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

Why Coca-Cola 600 was a magnum opus for NASCAR

Few NASCAR races will match Sunday's Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. 

Brad Keselowski earns first top-10 finish of 2025 at Charlotte

Brad Keselowski needed a good run in the Coca-Cola 600 in the worst way. 

Crucial pit road mishap dooms Denny Hamlin in Coca-Cola 600

Pit road was a major key in both of Denny Hamlin's wins in the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season at Martinsville and Darlington. In Sunday's Coca-Cola 600, however, it was the No. 11 team's downfall. 

'Disappointing' William Byron comes up one spot shy of Coca-Cola 600 victory

William Byron led 283 laps and swept the stages of Sunday's Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, but a late pass by Ross Chastain left the Charlotte native one spot shy of a victory in one of NASCAR's crown jewel events.

Ross Chastain wins thrilling Coca-Cola 600 with late pass on William Byron

On a night when he started dead last and had to drive a backup car, Ross Chastain drove the race of his life on Sunday to win the 66th running of the Coca-Cola 600. 

Watch: Carson Hocevar blows engine from the lead in Coca-Cola 600

Perhaps the most promising run of Carson Hocevar's young NASCAR Cup Series career came to an end in heartbreaking fashion.  Hocevar was on the front row for the Lap 308 restart with Denny Hamlin, but smoke began to pour from his car in the middle of turn 2.

Watch: Crash in Coca-Cola 600 bookends miserable day for Kyle Larson

For the second time in as many races on Sunday, Kyle Larson was involved in a race-ending crash.

Watch: Kyle Larson spins from the lead in Coca-Cola 600

Kyle Larson was off to a great start in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, but an early spin will force him to drive his way back through the field. 

It's time for Alex Palou to be recognized as one of the world's best race drivers

If winning three of the last four NTT IndyCar Series championships wasn't enough for Alex Palou to be recognized as one of the best race car drivers in the world, winning four of the first five races of the 2025 IndyCar season should've been.

Alex Palou fends off Marcus Ericsson to win 109th Indy 500

Alex Palou can now officially be defined as one of the greatest drivers in IndyCar history. 

Watch: Fuel pressure issues end Josef Newgarden's quest for Indy 500 three-peat

Josef Newgarden's bid for a historic three-peat in the Indianapolis 500 came to an early end on Sunday.

For the second year in a row, completion of the 'Double' evades Kyle Larson

For the second year in a row, Kyle Larson will not complete all 1100 miles of the Indianapolis 500-Coca-Cola 600 "Double."

Chase Briscoe edges Kyle Larson for Coca-Cola 600 pole

Chase Briscoe seems to have a knack for winning the pole position for NASCAR's crown jewel races.  On Saturday, Briscoe won the pole for the Coca-Cola 600. 

Carson Hocevar tops the speed chart in NASCAR Cup Series practice at Charlotte

Carson Hocevar paced the NASCAR Cup Series field in Coca-Cola 600 practice on Saturday afternoon. 

Ross Chastain has 'no idea' what to expect ahead of Coca-Cola 600

On Sunday, Chastain will make his eighth start in the Coca-Cola 600.

Taylor Gray wins pole for NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Charlotte

A pair of NASCAR Xfinity Series rookies will lead the field to the green flag for Saturday's BetMGM 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.   

NASCAR Coca-Cola 600 preview: Favorite, underdog, top storylines

Here's what you need to know before the 66th running of the crown jewel event. 

Corey Heim gets redemption, wins NASCAR Truck Series race at Charlotte

A week after he spun out on the final lap while racing for the win at North Wilkesboro, Corey Heim got redemption and put together a perfect race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. 

Jeff Gordon says Tom Cruise 'wants Days of Thunder 2'

According to NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon, a sequel to the hit 1990 film "Days of Thunder" is something star actor Tom Cruise wouldn't be opposed to. 

'Be a sponge': U.S. Army Specialist Kevin McCrea to be honored by Ross Chastain at Coca-Cola 600

On Sunday at Charlotte Motor Speedway, US Army Specialist Kevin McCrea will receive a very special honor. 

Gio Ruggiero wins first career pole for NASCAR Truck Series race at Charlotte

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series rookie Gio Ruggiero won his first career pole on Friday afternoon at the Charlotte Motor Speedway. 

What to know about Prime Video's NASCAR coverage

History will be made Sunday, as the 66th running of the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway will become the first NASCAR Cup Series race to be exclusively available on a streaming service.

Parker Retzlaff 'knew he needed a change' going into 2025 Xfinity season

One of the most under-the-radar storylines through the first three months of the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series season has been Parker Retzlaff's impressive start to the season with Alpha Prime Racing.

Driver Christian Rasmussen: Calmer but 'always ... butterflies' before Indy 500

Danish driver Christian Rasmussen is preparing for his second Indianapolis 500 start behind the wheel of the No. 21 Chevrolet for Ed Carpenter Racing.