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Jimmie Johnson to make 700th Cup career start at Charlotte

By
Andrew Kim
-
Photo by Patrick Sue-Chan for SpeedwayMedia.com.

In his 23rd season with at least one start in the NASCAR Cup Series division and third as a part-time competitor of his own organization, Legacy Motor Club (LMC), Jimmie Johnson is scheduled to achieve a milestone start. By taking the green flag in this weekend’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, the seven-time Cup champion and driver of the No. 84 LMC Toyota Camry XSE entry will reach 700 career starts in NASCAR’s premier series.

A native of El Cajon, California, Johnson made his inaugural presence in NASCAR’s premier series at Charlotte Motor Speedway in October 2001. By then, he had achieved his first Xfinity Series career victory while driving for Herzog Motorsports at Chicagoland Speedway in July and had caught the attention of four-time Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon, whom Johnson approached for advice and resulted with Gordon encouraging team owner Rick Hendrick of Hendrick Motorsports (HMS) to sign Johnson for a Cup Series ride. Driving the No. 48 Chevrolet for HMS, Johnson started 15th and ended up in 39th place in his Cup debut after he was involved in an incident with Ryan Newman towards the Lap 150 mark. He would then compete in two of the remaining three events on the schedule, where he finished a season-best 25th place at Homestead-Miami Speedway and 29th at Atlanta Motor Speedway, respectively.

The following season, Johnson campaigned in his first full-time Cup Series campaign in HMS’ No. 48 Chevrolet. He commenced the season by notching his first career pole position for the 44th running of the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. In the process, he became the third rookie competitor to win the pole for the Great American Race. Then after finishing in the top-10 mark through the first nine-scheduled events, Johnson achieved his first Cup career victory at Auto Club Speedway. Johnson’s victory, which occurred in his 13th series start, occurred after he opted for a fuel-only stop during his final pit service to assume the lead during a 14-lap dash to the finish and fended off Kurt Busch for the remainder of the event.

Three races later, Johnson would score his second career victory at Dover Motor Speedway. For the remainder of his rookie season, the Californian would sweep both Dover events after winning the second Dover event of the year in September and he would become the first rookie competitor to assume the points lead during the following event at Kansas Speedway. Overall, Johnson would settle in fifth place in the final standings on the strengths of three victories, four poles, six top-five results, 21 top-10 results, 838 laps led and an average-finishing result of 13.5. He also ended up in the runner-up spot behind Newman for the Rookie-of-the-Year title.

Over the next three Cup Series seasons, Johnson would steer the No. 48 HMS Chevrolet entry to a total of 15 victories. Among his accomplishments included winning the Coca-Cola 600 three consecutive times, winning his first All-Star Race and sweeping both New Hampshire Motor Speedway events in 2003, a season-high eight victories while also sweeping both Pocono Raceway and Darlington Raceway events in 2004 and his first Clash at Daytona in 2005. He also won both Charlotte events during the 2004 and 2005 seasons and he racked up a career-high 20 top-five results during the 2004 season. Despite racking up a total of 47 top-five results, 65 top-10 results and average-finishing results within the top-12 mark throughout the three-year span, Johnson settled in second, second and fifth, respectively, in the final standings. By then, he also surpassed 100 career starts in NASCAR’s premier series.

The 2006 season was a breakthrough year for Johnson, who commenced his fifth full-time season by winning the 48th running of the Daytona 500. Two races later, he overtook Matt Kenseth on the final lap to win at Las Vegas Motor Speedway before he won at Talladega Superspeedway for the first time in his career another six races later. Johnson would proceed to win his second All-Star Race in Charlotte and the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the first time in the summer before the Playoffs commenced.

After spending the entire 2006 regular-season stretch mired towards the top of the standings, Johnson’s Playoff run commenced on a rough note after he finished no higher than 13th through the first four events. Then after rallying by finishing in the runner-up spot four times, winning at Martinsville Speedway in late October and finishing ninth during the finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Johnson leapt from eighth to first in the final standings and claimed his first championship by 56 points over Kenseth. As a result, he became the 28th competitor to win a Cup Series championship and he delivered the sixth title for HMS. Johnson’s first title season occurred in a year where he notched five victories, one pole, 13 top-five results, 24 top-10 results, 854 laps led and a career-best average-finishing result of 9.7.

The following four seasons were dynasty years for Johnson, who would an additional four championships to his resume and become the first to win five overall in consecutive seasons. Johnson’s dynasty streak commenced in 2007 when he won a career-high 10 victories and swept both seasonal events at Martinsville, Richmond Raceway and Atlanta Motor Speedway. After winning four consecutive events over the remaining five-scheduled events, he outdueled teammate Jeff Gordon by 77 points to win his second consecutive title. The following season, he claimed seven victories, including his second at Indianapolis while also sweeping both Phoenix Raceway events, and beat Carl Edwards by 69 points to join NASCAR Hall of Famer Cale Yarborough as the only competitors to win three consecutive Cup titles.

During the next season, Johnson won seven events for a second consecutive season, including his third at Indianapolis and sweeping both Dover events, and beat teammate Mark Martin by 141 points to become the first-ever competitor to win four consecutive Cup titles. Then in 2010, Johnson, who recorded six victories throughout the season, withstood late challenges from Denny Hamlin and Kevin Harvick to finish in the top 10 through the final nine of the 10-race Playoff stretch and overtake Hamlin during the finale at Homestead to beat him by 39 points and Harvick by 41 to stretch his historical championship-winning streak to five seasons. Throughout the 2007 to 2010 seasons, Johnson added 30 victories to his resume, which increased his Cup career wins total to 53, and he accumulated 16 poles, 68 top-five results, 93 top-10 results, 6,802 laps led and average-finishing results within the top-11 mark. In addition, he surpassed 300 Cup career starts.

Amid an unprecedented five-year championship-winning streak, the 2011 Cup season was a difficult year for Johnson, who only won twice (Talladega in April and at Kansas in September, the latter of which was during the Playoffs). Despite drawing himself to within four points of the points lead, he recorded an average-finishing result of 20.3 throughout the final six events on the schedule, which left him strapped in sixth place in the final standings as his championship-winning streak was snapped. He rebounded during the following season by winning five races, including his fourth overall at Indianapolis and recorded the 200th Cup victory for HMS during the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway. He also won the All-Star Race for the third time in his career. Not long after assuming the points lead on the strength of back-to-back fall Playoff victories between Martinsville and Texas Motor Speedway, which also enabled him to reach 60 Cup career victories, Johnson then finished 32nd and 36th, respectively, during the final two-scheduled events, which plummeted him to third place in the final standings and shy of the title by 40 points to Brad Keselowski.

Johnson roared out of the gates in 2013 by winning the 55th running of the Daytona 500, which marked his second career victory in the Great American Race. The victory also occurred in Johnson’s 400th Cup career start, which made him the sixth competitor overall to achieve the feat. He would proceed by winning at Martinsville in April, his record fourth All-Star Race in May and Pocono in June. He would also win the summer Daytona event in July, where he became the first competitor to win both Daytona points-paying events on a schedule since NASCAR Hall of Famer Bobby Allison made the previous accomplishment in 1982, and lead the standings for the majority of the regular-season stretch before the Playoffs commenced. After claiming two Playoff victories (Dover in September and Texas in November) and finishing no worse than 13th throughout the Playoffs, he returned atop the championship podium by winning his sixth title after he beat Matt Kenseth by 19 points. Within his sixth championship season, the year 2013 also marked Johnson’s 12th consecutive time he concluded a Cup season with 20+ top-10 results and fifth time where he accumulated a career-high 24 top-10 results. The season also extended Johnson’s race-winning streak to 12 consecutive seasons.

Over the next two seasons, Johnson would add nine victories to his resume, which enabled him to reach 75 career wins in NASCAR’s premier series. Within his nine-race victories, he won the Coca-Cola 600 for a fourth time and claimed his first elusive victory at Michigan International Speedway, both of which occurred in 2014. He also racked up a combined two poles, 25 top-five results and 42 top-10 results. Amid the on-track success, he was not in contention to win a record-tying seventh title during both seasons after he was eliminated from the Playoffs following the second round in 2014 and the first round in 2015. Overall, he concluded the 2014 season in 11th place in the final standings and in 10th place in 2015. By then, Johnson surpassed 500 Cup career starts.

The 2016 Cup season was a roller-coaster year for Johnson, who commenced the season by finishing 16th during the 58th running of the Daytona 500 before he won the following weekend at Atlanta for the fifth time overall, which enabled him to tie seven-time champion Dale Earnhardt in the all-time wins list at 76 total and extend his race-winning streak to 15 consecutive seasons. Johnson would proceed to win at Auto Club Speedway for a sixth time three races later and notch a total of 10 top-10 results throughout the regular-season stretch before the Playoffs commenced. After utilizing consistency to advance past the Round of 16, he then won the opening events of both the Round of 12 and 8 at Charlotte and Martinsville, respectively, which enabled him to transfer to his first Championship 4 round appearance as a title contender. By then, Johnson had accumulated a total of eight Cup victories at Charlotte and nine at Martinsville.

Then during the 2016 finale at Homestead, he dodged a multi-car wreck amid contact between title rivals Carl Edwards and Joey Logano during a 10-lap shootout to muscle away from the field during an overtime shootout and win both at Homestead for the first time in his career and achieve his record-tying seventh Cup Series championship, which placed him in a tie with Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt for the most NASCAR titles overall. As an added bonus, Johnson’s Homestead victory marked his 80th career win.

Entering the 2017 season with an opportunity to claim a record eighth championship, Johnson finished no higher than ninth on the track through the first six-scheduled events before he rallied by notching back-to-back victories at Texas and Bristol. By then, Johnson notched his seventh career victory at Texas and second at Bristol as he also stretched his race-winning streak to 16 consecutive seasons. Five races later, he capitalized on an overtime shootout to muscle away from Kyle Larson and win at Dover for the 11th time in his career. Amid his Dover victory, he moved into a tie with Cale Yarborough for sixth place on the all-time wins list at 83. After notching only two top-10 results throughout the remaining 13 regular-season events and transferring from the Playoff’s Round of 16 to 8 with three top-10 results, Johnson’s eighth titles hopes came to a late end after he finished no higher than 12th throughout the Round of 8. Overall, he capped off his 16th consecutive full-time Cup season in 10th place in the final standings.

The 2018 and 2019 seasons were low years for Johnson and his No. 48 HMS Chevrolet team that started in the former season, where he went winless for the first time in his career despite making the Playoffs for a 17th consecutive time and finishing in 14th place in the final standings. During the season, he was eliminated from the Playoffs following the Round of 16 amid a three-way tie-breaker between himself, Aric Almirola and Kyle Larson, the latter two of whom transferred due to recording higher finishes than Johnson throughout the round. Amid the on-track struggles, Johnson surpassed 600 Cup career starts. Then despite winning the non-points Clash at Daytona for the second time to commence the 2019 season, he missed the Playoffs for the first time ever after he accumulated only eight top-10 results throughout the 26-race regular-season stretch, but finished no higher than 15th during his final eight starts. Entering the Playoffs as a non-title contender for the first time, Johnson would rack up four results in the top 10 before ending up in 18th place in the final standings.

In mid-November 2019, Johnson announced that the 2020 season would be his last as a full-time Cup Series competitor. He commenced the year by finishing 35th during the 62nd running of the Daytona 500 after he was involved in a late-race multi-car wreck before he finished in the top seven during his next two starts. Then after accumulating four top-10 results over his next 12 starts, he was absent from competing at Indianapolis due to testing positive for COVID-19, which resulted with Xfinity Series veteran Justin Allgaier piloting Johnson’s No. 48 entry for the event. Despite finishing in the top 10 three times over his next 10 starts from his return to racing, Johnson missed the Playoffs for a second consecutive season. With his hopes of winning a title during his final season evaporated, he proceeded to finish fifth during the finale at Phoenix and settle in 18th place in the final standings. Overall, Johnson recorded five top-five results, a season-best third place at Bristol in June, 10 top-10 results, 107 laps led and an average-finishing result of 17.3 during his final full-time Cup campaign.

After departing from a full-time NASCAR campaign following the 2020 season, Johnson spent the next two seasons competing in the NTT IndyCar Series for Chip Ganassi Racing, where he made 12 starts in 2021 before he campaigned for the entire season in 2022. Despite recording average-finishing results within the top-20 mark, he managed to record two top-six results and a career-best fifth place at Iowa Speedway in July 2022.

In early November 2022, Johnson announced his purchase of an ownership stake of Petty GMS Motorsports and plans to return to the Cup Series on a part-time basis in 2023. A month prior to the 2023 season’s start, Petty GMS Motorsports rebranded to Legacy Motor Club as Johnson’s ride was revealed to be numbered 84. Johnson commenced his part-time Cup campaign on a high note by earning a starting spot for the 65th running of the Daytona 500 after being the fastest non-chartered competitors during the event’s single-car qualifying session. Despite racing towards the top-15 mark in the closing laps, Johnson would end up in 31st place after he was involved in a multi-car wreck during the event’s first of two overtime attempts. He would then end up in 38th place during his second start of the season at Circuit of the Americas in late March after being involved in a multi-car wreck on the opening lap before he finished 37th during his next scheduled start in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte due to being involved in an early single-car wreck. Johnson was initially set to compete in the series’ inaugural event at the Chicago Street Course in July, but withdrew following a personal family tragedy. Ultimately, he would not participate in any additional Cup events for the remainder of the 2023 season.

Johnson would return for an expanded, part-time campaign consisting of nine Cup events for the 2024 season while Legacy Motor Club switched manufacturers from Chevrolet to Toyota. Prior to the season’s start, Johnson was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame. After edging J.J. Yeley to claim a starting spot for the 66th running of the Daytona 500 from the Daytona Duels, Johnson would finish 28th during the main event after he was involved in an early multi-car wreck. Overall, he recorded an average-finishing result of 30.6 throughout his nine-race campaign and finished a season-best 26th place during the finale at Phoenix.

This season, Johnson confirmed in January that he would return to compete in both the 67th running of the Daytona 500 and the Coca-Cola 600, both of which he would continue to pilot his No. 84 Toyota entry. After securing a starting spot for the former event based on his qualifying speed, he would dodge a final-lap accident to finish in third place. The finish marked his first top-three result as an owner/driver of Legacy Motor Club and his first time finishing in the top three since previously doing so at Dover in August 2020.

Through 699 previous Cup starts, Johnson has achieved a record-tying seven championships, 83 victories, 36 poles, 233 top-five results, 375 top-10 results, 18,941 laps led and an average-finishing result of 13.4.

For this upcoming weekend at Charlotte for the Coca-Cola 600, Johnson, who is a four-time winner of the prestigious event, is scheduled to become the 21st competitor overall to reach at least 700 starts in the Cup Series division. A victory this weekend would make the Californian the first competitor to win in career start No. 700 and it would tie him with NASCAR Hall of Famer Darrell Waltrip for the most Coca-Cola 600 victories at five.

Jimmie Johnson is scheduled to make his 700th Cup Series career start at Charlotte Motor Speedway for the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday, May 25, at 6 p.m. ET on Prime Video.

Daniel Suarez to make 300th Cup career start at Charlotte

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

Competing in his ninth consecutive full-time season in the NASCAR Cup Series division, Daniel Suarez is scheduled to achieve a milestone start. By competing in this weekend’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, the driver of the No. 99 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet entry will reach 300 career starts in NASCAR’s premier series.

A native of Monterrey, Mexico, Suarez made his inaugural presence in NASCAR’s premier series at the start of the 2017 season. By then, he was coming off an Xfinity Series championship with Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) and was promoted to a full-time Cup ride in JGR’s No. 19 Toyota Camry entry after veteran Carl Edwards retired from full-time NASCAR competition. Starting 19th, Suarez finished 29th in his Cup debut during the 59th running of the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway after he was involved in a late multi-car wreck.

Throughout his rookie Cup Series campaign, Suarez notched a total of 12 top-10 results and a season-best third-place run at Watkins Glen International. He also recorded three sixth-place runs, six seventh-place finishes, a season-best starting spot of third place at Dover Motor Speedway and a non-points race victory in the All-Star Open at Charlotte Motor Speedway that enabled him to compete in his first All-Star Race, where he finished 15th. Amid the results, Suarez fell short of making the 2017 Cup Series Playoffs. The Mexico native would proceed to accumulate three top-10 results for the remaining 10 events on the schedule before he settled in 20th place in the final standings. In addition, he settled in the runner-up spot behind Erik Jones for the Rookie-of-the-Year battle and recorded a career-best average-finishing result of 16.2.

Like his rookie Cup season, Suarez commenced his sophomore Cup season with a wreck in the 60th running of the Daytona 500 that occurred on the final lap of the first stage period. He proceeded by finishing no higher than eighth during his next seven starts before notching three consecutive top-10 finishes between late April to early May, which included a third-place result at Dover. During the All-Star Race weekend at Charlotte, Suarez won the second segment of the Open that enabled him to transfer into the All-Star event for a second consecutive season. He would proceed to finish second behind Kevin Harvick amid a two-lap shootout.

At Pocono Raceway in early August 2018, Suarez was awarded his first Cup career pole position despite qualifying in third place, but was promoted to the top-starting spot after the qualifying times of Kevin Harvick and teammate Kyle Busch’s were disallowed due to their respective entries failing the post-qualifying inspection process. During the main event at Pocono, Suarez led 29 laps and settled in a career-best runner-up result behind Busch amid an overtime shootout. Despite backing up his Pocono result with a fourth-place finish the following weekend at Watkins Glen, Suarez missed the 2018 Cup Playoffs. He capped off the season with three top-10 results during the remaining 10 events on the schedule before ending up in 21st place in the final standings.

In 2019, Suarez, who was replaced by Martin Truex Jr. at Joe Gibbs Racing, joined forces with Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) to pilot the No. 41 Ford Mustang entry on a full-time Cup basis. Suarez’s first campaign with SHR commenced by wrecking out of the 61st running of the Daytona 500 after he was involved in a late multi-car wreck, which marked his third consecutive DNF in the Cup Series season opener. He would rally by finishing 10th during the following weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway before he racked up five additional top-10 results during his next 13 starts, including a season-best third-place result at Texas Motor Speedway in April. At Kentucky Speedway, Suarez notched his second Cup career pole and would proceed to finish eighth after leading 52 laps. Despite accumulating two additional top-10 results during the remaining six events on the regular-season schedule, he missed the Playoffs by four points. He would proceed to record two top-10 results, including a second third-place run at Texas in November, over the 10-race Playoff stretch before achieving a 17th-place result in the final standings. By then, Suarez led a total of 166 laps throughout the season, notched 11 top-10 results, recorded his second-best average-finishing result overall at 16.4 and surpassed 100 career starts in NASCAR’s premier series.

After losing his Stewart-Haas Racing ride to Cole Custer for the 2020 season, Suarez ended up joining forces with Gaunt Brothers Racing for a full-time Cup bid. His season commenced on a low note by failing to qualify for the 62nd running of the Daytona 500 after he was involved in a wreck during the first of two Daytona Duels and since his Gaunt Brothers Racing entry did not have an automatic berth to the 500. Overall, Suarez achieved a pair of season-best results of 18th-place finishes (Bristol Motor Speedway in June and at Kansas Speedway in July) before he ended up in a career-low 31st place in the final standings.

In October 2020, Suarez was announced as a Cup Series competitor for the newly formed Trackhouse Racing, a team owned by Justin Marks and Armando Christian “Pitbull” Perez, for the 2021 season. He commenced the season by ending up in 36th place during the 63rd running of the Daytona 500 after he was eliminated in an early multi-car wreck. Six races later, he recorded a strong fourth-place run during the series’ inaugural event at the Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt Course after leading 58 laps. Despite claiming two additional top-10 results and a total of nine top-15 runs throughout the 26-race regular-season stretch, Suarez, who was involving in a final lap multi-car wreck during the regular-season finale at Daytona in August while contending for the victory, fell short of making the 2021 Cup Series Playoffs. After managing to record a single top-10 result over the final 10 races of the season, he finished in 25th place in the final standings.

Remaining at Trackhouse Racing that grew to a two-car operation and recruited Ross Chastain for the 2022 season, Suarez achieved a breakout season that commenced by finishing 18th during the 64th running of the Daytona 500 before he finished fourth the following weekend at Auto Club Speedway after contending for the victory in the closing laps. Despite recording a total of three top-10 finishes throughout his next 13-scheduled starts, he led a total of 156 laps during the span. Then at Sonoma Raceway in June, Suarez triumphed for the first time in the Cup Series and in his 95th career start after he led 47 laps, including the final 26, en route to his first win. With the victory, Suarez became the 202nd competitor and the first Mexican-born competitor to win in NASCAR’s premier series. By virtue of winning at Sonoma, he also clinched a Playoff berth for the first time in his career.

After finishing in the top 10 five times during the remaining 10 events on the regular-season schedule, Suarez commenced his first Playoff appearance by transferring from the Round of 16 to 12 with three consecutive top-20 results. Then after finishing eighth and 12th, respectively, during the Round of 12, Suarez’s title hopes came to an end after he ended up in 36th place during the Round of 12 finale while being mired with a power steering issue and a late run-in with Corey LaJoie. Managing a single top-10 result within the final four events of the season, Suarez managed to finish in a career-best 10th place in the final standings. Overall, he achieved career-high stats in top fives (six), top 10s (13) and laps led (280) while recording an average-finishing result of 16.5 throughout the 2022 season. By then, he also surpassed 200 Cup career starts.

Suarez’s 2023 Cup season commenced on his strongest start to date by finishing seventh during the 65th running of the Daytona 500 before he finished in the top 10 during the following two weekends. He then finished no higher than 17th during his next six starts before he rallied by finishing ninth at Talladega Superspeedway in April. With only three additional top-10 results, including a season-best second-place finish at Atlanta Motor Speedway in July, recorded over the remaining 16 regular-season events, Suarez missed the Playoffs. With two additional top-10 results generated throughout the 10-race Playoff stretch, he claimed 19th place in the final standings.

This past season, Suarez commenced the season by finishing 34th in the 66th running of the Daytona 500 after he was collected in a late multi-car wreck while contending for the victory. Then during the second event of the season at Atlanta, he edged Ryan Blaney and Kyle Busch in a three-wide photo finish, where he nosed ahead of the former by 0.003 seconds and the latter by 0.007 seconds, to capture his second Cup career victory and his first on a superspeedway/oval circuit. Despite accumulating only five additional top-10 results for the remaining 24 regular-season events on the schedule, the Atlanta victory was enough for Suarez to make his second appearance in the Playoffs as a contender. With respective finishes of second, 13th and 31st throughout the Round of 16, Suarez managed to transfer into the Round of 12. His Playoff run, however, came to an end following the Round of 12 for a second time after he finished no higher than 13th on the track. With two top-10 results recorded over the remaining four-scheduled events, Suarez finished in 12th place in the 2024 final standings.

Through 299 previous Cup starts, Suarez has achieved two victories, three poles, 23 top-five results, 71 top-10 results, 886 laps led and an average-finishing result of 18.9. He is currently ranked in 27th place in the 2025 driver’s standings and has finished in the top 10 three times through the first 12-scheduled events. He continues his pursuit for both his first victory of this season and a guaranteed berth to a third career berth to the Playoffs.

Daniel Suarez is scheduled to make his 300th Cup Series career start at Charlotte Motor Speedway for the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday, May 25, at 6 p.m. ET on Prime Video.

Berry, eero Team to Honor Cpl. Ian Zook During Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte

By
Official Release
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In one of his most popular songs, Billy Ray Cyrus summed up one of the sad realities of wartime service when he sang, “All gave some, some gave all.”

Cpl. Ian Thomas Zook, a United States Marine, is among those who gave all. He was killed in action in Iraq on Oct. 12, 2004, at the age of 24.

Originally from Peoria, Ill., Zook later moved to Florida with his family. According to published reports, he was valedictorian of his high school class and initially pursued missionary work before joining the Marines in 2001 with aspirations of becoming a law enforcement officer.

This weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Josh Berry and the Wood Brothers Racing team will honor Cpl. Zook as part of NASCAR’s 600 Miles of Remembrance program with Zook’s name being displayed on the windshield of the No. 21 eero Ford Mustang Dark Horse.

The Coca-Cola 600 marks eero’s second primary race on the No. 21. In its debut at Phoenix Raceway earlier this season, Berry qualified inside the top five and delivered a strong run, contending inside the top 10 for much of the afternoon before delivering an impressive fourth-place finish, one week before scoring his first career NASCAR Cup Series victory.

A strong showing on Sunday would be a meaningful way for the team to honor Zook’s legacy, and they’re confident in their chances. The No. 21 car has shown impressive speed on intermediate-length tracks this season.

“It’s the longest race in our sport, and that opens up a lot of opportunities for comers and goers,” Berry said during a recent media availability. “You obviously have to have a good balance to start the race, but then it cools off and you’ve got to stay up with the track. It’s just a grind.”

“I’m really excited to get there with the speed we’ve had on the intermediates,” he added. “The 600 is a crown jewel. The pre-race is a lot of fun and really special. We’re excited to get there.”

Practice at Charlotte is set for Saturday at 1:30 p.m. ET, followed by qualifying at 2:40 p.m. Sunday’s 400-lap, 600-mile race will go green just after 6 p.m., with stage breaks at Laps 100, 200 and 300. Coverage of the on-track activity will be carried on Prime Video.

About eero
eero was founded to make wifi and networking the way they should be—fast, reliable, secure, and, most importantly, easy to use. After introducing the first home mesh wifi system with a high-quality design that blends into its environment and technology that intuitively works behind the scenes, eero became known for sweating every single detail and delivering award-winning hardware and software for homes, businesses, communities, and service providers. Founded and headquartered in San Francisco in 2014, eero is an Amazon company. For more information, visit eero.com.

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

Kyle Larson Foundation Announces 2nd Annual Auction to Benefit Urban Youth Racing School

By
Official Release
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Doubles up with Team Chevy Drivers across NASCAR and INDYCAR to benefit Urban Youth Racing School

 MOORESVILLE, N.C. (May 21, 2025) – While NASCAR Cup Series Champion Kyle Larson is attempting “The Double” this weekend, traveling between Indianapolis and Charlotte to race for 1,100 miles in one day, his charitable foundation is working on a double of its own – this time with Team Chevy drivers across both NASCAR and INDYCAR. The Kyle Larson Foundation announced today that it will once again partner with Chevrolet and Pristine Auction, and with the generous donation of race shields from 48 Team Chevy drivers from the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series and INDYCAR, will raise funds for the Philadelphia-based Urban Youth Racing School. Each shield will be autographed by both Larson and the respective Team Chevy driver.

“Last year’s visor auction was such a success, and we are excited to do it again and to include the INDYCAR teams this year,” NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Larson stated. “A big thank you to my partners at Pristine Auction, Chevrolet, and all the drivers participating in this program to help support my friends at the Urban Youth Racing School.”

Chevrolet has been a proud supporter of the Urban Youth Racing School for 25 years, with the Kyle Larson Foundation joining as a patron since its 2021 inception. Established in 1998 by Anthony and Michelle Martin, the program is committed to teaching students about STEM through motorsports and providing them a positive environment.

The online auction will begin on Friday, May 23, at 12 p.m. ET on the Pristine Auction website (prstn.co/klf-visor) and it will run through Tuesday, May 27, at 10 p.m. ET. The starting bid for all visors is $25. Once purchased, the visors will be shipped to winning bidders approximately four weeks after the auction ends, along with a Certificate of Authenticity issued from Pristine Auction.

visors

 
TEAM CHEVY DRIVERS PARTICIPATING

NASCAR Cup Series
AJ AllmendingerAlex Bowman
Anthony Alfredo
Austin Dillon
Carson Hocevar
Chase Elliott
Daniel Suarez
Justin HaleyKyle Busch
Kyle Larson
Michael McDowell
Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
Ross Chastain
Shane van Gisbergen
Ty Dillon
William Byron		NASCAR Xfinity Series
Austin Hill
Blaine Perkins
Brennan Poole
Carson Kvapil
Christian Eckes
Connor Zilisch
Daniel Dye
Jeb Burton
Jeremy Clements
Jesse Love
Josh Williams
Justin Allgaier
Katherine Legge
Matt DiBenedetto
Nick Sanchez
Parker Retzlaff
Ryan Ellis
Sammy Smith		INDYCAR Series
Alexander Rossi (shoes)
Christian Lundgaard
Christian Rasmussen
Conor DalyEd CarpenterJack Harvey
Josef Newgarden
Kyle LarsonNolan Siegel
Pato O’WardRyan Hunter-Reay
Santino Ferrucci (gloves)
Scott McLaughlin
Will Power
Tony Kanaan – Team   Principle (hat)

About the Kyle Larson Foundation

The Kyle Larson Foundation is dedicated to bringing people together and providing support to hands-on charitable organizations that benefit today’s youth, families and communities in need. Learn more at kylelarsonfoundation.org.

About the Urban Youth Driving School

The mission of UYSA Center of Excellence is to provide urban youth with exposure to an educational initiative that will engage them in STEM in a more holistic way by teaching them how to think critically and independently through preparing them to embrace the depths of all academic subjects for obtaining the skills necessary for successful STEM careers. The Urban Youth Racing School offers a 10-week program for urban students ages 8-18, with the goal to teach science, technology, engineering, and mathematics via the magic of motorsports and prepare students for a fast-paced career in the competitive world of professional racing. Learn more at uyrs.com.

Rebel Bourbon and Childress Vineyards Introduce Rebel 100 Childress Vineyards Cabernet Franc Barrel Finish

By
Official Release
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The latest limited-edition offering will be available in North Carolina and at Lux Row Distillers

ST. LOUIS (May 21, 2025) – Bardstown, Kentucky-based Rebel Bourbon – the Official Bourbon of Richard Childress Racing (RCR) – teamed up with Childress Vineyards on the release of Rebel 100 Childress Vineyards Cabernet Franc Barrel Finish. This limited-release offering features Rebel’s original time-honored wheated recipe, aged four years, finished in Childress Vineyards Cabernet Franc barrels and bottled at 100 proof (50% ABV). The result is a one-of-a-kind bourbon with unique flavor notes of sweet plums, honey and bright berries. An allocation of 500 cases (6-in) of Rebel 100 Childress Vineyards Cabernet Franc Barrel Finish will be available at North Carolina ABC stores and at Lux Row Distillers beginning this month at a minimum suggested retail price of $39.99 per 750mL bottle.

“We selected the Cabernet Franc barrels from Childress Vineyards because we wanted to craft a smooth, high-proof bourbon with tasting notes of sweet berry, oak, caramel, vanilla and spice,” said Lux Row Distillers Master Distiller John Rempe. “Cabernet Franc was the perfect match for our wheated Rebel recipe, and the result is incredible.”

Childress Vineyards features over 70 acres of vineyards and 15 varieties of European Vitis vinifera cultivars at two vineyard sites in North Carolina: Richard’s Hampton Road Estate in Davidson County and Vineyard Crossing at the winery site. The terroir, with its combination of humid climate, long growing season and gravelly, red clay soil are the key natural features of Childress Vineyards, producing a broad range of over 30 wines to appeal to both the introductory palate and the seasoned taster.

“At Childress Vineyards, we take great pride in both our wines and our partnerships, especially with Rebel Bourbon,” said Childress Vineyards Chief Operating Officer Elizabeth Brown. “Working with Rebel has allowed us to push the boundaries of collaboration, exploring new ways to blend our passion for winemaking with their rich bourbon heritage. We knew Rebel would be the perfect fit for Childress Vineyards as we continue to innovate and grow, delivering unique experiences that celebrate both our craft and our shared commitment to excellence.”

Earlier this year Rebel Bourbon announced the continuation of its sponsorship of Richard Childress Racing and driver Kyle Busch for the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season. In February, Rebel released Kyle Busch 108 Single Barrel Bourbon, a limited-edition release featuring hand-bottled barrels selected by Busch with the guidance of Rempe.

“From racing to winemaking, Richard and the RCR team embody the true spirit of being a Rebel,” said Rebel Bourbon Brand Manager Philip Lux. “We’re proud to once again team up with RCR and create a unique bourbon that is sure to make racing fans, wine lovers and bourbon aficionados take notice.”

Childress Vineyards plans to mark the launch of Rebel 100 Childress Vineyards Cabernet Franc Barrel Finish with a private celebration.

To learn more about Rebel 100 Childress Vineyards Cabernet Franc Barrel Finish visit RebelBourbon.com. To find a bottle, visit Lux Row Distillers in person or a North Carolina ABC store.

About Rebel Bourbon

Distilled in Bardstown, Kentucky, by Lux Row Distillers Master Distiller John Rempe, Rebel Bourbon features a wheated mash bill true to its original recipe dating back to 1849, when it was invented at the Stitzel-Weller distillery. Our defiantly smooth premium wheated bourbon celebrates those who embrace bold originality and a rebellious spirit. Our products have earned top spirits industry honors including double platinum at the 2024 ASCOT awards, platinum and best of class at the 2024 SIP Awards and gold at the 2024 San Francisco World Spirits Competition for Rebel 10 Year Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. To learn more, visit RebelBourbon.com and follow on Facebook and Instagram.

About Luxco

Founded in St. Louis in 1958 by the Lux family, Luxco is a leading producer, supplier, importer and bottler of beverage alcohol products with a mission to meet the needs and exceed the expectations of consumers, associates and business partners. Luxco operates as MGP Ingredients Inc. (Nasdaq: MGPI) Branded Spirits division since its acquisition in 2021. The company’s extensive and award-winning premium portfolio includes brands from four distilleries: Ross & Squibb Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, where Penelope and Remus bourbon are produced; Bardstown, Kentucky-based Lux Row Distillers, home of Rebel, Ezra Brooks, and Blood Oath bourbons; Lebanon, Kentucky-based Limestone Branch Distillery, maker of Yellowstone Bourbon; and Arandas, Mexico-based Destiladora Gonzalez Lux, producer of 100% agave tequilas including El Mayor and Exotico. For more information, visit Luxco.com.

About Childress Vineyards

Located in the heart of North Carolina’s Yadkin Valley, Childress Vineyards is a family-owned winery that has been delighting guests for over 20 years with its award-winning wines and Southern hospitality. Founded by Richard Childress, the winery combines a deep passion for crafting exceptional wines with a dedication to providing guests with an unforgettable experience. Whether you’re enjoying a tasting of our renowned reds, whites, rosés, or specialty offerings, or indulging in a delicious meal at The Bistro, Childress Vineyards delivers the warmth and charm of the South. With a commitment to excellence, we invite you to relax, unwind, and savor the finest wines in a picturesque setting. For more information, visit www.childressvineyards.com.

About Richard Childress Racing

Richard Childress Racing (www.rcrracing.com) 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).

HFT Advance | Coke 600

By
Official Release
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Coca-Cola 600 Event Info:
Date: Sunday, May 25
Time: 6 p.m. ET
Series: NASCAR Cup Series (NCS)
Location: Concord, N.C.
Format: 400 Laps, 600 Miles
TV: Prime
Radio: PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90)

Weekend Schedule:
Saturday: 11:05 a.m. ET, Xfinity Practice (CW App, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Saturday: 12:10 p.m. ET, Xfinity Qualifying (CW App, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Saturday: 1:30 p.m. ET, Cup Practice (Prime, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Saturday: 2:40 p.m. ET, Cup Qualifying (Prime, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Saturday: 4:30 p.m. ET, Xfinity Race (CW, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Sunday: 6 p.m. ET, Cup Race (Prime, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)

Pace Laps:

  • The NASCAR schedule turns to Charlotte Motor Speedway this weekend as the NASCAR Cup Series is set for the famed Coca-Cola 600 Sunday night.
  • This year, NASCAR Salutes begins on Memorial Day Weekend, anchored by a special tribute called “600 Miles of Remembrance” where every Cup Series car in Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 will feature the name of a fallen service member on the windshield.

Cole Custer Team Info:
Crew Chief: Aaron Kramer
Partner: Texas A&M

Sheldon Creed Team Info:
Crew Chief: Jonathan Toney
Partner: Pit Boss

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

Custer at Charlotte (Cup)
Starts: 4
Wins: —
Top-10s: —
Poles: —

  • Custer makes his 5th Cup start at Charlotte this weekend, where he has a 18.0 average finish. His best finish came in 2020 when he finished 12th, and he has never finished worse than 21st.
  • He has started inside the top-10 once, rolling off P9 start in 2020 which is his best start. He boasts a 20.3 average starting position.
  • Custer has also made seven NXS starts at Charlotte, with five top-10 finishes, including three in the top 5.

Creed at Charlotte (Xfinity)
Starts: 3
Wins: —
Top-10s: 1
Poles: —

  • Creed is set to make his 4th Xfinity start at Charlotte on Saturday, where he has one career top-10 finish. His best finish came in 2022 when he finished eighth after starting 18th, and led nine laps in last year’s race.
  • His best career starting position was P13 in that same race, and he holds an average starting position of 18.3.

Mayer at Charlotte (Xfinity)
Starts: 3
Wins: —
Top-10s: 2
Poles: 1 (2022)

  • Mayer is in line for his 4th Xfinity start at Charlotte this weekend, coming off a third-place finish in last season’s race after starting 13th. He has two career top-10 finishes at CMS, and has an average finish of 14.0.
  • He has started inside the top 10 twice, including a pole in 2022, and has an average starting position of 7.3.

Where They Stand

Cup Points Standings (41: 34th): Custer is 34th in the Cup Series points standings through 12 races this season with 139 points.

Xfinity Points Standings (41: 3rd, 00: 11th): Mayer sits second in the Xfinity points standings with 391 total points on the season, while Creed is in 11th place with 304 points heading into Charlotte this Saturday.

CHEVROLET EXTENDS PARTNERSHIP WITH POCONO RACEWAY

By
Official Release
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The 2025 Chevrolet Silverado RST will be the official pace vehicle for the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series’ MillerTech Battery 200 on Friday, June 20, to kick off the NASCAR tripleheader weekend at Pocono Raceway. Photo credit: Pocono Raceway.

One of the world’s leading vehicle brands continues its partnership of more than two decades with a multi-year extension as “The Official Vehicle of Pocono Raceway.”

LONG POND, Pa. (May 21, 2025) – Chevrolet will continue its partnership of more than two decades with Pocono Raceway through a multi-year extension of its official status role.

Chevrolet will continue to serve as the “Official Vehicle of Pocono Raceway” with a number of promotional vehicles being prominently featured during the June 20-22 NASCAR tripleheader weekend.

The pace vehicle lineup for the 2025 NASCAR tripleheader weekend at Pocono Raceway will feature the Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, which will serve as the official pace vehicle for the Cup Series’ The Great American Getaway 400 presented by VISITPA.COM on Sunday, June 22, and the Xfinity Series’ Explore the Pocono Mountains 250 on Saturday, June 21. The Chevrolet Silverado RST will return as the pace vehicle for the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, with the division kicking off the event weekend Friday, June 20, with the MillerTech Battery 200.

“Chevrolet is thrilled to continue its long-standing partnership with Pocono Raceway,” said Todd Christensen, Director of Motorsports Marketing & Activation for Chevrolet. “We are proud of the partnership we’ve built with Pocono over the last two decades and look forward to the opportunity to further serve as the official vehicle at such a historic venue in motorsports.”

Also, the Pocono Raceway fire and safety team, as well as the track services department, will feature a fleet of Chevrolet Silverado 2500 trucks for their race weekend responsibilities.

“For more than two decades, Pocono Raceway has been proud to partner with such an iconic brand as Chevrolet,” Pocono President Ben May said. “Over that time, performance, reliability and style have been the hallmarks of our shared success. There will be plenty of visibility of the Chevy vehicles throughout the weekend, from pacing the NASCAR fields to our track services, fire and safety teams.”

Chevrolet has enjoyed immense on-track success at Pocono Raceway since “The Tricky Triangle” hosted its first NASCAR Cup Series race in 1974. Chevy has won a manufacturer-best 34 of the 91 Cup races contested, with its first win coming from Benny Parsons in 1977.

For ticket information and news on the NASCAR race weekend, please visit www.poconoraceway.com.

About General Motors

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

About Pocono Raceway

Pocono Raceway, also known as ‘The Tricky Triangle,’ is family-owned and situated in the beautiful Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. In business for over 60 years, the Raceway hosts multiple, national motorsports events including the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series events each year. The facility’s calendar also consists of over 300 events including Elements Music & Arts Festival and a wide range of entertainment events, car clubs and racing schools. Pocono Raceway is recognized as the world’s first, privately-owned solar-powered sports facility. Their 25-acre, three-megawatt solar farm provides the energy needs of the Raceway, as well as, adds electricity to the local power grid. Each member of our raceway staff is committed to creating exciting experiences and lifelong memories. For more information, please visit www.poconoraceway.com.

Ty Gibbs to make 100th Cup career start at Charlotte

By
Andrew Kim
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Competing in his third full-time season in the NASCAR Cup Series division, Ty Gibbs is scheduled to achieve a milestone start. By taking the green flag in this weekend’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, the driver of the No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) Toyota Camry XSE entry will make career start No. 100 in NASCAR’s premier series.

Gibbs, the grandson of NASCAR Hall of Famer and team owner Joe Gibbs of JGR from Charlotte, North Carolina, made his inaugural presence in the Cup division at Pocono Raceway in July 2022. During the event, he drove as a relief competitor for 23XI Racing’s Kurt Busch, who would be ruled out indefinitely and eventually completely from NASCAR competition due to suffering concussion-like symptoms amid a single-car wreck while qualifying for the Pocono event. By then, Gibbs was campaigning in his first full-time season in the Xfinity Series for JGR. Driving the No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota Camry TRD entry, Gibbs recorded a 16th-place result after rallying from starting at the rear of the field.

Following his Cup debut at Pocono, Gibbs would compete in the following five Cup events in 23XI Racing’s No. 45 entry. During the five-race stretch, he recorded his first top-10 career result in NASCAR’s premier series by finishing 10th at Michigan International Speedway in August after rallying from a late pit road penalty. Then prior to the 10-race Cup Playoff stretch in late 2022, Gibbs swapped 23XI Racing rides with teammate Bubba Wallace, where Wallace piloted the No. 45 Toyota that was contending for the owner’s championship while Gibbs took over Wallace’s No. 23 entry. Making nine starts in the No. 23 entry, Gibbs recorded three top-20 results, including a 15th-place finish in the Playoff opener at Darlington Raceway in September. Prior to the Cup Series finale at Phoenix Raceway in November, Gibbs did not compete in the event due to the death of his father, Coy, as Daniel Hemric would fill in for Gibbs. Amid Gibbs’ part-time Cup campaign, he claimed the 2022 Xfinity Series championship.

Ten days after winning the 2022 Xfinity title, Gibbs was named a full-time Cup Series competitor of the No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Camry TRD entry for the 2023 season, where he would contend for the Rookie-of-the-Year title. He commenced his rookie Cup campaign by finishing 25th in the 65th running of the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Then after finishing no higher than 16th during his next three starts, the Charlotte native notched four consecutive top-10 results, with his first three being in the ninth position. He would then only manage to finish in the top 15 twice during his next nine starts before recording his next top-10 result during the series’ inaugural event at the Chicago Street Course, where he finished ninth. Despite achieving his first two career top-five results in the form of fifth-place runs during his next throughout the final eight regular-season events on the schedule, Gibbs fell short of securing a spot into the 2023 Cup Series Playoffs.

Despite the disappointment of missing the cutline to make the 2023 Cup Playoffs, Gibbs generated a strong run at Bristol Motor Speedway in September, where he led 102 of 500 laps before finishing in fifth place. Three races later, he notched a career-best fourth-place finish at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course in October. Despite recording a single top-10 result within the final four events on the schedule, Gibbs capped off his rookie Cup campaign in 18th place in the final driver’s standings. In addition, he achieved the 2023 Cup Series Rookie-of-the-Year title, thus becoming the fourth competitor to achieve the accolade as a Joe Gibbs Racing competitor.

Returning for a second Cup campaign in 2024, Gibbs commenced his sophomore Cup season by finishing 17th during the 66th running of the Daytona 500. He then notched his first two Cup career poles throughout the 26-race regular-season stretch, where his first occurred at Charlotte for the Coca-Cola 600 in May before he notched his second at Pocono in July. To go along with a total of seven top-five results and 11 top-10 results, Gibbs managed to claim the final berth into the 2024 Cup Series Playoffs, which marked his first time competing for a title within the Cup Series’ postseason format. After finishing 17th, 15th and 22nd, respectively during the Playoff’s Round of 16, however, Gibbs was eliminated from the Playoffs by 12 points. Managing a single top-five finish for the remaining seven events on the schedule, he concluded his second Cup campaign in 15th place in the final standings. By then, he doubled his total top-five results, achieved two additional top-10 results, led an extra 305 laps from his rookie Cup season and boosted his average-finishing result from 18.4 to 17.4 in 2024.

Through 99 previous Cup starts, Gibbs has achieved two poles, 13 top-five results, 25 top-10 results, 563 laps led and an average-finishing result of 19.0 as he continues his pursuit for his first series’ victory. He is currently ranked in 26th place in the 2025 driver’s standings and has finished in the top 10 twice through the first 12-scheduled events of the 2025 season.

Ty Gibbs is scheduled to make his 100th Cup Series career start at Charlotte Motor Speedway for the Coca-Cola 600. The event is scheduled to occur this Sunday, May 25, and air at 6 p.m. ET on Prime Video.

Natalie Grant To Perform National Anthemat Indianapolis 500

By
Official Release
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INDIANAPOLIS (Wednesday, May 21, 2025) – Natalie Grant, a nine-time Grammy nominee and five-time GMA Dove Awards Female Vocalist of the Year, will perform the national anthem before the start of the 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on Sunday, May 25 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

“Natalie’s emotional and stirring rendition of the national anthem in front of the grandstand sellout crowd will be an unforgettable moment during pre-race ceremonies for the Indy 500,” INDYCAR and IMS president J. Douglas Boles said. “The national anthem pays honor to the country we love and gets us one step closer to the final, dramatic and electric moments leading up to the start of the Indianapolis 500.”

Grant’s most recent project, “Seasons,” debuted at No. 1 on the Christian Billboard charts and featured a long list of cross-genre collaborations, including Mary Mary, CeCe Winans, Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Jonathan McReynolds and more. The latest single, “Step By Step,” (a Whitney Houston cover) featuring Dolly Parton, went Top 10 at Mainstream AC Radio.

In addition to garnering nearly 1 billion streams and multiple number No. 1 albums and singles on the Billboard charts, Grant is also a respected author of 11 books, including the Glimmer Girls series for tween girls.

As an active philanthropist, she is the co-founder of Hope for Justice, a nonprofit organization that fights against human trafficking through programs in the United States and globally that reach more than 150,000 adults and children each year. A Seattle native, Grant resides in Nashville, Tennessee, with her husband, Grammy Award-winning songwriter, producer and composer Bernie Herms and their three children, Gracie, Bella and Sadie.

Coverage of the 109th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge begins at 10 a.m. ET on FOX, FOX Deportes and the FOX Sports app.

Visit ims.com for more information on the 109th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on Sunday, May 25 and the complete Month of May schedule at IMS.

Toyota GAZOO Racing Weekly Preview 05.21.25

By
Official Release
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This Week in Motorsports: May 19 – 25, 2025

· NCS/NXS/NCTS/ARCA: Charlotte Motor Speedway – May 23-25

PLANO, Texas (May 21, 2025) – NASCAR stays in the state of North Carolina and heads to Charlotte Motor Speedway, where all three national series and the ARCA Menards Series take on the 1.5-mile-oval this Memorial Day weekend. Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 culminates the weekend on Sunday night in the sport’s longest race of the year.

NASCAR National Series – NCS/NCTS

Milestone races for Johnson, Gibbs … Sunday night’s Coca-Cola 600 will be one to remember for Jimmie Johnson and Ty Gibbs, as both will hit milestone starts in their careers. Johnson makes his 700th career start Sunday night behind the wheel of his No. 84 Toyota Camry XSE for LEAGCY MOTOR CLUB, while Gibbs makes his 100th career start, piloting his No. 54 Camry XSE for Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR). Johnson has won the famed 600-mile race four times, last coming in 2014, while Gibbs returns to Charlotte Motor Speedway as the reigning Coca-Cola 600 polesitter.

Bell seeks Coke 600 repeat … A rain-shortened Coca-Cola 600 last season saw Christopher Bell as the winner, becoming the sixth Toyota driver to win the crown jewel race. The JGR driver is also coming off a win in last weekend’s All-Star race, hoping to carry the momentum into this weekend for what would be his 13th career Cup Series win.

Nemechek heads to Charlotte with serious momentum … The last few weeks for John Hunter Nemechek and the No. 42 Toyota Camry XSE team of LEGACY MOTOR CLUB have been solid as he continues to climb his way up the Cup Series points standings. In the previous two points-paying races at Texas and Kansas, Nemechek earned the eighth and 10th place finishing positions, where he now has four top-10s in 12 races this year, sitting just 10 points back of being in the Playoffs as the points standings currently sit.

Briscoe makes 2025 Xfinity Series debut … Chase Briscoe will take on double duty this weekend in Charlotte, running the No. 19 GR Supra for JGR in the Xfinity Series race on Saturday, along with his full-time duties in the Cup Series on Sunday. This will be Briscoe’s first Xfinity Series start since 2022, and he looks to improve upon his best Xfinity Series finish at Charlotte Motor Speedway of sixth in 2021.

Gray looks for third straight Charlotte pole … Tanner Gray has made Charlotte Motor Speedway one of his best tracks on the Truck Series schedule, this weekend going for a third straight pole position at the mile-and-a-half circuit. He’ll also look to improve upon a career-best finish of sixth he earned in 2022.

NASCAR Regional Series – ARCA Menards Series

Sawalich takes on double duty again … This weekend in Charlotte is another stop on the busy 2025 schedule for William Sawalich, who will once again drive the No. 18 Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing in the ARCA Menards Series, along with his full-time efforts with the team in the Xfinity Series. It will be Sawalich’s fourth ARCA start of the season as he looks for his first win of the year. A victory by Sawalich — or any of the other Toyota Camrys — would mark Toyota’s fifth consecutive win at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for nearly 70 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our more than 1,800 dealerships.

Toyota directly employs nearly 64,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 49 million cars and trucks at our 14 manufacturing plants. In spring 2025, Toyota’s plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, Toyota currently offers 32 electrified options.

For more information about Toyota, visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.

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