Projections for 2026 Bristol Spring Race: NASCAR's Food City 500 Outlook The 2026 Food City 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway is set to unfold on Sunday, April 12, with the NASCAR Cup Series returning to the high-banked 0.533-mile track after a one-week break. The race, scheduled for 3 p.m. ET, will feature a new 750-horsepower configuration for the Cup Series, marking its second consecutive appearance at a short-track venue and its first at Bristol. A revised Goodyear tire setup adds an extra layer of strategy as teams prepare for the 500-lap event. The race is expected to be highly competitive, with several top contenders vying for victory. Kyle Larson, who won the 2025 Bristol race in April, is projected to take the checkered flag, while Christopher Bell, who claimed the September race last year, is predicted to finish third. The field includes a mix of seasoned veterans and rising stars, with key drivers like Denny Hamlin, Ty Gibbs, and Carson Hocevar positioned as strong favorites. Denny Hamlin, a four-time winner at Bristol for Joe Gibbs Racing, is among the top contenders. His recent performance at the track, including two victories in his last five starts, positions him well for success. Hamlin’s ability to manage tire wear and adapt to the new tire setup could be critical in securing a top finish. Ty Gibbs, the 23-year-old rookie for Front Row Motorsports, is seeking his first Cup Series victory. Despite his inexperience, Gibbs has shown consistency at Bristol, finishing in the top 10 in four of his last five races. His recent streak of five consecutive top-10 finishes and 440 laps led in six starts at the track make him a formidable threat. Carson Hocevar, a young talent with Spire Motorsports, is another driver to watch.#denny_hamlin #nascar_cup_series #ty_gibbs #bristol_motor_speedway #kyle_larson
Michael Jordan on NASCAR, life after basketball and the one title he won't claim Michael Jordan is bringing his championship mindset to NASCAR, saying he's "cursed with this competitive gene" that keeps him chasing victories — and change. Jordan, co-founder of the NASCAR team 23XI Racing, told Gayle King that his passion for the sport traces back to his late father, James, a "diehard mechanic." He described how his father would fix neighborhood cars, refusing to send them to service, and how this early exposure to mechanics and speed shaped his love for cars and driving. "He used to work on all the neighborhood cars… he would fix our cars. We would never send our car to the service. He would figure out a way to fix it. So I think it gravitated into his love for cars. And he likes driving fast. My mom likes driving fast," Jordan said during an interview at the Phoenix Raceway for "CBS Sunday Morning." From rumor to reality Jordan founded 23XI Racing in 2020 with legendary driver and three-time Daytona 500 champion Denny Hamlin — a partnership Hamlin says began with a rumor that unexpectedly turned into reality. "I'll never forget. I saw an article that wasn't true. Says, 'Denny Hamlin and Michael Jordan are lookin' to purchase a NASCAR team,'" Hamlin recalled. "I saw the article, sent it to him. He says, 'Not real, but if you want to make it real let me know.'" This initial exchange led to the formation of 23XI Racing, marking Jordan's entry into a sport he had long admired. NASCAR's charter system and the antitrust case NASCAR has been privately owned and operated since 1948 by the France family. In 2016, the organization introduced a charter system, a franchise-like model that guaranteed 36 teams entry into each Cup Series race and promised new revenue opportunities.#michael_jordan #phoenix_raceway #denny_hamlin #23xi_racing #nascar
If you think today's IndyCars are fast at Phoenix... The one-mile Phoenix Raceway oval has become a stage for stark contrasts between NASCAR’s Cup Series and IndyCar’s high-speed spectacle, as fans witness the dramatic differences in speed and performance between the two racing series. During the Good Ranchers 250, Team Penske’s David Malukas secured pole position in the No. 12 Chevy with a two-lap average of 175.3mph, while Cup drivers will wait until Saturday to qualify for their Sunday race. For context, Denny Hamlin’s pole in the November championship-deciding race averaged 133.7mph, highlighting a 41.6mph gap in average speed and a 6.5-second difference in lap times. For newer IndyCar fans, these numbers may seem staggering, but a look back at the series’ history reveals how much the DW12 has evolved. During the 2016-18 manufacturer aero kit era, Helio Castroneves set a record pole in the No. 3 Chevy at 194.9mph, a 19.6mph increase over Malukas’ current pace and 61.2mph faster than Hamlin’s November lap. Castroneves also completed the lap in 18.7 seconds, outpacing Malukas by 2.6 seconds and Hamlin by 8.2. The technical differences between the 2016-17 aero kit era and today’s rules are significant. The introduction of the aeroscreen cockpit safety device in 2020 added over 100 pounds of weight, while the adoption of hybridization with an energy recovery system in 2024 pushed the DW12’s minimum weight to its highest level since rear-engine designs became standard in the 1960s. These changes were implemented to prioritize tire safety and longevity, as the high speeds and increased weight put immense stress on the right-side tires. To address this, engine power was reduced by dialing down turbocharger boost, and downforce was adjusted to make cornering more challenging without lifting the throttle.#david_malukas #team_penske #indycar #denny_hamlin #helio_castroneves
23XI Racing Challenges NASCAR's 'Big Three' Dominance The traditional "Big Three" of NASCAR—Hendrick Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing, and Team Penske—have long been the dominant forces in the sport, but 23XI Racing is emerging as a serious contender for inclusion in that elite group. Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic argues that the team’s recent success has positioned it as a potential "Big Four" in the sport, citing its consistent performance and growing reputation. Bianchi highlighted the team’s rise over the past six seasons, noting that 23XI has steadily improved and now competes at a level comparable to the top three organizations. During a conversation on The Teardown, Bianchi posed a question to Denny Hamlin after the Atlanta race: “We talk a lot about the Big Three in this sport, is now we need to be talking about the Big Four?” Hamlin’s response, while cautious, acknowledged that the label is typically reserved for teams with frequent race wins and championships. However, Bianchi emphasized that 23XI’s achievements—such as Bubba Wallace’s Brickyard 400 victory in 2025, the Daytona 500 win, and a road course triumph—demonstrate their growing influence. The team’s 2026 season has already seen remarkable progress. Tyler Reddick, driving the No. 45 car, has secured back-to-back-to-back victories at Atlanta and COTA, marking his first three-race sweep in NASCAR history. Reddick’s dominance has propelled him to the top of the points standings, while Wallace, who finished 11th in the latest race, remains second. Together, they have established 23XI as the team to beat in the early part of the season. Despite their success, the team’s journey has been anything but easy. 23XI Racing entered NASCAR in 2021, and it took three years for the organization to secure its first regular-season championship in 2024.#team_penske #denny_hamlin #joe_gibbs_racing #23xi_racing #hendrick_motorsports
23XI Racing Challenges NASCAR’s “Big Three” Dominance The traditional “Big Three” of NASCAR—Hendrick Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing, and Team Penske—have long been the sport’s dominant forces, but 23XI Racing is emerging as a serious contender for inclusion in the conversation. Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic argues that the team’s rapid rise over the past six seasons has blurred the lines between the top echelon of NASCAR teams. Bianchi’s perspective was shaped by his conversation with Denny Hamlin after the Atlanta race, where Hamlin initially dismissed the idea of a “Big Four.” However, Bianchi contends that 23XI’s consistent performance and achievements warrant reevaluating the status quo. Bianchi highlighted 23XI’s accomplishments, including Bubba Wallace’s victory at the Brickyard 400 last year, the Daytona 500 win, and a road course triumph. He also pointed to Tyler Reddick’s regular season championship in 2024, despite going winless in 2025. “This isn’t like they just came out of nowhere,” Bianchi said on The Teardown. “They’ve been gradually getting better, and Bubba Wallace is second in points. This team is doing something special.” While 23XI hasn’t yet reached the level of Hendrick, Gibbs, or Penske, Bianchi suggests they are closing the gap. The 2026 season has already seen 23XI make a strong statement. Reddick, driving the No. 45 car, has captured three consecutive wins, starting with Atlanta and continuing at COTA. Wallace, meanwhile, remains a key figure for the organization, with his performance in the Daytona 500 and ongoing contributions to the team’s success. Reddick and Wallace currently lead the points standings after three races, positioning 23XI as the team to beat in the early part of the season.#team_penske #denny_hamlin #joe_gibbs_racing #23xi_racing #hendrick_motorsports
