Samwise NASCAR Cup Series Newsletter
Saturday, July 18, 2026
Todd Gilliland signs 2027 contract extension with Front Row Motorsports
Todd Gilliland will remain at the wheel of the No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford through the 2027 NASCAR Cup Series season after signing a contract extension announced Friday. Gilliland, 26, has been with the Front Row organization since 2020, when he arrived as a Craftsman Truck Series driver. He moved to the Cup level in 2022 and into the flagship No. 34 entry last season, recording a personal-best 20.8 average finish and nearly winning at Talladega Superspeedway. Through 20 races this season he sits 24th in points, with a best finish of sixth at Bristol. He also carries an ISC semifinal matchup into Sunday’s race at North Wilkesboro.
Sources: NASCAR.com Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Goodyear Racing Eagles to feature refreshed sidewall branding in 2027
Goodyear Racing’s iconic Eagle tires will get a new look for 2027. NASCAR announced Friday that the Goodyear Racing Eagles will feature refreshed sidewall branding and new logos beginning with the 2027 NASCAR season. Goodyear has been NASCAR’s exclusive tire supplier throughout the sport’s modern history, and its black Racing Eagle tire is one of the sport’s most recognizable elements. The update is cosmetic and does not affect tire compound or performance specifications. Details on the design’s visual appearance were not immediately released. The announcement came as the Cup Series prepared for Sunday’s first points-paying race at North Wilkesboro Speedway since 1996.
Sources: NASCAR.com Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Dale Jr. Foundation launches skeleton-design glove charity auction at North Wilkesboro
The Dale Earnhardt Jr. Foundation’s “Driven to Give” program is underway at North Wilkesboro Speedway, with 36 NASCAR Cup Series drivers wearing skeleton-design racing gloves during the weekend’s race events. Following racing action, the specially designed gloves will be auctioned to benefit the foundation’s charitable mission. Earnhardt Jr., the sport’s most popular driver for more than a decade, has used his post-racing career to build the foundation into a significant charitable force. The North Wilkesboro weekend — the first Cup points race at the historic North Carolina track since 1996 — provides a high-profile stage for the gloves initiative.
Sources: NASCAR.com Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Bowman Gray Stadium to host Kyle Busch Invitational on August 21
Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, will host the Kyle Busch Invitational on Friday, August 21. The event will feature Legends car and Bandolero races honoring the life and legacy of two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch. Bowman Gray — nicknamed “The Madhouse” and one of the oldest continuously operating racing venues in America — provides a meaningful backdrop for the tribute. The Legends cars and Bandoleros have deep roots in NASCAR’s grassroots racing system and in Busch’s own career history. Fans can attend the Winston-Salem half-mile for what promises to be an emotional evening of short-track racing.
Sources: NASCAR.com Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
NASCAR issues indefinite suspension to Christian Bennett for substance abuse violation
NASCAR issued an indefinite suspension to Christian Bennett for violating the series’ substance abuse policy, according to the July 15 NASCAR penalty report. The indefinite suspension is the most severe consequence available under NASCAR’s substance abuse program and requires completion of the Road to Recovery program before reinstatement can be considered. NASCAR enforces its substance abuse policy across all licensees — including drivers, crew members, and officials — competing in sanctioned events at all levels. The penalty report did not detail the specific circumstances of the violation. Bennett’s suspension was among several penalty actions released by NASCAR following the most recent race weekend.
Sources: NASCAR.com Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
New softened front-bumper package makes Cup Series debut at North Wilkesboro
A new, softened front-bumper structure makes its Cup Series debut Sunday at North Wilkesboro Speedway, adding a variable to the first points-paying Cup race at the historic North Carolina track since 1996. NASCAR broadcast analysts on TNT Sports have described the new front bumper package as one that “adds risk” — the modified construction is designed to change how contact plays out in close-quarters short-track racing. Chase Elliott said he is taking a “wait-and-see” approach to how the package affects car behavior and racing strategy at the 0.625-mile oval. Teams have had limited opportunity to evaluate its on-track impact before race day.
Sources: NASCAR.com Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Carson Hocevar embraces growing role as a face of NASCAR
Carson Hocevar says Dale Earnhardt Jr. inspired him to embrace high-profile events and represent NASCAR beyond the race track. The 22-year-old Spire Motorsports driver, who ranks eighth in Cup Series points after 20 races, explained that he took Earnhardt Jr.’s example of engaging with fans and media at special events as a model for his own approach. Hocevar, one of the sport’s breakout personalities in 2026, said he welcomes the expectation that top drivers be more than just racers. He carries that attitude into the North Wilkesboro weekend as one of the Cup Series’ points leaders outside the top three.
Sources: NASCAR.com Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Ryan Newman makes Truck Series return at North Wilkesboro — first since 2018
NASCAR veteran Ryan Newman makes his return to the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series this weekend at North Wilkesboro Speedway — his first Truck Series start since 2018, when he competed at Eldora Speedway. Newman, a Cup Series regular through 2021, is remembered for his harrowing crash at the 2020 Daytona 500 and his eventual recovery. The North Wilkesboro Truck appearance gives fans a chance to see the veteran competing on a short track where mechanical knowledge and experience traditionally offset equipment differences. Newman, a winner of 18 Cup races during his career, has been largely absent from NASCAR competition since leaving full-time Cup duty.
Sources: NASCAR.com Share ↗ ✉︎ Email 💬 Text
Cup Series Standings (Top 16)
After Race 20 of 36
1. Denny Hamlin — 791 pts
2. Tyler Reddick — 767 pts
3. Ryan Blaney — 726 pts
4. Ty Gibbs — 665 pts
5. Chase Elliott — 610 pts
6. Kyle Larson — 594 pts
7. Chris Buescher — 568 pts
8. Carson Hocevar — 563 pts
9. Christopher Bell — 551 pts
10. Chase Briscoe — 542 pts
11. Daniel Suarez — 529 pts
12. William Byron — 520 pts
13. Bubba Wallace — 493 pts
14. Austin Cindric — 470 pts
15. Shane van Gisbergen — 469 pts
16. Erik Jones — 446 ← CUTLINE pts
Manufacturer Standings
2026 season (approximate order)
1. Toyota
2. Chevrolet
3. Ford
Curated by JD · samwise.agency