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Daniel Suarez departing Trackhouse Racing following the 2025 Cup Series season

By
Andrew Kim
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Photo by John Knittel for SpeedwayMedia.com.

Daniel Suarez will part ways with Trackhouse Racing after the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season, an announcement made on Tuesday, July 1.

The departure decision, which was mutual between the parties, comes as Suarez is currently campaigning in his fifth consecutive Cup Series season with Trackhouse, an organization that signed Suarez as its first competitor when it debuted in NASCAR at the start of the 2021 season.

“I want to thank all the men and women at Trackhouse Racing for your love and support,” Suárez said in a released statement. “I’ve had some of the best years of my Cup Series career at Trackhouse. We had great successes as a team and I gained some incredible friends. We took a team nobody had even heard of in 2021 and in just a couple of years we were winning races and running up front on a weekly basis.”

Suarez, the 2016 Xfinity Series champion from Monterrey, Mexico, registered a single top-five result and four top-10 results during his first campaign with Trackhouse in 2021. The following season, he notched his first Cup career victory at Sonoma Raceway in June and became the first-ever Mexican-born competitor to win in NASCAR’s premier series. During the 2022 season, he proceeded to make the Playoffs for the first time in his career and finished a career-best 10th place in the driver’s standings.

Suarez’s latest victory both in the Cup division and with Trackhouse occurred at EchoPark Speedway in February 2024, where he edged Ryan Blaney by 0.003 seconds amid a three-wide photo finish that included Kyle Busch. The Atlanta victory enabled Suarez to make his second career appearance in the Playoffs, where he finished in 12th place in the standings.

Through 162 starts with Trackhouse Racing, Suarez has registered two victories, one pole, 15 top-five results, 39 top-10 results, and 625 laps led. This season, he has logged in a single top-five result, which was a runner-up result at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in March. T

Suarez is in 29th place in the 2025 standings with three top-10 results and 14 laps led through 18 scheduled events.

Amid the mutual decision to part ways with Trackhouse, Suarez remains optimistic as he has yet to announce his plans for the 2026 season.

“Just like the seasons in a year, sometimes things change, and we have mutually agreed to each go in our own direction,” Suarez added. “I wish Trackhouse nothing but the best, this No. 99 team will always be special to me. And like I always say, the best is ahead!”

Justin Marks, founder and owner of Trackhouse Racing, also released a statement amid Suarez’s departure, labeling Suarez as a friend who played a pivotal role in establishing Trackhouse as a competitive organization since its inception.

“The role Daniel has played in the Trackhouse origin story and its first five years will remain a valued part of the company’s history forever,” Marks said. “His commitment, work ethic, and dedication to the effort is one of the most impressive things I personally have seen in my career.”

“We will forever be thankful and honored that Daniel chose to spend many incredible years with us,” Marks added. “We are proud of his wins, his successes, the growth of his brand, and his emergence as a valuable athlete in America’s greatest motorsport. But, most of all, I’m proud of him as a friend. I’m truly excited to see what awaits him in the next chapter of his amazing career. We are grateful for the professionalism, effort, and heart he’s brought to our organization.”

While Suarez’s plans for next season have yet to be revealed, he has eight races remaining in the 2025 regular-season stretch to notch his first victory of the year and lock both himself and his No. 99 Trackhouse Chevrolet team into the Playoffs with an opportunity to contend for a championship.

The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season for Daniel Suarez continues with the Chicago Street Course for the Grant Park 165. The event is scheduled to occur this upcoming Sunday, July 6th, and air at 2 p.m. ET on TNT.

Spire Motorsports Grant Park 165 Race Advance

By
Official Release
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  • In five NASCAR Cup Series starts at the Chicago Street Course, Spire Motorsports has logged one top-15 and two top-20 finishes. Corey LaJoie earned a team-best 14th-place finish in the inaugural Grant Park 165 in July 2023. Spire Motorsports fields the Nos. 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolet ZL1s in the Cup Series for Justin Haley, Michael McDowell and Carson Hocevar, respectively.
  • The Grant Park 165 will be televised live on TNT and streamed on MAX, Sunday, July 6 beginning at 2 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). The 19th of 36 points-paying races on the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series calendar will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

Justin Haley – Driver, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet ZL1

  • Justin Haley will pilot Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Gainbridge Chevrolet ZL1 in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series Grant Park 165.
  • Haley has recorded two Cup Series starts at the Chicago Street Course, highlighted by a second-place finish in the inaugural 2023 event where he started 37th and led 23 laps. Over those two starts, the 26-year-old Cup Series regular has logged a 9.0 average finish, posting one top-five and two top-20 finishes.
  • Chicago marks the third-of-six road course events of the 2025 season. He finished 16th and 17th, respectively, in the series’ stops at Circuit of the Americas and Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.
  • Last week in Atlanta, Haley started 22nd, led three laps and raced with the leaders for much of the night, but ultimately came home 23rd after being collected in a late-race incident.
  • Haley is one of just 41 drivers to have won races in all three of NASCAR’s National Touring Series. The driver of Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Chevy has collected one win in the NASCAR Cup Series, four in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and three in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series.
  • The Indiana native is a veteran of 162 Cup Series starts and has earned one top-10, completed 4,513 of 4,571 laps (95 percent) and recorded a 22.3 average finish in 2025. Over the course of his career, Haley has notched one win, five top fives, 16 top 10s and led 106 laps in NASCAR’s premier division.
  • In total, Haley has made 61 Cup Series starts for Spire Motorsports, including his first start in NASCAR’s premier division at Talladega Superspeedway on his 20th birthday.

Justin Haley Quote
What are your thoughts heading to Chicago?
“Chicago is one of my favorite races of the year. The atmosphere and crowd are incredible, so it’s always a special weekend. I’ve been looking forward to the Chicago Street Race all season. Our cars were fast at both road races this season, so I’m eager to see how we’ll do on the street course.”

Atop the No. 7 Box – Crew Chief Ryan Sparks

Ryan Sparks serves in a dual role as both Spire Motorsports Competition Director and crew chief for driver Justin Haley. He was first paired with Haley at Bristol Motor Speedway in September 2024.
The Winston Salem, N.C., native has called 184 NASCAR Cup Series races where he’s earned three top-five and nine top-10 finishes.
In total, Sparks has called two Chicago Street races, both with driver Corey LaJoie and calls a 2023 14th-place finish a venue best.

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

  • Michael McDowell will pilot Spire Motorsports’ No. 71 DePaul Chevrolet ZL1 in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series’ Grant Park 165 through the streets of The Windy City.
  • The Glendale, Ariz., native owns two starts at the 12-turn, 2.2-mile street course, earning one top-five and two top-10 finishes in NASCAR Cup Series competition. He qualified third and registered a venue-best fifth-place finish in last year’s contest.
  • The 2021 Daytona 500 champion will have a familiar voice on the spotter stand this week where McDowell’s cousin, Jason Noll, will assist primary spotter Michael Fisher during the Cup Series’ third visit to Grant Park.
  • Across his two attempts at the Chicago Street Course, the father-of-five has an average start of 4.5, a sixth-place average finish and has yet to finish outside the top seven.
  • McDowell survived what seemed to be a full-field wreck in last weekend’s race in Atlanta, and after considerable work to repair damage to the rear suspension of the Delaware Life Chevy, McDowell and Co., rallied to earn a hard-fought 18th-place result.
  • The two-time NASCAR Cup Series race winner owns an 18.0 average start and a 20.7 average finish at road courses over 18 seasons, a career-best at track configuration.
  • McDowell collected the 2016 NASCAR Xfinity Series win at Road America, where he led 24 of 48 laps on an overcast Saturday afternoon, making the trip to Victory Lane in his lone start behind the wheel of Richard Childress Racing’s No. 2 Chevrolet.
  • DePaul University will serve as the primary sponsor for this weekend’s 75-lap contest. An educational fixture of Chicago, DePaul University is the largest Catholic university in the United States offering over 22,000 students a place to study 130 undergraduate and 170 graduate programs.
  • As part of Spire Motorsports’ partnership with DePaul University, Chicago Street Race promoters have provided DePaul students a 20-percent discount on select race tickets.
  • In collaboration with the NASCAR Chicago Street Race, DePaul’s School of Hospitality and Sports Business introduced a special topics course, HSB 198: A NASCAR Experience. As part of the curriculum, students will play an integral role in designing and executing the newly created College Tailgate at Turn 7—a fan engagement event tailored to college students during the race. Further anchoring this collaboration in the local community, the longstanding NASCAR internship program will continue to empower DePaul students and alumni, offering them leadership roles and on-the-ground experience during one of Chicago’s most prominent sporting events.
  • DePaul University provides exceptional academics and real-world experiences to prepare students for a changing world. With more than 21,000 students across more than 300 academic programs, DePaul has two campus locations in Chicago. Students richly benefit from the city’s many opportunities. In turn, DePaul is one of the forces that shapes Chicago’s future. The university was founded in 1898 by the Congregation of the Mission (Vincentians), a Roman Catholic religious community dedicated to following the ideals of St. Vincent de Paul. DePaul is among the nation’s top universities for diversity because of its long tradition of providing a high-quality education to students from a broad range of backgrounds. DePaul is one of the largest private, nonprofit universities in the Midwest and one of the largest Catholic universities in the nation. Visit DePaul.edu to learn more.
  • DePaul’s 15 intercollegiate athletic teams compete in the NCAA Division I, BIG EAST Conference. DePaul University began sponsoring athletics teams in the early 1900’s, with intercollegiate athletics coming to fruition in the 1920’s. Legendary coach Ray Meyer helped put DePaul on the map in the 1970’s as the men’s basketball program helped elevate the university to national prominence. Through a bold new vision for the future, DePaul Athletics looks to become the premier program in the BIG EAST Conference through a focus on winning championships with integrity, building champion students through education and intentional development, and serving as a visible ambassador for DePaul University and the Chicago community. DePaul Athletics has a storied tradition and is uniquely positioned to support the university’s mission and commitment to academic excellence, real world experience, community engagement, and systemic change. Further, the department is steadfast in its commitment to grow the university’s national exposure and enrollment through athletics. Visit DePaulBlueDemons.com to learn more.
  • The No. 71 team earned a $100,000 payday and a trip to Victory Lane after winning the Mechanix Wear Pit Crew Challenge during NASCAR’s All-Star Weekend at North Wilkesboro (N.C.) Speedway. The crew’s blazing 12.587-second stop topped all entries for both the NASCAR All-Star Open and NASCAR All-Star Race, earning the title of the fastest team on pit road.
  • McDowell has claimed three Xfinity Fastest Lap awards this season, clocking the fastest lap in the Daytona 500, Phoenix Raceway and Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway.
  • McDowell secured Spire Motorsports’ first Busch Light Pole Award at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in March. His 28.833-second lap marks the fastest lap in NASCAR’s seventh-generation Cup Series car (2022-present) at the 1.5-mile Nevada oval.

Michael McDowell Quote
What are your thoughts heading back to a track where you have back-to-back top-10’s and how do you feel about NASCAR’s attempt at street racing?
“I am looking forward to Chicago, it is a fun track and hopefully we can get a smooth weekend with no rain. It is a place we have finished in the top five and top 10 a couple of times, and I feel confident going there. Our road course program is getting better each race and I really feel like we are building on something. We still have things to learn, but I feel like going into Chicago and Sonoma back-to-back gives us a couple of good opportunities to win, and get into the playoffs.”

Atop the No. 71 Box – Crew Chief Travis Peterson

Crew chief Travis Peterson heads to Chicago having called 12 NASCAR Cup Series races on road courses. Peterson called McDowell’s win in the 2023 Verizon 200 at the Brickyard on the road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The 34-year-old Cup Series topkick has earned a 14.7 average finish at road courses, his best average finish at any track type with a minimum of 10 attempts.
Peterson has called 95 races in NASCAR’s premier series, securing one win, five top fives, 19 top 10s and seven pole awards.

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

Carson Hocevar is back behind the wheel of the No. 77 Zeigler Auto Group Chevrolet ZL1 for Spire Motorsports as the NASCAR Cup Series takes to the streets of Chicago for the Grant Park 165. Sunday’s race will mark the third event held at the 12-turn, 2.2-mile street course that will see drivers race down Michigan Avenue, past the Buckingham Memorial Fountain and through Grant Park.
Hocevar started 13th in last year’s event Grant Park 165, his first start in the Chicago Street Race, and finished 24th.
In two road course starts this season, Hocevar has a best finish of 13th earned at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.
Hocevar owns a total of seven Cup Series starts on road courses highlighted by a third-place effort in last year’s Go Bowling at The Glen at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International.

Carson Hocevar Quote
How does a street course differ from the traditional road courses the Cup Series typically visits?
”The biggest difference, which is also the most obvious, is we’re racing on a surface that sees high traffic on a daily basis compared to a purpose-built track that holds events a few times a year. The City of Chicago and NASCAR do a great job making sure the course is prepared for us and we’ve seen improvement each year the series has gone back to Chicago. Because we’re racing on streets that are built for people to navigate through a city, the corners are usually a bit more narrow and that’s where we’ve seen a lot of incidents in the past. You run out of room quickly when everyone is fighting for the preferred line. Weather has been a factor the last two years so I guess we’ll see what comes of that, but that’s pretty normal for this time of year, anywhere we race. I’m really excited for this weekend’s race. There’s always a lot of action on track and a lot of fun things to do in the city.”

Atop the No. 77 Box – Crew Chief Luke Lambert

Crew chief Luke Lambert will call his 39th Cup Series road course race from atop the pit box, including the 2023 and 2024 races in Chicago.
While the Mount Airy, N.C., native has yet to visit Victory Lane as the winning crew chief on a road course, he’s collected a total of two top-five and four top-10 finishes in the Cup Series and four top fives and seven top 10s in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

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

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

Big Sipz Teams Up with AJ Allmendinger at Sonoma

By
Official Release
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Allmendinger Partners with Ready-to-Drink Cocktail Brand for Sonoma Weekend

Lexington, N.C. (July 1, 2025) – Big Sipz, a wine-based ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktail at 16% alcohol-by-volume, will join Kaulig Racing and be featured on the No. 16 Chevrolet driven by road-racing ace AJ Allmendinger during the July 13 NASCAR Cup Series race at Sonoma Raceway.

Big Sipz, one of the fastest growing RTD brands in the country, offers a variety of bold flavors, including margaritas, fruit punch and ‘Merica flavored wine-based cocktails, and is available in many retail and convenient store locations across the country.

California native, Allmendinger, will feature a bright neon green scheme that highlights Big Sipz’ new 1-liter Jugz, while he chases a 15th-career NASCAR national series road-course victory. During the weekend, Kaulig Racing will be hosting Big Sipz and Patco Brands executives from their nearby Sausalito, CA, headquarters as well as Big Sipz brand ambassador, globally recognized hip hop artist and influencer, Waka Flocka.

“Big Sipz is one of the fastest growing brands in the country and they are very bold marketers, which aligns perfectly with where we are taking Kaulig Racing,” said Ty Norris, Kaulig Racing Chief Business Officer. “Introducing NASCAR to new brands, which introduces us to a new audience, is important for the growth of the sport and of Kaulig Racing. It will be fun to measure the reach and impact of this event.”

“Anyone who knows me knows I love to have fun, and Big Sipz is a fun brand,” said Allmendinger. “Since nothing is more fun than a victory lane celebration, that is the goal in Sonoma. I’m excited to show the Big Sipz people what NASCAR and Kaulig Racing is all about. Being a road course in my home state, Sonoma is very special to me. I have friends and family who come every year, and it will be great to have Big Sipz as part of the weekend with us. We are ready to go big.”

To catch the No. 16 Big Sipz Chevy on track at Sonoma Raceway tune in to TNT Sports on Sunday, July 13, at 3:30 p.m. ET.

Big Sipz can be found at various convenience stores, grocery stores and liquor stores. To find a store near you, visit https://www.bigsipz.com/store-locator.
 
About Kaulig Racing

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

Big Sipz

At Big Sipz, we believe Biggerz Better. Created for people who want to go BIG, Big Sipz are as bold as the people we make them for. Big Sipz is currently available at retail stores across 46 states including Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Nevada, North Carolina, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas with future market expansion slated throughout 2025. To learn more, please visit www.bigsipz.com.

NHRA ADDS NEW PARTNERS TO RACER ADVANTAGE PROGRAM FOR RACERS AND MEMBERS

By
Official Release
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INDIANAPOLIS (July 1, 2025) – The NHRA is excited to announce a number of new partner additions to its NHRA Racer Advantage program, which is part of every NHRA membership and offers a large number of benefits and special offers designed specifically for NHRA racers and members.

By earning an NHRA Competition License and becoming an NHRA member, racers can unlock exclusive benefits with the NHRA Racer Advantage program, which includes the following:

  • The addition of major new partners, including WELD Customer Racing Wheels, ABRO and Mechanix Wear, as well as Stormin Normin’s Nitro Pickles, GEN-Y Hitches, Crocodile Cloth and Harvest Hosts. NHRA members and racers can get exclusive discounts from these companies to NHRA Members and Racers, only available through the Racer Advantage page on their membership home at NHRA.com.
  • Exclusive discounts with NHRA partners like Summit Racing Equipment, Goodyear Tires, which offers a 20 percent discount for NHRA members, a 15 percent off first-time purchases at Cordova Coolers, Right Trailers, Speedmaster, Racing Electronics and others.
  • A 25 percent discount on NHRA.tv, which streams live championship drag racing action at NHRA national events and divisional events across the country.
  • Excess medical insurance coverage for all NHRA participants and members up to $600,000 at all NHRA Member Tracks.

NHRA is also working closely with additional partners to offer new offers and discounts, all aimed at helping racers and members on and off the track.

“It’s great to see our Racer Advantage program continue to grow,” NHRA Sportsman Manager Jason Galvin said. “The NHRA recognizes the importance of building and maintaining partnerships that are beneficial for our core customer, the sportsman racer and NHRA members.

“These new partners offer a range of benefits, from quality components for the cars, to gear and supplies to work on the cars, trucks, motorcycles and trailers. We even have partnerships to help escape and take a break with your family. The future of this program is very exciting.”

A full list of perks and benefits is available to NHRA racers and members through the online NHRA Membership Portal. For more info on the NHRA Racer Advantage program, visit www.nhra.com/nhra-racer-advantage. For more on the NHRA, including the 2025 schedule, visit www.NHRA.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 Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series, NHRA Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown™, NHRA Holley EFI Factory X and Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage NHRA Mountain Motor Pro Stock 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 110 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.

HFT Advance | Chicago

By
Official Release
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Chicago Street Event Info:
Date: Sunday, July 6
Time: 2 p.m. ET
Series: NASCAR Cup Series (NCS)
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Format: 75 Laps, 165 Miles, Stages: 20-45-75
TV: TNT
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90)

Weekend Schedule:
Saturday: 10:30 a.m. ET, Xfinity Practice (CW App, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Saturday: 11:30 a.m. ET, Xfinity Qualifying (CW App, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Saturday: 1 p.m. ET, Cup Practice (TruTV, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Saturday: 2 p.m. ET, Cup Qualifying (TruTV, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Saturday: 2:30 p.m. ET, Xfinity Race (CW, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Sunday: 2 p.m. ET, Cup Race (TNT Sports, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)

Pace Laps:

  • The streets of Chicago hosts the NASCAR Cup Series this weekend for the third Chicago Street Race. The 12-turn course spans 2.2 miles and is settled along some of the city’s top tourist attractions.
  • According to NASCAR Insights, Sheldon Creed’s pole at Atlanta was the first on a drafting track for Ford in the Xfinity Series since Dakoda Armstong at Daytona in July 2014.

Cole Custer Team Info:
Crew Chief: Aaron Kramer
Partner: Haas / Andys

Sheldon Creed Team Info:
Crew Chief: Jonathan Toney
Partner: Road Ranger

Sam Mayer Team Info:
Crew Chief: Jason Trinchere
Partner: Audibel

Custer on Road Courses (Cup)
Starts: 18
Wins: —
Top-10s: 3
Poles: —

  • Custer makes his 19th NCS road course start this weekend, where he has a best finish of 8th in Mexico City earlier this season.
  • He has two career NXS road course wins, coming at Portland (2023) and the Chicago Street Race (2023).

Creed on Road Courses (Xfinity)
Starts: 22
Wins: —
Top-10s: 9
Poles: —

  • Creed is set to make his 23rd career road course start in the Xfinity Series this Saturday at the Chicago Street Course, where he has nine career top-10 finishes.
  • He finished 11th in the NXS debut race in Chicago two years ago after starting on the front row.

Mayer on Road Courses (Xfinity)
Starts: 24
Wins: 4
Top-10s: 16
Poles: —

  • Mayer is in line for his 25th career road course start in the Xfinity Series this weekend, where he has 16 top-10 finishes, including nine in the top five.
  • He has NXS victories at the Charlotte Road Course (2023 & 2024), Watkins Glen (2023), and Elkhart Lake (2023).

Where They Stand
Cup Points Standings (41: 34th): Custer is 34th in the Cup Series points standings through 18 races this season with 237 points.

Xfinity Points Standings (41: 8th, 00: 12th): Mayer sits seventh in the Xfinity points standings with 561 total points on the season, behind the seven winners, while Creed is in 10th place with 425 points heading into Chicago this Saturday.

RFK Advance | Chicago

By
Official Release
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Chicago Street Event Info:
Date: Sunday, July 6
Time: 2 p.m. ET
Series: NASCAR Cup Series (NCS)
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Format: 75 Laps, 165 Miles, Stages: 20-45-75
TV: TNT Sports
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90)

Weekend Schedule:
Saturday: 1 p.m. ET, Cup Practice (TruTV, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Saturday: 2 p.m. ET, Cup Qualifying (TruTV, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Sunday: 2 p.m. ET, Cup Race (TNT Sports, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)

Pace Laps:

  • The streets of Chicago hosts the NASCAR Cup Series this weekend for the third Chicago Street Race. The 12-turn course spans 2.2 miles and is settled along some of the city’s top tourist attractions.
  • Ryan Preece is the only driver in the NASCAR Cup Series to win a stage in both road-course races this season (Circuit of the Americas & Mexico City).
  • Chris Buescher leads the Cup Series this season with an average starting position of 10.4, anchored by nine starts inside the top 10.
  • He has four straight top-10 finishes dating back to Michigan, and over the last five races he leads the NASCAR Cup Series with 183 points earned.
  • All four of Brad Keselowski’s top-10 finishes this season have come in the previous six weeks, including a runner-up result in Atlanta last weekend.

The NASCAR In-Season Tournament continues this weekend at Chicago, with all three RFK Fords advancing into the “Sweet 16”. The second-round matchups are as follows:
No. 3 Chris Buescher vs. No. 14 Zane Smith
No. 15 Ryan Preece vs. No. 31 Noah Gragson
No. 17 Brad Keselowski vs. No. 32 Ty Dillon

6 Team Info:
Driver: Brad Keselowski
Crew Chief: Jeremy Bullins
Partner: Kroger / Blue Buffalo

17 Team Info:
Driver: Chris Buescher
Crew Chief: Scott Graves
Partner: Fastenal

60 Team Info:
Driver: Ryan Preece
Crew Chief: Derrick Finley
Partner: BuildSubmarines.com

Keselowski on Road Courses
Starts: 48
Wins: —
Top-10s: 11
Poles: 1

  • Keselowski is set to make his third start at the Chicago Street Course, where he finished 24th in the debut race and 18th a year ago.
  • In 48 starts otherwise on road courses in his Cup career, Keselowski has a 17.2 average finish with 11 top-10s.
  • Thus far in 2025, Keselowski has finishes of 15th (COTA) and 25th (Mexico City) on road courses.

Buescher on Road Courses
Starts: 37
Wins: 1 (Watkins Glen, 2024)
Top-10s: 16
Poles: —

  • Buescher has been one of the most consistent drivers on road courses over the past three seasons, registering 15 top-10 finishes in the last 18 events.
  • In two road course events thus far in 2025, Buescher has two top-10s with a P7 result in COTA, and a 10th-place finish in Mexico City just a few weeks ago.
  • In 37 races on road courses, Buescher has a 12.8 average finish and 16 top-10s, including his first win on a road course at Watkins Glen last season.

Preece on Road Courses
Starts: 23
Wins: —
Top-10s: 2
Poles: —

  • Preece makes his third start at the Chicago Street Course where he finished 34th last season, and has a career-best finish of 15th in 2023.
  • Across 23 career races on road courses, Preece has two top-10s and a 22.5 average finish.

RFK Historically on Road Courses
Cup Wins: 6 (Mark Martin, 1993-94-95, Watkins Glen; Mark Martin, 1997, Sonoma; Carl Edwards, 2014, Sonoma, Chris Buescher, 2024, Watkins Glen)

RFK on the Road: As an organization, RFK has made 263 starts on road courses in the Cup Series with five wins, 92 top-10s and 43 finishes inside the top five with a 17.4 average finish.
Martin Goes Three-Straight in N.Y.: NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin is responsible for four of Jack Roush’s road course wins all-time, including three-straight at Watkins Glen from 1993-95. Martin dominated the three years, leading a combined 183 laps, and won all three from the pole. He also won once in Sonoma, in 1997, after also starting from the point to lead 69 of the 74 laps.
Edwards Victorious Four Times, at Four Different Road Courses: Carl Edwards also visited victory lane for Jack Roush at Sonoma, driving to the win in 2014 after starting fourth. In Xfinity action, Edwards was victorious at WGI in 2012, Road America in 2010, and Montreal in 2009. In the 2012 event in New York, current crew chief Scott Graves was atop the box for one of his two Xfinity wins all-time on road courses.
Buescher, Graves Former Road Course Winners: In Buescher’s first full-time Xfinity season in 2014, he and Graves found victory lane at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in August, after leading 25 laps that day in the No. 60 entry for Roush. Last season, Buescher led 19 laps and fought off Shane van Gisbergen at Watkins Glen to secure the sixth victory under the RFK banner (since 2022) and 143rd overall for Jack Roush in NASCAR Cup Series action.

Last Time Out & Where They Stand
Atlanta: Keselowski 2nd; Buescher 9th; Preece 15th.

Points Standings (17: 14th, 60: 17th, 6: 28th): Buescher sits 52 points above the cutline while Preece remains 23 points behind Bubba Wallace for the final playoff spot. Keselowski gained three spots last weekend after earning a season-high points total at Atlanta.

Java House Named Grand Prix of Monterey Title Sponsor

By
Official Release
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WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca welcomes new sponsor for its sixth annual NTT INDYCAR SERIES event

MONTEREY, Calif. (July 1, 2025) – Java House, the innovative Indianapolis-based cold brew coffee brand, has been named title sponsor of this month’s NTT INDYCAR SERIES event at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.

The Java House Grand Prix of Monterey, which will take place July 25-27 at the iconic road course, marks the only visit to Northern California for America’s premier open-wheel series. This is Java House’s first event title sponsorship.

“We are delighted to welcome Java House as a sponsor for our INDYCAR event weekend,” said Mel Harder, president and general manager of WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. “Cars and coffee is a classic combination and we’re excited to share this fantastic coffee with our guests.”

Race fans will have a chance to enjoy samples of Java House’s full line of beverages, including their Amazingly Smooth cold brew coffees, lattes, teas, hydration drinks and more, throughout the race weekend. Java House products will also be integrated throughout all hospitality areas, including premium luxury suites and club style pavilions. The fun won’t just stop at the track, as Java House Cold Brew Espresso Martinis will be served at select restaurants in the Monterey area leading up to and during the race.

In addition to its support of the Monterey event, Java House serves as a primary sponsor on Alexander Rossi’s No. 20 and Christian Rasmussen’s No. 21 Ed Carpenter Racing (ECR) Chevrolets throughout the 2025 season.

“We are thrilled for Java House to become the title sponsor of the Grand Prix of Monterey,” said Ted Gelov, owner and CEO of Heartland Food Products Group. “INDYCAR has been an outstanding platform to grow our brand and connect with a passionate fanbase. This partnership continues our commitment to expanding Java House’s presence on a national stage – with more big things to come in 2025 and beyond.”

For more information or to purchase tickets for the Java House Grand Prix of Monterey, visit www.weathertechraceway.com. Learn more about Java House at javahouse.com.

About WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca

WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca is a world-renowned motorsport facility located in Monterey, California, operated and managed by Friends of Laguna Seca, a 501c(3) non-profit. Nestled among scenic hills, it has a rich history of hosting premier racing events, making it a favorite destination for motorsport enthusiasts from around the world. The raceway features challenging turns and elevation changes, including the world-famous Corkscrew, providing a thrilling experience for both drivers and fans. Friends of Laguna Seca is committed to delivering top-tier racing and entertainment experiences year after year. Find out how you can get involved at FriendsOfLagunaSeca.org.

About Java House:

Java House is redefining how people enjoy coffee with Amazingly Smooth Java House Cold Brew — crafted through a 12+ hour steeping process that delivers rich, bold flavor without the bitterness. More than just a great cup of coffee, Java House is revolutionizing the beverage experience with our innovative Peel ‘n Pour Pod System — the easiest way to enjoy a barista-quality cold brew in seconds with no machine or brewer required. Each 100% recyclable pod makes it easy to enjoy an Amazingly Smooth cup of coffee anytime, anywhere — just peel & pour into hot or cold water. From cold brews and lattes to teas, energy drinks and hydration beverages, Java House offers a full line of options perfect for home, office or on-the-go. Find out how to get Amazingly Smooth cold brew at javahouse.com.

R3 and Richard Childress Racing Announce Strategic Technology Partnership

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Official Release
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Cloud-First Technology Solutions Company Partners with RCR to Provide Real-Time, Responsive Results as IT Managed Services Provider

WELCOME, NC (July 7, 2025) – Fans of Richard Childress Racing may have noticed a new logo on the A Post of the race team’s iconic No. 3 Chevrolet this season. Technology solutions provider R3 made its on track debut this year as part of a newly announced partnership with the legendary NASCAR organization.

R3 collaborates with RCR to provide solutions in managed IT, cybersecurity, strategy and consulting, and governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) services. More than a traditional managed services provider, R3 acts as a true managed solutions partner — integrating innovative, mission-aligned technology strategies that drive successful business outcomes and operational resilience.

“We’re proud to partner with Richard Childress Racing and help unlock the full potential of their cloud-based technology operations,” said Robert McGowan, chief executive officer for R3. “We are looking forward to providing solutions in managed IT while working in tandem to build a comprehensive marketing plan.”

The partnership underscores RCR’s ongoing commitment to embracing forward-thinking technology and fostering innovation at every level of the race team. In addition to associate placement on the No. 3 Chevrolet in the NASCAR Cup Series, RCR and R3 will work together to build real-world solutions to the race team’s IT managed services.

“RCR continues explore ways to utilize technology to enhance operations and become more secure, more agile and more intelligent,” said Mike Verlander, president of RCR. “Our partnership with R3 helps to elevate our IT strategy and operational resilience. We welcome R3 to RCR and look forward to building successful business outcomes together.”

For more information, please visit rcrracing.com and r3-it.com.

Richard Childress Racing is a renowned, performance-driven racing, marketing and manufacturing organization. Incorporated in 1969, RCR has celebrated over 50 years of racing and earned more than 200 victories and 16 championships, including six in the NASCAR Cup Series with the legendary Dale Earnhardt. RCR was the first organization to win championships in the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Truck Series and is a three-time winner of the Daytona 500 (1998, 2007, 2018). Its 2025 NASCAR Cup Series lineup includes two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch (No. 8 Chevrolet) and 2017 Coca-Cola 600 winner and 2018 Daytona 500 champion Austin Dillon (No. 3 Chevrolet). RCR fields a full-time NASCAR Xfinity Series program with Jesse Love (No. 2 Chevrolet) and Austin Hill (No. 21 Chevrolet).

R3: Founded in 2007 in the Washington, DC Metro region, R3 is a cloud-first technology solutions company specializing in managed IT, cybersecurity, strategy and consulting, and governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) services. More than a traditional managed services provider, R3 acts as a true managed solutions partner — integrating innovative, mission-aligned technology strategies that drive successful business outcomes and operational resilience.

As a multi-time Inc. Regional Company, Inc. Fastest-Growing Company, and Washington Business Journal Best Places to Work honoree, R3 is recognized for both its industry leadership and its workplace culture. We hold multiple Microsoft partner designations and are a preferred Microsoft solutions partner, delivering secure, scalable, and future-ready cloud services.

At R3, we believe technology isn’t just a support function — it’s embedded in the very fabric of how and why our clients operate. We are the single, comprehensive partner for organizations seeking to modernize, secure, and optimize their technology environments. We are R3 — welcome to the R3VOLUTION. Learn more about R3 at www.R3-IT.com.

Young’s Motorsports Chicago Street Course Team Preview

By
Official Release
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Young’s Motorsports | NASCAR Xfinity Series
The Chicago Street Course | The Loop 110

Fast Facts

No. 42 Young’s Motorsports Team:
Driver: Anthony Alfredo
Primary Partner(s): DUDE Wipes
Manufacturer: Chevrolet Camaro
Crew Chief: Eddie Troconis
2025 Driver Points Position: 21st
2025 Owner Points Position: 23rd
Engine: Earnhardt-Childress Racing

Notes of Interest:

● Year Two, Full Throttle: In January, Young’s Motorsports announced that NASCAR Xfinity Series veteran Anthony Alfredo would compete full-time for the team in its second year of Xfinity Series competition.

Alfredo is driving the No. 42 Chevrolet Camaro for the entire 33-race schedule, which continues this Saturday afternoon with The Loop 110 at the Chicago Street Course.

The 2025 season marks Young’s Motorsports’ sophomore campaign in the series, following a promising debut year with rookie Leland Honeyman Jr. behind the wheel.

● About Anthony: A popular driver, Alfredo, a native of Ridgefield, Connecticut, joins Young’s Motorsports with an array of Motorsports experience, including starts in the NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series, respectively.

The 2025 season will mark Alfredo’s fourth full-time Xfinity Series campaign, and he joins the Mooresville, N.C.-based team after spending the 2024 season with Our Motorsports.

The 25-year-old finished the 2024 Xfinity season 15th in the championship driver standings, collecting an Xfinity Dash 4 Cash win at Dover (Del.) Motor Speedway and adding two more top-fives and seven top-10s to his impressive statistics in 135 career Xfinity Series starts.

● All-Aboard!: For the 18th of 33 Xfinity Series races this season, Young’s Motorsports welcomes DUDE Wipes as the primary partner on the No. 42 Chevrolet Camaro for the 50-lap race on Saturday afternoon.

DUDE Wipes is the flagship product of DUDE Products, a men’s hygiene company that was founded in 2012 by lifelong friends in Chicago.

The U.S.-based company introduced DUDE Wipes as the first flushable wipe for adults, marketed as a better hygiene solution to dry toilet paper.

The brand is available online and in 20,000 stores nationwide, including Walmart, Target and Amazon.

● Anthony Alfredo NASCAR Xfinity Series Chicago Street Course Stats: Saturday afternoon’s The Loop 110 will mark Anthony Alfredo’s third trip to the Windy City.

In his previous two starts at the 2.140-mile street course, Alfredo has been running at the finish of both races, including the monstrous downpour in the inaugural race in 2023.

His best result came during the 2023 edition of The Loop 110, where he earned a track-best 27th after starting 34th, while driving for B.J. McLeod Motorsports.

Overall, he holds an Xfinity Series average finish of 28.5 at the 12-turn Chicago Street Course.

Now 17 races into the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series season — with 16 events remaining — Anthony Alfredo and the Young’s Motorsports team remain focused on making a strong push toward the Playoffs.

A solid performance, or perhaps a breakthrough win in Saturday afternoon’s race, could serve as a pivotal moment in their postseason campaign.

The Loop 110 headlines a high-stakes doubleheader weekend featuring left and right turns through the heart of downtown Chicago.

The action kicks off Saturday, July 5, with a 50-lap Xfinity Series showdown — a gritty, high-speed battle through tight corners and unforgiving walls where precision, patience and street savvy can mean the difference between glory and heartbreak.

Then on Sunday, July 6, the NASCAR Cup Series takes center stage with the Grant Park 165. The marquee event not only showcases the sport’s premier talent but also continues the in-season $1 million challenge, serving as the sixth race in the second leg of the regular season.

● Anthony Alfredo Xfinity Series Career Stats: Entering Chicago, Alfredo has 135 NASCAR Xfinity Series races to his credit, earning a career-best third-place finish twice, most recently at Talladega Superspeedway after starting 11th in the 2024 edition of the Ag-Pro 300 for Our Motorsports.

Since 2020, he has earned one pole, five top-five, and 23 top-10 finishes and has an average finish of 19.7.

● EchoPark Speedway | Focused Health 250 Race Recap: Returning to EchoPark Speedway for the second time in the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series season, the Young’s Motorsports team entered the weekend optimistic about their chances on the hybrid superspeedway.

With no practice session available, Anthony Alfredo wasted no time getting up to speed, clocking the 25th-fastest lap in qualifying behind the wheel of his No. 42 Brand South Africa Chevrolet.

From the drop of the green flag, Alfredo showed promise with a car capable of contending for a top-10 finish. Despite the constant jostling for position that has become a hallmark of EchoPark Speedway, the team’s early efforts unraveled when Alfredo was swept up in a multi-car incident on Lap 53.

The resulting damage forced the No. 42 team to retire early, leaving them with a 29th-place finish.

Seventeen races into the 2025 campaign, Alfredo and the Young’s Motorsports crew remain determined to rebound and build momentum through the critical summer stretch, where rhythm, reliability and resilience will be key to staying in the Playoff hunt.

● Calling the Shots: Guiding Alfredo as crew chief of the No. 42 Young’s Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro is longtime crew chief Andrew Abbott.

On Saturday, he will be crew chief in his 147th NASCAR Xfinity Series race. In his previous 146 races, he has four top-five and 14 top-10 finishes.

The season’s 18th race will be his second tango at the Chicago Street Course as crew chief in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

● Young’s Motorsports’ NASCAR Xfinity Series at the Chicago Street Course: This weekend’s The Loop 110 will mark Young’s Motorsports’ second NASCAR Xfinity Series appearance at the Chicago Street Course.

Last summer, rookie Leland Honeyman Jr. finished 31st after starting 21st, after being collected in a late-race accident, six laps from the checkered flag.

Overall, between road courses and street courses, Young’s Motorsports has participated in eight NASCAR Xfinity Series races, with a best effort of 16th last summer at Watkins Glen (N.Y.). International with driver Leland Honeyman Jr.

● Young’s Motorsports’ NASCAR Xfinity Series History: Since entering the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2024, the family-owned organization has logged 50 starts and maintains an average starting position of 26.1 and an average finish of 23.1.

● Follow on Social Media: For more on Anthony Alfredo, please visit AnthonyAlfredo.com, like him on Facebook (Anthony Alfredo Racing), follow him on Instagram (@anthonyalfredo) and X | Twitter (@anthonyalfredo).

For more on Young’s Motorsports, please visit YoungsMotorsports.com, like them on Facebook (Young’s Motorsports), and follow them on Instagram (@youngsmotorsports) and X |Twitter (@youngsmtrsports).

Anthony Alfredo Pre-Race Quotes:

On the Chicago Street Course: “I am pumped to return to Chicago this weekend for the Street Course. It’s right in DUDE Wipes’ backyard, and it’s one of the coolest events of the year.”

On Preparation for the Chicago Street Course: “A lot of sim time and film study have been important for me to prepare for this weekend. It’s a good opportunity for us to score points and finish well.”

On A Street Course Compared to a Road Course: “The Chicago Street Course is even more difficult than your traditional road course because of how narrow and bumpy it is. There is limited to no runoff, which makes precision critical.”

On Keys to Success at the Chicago Street Course: “I believe for our No. 42 DUDE Wipes’ Chevrolet Camaro, will be staying out of trouble and capitalizing on track position will be key. If we can do that, we should be in contention for a strong finish.”

On Potentially Racing in the Rain at the Chicago Street Course: “Because of the limited runoff and addition of concrete walls on all sides of the track, racing in the rain is even more difficult.

“There aren’t any additional track limits to use, and it can be even more slick than other road course tracks because of the oils and fluids from street cars being washed out of the pavement all over the racing surface.”

On Back-to-Back Weekends of Road Course Racing (Sonoma Next Weekend): “There aren’t a lot of similarities between Chicago and Sonoma, but both are opportunities for us to be competitive and turn some heads.

“It’ll be nice to get in a bit of a rhythm, having back-to-back road course races.”

On Goals for the Second Half of the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series Season: “We have had a lot of ups and downs throughout the first half of the race season, but I’m confident we can recover by bringing fast cars to the track and executing well throughout this second half.

“We need more top-10s and a couple of top-fives before the end of the season. Ideally, winning just one race before the Playoffs is our ultimate goal because it would completely save our season.”

Race Information:

The Loop 110 (50 laps | 110 miles) is the 18th of thirty-three (33) NASCAR Xfinity Series races on the 2025 schedule. A 50-minute practice will take place on Saturday, July 5, 2025, from 9:30 a.m. to 10:20 a.m. Qualifying will immediately follow, launching at 10:35 a.m. The 38-car field will take the green flag shortly after 3:30 p.m. (4:30 p.m. ET), with live coverage on The CW Network, the Motor Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90. All times are local (CT).

Ford Performance NASCAR – 2025 Chicago Street Race Advance

By
Official Release
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CHICAGO STREET RACE

Saturday, July 5 — NASCAR Xfinity Series, 4:30 p.m. ET (CW)
Sunday, July 6 — NASCAR Cup Series, 2 p.m. ET (TNT)

The NASCAR Cup and NASCAR Xfinity Series will compete on the streets of downtown Chicago for the third consecutive year this weekend. In addition to those two races, fans will also be treated to a showcase event featuring the Ford Mustang Mach-E NASCAR Prototype electric vehicle and driver David Ragan.

CHICAGO TOP 10 FINISHERS

Ford is still looking for its first NASCAR Cup Series win on the streets of Chicago, but five drivers have managed top 10 finishes through the first two years of the event. In 2023, Austin Cindric led the way with a sixth-place finish while Team Penske teammate Joey Logano was eighth and RFK’s Chris Buescher 10th. Last season, Front Row Motorsports driver Todd Gilliland led the way in seventh while Team Penske’s Ryan Blaney was 10th.

FORD IN-SEASON

TOURNAMENT ADVANCERS

Five Ford drivers advanced to the Round of 16 and four of those drivers will be involved in matchups against each other this weekend, meaning no more than three will make it to the quarter finals. There’s a chance all three could be from RFK Racing because Brad Keselowski goes against Ty Dillon while Ryan Preece squares off against Noah Gragson and Chris Buescher faces Zane Smith.

RAGAN PART OF ELECTRIC ATMOSPHERE

David Ragan may be retired from full-time NASCAR Cup Series racing, but he’s been a consistent part of Ford Performance’s development with the Mustang Mach-E NASCAR Prototype. This weekend, Ragan will be driving the electric vehicle as part of a three-car exhibition showcase that will also feature models from NASCAR and General Motors. All three cars will turn laps together on the Chicago Street Course Sunday morning for fans. It will mark the second time Ragan has run the car on a NASCAR weekend after doing it a few weeks ago at North Wilkesboro Speedway.

RYAN PREECE – “I’ve enjoyed the fact that it’s rained and the reason I’ve enjoyed it is it kind of shakes things up. A street course is really tough. It’s very tough to pass, so when you have moments like rain and other things you can’t predict, it makes it a little bit more exciting and opens up the box for strategy, so I’ve enjoyed it. I think it’ll be different if we go there and there isn’t rain.”

CHRIS BUESCHER – “We’re heading to another road course. For us, I love road racing. It’s a lot of fun for me. The Chicago Street Course. I’d love to be there when it’s dry one time. Surely, that can happen and we don’t have to go through some monumental rain, but if we can do that, we’ve had some good speed there. It’s been a better passing racetrack than I anticipated going in and so that does give us some options and I appreciate that. From where I’m at behind the wheel, I like the fact that I feel like we have some options to make some big passes there and be able to move through the field. We’re ready for it.”

AUSTIN CINDRIC – “I really look forward to going to Chicago because I feel like, one, I hope it doesn’t rain. Let’s be honest, it’s rained every time we’ve gone there, so it’s a place that I feel like deserves a good run in dry weather for us and the fans. I love street course racing. We haven’t had the best results the last couple of years, so we’re definitely looking to improve on where we’ve been at that track, but otherwise it’s a fun event. It’s cool and it’s definitely different from the norm.”

ZANE SMITH – “It’s very unique and pretty cool to say the least. I heard a lot about Chicago because I had never been there, but I thought it was awesome. The track is like nothing I had ever done, so hopefully we’ll be able to run inside the top 10 and have a good day. I enjoy road courses and enjoy things that are different like racing through a city. I feel we learned some things in Mexico before we wrecked, and I feel like we can apply those to Chicago, and I feel confident in some speed we’ll bring there.”

SOLDIER FIELD CUP HISTORY

NASCAR hosted one Cup Series race inside historic Soldier Field on July 21, 1956. The 200-lap race was held on a half-mile track and Fireball Roberts led a Ford Motor Company sweep of the top three positions as only five cars finished on the lead lap. Roberts drove to victory in a ‘56 Ford while Jim Paschal was second in a ‘56 Mercury and Ralph Moody third in a ‘56 Ford. Both Roberts and Moody were driving for owner Pete DePaolo, winner of the 1925 Indianapolis 500, as part of Ford’s first full season of factory-backed stock car racing. The end result that season was 14 series victories and Ford’s first manufacturers’ championship.

SOLDIER FIELD CONVERTIBLE HISTORY

In addition to the Cup Series race, NASCAR also held three convertible races at Soldier Field – two in 1956 and one more in 1957. NASCAR Hall of Famers Curtis Turner (left in photo above) and Glen Wood both drove their respective ‘56 Fords to victory during that time. Turner, driving for DePaolo, led a race-high 329-of-500 laps while teammate Joe Weatherly led the other 171 circuits to give Ford a 1-2 finish on Sept. 9, 1956. Wood beat Possum Jones on June 29, 1957 as those were the only two drivers to take the checkered flag on the lead lap.

MAYER POSTS ANOTHER TOP 5

Sam Mayer’s third-place finish last weekend at EchoPark Speedway marked his eighth Top 5 run and solidified his spot in the point standings. Mayer, who is still looking for his first win with Haas Factory Team, is second overall and 137 points above the cut line for the 12-driver playoff with nine races remaining in the regular season. Ford has three other drivers in contention for the postseason and all of them are currently on the bubble as Sheldon Creed (11th), Ryan Sieg (12th) and Harrison Burton (13th) are separated by only one point.

CUSTER CLAIMS FIRST CHICAGO STREET RACE

Cole Custer became the first NASCAR driver to win on the streets of Chicago when he captured the rain-shortened The Loop 121 last year. Custer started on the pole and led all 25 laps before rain and standing water forced the race to be called three laps before the scheduled 55-lapper would have been official. The win was Custer’s second of the season and second straight on a road/street course after taking the race in Portland a few weeks earlier.

The Ford Mustang, celebrating its 61st anniversary in 2025, is the world’s best selling sports car. It is also one of the planet’s most popular race cars. With Mustang-based race cars competing in international sports car competition (GT3 and GT4), NASCAR, NHRA, Formula Drift, in Australian Supercars, at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb and in its own bespoke one-make series – Mustang Cup and Mustang Challenge – the platform has an unprecedented global reach. This weekend, 27 Mustang race cars are scheduled to race across all disciplines. Learn more at FordPerformance.com.

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