Gainbridge Super League to Sponsor Haley’s No. 7 Ahead of Professional Women’s Soccer League Kickoff on August 23

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (August 7, 2025) – The Gainbridge Super League, a Division I professional women’s soccer league, will serve as the primary sponsor aboard Justin Haley’s No. 7 Chevrolet ZL1 in the return of Richmond Raceway’s August 15 Saturday night NASCAR Cup Series race.

The Gainbridge Super League is committed to expanding access to the highest level of the sport in the United States. Launched in 2024 and sanctioned by U.S. Soccer, the league is operated by the United Soccer League (USL). Gainbridge® announced in April that it would assume naming rights for the league, making the Zionsville, Ind.-headquartered organization the first entitlement partner of a major professional soccer league in the United States. The official launch of the Gainbridge Super League occurred on July 1 ahead of the 2025-2026 season which will see the addition of a ninth team, Sporting Jax. The league’s second season kicks off with a full four-game slate on August 23. Fans can stream every Gainbridge Super League match live on Peacock.

“As we begin our first season as the Gainbridge Super League, we’re proud to celebrate our players, clubs, and communities on a national stage,” said Amanda Vandervort, President of the Gainbridge Super League. “Through our partnership with Gainbridge, and with support from Spire Motorsports, we’re reaching new audiences and building on the momentum that’s driving the future of women’s sports.”

Haley’s No. 7 Chevrolet will feature all nine teams set to compete during the upcoming season – Brooklyn FC, Carolina Ascent FC, Dallas Trinity FC, DC Power FC, Fort Lauderdale United FC, Lexington SC, Spokane Zephyr FC, Sporting JAX and Tampa Bay Sun FC. Spire Motorsports plans to host players from Gainbridge Super League teams throughout the weekend.

“We are excited to use our Spire Motorsports NASCAR platform to highlight the kickoff of the newly rebranded Gainbridge Super League being broadcast live on Peacock starting next weekend,” said Mike Nichols, Gainbridge Chief of Sponsorship Strategy and Activation. “It is especially meaningful to have athlete representatives in Richmond, with their respective logos highlighted on the No. 7 Chevrolet. This furthers our commitment to not only investing in women’s sports, but building meaningful awareness for the teams, leagues, and athletes we invest in.”

Haley, a native of Winamac, Ind., is a veteran of 167 NASCAR Cup Series starts and is just one of 41 drivers to have collected victories across NASCAR’s Cup, Xfinity and CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. Haley has earned one top-10 and six top-15 finishes this season.

The 26-year-old racer has made eight previous Cup Series appearances at the 0.75-mile D-shaped oval in Henrico, Va., scoring a venue-best 21st-place finish in August 2022. In five NASCAR Xfinity Series appearances at Richmond, Haley finished in the runner-up position twice (September 2020 and 2021).

“Gainbridge has been incredibly passionate about supporting women and sports, and the Gainbridge Super League is just another example of their commitment to that effort,” said Haley. “It’s been exciting to watch everything come together ahead of the Gainbridge Super League season. Some of the players came out to North Wilkesboro and we had a great time, so I can’t wait to show the rest of the league what NASCAR is all about. Richmond is one of my favorite tracks and the No. 7 team has been making a lot of gains over the last few months. I’m looking forward to putting the Gainbridge Super League up front and kicking off their second season with a good run at Richmond.”

The NASCAR Cup Series race from Richmond Raceway will be televised live on USA and streamed on Max Saturday, Aug. 16 beginning at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The 25th of 36 points-paying races on the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series schedule will also be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, Channel 90.

About Gainbridge Super League …
The Gainbridge Super League is a Division I professional women’s soccer league committed to expanding access to the highest level of the sport in the United States. Launched in 2024 and sanctioned by U.S. Soccer, the league is operated by the United Soccer League (USL). The 2025/26 season will feature nine clubs: Brooklyn FC, Carolina Ascent FC, Dallas Trinity FC, DC Power FC, Fort Lauderdale United FC, Lexington SC, Spokane Zephyr FC, Tampa Bay Sun FC, and Sporting Jax. Through a landmark entitlement partnership with Gainbridge®, a Group 1001 company, the league is building a sustainable, community-rooted model to grow women’s professional soccer nationwide. For more information, visit gainbridgesuperleague.com and follow the league on Facebook, Instagram, X and TikTok.

About Spire Motorsports …
Spire Motorsports earned its inaugural NASCAR Cup Series victory in its first full season of competition when Justin Haley took the checkered flag in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway on July 7, 2019. Less than three years later, William Byron drove Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado to its inaugural NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series win on April 7, 2022, at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway. The team’s most recent win came on May 30, 2025, when Rajah Caruth took the checkered flag in the Rackley Roofing 200 at Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway.

In 2025, Spire Motorsports will campaign the Nos. 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolets in the NASCAR Cup Series. The team will also field the Nos. 07, 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolet Silverados in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series and the No. 77 Chevrolet in the ARCA Menards Series in select events.

Watkins Glen International
Sunday, Aug. 10
2.45-Mile Road Course
2 PM ET
Location: Watkins Glen, New York
TV: Fox
Event: NASCAR Cup Series (Race 24 of 36)
RADIO: SiriusXM

5 KYLE LARSON
Age: 33 (July 31, 1992)
Hometown: Elk Grove, California
Last Week: 28th (Iowa)
Crew Chief: Cliff Daniels
Standings: 3rd

No. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM Chevrolet

2025	Cup Career	Watkins Glen
Races	23	389	10
Wins	3	32	2
Poles	1	22	0
Top 5	11	130	3
Top 10	14	196	5
Laps Led	873	10,129	38
Stage Wins	8	70	0
Average Finish	13.5	14.1	12.2

• Through 23 races in the 2025 season, Kyle Larson leads the NASCAR Cup Series in top-five finishes (11) and top 10s (14).
• Larson is second in the playoff standings, just one point out of first place. He sits third in the points standings, behind Hendrick Motorsports teammate William Byron, trailing by 45 points with three races remaining in the regular season.
• The Elk Grove, California, native is one road course win shy of tying Hendrick Motorsports teammate Chase Elliott for the most wins on serpentine circuits among active drivers with seven. Larson is also tied for second in most road course wins in the Next Gen car with three, one win behind first place.
• Larson has a pair of victories at Watkins Glen International, claiming back-to-back events in 2021 and 2022. He leads all active drivers in average starting position at the track at 7.4 in 10 races.

9 CHASE ELLIOTT
Age: 29 (Nov. 28, 1995)
Hometown: Dawsonville, Georgia
Last week: 14th (Iowa)
Crew Chief: Alan Gustafson
Standings: 2nd

No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet
 

2025	Cup Career	Watkins Glen
Races	23	345	8
Wins	1	20	2
Poles	0	12	2
Top 5	7	111	4
Top 10	12	183	4
Laps Led	385	5,911	170
Stage Wins	1	39	3
Average Finish	10.3	12.7	10.6

• With three races left in the regular season, Chase Elliott is second in the NASCAR Cup Series points standings, just 18 markers behind Hendrick Motorsports teammate William Byron.
• Elliott’s average finish of 10.3 leads all drivers and is his second best this far into a season. He is the only driver to finish in the top 20 in all 23 races. Only two other drivers have reached 23 top-20 finishes through 23 events in a season (Bill Elliott in 1988 and Ricky Rudd in 1991).
• This is the second straight year that Elliott has completed all but one lap entering the 24th race.
• This weekend, the series heads to Watkins Glen International, a course where Elliott earned back-to-back wins including his first career Cup Series victory in 2018.
• The 2020 Cup Series champion leads active drivers in road course victories with seven. He’s third on the all-time wins list behind NASCAR Hall of Famers Jeff Gordon (nine) and Tony Stewart (eight).
• Elliott leads all drivers with 11 top-five finishes on road courses in the Next Gen era. He has the third-most top 10s (13) and laps led (147) along with the second-most points scored (645). His 9.8 average finish ranks third.

24 WILLIAM BYRON
Age: 27 (Nov. 29, 1997)
Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina
Last Week: 1st (Iowa)
Crew Chief: Rudy Fugle
Standings: 1st

No. 24 RAPTOR Chevrolet
 

2025	Cup Career	Watkins Glen
Races	23	275	6
Wins	2	15	1
Poles	2	15	0
Top 5	8	62	1
Top 10	12	116	3
Laps Led	910	3,888	66
Stage Wins	7	30	1
Average Finish	14.2	15.1	15.3

• William Byron saved enough fuel over the final stage at Iowa Speedway on Sunday, scoring his second NASCAR Cup Series win of the season and his 15th overall. He became the only driver to win in all three national series at Iowa Speedway – CRAFTSMAN Trucks Series in 2016, Xfinity Series in 2017 and Cup Series in 2025. Across all three series, he has an average finish of 2.8 at Iowa including an average finish of 1.5 in Cup.
• With the victory, Byron once again inherited the points standings lead. This is the 18th week this season he’s led the standings and he’s been no worse than second. The 27-year-old leads Hendrick Motorsports teammate Chase Elliott by 18 points with three races to go in the regular season.
• The Charlotte, North Carolina, native leads the series in several statistical categories including laps led (910), points (770), laps run in the top five (2,806), laps run in the top 10 (3,824) and average running position (10.09).
• In the last 11 road course races, Byron has one pole, one win, two second-place finishes, five top fives (tied for second most) and eight top 10s (tied for most) with 110 laps led (second most). This season on serpentine courses, Byron has three top-10 finishes, tied for second most.
• Byron has prior success at Watkins Glen International, picking up a Cup Series win in 2023 after leading 66 laps. He has three top-10 finishes in six starts at the New York road course.

48 ALEX BOWMAN
Age: 32 (April 25, 1993)
Hometown: Tucson, Arizona
Last Week: 7th (Iowa)
Crew Chief: Blake Harris
Standings: 9th

No. 48 Ally Chevrolet
 

2025	Cup Career	Watkins Glen
Races	23	348	8
Wins	0	8	0
Poles	2	7	0
Top 5	5	45	0
Top 10	13	109	0
Laps Led	160	1,528	1
Stage Wins	0	7	0
Average Finish	16.0	19.1	21.0

• Alex Bowman has recorded 13 top-10 finishes in 2025, tying him for second most in the NASCAR Cup Series and marking his personal best through 23 races in a single season.
• So far in 2025, Bowman has led 160 laps including at least one in 12 events.
• Going into the final three races in the regular season, Bowman is currently scored 15th in the playoff standings, 63 points above the cutline.
• On road courses, Bowman has scored 123 points in 2025, tied for seventh-most in the series. He also owns a road course victory, winning on the Chicago Street Course last year.
• For this weekend’s race at Watkins Glen International, the featured Best Friends Animal Society partner is the Chautauqua County Humane Society in Jamestown, New York.
• Ally and HENDRICKCARS.COM are teaming up again to give fans the chance to win prizes with this year’s “Open Road Sweepstakes.” Fans can win VIP experiences at various races throughout the season and one lucky winner will hit the open road in a Chevy Silverado LT Trail Boss with an Airstream camper. Fans can stop by the Ally Fan Zone to enter the sweepstakes in-person and check out the camper. Fans can also enter at ally.com/sweepstakes/nascar.

Hendrick Motorsports

2025	All-Time	Watkins Glen
Races	23	1,404	38
Wins	6	318*	11*
Poles	5	258*	8*
Top 5	31	1,310*	25
Top 10	51*	2,238*	44
Laps Led	2,328*	84,640*	760*
Stage Wins	16*	131	4**

*Most all time
**Tied for most all time

• With William Byron’s win and Alex Bowman’s seventh-place run at Iowa Speedway last Sunday, Hendrick Motorsports remains the only organization to place at least one car in the top 10 of every event in 2025. That streak goes back 31 races to last season, the longest such run of any team in the Next Gen era.
• The Hendrick Motorsports engine shop now stands at 548 national series victories, just two short of an unprecedented 550. The organization’s engines have won 17 poles (seven in the NASCAR Cup Series, 10 in the Xfinity Series) and 21 races (six in Cup, 14 in Xfinity and one in the preseason Clash) in 2025 and have powered teams to 39 points paying Cup Series victories in the Next Gen era, the most of any organization.
• Hendrick Motorsports has led 2,328 laps through 23 events this year, accounting for 39% of all circuits completed in the Cup Series and more than any other team by 1,147.
• With 16, the organization leads the series in stage wins and is tied for the most through a season’s first 23 races all time.
• Byron, Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson currently hold the first, second and third spots respectively in the Cup Series regular season points standings. It is the eighth week Hendrick Motorsports has held the top three spots, the most in any season by any team in history.
• Hendrick Motorsports has won five of the last 11 road course races and has also claimed two victories in three events at Watkins Glen International in the Next Gen era. The organization has won at least one road course event in each of the last seven years (2018-2024).

QUOTABLE /
 
Kyle Larson, driver of the No. 5 Chevrolet, on returning to Watkins Glen International: “It’s always great going to Watkins Glen and to a track that I’ve had success at in the past. With just a couple races left in the regular season, we’re hopeful that we can put together a solid race weekend to help towards winning the regular season championship and put us in a good spot for the playoffs.”

Chase Elliott, driver of the No. 9 Chevrolet, on Hendrick Motorsports’ success at Watkins Glen International: “We had a really solid foundation, and prior to our success here in ‘18 and ’19, it wasn’t like we were bad. We might not have won, but we were really solid before that. And, yeah, had a package, kept building on it, got better. That was all with the old car. Since the new car came in, it’s been totally different, truthfully. The success in this new car, it’s not even a different chapter, it’s like a different book. So, I wouldn’t even compare that if it were me. I think it’s just kind of happenstance that we’ve fired off well. I think all of us get around here pretty good, so that certainly helps as you come into a new car.”

William Byron, driver of the No. 24 Chevrolet, on carrying momentum from last week’s win at Iowa Speedway: “This was just a big relief to have one go our way, and we’ve just been running so well this year, I feel like this is going to be a big momentum boost for our team just to be able to check that one off the list and keep carrying the speed that we’ve had.”

Alex Bowman, driver of the No. 48 Chevrolet, on racing at Watkins Glen International: “Watkins Glen has never been an easy place for me, but I feel like we’ve made a lot of progress on road courses the last couple years. Getting that win last season really helped build confidence, and with how we’ve been running lately, I feel good about where we’re at. Every point matters right now with the playoff picture, so the goal is to keep that momentum going and have a clean, solid day.”

Different Night Same Rodeo

Country star Bailey Zimmerman’s sophomore album Different Night Same Rodeo will be featured on the No. 11 Chevy for Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity race. Releasing August 8th, 2025, this album is full of rock-powered country anthems with a more emotionally raw side. The highly anticipated drop will feature 18 songs including previously released tracks like “Holy Smokes” and “Backup Plan” featuring Luke Combs.

Different Night Same Rodeo is the second album to be featured on one of Kaulig Racing’s Chevrolets. Zimmerman’s previous album Religiously. The Album. was featured on the winning No. 10 Chevy driven by AJ Allmendinger in the 2022 NASCAR Xfinity Series at Nashville. The album debuted at No. 3 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart and number seven on the all-genre Billboard 200. The album’s title track became Zimmerman’s third country radio No. 1.

In addition to being on the No. 11 Chevrolet at Watkins Glen International, Zimmerman will be performing some new tracks as well as favorites from his first album as part of his New to Country Tour on Saturday, August 9th at Constellation Brands-Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center (CMAC) Canandaigua, NY – show starts at 7:30PM

At Watkins Glen:

Kaulig Racing has made seven NASCAR Cup Series starts at Watkins Glen, earning two runner-up finishes.
In the NASCAR Xfinity Series, Kaulig Racing has earned two runner-up finishes, four top fives, and seven top-10 finishes at The Glen.

10 Team Info

Crew Chief: Andrew Dickeson

Partner: Sea Best

Ty Dillon, No. 10 Sea Best Camaro ZL1

Sea Best: Sea Best will serve as the primary partner of the No. 10 Chevrolet this weekend at Watkins Glen International with Ty Dillon and Kaulig Racing. Sea Best proudly serves as the flagship brand of Beaver Street Fisheries, a family-owned and operated company based in Jacksonville, Florida. As one of the nation’s largest importers, manufacturers, and distributors of seafood and meat, the Sea Best brand is synonymous with premium-quality seafood. Its product lineup includes a wide range of frozen fish fillets—such as ahi tuna, mahi-mahi, cod, and catfish—along with shrimp, scallops, and lobster.

Meet Ty Dillon:

Sunday, August 10

Ty Dillon will join MRO chaplain Nick Terry for the Fan Chapel Service on Sunday morning at 8:15 a.m. ET at the NASCAR Experience Stage.
Dillon will be at to the Chevrolet Merchandise Hauler at 10:30 a.m. ET to meet fans and sign autographs on Sunday, August 10.
Dillon will finish his pre-race appearances at the NASCAR Experience Stage for a friendly game of Family Feud at 11:00 a.m. ET.

At Watkins Glen:

Ty Dillon will make his 10th appearance at Watkins Glen International this weekend.
In his previous nine starts at the track, Dillon has five starts in the NASCAR Cup Series and four starts in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
Dillon’s best finish among his nine starts is fifth in 2015 in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
 
“I’m excited about this weekend at Watkins Glen. We ran really good at Sonoma (Raceway), our last road course, so if we can continue the momentum of that and build off that, we’ll have a good weekend. It’s a road course that I’ve run a good bit and that’s exciting for me and adds a little familiarity. It’s been two years since I’ve been on the track, but not much has changed. We need to rebound after having some rough luck the last few weeks and get a solid finish at Watkins Glen to finish out the year strong.” – Ty Dillon on Watkins Glen International  

16 Team Info

Crew Chief: Trent Owens

Partner: Grizzly Nicotine Pouches

AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Grizzly Nicotine Pouches Camaro ZL1

Grizzly Nicotine Pouches: Grizzly Nicotine Pouches will be featured as the primary partner on the No. 16 Chevy with Kaulig Racing and AJ Allmendinger this weekend at Watkins Glen International. Grizzly Nicotine Pouches is a tobacco leaf-free product available nationwide (where permitted).

Meet AJ Allmendinger:

Sunday, August 10

AJ Allmendinger will be doing a driver Q&A at the Glen Club on Sunday, August 10, from 10:30 a.m. ET to 10:45 a.m. ET.

At Watkins Glen:

• AJ Allmendinger earned his first NASCAR Cup Series win at Watkins Glen International in 2014. Since then, Allmendinger has earned two additional NASCAR Cup Series wins on road courses, including Kaulig Racing’s first win in Verizon Brickyard 200 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2022.
• In his three NASCAR Cup Series starts with Kaulig Racing at Watkins Glen, Allmendinger has earned a runner-up-finish and fourth place finish. In his 13 starts at the track, he has earned one pole position start, led a total of 60 laps and has an average finish of 10.8.
• So far in the 2025 season, Allmendinger has earned one top five, five top 10s and has led four laps.

“Watkins Glen is always special to me; it’s a racetrack that we’re always really fast at as well. We have the opportunity to be in contention this weekend if we execute well. Obviously, we want a shot to win, but ultimately, we need a solid run and this is a racetrack that we can do it at.” – AJ Allmendinger on Watkins Glen International  

10 Team Info

Crew Chief: Kevin Walter

Partner: Race to Stop Suicide

Daniel Dye, No. 10 Race to Stop Suicide Chevrolet

Race to Stop Suicide: Race to Stop Suicide leverages the passion and community of motorsports to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and provide critical support for suicide prevention and mental health. Through events and initiatives, the organization drives important conversations, inspires hope, and races toward saving lives. Also featured as an associate partner on the No. 10 Chevy for the Misson 200 at the Glen is Madison County Rural Health Council (MCRHC) of Cazenovia, NY. The MCRHC offers a range of evidence-based trainings that equip individuals, schools, workplaces, and community groups with the tools needed to support mental health and prevent suicide.

“We’re honored to partner with Daniel Dye Racing to raise awareness for youth mental health and the importance of Mental Health First Aid. This collaboration helps shine a light on the critical need for mental health education, support, and early intervention—especially for teens in rural communities.” – Madison County Rural Health Council

At Watkins Glen:

Daniel Dye will make his first start at Watkins Glen International in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
Dye previously made one start at The Glen in the ARCA Menards Series and earned a top-five finish.
 
“Road courses are typically challenging for me, but Watkins Glen is different than some of the other road courses we go to, in that it’s not quite as technically challenging. Hopefully that plays to my advantage a little. I’m excited to have Race to Stop Suicide back on our No. 10 Chevy this weekend, a cause that’s really close to my heart.” – Daniel Dye on Watkins Glen International  

11 Team Info

Crew Chief: Eddie Pardue

Partner: Different Night Same Rodeo

Michael McDowell, No. 11 Different Night Same Rodeo Chevrolet

Different Night Same Rodeo: Releasing August 8th, 2025, country star Bailey Zimmerman’s sophomore album Different Night Same Rodeo is full of rock-powered country anthems with a more emotionally raw side. The highly anticipated drop will feature 18 songs including previously released tracks like “Holy Smokes” and “Backup Plan” featuring Luke Combs. Different Night Same Rodeo is the second album to be featured on one of Kaulig Racing’s Chevrolets. The first was Zimmerman’s previous album Religiously. The album which debuted at No. 3 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart and number seven on the all-genre Billboard 200. The album’s title track became Zimmerman’s third country radio No. 1.

At Watkins Glen:

• Michael McDowell will make his fourth-career start at Watkins Glen International in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. McDowell last raced at The Glen in the Xfinity Series in 2010.
• McDowell has earned one win, two pole awards, and two runner-up finishes on road courses in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve driven an Xfinity car, so I’m really excited about it. We are going to one of my favorite tracks at Watkins Glen and a place where I have a lot of experience in a handful of different series. It’s going to be a big weekend. I’m thankful for the opportunity and excited to get to the track with both Kaulig and Spire.” – Michael McDowell on Watkins Glen International  

16 Team Info

Crew Chief: Alex Yontz

Partner: Celsius

Christian Eckes, No. 16 Celsius Chevrolet

Celsius: Christian Eckes will drive the No. 16 Celsius Chevrolet at Watkins Glen International. Celsius is known for their better-for-you lineup of energy and hydration products, all zero sugar and created with essential vitamins. The No. 16 will also feature the Celsius onboard camera during the Mission 200 at the Glen.

Meet Christian Eckes

Friday, August 8

Christian Eckes will be at Wegmans, located at 24 S Bridge St, Corning, NY, on Friday, August 8 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. ET to meet fans, sample Celsius, and sign autographs.
At Watkins Glen:

• Christian Eckes will make his first start at Watkins Glen International in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
• Eckes previously made one start at The Glen in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series in 2021.
• So far in the 2025 season, Eckes has earned three top fives, two of which have come at road courses, and nine top-10 finishes.

“I’m excited to get back on a road course this weekend. I haven’t been to Watkins Glen in a few years, so it will be interesting to see how the track has changed over that time. We’ve had some success here & there on these types of tracks this season, and I have no doubt that our Celsius Camaro team will be ready for the challenge.” – Christian Eckes on Watkins Glen International  

Meet the Kaulig Racing Drivers

Friday, August 8

Christian Eckes will be at Wegman’s, located at 24 S Bridge St, Corning, NY, on Friday, August 8 from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. ET to meet fans, sample Celsius, and sign autographs.

Sunday, August 10

• Ty Dillon will join MRO chaplain Nick Terry for the Fan Chapel Service on Sunday morning at 8:15 a.m. ET at the NASCAR Experience Stage.
• Dillon will be at to the Chevrolet Merchandise Hauler at 10:30 a.m. ET to meet fans and sign autographs on Sunday, August 10.
• AJ Allmendinger will be doing a driver Q&A at the Glen Club on Sunday, August 10, from 10:30 a.m. ET to 10:45 a.m. ET.
• Dillon will finish his pre-race appearances at the NASCAR Experience Stage for a friendly game of Family Feud at 11:00 a.m. ET.

About Kaulig Racing

Kaulig Racing™ is a full-time, multi-car NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) and NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) team, owned by award winning entrepreneur, Matt Kaulig. Established in 2016, Kaulig Racing™ has earned 27 NXS wins, made the NXS Playoffs consecutively each season since the playoff system started, and won two regular-season championships. In 2021, the team competed in select NCS events, before expanding to a two-car, full-time NCS team in 2022 and adding a third, part-time entry during the 2023 season. Since its first NCS start in 2021, the team has earned two wins. Kaulig Racing is currently fielding two full-time entries in the NCS and continues to field three full-time NXS entries. To learn more about the team, visit kauligracing.com.

TEAM CHEVY ADVANCE
Watkins Glen International
August 8-10, 2025

NASCAR will return to road racing this weekend with all three divisions uniting in upstate New York to take on Watkins Glen International.

The 2.45-mile, seven-turn circuit has found its way back into a pivotal spot on the regular season schedule for each division, including the penultimate race in the final stretch to the playoffs for the Truck Series to kick off the tripleheader weekend. For the Cup and Xfinity Series, the regular season title still remains up for grabs with Team Chevy drivers, William Byron and Connor Zilisch, leading the charge into the Watkins Glen race weekend.

 Chevrolet at Watkins Glen:

NASCAR’s rich history at Watkins Glen International sees Chevrolet sit as the winningest manufacturer across all three divisions with 22 Cup Series wins, 13 Xfinity Series wins and three Truck Series wins.

Piloting a 1957 Chevrolet, Buck Baker took the victory in the Cup Series’ inaugural appearance at the upstate New York circuit – a triumph that also marked Chevrolet’s first-ever road course win in NASCAR’s top division. Over a now 41-race history at the circuit, Chevrolet continues to hold the highest win streak at five-straight, which the manufacturer has accomplished on three different occasions (Aug. 1997 – Aug. 2001; Aug. 2003 – Aug. 2007; and Aug. 2018 – Aug. 2023). Among the series’ active drivers includes a three-way tie in all-time Watkins Glen wins – all of which come from the Chevrolet camp with Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott and Kyle Busch each owning two wins at the circuit in their championship-earning careers.

SVG SEEKS FOUR-STRAIGHT STREAK

Chevrolet will head to upstate New York with an active streak of three-straight road racing triumphs in the NASCAR Cup Series – all courtesy of Trackhouse Racing’s Shane van Gisbergen. The road course ace went from outside the playoff bubble to a guaranteed spot in the title chase with a dominating victory in the series’ inaugural appearance in Mexico City. The 36-year-old Auckland, New Zealand, native went on to make back-to-back trips to victory lane at the Chicago Street Course and Sonoma Raceway just a few weeks later. Van Gisbergen left Sonoma making yet another mark in NASCAR history – becoming just the seventh different driver to win three consecutive road course races in the division. Extending his streak to four-straight is a very attainable task for the Trackhouse Racing driver, with his first and only appearance at Watkins Glen International ending with a runner-up result (Sept. 2024). Only two drivers in series’ history have racked up four-straight road course victories – 2020 Cup Series champion, Chase Elliott, and NASCAR Hall of Famer, Jeff Gordon.

FIRST-TIME WINNER

On Aug. 5, 2018, at Watkins Glen International, Chase Elliott etched his name into history as a NASCAR Cup Series winner. Now competing in his 10th full-time season, the 29-year-old Dawsonville, Georgia, native is a champion and 20-time winner in NASCAR’s top division. Despite still seeking his first road course win in the Next Gen era, Elliott has proven to know his way around left- and right-hand turns. The Hendrick Motorsports driver has tallied seven road course victories in his Cup Series career – the most of all active drivers. The record is enough to place Elliott third on the series’ all-time road course wins list behind a pair of NASCAR Hall of Famers – Jeff Gordon (nine) and Tony Stewart (eight). Elliott’s road course resume sees victories at five different road course circuits, which also happens to be a series’ record.

 
REGULAR SEASON BATTLE RAMPING UP

The NASCAR Cup and Xfinity Series left America’s Heartland with yet another change atop their respective points standings.

Plagued with fuel milage misfortune this season, William Byron and the No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet team finally came out on top at Iowa Speedway to earn their second trip to victory lane. The 27-year-old Charlotte, North Carolina, native turned in a race-high 141 laps led en route to a 48-point day to earn his spot back in the points lead heading into the final three-race stretch of the regular season. Still on his heels are his Hendrick Motorsports teammates, Chase Elliott (second) and Kyle Larson (third), who are each looking to add a second regular season title to their championship-earning resumes.

In the Xfinity Series, it was Connor Zilisch that drove to a 43-point day and his 11th top-five finish of the season to surpass his JR Motorsports teammate, Justin Allgaier, for the top points position – marking the first time in his rookie campaign that he’s attained the points lead. The rising star also leads the series with five wins this season – most recently at Indianapolis Motor Speedway to tie together three-straight triumphs. What better place to further add to his points lead than Watkins Glen International – a circuit that saw his first career Xfinity Series start end in a trip to victory lane.

BACK WHERE IT ALL STARTED…

Just one year ago, Connor Zilisch stepped into the NASCAR scene for the very first time by making his Xfinity Series debut at Watkins Glen International. Coming out of the gates full throttle, Zilisch drove the No. 88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet to the pole win, going on to record a race-high 45 laps en route to the victory to make him just the seventh driver in series’ history to win in his first career start. Fast forward just a few months, Zilisch landed a full-time spot in the driver’s seat of the No. 88 Chevrolet to compete in his first full-time campaign in the NASCAR national ranks. Taking his rookie season by storm, Zilisch heads back to where it all started as the series’ new points leader and a series-leading five wins under his belt. The 19-year-old Mooresville, North Carolina, native has yet to finish outside of the top-five in each of his road course starts in the series, including victories in the first (Circuit of The Americas) and most recent (Sonoma Raceway) road course races of the 2025 season.

 
TRUCK SERIES HITS TWO-TO-GO IN REGULAR SEASON

For the first time in four years, the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series will make its way back to the twist and turns of Watkins Glen International – marking the penultimate race of the series’ regular season. Just three positions remain up for grabs in the 10-driver playoff field, with Grant Enfinger and the No. 9 CR7 Motorsports Chevrolet team leading the way in the first provisional points position with a strong 89-point cushion over the cutline. On top of the playoff pressure comes the added element of a stacked entry list for Friday’s event, with the field also seeing appearances by the series’ winningest driver, Kyle Busch (No. 07 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet); Cup Series regular, Ross Chastain (No. 44 Niece Motorsports Chevrolet); and a pair of Xfinity Series playoff contenders, Sammy Smith (No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet) and Connor Zilisch (No. 45 Niece Motorsports Chevrolet).

Chevrolet’s season statistics with 23 NASCAR Cup Series races complete:

Wins: 10

Poles: 10

Laps Led: 2,900

Top-Fives: 46

Top-10s: 99

Stage Wins: 20

Chevrolet’s season statistics with 22 NASCAR Xfinity Series races complete:

Wins: 19

Poles: 13

Laps Led: 2,723

Top-Fives: 73

Top-10s: 140

Stage Wins: 31

Chevrolet’s season statistics with 16 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races complete:

Wins: 6

Poles: 2

Laps Led: 854

Top-Fives: 37

Top-10s: 77

Stage Wins: 7

 
BOWTIE BULLETS:

· Active Chevrolet drivers with a NASCAR Cup Series win at Watkins Glen International:

Kyle Larson – two wins (2021, 2022)

Chase Elliott – two wins (2019, 2018)

Kyle Busch – two wins (2013, 2008)

William Byron – one win (2024)

· Chevrolet is the winningest manufacturer in all three NASCAR national divisions at Watkins Glen International with 22 Cup Series wins, 13 Xfinity Series wins, and three Truck Series wins.

· Chevrolet has earned 22 victories in the past 29 NASCAR Cup Series races on the series’ traditional road courses – dating from Chase Elliott’s victory at Watkins Glen International in Aug. 2019, to Shane van Gisbergen’s win at Sonoma Raceway in July 2025. Van Gisbergen and Alex Bowman have added three more triumphs on left- and right-hand turns by keeping Chevrolet undefeated in the Chicago Street Race.

· In 18 NASCAR Cup Series races on traditional road courses in the Next Gen era, Chevrolet leads the series with 12 victories – recorded by seven drivers from four different Chevrolet organizations.

· Chevrolet has earned at least half of the top-10 finishing results in 12 of the 23 points-paying races thus far this season, including a season-high seven top-10 finishes at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway.

· In 131 points-paying races in the Next Gen era, Chevrolet leads all manufacturers with 62 victories – a winning percentage of 47.3%.

· With its 43 NASCAR Cup Series Manufacturer Championships, 33 NASCAR Cup Series Driver Championships, and 876 all-time NASCAR Cup Series wins, Chevrolet continues to hold the title as the winningest brand in NASCAR Cup Series history.

 
TUNE-IN:

NASCAR Cup Series

Go Bowling at The Glen

Sunday, August 10, at 2 p.m. ET

(USA Network, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90)

NASCAR Xfinity Series

Mission 200 at The Glen

Saturday, August 9, at 3 p.m. ET

(CW, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90)

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series

Mission 176 at The Glen

Friday, August 8, at 5 p.m. ET

(FS1, NASCAR Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90)

 
QUOTABLE QUOTES:

Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Do you like road racing?

“Road racing has always been such a challenge for me. I’ve worked so hard on the craft and I’ve really grown to like it. Having Shane as a teammate has been a great help too. It’s wild to watch him in the simulator and how he can be so accurate and smooth with all of his movements. Connor is obviously a very talented road racer and he’s fun to race against. Daniel is a great road racer too. I have three teammates this weekend and I’m the guy still working really hard on my road race craft. Last year at Watkins Glen we ran really well. We led a bunch of laps and that was a lot of fun. I’m going to get some extra laps in on Friday in the truck race which always helps.”

You seem to spend a lot of time in New York. Why is that?

“I spend a lot of time in New York state for various things. Some of that is in New York City and some of it is in upstate New York around the racetrack and surrounding areas. Upstate is a gorgeous area and I do a lot of work with the Governors office and safe driving so I spend a lot of time in New York. I was in Corning a couple of weeks ago to promote this weekend’s race and it was a lot of fun.”

Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

What are some of the things you like about Watkins Glen International, and what are some of the things that are difficult about that track?

“Watkins Glen International is very fast for a road course. The bus stop, the esses, a big chunk of the speed at Watkins Glen comes from those two sections. The other sections are more self-explanatory, but it’s a tough track. It’s been my hardest track to get a grip on, but I feel like going there does present some opportunities because you have some strategy and different things that can play out. Qualifying is pretty important there as well. I’m looking forward to getting there in our BREZTRI AEROSPHERE® (budesonide, glycopyrrolate, and formoterol fumarate) Chevrolet.”

It’s been quite the year for this race team. You’ve had your share of ups and downs. Where does the No. 3 team stand currently in your mind?

“I feel like Richard Boswell has built an amazing team, and I like the direction we are going. We are really just starting to click. We have potential. We have to work on our race car pace, but we are heading in the right direction that we need. We’ve had a lot of changes at the beginning of the year, some engineer swapping, and now I feel like everybody is on the same page and going in the right direction. From the team aspect, I feel like this is one of the strongest teams I’ve ever worked with and I’m super excited about the finish of this year and what we can do together in 2026. We had a streak of three straight top-10s at one point, and that was a good streak for us.”

Have you ever had a chance to race around Shane Van Gisbergen, observe and what have your learned from him?

“I think you have to go back to the first race he ran with us at the Chicago Street Course a few years ago. I pulled out in front of him during practice and I thought ‘oh this is no big deal. Who is this guy they are all talking about?’ A lap later he goes by me in the hardest and tightest section of the track in Turns 8 and 9 around the fountain area, and I’m like ‘oh man. This guy is going to win the race.’ I didn’t think it was even possible to pass in the section that he passed me in. I ended up chatting with him afterwards and he was really helpful. I was actually in a different gear than he was and he helped me in terms of what gear I needed to be in. His thought process about road course racing has changed the game for everyone, and the way you go about getting ready. The stuff that you value is different then the stuff that they value, because in Australian V8 cars the tire is smaller, has more degradation, and they think about the life of the tire more than what we have been, and I think more and more teams are looking at their process and changing it to keep up. He’s pretty impressive for sure.”

Justin Haley, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

This will be your fifth road-course of the season. How do you feel about going into Watkins Glen?

“I feel like our Chevy has had speed at road-courses this year, we had two top-20s and a top-15 finish. Watkins Glen is always packed with campers and race fans and that makes it so much more exciting as a driver! I’ve always enjoyed how the track flows and am looking forward to this weekend.”

Kyle Busch, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

Are all road courses the same, or does Watkins Glen International come with its own unique challenges?

“Setups are a little bit different at some of the road courses you go to. You would think road course, turn right, turn left, it’s the same thing, just run the same thing and go, but, no, Watkins Glen is more the superspeedway of road courses. Spring packages are a little different, bars are a little different, stuff like that. Looking at what the No. 16 ran there last year, they were really fast, they had a great race up there last year. So I’m leaning on some of our Kaulig friends on some advice on putting ourselves in a good spot to go up there and have a fast racecar.”

Do you like racing at Watkins Glen International?

“Watkins Glen has always been a favorite, I really enjoy it. I’ve always enjoyed the technicalities of that place, the high speeds of that place. The bus stop back there, being as sketch as it is, trying to go through there and blast through there as fast as you can, hopping all the curbs. It’s just a really fun place and you can be on attack mode there and find some speed.”

Just three races remaining before the NASCAR Playoffs. Assess your chances of winning at one of the next three races to lock yourself in?

“I have won at all those places, so let’s go do it again. Watkins Glen is probably my favorite road course we go to. Richmond is statistically one of my best racetracks that we go to. And then Daytona has been one of my best racetracks since I’ve been at RCR with Team Chevrolet. I feel really good about our opportunities the next three weeks. It’s all about execution and being able to do our job right. And that includes me, going out there and setting some fast laps and being in control of being able to do that, and having good pit stops on Pit Road and having good strategy and the race falling our way.”

AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet

“Watkins Glen is always special to me; it’s a racetrack that we’re always really fast at as well. We have the opportunity to be in contention this weekend if we execute well. Obviously, we want a shot to win, but ultimately, we need a solid run, and this is a racetrack that we can do it at.”

Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet

“We’re heading to The Glen this weekend and we’re proud to have Real American Beer on the car in honor of Hulk Hogan. We’ll be giving it everything we’ve got out there.”

Michael McDowell, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

How does Watkins Glen compare to the other road courses on the Cup Series schedule?

“Watkins Glen is a momentum track. It’s long, has a lot of lateral loading, and it flows very differently. It’s different than Sonoma. You have quick switchbacks when you think about Mexico City or Chicago, and it’s just so different. Obviously, it’s higher speeds and higher loading. The easiest way to describe it is like racing on a mile-and-a-half oval, but on a road course.

Chicago is similar to Martinsville, and Sonoma is probably like Bristol. It’s just that different of a feel when it comes to those tracks. Your fundamentals are still the same, but the way you attack Watkins Glen is different than how you attack Sonoma. There’s no doubt about it. It fits my style well. From an overall speed standpoint, it’s probably my best track. We don’t really have the results to show for it, but in qualifying the last few years, we’ve started in the top five or close to it.

I’ve won a few stages and led a bunch of laps, but it just hasn’t come together, whether it was an engine failure two years ago, or whatever happened last year. We’ve just had some missed opportunities there. But overall, from a speed perspective, Watkins Glen is probably one of my best tracks. I’m excited to have the Go Bowling at The Glen race outside the playoffs this year, just because I feel like it’s another opportunity and another shot for us to try to get a win.”

Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

At Watkins Glen last year, we saw you battle for a win and ultimately earn your first top-five finish in the Cup Series. Was that the race that set the No. 77 on the path its on now, and how do you feel heading back to that track?

“I think it was probably the first time that people really got to see Spire cars running up front and holding our own. Since then it’s only been improvement for the whole organization. We have up and down weeks, but that’s part of building a consistently successful program. Every weekend we have at least two cars running in the top 10, if not all three right there together. I just think Watkins Glen last year was a race where people started to pay attention. That’s definitely continued this season and I feel like the last two races are a really good example of that. At Indy we had two cars finish within the first 11 spots and Iowa we had a car in the top-10 all day and probably would’ve had similar results without the way the cautions fell in the middle of the race. I’m excited to get back to The Glen. We’ve got a lot of momentum heading into this race and we’ve done a really good job of continuing to improve at tracks where we’ve done well in the past.”

Connor Zilisch, No. 87 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet / No. 88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet

“I love going to Watkins Glen. The fans there are awesome and it’s a beautiful part of the country. It’s going to be really cool. I’m really excited to be making my fourth start in the Cup Series with Red Bull and Trackhouse. This is my last one of the year so we’re going to make it count. Watkins Glen is a track that I’m really comfortable at so this is a good one for us. Trackhouse has been pretty dominant on the road and street courses this season so I’m optimistic.”

“Watkins Glen is a place that holds a lot of memories for me. I won my first-ever there in my Xfinity debut last year and I’m excited to go back there and try and back that up with another win this year and get more playoff points before the playoffs begin in a few weeks. We’ve had a lot of momentum this year and we want to keep it up at Watkins Glen. I’m excited for the entire weekend. It’s going to be busy with the Cup car and the Truck but it’s so cool to get these opportunities.”

What did you learn at Circuit of the Americas earlier this season that will help you at Watkins Glen this weekend?

“At COTA I learned a little bit about the car and got a feel for Cup racing. Those two tracks are very different and require different driving styles but any laps in the Cup car that you can get are always beneficial.”

How much has life changed for you since your NXS debut at Watkins Glen in 2024?

“It’s certainly a lot different. I’ve won a lot of races since the last time I was at Watkins Glen. It will be cool to go back there and reflect on the start of a lot of remarkable things that have happened in less than a year. I love going to Watkins Glen. The fans there are awesome and it’s a beautiful part of the country.”

Shane van Gisbergen, No. 88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Do you still think about last year’s Watkins Glen Cup race and what could have been?

“I still get frustrated thinking about that race. When I make a personal mistake like that, it makes me angry to think that I threw that one away myself, especially after how good of a day it was, and we had the fastest car all day, then to do that. I really want to get there this weekend, make no mistakes, have a fast car and try to execute all day. Which we have been doing on the road courses, and it will be good to continue doing that.”

What do you think is clicking for you and the No. 88 team on the road courses?

“I think it’s just been time on the road courses, learning what we want from the car, changing our philosophy. We’ve really clicked on the road course set up and made our cars a lot better. On the ovals too, we are getting better as team.”

Your first win in the Summer Shootout came last week. What made you want to compete in the eight-week series?

“Well, I raced Aussie race cars before, which is similar, but obviously never on an oval. It’s something fun to do on a Tuesday night and it’s more reps for me. It was a blast racing with Bubba (Wallace) & Scott (McLaughlin), just a couple of mates hanging out every week was cool, but also, I learned a lot.”

Do you classify your Sonoma win as your “perfect drive” or is there another race that is hard to beat in your mind?

“Yes, but actually, Mexico (City) was really good as well. We just executed as a team, we had good pit stops, good strategy and obviously a fast car, which that is the best thing you could have. We finally put it all together which was great. Chicago and Sonoma were great too, but with Mexico (City) being our team’s first win of the season, it just sticks out to me a bit more.”

Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

What do you remember about last year at Watkins Glen?

“We went through a lot last year. The No. 99 Freeway Insurance Chevy was pretty fast, especially on the long runs. I thought we could drive through the field once we lost some track position, but it was much more difficult to pass than I anticipated. And then we lost a wheel, and from that, we were just trying to recover. I was very proud of this team for not giving up, executing well, and going to fight right off the bat. Finishing 13th after being stuck in the gravel isn’t a bad day. Our plan is to have a lot smoother day this year.”

 
Chevrolet NASCAR Cup Series Statistics

Manufacturers Championships:

Total (1949-2024): 43

First title for Chevrolet: 1958

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

Most recent: 2024

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

Drivers Championships:

Total (1949-2024): 33

First Chevrolet champion: Buck Baker (1957)

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

Most recent: Kyle Larson (2021)

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

Event Victories:

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

2025 STATISTICS:

Wins: 10

Poles: 10

Laps Led: 2,900

Top-Fives: 46

Top-10s: 99

Stage Wins: 20

CHEVROLET IN NASCAR CUMULATIVE STATISTICS:

Total Chevrolet race wins: 876 (1949 to date)

Poles won to date: 763

Laps led to date: 255,611

Top-fives to date: 4,415

Top-10s to date: 9,106

Total NASCAR Cup Wins by Corporation, 1949 to Date:

       General Motors: 1,210

       Chevrolet: 876

       Pontiac: 154

       Oldsmobile: 115

       Buick: 65



       Ford: 844                                                                               

       Ford: 744

       Mercury: 96

       Lincoln: 4



       Fiat Chrysler Automobiles: 467

       Dodge: 217

       Plymouth: 191

       Chrysler: 59



       Toyota: 198

 

About General Motors

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

Ford Performance Notes and Quotes
NASCAR Cup Series
Watkins Glen Media Availability
Wednesday, August 6, 2025

Ryan Preece, driver of the No. 60 Fastenal Ford Mustang Dark Horse for RFK Racing, is coming off a fifth place finish in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Iowa Speedway. He’s currently 23 points behind teammate Chris Buescher for the final playoff spot as the series heads to Watkins Glen International. Preece spoke about his situation as part of the weekly Ford Performance media call.

RYAN PREECE, No. 60 Fastenal Ford Mustang Dark Horse – LAST WEEKEND AT IOWA DIDN’T START OUT AS PLANNED, BUT YOU CAME AWAY WITH A FIFTH PLACE FINISH. HOW DID THAT MAKE YOU FEEL? “Yeah. I mean, from ultimately how it started, which wasn’t that great. I thought we were in for a long day. We caught a break at the beginning of stage two and that pretty much gave us the opportunity to make some good adjustments, get some track position and execute on restarts. I really thought we were gonna have a shot at it there and maybe possibly pull off an upset at the end of stage three when we finally got going, but I just built too loose to where we could continue to push those guys, but certainly nothing to be disappointed on with coming out of Iowa with a fifth place finish for Mohawk Northeast. I’m excited about getting to Watkins Glen this weekend.”

NASCAR HAS ADDED A FLAP BY THE A-POST FOR DAYTONA. HAVE YOU LOOKED AT IT OR HAS IT NOT BEEN ON YOUR RADAR? “I haven’t put a whole lot of thought into it yet. I believe all of us saw some of these changes a few weeks ago. I’ve just been so focused on each week that I’m sure I’ll get the update and all of the other stuff from Derrick (Finley) when Daytona week comes because outside of, I don’t really feel like it’s gonna affect anything on my side, so I don’t really know what to think. Hopefully, I’m not the one spinning sideways to test it.”

HOW DO YOU LOOK AT THE NEXT THREE RACES AND YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING TO GET IN? “I think road courses have been pretty good to us. You never know. There’s a lot of chaos at the end of them. At the end of the day, we just need to put ourselves in position to execute if SVG were to have something go wrong or what-not. I feel like Chris (Buescher) is gonna be tough to beat at the road course, so I feel good there. I feel good at Richmond. As you guys saw at Talladega, we were really, really fast and I felt like we were gonna have an opportunity to win there, so I’m sure I’m not on everybody’s Bingo card to win, but I’d love to be the guy that upsets everybody.”

HOW INTENSE ARE THE STRATEGY MEETINGS THIS WEEK WHEN YOU BALANCE POINTS VERSUS GOING AGAINST YOUR TEAMMATE FOR A WIN? “I guess we’ll see how intense it is this afternoon because it’s typically on Wednesdays, but I think we’re just gonna continue doing our deal and that’s kind of being different from most. Chris and Scott have had a lot of success doing it the way they do it. Me, I think we’re both gonna kind of go down the path that we’ve been doing and that’s all you can do. I really feel strongly that we are coming into our own and really starting to execute races really well, even on days when we aren’t the fastest car. That makes me feel pretty good about these next few weeks.”

ELTON SAWYER SAID EARLIER THIS WEEK THAT NASCAR HAS BEEN OPENLY INTIMATING THAT THEY ARE LOOKING TO INCREASE HORSEPOWER IN 2026. DO YOU HAVE AN EXPECTATION OF HOW MUCH THEY ARE LOOKING TO INCREASE IT BY? “That’s a really tough deal to answer because I don’t know all the pieces. What I do know is that it is, from the driver’s standpoint, I wish we would be able to go to test and over shoot it – give us too much and just have to dial it back from there because I feel like we need – I know 1,000 horsepower seems like a big number, but, in my eyes, with the car weighing 3500 pounds, you’re gonna need a big percentage increase to notice, I think, what we’re trying to accomplish. I think there are so many different ways you can go about it. I’d just like to see us try to test on the a lot more side.”

RICHMOND IS AFTER WATKINS GLEN AND WE ONLY GO THERE ONCE A YEAR NOW. WHAT ARE YOU HOPING TO SEE FROM THAT WEEKEND IN TERMS OF FAN SUPPORT OR ANYTHING ELSE? “Obviously, Richmond is a staple when it comes to NASCAR and the schedule. I think it’s gonna be packed. Going there one time a year and really just the racing that it’s gonna put out there is gonna be second to none. I’m excited about it. Also, I think for a lot of us I believe we’re running the option tire that we ran last year, and maybe somebody can correct me if I’m wrong, but that will create a different dynamic as well.”

WHAT IS IT LIKE RACING AGAINST YOUR TEAMMATE FOR PLAYOFF SPOT? “To be honest with you, Chris and I race really well together, so I think we have enough respect for each other on the racetrack to do it the right way, and we’re gonna race hard. I think between this week and next week, I think both of us – he sees Watkins Glen as a great opportunity to go win and get himself in, and the way I need to race it is gonna change throughout that race. From there, that will lead into Richmond and if the points battle is really close going into Daytona, obviously, we’re gonna take care of each other when it comes to superspeedways and the last few laps you’ve just got to do the best you can to try and win that race. So, I’m not really entirely sure of how to approach it, other than the way we’ve been doing it all year, which is take care of each other and race each other with a lot of respect and don’t wreck each other.”

WOULD IT BE EASIER IF IT WASN’T YOUR TEAMMATE FOR THE FINAL SPOT? “I don’t think I would change anything. I typically try to race everybody with the level of respect that I would want back and when I’m not raced that way, they just get raced the same way back. I don’t necessarily think that I would go and wreck somebody to try and get points like that. I’m just gonna race everybody the way I’d want to be raced.”

HOW DO YOU STAND ON THE CONVERSATION AROUND THE PLAYOFF FORMAT AND WHETHER IT SHOULD BE CHANGED? “I think, for me, growing up racing everything you always race it was a season long endeavor. So, I am a fan of not taking an entire season and throwing it away based off one race, or vice versa. It can potentially change your entire season. I think there’s a lot of merit to having to put together 10 months or nine months, or whatever it is, of going and succeeding. I don’t know, but at the same time this is the world we live in. This is the season we’re racing and you could choose to focus on certain racetracks and expectations and hopes of executing and winning and that change your entire season, but that’s the world we live in right now. Whatever the format ends up being is what it’s gonna be and what I’m gonna try to maximize.”

WHEN YOU LOOK AT YOUR CAREER AND AT THIS POINT TO BE RACING TO GET INTO THE PLAYOFFS, WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE IN THIS TYPE OF POSITION? “That’s a great question and, to be honest, I’ve always known that we could compete and execute and do all those things, and I think some – not that I care what other think, but it’s felt like I had to convince others. Outside of this national level sport, whatever I go race, whatever it may be, if it’s a late model or a modified and to where I felt like I had some sort of control over my destiny, we’ve gone out and we’ve executed and we’ve won. So I knew all along that given the right opportunity and everything coming together, that I could go do this, so, for me, it’s satisfying because this has been a grind. I’ll use Michael McDowell as another example of years and years of grinding and grinding to put together opportunities to where you can succeed. I’m grateful for the opportunity that’s been put together with everybody at RFK. To be able to go show this and have a road map to succeed and work hard, and if you put in all of that time that you’ll see the success. So, it would be nice to go out and win this weekend or one of these next three weeks, or have the opportunity to point our way in. I want to make the playoffs. That’s what we kind of said. We want to make the playoffs going into the year and, to be honest with you, I could tell there weren’t a lot of people that have us on their Bingo card, and I like that. I thrive off that, so, for me, now from a racer’s standpoint I want to win, and I don’t want to just win once I want to win a lot. We’re building that notebook and together as a group to be able to do that, so I look forward to these next three races as opportunities to try and win our way in, but if not, we’re gonna look at those next 10 races and use them as a way to build and even try to win and finish out this year and then carry that momentum into next year.”

HOW MUCH PATIENCE IS THERE OR IS THERE IMPATIENCE IN TRYING TO GET THIS DONE NOW? “I’ll tell you what, my path has been nothing short of the easy route. Do I wish I could have had the easy route? If somebody presented it to me I wouldn’t say no, but there’s been a lot of things that I’ve learned along the way – experiences, who I want to be as a race car driver, and then when it comes to facing a challenge how to persevere and execute. All of the lessons I’ve learned up to this point have made me better as a race car driver, so I’m happy I ended up taking the road that I did, and I’m on the path that I am now. Was it a long one? For sure. There are points where it sucks, but at the same time that reward of success or succeeding and doing all of those things is gonna feel that much sweeter.”

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE MINDSET OF RACING AT DAYTONA, ESPECIALLY WITH THE STRESS INVOLVED, AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THE PLAYOFFS? “Hopefully I’m locked in at that point, but, if not, you’re in a situation where you’ve got to race hard all day. You need to execute stage points. You need to finish the race. You need to put yourself into having the opportunity to win that race and the challenging thing of it being Daytona is there are a lot of things that are in your control, but there are just as many things that are out of your control. If we can go out and execute like we did at Talladega, which was having a really successful point day and finish, and we do that at Daytona, we’re gonna be just fine.”

AFTER IOWA YOU SAID WHEN YOU WERE RACING BRAD THAT YOU DID WHAT YOU THOUGHT WAS THE RIGHT THING FOR THE COMPANY. HOW GUTWRENCHING WAS IT TO LET HIM GO AT THAT POINT? “I don’t think it would have been the smart decision considering he’s not only my teammate, but he’s also part of the owner group. I didn’t necessarily let him go, I just didn’t fight him as hard as I could have. At that point in time, they had won two stages. They had a really fast car and I didn’t want to be the reason that in our Monday morning meeting if I held him up for 15 laps and then he happened to run down those guys and have a shot at winning if he had five more laps, I didn’t want to have that conversation. From the teammate perspective, I would hope it would be the same, and I feel like it definitely would. There was a point earlier in the race that he probably could have forced the issue and potentially put me a lap down, but I was racing my butt off to stay on the lead lap and that was part of what kept us there.”