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RFK vs RCR vs 23XI vs LMC: Grading the NASCAR Team Rebuilds

MARTINSVILLE, VIRGINIA - APRIL 15: Brad Keselowski, driver of the #6 Fastenal Ford, (R) and Chris Buescher, driver of the #17 Nexletol Ford, talk on the grid during practice for the NASCAR Cup Series NOCO 400 at Martinsville Speedway on April 15, 2023 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

Joshua Lipowski

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Royal T Grafix

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A few NASCAR teams have been in the midst of rebuilding in recent years. This year, some of these rebuilding teams have had a resurgence, but not all have. How have NASCAR's team rebuilds gone?

A few NASCAR teams have been rebuilding in recent years. This year, some of these rebuilding teams have had a resurgence, but not all have. How have NASCAR’s team rebuilds gone?

RFK Racing

Driver performances

  • Chris Buescher: 2 Wins; 5 Top-5s; 10 Top-10s; 11th in Points; 1 DNF
  • Brad Keselowski: 0 Wins; 5 Top-5s; 10 Top-10s; 8th in Points (+168 in Playoffs); 2 DNFs

Breakdown: Roush-Fenway Racing was in a tough spot as they dropped from a five-car team to a two-car team. Brad Keselowski joined the fray as an owner-driver in 2022, and the team struggled for a large part of 2022. Now, both drivers are in the Playoffs, and Chris Buescher is in the midst of back-to-back wins. It is set to be the first time since 2014 that Roush had two drivers qualify for the Playoffs.

Grade: B+

Richard Childress Racing

Driver Performances

  • Kyle Busch: 3 Wins; 8 Top-5s; 13 Top-10s; 9th in Points; 5 DNFs
  • Austin Dillon: 0 Wins; 1 Top-5; 6 Top-10s; 29th in Points (-145); 7 DNFs

Breakdown: Kyle Busch was on fire to start the season by winning three of the first 15 races, but he has struggled the last few weeks. Austin Dillon has had some good races, but he also leads the series in DNFs. Overall, it has been an up-and-down season for Richard Childress Racing. There has been a lot of good to take from this season, but there also has been a lot of bad to take from the season.

Grade: C+

23XI Racing

Driver Performances

  • Bubba Wallace: 0 Wins; 4 Top-5s; 6 Top-10s; 14th in Points (+58); 5 DNFs
  • Tyler Reddick: 1 Win; 6 Top-5s; 9 Top-10s; 13th in Points; 3 DNFs

Breakdown: 23XI Racing has improved slightly from their performance last season, but there have been some missteps along the way as well. Tyler Reddick won his fourth career race at COTA earlier this year, and Bubba Wallace is in a comfortable position to make the Playoffs for the first time in his career. However, pit road trouble has plagued both drivers this year, and particularly Tyler Reddick last weekend at Michigan. With that being said, this has been a small, yet important step forward.

Grade: B-

Legacy Motor Club

Driver Performances

  • Erik Jones: 0 Wins; 0 Top-5s; 5 Top-10s; 28th in Points (-121); 2 DNFs
  • Noah Gragson: 0 Wins; 0 Top-5s; 0 Top-10s; 33rd in Points; 6 DNFs

Breakdown: Where do we start with Legacy Motor Club? This season has been an unmitigated disaster. From major penalties to having to suspend Noah Gragson over a social media post. Legacy Motor Club is set to bring Toyota in next year, and that’s about the only positive thing to come out of this season. There’s always next year.

Grade: F

There is still time left this season for these teams to turn it around, either in a good or bad way. The bottom line is that the success of some of these teams shows that teams that are struggling always have hope for the future.

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DARLINGTON, SOUTH CAROLINA - APRIL 06: Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, drives during the NASCAR Cup Series Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway on April 06, 2025 in Darlington, South Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Lionel Racing Reveals First Wave of 2026 NASCAR Authentics Diecast

by Kauy Ostlien

What’s Happening?

Lionel Racing finally confirmed the first wave of 2026 NASCAR Authentics 1:64 scale diecast for Monday morning, with the line of retail-exclusive diecast featuring a new look for the new year.

  • This line will include six throwback paint schemes from NASCAR’s 2025 throwback weekend at Darlington Raceway. Though they did not release one in 2025, this move restarts an annual tradition of Lionel releasing at least one wave of cars carrying the colors of that prior season’s throwback designs.
  • Included in this wave of cars are Austin Cindric, Kyle Larson, Ryan Blaney, Joey Logano, William Byron, and Sammy Smith. Alongside these paint schemes’ debuts in the Authentics line is a new design for the packaging of the 2026 line of NASCAR Authentics.
  • Last season was somewhat turbulent for Lionel as, alongside issues with tariffs, the brand only released three waves of NASCAR Autentics, one wave of NASCAR Autentics Winners Circle diecast, and two waves of Haulers.
  • Lionel announcing the first wave of 2026 early on in the new year is perhaps a sign that 2026 could return this line to its regular release schedule. The post from Lionel Racing also confirmed that the brand will announce another wave by the end of the week, further hinting at a recommitment to the Authentics line.

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SPARTA, KY - JUNE 26: Chase Pistone, driver of the #9 NTS Motorsports Chevrolet, talks with his crew during practice for the NASCAR Camping World Series UNOH 225 at Kentucky Speedway on June 26, 2014 in Sparta, Kentucky. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

Chase Pistone, NASCAR Trucks and Nationwide Series Driver, Passes Away

by Kauy Ostlien

What’s Happening?

Chase Pistone, a former competitor on the short track racing circuit in addition to NASCAR’s National Series, has passed away. Pistone, now a successful Legends Car owner, was 42.

  • Chase’s brothers Nick and Tom Pistone confirmed the North Carolina natives’ passing to LegendsNation.com. The cause of Pistone’s passing is unknown. The family asked that media share the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline number, which is 988.
  • Pistone, the grandson of NASCAR legend “Tiger” Tom Pistone, made his way to NASCAR after competing on short tracks in Legends cars and Late Models. He would make his jump to NASCAR via the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series in 2005, racing for Green Light Racing at Martinsville Speedway.
  • Pistone would continue his NASCAR pursuits in 2006, racing in ARCA and the NASCAR Busch Series. Unfortunately, these two starts, at Martinsville with the Busch Series and Iowa with ARCA, would be his last for nearly a decade.
  • Pistone returned to NASCAR in 2014, racing in a combined eight NASCAR Camping World Truck and Nationwide Series races. During this season, his final in NASCAR, the then 30-year-old scored his best National Series finish, ninth place in the Truck Series annual trip to Gateway.

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8 Takeaways From NASCAR At COTA

by Bryan Aguiar

Three races in, the 2026 season is finally starting to show its hand. COTA shifted narratives, exposed weaknesses, and raised new questions about contenders, pretenders, and everything in between.

  • Has Shane van Gisbergen officially been proven mortal after getting outraced late at Circuit of the Americas?
  • Is 19-year-old Connor Zilisch already ahead of schedule after slicing through the field multiple times?
  • With three straight wins, is Tyler Reddick basically a lock for the postseason this early?
  • And how concerned should the 48 team be after a rough weekend for Alex Bowman?

From substitute drivers being forced into action to points gaps growing faster than expected, COTA delivered more than just a road course chess match. There were momentum swings, reputation hits, and at least one young driver stacking up enemies before stacking up results.

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