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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.

Kyle Busch named 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Most Popular Driver

Photo by Logan Allen for SpeedwayMedia.com.

Kyle Busch has been posthumously named the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Most Popular Driver.

The reveal of Busch being posthumously named the recipient of this year’s Most Popular Driver Award in the Cup Series division, which was based on fan voting, was made during the 2026 NASCAR Awards ceremony in Miami, Florida, on Tuesday, November 10. Busch’s widow, Samantha, accepted the award while delivering an emotional speech to pay tribute to Kyle and express the gratitude, love and support received from the NASCAR community, fellow competitors and fans.

Busch died unexpectedly on May 21 from complications from pneumonia that progressed into sepsis. A native of Las Vegas, Nevada, Busch was a two-time Cup Series champion with 234 victories across NASCAR’s top-three national touring series (63 in Cup Series, 102 in O’Reilly Auto Parts Series & 69 in FedEx Freight Truck Series). He also achieved the 2009 O’Reilly championship and holds the most all-time victories between the O’Reilly and Truck divisions.

Busch was campaigning in his fourth consecutive Cup season with Richard Childress Racing at the time of his death and had achieved what would be his final NASCAR victory at Dover Motor Speedway in the Truck division, the latter of which occurred six days prior to his death. Busch had also won his 35th and final Cup career pole position for this year’s 68th annual running of the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway in February.

With the award, Busch is the 21st competitor to be named the Most Popular Driver in the Cup Series division as he achieves the title for the first time ever between the Truck, O’Reilly and Cup divisions. He is also the first competitor not named Elliott or Earnhardt to be named the Most Popular Driver since Darrell Waltrip in 1990. 

Chase Elliott, who was named NASCAR’s Most Popular Driver over the previous eight seasons, withdrew his name from the ballot as he was among multiple competitors who encouraged fans to vote for Busch for the award. Ironcially, Chase’s father, Bill, utilized the exact course of action that enabled Dale Earnhardt to be named the Most Popular Driver in 2001 following Earnhardt’s death from the Daytona 500. 

With Busch being named this year’s Cup Series Most Popular Driver, Justin Allgaier and Layne Riggs were also receipients of this year’s Most Popular Driver Awards between the Truck and O’Reilly Auto Parts Series divisions. Allgaier, who notched his second O’Reilly championship this season, was voted Most Popular Driver for a sixth time while Riggs, this year’s Truck championship runner-up, was named Most Popular Driver for first time ever. Allgaier holds the record for the most Most Popular Driver Awards in the O’Reilly division at six while Riggs became the 26th competitor to achieve the title in the Truck division.

NHRA FINALS: ELITE MOTORSPORTS EVENT PREVIEW

POMONA, Calif. (Nov. 10, 2026) — Elite Motorsports arrives at the historic In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip this weekend for the 2026 season-ending In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals armed with momentum and race-winning consistency. Wrapping up NHRA’s historic 75th anniversary season, the multi-car Pro Stock powerhouse enters the final event of the Countdown to the Championship following a dominant postseason stretch where the team swept three consecutive Countdown events and has had a driver visit the final in five of the last six races.

Greg Stanfield Leads Elite Camp in Point Standings

Veteran driver Greg Stanfield enters the finale sitting third in the Pro Stock point standings to lead the Elite Motorsports roster. Stanfield’s standout 2026 campaign features two national event victories. His first win of the season was at the NHRA Sonoma Nationals where he defended his 2025 title. Stanfield raced to victory over teammate Erica Enders after capping off a historic all-Elite Motorsports semifinal sweep.

His second win of the season, eighth of his career, came at race two of six in the Countdown to the Championship at the NHRA Nationals at The Rock. The win put him in the points lead and was the second of three consecutive Elite Motorsports victories. A runner-up finish in St. Louis followed by two uncharacteristic first round losses at the hands of teammates Jeg Coughlin Jr. and Troy Coughlin Jr. has Stanfield sitting third in points, 99 points back from the lead with 191 points up for grabs in Southern California this weekend.

“I’m not someone who is going to obsess over points. Not saying I don’t look at them, but it’s not my focus,” said Stanfield. “My focus is to do what we’ve been doing all season long: come out here and be the best we can, work hard and keep at it. We’ll try to qualify well, maybe earn some bonus points each session, and then come out on race day ready to win rounds. Our goal is to win the race, if we win the race then we’ve given ourselves the best chance at the championship. At the end of the day, it’s been an amazing season and this Janac Brothers team has nothing to hang our heads about. The entire Elite Motorsports camp has worked their butts off and I just hope we can wrap up 2026 in the winners circle.”

Along with his two national event victories and runner-up finish to son Aaron Stanfeild in St. Louis, Greg also reached the final round in Seattle and has posted eight semifinal finishes across 2026. He also set a personal career-best mark earlier in the year at 6.460 seconds at 213.88 mph.

Troy Coughlin Jr. Rides Late-Season Surge

Troy Coughlin Jr. enters Pomona as one of the hottest drivers in Pro Stock following an explosive postseason run. At the NHRA Great Lakes Nationals Troy Jr. kickstarted Elite Motorsports’ three-race Countdown sweep by driving his midnight JEGS Chevrolet Camaro to a victory at 131 Motorsports Park in Martin, Michigan.

Troy Jr. followed his Michigan win with semifinal runs at the NHRA Midwest Nationals in St. Louis and the Texas NHRA FallNationals. Most recently he raced to his second runner-up finish of the season at the NHRA Las Vegas Nationals at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Troy Jr. started the Countdown in the 10th position but enters this weekend’s season finale sitting fifth in points just 12 out of fourth and 32 back from third.

“We’re staying in the moment and enjoying the ride. Heading into Pomona, our approach doesn’t change—we’re bringing the exact same mindset that carried us through Las Vegas and the previous rounds,” said Troy Jr. “The goal is simple: be ready, put our best foot forward from the first qualifying pass straight through to the final round on Sunday, and let the chips fall where they may.”

Competition at the In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip begins with four rounds of qualifying Friday at noon and 2:30 p.m. and Saturday at 11:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Eliminations are slated for Sunday at 11:00 a.m. with Pro Stock first round set for noon. Television coverage of the event will be on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) with a qualifying show Sunday at 11:00 a.m. ET and eliminations at 5:00 p.m. ET.

Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup 2027 Schedule Brings Subtle Changes with Big Impact

Mazda Motorsports has unveiled the 2027 Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by Michelin schedule. The calendar features the return of some driver favorite circuits, plus events that place the ultra-competitive series on a shared stage with IMSA and IndyCar next season. 
 
Since the series joined IMSA in 2021, the season opener has been held at Daytona International Speedway. This will not change in 2027; however, it will now take place a week earlier, at the Roar Before the 24, January 22 – 24.
 
Mazda MX-5 Cup drivers and teams will have the month of February off before Rounds 3 and 4, March 5 – 7, at a track to be announced at a later date.
 
Another track returning to the lineup is WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. This driver and fan favorite circuit has been absent from the calendar for the past two years. Rounds Five and Six will take place at the iconic circuit, April 30 – May 2 as part of the West Coast swing for the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. 
 
Speaking of tracks beloved by fans and drivers alike, Road America is back! Mazda MX-5 Cup returns to the ‘National Park of Speed,’ June 24 – 27 with IndyCar.
 
July brings the series back to Canadian Tire Motorsport Park with IMSA, July 9 – 11, followed by the traditional late summer trip to VIRginia International Raceway, August 20 – 22.
 
For the first time since 2021, the series will not stage a nail-biting finale at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, instead, the 2027 series finale will take place at the legendary Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where a lucky driver could potentially get to kiss the bricks and take home a championship check for $250,000.
 
“We are extremely proud of the 2027 Mazda MX-5 Cup schedule,” Mazda Motorsports Senior Manager Jonathan Applegate said. “We’ve listened to our teams and our fans about what’s important to them, and I think we’ve achieved that with this schedule. Putting it all together took a lot of careful negotiation, so I want to thank everyone at IMSA, IndyCar and all the tracks for working with us to make it happen.”
 
Details on how to watch the 2027 Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup season will be available soon.
 
2027 Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by Michelin Schedule
 

DateTrackwith
January 22 – 24Daytona International SpeedwayIMSA
March 5 – 7TBATBA
 
April 30 – May 2WeatherTech Raceway Laguna SecaIMSA
June 24 – 27Road AmericaIndyCar
July 9 – 11Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (CTMP)IMSA
August 20 – 22VIRginia International RacewayIMSA
September 17 – 19Indianapolis Motor SpeedwayIMSA


About: The Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by Michelin is the signature spec series for Mazda Motorsports. The series has been operated by Andersen Promotions since 2017 and is currently sanctioned by IMSA. Mazda-powered grassroots champions can earn Mazda scholarships for this pro-level series. The Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup awards more than $1 million in prizes and scholarships.

Find out more at http://www.mx-5cup.com.

Auto Shop SEO: Why the Best Performance Shops Still Lose Customers to Worse Ones on Google

Mechanic tuning a performance car engine in an auto shop bay

A guy rolls into town for a race weekend with a misfire he can’t ignore. He pulls into a gas station, types “performance shop near me” into his phone, and calls the first name in the map results. That shop has a clean listing, 400 reviews, and photos of a lift bay.

Two miles away sits the builder every local racer swears by, the one who has dialed in half the cars in the paddock. He never gets the call.

That gap between reputation and visibility is what auto shop SEO is about. The best wrench in town doesn’t automatically get found. The shop Google understands best does.

Word of Mouth Has a Ceiling

Racing and car culture still run on word of mouth. You trust the shop your buddy trusts, the tuner who built the car you admired at the track, the guy whose name comes up in the pit lane.

That network is powerful, but it has a ceiling. It reaches people already inside the scene. The new transplant with a built truck, the weekend visitor with a problem, the owner who just bought a classic and doesn’t know anyone yet, all of them start the same way. They search.

When they do, Google has no idea who the local racers recommend. It only knows what it can read online.

What Google Actually Looks At

Google is open about how local results work. Its own guidance for local rankings comes down to three factors: relevance, distance, and prominence.

Relevance is how well a listing matches what someone searched. Distance is how close the business is. Prominence is how well known the business is, measured through things like reviews, links, and how often it shows up across the web.

A shop can be legendary on the track and nearly invisible on all three. If the website never says “turbo installs” or “dyno tuning,” Google can’t match it to those searches. If the business profile is half filled out, it looks less trustworthy than a competitor that updates theirs every week.

Reviews Are the New Pit Lane Chatter

Reviews are where reputation turns into something Google can measure. Consumer research from BrightLocal shows that most people read online reviews before choosing a local business, and that recent reviews carry more weight than old ones.

That’s bad news for the shop with 30 glowing reviews from five years ago. A newer shop collecting a steady stream of fresh reviews will often outrank it, even if the work is worse.

The fix isn’t complicated. Ask happy customers at the moment they pick up their car, make the link easy to find, and reply to every review, good or bad. Replies show both Google and future customers that someone is paying attention.

The Website Still Matters

A lot of shop owners treat their website like a business card. One page, a phone number, a photo of the building. That works for people who already know you. It does nothing for someone searching for a specific job.

Google’s SEO starter guide makes the point plainly: pages should be written for people and clearly describe what the business offers.

For a shop, that means a page for each core service, real photos of real builds, and the makes and models you actually specialize in. A page about LS swaps will always compete better for that search than a homepage that just says “full service auto repair.”

Speed and mobile usability matter too. Most of these searches happen on a phone, often from the side of the road.

Why Good Shops Fall Behind

Here’s the pattern that shows up again and again. The shops with the strongest reputations are often the busiest, and the busiest shops are the least likely to spend time on their online presence. Their bays are full, so marketing feels optional.

Then a slow season hits, or a newer shop opens down the road with a sharp website and a review strategy, and the phone gets quieter. Curious Fortune Media, a Los Angeles-based digital marketing agency, describes this as a common problem for premium businesses whose reputation hasn’t caught up to their work.

The shops that hold their ground treat search visibility the way they treat maintenance, as a routine rather than a repair. The core pieces of how automotive SEO works, from technical foundations to local listings and reviews, are the same whether you run a dealership, a restoration shop, or a two-bay tuning garage.

Where a Shop Should Start

The good news for the best shops is that the hardest part is already done. Great work is the thing no marketing can fake. The rest is making sure Google can see it.

Start with the business profile. Fill out every field, choose accurate categories, add real photos, and keep the hours current. Then build a review habit into every pickup. Next, give the website a page for each service that actually brings in money, written the way customers describe their problems.

None of this replaces the reputation you built in the paddock. It just makes sure the next person searching from a gas station parking lot finds you before they find someone else.

Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA receives 2026 DHL Sustainable Endurance Award

November 10th, 2026 – Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA has received the 2026 DHL Sustainable Endurance Award in the Hypercar category. The award recognises the team’s outstanding sustainability initiatives over the course of the 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship.

Inaugurated in 2023 as a joint initiative between FIA WEC, the Automobile Club de l’Ouest and the world championship’s official logistics partner, DHL, the annually-presented accolade evaluates competitors across six core areas – Sustainability Strategy, Environmental Commitment, Responsible Economy, Social Commitment, Communication and Carbon Footprint.

Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA’s entry was praised for its responsible procurement policy incorporating environmental, social and ethical criteria, its robust logistics framework, its progress monitoring and its in-depth approach to hospitality, featuring the reuse of structures, updated menus, local sourcing, reusable equipment and the donation of surplus food.

The accolade follows Cadillac Racing being honoured with the Sustainable Endurance Award in June, for measurable sustainability actions, operational credibility and community impact at Le Mans.

Key achievements for Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA in 2026 include;

  • Reducing the estimated carbon footprint of the shared hospitality menu to 6.49 kg CO₂e per meal in 2026, down from 7.13 kg in 2024, through three years of data-led menu design
  • Moving 57% of our intercontinental freight by weight by sea in 2025 (we estimate a similar share for 2026)
  • Dispensing 13,200 litres of drinking water through the refill stations operated at the 2026 24 Hours of Le Mans
  • Hosting 78 ninth-grade students from Del Valle High School in our garage at Lone Star Le Mans, as part of a two-day STEM programme supported by the FIA WEC
  • FIA 3 Star Environmental Accreditation awarded to the team’s Environment Policy, the highest level possible

What they’re saying:

Keely Bosn, Cadillac Racing Programme Manager; “Winning the 2026 FIA WEC DHL Sustainable Endurance Award is a proud moment for Cadillac and JOTA. The judges recognized practical steps taken by Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA and our partners. Small details matter in racing, and we feel the same way about sustainability. Reusable bottles and a lower-meat menu in hospitality are small things, but they, amongst other things, add up over a full season.”

“Our STEM programme is something we are very proud of and has continued to make a positive difference this year, with a highlight bringing 78 students to COTA to spend time with the different departments of the race team.”

“This award reflects action, not just intent, and we will continue to strive to make changes that have tangible effects. This award is a truly team effort – thank you to everyone whose work helped us earn this recognition.”

David Clark, JOTA Team Owner & Co-Founder; “To be recognised with the DHL Sustainable Endurance Award at Le Mans was a fantastic achievement, but to now receive this recognition across the entire FIA World Endurance Championship season is something we’re particularly proud of.

“As a team, we’ve always believed in constantly challenging ourselves to improve, both on and off the track. Competing at the highest level of endurance racing comes with significant logistical and operational challenges, but we have a responsibility to look at how we do things and where we can make positive changes. Often it’s the smaller, practical decisions that, when embraced by the whole team over the course of a season, can make a real difference.

“This award is a reflection of the commitment of everyone at Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA, and the strength of our partnership with Cadillac, General Motors and all those who have supported these initiatives. We’re proud of what we’ve achieved together, but we also recognise there’s always more we can do, and we’ll continue to look for ways to build on this progress.”

Carlos Fernandes, Head of Motorsport for global logistics leader, DHL; “Sustainability is a shared responsibility, and motorsport can play an important role in driving positive change. Together with the ACO and FIA WEC, we want to encourage and recognise teams that turn this ambition into tangible action. The DHL Sustainable Endurance Award is a great way to highlight these efforts and give innovative sustainability initiatives the recognition they deserve.”

FIA WEC Marketing and Communication Director, Marius Louvet; “First and foremost, I would like to congratulate all of our competitors for their focus on sustainability. Since the introduction of the DHL Sustainable Endurance Award three years ago, we have been impressed by the ever-increasing efforts made throughout the paddock to adapt processes and procedures to reduce environmental impact and promote good practice.

“As a championship, we have worked hard in this area, and we have been pleased to see teams engage so enthusiastically with activities such as our partnership with the Italian Red Cross at Imola, the food bank initiative in Austin and ‘Race Against Dementia’ at Fuji. Taking everything into account, Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA stood out in particular this season for their commitment to CSR, making them hugely deserving winners of the 2026 DHL Sustainable Endurance Award.”

To download our 2026 media materials, please visit: https://tracksideracingnews.egnyte.com/fl/Cvbw4pWh37QJ

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.

Utah native Lincoln Larson wins fifth annual PT Autosport Aspiring Driver Shootout

Larson headed next to the Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup Shootout

MILLVILLE, NJ (November 10, 2026) – After three grueling days of fitness testing, interviews, sim work and racing, Lincoln Larson topped seven other finalists to capture PT Autosport’s Aspiring Driver Shootout.

Larson will join the team’s junior squad and earn financial support of up to $250,000 ($50,000 guaranteed) to further his racing career.

The 18-year-old from Park City, Utah, has an opportunity to gain additional support for his career next week, when he joins PT Autosport’s Max Stallone as team drivers who have been invited to the Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup Shootout.

Larson won the 2025 Spec Miata title and went on to earn a $75,000 Mazda scholarship at the Spec MX-5 Shootout. He contested the VIR round of the Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by Michelin, finishing 24th and 16th – gaining 14 positions in the second race.

If Larson is looking for examples of how the Aspiring Driver Shootout can change a young racer’s life, he need look no further than two past winners who were on hand at the Shootout: Luis Beilicke came into last year’s Shootout as a leading sim racer, with no racing experience. Under PT Autosport’s mentorship, he dominated the UK-based Ginetta GT Academy series’ rookie class, capturing a record setting 16 wins in 18 races on his way to the championship title. Inaugural Shootout winner Henry Drury, who handled sim management and data analysis at the Shootout, recently captured the Ginetta Challenge North America championship.

Larson knows that winning the Shootout will change the trajectory of his career, which made his initial reaction completely understandable.

“I was honestly speechless,” said Larson, who is also an instructor at the Allen Berg Racing School at Utah Motorsports Campus. “It was a roller coaster of emotions and I’m not sure it’s even set in yet. This is life-changing for me. I know how much work me and my family and everyone else who supports me has put into this, into believing in me, so there’s also some relief. I couldn’t be more grateful to everyone, from the judges to PT management, everyone who helped me this week.”

Day one of the Shootout held the off-track testing: each candidate made a presentation to the judges about their aspirations and background, and answered questions, then were tested on their sim racing skills. Each finalist then moved on to the fitness test, conducted by Jim Leo, owner of Indianapolis-based PitFit – known globally as one of the leading motorsports and high-performance athlete fitness and training facilities.

Through those three tests, Larson impressed the judges, including Shootout coordinator Alex Sedgwick – one of the founders of PT Autosport, who drove for the team in the Porsche Carrera Cup North America and in GT World Challenge America.

“Lincoln was very good in the sim, in terms of approach – he built up speed carefully and was eager to learn,” said Sedgwick. “We had competitors who were driving the sim in the way that you would in iRacing but that doesn’t apply in any way to the real world. We really didn’t care how fast they were in iRacing: we wanted to know that they could learn, adapt, and take care of a car. Lincoln did a nice job at that.”

Days two and three focused on driving, with each of the eight finalists going out in the team’s Ginetta G56 GTAs with their assigned coach (the coaching team included Cameron Davies, Will Martin and Anton Spires). As each driver progressed, they then took the wheel – though several finalists were eliminated at the end of day two. As day three ended, the choice was clear.

“We had Lincoln first, Vasilios Beletsiotis (from Cologne, Germany) second, and Ellis Spiezia (Hoboken, New Jersey) third,” said Drury. “Lincoln had exactly the kind of approach we’re looking for, undeniable pace, and solid all-round skills. There’s lots we can improve and develop, but he has all of the core traits that make for a future professional racing driver. Vasilios was a well-deserved P2, he developed steadily throughout the week and really surprised us with his improvement from day 1 to day 3, as did Ellis.”

Beletsiotis earned $10,000 to help further his racing career, along with OMP driving shoes and gloves, while Spiezia took home a $5,000 scholarship and a pair of OMP racing gloves. As winner, Larson will receive a full OMP Racing “kit” including a custom race suit and nomex, boots, and gloves for his debut year with PT Autosport.

PT Autosport team principal Jason Myers noted that every year the Aspiring Driver Shootout kicks it up a notch in terms of competition, helping the team choose the best driver for its program.

“Another outstanding Shootout,” said Myers. “I think it was a step up in every aspect of operations and in competition from the candidates. Having Jim Leo from PitFit doing our fitness assessment was a huge benefit to us, he was able to build some good assessments on each candidate for the fitness test, including VO2 max and reaction times.

“Competition in the Ginetta G56s was also great. It was a very tough decision that took us down to the final moments until we ultimately decided on Lincoln. We’re looking forward to having him on the team – and we wish him good luck with the Mazda MX-5 Shootout next week! And of course, we thank all of our partners: OMP, Pirelli, PitFit, Ginetta, Billfold, Flow Society, Solenza, Myers Tactical and of course, Momentum Brewery and Race Brew 0.0%.”

About PT Autosport — Discover Unique Talent. Develop Champions.

PT Autosport provides merit-based motorsport industry opportunities for diverse individuals with high integrity, grit, and coach-ability, achieved through a development program for young aspiring drivers, engineers, mechanics, and other professionals. The first step of this process is applying for the annual Aspiring Driver Shootout, in which aspiring drivers aged 18-23 can compete for a team racing partnership with the team.

A rigorous evaluation process of applicants determines the final competitors for the driver shootout. The winner earns financial support of up to $250,000 ($50,000 guaranteed) to pursue their racing career. The review process also provides the team the chance to identify unique talent for other roles in motorsport, including race engineers, mechanics, and professionals.

PT Autosport is building a community that fosters the development of young talent to find a place where they can make an impact in the motorsport community as a career.

Instagram: @pt_autosport
X: @PtAutosport
Facebook: PT Autosport
YouTube: PT Autosport
TikTok: @ptautosport

Jim Dunn Racing – Pomona Advance for the 60th In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals

Jeff Arend

Moon Beer Funny Car Driver for Jim Dunn Racing
60th In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals
Nov. 12-15 | Pomona, California

Event Overview
Friday, Nov. 13 (Nitro Qualifying, streamed live on NHRA.TV)

Nitro qualifying session (Q1): 1 p.m. PDT/4 p.m. EDT
Nitro qualifying session (Q2): 3:30 p.m. PDT/6:30 p.m. EDT

Saturday, Nov. 14 (Nitro Qualifying, streamed live on NHRA.TV)

Nitro qualifying session (Q3): 11:30 a.m. PDT/2:30 p.m. EDT
Nitro qualifying session (Q4): 2 p.m. PDT/5 p.m. EDT

Sunday, Nov. 15 (Nitro Eliminations, streamed live on NHRA.TV)

Round 1: 11 a.m. PDT/2 p.m. EDT
Round 2: 1:15 p.m. PDT/4:15 p.m. EDT
Semifinals: 2:45 p.m. PDT/5:45 p.m. EDT
Finals: 4:10 p.m. PDT/7:10 p.m. EDT

TV coverage on FS1

Sunday, Nov. 15: Qualifying show recapping the action from Friday and Saturday (11 a.m. EDT)
Sunday, Nov. 15: Finals show (5 p.m. EDT)

Notes of Interest

This weekend’s In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Pomona, California is the 20th and final race on the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series’ schedule, and the iconic California venue is where the six-race Countdown to the Championship culminates. Jim Dunn Racing brings its one full-time entry in Funny Car for Jeff Arend. A native of Canada, Arend moved to Southern California in 1997.

As the NHRA celebrates its landmark 75th season in 2026, Jim Dunn Racing is celebrating 76 years of success in drag racing. Jim started drag racing when he was 15 years old and at 92 years old, he plans to keep going as long as he can. In 2024, Jim received the NHRA Lifetime Achievement Award. He has won some of the sport’s most significant races and has provided driving opportunities for some of the biggest names in the sport.

Coming into Pomona, Arend is 16th in the Funny Car standings, 2245 points behind leader Matt Hagan.

Moon Beer is the primary partner of Arend this weekend in Pomona. Moon Beer is an easy-drinking American light lager created as a collaboration between Mooneyes and Frogtown Brewery. The beer has a crisp, clean finish. Frogtown’s premium quality hops and horsepower delivers a light-bodied lager that is tuned and dialed to keep you cruising all-day long. Frogtown Brewery is an independent craft brewery and taproom located in northeast Los Angeles along the L.A. River. It was recently named one of the 50 Fastest Growing Breweries in the United States by the Brewers Association.

The NHRA Finals will mark Arend’s 264th career Funny Car appearance, and his 27th overall appearance at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip.

In no other event has Jim Dunn Racing won more often than it has in the In-N-Out Burger Finals. Unfortunately, both wins (Funny Car titles in 1972 and 1981 with Jim Dunn himself the driver of record) came before the event was moved permanently to In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in 1984. The first win (at Ontario Motor Speedway) was the most significant insomuch as it came with Dunn driving a rear-engine version of his “Fireman’s Quickie” Funny Car. That stands today as the only NHRA Funny Car victory in a car of that configuration. When he won in 1981 (beating California racing legends John Lombardo, Don Prudhomme, Dale Pulde and Gary Burgin), it was in a conventional Funny Car on the track at Orange County Internationals Raceway in Irvine, Calif. Best result since the race was moved to Pomona was Kenji Okazaki’s trip to the semifinals in 1996.

Arend has made 14 starts in the Finals and 26 starts overall at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip. His best result was a runner-up finish to John Force in the 2010 Finals. His overall record at Pomona is 10-26. In his previous affiliation with Jim Dunn Racing, he was the No. 8 qualifier in 2013 and the No. 14 qualifier in 2014.

Jim Dunn Racing still is seeking its first win in a Countdown race although Arend independently won a playoff event in 2009 when, after qualifying 15th, he beat Jack Beckman, John Force, Ashley Force Hood and Tony Pedregon to win at Memphis, Tenn.

Jeff Arend, Driver of the Jim Dunn Racing Moon Beer Funny Car

Looking back on this season with Jim Dunn Racing, how great was it to be reunited with the team again and what are you most proud of accomplishing?

“I can still remember my phone ringing on that Saturday morning of the Winternationals and seeing the name Jon Dunn pop up. Now Jon and I talk all the time, but I was not expecting him to ask ‘Hey Jeff, can you drive our car for Q3 and Q4?’ And that’s how it started. Looking back on the year while we haven’t won any rounds, we also have become a consistent low 4-second racecar and we don’t hurt any parts. The two things I am most proud of are one, at every race but one we have gone down the track with respectable runs between 4.01- 4.15-seconds and other teams are taking us seriously. The best race for me was Indy. It was the largest field in the last 10 plus years and we qualified and didn’t even have to make the last run. Indy is Big Jim’s favorite race and to see the smile on Jim and Diane’s face meant everything to me! The icing on the cake was running 320 miles per hour in the first round. Now we are at the final race, our home track and we know what’s been plaguing us all year. Some round wins and 3-second runs would be a nice way to end the season!”

Need Car Electrical Parts? Explore Replacement Options at TeamVehicle

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

You start the engine using the key, but it fails to start. The headlight fails to function, or the battery continues draining. When you encounter electrical issues with your car, identifying the right replacement parts is the next step. However, all electrical issues do not require the same replacement part.

 The alternator, starter, battery, fuse, and ignition coil are just a few of the electrical components with distinct functions. Understanding the functions of these components may be beneficial when searching for replacement parts. Here are some product categories of car electrical parts from TeamVehicle.

The Electrical Parts Behind Your Vehicle’s Everyday Performance

Your car depends on several electrical parts to start and run properly. The battery supplies the initial power, while the alternator recharges it as the engine runs. The starter turns the engine on. Each component has a different role in keeping your vehicle running. Other automotive parts protect and control the electrical system. 

Fuses help prevent circuit overloads, while relays manage power to different components. Ignition, lighting, and control systems also rely on electrical parts. TeamVehicle offers options such as batteries, alternators, starters, voltage regulators, and other electrical components.

Alternators or Starters: Which Part Does Your Vehicle Need?

Although alternators and starter motors have different roles, problems in either of the two may impact the functioning of the car. Starter motors utilize the energy supplied by the battery in order to get the engine moving at the time of ignition. The alternators produce electrical energy while the engine is running and assist in maintaining the energy levels.

 A car that does not start is not necessarily a starter failure, and frequent issues with batteries cannot be attributed to problems with the alternators. TeamVehicle features alternators, voltage regulators, starters, solenoids, switches, and more.

Fuses, Relays, and Ignition Coils That Keep Systems Working

A defective fuse, relay, or ignition component will have an impact on various features in your car. Fuses ensure that electrical circuits get broken once the current goes beyond the rated value. Relays function as electric switches that enable a single circuit to control the other circuit. 

Ignition coils, on the other hand, are responsible for providing a boost in voltage that is required by spark plugs in gas engines. Specifications vary from one component to another, meaning that you cannot replace one part with another that looks similar.

From Sensors to Headlights: Explore Other Essential Electrical Parts

Electrical replacement requirements go beyond the ignition and charging system. Sensors detect the status of the vehicle and transmit data to the controller system. Switches operate various functions, while the wiring, connectors, and terminals transfer electrical power and signals. The same holds true for lighting parts, which are necessary for visibility and proper functioning of the vehicle. 

The TeamVehicle inventory includes items such as headlamps, interior/exterior lights, lighting modules, switches, and relays. Its wiper inventory consists of motors, arms, blades, refills, and washer pumps. When researching these categories, consider if you require an entire unit or just one component.

What Matters When Choosing the Right Electrical Replacement?

Electrical components may appear identical yet have different specifications, connectivity, and uses. Prior to purchasing the correct replacement part, the following should be considered:

  • Vehicle specification: The year, make, model, and engine, as applicable.
  • Electrical specifications: The stated voltage, current, output, or fuse rating. 
  • Connector specifications: Differences in plug configuration, pin count, terminal positioning, and cable connectivity. 
  • Part numbers: Rely on the existing part’s reference code to aid in determining the needed part.
  • Product description: Determine if the product listing includes an entire assembly or just one component.

Find Alternatives to Electrical Parts at TeamVehicle

If the part that needs replacing is already identified, it becomes easier to browse through the appropriate catalog categories. TeamVehicle categorizes suitable electrical products based on categories such as electrical, wipers/lamps/fuses, and ignition/filters. Depending on the product category, consumers can browse through alternators, batteries, starter assemblies, lighting components, fuses, and wipers. 

Year, make, and model searching for the car is available in the vehicle selection tool on the website. The site provides information regarding license plate and VIN lookups. For advanced searching, Pro Search includes year, make, model, and engine.

Identify the Electrical Parts Your Car Needs

All electrical problems do not require the same replacement auto part. Electrical problems like starting trouble, malfunctioning lights, or charging trouble may each need a different component. Knowing what each component does allows you to limit your choices. 

Alternators, starters, fuses, ignition coils, and lighting components are all brought together by TeamVehicle in their catalog. Search for the categories that have what you need, review the specifications, and see how well it fits your car before you order. Spend some time finding what is right for you.

CHAMPIONSHIP SCENARIOS BRING PLENTY OF EXCITEMENT TO POMONA FOR IN-N-OUT BURGER NHRA FINALS

POMONA, Calif. (Nov. 9, 2026) – Championship drama is alive and well as the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series closes out its 75th anniversary season with this weekend’s electric In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals at legendary In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip.

Championships will be decided in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle and though each title race comes with varying degrees of drama, the weekend is poised to be something special to close out NHRA’s milestone campaign.

Will we have a winner-take-all finale?

It’s not a guarantee, but there’s at least possibilities in a couple of classes heading into a massive weekend in Pomona.

Let’s take a look at the title chases and the hopefuls who hope to have their championship moments at the historic facility.

TOP FUEL

Drama is at a relative minimum here – at least compared to the other categories. Doug Kalitta’s Las Vegas win gives him a fighting chance against teammate and championship frontrunner Shawn Langdon, but this one is still heavily steered towards Langdon becoming a two-time champ.

Langdon currently holds a 107-point lead against the reigning champ, which means if things stand pat during qualifying, Langdon will only have to win the first round – even with points-and-a-half on the line – to clinch the title after a dominant season.

If Langdon gets 13 or more qualifying points than Kalitta in qualifying, he can clinch it to close out qualifying on Saturday.

FUNNY CAR

This one got a whole lot more interesting following Jordan Vandergriff’s victory in Las Vegas, as he enters the weekend 39 points back of Matt Hagan, who has his eyes on a remarkable fifth Funny Car world title.

Getting it under 30 points in qualifying – which would be difficult, but certainly not impossible – sets up a possibly winner-take-all scenario, but as it stands, Vandergriff needs to go two rounds further to pass Hagan at the finale.

Of course, that happened in Las Vegas, which sets up for a thrilling Pomona. Vandergriff certainly has momentum, but Hagan has been steady all season and has an incredible track record in Pomona, too. He won the spring race – at the 1,000th Funny Car race – and his eight wins at the legendary facility are second to only John Force in the Funny Car ranks.

J.R. Todd isn’t out of the mix, either. He’s 104 points out of first but will likely need a race win and some help to hoist a second world title.

PRO STOCK

Glenn is honing in on a second world title and seems like a runaway freight train heading to Pomona. He’s won the last two events, qualifying No. 1 at both events and making the quickest pass in Pro Stock history, taking an 87-point lead over Matt Hartford and a 99-point advantage over Greg Stanfield into the finale.

Should Glenn continue his torrid qualifying pace and get it to more than 90 points over Hartford going into Sunday, a first-round win would clinch the championship for Glenn.

If he doesn’t, he’ll need a second-round win to pick up a second world title.

An early loss – and Glenn did suffer a rare first-round mishap to open the Countdown to the Championship – would throw things into chaos.

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE

There’s bonus action in Pro Stock Motorcycle and that extra excitement could set the stage for a thriller on Sunday.

The final round from Las Vegas, featuring teammates Richard Gadson and Gaige Herrera, was postponed to Saturday qualifying in Pomona and there’s plenty riding on the outcome. Should Gadson, the reigning world champ, get the victory, he’ll add 20 points to his lead, which currently stands at 55 points over Herrera.

If the two-time champ Herrera wins and does some damage in qualifying, that deficit could get under 30 points for Sunday, setting up what could be an incredible winner-take-all scenario between the two standouts.

That means a 40-point swing is on the line on Saturday, which could go a long way when it comes to a world title and any Sunday dramatics.

The weekend begins Friday with two rounds of qualifying and the final two rounds follow on Saturday, followed by eliminations on Sunday, where world champions will be crowned at one of motorsports’ most historic venues. This year’s race will be broadcast on FS1, including eliminations coverage starting at 5 p.m. ET on Sunday.

Pomona race fans can also enjoy special pre-race ceremonies on Sunday, along with the SealMaster Track Walk. Another can’t-miss experience is Sunday’s winner’s circle celebration, where fans are invited to congratulate the champs and event winners. As always, every ticket is a pit pass to the most powerful motorsports attraction. Fans can see their favorite teams in action, get autographs from their favorite drivers and more. They can also visit the midway for displays, merchandise, food and fun.

In Pomona, the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series will feature two qualifying rounds at 12 and 2:30 p.m. PT on Friday, and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. PT on Sunday. Television coverage includes qualifying action on FS1 at 11 a.m. ET on Sunday, followed by eliminations coverage at 5 p.m. ET.

To purchase tickets to the 61st annual In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals, fans can visit www.NHRA.com/tickets. All children 12 and under will be admitted free in the general admission area with a paid adult. For more information about NHRA, visit www.NHRA.com.


About Mission Foods

MISSION®, owned by GRUMA, S.A.B. de C.V., is the world’s leading brand for tortillas and wraps. MISSION® is also globally renowned for flatbreads, dips, salsas and Mexican food products. With presence in over 112 countries, MISSION® products are suited to the lifestyles and the local tastes of each country. With innovation and customer needs in mind, MISSION® focuses on the highest quality, authentic flavors, and providing healthy options that families and friends can enjoy together. For more information, please visit https://www.missionfoods.com/

About NHRA

NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. NHRA presents 20 national events featuring the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series and NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, as well as the JBS Equipment NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Elite Motorsports and NHRA Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown™ at select national events. NHRA provides competition opportunities for drivers of all levels in the NHRA Summit Racing Series and NHRA Street Legal™. NHRA also offers the NHRA Jr. Street® program for teens and the Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League® for youth ages 5 to 17. With more than 100 Member Tracks, NHRA allows racers to compete at a variety of locations nationally and internationally. NHRA’s Youth and Education Services® (YES) Program reaches over 30,000 students annually to ignite their interest in automotive and racing related careers. NHRA’s streaming service, NHRA.tv®, allows fans to view all NHRA national events as well as exclusive features of the sport. In addition, NHRA owns and operates three racing facilities: Gainesville Raceway in Florida; Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park; and In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Southern California. For more information, log on to www.NHRA.com, or visit the official NHRA pages on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Blake Harris named Shane van Gisbergen’s crew chief for 2027 Cup season

Photo by Logan Allen for SpeedwayMedia.com.

Blake Harris will be joining Trackhouse Racing and work as Shane van Gisbergen’s crew chief for the 2027 NASCAR Cup Series season.

The announcement, which was made by Trackhouse Racing on Monday, November 9, comes as Harris caps off his fourth consecutive season working as a crew chief at Hendrick Motorsports and the No. 48 Chevrolet team piloted by Alex Bowman. 

Bowman, who was absent for four races earlier this season, concluded the 2026 season in 26th place in the standings with four top-five results, eight top-10 results and an average-finishing result of 20.0. Next season will mark Bowman’s final full-time campaign in the Cup Series division as Connor Zilisch will then replace Bowman in the No. 48 entry for the 2028 season.

Harris made his first appearance as a Cup crew chief with Martin Truex Jr. at Texas Motor Speedway in mid-October 2020 before he worked as Michael McDowell’s crew chief in 2022, the latter of which occurred at Front Row Motorsports. Beginning in 2023, Harris worked at Hendrick Motorsports as the No. 48 crew chief and with Bowman. Over four seasons, the duo notched a victory at the Chicago Street Course in 2024 along with 17 top-five results, 31 top-10 results, four poles (including the 2023 Daytona 500 pole) and 313 laps led. They also achieved a Playoff berth in 2024 and finished in ninth place in the final standings. 

Even when the No. 48 entry was piloted for select events by interim competitors Josh Berry, Anthony Alfredo and Justin Allgaier in two seasons, during which Bowman suffered a back injury from a sprint car accident in 2023 and suffered from vertigo in 2026, Harris remained atop the pit box of the No. 48 team.

Through 173 events as a Cup Series crew chief, Harris has achieved a single victory, four poles, 24 top-five results and 62 top-10 results while working with six different competitors. The 2027 season will feature a seventh competitor Harris will be working with, that being van Gisbergen, a three-time Supercars champion and driver of the No. 97 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet entry. Harris replaces Stephen Doran while Doran transitions to Spire Motorsports to work as a Cup crew chief for Michael McDowell.

This past season, van Gisbergen, who competed in his second full-time campaign in NASCAR’s premier series, notched a pair of road course victories (Watkins Glen International in May and Sonoma Raceway in June) along with a pair of poles, six top-five results, 10 top-10 results, 270 laps led and an average-finishing result of 18.9. Despite missing the Chase, he emerged as the highest non-Chase competitor in the final standings in 17th place to cap off the 2026 season. 

Hendrick Motorsports’ decision on a new crew chief for Bowman and the No. 48 Chevrolet team for the 2027 Cup Series season remains to be determined.

The 2027 NASCAR Cup Series season is scheduled to commence with the Wheatley Vodka Clash at Daytona International Speedway on February 13. This event will then be followed with with 69th annual running of the Daytona 500 that will occur on February 21 and air on FOX Sports, MRN Radio, SiriusXM and HBO MAX.