Everyone expected chaos this weekend in the NASCAR races on the San Diego Street Course and that’s exactly what we got in Saturday’s United Rentals Driven to Serve 250. On a day where many of the O’Reilly Series points leaders–Sam Mayer, WIlliam Sawalich, Brent Crews and Justin Allgaier–picking up DNFs, there’s some shakeup in the standings.

Let’s dive into the O’Reilly Standings today following the race at Naval Base Coronado, with 18 points races now in the books.

NASCAR O’Reilly Series Points Leaders

More must-reads:

• NASCAR News: Latest on Ryan Preece’s Future with RFK Racing
• NASCAR Rumors: Insider Offers Clarity on Alex Bowman’s Future with Hendrick Motorsports
• NASCAR O’Reilly Results Today: United Rentals Driven to Serve 250 Winner, Stage Results

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RFK Racing made its first big move of NASCAR silly season this summer, signing Chris Buescher to a contract extension. However, with the team losing its third charter in 2027, there have been questions regarding Ryan Preece’s future with the organization.

During a recent episode of Dirty Mo Overdrive this past week, NASCAR reporter Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic said that Preece is expected to re-sign with RFK for 2027.

Related: Predicting 4 NASCAR Drivers Who Won’t Make The Chase

“We expect that Ryan Preece is going to return to RFK Racing. The team likes him a lot, the sponsors like him a lot and Ryan is in a good situation that he likes at RFK Racing…Everyone involved thinks that Ryan Preece is going to return to RFK Racing.”

Jordan Bianchi on Ryan Preece’s future with RFK Racing

It is good news for Preece at a time when he is struggling. Just a few weeks ago, the veteran driver was firmly in the mix to make the playoffs, and there seemed to be a strong likelihood of all three RFK drivers earning one of the 16 spots. However, things have spiraled for the No. 60 team as of late.

Across the last four races, Preece has totaled just 26 points with an average finishing position of 31.25. He has plummeted to 19th among points leaders entering this weekend at Naval Base Coronado, sitting 33 points behind the cutline.

The struggles also came at an unfortunate time for RFK Racing. After this season, the team’s deal to lease the charter owned by Rick Ware Racing will expire. That charter will be under the control of Legacy Motor Club in 2027, with a driver already seemingly picked out for that seat next season.

Read More: Insider Reveals Potential Cost of a NASCAR Charter

RFK does have the option of pursuing a third charter, but that will cost the team tens of millions of dollars. The alternative for RFK is running Preece as an open car next season, with sponsors like Kroger made aware of the situation and supporting the team with the No. 60 running as an open team next year.

While it is not the ideal situation for Preece, as open cars receive less purse money in races, staying with RFK seems to be the best option for him. Barring something unexpected, there is a strong likelihood that RFK’s three-car team remains fully in place for 2027.

More must-reads:

• NASCAR O’Reilly Standings Today: OARS Points Leaders after San Diego
• NASCAR Rumors: Insider Offers Clarity on Alex Bowman’s Future with Hendrick Motorsports
• NASCAR O’Reilly Results Today: United Rentals Driven to Serve 250 Winner, Stage Results

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NASCAR driver Alex Bowman entered the 2026 season in a contract year, seemingly on the hot seat in the No. 48 car with Hendrick Motorsports. As he now tries to climb his way back in a season derailed by vertigo issues, it appears Hendrick already knows what it wants to do next season.

NASCAR reporter Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic reported this week on Dirty Mo Overdrive that Hendrick Motorsports and the No. 48 team both want Bowman back behind the wheel for the 2027 Cup Series season.

Related: Insider Names Potential Alex Bowman Replacement for Hendrick Motorsports

“The team would like to see Alex Bowman return next year. He has proven that, in the right situation, he can win races and the sponsor, Ally, likes him a lot. But a lot of this is going to be up to Alex and whether or not he wants to continue doing this or not in this situation…It’s going to be his decision primarily whether he wants to continue to do this or not…The 48 team would like to see him continue in that car.”

Jordan Bianchi on Alex Bowman’s future with Hendrick Motorsports

Well before NASCAR silly season began, there’s been plenty of uncertainty regarding Bowman’s place at Hendrick Motorsports. While he made the playoffs last season, the veteran driver hasn’t won a race since the 2024 Chicago Street Race, leaving him with just one win over the last three seasons.

Things looked even more bleak early this season. Bowman wrecked in the Daytona 500, finishing last, then recorded a 23rd-place finish at EchoPark Speedway. Unfortunately, his history of health issues popped up again at Circuit of the Americas. Midway through the race at COTA, Bowman pulled into his pit stall and took himself out. He reported experiencing vertigo, which kept him sidelined for four additional races.

Bowman did record consecutive third-place finishes at Talladega and Texas Motor Speedway followed by a ninth-place finish two weeks later in the All-Star Race. However, Bowman’s average finishing position in the last four races has fallen back to 24.0 and he’s averaged just 15.25 points per race in that span.

The issue for Hendrick is that there’s no obvious replacement easily available. Development driver Corey Day is a long-term option, but he’s only 20 years old and has never raced in the Cup Series. Not only does Day not have any on-track experience in the Next Gen car, but he’s also in his first full-time season in the O’Reilly Series.

One option who has been mentioned throughout NASCAR silly season as an alternative for the No. 48 car is rookie Connor Zilisch. However, the 19-year-old is under contract through next season with Trackhouse Racing and his results–second-fewest points and a 27.688 average finishing position–leave something to be desired. Hendrick could pursue him, but that could require paying a hefty sum to Trackhouse to buy out the final year of his contract.

What’s far more realistic, if he’s willing, is bringing Bowman back on a one-year deal for the 2027 season and then determining next offseason if Zilisch or Day is the best option. However, if Bowman’s history of health issues push him toward retirement, things will get a lot more interesting at HMS and for the NASCAR silly season.

More must-reads:

• NASCAR O’Reilly Standings Today: OARS Points Leaders after San Diego
• NASCAR News: Latest on Ryan Preece’s Future with RFK Racing
• NASCAR O’Reilly Results Today: United Rentals Driven to Serve 250 Winner, Stage Results

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A thrilling last-lap pass earned Austin Hill his first career road course NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series victory in the inaugural United Rentals Driven to Serve 250 at Naval Base Coronado.

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Who won the NASCAR race tonight? Austin Hill made a little move on Taylor Gray to reach victory lane at Naval Base Coronado, capping off a wild final laps and a ton of chaoson the San Diego Street Course.

Things got off to a rough start early. Minutes into the O’Reilly Series race today, a manhole cover came loose and popped into the air then got caught in the radiator of Corey Day’s car. That brought out an extended caution followed by a red flag on Lap 12. Day later attempted to flip the stage at the end of Stage 1 to get himself back in the hunt, but a speeding penalty on pit road delivered another setback.

Related: 2 Drivers Emerge as Options to Race for RCR in 2027

In the final laps with Carson Kvapil in the lead with 3 laps to go, Taylor Gray intentionally took him out to take the lead. That led to a two-driver battle between Gray and Austin Hill with 2 laps to go and Hill got past him on the final lap and raced his way to victory lane in San Diego.

Let’s dive into the NASCAR O’Reilly Series results today from Naval Base Coronado. First, you’ll find the United Rentals Driven to Serve 250 results and points totals. Further below is where you can find the NASCAR stage results today for the O’Reilly Series.

United Rentals Driven to Serve 250 Results

Here are the NASCAR OARS results today from Naval Base Coronado.

NASCAR O’Reilly Stage Results: San Diego

Here are the United Rentals Driven to Serve 250 stage results today.

Who won the NASCAR O’Reilly Series race?

Austin Hill won the NASCAR OARS race at Naval Base Coronado on Saturday night, delivering Richard Childress Racing its first win since the passing of Kyle Busch.

More must-reads:

• NASCAR O’Reilly Standings Today: OARS Points Leaders after San Diego
• NASCAR News: Latest on Ryan Preece’s Future with RFK Racing
• NASCAR Rumors: Insider Offers Clarity on Alex Bowman’s Future with Hendrick Motorsports

The post NASCAR O’Reilly Results Today: United Rentals Driven to Serve 250 Winner, Stage Results appeared first on Mr PitBox.

The NASCAR world is still mourning the sudden loss of Kyle Busch, with the Hall of Famer’s passing once again putting Richard Childress Racing in an unimaginable position. With a driver needed for the No. 33 car next season, there are reportedly two front-runners right now.

On an episode of Dirty Mo Overdrive this week, motorsports reporter Jordan Bianchi of The Athletic mentioned that Austin Hill and Noah Gragson are the “two names to watch” to drive the No. 33 car next season for Richard Childress Racing.

Related: RCR Announces Long-Term Plans for No. 8 Car in Cup Series

It is certainly not the position that Richard Childress’ team wanted to be in. As he revealed in a press conference a few weeks ago, RCR had a contract extension in place with Busch that would have kept him in the No. 8 car next season. The future Hall of Famer’s passing took all of that away, forcing RCR into the same position they found themselves in following the death of Dale Earnhardt.

For the remainder of the season, Hill will be racing the No. 33 car for the Cup Series. He will be running double-duty every weekend, giving him a chance to both compete for the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series championship and gain more experience in the Cup Series.

Related: Latest Buzz on Noah Gragson’s Future with Frotn Row Motorsports

While one might think the continuity factor would make Hill the favorite to drive the No. 33 next season for RCR, there is another factor to keep in mind. As Dale Earnhardt Jr. noted on his podcast, The Dale Jr. Download, earlier this week, Gragson has a great relationship with Bass Pro Shops and his personality is preferred by sponsors.

Gragson, who turns 28 in July, still has not won a Cup Series race in his career and entered the weekend with a 23.875 average finishing position with a single top-10 finish in 16 races behind the wheel of the No. 4 car for Front Row Motorsports this season.

Bianchi has previously reported that there is a 60-40 chance Front Row Motorsports brings Gragson back next season. If they decide to make a change, the team could offer a Cup ride to Josh Berry or look at promoting one of their own drivers, Layne Riggs or Chandler Smith, to the No. 4 car.

If FRM makes a change, RCR could strike quickly to bring in Gragson and bet on the young driver’s upside while having the added benefit of his great relationship with sponsors and excellent marketability. In that scenario, Hill would seemingly remain in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series as a perennial championship contender for RCR.

More must-reads:

• NASCAR Starting Lineup San Diego: Anduril 250 Starting Grid, Cup Series Qualifying Results
• NASCAR Rumors: Dale Jr Hints Jesse Love Could Eventually Replace Team Penske Driver
• NASCAR Qualifying Order Today: Cup Series Qualifying Groups for Saturday

The post NASCAR Silly Season: 2 Drivers Emerge as Options for Richard Childress Racing in 2027 appeared first on Mr PitBox.

Shane van Gisbergen remains the rabbit the NASCAR Cup Series field is chasing on road and street courses, winning the pole for the inaugural event at Naval Base Coronado.

The post Cup Series road course king van Gisbergen reigns again with Coronado pole appeared first on Mr PitBox.

Who is on the pole for the NASCAR race on Sunday? The Cup Series qualifying results at Naval Base Coronado are in after drivers hit the track at the San Diego Street Course for the second time.

The 16-turn, 3.4-mile road-course track delivered the longest qualifying times in NASCAR this season, with drivers struggling to navigate one of the most difficult courses ever. Given how things have gone this weekend, starting position feels more crucial than ever for Sunday.

Related: NASCAR Cup Series Practice Results at Naval Base Coronado

Let’s dive into the NASCAR qualifying results today from Naval Base Coronado. We’ll start off with the Anduril 250 starting lineup for tomorrow. Further below that is where you can find the NASCAR starting grid for Sunday.

Anduril 250 Starting Lineup: San Diego Street Course

NASCAR Starting Grid for Sunday: Naval Base Coronado

Here is the ANduril 250 starting grid for Sunday at the San Diego Street Course.

Who is on the pole for the NASCAR race tomorrow?

Shane van Gisbergen is on the pole for the NASCAR race on Sunday at Naval Base Coronado. SVG finished first in NASCAR qualifying results on Saturday, with Connor Zilisch earning second on the Anduril 250 starting grid with the second-fastest lap time on the San Diego Street Course.

More must-reads:

• NASCAR Silly Season: 2 Drivers Emerge as Options for Richard Childress Racing in 2027
• NASCAR Rumors: Dale Jr Hints Jesse Love Could Eventually Replace Team Penske Driver
• NASCAR Qualifying Order Today: Cup Series Qualifying Groups for Saturday

The post NASCAR Starting Lineup San Diego: Anduril 250 Starting Grid, Cup Series Qualifying Results appeared first on Mr PitBox.

The biggest issues for Bell, who has a fractured left wrist, are driving one-handed around the 3.4-mile course while shifting, as well as making quick decisions with the steering wheel.

The post Injured Bell and his JGR team still weighing whether or not he will go the distance in San Diego appeared first on Mr PitBox.

A major domino in NASCAR silly season fell this week with Wood Brothers Racing announcing that Jesse Love will replace Josh Berry full-time behind the wheel of the No. 21 car next season. However, it might be a relatively short-term stay.

On this week’s episode of the Dale Jr. Download, Dale Earnhardt Jr. said he heard the earlier rumors about Love taking the No. 2 car with Team Penske with Cindric then getting in the No. 21. However, he thinks a move like that comes in a year or two.

Related: Denny Hamlin Addresses if Jesse Love is Ready for Cup Series

“I’ve heard that too, that Cindric could be put down to the 21 and Jesse Love could go in the 2…I ust don’t think that’s what happens..I think he has probably a year, two years there, if he produces. Then he gets to go.”

Dale Earnhardt Jr. on Jesse Love’s potential future with Team Penske

As Earnhardt Jr. said, it was always unlikely that Team Penske rushed one of the top NASCAR prospects into a full-time seat with a top-flight team so early in his career. While he does have some experience racing in the Cup Series, there’s still a massive adjustment period when making the leap from the O’Reilly Series to Cup.

Connor Zilisch is the perfect example of that. After dominating the O’Reilly Series last season, though ultimately losing in the championship to Love, the 19-year-old got a full-time Cup ride with Trackhouse Racing. Through 16 races, he has scored the second-fewest points (162), finishing 29th or worse in nine races.

Wood Brothers Racing has justifcation to move on from Berry, who is underperforming this season and might not get a full-time Cup ride in 2027. However, Austin Cindric would make The Chase if the regular season ended today and there’s no reason for Team Penske to move on from an established veteran in favor of a rookie.

The best course of action for both teams is for Cindric to remain with Team Penske through at least the 2027 season, while Love learns how to race every Sunday in the Cup Series. If the young driver adapts to the learning curve quickly, perhaps we see him behind the wheel of the No. 2 as early as 2028.

More must-reads:

• NASCAR Qualifying Order Today: Cup Series Qualifying Groups for Saturday
• NASCAR Truck Standings Today: Truck Series Points Leaders, The Chase Cutline after San Diego
• NASCAR Truck Results: Navy 250 Winner, Truck Series Results at Naval Base Coronado

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