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

Six-year title drought for Joe Gibbs Racing has felt like 'forever'

Joe Gibbs is quite used to winning championships. He did so thrice in the NFL, winning three Super Bowls as the head coach in Washington. He's won five NASCAR Cup Series championships as a car owner.  But Gibbs' NASCAR team hasn't won a Cup Series title in six years, with Kyle Busch's 2019 title being the last time JGR was on top of the pile.

After two consecutive heartbreaking races, William Byron got one back on Lady Luck at Martinsville

The two-time Daytona 500 champion needed a win at Martinsville Speedway on Sunday to advance to the Championship 4. 

Jeff Gordon says Hendrick Motorsports wants 2025 championship 'bad'

It's been nearly four years since Hendrick Motorsports last won a NASCAR Cup Series championship. For most teams, a four-year title drought isn't a drought at all.

2025 NASCAR championship race will be a true heavyweight battle

The stage is set for a thrilling finale in what is possibly the final "championship race" in NASCAR history.

Team Penske shut out of NASCAR's Championship 4 for first time in Next-Gen era

The fourth year of NASCAR's Next-Gen car will be the first year that Team Penske does not win the NASCAR Cup Series championship. 

Joey Logano's bid for fourth NASCAR title ends at Martinsville

Without a win at Martinsville in 2018, Joey Logano likely wouldn't have gone on to win his first NASCAR Cup Series title later that same year. But on Sunday at Martinsville, when he needed another clutch win, the three-time Cup Series champion didn't have enough. 

Christopher Bell suffers another Martinsville heartbreak

For the second year in a row, Martinsville Speedway ended Christopher Bell's NASCAR championship hopes and ripped his heart out. 

Chase Elliott fails to make Championship 4 after third-place run at Martinsville

For the second year in a row, a podium effort from Chase Elliott in the penultimate race of the NASCAR Cup Series season wasn't enough for NASCAR's most popular driver to make the Championship 4.

Kyle Larson scores final Championship 4 berth at Martinsville

Kyle Larson's day at Martinsville Speedway wasn't particularly flashy, but in the end, it didn't need to be. 

Ryan Blaney comes close to third consecutive Championship 4 berth

Ryan Blaney, needing a win to advance to the Championship 4 for the third consecutive year, had won the previous two Martinsville fall races and appeared to be on his way to doing so again. 

William Byron clinches NASCAR Championship 4 berth with clutch Martinsville win

William Byron drove the best race of his NASCAR career when he needed to the most. 

Two NASCAR playoff drivers have engine trouble at Martinsville

A pair of NASCAR Cup Series playoff drivers had engine issues during Sunday's playoff race at Martinsville Speedway.

Father Time gives Taylor Gray a moment to redeem himself at Martinsville

Taylor Gray had been in this position before: leading a NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Martinsville Speedway on the final lap with Sammy Smith behind him. 

NASCAR Xfinity 500 preview: Favorite, underdog, top storylines

On Sunday, the stars of the NASCAR Cup Series will take on the half-mile Martinsville Speedway in the penultimate race of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season.

Daniel Suarez signs with Spire Motorsports for 2026 NASCAR season

Daniel Suarez has found a NASCAR Cup Series ride for 2026.

NASCAR reveals track layout for San Diego street race at Naval Base Coronado

On Tuesday, NASCAR revealed the course for the 2026 San Diego street race at Naval Base Coronado.

Joe Gibbs Racing leaving its footprint on NASCAR's championship fight

Joe Gibbs Racing has gone from locker-room turmoil to the brink of a NASCAR Cup championship — a turnaround its three-time Super Bowl champion namesake should appreciate.

Chase Briscoe found peace amid Talladega chaos to secure Championship 4 bid

In his fifth Cup Series season and first with Joe Gibbs Racing, Briscoe knew a championship run was possible.

Todd Gilliland matches dad's Talladega feat with runner-up finish

As Chase Briscoe celebrated his victory in Sunday's NASCAR Cup Series race at Talladega Superspeedway, another, more subdued celebration was taking place on pit road. 

Bubba Wallace comes extremely close to second Talladega win

Bubba Wallace showed why he's earned a reputation as one of NASCAR's best superspeedway racers at Talladega Superspeedway on Sunday. 

Joey Logano frustrated after poor result puts title defense in jeopardy

Joey Logano was understandably frustrated after Sunday's YellaWood 500 at Talladega Superspeedway.

William Byron: Last-lap Talladega spin 'the way that it goes'

Superspeedway racing can be inherently frustrating for everyone involved in NASCAR racing. Cup Series playoff driver William Byron found out why on Sunday. 

What the NASCAR Cup Series playoff standings look like after Talladega

Following the YellaWood 500, here's what the NASCAR Cup Series playoff standings look like.