NASCAR Cup, WSBK Race Wrap-ups

Reddick Keeps NASCAR Chase Championship Hopes Alive in Phoenix, Bulega Rewrites WSBK Record Book at Jerez

NASCAR

Tyler Reddick (No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota) used a two-tire final pit stop and a daring four-wide restart move to capture his series-leading sixth victory of 2026 in Sunday’s Freeway Insurance 500 at Phoenix Raceway. Reddick passed Chase Briscoe (No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota) with 18 laps remaining and held off polesitter Ryan Blaney (No. 12 Team Penske Ford) by 0.801 seconds. Chase Elliott (No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet) advanced from 16th to third, followed by Christopher Bell (No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota). Corey Heim (No. 67 23XI Racing Toyota) supplied the day’s biggest positive surprise, charging from 36th to fifth.

The race dramatically tightened the Chase standings. Points leader and 2025 Champion Kyle Larson (No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet) struggled after starting 22nd, scored no stage points and crashed late, DNFing and classified 34th in the final race results. Denny Hamlin (No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota) suffered a flat tire and a subsequent penalty, falling to 28th. Joey Logano (No. 22 Team Penske Ford) won both stages but faded to sixth after reporting a late vibration. 

With three races left in the season, seven drivers remain mathematically eligible to win the 2026 championship, including leader Larson, Bell (-5 pts), Briscoe (-24), Hamlin (-31), Blaney (-40), Logano (-44), and Reddick (-56).

Next:  YellaWood 500 at Talladega, Oct. 24-25

Official NASCAR Recap

WorldSBK

Nicolò Bulega (Aruba.it Racing Ducati) completed a second consecutive weekend sweep, winning Saturday’s Race 1, Sunday’s Superpole Race and the rain-threatened Race 2. Sam Lowes (ELF Marc VDS Ducati) and Iker Lecuona (Aruba.it Racing Ducati) completed the Race 1 podium. Lecuona then finished second in both Sunday races, while Lowes took third each time.

Race 1 included a fiery mechanical retirement for Xavi Vierge (Pata Maxus Yamaha), whose Yamaha caught fire on the main straight, while Miguel Oliveira (ROKiT BMW Motorrad) also retired. Every rider finished Race 2 despite rain arriving during the closing laps.

Bulega closed his championship season with 52 career WorldSBK victories and 726 points, becoming the first rider to exceed 700, while also setting single-season records for victories, consecutive wins and podiums and tying the season record with 11 poles. He reached 50 career victories faster than any previous rider and finished the year with 52. In 2027, Bulega will graduate to MotoGP with the Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team, riding a Ducati alongside Fermín Aldeguer. 

Next: WSBK Australia at Phillip Island, Feb 19-21

Official Race 1 report 

Official Race 2 report