Samwise NASCAR Cup Series Newsletter
Friday, May 1, 2026
NASCAR Unveils Full Executive Leadership Team Under New CEO Steve O'Donnell
NASCAR unveiled its full executive leadership team Thursday, the structure reporting to newly appointed CEO Steve O'Donnell and Chief Operating Officer Ben Kennedy. The announcement follows O'Donnell's elevation on April 25 as the first non-France family member to lead the organization in its 78-year history. Among the appointments: Tim Clark as Chief Brand Officer, Brian Herbst as Chief Media and Revenue Officer, Amanda Oliver as Chief Legal Officer, Scott Prime as Chief Strategy Officer, Greg Motto as Chief Financial Officer, and John Probst as President of NASCAR Event Management. O'Donnell has cited sustained growth and collaboration across the industry as central priorities for the new leadership era.
Hocevar Carries First-Win Confidence Into Texas After Talladega Breakthrough
Carson Hocevar arrives at Texas Motor Speedway this weekend as a first-time Cup Series winner, seeking to build on his dramatic victory at Talladega Superspeedway six days ago. The 23-year-old Spire Motorsports driver won the Jack Link's 500 on April 26 by 0.114 seconds over Chris Buescher, leading just 19 laps in his 91st Cup start. Hocevar jumped from 12th to eighth in the championship standings with the result. Texas, a 1.5-mile intermediate oval where mid-pack teams can compete through strategy, is a circuit where Spire has limited history. Hocevar has said the win has changed the way the team carries itself into each race weekend.
Sources: Jayski
Kyle Busch's 2026 Season Rated as Worst Statistical Start of His Career
Kyle Busch's 2026 season is shaping up as one of his worst in nearly 20 years of NASCAR Cup competition. Through the first 10 races, Busch has recorded zero top-fives, one top-10, an average finish of 22.1, and a Driver Rating of 58.0. NASCAR.com noted these are the worst marks at this point in any season of his career across all major statistical categories. The Richard Childress Racing veteran did notch his first top-10 of the year at Talladega last Sunday, surviving the 26-car crash to finish in the points. Questions center on whether Busch, a two-time champion, can break his 2026 winless streak at Texas Motor Speedway this weekend.
Sources: NASCAR
Statistical Preview: Reddick Favored, Hocevar a Wild Card at Texas for Race 11
Jayski's statistical preview of Sunday's Würth 400 at Texas Motor Speedway highlights clear patterns heading into Race 11. Championship leader Tyler Reddick carries a 13.1 average finish over seven Texas starts, including one win, making him the statistical favorite. Defending winner Joey Logano has historically been strong at the track despite sitting 250 points behind Reddick in the standings. Carson Hocevar arrives at Texas off his first Cup win at Talladega, with no previous Texas victories but a team now carrying the confidence of a winner. Pit strategy and tire management over 267 laps are expected to separate contenders from the field at the 1.5-mile oval.
Sources: Jayski
Dystany Spurlock Set to Become First Black Woman to Race in NASCAR Truck Series
Dystany Spurlock will become the first Black woman to race in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series when she competes at Watkins Glen International on May 8, NASCAR announced Thursday. The 34-year-old Spurlock, who began in motorcycle drag racing before transitioning to stock cars, made history in April as the first Black woman to compete in the national ARCA Menards Series, finishing 10th at Kansas Speedway. At Watkins Glen, Spurlock will complete a doubleheader, contesting both the ARCA race and the Truck Series event on the same day. Her path to this milestone spans two decades and multiple series, representing one of the most remarkable trajectories in American motorsport.
Sources: Jayski
Ross Chastain Honors Military at Arlington National Cemetery as Defending Coca-Cola 600 Champion
Ross Chastain, defending winner of the Coca-Cola 600, visited Arlington National Cemetery on Wednesday for the traditional pre-race ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The honor is extended each year to the Charlotte 600 champion as NASCAR's Memorial Day race approaches, scheduled this year for May 24 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Chastain's 2025 Coca-Cola 600 victory was a last-to-first drive across all 400 laps. The Trackhouse Racing driver heads to Texas Motor Speedway this weekend before returning to Charlotte to defend his title in what is routinely one of the sport's most demanding physical events for drivers and machinery.
Sources: NASCAR
RCA Returns to NASCAR as Michael McDowell's Spire Car Sponsor at Dover and Beyond
Vintage audio brand RCA will return to NASCAR, partnering with Michael McDowell and Spire Motorsports for three races beginning at Dover Motor Speedway for the All-Star Race in May. The deal marks RCA's return to the Cup Series after an extended absence, and follows Spire's high-profile moment at Talladega, where Carson Hocevar earned the team's first Cup win since 2019. McDowell, now with Spire after departing Front Row Motorsports, is currently outside the top-16 Chase cutoff. Dates for the two remaining sponsored races have not been announced. The sponsorship underscores the commercial momentum Spire is building following Hocevar's breakthrough victory.
Sources: Jayski
Cup Series Standings (Top 16)
1. Tyler Reddick — 484 pts
2. Denny Hamlin — 374 pts
3. Ryan Blaney — 344 pts
4. Chase Elliott — 340 pts
5. Ty Gibbs — 322 pts
6. Kyle Larson — 315 pts
7. Chris Buescher — 309 pts
8. Carson Hocevar — 292 pts
9. Christopher Bell — 290 pts
10. Brad Keselowski — 279 pts
11. William Byron — 277 pts
12. Bubba Wallace — 276 pts
13. Ryan Preece — 269 pts
14. Daniel Suarez — 235 pts
15. Joey Logano — 234 pts
16. Austin Cindric — 226 pts
Manufacturer Standings
1. Toyota — 455 pts
2. Chevrolet — 330 pts
3. Ford — 314 pts
Curated by JD · samwise.agency