Kyle Larson Eyes Fourth Bristol Victory as NASCAR Cup Series Sets Starting Lineup for Sunday's Race BRISTOL, Tenn. - The NASCAR Cup Series is set to return to Bristol Motor Speedway this weekend, with Kyle Larson positioned to challenge for his fourth win at the iconic track. Larson, who has dominated the high-speed oval in recent seasons, secured the eighth starting position for Sunday’s race after posting a lap time of 15.192 seconds during qualifying. The race will mark his latest opportunity to add to his growing legacy at Thunder Valley, where he has already claimed two victories in his last three starts. The starting lineup for Sunday’s event reflects a mix of established contenders and emerging talent. Chase Elliott, who recently secured Hendrick Motorsports’ first win of the season at Martinsville Speedway, will start 18th. His teammate Alex Bowman, returning to his No. 48 Ally Chevrolet after a four-race absence due to vertigo symptoms, will begin from 27th. William Byron, another Hendrick Motorsports driver, will line up 34th. The field is led by Ryan Blaney, who qualified in second place with a lap of 15.101 seconds, followed by Tyler Reddick (third), Chase Briscoe (fourth), and Riley Herbst (fifth). Ty Gibbs, Ross Chastain, and Chris Buescher round out the top 10, with Larson’s No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet securing the eighth spot. Austin Cindric, Carson Hocevar, and Denny Hamlin will start 11th, 12th, and 13th, respectively. The race will also feature several other notable drivers, including Bubba Wallace (14th), Daniel Suarez (15th), Christopher Bell (16th), and Zane Smith (17th). Noah Gragson, Ryan Preece, and Chase Elliott will start 18th, 19th, and 20th, respectively. Michael McDowell, Joey Logano, and Brad Keselowski will begin from 21st, 22nd, and 23rd positions.#nascar_cup_series #hendrick_motorsports #bristol_motor_speedway #kyle_larson #ryan_blaney
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
