PressBox, Author at NXTbets Inc

September 30, 2026

Las Vegas weekend features single-car qualifying Saturday

NASCAR’s October weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway is set for Oct. 3-4 on the 1.5-mile track, with Cup Series and O’Reilly Auto Parts Series qualifying leading into a full slate of races. Both series will use single-car, single-lap qualifying on Saturday to set the starting lineups, and with 36 entries in each field, every driver will make the race. O’Reilly qualifying is scheduled for 3:05 p.m. ET on ESPN Unlimited, followed by Cup qualifying at 5:35 p.m. ET on truTV.

The metric-based qualifying orders put Cody Ware first in the Cup Series and Kyle Larson last, with Noah Gragson, Josh Berry, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Cole Custer filling the next spots. In the O’Reilly Series, Dawson Cram is first and Sheldon Creed last, with Joey Gase and Lavar Scott among the early runners. Chase contenders are mixed throughout both lineups, and the Cup entry list also includes Ross Chastain, Austin Cindric, Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano, William Byron, Tyler Reddick, Alex Bowman and Shane van Gisbergen.

Saturday’s schedule also includes O’Reilly practice at 2 p.m. ET, Cup practice at 4:30 p.m. ET on truTV, the Focused Health 302 at 7:30 p.m. ET on The CW, and Sunday’s South Point 400 at 5:30 p.m. ET on USA Network. The O’Reilly race will also air on PRN and SiriusXM, while the Cup race will stream on HBO Max and air on PRN and SiriusXM. Friday’s action at The Bullring features the Kyle Busch Classic with CARS Tour West and ARCA Menards Series West drivers.
More
September 30, 2026

World of Outlaws, PA Posse Renew Rivalry at Williams Grove

The World of Outlaws and the Pennsylvania Posse are set to renew their rivalry at Williams Grove Speedway in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, for the 64th running of the J&S Classics National Open on Oct. 2-3. The $75,000-to-win finale is scheduled for Saturday, and the event is expected to draw more than 50 Sprint Car drivers to one of the sport’s biggest stages. The Outlaws enter with a 4-2 lead in the season series and are chasing a third straight National Open victory, while the race also carries major bragging rights in the long-running matchup with the Posse.

Donny Schatz is a central figure in the event after recent wins at Bakersfield with CJB Motorsports. He owns a record six National Open victories and is trying for a seventh. Carson Macedo won the race in 2024, and Sheldon Haudenschild won in 2025. The tentative entry list also includes David Gravel, Logan Schuchart, Lance Dewease, Brent Marks, Anthony Macri, Danny Dietrich and Bill Balog, though the lineup is subject to change.

Chase Dietz leads the Pennsylvania contingent after a season with a nation-leading 22 410 Sprint Car wins. Other expected threats from the Posse side include Anthony Macri, Lance Dewease, Danny Dietrich and Daryn Pittman. World of Outlaws drivers Michael “Buddy” Kofoid, Logan Schuchart and Bill Balog are also listed among the top contenders.
More
September 30, 2026

Ryan Benesch Retires After 19 NLL Seasons

Ryan Benesch announced that he is retiring from professional lacrosse after 19 NLL seasons, saying it is time to “hang up the gloves” and that he is ending his playing career without regrets.

In a farewell letter, Benesch thanked owners, coaches, teammates, training staffs, office staffs, fans and fellow players for their support and competition throughout his career. He also credited his family for their love and encouragement.

Benesch specifically mentioned his parents, his wife Jaide and his son Parker. He said he now looks forward to watching Parker’s lacrosse career unfold.
More
September 30, 2026

Plessinger ends KTM run, signs two-year Triumph deal

Aaron Plessinger has signed a two-year deal with 5.11 Triumph Factory Racing and will race the TF 450-X for the team beginning with the 2027 AMA Supercross and Pro Motocross seasons, a move that ends his five-year run with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing. Triumph said Plessinger will join Jordon Smith in its 450 program as the brand continues developing its SuperMotocross effort, and team officials said his experience, popularity and race-winning background will help advance the project. Plessinger, a two-time 250 class champion, said he believes in Triumph’s potential.

Plessinger’s KTM exit was confirmed after the 2026 SMX World Championship, ending a stretch that began ahead of the 2022 season. Across five years with KTM, he recorded 24 podium finishes, including 11 in 450SX and 13 in 450MX, and won two Supercross races. His victories came in San Diego in 2024, his first career 450SX win, and Foxborough in 2025. He also finished third in the 2023 450MX standings and third in the 2024 450SX standings.

Plessinger is scheduled to make his first official Triumph appearance at the company’s Global Dealer Conference in Thailand from October 6-9, 2026. He will then return to Georgia, near Atlanta, for testing and bike setup ahead of his first race on the new bike at Paris Supercross in November. Plessinger said he plans to begin the next chapter there and make his American debut on the Triumph in January at Angel Stadium.
More
September 30, 2026

Austin Hill, Shane van Gisbergen feud boils over at Kansas

Austin Hill’s feud with Shane van Gisbergen flared again last weekend at Kansas Speedway, where the two made contact in Stage 2 and Hill’s frustrations spilled onto the radio. On Lap 110, while they were fighting for 26th place, van Gisbergen slid up the track exiting Turn 2, Hill brushed the outside wall, and he later lost positions to Tyler Reddick and Alex Bowman. As Hill’s anger rose on the No. 33 team radio, spotter Derek Kneeland told him to settle down, and Hill shot back that he did not want to hear it and to just spot.

The exchange escalated as Kneeland warned Hill that they could not keep racing each other like this every week and said the pattern would lead to wrecked cars and no finishes. Kneeland later added that he had Hill’s back every week, but that the team could not keep doing this, and he also said he was not a fan of the 97, a reference to van Gisbergen.

The Kansas clash was the latest chapter in a rivalry that has already included incidents at Pocono, San Diego and Chicagoland in 2026. The tension between the two drivers traces back to a heated exchange at Circuit of the Americas in March 2024, and more contact at Sonoma later made the feud personal.
More
September 30, 2026

FIA flags Malaysia’s moved Bahrain GP as heat hazard

The FIA declared the Formula 1 Bahrain Grand Prix at Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia a heat hazard after forecasts called for race-weekend temperatures in the low 30s Celsius, high humidity and possible rain. Heavy rain hit the track as teams arrived, and the forecast called for the rain to ease as temperatures rise through the weekend. The race, staged in Malaysia after the original Bahrain date was moved because of the conflict in the Middle East, is expected to run on a demanding tropical circuit near Kuala Lumpur.

Under the heat-hazard rules, teams must fit driver cooling systems to their cars and meet a higher minimum car weight. Drivers can choose to wear a cooling vest under their overalls or, if they do not, carry ballast in the car to compensate. Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton have said the vests are unnecessary and ineffective over a full race distance.

It is the third time Formula 1 has triggered the heat-hazard regulations this year, after Austria and Italy. The rule applies when temperatures are expected to exceed 31C. The measure was introduced in 2025 after the 2023 Qatar Grand Prix, when several drivers needed medical attention for heat exhaustion. Forecasts for the weekend also pointed to rain at different stages of practice, qualifying and the race, with air quality expected to range from moderate to poor.
More
September 30, 2026

F1 Business Summit expands Vegas lineup with Wilson, Ramsay

Formula 1 has updated programming for the F1 Business Summit, set for Nov. 19 at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas during Las Vegas Grand Prix weekend. Heather McMahan will host, and the lineup now includes Russell Wilson, Shaun White, Ndamukong Suh, Gordon Ramsay, Jean Arnault and Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu. SPORT BEACH will serve as the keynote panel’s presenting partner.

The summit will focus on team leadership, athlete ownership and investment, Formula 1’s partnership with LVMH, and the modern fan, with executive roundtables also part of the program. Stefano Domenicali will deliver opening remarks, though source materials differ on the rest of the lineup: one includes Steve Hill among the opening remarks, while another says Liberty Media president and CEO Derek Chang will deliver opening and closing remarks. Komatsu is scheduled for an on-stage Q&A.

The ticketed event will run from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., with tickets starting at $550 and VIP packages priced at $2,500. VIP guests will also get a trackside clubhouse experience, and attendees can attend a post-summit social at F1 Arcade before the Las Vegas Grand Prix runs Nov. 19-21, 2026.
More
September 30, 2026

Aaron Plessinger Exits KTM After 24 Podiums and Two Wins

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing is parting ways with Aaron Plessinger after five seasons, ending a run that began ahead of the 2022 season and concluded after the 2026 SMX World Championship. KTM thanked Plessinger for his time with the team, and team manager Ian Harrison praised his professionalism, personality and results. Plessinger said the five years at KTM were among the best of his career and that he was grateful for his time with the team.

Plessinger leaves KTM with 24 podiums across Supercross and Motocross, including 11 in 450SX and 13 in 450MX. He also won two 450SX main events for the team, earning his first career Supercross victory in San Diego in 2024 and his second at Foxborough in 2025. He finished third in the 2024 450MX standings.

Plessinger also made appearances for Team USA at the Motocross of Nations during his KTM tenure. He is expected to ride for Triumph Factory Racing in 2027.
More
September 30, 2026

McAdoo thanks Pro Circuit after seven seasons

Cameron McAdoo thanked Mitch Payton and the Monster Energy/Pro Circuit Kawasaki team in an Instagram post, marking the end of his seven-season run with the outfit. McAdoo said he joined the team ahead of the 2020 season and described the group as family.

He said the partnership produced multiple race wins, red plates and 24 podiums, including three 250SX main event victories. McAdoo also pointed to Daytona in 2021 as one of his favorite memories and his first win for the team. He is expected to move to the Quad Lock Honda team for 2027.
More