Rusty Wallace
FILE - NASCAR Cup Series driver Ross Chastain speaks during the NASCAR Championship media day, Nov. 3, 2022, in Phoenix. Chastain, who used a video-game style move now dubbed the “Hail Melon” to snag the final spot in last year’s championship race, earned global recognition in and outside the industry for last October’s wall-riding gamble. The tactic he used of deliberately crashing into the wall for momentum has since been banned by NASCAR. (AP Photo/Matt York, File)
NASCAR Preview: Drivers to watch include Harvick, JJ, Logano

By Jenna Fryer Feb. 13, 2023 03:31 PM EST

James Bromsey III, left, a sixth-grader at LeBron James' I Promise School in Akron, Ohio, poses with NASCAR driver Chris Buescher, Sunday, Aug. 7, 2022 in Brooklyn, Mich. Bromsey was given an all-access tour of Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Mich., on Sunday. Chris Buescher’s No. 17 Ford had a paint job that highlighted the LeBron James Family Foundation. (AP Photo/Larry Lage)
NASCAR pulls into Watkins Glen with playoff spots to fill

Aug. 20, 2022 02:20 PM EDT

Ryan Blaney (12) races in the NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Dover Motor Speedway, Sunday, May 1, 2022, in Dover, Del. (AP Photo/Jason Minto)
Rain postpones NASCAR Cup race at Dover to Monday

By Dan Gelston May. 01, 2022 05:37 PM EDT

Kyle Busch drives during a qualifying session at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022, in Los Angeles. NASCAR will stage an exhibition auto race Sunday at the Coliseum. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
Elusive Daytona 500 'top of the to-do list' for Kyle Busch

By Mark Long Feb. 16, 2022 02:46 AM EST

Ross Chastain (42) and Alex Bowman (48) get sideways during a NASCAR Cup series auto race Monday, Oct. 4, 2021, in Talladega, Ala. (AP Photo/Greg McWilliams)
Out of the way! NASCAR contenders want traffic to pull aside

By Jenna Fryer Oct. 23, 2021 10:36 AM EDT

AP-Sportlight-Week Ahead

By The Associated Press Jun. 10, 2021 11:43 AM EDT
June 15 1901 — Willie Anderson edges Alex Smith by one stroke in a playoff to take the U.S. Open. 1938 — Johnny Vander...

Alex Bowman celebrates the win following a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Dover International Speedway, Sunday, May 16, 2021, in Dover, Del. Alex Bowman wins the race. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
Hendrick train rolls into Sonoma seeking 4th straight win

By Jenna Fryer Jun. 05, 2021 03:51 PM EDT

Brad Keselowski (2) drives out of Turn 18 during practice for Sunday's NASCAR Cup Series auto race at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, Saturday, May 22, 2021. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
NASCAR's Elliott still chasing 1st win of season in Texas

By Jim Vertuno May. 22, 2021 12:39 PM EDT

AJ Allmendinger climbs out of his car in Victory Lane after winning a NASCAR Xfinity Series auto race at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C., Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)
Allmendinger back at Daytona in 1st Cup race since 2018

By Jenna Fryer Feb. 20, 2021 04:41 PM EST

FILE - In this Feb. 18, 2001, file photo, Dale Earnhardt waves to fans during race introduction before the start of the Daytona 500 auto race at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. Earnhardt, the greatest stock car star of his era, was killed in a crash on the last turn of the last lap of the race that day as he tried to protect Michael Waltrip's victory (AP Photo/Russell Williams, File)
AP Was There: Earnhardt killed in 2001 Daytona 500 crash

By The Associated Press Feb. 11, 2021 04:31 PM EST

Kyle Busch does doughnuts after winning the NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, Texas, Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Richard W. Rodriguez)
AUTO RACING: Auto Racing Glance

By The Associated Press Oct. 28, 2020 01:42 PM EDT

Noah Gragson (9) leads the way as drivers compete in the rain during a NASCAR Xfinity Series auto race at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C., Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)
NASCAR champion Busch tries to stave off elimination

By Jenna Fryer Oct. 10, 2020 04:53 PM EDT

Kevin Harvick (4) does a burnout after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Dover International Speedway, Sunday, Aug. 23, 2020, in Dover, Del. (AP Photo/Jason Minto)
AUTO RACING: Auto Racing Glance

By The Associated Press Aug. 26, 2020 05:03 PM EDT

Kevin Harvick (4) races Aric Almirola (10) during the NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Mich., Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Harvick holds off Hamlin for Michigan doubleheader sweep

By Noah Trister Aug. 09, 2020 03:18 PM EDT

Kyle Busch (18) climbs out of his car after coming to a stop on pit road after colliding in Turn 4 during the NASCAR Daytona Clash auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2020, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Busch has done it all in NASCAR, except win the Daytona 500

By Dan Gelston Feb. 11, 2020 10:43 AM EST

FILE - In this June 16, 2019, file photo, Funny Car driver John Force prepares to run in the finals at the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway in Bristol, Tenn. More than a half century after he began piloting dragsters, Force, 70, will be in his Funny Car this weekend for the start of a new season in Pomona, Calif. (David Crigger/Bristol Herald Courier via AP, File)
The Force is with NHRA as drag racing season begins

By Tim Dahlberg Feb. 06, 2020 04:46 PM EST

FILE - In this May 3, 2001 file photo founder and chairman of Simpson Racing Products, Bill Simpson, is followed by reporters and photographers as he arrives at NASCAR headquarters in Daytona Beach, Fla. The pioneer in safety for race car drivers has died. Bill Simpson died Monday, Dec. 16, 2019 from complications from a stroke. He was 79. (Nigel Cook/Daytona Beach News-Journal via AP)
Motorsports safety pioneer Bill Simpson dies after stroke

By Jenna Fryer Dec. 16, 2019 07:01 PM EST

Denny Hamlin celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series auto race Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, in Avondale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso)
NASCAR’s final 4 in fun mode ahead of championship race

By Jenna Fryer Nov. 14, 2019 03:54 PM EST

FILE - In this Sept. 21, 2018, file photo, Dale Earnhardt Jr. looks at his daughter, Isla, and his wife Amy on pit row prior to an Xfinity Series NASCAR auto race at Richmond Raceway in Richmond, Va. Earnhardt Jr. will take the weekend off from broadcasting to be with his wife and daughter after the three were in a plane crash landing Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019, near Bristol Motor Speedway. (AP Photo/Steve Helber, File)
Darlington throwback: Keselowski relishes NASCAR celebration

By Pete Iacobelli Aug. 29, 2019 12:47 PM EDT

Kyle Busch walks through the garage area during a practice session for Sunday's NASCAR Cup Series auto race, Saturday, July 27, 2019, in Long Pond, Pa. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton)
Kyle Busch aims for 3rd straight win at Pocono Raceway

By Dan Gelston Jul. 27, 2019 02:36 PM EDT