Latest articles by Jim Utter
Denny Hamlin: "You got to play by the (expletive) rules"
Denny Hamlin doesn’t blame Ryan Blaney for his late-race window net fix but believes NASCAR needs to follow its own rules.
Ryan Blaney wins contentious NASCAR All-Star Race at Texas
Ryan Blaney thought he won the NASCAR All-Star Race, didn’t, then did it again in overtime and claimed the $1 million prize for the first time.
Stenhouse, Buescher, Suarez and Jones make All-Star Race field
Four drivers advanced to Sunday night’s NASCAR All-Star main event through the preliminary Open race and a fan vote.
Kyle Busch beats Ryan Blaney for NASCAR All-Star Race pole
Kyle Busch bested Ryan Blaney in a one-on-one battle to win the pole for Sunday night’s $1 million-to-the-winner NASCAR All-Star Race at Texas Motor Speedway.
Reddick wins pole for All-Star Open but will drop to rear
Tyler Reddick won the pole for Sunday night’s NASCAR All-Star Race Open race but the benefit didn’t last long.
Reddick's Texas Xfinity win a first for Big Machine Racing
Tyler Reddick held off an armada of fast JR Motorsports Chevrolets to earn his first NASCAR Xfinity Series win of the 2022 season.
Toyotas have speed but need better "execution in pit lane"
Last weekend’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Kansas was a winner-take-all day for Toyota but the manufacturer still has plenty of work to do this season.
NASCAR suspends three on Cup driver Justin Haley's team
Justin Haley’s No. 31 Kaulig Racing team became the first repeat offender this season of NASCAR’s loose wheel policy.
NASCAR Le Mans entry evoked fairness concerns by Toyota, Ford
Toyota and Ford executives have expressed concerns of fairness regarding Chevrolet’s Next Gen car entry in the 2023 Le Mans 24 Hours.
Hamlin revels in Kansas win as owner from 'front row' seat
For Denny Hamlin the NASCAR Cup Series team owner, much of the enjoyment of Kurt Busch’s Kansas victory Sunday was being there.
Kyle Larson credits 'war machine' in battle for Kansas win
Kyle Larson and Kurt Busch never made contact in their battle for the win at Kansas. But the wall? That was another story.
Zane Smith dominates in Kansas Truck win over Majeski
Zane Smith dominated Saturday night’s NASCAR Truck Series race at Kansas, taking his third win of the 2022 season.
Christopher Bell rockets past Reddick for Kansas Cup pole
Christopher Bell saved his fastest speed for last and won the pole for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway.
Busch brothers fastest in spin-filled Kansas Cup practice
Kurt and Kyle Busch led the way in Saturday’s NASCAR Cup Series practice at Kansas which was filled with spins as teams struggled with tire issues.
Where has Chase Briscoe's mojo gone after strong start?
Chase Briscoe kicked off his sophomore season in the NASCAR Cup Series on fire, running up front and winning his first race but lately the tide has turned. Or has it?
Cup rookie Harrison Burton's biggest lesson? "I won’t quit"
As difficult as Harrison Burton’s rookie season in the NASCAR Cup Series has been, one thing he has not lost is his resolve.
Tyler Reddick again flirts with first NASCAR Cup victory
Tyler Reddick continues to flirt with his first NASCAR Cup Series victory and was nearly provided a bonus opportunity for one at Darlington.
William Byron on incident with Logano: "He's just an idiot"
A run-in between William Byron and Joey Logano on a late-race restart set up a controversial finish at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway.
Joey Logano punts Byron from lead, claims Darlington Cup win
Joey Logano ran down William Byron and nudged him out of the way with one lap remaining to claim his first NASCAR Cup Series win of the 2022 season.
Joey Logano tops Kyle Larson for Cup pole at Darlington
Joey Logano got some welcome relief from troubles the last two weeks by winning the pole for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Darlington.
Austin Cindric tops Cup practice; Chase Elliott wrecks
Austin Cindric ended up fastest in Saturday’s NASCAR Cup Series practice at Darlington that saw a pair of top drivers with incidents that will force them to miss qualifying.
Nemechek rallies to win NASCAR Truck race at Darlington
John Hunter Nemechek overcame a pit road miscue and rallied back to win Friday night’s NASCAR Truck Series race at Darlington.
William Byron: NASCAR "going through a change for the better"
Off to the best start of his career and with NASCAR seeing higher at-track attendance and TV ratings, William Byron’s timing couldn’t be better.
William Byron, Hendrick Motorsports sign contract extension
William Byron, the first driver to earn multiple wins in the NASCAR Cup Series this season, has agreed to a contract extension with Hendrick Motorsports.
Matt Kenseth leads 2023 NASCAR Hall of Fame class
Matt Kenseth – whose career spanned more than two decades – leads the newest class of inductees into NASCAR’s Hall of Fame.
NASCAR issues multiple suspensions in Cup and Xfinity series
NASCAR on Tuesday announced the suspension of 10 crew members across two national series and three different teams.
Bell rallies to fourth in tough day for JGR at Dover
Joe Gibbs Racing brought four fast Toyotas to Dover that all looked capable of winning but only Christopher Bell salvaged a top-five finish.
Stenhouse on runner-up finish at Dover: "We needed it, bad"
Ricky Stenhouse Jr. has been competitive in several races this season but until Monday he had little to show for it.
Elliott tops Stenhouse to win rain-delayed Cup race at Dover
Chase Elliott has been leading the NASCAR Cup Series standings for six weeks and he finally has a win to go with it.
Remainder of Dover NASCAR Cup race postponed until Monday
The remainder of Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Dover has been postponed until Monday due to inclement weather.
Chris Buescher surprises with first Cup pole at Dover
Chris Buescher staved off late challenges from Hendrick Motorsports to win the pole for Sunday’s #NASCAR Cup Series race at Dover (Del.) Motor Speedway.
Austin Cindric tops wreck-marred Cup practice at Dover
Austin Cindric ended up fastest in a caution-filled NASCAR Cup practice Saturday at Dover (Del.) Motor Speedway.
Michael McDowell: "There's still a lot to come this year"
Michael McDowell enjoyed his best season so far in the NASCAR Cup Series in 2021 but 2022 is showing just as much – if not more – promise.
NASCAR unveils format for 2022 All-Star Race
NASCAR has once again shuffled the format for its annual All-Star Race, which will be held May 22 at Texas Motor Speedway.
ARCA driver Daniel Dye suspended after Florida arrest
ARCA Menards Series driver Daniel Dye has been indefinitely suspended following his arrest Tuesday in Florida.
Hendrick NASCAR Cup drivers add Xfinity races this season
JR Motorsports is expanding the schedule of its fifth NASCAR Xfinity Series team this season for three Hendrick Motorsports Cup drivers.
Ross Chastain: "I'm right where I want to be"
Ross Chastain has done more smashing of watermelons than growing them of late and that’s just fine for the eighth-generation watermelon farmer.
Erik Jones: "I thought today might be the day"
Erik Jones has shown potential to contend for wins this season and a former superspeedway winner – a good combination heading into Talladega this weekend.
Path cleared on last lap for Chastain to win wild Talladega Cup race
Ross Chastain needed help to win Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Talladega and on the final lap, he received more than he expected.
Bell takes Cup pole at Talladega as JGR sweeps front row
Toyota and Joe Gibbs Racing swept the front row in qualifying for Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway.
Jeffrey Earnhardt puts No. 3 on the Xfinity pole at Talladega
Jeffrey Earnhardt’s first NASCAR race with Richard Childress Racing is off to a strong start.
'Comfortable' in NASCAR, Briscoe returns to dirt racing roots
Feeling far more established as a NASCAR Cup Series driver, Chase Briscoe is ready to get back to his roots – which means more racing.
Daytona 500 champ Cindric sees Talladega as "a desperate race"
Austin Cindric’s Daytona 500 victory in February has him set for the playoffs and knows Sunday’s race at Talladega offers a prime opportunity for many others to join him.
Bristol Dirt Race on Easter night is TV ratings hit
While many participants had misgivings about racing on Easter, Sunday night’s Bristol Dirt Race was a TV ratings boom.
Tyler Reddick: "I should have done a better job" on last lap
It may not have been possible for Tyler Reddick to be any closer to his first NASCAR Cup Series victory and still come up short.
Leaders crash and Kyle Busch inherits Bristol Cup win
Kyle Busch had a perfect view of the battle for the win on the last lap in Sunday night’s Bristol Dirt Race and an even better one when it was over.
Rhodes takes Truck win over Hocevar on Bristol dirt
Ben Rhodes overcame a pit road miscue to grab the lead with three laps to go and held on for a victory in the NASCAR Trucks race at the Bristol Dirt Track.
Custer earns first career NASCAR Cup pole at Bristol Dirt Race
A difficult season got a little brighter on Saturday when Cole Custer earned the pole for Sunday night’s Dirt Race at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway.
Racing to return to North Wilkesboro but not NASCAR - yet
Racing will return to historic North Wilkesboro (N.C.) Speedway this year, but it will be some time before the track lands on a NASCAR national series schedule.
Denny Hamlin tops Kyle Busch in final Bristol Cup practice
Denny Hamlin, who hit the wall in Friday’s first NASCAR Cup Series practice on the Bristol Dirt Track, ended up fastest in the final 50-minute session.
Drivers say "multiple grooves" possible in Bristol dirt race
Some of the fastest drivers in NASCAR Cup Series practice at Bristol on Friday agreed that track preparation will dictate how well Sunday night’s race will play out.
Reddick fastest in spin-filled first Cup practice at Bristol
Tyler Reddick ended up fastest in an eventful NASCAR Cup Series practice session Friday on the Bristol Dirt Track.
Several tire changes for NASCAR's Bristol dirt races this week
NASCAR’s dirt racing weekend returns this weekend at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway and both the Cup and Truck series will see significant tire changes.
NASCAR seeking options to address lackluster Martinsville race
NASCAR is gathering input from its Cup Series drivers and teams in search of ways to address the lackluster racing so far on short tracks, particularly last Saturday night’s race at Martinsville.
Jeffrey Earnhardt to drive RCR NASCAR No. 3 in Talladega Xfinity race
Another member of the Earnhardt family is teaming up with Richard Childress Racing in NASCAR
Joey Logano on Ty Gibbs fight: "We've all done dumb things"
Joey Logano has no issues with how Ty Gibbs and Sam Mayer raced on the track in last weekend’s NASCAR Xfinity Series race at Martinsville, but the post-race brawl was “not the right direction.”
NASCAR needs a short track fix but answers won't come easy
NASCAR’s Next Generation car in the Cup Series got off to a strong start but the quality of racing has taken a sharp downtown on the car’s first visits to short tracks.
Logano and Dillon disappointed in final Martinsville restart
Both Joey Logano and Austin Dillon thought they were in good position to challenge for the win on the final restart Saturday night at Martinsville but neither could make it work.
Byron holds off Logano in overtime for Martinsville NASCAR Cup win
William Byron became the first repeat winner of the 2022 NASCAR Cup Series season after holding off a last-lap charge from Joey Logano at Martinsville.
Start of NASCAR Cup race at Martinsville delayed by weather
The start of Saturday night’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway has been delayed due to rain and light snow showers.