By Mike Haag, Raceday San Antonio FORT WORTH – Richard Childress Racing’s Austin Hill will start on the pole for Saturday’s Andy’s Frozen Custard Xfinity Series race at Texas Motor Speedway after rain forced NASCAR officials to cancel Friday’s qualifying session. The line up is based by metrics – 70% previous race finish and 30% owner points. Lowest in owner points Dawson Cram and C.J. McLaughlin will be DNQs. Justin Allgaier in the No. 7 Jarrett Logistics Chevrolet will start second alongside Hill, who will be driving the No. 21 Bennett Transportation Chevrolet. Harrison Burton, Sheldon Creed, Sam Mayer, Matt…
Author: Mike Haag
Mike Haag
Mike Haag has covered motorsports in San Antonio and South Texas for more than 39 years. In addition to covering motorsports for the San Antonio Express-News for nearly 28 years, Mike also has co-hosted TrackSmack with Dawn Murphy for 19 race seasons. In addition to being a writer, Mike taught high school English and Journalism for 30 years before retiring in May, 2020.
FORT WORTH, Texas – The NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series returns to Texas Motor Speedway this weekend for a historic milestone: the 51st running of a Truck Series race at the 1.5-mile oval, more than any other track in series history. Since first hosting the series in 1997, Texas has become a mainstay on the calendar, providing thrilling finishes and unforgettable moments across nearly three decades. This weekend’s race also kicks off the longest stretch of consecutive races in the 2025 Truck Series schedule – six straight weekends of action culminating in Michigan during the first week of June. With momentum,…
By Holly Cain, NASCAR Wire Service DARLINGTON, S.C. – After diligently working through a 98-race winless streak over the last three NASCAR Xfinity Series seasons, Joe Gibbs Racing’s Brandon Jones reminded his competitors — and his fans — Saturday that he’s still a race winner and a title contender. The well-liked 28-year-old Atlanta native took the lead on a re-start with 12 laps remaining in Saturday’s Sports Clips Haircuts VFW Help A Hero 200 at the historic Darlington (S.C.) Raceway – beating 2020 NASCAR Cup Series champion Chase Elliott to the finish line by a healthy 1.105-seconds to hoist…
By Holly Cain, NASCAR Wire Service DARLINGTON, S.C. – Hendrick Motorsports’ William Byron won pole position for Sunday’s Goodyear 400 at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway (3 p.m. ET, FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) – yet another supreme performance for his NASCAR Cup Series championship-leading No. 24 team. Byron’s lap of 170.904 mph around the iconic 1.366-mile oval set fast lap early in Busch Light Pole Qualifying Saturday afternoon and set up a front row that will also include Ryan Preece in the No. 60 Roush Fenway Keselowski Ford – Preece’s best start since winning his only career pole position at Martinsville…
The NHRA’s “Duel in the Desert” returns in spectacular fashion as Firebird Motorsports Park in Phoenix hosts the 40th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals from March 21-23, 2025, at one of the sport’s most iconic early-season stops. This event promises high-octane excitement, featuring NHRA’s top stars in Top Fuel, Funny Car and Pro Stock. For four decades, the NHRA Arizona Nationals has delivered record-breaking runs and unforgettable moments, earning its place as a must-see event for both die-hard fans and competitors alike. The 2025 edition brings even more excitement with the first Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge of the season, adding…
By Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service Christopher Bell goes for historic NASCAR Cup win at Las Vegas LAS VEGAS — Understandably, much of the focus during NASCAR’s tripleheader weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway will fall squarely on Christopher Bell. The driver of the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota will become the first driver since Jimmie Johnson in 2007 to win four straight NASCAR Cup Series races, if he’s first to the finish line in Sunday’s Pennzoil 400 Presented by Jiffy Lube (3:30 p.m. ET on FS1, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio). Bell feels his team, headed by crew…
By Mike Haag, Raceday San Antonio Chad Green kicked off his 2025 Funny Car season in dominant fashion, claiming victory at the 56th Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals on Sunday at Gainesville Raceway. The win marked Green’s second career Funny Car victory and his first-ever Gatornationals title, launching him into the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series points lead for the first time in his career. Green, 51, from Midland, Texas, made a statement in the final round by running a blistering 3.921 seconds at 329.18 mph run in his 11,000-horsepower Bond-Coat Ford Mustang, defeating three-time Funny Car world…
The 56th annual NHRA Gatornationals will officially launch the 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season this weekend at Gainesville Raceway. Tony Stewart and Matt Hagan, representing Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) and Dodge Direct Connection, are eager to hit the track in their Top Fuel and Funny Car entries, respectively. The Gatornationals, one of the most prestigious events on the NHRA calendar, runs from March 7-9. Fans can catch all the action live on NHRA.TV, with FS1 providing television coverage throughout the weekend. Nitro qualifying begins Friday afternoon, followed by an action-packed Saturday featuring the All-Star Top Fuel…
AUSTIN, Texas – For the first time in his NASCAR Cup Series career, Christopher Bell has won back-to-back races, claiming victory in Sunday’s EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas (COTA). After securing a win at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Feb. 23, Bell had COTA circled as another opportunity to visit Victory Lane—and he delivered in spectacular fashion. Bell, driving the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, wrestled the lead from Kyle Busch with six laps to go and held off a hard-charging William Byron to cross the finish line 0.433 seconds ahead. The victory marks Bell’s…
By Mike Haag, Raceday San Antonio AUSTIN, Tex. — Connor Zilisch proved once again that he thrives under pressure, overcoming multiple obstacles to secure victory in Saturday’s Focused Health 250 NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Circuit of The Americas (COTA). The 18-year-old road racing prodigy battled back from a commitment line violation, mid-race contact, and relentless competition to capture his second career Xfinity Series win. Zilisch, who started from the pole, initially controlled the race, leading much of the opening stage. However, a pit road penalty for entering after the commitment line placed him at the rear of the…