NASCAR

Logano, McDowell claim Daytona 500 front row

February 14, 2024 The Associated Press

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Ford swept the front row in qualifying for the Daytona 500 with former race winners Joey Logano and Michael McDowell shocking powerhouse Hendrick Motorsports. “This is all about the team. I’d […]

Cup Series starts season with new champion, driver and track changes

February 14, 2024 The Associated Press

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The NASCAR Cup Series launches its new season with rivals attempting to dethrone Team Penske. Ryan Blaney is the reigning Cup champion after a late-season surge helped him follow Penske teammate […]

Denny Hamlin wins Clash at the Coliseum

February 3, 2024 The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES — Denny Hamlin, who wasn’t even sure he’d be healed from offseason shoulder surgery in time to compete in the Clash at the Coliseum, won the Saturday night exhibition that NASCAR hurried into […]

Jimmie Johnson, Chad Knaus highlight NASCAR Hall of Fame inductees

January 24, 2024 The Associated Press

CHARLOTTE — Jimmie Johnson’s dreams first came true when he was given a motorcycle for Christmas at age 4. That was when he fell in love with racing. Johnson was honored for his career on […]

2024 Look Ahead — Bold Predictions: Deep postseason runs, rumored relocation, return to Rockingham and realignment fears

January 3, 2024 North State Journal Staff

The North State Journal’s sports staff of editor Cory Lavalette and writers Jesse Deal, Ryan Henkel and Shawn Krest isn’t afraid to be fearless in 2024. In our annual exercise, each member of the staff […]

NASCAR Hall of Famer Cale Yarborough dies at 84

December 31, 2023 The Associated Press

Cale Yarborough, considered one of NASCAR’s all-time greatest drivers and the first to win three consecutive Cup titles, died Sunday. He was 84. NASCAR announced the death of the Hall of Famer and South Carolina […]

2023 NSJ Comeback of the Year: North Wilkesboro’s return helped revive North Carolina’s long, rich NASCAR past

December 29, 2023 Cory Lavalette

In the last three years, North State Journal’s Comeback of the Year has come from a college game. In 2020, it was Duke basketball hitting two buzzer-beaters against rival UNC to rally from 13 down […]

Ryan Blaney wins 1st career Cup Series title

November 5, 2023 The Associated Press

AVONDALE, Ariz. — Ryan Blaney raced to his first career NASCAR Cup Series championship on Sunday by banging his way past contender Kyle Larson in the closing laps at Phoenix Raceway to give Team Penske […]

Ryan Blaney wins at Martinsville, will race for Cup Series title

October 29, 2023 The Associated Press

RIDGEWAY, Va. — Ryan Blaney was in tears back in May when the crowd chanted “Blaney! Blaney! Blaney” after he snapped a 59-race losing streak with his win at Charlotte Motor Speedway. He was so […]

Christopher Bell wins at Homestead, joins Larson in title race

October 22, 2023 The Associated Press

HOMESTEAD, Fla. — Christopher Bell wasn’t thinking of winning the race. Balance issues with his Toyota caused him to fall to 22nd after Stage 2 on Sunday at Homestead-Miami Speedway. But Bell took advantage of […]