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Jeff Hawkins

Sports Editor

About

Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry, in both print and digital media. He ed the Sportscasting team in 2021 following a decade of freelancing. He spent his early career as a reporter for various newspapers in Illinois, New York, Florida, North Carolina, and Michigan, with a particular emphasis as a beat reporter for the Chicago Blackhawks. Jeff earned his bachelor's degree in journalism from Oakland University. Over the course of his career he earned several sports writing awards, including two national awards from the Associated Press Sports Editors for column writing and news reporting. One of the five prized columns included a commentary on NASCAR's increasing corporate influences, particularly in northern racetracks — commentary which you might find Jeff building on as part of the Motorsports writing team at Sportscasting now.  

Articles by Jeff Hawkins (384)

NASCAR Xfinity Series Fans Respond To Kyle Larson Claiming Andy’s Frozen Custard 300 At Texas Motor Speedway

Learning midweek he would replace injured NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Connor Zilisch, Kyle Larson overcame a Stage 1 penalty for an uncontrolled tire, two overtime restarts and 11 caution periods to claim Saturday’s Andy’s Frozen Custard 300 at Texas Motor Speedway.  Twenty-four of the 38 machines in the race were involved in an incident, establishing […]

Jeff Hawkins  •  03 May 2025
NASCAR Cup Series Würth 400: Qualifying, Cowboy Carson Hocevar’s Pole Position, Lineup At Texas Motor Speedway

NASCAR Cup Series driver Carson Hocevar cowboyed up Saturday, earning his first career pole position for Sunday’s Würth 400 at Texas Motor Speedway.  Dressed in a cowboy-inspired firesuit while donning a block cowboy hat, Hocevar celebrated with teammates. Hocevar turned a hot qualifying lap of 191.659 mph, edging runner-up William Byron by 0.014 seconds.  At […]

Jeff Hawkins  •  03 May 2025
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Fans Respond To Corey Heim Claiming SpeedyCash.com 250 In OT At Texas

For a moment, on the final overtime lap Friday night at Texas Motor Speedway, Daniel Hemric flanked NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver Corey Heim on the inside and Ben Rhodes on the outside.  As successful as his season has been, Heim, the circuit points leader, resents that he should have at least five wins this […]

Jeff Hawkins  •  03 May 2025
NASCAR Xfinity Series Andy’s Frozen Custard 300: Qualifying, Austin Hill’s Pole Position, Lineup At Texas Motor Speedway

With Friday afternoon rain wiping out the NASCAR Xfinity Series’ qualifying session at Texas Motor Speedway, driver Austin Hill was awarded the pole position for Saturday’s Andy’s Frozen Custard 300.  Hill, who claimed last Saturday’s circuit event at Talladega Superspeedway, will begin on the inside of the front row, next to points leader Justin Allgaier. […]

Jeff Hawkins  •  02 May 2025
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series SpeedyCash.com 250: Qualifying, Tyler Ankrum’s Pole Position, Lineup At Texas Motor Speedway

With Friday’s qualifying session at Texas Motor Speedway rained out, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver Tyler Ankrum earned the pole position for the SpeedyCash.com 250, which was scheduled for Friday night.  McAnally-Hilgemann Racing teammate Daniel Hemric will start on the outside of the front row, followed by Jack Garcia and points leader Corey Heim on […]

Jeff Hawkins  •  02 May 2025
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series SpeedyCash.com 250: Corey Heim Earns Top Odds At Texas Motor Speedway

With one win, one top-10 and two top-15 finishes in its past three NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series outings at Texas Motor Speedway, Spire Motorsports expects to maintain its Texas-sized momentum.   Cup circuit regular Kyle Busch dominated last year’s SpeedCash.com 250, leading 112 of 167 laps en route to Victory Lane.   The Mooresville, North Carolina, organization […]

Jeff Hawkins  •  01 May 2025
NASCAR Xfinity Series Andy’s Frozen Custard 300: Justin Allgaier Earns Top Odds At Texas Motor Speedway

NASCAR Xfinity Series Connor Zilisch will have the weekend off.  Reporting back issues following his hard last-lap crash last Saturday at Talladega Superspeedway, one of the circuit’s top rookies will sit out Saturday’s Andy’s Frozen Custard 300 at Texas Motor Speedway.  The extent of Zilisch’s injuries were not reported.  In 11 starts, Zilisch piloted the […]

Jeff Hawkins  •  01 May 2025
Austin Hill Waits for Winning NASCAR Xfinity Series Call; Justin Allgaier Tops Drivers’ Title Odds

NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Austin Hill waited for the call.  In the moments that ed following last Saturday’s photo finish at Talladega Superspeedway, Hill patiently stood around, anticipating the announcement of who won between Hill, Jesse Love and Jeb Burton. The trio were separated by inches at the start/finish line.   Burton was convinced he […]

Jeff Hawkins  •  30 Apr 2025
Kyle Larson Draws Top NASCAR Cup Series Drivers’ Championship Odds

Beginning a run of competing on three consecutive 1.5-mile tracks, 23XI Racing anticipates one of its trio of teams qualifying for the NASCAR Cup Series postseason.  First is Sunday’s Texas Motor Speedway, where Tyler Reddick has compiled a 9.3 average finish, including a win during the September 2022 event. Reddick has collected at least one […]

Jeff Hawkins  •  30 Apr 2025
Jack Wood Posts Career-Best NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Finish; Corey Heim Remains Drivers’ Title Favorite

As points leader Corey Heim continues his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship quest, the sports-betting favorite will do so with a new look in May.  Beginning with Friday night’s SpeedyCash.com 250 at Texas Motor Speedway, Heim’s No. 11 Toyota will be adorned with a new sponsor, Safelite Foundation. The deal also includes stops at […]

Jeff Hawkins  •  29 Apr 2025