
Sonoma Sets the Stage for a Fresh NASCAR Showdown
The 2026 In‑Season Challenge opens the NASCAR season on a road course, featuring key matchups, broadcast reach and storylines that could reshape early championship dynamics.
Latest Slidescroller coverage mentioning Denny Hamlin across Nascar.

The 2026 In‑Season Challenge opens the NASCAR season on a road course, featuring key matchups, broadcast reach and storylines that could reshape early championship dynamics.

NASCAR heads to Sonoma Raceway June 26‑28 for a three‑day road‑course showdown, featuring practice, qualifying and races, with Corey Heim looking to capitalize on his recent Cup Series victory and Shane Van Ginsberg defending his title.

Corey Heim’s deliberate spin on Carson Hocevar at Naval Base Coronado resurrected their 2023 Truck Series Championship memory, prompting a flurry of online barbs and a cryptic response that even confused Denny Hamlin.

After a multi‑year hiatus, Ryan Newman is set to re‑enter NASCAR competition in the Truck Series at North Wilkesboro on July 18, driving a historic Ram entry fielded by Kaulig Racing.
Veteran NASCAR driver Ryan Newman is set to make his comeback in the NASCAR Truck Series this summer, slated to take the wheel of the No. 25 Ram for Kaulig Racing on July 18 at the historic North Wilkesboro Speedway.

The championship battle tightens as the In‑Season Challenge kicks off at Sonoma, with affordable tickets, streaming options and a host of promotions drawing fans from across California.

Shane van Gisbergen opens as the -150 favorite for the Sonoma road race, while Kyle Larson seeks to protect his championship lead after a strong third‑place finish in San Diego.

An exploration of part-time NASCAR drivers who have broken the odds to claim Cup Series victories, from Trevor Bayne’s 2011 Daytona 500 triumph to Corey Heim’s recent win at Naval Base Coronado.

From Trevor Bayne’s 2011 Daytona 500 triumph to Corey Heim’s 2026 San Diego victory, a select group of part‑time drivers have defied the odds, proving that occasional brilliance can still break through in a full‑time era.

While most NASCAR victories belong to full‑time competitors, a handful of part‑time drivers have etched their names in the series’ record books. Their stories, spanning more than two decades, illustrate how limited schedules can still produce moments of triumph.
Corey Heim’s recent triumph at the San Diego race underscores his rapid ascent in NASCAR and the strategic support he receives from 23XI Racing and its co‑owner.

Following NASCAR’s first street‑race weekend in San Diego, veteran driver Denny Hamlin weighed in on the heated exchange between Noah Gragson and Kevin Magnussen, siding with Gragson while acknowledging Magnussen’s speed.

The NASCAR Cup Series In‑Season Challenge opens at Sonoma Raceway on Sunday, with Shane van Gisbergen favored at -150 odds. Analyst Mike McClure’s model, which has correctly forecast 31 winners since 2021, warns against Ryan Blaney and highlights AJ Allmendinger as a potential dark horse.

NASCAR and The Rolling Stones announced a multi‑faceted collaboration that includes limited‑edition merchandise, a custom listening lounge show car, and original content, all leading into the Chicago race weekend and the band’s new album launch.

NASCAR is set to descend on Sonoma Raceway in California for a packed weekend of racing that will showcase its premier Cup Series alongside the O’Reilly and ARCA Menards Series.

With 36 drivers set to battle a 1.99‑mile road course, Shane van Gisbergen enters as the favorite while contenders like Tyler Reddick and Kyle Larson eye a pivotal points battle.
The latest NASCAR driver standings reveal minimal movement at the top, but a late‑race incident reshapes the mid‑tier landscape.

The Cup Series rolls into Northern California this weekend for its fourth road course race of the 2026 season, featuring AJ Allmendinger in his 500th Cup start and Ty Dillon’s bid to repeat last year’s upset, all broadcast on TNT, PRN and SiriusXM.

A three‑car crash at San Diego dropped Shane van Gisbergen to 17th in the Chase, leaving the Sonoma race as his final chance to secure a playoff spot.

Ryan Preece stepped into the NASCAR Cup Series Chase after Shane van Gisbergen’s early accident, delivering a performance that underscores deep structural issues in the sport’s playoff and points architecture.

The Sonoma Raceway will host a weekend of NASCAR racing featuring the Cup Series and the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, with odds, participants and teams highlighted.

The inaugural race of the NASCAR Cup Series In‑Season Challenge at Sonoma Raceway kicks off a single‑elimination tournament offering a $1 million prize and a pathway to the playoffs.
Corey Heim captured an unexpected victory at the Naval Base Coronado NASCAR event, amid a chaotic weekend marked by crashes, logistical woes and uncertainty over future races.

The NASCAR Cup Series In‑Season Challenge offers a $1 million prize, determined at Indianapolis in late July. The top 32 drivers, selected after Pocono, compete in a bracket‑style tournament, with fans able to win the same amount with a perfect bracket. This week’s matchups at Sonoma highlight Reddick’s road‑course surge, Bowman’s early exit, and a host of statistical storylines.