John Force racing–Dallas Friday

FRIDAY RECAP – Dallas Race 18 of 20
Photography: John Force Racing / Auto Imagery / Gary Nastase
PROCK IS BACK IN THE SADDLE AGAIN AFTERTEXAS MOTORPLEX FRIDAY NIGHT QUALIFYINGBeckman runs third while Force makes first Motorplex 340-mph run and sits sixth
FRIDAY RECAP – DallasRace 18 of 20
Photography: John Force Racing / Auto Imagery / Gary Nastase
PROCK IS BACK IN THE SADDLE AGAIN AFTERTEXAS MOTORPLEX FRIDAY NIGHT QUALIFYINGBeckman runs third while Force makes first Motorplex 340-mph run and sits sixth
ENNIS, Texas (Oct. 11, 2025) – The Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS Funny Car was a 12,000-horsepower bucking bronco for 2025 NHRA Funny Car point leader Austin Prock but the 3.876-second ride he took under the lights down the Texas Motorplex drag strip was low elapsed time of Friday’s night qualifying session, making him the provisional No. 1 qualifier for the NHRA Mission Foods NHRA Texas Fall Nationals. The reigning Funny Car Champion earned his sixth No. 1 qualifier of the season and the $15,000 Battle for the Saddle bonus with the run that clicked the lights at 336.07 mph. His John Force Racing Funny Car teammate Jack Beckman drove the PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant Chevrolet SS to the No. 3 spot with a Friday night qualifying run of 3.892 seconds at 330.83 mph. Both drivers shut off early in their Q1 runs after spinning the tires. Brittany Force wheeled her Monster Energy Top Fuel Dragster to a sixth-place run of 3.703 seconds, but it was her speed that brought the full grandstands of Texas drag racing fans to their feet. The run of 340.57 mph run was her 11th340-mph run of the 2025 season and the first ever at the Texas Motorplex which is celebrating its 40th season of NHRA competition. The run backed up her Q1 run of 3.874 seconds at 329.79 mph. The final two rounds of qualifying are scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 11, at 12 and 2:30 p.m. CT. Final eliminations are scheduled for 10 a.m. C.T. on Sunday, Oct. 12. Quote from Austin Prock, Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS Funny Car:
“It’s a little nerve-racking on a Friday night, especially when you spun the tires early in the first run, so you’re a little bit gun-shy, don’t really know what the track can hold, and you’ve got to go up there and make a lot of horsepower to run a quick ET. It’s a fine balance, but I have all the faith in my Cornwell Tools team. These guys are very intelligent, very sharp, so you just have to believe in your runbook and try to make smart decisions. They did exactly that and we’re walking home with the $15,000 low qualifier bonus. “The points tightened up with Hagan and Beckman after St. Louis but that’s exactly what NHRA wants. We had a huge lead, 280 points, and they took it all away (for the playoffs) to tighten everyone up to put on a great show for the fans. We’re in the competition business, but we’re also entertainers and we’re definitely making it exciting … whoever wins the most in these last three races. I’m not even counting points at this point. We just have to go out there to try to win the next three races. If we do that, we’ll be back-to-back world champions and that’s got a nice ring to it.” Quotes from Jack Beckman, PEAK Antifreeze and Coolant Chevrolet SS Funny Car:
“I think the hallmark of the PEAK team last year, and certainly the first half dozen races this year, is we were top three virtually every qualifying run. A lot of those were far from what we wanted it to run, or perfect runs, which meant we had such a wide tune-up window that even when we missed it, we still ran good. We were trying to run low ET that second session. It didn’t wear the amount of clutch we predicted it would, and when it does that, it slows the entire clutch application down to try to compensate. So, all that does is make the car run a little bit slower. To have that happen and still be the third-quickest car out there makes me feel great. Now, we’re not going to see those conditions again this weekend. Unless you get a cold front or clouds cover the track, that was the hero run so it’s time to move on. Tomorrow, we have a chance for six qualifying points, three each session. And the fact that Austin (Prock) has already put a couple more points on us, that’s a big deal. So, tomorrow we’re running for three points each session.” Quotes from Brittany Force, Monster Energy Top Fuel Dragster:
“We’ve run 340 before but we’d never done it here at the Texas Motorplex. This is for the fans; this is for the Meyer family and I’m excited to be here. We had two good runs down the track today so I’m very excited for the Monster Energy team.” TV ScheduleTelevision coverage on Sunday, Oct. 12, includes qualifying action on FS1 from 10 a.m. – noon ET and then eliminations coverage on FOX from 2-4 p.m. ET and 4:30-6:30 p.m. ET.

NEW TRACK, NO PROBLEM: Carson Macedo Shines in his New Egypt Debut with World of Outlaws

The Californian holds off Logan Schuchart to equal one of his heroes on the all-time win list

NEW EGYPT, NJ (October 10, 2025) – Carson Macedo had never seen New Egypt Speedway until Friday night.

Could one of the sport’s most uniquely shaped dirt tracks puzzle and slow one of the best Sprint Car drivers in the country? Nope.

Macedo looked like he had years of experience as he hit the New Jersey oval for the first time aboard the Jason Johnson Racing No. 41 with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars. The Lemoore, CA native lined up outside the front row for the 30-lap Feature and snuck around Logan Schuchart on the top to pace the opening circuit.

That wound up being the winning move as Macedo never relinquished the lead. A motivated Schuchart, who was trying to win the first race following his grandfather Bobby Allen’s passing earlier this week, stayed close behind for nearly the duration of the main event. The Shark Racing pilot even looked underneath Macedo on a few occasions, but no run was enough. Macedo held him off and took the checkered flag in his first ever night at New Egypt.

“Hats off to JJR, they did a great job,” Macedo said. “Traffic was tough. I knew the start was going to be critical, and I kind of just sent it up there as hard as I could up top, and it worked out. I stuck and was able to get around Logan. I knew that he was all over me in traffic. I could hear him, and I saw him the one time getting into Turn 3. There just wasn’t really a lot I could do.

“I just wanted to make sure I kept my momentum up, kept my speed up and didn’t let anybody beat me down into (Turn) 3, and it worked out. I was a little nervous there at the end because the rubber was laying down there in (Turns) 3 and 4 on the bottom. It was really clean down there and grippy. In (Turns) 1 and 2, I felt like I was better higher. The higher I would run, the more speed I would have off the corner. Hats off to JJR. Philip Dietz did an incredible job all night, made great adjustments. Adam Zimmerman and Robby McQuinn worked their tails off.”

Macedo and the JJR crew are up to 11 Series victories in 2025. Friday marked the 58th of Macedo’s career with the World of Outlaws, equaling him with one of his heroes and fellow Californian, Jason Meyers, for 16th all-time. Macedo becomes the sixth different driver through 10 visits to top a race with The Greatest Show on Dirt at New Egypt.

The runner-up spot went to Logan Schuchart. He wanted more than anything in the world to take the team his “pappy” built to Victory Lane. The Hanover, PA native might’ve not gotten the win, but his finish was still a worthy way to honor “Scruffy.” The Shark team was one many doubted would even make it through their first year with the World of Outlaws in 2014. But led by Bobby Allen, they not only made it, but they kept going. Now, here Schuchart and the Shark Racing team are 11 years later, carrying on Allen’s legacy by racing with the best in the nation and running up front.

“That guy was my hero,” said a choked up Schuchart of his grandfather. “I wanted to get out here and do that for him. But to come here and be on the podium after my mind is in all kinds of places is good. I talked to him plenty of times this week. I asked for his guidance because I knew my mindset wouldn’t be at 100-percent. He loved this thing and built a legacy for Jacob (Allen) and I to continue it while he’s gone. I could feel him. I know he’s there.”

David Gravel brought the Big Game Motorsports No. 2 home third. His Series-leading podium total is up to 36 as consistency carries the Watertown, CT toward a second consecutive World of Outlaws title.

“It was just kind of track position there,” Gravel said. “I’m just glad we passed some cars in the Dash. When you’ve got the best six cars up front, it’s hard to pass guys. Carson won the start, and that kind of won the race. Lapped traffic got somewhat interesting there, and I feel like I had a couple shots at Logan. (Turns) 1 and 2 was just starting to get interesting, and I kind of felt the bottom there come in and then Logan kind of took my line.”

Buddy Kofoid and Sheldon Haudenschild completed the top five.

Hunter Schuerenberg took the Vermeer Motorsports No. 55 from 21st to sixth to earn the KSE Racing Products Hard Charger.

David Gravel grabbed his third consecutive Simpson Quick Time and his 22nd of the year in Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying.

Heat Races belonged to David Gravel (NOS Energy Drink Heat One), Carson Macedo (Real American Beer Heat Two), and Cole Macedo (WIX Filters Heat Three).

The SPA Technique #1 Redraw went to Logan Schuchart.

Schuchart also topped the Toyota Dash.

Garet Williamson won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

The Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race went to Bill Balog.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars battle the Pennsylvania Posse one last time in 2025 at Abbottstown, PA’s Lincoln Speedway on Saturday, Oct. 11. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

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

FEATURE RESULTS:

NEW TRACK, NO PROBLEM: Carson Macedo Shines in his New Egypt Debut with World of Outlaws

The Californian holds off Logan Schuchart to equal one of his heroes on the all-time win list

NEW EGYPT, NJ (October 10, 2025) – Carson Macedo had never seen New Egypt Speedway until Friday night.

Could one of the sport’s most uniquely shaped dirt tracks puzzle and slow one of the best Sprint Car drivers in the country? Nope.

Macedo looked like he had years of experience as he hit the New Jersey oval for the first time aboard the Jason Johnson Racing No. 41 with the World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars. The Lemoore, CA native lined up outside the front row for the 30-lap Feature and snuck around Logan Schuchart on the top to pace the opening circuit.

That wound up being the winning move as Macedo never relinquished the lead. A motivated Schuchart, who was trying to win the first race following his grandfather Bobby Allen’s passing earlier this week, stayed close behind for nearly the duration of the main event. The Shark Racing pilot even looked underneath Macedo on a few occasions, but no run was enough. Macedo held him off and took the checkered flag in his first ever night at New Egypt.

“Hats off to JJR, they did a great job,” Macedo said. “Traffic was tough. I knew the start was going to be critical, and I kind of just sent it up there as hard as I could up top, and it worked out. I stuck and was able to get around Logan. I knew that he was all over me in traffic. I could hear him, and I saw him the one time getting into Turn 3. There just wasn’t really a lot I could do.

“I just wanted to make sure I kept my momentum up, kept my speed up and didn’t let anybody beat me down into (Turn) 3, and it worked out. I was a little nervous there at the end because the rubber was laying down there in (Turns) 3 and 4 on the bottom. It was really clean down there and grippy. In (Turns) 1 and 2, I felt like I was better higher. The higher I would run, the more speed I would have off the corner. Hats off to JJR. Philip Dietz did an incredible job all night, made great adjustments. Adam Zimmerman and Robby McQuinn worked their tails off.”

Macedo and the JJR crew are up to 11 Series victories in 2025. Friday marked the 58th of Macedo’s career with the World of Outlaws, equaling him with one of his heroes and fellow Californian, Jason Meyers, for 16th all-time. Macedo becomes the sixth different driver through 10 visits to top a race with The Greatest Show on Dirt at New Egypt.

The runner-up spot went to Logan Schuchart. He wanted more than anything in the world to take the team his “pappy” built to Victory Lane. The Hanover, PA native might’ve not gotten the win, but his finish was still a worthy way to honor “Scruffy.” The Shark team was one many doubted would even make it through their first year with the World of Outlaws in 2014. But led by Bobby Allen, they not only made it, but they kept going. Now, here Schuchart and the Shark Racing team are 11 years later, carrying on Allen’s legacy by racing with the best in the nation and running up front.

“That guy was my hero,” said a choked up Schuchart of his grandfather. “I wanted to get out here and do that for him. But to come here and be on the podium after my mind is in all kinds of places is good. I talked to him plenty of times this week. I asked for his guidance because I knew my mindset wouldn’t be at 100-percent. He loved this thing and built a legacy for Jacob (Allen) and I to continue it while he’s gone. I could feel him. I know he’s there.”

David Gravel brought the Big Game Motorsports No. 2 home third. His Series-leading podium total is up to 36 as consistency carries the Watertown, CT toward a second consecutive World of Outlaws title.

“It was just kind of track position there,” Gravel said. “I’m just glad we passed some cars in the Dash. When you’ve got the best six cars up front, it’s hard to pass guys. Carson won the start, and that kind of won the race. Lapped traffic got somewhat interesting there, and I feel like I had a couple shots at Logan. (Turns) 1 and 2 was just starting to get interesting, and I kind of felt the bottom there come in and then Logan kind of took my line.”

Buddy Kofoid and Sheldon Haudenschild completed the top five.

Hunter Schuerenberg took the Vermeer Motorsports No. 55 from 21st to sixth to earn the KSE Racing Products Hard Charger.

David Gravel grabbed his third consecutive Simpson Quick Time and his 22nd of the year in Honest Abe Roofing Qualifying.

Heat Races belonged to David Gravel (NOS Energy Drink Heat One), Carson Macedo (Real American Beer Heat Two), and Cole Macedo (WIX Filters Heat Three).

The SPA Technique #1 Redraw went to Logan Schuchart.

Schuchart also topped the Toyota Dash.

Garet Williamson won the Micro-Lite Last Chance Showdown.

The Smith Titanium Brake Systems Break of the Race went to Bill Balog.

UP NEXT: The World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Cars battle the Pennsylvania Posse one last time in 2025 at Abbottstown, PA’s Lincoln Speedway on Saturday, Oct. 11. For tickets, CLICK HERE.

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

FEATURE RESULTS:

NOS Energy Drink Feature (30 Laps): 1. 41-Carson Macedo[2]; 2. 1S-Logan Schuchart[1]; 3. 2-David Gravel[3]; 4. 83-Michael Kofoid[5]; 5. 17-Sheldon Haudenschild[7]; 6. 55-Hunter Schuerenberg[21]; 7. 99-Skylar Gee[14]; 8. 2C-Cole Macedo[4]; 9. 67-Justin Whittall[13]; 10. 18-Cory Eliason[16]; 11. 35-Buddy Schweibinz[12]; 12. 17N-Dylan Norris[20]; 13. 6-Zach Hampton[18]; 14. 23-Garet Williamson[19]; 15. 15-Donny Schatz[23]; 16. 39M-Anthony Macri[6]; 17. 7S-Chris Windom[11]; 18. 5-Tyler Ross[15]; 19. 17B-Bill Balog[10]; 20. 91-Preston Lattomus[24]; 21. 15S-Kerry Madsen[8]; 22. 27H-Steven Snyder Jr[17]; 23. OOK-Kyle Spence[22]; 24. 69K-Ryan Smith[9]

Cadillac claims another front row start

Aitken qualifies second in No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R for Petit Le MansBRASELTON, Ga. (October 10, 2025) — Cadillac Racing will start on the front row for the second consecutive IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race and aim for its second victory in a row.
Jack Aitken, driving the No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R, recorded a best lap of 1 minute, 9.827 seconds on the 2.54-mile, 12-turn Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta road course to qualify second on the 12-car Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) grid for the 10-hour Motul Petit Le Mans.
Aitken, the 2024 pole sitter for the final endurance race of the IMSA season at 1:09.639, started on the pole the last race and teamed with Earl Bamber and Frederik Vesti to dominate the six-hour event at Indianapolis Motor Speedway to deliver Cadillac’s 32nd victory since joining IMSA’s prototype class in 2017.
The victory September 21 was the first for Cadillac (in any series) at the Brickyard.
Filipe Albuquerque qualified eighth in the No. 10 Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing V-Series.R at 1:10.314. He’ll share driving duties Saturday with Ricky Taylor and Will Stevens. Jordan Taylor qualified 11th in the No. 40 Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing V-Series.R with a best lap of 1:10.649. Louis Deletraz and Norman Nato will also be at the wheel in the race.
Cadillac won the 2024 Petit Le Mans from the fifth starting position and the luxury brand has four victories and 11 podiums (including victories) in the Petit Le Mans. A Cadillac has finished on the podium in all eight races it has contested at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta since 2017.
Media resources: Cadillac event photos | Event notes | 2025 IMSA stats | Cadillac all-time stats
Aiming for Cadillac’s sixth IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup Manufacturer Championship is a subplot to the day-night season finale. Cadillac is five points out of first, with points awarded at the four-, eight- and 10-hour marks.
Tom Blomqvist, who co-drove the No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R with Aitken and Pipo Derani in 2024, earned the pole (1:09.628) in the No. 60 Acura. The top eight were separated by .686 of a second.
Peacock will stream flag-to-flag coverage for U.S. subscribers beginning at noon ET, while NBC will telecast the race live from noon-3 p.m. International feed streaming will be available on IMSA.tv. Live radio broadcast of the race will be available on IMSA.comRadioLeMans.com and Sirius XM (XM206, Web/app 996).
What they’re saying
No. 10 Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing V-Series.R
Filipe Albuquerque: “The car was pretty nice today to drive. We were expecting to be fighting for the top five. Unfortunately, I qualified P8. Not what I wanted or expected. The field is so, so close. One-tenth would’ve put me in P4, which is a completely different perspective. We have 10 hours of racing tomorrow and the No. 10 car knows how to survive all 10 hours. The last hour for us is the critical part. We will see how it is tomorrow. I think we have a good car for the race and that is a completely different beast of a car and happy for that.”
Cadillac claims another front row startAitken qualifies second in No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R for Petit Le MansBRASELTON, Ga. (October 10, 2025) — Cadillac Racing will start on the front row for the second consecutive IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race and aim for its second victory in a row.
Jack Aitken, driving the No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R, recorded a best lap of 1 minute, 9.827 seconds on the 2.54-mile, 12-turn Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta road course to qualify second on the 12-car Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) grid for the 10-hour Motul Petit Le Mans.
Aitken, the 2024 pole sitter for the final endurance race of the IMSA season at 1:09.639, started on the pole the last race and teamed with Earl Bamber and Frederik Vesti to dominate the six-hour event at Indianapolis Motor Speedway to deliver Cadillac’s 32nd victory since joining IMSA’s prototype class in 2017.
The victory September 21 was the first for Cadillac (in any series) at the Brickyard.
Filipe Albuquerque qualified eighth in the No. 10 Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing V-Series.R at 1:10.314. He’ll share driving duties Saturday with Ricky Taylor and Will Stevens. Jordan Taylor qualified 11th in the No. 40 Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing V-Series.R with a best lap of 1:10.649. Louis Deletraz and Norman Nato will also be at the wheel in the race.
Cadillac won the 2024 Petit Le Mans from the fifth starting position and the luxury brand has four victories and 11 podiums (including victories) in the Petit Le Mans. A Cadillac has finished on the podium in all eight races it has contested at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta since 2017.
Media resources: Cadillac event photos | Event notes | 2025 IMSA stats | Cadillac all-time stats
Aiming for Cadillac’s sixth IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup Manufacturer Championship is a subplot to the day-night season finale. Cadillac is five points out of first, with points awarded at the four-, eight- and 10-hour marks.
Tom Blomqvist, who co-drove the No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R with Aitken and Pipo Derani in 2024, earned the pole (1:09.628) in the No. 60 Acura. The top eight were separated by .686 of a second.
Peacock will stream flag-to-flag coverage for U.S. subscribers beginning at noon ET, while NBC will telecast the race live from noon-3 p.m. International feed streaming will be available on IMSA.tv. Live radio broadcast of the race will be available on IMSA.comRadioLeMans.com and Sirius XM (XM206, Web/app 996).
What they’re saying
No. 10 Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing V-Series.R
Filipe Albuquerque: “The car was pretty nice today to drive. We were expecting to be fighting for the top five. Unfortunately, I qualified P8. Not what I wanted or expected. The field is so, so close. One-tenth would’ve put me in P4, which is a completely different perspective. We have 10 hours of racing tomorrow and the No. 10 car knows how to survive all 10 hours. The last hour for us is the critical part. We will see how it is tomorrow. I think we have a good car for the race and that is a completely different beast of a car and happy for that.”
No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R
Jack Aitken: “Feels like we’ve been P2 a lot this year in qualies. It’s frustratingly close, but obviously a good place to start tomorrow. Nice to be up front and potentially out of any trouble further down in the pack. It would have been nice to stick it on pole. We did a good job, the car felt pretty hooked up. We would have loved to snatch the pole, but the points are tomorrow.”No. 40 Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing V-Series.R
Jordan Taylor: “I think we have a good car for the race where we’ll be in traffic all day long. All three of our guys were happy with the car in practice so we can look forward to that.”

CORVETTE RACING AT PETIT LE MANS: Title Fight Set

Catsburg third in GTD PRO, No. 3 Corvette, Chevrolet hold points lead after qualifying BRASELTON, Ga. (October 10, 2025) – Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports’ No. 4 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R will start on the second row in GTD PRO on Saturday after Nicky Catsburg’s qualifying effort ahead of the 10-hour Petit Le Mans at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.
Catsburg was third-fastest in Friday’s 15-minute GTD PRO session in the Corvette that he will drive with Tommy Milner and Nico Varrone. His lap of 1:18.747 (116.118 mph) around the 2.54-mile, 12-turn road course extended Chevrolet’s lead in the season-long GTD PRO Manufacturers Championship heading into the final race of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season.Corvette Racing Media Resources Documents | Statistics | Photos | Factory Driver Bios | 
Chevrolet Newsroom
Unofficially, Chevrolet’s lead in the Manufacturers standings grew by two points to 48 over Ferrari. Chevrolet is aiming for its 15th IMSA Manufacturers title with the Corvette Racing program. Antonio Garcia was eighth in class behind the wheel of the No. 3 Corvette Z06 GT3.R that he shares with Alexander Sims and Daniel Juncadella. Garcia and Sims lead Albert Costa and the No. 81 Ferrari by 13 points going into Saturday, which means the car that finishes ahead of the other in the 10-hour enduro will claim the GTD PRO Drivers and Teams championships.
Although the No. 3 Corvette was down the order, Garcia was only 0.599 seconds from pole and 0.359 seconds to the Ferrari over a single lap. However, all six Corvette drivers remarked during practices that the Z06 GT3.R should perform better during a race stint. In GTD, Salih Yoluc will start DXDT Racing’s No. 36 Corvette from 17th in GTD. He, Charlie Eastwood and Alec Udell are aiming to regain their form from Sebring and Watkins Glen as DXDT led in class at both races before finishing down the order. Orey Fidani qualified AWA’s No. 13 Corvette GT3.R 19th in class as he chases a second consecutive Bob Akin Award and trip to next year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans. Fidani and the No. 13 Corvette are tied for the season championship lead with the No. 70 Ferrari, which will start 15th. AWA is hoping to bookend the 2025 GTD season with victories, having scored a landmark win in class at the Rolex 24 At Daytona. The 10-hour Petit Le Mans is scheduled for 12:10 p.m. ET on Saturday. The race will air live on NBC from noon to 3 p.m. ET and with live streaming on Peacock in the United States and IMSA.com outside the U.S. from noon to 10:30 p.m. ET. IMSA Radio will provide the audio call at IMSA.com, XM 206 and SiriusXM Online 996.
CORVETTE RACING BY PRATT MILLER MOTORSPORTS POST-QUALIFYING DRIVER QUOTESANTONIO GARCIA, NO. 3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “Not great. I would say that we did another test session in qualifying. We changed the car drastically in order to have more performance but it didn’t work. It didn’t feel right but at least now we know. In a way, it’s good to know that the No. 4 is up there and we can go in that direction, which is pretty easy. We’ll go from there. There’s still 10 hours to go.” 
NICKY CATSBURG, NO. 4 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “Petit Le Mans is a very big and very important race every year and this year is no different. We saw a little bit at Indianapolis how crazy the traffic can be and how easy it is to have contact that can alter your race. So we need to be mindful of that as there is still a lot to race for – my first Petit Le Mans win, the first for the team in many years and the Manufacturers Championship as well as helping Antonio and Alex in the Drivers Championship. It’s going to be a busy and hectic race. I can’t wait for it.”
CORVETTE RACING AT PETIT LE MANS: Title Fight SetCatsburg third in GTD PRO, No. 3 Corvette, Chevrolet hold points lead after qualifying BRASELTON, Ga. (October 10, 2025) – Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports’ No. 4 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R will start on the second row in GTD PRO on Saturday after Nicky Catsburg’s qualifying effort ahead of the 10-hour Petit Le Mans at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.
Catsburg was third-fastest in Friday’s 15-minute GTD PRO session in the Corvette that he will drive with Tommy Milner and Nico Varrone. His lap of 1:18.747 (116.118 mph) around the 2.54-mile, 12-turn road course extended Chevrolet’s lead in the season-long GTD PRO Manufacturers Championship heading into the final race of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season.Corvette Racing Media Resources Documents | Statistics | Photos | Factory Driver Bios | 
Chevrolet Newsroom
Unofficially, Chevrolet’s lead in the Manufacturers standings grew by two points to 48 over Ferrari. Chevrolet is aiming for its 15th IMSA Manufacturers title with the Corvette Racing program. Antonio Garcia was eighth in class behind the wheel of the No. 3 Corvette Z06 GT3.R that he shares with Alexander Sims and Daniel Juncadella. Garcia and Sims lead Albert Costa and the No. 81 Ferrari by 13 points going into Saturday, which means the car that finishes ahead of the other in the 10-hour enduro will claim the GTD PRO Drivers and Teams championships.
Although the No. 3 Corvette was down the order, Garcia was only 0.599 seconds from pole and 0.359 seconds to the Ferrari over a single lap. However, all six Corvette drivers remarked during practices that the Z06 GT3.R should perform better during a race stint. In GTD, Salih Yoluc will start DXDT Racing’s No. 36 Corvette from 17th in GTD. He, Charlie Eastwood and Alec Udell are aiming to regain their form from Sebring and Watkins Glen as DXDT led in class at both races before finishing down the order. Orey Fidani qualified AWA’s No. 13 Corvette GT3.R 19th in class as he chases a second consecutive Bob Akin Award and trip to next year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans. Fidani and the No. 13 Corvette are tied for the season championship lead with the No. 70 Ferrari, which will start 15th. AWA is hoping to bookend the 2025 GTD season with victories, having scored a landmark win in class at the Rolex 24 At Daytona. The 10-hour Petit Le Mans is scheduled for 12:10 p.m. ET on Saturday. The race will air live on NBC from noon to 3 p.m. ET and with live streaming on Peacock in the United States and IMSA.com outside the U.S. from noon to 10:30 p.m. ET. IMSA Radio will provide the audio call at IMSA.com, XM 206 and SiriusXM Online 996.
CORVETTE RACING BY PRATT MILLER MOTORSPORTS POST-QUALIFYING DRIVER QUOTESANTONIO GARCIA, NO. 3 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “Not great. I would say that we did another test session in qualifying. We changed the car drastically in order to have more performance but it didn’t work. It didn’t feel right but at least now we know. In a way, it’s good to know that the No. 4 is up there and we can go in that direction, which is pretty easy. We’ll go from there. There’s still 10 hours to go.” 
NICKY CATSBURG, NO. 4 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “Petit Le Mans is a very big and very important race every year and this year is no different. We saw a little bit at Indianapolis how crazy the traffic can be and how easy it is to have contact that can alter your race. So we need to be mindful of that as there is still a lot to race for – my first Petit Le Mans win, the first for the team in many years and the Manufacturers Championship as well as helping Antonio and Alex in the Drivers Championship. It’s going to be a busy and hectic race. I can’t wait for it.”

Wood Brothers Racing to Host 75th Anniversary Fan Day October 24 in Stuart


Fans invited to join the Wood Brothers for a day of history, activities and fun
STUART, Va. (Oct. 10, 2025) – Wood Brothers Racing will welcome fans back to its hometown later this month, leading into the Martinsville Speedway race weekend, for a special 75th Anniversary Fan Day celebration at the Wood Brothers Museum in Stuart, Virginia. 
 
The event will take place Friday, October 24, from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., serving as one of the final cornerstone celebrations of the team’s diamond anniversary season. Fans can enjoy an afternoon filled with driver appearances, Q&A sessions, autograph opportunities, raffle prizes, trivia, giveaways and more. The Wood Brothers Museum will be fully open throughout the day, featuring historic cars, artifacts and memorabilia spanning the team’s 75-year history.  
 
Nine drivers connected to the Wood Brothers legacy are scheduled to attend throughout the afternoon, including Donnie Allison, Trevor Bayne, Josh Berry, Ryan Blaney, Harrison Burton, Dale Jarrett, Paul Menard, Elliott Sadler and Michael Waltrip. Each group of drivers will participate in a Q&A session followed by an autograph signing. Wristbands are required for driver autograph sessions and will be distributed beginning as early as 11:30 a.m. on the morning of the event, with limited quantities available for each group. 
 
Members of the Wood family will also host autograph sessions throughout the day – no wristbands required – allowing fans to meet multiple generations of the family behind NASCAR’s oldest active team. 
 
Additional attractions include a NASCAR Hall of Fame booth and a team store offering special anniversary apparel and collectible sheet metal. Local favorites Palumbo’s Food Truck and Kona Ice will also be on site, serving food and refreshments throughout the event. 
 
The Kids Zone will offer plenty of fun for younger fans, including bounce houses, a scavenger hunt, free gift bags and hands-on activities at the NASCAR Hall of Fame booth. 
 
Primary parking will be available in the grass lot to the left of the main museum entrance. Once that lot reaches capacity, overflow parking will be directed to a nearby location. A continuous shuttle service will operate throughout the event, transporting guests to and from the museum for convenient access. 

Driver Autograph Sessions (100 Wristbands Available for Groups 1 and 2; 200 Wristbands Available for Group 3) Group 1 – 2:30 p.m.: Donnie Allison, Trevor Bayne, Dale Jarrett Group 2 – 3:30 p.m.: Harrison Burton, Michael Waltrip, Elliott Sadler Group 3 – 5:15 p.m.: Josh Berry, Ryan Blaney, Paul Menard Wood Family Autograph Sessions (No Wristband Required) Group 1 – 2:15 p.m.: Wood Family MembersGroup 2 – 4:15 p.m.: Wood Family MembersGroup 3 – 5:30 p.m.: Wood Family MembersActivities & Activations Open All Afternoon (2 p.m. – 7 p.m.) Team Museum & Store (Opens at 9 a.m.) Leonard Wood, Delano Wood Exhibit  NASCAR Hall of Fame Booth Activities No. 21 Ford Motorcraft Show Car Display Inflatables Scavenger Hunt Palumbo’s Food Truck Kona Ice Full Schedule of Activities 
Friday, October 24 (All Times ET) 

9:00 a.m.: Museum Opens 
11:30 a.m.: Wristband Distribution Begins 
2:00 p.m.: Fan Day Officially Opens, Activities Begin 
2:05 p.m.: Welcome & Introduction Q&A with Ford Motor Company Representatives 
2:15 p.m.: Donnie Allison, Dale Jarrett, Trevor Bayne Q&A Session 
2:15 p.m.: Wood Family Autograph Session 
2:30 p.m.: Donnie Allison, Dale Jarrett, Trevor Bayne Autograph Session 
2:45 p.m.: Trivia Round 1 
3:15 p.m.: Harrison Burton, Michael Waltrip, Elliott Sadler Q&A Session 
3:30 p.m.: Harrison Burton, Michael Waltrip, Elliott Sadler Autograph Session 
3:45 p.m.: Trivia Round 2 
4:00 p.m.: First & Second Generation Wood Family Q&A Session 
4:15 p.m.: Wood Family Autograph Session 
5:00 p.m.: Ryan Blaney, Josh Berry Q&A Session 
5:15 p.m.: Trivia Round 3 
5:15 p.m.: Ryan Blaney, Josh Berry, Paul Menard Autograph Session 
5:30 p.m.: Wood Family Autograph Session 
 
The Wood Brothers Museum is located at 21 Performance Drive, Stuart, VA 24171. 

What a Weekend, SB Motorsport at the LZ World Tour

What a Weekend, SB Motorsport at the LZ World Tour
Two Countries, Two Days, One Epic Weekend of Drift Action 
What a weekend! We were proud to be part of the LZ World Tour once again, and this time the event went one step further, stretching across two countries in two days.As you can imagine, the planning was no small task. From having the SB13 shop set up at both Castle Combe and Mondello Park, to making sure Baggsy and the PS13 made it across the Irish Sea in time, the whole team was flat out from start to finish.
Day 1 – Castle Combe
Baggsy came out swinging in the PS13, qualifying 2nd in the Top 24 which gave us an automatic place in the Top 16. The competition was fierce, and by the end of the day it was Archie Harmer who took the win, followed by Connor Falvey in 2nd and Kevin Brunberg in 3rd.
The day wrapped up quickly, with most of the LZ tour crew (us included) jumping on the last flight out of Bristol at 8pm to get ready for round two.
Day 2 – Mondello Park
Our van rolled in after an overnight drive, arriving at 07:30 Sunday morning. From then on it was all hands on deck to get the pits and shop ready for gates opening at 10am. The atmosphere was incredible, and Baggsy had a fantastic battle with Harry Kerr in his E46.
While we didn’t make it to the podium this time, it was a thrill to watch Jack Shanahan take the win, with Connor Falvey once again in 2nd, and Connor Shanahan rounding out the podium. 
What a Weekend, SB Motorsport at the LZ World Tour
Two Countries, Two Days, One Epic Weekend of Drift Action 
What a weekend! We were proud to be part of the LZ World Tour once again, and this time the event went one step further, stretching across two countries in two days.As you can imagine, the planning was no small task. From having the SB13 shop set up at both Castle Combe and Mondello Park, to making sure Baggsy and the PS13 made it across the Irish Sea in time, the whole team was flat out from start to finish.
Day 1 – Castle Combe
Baggsy came out swinging in the PS13, qualifying 2nd in the Top 24 which gave us an automatic place in the Top 16. The competition was fierce, and by the end of the day it was Archie Harmer who took the win, followed by Connor Falvey in 2nd and Kevin Brunberg in 3rd.
The day wrapped up quickly, with most of the LZ tour crew (us included) jumping on the last flight out of Bristol at 8pm to get ready for round two.
Day 2 – Mondello Park
Our van rolled in after an overnight drive, arriving at 07:30 Sunday morning. From then on it was all hands on deck to get the pits and shop ready for gates opening at 10am. The atmosphere was incredible, and Baggsy had a fantastic battle with Harry Kerr in his E46.
While we didn’t make it to the podium this time, it was a thrill to watch Jack Shanahan take the win, with Connor Falvey once again in 2nd, and Connor Shanahan rounding out the podium. 
It was an absolute pleasure to be part of the LZ World Tour and share this incredible weekend with so many fans and friends across both venues.From everyone at SB Motorsport, thank you to all of our fans who came out to support us, and to our sponsors who make these opportunities possible. We couldn’t do it without you.See you at the next one,
Team SB Motorsport

JOSH HART READY TO TAKE ON TEXAS FALL NATIONALS


OCALA, FL (October 8, 2025) — With three races left in the NHRA Countdown Josh Hart and the R+L Carriers Top Fuel team will be looking to finish the season on a high note and carry momentum into the off-season. The 40th NHRA Texas Fall Nationals and the Stampede of Speed will create a Texas size opportunity for Hart, an entrepreneur and team owner from Florida, to make a move up the point standings. The team is locked into the Top Ten, but Hart wants to move up as high as possible in the point standings down the home stretch.

“We have three more races to turn on as many win lights as possible on race day,” said Hart, a multi-time Top Fuel national event winner. “It all starts with qualifying. We’ll have two shots on Friday, and we need to make the most of them. On Saturday we’ll have two more runs and we need to use those to get as much info for Sunday as possible.”


Josh Hart will be looking to Texas and the Stampede of Speed to finish season strong,
photo credit KZ Photography

JOSH HART READY TO TAKE ON
TEXAS FALL NATIONALS


OCALA, FL (October 8, 2025) — With three races left in the NHRA Countdown Josh Hart and the R+L Carriers Top Fuel team will be looking to finish the season on a high note and carry momentum into the off-season. The 40th NHRA Texas Fall Nationals and the Stampede of Speed will create a Texas size opportunity for Hart, an entrepreneur and team owner from Florida, to make a move up the point standings. The team is locked into the Top Ten, but Hart wants to move up as high as possible in the point standings down the home stretch.

“We have three more races to turn on as many win lights as possible on race day,” said Hart, a multi-time Top Fuel national event winner. “It all starts with qualifying. We’ll have two shots on Friday, and we need to make the most of them. On Saturday we’ll have two more runs and we need to use those to get as much info for Sunday as possible.”


Josh Hart will be looking to Texas and the Stampede of Speed to finish season strong,
photo credit KZ Photography

The second qualifying session at the Texas Fall Nationals will feature the “Battle for the Saddle” bonus race. The quickest Top Fuel dragster in the second session will win $15,000 plus additional prizes from JEGS, the sponsor of JEGS Friday Night Live! The chance to add some bonus money on Friday night has Hart’s attention.

“The Stampede of Speed started the Battle of the Saddle a few years ago and it made Friday night at Texas Motorplex pretty awesome,” said Hart. “We have seen more tracks this year doing specialty prizes or awards on Friday but the chance to grab $15,000 for one run is a great incentive. I know everyone will be gunning for that and I would love to be the last driver on that saddle to get the cash.”

As the season winds down Hart and the R+L Carriers team have shown flashes of consistency, but they are looking to the Texas Fall Nationals as the opportunity to put a complete race weekend together. Hart has consistently been one of the best drivers off the starting line with a top three average reaction time in the class amongst full-time Top Fuel drivers. The opportunity to grab a low qualifying position will present itself with consistent temperatures and the Motorplex’s famed all-concrete racing surface.

“I think we have all the pieces in place to make some really quick runs,” said Hart. “I have the best crew guys and I have a lot of confidence they are giving me a really good race car. You have to make your own luck and this sport will humble you very quickly. I can’t wait to get to the track.”

On Thursday night Hart will join nearly 60 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series competitors along with the JEGS Allstar racers at the Prestage Fan Fest at Railyard Park in downtown Waxahachie for a free driver autograph session from 7 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. The event has grown to be one of the largest outdoor events in Waxahachie with race fans filling the park to meet drivers and see exhibition cars on display.

“I love doing Fan Fests all across the country and the Stampede of Speed event is one the biggest we do,” said Hart. “It will be great to meet the fans before the race starts. Events like this get you excited to get to the track because there are always fans that give you a good pep talk. I love getting inspiration from this event that I can then take back home, to the Fan Fest that we host at Burnyzz for the Gatornationals.”

The R+L Carriers Top Fuel team will be on track in qualifying for two sessions on Friday and two on Saturday. Final eliminations for the quickest 16 Top Fuel dragster will begin at 10 a.m. on Sunday morning. The race will be broadcast on FOX nationally and fans can get more information by visiting www.stampedeofspeed.com.

TEXAS NHRA FALL NATIONALS IS HOMECOMING FOR BUDDY HULL, ALEX LAUGHLIN OF JIM DUNN RACING

 LONG BEACH, CA (October 8, 2025) — It’s homecoming week for both Jim Dunn Racing drivers as the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series heads deep into the heart of Texas for the 40th  Texas NHRA Fall Nationals, October 8-12, at the world-famous Texas Motorplex. While primary driver Buddy Hull continues to recover from a left-hand injury sustained at the Sonoma Nationals, fellow Texan Alex Laughlin will once again handle driving duties for the Jim Dunn Racing 75th  Anniversary Funny Car, which will feature True Brand as the primary sponsor for the second time this season. Even though he won’t be behind the wheel, Hull is coming into his home race weekend with his trademark enthusiasm, ready to represent his team, sponsors and home state in a big way.
 
“There’s nothing like racing in Texas. It’s my home, my people, and my favorite stop on the tour,” said Hull. “The Texas Motorplex and the Stampede of Speed mean so much to me. It’s the biggest, most exciting week in drag racing, and even though I won’t be in the seat, I’m still going full throttle all weekend long with the fans, the team and the community. I’m beyond fired up!”
 
Hull, a proud supporter of the Stampede of Speed, will be a major presence throughout the event, participating in fan activities and community appearances. On Thursday, October 9, from 7 – 8:30 p.m., he’ll be meeting fans and signing autographs at the PreStage FanFest in Waxahachie at Railyard Park, one of the most anticipated events leading up to the Fall Nationals.

 
“The PreStage FanFest is awesome, it’s one of my favorite parts of this whole week,” said Hull. “It brings the sport right to the fans before we ever hit the track. I love shaking hands, taking photos, talking racing, that’s what this sport is all about. If you’re anywhere near Waxahachie, you’ve got to come out!”
 
The Jim Dunn Racing Funny Car currently piloted by Alex Laughlin has steadily moved in the right direction, continuously running elapsed times in the low 4’s, and at the recent 4-Wide Carolina Nationals, even making a 3.987 second pass. While Laughlin handles the driving duties in Dallas, Hull won’t be idle. He’ll be serving as the chauffeur of the Rodak Cadillac powered by Rodak Coffee, helping the Texas Motorplex with off-track events and keeping the energy high all weekend.
 
“I might not be making runs in the Funny Car this time, but I’ll still be running wide open,” said Hull. “Between helping the Motorplex, hanging out with fans, and cheering on Alex and the True Brand Funny Car, it’s going to be a busy and unforgettable weekend. This is home, and I’m so proud to be part of it.”
 
The Texas NHRA Fall Nationals is the fourth of six races in the NHRA’s Countdown to the Championship. As Laughlin carries on accruing points for Hull under the NHRA’s medical driver replacement policy, the entire Jim Dunn Racing team is focused on moving up in the point standings.
 
In addition to True Brand, this weekend Hull and Laughlin will also be representing sponsors Blaze Exhaust Probes, Lescure Mechanical Services, KGC Construction, Mooneyes, Vertex Roofers and General Contractors, Crow Safety, Koppl Pipeline Services, Menards, Wiley X, USD and Compass Facility Services. True Brand will in turn be highlighting the amazing work the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) does across the country throughout the race weekend. This will be the second time Jim Dunn Racing has repped True Brand and the third time True Brand has promoted the National Breast Cancer Foundation at the NHRA Texas Fall Nationals.
 
“Working alongside Buddy and Alex, and our incredible partners at True Brand, is so much more than a collaboration — it’s a shared mission,” said Ashley Miller, Senior Director of Public Relations & Spokesperson, National Breast Cancer Foundation. “Year after year, these world-class racers pour their hearts into bringing awareness and hope to women and families when they need it most. In moments when life feels uncertain, partnerships like this remind us that there is strength, compassion, and life-saving action in every race.”
 
The National Breast Cancer Foundation was founded in 1991 by breast cancer survivor, Janelle Hail. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1980 at the age of 34. At the time of her diagnosis, there was little information about the disease, and she was forced to decide about her health with few options. After her treatment, Janelle made a commitment to help women around the world by educating them about breast cancer and the importance of early detection.
 
“We have three races left this season, and I know everyone is focused on making these last few chances count,” said Hull. “We’ll make some noise in Dallas and make sure to represent True Brand and the rest of our sponsors well.”
 
Laughlin and the Jim Dunn Racing team will have two qualifying runs on Friday, October 10 and then two more qualifying runs on October 11 at Texas Motorplex. The 16 Funny Cars with the quickest elapsed times after all four rounds of qualifying will compete on race day on Sunday, October 12 at 10 a.m. CT. Fans can watch the race on FOX and FS1. For tickets or more information on the Texas NHRA Fall Nationals visit stampedeofspeed.com.

Chris King Eager to Take on Stampede of Speed and Texas Fall Nationals

CHICAGO (October 8, 2025) — Chicago firefighter and Nitro Funny Car team owner and driver Chris King is coming to the Lone Star State for the 40th NHRA Texas Fall Nationals looking to lasso a successful weekend of racing results and fan experiences. Driving the Competition Parts/Howards Cam Nitro Funny Car tuned by veteran Bob Peck, King returns to Texas Motorplex for the second year in a row to participate in the Stampede of Speed, a 10-day extravaganza of speed, music and family events celebrating its fifth year.
 
“I experienced the Stampede of Speed for the first time last year and our whole team was blown away,” said King. “This year we are coming in even earlier to attend the Champions’ Dinner and be all set for the Thursday night FanFest and then a busy race weekend. Our program has steadily been improving and I am excited to get to Texas and see how we can close out the season on a high note.”


 Chris King is eager to take on Stampede of Speed at Texas Motorplex, photo credit Werner Communications

Chris King Eager to Take on Stampede of Speed
and Texas Fall Nationals

CHICAGO (October 8, 2025) — Chicago firefighter and Nitro Funny Car team owner and driver Chris King is coming to the Lone Star State for the 40th NHRA Texas Fall Nationals looking to lasso a successful weekend of racing results and fan experiences. Driving the Competition Parts/Howards Cam Nitro Funny Car tuned by veteran Bob Peck, King returns to Texas Motorplex for the second year in a row to participate in the Stampede of Speed, a 10-day extravaganza of speed, music and family events celebrating its fifth year.
 
“I experienced the Stampede of Speed for the first time last year and our whole team was blown away,” said King. “This year we are coming in even earlier to attend the Champions’ Dinner and be all set for the Thursday night FanFest and then a busy race weekend. Our program has steadily been improving and I am excited to get to Texas and see how we can close out the season on a high note.”


 Chris King is eager to take on Stampede of Speed at Texas Motorplex, photo credit Werner Communications

King has raced several races this season as he builds his program towards full-time NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series participation. King opened the season in Chicago making qualifying runs before attending his son’s college graduation on race day. The team returned to action for the Norwalk Nationals narrowly missing qualifying for a stout 16-car Funny Car field. King was dealt a tough blow at the historic U.S. Nationals finishing five rounds of qualifying as the No. 17 Funny Car just barely on the outside of the quick 16. King is hopeful his luck will turn around at Texas Motorplex.
 
“This season has been a challenge for sure but no one on this team is hanging their head,” said King, who last year narrowly missed the Fall Nationals field. “We have been right on the edge of making some of the tightest Funny Car fields going against full-time teams. We have all the pieces and we just need them to line up for us in qualifying and then again on race day.”
 
Peck and King have made huge strides since they started working together last season. The duo has improved the overall performance of the team and King has added more equipment, including a full-size race hauler, and deeper parts inventory. Several teams have stepped up to help Peck and King pull everything together to make as many races as possible.
 
“The NHRA community of competitors has really been amazing this season,” said King. “Teams we are racing against have helped us with parts. Bob has a great relationship with so many crew chiefs he can bounce his ideas off them and we have really stepped up. I can’t thank Bob, my crew and everyone who has contributed to our success. We may not see it on the qualifying sheet, but we are getting better every race.”
 
During the week leading up to the NHRA Texas Fall Nationals King will attend the Champion’s Dinner at the Texas Motorplex Champion’s Club. The event is an invitation only celebration of the 2024 Texas Fall Nationals and all former winners over the past 40 seasons. The PreStage FanFest takes place on Thursday with King joining nearly 65 Mission Foods Drag Racing Series competitors and 80 JEGS Allstar racers in a massive free autograph session from 7:00 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. at Railyard Park.
 
King will be on track for two qualifying sessions on Friday including the JEGS Friday Night Live which will include special Opening Ceremonies prior to the start of professional qualifying and huge cash payouts for all four professional categories during the night-time qualifying session as part of the “Battle for the Saddle.” Two more qualifying sessions will take place on Saturday to fill out the 16-Funny Car field. Final eliminations will commence at 10 a.m. on Sunday. Fans can tune into watching the race on FOX’s national broadcast.

Chris King Eager to Take on Stampede of Speed and Texas Fall Nationals

CHICAGO (October 8, 2025) — Chicago firefighter and Nitro Funny Car team owner and driver Chris King is coming to the Lone Star State for the 40th NHRA Texas Fall Nationals looking to lasso a successful weekend of racing results and fan experiences. Driving the Competition Parts/Howards Cam Nitro Funny Car tuned by veteran Bob Peck, King returns to Texas Motorplex for the second year in a row to participate in the Stampede of Speed, a 10-day extravaganza of speed, music and family events celebrating its fifth year.
 
“I experienced the Stampede of Speed for the first time last year and our whole team was blown away,” said King. “This year we are coming in even earlier to attend the Champions’ Dinner and be all set for the Thursday night FanFest and then a busy race weekend. Our program has steadily been improving and I am excited to get to Texas and see how we can close out the season on a high note.”


 Chris King is eager to take on Stampede of Speed at Texas Motorplex, photo credit Werner Communications

Chris King Eager to Take on Stampede of Speed
and Texas Fall Nationals

CHICAGO (October 8, 2025) — Chicago firefighter and Nitro Funny Car team owner and driver Chris King is coming to the Lone Star State for the 40th NHRA Texas Fall Nationals looking to lasso a successful weekend of racing results and fan experiences. Driving the Competition Parts/Howards Cam Nitro Funny Car tuned by veteran Bob Peck, King returns to Texas Motorplex for the second year in a row to participate in the Stampede of Speed, a 10-day extravaganza of speed, music and family events celebrating its fifth year.
 
“I experienced the Stampede of Speed for the first time last year and our whole team was blown away,” said King. “This year we are coming in even earlier to attend the Champions’ Dinner and be all set for the Thursday night FanFest and then a busy race weekend. Our program has steadily been improving and I am excited to get to Texas and see how we can close out the season on a high note.”


 Chris King is eager to take on Stampede of Speed at Texas Motorplex, photo credit Werner Communications

King has raced several races this season as he builds his program towards full-time NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series participation. King opened the season in Chicago making qualifying runs before attending his son’s college graduation on race day. The team returned to action for the Norwalk Nationals narrowly missing qualifying for a stout 16-car Funny Car field. King was dealt a tough blow at the historic U.S. Nationals finishing five rounds of qualifying as the No. 17 Funny Car just barely on the outside of the quick 16. King is hopeful his luck will turn around at Texas Motorplex.
 
“This season has been a challenge for sure but no one on this team is hanging their head,” said King, who last year narrowly missed the Fall Nationals field. “We have been right on the edge of making some of the tightest Funny Car fields going against full-time teams. We have all the pieces and we just need them to line up for us in qualifying and then again on race day.”
 
Peck and King have made huge strides since they started working together last season. The duo has improved the overall performance of the team and King has added more equipment, including a full-size race hauler, and deeper parts inventory. Several teams have stepped up to help Peck and King pull everything together to make as many races as possible.
 
“The NHRA community of competitors has really been amazing this season,” said King. “Teams we are racing against have helped us with parts. Bob has a great relationship with so many crew chiefs he can bounce his ideas off them and we have really stepped up. I can’t thank Bob, my crew and everyone who has contributed to our success. We may not see it on the qualifying sheet, but we are getting better every race.”
 
During the week leading up to the NHRA Texas Fall Nationals King will attend the Champion’s Dinner at the Texas Motorplex Champion’s Club. The event is an invitation only celebration of the 2024 Texas Fall Nationals and all former winners over the past 40 seasons. The PreStage FanFest takes place on Thursday with King joining nearly 65 Mission Foods Drag Racing Series competitors and 80 JEGS Allstar racers in a massive free autograph session from 7:00 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. at Railyard Park.
 
King will be on track for two qualifying sessions on Friday including the JEGS Friday Night Live which will include special Opening Ceremonies prior to the start of professional qualifying and huge cash payouts for all four professional categories during the night-time qualifying session as part of the “Battle for the Saddle.” Two more qualifying sessions will take place on Saturday to fill out the 16-Funny Car field. Final eliminations will commence at 10 a.m. on Sunday. Fans can tune into watching the race on FOX’s national broadcast.

Alex Karpowicz Soaking Up Rookie Lessons, Finishing 2025 Xtreme Outlaw Midget Season with Confidence

CONCORD, NC (September 25, 2025) – Alex Karpowicz entered the 2025 season ready to dive into uncharted waters with the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota this year, having already conquered various setbacks in his life. 

The Spring Branch, TX driver was diagnosed with scoliosis at 13 years old. After undergoing a successful surgery of two permanent titanium rods placed in his back to correct his spine in 2020, “Mr. Titanium” climbed into a Micro Sprint and found success in his home region with two NOW600 Ark-La-Tex titles in 2022-2023, and the 2023 NOW600 Gulf South championship. 

“I feel a lot less of it now after the surgery than I did before,” Karpowicz said. “It never really got bad until about mid-high school when I hit my big growth spurt. It was like 2020, and we decided that we were going to get surgery. I had the rods and screws put in my spine, and I was out of the car for like six months. I jumped back in, and that’s when my racing career really started.” 

He took the next step in his career this year by joining Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports (KKM) for his rookie campaign with the Xtreme Outlaw Midgets. Along with the journey being his first time on a national tour, the schedule brought him to a new track every weekend. 

But like any other challenge, he had a lot of support behind him. 

“I mean, not only are they all brand-new tracks for me, but I’ve never raced any of them in a Midget,” Karpowicz said. “You come into them with a brand-new car, brand-new track, and the best I can really do is take what my crew chief says, talk to Jacob (Denney, his KKM teammate), then take what he says and apply that to the night. A lot of the tracks are similar to others that we’ve raced earlier in the year. So, I can take my notes, compare them, and try to learn that way.” 

Karpowicz took the first half of the season to learn the car and package before finding his comfort level, earning three consecutive seventh-place finishes during the Kansas races at Humboldt Speedway, 81 Speedway, and Airport Raceway. 

The Texan weathered a summertime slide that included a single top-10 at Spoon River Speedway in nine races between May and August. Then, Karpowicz found momentum at the Appalachian Midget Week opener at Action Track USA when he won his first Series Heat Race and earned the night’s High-Point honors, finishing in ninth place. 

The top-10 performances became more commonplace for the No. 72 Big Red Soap LynK Chassis, adding three more in the last five Series races. 

“I think the beginning of the season, we really struggled,” Karpowicz said. “I was definitely disappointed, almost entirely on myself. I’d say that Oklahoma swing and going into (Appalachian Midget Week) was when we really figured it out. Myself, working with this team, it all started to come together. I got a lot more confident in the car, which allowed me to really rip it and be fast right off the bat. 

“At the beginning, we could qualify well, run our Heat Race well, then by Feature time, we’d not do well. Then, it got to where we didn’t qualify good, but could run the Feature good. I think it’s all starting to come together a little bit, and we can have solid results every time we’re on the racetrack.” 

Before Karpowicz finishes the rookie campaign in the Xtreme Outlaw Midgets, he’ll make two debut appearances at Jacksonville Speedway and Millbridge Speedway. Despite relying on video replays and testimonials from his KKM teammates, Karpowicz said he has more confidence heading to the two facilities than he did at the start of the season. 

“I’ve put some thought into them, mainly Millbridge,” Karpowicz said. “They’re two totally opposite tracks. Millbridge is a little bullring, and Jacksonville’s a pretty good size. Millbridge, since the beginning of the year, was a track I was really anxious about going to, for just it being so small and not something I’m used to. 

“But, as the year’s gone on, I’ve actually really come to like the smaller tracks. So, I went from being nervous to excited about going to Millbridge. Jacksonville looks like your average Midget track, so I feel pretty confident going into both tracks. 

Karpowicz climbs back in the seat of his Toyota-powered Midget for the penultimate event of 2025 at Jacksonville for the Honest Abe Roofing Open Wheel Showdown on Friday-Saturday, Oct. 3-4. Then, he’ll close out the rookie season with the Series in the Xtreme World Championship presented by Glenn Styres Racing on Monday-Tuesday, Nov. 3-4. Use code “KARPOWICZ72” to get $5 off your tickets to Jacksonville.

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Alex Karpowicz Soaking Up Rookie Lessons, Finishing 2025 Xtreme Outlaw Midget Season with Confidence 

CONCORD, NC (September 25, 2025) – Alex Karpowicz entered the 2025 season ready to dive into uncharted waters with the Xtreme Outlaw Midget Series presented by Toyota this year, having already conquered various setbacks in his life. 

The Spring Branch, TX driver was diagnosed with scoliosis at 13 years old. After undergoing a successful surgery of two permanent titanium rods placed in his back to correct his spine in 2020, “Mr. Titanium” climbed into a Micro Sprint and found success in his home region with two NOW600 Ark-La-Tex titles in 2022-2023, and the 2023 NOW600 Gulf South championship. 

“I feel a lot less of it now after the surgery than I did before,” Karpowicz said. “It never really got bad until about mid-high school when I hit my big growth spurt. It was like 2020, and we decided that we were going to get surgery. I had the rods and screws put in my spine, and I was out of the car for like six months. I jumped back in, and that’s when my racing career really started.” 

He took the next step in his career this year by joining Keith Kunz/Curb-Agajanian Motorsports (KKM) for his rookie campaign with the Xtreme Outlaw Midgets. Along with the journey being his first time on a national tour, the schedule brought him to a new track every weekend. 

But like any other challenge, he had a lot of support behind him. 

“I mean, not only are they all brand-new tracks for me, but I’ve never raced any of them in a Midget,” Karpowicz said. “You come into them with a brand-new car, brand-new track, and the best I can really do is take what my crew chief says, talk to Jacob (Denney, his KKM teammate), then take what he says and apply that to the night. A lot of the tracks are similar to others that we’ve raced earlier in the year. So, I can take my notes, compare them, and try to learn that way.” 

Karpowicz took the first half of the season to learn the car and package before finding his comfort level, earning three consecutive seventh-place finishes during the Kansas races at Humboldt Speedway, 81 Speedway, and Airport Raceway. 

The Texan weathered a summertime slide that included a single top-10 at Spoon River Speedway in nine races between May and August. Then, Karpowicz found momentum at the Appalachian Midget Week opener at Action Track USA when he won his first Series Heat Race and earned the night’s High-Point honors, finishing in ninth place. 

The top-10 performances became more commonplace for the No. 72 Big Red Soap LynK Chassis, adding three more in the last five Series races. 

“I think the beginning of the season, we really struggled,” Karpowicz said. “I was definitely disappointed, almost entirely on myself. I’d say that Oklahoma swing and going into (Appalachian Midget Week) was when we really figured it out. Myself, working with this team, it all started to come together. I got a lot more confident in the car, which allowed me to really rip it and be fast right off the bat. 

“At the beginning, we could qualify well, run our Heat Race well, then by Feature time, we’d not do well. Then, it got to where we didn’t qualify good, but could run the Feature good. I think it’s all starting to come together a little bit, and we can have solid results every time we’re on the racetrack.” 

Before Karpowicz finishes the rookie campaign in the Xtreme Outlaw Midgets, he’ll make two debut appearances at Jacksonville Speedway and Millbridge Speedway. Despite relying on video replays and testimonials from his KKM teammates, Karpowicz said he has more confidence heading to the two facilities than he did at the start of the season. 

“I’ve put some thought into them, mainly Millbridge,” Karpowicz said. “They’re two totally opposite tracks. Millbridge is a little bullring, and Jacksonville’s a pretty good size. Millbridge, since the beginning of the year, was a track I was really anxious about going to, for just it being so small and not something I’m used to. 

“But, as the year’s gone on, I’ve actually really come to like the smaller tracks. So, I went from being nervous to excited about going to Millbridge. Jacksonville looks like your average Midget track, so I feel pretty confident going into both tracks. 

Karpowicz climbs back in the seat of his Toyota-powered Midget for the penultimate event of 2025 at Jacksonville for the Honest Abe Roofing Open Wheel Showdown on Friday-Saturday, Oct. 3-4. Then, he’ll close out the rookie season with the Series in the Xtreme World Championship presented by Glenn Styres Racing on Monday-Tuesday, Nov. 3-4. Use code “KARPOWICZ72” to get $5 off your tickets to Jacksonville.

JACKSONVILLE TICKETS

MILLBRIDGE INFO

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

CHAMPIONSHIP CORONATION AND FINAL FLEXJET FACTORY STOCK SHOWDOWN


NATIONAL EVENT TITLE ON THE LINE IN ST. LOUIS
 ST. LOUIS (September 24, 2025) — The final Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown NHRA national event will be contested September 26-28 at World Wide Technology Raceway during the NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals. Reigning world champion Mark Pawuk is all but assured of winning his second consecutive Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown world title at the conclusion of qualifying. The veteran driver holds a 153-point lead over a surging Taylor Dietsch, based on the maximum available points of 118 points, Pawuk is a mathematical lock for the title as long as he does not incur 36 penalty points, a near impossibility. A full field of Chevrolet COPO Camaros, Dodge Challenger Drag Paks and Ford Mustang Cobra Jets will be vying for the national event title looking to best Pawuk and Dietsch.
 
“I am looking forward to St. Louis and heading into this race I feel a lot better than last year,” said Pawuk. “We have had a great season and I have to thank all my sponsors and my family for their support. We clinched the championship in St. Louis last year and to do it again hopefully in St. Louis will make this a special weekend.”
 Mark Pawuk should wrap up second consecutive Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown world championship in St. Louis, photo credit Auto Imagery
Last year Pawuk was in a tight battle with Chevrolet COPO Camaro drivers Scott Libersher, and Stephen Bell and his Empaco Dodge Challenger Drag Pak prevailed. This year Pawuk had to hold off father and son team of Jason and Taylor Dietsch down the stretch. Taylor Dietsch has won the past two Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series races in his first full season competing in the class behind the wheel of his Ford Mustang Cobra Jet. He will carry the $2,000 Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown bounty into the Midwest Nationals.
 
“I said after we won the U.S. Nationals, I wanted to hold onto this Flexjet Bounty as long as possible,” said Dietsch. “We kept it through the Reading Nationals and I would like to make it $3,000 going into next season. This has been a lot of fun and I want to just stay relaxed and keep doing my best job behind the wheel.”
 Indianapolis and Reading Nationals winner Taylor Dietsch will be hunting for his third Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown win in a row in St. Louis, photo credit Auto Imagery
Pawuk and the Dietschs have dominated the season capturing wins at six of the seven Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown national events. Jason Allegrucci was able to break through at the Charlotte Four-Wide Nationals outrunning Pawuk, Tony Scott Jr. and Raymond Nash for the win. Five other drivers joined Pawuk with runner-up finishes this season including Nash, Libersher, Lee Hartman, Lenny Lottig and James Betz. The diversity of the top finishers has made the Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series one of the most exciting for fans to follow in 2025. Veteran driver Hartman will be looking to close out the season with his first career Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series win after a season of strong No. 1 qualifier efforts and close races.
 
“We have had a lot of opportunities this season and I am looking forward to St. Louis to see if we can close out with a win,” said Hartman. “This class is so tough and the other drivers are great guys and very tough competitors.”
 
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 26 will feature qualifying runs at 1:00 p.m. and 3:35 p.m. and on Saturday, teams make their final qualifying pass at 11:10 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 Word Wide Technology 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
Reading – Taylor Dietsch, winner; Scott Libersher, runner-up
 

Chevy Racing–NASCAR–Kansas Advance

TEAM CHEVY ADVANCE Kansas Speedway September 27-28, 2025
The NASCAR Cup and Xfinity Series playoff schedules have finally aligned as the duo will head to the heartland to Kansas Speedway, where the mile-and-a-half oval will serve as the second race of the Round of 12 for each division.MEDIA RESOURCES: Photo Gallery | Race AdvancesChevrolet Newsroom
The Bowtie brigade is coming off a strong start to the second round of the 2025 Cup Series playoffs with all four title contenders collecting top-10 finishes at New Hampshire Motor Speedway last weekend. For the Xfinity Series, a weekend refresh is in the rearview mirror as the division returns to nonstop competition for the final stretch towards the championship. The regular season champion, Connor Zilisch, finds himself in a familiar position atop the playoff rankings heading into the penultimate race of the series’ opening round.
Chevrolet in the NASCAR Cup Series at Kansas: It’s been a Chevrolet-powered machine that has made its way to victory lane in the past three-straight NASCAR Cup Series races at Kansas Speedway, with Kyle Larson’s win in the series’ most recent appearance marking the manufacturer’s series-leading 16th all-time triumph at the track. The 33-year-old Elk Grove, California, native is a back-to-back winner in the track’s spring date, with his May 2024 triumph going down as the closest finish in NASCAR history. Returning to the heartland in the fall, Trackhouse Racing’s Ross Chastain drove to a playoff upset victory to complete Chevrolet’s Kansas season sweep. All four of Team Chevy’s title contenders have earned a top-10 finish in one of the past-two Kansas races with William Byron placing second and Chase Elliott placing ninth one year ago. 
Matching the record-setting ways of its manufacturer partner, Hendrick Motorsports also leads the division in wins at Kansas Speedway with the Chevrolet organization reaching a double-digit win count of 10 victories in the spring. Hendrick Motorsports’ Kansas success began right out of the gate with NASCAR Hall of Famer, Jeff Gordon, driving the famed No. 24 Chevrolet to victory lane in the series’ first-two races at the track (Sept. 2001; Sept. 2002). 
ROUND OF 12 REBOUNDTeam Chevy hit the ground running for the start of the NASCAR Cup Series Round of 12 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway – becoming the only manufacturer to see all of its playoff contenders earn top-10 results in the opening race. Hendrick Motorsports’ William Byron and Kyle Larson were among just the four playoff drivers that earned points in each stage of the race, which paid dividends for their cutline cushions as the duo sits in the top-two provisional points positions heading into the Kansas race weekend with Byron in second (+47) and Larson in third (+41). The next-two stops in this round fit right in the wheelhouse for Team Chevy’s title contenders with Larson and Chase Elliott holding victories at both Kansas and the Charlotte ROVAL and Ross Chastain entering the weekend as the defending race winner at Kansas.
Chastain Eyes Opportunity at Kansas: Carrying the momentum from a top-10 finish to open the Round of 12, Trackhouse Racing’s Ross Chastain has an extra boost of confidence – entering the weekend as the defending race winner at Kansas Speedway. One year ago, the 32-year-old Alva, Florida, native disrupted the playoff field by stealing the checkered flag for the team’s first win of the season. Since joining Trackhouse Racing, Chastain has proven he knows how to navigate the mile-and-a-half oval – posting four top-seven results in seven starts. Chastain has also found consistency in qualifying at the track – earning four top-six starting positions behind the wheel of the organization’s Chevrolet-powered machines. 
Larson’s Hendrick Dominance in the Heartland: Looking to turn a strong points position into a guaranteed ticket into the Round of Eight is Kyle Larson and the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet team, who return to Kansas Speedway as the track’s most recent winners. The victory – Larson’s third in his Cup Series career at Kansas – came in dominating fashion by claiming the pole, sweeping the stages and leading 221 of the 267 laps. Throughout his tenure at Hendrick Motorsports, Larson has tallied six top-four finishes in nine career Cup Series starts at Kansas.
SPIRE CONTINUING TO BUILD LATE-SEASON MOMENTUMContinuing to show speed during the late-season push is Spire Motorsports, who once again proved to be a threat for a playoff upset at New Hampshire Motor Speedway last weekend. At the drop of the checkered-flag, Michael McDowell drove his No. 71 Chevrolet to an eighth-place finish – becoming one of just two non-playoff drivers to earn a top-10 result. His teammate, Carson Hocevar, collected his fourth-straight top-15 finish of the season after putting together a race that saw a fifth-place finish in both stages before bringing home an 11th-place result.  
ZILISCH HOLDS STRONG POINTS LEAD INTO RACE TWO With their final idle weekend in the books, the NASCAR Xfinity Series is now full-throttle towards the race for the championship with Saturday’s Kansas Lottery 300 marking the penultimate race of the series’ opening playoff round. Three Team Chevy title contenders will head to the heartland above the playoff cutline – led by JR Motorsports’ Connor Zilisch, who sits in the top position with an 85-point advantage. His teammate and the series’ reigning champion, Justin Allgaier, also shares a strong points position in second and 53-points above the cutline. The pair are the only two playoff drivers that could potentially point their way into the Round of Eight following this weekend’s event.  All seven of Team Chevy’s playoff drivers will seek their first Kansas triumph this weekend. In the series’ most recent appearance at the venue (Sept. 2024), it was Zilisch that led the Bowtie brigade to the finish with a fourth-place result, which came in just his second career Xfinity Series start. The 19-year-old Mooresville, North Carolina, native carries a streak of 15-straight top-five finishes into the weekend – a run that dates back to Charlotte Motor Speedway in May. The rising star has the opportunity to break the series’ record for consecutive top-five finishes this weekend, which was previously set by Sam Ard in 1983. 
Chevrolet’s season statistics with 30 NASCAR Cup Series races complete:
Wins: 12Poles: 11Laps Led: 3,255Top-Fives: 56Top-10s: 122Stage Wins: 22
Chevrolet’s season statistics with 27 NASCAR Xfinity Series races complete:
Wins: 23Poles: 17Laps Led: 3,293Top-Fives: 90Top-10s: 176Stage Wins: 41
Chevrolet’s season statistics with 21 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races complete:
Wins: 6Poles: 2Laps Led: 939Top-Fives: 44Top-10s: 96Stage Wins: 7
BOWTIE BULLETS:·        Active Chevrolet drivers with a NASCAR Cup Series win at Kansas Speedway: Kyle Larson – three wins (2025, 2024, 2021)Kyle Busch – two wins (2021, 2016)Ross Chastain – one win (2024)Chase Elliott – one win (2018) 
·        In 39 NASCAR Cup Series races at Kansas Speedway, Chevrolet leads all manufacturers with 16 victories – including both the series’ inaugural race (Jeff Gordon – Sept. 2021) and the most recent race (Kyle Larson – May 2025). 
 ·        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. o  Larson: three-time Kansas winner and two-time Charlotte ROVAL winner, including the defending winner at each track. o  Elliott: one Kansas victory and two Charlotte ROVAL victories. 
 ·        Chevrolet has earned at least half of the top-10 finishing results in 13 of the 30 points-paying races thus far this season, including a season-high seven top-10 finishes at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway. 
 ·        In 138 points-paying races in the Next Gen era, Chevrolet leads all manufacturers with 64 victories – a winning percentage of 46.4%. 

·        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 TwoHollywood Casino 400 Presented by ESPN BetSunday, September 28, at 3 p.m. ET(USA Network, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90)  NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs Round of 12: Race TwoKansas Lottery 300Saturday, September 27, at 4 p.m. ET(CW, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90)
QUOTABLE QUOTES:Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing ChevroletHow do the playoffs test a race team? Is there tension when it comes to being in the playoffs?“I wouldn’t say there’s any more tension. Everyone is professional and you can’t get into the playoffs and all of the sudden change everything you’ve been doing. Everyone goes in each day putting their best effort into the task at hand. You got into the playoffs because you did well, so I wouldn’t say the attitudes or anything change just because we’re in the playoffs.”
You won last year at Kansas and this year at Charlotte. How do you feel your intermediate program is?“I feel our intermediate program is the strongest for the No. 1 car out of the different types of tracks. I think if we can replicate how we ran at Kansas last year and Charlotte this year, that we’ll have a strong shot to win or definitely run inside the top-five. We haven’t been able to do that at all of the mile-and-a-half tracks this year though. The little bit of a question mark going into Kansas is if we can replicate those races.”


Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing ChevroletKansas Speedway has been one of the most competitive races in the Next Gen era. Do drivers feel that on the track?“When I think of Kansas (Speedway), I think of wild restarts, racing four-wide, and running the wall. It has definitely become one of the best mile-and-a-half tracks that we go to. Weather wise, we might have cooler temperatures than years prior. The track has gotten slick since they repaved it, and it has become a make-or-break race for a lot of guys in the Playoffs.” How unique is Kansas Speedway compared to some of the other 1.5-mile tracks, and how will you attack the track this weekend?“Kansas Speedway has its own personality for sure. Even though it’s a mile-and-a-half like some other tracks, the surface has aged a bit, so you get a lot of tire fall-off and have to manage your run. It’s wide, which gives you options—up by the wall or down on the bottom—so you can move around depending on how your car’s handling. This weekend, we’ll focus on getting the balance right early in the run and try to keep the speed over the long haul. If we can do that, I think we’ll be in good shape.”   Justin Haley, No. 7 Spire Motorsports ChevroletYou’ve had solid showings on intermediate tracks this year. How do you feel heading into Kansas this weekend?“We’ve had lots of speed at the mile-and-a-half tracks this year and that’s credit to the team at Spire Motorsports and their remarkable attention to detail. I feel really comfortable at Kansas and we were fast in the Spring. Hopefully, we can get luck back on our side and have a good day.”   Kyle Busch, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing ChevroletWhat are your thoughts on heading to Kansas Speedway this weekend?“I really like Kansas Speedway. I would love to go back there and get a little bit of redemption with not during fall of 2024 after getting taken out late in the race while trying to race around a lapped car. We were fast in the fall of 2023 until I crashed in practice, so, we want to make sure that we do all we can in order to not have that happen this time around and carry our speed in and through the race and have a good finish.” What do you think is most challenging about Kansas Speedway?“Kansas is tough all around and a lot of it has to do with the wind. The wind can really play havoc on the car’s handling, depending on which direction it’s blowing. I would say that you are trying to maximize your speed at all areas of the track and sometimes when you’re running high against the wall you overstep those bounds and get in trouble.”


AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet“It’ll be good for our group to get back to a mile-and-a-half this weekend at Kansas; those have probably been our best racetracks. The spring race was difficult but with what we have learned at Charlotte and a couple of the other racetracks since then, it will help us this weekend. Our No. 16 group has been putting together solid weekends and we we’re working hard to continue to do that.”   Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet“Kansas has always been a place where momentum can shift, and I’m excited to head there with Ram Self Storage back on the car.”   Michael McDowell, No. 71 Spire Motorsports ChevroletA lot of drivers refer to Kansas Speedway as the perfect 1.5-mile track, what makes it so versatile and dynamic?“I think it’s probably because it’s the easiest to get multiple lanes going, even Lap 1 in practice you can run the top there where you know places like Charlotte, Texas, and other 1.5-mile tracks, you don’t you have to build up to it. So, the track has multiple lanes, multiple grooves and that all comes together fairly early in the run. In general, Kansas seems to produce a pretty good race.
I’d mostly say because you can move around.”   Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports ChevroletYou’ve expressed your excitement for this weekend’s race at Kansas Speedway. Given your team’s recent performance and your personal preference for mile-and-a-half tracks, what do you think will be key to success?“I’ve always loved mile-and-a-half tracks. They’re where I feel most comfortable and our team’s been showing a lot of speed the last few weeks. We won the truck race at Kansas in May, and I’m hoping we can translate that into success in the Delaware Life Chevy this weekend. I love running on the fence, but you really have to move around and try different lanes. I think we’re in a good position to have a strong weekend.”   Connor Zilisch, No. 88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet“Kansas is one of my favorite tracks. You’re up on the fence and it’s just a unique racetrack with low banking, low grip and it races really well. There are so many grooves and seems and you can run right up against the fence. There are a lot of different ways you can go around that track and that definitely makes it one of the more unique racetracks that we go to. We were able to cleanly get through Bristol and I think we’re in a good spot heading to Kansas this weekend.”  
TEAM CHEVY ADVANCEKansas SpeedwaySeptember 27-28, 2025
The NASCAR Cup and Xfinity Series playoff schedules have finally aligned as the duo will head to the heartland to Kansas Speedway, where the mile-and-a-half oval will serve as the second race of the Round of 12 for each division.MEDIA RESOURCES: Photo Gallery | Race AdvancesChevrolet Newsroom
The Bowtie brigade is coming off a strong start to the second round of the 2025 Cup Series playoffs with all four title contenders collecting top-10 finishes at New Hampshire Motor Speedway last weekend. For the Xfinity Series, a weekend refresh is in the rearview mirror as the division returns to nonstop competition for the final stretch towards the championship. The regular season champion, Connor Zilisch, finds himself in a familiar position atop the playoff rankings heading into the penultimate race of the series’ opening round.
Chevrolet in the NASCAR Cup Series at Kansas: It’s been a Chevrolet-powered machine that has made its way to victory lane in the past three-straight NASCAR Cup Series races at Kansas Speedway, with Kyle Larson’s win in the series’ most recent appearance marking the manufacturer’s series-leading 16th all-time triumph at the track. The 33-year-old Elk Grove, California, native is a back-to-back winner in the track’s spring date, with his May 2024 triumph going down as the closest finish in NASCAR history. Returning to the heartland in the fall, Trackhouse Racing’s Ross Chastain drove to a playoff upset victory to complete Chevrolet’s Kansas season sweep. All four of Team Chevy’s title contenders have earned a top-10 finish in one of the past-two Kansas races with William Byron placing second and Chase Elliott placing ninth one year ago. 
Matching the record-setting ways of its manufacturer partner, Hendrick Motorsports also leads the division in wins at Kansas Speedway with the Chevrolet organization reaching a double-digit win count of 10 victories in the spring. Hendrick Motorsports’ Kansas success began right out of the gate with NASCAR Hall of Famer, Jeff Gordon, driving the famed No. 24 Chevrolet to victory lane in the series’ first-two races at the track (Sept. 2001; Sept. 2002). 
ROUND OF 12 REBOUNDTeam Chevy hit the ground running for the start of the NASCAR Cup Series Round of 12 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway – becoming the only manufacturer to see all of its playoff contenders earn top-10 results in the opening race. Hendrick Motorsports’ William Byron and Kyle Larson were among just the four playoff drivers that earned points in each stage of the race, which paid dividends for their cutline cushions as the duo sits in the top-two provisional points positions heading into the Kansas race weekend with Byron in second (+47) and Larson in third (+41). The next-two stops in this round fit right in the wheelhouse for Team Chevy’s title contenders with Larson and Chase Elliott holding victories at both Kansas and the Charlotte ROVAL and Ross Chastain entering the weekend as the defending race winner at Kansas.
Chastain Eyes Opportunity at Kansas: Carrying the momentum from a top-10 finish to open the Round of 12, Trackhouse Racing’s Ross Chastain has an extra boost of confidence – entering the weekend as the defending race winner at Kansas Speedway. One year ago, the 32-year-old Alva, Florida, native disrupted the playoff field by stealing the checkered flag for the team’s first win of the season. Since joining Trackhouse Racing, Chastain has proven he knows how to navigate the mile-and-a-half oval – posting four top-seven results in seven starts. Chastain has also found consistency in qualifying at the track – earning four top-six starting positions behind the wheel of the organization’s Chevrolet-powered machines. 
Larson’s Hendrick Dominance in the Heartland: Looking to turn a strong points position into a guaranteed ticket into the Round of Eight is Kyle Larson and the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet team, who return to Kansas Speedway as the track’s most recent winners. The victory – Larson’s third in his Cup Series career at Kansas – came in dominating fashion by claiming the pole, sweeping the stages and leading 221 of the 267 laps. Throughout his tenure at Hendrick Motorsports, Larson has tallied six top-four finishes in nine career Cup Series starts at Kansas.
SPIRE CONTINUING TO BUILD LATE-SEASON MOMENTUMContinuing to show speed during the late-season push is Spire Motorsports, who once again proved to be a threat for a playoff upset at New Hampshire Motor Speedway last weekend. At the drop of the checkered-flag, Michael McDowell drove his No. 71 Chevrolet to an eighth-place finish – becoming one of just two non-playoff drivers to earn a top-10 result. His teammate, Carson Hocevar, collected his fourth-straight top-15 finish of the season after putting together a race that saw a fifth-place finish in both stages before bringing home an 11th-place result.  
ZILISCH HOLDS STRONG POINTS LEAD INTO RACE TWO With their final idle weekend in the books, the NASCAR Xfinity Series is now full-throttle towards the race for the championship with Saturday’s Kansas Lottery 300 marking the penultimate race of the series’ opening playoff round. Three Team Chevy title contenders will head to the heartland above the playoff cutline – led by JR Motorsports’ Connor Zilisch, who sits in the top position with an 85-point advantage. His teammate and the series’ reigning champion, Justin Allgaier, also shares a strong points position in second and 53-points above the cutline. The pair are the only two playoff drivers that could potentially point their way into the Round of Eight following this weekend’s event.  All seven of Team Chevy’s playoff drivers will seek their first Kansas triumph this weekend. In the series’ most recent appearance at the venue (Sept. 2024), it was Zilisch that led the Bowtie brigade to the finish with a fourth-place result, which came in just his second career Xfinity Series start. The 19-year-old Mooresville, North Carolina, native carries a streak of 15-straight top-five finishes into the weekend – a run that dates back to Charlotte Motor Speedway in May. The rising star has the opportunity to break the series’ record for consecutive top-five finishes this weekend, which was previously set by Sam Ard in 1983. 
Chevrolet’s season statistics with 30 NASCAR Cup Series races complete:
Wins: 12Poles: 11Laps Led: 3,255Top-Fives: 56Top-10s: 122Stage Wins: 22
Chevrolet’s season statistics with 27 NASCAR Xfinity Series races complete:
Wins: 23Poles: 17Laps Led: 3,293Top-Fives: 90Top-10s: 176Stage Wins: 41
Chevrolet’s season statistics with 21 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races complete:
Wins: 6Poles: 2Laps Led: 939Top-Fives: 44Top-10s: 96Stage Wins: 7
BOWTIE BULLETS:·        Active Chevrolet drivers with a NASCAR Cup Series win at Kansas Speedway: Kyle Larson – three wins (2025, 2024, 2021)Kyle Busch – two wins (2021, 2016)Ross Chastain – one win (2024)Chase Elliott – one win (2018) 
·        In 39 NASCAR Cup Series races at Kansas Speedway, Chevrolet leads all manufacturers with 16 victories – including both the series’ inaugural race (Jeff Gordon – Sept. 2021) and the most recent race (Kyle Larson – May 2025). 
 ·        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. o  Larson: three-time Kansas winner and two-time Charlotte ROVAL winner, including the defending winner at each track. o  Elliott: one Kansas victory and two Charlotte ROVAL victories. 
 ·        Chevrolet has earned at least half of the top-10 finishing results in 13 of the 30 points-paying races thus far this season, including a season-high seven top-10 finishes at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway. 
 ·        In 138 points-paying races in the Next Gen era, Chevrolet leads all manufacturers with 64 victories – a winning percentage of 46.4%. 

·        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 TwoHollywood Casino 400 Presented by ESPN BetSunday, September 28, at 3 p.m. ET(USA Network, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90)  NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoffs Round of 12: Race TwoKansas Lottery 300Saturday, September 27, at 4 p.m. ET(CW, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90)
QUOTABLE QUOTES:Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing ChevroletHow do the playoffs test a race team? Is there tension when it comes to being in the playoffs?“I wouldn’t say there’s any more tension. Everyone is professional and you can’t get into the playoffs and all of the sudden change everything you’ve been doing. Everyone goes in each day putting their best effort into the task at hand. You got into the playoffs because you did well, so I wouldn’t say the attitudes or anything change just because we’re in the playoffs.”
You won last year at Kansas and this year at Charlotte. How do you feel your intermediate program is?“I feel our intermediate program is the strongest for the No. 1 car out of the different types of tracks. I think if we can replicate how we ran at Kansas last year and Charlotte this year, that we’ll have a strong shot to win or definitely run inside the top-five. We haven’t been able to do that at all of the mile-and-a-half tracks this year though. The little bit of a question mark going into Kansas is if we can replicate those races.”


Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing ChevroletKansas Speedway has been one of the most competitive races in the Next Gen era. Do drivers feel that on the track?“When I think of Kansas (Speedway), I think of wild restarts, racing four-wide, and running the wall. It has definitely become one of the best mile-and-a-half tracks that we go to. Weather wise, we might have cooler temperatures than years prior. The track has gotten slick since they repaved it, and it has become a make-or-break race for a lot of guys in the Playoffs.” How unique is Kansas Speedway compared to some of the other 1.5-mile tracks, and how will you attack the track this weekend?“Kansas Speedway has its own personality for sure. Even though it’s a mile-and-a-half like some other tracks, the surface has aged a bit, so you get a lot of tire fall-off and have to manage your run. It’s wide, which gives you options—up by the wall or down on the bottom—so you can move around depending on how your car’s handling. This weekend, we’ll focus on getting the balance right early in the run and try to keep the speed over the long haul. If we can do that, I think we’ll be in good shape.”   Justin Haley, No. 7 Spire Motorsports ChevroletYou’ve had solid showings on intermediate tracks this year. How do you feel heading into Kansas this weekend?“We’ve had lots of speed at the mile-and-a-half tracks this year and that’s credit to the team at Spire Motorsports and their remarkable attention to detail. I feel really comfortable at Kansas and we were fast in the Spring. Hopefully, we can get luck back on our side and have a good day.”   Kyle Busch, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing ChevroletWhat are your thoughts on heading to Kansas Speedway this weekend?“I really like Kansas Speedway. I would love to go back there and get a little bit of redemption with not during fall of 2024 after getting taken out late in the race while trying to race around a lapped car. We were fast in the fall of 2023 until I crashed in practice, so, we want to make sure that we do all we can in order to not have that happen this time around and carry our speed in and through the race and have a good finish.” What do you think is most challenging about Kansas Speedway?“Kansas is tough all around and a lot of it has to do with the wind. The wind can really play havoc on the car’s handling, depending on which direction it’s blowing. I would say that you are trying to maximize your speed at all areas of the track and sometimes when you’re running high against the wall you overstep those bounds and get in trouble.”


AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet“It’ll be good for our group to get back to a mile-and-a-half this weekend at Kansas; those have probably been our best racetracks. The spring race was difficult but with what we have learned at Charlotte and a couple of the other racetracks since then, it will help us this weekend. Our No. 16 group has been putting together solid weekends and we we’re working hard to continue to do that.”   Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet“Kansas has always been a place where momentum can shift, and I’m excited to head there with Ram Self Storage back on the car.”   Michael McDowell, No. 71 Spire Motorsports ChevroletA lot of drivers refer to Kansas Speedway as the perfect 1.5-mile track, what makes it so versatile and dynamic?“I think it’s probably because it’s the easiest to get multiple lanes going, even Lap 1 in practice you can run the top there where you know places like Charlotte, Texas, and other 1.5-mile tracks, you don’t you have to build up to it. So, the track has multiple lanes, multiple grooves and that all comes together fairly early in the run. In general, Kansas seems to produce a pretty good race.
I’d mostly say because you can move around.”   Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports ChevroletYou’ve expressed your excitement for this weekend’s race at Kansas Speedway. Given your team’s recent performance and your personal preference for mile-and-a-half tracks, what do you think will be key to success?“I’ve always loved mile-and-a-half tracks. They’re where I feel most comfortable and our team’s been showing a lot of speed the last few weeks. We won the truck race at Kansas in May, and I’m hoping we can translate that into success in the Delaware Life Chevy this weekend. I love running on the fence, but you really have to move around and try different lanes. I think we’re in a good position to have a strong weekend.”   Connor Zilisch, No. 88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet“Kansas is one of my favorite tracks. You’re up on the fence and it’s just a unique racetrack with low banking, low grip and it races really well. There are so many grooves and seems and you can run right up against the fence. There are a lot of different ways you can go around that track and that definitely makes it one of the more unique racetracks that we go to. We were able to cleanly get through Bristol and I think we’re in a good spot heading to Kansas this weekend.”  
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: 3,255Top-Fives: 56Top-10s: 122Stage Wins: 22 CHEVROLET IN NASCAR CUMULATIVE STATISTICS:Total Chevrolet race wins: 878 (1949 to date)Poles won to date: 764Laps led to date: 255,966Top-fives to date: 4,425Top-10s to date: 9,129                                                                                                          Total NASCAR Cup Wins by Corporation, 1949 to Date:                    General Motors: 1,212           Chevrolet: 878           Pontiac: 154           Oldsmobile: 115           Buick: 65            Ford: 846                                                                                          Ford: 746           Mercury: 96           Lincoln: 4            Fiat Chrysler Automobiles: 467           Dodge: 217           Plymouth: 191           Chrysler: 59            Toyota: 201

OCTOBER RACES: American Sprint Car Series Prepares for Kansas, Oklahoma Doubleheaders

CONCORD, NC (Sept. 24, 2025) — With six races remaining in the chase for the Emmett Hahn Trophy, the American Sprint Car Series (ASCS) stars will race four times at two tracks in Kansas and Oklahoma in October before the championship finale.

Here’s a look at the upcoming races:

Salt City Speedway | Hutchinson, KS | Oct. 10–11

For the second time this season, the Series heads to the Kansas State Fairgrounds in Hutchinson for a two-day event at the 1/2-mile oval of Salt City Speedway.

Kansas-native Zach Blurton led all 25 laps of the Series debut in May to bank his second career Series victory at the same track where his father, John Blurton, won multiple races and a track points championship.

Drivers will compete for a share of the $4,000-to-win purse on Friday before chasing a $6,000 grand prize on Saturday. Both nights of racing will be supported by the local Stock Car division.

Tickets for both days of the event are on sale now; click here to purchase. For event times and other important event information, click here.

Double Down Showdown | Tulsa Speedway | Oct. 17–18

Tulsa Speedway’s annual summertime celebration of dirt track racing has joined forces with the adjacent drag strip’s year-end event to make for one all-you-can-eat motorsports extravaganza, dubbed the Double Down Showdown.

The Sprint Car portion of the two-day event, postponed by rain in June — known as Dirt Down in T-Town — has been reset for Friday–Saturday, Oct. 17–18, paying the Series’ standard $4,000-to-win purse on Friday before a special $6,000-to-win purse on Saturday. USRA B-Mods, Dwarf Cars, and USRA Tuners are on the card to support Friday’s Sprint Car program — co-sanctioned by the ASCS Sooner Region — while USRA Modifieds and the local Factory Stock divisions will support Saturday’s program.

For $25 per carload on each night, fans will be permitted to walk freely between the dirt track and the drag strip to watch both the ASCS and the Mid-West Drag Racing Series programs.

OCTOBER RACES: American Sprint Car Series Prepares for Kansas, Oklahoma Doubleheaders

CONCORD, NC (Sept. 24, 2025) — With six races remaining in the chase for the Emmett Hahn Trophy, the American Sprint Car Series (ASCS) stars will race four times at two tracks in Kansas and Oklahoma in October before the championship finale.

Here’s a look at the upcoming races:

Salt City Speedway | Hutchinson, KS | Oct. 10–11

For the second time this season, the Series heads to the Kansas State Fairgrounds in Hutchinson for a two-day event at the 1/2-mile oval of Salt City Speedway.

Kansas-native Zach Blurton led all 25 laps of the Series debut in May to bank his second career Series victory at the same track where his father, John Blurton, won multiple races and a track points championship.

Drivers will compete for a share of the $4,000-to-win purse on Friday before chasing a $6,000 grand prize on Saturday. Both nights of racing will be supported by the local Stock Car division.

Tickets for both days of the event are on sale now; click here to purchase. For event times and other important event information, click here.

Double Down Showdown | Tulsa Speedway | Oct. 17–18

Tulsa Speedway’s annual summertime celebration of dirt track racing has joined forces with the adjacent drag strip’s year-end event to make for one all-you-can-eat motorsports extravaganza, dubbed the Double Down Showdown.

The Sprint Car portion of the two-day event, postponed by rain in June — known as Dirt Down in T-Town — has been reset for Friday–Saturday, Oct. 17–18, paying the Series’ standard $4,000-to-win purse on Friday before a special $6,000-to-win purse on Saturday. USRA B-Mods, Dwarf Cars, and USRA Tuners are on the card to support Friday’s Sprint Car program — co-sanctioned by the ASCS Sooner Region — while USRA Modifieds and the local Factory Stock divisions will support Saturday’s program.

For $25 per carload on each night, fans will be permitted to walk freely between the dirt track and the drag strip to watch both the ASCS and the Mid-West Drag Racing Series programs.

For event times and other important information, click here.

Berry, No. 21 Team Look to Carry Momentum to Kansas

Josh Berry and the No. 21 Menards/Dutch Boy team head to Kansas Speedway this weekend looking to build on momentum after snapping a three-race run of misfortune with a runner-up finish at New Hampshire.

Berry said the approach remains the same – just without the tough luck – as they prepare for Sunday’s Hollywood Casino 400.

“I think, for one, we just need to keep doing what we’ve been doing,” Berry said. “The last few weeks we’ve shown up with really fast Ford Mustangs, qualified up front and put ourselves in position to contend.

“After a tough few weeks, New Hampshire was a big step for us, starting third and finishing second, and that gives our group a lot of confidence.”

Kansas also brings optimism given the team’s performance in May, when Berry drove to fourth in Stage 2 and a sixth-place finish overall.

“We had a lot of speed at Kansas in the spring, and if we execute, I feel like we’ll give ourselves another great opportunity,” he said.

On-track activity begins Saturday with practice at 1 p.m. ET, followed by qualifying at 2:10 p.m. on truTV. The Hollywood Casino 400 goes green Sunday at 3 p.m. ET with live coverage on USA Network. 

Stage breaks are scheduled for Laps 80 and 165 of the 267-lap, 400.5-mile race.
 

THE MONTH AHEAD: World of Outlaws Hit Home Stretch in October

The tour is set to visit eight tracks in seven states next month

CONCORD, NC (September 24, 2025) – The home stretch of the 2025 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series season is here, and one final full month of racing is ahead before World of Outlaws World Finals (Nov. 5-8) wraps up the campaign at The Dirt Track at Charlotte.

Awaiting in October is a nine-race slate in seven states, sending teams as far east as New Jersey and back out to the western reaches of the Midwest.

Let’s look at where to find the World of Outlaws in October:

Williams Grove Speedway | J&S Classics National Open (Oct. 3-4): The month begins in a big way with one of the sport’s crown jewels. The World of Outlaws/Pennsylvania Posse rivalry reaches its peak when the country’s best drivers invade Williams Grove for the 63rd running of the J&S Classics National Open. Along with the ultimate bragging rights, a healthy payday awaits the winner as the “Natty O” champion will pocket $75,000.

The current crown belongs to the World of Outlaws as Carson Macedo collected his second National Open with Jason Johnson Racing last year. That halted a two-year win streak by the Posse as Lance Dewease (2022) and Brent Marks (2023) made the home state fans proud before Macedo’s triumph. Nobody owns more National Open titles than Donny Schatz’s tally of six. Dewease has the chance to equal that mark this year.

For tickets and more event information, CLICK HERE.

New Egypt Speedway | New Egypt Showdown (Oct. 10): After three years away from the state of New Jersey, The Greatest Show on Dirt is coming back as New Egypt Speedway welcomes the tour. It’s been an even longer hiatus from New Egypt, as the 7/16 mile last hosted the World of Outlaws in 2017.

October’s race will be the Series’ 10th trip to New Egypt and equal it with Bridgeport Motorsports Park as the most visited in the state of New Jersey. Daryn Pittman owns the most New Egypt victories with four. Two current competitors in Donny Schatz and David Gravel have also been victorious.

For tickets and more event information, CLICK HERE.

Lincoln Speedway | Keystone Showdown (Oct. 11): One final battle with the Pennsylvania Posse in 2025 brings the World of Outlaws to Abbottstown, PA’s Lincoln Speedway. The oval nestled in Pennsylvania’s scenic Pigeon Hills will host the tour for the 56th time.

Steve Kinser is by far the most dominant driver in Series history at Lincoln, winning 13 times. The World of Outlaws have controlled Lincoln as of late with a three-race win streak thanks to David Gravel, Donny Schatz, and Michael “Buddy” Kofoid. The Posse’s last Lincoln victory came in May of 2023 when Anthony Macri came out on top.

For tickets and more event information, CLICK HERE.

Lincoln Park Speedway | Putnamville Showdown (Oct. 17): It’s from one Lincoln to another as the World of Outlaws return to Putnamville, IN’s Lincoln Park Speedway to kick off a three-race weekend in three different states. The Indiana bullring last hosted the nation’s top talent in 2016.

The World of Outlaws have made three previous stops at Lincoln Park, and the 1/4 mile delivered a different winner each time. Steve Kinser topped the inaugural visit in 1979. Dave Blaney was victorious nine years later. Donny Schatz went to Victory Lane when the Series returned in 2016 after 28 years away.

For tickets and more event information, CLICK HERE.

LaSalle Speedway | LaSalle Showdown (Oct. 18): The Lincoln theme continues for a third straight race when the World of Outlaws venture from Lincoln Park to the “Land of Lincoln” for some Illinois action. The Series will return to LaSalle Speedway for the first time in a dozen years.

The midway mark of the three-race stretch is set to be LaSalle’s 10th World of Outlaws race. Steve Kinser is the only multi-time winner through nine, topping the inaugural visit in 1994 and another in 1999. Tim Kaeding claimed the most recent LaSalle checkered flag in 2013.

For tickets and more event information, CLICK HERE.

Angell Park Speedway | Badger State Triple (Oct. 19): After Mother Nature interfered in June, the Badger State Triplefinale found a new home in the fall. Originally meant to cap three consecutive nights in the “Badger State,” it’ll now wrap up a swing through Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin.

The World of Outlaws have made one previous trip to the historic Sun Prairie, WI oval. Donny Schatz won the Series debut at Angell Park in 2016. In keeping with track tradition, The Greatest Show on Dirt will roll into Angell Park on a Sunday night.

For tickets and more event information, CLICK HERE.

81 Speedway | Wichita Sprint Car Showdown (Oct. 24): The Heartland of the country is the destination for the final weekend of racing before World Finals. Park City, KS’ 81 Speedway launches the action on Friday night.

The “Sunflower State” oval has hosted 15 nights of World of Outlaws action in the past. Sammy Swindell has won six of them. Donny Schatz and Rico Abreu are also multi-time winners with two checkered flags apiece.

For tickets and more event information CLICK HERE.

Arrowhead Speedway | Jason Johnson Classic presented by FK Rod Ends (Oct. 25): The final race of the month is a special one as the World of Outlaws head to Arrowhead Speedway for the seventh running of the Jason Johnson Classic presented by FK Rod Ends. The tour will honor one of the finest individuals to ever grace the pit area with a night of racing at the Colcord, OK track.

The event shifted to Arrowhead a year ago and saw Sheldon Haudenschild banking the $20,000 prize. No driver has been able to top the Jason Johnson Classic twice yet with David Gravel, James McFadden, Brad Sweet, Jacob Allen, and Rico Abreu being the other five winners.

For tickets and more event information, CLICK HERE.

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

ARTICLE: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/the-month-ahead-world-of-outlaws-hit-home-stretch-in-october/

THE MONTH AHEAD: World of Outlaws Hit Home Stretch in October

The tour is set to visit eight tracks in seven states next month

CONCORD, NC (September 24, 2025) – The home stretch of the 2025 World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series season is here, and one final full month of racing is ahead before World of Outlaws World Finals (Nov. 5-8) wraps up the campaign at The Dirt Track at Charlotte.

Awaiting in October is a nine-race slate in seven states, sending teams as far east as New Jersey and back out to the western reaches of the Midwest.

Let’s look at where to find the World of Outlaws in October:

Williams Grove Speedway | J&S Classics National Open (Oct. 3-4): The month begins in a big way with one of the sport’s crown jewels. The World of Outlaws/Pennsylvania Posse rivalry reaches its peak when the country’s best drivers invade Williams Grove for the 63rd running of the J&S Classics National Open. Along with the ultimate bragging rights, a healthy payday awaits the winner as the “Natty O” champion will pocket $75,000.

The current crown belongs to the World of Outlaws as Carson Macedo collected his second National Open with Jason Johnson Racing last year. That halted a two-year win streak by the Posse as Lance Dewease (2022) and Brent Marks (2023) made the home state fans proud before Macedo’s triumph. Nobody owns more National Open titles than Donny Schatz’s tally of six. Dewease has the chance to equal that mark this year.

For tickets and more event information, CLICK HERE.

New Egypt Speedway | New Egypt Showdown (Oct. 10): After three years away from the state of New Jersey, The Greatest Show on Dirt is coming back as New Egypt Speedway welcomes the tour. It’s been an even longer hiatus from New Egypt, as the 7/16 mile last hosted the World of Outlaws in 2017.

October’s race will be the Series’ 10th trip to New Egypt and equal it with Bridgeport Motorsports Park as the most visited in the state of New Jersey. Daryn Pittman owns the most New Egypt victories with four. Two current competitors in Donny Schatz and David Gravel have also been victorious.

For tickets and more event information, CLICK HERE.

Lincoln Speedway | Keystone Showdown (Oct. 11): One final battle with the Pennsylvania Posse in 2025 brings the World of Outlaws to Abbottstown, PA’s Lincoln Speedway. The oval nestled in Pennsylvania’s scenic Pigeon Hills will host the tour for the 56th time.

Steve Kinser is by far the most dominant driver in Series history at Lincoln, winning 13 times. The World of Outlaws have controlled Lincoln as of late with a three-race win streak thanks to David Gravel, Donny Schatz, and Michael “Buddy” Kofoid. The Posse’s last Lincoln victory came in May of 2023 when Anthony Macri came out on top.

For tickets and more event information, CLICK HERE.

Lincoln Park Speedway | Putnamville Showdown (Oct. 17): It’s from one Lincoln to another as the World of Outlaws return to Putnamville, IN’s Lincoln Park Speedway to kick off a three-race weekend in three different states. The Indiana bullring last hosted the nation’s top talent in 2016.

The World of Outlaws have made three previous stops at Lincoln Park, and the 1/4 mile delivered a different winner each time. Steve Kinser topped the inaugural visit in 1979. Dave Blaney was victorious nine years later. Donny Schatz went to Victory Lane when the Series returned in 2016 after 28 years away.

For tickets and more event information, CLICK HERE.

LaSalle Speedway | LaSalle Showdown (Oct. 18): The Lincoln theme continues for a third straight race when the World of Outlaws venture from Lincoln Park to the “Land of Lincoln” for some Illinois action. The Series will return to LaSalle Speedway for the first time in a dozen years.

The midway mark of the three-race stretch is set to be LaSalle’s 10th World of Outlaws race. Steve Kinser is the only multi-time winner through nine, topping the inaugural visit in 1994 and another in 1999. Tim Kaeding claimed the most recent LaSalle checkered flag in 2013.

For tickets and more event information, CLICK HERE.

Angell Park Speedway | Badger State Triple (Oct. 19): After Mother Nature interfered in June, the Badger State Triplefinale found a new home in the fall. Originally meant to cap three consecutive nights in the “Badger State,” it’ll now wrap up a swing through Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin.

The World of Outlaws have made one previous trip to the historic Sun Prairie, WI oval. Donny Schatz won the Series debut at Angell Park in 2016. In keeping with track tradition, The Greatest Show on Dirt will roll into Angell Park on a Sunday night.

For tickets and more event information, CLICK HERE.

81 Speedway | Wichita Sprint Car Showdown (Oct. 24): The Heartland of the country is the destination for the final weekend of racing before World Finals. Park City, KS’ 81 Speedway launches the action on Friday night.

The “Sunflower State” oval has hosted 15 nights of World of Outlaws action in the past. Sammy Swindell has won six of them. Donny Schatz and Rico Abreu are also multi-time winners with two checkered flags apiece.

For tickets and more event information CLICK HERE.

Arrowhead Speedway | Jason Johnson Classic presented by FK Rod Ends (Oct. 25): The final race of the month is a special one as the World of Outlaws head to Arrowhead Speedway for the seventh running of the Jason Johnson Classic presented by FK Rod Ends. The tour will honor one of the finest individuals to ever grace the pit area with a night of racing at the Colcord, OK track.

The event shifted to Arrowhead a year ago and saw Sheldon Haudenschild banking the $20,000 prize. No driver has been able to top the Jason Johnson Classic twice yet with David Gravel, James McFadden, Brad Sweet, Jacob Allen, and Rico Abreu being the other five winners.

For tickets and more event information, CLICK HERE.

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

ARTICLE: https://worldofoutlaws.com/sprintcars/the-month-ahead-world-of-outlaws-hit-home-stretch-in-october/

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

FORCE, HENDRICKCARS.COM TEAM SET TO CAPITALIZE ON ST. LOUIS OPPPORTUNITY

Photography: John Force Racing / Gary Nastase / Auto Imagery

BROWNSBURG, Ind (Sept. 24, 2025) – The NHRA Mission Foods Midwest Nationals at World Wide Technology Raceway, Sept. 26-28, is the halfway point of the six-race 2025 Countdown to the Championship and Brittany Force and her HendrickCars.com team looks to capitalize on the opportunity to make a strong push for this year’s Top Fuel championship.

The two-time NHRA Top Fuel Champion (2017, 2022) picked up a position in the point standings after last week’s race at zMax Dragway, moving from seventh to sixth in the point standings. She’s currently 13 behind Clay Millican in fifth, 40 behind Tony Stewart in fourth, 49 to Shawn Langdon in third, 70 to Justin Ashley in second and 108 to Doug Kalitta in first.

Trailing Force is Shawn Reed (-23 points), Steve Torrence (-28 points), Antron Brown (-51 points) and Josh Hart (-98 points).

Notes

  • Force and her Dave Grubnic/John Collins-led team have made 10 runs at 340 mph or faster during the 2025 season. Included on this list asre record-setting passes: 341.59 mph at the 4-Wide Nationals (April); 341.85 mph at the Northwest Nationals (July); 343.16 mph at the Sonoma Nationals (July); and her current record of 343.51 mph at the U.S. Nationals (September).
  • Force is the World Wide Technology speed record holder at 338.43 mph, set Oct. 2, 2022.

Quotes

Do your team’s six strong runs at Charlotte provide momentum heading into the St Louis weekend?

“Consistency is where this team has fallen short this season and, with that being our main focus, we definitely made progress last weekend in Charlotte. The car made six solid runs throughout the weekend. Our car went down the track every lap, which is never easy to do. However, we got taken out on a holeshot in Round 2 which is such a disappointing loss. As hard as a holeshot loss is, I’m putting it behind me and moving to the next race with my HendrickCars.com team’s full support.”

You picked up a spot in the point standings at Charlotte, now just 13 behind Millican and 40 behind Stewart. Perfection in the final 4 races is the ideal but assess where you and your team are with 16 rounds of competition and lots of bonus points still up for grabs. 

“We are still in the hunt for this championship as we moved up to the sixth position following Charlotte. Our team needs to carry over the consistency we found last weekend heading into St Louis. Our goal is to qualify in the Top 3, pick up qualifying points and go rounds on race day. We need to finish strong at The Midwest Nationals if we want to make that jump up in points.”

Jack Beckman earned his first win for JFR last year at St Louis in the car that your dad started the year in. How important was that win for JFR to show the strength in the organization?

“After stepping in for my dad, Jack Beckman won the St Louis event in 2024 last season. After everything our teams had been through, it was such a well-deserved win. To witness my dad’s devastating wreck in Richmond and then see the car return to the winner’s circle eight races later made it such a meaningful and heartfelt win for the PEAK SQUAD and everyone at John Force Racing. I love that this year my dad will be able to return to see all the fans who cheered his team on last year.”

World Wide Technology Raceway Race Statistics

YearRace ResultQualifiedRound Record
20132nd round5th1-1
20141st round11th1-2
2015Semi-finals4th3-3
20162nd round8th4-4
20172nd round5th5-5
20181st round8th5-6
20191st round4th5-7
2020Did Not CompeteDid Not CompeteDid Not Compete
20212nd round2nd6-8
20222nd round5th7-9
20231st round11th7-10
20242nd round3rd8-11

Quickest time: 3.641 seconds, Sept. 26, 2021

Fastest speed: 338.43 mph, Oct. 2, 2022

Number starts: 11

Times No. 1 qualifier: 0 

Final rounds: 0

Victories: 0

Won-Lost Record: 8-11

Track records – 3.631 seconds by Clay Millican, Sept. 30, 2017; 338.43 mph by Brittany Force, Oct. 2, 2022

Track & TV Schedules (all times Eastern)

NHRA Mission Food Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 5 and 7 p.m. CT on Friday, Sept. 26, and the final two rounds on Saturday, Sept. 27 at 12:15 and 3 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. CT on Sunday, Sept. 28.

FORCE, HENDRICKCARS.COM TEAM SET TO CAPITALIZE ON ST. LOUIS OPPPORTUNITY

Photography: John Force Racing / Gary Nastase / Auto Imagery

BROWNSBURG, Ind (Sept. 24, 2025) – The NHRA Mission Foods Midwest Nationals at World Wide Technology Raceway, Sept. 26-28, is the halfway point of the six-race 2025 Countdown to the Championship and Brittany Force and her HendrickCars.com team looks to capitalize on the opportunity to make a strong push for this year’s Top Fuel championship.

The two-time NHRA Top Fuel Champion (2017, 2022) picked up a position in the point standings after last week’s race at zMax Dragway, moving from seventh to sixth in the point standings. She’s currently 13 behind Clay Millican in fifth, 40 behind Tony Stewart in fourth, 49 to Shawn Langdon in third, 70 to Justin Ashley in second and 108 to Doug Kalitta in first.

Trailing Force is Shawn Reed (-23 points), Steve Torrence (-28 points), Antron Brown (-51 points) and Josh Hart (-98 points).

Notes

  • Force and her Dave Grubnic/John Collins-led team have made 10 runs at 340 mph or faster during the 2025 season. Included on this list asre record-setting passes: 341.59 mph at the 4-Wide Nationals (April); 341.85 mph at the Northwest Nationals (July); 343.16 mph at the Sonoma Nationals (July); and her current record of 343.51 mph at the U.S. Nationals (September).
  • Force is the World Wide Technology speed record holder at 338.43 mph, set Oct. 2, 2022.

Quotes

Do your team’s six strong runs at Charlotte provide momentum heading into the St Louis weekend?

“Consistency is where this team has fallen short this season and, with that being our main focus, we definitely made progress last weekend in Charlotte. The car made six solid runs throughout the weekend. Our car went down the track every lap, which is never easy to do. However, we got taken out on a holeshot in Round 2 which is such a disappointing loss. As hard as a holeshot loss is, I’m putting it behind me and moving to the next race with my HendrickCars.com team’s full support.”

You picked up a spot in the point standings at Charlotte, now just 13 behind Millican and 40 behind Stewart. Perfection in the final 4 races is the ideal but assess where you and your team are with 16 rounds of competition and lots of bonus points still up for grabs. 

“We are still in the hunt for this championship as we moved up to the sixth position following Charlotte. Our team needs to carry over the consistency we found last weekend heading into St Louis. Our goal is to qualify in the Top 3, pick up qualifying points and go rounds on race day. We need to finish strong at The Midwest Nationals if we want to make that jump up in points.”

Jack Beckman earned his first win for JFR last year at St Louis in the car that your dad started the year in. How important was that win for JFR to show the strength in the organization?

“After stepping in for my dad, Jack Beckman won the St Louis event in 2024 last season. After everything our teams had been through, it was such a well-deserved win. To witness my dad’s devastating wreck in Richmond and then see the car return to the winner’s circle eight races later made it such a meaningful and heartfelt win for the PEAK SQUAD and everyone at John Force Racing. I love that this year my dad will be able to return to see all the fans who cheered his team on last year.”

World Wide Technology Raceway Race Statistics

YearRace ResultQualifiedRound Record
20132nd round5th1-1
20141st round11th1-2
2015Semi-finals4th3-3
20162nd round8th4-4
20172nd round5th5-5
20181st round8th5-6
20191st round4th5-7
2020Did Not CompeteDid Not CompeteDid Not Compete
20212nd round2nd6-8
20222nd round5th7-9
20231st round11th7-10
20242nd round3rd8-11

Quickest time: 3.641 seconds, Sept. 26, 2021

Fastest speed: 338.43 mph, Oct. 2, 2022

Number starts: 11

Times No. 1 qualifier: 0 

Final rounds: 0

Victories: 0

Won-Lost Record: 8-11

Track records – 3.631 seconds by Clay Millican, Sept. 30, 2017; 338.43 mph by Brittany Force, Oct. 2, 2022

Track & TV Schedules (all times Eastern)

NHRA Mission Food Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 5 and 7 p.m. CT on Friday, Sept. 26, and the final two rounds on Saturday, Sept. 27 at 12:15 and 3 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. CT on Sunday, Sept. 28.

Television coverage includes qualifying action on FS1 at 2 p.m. ET on Sunday and then eliminations coverage starting at 3 p.

PROCK ROCKET JUGGERNAUT HEADS TO WORLD WIDE TECHNOLOGY RACEWAY

Photography: John Force Racing / Gary Nastase / Auto Imagery

BROWNSBURG, Ind (Sept. 24, 2025) – The juggernaut that is Austin Prock and the Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS Funny Car team roll into the Sept. 26-28 NHRA Mission Foods Midwest Nationals with a To Do list of simply continuing to do what they’ve been doing all season.

The win column at World Wide Technology Raceway shows a goose egg for Prock but the John Force Racing driver enters this week’s race, the third of six races in the Countdown to the Championship, coming off victory last weekend at zMax Dragway near Charlotte. On three previous occasions this season, the Prock Rocket has earned back-to-back wins: first, at Las Vegas and Charlotte\; then at Virginia and Ohio; and most recently at Sonoma and Brainerd, which ended up being three-in-a-row with the team’s win at the U.S. Nationals.

The reigning NHRA Funny Car Champion leads the 2025 standings with 2,298 points. Chasing him are Matt Hagan (2,219), Ron Capps (2,204), Jack Beckman (2,200), Paul Lee (2,171), Cruz Pedregon (2,146), Daniel Wilkerson (2,142), Spencer Hyde (2,132), JR Todd (2,116), and Alexis Dejoria (2,107).

Notes

  • Prock is the fourth different JFR driver to win eight times in a season.  His predecessor in the Cornwell Tools Chevy, Robert Hight, was the last Funny Car driver to win eight times (2022).  Tony Pedregon won eight races in 2003, and John Force won eight or more races six times and set the Funny Car record with 13 wins in 1996.  He won 10 times in 1994, 11 times in 1993, 1999 and 2000 and eight times in 2002. 
  • Prock has won half of the Countdown races he’s run as a Funny Car driver – three of six last year, one of two so far this year.
  • Prock earned six of his eight wins from the No. 1 starting position in 2024.  This year, he has seven wins as the No. 2 starter and one as No. 3.

Quotes

What are your thoughts on the fact that you’ve already won eight races, a feat you also accomplished last year, and John Force did six times (never consecutively) but Robert Hight and Tony Pedregon only did once with JFR?

“It’s cool. I think it just says a lot about this Cornwell Tools race team. They give me a consistently good car each weekend we go out. Our total package has been good enough to earn 16 wins in the last two years so, if we want to go for our second championship in a row, we’re going to have to probably win two or three more, at least. That that would put us in a whole other league of success so it’s exciting. It’s not just one of us. It’s all of us working together and just clicking when it needs to and it’s bred a lot of success.”

What do you attribute your Countdown success to … 3 for 6 last year and 1 for 2 so far this year?

“Yeah, it is impressive, but we don’t really approach it any different. We approach each race weekend the same and, obviously, we want to go out there and have the most competitive car and allow me to do my job. It just happens to work out. When the countdown comes on, it is crunch time. If you want to win a world championship, you have to be dominant in the playoffs and it’s just all working right now.”

What is it with you winning seven races from the No. 2 qualifying spot this year and six times from the No. 1 spot last year?

“Yeah, it’s kind of been our honey hole, this season especially. It seems like when we don’t get the No. 1 Qualifier, we’re bummed out that we missed out on those valuable eight points that you earn from being the No. 1 Qualifier. But, in our crew it’s kind of in the running joke this year that when we roll into Sunday from the No. 2 position, we’re kind of excited because the correlation that it’s had to winning so I don’t think (the No. 1 Qualifier spot) really matters. If you are qualified in the top three, you more than likely have a pretty good race car going into Sunday. But this team is capable of winning from any position. I’ve seen it my dad’s whole career. He’ll qualify No. 1 and win and qualify number 16 and win. So, I think it’s just keeping your nose to the grindstone. And when it when it comes around to Sunday, everybody has to execute and do their jobs properly.  When we do that, we seem to turn on four win lights a day.”

With World Wide Technology Raceway one of the few tracks where you haven’t won, how do you assess your chances this weekend?

“I’m looking forward to it. I’m looking forward to getting back to two-wide racing. I haven’t won there yet but my dad had a lot of success there. That place has got a special place in my heart. In 2018, I got to go there and make some licensing passes in John Force’s PEAK Camaro. That was definitely exciting for me. We had the car to beat last year. We were lights out there. The Cornwell Tools Chevy was a few hundredths (of a second) quicker than everybody in the field throughout qualifying and then rolling into Sunday. We exited in the semifinals, so we’d like to go a few more rounds this year and, hopefully, try to extend our point lead.” 

World Wide Technology Raceway Race Statistics

YearRace ResultQualifiedRound Record
2019Semi-finals3rd2-1
2020DNCDNCDNC
2021DNCDNCDNC
20221st Round12th2-2
20231st Round10th2-3
2024Semi-finals1st3-4

Quickest time: 3.836 seconds, Sept. 28, 2024

Fastest speed: 330.72 mph, Sept. 28, 2024

Number starts: 4

Times No. 1 qualifier: 1

Final rounds: 0

Victories: 0

Won-Lost Record: 3-4

Track records – 3.830 seconds by Robert Hight, Sept. 30, 2017; 338.60 mph by Robert Hight, Sept. 30, 2017.

Track & TV Schedules

NHRA Mission Food Drag Racing Series Midwest Nationals qualifying will feature two rounds at 5 and 7 p.m. CT on Friday, Sept. 26, and the final two rounds on Saturday, Sept. 27 at 12:15 and 3 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. CT on Sunday, Sept. 28.

PROCK ROCKET JUGGERNAUT HEADS TO WORLD WIDE TECHNOLOGY RACEWAY

Photography: John Force Racing / Gary Nastase / Auto Imagery

BROWNSBURG, Ind (Sept. 24, 2025) – The juggernaut that is Austin Prock and the Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS Funny Car team roll into the Sept. 26-28 NHRA Mission Foods Midwest Nationals with a To Do list of simply continuing to do what they’ve been doing all season.

The win column at World Wide Technology Raceway shows a goose egg for Prock but the John Force Racing driver enters this week’s race, the third of six races in the Countdown to the Championship, coming off victory last weekend at zMax Dragway near Charlotte. On three previous occasions this season, the Prock Rocket has earned back-to-back wins: first, at Las Vegas and Charlotte\; then at Virginia and Ohio; and most recently at Sonoma and Brainerd, which ended up being three-in-a-row with the team’s win at the U.S. Nationals.

The reigning NHRA Funny Car Champion leads the 2025 standings with 2,298 points. Chasing him are Matt Hagan (2,219), Ron Capps (2,204), Jack Beckman (2,200), Paul Lee (2,171), Cruz Pedregon (2,146), Daniel Wilkerson (2,142), Spencer Hyde (2,132), JR Todd (2,116), and Alexis Dejoria (2,107).

Notes

  • Prock is the fourth different JFR driver to win eight times in a season.  His predecessor in the Cornwell Tools Chevy, Robert Hight, was the last Funny Car driver to win eight times (2022).  Tony Pedregon won eight races in 2003, and John Force won eight or more races six times and set the Funny Car record with 13 wins in 1996.  He won 10 times in 1994, 11 times in 1993, 1999 and 2000 and eight times in 2002. 
  • Prock has won half of the Countdown races he’s run as a Funny Car driver – three of six last year, one of two so far this year.
  • Prock earned six of his eight wins from the No. 1 starting position in 2024.  This year, he has seven wins as the No. 2 starter and one as No. 3.

Quotes

What are your thoughts on the fact that you’ve already won eight races, a feat you also accomplished last year, and John Force did six times (never consecutively) but Robert Hight and Tony Pedregon only did once with JFR?

“It’s cool. I think it just says a lot about this Cornwell Tools race team. They give me a consistently good car each weekend we go out. Our total package has been good enough to earn 16 wins in the last two years so, if we want to go for our second championship in a row, we’re going to have to probably win two or three more, at least. That that would put us in a whole other league of success so it’s exciting. It’s not just one of us. It’s all of us working together and just clicking when it needs to and it’s bred a lot of success.”

What do you attribute your Countdown success to … 3 for 6 last year and 1 for 2 so far this year?

“Yeah, it is impressive, but we don’t really approach it any different. We approach each race weekend the same and, obviously, we want to go out there and have the most competitive car and allow me to do my job. It just happens to work out. When the countdown comes on, it is crunch time. If you want to win a world championship, you have to be dominant in the playoffs and it’s just all working right now.”

What is it with you winning seven races from the No. 2 qualifying spot this year and six times from the No. 1 spot last year?

“Yeah, it’s kind of been our honey hole, this season especially. It seems like when we don’t get the No. 1 Qualifier, we’re bummed out that we missed out on those valuable eight points that you earn from being the No. 1 Qualifier. But, in our crew it’s kind of in the running joke this year that when we roll into Sunday from the No. 2 position, we’re kind of excited because the correlation that it’s had to winning so I don’t think (the No. 1 Qualifier spot) really matters. If you are qualified in the top three, you more than likely have a pretty good race car going into Sunday. But this team is capable of winning from any position. I’ve seen it my dad’s whole career. He’ll qualify No. 1 and win and qualify number 16 and win. So, I think it’s just keeping your nose to the grindstone. And when it when it comes around to Sunday, everybody has to execute and do their jobs properly.  When we do that, we seem to turn on four win lights a day.”

With World Wide Technology Raceway one of the few tracks where you haven’t won, how do you assess your chances this weekend?

“I’m looking forward to it. I’m looking forward to getting back to two-wide racing. I haven’t won there yet but my dad had a lot of success there. That place has got a special place in my heart. In 2018, I got to go there and make some licensing passes in John Force’s PEAK Camaro. That was definitely exciting for me. We had the car to beat last year. We were lights out there. The Cornwell Tools Chevy was a few hundredths (of a second) quicker than everybody in the field throughout qualifying and then rolling into Sunday. We exited in the semifinals, so we’d like to go a few more rounds this year and, hopefully, try to extend our point lead.” 

World Wide Technology Raceway Race Statistics

YearRace ResultQualifiedRound Record
2019Semi-finals3rd2-1
2020DNCDNCDNC
2021DNCDNCDNC
20221st Round12th2-2
20231st Round10th2-3
2024Semi-finals1st3-4

Quickest time: 3.836 seconds, Sept. 28, 2024

Fastest speed: 330.72 mph, Sept. 28, 2024

Number starts: 4

Times No. 1 qualifier: 1

Final rounds: 0

Victories: 0

Won-Lost Record: 3-4

Track records – 3.830 seconds by Robert Hight, Sept. 30, 2017; 338.60 mph by Robert Hight, Sept. 30, 2017.

Track & TV Schedules

NHRA Mission Food Drag Racing Series Midwest Nationals qualifying will feature two rounds at 5 and 7 p.m. CT on Friday, Sept. 26, and the final two rounds on Saturday, Sept. 27 at 12:15 and 3 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. CT on Sunday, Sept. 28.

Television coverage includes qualifying action on FS1 at 2 p.m. ET on Sunday and then eliminations coverage starting at 3 p.m. ET.

Josh Hart Looks to St Louis to Launch Championship Momentum

OCALA, FL (September 24, 2025) — Heading into the NAPA Midwest NHRA Nationals at World Wide Technology Raceway Top Fuel Countdown contender Josh Hart will be looking to make positive strides towards his first Top Fuel world championship. With four playoff races remaining Hart, who currently sits tenth, will need to go rounds on Sunday, a feat the driver and team owner from Ocala, Florida, accomplished in 2022 when he raced to a runner-up finish. He will be piloting the R+L Carriers Top Fuel dragster into competition with support from Burnyzz Speed Shop and David H Davies Racing (DHDR).
 
“We have had some success in St. Louis, but we need to get back on track this Countdown,” said Hart, a multi-time Top Fuel national event winner. “The first two Countdown races haven’t gone our way. We have seen some other teams make big jumps in the points with race wins and we are looking to take advantage of that opportunity this weekend.”
 


 Josh Hart and R+L Carriers Top Fuel team looking to launch championship run in St. Louis,
photo credit KZ Photography

Josh Hart Looks to St Louis to
Launch Championship Momentum

OCALA, FL (September 24, 2025) — Heading into the NAPA Midwest NHRA Nationals at World Wide Technology Raceway Top Fuel Countdown contender Josh Hart will be looking to make positive strides towards his first Top Fuel world championship. With four playoff races remaining Hart, who currently sits tenth, will need to go rounds on Sunday, a feat the driver and team owner from Ocala, Florida, accomplished in 2022 when he raced to a runner-up finish. He will be piloting the R+L Carriers Top Fuel dragster into competition with support from Burnyzz Speed Shop and David H Davies Racing (DHDR).
 
“We have had some success in St. Louis, but we need to get back on track this Countdown,” said Hart, a multi-time Top Fuel national event winner. “The first two Countdown races haven’t gone our way. We have seen some other teams make big jumps in the points with race wins and we are looking to take advantage of that opportunity this weekend.”
 


 Josh Hart and R+L Carriers Top Fuel team looking to launch championship run in St. Louis,
photo credit KZ Photography

This season Hart has continued to dominate behind the steering wheel holding one of the quickest and most consistent reaction times in the Top Fuel category. Last weekend at the Carolina 4-Wide NHRA Nationals he was first off the line in the opening round versus world champion drivers Doug Kalitta and Antron Brown, recording a stellar .038 second reaction time, second quickest of the first session.
 
“I am working to give this team every advantage on race day and the best thing I can do is get off the starting line first,” said Hart. “We have an amazing group of crew guys working on this R+L Carriers dragster. This is the end of a three race in three weeks stretch so we are all digging deep to give it our best.”
 
Last week in Charlotte Hart raced the beautiful Brakes for Breasts Top Fuel dragster raising awareness for breast cancer research. For the home stretch of the Countdown, he will be racing the familiar green and yellow land rocket repping long-time sponsor R+L Carriers. The shift in liveries does not mean his focus has moved on from Brakes for Breasts. For the fifth consecutive season Hart raced in pink in support of the Brakes for Breasts charity campaign aligned with his sponsor TechNet Professional, an elite network of automotive repair shops across North America. Fans can still support the program by making donations here.
 
“I am very proud to be associated with TechNet and the Brakes for Breasts program,” said Hart. “This program does an amazing job of raising donations for breast cancer research and engaging the thousands of TechNet shops and their customers. I was thrilled to get this pink TechNet Brakes for Breasts Top Fuel dragster on the track last weekend.”
 
In addition to his success in 2022 Hart and the R+L Carriers team raced to the semifinals his rookie season at the Midwest Nationals. His best qualifying effort at the third race of the countdown was a start from the No. 2 spot in 2022. The past two seasons Hart had had an early exit in St. Louis in two close races.
 
“We are working every race to build on consistency with the R+L Carriers Top Fuel team,” said Hart. “It is the playoffs and everyone has raised their game. We have all the parts, pieces and personnel to win races, we just need some things to fall our way on race day.”
 
The multi-talented driver will also be closing out his rookie season racing in the Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown Series this weekend. This will be Hart’s eighth race driving the Burnyzz Speed Shop Dodge Challenger Drag Pak. Competing in two classes keeps Hart’s racing focus sharp and also lets him highlight his Mopar passion in a door-slamming class racing against Chevrolet COPO Camaros and Ford Mustang Cobra Jets.
 
“I have always been a huge fan of Mopar and getting to race this Dodge Challenger Drag Pak has been a nice challenge this season,” said Hart. “When you are racing in two classes all you are thinking about is racing which I enjoy. It makes for a busy weekend but it also gives all our hospitality guests two opportunities to root the team on.”
 
Hart and the R+L Carriers Top Fuel team will have four qualifying runs to grab one of the 16 qualifier spots for Sunday’s Mission Foods Drag Racing Series eliminations. He’ll have three separate qualifiers for the Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown class with eliminations getting underway on Saturday afternoon. Fans can tune into the national race broadcast on FS1 and for additional info on tickets they can visit www.nhra.com.
 

MENARDS CELEBRATES JIM DUNN RACING’S 75TH ANNIVERSARY AT THE MIDWEST NATIONALS

MENARDS CELEBRATES JIM DUNN RACING’S 75TH ANNIVERSARY
AT THE MIDWEST NATIONALS

LONG BEACH, CA (September 24, 2025) — Jim Dunn Racing, one of the most legendary teams in NHRA history, is set to compete with their Menards Funny Car this weekend at the NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals at World Wide Technology Raceway, September 26-28. The race marks another milestone in the team’s 75th year in professional drag racing.
 
At the most recent Countdown event in Charlotte, Jim Dunn Racing and Alex Laughlin, filling in for driver Buddy Hull, recorded elapsed times of 4.026 seconds, 4.000 seconds and 3.987 seconds, a promising sign that the team is headed in the right direction during the NHRA’s six-race Countdown. The Midwest Nationals is the third of those six events, and the team is eager to continue moving forward.

 
“I couldn’t be more excited about the direction our team is headed,” said Hull. “Charlotte was a big step forward for us with that sub-four-second run, and it showed that the hard work everyone has been putting in is starting to pay off. I’m proud to have Alex filling in for me again in St. Louis while I get back to 100 percent. He’s a great driver and having him double up in Funny Car and Pro Mod just shows his adaptability.”
 
While Hull continues to recover from a left-hand injury suffered at the Denso Sonoma Nationals in July, Laughlin will once again step into the driver’s seat of the Menards Funny Car. Laughlin, a versatile competitor who will also be racing in Pro Mod, will look to build on the team’s recent progress and momentum.
 
“I’m itching to be back behind the wheel of this 12,000-horsepower nitro Funny Car, but my hand still needs to get stronger before it’s safe for me to do so,” said Hull. “I’m working with some of the best doctors in the state of Texas to make sure I do this the right way. I want a long career in this sport, so I don’t want to cause worse problems for myself by hopping back into the seat prematurely.”
 
This weekend’s event highlights the return of Menards as primary sponsor on the Jim Dunn Racing Funny Car along with Lincoln Welders. To celebrate the Menards partnership, Buddy Hull, Alex Laughlin and team owner “Big Jim” Dunn will appear at a local Menards store in the St. Louis area on Thursday evening from 5:30 – 7 p.m., giving fans a chance to meet them ahead of race weekend. They will be taking photos, signing autographs and answering all of the questions about Funny Cars at the O’Fallon Menards store, located at 1179 Central Park Dr. O’Fallon, IL 62269.
 
“Being able to represent Menards for the second time this season is an honor,” said Hull. “Their support means so much to our program, and getting to meet fans at the Menards store on Thursday with Big Jim is something I’m really looking forward to. St. Louis always brings out incredible fans, and we can’t wait to see everyone this weekend.”
 
In addition to Menards and Lincoln Welders, this weekend Hull and Laughlin will also be representing sponsors Blaze Exhaust Probes, Lescure Mechanical Services, KGC Construction, Mooneyes, Vertex Roofers and General Contractors, Crow Safety, Koppl Pipeline Services, True Brand, Wiley X, USD and Compass Facility Services.
 
“These Countdown races are getting serious, every team is giving it everything they’ve got,” said Hull. “Jim Dunn Racing is still very much in that fight. I talked to Alex, and we’re coming to show out in St. Louis. It’s something the fans won’t want to miss.”
 
Laughlin and the Jim Dunn Racing team will have two qualifying runs on Friday, September 26 and then two more qualifying runs on September 27 at World Wide Technology Raceway. The 16 Funny Cars with the quickest elapsed times after all four rounds of qualifying will compete on race day on Sunday, September 28 at 11 a.m. CT. Fans can watch the race on FS1. For tickets or more information on the NHRA Midwest Nationals visit nhra.com.

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