Corey Heim gets first NASCAR Cup win, Marc Marquez takes Czechia GP, and Christian Lundgaard Wins at Road America.
NASCAR
23XI Toyota driver Corey Heim made history Sunday by becoming the first driver to win a NASCAR Cup Series race held on an active U.S. military base, capturing the inaugural Anduril 250 victory at Naval Base Coronado in San Diego. The 23-year-old driver passed teammate Tyler Reddick with three laps remaining and drove away to earn his first Cup Series win in just his 13th career start.
Running a limited schedule as he prepares for a full-time rookie campaign in 2027, Heim was making only his sixth Cup start of the season and his first on a road or street course.
Following a restart with 12 laps to go, Heim and Reddick broke away from the field and battled intensely for the lead. Heim completed the decisive pass with three laps remaining, and shortly afterward Reddick suffered a flat left-front tire that dropped him to 25th at the finish.
Fellow 23XI driver Bubba Wallace rallied from an early penalty to finish second, followed by Kyle Larson (Hendrick Motorsports Chevy), Zane Smith (Front Row Motorsports Ford), and Kaulig Racing’s AJ Allmendinger. After winning the last three Cup races, Denny Hamlin finished 14th and cut Reddick’s championship lead to just eight points.
Ryan Blaney, who led the most laps, finished 9th in his Team Penske Ford.
The race featured seven cautions and 20 lead changes among 13 drivers. A major crash on lap 32 eliminated contenders Connor Zilisch and Shane van Gisbergen while they were running first and second. Blaney and Ryan Preece (RFK Racing Ford) claimed the stage victories.
Next: Toyota / Save Mart 350 at Sonoma, June 27-28
MotoGP
Francesco Bagnaia delivered a flawless performance to claim his first Sprint victory of the 2026 MotoGP season at Brno, converting a strong start from third on the grid into a hard-fought win over Ai Ogura and Marc Marquez.
Bagnaia launched off the line to seize the lead before the opening corner, while pole-sitter Ogura dropped to second after a slower getaway. The Ducati rider quickly built a small advantage as Aprilia rider Ogura settled into second ahead of Marquez, who had moved past Fabio Di Giannantonio early in the race.
As the laps wound down, the battle for victory intensified. Ogura gradually erased Bagnaia’s half-second lead, while Marquez also closed in, creating a tense three-rider fight at the front. Despite the pressure, Bagnaia remained composed and mistake-free, leading every lap and denying Ogura any opportunity to attempt a pass on the final circuit. He crossed the finish line just over two-tenths of a second ahead of the impressive Japanese rookie.
Ogura’s second-place finish capped a breakthrough weekend that included his first MotoGP pole position, while Marquez completed the podium in third. Di Giannantonio (Ducati) finished fourth and Jorge Martin fifth after championship leader Marco Bezzecchi crashed out from a top-five position. Raul Fernandez, Enea Bastianini (KTM), Fermin Aldeguer, and Brad Binder rounded out the points-paying positions.
Bezzecchi was suspended from Sunday’s MotoGP after slapping a corner worker who was responding to his crash.
Seven-time World Champion Marc Marquez continued his charge toward the 2026 MotoGP title with a commanding victory at the Czech Grand Prix in Brno, cutting his championship deficit to leader Marco Bezzecchi from 102 points to just 40.
Rookie sensation Ai Ogura grabbed the early lead from pole, but the race quickly developed into a three-way battle involving Marquez and Francesco Bagnaia. Bagnaia moved to the front on Lap 2 and controlled the pace for much of the race, while Marquez and Ogura remained within striking distance.
As the closing laps approached, Marquez emerged as the fastest rider on track. The reigning champion made his decisive move on Bagnaia at Turn 4 and immediately began pulling away. Moments later, Ogura passed Bagnaia for second and launched a late charge, trimming the gap on the final lap, but Marquez held firm to secure his second victory of the season by 0.4 seconds.
Ogura’s runner-up finish marked the best MotoGP result of his young career and moved him to within six points of Marquez in the championship standings. Bagnaia completed the podium, while Fabio Di Giannantonio finished fourth after setting the race’s fastest lap. Honda rider Joan Mir rounded out the top five.
Next: Tissot Grand Prix of the Netherlands, June 26-28
IndyCar
Christian Lundgaard rallied from last place after first-lap damage to win the XPEL Grand Prix at Road America in the No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet.
Lundgaard’s race nearly ended before it began when contact with Scott Dixon on the opening lap damaged his front wing and punctured a tire. Forced to pit on Lap 2 for repairs, fresh tires, and fuel, the Danish driver dropped to the back of the 25-car field. Arrow McLaren’s strategy team then crafted an aggressive recovery plan that steadily moved Lundgaard back into contention.
The race turned dramatically in the closing laps. Marcus Armstrong appeared headed toward his first IndyCar victory, building a lead of nearly three seconds with five laps remaining, until mechanical failure struck the No. 66 Meyer Shank Racing Honda on Lap 52, handing the lead to Lundgaard. Armstrong’s car finally came to a stop one lap later, bringing out a caution and setting up a one-lap sprint to the finish.
Lundgaard maintained control on the restart and crossed the finish line under caution after a battle for third between Graham Rahal and Will Power ended with contact at Canada Corner, sending Rahal into the gravel trap.
The victory was Lundgaard’s second of the season and third of his IndyCar career. David Malukas finished second for Team Penske, earning his third runner-up result of the year, while Power completed the podium for Andretti Global. Kyffin Simpson (Chip Ganassi Racing) scored a season-best fourth-place finish, and his teammate and championship points leader Alex Palou rounded out the top five.
Palou’s day included a costly pit-road speeding penalty while leading from pole position, but a strong recovery drive limited the damage. He continues to lead the championship standings by 60 points over Malukas, with Lundgaard now fourth and firmly back in the title conversation.
Indy 500 winner Felix Rosenqvist, who led the most laps, got caught out right before pitting when Christian Rasmussen’s car stalled on the front straightaway. He could only recover to finish 8th.
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