Latest news with #AllStarRace
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Denny Hamlin Reacts to NASCAR All-Star Race Potentially Moving to Dover
The NASCAR schedule for the 2026 Cup Series season is tentatively expected to be released this week, with reports that the All-Star Race could be relocated. Now, Denny Hamlin is among those in the industry unhappy with NASCAR's reported plan for the new venue. On the latest episode of the 'Actions Detrimental' podcast, Hamlin first questioned why NASCAR would potentially take a points race away from Dover Motor Speedway when the fans showed up despite the scorching temperatures this year on July 20. 'Surely, they can't be talking about replacing Dover's point race, right?…We had sucha. great fan turnout when it was 120 degrees, it was like being on the sun…I just hope there's no way they could be going from two races to none, no points races at Dover. The fan turnout has been good there, I don't know why you'd do that.' Denny Hamlin on the NASCAR All-Star Race in 2026 potentially being moved to Dover Related: Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic first reported this past week that NASCAR was giving real consideration to moving the All-Star Race from North Wilkesboro Speedway to Dover. Dale Earnhardt Jr also hinted earlier this month that North Wilkesboro might get a points race. Those behind the potential change want North Wilkesboro to have a points race on the 30th anniversary of its last one (1996). While Dover could theoretically have both a points race and the All-Star Race, that seems unlikely unless another track is taken off the schedule. Read More: Why an All-Star Race at Dover is a Problem If the All-Star Race is held next year at Dover, the quality of the racing likely won't be as good as what it's been at North Wilkesboro. Hamlin echoed what many around racing have said, that the track at Dover is not suited for short runs, which is what the All-Star Race is all about. If it happens, NASCAR will have its All-Star event with minimal passing. 'The 10th floor is just not…hopefully they're not thinking this one all the way through, but this is not the best choice. Dover is just not an All-Star type of race track. That track is one where it needs rubber on the race track to widen out and then you can start making passes, but that doesn't happen until 30-40 laps into a run and the All-Star Race is made up of short runs, so there's just not going to be any passing.' Denny Hamlin on why an All-Star Race at Dover Motor Speedway doesn't work The other issue is the logistics of an All-Star Race at Dover. Because the Dover Air Force Base is only a few miles away from the track, there are no lights surrounding the track since they could be a potential distraction for pilots flying in. Due to that, night racing is off the table. So, unless temporary lights are installed, NASCAR seems to be considering having an All-Star Race in the middle of the day for a race where there will be minimal passing. It's not exactly a recipe for success, but as Hamlin said on the podcast, those making the schedule don't give anyone in the garage any input on matters. Related: Related Headlines Chicago Bears 2025 Season Preview Baltimore Ravens 2025 Season Preview Kansas City Chiefs 2025 Season Preview
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
NASCAR Rumors: All-Star Race in 2026 Could be Relocated to New Track
The NASCAR schedule for the 2026 season is expected to be released later this summer, with many of the major changes already reported. When it's released, the NASCAR All-Star Race in 2026 could be held at a different location that could prove unpopular among fans. Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic reports that NASCAR is considering a move for the All-Star Race next season from North Wilkesboro Speedway to Dover Motor Speedway. Related: It has been fairly well known that NASCAR has been open to relocating the All-Star Race in 2026, with many in the sport favoring North Wilkesboro Speedway hosting a points race. Of course, for North Wilkesboro to have a points race for the first time since 1996, that means another track would lose its points race. While no decision is final, Bianchi reports that the move is under 'serious consideration,' and it could be officially announced next week, when NASCAR plans to release its schedule for next season. What has been made clear is that the All-Star Race will still occur a week before Memorial Day Weekend, as it has in the past, regardless of which venue is chosen. Related: Notably, per The Athletic, this is a recently discussed idea. The reported intentions as of a few weeks ago were for North Wilkesboro to host the All-Star Race again, but the latest round of planning now could see the non-points race moved to Dover. It would be a disappointing decision for many NASCAR fans, especially around Delaware. Dover has provided some of the best racing in the Next Gen era, which makes it better for a points-eligible race. Taking that away would mean Dover wouldn't have a points race in 2026, while tracks like Daytona International Speedway, Martinsville Speedway, Phoenix Raceway and Las Vegas Motor Speedway get two points races. If the decision is made official next week, one notable wrinkle is that the NASCAR All-Star Race in 2026 would need to be held during the day. That's because Dover Motor Speedway can't have lights, as it is near Dover Air Force Base. Related Headlines NFL Writer: Browns Will Skip Shedeur Sanders Even 'When Something Goes Sideways' at QB Insane Numbers for Taylor Swift's Apperance on Travis Kelce's 'New Heights' Podcast Are In Rumored 'Red Flags' About Cleveland Browns QB Is Good News for Shedeur Sanders
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
NASCAR Rumors: Latest on Potential 2026 NASCAR All-Star Race at Dover, Influence Behind It
Ahead of the expected 2026 NASCAR schedule release this coming weekend, reports have surfaced about North Wilkesboro Speedway potentially hosting a points race and a new venue hosting the NASCAR All-Star Race in 2026. If that change is made, it could significantly impact one of the All-Star Race's traditions. On Saturday night's episode of 'The Teardown,' Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic said it is his understanding, as of now, that the All-Star Race at Dover Motor Speedway next season would take place during the day. 'To the best of my knowledge, and I gotta be really careful I say this. My understanding is it would be a daytime race. But that could change, I don't honestly know that, but I have heard nothing that it could be a nigh race because they would have to bring in temporary lights.' The Athletic's Jordan Bianchi on the 2026 NASCAR All-Star Race at Dover potentially running during the day Related: Dover can't hold night races because the speedway lacks lights due to the nearby Dover Air Force Base. The military does not want lights that could distract its pilots, so Dover Motor Speedway runs races during the daytime. The relocation could also influence racing and the overall experience at Dover. The EchoPark Automotive 400 was held on July 20 this year, so hosting the NASCAR All-Star Race in the middle of May would mean cooler temperatures, typically 10-20 degrees lower than a date in the middle of the summer However, the track itself still isn't a good fit for an All-Star Race. It's well-suited for making long runs, where a lot of strategy comes into play, and that's not what the All-Star Race has historically been about. While many fans aren't fond of the idea, it's a potential move that all seems to be driven by Speedway Motorsports, LLC. 'This was primarily, from the conversations I've had with people involved in this, this was kind of a Speedway Motorsports initiative of 'Hey, we'd like to have a points race at North Wilkesboro and move the All-Star Race elsewhere.' Jordan Bianchi on who was behind the push to move the All-Star Race away from North Wilkesboro' After investing millions of dollars into North Wilkesboro Speedway, Speedway Motorsports wants to see a greater return on its investment. Hosting a points race would not only help increase fan interest but would be fitting next year, marking 30 years since the last points race at North Wilkesboro. Dale Earnhardt Jr. hinted a few weeks ago that a points race could be coming to North Wilkesboro in 2026, and that now seems increasingly likely. While moving the NASCAR All-Star Race to Dover might hurt the quality of racing, it appears to be a trade-off the league is willing to accept for a non-points race. Read More: Related Headlines NFL Rumors: Washington Commanders Shopping Brian Robinson Jr, 4 Landing Spots Houston Astros News: Injury Updates on Yordan Alvarez and Josh Hader, Return Timeline Fans Blast Richard Childress as Austin Dillon Pulls Back the Curtain on RCR Tensions
New York Times
4 days ago
- Automotive
- New York Times
NASCAR considering moving All-Star Race to Dover: Sources
As NASCAR works to finalize its 2026 Cup Series schedule, a last-minute wrinkle has emerged: the increasing possibility of moving the All-Star Race to Dover Motor Speedway in Delaware, sources familiar with the discussions but not authorized to speak freely have told The Athletic. Dover hosting the All-Star Race would then clear a spot for North Wilkesboro Speedway to land a Cup points race, something the venerable North Carolina short track — which has held the non-points All-Star since 2023 — has not done since 1996. Advertisement No decision is final on the location of the All-Star Race, but such a move is under serious consideration. NASCAR is targeting next week to release the full 2026 Cup schedule. Speedway Motorsports owns Dover and North Wilkesboro, making a swap of the All-Star Race between the tracks fairly straightforward. The All-Star Race is traditionally held in May, a week before Memorial Day Weekend, and that is expected again next year, whether the race is held at Dover or North Wilkesboro. Whichever track is selected to host a points race would then be slotted somewhere in the summer, according to sources. The Athletic previously reported North Wilkesboro was expected to host the All-Star Race again, and that was the intention up until this last-minute change in direction. The annual non-points All-Star Race has bounced around to various tracks in recent years, shifting in 2020 from its longtime home at Charlotte Motor Speedway to Bristol Motor Speedway, then to Texas Motor Speedway for two years (2021-2022) before landing at North Wilkesboro. Charlotte, Bristol and Texas are all owned by Speedway Motorsports. Dover is a one-mile concrete surface track that has hosted NASCAR premier series races since 1969. Speedway Motorsports purchased the facility in 2021 for $131.5 million. The return of North Wilkesboro to the points side of the Cup schedule represents a remarkable transformation for a track that, not too long ago, was crumbling to the ground. The beloved short track, which opened in 1947, was a mainstay on the Cup calendar before losing both its points race following the 1996 season, largely due to facilities deemed insufficient at a time when NASCAR was experiencing rapid growth and seeing modern tracks added to the schedule. As part of the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act passed to stimulate the economy following the COVID-19 pandemic, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper allocated $40 million for infrastructural improvements at three racetracks in North Carolina, one of which was North Wilkesboro. Advertisement Speedway Motorsports president and CEO Marcus Smith then set about modernizing North Wilkesboro, with the intent of NASCAR possibly returning one day. That moment occurred in 2023, and ever since, there has been a push for the track to again host a points race. That moment may now come as soon as 2026. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle
Daily Mail
20-05-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
NASCAR driver threatens rival after crash at All-Star race: 'I'm gonna beat his a**'
Just a few days before arguably the biggest weekend in all of motorsport, the NASCAR All-Star Race produced some tension between two drivers. The race at North Wilkesboro Speedway on Sunday night saw a heated confrontation between Ty Dillon and Zane Smith. Smith qualified sixth for the All-Star Open race while Dillon qualified tenth, but both cars ran in the top-five for a large portion of the 100-lap race. However, late in the proceedings, with Dillon ahead of Smith coming out of turn 4, the two cars made contact. While neither car was dumped out of the race, Dillon believed that Smith's actions cost him position. Dillon finished third in the All-Star Open race, three spots ahead of Smith. Dillon, the driver of the No. 10 Chevrolet, was none too pleased about his opponent's driving style - confronting him on pit lane before speaking to reporters. 'If he wrecks me again I'm just going to beat his ass.' Ty Dillon is not happy with Zane Smith — Dirty Mo Media (@DirtyMoMedia) May 18, 2025 NASCAR driver Ty Dillon had words for racing rival Zane Smith after the All-Star Open Sunday 'Coming off (Turn) 4, I think I gave him plenty of room, and he just doors me halfway down the straightaway. … There's something about the younger guys in the sport now. They never had to deal with consequences,' he said, via Dirty Mo Media. 'So, what I told him was if he wrecks me again, I'm just gonna beat his a--.' Smith heard Dillon's comments and responded to the post on X, writing, 'Ain't beating nobody's a**.' This coming weekend is a big one for NASCAR as it hosts the final race in the 'Big Three' races typically held over Memorial Day weekend. While the Monaco Grand Prix and the Indianapolis 500 typically grab the headlines, the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway tests drivers with varying track conditions throughout the longest race on the NASCAR calendar.
