Corey LaJoie
Driver Kyle Larson (5) pushes Christopher Bell (20) after a wreck during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race, Monday, March 29, 2021, in Bristol, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)
COLUMN: Bristol avoided the mess most feared for a dirt race

By Jenna Fryer Mar. 30, 2021 07:05 PM EDT

FILE - Bristol Motor Speedway has transformed the half-mile concrete track into a dirt track, in Bristol Tenn., in this Friday, Feb. 19, 2021, file photo. Bristol, once one of the toughest tickets in sports, trucked 23,000 cubic yards of dirt into its famed bullring to transform the facility and host NASCAR's first Cup race on dirt in 70 years on Sunday, March 28. (David Crigger/Bristol Herald Courier via AP, File)
NASCAR to play in the dirt for the first time since 1970

By Jenna Fryer Mar. 25, 2021 06:20 PM EDT

FILE - In this Aug. 17, 2007, file photo, crew chief Steve Letarte watches Jeff Gordon during practice for the NASCAR 3M Performance 400 at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Mich., in this Friday, Aug. 17, 2007, file photo. NBC analyst Steve Letarte moonlights as the competition consultant for Spire Motorsports, a position he never imagined would put him back on top of a pit box. When COVID-19 protocols sidelined the regular crew chief, Letarte agreed to get back on top of a pit box Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021, at Homestead-Miami Speedway. He'll call the race for Corey LaJoie, his first time as crew chief since the 2014 season finale. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)
Letarte to play crew chief again in 1-race stint for Spire

By Jenna Fryer Feb. 25, 2021 06:46 PM EST

Fans hold up three fingers during a lap three tribute honoring the late Dale Earnhardt, Sr., during the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Sunday, Feb. 14, 2021, in Daytona Beach, Fla. Dale Earnhardt, Sr., the all-time winner at Daytona, was killed in a fatal car crash at the speedway 20-years ago today. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
LaJoie gets fast start in first race with Spire Motorsports

By Jenna Fryer Feb. 18, 2021 03:13 PM EST

Austin Dillon (3) takes the checkered flag to win the second NASCAR Daytona 500 duel qualifying auto race Friday, Feb. 12, 2021, at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Drivers competing in the 2021 Daytona 500

By The Associated Press Feb. 12, 2021 01:38 PM EST

Cody Ware gets ready for a NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race practice session at Daytona International Speedway, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Who are you? Tiny NASCAR teams have slim chance at Daytona

By Mark Long Feb. 10, 2021 04:28 PM EST

FILE - In this Oct. 5, 2019, file photo, driver B.J. McLeod, waits to get into their cars before qualifying for the NASCAR Xfinity Series auto race in Dover, Del. NASCAR will have another new team in 2021 — bringing the total to three new ownership groups in the Cup Series — with the formation of Live Fast Motorsports. The team formally announced Friday, Nov. 20, 2020, is owned by drivers Matt Tifft and B.J. McLeod. (AP Photo/Brien Aho, File)
Live Fast Motorsports becomes 3rd new NASCAR team for 2021

By Jenna Fryer Nov. 20, 2020 02:13 PM EST

FILE - In this June 22, 2020, file photo, Driver Bubba Wallace is consoled by team owner Richard Petty prior to the start of the NASCAR Cup Series at the Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, Ala. The Cup Series returns to Talladega on Sunday. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File)
NASCAR Cup Series at Talladega

Oct. 03, 2020 02:59 PM EDT

A flag flies at half staff to honor Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg before the start of a NASCAR Cup Series auto race Sunday, Sept. 27, 2020, in Las Vegas. The race was run without fans due to COVID-19. (AP Photo/Isaac Brekken)
NASCAR Cup Series at Las Vegas

Sep. 27, 2020 06:13 PM EDT

Alex Bowman, left, Chase Elliott, center, and Denny Hamlin listen to the national anthem before the NASCAR Cup Series auto race Saturday, Sept. 19, 2020, in Bristol, Tenn. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
Column: NASCAR's dizzying silly season will change landscape

By Jenna Fryer Sep. 21, 2020 09:34 PM EDT

FILE - Daniel Suarez talks to the media before practice for a NASCAR Cup Series auto race on Friday, Nov. 15, 2019, at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Fla. Suarez, who landed his ride two weeks before the season-opening Daytona 500, will not return to Gaunt Brothers Racing next season. The team said Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2020, it was a mutual decision for the Mexican driver to leave the team. (AP Photo/Terry Renna, File)
Suarez on the move again after parting with Gaunt Brothers

By Jenna Fryer Sep. 15, 2020 10:25 AM EDT

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain participates in a media conference prior to the Formula One Grand Prix at the Spa-Francorchamps racetrack in Spa, Belgium Thursday, Aug. 27, 2020. (Florent Gooden, Pool via AP)
NASCAR races, Wallace says fight for racial equality goes on

By Jenna Fryer Aug. 28, 2020 02:40 PM EDT

Driver Brad Keselowski holds a giant lobster to celebrate his victory in a NASCAR Cup Series auto race, Sunday, Aug. 2, 2020, at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, N.H. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Keselowski wins in New Hampshire for 3d win since shutdown

By Jimmy Golen Aug. 02, 2020 06:43 PM EDT

NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Kyle Weatherman drives through a turn during practice for the NASCAR Xfinity Series auto race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis, Friday, July 3, 2020. The car carries the hashtag #standfortheFlag and features a We Stand for the National Anthem paint scheme. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Paint schemes go political as NASCAR season heats up

By Michael Marot Jul. 03, 2020 06:12 PM EDT

Kevin Harvick festeja en el círculo de ganadores, luego de conquistar la carrera de la Cup Series de la NASCAR en el Pocono Raceway de Long Pond, Pensilvania, el sábado 27 de junio de 2020 (AP Foto/Matt Slocum)
Late scratch: Harvick knocks off Pocono from winless list

By Dan Gelston Jun. 27, 2020 07:36 PM EDT

FILE - IN this Feb. 17, 2020 file photo, Ryan Newman (6) goes airborne after crashing with Corey LaJoie (32) during the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. NASCAR's return to racing next shifts to Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama, with a new rules package altered after Ryan Newman's frightful crash in the season-opening Daytona 500. The facility will admit up to 5,000 fans — at the same time at least one NASCAR team is facing a coronavirus scare — while NASCAR will be on the lookout for the newly-banned Confederate flag. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara, File)
NASCAR has new rules, new feuds and more fans at Talladega

By Jenna Fryer Jun. 20, 2020 11:18 AM EDT

FILE - In this Sept. 2, 2016, file photo, empty grandstands are shown at Darlington Raceway after bad weather forced NSACAR to call off Friday, Sept. 2, 2016, in Darlington, S.C. Bad weather forced NASCAR to call off qualifying for the Sprint Cup and XFinity series auto races. NASCAR will have a much different feel when it resumes this weekend as the two-man broadcast team for Fox will not travel to Darlington Raceway and instead call the race from a studio in Charlotte.(AP Photo/Terry Renna, File)
NASCAR picks up at tricky Darlington after 10-week hiatus

By Jenna Fryer May. 16, 2020 02:08 PM EDT

FILE - In this Feb. 9, 2020, file photo, Ryan Newman stands on pit road after his run during NASCAR auto racing qualifying at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. Newman, who suffered a head injury in the season opening Daytona 500, will race Sunday, May 17 when NASCAR resumes its season at Darlington Raceway. (AP Photo/Terry Renna, File)
Newman eager to race again after violent Daytona accident

By Jenna Fryer May. 14, 2020 05:13 PM EDT

FILE - In this Feb. 13, 2020, file photo, Alex Bowman waves to fans during driver introductions before the first of two Daytona 500 qualifying auto races at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. Bowman scored his first iRacing victory of NASCAR's invitational series by holding off Corey LaJoie and Ryan Preece in a two-lap overtime sprint to the finish at virtual Talladega Superspeedway. (AP Photo/Terry Renna, File)
Bowman makes it 3 straight for Hendrick with virtual victory

By Jenna Fryer Apr. 26, 2020 03:21 PM EDT

Ryan Blaney, right, talks with crew members in his garage during a practice session for the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Saturday, Feb. 15, 2020, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)
Blaney's hot start nets multiyear extension with Team Penske

By David Brandt Mar. 06, 2020 03:29 PM EST