Alex Bowman
Alex Bowman (48) crosses the start/finish line to win a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Richmond International Raceway in Richmond, Va., Sunday, April 18, 2021. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
AUTO RACING: NASCAR goes from short to long at Talladega

By The Associated Press Apr. 21, 2021 03:56 PM EDT

Denny Hamlin waves to the crowd during driver introductions prior to the state of the NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Richmond International Raceway in Richmond, Va., Sunday, April 18, 2021. A #fedexstrong hashtag was added to the car after the shootings at a FedEx facility in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
Bowman denies Hamlin with swift late move at Richmond

By Hank Kurz Jr. Apr. 18, 2021 06:50 PM EDT

Martin Truex Jr. (19) celebrates with the winners' trophy after winning the NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, Va., Sunday, April 11, 2021. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
Truex outlasts teammate Hamlin to win again at Martinsville

By Hank Kurz Jr. Apr. 11, 2021 08:29 PM EDT

Chase Elliot drives along the dirt track during NASCAR Cup Series practice, Friday, March 26, 2021, at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tenn. (David Crigger/Bristol Herald Courier via AP)
NASCAR goes for first ride through the dirt at Bristol

By Jenna Fryer Mar. 26, 2021 08:25 PM EDT

NASCAR Cup Series driver Kyle Larson, left, talks to the owner of the NASCAR team Hendrick Motorsports, Rick Hendrick, right, before a NASCAR Cup Series at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sunday, March 21, 2021, in Hampton, Ga. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Blaney wins at Atlanta after Larson fades on old tires

By Paul Newberry Mar. 21, 2021 07:14 PM EDT

Kyle Larson stands in his garage during a NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race practice session at Daytona International Speedway, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Larson settled in at Hendrick one month into new job

By Jenna Fryer Mar. 06, 2021 05:10 PM EST

Michael McDowell crosses the finish line ahead of Austin Dillon to win the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Monday, Feb. 15, 2021, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
The Latest: Keselowski has no regrets about Daytona 500 end

By The Associated Press Feb. 14, 2021 02:28 PM EST

Drivers and crew members seek shelter under umbrellas as rain falls before the second of two qualifying NASCAR auto races for the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway, Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Rain washes out NASCAR's final practices for Daytona 500

By Mark Long Feb. 13, 2021 01:34 PM EST

Austin Dillon, left, talks with car owner Richard Childress on pit road before the start of the second of two qualifying NASCAR auto races for the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway, Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Denny Hamlin seeks historic 3rd straight Daytona 500 victory

By Jenna Fryer Feb. 12, 2021 05:26 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

Alex Bowman stands by his car on pit road before the first of two qualifying NASCAR auto races for the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway, Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Hendrick hesitant to change Bowman's engine before 500

By Jenna Fryer Feb. 12, 2021 11:49 AM EST

Crew members work on William Byron's car after he wrecked in the second of two qualifying auto races for the NASCAR Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway, early Friday, Feb. 12, 2021, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Hiccup for Hendrick Motorsports ahead of Daytona 500

By Jenna Fryer Feb. 11, 2021 08:36 PM EST

Alex Bowman, right, gets a fist bump from one of his crew members after winning the pole position for the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race during qualifying at Daytona International Speedway, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Bowman, Byron give Hendrick sweep of Daytona 500 front row

By Jenna Fryer Feb. 10, 2021 09:09 PM EST

Bubba Wallace leaves his garage after a NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race practice session at Daytona International Speedway, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Wallace sends Jordan to top of scoring pylon at Daytona 500

By Dan Gelston Feb. 10, 2021 01:17 PM EST

Chase Elliott (9) drives during final laps during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at the Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, Va., Sunday, Nov.1, 2020. (AP Photo/Lee Luther Jr.)
Elliott races into NASCAR championship; Harvick eliminated

By Jenna Fryer Nov. 01, 2020 06:21 PM EST

FILE - In this June 10, 2020, file photo, Denny Hamlin (11) and Kyle Busch (18) come through a turn during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at in Martinsville, Va. Hamlin's dazzling season could potentially collapse if things go sideways Sunday, Oct. 31, 2020, at Martinsville Speedway, NASCAR's oldest and shortest track that has been slotted as the final playoff elimination race. (AP Photo/Steve Helber, File)
Martinsville set for high-stakes Sunday in NASCAR playoffs

By Jenna Fryer Oct. 31, 2020 03:58 PM EDT

Track officials talk prior to the NASCAR Truck Series auto race at Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, Va., Friday, Oct. 30, 2020. (AP Photo Lee Luther Jr.)
NASCAR Xfinity Series Race at Martinsville

Oct. 30, 2020 07:27 PM EDT

FILE - In this Feb. 15, 2019, file photo, Kyle Larson gets into his car during Daytona 500 auto race practice at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. Reinstated last week by NASCAR, Larson on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2020, signed a multi-year contract with Hendrick Motorsports to drive the No. 5 Chevrolet next season. Hendrick has sold no sponsorship as of yet for Larson and only needed the blessing of Chevrolet, one of the partners that originally dropped Larson for using the n-word, to finalize the deal. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara, File)
Rick Hendrick eyeing balanced, stronger 2021 NASCAR season

By Jenna Fryer Oct. 29, 2020 03:02 PM EDT

Kyle Busch celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas, Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Richard W. Rodriguez)
Kyle Busch wins rain-delayed NASCAR playoff race in Texas

By Stephen Hawkins Oct. 28, 2020 03:41 PM EDT

FILE - In this Feb, 8, 2020, file photo, Kyle Larson climbs into his car as he gets ready for a NASCAR auto race practice at Daytona International Speedway, in Daytona Beach, Fla. Larson will be back in NASCAR next season driving the flagship No. 5 Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports. Larson signed a multi-year contract Wednesday morning, Oct. 28, 2020, with Hendrick that ended his seven-month banishment from NASCAR for using a racial slur while playing an online racing game. (AP Photo/Terry Renna, File)
Hendrick hires banished Kyle Larson to drive flagship No. 5

By Jenna Fryer Oct. 28, 2020 11:46 AM EDT