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Spire Motorsports FireKeepers Casino 400 Race Advance

By
Official Release
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  • In 16 previous NASCAR Cup Series starts at Michigan International Speedway (MIS), Spire Motorsports has two top-10 finishes with a best result of seventh earned by Zane Smith in 2024. Spire Motorsports fields the Nos. 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolet ZL1s in the Cup Series for Daniel Suárez, Michael McDowell and Carson Hocevar, respectively.
  • The FireKeepers Casino 400 will be televised live on Prime Sunday, June 7 beginning at 3 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). The 15th of 36 points-paying races on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule will also be broadcast live on the Motor 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 NationsGuard Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in Sunday’s Firekeepers Casino 400.
  • Suárez, a native of Monterrey, Mexico has made 13 Cup Series starts at MIS, earning two top-five and four top-10 finishes while leading 56 laps at the two-mile D-shaped oval. He holds an average starting position of 21.9 and an average finish of 18.2, with his best result coming in 2019 when he finished fourth. Last season, he ran as high as ninth and came home 14th.
  • After 14 races, the 34-year-old driver currently sits 10th in the NASCAR Cup Series standings with 378 points.
  • Last week at Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway, Suárez started third, collected a Stage 2-win but slipped in the running order in the late goings, to bring home to a 19th-place finish.
  • Suárez secured his first NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series victory in 2016 at MIS, edging out Kyle Busch in the closing laps to become the first Mexican-born driver to win a NASCAR national series race.
  • The three-time NASCAR Cup Series race winner, is a veteran of 337 Cup Series starts and has notched three wins, 26 top fives and 79 top-10s in NASCAR’s premier division. Suarez has led 935 laps and earned three poles since 2017.
  • Out of Suárez’s 337 Cup Series starts, 76 have come on tracks measuring two miles or longer. In those races, he’s delivered seven top-five and 20 top-10 finishes, while leading 190 laps. This season, his performance on those speedways includes a 13th-place finish in the Daytona 500 and a 12th-place finish at Talladega Superspeedway.
  • NationsGuard is an innovator in the Automotive F&I space. Its programs are designed to maximize sales, profit, CSI and customer retention. NationsGuard delivers consistent, measurable results through disciplined monitoring and continuous improvement. The process measures every key element of a dealer’s program – from vehicle inspection efficiency to service advisor performance. NationsGuard targets and eliminates waste and inefficiency wherever it’s found, maintaining process improvements, making changes where necessary and relentlessly pursuing perfection.

Daniel Suárez Quote
What do you enjoy most about racing at Michigan and how do you prepare for it each year?
“I have lots of good memories at Michigan. I enjoy the track and how fast it is, how wide it is, and how many different lines you can run. It really lets you be aggressive, but you also have to be smart with tire management and track position. This place has been good to me in the past, and it’s definitely one I look forward to every time we come back. The fans are incredible, the atmosphere is electric and the racing is always exciting. When everything clicks – the car, the strategy, and the team – you can really make a statement. I’m always looking to build on those past experiences and push for another strong performance this weekend.”

Atop the No. 7 Box – Crew Chief Ryan Sparks

  • Ryan Sparks is the crew chief of Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in the NASCAR Cup Series.
  • Sparks has called 216 NASCAR Cup Series races since making his crew chief debut in 2020 and has recorded one victory, six top-five and 14 top-10 finishes. Sparks earned his first career NASCAR Cup Series win at this year’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. He has called seven races at Michigan since 2020, with his best result coming in 2023 when he finished 15th.
  • 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. He brings more than a decade of experience across all three of NASCAR’s national series, highlighted by 13 seasons at Richard Childress Racing and contributions to title-winning campaigns in the 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 Garner Trucking Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series’ Firekeepers Casino 400.
  • Garner Trucking provides Spire Motorsports with the semi tractors the team utilizes to transport its equipment to NASCAR races across the country and has been named a Best Fleets to Drive For ® carrier for 10-straight years – a national recognition voted on by the company’s professional drivers. The family-owned and -operated business was started in 1960 by Vern and Jean Garner. Headquartered in Findlay, Ohio, Garner Trucking is highly regarded in the industry for its excellent safety record and on-time delivery performance. Garner is now owned and operated by second generation daughter Sherri Garner Brumbaugh.
  • Garner Trucking, the Official Transportation Partner of Spire Motorsports, returns as the primary sponsor aboard McDowell’s No. 71 Chevy for the second of two consecutive races and includes associate branding from Alvys and 419 Black Swamp Bucks.
  • McDowell has made 19 starts in NASCAR’s premier division at MIS and claimed a series/venue-best 19th-place finish in NASCAR’s 2024 visit to Michigan’s Irish Hills.
  • Across his last four races, including the 2026 NASCAR All-Star Race, the Glendale, Ariz., native holds an average finish of 9.75, including pacing the field two times for eight laps (Watkins Glen/Charlotte).
  • The father-of-five has logged a 27.0 average start and a 29.5 average finish at the famed two-mile Brooklyn, Mich., oval.
  • In addition to his time on NASCAR’s premier circuit, McDowell has three starts at MIS in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, earning a best result of seventh in 2012.
  • Spire Motorsports Director of Competition Matt McCall, who subbed for crew chief Travis Peterson at Dover Motor Speedway, has his own set of bragging rights at MIS. The former crew chief led his drivers to a 9.9 average finish including five top-five and 12 top-10 showings across 16 races, most recently earning back-to-back top-five performances with driver Brad Keselowski.
  • Last weekend at Nashville Superspeedway, the two-time Cup Series race winner started 14th and brought his Garner Trucking Chevrolet Camaro home 15th.
  • Through the first 14 points paying races of the 2026 sesaon, McDowell owns an average starting position of 16.4, including four top 10 qualifying efforts.
  • Michael McDowell Quote
  • What do you look for in your race car at Michigan?
  • “Michigan is always a track I look forward to. It’s one of those places where you really get a sense for where everyone stacks up from a performance standpoint. With the speed we’ve had over the last month at Spire Motorsports, especially on the intermediate and larger tracks, I’m excited about what we can do this weekend. The horsepower from the Hendrick engine shop has been a huge help for us this year, and Michigan is a place where that can really make a difference. It’s a fast track with plenty of downforce and being efficient aerodynamically while maximizing horsepower is going to be key all weekend. It feels like there is nowhere to hide, and everything gets amplified. Since Watkins Glen, we have started to get back on the right track. I think we could have two more top-10 finishes. We have the speed and momentum is building for our No. 71 group. So, a good clean race in Michigan with Garner Trucking will be great for us heading into this next four-race stretch.”

Atop the No. 71 Box – Crew Chief Travis Peterson

  • Travis Peterson is the crew chief of Spire Motorsports’ No. 71 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in the NASCAR Cup Series.
  • Peterson has called three NASCAR Cup Series races at MIS for McDowell where the potent duo has recorded a 24.3 average finish.
  • During his time in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, the Wis., native worked as an engineer for Regan Smith and the No. 7 entry at JR Motorsports. In 2013, Smith qualified 20th and led 14 laps at the Brooklyn, Mich., oval where the No. 7 Chevrolet took home the checkered flag, earning the team’s second win of the season.
  • The 35-year-old has called 127 races in NASCAR’s premier series, earning eight poles, one win, nine top-five and 26 top-10 finishes.

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

  • Carson Hocevar will race Spire Motorsports’ No. 77 Zeigler Auto Group Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in Sunday’s Firekeepers Casino 400, his third start at the two-mile oval in NASCAR’s premier division.
  • Zeigler Automotive Group is one of the largest privately-owned dealer groups in the U.S. with 88 franchises across 41 locations in Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan. Vehicle brands represented include all the domestic and majority of the imported manufacturers. Besides its extensive automotive portfolio, the organization owns and operates Zeigler Motorsports, an 85,000-square-foot motorsports dealership and action park, offering 19 different powersports brands, plus its own onsite restaurant: Trak Houz Bar & Grill. Additionally, Zeigler Motorsports houses the Elevate Leadership & Team Building Academy, an executive training company. The Kalamazoo-based dealer group also owns three Byrider franchises, three finance companies, several insurance firms, and a leasing firm.
  • Last season, Hocevar started 14th, led 32 laps and was pacing the field with 19 laps remaining when he cut a left-rear tire, ultimately leaving him 29th in the final rundown.
  • Through 14 races, the Portage, Mich., native sits ninth in points, just 10 markers out of eighth. His one win, three top fives, six top 10s, 356 points scored, average starting position of 11.6 and 14.9 average finish are all career highs through the first 14 points-paying races of the 2026 season. The team’s average starting position has improved by nearly eight spots while its average finish is nearly seven positions better compared to this point in 2025.
  • Last Sunday at Nashville Superspeedway, Hocevar battled handling issues with his Chili’s Chevy throughout the race but persevered to secure a 10th-place finish, his sixth top 10 of the year.
  • The 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Rookie of the Year registered his first-career victory earlier this season 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. Hocevar became the 13th driver to earn his 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.
  • Aside from his NASCAR Cup Series duties, Hocevar will also pilot Spire Motorsports’ No. 77 Zeigler Auto Group Chevrolet Silverado RST in Saturday afternoon’s NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series DQS Solutions and Staffing 250 powered by Precision Vehicle Logistics.
  • The six-time CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race winner made his first series start at Michigan one year ago. Despite leading 56 laps, contact initiated by a fellow competitor left Hocevar with a flat left-rear tire. He ultimately took the checkered flag 11th.
  • Hocevar and Spire Motorsports’ No. 77 Chili’s Ride the ‘Dente Longhorn team will kick off a busy week of racing Wednesday evening at Eldora (Ohio) Speedway, where he will participate in the 32nd annual Dirt Late Model Dream.
  • The young driver, who grew up racing pavement late models, will make his third appearance in “The Dream”, one of the most prestigious and lucrative dirt track racing events in the world. After making his dirt late model debut in the rescheduled 2022 event, he returned in 2023 to collect a sixth-place finish in his preliminary race. The result marks his best finish in 11 dirt late model starts.

Carson Hocevar Quotes
What do you remember about taking the lead late in the race last year, and how do you use that as motivation for this weekend?
“I remember that moment last year really well. I got to (Kyle) Larson’s right rear, and I knew he lost a lot of momentum from it so I shot out to the lead. I always have tunnel vision while racing. The sky could turn purple and I’d have no idea. But for some reason, I actually looked in the stands when I was coming off of Turn 4. It is a really long straightaway, and I remember seeing so many of them jumping up and cheering. It’s definitely one of the coolest racing memories I have – one I will cherish for a long time.

“Michigan is somewhere I am really comfortable and we have shown we have the speed to compete up front. Hopefully I can give all the Michigan fans something to cheer for on Sunday.”

Zeigler returns to the No. 77 this week for their first points race of the year. What does it mean to have a Michigan-based company on your car for your home race?
“Harold, Aaron and the whole Zeigler family have been really great to me. The Zeigler headquarters is actually just a few miles down the road from where I grew up in Kalamazoo and remember passing it all the time when I was a kid. When you represent the Zeigler family and Zeigler Auto Group, you feel like you are representing the Kalamazoo and Portage areas. Could be a really special day if we can get it done.”

Atop the No. 77 Box – Crew Chief Luke Lambert

  • Luke Lambert is the crew chief of Spire Motorsports’ No. 77 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in the NASCAR Cup Series.
  • Lambert is in his third season at Spire Motorsports and fourth with driver Carson Hocevar. The duo has secured two poles, one win, six top-five and 21 top-10 finishes in 94 races together.
  • The 16-year veteran crew chief has called 20 NASCAR Cup Series races at Michigan International Speedway, registering one top five and four top 10s highlighted by a fourth-place finish with driver Ryan Newman in Aug. 2017.

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 24, 2026, when Daniel Suárez won the NASCAR Cup Series Series’ Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte (N.C.) 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.

Points Leader Layne Riggs Going For Third Straight NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Victory This Weekend

By
Official Release
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Ford Racing Notes and Quotes
NASCAR Cup Series
Ford Racing Media Zoom Call
Tuesday, June 2, 2026

Layne Riggs, driver of the No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford F-150, is the hottest driver on the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series circuit after registering his second straight victory last weekend in Nashville. Riggs now has eight career series wins, which ties him for second on the all-time Ford list and eight behind leader Greg Biffle. He was this week’s Ford Racing media call guest and answered questions about his recent streak and what lies ahead at Michigan International Speedway.

LAYNE RIGGS, No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford F-150 – COMING OFF TWO STRAIGHT WINS, WHAT HAS BEEN THE SECRET? “I’m gonna dedicate it all to my team here at Front Row Motorsports. They’ve done an amazing job building these trucks for Chandler and I. We’re really trying to process and work together through this new body change over the off-season. The guys in the fab shop have been doing a great job. They’ve just built a lot of raw speed into our trucks that we’re able to take to the racetrack. Charlotte, we hit it pretty close and got the track position and were able to win. Nashville, we’ve always been strong at Nashville, but with everything going on with my confidence, knowing what I need to go fast with the trucks that have speed built into them, with Dylan just being more comfortable as a crew chief making the right adjustment calls, we’ve been able to look a little bit further ahead. Being proactive instead of just reacting to things at the racetrack is really big, but, overall, both of our trucks have shown a lot of speed and that’s all thanks to these guys who work here at this race shop.”

YOU SAID YOUR CONFIDENCE IS AT A HIGH. NOW THAT YOU’VE WON, WHERE IS IT NOW? “You can’t let the highs get you too high or the lows get you too low, so every weekend is a new challenge. This weekend at Michigan, we were not great. We were kind of mediocre at Michigan last year, so I think we’ve got some things to work on, but we’ve been working in the Ford Racing simulator a lot. They give us all the great tools to go fast and work to be better. I think it’s just getting that feel and knowing what it takes to win at each type of racetrack. Michigan, that was my first time going there last year. Some other drivers had experience and Cup drivers in the field, we ran OK, but I just didn’t have that edge and didn’t really know what I needed until it was too late. The final pit stop had already happened and I’m like, ‘Oh, man. I wish I had this.’ Now, I can just keep piggybacking off of that and learning as you go from track to track, so I think it’s just that my experience is getting higher. I feel comfortable driving the truck. I feel more comfortable being on the edge of the tire, prolonged through the corner. I know what my limits are now, and I can run a lot closer to that edge comfortable. Like I said, I think that comes from confidence, from winning and just from experience in the seat. It’s finally all paying off. And when I talk about experience it’s not just me, it’s my team too. In 2024, a rookie driver in myself, Dylan Cappello, my crew chief, was a rookie crew chief. We didn’t know what we were doing. We were just out here racing and figuring it out as we went – an entire rookie team that I now feel like has become kind of a staple in the garage as one of the best there. I’m just really proud of everybody and all of the hard work they’ve been doing, not just from the success at the racetrack, but everything here in the race shop that leads up to it.”

WHAT IS IT LIKE TO RACE A TRUCK AT MICHIGAN AND WHAT MAKES IT REALLY TOUGH? “The trucks at Michigan are basically like Cup cars at Atlanta. The leader is never gonna be able to breakaway from the pack. You have to be pack racing the entire time, but it’s not like Daytona or Talladega where you’re two or three-wide in a pack holding it wide open. You still have to have handling and you still have to lift in the corners, but there’s a lot of straightaway time and a lot of throttle time, so it’s gonna be a big trade off between how much handling and downforce do you want to bring versus that raw speed. Last year, we went a little bit too much for the handling and I was just getting motored by down the straightaway and just really couldn’t be aggressive and make moves. This year, we’re gonna take something back that’s gonna have a little bit more raw speed that now I’m comfortable knowing what I need at that racetrack, knowing what I need to go fast. Like I said, just building off of notes from last year, but Michigan is definitely a calculated racetrack. You see how single-file it gets down the straightaways. If you’re not on the outside at the frontstretch, you’re probably gonna lose five to ten spots down one straightaway, so just really calculated moves and make sure you complete your passes is super important and everybody in the field knows that.”

WHERE DID YOU PUT YOUR GUITAR? “Right now, it’s sitting on my couch. I actually tuned it and was playing some chords last night on it. They sounded really, really bad and I’m glad that I was in private while I was doing that.”

COREY HEIM IS GETTING HIS CUP OPPORTUNITY. YOU ARE ONE OF THE TOP DRIVERS IN THE TRUCK SERIES NOW, SO DO YOU SEE THAT AS MOTIVATION THAT YOU CAN MAKE THAT JUMP SOON? “For sure. It gives me confidence as well that I’m gonna have an opportunity in the future, not just from Corey, but you look at Zane (Smith) and (Carson) Hocevar and a lot of other guys that went straight from Trucks to Cup. I feel like that’s a common path nowadays. It seems like when you do get to a national level, you either go straight to Trucks and then you go to Cup, or you go straight to the O’Reilly Series and then go to Cup. You look at somebody like Jesse Love. He’s only run a handful of Truck races before on a part-time basis. He went straight to the O’Reilly Series from the start. I feel like the O’Reilly and Truck Series are more on an equal plane nowadays when it comes to ranking level as both being feeder series where you can make that jump directly up to Cup. I have the confidence that I’m gonna be there one day. I’m waiting for that right opportunity whenever it becomes available, but I do feel like that will be inevitable if I keep staying on track with the performance that I have now and just hopeful and thankful to do what I do now. I’m trying to enjoy it and soak in all the fun I’m having as I work my way up.”

THE TRUCK SERIES HAS BEEN REALLY COMPETITIVE WITH A LOT OF CUP DRIVERS COMING IN. CAN YOU TALK ABOUT HOW THAT’S BEEN THIS SEASON? “It’s very tough to win right now and looking at it, the only Truck regulars who have won this year are myself, my teammate Chandler and Kaden Honeycutt. Everybody else has been a part-time or a Cup driver, at least to my calculations. I haven’t looked too recently, but I think that still stands. It’s just super tough to get that edge when you have all of that competition. KB (Kyle Busch) got two wins this year and kicked all of our butts, so it’s definitely tough to do it right now. I think we only have seven races in our Chase, so there’s only seven races that those guys aren’t gonna be a part of, so they’re gonna be a factor all year long. Just having that edge and being ahead of those guys and being confident that, ‘OK, I’m in the truck every single week.’ We have that edge on them because they’re only in it every few months or so for some of those guys that are part-time, but it is definitely tough to win and I think it’s putting a lot more eyeballs on the series, which is great, and I think that winning gets a little bit more of an attaboy when you do have that competition and you’re like, ‘Hey, you did beat these guys on this list.’ Those are Cup guys. Those are guys that have the experience that should be up at the front winning the races. It’s just that little extra oomph that goes to it when you do win, which I love and it helps us out to be better race car drivers. I think it makes the series more of a staple for sure.”

CAN YOU GIVE US AN IDEA OF WHAT THE SAN DIEGO RACE MIGHT BE LIKE, AND THEN NORTH WILKESBORO SHORTLY AFTER THAT? “San Diego, I don’t think anybody really knows what that’s gonna be like yet. I ran a couple laps in the Ford Racing simulator yesterday, and I have a session scheduled for tomorrow to run some more, but it’s very technical. There’s a lot of very fast, bumpy corners, and you get lost on the racetrack. There are sections that you kind of forget where you’re at because they look so similar to others, so it’s gonna be tough with a minute and a half-ish lap time. I think it’s like nine-minute cautions we figured it’s gonna be, so it’s gonna play some strategy into that. The cautions, when they come out, are gonna make a big difference in how the race plays out, but I feel good about the street course. We had a really good package at St. Pete. I think it’s gonna be a similar style road course package and what we hit on to have speed there for both of our trucks is gonna be able to translate over. It’s just getting that experience on the simulator and feeling confident when you show up at the racetrack that you know exactly what you’re about to see and you’re not just seeing it for the first time. You go out there and run your first lap of practice and you’re like, ‘Oh, this is what I’ve been doing for months.’ You feel comfortable right out of the gate even though you’ve never seen it in person. I’m just gonna have to spend more time in the simulator. I know it comes out on iRacing soon as well, so a lot of my competitors are gonna be doing the same thing, and just trying to find those little extra speed points that somebody else might not pick up on. Going to Wilkesboro, I love that racetrack. I ran there in late models a lot, and ran well in the Trucks both times we’ve been there. I just need that little extra speed in the trucks that we feel like we didn’t have before. The 11 truck with Corey was so strong last year. He was pretty much hard to beat at any racetrack we went to, so, right now, I kind of feel like we’re on that same path for speed on our trajectory. Hopefully, we can keep riding this momentum and run well at both of them.”

THERE’S A LOT OF DIVERSITY IN THE SCHEDULE THESE NEXT MONTH OR TWO. “It is pretty diverse and I like that. It really helps develop us as race car drivers to be better. I feel like when I first got in the Truck Series in 2024 we only had COTA, so I didn’t really have time to develop my skills. I like the road courses. If I’m gonna be a future Cup driver one day, I need to get pretty good at them because those guys are top-notch when it gets up there. I better be ready to go, but I do like the diversity of the schedule. I think it’s good for the fans. If they look at the schedule and see 10 races and five of them are short tracks and five of them are mile-and-a-halves, they get pretty burned out with that. But I think with the variety and the back-to-back nature of them without there being stretches of the same style of racetrack, they get tough for us as a team to be able to switch our mindsets back and forth so quickly between what style of racing we’re doing, but for the fans it definitely creates more excitement and keeps them interested longer.”

ANY ADDED PRESSURE RACING IN FORD’S BACKYARD AT MICHIGAN THIS WEEKEND? “There’s no extra pressure for me. I feel pressure to win every single race. I don’t think there’s any extra pressure for Michigan. We’re gonna do our best as we’ve been doing. I think our results recently speak for themselves and the performance we have. I do think it’s a little bit more of a wildcard race for the Truck Series, not so much the O’Reilly and Cup Series being more of an intermediate style track for them. It’s more of a speedway race for us, but we’re gonna go and give it our best, show what we’ve got, and hopefully that speed rolls over. I’d love to get a win for Ford in their backyard. A lot of people are gonna be there who don’t normally come to the racetrack, so I would love to take some pictures in Victory Lane with those people.”

DO YOU HAVE A CHECKLIST OF WHAT YOU WANT TO ACCOMPLISH AT THIS LEVEL IN ORDER FOR YOU TO BE READY TO MAKE THE JUMP TO A HIGHER LEVEL? “I don’t have any specific set goals or win counts or a championship I have to get. I just feel like once I’m comfortable enough to know I can jump up in this other series and be good right off the rip and that’s tough for anybody in the Cup Series because there’s no other car like that to learn from. You have to race Cup to learn how to run a Cup car. You look at the tough start that Connor Zilisch has had this year and every driver that starts in the Cup Series their rookie year is usually pretty rough. I think that waiting for the right opportunity that comes when the timing is right, I feel like if it’s a rushed opportunity to do so or something that I’m not really comfortable with or the teams aren’t really set up to be ready to have me yet, I would rather just stay where I’m at and develop a little bit more and wait until that opportunity and timing is right. I would prolong my career. I would be fine with running eight years in the Truck Series and then having a 15-year long Cup career. That sounds like a lot of fun, but just with the way timing works out, you can’t stay but so long or you kind of get stuck. I think it’s easy for drivers to get stuck in a series and get labeled as you’re this series guy. You’re a Truck guy or you’re an O’Reilly guy. The prospects aren’t really looking for you anymore as a guy that wants to move up. I want to move up, but I want the opportunity to be right, so I’m just waiting for that and trying to make sure I do all that I can in the series that I’m in and focus on that and hopefully the rest will take care of itself.”

Ford Racing NASCAR – Michigan Advance

By
Official Release
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MICHIGAN

Saturday, June 6 — NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, 1:30 p.m. ET (FS1)
Sunday, June 7– NASCAR Cup Series, 3 p.m. ET (PRIME)

Michigan International Speedway continues to be the best track on the circuit for Ford Racing with 44 NASCAR Cup Series victories, which included a nine-race winning streak from 2018-23. Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney and Chris Buescher are all active drivers with at least one series win at the track while Zane Smith has a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series victory at the two-mile facility.

FORD ALL-TIME MICHIGAN WINS LEADER

Since Michigan International Speedway opened in 1969 there have been 108 NASCAR Cup Series races and Ford Motor Company has won more than half of them (52%). Overall, the company has 56 MIS victories with 44 being Ford and 12 Mercury. David Pearson is the track’s all-time leader in wins with nine (all Mercury) while Bill Elliott has the most Ford wins with seven.

HERITAGE TROPHY SUCCESS

Since Michigan International Speedway began handing out the Heritage Trophy to the winning manufacturer in August 2013, Ford has taken it back to World Headquarters in nearby Dearborn more times than any other manufacturer. Ford has won 11 races since the trophy came into existence while Chevrolet has won six and Toyota three. Joey Logano’s win in the Pure Michigan 400 on Aug. 18, 2013 was his first win with Ford and new car owner Roger Penske, but it also marked the first time the trophy was awarded. Logano, who won the pole and led a race-high 51 laps, passed Mark Martin for the lead with four laps to go after Martin’s car ran out of gas.

JACK’S BACKYARD

Jack Roush has had ties to the state of Michigan ever since he started working at Ford Motor Company in 1964 after graduating from Berea College. He has called the state his home ever since and that includes Michigan International Speedway, a place where he has had a great deal of success. Roush has seen his teams win 14 times in the NASCAR Cup Series, and five times each in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Included in that are victories by Greg Biffle in 2013 that was Ford’s 1000th in NASCAR’s top three series combined, and Kurt Busch’s triumph in 2003 on the same weekend Ford Motor Company celebrated its 100th anniversary.

MIS AND THE WOOD BROTHERS

While Jack Roush has the most wins for a car owner at MIS as noted above, the Wood Brothers aren’t far behind with 11. All but one of those came in a Mercury, including nine by the track’s all-time winner, David Pearson. The Wood’s and Pearson were so dominant that the combination won three straight and eventually 7-of-9 from 1972-75. WBR also hold the distinction of being the first team to win a NASCAR Cup Series race at the track as Cale Yarborough won the inaugural event in 1969. The lone Ford victory for the team belongs to Dale Jarrett, who won the first race of his Cup career in 1991.

SITTING ON 749

The next Ford win will be its 750th all-time in NASCAR’s top series. Ned Jarrett is Ford’s win leader with 43 while Bill Elliott is second with 40. Shirtless Jimmy Florian scored the Blue Oval’s first series victory when he upset the likes of Lee Petty, Curtis Turner and Joe Weatherly at Dayton Speedway on June 25, 1950. Florian earned his nickname after getting out of his 1950 flathead Ford without a shirt. Overall, 91 drivers have won at least one series race with Ford, including notable drivers Mario Andretti, Dan Gurney, Parnelli Jones, A.J. Foyt, Richard Petty, and Dale Earnhardt.

ZANE SMITH: “Michigan is one of those I always have circled on my calendar. We race there right on my birthday, and it’s been a good one for us. I think we finished in the top 10 the past couple times there, and that brings a level of confidence for sure. I got my first NASCAR win there in the Truck Series. So that’s awesome. And then just for all the manufacturers, but especially us, we try to get that one for Ford. We know how much that means to Ford. I’ve gone to Dearborn and visited all of the employees, and I know how much it means to them. There is a level of pressure that comes with going into that weekend. I think it’s like extra brownie points if you could win that one. So that one’s high on the list to try to get.”

RYAN PREECE: “Big, big weekend for Ford. Big weekend for Jack Roush. It’s a great opportunity going forward for us to try and capitalize and win. So, I’m looking forward to that one.”

TEAM PENSKE REGISTERS 50TH WIN WITH FORD

Joey Logano started and won from the pole for the second time in his career at Michigan International Speedway when he captured the June race in 2016. Logano finished ahead of Chase Elliott and Kyle Larson with Penske teammate Brad Keselowski ending up fourth. The new aerodynamic package, promising to produce lower downforce, didn’t disappoint as there were 14 lead changes with Logano leading six times for 138 total laps. The win gave Team Penske its 50th Cup win with Ford and produced the 100th victory for Roush Yates Engines in the NASCAR Cup Series.

FOUR STRAIGHT FOR AWESOME BILL

Bill Elliott is the only driver to win four straight NASCAR Cup Series races at Michigan International Speedway, sweeping both events in 1985 and ’86, and he capped that impressive streak in dominating fashion. Elliott led 125-of-200 laps on Aug. 17, 1986 to beat Tim Richmond to the finish line and win the Champion Spark Plug 400. Elliott went on to win seven career races at MIS and currently ranks third on the all-time list, trailing only David Pearson (9) and Cale Yarborough (8).

JARRETT WINS FIRST CUP RACE

Dale Jarrett registered his first NASCAR Cup Series victory in memorable fashion at Michigan International Speedway on Aug. 18, 1991. Jarrett, who was in his second season driving for the Wood Brothers, found himself in a furious battle with Davey Allison, who stalked him over the final dozen laps in his No. 28 Texaco Havoline Thunderbird. Allison made a move to the outside coming off turn four and got alongside Jarrett as the two took the white flag together. They took turns exchanging the lead, but never left each other’s side. As they came off turn four both Fords made contact, but it was Jarrett who ended up edging Allison by eight inches at the finish line.

BIFFLE WINS FORD’S 1,000TH

Greg Biffle posted Ford’s 1,000th NASCAR victory when he took the checkered flag on June 16, 2013 in the Quicken Loans 400. The milestone win, which included combined victories in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck, NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts and NASCAR Cup Series, was Biffle’s second straight at MIS and fourth overall. The race was shaping up to be a battle between Biffle, who was leading, and a hard-charging Jimmie Johnson, but a flat tire ended Johnson’s chances with two laps to go.

RIGGS GOES BACK-TO-BACK

Layne Riggs earned his second straight NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series victory last week and third of the season when he won at Nashville Superspeedway. The Front Row Motorsports driver swept all three stages and led a race-high 99-of-150 laps as he matched his single-season win total from a year ago and won for the eighth time in his career. That also moved him into a second-place tie with Joe Ruttman on the all-time NCTS Ford win list, and marked the second time Riggs has won back-to-back races in the series after doing it for the first time as a rookie in 2024 at Milwaukee and Bristol.

THE LAST TIME…

Riggs will be going for his third straight NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series win this weekend at Michigan International Speedway. The last time a NCTS Ford driver did that was in 2000 when Greg Biffle went back-to-back-to-back at Texas, Kentucky and Watkins Glen.

BIFFLE WINS INAUGURAL MIS TRUCK RACE

Greg Biffle won the first two NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races ever held at Michigan International Speedway, taking the inaugural event in 1999 and following that up in 2000. Biffle, who is Ford’s all-time leader in series victories with 16, led the most laps in both events and went on to claim the championship in 2000 after winning five times.

FORD’S NASCAR CUP SERIES WINNERS

AT MICHIGAN

1969 – David Pearson (2)

1984 – Bill Elliott (1)

1985 – Bill Elliott (Sweep)

1986 – Bill Elliott (Sweep)

1987 – Bill Elliott (2)

1988 – Davey Allison (2)

1989 – Bill Elliott (1)

1990 – Mark Martin (2)

1991 – Davey Allison and Dale Jarrett

1992 – Davey Allison (1)

1993 – Mark Martin (2)

1994 – Rusty Wallace and Geoffrey Bodine

1996 – Rusty Wallace and Dale Jarrett

1997 – Ernie Irvan and Mark Martin

1998 – Mark Martin (1)

1999 – Dale Jarrett (1)

2000 – Rusty Wallace (2)

2002 – Matt Kenseth and Dale Jarrett

2003 – Kurt Busch (1)

2004 – Greg Biffle (2)

2005 – Greg Biffle (1)

2006 – Matt Kenseth (2)

2007 – Carl Edwards (1)

2008 – Carl Edwards (2)

2012 – Greg Biffle (2)

2013 – Greg Biffle and Joey Logano

2016 – Joey Logano (1)

2018 – Clint Bowyer (1) and Kevin Harvick (2)

2019 – Joey Logano (1) and Kevin Harvick (2)

2020 – Kevin Harvick (Sweep)

2021 – Ryan Blaney

2022 – Kevin Harvick

2023 – Chris Buescher

FORD’S NASCAR CRAFTSMAN TRUCK SERIES WINNERS AT MICHIGAN

1999 – Greg Biffle

2000 – Greg Biffle

2007 – Travis Kvapil

2008 – Erik Darnell

2009 – Colin Braun

The Ford Mustang is the world’s best selling sports car and one of its most popular race cars. With Mustang-based race cars competing in international sports car competition (GT3 and GT4), NASCAR, NHRA, Formula Drift, in Supercars, at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb and in its own bespoke regional one-make series – Mustang Cup and Mustang Challenge – the platform has an unprecedented global reach. This weekend, 37 Mustang race cars are scheduled to race across all disciplines. Learn more about Mustang at www.FordRacing.com .

Mid-Ohio Breaks the Mazda MX-5 Cup Drought

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LEXINGTON, Ohio (June 2, 2026) – It has been a quiet three months since the checkered flag flew in St. Petersburg, but it’s finally time for the Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by Michelin to return to the racetrack for Rounds 5 and 6 this weekend. The setting is Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, which never fails to produce some of the best racing of the season. A field of 39 cars is expected, including a few new faces that could shake up the championship.

Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup arrives in Ohio following a weekend that featured two first-time race winners on the streets of St. Petersburg. One of them, Bobby Gossett (No. 44 BSI Racing) took over the points lead as a result. In his sophomore season, Gossett leads two-time champion Jared Thomas (No. 96 JTR Motorsports Engineering) by 20 points with a long season yet to go.

Another first-time winner at St. Petersburg was Justin Adakonis (No. 23 McCumbee McAleer Racing) who finds himself third in the point standings entering Mid-Ohio. Also in his sophomore season, Adakonis would likely be leading the championship if not for a malfunctioning transponder in Race 1 at St. Pete, which forced him to come into the pits for a new one.

One driver looking to add his name to the first-time race winner list this season is Nathan Nicholson (No. 56 Advanced Autosports) and he nearly got his first win at Mid-Ohio last year. He led the field to the white flag in Race 2, but was passed by Ethan Goulart, who went on to win his first MX-5 Cup race that day. It’s hard to believe that after 31 races, the ever-competitive Nicholson is still searching for that first MX-5 Cup race win.

Leading the rookie chase is Frankie Barroso (No. 48 Spark Performance), who scored two top-five finishes at St. Pete. He is sixth in the point standings but would be higher had he not picked up a post-race penalty in Race 2 at Daytona.

Speaking of rookies, this year’s MX-5 Cup Shootout Scholarship winner Max Stallone (No. 3 Wheels America Racing) has had a rocky start to his season but has been doing his homework. The Texan picked up two Spec Miata race wins at Mid-Ohio during a SCCA weekend in May. Stallone was one of several MX-5 Cup drivers who took advantage of the SCCA event to get more laps around Mid-Ohio.

Adding some international flavor to the entry list is Luke Pullen (No. 21 Hendricks Motorsports). The Brit is making his MX-5 Cup debut this weekend. He has a season of Spec MX5 under his belt with two podium finishes at Mid-Ohio. Pullen has been a finalist for the Mazda MX-5 Cup Shootout the past two years.

More drivers making their series debut this weekend include Massimo Sunseri (No. 15 BSI Racing), Michael O’Dell (No. 46 JTR Motorsports Engineering) and Amilio DeLauro (No. 67 BSI Racing).

It’s a grid packed with plenty of talent and potential at a track that consistently produces great racing. It’s something you don’t want to miss when MX-5 Cup returns to racing action. Round Five takes place Saturday, June 6 at 3:05pm ET. Round Six goes green at 10:10am ET on Sunday, June 7. Both races will be streamed live on the IMSA and RACER YouTube channels.

About: The Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by Michelin is the signature spec series for Mazda Motorsports. The series has been operated by Andersen Promotions since 2017 and is currently sanctioned by IMSA. Mazda-powered grassroots champions can earn Mazda scholarships for this pro-level series. The Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup awards more than $1 million in prizes and scholarships.

Find out more at http://www.mx-5cup.com.

30th Anniversary Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America Raises $2.7 Million for Victory Junction

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Over 250 participants traveled 3,400 miles across 11 states on a nine-day journey to raise funds to send kids with chronic medical conditions to camp at Victory Junction

CHARLOTTE, N.C., June 2, 2026 – The Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America (KPCRAA) today announced it raised a record $2.7 million after completing its cross-country 30th Anniversary Ride, which took place May 1 – 9, 2026. Funds raised directly benefit Victory Junction – a camp in Randleman, North Carolina servicing children with complex medical and physical conditions. The Ride’s donation supports summer camperships, building projects and maintenance programs.

Former NASCAR driver and racing analyst Kyle Petty led 150 motorcycles across 11 states on a nine-day trek, covering more than 3,400 miles and celebrating 250 years of America along the way. The Ride began in Sonoma, California and ended in Charlotte, North Carolina. All along the Ride’s 30th Anniversary route, fans came from miles around to welcome the riders, meet celebrity guests and support the cause.

“This year’s Ride was huge for us as we celebrated our 30th Anniversary and shared memories along the way, but to know that we collectively raised $2.7 million for Victory Junction is absolutely incredible,” said Petty. “Everything we do on the Charity Ride is to send kids to Camp. Thanks to our riders, the fans along the way, and our generous partners, so many kids will be able to attend Camp and have their lives forever changed. What just started in 1995 as a bunch of friends wanting to ride motorcycles across the country has turned into something I only ever dreamed of.”

The KPCRAA live auction alone brought in more than $400,000 on Saturday, May 9, during the final Ride dinner. The auction included a custom one-of-one 2026 Harley-Davidson Street Glide built and ridden on the KPCRAA by Harley-Davidson Motor Co. VP & Global Brand Ambassador Bill Davidson; a custom Charlie One Horse cowboy hat designed and worn by Richard Petty; a custom-painted guitar signed by each of the celebrity riders; motorcycle helmets painted by Sturgis Motorcycle Museum Hall of Famer Jody Perewitz; and three sets of one-of-a-kind 30th Anniversary KPCRAA ride jerseys worn by Kyle Petty and his sons, Overton, Cotten, and Davant. In all, the funds raised by the auction will send 160 kids to Victory Junction at no cost to their families.

Crossing the country on the 250th Anniversary of the United States, the 30th Anniversary KPCRAA hit iconic highways including Highway 50, ‘The Loneliest Road in America,’ and the original Route 66 – both celebrating their centennial in 2026. The Ride made a pit stop at the original Bass Pro Shops in Springfield, Missouri – with a surprise welcome by Johnny Morris; toured Elvis Presley’s home and museum Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee; explored the Coker Museum in Chattanooga, Tennessee; rode the famous 318-curve and 11-mile Dragon through the Appalachian Mountains; visited Wheels Through Time Motorcycle Museum in Maggie Valley, North Carolina; and capped it off with a trip to Victory Junction before heading to Charlotte Motor Speedway.

“While we wanted to have the same start and end locations of the first Ride in 1995, this year’s route took us across the country and to many iconic places along the way – and what a way to celebrate the 250th birthday of America,” said Petty. “From scenic highways and small towns, this year’s Ride truly took us to the best parts of this country and allowed us to meet some incredibly generous fans at each of our stops. It’s really special to see how NASCAR fans continue to support the Ride and all we do for Victory Junction.”

Victory Junction has served as the Ride’s primary beneficiary since its establishment by Petty and his family in 2004 in honor of his late son, Adam. Since it first began in 1995, the Ride has raised more than $25 million for Victory Junction and other children’s charities. As a result, the Ride has helped Victory Junction mobilize resources to provide over 150,000 camp experiences for children of all levels of abilities who are living with complex medical conditions at no cost to their families.

Funds were gathered from fans along the route, as part of the Ride’s “Small Change. Big Impact.” program, as well as donations made by generous sponsors, organizations, and the riders themselves.

The 2026 Ride was made possible by amazing partners such as Coca-Cola, Harley-Davidson Motor Company, Racing Electronics, WinCraft Racing, Musco Lighting, Consolidated Pipe & Supply, America 250, Manafort Brothers Inc., Piedmont Moving Systems, Wiley X, Prevost, Dreamliner Coaches, WrapArtist, School of Wrap, Dodge Law, Haul Bikes, Petty Family Foundation, SoundOff Signal, Headbands of Hope, Goody’s, Blue Emu, and Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores.

This year’s Ride also featured several celebrity riders, including NASCAR Hall of Famers Richard Petty and Matt Kenseth; NASCAR Vice Chairman Mike Helton; former NASCAR drivers Clint Bowyer, David Ragan, Ken Schrader, and Kenny Wallace; great-grandson of William A. Davidson, one of the Harley-Davidson founders, VP & Global Brand Ambassador Bill Davidson; and TV personality Rick Allen.

To look back at Petty and the riders’ journey, check out their posts on social media:

For more information about the Ride or to donate, please visit www.kylepettycharityride.com. 

About Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America

Led by former NASCAR driver and racing analyst Kyle Petty, the Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America is an annual cross-country motorcycle trek that raises funds and awareness for Victory Junction. The Ride is one of the most successful and popular charity events in the country. Since its inception in 1995, more than 9,825 riders have logged 13.8 million cumulative motorcycle miles and raised more than $25 million for Victory Junction and other children’s charities.

About Victory Junction

Victory Junction is a year-round camp for children living with complex medical and physical conditions. Founded by Kyle Petty and family in honor of his son Adam, Victory Junction provides life-changing experiences that are exciting, fun and empowering in a medically safe environment – always free of charge, thanks to the generosity of donors and corporate partners. Victory Junction programming is designed to build confidence and foster independence, helping children, families, and caregivers find belonging and build skills that fuel their journeys far beyond Camp. In addition to onsite sessions, Victory Junction’s OUTREACH program delivers Camp experiences to children in hospitals, clinics, and community partner sites throughout the Carolinas and Virginia.

Since opening in 2004, Victory Junction has provided more than 150,000 experiences to children from all 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and four countries. Victory Junction is a member of the SeriousFun Children’s Network, founded by Paul Newman, and is accredited by the American Camp Association. To learn more, please visit victoryjunction.org.

Dystany Spurlock Returns to ARCA Competition After Making NASCAR History

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Official Release
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Following her Truck Series debut, Spurlock looks to continue pressing forward in Friday’s Henry Ford Health 200 at Michigan International Speedway. 

BROOKLYN, Mich. — After making history in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series last month, Dystany Spurlock is back behind the wheel.

Spurlock returns to the ARCA Menards Series this Friday at Michigan International Speedway looking to build on a season full of milestones, including a seventh-place finish in her ARCA East debut at Hickory Motor Speedway and a convincing top-10 in her first ARCA national series start at Kansas Speedway.   

car

While her Truck Series breakthrough at Dover made her the first Black woman to compete in one of NASCAR’s three national touring series, an incident on lap 37 ended the day early for Spurlock and the MBM Motorsports/Garage 66 team. 

Still, the weekend was about more than where she finished.

“I enjoyed learning the difference between how the stock car drives and the truck,” Spurlock said. “Even though my day was cut short, I gained valuable experience that will help me in the future.” 

The Truck Series race cemented Spurlock’s place in the NASCAR history books, but her attention now shifts back to an ARCA platform where she’s delivered multiple standout performances this season. 

Among the highlights was a 10th-place finish at Kansas in a field that included several series veterans. Perhaps most impressive was a late-race save after contact from behind sent her car sideways at speed. Showing remarkable control, she stayed off the wall, regained her position, and went on to earn the Reese’s Sweet Move of the Race. The result, and how she got there, helped validate the progress being made by Spurlock and her team.

“Kansas is a beautiful facility,” she said, “and having a top-10 finish there is something I will always cherish. But this early in my career, every race is an opportunity to learn and improve.” 

Now comes Michigan and another chance to put together a strong run in the Henry Ford Health 200. 

The two-mile D-shaped oval presents unique challenges. Unlike Daytona and Talladega, drivers won’t have restrictor plates to keep speeds in check. Along with managing the draft, Spurlock and the No. 66 Foxxtecca Chevrolet team will need to maintain momentum through the corners and balance tire wear to stay with the leaders. It’s a tough test for veterans and newcomers alike, and success will hinge on precision, consistency, patience, and a car capable of going the distance.

Spurlock is prepared for the assignment. As she readies for another start in one of stock car racing’s top development series, she and the team remain focused on steady progress and gaining confidence with every lap.

“Michigan is another opportunity to push my limits and learn,” Spurlock added. “I’ve been studying film and racing on the sim to put myself in the best position to succeed. Now it’s time to apply it on the track.”

Fans can follow her historic 2026 campaign through the Foxxtecca-produced docuseries Driven by Dystany: The Road to NASCAR. Each episode features behind-the-scenes access and exclusive footage of Spurlock’s journey and what it takes to break into NASCAR’s highest levels.

Based in Detroit and co-founded by Chris Harris and Kellie Crawford, Foxxtecca is an experiential media and events company operating at the intersection of mobility, culture, and technology. It connects the automotive industry with new and diverse audiences through storytelling, education, and live experiences.    

The Henry Ford Health 200 at Michigan International Speedway is scheduled for Friday, June 5, at 5 p.m. ET. It will air live on FS2 with streaming on the Fox Sports App. Radio coverage will be provided by MRN/SiriusXM Radio.

ABOUT FOXXTECCA

Foxxtecca is a Detroit-based experiential events and media company operating at the intersection of mobility, culture, and technology. Co-founded by Chris Harris and Kellie Crawford, Foxxtecca amplifies underrepresented voices in the mobility and technology industries through motorsports, education, and culturally driven experiences.

Jim Dunn Racing – Epping Advance for the NHRA New England Nationals

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Official Release
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Jeff Arend

KGC Construction Funny Car Driver for Jim Dunn Racing
NHRA New England Nationals presented by bproauto
June 5-7 | Epping, New Hampshire

Event Overview
Friday, June 5 (Nitro Qualifying, streamed live on NHRA.TV)

Nitro qualifying session (Q1): 5:30 p.m. EDT
Nitro qualifying session (Q2): 8 p.m. EDT

Saturday, June 6 (Nitro Qualifying & Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, streamed live on NHRA.TV)

Nitro qualifying session (Q3) / Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge – Semifinals: 12:30 p.m. EDT
Nitro qualifying session (Q4) / Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge – Finals: 3 p.m. EDT

Sunday, June 7 (Nitro Eliminations, streamed live on NHRA.TV)

Round 1: 11 a.m. EDT
Round 2: 1:05 p.m. EDT
Semifinals: 2:45 p.m. EDT
Finals: 4:15 p.m. EDT

TV coverage

Friday, June 5: Qualifying show (8 p.m. EDT on FS1)
Saturday, June 6: Qualifying show (10 a.m. EDT on FS1)
Sunday, June 7: Finals show (3 p.m. EDT on FOX)

Notes of Interest

The NHRA New England Nationals presented by bproauto is the eighth event on the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series’ 20-race calendar in 2026. Jim Dunn Racing brings its one full-time entry in Funny Car for Jeff Arend. A native of Canada, Arend moved to Southern California in 1997.

As the NHRA celebrates its landmark 75th season in 2026, Jim Dunn Racing is celebrating 76 years of success in drag racing. Jim started drag racing when he was 15 years old and at 92 years old, he plans to keep going as long as he can. In 2024, Jim received the NHRA Lifetime Achievement Award. He has won some of the sport’s most significant races and has provided driving opportunities for some of the biggest names in the sport.

Coming into Epping, Arend is 16th in the Funny Car standings, 436 points behind leader Ron Capps.

KGC (Kindness General Contractors) Construction is the primary partner of Arend this weekend in Epping. KGC, is a full service general contracting firm designed to manage and facilitate a complete range of construction projects. They are responsible for a diversified portfolio of projects with a wide range of construction value and provide customers with what is most important to them: short schedules, unmatched quality and superior flexibility. At KGC, they understand that every project, regardless of size, requires a commitment to quality, attention to detail, and the ability to act and react with speed, efficiency and intelligence. They strive to provide a hassle-free experience to all their clients and look to form lasting partnerships built on mutual respect and trust.

In celebration of America’s 250th Anniversary, Jim Dunn Racing will be running a special patriotic scheme at the NHRA New England Nationals.

The New England Nationals will mark Arend’s 256th career Funny Car appearance, and his third Funny Car appearance on behalf of Jim Dunn Racing at New England Dragway. His two previous appearances for the team came in 2013 and 2014.

Jeff Arend was the driver of record in 2013 and 2014 when Jim Dunn Racing made its first two appearances in the New England Nationals. He owns one of the team’s three round wins at New England Dragway, beating Cruz Pedregon in the first round in 2013 before losing to John Force in the quarterfinals.

The team is returning this week to the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series after sitting out last week’s inaugural Potomac Nationals at Maryland International Raceway.

Last year, Jim Dunn Racing advanced to the quarterfinal round with Buddy Hull at the wheel, earning the first of two back-to-back wins over eventual series champion and No. 1 qualifier Austin Prock.
Jeff Arend, Driver of the Jim Dunn Racing KGC Construction Funny Car
You’re representing KGC Construction for their first primary race of the season. Your Jim Dunn Racing Funny Car will be sporting a special scheme to celebrate America’s 250th Anniversary. How special will it be to run those colors?

“I couldn’t be more excited to be representing Jim Dunn Racing and have the opportunity to honor the historic event of America’s 250th Anniversary. We will be introducing two different designs in the next three events during the month of June. The KGC Construction car looks amazing and everyone will love seeing it in New Hampshire and Bristol. The Blaze Exhaust Probes car will be introduced at their home track in Ohio. Both cars are in the trailer and ready to go! I can’t wait, as the excitement and anticipation leads up to the Fourth of July celebration.”

Cadillac returns to Le Mans with eyes on endurance classic

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Official Release
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June 2nd, 2026 – There are big automobile races throughout the world, but one race matters more than anything to Cadillac Racing – the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The 94th edition will take place on June 13-14 at the Circuit de la Sarthe in Le Mans, France, and Cadillac Racing is bringing three cars and nine of the most experienced drivers in the world to the legendary endurance race.

Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA will lead the manufacturer’s charge with its two entries for the FIA World Endurance Championship: the No. 12 Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA V-Series.R driven by Will Stevens, Norman Nato and Louis Deletraz, plus the No. 38 Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA V-Series.R driven by Le Mans native Sebastien Bourdais, Earl Bamber and Jack Aitken.

They will be joined by IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship team Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing, which will field the No. 101 V-Series.R driven by Ricky Taylor, Jordan Taylor and Filipe Albuquerque.

Cadillac Racing returns to Le Mans after last year’s edition, when it became the first American manufacturer since 1967 to sweep the front row at Le Mans with Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA securing Pole Position and P2.

The pole was the first for Cadillac at Le Mans, coming 75 years after its first Le Mans appearance in 1950 with a pair of Cadillac Coupe DeVille Series 61s, one mostly stock and another modified with a low-profile aluminum body nicknamed “Le Monstre.”

This year the program is targeting a competitive showing to show the strength of Cadillac Racing. To assist in the preparations, Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA tested in mid-May at the high-speed Silverstone Circuit.

For 2026, the aero configuration has been upgraded to improve competitiveness in race traffic. The most visually apparent is the rear wing height being much lower than the 2025 Cadillac V-Series.R. Also new for this year is a brake package that aligns suppliers and technology to the Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing road car.

Albuquerque (2020 LMP2), Bamber (2015 and 2017 overall), Bourdais (2016 LMGTE Pro), Stevens (2022 LMP2 and 2017 LMGTE Am) and Taylor (2015 GTE Pro) have all won at Le Mans in their careers but they, along with their Cadillac teammates, are determined to put Cadillac Racing in contention at Le Mans.

What they’re saying

No. 12 Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA V-Series.R:

Will Stevens: “Really looking forward to returning to Le Mans this year. We come off the back of a strong showing last year. We knew the areas we needed to work on and we have had 12 months to work on them. We feel well prepared to get on the streets of Le Mans and see where we stack up compared to the other teams. It’s always a special event and nothing comes close, so let’s hope my 11th time going to Le Mans can be a special one.”

Norman Nato: “Very excited to say it’s the Le Mans 24 Hours coming next. Pole position and a fourth-place last year was a great debut for the first time together as Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA. The team has worked hard and brought updates this season which has shown in the strong pace this year. The level in WEC is extremely high, there are a lot of good cars and drivers, so it will be for sure a very cool fight and a great show for the fans. See you in Le Mans!”

Louis Deletraz: “I’m excited to be in the No. 12 Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA for the Le Mans 24 Hours. Spa and the test at Silverstone have been a great preparation for us. I got to know the team and learn the way they work, and we are well prepared for the race. Le Mans is obviously a very important event for us, an iconic race that everyone wants to win. I can’t wait to drive the Cadillac on the streets of Le Mans.”

No. 38 Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA V-Series.R

Sebastien Bourdais: “The big one is coming, so there is lots of preparation from the entire team and JOTA and Cadillac. It’s been a colossal effort to get everything ready, and it was good to have that test session in Silverstone. We keep learning every time we are on track about the new aero kit to try to optimize our performance with the car. Hats off to everybody; they’ve done really, really well. Now it’s time to see what we really have going toward Le Mans. I think we are all excited but at the same time a little bit apprehensive because obviously when you put in so much effort with so many people, you really hope that the work gets rewarded. But quite excited and looking forward to the big one of the year.”

Earl Bamber: “Obviously the next one is the big one coming up. The Cadillac team has done an amazing job on preparation. The Silverstone test was really successful and now it’s all eyes forward to Le Mans. There has been huge amount of work on the new body and new kit for this season and the team on the 38 side have really high hopes. I think the JOTA cars have done a good job and now it’s about execution and going to the race week and we are really excited.”

Jack Aitken: “Le Mans is one of the crunch moments of the season, and an absolute highlight. I’m always excited to get there and start the race week, but am also keen to go to the race for the first time as part of a season-long effort. With the crew around me and the experience gained over the last few years with Cadillac, I’m sure we’ll be up to the challenge and put our car in the mix.”

No. 101 Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing V-Series.R

Ricky Taylor: “Personally, I just want to focus on doing my best in the car. Last year you can see how detailed everything must be throughout the race week and going into the second year in the top class, I hope to narrow down all the details that I can control and perform at my best. For the Cadillac WTR team, I think it is a lot of the same: details and execution is key. Le Mans is so different to the style of racing we do in IMSA, so we will be much better prepared for our second year. For the test day, I hope we can run as many laps as possible. I think the track will evolve a lot and gaining confidence through laps before the official race week is always a measured approach. JOTA has been a great partner along with the Cadillac engineering team. I feel this year we have a better understanding of the car and JOTA is an amazing reference for what it takes to be successful in Le Mans.”

Jordan Taylor: “I am so excited to go back to Le Mans for our second shot at it. I think we all knew last year how big of an uphill battle it was going to be with it being our first time there as a team. We definitely made progress over the two weeks, but I feel like we are so much better prepared with an extra year of preparation. Personally, I really enjoyed driving the car there. It was my first time at Le Mans in a prototype, so I’m excited to build on what I learned there last year. The Test Day always goes by so quickly. We obviously learned a lot there last year, but we, as a team, have had a year to digest and go through everything that we learned over those two weeks, so we will have a nice list of items to work through. The track always changes so much over the week, so it’s important not to get too caught up in lap times that day, but more focus on running through all of our protocols, systems checks, and get comfortable being back in France. The relationship with JOTA has been seamless over the past year. There is constant communication back and forth between the teams. If we learn something in IMSA, we send that info over to them for WEC and vice versa. We are all very motivated heading back to Le Mans this year. We didn’t have the best showing there last year, but I feel very confident in what we’ve learned these past 12 months.”

Filipe Albuquerque: “Even though it will be my 13th time at Le Mans, I never take it for granted. I am really happy to get to do this race again and with such a great brand like Cadillac, and on top of that with WTR, Ricky and Jordan. I could not ask for more. I know this race very well but at the same time I never stop learning. So, my goal will be to do our best as a team and learn with JOTA as our teammates because setting up the car in WEC is very different than IMSA. The pre-test is to simply do as many laps as we can. These cars are complicated, we have a lot of settings on the steering wheel, and with a 13.6km track that’s a lot. To be trouble free and have things run as smoothly as possible would be the aim. Working together with JOTA has been great. We had some of their engineers in Daytona to speed up with the joker we have in the car, and I am sure we will learn a lot together in Le Mans again.”

An Interview with Jeromy Moore, Chief Engineer – Cadillac LMDh:

What are the key differences between the 2025 and 2026 Cadillac?

“For this year we redesigned the aero package to improve our ability to follow cars closely with less loss of downforce than the previous aero package. We also changed brake supplier which aligns with what is used on our CT5-V Blackwing road cars.”

How has it been specifically aero-tweaked for Le Mans?

“Le Mans is a very drag-sensitive track with the long straights and high top speeds, but also downforce is important in the high-speed Porsche Curves. We can’t make specific bodywork configurations track to track so what we take to Le Mans is what we use throughout the rest of the WEC season. We will optimize the performance of the car for Le Mans with specific mechanical setups to position the car to make it as fast in the straights as possible yet maintain the cornering speeds required to be competitive through the Porsche Curves and other high-speed corners of the track.”

How does the Le Mans-specific aero of the car influence the outcome of other races?

“As we have just one aero configuration for the whole season what we choose affects all tracks. We targeted to have an aero config that can be competitive at all tracks but of course Le Mans has a high priority. Generally, the homologation window set by the FIA/ ACO/ IMSA is quite small, such that there are no big compromises from one track to the next but as the competition is tight it is down to these small details.”

Where will the benefit transpire most?

“We should be more competitive in traffic and so lap times should be improved from last year as we have traffic every lap there. We hope to be more competitive in top speeds also.”

How does the fact that Le Mans is run on public roads, with a higher abrasiveness, influence race strategies?

“Le Mans is one of the ‘kinder’ circuits to the tires due to the long straights and less high energy corners per km to other tracks. Cars can generally run up to three stints on tires whereas some other circuits a double-stint is tricky.”

Can a sim take in all the factors which make Le Mans so unique?

“It is hard to fully simulate what we get during the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The track changes throughout the event with grip building up as the road is cleaned and rubber is put down from the cars. The simulator is a vital tool for preparation but nothing can match testing and racing on the real circuit.”

How many hours of sim did the drivers/engineers put in all together to prepare for this year’s Le Mans?

“Generally, we test in the sim before and after each event throughout the year to keep improving our correlation of the model and our understanding of the car and tires. Leading into Le Mans we have been in the simulator for four days working on setups and driver preparation. As on track testing is limited by regulation, virtual testing has never been more important.”

Facts & Stats – Cadillac Racing at Le Mans 2025-2023

2025:

Fourth (No. 12 Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA V-Series.R) start first – Alex Lynn, Norman Nato, Will Stevens
Seventh (No. 38 Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA V-Series.R) start second – Earl Bamber, Sebastien Bourdais, Jenson Button
Retired (No. 101 Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing V-Series.R) start 14th – Ricky Taylor, Jordan Taylor, Filipe Albuquerque
Retired (No. 311 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R) start eighth – Jack Aitken, Felipe Drugovich, Frederik Vesti

2024:

Seventh (No. 2 Cadillac V-Series.R ) qualified second/start seventh – Earl Bamber, Alex Lynn, Alex Palou
DNF (No. 3 Cadillac V-Series.R) qualified third/start second – Sebastien Bourdais, Renger van der Zande, Scott Dixon
29th overall/15th in class (No. 311 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R) start 18th – Pipo Derani, Jack Aitken, Felipe Drugovich

2023:

Third (No. 2 Cadillac V-Series.R) start sixth — Earl Bamber, Alex Lynn, Richard Westbrook
Fourth (No. 3 Cadillac V-Series.R) start eighth — Sebastien Bourdais, Renger van der Zande, Scott Dixon
17th overall/10th in class (No. 311 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R) start 13th — Pipo Derani, Jack Aitken, Alexander Sims

About General Motors

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

GM Motorsports, including the Cadillac Formula 1® Team develops and proves advanced technologies in the most demanding environments, accelerating innovation in performance, safety, efficiency, and electrification for its production vehicles. Cadillac Racing is one of the leading manufacturers in the IMSA and FIA World Endurance Championships (WEC). Chevrolet competes in single seaters in the US IndyCar series, and in NASCAR with multiple team partners and drivers. Corvette customer teams compete in GT series across the globe including IMSA and WEC. Learn more at GM.com.

Kyle Larson wins High Limit Racing midweek Roto Rooter race at Davenport Speedway

By
Briar Starr
-
Photo courtesy of High LImit Racing

The 2026 Interstate Batteries High Limit Series continued their busy summer stretch Monday night at Davenport Speedway. It would be the fourth race in the 2026 Roto Rooter Midweek Series. Kyle Larson piloted the No. 57 Paul Silva entry to the Whiskey Myers victory lane on the fronstretch after starting in the third position.

Thirty Sprint Cars were checked in with the entry, including Larson. However, Larson did not participate in Saturday night’s race at Butler Speedway due to the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race at Nashville Superspeedway.

There were three heat races on the docket, with the top six transferring to the A-feature and eight laps apiece.

In Heat 1, Spire Motorsports No. 77 Giovanni Scelzi took the checkers along with Brenham Crouch, Aaron Reutzel, Joel Myers Jr, Hank Davis, and Kerry Madsen taking the top six.

For the second heat race, pole sitter Tanner Thorson jumped the start, prompting the yellow and a complete restart. He was pushed back to the second row on the inside lane. Brady Bacon won the heat race, followed by Thorson, Will Armitage, Tanner Holmes, and Ayrton Gennetten.

Taking home the third and final heat race victory was Kyle Larson and the No. 57 Paul Silva-owned race team. The 33-year-old was followed by Daison Pursley, Gage Pulkrabek, Brent Marks, Danny Sams III, and Chase Randall.

Competing in the seven-lap dash were Scelzi, Bacon, Larson, Reutzel, Abreu, and Mark. The dash sets the pole position for the A-main. Reutzel won the dash with Marks, Kyle Larson, Bacon, Scelzi, and Abreu completing the top six. This meant Reutzel was on the pole for the feature.

There was one B-main that featured 12 laps. J.J. Hickle was the winner, with Tyler Courtney, Justin Peck, Austin McCarl, Sye Lynch, and Cole Schroeder all going to the main event.

Reutzel and Marks led the field to green for the 30-lap A feature into Turn 1. Reutzel got the early advantage over Marks, followed by Larson and Bacon, to round out the top four. At 28 laps to go, Larson moved into the second position. The green flag action was short-lived, as the first yellow came out with 25 laps to go for McCarl, who came to a stop on the frontstretch.

Then, coming to the restart with 24 laps to go, Reutzel chose the inside lane with Larson on the outside. During the race, Larson threw a big slider on race leader Reutzel a couple of times, trying to take the lead. However, the race went red immediately for two cars going upside down in completely separate incidents. Thorson was upside down in Turn 4, while Pulkrabek’s crash took place on the backstretch.

The next restart was single file with Reutzel, Larson, Marks, Bacon, and Scelzi the top five at 25 laps to go. But, another caution flew one lap later for J.J. Hickle, going off into Turn 1 after contact with Randall.

The field went green with 24 to go in a double-file restart and in doing so, Larson took the lead from Reutzel off Turn 4. Larson’s hopes of pulling away from the field were quickly dashed with a caution at 20 laps to go for Tanner Holmes in Turn 1. Holmes wound up going upside down.

The yellow was quick and the field went back to green. Reutzel threw a slider in Turn 1 on Larson, but Larson made the crossover work, maintaining the top spot. As the race wound down with 12 laps to go, Larson began catching lap traffic at the back of the field. The final 12 laps went quickly and Larson made fast work of the lap cars.

Despite his Sprint Car showing some smoke while he was leading in the final laps, Larson continued, taking home his third victory of the season at Davenport Speedway by 3.275 seconds over Marks.

“My car, I recognized was really good early on, I was able to shoot the middle to get by Marks and Brady (Bacon), the first lap or two,” Larson said to Flo Racing on the frontstretch. “And, I then kind of paced Aaron (Reutzel). We had the caution and I was honestly surprised; he (Reutzel) chose the bottom for the grip that was on top at that point. I thought for sure he would choose the top. I got the restart there and threw some stuff at him, but then we had the red. We went single file, I think.

“I was just getting slicker up there and it was harder to launch.” He continued, saying, “I got a good (Turns) 1 and 2, and I kind of diamond through the middle and got a good run on him there. Just got battling again. It was a tough track. Just rough being by yourself. It was crazy,” he said. “This place is so round,” Larson said, “but you need to run kind of straight near the cushion, and then it’s a ledge, and it’s hard to see, slick underneath it. It was definitely technical. A lot of fun there.”

The victory was Larson’s 12th career Interstate Batteries High Limit win and his fifth career Roto Rooter Midweek Series win, putting him second to Abreu, who has eight midweek victories.

To note, due to Reutzel’s seventh place finish on Monday night, Abreu closed the season long points standings gab back down to seven points.

In the midweek Roto Rooter Series points, however, Reutzel continues to lead the standings by 11 over Scelzi.

Official Race Results Following Davenport Speedway

  1. Kyle Larson
  2. Brent Marks
  3. Giovanni Scelzi
  4. Brady Bacon
  5. Rico Abreu
  6. Brenham Crouch
  7. Aaron Reutzel
  8. Kerry Madsen
  9. Justin Peck
  10. Daison Pursley
  11. Joel Myers Jr
  12. Tyler Courtney
  13. Chase Randall
  14. Will Armitage
  15. Hank Davis
  16. Danny Sams III
  17. Ayrton Gennetten
  18. Cole Schroeder
  19. Austin McCarl
  20. Sye Lynch
  21. Tanner Holmes
  22. J.J. Hickle
  23. Tanner Thorson
  24. Gage Pulkrabek

Up Next – The Interstate Batteries High Limit Racing Series’ next event will be Wednesday, June 3, at Red Hill Speedway. This event will also be live on Fox Sports 1.

Convertible Car Rental Dubai With Premium Cars And Easy Booking

By
SM
-

Dubai is one of the best places to enjoy a luxury drive. The roads are smooth, the weather is sunny most of the year, and the city is full of beautiful places like Dubai Marina, Palm Jumeirah, and Downtown Dubai. That’s why many visitors choose a convertible car rental Dubai service during their trip.

Driving a convertible feels different from a regular car. You can enjoy the city views, fresh air, and open roads in a more comfortable and stylish way. For example, many tourists rent a Mustang or Porsche convertible for evening drives near JBR or Sheikh Zayed Road.

Booking is also quick and simple. Most rental companies now offer online booking, WhatsApp support, and fast delivery anywhere in Dubai. Whether you’re visiting for business, a holiday, or a special event, renting a premium convertible makes travel easier and more enjoyable.

Why Rent a Convertible Car in Dubai

Dubai is a city made for stylish driving. The roads are wide, clean, and easy to drive on. That’s one big reason why many visitors choose a luxury convertible rental Dubai service during their stay. It gives you comfort, freedom, and a better way to enjoy the city.

Whether you’re visiting for a holiday, business trip, or weekend outing, a convertible adds something special to the experience. Couples enjoy sunset drives, tourists love taking photos, and business travelers often prefer premium cars for meetings and events.

1. Best Weather and Roads for Open Top Driving

Dubai has sunny weather for most of the year. That makes an open roof car rental Dubai experience more enjoyable, especially during the evening. Roads like Sheikh Zayed Road and Jumeirah Beach Road are smooth and perfect for long drives.

For example, many tourists rent a convertible and drive from Downtown Dubai to Palm Jumeirah at sunset. The city views look even better with the roof down.

2. Popular Areas to Drive a Convertible

A Dubai Marina convertible rental is popular because the area feels modern and lively. You’ll find luxury hotels, waterfront cafes, and beautiful skyline views. Other great places for a convertible drive include:

  • Palm Jumeirah
  • JBR
  • Downtown Dubai
  • Burj Khalifa area
  • Bluewaters Island

Premium Convertible Cars Available for Rent

Dubai is known for luxury cars, and convertibles are some of the most popular choices. A premium sports car rental Dubai service gives you the chance to enjoy comfort, style, and strong performance in one car. Whether you need a car for one day or a full week, there are many great options available.

Some people choose convertibles for city driving, while others rent them for road trips, business events, or weekend outings. In simple words, these cars make every drive feel more exciting.

1. BMW Convertible Rental Dubai

A BMW convertible rental Dubai option is great if you want a mix of comfort and sporty driving. BMW convertibles are smooth on highways and easy to drive around busy areas like Downtown Dubai and Dubai Marina.

They’re also a good choice for couples or business travelers who want a stylish car without going too extreme.

2. Mustang Convertible Rental Dubai

A Mustang convertible rental Dubai is popular with tourists who enjoy powerful cars and open road driving. The Mustang looks bold and sounds strong, which makes it perfect for long drives on Sheikh Zayed Road or beachside routes near JBR.

Many visitors rent Mustangs for weekend trips because they offer both comfort and performance.

3. Ferrari Spider Rental Dubai

If you want a more exotic experience, a Ferrari spider rental Dubai service is a top choice. Ferrari Spider models are fast, stylish, and perfect for luxury drives around Palm Jumeirah or Burj Khalifa.

These cars are often rented for special events, photoshoots, and VIP travel.

4. Porsche Cabriolet Rental Dubai

A Porsche cabriolet rental Dubai service is ideal for drivers who want sporty performance with everyday comfort. Porsche convertibles are smooth, modern, and easy to handle in city traffic.

Many travelers also search for a Convertiblecar rental Dubai option because these cars work well for both short city drives and longer highway trips.
5. Convertible Car Comparison Table

Car Model

Best For

Seats

Daily Rental Type

BMW Convertible

Business & city driving

4

Luxury

Mustang Convertible

Weekend road trips

4

Sports

Ferrari Spider

VIP events & luxury travel

2

Exotic

Porsche Cabriolet

Daily comfort & performance

2–4

Premium Sports

Easy Booking Process for Convertible Car Rentals

Many companies now offer an easy booking luxury car rental Dubai service, so you can reserve your car in just a few minutes. You don’t need to visit an office or spend hours filling out forms. Most bookings can be completed online or through WhatsApp.

This makes things easier for tourists, business travelers, and even residents who need a premium car quickly. Some rental companies also provide airport delivery, hotel delivery, and 24/7 customer support.

1. Documents Required for Tourists and Residents

Before booking a luxury car hire Dubai service, you’ll need a few basic documents.

For tourists, companies usually ask for:

  • Passport copy
  • Visit visa copy
  • International driving permit
  • Home country driving license

For UAE residents, the requirements are simpler:

  • Emirates ID
  • UAE driving license

Some luxury cars may also require a refundable security deposit. In simple words, this helps cover traffic fines, Salik charges, or any damage during the rental period.

2. How Online Booking Works

Booking a convertible car hire Dubai service is usually very simple. Most companies follow these steps:

  1. Choose your convertible car
  2. Share your documents online
  3. Confirm the rental dates and payment
  4. Receive the car at your hotel, airport, or home

For example, many tourists book a Mustang convertible through WhatsApp before arriving in Dubai. The car is then delivered directly to Dubai International Airport.

Daily, Weekly, and Monthly Rental Options

One of the best things about booking a daily convertible rental Dubai service is flexibility. You can rent a luxury convertible for one day, one week, or even a full month based on your travel plans and budget.

Some people only need a car for a short city tour. On the other hand, business travelers and long term visitors often prefer weekly or monthly rentals because they offer better value and more convenience.

1. Short Term Rentals for Tourists

A Dubai airport convertible rental is a great option for tourists who want quick and comfortable travel after landing. Many rental companies deliver the car directly to Dubai International Airport, hotels, or popular tourist areas.

Short term rentals work well for:

  • Weekend trips
  • Special events
  • Beach drives
  • City sightseeing

For example, many tourists rent a Mustang convertible for weekend drives around JBR and Downtown Dubai.

2. Long Term Luxury Car Rentals

A weekly luxury car rental Dubaiplan is often cheaper than paying daily rates. It’s also helpful for business visitors who need reliable transportation during meetings, events, or long stays.

Monthly rentals can include:

  • Lower daily costs
  • Flexible mileage packages
  • Maintenance support
  • Easy replacement options

3. Rental Plan Comparison Table

    Rental Duration

      Best For

      Typical Benefits

Daily Rental

Tourists & short trips 

Flexible booking 

Weekly Rental

Business & vacations 

Better pricing 

Monthly Rental

Long stays 

Lower overall cost

What to Check Before Renting a Convertible in Dubai

Before booking a luxury convertible, it’s important to understand the rental rules and costs. Many companies offer a no deposit convertible rental Dubai option, but you should still read the terms carefully. In simple words, checking small details early can help you avoid surprise charges later.

Some rental companies include everything in the price, while others may charge extra for mileage, Salik tolls, or delivery services.

1. Insurance and Mileage Rules

If you’re booking a luxury supercar convertible Dubai rental, always ask what insurance is included. Basic insurance is usually part of the package, but premium coverage may cost extra.

You should also check the mileage limit. Many luxury rentals come with daily mileage caps. If you drive more than the allowed limit, you may need to pay extra per kilometer.

For example, if you’re planning long drives from Dubai Marina to Abu Dhabi, unlimited mileage can save money.

2. Delivery, Salik, and Fuel Policies

A luxury car rental with free delivery Dubai service can make travel easier, especially for tourists staying at hotels or arriving at the airport.

Before booking, ask about:

  • Salik toll charges
  • Fuel policy
  • Airport delivery fees
  • Extra driver charges

Some companies deliver the car for free within Dubai, while others charge based on location.

3. Choosing a Trusted Rental Company

When selecting a premium open top car rental Dubai company, customer reviews matter a lot. A trusted company should offer clean vehicles, clear pricing, and quick support.

It’s also smart to inspect the car before driving away. Take photos or videos of any scratches or damage so there’s no confusion later.

Practical Rental Checklist

✅ Check mileage limit
✅ Ask about insurance coverage
✅ Confirm fuel policy
✅ Review delivery charges
✅ Inspect the vehicle before pickup
✅ Read customer reviews online

Conclusion

Renting a convertible in Dubai is one of the easiest ways to enjoy the city. The roads are smooth, the views are beautiful, and the driving experience feels open and relaxing. Whether you choose a BMW, Mustang, Ferrari, or Porsche, each car gives you a different kind of comfort and style.

The good thing is, booking is simple. Most companies offer online booking, WhatsApp support, and even airport delivery. So you don’t waste time you just choose your car and start your trip.

Before you book, it’s always smart to check a few things like insurance, mileage limits, and delivery charges. This helps you avoid any surprise costs later. In simple words, a little checking makes your experience much smoother.

If you’re visiting Dubai for a holiday, business trip, or even a special weekend, a convertible car rental can make your journey more enjoyable. It’s not just about driving—it’s about seeing Dubai in a more open, comfortable, and memorable way.

FAQs About Convertible Car Rental Dubai

If you’re thinking about booking a Convertible car rental Dubai, you probably have a few questions. That’s normal. I’ll answer the most common ones in a simple way so you can feel confident before you book.

1. Can tourists rent convertible cars in Dubai?

Yes, they can. Tourists just need a valid passport, visit visa, and a driving license (sometimes an international driving permit is needed too). Most companies make the process easy for visitors.

2. What is the minimum age requirement?

Most rental companies ask drivers to be at least 21 years old. For high performance convertibles, some cars may require you to be 23 or even 25.

3. Is insurance included in the rental price?

Yes, basic insurance is usually included. However, it’s always good to check the details. Some companies also offer full coverage for extra peace of mind.

4. Can I rent a convertible without a deposit?

Some companies offer a no deposit convertible rental Dubai option, but it depends on the car and rental provider. Luxury or supercars may still require a refundable deposit.

5. Which convertible cars are most popular in Dubai?

The most popular choices include:

  • BMW convertibles
  • Mustang convertibles
  • Ferrari Spider models
  • Porsche cabriolets

These cars are loved because they mix style, comfort, and performance.

6. Do rental companies offer free delivery?

Yes, many companies offer free delivery in Dubai, especially to hotels and airports. It’s best to confirm this before booking.

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