th NASCAR Cup Series start on the 1.5-mile oval at Charlotte. In his 12 previous runs, Jones has one top-10 with his best finish of seventh in his Coca-Cola 600 debut in May 2017. Jones has finished inside the top-20 for a majority of his races on the oval at Charlotte. Outside of the Cup Series, Jones has a total of six starts at Charlotte – five in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and one in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. He owns two top-fives in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series with his best finish of second in October 2015 after starting third. He finished second as well in his one and only Truck Series start in May 2015.

THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY: In Jones’ first NASCAR start at Charlotte in the Craftsman Truck Series, he turned heads and showcased his ability to become the future 2015 Truck Series Champion. After starting second, Jones led 88 of the 139 laps before battling Kasey Kahne in the closing lap to finish just .005 seconds behind Kahne to finish second. The finish is tied for third closest in Craftsman Truck Series history with the 2008 finish between Erik Darnell and Johnny Benson, Jr.

WINDOW OF HOPE STEPS UP: The Window of Hope steps in in 2026 as it pivots to a new type of auction this year. Jones and the Erik Jones Foundation continue their efforts to raise money for Breast Cancer research but instead of running pink window nets in the Cup Series, they have asked drivers from all three National Series to donate an autographed pair of race shoes that will go up for auction from November 2-9 on Pristine Auction. The money raised from this auction will be donated to several organizations to support breast cancer research.

JONES MAKES HISTORY: After last Sunday’s checkered flag in Las Vegas, Jones surpassed Aric Almirola as the driver with the second-most starts in the No. 43 car in NASCAR history. He was tied with Almirola heading into the weekend with 208 starts and left with 209. While Jones still has some work to do before matching Richard Petty’s 1,123 starts behind the wheel, Jones has once again made his mark in the NASCAR history books with his tenure in the historic number.

ERIK JONES QUOTE:
“I’m looking forward to getting back on the oval in the fall race at Charlotte. We ended up with the Roval for a few years, but it’s nice to switch it back to the oval. We didn’t have the weekend we had hoped for at Las Vegas, but LEGACY MOTOR CLUB has been working to make sure we hit the mark this weekend at Charlotte. We’ve always had a strong intermediate program, so I’m hoping we can showcase that again this weekend in the No. 43 Dollar Tree Toyota Camry XSE.”

CLUB NOTES:
BACK ON THE OVAL: For the first time since the 2018 season, Charlotte’s second race is being held on the iconic 1.5-mile oval versus the infield road course known as the Charlotte Roval. First introduced to expand the road course footprint of the NASCAR schedule for the 2018 season, the course was used as a unique addition to the NASCAR Playoffs. With the new layout and the return of the Chase though, Charlotte Motor Speedway and NASCAR opted to go back to the traditional oval for the October 2026 race for all three national series.

WHERE IT ALL BEGAN: Johnson got his first taste of NASCAR Cup Series competition by running three races in 2001 with Hendrick Motorsports in the No. 48 Power of Pride Lowe’s car, co-owned by Rick Hendrick and NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon. Johnson’s first start was October 7, 2001, at Charlotte, followed by races at Homestead and Atlanta that same year. While the results – finishes of 25th, 29th, and 39th – were modest, it marked the beginning of a legendary career.

HOUSE JJ BUILT: Johnson has earned legendary status at Charlotte Motor Speedway with four victories in the Coca-Cola 600 (2003, 2004, 2005, 2014), four in the Bank of America 500 events (2004, 2005, 2009, 2016), and four All-Star Race wins (2003, 2006, 2012, 2013).

KENSETH CHARLOTTE: Competition advisor and 2003 NASCAR Cup Series Champion Matt Kenseth’s most significant accomplishment at Charlotte Motor Speedway is winning the 2000 Coca-Cola 600 as a NASCAR Cup Series rookie. He remains the only rookie to win that prestigious race. In addition to his 2000 victory, Kenseth also won the pole for the fall 500-mile event race in 2015 and the NASCAR All-Star Race in 2004. He also finished fourth in the Coca-Cola 600 in 2005.

PETTY AT CHARLOTTE: LEGACY MOTOR CLUB ambassador and seven-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion Richard “The King” Petty made 64 starts at Charlotte Motor Speedway, beginning with the track’s inaugural race in 1960 and continuing through his retirement in 1992. During that span, he claimed five victories (1961, 1975, 1977, and 1983), earned three pole positions, recorded 23 top-five finishes, 31 top-10s, and led a total of 1,702 laps.

DAY WITH THE CLUB: Join LEGACY MOTOR CLUB on Thursday, Oct. 8 at the shop in Statesville, N.C. to help celebrate the 2027 season and prepare for the race weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Parking, schedule, and shuttle information can be found on LEGACY MOTOR CLUB’s social pages.

SOCIAL SPOTLIGHT:

CLUB APPEARANCES:
John Hunter Nemechek will visit the Dollar Tree display in the fan zone for an autograph session on Sunday, October 11 at 11:45 a.m. local time. He will then visit the Toyota Racing Experience for a Q&A session at 12:15 p.m. local time, followed by a stop at the trackside merchandise trailer at 12:30 p.m. local time for an autograph session.

Erik Jones will stop by the Cracker Barrel stage for a Q&A session at 11:15 a.m. local time on Saturday, October 10. He’ll follow that up at 11:30 a.m. local time with an autograph session at the Dollar Tree Display.

TUNE IN:
Fans can tune in to watch the Bank of America 400 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Sunday, October 11 at 3 p.m. EDT on USA Sports, HBO MAX, PRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90).

ABOUT LEGACY MOTOR CLUB: (LEGACY MC) is a premier auto racing organization owned by seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and 2024 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee, Jimmie Johnson and Knighthead Capital Management, LLC. Drawing from a rich tradition of success, LEGACY MC is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of motorsport and setting new standards of excellence. The CLUB competes under the Toyota Racing banner in the NASCAR Cup Series with the No. 43 Toyota Camry XSE piloted by Erik Jones and the No. 42 Toyota Camry XSE driven by John Hunter Nemechek. The No. 84 Toyota Camry XSE driven by Riley Herbst will debut full time in the 2027 season, while Johnson will make his final NASCAR Cup Series start at the 2027 DAYTONA 500 in the No. 48 Toyota Camry XSE. With NASCAR legend and Hall of Famer Richard Petty, “The King”, serving as CLUB Ambassador, LEGACY MC blends timeless racing traditions with a new forward-thinking vision. As an inclusive community for motorsport enthusiasts, LEGACY MC honors both its storied past and the promising future of its members, always striving for victory and championship glory at the pinnacle of NASCAR competition.

TEAM CHEVY ADVANCE
Charlotte Motor Speedway
October 9-11, 2026

Chevrolet arrives at Charlotte Motor Speedway for a Chase weekend that will have a different look from recent seasons. For the first time since 2017, NASCAR’s fall weekend at “America’s Home for Racing” will return to the track’s oval as all three of the sport’s national touring series will continue their title runs on the traditional 1.5-mile layout. The Craftsman Truck Series will open the weekend Friday with the Ecosave 200, followed by the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series’ Blue Cross NC 300 on Saturday and the Cup Series’ Bank of America 400 on Sunday.

Team Chevy’s Kyle Larson and Sheldon Creed will once again lead their respective series into the weekend from atop the points standings. Officially meeting the halfway point of the Cup Series Chase, Larson’s title-defending run continues to be nothing short of impressive with the Team Chevy driver leaving Las Vegas Motor Speedway with a 2.2 average finish and the largest points lead of the postseason. In the O’Reilly Series, the Bowtie brigade continues to hold the top-six spots – led by Creed, who despite a disappointing west coast outing, still maintains a double-digit points lead.

 Chevrolet’s Cup Series History at Charlotte Motor Speedway:

Chevrolet has been part of Charlotte Motor Speedway’s story from the start. The Bowtie brand won the inaugural Cup race at the track in 1960 with Joe Lee Johnson, and over the series’ 128-race history competing on its oval configuration, the manufacturer’s winning ways have led to a series-leading 49 victories. 27 of those triumphs have come in the track’s crown jewel event, the Coca-Cola 600, including each of the last two with Ross Chastain (2025) and Daniel Suarez (2026).

 LARSON EXTENDS POINTS LEAD, TOP-FIVE STREAK

It was a true championship-caliber performance by Kyle Larson and the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet team at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Despite a turbulent day that saw them go a lap down in the opening stage, the Cliff Daniels-led team rallied right back into race winning contention late to finish second and extend their streak of top-five finishes in the Chase to five. The result aided in a double-digit gain in his points lead, carrying a 40-point advantage over Denny Hamlin into the Charlotte race weekend. He boasts a 2.2 average finish through the first-half of the postseason, including two wins and four-straight results within the top-two. Larson has one victory on the Charlotte oval in his Cup Series career, which came in his first championship-earning season (2021) where he swept all four stages and led 327 of 400 laps of the Coca-Cola 600 to take the crown jewel win.

 BYRON LOOKING FOR A BREAKTHROUGH AT HOME

There’s no sweeter spot to breakthrough into victory lane for the first time this season than at your home track, and that’s exactly what’s on the mind of Charlotte native, William Byron. The Team Chevy driver returns home with a solid baseline of consistency after a sixth-place finish at Las Vegas Motor Speedway extended his top-10 streak in the Chase to four-straight, an effort that also kept his results on 1.5-mile tracks this season all within the top-10. His prowess on intermediate ovals has largely been demonstrated within his recent history at Charlotte Motor Speedway. He’s ranked third-best in the series with an average finish of 9.6 in the Next Gen era at the track, including a string of three-consecutive top-three finishes in the 2023-25 Coca Cola 600’s. His ninth-place result in this season’s spring race further extended his record to four-straight top-10s at the track. In his past four outings on the track’s oval, his other notable achievements include one pole win, four stage wins and a combined 423 laps led.

 CREED STAYS IN COMMAND

Heading into the fifth stop of the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series nine-race postseason schedule, Haas Factory Team’s Sheldon Creed continues to lead Team Chevy into a sweep of the top-six of the points standings. Despite a disappointing finish just outside the top-10 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, he still managed to add on to his points lead to now sit at a 19-point advantage over JR Motorsports’ Carson Kvapil.

But it was Hendrick Motorsports’ Corey Day that was the star of the show in Las Vegas. The young Team Chevy driver put on a career-showing at the Nevada-based oval that included a pole win and a career-high 136 laps led en route to his third win of the season. Cashing in on a monstrous 75-point day, he was able to cut his points deficit from 92 to 41 points from the lead. The 20-year-old made his first-ever start on the Charlotte Motor Speedway oval just this spring, an effort that ended with a solid top-five result.

 LOVE CLOSES IN AND RETURNS TO CHARLOTTE AFTER A NEAR-MISS IN MAY

The reigning NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Champion, Jesse Love, was also able to cut into Sheldon Creed’s points lead at Las Vegas Motor Speedway – finishing third to trim his deficit from 41 points to 21. Now sitting third in the standings, the momentum adds to the fuel for redemption for the Richard Childress Racing driver’s return to Charlotte Motor Speedway. In the track’s spring race, he led a handful of laps late before having to settle for a runner-up finish when rain brought the event to an early end. He’s finished inside the top-10 in all six 1.5-mile races this season, with his Charlotte result leading the way.

 ECKES MAKING MOVES, RECENT CHARLOTTE STANDOUT

Christian Eckes, driver of the No. 91 McAnally-Hilgemann Racing Chevrolet, was the biggest mover in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Chase standings after Kansas – climbing three spots from eighth to fifth. Forced to start 25th after qualifying was cancelled due to rain, he showed speed early in his Silverado RST before charging to a second-place finish and his fourth-straight podium appearance at the track. With another 1.5-mile track on deck, Eckes also carries momentum from his most recent appearance at Charlotte Motor Speedway. In May, he earned top-two points in both stages, led 33 laps and posted the race’s fastest lap on the way to a sixth-place finish. That added on to an already solid resume at the oval that includes an active streak of four-straight top-10 finishes. The remainder of the series’ postseason schedule presents a strong set of tracks for the Team Chevy driver where he’s earned wins at both Phoenix Raceway (one win – Nov. 2023) and Martinsville Speedway (two wins – 2024 sweep).

 BOWTIE BULLETS:

· Sunday’s Bank of America 400 will mark the second of five races in Chevrolet’s ‘Making Strides Against Breast Cancer’ campaign, where Chevrolet will donate $1,500 for each Team Chevy driver that earns a top-10 finish in the NASCAR Cup Series race. With four top-10 finishers in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the current contribution total is $6,000 heading into the Charlotte race weekend.

· Victories by active Chevrolet drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series at Charlotte Motor Speedway:

Daniel Suarez – one win (2026)

Ross Chastain – one win (2025)

Kyle Larson – one win (2021)

Chase Elliott – one win (2020)

Austin Dillon – one win (2017)

· In 128 NASCAR Cup Series races held on the oval at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Chevrolet leads the series with 49 victories, including back-to-back Coca-Cola 600 wins with Ross Chastain (2025) and Daniel Suarez (2026).

· Since the 10-race postseason format was introduced into the NASCAR Cup Series in 2004, Kyle Larson is now just the second driver in history to earn top-five results in the first five races. He’s earned a series-best average finish of 2.2 through the first-half of The Chase, leading the next-best title contender, Austin Cindric, whose average finish is 8.0.

· With Grant Enfinger’s win at Lime Rock Park, Chevrolet sits just two wins away from its milestone 300th all-time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series win.

· With seven-straight victories to start the 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season, Chevrolet set the record for the longest season-opening streak by a single manufacturer in the division’s history.

· In 174 points-paying races in the NASCAR Cup Series Next Gen era, Chevrolet leads all manufacturers with 75 victories – a winning percentage of 43.1%.

· Chevrolet is coming off its 29th all-time sweep of the NASCAR Cup Series championship titles – capturing its 34th driver championship and 44th, and fifth consecutive, manufacturer championship in 2025.

· With its 44 NASCAR Cup Series manufacturer championships, 34 NASCAR Cup Series driver championships, and 889 all-time NASCAR Cup Series wins, Chevrolet continues to hold the title as the winningest brand in NASCAR Cup Series history.

 
TUNE-IN:

NASCAR Cup Series

Bank of America 400

Sunday, Oct. 11, at 3 p.m. ET

USA Network, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90

NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series

Blue Cross NC 250

Saturday, Oct. 10, at 4 p.m. ET

CW, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series

Ecosave 200

Friday, Oct. 9, at 5 p.m. ET

FOX, NASCAR Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90

 
QUOTABLE QUOTES:

Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

You seem to do really well at that Charlotte Motor Speedway. You also won the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race there in May, but what makes you so good at Charlotte Motor Speedway?

“Fast cars, I can’t look past that. It’s the first track I’ve been able to fortunately win at in all three of the national series for Truck, O’Reilly and Cup. Definitely good memories, a lot of losses. I mean, to say we’ve won three races means we’ve lost a whole lot more. So there’s been some humbling times, but I can’t look past winning the Coke 600 last year, and trying to go and win another oval race there is top of the list. I mean, just what that would mean for us as a team and me personally to drive back into victory lane is everything we’re trying to do. If the race car handles like it did last year at 600, we’ll have a shot.”

I guess this goes without asking, you were a fan to see the Charlotte Oval back on the fall schedule rather than the Roval, correct?

“Yeah, I would have wished it was an oval track last year. From the high of winning the 600 in May on Memorial Day Sunday, to the agony of falling out of the then playoffs last year at the Roval, by two huge mistakes on my part. So it wasn’t actually on the track that caused me the issue, it was pit road and just big errors that took us out of advancing to the round of eight a year ago, and then you double down on that and not even make the chase this year is tough. But yeah, Charlotte was one of my coolest core life memories that I’ll take with me for the rest of my days. So yeah, glad to be on the Oval and back on the circle track.”

Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

Let’s go back to your first NASCAR Cup Series win. It was the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. You’re battling the great Jimmie Johnson. Describe that feeling coming off Turn 4 knowing that you’ve got enough fuel and you’re about to win your first race and it’s a Crown Jewel?

“I just remember the sense of relief, and thinking ‘wow, we won a race at the highest level of NASCAR. I remember tracking Jimmie Johnson and just knowing what we were battling, the chess game that we were playing on fuel. I had watched so many laps of Jimmie around Charlotte Motor Speedway, and how, you know, precise he was with his line in Turns 1 and 2. I just remember arching Turn 1 as late as possible, and coming off the corner, and Jimmy pulling to the side, out of gas. It was like ‘okay, here we go. Now, we just need to get to the checkered flag,’ and then we were able to do it.”

What is that feeling like when you see the checkered flag first at Charlotte Motor Speedway?

“There’s nothing better than looking in your mirror and knowing everybody’s behind you and you’re coming to the checkered flag. It’s a great feeling.”

Daniel Suarez, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

You’re heading back to Charlotte, where you won in May. How do you feel about returning to the oval layout after competing on the ROVAL in recent years?

“I’m looking forward to being home this weekend and getting back to Charlotte. I’m glad we’re back on the oval. We had a great race there in May, so hopefully we can go back, have a good car and put together another strong weekend.”

Ty Dillon, No. 10 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet

What are your thoughts on Charlotte Motor Speedway?

“Charlotte Motor Speedway is where so much of my life was started and was created. So many special things that mean so much to me happened. I met my wife here at this track when we were little and have got to bring my kids now. So, this is a very special place. The only thing is I haven’t got to victory lane in the big cars. I’ve won everything. I’ve won at the dirt track. I’ve won at the little track. I’m ready for my shot here in the big victory lane.”

Do you enjoy the oval or “ROVAL” layout?

“I’ve always loved high-speed 1.5-mile ovals because you’re constantly balancing execution, tire wear, and pure corner speed. The road-course setups force you to make a lot of compromises with the car, whereas running the oval lets us lean on raw speed and strategy. The racing on 1.5-mile ovals with this Next Gen car has been incredible—it gives you multiple lanes to work with and real opportunities to pass.”

Austin Hill, No. 33 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

The Lucas Oil red scheme will return this weekend, with the company saving the iconic Lucas Oil blue scheme for Brexton Busch. What are your thoughts about the look of the car?

“It looks great. Red is my favorite color. Growing up, blue was my favorite color, but it has slowly turned into red. Kyle (Busch) meant so much to our sport and team, and a lot of folks think of the blue Lucas Oil scheme when they think of Kyle’s time at RCR. He had a hand in designing that car. His first win at RCR came in the Lucas Oil blue, and his last race was in it. And now to top it all off, it’s something that Brexton can have down the road if he wants it. Keeping the blue Lucas Oil design in the Busch family is really neat, just to keep the legacy going with it. When I saw the red scheme in person for the first time though, I thought the car felt like me. Hopefully, we can have a good race on Sunday and start my own path with the red now.”

Describe the challenge of running double duty every weekend between the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and NASCAR Cup Series.

“Before I was working five or six days a week and now, I’m working seven days a week. There is something every single day, so I technically don’t have a day off. It’s great getting the extra reps, so I’m not complaining about the laps on both Saturdays and Sundays. The preparation work is really tough. The average person probably doesn’t understand how different the Cup car is from the O’Reilly car. How you make speed, where the downforce is, your lift points, and your braking points are all different. I still remind myself that it has a steering wheel, gas, and brake pedal, but everything else is different. It takes 20-30 laps to get readjusted and settled into the other car. We are making the most of it and while it’s hard, I’ve found a good balance with the schedule.”

Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet

“We are a tight-knit team, and we enjoy accomplishing things people may not expect from us,” said Stenhouse. “That connects naturally with BEYOND RESILIENCE. You prepare, take the risk, learn from what happens and come back ready to achieve more.”

Cody Ware, No. 51 Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet

“My racing career and, really, my passion for racing started at Charlotte. It was in ‘Winter Heat’ and ‘Summer Shootout’ in Legend Cars, racing in the semipro division. To have started racing at Charlotte in one of the smallest forms of racing, both literally and figuratively, to now racing at the pinnacle of stock car racing at Charlotte, is really cool. It’s something I always think about every time I drive through the tunnel and into the infield.”

Michael McDowell, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

This the first time Charlotte has not raced on the ROVAL since 2017, what are you expecting to see and learn from the spring?

“Being a road course guy, I hated seeing the ROVAL go. We’ve had some competitive speed on the oval the last few years and we’re looking to maximize that. Obviously, Daniel (Suárez) won the Coca-Cola 600 which was huge for our organization and that gives us a little added confidence going into this weekend. That confidence is super helpful after this stretch of 1.5-mile tracks, which haven’t gone exactly as we hoped. Regardless, 400 miles at Charlotte will be fun. The race is going to feel much shorter, so having track position early will be crucial if we want to maximize our day. Off the track, Charlotte is a busy week with appearances and our Fan Day on Friday, but it’s great to be home while having some friends and family join us. Hopefully, we can run up front so Spire (Motorsports) can sweep the Charlotte races this season.”

Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

Charlotte marks the third mile-and-a-half in a row and it’s obviously a home race. What are your thoughts heading into the weekend?

“It is business as usual. If anything, it is exciting for us just because it is a good one for us. We restarted on the front row of the Coca-Cola 600 last year when we blew up, then Daniel (Suarez) and the No. 7 team got the win, so the whole shop is excited to get. Add in the home race aspect and all the families that will be there, and it can be a really special weekend.”

Connor Zilisch, No. 88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

How long did it take you to get hydrated after the Las Vegas race on Sunday? The high temperature on race day was in the mid-90s.

“It was warm, for sure. I drank a couple bottles of water on the plane ride home and I still don’t think I’m completely hydrated. My best guess is I probably lost seven pounds and I haven’t quite replenished that yet. I need to do a better job getting some water and some fluids in me after the race. I think the humidity usually is what makes it so tough and it was pretty it’s dry heat out there so it wasn’t too bad.”

What is different about Charlotte versus other mile-and-a-half racetracks?

“Charlotte is different for sure. The bumps in Turns 3 and 4 are something you have to really pay attention to. You have to be really diligent with the line at that end of the track. If you’re going to the bottom, you have to get your left side on that painted line at the bottom of the racetrack. I feel like the groove always widens out. You’re able to run up by the wall and all the way down at the painted line and that provides a good show for the fans. It’s a lot of fun and I’m looking forward to it. I think Charlotte is one of the best tracks we go to. Charlotte is ‘s where I grew up, so I’ve always got some friends and family there, so hopefully we can have a good day.”

 
Chevrolet NASCAR Cup Series Statistics

Manufacturer Championships:

Total (1949-2025): 44

First title for Chevrolet: 1958

Highest number of consecutive titles: 13 (2003-15)

Most recent: 2025

Years Won: 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025

Driver Championships:

Total (1949-2025): 34

First Chevrolet champion: Buck Baker (1957)

Highest number of consecutive titles: 7 (2005-11)

Most recent: Kyle Larson (2025)

Driver and Manufacturer Championship Sweeps: 29

Years Won: 1957, 1960, 1961, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2020, 2021, 2025

Event Victories:

Record for total race wins in single season: 26 (2007)

2026 STATISTICS:

Wins: 8

Poles: 6

Laps Led: 2,380

Top-Fives: 52

Top-10s: 107

Stage Wins: 21

CHEVROLET IN NASCAR CUMULATIVE STATISTICS:

Total Chevrolet race wins: 889 (1949 to date)

Poles won to date: 772

Laps led to date: 259,114

Top-fives to date: 4,488

Top-10s to date: 9,258

Total NASCAR Cup Wins by Corporation, 1949 to Date:

       General Motors: 1,223

       Chevrolet: 889

       Pontiac: 154

       Oldsmobile: 115

       Buick: 65



       Ford: 855                                                                               

       Ford: 755

       Mercury: 96

       Lincoln: 4



       Fiat Chrysler Automobiles: 467

       Dodge: 217

       Plymouth: 191

       Chrysler: 59



       Toyota: 219

 

About General Motors

General Motors (NYSE:GM) is driving the future of transportation, leveraging advanced technology to build safer, smarter, and lower emission cars, trucks, and SUVs. GM’s Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC brands offer a broad portfolio of innovative gasoline-powered vehicles and the industry’s widest range of EVs, as we move to an all-electric future.

GM Motorsports, including the Cadillac Formula 1® Team develops and proves advanced technologies in the most demanding environments, accelerating innovation in performance, safety, efficiency, and electrification for its production vehicles. Cadillac Racing is one of the leading manufacturers in the IMSA and FIA World Endurance Championships (WEC). Chevrolet competes in single seaters in the US IndyCar series, and in NASCAR with multiple team partners and drivers. Corvette customer teams compete in GT series across the globe including IMSA and WEC. Learn more at GM.com.

Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series at Charlotte Motor Speedway… Richard Childress Racing has made eight trips to Victory Lane at Charlotte Motor Speedway, including six wins in the prestigious Coca-Cola 600, which is the longest race in the NASCAR Cup Series season and widely considered a “Crown Jewel” event in our sport. Dale Earnhardt is the winningest driver under the RCR banner at Charlotte, winning the Coca-Cola 600 in 1986, 1992, and 1993, as well as a 500-mile race at the track in October 1986. Kevin Harvick won the Coca-Cola 600 in 2011 and 2013, and Austin Dillon earned his first career Cup Series win in the Coca-Cola 600 in 2017. Jeff Burton earned one win for RCR at Charlotte Motor Speedway in October 2008.

This weekend marks a return to the track’s standard oval after an eight-year stint in which the fall NASCAR race weekend featured a hybrid road-course/oval “Roval” format.

Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series at Charlotte Motor Speedway… Richard Childress Racing has also found success in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series at Charlotte Motor Speedway with five victories, most recently when Tyler Reddick captured the checkered flag in 2019. Dillon swept both spring and fall races on the 1.5-mile layout in 2015. Jeff Green gave the Welcome, N.C., based organization its first NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series victory at the Concord facility in 2002 (spring) and Jeff Burton added a win for the team in 2007 (fall). The RCR team was strong in their most recent appearance to the track in May, finishing second (Love) and third (Hill).

Kyle Busch Celebration of Life… Following Friday evening’s NASCAR Truck Series race on October 9, Charlotte Motor Speedway will hold a public memorial service honoring the life and legacy of two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and RCR driver Kyle Busch. The service is free and open to the public, allowing fans, family and members of the motorsports community to pay tribute to Busch. The celebration of life will also be aired on FS1 following the Truck race.

Catch Saturday’s Action… The O’Reilly Auto Parts Series’ Blue Cross NC 250 at Charlotte Motor Speedway will be televised live on Saturday, October 10 at 4 p.m. ET on The CW and stream live on the ESPN App with ESPN Unlimited. The live radio broadcast can be heard on the Performance Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. Saturday morning’s practice and qualifying session will be shown for free on The CW App and stream live on the ESPN App with ESPN Unlimited beginning at 10:30 a.m. ET.

Catch Us on USA Network… The Cup Series’ 400-mile race at Charlotte Motor Speedway will be televised live on Sunday, October 11 at 3 p.m. ET on USA Network. The live radio broadcast can be heard on the Performance Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. Saturday afternoon’s practice and qualifying session will be shown live on truTV beginning at 1 p.m. ET. Ride shotgun all season long with live, in-car camera feeds and scanner audio with a paid subscription to Max as part of their NASCAR driver cam experience during the race.

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Austin Dillon and No. 3 Morgan & Morgan Chevrolet at Charlotte Motor Speedway… Austin Dillon earned his career-first NASCAR Cup Series win at Charlotte Motor Speedway with a victory in the Coca-Cola 600 in May 2017. The Welcome, North Carolina native has competed in 18 Cup Series races on the oval configuration at his home state track, earning five top-10 finishes. Beyond Cup, Dillon is a two-time winner at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, sweeping both races in 2015 from the pole and leading a race-high 163 laps in the spring event. The 36-year-old competed in three NASCAR Truck Series races at the track with a best result of seventh twice.

Previous Winner… Starting from 22nd in the 2017 Coca-Cola 600, Dillon and the No. 3 team methodically worked their way through the field during the 600-mile race, earning stage points in both Stages 2 and 3. The turning point of the race came in the final stage after a restart with 67 laps remaining. While most of the frontrunners pitted under green by Lap 368 of 400, Dillon and Jimmie Johnson rolled the dice by staying out and attempting to stretch their fuel to the finish. Dillon spent the closing laps tracking Johnson, then, with three laps remaining, the seven-time champion ran out of gas, handing the lead to Dillon. With Kyle Busch and Martin Truex Jr. rapidly closing in, Dillon managed to nurse his car to the checkered flag with just enough fuel left in the tank. The victory marked the first of Dillon’s six NASCAR Cup Series wins and returned the iconic No. 3 car to Victory Lane for the first time since Dale Earnhardt’s final Cup Series triumph at Talladega Superspeedway in October 2000.

Did You Know… With Dillon’s 2017 Charlotte Motor Speedway win, he became the seventh driver in NASCAR Cup Series history to earn his first career victory in the series in the Coca-Cola 600. He’s among an elite group that includes NASCAR Hall of Famers David Pearson, Jeff Gordon, Bobby Labonte, and Matt Kenseth.

About Morgan & Morgan… As America’s largest injury law firm, with lawyers licensed in all 50 states, Morgan & Morgan has recovered more than $30 billion for over 700,000 clients. Throughout the United States, our attorneys fulfill our “For The People” commitment in over 50 practice areas, including national mass torts and class actions, labor and employment, product liability and dangerous drugs, among many others. Hundreds of law firms throughout the U.S. refer thousands of cases through our Morgan Connection platform. Our firm has taken on some of the biggest corporations across the globe, including BP, Facebook, Google, Monsanto, and Eli Lilly, and recovered billions in complex national litigation, including $1.8 billion in the Porter Ranch Gas Leak case in California. Learn more at www.forthepeople.com.

Meet Dillon… Fans will have two opportunities to meet Dillon this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway. On Sunday, October 11 beginning at 11:30 a.m. Local Time, Dillon is scheduled to stop by the RCR Merchandise Hauler in the Fan Zone to sign autographs. Be sure to stop by and stock up on all your race day gear. For fans unable to travel to the race, visit the official RCR Team Store to purchase Austin Dillon merch: https://store.rcrracing.com.

Following, Dillon is scheduled to appear on the Fan Zone Stage for a Trackside Live Q&A, beginning at 12:30 p.m. Local Time. Be sure to stop by a hear Dillon’s race insights before the green flag waves.

AUSTIN DILLON QUOTES:

Let’s go back to your first NASCAR Cup Series win. It was the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. You’re battling the great Jimmie Johnson. Describe that feeling coming off Turn 4 knowing that you’ve got enough fuel and you’re about to win your first race and it’s a Crown Jewel?

“I just remember the sense of relief, and thinking ‘wow, we won a race at the highest level of NASCAR. I remember tracking Jimmie Johnson and just knowing what we were battling, the chess game that we were playing on fuel. I had watched so many laps of Jimmie around Charlotte Motor Speedway, and how, you know, precise he was with his line in Turns 1 and 2. I just remember arching Turn 1 as late as possible, and coming off the corner, and Jimmie pulling to the side, out of gas. It was like ‘okay, here we go. Now, we just need to get to the checkered flag,’ and then we were able to do it.”

What is that feeling like when you see the checkered flag first at Charlotte Motor Speedway?

“There’s nothing better than looking in your mirror and knowing everybody’s behind you and you’re coming to the checkered flag. It’s a great feeling.”

Austin Hill and the No. 33 Lucas Oil Chevrolet at Charlotte Motor Speedway… Austin Hill has made one NASCAR Cup Series start at Charlotte Motor Speedway, coming behind the wheel of the No. 33 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet in May. The 32-year-old has also competed in six NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series races (best finish of third) and five NASCAR Truck Series events (best finish of sixth) at the North Carolina oval.

Rockin’ the Red… In a touching way to honor Kyle Busch, the iconic blue Lucas Oil scheme – designed and driven by Busch in both his first win and his final race at RCR – is now being saved for his son, Brexton. Following its debut last month at World Wide Technology Raceway, Hill will once again pilot the Lucas Oil red design this weekend and continue a new chapter with the No. 33.

About Lucas Oil… For more than 35 years, Lucas has set the world standard in superior engine oils, additives, appearance and lubricant products – powering lifestyles across the automotive, trucking, marine, outdoor, motorsports, industrial and home product worlds. The hard-charging American brand’s commitment to bring the ultimate in performance solutions impacts every customer and partner equally – from jointly-engineered oil for racing teams like Richard Childress Racing (RCR), Monster Jam®, sports teams like the Dallas Cowboys and Indianapolis Colts, to additives that deliver unrivaled fuel economy, power and extended engine life to an everyday driver.

Based in Indianapolis, the company’s rapidly expanding global footprint is highlighted by cutting-edge research and development operations, evolving retail channels and high-tech manufacturing. More than 300 premium products make up the largest variety of shelf products of any oil company in the United States with a distribution network across 48 different countries and big-name retailers that include Amazon, Advance Auto Parts, AutoZone, O’Reilly Auto Parts, NAPA, Walmart, Home Depot, Harbor Freight, Rural King, Tractor Supply and more. For additional information, visit www.LucasOil.com and follow #TeamLucasOil on Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok.

Meet Hill… On Sunday, October 11 at 12:40 p.m. Local Time, Hill is scheduled to sign autographs at the RCR Merchandise Hauler in the Fan Zone at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Stop by to meet the racer and purchase a new Lucas Oil t-shirt commemorating both the blue and red schemes.

AUSTIN HILL QUOTES:

The Lucas Oil red scheme will return this weekend, with the company saving the iconic Lucas Oil blue scheme for Brexton Busch. What are your thoughts about the look of the car?

“It looks great. Red is my favorite color. Growing up, blue was my favorite color, but it has slowly turned into red. Kyle (Busch) meant so much to our sport and team, and a lot of folks think of the blue Lucas Oil scheme when they think of Kyle’s time at RCR. He had a hand in designing that car. His first win at RCR came in the Lucas Oil blue, and his last race was in it. And now to top it all off, it’s something that Brexton can have down the road if he wants it. Keeping the blue Lucas Oil design in the Busch family is really neat, just to keep the legacy going with it. When I saw the red scheme in person for the first time though, I thought the car felt like me. Hopefully, we can have a good race on Sunday and start my own path with the red now.”

Describe the challenge of running double duty every weekend between the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and NASCAR Cup Series.

“Before I was working five or six days a week and now, I’m working seven days a week. There is something every single day, so I technically don’t have a day off. It’s great getting the extra reps, so I’m not complaining about the laps on both Saturdays and Sundays. The preparation work is really tough. The average person probably doesn’t understand how different the Cup car is from the O’Reilly car. How you make speed, where the downforce is, your lift points, and your braking points are all different. I still remind myself that it has a steering wheel, gas, and brake pedal, but everything else is different. It takes 20-30 laps to get readjusted and settled into the other car. We are making the most of it and while it’s hard, I’ve found a good balance with the schedule.”

Jesse Love and the No. 2 Whelen/National Fallen Firefighters Foundation Chevrolet at Charlotte Motor Speedway… Jesse Love has made three career NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series starts at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The Menlo Park, California native has also competed in one career ARCA Menards Series event (2023) at the Concord facility, where the young gun started from the pole position, led 67 laps, and secured the victory.

Last Time at Charlotte… In May’s race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Love started 17th and charged into the top-10, gaining 11 positions to capture points in Stage 1 and finish sixth. On the final restart of Stage 2, the 21-year-old drove from third to first to take the lead before surrendering the top spot late in the stage. NASCAR declared the race official due to weather at the conclusion of Stage 2, resulting in a runner-up finish for Love.

Get to the Points… As we get ready for the fifth race in the 2026 Chase, Love is currently third in the standings, 21 points behind leader Sheldon Creed. Last weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Love qualified 10th and quickly made his way to the front, earning points in each stage before finishing the race third, tying his best finish at the Sin City track. Love earned 44 points, the third most of any driver in the race, allowing him to gain one position in the standings, and nearly half his gap to the leader.

Honoring Fallen Firefighters… For Saturday’s O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race, Whelen Engineering and RCR have teamed up with the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) for the fifth consecutive season to honor fallen firefighters. A special paint scheme was created for the No. 2 Whelen Chevrolet featuring the names of 204 firefighters who died in the line of duty. These fire heroes were officially added to the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial in Emmitsburg, Maryland, earlier this year.

Whelen and Richard Childress Racing revealed this year’s design in April at the annual FDIC International fire-service conference in Indianapolis. The unveiling coincided with the Whelen Challenge, which raised more than $50,000 for NFFF, with Whelen contributing an additional $50,000 match for a total donation of more than $100,000.

About the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF)… The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF) was established by the United States Congress in 1992 to lead a national effort in honoring America’s fallen firefighters. Since then, the Foundation has created powerful programs that pay lasting tribute to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice while providing meaningful support to their families and colleagues. Through its close partnership with the fire service and its affiliate, the First Responder Center for Excellence (FRCE), the NFFF is also deeply committed to reducing firefighter line-of-duty deaths and injuries. To learn how you can support this important mission, visit firehero.org.

About Whelen Engineering… Since 1952, Whelen Engineering has been a proud ally and supporter of our nation’s first responders. Driven by a mission to protect those who protect others, Whelen provides the high-quality, reliable products and technology needed to aid them in their critical missions. From warning lights to white illumination, sirens, controllers, and software, every product that bears the Whelen name has been thoughtfully designed, manufactured, and tested right here in America to perform at the highest level in any condition. Whelen is honored to have earned the trust of first responders around the world as leaders of the emergency warning industry and carries that responsibility earnestly, always striving to ensure that the everyday heroes serving under the illumination and protection of Whelen products are equipped to do their jobs with enhanced efficiency, reliability, and safety. To learn more about Whelen Engineering, visit www.whelen.com.

Meet Love… This weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway, on Saturday, October 10, beginning at 1:10 p.m. Local Time, Love is scheduled to stop by the RCR Merchandise Hauler to meet fans and sign autographs. Fans are encouraged to stop by, meet Love and get new race day gear before the green flag waves.

JESSE LOVE QUOTE:

What opportunity lies ahead at Charlotte Motor Speedway to possibly claim the points lead in the race for the Championship?

“We were really good here in the spring, it fits our package. We learned some things last week in Las Vegas that we will implement in Charlotte, and go from there. I think we’re struggling with some things that if we fix for Charlotte, we’ll be in good shape.”

Austin Hill and the No. 21 Bennett Transportation & Logistics Chevrolet at Charlotte Motor Speedway… Austin Hill has made six NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series starts at Charlotte Motor Speedway, capturing two top-five and three top-10 finishes. The Winston, Georgia native’s best O’Reilly Auto Parts Series finish of third came earlier this season in May. Hill has also competed in five NASCAR Truck Series races (best finish of sixth) and one ARCA Menards Series event at the 1.5-mile oval.

Last Time at Charlotte… During the last O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May, Hill started from the sixth position before slipping outside of the top-10 in the opening stage. Crew chief Chad Haney fine-tuned the balance of the No. 21 Chevrolet, which allowed the veteran racer to drive forward and contend for the win. Hill ultimately finished third at the conclusion of Stage 2 when NASCAR made the race official due to weather.

Points Check… Hill currently holds the ninth position in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Chase standings. The racer is only five points behind eighth-place Sammy Smith and 99 points behind leader Sheldon Creed.

About Bennett Family of Companies… McDonough-Ga. based Bennett Family of Companies is a woman-owned, Women’s Enterprise Business Council (WBENC) certified, diversified transportation and logistics company. Through its 14 affiliated operating companies, the Bennett Family of Companies delivers integrated transportation and supply chain management solutions worldwide. Bennett has 4,625 drivers/owner-operators, over 1,000 employees and 600 agents located across the United States. For more information, visit www.bennettig.com.

AUSTIN HILL QUOTES:

What are your thoughts on racing at Charlotte Motor Speedway?

“Charlotte has been an okay place for me. I’ve run top-five there before – even earlier this year in the May race – but it’s a track that has historically been hit or miss for our No. 21 team. We will go there at times, have decent speed, and get a good finish, but there are other times where we run outside the top-10. I have confidence going into Charlotte, but it’s in the middle ground. It’s not at the same level as Las Vegas, but it’s not as low as Bristol on our ranking chart.”

What would a win at Charlotte Motor Speedway mean for your Chase standings?

“A win anywhere would be huge, simply because of the extra bonus points you get for winning a race. We are not where we would like to be points wise, but our team has to focus on our own deal and earn as many points as possible. It’s going to take a huge run in these final races to make a charge forward, but I have confidence that our team can compete for wins before the season ends. The points will shake out where they may at that point, but I want to finish this season strong with the No. 21 team. It’s always special racing at Charlotte because a lot of the guys have their family and friends at the track since we are home. People who normally don’t get to attend races are there, and it feels like a big event with the amount of support at the track.”