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Niece Motorsports Statement on No. 45 Chevrolet Team

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Official Release
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Salisbury, NC (August 4, 2025) – Niece Motorsports has released Kaden Honeycutt from his driving duties for the organization, effective immediately.

Connor Zilisch will pilot the No. 45 DQS Solutions & Staffing Chevrolet Silverado at Watkins Glen. Bayley Currey will serve as the driver for the remainder of the season beginning at Richmond. Phil Gould will remain as the crew chief, with no other personnel changes on the team.
Honeycutt has signed a contract to race with a different Truck Series organization and OEM in 2026 – making this change allows our team the opportunity to begin building for next year.

About DQS Solutions & Staffing: Guided by a mission to achieve excellence and adaptability, DQS partners with clients to create custom solutions that address unique business challenges. Recognized as Michigan’s fastest-growing company and #22 in the nation on the Inc. 5000 list, DQS drives industry growth while giving back through its nonprofit, Foundation for Pops, and partnerships like the River Rouge School District.

About Niece Motorsports: Niece Motorsports is a professional auto racing team founded by United States Marine Corps Veteran Al Niece. In 2025, the team celebrates its 10th consecutive season competing in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS) where it fields the Nos. 41, 42, 44 and 45. Since its founding in 2016, Niece Motorsports has garnered nine wins, 50+ top-fives, 100+ top-10s, 200+ top-15 finishes and made five playoff appearances. At its 80,000 sq. ft. headquarters in Salisbury, NC, Niece Motorsports is a trusted build shop for the Chevrolet Silverados of multiple NCTS teams as well as a customizable fabrication shop for any manufacturing needs.

Follow the Team: To keep up to date with the latest team news, visit niecemotorsports.com or connect on Facebook and Instagram (@NieceMotorsports) as well as X (@NieceMotorsport).

NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Iowa

By
Jeffrey Boswell
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Photo by Ron Olds for SpeedwayMedia.com.

Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.

1. William Byron: 

Byron had the lead late at Iowa and maintained that lead by conserving gas to win the Iowa Corn 350.

“Fuel mileage races are so unpredictable,” Byron said. “One thing that is predictable is that the fuel gauges on the television broadcast are never accurate.”

2. Denny Hamlin: 

Hamlin finished 24th in the Iowa Corn 350.

“My car was primarily sponsored by Bob’s Discount Furniture,” Hamlin said. “In the discount furniture world, Bob’s is definitely in the top 100. And speaking of things made out of particle board, my No. 11 Toyota drove like it was.”

3. Chase Elliott: 

Elliott finished 14th in the Iowa Corn 350.

“I can tell you the good people down at the Dawsonville Pool Room like their corn,” Elliott said. “And almost unanimously, they like it in liquid form.”

4. Chase Briscoe: 

Briscoe started on the pole and finished second in the Iowa Corn 350.

“I tried my best to catch William Byron,” Briscoe said. “He was low on fuel, but I thought I could catch him. But in NASCAR, apparently, you can run 20 miles on fumes.”

5. Alex Bowman: 

Bowman was strong all day at Iowa and finished seventh.

“Congratulations to my Hendrick teammate William Byron,” Bowman said. “That No. 24 team is a hard-working group, and they really know how to go the extra mile, or two, or three. Or 10.”

6. Ryan Blaney: 

Blaney, last year’s winner at Iowa, charged late but came up short and finished fourth in the Iowa Corn 350.

“I’m a pretty humble guy,” Blaney said. “So if I would have won the Iowa Corn 350, I’m pretty sure I would have just said ‘Aw, shucks.'”

7. Joey Logano: 

Logano finished ninth at Iowa.

“Joey Gase’s No. 66 Ford has ‘King Of The Hill’ on it,” Logano said. “However, Joey finished last, 10 laps down, so you could say his talent is ‘cartoonish.'”

8. Christopher Bell: 

Bell was an innocent bystander in an accident midway through the race and came home 17th at Iowa.

“I’m still looking for my fourth win of the season,” Bell said. “That was a quote I made back in mid-March, and it’s one I’ve been repeating weekly.”

9. Bubba Wallace: 

Wallace finished a solid sixth at Iowa, one week after winning at Indianapolis.

“The Braves and Reds played a baseball game staged in the infield of Bristol Motor Speedway,” Wallace said. “Finally, a smart decision to use dirt at Bristol.”

10. Kyle Larson: 

Larson finished 28th at Iowa.

“I had some bad luck when a caution came out right after I pitted during a green flag,” Larson said. “That caution was because of a spin by Shane van Gisbergen. Iowa is a long way from New Zealand, and short-track racing is a long way from road course racing.”

SAM MAYER SECURES FIRST XFINITY SERIES WIN FOR HAAS FACTORY TEAM

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Official Release
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NEWTON, IA – August 4, 2025 – Haas Factory Team’s Sam Mayer won Saturday’s Hy-Vee Perks 250 at Iowa Speedway, claiming his first win of the season and 13th top-10. The triumph marked both Haas Factory Team’s inaugural Xfinity Series victory and Ford’s first series win of the season. Mayer, who also won this race in 2024, became a back-to-back Hy-Vee Perks 250 winner and notched the eighth win of his Xfinity career.

“Congratulations to Gene, Joe, Jason, Sam, and everyone at Haas Factory Team on the race win at Iowa,” said Doug Yates, President and CEO of Roush Yates Engines. “Both Haas Factory Team cars were fast throughout the day, and to capture the team’s first Xfinity Series victory is a moment for all to be proud of.”

“This one is everything right here. This one here is for all the guys at Audibel. First win for Haas Factory Team… that’s awesome! I tried to botch it on pit road, but we didn’t. I can’t believe it. This is one of the most special ones I have. These guys love me to death and I love them to death. We are just some good ole boys trying to go racing. This one feels great. I simply knew this car could easily come back through the field no problem. Big shoutout to the guys back at the shop and the guys on pit road. This is awesome. I am so excited about this one,” commented Mayer.

Haas Factory Team teammates Sam Mayer and Sheldon Creed rolled off in P5 and P7 for Saturday’s Hy-Vee Perks 250 at Iowa Speedway. The race began with an early caution on Lap 3 for a multi-car incident, briefly shuffling the field. Mayer showed steady pace throughout Stage 1, securing a P4 finish, while fellow Ford Performance driver Harrison Burton of AM Racing finished in P9. Following pit stops between stages, Mayer was shuffled to the middle of the pack but quickly surged through the field to regain his position at the front. Four Ford Performance drivers finished Stage 2 in the top-10: Haas Factory Team’s Sam Mayer in P4 and Sheldon Creed in P6, AM Racing’s Harrison Burton in P8, and RSS Racing’s Ryan Sieg in P10. With 28 laps remaining in the race, Mayer was able to pass the race leader, Jesse Love. After gaining the lead, Mayer pulled away from the field on the final restart of the race to win by a margin of 3.289 seconds over Love.

AM Racing’s Harrison Burton finished in P5, Haas Factory Team’s Sheldon Creed finished in P7, and RSS Racing’s Ryan Sieg finished in P8.

The NASCAR Cup Series also raced at Iowa on Sunday. RFK Racing’s Brad Keselowski finished in P3, Team Penske’s Ryan Blaney finished in P4, RFK Racing’s Ryan Preece finished in P5, and Team Penske’s Joey Logano finished in P9.

Both the Xfinity and Cup Series travel to Watkins Glen, NY this weekend and race at Watkins Glen International.

41 CHAMPIONSHIPS – 481 WINS – 444 POLES

About Roush Yates Engines
Roush Yates Engines is a leading-edge engine development company based in Mooresville, NC consisting of two state-of-the-art facilities – Roush Yates Engines and Roush Yates Manufacturing Solutions, a world class AS9100 Rev D/ISO 13485 certified CNC manufacturing facility. The company’s core business includes designing, building and testing purpose-built race engines.

Ford Performance in partnership with Roush Yates Engines is the exclusive engine builder of the NASCAR FR9 Ford V8 engine.

With an unparalleled culture of winning and steeped in rich racing history, Roush Yates Engines continues to follow the company’s vision to lead performance engine innovation and staying true to the company’s mission, provide race winning engines through demonstrated power and performance.

Late Surge Lands Berry 13th at Iowa

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Official Release
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#21: Josh Berry, Wood Brothers Racing, Menards Masterforce Tools Ford Mustang

Josh Berry and the No. 21 Menards/Masterforce Tools Ford Mustang Dark Horse ran in the top five for much of the final Stage of Sunday’s Iowa Corn 350 at Iowa Speedway, but a rash of yellow flags foiled the team’s strategy of running long on the final pit cycle.

After running as high as second place, Berry finally pitted from fourth with 68 of 350 laps left to run. He returned to the track in 26th place but dropped to 31st on the restart.

He recovered and went on a tear, driving back to 13th place at the finish. It was his ninth finish of 13th or better in 23 races to date.

Berry started Sunday’s race from 12th place and finished the first 70-lap Stage in 16th place.

He and the Menards/Masterforce Tools team elected to run long in the second Stage and were rewarded for their gamble when the caution flag flew at Lap 170, while they were running fifth.

After making a pit stop under the caution flag, Berry returned to the race in the top five and ended Stage Two in sixth place, earning five bonus points.

Berry stayed on the track during the caution period for the Stage break and moved back into the top five on the first green-flag run. He continued to run in the top five as most other drivers made pit stops. The numerous caution periods (seven of the race’s 12 yellow flags flew in the final Stage.) allowed others to nurse their tires and fuel to the finish.

When the Menards/Masterforce team finally stopped with 68 laps remaining, the prospects for a decent finish looked dim, but Berry’s charge forward mitigated much of the damage.

He and the No. 21 team now turn their attention to next week’s Go Bowling at the Glen on the road course at Watkins Glen International.

About Menards
A family-owned and run company started in 1958, Menards is recognized as the retail home center leader of the Midwest with 341 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.

About Wood Brothers Racing
Founded in 1950 by Hall of Famer Glenn Wood in Stuart, Virginia, Wood Brothers Racing holds a special place in NASCAR history as the sport’s longest-running team. Over eight decades, the team has earned 101 victories in the NASCAR Cup Series, along with 120 poles, and remains proud of its longstanding relationship with Ford Motor Company, fielding only Ford products since its inception. Glenn’s brother, Leonard Wood, played a key role in shaping modern racing by developing the techniques behind today’s pit stops. With a rich legacy rooted in innovation and tradition, Wood Brothers Racing continues to honor its heritage while adapting for the future as it competes in NASCAR’s premier series with Josh Berry.

Crawford Takes F2 double-podium at Hungaroring

By
Official Release
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Budapest (HUN) JUL 31- AUG 03 2025 Hungarian Gran Prix at the Hungaroring. F2 Podium race 2. © 2025 Dutch Photo Agency

American F1 hopeful second in points at summer break

BUDAPEST, Hungary (3 August 2025) – American Formula 1 hopeful Jak Crawford scored his first career double-podium weekend in FIA Formula 2 Championship competition, placing third in both weekend races at the Hungaroring.

The 20-year-old Texan now has seven podium finishes this season, including three victories. The DAMS Lucas Oil driver enters the summer break ranked second in the standings, just 17 points behind the leader.

With good pace throughout the weekend, Crawford briefly set the fast race lap in the Sprint Race as well as doing so on both sets of tires in the Feature Race.

Eleventh in practice, Crawford laid down a solid lap of 1:28.952-seconds late in Friday’s qualifying on the 2.722-mile circuit to place third, 0.173-seconds off the pole.

“Qualifying was great,” said Crawford, who has 18 total career F2 podiums thus far. “A big improvement, where we struggled in practice and struggled on our first run [in qualifying]. We then put everything together, and I felt like I did a really, really good lap. It was a great result, and it almost felt like a pole position as it came together after we struggled previously.”

With the top-10 inverted for Saturday’s 28-lap Sprint Race, Crawford made a strong move to the inside to gain three positions in the opening turns of the first lap.

“The Sprint Race was another good race,” said Crawford. “We had a great start, which helped a lot, and then we played the long game, waiting until the end until I had a chance to protect. It’s very tricky to pass on this track, and I knew everyone was going to be saving.”

Crawford took fourth with eight laps remaining and was applying pressure for third when a safety car period slowed the action. That set up a three-lap sprint to the finish. On the final lap, he made a move to the inside to secure third position.

“When I had the chance, I was able to make my move and get into third on the last lap, which was nice.”

Sunday’s 37-lap Feature Race began behind the safety car on a damp but drying track. Crawford fought off early challenges to hold third and then set his sights on the top two. Starting on soft tires, he pitted on the 16th of 37 laps. After a slight delay on the stop, he returned to the field 11th, keeping static position with the cars that were following the strategy as he resumed the chase.

“We were coming on, and I felt we were very fast,” he explained. “We struggled a bit more when it was really wet, but we were quite fast at the end of the first stint, and also at the start of the second stint.”

With the laps winding down, and the virtual race leader carrying a five-second penalty for a pit infringement, Crawford made several attempts to pass the second-place competitor. He briefly got by with 10 laps remaining, but the challenges used up his tires.

“I was trying very hard, but it’s super-tricky to pass on this track and as well it was quite wet off the line, so it was a big challenge to make the move, he explained. “I tried my best to get past [Roman] Stanek, but unfortunately it was a bit too dirty off the line. The one time I was close enough to make a move, I had a lock-up going off the line and unfortunately, I was unable to make it work.

“I felt I had better pace than the two guys who finished ahead of me. But it’s just the nature of the circuit, where even normally, it’s quite tricky to pass so it didn’t turn out well.”

Following an intense run of weeks that have included F2 races, Formula E activity with Andretti Global as well as his Aramco Aston Martin Racing duties, Crawford is looking forward to a brief summer break although he’s already eager to get back to race action.

“I’m excited to get some time off, but at the same time, I’m also excited for the next race,” he said. “I’ll be coming back to America next week, and I’ll be home in Texas with my family on vacation.”

Only four weekends remain in the F2 campaign, which resumes Sept. 6-7 at Monza.

“Monza’s a fun race – one of my favorites of the year,” he said. “The races are normally quite chaotic, so we will have deal with that. Otherwise, I love the track and I’ll do my best to prepare well for it.”

Mayer Earns First Career Victory for Haas Factory Team at Iowa

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Official Release
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Mayer Goes Back-To-Back at Iowa to Earn Eighth NXS Win of Career

NEWTON, IA (Aug. 3, 2025) – Sam Mayer delivered a milestone victory for the Haas Factory Team (HFT) on Saturday afternoon at Iowa Speedway, capturing the organization’s first-ever win and securing his spot in the NASCAR Xfinity Series playoffs. Mayer took control of the race in the closing laps, seizing the lead from Jesse Love on a late restart and holding firm over the final 28 laps. The win marked the eighth of Mayer’s Xfinity Series career and his first of the 2025 season.

“This one is everything right here. This one here is for all the guys at Audibel. This is one of the most special ones I have. These guys love me to death, and I love them to death,” Mayer said. “We are just some good ole boys trying to go racing. This one feels great. Big shoutout to the guys back at the shop and the guys on pit road. This is awesome. I am so excited about this one.”

Xfinity Series

41 Sam Mayer

Defending Iowa Xfinity Series winner Sam Mayer began his defense with a strong top-five qualifying effort in the No. 41 Audibel Ford. After a caution just two laps in, Mayer made the most of the lap six restart, jumping to third by passing Carson Hocevar and William Sawalich. He held steady through the long green-flag run that followed, but eventually gave up one spot to Ross Chastain late in the stage, finishing fourth and collecting seven stage points.

A miscue at the end of Stage One saw Mayer overshoot his pit box, dropping him to 17th to start Stage Two. Undeterred, he quickly went on the attack, climbing back into the top 10 by lap 80. Following a strong restart after a mid-stage caution, Mayer showcased his racecraft and speed, picking off competitors with calculated moves to reclaim fourth place by the end of the stage—positioning himself well for a final-stage push.

“I tried to botch it on pit road but we didn’t,” Mayer said. “I simply knew this car could easily come back through the field no problem.”

Mayer began the final stage in fourth but quickly started to slip back as he battled a loose-handling No. 41 Audibel Ford. A series of cautions helped bunch up the field, giving Mayer opportunities to regain lost ground. By lap 185, he had climbed back into the top five after making key passes on Jesse Love and Sawalich. Still nearly seven seconds behind the leader, a timely caution with 45 laps to go allowed crew chief Jason Trinchere to bring Mayer to pit road for four fresh tires—setting the stage for a final charge.

Restarting on the front row with 38 laps remaining, Mayer capitalized on yet another strong launch, clearing Love just before the final caution flew with 31 to go. With the lead in hand, Mayer controlled the restart and never looked back, pulling away from Love and Harrison Burton to secure his second consecutive Iowa victory, his first win of the season, and the eighth of his NASCAR Xfinity Series career.

00 Sheldon Creed

Despite a solid 14th-place qualifying effort, Sheldon Creed’s No. 00 Road Ranger Ford underwent several adjustments following the session. The early returns were promising, as Creed hovered just outside the top 10 in the opening laps. However, as the green-flag run stretched on, his car began to tighten up through the corners, limiting his ability to gain ground. The issues ultimately cost him a few positions, and he settled for a 13th-place finish at the end of Stage One.

Creed gained three spots during the Stage One break thanks to quick work by his pit crew, allowing him to restart 10th for Stage Two. Building on that momentum, Creed continued his climb through the field, breaking into the top five after a strong move past Hocevar just before a caution on lap 90. He held his ground on the ensuing restart and managed the car well despite persistent tightness on the long run, ultimately finishing sixth in Stage Two and adding five stage points to his total.

During the final stage, Creed wrestled with a loose-handling No. 00 Road Ranger Ford but worked with his team to make key adjustments over two pit stops. While he faded slightly during the longer green-flag run, the team dialed in the car for the short run to the finish. That setup paid off late, as Creed capitalized on a strong final restart to gain three spots and cross the line in seventh—marking his 13th top-10 finish of the season.

“I’m proud of the effort these guys gave today to bring me a fast Road Ranger Ford,” Creed said. “Obviously there’s some work to do in the couple of weeks, but I’m confident we’ll get it done here soon.”

Cup Series

41 Cole Custer

Cole Custer qualified 19th in the No. 41 HaasTooling.com Ford at Iowa Speedway and spent the opening 30 laps battling with Shane van Gisbergen. Despite showing early speed, a loose-handling car—especially through the center and off the corners—limited his ability to maintain pace. With no cautions in Stage One, Custer gradually dropped to 22nd by the end of the 70-lap run.

He pitted for four tires and fuel under the stage break, but the car remained loose on the restart, costing him track position. A break came on lap 170 with the race’s first natural caution, which trapped many cars a lap down and allowed Custer to gain significant ground, briefly cracking the top 10. However, a late pit stop during the caution shuffled him back, ending Stage Two in 27th.

In the final stage, Custer began climbing through the field as others pitted during a string of cautions. He reached as high as 17th by lap 266, but a late pit stop for fresh tires before the final green-flag run dropped him back once again, leading to a 26th-place finish.

“It was a hard-fought day. I felt like the track changed a lot after practice so it was hard keeping up with it,” Custer said. “By the end of it I wish we restarted the whole race because I feel like we would’ve been able to keep gaining spots.”

Up Next

The NASCAR Cup Series and Xfinity Series head to Watkins Glen International next weekend. Race coverage for the Xfinity Series is set for 3 p.m. ET on Saturday on the CW, and Sunday at 2 p.m. ET on USA Network for the Cup Series.

About Haas Factory Team
The Haas Factory Team is a NASCAR Cup and Xfinity program owned by Gene Haas, founder of Haas Automation. Beginning in 2025, the team will feature Cole Custer driving the No. 41 Ford Mustang Dark Horse in the NASCAR Cup Series, while Sheldon Creed and Sam Mayer take on the Xfinity Series in the No. 00 and No. 41 Ford Mustangs, respectively. Based in Kannapolis, North Carolina, the Haas Factory Team reflects a commitment to performance and engineering excellence, carrying forward Gene Haas’s commitment to motorsports.

Honda HRC Wins 46th Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Road Race

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Official Release
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Takumi Takahashi (center) and Johann Zarco (right) on the podium

Fourth Consecutive Win for Honda HRC, 31st Win for Honda

MIE, Japan, August 4, 2025 – (JCN Newswire) – Honda factory team1 “Honda HRC” (CBR1000RR-R FIREBLADE SP: Takumi Takahashi / Johann Zarco) has won the 2025 FIM2 Endurance World Championship “Coca-Cola” Suzuka 8 Hours Road Race 46th Annual Event (Suzuka 8 Hours) held at the Suzuka Circuit in Mie, on Sunday, August 3.

This win marks Honda HRC’s fourth consecutive Suzuka 8 Hours victory. Team rider Takumi Takahashi has extended his outright record of the most Suzuka 8 Hours wins to seven (four consecutive), while Johann Zarco achieves his second consecutive victory. This victory also marks Honda’s 31st win at the event.

*1 Factory team: Racing team managed by the bike manufacturer
*2 FIM: Federation Internationale de Motocyclisme

Honda HRC, which won the Suzuka 8 Hours once again, recorded the fastest lap time in the qualifying session held on Friday, August 1, securing its spot in the Top 10 Trial, in which the top 10 qualifying teams compete for final grid spots. In the Top 10 Trial held on Saturday, August 2 at 3:30 pm, Takahashi and Zarco took to the track, with Zarco recording a lap time of 2 minutes 4.290 seconds, a new Suzuka 8 Hours lap record, to secure pole position.

The Suzuka 8 Hours race started at 11:30 am on Sunday, August 3, with Takahashi as lead rider for the fourth consecutive year. Takahashi took the hole shot, and after relinquishing the lead and maintaining second place for several laps, regained the lead on Lap 14, after which he gradually expanded his advantage. In the subsequent stints with Zarco and Takahashi taking turns on the bike, the team demonstrated consistent performance, leveraging fuel efficiency and quick pit work to extend the time gap, opening a one-lap advantage over second place by the midpoint of the race. In the closing stages, two safety car deployments closed the gap, but Honda HRC capitalized on the competing team’s final pit stop to create a 40-second lead which was maintained to the checkered flag. Zarco crossed the line at 7:30 pm completing Lap 217, securing Honda HRC’s fourth consecutive Suzuka 8 Hours victory.

Takumi Takahashi | Honda HRC

“I’m glad it went smoothly. It was a last-minute decision to compete with only two riders, and I knew it would be tough. I’m so exhausted. Toward the end, Johann’s condition looked tough, so I focused on doing my best to hand him the bike in good shape. In my final stint, I aimed to pull away by getting into the [2 minute] 6-second range, but due to the intense pressure from behind, I switched to maintaining the gap and handing over the bike safely. Johann really gave it everything. I’m so grateful to him. The team and everyone else worked hard, and I’d like to thank all the fans who supported us.”

Johann Zarco | Honda HRC

“I’m tired, just like Takumi. Race control was good, but it was difficult to recover between stints, and I couldn’t recover as much as I had hoped. When the safety car came out in Takumi’s final stint, he was able to extend his laps on track to give me more time to recover. The safety car came out for the second time during my stint, which allowed me to gradually regain my rhythm. After dusk, I was able to control the gap and finish the race enjoying the beautiful scenery. Takumi is a strong rider who can handle the heat well and didn’t show any signs of fatigue, which I think contributes to the team’s strength. I don’t want to race with only two-riders next year though. Honda has a fuel-efficient bike, which gives us a big advantage, and we were able to finish the race with seven pit stops. I would like to thank everyone on the team.”

Teruaki Matsubara | Honda HRC team manager

“This was an outstanding result, and I am very satisfied. First, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to both riders who worked so hard and did a great job in such harsh conditions. I would also like to thank everyone on the team who supported the riders with everything they had. They truly showed what teamwork is about. Once again, our pit stops were the fastest, which made a big difference. All of our preparations paid off today. It wasn’t an easy race, but in the end, everything came together perfectly. It was a really fun and rewarding experience.”

Koji Watanabe, President of Honda Racing Corporation

“I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Honda HRC riders Takumi Takahashi and Johann Zarco, the team staff, and everyone else involved for their outstanding teamwork in securing victory despite the extreme heat and the pressure of aiming for a fourth consecutive title. Takahashi has set an incredible record by achieving his seventh victory at the Suzuka 8 Hours, breaking his previous record for the most wins at the event. I would also like to extend my respect to Johann Zarco for his contribution in continuing to compete this year. I would like to once again express my gratitude to all the sponsors who supported our participation and to all the fans who cheered us on during the race. Going forward, HRC will continue to take on the challenge to meet the expectations of motorsports fans and Honda fans alike. We look forward to your continued support and encouragement.”

Team Penske NASCAR Cup Series Race Report – Iowa

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Official Release
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Iowa Corn 350 – Iowa Speedway
Newton, Iowa – August 3, 2025

AUSTIN CINDRIC No. 2 MENARDS/IDEAL DOOR FORD MUSTANG DARK HORSE
START: 4TH STAGE 1: 2ND STAGE 2: 3RD FINISH: 12TH POINTS: 17TH
RACE RUNDOWN: Austin Cindric and the No. 2 Menards/Ideal Door Ford Mustang Dark Horse showed strength all day in Sunday’s Iowa Corn 350, leading laps, scoring stage points and ultimately finishing 12th after a chaotic final stretch filled with cautions and strategy shifts. Cindric started fourth after a strong qualifying effort and quickly settled into the top three, running second in the early going and finishing Stage 1 in the runner-up position to earn nine stage points. He reported the car was trending freer as the track tightened up, prompting a four-tire stop and air pressure adjustment before restarting fifth for Stage 2. The team navigated a long green-flag run in the middle of the race, contending in the third position before a timely caution on Lap 170 came out during the pit cycle. Cindric then headed to pit road for four tires, fuel and adjustments and lined up third for the dash to the Stage-end. He finished third and accumulated eight more valuable points. With track position at a premium, the team opted to stay out multiple times during the final Stage, putting Cindric in position to restart as the race leader on Lap 250. After leading briefly, a series of cautions followed and the team ultimately chose to pit for four fresh tires and fuel under caution on Lap 263, restarting deep in the field in 28th. He methodically worked his way back through the pack during a turbulent final stretch that featured several more cautions. Cindric recovered to 12th at the finish and heads to Watkins Glen with momentum on his side as the regular season winds down.

CINDRIC’S THOUGHTS: “Proud of the fast race car and, honestly, good execution. There’s no predicting all those cautions that happened. I thought Brian and the team called a great strategy to really get ourselves ahead for the final stage and a run to the checkered—a shot to win—but also a car fast enough to drive back through the field on unequal tires, too. Not the result we deserved, but a great showing and a very playoff-esque run—what we need here in a couple months.”

RYAN BLANEY No. 12 WABASH FORD MUSTANG DARK HORSE
START: 6TH STAGE 1: 4TH STAGE 2: 2ND FINISH: 4TH POINTS: 7TH
RACE RUNDOWN: Ryan Blaney and the No. 12 Wabash Ford Mustang Dark Horse team posted a pair of top-five stage finishes en route to a fourth-place finish Sunday at Iowa Speedway, marking their eighth top-five finish of the season. Blaney, the defending winner of the Iowa Corn 350, had strong pace from the drop of the green flag Sunday as he maintained his track position for the entirety of the opening, 70-lap stage before crossing the line fourth in the segment. After gaining a spot on pit road during the stage break, Blaney battled the No. 19 for the lead before settling into second during the run. A caution in the middle of the green flag pit cycle on lap 170 prompted another four tire stop as the 12 crew won the race off pit road, allowing Blaney to start from the outside of row one for a two-lap shootout to the end of the stage. Despite settling for a second-place result in Stage 2, Blaney continued to battle for the top spot before a caution on lap 228 saw a mix of the leaders pit while he stayed out, allowing the Wabash Ford to assume the lead with 115 laps remaining. A string of cautions that followed saw varying strategies unfold throughout the field as crew chief Jonathan Hassler made the call to bring Blaney down pit road on lap 245 from the lead, ensuring he could make it to the end on fuel. After restarting 24th, Blaney began his charge towards the front and made his way back into the top-10 with 64 laps to go. As the laps clicked off, Blaney continued to pick off car after car in the closing laps as he chipped away at the deficit to the leaders before ultimately taking the checkered flag fourth.

BLANEY’S THOUGHTS: “I just restarted a little further back than those guys and it took me longer to get in a decent spot. Honestly, it sort of surprised me just how hard those guys tanked at the end and my car kept chugging along. I ran Brad [Keselowski] down but everyone is so free it is hard to pass anybody. You are scared of spinning out and you are creeping around the bottom but it was a fun race. I am really proud of our group for sticking with it. I appreciate Wabash and Ford and Menards for doing what they do. Really good showing and just kept going. It has been a good last few weeks for us. I think the speed is there, just have to keep putting these races together. We had a good shot to win today but it just didn’t work out. The strategies just got really weird with all those cautions. We were on the back end of it and it just kind of cycled me behind. We recovered really nicely. Really proud of the 12 group.”

JOEY LOGANO No. 22 SHELL-PENNZOIL FORD MUSTANG DARK HORSE
START: 14TH STAGE 1: 18TH STAGE 2: 21ST FINISH: 9TH POINTS: 12TH
RACE RUNDOWN: Joey Logano and the No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Ford Mustang Dark Horse team rallied for a ninth-place finish in Sunday’s Iowa Corn 350. Logano took the green flag from 14th and dealt with handling issues early on as he came away with finishes of 18th and 21st in the first two stages, respectively, as the No. 22 team continued to make adjustments throughout the first 200-plus laps. Following a caution in the opening laps of the final segment while running 25th, crew chief Paul Wolfe called Logano to pit road – who was one of nine cars to pit at the time – with the thought of making it to the end on fuel with the help of another caution or two while a majority of the field still had to make one more stop. However, six cautions over the next 53 laps easily got the 22 team to their fuel number, allowing Logano to make his charge through field without the need to save fuel the rest of the way. After the final caution flag flew on lap 281, Logano lined up to restart 12th with 64 laps remaining and worked his way into the top-10 by lap 304 and continued to press forward, making his way up to eighth in the running order with 25 to go before taking the checkered flag ninth to cap off the day.

LOGANO’S THOUGHTS: “Really proud of the effort from this 22 team to come out of here with a top-10 finish. We really struggled early on but maintained in the top-20 range while we kept working on it. Paul [Wolfe’s] call to pit early in the final stage really paid off in the end and allowed us to get towards the top-10 as the cautions kept coming. Gives us something to build on heading into Watkins Glen.”

The NASCAR Cup Series returns to road course racing at Watkins Glen on Sunday, August 10. Coverage of the Go Bowling at The Glen begins at 2:00 p.m. ET Sunday on USA, MRN, and Sirius XM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

RFK Racing Captures Two Top Five for Second Consecutive Week

By
Official Release
-

Keselowski 3rd, Preece 5th, Buescher 22nd

NEWTON, IA (August 3, 2025) – Brad Keselowski delivered a statement performance Sunday at Iowa Speedway, leading 68 laps and capturing wins in the first two stages before finishing third in a strategy-heavy showdown. RFK Racing showed strength across the board as Ryan Preece rallied from early trouble to score a top five, and Chris Buescher battled from the back to finish 22nd.

6 Brad Keselowski

Brad Keselowski led 3 times for 68 laps Sunday, enroute to an impressive 3rd place finish. After rolling off 5th, the 2012 Cup Series Champion proved to be an immediate threat to win. Within only a handful of laps the Solomon Plumbing Ford was up to second. Stage one would become a battle between Keselowski and William Byron. For several laps the two were door to door for the lead before Keselowski, took advantage and closed out the segment with a stage win.

After pitting, Keselowski restarted 5th to begin Stage Two. Again, the 6-car was fast. Turning some of his quickest laps of the day, the Rochester Hills, Michigan driver climbed back to second. It was mid-stage when strategy began to take place, while others pitted during green flag racing, Keselowski stretched his fuel. He was ultimately rewarded when a caution allowed him to pit under yellow, limiting the amount of track position he’d need to yield. By lap 188 he had leader Ryan Blaney in his sights, passing him and cruising to another stage win.

Entering Stage Three the 6-team elected to be aggressive and did not pit. “let’s play to win,” said Keselowski, as he maintained the lead. Fuel, though, would become a critical factor. At lap 231, under caution, Keselowski pitted as the team packed the car full of fuel. Despite restarting deep in the field, there was confidence. The car now had more fuel than most others. He could go the distance while many others could not. Cautions though were prevalent, allowing several to close the fuel gap. Still, with speed and determination, Keselowski pushed forward to score a third-place finish.

60 Ryan Preece

With his Xfinity win at Iowa in 2017, Ryan Preece proved his ability to navigate the progressive banking of the .875-mile track. That talent was on display Sunday as he was able to overcome several obstacles in the Mohawk Northeast Ford to score a top 5 finish. Those hinderances were prevalent in stage one. After finishing the segment 30th he was then hit with a speeding penalty on pit road. But that would only set up the impressive comeback.

Restarting 33rd Crew Chief Derrick Finley knew strategy would be necessary to get track position. The plan was to stretch their fuel as long as possible. As others pitted under green the 60-car stayed out – climbing toward the front as others stopped. A mid-stage caution was the break the team needed, proving to be a turning point, as Preece was able to restart 14th. Aggressively, he picked up several spots on the restart and continued surging to a 9th place stage finish.

Stage Three is when it all came together for Preece. Fuel strategy combined with restart dominance propelled the 60-car toward the front. Like his teammate Brad Keselowski, Preece had enough fuel to outlast most. But it was restarts where he capitalized, consistently grabbing spots with each green flag. A flurry of cautions provided that opportunity as Preece maneuvered to the front, scoring his second top 5 in as many weeks.

17 Chris Buescher

Chris Buescher began his day at Iowa Speedway with work to do in the Body Guard Ford after rolling off from the 27th position. He slipped back to 30th early but steadily clawed his way forward, regaining his starting spot by lap 25. He spent much of the opening stage battling mid-pack, notably dicing with Riley Herbst for 26th. Buescher ended Stage One in 27th,

Stage Two saw a mix of strategy and perseverance from Buescher and the No. 17 team. After restarting 26th with fresh tires and fuel, he set his sights on moving forward. He clawed his way to 12th. Rather than relinquish the hard-earned track position, the team did not pit during a lap 170 caution and instead waited until lap 206 for service. He shuffled him back to 27th but managed to climb to a 24th place stage finish.

In the final stage, Buescher restarted 23rd and made an early pit stop for right-side tires and fuel, but a penalty forced a return trip down pit road where he topped off with fuel. Despite the setback, he steadily made gains as the race unfolded – climbing as high as 14th. During a late race caution, Buescher pitted again and in the intensity of the closing laps could not regain track position, finishing 22nd.

Up Next:

Watkins Glen International (Watkins Glen, NY) Sunday August 10, 2025, on USA Network @ 2:00pm ET

About RFK Racing
RFK Racing, in its 38th season in 2025, features an ownership lineup pairing one of the sport’s most iconic names, Jack Roush, along with NASCAR Champion Brad Keselowski and Fenway Sports Group owner John Henry. Roush initially founded the team in 1988, and it has since become one of the most successful racing operations in the world, propelling him to be the first NASCAR owner to amass 300 wins and capturing eight championships, including back-to-back NASCAR Cup titles in 2003 and 2004. Keselowski, a former owner in the NASCAR Truck Series, is the 2012 NASCAR Cup Series Champion. In 2007, Roush partnered with Henry, who also owns Major League Baseball’s Boston Red Sox, English Premier League’s Liverpool F.C., and the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins, to form Roush Fenway Racing. Off the track, RFK is a leader and proven winner in NASCAR marketing solutions, having produced multiple award-winning social media, digital content, and experiential marketing campaigns. Visit rfkracing.com and follow the team on all social platforms @rfkracing.

Rick Ware Racing: Iowa Corn 350 from Iowa Speedway

By
Official Release
-

RICK WARE RACING
Iowa Corn 350

Date: Aug. 3, 2025
Event: Iowa Corn 350 (Round 23 of 36)
Series: NASCAR Cup Series
Location: Iowa Speedway in Newton (.875-mile oval)
Format: 350 laps, broken into three stages (70 laps/140 laps/140 laps)
Race Winner: William Byron of Hendrick Motorsports (Chevrolet)
Stage 1 Winner: Brad Keselowski of RFK Racing (Ford)
Stage 2 Winner: Brad Keselowski of RFK Racing (Ford)

RWR Finish:

● Cody Ware (Started 35th, Finished 32nd / Running, completed 349 of 350 laps)

RWR Points:

● Cody Ware (36th with 154 points)

Race Notes:

● William Byron won the Iowa Corn 350 to score his 15th career NASCAR Cup Series victory, his second of the season and his first at Iowa. His margin over second-place Chase Briscoe was 1.192 seconds.
● There were 12 caution periods for a total of 72 laps.
● Thirty of the 37 drivers in the race finished on the lead lap.
● Byron leaves Iowa as the new championship leader with an 18-point advantage over second-place Chase Elliott.

Sound Bites:

“It was definitely a long one today. Just glad to get a finish after a lot of issues that have plagued us the last couple of weekends. It’s a building block for Watkins Glen and Richmond and Daytona before the playoffs start. Just thankful to have Costa Oil on board, and I appreciate all the hard work my guys did to try to get the car tuned in throughout the race. Just didn’t quite have what we needed there at the end. The track changed a lot, but all in all, we made progress throughout the day.” – Cody Ware, driver of the No. 51 Costa Oil 10-Minute Oil Change Ford Mustang Dark Horse

Next Up:

The next event on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule is the Go Bowling at The Glen on Sunday, Aug. 10 at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International. The race begins at 2 p.m. EDT with live coverage provided by USA and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

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