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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.

Austin Hill achieves fourth O’Reilly victory in season opener at Daytona

Photo by Patrick Sue-Chan for SpeedwayMedia.com.

Austin Hill returned victorious to commence a new season of NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series racing by winning the season-opening United Rentals 300 at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, February 14.

The 31-year-old Hill from Winston, Georgia, led six times for a race-high 78 of 120 scheduled laps in an event where he started on pole position, swept both of the event’s first two stage periods and battled towards the front amid the draft and tight-packed racing.

Through two strategic pit stops and staying clear of two multi-car wrecks for the majority of the final stage period, Hill executed crucial moves through the draft. He navigated back to the front after his entry was serviced and returned atop the leaderboard with nearly 10 laps remaining. Despite having his progress stalled through two late cautions and a two-lap shootout, Hill fended off late surges from Brennan Poole, Justin Allgaier and Jordan Anderson on the final lap, surging to his unprecedented fourth victory in the season opener in Daytona.

With on-track qualifying that determined the starting lineup occurring on Saturday, Austin Hill secured the pole position with a pole-winning lap at 182.223 mph in 49.390 seconds. Hill shared the front row with teammate Jesse Love, the latter of whom clocked in his fastest qualifying lap at 182.219 mph in 49.391 seconds.

Prior to the event, Anthony Alfredo, who initially did not qualify for the event, dropped to the rear of the field after he replaced Caesar Bacarella in the No. 4 Alpha Prime Racing Chevrolet entry. The following names that included Harrison Burton, Kyle Sieg, Carson Ware and Parker Retzlaff also dropped to the rear of the field due to unapproved adjustments that were made to their respective entries.

Just as teammates Austin Hill and Jesse Love led the field through the frontstretch to take the green flag and commence the 2026 O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season, the event’s first caution quickly flew when a stack-up ignited a chain reaction and chaos within the mid-pack region. 

In the process, Jeremy Clements and Brennan Poole were sent spinning through the frontstretch’s grass while numerous competitors that included Marion Maggio, Anthony Alfredo, Luke Fenhaus, Natalie Decker, Patrick Emerling, Lavar Scott and Josh Williams sustained damage to their respective entries. The competitor who sustained the most damage was Maggio, who T-boned into the rear of Emerling.

Following an extensive caution period, the event restarted under green on the sixth lap. At the start, Hill and William Sawalich dueled for the lead in front of the field that was fanned out to two-stacked lanes through the first two turns and the backstretch. As the field fanned out to three lanes through the backstretch, with a third lane being led by Ryan Sieg, Sawalich muscled ahead from the inside lane and led the next lap over Hill and Sam Mayer.

Through the first 10-scheduled laps and as the field continued to battle through three lanes, Hill was leading over teammate Love, Ryan Sieg, Kvapil and Sawalich while Brandon Jones, Corey Day, Sam Mayer, Nick Sanchez and Patrick Staropoli were jostling in the top 10. Behind, Sheldon Creed, Jeremy Clements, Carson Hocevar, Rajah Caruth, Dean Thompson, Sammy Smith, Justin Allgaier, Taylor Gray, Harrison Burton and Giovanni Ruggiero were mired in the top 20, respectively.

Five laps later, a majority of the field migrated in single-line formation towards outside lane. This formation was led by Hill, who also continued to lead the event over Love, Kvapil, Sanchez and Clements while Sammy Smith, Thompson, Mayer (who led inside lane), Harrison Burton and Blaine Perkins were mired in the top 10. Meanwhile, Ryan Sieg, who fell off the pace a few laps earlier due to a cut tire and cycled for a full lap before pitting under green, was mired in 37th place and pinned a lap down.

Over the next five laps, Mayer, who led a draft from the inside lane, got as close to battling Love for the runner-up spot as Hill maintained the lead. Prior to the Lap 20 mark and as the front-runners fanned out to three lanes, Mayer got shuffled out of line by Sammy Smith and drifted out of the top-10 mark. Amid the three-wide action, the outside lane led by Hill maintained the upper advantage with a majority of competitors racing towards the outside lane amid the draft. Meanwhile, Hill proceeded to lead through the Lap 25 mark until Sammy Smith came charging back with a draft from the inside lane.

Then approaching Lap 28, Day, who was pinned in a three-wide battle with Sawalich and Allgaier for ninth place, snapped sideways and spun to the bottom of the track entering the frontstretch. As Day straightened his entry, he barely hit the inside wall on the left-rear side, but he managed to avoid sustaining more damage to his left side, pilot back up into the racing surface without getting collided and continue without drawing a caution.

Then as the front-runners entered the frontstretch, a multi-car wreck erupted when Mayer, who was trying to claim third place, made contact and sent Sammy Smith sideways through Turns 3 and 4. Both caused a stack-up and collected both Creed and Ruggiero before all shot up the track and wrecked against the outside wall, thus collecting Sanchez. With the caution flying and the field completing both the Lap 30 mark and the first stage period, Hill cruised to capture the first stage victory over Love, Kvapil, Allgaier, Perkins, Creed, Sawalich, Sanchez, Clements and Jones.

Under the event’s first stage break period, a majority of the field led by Hill pitted for service while select names led by Alfredo remained on the track. Once those led by Alfredo pitted during the next lap under caution, Kvapil, who was the first competitor to exit pit road first during the previous lap, cycled to the lead over Love and Hill.

The second stage period started on Lap 38 as Love and Hill occupied the front row in front of Caruth, Kvapil, Jones and Sawalich. At the start, Love received the upper advantage from the outside lane as he muscled ahead through the frontstretch. He then transitioned from the outside to the inside lane in front of teammate Hill as the former led through the first two turns and the backstretch. As both Hill and Caruth dueled for the runner-up spot in front of two-stacked lanes, Love led the next lap. Despite muscling ahead of Caruth during the following lap, Hill would be repeatedly challenged by Sawalich for the runner-up spot through every turn and straightaway as Love led the Lap 40 mark.

At the Lap 45 mark, the top-21 competitors were separated by nearly two seconds of one another amid the draft as Hill navigated his way back to the lead over Sawalich, Love, Caruth, Allgaier, Kvapil, Taylor Gray, Brandon Jones, Clements and Retzlaff. With the field fanning out to three drafting lanes, Hill, who went on defensive mode through all lanes, continued to lead by Lap 50.

When the second stage concluded on Lap 60, Hill fended off late challenges from Caruth and Kvapil to go two-for-two in stages in 2026. Kvapil, Allgaier, Sawalich and Caruth settled in the top five while Retzlaff, Sammy Smith, Clements, Jeb Burton and Perkins were scored in the top 10. Notably, Day, who snapped sideways entering the frontstretch for a second time but managed to keep his car racing straight and in race pace with the pack, settled in 11th ahead of Jones, Love, Gray and Austin Green.

During the event’s second stage break period, the lead lap field led by Hill returned to pit road for service. Following the pit stops, Hill exited first over Sawalich, Allgaier and the rest of the field.

With 53 laps remaining, the final stage period commenced as Hill and Sawalich occupied the front row. At the start, Hill received an early boost from Allgaier from the inside lane. This enabled Hill to launch ahead through the first two turns, though Hill quickly went on defensive mode on Sawalich due to losing the draft from Allgaier. Allgaier would regain his advantage from the inside lane as he had teammate Caruth drafting him. While Allgaier and Sawalich dueled for the runner-up spot, Hill led the next lap moments before Allgaier tried to mount a charge alongside Hill from the inside lane.

Down to the final 50 laps of the event, the field fanned out to three-wide formation amid tight-pack racing. At the front, Hill was leading ahead of Sawalich, Jones, Allgaier, Kvapil, Gray, Caruth, Jeb Burton, Love and Clements while Daniel Dye, Day, Retzlaff, Mayer, Perkins, Austin Green, Kyle Sieg, Patrick Emerling, Josh Williams and Staropoli trailed in the top 20, respectively.

Ten laps later, green flag pit stops occurred as the leader Hill, Love, Retzlaff, Perkins, Jeb Burton and Caesar Bacarella peeled off the racetrack and pitted, primarily for fuel. Taylor Gray and Daniel Dye pitted during the next lap before Sawalich pitted the lap after. Amid the pit stops and with the field scattered through different pit strategies, Mayer assumed command of the field and over Allgaier, Day, Kvapil and Kyle Sieg while Emerling, Clements, Sammy Smith, Caruth and Jones were in the top 10 with 35 laps remaining.

The leader Mayer led the top-11 competitors to pit road with 34 laps remaining while Jordan Anderson, Hocevar, Poole, Josh Bilicki and Ryan Ellis remained on the track. Then once the latter five competitors pitted under green, Love, who trailed the top-five competitors by 19 seconds, cycled to the lead.

Shortly after, the caution flew for a multi-car wreck that erupted through the first two turns. The incident started when Ryan Sieg got turned off the front nose of Jeb Burton while Taylor Gray clipped teammate Jones and the latter two spun while trying to avoid Sieg. In the process, Allgaier made contact with Gray’s spinning entry while Mayer collided into Jones’ Toyota. Mayer then received more heavy contact from both the outside wall and a hard-charging Clements before the former’s wrecked entry slid down the track’s apron, went back up the track and was collided into by Natalie Decker.

The latest multi-car incident was enough for the event to be placed in a red flag delay for 13 minutes to have the carnage scene cleaned up. When the red flag lifted and the field proceeded under a cautious pace, some including Hill, Day, Anderson, Alfredo, Dye, Cody Ware and Bilicki pitted while the rest led by Love remained on the track. 

The start of the next restart with 24 laps remaining featured Love and Smith on the front row as the duo restarted in front of Kvapil, Perkins, Caruth and Retzlaff. At the start, Love and Smith had Perkins and Kvapil, respectively drafting them through the first two turns and the early portions of the backstretch before the rest of the field led by Caruth and Retzlaff caught back up to them. As the field got jumbled up while racing in two-wide formation entering the frontstretch, Love led the next lap over Smith. The field began to slowly fan out to three lanes, as Smith muscled ahead of Love, Kvapil and the filed to lead the following lap.

Then with 21 laps remaining, the caution returned when Sawalich, who was racing in fifth place, received a tap from Day and spun in Turn 3. With Day making contact with Sawalich, a second multi-car wreck ignited that involved Hocevar, Gray, Dye, Harrison Burton, Jeb Burton, Caruth, Staropoli, Kyle Sieg and Lavar Scott. 

As the event restarted under green with 13 laps remaining, teammates Hill and Love, both of whom occupied the front row, battled dead even for the lead for a full lap in front of Perkins, Smith and the rest of the field stacked amid two-packed lanes. Both Hill and Love continued to battle dead even through the fronstretch and the start of the next lap before the caution returned due to Jeb Burton blowing a right-front tire and scattering debris across the track.

Hill and Love again dueled for the lead through the first two turns during the next restart with eight laps remaining as Smith and Perkins followed suit in two-wide formation. As the field briefly got bunched up through the backstretch, Hill managed to muscle ahead of Love and have both lanes to his control, where he led the next lap. Behind Hill, Perkins challenged Love for second in front of Smith and Retzlaff as the field fanned out. After reeling in Hill, Love then executed a bold crossover move beneath Hill through the frontstretch to lead next lap from inside lane, but Hill drew back even from outside and muscled ahead.

Following another caution that flew with six laps remaining due to both Caruth and Hocevar spinning in the backstretch, the event restarted with two laps remaining. During the latest start, Hill and Smith, both of whom received respective pushes from Poole and Love, navigated the field through the first two turns. Then through the backstretch, Kvapil made a bold charge from a third lane towards the outside wall, but his momentum got stalled as both Love and Smith moved in front of him. Their moves allowed Hill to muscle ahead as he had both Poole and Allgaier drafting him through Turns 3 and 4.

When the white flag waved and the final lap started, Hill remained in the lead ahead of a four-car breakaway that involved Poole, Allgaier and Jordan Anderson while the rest of the field were trying to reel in Hill. As Hill continued to lead through the first two turns and the early portions of the backstretch, Poole received big pushes from both Allgaier and Anderson that caused Poole to get loose and go up the track through the backstretch. 

As Poole lost his momentum, Allgaier also nearly went up the track after he received a big push from Anderson. This allowed Anderson to get underneath Allgaier and reel in to Hill’s rear bumper through the backstretch. Hill managed to remain in front of Anderson and receive a push from the latter to slightly boost ahead. With both Allgaier and Anderson unable to reel in Hill from drafts, Hill cycled back to the frontstretch and claim the checkered flag by 0.081 seconds.

With the victory, Hill notched his 15th career win in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series division, his fourth win at the Daytona opener in five years, his 11th on superspeedway venues and his first since he won at Talladega in October 2025.

Hill’s Daytona victory also marked the record-setting 11th O’Reilly win at the World Center of Racing for Richard Childress Racing and the 54th time where the Chevrolet nameplate was piloted to Victory Lane at Daytona.

During his celebrations in Victory Lane, Hill credited the risky pit call made by his crew chief Chad Haney to pit under caution with less than 30 laps remaining that enabled Hill to navigate his way back to the lead amid the draft and the intense racing within the packed field.

“[I] Drove right up through there, and then I wanted to work with my teammate there at the end, Jesse [Love], but I just knew that the bottom was going to surge, or I felt like it was,” Hill said in Victory Lane on the CW Network. “The top lane always gets discombobulated, they move around a lot and everyone’s trying to screw everybody over, so I just thought the bottom lane was probably the best thing for me.”

“[I] Thought I messed up on my white flag lap off of [Turn] 2,” Hill added. “I got way out and luckily, I was able to make the block on [Allgaier], and I almost missed the block on whoever the blue car [Anderson] was. I almost missed this block, and right when I got down, he gave me a shot. I had to save the car and then after that, it was just hammer down and just hoping that they wouldn’t get back to me. Daytona’s been so good to me. I love this place, and it’s always fun to win and always fun to be here in Victory Lane talking to you [reporters].”

Justin Allgaier muscled his way into the runner-up spot followed by Ryan Sieg while Jordan Anderson settled in fourth place in front of Sammy Smith. Ryan Ellis, Carson Kvapil, Blaine Perkins, Jesse Love and Rajah Caruth completed the top 10 in the final running order.

The 2026 O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season opener featured 15 lead changes for eight different leaders, and seven cautions for 36 laps. In addition, 21 of 38 starters finished on the lead lap.

Following the first event of the 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season, Austin Hill leads the standings by 25 points over Justin Allgaier, 28 over Carson Kvapil, 38 over Jesse Love and 39 over Sammy Smith and Blaine Perkins apiece.

Results:

1. Austin Hill, 78 laps led, Stages 1 & 2 winner

2. Justin Allgaier

3. Ryan Sieg

4. Jordan Anderson, four laps led

5. Sammy Smith, one lap led

6. Ryan Ellis, one lap led

7. Carson Kvapil

8. Blaine Perkins

9. Jesse Love, 27 laps led

10. Rajah Caruth, one lap led

11. Anthony Alfredo

12. Brennan Poole

13. Patrick Emerling

14. Parker Retzlaff

15. Kyle Sieg

16. Lavar Scott

17. Josh Bilicki

18. Patrick Staropoli

19. Carson Ware

20. Carson Hocevar

21. Daniel Dye

22. Austin Green, two laps down

23. Luke Fenhaus, three laps down

24. Sheldon Creed, four laps down

25. Jeb Burton – OUT, DVP

26. William Sawalich – OUT, DVP, two laps led

27. Corey Day – OUT, Accident

28. Taylor Gray – OUT, Accident

29. Harrison Burton – OUT, Accident

30. Brandon Jones – OUT, DVP

31. Sam Mayer – OUT, Accident, six laps led

32. Jeremy Clements – OUT, Accident

33. Natalie Decker – OUT, Accident

34. Josh Williams – OUT, Engine

35. Dean Thompson – OUT, Suspension

36. Nick Sanchez – OUT, Accident

37. Giovanni Ruggiero – OUT, Accident

38. Mason Maggio – OUT, Accident

With the 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season underway, the next event on the schedule is EchoPark Speedway in Hampton, Georgia, for the Bennett Transportation & Logistics 250. The event is scheduled to occur next Saturday, February 21, and air at 5 p.m. ET on the CW Network, PRN Radio and SiriusXM.

TEAM TOYOTA COLLECTED IN INCIDENT-FILLED O’REILLY AUTO PARTS SEASON OPENER

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (February 14, 2026) – All six Toyota GR Supras from Joe Gibbs Racing and Sam Hunt Racing failed to finish an incident-filled NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday evening.

Toyota Racing Post-Race Recap
NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series (NOAPS)
Daytona International Speedway
Race 1 of 33 – 300 miles, 120 laps

TOYOTA FINISHING POSITIONS

1st, Austin Hill*
2nd, Justin Allgaier*
3rd, Ryan Sieg*
4th, Jordan Anderson*
5th, Sammy Smith*
26th, WILLIAM SAWALICH
28th, TAYLOR GRAY
29th, HARRISON BURTON
30th, BRANDON JONES
35th, DEAN THOMPSON
37th, GIO RUGGIERO
*non-Toyota driver

TOYOTA QUOTES

TAYLOR GRAY, No. 54 Operation 300 Toyota GR Supra, Joe Gibbs Racing

Finishing Position: 28th

What happened out there?

“Just wrong place, wrong time. Guys getting impatient, but at the end of the day, I felt like we had a really fast Operation 300 Toyota GR Supra. Can’t thank everyone at Joe Gibbs Racing and TOYOTA RACING enough for working hard all off season and bringing fast cars to the track. We will move on to Atlanta next weekend.”

BRANDON JONES, No. 20 Menards/Swiffer Toyota GR Supra, Joe Gibbs Racing

Finishing Position: 30th

How disappointing that this is how your night ends?
“You never want to start the year like this, especially because we had some people from the Menards family here with us today, Swiffer such a long-time supporter of our race team, so I hate that we have to go out like this, but this kind of racing is just for the birds in my opinion. It is so difficult to make it to the end. We did a lot of things right today, made a couple of mistakes – missed a few runs, here and there, that I can go back and learn from – but I was proud of the save early on. Hopefully the Toyota in-car showed that, because it was pretty epic – there was some really good moments, so I’m going to take the highs and study some of the lows and see how we can do it, because we have plenty of these tracks left on the schedule to try to tackle. We will continue to work at it, including at the home track next week.”

GIO RUGGIERO, No. 19 First Auto Group Toyota GR Supra, Joe Gibbs Racing

Finishing Position: 37th

What happened?

“I think it is just people being stupid. The 8 (Sammy Smith) just looked like he cleared himself or I don’t know if the 1 (Carson Kvapil) got into him, yeah, just stupid move when you are running full-time for points. I don’t think that is going to get you anywhere. Just unfortunate. I hate it for the guys on the 19 Toyota team. Obviously, having a couple of different drivers and starting to start the year off good in owners’ points, so wish I could have brought them a better finish because they brought a really good car. We definitely had a chance to win it.”

About Toyota

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

Toyota directly employs nearly 48,000 people in the U.S. who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of more than 35 million cars and trucks at our 11 manufacturing plants. In 2025, Toyota’s plant in North Carolina began to assemble automotive batteries for electrified vehicles.

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

Ford Racing Notes and Quotes – NOAPS United Rentals 300 Post-Race Quotes

Ford Racing Notes and Quotes
NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series
United Rentals 300 — Daytona International Speedway
Saturday, February 14, 2026

Nick Sanchez finished eighth in Stage 1, despite being collected in a multi-car accident coming to the finish line. The damage, however, was enough to force him out of the race in 36th place.

NICK SANCHEZ, No. 25 Better Compute Works Inc. Ford Mustang Dark Horse – WHAT DID YOU SEE IN FRONT OF YOU? “Not a whole lot. Obviously, there was a wreck on the bottom and I was committed middle-top and it came up to me and I got caught up in it. It’s really unfortunate for the whole AM Racing team. MCL, Better Compute Works and Ford. We had a really good car in the beginning and was able to drive up from the back. We were just racing hard and got collected, which sucks. That’s the second year in a row.”

DID YOU SEE THE REPLAY? “I don’t really know what was going on, honestly. I wasn’t really expecting them to wreck there. I mean, it’s not really a place you’d wreck, but someone wasn’t clear and it’s just super unfortunate. It’s still so early in the race and I know everyone is racing hard, but you also have a race to finish. It sucks that my team got caught up in it and I got caught up in it. We had a fast race car and nothing to show for it.”

HOW DID THE WIND AFFECT THE HANDLING? “Honestly, my car was super planted to the racetrack. I didn’t really pull out of line. I didn’t think my car was good enough to lead a line, so you probably saw me stay at the top quite a bit and stay tucked up, but my car was handling fine. I had one little moment, but other than that, the wind wasn’t really affecting me.”

YOUR FIRST RACE WITH FORD AND AM Racing AND FROM WHERE YOU STARTED YOU GOT TO THE FRONT, SO YOU HAD A FAST FORD MUSTANG. “Yeah. The Mustang Dark Horse was really fast and I think it’s just a testament to the team and Roush Yates Engines and everyone involved. It’s unfortunate to go out this early, but if you’re gonna go out, go out showing speed. Me and my team, and obviously Ford Racing, showed speed so I think we have a lot to look forward to in future races.”

Gio Ruggiero Earns First ARCA Win At Daytona

Photo by Patrick Sue-Chan for SpeedwayMedia.com

In just his 13th career ARCA Menards National Series start, Truck Series regular Gio Ruggiero earned his first career win in the series at Daytona International Speedway on a late race restart. The 20-year-old held off a late surging Jake Bollman off Turn 4 to grab the checkered flag after starting in the ninth position. The win was a bit of redemption for Ruggiero after being in contention to win Friday night’s race but ending up in the runner-up spot.

“Yeah, it’s awesome, obviously I wanted to win last night and came up short, so got one more to win in the afternoon (O’Reilly Auto Parts Series),” Ruggiero told Fox Sports 1 in his post-race interview. “The race got hectic there at the end. I was just trying to push our lane forward, and the 15 (Jake Finch) got squirrely in front of me and lost it. That was unfortunate for him, but I’m glad we came out with the win.”

Gio Ruggiero
Photo by Patrick Sue-Chan

The issue forced the No. 55 Nitro Motorsports car behind the wall after it failed to shift into gear and ran at low RPM, ending her bid for the win and any shot at a strong finish.

The ARCA Menards Series opened its 2026 season Saturday afternoon with the first race of the year. Veteran driver Gus Dean, who piloted the No. 25 Nitro Motorsports Toyota, claimed the pole Friday afternoon with a time of 49.13 seconds at 183.176 mph. It was his first pole since 2018 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds. His Nitro Motorsports teammate, Jake Bollman, originally had the pole, but his time was disallowed after failing post qualifying tech, which then moved Dean up a spot.

Like Friday night’s race, there were numerous stars in the field. They included YouTube sensation Cleetus McFarland, also known as Garrett Mitchell, making another career ARCA start. Bobby Dale Earnhardt, the grandson of the late Dale Earnhardt, was also in the field. The RAM Race for the Seat winner, Timothy “Mini” Tyrell, made his ARCA debut as well.

The race saw an action-packed originally scheduled 80 laps, but went into overtime following a late-race accident on the backstretch. It involved two race leaders and teammates, Finch and Dean, who wrecked each other after a strong push from Ruggiero. Finch went in front of the field and took Dean with him, resulting in a DNF for both cars. Fortunately, no other cars were involved in the incident.

Throughout the race, there were six cautions, including a final caution with two laps to go, that slowed the General Tire 200. The first caution came on Lap 6 for Mini Tyrell, who spun on the backstretch. The backstretch would be the place for a few more cautions. On Lap 17, Wesley Slimp in the No. 90 spun on the backstretch with a left-rear tire going down. Then, at Lap 39, just one lap before the halfway break on Lap 40, Caleb Costner in the No. 93 stalled on the back straightaway.

At the halfway mark, it was leader Daniel Dye, Ruggiero, Thomas Annunziata, Jack Wood, Dean, Bollman, Finch, Mitchell, Jason Kitzmiller and Isabella Robusto, rounding out the Top 10. Unfortunately for Robusto, who had a strong showing early and led at times, was pushed behind the wall for gear problems. The issue forced the No. 55 Nitro Motorsports car behind the wall after it failed to shift into gear and ran at low RPM, ending her bid for the win and any shot at a strong finish.

After the halfway break, Ruggiero showed some speed by trying to make the second line work. Two laps later, with 28 to go, another yellow flag was thrown as the No. 9 of Presley Sorah wrecked in Turns 3 and 4. The race went green shortly afterward, but the yellow came out once more with 13 laps to go when Alli Owens went up in smoke going into Turn 1. She spun and collected the No. 8 of Sean Corr, and both wound up wrecked. A brief red flag was displayed for oil cleanup.

Then, in a late race restart with eight to go, as the cars went on the backstretch, Jason Kitzmiller in the No. 97 pushed Thomas Annunziata into the No. 70 and sent him spinning toward the wall, bringing out an extended fifth caution. Due to this incident, the caution period was extended. Then, while running under caution in the 10th position, rookie Taylor Reimer began having mechanical issues. This forced her to go behind the wall and relegated her to a 30th-place finish due to a dead battery.

McFarland was running one lap down before the yellow, but he was able to get his lap back, thanks to the lucky dog.

With two laps to go, Finch and Dean were hoping to give Nitro Motorsports a banner day by finishing one-two with Ruggiero lurking in the third position. Unfortunately, the two Nitro cars were involved in a wreck, forcing the event into an overtime situation. This meant the white flag would be displayed at the same time as the green flag. There was a spin involving Tim Richmond on the backstretch on the last lap, but no yellow was thrown, allowing the event to stay green.

Ruggiero had enough momentum to hold off the cars behind him and grab the victory. It was his first win at Daytona.

“Coming here this weekend, obviously had three races and three chances to win, so that was my goal,” Ruggiero told MRN Radio in victory lane. “Still disappointed about last night, especially with the strong truck we had, but hats off to this 18-team. They brought such a fast car and did a really good job at the end there to make the moves that we did and came home with the win. We have one (O’Reilly Auto Parts Series) later in the day, so going to try and get two today. It’s a good way to start the day.”

The victory was a special one for Ruggiero as he won with the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota with Coach Joe Gibbs in attendance and in victory lane. The number has held a lot of significance throughout the years in NASCAR. Ruggiero was able to add his name to the list of winners in the No. 18 car with the win.

“Yeah, it’s awesome, I’ve had a couple of close chances now to win in this car, especially losing some of the races on restarts, so I finally got one.”

The victory was Ruggiero’s first in his 13th ARCA Menards Series National platform start. Ruggiero led twice for six laps en route to victory.

Bollman, Kole Raz, Dye, Glen Reen, Wood, Kitzmiller, Ryan Vargas, Bobby Earnhardt, and Andy Jankowiak rounded out the top-10. Cleetus McFarland secured the 11th position.

There were seven cautions for 32 laps and seven lead changes with six different drivers.

Official Results Following The General Tire 200 at Daytona International Speedway

  1. Gio Ruggiero led six laps
  2. Jake Bollman
  3. Kole Raz
  4. Daniel Dye led 20 laps
  5. Glen Reen
  6. Jack Wood
  7. Jason Kitzmiller
  8. Ryan Vargas – led one lap
  9. Bobby Earnhardt
  10. Andy Jankowiak
  11. Garrett Mitchell
  12. Michael Maples
  13. Bryce Applegate
  14. A.J. Moyer
  15. Robbie Kennealy
  16. Takuma Koga
  17. Willie Mullins
  18. Bryce Haugeberg
  19. Hunter Deshautelle
  20. Jake Finch – led 32 laps
  21. Ed Pompa
  22. Eric Caudell
  23. Tim Richmond
  24. Charles Weslowski, 1 lap down
  25. Brad Smith, 2 laps down
  26. Thomas Annunziata, 2 laps down
  27. Presley Sorah, 2 laps down
  28. Bryan Dauzat, 4 laps down
  29. Gus Dean led 15 laps, OUT, Accident
  30. Taylor Reimer, 5 laps down
  31. Con Nicolopoulos, 6 laps down
  32. Caleb Costner, 12 laps down
  33. Sean Corr, OUT, Accident
  34. Alli Owens, OUT, Accident
  35. Wesley Slimp, OUT, Mechanical
  36. Alex Clubb, OUT, Mechanical
  37. Isabella Robusto – led 10 laps, OUT, Mechanical
  38. Timothy Tyrell, OUT, Mechanical
  39. Derek White, OUT, Mechanical
  40. Ryan Huff, OUT, Mechanical

Up Next – The next event for the ARCA Menards Series is the General Tire 150 at Phoenix Raceway, Thursday night, March 5th, live on FS1 at 6 p.m./ET. This will be a combination event with the ARCA Menards West Series.

Ford Racing Notes and Quotes – Ford Mustang Dark Horses Posts Five Fastest Speeds in Final Daytona 500 Practice

Ford Racing Notes and Quotes
NASCAR Cup Series
Daytona 500 Final Practice — Daytona International Speedway
Saturday, February 14, 2026

The top five speeds in today’s final Daytona 500 practice session were all Ford Mustang Dark Horses, led by the RFK Racing trio of Ryan Preece, Chris Buescher and Brad Keselowski. Penske teammates Ryan Blaney and Joey Logano were fourth and fifth, respectively.

Buescher, who drives the No. 17 Body Guard Ford Mustang Dark Horse, talked about going to a backup for tomorrow’s race and his hopes for ending up in Victory Lane.

CHRIS BUESCHER, No. 17 Body Guard Ford Mustang Dark Horse – HOW DO YOU FEEL IN THIS BACKUP FORD MUSTANG DARK HORSE? “I have a tremendous amount of confidence in this team and they’ve buckled down and hustled to clean this backup Ford Mustang Dark Horse with the No. 17 Body Guard colors and we’re rockin’ and rolling. It’s nice to take these Ford Mustangs and put them in a line and be able to put some speed up on the board. We know we were able to in the Duels, and I think we’ve got a good handle on it. We’ve got plenty of laps, so I’m ready for the 500 now. We get to watch this thing unfold at least for the drop of the green and work hard to go up there and be a part of it.”

FIVE FORDS AT THE TOP OF THE BOARD TODAY. DO YOU FEEL ALL OF THE OFFSEASON PREP HAS PAID OFF FOR YOUR ORGANIZATION TO BE IN POSITION TO WIN? “Yeah, absolutely. I think we always come to these speedways with a ton of speed and a lot of handling across the entire Ford camp. I’ll speak on RFK and say that if we can commit to that amount of teamwork that has become so important here, it will set us up for success at the end of 500 miles. I have no complaints. If I didn’t know it was a backup in my head ahead of time, I would say that’s our same race car. That’s exactly what you’re after when something like that does happen. It’s a good start to a recovery story right there.”

Casey Mears, driver of the No. 66 SI Yachts/Gracie Foundation Ford Mustang Dark Horse, will be starting 17th in tomorrow’s Daytona 500, which will be his 495th career Cup Series start. He spoke about making The Great American Race and how he feels after today’s final practice session.

CASEY MEARS, No. 66 SI Yachts/Gracie Foundation Ford Mustang Dark Horse – A LOT OF WORK HAS GONE ON WITH THIS FORD MUSTANG DARK HORSE THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS. DO YOU FEEL YOU AND YOUR TEAM ARE READY FOR THE 500? “I think so. The key parts and pieces of the car, I know it was a big job to get it to where it is now, but the undertray and the heights and all that kind of stuff is the same, so we didn’t really bend much suspension. It was really slight, so I feel pretty good that the guys got it pretty close. Obviously, there could be some nuances. When I get in the draft, it could handle differently, but there’s really no such draft to test right now and see what it’s gonna be like. I’ll be the first to find out and you’ll probably be the second or third, but, right now, I think the guys did a really good job because not only did they have to rebuild this car, they had to disassemble a car and rebuild a car, so the work and effort and the time that it took to do it, I’m proud of these guys for the limited experience that we do have on this team. They all chipped in and got it done right.”

CAN YOU DESCRIBE THE LAST LAP IN THE DUEL RACE? “Just make it at all costs is the final thought, but leading into it on that final lap, Jimmie and a couple of other guys happened to be behind me. I was tail end of the lead pack and what I did was just roll out of it a little bit going into one and two to create a gap, otherwise you don’t get a run. Fortunately, I was able to back up to Jimmie and those guys and we were able to hook up and get some momentum going towards the pack going into turn three. There was a hole up top and I couldn’t believe it was wide open. I thought it would be three-wide, but when I got there the top was wide open. We hit it and I was able to pass two or three guys honestly, and then when they all started checking up we had the momentum. Thank God we were able to miss the 99. He shot up in front of me so quick that I made a quick reaction, slightly missed him, and then the 7 shot up in front of me so quick that there was nowhere to go. Thankfully, we hit him square. It didn’t tear the car up too bad and here we are, but I can tell you right now I sat there and watched that video probably 50-60 times that night and I didn’ get to sleep until about two o’clock in the morning. I had so many people texting and calling and wishing congratulations and then so many people – old fans reaching out through social media – and I just felt an obligation to respond back to them. They took the time out of their day, plus I was wound up and I couldn’t get to sleep anyway. So, I’m just real proud of everybody that’s involved, especially Bob Germain. Obviously, Carl Long and these guys bringing everything here to do it, but Bob has been a good friend of mine for a long time and he’s the one that really stepped up to make sure we can do this program.”

THIS WILL BE CUP START NUMBER 495, SO IT’S ANOTHER ON THE MARCH TO 500. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO GET ANOTHER ONE TOWARDS THAT GOAL? “It means a lot because going into this I didn’t know if we were gonna be able to check that box or not, so knowing that after the Daytona 500 there are five more that we need to get is definitely satisfying in itself. Being a part of this race is amazing. It’s definitely a different range of emotions now than it probably would have been 10 years ago. It’s a big race, but in the past I knew I would have been locked in and we would be able to just focus on doing our job and securing as many points as we can to start the season off right and win this race, but now I can look at it through a little bit different lens. I feel this is the bonus round. We’ve made it now past the hard part. Our job now on Sunday is to be competitive, show people that we can run with them, show them that I’m not out of control and in control and hopefully make some friends so when it comes down to the end of the race there are people that are willing to work with me.”

AM Racing Adds New Partners to Kick Off 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Season

STATESVILLE, N.C. (FEBRUARY 14, 2026) — Ahead of its fourth season of NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series competition, AM Racing announced today the addition of two new marketing partners for the 2026 season, beginning with Saturday afternoon’s United Rentals 300 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway.

Better Compute Works will serve as the primary marketing partner on the team’s No. 25 Ford Mustang driven by former ARCA Menards Series champion and O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race winner Nick Sanchez in the 120-lap season opener.

Better Compute Works designs, builds and operates AI-native compute infrastructure for enterprises, governments and hyperscalers, delivering secure and scalable AI data center solutions worldwide.

Joining Better Compute Works at Daytona is MAR CARIBE LINE, a maritime transportation company founded on integrity and reliability and committed to connecting the Americas through superior shipping and logistics solutions.

AM Racing president Wade Moore said the addition of both organizations reflects the team’s continued growth entering the 2026 campaign.

“We are proud to welcome Better Compute Works and MAR CARIBE LINE to AM Racing as we begin our fourth season in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series,” said Moore.

“Both companies share our commitment to performance, innovation and long-term growth. Aligning with forward-thinking organizations like these strengthens our program both competitively and commercially and Daytona provides the perfect platform to launch those partnerships.”

The Statesville, N.C.-based organization returns to the 2.5-mile superspeedway following a top-10 finish in last year’s season opener — a performance that helped set the foundation for the team’s first NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Playoff appearance.

Sanchez, a graduate of the NASCAR Drive for Diversity program, will make his third O’Reilly Auto Parts Series start at Daytona and looks to deliver AM Racing its first series victory in the organization’s 100th start.

“I’m excited to start the season at Daytona with Better Compute Works and MAR CARIBE LINE on board,” added Sanchez.

“This team made significant strides last year, and everyone at AM Racing has continued working hard in the offseason to build on that momentum. Daytona is one of the biggest stages in our sport, and we’re focused on putting ourselves in position to contend and represent our partners at the front.”

In addition to Sanchez, the Ford Racing organization will field a second entry in the first of two NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series races at Daytona this season, with local native Daniel Dye driving the No. 52 Champion Container Ford Mustang.

The United Rentals 300 (120 laps | 300 miles) is the first of thirty-three (33) NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series races on the 2026 schedule. The 38-car field will take the green flag shortly after 5:00 p.m., with live coverage on The CW Network, the Motor Racing Network (Radio), and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

About AM Racing:

AM Racing is a multi-tiered, multifaceted motorsports program headquartered in Statesville, N.C.

Established in December 2015, the organization prides itself on faith, honesty and intelligent performance.

Entering its 11th year of competition, AM Racing will compete across NASCAR’s national and developmental ranks during the 2026 season.

ARCA Menards Series at Daytona International Speedway: General Tire 200 Post-race Notes

Photo by Patrick Sue-Chan for SpeedwayMedia.com
  • Gio Ruggiero (No. 18 1st Auto Group Toyota) scored the victory in the ARCA Menards Series’ season-opening General Tire 200 at Daytona International Speedway. Ruggiero held off Jake Bollman (No. 20 SynerFuse Toyota) on a one-lap overtime dash to the checkered to win for the first time in his ARCA Menards Series career.
  • Ruggiero has three career NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series starts at Daytona and its sister track, Talladega Superspeedway. His worst finish is second, twice, at Daytona in 2025 and 2026 and he won at Talladega in 2025. It was his first career ARCA Menards Series start at Daytona.
  • Bollman turned the fastest lap in Sioux Chief PowerPEX Pole Qualifying, but his time was disallowed after an infraction in post-qualifying technical inspection relegating him to 33rd starting position. Bollman steadily worked his way through the field and missed two big accidents in the final ten laps to score his first career ARCA Menards Series top-five finish.
  • Kole Raz (No. 76 Breeze Hydrogen Fuels Ford) narrowly made the race on time, starting in the 32nd position. Raz was bumped into the field when Bollman’s time was disallowed; had that not happened, he would have missed the starting field due to not having enough owner points from 2025 to fall back on. Raz finished a career-best third driving for 2009 ARCA Menards Series championship-winning crew chief Mark Rette and team co-owner Terry Jones, who finished second in the 2017 ARCA Menards Series race at Daytona.
  • Hometown hero Daniel Dye (No. 24 Champion Container Ford) restarted on the front row for the final restart but didn’t get help from behind over the final lap and dropped to fourth at the finish. Dye, from nearby Deland, Florida, finished in the top five in both career ARCA Menards Series starts at Daytona; he was third in 2022.
  • Glen Reen (No. 07 New Wave Bath Ford) scored his second consecutive top-five finish in the ARCA Menards Series in fifth. Reen, a former regular in the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour, also finished fourth last year at Watkins Glen International. Reen was joined in the top ten by KLAS Motorsports teammate Andy Jankowiak (No. 71 Dak’s Markets Chevrolet), who finished tenth.
  • Jack Wood (No. 28 Road Ranger Chevrolet) finished sixth driving for last year’s race-winning and championship-winning team, Pinnacle Racing Group. Wood’s teammate Taylor Reimer (No. 77 BuzzBalls Chevrolet) was running in the top ten late in the race before being befallen with electrical issues that ended her day in 30th position.
  • Jason Kitzmiller was also relegated to the 34th starting position after his qualifying time was disallowed, but he expertly drove to the front of the field and notched his third consecutive top-ten finish at Daytona in seventh.
  • Ryan Vargas (No. 91 Maples Motorsports Ford) led for the first time in his ARCA Menards Series career when he crossed the line first to complete lap 24. Despite losing the lead before the completion of the next lap, Vargas stayed in the top ten the rest of the way and came home a career-best eighth.
  • Bobby Earnhardt (No. 89 SmartGrid Integrations Chevrolet) kept team owner Tim Goulet’s car in the front half of the field all afternoon, scoring an impressive ninth-place finish. Earnhardt is the only member of the Earnhardt family driving in competition during SpeedWeeks 25 years after the loss of his grandfather Dale Earnhardt on the final lap of the 2001 Daytona 500.
  • There were nine different organizations represented in the top ten: Joe Gibbs Racing in first, Nitro Motorsports in second, Rette Jones Racing in third, Sigma Performance Services in fourth, KLAS Motorsports in fifth and tenth, Pinnacle Racing Group in sixth, CR7 Motorsports in seventh. Michael Maples Motorsports in eighth, and RISE Racing in ninth.
  • There were seven lead changes among seven drivers; Sioux Chief PowerPEX Pole Award winner Gus Dean led the opening nine laps before ceding the lead to his Nitro Motorsports teammate Isabella Robusto (No. 55 Mobil 1 Toyota). Dye took the lead at lap 20 and led for four laps before Vargas led lad 24. Dye led again from lap 25 through lap 40, while Dean led from lap 41 through 46. Jake Finch (No. 15 Phoenix Toyota) led the most laps of the day, 31, from laps 47 through 78. He crashed from the lead on lap 79, sending the race into overtime and allowing Ruggiero to lead the final four laps.
  • Ruggiero’s winning margin of victory was 0.142 seconds; his winning average speed was 107.202 miles per hour. Twenty-three of the race’s 40 starters finished on the lead lap. Thirty-one drivers were still running at the finish; only three were out due to accidents.
  • The ARCA Menards Series returns to Daytona International Speedway in February for the 63rd Annual Daytona ARCA 200. On-track activity starts with practice on Thursday, February 12, with the starting field determined in qualifying on Friday, February 13. The Daytona ARCA 200 is set for noon on Saturday, February 14 and will be televised live on FOX. The race will also be broadcast on select affiliates of the MRN Radio network nationwide and can be heard on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. Live timing & scoring data for all on-track activities can be found at ARCARacing.com; follow @ARCA_Racing on X (formerly Twitter) for up-to-the-minute updates.

About ARCA  

The Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA), founded in 1953 by John and Mildred Marcum in Toledo, Ohio, and acquired by NASCAR in April 2018, is the leading grassroots stock car sanctioning body in the United States. Bridging the gap between NASCAR’s top three national touring series and weekly and regional tour racing all across the country, the organization to sanctions over 100 races per year in the ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East, ARCA Menards Series West, ASA STARS National Tour, ASA CRA Super Series, ASA Midwest Tour, ASA Southern Super Series plus weekly racing at Toledo and Flat Rock Speedways. For more information about ARCA visit , or follow ARCA on Facebook (@ARCARacing) and Twitter (@ARCA_Racing).  

About Menards 

A family-owned and run company started in 1958, Menards is recognized as the retail home center leader of the Midwest with 236 stores in 15 states.  Menards is truly a one-stop shop for all of your home improvement needs featuring a full-service lumberyard and everything you need to plan a renovation or build a home, garage, cabin, shed, deck, fence or post frame building.  You’ll find a large selection of lumber, roofing, siding, construction blocks, trusses, doors and windows, plus cabinets, appliances, countertops, flooring, lighting, paint, plumbing supplies and more.  To complete the job, Menards has quality hand tools, power tools, fasteners, electrical tools plus storage options and supplies for everyone from the weekend warrior to the pro! 

   Menards has what you need to complete your outdoor projects and keep your yard in tip-top shape including mowers, trimmers, blowers, pressure washers and more, plus a beautiful garden center stocked with plants, shrubs, trees, landscaping tools, grass seed, fertilizer options, outdoor décor and patio furniture.  Menards also has everyday essentials like health & beauty products, housewares, pet and wildlife supplies, automotive items and even groceries.  And at Christmas, an Enchanted Forest display area with impressive trees, lighting, decorations, ornaments, inflatables and more.  

Menards is known for friendly Customer Service and as the place to “Save Big Money” with low prices every day, and sales too!  For more information, please visit Menards.com to learn about our store locations, offerings and services. 

Front Row Motorsports: Daytona International Speedway NCTS Race Report- Layne Riggs / Chandler Smith

Layne Riggs | Chandler Smith
Daytona International Speedway NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Race Report
Fresh From Florida 250
Date: Friday, February 13th, 2026
Event: Race 1 of 25
Series: NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series
Location: Daytona International Speedway (2.5-mile)
Length of Race: 102 laps over two hours, six minutes, 0 seconds

FRM Finish:

Chandler Smith (Started 10th, Finished 1st / Running, completed 102 of 102 laps)
Layne Riggs (Started 35th, Finished 31st / Running, completed 98 of 102 laps)

FRM Points Standings:

Chandler Smith (1st)
Layne Riggs (22nd)

Chandler Smith Key Takeaways

Stage One: 31st / Stage Two: 1st / Race Result: 1st

Chandler Smith captured his first career victory at Daytona International Speedway last night, winning the season-opening NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race at the 2.5-mile superspeedway. The win marked the 16th overall win for Front Row Motorsports’ Truck Series program and its third victory at Daytona.

“First off, I want to shout out all glory to God. Without Him, none of this would be possible. And I am super, super grateful that I serve such a loving God that blessed me with such a good group of men and women around me at Front Row Motorsports. Ty Majeski, one of my best four teammates I’ve ever worked with. He is all credit to how we just won that race truthfully. He stayed committed to a Ford and pushed a Blue Oval to a win. Just super, super grateful for everybody on this No. 38 Ford F-150 group. We made some changes in the off-season. I felt like last year everybody for the most part knows how this 38 group came together last year, but we built on it and made this group so much better for this year, and I’m so excited for 2026. I was surprised the 62 didn’t block it. I was just — the seas literally just parted, and the 88 stayed committed to me, and like I said, thank you, thank you, thank you, Ty Majeski. Definitely got to owe you one on that one.”

Layne Riggs Key Takeaways

Stage One: 15th / Stage Two: 2nd / Race Result: 31st

“First off, congratulations to Chandler Smith and the No. 38 team. It’s a great start to the season for the organization to have one of our trucks in Victory Lane. Today just wasn’t our day for the No. 34 group. We struggled with handling and overall speed early in the race, and just as we got it to a more manageable spot, we cut a tire and went three laps down. There are still some early-season kinks to work through as we get back into the rhythm, but it’s a long season, and every race is a new opportunity to win and gain points.”

ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS

Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization competing in the NASCAR Cup Series and the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. Founded in 2004 by entrepreneur Bob Jenkins, FRM has earned top honors including a 2021 Daytona 500 victory and the 2022 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series championship. Based in Mooresville, N.C., FRM fields the No. 4, No. 34, and No. 38 entries in the NASCAR Cup Series, along with the No. 34 and No. 38 teams in the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. For more information, visit teamfrm.com and follow Front Row Motorsports on social media — X: @Team_FRM, Instagram: @teamfrm, Tik Tok: @Team_FRM, YouTube: @FrontRowNASCAR, and Facebook: facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.

Austin Hill claims O’Reilly pole at Daytona

Photo by John Knittel for SpeedwayMedia.com.

Austin Hill notched the first pole position of the 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season for the United Rentals 300 at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, February 14.

The event’s qualifying format consisted of two single-car qualifying rounds. In the first round, each of the 42 competitors entered to bid for 38 starting spots cycled around Daytona through a single-timed lap. At the conclusion of the first qualifying round, the top-10 fastest competitors transferred to the second and final round, where they each ran a single qualifying lap while battling for the pole position.

During the qualifying session’s first round, Hill, a 31-year-old native of Winston, Georgia, and driver of the No. 21 Bennett Transportation/Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet Camaro entry, posted the third-fastest qualifying lap at 182.065 mph in 49.433 seconds. After being one of 10 competitors to transfer to the final round, he posted a pole-winning lap at 182.223 mph in 49.390 seconds.

With the pole, Hill notched his seventh career pole in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series division, his third at Daytona, his fifth on superspeedway tracks and his first since Texas Motor Speedway in May 2025. 

The 2026 O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season is scheduled to mark Hill’s fifth consecutive campaign in the series. As he continues the pursuit of his first series’ championship, Hill is set to strive for his fourth Daytona opener victory after previously winning the event in three consecutive seasons (2022-24). 

Currently, 10 of Hill’s 14 O’Reilly victories occurred on superspeedway tracks as he looks to add a 15th to commence the 2026 season.

Hill will share the front row with Jesse Love, the reigning NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series champion and teammate at Richard Childress Racing. Love, who is also the reigning Daytona opener winner, posted the second-fastest qualifying speed at 182.146 mph in 49.411 seconds during the first round. He ended up posting the second-fastest lap during the final round at 182.219 mph in 49.391 seconds.

Should either Love or Hill win Saturday’s 2026 O’Reilly opener at Daytona, Richard Childress Racing would achieve its 11th victory at Daytona and fifth in a row during the opener.

Sam Mayer, driver of the No. 41 Audibel/Haas Factory Team Chevrolet Camaro entry, qualified in third place and he will share the second starting row with William Sawalich. Sawalich, driver of the No. 18 Soundgear/Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Supra entry, was the fastest qualifier during the first round at 182.157 mph in 49.408 seconds. Ultimately, he ended up the fourth fastest at 182.079 mph in 49.429 seconds.

Corey Day, an O’Reilly Auto Parts Series full-time rookie candidate driving the No. 17 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro entry for Hendrick Motorsports, will start in fifth place. Sheldon Creed, rookie Rajah Caruth, rookie Patrick Staropoli, Taylor Gray and Ryan Sieg completed the top-10 starting grid.

Notably, the following names that include Carson Kvapil, Sammy Smith, Justin Allgaier, Brandon Jones, Giovanni Ruggiero, Jordan Anderson, Carson Hocevar, Jeb Burton, Harrison Burton, Nick Sanchez, Jeremy Clements, Austin Green, Natalie Decker and rookie Lavar Scott will start 11th, 12th, 13th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 20th, 22nd, 24th, 28th, 29th, 30th, 35th and 37th, respectively.

With 42 competitors vying for 38 starting spots, Garrett Smithley, David Starr, Anthony Alfredo and Joey Gase were the four who failed to qualify for the main event.

Qualifying position, Best speed, Best time:

1. Austin Hill, 182.223 mph, 49.390 seconds

2. Jesse Love, 182.219 mph, 49.391 seconds

3. Sam Mayer, 182,190 mph, 49.399 seconds

4. William Sawalich, 182.079 mph, 49.429 seconds

5. Corey Day, 182.076 mph, 49.430 seconds

6. Sheldon Creed, 182.076 mph, 49.430 seconds

7. Rajah Caruth, 181.921 mph, 49.472 seconds

8. Patrick Staropoli, 181.789 mph, 49.508 seconds

9. Taylor Gray, 181.609 mph, 49.557 seconds

10. Ryan Sieg, 181.422 mph, 49.608 seconds

11. Carson Kvapil, 181.331 mph, 49.633 seconds

12. Sammy Smith, 181.148 mph, 49.683 seconds

13. Justin Allgaier, 181.083 mph, 49.701 seconds

14. Blaine Perkins, 181.057 mph, 49.708 seconds

15. Brandon Jones, 180.966 mph, 49.733 seconds

16. Giovanni Ruggiero, 180.945 mph, 49.739 seconds

17. Jordan Anderson, 180.945 mph, 49.739 seconds

18. Dean Thompson, 180.723 mph, 49.800 seconds

19. Patrick Emerling, 180.697 mph, 49.807 seconds

20. Carson Hocevar, 180.607 mph, 49.832 seconds

21. Mason Maggio, 180.585 mph, 49.838 seconds

22. Jeb Burton, 180.534 mph, 49.852 seconds

23. Luke Fenhaus, 180.382 mph, 49.894 seconds

24. Harrison Burton, 180.332 mph, 49.908 seconds

25. Brennan Poole, 180.278 mph, 49.923 seconds

26. Caesar Bacarella, 180.260 mph, 49.928 seconds

27. Parker Retzlaff, 180.213 mph, 49.941 seconds

28. Nick Sanchez, 180.115 mph, 49.968 seconds

29. Jeremy Clements, 179.942 mph, 50.016 seconds

30. Austin Green, 179.781 mph, 50.061 seconds

31. Josh Williams, 179.734 mph, 50.074 seconds

32. Ryan Ellis, 179.702 mph, 50.083 seconds

33. Daniel Dye, 179.630 mph, 50.103 seconds

34. Josh Bilicki, 179.601 mph, 50.111 seconds

35. Natalie Decker, 179.154 mph, 50.236 seconds

36. Kyle Sieg, 179.104 mph, 50.250 seconds

37. Lavar Scott, 178.359 mph, 50.460 seconds

38. Carson Ware

The 2026 United Rentals 300 at Daytona International Speedway is scheduled to occur on Saturday, February 14, and air at 5 p.m. ET on the CW Network, PRN Radio and SiriusXM.

TOYOTA RACING – NCS Daytona Quotes – Jimmie Johnson – 02.14.26

Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images

TOYOTA RACING – Jimmie Johnson
NASCAR Cup Series Quotes

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (February 14, 2026) – LEGACY MOTOR CLUB driver Jimmie Johnson was made available to the media on Saturday prior to the Daytona 500.

JIMMIE JOHNSON, No. 84 Carvana Toyota Camry XSE, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB

Can you tell us about your announcement?

“Yeah, just really excited to get this announcement out and build some excitement around the opportunity in (20)27. We had a great run here last year. I think we have a real shot at winning the Daytona 500 and putting my name on here again. But, I’m just thankful for the opportunity that’s been granted to me through my career. I didn’t use the word retirement way back when in 2020. I still love to compete and want to be on the track and racing. The journey as an owner, and certainly where I am in life right now, to compete at the Cup level, week in and week out, is just a door that’s shutting from here now. I’ll be able to enjoy it a bit more this year with the race this weekend and getting in San Diego, and then put a bow on everything, Cup wise, when we come back in (20)27. It doesn’t mean I’m not going to race and do other fun things, as you guys know, I’ve got plenty planned this year and hope to have some more fun later in the year as well, but a quick start to the year with this race. Also, the Mint 400 that’s coming up, and then the truck race in San Diego, and just trying to find, you know, fun bucket list things to do.”

How much will you celebrate your career achievements this year?

“Yeah, it definitely gives us that opportunity. We don’t have any formal plans, but I do know and I was very disappointed with the pandemic and the scenario of not being with the fans at the racetrack for that final year. It’s not that I’m looking for that now, but, you know, maybe there is a moment or two in there that we can, uh, have some fun with and kind of get back into that mindset a little bit and enjoy it. But I’m not going anywhere. Clearly, I have a big stake in LEGACY MOTOR CLUB and excited about the future for the company. Excited for all the time I will be spending inner sporting around it, and help grow it. So, we’ll see what the year brings, but I know it’ll be fun, and I know that next year here will be quite emotional to shut the door on that.”

As a driver, how conscious are you going to be because you are going through all of this for the last time?

“I have to say, the induction in the Hall of Fame was the moment in time that really allowed me to reflect, and I imagine this year will be more reflection, and certainly, when we come back here next year, that’ll happen again, but I’m now savoring and enjoying, the emotions, feelings, conversations, all the moments around the time I’ve spent in this sport and all the great times we had. So, there’ll be more of that, but as I look back, the Hall of Fame, first being nominated, which kind of knew that was coming (laughter), but the week, and all the events going into the Hall of Fame, it was just such a special time and it’s really opened the door to enjoy these emotions and reflecting and letting it in. So, I’m getting better at that and enjoying it, and, I know we’ll have another year of that.”

What do you take away from this chapter of your career?

“When I think of the 20 years or I spent probably 25 now, there’s been so much innovation, so much change, from the safety side, the technology, where we race, and how we race now, is technical, but an entirely new way. I feel very fortunate that I was in the generation where ingenuity and creativity really was allowed, and we can do that stuff. Chad (Knaus) was one of the best at it being a rule maker. He did break the rule a couple times, (laughter), but we were much more rule makers than anything. The innovation, and the journey, was really fun, and all the testing we were allowed to do. I can’t tell you how many times, at the end of a test session, he’d stick his head in the window and he’s like, I have no clue what this is going do, let’s tiptoe into this. He just always had some crazy ideas, and going on that journey with our engineering group, and developing all that technology, was really fun.”

Was there something specific about the Daytona 500 that made you want to make that your last race?

“No, it just made a lot of sense. I think as a driver that moonlights, the restrictor plate-tracks or that style of tracks is where you can be the most competitive. This car is so different than any generation of car I’ve driven before. To show up at Kansas and think that you’re going have a shot to win, even when I ran a 9-race schedule. It’s just not a truth that they can really be seen, or realized. Daytona, you can, Talladega, you can, Atlanta for sure. So, I want to show them being competitive, and to have my last race in an event where I could truly win – it could be that cool walk off home run.”

Is INDYCAR still a possibility on future races?

“No, that one’s closed too. The commitment it takes to be where I want to be in the field, I just, I don’t have that in me anymore. My focus and interest is truly building this race team. When I reflect on who I was is a 25 year old kid jumping in that 48 car – I was up at o dark 30 with this passion and energy to chase the day and do the best that I could.I don’t have that passion for that part of life anymore, and that’s been a tough thing to kind of accept, and if I’m honest with myself, maybe the last year or two of driving, I was in that phase, but I mean, I had the best seat in the house. I was almost in denial of, maybe what was going on, and it’s taken time. It took the two years in INDYCAR, and the journey that I’ve been on now to really reflect on that and see it. I mean, I had four hours of sleep last night, because we’re a sponsor event, and I was up all night doing emails, and then I was over at Home Depot this morning buying plants and furniture for our hospitality area and the driver owner lot, and that was fun. I mean, we had a great time this morning doing all that. I going to go over there and start putting chairs together. (laughter) So it’s just, I’m in a different place of life and really enjoying it.”

Would you be in your third chartered car or a fourth entry?

“It’d be a fourth.”

Is there a plan to promote everything you’ve done in the sport?

“No, that’s fair. I wasn’t as focused on brand on my legacy that I was leaving behind, and, I failed in that respect to take advantage of the moment when I was still in the car, and the next day in the car, and now where I sit in our evolution as a company, the intentionality around our name, the storytelling we plan to do as time goes on and what we want our brand to be about, gives me that chance to really put energy into it and treat that right, and hats off to the Earnhardt family and the Petty family for really carrying that on. Being famous or that part of it, and not that the others were, but I just, I didn’t pay any attention to it. I was in such a great system at Hendrick, and they did such an amazing job promoting me in the moment, that when I left, I just wasn’t prepared to keep that going, and I regret that I haven’t, but I still have time ahead of me, and obviously, deeply involved in the sport, and can do that now.”

Is there a planned focus for you to be a face of your team?

“Without a doubt. Yes, that is a big part of going forward. When I got involved with Maury (Gallagher), and we renamed the company, we were working in that direction, had some other things to focus on, more so at that point in time. Then our tragedy happened, and we chose to go to England and just have our time as a family. Then stayed a second year, and it was really an incredible year for our family to be together and grow and heal, and, we got back in August of (20) 25. Now that I have control of the company and a lot of other elements are in play, I can really lean into that. So, I was going get started a few years ago, but a little behind schedule, and we’ll do a lot more of that now.”

How did the Helmet to Heroes program come together?

“We have a great relationship with Pye-Barker and Bart Proctor, the CEO there. His support of John Hunter (Nemechek), and coming into LEGACY with us, and the growing friendship and understanding of their business has really led to this opportunity. As a kid, I wanted to be a fireman. That was so present around me growing up in Fire Country, my best friend, his father, was the captain of local fire department, and I just thought they were the coolest people ever, and so as we’ve been able to understand Bart’s business and the various points of interest in wanting to use the Daytona 500 as a platform to do good and raise awareness for a cause. When they brought it to us, it was a very easy yes and excited to represent the Fallen Firefighters Foundation. They’re going to take the helmet and auction it off, do something with it, but excited to draw that attention to them.”

Can you tell us about your collaboration with Joe Gibbs Racing this season?

“Yeah, it’s really just an evolution of how we can all work closer together in more alignment and closer together with Toyota, TRD. Toyota’s been very focused on small numbers, and tremendous support to the race teams. We’ve had a lot of growing to do as a company and did a lot of that last year, and through that evolution and building trust and respect, both directions and how to manage all of that, we’re at a great point in time where we’re shoulder, shoulder partners with them, and, all, of course, working for Toyota on this journey to win races and championships. We still have a lot of growing and maturing to do as a company, but, I’m confident it will be noticed this year as we get into the schedule and get racing, and I’m excited for the future, and how we can all collaborate more together.”

Do you get a passion about being a mentor for others at this point in your career?

“I do, and I wish that I had more experience in this car to directly help Erik (Jones) and John Hunter (Nemechek). I don’t necessarily for the car, but the outside parts in life, I love that. It is so rewarding, and something I’ve also really enjoyed was, and being the nucleus of a team, and getting people to work together – in my day, it was really about 15 to 20 people, just that road crew and a small group of the 48 team, and now it’s 140 men and women at LEGACY, and we’ll be growing as we bring on that third car and get closer to 200 employees, and it fills a bucket and gives me a lot of purpose and something I really enjoy.”

What other motorsport events are still on your bucket list?

“Man, anything with an engine. I was just with Marty (Smith) and (Ryan) McGee, and, McGee mentioned the Bonneville Salt Flats, and, I mean, I’ve never been. I mean, that’s something I should probably try to do, so I’m going figure out. I know our Toyota friends are here, so guys, what can we go break a speed record with? (laughter). Between Toyota and Carvana, they’re like, yes, great idea. Let’s go do that. So, we’re racing the Mint 400. I get to go back and go to my roots. Back to my roots and compete with Troy Herbst here in a handful of weeks. So excited about that one. But trying to find those marquee moments, those neat opportunities to go racing.”

Would you like to come back, do the Rolex 24, maybe 24 Hours of Le Mans?

“I would. I really, really would. I had an invite for Rolex. They come typically as a driver, those opportunities show up in December. People start looking around for drivers, and if I’m to do it, I need to plan in like July or something to pull that off. The off-season is just so busy for the team. We have so much expansion taking place that a very credible offer came my way. I had to sadly turn it down. I just didn’t have the bandwidth to do it, but I certainly would look at that. Definitely.”

About Toyota

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

Toyota directly employs nearly 48,000 people in the U.S. who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of more than 35 million cars and trucks at our 11 manufacturing plants. In 2025, Toyota’s plant in North Carolina began to assemble automotive batteries for electrified vehicles.

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