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Auto Racing

Kyle Larson looks to the track before the start of a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill., Sunday, July 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Ryan Blaney wins pole and Team Penske teammate Joey Logano is 2nd at NASCAR Atlanta qualifying

Charles Odum, The Associated Press 2 minute read 5:24 PM CDT

HAMPTON, Ga. (AP) — Team Penske Fords claimed the front row spots for Sunday night's NASCAR Cup Series race at EchoPark Speedway.

Ryan Blaney won the pole with a lap time of 30.815 seconds at 179.912 mph on Saturday.

Blaney's teammate, Joey Logano, was second with a lap time of 30.851 seconds at 179.702 mph.

“Feels good to have a Penske front row,” Blaney said, adding he also can work well with other Ford drivers. “Hopefully we’ll be able to get organized at some point but it’s nice that Joey and I are starting at the front.”

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Auto Racing

Denny Hamlin looks around before the start of a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill., Sunday, July 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Reddick is hoping to regain momentum in Atlanta after losing his NASCAR Cup Series lead to Hamlin

Charles Odum, The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

Reddick is hoping to regain momentum in Atlanta after losing his NASCAR Cup Series lead to Hamlin

Charles Odum, The Associated Press 5 minute read 4:31 PM CDT

HAMPTON, Ga. (AP) — EchoPark Speedway may be the perfect setting for Tyler Reddick to reclaim his momentum in the NASCAR Cup Series points race.

Reddick won five of the first nine stops on this year's Cup Series schedule, including at EchoPark Speedway on Feb. 22, one week after winning the Daytona 500, to take a dominant lead in the points race.

Reddick’s points lead has disappeared in recent weeks. Denny Hamlin, who co-owns 23XI Racing with Michael Jordan, enters Sunday night’s race leading Reddick by 44 points.

Overall, Reddick has two wins in three starts on drafting tracks this season in his 23XI Racing Toyota, giving him reason for optimism. Reddick said Saturday he is “extremely” confident he can enjoy more success in his return to the track formerly known as Atlanta Motor Speedway.

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4:31 PM CDT

Auto Racing

FILE - Scott Dixon, left, stands next to Chip Ganassi before the start an IndyCar auto race at World Wide Technology Raceway on Aug. 21, 2021, in Madison, Ill. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, File)

Scott Dixon and Felix Rosenqvist sign multiyear deals to begin racing for Arrow McLaren in 2027

The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

Scott Dixon and Felix Rosenqvist sign multiyear deals to begin racing for Arrow McLaren in 2027

The Associated Press 3 minute read Monday, Jul. 6, 2026

Six-time IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon and reigning Indianapolis 500 winner Felix Rosenqvist are joining the Arrow McLaren racing team next season after agreeing to multiyear deals.

They will be part of the team's three-car full-season lineup that also includes Pato O’Ward.

And Ryan Hunter-Reay, the 2014 Indy 500 winner, will be in the driver’s seat again in its fourth entry in the 111th running of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” the team also announced Monday.

That means three former winners and one of the most competitive oval racers in the series will make up Arrow McLaren’s Indy 500 lineup next May. The team is seeking its first Indy 500 victory since Johnny Rutherford's 1976 win.

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Monday, Jul. 6, 2026

Arts & Entertainment

Carson Hocevar (77) drives to the track during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill., Sunday, July 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

NASCAR uses 3 of its youngest drivers for Rolling Stones collaboration

Jay Cohen, The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview

NASCAR uses 3 of its youngest drivers for Rolling Stones collaboration

Jay Cohen, The Associated Press 4 minute read Monday, Jul. 6, 2026

JOLIET, Ill. (AP) — The first Rolling Stones album was released in 1964. NASCAR driver Connor Zilisch was born in 2006.

Of course, when it comes to Mick Jagger and company, time seems almost irrelevant.

“No matter who you are or where you’re from or how old you are, you know who the Rolling Stones are,” Zilisch said.

Zilisch joined fellow drivers Carson Hocevar and Jesse Love for a music video as part of a collaboration between NASCAR and the Stones ahead of the band's 25th studio album, “Foreign Tongues,” which comes out on Friday.

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Monday, Jul. 6, 2026

Auto Racing

Chase Briscoe (19) drives to the track after making a pit stop during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill., Sunday, July 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Briscoe holds off Bell in NASCAR’s return to Chicagoland Speedway

Jay Cohen, The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

Briscoe holds off Bell in NASCAR’s return to Chicagoland Speedway

Jay Cohen, The Associated Press 5 minute read Sunday, Jul. 5, 2026

JOLIET, Ill. (AP) — Chase Briscoe was on an offseason bonding trip to the United Kingdom with crew chief James Small when the NASCAR driver discovered chocolate buttons, a popular British treat. He bought some online after he returned to the U.S., but he said it wasn't the same.

Small purchased some on a return trip to the U.K., and he promised to share if Briscoe won on the crew chief's birthday. That made Sunday night's victory pretty sweet.

Briscoe held off Christopher Bell in NASCAR’s return to Chicagoland Speedway, racing to his first Cup Series win of the season. And Small delivered the chocolates to Briscoe moments after it was over.

“They were pretty dang good,” Briscoe said.

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Sunday, Jul. 5, 2026

Auto Racing

Second placed Mercedes driver George Russell of Britain waves to the fans after the British F1 Grand Prix, in Silverstone, England, Sunday, July 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

George Russell unhappy with relying on luck to cut the F1 title gap

James Ellingworth, The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

George Russell unhappy with relying on luck to cut the F1 title gap

James Ellingworth, The Associated Press 3 minute read Sunday, Jul. 5, 2026

For a driver who's firmly back in the Formula 1 title chase, George Russell didn't seem very satisfied after slashing Kimi Antonelli's lead yet further at the British Grand Prix.

For the second time in three races, Russell benefited from Antonelli having car trouble as he placed second to cut the 19-year-old Italian's lead from 43 points to 25.

Russell still hasn't got a handle on why he isn't consistently getting as much out of the Mercedes — F1's dominant car this year — as his younger teammate.

“I’m still struggling to understand this car. I probably still leave this weekend, albeit extremely grateful to stand on the podium, less satisfied than Canada when I broke down from the lead," Russell said after Sunday's race.

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Sunday, Jul. 5, 2026

Auto Racing

Christian Horner on the grid before the British Grand Prix in Silverstone, England, Sunday July 5, 2026. (David Davies/PA via AP)

Former Red Bull boss Christian Horner back in the F1 paddock and eyeing a return

The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

Former Red Bull boss Christian Horner back in the F1 paddock and eyeing a return

The Associated Press 2 minute read Sunday, Jul. 5, 2026

SILVERSTONE, England (AP) — Former Red Bull team principal Christian Horner made a statement return to the Formula 1 paddock at the British Grand Prix on Sunday, almost exactly a year after he was fired following last year's race.

Horner has been linked with numerous teams over the past year and said in comments published Sunday that he would only join a team he thought could win in F1.

“I'd only come back for the right thing, because at the end of the day, I want to win and I want to be with winners,” he told the Times of London. “There's no point in just to come back for the sake of a job.”

In January, Alpine said Horner was among a group of investors interested in buying a stake in the team. Last year, then-Aston Martin team principal Andy Cowell said Horner was “ringing up pretty much every team owner at the moment.”

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Sunday, Jul. 5, 2026

Auto Racing

Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli of Italy celebrates after clocked the fastest time during the qualifying session ahead of the British F1 Grand Prix, in Silverstone, England, Saturday, July 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

Leclerc ends wait for a win at British Grand Prix as F1 leader Antonelli hits more trouble

The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview

Leclerc ends wait for a win at British Grand Prix as F1 leader Antonelli hits more trouble

The Associated Press 4 minute read Sunday, Jul. 5, 2026

SILVERSTONE, England (AP) — Charles Leclerc took his first Formula 1 win in nearly two years as a chaotic British Grand Prix ended behind the safety car on Sunday and standings leader Kimi Antonelli missed the points again with a damaged car.

Leclerc surged past Antonelli at the start as the Mercedes driver dropped to third but the Italian was chasing Leclerc down in the final laps when he reported a steering problem. Leclerc took a landmark 250th victory for Ferrari under the safety car brought out by a spectacular spin into the gravel from third by Max Verstappen.

“Finally!” Leclerc said over the radio after taking the win. “This one felt particularly good, even if I wished it was a more normal ending.”

Leclerc leaped out of his car and ran to a crowd of Ferrari staff who surged forward to embrace him, toppling a crowd barrier onto their driver. Leclerc’s last F1 victory was at the United States Grand Prix in October 2024.

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Sunday, Jul. 5, 2026

Auto Racing

FILE - Alex Bowman celebrates after winning the NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill., Sunday, June 30, 2019. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh,File)

NASCAR Cup Series set for first race at Chicagoland Speedway since 2019

Jay Cohen, The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

NASCAR Cup Series set for first race at Chicagoland Speedway since 2019

Jay Cohen, The Associated Press 5 minute read Saturday, Jul. 4, 2026

JOLIET, Ill. (AP) — It has been seven years since NASCAR last raced at Chicagoland Speedway. Seven years of Midwest heat, rain and snow covering the aging asphalt at the 1.5-mile track. That last weekend also was before NASCAR moved into its Next Gen cars.

The Cup Series returns to Chicagoland on Sunday, and what was old is new again.

“It is definitely like learning a new racetrack,” Joe Gibbs Racing driver Chase Briscoe said.

NASCAR ran 19 Cup races on the D-shaped oval in Joliet — about 50 miles southwest of downtown Chicago — from 2001 to 2019. It tried to build interest in the event in a crowded market, even making Chicagoland the opening race of the 2011 playoffs. But the race struggled with attendance before NASCAR pulled out.

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Saturday, Jul. 4, 2026

Auto Racing

Denny Hamlin celebrates in Victory Lane after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Pocono Raceway, Sunday, June 14, 2026, in Long Pond, Pa. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton)

Denny Hamlin wins pole position for NASCAR’s return to Chicagoland Speedway

Jay Cohen, The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

Denny Hamlin wins pole position for NASCAR’s return to Chicagoland Speedway

Jay Cohen, The Associated Press 3 minute read Saturday, Jul. 4, 2026

JOLIET, Ill. (AP) — Denny Hamlin has the pole position for a NASCAR Cup Series race. Again.

Hamlin had a lap time of 30.296 seconds at 178.241 mph on Saturday in qualifying for the first Cup race at Chicagoland Speedway in seven years. It was just enough to edge Kyle Larson in second at 30.297 seconds and 178.235 mph in his No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet.

“We got very fortunate that the last 12 cars had full sun, 100% sun (over the track),” Hamlin said. “The last few had probably like 90%, but that was, I think, the deciding factor. As we saw right after I went, the track, it definitely got hotter, and it seemed like the corner speeds of those guys started to slow down.”

Larson's car failed inspection twice, leading to the ejection of car chief Jesse Saunders for the rest of the weekend. His team also lost pit-stall selection.

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Saturday, Jul. 4, 2026

Auto Racing

Mercedes driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli of Italy steers his car during the sprint race at the British F1 Grand Prix, in Silverstone, England, Saturday, July 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

Kimi Antonelli wins sprint race and takes pole at F1’s British Grand Prix

The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview

Kimi Antonelli wins sprint race and takes pole at F1’s British Grand Prix

The Associated Press 4 minute read Saturday, Jul. 4, 2026

SILVERSTONE, England (AP) — Kimi Antonelli returned to winning ways in Formula 1 with a sprint race victory and pole position for the British Grand Prix on a day of struggles for his title rival George Russell.

After overtaking Lewis Hamilton to deny the British star a crowd-pleasing victory in the sprint, Antonelli doubled up with pole position for Sunday's race.

“The last lap was very tidy,” he said. “It came all together. It was very tricky with the wind, because it was very gusty, unpredictable.”

The 19-year-old standings leader went fastest on his last lap by 0.175 of a second from Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, with Hamilton third.

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Saturday, Jul. 4, 2026

Auto Racing

Kyle Larson, foreground, drives in front of cars during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Sonoma Raceway, Sunday, June 28, 2026, in Sonoma, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Kyle Larson looks to break winless drought as NASCAR returns to Chicagoland

Jay Cohen, The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview

Kyle Larson looks to break winless drought as NASCAR returns to Chicagoland

Jay Cohen, The Associated Press 4 minute read Friday, Jul. 3, 2026

JOLIET, Ill. (AP) — When it comes to 1.5-mile tracks, Kyle Larson is always confident. With NASCAR returning to Chicagoland Speedway this weekend, there is even more reason for optimism for the Hendrick Motorsports driver.

Larson has a successful history on the bumpy asphalt of Chicagoland, a D-shaped oval circuit. He has four top-five finishes in six Cup Series starts at the speedway about 50 miles southwest of downtown Chicago. His 6.17 average finish is tops in track history among drivers with multiple starts.

Sunday's eero 400 is the first Cup Series race at Chicagoland since 2019, but Larson participated in two days of testing at the track in April. He had one of the fastest cars in practice on Friday.

“I felt like we learned a lot about our race car at the test that has benefited the four of us as we’ve moved on from it,” Larson said, referring to fellow Hendrick drivers Chase Elliott, William Byron and Alex Bowman. “So yeah, I think just extra laps here gives some confidence, but everybody’s so good, they’re going to get the speed fast.”

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Friday, Jul. 3, 2026

Auto Racing

Mechanics push McLaren driver Lando Norris' car back into the team garage during the first free practice ahead of the British F1 Grand Prix, in Silverstone, England, Friday, July 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

White and green McLarens reflect F1’s movie heritage at British Grand Prix

The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

White and green McLarens reflect F1’s movie heritage at British Grand Prix

The Associated Press 3 minute read Friday, Jul. 3, 2026

SILVERSTONE, England (AP) — You might need to look twice to spot the McLarens at Silverstone.

Instead of their usual luminous “papaya” orange, Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri’s cars are white with a green stripe in a throwback livery for this week's British Grand Prix.

It’s a design copied from the first McLaren Formula 1 car, the M2B of 1966, in a year when the team marks its 1,000th race. However, the colors first belonged to a team which never actually existed.

Almost 60 years before Brad Pitt suited up in black and gold for APX GP in the “F1” movie, James Garner starred in 1966's “Grand Prix” as Pete Aron, a driver for the fictional Japanese team Yamura.

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Friday, Jul. 3, 2026

Auto Racing

Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain attends a news conference ahead of the British F1 Grand Prix, in Silverstone, England, Thursday, July 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

Hamilton adapts fast for sprint pole ahead of ‘unprecedented’ British GP

James Ellingworth, The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview

Hamilton adapts fast for sprint pole ahead of ‘unprecedented’ British GP

James Ellingworth, The Associated Press 4 minute read Friday, Jul. 3, 2026

Silverstone hasn’t changed a bit and yet Lewis Hamilton is ready for a British Grand Prix on a “completely different track.”

Hamilton coped best with adapting his driving style around Formula 1's new reliance on battery power to take pole position in qualifying for Saturday's sprint race.

Despite a slight wobble in the final corner, Hamilton held on to take pole by just 0.011 of a second at a track where he'd predicted he and Ferrari would struggle. The seven-time world champion stood atop his car and soaked in the applause as he waved to the crowd.

“I love this place, I love this crowd and I can’t express how big a dream it is,” he said.

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Friday, Jul. 3, 2026

Auto Racing

FILE - Scott Dixon, left, stands next to Chip Ganassi before the start an IndyCar auto race at World Wide Technology Raceway on Aug. 21, 2021, in Madison, Ill. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, File)

Chip Ganassi Racing says six-time IndyCar champion Scott Dixon won’t return in 2027

The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

Chip Ganassi Racing says six-time IndyCar champion Scott Dixon won’t return in 2027

The Associated Press 2 minute read Thursday, Jul. 2, 2026

LEXINGTON, Ohio (AP) — Six-time IndyCar champion Scott Dixon is ending a remarkable run with Chip Ganassi Racing.

Owner Chip Ganassi announced Thursday that Dixon recently informed the team he would not return in 2027.

“Scott has meant so much to CGR over the past 24 years,” Ganassi said. “Together we’ve shared championships, many victories and countless moments that have helped define this organization."

Ganassi said he believed the 45-year-old Dixon’s contract gave him an opportunity to end his career with the team.

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Thursday, Jul. 2, 2026

Auto Racing

McLaren driver Lando Norris of Britain attends a news conference ahead of the British F1 Grand Prix, in Silverstone, England, Thursday, July 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

Norris says reports Verstappen’s interested in McLaren move are cool, but not serious

The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview

Norris says reports Verstappen’s interested in McLaren move are cool, but not serious

The Associated Press 4 minute read Thursday, Jul. 2, 2026

SILVERSTONE, England (AP) — Lando Norris says reports that Max Verstappen has considered a move to McLaren are “a cool thing” to hear but “not a serious thing” as speculation swirls in Formula 1 about a switch which could create a lineup of two champions.

Reports from media including Sky Sports indicated last week that Verstappen's management had requested, and held, a meeting with McLaren ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix. The content of any discussions wasn't reported and the Dutch driver has yet to comment.

“It’s a cool thing, it’s a good thing that a four-time world champion wants to come on board and wants to potentially join the team," Norris said Thursday as he prepares for his home British Grand Prix.

“I don’t know how much of it’s true, but it’s a cool thing and if there’s an opportunity for me to drive with other people, it’s something I’ve always looked forward to. But it’s not a thing for now. It’s not a serious thing.”

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Thursday, Jul. 2, 2026

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