Samwise NASCAR Cup Series Newsletter
Saturday, May 16, 2026
Larson Sets Fastest Lap in All-Star Race Practice at Dover
Kyle Larson posted the fastest lap in Cup Series practice for NASCAR's 2026 All-Star Race at Dover Motor Speedway on Friday, running 157.950 mph in his No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet. Michael McDowell (No. 71) slotted second at 157.825 mph, Denny Hamlin third, Kyle Busch fourth, and Ty Gibbs fifth. Larson, a three-time All-Star winner (2019, 2021, 2023), heads into Saturday's unique qualifying session as the car to beat at the Monster Mile ahead of Sunday's 350-lap, $1 million exhibition. The 90-minute session gave teams critical preparation time on Dover's demanding concrete surface before the inaugural All-Star Race at the track.
Sources: NASCAR.com, Motorsport.com
Dover Hosts First NASCAR All-Star Race in Event's 40-Year History
Dover Motor Speedway is preparing to host the NASCAR All-Star Race for the first time in the event's 40-year history, marking a significant departure from North Wilkesboro Speedway, which hosted the exhibition from 2023 through 2025. Sunday's 350-lap race will offer a $1 million prize to the winner — a non-points exhibition that carries no championship implications but features all 36 chartered Cup Series competitors. The Monster Mile's concrete surface and high-banked, high-speed character is expected to produce distinct racing compared to the short-track atmosphere at North Wilkesboro. Pre-race coverage begins at noon ET on FS1, with the green flag scheduled for 1:00 p.m. ET.
Sources: RACER
Larson Speaks Candidly About 32-Race Cup Winless Streak
Kyle Larson acknowledged Friday at Dover that his No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports team has struggled to reach its own standards this season. 'We're not where we want to be,' Larson said. His last Cup win came at Kansas Speedway in May 2025 — a 32-race drought — with his team's most recent results including three consecutive finishes of 23rd or worse. A Stage 2 crash at Texas in early May compounded the skid. Larson sits eighth in the championship standings with 332 points, trailing series leader Tyler Reddick by 235. He hopes the Monster Mile's All-Star setting can help reverse a troubling trend.
Sources: NASCAR.com
Drivers Split Over All-Star Race Format as Dover Weekend Feels 'Ordinary'
Drivers arrived at Dover divided over the 2026 NASCAR All-Star Race's revised format. Chase Elliott said it feels like 'the least like an All-Star weekend I've ever had,' comparing the atmosphere to a standard points race. Denny Hamlin questioned whether having all 36 chartered cars in the field from the start dilutes the event's prestige. Brad Keselowski offered a different view, arguing the exhibition carries more meaning under NASCAR's new Chase format because points standings now matter from the outset. The divide reflects broader uncertainty about how to make a non-points exhibition feel special in an era of continuous format evolution.
Sources: Motorsport.com, RACER
Wallace and Bell Settle Watkins Glen Confrontation at Dover
Bubba Wallace and Christopher Bell settled their post-race confrontation at Dover on Friday, clarifying their Watkins Glen pit road exchange from May 10. Wallace, who had been spun by John Hunter Nemechek with eight laps remaining and finished 29th, admitted he took out his frustration aggressively on track afterward — catching teammate Bell in the crossfire and contributing to Bell's 21st-place result. Speaking at Dover, Wallace told Bell and crew chief Adam Stevens that they were 'just caught in the crossfire of a bad day.' Bell accepted the explanation, and both drivers indicated the matter is resolved ahead of Sunday's All-Star Race.
Sources: NASCAR.com, Motorsport.com
McDowell Fastest Non-Locked Driver in Practice, Eyes Final Segment Spot
Michael McDowell posted the second-fastest lap overall in Friday's All-Star practice at Dover at 157.825 mph, but his focus extended beyond the lap chart — as a driver without an automatic transfer into the All-Star Race's third and final 200-lap segment, McDowell needs to maximize his combined finishing position across the event's first two 75-lap segments. Among drivers in the same bubble, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. ranked 13th in practice, Riley Herbst 14th, Erik Jones 16th, and rookie Connor Zilisch 17th. Ultimately, six transfer spots will be awarded based on aggregate results from Segments 1 and 2, making performance across both preliminary segments essential for non-exempt competitors.
Sources: NASCAR.com
Briscoe Brushes Turn 2 Wall Late in All-Star Practice at Dover
Chase Briscoe's All-Star Race preparations took an unwanted turn Friday when he made contact with the outside retaining wall at the exit of Turn 2 during Cup Series practice at Dover Motor Speedway. The incident occurred with approximately five minutes remaining in the 90-minute session, scraping the right side of his No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota. Briscoe posted the 27th-best lap of the session and will need his team to assess any potential damage before Saturday's qualifying, which includes a mandatory pit stop component as part of the Mechanix Wear Pit Crew Challenge. It remains unclear whether the contact will affect the car's setup for Sunday's race.
Sources: NASCAR.com
All-Star Qualifying at Dover Incorporates Pit Crew Challenge in Unique Format
Saturday's All-Star Race qualifying at Dover features a three-lap format built around the Mechanix Wear Pit Crew Challenge. Each driver completes one full-speed lap, then stops on pit road for a four-tire change without fuel, then returns to the finish line at full speed. Total elapsed time determines qualifying position and the Segment 1 starting lineup for Sunday's 350-lap race. The pit crew recording the fastest stop with no penalties wins the Challenge and earns first pit stall selection for the race. The session airs at noon ET on FS1, replacing the traditional All-Star Open format used in previous years.
Sources: NASCAR.com
Cup Series Standings (Top 16)
1. Tyler Reddick — 567 pts
2. Denny Hamlin — 438 pts
3. Chase Elliott — 422 pts
4. Ryan Blaney — 405 pts
5. Chris Buescher — 375 pts
6. Ty Gibbs — 372 pts
7. Carson Hocevar — 342 pts
8. Kyle Larson — 332 pts
9. Brad Keselowski — 318 pts
10. Christopher Bell — 313 pts
11. Bubba Wallace — 311 pts
12. William Byron — 309 pts
13. Ryan Preece — 296 pts
14. Daniel Suarez — 295 pts
15. Austin Cindric — 287 pts
16. Shane Van Gisbergen — 283 pts
Manufacturer Standings
1. Toyota — 547 pts
2. Chevrolet — 495 pts
3. Ford — 404 pts
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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