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Front Row Motorsports: Charlotte Motor Speedway NCTS Race Advance (Layne Riggs / Chandler Smith)

Layne Riggs | Chandler Smith
Charlotte Motor Speedway NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Race Advance
North Carolina Education Lottery 200
Date: Friday, May 22, 2026
Event: Race 10 of 25
Series: NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series
Location: Charlotte Motor Speedway (1.5-miles)
#of Laps: 134
Time/TV/Radio: 7:30 PM ET on FS1/SiriusXM channel 90

FRM Points Standings:

Layne Riggs (2nd)
Chandler Smith (3rd)

Layne Riggs Notes

It’s the first home race of the season for the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series with the Charlotte Motor Speedway hosting Friday night’s race. For Layne Riggs, this will be his third series start at the 1.5-mile oval. His best result at Charlotte occurred in the 2025 event, where he started seventh and finished fourth.

For the second year in a row, Riggs will represent his alma mater, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, in a NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series event at Charlotte. Riggs will debut a revamped look to previous UNC Charlotte schemes, with a white and green livery. “This partnership really hits home for me,” said Riggs. “To represent the university that not only shaped me professionally, but personally as well, is truly something special. This isn’t just a home race for the NASCAR community, but for UNC Charlotte too with their campus right down the road. Hopefully, I can deliver them a checkered flag to hang up in the William States Lee College of Engineering.” Riggs graduated from the University’s William States Lee College of Engineering with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering.

As the Charlotte region’s only R1 university, UNC Charlotte empowers more than 32,000 students in North Carolina’s largest city. UNC Charlotte serves as the premier destination for motorsports education with more than 300 degree programs and unmatched access to research, internships and real-world learning—including facilities like the Kulwicki Motorsports Laboratory.

“This is a big weekend for the industry,” said Riggs. “Everyone brings their family and our partners love coming to this race. There’s a lot of good energy surrounding the weekend which adds to the hype. I feel a lot more comfortable on mile-and-a-half tracks this season, so I expect things to go well for us if we just execute and control what we can control. We’re still in the hunt for this championship, it’s just a matter of staying consistent, building momentum, and bringing home good, clean finishes.”
Road Crew

Driver: Layne Riggs

Hometown: Bahama, North Carolina

Crew Chief: Dylan Cappello

Hometown: Peoria, Arizona

Truck Chief: Brandon Selph

Hometown: Phoenix, Arizona

Engineer: Jonathan Coates

Hometown: Hudson, Ohio

Mechanic: Clark Houston

Hometown: Hickory, North Carolina

Mechanic: Robert Benzenhafer

Hometown: Niceville, Florida

Interior Specialist: Brian Sliney

Hometown: Milford, New Hampshire

Spotter: Josh Williams

Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Transport Driver: James O’Neal

Hometown: Palm Bay, Florida

Pit Crew

Front Tire Changer: Blake Hickman

Hometown: Ocala, Florida

Rear Tire Changer: Stephen Chereek

Hometown: Tuckerton, New Jersey

Tire Carrier: Alvin Wilson

Hometown: Lexington, Mississippi

Jackman: Kendall Futrell

Hometown: Greenville, North Carolina

Fueler: Patrick Gaddy

Hometown: Kannapolis, North Carolina

Chandler Smith Notes

Chandler Smith and the No. 38 team head into Friday night’s race third in the standings. For Smith, this will be his fourth start at the Charlotte Motor Speedway in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. Following last Friday’s race at the Dover Motor Speedway, Smith is 39 points behind leader Kaden Honeycutt.

Matheus Lumber will join Smith for the event. Founded in 1932, and family owned and operated ever since, Matheus Lumber Inc. is a premier supplier of forest products and building materials serving customers nationwide. Matheus proudly operates as a mill-direct distributor for the multifamily, mixed-use, and commercial construction markets, offering full-scope construction packages that include framing lumber, sheathing, engineered wood products, engineered trusses, rough framing hardware, building envelope systems, exterior siding and trim, windows, railings, and exterior doors. In addition to its construction expertise, Matheus also supports industrial customers with materials for bridge construction, pier and marina assembly, crane mats, and concrete form applications.

“I’m excited to get to Charlotte,” said Smith. “Our mile-and-a-half program has been steadily improving and hopefully we get to showcase that in front of a lot of friends and family of FRM at the track.”
Road Crew

Driver: Chandler Smith

Hometown: Talking Rock, Georgia

Crew Chief: Jon Leonard

Hometown: Vinton, Iowa

Truck Chief: Ron Schutte

Hometown: Shakopee, Minnesota

Engineer: Roland Kummel

Hometown: Mitterberg, Austria

Mechanic: Rowan Mason

Hometown: Lincoln, Nebraska

Mechanic: Mahlon Borkholder

Hometown: Ulysses, Pennsylvania

Interior Specialist: Kyle Clark

Hometown: Ashville, North Carolina

Spotter: Ryan Blanchard

Hometown: Bethlehem, Connecticut

Transport Driver: Mark Hadley

Hometown: Panama, New York

Pit Crew

Front Tire Changer: Josh Francos

Hometown: Weirton, West Virginia

Rear Tire Changer: Curtis Thompson

Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Tire Carrier: Drew Baum

Hometown: Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania

Jackman: Shane Perry

Hometown: Holly Springs, North Carolina

Fueler: Anthony Bryarly

Hometown: Columbiana, Ohio

ABOUT UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHARLOTTE

UNC Charlotte is the region’s only R1 university, empowering more than 32,000 students in the state’s largest city. As the premier destination for motorsports education, the University’s William States Lee College of Engineering is proud to count NASCAR driver Layne Riggs ’24 among its alumni. With more than 300 degree programs and unmatched access to research, internships and real-world learning—including facilities like the Kulwicki Motorsports Laboratory—UNC Charlotte delivers the talent, ideas and innovation that move Charlotte and North Carolina forward. The Difference is Charlotte.

ABOUT MATHEUS LUMBER

Founded and family owned since 1932, Matheus Lumber Inc. is a premier supplier of forest products and building materials. Matheus is proud to serve as a comprehensive mill-direct distributor to Multifamily, Mixed-Use, and Commercial sectors nationwide. Our experience as a full-scope vendor allows us to provide complete construction packages to include: framing lumber, sheathing, EWP, engineered trusses, rough framing hardware, building envelope, exterior siding and trim, windows, railings, and exterior doors. In addition, Matheus also serves the Industrial consumer with materials for bridge construction, pier and marina assembly, crane mats, and concrete form.

ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS

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

The Hidden Impact of Sun Exposure on Vehicle Interiors (And How Enthusiasts Prevent It)

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

For most drivers, sun exposure is just part of owning a vehicle. You park outside, step back in later, and expect a hot cabin in the summer or a bit of fading over time. What often gets overlooked is how consistently sunlight affects everything inside the car long before most owners notice visible damage.

Modern vehicles are built with better materials than older models, but UV radiation and heat still quietly break down interior surfaces, affect comfort, and even influence long-term resale value. This is where small preventative decisions make a measurable difference in how a vehicle feels and holds up over time.

In everyday driving conditions where heat and glare become constant issues, especially during summer traffic, many enthusiasts eventually look into options like window tinting in Roseville to improve overall driving comfort and visibility.

Why Sun Exposure Is More Than Just Heat

When people think about sunlight inside a car, the first reaction is usually discomfort from heat buildup. But temperature is only part of the equation. Ultraviolet rays penetrate glass and slowly degrade interior materials such as dashboards, leather, fabric, and trim surfaces.

Over time, this leads to fading, cracking, and discoloration. Even high-quality interiors are not immune. Leather seats can lose their elasticity, plastic surfaces can become brittle, and touchpoints like steering wheels or armrests can wear unevenly depending on sun exposure patterns.

The effect is gradual, which is why many drivers don’t connect the dots until years later when the interior no longer looks or feels new.

How Heat Buildup Changes the Driving Experience

A parked car in direct sunlight can reach interior temperatures significantly higher than the outside air. This trapped heat doesn’t just make entry uncomfortable—it also changes how the vehicle performs in subtle but noticeable ways.

Materials expand and contract repeatedly, which contributes to long-term wear. Electronics placed in dashboards or infotainment systems operate under more thermal stress. Even driving comfort is affected because the air conditioning system has to work harder and longer to stabilize the cabin temperature.

In stop-and-go traffic, especially during summer months, this becomes even more noticeable. The cabin never fully cools down, which adds fatigue to everyday driving and reduces overall comfort.

Preventing Damage Through Surface-Level Protection

Most drivers rely on interior cleaning, sunshades, or parking habits to reduce exposure. While helpful, these methods only address the problem partially. They don’t reduce the amount of UV radiation entering the vehicle while driving, which is when exposure still continues.

This is where automotive film solutions have become a standard consideration among enthusiasts and everyday drivers alike. High-quality window films reduce UV penetration and help regulate cabin temperature more consistently across different driving conditions.

The goal is not to eliminate sunlight but to control its intensity before it affects the interior environment of the vehicle.

Why Enthusiasts Treat Tinting as a Functional Upgrade

Car enthusiasts often think in terms of performance, but performance is not limited to horsepower or acceleration. Comfort, consistency, and usability are also part of the driving experience.

Many drivers who invest in aesthetic or mechanical upgrades eventually recognize that interior protection plays a long-term role in preserving those investments. A well-maintained interior supports the overall impression of a vehicle just as much as exterior modifications or detailing work.

This is where discussions around climate control upgrades naturally extend into solutions like window tinting in Roseville, which integrates both functional and visual benefits without altering the core driving experience.

Long-Term Value and Everyday Practicality

Beyond comfort, there is also a financial consideration. Vehicles with well-preserved interiors typically retain higher resale value. Buyers notice fading, discoloration, and wear patterns immediately, even if the vehicle is mechanically sound.

Reducing UV exposure helps slow this process down significantly. Over the years of ownership, the difference between a protected interior and an unprotected one becomes increasingly visible.

At the same time, drivers benefit daily from reduced glare, improved temperature stability, and a more comfortable cabin environment. These improvements are subtle but consistent, which is why they tend to be appreciated most by people who spend a lot of time in their vehicles.

Final Thoughts

Sun exposure is one of the most underestimated factors affecting vehicle longevity. While it doesn’t cause immediate failure or obvious damage, it gradually shapes how a car looks, feels, and performs inside the cabin.

For drivers who view their vehicle as both a functional tool and a long-term investment, managing UV and heat exposure is a logical step rather than an optional upgrade. Services like those offered by Roseville Auto Tint represent one of several ways drivers can protect and improve their everyday driving environment without changing the character of the vehicle itself.

TeamSLR Turns Up the Heat for Lime Rock

Alon Day Returns to Scene of Chaotic but Successful ARCA Effort in 2025;
Helio Meza Welcomes Fellow Chevy Development Driver Ben Maier;
Connor Mosack Returns as Substitute for Injured Lanie Buice

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. (May 20, 2026) – A foursome of TeamSLR drivers head to scenic Northwest Connecticut for Saturday’s CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series Memorial Day Classic at Lime Rock Park in Lakeville relishing the opportunity to tackle one of the most unique challenges in American motorsports, and to do it on a weekend that always carries extra meaning.

Round five of the TA2 Series campaign takes the team’s 2026 regulars Alon Day and Helio Meza, joined by former TeamSLR fulltime driver Connor Mosack and newcomer to the team Ben Maier, to the fast, narrow and relentlessly technical 1.478-mile, seven-turn New England circuit notorious for demanding equal parts precision, patience and bravery. Mosack answered the last-minute call to substitute for Lanie Buice, the team’s third fulltime driver in 2026, while she recovers from the aftereffects of an accident during a Late Model event Saturday night at Tri County Speedway in Granite Falls, North Carolina.

Meza and Day arrive in Connecticut first and second, respectively, in the TA2 Series driver championship through four of 12 rounds this season after the team swept five of the six possible podium positions during the April 25-26 doubleheader weekend at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway. The 19-year-old Meza and his No. 28 Alessandros Racing/SLR-M1 Racecars Chevrolet Camaro won both races from the pole, as he has done in each of his five career TA2 Series outings beginning with his debut in the 2025 season finale Nov. 3 at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas. Day, the 34-year-old from Ashdod, Israel, and driver of the No. 17 JSSI/SLR-M1 Racecars Chevrolet Camaro, finished second from the outside-front-row starting spot in both Sonoma races to give him three consecutive podium finishes. Mosack finished third in the Saturday race at Sonoma to give the team five podiums on the weekend.

While Meza will be seeing Lime Rock for the first time in his career this weekend, Day returns to the track where he drove to an improbable runner-up finish in his first career ARCA Menards Series race last June, and endured a chaotic travel experience in the process. He and his Venturini Motorsports entry dominated the early part of the race, leading 20 of the opening 35 laps heading into the series’ midrace break for mandatory, non-competitive pit stops. But radio miscommunication caused Day to miss the call to enter pit road during the appointed caution lap and led to a penalty that sent him to the back of the field for the ensuing restart. Over the final 33 laps, the four-time NASCAR Euro Series champion proved his mettle as he picked off all but one car before the checkered flag, finishing 4.139 seconds behind race-winner Thomas Annunziata.

Just making it to Lime Rock in time to race last June was an adventure in itself for Day. With Israeli airspace closed due to a brief conflict in a neighboring country, he had to begin his journey 10 days before the race weekend with a 30-hour boat ride from Israel to Cyprus, followed by commercial flights to Athens, New York and Charlotte, North Carolina, and the final leg to Lime Rock on the Venturini team plane. It was a 60-hour ordeal in total.

Day’s second career TA2 Series outing March 14 at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta certainly hearkened memories of his improbable runner-up ARCA Series finish at Lime Rock. An accident in final practice forced him to miss TA2 qualifying and sent him to the back of the starting grid on race day. But, once again, he methodically picked off car after car on his way to a third-place finish that gave TeamSLR a sweep of the Road Atlanta podium.

Meza, a Houston native and, like Buice and Maier, is part of the stable of young Chevrolet development drivers under the manufacturer’s Wise Optimization program, looks to add this weekend to his record-setting streak of five consecutive victories to start his TA2 Series career. His sweep of the Sonoma weekend gave TeamSLR 11 straight TA2 Series wins dating back to 15-year-old Tristan McKee’s win last June at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington en route to the 2025 TA2 Series championship. Meza is coming off the overall victory for Alessandros Racing this past Sunday in the NASCAR Mexico Series event at the Autodromo Miguel E. Abed in Puebla. He was a two-time winner in the series’ Challenge Division last season.

Buice, the 19-year-old from Jackson, Georgia, and regular driver of the No. 27 Sunoco/Guthrie’s Garage/SLR-M1 Racecars Chevrolet Camaro, walked away after hard contact with the turn three wall after a part failure in her Late Model Saturday night at Tri County. She will forego this weekend’s race at Lime Rock as a precaution. Buice made Trans Am history during the Sonoma rounds last month, becoming the first female driver to win a TA2 Series Western Championship race with her sixth-place overall finish in the Saturday race. She was entered in both the TA2 national series and Western Championship series that ran concurrently during the weekend doubleheader.

Mosack, the 27-year-old from Charlotte, North Carolina, will make his fourth start of the season with TeamSLR this weekend. After his third-place finish in the Saturday race at Sonoma last month, a cooler issue led to his early exit in the Sunday race. Mosack opened the season with TeamSLR at Sebring (Fla.) International Raceway the same February weekend he qualified on the pole and finished 13th in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race on the Streets of St. Petersburg (Fla.). A fulltime competitor for TeamSLR in 2021 and 2011, Mosack scored victories both seasons at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International, and finished top-four in the championship both years. His schedule this season includes a dozen NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races for Spire Motorsports, with whom he posted a fifth-place finish March 20 at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway.

Maier, the 17-year-old from Chester, Maryland, steps into the No. 8 Chevrolet/SLR-M1 Racecars Camaro that NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series regular Andres Perez de Lara drove to a runner-up finish in TeamSLR’s podium sweep at Road Atlanta. Saturday’s 68-lap, 75-minute race will mark Maier’s 27th career TA2 Series start and his first with TeamSLR. He drove the full 2024 season and finished fifth in the driver championship behind a victory from the pole at World Wide Technology Raceway near St. Louis, and a runner-up finish from the pole at the Pittsburgh International Race Complex. Last year, Maier won the Pro Late Model championship and Rookie of the Year honors on the zMAX CARS Tour, and also made his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut in June at Lime Rock, qualifying 20th and finishing 18th in a Young’s Motorsports Chevrolet. His latest Truck Series outing came in February with Niece Motorsports at the St. Petersburg (Fla.) Grand Prix, where he drove from the back of the field to an 11th-place finish. Maier has also competed in the CRA JEGS All-Stars Tour, the Stadium Stuper Truck Series, and the Michelin Pilot Challenge.

This weekend’s field of 34 TA2 entries includes defending CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series Pro-Am Challenge champion Jared Odrick of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and his No. 00 Black Underwear/Helium Mobile Chevrolet Camaro for Troy Benner Autosport. Odrick the Pro-Am class in both races last month at Sonoma to give him three wins in the four Pro-Am rounds this season, starting on the class pole in all four races.

Riding along with TeamSLR drivers and their M1 Racecars once again this season are Guthrie’s Garage, CUBE 3 Architecture and longtime supporters Franklin Road Apparel Company and Kallberg Racing.

Memorial Day Classic weekend kicks off Thursday with a pair of TA2 test sessions set for 12:05 and 4:30 p.m. EDT. Friday begins with official TA2 practice at 11:20 a.m., followed by qualifying at 4:25 p.m. Race time Saturday is 2:30 p.m. with live television coverage available at no charge at RacingAmerica.TV, as well as the official Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli YouTube channel (@gotransam).

Alon Day, Driver, No. 17 JSSI/SLR-M1 Racecars Chevrolet Camaro:

Your typical route to races in the U.S. over the years has taken you from your native Tel Aviv to JFK Airport in New York, and then connecting to the event location. For your ARCA Menards Series race last June, in the middle of a brief conflict in the Middle East, your trip began with a 30-hour boat ride and ended another 30 hours later. Talk about that.

“We had just finalized the ARCA race with Venturini when the airspace was shut down. In Israel, it’s not as easy as just crossing a border and flying somewhere else. So the plan started with a 30-hour boat ride to Cyprus, then I flew to Athens, then JFK, then Charlotte. The whole trip took about 60 hours. My wife was pregnant at the time and honestly it felt like something from another century, like a World War II soldier leaving on a ship while his wife waves goodbye from the dock. It was very emotional.”

After all that, the ARCA race at Lime Rock turned chaotic for you, as well, but you mounted a furious rally from the back of the field to finish second. How did you pull that off on a racetrack notorious for being extremely difficult to make passes?
“Yeah, English isn’t my first language, so on the radio I like communication to be very clear and precise. I was leading the race when it was time for the scheduled non-competitive pit stops at the halfway point, and my spotter was joking with me right as I was trying to ask whether it was the lap we were supposed to pit. The pace car stayed out, and from everything I’ve learned since I was a kid racing, you follow the pace car, so I stayed out. But I saw in the mirror everybody behind me pitted, so I got penalized and sent to the back. I had to fight from there all the way back to second. Lime Rock is one of the hardest tracks to pass on, so I had to be aggressive, but I was clean. That’s my style. I’m a European-style driver, very clean racing.”

You’re on a streak of three consecutive podium finishes after an up-and-down weekend in your TA2 debut at the Sebring season opener. Do you feel like you’re settling in comfortably?
“Definitely. At Sebring I basically jumped in the car without knowing what to expect. Now I understand the car better, the communication with the team, the competition, everything. My confidence is growing because I know more about what I’m doing and what to expect, but there’s still a lot to learn if I want to beat my teammates. I’m motivated coming back to Lime Rock for the second year in a row, but I also know this is a completely different challenge. Trans Am is extremely competitive. My teammates are strong, the other teams are strong, and Lime Rock is such a unique track in these cars. I’m approaching it like a new experience all over again and trying to learn as quickly as possible.”

Helio Meza, Driver, No. 28 Alessandros Racing/Chevrolet/SLR-M1 Racecars Camaro:

What has stood out to you in your preparation for Lime Rock weekend as you head to your first race there?
“I’m excited. It looks like a lot of fun, but it also looks like qualifying is going to be extremely important because passing seems really difficult there. Turn one looks like the main opportunity if you can get a good run off the final corner. Other than that, it feels like you’re mostly single file unless somebody really sends it in somewhere. For us, the key is making sure the car is strong in practice so we can qualify up front and control the race from there. The prep has been pretty similar to every other race – lots of video and studying film. What stands out is how little time there is to relax. Outside of the front straight, it’s just constant rhythm and direction changes. And then there’s the jump. That section looks pretty gnarly. You want the car back on the ground as quickly as possible because hanging in the air costs time. It actually reminds me of Supercross when riders scrub jumps to stay low and keep momentum.”

How would you describe the learning process as you are still early in your rookie TA2 Series season, bearing in mind you’ve achieved remarkable success?
“I’ve never climbed out of a racecar thinking I drove a perfect race, even on weekends where statistically everything went right. As drivers, we remember every little mistake. At Sonoma, for example, I spun the tires a little on a restart and Alon (Day) was immediately on my bumper. I was lucky to recover and still pull away, but afterward I was frustrated with myself. Then on the next restart, I replayed the situation in my head and fixed it. That’s how you improve. I’m surrounded by experienced people like Alon and Connor Mosack, and I’m always asking questions. I’d rather ask something stupid than pretend I know everything. The mindset I use is, practice like you’ve never won, and race like you’ve never lost. During practice and qualifying, I’m extremely hard on myself and constantly looking for mistakes. But once the race starts, you have to trust yourself completely. If you overanalyze every little error during a race, you’ll just bury yourself mentally.”

Connor Mosack, Driver, No. 27 Sunoco/Guthrie’s Garage/SLR-M1 Racecars Chevrolet Camaro:

Thoughts about diving in as a last-minute substitute driver with a team you are very familiar with and at a track that you’ve gotten to know well in recent years?

“I’ll start by saying we’re thinking about Lanie and know that she’ll be back stronger than ever in no time at all. Lime Rock really is a place I’ve always liked going to, especially in the TA2 cars. I’ve always have had a lot of speed there but just never had the luck in the race, or translated to a really good finish there. Hopefully this time will be a different story for us. We have a full weekend to prepare. I think the last three times I’ve been there I really just showed up and raced, so it’ll be nice to have the full weekend to dial everything in. Definitely looking forward to that. It looks like a chance of rain, as well. Lime Rock’s probably one of my favorite tracks to run in the rain so as long as the race doesn’t get too chaotic with changing tires back and forth like it has in the past. Hopefully it’ll be a fun weekend.”

What is it about Lime Rock that you like it so much?

“It seems like a simple little track, but it definitely has unique characteristics and I think there are little things that you can pick up there after going around a few times. You’ve got to be disciplined with your line. You’ve got curbs you can play with, and there are a few different things you can do to kind of change the balance of your car, which always helps. It’s definitely tough to pass there, but it, it can be rewarding, and it’s a fun place to race somebody, especially when you get side by side. You can be side by side for at least the first three or four corners, so we’ll see.”

You were a very late add to the lineup, but given the fact you’re very familiar with the team, and very familiar with the track, does that almost make you a plug-and-play addition to the lineup?

“Obviously, I might be a little behind on preparation, definitely less than normal, but I’ve been there several times and the speed’s usually been there. And I know the TeamSLR cars really well, and the program, and I’ll have three good teammates to work with while I’m there. That’ll really be a plus for all of us. And then, for me, it’s at Lime Rock, too, with the (NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series) race I’m running there later this summer. It’ll be good to get back up there and knock the rust off before that race, as well.”

Ben Maier, Driver, No. 8 Chevrolet/SLR-M1 Racecars Camaro:

You’re headed to your first CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series race of the season with a brand new team for you. What’s your outlook as you return to the series, and to Lime Rock Park with TeamSLR?
“It’s pretty incredible. The team’s obviously had a ton of success, and I think we should hit it off quickly. I’ve got a lot of TA2 experience now, basically two full seasons, so I have a good understanding of these cars already. I think I’ll adapt to the M1 car pretty fast and hopefully be competitive right away. The cars are obviously very good, but a lot of it is the people. Josh Wise, Scott Speed and Lorin Ranier at Chevrolet, everybody involved does an incredible job preparing drivers and getting them ready, not just for TA2 but for everything else they race, too. It’s a really strong development program, and you can see that in the results.”

You’ve come a long way since racing TA2 as a 14-year-old. What has the series done for your development, and how has the experience translated to your endeavors in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and the CARS Tour?
“TA2 is one of the best training grounds in the country because it’s one of the few places where you’re racing stock-type cars on road courses. If your goal is NASCAR, there’s really no better way to learn that style of racing. The cars are also just a blast to drive. They’ve got over 500 horsepower, they handle really well, and honestly they’re some of the most fun racecars I’ve ever driven. It’s helped a ton. Most of my Truck Series starts have been on road courses, so already having that stock-car road racing background from TA2 made that transition much easier. At St. Pete earlier this year, I was second in practice, then qualifying got rained out so I had to start 35th, but I drove the truck up to finish 11th. A lot of that comes from the experience I gained in TA2.”

Do you feel your previous TA2 experience, including having already raced in the series at Lime Rock, will help you get up to speed more quickly this weekend?
“Definitely. It’s a different field now than when I first started, but experience always helps. You learn how people race, who’s aggressive, who races clean, and how to survive the chaos. Hopefully we’re running up front and staying out of the mess. Lime Rock is probably one of the most unique tracks there is. It’s really short, but there’s a ton of elevation change, a jump, and then that huge downhill run onto the front straight. Almost every corner is high-speed, so you never really slow the car down much. That’s what makes passing so difficult. There aren’t many heavy braking zones outside of turn one, so it’s hard to create opportunities. But that also makes it one of the most fun tracks I’ve ever raced on.”

About TeamSLR:

TeamSLR (Scott Lagasse Racing) competes fulltime in the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli in a multifaceted effort that includes dedicated entries in the TA2 division, customer programs, driver coaching and car construction. Its history dates back to 1985 and covers a wide spectrum of motorsports, including NASCAR, IMSA, SCCA, ARCA and ASA. TeamSLR is a family-owned organization run by Scott Lagasse Sr., and Scott Lagasse Jr. The father-and-son duo have combined to win more than 130 races and 10 championships across a variety of series and styles of racecars, from paved ovals to road courses to dirt tracks. TeamSLR would like to thank its supporters CUBE 3 Architecture, Franklin Road Apparel, Kallberg Racing, and Guthrie’s Garage. For more information, please visit us online at www.TeamSLR.com, on Facebook, on Twitter, on Instagram and on LinkedIn.

About M1 Racecars:

M1 is an Official Chassis Supplier to the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli. M1 Racecars are professionally engineered for the Cube 3 Architecture TA2 Series, SCCA Competition, and Track Day events. We offer chassis only, rolling chassis and complete race-ready builds in Camaro, Mustang, and Challenger body styles. We utilize only the highest quality materials and our race-winning technology to produce the most stable and predictable racecar on the track today. The proprietary chassis design by M1 has been CAD-perfected by our engineering staff to ensure that each completed chassis is identical and performs as expected. Our chassis materials are CNC Mandrel bent and cut to our exacting standards, which results in the most precise and cost-effective build. M1 has selected Scott Lagasse Racing to be the exclusive distributor for M1 Racecars worldwide. The race team also provides M1 with vital technical assistance and on-track feedback to support our performance development efforts. This combination is a powerful asset to M1 and to every M1 customer.

How Startups Use Latin American Developers to Build Products Faster

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

Speed remains a critical competitive edge for any startup.

Early-stage companies constantly navigate the pressure to launch products quickly, validate ideas ahead of competitors, and scale software delivery without draining their often-limited budgets. Yet, building strong engineering teams has become notably harder, especially in today’s fiercely competitive U.S. hiring markets.

Recruitment cycles stretch longer. Finding senior developers is increasingly tough. Salaries continue to climb across major technology hubs. Despite these challenges, startup founders still need to maintain a brisk pace to satisfy investors, meet customer expectations, and hit product roadmap milestones.

This is one reason many startups now choose to hire Latin American developers as part of their product development strategy.

What initially began as a way to optimize costs has evolved into something far more strategic. Startups are increasingly leveraging engineering talent from LATAM to accelerate delivery, sustain agile collaboration, and expand their technical capacity without hindering product execution.

How Can Startups Scale Engineering Teams Faster Without Slowing Product Development?

More and more startups are recognizing they no longer need to confine their engineering teams to a single city.

So, how can startups scale their engineering teams faster, all while keeping product development on track?

One of the most significant operational hurdles startups face is quickly ramping up hiring to keep pace with product demand.

During the early growth stages, any delays in engineering recruitment can impact almost every facet of the business. Product launches slow down, technical debt accumulates, and internal developers often become overwhelmed trying to juggle too many priorities at once.

For startups operating with lean teams and limited runways, these delays prove quite costly.

Hiring locally often takes considerably longer than founders initially anticipate. Finding experienced backend developers, DevOps specialists, AI engineers, or mobile developers in major U.S. markets can take several months.

This presents a serious scaling dilemma.

Startups might secure funding, build product-market momentum, or see strong customer demand, yet still lack the necessary engineering capacity to execute swiftly.

Distributed hiring fundamentally alters this situation.

By broadening their recruitment beyond local markets, startups can access significantly larger pools of engineering talent. Latin America has emerged as a particularly attractive option because companies can scale their teams faster while still maintaining close day-to-day collaboration.

The benefits become clear when startups suddenly need to accelerate product delivery following a new funding round or rapid user growth.

A startup preparing for a major product launch or an infrastructure expansion often requires immediate additional engineering support, not something available after a six-month hiring cycle. Nearshore development models provide companies with the flexibility to scale incrementally, precisely aligned with their actual product needs.

Founders also gain greater flexibility.

Instead of establishing large, permanent teams too early, startups can gradually expand their technical support, helping preserve their runway and maintain agility in hiring decisions.

How do LATAM developers help startups build products more quickly?

A significant reason startups successfully collaborate with LATAM developers is the speed of their collaboration.

Distributed product development becomes much more manageable when teams share overlapping working hours.

For U.S.-based startups, Latin American developers frequently operate within similar or partially overlapping time zones. This setup enables real-time communication, a benefit often challenging to maintain with many traditional offshore outsourcing models.

This time zone alignment directly impacts product delivery.

Product managers, founders, designers, and developers can resolve issues collaboratively throughout the workday, rather than waiting overnight for updates or feedback. Processes like sprint planning, daily standups, bug resolution, and feature discussions advance much faster when communication is immediate.

Agile workflows also tend to function more naturally in a nearshore setup.

Rapid iteration is absolutely essential for startups. Teams constantly adjust priorities, roll out features, respond to customer feedback, and test new ideas. Lengthy communication delays can significantly impede these cycles.

Faster communication empowers startups to ship features and address problems without slowing down their product cycles.

The quality of communication is just as vital as technical skill during early-stage product development. Even highly capable engineers can struggle when workflows become disjointed due to disconnected schedules.

Many startup founders also find that collaboration styles in Latin America align quite well with North American product environments. This often streamlines coordination and lessens some of the management overhead typically associated with distributed teams.

For startups aiming to move fast, reducing delivery friction can be every bit as valuable as cutting costs.

So, why are startups opting for LATAM over more traditional offshore development?

For many years, offshore outsourcing was primarily seen as a way to reduce costs.

However, startup priorities have evolved.

Today, many founders prioritize speed, collaboration quality, and flexibility over simply securing the lowest possible hourly rate.

This shift is precisely where LATAM nearshore development has gained significant traction.

Traditional offshore models often involve substantial time-zone differences that complicate product collaboration. When teams can only share brief windows of overlapping work hours, communication slows, and maintaining agile workflows becomes notably harder.

This challenge is particularly acute for startups.

Early-stage product development typically relies on rapid iteration, swift decision-making, and continuous communication between founders and engineering teams. Delays here create friction that hinders experimentation and product delivery.

Nearshore development addresses many of these coordination challenges.

Startups can maintain close collaboration with their distributed developers while still benefiting from flexible global hiring models. Teams remain more connected throughout the development process, which in turn improves visibility into priorities, potential blockers, and key product decisions.

LATAM developers are often integrated directly into daily product workflows, rather than being treated as isolated outsourced teams.

This fosters a much more collaborative development environment overall.

For many startups, nearshore engineering partnerships feel more like expanding an internal product team than completely outsourcing development.

How can startups effectively reduce costs without stifling their growth?

Budget pressure is a constant reality for most startups.

Founders must aggressively scale product development while carefully managing their runway to sustain growth. Hiring too slowly creates delivery bottlenecks, but building out large internal teams prematurely can create financial strain before revenue fully scales.

LATAM development teams offer startups a more effective way to navigate this crucial tradeoff.

The advantage extends beyond lower salaries alone. It encompasses the ability to scale engineering capacity with greater flexibility.

Startups can expand their technical support incrementally based on current business needs, rather than immediately committing to extensive, permanent hiring.

This flexibility proves especially valuable during:

  • MVP development
  • infrastructure scaling
  • cloud migration
  • AI implementation
  • rapid feature expansion
  • post-funding growth periods

Modern cloud-based collaboration tools have also made managing distributed product development much simpler than even a few years ago.

CI/CD pipelines, DevOps automation, asynchronous workflows, and cloud-native infrastructure allow startups to integrate distributed developers directly into their existing engineering environments.

Ultimately, this streamlines the day-to-day management of distributed product development.

According to nCube’s company materials, the company supports distributed engineering delivery across Europe and Latin America, helping businesses scale development teams more flexibly.

For many startups, distributed engineering is increasingly becoming a core part of a long-term scalability strategy, rather than just a temporary hiring fix.

In what ways is distributed product development reshaping startup hiring practices?

The rise of remote-first development is fundamentally altering how startups approach hiring.

A growing number of companies no longer assume engineering teams must be concentrated in a single office or city. Instead, founders are increasingly building product organizations around access to talent, the quality of collaboration, and overall delivery efficiency.

This shift gained significant momentum after remote work became a standard practice across the technology industry.

Developers grew more comfortable working in distributed environments, while startups recognized they could scale teams globally without necessarily compromising product velocity.

Startups now have far greater latitude in how they assemble their engineering teams.

Companies are now combining internal product leadership with distributed engineering support spanning multiple countries and regions. Rather than restricting hiring to a single geographic market, startups can build teams tailored to the skills and delivery capabilities they need most.

Artificial intelligence might further amplify the demand for distributed engineering support.

As startups expand their AI implementation efforts, the demand for infrastructure engineers, data specialists, cloud architects, and machine learning experts is expected to continue to rise.

Latin America’s startup ecosystems are also maturing rapidly.

Cities such as São Paulo, Buenos Aires, Mexico City, Medellín, and Santiago continue to cultivate experienced developers, startup founders, and technical leaders. This trend strengthens the wider regional engineering ecosystem and increases the availability of senior technical talent.

For startups, geography matters considerably less than it once did when forming software teams.

Increasingly, the primary focus is on finding developers who can collaborate effectively, move quickly, and integrate smoothly into fast-paced product environments.

Startups are increasingly turning to Latin American developers to accelerate product delivery while maintaining flexibility and effectively managing hiring pressures.

Conclusion

Nearshore collaboration models enable founders to expand their engineering capacity without compromising communication quality or agile development workflows.

Simultaneously, the growth of distributed product development is reshaping how startups approach hiring in general.

For many companies, LATAM developers are no longer viewed merely as outsourced support. They are becoming an integral component of how modern startup engineering teams are structured and scaled.

As software development becomes ever more global and remote-first, startups that master the art of building effective distributed teams stand to gain significant advantages in terms of speed, scalability, and ultimately, product execution.

Understanding the Main Causes of Motorcycle Accidents

Motorcycle accidents are commonly caused by driver negligence, speeding, distracted driving, unsafe lane changes, poor road conditions, and limited motorcycle visibility. Because motorcycles offer less physical protection than passenger vehicles, even minor collisions can lead to severe injuries for riders and passengers.

Motorcycles are popular because they offer freedom, fuel efficiency, and convenience in traffic. However, riders face greater risks on the road compared to drivers of larger vehicles. Many crashes happen because other motorists fail to notice motorcycles or underestimate their speed and distance. Understanding the most common causes of motorcycle accidents can help both riders and drivers make safer decisions.

Buena Park is a busy Southern California city known for its entertainment attractions, shopping centers, and heavily traveled roadways. The city experiences constant vehicle traffic from commuters, residents, and tourists throughout the year. Major streets and nearby highways can become congested during peak travel hours, increasing the risk of traffic accidents involving motorcycles and passenger vehicles. In many injury cases, victims may seek guidance from a motorcycle accident lawyer in Buena Park when accidents lead to serious injuries, financial losses, and disputes over liability.

Distracted Driving

Distracted driving remains one of the most common causes of motorcycle accidents. Drivers who are texting, using navigation systems, eating, or talking on the phone may fail to notice nearby motorcycles.

Motorcycles are smaller and easier to overlook in traffic. Even a brief distraction can cause a driver to

  • Drift into another lane
  • Miss a stoplight
  • Fail to yield properly
  • Rear-end a motorcycle at an intersection.

Distracted driving accidents often result in severe injuries because riders have limited protection during impact.

Left-turn accidents

Many motorcycle accidents occur when a passenger vehicle makes a left turn in front of an oncoming motorcycle.

These crashes usually happen because drivers:

  • Misjudge motorcycle speed
  • Fail to see the motorcycle
  • Rush through intersections

Left-turn collisions are especially dangerous because they often involve direct impact with the motorcycle rider.

Speeding

Speeding reduces reaction time and increases stopping distance for both motorcyclists and other drivers.

Excessive speed may lead to:

  • Loss of motorcycle control
  • Reduced ability to avoid hazards
  • More severe impact injuries

High-speed crashes frequently cause catastrophic injuries such as traumatic brain injuries, spinal damage, and fractures.

Unsafe Lane Changes

Drivers who fail to check blind spots before changing lanes may collide with nearby motorcycles.

Motorcycles can easily disappear into vehicle blind spots, especially on crowded highways. Unsafe lane changes often happen when drivers:

  • Fail to use turn signals
  • Change lanes aggressively
  • Do not properly check mirrors.

These collisions can force riders off the road or into surrounding traffic.

Poor Road Conditions

Road hazards that may seem minor to passenger vehicles can be extremely dangerous for motorcycles.

Hazards include:

  • Potholes
  • Loose gravel
  • Uneven pavement
  • Wet roads
  • Construction debris

Motorcycles rely heavily on balance and traction, making riders more vulnerable to dangerous road conditions.

Driving Under the Influence

Alcohol and drug impairment continue to contribute to many motorcycle accidents every year.

Impaired driving may affect the following:

  • Reaction time
  • Coordination
  • Judgment
  • Vision

Both intoxicated drivers and impaired motorcyclists increase the likelihood of serious crashes.

Weather Conditions

Rain, fog, wind, and slippery roads can create dangerous riding conditions for motorcyclists.

Bad weather may reduce:

  • Tire traction
  • Visibility
  • Vehicle control

Riders should slow down and use extra caution during poor weather conditions.

Failure to Yield

Drivers sometimes fail to yield the right of way to motorcycles at intersections, merging lanes, and stop signs.

Failure-to-yield accidents may occur when drivers:

  • Enter intersections too quickly
  • Ignore traffic signs
  • Pull out in front of motorcycles.

These accidents often happen suddenly, giving riders little time to react.

Key Takeaways

  • Motorcycle accidents are commonly caused by distracted driving, speeding, and unsafe lane changes.
  • Left-turn accidents are one of the most dangerous types of motorcycle crashes.
  • Buena Park’s busy roads and traffic congestion can increase motorcycle accident risks.
  • Many injured riders seek help from a motorcycle accident lawyer in Buena Park after serious collisions.
  • Poor road conditions and bad weather create additional hazards for riders.
  • California Vehicle Code § 27803 requires approved motorcycle helmets.
  • Defensive riding and protective gear can help reduce injury risks.
  • Motorcyclists face greater injury risks because motorcycles provide limited physical protection.

How Next Gen Cockpit Heat is Forcing Drivers to Become Elite Endurance Athletes

When the mesh window net of a NASCAR Cup Series stock car snaps shut, the cockpit immediately turns into a literal blast furnace. Modern stock car racing demands far more from drivers than just holding a racing line at 190 miles per hour. A massive number of fans prefer to unwind after grueling race weekends by visiting Pinco casino to relieve stress, but for the drivers themselves, the real trial starts right at the green flag. With the arrival of the current Next Gen technical regulations, the issue of internal overheating has escalated to its absolute limit, forcing athletes to train their stamina to strict military standards.

Anatomy of a furnace, why the Next Gen inside is hotter

Recent driver complaints, particularly Chase Elliott’s detailed comments after the March race at the Austin road course, clearly point to the new car’s structural design. Previous generations of cars allowed teams to route hot air and exhaust gases out of just one side, leaving the other side relatively cool. Now, the situation has radically changed. The new Xtrac transaxle and a redesigned exhaust layout forced engineers to run pipes down both sides of the car. Boxy rocker boxes under the floor heat up to massive temperatures, while the driver’s seat is mounted significantly lower to the floorboard than before.

The aerodynamic package also adds fuel to the fire. Special hood louvers dump hot air from the radiator directly onto the windshield. This creates a constant thermal curtain right in front of the cabin, so any air entering through the cockpit cooling ducts is already pre-heated by the front components of the car. As a result, drivers face thermal pressure that the series has not seen in decades. Team engineers attempt to implement extra layers of thermal insulation, but the tight packaging of components leaves virtually no free space for air masses to circulate around the cockpit.

Below is a comparison of cabin parameters between the old specification and the current version that drivers deal with every week during the Cup Series schedule.

Technical ParameterPrevious Car GenerationCurrent Next Gen Version in 2026
Exhaust ConfigurationSingle-sided exit onlySplit on both sides under the floor
Max Floor Box TemperatureHovering around 300°FReaches 450°F directly under the seat
Hood Airflow DirectionRouted underneath the carDirected at the windshield and cooling ducts
Footwell TemperatureRarely exceeded 110°FFrequently climbs past 130°F

For spectators tracking this grueling battle from their comfortable living rooms, an evening search for Pinco casino giriş becomes a familiar way to shift focus after a tense finish under the Sunday sunset. Drivers, however, face a completely different set of procedures after the checkered flag, where ice baths and immediate IV fluid replenishment are standard routines to preserve muscle functionality.

Two hundred beats per minute, physical loads at the edge of human limits

During long runs on short tracks or road courses, a driver’s heart rate steadily hovers between 150 and 170 beats per minute for four consecutive hours. Under extreme weather conditions, this metric spikes to 180 beats per minute, comparable to running a marathon at maximum pace. The body loses 6 to 10 pounds of weight solely through sweating during a single race. When core body temperature approaches a critical 102 degrees Fahrenheit, irreversible fatigue processes kick in.

Such rapid moisture loss leads to declines in cognitive function, slower reaction times, and reduced concentration, which can lead to a wreck at high speeds in heavy traffic. To survive these conditions, drivers have transformed into professional triathletes. Denny Hamlin, Tyler Reddick, and other pack leaders spend hundreds of hours on road bikes and in special heat chambers, where their bodies are artificially adapted to work under oxygen deficits and high temperatures. Physical conditioning now consumes up to 80 percent of a driver’s total free time between race weekends.

The technological fight for every degree of cooling

Since rulebook constraints strictly limit any radical modifications to the body shell, specialists at Hendrick Motorsports and Team Penske utilize microtechnologies to protect their drivers. Teams have even deployed FLIR thermal imaging cameras to pinpoint exactly where heat is leaking through the firewall. Every detail, from the density of the firesuit seams to the angle of the ventilation tubes, is calculated on computer models before a car ever hits the track.

Teams deploy proven tools to combat thermal exhaustion:

  1. Forced-air helmet systems that pump oxygen through special cooling blocks packed with dry ice.
  2. Undergarments woven with microchannels that circulate chilled liquid from a compact electric compressor.
  3. Special heat-shielding blankets made of aerospace alloys are mounted directly to the floorboard beneath the driver’s seat.
  4. Custom electrolyte blends with elevated sodium and magnesium content are consumed through the in-car hydration system during every caution phase.

Every summer race turns into a game of survival where the winner is not the fastest car, but the most durable, heat-conditioned body. While fans open the well-known Pinco brand during their free time for light leisure and emotional relaxation, engineering crews in the garages analyze thermal sensor data to help their drivers avoid heat exhaustion during the event. Training criteria have shifted so drastically that classic weight room sessions have completely given way to extreme cardio loads, without which success in the modern series is simply impossible. Fitness coaches now hold just as much weight over performance as crew chiefs, because a human’s raw endurance ultimately determines the speed limit of a stock car on the final laps of the race.

NASCAR Announces NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2027, Landmark Award

Harvick, Burton, Phillips Comprise Hall’s 17th Class

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (May 19, 2026) – NASCAR announced today the inductees who will comprise the NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2027. The three-person group – the 17th since the inception of the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2010 – consists of Kevin Harvick, Jeff Burton and Larry Phillips. In addition, Lesa France Kennedy was named the recipient of the Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR.

Members of the NASCAR Hall of Fame Voting Panel met today in an in-person closed session at the Charlotte Convention Center to debate and vote upon the 15 nominees for the induction class of 2027 and the five nominees for the Landmark Award.

The Class of 2027 was determined by votes cast by the Voting Panel, including representatives from NASCAR, the NASCAR Hall of Fame, track owners from major facilities and historic short tracks, media members, manufacturer representatives, competitors (drivers, owners, crew chiefs), recognized industry leaders, a nationwide fan vote conducted through NASCAR.com and the reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion (Kyle Larson). In all, 50 votes were cast. The accounting firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) presided over the tabulation of the votes.

Harvick received 92% of the Modern Era ballot votes and Burton received 32%. Neil Bonnett finished third, followed by Randy Dorton and Greg Biffle. Larry Phillips received 38% of the Pioneer ballot votes.

Results for the NASCAR.com Fan Vote were Harry Hyde (Pioneer), Greg Biffle and Kevin Harvick (Modern Era).

The two Modern Era inductees came from a group of 10 nominees that included: Greg Biffle, Neil Bonnett, Tim Brewer, Jeff Burton, Randy Dorton, Ray Elder, Ernie Elliott, Kevin Harvick, Randy LaJoie and Jack Sprague.

Nominees for the Pioneer Ballot included: Ray Fox, Harry Hyde, Banjo Matthews, Herb Nab and Larry Phillips.

Nominees for the Landmark Award included Alvin Hawkins, Lesa France Kennedy, Dr. Joseph Mattioli, Les Richter and T. Wayne Robertson.

Ten nominees appeared on the Modern Era ballot, which was selected by the traditional Nominating Committee. The same committee selected the five Landmark Award nominees. The Pioneer ballot, which included five nominees whose careers began in 1966 or earlier, was selected by the Honors Committee.

The Class of 2027 Induction Ceremony is set for Friday, Jan. 22, 2027, at the NASCAR Hall of Fame and Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. Tickets for the Induction Ceremony will be available June 10 on nascarhall.com.

Class of 2027 Inductees:

Kevin Harvick

Kevin Harvick’s rise to NASCAR stardom came under extraordinary circumstances in 2001, when he was called upon to replace Dale Earnhardt following his tragic passing. Just three races into his rookie season, Harvick delivered an emotional victory at Atlanta Motor Speedway, and went on to earn the 2001 NASCAR Cup Series Rookie of the Year honors, signaling the arrival of a new force in the sport. Known as “The Closer,” he proved capable of winning anywhere, including his 2007 Daytona 500 triumph. In 2014, Harvick mastered NASCAR’s brand-new elimination-style playoff, answering every must-win moment to claim the Cup Series championship and cement his place among the sport’s elite. Over 826 starts, Harvick amassed 60 victories, ranking 11th all-time among Cup Series winners. After retiring from full-time competition, he transitioned to broadcasting, joining FOX Sports as a NASCAR analyst for Cup Series races.

Jeff Burton

“The Mayor” of NASCAR. Jeff Burton earned that nickname for his insightful perspectives on issues affecting the well-being and safety of the sport. But it was his on-track performance that fueled his 22-year Cup Series career. The 1994 Cup Series Rookie of the Year spent the first half of his career at Roush Fenway Racing, where he experienced his most success. His first Cup win came at Texas Motor Speedway in 1997, the track’s first race. Over the next five years, Burton would win 17 times and finish in the top five in the standings four times. In 1999, he won a career high six races, including two of the sport’s crown jewel events – the Coca Cola 600 and Southern 500. Burton finished his career with 21 Cup wins and 27 O’Reilly Series wins, one of 10 drivers to have at least 20 wins in each series. Since 2015, Burton has served as an analyst for NBC Sports’ NASCAR coverage.

Larry Phillips

The legend of Missouri’s Larry Phillips cannot be measured in wins alone. That’s because nobody can say for sure how many victories there were. He raced here, there and everywhere on dirt and asphalt and in places where record keeping wasn’t always a priority. Phillips was just happy to vanquish the competition and go on to the next track. One crew chief, James Ince, estimated Phillips won 1,000 times; maybe 2,000. Rivals expressed frustration upon seeing Phillips’ No. 75 car come through the pit gate, admitting they were racing each other for second place. What is fact is that Phillips was the first of two drivers to win five NASCAR Weekly Series national championships. During an 11-year span – from his first title in 1989 through 1996 – the Springfield, Missouri competitor won 220 of 289 NASCAR-sanctioned starts. Phillips also won 13 track championships in three states.

Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR:

Lesa France Kennedy

Lesa France Kennedy is the Executive Vice Chair of NASCAR and one of the most influential women in sports. In her more than 30-year career with ISC (International Speedway Corporation), Kennedy advanced through several key executive positions with increasing responsibility including Secretary, Treasurer, Executive Vice President and CEO. Kennedy spearheaded the revitalization of Phoenix Raceway, and the state-of-the-art Daytona Rising project at Daytona International Speedway. She also helped cement NASCAR’s presence in the Midwest with the building of Kansas Speedway. Kennedy has been honored by Forbes, Adweek, Sports Business Journal, the National Women’s History Museum and is enshrined in the Cynopsis Sports Hall of Fame.

The Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway Outlook and Picks

Photo by John Knittel for SpeedayMedia.com

The NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) heads to Charlotte Motor Speedway for the Coca-Cola 600 on May 24, at 6 p.m. ET on Prime Video, PRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Last season, Chase Briscoe captured the pole with a lap of 182.852 mph (29.532 secs.), and Ross Chastain executed an improbable comeback from starting at the rear of the field to outduel William Byron in the closing laps to win the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday, May 25, 2025.

Track & Race Information for the Coca-Cola 600

Season Race No. 13 of 36 (May 24, 2026)
Race Purse: $13,855,363
Track Length: 1.5 Mile Asphalt Paved Oval
Banking/Turns 1 & 2: 24 degrees
Banking/Turns 3 & 4: 24 degrees
Banking/Frontstretch: 5 degrees
Banking/Backstretch: 5 degrees
Frontstretch Length: 1,980 feet
Backstretch Length: 1,500 feet

Length and Race Stages for the Coca-Cola 600

Race Length: 400 laps / 600 miles
Stage Lengths (all 4): 100 laps each

Who and what should you look out for at Charlotte Motor Speedway?

Brad Keselowski leads all active NCS drivers in wins at Charlotte Motor Speedway with two victories (2013, 2020), and 10 of the 57 NCS winners are active this weekend. In seven starts, Tyler Reddick leads all active drivers in the NCS in average finishing position. Kyle Busch leads all active drivers in the NCS in laps led with 1,487 laps led in 37 starts.

Active Charlotte Race Winners (10)WinsSeasons
Brad Keselowski22020, 2013
Ross Chastain12025
Christopher Bell12024
Ryan Blaney12023
Denny Hamlin12022
Kyle Larson12021
Chase Elliott12020
Kyle Busch12018
Austin Dillon12017
Joey Logano12015

The first starting position is the most proficient. It has produced 19 wins, more winners than any other starting position, with a winning percentage of 14.9%. The most recent was Denny Hamlin in 2022.

StatsWinning %Wins
Winning from the First Starting Position:14.96%19
Winning from the Front Row:28.35%36
Winning from a Top-Five Starting Position:55.12%70
Winning from a Top-10 Starting Position:74.02%94
Winning After Starting Outside the Top 10:25.98%33
Winning After Starting Outside the Top 20:8.66%11

The Driver Picks for the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway

  • Tyler Reddick has two top fives, five top 10s, and a series-best average finish of 10.429.
  • William Byron has one pole, four top fives, five top 10s, and an average finish of 13.778.
  • Ryan Blaney has one win, three top fives, four top 10s, and an average finish of 21.000.
  • Ty Gibbs has one pole, one top 10, and an average finish of 18.667.
  • Denny Hamlin has three poles, one win, 12 top fives, 21 top 10s, and an average finish of 12.559

Spire Motorsports Coca-Cola 600 Race Advance

  • In 15 previous NASCAR Cup Series starts at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway, Spire Motorsports has one top-10 and three top-20 finishes, with a best result of seventh earned by Michael McDowell in May 2025. Spire Motorsports fields the Nos. 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolet ZL1s in the Cup Series for Daniel Suárez, McDowell and Carson Hocevar, respectively.
  • The Coca-Cola 600 will be televised live on Prime Sunday, May 24 beginning at 6 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). The 13th of 36 points-paying races on the Cup Series schedule will also be broadcast live on the Performance Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

Daniel Suárez – Driver, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

  • Daniel Suárez will pilot Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Freeway Insurance Chevrolet ZL1 in Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
  • Freeway Insurance will showcase a special patriotic Memorial Day-themed livery featuring red, white, and blue branding elements to honor the holiday and recognize the service and sacrifice of U.S. military members.
  • Suárez and the No. 7 team will honor Sergeant Martin Anthony Lugo Jr. (April 22, 1986 – August 19, 2010). The Tucson, Ariz., native served in the United States Army as a Squad Leader with Company C, 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment during Operation Enduring Freedom. A highly-decorated Ranger who completed six combat deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq, Sgt. Lugo was posthumously awarded the Silver Star for gallantry after saving the lives of five fellow soldiers under heavy enemy fire. His honors also include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Purple Heart, and numerous additional awards recognizing his courage, leadership, and dedication to his fellow soldiers and his country.
  • The Monterrey, Mexico native has made 11 NASCAR Cup Series starts at Charlotte, earning one top-10 and five top-20 finishes while leading 36 laps at the 1.5-mile quad-oval. He holds an average starting position of 18.1 and an average finish of 20.8, with his best result at “America’s Home for Racing” coming in 2017 when he finished sixth. In the 2022 Coca-Cola 600, he led 36 laps and won a stage before being involved in an incident.
  • Freeway Insurance was established in 1987, Freeway Insurance is one of the largest and fastest-growing personal lines insurance brokers in the United States, offering coverage through a “click, call, or come in” approach that connects customers nationwide. The company continually researches, grows, and diversifies its product offerings to stay responsive to the evolving insurance market. Freeway provides a wide range of options—from basic to premium coverage—in auto, truck, commercial vehicle, homeowners, renters, small business, motorcycle, recreational vehicle, fire, and flood insurance. In 2008, Freeway Insurance became part of Confie, the nation’s leading personal lines insurance distribution company. Customers can access Freeway Insurance through neighborhood offices, online at www.freeway.com, or by calling (800) 300-0227.
  • The 34-year-old racer is a veteran of 335 Cup Series starts and has notched two wins, 25 top fives and 78 top-10s in NASCAR’s premier division. Suarez has led 908 laps and earned three poles since 2017.
  • After 12 races, Suárez sits 14th in the NASCAR Cup Series point standings. The two-time Cup Series race winner has one top five, three top 10s and is averaging a 15.0 finish – five positions better than this time last season.
  • Out of Suárez’s 335 Cup Series starts, 161 have come on intermediate tracks. Over those races, he earned one win at Atlanta Motor Speedway (2024), 11 top-five and 39 top-10 finishes while leading 388 laps. This season, at venues generally considered intermediate-style tracks, Suárez finished fifth at Atlanta, 30th at Phoenix Raceway, 18th at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, seventh at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway, and sixth at Texas Motor Speedway.

Daniel Suárez Quote
What does the Coca-Cola 600 mean to you?
“When it comes to traditions, my favorite is the Coca-Cola 600. It’s more than just a race because it happens on Memorial Day weekend, honoring the sacrifice of the men and women who served our country. The moment of silence in the middle of the race and hearing the crowd afterward gives me chills every time. This race is really exciting, fun, and something I truly enjoy. The Coca-Cola 600 is more than just a race to me — it’s a test of focus, endurance, and mentality. Fans see the speed and excitement, but they don’t always see the pressure that comes with competing for 600 miles under the lights. Racing is just as mental as it is physical, and every decision matters. Once my helmet goes on, fear disappears. It becomes all about staying locked.”

Atop the No. 7 Box – Crew Chief Ryan Sparks

  • Ryan Sparks has called 214 NASCAR Cup Series races, earning five top-five and 13 top-10 finishes since making his Cup Series debut atop the pit box in 2020.
  • In total, Sparks has called seven races at Charlotte since 2020, with his best result coming in 2023 when he finished 17th. Across 102 starts on intermediate-style tracks, he has recorded two top-five finishes and five top-10 finishes.
  • Sparks joined Spire Motorsports in 2021, where he served as both Crew Chief and Competition Director, leading the organization’s competitive and technical efforts. In 2026, Sparks serves in a singular role as crew chief for Daniel Suárez.
  • Sparks brings more than a decade of experience across all three national series, highlighted by 13 seasons at Richard Childress Racing and contributions to title-winning campaigns in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (2011) and O’Reilly Auto Parts Series (2013).

Michael McDowell – Driver, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

  • Michael McDowell will pilot Spire Motorsports’ No. 71 Modo Casino Chevrolet ZL1 in this weekend’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.
  • The No. 71 Chevrolet will carry a homegrown Modo Casino Chevrolet livery as the All-American online social gaming platform honors and remembers those who have served during Memorial Day weekend.
  • As part of the 600 Miles of Remembrance, McDowell will carry the name of Corporal Eddie Wade Forrest II, a proud second-generation U.S. Marine, who served his country with honor during two tours in Iraq and Afghanistan as a member of 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines. Over his four years of service, Corporal Forrest II exemplified dedication, courage, and an unwavering commitment to those beside him. He was deeply proud of his country and his family name. He was a devoted son, husband to his wife, Megan, and a loving father to their son, Bodhi.
  • Last weekend at Dover Motor Speedway, the Glendale, Ariz., native raced his way into the All-Star Race 200-lap feature with a finish of 12th and eighth in the first two segments of Sunday’s event, to mark his first All-Star nod as a Spire Motorsports driver.
  • In 26 attempts at the 1.5-mile track, the second-year Spire Motorsports driver has a pair of top-10 finishes and 13 laps led, earning a venue-best finish of seventh after 600 miles in 2025.
  • In four O’Reilly Auto Parts Series starts at Charlotte, McDowell claimed two top-20 finishes at the 1.5-mile track in NASCAR’s backyard.
  • Through the first 12 points-paying races of his 2026 campaign, McDowell owns two top-five and three top-10 finishes, in addition to last weekend’s eighth-place result at the “Monster Mile”.
  • In his last two races at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International and Dover Motor Speedway, the two-time Cup Series winner has earned career/venue-best finishes at each track resulting in an average finish of fifth.
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Michael McDowell Quote
With four stages this weekend, there is an opportunity for some extra stage points. How do you look at Charlotte when it comes to points?
“With four stages this weekend you look at the extra stage points for sure. You have to have the speed to do that and run up front. So I think qualifying well, being up front, and getting stage points is a really important thing for us, especially coming off of a rough stretch last month. We had some good speed during the (Coca-Cola) 600 last year and made a top-10 day out of it. I am hoping we can unload well and pick up some stage points in all three stages, but more than anything it is important to have a shot at it at the end. Stage points are important every weekend. It’s not just Charlotte, but if we can pick up some extra points this weekend with one more stage this weekend, it can be the difference to making “The Chase” this year.”

Atop the No. 71 Box – Crew Chief Travis Peterson

  • Crew chief Travis Peterson will return to the No. 71 team after the Peterson family welcomed their second daughter, Sophie, last Friday.
  • The pairing of McDowell and Peterson collected a top-10 finish with a result of seventh, their best finish on an oval, during last season during the Coca-Cola 600.
  • As a race engineer at JR Motorsports, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte graduate helped Chase Elliott to a top 10 in the 2014 O’Reilly Auto Parts Series event. Elliott started from the pole position and led 66 laps on the day.

Carson Hocevar – Driver, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

  • Carson Hocevar will race Spire Motorsports’ No. 77 Chili’s Ride the ‘DenteTM Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, his third start on the 1.5-mile Concord oval in NASCAR’s premier division.
  • It’s time to Ride the ‘DenteTM … Again’te! The black, white and red Chili’s® Grill & Bar design returns this weekend, a livery featuring pepper vines crawling across the top and sides, a homage to Chili’s founder Larry Lavine and the fashion sense he displayed in the early days of the 50-year-old restaurant brand.
  • Special Operations Command Chief Petty Officer Mark Cardillo will ride along with Hocevar Sunday night. SOC CPO Cardillo was a 1993 graduate from Hudson High School in Hudson, Mass., where he was a member of the football team. Shortly after high school, he enlisted in the United States Navy as a Seabee, serving overseas. Two years into his Seabee enlistment, SOC CPO Cardillo set his sights on becoming a Navy Seal. As a Seal, he was deployed multiple times to the Persian Gulf where SOC CPO Cardillo received 3 Bronze Stars with Valor and a multitude of other medals for his selfless acts during combat. SOC CPO Cardillo battled Leukemia in 2010 and again in 2013, finally beating it. He maintained a high level of combat readiness and continued his full duties as a Navy Seal before officially retiring in October 2019.
  • Through 12 races, Hocevar sits seventh in points, 30 markers out of sixth. His one win, three top fives, five top 10s, 342 points scored, average starting position of 10.2 and 14.6 average finish are all career highs through the first 12 points-paying races of the 2026 season. The team’s average starting position is a staggering 12 positions better than last season, and its average finishing position has improved by nearly seven spots compared to this point in 2025.
  • The 2024 Cup Series Rookie of the Year notched a venue-best 21st-place finish at Charlotte in 2024, his first of two starts at the venue in NASCAR’s premier division.
  • In last season’s Coca-Cola 600, Hocevar was knocking on the door of his first Cup Series victory before an engine failure sent the No. 77 Chevy to the garage in the Final Stage. He lined up on the front row for a Lap-307 restart and battled for the lead entering Turn 1 before quickly dropping through the field. The team was ultimately credited with a 34th-place finish.
  • During the series’ most recent trip to a 1.5-mile oval, Hocevar registered his fifth top-10 result of the 2026 campaign with a seventh-place finish at Texas while racking up 41 points on the day, the fourth-most accumulated in the field. He earned the pole position for the second time in his career, and first since last season’s trip to Texas, with a lap time of 28.222 seconds (191.340 mph).
  • In three CRAFTSMAN Truck Series starts at “America’s Home for Racing”, Hocevar owns two top fives and two top 10s, including a venue-best runner-up finish in 2021, while pacing the field for 105 laps.
  • Hocevar registered his first-career NASCAR Cup Series victory last month at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway. He survived a late-race restart with three laps remaining with help from his Chevrolet teammates and took the checkered flag aboard the Chili’s Chevrolet. The newly minted Cup Series race winner became the 13th driver to earn their inaugural series victory at Talladega, and registered Spire Motorsports’ first win since the 2019 Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway with driver Justin Haley.
  • In last Sunday’s NASCAR All-Star Race at Dover, the Portage, Mich., native recovered from suspension damage stemming from a right-front tire issue to compete within the top five in the third and final segment. An untimely caution just laps following the No. 77 team’s green-flag pit stop trapped the crew two laps down. They were ultimately credited with a 14th-place finish.
  • Tecovas, the iconic American western-wear brand founded in 2015, will saddle up and make its debut as an associate sponsor aboard Carson Hocevar’s No. 77 Chevrolet this weekend. The two-race associate program will culminate June 21 during the NASCAR Cup Series’ inaugural race through the streets of San Diego’s Naval Base Coronado.
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Carson Hocevar Quotes
You’ve shown speed on the 1.5-mile tracks and were knocking on the door in last year’s Coca-Cola 600. What are your thoughts heading into the weekend?
“Our team has been looking forward to this one. Last year we had to start in the back, but worked forward pretty quickly. When we lined up on the front row I was ready to go for it and race it out, but a mechanical issue ended our night right after we took the green. I am just excited to have another shot at it. We have been really fast on the mile-and-a-halves, especially when you look at what we did at Texas a couple weeks back – winning the pole and running up front all day. I think we are in for a really good weekend.”

Atop the No. 77 Box – Crew Chief Luke Lambert

  • Crew chief Luke Lambert is in his third season at Spire Motorsports and fourth with driver Carson Hocevar. The duo has logged one win, two pole awards, six top-five and 20 top-10 finishes in 92 races together.
  • The 16-year veteran crew chief has called 18 NASCAR Cup Series races at Charlotte Motor Speedway, notching one top five and six top 10s highlighted by Ryan Newman’s fourth-place result in October 2016.
  • During his time as a race engineer at Richard Childress Racing, Lambert helped Jeff Burton to victory in the 2008 Cup Series event at the venue then known as Lowe’s Motor Speedway. Burton made the race-winning move on leader Greg Biffle with 57 laps remaining and fended off late-race challenges from Jimmie Johnson and Kasey Kahne to secure his 21st and final Cup Series victory.
  • The Mount Airy, N.C., native has been atop the war wagon for three NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series races at Charlotte, earning three top fives and logging a venue-best third-place finish in October 2012 with driver Elliott Sadler.

About Spire Motorsports …
Spire Motorsports fields full-time entries in the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series and Interstate Batteries High Limit Racing.
The team, co-owned by longtime NASCAR industry executive Jeff Dickerson and TWG Motorsports CEO Dan Towriss, 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 July 7, 2019. Less than three years later, William Byron drove Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado its first NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series win April 7, 2022, at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway. The team’s most recent victory came May 15, 2026, when Kyle Busch won the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series’ ECOSAVE 200 at Dover Motor Speedway.

In 2026, Spire Motorsports campaigns the Nos. 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1s in the NASCAR Cup Series and the Nos. 7 and 77 Chevrolet Silverado RSTs in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. The Mooresville, N.C., organization also fields the No. 77 410 sprint car in Interstate Batteries High Limit Racing competition.

JEGS NAMED PRESENTING SPONSOR FOR NHRA DEBUT AT MARYLAND INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY

MECHANICSVILLE, Md. (May 19, 2026) – NHRA officials announced today that JEGS, a DTC, e-commerce retailer and distributor of high-performance automotive aftermarket parts and accessories, has been named the presenting sponsor for the first-ever event at Maryland International Raceway in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series.

The inaugural NHRA Potomac Nationals presented by JEGS takes place May 29-31 at the standout facility just outside of Washington, D.C. during NHRA’s 75th anniversary season, coming just after Memorial Day Weekend and on the eve of America’s 250th celebration.

The debut at Maryland International Raceway marks one of four new tracks during NHRA’s milestone campaign, as fans will get to see all the incredible action of 12,000-horsepower, 340-mph nitro cars, plus all the stars in Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle.

With a NHRA 75th anniversary Diamond Wally on the line and a chance to win the first-ever race at Maryland International Raceway, the NHRA Potomac Nationals presented by JEGS should be spectacular from start to finish.

“JEGS has enjoyed a long-standing relationship with NHRA, and we were proud to support its expansion into the Greater Washington, D.C., market,” said Rob Fisher, Director of Marketing. “Bringing our JEGS Experience trailer to Maryland International Raceway gives us an exciting opportunity to connect with fans and racers alike to showcase the products, service and value that has defined the JEGS legacy.”

The action starts with two rounds of qualifying on Friday, the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge bonus race on Saturday – as well as two more rounds of qualifying – and eliminations on Sunday, plus a host of 75th anniversary events, including:

  • An appearance from NHRA legend and three-time Top Fuel world champion Shirley Muldowney and a tribute to Muldowney’s trailblazing history in the sport.
  • On Sunday, a free, limited-edition NHRA pennant will be given to the first 4,000 fans in attendance.
  • A new-look Nitro Mall, special displays and much more.

The 2026 NHRA Potomac Nationals presented by JEGS includes action in all four Mission Foods Drag Racing Series classes and coverage of the event will be broadcast on FOX, with elimination coverage beginning at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday, May 31.

“JEGS has been a tremendous NHRA partner for many years and we’re excited to have them as the presenting sponsor of the NHRA Potomac Nationals, which marks a historic weekend for NHRA and the facility,” NHRA Vice President and Chief Development Officer Brad Gerber said. “Our first-ever national event at Maryland International Raceway is a major moment during NHRA’s 75th anniversary season and we’re thrilled to work together with JEGS to make this an amazing event for the local community, our fans, race teams and partners.”

Former Top Fuel world champion Shawn Langdon powered to a new speed record of 345.00-mph at the NHRA Southern Nationals before going on to win the event. He took over the points lead and will look to impress in Maryland against the likes of Josh Hart of John Force Racing, reigning world champion Doug Kalitta, motorsports legend Tony Stewart, Leah Pruett, Clay Millican and Tony Schumacher.

The Funny Car class continues to be ultra-competitive, with Ron Capps earning two wins in 2026. J.R. Todd is the current points leader and will look for his first win of the season in Maryland. Matt Hagan has a win as well, while others to watch in Maryland include Gainesville winner Chad Green, Funny Car newcomer Jordan Vandergriff, who won in Georgia, and reigning world champion Austin Prock.

Reigning Pro Stock champ Dallas Glenn currently leads the points with two wins in 2026. Matt Hartford also has two victories this year, while six-time world champ Greg Anderson picked up the win in Pomona. Fans at MIR will also see the Elite Motorsports team, led by six-time champion Erica Enders, Aaron Stanfield, Jeg Coughlin Jr. and T.J. Coughlin.

Pro Stock Motorcycle world champion Richard Gadson won his first title last season over two-time champ Gaige Herrera. Six-time champ Matt Smith and his teammates Angie Smith, John Hall and Jianna Evaristo will look to win in Maryland, as will Kelly Clontz, Steve Johnson and Chase Van Sant in an area loaded with motorcycle fans.

NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 1:30 and 4 p.m. ET on Friday, May 29 and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, May 30 at 12:30 and 3 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. ET on Sunday, May 31. Television coverage includes qualifying on FS1 at 7 p.m. ET on Friday and 9 p.m. ET on Saturday, with eliminations action on Sunday at 3 p.m on FOX.

To purchase tickets to the 2026 NHRA Potomac Nationals presented by JEGS, fans can visit www.NHRA.com/tickets. Children 12 and under are free in general admission areas with the purchase of an adult ticket. For more information about the NHRA, visit www.NHRA.com.


About JEGS High Performance

Founded in 1960 by drag racing champion Jeg Coughlin Sr., JEGS Performance has grown into one of the most recognized and trusted names in the automotive aftermarket industry. JEGS serves racers, builders, restorers, and automotive enthusiasts across the country through an extensive catalog and e-commerce platform featuring more than 2 million products from over 900 trusted brands. From drag racing and street performance to off-road, truck, restoration, and garage equipment, JEGS provides solutions for nearly every type of automotive project and passion. The company’s long-standing commitment to performance, innovation, and automotive culture has helped make JEGS a go-to destination for generations of car enthusiasts and racers. For more information visit www.jegs.com

About Mission Foods

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

About NHRA

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