Samwise NASCAR Cup Series Newsletter
Saturday, June 20, 2026
Hamlin Cuts Reddick’s Lead to 19 Points as Title Battle Arrives at San Diego Street Course
Denny Hamlin’s dominant run of three consecutive victories — at Nashville, Michigan, and Pocono — has shrunk Tyler Reddick’s NASCAR Cup Series championship lead from 129 points to just 19 heading into this weekend’s Anduril 250. Street and road courses have historically been a weakness for Hamlin, while Reddick owns four road-course wins and 23 top-10 finishes in 34 road starts, making San Diego a potential opportunity for the No. 45 to rebuild cushion. Meanwhile, van Gisbergen sits 14th in points at 361, and Austin Cindric holds the final Chase transfer spot on the tie-breaker over Brad Keselowski, who is 17th at 351 points.
Sources: Jayski, Motorsport.com
Layne Riggs Wins Wild Inaugural San Diego Truck Race in NASCAR Overtime Thriller
Layne Riggs claimed the inaugural NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series victory at Naval Base Coronado on Friday, winning the Navy 250 in overtime drama. The Front Row Racing No. 34 Ford driver was running second behind Tyler Reif when Reif blew the chicane entering the final corner and stopped, handing Riggs the lead. He crossed the finish line 1.332 seconds ahead of Daniel Hemric, who completed the final lap with a tire losing air and slammed the wall at the checkered flag. Kaz Grala finished third. The win — Riggs’ fourth of 2026 — extended his Truck Series championship lead to 65 points over Kaden Honeycutt.
Sources: RACER, Motorsport.com, Jayski
Kyle Larson Leads Chaotic Opening Cup Practice at San Diego’s Bumpy Naval Base Course
Kyle Larson paced Friday’s lone 50-minute NASCAR Cup Series practice session at Qualcomm Circuit, turning the fastest lap at 89.613 mph. The session gave Cup drivers their first look at a street circuit full of surprises: uneven surfaces, abrupt elevation changes, and at least one section where cars catch air in a braking zone between Turns 1 and 2. Todd Gilliland finished second at 89.421 mph, Ty Gibbs third at 89.393 mph, and Connor Zilisch fourth at 89.369 mph. On five-consecutive-lap averages — a key setup metric for race strategy — van Gisbergen, Gilliland, Gibbs, McDowell, and Hill led the way, suggesting a different race-day pecking order may emerge Sunday.
Sources: NASCAR.com, RACER, Motorsport.com
Shane van Gisbergen Pushes Back Against Odds-On Favorite Label Ahead of Anduril 250
Shane van Gisbergen, the betting favorite for Sunday’s Anduril 250 at Naval Base Coronado, says the label doesn’t sit well with him. The No. 97 Trackhouse Racing driver, who has won six of his last seven road and street course starts in the Cup Series, said being singled out as the heavy favorite feels disrespectful to his competition. Van Gisbergen described the 3.4-mile, 16-turn Qualcomm Circuit as bumpy, with ever-changing and uneven surfaces and abrupt elevation shifts, and noted one section that sends cars airborne into a braking zone. Qualifying is scheduled for Saturday at 2:30 p.m. ET on Prime Video.
Sources: RACER, Motorsport.com
Jimmie Johnson Leads Laps in San Diego Truck Debut Before Struggles Drop Him to 30th
Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson returned to Truck Series competition for the first time since 2008 on Friday, driving the No. 1 Carvana Toyota for Tricon Garage at Naval Base Coronado. Johnson led two laps during the Navy 250 but was sidelined by a combination of spins and a loss of power in the final stage, finishing 30th. Johnson, who grew up 20 miles from the base in El Cajon, California, had been a marquee name on the Truck entry list alongside NASCAR veteran Jamie McMurray. He is expected to return Sunday in the No. 84 Carvana Toyota for Legacy Motor Club in the Cup Series race.
Sources: NASCAR.com, Jayski
Kyle Larson Unveiled as Cover Driver for NASCAR 26 at Live USS Midway Event in San Diego
Kyle Larson was revealed Thursday evening as the cover athlete for NASCAR 26, the upcoming iRacing Studios title set for a September 2026 release. The reveal took place aboard the historic USS Midway aircraft carrier in downtown San Diego during a live event that served as a media kickoff for NASCAR San Diego Weekend. Larson made a surprise entrance on the flight deck in the NASCAR 26 cover car, performing burnouts before joining iRacing Studios Vice President Matt Lewis on stage for the official cover art unveiling. Larson is also set to compete in this weekend’s Anduril 250 at Naval Base Coronado, where he topped Friday’s Cup Series practice.
Sources: NASCAR.com, Jayski
Cup Series Standings (Top 16)
1. Tyler Reddick — 704 pts
2. Denny Hamlin — 685 pts
3. Ryan Blaney — 539 pts
4. Chase Elliott — 509 pts
5. Ty Gibbs — 506 pts
6. Kyle Larson — 494 pts
7. Chris Buescher — 461 pts
8. Daniel Suarez — 450 pts
9. Carson Hocevar — 449 pts
10. Christopher Bell — 421 pts
11. William Byron — 415 pts
12. Chase Briscoe — 411 pts
13. Bubba Wallace — 394 pts
14. Shane van Gisbergen — 361 pts
15. Erik Jones — 355 pts
16. Austin Cindric — 355 pts
After Race 16 (Pocono) — Source: Motorsport.com
Manufacturer Standings
1. Toyota
2. Chevrolet
3. Ford
Full point totals unavailable; order after Race 16
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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