Hailie Deegan turned her motorsports career around when she first transitioned from off-road and dirt tracks to stock car racing. She began her career in NASCAR in 2018 in the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West. At this time, she became the first female driver to win races in the West Series. Similar to Deegan, Toni Breidinger, one of the few dominant females in motorsports, is driving with Toyota, but not in the way you think.
What sets Toni Breidinger apart is that she was given the opportunity to drive with Toyota, thanks to her online presence promoting women in motorsports. Breidinger, instead of being contracted through the developmental program, is contracted through the marketing department. The social media influencer has more than 2.5 million followers on Instagram and a similar number of followers on TikTok. Like Deegan, Breidinger revealed the reality check she got about what it truly takes to survive in NASCAR today.
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Breidinger’s turnaround
Breidinger was invited onto The Burnouts, with Pheobe and Sophia, and it was during this interview that she shed light on how her contract came to be. She explained how when she got the opportunity to test one of Toyota’s cars, they had loved her. The catch was that if she wanted to drive for them, she needed millions.
“It was kind of like a reality check. I was like, you can be an amazing driver, but like without partners, you’re not gonna go anywhere,” the driver explained.
From that moment, she began to make a plan. She would move to North Carolina, the hub for everything NASCAR, and try to make connections from there. To make money, she began doing Instacart deliveries during the day and would send out cold emails to create more connections.
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Her online success began when she started to make videos of her personal experiences in motorsports, and she is one of the few women to do so.
“I started creating videos around motorsports and just my experience in the space, and they started blowing up, and I started getting brand deals from that,” Breidinger said.
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Soon thereafter, Breidinger gained a following on just about every social media platform available and gained the opportunity to drive for Toyota as the first Arab-American woman to compete in a NASCAR national series.
“So that was kind of my pivotal moment, was social media,” Breidinger said.
This is exactly what Hailie Deegan went through in her career trajectory. Her presence on social media was the major anchor that kept her career steady.
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“I probably wouldn’t be in the ride I’m in right now, being able to race in the truck series full-time, if it wasn’t for me doing social media,” Deegan said. “Because it is very hard to sell sponsorship on a car when you can’t guarantee TV time. It’s very hard to guarantee that.”
Deegan further explained how sponsors like to see numbers and other marketing perks like ensuring their logos are on her car. “I am able to give them that with social media.”
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So like Hailie Deegan, who had to rethink her career path after manufacturer and team expectations changed, Breidinger too realized she needed to build her own value outside the race car. But what’s next for her?
What to expect next from Breidinger
The 2026 NASCAR Truck Series season will be a very important one for Toni Breidinger. It is currently unclear where she will be racing, either at TRICON Garage or a return to Kaulig Racing. However, in order to secure her future in NASCAR, the Toyota driver certainly needs to perform at a high level.
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Throughout the 2025 season, the social media star struggled with distant gaps to her teammates, Corey Heim, Tanner Gray, and Gio Ruggiero. She needs to find more consistency in pace. She has proven she can succeed at select tracks, but she will need to finish higher than 23rd in the points standings to keep her place in NASCAR.
While that’s the update for Breidinger, let’s look at Deegan’s situation.
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Hailie Deegan: Where is she?
After her abrupt exit from AM Racing in 2024, the female driver has left the door open for a return to NASCAR in 2026. Throughout her racing career, she has shown versatility across different racing domains. from starting in go-karts, moving to stock car racing, with performances in the NASCAR Truck Series and even a time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
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Financial reasons played a part in her departure to a different racing format. It’s known that NASCAR sponsorships are a considerable hurdle. Last year, in 2025, the hope for her move to Indy NXT was that the financial dynamics would be more favorable for her. When she moved to Indy NXT, the driver had mentioned she didn’t feel her NASCAR days were done.
It’s difficult to get sponsorships, so if the chance comes for Deegan to return to NASCAR along with financial freedom, there is no doubt she will be back.

Dale Earnhardt’s fatal NASCAR crash at Daytona in 2001 didn’t just end a legendary career. It permanently altered how the sport thinks about danger, responsibility, and consequences. In the years that followed, sweeping safety innovations dramatically reduced NASCAR news related to deaths, creating a generation of drivers who have never raced without modern protection.
But that safety net, some believe, has also bred a dangerous sense of invincibility. Two decades later, as aggressive moves and retaliatory wrecks become increasingly common, one NASCAR legend is sounding the alarm. He’s reminding today’s drivers that even in a safer era, a single reckless moment can still change lives forever.
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Mark Martin’s chilling reality check
More than two decades after Dale Earnhardt’s fatal NASCAR crash reshaped the sport, Mark Martin believes modern drivers are slowly forgetting what’s truly at stake. Reflecting on today’s aggressive racing culture, the NASCAR Hall of Famer issued a blunt warning rooted in lived experience, not nostalgia.
“You just forget that you can get hurt in these things….That could kill somebody, and that would change your life if that happened and you killed somebody.”
Martin’s comments weren’t abstract. They were directly tied to how dramatic safety improvements: HANS devices, SAFER barriers, and stronger chassis have unintentionally altered driver behavior. With deaths eliminated and serious injuries rare, the fear that once restrained emotions has faded. The result, Martin argues, is more reckless decision-making at high speeds.
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He pointed to the 2025 Xfinity Series race at Indianapolis as a sobering example. With roughly eight laps remaining, Aric Almirola made contact with Austin Hill, pushing Hill up the track. Hill saved the car. However, moments later appeared to intentionally turn left, hooking Almirola’s No. 19 in the right rear. The move sent Almirola head-on into the wall in a violent NASCAR crash that immediately drew scrutiny.
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NASCAR officials initially penalized Hill five laps for reckless driving. After further review, the sanction escalated sharply. Hill was suspended for one race and stripped of all 21 playoff points he had earned during the 2025 season. This was a rare and severe punishment, underscoring the seriousness of the act.
To Martin, this wasn’t an isolated lapse. There is a troubling pattern among the new generation, with drivers like Carson Hocevar and others routinely pushing the line between hard racing and outright retaliation. While passion has always been part of NASCAR’s DNA, Martin believes today’s drivers too often confuse consequence-free aggression with toughness.
His message is clear: safety has improved, but physics hasn’t. One bad decision, one moment of anger, and the sport could be forced to relive a tragedy it worked so hard to leave behind.
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Why Mark Martin still carries the weight of his own mistakes
Mark Martin didn’t speak from a moral high ground when he warned today’s drivers about intentional wrecking. He spoke from experience. In the same breath that he criticized modern aggression, the NASCAR legend openly admitted his own regrets. Recounting his racing days, he said:
“If you did that on purpose, you would care. I know it would ruin my life. I would never get over that. I did wreck a few people on purpose, and shame on me for doing it.”
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That self-awareness comes from moments Martin has never fully shaken. One of the most notable came during the 2008 Sam’s Town 300 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. With just five laps remaining, Martin made contact that triggered a massive multi-car NASCAR crash, collecting the two dominant cars of the race: Carl Edwards and Brad Keselowski. The incident wiped out a potential JR Motorsports 1-2 finish, yet Martin held on to win the Nationwide Series race.
While the crash didn’t result in serious injuries or fatalities, the emotional weight was immediate. Standing in Victory Lane, Martin didn’t celebrate first. He apologized.
“I’ve got to apologize, before we do any celebrating, to Carl Edwards and Brad Keselowski,” Martin said from Victory Lane. “I ran into the back of Carl, and he lost control. I just hate it. I hate it, really, because we could have had a 1-2 finish with JR Motorsports. I sure didn’t intend for it to turn out like that, but I couldn’t stop it once it started.”
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That incident showcases the responsibility of the driver behind the wheel. Even when intent isn’t malicious, consequences can spiral instantly at racing speeds. Today’s cars may be safer, but the human cost – guilt, regret, and what-ifs – remains unchanged.
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Martin’s perspective is simple but sobering: drivers don’t just race for trophies. They race carrying the weight of every decision, long after the checkered flag falls.

For decades, NASCAR’s most iconic tracks have carried names that felt untouchable, woven directly into the sport’s identity. That began to shift again in 2025 when Atlanta Motor Speedway was officially rebranded as EchoPark Speedway, marking a new era after a seven-year naming-rights deal with EchoPark Automotive. The change brought fresh branding, modern polish, and a reminder that even historic venues are not immune to commercial evolution.
Now, in the latest NASCAR news, as the calendar turns toward 2026, a similar conversation is unfolding elsewhere. Another legendary NASCAR landmark is facing the possibility of a name change, sparking debate about tradition, revenue, and how far the sport should allow renaming its most cherished places.
City explores naming-rights deals for Bowman Gray
Winston-Salem is officially putting the naming rights to some of its most recognizable public properties on the table, including the historic Bowman Gray Stadium and the Winston-Salem Fairgrounds. City officials have confirmed that dozens of city-owned venues could soon be branded through sponsorship agreements as part of a broader effort to generate new revenue without raising taxes.
One of the most high-profile assets involved is Bowman Gray Stadium, a cornerstone of NASCAR history that has undergone extensive upgrades in recent years. Those improvements were accelerated after the city secured a deal with NASCAR to host the Cook Out Clash, bringing the Cup Series back to the historic quarter-mile track for the first time since 1971. The preseason exhibition race will return again in February 2026.
Under the current agreement with NASCAR, Bowman Gray is scheduled to host five races from NASCAR’s top three national series over the next five years. Beyond marquee events, the stadium remains a weekly hub for grassroots racing, hosting its long-running Saturday night summer series featuring primarily local drivers. It also serves as the home football field for Winston-Salem State University.
Importantly, city officials stressed that any naming-rights agreement would not erase Bowman Gray’s identity. They emphasized that the stadium’s historic name will remain intact regardless of the sponsor or financial scale of any deal, preserving the legacy while opening the door to modern revenue opportunities.
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To spearhead the initiative, the city hired Sportsman Solutions, an Iowa-based firm specializing in naming-rights and sponsorship strategies. Over the past two months, the company has contacted roughly 1,500 potential sponsors, ranging from local Triad-based businesses to national corporations. The pitch spans everything from youth baseball fields to major facilities like the fairgrounds complex itself.
“It’s a blank canvas here in Winston-Salem, and an incredible opportunity to offset some mandatory costs towards capital projects,” explained Sportsman Solutions Vice President Ryan Patrick, who is leading the effort.
The legacy that made Bowman Gray untouchable
Long before superspeedways, charter systems, and billion-dollar TV deals, Bowman Gray Stadium was already shaping what NASCAR would become. Opened in 1937 as a Depression-era public works project, the quarter-mile stadium in Winston-Salem quietly transformed into the heartbeat of weekly stock car racing.
By 1939, dirt midget cars were circling the football field. And when the track was paved in 1947, Bowman Gray became a proving ground for raw talent and relentless competition. That legacy hardened in 1949. It was then that NASCAR founders Bill France Sr. and Alvin Hawkins sanctioned the first Grand National race there. Fonty Flock’s victory that night helped launch a tradition that would span generations.
Between 1958 and 1971, the stadium hosted 29 Cup Series races. The winners included names like Richard Petty, Lee Petty, David Pearson, and Bobby Allison. Petty scored four victories at the track, while Allison’s controversial 1971 win (long disputed) was officially reinstated in 2024, closing a chapter more than 50 years later.
The “Madhouse” nickname wasn’t marketing hype. The flat, unforgiving asphalt produced side-by-side battles, bent sheet metal, and grudges that lasted decades. Glenn Wood’s Modified dominance, Richard Childress selling peanuts before climbing into a race car, and Petty’s 100th career win all unfolded within its concrete walls.

The NHL has recently revealed the latest venue for the 2027 Winter Classic match between the Nashville Predators and the Carolina Hurricanes. The Bristol Motor Speedway is going to host the event for the 2027 calendar. It seems that the NHL is following in the footsteps of the MLB. The 2025 MLB Speedway Classic was hosted at the Bristol Motor Speedway. The fans, however, were highly unimpressed by the management disaster that took place instead of the promised match.
But now that the NHL has decided to go through with the same decision, the reactions from the NHL fans are highly varied and extreme towards the league. Why would the NHL go forth with the Bristol Motor Speedway as a potential venue?
Well, for starters, the oval layout of the track is something that the NHL is looking forward to utilizing. The NHL has already hosted annual outdoor games since 2008. As a result, the cards fell into Bristol Motor Speedway’s hands, which were looking forward to hosting more events than just NASCAR.
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Besides MLB, the Speedway also hosted the NCAA football match–Battle at Bristol– between the Virginia Tech Hokies and the University of Tennessee Volunteers in 2016. On paper, it would be a win-win situation for the NHL. The NCAA game was attended by nearly 156,990 people, and the MLB game was attended by 91,032 people.
The NHL, which already has some of the most unique outdoor venues, would profit from the number of attendees. For reference, the record for the most attended game of the NHL was 105,491 fans from the 2014 Winter Classic game.
But while everything seems smooth and easy for the NHL, the fans disagree. They were a witness to the MLB game, and now it seems like the NHL might have overestimated their excitement for the game.
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NHL fans go against the idea of hosting the 2027 Winter Classic at Bristol
As soon as the matchup for the 2027 Winter Classic at the Bristol Motor Speedway popped up, a unique situation was noticed by the public. In a picture being shared on X, a snippet of the scoreboard for the game between the two teams is being shown. The abbreviation for the two teams shows up as NAS | CAR. The fan urged the NHL to follow a similar style on the scoreboard to make it seem like a NAS vs CAR game is going on at the NASCAR track. It would be a hilarious view and would definitely be a source of many memes in the aftermath.
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Then came the criticism from the other fans. One of the fans was excited about the idea of an NHL game at Bristol, but he did not like it from the point of view of a hockey fan. “As a NASCAR fan, awesome! As a Canadian hockey fan, this kinda sucks! But at least it’s outside.”
Another fan commented on the goals of Bristol Motor Speedway. The track has shown interest in hosting different sports, which, according to fans, is rather strange. They sarcastically commented, “Really, Bristol is becoming an ice rink now, hold a WWE event there.”
There was no doubt that some fans would bring up the mismanagement caused during the MLB match. Rain had spoiled the play. Concession stands ran out of food. Moreover, the view was blocked from many seats.
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Commenting about the potential issue that might arise, one fan said, “Look how small the baseball field looked….. Look how small a hockey rink looks on a baseball field .. ain’t no way in hell this is true.”
There was also some optimism towards the 2027 Winter Classic, since the fan thinks the NHL would be able to manage it well. They were still skeptical about the space available, though.
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“I have more faith in the NHL to execute this than what the MLB showed last year, but what the hell are they going to do about Speedway in Lights this year, since you’re going to need the space?”
The NHL might be on its way to a revolutionary idea, according to them, but for the fans, what matters is that they enjoy the game. Yeah, in theory, the NHL Winter Classic would sound great at a motorsports oval. It will give a chance for the fans of the sport to mingle. There is also a high chance for the NHL to break its audience records.
But if they do not learn from the mistakes that the MLB committed, then their new idea won’t be as groundbreaking when it’s executed in 2027. Do you think that more NASCAR tracks are going to vouch for the attention of other sports leagues, following the suit of Bristol?

Alex Bowman is entering the most consequential season of his NASCAR Cup Series career.
The 32-year-old from Tucson, Ariz., is going into his ninth season at Hendrick Motorsports likely needing a big year in order to stay at HMS going forward, as his contract with the organization only runs through the end of 2026.
Why Alex Bowman is under pressure
Bowman, an eight-time Cup Series winner, is a solid Cup Series driver. He’s made the playoffs in all but one of his nine seasons driving for HMS, and that was partially the result of him missing three races due to a back injury in 2023.
But at a championship organization such as HMS, solid drivers don’t always last. Hendrick expects championship-caliber performance from all four of its cars on an annual basis, and Bowman is yet to make the Championship 4 in his career.
Contrast that to Kyle Larson, William Byron and Chase Elliott: Larson has won two Cup Series championships in five years at HMS, Byron has won back-to-back Daytona 500s and made the Championship 4 in three consecutive seasons and Elliott made the Championship 4 from 2020-22, taking home the 2020 championship.
Bowman has been far from bad during his HMS tenure, but at some point, he’ll hit his head on his relatively low ceiling.
Therein lies the elephant in the room: Chevrolet’s star-studded talent pipeline.
If Hendrick were to go looking for a new driver next offseason, there’s plenty of homegrown options to pick from. Corey Day and Rajah Caruth will both drive for Hendrick’s NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series program this season and have extensive backing from Rick Hendrick. Jesse Love won the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series championship with Richard Childress Racing in 2026, while young stars in Carson Hocevar and Connor Zilisch both drive for Chevy teams in the Cup Series.
Bowman’s current situation is a perfect storm that could lead to him being a free agent at the end of 2026 – but not if he puts together a career year and proves his worth as a true title threat.

There was a time in NASCAR when safety rules were looser, in-car technology was basic, and driver comfort often trumped best practices. The 1980s and early 1990s were an era of improvisation, when seatbelts weren’t always worn as tightly as they should’ve been, pit road was far more chaotic, and what happened inside the cockpit was largely left to the driver.
In that environment, some habits that would be unthinkable today were treated as normal. One NASCAR legend has now admitted just how far that freedom went. In fact, he revealed that he knowingly risked safety mid-race for a reason that sounds almost unbelievable now.
Another part of the NASCAR race plan
“When I raced for Wayne Spears, Rick Carelli beat me at his home track in Colorado. So, Wayne calls me and I’m down at the shop. I said what do you need Wayne, he says look in the truck or look in the car. I look in there and there’s a little box and there’s a cigarette lighter. What’s that for? He says you ran out of nicotine in the race, that’s why Rick Carelli beat you. I want you to smoke every yellow flag. This was ‘92-’93.”
That story alone feels like it belongs to a completely different version of NASCAR. And in many ways, it does. Ron Hornaday Jr.’s time racing for Wayne Spears was built on trust, toughness, and an unapologetically old-school mindset. Spears wasn’t just a team owner; he was the kind of boss who believed every detail mattered, even a driver’s nicotine level. If smoking helped keep Hornaday calm and focused, then smoking became part of the strategy.
Back then, Hornaday drove for Spears Motorsports primarily in the ARCA Series, while also making a handful of NASCAR Cup Series starts with the team. It was a gritty partnership rooted in seat time, hard miles, and doing whatever it took to stay sharp. That’s where the smoking habit escalated from a personal vice into a full-blown race routine.
Hornaday would light up under caution, take a few drags, and then flick the cigarette out the window as the race went back green. Sometimes, the burning cigarette would bounce off the windshield of the car behind him. Drivers would radio in, confused, thinking something on their car was sparking or failing and never imagining it was a cigarette tossed mid-pack.
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To keep the system foolproof, Wayne Spears had a cigarette lighter installed directly in Hornaday’s truck. No pit stop required. No waiting. Just nicotine on demand.
Back then, Hornaday drove for Spear Motorsports primarily in the ARCA Series, while also making a handful of NASCAR Cup Series starts with the team. It was a gritty partnership rooted in seat time, hard miles, and doing whatever it took to stay sharp. That’s where the smoking habit escalated from a personal vice into a full-blown race routine.
Hornaday would light up under caution, take a few drags, and then flick the cigarette out the window as the race went back green. Sometimes, the burning cigarette would bounce off the windshield of the car behind him. Drivers would radio in, confused, thinking something on their car was sparking or failing, and never imagining it was a cigarette tossed mid-pack.
To keep the system foolproof, Wayne Spears had a cigarette lighter installed directly in Hornaday’s truck. No pit stop required. No waiting. Just nicotine on demand.
Ron Hornaday Jr wasn’t the only one
Hornaday’s cigarette-laced race routine wasn’t an isolated quirk from a wilder time. He was simply part of a larger, very real NASCAR era when drivers bent rules, ignored optics, and raced with habits that would be unthinkable today. Few embodied that spirit more than Dick Trickle.
The Wisconsin short-track legend arrived in NASCAR’s Winston Cup Series in 1989 carrying the same unapologetic personality that made him a folk hero back home. That included smoking cigarettes during races. NASCAR allowed it, with one condition: Trickle could only light up under yellow-flag caution periods. So he adapted.
Trickle drilled a small ventilation hole into his helmet, installed cigarette lighters inside his cars, and treated cautions like smoke breaks. The moment reached peak absurdity during the 1990 Winston 500 at Talladega, when in-car cameras caught him casually reaching for his lighter while the field slowed. Broadcasters couldn’t believe what they were seeing, openly marveling on-air as Trickle puffed away like it was a Sunday drive.
Fans loved it. Announcers compared him to David Pearson – another old-school racer who came from a time when feel mattered more than formality. The habit wasn’t rebellion as much as routine. Trickle came from short-track racing, where two-hour features left no room for pit strategy or wellness breaks. Nicotine was part of endurance.
Today, those moments feel surreal. Fire suits, HANS devices, strict cockpit protocols, and zero-tolerance safety standards have erased that version of NASCAR. But Trickle’s on-camera cigarette remains frozen in time. It’s a reminder of a sport that once operated on grit, instinct, and freedoms that no longer exist.

In 2025, the NASCAR schedule wasn’t afraid to break tradition. The Cup Series expanded its footprint with an international points race at Mexico City’s Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, while Bowman Gray Stadium replaced the LA Coliseum as the home of the Clash, bringing grassroots racing back into the spotlight.
Those bold additions sent a clear message. NASCAR is open to change! As the sport looks ahead to 2026, that openness has sparked fresh conversations among fans. With momentum on their side, the NASCAR faithful are now pushing for an entirely new batch of tracks, hoping the next schedule shake-up goes even further.
Fans debate which familiar tracks deserve a second chance
The conversation picked up steam when a NASCAR fan on Reddit posed a simple but loaded question: “What’s a track that you can realistically see returning to NASCAR?” That single post opened the floodgates. Within hours, fans were tossing out names, memories, and arguments rooted in everything from racing quality to pure nostalgia.
There’s reason this debate feels timely. Over the years, NASCAR has quietly trimmed several tracks from the schedule. Some fell victim to declining attendance, others to lackluster racing, and a few were casualties of NASCAR’s broader push to diversify its calendar. The rise of road courses and, more recently, street circuits has reshaped how the schedule looks.
For 2026, that evolution continues with a brand-new street course planned for San Diego’s Coronado area, signaling that NASCAR isn’t slowing down on experimentation. At the same time, the sanctioning body has shown it’s willing to circle back. Chicagoland Speedway’s return has only fueled fan optimism.
The 1.5-mile oval last hosted a Cup Series race in June 2019 before disappearing from the calendar. While the COVID-19 pandemic played a major role in its removal, lagging attendance and NASCAR’s shift toward new venue types also factored into the decision. Now, with Chicagoland back in the picture, fans see proof that removed doesn’t always mean forgotten.
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That belief has sparked renewed calls for other tracks to get another look. From intermediate ovals to old-school short tracks, fans are sharing their wish lists, arguing that if Chicagoland can find its way back, others might not be as far-fetched as they once seemed.
Tracks that could realistically come back on NASCAR schedule
As Chicagoland’s return reshaped expectations, fans quickly shifted from nostalgia to practicality. They are focusing on tracks that actually have a path back to NASCAR’s top level. One Reddit user pointed to a contingency NASCAR has already acknowledged:
“Last year NASCAR admitted that the Daytona Road Course is the designated backup track for the Cup Series. I wouldn’t be surprised to see it back on the schedule.” That admission alone keeps the door open. The layout proved it could deliver solid racing during pandemic-era shakeups, and its role as a ready-made fallback makes a future return feel less speculative.
Rockingham Speedway was another popular answer, and with good reason. “Rockingham – they already got Trucks and Xfinity back, but I’m hoping Cup will come back too since the track has new owners focused on racing now,” one fan wrote. NASCAR’s 2025 return to Rockingham with both Xfinity and Truck Series races (confirmed again for 2026) has reignited belief that a Cup Series date isn’t far-fetched, especially with ownership reinvesting in the facility.
Wisconsin fans made their frustration loud and clear. “Road America or Milwaukee Mile. It’s insane that there’s no NASCAR presence in Wisconsin,” one comment read. Road America hosted Cup races in 2021 and 2022 before being replaced by the Chicago Street Race in 2023, while the Milwaukee Mile, still the oldest operating motor speedway in the world, remains a glaring omission despite its deep NASCAR history (the last NASCAR race was in 2024 in the Truck Series).
Short-track loyalists pointed to Hickory Motor Speedway. “If Bowman Gray can get the Clash, I don’t see why NASCAR wouldn’t consider a Truck or Xfinity race there,” a fan argued. Hickory’s weekly racing scene, ties to NASCAR history, and modern relevance through events like the 2025 Fall Brawl make it a logical regional candidate for a spot on the main calendar.
Then came the boldest suggestion: “Zandvoort.” With Formula 1 set to exit after 2026, fans noted that Circuit Zandvoort is actively exploring NASCAR as a successor. It’s ambitious, yes. But after Mexico City and San Diego, fans clearly aren’t ruling anything out anymore on the NASCAR schedule.

Ron Hornaday Jr. is a well-known persona among the NASCAR fans. The four-time Truck Series champ’s fame earned him numerous ‘Most Popular Driver’ awards. However, there’s another interesting aspect of Ron Hornaday Jr.’s story that many fans do not know yet. A story where his life’s at stake.
The NASCAR community knows that he was very close to Kevin Harvick. He also helped Harvick build his career when the latter joined the NASCAR Cup Series. But their relationship went beyond the track. In fact, Kevin Harvick was one of Hornaday’s best friends. So when Hornaday appeared on the Dinner with Racers podcast, he couldn’t help but talk about the contribution of his valuable friend Harvick to his life, being the reason why he’s still alive.
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Ron Horday Jr. recalls Kevin Harvick’s life-saving intervention
Fans may recall that Hornaday’s health was deteriorating rapidly during his Truck series days in the 2000s. He had lost a lot of weight. It was an alarming situation, and Hornaday’s doctor could not find out the reason behind it. So what did Kevin Harvick do?
Harvick insisted that Ron Hornaday Jr. should meet his doctor in order to dig deeper into his declining health. And that was when he came to know about his condition.
“I knew something was wrong…Crulley takes me to the hospital. I said, ‘Gene, I already went through all this.’ He said, ‘No, this is Kevin’s doc. Kevin wants you to see this guy.’ The doc grabs my hair and says, ‘You got Graves’ disease.’ My wife, Lindy, is talking to him. She says, ‘Okay, what do we do? You’ve got two more months left to race and all the stuff.’ He says, ‘No, he will be dead by then…’”
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It was a very dangerous and shocking revelation for Hornaday Jr. If Harvick hadn’t stayed persistent towards his health, Ron Hornaday would’ve succumbed to the severity of Graves’ disease. In fact, we can realize the extent of his suffering from the fact that his weight went down from 200 lbs to 130 lbs within the span of two and a half months.
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Before his diagnosis, Hornaday was only trying the regular old-fashioned method of changing his diet. His doctor tried everything: “up the butt, down the throat, CAT scans. He can’t find anything.”
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Courtesy of Kevin Harvick’s timely intervention, Hornaday could procure the right medication after his diagnosis. He had to go through a heavy dosage of Synthroid, and that he’d have to continue taking it for his entire life. His Graves’ disease could only stay under control owing to the medication.
Ron Hornaday also recalled some funny incidents related to the medication itself. He says that his wife used to turn off the lights during bedtime and comment that his throat was glowing. Taking a light-hearted jab at himself, he called himself a “nightlamp” for his wife.
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But the story doesn’t just stop here. Though Kevin Harvick’s doctor prescribed him Synthroid, which saved his life, his best friend had to intervene once again when things got a little tricky.
Kevin Harvick busted the false claims of a reporter for Hornaday Jr.
The medication that Ron Hornaday Jr. takes, Synthroid, is a form of steroid. It was an expensive drug that he procured through a bodybuilder. But somehow, a notorious reporter got the information that he was using the same.
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The reporter threatened that he would end Hornaday’s career by busting his “steroid usage.” Once again, Ron Hornaday had to approach his friend, Harvick.
“Well, he basically tried to get me fired. So here I had to call Kevin, and luckily, Kevin’s at a function with all the bigwigs at NASCAR, and explain the story. They said, ‘Well, bring all your paperwork, all your hospital stuff…’”
That’s two times when Kevin Harvick’s intervention proved highly important for Ron Hornaday Jr. After saving his life, Harvick did not hesitate a moment before giving it his all to save his career.
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Hornaday Jr. also recalls the brotherhood and support of his fellow drivers, Bobby Labonte, Carl Edwards, and others who did not doubt his integrity. “I do appreciate that not only Kevin, but the entire series was like, hey, it’s the medical thing going on.”
At the end of the day, a press conference took place during which the reporter tried to accuse Ron Hornaday Jr. of doping. The meticulous planning and mitigation that Hornaday and Harvick had done together led to the reporter getting kicked out for false claims.
This is a story that is worth remembering for members of the NASCAR community. It goes on to show how Kevin Harvick was a solid wall that his drivers could lean on whenever they had a tough situation. Meanwhile, did you know about this fascinating aspect of Ron Hornaday Jr.’s career in the Truck Series?

Some wins never make the spotlight but live in a driver’s memory. Long before this NASCAR driver was battling at 200 mph in the Cup Series, a small 12-year-old driver was busy etching his name into dirt track folklore in Tulsa. A wild comeback win at the Tulsa Shootout became a defining moment and one that still fuels his hunger for redemption even today.
Speaking on FloRacing‘s official page, Stenhouse Jr. was more nostalgic than ever.
“You know, it was crazy,” he said. “I remember 1999 going there and I’m like, holy cow, there’s 100 plus go-karts in my class, racing for a driller. And I was so young, like I knew it was a big event to win.”
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Long before Ricky Stenhouse Jr. became known for his NASCAR career, he was deeply rooted in grassroots racing, starting in go-karts at six years old and racking up dozens of wins before moving into sprint cars and midget racing.
Early in his career, Stenhouse Jr. won the 1999 Tulsa Shootout A-Main, a major event in dirt racing that helped establish his talent and reputation in the open-wheel world. But his win didn’t come easy.
“I believe we came from the back. I think I got crashed at one point in my heat race or something, and had to come from the back to win that race. Not as many video cameras going at the time, so I don’t think I have any video of that race. But it was a huge, huge accomplishment.”
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One of the most coveted prizes in American dirt track racing is the Golden Driller trophy awarded at the annual Chili Bowl Nationals in Tulsa, Oklahoma. And with the event making a comeback this year as well, the 38-year-old driver couldn’t help but get nostalgic about his first-ever win there.
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The Tennessee native has had a long and enthusiastic relationship with the Chili Bowl, competing in the event for nearly 2 decades.
Across more than 17 appearances, he has built a respectable record, making the championship feature multiple times and using the intense, chaotic racing environment to sharpen his skills against top dirt competitors.
And it all started at age 12. Fast forward to today, and the veteran definitely gets happy with that memory, but fresh and younger talent is upcoming, and more recently, 12-year-old Braxton Flatt has been the name on everyone’s lips.
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While a Golden Driller, the symbolic trophy awarded at the crown jewel of midget racing events, has eluded him so far, Stenhouse’s pursuit of it shows his continued connection to his roots.
Even as his primary focus has shifted to NASCAR, where he’s scored wins, including his first Daytona 500 victory, he still returns to the Tulsa dirt with respect for the challenge and history of the event.
But it hasn’t been easy for the Tennessee native, especially when it comes to his Cup Series season.
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Can Stenhouse Jr. pack a strong comeback?
Ricky Stenhouse Jr.’s 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season showed early promise before unraveling just as quickly. The No. 47 driver failed to continue his career-best two-year streak.
Hyak Motorsports briefly found itself inside the playoff picture, but a sharp drop in performance soon followed. As the year went on, the No. 47 team struggled to keep pace, fading well outside the playoff bubble.
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Heading into the 2026 season, Stenhouse has clear objectives. The Tennessee native is focused on rebounding from a disappointing year and returning to contention with a win firmly in sight.
Speedway tracks remain his best opportunity, as they’ve historically been where the 38-year-old has found the most success.
While 2025 fell short of expectations for the team, the final five weeks of the season told a different story. The Chevrolet-backed team picked up three finishes on 19th or better heading into the winter, including a top 15 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
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But the off-season may provide an ample amount of rest to restart fresh and set new momentum in 2026.

NASCAR racing has been absent from Kentucky Speedway for more than five years.
Once a host of the top three NASCAR series, Kentucky Speedway now sits as a multi-purpose facility.
What started in 1997 as a vision to bring top-tier racing in America to Northern Kentucky now sits just off I-71 having not hosted live racing in front of fans for more than five years. Kentucky Speedway, founded by Jerry Carroll and now owned by Speedway Motorsports, is part of a cohort of race tracks around the United States that still exist, but haven’t hosted race weekends in years.
There are plenty of reasons Kentucky Speedway is effectively closed − the COVID-19 pandemic impact on live, in-person sports, NASCAR scheduling and Speedway Motorsports’ allotment of race weekends on the NASCAR schedule being chief among them.
Speedway Motorsports owns Bristol Motor Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Dover Motor Speedway, Echopark Speedway, Kentucky Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Nashville Superspeedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, North Wilksboro Speedway, Sonoma Raceway and Texas Motor Speedway.
The NASCAR Cup Series features races at 24 different tracks and Speedway Motorsports owns 10 of those tracks. The race weekend in Sparta, Kentucky, that used to feature the top three NASCAR Series − Cup Series, O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and Craftsman Truck Series – has moved to Echopark Speedway (formerly Atlanta Motor Speedway), which Speedway Motorsports invested significantly in amenities around the track.
Will NASCAR return to Kentucky Speedway?
When the 2026 NASCAR schedule was released on Aug. 20, 2025, Kentucky Speedway was not listed as a host for any of the top-three national series. Nor was it on the schedule for any other national racing series.
The Courier-Journal examined the current state of Kentucky Speedway and its impact on the community, but there seems to be no clear future plans for the track in the immediate future.
In a statement sent to The Courier Journal via email, Scott Cooper, the senior vice president of communications for Speedway Motorsports said,

Kyle Larson may be the jack of all trades when it comes to motorsports, but Shane Van Gisbergen would rather master one. NASCAR’s punishing calendar has been making rounds, and he is far from alone in his frustration with the sport’s relentless schedule. As a driver who has made his presence known in other series, the Kiwi has joined the mix in voicing concern about the nearly year-long NASCAR schedule. And he is left shaking his head vigorously.
SVG may be open to race on New Zealand speedways
Speaking on SpeedCafe’s YouTube video, the New Zealander set his tone for racing outside of NASCAR and has shut the door on further opportunities.
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“Yeah, it’s too hard,” he said. “Like we do 37–38 weeks, you know, our season goes on with the breaks and the Bowman Gray pre-race or preseason race. It’s hard, you know, and then the season finishes, and most other rally in New Zealand’s finished, Australia’s finished.”
And it surely gets difficult to race during and after the season too. A few days ago, the International High Limits were being embraced by Aussie fans, with NASCAR talents like Kyle Larson shaking up the field, but it takes a lot of determination and stamina to race in the offseason as well.
This is nothing compared to the jam-packed schedule Larson had in 2025, running dirt races on weekdays and attempting the Double Duty; it all sounds like too much.
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So while Larson likes to enjoy racing dirt, IndyCar, and other races in the middle of the season, Shane van Gisbergen has no interest in following that blueprint.
The NASCAR schedule is a marathon. Racing for almost 32-36 Sundays of the 52 in a year is definitely grueling. And it’s not just the drivers, everyone in the garage has to face it, like how Kaitlyn Vincie had also spoken for broadcasters.
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“Honestly, sometimes I have to laugh at my schedule and how many things I seem to put on my plate for no reason… the career is very demanding.”
The sport seems to come alive only during the playoffs, making the rest of the season seem “stale,” as per Larson’s teammate, Chase Elliott. This can potentially cause a lot of burnout among the racers.
And the 2026 schedule isn’t any better.
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Even though the two built-in off weeks were added to the 2026 schedule, one after Martinsville and another between Indianapolis and Iowa, many drivers and fans feel the season could be more balanced with more breaks peppered throughout rather than clustered in just a couple of pockets.
Spreading out the calendar would definitely help reduce burnout and make each race feel more meaningful, keeping drivers fresh and fans more engaged all season long.
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However, as SVG preps for the 2026 season, he isn’t really nodding away at the possibility of not racing in New Zealand.
“And then, yeah, hopefully next year, if Speedway’s kind of settled down in New Zealand, I’d love to go do some races there,” the Trackhouse Racing driver added. “Because it’s pretty shut down here in America this time of year, the winters are harsh, and I’d love to get home and spend more time in summer would be good.”
And while Larson lost out on a bit of money at the Perth Motorplex, the 2025 NASCAR Cup champion is more than ready to pick himself up and dust himself off for the upcoming Chili Bowl event.
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This definitely seems like a lot, and maybe SVG isn’t ready to take up external racing just yet. And while extracurriculars may not be in his cards, the 36-year-old driver is more than ready to build on his oval game for 2026.
SVG looks to improve his oval game in 2026
SVG’s 2025 season was built on broad course success as he closed the year with five wins and seven top 10 finishes, most of them coming on road and street circuits.
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However, early on, ovals proved to be his biggest challenge. Finishing regularly outside the top 20, SVG had to adapt to NASCAR’s unique oval racing demands and the car’s handling characteristics.
As the season wore on, the narrative began to change. SVG steadily improved on ovals, breaking into the top 20 tracks like Michigan and Darlington before reaching a major milestone in September with his first oval top 10 finish at Kansas Speedway.
But it was that late-season search that carried real meaning.
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Speaking with Speedcafe, the Kiwi driver explained that the pressure of the players initially stalled his momentum, but once eliminated from championship contention, the team was free to experiment.
“I didn’t do a good enough job, and that’s the pressure of the playoffs,” he said. “I didn’t drive well enough, and yeah, as soon as the playoffs ended, the very next week, we tried some different setups, thinking that, ‘Oh, we’re out of the playoffs. We’ll take some risk with some cars.’”
Those changes address a key weakness in coroner entry, an area where he had lagged behind his teammates. With a setup better suited to his driving style, the results followed quickly.
He qualified at New Hampshire and ran inside the top 10 during stage one, backed it up with another 10th at Kansas, and showed a strong base at Las Vegas.
While there is still room to grow, the trajectory is obvious. He enters 2026 with confidence, momentum, and a rapidly improving oval program, a reminder to look up series drivers that he is no longer just a road course threat.

RFK Racing joined hands with Castrol in 2019. Since then, they have partnered with the BP-owned oil brand for six years as of 2026. The iconic Castrol-powered car has brought multiple wins and playoff appearances to RFK Racing. They are a major sponsor and the primary engine oil partner to RFK Racing’s three-car operation in the NASCAR Cup Series. However, the recent decisions undertaken by Castrol’s owners might disrupt this bond.
RFK Racing’s Castrol sponsorship in danger
BP, which is the owner of Castrol, ended up selling 65% of its stake in the brand back on December 24, 2025. This decision was taken as a result of BP’s ongoing strategy to minimize its debt. Castrol, valued at nearly $10 billion, will help decrease a significant portion of its debt.
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The firm that the stakes are sold to is Stonepeak Partners. BP wants to achieve a $20 billion divestment push, and this decision is a key step towards that goal.
“We concluded a thorough strategic review of Castrol, which generated extensive interest and resulted in the sale of a majority interest to Stonepeak,” said Carol Howle, BP interim CEO. “And with this, we have now completed or announced over half of our targeted $20 billion divestment programme, with proceeds to strengthen BP’s balance sheet significantly.”
Even though BP retains 35% of the shares in Castrol, the decisions of Stonepeak shall prevail in any situation. Now, a very important question arises in this sale–will Castrol still sponsor RFK Racing and extend their ongoing deal?
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For the fans of the iconic partnership, there’s no need to panic yet. The deal, which was signed between Castrol and RFK Racing, will allow Castrol to sponsor the team for the 2026 season. The takeover itself will come into effect from 2027, as per BP’s strategy. So the team and Castrol’s new management have a long time to discuss the specifics of a new deal.
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As such, there is no hurry regarding the outcome of this ownership change. However, with the recent conditions that have struck RFK…
Will Stonepeak keep sponsoring RFK Racing through Castrol?
The commitments between both RFK Racing and Castrol will end once BP gives up its ownership in 2027. After that, the team needs the confidence of Stonepeak if they want to retain a wealthy and generous sponsor like Castrol. The odds aren’t exactly in their favor, though.
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In the 2025 season, the RFK Racing fleet failed to secure any wins throughout the season. Yes, RFK Racing has won two championships in the past. But if they want to gain the favor of a new management, they will have to show results that support the same.
According to Andreas Osbar, CEO of Castrol Americas, “RFK has been at the forefront of innovation, testing and winning races with our Castrol MoreCircular engine oils since 2022. Putting our products to the test in extreme racing conditions has been critical, and I’m grateful to the iconic RFK Racing team for their partnership.”
So if RFK Racing does not provide the new owners with an incentive to showcase their product, they will end up losing their stature as a profit-inducing team. No business would want to sponsor a team in NASCAR that stays at the front of the grid, leading laps on the ovals.
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The situation has become ever more grave due to the injury of co-owner Brad Keselowski. Although he has confirmed that he will not miss the Daytona 500, the team needs to put their head down and focus on winning.
The exit of BP from Castrol’s throne is not a good signal for RFK Racing, and they know it very well. Do you think that the team will be able to renew its partnership under Stonepeak management, or will Castrol find a new home for 2027?

NASCAR has a way of turning coworkers into lifelong friends. When you spend decades traveling the same circuit, calling the same races, and living the grind of the season together, those relationships run deeper than most fans ever see. That reality came into focus this week, and it hit veteran FOX broadcaster Mike Joy hard. A retirement announcement of his friend stepping away from NASCAR definitely proved to be a tearjerker.
Joy didn’t try to dress it up. His message was simple, personal, and full of respect.
“You’ve had a great career…and our sport is the better for it. I’m glad to have shared the mic with you in your early years. Congrats!.”
Mark Garrow’s career is one of the most impossible to separate from NASCAR radio itself. A fixture at Performance Racing Network for more than four decades, Garrow wore just about every hat imaginable, turn announcer, reporter, host, producer, and trusted voice fans heard race after race.
His work on PRN’s GaragePass helped shape how NASCAR was covered on radio long before podcasts and social media became the norm. Along the way he played a part as he lent his voice to nearly 10,000 daily broadcasts and earned six National Motorsports Press Association Radio Broadcaster of the Year awards and the inaugural Barney Hall Award.
The Vermont native helped build Winston Cup Today into a nationally syndicated radio show and contributed to the explosive growth of Jayski.
And the love goes both ways. Earlier in September, when Garrow announced his retirement, he couldn’t help but thank Mike Joy in his speech.
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“I’ve always appreciated Mike Joy and John McMullin opening the door for me to work at MRN and the folks at Capitol Sports for allowing me to build a radio network from the ground up,” the 67-year-old said.
But as the 2025 season came to an end, the Vermont native’s time to say his final goodbyes to NASCAR had come. Reflecting on his decision to step away, Garrow summed it up in his own understated way.
“Been blessed and crazy to think I’ve done so many shows…has to be NASCAR record and who knows might be “radio” record. Proud every show was original. Racing has been a part of my life since I was literally a baby, and it will continue to be, just in a different way. Truly content,” he said.
For Mike Joy and many others across the garage, Garrow’s exit is a reminder that an era is quietly turning. Not with fireworks or farewell laps, but with gratitude, respect, and the kind of bond only NASCAR can build.
But as Garrow’s swan lake exit was underway, he revealed that him joining NASCAR was just an accident.
How Garrow accidentally became a NASCAR anchor
It is no secret that the 67-year-old veteran announcer grew up around racing all his life. And being part of NASCAR would make total sense, but that isn’t particularly what the Vermont native may have wanted.
Growing up in Vermont, he attended his first race when he was barely a year old with his father waving flags at the local short track and his mother keeping score, giving him a front-row seat to racing along the road he could talk.
“It was almost a total accident, so Claremont Speedway in Claremont, New Hampshire, hires my dad to be the flagman because he was a professional prize fighter,” he recalled while speaking to Frontstretch in October. “And he loved that because that’s what he did for a living…So I grew up around it, right? That’s what I did every Saturday night during the summer. I didn’t know anything else.”
That early exposure led to the foundation for a lifelong passion, and he eventually turned that love into a remarkable career that spanned more than four decades on the airwaves.
Whether calling races live from the track or anchoring, Garrow’s deep roots in racing helped shape not only his path but also a generation of NASCAR radio coverage.

When the 2026 IndyCar schedule dropped, the season opened as always on the streets of Saint Petersburg, but this year came with a twist. The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series joined the party, throwing down on the tight Florida street circuit a day earlier as the third race of its season. But that’s not it.
Adding IndyCar’s shared Phoenix double header the following week, the crossover buzz only grew. Names like Scott McLaughlin and James Hinchcliffe were floating around, but while there were a few fun ideas, none hit quite like the one that is about to turn heads.
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Dario Franchitti makes a NASCAR comeback in 2026
All signs now point to Dario Franchitti making a long-awaited return to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, nearly two decades after his lone start back in 2007.
That appearance came at Martinsville Speedway in 2007, nearly two decades ago, marking the first and only Truck Series race for the three-time Indy 500 winner.
Franchitti would spend the following years competing across NASCAR’s top two national divisions before ultimately returning home to IndyCar with Chip Ganassi Racing, a reunion that delivered two Indy 500 victories and three series championships.
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In total, the Scottish driver made 25 starts across NASCAR’s three premier divisions, highlighted by a career-best fifth-place finish in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series at Watkins Glen, notably his only NASCAR start on a road course, a discipline where his resume speaks for itself.
However, only one question is left. Which team gets to field a truck for the 52-year-old driver?
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According to the announcement, Franchitti will be back in action with Toyota, but the identity of the team set to field his truck remains a mystery for now.
The 2026 truck series lineup currently includes several Toyota fielding teams, such as Halmar Friesen Racing and Tricon Garage, through the regular season, but there is no confirmed plan yet for an additional entry.
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And while the 52-year-old driver may seem super pumped for the NASCAR event in March, a more urgent event awaits the man who can handle it all.
Franchitti eyes 24H Dubai event
Franchitti is making the most of all opportunities. The Scottish race car driver is set to make a return to top-level and endurance racing next month, teaming up with Team Parker Racing for the Michelin 24-hour Dubai in a Mercedes AMG GT3 Evo featuring a special art car livery designed by Stefan Johansson.
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The former IndyCar star will drive the No. 31 entry alongside team regular Rob Huff, joined by Shaun and Max Lynn, the father and brother of Cadillac hypercar standout Alex Lynn.
“I’m really looking forward to getting back behind the wheel and doing what I love in a competitive setting. It’s going to be a special challenge and something new for me in GT3 racing,” he said.
A Rolex 24 at Daytona winner in 2008 with Chip Ganassi Racing, the 52-year-old is best known for his dominant IndyCar career, very successful for championships, before a career-ending crash in 2013.
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Prior to that, he made several endurance racing appearances, including nine starts at Daytona and campaigns in the American Le Mans Series with Andretti Green and Highcroft Racing.
In recent years, Dario has remained active in historic racing, notably at the Goodwood Revival. The Dubai outing also marks a reunion with Mercedes AMG, the manufacturer he raced for earlier in his career during his time in DTM.
And with all of this in place, Franchitti sure is going to have quite the year.

Being the highest body of stock car racing in America, NASCAR hasn’t really had competitors in its years of running. However, the situation seems to be changing for the future as a rival series has started to take matters into its hands.
There are quite a few attractions for fans in motorsports, and seeing old, abandoned racing tracks being restored is one of them. While NASCAR has been giving up some of its old ovals and road courses, its possible future rival seems to be striking the right opportunity with a streak of acquisitions.
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IHRA is on an expanding streak
The International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) authorities seem to be working overtime during the Cup Series off-season. Quite recently, they announced their acquisition of the Memphis Motorsports Park in Tennessee. Then, they took control of Rockingham Speedway. Now, they’re in for another one.
In similar fashion, the racing series also purchased the Heartland Motorsports Park: an all-in-one arena for racing, which features multiple racing layouts, including a drag strip.
“Heartland Motorsports Park is one of those places that simply matters to racing,” IHRA owner Darryl Cuttell said. “It has history, soul, and a footprint that allows us to think bigger than just a racetrack. Our goal is to restore this facility with respect for its legacy while building something that serves racers, fans, and the community for generations.”
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Although the acquisition is new, IHRA is no stranger to the Heartland Motorsports Park. In fact, it was the last series that hosted an official race here in 2023 before the track was left abandoned.
The track also hosted the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, Truck Series, and the ARCA Menards Series. However, NASCAR closed its doors years ago, and IHRA remained the only competitive series left on the track, mainly using the drag strip.
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IHRA, however, will no longer just be focusing on the drag strips in 2026.
The Heartland news comes after they acquired Memphis a few days ago. Memphis was a spectacle for racing fans back in the day; however, it was left abandoned. IHRA now plans to renovate and reopen it. Then came the acquisition of Rockingham. In this case, NASCAR did host it for Xfinity and Truck races, but yet, IHRA managed to snatch it from the France family.
And now, with Heartland in their pocket too, the series is prepping to give some serious competition to NASCAR.
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NASCAR could face tough competition from IHRA in the future
NASCAR is the face of stock car racing in America, as previously mentioned. Although there are other series that host stock racing, too, they don’t come quite as close to the National Association.
But a recent announcement from the IHRA could prompt the France family to think, as they are prepared to expand their motorsports operations to stock racing as well. Back in November of 2025, the IHRA announced that it would be stepping into the stock car racing territory with a new series. It will feature a whopping $2,000,000 purse and is expected to bring back raw racing to stock cars.
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“We’re bringing stock car racing back to its roots,” Darryl Cuttell said. “This is racing that rewards driver skill, smart setups, and teamwork—not massive budgets. It’s exactly the kind of competition fans love, and competitors deserve.”
The series isn’t expected to be a direct rival to NASCAR. IHRA will be racing at the grassroots levels. And they could gain quite some traction if they manage to nail that bit.
The series could certainly attract more competitors in the coming years. One of the major issues that teams and drivers face when getting into NASCAR is the huge costs, and IHRA claims to overcome those issues. Their acquisition of multiple tracks also speaks volumes about IHRA’s seriousness regarding this series.
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Although they might not appear to be a threat to the National Association, it is quite possible that they get huge participation from younger drivers.

Watkins Glen has been a seat of stunning feats in NASCAR. From Tony Stewart’s record-setting 5 victories to Shane van Gisbergen’s road win streak in 2025, the 2.454-mile road course has been historic. One of the primary people who carried the weight of this success was Michael Printup, the former track president of Watkins Glen. And now, the racing world goes into mourning for this iconic individual’s passing.
Michael Printup leaves for his heavenly abode
“Racing America is devastated to confirm the sudden passing of Chief Operating Officer Michael Printup. Michael was an icon in motorsports, a great partner, and a friend. His passion for racing and commitment to the industry made a lasting impact on the sport. He will be deeply missed. Racing America sends our thoughts and condolences to Michael’s family, friends, and colleagues,” read a statement issued by Racing America on Thursday evening.
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Michael Printup, who spent 30 years working under NASCAR’s umbrella, passed away at the age of 60. He had a 15-year stint as the president of Watkins Glen International, from 2009 to 2023. Following that, he joined Racing America as the President of Sportscar Vintage Racing Association (SVRA). Then he was promoted to Chief Operating Officer in January 2024. Printup’s duties included overseeing the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli and all racing operations.
The native of Hamburg, NY, also served as president of Americrown. Here, Michael Printup oversaw the Levy Food Service contract for 12 NASCAR-owned racetracks. All his professional milestones comprise a legacy in motorsports, and Printup’s passing marks a notable loss for NASCAR fans, especially those who love Watkins Glen racing.
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“Michael leaves behind his wife, Stephanie, two boys Brendan (Caitlin) and Matthew, and two granddaughters, Sophia and Vivienne. A memorial service for Michael will be held on Wednesday, January 7, 2026 from 2-4 p.m. at James A. Dyal Funeral Home (303 S. Main Street, Summerville, SC 29483),” Racing America stated.
In these tragic times, the NASCAR community bands together as a whole. May Michael Printup rest in peace.
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If there can ever be a wild rollercoaster of a year, 2025 was one for Denny Hamlin. The season surged to incredible highs and drooped to unthinkable lows like a restive pendulum for the NASCAR Cup Series veteran. All the incidents, ranging from Hamlin’s NASCAR lawsuit victory to the recent tragic passing of his father, Dennis, can lead one to rethink the racer’s future. However, a few NASCAR experts still hope for his renewed comeback.
Voices unite for Denny Hamlin’s future
In a recent episode of ‘The Money Lap’, Parker Kligerman was going over predictions for 2026. The discussion covered motorsports series all across the world, as Kligerman said, “Cup, O’Reilly, Trucks, F1, IndyCar.” But before Kligerman could start his round of votes, Landon Cassill uttered from the background, “Denny Hamlin.” And Kligerman nodded in approval: “Yes, well, Cup is easy. It’s definitely gonna be Denny.”
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This could be interpreted as an indirect show of respect for the presently grieving Cup Series driver. However, it is also a natural follow-up of Denny Hamlin‘s phenomenal 2025 season. The Joe Gibbs Racing driver came dangerously close to a Cup Series title after winning 6 trophies and smoking Phoenix Raceway in the Championship 4. Only an untimely caution with 4 laps to go and a four-tire pit call axed Hamlin’s 20-year-old ambition.
Despite losing the championship to Kyle Larson, Denny Hamlin still proved that he can persist amidst a rough-and-tumble situation. In 2025, he had to adjust to a new crew chief and also deal with the loss of a long-time sponsor, FedEx. Alongside his Cup Series campaign, he also fought the NASCAR lawsuit with Michael Jordan for 23XI Racing, or rather, the entire sport.
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Denny Hamlin’s conviction for a thunderous comeback was also evident in his own words. Immediately after the Phoenix heartbreak, Hamlin was visibly hurting. But he was also motivated: “I feel like there’s still some racing left. I can’t believe it’s over, but there’s nothing I can do. Suck it up, and it’s just another year.”
Nevertheless, 2026 will feel wholly different for the Cup Series driver, with a major chunk of Hamlin’s heart missing.
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Probing the tragic loss
Since Denny Hamlin’s debut in racing, his family has been a strong pillar of support. Dennis and Mary Lou, his parents, worked hard in normal jobs, mortgaged their house, and went through countless struggles to raise Hamlin up the ranks of NASCAR. And an ailing Dennis Hamlin motivated Denny to capture the championship. Sadly, he could not achieve it for his father, and to make things worse, the senior Hamlin passed away unexpectedly in a house fire at 1137 Blacksnake Road in Stanley.
Dennis Hamlin, 75, and Mary Lou Hamlin, 69, “both suffered catastrophic injuries while escaping” the fire. Dennis was declared dead at CaroMont Regional Medical Center, and his wife was taken to Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Burn Center in Winston-Salem. Denny Hamlin posted an update on X that his mother’s health is improving.
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When firefighters arrived at the Hamlin house at 6:27 p.m. ET, they could see flames shooting out of the attic. They could not immediately determine what caused this blaze. “Due to the extent of fire and resulting structural collapse, the cause is currently undetermined. However, the investigation is ongoing,” Gaston County EMS said.
While Denny Hamlin struggles with his family’s misfortune, speculation builds up about his NASCAR career. Let’s wait and see if Parker Kligerman and Landon Cassill’s predictions turn out to be right.

This one hits closer to home. It is no secret that being able to feel and run a truck team is a tedious task. With Dale Earnhardt Jr. shedding light on the funding situation in NASCAR’s lower series, one team seems to have taken shape out of that fear. Despite being one of the oldest teams on the grid, it may just be time to say your final goodbyes.
Parker Kligerman’s next chapter in NASCAR is hanging by a thread as Henderson Motorsports enters 2026 in what the crew chief calls a holding pattern.
The team has made it clear they would love to see Kligerman back in the No. 75 truck, but securing sponsorship remains the critical barrier. Without the funding in place, plans for the upcoming season remain on ice, leaving both the driver and fans in a state of suspense.
For Kligerman, the 35-year-old veteran with years of experience in the Craftsman series, even a part-time schedule requires financial backing. With Spiked Coolers as the only sponsor remaining, Kligerman has run multiple events every season; however, his 2026 races have not been announced yet.
And for a team that has stayed its ground ever since 1982, it is quite shocking. Although Henderson didn’t enter the Truck Series until 2012, the team’s overall history in NASCAR, spanning more than four decades, makes it one of the longest-running 10-year active organizations in the sport, second only to the legendary Wood Brothers Racing.
The No. 75 team made headlines during the 2025 season with a dramatic performance at Daytona, where the Connecticut native initially crossed the finish line 1st only for the victory to be overturned following a post-race inspection.
That near miss highlighted both the skill of the driver and the unpredictability of motorsports.
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Now, Henderson Motorsport faces the equally daunting challenge of keeping that truck on the track at all, with their crew chief confirming that the team’s return hinges on finding sponsors willing to invest in a full- or part-time run.
With the 2026 season fast approaching, every week without a confirmed plan intensifies that uncertainty. Henderson Motorsports has promised that announcements will come once decisions are finalized, but until then, speculation is running high.
Fans are left asking whether Kligerman will make his return to the seat that made him a familiar name in the series or whether the No. 75 Chevrolet once again sit idle.
For the team, the clock is ticking, and the window to secure a sponsorship and keep a veteran driver in the series is closing fast. However, when one door closes, another opens. And this time, IndyCar ace Dario Franchitti is the one on top.
IndyCar star scores one race with Toyota-based team
Dario Franchitti is set to make a highly anticipated return to the Truck Series nearly 2 decades after his only start in 2007. That race, held at Martinsville Speedway, remains the Scottish driver’s only appearance in the series and a rare glimpse of the three-time Indy 500 winner behind the wheel of a NASCAR truck.
Following that brief stint, the 52-year-old spent several years competing across NASCAR’s top two national divisions before returning to IndyCar with Chip Ganassi Racing.
Over his NASCAR career, he made 25 starts across the three premier divisions, highlighted by a career-best fifth-place finish at Watkins Glen in the Xfinity Series.
According to the latest announcements, the Scottish racer will return to the Truck Series with Toyota, though the team that will field his truck has yet to be revealed.
The 2026 Truck Series schedule already features several Toyota-backed teams, including Halmar Friesen Racing and Tricon Garage, but no confirmation has been made about an additional entry for the former IndyCar champion.

The NASCAR world has been hit by tragedy once again with the news that Racing America Chief Operating Officer Michael Printup has died.
He was 60.
Per Racing America on SI, Printup spent 30 years working in NASCAR, including 15 as the track president at Watkins Glen International Speedway.
“Watkins Glen International is saddened by the passing for former President Michael Printup, who led the facility for 15 years,” Watkins Glen shared on X. “During his tenure, Michael played a key role in the continued growth and success of Watkins Glen International, helping to strengthen its operations, partnerships, and standing with the motorsports industry while honoring the venue’s storied history.
“Michael was a respected leader who left a lasting impact on the organization and those who worked alongside him. We extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends and colleagues.”
The Racing America account on X called Printup “a true motorsports icon and friend.”
“His passing and leadership shaped our sports and will never be forgotten,” the account added.
Printup is the fifth person with NASCAR ties to die since the start of December, joining former drivers Michael Annett, 39, Nick Joanides, 55, and Greg Biffle, 55 as well as Dennis Hamlin, 75, the father of driver Denny Hamlin.
Prior to Printup’s passing, Hamlin’s death was the most recent after he was killed in a house fire on Sunday in North Carolina. His wife, Mary Lou Hamlin, 69, has been hospitalized after sustaining burns in the tragedy.
Meanwhile, Biffle was killed along with his family and some friends when his plane crashed on Dec. 18 at the Statesville Regional Airport in North Carolina.
Biffle’s Cessna 550 was reportedly attempting to land at around 10:15 a.m. at the airport just outside of Charlotte when the crash occurred.
Biffle had a 16-year career behind the wheel in the NASCAR Cup Series, starting 515 races and winning 19. He had 175 top ten finishes.
His last race with the series came in the 2022 Geico 500 in Talladega.
Biffle also drove 244 races on the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. He won 20 of those and logged 149 more top 10 finishes. He also was behind the wheel for 83 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races, winning 17 of those with 55 top 10 finishes.
His death followed the passing of Nick Joanides on Dec. 5 and Michael Annett on Dec. 2.
Joanides, 55, was a star on the West Coast scene most recently making three starts in the ARCA West Series. He also drove in the NASCAR Xfinity Series when it was called the Nationwide Series.
Annett, 39, drove for JR Motorsports from 2017 through 2021 and the team shared the news of his death on social media.
A native of Des Moines, Iowa, Annett was behind the wheel for 106 NASCAR Cup Series races, but never managed to finish in the top 10. While his results at that level were not eye-popping, Yahoo Sports noted he drove for a pair of “underfunded teams” in Tommy Baldwin Racing and HScott Racing.
Annett had more success on the Xfinity Series where he drove in 321 races with 95 top-10 finishes. His lone win came in the 2019 NASCAR Racing Experience 300 at Daytona International Speedway.
He also drove in nine NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races with two top-10 finishes.

This is definitely not what NASCAR veteran Mark Martin signed up for. The long-running debate over its championship format has reached a critical, uncertain stage as discussions about the playoff system continue behind the scenes. The Hall of Famer who has fearlessly voiced his opinions about the current system started the revolt with great determination, but after a lot of to-and-fro, Martin may not get what he wants, not only for himself but for the NASCAR community as well.
While potential changes for the 2026 season and beyond are being reviewed, Martin made it clear that optimism is in short supply even as a full-season points championship has at least made its way onto the table.
“Yeah, I’m not super optimistic about where I was involved in the committee,” he said on the Kenny Wallace podcast. “And in the beginning was the only one that was screaming, you know, about it.”
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The current elimination-style playoff system, introduced in 2014, uses a 10-race postseason to crown its champion. The sanctioning body has long defended the format, pointing to heightened late-season drama and headline-making finishes.
But from Mark Martin’s perspective, that excitement comes at a cost.
Many critics believe the system dimension is the importance of the regular season, allowing drivers with multiple wins or steady consistency to be eliminated before the championship is even within reach.
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Before the playoff era, championships were decided by cumulative points across the full 36-race schedule, a format that rewarded week-to-week performance, durability, and long-term excellence.
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Martin’s own career anchors the argument. Despite 40 Series victories, he finished second in the standings five times without securing a title, a reality he believes underscores how much value consistency once held.
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That contrast resurfaced after the 2025 season when Kyle Larson claimed his second championship under the playoff system following a late caution and a decisive two-tire call at Phoenix Raceway that swung the title battle away from race-dominant Denny Hamlin.
Martin has an idea about where fans stand. “And I just don’t think that we should; I think we should put more emphasis on what our fans, our core fans want,” he said. “Everywhere I go and every fan I talk to hates playoffs. I’m sorry.”
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According to Martin, the advocacy held the idea of a full-season championship in committee discussions.
“We—it’s a 75/25 issue except if you throw in a full season or a 10-race. If you combine those two, 75% of the race fans want that. And so, one of those two,” he added, while cautioning that he did not expect to be adopted despite being encouraged that it was seriously considered.
NASCAR has not announced any formal changes to the championship format, but Martin’s comments confirm that full-season proposals are being discussed internally.
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Any shift away from the current system would require significant adjustments to point structures, scheduling, and sponsor commitments.
As the sport looks ahead through the 2026 season and Daytona 500 opener, the championship format remains unresolved, with debate ongoing and no clear outcome in sight.
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What can fans expect from the playoffs?
While a full-season points championship looks unlikely, speculation suggests that NASCAR may retain multiple knockout rounds. However, the championship could be decided over a series of races rather than a single winner-take-all finale.
There’s also talk that the 10-race Chase format could return, though Kaulig Racing CEO Chris Polk hinted that something new is likely in the works. Fans hoping for a full-season points championship may be in for a disappointment for sure.
Some details on the 2026 NASCAR playoff format aren’t expected until the New Year, but Polk told Kenny Wallace, “The traditional way of doing points would be tough to do in this era,” Polk said. “Because we are looking towards a younger group of people.”
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What makes the choice even more interesting is that NASCAR is currently the only major circuit racing series to employ a postseason-style championship. In contrast, both IndyCar and Formula One rely on full-season points standings to determine their champions, with no plans to change.
The NHRA uses a playoff-like system called the Countdown to the Championship, which ranks points for the final six events. Meanwhile, the smaller Lucas Oil Dirt Late Model Series ran a playoff format for the past three seasons but will return to a full-season point system next year.
This definitely adds some pressure to NASCAR, as most people have voiced their opinion about returning to the sound old full-season point system.

A fire at the home of NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin’s parents on Sunday left his father dead and his mother injured, officials confirmed to ABC News.
Firefighters in Gaston County, North Carolina, were dispatched at 6:19 p.m. to the two-story home that was

In recent years, NASCAR Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin has become one of the sport’s most controversial figures. His line after a win in the 2023 Bristol night race —

A North Carolina house fire reportedly killed the father of NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin and critically injured his mother.
The Gaston County Office of Emergency Management and Fire Services said on Facebook that multiple fire departments were dispatched to a possible house fire “with entrapment” Sunday night.
The victims were identified Monday as Dennis Hamlin and Mary Lou Hamlin, according to Charlotte station WSOC. They are the parents of the 45-year-old NASCAR champion whose 60 career wins include three Daytona 500 checkered flags.
Dennis Hamlin, 75, reportedly died from his injuries in a North Carolina hospital. His 69-year-old wife is being treated at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Burn Center in Winston-Salem.
The cause of the blaze hadn’t been determined by Monday evening.
Hamlin recently spoke of his father’s declining health, according to the NASCAR website. He credits his dad with supporting his racing career from the start when he was growing up in Florida.
“He’s the one that got me into racing,” Hamlin said before an October race in Las Vegas.
Dennis Hamlin said in a 2006 interview that his son returned the favor when he hit the big time by buying him a home outside Charlotte and telling his working days were over.
“He handed me the keys to a new house and said, ‘It’s furnished, take your clothes, sell the business,” he recalled.
Mary Lou Hamlin reportedly found work running her son’s fan club.

Tragedy has struck NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin … his dad has died following a devastating house fire in North Carolina that also left his mother critically injured.
On Monday evening, Gaston County EMS confirmed 75 year old Dennis Hamlin died from injuries suffered in the blaze. Hamlin’s 69 year old mom, Mary Lou Hamlin was injured in the fire and remains in critical condition.
Officials say both victims managed to escape the burning home but suffered catastrophic injuries. Dennis was transported to the hospital, where he later died from his injuries.
The fire destroyed the home. Firefighters were forced to truck in water due to a lack of hydrants, slowing efforts to control the blaze. It took about two hours to bring the fire under control.
Despite the extensive damage, firefighters were able to save some racing memorabilia and collectibles from inside the home.

Officials from the Gaston County, North Carolina Office of Emergency Management and Fire Services have confirmed that NASCAR star Denny Hamlin’s father, Dennis, is dead from Sunday night’s house fire in Stanley, North Carolina. Hamlin’s mother, Mary Lou, remains in critical condition from burns suffered in the massive blaze that erupted on December 29.
Hamlin’s parents lived in the house in Gaston County, North Carolina, about 20 miles northwest of Charlotte. The house is owned by a reality company owned by their NASCAR driving son.
When firefighters arrived Sunday night, Dennis Hamlin, 75, and Mary Lou Hamlin, 69, were found outside the home, suffering from catastrophic injuries, officials said. Monday evening, Gaston County officials confirmed Dennis Hamlin later died from his injuries at a hospital.
Mary Lou Hamlin was taken to Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Burn Center in Winston-Salem, where she was being treated Monday, according to Gaston County officials.
The huge blaze that erupted Sunday night and caused the structure to collapse. The home is owned by a company called Won One Real Estate that lists Denny Hamlin as its manager, according to local property tax records and a business document filing with the North Carolina Secretary of State’s Office, the Associated Press reported.
Representatives for Hamlin had not responded to requests for comment as of Monday evening.
Dennis Hamlin was also battling a serious illness, and according to Denny Hamlin in an interview late in the season, did not have much time to live. Hamlin’s father made tremendous sacrifices to get his son into NASCAR, including taking out mortgages on the family home early in his career.
Hamlin Wanted To Win A Championship For His Dying Father
The 45-year-old Hamlin is one of NASCAR’s biggest stars with 60 NASCAR Cup Series wins, including three victories in the Daytona 500. He drives for Joe Gibbs Racing.
Hamlin desperately wanted to win the NASCAR Cup Series Championship for his dying father in 2025 and was within four laps of reaching that goal in the NASCAR Championship Race before a caution period thwarted that attempt. After making a pit stop, Hamlin was shuffled back in the running order on the restart and Kyle Larson went on to win the race and the championship.
Hamlin, who finished second in the championship to Larson, believed it would be the last time his father would be alive to see him race for a title.
“I know for a fact this is my last chance for my dad to see it. I don’t want him going and never getting to see the moment,” Hamlin told The Associated Press at Las Vegas Motor Speedway after he won his 60th race in October.
“He’s the one that got me into racing,

RALEIGH, N.C. — The father of NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin died and his mother was critically injured after a weekend fire heavily damaged the North Carolina home where they lived, officials said Monday.
Firefighters arrived Sunday night at a two-story home near Stanley that was mostly engulfed in fire, with flames showing through the attic, the Gaston County Office of Emergency Management and Fire Services said in a news release.
Dennis Hamlin, 75, and Mary Lou Hamlin, 69, were found outside the home, suffering from catastrophic injuries, officials said. Dennis Hamlin later died from his injuries at a hospital, officials said.
Mary Lou Hamlin was taken to Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Burn Center in Winston-Salem, where she was being treated Monday, officials said.
The fire caused the structure to collapse. The cause is under investigation.
Stanley is located about 20 miles northwest of Charlotte.
The home is owned by a company called Won One Real Estate that lists Denny Hamlin as its manager, according to local property tax records and a business document filing with the North Carolina Secretary of State’s Office.
Representatives for Hamlin had not responded to requests for comment as of Monday evening.
Hamlin is one of the marquee drivers in NASCAR’s top circuit, having won 60 NASCAR Cup Series races, including the Daytona 500 three times.
The 45-year-old driver for Joe Gibbs Racing has yet to win a Cup points championship. He fell short of the title during this season’s final race in Arizona last month.
Weeks earlier, Hamlin said his father — who nearly went broke with financial sacrifices to try to get his son into NASCAR — was battling a serious illness, and that he didn’t have much time left to live.
“I know for a fact this is my last chance for my dad to see it. I don’t want him going and never getting to see the moment,” Hamlin told The Associated Press.
Hamlin also mentioned his dad in emotional testimony this month at the start of a federal antitrust trial against NASCAR brought in part by 23XI Racing, which is owned by Hamlin and Basketball Hall of Famer Michael Jordan. NASCAR, 23XI Racing and another race team reached a settlement during the trial before jurors ever deliberated.
Sainz reported from Memphis, Tennessee.

A heartbreaking update has emerged following a fire at the house of NASCAR star Denny Hamlin’s parents.
Dennis Hamlin, Denny’s father, died from injuries suffered during the fire, according to NASCAR.com.
The Gaston County Office of Emergency Management and Fire Services announced in a news release Monday evening that Dennis Hamlin has died, according to the report.
The update added that Mary Lou Hamlin, who is Dennis Hamlin’s wife and Denny Hamlin’s mother, is in critical condition.
She has been transferred to Winston-Salem, North Carolina and is “actively being treated,” according to NASCAR.com.
The fire was reported in Gaston County, N.C., near Charlotte, at 6:19 p.m. Sunday. First responders arrived to the house moments later and found Dennis Hamlin and Mary Lou Hamlin outside of it. They were transported to a local hospital.
Officials are still investigating what led to the fire. WCNC in Charlotte reports that the fire resulted in a complete loss of the home.
Denny Hamlin has competed in the NASCAR Cup Series since 2005 and has earned 60 wins for his career. That mark includes three Daytona 500 victories.
NASCAR fans were left heartbroken over the news about Hamlin’s father.
“This day will never feel right to me. Gutted for Denny. Gutted for the community. It’s been a rough year. Prayers for the Hamlin’s,” one fan said.

Dennis Hamlin, the father of NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin, has died after a fire in his North Carolina home on Sunday. Hamlin, 75 and his wife, Mary Lou Hamlin, 69, were found outside the house with catastrophic injuries. Hamlin later died from his injuries, with his wife remaining in hospital in critical condition on Monday. The Lucia Riverbend Fire Department’s chief revealed on Sunday that champion driver Denny owned the house where his parents lived. Hamlin was a major champion of his son’s career, and took multiple mortgages out on his home and maxed out his credit cards trying to help Denny enter NASCAR in 2004. Tragically, in October, Denny, 45, revealed his father was battling a serious illness and was too sick to travel to see him in the season’s final race in Arizona last month. “I know for a fact this is my last chance for my dad to see it. I don’t want him going and never getting to see the moment,” he told The Associated Press. Nearly half of the Hamlin’s home was on fire when first responders arrived. While the fire caused the structure to collapse, Lucia Riverbend Fire Chief David Toomey told The Athletic his crew was able to save some items in the garage, including expensive cars and racing memorabilia. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. In addition to competing in NASCAR himself, Denny co-owns the 23XI Racing NASCAR team with NBA legend Michael Jordan. In November, the NASCAR driver posted a video on Instagram of his father talking about a gift Jordan had given him. He also shared a video of his father FaceTiming him before the final race in November.
The National Institute of Anthropology and History called out mega-popstar Bad Bunny on social media after he posted photos touching a historical stela. “As is public knowledge, physical contact with archaeological goods is prohibited,” reads an X post from the Institute, directly addressing the singer’s visit. The Puerto Rican artist, who’s set to headline the Super Bowl halftime show in February, paid a visit to the museum to culminate the end of his “I Should Have Taken More Photos Tour” in Mexico on Dec. 17. He deleted the photo that showed him touching the artifact from his Instagram Stories, per TMZ, but not before causing groans online. The museum clarified that Bad Bunny was corrected in real-time after the photo was taken. “When the artist placed his hand on the stele, museum custody staff reiterated that the pieces could not be touched, to which the musician withdrew it,” reads the X statement. The Daily Beast has reached out to Bad Bunny for comment.
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A tiny mountain village in Italy is celebrating something it hasn’t seen in almost 30 years: a baby. Pagliara dei Marsi, a mountain village in the Abruzzo region with fewer than two dozen residents, welcomed baby Lara Bussi Trabucco earlier this year, The Guardian reports. Her arrival has turned the infant into a celebrity in a town long defined by depopulation and aging residents. Lara was born in March to Paolo Bussi, 56, and Cinzia Trabucco, 42. Now nine months old, Lara has already drawn attention well beyond the village limits. “People who didn’t even know Pagliara dei Marsi existed have come, only because they had heard about Lara,” her mother told the outlet. Her birth offers a rare bright spot as Italy grapples with a deepening demographic crisis. In 2024, the country recorded just 369,944 births, the lowest figure on record, according to the national statistics agency Istat. To combat what Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has called a “demographic winter,” Italy introduced a €1,000 ($1,177) birth incentive, which the couple will receive. Still, challenges remain. The Guardian notes the village hasn’t had a teacher in decades, and widespread school closures underscore how daunting it may be to raise a child where youth have all but disappeared.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s year is ending with another bruising blow: James Holt, the Sussexes’ longest-serving aide and the executive director of their struggling charity, is stepping aside after nearly a decade working for the couple. The news broke just days after the resignation of Meredith Maines, their chief U.S. publicist. Holt, who followed the couple from the U.K. to California and has been at the helm of Archewell since 2021, struck a valedictory note in his farewell remarks: “Working with Prince Harry and Meghan has been one of the great privileges of my career.” Harry, Holt said, “has consistently challenged me to think bigger about how we can make a difference.” And he reserved particular warmth for Meghan, saying that “from the moment I met Meghan, I recognized a kindred spirit—someone who finds joy even in difficult moments and connects authentically with people regardless of circumstance.” The Sussexes returned the compliments in a statement of their own, calling Holt a “stellar support” for their work and adding that his “enthusiasm and talent in overseeing our philanthropic endeavours have been extraordinary.” Warm words all round, then, but Holt’s departure leaves the couple’s charity with just one full-time employee.
Want more royal gossip, scoops and scandal? Head over to The Royalist on Substack
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Christmas may be over, but Mariah Carey is still ruling the charts. Carey’s holiday hit, “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” has extended its own record for the most weeks spent at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, Variety reports. The song now sits at the top of the chart for 22 consecutive weeks and counting, surpassing Carey’s previous record of 19 weeks. The new milestone puts the track ahead of other chart toppers, including Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road” featuring Billy Ray Cyrus and Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” which had been tied with Carey’s earlier mark. Carey is also breaking records beyond the main singles chart. The holiday classic has now logged 26 weeks at No. 1 on the Streaming Songs chart, extending yet another Carey-held record. And it’s not just her song getting extra love this month. Holiday music has completely overtaken the charts this season, with Christmas songs filling the top nine spots on the singles chart.
Former KISS member Vinnie Vincent has hit back at fans who are “b—-ing” and “moaning” about the price of his new single. Vincent, 73, is charging $225 for the song via his website. International fans will have to pay $300. The rocker, who played with KISS from 1982 to 1984, announced that his new single, “Ride the Serpent,” would be released in a limited batch, with only 500 copies available. The track will be sent to buyers in a plain envelope, personally autographed by the guitarist. Defending the price, he wrote in a Facebook comment on Monday, “I understand the b—-ing, the moaning, the whining about price, but you must also understand that my situation is as such that my music is so desired that it will be targeted and taken away from me immediately, which I cannot/will not allow.” Vincent added that he wished “it was not this way” and that the price was to “protect” his music. “If they want my music, they can pay for it or wait a long time because they can get it bootlegged,” he concluded.
A Ryanair flight from England to the Canary Islands was forced to turn around and return to its starting point after experiencing severe air turbulence. About 40 minutes after taking off from Birmingham airport, the cabin service was already underway when the Tenerife-bound flight hit turbulence over Brittany, France. The pilots decided to turn back, and within 10 minutes, the plane had descended from a height of 37,000 feet to 10,000 feet over the English Channel. That altitude usually indicates problems with pressurization, but in this case, there’s no sign that pressurization was the reason for the lower height. The plane landed normally in Birmingham 90 minutes after taking off. “Passengers disembarked and returned to the terminal, where a small number of passengers were provided with medical assistance,” a Ryanair spokesperson said in a statement. A replacement aircraft was flown from Leeds Bradford to Birmingham to operate the flight, which finally landed in Tenerife more than six hours behind schedule.
A 30-year-old ski patroller in California died the day after Christmas when he was caught in an avalanche, resort officials said. The Mammoth Mountain Ski Area released a statement Sunday that Cole Murphy died after suffering critical injuries during avalanche-mitigation work. According to the resort, the incident occurred around 7:30 a.m. on Lincoln Mountain, when a sudden avalanche slide swept through an area where patrollers were actively working. The other patroller at the site was transported to a nearby hospital with what officials described as possible broken bones. Murphy sustained far more severe injuries and later died. The avalanche struck on a day already flagged as particularly dangerous. The Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center had issued warnings about heavy snowfall and strong winds, cautioning that “even if things ease up later today, natural and human-triggered avalanches remain likely.” Murphy’s partner, Hayley, said in a statement shared by Mammoth Mountain that working at the resort was his “calling,” describing it as “his place of purpose, his community, and his second home.” His family echoed that sentiment, saying Murphy moved through the world “with kindness, intention, and a wholehearted devotion to the life he chose.”
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Sitcom actress Melanie Watson Bernhardt has died at the age of 57. According to her brother, Watson died on Friday in Colorado Springs. Watson, who was born with osteogenesis imperfecta—commonly known as brittle bone disease—had reportedly been admitted to the hospital before her death. Her brother, Robert Watson, added that doctors did their best to help her. Watson played Arnie’s friend Kathy Gordon on ‘Diff’rent Strokes.’ She guest-starred in one episode per season from 1980 to 1984. In 1982, there was an episode named after Watson’s character, titled “Kathy.” After leaving the sitcom, Watson went on to help others living with disabilities. According to her IMDb profile, Watson was a founder and executive at Train Rite, an organization that trains dogs to help people with disabilities. Speaking about her role on Diff’rent Strokes, Watson told IndieWire in 2020, “I didn’t realize what a gift it was to be the first one out there. If I had to do it all over again, I would have stayed in the business.”
A 5-year-old boy has died after his arm was pulled into the gears of a ski resort’s moving walkway over the weekend. Hinata Goto was on a family trip to the city of Otaru, on Hokkaido, Japan’s most northerly main island, when their ski outing took a tragic turn. Authorities say the boy’s right arm became trapped in the winding mechanism of a 30-meter belt-style walkway at the ski resort, The Guardian reported. While his mother pressed an emergency stop button intended to prevent such accidents, the mechanism apparently failed to work. Firefighters freed Hinata—who was unconscious and still wearing ski gear—about 40 minutes after his mother’s emergency call, but he was pronounced dead at the hospital, according to the report. Police said he fell while trying to step off the narrow, 60-centimeter-wide walkway, which lacks handrails and was installed six years ago. One of the resort’s regulars said the contraption—which ski resorts often call a “magic carpet”—was “scary” and had been known to shake when the slope angle shifts. Another worker near the resort told local media that many children come there to practice, urging a full investigation and safeguards to prevent another tragedy.

The father of NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin died and his mother was critically injured after a weekend fire heavily damaged the North Carolina home where they lived, officials said Monday.
Firefighters arrived Sunday night at a two-story home near Stanley that was mostly engulfed in fire, with flames showing through the attic, the Gaston County Office of Emergency Management and Fire Services said in a news release.
Dennis Hamlin, 75, and Mary Lou Hamlin, 69, were found outside the home, suffering from catastrophic injuries, officials said. Dennis Hamlin later died from his injuries at a hospital, officials said.
Mary Lou Hamlin was taken to Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Burn Center in Winston-Salem, where she was being treated Monday, officials said.
The fire caused the structure to collapse. The cause is under investigation.
Stanley is located about 20 miles (32 kilometers) northwest of Charlotte.
The home is owned by a company called Won One Real Estate that lists Denny Hamlin as its manager, according to local property tax records and a business document filing with the North Carolina Secretary of State’s Office.
Representatives for Hamlin had not responded to requests for comment as of Monday evening.
Hamlin is one of the marquee drivers in NASCAR’s top circuit, having won 60 NASCAR Cup Series races, including the Daytona 500 three times.
The 45-year-old driver for Joe Gibbs Racing has yet to win a Cup points championship. He fell short of the title during this season’s final race in Arizona last month.
Weeks earlier, Hamlin said his father — who nearly went broke with financial sacrifices to try to get his son into NASCAR — was battling a serious illness, and that he didn’t have much time left to live.
“I know for a fact this is my last chance for my dad to see it. I don’t want him going and never getting to see the moment,” Hamlin told The Associated Press.
Hamlin also mentioned his dad in emotional testimony this month at the start of a federal antitrust trial against NASCAR brought in part by 23XI Racing, which is owned by Hamlin and Basketball Hall of Famer Michael Jordan. NASCAR, 23XI Racing and another race team reached a settlement during the trial before jurors ever deliberated.