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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.

Early Steps Toward Speed Taken With New IR-28 Car in First Oval Test at IMS

IR-28 INDYCAR Testing at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

INDIANAPOLIS (Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026) – There is plenty that remains unknown about the NTT INDYCAR SERIES’ next-generation car.

Alexander Rossi discovered a little more Wednesday.

On a hot and humid day with temperatures climbing into the low 90s at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Rossi became the first driver to turn a wheel in the superspeedway configuration of the IR-28 chassis, beginning the next phase of INDYCAR’s development of its new-for-2028 car.

“It does everything that INDYCAR SERIES machinery should do around here,” Rossi said. “We got through some basic mechanical and aero changes to kind of understand the offsets that they’re going to present to us in a couple of years, and there was no surprise. It was really pretty standard.”

The test marked the first time the IR-28 has run on an oval after making its public track debut early last month on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course. Rossi and Alex Palou shared driving duties during that initial outing, extended to three days because of rain.

Both drivers are back for this oval test, with ECR’s Rossi again representing Chevrolet teams and Chip Ganassi Racing’s Palou representing Honda teams, and learning how the car responds to the unique demands of an oval.

The IR-28 is designed to be lighter than the current car, with revised aerodynamics intended to improve stability and reduce the aerodynamic disadvantage of closely following another car. Wednesday’s laps at IMS provided the first indication of how those objectives translate to an oval.

“The car is doing everything it’s supposed to,” said Mike O’Gara, INDYCAR’s vice president of Competition and Race Engineering. “Obviously, Dallara took everything they knew from the DW12 and put it into this car. Immediately, without honestly changing any setup on it, Alex (Rossi) went out and was flat on the throttle and very comfortable.”

That was an encouraging first step, but O’Gara and Rossi each stressed that Wednesday was about gathering information rather than chasing performance.

INDYCAR is approaching the test with a “crawl, walk, run” philosophy, using Rossi’s laps to begin understanding how the car responds to changes before pushing the development further.

That gradual approach is particularly important on an oval.

The current INDYCAR SERIES machinery has been developed for more than a decade, and its Speedway package is highly refined. The IR-28, meanwhile, is beginning that process from scratch.

Rossi said the IR-28 already feels how an INDYCAR SERIES car should on the 2.5-mile IMS oval, even if there is still considerable work ahead.

“I wouldn’t say there was anything drastically different from this car to the current car that we have,” Rossi said. “Some subtle things here and there if you’re really nitpicking at it, but, in general, I think it’s important to remember that the current-generation Speedway car that we have around here is pretty dialed and it’s pretty good.”

That makes Wednesday less about discovering a revolutionary difference and more about identifying the smaller changes that can ultimately shape the 2028 car.

“I don’t think that there needs to really be any major glaring issues,” Rossi said. “It’s all just early days and trying to get time on it and understanding what little adjustments do here and there. There’s nothing huge separating it from the current car that we have.”

O’Gara said the ease with which 2016 Indianapolis 500 winner Rossi adapted was another positive sign.

“I was just talking to (INDYCAR Officiating technical director) Nick Allen, who’s sort of pseudo-crew chief this week, and super happy with how easy the car is to work on,” O’Gara said. “It’s very intuitive.”

Rossi’s test day was the first step. 2025 Indianapolis 500 winner Palou takes over Thursday, giving INDYCAR and Dallara another perspective on the car and its potential in “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing.” The feedback from Rossi and Palou will be measured against the data collected by engineers as development continues toward the car’s race debut in 2028.

The Enjoy Illinois 300 at World Wide Technology Raceway Outlook and Picks

The NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) heads to World Wide Technology Raceway (WWTR) on Sunday for the Enjoy Illinois 300 at 3:00 p.m. ET on the USA Network.

Last season, Denny Hamlin captured the pole with a lap of 139.190 mph (32.330 seconds), and went on to win his 59th career NASCAR Cup Series race at WWTR in the Enjoy Illinois 300. The race featured 15 lead changes among 9 drivers, and 10 caution flags for 52 laps.

The 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Chase Point Standings after Darlington Raceway

PosDriverPointsBndNextStartsRace WinsStage WinsTop 5sTop 10s
1Denny Hamlin2,1350027451417
2Christopher Bell2,123-121227151214
3Ryan Blaney2,119-1642738718
4Tyler Reddick2,111-24827521217
5Chase Briscoe2,098-371327101014
6Ty Gibbs2,096-39227251117
7Kyle Larson2,086-491027051014
8Joey Logano2,063-72232722510
9Chase Elliott2,063-720272269
10Bubba Wallace2,054-8192702412
11Chris Buescher2,047-8872700210
12Carson Hocevar2,046-891271059
13Daniel Suarez2,041-945271137
14Austin Cindric2,033-1028270126
15Ryan Preece2,031-1042271218
16William Byron2,021-114102703411

Track & Race Information for the Enjoy Illinois 300

Season Race #: 28 of 36 (Sept. 13, 2026)
Race Purse: $11,233,037
Track Size: 1.25 miles
Track Type: Paved asphalt oval
Banking in Turns 1 & 2: 11 degrees
Banking in Turns 3 & 4: 9 degrees

Race Schedule, Length, and Stages for the Enjoy Illinois 300

Race Length: 240 laps (300 miles)
Stage 1 Length: 45 laps
Stage 2 Length: 95 laps (ends on Lap 140)
Final Stage Length: 100 laps (ends on Lap 240)

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12

12:00 PM – 12:50 PM: NOAPS PRACTICE
1:05 PM – 2:00 PM: NOAPS QUALIFYING (IMPOUND)
2:30 PM – 3:20 PM: NCS PRACTICE (IMPOUND) (ALL ENTRIES)
3:35 PM – 4:30 PM: NCS QUALIFYING (IMPOUND)
7:00 PM: NOAPS DRIVER INTRODUCTIONS (FAN ZONE STAGE)
7:30 PM: NOAPS RACE (STAGES 45/90/180 LAPS = 225 MILES) ON THE CW NETWORK

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13

2:25 PM: NCS DRIVER INTRODUCTIONS (FAN ZONE STAGE)
3:00 PM: NCS RACE (STAGES 45/140/240 LAPS = 300 MILES) ON THE USA NETWORK

*All times are Eastern. NASCAR Cup Series (NCS), NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series (NOAPS)

Who and what should you look out for at World Wide Technology Raceway?

Four drivers have won an NCS race at WWTR: Joey Logano (2022), Kyle Busch (2023), Austin Cindric (2024), and Denny Hamlin (2025). Interestingly, only three different starting positions have led to victories in the NCS: Joey Logano started 7th in 2022, Kyle Busch started from the pole in 2023, Austin Cindric started from second in 2024, and Denny Hamlin started from the pole in 2025.

Hamlin has finished in the runner-up position, and Logano leads in top-five finishes with four, making him the only driver to finish in the top five in all four Cup races. Logano also leads in average finishing position with a 3.5.

Ryan Blaney leads all active drivers in laps led with 120 laps led (12%), and last season’s winner, Hamlin, led 75 laps.

Top-15 in Average Finishing Position:

RankAll-Time DriversAverage FInishRaces
1Joey Logano3.504
2Christopher Bell8.504
3Kyle Larson9.504
4Ryan Blaney9.504
5Denny Hamlin9.754
6Austin Cindric11.004
7Chris Buescher11.673
8Aric Almirola12.002
9Chase Elliott12.333
10William Byron13.254
11Ty Gibbs13.673
12Kyle Busch15.004
13Martin Truex Jr15.003
14AJ Allmendinger15.673
15John H. Nemechek16.502

The Driver Picks for the Enjoy Illinois 300 at World Wide Technology Raceway!

The Driver Picks for the Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway
  • Denny Hamlin: Hamlin has one pole, one win, three top-fives, three top-10s, and an average finish of 9.750.
  • Chase Elliott: Elliott has one top-five, one top-10, and an average finish of 12.333.
  • Christoper Bell: Bell has three top-10s and an average finish of 8.500.
  • Kyle Larson: Larson has one top-five, two top-10s, and an average finish of 9.500.
  • Ryan Blaney: Blaney has two top-fives, three top-10s, and an average finish of 9.500.

Hendrick Motorsports Media Advance: WWT Raceway

WWT Raceway
Sunday, Sept. 13
1.25-Mile Oval
3 p.m. ET
Location: Madison, Illinois
TV: Fox
Event: NASCAR Cup Series (Race 28 of 36)
RADIO: SiriusXM

5 KYLE LARSON
Age: 34 (July 31, 1992)
Hometown: Elk Grove, California
Last Race: 5th (Darlington)
Crew Chief: Cliff Daniels
Standings: 7th

No. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM Chevrolet  

  • Kyle Larson and the No. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM Chevrolet team opened their 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Chase title defense by leading a race-high 99 laps and scoring a fifth-place finish in the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. It marked Larson’s 10th top-five result of the season.
  • In the 2025 race at WWT Raceway, Larson started second, finished second in stage one, fourth in stage two, led 52 laps and recorded a 12th-place finish.
  • Kyle Larson and his Hendrick Motorsports teammate William Byron are two of just nine drivers to finish on the lead lap in all four races at WWTR.
  • The defending Cup Series champion is tied for third among all active drivers and Chase competitors in average finish (9.5) at the 1.25-mile oval.  

9 CHASE ELLIOTT
Age: 30 (Nov. 28, 1995)
Hometown: Dawsonville, Georgia
Last Race: 14th (Darlington)
Crew Chief: Alan Gustafson
Standings: 8th

No. 9 LLumar Chevrolet  

  • Chase Elliott enters the second race of The Chase tied for eighth in the NASCAR Cup Series standings. He’s 72 points behind the leader.
  • Of the nine remaining tracks this season, Elliott has won on four of them a total of eight times.
  • This weekend marks the fifth time the Cup Series will visit WWT Raceway. Elliott’s third-place finish last season is his best at the 1.25-mile facility. He led four laps and earned points in each stage.
  • Elliott is just one top-10 finish away from 200 in his Cup Series career.  

24 WILLIAM BYRON
Age: 28 (Nov. 29, 1997)
Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina
Last Race: 37th (Darlington)
Crew Chief: Rudy Fugle
Standings: 16th

 No. 24 Phorm Energy Chevrolet  

  • After the first race of The Chase, William Byron is now 16th in the NASCAR Cup Series points standings, 114 points behind the leader heading to WWT Raceway.
  • Currently in 2026, the Charlotte, North Carolina, native’s No. 24 pit crew ranks third according to Racing Insights.
  • Byron has four Cup Series starts at WWT Raceway with a track-best finish of eighth coming in 2023.
  • Byron and Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kyle Larson are two of only nine drivers to finish on the lead lap in all four Cup Series races at WWTR.  

48 ALEX BOWMAN
Age: 33 (April 25, 1993)
Hometown: Tucson, Arizona
Last Race: 12th (Darlington)
Crew Chief: Blake Harris
Standings: 29th

 No. 48 Ally Chevrolet  

  • Last weekend at Darlington Raceway, Alex Bowman finished 12th in the NASCAR Cup Series race, earning his fourth consecutive top-15 finish.
  • Bowman’s best finish at WWT Raceway was secured in 2022, when he finished 13th after starting 25th.  

17 COREY DAY
Age: 20 (November 28, 2005)
Hometown: Clovis, California
Last Race: 2nd (Darlington)
Crew Chief: Adam Wall
Standings: 5th

  •  Corey Day opened the NASCAR O’Reilly Series Chase at Darlington Raceway by qualifying 14th and charging to a runner-up finish.
  • The 20-year-old driver moved from seventh to fifth in the NOAPS driver standings, putting him just 46 points behind the leader with eight races remaining.
  • In his only prior NOAPS start at WWT Raceway, Day qualified 16th and finished ninth.  

Hendrick Motorsports  

2026All-TimeWWT Raceway
Races271,4444
Wins2322*0
Poles0259*0
Top 5231,345*2
Top 10402,300*4
Laps Led1,25286,619*98
Stage Wins101470

*Most
**Tied for most

  • The NASCAR Cup Series returns to WWT Raceway this weekend for the second race of The Chase.
  • Among the 10 tracks in The Chase, Hendrick Motorsports has piled up 135 victories including 20 in the Next Gen era. The organization leads the field in postseason wins (62) and has won at least one race in The Chase/Playoffs in 22 of 23 seasons. That includes multiple victories in each of the last six years.
  • The Hendrick Motorsports engine department enters the weekend with 579 victories across all three national NASCAR touring series, including 20 of 25 events in the NASCAR O’Reilly Series this season.
  • Hendrick Motorsports remains the Cup Series’ all-time standard bearer in wins (322), poles (259), top-five finishes (1,345), top 10s (2,300), laps led (86,619) and championships (15).  

QUOTABLE

Kyle Larson, driver of the No. 5 Chevrolet, on opening The Chase strong, heading back to WWT Raceway: “[Finishing fifth in the Southern 500] was a good start to our Chase. I think it went better than I anticipated based on the last two Darlington [Raceway] races for us, so I was happy with it. It was the first really legitimate shot at a race win we’ve had in a while based on car speed and execution, so I was extremely encouraged. I thought our team did a really good job.”

“Last year when we were [at WWT Raceway], I thought we had one of, if not the best car in the field. We were really strong in terms of car speed and grip. I’m encouraged to go back there and hopeful that we can have a day similar to last year, give ourselves an opportunity to score a lot of points and contend for a win.”

Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 9 Chevrolet, on building some momentum in The Chase: “I think for us, it’s just, we’ve all been doing it long enough. We understand, you know, kind of the ups and downs of the sport, and this thing definitely goes in waves and goes in cycles. Hopefully, we can just get some base hits; get some base hits somewhere and start building some good momentum.”

William Byron, driver of the No. 24 Chevrolet, on returning to WWT Raceway: “I’m optimistic about this weekend at [WWT Raceway], though. We’ve really been working on our package for there and I think we made good progress last year and at similar places this year. We’re going to unload and execute and score the most points that we can. That’s all we can do.”

Alex Bowman, driver of the No. 48 Chevrolet, on riding momentum into WWT Raceway: “It’s been nice to be pointed back in the right direction here lately. I feel like I finally have my feet under me this season with all the highs and lows we have had with our Ally 48 team. We were pretty strong last year at [WWT Raceway] until a pit road penalty impacted our day. Our goal is the same each week, so we’re focused on putting together another solid weekend.”

Corey Day, driver of the No. 17 Chevrolet, on a good start to The Chase, returning to WWT Raceway: “Darlington [Raceway] was a great way to start The Chase. I was really happy with the runner-up finish, and our No. 17 HENDRICKCARS.COM team brought me a really good car. We had a lot of speed and built some good momentum throughout the weekend, and I want to carry that into these next eight races. I’ve only raced at [WWT Raceway] once, but we had a decent finish there. Now that I’ve got a full season of experience under my belt, I’m looking to take what I learned from that race and apply it this weekend to try to put together another strong finish.”

Garrett Smithley Welcome ZONiE Beverage To SS-Greenlight and BRK Racing

Garrett Smithley is excited to announce a new partnership with ZONiE beverage which will be featured on the #0 Chevrolet for the remainder of the year.

Garrett Smithley said of the partnership: “I’m excited about our new partner Zonie. I’ve been looking for a partner like them for a long time, and having a brand with the same values as me while putting out a great product is the icing on the cake.”

Troy Clegg Said of the Partnership:
As CEO of ZONiE Beverages, I’m proud to say that our entire team is honored to sponsor Garrett Smithley and his racing program. ZONiE and NASCAR share the same core values that define the American spirit: faith, family, and freedom. Both of us are American‑born and American‑raised, built through hard work, integrity, and a commitment to the communities we serve. Garrett embodies these values every time he gets behind the wheel, and we’re proud to stand with him as an American‑made functional energy drink brand driven by purpose. Together, ZONiE and the Garrett Smithley Racing Team represent what it means to stay grounded in faith, strengthened by family, and fueled by the freedom that makes this country exceptional.

“ZONiE and NASCAR are united by a shared pursuit of excellence. Both are built on innovation, uncompromising quality, performance, perseverance, and a deep connection to faith and community. ZONiE brings this shared belief to life through the innovation of non-carbonated functional energy drinks, made with organic ingredients, and available in caffeinated and caffeine free options—designed to elevate the Mind, fuel the Body, and feed the Soul.

Together, ZONiE and NASCAR create a powerful alignment of purpose and performance; driven by faith, inspired by innovation, defined by quality, and fueled to go further.

At ZONiE, we believe God is the ultimate source of our strength, purpose, and drive. Our partnership with Garrett Smithley Racing is more than a racing partnership—it’s a shared commitment to faith, perseverance, excellence, quality, and innovation. Garrett represents the determination to keep pushing forward, no matter the challenge, and that spirit embodies the heart of ZONiE.

We are proud to fuel the journey—Mind • Body • Soul—and to inspire others to pursue their God-given purpose with passion, courage, and unwavering faith.”

— Carolyn Clegg
President & Co-Founder, ZONiE

ABOUT
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No Fines, Just Five-Dollar Bills: NASCAR Turns Driver Swears Into a Fan Prize with the NASCAR Swear Jar

Every Swear Word Adds $5 to the NASCAR Swear Jar as Fans Listen Live and Compete for the Growing Pot

Daytona Beach, FLA. (September 9, 2026) – As the intensity of The Chase builds, fans can experience every race from a revealing – and uncensored – perspective through the NASCAR Swear Jar.

The NASCAR Swear Jar turns the colorful, wild and well… occasionally profane communication between drivers and their teams into a live, interactive experience. For every curse uttered by a NASCAR Cup Series driver over the radio during The Chase, NASCAR adds $5 to the prize pot. Following the opening race at Darlington Raceway, the pot has already reached $1,115.

“We were looking for buzzworthy ideas that would build excitement around The Chase and complement the other initiatives launching during this part of the season,” said Jess Smith, NASCAR’s VP of Content. “The Swear Jar was a natural fit because colorful driver radio is an authentic part of our sport, but it’s never been something we’ve highlighted or turned into a game for fans. It also captures the intensity of The Chase—when the competition gets hotter, the pressure rises and every moment matters—in a fun and provocative way.”

During the race, fans can listen live to scanner audio from all 40 NASCAR Cup Series drivers and watch the Swear Jar total increase in real time. Fans who guess the total number of swears and the most used swear word of the race earn points for accurate predictions and compete for an opportunity to become a finalist.

One fan will advance each week to the final contest during the NASCAR Cup Series Championship weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway, where a winner will receive the entire Swear Jar pot.

Created with 72andSunny Los Angeles, the campaign gives fans a raw, full-access look at the heightened emotion and intensity of The Chase.

“While other leagues fine for swearing, NASCAR knows it’s an authentic part of their sport,” said Zach Hilder, chief creative officer at 72andSunny Los Angeles. “This work represents the rebel spirit that’s so core to the NASCAR brand.”

Fans can follow the action live at NASCAR.com/SwearJar. To participate visit NASCAR.com/SwearJar before the race to submit predictions, then return during the race to listen to driver radio, follow the swear count and watch the prize pot grow live.

About NASCAR

The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States and owner of 14 of the nation’s major motorsports entertainment facilities. NASCAR sanctions races in three national series (NASCAR Cup Series™, NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series™, and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series™), four international series (NASCAR Brasil Series, NASCAR Canada Series, NASCAR Euro Series, NASCAR Mexico Series), four regional series (ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East & West and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour) and a local grassroots series (NASCAR Local Racing Series). The International Motor Sports Association™ (IMSA®) governs the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship™, the premier U.S. sports car series. NASCAR also owns Motor Racing Network, Racing Electronics, and ONE DAYTONA. Based in Daytona Beach, Florida, with offices in five cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races annually in 11 countries and more than 30 U.S. states.

For more information visit www.NASCAR.com and www.IMSA.com, and follow NASCAR on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, X and Facebook.

About 72andSunny

72andSunny is a global marketing agency who unlock possibilities for the world’s most ambitious brands. With offices in Amsterdam, Los Angeles, New York, Singapore, Sydney, and Toronto, 72andSunny leads with unparalleled strategy and disruptive creativity. Recognized 15 times by Ad Age’s A-List and honored as “Agency of the Year” by both Adweek and Ad Age, 72andSunny continues to push the boundaries of innovation on behalf of clients. 72andSunny was most recently honored as Ad Age’s Sports and Entertainment Agency of the year. For more information, visit 72andSunny.com and on Instagram: @72andSunny

TEAM CHEVY NASCAR RACE ADVANCE: World Wide Technology Raceway

TEAM CHEVY ADVANCE
World Wide Technology Raceway
September 12-13, 2026

Chevrolet Newsroom

Fresh off an eventful opening weekend to the Chase, the NASCAR Cup and O’Reilly Auto Parts Series will continue their trek towards the championship title with a trip to the 1.25-mile metro St. Louis oval of World Wide Technology Raceway (WWTR). The doubleheader weekend will get underway with the O’Reilly Series Saturday evening for the Nu Way 225 Sauced by Blues Hog, followed by the sport’s premier series in Sunday’s Enjoy Illinois 300 – both of which marking the second stop of their respective postseason journeys. Kyle Larson’s title-defending campaign got off to a strong start at Darlington Raceway, while Sheldon Creed conquered the “Track Too Tough To Tame” with a statement trip to victory lane – both of which saw the championship picture tighten considerably before heading to the Midwest.

 Chevrolet’s St. Louis Stats

One of the newer circuits to become a staple stop on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule is WWTR, with the oval opening its doors to the sport’s top division for the first time during the 2022 season. The Bowtie brand has visited victory lane once in four editions of the event, which came with Kyle Busch during his debut season driving for Richard Childress Racing (2023).

The O’Reilly Series’ history at WWTR runs much deeper, dating back to 1997, though the series returned to the track just last year after a 15-year absence. Chevrolet made an immediate statement in that 2025 comeback with Connor Zilisch and JR Motorsports taking the checkered flag for his ninth victory of the season. Within the series’ 16-race tenure at the track, Chevrolet has set the pace of its manufacturer competitors with seven wins, including a streak of five-in-a-row that started with the inaugural event.

 FIVE CHEVROLET DRIVERS, FIVE DIFFERENT STORIES TO OPEN THE CHASE

The reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion, Kyle Larson, left Darlington Raceway with real momentum despite coming up just short of a trip back to victory lane. Larson led a race-high 99 laps and looked like the class of the field before a pit strategy gamble during a late, rain-shortened caution saw him settle for a fifth-place result. The culmination of a points-earning effort in Stage Two and his 10th top-five finish of the season saw Larson gain ground in the standings, cutting his deficit from the lead to 49 points. WWTR has been relatively kind to Larson with the Team Chevy driver owning an average finish of 9.5 – the best among Chevrolet’s Chase contingent and third-best in the field – with finishes no worse than 12th across four starts.

Chase Elliott quietly finished 14th at Darlington, a result that didn’t move his points position but didn’t cost him ground either. The Georgia native’s short history at WWTR has seen a steep progression in results. Despite a 21st-place finish in the 2022 opener, Elliott led the Bowtie brigade to a third-place result there one year ago – trimming his average finish to 12.3 at the track, which places him eighth-best of the field.

While the metric put him deep in the starting lineup for Sunday’s crown jewel event, Carson Hocevar kickstarted his first Chase campaign with an 11th-place run at “The Lady in Black” – an effort that kept him steady in the 12th position of the points standings. The Michigan native now turns his attention to a track that holds a special place in his career, with WWTR serving as the site of his first-ever start in NASCAR’s premier series. Gateway has trended in the right direction for him in three career starts (36th-8th-15th), and a fourth trip could be the one that produces his first top-10 there.

Daniel Suarez and the No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet team will head to WWTR looking for a reset. His Cup Series average finish at the metro St. Louis venue sits at 17.7, with a seventh-place run in 2023 remaining as his high-water mark at the track.

William Byron had the toughest opening round of Team Chevy’s five Chase drivers. The North Carolina native’s night at Darlington ended early with an engine failure that ultimately dropped him to the 16th position in the points standings. Byron will lean on the steady stream of consistency that he has found at WWTR, with last year’s 11th-place finish keeping his career results within the top-20 for an average finish of 13.3 (ninth-best) at the track. A rebound performance in the Midwest would go a long way toward steadying his championship hopes.

Creed Makes an Early Chase Statement

Sheldon Creed delivered a statement performance in the O’Reilly Series Chase opener, driving the No. 00 Haas Factory Team Chevrolet to his second career win and his first at Darlington – leading the final 53 laps to beat fellow Team Chevy driver, Corey Day, by 2.961 seconds. A rare off-night for points leader Justin Allgaier, who won Stage One but faded to a 17th-place finish, allowed Creed to slice the championship lead from 35 points to seven in just one race. He’s also the only driver in this weekend’s O’Reilly field with a previous WWTR win to his name, having gone to victory lane there twice in Truck Series competition (2020-21) and once more in ARCA (2018).


TEAM CHEVY HOLDS TOP-SIX OF THE STANDINGS

The Bowtie brand holds down the top-six spots in the O’Reilly Chase standings entering WWTR: Justin Allgaier (JR Motorsports) leads at 2,135 points; Sheldon Creed (Haas Factory Team) trails by seven; Carson Kvapil (JR Motorsports) sits third, 19 back; Austin Hill (Richard Childress Racing) is fourth, 36 back; Corey Day (Hendrick Motorsports) is fifth, 46 back; and Jesse Love (Richard Childress Racing) rounds out the top-six, 48 behind.

Among those that left Darlington with a positive gain in the standings included Day and the No. 17 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet team. The rookie ran into early contact but rebounded to finish second at Darlington, becoming the biggest mover up the standings with a two-position gain to fifth. He has just one start at WWTR, but it was an impressive debut that ended with a solid ninth-place result.


BOWTIE BULLETS:

· Active Chevrolet drivers with a NASCAR national series win at World Wide Technology Raceway:

NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series

Connor Zilisch – one win (Sept. 2025)

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series

Grant Enfinger – one win (June 2023)

Sheldon Creed – two wins (Aug. 2020 & Aug. 2021)

Ross Chastain – one win (June 2019)

Cole Custer – one win (June 2015)

· With Grant Enfinger’s win at Lime Rock Park, Chevrolet sits just two wins away from its milestone 300th all-time NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series win.

· With seven-straight victories to start the 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season, Chevrolet set the record for the longest season-opening streak by a single manufacturer in the division’s history.

· In 170 points-paying races in the NASCAR Cup Series Next Gen era, Chevrolet leads all manufacturers with 73 victories – a winning percentage of 42.9%.

· Chevrolet is coming off its 29th all-time sweep of the NASCAR Cup Series championship titles – capturing its 34th driver championship and 44th, and fifth consecutive, manufacturer championship in 2025.

· With its 44 NASCAR Cup Series manufacturer championships, 34 NASCAR Cup Series driver championships, and 887 all-time NASCAR Cup Series wins, Chevrolet continues to hold the title as the winningest brand in NASCAR Cup Series history.


TUNE-IN:

NASCAR Cup Series

Enjoy Illinois 300

Sunday, Sept. 13, at 3 p.m. ET

USA Network, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90

NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series

Nu Way 225 Powered by Bobcat and Sauced by Blues Hog

Saturday, Sept. 12, at 7:30 p.m. ET

CW, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90


QUOTABLE QUOTES:

Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Outlook on going to St. Louis?

“I like racing at World Wide Technology Raceway. It’s a very fun and challenging, smaller track. I’ve got a little bit of work to do there though to get better finishes. I run well but something happens or for whatever reason, I just don’t have the strong finishes. I’ll head over to Busch Stadium and catch a Cardinals game and do a few things around Ballpark Village which will be fun.”

How much of a morale boost was it to the team to get the pole back in Daytona?

“I was pretty selfish in the moment of just soaking it in for me, the kid from Florida. There were a smiles in the shop after we got back. I mean, as much as there could be given the circumstances around Shane (van Gisbergen). But when I walked up to people, I got the smile out of them. I could tell they’d be moping around, working, and then I would walk up and here came a smile. I noticed it throughout the shop. I want to find things to celebrate in in our season and that’s something that we are going to celebrate.”

Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

What is your outlook ahead of this weekend’s race at World Wide Technology Raceway?

“I’m looking forward to getting to Gateway with the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops/Winchester Deer Season XP Chevrolet. Winchester is right up the road from the track, and two years ago we had a really good run. This past season when we were in the Playoffs we kind of missed it, so hopefully we go back to our old setup, see what we can learn from it. It’s a faster, flatter track. Anytime you can get out front there it is good. Pit road is intense, so we’ll be working hard in the sim to dial in our setup before we get there.”

Do you consider Gateway more of a short track or an intermediate?

“I feel like Gateway is an in between. It’s more of a short track to me because you have brake pedal, you’re using it a little bit. You choose different angles. So, I feel like it is a short track overall. “

Daniel Suarez, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

With a new aero and engine package this year at World Wide Technology Raceway, what are you expecting from the changes?

“I’m excited to get back to World Wide Technology Raceway with a new aero and engine package this year. It’s going to create some unknowns, and we’re excited for the challenge. We’ve been working hard to prepare for the changes, and I think it’s going to be important to adapt quickly. I’ve had some good runs at this track in the past, so hopefully, we can have a strong race. It would be great to put our Freeway Insurance Chevrolet in position to fight for a good finish.”

AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet

“I would say it’s probably one of the more unique racetracks that we go to. Turns 1 and 2 compared to Turns 3 and 4 are very different. Turns 3 and 4 are very sweeping, while 1 and 2 have tight corners and there’s a lot of shifting on that racetrack. I think in the past, we’ve been okay there. Hopefully, we can build off some of the flatter tracks, Iowa especially, and have some speed when we show up. I think track position is always real critical there, so being on the right strategy and see how the stages play out will be important. I think we can be okay there. Hopefully, we have some decent speed and can just put together a solid race.”

Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet

“This is one of the things that makes NASCAR special,” said Ricky Stenhouse Jr., driver of the Hyak Motorsports No. 47 Chevrolet. “It is cool to see local businesses come together to support a team, our sport and their community. Bringing East Central College into it makes it even better. STEM and technical programs help develop the engineers, technicians and problem solvers our sport needs and can introduce a whole new generation to careers in NASCAR.”

Cody Ware, No. 51 Rick Ware Racing Chevrolet

“Gateway is like a road course on an oval. You have a lot of downshifting going on. You’re in fifth gear down the frontstretch and turn one is a really heavy braking zone. You have banking there, but it’s still a very tight corner. So, you’re downshifting from fifth to third, which is something we don’t do anywhere else, at least on an oval. At Martinsville, we’re going between fourth and third, and at Pocono, we’re going between fifth and fourth. To be downshifting twice into a corner on an oval is definitely unique.

You need to find a rhythm at Gateway and then stay in that rhythm. Being consistent is key. You’re doing two wildly different things on each side of the racetrack because the corners are so different. You can’t attack each end of the racetrack the same way. It’s a one-of-a-kind place.”

Michael McDowell, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

How can you continue to build the momentum at WWTR while leaning on the speed you’ve shown in the past?

“World Wide Technology has been a good track for us in the past. We broke a track record and sat on the pole in 2024. Before that, we had a top 10 in 2023. I am confident that we can continue to build on our momentum from the last few weeks. We have had some quality runs and speed, but we haven’t put together a complete race. We were well on our way to a top-10 finish at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway, but we ran into a mechanical failure with under 10-to-go and had to nurse our Delaware Life Chevrolet home. Regardless, I am proud of the progress we’ve made and hoping to capitalize on it this weekend at Gateway.”

Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

As the site of your Cup Series debut, what does World Wide Technology Raceway mean to you?

“That track means a lot to me. It was a fun day. We were moving forward and running faster lap times than we were running all day when we broke a brake rotor. That place will always kind of hold a dear place in my heart. We’ve had a lot of speed and run well there in both trucks and a Cup car. Before the race, one of the other drivers pulled me into his bus and gave me some advice. The advice was how to stay out of the way as a lap car that day. We weren’t very far behind him (on the lead lap) when that happened.”

How do you expect the simple diffuser and 750-horsepower package will change the racing this weekend?

“It is probably going to be harder to stop and change directions, which means it’s probably going to be tighter and will be difficult to get up and go. It is going to be really valuable who can get on the brakes while keeping the car turning so you can stay pointed. Whoever points the earliest and can get back to the throttle straight is going to have a lot of straightaway and will have the power to take advantage of it.”

Connor Zilisch, No. 88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

What is your approach to this weekend at World Wide Technology Raceway?

“World Wide Technology Raceway is definitely a unique oval. You’re downshifting twice into Turn 1 and the corners are so different from end to end. I was able to win there last year in the O’Reilly Series so I have some confidence going back there. I’ve got a good understanding of the track and what it takes to succeed there, but we’ll see what happens. I’m excited to learn and hopefully have a good day.”

Last year you led 121 of the 160 laps in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race. What do you remember most about that race and what were some of the key takeaways from that race?

“It’s a pretty narrow racetrack and the restarts are pretty chaotic. You’re having to slow down a lot in Turns 1 and 2. And you have to get your car to be able to drive in both ends of the racetrack, even though the corners are so different. I’m excited to see what it’s like in a Cup car. It’s obviously going to be a lot different. That was actually one of the few tracks last year where we’re shifting in an O’Reilly Series car, so it was good to get some practice at that. We’ll see how it translates going to Sunday.”


Chevrolet NASCAR Cup Series Statistics

Manufacturer Championships:

Total (1949-2025): 44

First title for Chevrolet: 1958

Highest number of consecutive titles: 13 (2003-15)

Most recent: 2025

Years Won: 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025

Driver Championships:

Total (1949-2025): 34

First Chevrolet champion: Buck Baker (1957)

Highest number of consecutive titles: 7 (2005-11)

Most recent: Kyle Larson (2025)

Driver and Manufacturer Championship Sweeps: 29

Years Won: 1957, 1960, 1961, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2020, 2021, 2025

Event Victories:

Record for total race wins in single season: 26 (2007)

2026 STATISTICS:

Wins: 6

Poles: 6

Laps Led: 1,964

Top-Fives: 44

Top-10s: 90

Stage Wins: 18

CHEVROLET IN NASCAR CUMULATIVE STATISTICS:

Total Chevrolet race wins: 887 (1949 to date)

Poles won to date: 772

Laps led to date: 258,698

Top-fives to date: 4,480

Top-10s to date: 9,241

Total NASCAR Cup Wins by Corporation, 1949 to Date:

       General Motors: 1,221

       Chevrolet: 887

       Pontiac: 154

       Oldsmobile: 115

       Buick: 65



       Ford: 854                                                                               

       Ford: 754

       Mercury: 96

       Lincoln: 4



       Fiat Chrysler Automobiles: 467

       Dodge: 217

       Plymouth: 191

       Chrysler: 59



       Toyota: 218

About General Motors

General Motors (NYSE:GM) is driving the future of transportation, leveraging advanced technology to build safer, smarter, and lower emission cars, trucks, and SUVs. GM’s Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC brands offer a broad portfolio of innovative gasoline-powered vehicles and the industry’s widest range of EVs, as we move to an all-electric future.

GM Motorsports, including the Cadillac Formula 1® Team develops and proves advanced technologies in the most demanding environments, accelerating innovation in performance, safety, efficiency, and electrification for its production vehicles. Cadillac Racing is one of the leading manufacturers in the IMSA and FIA World Endurance Championships (WEC). Chevrolet competes in single seaters in the US IndyCar series, and in NASCAR with multiple team partners and drivers. Corvette customer teams compete in GT series across the globe including IMSA and WEC. Learn more at GM.com.

Caden Kvapil Will Make His NASCAR Debut with Freedom Racing Enterprises

The CARS Tour Points Leader will Drive the No. 76 Chevrolet Silverado at Bristol Motor Speedway

Mooresville, NC (September 9, 2026) – Spencer Boyd announced today that Caden Kvapil will drive the No. 76 Nor-Cal Equipment Rentals Chevrolet Silverado at the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway on September 17, 2026. Boyd, owner of Freedom Racing Enterprises and main driver of the No. 76, is stepping out of the ride in a commitment to help a fellow Chevrolet driver launch his career in NASCAR.

“Growth has been the main focus of FRE this year,” noted Boyd. “We have mixed things up in the driver’s seat this year with the intention of building for the future. Caden had been on our radar to get him the opportunity to make the step up. With his consistent performance in the CARS Tour and our backing from Nor-Cal Equipment Rentals, we determined that Bristol was the right racetrack to make his debut.”

Caden Kvapil is the current CARS Tour points leader and is coming off his third CARS Tour win of the year at Florence. He is the son of NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Champion Travis Kvapil and brother of Carson Kvapil, driver of the Jr Motorsports No. 1 Chevrolet SS in the NASCAR O’Reily Auto Parts Series.

“It was a pretty quick ‘Yes’ from me when Spencer reached out,” commented an excited Caden Kvapil. “He has built a solid race team over at FRE and he and my Dad go way back. For a kid who has grown up in a family of NASCAR racing, it is honestly special to make my debut at Bristol during the Night Race weekend. And for Spencer to step out of the seat and let me race with his longtime sponsor, Nor-Cal Equipment Rentals, on the truck is an honor I do not take lightly. I’m optimistic about a good run, hoping to make everyone involved very proud.”

Joining Nor-Cal Equipment Rentals as sponsors will be Dirty Graphix who makes custom equipment wraps amongst a whole host of others making this debut possible.

“We’ve supported Spencer for quite some time now and love being a part of what he is building at FRE,” said Tom Butts of Nor-Cal Equipment Rentals. “When Spencer explained the details around Caden driving instead of him, I immediately saw the visionary team owner side of him and had to be a part of this one. I’m a longtime fan of Dale Sr. and Dale Jr. so having a Jr. Motorsports driver in a truck I sponsor at Bristol is something that I thought could only exist in dreams!”

The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race with Caden Kvapil’s NASCAR debut in the No. 76 Nor-Cal Equipment Rentals Chevrolet Silverado is on September 17, 2026 at Bristol Motor Speedway. The UNOH 250 can be seen live on FS1 with coverage starting at 8pm ET.

TOYOTA RACING Weekly Preview 09.09.26

This Week in Motorsports: September 7-13, 2026

NCS/NOAPS: World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway – Sept. 12-13
ARCA NATIONAL: Salem Speedway (Indiana) – Sept. 12

PLANO, Texas (Sept. 9, 2026) – TOYOTA RACING started off the NASCAR Cup Series Chase strong and looks for its second straight victory at World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway, while the ARCA title battle continues to be tight as they close in on the end of their season at Indiana’s Salem Speedway.

NASCAR National Series – NCS/NOAPS

Bell adds another Crown Jewel … After seven second-place finishes this season, Christopher Bell scored his first victory of the season when it mattered most – in the Chase. The Oklahoma-native won his first Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway to move up to second in the point standings. Bell, who also has a Coca-Cola 600 victory on his resume, could very easily make it two straight victories as he has a stellar track record at Gateway – with top-11 finishes in all four starts at the track.

Hamlin looks to help Toyota close on another milestone … Denny Hamlin added to his Toyota record book last year at Gateway, claiming its first Cup Series win at the track and 200th NASCAR Cup Series win for Toyota. Another victory this weekend would help Toyota continue to close on another major milestone – 700 NASCAR victories. Toyota currently has 693 race wins across NASCAR’s top three series.

Toyota drivers continue to lead the standings … Hamlin continues to lead the NASCAR Cup Series point standings with nine races to go. A Toyota driver has led the point standings after every race this season. Toyota continues to hold down five of the top-six spots in the standings, with Hamlin, Bell, Tyler Reddick (fourth), Chase Briscoe (fifth) and Ty Gibbs (sixth).

Six unique winners most in Toyota’s Cup Series history … With Bell scoring his first victory of the season on Sunday, Toyota has now had six unique winners in a single Cup Series season for the first time in its history – Reddick (five), Hamlin (four), Gibbs (two) Corey Heim (two), Briscoe (one) and Bell (one). Gateway could be the place to make it seven. Both John Hunter Nemechek (sixth) and Bubba Wallace (eighth) finished in the top-10 one year ago, with Wallace pacing the field for 73 laps.

Jones, Gray continue in Championship fight … JGR’s Brandon Jones and Taylor Gray had solid starts to their Chase runs, both scoring top-10 finishes at Darlington. Gray was scored in seventh and Jones finished 10th – part of four Toyota GR Supra top-11 finishers at the track ‘Too Tough to Tame.’

Joe Gibbs Racing solid at Gateway … In the series return to Gateway one season ago, Team Toyota showed out with three of the top-six O’Reilly Series finishers – including William Sawalich (second) and Brandon Jones (fourth).

Crews adds to top-five tally … Brent Crews added another top-five run at Darlington – finishing third in his track debut. Despite missing four races to start the season before he turned 18, Crews has nine top-five finishes – only the top-two in the point standings have more than the Toyota Development Driver.

NASCAR Regional Series – ARCA Menards Series

Bollman, Annunziata title battle continues with three races to go… Nitro Motorsports’ Jake Bollman and Thomas Annunziata continue to have a tight championship battle with three races remaining in the regular season. Bollman extended the advantage to eight points as he finished runner-up on Sunday at DuQuion, while Annunziata was scored in fifth. Toyota drivers have won eight of the last nine races at Salem Speedway.

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in the U.S. for nearly 70 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our nearly 1,500 dealerships.

Toyota directly employs approximately 48,000 people in the U.S. who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of more than 36 million cars and trucks at our 11 manufacturing plants. In 2025, Toyota’s plant in North Carolina began to assemble automotive batteries for electrified vehicles.

For more information about Toyota, visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.

Wood Brothers Racing – Race Week Briefing: World Wide Technology Raceway

Event: Enjoy Illinois 300
Date/Time: Sunday, September 13, 2026, 3 p.m. ET
Location: World Wide Technology Raceway, Madison, Illinois
Layout: 1.25-Mile Oval
TV/Radio: USA, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Josh Berry and the No. 21 DEX team head to World Wide Technology Raceway this weekend looking to continue one of their strongest stretches of the season in Sunday’s Enjoy Illinois 300.

Berry has recorded six consecutive top-10 finishes entering the weekend at Gateway, a streak that began with a seventh-place finish at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and continued with finishes of fourth at Iowa, eighth at Richmond, third at New Hampshire, ninth at Daytona and seventh last weekend at Darlington.

Crew chief Miles Stanley said the recent results are a product of the consistency and execution the No. 21 team has continued to build in recent weeks.

“The results lately are a reflection of how well everyone on this team is working together,” Stanley said. “We’ve been unloading with solid speed, making the right adjustments throughout the weekend and putting ourselves in position late in these races.”

The 1.25-mile Gateway oval has been a successful stop for the Wood Brothers’ Team Penske teammates since the NASCAR Cup Series began racing there in 2022. Joey Logano won the inaugural Cup Series event at the track, while Austin Cindric added another victory for Team Penske in 2024.

Stanley believes the continued progress of the No. 21 team has Berry and the DEX Ford Mustang in position to contend for another strong result this weekend.

“We’ve seen what our teammates at Team Penske have been able to accomplish at Gateway, and we feel good about where our program is right now and the progress we continue to make each week,” Stanley said. “The goal is to stay on top of the balance and give Josh what he needs as the race develops. If we can do those things, I think we can have another strong day.”

Practice is set for Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET, followed by qualifying at 4:35 p.m. ET. Coverage of both sessions will be available on truTV.

Sunday’s 240-lap, 300-mile Enjoy Illinois 300 is scheduled to take the green flag at 3 p.m. ET, with stage breaks planned for Laps 45 and 140. USA Sports will provide television coverage.

Saturday, September 12

Josh Berry will sign autographs at the Team Penske/Wood Brothers merchandise unit in the fan zone at World Wide Technology Speedway beginning at 11:45 a.m. local time. 100 wristbands will be distributed on a first come, first-served basis.

Josh Berry

Age: 35 (Oct. 22, 1990)

Hometown: Hendersonville, Tennessee

Crew Chief: Miles Stanley

IG: @joshberry88

X: @joshberry

About DEX
DEX is the nation’s largest independent provider of document technology and managed print services, delivering a broad range of products and solutions that help organizations improve operational efficiencies, reduce costs, and strengthen security. DEX uses real-time data analytics to help businesses gain valuable insights into their print job patterns and frequency, resource allocation, and cost distribution. The knowledge gained is used to optimize workflows, enhance user performance, eliminate unnecessary expenses, and ensure print security and compliance.

JR Motorsports — NOAPS World Wide Technology Raceway Preview

JR Motorsports O’Reilly Auto Parts Team Preview
TRACK – World Wide Technology Raceway (1.25-mile oval)
NOAPS RACE – Nu Way 225 Powered by Bobcat and Sauced by Blues Hog
(180 laps / 225 miles)
TUNE IN – CW, MRN, SiriusXM Channel 90, ESPN Mobile App at 7:30 p.m. (ET)

Carson Kvapil

No. 1 – WILDE Crackers Chevrolet

Kvapil 2026 NOAPS Stats

Starts: 25

Wins: 2

Top 5s: 9

Top 10s: 15

Laps Led: 201

Avg. Finish: 10.9

Points: 3rd

Carson Kvapil will head to World Wide Technology Raceway this weekend for the second time in his NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series career.

In 34 career starts on tracks 1-2 miles in length, Kvapil has recorded eight top-fives and 14 top-tens.

Through the first race of The Chase, Kvapil sits third in the standings, just 19 points behind points leader Justin Allgaier.

The new WILDE crackers will be showcased on Kvapil’s No. 1 Chevrolet this weekend.

Carson Kvapil

“We have been working hard in the sim this week preparing for St. Louis. I know Rodney (Childers, crew chief) and this entire No. 1 WILDE Cracker team will unload another rocket ship at the track this weekend. We just need to go out and execute like we know we can and if we do, we will continue to chip away at the points deficit.”

Justin Allgaier

No. 7 BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevrolet

Allgaier 2026 NOAPS Stats

Starts: 25

Wins: 6

Top 5s: 14

Top 10s: 18

Laps Led: 619

Avg. Finish: 9.7

Points: 1st

Justin Allgaier heads to St. Louis atop The Chase standings with eight races remaining in the NOAPS season.

This weekend marks a homecoming for Allgaier, who hails from Riverton, IL, just 98 miles north of WWTR.

Additionally, this weekend is also a homecoming for primary partner BRANDT Professional Agriculture. BRANDT is headquartered in Springfield, IL, just 95 miles north on I-55.

In four previous NOAPS starts at WWTR, Allgaier has earned a best finish of third, coming in 2010. In this event last year, Allgaier led for 28 laps and was in contention for the win before being collected in a multi-car incident late in the race.

Justin Allgaier

“It’s always special to be able to come back and race this close to home. Not only for me, but for everyone at BRANDT Professional Agriculture as well. They are going to have a strong presence at the track this weekend and hopefully we can go out there and put on a great show for them. Andrew (Overstreet, crew chief) and all the guys on this team have been working hard all week long and we are ready to go.”

Sammy Smith

No. 8 Pilot Chevrolet

Smith 2026 NOAPS Stats

Starts: 25

Wins: 0

Top 5s: 7

Top 10s: 11

Laps Led: 51

Avg. Finish: 12.3

Points: 7th

Sammy Smith will head to WWTR this Saturday for his second NOAPS start on the Illinois oval as the seventh seed in The Chase, just 55 points behind the leader.

At this event last year, Smith qualified 22nd and was nearing the top-10 before mechanical issues relegated Smith to a 33rd-place finish.

Smith has 61 NOAPS starts on tracks measuring 1-2 miles in length and of those, he has tallied two wins, 10 top-five and 29 top-10 finishes.

Pilot will share the TV panel with Standard Trucking, LLC. It is a Detroit, MI based company who has services capabilities of transportation, distribution and truck repairs.

Sammy Smith

“This No. 8 team had a solid run last weekend in Darlington to start off The Chase which was good to have leading into Gateway. We found speed there last year so I’m looking forward to carrying this momentum over and building on what we had last time here. Cory (Shea, crew chief) and this No. 8 team are putting in their all to bring fast cars to the track so I know we’ll have a shot on Saturday with Pilot.”

Rajah Caruth

No. 88 HENDRICKCARS.COM Chevrolet

Caruth 2026 NOAPS Stats

Starts: 25

Wins: 0

Top 5s: 2

Top 10s: 8

Laps Led: 87

Avg. Finish: 17.6

Points: 12th

Rajah Caruth and the No. 88 HENDRICKCARS.COM team head to WWTR this weekend for the second race of The Chase.

Caruth has three previous NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series starts at WWTR, recording a best finish of 11th. The 1.25-mile track also holds significance for Caruth as the site of his first career Truck Series start in 2022.

This season, on tracks between 1-2 miles in length, Caruth has earned a best finish of fourth, coming at Rockingham Speedway in April.

Caruth enters this weekend 12th in The Chase standings with eight races remaining in the championship battle.

Rajah Caruth

“St. Louis is a place I know pretty well from my time in the Truck Series, and I’m looking forward to getting back there this weekend. This No. 88 team had a lot of success there last year, so hopefully we can build off what they learned and have another fast HENDRICKCARS.COM Chevrolet. There are still eight races left in the Chase, so our focus is on executing, putting together complete weekends and getting everything we can each week.”

JRM Team Updates

JR Motorsports at World Wide Technology Raceway: JR Motorsports has competed at World Wide Technology Raceway a combined 14 times in NOAPS since 2006. In those starts at the 1.25-mile oval, the organization has recorded one win, two top-fives, and six top-10s. The average finish is 17.6.

Souvenir Rig: JRM drivers Carson Kvapil, Justin Allgaier, Sammy Smith, and Rajah Caruth will be signing autographs at the JR Motorsports / HMS WB + AB souvenir rig on Saturday, September 12th, from 3:45 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. CT.