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After winning this year’s Daytona 500 race, William Byron appears to be determined to add another feather to his cap — the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Just one day before the Cup event, on Saturday, by seizing the lead from Justin Allgaier on an overtime restart, and pulling away on fresher tires approaching the white flag, Byron won the Xfinity Series race at Charlotte, which marked his fifth career NASCAR Xfinity Series win and his first since 2017.
Byron had dominated the opening stages, but a pit road speeding misstep sent the No. 17 HMS Chevy to the back of the pack. While Allgaier was moving in clean air, Byron cut his way back through the field. The race’s climactic moment came when Allgaier’s teammate, Carson Kvapil, spun with 22 laps remaining.
As the majority of the field flashed into pit road, Allgaier surprisingly chose to stay out — despite his crew chief calling him in. The ensuing restart triggered a pile-up, with Harrison Burton, Katherine Legge, and JJ Yeley among those caught in the melee. The wave of cars equipped with fresh tires eventually surged to the front. Further carnage unfolded on the backstretch, propelling the race into overtime.
Allgaier threw everything at Byron, but Byron pulled to his outside, and slight contact between the two sent Allgaier into a near-spin as they approached the white flag. Byron capitalized on the moment, pulling clear as Allgaier’s momentum faltered. The race ultimately ended under caution after a severe incident involving J. Burton and Brennan Poole.
Reflecting on the win and his momentum heading into the weekend, Byron shared that winning at his hometown track held deep significance. “I think winning in the #17 was important… It just kind of had been a little bit of weight on my back, just not being able to win yet in it. I felt like some things had gone wrong in the races that we had chances to win. So that was cool,” he said.
VIDEO: BetMGM race winner William Byron post-race press conference from Charlotte Motor Speedway
#NASCAR pic.twitter.com/5VJCqvuQZo
— Speedway Digest (@speedwaydigest) May 25, 2025
He continued, “I feel like I put a lot of pressure on myself to run well at Charlotte and try to win, finally get one here was really cool.” Moreover, he stated, “Hopefully, that kind of takes some pressure off and I can just go out there tomorrow and perform how we know how to.”
Byron currently sits second in the driver standings, trailing teammate Kyle Larson by 35 points. Should Byron prevail in the Coca-Cola 600, it would not only mark his first Cup win at Charlotte but also draw him level with Larson in wins at the track.
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Kevin Harvick predicts winner of Iowa NASCAR race
Iowa Speedway will take center stage for the NASCAR Cup Series this weekend. Ahead of all of the action, Kevin Harvick is locking in his prediction for Sunday afternoon. Last season, Ryan Blaney won the inaugural Cup Series race at the track. Kyle Larson had speed, but an accident took him out of the running. His Hendrick teammates in William Byron and Chase Elliott made up the rest of the podium in his stead, but they couldn’t catch Blaney. Evidently, Harvick believes the Team Penske wheelman can get it done again, as he picked Blaney to win this weekend. It would be his second win of 2025, coming off a solid P7 finish in the Brickyard 400. Elsewhere, Harvick’s fellow members of the Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour podcast made some picks, as well. Kaitlyn Vincie is riding with Christopher Bell of Joe Gibbs Racing to end a bit of a slide and end up winning in Iowa. Last weekend, Bell was able to secure a top ten in the Brickyard 400, finishing P8. It was a solid run for the JGR wheelman, although he’d rather end up in Victory Lane when the checkered flag waves. As for Iowa, Bell had a solid showing in 2024. He started tenth, but he drove his way up to P4 when the final lap came around. We’ll see if he can get his fourth win of the season this weekend and prove Vincie right in the end. Finally, Mamba Smith went a bit against the grain with his pick. He chose Ryan Preece of RFK Racing to shock the world and win his first-ever Cup Series race, locking himself in the playoffs with a victory. Ironically, Preece does have a win at the track in the past, albeit coming in the Xfinity Series. He drove the No. 20 for JGR to Victory Lane back in 2017 at the track. This is a whole different animal, but there’s some precedent for success for the No. 60 Ford wheelman. Additionally, a win for Preece would mark another driver who’s able to notch their first win of the season to lock themselves into the playoffs. Bubba Wallace was able to accomplish that feat in Indiana, and for Preece, it’d be even more special, serving as win No. 1 in his Cup Series tenure. All predictions will get thrown out the window when the race begins, but it’s interesting to see where the Kevin Harvick’s Happy Hour crew is leaning at the moment. Whether it’s Ryan Blaney, Christopher Bell, Ryan Preece, or someone else, a victory in Iowa will be a hard-fought one for whichever driver gets the dub.
Erik Karlsson's Trade Demands to the Penguins Release Publicly
Erik Karlsson is one of a few Penguins likely on the move soon, and now the one thing the veteran blue liner wants in a new team has been officially revealed. After missing the Stanley cup Playoffs for three straight seasons, the Pittsburgh Penguins come into this off-season as sellers, with the trio of Rickard Rakell, Bryan Rust and Erik Karlsson becoming notable names in trade speculation. While all three have a high likelihood of being moved as Kyle Dubas and the Penguins look towards the future, NHL Insider Frank Seravalli has suggested this off-season that Karlsson is the most likely of all to be moved in the summer. Now, Seravalli has followed up on the speculation, revealing another key piece of this scenario, as the veteran NHL Insider notes the one demand that Karlsson has in potential trade talks. According to Seravalli, Karlsson wants a chance to win, and given the contract that a team would potentially need to take on to bring him in, it's safe to say that only contending teams out there would be interested, with very little in it for teams that won't be chasing a Stanley Cup in the near future. As of right now, there are very few teams around the NHL that could fit Karlsson in as well as giving him the opportunity to win, with Detroit, Dallas and Carolina three teams that fit the bill, with all three having rumoured interest in an upgrade on their blue line. Ultimately, all the signs this off-season point to Karlsson being moved at some point before the 2025/26 campaign begins, and while the options are limited given his contract and his desire to win, there's no reason why a trade can't be made in the next few months.
Top Micah Parsons landing spots as Cowboys' contract talks deteriorate
The relationship between superstar pass-rusher Micah Parsons and the Dallas Cowboys doesn't appear to be improving. ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter reported earlier in the week that the two sides were moving backward in their contract negotiations. On Friday, Parsons posted on his social media that he had requested a trade out of Dallas. However, The Athletic's Dianna Russini claimed the Cowboys have "no intention" of trading him. Given this information, let's take a look at three landing spots that make the most sense for Parsons. Denver Broncos The Broncos allowed the third-fewest amount of points in 2024-25 (311 points), per ESPN stats, and already have one of the best defensive units in football. Linebacker Dre Greenlaw, safety Talanoa Hufanga and cornerback Jahdae Barron were added to the group this offseason, so why not continue to bolster? Denver owns all of its upcoming draft picks over the next three years, which could be used in a package to acquire Parsons. They are also set to have a ton of cap space available for 2026 and 2027, enabling them to put forth the contract offer that Parsons is seeking. With three more seasons of quarterback Bo Nix on a rookie deal, the Broncos could take advantage and go all in on the superstar pass-rusher, making a potent front seven that much more dangerous. Los Angeles Chargers The team that allowed even fewer points than the Broncos last season? The Chargers (301 points). Head coach Jim Harbaugh immediately righted the ship defensively upon his arrival, but there remain holes to fill. They've shed plenty of money in recent years, which included a former third-overall pick from 2016 in DE Joey Bosa. It's now time to use that cap space to bring in a difference maker on defense. Like Denver, Los Angeles holds all of its own draft picks from 2026 through 2028 and is capable of putting the pieces together to pry Parsons out of Dallas. Not only could the Chargers compensate the 26-year-old, but it's likely he would be fine with calling Los Angeles home. New England Patriots The Patriots currently have the most cap space in the NFL and are in a prime position to strike at any moment. It's been a difficult last few seasons in Foxborough, but the vibe has changed with new head coach Mike Vrabel taking over. The Patriots culture is back, and it's now up to the front office to provide Vrabel with more talent on both sides of the ball. New England is in desperate need of a game-breaking player. Parsons fits the mold perfectly. The Pats had a league-worst 28 sacks last season, per ESPN stats, so the pass rush could use some help. General manager Eliot Wolf is well-equipped with draft capital to feel comfortable making such a move.
One player from each AFC team who deserves Hall of Fame call
Let the (preseason) games begin. With the Detroit Lions-Los Angeles Chargers Pro Football Hall of Fame Game kicking off 2025 action, Yardbarker NFL writers mulled a player — past or present — on each AFC team who merits enshrinement in Canton. AFC East BUFFALO BILLS | LB Von Miller | As the NFL’s active leader in sacks (129.5), Miller — who's now with the Commanders — is a sure bet for the Hall of Fame even though he missed 14 games in three years with Buffalo. In 10 seasons with Denver, Miller earned a Defensive Rookie of the Year award, made eight Pro Bowls and three All-Pro teams and was named MVP of Super Bowl 50, the last defensive player to win the award. MIAMI DOLPHINS | WR Tyreek Hill | His subpar 2024 season aside (81 catches, 959 yards, six TD catches), the 31-year-old receiver boasts a Hall of Fame resume (eight Pro Bowls and five first-team All-Pro nods in nine years). Hill led NFL receivers with 1,799 yards in 2023 and has six 1,000-yard seasons in his career, two fewer than Cris Carter, who spent the last five games of his Hall of Fame career with Miami. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS | Kicker Adam Vinatieri | The NFL’s all-time leading scorer (2,673 points) narrowly missed induction as a finalist in 2025, his first year of eligibility, and will be an automatic finalist in 2026. Vinatieri, who retired in 2021, holds records for most field goals made in the regular season (599) and playoffs (56) and helped the Patriots win three Super Bowls before winning another with the Colts in 2007. NEW YORK JETS | QB Aaron Rodgers | The enigmatic passer disappointed as a Jet, but four first-team All-Pro honors, four NFL MVP awards and a Super Bowl MVP with the Green Bay Packers can’t be overlooked. Rodgers’ 62,952 passing yards are the seventh most in league history, and his 4.34 touchdown-to-interception ratio is the best of any quarterback, past or present. — Bruce Ewing AFC West DENVER BRONCOS | WR Rod Smith | Smith played a key role when the Broncos repeated as Super Bowl champions in the 1997 and 1998 seasons. The three-time Pro Bowler had 152 receiving yards in a 34-19 Super Bowl XXXIII win over the Atlanta Falcons, tied for the sixth most in a Super Bowl. The undrafted WR starred for Denver from 1995-2006, becoming the club’s career leader in receiving yards (11,389). KANSAS CITY CHIEFS | QB Patrick Mahomes | Star tight end Travis Kelce would be an excellent pick, too, but the Chiefs had won only one Super Bowl before Mahomes became the starter during the 2018 season. The 2017 first-round pick has won three Super Bowls and two MVPs in eight seasons with the Chiefs. Expect Mahomes, who turns 30 on Sept. 17, to keep bolstering his stellar resume. LOS ANGELES CHARGERS | QB Philip Rivers | Rivers, who retired as a Charger in July, never reached a Super Bowl during his career, but neither did former Chargers QB Dan Fouts. That didn’t prevent him from making the HOF in 1993. The same should go for eight-time Pro Bowler Rivers, who ranks sixth in career TD passes (421). LAS VEGAS RAIDERS | Guard Steve Wisniewski | It’s surprising Wisniewski isn’t in Canton already. Per Pro Football Reference, his HOF monitor score (76.58) is higher than that of HOF guard Mike Munchak (72.7). The former O-lineman is also a member of the HOF’s All-1990s team. — Clark Dalton AFC North BALTIMORE RAVENS | LB Terrell Suggs | Suggs, who played from 2003-19, and former Ravens guard Marshal Yanda were finalists for the 2025 class but missed out. Suggs was one of the more dominant pass-rushers of his era, accumulating 139 career sacks, earning seven Pro Bowl nods, one first-team All-Pro, a Defensive Player of the Year award and an NFL-record 202 tackles for loss. He was a key part of two Super Bowl winners. CINCINNATI BENGALS | QB Ken Anderson | The Bengals did not win a Super Bowl during Anderson’s career (1971-86), but that is pretty much the only thing separating him from other Hall of Fame quarterbacks, especially from his era in the 1970s. Anderson has an NFL MVP award and led the league in passing twice, completion percentage three times and passer rating four times. CLEVELAND BROWNS | Edge Myles Garrett | Garrett is still active, but it’s not hard to see the path his career is on. He has been the more dominant pass-rusher in the league from pretty much the day he arrived. He may not win a title in Cleveland, but he is going to finish as one of the best Browns players of all time and one of the best defenders of the modern era in the NFL. PITTSBURGH STEELERS | QB Ben Roethlisberger | Roethlisberger, who retired in 2022, does not have many individual accolades, but spending nearly two decades as one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL and earning two Super Bowl rings will be more than enough to get him in. It is just a matter of how long he might have to wait for induction. — Adam Gretz AFC South HOUSTON TEXANS | DE J.J. Watt | Widely considered to be a first-ballot lock, Watt — who retired following the 2022 season — will be eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2028. His career could have been even better if not for several seasons being shortened by injury, but Watt is one of only three players to win three NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards. Few players were capable of changing the game the way a healthy Watt could. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS | Kicker Adam Vinatieri | The three-time Pro Bowl selection made 29 game-winning kicks in his career, including two that won Super Bowls for the Patriots. Vinatieri has four Super Bowl rings and could be considered the most clutch kicker of all time. There are four kickers in the Hall of Fame, and it is almost impossible to argue against Vinatieri becoming the fifth. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS | RB Fred Taylor | The wait continued in 2025 for Taylor, a Hall of Fame finalist for the second straight year, but he did not get the nod. Taylor, who retired in 2011, ranks 17th in NFL history with 11,695 rushing yards and holds numerous Jaguars records. The only running back ahead of him on the all-time rushing list who is not in the Hall of Fame is Frank Gore, and he is likely to get into Canton eventually. TENNESSEE TITANS | RB Derrick Henry | Titans legends Eddie George and Steve McNair advanced in the Hall of Fame voting process for 2025, but there is a good chance neither will get into Canton. Henry, meanwhile, is already 19th on the NFL’s all-time rushing list with 11,423 yards and coming off a season in which he ran for 1,921 yards. Henry, who spent the majority of his career in Tennessee, should be a first-ballot Hall of Famer. — Steve DelVecchio
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