Deadspin | Red Bull engineer Gianpiero Lambiase to join McLaren Nov 21, 2025; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen (1) celebrates his victory with race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase at Las Vegas Strip Circuit. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images Red Bull head of racing Gianpiero Lambiase is leaving the team at the expiration of his contract to join Formula 1 rival McLaren. Lambiase, 45, currently serves as the race engineer for four-time world champion Max Verstappen. McLaren announced Thursday that Lambiase will become its chief racing officer, reporting to team principal Andrea Stella. McLaren said Lambiase, who has been at Red Bull since 2015, will make the move when his existing contract ends, no later than 2028. “The team’s ability to attract and secure top talent, like Lambiase, and previously Rob Marshall and Will Courtenay, alongside the retention and promotion of highly talented people already within the team, is a testament to the strategic vision and culture that are integrally embodied in the McLaren Mastercard F1 Team under the leadership of Zak Brown and Andrea Stella, who are also both on long-term contracts,” McLaren said in a statement. Marshall and Courtenay were both senior staff members at Red Bull before joining McLaren in 2023 and 2024, respectively. Marshall is the chief designer at McLaren. Courtenay is the team’s sporting director. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Red #Bull #engineer #Gianpiero #Lambiase #join #McLaren

Deadspin | Red Bull engineer Gianpiero Lambiase to join McLaren
Deadspin | Red Bull engineer Gianpiero Lambiase to join McLaren Nov 21, 2025; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen (1) celebrates his victory with race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase at Las Vegas Strip Circuit. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images Red Bull head of racing Gianpiero Lambiase is leaving the team at the expiration of his contract to join Formula 1 rival McLaren. Lambiase, 45, currently serves as the race engineer for four-time world champion Max Verstappen. McLaren announced Thursday that Lambiase will become its chief racing officer, reporting to team principal Andrea Stella. McLaren said Lambiase, who has been at Red Bull since 2015, will make the move when his existing contract ends, no later than 2028. “The team’s ability to attract and secure top talent, like Lambiase, and previously Rob Marshall and Will Courtenay, alongside the retention and promotion of highly talented people already within the team, is a testament to the strategic vision and culture that are integrally embodied in the McLaren Mastercard F1 Team under the leadership of Zak Brown and Andrea Stella, who are also both on long-term contracts,” McLaren said in a statement. Marshall and Courtenay were both senior staff members at Red Bull before joining McLaren in 2023 and 2024, respectively. Marshall is the chief designer at McLaren. Courtenay is the team’s sporting director. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Red #Bull #engineer #Gianpiero #Lambiase #join #McLarenNov 21, 2025; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen (1) celebrates his victory with race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase at Las Vegas Strip Circuit. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

Red Bull head of racing Gianpiero Lambiase is leaving the team at the expiration of his contract to join Formula 1 rival McLaren.

Lambiase, 45, currently serves as the race engineer for four-time world champion Max Verstappen.

McLaren announced Thursday that Lambiase will become its chief racing officer, reporting to team principal Andrea Stella.


McLaren said Lambiase, who has been at Red Bull since 2015, will make the move when his existing contract ends, no later than 2028.

“The team’s ability to attract and secure top talent, like Lambiase, and previously Rob Marshall and Will Courtenay, alongside the retention and promotion of highly talented people already within the team, is a testament to the strategic vision and culture that are integrally embodied in the McLaren Mastercard F1 Team under the leadership of Zak Brown and Andrea Stella, who are also both on long-term contracts,” McLaren said in a statement.

Marshall and Courtenay were both senior staff members at Red Bull before joining McLaren in 2023 and 2024, respectively. Marshall is the chief designer at McLaren. Courtenay is the team’s sporting director.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Red #Bull #engineer #Gianpiero #Lambiase #join #McLaren

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Nov 21, 2025; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen (1) celebrates his victory with race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase at Las Vegas Strip Circuit. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

Red Bull head of racing Gianpiero Lambiase is leaving the team at the expiration of his contract to join Formula 1 rival McLaren.

Lambiase, 45, currently serves as the race engineer for four-time world champion Max Verstappen.

McLaren announced Thursday that Lambiase will become its chief racing officer, reporting to team principal Andrea Stella.

McLaren said Lambiase, who has been at Red Bull since 2015, will make the move when his existing contract ends, no later than 2028.

“The team’s ability to attract and secure top talent, like Lambiase, and previously Rob Marshall and Will Courtenay, alongside the retention and promotion of highly talented people already within the team, is a testament to the strategic vision and culture that are integrally embodied in the McLaren Mastercard F1 Team under the leadership of Zak Brown and Andrea Stella, who are also both on long-term contracts,” McLaren said in a statement.

Marshall and Courtenay were both senior staff members at Red Bull before joining McLaren in 2023 and 2024, respectively. Marshall is the chief designer at McLaren. Courtenay is the team’s sporting director.

–Field Level Media

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India loses to Indonesia in Billie Jean King Cup Asia/Oceania Group I <div id="content-body-70844456" itemprop="articleBody"><p>India’s hopes of advancing to the Billie Jean King Cup playoffs suffered a blow as it lost 0-3 to Indonesia in the Asia/Oceania Group I contest in New Delhi on Thursday.</p><p>Janice Tjen, the highest-ranked player here, broke no sweat in her 6-2, 6-1 win against Sahaja Yamalapalli in 58 minutes to seal the tie after Vaishnavi Adkar went down fighting to Priska Madelyn Nugroho 6-7(3), 7-6(3), 6-3 in the first match.</p><p>The World No. 41 cruised home in the opening set, breaking Sahaja in the first game and taking a 3-1 lead. Though the Indian managed to hold serve for the only time in the set, Janice racked up points to win 6-2 in just 31 minutes.</p><p>In the second, Sahaja was able to win just a solitary game, unable to handle her opponent’s powerful shots. The 23-year-old Indonesian had won her maiden singles title at the Chennai Open last year.</p><p>Janice returned for the doubles match with the experienced Aldila Sutjiadi as partner. The duo defeated Ankita Raina and Rutuja Bhosale 6-3, 7-6(4), handing the Indian pair its first reverse of the week.</p><div class=" article-picture center"><img src="https://ss-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/qckb1l/article70844469.ece/alternates/FREE_1200/32_TENNIS_09_04_DELHI.jpg" data-original="https://ss-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/qckb1l/article70844469.ece/alternates/FREE_1200/32_TENNIS_09_04_DELHI.jpg" alt="India’s Rutuja Bhosale and Ankita Raina celebrate a point. The Indonesian pair of Janice and Sutjiadi defeated the Indians in the doubles match." title="India’s Rutuja Bhosale and Ankita Raina celebrate a point. The Indonesian pair of Janice and Sutjiadi defeated the Indians in the doubles match." class=" lazy" width="100%" height="100%"/><div class="pic-caption"><figcaption class="figure-caption align-text-bottom"><p> India’s Rutuja Bhosale and Ankita Raina celebrate a point. The Indonesian pair of Janice and Sutjiadi defeated the Indians in the doubles match. | Photo Credit: SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR </p><img class="caption-image" src="https://assetsss.thehindu.com/theme/images/SSRX/lightbox-info.svg" alt="lightbox-info"/></figcaption></div><p class="caption"> India’s Rutuja Bhosale and Ankita Raina celebrate a point. The Indonesian pair of Janice and Sutjiadi defeated the Indians in the doubles match. | Photo Credit: SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR </p></div><p>Earlier, Vaishnavi battled hard against Priska. She rallied from 3-5, 15-40 down in the first set and saved three set points. Vaishnavi, who mixed her shots well, broke the Indonesian to pull level 5-5 and took the set to a tie-breaker before winning it 7-3.</p><p>The second set went Priska’s way, again in the tie-breaker.</p><p>In the decider, a visibly fatigued Vaishnavi faltered, netting a double-fisted backhand after a three-hour six-minute marathon.</p><div class="fact-box"><h5 class="main-title"> The results: </h5><p> Indonesia bt India 3-0 [Priska Madelyn Nugroho bt Vaishnavi Adkar 6-7(3), 7-6(3), 6-3; Janice Tjen bt Sahaja Yamalapalli 6-2, 6-1; Aldila Sutjiadi & Janice Tjen bt Rutuja Bhosale & Ankita Raina 6-3, 7-6(4)]. </p><p> Thailand bt Mongolia 3-0 [Thasaporn Naklo bt Anu-Vjin Gantor 6-1, 6-0; Patcharin Cheapchandej bt Khongorzul Aldarkhishig 6-1, 6-0; Peangtarn Plipuech & Kamonwan Yodpetch bt Jargal Altansarnai & Oyungerel Khasbaatar 6-0, 6-1]. </p><p> Korea bt New Zealand 3-0 [Dayeon Back bt Valentina Ivanov 7-5, 6-3; Sohyun Park bt Monique Barry 6-0, 6-1; Dayeon Back & Eunhye Lee bt Aishi Das & Valentina Ivanov 6-3, 3-6, [10-8]]. </p></div><p class="publish-time" id="end-of-article">Published on Apr 09, 2026</p></div> #India #loses #Indonesia #Billie #Jean #King #Cup #AsiaOceania #Group

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Deadspin | Mets say Carlos Mendoza’s job safe despite 10-21 start Apr 17, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza (64) speaks before a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images The New York Mets are sticking with manager Carlos Mendoza despite one of the worst starts in franchise history, president of baseball operations David Stearns told MLB.com on Friday. The Mets brought back Mendoza for a third season despite missing the playoffs last season. They enter this weekend’s series at Anaheim with the worst record in the majors at 10-21. It’s the third-worst start to a season in franchise history through 31 games. “We know our record is not what we want, and we know we are capable of more,” Stearns said. “We don’t view this as a manager problem, and we don’t intend to make a change.” Two other managers have been fired in the first month-plus of this season, Boston’s Alex Cora and Philadelphia’s Rob Thomson. But the Mets’ ownership reportedly views early-season injuries to star players Juan Soto and Francisco Lindor as bigger factors in the team’s slow start than Mendoza’s management. The Mets are trying to do what no team ever has in major league history: lose 12 straight games and still make the playoffs. Mendoza, 46, is in the third year of the contract he signed ahead of the 2024 season. The team has an option to extend his deal through the 2027 season. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Mets #Carlos #Mendozas #job #safe #startApr 17, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza (64) speaks before a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

The New York Mets are sticking with manager Carlos Mendoza despite one of the worst starts in franchise history, president of baseball operations David Stearns told MLB.com on Friday.

The Mets brought back Mendoza for a third season despite missing the playoffs last season. They enter this weekend’s series at Anaheim with the worst record in the majors at 10-21. It’s the third-worst start to a season in franchise history through 31 games.

“We know our record is not what we want, and we know we are capable of more,” Stearns said. “We don’t view this as a manager problem, and we don’t intend to make a change.”


Two other managers have been fired in the first month-plus of this season, Boston’s Alex Cora and Philadelphia’s Rob Thomson. But the Mets’ ownership reportedly views early-season injuries to star players Juan Soto and Francisco Lindor as bigger factors in the team’s slow start than Mendoza’s management.

The Mets are trying to do what no team ever has in major league history: lose 12 straight games and still make the playoffs.

Mendoza, 46, is in the third year of the contract he signed ahead of the 2024 season. The team has an option to extend his deal through the 2027 season.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Mets #Carlos #Mendozas #job #safe #start">Deadspin | Mets say Carlos Mendoza’s job safe despite 10-21 start Apr 17, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza (64) speaks before a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images The New York Mets are sticking with manager Carlos Mendoza despite one of the worst starts in franchise history, president of baseball operations David Stearns told MLB.com on Friday. The Mets brought back Mendoza for a third season despite missing the playoffs last season. They enter this weekend’s series at Anaheim with the worst record in the majors at 10-21. It’s the third-worst start to a season in franchise history through 31 games. “We know our record is not what we want, and we know we are capable of more,” Stearns said. “We don’t view this as a manager problem, and we don’t intend to make a change.” Two other managers have been fired in the first month-plus of this season, Boston’s Alex Cora and Philadelphia’s Rob Thomson. But the Mets’ ownership reportedly views early-season injuries to star players Juan Soto and Francisco Lindor as bigger factors in the team’s slow start than Mendoza’s management. The Mets are trying to do what no team ever has in major league history: lose 12 straight games and still make the playoffs. Mendoza, 46, is in the third year of the contract he signed ahead of the 2024 season. The team has an option to extend his deal through the 2027 season. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Mets #Carlos #Mendozas #job #safe #start

Deadspin | Red Sox recall LHP Jake Bennett to make MLB debut vs. Astros Worcester’s Jake Bennett pitches in the third inning on Opening Day March 27 at Polar Park. Left-hander Jake Bennett was recalled from Triple-A Worcester to make his major league debut on Friday when the Boston Red Sox host the Houston Astros. The move comes on the heels of the Red Sox placing ace Garrett Crochet on the 15-day injured list with left shoulder inflammation on Wednesday. Bennett will take the roster spot made vacant when utilityman Nate Eaton was optioned Thursday. Bennett, 25, was scratched from his start for Worcester on Tuesday. “Big-time strike thrower,” Boston interim manager Chad Tracy said. “The velocity and the fastball has obviously ticked up. He was coming off an arm injury when he was with Washington. But when he’s sitting there 94 (mph) — another guy kind of like (Payton) Tolle, doesn’t throw as hard, but big guy that really gets down the mound with big extension. So he tends to get in on hitters, too, because the fastball plays up.” The former second-round draft pick by the Washington Nationals in 2022 is 2-1 with a 0.86 ERA in five starts with Worcester this season. He has struck out 16 and walked three in 21 innings. Boston acquired Bennett from Washington for pitching prospect Luis Perales last December. He missed the 2024 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. “He’s in the zone a lot,” Tracy said. “Does a good job of holding runners. He can go from a slide step, he can use a leg kick, lands all stuff. But he’s really, really good, at least down there has been, getting the ball in the strike zone. And he gets a lot of weak contact.” –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Red #Sox #recall #LHP #Jake #Bennett #MLB #debut #AstrosWorcester’s Jake Bennett pitches in the third inning on Opening Day March 27 at Polar Park.

Left-hander Jake Bennett was recalled from Triple-A Worcester to make his major league debut on Friday when the Boston Red Sox host the Houston Astros.

The move comes on the heels of the Red Sox placing ace Garrett Crochet on the 15-day injured list with left shoulder inflammation on Wednesday. Bennett will take the roster spot made vacant when utilityman Nate Eaton was optioned Thursday.

Bennett, 25, was scratched from his start for Worcester on Tuesday.

“Big-time strike thrower,” Boston interim manager Chad Tracy said. “The velocity and the fastball has obviously ticked up. He was coming off an arm injury when he was with Washington. But when he’s sitting there 94 (mph) — another guy kind of like (Payton) Tolle, doesn’t throw as hard, but big guy that really gets down the mound with big extension. So he tends to get in on hitters, too, because the fastball plays up.”


The former second-round draft pick by the Washington Nationals in 2022 is 2-1 with a 0.86 ERA in five starts with Worcester this season. He has struck out 16 and walked three in 21 innings.

Boston acquired Bennett from Washington for pitching prospect Luis Perales last December. He missed the 2024 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery.

“He’s in the zone a lot,” Tracy said. “Does a good job of holding runners. He can go from a slide step, he can use a leg kick, lands all stuff. But he’s really, really good, at least down there has been, getting the ball in the strike zone. And he gets a lot of weak contact.”

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Red #Sox #recall #LHP #Jake #Bennett #MLB #debut #Astros">Deadspin | Red Sox recall LHP Jake Bennett to make MLB debut vs. Astros Worcester’s Jake Bennett pitches in the third inning on Opening Day March 27 at Polar Park. Left-hander Jake Bennett was recalled from Triple-A Worcester to make his major league debut on Friday when the Boston Red Sox host the Houston Astros. The move comes on the heels of the Red Sox placing ace Garrett Crochet on the 15-day injured list with left shoulder inflammation on Wednesday. Bennett will take the roster spot made vacant when utilityman Nate Eaton was optioned Thursday. Bennett, 25, was scratched from his start for Worcester on Tuesday. “Big-time strike thrower,” Boston interim manager Chad Tracy said. “The velocity and the fastball has obviously ticked up. He was coming off an arm injury when he was with Washington. But when he’s sitting there 94 (mph) — another guy kind of like (Payton) Tolle, doesn’t throw as hard, but big guy that really gets down the mound with big extension. So he tends to get in on hitters, too, because the fastball plays up.” The former second-round draft pick by the Washington Nationals in 2022 is 2-1 with a 0.86 ERA in five starts with Worcester this season. He has struck out 16 and walked three in 21 innings. Boston acquired Bennett from Washington for pitching prospect Luis Perales last December. He missed the 2024 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. “He’s in the zone a lot,” Tracy said. “Does a good job of holding runners. He can go from a slide step, he can use a leg kick, lands all stuff. But he’s really, really good, at least down there has been, getting the ball in the strike zone. And he gets a lot of weak contact.” –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Red #Sox #recall #LHP #Jake #Bennett #MLB #debut #Astros

Deadspin | Buckle up: Cup Series ‘roller coaster’ travels to Texas May 4, 2025; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Joey Logano (22) celebrates in victory lane with the winner’s trophy after he wins the Wurth 400 race at Texas Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images Talladega’s fast-paced action gave fans a thrilling finish last week with Carson Hocevar recording his first win, and the Lone Star State will try to match or eclipse that this weekend. With 10 races in the books, the NASCAR Cup Series travels to Texas Motor Speedway for Sunday afternoon’s Wurth 400 in Fort Worth, where Joey Logano is the defending race winner after taking the checkers last year in overtime. In his No. 22 Ford, Logano pulled away from Team Penske teammate Ryan Blaney and held off Ross Chastain for his first victory in a season in which the defending Cup champ had achieved no top-five finishes and just one top-10. “It’s crazy how you can just ride these roller coasters,” Logano said of the ups and downs in the 36-race schedule. Looking over the post-COVID races at TMS — the track was scaled back to just one points-race weekend starting in 2021 — the 1.5-mile speedway has been quite the thrill ride itself. In the subsequent five races, the caution flag has waved 66 times, an average of 13.2 yellows, forcing the field to dodge mishaps and crew chiefs to reconsider multiple race strategies. While Logano’s Ford was the first to the checkers last season, TMS has been a fantastic track for Chevrolet, which is riding the momentum from a pair of firsts last weekend in Alabama. On Saturday, 20-year-old Chevy driver Corey Day won for the first time in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series in just his 22nd start by starting third and leading only the final lap. Day was aided by new pit crew member Jason Kelce, the seven-time NFL Pro Bowler and Super Bowl winner with the Philadelphia Eagles. The former center transported tires for the No. 17 team. Of course, Hocevar stole the spotlight the next day by handing the manufacturer its second win this season by driving away from Chris Buescher’s No. 17 Ford down the long frontstretch for his first Cup victory in his 91st start. He became the 12th different winner at Talladega in the last 12 races at the giant superspeedway. It was an impressive showing for the Portage, Mich., product, who has been knocking on the door of a win — plus knocking on some rear bumpers as well — and eventually was going to find Victory Lane at NASCAR’s top level. Would it be surprising to see Hocevar’s No. 77 win again in Texas? Absolutely not. He finished fourth at the similarly shaped Atlanta Motor Speedway this year and second in the spring race there last season. The Spire Motorsports driver also won the Texas pole one year ago. The biggest advantage for the third-year driver, eighth in points and 192 behind leader Tyler Reddick, might be what’s underneath him. The Bowtie Bunch has notched a series-best 18 wins in 45 Texas starts, including five of the past seven races and a track-best four consecutive from 2021-24. Kyle Busch leads the active drivers with four wins at TMS and Denny Hamlin has three, though neither has won there since 2020. Sunday will be a mad dash to see who can hop in the lead car on the Cup Series roller coaster. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Buckle #Cup #Series #roller #coaster #travels #TexasMay 4, 2025; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Joey Logano (22) celebrates in victory lane with the winner’s trophy after he wins the Wurth 400 race at Texas Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Talladega’s fast-paced action gave fans a thrilling finish last week with Carson Hocevar recording his first win, and the Lone Star State will try to match or eclipse that this weekend.

With 10 races in the books, the NASCAR Cup Series travels to Texas Motor Speedway for Sunday afternoon’s Wurth 400 in Fort Worth, where Joey Logano is the defending race winner after taking the checkers last year in overtime.

In his No. 22 Ford, Logano pulled away from Team Penske teammate Ryan Blaney and held off Ross Chastain for his first victory in a season in which the defending Cup champ had achieved no top-five finishes and just one top-10.

“It’s crazy how you can just ride these roller coasters,” Logano said of the ups and downs in the 36-race schedule.

Looking over the post-COVID races at TMS — the track was scaled back to just one points-race weekend starting in 2021 — the 1.5-mile speedway has been quite the thrill ride itself.

In the subsequent five races, the caution flag has waved 66 times, an average of 13.2 yellows, forcing the field to dodge mishaps and crew chiefs to reconsider multiple race strategies.

While Logano’s Ford was the first to the checkers last season, TMS has been a fantastic track for Chevrolet, which is riding the momentum from a pair of firsts last weekend in Alabama.

On Saturday, 20-year-old Chevy driver Corey Day won for the first time in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series in just his 22nd start by starting third and leading only the final lap.

Day was aided by new pit crew member Jason Kelce, the seven-time NFL Pro Bowler and Super Bowl winner with the Philadelphia Eagles. The former center transported tires for the No. 17 team.


Of course, Hocevar stole the spotlight the next day by handing the manufacturer its second win this season by driving away from Chris Buescher’s No. 17 Ford down the long frontstretch for his first Cup victory in his 91st start.

He became the 12th different winner at Talladega in the last 12 races at the giant superspeedway.

It was an impressive showing for the Portage, Mich., product, who has been knocking on the door of a win — plus knocking on some rear bumpers as well — and eventually was going to find Victory Lane at NASCAR’s top level.

Would it be surprising to see Hocevar’s No. 77 win again in Texas? Absolutely not.

He finished fourth at the similarly shaped Atlanta Motor Speedway this year and second in the spring race there last season. The Spire Motorsports driver also won the Texas pole one year ago.

The biggest advantage for the third-year driver, eighth in points and 192 behind leader Tyler Reddick, might be what’s underneath him.

The Bowtie Bunch has notched a series-best 18 wins in 45 Texas starts, including five of the past seven races and a track-best four consecutive from 2021-24.

Kyle Busch leads the active drivers with four wins at TMS and Denny Hamlin has three, though neither has won there since 2020.

Sunday will be a mad dash to see who can hop in the lead car on the Cup Series roller coaster.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #Buckle #Cup #Series #roller #coaster #travels #Texas">Deadspin | Buckle up: Cup Series ‘roller coaster’ travels to Texas May 4, 2025; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; NASCAR Cup Series driver Joey Logano (22) celebrates in victory lane with the winner’s trophy after he wins the Wurth 400 race at Texas Motor Speedway. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images Talladega’s fast-paced action gave fans a thrilling finish last week with Carson Hocevar recording his first win, and the Lone Star State will try to match or eclipse that this weekend. With 10 races in the books, the NASCAR Cup Series travels to Texas Motor Speedway for Sunday afternoon’s Wurth 400 in Fort Worth, where Joey Logano is the defending race winner after taking the checkers last year in overtime. In his No. 22 Ford, Logano pulled away from Team Penske teammate Ryan Blaney and held off Ross Chastain for his first victory in a season in which the defending Cup champ had achieved no top-five finishes and just one top-10. “It’s crazy how you can just ride these roller coasters,” Logano said of the ups and downs in the 36-race schedule. Looking over the post-COVID races at TMS — the track was scaled back to just one points-race weekend starting in 2021 — the 1.5-mile speedway has been quite the thrill ride itself. In the subsequent five races, the caution flag has waved 66 times, an average of 13.2 yellows, forcing the field to dodge mishaps and crew chiefs to reconsider multiple race strategies. While Logano’s Ford was the first to the checkers last season, TMS has been a fantastic track for Chevrolet, which is riding the momentum from a pair of firsts last weekend in Alabama. On Saturday, 20-year-old Chevy driver Corey Day won for the first time in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series in just his 22nd start by starting third and leading only the final lap. Day was aided by new pit crew member Jason Kelce, the seven-time NFL Pro Bowler and Super Bowl winner with the Philadelphia Eagles. The former center transported tires for the No. 17 team. Of course, Hocevar stole the spotlight the next day by handing the manufacturer its second win this season by driving away from Chris Buescher’s No. 17 Ford down the long frontstretch for his first Cup victory in his 91st start. He became the 12th different winner at Talladega in the last 12 races at the giant superspeedway. It was an impressive showing for the Portage, Mich., product, who has been knocking on the door of a win — plus knocking on some rear bumpers as well — and eventually was going to find Victory Lane at NASCAR’s top level. Would it be surprising to see Hocevar’s No. 77 win again in Texas? Absolutely not. He finished fourth at the similarly shaped Atlanta Motor Speedway this year and second in the spring race there last season. The Spire Motorsports driver also won the Texas pole one year ago. The biggest advantage for the third-year driver, eighth in points and 192 behind leader Tyler Reddick, might be what’s underneath him. The Bowtie Bunch has notched a series-best 18 wins in 45 Texas starts, including five of the past seven races and a track-best four consecutive from 2021-24. Kyle Busch leads the active drivers with four wins at TMS and Denny Hamlin has three, though neither has won there since 2020. Sunday will be a mad dash to see who can hop in the lead car on the Cup Series roller coaster. –Field Level Media #Deadspin #Buckle #Cup #Series #roller #coaster #travels #Texas

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