Michael Jordan
Kyle Larson (5), Matt DiBenedetto (21) and Chase Elliott (9) lead the field to start the NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Michigan International Speedway, Sunday, Aug. 22, 2021, in Brooklyn, Mich. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Hendrick stars dodging playoff elimination at Bristol

By Jenna Fryer Sep. 17, 2021 12:03 PM EDT

FILE- In this Feb. 17, 2019, file photo, Darrell Wallace Jr., right, prepares put on his HANS device equipped helmet before the start of the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. The lightweight head restraint co-invented by veteran sports car racer Jim Downing keeps a driver's head from snapping forward violently in a crash and has been credited with saving numerous lives in its two decades of use. (AP Photo/John Raoux, File)
Column: Jim Downing, a sports hero we should never forget

By Paul Newberry Sep. 03, 2021 04:36 PM EDT

FILE - In this July 18, 2021, file photo, Kurt Busch smiles at a NASCAR Cup Series auto race in Loudon, N.H. Busch will drive next season for 23XI Racing, the NASCAR team owned by Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan, in a long expected expansion move for the first-year organization. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File)
Kurt Busch has multiyear deal with 23XI Racing, eyes charter

By Mark Long Aug. 28, 2021 02:01 PM EDT

Denny Hamlin, center, talks with Martin Truex Jr., left, and Bubba Wallace before driver introductions at the NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Michigan International Speedway, Sunday, Aug. 22, 2021, in Brooklyn, Mich. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Kurt Busch moving Monster to Hamlin and MJ's team in 2022

By Jenna Fryer Aug. 27, 2021 06:41 PM EDT

FILE - In this Aug. 1, 1969, file photo, Wendell Scott sits in a race car, location not known. NASCAR will celebrate the legacy of NASCAR Hall of Fame driver Wendell Scott and present the Scott family a trophy commemorating the driver’s historic race victory at Speedway Park in Jacksonville, Fla. in 1963. A native of Danville, Va., Scott was the first African-American driver in NASCAR to win a race in the sport’s top series. (AP Photo/File)
NASCAR to present Wendell Scott's family with 1963 trophy

By Mark Long Aug. 27, 2021 02:22 PM EDT

A.J. Allemdinger climbs the fence after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Cup Series auto race at Michigan International Speedway, Saturday, Aug. 21, 2021, in Brooklyn, Mich. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
AJ Allmendinger wins Michigan Xfinity race in triple OT

By Michael Marot Aug. 21, 2021 07:14 PM EDT

Brad Keselowski (2) and Joey Logano (22) lead the pack around Turn 1 during the first lap of a NASCAR Cup Series auto race in Watkins Glen, N.Y., on Sunday, Aug. 8, 2021. (AP Photo/Joshua Bessex)
Kyle Larson wins at Watkins Glen, eyes regular-season title

By John Kekis Aug. 08, 2021 05:52 PM EDT

Bubba Wallace, right, smiles while watching New England Patriots wide receiver Gunner Olszewski catch a football thrown by a fan during a rain delay at the NASCAR Cup Series auto race Sunday, July 18, 2021, in Loudon, N.H. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Jordan's first year in NASCAR a missed layup with Wallace

By Dan Gelston Jul. 22, 2021 11:26 AM EDT

New England Patriots wide receiver Gunner Olszewski drives the pace car prior to a NASCAR Cup Series auto race, Sunday, July 18, 2021, in Loudon, N.H. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
NASCAR Cup Series at New Hampshire

Jul. 18, 2021 04:25 PM EDT

Car owner Chip Ganassi, right, sits in the pit box on pit road during an IndyCar race at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio, Sunday, July 4, 2021. (AP Photo/Tom E. Puskar)
Column: Ganassi saw writing on wall for his NASCAR future

By Jenna Fryer Jul. 05, 2021 01:58 PM EDT

FILE - In this Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018, file photo, Justin Marks walks through the garage during practice for the NASCAR Daytona 500 Cup Series auto race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. Chip Ganassi has sold his NASCAR team to Justin Marks, owner of Trackhouse Racing, and will pull out of the nation's top stock car series at the end of this season. Ganassi fields two cars in the Cup Series but will transfer his North Carolina race shop and all its assets to Marks for 2022. “He made me a great offer that required my attention,” Ganassi told The Associated Press on Wednesday, June 30, 3031, as the sale was announced (AP Photo/Terry Renna, File)
Marks bypasses charters to buy entire Ganassi NASCAR team

By Jenna Fryer Jul. 02, 2021 05:15 PM EDT

FILE - Team owner Chip Ganassi, left, and driver Jamie McMurray celebrate in Victory Lane after McMurray won the Daytona 500 NASCAR auto race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla., in this Sunday, Feb. 14, 2010, file photo. Chip Ganassi has sold his NASCAR team to Justin Marks, owner of Trackhouse Racing, and will pull out of the nation's top stock car series at the end of this season. Ganassi fields two cars in the Cup Series but will transfer his North Carolina race shop and all its assets to Marks for 2022. “He made me a great offer that required my attention,” Ganassi told The Associated Press on Wednesday, June 30, 3031, as the sale was announced. (AP Photo/John Raoux, File)
Chip Ganassi sells entire NASCAR team to Trackhouse Racing

By Jenna Fryer Jun. 30, 2021 01:55 PM EDT

FILE - NASCAR Chairman and CEO Brian France, right, speaks as team owner Richard Petty, left, listens during a news conference to announce a new charter system for team owners in Charlotte, N.C., in this Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2016, file photo. A charter is essentially the same as a franchise and the 36 that exist both guarantee a spot in the 40-car field each week as well as a larger slice of the money NASCAR contractually owes its participants. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton, File)
NASCAR teams navigating chaotic charter market ahead of 2022

By Jenna Fryer Jun. 29, 2021 04:05 PM EDT

Kyle Busch celebrates with teammates after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Pocono Raceway, Sunday, June 27, 2021, in Long Pond, Pa. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
In the clutch: Kyle Busch ends Hendrick win streak at Pocono

By Dan Gelston Jun. 27, 2021 06:34 PM EDT

Alex Bowman, right, driver of car 48, celebrates with his crew after winning the NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Pocono Raceway, Saturday, June 26, 2021, in Long Pond, Pa. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Bowman zips past Larson after late flat and wins at Pocono

By Dan Gelston Jun. 26, 2021 06:10 PM EDT

FILE - In this June 27, 2020, file photo, Kevin Harvick celebrates in the winners circle after winning the NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pa. Denny Hamlin and Kevin Harvick flipped their 1-2 finish in Pocono’s doubleheader weekend last year but they each come back for this weekend’s races winless and trying to chase Kyle Larson. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, FileP
Harvick, Hamlin try at Pocono to end long losing streaks

By Dan Gelston Jun. 25, 2021 05:14 PM EDT

Pit crew members for driver Aric Almirola wave as cars circle the track before the start of a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Nashville Superspeedway Sunday, June 20, 2021, in Lebanon, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
All-Pro Alvin Kamara now advising NASCAR on growing fan base

By Teresa M. Walker Jun. 20, 2021 05:28 PM EDT

AP-Sportlight-Week Ahead

By The Associated Press Jun. 10, 2021 11:43 AM EDT
June 15 1901 — Willie Anderson edges Alex Smith by one stroke in a playoff to take the U.S. Open. 1938 — Johnny Vander...

Pit crews await a NASCAR Cup Series auto race, Sunday, June 6, 2021, at Sonoma Raceway in Sonoma, Calif. (AP Photo/D. Ross Cameron)
Larson wins again as Hendrick continues month of dominance

Jun. 06, 2021 07:52 PM EDT

FILE - In this Nov. 18, 2012, file photo, Mario Andretti, left, talks to Willy T. Ribbs before the Formula One U.S. Grand Prix auto race at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. IndyCar is making an improved push to diversify its fanbase and its driving field. Ribbs and George Mack are the only two drivers to ever start an Indianapolis 500. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)
IndyCar courts Black fans, drivers in its push to diversify

By Dan Gelston May. 28, 2021 03:22 AM EDT