All-In Effort by Austin Dillon and No. 3 Boot Barn Chevrolet Team Results in 24th-Place Finish in Inaugural NASCAR Cup Series Race at Naval Base Coronado
Finish: 24th Start: 18th Points: 28th
“We’re going to go back to the drawing board for this track. I felt good about our Chevy in the initial laps, but as the race went on we lacked forward drive and I didn’t have the grip I needed. We made some air pressure changes to try and combat that, but despite the best efforts of everyone on the No. 3 Boot Barn Chevrolet team, the car never felt like it was in the track. This wasn’t the finish we wanted here, but we also fought back from a spin. I want to thank all the incredible men and women of the US Navy for having us this weekend. It was an incredible experience. Now, I’m going to go enjoy the rest of Father’s Day with my wife and kids here in California and focus our attention on Sonoma Raceway.” -Austin Dillon
A Promising Run for Austin Hill and the No. 33 Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen Chevrolet Team Ends Prematurely Following a Stage Two Wreck at Naval Base Coronado
Finish: 36th Start: 10th Points: 28th
“We had a really good car with our Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen Chevrolet. With the strategy that we were on, we were going to have at least an extra set of tires laying towards the end. I got into Turn 1 a little deep and started sliding. I was sliding the rears and I slid the fronts a little bit. On corner exit, I was fully locked to the right just trying to stay off the No. 88. It’s one of those racing deals. If I had that extra car width and the No. 88 wasn’t there, I would have cleared fine but knowing that he was out there, I carried a little too much entry pace compared to what I had been doing all day. Right when I touched him and he got in the wall, it sucked me into him and I couldn’t stay off of him. I hate it for Connor and the No. 88 team, and I apologize to those guys. We could have had a really strong day for everybody at RCR and ECR. We’ll go again next week in Sonoma. It was a lot of fun running up front and showing speed though. I’m starting to figure out these Cup cars a little bit more, especially on the road courses, so that’s a good sign.” -Austin Hill
ELKHART LAKE, Wis. (Sunday, June 21, 2026) – Matteo Nannini was declared the winner Sunday of the second race of the Grand Prix at Road America doubleheader for INDY NXT by Firestone after two AJ Foyt Racing cars were disqualified.
Foyt driver Alessandro de Tullio crossed the finish line of the 18-lap race 1.0584 seconds ahead of Nannini. But de Tullio and teammate Nicholas Monteiro were disqualified after post-race inspection discovered pole sitter de Tullio’s tires from qualifying Saturday were installed on Monteiro’s car and Monteiro’s tires from qualifying were mounted on de Tullio’s car for Race 2, a violation of series rules 15.1.3 and 15.1.12.2.
It was the first win of the season for Nannini, whose previous best was seventh in the second race of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course doubleheader in May. The Italian earned his second career victory in the INDYCAR development series, as he last won in May 2023 on the IMS road course.
“We’re finally where we belong,” Nannini said. “It’s been a rough start to the season so far. So happy for my team, my sponsors, everyone involved. It’s hopefully the first of many more.”
With the penalties, Tymek Kucharczyk was elevated to second place in the No. 71 HMD Motorsports car after a stirring drive from the 16th starting position, with series leader Nikita Johnson taking the final podium position in the No. 21 Cape Motorsports Powered by ECR machine.
Enzo Fittipaldi placed fourth in the No. 67 HMD Motorsports car after finishing 22nd Saturday in the first race, with Myles Rowe rounding out the top five in the No. 99 Abel Motorsports with Force Indy entry.
De Tullio led all 18 laps around the 14-turn, 4.014-mile road course, enduring two restarts. De Tullio was ahead of Nannini by nearly 2.4 seconds on Lap 15 when Colin Kaminsky veered into the outside wall on the front straightaway after losing control of his No. 57 Abel Motorsports machine while trying to pass Andretti Global’s Seb Murray in the No. 27 Megatron car.
That bunched the field for a one-lap race to the finish on a restart at the end of Lap 17. De Tullio never was threatened by Nannini, who passed Johnson in Turn 5 on Lap 2 for second and held that spot for the rest of the race.
Perhaps the biggest concern for de Tullio and Nannini on the final restart was Polish rookie Kucharczyk, who showed stunning pace while scything through the field. Kucharczyk, who recorded the quickest lap of the race, was nearly eight-tenths of a second quicker than any other driver in the closing laps, as he produced a race-high 20 on-track passes.
But Kucharczyk couldn’t make a dent on de Tullio or Nannini on the final lap and settled for his sixth podium finish of the season. Still, Kucharczyk’s fireworks were symbolic of a race that featured 294 on-track passes, including 274 for position – all INDY NXT records at Road America.
Lochie Hughes, winner of the first race of the doubleheader Saturday, placed 20th in the No. 26 Andretti Global car. Hughes was involved in a four-car incident in Turn 3 on Lap 1 and had to retreat to the pits for repairs, ending up two laps down at the finish.
Johnson’s lead in the series shrank from 10 points over Kucharczyk after Saturday’s race to one point over the Polish rookie. Fittipaldi is third, six points behind Johnson.
The next INDY NXT by Firestone event is a doubleheader July 4-5 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
Ford Racing Notes and Quotes NASCAR Cup Series Anduril 250 — Naval Base Coronado Sunday, June 21, 2026
Ford Unofficial Finishing Results:
4th – Zane Smith 6th – Chris Buescher 9th – Ryan Blaney 11th – Ryan Preece 18th – Joey Logano 21st – Todd Gilliland 22nd – Austin Cindric 29th – Josh Berry 34th – Brad Keselowski 35th – Noah Gragson
RYAN BLANEY, No. 12 Wurth Ford Mustang Dark Horse – “There were a bunch of different strategies going on and it’s kind of hard to pick which one is gonna be the right one, but, overall, we did a really good job today of staying clean and getting really good stage points. We stayed in the race and ended up with a decent finish. It was a fun day for sure. I thought our Ford Mustang was fairly quick and it was fun to work through it all day.” WHEN SVG WENT OUT WAS THERE A FEELING THAT THE WIN WAS MORE WIDE-OPEN? “You just never know who is gonna be good or not and wrecks happen all the time. I didn’t really think of that. I just thought I got a few spots. I didn’t even notice who it was at first until I asked, but that’s part of racing.” WHAT ABOUT THE EVENT OVERALL? “It was a fantastic event. I had a blast all weekend. The Navy was great to us. The base was great to us and personally I would love to come back. It’s a cool event.”
CHRIS BUESCHER, No. 17 Body Guard Ford Mustang Dark Horse – “That last caution certainly did not fall when we needed it. That was kind of the deal breaker for us, but it was so much fun. The weekend was a blast. Practice and qualifying I just didn’t come up to speed quick enough and wasn’t where we wanted to be. We got in the race and we just started driving through the field. It was so much fun. I’d take this Body Guard by Fastenal Ford Mustang and do that every time we had cycles and it was just a really strong day. It’s just that last caution wasn’t what we needed. We needed it about eight laps later and we would have been in a heck of a spot. That’s how it falls. Everybody did a nice job and it was a solid day from start to finish.” WAS IT A STRAIGHTFORWARD DECISION TO PIT? “I didn’t want to, but I knew we had to. It’s one of those you’re riding up there and, at first, we cycle to the lead and you’re like, ‘Alright.’ And then we didn’t make it through turn two and it dawned me, I was like, ‘That was the field pulling off pit road. They’re on fresh tires – zero lap tires.’ That was gonna put us on the front row with no buffer, which is really what saved us the other few times, having that three or four laps to get away and then let the tires come, but it was the only answer. As much as it hurt to do, it was the right play. We ended up passing 10-12 cars at the end versus having to bleed a certain amount. I’ve got a pretty good feeling you would have bled more than five.”
ZANE SMITH, No. 38 Hard Rock Casino Tejon/Hard Rock Cafe Ford Mustang Dark Horse – WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO HAVE A RUN LIKE TODAY IN YOUR HOME AREA? “It feels great. It’s just an amazing racetrack, a crazy racetrack. It’s fun to be back home and have a good run, but none of the cautions really feel for us, it seemed like. Ryan Bergenty did a phenomenal job to put me in the best position possible, to stay on offense and not just put me in a bad spot where things get a little chaotic. Road courses have been horrible for myself and this 38 team and we learned some in practice and made a good run out of it, so that makes me so excited. Whether we had a bad finish or a good finish, we showed a lot of speed today and I felt like that was the final area our team had to check that box of being really good. I’m just proud of this team. I love working with them week in and week out, and it’s an awesome run for Hard Rock, too. The Tejon tribe, it’s cool to go support them next week. We’ll be out in Bakersfield doing an appearance out there on Wednesday. Knowing we’ll have this paint scheme next week, hopefully we get another good run like this.” HOW MUCH CONFIDENCE DOES THIS GIVE YOU GOING INTO SONOMA? “We’ve had a strong year, to be honest, just a lot of misfortune. The speed we’ve had this year is so exciting, so it certainly brings a level of confidence next week.” WHAT ABOUT THE WHOLE WEEKEND? “Honestly, just an amazing weekend. This will go down as arguably the coolest weekend of the year. Obviously, the Daytona 500 and Indy, the Coke 600, places like that stack up towards the top, but this is right there with it. It was just an amazing weekend honoring our Navy and our military. It’s a wild road course and it was cool to have a good run at the end of the day.”
ELKHART LAKE, Wis. - JUNE 21: Christian Lundgaard, driver of the #7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NTT IndyCar Series XPEL Grand Prix at Road America on June 21, 2026, in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin. Photo: Chris Jones/Penske Entertainment
Christian Lundgaard damaged his front wing on the opening lap and dropped to last in the running order. When the checked flag flew, he won the race.
The driver of the No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet made contact with Scott Dixon on the opening lap, damaged his front wing and pitted the next lap to replace it. He played pit strategy to put himself in a position to salvage a bad day in the closing laps of the XPEL Grand Prix. With a 31-second gap on Marcus Armstrong, he pitted from the lead with 11 laps to go and cycled out to second in the running order. After losing second to David Malukas, he closed the gap and passed him up the hill into Turn 6 with eight to go. With four to go, he trailed race leader Armstrong by 2.7 seconds. Then Armstrong’s engine sputtered, Lundgaard closed the gap and passed him into Turn 11. He held the lead on a one lap shootout to win the XPEL Grand Prix at Road America.
“It was a very eventful day, very long day,” he said. “Not quite what I had on my bingo card waking up this morning.
“Obviously this is what you hope for. I know on road courses, didn’t really matter where we would start, we would always get good results.
“I think we produced very good race cars. We need to still figure out how to qualify better. Obviously this weekend has been a little bit of an outlier for me. Not felt comfortable, not had the pace in practice one or practice two, even though we tested here two weeks ago. A confusing weekend. To end with a win I would say confuses me even more. Maybe I just need to be confused (smiling).”
It’s his third career victory in 75 NTT INDYCAR Series starts and second of the season.
Malukas brought his No. 12 Team Penske Chevrolet home to a runner-up finish.
“It was a crazy race,” Malukas said. “No, it feels good. P2 champions. That’s been the story of this season (smiling).
“Honestly, big, big kudos to this team because that race, I mean, obviously everybody saw that, that was insane. I didn’t even know what was going on. Next thing you know we’re P2.
“Really happy from the team side. Travis on the wall, great strategy. I have to look into it. Our race pace, missing a little bit there from my side. I have to study and figure out why I’m losing some time on these races.
“This team carried me here. Big thank you to them.”
Will Power rounded out the podium after turning Graham Rahal in Turn 12 on the final lap.
“Yeah, unfortunate there,” Power said. “I was braking, he was braking. I don’t understand why that was. It took me by surprise obviously. That’s what caused that. It’s a pity.
“But still a very good day for us overall. I’m really glad to finish third.”
Kyffin Simpson and Alex Palou rounded out the top-five.
Alexander Rossi, Scott McLaughlin, Felix Rosenqvist (who led a race high 18 laps), Santino Ferrucci and Kyle Kirkwood rounded out the top-10.
Christian Lundgaard bounces back from damaged wing to win at Road America
Race summary
Palou led the field to green at 2:29 p.m. ET. After four laps, he pulled to a 2.4 second lead over Marcus Armstrong in second. After 10 laps, he stretched it out to 3.5 seconds. Palou pitted from the lead on Lap 13. Rosenqvist and several others pitted on Lap 14, just as Romain Grosjean lost his left-rear wheel in Turn 5 and brought out a caution. Rosenqvist exited pit lane before Palou passed him on track. So he retained the lead.
Back to green on Lap 20, Rosenqvist, on soft tires, held Palou, on hard tires, to a half a second gap for several laps. Palou kicked off a cycle of green flag stops on Lap 28, taking another set of hard tires. Race control, however, handed him a drive-through penalty for speeding on pit lane. Luck fell on his side, however, when Christian Rasmussen stalled on the front straight and brought out a caution on Lap 30. Armstrong, who pitted before the caution flew, inherited the race lead.
Back to green on Lap 33, Mick Schumacher locked up into Turn 1 and almost slammed into Grosjean. Later that lap, Grosjean ran Marcus Ericsson wide in Turn 5 and Ericsson drove through the grass and dirt. Schumacher ran Rosenqvist wide in the carousel. Running through the marbles cost Rosenqvist a number of spots on track. Caution flew the same lap for debris in Turn 5.
Back to green on Lap 36, Ericsson kicked off the last cycle of green flag stops with 16 laps to go. Armstrong pitted from the lead with 14 to go. As Nolan Siegel blended back onto the track, he ran Palou wide in Turn 1. Lundgaard pitted from the lead with 11 to go. Malukas got a run on him through Turn 4 and clipped the grass, but completed the pass for second (when the field cycled through stops) with 10 to go. Rosenqvist pitted from the lead with 10 to go. Josef Newgarden pitted from the lead with eight laps to go and Armstrong cycled back to the lead. Lundgaard, on soft tires, closed the gap to Malukas in Turn 5 and passed him going up the hill to Turn 6 with seven laps to go.
With four to go, the gap was 2.7 seconds. By the time the field reached the carousel, it closed to half a second. Lundgaard passed him into Turn 11. Coming to the line with three to go, Armstrong blew an engine and brought out a caution.
Back to green with one lap to go, Power ran wide in Turn 6 and lost third to Rahal. He got a run down kettle bottoms and turned him in Turn 12. This brought out a caution and Lundgaard scored the victory.
Christian Lundgaard bounces back from damaged wing to win at Road America
What else happened
Running down the front straight on the opening lap, Lundgaard pulled to Scott Dixon’s inside. Dixon moved over, clipped Lundgaard and damaged his front wing. Lundgaard pitted the next lap to replace his damaged wing.
BROKEN WING FOR LUNDGAARD 😳
After a front-wing change on pit lane, Christian Lundgaard is running P25 on the lead lap. pic.twitter.com/k5urvj5BZt
Christian Lundgaard bounces back from damaged wing to win at Road America
Nuts and bolts
The race lasted one hour, 51 minutes and six seconds, at an average speed of 119.220 mph. There were six lead changes among five different drivers and five cautions for 11 laps.
Palou leaves Road America with a 60-point lead over Malukas.
The NTT INDYCAR SERIES returns to action, July 5, at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course for the Honda Indy 200.
ELKHART LAKE, Wis. (Sunday, June 21, 2026) – Christian Lundgaard asked his Arrow McLaren team over the radio what everyone else also wondered after the Dane took the checkered flag Sunday for the XPEL Grand Prix at Road America Presented by AMR.
“How did we do that?” Lundgaard asked incredulously to his pit box.
Lundgaard used strategy, speed and a bit of good fortune to climb from last in the 25-car field after contact on Lap 1 to earn his second victory of the season in the No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet. The race ended under caution when Graham Rahal spun into the gravel trap outside Canada Corner after contact with Will Power while dueling for third place on a one-lap restart to the checkered flag.
The victory was the third of Lundgaard’s NTT INDYCAR SERIES career, joining his win in May on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course with Arrow McLaren and in 2023 on the streets of Toronto with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing.
“I knew we had a chance,” Lundgaard said of the probability of winning after the early contact. “I knew how this race panned out last year, and I knew it was all about just sticking in the race. I did that last year. I made a bunch of mistakes last year that spun ourselves around last year, and I just wanted to make up for that.
“We’ve been on the struggle bus all weekend, so to turn this around, I have to thank the team for that.”
David Malukas finished second in the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet, his third runner-up finish of the season as he seeks his first career victory. Power held on to finish third in the No. 26 TWG AI Honda, matching his best finish of his first season with Andretti Global.
Kyffin Simpson finished a season-best fourth in the No. 8 Sunoco Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, with points leader and four-time series champion Alex Palou rounding out the top five in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda.
Lundgaard, who started 12th, took the lead for the second and final time on Lap 52 of the 55-lap race when the No. 66 Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb Agajanian Honda of leader Marcus Armstrong slowed with a mechanical problem. Armstrong led by 2.787 seconds with five laps to go before mechanical fate cruelly robbed him of what may have been his first career victory.
Armstrong’s stricken machine finally lost power in Turn 5 on Lap 53, triggering a caution period and a one-lap race to the checkered flag.
Lundgaard never was challenged by Malukas on the final one-lap trip around the 14-turn, 4.014-mile road course, with most of the attention focused on the fierce duel for third between series veterans Power and Rahal. Power, holding a straight-line speed advantage, attempted to move to the outside of Rahal at the end of the back straightaway, with both cars making contact and Rahal’s No. 15 MSC Industrial Supply Honda spinning into the gravel, ending the race.
That was the climax to a thrilling race filled with varying tire strategies and fierce competition for nearly every position. But nothing was more exciting or improbable than Lundgaard’s charge to the front.
On the opening lap, Lundgaard made contact with Scott Dixon in Turn 1, damaging the left front wing on Lundgaard’s car and deflating one of his Firestone Firehawk tires. He pulled into the pits on Lap 2 for tires, fuel and a new front wing, with Arrow McLaren strategists devising new tactics on the fly.
Lundgaard cycled to the lead for the first time on Lap 43 when Armstrong, Malukas and Rahal made their final pit stops from the top three positions.
Danish driver Lundgaard led Rosenqvist by 11.720 seconds on Lap 45 when he made his final pit stop, with the Arrow McLaren team refilling his fuel and fastening four Firestone Firehawk alternate tires in a speedy 7.1 seconds.
The big cushion before the stop allowed Lundgaard to exit his final stop second behind Armstrong and just ahead of Malukas, who had hotter, stickier rubber on his wheels and passed Lundgaard for second on Lap 46.
Josef Newgarden made his final stop from the lead on Lap 49 in the No. 2 PPG Team Penske Chevrolet, handing the lead back to Armstrong, who was 3.671 seconds ahead of Malukas.
Meanwhile, Lundgaard passed Malukas for second on Lap 49, with Armstrong nearly three seconds up the road. Then Armstrong’s bid for his first win evaporated as his power dwindled, letting Lundgaard pass for the lead on Lap 52.
“It was all smooth sailing,” a deflated Armstrong said. “I came out of Turn 6, and the engine just started sputtering like it was out of fuel. But clearly it wasn’t. And then it just completely died. There was no indication there was nothing wrong.”
Pole sitter Palou led 13 laps, but his chances for a fourth career Road America victory vanished when he was penalized for speeding in the pits on Lap 29. Palou fell to 22nd after his drive-through penalty on one of the longest pit roads in the series, but he was appointment viewing in his charge toward the front over the closing 25 laps.
Palou leads second-place Malukas by 60 points and third-place Kyle Kirkwood, who finished 10th, by 61 points in the standings. Lundgaard is fourth, 77 points behind Palou.
The next NTT INDYCAR SERIES event is The Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Presented by the 2027 CR-V Hybrid on Sunday, July 5 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course near Columbus, Ohio.
Cole Davies Breaks Through for First 250SMX Class Win in Dominant Effort
MT. MORRIS, Pa. (June 20, 2026) – The Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, made its East Coast debut for Round 21 of the 2026 Monster Energy SMX World Championship, with its storied Father’s Day tradition from famed High Point Raceway, the “Country Club of Motocross.” Picture perfect weather provided ideal conditions for the UFO Plast High Point National where Honda HRC Progressive’s Hunter Lawrence [#96] put forth an exceptional performance to capture his second 450SMX Class win of the season and tighten the championship battle. In the 250SMX Class, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cole Davies [#37] was dominant in a breakthrough effort that netted him the first outdoor win of his career.
450SMX Class
Qualifying
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing rookie Haiden Deegan [#38] topped the charts for the first time after the first session, but his time was ultimately surpassed by several riders in the final session. In the end, championship leader and Honda HRC Progressive rider Jett Lawrence [#1] led the way with a time of 1:59.977, which narrowly bettered the 2:00.126 by Hunter Lawrence and the 2:00.649 from Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jorge Prado [#26]. Deegan’s first session lap [2:01.318] placed him fourth.
Moto 1 [30 Minutes + 2 Laps]
The first premier class moto of the day started with Hunter Lawrence edging out Prado for the holeshot, only for both riders to be surpassed by Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cooper Webb [#2] as they scrapped for the lead. Lawrence regrouped quickly and reclaimed the top spot from Webb. Jett Lawrence was forced to work his way forward from an 11th-place start.
With the lead in hand Hunter Lawrence dropped the hammer to open up a three-second lead after just two laps as Webb and Prado continued their fight for second. Behind them, Jett Lawrence made a quick charge into the top five.
Soon a three-rider fight for second ensued between Webb, Prado, and Jett Lawrence. Prado was able to make the move for second, while Jett followed through into third. They faced a near 10-second deficit to Hunter Lawrence just under 10 minutes into the moto. One lap later, Jett passed Prado for second.
Hunter Lawrence continued to build on his lead through the rest of the way and cruised to his third moto win of the season by 11.6 seconds over Jett Lawrence, while Prado finished strong in third. Deegan followed in fourth, with Monster Energy Kawasaki’s Garrett Marchbanks [#36] rounding out the top five.
Moto 2 [30 Minutes + 2 Laps]
The final moto of the day saw the Lawrence brothers lead the field out of the first turn, with Hunter able to get a wheel ahead of Jett for the holeshot. They battled for the lead briefly before Hunter asserted his hold of the position. Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Aaron Plessinger [#7] slotted into third.
As the Lawrences pulled away from the field and opened a near double-digit margin, Prado, who started fourth, was able to make the move on his teammate Plessinger for third. Deegan then looked to challenge Plessinger for fourth and successfully made the pass.
Halfway through the moto Hunter Lawrence had built a lead over Jett of more than seven seconds. Meanwhile, the battle for third heated up between Prado and Deegan. The fight was short lived as Deegan took advantage of an inside line to take the position with ease. He faced a 13-second deficit to the lead with just over 10 minutes to go.
While Hunter Lawrence continued to manage his healthy advantage, Jett was slowly losing ground to Deegan, who was riding his fastest laps of the moto inside the final 10 minutes. The rookie got the champ within sight and began to chip away at the gap. However, Lawrence responded and stabilized the advantage at just over three seconds as time ran out on the race clock.
For Hunter Lawrence it was another impressive effort as he completed the sweep of the motos by 4.9 seconds over Jett, with Deegan just a few seconds behind in third.
Overall
Hunter Lawrence’s second 1-1 effort of the season netted him his third career win. He and Jett now hold an equal share of victories through the first four races, with each of their respective wins coming via 1-1 sweeps.
Jett Lawrence settled for a runner-up finish (2-2) and failed to win for just the fifth time in the premier class. It’s his 29th podium in 31 career starts.
Deegan rounded out the top three (4-3) with the second podium result of his anticipated rookie campaign.
With the win and six-point gain on Jett, Hunter Lawrence closed to within two points of his younger brother in the 450SMX Class standings. Deegan tightened his grip on third, 38 points out of the lead.
Results & Standings
450SMX Class Overall Results (Moto Finishes // Points)
1st Place – Hunter Lawrence | #96 Team Honda HRC Progressive (1-1) “It was really good today, really good. I’ve been searching a bit [with the motorcycle] and missing a little bit [on the racetrack]. I’m happy to get this one.”
2nd Place – Jett Lawrence | #1 Team Honda HRC Progressive (2-2) “Hunter was riding really well. I tried to track on and follow his lines and then try other lines, but I just couldn’t keep up. Good on him, he rode really well. We’ll go back to work on the bike and come back strong at the next one.”
3rd Place – Haiden Deegan | #38 Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing (4-3) “I feel good. I’m getting closer. It feels like a win on my part making these steps each weekend. I’m right there. I’m going to keep putting in the work, keep chipping away. I put my heart out there and never gave up.”
250SMX Class
Qualifying
The morning action was headlined by a pair of exceptional efforts from Davies, who paced each session and set the tone for the day. The New Zealander’s second session time of 2:04.283 was fastest and edged out Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Levi Kitchen [#47] by just under two tenths of a second [2:04.460].
Moto 1 [30 Minutes + 2 Laps]
The first moto of the afternoon got underway with the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing machine of Casey Cochran [#59] out front for his first holeshot of the season ahead of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Julien Beaumer [#13] and Davies, who then got shuffled back. The championship co-leaders from Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki, Levi Kitchen [#47] and Seth Hammaker [#10], started in fourth and seventh, respectively.
Cochran and Beaumer were able to put a gap over Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Caden Dudney [#82] and the rest of the field. In his attempt to close in on a spot in the top three, Kitchen went down and remounted in ninth.
A little more than 10 minutes into the moto Beaumer made the pass on Cochran for the lead and quickly moved out to a three-second advantage.
As the moto surpassed the halfway point Davies made the move on Cochran for second and faced a five-second deficit with a little more than 10 minutes to go. On the same lap, Beaumer crashed as he crossed the finish line, which gave the lead to Davies as Beaumer remounted in second, just ahead of Cochran.
Soon Davies and Beaumer pulled away as the battle for third heated up between Cochran and Honda HRC Progressive’s Jo Shimoda [#30] who had methodically worked his way forward from a ninth-place start. The defending SMX World Champion made a quick and assertive pass for third inside the final five minutes.
Davies held off a last-lap charge from Beaumer to take his second moto of the season by 3.3 seconds, while Shimoda followed in third. Cochran was fourth, with Hammaker fifth. Kitchen rebounded to finish sixth.
Moto 2 [30 Minutes + 2 Laps]
Under darkening skies, the second moto began with Davies out front for the holeshot with his Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing rookie teammate Kayden Minear [#99] in second. They sat ahead of a tight pack of several riders with Hammaker third, Beaumer fourth, Cochran fifth, and Kitchen sixth. Shimoda started ninth.
As he gave chase to Minear for second Hammaker looped out and crashed hard, which ended his race. That moved Beaumer into third as Kitchen moved into fourth.
Riders continued to swap positions, with Honda HRC Progressive’s Chance Hymas [#29] surging up to fourth and Shimoda up to fifth as Kitchen lost several spots and dropped to seventh.
The intensity picked up as the moto entered the second half, with Shimoda mounting a charge to contend for a podium with a pass on Hymas for fourth. Further up the track, Beaumer closed in on Minear to establish a fight for second. After an extended battle, Beaumer made the move with just over six minutes to go.
A couple laps later Shimoda caught Minear and another long battle ensued as the Australian rookie fended off everything his Japanese counterpart threw at him. Meanwhile, Kitchen clawed his way back into the top five.
Back up front, Davies put the finishing touch on a dominant afternoon with a wire-to-wire effort to complete the sweep of the motos by 3.6 seconds over Beaumer. Minear kept Shimoda at bay for third, as Kitchen rounded out the top five.
Overall
Davies’ breakthrough afternoon (1-1) saw him become the 95th different rider to capture a 250SMX Class victory in Pro Motocross and the first New Zealander since Ben Townley at the final race of the 2007 season to stand atop the podium.
The best performance of Beaumer’s career (2-2) resulted in his second podium of the season.
Shimoda followed up his win from last weekend with a gritty third-place finish (3-4).
Kitchen’s strong finish in the final moto left him just off the podium in fourth (6-5) but allowed him to gain sole possession of the points lead.
The top four finishers in the overall results are the same four riders who occupy the top four positions in the championship standings as Kitchen now leads Shimoda by a single point. Beaumer sits two points back in third, with Davies seven points behind in fourth.
With his DNF in Moto 2, Hammaker finished 13th overall (5-40) and dropped from a tie for first to fifth, 16 points out of the lead.
Results & Standings
250SMX Class Overall Results (Moto Finishes // Points)
Cole Davies, Waitoki, New Zealand, Yamaha (1-1 // 50)
Julien Beaumer, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., KTM (2-2 // 44)
Jo Shimoda, Suzuka, Japan, Honda (3-4 // 38)
Levi Kitchen, Washougal, Wash., Kawasaki (6-5 // 33)
Kayden Minear, Perth, Western Australia, Yamaha (10-3 // 32)
1st Place – Cole Davies | #37 Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing (1-1) “This feels awesome. I feel like I sorted my starts out [today] and I nailed that second start and was gone. I felt great all day. My first perfect day in motocross. It’s good.”
2nd Place – Julien Beaumer | #13 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing (2-2) “This is special. We’re getting there. I feel like I’m in a position to start fighting for wins. We’re in this thing [championship], so I’m going to put in some work during the off week and come out swinging at RedBud.”
3rd Place – Jo Shimoda | #30 Honda HRC Progressive (3-4) “I think I underperformed today. I just didn’t have the pace. Those guys up front were ripping. I couldn’t close in and do anything about it. We need to put in some more work during the week. We’ll come back strong.”
4th Place – Levi Kitchen | #47 Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki (6-5) “That was a struggle today for me. I felt very uncomfortable all day. I don’t know, I just couldn’t find a flow. I’m glad we still have the red plate and I’m really looking forward to the string of tracks we have coming up.”
WMX
The 2026 Women’s Motocross Championship Powered by Synchrony reached its halfway point at High Point with its third round of action, contesting a pair of motos across Friday and Saturday. After a memorable opening moto on Friday saw SLR Honda rookie Mayla Herrick [#29] claim a birthday victory in her first professional gate drop, Saturday produced a wild race that unfortunately resulted in a DNF for Herrick and produced another battle between reigning champion and Altus Motorsports bLU cRU Yamaha rider Lachlan “Lala” Turner [#1] and Quad Lock Honda’s Charli Cannon [#7]. With the moto win seemingly in hand, Turner crashed while leading, which handed both the moto win and first U.S. victory to Cannon (5-1). Turner finished in the runner-up spot (3-2), while reigning FIM World Champion Lotte van Drunen [#401] earned her first podium in third (2-4). The WMX will now take a midseason break with a return to action in August.
WMX Overall Results (Moto Finishes // Points)
Charli Cannon, Maroochy River, Qld., Australia, Honda (5-1 // 42)
The 2026 Pro Motocross Championship will observe its first break in action for the summer before an anticipated return on Saturday, July 4, for Round 22 of the SMX World Championship regular season and the sport’s own celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States from Michigan’s iconic RedBud MX. The Independence Day tradition that is the 5.11 RedBud National will be shown live in its entirety on Peacock, beginning with Race Day Live at 7 a.m. PT / 10 a.m. ET, followed by coverage of the motos at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET.
For information about the Monster Energy SMX World Championship, please visit www.SuperMotocross.com and be sure to follow all of the new SMX social media channels for exclusive content and additional information on the latest news: Instagram: @supermotocross Facebook: @supermotocross X: @supermotocross YouTube: @supermotocross TikTok: @supermotocross
About the Monster Energy SMX World Championship: The Monster Energy SMX World Championship™ is the premier off-road motorcycle racing series in the world that combines the technical precision of stadium racing with the all-out speed and endurance of outdoor racing. Created in 2022, the Monster Energy SMX World Championship Series combines the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship and the AMA Pro Motocross Championship into a 28-round regular season that culminates with the season-ending SMX World Championship Playoffs. Visit SuperMotocross.com for more information.
About Pro Motocross Championship: The Pro Motocross Championship features the world’s fastest outdoor motocross racers, competing aboard homologated bikes from one of seven competing manufacturers on a collection of the roughest, toughest tracks on the planet. Racing takes place each Saturday afternoon, with competition divided into two classes: one for 250cc machines, and one for 450cc machines. MX Sports Pro Racing, the industry leader in off-road powersports event production, manages the Pro Motocross Championship. For more information, visit ProMotocross.com.
About Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship: Monster Energy AMA Supercross is the most competitive and highest-profile off-road motorcycle racing championship on the planet. Founded in America and sanctioned by the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) since 1974. Over 17 weeks, Supercross attracts some of the largest and most impressive crowds inside the most recognizable and prestigious stadiums in North America to race in front of nearly one million live fans and broadcast to millions more worldwide. For more information, visit SupercrossLIVE.com.
About MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.: MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc., manages and produces the world’s premier motocross racing series – the Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing. MX Sports Pro Racing is an industry leader in off-road powersport event production and management, its mission is to showcase the sport of professional motocross competition at events throughout the United States. Through its various racing properties, partnerships and affiliates, MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc., organizes events for thousands of action sports athletes each year and attracts millions of motorsports spectators. Visit MXSportsProRacing.com for more information.
About Feld Motor Sports, Inc.: Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is the worldwide leader in producing and presenting specialized arena and stadium-based motorsports entertainment. Properties include Monster Jam®, Monster Energy AMA Supercross, and the Monster Energy SMX World Championship. Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is a subsidiary of Feld Entertainment, Inc. Visit monsterjam.com, SupercrossLIVE.com, and feldentertainment.com for more information.
Max Reaves (No. 18 Cook Out Toyota) earned his first ARCA Menards Series victory of the season in Saturday’s Herr’s Snacks 200 at Berlin Raceway. Reaves outdueled Sioux Chief PowerPEX Pole Award winner Thomas Annunziata (No. 70 JBL / Bayshore Mortgage Funding Toyota) on the final two restarts of the night to score his fourth career series victory.
The win was the fifth of the season and third consecutive for the Joe Gibbs Racing team. Gio Ruggiero scored wins at Daytona International Speedway in February, Kansas Speedway in May, and each of the last two weeks at Michigan International Speedway and Pocono Raceway respectively.
Annunziata’s runner-up finish ties his best ARCA Menards Series finish on an oval track. Annunziata, who won last year at Lime Rock Park, has runner-up finishes at Daytona in 2025 and three races ago at Toledo Speedway.
ARCA Menards Series championship points leader Jake Bollman (No. 20 Nitro Motorsports Toyota) finished third, his sixth top-five finish of the season. It was his fourth consecutive finish of fourth or better; he finished fourth at Toledo and Pocono, and second at Michigan.
Taylor Reimer (No. 77 Fre Nicotine Chevrolet) finished fourth and Isabella Robusto (No. 55 Yahoo! Toyota) finished fifth to mark the second time in history two female drivers finished among the top five in an ARCA Menards Series race; the only other time it happened was at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in 2024 when Robusto finished second and Reimer finished third.
Home track favorite Tyler Lupton (No. 28 Tekton Chevrolet) recovered from a spin to bring out the race’s first caution to finish sixth; Lupton dropped two laps off the pace when the car wouldn’t go into reverse but he picked up the free pass on an ensuing caution and then stayed out and took the wave around at the first of the race’s two race breaks at lap 75 to return to the lead lap.
Will Robinson (No. 25 Ivy Asset Group Toyota) finished seventh in his ARCA Menards Series debut to give Nitro Motorsports four finishes among the top ten.
Sawyer, Michigan native Matt Kemp (No. 11 Faith Heating and Air Ford) finished a career-best eighth, the final driver on the lead lap. It’s the second time Kemp has finished in the top ten at Berlin; he finished ninth in 2025.
Zachary Tinkle (No. 53 Racing for Rescues Toyota) finished ninth the first car off the lead lap in his debut as an owner/driver. It was his fifth career top-ten finish and his first since a ninth-place run at Dover Motor Speedway in 2025.
Jason Kitzmiller (No. 97 A.L.L. Construction / Carter CAT Chevrolet) finished tenth, his fifth top-ten finish of the season.
There were three lead changes among two drivers; race winner Max Reaves led the most laps with 162; runner-up Annunziata led the remaining 38 laps.
There were six cautions that slowed the race for 42 laps holding the average speed to 63.542 miles per hour. Reaves’ margin of victory was 1.057 seconds.
The next race for the ARCA Menards Series is the Shore Lunch 250 Presented by Dutch Boy at Elko Speedway on Saturday, June 27. The race, set to begin at 9 pm ET / 8 pm CT will be televised live on FS2. ARCARacing.com will have live timing & scoring data throughout all on-track activity and live race audio. 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.
TAYLOR GRAY FINISHES IN THE RUNNER-UP SPOT IN SAN DIEGO Harrison Burton Notches First Top-10 Finish of the Season in Strong Run
SAN DIEGO (June 20, 2026) – Taylor Gray took the lead with just two laps to go Saturday afternoon in the 60-lap San Diego Street Course race on Naval Base Coronado. However, Gray could not hold off a hard charging Austin Hill, who overtook the driver of the No. 54 Toyota GR Supra on the final lap.
Gray’s runner-up finish was his third top-five and his seventh top-10 finish so far this season.
Sam Hunt Racing’s Harrison Burton also had a strong performance at the Naval Base Coronado Street Course, bringing home his first top-10 finish of the season.
TOYOTA RACING Post-Race Recap NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series (NOAPS) San Diego Street Race on Naval Base Coronado Race 18 of 33 – 204 miles, 60 laps
TOYOTA FINISHING POSITIONS
1st, Austin Hill*
2nd, TAYLOR GRAY
3rd, Sheldon Creed*
4th, Carson Kvapil*
5th, Sammy Smith*
9th, HARRISON BURTON
12th, BRANDON JONES
19th, BRAD PEREZ
28th, DEAN THOMPSON
31st, BRENT CREWS
36th, WILLIAM SAWALICH
*non-Toyota driver
TOYOTA QUOTES
TAYLOR GRAY, No. 54 Columbia Bank Toyota GR Supra, Joe Gibbs Racing
Finishing Position: 2nd
Is there anything different you could have done to defend Austin Hill on the pass
“I had really bad wheel hop there at the end of my run. I need to go back and look at it, but maybe I needed to go a shade lower on entry and not get wheel hop honestly. Pretty disappointed in myself, but really proud of my whole Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota team. Thank you to Columbia Bank and Experiment. Got a good showing for Columbia Bank, but obviously would love to be in victory lane and that’s where my guys deserve to be.”
What was said in the conversation between you and Carson Kvapil?
“Essentially just wheel hop underneath him. Really bad wheel hop at the end of my run and kind of fought that all day, just at the very end of my runs I would pick up pretty bad wheel hop. What it boils down to was he was racing me tight like he should and I wheel hopped underneath him. I hate it for JRM but unfortunately it I what it is.”
WILLIAM SAWALICH, No. 18 Starkey Toyota GR Supra, Joe Gibbs Racing
Finishing Position: 36th
Can you take us through what you saw during the accident?
“We were all going into turn 1 and I saw the 41 (Sam Mayer) bounce off of the inside wall and just kind of nowhere to go. It’s already tight there two wide when you are on the outside they just come back in and you don’t have any options. It is what it is and we got to make the points up next week.”
You’re going to Sonoma next week, are you confident you will bring a good car there?
“Absolutely, we got third place there last year. We’ve improved at every track we go back to which is good, so tons of confidence going into next week at Sonoma.”
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for nearly 70 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our more than 1,800 dealerships.
Toyota directly employs nearly 64,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of over 50 million cars and trucks at our 14 manufacturing plants. In 2025, Toyota’s plant in North Carolina began to assemble automotive batteries for electrified vehicles.
The automotive industry has experienced a remarkable transformation over the past decade. Beyond improvements in electrification, autonomous driving, and connectivity, manufacturers are placing greater emphasis on vehicle appearance and user experience. Lighting has become one of the most recognizable elements of modern vehicle design, influencing everything from brand identity to cabin comfort.
From ambient interior lighting and illuminated dashboards to decorative trim and customized commercial vehicles, LED strip technology is now integrated into a wide variety of automotive applications.
As vehicle manufacturers, aftermarket brands, and automotive accessory companies seek greater product differentiation, working with an experienced LED strip OEM manufacturer has become an important part of developing customized lighting solutions that meet both design and performance requirements.
Lighting Has Become Part of Automotive Identity
Modern vehicles are instantly recognizable by their lighting signatures.
Automakers invest significant resources in creating distinctive daytime running lights, tail light patterns, and interior ambient lighting that reinforce brand identity.
This design philosophy has also influenced the aftermarket industry.
Car modification shops and automotive accessory brands increasingly use LED strip systems for:
Dashboard accents
Door panels
Center consoles
Footwell lighting
Trunk illumination
Display vehicles
Commercial fleet customization
Rather than serving only a functional purpose, lighting has become an integral element of vehicle design.
Why OEM Customization Matters
Automotive projects rarely use one-size-fits-all solutions.
Different vehicle platforms require unique dimensions, voltage configurations, connectors, colors, and installation methods.
An OEM manufacturing approach allows brands to develop products that match their own specifications instead of adapting generic solutions.
Customization may include:
PCB width and length
Connector types
Color temperature
RGB or RGBW configuration
Waterproof protection
Packaging and branding
Private labeling
For distributors and automotive brands, this flexibility creates opportunities to develop exclusive product lines while maintaining consistent quality.
A professional LED strip OEM manufacturer can support product development from concept through mass production, reducing the complexity of launching customized automotive lighting solutions.
Interior Ambient Lighting Continues to Grow
One of the fastest-growing automotive lighting segments is interior ambient lighting.
Consumers increasingly expect vehicles to provide a comfortable and personalized driving environment.
Subtle LED lighting integrated into the cabin can improve perceived quality while creating a more enjoyable experience during nighttime driving.
Typical applications include:
Dashboard trim
Door handles
Cup holders
Storage compartments
Seat surrounds
Console edges
RGB and RGBW LED strips are particularly popular because they allow drivers to select colors that match personal preferences or vehicle settings.
Some luxury vehicles even synchronize interior lighting with driving modes, entertainment systems, or navigation events.
This trend has inspired many aftermarket brands to introduce customizable lighting kits designed for easy installation.
Voltage Stability Is Essential in Automotive Applications
Engine start-up, charging cycles, and accessory loads can all influence system voltage.
Stable LED performance therefore depends on careful product design and component selection.
Many automotive lighting products utilize low-voltage DC systems that provide safe and efficient operation.
For longer decorative lighting installations inside vans, recreational vehicles, or commercial transport applications, 24V solutions are increasingly common because they help maintain consistent brightness across extended runs.
Reliable voltage performance contributes to a more professional appearance while reducing the likelihood of uneven illumination.
For automotive brands, consistent lighting quality directly influences customer perception of product value.
Waterproof Protection for Exterior Installations
Not all automotive LED strips remain inside the vehicle.
Many applications involve exposure to rain, dust, road debris, and temperature changes.
Examples include:
Grille lighting
Truck body accents
Trailer lighting
Off-road vehicle accessories
Commercial transport signage
These environments require lighting systems that can withstand challenging conditions.
IP65-rated LED strips are often selected for installations exposed to rain and water spray, while more demanding applications may require IP68 protection for enhanced environmental resistance.
Choosing the appropriate protection level helps extend product lifespan while reducing maintenance requirements.
For businesses developing automotive accessories, selecting suitable waterproof performance is just as important as selecting brightness or color options.
Reliability Influences Brand Reputation
Automotive products are expected to operate reliably for years under demanding conditions.
These conditions make manufacturing quality particularly important.
Factors such as PCB construction, solder quality, thermal management, and material selection all contribute to long-term reliability.
An experienced LED strip OEM manufacturer typically implements standardized quality control processes to improve consistency across production batches.
For automotive brands selling products under their own labels, dependable manufacturing helps reduce warranty claims and strengthen customer confidence.
Supporting Innovation Through Flexible Manufacturing
The automotive market evolves rapidly.
New vehicle models, changing design trends, and emerging technologies create continuous demand for innovative lighting solutions.
OEM manufacturing provides the flexibility needed to respond quickly to these market changes.
Companies can develop products tailored to:
Electric vehicles
Luxury interiors
Commercial fleets
Recreational vehicles
Smart automotive accessories
Customized aftermarket projects
This adaptability allows brands to differentiate themselves while maintaining greater control over product design and performance.
Instead of competing solely on price, businesses can compete through innovation and specialized solutions.
Driving the Future of Automotive Lighting
Automotive lighting has moved far beyond basic visibility. Today, it enhances design, strengthens brand identity, improves user experience, and creates new opportunities for product innovation.
As demand for customized lighting solutions continues to grow, collaboration with a reliable cob led strip factory enables automotive brands, distributors, and accessory companies to develop products that meet evolving market expectations. By combining flexible customization, dependable manufacturing, and application-focused design, OEM partnerships help transform simple LED strips into integral components of the modern driving experience.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 20: Austin Hill, driver of the #21 1-800-PACK-RAT Chevrolet, wears a "8" hat, a tribute to the late Kyle Busch in victory lane after winning the NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series United Rentals Driven to Serve 250 at Naval Base Coronado on June 20, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images).
Austin Hill prevailed through a series of on-track chaos and bumped his way past Taylor Gray on the final lap to win the inaugural United Rentals Driven to Serve 250 at San Diego’s Naval Base Coronado on Saturday, June 20.
The 32-year-old Hill from Winston, Georgia, led twice for 13 of 60-scheduled laps in an event where he qualified in fourth place and took advantage of pole-sitter Brent Crews opting to strategically pit under green to capture the first stage victory. Despite barely scrubbing the first turn’s wall on the opening lap and getting shuffled within the pack by pitting before the second stage’s start, Hill rallied to finish in eighth place when the second stage period concluded.
Then in the early laps of the third and final stage period, Hill sustained damage to his entry after being one of 25 competitors involved in a huge multi-car wreck in the first turn. Despite the damage, Hill proceeded to race his way into the top-five mark, and he navigated through two additional late-race cautions while remaining in the top five. After Taylor Gray sent the leader, Carson Kvapil, for a spin with three laps remaining, Hill, who was in third place, spent the next two laps reeling in Gray before he made contact and overtook Gray on the final lap through the third turn. By building a reasonable gap from Gray through the remaining turns, Hill cycled back and emerged victorious for the first time on a road course venue.
With on-track qualifying that determined the starting lineup occurring on Saturday, rookie Brent Crews notched his first O’Reilly career pole position with a pole-winning lap at 91.143 mph in 134.294 seconds. Parker Retzlaff qualified in second place with a lap of 91.033 mph in 134.456 seconds.
Before the event, Justin Allgaier and Andrew Patterson dropped to the rear of the field due to unapproved adjustments that were made to their respective entries. Corey Day and Brandon Jones also dropped to the rear of the field in backup cars. Lastly, Jesse Love, who started at the rear of the field due to an inspection penalty involving two lugnuts not being within specific requirements, was also forced to serve a drive-through penalty through pit road after taking the green flag with the field.
When the green flag waved and the event commenced, pole-sitter Brent Crews launched his No. 19 Mobil 1 Toyota Supra entry ahead of the field entering the first turn before he continued to lead through a sharp left-hand turn into Turn 2. As the field smoothly navigated through the course’s 16 turns for the first time, including a chicane that was near the final straightaway to the start/finish line, Crews led the first lap just as the event’s first caution flew due to fluid coming out of Corey Day’s entry. Day’s incident occurred after a manhole cover went through his entry’s front grille and center punched his radiator.
Following Day’s incident, which resulted in Day’s entry being taken behind the wall for repairs and to have a new radiator installed, the field went through the next four laps under an extensive caution period before the event was red flagged for 18 minutes and 34 seconds to have the manhole cover area repaired. Once the red flag lifted and the field led by Crews proceeded under a cautious pace, select names like Justin Allgaier, Brandon Jones and Andrew Patterson pitted their respective entries. In addition, Day, who was able to return to the track but was pinned four laps behind the field, was allowed to pass the field four times to cycle back on the lead lap. During Day’s trial run to cycle back on the lead lap, he nearly collided head-on into a safety truck that was driving the opposite direction of Day in the second turn.
Following an extensive caution period, the event returned to green flag racing on the ninth lap. At the next restart, Crews barely fended off Retzlaff to motor ahead with the lead through the first turn. As the field behind fanned out and jostled for early spots, Crews led the next lap as he was eight-tenths of a second ahead of Retzlaff while Austin Hill, Sam Mayer, Anthony Alfredo, Carson Kvapil, Sammy Smith, Austin Green, Sheldon Creed and Taylor Gray were scored in the top 10, respectively. Meanwhile, Jesse Love served his drive-through penalty through pit road, and he joined Day in being mired at the rear of the field.
On Lap 12, Crews, who had a piece of debris on his grille that was causing the temperatures of his entry to increase, pitted from the lead along with Preston Pardus, Blaine Perkins and Ryan Sieg. Day also pitted, but was penalized for speeding on pit road. Amid the pit stops, Austin Hill, who cycled to the lead, retained the lead over the next three laps.
When the first stage period concluded on Lap 15, Austin Hill claimed his fifth O’Reilly stage victory of the 2026 season. Retzlaff settled in second ahead of Mayer, Alfredo, Kvapil, Sammy Smith, Creed, Austin Green, Gray and Sawalich, respectively. By then, all 37 starters were scored on the lead lap while Crews, Love and Day were mired in 28th, 35th and 37th, respectively,
Under the event’s first stage break period, split pit strategies ensued as some led by the runner-up Retzlaff and including Mayer, Alfredo, Creed, Gray and William Sawalich pitted. Meanwhile, the rest, led by Hill and including Crews, Kvapil, Sammy Smith, Green, Harrison Burton, Jeb Burton, Rajah Caruth, Brandon Jones, Andrew Patterson, Blaine Perkins and Preston Pardus remained on the track.
The second stage period started on Lap 17 as Hill and Kvapil occupied the front row. At the start, Hill motored ahead of Kvapil, Sammy Smith and Austin Green while the rest of the competition behind fanned out and both bumped and jostled for spots. Amid the on-track action around the 16-turn course, including a bold save by Andrew Patterson after he got tagged by Taylor Gray in between Turns 14 and 15, Hill led the next lap.
Through the Lap 20 mark, Hill extended his advantage to more than two seconds over Kvapil while Crews, who restarted in ninth place, was up to third place ahead of Green and Mayer, the latter of whom had pitted during the first stage’s break period. Behind, Harrison Burton was in sixth ahead of Sammy Smith, who dropped from third after he got hit in the rear by Green and spun in Turn 9. Smith then pitted during the next lap after he spun for a second time, this time in Turn 12 after being bumped by Sheldon Creed.
Within the Lap 22 mark, the caution flew due to Lavar Scott stalling on the course. Scott’s incident occurred not long after both Justin Allgaier and Baltazar Leguizamon spun amid contact with one another in Turn 13. In addition, Rajah Caruth and Jeb Burton had pitted while Hill maintained the lead over Crews, Kvapil, Mayer and Green. During this caution period, a majority of the field led by Hill pitted while the rest led by Gray remained on the track.
As the event restarted on Lap 25, Gray and Retzlaff dueled for the lead through the first four turns before Gray received the upper advantage to motor the No. 54 Columbia Bank Toyota Supra entry ahead. With a variety of on-track actions ensuing within the field, Allgaier spun in Turn 9 as Gray led the next lap. Teammate Rajah Caruth then spun in Turn 6 on Lap 27 after he wheel-hopped and slipped sideways in his No. 88 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro entry. Amid the on-track incidents and actions that did not draw any cautions, Gray maintained a steady lead over Retzlaff.
When the second stage period concluded on Lap 30, Gray outdueled Retzlaff amid Retzlaff’s overtake for the lead during the previous lap to capture his second O’Reilly stage victory of the 2026 season. Retzlaff settled in second ahead of Alfredo, Day and Mayer while Crews, Kvapil, Hill, Sammy Smith and Sawalich were scored in the top 10, respectively. By then, 34 of 37 starters were scored on the lead lap, with Allgaier mired in 34th, Caruth in 26th and Love in 11th ahead of Creed, Green, Clements and Jeb Burton.
With 28 laps remaining, the final stage period commenced as Gray and Retzlaff occupied the front row. At the start, Retzlaff dueled with Gray through the first four turns before he motored his No. 99 SA Recycling Chevrolet Camaro entry into the lead. Not long after, Day drew a caution after he spun due to contact from Dean Thompson in the fifth turn.
The next restart with 26 laps remaining did not last long as a heavy multi-car wreck erupted in the first turn. The carnage started when Mayer, who was racing in fourth place, hit the right-side inside wall, ricocheted across the track into the path of Alfredo, and slammed into the left-side wall, which damaged the wall he hit. Both Mayer and Alfredo then ricocheted to the right and ignited a 25-car wreck that involved front-runners Hill, Crews, Sammy Smith, Love and Creed. The carnage, which knocked Mayer, Anthony Alfredo and Sawalich out of contention, placed the event in a second red flag session for 43 minutes and 10 seconds to have the wall repaired and the carnage cleared.
During the recent red flag period, a fan was caught leaping beyond the guardrails and the catchfence to speak with Creed on the course. Despite the fan’s effort in leaping back behind the catchfence and the guardrails, he was charged for his actions.
When the red flag lifted and the event restarted with 24 laps remaining, Retzlaff assumed the lead from Gray. Retzlaff led the next two laps before Kvapil, who assumed second from Gray a lap prior, assumed the lead in Turn 4. Kvapil proceeded to lead by one-and-a-half seconds over Retzlaff with 20 laps remaining while Gray pitted under green from third place. Gray’s pit stop moved Creed, Sammy Smith and Hill up a spot each in the top-five mark while Labbe, Jeb Burton, Staropoli, Ryan Sieg and Caruth were in the top 10, respectively.
Then with 20 laps remaining, the caution returned due to a tire barrier at the chicane being moved on the track from its positioned stance. The barrier shifted due to being hit by Josh Williams as he was spinning. During the caution, the field pitted except for Retzlaff, as he ran out of fuel on the track while running in the runner-up position under a cautious pace.
During the next restart with 17 laps remaining, Gray motored ahead of Blaine Perkins to retain the lead through the first two turns. Gray led the next lap ahead of Hill and Kvapil while Perkins and Sammy Smith were racing in the top five ahead of Green, Creed, Harrison Burton, Caruth and Staropoli, respectively. As Gray led the next lap, Kvapil began to stalk and reel in Gray for the lead. He then seized an opportunity in Turn 9 with 14 laps remaining, and he capitalized on it as Kvapil moved his No. 1 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet Camaro entry back into the lead. As Kvapil maintained a steady lead over Gray, Hill trailed by more than a second in third while Sammy Smith and Creed were in the top five.
With 10 laps remaining, the caution flew due to debris on the course. The debris came off Jesse Iwuji’s entry, particularly the left-front fender area, just past the second turn area after Iwuji had gone off the course and stalled his damaged entry. At the time of caution, Kvapil had extended his lead to more than a second over Gray. Hill, Creed, Sammy Smith, Love, Day, Harrison Burton, Staropoli and Perkins followed, completing the top 10.
The next restart with eight laps remaining featured Kvapil gaining a strong launch to motor ahead of Gray and lead through the first two turns. Behind, Brandon Jones spun in the third turn after contact from Green. Alex Labbe also experienced issues, including getting stalled in the tire barriers. But the event remained under green as Kvapil stretched his late lead to more than a second over Gray during the next lap.
Down to the final five laps, Kvapil continued to lead by more than a second over Gray while Hill, Creed and Love trailed in the top five by two, three and four seconds, respectively. Behind, Retzlaff rallied his way up to sixth place in front of Day, Green, Sammy Smith and Staropoli. Amid Kvapil’s lead, Gray narrowed his deficit over the next two laps before he got alongside Kvapil in Turn 9. Both competitors remained dead even and made contact before Gray ran into the side of Kvapil and sent the latter spinning into the tire barriers. Despite Kvapil’s swift reaction to fire his entry away while pointed straight, he lost his momentum and dropped to fourth. Meanwhile, Gray assumed the lead, but he had Hill slowly reeling in.
When the white flag waved and the final lap started, Gray retained the lead with two laps remaining by four-tenths of a second over Hill. Behind, Creed trailed by more than a second in third while Kvapil trailed by more than three seconds in fourth. Then, after reeling in Gray, Hill made a move beneath Gray and made contact with Gray in Turn 3. This moved Hill into the lead over Gray. He proceeded to build a reasonable advantage over both Gray and Creed for the course’s remaining turns. With both Gray and Creed unable to reel him in, Hill was able to cycle his No. 21 1-800-PACK-RAT Chevrolet Camaro entry back to the finish line and claim the checkered flag by more than a second over the latter two.
With the victory, Hill notched his 16th career win in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series division, his first on a street course venue, his second of the 2026 season and his first since he won this year’s season-opening event at Daytona International Speedway. Hill’s San Diego victory was also the 16th of this season for the Chevrolet manufacturer and the second for Richard Childress Racing.
During Hill’s post-race celebrations on the track, he took a moment to perform a victorious burnout around a large No. 8 logo to salute the late two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch, a competitor whom Hill is filling in over in the Cup division at Richard Childress Racing.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 20: Austin Hill, driver of the #21 1-800-PACK-RAT Chevrolet, crew and family celebrate in victory lane after winning the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series United Rentals Driven to Serve 250 at Naval Base Coronado on June 20, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
“[The win]’s extremely special,” Hill said on the CW Network. “Just to finally check that box of getting a road course win. We’ve been so close so many times. Our 1-800-PACK-RAT Chevrolet was extremely fast. I was just looking for something those last few laps. I’m not gonna lie. I started talking to this guy [points to the No. 8 Kyle Busch hat] a little bit down the straightaways. I’m like, ‘Man, Kyle, if you’re here, give me something, right?’ Let me find another gear. For whatever reason, the car started to come to life. [Gray and Kvapil] got together and when there was blood in the water behind [Gray], I knew it was gonna be tough to get around him, but it was gonna be a battle. When I got clear of him, I was very surprised to see how much of a gap I got on him.”
Like Hill, both he and team owner Richard Childress fought tears of joy as they celebrated the team’s first NASCAR victory following the loss of Busch.
“It’s great to win here,” Childress said. “We all got Kyle in our hearts. You may not show it on the outside, but you do here [in the heart].”
Taylor Gray, who led 16 laps compared to Hill’s 13, settled in second place for his second top-two result of this season. Carson Kvapil, who was in position of achieving his first O’Reilly career victory before his spin amid contact from Gray, settled in fourth place for his fifth top-five result this season. After the event, both competitors had a post-race conversation on pit road following their late-race contact.
“That’s what it boils down to,” Gray said. “[Kvapil] was racing me tight like he should. I wheel-hopped underneath him. I hate it for [JR Motorsports], but unfortunately, it’s kind of just the way it is.”
“It’s really hard to make peace with that,” Kvapil said. “That one really hurts, but [Gray] was probably better than me right at the end there. Honestly, it is hard racing, right? I know it’s tight through [Turn 12] and it’s easy to wheel-hop. That’s what [Gray] said is what happened, but we’ve had a little bit of a past this year. Yeah, it sucks. When you are racing for the win like that, you got to put everything out on the racetrack. I’m sure that’s what he was doing, and I was too. It’s just, [I] hate being on the wrong end of it, for sure.”
Sheldon Creed notched his ninth top-five result with a third-place finish. Sammy Smith rallied to finish in fifth place for his sixth top-five result of this season. Jesse Love, Parker Retzlaff, Austin Green, Harrison Burton and Corey Day completed the top 10 in the final running order. Notably, Jeremy Clements, who became the new all-time O’Reilly Auto Parts Series starts competitor with 548 starts, settled in 15th place.
There were 10 lead changes for five different leaders. The event featured eight cautions for 17 laps. In addition, 25 of 37 starters finished on the lead lap.
Following the 18th event of the 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season, Justin Allgaier, despite finishing in 32nd place at San Diego due to an engine issue, continues to lead the standings. He has 224 points over Jesse Love, 238 over Corey Day, 240 over Sheldon Creed and 256 over Austin Hill.
Results:
Austin Hill, 13 laps led, Stage 1 winner
Taylor Gray, 16 laps led, Stage 2 winner
Sheldon Creed
Carson Kvapil, 15 laps led
Sammy Smith
Jesse Love
Parker Retzlaff, five laps led
Austin Green
Harrison Burton
Corey Day
Ryan Sieg
Brandon Jones
Blaine Perkins
Andrew Patterson
Jeremy Clements
Josh Bilicki
Jeb Burton
Preston Pardus
Brad Perez
Patrick Staropoli
Dawson Cram
Rajah Caruth
Joey Gase
Brennan Poole
Jesse Iwuji
Leland Honeyman Jr., one lap down
Alex Labbe – OUT, Electrical
Dean Thompson, eight laps down
Lavar Scott, 12 laps down
Ryan Ellis, 13 laps down
Brent Crews – OUT, Engine, 11 laps led
Justin Allgaier – OUT, Engine
Baltazar Leguizamon – OUT, Engine
Sam Mayer – OUT, Accident
Anthony Alfredo – OUT, Accident
William Sawalich – OUT, Accident
Kyle Sieg – OUT, Engine
Next on the 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series schedule is the series’ return to Sonoma Raceway in Sonoma, California, for the Pit Boss/FoodMaxx 250. The event will occur on Saturday, June 27, and will air at 5:30 p.m. ET on the CW Network, PRN Radio and SiriusXM.
