2+ week, 6+ hour ago (538+ words) Connor Zilisch's season has been tough, busy, and packed with lessons. He is nineteen and already racing at a level most drivers spend years chasing. His latest setback came when he lost his chance to take part in the FIA World Endurance Championship rookie test in Bahrain. That opportunity depended on earning enough FIA license points. He fell short when he missed the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series title at Phoenix. The loss hurt twice. He missed the trophy and lost the points he needed for the Hypercar test. He spoke honestly about the disappointment. "I wish I could have been in Bahrain, but obviously it didn't work out how we wanted it to, he said." Support poured in from fans and people in the industry." Instead of waiting for another chance, Zilisch regrouped and got back in a race car at…...

3+ week, 4+ day ago (564+ words) Cadillac confirms that Connor Zilisch and Colton Herta will test its V-Series.R GTP cars at Daytona International Speedway from November 1416, 2025. This test, sanctioned by IMSA, will be the first public look at Cadillac's 2026 aerodynamic package. It also serves as an important step for both drivers, Zilisch, the 19-year-old NASCAR talent, and Herta, the 25-year-old IndyCar veteran. Zilisch will drive the #31 Whelen-sponsored Cadillac for Action Express Racing, while Herta will pilot the #40 car for Wayne Taylor Racing. The test highlights Cadillac's push to combine youthful energy with proven experience, shaping its 2026 endurance racing lineup. Connor Zilisch is quickly making a name for himself beyond NASCAR. Fresh off a strong season in the Xfinity Series, where he finished as runner-up, Zilisch is now stepping into endurance racing with this Daytona test. He's no stranger to success on long tracks; his LMP2 class…...

1+ week, 3+ hour ago (403+ words) These messages, now public as exhibits in federal court, are being used by the teams to support claims that NASCAR pushed back against competition. As the lawsuit continues, the documents are offering a rare look into how the sport's leadership viewed a growing rival. " Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) November 22, 2025 On July 20, 2023, Phelps reacted after learning that Hamlin, driver of the No. 11 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing, agreed to race in an SRX event. According to the filings, he sent a message to O'Donnell that said, "This is the trash series that needs a knife taken to it." O'Donnell replied that the legal team was already working on the situation. "Already on it with legal," he wrote. He also noted that NASCAR could enforce contract rules that prevent active Cup drivers from racing in non-NASCAR stock-car events without written approval. Phelps then…...

4+ week, 15+ hour ago (559+ words) He may not have been the odds-on-favorite to win the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship, but that didn't stop Jesse Love from becoming one. Taking the lead with 24 laps remaining, Love stayed out front to win the race and claim the crowning achievement at Phoenix Raceway on Friday Night. He and the No. 2 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet team overcame a slow start and improved their car via pit stops to get better. And better and better they got as Love battled two different JR Motorsports championship contenders for the title and race victory. It's his first, sixth for RCR and second for crew chief Danny Stockman. Love's last victory was the season opener at Daytona International Speedway. The struggles for Love and the RCR team really started at Martinsville Speedway last weekend. After starting 21st, they didn't move the needle much and…...

2+ week, 1+ day ago (548+ words) Connor Zilisch's rise in NASCAR has been fast, loud, and packed with results that most young drivers can only dream about. Now, as Trackhouse Racing prepares to place him in the No. 88 Chevrolet for the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season, the 19-year-old is stepping into the toughest lane of his career. His climb through karting, late models, and the Xfinity Series has marked him as one of the clearest talents in years. But moving into the Cup Series brings new pressure, new competition, and far less room for mistakes. That's why three-time champion Joey Logano is offering both praise and a reminder. His message is simple: talent is great, but Cup racing demands patience, humility, and long-term focus. Joey Logano knows exactly what it feels like to enter the Cup Series at a young age. He made his own debut at…...

1+ week, 5+ day ago (339+ words) Ram is shaking things up in a big way as it returns to NASCAR's Craftsman Truck Series for 2026, and it's not doing it quietly. The company rolled out its new "Free Agent Program," a plan that will put a different driver behind the wheel of the No. 25 Kaulig Racing truck every race week. Instead of sticking with one full-time driver, Ram will announce the lineup days leading up to the event. The goal is simple: bring more eyes to the Truck Series, make the races feel unpredictable, and give fans something to talk about. Ram says this move is built on real numbers and a real need to get fans more invested in this part of the sport. Ram believes there's a wide gap between the popularity of the Cup Series and the Truck Series, even though a large number…...

2+ week, 7+ hour ago (398+ words) Connor Zilisch is only 19, but he's already stacking achievements that many drivers twice his age are still chasing. Fresh off winning the 2024 Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona in the LMP2 class, he just took another big step by testing Action Express Racing's Cadillac V-Series.R GTP car at Daytona. Over the course of 33 laps during an IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship test, he showed the same calm, sharp focus that's becoming his signature. This was his first taste of GTP machinery, and it put him in a strong spot for a possible fourth-driver role in the 2026 Rolex 24. For someone who's jumped between NASCAR, prototypes, and GT cars, this test was another sign of how fast Connor Zilisch's career is moving. Chris Mitchum, director of operations for Action Express Racing, confirmed the team was pleased with the run. "He did great," Mitchum told Sportscar365. He…...

2+ week, 3+ day ago (478+ words) Starting in 2026, NASCAR's broadcast setup will see a major change as USA Sports becomes the new producer of 10 NASCAR Cup Series races that previously aired on USA Network. This update follows the corporate restructuring that moved several NBCUniversal cable networks into Versant Media Group, the parent company behind USA Sports. "USA Sports will be the home of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs once again in 2026, producing the final 14 races of the season, with 10 airing on USA Network beginning next summer." The 2026 broadcast plan also matches NASCAR's efforts to keep race times steady and easy for fans to follow. The shift marks a new role for USA Sports as it takes on both regular-season and playoff production duties under the Versant umbrella. The NASCAR Cup Series broadcasts will be split among four domestic media partners as part of a new seven-year…...

2+ week, 1+ day ago (473+ words) The first-ever NASCAR awards event, called the Grand National Bash, presented by ChaLew Performance, is set to bring fresh attention to every level of stock car racing in 2025. The new celebration was created by Xfinity Series driver and team owner Tommy Joe Martins, who wanted an event that doesn't just honor the top NASCAR Cup Series teams, but also the smaller NASCAR teams working hard behind the scenes. The Grand National Bash groups teams into four levels: Premier, Affiliate, Independent, and Breakout, showing the range of support and resources across national NASCAR events in 2025. A panel of media members, owners, drivers, agents, and team representatives selected the nominees. Racing Insights also supplied helpful stats for the process. Premier Organization of the Year features big names such as Front Row Motorsports, Haas Factory Team, Joe Gibbs Racing, Jr. Motorsports, Kaulig Racing,…...

2+ week, 5+ day ago (495+ words) Ryan Ellis is stepping into a new chapter in his NASCAR career. The 35-year-old driver has signed a multi-year deal to race full-time for Young's Motorsports in the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series starting in 2026. Along with the new contract, Ellis brings solid sponsorship support. Tablo TV will serve as the primary sponsor for 11 races, while Sweetwater Construction and Demco Products will join as partners. His move marks his third full-time season after parting ways with DGM Racing. Ellis talked about what the partnership means to him. "So TabloTV has been a great partner of mine for a long time now, and they've been with me through thick and thin," Ellis said. "They wanted to make sure that we could make this move happen. And so, you know, I'm really grateful for their support and their belief in me." He…...