Samwise NASCAR Cup Series Newsletter
Saturday, May 30, 2026
Layne Riggs Sweeps Stages, Makes Last-Lap Pass to Win Nashville Truck Race
Layne Riggs swept all three stages and made a decisive last-lap pass on Rajah Caruth to win the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Nashville Superspeedway, earning his third victory of 2026. The race was delayed roughly 2.5 hours by rain, and Caruth led after a pit strategy call before Riggs — on four fresh tires — drove around the outside entering Turn 1 with one lap remaining. Contact was made as the trucks took the white flag. Riggs bowed in honor of Kyle Busch after the win; Caruth drove the truck Busch had been scheduled to race, wearing a No. 8 hat in tribute. Chandler Smith finished third.
Sources: Racing News | Motorsport.com
Nashville Superspeedway Plans Full Weekend of Kyle Busch Tributes
Nashville Superspeedway is hosting a full weekend of tributes to Kyle Busch, confirmed by track president Matt Greci, as the NASCAR community gathers in Tennessee for the first time since Busch’s May 21 death. Busch won at Nashville five times at the Cup level. A No. 8 infield display is already in place, and NASCAR CEO Steve O’Donnell addressed the planned remembrances. NASCAR is also reviewing an expedited Hall of Fame induction for Busch, following calls from Brad Keselowski and others. The racing community received additional detail on the cause of his death: a cascade beginning with an infection days to weeks before triggering hemorrhagic shock.
Sources: Heavy.com
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Running Kyle Busch Throwback NOS Energy Scheme at Nashville
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will honor late NASCAR champion Kyle Busch at Nashville Superspeedway this weekend, running a throwback NOS Energy paint scheme on his No. 47 Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet. The design is inspired by Busch’s earlier career, when NOS Energy was among his sponsors in NASCAR’s O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. The name rail displays “Rowdy,” Busch’s longtime nickname. Crew chief Mike Kelley acknowledged Busch’s lasting impact on the sport: “The bar has always genuinely been him.” Nashville Superspeedway is hosting a full weekend of memorial tributes in Busch’s honor, of which Stenhouse’s throwback is one.
Sources: WBTV
23XI Racing Employee Suspended Indefinitely After Charlotte Golf Cart Arrest
NASCAR indefinitely suspended 23XI Racing senior account manager Evanna Howell, 35, following her arrest at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Howell faces a charge of assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury after allegedly striking a 77-year-old with a golf cart on May 23. She posted $125,000 bond and was released May 26. NASCAR invoked Section 4.4A of the Rule Book in issuing the suspension. The team — which fields cars for Bubba Wallace, Tyler Reddick, and Riley Herbst — confirmed it was aware of the arrest and the NASCAR suspension that followed.
Sources: WBTV
Nicole Biffle Files Wrongful Death Lawsuit Over Crash That Killed Greg and Daughter Emma
Nicole Biffle, ex-wife of late NASCAR driver Greg Biffle, filed a wrongful death lawsuit on May 13 against the Biffle estate, the estate of pilot Dennis Dutton, and GB Aviation Leasing over the December 18, 2025 plane crash that killed Greg and their 14-year-old daughter Emma among seven total victims. The lawsuit alleges Dutton filed an IFR flight plan but never activated it, and departed without ATC clearance. Nicole Biffle seeks $25,000 in compensatory damages. Separately, the Dutton estate filed a $15 million suit against the Biffle estate, while the Emma Biffle estate filed a $10 million suit against the Dutton estate.
Sources: WBTV
Cleetus McFarland to Make RCR O'Reilly Series Start at Nashville Saturday
YouTube personality Garrett Mitchell, known as Cleetus McFarland, will make his second NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series start Saturday at Nashville Superspeedway, driving the No. 33 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet. Mitchell’s NASCAR path has followed a structured progression: the sanctioning body previously denied his Talladega entry, requiring him to race intermediate tracks first. He finished 32nd in his O’Reilly Series debut at Rockingham. The No. 33 entry replaces regular driver Austin Dillon, who will not compete this weekend. The Nashville start represents Mitchell’s first intermediate-track O’Reilly outing after satisfying NASCAR’s prerequisite requirement.
Sources: Beyond the Flag
Connor Zilisch Becomes Stefan Parsons' Spotter in Nashville Truck Role Reversal
NASCAR Cup Series rookie Connor Zilisch took on an unusual role Friday at Nashville Superspeedway, spotting for Stefan Parsons in the rain-delayed Craftsman Truck Series race — a reversal of their usual dynamic, as Parsons ordinarily spots for Zilisch in Cup competition. Parsons piloted the No. 4 Niece Motorsports Chevrolet in his 29th career Truck start. Zilisch, driving for Trackhouse Racing, described the switch: “I have the fate of Stefan’s day in my hands.” Parsons is the son of Phil Parsons and nephew of Benny Parsons. He finished 18th. Zilisch was scheduled to broadcast Sunday before racing in the Cup event.
Sources: Motorsport.com
Cup Series Standings (Top 16)
1. Tyler Reddick — 620 pts
2. Denny Hamlin — 498 pts
3. Ryan Blaney — 446 pts
4. Ty Gibbs — 425 pts
5. Chase Elliott — 423 pts
6. Kyle Larson — 386 pts
7. Chris Buescher — 385 pts
8. Christopher Bell — 361 pts
9. Carson Hocevar — 356 pts
10. Daniel Suarez — 350 pts
11. Brad Keselowski — 343 pts
12. William Byron — 337 pts
13. Bubba Wallace — 328 pts
14. Shane van Gisbergen — 316 pts
15. Chase Briscoe — 304 pts
16. Ryan Preece — 303 pts — Playoff Cutline
Manufacturer Standings
1. Toyota — 582 pts
2. Chevrolet — 550 pts
3. Ford — 439 pts
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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