NASCAR | The MotorSportsNews.Net(work)

The Seven Year Itch – NASCAR Returns to Chicagoland for First Time Since 2019

by MikeJune 29, 2026

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (June 29, 2026) – Since its debut in 2001, Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Illinois, has hosted 94 races across seven series on its 1.5-mile oval. None, however, have been in the last seven years.

When the checkered flag waved on June 30, 2019, to mark the end of the Camping World 400 NASCAR Cup Series race, it also marked the end of racing on Chicagoland’s D-shaped layout. Save for serving as a storage area for pickup trucks awaiting microchips during the global shortage brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, and hosting a one-off SuperMotocross event in 2023, Chicagoland has been dormant. Scooby-Doo vibes replaced the “Boogity, boogity, boogity, let’s go racing!” mantra made famous by NASCAR Hall of Fame driver and FOX broadcaster Darrell Waltrip.

(more…)

NASCAR Hauler Parade and Pit Stop Party at the White Hart Inn Return to Salisbury on July 9

by Lou ModestinoJune 26, 2026

LAKEVILLE, Conn. (26 June 2026) — Before the engines roar at Lime Rock Park for the LIUNA 150, NASCAR’s arrival to Northwest Connecticut will once again begin on Main Street.

After drawing hundreds of residents and race fans to downtown Salisbury last summer, the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Hauler Parade and Pit Stop Party returns to Salisbury and Lakeville on Thursday, July 9.

Nearly 40 brightly colored NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series haulers will make their way through town enroute to Lime Rock Park, bringing the excitement of the LIUNA 150 race weekend directly to the community.

(more…)

Iconic IROC Series To Join Freedom 250 Grand Prix Weekend Lineup

by MikeJune 25, 2026

All-Star Field of INDYCAR and NASCAR Racing Legends to Compete in IROC in Washington D.C. on August 22

WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 25, 2026) – Adding racing royalty to an already historic weekend, the Freedom 250 Grand Prix today announced the addition of the legendary International Race of Champions (IROC), bringing together an all-star lineup of motorsports icons for a special exhibition during the Aug. 22-23 event on the streets of Washington D.C.

The IROC Presented by Chevrolet lineup for the Freedom 250 Grand Prix weekend will feature a star-studded collection of motorsports legends, including champions and some of the biggest stars in NASCAR and INDYCAR history. Former NASCAR Cup Series champions Jeff Gordon, Kurt Busch, Bobby Labonte, Rusty Wallace and Bill Elliott will race on the 1.7-mile Freedom 250 Grand Prix street circuit around the National Mall, alongside INDYCAR greats and Indianapolis 500 champions Tony Kanaan, Helio Castroneves and Dario Franchitti. The drivers will compete in authentic IROC Pontiac Firebirds that raced in series competition from 1996 through 2006.

(more…)

NASCAR Canada Heads to Riverside International Speedway for Pinty’s 300

by MikeJune 25, 2026

Antigonish, NS – The NASCAR Canada Series heads to the East Coast this Saturday, June 27 for the fourth event of the 2026 season, the Pinty’s 300 at Riverside International Speedway.

Located just outside Antigonish, NS, the 1/3-mile high-banked asphalt oval once again welcomes the NASCAR Canada Series for its annual visit to the Maritimes, which also marks the first night race of the 2026 season.

Marc-Antoine Camirand enters the weekend leading the championship standings following a sweep of the recent doubleheader at Autodrome Chaudière. The driver of the No. 96 GM Paillé Chevrolet will be looking to continue his strong start to the season.

(more…)

ARCA Menards Series Returns to Elko Speedway, Elko New Market, MN, Saturday, June 27, 2026

by MikeJune 25, 2026

The stars of the ARCA Menards Series return to Minnesota on Saturday, June 27 for the Shore Lunch 250 presented by Dutch Boy at Elko Speedway. The 250-lap main event will bring many of the nation’s top rising stock car drivers to the high-banked 3/8-mile oval for one of the premier racing events of the summer. In addition to the ARCA Menards Series, fans will also enjoy a full racing program featuring the Late Models, Power Stocks, and Thunder Cars.

(more…)

NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Set to Open Paddock to Fans During LIUNA 150 Weekend at Lime Rock Park

by Lou ModestinoJune 24, 2026June 24, 2026

LAKEVILLE, Conn. (24 June 2026) — During this year’s LIUNA 150 weekend, a general admission ticket will unlock more than a seat on Spectator Hill at Lime Rock Park.

For the first time this season, NASCAR fans attending a national series event will be able to step inside the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series garages without a separate pass, bringing Lime Rock Park’s longstanding open paddock tradition to the series.

(more…)

Ryan Newman Joins Ram’s Free Agent Program with Kaulig Racing at North Wilkesboro Truck Race

by MikeJune 24, 2026

NASCAR Veteran Drove a Dodge in 13 of 18 Cup Series Victories
Will Drive Kaulig Racing’s No. 25 Ram 1500 in July 18 Race

NORTH WILKESBORO, N.C. — Kaulig Racing and Ram announced today that 2008 Daytona 500 winner and 18-time NASCAR Cup Series victor Ryan Newman will drive the No. 25 Ram 1500 in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at North Wilkesboro (N.C.) Speedway on Saturday, July 18.

Newman, nicknamed “Rocket Man,” drove Dodge machinery to 13 of his 18 career Cup wins and earned 43 of his 51 career Cup poles in Dodges. He adds star power to Ram’s rotating-driver Free Agent Program as the manufacturer returns to NASCAR competition after a 13-year absence.

(more…)

NASCAR and American Racer Are Working Together To Address The Moving Target That Is Modified Tour Tires

by MikeJune 24, 2026

Anybody who might be tire’d of the talk of the town on the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour in 2026 should brace for more as the season progresses.

And that’s a good thing.

The introduction of American Racer as the Tour’s official tire supplier this season has brought a mixed bag of feedback through six of the 16 scheduled races. Some teams have thrived on the tires while others have expressed frustration. Jon McKennedy, the 2022 series champion and a two-time race winner this year, put it simply: “Some guys like them, and some guys don’t.”

By Tadd Haislop, NASCAR.com

(more…)

NASCAR Studios and Words + Pictures Hit Docuseries “RISING” Returns for Season 2, Streaming Exclusively on Xumo Play

by MikeJune 23, 2026

New Season Follows Dynamic Young Stars Including Carson Hocevar, Connor Zilisch and Brenden “Butterbean” Queen

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (June 23, 2026) – NASCAR Studios, in partnership with Emmy® Award-winning studio Words + Pictures, today announced that Season 2 of its acclaimed documentary series RISING will stream exclusively on Xumo Play, continuing an inside look at the sport’s next generation of stars as they navigate the pressure, promise and unpredictability of professional stock car racing.

Under the agreement, Xumo Play, a free ad-supported TV (FAST) service available across all major streaming platforms that offers hundreds of channels and thousands of on-demand titles, will serve as the exclusive streaming home of RISING Season 2 for six months following the release of the final installment. Episodes will also be published on NASCAR’s YouTube channel 14 days after their original air date on Xumo Play.

(more…)

AJ Allmendinger to Make 500th NASCAR Cup Series Start On Sunday at Sonoma Raceway in Front of Home State Fans

by MikeJune 22, 2026

SONOMA, Calif. — A week after posting a season’s best fifth-place finish at Naval Base Coronado in San Diego, Kaulig Racing driver AJ Allmendinger will celebrate his 500th NASCAR Cup Series start Sunday at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway.

“Reaching 500 Cup Series starts is something I never could have imagined when I first got behind the wheel,” said Allmendinger, driver of the No. 16 NASCAR Cup Series entry. “To do it at Sonoma, in my home state of California, with the men and women at Kaulig Racing makes it even more special. I’ve been fortunate to race for great teams, work alongside incredible people and enjoy the support of amazing fans throughout my career.

(more…)