Samwise NASCAR Cup Series Newsletter
Wednesday, June 17, 2026
RFK Racing Signs Chris Buescher to Multiyear Contract Extension
RFK Racing announced Tuesday that Chris Buescher has signed a multiyear contract extension to remain the driver of the No. 17 Ford Mustang Dark Horse in the NASCAR Cup Series. The team described Buescher as a 17-year member of the RFK Racing family, a relationship that began when he worked in the race shop before moving into the driver development program. Buescher sits seventh in the 2026 standings with 461 points and has the fifth-best average finish in the series. The announcement comes as RFK works toward expanding to three full-time entries, with the organization citing its commitment to competing for race wins and championships.
Sources: RACER, Jayski, Motorsport.com
NASCAR Penalizes No. 62 Beard Motorsports Crew After Pocono Wheel Loss
NASCAR issued a penalty Tuesday to the No. 62 Beard Motorsports team in the Cup Series following last weekend’s race at Pocono Raceway. Crew members Garrett Crall and Caison Dillon were suspended for the next two events, running through Sonoma Raceway on June 28, after the detachment of Casey Mears’ right-front wheel on Lap 105 in Sunday’s Great American Getaway 400 presented by VISITPA. The lost wheel caused a caution and violated Sections 8.8.10.4.A and D in the NASCAR Rule Book, according to the sanctioning body. Mears finished 36th after an accident at Pocono. The Cup Series next races at Naval Base Coronado on Sunday.
Sources: NASCAR.com, Jayski
Goodyear Brings Familiar Road-Course Tire Setup to San Diego Debut
Goodyear confirmed Tuesday that teams across NASCAR’s three national series will run familiar road-course tires for this weekend’s debut at San Diego’s Qualcomm Circuit on Naval Base Coronado. Cup Series teams will use the same Goodyear Racing Eagle road-course tire run earlier this season at Circuit of The Americas and Watkins Glen International, a tire also used at all six road- and street-course races last season. NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and Craftsman Truck Series teams will use a package introduced last summer at Sonoma Raceway. The venue, the longest track on the 2026 schedule, winds around San Diego Bay across 16 turns.
Sources: NASCAR.com, Jayski
Texas A&M and Haas Factory Team to Honor George H.W. Bush With Tribute Car
Texas A&M University and Haas Factory Team announced Tuesday they will honor former President George H.W. Bush with a tribute car driven by Cole Custer in the No. 41 entry during Sunday’s Anduril 250 at Naval Base Coronado. The paint scheme honors the 41st president, fitting given the No. 41 car number. The June 21 race, held as part of commemorations of the U.S. Navy’s 250th anniversary, will mark the first NASCAR Cup Series event contested on an active military installation. Organizers said the setting celebrates a life of service that began when Bush served as one of the Navy’s youngest aviators during World War II.
Sources: Jayski, Texas A&M Stories
Legacy Motor Club Announces Mayer as Partner for 2027 Season
Legacy Motor Club announced Tuesday a new partnership with Mayer, a leading distributor of electrical products and solutions, for the 2027 NASCAR Cup Series season. Mayer will serve as the primary partner on the No. 42 Toyota Camry XSE driven by John Hunter Nemechek at Talladega Superspeedway in October 2027. The agreement builds on Legacy’s existing relationship with Rexel USA, Mayer’s parent company, bringing another trusted brand from the Rexel family into the fold. The team said the race holds special significance for Mayer, whose roots run deep in the surrounding region. Legacy described Mayer as an official partner for the 2027 season.
Sources: Jayski, Speedway Digest
NASCAR Previews Historic Anduril 250 Debut at Naval Base Coronado
Motorsport.com published its viewer’s guide Tuesday for the inaugural Anduril 250, the 17th round of the Cup Series, on an all-new temporary street course inside an active military base. The first-ever running at Qualcomm Circuit on Naval Base Coronado marks a historic event, as NASCAR has never competed at an active military installation before. According to the guide, teams are requesting more spotters than ever, and there will be at least three dozen corner workers due to the many intricate sections and blind spots around the track. All three national divisions race over the weekend, with the Truck Series opening Friday and the Cup Series on Sunday.
Sources: Motorsport.com
Entry List Set for San Diego Triple-Header With Heim, Magnussen, Johnson
Motorsport.com reported Tuesday that the entry list is set for NASCAR’s triple-header weekend at Naval Base Coronado, with 39 Cup entries, 37 O’Reilly Auto Parts Series entries and 35 Truck entries filed for the temporary 3.4-mile, 16-turn Qualcomm Circuit. Among the notable additions, 23XI Racing will field a fourth car with Corey Heim in the No. 67, while Trackhouse Racing brings back its Project 91 program with former Formula 1 driver Kevin Magnussen making his debut. Legacy Motor Club enters a third car, with team co-owner and seven-time Cup champion Jimmie Johnson driving the No. 84 in his home-area race.
Sources: Motorsport.com, Racing News
Front Row Motorsports Prepares for Historic Naval Base Coronado Race
Front Row Motorsports said Tuesday it is preparing for the Cup Series debut at Naval Base Coronado, where the inaugural Anduril 250 will run Sunday on a temporary street circuit built from base roads. The organization framed the weekend as a historic West Coast event, with the Cup Series racing for the first time on an active military installation as part of the U.S. Navy’s 250th-anniversary celebrations. The 16-turn, 3.4-mile course is the longest on the 2026 schedule. Front Row’s release accompanied a broader team buildup across the garage, with crews adjusting setups for a layout that mixes bumps, railroad-track crossings and bayside straights.
Sources: Speedway Digest
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 Suárez — 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
Manufacturer Standings
1. Toyota — 747 pts
2. Chevrolet — 650 pts
3. Ford — 528 pts
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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