Formula One driver Pierre Gasly signed a contract extension with Alpine through the 2028 season, the organization announced Saturday.

• Financial terms were not disclosed for Gasly, who signed a multi-year extension with Alpine on June 27, 2024. Terms of that deal were not revealed other than being for "2025 and beyond."

  "I'm thrilled to commit my long-term future to Alpine," Gasly said in a news release. "As a Frenchman, especially, driving for a French car company, makes me feel very proud. Since I joined in 2023, I have always felt that this team is the right place to be for the future.

  "I want to be here in years to come and deliver on our joint objective: to win races and world championships. We're all in this together and I look forward to continuing this special story."

  Gasly, 29, has recorded two of his five podium finishes with Alpine. His best finish this season was sixth place at Silverstone in July.

  "We're well prepared for the new era of Formula One, beginning in 2026, and now we have our lead driver confirmed to bring us well into the future," Alpine executive advisor Flavio Briatore said.

  "Pierre has been an immense asset for the team during this challenging period," Briatore added. "I have been very impressed with his attitude, dedication and talent and we look forward to continuing this project together for a long time."

  --Field Level Media

Haas Factory Team will part ways with Ford in favor of Chevrolet starting in 2026.

• The switch to Chevrolet also creates a new technical alliance with Hendrick Motorsports, which will provide engines in the NASCAR Cup Series and the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

  The team currently uses Ford bodies and engines in both series.

  "First and foremost, we want to thank Ford for its partnership," said Joe Custer, president of Haas Factory Team. "Their support allowed us to establish Haas Factory Team and we remain dedicated to delivering results for them in Cup and Xfinity all the way through the season finale in Phoenix."

  The team's owner, Gene Haas, is no stranger to Chevrolet, which he utilized from the time he entered NASCAR with Haas CNC Racing in 2002 until the end of the 2016 season when the switch to Ford was made.

  "Personally, I have a deep history with Chevrolet and Hendrick Motorsports," Haas said. "Both helped in establishing not only my presence as a team owner in NASCAR, but also the presence of Haas Automation. Together, we were able to build a race team that competed for wins and championships while growing the use of Haas CNC machinery throughout the racing and manufacturing industries."

  The owner of Hendrick Motorsports also called out the group's past with Haas.

  "We have a long history with Gene and his organization, including winning championships together, so this feels almost like a homecoming," said owner Rick Hendrick. "Our relationship started many years ago with Haas CNC machines in our facilities, and I've always admired the passion that he and Joe Custer have for the sport and their desire to win. We're proud to support Haas Factory Team and thrilled to work together to deliver more victories for Chevrolet."

  The new partnership will make its debut at the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, N.C., on Feb. 1.

  Haas Factory Team also announced that their 2026 roster will stay intact, with Cole Custer driving the No. 41 entry in the Cup Series, and Sheldon Creed and Sam Mayer behind the wheel for the O'Reilly Auto Parts Series, the new name for the Xfinity series starting in 2026.

  --Field Level Media

Daniel Ricciardo confirmed Friday that he has moved from the driver's seat to the role of motorsports ambassador with the rebranded Ford Racing.

• Ricciardo, 36, last was behind the wheel in a professional race in 2024 for the Red Bull-owned team that is now Racing Bulls.

  "While my racing days are behind me, my love for anything with wheels will always remain high and for that I am proud to be partnering with Ford to become a Global Ford Racing Ambassador," the Australian wrote in a blog post.

  "I am going to be working closely with the Ford Racing team and specifically focus on the amazing Raptor brand and lifestyle that Raptor has become for many of Ford's customers.

  "So why now and why me? When I decided it was time to retire, I thought long and hard about finding the most authentic way to stay connected to the world of motorsports.

  "For me, racing was always about having fun. It made me happy and created memories that will last a lifetime."

  The Australian was an eight-time F1 race winner.

  --Field Level Media

McLaren Racing, the reigning Formula One world champions, are reportedly valued at $5 billion after a deal that gives Bahrain's Mumtalakat and Abu Dhabi's CYVN Holdings full ownership of the professional racing team, according to multiple reports.

• The landmark deal, announced by the McLaren Group on Tuesday, gives Mumtalakat and CYVN the remaining 30 percent stake in McLaren they didn't own already by acquiring all shares previously held by MSP Sports Capital, O'Connor Capital Solutions-managed funds, Ares Sports, Media and Entertainment funds, and Caspian Funds.

  Mumtalakat, a Bahrain sovereign wealth fund, will reportedly remain the majority shareholder of McLaren, and CYVN, majority-owned by the government of Abu Dhabi, will have a non-controlling stake.

  McLaren has been a dominant force since 2020, when the U.S.-based investment group MSP and others took a significant minority stake and injected much-needed funding.

  "Our suite of minority investors came on board in 2020, and we thank them for their tremendous support over the past few years as we set McLaren Racing on a path to commercial growth and financial stability," said McLaren Group executive chairman Paul Walsh.

  MSP, which was founded in 2019 by Jahm Najafi and Jeff Moorad, reportedly received a ten-times return on their 2020 investment, making this week's deal the biggest sports team exit ever for an institutional fund, according to Yahoo Finance.

  "When we invested in McLaren Racing, our goal was to bring that same experience, capital, and commitment to help restore one of motorsport's most legendary brands," Moorad said in a statement. "With ownership now consolidated in Bahrain and Abu Dhabi, McLaren is poised for an even brighter future."

  Both Najafi and Moorad will leave the McLaren Racing board.

  McLaren won its ninth constructors' title last year, and this season has 12 wins in 15 races and more than twice as many points as Ferrari and Mercedes. McLaren drivers Oscar Piastri (seven wins) and Lando Norris (five wins) are battling for the 2025 drivers' title.

  --Field Level Media

The IndyCar series finished its 2025 season on a high note over the weekend.

• Fox announced Wednesday that an average-audience size of 1,142,000 viewers tuned in for Sunday's Music City Grand Prix in Nashville to close out the network's first season broadcasting IndyCar races.

  It marked the first time since June that an IndyCar race surpassed a million viewers, snapping an eight-race streak of six-digit viewership. Viewership peaked at 1,338,000 from 4:30-4:45 p.m. for the conclusion of the race, which saw Josef Newgarden snap a 20-race winless drought while Alex Palou finished off his fourth IndyCar series championship.

  Those viewership numbers represent 136.7 percent growth from the 2024 Nashville race, which drew a television audience of 482,568.

  --Field Level Media

IndyCar will be taking it to the streets in the city of Markham, Ontario.

• On Wednesday, promoter Green Savoree Toronto ULC, the city of Markham and IndyCar announced a new multi-year agreement that will see the Grand Prix of Toronto move to its new home in the northeastern suburb.

  The race, now named the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy at Markham, will be contested from Aug. 14-16, 2026.

  "The Indy is one of North America's premier motorsport events and has been a cornerstone of Ontario's events calendar for nearly 40 years," Ontario Minister of Sport Neil Lumsden said.

  "Sport tourism is a major economic driver for our province, and I am thrilled that this iconic event will continue to call Ontario home; thank you to the City of Markham for opening your doors to help start this new chapter. This event will continue to drive tourism, boost our economy and strengthen Ontario's reputation as a premier destination for world-class sporting events."

  The first Grand Prix of Toronto was held in 1986.

  Markham mayor Frank Scarpitti was pleased to welcome the race to his city's streets.

  "We are excited to welcome the exhilarating experience of IndyCar Series racing hitting our streets in 2026," Scarpitti said. "We are proud to welcome this world-class event to our community.

  "Markham is ready to build on its strong sports legacy and offer a new home where this celebrated summer tradition can thrive. I am extremely proud of our team at the City of Markham for bringing this initiative across the finish line in just a matter of months."

  --Field Level Media

Rinus VeeKay is parting ways with Dale Coyne Racing after just one season with the team.

• "I want to thank Dale Coyne Racing and in particular Dale and Gail for the opportunity they gave me to re-establish myself in 2025. This year was genuinely the most enjoyable year in my career as an IndyCar driver," VeeKay posted on Instagram on Tuesday.

  "This season and its lessons will stay with me forever."

  VeeKay's post came after Will Power announced he is leaving Team Penske after 17 years. Veekay, 24, finished 14th in the 2025 series standings, with the Dutchman's best finish being second place at Toronto.

  "It was an amazing year, thank you for giving us your best day in and day out," Dale Coyne Racing said in a response to VeeKay's post. "We want to wish you the best of luck on all your future endeavors."

  VeeKay joined Dale Coyne Racing in February after spending five years with Ed Carpenter Racing, and he improved the No. 18 car's performance from a 27th-place finish in 2024.

  --Field Level Media

Two-time IndyCar champion and former Indianapolis 500 winner Will Power and Team Penske have parted ways after 17 seasons.

• The team confirmed the news on Tuesday, two days after the season finale at Nashville Superspeedway.

  "It's been the honor of my life to drive for Roger and the Penske organization," Power said in a release from the team. "We have accomplished so much together, and I will always be grateful for my time with the team and my teammates who have supported me along the way. After much consideration, I felt like a change for me was the right move at this time."

  Power, 44, recorded 42 of his 45 IndyCar wins and 71 pole positions under the Team Penske banner.

  The Australian won his series championships in 2014 and 2022 and the Indianapolis 500 in 2018. He finished ninth in the NTT IndyCar Series standings this season.

  "As we sat down to talk about our future together, we felt that it was time for him to make a change beginning with next season," Roger Penske said. "He has been an outstanding driver and teammate for our organization. His results speak for themselves, and we wish him the very best in the phase of his career."

  Team Penske said it will announce its plans for the No. 12 Verizon Chevrolet prior to the 2026 season, however 23-year-old David Malukas is rumored to be Power's successor.

  --Field Level Media

DARLINGTON, S.C.--If any active driver has come close to mastering the Track Too Tough to Tame, it's Denny Hamlin, who asserted his superiority once again in Saturday's qualifying session for the Cook Out Southern 500 (6 p.m. ET Sunday on USA, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

• Gaining enormous time through Turns 3 and 4 on his single qualifying lap at Darlington Raceway, Hamlin knocked Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Chase Briscoe off the provisional pole for the first NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race.

  A five-time winner at Darlington--most among active drivers--Hamlin covered the 1.366-mile distance in 28.694 seconds (171.381 mph), beating Briscoe (171.255 mph) by 0.021 seconds. Briscoe had won the pole position for the previous three Crown Jewel races--DAYTONA 500, Coca-Cola 600 and Brickyard 400.

  The Busch Light Pole Award was Hamlin's second at Darlington, his second of the season and the 45th of his career. He is the first driver to reach 40 poles in a Toyota, with his first five coming when JGR ran Chevrolets.

  "It turned," Hamlin said of the performance of his No. 11 Camry. "We struggled with balance all through race practice, but we made some good adjustments to run one lap."

  Hamlin acknowledged his car still needs work to enhance its performance in race trim.

  After a stellar first two corners on his qualifying lap, Briscoe wasn't as aggressive as he needed to be at the narrow end of the egg-shaped track.

  "That one stings," Briscoe said. "My 1 and 2 was really good, and I didn't want to go into (Turn) 3 and hit the wall or something, so I under-drove it."

  Playoff drivers occupy the first 12 spots on the grid for Sunday's race. Josh Berry qualified third at 170.578 mph in the No. 21 Wood Brothers Ford. Tyler Reddick was fourth at 170.466 mph in the No. 45 23XI Toyota, followed by Kyle Larson of Hendrick Motorsports in the top Chevrolet.

  Ross Chastain, Christopher Bell, Bubba Wallace, Austin Dillon, Austin Cindric, William Byron and Ryan Blaney will start from positions six through 12, respectively.

  The remaining four Playoff drivers qualified as follows: Joey Logano 14th, Shane van Gisbergen 20th, Chase Elliott 21st and Alex Bowman 29th.

  Berry's qualifying performance was his best since starting second at Atlanta nine races ago.

  "I'm super proud of that effort," he said. "Our big focus was trying to qualify better here, and the guys did a great job. I feel like our car is really strong, and I'm excited for (Sunday). The biggest thing I feel like I've fought here is starting position, so starting up front I think we can just manage the race easier and obviously score some stage points.

  "That's going to be important, so just having a mistake-free day by taking care of the car and having good pit stops will help keep us in the hunt."

  --By Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service. Special to Field Level Media.

DARLINGTON, S.C.--There's one huge difference between Chase Briscoe's approach to the Cook Out Southern 500 last year and his mind-set this year.

• The level of expectations is exponentially higher for Sunday's opening Playoff race at the Lady in Black (6 p.m. ET on USA, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).

  For the first time in his NASCAR Cup Series career, Briscoe believes he has a championship-caliber team.

  That wasn't the case last year when the Southern 500 was the final race in the regular season. Briscoe needed a victory just to make the Playoffs, and after a near-perfect run, he took the checkered flag and qualified for the postseason.

  Last year, Briscoe drove for moribund Stewart-Haas Racing. This year, he's driving the potent No. 19 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing, an organization that expects to win and compete for championships.

  "Last year, nobody expected us (to win), and truthfully, as a race team, we weren't coming into Darlington and being like ‘This is our weekend,'" Briscoe said. "At SHR (Stewart-Haas), you really couldn't go to the race track each weekend and say we are going to win this weekend, or we are going to have a shot at it.

  "We knew that we would be good, because we had been solid at Darlington, but I don't think we thought we would have race-winning speed, I would say. So, this (the Playoff race) feels more pressure-packed than a win-or-go-home situation, because we all kind of made up our minds that we were probably going home anyways, and it just so happened that we won the race, and we were in."

  Josh Berry looks for mistake-free performances in first round of Playoffs

  In baseball parlance, Josh Berry isn't looking to hit a grand slam. Three solid singles should do nicely.

  That's Berry's approach to the first round of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs, where Berry believes three well-executed races should be enough to put him in the Round of 12.

  "We don't have to go hit a home run," Berry said on Saturday morning at Darlington Raceway, site of Sunday's Playoff-opening Cook Out Southern 500 (6 p.m. ET on USA, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). "We just need to go be solid. I think we feel like three top 10s will be enough points probably to make it to the Round of 12.

  "That's where our head is at, so as long as we keep doing that, there's not too much to think on until something changes."

  The Playoffs mark a reset of goals for Berry and the No.21 Wood Brothers Racing team. At the start of their first season together, the primary goal was simply to make the Playoffs.

  "It's a big deal," said Berry, who qualified for the Playoffs by winning the fifth race of the season at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. "It's our biggest goal setting out this year. Obviously, to win my first race and if you do that, more than likely, you make the Playoffs, and here we are.

  "It's really cool. It's been a fun year working with these guys. Everybody at the Wood Brothers has done a really good job. It's been a lot of fun, and I'm proud of the gains we've made with the 21 car compared to the last couple of years, and I feel like we're set up to keep on doing that.

  "Making the playoffs is fun, but, obviously, we want to be competitive and have a good start to this deal."

  A Wood Brothers driver hasn't advanced past the first round since Ryan Blaney made the Round of 8 in 2017. Matt DiBenedetto was eliminated in the first round in 2020, and Harrison Burton suffered the same fate last year.

  Kyle Larson must overcome potential pitfalls in first two Playoff rounds

  After a lackluster stretch of races during the summer, top-seeded Kyle Larson enters the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs fresh from back-to-back sixth-place finishes at Richmond Raceway and Daytona International Speedway.

  Larson expects to be fast in Sunday's Cook Out 400 at Darlington Raceway, one of his best tracks, but there are challenges on the horizon in each of the first two rounds--specifically World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway (second race in the Round of 16) and New Hampshire Motor Speedway (first race in the Round of 12).

  "Yeah, I think still the shorter, flatter tracks (are potential weaknesses), so seeing Gateway and New Hampshire in the Playoffs is not something that I was thrilled about," Larson acknowledged. "But I do think we've made our package better on that style of track. You know, I look at Iowa--we were fast and (Hendrick Motorsports teammate) William (Byron) won.

  "Chase (Elliott) was fast. Alex (Bowman) was fast. When we went to Richmond, we were all really good again. Alex finished second, and I think I was in sixth. Chase was probably one of the best cars that night. William was good, as well. I do think we've gotten our cars better on those places, but we still need to probably be better. We'll see when we get to Gateway and New Hampshire."

  In three starts at WWT Raceway, Larson has one top five, a finish of fourth in 2023. At New Hampshire, the driver of the No. 5 Chevrolet has posted six top fives in 14 outings, including third- and fourth-place results in his last two races there.

  --By Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service. Special to Field Level Media.

After a one-year absence from the IndyCar Series, Romain Grosjean is optimistic about his return.

• The 39-year-old Swiss-born Frenchman has spent this season as a reserve driver for Prema Racing.

  "I miss racing IndyCar," he told RACER. "There's no doubt about it. I'd like to do more. When I speak to some teams, they say, ‘We need money.' And I say, ‘Yeah, I'm sorry, that's my job, and when I do my job, I get paid.'"

  After racing in Formula 1 (2009, 2012-20), Grosjean joined the IndyCar Series and drove for Dale Coyne Racing (2021), Andretti Autosport (2022-23) and Juncos Hollinger Racing (2024). Juncos went with drivers Sting Ray Robb and Conor Daly for the 2025 season.

  "My value is on track," Grosjean said. "My value is to get a team where it should be. I am not good at bringing sponsors. I'm not good at finding sponsors. But I'm good at taking a race car and a team and putting it where it belongs. So I'm hoping that someone's going to realize that and give me a chance to come back."

  Grosjean made six podiums and won three poles in 64 races in the IndyCar Series.

  --Field Level Media

Four-time world champion Max Verstappen didn't get stressed by widespread speculation in recent months that he might leave Red Bull Racing for Mercedes in 2026.

• In fact, he said "it was very, very simple" in making the decision to stay with Red Bull. He is under contract until the 2028 Formula 1 season but had a potential exit clause based on his championship points standing that ended up not being triggered.

  "I only say what I want to say," Verstappen told ESPN in a report published Friday. "And I was never even stressed about it at all because ... of course naturally you always want to win. But at the same time, you just work on performance.

  "People always come up with stories or ask questions. But for me, it was quite straightforward all the time."

  For someone in an intense profession, this matter did not put him in duress.

  "I think in general, I'm a person that is always quite relaxed about it," said Verstappen, 27. "Like I don't stress out or go to bed massively overthinking stuff.

  "I just live my life, you know, see what happens next. For me, there's nothing wrong with talking or listening (to offers) or whatever, but it was all under control."

  What wasn't in his control were the statements coming from Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, who in Verstappen's own words has a good relationship with the driver. Wolff was openly interested in the possibility of signing Verstappen, even holding up contract extension negotiations with Mercedes star driver George Russell.

  It didn't help that social media went viral with images of Wolff and Verstappen spending time together on a yacht this summer. Both were vacationing in Sardinia.

  "There's no secret," Verstappen said. "I mean, I even went for lunch with Toto and the family and I think that's absolutely allowed. It's not even that you speak about Formula 1 business, it's just life. We parked up next to each other because we were in the same bay to sleep and during the day everyone does their thing.

  "But sometimes you meet up and you have a good relationship with people. I think that's nice, that it's not only about competition."

  Verstappen is third in the drivers standings with 187 points, trailing Oscar Piastri (284) and Lando Norris (275), both of McLaren.

  The exit clause would have allowed him to leave Red Bull at the end of the 2025 season if he were fourth or lower after the Hungarian Grand Prix on Aug. 3, ESPN reported.

  Verstappen has two wins and five podium finishes this year. In his career, the numbers are 65 and 117, respectively. He had double-digit race wins from 2021-23 with 10, 15 and 19.

  The Dutchman is in the Netherlands this week for the Dutch Grand Prix on Sunday.

  --Field Level Media

On Sunday, the 76th running of the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway will kick off the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs.

• Sixteen drivers will begin the postseason with dreams of hoisting the Bill France Cup at Phoenix Raceway on Nov. 2, but after a grueling 10-race stretch, only one will emerge victorious.

  The Round of 16 is the first of three three-race rounds that sets the stage for the championship race. Following the Bristol Night Race on Sept. 13, four drivers will be eliminated from playoff contention.

  As teams prepare for a 500-mile war of attrition in Darlington, S.C., here's the outlook for every Cup Series playoff driver in the Round of 16.

  NEAR LOCKS

  --Kyle Larson, No. 5 Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports

  It's hard to classify any driver as a lock for the Round of 12 in an inherently chaotic sport, but Larson is as close as it gets. He won the Southern 500 in 2023 and also is the defending winner of the Bristol Night Race. The 2021 champ should cruise through the first round.

  --William Byron, No. 24 Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports

  The two-time Daytona 500 champion comes into the 2025 playoffs looking for a third consecutive Championship 4 berth. He's tied with Larson at the top of the standings, and while Gateway potentially could trip him up in the first round, he should easily skate through to the Round of 12.

  --Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing

  Is this finally Hamlin's year? That's a question that's been asked over and over again through the years, but Hamlin's 19th playoff appearance could be his best one yet. He's won four races in 2025 to lead the Cup Series, and Darlington is one of his best tracks. The No. 11 should scoot through the Round of 16 quite easily.

  --Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Ford, Team Penske

  Blaney has gotten tripped up in the Round of 16 before -- see 2020 -- but the 2023 champion is a much more refined driver now. Like Byron, he's searching for a third consecutive Championship 4 appearance, and Team Penske likely will be looking to Blaney to carry the flag for the organization throughout the playoffs.

  --Christopher Bell, No. 20 Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing

  Bell hasn't won since March, but his three consecutive victories still carry plenty of weight in August. At the very least, he shouldn't have to worry all that much at Bristol -- but it's worth noting that of all the drivers in the near lock category, Bell is the least recent winner.

  FEELING GOOD

  --Chase Elliott, No. 9 Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports

  The main reason that Elliott didn't join two of his HMS teammates as a near lock is because, aside from his Atlanta win on June 28, he hasn't looked like a consistent race-winning threat in 2025. The No. 9 team needs more speed if it wants to make a title run, but Elliott should get through the Round of 16 relatively easily.

  --Tyler Reddick, No. 45 Toyota, 23XI Racing

  Yes, Reddick will start the playoffs below the cut line, but there's no reason for the No. 45 team to panic. He has yet to win this season, but that could easily change at Darlington on Sunday. At the least, he should be able to outperform four other drivers near him at the bottom of the standings and move on.

  --Chase Briscoe, No. 19 Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing

  Stepping into shoes as big as the ones that Martin Truex Jr. left at JGR was a daunting task for Briscoe, but he's assimilated to the team's culture quite nicely. That was headlined by a victory at Pocono and 10 top-five finishes -- a mark that ties him for second in the Cup Series this season.

  --Alex Bowman, No. 48 Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports

  Bowman may be the lowest seed in the playoffs, but the car he has underneath him automatically favors his chances of advancing to the Round of 12. He's been one of the most consistent drivers in the Cup Series this season, and unless a string of horrendous luck decides to unload itself on the No. 48 team, Bowman is more than capable of getting to the second round.

  --Bubba Wallace, No. 23 Toyota, 23XI Racing

  Call this pick crazy for assuming that Wallace, a driver making just his second playoff appearance, should be feeling good about his chances of advancing to the Round of 12, but the No. 23 team has gotten hot over the last month. After a Brickyard 400 win, Wallace scored top-10s at Iowa and Watkins Glen and would've been in the mix for a win at Richmond if not for a pit road penalty. He could be a dark horse pick to make a deep playoff run.

  DANGER ZONE

  --Joey Logano, No. 22 Ford, Team Penske

  The defending champion in the danger zone? Yes, it may be unwise to bet against Logano, but the No. 22 team has shown little speed this season. That's not an easy dial to turn up on a weekly basis, and one bad race could have Logano staring down a first-round exit.

  --Austin Cindric, No. 2 Ford, Team Penske

  Cindric has taken a small step forward this season, but it's hard to imagine a scenario where he's not scuffling for a spot in the Round of 12. He may very well make the second round of the playoffs, but the Talladega winner won't get there easily.

  --Ross Chastain, No. 1 Chevrolet, Trackhouse Racing

  Like Logano, Chastain has the ability to drive a Hall of Fame-caliber race at any moment. Unfortunately for Chastain, his cars are rarely quick off the truck, a problem that will have to be remedied if he wants to make any semblance of a championship run.

  --Austin Dillon, No. 3 Chevrolet, Richard Childress Racing

  Unless NASCAR decides to put Richmond on the Round of 16 schedule at the last minute, Dillon advancing to the Round of 12 seems very unlikely. He's been decent at Darlington over the years, but the No. 3 team has been radio silent for much of the year -- not exactly the formula for advancing in the playoffs.

  --Shane van Gisbergen, No. 88 Chevrolet, Trackhouse Racing

  SVG may be 16 points above the cut line, but that's a relatively thin advantage that can easily be erased in one race. Van Gisbergen has never raced at Gateway and is admittedly "terrible" at Bristol. He'll have to have a solid effort at Darlington and cut his losses at both Gateway and Bristol to have a shot at advancing.

  --Josh Berry, No. 21 Ford, Wood Brothers Racing

  There was a point where Berry, who earned his first Cup win at Las Vegas in March, looked to be having a breakout season with the Wood Brothers. Since the first quarter of the season, however, the eam has regressed significantly. Darlington and Bristol are decent tracks for Berry, but he'll need to find the speed his No. 21 Ford had in February, March and April, or his playoff run will be a short one.

  --Samuel Stubbs, Field Level Media

A court hearing for the federal antitrust lawsuit among two racing teams and NASCAR had its share of fireworks on Thursday in Charlotte, with retired NBA Hall of Famer (and racing co-owner) Michael Jordan drawing attention in particular for his comments.

• Jordan, a co-owner of 23XI Racing team who, along with Front Row Motorsports, declined signing a charter with NASCAR earlier this year and is instead now involved in a lawsuit against the organization, commented on the case following the Thursday hearing, during which some of his personal text messages were also revealed.

  "Teams are going to regret not joining us," Jordan wrote to business partner Curtis Polk in one text exchange, calling one team, JGR an expletive for not joining his team in rejecting the charter, and calling every team electing to sign their charters another expletive.

  In another text exchange, about the expense of potentially acquiring a driver, Jordan wrote, "I have lost that in a casino. Let's do it."

  Afterward, Jordan pointed to the airing of those messages as being an effort to paint his team as being overly profitable, when according to other teams' financial records, 75 percent of teams were unprofitable.

  "(Profitability is) not the point," Jordan said. "The point is that the sport itself needs to change, for the fans, teams as well as for NASCAR, too. I feel like we made a good statement today about that."

  The two teams entered litigation late last year, arguing that the current charter doesn't protect the teams well enough, crucially preventing them from filing future lawsuits.

  Charters provide a guaranteed starting position in points races, and signers of the charter also receive a bigger piece of the race purse.

  23XI and Front Row won an injunction to be able to continue to run as charter teams earlier this year, but NASCAR had that ruling overturned on appeal. NASCAR now wants to transfer their charters -- three for each team -- to new ownership. The current injunction brought by teams is aimed at preventing NASCAR from doing that, at least until the lawsuit gets resolved.

  Jordan said, "If I have to fight this to the end, for the betterment of the sport, I will."

  --Field Level Media

IndyCar has explored the potential of holding a street race in the District of Columbia as soon as next year, according to a report by the Sports Business Journal.

• The concept remains in the early stages and may not come together, according to the report. It is also unknown what sites IndyCar has been presented with and whether they may include options in Virginia and Maryland.

  IndyCar will conclude its season at Nashville Superspeedway this weekend, and next season's schedule is not expected to be released prior to the 2025 finale. The series will hold a new race in Arlington, Texas, next year, and has been evaluating a potential race in Mexico City.

  Fox Corp. announced last month that it acquired 33 percent of IndyCar owner Penske Entertainment, which could lead to the series exploring new race locations. The last street race to take place in D.C. was the 2022 Cadillac Grand Prix of Washington, D.C., an American Le Mans Series sports car event was held around RFK Stadium.

  The United States will be celebrating the country's 250th anniversary in 2026. Among other events in the works, UFC boss Dana White said recently that the promotion will "absolutely" hold a fight on the south lawn of the White House on July 4.

  IndyCar declined to comment to SBJ on its report about a potential D.C.-area race.

  --Field Level Media

Cadillac joins the Formula 1 grid in 2026 and Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas will be behind the wheel.

• The team confirmed Tuesday the drivers signed multiyear deals, though financial terms were not announced.

  "Signing two very experienced racers like Bottas and Checo (Perez) is a bold signal of intent," team principal Graeme Lowdon said in the announcement. "They've seen it all and they know what it takes to succeed in Formula 1. But more importantly, they understand what it means to help build a team. Their leadership, feedback, race-hardened instincts and of course their speed will be invaluable as we bring this team to life."

  Cadillac enters F1 as the circuit's 11th team and just the second American-centric team in F1 history. General Motors is the constructor, operating under the Cadillac brand.

  Rather than tap an American driver for one of its cars, however, the new team targeted veteran talend. The drivers have 527 Grand Prix starts and 16 victories between them.

  Mexico's Perez was dropped by Red Bull Racing at the end of the 2024 season, but the 35-year-old is not far removed from finishing second in the 2023 F1 championship and third in 2022. He has won six Grand Prix since breaking into the F1 ranks in 2011.

  Perez called joining the inaugural F1 team a "huge responsibility."

  "Joining the Cadillac Formula 1 Team is an incredibly exciting new chapter in my career," he said. "From our first conversations, I could sense the passion and determination behind this project.

  "It's an honor to be part of building a team that can develop together so that, in time, we will fight at the very front.

  Bottas, also 35, hails from Finland and drove for four teams from 2013-14, most recently Sauber. He served as a reserve driver for Mercedes and a test driver for McLaren this year.

  Bottas finished second overall in 2019 and 2020 and third in 2017 and 2021 while with Mercedes, which won team championships annually from 2017-21.

  "This isn't just a racing project; it's a long-term vision," Bottas said.

  "It's not every day that you get a chance to be part of something being built from the ground up and helping shape it into something that truly belongs on the F1 grid."

  "This is an iconic brand with a big legacy in American motorsport, and to be a part of the story as it enters the world stage of F1 is incredibly special for me," he continued. "I'm looking forward to representing the American spirit of racing on the greatest circuits in the world."

  --Field Level Media

NASCAR appears ready to transfer ownership of one of the charters held by 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports, who lost their charters following their antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR.

• As part of ongoing litigation requirements, NASCAR's Sanctioning Body filed a legal notice that it plans to issue a charter to a new entity, the identity of which was redacted, if a district court judge does not rule against the proposed agreement.

  A district court judge had previously ruled that NASCAR could not move the charters until a decision has been rendered from a hearing scheduled for Thursday in Charlotte, N.C., and that NASCAR must notify all involved parties should they reach an agreement to transfer either of the disputed charters.

  23XI Racing -- whose owners include Michael Jordan and NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin -- and Front Row Motorsports refused to sign a take-it-or-leave-it charter agreement NASCAR presented last September, while the other 13 organizations in the Cup Series proceeded to sign.

  The two holdouts filed an antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR the following month and have been going back and forth in court since.

  --Field Level Media

Connor Zilisch officially received a promotion to the NASCAR Cup Series for 2026 on Saturday.

• While that news hardly was surprising given Zilisch recorded seven victories in the Xfinity series, the 19-year-old still became emotional when reality settled in that Trackhouse Racing signed him to a multi-year contract.

  This day has been a dream of mine for a long time," said Zilisch, who has been a Trackhouse developmental driver since 2024.

  "Cup racing has been the goal since joining with Chevrolet and Trackhouse, and while I didn't know it would come this soon, I feel like I'm ready. I know the challenge that awaits entering the Cup Series as a full-time driver, but I feel that with the support of Trackhouse and Chevrolet, this is the right situation for me. I won't be making any predictions for success next year. All I promise is to put in 100 percent effort, learn all that I can, plus have a little bit of fun along the way!"

  Zilisch, who will replace Daniel Suarez, will race alongside teammates Ross Chastain and Shane van Gisbergen.

  "Connor is a rare talent that comes along every few decades," Trackhouse team owner Justin Marks said. "I have watched Connor grow from a kid racing go-karts at the Trackhouse Motorplex to an up-close seat as he beat all of us in the Trans Am races a few years ago. He quickly adapted to everything we have put him in, and what he is doing with JR Motorsports in Xfinity this season is historic.

  "Connor is very mature, poised, and I know ready for Cup racing in 2026. He's been mentored along the way by former racer Josh Wise and Dr. Eric Warren at General Motors. I can speak for everyone at Trackhouse Racing when I say we have a tremendous amount of faith in this young man."

  Zilisch was medically cleared to return to the track and will drive the No. 88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet in Friday's NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Daytona International Speedway.

  He fractured his collarbone on Aug. 9 after his celebration in Victory Lane went awry at Watkins Glen International. Three days later, he underwent surgery that required doctors to add a plate and screws to his collarbone.

  --Field Level Media

Rudy Fugle, William Byron's crew chief, was ejected by NASCAR for an inspection violation Friday, leaving the team without its crew leader for the Coke Zero Sugar 400 in Dayton, Fla. this weekend.

• The No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet was seen having adjustments made to the splitter at the front end following a passed inspection, leading to further adjustments to the struts, which NASCAR tested and found to be in violation of measurement standards.

  Fugle was ejected, and the team lost its pit-stall selection. In addition, Byron will start from the rear and must serve a stop-and-go penalty after taking the green flag.

  Byron leads the NSACAR Cup Series standings with 839 points.

  The team announced that engineer Brandon McSwain would be the interim crew chief.

  The No. 78 Live Fast Motorsports Chevy driven by BJ McLeod was also penalized for failing two inspections. Team chief Lee Leslie was likewise ejected, with the team also losing its pit-stall choice.

  --Field Level Media

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Rain and lightning proved to be a good omen for Alex Bowman, the driver on the bubble for the final NASCAR Cup Series playoff berth.

• With the qualifying session for Saturday night's Coke Zero Sugar 400 canceled because of inclement weather, Bowman will start on the outside of the front row next to Ryan Blaney in the race that will determine the final two positions in the postseason.

  When time trials are canceled, grid positions are determined by NASCAR's metric formula, comprised of owner points position, finishing position from the previous race and fastest lap rank from the previous race.

  Bowman is 60 points above the current elimination line entering the last regular-season race. If one of the 15 drivers above him in the playoff standings happens to win on Saturday, Bowman will clinch a berth on points.

  The danger lies in the possibility of a driver below the cut line winning the pivotal race. If that happens, either Bowman or Tyler Reddick will be eliminated. Reddick, who starts 27th, enters the Coke Zero Sugar 400 with a 29-point edge over Bowman.

  The driver of the No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet views the second starting spot as extremely helpful.

  "A good pit stall selection is good," Bowman said, highlighting an important perk of a top starting position. "Speedway racing has become entirely more difficult to pass at, I feel like. So starting up front is definitely a good thing."

  It also gives Bowman options in trying to overtake Reddick on points.

  "I think with the points deal with the 45 (Reddick), we need to get stage points," Bowman said. "Stage 1 will determine how we race Stage 2 and kind of go from there. I need to do all we can to catch and beat the 45 on points. It's a really tall order, but it is doable.

  "If it doesn't look like we're going to do that, then I'm going to switch to just track position at the end and go try to win the race. We're going to do everything we can to win the race regardless, but if we've got to burn some fuel to try to win stages, I think we're definitely looking at points, too."

  Roush Fenway Keselowski drivers Chris Buescher and Ryan Preece, closest to Bowman in the standings, will start 24th and 31st, respectively. Buescher, Preece and those below them in the standings have only one path to the playoffs -- they must win the race.

  Daytona 500 winner William Byron, who clinched the regular-season championship last Saturday at Richmond Raceway, starts eighth in his attempt to become the sixth driver to sweep both points races at the 2.5-mile superspeedway in the same season.

  A victory by the driver of the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet would assure Bowman, his teammate, of a Playoff berth.

  Behind Blaney and Bowman, the rest of the top 10 includes (in order) Kyle Larson, Joey Logano, Austin Cindric, Denny Hamlin, Austin Dillon, Byron, Chase Briscoe and Brad Keselowski.

  --By Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service. Special to Field Level Media

NASCAR's regular season has all come down to this.

• Twenty-five races have led to Saturday night's regular season finale at Daytona International Speedway, the final chance for drivers to snag a win and earn their way into the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs.

  The regular season finale has seen its fair share of thrilling points battles for playoff spots over the years, but that won't be the case this year. Alex Bowman currently holds the 16th and final provisional playoff spot by 60 points over Chris Buescher, putting every driver below the cut line in a must-win situation.

  A new winner from below the cut line could knock out either Bowman or Tyler Reddick (+89) should Bowman surpass Reddick in the standings at race's end.

  Here's where the drivers stack up at the "World Center of Racing" as they look for a win that could transcend their 2025 campaign.

  --Chris Buescher (17th): Of all the drivers needing a win, Buescher might be in the best position. He won at Daytona in August 2023, and the RFK Racing Fords he drives are always quick at Daytona and Talladega. The bad news? He likely won't get too much drafting help from teammates Ryan Preece and Brad Keselowski, both of whom also need to win on Saturday to make the playoffs.

  --Ryan Preece (18th): Like Buescher, Preece is a capable superspeedway racer and will have a fast car on Saturday evening. Unfortunately, his race cars tend to emulate the airplanes at the nearby Daytona Beach International Airport whenever he tries to make a late push at the 2.5-mile speedway. Preece has gone airborne twice in the last four Daytona races, but if he can keep all four wheels on the ground, he'll be in the mix for his first career win.

  --Kyle Busch (19th): Everything looked like it was coming together for Busch at Daytona a year ago -- until Harrison Burton surged past the two-time champion on the final lap and stole a win and a playoff berth away from the No. 8 team. Just like last year, Busch is in a must-win situation. But with another year added to his winless drought and the prospect of missing the playoffs for the second year in a row staring him down, one has to wonder if the future Hall of Famer will be more aggressive than he was here a year ago. He'll have a Richard Childress Racing teammate in Richmond winner Austin Dillon to push him in the closing laps.

  --Ty Gibbs (20th): Aside from a fifth-place finish at Daytona in August 2024, NASCAR's most iconic track hasn't been very kind to Gibbs in his short Cup Series career. Drafting tracks aren't necessarily his specialty, but he needs to win to make the playoffs for the second straight year. Unlike the aforementioned RFK trio, all of Gibbs' Joe Gibbs Racing teammates are already in the playoffs, which should pay off when he needs a late-race push.

  --Driver to watch below the bubble: Ricky Stenhouse Jr. (28th): The season has spiraled since Stenhouse and the No. 47 HYAK Motorsports team were battling on the playoff bubble in early June. But Daytona could be the great equalizer for Stenhouse, who has won at Daytona twice and has won four Cup races at drafting tracks. He has shocked the world here before, and the closing laps of superspeedway races are always where Stenhouse makes his money.

  --Samuel Stubbs, Field Level Media

Connor Zilisch has been medically cleared to return to the track and will drive the No. 88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet in Friday's NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Daytona International Speedway.

• Zilisch, 19, fractured his collarbone on Aug. 9 after his celebration in Victory Lane went awry at Watkins Glen International. Three days later, he underwent surgery that required doctors to add a plate and screws to his collarbone.

  The Xfinity Series points leader, Zilisch did not miss a race despite undergoing surgery. He holds a seven-point lead over teammate Justin Allgaier.

  Portland International Raceway (Aug. 30) and World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway (Sept. 6) will conclude the regular season.

  It is expected that Zilisch, a North Carolina native, will move full-time to the Cup Series in 2026.

  --Field Level Media

A return to the Chicagoland Speedway, a street race in San Diego and a change to championship weekend highlight the 2026 NASCAR schedule, released Wednesday.

• Also to be noted are the shift of the All-Star Race to Dover Motor Speedway, as well as schedule adjustments that move annual races to non-traditional dates.

  The NASCAR Cup Series begins its 38-event calendar with the Clash, an exhibition at Bowman-Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, N.C., on Feb. 1. The traditional season opener, the Daytona 500, will be run Feb. 15.

  The season will conclude Nov. 8 in Florida at Homestead-Miami, with the finale that will decide the 2026 championship. That race has been held the past five years at the Phoenix Raceway.

  The schedule also was released Wednesday for the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series, which replaces the Xfinity Series, and the Craftsman Truck Series. The former will run 33 races, with the latter holding 25 events.

  Racing returns to Chicagoland after six years away. The street race in downtown Chicago, held the past three seasons, is being replaced by the Chicagoland event in suburban Joliet, Ill.

  The street race, instead, moves to a military base in Coronado, Calif., a San Diego suburb.

  "Obviously, a lot of collaboration, a lot of time, a lot of energy that went into it, and it's just a good blend like we've had over the past few years of innovation and tradition, of being able to celebrate our history and our roots and where we come from, but then also having these bold new moves that we're introducing to the schedule," said Ben Kennedy, NASCAR executive vice president and chief venue and racing innovation officer.

  "For events like a street race in San Diego at the Naval Base Coronado or taking the championship race back to Homestead-Miami Speedway or even a beloved track that our fans have been asking for the past several years in bringing a points race back to Chicagoland, or bringing a points race to North Wilkesboro for the first time in 30 years. So a lot of milestone moments that will be created next year, certainly a lot of anticipated moments, I think, that our fans are going to have. Certainly proud of the work that everyone's done to help put this together."

  Chicagoland also will be part of the five-race In-Season Challenge, a bracket-style tournament that will begin at Sonoma on June 28, then run through Chicagoland, EchoPark Speedway in Georgia and North Wilkesboro in North Carolina before concluding with the finale at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 26.

  The Cup Series also will have two bye weeks, up from one.

  The full 2026 Cup Series schedule follows:

  Feb. 1 -- Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium

  Feb. 15 -- Daytona 500

  Feb. 22 -- Atlanta

  March 1 -- Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas

  March 8 -- Phoenix

  March 15 -- Las Vegas

  March 22 -- Darlington, S.C.

  March 29 -- Martinsville, Va.

  April 5 -- off

  April 12 -- Bristol, Tenn.

  April 19 -- Kansas

  April 26 -- Talladega, Ala.

  May 3 -- Texas

  May 10 -- Watkins Glen, N.Y.

  May 17 -- All-Star Race (Dover, Del.)

  May 24 -- Coca-Cola 600 (Charlotte)

  May 31 -- Nashville

  June 7 -- Michigan

  June 14 -- Pocono (Long Pond, Pa.)

  June 21 -- San Diego

  June 28 -- Sonoma, Calif.

  July 5 -- Chicagoland

  July 12 -- Atlanta

  July 19 -- North Wilkesboro

  July 26 -- Brickyard 400 (Indianapolis)

  Aug. 2 -- off

  Aug. 9 -- Iowa

  Aug. 15 -- Richmond, Va.

  Aug. 23 -- New Hampshire

  Aug. 29 -- Daytona, Fla.

  Sept. 6 -- Darlington

  Sept. 13 -- Gateway (Madison, Ill.)

  Sept. 19 -- Bristol

  Sept. 27 -- Kansas

  Oct. 4 -- Las Vegas

  Oct. 11 -- Charlotte Roval

  Oct. 18 -- Phoenix

  Oct. 25 -- Talladega

  Nov. 1 -- Martinsville

  Nov. 8 -- Homestead, Fla.

  --Field Level Media

O'Reilly Auto Parts is replacing Xfinity as the title sponsor of NASCAR's secondary series starting in 2026.

• NASCAR announced a multiyear partnership on Monday that will become effective on Jan. 1.

  "Like the great sport of NASCAR, O'Reilly Auto Parts was born in America and built on the hard work and drive of passionate people," NASCAR president Steve O'Donnell said in a statement. "This new partnership allows us to continue to fuel that passion for the next generation of NASCAR's stars and fans while celebrating the journey we've been on together for decades."

  O'Reilly Auto Parts, founded in Missouri in 1957, has sponsored NASCAR races for several years across multiple series and tracks.

  "Our company is rooted in the same values that define NASCAR -- teamwork, enthusiasm and dedication," O'Reilly Auto Parts president Brent Kirby said in a statement.

  The NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series marks the fourth sponsorship in the second-tier series' history.

  Before Xfinity (2015-25), it was the NASCAR Nationwide Series from 2008-14. Anheuser-Busch was the title sponsor for decades before that as the NASCAR Busch Series (2003-07), the NASCAR Busch Grand National Series (1984-2002) and the Budweiser Late Model Sportsman Series (1982-83).

  The NASCAR Xfinity Series, in its first year of an exclusive broadcasting deal with The CW Network, has seen a year-over-year growth of more than 17 percent in total viewership this season, according to NASCAR. The series is averaging 1.1 million viewers per race.

  "The success of NASCAR on The CW has shown that millions of fans will consistently tune in for these adrenaline-fueled races every week," Brad Schwartz, president of The CW Network, said in a statement.

  --Field Level Media

Austin Dillon won again in Virginia's capital on Saturday night, this time without any controversy.

• Dillon's No. 3 Chevrolet came to life late in the second half of the NASCAR Cup Series' penultimate regular-season race in Richmond, Va., leading him to repeat as winner of the Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway and join the playoff field.

  In successfully defending his title, Dillon became the race's first repeat victor since Denny Hamlin accomplished the feat in 2009 and 2010.

  The Richard Childress Racing driver wrecked his way to victory last season through leader Joey Logano and Hamlin off the final turn. NASCAR allowed him to keep the win, but did not let him use it to get into the playoffs.

  But on Saturday, an aggressive pit stop -- coming in right after passing leader Ryan Blaney on Lap 340 -- allowed the 35-year-old from North Carolina to beat Alex Bowman's No. 48 Chevrolet by 2.471 seconds for his sixth career win, placing him in the 16-car postseason.

  "That felt really good. ... Last year hurt really bad, just going through the whole process of it," said Dillon, who led 107 laps Saturday and added that he was driving with a broken rib. "This one feels so sweet, and man, I really love Richmond.

  "It's just so special. Every one of these (wins) means so much to me. My grandfather (Richard Childress) ... for all that he's put up in believing in me; there's been a lot of ups and downs. It would have been easy for him to change the driver in this 3 car, but today it feels really darn good."

  Blaney finished third, followed by Logano, who started last for just the fourth time in his career. Austin Cindric was fifth.

  A Chevrolet driver has now won three of the past five races at the three-quarters-mile short track.

  Dillon became the 14th different winner, bumping Bowman into the 16th spot in the playoff picture, 60 points ahead of 17th-place Chris Buescher, the first driver below the cut line.

  Polesitter Ryan Preece crept away from AJ Allmendinger and Tyler Reddick after earning his second career pole on Friday, while Hamlin moved up to third to start the season's fourth short-track race.

  Despite most everyone taking tires at the midpoint as the rubber fell off, Preece stayed out and lost the lead to Reddick late. Bubba Wallace, Hamlin, Dillon and Cindric rounded out the top five after the 70-lap first stage.

  Wallace's No. 23 led fellow Toyota driver Christopher Bell in the early portions of Stage 2, but after a full green-flag run in Stage 1, the second segment featured three cautions for incidents, including a 16-car pile that started with Chase Briscoe getting hit by Kyle Busch in Turn 3.

  The melee included Hamlin, William Byron, Brad Keselowski and Reddick, who led 41 laps, among others. The No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet of Chase Elliott was retired from the event and finished last in 38th.

  Wallace earned the top bonus points by clinching the segment. Daniel Suarez, Blaney, Dillon and Bowman were the next four finishers behind Wallace, who led a race-high 123 laps.

  However, with Dillon pacing the field, Wallace's left front tire came off as pit stops began near Lap 300, ending a strong run by the Brickyard 400 winner in Indianapolis last month.

  --Field Level Media