Samwise NASCAR Cup Series Newsletter
Thursday, May 14, 2026
NASCAR Reveals Three-Segment Format for Dover All-Star Race Debut
NASCAR and Dover Motor Speedway unveiled the full format for Sunday’s All-Star Race, a $1 million exhibition marking the Monster Mile’s debut as host. The 350-lap main event is split into three segments: 75 laps, a second 75-lap dash, and a decisive 200-lap finale. After Segment 1, NASCAR inverts the top-26 finishers, placing 26th at the front for Segment 2. The final segment field of 26 includes drivers who won points events in 2025 or 2026, former champions, the Fan Vote winner, and drivers with the lowest combined finishes from the opening segments. A competition caution falls at Lap 225. The event airs Sunday at 1 p.m. ET on FS1.
Sources: NASCAR.com, Jayski
Katherine Legge to Become First Woman to Attempt Indy 500/Coca-Cola 600 Double
British driver Katherine Legge will become the first woman and first non-American driver to attempt the Indy 500/Coca-Cola 600 “Double” on May 24. Legge will pilot the No. 11 for HMD Motorsports with AJ Foyt Racing at Indianapolis before switching to Live Fast Motorsports’ No. 78 Chevrolet for Charlotte’s 600-miler that evening. E.l.f. Cosmetics serves as primary sponsor on both cars. The Double demands more than 1,100 miles of racing with virtually no recovery time between events. Only five drivers have ever attempted it on the same day, and only Tony Stewart completed all 1,100 miles. Legge will also be the oldest driver to make the attempt.
Sources: NASCAR.com, Jayski, Racer
Blaney Backs NASCAR Chase Format as Reddick Opens 162-Point Gap
Tyler Reddick’s championship lead has grown to 162 points over fourth-place Ryan Blaney heading into the All-Star Race break, but the Team Penske driver says the deficit reflects the season’s format rather than the field’s competitiveness. “The Chase structure is designed to keep things competitive even when one driver is running away with the regular season,” Blaney told Racer on Wednesday. Reddick holds 567 points through 12 races, while Blaney sits at 405. The championship does not reset until the 10-race Chase, meaning Reddick’s dominance matters primarily for seeding. Second-place Denny Hamlin trails Reddick by 129 points, with Chase Elliott third at 422.
Sources: Racer
Pit Crew Challenge Pairs with All-Star Qualifying for High-Stakes Grid Draw
Saturday’s All-Star qualifying at Dover combines single-car speed with a live pit stop in the Mechanix Wear Pit Crew Challenge. Each driver takes a flying lap at full speed, then on the second lap pulls into one of two NASCAR-designated pit stalls for a four-tire stop — no fuel — before racing back to the checkered flag. The crew completing the fastest stop without a penalty wins the Challenge and earns first choice of pit stall selection for Sunday’s main event. Cup Series qualifying begins at noon ET on FS1. The O’Reilly Auto Parts Series qualifies at 10:35 a.m. Saturday, while Truck Series qualifying runs Friday at 1:40 p.m. ET.
Sources: NASCAR.com
Statistical Advance: Chevrolet History and Bell’s Record Favor Dover All-Star
Chevrolet enters Sunday’s inaugural Dover All-Star Race as the most successful manufacturer in exhibition history, owning 21 victories to Ford’s 14 and Toyota’s three. Defending champion Christopher Bell leads all active drivers in average All-Star Race starting position at 5.8 across five starts. Joey Logano tops the career laps-led chart with 369 in 15 starts. Denny Hamlin won the most recent points race at Dover in double overtime last July, giving him detailed Monster Mile knowledge. Bell will look to become the first repeat All-Star Race winner since the event moved away from Charlotte Motor Speedway in 2023. The $1 million non-points race runs Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.
Sources: Jayski
Chicago Street Course Targeting 2027 Return to NASCAR Cup Schedule
NASCAR is cautiously optimistic about returning the Chicago Street Course to its 2027 Cup Series schedule, according to sources cited by Jayski. The race was paused for 2026 to allow NASCAR and Chicago city officials time to restructure logistics and explore an alternative date. The original three-year contract concluded after 2025, with a two-year option clause still available. The city expressed continued interest in hosting if the race weekend could move from its early-July window. No formal announcement has been made, and negotiations are ongoing. A 2027 return would restore the downtown Chicago road course to a schedule that already includes the new San Diego Street Course this June.
Sources: Jayski
Kurt Busch Says Brother Kyle Should Have Faced NASCAR Penalty Like Preece
Former Cup champion Kurt Busch said Wednesday on the Door, Bumper, Clear podcast that his brother Kyle deserved the same penalty NASCAR issued to Ryan Preece following incidents at Texas Motor Speedway in May. Preece was docked 25 points and fined $50,000 for wrecking Ty Gibbs after threatening retaliation over team radio. Kyle Busch received no penalty for last-lap contact with John Hunter Nemechek. “What my brother did to John Hunter was the same exact thing,” Kurt Busch said. “They both should have been in the same doghouse, personally.” NASCAR officials cited inconclusive SMT data in Kyle Busch’s case as the reason for the contrasting rulings.
Sources: Motorsport.com
Ford Racing Opens Door to NASCAR Driver Crossover Into GT3 Endurance Programs
Ford Racing global director Mark Rushbrook told Racer on Wednesday that NASCAR Cup drivers could realistically compete in Ford’s GT3 and endurance programs in coming years, with the Rolex 24 at Daytona representing the most natural entry point. Rushbrook cited improved scheduling compatibility and growing manufacturer interest in multi-discipline driver development. Ford fields Mustang GT3 entries through several programs and runs Cup teams through Team Penske, Stewart-Haas Racing, and RFK Racing. Crossover attempts between NASCAR and endurance racing have historically been rare but are gaining traction, with Toyota and Chevrolet pursuing similar multi-series driver strategies in recent seasons.
Sources: Racer
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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