Instagram Facebook Youtube Tiktok Discord

Martin Truex Jr NOT With 23XI For 2025 Daytona 500, Will Race in Xfinity Series Next Season

AVONDALE, ARIZONA - NOVEMBER 10: Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota, looks on the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway on November 10, 2024 in Avondale, Arizona. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

Kauy Ostlien

All Content
Royal T Grafix

Join the Conversation

Instagram Facebook Youtube Tiktok Discord

What’s Happening?

During NASCAR Awards media availability, Martin Truex Jr revealed that his 2025 Daytona 500 ride will not be with 23XI Racing. Truex, who retired from full-time competition this season, also clarified that he is entering.

  • The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season will see Martin Truex Jr. Since his retirement, he and his former JGR teammate Denny Hamlin have teased a one-off with Hamlin’s 23XI Racing at the Daytona 500. However, at the NASCAR Awards media availability, Truex stated, via Peter Stratta on X, “No, it’s not. I’m not sure what they’re doing, honestly.”
  • This is not necessarily shocking, as neither Truex nor Hamlin confirmed that 23XI would field the car. He further stated that “JGR is doing it somehow.” JGR will more than likely prepare this car and field it through another team.
  • 23XI is currently tangled in an antitrust lawsuit with NASCAR and fighting to get their charters for 2025. Whether this affected the team fielding the car or not is unknown. Bob Pockrass of Fox Sports reported on Oct. 30 that he expected Truex and 23XI to go forward despite the lawsuit; however, the two are not going forward with this part-time start.
  • In this same availability, Truex confirmed a rumor from this summer that he would race in the Xfinity Series part-time. “I’m going to do Daytona 500,” Truex said. “And then, you know, I’m looking forward to running some Xfinity cars a bit here and there just to have fun and see how it goes.”
  • The where, when, and what team in his Xfinity Series schedule is currently unknown, but this rumor was thought to be dead before these comments. As far as Daytona goes, Truex confirmed on Sept. 4 that his former Crew Chief, Cole Pearn, would come out of retirement for this start. This appears to be the only confirmation of the details of this start.

What do you think about all this? Let us know on Discord or X what your take is, and don’t forget you can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

Share this:

Join the Conversation

Instagram Facebook Youtube Tiktok Discord
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.

What do you think about this? Let us know your opinion on Discord or X. Don’t forget that you can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

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.

What do you think about this? Let us know your opinion on Discord or X. Don’t forget that you can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

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.

Watch Also:

NASCAR Could Change with These NFL Changes…