Yardbarker

Samuel Stubbs

Contributor

Hailing from the same neck of the woods as NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin, Samuel has been covering NASCAR for Yardbarker since February 2024. He has been a member of the National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA) since October of 2024. When he’s not writing about racing, Samuel covers Arkansas Razorback basketball for Yardbarker. He is also a member of the U.S. Basketball Writers Association (USBWA). Samuel will attend the University of Arkansas in the fall of 2025.

EXPERTISE:

NASCAR

NASCAR Cup Series championship contender Chase Briscoe suffers scare in practice at Phoenix

Chase Briscoe suffered his biggest scare of the season in Friday's NASCAR Cup Series practice session.

Connor Zilisch paces NASCAR Xfinity Series practice at Phoenix

NASCAR Xfinity Series championship favorite Connor Zilisch certainly looked the part on Friday afternoon. 

Layne Riggs wins pole for NASCAR Truck Series title race, but won't start first

An incredible qualifying effort from NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver Layne Riggs will be all for naught. 

NASCAR committed to charter system despite lengthy antitrust lawsuit

Despite a nearly 13-month courtroom battle, NASCAR remains committed to its current charter system. 

Ty Majeski paces NASCAR Truck Series championship practice at Phoenix

The defending NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion flexed his muscle in Thursday's practice session at Phoenix Raceway.

How Hendrick Motorsports' leadership keeps NASCAR's winningest team focused forward

In the midst of a relative slump for driver Kyle Larson and the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports team, crew chief Cliff Daniels decided that reading was going to be the team's summer bonding activity of choice.

NASCAR driver to miss second consecutive race due to concussion symptoms

A NASCAR Xfinity Series driver won't get to finish out his rookie season behind the wheel.

Marco Andretti, former Indy 500 pole winner, announces retirement from racing

His legacy will forever be foremost tied to Indianapolis, where he made the final five starts of his IndyCar career.

Kaulig Racing signs two drivers for 2026 NASCAR Truck Series season

Kaulig Racing now has three full-time drivers locked down for the 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season.

NASCAR driver suspended for Xfinity Series finale after intentionally wrecking competitor at Martinsville

Sam Mayer will spend the final weekend of the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series season on an unscheduled vacation. 

Six-year title drought for Joe Gibbs Racing has felt like 'forever'

Joe Gibbs is quite used to winning championships. He did so thrice in the NFL, winning three Super Bowls as the head coach in Washington. He's won five NASCAR Cup Series championships as a car owner.  But Gibbs' NASCAR team hasn't won a Cup Series title in six years, with Kyle Busch's 2019 title being the last time JGR was on top of the pile.

NASCAR power rankings: Championship 4 field is set after Martinsville

William Byron won Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway, clinching a spot in the Championship 4 at Phoenix. 

After two consecutive heartbreaking races, William Byron got one back on Lady Luck at Martinsville

The two-time Daytona 500 champion needed a win at Martinsville Speedway on Sunday to advance to the Championship 4. 

Jeff Gordon says Hendrick Motorsports wants 2025 championship 'bad'

It's been nearly four years since Hendrick Motorsports last won a NASCAR Cup Series championship. For most teams, a four-year title drought isn't a drought at all.

2025 NASCAR championship race will be a true heavyweight battle

The stage is set for a thrilling finale in what is possibly the final "championship race" in NASCAR history.

Team Penske shut out of NASCAR's Championship 4 for first time in Next-Gen era

The fourth year of NASCAR's Next-Gen car will be the first year that Team Penske does not win the NASCAR Cup Series championship. 

Joey Logano's bid for fourth NASCAR title ends at Martinsville

Without a win at Martinsville in 2018, Joey Logano likely wouldn't have gone on to win his first NASCAR Cup Series title later that same year. But on Sunday at Martinsville, when he needed another clutch win, the three-time Cup Series champion didn't have enough. 

Christopher Bell suffers another Martinsville heartbreak

For the second year in a row, Martinsville Speedway ended Christopher Bell's NASCAR championship hopes and ripped his heart out. 

Chase Elliott fails to make Championship 4 after third-place run at Martinsville

For the second year in a row, a podium effort from Chase Elliott in the penultimate race of the NASCAR Cup Series season wasn't enough for NASCAR's most popular driver to make the Championship 4.

Kyle Larson scores final Championship 4 berth at Martinsville

Kyle Larson's day at Martinsville Speedway wasn't particularly flashy, but in the end, it didn't need to be. 

Ryan Blaney comes close to third consecutive Championship 4 berth

Ryan Blaney, needing a win to advance to the Championship 4 for the third consecutive year, had won the previous two Martinsville fall races and appeared to be on his way to doing so again. 

William Byron clinches NASCAR Championship 4 berth with clutch Martinsville win

William Byron drove the best race of his NASCAR career when he needed to the most. 

Two NASCAR playoff drivers have engine trouble at Martinsville

A pair of NASCAR Cup Series playoff drivers had engine issues during Sunday's playoff race at Martinsville Speedway.

Father Time gives Taylor Gray a moment to redeem himself at Martinsville

Taylor Gray had been in this position before: leading a NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Martinsville Speedway on the final lap with Sammy Smith behind him.