NASCAR points standings: Cup Series points update after Talladega race
Austin Cindric is the sixth driver locked into the NASCAR Cup Series playoffs following his win in the Jack Link's 500 on April 27 at Talladega Superspeedway.
Cindric beat Ryan Preece by 0.022 seconds to earn his third career Cup Series victory.
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The No. 2 Team Penske Ford driver is the first Penske driver locked into the playoffs and now has wins in three of the last four regular seasons.
Here's the updated NASCAR Cup Series points standings:
TALLADEGA CON MAN: The long Talladega con: How L.W. Wright talked his way onto NASCAR's fastest track
WINNERS AND LOSERS: NASCAR Talladega winners and losers: Austin Cindric wins in a photo finish
NASCAR points standings: Cup Series points update after Talladega race
Unofficial after Talladega
William Byron: 388 points (1 win, 8 playoff points)
Kyle Larson -32 (2 wins, 15 playoff points)
Denny Hamlin -53 behind leader (2 win, 12 playoff points)
Chase Elliott -73
Christopher Bell -82 (3 wins, 16 playoff points)
Tyler Reddick -89
Bubba Wallace -94 (2 playoff points)
Joey Logano -102 (2 playoff points)
Ryan Blaney -112 (2 playoff points)
Alex Bowman -116
Ross Chastain -144
Ryan Preece -147 (1 playoff point)
Chase Briscoe -155
Chris Buescher -160
Austin Cindric -170 (1 win, 6 playoff points)
AJ Allmendinger -175
Kyle Busch -180
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. -181
Michael McDowell -189
Carson Hocevar -196
Josh Berry -199 (1 win, 6 playoff points)
Ty Gibbs -199
Austin Dillon -208
Zane Smith -209
Daniel Suarez -211
John Hunter Nemechek -212
Justin Haley -214
Todd Gilliland -216
Ty Dillon -229
Erik Jones -232
Noah Gragson -235
Brad Keselowski -255
Riley Herbst -272
Cole Custer -281
Shane van Gisbergen -284
NASCAR playoff picture after Talladega
Through 10 races
Christopher Bell (3 wins)
Denny Hamlin (2 wins)
Kyle Larson (2 wins)
William Byron (1 win)
Austin Cindric (1 win)
Josh Berry (1 win)
Chase Elliott +102 ahead of playoff cutline
Tyler Reddick +86
Bubba Wallace +81
Joey Logano +73
Ryan Blaney +63
Alex Bowman +59
Ross Chastain +31
Ryan Preece +28
Chase Briscoe +20
Chris Buescher +15
AJ Allmendinger -15 points behind 16th
Kyle Busch -20
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. -21
Michael McDowell -29
Carson Hocevar -36
Ty Gibbs -39
Austin Dillon -48
Zane Smith -49
Daniel Suarez -51
John Hunter Nemechek -52
Justin Haley -54
Todd Gilliland -56
Ty Dillon -69
Erik Jones -72
Noah Gragson -75
Brad Keselowski -95
Riley Herbst -112
Cole Custer -121
Shane van Gisbergen -124
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: NASCAR points standings: Cup Series points update after Talladega race
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Yahoo
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Before Muscle Had a Name: These Classic V8s Wrote the First Chapter
It's generally agreed upon that the 1964 Pontiac GTO was the car that popularized the muscle car segment, but there were other muscle cars before it. Some say the 1949 Oldsmobile 88 was the first muscle car, and Hagerty says Jim Wangers, the man who turned the GTO into a superstar, wrote in his memoir that Chrysler built the first muscle cars. It doesn't really matter who was first: the point is that there were multiple American cars with powerful V8s long before the GTO came along. Let's look at some of the best. Obviously, we needed to focus on models produced before the 1964 Pontiac GTO. By using reputable automotive publications such as Hagerty, Hot Rod, MotorTrend, and Autoevolution, we identified classic cars that combine powerful V8 engines with performance-oriented features. These sources provided detailed specifications and historical context of pre-GTO performance cars, helping us understand how they contributed to the evolution of muscle cars. Not all the cars here are muscle cars in the traditional sense, i.e., two-door midsize models, but they were still a huge part of what was to come in the mid-1960s. The Oldsmobile Rocket 88 is often considered the first muscle car, and it's easy to understand why. Autoevolution reports that Oldsmobile built it to attract younger buyers, so they gave the lightweight midsized car a 303 V8 engine with a two-barrel carb, resulting in a respectable 135 hp and 253 lb-ft of torque. With that kind of power, the 2-door 88 would launch to 60 mph in 13 seconds and continued going until it hit its 97 mph top speed. It went on to dominate the NASCAR circuits, and people bought it in droves. Not everyone agrees that the Rocket 88 was the first muscle car! Some will say the honor should go to the 1955 Chrysler C-300, the first of the brand's letter series models. 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The Plymouth Fury also received new styling for this year, and while it was available in different body styles, none looked as good as the big-finned, two-door version with a gold spear on its flanks. Autoevolution reports that 1957 marks the first year Chevrolet offered fuel injection on a car that wasn't the Corvette, and that honor went to the stylish Bel Air. Under the hood, it still has the Rochester Ramjet 283 mill, but it now featured a continuous flow fuel-injection system, showcasing advanced technology for the time. Whereas the standard 283 had a four-barrel carb and mustered around 220 hp, Audrain Auto Museum claims the Fuelie version produced a very respectable 283 hp. This luxury cruiser wasn't just about chrome and tailfins! The Adventurer was fast, flashy, and exclusive, giving DeSoto a halo car that could go toe-to-toe with the best from Chrysler and Dodge. One of the things that made it so good was found under the hood. 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Buyers could also opt for a tri-power setup, pushing the power to 401 hp. The icing on the cake? It could only be had with a four-speed manual transmission. According to Autoevolution, Pontiac's management decided to build a race car that qualified as a "stock" model for both NASCAR and NHRA racing — the Catalina Super Duty. On the outside, there wasn't much that separated it from the standard model, but looks can be deceiving. The Pontiac Catalina Super Duty was a proper race car with an aluminum front clip and drilled frame rails to reduce weight. Pop the hood, and you'll be greeted by a 421 V8 engine pushing out 405 thoroughbred American ponies. It may have been a luxury icon, but according to AutoEvolution, the Continental packed a punch with its 430-cubic-inch V8 pumping out 300 horsepower. Sure, it certainly wasn't a drag racer, but it brought torque in spades and effortless cruising power. As an added bonus, those rear-hinged doors gave it serious street presence. The Lincoln Continental packed American muscle in a tuxedo, as it was as powerful as it was classy. As stated by Curbside Classic, the Dodge Max Wedge ruled the drag strip for a couple of years, until the 426 Hemi arrived in 1964. According to Volocars, Dodge only built 55 Dart 2-door Max Wedges in 1962, making it excruciatingly rare. Seeing as Dodge built it specifically for those who wanted to go racing, it's no surprise that it packs a serious punch. While it was never a big seller, it's fair to say that the Dart Max Wedge 413 is one of the models that ushered in the 400+ hp muscle car era. Dodge wasn't the only company under the Chrysler umbrella to use the Max Wedge mill. Plymouth installed it in its mid-sized Fury model, and like the Dodge, it was a factory racer built for straight-line speed. HotRod says that, unlike the Pontiac GTO, the Max Wedge cars, while technically road-legal, were sold with the understanding that they were strictly for competition use, although many were still used on public roads. The 1962 Chevrolet Impala is one of the most popular American classics. Autoevolution reports that this was the year it received a convertible-style roof, making it an instant hit. However, we're more interested in what's hiding under the hood. A new 327 small-block was brought in to replace the 4-barrel 283, but more importantly, buyers could now spec their Impala with a massive 409 V8, producing either 380 or 409 hp, depending on the carb. Chevy also built a Lightweight model that shed 125 pounds, and thanks to dual four-barrel carburetors, new cylinder heads and pistons, its 409 V8 engine was officially rated at 425 hp. According to Hemmings, Henry Ford II was determined to build something that would dominate the competition, and the answer came in the form of the 427 V8. Of course, they just had to offer it in the full-size Galaxie flagship model. In R-Code spec, the 425 produced a whopping 425 hp, more than enough to send the big brute flying. In fact, the Galaxies secured a 1-2 finish at the 1963 Daytona 500 and even set Ford's first national record ever in NHRA Super Stock drag racing. Don't worry if you can't remember the Plymouth Savoy; most people have forgotten about it by now. But, there was one version that's worth remembering. We've mentioned the Max Wedge engine previously, but the one found under the '63 Savoy's hood turned everything up to 11. As reported by Autoevolution, when it was first introduced, the Max Wedge measured 413 cubic inches, but in 1963, it was increased to 426, the same as the famous Hemi unit that would make its debut the following year. In the Savoy, the Max Wedge produced 415 hp, and only 18 units are known to have been made. In 1963, the Impala was in its third generation, and Chevrolet introduced a high-performance version under what's known as Regular Production Option (RPO) Z11. The Impala Z11 was only available as a two-door hardtop, as it was based on the Sport Coupe version, and Car and Driver says it added nearly a third to the car's price. Under the hood, the Z11 had a 427 V8 that received multiple upgrades. The engine was based on the W-series 409 unit but had a longer stroke, a different compression ratio, a two-piece aluminum intake manifold, and dual Carter AFB carburetors. It produced 430 horsepower and 575 lb-ft of torque, making the Z11 a proper sleeper. Exterior-wise, it had aluminum body panels but not much else to hint that it was something special. The Riviera was GM's first entry into the personal luxury car market, and automotive journalists loved its sharp styling, luxurious interior, agile driving dynamics, and powerful V8 engine. As noted by Autoevolution, the Riviera name had previously been used as a trim level on the Buick Roadmaster and Super models. For 1963, the Riviera was a standalone model, and while it may have been more of a luxury car than all-out muscle, it was the perfect option for driving enthusiasts. Inside, it had bucket seats in the front and bucket-style seats in the back. Under the hood, it had a Nailhead V8 with 325 hp when it was launched, but a 425 V8 with 340 hp was made available a couple of months later. The Golden Hawk wasn't Studebaker's only performance model with a superhero-like name. In 1963, as the company neared its final days, it introduced the Super Lark. Studebaker basically took the Avanti's supercharged 289ci engine and shoehorned it into the rather boring Lark. With 290 hp, a lightweight body, a limited-slip diff, and front disc brakes, Street Muscle Mag says the Super Lark was nothing like the base model. As per How Stuff Works, Buick dusted off the Wildcat name from a series of one-off concepts from the '50s and introduced it in 1962 as a subseries of the Invicta, before the Wildcat became its own line in 1963. Under its hood was a Wildcat 455 V8, a 401-cubic-inch mill producing 325 hp, delivering impressive performance for its time. As noted by Motortrend, the Wildcat combined full-size comfort with spirited driving dynamics, making it a noteworthy precursor to the muscle car era. The 1963 Mercury Marauder, a full-size Mercury model, introduced a fastback roofline and the Marauder nameplate, which was initially a sub-model of the Monterey, Monterey Custom, and S-55 lines. It featured a variety of powerful FE V8 engines, including the 406, offered in 385 and 405 horsepower versions. While it looked conservative, the Marauder was a legitimate street and strip contender. It was also popular in NASCAR, proving its high-speed credibility as Parnelli Jones drove it to victory, as reported by How Stuff Works. Mercury later revived the Marauder name for a different, high-performance model in 2003. While the 1964 Pontiac GTO deserves endless credit for kickstarting the muscle car craze of the mid-'60s and early '70s, several models before it actually created the segment, even if they weren't called muscle cars. We've barely scraped the surface in this article, so if you feel some models were left out, let us know in the comments.
Newsweek
3 hours ago
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Spire Boss Takes Parental Tone with Carson Hocevar After Nashville Clash
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Spire Motorsports co-owner Jeff Dickerson has revealed a unique parental approach to deal with his 22-year-old driver, Carson Hocevar, who crashed into the rear of Ricky Stenhouse Jr.'s car in Nashville. Hocevar has made news in the world of NASCAR through his stellar performances, but his aggressive driving doesn't go unnoticed. Hocevar finished the Cracker Barrel 400 in second place despite the incident, while Stenhouse Jr. came last. What made Stenhouse Jr. more furious was the fact that Hocevar did not approach him after the race, and thus, the Hyak Motorsports driver hinted at a payback in the future. Stenhouse Jr. even escalated the matter to Dickerson. Dickerson made it clear to Hocevar that the clash was unnecessary. Speaking on the Door Bumper Clear podcast, he said: Carson Hocevar, driver of the #77 Zeigler Auto Group Chevrolet, looks on during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series Cracker Barrel 400 at Nashville Superspeedway on May 31, 2025 in Lebanon, Tennessee. Carson Hocevar, driver of the #77 Zeigler Auto Group Chevrolet, looks on during qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series Cracker Barrel 400 at Nashville Superspeedway on May 31, 2025 in Lebanon, Tennessee."Full transparency here's what I said: 'Man, you didn't need to do that. You know, you just didn't need to do that.' It wasn't going to cost him anything to let Ricky back in line." He added: "I just wish he would have cut him a break. I have a personal relationship with Ricky, and so I don't want that to cloud it. I'm like, 'S**t man.'" Dickerson then admitted that he counsels Hocevar like a parent. Revealing his mature approach that most likely offers his driver a unique perspective, he said: "There's plenty of times I go to Carson and I'm just like, '35-year-old Carson is not going to be cool with what you just did, or what you just said.' This isn't a Carson thing I think it's in general, they're too young to know that it's cool to be like, 'Man, I f***ed that up.' Know what I'm saying? "And that's where I wish they would help themselves more. But again, I want to teach Carson how it is, quote, unquote. "I'm not trying to change him. I certainly don't want to get in car-crashing contests out there, right? And Ricky to me is a guy that, like, he's not going to wreck our car, he's going to go beat the hell out of him. You know what I'm saying? Which is how it probably should be, you know what I mean? But you can't get it until you go through it, right? So, it's like being a parent, sometimes your kid just wants to shut his hand in the car door to see if it hurts, right? Sometimes you just gotta let them."
