Latest news with #KyleBusch
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Richard Childress Weighs In on Kyle Busch's Nashville Spin With Austin Dillon Advice
Richard Childress Weighs In on Kyle Busch's Nashville Spin With Austin Dillon Advice originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Kyle Busch joined Richard Childress last weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway and announced that he had signed an extension to continue racing for the organization through the 2026 season. Shortly after the announcement, the No. 8 car had a steering issue and failed to make a lap during practice. Advertisement The two-time Cup Series champion qualified 24th and finished 15th in the race. A week later at Nashville was an improvement – sort of. He at least made it onto the track for practice. Unfortunately, during the session the 40-year-old lost control of his Chevrolet and went for a spin. Kyle Busch during practice at Nashville Nelles / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images 'Happened to just get loose over the bump,' crew chief Randall Burnett said over the team radio. 'I was loose before the bump,' Busch corrected. 'Spinning out on entry. It was all on the right rear through the corner, and then it hit the bump and spun out.' 'Copy that,' the crew chief responded. A short time later, team owner Richard Childress chimed in on the conversation. 'Hit anything Derek or just spun?' Childress questioned spotter Derek Kneeland about the No. 8 driver's incident. Advertisement 'No, just half spun,' Kneeland responded. 'He caught it. Went straight through the grass.' 'Yeah, Austin (Dillon) said when he hit it, you hit it wrong, it'll just turn sideways on you,' the 79-year-old relayed. Childress listening and commenting on the team radio isn't anything new. He's done it for years. For Busch, he knows this. And he also understands after last week's news, he'll get to hear it for at least a couple more years. Related: Kyle Busch and Team Upset With NASCAR on Day That Goes From Bad to Worse This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
NASCAR free agents after 2025 season: Daniel Suarez headlines group
The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season is ongoing with the best drivers in the sport focused on competing for this year's championship. However, NASCAR silly season is just a few months away and there could be plenty of movement with outstanding racers eligible to hit the open market. Let's dive into the available NASCAR free agents after the 2025 Cup Series season. We've included asterisks for drivers whose contract status is uncertain for 2026, with an attached note to each driver. NASCAR free agents: Upcoming free agents and re-signings Austin Cindric, No. 2, Team Penske Racing Credit: Jason Allen-Imagn Images Austin Cindric signed a multi-year contract with Team Penske in 2023 and the deal for the No. 2 car is expected to expire after this season. Cindric finished 11th in the Cup Series during the 2024 season and he's delivered wins in consecutive seasons. Just as important, Cindric's average finishing position has improved over the last three seasons. He'll be 27 in September and stands out as an obvious candidate for a new contract with Penske. Advertisement Related: NASCAR insider sheds light on Austin Cindric's future with Team Penske Kyle Busch, No. 8, Richard Childress Racing – Extended Through 2026 Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images On May 24, Richard Childress Racing announced a one-year extension with Kyle Busch to drive the No. 8 car through the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season. While Busch's winning streak snapped last year and he hasn't won a race for RCR since 2023, one of the best drivers of the modern era is still getting the most out of his car. Richard Childress Racing offers the best opportunity to win, including that elusive victory in the Daytona 500, which made it an easy decision for Busch to stay with RCR in 2026. Advertisement Related: Insider sheds light on Kyle Busch's future with RCR after 2026 Denny Hamlin, No. 11, Joe Gibbs Racing* Credit: Randy Sartin-Imagn Images Denny Hamlin's contract status is more uncertain than some of the known top NASCAR free agents this offseason. Hamlin signed a multi-year contract extension with Joe Gibbs Racing in 2023, but it's unknown just how long the deal is. Hamlin will be 45 in November, but he is arguably still one of the five best NASCAR drivers right now. If his deal expires after the season, a short-term deal with JGR is likely. It would leave open the possibility of Hamlin ending his career in a few years with 23XI. Advertisement Related: Denny Hamlin credits Kyle Busch for huge development in his career A.J. Allmendinger, No. 16, Kaulig Racing Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images A.J. Allmendinger returned as a full-time Cup Series driver in 2025, reportedly landing a short-term deal with Kaulig Racing for the No. 16 car. He's performed relatively well in 2025, even amid engine blowups, but this very public outburst at Kansas could jeopardize his future with the team. If he can't find a team for 2026, Allmendinger could continue his roller-coaster career cycle with a return to the Xfinity Series. Related: NASCAR schedule for Cup Series, Truck Series and Xfinity Series Christopher Bell, No. 20, Joe Gibbs Racing* Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images As with fellow Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Denny Hamlin, it's uncertain exactly how much longer Christopher Bell is under contract for the No. 20 car. Before the 2023 season, he signed a 'long-term deal' with JGR that would seemingly open the door to him becoming a free agent after the 2025 campaign. However, Bell won three consecutive races this year and the 30-year-old is a perennial championship threat. There's zero reason to believe, even if he's on an expiring contract, that JGR won't give him a new deal this year. Bubba Wallace, No. 23, 23XI Racing* Credit: Scott Sewell-Imagn Images Bubba Wallace can leave 23XI if NASCAR strips the team of its charter Advertisement Much like teammate Tyler Reddick, Bubba Wallace becoming one of the top NASCAR free agents after this season means disaster has struck for 23XI Racing. Wallace and Reddick have provisions in their contracts that would allow them to leave for another team if NASCAR strips 23XI of their charters if the team loses its lawsuit against the sport. As long as 23XI has a charter, though, Wallace's improved maturity and a strong supporting cast for the No. 23 car – top-five pit crew and crew chief Charles Denike – make this a perfect fit for him. William Byron, No. 24, Hendrick Motorsports – Extended through 2029 Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images On May 23, Hendrick Motorsports signed driver William Byron to a four-year contract extension through the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series season. The deal ensures that Hendrick Motorsports will have Byron, Kyle Larson and Alex Bowman through the 2026 season. Byron now has one of the longest contracts in the Cup Series, keeping him at Hendrick Motorsports through his age-31 season. Byron remains one of the best NASCAR drivers right now and he gives Hendricks multiple perenial championship contenders. Advertisement Related: NASCAR standings for Cup Series, Xfinity Series and Truck Series Tyler Reddick, No. 45, 23XI Racing* Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images Tyler Reddick can leave 23XI if NASCAR strips the team of its charter Tyler Reddick has found a home with 23XI, becoming the team's first driver to reach the Championship 4 in 2024. He's been one of the 10 best drivers in NASCAR over the last three years, maximizing the equipment and support staff put around the No. 45 car. If NASCAR were to strip 23XI of its charters, Reddick would instantly become one of the most in-demand racers ahead of his age-30 season. Carson Hocevar, No. 77, Spire Motorsports* Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images Similar to Denny Hamlin, Carson Hocevar signed a multi-year deal before the 2024 season with no details available on the specific length of the contract. The 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Rookie of the Year hasn't won his first race at the highest level yet, but he delivered a 2025 Truck Series victory and is racing closer to the front of the field more consistently in the Cup Series. Hocevar's aggressive driving style hasn't made him popular among fellow drivers, but he's just 22 years old and keeps improving. If his contract expires after the 2025 season, he'll almost certainly be prioritized for a multi-year deal by Spire Motorsports. Shane van Gisbergen, No. 88, Trackhouse Racing Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images Shane Van Gisbergen received a one-year contract for the 2025 season to drive the No. 88 car in the Cup Series for Trackhouse Racing. The 36-year-old was brought in both for his popularity and his dominance on road courses. He's been a non-factor everywhere else this year, but that's also a reflection on the quality of equipment Trackhouse Racing has put out in 2025. Considering SVG's popularity and the fact that his excellence on road courses at least gives Trackhouse a few shots at an automatic playoff bid, another short-term deal feels very likely after the 2025 season. Daniel Suarez, No. 99, Trackhouse Racing Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images Among the top NASCAR free agents following the season, Daniel Suárez might be the likeliest to wind up on a new team next year. Connor Zilisch seems well-positioned to become a full-time Cup Series driver in 2026 and Trackhouse Racing would have the No. 99 car available for him. If that happens, Suarez could find a home with Kaulig Racing next season as Allmendinger's potential replacement for the No. 16 car.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
NASCAR rumors: Insider reveals Denny Hamlin's future with Joe Gibbs Racing
Denny Hamlin is near the front of the NASCAR starting grid for Nashville, but he might not race on Sunday as his first son is due to be born. With his family poised to grow even larger, there's even more incentive for the 44-year-old to sign a new Cup Series contract. Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic writes that while Hamlin is in a contract year with Joe Gibbs Racing and is eligible for NASCAR free agency, there's a 'high probability' that he re-signs to drive the No. 11 car for the 2026 season. 'Working on it. Should be something done somewhat soon.' Denny Hamlin on contract talks with Joe Gibbs Racing Advertisement Related: Denny Hamlin credits Kyle Busch for huge development in his career Denny Hamlin stats 2025 ( 390 points, 2 wins, 6 top 10s, 5 top 5s, 2 DNFs, 371 laps led, 12.357 average starting position, 15.231 average finishing position in 13 races Hamlin, who will turn 45 years old ahead of the 2026 season, has spent his entire Cup Series career with Joe Gibbs Racing. While the No. 11 car lost its long-time partnership with FedEx after last season, the void was filled by a one-year deal with Progress Insurance. A number of the top upcoming free agents in the NASCAR Cup Series have already signed new deals. Hendrick Motorsports signed William Byron to a contract extension and Richard Childress Racing confirmed Kyle Busch will be driving the No. 8 car next season. Related: NASCAR free agents after this season, including Denny Hamlin It leaves the biggest teams – Joe Gibbs Racing, Team Penske, Hendrick Motorsports and 23XI Racing – without any full-time openings for next season. As for some of the top NASCAR prospects, Connor Zilisch may spend another year in the Xfinity Series, while Corey Heim's timeline to become a full-time Cup Series driver seems further away. Advertisement With Hamlin all but confirmed to drive the No. 11 car for JGR next season, he'll have a great chance to achieve his long-standing goal of becoming one of the 10 winningest drivers in Cup Series history. Heading into the Cracker Barrel 400, Hamlin is four wins shy of tying Kevin Harvick for 10th all-time. Related: NASCAR standings, see where Denny Hamlin sit in the points race Related Headlines
Newsweek
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Newsweek
Kyle Busch "Feels Like a Broken Record" After NASCAR Coke 600 Blow
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Kyle Busch claimed he felt "like a broken record" as he reacted to his 15th-place finish in the longest race of the NASCAR season at Charlotte Motor Speedway. The 40-year-old driver lamented countless issues with the No. 8 Chevrolet throughout the weekend of the Coca-Cola 600. He explained, as quoted by NBC Sports: "I feel like a broken record saying another difficult night for our No. 8 Chevrolet team. The weekend started out with a steering issue. We got the pump changed and were able to make a qualifying lap but had to change the rack and go to the rear for the start of the race on Sunday. "We were tight in dirty air. Crew chief Randall Burnett made some changes and got it running better when I heard a loud pop. Something broke, and we're still not sure what it was. Kyle Busch, driver of the #8 zone Chevrolet, greets fans as he walks the grid prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 25, 2025 in Concord, North Carolina. Kyle Busch, driver of the #8 zone Chevrolet, greets fans as he walks the grid prior to the NASCAR Cup Series Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 25, 2025 in Concord, North Carolina. Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images "From that point on, we were just out of it. We tried a strategy call late in the race, but we had an issue on pit road so we weren't really able to capitalize on that. I want to thank the family of Fireman Jeffrey M Svoboda for allowing us to honor him this weekend." This comes after Busch signed a contract extension with Richard Childress Racing, which will see him continue with the team through to the end of 2026. Commenting on the extended deal, Richard Childress explained: "I love a driver that doesn't like to worked hard. We've got some exciting things coming up. "He and I are both alike in one area—we don't like to lose. We want to win races. I still think Kyle will win him a championship, and we're going to have it at RCR. That's our plans." 2025 Coca-Cola 600: Race results
New York Times
24-05-2025
- Automotive
- New York Times
Kyle Larson, another Indy 500/NASCAR ‘Double' try, and a GOAT legacy in reach
INDIANAPOLIS — In the most recent NASCAR Cup Series points race, Kyle Larson led 83 percent of the laps, won his third race of the still-young season and took over the series points lead heading into his Memorial Day Weekend 'Double' attempt. Given his frequent success, Larson's NASCAR rivals would have every reason not to like him. But among his peers, seemingly no one feels that way. Advertisement And after winning 26 Cup Series races since the start of 2021, they would also have every reason to cheer against him. But when the NASCAR drivers watch Larson in Sunday's Indianapolis 500, awaiting their turn to race against him in Charlotte's 600-mile race that night, many will be doing the opposite. 'Yeah, I root for him,' two-time NASCAR champion Kyle Busch said. 'I wish him well in that endeavor. You hope one of your fellow guys goes out there and can show the world the NASCAR guys can do it as good as the IndyCar guys. 'I hope he does really well,' Larson's NASCAR teammate Alex Bowman said. 'He's one of the greatest of our generation, certainly up there as far as the greatest have been.' It would be easy to fill the rest of this story with similar quotes from Larson's peers. 'Just a badass,' former open-wheel driver and current NASCAR driver AJ Allmendinger said. 'One of the best to do it,' Bubba Wallace said. You get the point. But some of the racing world thinks differently. Europeans scoffed last year when Larson declared he was a better all-around driver than F1 world champion Max Verstappen, who many consider to be the best driver on the planet. Verstappen shrugged off the comment, but F1 fans — who tend to look down on American racers — had a field day with Larson's remark. In the time since, Larson's words have become the topic of ridicule every time he makes a mistake or crashes — and, in a game of telephone, turned into a belief Larson actually said he was the world's best driver. 'People act like I'm the one who said I am the greatest race car driver in the world,' Larson told The Athletic. 'I never said that. I just said I'm a better all-around driver than Max Verstappen. And they took that as I said, 'I'm the greatest in the world.'' Arguably, though, Larson's claim is correct. Verstappen has dominated F1 and shown otherworldly talent; he is unquestionably one of the great racing drivers of all time. But Larson, at least to this point, has a vastly more diverse and successful racing resume. Advertisement He is a NASCAR champion in stock cars, won the 24 Hours of Daytona sports car race, has won the world's biggest dirt sprint car race (Knoxville Nationals), the biggest dirt midget car race (Chili Bowl) and one of the biggest dirt late model races (Prairie Dirt Classic). One of his teammates in the 24 Hours of Daytona, Tony Kanaan, is now the team principal of the Arrow McLaren outfit that fields Larson's Indy 500 car. And the speed is obvious to Kanaan, a former Indy 500 winner. 'To me, he's one of the biggest talents we've ever seen around the world,' Kanaan said. That's why this Indianapolis 500 attempt and the 'Double' (which consists of running both Indy and NASCAR's Coca-Cola 600 on the same day in an 1,100-mile gantlet) is so important to Larson's legacy. This is his final planned Indy 500, at least for now. If he truly wants to be in the conversation among the all-time greats, Larson could use a special moment Sunday on his resume. Maybe that consists of simply completing all the laps. Maybe it's a top-10 finish at Indy and then winning in Charlotte. Maybe, in what would be both highly improbable and one of the great American racing stories in history, it's winning both. At the top of the short list of the American racing GOATs is Mario Andretti, the only driver in history to win the Formula One world championship, the Indianapolis 500 and the Daytona 500. But last year, Andretti said sweeping the Sunday 'Double' would put Larson 'in a space where he'll probably be alone' among the greats. 'If he wins this and then goes to Charlotte and maybe even wins that?' Andretti told The Athletic. 'Oh my goodness! That would go down in history.' Larson qualified fifth for last year's Indy 500 — his only other attempt so far — but finished 18th after he made an error and was caught speeding on pit road. This year hasn't gone as smoothly; he crashed twice in practice and qualified 21st for Sunday's race. Advertisement It immediately sparked the 'told you so' posts on social media from Larson's detractors. 'I know he got grief for wrecking in practice, but it's like, 'How many (IndyCar) regulars are there who have wrecked in practice?'' former NASCAR champion Ryan Blaney said. 'It's just typical people, where when things go poorly, they like to s— on that person. When things go good, they don't really give it any second thought.' Five drivers have attempted the Double, which requires completing all 500 miles in Indianapolis and then flying to Charlotte for the start of the 600-mile NASCAR race. (And that's after flying from Indiana to North Carolina the day before to qualify for the NASCAR race and then returning to Indy. On Saturday, Larson qualified second for the Coke 600.) Only one has completed every mile: Tony Stewart in 2001, when he got top-10s in both races. Last year, a rain delay at Indianapolis made Larson late for the NASCAR race; he never got a chance to run the second part of the doubleheader, as rain also brought a halt to the Charlotte race before he could get in the car. This year could be his lone chance. He has flown under the radar much more this time around, which is how he likes it. Not because Larson doesn't want the attention, he said, but because he hates taking attention away from other drivers. Though the hype has died down, Larson is now more experienced with an IndyCar — a vehicle that has far more tools inside the cockpit for drivers to use than in NASCAR. 'Last year I was just scared to do anything (with the tools),' he said. 'I didn't know how sensitive everything was going to be. This year, I've definitely played around with it a lot more. I've gotten way more comfortable with doing those things.' It's all part of the challenge of getting up to speed in an unfamiliar car, which is a major reason why Larson's 'all-around' best claim has many believers. Few drivers in the world can jump between vehicles and get up to speed quickly; some refuse to even try. Advertisement Will Buxton, who will call the Indianapolis 500 for Fox Sports, was criticized by F1 fans in February when he declared many F1 drivers are 'scared' to even attempt the Indy 500. But the 'Drive to Survive' commentator and longtime F1 media mainstay insisted that is actually the case, citing conversations he's had with drivers like Daniel Ricciardo, Sergio Perez and Valtteri Bottas — who all told him they didn't want to race IndyCar because of the dangerous ovals (F1 is all on road courses and street circuits). It doesn't help that former F1 world champion Fernando Alonso failed to qualify for the race when he came over from F1 six years ago. 'Deep down, in places they don't talk about very often, respect for (Indy 500) drivers is probably far higher than they ever publicly state, because they recognize there is risk involved here,' Buxton said of F1 drivers. 'They realize these guys are at a very unique level you don't find anywhere else in open-wheel racing.' Verstappen himself has said he would never attempt the Indy 500, telling ESPN in 2022: 'I don't need to risk my life there.' In the meantime, Larson just keeps adding to his resume. The 32-year-old isn't just sticking to one series or type of race cars; he's not only driven a variety of vehicles, but has won in every single one of them. Except IndyCar, at least so far. Could Larson actually win on Sunday, sealing his legacy as one of the all-time greats? 'That race is special, and you want the best in the world to be there,' Allmendinger said. 'And he's definitely one of them.'
