Chris Buescher
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

Michael McDowell celebrates after winning the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Monday, Feb. 15, 2021, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
McDowell hopes Daytona 500 win brings more success to team

By Jenna Fryer Feb. 17, 2021 03:16 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

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

Denny Hamlin celebrates after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan., Thursday, July 23, 2020. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Hamlin holds off Keselowski for fifth Cup victory of season

By Dave Skretta Jul. 23, 2020 11:20 PM EDT

Bubba Wallace stands for the National Anthem before the start of a NASCAR Cup Series auto race Sunday, July 12, 2020, in Sparta, Ky. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Column: Wallace deserves a slot in NASCAR's All-Star race

By Jenna Fryer Jul. 13, 2020 03:07 PM EDT

Cole Custer (41) celebrates after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race Sunday, July 12, 2020, in Sparta, Ky. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
NASCAR Cup rookie Cole Custer wins in upset at Kentucky

By Gary B. Graves Jul. 12, 2020 06:34 PM EDT

FILE - In this Feb. 9, 2020, file photom Ricky Stenhouse Jr. walks along pit road before qualifying for the NASCAR auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Su,day, in Daytona Beach, Fla. Stenhouse Jr. returned from NASCAR’s 10-week shutdown and crashed on the first lap of the first race. His next two races weren’t much better but Stenhouse finally got a break with a fourth-place finish Thursday night. Now he goes to Bristol Motor Speedway, where he has had strong runs before. The Cup Series races for the fifth time in 14 days on Sunday. (AP Photo/Terry Renna, File)
Stenhouse heads to Bristol buoyed by good run at Charlotte

By Jenna Fryer May. 30, 2020 03:40 PM EDT

Kevin Harvick celebrates after winning the NASCAR Cup Series auto race Sunday, May 17, 2020, in Darlington, S.C. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
The Latest: Harvick's 50th Cup win 'just weird' without fans

May. 17, 2020 11:32 AM EDT

Denny Hamlin answers questions form members of the media during NASCAR Daytona 500 auto racing media day at Daytona International Speedway, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
NASCAR's guessing game: Trying to predict the Daytona 500

By Mark Long Feb. 13, 2020 04:58 PM EST

Cole Custer waits in his garage as crew members work on his car during a NASCAR auto race practice at Daytona International Speedway, Saturday, Feb. 8, 2020, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)
Bell, Reddick, Custer headline bumper crop of NASCAR rookies

By Dan Gelston Feb. 13, 2020 02:26 PM EST

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. walks along pit road before NASCAR auto race qualifying at Daytona International Speedway, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2020, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)
Stenhouse wins Daytona 500 pole in debut with new team

By Mark Long Feb. 09, 2020 01:44 PM EST

Driver Martin Truex Jr., front right, gives autographs to fans prior to a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at ISM Raceway, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, in Avondale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso)
NASCAR Cup Series at Phoenix

Nov. 10, 2019 01:12 PM EST

Chase Elliott talks with a crew member in the garage at Martinsville Speedway In Martinsville, Va., Saturday, Oct. 26, 2019. Elliott had an engine failure less than five minutes into the opening practice for the third round of NASCAR's playoffs. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
NASCAR Cup Series at Martinsville

Oct. 26, 2019 12:10 PM EDT

Kyle Larson sits in his car before the final practice for a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan., Friday, Oct. 18, 2019. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)
NASCAR Cup Series at Kansas

Oct. 18, 2019 08:08 PM EDT

Clint Bowyer (14) takes a lap during practice for a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan., Friday, Oct. 18, 2019. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)
Pressure off Bowyer for next season but not NASCAR playoffs

By Dave Skretta Oct. 18, 2019 06:37 PM EDT

Stenhouse signs multiyear deal to drive for JTG Daugherty

Oct. 16, 2019 03:11 PM EDT
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Ricky Stenhouse Jr. landed the open seat at JTG Daugherty Racing in a multiyear deal announced Wednesday that essentially makes a seat swap...

Erik Jones (20) and Alex Bowman (88) spin during the NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Charlotte Motor Speedway Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019 in Concord, N.C. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)
Splash & Go: Wallace has few regrets for splashing Bowman

By Dan Gelston Oct. 05, 2019 03:30 PM EDT

Chase Briscoe (98) and Tyler Reddick (2) lead the field to the start of the NASCAR Xfinity Series auto race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019, in Concord, N.C. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)
Reddick chases 2nd Xfinity title with Cup future secured

By Dan Gelston Oct. 04, 2019 03:26 PM EDT

FILE - In this June 29, 2018, file photo, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., talks to media during a practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series auto race at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Roush Fenway Racing will split at the end of the season and Chris Buescher will replace him in 2020. Although his contract is believed to run through 2021, the team said Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019, it will part ways with the two-time Xfinity Series champion at the end of the year. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File)
Stenhouse firing makes for frenzied NASCAR free agency

By Jenna Fryer Sep. 27, 2019 05:41 PM EDT