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 Truck Series races could be in Cleetus McFarland's future

McFarland notched top-10 finishes at Talladega and Charlotte in ARCA competition in 2025 and had an average finish of 16.5 across his four starts. 

Sleet comes down during NASCAR Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium

A race postponed by three days due to a historic snowstorm in North Carolina saw more bizarre weather on Wednesday. 

Michael McDowell unsure why NASCAR penalized him for start violation at Bowman Gray

2026 is the second time in as many years that McDowell has failed to advance to the Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium.

Austin Cindric, Corey LaJoie get full 'Madhouse' experience in LCQ

NASCAR Cup Series drivers Austin Cindric and Corey LaJoie got the full Bowman Gray experience in Wednesday's last-chance qualifier race. 

Josh Berry, Austin Cindric advance to Cook Out Clash through LCQ

As Josh Berry drove away and dominated Wednesday's last-chance qualifier race for the Clash at Bowman Gray, there was a dogfight happening behind him for the second and final transfer spot.

Kyle Larson wins pole for Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray

It will be an all-Hendrick Motorsports front row leading the NASCAR Cup Series field to the green flag in Wednesday's Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium.

Christopher Bell paces NASCAR Clash practice at Bowman Gray 

In the first on-track session of the year for the NASCAR Cup Series, Christopher Bell led the way. 

Corey LaJoie playing with 'house money' as he fills in for Brad Keselowski

The opportunity to drive the No. 6 RFK Racing Ford in Wednesday's Clash at Bowman Gray and a fourth RFK entry in the Daytona 500 is a huge opportunity for LaJoie.

Denny Hamlin trying to maintain positive attitude despite tumultuous, tragic offseason

Wednesday is the "first day of school" for Hamlin ahead of the exhibition Cook Out Clash that will unofficially kick off the 2026 season.

Casey Mears running Daytona 500 with Garage 66

A NASCAR veteran will try and make the 68th running of the Daytona 500 with Garage 66. 

NASCAR's Charlotte Roval is not gone for good

This fall, NASCAR will not run the road course-oval hybrid, dubbed the Roval, at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

NASCAR will be ready to run Clash even if it rains

NASCAR remains optimistic that it will get the race at the 0.25-mile Bowman Gray in on Wednesday evening.

Three-time Indy 500 winner making first NASCAR start since 2008 at St. Petersburg

He was a part of the "open-wheel invasion" into NASCAR in the late 2000s, making his first NASCAR start in 2007.

 Crew chief Alex Yontz's will call shots for Tony Stewart at Daytona

Tony Stewart will make his first NASCAR start in nearly a decade, and his first Craftsman Truck Series start since 2005 at Daytona International Speedway on Feb. 13. 

New championship format won't desire NASCAR drivers' desire to win

NASCAR's new Chase format no longer ensures drivers a playoff berth via a victory and will place more of an emphasis on consistency, but it won't diminish the inherent desire every driver has to win races.

Three NASCAR drivers who can make 2026 Clash after failing to qualify in 2025

Wednesday's Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium will not be a typical NASCAR event.

Kyle Busch is not a fan of NASCAR bringing back the Chase

NASCAR's decision to bring back the Chase championship format was met with applause from several drivers and a large portion of the fan base, but not everyone in the industry is in favor of it. 

Brad Keselowski couldn't race in NASCAR Clash even if he wanted to

Even if he wanted to, Brad Keselowski, who broke his leg in December, couldn't race in Wednesday's Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium. 

Dale Earnhardt Jr. says current NASCAR Clash is 'unrecognizable'

NASCAR Hall of Famer Dale Earnhardt Jr. took to social media to express his opinion on the Clash on Sunday. 

Nearly 25 years after his death, Dale Earnhardt's legendary legacy is multifaceted

While it's his on-track legacy that yields story after story of one incredible feat after another, it's the safety revolution his death sparked that deserves more attention.

Different kind of precipitation could push NASCAR Clash back even farther

After a snowstorm pushed NASCAR's Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium to Wednesday, a different kind of precipitation could affect the race on its new date.

NASCAR test at Rockingham pushed back again due to winter weather

Mother Nature is wreaking havoc across NASCAR this week.

NASCAR 'explored all scenarios' before moving Clash to Wednesday

NASCAR on Sunday made the decision to postpone the Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium from its rescheduled Monday date to Wednesday.

Snowstorm forces NASCAR to postpone Clash at Bowman Gray to Wednesday

After initially postponing Sunday's scheduled Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium to Monday, winter weather in North Carolina has forced NASCAR to once again move the exhibition race to later in the week.

Kyle Busch explains how Richard Childress Racing has fallen behind with Next-Gen car

Kyle Busch and Richard Childress Racing have been put through the wringer over the last two and a half NASCAR Cup Series seasons.