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Josef Newgarden Topped Speed Charts on Practice Day Three Heading into Fast Friday

CHEVROLET IN NTT INDYCAR SERIES INDIANAPOLIS 500 INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA TEAM CHEVY PRACTICE REPORT FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2025

Josef Newgarden, No. 2 Shell V-Power NITRO Team Penske Chevrolet topped the speed charts at the conclusion of day three practice for the Indianapolis 500 with a top speed of 226.632 mph/39.7120 secondsThe two-time and defending winner has been in top-three fastest since practice opened on TuesdayNewgarden also posted the fasted non-tow time of the day – 222.55 mphConor Daly, No. 76 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet, continued to impress. during practice leading into the Greatest Spectacle in Racing posting the third fastest speed of 224.893 mph/40.0191 secondsPato O’Ward, No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, and Ryan Hunter-Reay, No. 23 DRR CUSICK WEDBUSH SECURITIES Chevrolet, completed the top-five in the final orderTony Kanaan, team principal for Arrow McLaren and stand-by driver for Kyle Larson in the No. 17 Hendrickcars.com Chevrolet, completed his veteran. refresher protocol after weather postponed the required program for two daysUp next for Team Chevy in the NTT INDYCAR Series is qualifying for the. 109 th Indianapolis 500 May 17-18, 2025, with Fast Friday up first when the boost is turned up from 1.3 bar to 1.5 adding approximately 60 additional horsepower. Saturday will see teams and drivers run for a starting position in the Indianapolis 500. At the conclusion of the day, the Fast 12 and positions 13-30 will be set. Sunday will see the battle for the final three starting positions, as well as the pole run from the Fast 12 to the Firestone Fast Six. Indy 500 qualifications will be televised on the FOX Network on Saturday, May 17, at 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and. Sunday, May 18, at 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., as well as practice runs on FoxSports 1 and 2 both days
Indianapolis 500 Thursday Practice Results
Indianapolis 500 Thursday Non-Tow Practice Results
Indianapolis 500 practice tune-in alert Friday, May 16·      NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice – noon-4pm (ET)/11am-3pm (CT)/10am-2pm (MT)/9am-1pm (PT) – FS2/ INDYCAR Radio Network/SIRIUSXM 218·      NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice – 4pm-6pm (ET)/3pm-5pm (CT)/2pm-4pm (MT)/1pm-3pm (PT) – FS1/ INDYCAR Radio Network/SIRIUSXM 218
Indianapolis 500 qualifying tune-in alert
Saturday, May 17 (PPG Armed Forces Qualifying Weekend)·      NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice – 8:30am-9:30am (ET)/7:30am-8:30am (CT)/6:30am-7:30am (MT)/5:30am-6:30am (PT) – FS2/ INDYCAR Radio Network/SIRIUSXM 218·      NTT INDYCAR SERIES qualifying – 11am-1:30pm (ET)/10am-12:30pm (CT)/9am-11:30am (MT)/8am-10:30am (PT) – FS1/ INDYCAR Radio Network/SIRIUSXM 218·      NTT INDYCAR SERIES qualifying – 1:30pm-4pm (ET)/12:30pm-3pm (CT)/11:30am-2pm (MT)/10:30am-1pm (PT) – FS2/ INDYCAR Radio Network/SIRIUSXM 218·      NTT INDYCAR SERIES qualifying – 4pm-6pm (ET)/3pm-5pm (CT)/2pm-4pm (MT)/1pm-3pm (PT) – FOX/ INDYCAR Radio Network/SIRIUSXM 218
Sunday, May 18 (PPG Armed Forces Qualifying Weekend)·      NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice –1pm-3pm (ET)/noon-2pm (CT)/11am-1pm (MT)/10am-noon (PT) – FS2/ INDYCAR Radio Network/SIRIUSXM 218·      NTT INDYCAR SERIES qualifying – 4pm-7pm (ET)/3pm-6pm (CT)/2pm-5pm (MT)/1pm-4pm (PT) – FOX/ INDYCAR Radio Network/SIRIUSXM 218
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING INDIANAPOLIS 500 PRACTICE (QUOTES)
Arrow McLaren
Pato O’Ward, No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet:“There are two different beasts you’re trying to make go fast, to be honest with you. Just because you have a good car in traffic doesn’t mean you’re going to have a good Qualifying car, and vice versa. I’ve done no Qualifying stuff because the car changes a lot with the boost. It could feel good today trimming wise but then tomorrow you put the boost on and it’s like, “What the hell happened to the car?” We had a read at the Open Test that I was somewhat happy with, so tomorrow we’ll see what we’ve got once the boost comes on. In traffic, I think we’ve gotten better, but there’s still a handful of other cars that I believe are a lot stronger than we are. There’s still work to do.”
Nolan Siegel, No. 6 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet: “We worked into traffic, and I think we made a lot of progress there. I’m very comfortable there. Now we’re shifting focus to Qualifying, and hopefully we have a good Fast Friday. I’m looking forward to more boost and more speed. I think the car will continue to be comfortable. The team is making good changes, and I have no doubt we’re going to have a fast race car. I’m excited to show what we have.”
Christian Lundgaard, No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet:“Today was thankfully a good day. It was interesting running on the hotter track and seeing what that does to the car. I think tomorrow will definitely be different with colder weather and potentially more wind. We’re just trying to dial in the race car, verifying things that were good early in the week, and we’re moving around some things. We’re finding good items and applying them to see what works further down the road. I think where we are now is a pretty good spot. I’m looking forward for this weekend.”
Kyle Larson, No. 17 HendrickCars.com Arrow McLaren Chevrolet:“Practice went pretty good today. I thought our car was a little bit more competitive in dirty air, so I’m happy with that.”
DRR-Cusick Mostorsports
Ryan Hunter-Reay, No.23 DRR CUSICK WEDBUSH SECURITIES:“It was definitely hotter today and there were challenging conditions. But we are going to have challenging conditions for the next few days. Again, we were trying some big swings at the car today. One of them didn’t work so we had to go back to the garage to reset the car. We validated that and went back to where we like the car. Then we went back and reset the car for qualifying trim. And we got out and got some runs in qualifying trim. So, we got the big boxes checked off today. Friday is going to be very interesting with the wind and added horsepower for qualifying. We were able to work on pit stops today again and those seemed better. We just have to get ready for qualifying now.”
Jack Harvey, No. 24 DRR CUSICK INVST:“It was a good day on the whole. I don’t think we are the fastest car, but I don’t think we are slowest either. Knock on wood. I think Ryan and I are super close in speed which is encouraging. We ran at different times of the day, and you can make an argument on who had the worst conditions in the afternoon. We did some qual setup early and then ran race settings later. I really appreciate the hard work of the INVST crew today. We went out late with some 45 minutes to go and baselined everything in the car. I think we have found something that works pretty well. Now we feel like we have good baselines for qualifying and race trim. Today was the hottest we have had this week, and we will be looking for more mechanical grip now. I think that will be our focus moving into Friday.” Team Penske
Josef Newgarden, No. 2 Shell V-Power NiTRO+ Team Penske Chevrolet:“Pretty solid week so far. The team has being doing a lot of work and we’ve shown up really prepared. We’re sort of going through the motions, and can’t ever get ahead of ourselves. We’re excited for Fast Friday. It’s going to be quite hot tomorrow, so we’re going to be trying to work around that and forecast the change going into Saturday and Sunday as the temperature is going to fluctuate quite a bit. Feeling good so far, the car is in a great window. The team is feeling good so I’m excited for the weekend and to turn up the boost tomorrow.”
Scott McLaughlin, No. 3 Pennzoil Team Penske Chevrolet:“It was a pretty smooth day for me. The last couple of days we’ve run through race settings today and qual today. We’ve already done 20 something laps. I feel really strong and Chevy feels really strong. Playing with the different hybrid settings has been fun.”
Pato O’WardConor DalyPress ConferencePato O’Ward joins us, driver of the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet. Fourth quick overall. Best finish of a couple of years. 2022, 2024 as well. You feel pretty good heading into past Fast Friday tomorrow? Your thoughts?
PATO O’WARD: They’re two different beasts you’re trying to make go fast, to be fairly honest with you. Just because they have traffic car, doesn’t mean you’re going to have a good qualifying car and vice versa.So I have done no qualifying stuff, yeah. It changes a lot with the boost, so it could feel good today like trimming-wise, but then tomorrow you put the boost on, and you are, like, What the hell happened to the car?We had a read at the test. I was somewhat happy with it. Tomorrow we’ll see what we’ve got once the boosts come up.In traffic I think we’ve gotten better, but there’s still a handful of other cars that I believe are a lot stronger than we are. Still work to do.
THE MODERATOR: Checkered flag is out. Wrapping up the session. It looked like a number of teams are trying qual sims out there. Were you surprised by that today?PATO O’WARD: I mean, I’m not surprised, but also, I don’t know how much everyone will be able to read into what today was for them because, like I said, the boosts really change how the car behaves a lot.It can be as big as, like, I’m loose now, but with the biggest boost, you’re destroying right front, and now you have to understeer. The wall is a approaching a lot faster, so yeah.
THE MODERATOR: We will open it up to questions.Q. If you are happy with your car now and it does not react well to the boost, are you then extremely worried, or are you like, Okay, we may not qualify as well, but I feel good for what I have for the following week?PATO O’WARD: I mean, you try and qualify as far up as you can. For some reason I’ve never had I would say the speed or my car has never really had the speed in qualifying, to be honest, for the front row. I would love to be able to challenge for the front row. I think that’s a really neat experience. I’ve always been in the neighborhood of sixth, eighth, tenth, ninth.We usually race really well. So, yeah, I mean, I’m not so worried about it until we really see what we’ve got just because we really don’t know how it’s going to go tomorrow. It’s never right to panic even if you might not have the speed the other cars do.Sometimes it’s just unexplainable, and I’ve had to deal with it every single year of qualifying here because all my teammates’ cars have always been quicker than mine. I always know that I race really well, and putting the car in a decent place in qualifying gives you that opportunity to drive forward.It’s important to qualify well. It’s a cool experience, but also, it’s not the end of the world.
Q. How do you show up at a place that’s broken your heart and has so much emotion around it and some of you want so bad, but then avoid letting that get into your head or letting the pressure build or letting how badly you want it affect what you are doing on the track?PATO O’WARD: I treat it as a new thing every time I come back. You can’t plan just like you can never plan a start. You can never plan an Indy 500. You depend on other people’s decisions and mistakes as well, so that plays a lot into how your race is going to go, to be honest.I just really enjoy it. Obviously as the race starts falling and you see where you are at and stuff, that’s where it can get a little bit more interesting or intense, but all my Indy 500s, they’ve all been different.I would say the one last year would be the last one that I would have expected to be fighting, but somehow managed a way to get the car there. It’s a really long race. A lot of things can happen, but yeah, I’m focused on what we can do to put ourselves into a position to win, and the strive is obviously to get that right. We have a pretty good track record here in the past.
Q. Nolan obviously had an unfortunate mishap last year, but sometimes the most trying times will cause the most growth. In what specific ways have you seen Nolan grow over the past year, not only as a driver, but as a young man?PATO O’WARD: I mean, I think it’s safe to say that I went through the same thing. In 2019 I got bumped. Well, the whole team that I was in kind of got bumped.To be honest I actually told him after he got bumped, and I said, You’re lucky that you actually got bumped because it’s miserable to drive out here with a car that sucks. I would much rather not be in the race and not race with a car that’s just horrendous rather than having to do the 200 laps with a car that just is fricking miserable.The speeds are so high, and it’s not enjoyable when it’s really there, and I feel like that’s what Nolan’s position was last year. The car obviously didn’t seem strong, but I think this year he’s with a team that obviously gives him a lot more tools to showcase what he’s got in a superspeedway. He’s obviously in good hands in that regard.I still tell him, You look like you’re 12, but he’s a good kid.
Q. Pato, you’ve said several times you just don’t know what to expect out of tomorrow. Yet, some of the Andretti guys feel very, very confident that they are the favorites for the pole.PATO O’WARD: They look confident for sure. Oh, yeah.
Q. That’s the question. They look good?PATO O’WARD: Yeah, I think they look very strong both speed-wise and traffic running. I would say at least two in their camp are super strong. Yeah, I would say Kirkwood, Herta. Don’t count the Penskes. They’re going to have rockets just like they did last year.For us, I don’t know. I don’t want to assume before we really see what to expect, but Ganassi seems to have taken a step forward as well just from kind of playing around with them in traffic. Yeah, the speed feels a little bit like ’22, to be honest, us against Ganassi. It’s hard to say right now.You don’t know who is hiding what or are both manufacturers showing everything? Not sure, but they do look very strong, I would say.
Q. Does it make a difference that Honda will do its engine changes tonight and Chevrolet will wait until post-qualifying?PATO O’WARD: I did hear about that, but I have no idea why each one kind of prefers to do it that way. I’m assuming we’re doing the best decision for our camp. That’s probably what’s best for their camp. Why? No idea, but they seem to have brought a very strong package, I would say.I’m confident that our Chevy power is going to be pulling us forward.
Q. Pato, I have a personal question for you. Regardless what happened in the race, where you finished, if you win, I hope you do, you seem to be very ultra popular already here in Indianapolis. You are on the front cover of the “Indianapolis Monthly Magazine?”PATO O’WARD: Did you like the pictures? They make me look way too good (laughing).
Q. Then also I’m in the Krieger’s Supermarket, your picture is hanging from the wall.PATO O’WARD: My cardboard Patos, yeah.
Q. Do you have an explanation why you have been so popular here in Indianapolis?PATO O’WARD: Do I see it?
Q. Yeah.PATO O’WARD: I keep getting tagged people wanting to steal my cardboard Patos, but it’s grown a lot really. Last year’s Indy 500 was a big step in that, I would say. I definitely felt the difference. It’s amazing to see. It’s great to see.It’s always a great feeling seeing your shirts walking around and people smiling to support you. It’s got to be a sold-out event, isn’t it? Pretty much. It’s going to be.THE MODERATOR: If you want a grandstand ticket, good luck. Buy it quick.PATO O’WARD: I bought 300 to give away, bro.THE MODERATOR: Nice.PATO O’WARD: People don’t have to pay for it. I give away for free, 300. I’m so generous. No, anybody that buys stuff in Pato Shop gets free tickets. Buy a shirt, buy whatever. Make sure it adds up to more than $100, and you’re getting a ticket.I think it’s great. It’s just such a phenomenal event, and I have my own suite for the first time here at the Indy 500. I’m super stoked about that one. Definitely haven’t sold out in that one, but it’s okay.
Q. (Off microphone)PATO O’WARD: No cousins are coming this year. Can you imagine? One guy is getting married, and the other one is, like, No, sorry, I can’t. Apparently they’re all on unavailable for me now, so…THE MODERATOR: This will be the year you win when they aren’t here, right?PATO O’WARD: I’ll send them a selfie when I’m pouring myself with milk (laughing).
Q. When you see where you are now and what you had to endure in 2019, does that almost seem like a nightmare, or are you where you are now because you survived 2019?PATO O’WARD: No, I mean, I didn’t make the race in 2019 because the car sucked.
Q. Also, there was the uncertainty with the team. You were going to be —PATO O’WARD: Yeah, that was a blessing in disguise to GTFO out of there. That ultimately ended up being a blessing in disguise.I love the position I’m in right now. I love the people that I get to work with day in, day out. Yeah, I mean, I’m a believer that things do happen for a reason. I don’t think timing is always — timing doesn’t always seem like it’s on your side, but then when you look back, sometimes you’re, like, Huh, well, that worked out a lot better than I thought.Yeah, I guess it’s just part of the journey, man. It’s such a high and low. It’s just you got to ride with it. You got to ride with it. You got to just flow and, you know, make the best decision that you think you are doing at that time. Those will lead you to success.THE MODERATOR: Funny how things work out sometimes, right?PATO O’WARD: I guess (laughing).THE MODERATOR: Thanks for coming up. Good luck tomorrow.

Conor Daly joins us, driver of the No. 76 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet. Third quick overall. Seventh on no tow in the 77 laps turned today, qualifying this weekend for your 12th Indianapolis 500. Things are looking pretty good here, no?CONOR DALY: Yeah. I don’t want to get too overly excited about things. These last two days have honestly been two of the most fun days I’ve had here. I don’t know why. I mean, these guys have obviously given me a great car, and that really makes the driver’s job a lot easier, and it’s just got a lot of raw speed.That’s also thanks to Chevrolet. I think Chevrolet has done an amazing job for us. Yeah, it’s been fun. I feel like we’re quite competitive in traffic. Then our first qualifying run was seventh of the no tow, so I feel pretty decent about that. We haven’t even trimmed as much as the Penske cars.I don’t know. We’re just going to keep our expectations in check. We’re going to keep our belts tightened a little bit and see what happens.THE MODERATOR: Did you go through more than one qual run today?CONOR DALY: We tried. Yeah, we ran into some stuff at the end, but we sorted that out just with kind of like a safety lap at the end just to make sure we had everything taken care of.THE MODERATOR: We’ll open it up to questions.
Q. Conor, when you sat down, Dave said, third fastest today. How good does that make you feel coming down here after having what you’ve had in the past before coming here?CONOR DALY: I mean, people seem to — if I end up close to the front here, it’s like, Nice tow lap. Guess what Josef and Scott are doing every day. They are timing these huge tow laps to get these huge media runs. I don’t want to be given any crap about it because those guys are doing way more than we are. I was lifting on my lap. We’re in traffic.It’s just luck of the draw a lot of the times when you get a good lap here, but we’ve been two days in a row here now up at the sharper end of the grid. That’s not a mistake. I’ve been here enough years to know that if it’s much easier to just pop up there, then you’re probably in a good car, and when you are up with the Ganassis and Penskes, that’s not a bad thing.I feel really good. This isn’t anything like, Oh, we got lucky. We’ve had speed all day long and the last two days, so it feels good. It’s just something that, again, measure everything to the smallest degree. Just execute tomorrow. Don’t get too frustrated with anything because obviously you’re going to have tough days here too.Tomorrow Fast Friday is a tough one because you’re adding boost. It’s probably going to be windy. I think realistically we have got good speed in the car, and it’s been awesome to drive in traffic.
Q. Growing up in Indiana, obviously this race meant a lot to you. There’s also additional specialness with the Pacers doing well. How much more fun is it coming here in the month of May knowing that they’re doing well, everyone is in such a better mood, does it affect the team at all or you or anybody else?CONOR DALY: It’s just cool. I love the Pacers, so let’s keep winning. That’s all. It’s the greatest month of the year, and there’s so much excitement around this event. I think this year more than ever. Yeah, it feels awesome just all across the board.
Q. As the Indiana guy and as someone who has had this up and down career, to be where you are after three days here and to know that you’re probably in good shape this weekend, just emotionally how does that make you feel?CONOR DALY: Well, I mean, qualifying here I’m always pretty honest with everyone. I’ve struggled here in qualifying, without a doubt. The Andretti car that I drove here was actually the most — that was the best qualifying that I’ve had. I was comfortable, but we had a good draw too, you know what I mean? A lot of it’s about the draw.It would be awesome to have like my best qualifying. I would love to make the Fast 12. That would be awesome. That’s goodbye to be super dependent on the draw and the weather and stuff like that.But this car kind of gives me a little bit of a feeling that I had in 2021, which was the best car that I’ve ever had here for sure. Again, it’s a big statement to say. That was definitely one of our strongest races, but it kind of — I get that feeling that I’m, like, Man this thing sucks up really well in the tow and the draft, and it’s just got the ability to race well.Again, the race is the most important part. Josef Newgarden started 21st when he won. I’m not too upset about where we start. It’s just nice to have that confidence, I would say. These guys have done a great job preparing.This team has done a fantastic job, just all the meticulous detail. We’ve had a lot of small things go wrong so far this year. Just tiny little things here and there. When it comes to the speedway car, they’ve done a great job executing and bringing a fast machine.THE MODERATOR: Who is going to draw for you?CONOR DALY: I think Ricardo’s daughter.THE MODERATOR: That’s cool.CONOR DALY: I’m certainly not drawing. No one is going to draw well that way.
Q. Josef is very much embracing going for three in a row, right?CONOR DALY: Heck yeah, I would do.
Q. Why is that? I mean, this place, it’s so hard to win. We see over and over again, but he’s not running from it. He’s not being, like, I don’t know, anything can happen. He’s, like, I’m going to go take this and win three in a row, you know?CONOR DALY: When we know what we know and we see what we see and how fast those cars are and how well those cars can just go fast, I would be confident too. I mean, those guys are — like, the Penske cars are without a doubt the most impressive cars when it comes to a speed performance platform.I would be confident too. They’ve obviously won two in a row for a reason, and they got all the special information from Michael Cannon too, so then they got a little bit quicker. I was predicting a Penske front row lockout again. I don’t know. Kyle Kirkwood looks fast, though. I think Kyle Kirkwood might fight him a little bit. Maybe I would like to as well.Josef is so good here. He knows exactly what he wants. His engineer, Luke, is an awesome dude and obviously really smart too because I know he’s very smart. I enjoyed working with him. He’s got the whole package.Josef knows exactly what he wants. He’s a great champion, and he’s very smart. Yeah, can’t fault him for being confident.
Q. I’m doing a story on Buxton. I know you guys go back a long ways. What do you think he’s brought to INDYCAR in terms of helping gain attention for the series or bridging that gap between F1 fans and you guys?CONOR DALY: I think what’s interesting is Will has such a great respect for this series, and he did forever. He was commentating when I was racing in GP3. When I did the 500 for the first time, I was racing in GP3 full-time. He immediately was following it and already knew so much about it. Loved coming to America, going to INDYCAR races.I think the interesting part about the Formula 1 world is I think a lot more of the people in the paddock and the drivers maybe behind the scenes have a lot more respect for what we’re doing over here than maybe the public acknowledges or the fan base, F1 Twitter accepts.I was trying to get Daniel Ricciardo here next weekend, but I think he’s just enjoying life away from the world right now. Those guys I think have more of a respect for I think what we’re doing than maybe the fan base might, and Will is exemplifies that. He has so much love for this series. The guy is full of energy, and I think he’s a great addition for us here in Fox. I think it’s awesome.
Q. One of the questions that was asked to the previous drivers was were they surprised that some teams were racing — were practicing qualification setups. You mentioned that you were earlier. What made your team decide to do that today to get ready?CONOR DALY: I think at least in my history here there’s always a few runs at the end of Thursday just to kind of get a feel for low downforce for tomorrow.Yeah, I can’t remember a year where I haven’t done a couple of qualifying runs just before Fast Friday. It’s just to get yourself ready, get yourself mentally prepared.I mean, we were really happy with the race car as well, so yeah, I think it’s important to at least get a couple of runs and to know where you’re at. Just a quick read on, Hey, are we really struggling, or are we actually not in a bad spot?
Q. You never competed here for the pole under the old format that Rick Mears and those guys used to do where they had to get it right on one attempt if they were going to win the pole. Is the low draw more important now, or was it more important then?CONOR DALY: I obviously don’t know what it was like back then because I didn’t really get to experience it.
Q. Once you qualified, the only way you would have to pull the time, and basically that car was done.CONOR DALY: I mean, I remember seeing last year a car that was in the first three runs never had to run the rest of the day. I think it was Kyffin Simpson ran really early and just literally never ran again the rest of the day. I think the early draw is for sure very important.With the way the tires are going to deg I think with the heavier car, I think that’s going to be more important. And it depends on the wind. It depends on the sun and the air and the humidity.Yeah, it will be interesting, but I would love — we’re all crossing our fingers for that early draw.
Q. Would you have liked to have tried that old format?CONOR DALY: I don’t even know honestly.
Q. It was one attempt.CONOR DALY: I’ll race any time, anywhere, any era. Why not?

Berry, Woods to Run Retro Scheme at Wilkesboro All-Star Race

Josh Berry and the Wood Brothers are headed to historic North Wilkesboro Speedway for Sunday’s NASCAR All-Star Race. The DEX Imaging Mustang will carry a paint scheme based on the one Michael Waltrip drove to a dramatic victory in the 1996 running of the non-points spectacular, then known as the Winston Select.As the Woods celebrate their 75 years in the sport, the win by Waltrip is one of the all-time highlights. Waltrip and the 21 were not considered a contender entering the weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway. They had to run the preliminary Open and barely squeaked into the starting field for the main event, finishing fifth to take the final transfer spot to the main event.In that 70-lap race, Waltrip drove through the field, taking the lead from Dale Earnhardt in the final segment with nine laps remaining. He then drove away from the pack to take the win over Rusty Wallace, Earnhardt, Mark Martin and Terry Labonte.The win was a big boost for the Woods at a time they needed one, and it gave Waltrip the funds to buy his mother a new home.As the team heads into the current All-Star Race, Berry and the DEX Imaging crew are guaranteed a starting spot in the main event, thanks to a win at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in March.“I’m excited for this weekend,” Berry said. “It’ll be my third trip to North Wilkesboro. I was fortunate to win the Open race in 2023 in the 48 car and race my way into the big show, which was really cool. This time, knowing you’re already locked in adds a different kind of excitement. I’m looking forward to taking part in more of the actual racing and qualifying, especially with the Pit Crew Challenge. It’s a great opportunity for our crew to go out there and showcase what they can do. With the heat races as well, there’s going to be a lot more on-track time for me, and that just makes the weekend even more fun.”Practice at North Wilkesboro is set for Friday at 4 p.m. Eastern Time to be followed by qualifying at 7 p.m.The qualifying session includes the Pit Crew Challenge. Drivers will take the green flag and run one lap at speed then come onto pit road for a four-tire stop. Back on the track they will run to the checkered flag. The fastest team earns a $100,000 bonus and the pole for the first heat and the All-Star race.Two 75-lap heat races are set for Saturday, with the opener getting the green flag just after 5:20 p.m.On Sunday, the 100-lap Open, for drivers not already in the All-Star Race, is set to get the green flag just after 5:30 p.m., with the 250-lap main event getting under way just after 8 p.m. FS1 is carrying the TV coverage.

Airport Raceway Built on Passion, Made For Garden City Community


The Xtreme Outlaw Midgets will make their debut at Jack Crook’s Airport Raceway, May 23-25

GARDEN CITY, KS (May 15, 2025) – Airport Raceway in Garden City, KS was built from a love for racing.

When the city closed down the area’s dirt track to build a landfill, Jack Crook and a few of his friends were determined to keep racing alive for local racers and fans. Their answer was the construction of Airport Raceway – less than a mile from the Garden City Regional Airport – in 1990.

“We just all loved racing,” Crook said.

That love has allowed for the growth of Micro and Midget racing in the area and for the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota to make its debut at the track during Memorial Day weekend for the Midget Roundup, Friday-Sunday, May 23-25.

Airport was built as a 1/6-mile dirt track, which at the time, Crook said he and the other owners thought might be big for a Micro track, but has turned out to be the perfect size for Micro and Midget racing.

“We’re hoping with the geometry and the banking, they’ll enjoy it,” Crook said. “Out on the outside, I would guess it is real close to a quarter mile. We’re right inside of there. It’s about a quarter at the top. It’s not quite, but it’s almost there. It’s wide. I promise you, the looks of it… matter of fact, I think our track has a little more banking than the Chili Bowl, but you wouldn’t know the difference from one or the other.

“I’m telling you, it’ll be wall to wall… there will be a lot of good side-by-side action… It’ll be, I don’t know how better to say it, dynamic.”

The Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series will race in association with the Rocky Mountain Midget Racing Association (RMMRA), which has had a fundamental impact on Airport Raceway.

RMMRA is the oldest Midget association in the country, having been founded in 1940, and was one of the first groups to race at Airport when it opened.

“As far as keeping the Midget series alive, they’ve been the backbone,” Crook said about their involvement with the track. “Without those guys, I wouldn’t have kept running Midgets. They are still what I call old school… a club. I have good relations with all their club presidents. With those guys, I appreciate them, and I know they do us as well.”

Crook left the ownership group of Airport for about 15 years to support his son’s Sprint Car career. During that time, those left in charge of the track decided to no longer run Midgets. But when Crooks returned 10 years ago, becoming the sole promoter of the track, his first goal was to bring Midget racing back to Airport and did so with the help of the Rocky Mountain Midget Racing Association.

Between the cars RMMRA and Xtreme will bring, Crook expects a healthy car count for the event, which will also feature Micro classes.

When Airport Raceway opened in 1990, Crook said about five cars showed up for the first race. But since then, he’s seen it grow into his original vision of a haven for local racers, now bringing in over 30 cars on race night.

Adding an Xtreme Outlaw Midget event to the schedule has brought his vision to a level Crook said he has a hard time putting into words.

“It’s a dream to be honest,” he said. “I can’t say it any other way. How else can you word it when you have the premier Midget series, in my opinion, coming to your track? Everybody is talking about it. It has been a cool deal for our community.

“It’s important to myself and my crew to pull this off because we want them back. There is no doubt in my mind I want them back. We’re going to try and pull out all the stops.”

The Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series will be hosting a cookout for drivers and teams on Saturday night, sponsored by Honest Abe Roofing, with nearly $6,000 in prizes to give away from CSI Shocks ($500 in product) DIRTVision (annual FASTPASS), DMI ($1,000 in product), Driven Midwest, FK Rod Ends (four complete sets of rod ends), FK Shocks, Sharp Advantage (two knee guards), Ultra Shield Race Products (three boxes of tare-offs), VP Fuels (one set of fuel jugs), and Wilwood Brakes (complete Midget brake package).

Don’t miss the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota, along with the Rocky Mountain Midget Racing Association, at Airport Raceway for the Midget Roundup, May 23-25. Friday will be a practice night with Saturday’s Feature paying $4,000 to win and Sunday’s Feature paying $5,000 to win.

Get your tickets now by CLICKING HERE. Get $5 off your ticket when using code MCINTOSH71K.

If you can’t make it to the track, you can watch every lap live on DIRTVision.

ZIZZO RACING LOOKING TO TAKE NEXT STEP IN CHICAGO


CHICAGO (May 15, 2025) — This weekend at the Gerber Collision & Glass Rt. 66 Nationals, May 16-18, TJ Zizzo and his Rust-Oleum sponsored Top Fuel dragster will be looking to build on the success they showed last year when they captured the No. 1 qualifier and raced to the quarterfinals. Zizzo Racing has been steadily building a race-winning program for over two decades and this season the team and Zizzo feel they are coming into the season with all the pieces needed to race into the winner’s circle.
 
“We have worked throughout the off-season making our race car better. This Rust-Oleum Top Fuel dragster has been so close, and I think we can get there. Last year we were consistently one of the quickest race cars in qualifying,” said Zizzo, from his Chicago-based shop. “Everything about drag racing is evaluating your progress and adjusting. I think we have all the parts and experience to turn on more win lights on race day.”

 
They raced with a new race car two years ago and continued to fine tune their tune-up last year thanks to their success throughout the 2024 season. Crew chief Mike Kern and the Rust-Oleum team have been working diligently over the off-season to make sure Zizzo Racing is positioned for success once again when the season starts this weekend.
 
“I can’t say enough great things about Mike and our Rust-Oleum Zizzo Racing crew,” said Zizzo. “We did so many things right last season I can’t wait to get on the track in Chicago this weekend. For years we would go to every race with the mindset of winning. Now I truly feel like we are a team that can run low ET and turn on win lights.”
 
Prior to last year’s No. 1 effort Zizzo’s best qualifying effort came in 2018 when he raced to the No. 5 spot only to be upset in the first round by Scott Palmer. In 2017, Zizzo qualified No. 8 and took out Pat Dakin and Brittany Force in the first two rounds only to be ousted by eventual winner Steve Torrence in the semifinals. Zizzo has raced to the semifinals twice in Chicago in 2017 and 2023. In four of his last five appearances at the Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals the Rust-Oleum Top Fuel team has raced to at least the quarterfinals.


 TJ Zizzo 2024 Route 66 Nationals No. 1 qualifier

“Last year was huge for our team but we want to make more memorable moments,” said Zizzo. “We will have several marketing partners at the race, and we’ll be hosting our Saturday morning pancake breakfast once again for the fans. I have missed seeing the fans the most since we wrapped up our season last year. We love racing in Chicago. It is our hometown track. The guys from the body shop get to come to the race which is cool.”
 
Qualifying for the Gerber Collision and Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals will begin on Friday, May 16 with two sessions of the three professional categories. On Saturday, fans will be treated to two more qualifying sessions. The quickest 16 race cars, dragsters and motorcycles will race for the famed Wally trophy beginning at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday. The race will be broadcast nationally on FS1 Sunday evening.

WORTH THE WAIT: Gravel Tops Ohsweken Thriller in World of Outlaws Return to Canada

The defending champion outduels Carson Macedo late for his seventh victory of 2025

OHSWEKEN, ON (May 14, 2025) – There’s a reason so many circled the return of Ohsweken Speedway when the 2025 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series schedule was released. Wednesday night showed exactly why.

The Federated Auto Parts Showdown at Ohsweken brought The Greatest Show on Dirt back to Canada for the first time since 2017. Ohsweken was a staple of the schedule from the late 2000s to 2017 before the hiatus. The slick 3/8 mile delivered thrillers without fail whenever the tour rolled to town. Hype was off the charts heading into Wednesday, and Ohsweken didn’t let us down.

First, an all-time World of Outlaws upset looked to be brewing as Harding, PA’s Jordan Thomas, making only his fifth Series appearance, rocketed out to the early lead from the pole. But David Gravel did what David Gravel does and patiently reeled Thomas in and snatched the top spot on Lap 12.

The defending Series champion was in control after grabbing the lead, but a Lap 19 restart set the stage for a thrilling conclusion. The green flew, and Carson Macedo used a monster restart to surge from fifth to the lead as he slid Gravel in Turns 1 and 2. The two titans of the sport then waged war over the next several laps. Gravel fought back with sliders, and Macedo countered with crossovers. Gravel finally delivered the dagger on Lap 23 with a perfectly executed slide job that Macedo couldn’t fight back from.

That was all she wrote. Gravel drove the Big Game Motorsports No. 2 comfortably ahead on the route to his Series-leading seventh checkered flag of 2025.

“I think you could race on every square inch of this track, and you can’t ask for anymore,” Gravel said. “I thought I was good here, and then I looked back at the results, and my best finish was fifth out of six times and that was about it. But I had a lot of confidence coming in, had a lot more laps here than a lot of the other guys that are on tour. It’s a slick racetrack Cody (Jacobs) and I were really excited for.”

Ohsweken made it 110 career World of Outlaws wins for Gravel, and he’s now only a dozen behind Danny Lasoski for sixth all-time. He’s the seventh driver to claim a race with The Greatest Show on Dirt at the Ontario 3/8 mile. The victory also stretched his point lead to over a full race’s worth of security as the gap between he and Logan Schuchart sits at 158 markers.

“It just feels really good,” Gravel said. “That 79 (Jordan Thomas), man, he had a hell of a pace. He was doing a great job, and the air really slowed him down in lapped traffic and kind of came to us. We just bided our time, and it all worked out. I’m really proud of my guys. They gave me a great race car all night long.”

Sheldon Haudenschild stole the runner-up spot from Macedo with only a few laps remaining, completing a strong charge from sixth to second over the final 10 laps. The driver of the Stenhouse Jr.-Marshall Racing/NOS Energy Drink No. 17 felt he might’ve had a shot at Victory Lane if the main event had stayed green.

“I just got a little bit more wing in it as we were rolling,” Haudenschild explained. “I was really good on that long run, just on that restart Macedo went from fifth to the lead and just took advantage of the local guy there. I still feel like we had the best car tonight. We ran David down there at the end. We just lost 12 laps there with that restart.”

After his incredible restart and battle with Gravel, Carson Macedo came home third in the Jason Johnson Racing No. 41. The Lemoore, CA native gave the fans a show but didn’t quite have the speed to hold off Gravel at the end.

“I think the 79 fired off a little bit up, and there was a strip of grip right next to the wall on the bottom, and I was able to squeeze next to him there,” Macedo said. “I just kind of used that grip all the way down the frontstretch and just propelled me into Turn 1. Then I tried to get on defense mode. I felt really confident and good in (Turns) 3 and 4, but in (Turns) 1 and 2 I was struggling just a little bit to get off of (Turn) 2.”

Bill Balog and Jordan Thomas completed the top five.

Dylan Westbrook earned the KSE Racing Hard Charger with a run from 20th to 11th.

Sheldon Haudenschild claimed the 39th Simpson Quick Time of his career in Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying.

Heat Races went to Carson Macedo (NOS Energy Drink Heat One), Bill Balog (Real American Beer Heat Two), David Gravel (WIX Filters Heat Three), and Giovanni Scelzi (TheGreatestStoreonDirt.com Heat Four).

The #SPATechnique #1 Redraw went to Chris Windom.

Jordan Thomas topped the Toyota Dash.

Garet Williamson won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

The Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race went to Conner Morrell.

UP NEXT: The Federated Auto Parts Showdown at Ohsweken Speedway on Thursday, May 15 serves up a $20,000-to-win/$1,500-to-start finale for the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

For the remaining 2025 schedule, CLICK HERE.

If you can’t make it to the track, catch every lap live on DIRTVision.

FEATURE RESULTS:

NOS Energy Drink Feature (30 Laps): 1. 2-David Gravel[2]; 2. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[7]; 3. 41-Carson Macedo[8]; 4. 17B-Bill Balog[5]; 5. 79-Jordan Thomas[1]; 6. 15-Donny Schatz[12]; 7. 83-Michael Kofoid[13]; 8. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[4]; 9. 6-Zach Hampton[15]; 10. 7S-Chris Windom[3]; 11. 47X-Dylan Westbrook[20]; 12. 1S-Logan Schuchart[9]; 13. 2C-Cole Macedo[11]; 14. 28-Jordan Poirier[19]; 15. 55-Hunter Schuerenberg[14]; 16. 94-Todd Hoddick[18]; 17. 45-Nick Sheridan[22]; 18. 17X-Cory Turner[17]; 19. 15T-Ryan Turner[24]; 20. 28M-Conner Morrell[10]; 21. 52-Stewart Friesen[16]; 22. 22-Jonathan Preston[6]; 23. 23-Garet Williamson[21]; 24. 98-Joe Trenca[23]

For complete results, CLICK HERE.

Team Chevy drivers post four of the top six fastest speeds in Day Two of practice for the 109th running of the Indianapolis 500

CHEVROLET IN NTT INDYCAR SERIESINDIANAPOLIS 500INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANATEAM CHEVY PRACTICE REPORTWEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2025



For the second straight day, Will Power, No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet, was the fastest Team Chevy driver with a quick lap of 225.584mph, the second fastest lap of the day.Josef Newgarden, No. 2 Shell V-Power NiTRO Team Penske Chevrolet at 225.545mph, Conor Daly, Conor Daly, No. 76 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet at 224.931mph and David Malukas, No. 4 A.J. Foyt Racing Chevrolet at 224.618mph rounded out the top six. Ed Carpenter Racing were fast on the non-tow list, with Christian Rasmussen, No. 21 Splenda ECR Chevrolet at 221.116mph, and Alexander Rossi, No. 20 Java House ECR Chevrolet at 221.277mph.Scott McLaughlin, No. 3 Pennzoil Team Penske Chevrolet at 237.724mph, led a Team Chevy top six in the speed trap at the Yard of Bricks. Heavy overnight rain delayed Indianapolis 500 practice for the second straight day, which began an hour late and was interrupted twice by sprinkles. The track was green for three and a half hours, enough for the 34 drivers to complete 2555 laps. Kyle Larson in the No. 17 HendrickCars.com Arrow McLaren Chevrolet was the busiest Team Chevy driver, completing 107 laps, over half the race distance.Tony Kanaan, designated standby driver for the No.17 Hendrickcars.comArrow McLaren Chevrolet of Kyle Larson, who is attempting the Indianapolis 500/Coca Cola 600 double, had his refresher course rained on for the second straight day, and will take place at 10 am Thursday. 
Indianapolis 500 Wednesday Practice Results
Indianapolis 500 Wednesday Non-Tow Practice Results
Indianapolis 500 practice tune-in alert
Thursday, May 15·      NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice – noon-4pm (ET)/11am-3pm (CT)/10am-2pm (MT)/9am-1pm (PT) – FS2/ INDYCAR Radio Network/SIRIUSXM 218·      NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice – 4pm-6pm (ET)/3pm-5pm (CT)/2pm-4pm (MT)/1pm-3pm (PT) – FS1/ INDYCAR Radio Network/SIRIUSXM 218 Friday, May 16·      NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice – noon-4pm (ET)/11am-3pm (CT)/10am-2pm (MT)/9am-1pm (PT) – FS2/ INDYCAR Radio Network/SIRIUSXM 218·      NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice – 4pm-6pm (ET)/3pm-5pm (CT)/2pm-4pm (MT)/1pm-3pm (PT) – FS1/ INDYCAR Radio Network/SIRIUSXM 218
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING INDIANAPOLIS 500 PRACTICE (QUOTES) A.J. Foyt Enterprises David Malukas, No. 4 AJ FOYT RACING Chevrolet:All right day two is a wrap and another very good day for us. We went in a very good direction with the car overnight. Then we even finished the day a bit early. I’m kind of just preparing for some bigger changes going into tomorrow but extremely happy with the work we’ve managed to do with these short windows from day one and into today with the rain, but it’s easy with the car being unloaded in a good spot. So very happy with the way things are going so hopefully we keep the streak going in the next few days. Arrow McLaren Pato O’Ward, No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet: “Good to be out turning laps, but we’re not quite where we want to be yet. We have some work to do, and we’ll see what tomorrow brings.” Nolan Siegel, No. 6 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet:“We had a solid day two. We’re happy with the balance and have made some small gains, chipping away at that. We’re working our way into traffic and that changed the balance quite a bit. We still have a bit to find there, but overall it’s still comfortable. The main thing is having a smooth few days into Qualifying and we’ll continue finding more speed every day.” Christian Lundgaard, No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet:“It was a good second day from where we left off. We’re moving in one direction, which is the right way. We’re leaving Wednesday as happy as Tuesday, which is a step up compared to the Open Test. There’s a lot of momentum being built. The No. 7 VELO Arrow McLaren Chevrolet is great running out front. There’s more work to be done deeper in the traffic, but there’s a simple way to do that by qualifying and racing up front. Looking at it realistically, we need to work on getting the car better deeper into the pack and we should be in pretty good shape.” Kyle Larson, No. 17 HendrickCars.com Arrow McLaren Chevrolet:“I’m glad we were able to get some race runs today compared to yesterday. That’s really what I wanted to focus on mainly today. We were able to try running in the front of the pack and the middle and get an idea for the balance especially with the cars we were running around.”  DRR-Cusick Mostorsports Ryan Hunter-Reay, No.23 DRR CUSICK WEDBUSH SECURITIES: “Today was super useful despite the rain delay. We got through a lot of stuff and we found a good direction with the Wedbush Chevy. In terms of racing running. And I’m looking forward to more of it on Thursday. I’m thankful for the hard work of the team in finding the proper direction. I feel good with the race car right now. But we to find a little more on Thursday.” Jack Harvey, No. 24 DRR CUSICK INVST: “Overall, it was a well-executed day for the INVST crew. We verified the changes we made overnight that worked today. We actually stayed out in pit lane as a rainstorm was coming. And we ran some additional laps. We wanted to get as many laps as possible if it did rain. We did a good job minimizing the time in the garage today. We tried various things, and we went back to the direction we like and made me more confident. All the years here at IMS, confidence is a big thing for me with the race car. For the race setup, we have made improvements each day.” Ed Carpenter Racing Alexander Rossi, No. 20 Java House ECR Chevrolet:“They are all good days at the (Indianapolis Motor) Speedway. It ebbs and flows, but we’re learning things we need to learn. You always feel like you never have enough time here. Two more, obviously, important days ahead of us.”
Christian Rasmussen, No. 21 Splenda ECR Chevrolet:“That is practice day two done here at IMS. Good day for us. Ended up P10 overall, and P2 on the no-tow list. We will keep working on all the traffic running, but I think we are in a good spot. Excited to see what this month brings.”
Juncos Hollinger Racing Conor Daly, No. 76 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet:“I feel good. Today was a nice reset after yesterday. Got through a couple things that we wanted to. I feel quite confident in this car, honestly. It feels really good. I think we have some good natural speed, but we just have to keep dialing in the balance. But don’t want to over-react too much, but it feels good. Today was a good day for us.”
Team Penske Josef Newgarden, No. 2 Shell V-Power NiTRO+ Team Penske Chevrolet: “It’s showing good signs to begin. It’s a long process. You can have the quickest car in the field, and that doesn’t mean you’re going to win the race. I think it takes a lot of ingredients, clearly, to win at this place. I think we have a few of them that are starting to show themselves in favorable conditions.Right now I think the car is in a really good place. We just have to continue to go through the motions. Qualifying is going to be its own thing. We’re going to find out exactly where everybody else is at as we get to Friday, and hopefully we’ll be in a good spot there.”
Will Power, No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet: “Yeah, I felt pretty good in traffic. I just sat in a line of, I don’t know, ten cars or something. Just sat there going about the same speed. It was kind of, yeah, hard to tell, which the race is a completely different story to qualifying. Almost speed doesn’t quite matter. It’s more about handling, which looks like everyone’s car is handling well too. Everyone is doing long stints. The car is fine. It’s crazy. I think the cool temps help as well.” 

Josef NewgardenWill PowerPress Conference
THE MODERATOR: Josef Newgarden, driver of the No. 2 Shell V-Power NiTRO+ Team Penske Chevrolet. As noted, the two-time Indy 500 champion and reigning champion. Third quick overall. Eighth quick no tow. Josef, you got your stuff done early and can watch this practice end, I guess, today?
JOSEF NEWGARDEN: I was watching. I was watching and then I got called over here.
THE MODERATOR: It happens.
JOSEF NEWGARDEN: I’m missing the last ten minutes. I’ve been watching. This guy is going right here. I had my commentary ripping on the bus, which was good. I was watching like everybody else.
Been up and down with the weather, but for the most part we’ve had really good running. Even yesterday where some rain interrupted the beginning, we still got a lot of track time, and we got a lot of track time today. No complaints so far. I think we’ll get good sunny days for the rest of the week.
THE MODERATOR: Clearly very quick yesterday. Again, very quick today. Does that bode well for this coming weekend and maybe on the ranks?
JOSEF NEWGARDEN: It’s showing good signs to begin. It’s a long process. You can have the quickest car in the field, and that doesn’t mean you’re going to win the race. I think it takes a lot of ingredients, clearly, to win at this place. I think we have a few of them that are starting to show themselves in favorable conditions.
Right now I think the car is in a really good place. We just have to continue to go through the motions. Qualifying is going to be its own thing. We’re going to find out exactly where everybody else is at as we get to Friday, and hopefully we’ll be in a good spot there.
Then the race will be a whole other animal, and we’ll figure that out next weekend.
THE MODERATOR: We’ll open it up to questions.
Q. Josef, Chevy seems fast, and maybe a little bit of speed that they haven’t shown yet through five races. Do you feel that way as well?
JOSEF NEWGARDEN: I think we’re definitely quick. Honda is a tough competitor. This is racing. It goes up and down, so you can never be too confident when you are going into something.
I said this earlier in the week. Every single one of my INDYCAR victories have been Chevrolet-powered. All 31 of them. I always feel I have a shot when I go into the race.
Certainly with Team Penske, the conjunction of those two, I always feel like I have the opportunity to win every single weekend. Where the ultimate performance is going to lie is going to be Saturday and Sunday this weekend and then Sunday the weekend after.
We’ve been here many times where we thought we were pretty quick going into the weekend, and then we were nowhere. So I don’t ever get ahead. I’ve learned to never get ahead of myself here.
I think Chevrolet has done a good job. We were in a great place last year. They definitely got to make a step because we knew Honda was probably going to make a step, and I think we’ve tried to. So far it looks good this week. It’s just going to be a matter of how does it progress into the weekend is what we’re going to need to look for.
Q. My second question comes from Twitter.
THE MODERATOR: Or X.
Q. X. It’s a high-level —
JOSEF NEWGARDEN: Is it an AI question?
Q. No, it’s a real person. Obviously Kanaan is having some trouble getting out there to do his refresher course. They said if you polled all the drivers, would any of the drivers have an issue with Kanaan not getting the refresher course?
JOSEF NEWGARDEN: I saw this. Is he running?
THE MODERATOR: It’s a backup plan.
JOSEF NEWGARDEN: In case they need him for Larson. Would he jump in… Oh, for the race. Not necessarily to qualify the car. Yeah.
You know, I’m a big fan. It’s hard to answer these questions. I love the traditions of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. I would want to be very respectful of them. There are some things clearly that should stay traditions.
You know, the refresher thing, I’m not as positive on. I was actually just talking to another driver about it this morning. I mean, someone like Tony Kanaan doesn’t need a refresher. It’s up to the team. If the team wants to put Tony Kanaan in the car, then put him in the car. If he wrecks the car, then that was the team’s decision to do that.
I think when it’s big-time auto racing, there should be some oversight. It’s not necessarily, hey, just let the teams do whatever they want, but I think there’s some parameters that could be put in place where a guy like Tony Kanaan who clearly could jump in a car no problem tomorrow, should probably be allowed to do that.
I certainly have no issue with it. There might be some room for improvement there in the future in my opinion, but with staying respectful to the traditions of the speedway, I think you can make something where it satisfies both sides.
Q. I’m having trouble understanding what the hybrid is really doing out there for you guys. Is it making the car feel more twitchy? Can you even tell a difference? I hear, Okay, it drives differently, but how? What are you feeling out there that’s making it drive different?
JOSEF NEWGARDEN: The big reason it’s driving differently is not necessarily the hybrid interacting with the car. It is the weight of the hybrid. That’s where you are getting all the comments.
Why is the car different? It is just the weight is up. You’re 100, 110 pounds heavier. That’s a lot of mass percentage-wise that you are adding to this car. It’s saturating the tires more. It’s just moving around. The CG changes a little bit. It raises slightly. Your weight distribution is shifted depending on where teams are putting it. That’s what people are trying to figure out right now.
You add 100 pounds to this thing, it’s almost like adding 200, 250 pounds to a stock car. If you said, Hey, guys, we’re going to bolt 250 pounds to these stock cars, see what you think, I bet they would all go, Okay, this drives differently, and now we have to counteract it.
The hybrid itself and the utilization, I have said this. I do think it’s very important here. It’s more important at this track than anywhere we’ve gone because of the drag level. We’ve not run in a superspeedway configuration yet with this hybrid, so it’s very, very low drag on the cars. Because of that, they’re very power-sensitive.
Any time you use something to add power, you feel the magnification of it here more than anywhere else. When you are using the hybrid on the straightaway, it makes a very big difference.
Where are you are regenerating it and where you are using it, to either pass or defend or for whatever situation, I think there’s repercussions for burning it, and there’s certainly reward for utilizing it correctly.
Q. At the open test the last couple of years you’ve been very confident with how your car was handling. Are you at that level of confidence now? How far along are you all in progressing, figuring out how to get the setup just right with the hybrid weight in the back?
JOSEF NEWGARDEN: Yeah, the great thing about the open test the last few years is you get this big head start coming into the month. If you are fortunate enough to show up with a pretty good car and get that dialed in in the test, then you don’t have a lot of work to do by the time we get to this week.
I feel like we got on top of the hybrid pretty quickly so far. This is only a certain set of conditions that I’ve felt. If it gets much hotter, say it’s 85, 87 and the track temp shoots through the roof at 120, 125, you know, I think that changes the condition and feel of the car.
I’m still open-minded that we don’t have everything checked, but the early signs of where we’re at I think is great. I think we’re in a really good window. My car feels fantastic. That’s only one piece of the puzzle.
Q. What we’re seeing the first couple of days obviously is race running, but as far as when you start trimming it out for speed, I get asked this on the radio network earlier, if we could see a repeat of what you guys did here last year by sweeping the front row. Do you think you can do it a second year in a row?
JOSEF NEWGARDEN: I think it’s possible, definitely. We’re coming from a very good spot last year, so everyone is going to have to make a big jump, which is possible. We know that everyone gets better every year. So we’ve tried to make a step too to retain hopefully a speed advantage.
It’s definitely possible. You know, we can do it. I don’t know that that’s going to materialize, but we’re trying to put our best foot forward and put three fast cars on the track.
They look quick. We’ll see what it brings on Saturday and Sunday.
Q. Do you think Team Penske has crept ahead just a little bit over Chip Ganassi Racing because they used to have a pretty good handle on qualifying here?
JOSEF NEWGARDEN: I think last year for sure. This year is to be determined. It’s so hard to give you an absolute. I just don’t know until we get to Saturday. When it’s for real, we’re going to see where everyone is really at.
THE MODERATOR: Checkered flag is out. Palou, Power, and Josef, the top three.
Q. You’ve experienced a lot of great success here the last couple of years. What would a first-time Indy 500 pole mean to you here on Sunday?
JOSEF NEWGARDEN: I don’t know. I’ve never gone through it. I’ll say this, though… I’ve talked about Indy as it’s this magnification of the team effort more than anywhere else that we go, and I mean that.
It’s a team sport more than people realize when you watch racing. Indy is like the greatest example of it. Here more than anywhere else everything has to go perfectly as a team and a unit, and I think that’s on the greatest display in qualifying.
So when you qualify well here, it a reward for the total team. I think that’s why you saw such satisfaction last year amongst the whole team. When you lock out the front row, I signed more front row photos than anything else for the team because that’s gratifying for everybody involved. It shows the work that’s been put in.
I think from a team standpoint it’s more satisfying. The win is still very much a big team thing, but you get a little more personal satisfaction out of it. I guess to answer your question, being on pole here, I would like to see it again for the team. I liked to see what happened last year for the team. It was really cool to see that in the garage. If we can do it again, I know what it’s going to look like.
Q. As we’ve gotten this additional weight added to the car, do you have a feeling yet on what is possible in those late race situations? If something really late on the back stretch going into three is still possible with the car as it is now?
JOSEF NEWGARDEN: It seems possible. In my head, you know. I wanted to try some things out today, and itself, like, you probably need to park me, just let me sit out. I’m getting a little too excited out here. Things can work out here and be magical until they’re not.
It goes so quickly from fantastic to disaster, and you’re just flirting with that line. I think the racing style is going to be very similar this year to what we saw last year. That’s what the early indication advisory shown me.
What I felt today, I don’t think it will be a dramatic departure to what people saw at the end of the race last year, unless it’s crazy hot. If we somehow get like a 90 degree day, super high track temp, that’s just going to string the field out. You sort of can’t do anything about that. It is what it is.
I think if it’s a normal, typical 75, 80 degree Indiana day, I think you’re going to have a similar show to what we had last year, with the similar ability to do what you’ve seen.
Q. You know better than I do. The heavy rain it in the morning, I suppose cools the temperature down. Is a different setup required for cold temperature than for very hot temperature?
JOSEF NEWGARDEN: Yes, definitely, definitely. The rain contributed to cooling it before we started, so it was a fairly — I think it was probably 95 degrees when we started practice today, so it came from a lower level. Especially it being whatever it was, 1:00, 1:15 when we rolled out.
You run the car very differently if it’s 120 degrees versus 90 or 95. The car, the tires, they react very, very differently. That’s why I said earlier, in certain conditions my car feels pretty solid. We don’t know what it could be like in extreme conditions. At least extreme on the other end of the temp spectrum.
Yeah, you’ve got to be ready to combat that. Some guys have cars that are really good in the heat. Some guys have cars that are really good in the cold. Some have both. Ideally you like to have a car that’s flexible because you need different cars in different conditions.
Q. (Off microphone)
JOSEF NEWGARDEN: I don’t care. I normally like the harder condition. Typically hot is tougher around this place, so make it cold, make it hot, but yeah, when it’s harder, it’s more fun.
Q. Earlier you said you learned to never get ahead of yourself. With success and it can be so easy and human nature to build pride or get complacent, but what keeps you humble as you head for three straight?
JOSEF NEWGARDEN: I almost think winning the race was more humbling for me. I feel just so grateful to have been here. I kind of got there 24 months ago. I was so enamored with trying to win in this race. It seemed like it was like a needed thing. Like you have to win here. Otherwise, your career is a failure. That’s what people have always kind of painted it as. I think I got too consumed by it.
Then winning it has just made it very gratifying. If anything, I just feel more thankful now to have been here. I’ve told people too, if you focus on the end result, the winning the race, you’re missing the point that you have already succeeded so much by just being here.
You get here. You qualify. You’re on the grid. You’re already winning in so many ways. That’s what I feel when I show up. I try and remind myself of that. It doesn’t matter that we’ve won it a couple of minutes. I’m just still thankful to be here this year and to have another shot. That’s what I’m focusing on is just the next opportunity, which we have in front of us right now.
Q. You mentioned earlier about Chevy making gains, Honda making gains. We’re talking about engines that have been running since the fall of 2011. How much more do you think is there to get out of these engines?
JOSEF NEWGARDEN: You would be surprised. We’re still finding stuff. Chevrolet made a great jump last year. They’re still making it happen. I think we’ve made another — I think we can make another step this year.
As much as they’ve been — you’ve kind of rung the thing out as much as you can, there’s still just a little bit left in there it seems like. We’re searching for it.
It’s becoming more detail-specific. You really have to be fantastic on the details these days. Not just as a manufacturer, but as a team. The field is so compressed that if you don’t nail the details, you will not win, and you will not find the next step in front of the competition.
THE MODERATOR: Thank you, Josef.
Joined now by Will Power, driver the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet. Of course, the 2018 winner of the Indianapolis 500. Currently seventh in points. Second quick in the overall session. 13th I think, the last time I looked. Tell us about your day. What did you get done?
WILL POWER: Yeah, I think we’ve got a reasonable package right now. Seems very difficult to pass when you are in the back of the pack, but car stayed really consistent through the rounds, yeah.
THE MODERATOR: We’ll open it up to questions.
Q. Same question I asked Josef. Chevy looks pretty good and has not looked so great through the first five races. How are you feeling about what they’ve brought so far?
WILL POWER: Yeah, I actually haven’t looked. It’s so hard to tell right now. We won’t know until maybe Friday. We’ll start to see some sort of indication. Really Saturday, to be honest.
Q. (Off microphone)
WILL POWER: Yeah, I felt pretty good in traffic. I just sat in a line of, I don’t know, ten cars or something.
Just sat there going about the same speed. It was kind of, yeah, hard to tell, which the race is a completely different story to qualifying.
Almost speed doesn’t quite matter. It’s more about handling, which looks like everyone’s car is handling well too. Everyone is doing long stints. The car is fine. It’s crazy. I think the cool temps help as well.
Q. (Off microphone)
WILL POWER: If it gets hot, it’s more difficult, but it looks like race day is about this temp. It’s going to be similar to last year. Very similar.
Q. (Off microphone)
WILL POWER: It might rain first and then hopefully dry. It would suck to have to do a Monday or Tuesday, yeah.
Q. Seven of the eight fastest cars today were either Ganassi or Penske or one of their affiliates. Is this kind of coming down to one of those Ganassi versus Penske weeks?
WILL POWER: I don’t know. Maybe both the bosses are, like, You better get out there and get a big tow, or you’re going to be at the top of the Times. I don’t know.
Yeah, usually. Yeah, I think even with tows it is an indication of car speed for sure or car handling and speed. It’s so hard to tell, man. It hasn’t been as many full-tank pack runs this year as there have been. Maybe it’s because of the rain and so on.
THE MODERATOR: Tomorrow looks dry, but there’s going to be a ton of that tomorrow, do you think?
WILL POWER: No. No, I think a lot of people switch to quallie tomorrow. Yeah. Start with a bit of race and then quickly get into quallie stuff.
Q. With the added weight of the hybrid in the back, how much does this feel like a brand new car, or does it just feel slightly different than last year?
WILL POWER: It feels very similar. Very similar. Honestly, the biggest changes are the changes you actually do suspension-wise to make the car better or worse. Yeah, honestly in racing it’s very similar.
Q. So your level of comfort now compared to what it was at this time last year, how would you gauge that?
WILL POWER: Mine is a lot more, yeah. I’ve actually found a pretty good setup.
Q. So why is that? You guys obviously had a fast car last year. Why are you feeling a lot more comfortable at this point already than last year?
WILL POWER: I had a fast car in qualifying. Definitely not in the race. I just went backwards the whole race on any restarts. It feels a lot better.
It is quite a different setup. Quite different from last few, so it’s what sort of direction we needed to go.
Q. When we were talking Wednesday after second practice, we’ve had a little bit of delays. In your experience does a confident week and a half before the race, does that typically still follow through and get you into feeling confident on race day, or how much can things change from now until Sunday when we’re rolling out on May 25th?
WILL POWER: Hard to say, man. You just have one session. It tips over a bit, and you start getting a bit uncomfortable, but yeah, I think you’ve got to be on top of your tools.
I think once you’ve got your round-about philosophy, you just sort of go on minor changes. That should keep you in your window, if you know what you’re doing.
Q. I guess you were talking a little bit about the people you were running with, and you felt like you were maybe stuck in line a little bit. Were there any cars in particular you felt were really strong?
WILL POWER: I think my two teammates look really good. Palou looked good. He was running trying to get a big tow lap, I suppose. Maybe he was on light fuel.
Rosenqvist. I sat in a line, man. Everyone looked about the same. No one was really passing. Some cars were closer. Yeah, it’s difficult to tell. Very hard to tell.
Q. You’ve got a gap of 120 points to Alex Palou in the points standing, which is obviously quite a big deficit already. Do you feel your season rides even more on the 500 now considering the points gap you do have?
WILL POWER: You most certainly have to start beating Alex. I mean, yeah, I haven’t beaten him once this year. I would like to start slowly chipping away at that.
It’s funny, how quickly things can turn around. It would be nice if it was double points and he had a bad day. I’m not joking. It would be crazy if that was the case and it switched around like that.
Yeah, two bad races for him and two good for me, and you start getting back within a race worth of points. There’s a lot of guys very close from second all the way back to where I am, I suppose, or eighth.
Q. I remember last year you sort of came into qualifying having such confidence that Penske would lock out the front row. Do you have a similar confidence going into this year, or do you think you’ll have more competition?
WILL POWER: I think it will be closer, yeah, for a number of reasons. Not just people caught up. It’s probably a bit of a different — it looks like it’s windy. It’s going to be more difficult because of the weight. I think that’s more pronounced in qualifying trim when you are on lighter downforce.
Yeah, I can see it being a little less about the speed of the car, but more about the handling.
THE MODERATOR: Forecast is for less rain. Thanks for coming up, Will.

Hart Ready to Continue Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Improvement in Chicago

OCALA, FLA. (May 14, 2025) — The Burnyzz Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Dodge Challenger and driver Josh Hart will be back in action this weekend at the Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals. Three weeks ago, Hart raced in his first four-wide race behind the wheel of the black and flamed Dodge Challenger and the newcomer to the small wheel, door-slammer class is ready to continue to tackle a new class. Reaching speeds over 170 mph in just under eight seconds, the factory stock race car is a new experience for Hart, who normally exceeds that speed in just over one second in his R+L Carriers Top Fuel dragster.
 
“It has been a lot of fun so far this season, but we have only had two races and one of those was impacted by rain,” said Hart, who has won in variety of NHRA classes throughout his career. “When this Burnyzz Dodge hooks up and takes off it is a fun ride for sure. David Davies and his DHDR team have been a huge help on the learning curve. I am looking forward to this weekend and continuing to get better. I love the challenge.”


 The Burnyzz Speed Shop Dodge Drag Pak and Josh Hart will be focused on continued improvement in Chicago

Hart has owned the Dodge Challenger he will be campaigning this weekend since the Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series was announced over five years ago. Over the offseason Hart and Davies, a veteran of the factory stock class, talked about how they could work together to get Hart behind the wheel in one of the most competitive door-slammer classes in the NHRA.
 
“Charlotte was a big race for us because we got all the qualifying runs and we got a run in eliminations,” said Hart. “The tricky thing was we were all running four-wide so that added a wrinkle. This weekend just running two at a time will be a much better opportunity to get into a groove. We aren’t going to be running for the championship but going rounds is our team’s goal. David and all the other competitors have been great to work with and get to know.”
 
Hart will be pulling double duty at the Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 Nationals competing in the Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series as well as driving the R+L Carriers Top Fuel dragster in the Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. For the entrepreneur from Florida the added runs only help him focus on the task at hand.
 
“I love being busy at the racetrack,” said Hart. “All these racing programs work together, and we are also working on some exciting additional programs with David and DHDR for later in the season.”
 
The Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series is comprised of Dodge Drag Paks, Ford Cobra Jets, and Chevrolet COPO Camaros racing heads up down the quarter mile track. This weekend 20 drivers and teams will be vying for 16 qualified spots. The variety of competitors as well as different manufacturers gives this class a large contingency of passionate fans. Hart, a life-long Dodge fan and driver enjoys the friendly rivalry between the drivers in the class.
 
“I am just getting to know a lot of the guys and we are all passionate about our brands,” said Hart. “The fans definitely get into it when it is a Dodge versus a Chevy or a Ford versus a Dodge. I like that a lot. These cars look cool even when they are just in the staging lanes. I am one of the luckiest guys out here getting to race the Burnyzz Dodge Challenger and the R+L Carriers Top Fuel dragster. It makes for a busy weekend but I love it.”
 
Hart and the Burnyzz Speed Shop Dodge Challenger will make qualifying runs Friday, May 16, at 11:45 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. with additional qualifying pass on Saturday, May 17, at 10:30 a.m. The category will contest one round of eliminations on Saturday at 4:15 p.m. to close out the second day of racing action. The final three rounds of competition will be completed on Sunday, May 18. For information about tickets or schedule updates visit www.nhra.com.

DOUBLE UP FOR FLEXJET FACTORY STOCK SHOWDOWN IN CHICAGO WITH ROUTE 66 NATIONALS AND CONCLUSION OF GATORNATIONALS

CHICAGO (May 14, 2025) — Fans of factory stock hot rods will be treated to a unique two-for-one event at the Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals presented by PEAK with this weekend’s NHRA national event featuring the usual three exciting days of Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown racing action as well as the conclusion of the season-opening NHRA Gatornationals. Twenty competitors will be racing their Ford Cobra Jets, Dodge Drag Packs and Chevrolet COPO Camaros for the iconic Wally trophy presented to the Route 66 Nationals winner and included in that group will be four drivers still in action attempting to win the Gatornationals Wally. Lee Hartman, Doug Hamp, Jason Dietsch and Lenny Lottig will be racing for two trophies when qualifying action begins this Friday at Route 66 Raceway outside of Chicago.
 
“Gainesville was a lucky weekend for us, to be honest,” said Hamp. “We had a no show and a red light against us. I don’t think the COPOs got much for the Fords and the Dodges, but we’re in the semis and we’re excited to get the race wrapped up in Chicago. We didn’t think we’d get this far, but it’s one of those deals where you realize everyone needs a little bit of luck to win a race, and I hope I didn’t waste all my luck. Hopefully, we’ll still have some this weekend.”


 Doug Hamp is one of four Gatornationals semifinalists who will be looking to double up this weekend in Chicago, photo credit Auto Imagery/Gary Nastase

Hartman is looking forward to hopefully capturing his first Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown national event win. In the first round of the Gatornationals Hartman, the No. 15 qualifier upset Scott Libersher, the No. 2 qualifier and a 2024 championship contender. In the second round he outran No. 10 qualifier Raymond Nash with his quickest run of the weekend, a solid 7.816 second run leading to a match-up with Lottig, who he will race during the second round of qualifying on Friday night.
 
“We had some tricky track conditions in Gainesville so coming to Chicago after we raced Charlotte will be a whole new ballgame,” said Hartman. “We’re going to continue to keep plugging away at it to finish this thing up. The four cars that are in the semi-finals are all tough competitors. It will be fun for everyone to have a sort of race within the race.”
 
The Gatornationals will be concluded during the second and third qualifying sessions of the Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 Nationals. Those runs will count towards qualifying positions for each driver as well as elimination rounds. At the conclusion of qualifying, one driver will be crowned the Gatornationals winner.
 
The twenty competitors entered in the Chicago national event will have three passes to secure their spot in the 16-car qualified field with eliminations starting Saturday afternoon. Newcomer Josh Hart, who also races Top Fuel dragster will be pulling double duty once again racing his Burnyzz Speed Shop Dodge Drag Pak in the Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series and his R+L Carriers Top Fuel dragster in the Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. He has teamed up with long-time factory stock competitor David Davies and his DHDR team to take on a new challenge.
 
“I love being busy at the racetrack,” said Hart. “David Davies and his DHDR team have been a huge help on the learning curve. I am looking forward to this weekend and continuing to get better. I love the challenge.”


 Josh Hart and the Burnyzz Speed Shop Drag Pak Challenger is enjoying the challenge of the Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series in his first season, photo credit Auto Imagery/Gary Nastase

The Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series is comprised of Dodge Drag Paks, Ford Cobra Jets and Chevrolet COPO Camaros racing heads up down the quarter mile track. This weekend 20 drivers and teams will be vying for 16 qualified spots. The variety of competitors as well as different manufacturers gives this class a large contingency of passionate fans. Hart, a life-long Dodge fan and driver, enjoys the friendly rivalry between the drivers in the class.
 
“I am just getting to know a lot of the guys and we are all passionate about our brands,” said Hart. “The fans definitely get into it when it is a Dodge versus a Chevy or a Ford versus a Dodge. I like that a lot. These cars look cool even when they are just in the staging lanes. I am one of the luckiest guys out here getting to race the Burnyzz Dodge Challenger and the R+L Carriers Top Fuel dragster. It makes for a busy weekend, but I love it.”
 
This weekend the class will receive three qualifying runs allowing each team to get data and fine-tune their race cars. Friday, May 16 will feature qualifying runs at 11:45 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. (semis of the Gatornationals) and on Saturday teams will run at 10:30 a.m. (final round of the Gatornationals) with the first round of eliminations kicking off Saturday at 4:15 p.m. Eliminations will continue with three more rounds on Sunday. Fans can catch all the action live from Route 66 Raceway or tune into the FS1 broadcast following the conclusion of the race on Sunday.
 
2025 Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Schedule
May 15-18              Gerber Collision & Repair Route 66 NHRA Nationals, Chicago, Ill.
                              Conclusion of Amalie Motor Oil Gatornationals
June 6-8                 Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals, Bristol, Tenn.
June 26-29             Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals, Norwalk, Ohio
Aug. 27 – Sept. 1    Cornwell Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals, Indianapolis, Ind.
Sept. 11-14             Reading NHRA Nationals, Reading, Pa.
Sept. 26-29             NHRA Midwest Nationals, St. Louis, Mo.
 

Troutman Continuing Massive Schedule with Four-Race Weekend in His Backyard

CONCORD, NC (May 14, 2025) – Dirt track racers have earned a reputation of being the busiest drivers in motorsports, but few of them have an itinerary that holds a candle to that of Drake Troutman.

The MD3 Rookie of the Year contender on the World of Outlaws Real American Beer Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision has already contested 55 races in the first four and a half months of 2025. If everything goes to plan, Troutman could hit the century mark as soon as August.

He’s only taken one weekend off since New Year’s Day, and parts of his schedule are what some would deem downright impossible. Case in point: after loading up at Talladega Short Track following the Alabama Gang 100 on April 26, the Team22 Motorsports crew drove 13 hours through the night from Alabama to Pennsylvania, dealt with hauler trouble along the way and made it to Port Royal Speedway in time to race in front of their home fans the next day.

Why would anyone voluntarily subject themselves to that much work? For Troutman, the answer is simple – racers race.

“Anytime you can race anything, it just makes you a better driver,” Troutman said. “Racing that much, we went to a lot of tracks that I’ve never even been to before this year, so just getting seat time on those types of racetracks, trying to go to tracks that the Outlaws race at later in the season I feel like will help us. We went down all the way to Boothill [Speedway] for a race down there. We just went down there to get ready for later in the year, so we have an idea of what the place is going to be like.

“I think there’s a lot of pros to it. Don’t get me wrong, I think it can hurt you sometimes. By racing so much, you might not always be as prepared as what you want. But in the long run, I think it works out for you.”

All those extra laps have been turned with one goal in mind – becoming a World of Outlaws winner. Troutman has come close multiple times this year, as he’s won Heat Races, sat on the pole and led the second-most laps in Feature action through the first 13 races. He knows he has all the pieces he needs to succeed, and he’ll have four chances this week to put them together in a winning combination.

“Everything’s going pretty good,” Troutman said. “Some nights we had a bad night obviously, but that’s part of the deal, so we’ve just got to cut those out as much as we can. I feel like now, we’re getting to the point where we’re going to racetracks that I like a lot more. So I’m excited to get back out around Pennsylvania and race at some of my local tracks. I think we’ve got a really good program, I’ve just got to do a little bit better of a job behind the wheel of the car to capitalize on some of these nights when we start up front.”

The Ohio-Pennsylvania swing kicks off at Raceway 7 on Thursday, May 15 – a place Troutman has already proven he can contend at with The Most Powerful Late Models on the Planet. His 11th-place finish in last year’s Great Lake Showdown was his career-best World of Outlaws result at the time, and he’s in position to reset that mark once again this season.

“Last year we went there and we were still pretty green,” Troutman said. “Didn’t have a whole lot of experience in a Late Model at that point, so I think more experience is going to help us out. I feel like we’ve got a way better program now, racing for G.R. [Smith] and his wife Stacey. They gave us much better equipment, so hopefully we go back there and it’s a lot better.”

From there, Troutman will turn his attention to Marion Center Raceway for the two-night Connor Bobik Memorial on Friday and Saturday, May 16-17. While Troutman struggled against the Outlaws last year, Team22 ran top 10 with Max McLaughlin in the seat, giving the team a notebook he hopes will put him on the right track this time around.

“I’m excited to get back, I really don’t get to race up there that much,” Troutman said. “I’ve probably only been up there a handful of times at most. Going back there, it’s not like I go up there every weekend, so I’m excited to get back. Last year we kind of messed up on tire decisions, but G.R. and them ran good last year there at Marion Center, so his input will be helpful on what I need to do better in the Feature.”

While Troutman has been looking forward to Raceway 7 and Marion Center since the start of the season, he’s been looking forward to Bedford Speedway’s Billy Winn Classic on Sunday, May 18, since the day he became a race fan. The 5/8-mile oval is right down the road from Troutman’s Hyndman, PA home, and he spent his childhood watching the stars of dirt Late Model racing from the grandstands, dreaming of one day joining them. That dream will become reality this weekend when Troutman makes his first World of Outlaws start at his home track.

“Man, I’m excited,” Troutman said. “Last time I was even at an Outlaw race [at Bedford], I was just a little kid, that was back in 2009 or something. So, it’ll be really cool to see. That’s where I cut my teeth at, was at Bedford. Honestly, I really don’t run that great there, but I’m excited to go and see everyone. It’ll be cool.”

The 2025 World of Outlaws Real American Beer Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision season continues this week with stops at Raceway 7 (Thursday, May 15), Marion Center Raceway (Friday-Saturday, May 16-17) and Bedford Speedway (Sunday, May 18). Tickets will be available at the gate on all four nights.

If you can’t make it to the track, stream every lap live on DIRTVision.

Chevy racing–INDYCAR–qualifying recap

CHEVROLET IN NTT INDYCAR SERIESS ONSIO INDY GRAND PRIX ROAD COURSE AT INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAYI NDIANAPOLIIS, INDIANA TEAM CHEVY QUALIFYING RECAP MAY 9, 2025 Scott McLaughlin and Josef Newgarden Put Chevrolet in Firestone Fast Six Qualifying at the IMS Road Course
Scott McLaughlin and Josef Newgarden put their Team Penske Chevrolets in the Firestone Fast Six qualifying session for the Sonsio Grand Prix at the Road Course at Indianapolis Motor SpeedwayMcLaughlin will start the No. 3 Sonsio Vehicle Protection Chevrolet from the outside of the second row in fourth positionNewgarden qualified the No. 2 Astemo Chevrolet on the outside of row three\Six Chevrolet powered drivers transferred into the Fast 12 qualifying for the Sonsio Grand PrixIn addition to McLaughlin and Newgarden, Will Power, No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet; No. 5 Pato O’ward, No.5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet; Alexander Rossi, No. 20 Java House Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet and Santino Ferrucci, No. 14 Sexton Properties AJ Foyt Racing Chevrolet made the run for the Firestone Fast SixFerrucci led the way for Chevrolet in the two practice sessions of the day
Tune-in AlertSaturday, May 10, 2025·      NTT INDYCAR SERIES Warm Up – 11:30am (ET)/10:30am (CT)/9:30am (MT)/8:30am (PT) – FS1/INDYCAR Radio Network/SIRIUSXM 218·      Sonsio Grand Prix (85 laps) – 4:30pm (ET)/3:30pm (CT)/2:30pm (MT)/1:30pm (PT) – FOX/INDYCAR Radio Network/SIRIUSXM 218 SONSIO GRAND PRIX QUALIFYING RESULTS:
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING (QUOTES):A.J. FOYT RACINGDavid Malukas, No. 4 A.J. Foyt Racing Chevrolet:“Not much really to say other than it wasn’t good. We kind of knew going into it, the pace wasn’t really there as it was Barber. I think Barber hurt quite a bit, just because we had a very good car, but here, obviously we never really had the confidence all day. Then we came into qualifying, I think that it was just a lot worse than we were even expecting. so not great. We just need to keep our heads down and keep working at it and hopefully find some time.” Santino Ferrucci, No. 14 A.J. Foyt Racing/Sexton Properties Chevrolet:“Obviously, quite an interesting up and down day. Had a clutch issue so we missed a good part of FP 1 and almost all of FP 2, but the guys just stuck with it. Had a really good qualifying to get an advance but kind of missed it a little bit in the second round. We’ll look back and see kind of why. I definitely left some time on the table in my driving and I just don’t feel like I started the tire, very well either. So, kind of bummed not to advance the Fast Six but we have a good starting spot for tomorrow, and we’ll be good.” ARROW MCLAREN Pato O’Ward, No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet: “The car feels good. I think the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet crew have done a great job in giving me a good balance in Practice 1 and 2. We missed the Firestone Fast 6 because we’re losing speed on the straight, but hopefully we can find exactly what it is. This is a very straight-line speed sensitive track. We want to go forward tomorrow, not backwards. I trust the team is going to find it, and tomorrow we’ll be ready.” Nolan Siegel, No. 6 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet: “It’s disappointing that we weren’t able to advance out of round one of Qualifying because I think we rolled off in a competitive window and had a pretty positive day overall. The margins in this series are so tight, and today proved that. We have work to do tomorrow, but I feel confident that we’ll be able to make our way up and come away with a good result.” Christian Lundgaard, No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet:“It was a frustrating session. We struggled with balance in both practices and went into Qualifying with something that was unknown; we didn’t use the Firestone Alternate tires in Practice 1 or 2, so not really having a reference for what the balance would be or how the tire would perform was tricky. It’s frustrating coming to a track where you know you’re fast, the pace has been in the car but it’s tough to drive. We tried to simplify that but then just missed and got it out of the window. At the end of the day, our options are limited tomorrow, so the race will be tough to make up positions. We will give it our best shot.” ED CARPENTER RACINGAlexander Rossi, No. 20 Java House Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet:“We had a generally okay day, but just missed out on a little bit in round two of qualifying. The No. 20 Java House Chevrolet is a good car, so I know that we can go forward from 9th.” Christian Rasmussen, No. 21 Splenda Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet:“That was a frustrating qualifying session. I didn’t maximize my lap as best I could. The lockup I had in practice was still on my mind a bit and I lost all of my time in Turn 7 alone. Everywhere else, it was pretty good! The No. 21 Splenda Chevrolet is strong, I just need to execute better in qualifying. The bright side is we still have two sets of new reds for the race and that will help us.” JUNCOS HOLLINGER RACINGConor Daly, No. 76 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet:“Well, sadly, today we just got a little bit blocked in qualifying. You know, our group, I think, was extremely tough, definitely when it comes to just pace and how close everyone was. So, you know, probably could have improved a little bit had we got our lap without traffic, but, but yeah, I think we have a little bit more pace, obviously, in the car than where we qualified, which is kind of a shame, because, yeah, I thought this was going to be a good one for us, but tomorrow, I think we can race our way forward thanks to kind of the work we’ve been doing.” Sting Ray Robb, No. 77 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet:“It was a very busy day here at Indy road course. But overall, I think there’s a lot of positive to take from the day. Qualified P 17, and literally, 1/100 of a second moves us to P 13. So a little bit more to transfer into the fast 12, but I think that we still had that if we nailed a lap, but really, really good progress from the team. I mean, that’s my best qualifying ever, which is nothing to shout, shout about, but it makes me excited for the future together, and I think that tomorrow we’ll have good package.” PREMARobert Shwartzman, No. 83 PREMA Racing Chevrolet“It’s another unfortunate situation where I have had limited practice time and jumped straight into qualifying. I had only four laps total at a track I didn’t know so it was very difficult. I did the best I could but nonetheless I still didn’t feel really comfortable with the car. We definitely need to have a work through tonight to see what we can do for tomorrow’s race. We have nothing to lose, starting from behind. Tomorrow is another day, we’ll keep our heads down and try to figure something out.” Callum Ilott, No, 90 PREMA Racing Chevrolet:“It was a very close qualifying. We made big improvements and to get that close to seventh – we’re just half a tenth away – I think is a good carryover from Barber. Although the results don’t show it, it’s nice to be within fighting distance. We had a lot of work to do from Free Practice so it’s nice to get that close, but also a bit frustrating to be on the wrong side of it. We just have to see what we can do for tomorrow. We’re always trying to improve but it’s tough as it’s very tight.” TEAM PENSKE Scott McLaughlin, No. 3 Sonsio Vehicle Protection Team Penske Chevrolet: “The reds really perked the car up so that makes me a little worried on the black tire. But, you know, really, really proud of Benny (Bretzman) and the guys. I was complaining a fair bit in practice, and they tuned it up for me and got it going. And to make the Fast Six, not that I didn’t expect. I always expected, but it was nice to do it. And then obviously, this weekend, there’s a new tire, of rules, new allocations. How are you going to then head into the race still with so many unknowns, you just got to treat it every race the same. Just go in there and just hope that you choose the right strategy at the end of the day. You know, as a driver, the best thing I can do is just Execute and hit by marks saying these guys will do the same, and what will come will come.”  

Taylor tales: From Detroit to Le Mans

Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing aiming for victory at ‘home’ race and in FranceDETROIT (May 14, 2025) – Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing principal Wayne Taylor and drivers Ricky and Jordan Taylor met with the media via an IMSA-hosted Zoom call to discuss the May 31 Chevrolet Detroit SportsCar Classic and the June 14-15 24 Hours of Le Mans, where the team will join three other Cadillac Racing Hypercars seeking the overall victory in the 93rd edition.
Ricky Taylor and Filipe Albuquerque teamed up to win the Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) race on the downtown Detroit street circuit in 2024, and Albuquerque will co-drive with the Taylor brothers the No. 101 entry at Circuit de la Sarthe. Wayne Taylor owns a class victory among his 13 starts, including three with Cadillac. This year marks his first trip to the iconic endurance race as a team owner. Full transcript:
Tell us a little bit about what you’re looking forward to heading back to Detroit in a couple of weeks as the defending champion of the event.Ricky Taylor: “It’s nice always to come to Detroit. It’s such an iconic event, especially when you come here with a GM product, and to be racing in Cadillac is always, firstly a little bit of pressure, but secondly, a big opportunity to win on home soil. It’s a big weekend for GM and for the team. So, we’re really excited. The track is challenging. We had a great race last year, but so many things can happen here in just 100 minutes. But we’ll try to repeat the success we had last year and send ourselves for a good lead up to Le Mans.”
Jordan will be making his 180th MSA start and is a five-time winner at Dedtroit. How are you going to make more fond memories here in a couple of weeks?Jordan Taylor: “It would be nice to make some more good memories there. Obviously, a lot of good memories from all those years dating back to 2012 and all in GM products ranging from the Camaros, Corvettes and Cadillacs.

Both Cadillac Hypercars qualify in top 10

Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA ready for six-hour battle on fast Spa-Francorchamps circuitSTAVELOT, Belgium (May 9, 2025) – Alex Lynn’s prediction of quicker lap times in Hypercar qualifying on the recently resurfaced 7.004-kilometer (4.532-mile), 19-turn Spa-Francorchamps road course was spot on.
In fact, Lynn’s best lap of four in the 12-minute Hyperpole session Friday for the top 10 cars advancing from the 15-minute qualifying was a hefty 3 seconds quicker than 2024, when he qualified second in the Cadillac V-Series.R.
Lynn, driving the No. 12 Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA V-Series.R, qualified fifth on the 18-car grid for Saturday’s TotalEnergies 6 Hours of Spa with a lap of 2 minutes, 00.246 seconds. Lynn has advanced to Hyperpole in all three rounds of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) season.
Both Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA cars will start in the top 10 for the second time this season as Earl Bamber recorded a lap of 2:00.887 in the No. 38 Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA V-Series.R to qualify 10th. Both Bamber and Lynn improved their lap times from the initial qualifying by nearly a second in Hyperpole.
The No. 50 Ferrari AF Corse earned the pole with a lap of 1:59.617.
Lynn will share driving duties with Will Stevens and Norman Nato, while Sebastien Bourdais and Jenson Button will have time behind the wheel of the No. 38 Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA V-Series.R along with Bamber.
Media resourcesEvent media guide2025 WEC statisticsAll-time Cadillac statisticsPhotos for editorial use
In the driver’s seatSee what the drivers see in the TotalEnergies 6 Hours of Spa HERE. 8 a.m. ET/2 p.m. CEST Saturday. 
Last year, Stevens and Callum Ilott triumphed with another manufacturer in a 1-hour, 44-minute run to the checkers following a lengthy red flag to give Hertz Team JOTA scored its first outright WEC victory as well as the first for a privateer entry in the Hypercar era. The lone Cadillac V-Series.R entry in the 2024 race, after qualifying on the front row, had pace before retiring on Lap 95 of 141 because of contact.
In its WEC Spa debut in 2023, the No. 2 Cadillac V-Series.R (Bamber, Lynn, Richard Westbrook) placed fifth after qualifying fourth. The Cadillac Racing trio went on to earn a podium in the next race at Le Mans. Hertz Team JOTA placed sixth in the 2023 race after qualifying seventh.
The race on the picturesque Spa-Francorchamps course — considered second only to Circuit de la Sarthe in speed on the WEC calendar – is key in preparation for the 24 Hours of Le Mans in four weeks. The 93rd edition of the endurance classic will be Cadillac Racing’s 20th race in WEC competition.
The race is scheduled for 8 a.m. ET / 2 p.m. CET Saturday. Live streaming coverage will be available on the FIA WEC app and the MAX app in the U.S. Radio Le Mans will stream audio coverage.
What they’re saying
No. 12 Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA V-Series.R
Alex Lynn: “I think it was a decent qualifying session. We dreamt of more as we always do, but P5 on the grid is a solid place to start tomorrow and we’ve improved the car a lot over the weekend. Both Cadillacs into Hyperpole, which is great for the team and we’re going to score some heavy points tomorrow.”No. 38 Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA V-Series.R
Earl Bamber: “The session was OK; didn’t really get the most from it. But top 10 is OK and we’ll see what we got tomorrow and score some points.”

CORVETTE RACING AT SPA: Onward and Upward

Pair of TF Sport Corvettes looking to make their way through LMGT3 field STAVELOT, Belgium (May 9, 2025) – TF Sport’s No. 81 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R will lead the two-Corvette attack on the Six Hours of Spa on Saturday after qualifying Friday for the third round of this year’s FIA World Endurance Championship.
Tom Van Rompuy will start 11th in the 18-car LMGT3 field following the 15-minute initial qualifying session with a  lap of 2:20.215 (111.723 mph). He missed getting into the 10-car Hyperpole session for the third straight race by a little less than a half-second.
He and teammates Rui Andrade and factory driver Charlie Eastwood are looking to continue their momentum from a sixth-place class result and its first finish in the points of the year last time out in Imola three weeks ago.
Meanwhile, the LMGT3 championship-leading No. 33 Corvette of Daniel Juncadella, Jonny Edgar and Ben Keating will start 17th in class after Friday’s qualifying. A winner at the season-opening round in Qatar, the No. 33 entry has started outside the top-10 at each round so far. 
Despite being the heaviest car in class at all three races this season – including by 51 pounds at Spa due to the class’s mandatory success handicap – the strategy and execution by the No. 33 team has offset that disadvantage, resulting in a victory to start 2025 and a seventh-place finish at Imola.
This is the fifth straight year for the Corvette program at the Six Hours of Spa with a best result of runner-up in the 2023 GTE Am class… an entry that Keating was part of.
As is the case every year, Spa is a key race for WEC teams as it is the final dress-rehearsal for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Corvette Racing as a program has nine class victories at the French classic, and TF Sport is anxious to use Spa as one last competitive test before this year’s 24 Hours.
The Six Hours of Spa is scheduled for 8 a.m. ET / 2 p.m. CET on Saturday. Full live streaming coverage will be available on the FIA WEC app and the MAX app in the U.S., and Radio Le Mans also will stream audio coverage of the race live.
TF SPORT POST-QUALIFYING QUOTESDANI JUNCADELLA, NO. 33 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “This is always a nice track. I have some very good memories, love the track and love the place. Unfortunately pace has been a little bit off all weekend. We are missing a little bit of pace in general and running too much in the back in general. Hopefully in the race we can find a way with strategy and benefitting from others’ mistakes. If it’s a very clean race, I feel we will struggle to score (points). That would be the main goal for tomorrow.”
CHARLIE EASTWOOD, NO. 81 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “This is the best track in the world for me. The conditions have been amazing… sunshine but still quite cool so the track is fast. We’re not as fast as we’d like to be, but at Imola we maximized the strategy and all three drivers showed up on the day. Hopefully we can push to the front with another perfect race. We’ll take things as they come.”
Corvette Racing at Spa-Francorchamps2021 – No. 63 Corvette C8.R: Antonio Garcia/Oliver Gavin – 4th in GTE Pro 2022 – No. 64 Corvette C8.R: Tommy Milner/Nick Tandy – 4th in GTE Pro 2023  No. 33 Corvette C8.R: Nicky Catsburg/Ben Keating/Nico Varrone – 2nd in GTE Am  2024 – No. 81 Corvette Z06 GT3.R: Charlie Eastwood/Rui Andrade/Tom Van Rompuy – 17th in LMGT3 (DNF)No. 82 Corvette Z06 GT3.R: Daniel Juncadella/Sebastien Baud/Hiroshi Koizumi – 12th in LMGT3

Megan Meyer Returns to Competition with Gary Pritchett for Top Alcohol Dragster Shootout at Cecil County

May 7, 2025 | Featured, Megan Meyer, Pre-Race Releases

After nearly two years away from competitive racing, two-time NHRA World Champion Megan Meyer is set to strap back into her GUNK Top Alcohol Dragster this weekend for the highly anticipated Top Alcohol Shootout at Cecil County Dragway.

Teaming up for the first time with Gary Pritchett, the duo is ready to make noise in one of the most exciting independent drag races of the year. Known for precision and proven performance, Megan and Gary both have their sights set on a strong comeback — and a big payday.

“I’ve been looking forward to this weekend for months,” said Meyer. “It’s been almost a year since I’ve been behind the wheel of my GUNK dragster, and almost two years since I’ve raced competitively, but this one is different. There’s money on the line, serious talent in the field that I used to race against in the NHRA, and a real chance to remind people what I’m capable of.”

The Cecil County Shootout brings together the best in Top Alcohol Dragster racing for a heads-up, high-stakes format — no NHRA points, just bragging rights, $15,000 to win, and all the pressure and prestige of a winner-take-all showdown.

Meyer will compete in her family-owned Randy Meyer Racing A/Fuel Dragster, backed by GUNK engine cleaners and degreasers — the same car currently leading national points with Matt Cummings behind the wheel and known for consistent 5.1-second runs. Pritchett, a veteran crew member with over a decade of professional experience, returns to the Randy Meyer camp after an impressive rookie season as a driver and is ready to light up the scoreboards once again.

 “This race gives us a chance to just go all out and have fun doing what we love,” said Pritchett.

Fans can follow behind-the-scenes action, live updates, and exclusive race content through Megan Meyer Racing’s official social media channels and inside the TEAM RMR private fan group.

Top Alcohol Dragster qualifying kicks off on Friday, and eliminations begin Saturday, May 11 at Cecil County Dragway.

Blair Previews OH-PA Swing, Lays Out Roadmap to Success in World of Outlaws Return Season

CONCORD, NC (May 8, 2025) – A weekend in the northeast is next up on the itinerary for the World of Outlaws Real American Beer Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision, and no member of this year’s roster knows their way around the tracks in the area quite like Max Blair.

The Centerville, PA native finds himself 13 races into his second season as a full-time Outlaw, three years removed from his 2022 rookie campaign that saw him earn two wins and a third-place finish in the standings. Blair’s comeback to the World of Outlaws trail got off to a similarly hot start with four top 10s in five starts at Volusia Speedway Park between DIRTcar Sunshine Nationals and Federated Auto Parts DIRTcar Nationals.

His pace slowed down once the tour left Florida though, as a ninth-place run at Farmer City Raceway is his lone top 10 in the eight races since Volusia. That trend would leave many teams searching for answers, but the Centerline Motorsports squad knows exactly where they’ve been lacking and what needs to improve.

“We suck. We ran really good in Florida, but man, we’ve been terrible since,” Blair said. “Got to qualify better. You can’t start in the back half of the field every night and think you’re going to run well against these guys.”

Luckily for Blair, the next four nights of the schedule take place at tracks he’s become very familiar with throughout his two-decade Late Model career, which he believes could go a long way in putting the No. 111 at the top of the board right out of the box.

First up is the Great Lake Showdown at Raceway 7 on Thursday, May 15, where Blair won three-straight FASTRAK Late Model track championships from 2010 to 2012. Track position is typically at a premium around the fast 7/16-mile oval, making it even more crucial that Blair makes gains in his single-lap speed.

“Same deal, you better qualify well,” Blair said. “Nowadays, I think that’s just the biggest part almost no matter where you’re at. We’re trying, we’ll see if we can’t get better and hopefully put on a good show when we get back around the house there.”

Once the checkers fall on Thursday night, the Series will load up and make the 2.5-hour drive south to Marion Center Raceway for the Connor Bobik Memorial on Friday and Saturday, May 16-17. One of the region’s biggest Late Model races will reach new heights in 2025 as it becomes a two-day event for the first time, pays a record $30,000 to Saturday’s winner and is one of nine events making up the inaugural Coltman Farms Racing Cup.

As a two-time United Late Model Series winner at Marion Center, Blair knows how to find speed around the 1/4-mile. Some misfortune in his first two World of Outlaws starts at the track prevented him from putting that on full display on the national stage, but he’s optimistic that the third time will be the charm.

“Need some stuff to fall our way,” Blair said. “One year we were pretty good, good enough to run well inside the top five when we ended up getting wrecked and going to the back. We came back and I think we ran ninth that time, so we’ll just see what happens.”

The OH-PA swing wraps up with the first Sunday night showdown of the season, the Billy Winn Classic at Bedford Speedway on May 18. As one of the largest tracks in Late Model racing, the 5/8-mile requires a unique skill set – one that Blair plans on putting to good use as he chases his first World of Outlaws win in three years.

“That place is definitely different,” Blair said. “It’s kind of uphill one way, downhill the other and each corner is different. We have raced there a decent amount over the last few years, so I’m hoping experience will play in my favor.”

The World of Outlaws Real American Beer Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision season resumes next weekend at Raceway 7 (May 15), Marion Center Raceway (May 16-17) and Bedford Speedway (May 18). Tickets will be available at the gate on all four nights.

If you can’t make it to the track, stream every lap live on DIRTVision.

OUTLAWS STRIKE FIRST: Kofoid Bests Posse to Claim Lincoln’s Gettysburg Clash

The driver of the Roth Motorsports machine held off a charging Chase Dietz in the closing laps

ABBOTTSTOWN, PA (May 7, 2025) – The first World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series battle with the Pennsylvania Posse of 2025 lived up to the hype.

Lincoln Speedway’s Gettysburg Clash delivered all you could ask for. One of the current stars of the World of Outlaws tour leading the way. A hungry Posse member chasing his first Series win. Traffic tightening the gap up front late. The fans going crazy.

This was the story on Wednesday as The Greatest Show on Dirt made its first stop of the year in the “Keystone State.” Penngrove, CA’s Michael “Buddy” Kofoid started on the pole of the 35-lap finale in the Roth Motorsports No. 83 and drove away to an early advantage, but York, PA’s Chase Dietz was ready to give him a challenge.

Dietz started sixth and wasted no time beginning his charge. He was third by Lap 3. One rotation later around the Fabulous Lincoln Speedway he took over the runner-up spot. The local managed to briefly swipe the lead from Kofoid on a restart, sending the crowd into a frenzy. But Kofoid wasn’t shaken by the moment as he took it right back and drove away.

Kofoid looked to be on his way to a cozy victory with a one-second advantage with three laps to go, but some late struggles with traffic brought Dietz closer and closer. When the white flag waved, the Stehman Motorsports No. 23D was within striking distance. Dietz threw it in hard in the final set of corners but just didn’t have enough to get by. Kofoid held on. World of Outlaws: 1. Posse: 0.

“It was difficult,” Kofoid said of navigating traffic late. “Not so much in (Turns) 3 and 4 just because the cushion was easier to run, and there was more distance from me to the fence. (Turns) 1 and 2 always seems to get really slick where you kind of feel like, even when you get set in, you have a tendency to slide to the cushion if you’re down there. I felt really good on the top, and there were times where even if I didn’t feel great, I still feel like I could make good speed and wasn’t losing as far as the lappers on the bottom. When it gets that slick into (Turn) 1, I feel like it’s good to cut across here. Then at the end I kind of got back higher, and that kind of felt just as good again. I’m kind of out of breath.”

Kofoid is up to three World of Outlaws wins in 2025 with Dennis and Teresa Roth’s crew, which puts him in a tie for the second most. His 13th career victory equals him with Brooke Tatnell and Terry McCarl for 39th all-time. He joins Brad Sweet and Rico Abreu as only the third Californian to top a World of Outlaws race at the Abbottstown, PA oval.

“I was glad we were able to just start clicking laps off,” Kofoid said. “A car this good that’s Dylan, Nate, and John. I’m just lucky I get to drive it. I feel like I could move around good. This is a place where you’ve got to watch the track and see what it’s going to do.”

Dietz’s runner-up marked a career best finish with the World of Outlaws. He’s finished second or better in four of his five races at Lincoln this year including local shows. Dietz undoubtedly wanted to be the one standing in Victory Lane, but he kept his head high after making the Posse fans proud. He and his team have shown they can contend with the best. He knows their time will come.

“Right at the end I got right to him, and the lane just didn’t clear enough for me there to get to at least attempt a slider there,” Dietz said. “I’m just extremely proud of these guys… I’m really tired of finishing second. I can tell you that. We’re pushing like hell. They’re going to come. We’re learning. We’re getting some of these experiences and putting ourselves in these positions. It’s helping me as a driver. We’re going to pull them off.”

Anthony Macri completed the top three to give the Posse possession of two thirds of the podium. The Dillsburg, PA driver snuck by David Gravel on the final circuit to complete a strong night with The Greatest Show on Dirt.

“I just kind of pulled my wing back with about three laps to go and committed myself to running the bottom,” Macri said. “The more I got my wing back the more I could pick my pace up and the harder I could run. Fortunately for me, he got bottled up with those lapped cars, and I got a good run coming off (Turn) 2 and just drove it in there as hard as I could and hoped he didn’t cross me over and have a good run down the straightaway. It panned out for us.”

David Gravel and Sheldon Haudenschild completed the top five.

A 20th to ninth effort gave Logan Schuchart his Series leading fourth KSE Racing Hard Charger of 2025.

Chase Dietz claimed his third career Simpson Quick Time in Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying.

Heat Races went to Chase Dietz (NOS Energy Drink Heat One), Danny Dietrich (Real American Beer Heat Two), Skylar Gee (WIX Filters Heat Three), and Giovanni Scelzi (TheGreatestStoreonDirt.com Heat Four).

The SPA Technique #1 Redraw went to Michael Kofoid.

Kofoid also topped the Toyota Dash.

Matt Campbell won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

The Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race went to Conner Morrell.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars head to the historic Williams Grove Speedway on May 9-10 for the HVAC Distributors Morgan Cup with $20,000 going to Saturday’s winner. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

If you can’t make it to Williams Grove on Friday, NOS Energy Drink and the World of Outlaws are joining forces to power the World’s Largest Sprint Car Watch Party on Friday, May 9, from historic Williams Grove Speedway. Fans can watch with viewers around the world at watchworldofoutlaws.com or on the RACER Network platforms, DIRTVision, and World of Outlaws social media channels for FREE at 7 p.m. (ET) in what will be the largest number of viewers to watch a Sprint Car race.

For the remaining 2025 schedule, CLICK HERE.

Every World of Outlaws lap all season long is broadcast live on DIRTVision.

FEATURE RESULTS:

NOS Energy Drink Feature (35 Laps): 1. 83-Michael Kofoid[1]; 2. 23D-Chase Dietz[6]; 3. 39M-Anthony Macri[7]; 4. 2-David Gravel[2]; 5. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[12]; 6. 41-Carson Macedo[11]; 7. 99-Skylar Gee[3]; 8. 18-Giovanni Scelzi[8]; 9. 1S-Logan Schuchart[20]; 10. 48-Danny Dietrich[4]; 11. 55-Hunter Schuerenberg[10]; 12. 15-Donny Schatz[14]; 13. 17B-Bill Balog[18]; 14. X-Matt Campbell[21]; 15. 23-Garet Williamson[25]; 16. 27-Troy Wagaman Jr[26]; 17. 99M-Kyle Moody[9]; 18. 2C-Cole Macedo[15]; 19. 6-Zach Hampton[17]; 20. 7S-Chris Windom[24]; 21. 4-Zane DeVault[22]; 22. 95-Kody Hartlaub[19]; 23. 71-Parker Price Miller[13]; 24. 69K-Ryan Smith[16]; 25. 5W-Lucas Wolfe[5]; 26. 28M-Conner Morrell[23]; 27. 51-Freddie Rahmer[27]

Chevy Racing–INDYCAR–InDIANAPOLIS Grand Prix Advance

CHEVROLET IN NTT INDYCAR SERIES SONSIO GRAND PRIX ROAD COURSE AT INDIANAPOLIS MOTOR SPEEDWAY INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA TEAM CHEVY RACE ADVANCE MAY 9-10, 2025 DETROIT (May 7, 2025 – Chevrolet teams and drivers are prepped and ready for the Sonsio Grand Prix on the Road Course at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. 
Being back home again in Indianapolis, Indiana the stage is set for the next NTT INDYCAR SERIES event that marks the start of a busy “Month of May,” for the Series, teams and competitors. 
Before the main event, the 109th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on Memorial Day weekend, Team Chevy, along with their teams and drivers, will take on a different challenge at the Brickyard, the 2.439-mile, 14-turn infield road course. 
“Heading to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Sonsio Indy Grand Prix on the road course is the perfect segue to our ‘Month of May,” said Mark Stielow, Director Motorsport Competition Engineering. “Momentum from a win in the GP has played out more than once for a Team Chevy driver – Will Power in 2018 and Simon Pagenaud in 2019 – after winning the GP, both ended up with their faces etched on the Borg-Warner Trophy. Being at the Brickyard allows the Chevrolet INDYCAR engineering group and our Ilmor technical partners to acclimate to the historical surroundings. A win on the road course would create the momentum needed to win the Indianapolis 500 on Memorial Day weekend.”
Team Chevy drivers have found victory lane in nine of the 16 races on the road course, including a NTT INDYCAR SERIES best five wins by Team Penske’s Will Power. The Aussie also leads all drivers with pole wins, starting from inside the front row on the famous 5/8ths mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway front straight six times. 
One of the newest members of Team Chevy, Arrow McLaren’s Christian Lundgaard, who has a string of three straight podium finishes, has past success on the track he made his NTT INDYCAR SERIES debut at in 2021. The Dane has the highest average starting (3.8) and finishing (5.7) of drivers who have made at least three starts on the infield road course. 
Lundgaard’s veteran Arrow McLaren teammate, Pato O’Ward, will want to convert his outstanding qualifying efforts into podium results after starting in the top five in his last six races at this track. The NTT INDYCAR SERIES will change the tire usage requirement for this weekend’s Sonsio Grand Prix to promote all-out, driving-on-the-limit racing. The sanctioning body will require each entry to utilize two sets of new or used alternate (red) compound tires and new or used primary (black) compound tires from Firestone. The previous requirement mandated that each driver use one new set of red and black tires during the race. Tune-In AlertFriday, May 9, 2025·      NTT INDYCAR SERIES Practice #1 – 9:30am (ET)/8:30am (CT)/7:30am (MT)/6:30am (PT) – FS2/INDYCAR Radio Network/SIRIUSXM 218 ·      NTT INDYCAR SERIES Practice #2 – 1pm (ET)/noon (CT)/11am (MT)/10am (PT) – FS2/INDYCAR Radio Network/SIRIUSXM 218·      NTT INDYCAR SERIES Qualifying – 4:30pm (ET)/3:30pm (CT)/2:30pm (MT)/1:30pm (PT) – FS1/INDYCAR Radio Network/SIRIUSXM 218Saturday, May 10, 2025·      NTT INDYCAR SERIES Warm Up – 11:30am (ET)/10:30am (CT)/9:30am (MT)/8:30am (PT) – FS1/INDYCAR Radio Network/SIRIUSXM 218·      Sonsio Grand Prix (85 laps) – 4:30pm (ET)/3:30pm (CT)/2:30pm (MT)/1:30pm (PT) – FOX/INDYCAR Radio Network/SIRIUSXM 218 Team Chevy by the numbers since 2012·      7 – NTT INDYCAR SERIES driver championships·      9 – NTT INDYCAR SERIES manufacturer championships·      9 – wins on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course·      11 – earned poles on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course·      20 – podiums on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course·      122 – NTT INDYCAR SERIES wins ·      137 – earned NTT INDYCAR SERIES poles·      219 NTT INDYCAR SERIES races ·      342 NTT INDYCAR SERIES podiums Team Chevy wins on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road courseChevrolet IndyCar V6 powered entries have won nine of the 16 races on the 2.439-mile, 14-turn road course·      2021 (August) – Will Power – Team Penske·      2021 (May) – Rinus VeeKay – Ed Carpenter Racing·      2020 (October) – Will Power – Team Penske·      2020 (October) – Josef Newgarden – Team Penske·      2019 – Simon Pagenaud – Team Penske·      2018 – Will Power – Team Penske·      2017 – Will Power – Team Penske·      2016 – Simon Pagenaud – Team Penske·      2015 – Will Power – Team Penske Team Chevy poles on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road courseDrivers powered by Team Chevy have won 11 of the 16 poles on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course ·      2022 (July) – Felix Rosenqvist – Arrow McLaren·      2022 (May) – Will Power – Team Penske·      2021 (August) – Pato O’Ward – Arrow McLaren·      2020 (October) – Will Power – Team Penske·      2020 (October) – Rinus VeeKay – Ed Carpenter Racing·      2020 (July) – Will Power – Team Penske·      2018 – Will Power – Team Penske·      2017 – Will Power – Team Penske·      2016 – Simon Pagenaud – Team Penske·      2015 – Will Power – Team Penske·      2014 – Sebastian Saavedra – KV Racing Technology Podiums by Team Chevy drivers and teams at Barber Motorsports Park since 2012: 20Drivers: Will Power (8), Simon Pagenaud (3), Helio Castroneves (2), Pato O’Ward (2), Rinus VeeKay (2), Juan Montoya (1), Josef Newgarden (1), Alexander Rossi (1)Teams: Team Penske (15), Arrow McLaren (3), Ed Carpenter (2) WHAT THEY’RE SAYING (QUOTES): A.J. FOYT RACING David Malukas, No. 4 A.J. Foyt Racing Chevrolet: “Feels good to finally be back in the Month of May! We’ve had some unlucky moments to start this season, however we’ve made great progress with our car and know we have the pace to be running up at the front. We’ve already had a test at the Indy GP a few weeks back so we have a good baseline to work with. Hopefully we can get some luck on our side and show the pace that this car has at the Indy GP!”Santino Ferrucci, No. 14 A.J. Foyt Racing/Sexton Properties Chevrolet:“We did the test there. The car feels pretty good. It’s hard to say what’s gonna happen. It’s always a very unique weekend in that respect, but I feel confident. I think Mike (Armbrester, his race engineer) and I are making a lot of really good strides in figuring out what I need in the car setup. It’s always nice to kick off the 500 with the GP and hopefully we’ll get a good result there.” ARROW MCLAREN Pato O’Ward, No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet: “Last weekend was a decent result for us, and it’s definitely something we want to keep building on. The Indy GP always feels like the real start of the Month of May, and there’s just an energy around Indianapolis that’s hard to beat. We’re locked in and ready to make the most of it.”Nolan Siegel, No. 6 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet: “Barber was definitely our strongest weekend of the year so far, and it feels like we’re starting to hit our stride as a team. The momentum we’re carrying into Indy GP is a big confidence boost, and I’m looking forward to building on that progress. Every session is another opportunity to grow and keep pushing toward where we want to be.”Christian Lundgaard, No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet: “I always enjoy racing at the Indianapolis road course — it’s a track that suits my style, and I’ve had strong performances here in the past. We’re carrying good momentum into this weekend from Barber and I’m confident we can be in the fight for the podium and hopefully, a win. It’s the biggest month of the year, and we’re aiming to keep building toward even bigger results.” ED CARPENTER RACING Alexander Rossi, No. 20 ECR Java House Chevrolet: “The crazy part of the season is upon us, but so is the Month of May! Both ECR and I have had strong performances at the IMS road course so we have very high expectations of our potential. We need to keep working to execute a complete race weekend and no better place to do that than at home.”Christian Rasmussen, No. 21 ECR Splenda Chevrolet: “I’m looking forward to officially kicking off the Month of May with the Sonsio Grand Prix this weekend! Everything is moving in the right direction and we’re getting stronger as the season progresses. I’m excited to head to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway this weekend and 
 

TEAM CHEVY ADVANCE Kansas Speedway

May 10-11, 2025

NASCAR will head to the heartland for the first time this season with the Cup and Craftsman Truck Series pairing up for a doubleheader event at Kansas Speedway.
MEDIA RESOURCES: Photo Gallery | Race AdvancesChevrolet Newsroom
The Bowtie brigade is coming off of a strong showing in part one of back-to-back intermediate oval events, with Trackhouse Racing’s Ross Chastain and McAnally-Hilgemann Racing’s Daniel Hemric leading the manufacturer to runner-up finishes in their respective divisions at Texas Motor Speedway. Chevrolet will carry that momentum to the Midwest with the Truck Series kicking off the weekend under the lights with Saturday’s Heart of Health Care 200. On Sunday, the Chevrolet camp will be targeting a Kansas three-peat in NASCAR’s top division in the AdventHealth 400.  Subbing in for the injured Connor Zilisch, Cup Series regular, Kyle Larson, drove the No. 88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet to the manufacturer’s fourth-straight Xfinity Series victory of the season at Texas Motor Speedway. Already entering a double-digit win count with 10 victories in 12 races this season, the division will remain idle for two weekends before rejoining the tour at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Saturday, May 24, with the BetMGM 300. 
Team Chevy Targeting a Three-Peat
Chevrolet is a 15-time winner in NASCAR’s top division at Kansas Speedway – a record that leads its manufacturer competitors. Hendrick Motorsports accounts for nine of those victories, making the four-car stable the series’ winningest organization at the 1.5-mile venue. Among those triumphs include back-to-back triumphs by Career Chevrolet driver, Jeff Gordon, in the series’ first-two appearances at the track. Kyle Larson is the most recent driver to tally a triumph under the Hendrick Motorsports banner at the track, which came one year ago when the 32-year-old California native edged out Ford’s Chris Buescher by a mere 0.001 seconds for the victory in what became the closest finish in NASCAR history. Trackhouse Racing’s Ross Chastain went on to deliver Chevrolet a season sweep at Kansas Speedway by driving his No. 1 Chevrolet to a playoff upset win in Sept.  
LEADING IN AVERAGESConsistency continues to be key in the race for the regular season title. With 11 points-paying races complete, five drivers from three different Chevrolet organizations have earned positions in the top-10 rankings for the best average finish thus far. Topping the list includes a trio of Hendrick Motorsports drivers, with William Byron and the No. 24 Chevrolet team earning the only single-digit average finish of 8.91. Following his series-leading seventh top-five finish of the season at Texas Motor Speedway, Kyle Larson sits second with an average finish of 10.64, with Chase Elliott rounding out the top three at 11.36. Trackhouse Racing’s Ross Chastain garnered his season-best finish of second in the Lone Star State to boost his average finish to 13.55 (seventh-best), with Hyak Motorsports’ Ricky Stenhouse Jr. entering the top-10 following a sixth-place finish at Texas to bring the team’s average to 17.18. 
LARSON CONTINUES TO BE A FORCE ON INTERMEDIATES Intermediate ovals continue to be a strong suit for Kyle Larson and the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet team. In three of four races contested at non-drafting intermediate ovals, Larson has garnered finishes no worse that ninth, including his first trip to victory lane of the season at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Those results came with a strong overall points day for the team, earning top-five points in each stage of those events, including two of his series-best six stage wins (Las Vegas and Texas). The 32-year-old California native has also led laps in each of those three events, including a race-high 61 laps led at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and 90 laps led at Texas Motor Speedway. 
DILLON EXTENDS TOP-10 STREAKRichard Childress Racing’s Austin Dillon is hitting a steady stride towards the NASCAR Cup Series’ playoff cutline, with the No. 3 Chevrolet team bringing home their season-best finish of seventh at Texas Motor Speedway. The result marks the 35-year-old North Carolina native’s third-straight top-10 finish. The streak comes from results at three distinctly different race track configurations, with the Chevrolet driver’s Texas result being accompanied by a 10th-place finish at both Bristol Motor Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway. Over the trio of strong outings, Dillon has made the jump from 27th to 21st in the points standings and now just 28-points below the playoff cutline. Kansas Speedway is yet another good opportunity for Dillon to continue to chip away at the points standings, with the Chevrolet driver earning top-15 finishes in 12 of his 23 career starts at the track, including a streak of five-straight recorded between Oct. 2020 – May 2023. 
HEMRIC HITTING STEADY GAINSFalling just short of his second trip to victory lane, Daniel Hemric and the No. 19 Chevrolet team led the Bowtie brigade with a runner-up result at Texas Motor Speedway. The 34-year-old North Carolina native has already seen steady gains at his new home of McAnally-Hilgemann Racing – recording top-fives in half of his starts with the Chevrolet organization this season. Among those results include podium finishes in three of the past four races, dating back to his win at Martinsville Speedway in March. A pair of fourth-place stage points and a second-place finish in the Lone Star State was enough to move Hemric up one position to third in the series’ points standings to lead the Chevrolet camp heading into the Kansas race weekend. 
Chevrolet’s season statistics with 11 NASCAR Cup Series races complete:
Wins: 3Poles: 6Laps Led: 1,386Top-Fives: 22Top-10s: 53Stage Wins: 9
Chevrolet’s season statistics with 12 NASCAR Xfinity Series races complete:
Wins: 10Poles: 8Laps Led: 1,763Top-Fives: 40Top-10s: 76Stage Wins: 19
Chevrolet’s season statistics with 8 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races complete:
Wins: 4Poles: 2Laps Led: 504Top-Fives: 20Top-10s: 37Stage Wins: 5
BOWTIE BULLETS:·       Active Chevrolet drivers with a NASCAR Cup Series win at Kansas Speedway: Kyle Larson – two wins (2024, 2021)Kyle Busch – two wins (2021, 2016)Ross Chastain – one win (2024)Chase Elliott – one win (2018)

·       Chevrolet has garnered 30 all-time wins in the NASCAR national ranks at Kansas Speedway, including 15 NASCAR Cup Series wins (series-best), five Xfinity Series wins and 10 Craftsman Truck Series wins. The manufacturer heads back to the heartland as the track’s defending winners in NASCAR’s top division, courtesy of a 2024 season sweep by Hendrick Motorsports’ Kyle Larson (May) and Trackhouse Racing’s Ross Chastain (Sept.). 

·       For the past three-consecutive races, Chevrolet has earned no worse than five top-10 finishes, with four different Chevrolet organizations contributing to those results in each event. The Bowtie brand has now earned at least half of the top-10 finishing results in seven of the 11 races thus far this season, including a season-high seven top-10 finishes at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway. 

·       In 119 points-paying races in the Next Gen era, Chevrolet leads all manufacturers with 55 victories – a winning percentage of 46.2%. 

·       With its 43 NASCAR Cup Series Manufacturer Championships, 33 NASCAR Cup Series Driver Championships, and 869 all-time NASCAR Cup Series wins, Chevrolet continues to hold the title as the winningest brand in NASCAR Cup Series history. 
TUNE-IN:NASCAR Cup Series AdventHealth 400Sunday, May 11, at 3 p.m. ET(FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90)  NASCAR Craftsman Truck SeriesHeart of America 200Friday, May 9, 7:30 p.m. ET(FS1, NASCAR Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90)
QUOTABLE QUOTES:Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing ChevroletHow does it feel to go back to Kansas after a win there last year?“Last year’s win at Kansas was so much fun. Riding up against the wall makes it a fun track to race at. Getting to victory lane is always a huge deal but it was a ton of fun at Kansas. It’s fun to spend time with the crew and our sponsors and enjoy a couple Busch Lights in victory lane.” What is a lap around Kansas Speedway like?“Kansas is a really smooth racetrack. There’s really only a bump at the top of turn 1 and that’s where you have to commit to. In qualifying and when you have clean air, you can run right against the wall, above the top seam, there’s two seams on the racetrack and three lanes I’ll call it, there’s enough room for four cars. But when you run the very top lane in the Cup cars, the rear will bottom out and that’s where you’ll see guys get loose and get into the wall in turns 1 and 2. Sometimes off of turn 2 if there’s a crosswind, there could be wind that pushes you into the wall. A very smooth track but a lot of details that go into running good there.”   Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing ChevroletHow unique is Kansas Speedway compared to some of the other 1.5-mile tracks, and how will you attack the track this weekend?“Kansas Speedway has its own personality for sure. Even though it’s a mile-and-a-half like some other tracks, the surface has aged a bit, so you get a lot of tire fall-off and have to manage your run. It’s wide, which gives you options—up by the wall or down on the bottom—so you can move around depending on how your car’s handling. This weekend, we’ll focus on getting the balance right early in the run and try to keep the speed over the long haul. If we can do that, I think we’ll be in good shape.” You ran well in the fall race last year at Kansas Speedway.?“Yeah, we had a solid run at Kansas Speedway in the fall last year. That race gave us a lot of confidence, just being able to run up front and have good speed throughout the day. We learned a lot about our setup and how the track changes over a long run, which will definitely help us come back stronger this weekend.” You have three top-10 finishes in a row. How much confidence does that give you entering this weekend?“Having three top-10s in a row definitely gives our whole team a boost. We’ve been clicking lately, the pit crew has been fast, the strategy has played in our favor, and our Chevrolets have had speed. It’s all coming together. That kind of momentum is huge in this sport, especially heading into a place like Kansas Speedway, where you need confidence to run the high line and make aggressive moves. We just want to keep that rhythm going and see if we can take another step forward this weekend.”   Justin Haley, No. 7 Spire Motorsports ChevroletYou have to feel good about a top-15 last weekend and Spire Motorsports’ overall performance at Texas Motor Speedway. How does that buoy your optimism coming into this weekend? “When you look at the speed Spire Motorsports has at the mile-and-a-halves and if you look at how the team performed as a whole last weekend at Texas Motor Speedway, there’s no reason not to be optimistic about Kansas.”   AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet“Obviously we had a tough weekend in Texas, so we need to reset and get some momentum back. On the positive side, we’ve shown our mile-and-a-half program is really strong. Our plan is to go to Kansas, have speed, and execute like we have been to put together a solid run.”   Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Hyak Motorsports ChevroletWhat do you think of Fun Pops being a new sponsor this weekend at Kansas?“I ate these as a kid, especially in the summer. It’s always good to welcome new partners to the sport. We plan to give them a good ride in Kansas.”   Michael McDowell, No. 71 Spire Motorsports ChevroletWhat are your thoughts about heading to Kansas Speedway this weekend? “Kansas is a great track and it has a lot of lanes. Everybody migrates towards the wall, which is always high intensity. The track changes a lot throughout the weekend, it usually starts out really fast and then by the time the race comes around, it drops off and you start to slide and move around. It’s been a good track in the past. It’s hard to hit it just right, but I feel like the speed that we’ve had at Vegas and Texas this past weekend gives us a good baseline to keep building momentum and confidence, so we are coming into it with high hopes.”   Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports ChevroletWhat are your expectations for Kansas after a solid weekend at Texas?“I think we’ll have another good weekend. We seem to be heading in the right direction on our intermediate track program and it’s been a lot of fun to show people that we are improving. I felt like running the truck race at Texas was a big help as far as getting laps on track and getting into the racing mindset early in the weekend, so I’m excited to do that again at Kansas and try to make up for how last weekend ended.”   Shane van Gisbergen, No. 88 Trackhouse Racing ChevroletWhat are your thoughts on Kansas Speedway?“Kansas was one of my favorite tracks last year and we ran pretty decent in the Xfinity race. I really enjoyed how you can run all over the track and try to find grip and speed. Looking forward to getting there. It’s a pretty fast track, so should be a bit of fun!” How are you celebrating your birthday?“Behind the wheel of a race car, which is what I love to do the most. Kansas City is home to a SafetyCulture office and we’re going to visit the team on Friday. It’s awesome to be carrying SafetyCulture on the car again this weekend. Our No. 88 Chevrolet looks great and is easy to spot on the track. We’re hoping to build off our finish last weekend (in Texas) and get a good result in Kansas.”   Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Trackhouse Racing ChevroletWhat are your thoughts on the season so far?“We all have high standards and high goals and we know we have a lot of work to do. We haven’t started the season as consistently and as fast as we wanted to as a company, but we almost won Las Vegas, and we had good finishes last weekend in Texas. It’s tough because we have had some spikes of speed but more spikes of no speed. That’s something that we have to work on. We change a lot of things in the offseason, processes, and structure of the team. I don’t feel we are seeing the results of that just yet. I think it will come, but we aren’t there just yet. We just have to continue to work and hopefully that will show on the track.” Should we watch NASCAR Full Speed Season 2 that premiers Wednesday on Netflix?“I think so. You will see most of what myself and the other drivers went through on and off the track during the playoffs last year. It is the most behind-the-scenes you will ever get, both the good and the bad. It’s a real-life look and our lives.” Suarez on racing on Mother’s Day: ”I won’t get to see my mom this weekend, but we talk a lot on the phone, and of course, I will wish her Happy Mother’s Day. She’s super excited, and watching the races every single weekend in front of the TV, in front of the iPad, listening to me, she can understand half of what I’m saying, but she’s listening, and it’s kind of fun how much support she has given me. She will be with my two sisters, and they will have a good time. She and my father made many sacrifices to help me get to America and start my racing career. If it wasn’t for her, there is no way I would be where I am today. I’d love to win the race and tell her that in the television interview from victory lane.”
Chevrolet NASCAR Cup Series Statistics Manufacturers Championships:Total (1949-2024): 43First title for Chevrolet: 1958Highest number of consecutive titles: 13 (2003-15)Most recent: 2024 Years Won: 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 Drivers Championships:Total (1949-2024): 33First Chevrolet champion: Buck Baker (1957)Highest number of consecutive titles: 7 (2005-11)Most recent: Kyle Larson (2021) Years Won: 1957, 1960, 1961, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2020, 2021 Event Victories:Record for total race wins in single season: 26 (2007)                2025 STATISTICS:                                                                                                    Wins: 3Poles: 6Laps Led: 1,386Top-Fives: 22Top-10s: 53Stage Wins: 9 CHEVROLET IN NASCAR CUMULATIVE STATISTICS:Total Chevrolet race wins: 869 (1949 to date)Poles won to date: 759Laps led to date: 254,097Top-fives to date: 4,391Top-10s to date: 9,060                                                                                                          Total NASCAR Cup Wins by Corporation, 1949 to Date:                    General Motors: 1,203           Chevrolet: 869           Pontiac: 154           Oldsmobile: 115           Buick: 65            Ford: 843                                                                                        Ford: 743           Mercury: 96           Lincoln: 4            Fiat Chrysler Automobiles: 467           Dodge: 217           Plymouth: 191           Chrysler: 59            Toyota: 194

Cannon McIntosh Resets For Triple-Header in Oklahoma, Kansas

The reigning champion credits working with Toyota Gazoo Racing over the season as key to his early success

SAPULPA, OK (May 7, 2025) – Reigning Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota champion Cannon McIntosh returns to familiar ground for a chance to climb back into title contention during the Series’ triple-header weekend, May 8-10. 

The Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports driver currently sits 16th in points after the World of Outlaws Illini 100 season-opener, where issues forced a 15th-place finish on the first night and a 21st-place finish on the final night. But past stats should bring hope for the next three races. 

First, the Series will return to the Bixby, OK driver’s home state with a debut at Creek County Speedway in Sapulpa, OK on Thursday, May 8. Then, it’ll return to Kansas’ Humboldt Speedway on Friday, May 9 – where he finished third last year – and 81 Speedway on Saturday, May 10 – where he scored a win last year. 

While the Series will debut at Creek County, McIntosh will be one of few drivers entering with a notebook. He has 22 Feature starts there and has amassed one win, 13 top-five finishes and 18 top 10s. 

Despite the home track feelings, he’ll experience at the Sapulpa, OK track, McIntosh admitted he’s still trying to master the 1/4-mile bullring. 

“I don’t know, I really feel like I’ve always struggled there,” McIntosh said. “It’s a bit different. Turns 1 and 2 is a lot different shape than Turns 3 and 4, so it’s hard to get a hold of and there’s not a lot of grip.  

“We were finally able to get my first win there in a Midget, so it definitely gives us confidence going back there now. But it’s a tricky place to understand, so I think if you can figure it out, you’ll have a really good advantage.” 

The 2025 season brought new changes with Beau Binder replacing team owner Keith Kunz as crew chief for the No. 71K squad. Their first race paired together ended with a win at the Turnpike Challenge at Creek County Speedway in March, and two podiums in the following events at Port City Raceway. 

He also opened the season with a top-five result in a Stock Non-Wing Micro at the Tulsa Shootout and a Feature win at Port City Raceway in a Winged Outlaw Micro. 

McIntosh credited the resources at his disposal at Toyota Racing Development in North Carolina, which have helped him maintain a consistent training schedule during the offseason and while he’s busy racing. 

“I’ve been trying to stay active during both the off season and while we’re racing,” McIntosh said. “I take training pretty seriously at the Toyota facility. So, I do that about every day during the week, playing pickup basketball, keeping my body moving and fit, so it really helps me with staying focused and staying sharp.” 

Despite sitting 16th in the Series standings and 132 points back from leader Karter Sarff, McIntosh said he and Binder are working together to find the spark they need to get their season back on track. 

“It’s been good (with Beau) so far,” McIntosh said. “Beau and I are working together and understand what both of us need from each other, and it’s tough just jumping right in and trying to win night in and night out with limited experience together. 

“We won our first race out, but we’ve struggled a little bit. Like (Farmer City), we definitely struggled just trying to get our feet under us. But I think once it clicks and we really figure it out, it’s gonna be a dangerous combo. I look forward to when that happens, and it would be nice to get the ball rolling.” 

McIntosh climbs back into his KKM Mobil 1 No. 71K for Xtreme Outlaw Midget competition at Creek County Speedway on May 8, Humboldt Speedway on May 9, and 81 Speedway on May 10. 

CREEK COUNTY TICKETS

HUMBOLDT TICKETS

81 TICKETS

If you can’t make it to the track, you can watch all the action live on DIRTVision – either online or by downloading the DIRTVision App.

UNITING THE RIVALS: World of Outlaws, PA Posse Come Together for Third Hershey Sprint Car Experience

Giovanni Scelzi and Chase Dietz reflect on the impact of Milton Hershey School and the unique opportunity the event provides

HERSHEY, PA (May 7, 2025) – This week isn’t only about the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series and Pennsylvania Posse battling it out for bragging rights. In fact, the two sides will unite in the name of community off the track.

The third Hershey Sprint Car Experience is set for Thursday, May 8 before the World of Outlaws head to Williams Grove Speedway for the weekend (May 9-10). It’s a day defined by giving Milton Hershey School (MHS) students and Pennsylvania race fans a unique experience and access to the best Sprint Car drivers in the country.

MHS was founded in 1909 and is a top-tier private school for qualifying students in pre-K through 12th grade, offering life-changing opportunities and experiences. This includes Thursday’s Sprint Car Experience that will begin with drivers joining students in class to partake in activities.

KCP Racing’s Giovanni Scelzi has been a part of the classroom experience in both 2023 and 2024. The time has opened Scelzi’s eyes to the power of MHS’ mission and the benefit to all involved with the Hershey Sprint Car Experience.

“I think first off what Milton Hershey School does for kids is unbelievable,” Scelzi said. “When I went there for the first time two years ago, I had no idea the backstory of anything that happened at that school. It was amazing to see what they do with kids not only while they’re in school but after school with offering them jobs and giving them real life skills because the biggest question we get when we go to schools or talk to kids is, ‘How do I become a race car driver?’ or ‘How do I work on race cars?’ or ‘How do I get into the sport?’ It’s really a million-dollar question, but it starts with deals like this.

“I think any time you can engage kids and kids that aren’t really much younger than me into what racing is and how cool it is and the travel and the lives we get to live, it really gets them motivated to either want to go watch races or one day be involved in it.”

It’s not only about the World of Outlaws competitors getting involved. The Hershey Sprint Car Experience brings many PA Posse drivers, too. This is their local community, and the teams and drivers understand the importance of elevating the experience for both the students and fans.

York, PA’s Chase Dietz is one of the Posse’s best, and he took part in the classroom activities last year that featured a visit to Milton Hershey School’s Auto Shop program. Like Scelzi, it was an eye-opening time for Dietz.

“Honestly, it provided me more information on Milton Hershey, the kids at Milton Hershey, and how that program works,” Dietz said. “It was very interesting to learn about that and also get a chance to meet some of the kids and see what they do while they’re there. The biggest thing for this entire event is to get the community involved. First off, it allows the kids at Milton Hershey to see what we do, but also it allows them to relate a little bit. There are some of those kids that are involved in some type of automotive industry and looking at that kind of stuff to do in the future. You can get them more interested and also get some that aren’t even maybe aware of that industry or racing and kind of take a look at what we do and what’s around right in their backyard. Along with that, it allows the community to come together and learn more about Milton Hershey.”

Drivers joining the classrooms will again be a part of the event this year. Then in the afternoon MHS students will first have the opportunity to visit and interact with the many teams that put their cars on display at Hersheypark Stadium. The event will open to the public for free at 5 p.m. and be open through 7 p.m. And like the past two years, the day is set to provide an impactful community event benefitting all involved.

“To get the younger generations involved in anything is massive,” Dietz said. “Those kids are going to be us in 10, 15, 20 years. They’re going to be the ones basically running society at that point, so we want to teach them what’s going on in their community and what’s there as far as opportunities go. All in all, the event is awesome from both ends. I’m definitely excited to be a part of it again this year.”

For more information on the Hershey Sprint Car Experience and to make your plans to attend, CLICK HERE.

Fans can then go see the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series race at the historic Williams Grove Speedway, Friday-Saturday, May 9-10. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

If you can’t make it to Williams Grove on Friday, NOS Energy Drink and the World of Outlaws are joining forces to power the World’s Largest Sprint Car Watch Party on Friday, May 9, from historic Williams Grove Speedway. Fans can watch with viewers around the world at watchworldofoutlaws.com or on the RACER Network platforms, DIRTVision, and World of Outlaws social media channels for FREE at 7 p.m. (ET) in what will be the largest number of viewers to watch a Sprint Car race.

Saturday’s $20,000-to-win Morgan Cup finale will be broadcast live on DIRTVision.

ARTICLE: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/uniting-the-rivals-world-of-outlaws-pa-posse-come-together-for-third-hershey-sprint-car-experience/

FAN 101: https://about.worldofoutlaws.com/