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NASCAR 2025: Ultimate Guide to Driver Moves and Team News

NASCAR will return to competition on Sunday, February 2nd, 2025, at 8 pm ET with the NASCAR Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium. It marks NASCAR’s return to the quarter-mile track for the first time since 1971.

Saturday will feature four 25-lap heats to help determine the starting lineup. To finalize the lineup, there will also be a 75-lap last-chance qualifying race on Sunday at 6 p.m. ET before the main event.

In anticipation of the 2025 season, we’ve got the scoop on the latest driver moves and team news.

*Please check back regularly for updates.

NASCAR Cup Series

Anthony Alfredo, Beard Motorsports

On Jan. 9, Beard Motorsports announced that Anthony Alfredo will attempt to qualify for the Daytona 500 in the No. 62 Chevrolet with Fortify Building Solutions as a sponsor.

Front Row Motorsports will expand to a three-car team in 2025

Front Row Motorsports confirmed on May 29 that they will expand to a three-car team in 2025.

“We have a very positive outlook on the future of NASCAR, and as the sport plans for success, so do we,” commented Bob Jenkins, Owner of Front Row Motorsports. “Today that means having a plan for expanding back to three cars in the NASCAR Cup Series. I always have the vision to continue to grow and improve our team, and that commitment and desire never changes. I am committed to the sport and its passionate fans and partners.”

Todd Gilliland, Front Row Motorsports Ford

The team announced on June 5 that Todd Gilliland will return to the NASCAR Cup Series with Front Row Motorsports in 2025 after signing a multiyear deal and will move from the No. 38 Ford to the No. 34 Ford. On December 12th, it was announced that Chris Lawson would return to Front Row Motorsports as crew chief for Gilliland.

Noah Gragson, Front Row Motorsports Ford

In July, it was announced that Gragson has signed a multi-year deal with Front Row Motorsports as they expand to three charter teams in 2025. On Jan. 3 it was revealed that Gragson will drive the No. 4 Ford Mustang with Drew Blickensderfer as his crew chief.

“It’s definitely exciting times,” Gragson said during a press conference. “When we started out this year, I didn’t know how I was going to run. I didn’t know if I had the potential to run in the Cup Series just based off how the 2023 season went, and to be able to get my feet underneath me with the opportunity at Stewart-Haas, it definitely opened people’s eyes. And with the challenges that have come about with Stewart-Haas, we were looking for a home for a long time, and that’s when I got introduced to Bob and Jerry [co-owners].”

Zane Smith, Front Row Motorsports Ford

On January 2 the team announced that Zane Smith will return to Front Row Motorsports in 2025 to drive the Cup Series No. 38 Ford. Ryan Bergenty will be his crew chief.

“I’ve always felt at home with Front Row Motorsports,” Smith said “They believed in me when I signed with them to race in the Truck Series initially in 2022 and we shared so much success together, winning six races and a championship in two seasons. Unfortunately, everyone had to make tough decisions because there were only two Cup cars available at Front Row Motorsports going into last season when I was ready to move up full-time. Now, going into next year, Front Row has really taken their Cup program to another level and I cannot think of a better lineup of teammates.”

Garrett Smithley, Garage 66 (Formerly MBM Motorsports)

MBM Motorsports has rebranded their Cup Series team to Garage 66 as of Jan. 16.

Garrett Smithley will drive the No. 66 Ford in the  Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium on Feb. 2  No announcements have been made as to whether the team will attempt to qualify for the Daytona 500, or who the driver will be.

Chandler Smith, Garage 66 (Formerly MBM Motorsports)

It was announced on Jan. 23 that Smith would drive the No. 66 Ford and attempt to qualify for the Daytona 500.

Haas Factory Team (NCS/NXS)

After the news that Stewart-Haas Racing would cease operations at the end of 2024, Gene Haas announced on June 20 that he would field one Cup charter and two Xfinity Series teams under the name Haas Factory Team in 2025.

“My commitment to motorsports hasn’t changed, just the scope of my involvement,” Haas said. “Operating a four-car Cup Series team has become too arduous, but, at the same time, I still need a platform to promote Haas Automation and grow HaasTooling.com.”

On Jan. 7, the team announced Nick Sandler as the competition director for the Cup Series program and Adam Gravitt as the competition director for the Xfinity Series program.

Cole Custer, Haas Factory Team

After two seasons in the Xfinity Series, Cole Custer will return to the Cup Series in 2025 to drive the No. 41 Haas Factory Team Ford. 

“I’ve grown up with Haas Automation, and having their name on my firesuit is something I take a tremendous amount of pride in. I’m driven to win for Gene and everyone at Haas Automation because they’ve been such a big part of my career,” Custer said.

Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Hyak Motorsports (formerly JTG Daugherty)

JTG Daugherty Racing announced in November that they would rebrand with a new name (Hyak Motorsports) under new ownership, effective immediately. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. will continue to drive the No. 47 Chevrolet with crew chief, Mike Kelley. 

Chris Gabehart, Denny Hamlin, Joe Gibbs Racing

On November 22nd, Joe Gibbs Racing announced a couple of major changes for next season regarding the No. 11 team. Chris Gabehart, Hamlin’s crew chief for the previous six years, will advance to the role of competition director in 2025. Chris Gayle, Ty Gibbs’s crew chief for the past two seasons, will be Hamlin’s crew chief in 2025.

“Denny is obviously a first-ballot Hall of Famer,” said Gayle. “I’m looking forward to working with him and the guys on the No. 11 team. He and Gabehart have established an incredible culture that is a very good barometer for our other drivers and teams to strive to match. I have all the confidence in the world we can hit the ground running and continue the success that this group is accustomed to in 2025.”

Martin Truex Jr., No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

On June 14, Truex announced his decision to retire from full-time competition at the end of the 2024 season. He will compete in a few select races in 2025, beginning with the Daytona 500.

“It’s been incredible. It’s been a hell of a ride. I’m excited about the future, and I’m not really sure what that looks like yet,” Truex said.

Chase Briscoe, No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota

On June 25, ChaseBriscoewas named as Truex’s successor in the NASCAR Cup Series after signing a multiyear contract to drive the No. 19 Toyota beginning in 2025. 

“I have to win. Like there’s no excuse not to win,” Briscoe said. “You have to make the playoffs. If you don’t make the playoffs, then there’s no reason I should be driving this race car. So yeah, I definitely think that you have to win races. You have to be running up front consistently, and I think they feel like I’m capable of doing that. But I have to show that, so hopefully, that’s what I can do.”

Tyler Allen, Joe Gibbs Racing

On December 2nd, Joe Gibbs Racing announced that Tyler Allen will move from crew chief of the No. 20 Toyota in the Xfinity Series to crew chief for Ty Gibbs and the No. 54 team in the Cup Series in 2025. 

“It’s an honor to be named crew chief for Ty Gibbs and the 54 Team as we head into the 2025 season,” said Allen. “This opportunity has been a dream of mine since starting here at JGR 10 years ago, and I’m thankful for the support and guidance I’ve received from my mentors, teammates, and everyone along the way. Ty has shown a lot of speed and potential the last two years, and I look forward to building on that experience to get the 54 car in victory lane.”

Justin Allgaier, JR Motorsports

JR Motorsports announced on Jan. 15 that they will attempt to qualify for the Daytona 500 in the No. 40 Chevrolet with driver Justin Allgaier and make their Cup Series debut. Greg Ives will be Allgaier’s crew chief and they will have sponsorship from Chris Stapleton’s Traveller Whiskey.

AJ Allmendinger, Kaulig Racing Chevrolet

Allmendinger will return to the Cup Series in 2025 to drive full-time for Kaulig Racing and will drive the No. 16 Chevrolet. 

Ty Dillon, Kaulig Racing

It was announced on September 28th that Ty Dillon will drive the No. 10 Chevrolet full-time for Kaulig Racing in 2025. 

“I am incredibly grateful for another opportunity to run full-time in the Cup Series, and to be able to do it with the men and women at Kaulig Racing means a lot to me personally,” said Dillon. “They gave me a chance this year to go out and prove myself in a handful of starts. The team and I were able to connect early on, and we put together a few strong runs in the No. 16. I’m really looking forward to what 2025 brings with this team. We have a bright future ahead of us and we’re going to give it our all each and every race next season.”

Erik Jones, LEGACY Motor Club Toyota

The team confirmed that Jones will return to drive the No. 43 LEGACY Motor Club Toyota entry after signing a multiyear deal with the team. Jones will continue to pilot the coveted 43 Toyota Camry XSE for the 2025 NASCAR season and beyond.

“I’m looking forward to what we can build at LEGACY MOTOR CLUB. I’ve been with the No. 43 car for a handful of years and feel like I’m coming into some of the best years of my career. I am hoping to grow alongside LEGACY M.C. in the seasons to come,” said Jones.

Jimmie Johnson, LEGACY Motor Club

On Jan. 16, Jimmie Johnson confirmed that he will attempt to qualify for the 2025 Daytona 500 in the No. 84 Legacy Motor Club Toyota. He has also signed up for the Memorial Day Weekend Coca-Cola 600 on May 25, his second of two planned appearances. If he qualifies for both events, it will give him 700 career starts.

Austin Dillon, Richard Childress Racing

On Nov. 20, Richard Childress Racing announced that Austin Dillon will be paired with a new crew chief in 2025 as Richard Boswell takes over on the pit box for the No. 3 Cup Series Chevy. Bass Pro Shops and Winchester confirmed on Jan. 17 that they will sponsor Dillon for 17 races this season.

Jesse Love, Richard Childress Racing

Richard Childress Racing confirmed on October 31st that Love will be back to drive the No. 2 Xfinity Series Chevrolet in 2025. 

“I’ll always be grateful that we were able to give Whelen their first NASCAR win earlier this season (2024) and I know we have more victories in our future together,” said Jesse Love.

Tim Brown, Rick Ware Racing

Rick Ware Racing announced on November 17th that Bowman Gray Stadium star Tim Brown, the track’s all-time wins leader (101 Modified Division victories), will drive the Rick Ware Racing No. 15 Ford and attempt to qualify for the Clash exhibition race on February 2nd at the quarter-mile oval.

Corey LaJoie, Rick Ware Racing

On Jan. 27, the team announced that LaJoie will run a limited schedule during the 2025 Cup Series season in the No. 01 Ford Mustang, beginning with the Daytona 500. He will also join the Prime Video 5-race Cup Series broadcast team as an analyst.

Matt McCall, RFK Racing

On November 7th, RFK Racing announced that Matt McCall would not return as crew chief for the No. 6 Ford driven by Brad Keselowski in 2025. 

Jeremy Bullins, RFK Racing

Brad Keselowski will have a new crew chief next year. On Nov. 21, RFK Racing announced that Jeremy Bullins will be Keselowski’s crew chief in 2025. Bullins and Keselowski worked together for two seasons (2020 and 2021) at Team Penske and captured five wins.

“I’m excited and grateful for the opportunity to work with BK again, this time in the iconic No. 6 car with RFK,” said Bullins. “We were able to accomplish a lot as a team previously, but we had a couple of unfinished goals like a Daytona 500 win and a championship together and I’m ecstatic we get the opportunity to compete together again. From the outside looking in it’s been obvious the trajectory RFK is on, and I look forward to being part of the growth and future success of the team.”

Ryan Preece, RFK Racing

On November 19th, RFK Racing announced that Ryan Preece will drive the No. 60 Ford full-time in 2025. Kroger will also move its sponsorship from JTG Daugherty Racing to sponsor all of the RFK Racing teams (Preece, Keselowski, and Buescher). 

“I’m a racer. I’m somebody that wants to win races. I want to compete for championships. My entire career has certainly been unorthodox, but I have unfinished business, and I want to win really bad,” said Preece. “I’m eager and ready to get to the Clash and get to Daytona and finish out that goal.”

Veteran Derrick Finley was announced as Preece’s crew chief on Jan. 14. Finley has over 20 years of experience in NASCAR on the pit box and in various roles throughout the NASCAR organization.

Brad Keselowski, co-owner and driver for RFK Racing said, “His experience and technical knowledge of the sport will play a crucial role in the initial development and growth of the No. 60 team.”

Michael McDowell, Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

On May 8, Spire Motorsports announced they had signed a multiyear contract with Michael McDowell to drive the No. 71 full-time.

“This is a new chapter for my family and me, and we’re incredibly thankful for the opportunity that’s in front of us,” said McDowell. “It’s going to take some hard work, but I feel like everything is in place for us to be successful as a race team, to win races and contend for championships. People are the greatest asset to any organization, and with Spire’s vision, ambition, knowledge, and dedication, we will achieve great things. Failure is not an option, and that’s the mindset that it will take to achieve our goals.”

Rodney Childers, Spire Motorsports

After the announcement that Stewart-Haas Racing would cease operations at the end of the 2024 season, Spire Motorsports hired Rodney Childers as the crew chief for the No. 7 team (Justin Haley) beginning in 2025. The current crew chief, Ryan Sparks, will move to the role of competition director.

“I think the biggest thing is seeing how Spire Motorsports has grown over the last couple of years,” said Childers. “They are investing in people, and that’s what makes a difference these days. We all buy the same chassis, bodies, and parts. What makes a difference is the people. Spire continues to invest in the people within the team, and they seek out good people to add depth to an already strong group.”

Justin Haley, Spire Motorsports  

Spire Motorsports announced on September 20th that Haley had signed a multi-year contract to drive the No. 7 Chevrolet. 

“Spire Motorsports gave me my first few starts in the Cup Series,” said Haley. “My first was in the No. 77 at Talladega on my 20th birthday. We had a lot of great runs in our first year together in 2019, and there’s still a lot of familiar faces around there who were on the team back then. I’m excited to come home. This is where I got my start in the Cup Series, and I’m excited to go out there and compete with (crew chief) Ryan Sparks and the No. 7 team. The next seven races will give us a nice head start and a baseline for next season.”

Haley began driving the No. 7 Chevy Camaro at the Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway while Corey LaJoie finished the 2024 season in Rick Ware Racing’s No. 51 entry.

Matt McCall and Dax Gerringer, Spire Motorsports

On November 25th, Spire Motorsports announced that veteran crew chief Matt McCall will join the team as Director of Vehicle Performance. Dax Gerringer, the former lead engineer at Stewart-Haas Racing, will join the organization as Technical Director. 

“This is a great addition for our team and one that means a lot to me, personally,” said Spire Motorsports co-owner Jeff Dickerson. “Matt is a longtime friend, one of my first handful of NASCAR clients I had when I was a young agent, and we’ve always shared the same view of how race cars work and race teams operate. I’m happy the stars finally aligned for us to work together, and I look forward to adding him to an already impressive group for 2025.”

Stewart-Haas Racing will close at the end of the 2024 season (NCS/NXS)

Stewart-Haas Racing announced on May 28 that the team would cease operations at the end of the 2024 season and sell its four charters. In 2008, NASCAR Hall of Famer Stewart joined forces with Haas to form SHR for its inaugural season in 2009, starting with a two-car team with drivers Stewart and Ryan Newman with a technical alliance with Hendrick Motorsports.

“We have made the difficult decision to close Stewart-Haas Racing at the conclusion of the 2024 season. It is a decision that did not come easily, nor was it made quickly. Racing is a labor-intensive, humbling sport. It requires unwavering commitment and vast resources, with a 365-day mindset to be better than everyone else. It’s part of what makes success so rewarding. But the commitment needed to extract maximum performance while providing sustainability is incredibly demanding, and we’ve reached a point in our respective personal and business lives where it’s time to pass the torch.”

Daniel Suárez, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Trackhouse Racing announced on Friday, August 9th, that Daniel Suárez will return as the No. 99 Chevrolet driver in 2025, marking their fifth season together.

“Trackhouse is home to me, and I have enjoyed every minute I have been here,” said Suárez. “We plan to keep working, growing, and winning more races. We can only do that with the support of my Amigos and Amigas at Freeway Insurance. They have backed me for the last several years and we have grown close with their customers and employees.”

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing

Shane van Gisbergen will transition from the Xfinity Series to drive the No. 88 Chevrolet full-time in the Cup Series for Trackhouse Racing in 2025. 

“This is what I have planned for, and I am ready,” van Gisbergen said. “I know there is a tough learning curve ahead, but the best way to learn is to go out and do it.” He added, “I feel I have made progress running the Xfinity Series this year with Kaulig Racing, and I can’t thank everyone there enough. I look forward to the Cup Series. Those drivers and teams are the best in the world, and it will be an honor to be part of their races.”

On Jan. 23 it was announced that Red Bull would serve as the official energy drink of Trackhouse Racing and the primary partner on Shane van Gisbergen’s No. 88 Chevrolet in five NASCAR Cup Series races.

Connor Zilisch, Trackhouse Racing

Trackhouse Racing also announced on Jan. 23 that Zilisch will make his Cup Series debut at Circuit of the Americas on March 2 in the No. 87 Chevrolet with Red Bull as his primary sponsor. As noted below, Zilisch is racing full-time in the Xfinity Series for JR Motorsports.

Martin Truex Jr., TRICON Garage

On Jan. 16, TRICON Garage announced that Martin Truex Jr. will attempt the Daytona 500 in the No. 56 Cup Series car with technical support from Joe Gibbs Racing. Cole Pearn will serve as the crew chief for the entry.

Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing

23XI Racing confirmed on September 26th that Wallace has signed a multiyear renewal to drive No. 23 Chevrolet in 2025 “and beyond.”  

“From day one Bubba has been an integral part of 23XI,” said a statement on social media. “We’re excited to announce that he has signed a multi-year renewal and will continue to play a key role in helping 23XI grow and succeed. #ForwardTogether”

Riley Herbst, 23XI Racing

On November 21st, 23XI Racing announced that Herbst will join the team in the No. 35 Toyota as their third full-time driver in 2025.

“It’s an honor to join 23XI and Toyota for the opportunity to race in the Cup Series each week,” Herbst said. “Racing full-time in the Cup Series has been my goal since I started in NASCAR, and I’m excited to start my Cup career with such an accomplished and driven team. What 23XI has accomplished in a short time is impressive,e and I look forward to building on their success as the organization grows. It’s also great to continue representing Monster and I’m excited about adding to their legacy in NASCAR.”

Josh Berry, Wood Brothers Racing Ford

Josh Berry will drive for Wood Brothers Racing in 2025. He replaces Harrison Burton in the No. 21 Ford, who will move to the Xfinity Series with AM Racing next season.

“First and foremost just the history, the heritage, the family atmosphere that the Wood Brothers provide. It just really feels like a great fit for me. I feel like I fit their brand, and who they are and how I’ve gotten here, and how they’ve gotten here. I feel like this is a great fit. I’ve really enjoyed my relationship with Ford, and to continue that on was something that’s important to me, and I appreciate, and I’m thankful to have that opportunity. It just really means a lot to drive an iconic car like the 21. I feel like it’s a great opportunity for me. I feel ready to provide results, and I think that all in all, it’s gonna be a great relationship.” Berry said.

A longtime employee of Team Penske and seasoned race engineer in the NASCAR Cup Series, Miles Stanley will transition to Wood Brothers Racing in 2025 to serve as crew chief of the famed No. 21 Ford Mustang with driver Berry.

Parker Retzlaff, Alpha Prime Racing

On December 18th Alpha Prime Racing confirmed that Retzlaff will pilot the No. 4 Chevrolet full-time in 2025. Joe Williams was announced as his crew chief on Dec. 20. Sponsorship details have not been released. Rettzlaff joins Brennan Poole who returns for a second season in the No. 44 Chevrolet.

“We all want to win races, be consistent, and prove we’re here to compete,” Retzlaff said in a press release. “Everyone here has told me how much they believe in me and what I can do.”

Hailie Deegan and AM Racing Ford “Part Ways”

After competing in the first 17 Xfinity races of 2024 in the No. 15 Ford, it was announced on July 8th that Deegan and AM Racing had decided to “part ways effective immediately.” On October 14th, she issued a statement sharing her decision to move to open-wheel cars and compete in a full season next year in Indy NXT, an IndyCar development program, with HMD Motorsports.

“This year, I took the opportunity to hop into the F3 car. And it was one of the coolest experiences I honestly had. I just fell in love with it. One thing went to the next literally, and I went to a few Indycar races I think. Being in the pit sparked so much conversation so I flew up to Indie, checked out a few shops, met with a few of the teams, met with HMD, and I am so excited to be a part of HMD Motorsports.”

Harrison Burton, AM Racing

On September 20th, AM Racing announced that Harrison Burton would join the team to compete full-time in the Xfinity Series in 2025 after three seasons in the Cup Series with Wood Brothers Racing.

Nick Sanchez, Big Machine Racing

Sanchez will move from the Truck Series to drive full-time in the Xfinity Series in 2025 for Big Machine Racing. 

“This is a huge opportunity for me,” Sanchez said Wednesday in a virtual conference. “When I look at the [Xfinity] schedule and when I look at the places I need to improve as a driver, I think it just offers more for me. I’m excited to get to the race track next year and try to collect trophies for Scott and the whole team. This team has everything to be successful. I look forward to plugging into the team and chasing trophies.”

 “I’m excited to join AM Racing and help build it into the race-winning race team I believe it can and will be,” said Burton. “I think this will be a great opportunity for me to take the things I’ve learned in the Cup Series, bring those to the Xfinity Series, and be the best driver I can be. It’s a blessing to continue my NASCAR journey, and I intend to make the most of this opportunity.”

Cope Family Racing

On Jan. 2, it was announced that Cope Family Racing (CFR)  will debut in 2025 in the NASCAR Xfinity Series at Daytona International Speedway in the No. 70 Chevrolet. The team is a family-owned organization with Derrike Cope as the team’s General Manager. Driving duties will be split between Leland Honeyman Jr. (17 races) and Thomas Annunziata. Honeyman will begin the season in the driver’s seat for the season-opener at Daytona.

“I’m excited to join Cope Family Racing as they launch their NASCAR Xfinity Series program,” said Honeyman. “It’s an honor to be part of a team with such a racing legacy, and I can’t wait to contribute to this new chapter in their history book. I’m ready to take on 2025 and continue chasing success on the track.”

“I’m super excited to be racing part-time with CFR in 2025,” Annunziata responded. “Derrike Cope and the Cope Family are rich in NASCAR experience from his driving days and running the team for StarCom Racing in the Cup Series. Although it’s a new team, CFR has assembled an experienced group to compete in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. I’m ready and more motivated than ever to be a part of this exciting project. Time to go to work.”

Ryan Ellis, DGM Racing

DGM Racing announced on October 18th that Ellis will drive full-time next season in the Xfinity Series. 

“Chatting with Mario (Mario Gosselin, team owner) about his plans for the program in 2025 convinced me that joining DGM was something I couldn’t pass up. He’s a racer, and his enthusiasm was immediately contagious,” Ellis states. “I have so much respect for what the Gosselin family has built, and I hope that we can turn some heads together next year. I’ve seen just how high the potential is at DGM, and I can’t wait to be a part of it.”

Sam Mayer, Sheldon Creed, Haas Factory Team

Haas Factory Team announced on August 17th that Mayer (No. 41 Ford) and Sheldon Creed (No. 00 Ford) will complete their Xfinity Series driver lineup for 2025. Crew chief Jonathan Toney will be paired with Creed, and Jason Trinchere will be on the pit box for Sam Mayer. On Jan. 7, the team announced Adam Gravitt as the competition director for the Xfinity Series program.

“I’ve won in every division I’ve raced in, and I feel like I’ve earned my place in the Xfinity Series, but that’s not enough. I want to win in the Xfinity Series,” said Creed, who currently drives for Joe Gibbs Racing. He continued, “I watched what Cole Custer did last year on his way to the Xfinity Series championship and when I talked with him about the set-up of the organization, everything he said resonated with me. I feel like Haas Factory Team is a place where I can succeed and where Sam and I can work together to win races and be championship contenders.”

“The Xfinity Series is a really great place to learn and grow and get yourself ready for the NASCAR Cup Series,” Mayer said. “Cup is my ultimate goal, and to really push myself to become the kind of driver who can succeed in Cup, I needed to get out of my comfort zone, challenge myself, and hone my race skills so that when that Cup moment comes, I’m ready. The Haas team got Cole Custer ready for his moment and it’s a place that will help get me and Sheldon ready for our moments.”

Corey Day, Hendrick Motorsports

Hendrick Motorsports announced on Jan. 9 that they have signed a multiyear agreement with Corey Day. He will compete in approximately 30 pavement races across the Xfinity Series, CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, ARCA Series and the Trans-Am Series with sponsorship from HendrickCars.com.

Mark Setzer, Jeremy Clements Racing

On December 12th, the team announced that Mark Setzer would not return as crew chief in 2025. Kase Kallenbach will replace Setzer as the crew chief for the No. 51 team.

“Mark [Setzer] has done a lot to help grow our program here at JCR. We have had some memorable moments with him on the pit box for sure, and I am grateful for all his hard work over the last four seasons. We wish him nothing but the best in whatever comes next.” said Jeremy Clements.

Brandon Jones, Joe Gibbs Racing

Jones will return to Joe Gibbs Racing after signing a multiyear contract on September 3rd to drive full-time in the Xfinity Series in 2025. He drove for JGR from 2018 to 2022 and, most recently, for JR Motorsports (2023, 2024).

“I’m beyond excited to be returning to Joe Gibbs Racing and rejoining the Toyota Racing family,” said Jones. “My time with JGR was some of the most rewarding of my career, and I’m eager to build on that success as we chase more wins and a championship together. I’m ready to hit the ground running and make the most of this incredible opportunity.”

Taylor Gray, Joe Gibbs Racing

Taylor Gray will race full-time in 2025, driving the No. 54 Toyota in the Xfinity Series. 

“I am very thankful for this opportunity,” Gray said. “I feel like I have learned a lot in the races I have run this year, and we can build on that next season. Being able to work with Tyler (Allen, crew chief) and these guys for a few races has been a great head start on next season and getting that chemistry going, so I’m really excited about what we can do running together full-time.”

William Sawalich, Joe Gibbs Racing

On October 21st, Joe Gibbs Racing confirmed that William Sawalich will compete full-time in the No. 18 Toyota in the Xfinity Series next season. 

“I am honored to be driving the No. 18 full-time in the Xfinity Series next year,” Sawalich said. “It has been really cool to drive for Joe Gibbs Racing (ARCA Series), and I feel like I have developed so much as a driver over the past two years. I still have a lot to learn, especially with moving to a new series, so I am looking forward to taking this next step in racing.”

Justin Bonsignore, Joe Gibbs Racing

Justin Bonsignore will return to Joe Gibbs Racing to pilot the  No. 19 Toyota for five NASCAR Xfinity Series races in 2025. He made his  Xfinity Series debut with the team in 2024 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

Greg Van Alst, Joey Gase Motorsports with Scott Osteen

Joey Gase Motorsports confirmed on December 16th that the team has signed ARCA Menards Series veteran, Greg Van Alst, to compete in most of the 2025 Xfinity Series races in the No. 35 Chevrolet. His first race will be the United Rentals 300 at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, February 14, 2025.

“I am thrilled about this opportunity to compete in most of the NASCAR Xfinity Series season with Joey Gase Motorsports with Scott Osteen,” said Van Alst. “This is an essential step in my racing career, and with a tunneled vision focused on the Xfinity Series, I believe I can step up to the plate and not only be competitive but also produce some strong finishes that can propel our team into the spotlight. I’m ready to get to work and make the most out of the opportunity to make my NASCAR Xfinity Series debut at Daytona in about two months.”

Austin Green, Jordan Anderson Racing

Green will return to Jordan Anderson Racing to run a partial Xfinity Series schedule in the No. 32 Chevrolet focusing on road courses and short tracks.

Connor Zilisch, JR Motorsports

On August 7th, JR Motorsports announced thatZilisch will join the team in 2025 to drive the No. 88 Chevrolet full-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series with veteran crew chief Mardy Lindley.  

“There’s a lot of good Chevrolet-affiliated teams with Kaulig and RCR (Richard Childress Racing), but at the end of the day, when you look at the Cup Series and the guys who have come through JR Motorsports and gone to the Cup Series, I feel like they’ve had the most success. And I do think there’s a lot of really good resources at JR Motorsports that I’ll be able to go and learn from as we look on to the years to come. I feel like I’m in a really good spot with a lot of great people around me that’ll help guide me in the right direction as I get into the Xfinity Series next year.”

JR Motorsports Drivers/Crew Chiefs

Jim Pohlman will return to the No. 7 team with Justin Allgaier.
Phillip Bell will move to the No. 8 team with Sammy Smith.
Andrew Overstreet will be on the No. 1 pit box with rookie driver Carson Kvapil.
Mardy Lindley will join the No. 88 team as crew chief for Connor Zilisch.
Corey Shea joins the No. 9 part-time All-Star entry team as crew chief for nine races with Trackhouse Racing’s Chastain and van Gisbergen.

Daniel Dye, Kaulig Racing

On August 23rd, Kaulig Racing announced that Dye will drive the team’s No. 10 Xfinity Series Chevrolet full-time in 2025.

“I’ve really enjoyed driving the Xfinity car this year, and I’m excited for the opportunity to continue working with Kaulig Racing in 2025,” said Daniel Dye. “It’s been a fun experience learning the car and trying to navigate the different feeling compared to the truck. I’m looking forward to finishing out the season, running for the Truck Championship and making the most of my remaining races in the No. 10.”

Christian Eckes, Kaulig Racing

On August 31st Kaulig Racing announced that Eckes will move from the Craftsman Truck Series to drive the team’s No. 16 Chevrolet full-time in the Xfinity Series in 2025.

“Just super excited for this opportunity,” Eckes said. “This is something I feel like it’s been a long time coming, and to do it with Kaulig Racing, Chris (Rice, team president), Matt (Kaulig, team owner) and so many great teammates as well is something that I’m really looking forward to. Obviously, have a lot to achieve this year still, but very excited for the future. Just ready to get to work.”

Kaulig Racing, Crew Chief Lineup

Kaulig Racing revealed their Xfinity Series crew chief lineup on December 19th. Kevin Walter will be paired with Daniel Dye (No. 10 Chevrolet), Eddie Pardue with Josh Williams (No. 11 Chevrolet), and Alex Yontz with Christian Eckes (No. 16 Chevrolet).

Tyler Tomassi, No. 66, MBM Motorsports

MBM Motorsports announced today (Jan 15) that Tyler Tomassi will drive the No. 66 Ford Mustang in two NASCAR Xfinity Series events in 2025 – Martinsville Speedway in March and Bristol Motor Speedway in April.

Kris Wright, Our Motorsports

On November 20th, Wright announced he would drive the No. 5 Chevrolet full-time in 2025. He will replace Anthony Alfredo.  

“I am thrilled to join Our Motorsports for the 2025 season,” said Kris Wright. “I’m equally excited to make my return to the NASCAR Xfinity Series and look forward to hitting the road for 33 weeks to take on the challenges of a full season together.”

Dean Thompson, Sam Hunt Racing

On Jan. &, Sam Hunt Racing announced that Dean Thompson will pilot the No. 26 Toyota full-time NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2025.

“I’m very excited to join the Sam Hunt Racing group and continue to pursue my dreams in NASCAR,” Thompson said. “The team made me feel at home after the two races we shared last year. Everything clicked with us, and we are both in a spot where we could fulfill each other’s needs to help our growth as a race team and driver. I’m lucky to have this opportunity to take the next step, which most can only dream of reaching, and I’m grateful to share it with such an awesome group of people.”

Garrett Smithley, SS-Greenlight Racing

SS-Greenlight Racing announced on Mon., November 19th, that Garrett Smithley will return to the team in 2025 and compete full-time in the No. 14 Chevrolet with crew chief, Jason Mille and will be sponsored by Trophy Tractor.

“I’m incredibly excited and grateful to be a full-time driver at SS-Greenlight Racing,” Smithley said in a team release. “I haven’t been full-time since 2019, so beyond excited to get to work with Bobby (Dotter, owner) and Jason Miller (crew chief). Daytona can’t come soon enough!”

SS-Greenlight Racing, No. 07

On Jan. 16 the team announced that Patrick Emerling, Alex Labbe and Nick Leitz will split SS-Greenlight Racing’s No. 07 entry for the 2025 Xfinity Series season. Emerling will compete in the season opener at Daytona.

Matt DiBenedetto, Viking Motorsports

On Jan. 16 Viking Motorsports announced that DiBenedetto will drive the No. 99 (new car number) for Viking Motorsports again in 2025 for a full Xfinity Series season with Pat Tryson as crew chief.

Anthony Alfredo, Young’s Motorsports

On Jan. 12 Young’s Motorsports announced that Anthony Alfredo will drive the No. 42 Chevrolet full-time in the 2025 Xfinity Series with sponsors Dude Wipes and RANDCO.

Chandler Smith, Front Row Motorsports

On December 12th, Front Row Motorsports announced that Chandler Smith had signed with them for the 2025 season as they expanded to add a second entry to their Truck Series lineup. He joins returning Rookie of the Year, Layne Riggs. The Truck number and sponsors for Smith will be announced later.

“I’m excited to join Front Row Motorsports truck program,” said Smith. “They are a top contender in the Truck Series and have proven so with championships and wins. I like what they are building here and am honored to have the opportunity to add to it. We are getting a bit of a late start, but I am excited about the caliber of talent we are talking to in being a part of this program for 2025.”

Daniel Hemric, McAnally-Hilgemann Racing

McAnally-Hilgemann Racing announced on November 20th that Hemric will drive the No. 19 Chevrolet full-time in the Craftsman Truck Series in 2025, replacing Christian Eckes.

“This is a great opportunity for me to compete for wins and chase another championship,” Hemric said. “Thanks to Bill McAnally, Bill Hilgemann, NAPA, Chevrolet and everyone involved for the opportunity. It’s a big milestone season to be a part of with NAPA’s 100th anniversary and the 35th year of Bill’s partnership with them. We’re going to do everything we can to get the NAPA Auto Care Chevrolet in victory lane and be in contention for a championship.”

Tyler Ankrum, McAnally-Hilgemann

On November 25th, the team confirmed that Ankrum will return to drive the No. 18 Chevrolet with crew chief Mark Hillman. It will be his seventh season in the Truck Series. 

“I’m really glad to be staying at MHR with Mark and the entire LIUNA team,” Ankrum said in a released statement. “This last year was probably the best of my career with the consistency we showed throughout the season. Making the playoffs was a huge goal for us and we were in the mix all the way to Martinsville, so we want to take another step and make it to Phoenix in 2025. We all want to get back to victory lane, and I think keeping this group together and continuing to develop as a team will help us get there.”

Connor Mosack, McAnally-Hilgemann Racing

On December 3rd, McAnally-Hilgemann Racing announced that Mosack had been signed to drive the No. 81 Chevrolet in the Craftsman Truck Series in 2025. Mosack’s resume includes 11 starts in the Truck Series and 28 in the Xfinity Series throughout his career. 

“I’m ecstatic to start 2025 with everybody at MHR and want to continue this team’s success in the playoffs,” Mosack said. “All four MHR teams had great performances this past year, so this is a big opportunity to race with a winning organization. It’s great to continue being part of Team Chevy and appreciate NAPA Nightvison and everyone at MHR for making this a reality. I’m looking forward to working with Blake and we want to become one of the weekly contenders, compete for wins, and lock ourselves in the playoffs.”

Jack Wood, McAnally-Hilgemann Racing

McAnally-Hilgemann Racing (MHR) announced on December 3rd that Jack Wood will return to the team in 2025 to compete in the Truck Series full-time in the No. 91 Chevrolet Silverado with crew chief Kevin Bellicourt.

“I’m definitely thankful and excited to be back at MHR next season,” Wood said in a released statement. “We had a lot of bright spots this past season and have a great foundation to build on. I have a lot of trust in Kevin [Bellicourt], [team owner] Bill [McAnally], and everyone at MHR, so that makes me excited for what’s ahead of us next year. It’s great to have Adaptive One Calipers board with us and looking forward to activating with their customers throughout the season.”

Kaden Honeycutt, Niece Motorsports

On Oct. 1, Kaden Honeycutt was announced as the full-time driver of the No. 45 Chevrolet for Niece Motorsports in the Craftsman Truck Series in 2025. It will be his first full-time ride in a national series.

“I can’t even begin to tell you how much this opportunity means to me,” Honeycutt said. “Before I got connected with Al (Niece) and Cody (Efaw), last year, I thought my career was over. Both of them took a big chance on me leading into this year and it’s kept me hungry to make them proud. My group of guys on the No. 45 team have become brothers to me, and we’ve been able to share such a good relationship.”

Christian Rose, Niece Motorsports

On December 16th, Niece Motorsports announced that Christian Rose would move up from the ARCA Menards Series to drive the team’s No. 44 Chevrolet Silverado full-time in the Craftsman Truck Series in 2025.

“For me, it’s a huge opportunity to make the jump from the ARCA Series,” said Rose. “I got my feet wet a little bit in the Truck Series a few years ago, but I believe in everything that we have going on in this building and am very excited to get to Daytona. The speed that we’ve seen from this team is a big reason why we signed our deal, and I’m just excited to make that transition. I think if we do the right things and show up and put the work in, we can have a lot of great things to look forward to next year.”

Dawson Sutton, Rackley W.A.R.

On October 17th, Rackley W.A.R. announced that Sutton would compete full-time in the Craftsman Truck Series next year in the No. 25.

“This is really a phenomenal opportunity,” he said. “I’ve dreamed for this day to come, and my goal is to make it to NASCAR’s Cup Series that represents the best of the best. It’s all a little hard to believe right now, but I know I have a big job to do, and that’s exactly how I look at it.”

Frankie Muniz, Reaume Brothers Racing

Reaume Brothers confirmed on October 22nd that Muniz will race the No. 33 Ford full-time in 2025. 

Cody Dennison, Reaume Brothers Racing 

On Jan. 21, Reaume Brothers Racing announced that Dennison will drive the No. 2 Ford in the Craftsman Truck Series part-time in 2025. He will make his debut at Martinsville Speedway on March 28th.

Tyler Tomassi, Reaume Brothers Racing

Reaume Brothers Racing announced on Jan. 14 that Tomassi would return and run two Craftsman Truck Series races in the No. 2 Ford. He will compete at Nashville Superspeedway on May 30 and Bristol Motor Speedway on Sept. 11.

Rajah Caruth, Spire Motorsports

On December 13th, Spire Motorsports confirmed that Caruth will return to Spire Motorsports in 2025 to drive the No. 71 Chevrolet for a second season in the Craftsman Truck Series with sponsorship from HendrickCars.com.

“It is great to have a home and stability heading into next year,” Caruth said in a released statement. “I believe this is the first time in my career I won’t be with a new team or competing in a different series at the start of the season. I really appreciate the opportunity [owners] Jeff [Dickerson] and T.J. [Puchyr] have given me, and I’m excited to continue preparations for 2025. Our organization has really grown over the past year, and we have shown what we are capable of. We have set the bar high for the season, and the expectation is to win more races and compete for a championship.”

Corey Heim, Tricon Garage

On November 7th, it was announced that Heim will return in 2025 to drive the No. 11 Toyota for the team along with crew chief, Scott Zipadelli.

“I am excited to be back with TRICON for my third full-time year,” said Heim. He continued, saying, “I have developed so much alongside this organization in the last two years, and we have made some incredible memories along the way. I can’t wait to continue this journey in 2025 with my No. 11 crew.”

Tanner Gray, Tricon Garage

Tricon Garage confirmed on November 18 that Gray will return to drive the Craftsman Truck Series No. 15 Toyota full-time in 2025.

“TRICON has become a second home to me, and I am looking forward to another year as the driver of the 15,” said Gray. “I feel like we have some unfinished business after this past season, and I am as motivated as ever to compete in the postseason in 2025.”

Toni Breidinger, Tricon Garage

Tricon Garage announced on November 26th that Toni Breidinger will advance from the ARCA Menards Series to drive the team’s No. 5 Toyota full-time next year in the Craftsman Truck Series. 

“Racing full-time with TRICON is a dream for me. It’s been a 15-year process to get here but I’m so excited for this moment and ready to capitalize on it,” Breidinger said. “I wouldn’t have this opportunity if it wasn’t for Toyota, Raising Cane’s, CELSIUS, and Sunoco. I’m beyond grateful to have these partners and team in my corner to take this next step in my career.”

Gio Ruggiero, Tricon Garage

On December 2nd, Tricon Garage announced that Gio Ruggiero, who claimed nine top 10s in the ARCA Menards Series in 2024, will drive the team’s No. 17 Toyota in 2025. Ruggiero earned nine top 10s in the ARCA Menards Series in 2024.  

“I am super thankful to have the opportunity to run full-time with TRICON in 2025,” said Ruggiero. “I look forward to getting to work with all of the guys on the 17 team and contending for wins this season.”

Tricon Garage, No. 1 “All-Star” Entry

William Sawalich will begin the season as the driver of the No. 1 at Daytona International Speedway. He will also race at Atlanta Motor Speedway (Feb. 22), Las Vegas Motor Speedway (March 14), Nashville Superspeedway (May 30) and Watkins Glen International (Aug. 8).

Brandon Jones will drive the No. 1 for seven races, beginning at Homestead-Miami Speedway on March 21. His schedule also includes the Bristol Motor Speedway spring race on April 11, Rockingham Speedway (April 18), Texas Motor Speedway (May 2), Kansas Speedway (May 10), Charlotte Motor Speedway (May 23) and Pocono Raceway (June 20).

Brent Crews will make nine starts beginning at North Wilkesboro Speedway on May 17 and followed by Lime Rock Park (June 28), Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park (July 25), Richmond Raceway (Aug. 15), Bristol (fall, Sept. 11), New Hampshire Motor Speedway (Sept. 20), Charlotte Motor Speedway Roval (Oct. 3), Martinsville (fall, Oct. 24), and the season finale at Phoenix Raceway (Oct. 31).

Lawless Alan will compete in four races in 2025 – Martinsville (spring, March 28), Michigan International Speedway (June 7), Darlington Raceway (Aug. 30) and Talladega Superspeedway (Oct. 17). Jake Hampton will lead the No. 1 team on the pit box.

TRICON Garage, Crew Chief Lineup

On December 16th, TRICON Garage announced its crew chief lineup for the 2025 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Scott Zipadelli will return to lead the No. 11 team with rookie driver, Gio Ruggiero. Jeff Hensley will return and transition to the No. 15 team with driver, Tanner Gray. Jerame Donley will lead the No. 17 team with rookie Gio Ruggiero, and Derek Smith will serve as crew chief for Toni Breidinger in her first full-time season in the No. 5. Matt Puccia will be back as the team’s competition director.

Young’s Motorsports, Nathan Byrd

Young’s Motorsports announced on Jan. 27 that Byrd will drive the team’s No. 02 Chevrolet in a minimum of 15 during the 2025 season beginning with the season-opener at Daytona.

Young’s Motorsports, Stefan Parsons

On Jan. 27, Young’s Motorsports also revealed that Stefan Parsons will join the organization in 2025. His schedule will be announced at a later date.

Spanish F1 Grand Prix at MADRING makes an impact far beyond the track

  • The inaugural Grand Prix generated €544 million in economic activity, supported 10,948 jobs and generated €95 million in tax revenues.
  • Economic impact exceeded initial forecasts by 16.5%, while the impact on employment was 23.7% above expectations and tax revenues were 14.5% higher than forecast.

Madrid, 13 November 2026. Formula 1’s return to Madrid after 45 years has made an impact far beyond the track. The inaugural Spanish Grand Prix at MADRING gave a significant boost to Madrid’s economy, generating benefits across business activity, tourism, employment and tax revenues, while also strengthening the Spanish capital’s international profile.

The Grand Prix generated a total economic impact of €544 million, supported 10,948 jobs and delivered €95 million in tax revenues, according to the socioeconomic impact study conducted by PwC. For every euro of economic activity directly linked to the Grand Prix, €4.60 was generated across Madrid’s wider economy.

According to José Vicente de los Mozos, Chairman of the Executive Committee of IFEMA MADRID, these figures “confirm the strategic importance the Grand Prix has gained for Madrid’s economy and international profile from its very first edition, generating economic activity equivalent to 0.16% of the Madrid Region’s GDP and 0.30% of the city of Madrid’s GDP.”

He added: “We have succeeded in attracting high-value international visitors with significant spending power, 88% of whom said they were likely to return to Madrid. At the same time, 95.3% of all attendees believe the Grand Prix has enhanced Madrid’s international image.”

The benefits extended across a broad range of sectors within the regional economy. Hospitality, manufacturing and construction accounted for 59% of the €425 million in combined indirect, visitor-driven and induced impact. Hospitality benefited most within this group, generating €114 million in economic activity, followed by manufacturing at €86 million and construction at €51 million.

Attracting high-value visitors

The Grand Prix’s contribution to Madrid’s economy was closely linked to its ability to attract visitors. Over the four days of the event, a cumulative attendance of 353,000 was recorded, with 35% of attendees coming from overseas and a further 20% travelling from elsewhere in Spain.

The event’s international audience made a particularly significant economic contribution. International visitors spent an average of €2,772 per person over the course of their stay in connection with the Grand Prix, compared with €1,099 among visitors from elsewhere in Spain and €659 among residents of the Madrid Region. These per-person spending figures include the estimated average ticket price.

The PwC analysis also highlights how Grand Prix visitors significantly outspent typical tourists. International Grand Prix visitors spent an average of €591 per person per day, 1.7 times the average daily spend of an international tourist in the Madrid Region and 2.9 times that of an international tourist visiting Spain overall. Domestic Grand Prix visitors spent an average of €409 per day, 3.8 times the average spend of a domestic tourist visiting the Madrid Region.

Average length of stay was also higher: international visitors stayed in the Madrid Region for an average of 4.7 days, compared with 2.3 days for international tourists overall. Domestic visitors attending the Grand Prix stayed for an average of 2.7 days, compared with the regional benchmark of 1.8 days.

In the words of Jordi Esteve, Partner responsible for Economics at Strategy&, PwC: “The findings of the study show that Formula 1 has exceeded expectations in terms of its ability to generate economic impact. Through extensive fieldwork, we have found that Grand Prix visitors spend more and stay longer than the average visitor. This is helping Madrid attract high-value tourism, generating greater economic activity and supporting employment.”

Accessibility: another defining feature

MADRING’s accessibility was another distinguishing feature of the Grand Prix with 86% of attendees travelled to the circuit without using a private car, equating to two in three visitors. Of these, 65% used public transport, including Metro, bus and commuter rail services, while 21% travelled by taxi or private-hire vehicle. Just 14% arrived by private car.

Among those travelling to Madrid for the Grand Prix, 65% travelled to Madrid by air, making it the most widely used mode of transport among those travelling to the city for the Grand Prix, and was particularly prevalent among international visitors. Rail and private car each accounted for 16%, while 3% arrived by coach.

The impact of the event was also reflected in accommodation choices: almost half of attendees (49%) stayed in hotels, compared with 32% who opted for short-term rental accommodation and 19% who stayed with family or friends.

Nearly 11,000 jobs and €95 million in tax revenues

The economic activity generated by the Grand Prix supported 10,948 jobs, equivalent to 0.31% of total employment in the Madrid Region and 3.85% of employment in the region’s recreational activities sector.

The event also generated €95 million in tax revenues and social security contributions, calculated across the principal taxes and contributions assessed by the study, including personal income tax, corporate income tax, social security contributions and VAT. Of this total, €16 million came from direct impact, €26 million from indirect impact, €34 million from visitor-driven impact and €18 million from induced impact, with minor differences in the totals due to rounding.

For every euro in taxes and social security contributions directly associated with the Grand Prix, the study estimates that €5.90 was generated in tax revenues and social security contributions across the wider Madrid economy.

An impact reflected in Madrid’s international profile

Beyond the economic and fiscal figures, the study shows a strongly positive assessment of the event’s contribution to Madrid’s international profile. 95.3% of attendees said the Grand Prix had enhanced Madrid’s international image, while 98.1% would recommend Madrid as a tourist destination.

Among international visitors, the Grand Prix experience received an average rating of 4.5 out of 5; 86% said they were likely to return to the Grand Prix, while 90% said they were likely to visit Madrid again. Among domestic attendees, the event received an average rating of 4.4 out of 5.

Impact exceeds initial forecasts

Overall, the inaugural Grand Prix outperformed initial expectations across all three of the study’s key measures: economic activity, employment and tax contribution.

The total economic impact reached €544 million, compared with an initial forecast of €467 million, 16.5% above the original estimate.

In employment terms, the Grand Prix supported 10,948 jobs compared with the 8,850 initially estimated, outperforming the forecast by 23.7%.

Finally, the overall tax contribution reached €95 million compared with an initial forecast of €83 million, 14.5% above expectations.

About the PwC study

The study conducted by PwC assesses the impact of the Grand Prix on the Madrid Region’s economy in terms of economic activity, employment, and tax and social security contributions. The calculations are based on data relating to activity generated during the Grand Prix, publicly available information from official sources, and fieldwork conducted during the event.

To analyse attendee profiles and spending patterns, PwC conducted 1,102 face-to-face surveys between Friday 11 and Sunday 13 September. Economic and fiscal impacts were estimated using the SAM (Social Accounting Matrix) methodology, which allows the direct, indirect, visitor-driven and induced effects associated with the event to be quantified.

RAFA Racing Team and Velocity Racing launch Fast Track program with $210,000 in driver scholarships

HOUSTON, TX, (November 13, 2026) – RAFA Racing Team and leading kart team Velocity Racing have joined forces to launch Fast Track, a driver development program designed to help young racers progress from karting into cars, with $210,000 in scholarships supporting their next steps.

Launching at the SKUSA SuperNationals in Las Vegas, Fast Track will combine racing and evaluation throughout the 2027 season with driver camps, fitness and nutrition support, media training and sponsorship education for drivers and parents.

Scholarships awarded in 2027 for the 2028 season will include $150,000 toward RAFA Racing Team car racing programs and $60,000 in karting support with Velocity Racing.

The partnership addresses one of the biggest challenges facing karting families: preparing for everything required to progress beyond winning races. Fast Track brings driver training, physical preparation and commercial education into one program, helping families build a sustainable foundation before the transition into cars.

“Moving into cars takes more than a quick lap time,” said Kevin Conway, RAFA Racing Team Principal and Partner.

“We want drivers to arrive ready to learn, ready to represent their partners and ready to handle the physical and mental demands of the next level. Fast Track gives us the opportunity to build those habits while they are still in karting, with their families involved from the beginning.”

Fast Track combines RAFA Racing Team’s professional racing and performance resources with Velocity Racing’s karting operation. Participants will compete with Velocity Racing on Sodi chassis using team engines while developing the skills needed for the next stage of their careers.

RAFA-led camps at the RAFA Racing Club headquarters in Houston and Velocity Racing camps in Orlando will provide focused development opportunities. Fitness, nutrition and physical training will draw on the approach used by RAFA’s professional drivers, with access to RAFA’s driver training app between events.

“The partnership is to provide a progression from karting into cars and also support parents in understanding the business side of it,” said Kris Kenific, founder of Velocity Racing.

“We want to provide a ladder and the infrastructure here in the U.S. to give kids an understanding of how to grow—both the business side, their marketing and brand awareness, while also developing their skills.”

Dedicated education for parents will cover sponsorship, media and the business of motorsport, helping families understand the resources and responsibilities involved in advancing through the sport.

For Kenific, building that understanding early is essential. Families need time to develop sponsorship relationships and a financial plan alongside their driver’s racing skills, rather than confronting those demands only when a car racing opportunity becomes available.

“We want mature drivers with a business model behind them, where they’re not having to pull out because they can’t come up with the money 30 days before the season starts,” Kenific said.

“They need to understand those responsibilities and grow that over time. You don’t have to build all of that in a year when, all of a sudden, you want to progress into cars.”

Drivers will gain content and exposure to support their sponsorship efforts, alongside practical guidance on building their profiles and representing commercial partners.

Evaluation will take place throughout the 2027 season, with scholarships awarded that year to support racing in 2028. Fast Track connects Velocity Racing’s karting program with RAFA Racing Team’s car racing opportunities and a wider sports car pathway encompassing GR Cup, GT4 America and IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge.

“The scholarships give drivers meaningful support for their next step, but the work throughout the season is just as important,” Conway said.

“We’re looking to help young racers become complete drivers who understand preparation, teamwork and the value they bring to a partner. Those are skills they can carry with them throughout their careers.”

Kenific’s vision for the partnership also extends beyond success behind the wheel. Exposure to engineering, data, physical training and the business of racing can help participants discover opportunities throughout motorsport.

“If they learn the business side, become good engineers, good athletes and good young people, that is a great outcome,” Kenific said. “It’s really important for people who have made it in the sport to provide that counsel and education to the parents. I think that’s crucial.”

Families interested in Fast Track can meet representatives from both teams at the Velocity Racing paddock during the SKUSA SuperNationals in Las Vegas. For eligibility, pricing and the 2027 program schedule, contact support@velocityracing.com.

First Official Day of Competition at the 2026 HSR Classic Daytona 24 Hour Presented by Mission Foods Stretches into Night Practice Thursday at Daytona

  • SascoSports International/American Challenge Presented by Hoosier Sprint Crowns Weekend’s First Three Race Winners to Kick-Off Packed Schedule of Races
  • Full Weekend of Racing Includes the HSR Daytona Classic 24 Hour Presented by Mission Foods and the HSR Daytona Historics Full-Season Championship Races
  • North America’s Premier Vintage and Historic 24-Hour Race Featured in Saturday and Sunday Livestream Coverage by Greenlight Television on HSR’s Facebook and YouTube Pages
  • Panel and Q&A Featuring Ford Sports Car Racing Champions, Major Race-Winning Drivers and Other Blue Oval Notables Set for Saturday, November 14 at 10 a.m. EST in the Drivers Meeting Room in the DIS Infield Near the FanZone

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida (November 12, 2026) – A full day of practice Thursday at Daytona International Speedway (DIS) stretched into the early evening hours as the opening day of official competition for the 12th Running of the Historic Sportscar Racing (HSR) Classic Daytona 24 Hour presented by Mission Foods and the accompanying HSR Daytona Historics went into the record books at the “World Center of Racing.”

The day’s highlight was the first race of a packed schedule of events this weekend that will stretch through Sunday afternoon at DIS. A field of 30 entries took the green flag for a typically competitive and exciting SascoSports International/American Challenge sprint race Thursday afternoon.

Angus Rogers held off the Daytona debuting John Spiers to claim the overall victory while also securing Porsche class honors in his KMW Motorsports 1973 No. 15 Porsche 911 RSR. Rogers, who started from pole, faced an immediate challenge from Spiers who charged into the lead battle in second overall and took control of the American division on the opening lap in his Olthoff Racing 1967 No. 28 Ford Mustang Coupe.

Rogers maintained his narrow advantage throughout the eight-lap contest to take the checkered flag just ahead of Spiers, who crossed the line in P2 and first in American. Ricky Park moved past AJR Heritage Motorsports teammate Dean DeSantis with two laps remaining to secure second in the Porsche class in the 1973 No. 44 Porsche 911 RSR and third overall. DeSantis completed the class podium in his 1969 No. 33 Porsche 911 RSR.

Olthoff Racing doubled down in the American division with Steve Piantieri securing second in his 1965 No. 95 Ford Mustang GT 2+2 prepared by the Dennis Olthoff-lead team. Joe Jacalone completed an all Ford “Pony Car” class podium in his Jacalone Racing 1965 No. 16 Ford Mustang.

Greg Ira made an early charge through the field on the opening lap, getting past Simon Foweather, and taking control of the International class for the victory in his 1972 No. 12 Datsun 240Z.

Foweather settled for second in his 2005 No. 81 BMW 330 while Austin Jabaley continued Olthoff Racing’s podium run with a third-place showing in his 1971 No. 71 Datsun 240Z.

Another Thursday highlight was the visiting Sixties’ Endurance by Peter Auto group running its first official laps on the legendary 3.56-mile Daytona road course. The 1965 No. 16 Shelby Cobra 289 of Damien Kohler and Michael Holden was fastest in the opening session as all of the guest competitors from overseas are impressed with their visit so far to the HSR Classic Daytona 24 Hour.

Many of the regular competitors in the France-based Peter Auto series are visiting or driving Daytona International Speedway for the first time, including Spiers, who also owns and co-drives the No. 26 1965 Jaguar E-Type Lightweight prepared by CKL Developments.

“Wow – just wow!” Spiers said. “I mean, there’s nothing like it that I’ve ever raced on before. Just tremendous, huge, and I’m so glad I came over. Peter Auto run a very professional race series for historic cars; we do a lot of rounds with them in Europe, and I think it’s brilliant that there’s collaboration going on. Both sides can learn from each other and broaden our experience.”

A full Friday of additional HSR Daytona Historics races pave the way for this weekend’s featured HSR Classic Daytona 24 Hour that for the fourth-straight year will be available all around the world through HSR-provided livestream coverage.

Greenlight Television returns as the production partner for the Classic 24 livestream for the third-straight year with a return to two-day coverage this weekend. This year’s Classic 24 programming is scheduled to begin at 1:45 p.m. EST on Saturday, November 14, through 8 p.m. EST. Coverage continues on Sunday, November 15, from approximately 7:45 a.m. EST through the final checkered flag before signing off at 2 p.m. EST.

Primary U.S. coverage of the livestream will be available on the HSR and IMSA YouTube Channels with additional distributions and availability in the U.S. and around the world. Among the global outlets featuring the Classic 24 livestream are the Goodwood YouTube Channel, MTRSPT1, Parc Fermé (Italy), Rev TV (Canada), Driven Studios, Unbeaten, ViaPlay (Scandinavia and the Netherlands) and Sport1/Sport2 (Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia), to name a few.

An off-track highlight of this year’s HSR Classic Daytona 24 is a can’t miss Panel and Q&A of notable Ford sports car racing champions, major race-winning drivers and other personalities with close ties to or an affinity for the Blue Oval. The Ford Panel and Q&A will be held in the Drivers Meeting room at 10 a.m. EST this Saturday, November 14, in the DIS infield near the FanZone. Admission is free to all HSR Classic Daytona 24 credential and ticket holders.

This year’s lineup includes Spiers and Peter Miles (pictured below), this year’s Classic Daytona 24 Hour Grand Marshal and the son of the late Ken Miles. Also joining is HSR Chief Steward and 1989 Trans-Am Champion with Ford, Dorsey Schroeder, Ford Racing record setter and World Endurance Championship (WEC) GT40 race winner Billy Johnson and Superformance GT40 driver Dan Long.

For additional information on both the HSR Daytona Classic 24 and HSR Daytona Historics events, including entry lists, ticket purchases, the event schedule and more, please click here.

For a direct link to HSR Daytona Classic 24 race tickets, please click here.

About HSR: An International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) property, Historic Sportscar Racing (HSR) was formed in the mid-1970s with an event at Road Atlanta. There was one goal then and it remains true today: to celebrate the racing cars from the past. As a “time machine” of sights and sounds, HSR provides a venue for competitors and spectators alike to share in the wonderful history and excitement created by the cars that competed at race tracks around the world. HSR currently sanctions eight vintage and historic racing events at some of the world’s most renowned race tracks, including Road Atlanta, Sebring International Raceway, Daytona International Speedway and more. The complete schedule and full event information can be found on HSR’s website at www.HSRRace.com. Look for the HSR Channel on YouTube and follow HSR on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/HSRrace/ and on Twitter X at @HSR_race and Instagram @HistoricSportscarRacing.

Sunbeam 1000hp to Make Historic Return to Daytona Beach
 for World Land Speed Record Centennial

Legendary record-breaking vehicle to return to Daytona Beach following three-year restoration; Historic beach re-enactment and special events planned

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Nov. 12, 2026) – A century after making motorsports history on the sands of Daytona Beach, the legendary Sunbeam 1000hp will return to the destination in 2027 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Sir Henry Segrave’s historic world land speed record.

On March 29, 1927, Segrave drove the British-built Sunbeam 1000hp to a world land speed record of 203.792 mph on Daytona Beach, becoming the first person to officially exceed 200 mph on land. The groundbreaking achievement helped establish Daytona Beach as a premier destination for speed and motorsports, a legacy that continues today.

Following an extensive three-year restoration project undertaken by the National Motor Museum in Beaulieu, England, the iconic vehicle will make its highly anticipated return to Daytona Beach for a series of special exhibitions and events celebrating one of the most significant milestones in motorsports history.

The centerpiece of the centennial celebration will take place on Monday, March 29, 2027, exactly 100 years after Segrave’s historic achievement, with a slow speed commemorative re-enactment of the world land speed record on the beaches of Daytona Beach. The event will offer motorsports enthusiasts, residents, and visitors a rare opportunity to witness a piece of racing history return to the very sands where it made headlines a century ago.

“Few destinations can claim the kind of motorsports history that the Daytona Beach area has, and the Sunbeam 1000hp is an important part of that story,” said Lori Campbell Baker, Executive Director of the Daytona Beach Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. “To have this legendary vehicle return to the same beach where Sir Henry Segrave made history 100 years ago is truly extraordinary. This centennial celebration is not only a tribute to the pioneers who helped establish the rich racing history in the Daytona Beach area, but also an opportunity to showcase our destination’s unique heritage to a new generation of visitors and motorsports enthusiasts.”

“To be able to take this iconic car back to Daytona Beach, where World Land Speed Record history was made, will be incredible – especially in the centenary year,” said Jon Murden, Chief Executive of the UK based National Motor Museum. “We are grateful to our many partners and supporters to enable us to achieve the goal of the restoration of the car and such an historic commemorative run, which will capture the imagination of motoring enthusiasts around the world.”

Sunbeam 1000hp Centennial Events in Daytona Beach

A series of special events and appearances will commemorate the Sunbeam 1000hp’s historic return to Daytona Beach throughout the first several months of 2027.

January 16–April 18, 2027 – Sunbeam 1000hp Exhibition at the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America

The legendary Sunbeam 1000hp will be on display at the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America, located at Daytona International Speedway. Visitors will have the opportunity to see the historic vehicle up close and learn about its groundbreaking achievement, engineering and restoration.

March 25, 2027 – Sunbeam 1000hp Evening Talk

The Motorsports Hall of Fame of America will host a special evening presentation highlighting the Sunbeam 1000hp, its remarkable history and the restoration project that brought the vehicle back to Daytona Beach.

March 26, 2027 – Meet the National Motor Museum Team at Ormond Garage

Representatives from the National Motor Museum in England will participate in a special gathering at the Ormond Garage, offering an opportunity to learn more about the Sunbeam 1000hp.

March 26–28, 2027 – Sunbeam 1000hp at the Spring Daytona Turkey Run

The Sunbeam 1000hp will be on display during the Spring Daytona Turkey Run at Daytona International Speedway.

March 29, 2027 – 100th Anniversary World Land Speed Record Re-enactment

The highlight of the centennial celebration will take place on the morning of March 29, when the Sunbeam 1000hp returns to the beaches of Daytona Beach for a historic slow speed re-enactment commemorating Segrave’s record-breaking run exactly 100 years earlier.

March 29, 2027 – Sunbeam 1000hp Display at Daytona Beach Bandshell

Following the morning’s historic beach celebration, the Sunbeam 1000hp will be on display that afternoon at the iconic Daytona Beach Bandshell.

Additional details regarding the Sunbeam 1000hp centennial celebration, including event times and public viewing opportunities, will be announced early next year.

For more information on the National Motor Museum, please visit www.nationalmotormuseum.org.uk.

About the National Motor Museum
The National Motor Museum Trust Limited is a charitable organisation founded in 1972, which runs the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu in the New Forest. Continuing the work of the flagship Montagu Motor Museum, the Trust has a world-famous collection of 280 vehicles and associated motoring items on display at the National Motor Museum. An Accredited Museum, all its collections have been designated by Arts Council England as being of national and international importance. Its internationally acclaimed collection of more than 1.9 million items is cared for by the National Motor Museum Trust and includes historically significant motoring artifacts, film footage, images, documents and books. The nearby Collections Centre houses and cares for a vast array of motoring artifacts, photographic images, a specialist reference library, and a film and video library. For more information about its collection and services, see www.nationalmotormuseum.org.uk.

About the Daytona Beach Area | #LoveDaytonaBeach
Often called home of the world’s most famous beaches, Daytona Beach, Florida, continues to delight and surprise visitors with its diverse and growing array of attractions. The Daytona Beach area is made up of several cities and towns including Ormond Beach, Daytona Beach, Daytona Beach Shores, Ponce Inlet, Holly Hill and South Daytona. The destination has long been known for its iconic beaches and rich auto racing history but today a slate of exciting new attractions, upscale lodging, a vibrant arts scene and an amazing collection of parks, preserves and outdoor activities are all part of Daytona Beach’s year-round appeal. To receive a complimentary Daytona Beach Destination Guide, find a place to stay, or book your next adventure, visit DaytonaBeach.com. #LoveDaytonaBeach.

Fast Motorsport Recap Video Clips With MiniMax H3 Max

The checkered flag drops on a Sunday night sim-racing round or a weekend club track day, and the clock starts ticking immediately. League stewards and track-day coordinators usually have about sixty minutes to publish a post-race teaser or next-round schedule reveal before drivers log off and audience attention moves elsewhere. Waiting around for heavy local renders or timeline audio edits rarely fits into that tight window.

Instead of building every promo from scratch, automotive creators can produce fast drafts with minimax h3 max inside an independent browser workspace without configuring local GPUs or ComfyUI nodes. The platform is not affiliated with or endorsed by MiniMax, and it runs both the flagship model and its high-speed sibling in the cloud so teams can test angles and publish recaps while paddock talk is still active.

Testing Camera Sweeps and Audio Cues at 480P

Released on July 31, 2026, the open-weight MiniMax H3 (also known as Hailuo 3) is a 33-billion-parameter single-stream H3-Omni-Transformer paired with a Qwen3-VL-32B text encoder. It generates 24 fps clips alongside native 32 kHz stereo sound, producing engine notes, tire scrub, paddock ambiance, music, and spoken lines directly from the text prompt in one pass. Running that full four-component pipeline locally requires serious hardware—MiniMax’s vLLM server example uses four GPUs, and the MiniMax H3 Community License lists the US, EU, UK, and South Korea as excluded territories for the open weights.

For a race organizer working off a laptop after an event, the cloud-based H3 Max variant solves both the hardware bottleneck and the iteration cost. H3 Max generates 5-to-15-second clips in roughly one minute, and its 480P draft tier costs 6 credits per second—working out to $1.00 for a five-second test clip on the $9.99 Starter pack of 300 credits.

That low entry rate changes how you block out motorsport social teasers. You can write three different camera prompts—such as a low front-splitter tracking shot, a pit-wall pan, and an overhead chicane sweep—while testing how the native stereo audio handles high-revving downshifts or commentator voiceovers written directly in the prompt. Within minutes, you know which camera movement and exhaust cue hits hardest before paying for a full-resolution master.

Anchoring Motion With Track-Day Photos and Livery Renders

Pure text generation works well for generic b-roll, but league announcements and club recaps need recognizable cars. The browser workspace supports two visual workflows to keep automotive motion clips grounded:

  • Image-to-Video with First and Last Frames: Upload a starting image—such as a studio render of a league livery or a pit-lane photo—and optionally attach a final frame, like a rear wing or trophy graphic, so the model plans the motion path between both frames. Input files are validated before charging to ensure each side measures 256 to 5760 pixels with an aspect ratio between 0.4 and 2.5, and uploads auto-delete after 30 days.
  • Reference-to-Video for Style and Rhythm: When you do not want a photo used as the literal opening frame, attach up to 12 reference files total—up to 9 images, 3 video clips of 2 to 15 seconds (up to 15 seconds combined), and 3 audio files. Tagging @Image 1, @Video 1, or @Audio 1 in your prompt lets you match a race suit, borrow the camera rhythm of a real onboard clip, or lock in an announcer’s voice.

Choosing Between 1080P H3 Max and Native 2K Flagship H3

Once your 480P draft nails the camera sweep and sound timing, the workspace lets you switch resolutions or models while preserving your prompt and settings. Both models support aspect ratios from 21:9 down to 9:16, plus 768P output at 9 credits per second ($1.50 per five-second clip).

If speed is the priority for a vertical teaser, staying on H3 Max at 1080P costs 19 credits per second (3.16 per five-second clip) and includes your first two reference images free.

However, if your clip features close-up driver faces, intricate suit fabric, or small sponsor decals on a door panel, switching to the flagship H3 model is the smarter call. Flagship H3 takes a few minutes to render, supports 4-to-15-second durations, includes up to five reference images free, and delivers native 2K resolution via in-context regeneration (H3-Regenerate-2K) at 14 credits per second (2.33 per five-second clip).

Streamlining Your Post-Race Publishing Routine

Keep a folder of pre-cropped 9:16 and 16:9 livery renders ready before the green flag drops. Right after the podium ceremony, run two quick 480P drafts to lock your motion and stereo audio, flip the winning take to flagship 2K or 1080P, and download the watermark-free MP4. Because one-time credit packs require no subscription, never expire, and issue an automatic credit refund if a render fails, even a small weekend series can keep a balance ready for race night.

How to Transition Your Fleet from Retail Gas Stations to Bulk Fuel Delivery

Photo by depositphotos at https://depositphotos.com/

Driving commercial trucks to retail gas stations? That’s tens of thousands of dollars wasted in unseen labor expenses annually. Driving around in search of an open gas station results in wasted drive time, more time spent idling, and more administrative headaches with missing fuel receipts.

Using on-site bulk fuel delivery removes all obstacles and guarantees continuous fuel supply. Whether your fleet uses heavy-duty equipment or smaller regional delivery vehicles, collaborating with a dependable Colorado fuel supply will help streamline operations and keep all the vehicles fueled before the start of the shift.

Why Retail Gas Stations Drain Fleet Budgets

The price seen at retail pump stations accounts for just a part of your actual fueling expenses. According to American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) fleet benchmarks, one average fueling stop at a retail station takes 20 minutes per vehicle, when considering the driving distance and queue time at pumps.

  • Unproductive Driver Time: Paying drivers to wait in line costs you productive road time.
  • Fuel Losses and Thefts: Fleet cards for retail stations may be used to refill private vehicles or steal fuel.
  • Administrative Inefficiency: Dealing with numerous receipts and changing prices takes more time.

Retail Gas Station Fueling vs. Bulk Fuel Delivery: The Fast Comparison Table

The switch to bulk fuel delivery means a new way of managing fuel expenses and keeping vehicles operating without interruptions.

Operational FactorRetail Gas StationsBulk Fuel Delivery
Average Refueling Time15–25 minutes per vehicle0 minutes of driver shift time
Pricing StructureFluctuating retail pump ratesTransparent wholesale rack-plus pricing
Fuel TrackingManual receipts and card statementsAutomated metered gallon reports
Supply SecurityExposed to local station shortagesGuaranteed scheduled and emergency drops

Step 1: Audit Your Fleet’s Fuel Consumption Rate

Gather fleet card statements and maintenance logs for the last six months. Calculate the weekly fuel consumption of diesel, dyed diesel, and unleaded gasoline. Identify seasonal spikes in demand to allow the fuel supplier to develop a delivery schedule and prevent any shortages in tanks during busy periods.

Step 2: Choose Between Wet Hosing or On-Site Fuel Tanks

Select a fuel delivery system depending on your storage capabilities and vehicle return pattern:

  • Mobile Wet Hosing: Fueling trucks deliver fuel directly into each vehicle while parked in the yard. No need for fuel storage infrastructure.
  • On-Site Fuel Tanks: Set up or lease an above-ground fuel storage tank to allow for fueling on site at any time. Note that any facility storing over 1,320 gallons of fuel on-site must comply with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) guidelines. 

Choosing an experienced Colorado fuel supply will make tank installation, compliance, and automated level control much easier.

Step 3: Collaborate with a Vertically Integrated Fuel Supplier

Not all fuel distributors are equally capable of supplying your fleet with fuel in difficult market situations. Choose a supplier with its own fleet of trucks and terminals, as well as an active 24/7 emergency fueling program. Vertical integration allows you to avoid additional delays and ensures clean, water-free fuel deliveries all the time.

Step 4: Implement Automated Fuel Tracking and Develop Driver Protocols

Throw out retail fuel cards and use tank gauges or automated wet-hosing logging of exact gallon count per vehicle. Prior to the launch of the program, conduct a brief 15-minute meeting to discuss a new end-of-shift parking pattern. Ask drivers to keep their fuel caps unlocked and park in designated fueling lanes.

Making the switch from retail gas stations puts you ahead within the first billing cycle. By auditing your fuel consumption rate, setting up fuel storage infrastructure, and implementing an automated fueling tracking system, refueling becomes an invisible process instead of a daily bottleneck.

Nick Sanchez Joins MHR Lineup in 2027

(Statesville, N.C) – McAnally-Hilgemann Racing (MHR) announced today that the organization is welcoming former winner Nick Sanchez to the team’s 2027 NASCAR FedEx Freight Truck Series (NFFTS) lineup. The 25-year-old from Miami, Fla., will drive the No. 18 Chevrolet to pursue his third-career Chase appearance. Sanchez completes MHR’s 2027 full-time roster alongside teammates Chrisian Eckes and Daniel Hemric as they hunt the organization’s first series title.

“This is a tremendous opportunity to join MHR and compete full time again at a high level”, Sanchez said. “I’ve always held myself to a high standard and I know the entire team is incredibly motivated and hungry for 2027. Huge thanks to Bill McAnally for putting this together, Chevrolet, and everyone involved at MHR. It was a challenge to only run a limited schedule this last year, so I have a ton of energy and excitement for what’s ahead of us in February. There are a lot of great people here and the desire from everyone to win races is off the charts.”

Sanchez, a two-time NFFTS race winner at Daytona International Speedway and Charlotte Motor Speedway in 2024, has made 51 total starts in the series with 14 top-five’s and 27 top-10 finishes. The Florida native captured the 2022 ARCA Menards Series championship and earned a victory and playoff berth in his NASCAR Xfinity Series rookie season in 2025.

“We’re ecstatic to have Nick in the fold with us”, team owner Bill McAnally said. “The raw speed and ability he brings to our group is going to elevate the entire operation. He’s going to be a great asset and teammate in our stable. He’s won at every level throughout his career, and we’re excited to see his potential grow into results next year.”

Sanchez’s first season under the MHR banner commences at Daytona International Speedway on Friday, February 19th.

Additional details for the No. 18 team will be announced at a later date.

Ford Racing NASCAR: Austin Cindric Wins Inaugural Veterans Day Classic for the Air Force

#2: Austin Cindric (Air Force) Ford Mustang® Dark Horse R

Ford Racing Notes and Quotes
Proud to Honor Veterans Day Classic – Daytona International Speedway Road Course
Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026

AUSTIN CINDRIC WINS INAUGURAL PROUD TO HONOR VETERANS DAY CLASSIC FOR THE AIR FORCE

• NASCAR Cup Series driver Austin Cindric won the first Proud to Honor Veterans Day Classic in the No. 2 Air Force Ford Mustang®  Dark Horse™ R on Wednesday night at Daytona International Speedway.

Cindric, who also won the pole, and two-time Mustang Challenge North America champion Robert Noaker (Marines) exchanged the lead three times in the final nine minutes.

Cindric made the decisive pass with five minutes remaining, but the two battled side-by-side throughout the final laps.

• Cindric received a custom-designed Proud to Honor trophy with replicas also going to Ford Racing and NASCAR for display at their respective headquarters.

• Twelve Ford Racing drivers competed in six teams of two in Mustang® Dark Horse™ Rs with custom military-inspired liveries, bringing the spirit of a great American sporting rivalry to the race.

• The format was a 15-minute qualifying session followed by a 30-minute race on Daytona’s 12-turn, approximately 3.6-mile road course. The first driver across the line won for his branch.

VETERANS DAY CLASSIC
#13: Robert Noaker (Marines) Ford Mustang® Dark Horse R

Teams: 

o Army (Joey Hand, Brad Keselowski)
o Marine Corps (Ben Hobson, Robert Noaker)
o Navy (Logan Sargeant, Ryan Preece)
o Air Force (Austin Cindric, Jenson Altzman)
o Space Force (Noah Gragson, Layne Riggs)
o Coast Guard (Joey Logano, Ty Majeski)

RACE RESULTS

1st – Austin Cindric, Air Force
2nd – Robert Noaker, Marines
3rd – Ryan Preece, Navy
4th – Logan Sargeant, Navy
5th – Brad Keselowski, Army
6th – Layne Riggs, Space Force
7th – Joey Logano, Coast Guard
8th – Joey Hand, Army
9th – Ben Hobson, Marines
10th – Noah Gragson, Space Force
11th – Ty Majeski, Coast Guard
12th – Jenson Altzman, Air Force

RACE WINNER – AUSTIN CINDRIC, Air Force

VICTORY LANE INTERVIEW:  “I finally have something to put on the center of the Christmas card, so I did win a race this year after all the talk.  It was an awesome event.  It was a great turnout.  Huge kudos to everyone at Ford Racing and Daytona for putting something like this on for the veterans.  The response has been really cool and awesome to honor the Air Force with a win tonight.”


HOW MUCH FUN WAS THAT?  “Robert and I had a blast.  Obviously, there wasn’t anything completely on the line other than a trophy and bragging rights for the divisions of the military, but Robert made me earn it.  It was fun to see a guy like that who is in the lower divisions be able to put up that strong of a fight and be unflappable the whole time.  It was really cool.”

YOU’VE WON ON THE OVAL AND NOW THE ROAD COURSE.  IS THERE ANYTHING IN COMMON FROM WINNING ON THOSE TWO TRACKS?  “There’s only two races at Daytona I’ve entered, this is a subtle brag, that I haven’t won and it’s the truck race and it’s the Rolex 24.  I want to win the Rolex badly and I’d love to do it with Ford and Ford Racing.  Maybe that’s in the cards some day in the future, but Daytona has always been a special place for anyone who races, but it’s a special place tonight for a lot of different reasons and to honor our veterans on Veterans Day is a cool way to close it out.”

HOW MUCH DID YOUR PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE ON THE ROAD COURSE HELP YOU HERE?  “I think I’ve done laps here in my sleep. I would have been frustrated if I wasn’t at least in the ball game.  I figured Robert was gonna be a hard one to beat tonight, so a shout out to Blaney for giving us the hardest alternate driver to go up against.  I hope he’s resting up, but this was a fun night.  Robert made me earn it.”

PRIDE IN BEATING A TWO-TIME MUSTANG CHAMPION FOR THE WIN?  “There’s always pride in winning.”

IS THERE MOTIVATION TO RUN IT BACK NEXT YEAR AND DEFEND YOUR TITLE?  “It goes without saying that this has been a hit, so it would be cool to come back and do it all again.”

SECOND PLACE FINISHER: ROBERT NOAKER, Marines:  WHEN DID YOU FIND OUT YOU WERE GOING TO RACE?  “Yesterday morning when I was sitting at breakfast.  I was going to already be here for the event just to help the other drivers adapt to the car and I got the call that Blaney unfortunately had an incident and he wasn’t able to race.  I can’t thank everyone enough to put me in this car and put on that show.  That’s probably the most fun I’ve had in this car in the three years I’ve driven it.  I can’t thank Ford Racing enough and just racing for the veterans is such a cool show.”

WERE YOU HERE TO SHAKE THE CARS DOWN?  “No.  I was purely just here from a staff standpoint of just a driver coach.  You always show up to the racetrack with your gear just in case something happens and I was fortunate enough to get the call up.”

HOW MUCH FUN WAS IT BATTLING AUSTIN?  “It was a blast to race Austin.  I knew he was gonna race clean.  He probably knew I was gonna race clean and it was so much fun to race that close and not have any contact and put on a great show for all the veterans here tonight.”

THIRD PLACE FINISHER: RYAN PREECE, Navy:  “It was a good time.  I had fun, but those two got away and I just had a good time.  Driving these Mustang Dark Horses around here was tough.  It was a good time and running around the Daytona road course where every January I get to watch some of the greats run the Rolex 24.  It was great to be a part of it.  I really appreciate Ford for putting this event on and honoring our troops.  I wish we could have won it for the Navy, but certainly had a good time.”

ABOUT THE CLASSIC

• The first-of-its-kind military tribute race honored all six branches of the U.S. Armed Services, with performances headlined by Zac Brown Band. It was inspired by the Army-Navy Game and developed in collaboration with NASCAR, IMSA, HSR and Blue Star Families to recognize, honor and celebrate those who serve and the families beside them.

• The Classic built on Ford’s long legacy of supporting the military. After WWI, Henry Ford helped veterans with disabilities find work at Ford, and that commitment continued through the company’s contribution to the Arsenal of Democracy in WWII. Today, thousands of veterans work at Ford in the U.S., and Ford’s employee resource group, Vet NG, supports their careers.

• Zac Brown Band was joined by Grammy-winning superstar Nelly, Russell Dickerson, Jo Dee Messina, and Warren Zeiders. Brittney Spencer sang “The Star-Spangled Banner.” The host was Bobby Bones, best known as the voice behind The Bobby Bones Show, America’s #1 country morning show. 

• Gen. Christopher Mahoney, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was on hand for the event and unveiled the Proud to Honor trophy to the crowd.

• The live show also featured appearances from Emmy Award-winning actor Bryan Cranston and Adam Scherr (host of Everything On The Menu on USA Network, globally known as WWE icon Braun Strowman).

• The show was produced by Jesse Collins Entertainment, the Emmy-winning company that has produced The Emmy Awards and several Super Bowl Halftime shows, among many others. 

• Show segments honored those who serve and their families and spotlighted the nonprofits that support them – all designed to amplify the impact and ensure it lasts long after the checkered flag.

• It aired on USA Network and streamed on Fandango’s free streaming platform. The entertainment segments aired on E! and streamed on TikTok LIVE. 

• In addition to NASCAR, IMSA and HSR, Ford partnered with leading organizations that share its commitment to honoring the military and veteran communities to bring the Proud to Honor Veterans Day Classic to life, including TikTok, T-Mobile, USAA, Versant and USA Network. Additional partners included Margaritaville at Sea, Michelin, Sparco, and VP Racing Fuels.

IMPACT FOR MILITARY AND VETERAN FAMILIES

• The event was more than a race or a concert. It was a night built to create moments of connection and joy for the military and veteran community and to raise awareness for the nonprofits that support them, no matter where in the world they’re serving.

• To that end, Ford established the Proud to Honor Fund, powered by GlobalGiving and Ford Philanthropy. Every dollar donated goes directly to organizations supporting military members, veterans and their families: Blue Star Families, Camp Southern Ground, DAV (Disabled American Veterans), Team Rubicon, TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors), and the Travis Manion Foundation.

• Half of ticket proceeds benefit Blue Star Families, and Ford Philanthropy provided 1,000 complimentary tickets to eligible military and veteran families.

• On-site donations and merchandise sales also supported the six nonprofits, and the Proud to Honor Fund stays open after the event at globalgiving.org/proudtohonor. 

QUOTING ZAC BROWN, FOUNDER, CAMP SOUTHERN GROUND, AND ONE OF THE CLASSIC’S EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS

“Tonight was about the men and women who serve and the families who stand beside them. Seeing all six branches come together on the track and in the audience, was something special. I’m grateful to Ford for creating a night where we could say thank you and support organizations like Camp Southern Ground and so many other critical nonprofits that are there for military and veteran families every day.”

QUOTING KATHY ROTH-DOUQUENT, CEO OF BLUE STAR FAMILIES

“Events like the Proud to Honor Veterans Day Classic are so important because military readiness doesn’t start and end with the service member. It starts at home, with the families who serve alongside them. When military families feel seen, supported, and connected to their communities, they are better equipped to navigate the challenges of military life. And when service members know their families are supported, they can focus on the mission. That’s why partnerships like this one with Ford matter so much. Supporting military families isn’t simply the right thing to do. It’s an investment in the strength and readiness of our All-Volunteer Force.”

QUOTING MARK RUSHBROOK, GLOBAL DIRECTOR, FORD RACING

“I love the fact that our company is doing a race like this tonight.  Yes, we’re a car company, but we’re also a people company and a family company.  The military and our veterans are very important to us.  To be able to celebrate them with a race on the track, where all six divisions are represented, and then add some entertainment as well, I think it’s just a great way to recognize those who have done so much for us.”

The Surprising Economics of Renting Something That Doesn’t Have an Engine

Photo by depositphotos at https://depositphotos.com/

Start with a strange thought. Some of the most valuable equipment in the trucking and logistics world doesn’t have an engine, a steering wheel, or even a seat. It’s basically a giant metal box on wheels that can’t go anywhere on its own.

And yet businesses rely on those boxes every single day. They haul freight across the country, store overflow inventory, and serve as mobile warehouses during busy seasons. Without trailers, supply chains would grind to a halt pretty quickly.

What’s even more interesting is how many businesses choose to rent rather than own them. Semi trailer rental has become a smart financial and operational tool, giving companies flexibility for transportation, storage, and changing demands without locking up large amounts of money in equipment.

Why Owning Equipment Isn’t Always the Smartest Financial Decision

Buying trailers requires a significant upfront investment. For a growing fleet, that can tie up a large chunk of cash that might otherwise go toward hiring, marketing, technology, or other priorities. Freedom has real value.

Ownership comes with ongoing costs too. Maintenance, repairs, tires, inspections, and insurance all add up. Owned trailers also need somewhere to park when they’re not in use, which may mean paying for storage space or yard capacity. Every month of ownership has a cost.

Then there’s depreciation. Like most equipment, trailers lose value over time. A trailer that sits idle for part of the year is still depreciating and still costing money. For some businesses, those financial commitments outweigh the benefits of ownership. Idle equipment is still expensive equipment.

How Trailer Rentals Help Businesses Adapt to Changing Demand

Many businesses experience seasonal spikes. Retailers may need more capacity before the holidays, agricultural operations during harvest, and distributors during busy promotional periods. Renting trailers lets them scale up when demand rises and scale back down afterward.

Temporary projects are another common reason. A construction company might need extra storage on a job site for a few months. A manufacturer might need additional trailers during a plant expansion or equipment upgrade. Renting fits these short-term needs well. Speed matters in logistics.

Expanding operations and unexpected transportation needs round it out. A business entering a new market might rent trailers while testing demand. A sudden spike in orders or a trailer breakdown can create an urgent need. Rentals provide a quick way to respond without a major purchase.

The Hidden Value of Keeping Capital Available

Money spent on equipment is money that can’t be used elsewhere. That’s the idea of opportunity cost. If a company spends heavily on trailers, it may have less available for growth opportunities, emergencies, or investments with higher returns. Flexibility lets businesses jump on opportunities.

Cash flow matters too. Rental payments are often predictable, which can make budgeting easier. Instead of a large upfront purchase, businesses can spread costs over time and match them more closely to actual usage. Predictability helps finance teams sleep at night.

Capital allocation is a strategic choice. Some businesses prefer keeping cash available for core operations rather than tying it up in assets that depreciate. Predictable rental expenses can offer financial flexibility, especially for companies in growth mode or uncertain markets.

When Renting Makes Sense and When Buying Might Be Better

Usage frequency is a key factor. If trailers are needed only occasionally or seasonally, renting often makes more sense. If a business uses trailers constantly year-round, ownership might become more cost-effective over time. The math changes with usage.

Rental duration and availability matter too. Short- and medium-term needs often fit rentals well. For very long-term needs, leasing or buying may be worth comparing. Availability is also a consideration, since rental supply can tighten during peak seasons. Short-term needs and rentals pair naturally.

Maintenance responsibilities and long-term costs round out the comparison. Rental agreements may handle some maintenance, reducing headaches for the renter. Owners take on all of it. Comparing total costs over time, including maintenance, insurance, storage, and depreciation, helps businesses choose the right option.

Conclusion

Trailers may not have engines, but they power a huge part of commerce. For many businesses, renting them offers a practical way to move goods, store inventory, and respond to changing demand. Rentals keep things moving.

Ownership comes with upfront costs, maintenance, insurance, storage, and depreciation. Renting can help businesses stay flexible, preserve capital, and match equipment to real needs, whether that’s a seasonal spike or a temporary project. Agility can be a competitive edge.

Sometimes the smartest asset is the one you don’t own. When rental decisions align with a company’s operational and financial needs, they can provide flexibility that helps the business adapt and grow. It’s a strategy, not just a transaction.

Historic Sports Cars Shine in Opening Test Day of the 12th Running of the HSR Classic Daytona 24 Hour Presented by Mission Foods

  • Record Eight Run Groups of Historic and Vintage Race Cars from the Last 70 Years Compete in Succession for a Full 24 Hours in the 12th Running of the HSR Daytona Classic 24 Hour Presented by Mission Foods This Saturday and Sunday
  • Full Five-Day Event November 11 – 15 Includes the HSR Daytona Classic 24 Hour Presented by Mission Foods and the HSR Daytona Historics Full-Season Championship Races
  • North America’s Premier Vintage and Historic 24-Hour Race Featured in Saturday and Sunday Livestream Coverage by Greenlight Television on HSR’s Facebook and YouTube Pages

DAYTONA BEACH, Florida (November 11, 2026) – A high-performance and patriotic day of on and off-track action and excitement moved the 12th Running of the Historic Sportscar Racing (HSR) Classic Daytona 24 Hour presented by Mission Foods off to a solid start Wednesday at Daytona International (DIS).

A strong turnout of HSR competitors from more than a dozen countries took their first laps in a full day of unofficial testing throughout Wednesday before giving way to this evening’s inaugural Ford Proud to Honor Veterans Day Classic race and concert featuring the Zac Brown Band. The 30-minute nighttime sprint features such notable drivers as NASCAR Cup Champion Joey Logano, road racing ringer Joey Hand and more competing in identical Ford Mustang Dark Horse R race-prepared cars. The Proud to Honor event proceeds benefit military and veteran support organizations through the Proud to Honor Fund.

The Blue Oval celebration continues through the weekend with Ford as the Featured Marque of the 2026 HSR Daytona Classic 24. Among the standout Fords turning out for the high-speed party is the Ken Miles-inspired 1966 No. 98 Superformance GT40 of Dan Long. A former HSR Classic Endurance Championship presented by Mission Foods series winner in the inaugural HSR Classic Road Atlanta 10 Hour last year with Olthoff Racing owner and driver Dennis Olthoff at the wheel, Long hopes to add his own HSR Classic win this weekend driving the No. 98 GT40 in Run Group A.

“That’s our goal and our dream,” Long said. “Nothing would make me happier than doing that, especially on a weekend when Ford is the brand and we’re celebrating all these things, including the 60th anniversary of the GT40 winning.”

This weekend Long proudly pays tribute on the No. 98 with the livery from the 1966 winner Miles co-drove with Lloyd Ruby.

“To be able to do what we’re doing and be the stewards of the GT40 that we have right now, carrying on that tradition and that privilege of showcasing what happened 60 years ago, is something special,” Long said. “We had the opportunity to do it, and we came up with the idea to wrap the car back in the original Ken Miles livery. I just thought it was unique.”

Ford and Mercury sports cars of every type and generation will exclusively take to the track for a Ford Feature race this Saturday at 11:30 a.m. EST. The 30-minute exhibition race is as the final on-track event before the start of the 12th running of the Classic Daytona 24 that afternoon at 2 p.m. EST.

For the fourth time, HSR provides livestream Classic Daytona 24 Hour programming with this year’s coverage returning to two days of live and feature coverage on Saturday and Sunday. Greenlight Television returns as the production partner for the Classic 24 livestream for the third-straight year. This year’s Classic 24 programming is scheduled to begin at 1:45 p.m. EST on Saturday, November 14, through 8 p.m. EST. Coverage continues on Sunday, November 15, from approximately 7:45 a.m. EST through the final checkered flag before signing off at 2 p.m. EST.

Anchor coverage of the livestream will be available on the HSR and IMSA YouTube Channels with additional distributions and availability in the U.S. and around the world. Among the global outlets featuring the Classic 24 livestream are the Goodwood YouTube Channel, MTRSPT1, Parc Fermé (Italy), Rev TV (Canada), Driven Studios, Unbeaten, ViaPlay (Scandinavia and the Netherlands) and Sport1/Sport2 (Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia), to name a few.

An off-track highlight of this year’s HSR Classic Daytona 24 is a powerhouse panel of notable Ford sports car racing champions, major race-winning drivers and other personalities with close ties to or an affinity for the Blue Oval. The Ford Panel and Q&A will be held in the Drivers Meeting room at 10 a.m. EST this Saturday, November 14, in the DIS infield near the FanZone. Admission is free to all HSR Classic Daytona 24 credential and ticket holders.

This year’s illustrious Ford Panel and Q&A lineup so far includes Long and Peter Miles, this year’s Classic Daytona 24 Hour Grand Marshal and the son of the late Ken Miles. Also joining is HSR Chief Steward and 1989 Trans-Am Champion with Ford, Dorsey Schroeder, Ford Racing record setter and World Endurance Championship (WEC) GT40 race winner Billy Johnson and British Ford historic racing stalwart and HSR regular John Spiers.

Thursday marks the beginning of official HSR Classic Daytona 24 Hour presented by Mission Foods and HSR Daytona Historics competition with practice and qualifying throughout the day and into the night. The weekend’s first HSR race also goes green at 4:05 p.m. EST Thursday with the always popular SascoSports International/American Challenge presented by Hoosier sprint.

For additional information on both the HSR Daytona Classic 24 and HSR Daytona Historics events, including entry lists, ticket purchases, the event schedule and more, please click here.

For a direct link to HSR Daytona Classic 24 race tickets, please click here.

About HSR: An International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) property, Historic Sportscar Racing (HSR) was formed in the mid-1970s with an event at Road Atlanta. There was one goal then and it remains true today: to celebrate the racing cars from the past. As a “time machine” of sights and sounds, HSR provides a venue for competitors and spectators alike to share in the wonderful history and excitement created by the cars that competed at race tracks around the world. HSR currently sanctions eight vintage and historic racing events at some of the world’s most renowned race tracks, including Road Atlanta, Sebring International Raceway, Daytona International Speedway and more. The complete schedule and full event information can be found on HSR’s website at www.HSRRace.com. Look for the HSR Channel on YouTube and follow HSR on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/HSRrace/ and on Twitter X at @HSR_race and Instagram @HistoricSportscarRacing.