Cup Scene

1 week ago | cupscene.com | Owen Johnson

With NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt Jr. in his ear, rookie sensation Connor Zilisch earned his first oval win at Pocono Raceway Saturday. It was a double first for JR Motorsports, as team owner Dale Jr. scored his own first win as crew chief in his first attempt, stepping up to the pit box after the No. 88’s regular crew chief was suspended for missing lug nuts at Nashville. To Zilisch’s credit, he didn’t need much else to score his first oval win.

1 week ago | cupscene.com | Owen Johnson

It has been a rough start for Legacy Motor Club. Since 2023 when the team took its name, its cars have finished in the top ten in just 11% of the races they have attempted (21 out of 190). By any measure, that is a struggle. It has been a focus for every member of the team, with co-owner Jimmie Johnson explaining the total improvement needed for the team to be successful. “Everywhere,” he said back in 2023 of his focus with the team.

2 weeks ago | cupscene.com | Owen Johnson

Daniel Suarez winning the Xfinity Series race in Mexico City is a storybook ending. But the race itself was a page-turner. Suarez started his career in the Mexico Series before moving to the United States to compete in the sport’s highest level. Despite not speaking a word of English when he moved, he learned the language and honed his craft and is now a Cup Series race winner.

2 weeks ago | cupscene.com | Owen Johnson

Ever since this year’s schedule was released, the addition of Mexico City to the NASCAR calendar has been the biggest talking point. Now it’s finally here and real. It was certainly a trek: the haulers set off right after the Michigan race concluded to travel the width of the United States, cross the border, and make the climb up to Mexico City (about 1.4 miles above sea level). Teams and others in the industry followed on planes. But it’s all worth it for a huge event for NASCAR.

2 weeks ago | cupscene.com | William D. Byron |Greg Engle

At Michigan, the cruel mistress of motorsport proved once again she has a taste for irony Sunday. Two of the day’s fiercest contenders—William Byron and Carson Hocevar—had their eyes on victory, only to be mugged by physics, fuel math, and fate in the final laps. Let’s start with Byron. The man led a race-high 98 laps. He looked fast, confident, in control—like a pilot who knows his plane inside and out, even if it’s on fire.