Earlier this week, the Haas Factory Team, which fields Fords for Cole Custer in the NASCAR Cup Series and Sam Mayer and Sheldon Creed in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, announced it would be switching power-plants to Chevrolet in 2026.
With the news coming just as the NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs begin Friday in Bristol, Tenn. the drivers were asked if they worried any about Ford’s commitment to the team as it embarks on a title run.
A three-race winner this year in the No 21 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, driver Austin Hill heads into the 2025 Playoffs with reason to be optimistic but also cognizant of the challenge ahead. A big penalty for rough driving at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in July cost Hill all his accumulated Playoff points and puts him in an immediate position to play catch-up.
MADISON, Ill. — Denny Hamlin spent much of his post-race press conference relishing the freedom he earned with Sunday’s victory in the Enjoy Illinois 300 at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway.
With his ticket already punched for the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs’ Round of 12, Hamlin can race with abandon next Saturday night at Bristol Motor Speedway, while others are scrambling to keep their title hopes alive.
Haiden Deegan Captures 250SMX Class Victory and Extends Title Points Lead
Concord, N.C., (September 6, 2025) Team Honda HRC Progressive’s Jett Lawrence kicked off the postseason with a victory at Playoff 1 of the 2025 SMX World Championship™. The two-moto format of the postseason was interrupted by lightening near the zMAX Dragway at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Both classes scored their overall results based solely on their first moto finishes due to the second motos being called because of continued lightening in the area and diminishing daylight. Jett Lawrence, the defending two-time SMX World Champion and recently-crowned 2025 AMA Pro Motocross Champion, led from start to finish in the single 20-mintue plus one lap 450SMX Class moto.
While the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs are in full swing at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway, the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoff field won’t be solidified until after Saturday night’s Nu Way 200 Sauced by Blues Hog at the 1.25-mile track (7:30 p.m. on CW, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
SMX Playoff Round 1 – ZMAX Dragway at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Saturday, September 6, 2025
Alex Bowman didn’t know until the absolute last second whether he would have a Playoff spot or not.
On the final lap of the final NASCAR Cup Series regular-season race last Saturday at Daytona International Speedway, two winless drivers—Cole Custer and Justin Haley—alternately surged ahead. A victory by either driver would have eliminated Bowman from the Playoffs.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – And so – again – it will come down to a perpetually thrilling night-time 400-miler at the Daytona International Speedway to finalize the NASCAR Cup Series Playoff field.
Fourteen of the 16 positions are already firmed up by winning drivers this season. The final two championship contenders will be decided in Saturday night’s Coke Zero Sugar 400 regular season finale on the Daytona high-banks (7:30 p.m. ET on NBC, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio).
Three more NASCAR Xfinity Series races remain to settle which 12 drivers will advance to this year’s Playoffs and Friday night’s Wawa 250 Powered by Coca-Cola (730 p.m. ET on The CW, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio) has traditionally proven to be anyone’s game.
This season’s NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series seven-race Playoff slate will feature a couple different venues – the one-mile New Hampshire Motor Speedway and the Charlotte ROVAL road course high on the minds of the drivers.
