NASCAR Race Recap: Brickyard to New Hampshire 2026|by Lindy Williams

Catch up on NASCAR from the Brickyard through New Hampshire with Cup, O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and Craftsman Truck Series race winners, highlights and Chase updates.- lindy williams

Absolutely — here’s a full Race Day Outfitters race recap article covering all three NASCAR national series from the Brickyard through New Hampshire, current through August 25, 2026.

From the Brickyard to New Hampshire: NASCAR’s Summer Stretch Heats Up

Written for RaceDayOutfitters.com

The NASCAR season has hit that point where every race, every stage point and every mistake starts carrying a little more weight.

Since Indianapolis, the Cup Series, O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and Craftsman Truck Series have all delivered big wins, dominant performances and tightening Chase battles. With Daytona looming, here’s what’s happened from the Brickyard forward.

NASCAR Cup Series

Indianapolis — Corey Heim Steals the Brickyard

Corey Heim delivered one of the biggest surprises of the season at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, winning the Brickyard 400 in just his 15th career Cup Series start.

Driving the No. 67 Toyota for 23XI Racing, Heim held off Christopher Bell and Joey Logano during a 34-lap green-flag run to score his second career Cup victory. Even more impressive, it was Heim’s first Cup start at Indianapolis. ( Official Site Of NASCAR)

For a part-time driver headed to a full-time 23XI ride next season, winning one of NASCAR’s crown-jewel events was about as big a statement as he could make.

Iowa — Ty Gibbs Holds Off Bell

At Iowa Speedway, Ty Gibbs and Christopher Bell turned the closing laps into a Joe Gibbs Racing showdown.

A two-tire call by crew chief Tyler Allen moved Gibbs ahead during the final green-flag pit cycle, and Gibbs did the rest. Bell stayed all over the No. 54 but couldn’t force the mistake he needed.

Gibbs earned his second win of 2026, with Bell finishing second and Ryan Blaney third. ( Official Site Of NASCAR)

Richmond — Joey Logano Is Getting Hot

If anyone needed a reminder not to count out Joey Logano when championship season approaches, Richmond provided it.

Logano led 95 laps and held on for a 0.392-second victory in the Cook Out 400, scoring his second win of the season and his second victory in four races.

The slow start to Logano’s season suddenly feels like a long time ago. He has steadily climbed the standings and once again looks like someone nobody wants to deal with when The Chase begins. ( Official Site Of NASCAR)

New Hampshire — Ryan Blaney Goes Back-to-Back

New Hampshire threw almost everything imaginable at the Cup field: rain, wet-weather tires, changing track conditions and nine cautions.

Ryan Blaney handled all of it.

Blaney led a race-high 115 laps and held off Bubba Wallace by 0.586 seconds to win the Dollar Tree 301. It was his second consecutive New Hampshire victory and the 20th Cup Series win of his career. ( Official Site Of NASCAR)

More importantly, Team Penske now has both Logano and Blaney looking extremely strong heading toward the postseason.

Cup winners since Indianapolis:

Indianapolis: Corey Heim

Iowa: Ty Gibbs

Richmond: Joey Logano

New Hampshire: Ryan Blaney

The Cup Series now heads to Daytona for the regular-season finale, where the final Chase picture will be decided.

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NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series

Indianapolis — Carson Kvapil Gets His First

Indianapolis produced an emotional breakthrough for Carson Kvapil.

Kvapil earned his first career O’Reilly Auto Parts Series victory in the Pennzoil 250, holding off Justin Allgaier by 0.643 seconds.

The day was even bigger for JR Motorsports, which accomplished something no team had ever done in series history: sweeping the top four finishing positions.

Kvapil won, followed by Allgaier, Ross Chastain and Chase Elliott. ( Official Site Of NASCAR)

That’s one heck of a team photo.

Iowa — Kvapil Does It Again

Sometimes it takes forever to get the first win.

Then suddenly they start coming quickly.

After going winless through his first 63 series starts, Kvapil followed his Indianapolis breakthrough by winning again at Iowa.

The race required two overtime restarts, and Kvapil took advantage when Ross Chastain spun his tires on the first overtime restart. Kvapil eventually held off Rajah Caruth by 0.343 seconds.

Two starts. Two wins. ( Official Site Of NASCAR)

The victory moved Kvapil into serious championship consideration and made him one of the hottest drivers in the series.

O’Reilly Series winners since Indianapolis:

Indianapolis: Carson Kvapil

Iowa: Carson Kvapil

The series did not race at Richmond or New Hampshire and returns Friday night at Daytona for its regular-season finale.

The battle around the final Chase positions is extremely tight. William Sawalich and Brent Crews currently hold the final two provisional positions, with Taylor Gray only one point behind and Rajah Caruth still within striking distance. ( Official Site Of NASCAR)

Daytona should be interesting.

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NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series

Indianapolis Raceway Park — Layne Riggs Nearly Perfect

Calling Layne Riggs dominant at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park might actually undersell it.

Riggs led 198 of 200 laps.

He swept both stages and beat Connor Mosack by 1.148 seconds, earning his fifth victory of the season.

The only time Riggs surrendered the lead was briefly following a restart. Otherwise, the No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford essentially owned the night. ( Official Site Of NASCAR)

That’s about as close to a perfect NASCAR race as you’ll see.

Richmond — Honeycutt Answers With His Own Beatdown

Then Kaden Honeycutt went to Richmond and apparently decided Riggs shouldn’t have all the fun.

Honeycutt led 225 of 250 laps, swept both stages and drove away to a 1.313-second victory.

It was by far the most laps Honeycutt had ever led in a Truck Series event — more than he had led in his previous 75 starts combined. ( Official Site Of NASCAR)

Two races. Two absolute beatdowns.

New Hampshire — Riggs Finishes the Regular Season With Win No. 6

Riggs closed the Truck Series regular season exactly the way he has raced much of 2026: out front.

After a pair of overtime restarts, Riggs held off Front Row Motorsports teammate Chandler Smith by just 0.293 seconds.

Riggs led 106 of 189 laps and earned his series-leading sixth victory of the season. ( Official Site Of NASCAR)

The race also finalized the Truck Series Chase field, with Tyler Ankrum grabbing the final postseason position.

Truck Series winners since Indianapolis:

IRP: Layne Riggs

Richmond: Kaden Honeycutt

New Hampshire: Layne Riggs

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Who Has the Momentum?

There’s no shortage of it.

In Cup, Team Penske is suddenly looking dangerous. Joey Logano has two wins in four races, while Ryan Blaney just delivered another statement victory at New Hampshire.

In the O’Reilly Series, Carson Kvapil went from searching for his first career victory to winning consecutive races at Indianapolis and Iowa.

And in Trucks, Layne Riggs has established himself as the driver everyone will be measuring themselves against once The Chase begins.

Now comes Daytona.

And if history tells us anything, Daytona doesn’t care about points projections, momentum or carefully constructed postseason scenarios.

One wreck can change everything.

That’s why we watch.

Next Up: Daytona

The NASCAR national series turn their attention toward Daytona International Speedway, with the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series scheduled for Friday night and the Cup Series regular-season finale Saturday night.

Expect drafting partners, desperate drivers, aggressive moves and a Chase bubble that could change completely before the checkered flag.

Race Day Outfitters will be following it all.

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