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

Ryan Blaney has solidified himself as one of NASCAR's elite despite not winning another championship

Ryan Blaney's NASCAR Cup Series journey has been rather atypical for a driver of his standard. 

The 1992 Hooters 500 was NASCAR cinema in its purest form

If one race must be chosen as the greatest in NASCAR history, one choice looms above the rest: The 1992 Hooters 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. 

How Red Byron went from WWII hero to NASCAR's first champion

Few drivers in NASCAR history have as unique of a story as Red Byron. 

This trend could bode well for Kyle Busch after first career winless season

Not only did Busch miss the NASCAR playoffs for the first time since 2012, but he went winless for the first time over the course of a Cup Series season, breaking a record streak of 19 consecutive seasons with at least one victory. 

Joey Logano has redefined a championship-caliber NASCAR season

Credit should be given to Logano and the No. 22 team, but his third title could become a watershed moment for NASCAR — and not a good one. 

Christopher Bell nearly spoiled championship party at Phoenix

Christopher Bell had a stellar day at Phoenix Raceway on Sunday, leading a race-high 143 laps and bringing home a fifth-place finish in the final race of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series season. 

Joey Logano secures his legacy with third NASCAR Cup Series championship

Joey Logano won his third NASCAR Cup Series championship in the most Joey Logano way possible on Sunday.

Martin Truex Jr. closes the book on his full-time NASCAR career

Martin Truex Jr.'s full-time NASCAR career is officially over.

Ryan Blaney comes up one spot short of defending his NASCAR Cup Series championship

It looked as if Ryan Blaney would replicate the events of last weekend's NASCAR Cup Series race at Martinsville in the closing laps of Sunday's championship race at Phoenix. 

Joey Logano wins battle of Team Penske teammates to earn third NASCAR Cup Series championship

It was two Team Penske teammates that decided the fate of the 2024 NASCAR Cup Series championship. 

Kyle Busch goes winless in a NASCAR Cup Series season for first time in career

For the first time, Kyle Busch has not won a race over the course of a NASCAR Cup Series season. 

Watch: Pace car wrecks under caution in NASCAR championship race

A car not even racing in Sunday's NASCAR Cup Series championship race at Phoenix brought out the red flag after crashing. 

Watch: Ty Gibbs crashes hard on Lap 3 of NASCAR Cup Series championship race

The crash knocked Gibbs out of the race, relegating him to a last-place finish in the 36th and final race of the season.

Storylines to know before NASCAR Cup Series championship race at Phoenix

When the checkered flag falls at the Phoenix raceway on Sunday afternoon, a new NASCAR Cup Series champion will have been crowned. Here's what you need to know before the final race of the 2024 season. 

Riley Herbst sends Stewart-Haas Racing out with a victory in team's final Xfinity Series race

All the focus surrounding Saturday's NASCAR Xfinity Series championship race may be on champion Justin Allgaier, but Riley Herbst deserves his fair share of commendation as well.

Justin Allgaier captures elusive NASCAR Xfinity Series championship after 14 years of trying

Absolutely nothing was going right for Justin Allgaier halfway through Saturday's NASCAR Xfinity Series championship race at Phoenix.  After crashing in

Riley Herbst wins at Phoenix, Justin Allgaier wins first NASCAR Xfinity Series championship

Justin Allgaier is finally a NASCAR Xfinity Series champion. 

No. 8 Baylor takes down John Calipari, No. 16 Arkansas

John Calipari was dealt his first loss as head coach at Arkansas on Saturday in a game Arkansas never led in, as the No. 16 Razorbacks (1-1) fell to No. 8 Baylor (1-1) in Dallas by a score of 72-67.

Watch: NASCAR driver penalized after intentionally wrecking competitor

A year's worth of frustrations may be coming to a head in the NASCAR Xfinity Series championship race at Phoenix Raceway. 

Tragedy never snuffed out Bobby Allison's triumphant spirit

In a Sports Illustrated article from February of 1997, Bobby Allison was aptly compared to Biblical figure Job as a man who never lost faith despite having every reason to do so. That comparison has perhaps never been so appropriate as Allison's life is remembered in the wake of his death on Saturday. 

NASCAR legend, Hall of Famer Bobby Allison dies at 86

Allison made his NASCAR Cup Series debut in 1961 and his final start in 1988 in a career that spanned 28 seasons and 718 races. 

Martin Truex Jr. wins pole for final full-time NASCAR Cup Series race

Truex Jr. won the pole with a lap of 26.718 seconds. 

Clock strikes midnight on Grant Enfinger, CR7 Motorsports' dream 2024 season

Grant Enfinger's Chevrolet Silverado finally turned into a pumpkin at the Phoenix Raceway. 

Christian Eckes' consistent season not enough to win Truck Series championship

On Friday, Christian Eckes made NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series history, but it didn't culminate in a championship trophy. 

Second straight championship defeat gives Corey Heim extra fuel heading into 2025

For the second season in a row, an outstanding season from Corey Heim ended in disappointment at Phoenix.