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

Where early-season Xfinity Series playoff bubble stands after COTA

Here is an early-season look at where the playoff bubble stands after Saturday's race at Circuit of the Americas.

NASCAR drivers trade blows on social media after run-in at COTA

Following Saturday's Focused Health 250 at Circuit of the Americas, two NASCAR Xfinity Series drivers took to social media to air their displeasure with each other. 

Flat tire ends promising day for Carson Kvapil at COTA

The Mooresville, North Carolina, native led seven laps and was forced to claw his way through the field after an early spin but was in position to battle with a fellow rookie and JR Motorsports teammate for the win late in the race. 

Connor Zilisch bounces back from early penalty to win Xfinity Series race at COTA

Connor Zilisch didn't have the easiest path to victory in Saturday's Focused Health 250 at Circuit of the Americas, but his beaten and battered No. 88 got the job done in crunch time.

Tyler Reddick wins pole for EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix

Tyler Reddick will lead the field to the green flag in Sunday's NASCAR Cup Series race at Circuit of the Americas. 

What to know ahead of Saturday's NASCAR Xfinity Series race at COTA

On Saturday, the third race of the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series season will take place at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.

With COTA's future uncertain, layout change attempts to bring more action to fans

In recent years, the Texas state capital has embraced “Keep Austin Weird” as a motto. Those words apply to the city’s auto racing venue, too.   

Who's trending up, down two races into NASCAR Xfinity Series season

Following Saturday's race at Atlanta Motor Speedway, the first two races of the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series season are in the books. Going into Saturday's Focused Health 250 at Circuit of the Americas, here are the drivers trending up and down early in the season.

Arkansas beats Texas in OT to possibly revitalize NCAA Tournament hopes

The raucous crowd inside Bud Walton Arena was living and dying with every play in Wednesday's game between Arkansas and Texas. 

Why the hype around Connor Zilisch's NASCAR Cup Series debut is warranted

As Zilisch prepares for his NASCAR Cup Series debut in Sunday’s race at Circuit of the Americas, he enters the weekend with more hype around him than any debutant over the last decade.

Who's trending up, down two races into NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season

Following Saturday's Fr8 208 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, the first two races of the 2025 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season are in the books. Here are the drivers trending up and down after the first two events of the year.

Kyle Larson exorcised superspeedway demons at Atlanta

Superspeedways have never been Kyle Larson's cup of tea, but he drove one of the best speedway races of his life in Sunday's Ambetter Health 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. 

Carson Hocevar ruffled feathers en route to career-best finish at Atlanta

Carson Hocevar earned the best finish of his young NASCAR Cup Series career on Sunday at Atlanta Motor Speedway, but he ruffled plenty of feathers along the way.

Christopher Bell wins Ambetter Health 400 in NASCAR overtime

Christopher Bell only led one lap in Sunday's Ambetter Health 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, but he led the most important one. 

Watch: Leaders wreck with four laps to go in Ambetter Health 400

With four laps to go in Sunday's Ambetter Health 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, two of the fastest cars of the day had their races ended. 

Watch: Drivers take hard hits in crash during Ambetter Health 400

The hardest crash, thus far, in Sunday's Ambetter Health 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway took out last year's winner of the race.

Watch: Chase Elliott, Brad Keselowski collide in wreck at Atlanta

The first multi-car incident of the day in Sunday's Ambetter Health 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway involved a pair of NASCAR Cup Series champions.

Watch: Front-runner blows tire in NASCAR Cup Series race at Atlanta

One of the dominant cars in Sunday's Ambetter Health 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway is likely out of the running for the race win. 

Signing of Corey Heim a major step for 23XI Racing

Heim is one of the brightest prospects in NASCAR at the moment and is the favorite to win the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship.

Nick Sanchez earns career-best Xfinity Series finish at Atlanta

Nick Sanchez earned every bit of his fifth-place finish in Saturday's NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

John Calipari, Arkansas keep NCAA Tournament hopes alive with upset win

The roar of the crowd inside Bud Walton Arena on Saturday was the sound of Arkansas' NCAA Tournament hopes being brought back to life. 

After Daytona disappointment, Austin Hill gets redemption at Atlanta

Just like in the NASCAR Xfinity Series season opener at Daytona on Feb. 15, Austin Hill was the dominant car in Saturday's Xfinity Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. 

Austin Hill holds on to win Xfinity Series race at Atlanta

For the fifth time in seven NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at the reconfigured Atlanta Motor Speedway, Austin Hill found a way to victory lane. 

A year after heartbreaking loss, Kyle Busch comes out on the right side of an Atlanta photo finish

In Saturday's NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race, Busch got redemption — at least, partially.