Pit This Time

Connor Zilisch has revealed the backstory behind Carson Hocevar hooking him at New Hampshire, and it starts before the race even began. Speaking on Stacking Pennies, Zilisch said the friction began in practice, when he came off turn four, got up to Hocevar and touched his left rear — contact he described as accidental and not egregious, not even enough to knock the toe out. According to Zilisch, Hocevar's response a lap later was to throw a big slider and try to wreck him, in practice. Then in the race, Zilisch says he barely touched him again off turn four fr...

0:00 – Connor Zilisch Moving to Hendrick Motorsports No. 48 in 2028 & Red Bull Sponsorship Conflict0:40 – Denny Hamlin's Take: Hendrick's "Buy Low" Opportunity & Trackhouse’s Developmental Costs1:40 – Driver Accountability: Analyzing Zilisch's Inexperience & Avoidable Incidents2:35 – Coaching Breakdown: Analyzing the New Hampshire Wreck & Driving Through Smoke4:30 – Silver Lining & Structural Differences Between Xfinity and Cup Series Racing5:30 – Financial & Resource Advantage: Why Trackhouse Lost Zilisch to HMS

DENNY HAMLIN EXPLAINED THE CONNOR ZILISCH DEAL IN ONE SENTENCE AND IT IS BRUTAL FOR TRACKHOUSE.

He said the great news for Rick Hendrick is that Trackhouse did all the development and paid all the money, and Hendrick is going to ge...

0:00 – Introduction: Bubba Wallace’s Post-Race Media Outbursts0:45 – New Hampshire Practice Struggles & Late-Race Charge Behind Blaney1:45 – Post-Race Radio Reactions & Standings Breakdown (14th in Chase)2:30 – Analyzing Wallace's Public Self-Criticism & Team Loyalty3:50 – Denny Hamlin's Co-Owner Perspective on Managing Emotions

Denny Hamlin has shut down suggestions of a brewing feud with Ryan Blaney after the two made contact for the second consecutive week, but Blaney's radio tells a different story. At Richmond it was Hamlin who put the bumper to Blaney. At New Hampshire the roles reversed, with Blaney returning it and Hamlin responding by lightly dooring him on the way past — after which Blaney keyed up and asked his spotter whether Hamlin had forgotten running him over the previous week. Asked about it on Actions Detrimental, Hamlin's answer was immediate and dismissive, calling it coincidental twice before explaining th...

TEN AND HE STILL DOES NOT HAVE A RIDE FOR 2027.

That streak is the first of its kind for Wood Brothers Racing since Morgan Shepherd did it in 1994. Berry was announced back in June as being replaced in the No. 21 by Jesse Love.

Asked what he says to teams still questioning whether he belongs in the Cup Series, his answer was four words long.

He also said the thing everyone in this sport knows and nobody says on the record, about what actually determines who gets a seat.

And the way...

HENDRICK MOTORSPORTS HAS EVERY SEAT SETTLED THROUGH 2028 EXCEPT ONE, AND IT BELONGS TO THE MOST POPULAR DRIVER IN THE SPORT.

William Byron recently extended. Kyle Larson is in the middle of a long term deal. Alex Bowman is on a one year before retiring, with Connor Zilisch signed to take the No. 48 in 2028.

Chase Elliott's contract runs out at the end of 2027.

Jeff Gordon was pressed on it and said Hendrick wants Elliott to drive there forever, and that they feel very confident. Then he named the complication, and it is not about...

Rick Hendrick spent Tuesday attributing the season to the new Camaro body and saying his team will never surrender. Larson went on the Gluckcast Wednesday and largely echoed him, describing weekends where they feel a small step away and weekends where they feel years from winning.

Then he said something about short tracks that the new car cannot explain, and it involves the word historically.

He also finished with a warning about what happens when they figure it out.

Is Hendrick's problem the Camaro, or something older?

Joey Logano credited a recent rule change with helping Ford close the gap on Toyota. Dale Jr. added the part nobody had reported, and it involves walking through the garage before a race and looking under the front splitter.

Then he raised the question most people are skipping. Ford's surge has come at Richmond, North Wilkesboro and Loudon, which are tracks Ford has always been good at.

He gave a clean test for settling it. Send them to a mile-and-a-half and see who runs up front.

And that is exactly the problem, because...

DALE EARNHARDT JR. JUST SAID THE QUIET PART ABOUT JOSH BERRY. THERE IS NO SEAT, AND THERE IS NOT EVEN A TEAM STILL DECIDING.

Berry has three consecutive top tens, five on the season, and a Cup win at Las Vegas last year. Everyone agrees he deserves a ride. Dale Jr. pointed out that deserving is not the variable.

He expects Austin Hill to stay in the RCR No. 33, and thinks Berry's realistic options are in the O'Reilly Series where a couple of cars are not locked down.

He was also honest about...

Rick Hendrick has addressed the toll of Hendrick Motorsports' worst season in years, calling it disappointing and admitting the organization is used to winning a lot more races. Speaking at the press conference for Connor Zilisch's signing, Hendrick pointed to the new Camaro body introduced this season, which has caused balance and aero issues across Chevrolet teams, reminded people that his organization won the 2025 championship, and said the company is working harder than it ever has. He also emphasized that nobody at Hendrick is pointing fingers, before declaring they are never going to surrender. Jeff Gordon credited Hendrick's leadership...

The Warning Denny Hamlin Must Hear After Richmond

CARSON HOCEVAR DESTROYED HIS OWN ENGINE AT RICHMOND WITH ONE SHIFT AND OWNED IT INSTANTLY ON THE RADIO. Lap 285, blended back into the field in 32nd after a green flag stop, accelerating hard and reaching for fifth gear. He hit third instead. The RPMs spiked past 10,100 and the motor was gone. He finished 37th. Dead last. The really painful part is the standings. After the Brickyard he was fifth in the Chase order. Two races later he is eleventh. There is also a reason this mistake is rarer than it used to be, and a reason the night was...

NASCAR CEO Steve O'Donnell laid out an ambitious vision for the sport's future on Racin' with the Boys, per On3. Confirmed: O'Donnell said NASCAR wants to race in new markets including New York, the Northwest, and England, is exploring rotating the championship race and rotating tracks on and off the schedule every two to three years, and is discussing the number of races, season length, midweek races, and a salary-cap structure with teams. He stressed balancing growth with core venues like Darlington, Talladega, and Daytona, noting 70 percent of fans at the Chicago and San Diego races were new to...