Samwise NASCAR Cup Series Newsletter
Wednesday, May 20, 2026
Harvick, Burton, and Phillips Elected to NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2027
Kevin Harvick, Jeff Burton, and Larry Phillips were elected to the NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2027 on Tuesday, following a vote by a 50-member panel at the Charlotte Convention Center. Harvick, eligible for the first time after retiring in 2023 with 60 Cup Series wins and the 2014 championship, received 92 percent of Modern Era ballot votes. Burton, a 21-time Cup winner who spent six years on the ballot, received 32 percent. Phillips, a five-time NASCAR Weekly Series national champion with over 1,000 sanctioned wins, took the Pioneer Ballot with 38 percent. Lesa France Kennedy received the Landmark Award. Induction is set for January 22, 2027.
Sources: NASCAR.com, Motorsport.com
Coca-Cola 600 Race Week: Reddick Chases Crown Jewel at Halfway Point
With the 67th Coca-Cola 600 set for Sunday, May 24 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, the race marks the exact halfway point of the 2026 regular season at Race 13 of 26. Four stages make it the richest points event on the calendar outside Daytona, with a maximum 86 points available. Tyler Reddick enters leading the standings by a wide margin and chasing a first Coke 600 trophy. Defending winner Ross Chastain seeks a rare back-to-back, while Denny Hamlin carries momentum from his $1 million All-Star win at Dover. Practice and qualifying run Saturday, May 23 on Prime Video.
Sources: Jayski
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Calls for 20-Car Field, Wednesday Night All-Star Race Format
NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. has proposed a sweeping overhaul of the All-Star Race format, calling for a return to the event's roots following a disjointed 350-lap field event at Dover Motor Speedway on May 17. Speaking on his Dale Jr. Download podcast, Earnhardt advocated for a 20-car field limited to recent winners, run on the Wednesday night before the Coca-Cola 600. He would restore Dover to a regular points race. He said the old simple 50-25-10-lap format from 1987 and 1992 made for legendary nights. Earnhardt was firm: the Open's race winner, not second or third, should earn the final All-Star Race entry.
Sources: Motorsport.com
Prime Video Reveals NASCAR Legend Lineup for Five-Race Broadcast Window
Amazon Prime Video has announced its full trackside coverage lineup for the five-week NASCAR Cup Series broadcast window beginning with the Coca-Cola 600 on May 24. Carl Edwards will appear in the studio for the 600 and contribute remotely to the remaining four races. Additional legends rotate through the schedule: Mark Martin at Nashville, Martin Truex Jr. at Michigan, Brad Keselowski at Pocono, and Jeff Gordon for the street course finale at San Diego. Anchor Adam Alexander returns with Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. and crew chief Steve Letarte in the broadcast booth. Reporters Trevor Bayne, Kim Coon, and Marty Snider cover pit road.
Sources: Motorsport.com, Jayski
NASCAR and SiriusXM Extend Two-Decade Partnership With New Multiyear Deal
NASCAR and SiriusXM announced a multiyear extension of their broadcasting agreement on Tuesday, ensuring North American listeners continue to receive live coverage of every Cup Series, O'Reilly Auto Parts Series, and Craftsman Truck Series race on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, channel 90. The two organizations have partnered for two decades. The extension was timed to Charlotte Motor Speedway race week, with SiriusXM NASCAR Radio staging special programming from the Charlotte area all week, featuring shows hosted by active Cup Series drivers including Tyler Reddick, Denny Hamlin, and Ricky Stenhouse Jr., among others.
Sources: NASCAR.com, Jayski
Kurt Busch Returns to Racing at Le Mans for July NASCAR Classic Event
Kurt Busch will compete in the Historic Sportscar Racing 2026 NASCAR Classic presented by Goodyear at Circuit de la Sarthe, near Le Mans, France, from July 2 to 5, celebrating 50 years since NASCAR's first Le Mans attempt. Busch, who retired from full-time Cup Series competition following a 2022 concussion diagnosis, will pilot the No. 1 Monster Energy Chevrolet. The Chip Ganassi Racing chassis was used when Busch won at Las Vegas in 2020; Ganassi gifted the car to him after the victory. It has since received a Hendrick Motorsports engine and a full road-course conversion. Three 35-minute sprint races are planned.
Sources: RACER
Timmy Hill Lands Pinnacle Mortgage Sponsorship for Coca-Cola 600 Debut
Timmy Hill will carry Pinnacle Mortgage Corporation primary sponsorship on his No. 66 Garage 66 Ford in the 2026 Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 24. Hill is one of three open entries in the 39-car field, alongside Corey Heim in the No. 67 23XI Racing Toyota and Katherine Legge in the No. 78 Live Fast Motorsports Chevrolet. Hill will be making his first Coca-Cola 600 start since 2020. All 39 entered cars are guaranteed to qualify, as the field limit is 40. Hill has a long history of running limited Cup Series schedules as an independent team owner-driver.
Sources: Jayski
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 — 409 pts
Curated by JD · samwise.agency