By Holly Cain, NASCAR Wire Service Tyler Reddick carries momentum to Phoenix looking for fourth straight win PHOENIX – With three dramatic wins in as many races this season, 23XI Racing’s Tyler Reddick arrives at Phoenix Raceway for Sunday’s Straight Talk Wireless 500 (3:30 p.m. ET on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) feeling confident and hopeful he can extend a historic streak of season-opening excellence to four consecutive NASCAR Cup Series victories to open the year. After winning the season-opening DAYTONA 500 on Daytona’s 2.5-mile speedway, Reddick answered with a win on Atlanta’s 1.5-mile EchoPark Speedway and then last…
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.
By Mike Haag, Raceday San Antonio AUSTIN, Texas — Days before traveling to race at Circuit of the Americas, 23XI Racing co-owner and NBA Hall of Famer Michael Jordan delivered a simple message to Tyler Reddick — one rooted in championship history. Jordan, who built a global legacy on dynasties and three-peats, reminded his driver that he does things in threes. Sunday, Reddick made sure the message sounded prophetic. Driving the No. 45 Toyota co-owned by Jordan and Denny Hamlin, Reddick captured the DuraMAX Texas Grand Prix Powered by RelaDyne, winning his third consecutive NASCAR Cup Series race to open…
By Mike Haag, Raceday San Antonio AUSTIN, Texas — Three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Joey Logano rolls into the Lone Star State this weekend with a familiar goal and a fresh opportunity as he chases a victory as the NASCAR Cup Series heads to Circuit of the Americas for Sunday’s DuraMAX Texas Grand Prix Powered by RelaDyne. Logano, driver of the No. 22 Shell Pennzoil Ford for Team Penske, will compete on COTA’s National Course, a 2.4-mile layout featuring 20 turns and a scheduled 95 laps of technical, high-speed racing. The NASCAR race at COTA was previously held on the 3.41-mile Full Course but changed…
By Mike Haag, Raceday San Antonio AUSTIN, Texas — Tyler Reddick’s early-season surge rolled on Saturday at Circuit of the Americas, where the 23XI Racing driver secured the pole position for Sunday’s DuraMAX Texas Grand Prix Powered by RelaDyne and strengthened his bid for a historic third consecutive NASCAR Cup Series victory. Reddick navigated the 2.4-mile, 17-turn road course in 97.760 seconds (88.380 mph) during the second qualifying group to earn his 12th career pole and third at COTA. It marks the second straight year he’ll lead the field to green at the Austin circuit. The pole carries added…
By Mike Haag, Raceday San Antonio AUSTIN, Texas – Connor Zilisch won the pole position for the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Focused Health 250 during qualifying on Friday at Circuit of the Americas. Zilisch, driving the No. 1 Roto Rooter Chevrolet for JR Motorsports, recorded a lap clocked at 97.74 seconds, 88.398 mph. It is his first pole of the season, 10th of his career and it will be his first top-10 start in 2026. This is his second pole in two races at COTA. Shane van Gisbergen, who was second fastest with a 97.949, 88.209 mph lap, helped give…
Courtesy of NASCAR at COTA PR AT A GLANCE WHAT: NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Focused Health 250; IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge (two 45-minute races) WHERE: Circuit of The Americas (COTA) – 17-turn, 2.4-mile National Course WHEN: Friday (Feb. 27) & Saturday (Feb. 28) MARQUEE COMPANION EVENT: NASCAR Cup Series DuraMAX Texas Grand Prix Powered by RelaDyne – Sunday, March 1 RACE DISTANCES NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Focused Health 250: 65 laps | 156 miles | 251.058 km IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge: Two 45-minute timed races SUPPORT SERIES BROADCAST INFORMATION (All times Central) FRIDAY IMSA practice #1 | 12:00-12:40 p.m. IMSA practice #2 |…
By Mike Haag, Raceday San Antonio AUSTIN, Texas – The Sea Lion Splash show, circus acts, stilt walkers and magicians will add a different element of surprise to the Fan Zone at this weekend’s DuraMAX Grand Prix Powered by RelaDyne at Circuit of The Americas. The Sea Lion Splash show, located near the Grand Plaza entrance, will highlight the fun and unique experience. The show is free to all ticketed guests. The sea lions will showcase their skills by balancing balls, shooting hoops, dancing, doing handstands and a bunch more exciting tricks. The Fan Zone will also including the…
By Mike Haag, Raceday San Antonio AUSTIN, Texas – Race fans attending the DuraMAX Texas Grand Prix Powered by RelaDyne will have plenty of opportunities to see their favorite drivers or get autographs this weekend at the Circuit of the Americas. On Friday from 9-10 a.m. NASCAR Cup Series star Christopher Bell of Joe Gibbs Racing will offer fans a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to ride shotgun for two hot laps around the COTA National Course in the official NASCAR at COTA pace car. Spots are limited, so advanced registration is encouraged: https://www.speedwaycharities.org/events/cota/ride-of-a-lifetime/. From 7:15-8:15 p.m. NASCAR Cup Series drivers Chase Briscoe, Ross Chastain,…
By Holly Cain and Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service Jimmie Johnson announces 2027 DAYTONA 500 as last NASCAR Cup race DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson announced Saturday morning at Daytona International Speedway that he will make his final Cup start in the 2027 DAYTONA 500. The 83-race winner and two-time DAYTONA 500 champion will take his 23rd green flag in The Great American Race on Sunday (1:30 p.m. ET on FOX, FOX Deportes, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) driving the No. 84 Toyota for the Legacy Motor Club team that he owns. Daytona seemed…
Courtesy of FOX Sports NASCAR joins FOX Latin America and accelerates its motorsports offering in Mexico Mexico City, January 28, 2026 – FOX reaffirms its position as the undisputed leader in the sports media industry in Mexico and Latin America by announcing the addition of NASCAR to its screens starting February 1. This strategic partnership not only expands FOX’s already robust portfolio of broadcast rights, but also reflects its goal of bringing together the properties with the highest audience reach, relevance, and loyalty in the region. NASCAR joins FOX with a clear vision: to bring together on a single…