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

Denny Hamlin's 2025 championship loss hurts more than any other

Sunday was not the first time Denny Hamlin came heartbreakingly close to winning a NASCAR Cup Series championship, but he says it's the first time losing a title has hurt this badly. 

Final 2025 NASCAR power rankings: Major shake-ups after Phoenix finale

Ryan Blaney won Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Phoenix Raceway, and Kyle Larson brought home the 2025 Cup Series championship.

Kyle Larson weathered the storm to claim 2025 NASCAR championship

Kyle Larson's second NASCAR Cup Series championship came in a much different fashion than his first.  Larson's 2021 championship campaign was a year in which the No.

Ryan Blaney doesn't want to live in the past after Phoenix win

In an alternate reality where Ryan Blaney held off a hard-charging William Byron one week ago at Martinsville Speedway, it could've been Blaney winning his way to the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series championship at Phoenix Raceway on Sunday afternoon.

Denny Hamlin 'numb' after losing NASCAR championship in final laps

There wouldn't have been a more storybook conclusion to the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season than Denny Hamlin winning the championship. 

Chase Briscoe comes up short of NASCAR title in first Championship 4 appearance

Briscoe and the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing team were resilient on Sunday, but a pair of tire issues proved to be too much too overcome in the hunt for the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series championship.

Blown tire ends William Byron's chances of winning NASCAR title

For the third year in a row, William Byron made the Championship 4 but did not win the NASCAR Cup Series championship.

'Not meant to be': Denny Hamlin experiences another heartbreaking championship loss

Denny Hamlin had the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series championship won. 

Kyle Larson edges Denny Hamlin for NASCAR title in OT; Ryan Blaney wins season finale

Ryan Blaney won Sunday's NASCAR Cup Series race at Phoenix Raceway, but it was Kyle Larson who took home the 2025 Cup Series championship in overtime.

Kyle Larson, Chase Briscoe suffer disastrous tire failures in NASCAR championship race

Two NASCAR championship contenders suffered crippling tire issues in Sunday's NASCAR Cup Series championship race. 

Jaguars' Cam Little makes longest field goal in NFL history

On Sunday, Little nailed a 68-yard field goal for the Jacksonville Jaguars in their Week 9 contest against the Las Vegas Raiders, breaking the record for the longest field goal in NFL history.

Chase Briscoe suffers flat tire, damage in NASCAR championship race at Phoenix

Briscoe's road to the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series championship just got a lot tougher. 

Connor Zilisch losing Xfinity Series championship should be final indictment of NASCAR's playoff system

The championship format has only drawn more disdain with every passing year. 

Jesse Love wins NASCAR Xfinity Series season finale, 2025 championship at Phoenix

Jesse Love raced his way into the history books on Saturday. 

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.