Samwise NASCAR Cup Series Newsletter
Monday, May 18, 2026
Hamlin wins 2026 NASCAR All-Star Race at Dover, claims $1 million prize
Denny Hamlin claimed the 2026 NASCAR All-Star Race at Dover Motor Speedway on Sunday, taking the $1 million prize from pole position. Hamlin moved the No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota past teammate Chase Briscoe with 29 laps remaining in the 200-lap finale and held on to win by .887 seconds. It was his second career All-Star victory, first since Charlotte in 2015, and at 45 he became the second-oldest winner in event history. The win came despite a chaotic day that eliminated several top contenders. “Makes it a lot easier when you have a car this fast,” Hamlin said.
Sources: NASCAR.com, Jayski, Motorsport.com
Preece escapes burning car as lap 2 nine-car pileup halts All-Star Race
A three-wide battle between Ryan Preece, Todd Gilliland, and Kyle Larson on lap 2 of the NASCAR All-Star Race at Dover triggered a nine-car pileup that red-flagged the event and set Preece’s No. 60 RFK Racing Ford ablaze. After backing hard into the Turn 1 wall, the car erupted in flames with a full fuel load, but Preece climbed out unscathed and was released from the infield care center. The crash also collected Chase Elliott, Ryan Blaney, Daniel Suarez, Cole Custer, John Hunter Nemechek, and Michael McDowell. Non-chartered drivers Preece, Gilliland, and Custer could not repair their cars under the no-backup-car rule and were done for the afternoon.
Sources: NASCAR.com, Motorsport.com
A second nine-car crash bookends first segment at Dover’s Monster Mile
Dover’s Monster Mile delivered a second nine-car melee before the first 75-lap segment had concluded Sunday, compounding damage from the lap 2 crash that had already claimed Ryan Preece’s burning Ford. The back-to-back incidents eliminated or severely hampered several of the field’s most competitive drivers, including past All-Star winners Kyle Larson, Ryan Blaney, and Chase Elliott. Larson and Blaney managed to have their cars repaired by their crews in time for the 200-lap finale, while other damaged drivers effectively saw their chances end. The pair of nine-car accidents underscored the high-attrition nature of the concrete Monster Mile at full All-Star Race intensity.
Sources: NASCAR.com
JGR runs 1-2 at Dover as Briscoe finishes runner-up behind Hamlin
Chase Briscoe delivered a strong All-Star showing for Joe Gibbs Racing, finishing second in Sunday’s $1 million showcase at Dover behind teammate Denny Hamlin. The No. 19 JGR Toyota ran at the front throughout the afternoon, leading much of the second 75-lap segment before championship leader Tyler Reddick passed him late. Briscoe then pressed Hamlin through the 200-lap finale but could not prevent his JGR teammate from making the decisive move with 29 laps remaining. “We were obviously close,” Briscoe said afterward. The JGR 1-2 finish underscored Toyota’s strength this season, with the manufacturer leading both Chevrolet and Ford in the manufacturer standings.
Sources: NASCAR.com
Zilisch recovers from pit road penalty to take fifth in All-Star Race debut
Rookie Connor Zilisch recovered from two costly setbacks to finish fifth in his first NASCAR All-Star Race at Dover on Sunday. The 19-year-old Trackhouse Racing driver spun on pit road during Saturday’s qualifying, dropping to 27th on the grid. Zilisch fought through both segments to advance to the 200-lap finale, then saw a competition-caution pit road penalty drop him from second to the rear of the field. He worked back through traffic to claim fifth, the best finish among rookies. The result added to a promising debut Cup season for the driver who dominated the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series with 10 wins in 2025.
Sources: RACER
Hamlin takes All-Star Race pole despite qualifying spin; No. 38 wins pit crew challenge
Denny Hamlin claimed the pole position for the 2026 NASCAR All-Star Race at Dover Motor Speedway on Saturday despite spinning his No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota on his warmup lap before the time trial. The spin failed to knock Hamlin off his rhythm; he recovered to post the fastest qualifying lap and earn the inside starting spot for Sunday’s race. Also Saturday, the No. 38 team won the All-Star Pit Crew Challenge, earning an automatic berth in Sunday’s non-points $1 million event. Hamlin would go on to convert his pole into victory the following day, completing a dominant weekend for the 45-year-old veteran at Dover’s concrete oval.
Sources: NASCAR.com
Suarez wins All-Star Race fan vote, earns direct transfer into 200-lap finale
Daniel Suarez won the NASCAR All-Star Race fan vote at Dover Motor Speedway on Sunday, earning a direct transfer into the 200-lap main event alongside drivers who had qualified through on-track segment competition. The fan vote mechanism allows NASCAR’s audience to send a driver of their choosing straight to the finale, bypassing the segment results. Suarez, piloting the No. 7 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet, earned the coveted free pass to the non-points $1 million race on the strength of his fan base. The selection reflected his continued popularity after several competitive seasons with the Trackhouse program, and placed him among the All-Star Race’s final-segment field of 20 drivers.
Sources: NASCAR.com
Reddick wins All-Star Race segment 2, arrives at Coca-Cola 600 with 129-point lead
Championship leader Tyler Reddick added another strong performance to his 2026 season on Sunday, winning the second 75-lap segment of the NASCAR All-Star Race at Dover Motor Speedway. Reddick, piloting the No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota, overtook Chase Briscoe with nine laps remaining in the segment to earn the stage. While the All-Star Race carries no points, the performance underscored Reddick’s form as the Cup Series heads to the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 24. Reddick holds a 129-point lead over second-place Denny Hamlin heading into the crown jewel race, the largest championship gap of the season with 24 regular-season races still remaining.
Sources: Jayski, Motorsport.com
Cup Series Standings (Top 16)
After Race 12 of 36 — All-Star Race is non-points
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. Bubba Wallace — 313 pts
11. Christopher Bell — 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 — 409 pts
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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