PROVO, Utah (AP) — A Utah judge is set to decide Monday whether to bar reporters and the public from parts of a key upcoming hearing in the case of the man accused of killing Charlie Kirk.
Tyler Robinson’s defense has asked Judge Tony Graf to restrict access to the preliminary hearing on July 6-10, when prosecutors must show they have enough evidence to warrant a trial. It will mark the most significant presentation of evidence to date in a case that has so far focused on matters of media access.
Defense attorneys also have requested to seal dozens of exhibits that prosecutors plan to introduce at the July hearing, arguing they could taint the jury pool before a possible trial.
Robinson's lawyers have tried to guard against media coverage that they say sometimes misrepresents their client as his case has drawn tremendous public attention. The 23-year-old from southwestern Utah is charged with crimes including aggravated murder in the Sept. 10 assassination of Kirk on the Utah Valley University campus.
Prosecutors intend to seek the death penalty if Robinson is convicted. He has not yet entered a plea.
Prosecutors have argued that the preliminary hearing should remain open, but they agreed that media should be restricted from viewing or copying some exhibits that could be used in a future trial. They plan to introduce forensic analyses, surveillance video, recordings of witness statements, autopsy findings and alleged messages from Robinson admitting to the crime.
Authorities have said DNA consistent with Robinson’s was found on the trigger of the rifle used to kill Kirk, the fired cartridge casing, two unfired cartridges and a towel used to wrap the rifle. Prosecutors also have said Robinson left a note for his romantic partner that read, “I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk and I’m going to take it.”
Tyler Robinson, left, accused in the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk, appears during a hearing in the 4th District Court in Provo, Utah, Tuesday, May 19, 2026. (Trent Nelson/The Salt Lake Tribune via AP, Pool)
LEBANON, Tenn. (AP) — Denny Hamlin outraced Christopher Bell over the last four laps after a final restart Sunday night to win the Cracker Barrel 400 at Nashville Superspeedway.
Hamlin won for the second time this year and 62nd of his career on a night where he jumped the start off the pole. That penalty put him at the back of the field.
“Man, what an unbelievable day,” Hamlin said. “Starting first, going to last and back to first.”
The 45-year-old Hamlin raced his way to the front for the thrilling win that had his Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Bell and Chase Briscoe making it three-wide before Hamlin took the lead down the backstretch to win by 0.115 seconds in his No. 11 Toyota.
Hamlin, who won at Las Vegas and also the All-Star race at Dover, pulled within 97 points of Tyler Reddick in the season standings. Reddick finished sixth.
The race started 80 minutes late after rain delayed NASCAR’s Cup Series for a second straight week. The wait was worth it with a record 31 lead changes among a record 15 leaders. The race also featured 12 cautions at the 1.33-mile, D-shaped oval that is NASCAR’s largest concrete track.
Bell finished second for a second straight race ahead of Briscoe. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. was fourth, and Chase Elliott rounded out the top five.
“I had the best car on the race track ... and we had the lead on the restart,” Bell said. “I got a great push from Denny on the restart, and I didn’t win the race.”
Ryan Blaney, trying to repeat as champ at this track, led the restart trying to hold off AJ Allmendinger on a one-lap shootout for the first stage. Allmendinger took the lead on the backstretch, then held off Kyle Larson to take stage one for his first stage victory since 2024.
Suarez took the second stage after staying out during a caution and took the lead on the restart on lap 182. Then Corey Heim drove his No. 67 Toyota into the back of Todd Gilliland’s No. 34 Ford, sending him backward into the Turn 1 wall. That brought out the seventh caution with Cole Custer spinning out in the crash.
Rookie Connor Zilisch had the right rotor explode on his No. 88 Chevrolet sending him into the wall and smashing the right side on Turn 1 of lap 72. Zilisch got the Trackhouse Racing car into the garage with some flames coming out from under the right tire, which was stuck and nearly sideway.
He had been running 24th after starting 38th on the last row.
Trackhouse teammate Ross Chastain had his own rotor issue on lap 82 sending him into the wall between Turns 1 and 2. Michael McDowell spun trying to avoid Chastain’s No. 1 Chevrolet. Zilisch called the rotor problems a surprise when both he and Chastain had been moving up.
“Just unfortunate circumstances,” Zilisch said. “Yeah, we’ll learn from it.”
Van Gisbergen is the third member of Trackhouse Racing. His crew told him not to worry with his No. 97 Chevrolet running a completely different brake package. Ryan Preece went to the garage with no water in his No. 60 Ford, and his crew found a piece of rotor broken off into the radiator before he got back on the track.
Then Allmendinger, who was third, had the rotor spark and flame before his No. 16 Chevrolet hit the Turn 1 wall on lap 173 — with 12 laps left in Stage 2.
Chris Buescher was running 17th with 12 laps left when his right rotor went as he entered Turn 3.
The series will be at Michigan International Speedway next week where Hamlin will be trying to win for a second straight year.
AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing
Austin Dillon (3) spins out during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race, Sunday, May 31, 2026, in Lebanon, Tenn. (AP Photo/Camden Hall)
Denny Hamlin celebrates after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race, Sunday, May 31, 2026, in Lebanon, Tenn. (AP Photo/Camden Hall)
Crew members work on Connor Zilisch's car after a wreck during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race, Sunday, May 31, 2026, in Lebanon, Tenn. (AP Photo/Camden Hall)
A member of Cody Ware's pit crew works on a tire during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race, Sunday, May 31, 2026, in Lebanon, Tenn. (AP Photo/Camden Hall)
Denny Hamlin speeds around the track during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race, Sunday, May 31, 2026, in Lebanon, Tenn. (AP Photo/Camden Hall)
Denny Hamlin celebrates after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race, Sunday, May 31, 2026, in Lebanon, Tenn. (AP Photo/Camden Hall)
Denny Hamlin celebrates after winning a NASCAR Cup Series auto race, Sunday, May 31, 2026, in Lebanon, Tenn. (AP Photo/Camden Hall)
Ross Chastain, left, talks with Ryan Blaney, right, before a NASCAR Cup Series auto race, Sunday, May 31, 2026, in Lebanon, Tenn. (AP Photo/Camden Hall)
Crews wait out the rain before a NASCAR Cup Series auto race, Sunday, May 31, 2026, in Lebanon, Tenn. (AP Photo/Camden Hall)
Josh Berry waits out the rain before a NASCAR Cup Series auto race, Sunday, May 31, 2026, in Lebanon, Tenn. (AP Photo/Camden Hall)
