Alberson Wins Late Model Knoxville Nationals Opener

September 22, 2025 ARP Trish

KNOXVILLE, IA (September 18, 2025) – Garrett Alberson led all 19 laps of the rain-shortened Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series presented by FloRacing event on Thursday night at Knoxville Raceway. It was the opening night of a three-race weekend for the 21st Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals Presented by All Makes Collision Center. Tyler Erb finished in second, followed by Daulton Wilson, Ricky Thornton Jr., and Jonathan Davenport. In Lucas Oil Victory Lane for the fourth time in 2025 and for the first time ever at Knoxville, the Las Cruces, New Mexico native earned $10,000 for the win. “This is huge, especially for Ken and Beth. They have been coming here for so long, and this is an Iowa deal. It means a lot to get this red car into victory lane here in Knoxville. First off, I hope everybody involved in those wrecks is okay. It was a weird race; the restarts were really hard to judge. I didn’t feel like I could accelerate very well – my gearing felt a little bit off. It’s so tough to judge if you’re doing the right thing with your speed because you could be in the correct lane, but if you don’t do it just right, you lose so much speed. I was just trying to keep my speed up and hit the lanes.” Erb, who swept two preliminaries in 2021 at Knoxville, came from the 10th starting spot to finish second to Alberson. “By making a lot of laps here, you’re not going to pass them on the outside when the cushion is that low. I had a couple of restarts that worked out once I finally got past Joiner, and then I was kind of biding my time, not trying to hurt myself there, just had two or three restarts. The one I got by Perm and Sheppy was pretty good; we made 19 of 25, and Garrett did a good job. Everything played out well.” Wilson, in his first Lucas Oil race since Port Royal in August, rounded out the Big River Steel Podium in third. “Running third feels good. We definitely need to work on our race cars a bit, but with the setup we have for tonight’s race, we’ll take it. The biggest thing is trying to stay out of air on those restarts; my car wouldn’t take off on those starts at all, so I know I was holding up the whole field. Like I said, we made the most of it, and luckily, we ended up here.” The winner’s Roberts Motorsports, Longhorn Chassis is powered by a Clements Racing Engine and sponsored by Low Voltage Solutions, Inc., Mesilla Valley Transportation, Sunoco Race Fuels, Titan Racing Products, Nutrien Ag Solutions, Bill’s Sport Shop, Done Right TV, Dickie’s Doghouse, Cheap Cars, Fertilizer Equipment Specialists, Roemer Machine, Degano Powersports, Bilstein Shocks, and Mitchell Ranch. Completing the top ten drivers were Aaron Marrant, Joseph Joiner, Devin Moran, Donald McIntosh, and Dan Ebert. Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Race Summary 21st Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals Presented by All Makes Collision Center | Night 1Thursday, September 18, 2025Knoxville Raceway | Knoxville, IA Allstar Performance Time TrialsFast Time Group A: Brian Shirley | 16.689 seconds Fast Time Group B: Ricky Thornton, Jr. | 16.566 seconds (Overall – New Track Record) Penske Shocks Heat Race #1 Finish (12 Laps, Top 5 Transfer): 1. 22-Daniel Hilsabeck[1]; 2. 19M-Joseph Joiner[3]; 3. 32S-Chris Simpson[2]; 4. 19R-Ryan Gustin[5]; 5. 3S-Brian Shirley[6]; 6. 25-Chad Simpson[7]; 7. 99X-Dallon Murty[4]; 8. 38T-Dylan Thornton[9]; 9. 6H-Al Humphrey[10]; 10. (DNS) 99JR-Frank Heckenast Jr
Summit Racing Products Heat Race #2 Finish (12 Laps, Top 5 Transfer): 1. 79-Donald McIntosh[1]; 2. 99-Devin Moran[3]; 3. 1-Brandon Sheppard[4]; 4. 71-Hudson O’Neal[2]; 5. 16-Tyler Bruening[5]; 6. 15-Clay Stuckey[9]; 7. 93-Carson Ferguson[6]; 8. 51B-Brandon Carpenter[8]; 9. 10-Junior Coover[10]; 10. 99S-Jesse Sobbing[7]
Cool-It Thermo-Tec Heat Race #3 Finish (12 Laps, Top 5 Transfer): 1. 49-Jonathan Davenport[1]; 2. 32-Bobby Pierce[3]; 3. 01-Tyler Erb[4]; 4. 20RT-Ricky Thornton Jr[6]; 5. 18D-Daulton Wilson[5]; 6. 60-Dan Ebert[8]; 7. 93L-Cory Lawler[2]; 8. 45D-Dan Battaglia[10]; 9. 18C-Chase Junghans[7]; 10. (DNS) 51C-Dean Carpenter
Simpson Race Products Heat Race #4 Finish (12 Laps, Top 5 Transfer): 1. 6J-Jake Neal[1]; 2. 76N-Blair Nothdurft[2]; 3. 58-Garrett Alberson[5]; 4. 76-Brandon Overton[4]; 5. 1XM-Aaron Marrant[6]; 6. 6-Clay Harris[7]; 7. 51-Matt Furman[8]; 8. 21B-Rich Bell[9]; 9. 75-Daniel Adam[3]
Fast Shafts B-Main Race #1 Finish (8 Laps, Top 2 Transfer): 1. 25-Chad Simpson[1]; 2. 93-Carson Ferguson[4]; 3. 15-Clay Stuckey[2]; 4. 99S-Jesse Sobbing[9]; 5. 51B-Brandon Carpenter[6]; 6. 38T-Dylan Thornton[5]; 7. 10-Junior Coover[8]; 8. 6H-Al Humphrey[7]; 9. (DNS) 99X-Dallon Murty; 10. (DNS) 99JR-Frank Heckenast Jr
UNOH B-Main Race #2 Finish (6 Laps, Top 2 Transfer): 1. 60-Dan Ebert[1]; 2. 6-Clay Harris[2]; 3. 51-Matt Furman[4]; 4. 21B-Rich Bell[6]; 5. 93L-Cory Lawler[3]; 6. 45D-Dan Battaglia[5]; 7. (DNS) 18C-Chase Junghans; 8. (DNS) 75-Daniel Adam; 9. (DNS) 51C-Dean Carpenter 21st Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals Presented by All Makes Collision Center | Night 1 Feature Finish (19 Laps): Pos – Start – Car # – Competitor – Hometown – Pay1 – 2 – 58 – Garrett Alberson – Las Cruces, NM – $10,0002 – 10 – 1 – Tyler Erb – New Waverly, TX – $5,5003 – 4 – 18D – Daulton Wilson – Fayetteville, NC – $3,5004 – 8 – 20RT – Ricky Thornton Jr – Chandler, AZ – $2,7005 – 18 – 49 – Jonathan Davenport – Blairsville, GA – $2,5006 – 6 – 1XM – Aaron Marrant – Richmond, MO – $2,3007 – 9 – 19M – Joseph Joiner – Milton, FL – $2,2008 – 11 – 99 – Devin Moran – Dresden, OH – $2,1009 – 19 – 79 – Donald McIntosh – Dawsonville, GA – $2,05010 – 22 – 60 – Dan Ebert – Lake Shore, MN – $2,10011 – 12 – 76 – Brandon Overton – Evans, GA – $1,60012 – 13 – 32S – Chris Simpson – Oxford, IA – $1,40013 – 14 – 32 – Bobby Pierce – Oakwood, IL – $1,20014 – 17 – 22 – Daniel Hilsabeck – Earlham, IA – $1,00015 – 16 – 76N – Blair Nothdurft – Renner, SD – $95016 – 1 – 1 – Brandon Sheppard – New Berlin, IL – $92517 – 24 – 6 – Clay Harris – Jupiter, FL – $1,00018 – 23 – 93 – Carson Ferguson – Lincolnton, NC – $97519 – 5 – 19R – Ryan Gustin – Marshalltown, IA – $85020 – 15 – 71 – Hudson O’Neal – Martinsville, IN – $82521 – 21 – 25 – Chad Simpson – Mt. Vernon, IA – $90022 – 3 – 16 – Tyler Bruening – Decorah, IA – $80023 – 7 – 3S – Brian Shirley – Chatham, IL – $80024 – 20 – 6J – Jake Neal – Omaha, NE – $800 Race Statistics Entrants: 39Victory Fuel Pole Sitter: Brandon SheppardMD3 Lap Leaders: Garrett Alberson (Laps 1-19)Hellraizer Jacks Halfway Leader: Garrett AlbersonWieland Feature Winner: Garrett AlbersonMargin of Victory: 0.956 secondsColtman Farms Racing Cautions: Brian Shirley (Lap 8); Tyler Bruening (Lap 13); Chad Simpson (Lap 15); Hudson O’Neal (Lap 15 restart); Brandon Sheppard (Lap 16); Ryan Gustin (Lap 19); Carson Ferguson (Lap 19 restart)Series Provisionals: n/aFast Time Provisional: n/aEmergency Provisional: n/aTrack Provisional: n/aBig River Steel Podium Top 3: Garrett Alberson, Tyler Erb, Daulton Wilson Penske Shocks Top 5: Garrett Alberson, Tyler Erb, Daulton Wilson, Ricky Thornton, Jr., Jonathan DavenportPEM 4th Place Feature: Ricky Thornton, Jr.DMI Rearends 5th Place Feature: Jonathan DavenportWilwood Brakes Lucky 7th Place Feature: Joseph JoinerWehrs Machine 11th Place Feature: Brandon OvertonDeatherage Opticians Lucky 13th Place Feature: Bobby PierceMD3 24th Place Feature: Jake NealHoker Trucking Hard Charger of the Race: Jonathan Davenport (Advanced 13 positions) MD3 Most Laps Led: Garrett Alberson (19 Laps)Sunoco Race for Gas Highest Finisher: Garrett AlbersonMidwest Sheet Metal Spoiler Challenge Point Leader: Ricky Thornton, Jr.O’Reilly Auto Parts Rookie of the Race: n/aPro Fabrication Headers Fastest Lap of the Race: Garrett Alberson | Lap 1 | 16.809 secondsSlicker Graphics Slickest Move of the Race: Tyler ErbFresh Roof Hard Luck Award: Hudson O’NealOuterwears Crew Chief of the Race: Zach HustonARP Engine Builder of the Race: Clements Racing EnginesMiller Welders Chassis Builder of the Race: Longhorn ChassisDirt Draft Fastest in Hot Laps: Ricky Thornton, Jr. | 16.7375 secondsTime of Race: 48 minutes 54 seconds 21st Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals Presented by All Makes Collision Center Point Standings | After Night 1:

Alberson Wins Late Model Knoxville Nationals Opener

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ASCS at I-55: A Return Nearly 30 Years in the Making

September 22, 2025 ARP Trish

PEVELY, MO (Sept. 18, 2025) — For over 35 years, 410 Sprint Car racing has been one of the most popular attractions at I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park.

This Saturday, the 360 cubic-inch variety of winged open-wheel machines will get their opportunity to start a new chapter in the track’s long Sprint Car history, gracing the high-banked, 1/3-mile oval in Pevely, MO, for the first time in nearly 30 years with the return of the American Sprint Car Series (ASCS).

Sept. 24, 1995 — inaugural Series champion Garry Lee Maier took the checkered flag in the first and only previous appearance by the national 360 Sprint Car series at I-55.

Sept. 20, 2025 — nearly 30 years to the date — the modern-day American Sprint Car Series stars return to battle for a $10,000 grand prize, marking the sixth five-figure winner’s share paid out on the national circuit in 2025.

Of the list of ASCS stars competing this weekend, two-time National Series champion Blake Hahn knows all about the excitement ahead. After clinching back-to-back national ASCS titles in 2021 and 2022, the Oklahoma native spent two years chasing a 410-based schedule and made his debut at I-55 with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series in April 2023.

“It was really cool; the place was everything I ever thought it was gonna be,” Hahn said. “It’s one of those places that was on my bucket list. Really, a lot of it stems from being a kid and playing the World of Outlaws (Sprint Cars 2002) game growing up. Being able to go that track that I grew up racing on the video game at was pretty neat, and I’ve been able to see a bunch of really good Outlaws races there, too.”

That night, Hahn put together a standout charge through field, driving from 23rd on the starting grid up to a fifth-place finish against the world’s best Sprint Car drivers.

“I found out about halfway through the race how to work the bottom to get some good drive off and was able to sneak by a few guys like that,” Hahn said. “Had some cautions play out in our favor and was able to pick a few off that way. A lot of guys were up top, sliding each other, and I just rolled around the bottom, making sure I hit the moisture off the exits to get some good launch down the straightaway.”

Hahn is not shy about his ambition to race again at the Missouri oval. Tracks with both a high degree of banking and circumference of 0.333 miles or less are not common to the national ASCS circuit, so Hahn takes advantage when the opportunity knocks.

“It’s a small track, and not that we’re not used to small tracks, but we don’t get a whole lot of small tracks with that much banking,” Hahn said. “So, it’s really cool to be able to go somewhere like that. Another thing that pops out is having that infield wall down there. There’s not a lot of places you can get away from the action; it’s all right there.

“Something else that’s really neat about it is you can get up top and really bang the boards and be hammer-down, or you can finesse the bottom and get it rolling too.”

That positive reputation as a multi-groove racetrack was forged through years of strong track surface maintenance. It’s a reputation local businessman, dirt track promoter and car owner Josh Carroll made sure to uphold after purchasing the track from Ray and Sue Marler in the spring.

“We’ve done a lot of work to it,” Carroll said. “At the beginning of the year, we had some issues we had to work out with it. We’ve got them worked out, and the last few weeks it’s been smooth and had a cushion. I know some Sprint Car guys like a little character, but as dry as it’s been, I expect it to be perfectly smooth, and we’ll try to give them the best cushion we can to do some racing.”

The track has produced several iconic moments with the World of Outlaws Sprint Cars since the Series’ debut there in 1987, such as unforgettable feats during the Ironman 55. Now Carroll and his team will aim to bring the same fortune to ASCS.

“The fans love the Sprint Cars there,” Carroll said. “Any Sprint Car, whether it be the World of Outlaws or ASCS, puts on a great show there and the fans love to see it.”

With one eye on this Saturday — a potentially crucial event to the points championship chase — Hahn already has the other on a future for I-55 and ASCS.

ASCS at I-55: A Return Nearly 30 Years in the Making

PEVELY, MO (Sept. 18, 2025) — For over 35 years, 410 Sprint Car racing has been one of the most popular attractions at I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park.

Sept. 24, 1995 — inaugural Series champion Garry Lee Maier took the checkered flag in the first and only previous appearance by the national 360 Sprint Car series at I-55.

Sept. 20, 2025 — nearly 30 years to the date — the modern-day American Sprint Car Series stars return to battle for a $10,000 grand prize, marking the sixth five-figure winner’s share paid out on the national circuit in 2025.

That night, Hahn put together a standout charge through field, driving from 23rd on the starting grid up to a fifth-place finish against the world’s best Sprint Car drivers.

“Something else that’s really neat about it is you can get up top and really bang the boards and be hammer-down, or you can finesse the bottom and get it rolling too.”

“The fans love the Sprint Cars there,” Carroll said. “Any Sprint Car, whether it be the World of Outlaws or ASCS, puts on a great show there and the fans love to see it.”

With one eye on this Saturday — a potentially crucial event to the points championship chase — Hahn already has the other on a future for I-55 and ASCS.

“Everybody’s excited to go there, and it gives a different group of guys the chance to go race at a premier track like that,” Hahn said. “Hopefully, we have some good turnout with the fans and drivers, we can show the track our support, and hopefully, they want to have us back.”

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BUILDING A POWERHOUSE: Todd Ventura’s Tenure with Roth Motorsports

September 22, 2025 ARP Trish

Dennis Roth’s nephew has been an important, reliable presence as the team has carved out its place in history

TULARE, CA (September 18, 2025) – Many drivers have contributed to the lasting legacy of Roth Motorsports.

Legendary names like Danny Lasoski, Sammy Swindell, Tim Kaeding, Joey Saldana, and several more have helped cement Dennis and Teresa Roth as some of Sprint Car racing’s most impactful team owners ever – who will again be honored during the Dennis Roth Classic at Thunderbowl Raceway, Sept. 19-20.

But there’s a name that came before all the others. A name that may not be as recognizable as those above but has been just as important to Roth’s success that spans more than three decades. That name is Todd Ventura.

He’s Dennis Roth’s nephew and started racing in his youth. When Roth’s fandom brought the California team to life in 1992, he tabbed Ventura as the driver. Early success set the stage for what would grow into one of the sport’s powerhouses.

“Dennis was a fan and had a successful business and wanted to become a car owner,” Ventura explained. “So, I said, ‘I’d like to try to drive.’ The first car was a 360 (engine), and it was all white and number 4 because he goes, ‘I don’t know if you’re any good, and I don’t want my name on there if you’re not any good.’ So, we started and did okay. It was enough to where we had our home-built motor, and our first engine was from (Ron) Shaver. I think we started in 1992. In 1993, we won the 360 track championship at Hanford (Kings Speedway). Brent Kaeding won the 410s. I won the 360s.”

The next year, Ventura suffered an injury that ended his time behind the wheel, but it was far from the end of his connection with his uncle’s organization.

Ventura remained closely involved with Roth Motorsports as they established themselves as one of Sprint Car racing’s premier teams. Across the decades, as they’ve racked up 125 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series victories with 16 different drivers, countless accomplishments on the West Coast, and many other accolades, Ventura has been a key piece of the puzzle in a managerial role.

The last few years have seen Ventura help write another important chapter in the team’s history. He’s been a driving force of the partnership between the team and Toyota as they’ve developed the TRD 410 Sprint Car engine.

Oddly enough, the Toyota engine’s first World of Outlaws win was also the 100th as a team for Roth Motorsports when James McFadden won at Volusia Speedway Park in March of 2023. That was the start of something special that continues to grow for Toyota. “J-Mac” topped five more races that year, and the team brought Kofoid aboard halfway through the season in another car. He added a victory at Placerville Speedway that fall.

Since then, Kofoid has become the primary Roth pilot as McFadden spends more time in his homeland of Australia. With Kofoid joining the World of Outlaws full-time in 2024, the team has been operating arguably as good as it ever has. The Penngrove, CA native took the No. 83 to seven victories in his rookie campaign and has already amassed 11 checkered flags this year with 16 races remaining. Among those are a pair of six-figure paydays at Huset’s Speedway in June, including the largest winner’s share in Series history, $250,000. Their 11 wins this season are the most since bagging a dozen in 2000 and the third-highest amount ever tallied by Roth in a year.

“To me, the Toyota Development side of it was where I was more involved,” Ventura said. “For them to believe in us was special. We had a really good group at the time and that being Buddy (Kofoid), Dylan (Buswell), Brent (Ventura), and James (McFadden), and they were all open minded. To see what we are three or four years later and how it’s evolved into what it is, in all honesty, makes me very proud of that part of it with the success we’ve had.”

The weekend ahead presents a special two nights for Ventura and everyone involved with Roth Motorsports. Next on the agenda for The Greatest Show on Dirt is the fourth Dennis Roth Classic at Tulare, CA’s Thunderbowl Raceway, which serves up a fitting $83,000 payday in the finale as a nod to Roth’s car number at the team’s home track. A track where Dennis helped secure their first World of Outlaws race in 2003.

“Dennis and Steve Faria go way back,” Ventura said. “Steve got an Outlaw race because of Dennis being a car owner. At that point, with Ted (Johnson), you had to have a connection, and Dennis was his connection. Steve and Dennis became close friends, and we’ve always considered Tulare our home track and have great respect for Steve and everybody there.”

But it’s more than a race. It’s a time to celebrate Dennis and all he’s done for the sport. A time to look back on how far they’ve come and all the people that have been a part along the way, after a passionate race fan started a team in the early 1990s and put his nephew in the seat.

“The biggest part to me is the relationships,” Ventura said. “I don’t know of too many guys that have ever worked for Dennis that still don’t come up and shake his hand and say hello, or they come to me and ask how Dennis and Teresa are doing.”

BUILDING A POWERHOUSE: Todd Ventura’s Tenure with Roth Motorsports

Dennis Roth’s nephew has been an important, reliable presence as the team has carved out its place in history

TULARE, CA (September 18, 2025) – Many drivers have contributed to the lasting legacy of Roth Motorsports.

The next year, Ventura suffered an injury that ended his time behind the wheel, but it was far from the end of his connection with his uncle’s organization.

Buddy Kofoid and the Roth Motorsports team hope to bank $83,000 at this weekend’s Dennis Roth Classic at Thunderbowl Raceway on Sept. 19-20. For tickets, call (559) 688-0909.

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CHRIS DYSON RETURNS TO TRANS AM ACTION AT VIRGINIA INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY IN BUSY RACE WEEKEND FOR TEAM

September 22, 2025 ARP Trish

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY (September 18, 2025) – Chris Dyson arrives at this weekend’s Trans Am by Pirelli race at Virginia International Raceway as a past winner at the challenging Southern Virginia circuit where he twice clinched series titles. Dyson will also be looking to put an end to a streak of miserable racing fortune this year that currently sees the three-time champion languishing in fifth place in the seasonal point standing – despite taking pole positions and qualifying on the front row seven times and scoring a pair of race wins and five podium finishes with his #16 GYM WEED Ford Mustang.

“VIR has been a great track for us,” Dyson noted. “Over the last six Trans Am races there we’ve taken the pole four times, won the race in 2021 and won titles. I love racing there; VIR is flowing – it has a real rhythm – and it’s very fast. Big commitment and precision is required. It’s my kind of racetrack.”

With three races remaining on the 2025 calendar, Dyson also reflected on the season to date. It has featured both highs and lows but overall has been disappointing by Dyson’s standards.

“The crew has given me a potential winner every time we’ve rolled off the trailer,” Dyson said. On top of his game as a driver, both in terms of outright speed and race management, Dyson particularly thrives in taking care of his Pirelli race tires over 100-mile events. “The team and I focus on performance we need at the end of the race. The problem is that several times we haven’t gotten to the end of the race. It’s just been bad racing luck in 2025.”

Dyson would be in strong contention for a fourth Trans Am series title if not for a hard crash caused by a defective component at the season-opener at Sebring, where he sustained injuries that forced Dyson to miss the following race at Road Atlanta. Then came runner-up and first places at Sonoma and Laguna Seca during the series West Coast swing. Dyson was leading the race at his home track, Lime Rock Park, when he was taken out by a lapped car, resulting in the second high-speed trip into the guardrail of the season.

Dyson rallied from the crash for a second-place finish at Mid-Ohio and a triumphant win at Road America, followed by a podium at Watkins Glen. It looked like Dyson was headed for another victory last month at the most recent race at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park (Mosport) when a flat tire put him a lap down for an eventual fifth-place finish.

“All of us on the team are really just focused on winning these last three races,” Dyson said.

CD Racing Fields Multi-Car Silver Crown Effort and Sprint Car at Eldora Four Crown Event This Weekend

Decisions, decisions! Both Brady Bacon and Daison Pursley have previously turned in sterling performances in CD Racing’s Concord American Flagpole cars in USAC Silver Crown National Championship events. So, when the on-track action in Rossburg, Ohio, this Friday evening, which one will be behind the wheel of the red, white and blue Silver Crown car on Eldora Speedway’s high-banked half-mile dirt oval?

Well, how about both! CD Racing has entered Concord American Flagpole cars for both Pursley and Bacon. Both are proven winners and excel at the Ohio oval.

“I discussed the situation with Sean (Michael, CD Racing short-track program head) and we decided it would be great if we could run two cars,” Dyson said. “Sean determined the team has the resources to field two Crown cars, so that’s what we’re doing. Now we’ll have two potential race winners flying the Concord American Flagpole colors at Eldora.”

With Eldora concluding the team’s 2025 USAC campaign, the team is also entering the National Sprint Car division with its #20 in support of Brady Bacon’s quest to be the category’s all-time winning driver.

“We are honored to be able to support this effort this weekend and showcase our partners from Concord American Flagpole for the great patriotic fans at Eldora,” Dyson said. “It’s an action-packed weekend for all of us.”

For more on Chris Dyson Racing.

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TEAM CHEVY ADVANCE New Hampshire Motor Speedway

September 22, 2025 ARP Trish

September 20-21, 2025

NASCAR pays just one visit to the New England region each season, which is coming up this weekend as the Cup and Craftsman Truck Series will make the trek up to New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

MEDIA RESOURCES: Photo Gallery | Race Advances Chevrolet Newsroom

It’s a big weekend for the “Magic Mile” as the Loudon, New Hampshire, circuit will welcome the Truck Series back for the first time since the 2017 season. This weekend will also mark the first time in eight years that the track has played a role in the sport’s playoff schedule, with Saturday’s EJP 175 bringing the Truck Series Round of 10 to a close and Sunday’s Mobil 1 301 opening the Round of 12 for NASCAR’s top division. Four Team Chevy drivers remain in title contention in each division.

Chevrolet at the “Magic Mile”: Chevrolet leads both the NASCAR Cup and Truck Series in all-time wins at New Hampshire Motor Speedway – entering the weekend with 19 wins in 53 Cup Series races and eight wins in 20 Truck Series races. Among its “Magic Mile” wins in NASCAR’s top division includes nine alongside Hendrick Motorsports – enough to rank the Chevrolet organization second on the track’s all-time wins list in the series. The first Cup Series win for both Chevrolet and Hendrick Motorsports at Loudon came in July 1995 – the series’ third appearance at the track – with NASCAR Hall of Famer, Jeff Gordon. Hendrick Motorsports has been on the brink of a double-digit win count at the track in recent seasons. Since the debut of the Next Gen car, the Chevrolet organization has earned a top-five finish in each event, including back-to-back podium results with Chase Elliott (second – 2022) and Kyle Larson (third – 2023).

Busch Banks Victories in All Three Series: New Hampshire Motor Speedway is among the many venues where Kyle Busch has found success across all three NASCAR national series. The 40-year-old Las Vegas, Nevada, native is a three-time Cup Series winner at the “Magic Mile” – a record that ties fellow competitor, Denny Hamlin, for the most among active drivers in the division. Busch has also tallied six Xfinity Series wins and three Truck Series wins at New Hampshire – both of which are series-leading feats. The Chevrolet driver is one of just two drivers in NASCAR’s history to earn victories in all three divisions at the track.

Setting Streaks: Chevrolet’s history at New Hampshire Motor Speedway also includes a pair of record-setting streaks. The Bowtie brand tallied six-straight wins (Sept. 2009 – July 2012) and six-straight pole wins (July 1996 – July 1999) in NASCAR’s top division at the track – a record that still stands today. In the Truck Series, Chevrolet’s trio of wins in the series’ first-three appearances at the one-mile venue ties Toyota for the most consecutive wins by a single manufacturer at the track.

FOUR TEAM CHEVY DRIVERS CONTINUE IN CUP SERIES TITLE FIGHTWith the opening round of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series playoffs officially in the books, four Team Chevy drivers have earned a spot in the Round of 12 to continue on in the championship title hunt. The playoff rankings have restacked for the first of three races in the next round – putting Hendrick Motorsports’ William Byron and Kyle Larson in the second and third positions, respectively. The pair are two of the six drivers that will enter the New Hampshire race weekend with a double-digit points cushion – each sitting at 24-points above the cutline. Their Hendrick Motorsports teammate, Chase Elliott, will take on the Round of 12 from the seventh position (+5 points), with fellow Team Chevy driver, Ross Chastain, ranked 11th (-2 points). The Round of 12 will serve a trio of diverse tracks with the “Magic Mile” followed by the 1.5-mile oval of Kansas Speedway and the 2.28-mile Charlotte Motor Speedway Road course. Larson and Elliott are among the five remaining title contenders that have found victory lane in two of the three tracks in this round. Larson is a three-time Kansas winner and a two-time Charlotte ROVAL winner, with the 2021 champion returning to each venue as the series’ defending winner. Elliott’s resume sees one Kansas victory and two Charlotte ROVAL victories. Among those triumphs includes his 2020 ROVAL victory that solidified his spot in the Round of Eight – ultimately leading him to his first career Cup Series championship.

TRUCK SERIES NEW HAMPSHIRE HOMECOMINGWith the playoff pressure already heightened for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series’ first elimination race of the 2025 playoffs, there will be an added element of unknowns as the series will take on New Hampshire Motor Speedway for the first time in eight years. For much of the playoff field, Saturday’s 175-lap event will mark their first career start at the “Magic Mile”. Among the 10 remaining playoff contenders, Team Chevy’s Daniel Hemric and Grant Enfinger are the only drivers that have competed in a Truck Series race at New Hampshire. Hemric has made two career Truck Series starts at the Loudon-based venue, including a best finish of sixth that came in his first appearance at the track (Sept. 2015). For Enfinger, his one Truck Series start came in the series’ last race at the track in Sept. 2017 – a race that ended with a fourth-place result.

Team Chevy Drivers Enter Elimination Above the Cutline: The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Playoffs Round of 10 includes four drivers from three different Chevrolet organizations – tying the highest representation by a single manufacturer in the opening round. Heading into the first elimination race of the 2025 playoffs, all four Team Chevy drivers sit in the top-eight positions of the playoff rankings – each having a double-digit points cushion above the cutline. McAnally-Hilgemann Racing’s Daniel Hemric holds the first provisional points position in third with a 51-point advantage over the bubble. Consistency has been key for the 34-year-old Kannapolis, North Carolina, native – driving his No. 19 Silverado RST to a second- and fifth-place result to open the postseason. Rounding out the rankings includes CR7 Motorsports’ Grant Enfinger in fifth (+29 points), McAnally-Hilgemann Racing’s Tyler Ankrum in sixth (+29 points) and Spire Motorsports’ Rajah Caruth in eighth (+14).

BOWTIE BULLETS:· Active Chevrolet drivers with a NASCAR Cup Series win at New Hampshire Motor Speedway: Kyle Busch – three wins (2017, 2015, 2006) · Chevrolet leads both the NASCAR Cup and Craftsman Truck Series in wins at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, with the manufacturer heading into the weekend with 19 victories in 53 Cup Series races and eight victories in 20 Truck Series races. · Kyle Larson and Chase Elliott are among the five remaining NASCAR Cup Series title contenders that have found victory lane in two of the three tracks in the Round of 12. Larson: three-time Kansas winner and two-time Charlotte ROVAL winner, including the defending winner at each track. Elliott: one Kansas victory and two Charlotte ROVAL victories. · Chevrolet has earned at least half of the top-10 finishing results in 12 of the 29 points-paying races thus far this season, including a season-high seven top-10 finishes at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway. · In 137 points-paying races in the Next Gen era, Chevrolet leads all manufacturers with 64 victories – a winning percentage of 46.7%.
· With its 43 NASCAR Cup Series Manufacturer Championships, 33 NASCAR Cup Series Driver Championships, and 878 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 Playoffs Round of 12: Race OneMobil 1 301Sunday, September 21, at 2 p.m. ET(USA Network, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90) NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Playoffs Round of 10: Elimination RaceEJP 175Saturday, September 20, at 12 p.m. ET(FS1, NASCAR Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90)

QUOTABLE QUOTES:Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing ChevroletHow much do you think the tire test from New Hampshire is going to help you this weekend?“I hope a lot (laughs). Two solid days of testing and over 700 laps. We went through a lot of things up there, some felt good, some did not. Trackhouse and Chevy have been digging through all of the data to see what they think is going to be best. As long as we helped Chevy, that’s the most important thing, but obviously I hope there was something we learned for the No. 1 car.” What is your outlook going into round 2 of the Playoffs?“I’m glad we survived and made the second round of the Playoffs. Obviously, I wish it was more than survival but I feel pretty good about this round. We have New Hampshire this weekend and we did the tire test there so hopefully we learned some things we can apply. Then we have Kansas (Speedway), which we won last year, so I think that bodes well for us. The Roval is probably going to be the wild card for me in this round but we’ll see how everything shakes out. I’m going to do the things I do to prep for the races and hope the results earn us enough points to get to the next round.”

Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing ChevroletWhat’s New Hampshire Motor Speedway like?“New Hampshire Motor Speedway is a flat mile. It’s a bigger short track. I always love going there. It’s a challenging place. You get to slip and slide around a little bit. The exit of Turn 2 is rough. The track has a lot of content, so finding a good balance in the race car is important.” What’s the most challenging aspect of racing at New Hampshire Motor Speedway?“I think the most challenging part is the exit of Turn 2 just because of how rough it has gotten over there. There are some big bumps in Turn 3 as well, so dealing with the track content is probably the hardest part.” What is RCR to you?“RCR to me is family. Every time I come across the railroad tracks into the shop and see the men and women here that put all of the time and effort into these race cars and the history behind it. I love the history of RCR. I’ve been all over this place. Every wall. Every corner. It’s a place I’ve grown up my entire life at. I don’t think you can describe RCR in one word. It’s a lot of things. It’s heart.” Justin Haley, No. 7 Spire Motorsports ChevroletAfter earning a 13th-place finish at Bristol, what’s your outlook heading into New Hampshire?“Bristol was a solid weekend from start to finish for the No. 7 team. We had a great car all weekend and we executed well. We are putting together weekends and that gives us confidence heading to New Hampshire. One-mile race tracks are always tricky, so we’re looking to be fast when we unload and execute a solid weekend.” Kyle Busch, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing ChevroletWhat makes New Hampshire so challenging?“New Hampshire is a really tricky racetrack. It’s super flat and has bumpy characteristics to it as well. The asphalt has really gotten old over the years. It feels like racing over highway cracks, but those are all characteristics of a good racetrack. It’s just really challenging and very tough to pass. Everybody says it’s multi-groove. You could run three different grooves there, but there’s really only one that’s fast and that’s the middle one. It makes for a challenging Sunday.” Why has New Hampshire been so tough for you in the last few years? “Unfortunately, for me, the last couple of years at New Hampshire have been a huge struggle. This new Next Gen car and I have just not gone well together at New Hampshire. It’s been easy for me to get in trouble because of the nature of the car, the way it rides, the bumps, and the different topography of the track at each end to make grip. It’s definitely a challenge of moving your line around in the corners to improve the balance of the car because this new car doesn’t like different angles and transitions very well.” You’ve won five poles at New Hampshire. Why do you qualify so well there?“I’m not really sure why I’ve had a good qualifying record there; it’s just always kind of worked out that way. I feel like qualifying at New Hampshire is important just because of track position because it’s so hard to pass, making sure you’re in good position at the start of the race just to keep your day simple. I’ve always kind of put an emphasis on qualifying to make sure we do well.” What’s your mentality coming into this week and the remainder of 2025?“We’ve got to win. We want to put ourselves and our No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet in Victory Lane and it doesn’t matter if it’s at New Hampshire Motor Speedway or any week out, but the sooner the better.” AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet“I would say New Hampshire is probably one of the toughest racetracks we go to just in the sense of trying to drive. The seams are difficult and the track being really flat. So always difficult setup wise and on the driving side of it to go out there and find speed. We know our program has speed; we’ve shown that over the last few weeks, even if the end result doesn’t always show it. We’re looking to put together a solid run this weekend and get a little bit of momentum back.” Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet“I’m really excited to bring the Hyak Motorsports paint scheme to the track for the first time at New Hampshire. It’s always special to debut a new look, and this one means a lot to our team. Hopefully we can give the fans a strong run and make the first race with this scheme one to remember.” Michael McDowell, No. 71 Spire Motorsports ChevroletLoudon constantly runs into rain. How does the weather change the race?“I hope it rains. The best I’ve run at New Hampshire is in the rain. It has not been a great track for me statistically, but the short tracks for us this year have been better than what the short tracks have been in the past for me, so I feel like we have another opportunity. Similar to Martinsville and Phoenix, we feel like we’ve made gains and hopefully we’ll keep that going this weekend at Loudon.” Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports ChevroletYou only have one start at New Hampshire across all three of NASCAR’s national series. How do approach a track where you don’t have an extensive notebook to pull from?“Crazy things have been known to happen at New Hampshire. I don’t have a ton of experience there so it’s still a learning experience for me when we unload on Saturday. Thankfully I have a good group of guys on the No. 77, and Luke (Lambert, crew chief) and Tyler (Green, spotter) do a great job of coaching me through everything. I think we have a good opportunity to finish out the season strong.”

Shane van Gisbergen, No. 88 Trackhouse Racing ChevroletIt’s disappointing not to advance in the playoffs. How do you assess what you and the No. 88 team accomplished so far this season?“I knew it was going to be a long shot last weekend at (Bristol), but I’m still proud of what we have achieved this year. It’s been a huge privilege to be in the Playoffs, but everyone knew the first round was going to be difficult. I just didn’t do a good enough job on the ovals. I know we’re strong on the road courses, but I just need to keep improving at the ovals.”

TEAM CHEVY ADVANCENew Hampshire Motor SpeedwaySeptember 20-21, 2025

NASCAR pays just one visit to the New England region each season, which is coming up this weekend as the Cup and Craftsman Truck Series will make the trek up to New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

MEDIA RESOURCES: Photo Gallery | Race Advances Chevrolet Newsroom

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: 12Poles: 11Laps Led: 3,248Top-Fives: 54Top-10s: 117Stage Wins: 22 CHEVROLET IN NASCAR CUMULATIVE STATISTICS:Total Chevrolet Race Wins: 878 (1949 to date)Poles Won to Date: 764Laps Led to Date: 255,959Top-Fives to Date: 4,423Top-10s to Date: 9,124 Total NASCAR Cup Wins by Corporation, 1949 to Date: General Motors: 1,212 Chevrolet: 878 Pontiac: 154 Oldsmobile: 115 Buick: 65 Ford: 845 Ford: 745 Mercury: 96 Lincoln: 4 Fiat Chrysler Automobiles: 467 Dodge: 217 Plymouth: 191 Chrysler: 59 Toyota: 201

Uncategorized

Allmendinger Puts Chevrolet on the Pole at Bristol Motor Speedway

September 12, 2025 ARP Trish

NASCAR CUP SERIES BRISTOL MOTOR SPEEDWAY ROUND OF 16: ELIMINATION RACE TEAM CHEVY POST-QUALIFYING REPORT SEPTEMBER 12, 2025

MEDIA RESOURCES: Photo Gallery | Race Advances Chevrolet Newsroom

·        For the first time this season, AJ Allmendinger topped the NASCAR Cup Series’ qualifying leaderboard – posting a best-lap of 15.177 seconds, at 126.930 mph, in his No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet to claim the pole position for tomorrow’s Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway.
·        This marks Chevrolet’s 11th pole win of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season, with Allmendinger becoming the seventh driver from the fourth different Chevrolet organization to drive the manufacturer to a pole-winning lap in 2025.
·        The feat – Allmendinger’s fifth all-time in his NASCAR Cup Series career – marks Kaulig Racing’s first-ever pole triumph on an oval configuration in the division. ·        The top-10 of the starting lineup for tomorrow’s Round of 16 elimination race will see eight playoff contenders, including a pair of Hendrick Motorsports teammates, Kyle Larson and William Byron, who drove their Chevrolet-powered machines to fifth- and seventh-place qualifying efforts, respectively.

TEAM CHEVY UNOFFICIAL TOP-10 STARTING LINEUPPOS. DRIVER

1st – AJ Allmendinger5th – Kyle Larson7th – William Byron

Chevrolet’s season statistics heading into the 29th NASCAR Cup Series race of the season:

Wins: 12Poles: 11Top-Fives: 54Top 10s: 115Stage Wins: 22

AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet – Pole Winner Quotes
You told me a couple weeks ago that as long as you’re having fun and Matt Kaulig wants you to do this, you’re going to keep doing this for him in some capacity. Are days like this the reminder that it is still fun for you? “Yeah, I know it’s Friday night qualifying and at the end of the day, that doesn’t pay any points or money, but it’s small victories like this for our race team that’s continually trying to grow. I’ve been super proud of all the men and women at Kaulig Racing this year. It’s tough in the Cup Series. Sometimes the results don’t show speed that you’re bringing to the racetrack and at a racetrack maybe that we ran 28th at last year, we run 15th this year, things like that. So, yeah, days like today are enjoyable and gives me confidence because I feel like I can still do it. And at the end of the day, anybody that knows me knows I’m by far the hardest on myself and I’m always going to be like that. That’s never going to change. So, days like today are important to me, as well, because it proves that I can be here. You talked about how much work has gone on behind the scenes. Do you feel like this team is making gains, even if it’s incremental to get closer to where you want to be?“Yeah, I mean, you take Darlington two weeks ago; to go run top-five at Darlington, a racetrack that I’ve never been amazing at. The only thing that’s been tough this year is some of the races that we’ve had a lot of speed at, and a lot of teams can say this I’m sure, but the ones that we’ve been really quick at, we’ve had some bad things happen really out of our control. So, sometimes you don’t get those results and it’s hard to go back to the shop and smile about it and know that you’re making progress. But at the end of the day, we’ve made a lot of progress over the last two years of me driving the Cup car of the speed that we got. Matt Kaulig has put a lot more resources into it. Obviously, Chris (Rice) has got a lot of work on his plate between the Xfinity side of it and the Cup side of it. With Ty (Norris) here and then Mike Cook being here as our competition director. So, yeah, we’re making progress. We know we’ve got a long ways to go, but days like today show we can go do it.” Was there much, if any, tire wear and or fall off? Do you think that’s indicative of what will happen tomorrow?“We ran 60 laps today. They weren’t all consecutive. We made a couple of changes to make the car better. That’s what gave me confidence going into qualifying. Our last change, I felt like we had a lot of speed. There is a little bit of fall off, but at least my car was good enough, so it never felt like there was a cliff there of the tires all of a sudden going to hit that cliff and basically unravel or start really falling off. Looking at the tires, they had wear on them, but they weren’t extreme. It’s like one of those things — in the spring here, we ran 25 laps and it looked like the tires were falling apart. Then we ran 160 on them in the race. So, I’m not sure what to expect. I just think, like anything, if you’ve got a good balance, you can manage the tires.” The plan is for them to put the PJ-1 back down or reapply it tomorrow early afternoon. Is that what you would want, or do you think you have any preference on what they do? “I don’t mind it if they reapply it, just more for a consistency’s sake. I think in the past, when they don’t reapply it, you get the Xfinity rubber out there and it starts clumping. You start hitting patches that have grip and then don’t have grip, which makes it real difficult. So, I don’t mind them reapplying it. I think it’s more, just like anything, 500 laps around here, eventually, we’ll get the top rolling. I know we tried in practice there and never could get enough rubber laid down to make a huge difference. But I think the Xfinity cars will get up there pretty quick. I think that’s more important for the racing, is if we get the top line going. I do think, it may not at the beginning of the race, but I do think eventually we’ll get the top lane rolling.” Do you have a sense of when that top lane will start opening up?“That’s a good question. I think in that first stage, as the tires start falling off. I’ve always looked at it — you need the pace to get to a 15.8, 15.9 to start making the top work and make a difference. Anything other than that, it’s tough to get the top rolling fast enough. The first stage, I think it’s 125 laps, 130 laps around there. I would assume that you start getting 70, 80, 90 laps in the run, if you catch traffic or if you just get stuck behind somebody; eventually you have to get up there. As you get more rubber laid down, then it stays consistent up there. I would be shocked if we don’t have guys running the top lane by the end of the first stage and the good cars making it work.” When you were talking to TV, you made a big point to explain how it’s awesome to get the pole here at Bristol. I was just curious, in your own words, can you expand upon that a little bit?“I haven’t had a pole in 10 years, I guess. I got told about that (laughs). It’s pretty cool. It’s Kaulig Racing’s first-ever pole on an oval in the Cup Series, I think. It’s a big deal. Like I said, it’s not something to get — we haven’t won the race. We’re not going to go party tonight and celebrate that we’re on pole. You also can’t just gloss it over and say, it’s just a pole, it doesn’t mean anything. To me, it shows that, on a confidence side of it, on a self-confidence, like, hey, you can still go out there and wheel for a lap and make it happen with the best of them. And then as a race team, it shows like, hey, we can build fast Chevy’s and we can go get it right and we can qualify up front. We got 500 laps and that’s a completely different ball game tomorrow night. We’ll be refocused, but we at least got to celebrate a little bit in the sense of have pride for ourselves. And all the men and women back at the shop, it’s tough to do, and at a place like this especially. So, yeah, it’s pretty cool.” I know you just talked about Kaulig Racing a little bit and how much it means for you and the organization, but could you talk about how much this means for the future a little bit more, and then also, would you have ever guessed that it was at Bristol? “To answer the second part of that question — I guess a little bit because we qualified eighth here in the spring, and we had a horrible practice and only ran a couple of laps. So, the speed is there. Now, if you just said Darlington, that would probably be the shocking one to me in qualifying. I’m not a great qualifier at Darlington. But at the end of the day, like I said, there’s a happy medium. You don’t want to make too much of it because it’s just a pole on a Friday night. But you also don’t want to demote it and say that it doesn’t mean anything because it does. I can tell you the people at the racetrack, the men and women here, were pumped up about it, and I can tell you at the shop, they’re probably over the top about it. So, yes, it means a lot. It’d be even cooler if we could go run inside the top-10 all night, tomorrow night, and maybe have a chance to win.”

NASCAR CUP SERIESBRISTOL MOTOR SPEEDWAYROUND OF 16: ELIMINATION RACETEAM CHEVY POST-QUALIFYING REPORTSEPTEMBER 12, 2025

Allmendinger Puts Chevrolet on the Pole at Bristol Motor Speedway

MEDIA RESOURCES: Photo Gallery | Race Advances Chevrolet Newsroom

TEAM CHEVY UNOFFICIAL TOP-10 STARTING LINEUPPOS. DRIVER

1st – AJ Allmendinger5th – Kyle Larson7th – William Byron

Chevrolet’s season statistics heading into the 29th NASCAR Cup Series race of the season:

Wins: 12Poles: 11Top-Fives: 54Top 10s: 115Stage Wins: 22

Uncategorized

Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Bristol–Ross Chastain

September 12, 2025 ARP Trish

NASCAR CUP SERIES BRISTOL MOTOR SPEEDWAY TEAM CHEVY DRIVER QUOTES SEPTEMBER 12, 2025

Ross Chastain, driver of the No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet, met with the media in advance of the NASCAR Cup Series practice and qualifying session at Bristol Motor Speedway.

MEDIA RESOURCES: Photo Gallery | Race Advances Chevrolet Newsroom

Media Availability Quotes:

I know there’s a lot on the line tomorrow night in general, but the Bristol Night Race, what is the atmosphere of this event and competing in it as a driver?“Sunny, no clouds. Yeah, it’s incredible walking through the tunnel… it never gets old. For me, I equate it to driving through the tunnel at Daytona and driving down to Darlington. But here, it’s pulling up and seeing the stadium and then also walking through the turn three tunnel. It just never gets old. It’s so cool looking up at the banks and then the steepness of the grandstands. I went up and watched truck practice yesterday in the grandstands and then I was up in the Food City suite for the race. It’s just amazing. Just being here, even if there was no racing, it’s cool and you don’t get that everywhere.” You’re 19 points above the cutline. What does that do to add to the intensity of this weekend for you and the No. 1 team?“I think it puts us in a spot where we are fast enough to stay above the cutline, but a failure or an error, it’s easy to hit the wall here. They’ve painted them back to their old all-black. They’re waiting on you if you make a mistake, so we’ve got 500 laps to get through.”
I wanted to ask you about your thoughts on racing at Bristol. You’ve had two of your career three top-10s in the last two races. Do you feel like you’re really figuring out? Do you like this kind of racing, this style of racing?“Yeah, I love it. I love the track. I love driving up here. I love driving on it, even when I’ve been slow and was really bummed. One of my early races here, I remember I think McDowell spun off of (turn) four and I was running last in the Premium Motorsports car. I piled into Truex and a couple of them. I was like, wait for me, I want to join the wreck. I remember I was so bummed, just because I wasn’t going to get to run a full night race here.  I don’t know if it’s coming together or not, but Phil Surgen (crew chief) has been giving me good race cars here and we need that next step to put us really in contention to try to win. We’ve taken the step to get to the top-10 and we want to keep that going and take the next one.”
You guys have did some behind-the-scenes competition changes not too long ago. Wondering if those are starting to bear fruit at all or is it still too soon?“I don’t know. I mean, I think that the idea and the direction Justin (Marks) wants to go; appointing Todd Meredith to be boots on the ground every day… wake up, be on the shop floor, upstairs or downstairs at Trackhouse. But to actually execute it… if Justin Marks believes in it, then we’re going that direction. So, we’re going to go that direction. Has it actually affected the cars? I wouldn’t know a right-front upper control arm if you sat it here on the table. So, I wouldn’t be able to tell. I look at them and I’m like — I mean, I could bolt it together. I could physically do it, but deciding where to bolt it, deciding what spring to put in the right-front, what shock clicks to put in the left-rear shock, what angle to run the diffuser… I don’t know that stuff. So, that’s for Todd to implement the right processes for then him to hire the right people to execute it. I don’t know. I really don’t. I stay in my swim lane when it comes to that stuff.”
What’s your approach for tomorrow night, in terms of the balance versus being aggressive versus conservative? Because you guys are kind of in that sweet, mushy middle there where you’re smart and you can get through this, you’ll be okay, but you also have to be mindful of everybody else and what they’re potentially doing in terms of points… “Yeah. Well, we have to finish the race. We have to be rolling at the end, for sure. That’s every race if you want to do good. I don’t want to walk out of here with a sore shoulder (laughs). So, yeah, we have to finish and see. Today will set the tone for how fast we are, right? Long run in practice. How can we qualify? We have actually qualified last here in a Trackhouse car. I hope no other Trackhouse driver ever has to endure that because that was terrible. So, we’ll try to be better than that. Tomorrow, we’ll see where we start and that kind of sets the attitude for how we’re going to approach the start of the race at least.”
From a competitor’s standpoint, when you come into a weekend where there’s unknowns about tires, all that stuff, do you prefer that or would you rather go into a weekend knowing, hey, it’s just a standard Bristol race?“I don’t think there’s been a standard Bristol race since they built the place. So, yeah, I think it’s always been like this. I think drivers always come in here nervous. I think they were more nervous back in the day because the safety of the cars wasn’t there. We’ve seen that they could literally knock the fence down. I mean, they would punch holes in the gates or whatever, the guardrail. We are in such a better spot. These really are the good old days at Bristol, from a safety perspective, I believe. It’s my opinion. I think drivers have been nervous walking into Bristol since they built it.”
There was a little hubbub this week, not just about you and Shane van Gisbergen, but also some, I think, Chase Elliott and maybe Joey Logano, efforts post-race and then NASCAR making a ruling about those. Anything to say about how NASCAR has decided to enforce what drivers do post-race with the cars?“No, sir. NASCAR sets the rules. I just ask for the rule book, the schedule and let me go race.”

NASCAR CUP SERIESBRISTOL MOTOR SPEEDWAYTEAM CHEVY DRIVER QUOTESSEPTEMBER 12, 2025

Ross Chastain, driver of the No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet, met with the media in advance of the NASCAR Cup Series practice and qualifying session at Bristol Motor Speedway.

MEDIA RESOURCES: Photo Gallery | Race Advances Chevrolet Newsroom

Uncategorized

BRITTANY FORCE TO STEP AWAY FROM FULLTIME COMPETITION AT END OF 2025 NHRA SEASON

September 12, 2025 ARP Trish

Two-time Top Fuel Champion begins Countdown for third title at Maple Grove Raceway

MOHNTON, PA. (Sept. 12, 2025) – Two-time NHRA Top Fuel Champion and the quickest and fastest driver in NHRA history, Brittany Force, announced today that she will step away from fulltime competition at the conclusion of the 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series to focus on starting a family. The announcement was made in the John Force Racing pit area as the championship organization prepares for this weekend’s NHRA Nationals at Maple Grove Raceway in Mohnton, Pa. Force was joined by her father and team owner, 16-time NHRA Funny Car Champion John Force, and teammates Austin Prock and Jack Beckman. “After dedicating the last 13 years of my life to the NHRA and to John Force Racing, I have made the difficult and bittersweet decision to step out of the seat of my Top Fuel Dragster at the end of the season to try to start a family with my husband Bobby,” said Brittany Force. “I’m thankful for such an amazing career and all the opportunities that came with it. Thank you to everyone who has supported me over the years including the NHRA, the fans and all my sponsors past and present. Thanks to Monster Energy, HendrickCars.com, Chevrolet, Cornwell Tools, PEAK, and Graham Rahal Performance for helping me compete at the highest level in the sport.” After completing Frank Hawley’s Drag Racing School and then earning three runner-up finishes in 19 Top Alcohol Dragster starts (2008-2010), Force began her Top Fuel career in 2013. She earned rookie-of-the-year honors that season and then captured her first Top Fuel victory at the 2016 Gatornationals in Gainesville, Fla. Just one year later, 2017, Force captured her first Top Fuel title, becoming the first woman to do so since Shirley Muldowney in 1982. She earned her second championship in 2022. In all, Force has 18 Top Fuel victories in 39 final-round appearances and 56 No. 1 Qualifier spots. “I’m really proud of Brittany and all she has accomplished throughout her career,” said John Force. “She’s won races, set countless records, and captured two World Championships; her presence in this sport will be greatly missed. Although she’s stepping out of the seat at the end of the year, her focus is still firmly set on winning the championship and ending this season strong for all of her sponsors: Monster Energy, Chevrolet, HendrickCars.com, PEAK, Cornwell Tools and Graham Rahal Performance. Her mom, Laurie, and all her sisters are proud, as well, and we’re all looking forward to seeing what the next chapter of her life holds.” Force holds both ends of the NHRA Top Fuel performance record, with the quickest run, 3.623 seconds at Maple Grove Raceway on Sept. 14, 2019, and the fastest run, 343.51 mph at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park on Sept. 1, 2025. She has nine of the 10-fastest runs in NHRA Top Fuel history. “I’m grateful to my team and all our success together,” said Brittany Force “I know there is still so much out there for this David Grubnic and John Collins run team and we are in the works of keeping them together under the John Force Racing umbrella. Their hard work and dedication over the years have meant the world to me but I’m excited about starting a new chapter in my life. “None of this would have been possible without the support of my family. Thank you to my dad, John Force, my mom Laurie, my sisters, Adria, Ashley and Courtney, and Bobby for their ongoing support and encouraging me to chase down all the big moments and continue to push the limits and boundaries of success. “Thank you to everyone at John Force Racing, including my teammates Austin Prock & Jack Beckman, for standing by John Force Racing through the various transitional periods over the last few years and thank you for always keeping JFR a championship team.” Force enters this weekend’s first event of the six-race Countdown to the Championship in fifth place in the point standings, just 56 points behind leader Tony Stewart and only 18 behind Justin Ashley in fourth. The Yorba Linda, Calif., native has earned one win (Epping, N.H.) and one runner-up finish (Seattle) this season, as well as four No. 1 qualifying positions. She also has set the national speed record three times this season, most recently with her 343.51-mph run Sept. 1 at the U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis. “I love this sport deeply, and I’m not closing the door on driving in the future,” said Force. “That’s a decision for further down the road, but right now my focus remains firmly on this season. We’re fifth in points entering Reading and, with six races left, this team is ready to fight for the championship all the way to the end.”

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Garrett Benson ‘Made the Right Choice’ in Pursuit of Sprint Car Career as Teenager

September 12, 2025 ARP Trish

CONCORD, NC (Sept. 12, 2025) — At 15 years old, Garrett Benson knows he’s not lived the typical life of a kid his age. But that was never his plan.

Benson, of Concordia, MO, took on the challenge of following the entire American Sprint Car Series schedule this year with only two previous years of full-size Sprint Car experience. Heading into the home stretch of the season, he’s collected two podium finishes and is the leading contender for Rookie of the Year honors.

Instead of having typical childhood experiences, he’s getting an education in the morning, working in the shop during the weekdays, and competing wheel-to-wheel with the nation’s best 360 Sprint Car racers on the weekend.

“I’m proud of it, and I feel like I made the right choice,” Benson said, looking back on his decision to pursue his passion for Sprint Car racing. “I second-guess myself a lot. You’ll have a bad night on the racetrack, or stuff will happen, and you’ll question yourself, ‘Is it really worth it?’ But in the end, you meet so many great people, and it’s a great sport.”

It’s rare to find young talent like Benson who are willing to work so hard so early on in their careers to achieve their goals. But it was settled in his heart a long time ago — behind the wheel is where he wants to be, and he’ll stop at nothing to build a career in it.

“That’s what I truly love. It’s great to drive a Sprint Car and get to work on them, but in the end, it’s the people that you meet and the memories that you make,” Benson said. “I do look back and sometimes wonder, ‘What if I was doing this or that?’ But this is truly what I love to do.

“Every day, there’s obstacles in the road. But in the end, once you get through them, it just truly feels special. I feel blessed to get to do what I do, and I wouldn’t change it for anything.”

As the racing calendar begins to wrap-up, Benson’s duties outside the shop begin to demand more of his attention. But he’s established a daily routine that allows him to cover both being a kid and a professional every day of the week.

“It’s tough to balance all the different things I have going on,” Benson said. “Typically, I do the online schooling all morning long, for about four to five hours, and knock that out. Then, the rest of the day, I’m in the shop with my dad working on the cars. Just trying to use my time wisely. That’s the biggest thing — maximizing every minute that I get throughout the day.”

Benson’s commitment to putting in the time at the shop has helped to produce the positive results he’s seen on the track. In his first six races of the season, he logged only one top-10 finish with an average finish of 14.3 before going on a streak of five-straight top-five finishes before the 360 Knoxville Nationals, which included his first career podium finish of third at Benton Speedway on July 26.

After the Knoxville break, Benson took only five races to bag another third-place finish at Electric City Speedway in Montana on Aug. 30. Combined with 14 top-10 finishes, Benson currently sits sixth in the overall championship standings and leads the rookie standings by 100 points over Brady Baker.

“I would say it’s exceeded our expectations,” Benson said of his season thus far. “We didn’t really know what to expect going into the first part of the year; lot of new racetracks, and pretty much all the tracks are new. Just going across the country and throughout the Midwest has definitely been a challenge, but there’s a lot of great people that have been behind us and supporting us.

“We’ve learned a lot, and I feel like the finishes we’ve had in recent months and weeks have been really good, and it’s boosted our confidence, and we’ve kinda built some momentum going into the final part of the season.”

To begin the home stretch of his first national Sprint Car season, Benson is off to Paducah International Raceway and I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park, Friday–Saturday, Sept. 19–20. It won’t be his first race at Paducah, but Benson is most excited about his debut at the high banks of I-55 as he chases his first career national Sprint Car series Feature win.

“I’ve been there a few times, so I guess that maybe helps a little bit, but I’m kinda going into it blind, like a lot of these other tracks,” Benson said. “I think that if there was a track that I felt the most confidence going into, [I-55] would have to be at the top of the list — just the way it looks like it races and how our package fits those types of tracks.

“I’m really looking forward to that one. I’ve got a lot of friends and family that will be there, so that’s important to me as well.”

Benson and the rest of the American Sprint Car Series drivers are back in action next Friday–Saturday, Sept. 19–20 at Paducah International Raceway and I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park.

Garrett Benson ‘Made the Right Choice’ in Pursuit of Sprint Car Career as Teenager

CONCORD, NC (Sept. 12, 2025) — At 15 years old, Garrett Benson knows he’s not lived the typical life of a kid his age. But that was never his plan.

“I’m really looking forward to that one. I’ve got a lot of friends and family that will be there, so that’s important to me as well.”

Benson and the rest of the American Sprint Car Series drivers are back in action next Friday–Saturday, Sept. 19–20 at Paducah International Raceway and I-55 Federated Auto Parts Raceway Park.

Tickets for both events will be sold at the track on race day. If you can’t be there to watch in person, stream every lap live on DIRTVision.

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Big River Steel Big Four Final Round in Chase for the Championship

September 12, 2025 ARP Trish

BATAVIA, Ohio (September 12, 2025) – The 21st running of the Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals presented by All Makes Collision Center will serve as the final bonus round in the Big River Steel Chase for the Championship presented by ARP. The Big River Steel “Big Four” will be determined after the Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals. From there, the four championship contenders will compete for the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series presented by FloRacing National Championship at the remaining five races of the season. These four drivers will be seeded based on the number of feature wins in championship points-earning events they achieve throughout the year, earning 10 points for each feature win. Ricky Thornton Jr. leads with 13 wins this season. Jonathan Davenport has six, Devin Moran has five, and Hudson O’Neal has four. The Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series presented by FloRacing National Champion will earn an industry record $250,000 from a total points fund that was increased in 2025 to over $1.3 million. For the latest news, results, championship standings, and more about the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series presented by FloRacing, please visit www.lucasdirt.com. Big River Steel Big Four Payout: 1. $10,000, 2. $2,000, 3. $2,000, 4. $2,000 = $16,000 Big River Steel Big Four Championship Events:Date – Venue – Event – To WinSept. 26 – Brownstown Speedway – 4th Annual CJ Rayburn Memorial – $10,000Sept. 27 – Brownstown Speedway – 46th Annual Jackson 100 – $50,000Oct. 3 – Pittsburgh’s PA Motor Speedway – 37th Annual Pittsburgher – $10,000Oct. 4 – Pittsburgh’s PA Motor Speedway – 37th Annual Pittsburgher – $50,000Oct. 17 – Eldora Speedway – 45th Annual Dirt Track World Championship (Prelim; Non-Points)Oct. 18 – Eldora Speedway – 45th Annual Dirt Track World Championship – $100,000 2025 Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series Point Fund: 1. $250,000, 2. $200,000, 3. $150,000, 4.$125,000, 5. $100,000, 6. $80,000, 7. $60,000, 8. $55,000, 9. $50,000, 10. $45,000, 11. $40,000, 12. $35,000, 13. $30,000, 14. $25,000, 15. $20,000 About Big River Steel a U.S. Steel Company:Big River Steel started in 2014 in an area of northeast Arkansas that has been called “steel mill heaven.” They’ve always been about more than just building a steel mill. In fact, they’ve always been about more than just building a steel company. Big River takes a visionary, entrepreneurial approach to the ever-changing American manufacturing industry. They’re reimagining what it means to be a steel company in the global marketplace. To keep pace with evolving and emerging industries, they’ve attracted and trained the best steel technicians in the business. They’ve equipped them with the most advanced technology to make the steels customers need today and a decade from now. All while creating minimal impact on the environment. From their Flex Mill® equipment to AI technology to their partnerships with academic research institutes, they’re daring to be more than what you’d expect from a steel company. To learn more visit www.bigriversteel.com.

About Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series presented by FloRacing

Founded in 2005, the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series presented by FloRacing showcases the talents of the top dirt late model drivers from across the country. In 2025, the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series will sanction 58 events across 16 states, including some of the biggest marquee events in the industry, providing dirt slinging, sideways, door-to-door racing action lap after lap. The series receives national exposure through a television package streamed live via FloRacing, with select broadcasts on RACER Network. The in your face excitement of the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series presented by FloRacing is second to none in motorsports. For more information, including the latest news, tour schedule, driver information, and more, visit the official website at: www.LucasDirt.com.

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Big River Steel Big Four Final Round in Chase for the Championship

About Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series presented by FloRacing

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GOLDEN STATE GRADUATE: Cole Macedo Talks Rookie Campaign, Heading Home

September 11, 2025 ARP Trish

The Californian is ready to race on home turf as his debut World of Outlaws season winds down

BAKERSFIELD, CA (September 11, 2025) – Racers romanticize hitting the road with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series, but nothing can ever replicate the feeling of being home.

Cole Macedo’s dream came true in 2025 when he linked with TwoC Racing for his rookie campaign with The Greatest Show on Dirt. He learned the ropes in his home state of California, dabbled in national travel over the last few years, and finally, a plan came together for him to take the step to the sport’s highest level.

The first year on tour with the country’s best Sprint Car drivers has already taken Macedo to 17 states and even across the northern border into Canada. But now, for the first time this season, it’s time for the 25-year-old to race at home.

Next on the agenda is a two-week stay in California that begins this weekend with visits to Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway on Friday, Sept. 12, and Perris Auto Speedway on Saturday, Sept. 13. And it’s not just Cole getting to compete in front of family and friends; it’s his brother Carson, too.

“I think it’s going to be super cool for myself and my family to have both Carson and I come back home and be a part of the World of Outlaws, where him and I both grew up dreaming to be one of those guys,” Macedo said. “Now we’re rolling in as them, so I think that’s super cool.”

After Bakersfield and Perris, a race that Macedo has had circled all season is up next. The California stay concludes with the Dennis Roth Classic at Tulare, CA’s Thunderbowl Raceway on Sept. 19-20. The two nights conclude with a huge $83,000 payday. The Thunderbowl is a treacherous 3/8-mile dirt track that only the bold conquer, and that’s exactly how Macedo likes it.

“Tulare is my favorite track out of all the tracks I’ve ever raced,” Macedo said. “It’s going to be super cool. I love Tulare. You just get up on the wheel a lot there. No matter how your race car is, if you just get up on the fence and run it really hard, you can kind of overcome what’s going on with your race car and anything of that nature. I’ve grown to like that place. It puts the ball a little bit more in my court at all times. Now, it’s very easy to crash, too. I think that’s why I like it so much. I’ve probably crashed there more than anywhere in my career. It’s just hard. It’s not the most easy track to grasp onto.”

These two weeks aren’t only an opportunity for Macedo to race in front of family and friends. He’ll also have the chance to perform in front of one of his key sponsors, California-based WEDG High Performance Karts. Company founder Josh Stagg is a dedicated supporter of Sprint Car racing and plans to have a presence during the entire West Coast swing.

“Josh came on board this year and has really helped me out a lot with his sponsorship,” Macedo said. “Him and I have grown very close and have a lot of phone calls talking about his go-karts or my racing, this and that. He’s a super good guy. I think he’s going to do some advertisement here coming up on the West Coast. I think it’s going to be a super cool deal that I finally get to wear my suit and be there with the karts and kind of try to grow his brand with that. To represent him on the West Coast here is going to be a super good deal for both him and I and everyone involved with WEDG High Performance Karts.”

Looking at how 2025 has gone, Macedo admits he maybe hasn’t quite reached expectations. He sits third in the Kevin Gobrecht Rookie of the Year chase with 18 races remaining. Despite being a little short of where he’d like to be, there have been plenty of bright moments. The No. 2C led laps at Talladega Short Track in March before a top-five finish. Macedo wheeled from 12th to the podium at the legendary Eldora Speedway in May. The team feels if their Qualifying efforts can improve, they’ll be closer to where they need to be on a nightly basis.

“I think the year as a whole has gone fair,” Macedo said. “I think we’re all happy with what we’re doing. I think that we all had hoped to be a little bit better. I know I do just mainly in the beginning of the night. I feel like we race well. Our race car gets around the track pretty well. Just there at the beginning of the night, getting timed in and setting ourselves up for the rest of the night is really the only place our team is struggling at the moment. I think that we’re very close. We’re knocking on the door. If we could just figure that out, our nights would go a lot smoother and a lot easier.”

One key piece missing from the 2025 World of Outlaws campaign for Macedo is a win. Getting to the tour is one thing. Beating the best of the best is another. It’s a goal Macedo set for this season, and what better time to check it off than at home?

“Winning in front of my family and hometown fans, I’ve got a lot of buddies that plan to come, would be a dream come true,” Macedo said. “It would be probably the biggest thing that I’ve ever done. I hope that it can happen. I think we’re capable of making that happen. We just have to put the whole night together. With these Outlaw guys, you have to be perfect to win.”

Macedo’s time at home starts this weekend at Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway (Sept. 12) and Perris Auto Speedway (Sept. 13). For tickets, CLICK HERE.

GOLDEN STATE GRADUATE: Cole Macedo Talks Rookie Campaign, Heading Home

The Californian is ready to race on home turf as his debut World of Outlaws season winds down

BAKERSFIELD, CA (September 11, 2025) – Racers romanticize hitting the road with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series, but nothing can ever replicate the feeling of being home.

Macedo’s time at home starts this weekend at Bakersfield Speedway at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway (Sept. 12) and Perris Auto Speedway (Sept. 13). For tickets, CLICK HERE.

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

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BECKMAN HAS DRIVING FORCE IN HUNT FOR CHAMPIONSHIP

September 11, 2025 ARP Trish

Photography: John Force Racing / Gary Nastase / Auto Imagery

BROWNSBURG, Ind (Sept. 10, 2025) – The PEAK SQUAD of three-time Maple Grove Raceway Funny Car winner Jack Beckman and his John Force Racing crew are within striking distance, just one round of competition, behind teammate and point leader Austin Prock heading into Round 1 of the 2025 NHRA Countdown to the Championship in the NHRA Nationals presented by Nitro Fish in Mohnton, Pa.

Notes

The PEAK SQUAD starts the 2025 NHRA Countdown to the Championship a mere 20 points behind Prock in first place, and then seven ahead of Matt Hagan in third, 23 ahead of Ron Capps in fourth and 38 ahead of Paul Lee in fifth.
Beckman was a finalist in his two most recent Maple Grove Raceway appearances, winning his last Reading start in a Don Schumacher car in 2019 and reaching the finals in his first for JFR last year, losing an all-JFR final to Prock.
The California native has two other Funny car victories at Maple Grove Raceway, in 2008 and 2015.
Beckman has nine Countdown wins overall, including two as a John Force Racing driver (2024 at St. Louis and the Pomona Finals).
Eight John Force Racing drivers have won 41 times in Countdown events, 2007-2024. In addition to the three current drivers, other JFR winners were Robert Hight (16), John Force (7), Mike Neff (2), Courtney Force (2) and Ashley Force Hood (1).
Of JFR’s record 23 series championships, eight have been secured during the Countdown Era that began in 2007. John Force won 14 championships prior to the implementation of the Countdown format and Tony Pedregon won one (2003).

Most Wins, Countdown races (2007-Present)

FUNNY CAR
Robert Hight — 16
Matt Hagan — 16
Cruz Pedregon — 10
Ron Capps — 9
Jack Beckman — 9
John Force — 7
Del Worsham — 6
Tommy Johnson Jr. — 4
Austin Prock — 3
Bob Tasca III — 3
J.R. Todd — 3
Tim Wilkerson — 3

Jack Beckman Quotes

WHAT GRADE DO YOU GIVE YOURSELF ENTERING THE COUNTDOWN?

“That’s for other people to decide.ve had a wonderful year driving the PEAK Chevrolet for John. We’ve won two races. We’ve had five No. 1 qualifiers. We’ve been in a couple of other finals, lost to our teammate and, like Austin said that they had a a generational year last year, and the way this year’s going, it looks like it could be even better. That said, we are now one round behind them.”

DID YOUR TEAM TEST AFTER THE U.S. NATIONALS?

“We stayed and tested Monday at Indy with a brand-new car. Our goal was to get a few runs on it and some spare parts and load it back in the trailer as a backup car. It ran so good, I think we’re going to run that car. So, this is a time of year where you pull out all the stops, right? It’s time to go out there and swing hard every event.”

WHAT’S YOUR DRIVING FORCE TO WIN ANOTHER CHAMPIONSHIP?

“You know, like trophies, you ask anybody that races, ‘How many trophies do you have’ and the correct answer is ‘One less that I want to have,’ right? You never get one and say, ‘Oh, great. That’s exactly as many as I wanted to have.’ So there’s always that motivation. Every single race for us gives the trophy away at the end of the day. It’s not the same thing for regular season baseball or football. Every one matters.

“This is the first year that they’ve had a regular season championship, and I thought that was a great idea. It really gave us a reason to fight harder, to be in first, to try to get back into first, and it was a good money bonus for that. But really, in addition to race wins, every one of us is racing for the world championship and we have six races left to do that.

“It wouldn’t matter if I was driving for John Force because I would want to do it for the (crew) guys that are putting me in that car. But those are John Force’s guys. By the way, I’m getting suited up for the final round at Indy and someone comes up behind me and starts talking, I got my helmet on. I’m thinking, ‘Oh my god, who left this person up here when I’m trying to get in the car’ and I turn around and it’s John Force. He gave me a hug. That’s all the motivation you’ll ever need.”

Jack Beckman at Maple Grove Raceway

Jack Beckman	Race Result	Qualified	Event Round Record
2006	1^st round	8^th	0-1
2007	1^st round	2^nd	0-2
2008	Winner	13^th	4-2
2009	1^st round	3^rd	4-3
2010	2^nd round	4^th	5-4
2011	1^st round	5^th	5-5
2012	Semi-finals	1^st	7-6
2013	1^st round	3rd	7-7
2014	2^nd round	6^th	8-8
2015	Winner	3^rd	12-8
2016	Semi-finals	11^th	14-9
2017	Semi-finals	5^th	16-10
2018	1^st round	4^th	16-11
2019*	Winner	3^rd	20-11
2020	DNC	DNC	DNC
2021	DNC	DNC	DNC
2022	DNC	DNC	DNC
2023	DNC	DNC	DNC
2024	Runner-up	3^rd	23-12

*2019 defeated John Force in final round

**2024 runner-up to teammate Austin Prock in first final round in return to racing

Number starts: 15

Times No. 1 qualifier: 1

Final rounds: 4

Victories: 3

Won-Lost Record: 23-12

Track records – 3.837 seconds by Ron Capps, Sept. 14, 2019; 339.28 mph by Ron Capps, Sept. 14, 2019

Track & TV Schedules (all times Eastern)

NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying features two rounds at 2:30 and 5 p.m. ET on Friday, Sept. 12 and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, Sept. 13 at 12:30 and 3 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. ET on Sunday, Sept. 14.

BECKMAN HAS DRIVING FORCE IN HUNT FOR CHAMPIONSHIP

Photography: John Force Racing / Gary Nastase / Auto Imagery

Notes

The PEAK SQUAD starts the 2025 NHRA Countdown to the Championship a mere 20 points behind Prock in first place, and then seven ahead of Matt Hagan in third, 23 ahead of Ron Capps in fourth and 38 ahead of Paul Lee in fifth.
Beckman was a finalist in his two most recent Maple Grove Raceway appearances, winning his last Reading start in a Don Schumacher car in 2019 and reaching the finals in his first for JFR last year, losing an all-JFR final to Prock.
The California native has two other Funny car victories at Maple Grove Raceway, in 2008 and 2015.
Beckman has nine Countdown wins overall, including two as a John Force Racing driver (2024 at St. Louis and the Pomona Finals).
Eight John Force Racing drivers have won 41 times in Countdown events, 2007-2024. In addition to the three current drivers, other JFR winners were Robert Hight (16), John Force (7), Mike Neff (2), Courtney Force (2) and Ashley Force Hood (1).
Of JFR’s record 23 series championships, eight have been secured during the Countdown Era that began in 2007. John Force won 14 championships prior to the implementation of the Countdown format and Tony Pedregon won one (2003).

Most Wins, Countdown races (2007-Present)

FUNNY CAR
Robert Hight — 16
Matt Hagan — 16
Cruz Pedregon — 10
Ron Capps — 9
Jack Beckman — 9
John Force — 7
Del Worsham — 6
Tommy Johnson Jr. — 4
Austin Prock — 3
Bob Tasca III — 3
J.R. Todd — 3
Tim Wilkerson — 3

Jack Beckman Quotes

WHAT GRADE DO YOU GIVE YOURSELF ENTERING THE COUNTDOWN?

DID YOUR TEAM TEST AFTER THE U.S. NATIONALS?

WHAT’S YOUR DRIVING FORCE TO WIN ANOTHER CHAMPIONSHIP?

Jack Beckman at Maple Grove Raceway

Jack Beckman	Race Result	Qualified	Event Round Record
2006	1^st round	8^th	0-1
2007	1^st round	2^nd	0-2
2008	Winner	13^th	4-2
2009	1^st round	3^rd	4-3
2010	2^nd round	4^th	5-4
2011	1^st round	5^th	5-5
2012	Semi-finals	1^st	7-6
2013	1^st round	3rd	7-7
2014	2^nd round	6^th	8-8
2015	Winner	3^rd	12-8
2016	Semi-finals	11^th	14-9
2017	Semi-finals	5^th	16-10
2018	1^st round	4^th	16-11
2019*	Winner	3^rd	20-11
2020	DNC	DNC	DNC
2021	DNC	DNC	DNC
2022	DNC	DNC	DNC
2023	DNC	DNC	DNC
2024	Runner-up	3^rd	23-12

*2019 defeated John Force in final round

**2024 runner-up to teammate Austin Prock in first final round in return to racing

Number starts: 15

Times No. 1 qualifier: 1

Final rounds: 4

Victories: 3

Won-Lost Record: 23-12

Track records – 3.837 seconds by Ron Capps, Sept. 14, 2019; 339.28 mph by Ron Capps, Sept. 14, 2019

Track & TV Schedules (all times Eastern)

Television coverage includes qualifying action on FS1 at 12 p.m. ET on Sunday on FS1, and eliminations at 2 p.m. Sunday on FS1.

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PROCK BEGINS COUNTDOWN ON TOP OF FUNNY CAR MOUNTAIN

September 11, 2025 ARP Trish

Photography: John Force Racing / Gary Nastase / Auto Imagery

BROWNSBURG, Ind (Sept. 10, 2025) – Momentum is a critical element to any team entering the 2025 NHRA Countdown to the Championship and Austin Prock and his Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS Funny Car team has a truckload of it entering the Sept. 11-14 NHRA Nationals presented by Nitro Fish at Maple Grove Raceway in Mohnton, Pa.

Two weeks ago, Prock and his John Force Racing team clinched the NHRA Funny Car regular season championship, won the PlayNHRA Funny Car All-Star Callout on Sunday and then captured his second consecutive U.S. Nationals title on Labor Day Monday.

He enters Rd. 1 of the Countdown at Maple Grove Raceway, a race he won on his way to the 2024 championship, with a 20-point advantage over JFR teammate Jack Beckman after the playoff points reset.

Notes

Reading is one of the three races Austin has won in both Top Fuel and Funny Car. The others are the Charlotte Spring 4Wide (2023, 2025) and Seattle (2019, 2024).
Prock has won 15 on his 34 Funny Car starts, which places him in select company. No Funny Car driver has won at that pace since the ‘90s when John Force won 17 of 34 starts in 1995-96 and matched that total in a 34-event stretch in 1999 and 2000.
Prock is one of four drivers to have won Countdown races in both Top Fuel and Funny Car (Del Worsham, Shawn Langdon, J.R. Todd). He won twice in 2022, moving from 12th to third in the final standings.
Eight John Force Racing drivers have won 41 times in Countdown events, 2007-2024. In addition to the three current drivers, other JFR winners were Robert Hight (16), John Force (7), Mike Neff (2), Courtney Force (2) and Ashley Force Hood (1).
Of JFR’s record 23 series championships, eight have been secured during the Countdown Era that began in 2007. John Force won 14 championships prior to the implementation of the Countdown format and Tony Pedregon won one (2003).

MOST COUNTDOWN RACE WINS (2007-PRESENT)

FUNNY CAR
Robert Hight — 16
Matt Hagan — 16
Cruz Pedregon — 10
Ron Capps — 9
Jack Beckman — 9
John Force — 7
Del Worsham — 6
Tommy Johnson Jr. — 4
Austin Prock — 3
Bob Tasca III — 3
J.R. Todd — 3
Tim Wilkerson — 3

Austin Prock Quotes

ARE YOU SURPRISED WITH YOUR PERFORMANCE THIS SEASON?

“Last year, we had one of the most dominant performances in Funny Car history and we’ve come out this year and actually had one more win than we did last year to this point. So, yeah, it’s been going really good. You know, the point reset after the U.S. Nationals and everything can change. But we just have to go out there and keep doing what we’ve been doing to get us to this point. That’s what we did last year, and we ended up earning my first World Championship. The car’s in good shape right now so, if we keep our heads down and everyone does their job, we’ll have a good shot at it.”

WHAT’S THE ATTITUDE NOW HEADING INTO THE PLAYOFFS AS REIGNING CHAMPION?

“I always think we have something to prove. You know, our family works really hard at this sport, and this whole team works really hard. putting their life and soul into this sport. I’m just as hungry as I was last year, maybe even more hungry. To win one championship is one thing, but to run it back to back, that’s very difficult to do, and it kind of puts you in a different category of people in the history books. So, yeah, I want to win this championship just as bad as I did last year.”

“We’ve worked really hard to this point, to have the points lead that we did finishing up Indy, winning the U.S. Nationals again. I’m ready to get going. I’m glad that we have three races in a row to start off the Countdown. You can really get it in a groove and make or break your fate. So, I’m looking forward to it.”

Austin Prock at Maple Grove Raceway

Austin Prock	Race Result	Qualified	Event Round Record
2019 (TF)	Semi-finals	7^th	2-1
2020	DNC
2021	DNC
2022 (TF)	Winner	4^th	6-1
2023 (TF)	1^st round	8^th	6-2
2024 (FC)	Winner	1^st	10-2

Quickest time: 3.849 seconds, Sept. 13, 2024

PROCK BEGINS COUNTDOWN ON TOP OF FUNNY CAR MOUNTAIN

Photography: John Force Racing / Gary Nastase / Auto Imagery

He enters Rd. 1 of the Countdown at Maple Grove Raceway, a race he won on his way to the 2024 championship, with a 20-point advantage over JFR teammate Jack Beckman after the playoff points reset.

Notes

Reading is one of the three races Austin has won in both Top Fuel and Funny Car. The others are the Charlotte Spring 4Wide (2023, 2025) and Seattle (2019, 2024).
Prock has won 15 on his 34 Funny Car starts, which places him in select company. No Funny Car driver has won at that pace since the ‘90s when John Force won 17 of 34 starts in 1995-96 and matched that total in a 34-event stretch in 1999 and 2000.
Prock is one of four drivers to have won Countdown races in both Top Fuel and Funny Car (Del Worsham, Shawn Langdon, J.R. Todd). He won twice in 2022, moving from 12th to third in the final standings.
Eight John Force Racing drivers have won 41 times in Countdown events, 2007-2024. In addition to the three current drivers, other JFR winners were Robert Hight (16), John Force (7), Mike Neff (2), Courtney Force (2) and Ashley Force Hood (1).
Of JFR’s record 23 series championships, eight have been secured during the Countdown Era that began in 2007. John Force won 14 championships prior to the implementation of the Countdown format and Tony Pedregon won one (2003).

MOST COUNTDOWN RACE WINS (2007-PRESENT)

FUNNY CAR
Robert Hight — 16
Matt Hagan — 16
Cruz Pedregon — 10
Ron Capps — 9
Jack Beckman — 9
John Force — 7
Del Worsham — 6
Tommy Johnson Jr. — 4
Austin Prock — 3
Bob Tasca III — 3
J.R. Todd — 3
Tim Wilkerson — 3

Austin Prock Quotes

ARE YOU SURPRISED WITH YOUR PERFORMANCE THIS SEASON?

WHAT’S THE ATTITUDE NOW HEADING INTO THE PLAYOFFS AS REIGNING CHAMPION?

Austin Prock at Maple Grove Raceway

Austin Prock	Race Result	Qualified	Event Round Record
2019 (TF)	Semi-finals	7^th	2-1
2020	DNC
2021	DNC
2022 (TF)	Winner	4^th	6-1
2023 (TF)	1^st round	8^th	6-2
2024 (FC)	Winner	1^st	10-2

Quickest time: 3.849 seconds, Sept. 13, 2024

Fastest speed: 338.43 mph, Sept. 13, 2024

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FORCE HEADS TO MAPLE GROVE WITH FOCUS ON CHAMPIONSHIP

September 11, 2025 ARP Trish

Photography: John Force Racing / Gary Nastase / Auto Imagery

BROWNSBURG, Ind (Sept. 10, 2025) – Brittany Force brings two championship seasons of experience and the understanding of what it takes to win at Maple Grove Raceway when she and her Monster Energy Top Fuel team compete in the Sept. 11-14 NHRA Nationals presented by Nitro Fish, Rd. 1 of the six-race 2025 NHRA Countdown to the Championship.

Notes

By qualifying No. 1 for the 56th time in her career, Brittany moved into a tie with Joe Amato and Pro Stock driver Mike Edwards for 13th place in all-time No. 1s. Only Tony Schumacher (88) and Doug Kalitta (65) have started more Top Fuel races from No. 1.
Brittany is the speed record holder at 14 of the 17 tracks that currently play host to Mission Foods Series national events. The only tracks on which she doesn’t hold the record are Bristol, Chicago and Dallas.
Brittany has posted top speed at six consecutive events and at eight of 14 events leading into the Countdown. She has reset her own national speed record four times this year – Charlotte (341.59), Seattle (341.85), Sonoma (343.16) and Indy (343.51)
Brittany’s six Countdown wins are second among women behind only Erica Enders (16). She starts the current Countdown in the No. 5 spot, a position higher than 2017 when she won her first title.
Eight John Force Racing drivers have won 41 times in Countdown events, 2007-2024. In addition to the three current drivers, other JFR winners were Robert Hight (16), John Force (7), Mike Neff (2), Courtney Force (2) and Ashley Force Hood (1).
Of JFR’s record 23 series championships, eight have been secured during the Countdown Era that began in 2007. John Force won 14 championships prior to the implementation of the Countdown format and Tony Pedregon won one (2003).

Brittany Force Quotes

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON RACE 1 OF THE 2025 NHRA COUNTDOWN TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP:

“All of John Force Racing is in a good position heading into the first race of the countdown. Our Monster Energy team is currently 5th in points and only 56 points behind the No. 1 position. I’m excited to get to Reading, PA. I believe the first couple of races of the countdown will set the tone for the remainder of the season. With that being said, we need to do well this weekend and our focus is bringing home the first win of the Countdown.”

WHAT’S YOUR MINDSIDET KNOWING YOU HAVE TWO CHAMPIONSHIPS OF EXPERIENCE TO DRAW FROM?

My mindset is exactly where it was the last championship. Focusing on one weekend, one day, one run at a time. There’s still SIX races left so it’s anyone’s game at this point.

WHAT ARE YOUR MEMORIES OF WINNING READING IN 2017?

“Our win in Reading back in 2017 was definitely where our team’s momentum picked up. We starting going rounds and winning at the right time which ultimately lead us to a championship. That Reading win opened the doors to the possibility of a championship and we chased it down until Pomona.

Brittany Force at Maple Grove Raceway

Brittany Force	Race Result	Qualified	Event Round Record
2013	1^st round	11^th	0-1
2014	Runner-up	2^nd	3-2
2015	Semi-finals	1^st	5-3
2016	Runner-up	12^th	8-4
2017	Winner	4^th	12-4
2018	1^st round	11^th	12-5
2019*	Semi-finals	1^st	14-6
2020	DNC	DNC	DNC
2021	Semi-finals	1^st	16-7
2022	2^nd round	1^st	17-8
2023	2^nd round	2^nd	18-9
2024	1^st round	11^th	18-10

Quickest time: 3.623 seconds, Sept. 14, 2019 (current NHRA Nationals Elapsed Time record)

Fastest speed: 337.66 mph, Sept. 18, 2022.

Number starts: 11

Times No. 1 qualifier: 4 4 (2015, 2019, 2021, 2022)

Final rounds: 3

Victories: 1

Won-Lost Record: 18-10

Track records – 3.623 seconds by Brittany Force, Sept. 14, 2019; 337.66 mph by Brittany Force, Sept. 18, 2022.

Most Wins, Countdown races (2007-Present)

TOP FUEL

Antron Brown — 18

Steve Torrence — 13

Tony Schumacher — 13

Doug Kalitta — 9

Larry Dixon — 6

Brittany Force — 6

Shawn Langdon — 5

Track & TV Schedules (all times Eastern)

FORCE HEADS TO MAPLE GROVE WITH FOCUS ON CHAMPIONSHIP

Photography: John Force Racing / Gary Nastase / Auto Imagery

Notes

By qualifying No. 1 for the 56th time in her career, Brittany moved into a tie with Joe Amato and Pro Stock driver Mike Edwards for 13th place in all-time No. 1s. Only Tony Schumacher (88) and Doug Kalitta (65) have started more Top Fuel races from No. 1.
Brittany is the speed record holder at 14 of the 17 tracks that currently play host to Mission Foods Series national events. The only tracks on which she doesn’t hold the record are Bristol, Chicago and Dallas.
Brittany has posted top speed at six consecutive events and at eight of 14 events leading into the Countdown. She has reset her own national speed record four times this year – Charlotte (341.59), Seattle (341.85), Sonoma (343.16) and Indy (343.51)
Brittany’s six Countdown wins are second among women behind only Erica Enders (16). She starts the current Countdown in the No. 5 spot, a position higher than 2017 when she won her first title.
Eight John Force Racing drivers have won 41 times in Countdown events, 2007-2024. In addition to the three current drivers, other JFR winners were Robert Hight (16), John Force (7), Mike Neff (2), Courtney Force (2) and Ashley Force Hood (1).
Of JFR’s record 23 series championships, eight have been secured during the Countdown Era that began in 2007. John Force won 14 championships prior to the implementation of the Countdown format and Tony Pedregon won one (2003).

Brittany Force Quotes

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON RACE 1 OF THE 2025 NHRA COUNTDOWN TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP:

WHAT’S YOUR MINDSIDET KNOWING YOU HAVE TWO CHAMPIONSHIPS OF EXPERIENCE TO DRAW FROM?

My mindset is exactly where it was the last championship. Focusing on one weekend, one day, one run at a time. There’s still SIX races left so it’s anyone’s game at this point.

WHAT ARE YOUR MEMORIES OF WINNING READING IN 2017?

Brittany Force at Maple Grove Raceway

Brittany Force	Race Result	Qualified	Event Round Record
2013	1^st round	11^th	0-1
2014	Runner-up	2^nd	3-2
2015	Semi-finals	1^st	5-3
2016	Runner-up	12^th	8-4
2017	Winner	4^th	12-4
2018	1^st round	11^th	12-5
2019*	Semi-finals	1^st	14-6
2020	DNC	DNC	DNC
2021	Semi-finals	1^st	16-7
2022	2^nd round	1^st	17-8
2023	2^nd round	2^nd	18-9
2024	1^st round	11^th	18-10

Quickest time: 3.623 seconds, Sept. 14, 2019 (current NHRA Nationals Elapsed Time record)

Fastest speed: 337.66 mph, Sept. 18, 2022.

Number starts: 11

Times No. 1 qualifier: 4 4 (2015, 2019, 2021, 2022)

Final rounds: 3

Victories: 1

Won-Lost Record: 18-10

Track records – 3.623 seconds by Brittany Force, Sept. 14, 2019; 337.66 mph by Brittany Force, Sept. 18, 2022.

Most Wins, Countdown races (2007-Present)

TOP FUEL

Antron Brown — 18

Steve Torrence — 13

Tony Schumacher — 13

Doug Kalitta — 9

Larry Dixon — 6

Brittany Force — 6

Shawn Langdon — 5

Track & TV Schedules (all times Eastern)

Television coverage includes qualifying action on FS1 at 12 p.m. ET on Sunday on FS1, and eliminations at 2 p.m. Sunday on FS1.

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Kyle Jones Relives First National Triumph, Finishing 2025 Xtreme Outlaw Midget Season with Tim Engler

September 11, 2025 ARP Trish

CONCORD, NC (September 11, 2025) – Racing on the national level for more than a decade, Kyle Jones has established himself as a seasoned veteran in the dirt Midget world.

In the span since his Midget debut in the final POWRi National Midget League event at Cowtown Speedway in 2012, Jones has become a journeyman driver with appearances for Trifecta Motorsports, Royal Power Sports, and CL Motorsports in scattered starts with the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota.

In 2025, the Kennedale, TX driver made three Series visits at Humboldt Speedway, 81 Speedway, and Arrowhead Speedway in the No. 60X Ripper Chassis, but then Tim Engler reached out and asked him to drive the No. 7X Midget. Jones knew the caliber of car he was driving as Engler had celebrated triumphs with Thomas Meseraull multiple times and helped Joe B. Miller earn his first national Series win in July at Spoon River Speedway.

“It’s been a heck of a journey,” Jones said. “I’ve gotten to drive for a lot of great car owners over the past few years, but Tim gave me the opportunity to come out here, and they’ve got a great piece. Obviously, ‘T-Mez’ and Joe B. (Miller) have proven that, so I knew when I stepped in it, I had to step up my game.”

Jones made his first start with that team at Action Track USA for the Appalachian Midget Week opener, finishing 10th on the night. The next day at Linda’s Speedway changed Jones’ outlook for the rest of the week after outdueling Series rookie Michael Faccinto for his first career national victory.

While Jones is going for the win every single time he’s behind the wheel, he did not expect the success to come as quickly as it did on that August night.

“We went to Action Track and it was just trying to get acclimated to the car and things like that,” Jones said. “So, it was a learning curve for me at Action Track, then as soon as we went out to Linda’s for Hot Laps, I realized how good we were, how good the car was, and how comfortable I was around the racetrack.

“I knew Chuck (Adams) and Donnie (Gentry) were going to give me a great piece, and obviously, Tim gives us all the tools we need to be fast and up front. I didn’t know if I expected to win, but I wanted my first win, and I knew this car was capable of doing it for me.”

Jones continued to ride the wave of momentum through the duration of the four days, earning an additional podium at Clyde Martin Memorial Speedway to finish second in the Appalachian Midget Week points standings.

Adding a top-five finish in the Xtreme-POWRi Challenge Series finale weekend at Doe Run Raceway and a Summit Racing Equipment Hard Charger award in his eighth-place effort at Highland Speedway, Jones said he hopes the trophies come more easily with the first win completed.

“Usually, the first one is the hardest to get out of the way, then they start flowing, right?” Jones said. “Hopefully, it’s a case of that. It’s a lot off my back too, because when I race for other teams, I’m kind of the crew chief as well. So, having Donnie and Chuck do the work and making the calls is a lot off my shoulders, so I can focus on driving the race car.

“It’s been 10 years coming, and I’ve been hard at the Midget scene for a long time. So, it was a relief because at some point I was thinking, ‘Well, I may be the most successful Midget driver without a national win.’ I never wanted that title, but I’m glad we got it out of the way and the future’s looking bright for us.”

Heading into the final two tracks of the 2025 season, Jones is seeking to better his career-best finishes at Jacksonville Speedway and Millbridge Speedway after time away from visiting. In two separate visits from 2022 and 2023, Jones owns a best finish of eighth at Jacksonville, while his highest result at Millbridge is a ninth-place result from the inaugural 2022 Series event.

“Jacksonville, I’ve had some decent runs, but not that I’ve expected like top fives or the win,” Jones said. “We’ve had some speed. I like the place a lot. It’s a nice, big, wide quarter mile for a Midget, and I’m really looking forward to getting there; it’s just been a while.

“Millbridge is a love/hate relationship. I was the first Xtreme High-Point driver in Series history, and we ended up running somewhere in the top-10 that night. But ever since then, I just have a struggle of a time getting ahold of that place. Knowing I’m going with Chuck, Donnie, and Tim, we speak each other’s language on what we want and what I want in the car. So, I’m really excited to get to some of these places with these guys.”

Jones will close out the 2025 Xtreme Outlaw Midget season behind the wheel of the Engler Machine and Tool No. 7X Spike Chassis, beginning with the penultimate weekend at Jacksonville Speedway for the Honest Abe Roofing Open Wheel Showdown on Friday-Saturday, Oct. 3-4.

JACKSONVILLE TICKETS

Kyle Jones Relives First National Triumph, Finishing 2025 Xtreme Outlaw Midget Season with Tim Engler

CONCORD, NC (September 11, 2025) – Racing on the national level for more than a decade, Kyle Jones has established himself as a seasoned veteran in the dirt Midget world.

While Jones is going for the win every single time he’s behind the wheel, he did not expect the success to come as quickly as it did on that August night.

JACKSONVILLE 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.

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Berry, Wood Brothers Look to Rebound at Bristol

September 11, 2025 ARP Trish

Josh Berry and the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane team head to Bristol Motor Speedway with their sights set on turning things around in the NASCAR Playoffs. After tough breaks at Darlington and Gateway, the team sees Saturday night’s Bass Pro Shops Night Race as the perfect stage to rebound and showcase the strength they’ve had throughout the season.

Saturday night’s race is the final event in the Round of 16 of the postseason. At the conclusion of the 500-lap battle on the high-banked half-mile, four drivers will be eliminated from championship contention.

Berry enters the race 16th in the standings, 45 points behind Ford Racing teammate Austin Cindric, who currently holds the final transfer spot in 12th. That deficit means Berry will almost certainly need a victory at Bristol to advance to the Round of 12.

Even if the Playoff run ends this weekend, there’s still plenty at stake, with valuable points positions available across the final eight races of the season.

“It’s always a lot of fun going to Bristol,” Berry said. “I felt like we had a pretty solid day, quiet day, there in the spring. I think we ended up 12th with the Wood Brothers Ford Mustang but still felt like we had a solid car and a solid day. Hopefully we can build off that going back.”

Practice at Bristol is set for Friday at 4:30 p.m. ET and will be followed by qualifying at 5:40 p.m. ET, with both sessions airing live on truTV. The 500-lap, 266.5-mile race is scheduled to take the green flag Saturday night just after 7:30 p.m. ET. Stage breaks are planned for Laps 125 and 250, and USA Network will carry the live broadcast.

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TEAM CHEVY ADVANCE Bristol Motor Speedway September 11-13, 2025

September 11, 2025 ARP Trish

With all three NASCAR national series now officially in playoff competition, the sport will head to “The Last Great Colosseum”, Bristol Motor Speedway, for the traditional tripleheader under the lights.

MEDIA RESOURCES: Photo Gallery | Race Advances Chevrolet Newsroom

The weekend will open on Thursday evening with the Craftsman Truck Series’ UNOH 250 presented by Ohio Logistics, the second race of the Round of 10, with all four Team Chevy playoff contenders sitting above the cutline. Friday evening will see seven Team Chevy drivers begin their championship title run in the Food City 300, with the Cup Series facing its first postseason elimination race in Saturday’s Bass Pro Shops Night Race.

Chevrolet in the NASCAR Cup Series at Bristol: Kyle Larson’s victory in the NASCAR Cup Series’ most recent visit to Bristol Motor Speedway (Apr. 2025) extended the Bowtie brand’s already record-setting win count at the track to 48 all-time triumphs. Among those wins includes Chevrolet’s milestone 600th all-time triumph in NASCAR’s top division – delivered by Kyle Busch behind the wheel of a Hendrick Motorsports-prepared Chevrolet. The 40-year-old Las Vegas, Nevada, native is the track’s winningest driver in the division with eight victories – a record that’s double the next leading competitor, Denny Hamlin, with four wins. Larson’s trip to victory lane in the series’ spring race marked his third Cup Series win at Bristol – moving the 33-year-old Elk Grove, California, native to third on track’s all-time wins list for active drivers.

LARSON LEADS INTO FIRST ELIMINATION RACEThe NASCAR Cup Series is on the brink of its first elimination race of the 2025 playoffs, with Saturday’s 500-lap event determining the 12 drivers that will continue on in their championship title chase. Among those looking for a guaranteed ticket into the Round of 12 includes the track’s defending winner, Kyle Larson, who will head into the weekend with the biggest points cushion of 60-points over the cutline. Larson is among the four Team Chevy playoff contenders that will enter the elimination race ranked in the top-12 of the standings – all of which hold a double-digit points advantage over the bubble (William Byron +39; Chase Elliott +28; and Ross Chastain +19). The series’ last appearance at the high-banked half-mile saw four Team Chevy playoff contenders collect top-10 finishes with Larson’s win accompanied by a sixth-place finish by William Byron; a seventh-place finish by Ross Chastain; and a 10th-place finish by Austin Dillon.

HEMRIC WITH STRONG PLAYOFFS START All four Team Chevy playoff contenders will head into the second race of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Round of 10 above the cutline – led by Daniel Hemric and the No. 19 McAnally-Hilgemann Racing Chevrolet team, who currently sits in the third position with a 33-point advantage over the cutline. The 34-year-old Kannapolis, North Carolina, native started his second career campaign in the series’ playoffs with a strong performance in the opening race at Darlington Raceway – turning in a 49-point day (third-best of the race) to move the Team Chevy driver up one position in the standings. Hemric heads into Bristol with nine top-fives and 14 top-10s, which puts him second in the series behind the current points leader, Corey Heim.

BUILDING ONTO A TRIUMPHANT SEASON STREAK As the manufacturer championship battle continues to heat up, Chevrolet will have the opportunity to make history this season. If the Bowtie brand is able to sweep the manufacturer championship title in all three NASCAR national series once again, the feat will mark the longest streak of manufacturer championship title sweeps by a single manufacturer in NASCAR history. With all three divisions officially in playoff mode, Chevrolet will enter the weekend atop the manufacturer standings in NASCAR’s top-two divisions with a 26-point lead in the Cup Series and a 179-point lead in the Xfinity Series, with the Bowtie brand sitting at just a seven-point deficit in the Truck Series standings. Chevrolet has earned at least one victory in the NASCAR national ranks in the past 11 consecutive race weekends – dating back to the manufacturer’s doubleheader sweep in Mexico City.

BOWTIE BULLETS:·        Chevrolet will serve as the official pace vehicle for the Bristol Motor Speedway tripleheader weekend with the Corvette Stingray pacing the NASCAR Cup and Xfinity Series in their respective events and the Silverado RST pacing the Craftsman Truck Series race.
·        Active Chevrolet drivers with a NASCAR Cup Series win at Bristol Motor Speedway: Kyle Busch: Eight wins (2019, ’18, ’17, ’11, ’10, ’09 sweep, ’07)Kyle Larson: Three wins (2025, 2024, ’21) ·        Chevrolet is the winningest manufacturer in both of NASCAR’s top two divisions at Bristol Motor Speedway, heading into the weekend with 48 Cup Series wins and 38 Xfinity Series.  ·        Chevrolet paces its manufacturer competitors in both driver and organization representation in both the NASCAR Cup and Xfinity Series Playoffs with seven drivers from three different Chevrolet organizations set to compete for the driver championship title in each division.  ·        Chevrolet has earned at least one victory in the NASCAR national ranks for the past 11 consecutive race weekends – dating back to the manufacturer’s doubleheader sweep in Mexico City (June 2025).  ·        Chevrolet has earned at least half of the top-10 finishing results in 12 of the 28 points-paying races thus far this season, including a season-high seven top-10 finishes at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway.  ·        In 136 points-paying races in the Next Gen era, Chevrolet leads all manufacturers with 64 victories – a winning percentage of 47.1%.
·        With its 43 NASCAR Cup Series Manufacturer Championships, 33 NASCAR Cup Series Driver Championships, and 878 all-time NASCAR Cup Series wins, Chevrolet continues to hold the title as the winningest brand in NASCAR Cup Series history.

FOR THE FANS: ·        Fans can visit the Team Chevy Racing Display in the Fan Midway at Bristol Motor Speedway.
·        Fans can check out an assortment of Chevrolet vehicles including: Equinox EV RS, Equinox ICE ACTIV, Silverado 2500 High Country, 1500 Silverado Trail Boss, Traverse, Trax ACTIV, Corvette.

Team Chevy Driver Appearances at the Display: Thursday, Sept. 11Rajah Caruth: 12:45 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Daniel Hemric: 1:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. Connor Mosack & Jack Wood: 1:15 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Grant Enfinger: 1:30 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. Conner Jones, Matt Mills, Andres Perez de Lara, Bayley Currey: 1:45 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Friday, Sept. 12Carson Kvapil: 12:00 p.m. – 12:15 p.m. Sammy Smith: 12:45 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Daniel Suarez: 3:30 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. Justin Allgaier: 4:30 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. Nick Sanchez: 4:45 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Jesse Love: 5:00 p.m. – 5:15 p.m. Connor Zilisch: 5:15 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.  Saturday, Sept. 13Shane van Gisbergen: 3:20 p.m. – 3:35 p.m. Ross Chastain: 3:35 p.m. – 3:50 p.m. Justin Haley: 3:50 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Chase Elliott: 4:00 p.m. – 4:15 pm.Alex Bowman: 4:15 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Chevrolet Display Hours of Operation: Thursday, Sept. 11: 11 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 12: 12 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13: 12 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

TUNE-IN:NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs Round of 16: Elimination RaceBass Pro Shops Night RaceSaturday, September 13, at 7:30 p.m. ET(USA Network, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90) NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs Round of 12: Race OneFood City 300Friday, September 12, at 7:30 p.m. ET(CW, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90) NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Playoffs Round of 10: Race TwoUNOH 250 presented by Ohio LogisticsThursday, September 11, at 8:00 p.m. ET(FS1, NASCAR Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90)

QUOTABLE QUOTES:Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing ChevroletTalk about the news this week regarding the Moose?“The Moose Fraternity has been a great partner to me dating back before my Trackhouse Racing days. It’s not often in racing that you can have a relationship with a partner for as many years as I have had with the Moose. They obviously see value in the motorsports program and it gives me the opportunity to meet their guests each weekend, visit their lodges, visit Mooseheart and Moosehaven and seeing the impact they have in the community. I’m thankful they’ve decided to continue to support me and the No. 1 team at Trackhouse for years to come.” After St. Louis how is your playoff outlook going into Bristol?“Obviously, we aren’t heading into Bristol with as much of a points cushion as we hoped for. Being 19 points above the cutline is better than being no points or below the line. I’m going into Bristol preparing just like I prepare every week, just as if I’ve won the last two races. I can’t try any harder. We are going to put our best foot forward and hope for the best result at Bristol and that its good enough to get us to the next round.” Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing ChevroletWhat’s night racing at Bristol Motor Speedway like?“Night racing at Bristol Motor Speedway is special. No other crowd like that. The energy is electric going into the Last Great Coliseum. I can’t wait to get there and run all over that track. It’s a fun one. I think every time you walk inside that place you get goose bumps. You get excited. The adrenaline is always pumping. I love going to Bristol.” Is there extra motivation to perform at Bristol Motor Speedway knowing it is the Bass Pro Shops Night Race and it means so much to Johnny Morris and all of the Bass Pro Shops Outfitters?“I think going to the Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway and looking at what it means to Bass Pro Shops and Johnny Morris, to win their race is always something that you’re trying to do. It would mean a lot to come back to Welcome, North Carolina with their trophy.” Does anything transfer over from the Spring race to the Fall race at Bristol Motor Speedway? Or are they two different beasts?“I think some things do transfer over. Similar temperatures, although I think this race may be a little bit cooler than the first race, but what we learned in the first race should apply.” Busy weekend for you with both the Bristol night race and the Carolina Cowboys homestand taking place…“We’ll be racing for our spot to transfer into the next round in the NASCAR Playoffs in Bristol, along with the Carolina Cowboys having their home event at the Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina, so it should be an exciting weekend for Welcome, North Carolina.” Justin Haley, No. 7 Spire Motorsports ChevroletBack in the spring race at Bristol, you qualified 10th and came home 13th. What positives can you take from that top-15 run, and how can you build on it this weekend?“Bristol is always a great atmosphere for the drivers and the fans. We had a super strong run in the spring in the No. 7 NationsGuard Chevrolet and we fully expect to be just as good Saturday night. We won’t have the best metric for qualifying but if we execute well and get good track position we will set ourselves up for a great weekend.”What’s the biggest challenge you expect this weekend — tire wear, track position, or avoiding trouble in traffic?“I think my biggest challenge is managing tires while navigating traffic. Tire wear might be a concern this weekend. I think it really depends on the weather and how it shows during practice and how the track takes rubber.” Kyle Busch, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing ChevroletWhat is it like to race at Bristol? “Bristol’s one of my favorite tracks, if not my favorite. I love going there, it’s obviously a great place. It reminds me of the local short track atmosphere that you get on Saturday nights, growing up racing late models and things like that. It’s a lot of fun, I love the banking, I love the concrete and just the nature of that place. It’s gotten a little bit tougher over the years to be as good as I once was there. Everybody’s kind of picked up on it. It’s definitely one of the coolest tracks that we get a chance to go run on. And obviously, the speed that you carry there and the close nature to action, whether you run the bottom or whether you run the top, there’s just a lot of options.” What is it like having to navigate the top and the bottom? Selecting a line multiple times, you may run the top, you may run the bottom, each lap. What’s it like to just navigate through all of that, every lap at that track? “Yeah, every scenario is different at Bristol. The biggest thing is restarts. You’ve got to be ready to get down to the bottom. It seems like the bottom really fires off and takes off early. And then as the pace progresses and falls off, then you’ve got to get to the top. You want to be one of the first ones up to the top so that people don’t get up in front of you and block you and not allow you through traffic. It’s just really a challenging race. It’s more of a chess game a lot of times, too, rather than just trying to figure out all raw speeds.” What are the differences for a day race there versus a night race? Are there any differences with the concrete? “I really don’t notice much difference with day race or night race at Bristol. Honestly, it’s just whether you’re wearing a tinted visor or a clear visor, the racetrack being concrete surface and the temperature of the surface doesn’t really change as much as asphalt does. So, it lends itself to being more similar.” Pit road there can be tricky. Green flag stops only going down once or yellow flag stops you’re going through the whole pit road. What is it like managing your lights there with the multi-speed zones in that pit road? “Yeah, Bristol’s really tough with pit road speeds. You’re up and down on your speeds and managing your lights and things like that as you go through the turns and on the straights. We’ve kind of found over the years the hot sections of the sections that read a little bit faster than you think you’re going. You try to pick in those to eliminate those and knock them out. But also for me, the multiple pit lane thing, getting confused on which one to come in. I always like picking on the back stretch so that it’s just always enter off of turn two. And whether you have to run the full pit road under yellow or you just can exit into turn three on green flag scenario, it just makes it so much simpler.” A lot of strategy goes into selection of pit stalls there. Is pitting on the back stretch versus the front stretch, is there an advantage to one or the other? You just mentioned you like to pit on the back stretch. What do you see in that that really helps you there? “Obviously, the four corner spots are probably the most advantageous spots. Whether it’s spot number one, I think it’s 15, 16, and then 43. Those are the ones that you want. Everything in between, there’s no openings there. It’s really tough to have any sort of advantage besides those four. It really doesn’t make a whole lot of difference at Bristol on pit road. It’s just how you navigate your sections.” And sometimes people say the first time you go there, you kind of forget to breathe for a couple of laps. What are the G-loads and the forces like going into those corners with such steep banking? “Bristol is tough when you get there for practice. First time you get there and you’re in practice, it’s kind of like a cardio session. You’re trying to breathe and you’re trying to work through your breathing and everything, but you kind of hold your breath a little so you become out of breath. But it’s just a cool place. Being able to go somewhere like that that gives you those G-loads and that feeling is cool.” Ty Dillon, No. 10 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet“I’m very excited. Bristol is probably the greatest track on our schedule. I always tell people who ask what race they should attend; I always say Bristol. It is the most properly named racetrack, ‘The Last Great Colosseum.’ We’re racing around a half-mile track with three stories of banking in under 14 seconds a lap for 500 laps and it is super intense, but it is one of my favorite racetracks. I love going there. We have a really cool Grizzly Nicotine Puches Camaro. The paint scheme looks awesome. It’s super cool so I’m ready to roll that thing out there. I’m ready to turn the page. We’ve had some rough luck ever since the last race of the In-Season Challenge, it’s like we cannot get the bad luck bug out of our system. We’re looking to turn it around at Bristol and hopefully end the season strong.” AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet“At Bristol in the spring, we had a really good car and earned a solid top-10 finish. I’m looking forward to going back there and working to build off that. The night race is always different; it has a lot more hype and is always a fun atmosphere. As we keep saying, our team is focused on getting better. Our goal this weekend is to take what we’ve had in the past and make it a little bit better so we can have another solid run.” Austin Hill, No. 33 Richard Childress Racing ChevroletWhat are you expecting from the new tire compound and making your first Cup Series short track start?“To run under the lights in a Cup car at Bristol (Motor Speedway) is something I’ve been excited about. I have never run a Cup car on any short track, but the goal is to complete 500 laps and learn as much as possible. I hope the new right-side tire still has falloff and that we are slipping and sliding around while having to manage your stuff. I could see us being able to move around the track – run on bottom or the top. The racing should be good, but until we get on the track in practice and see how the tire reacts, time will tell. Overall, I’m looking forward to the race in our United Rentals Chevrolet and ready for a double duty weekend.” Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet“Bristol has always been one of my favorite tracks, I love coming here to race. My guys have been working hard this week to get the No. 47 NOS Energy Drink Chevrolet ready and I’m excited for the race under the lights Saturday night.” Michael McDowell, No. 71 Spire Motorsports ChevroletWhat makes the Bristol night race so special?“The Bristol Night Race is all about the intensity. It just pumps it up. Obviously, with it being a cutoff round of the playoffs and it being a night race, it is just an electric environment and such a fun atmosphere. It is always a cool and fun night. I’ve had good success there, a bunch of near top-10 finishes over the last few years. We had a few issues there in the spring, but we know what we needed to work on and know what we had to fix. It was a very evident issue for us, so I feel good about going back there. Justin (Haley) and Carson (Hocevar) had a ton of speed at that first Bristol race, so we have a good notebook. We feel like we will be contenders there.” Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports ChevroletIn the most recent race at Bristol, Spire Motorsports showed a lot of strength. The No. 77 team in particular looked on track for a top-five finish before the final pit stop. How do you use that race to prepare for Saturday night?“It’s tough because Bristol can be so unpredictable. If anything, the spring race shows that we are capable of running up front. We have that information to use to our advantage and try to find something that will be just as good for us under the lights. It adds a lot of confidence. We know we can do it, it’s just putting every piece together, which is what we’ve been working on all year. I think we’ll be good. With it being a cutoff race for the playoff guys it’ll be interesting to see how things play out, but we have our own race to run and know what we need to do over these last eight races.” Shane van Gisbergen, No. 88 Spire Motorsports ChevroletThoughts on going to Bristol this weekend, knowing you are below the playoff cut line?“Well, it’s a cool track. I really struggled there in the spring, it’s a tough track for someone like me. It will be important to have a clean, well-executed race, try and get stage points and be up there all night. It’s going to be a battle.” What has the playoff experience been like for you so far?“It’s been good. I just wish, obviously, that we could’ve gotten better results the last two weekends. It’s going to be tough this weekend to get through, but the reality is we aren’t there yet on ovals. It’s coming, but we are just forcing it too quickly at the moment.” Connor Zilisch, No. 88 JR Motorsports ChevroletHow confident are you that you can continue this run as the Playoffs start at Bristol?“Honestly, this is going to be tough to keep up. It’s rare that you can go on a run like this. Four wins in a row is awesome for sure and that’s wins in seven of the last eight races for our WeatherTech Chevrolet team. Every week I think this is the week where it’s going to end but every race Mardy Lindley and the guys bring a winning race car. My pit crew and team execute. Everyone does their job, and we end up doing burnouts on the frontstretch at the end of the race. It’s awesome to be able to do this and win this many races. This is the most wins by JR Motorsports as a team in a year and that’s really cool.” Have you been able to take time and enjoy your success this season?“I’m enjoying each moment. I’m enjoying each moment. Each Sunday I go home and make sure that I enjoy it with my family, my friends, and celebrate these wins. In the back of my mind I definitely think about what I can do to be better and what I can learn in these races this year that will help me next year. I try to not look too far ahead.”

TEAM CHEVY ADVANCEBristol Motor Speedway September 11-13, 2025

MEDIA RESOURCES: Photo Gallery | Race Advances Chevrolet Newsroom

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: 12Poles: 10Laps Led: 3,188Top-Fives: 54Top-10s: 115Stage Wins: 22 CHEVROLET IN NASCAR CUMULATIVE STATISTICS:Total Chevrolet race wins: 878 (1949 to date)Poles won to date: 763Laps led to date: 255,899Top-fives to date: 4,423Top-10s to date: 9,122 Total NASCAR Cup Wins by Corporation, 1949 to Date: General Motors: 1,212 Chevrolet: 878 Pontiac: 154 Oldsmobile: 115 Buick: 65 Ford: 845 Ford: 745 Mercury: 96 Lincoln: 4 Fiat Chrysler Automobiles: 467 Dodge: 217 Plymouth: 191 Chrysler: 59 Toyota: 200

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Overton Locked In on Home-State Weekend: ‘All I Want to Do Is Just Win Me One’

September 11, 2025 ARP Trish

CONCORD, NC (September 10, 2025) – Last week, the only thing on the minds of the dirt Late Model world was chasing a globe at Eldora Speedway – except for Cody Overton.

The Thomson, GA driver opted against making the trip north to Ohio, instead placing his full focus on one mission – winning for the first time with the World of Outlaws Real American Beer Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision in his home state this weekend.

“I went over there [to Needmore Speedway] and tested a couple weeks ago, I went to Senoia [Raceway] and tested,” Overton said. “I think that’s kind of what I just planned on. All I want to do is just win me one Outlaw race, it would make my damn life be easier. That’s my whole goal, and hopefully all that paid off.”

Overton’s status as the local favorite isn’t his only cause for optimism headed into the “Peach State” double, as the Steine Motorsports No. 2 team has been finding their stride in the late-summer portion of the schedule. After garnering seven top 10s in the first 25 nights of the season, Overton has matched that total in the last nine races. His hottest night came at Maquoketa Speedway in August, when Overton found himself challenging Bobby Pierce and Ethan Dotson for the lead early before finishing fourth.

Maquoketa is one of several places Overton has returned to for the second time in his sophomore year as a full-time World of Outlaws driver, and the results speak for themselves. Overton already has twice as many top 10s as he finished the year with in 2024 with nine race nights remaining, and his average finish has improved by more than three spots in 2025.

“I just think that we’re going to a lot more places that I’m familiar with that I feel a lot better at and did good at last year,” Overton said. “I think that helps a lot. And then I definitely think my cars are getting a hell of a lot better, so that makes it a lot easier too.”

Overton’s uptick in speed has him right in the thick of the top 10 in points with the races counting down until World of Outlaws World Finals. He enters Needmore on Friday night in eighth, with Tanner English trailing by 12 points and Dotson 38 back. All three drivers pride themselves on their ability to run up front on the red clay, setting up a dogfight over the course of the next two nights.

There was a time when Overton was the type of driver to check the standings every night and run through all the possible scenarios of what could unfold. But now, he’s happy to focus on maximizing his result on any given night and let someone else tally things up in November.

“I did care about it, but it don’t do nothing but hurt you thinking about it,” Overton said. “Whatever happens, it happens. Hell, I didn’t even know I moved up, I thought I was 10th for forever. I don’t know, points can go either way. I don’t really base myself off being a points racer. I feel like there’s too many things that can happen and factor in that place you into that, but you’ve got to be there.”

Overton’s next chance to continue climbing the order comes in Friday night’s Needmore Late Model Showdown, the first World of Outlaws race at the facility since a Mother’s Day matinee in 2011. The track’s egg shape makes it one of the toughest in the region to master, and one that Overton has yet to fully figure out.

“It’s just so different,” Overton said. “First off, the track shape, that’s what I feel like is going to throw a lot of people off. It’s just two different corners, you have to kind of figure out how to get through there. I don’t necessarily hate it because I have won there. That was my first ever big Crate Racin’ USA win too, when I won over there. I’m just hit or miss there, I’m either really good or just terrible. They had a $10,000 [to-win race] earlier in the year when I went a couple years ago, when I won my first $10,000 over there, and I was in a B-Main. And then I go back, same everything, and I go and win the race. I’m like, ‘What in the hell is going on here?”

Saturday’s stop at Senoia presents an equally stiff challenge, but it’s a place that Overton has been able to tame a little more consistently throughout his career. That includes a Spring Nationals event in March that Overton topped, as well as last weekend, when he partook in the track’s weekly event and left with the trophy in both the 604 and 602 Late Model divisions.

“Yeah, I definitely like that place,” Overton said. “I think one everybody’s got to worry about too is [Ashton] Winger, he about owns that place. He’s one of the best.”

The most recent World of Outlaws winner at Senoia from 2021 is far from the only Georgia hot shoe Overton will have to fend off this weekend, and he grew up under the same roof as one of them. Brandon Overton headlines the list of invaders set to join the Series on both nights as he chases his first World of Outlaws win in more than two years.

The younger Overton spent his formative years in the sport crewing on older brother Brandon’s car. Nowadays, they only get a few chances each season to share the track with each other, which makes each occasion even more special – particularly the ones close to home.

“I definitely always think it helps me a lot more,” Overton said. “He thinks he always hurts me, but I think it helps me. He doesn’t necessarily help me car-wise, he helps me more driving-wise, kind of tells me the things that I’m doing wrong and I always like that. I wish I could race with him every weekend.”

The World of Outlaws Real American Beer Late Model Series presented by DIRTVision season continues this weekend at Needmore Speedway (Friday, Sept. 12) and Senoia Raceway (Saturday, Sept. 13). Tickets for Needmore are available in advance here, while tickets for Senoia will be sold at the gate on race day.

Overton Locked In on Home-State Weekend: ‘All I Want to Do Is Just Win Me One’

CONCORD, NC (September 10, 2025) – Last week, the only thing on the minds of the dirt Late Model world was chasing a globe at Eldora Speedway – except for Cody Overton.

“Yeah, I definitely like that place,” Overton said. “I think one everybody’s got to worry about too is [Ashton] Winger, he about owns that place. He’s one of the best.”

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

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Mark Pawuk Looking to Hold Off Serious Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Contenders Heading into Reading Nationals

September 11, 2025 ARP Trish

READING, PA (September 10, 2025) — With two races remaining in the Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series Mark Pawuk, the reigning champion, will be facing tough competition down the home stretch. Beginning this weekend with the 40^th NHRA Reading Nationals at the historic Maple Grove Raceway Pawuk, who is sitting No. 1 in the points will have to be at the top of his game. The two-time 2025 winner has a 119-point lead over Jason Dietsch and a 121-point lead over Lee Hartman. Pawuk is not taking anything for granted when the toughest Chevrolet COPO Camaros and Ford Cobra Jets come after his Dodge Challenger Drag Pak.

“You can never count anyone out in this class,” said Mark Pawuk, driver of the Empaco Dodge Challenger Drag Pak. “I am going to have to stay focused and drive the best I can. We had a pretty good Indy and in the semis my car just shut off. I am still not sure what happened there. We will be ready for Reading for sure. The Koretskys [the owners of Maple Grove Raceway] do an amazing job with that track, and they will pack the fans in. If I can go one or two rounds further than the guys behind me, I think I will be in pretty good shape, but you never know. This is going to come down to St. Louis and it will be exciting. The weather will be great, and we should see some great runs from all the classes.”

Mark Pawuk will be looking to extend his points lead this weekend at the Reading Nationals, photo credit Auto Imagery

Pawuk is being pursued by another two-time 2025 national event winner, Jason Dietsch, and his son Taylor, the most recent winner and U.S. Nationals Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series winner. The father-son combination is looking forward to getting to Reading and turning their luck around. Last year the elder Dietsch was primed for a successful weekend when issues with his race car sidelined him.

“Last year was my first time racing at Maple Grove, we were No. 2 qualifier and then we broke,” said Dietsch. “I am looking to turn my luck around this weekend. We need to close that gap on Pawuk and it won’t be easy. It is cool to have another NHRA national event race winner in our camp with Taylor. That gives us a lot of motivation to keep winning. Anything can happen so hopefully we can have a long race day.”

Dietsch had a big weekend in Chicago winning the delayed Gatornationals on Saturday for his first NHRA national event win and then winning on Sunday to capture the Gerber Collision & Glass Rt. 66 Nationals, defeating his son Taylor in the semifinals. Last weekend Taylor raced to the winner’s circle at the Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals and this weekend he is bringing a relaxed confidence to Maple Grove Raceway to help his father.

“(Winning Indy) really sank in on Tuesday and that was almost better than the feeling on race day,” said the younger Dietsch. “We have been getting a little bit better at every race and to win the biggest race of the year is cool. I am heading to the Reading Nationals a little more relaxed because we have won an NHRA national event. I don’t think I am going to change anything. We have competed for championships in other series and changing your routine just seems to mess you up. My dad and I are just going to try and do our best and hopefully close the gap on the point leader.”

Taylor Dietsch won the US Nationals Labor Day weekend and will be looking for two in a row this weekend,
photo credit Auto Imagery

Mark Pawuk Looking to Hold Off Serious Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Contenders Heading into Reading Nationals

READING, PA (September 10, 2025) — With two races remaining in the Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series Mark Pawuk, the reigning champion, will be facing tough competition down the home stretch. Beginning this weekend with the 40^th NHRA Reading Nationals at the historic Maple Grove Raceway Pawuk, who is sitting No. 1 in the points will have to be at the top of his game. The two-time 2025 winner has a 119-point lead over Jason Dietsch and a 121-point lead over Lee Hartman. Pawuk is not taking anything for granted when the toughest Chevrolet COPO Camaros and Ford Cobra Jets come after his Dodge Challenger Drag Pak.

“You can never count anyone out in this class,” said Mark Pawuk, driver of the Empaco Dodge Challenger Drag Pak. “I am going to have to stay focused and drive the best I can. We had a pretty good Indy and in the semis my car just shut off. I am still not sure what happened there. We will be ready for Reading for sure. The Koretskys [the owners of Maple Grove Raceway] do an amazing job with that track, and they will pack the fans in. If I can go one or two rounds further than the guys behind me, I think I will be in pretty good shape, but you never know. This is going to come down to St. Louis and it will be exciting. The weather will be great, and we should see some great runs from all the classes.”

Mark Pawuk will be looking to extend his points lead this weekend at the Reading Nationals, photo credit Auto Imagery

Pawuk is being pursued by another two-time 2025 national event winner, Jason Dietsch, and his son Taylor, the most recent winner and U.S. Nationals Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series winner. The father-son combination is looking forward to getting to Reading and turning their luck around. Last year the elder Dietsch was primed for a successful weekend when issues with his race car sidelined him.

“Last year was my first time racing at Maple Grove, we were No. 2 qualifier and then we broke,” said Dietsch. “I am looking to turn my luck around this weekend. We need to close that gap on Pawuk and it won’t be easy. It is cool to have another NHRA national event race winner in our camp with Taylor. That gives us a lot of motivation to keep winning. Anything can happen so hopefully we can have a long race day.”

Dietsch had a big weekend in Chicago winning the delayed Gatornationals on Saturday for his first NHRA national event win and then winning on Sunday to capture the Gerber Collision & Glass Rt. 66 Nationals, defeating his son Taylor in the semifinals. Last weekend Taylor raced to the winner’s circle at the Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals and this weekend he is bringing a relaxed confidence to Maple Grove Raceway to help his father.

“(Winning Indy) really sank in on Tuesday and that was almost better than the feeling on race day,” said the younger Dietsch. “We have been getting a little bit better at every race and to win the biggest race of the year is cool. I am heading to the Reading Nationals a little more relaxed because we have won an NHRA national event. I don’t think I am going to change anything. We have competed for championships in other series and changing your routine just seems to mess you up. My dad and I are just going to try and do our best and hopefully close the gap on the point leader.”

Taylor Dietsch won the US Nationals Labor Day weekend and will be looking for two in a row this weekend,
photo credit Auto Imagery

While the Dietschs, along with Lee Hartman, who sits No. 3 in the standings will be trying to chase down Pawuk, defending 2024 Reading Nationals winner Scott Libersher will be looking to finish a tough season on a high note. Last year Libersher won at Maple Grove Raceway putting himself in position with Pawuk and Stephen Bell to race for the championship in St. Louis. This year traction issues have slowed his Chevrolet COPO Camaro but his enthusiasm and passion for winning have not waned. His best finish to this point was a solid runner-up at the Norwalk national event.

“I am going to do my best to win again,” said Libersher, who sits seventh in the standings. “We have been battling some traction problems. This class is so tough you have to have everything clicking. I like a good challenge. These races are won by a thousandth of a second so when it comes down to it you have to be ready. The hotter weather has been better for the Chevys so we’ll see what we can do this weekend in Reading.”

The win last year will remain a fond memory for Libersher considering he had a full pit of friends and family all weekend. This year he will be looking for more encouragement.

“It was great to have all my family there,” said Libersher. “They are my biggest supporters, and it is just cool to win with all your family at the races. This whole sport is really a family sport and there is no way I can do this without them behind me cheering me on.”

The Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown competitors will have three qualifying runs allowing each team to get data and fine-tune their race cars. Friday, September 12 will feature qualifying runs at 11:30 a.m. and 1:35 p.m. and on Saturday, teams make their final qualifying pass at 11:45 a.m. before going into eliminations later that day. Sunday morning will open with the final two rounds of eliminations. Fans can catch all the action live from Maple Grove Raceway in person or on NHRA.tv. They can also tune into the FS1 broadcast following the conclusion of the race on Sunday.

2025 Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Results
Gainesville –Jason Dietsch, winner; Lenny Lottig, runner-up
Charlotte – Jonathan Allegrucci, winner; Mark Pawuk, runner-up
Chicago – Jason Dietsch, winner; Lee Hartman, runner-up
Bristol – Mark Pawuk, winner; James Betz, runner-up
Norwalk – Mark Pawuk, winner; Scott Libersher, runner-up
Indianapolis –Taylor Dietsch, winner; Raymond Nash, runner-up

2025 Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Schedule
Sept. 26-29 NHRA Midwest Nationals, St. Louis, Mo.

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All Makes Collision Center Becomes Presenting Sponsor of 21st Late Model Knoxville Nationals

September 11, 2025 ARP Trish

BATAVIA, Ohio (September 10, 2025) – All Makes Collision Center in Council Bluffs, IA, has become the presenting sponsor of the 21st Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals. The 21st Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals presented by All Makes Collision Center will be held September 18-20 at the legendary Knoxville Raceway in Knoxville, IA. This year’s event features two preliminary nights, each paying $10,000 to win, followed by the Saturday main event, which awards a hefty $75,000 to the winner. “We are excited to be part of Iowa’s biggest late model race, the Lucas Oil Late Model Knoxville Nationals. Knoxville Raceway is one of the most iconic racetracks in the entire company, and we look forward to having our company name associated with this event,” stated Karl Getzschman, owner of All Makes Collision Center. All Makes Collision Center serves all of the state of Iowa and parts of Nebraska. They specialize in Auto Body Paint, Repair, and Replacement Parts. All Makes Collision Center prides itself on highly trained technicians and painters with detailed skills to service and repair your vehicle. “We are excited to have All Makes Collision Center as a partner of the series and now as the presenting sponsor of the Late Model Knoxville Nationals. Karl and his entire family are great people to work with, and we look forward to their partnership with this big event,” stated Wayne Castleberry, Sales and Marketing for Lucas Oil Motorsports. For the latest news, results, championship standings, and more about the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series presented by FloRacing, please visit www.lucasdirt.com. About All Makes Collision CenterLocated at 524 23rd Ave, Council Bluffs, IA 5150, All Makes Collision Center specializes in Auto Body Paint, Repair, and Replacement Specialists. All Makes Collision Center prides itself on highly trained technicians and painters with detailed skills. You can find their company on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/p/All-Makes-Collision-Center-100054322728267/

About Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series presented by FloRacing

Official Marketing Partners

All Makes Collision Center Becomes Presenting Sponsor of 21st Late Model Knoxville Nationals

About Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series presented by FloRacing

Official Marketing Partners

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Mark Pawuk will be looking to extend his points lead this weekend at the Reading Nationals, photo credit Auto Imagery

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photo credit Auto Imagery

Mark Pawuk Looking to Hold Off Serious Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Contenders Heading into Reading Nationals

Mark Pawuk will be looking to extend his points lead this weekend at the Reading Nationals, photo credit Auto Imagery

Taylor Dietsch won the US Nationals Labor Day weekend and will be looking for two in a row this weekend,
photo credit Auto Imagery

All Makes Collision Center Becomes Presenting Sponsor of 21st Late Model Knoxville Nationals

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Mark Pawuk will be looking to extend his points lead this weekend at the Reading Nationals, photo credit Auto Imagery

Taylor Dietsch won the US Nationals Labor Day weekend and will be looking for two in a row this weekend,photo credit Auto Imagery

Mark Pawuk Looking to Hold Off Serious Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Contenders Heading into Reading Nationals

Mark Pawuk will be looking to extend his points lead this weekend at the Reading Nationals, photo credit Auto Imagery

Taylor Dietsch won the US Nationals Labor Day weekend and will be looking for two in a row this weekend,photo credit Auto Imagery

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Taylor Dietsch won the US Nationals Labor Day weekend and will be looking for two in a row this weekend,
photo credit Auto Imagery

Taylor Dietsch won the US Nationals Labor Day weekend and will be looking for two in a row this weekend,
photo credit Auto Imagery