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Before the NASCAR off-season hit us, we had already announced our plans to keep our readers engaged with the sport. We’ve already got Mark Martin on board with his unfiltered takes, and our team was also present for the NHRA events. Just when we thought it couldn’t get any better, we sat down with NASCAR’s own Renaissance Man.
Kyle Petty is one of the most respected voices in the sport. He can be candid and controversial at times, but that’s what makes him so unique. However, our sit-down with Kyle was more than just a routine interview. We learned about his personality and the lens through which he views life and his career.

Racing is a tough sport, and even tougher for those who carry a lineage and legacy. For Kyle, the job of being a race car driver was demanding, to say the least, as the son of Richard Petty. Yet, he never allowed this pressure to get to him. Rather, he accepted the fact that he wasn’t among the best drivers in the stock car racing world.

“I was never a great race car driver, and I can say that wholeheartedly, honestly,” Kyle confessed during the interview. With over 800 Cup races, including notable wins such as the Coca-Cola 600 with the Wood Brothers and the 1992 title run, this response was indeed surprising.

Interestingly, the veteran driver described himself as a journeyman who has witnessed some of the most special moments in NASCAR. “I was just there and a witness to a lot of history and was a part of a few things that happened in history, like One Hot Night in Charlotte, the first race under the lights (1992 NASCAR All-Star Race), and stuff like that. So I’m a little bit of a footnote, more so than the main story.”

It didn’t take long for Kyle Petty to open up and share his raw opinion on core sports discussions. There’s been a lot of chatter around the championship format and how Denny Hamlin couldn’t complete his story because of an untimely caution. From Kyle’s perspective, he wasn’t leaning on the emotional angle of the debate.

“That’s the way the format is. Everybody knew that going into Daytona, so don’t complain about it,” Kyle added. However, he made a bold claim to back Hamlin’s NASCAR legacy regardless of his championship credentials. “I’ve said it a million times, and I’ll say it until somebody proves me wrong. I honestly believe that he’s the last Cup driver that we’re going to see get to 60 wins.”

The 65-year-old veteran is like an open book, but it seems there are a few things that fans do not know about him. “It was 10, 15 years ago, and Eddie Gossage was running Texas Motor Speedway. He had the No Limits Garage, and one year, they had bull riding. So I told him I wanted to ride a bull, and he let me ride a bull. I was only on the thing for about a second. I’m not even sure I made it another second.”

Kyle’s logic is simple: live life in the moment and do things that excite him, not for the end results or a win, but for the experience. “I want to be that guy that said I wasn’t good and I wasn’t successful, but by God, I gave it a shot! I just want to be that guy that just has all the goofy stories,” he added.

These were some of the stories Kyle Petty shared with us. Be sure to listen to the entire unfiltered conversation of this exclusive interview here.

The O’Reilly Auto Parts Series could become a two-horse race between Toyota and Chevy in 2026. Only a few years ago, we saw Austin Cindric and Cole Custer clinch the Xfinity Series championship in Ford Mustangs. However, if we are to go by current trends, there’s a possibility that we might not have a Ford-backed team next year.

One of the big stories of the silly season was Haas Factory Team’s decision to leave Ford and partner with Chevy. But the double blow was RSS Racing’s decision to leave Ford and follow in HFT’s footsteps.

The only potential team to compete under the Ford banner in 2026 is AM Racing. However, they’ve not confirmed whether they will continue this partnership. Ford, for some reason, hasn’t been too invested in its talent lineup either. We had Connor Zilisch and Jesse Love break through the ranks this year for Chevy, and Toyota is nurturing Corey Heim to lead its flagship program.

If you look at Ford, they don’t have a clear road map or a grassroots program to deliver the next Ryan Blaney or Joey Logano. Even if Ford manages to stitch together one or two partnerships for the O’Reilly Series, they wouldn’t be able to compete against the JRM and JGR drivers.

As things stand, there are more questions surrounding Ford’s future in NASCAR’s second-tier series. Without a big-name talent and with a lack of clarity surrounding the grassroots program, Ford has a big problem.

Continue Reading: Kyle Petty’s 30th Anniversary Charity Ride Route and Plans Revealed

NASCAR recently held a major event to celebrate regional champions in its own backyard. Eight champions from the 2025 season were honored at the Charlotte Convention Center. It was a mix of grassroots and global talent, showcasing the popularity and appeal of stock car racing.

One of the biggest highlights of the awards ceremony was recognizing champions from the international circuit. Two-time Formula One championship runner-up and 11-race winner Rubens Barrichello bagged the NASCAR Brazil Series title at the age of 53. Meanwhile, Italian driver Vittorio Ghirelli was also acknowledged for his consecutive NASCAR Euro Series championships.

The regional champions also had their moment on the big stage. Austin Beers, who became the youngest champion in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, was honored with an award. Ryan Preece and NASCAR President Steve O’Donnell presented Beers with the award.

Isabella Robusto received warm applause as the winner of the ARCA Menards Series 2025 Bounty Rookie of the Year. ARCA Menards Series champion Brenden “Butterbean” Queen also received similar treatment. The driver is all set to lead Ram’s Truck Series program next season.

NASCAR shared photos from the ceremony, but a social media post on X has caught everyone’s eye. All the regional champions were surprised with a custom gift.

Continue Reading: Logano Admits Cheating to Kickstart His Racing Career

The off-season is the only time when NASCAR drivers can have peaceful moments with their families and friends. This is usually the wedding season, as drivers are away from the daily grind and schedule. However, for Ryan Blaney and his wife Gianna, this off-season became extra special. They announced the arrival of their first child after getting married last December.

The couple announced the birth of their firstborn son, Charley Bennett Blaney, via social media.

Blaney is now part of the NASCAR dad club, joining his buddy Bubba Wallace, from whom he had asked for parenting advice. As soon as the Blaneys announced they were parents, congratulations and best wishes started pouring in.

The likes of Sydney Sweeney and Hall of Famer Jimmie Johnson sent heartfelt messages. But Hamlin’s fiancée Jordan’s comment stood out: “Oh my goodness! What a wonderful early Thanksgiving gift from God! He is perfect ❤️️.”

Even Chase Briscoe’s wife, Marissa, shared a sweet message: “What a blessing!! Congratulations! ❤️.” The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series campaign wasn’t the best for Blaney, but as far as his personal life goes, he has no complaints after being blessed with a baby boy.

We saw Bubba Wallace undergo a drastic shift in his personality after becoming a father this season. Maybe we could see something similar from the Penske star next year.

Continue Reading: FOX Broadcaster Achieves Historic Milestone