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Exploring Avia Masters: A New Perspective for Fans of Racing and Motorsport

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

Racing and motorsport have always captivated fans with speed, strategy, and adrenaline-filled competition. As technology continues to reshape the entertainment industry, new digital experiences are emerging that bring a fresh perspective to the world of racing. One such example is avia masters, an innovative platform that blends elements of motorsport excitement with interactive gameplay. For fans seeking alternatives beyond traditional racing formats, this new approach offers both novelty and depth.

The Evolution of Motorsport Entertainment

Motorsport has traditionally been enjoyed through live events, television broadcasts, and, more recently, esports. With simulators and racing games already popular among enthusiasts, platforms like Avia Masters represent the next stage in this evolution—expanding how fans engage with competition and technology.

By merging digital design with racing-inspired dynamics, the platform aims to capture the thrill of motorsport while making it more accessible to a broader audience.

What Sets Avia Masters Apart

Unlike conventional racing games or esports platforms, Avia Masters introduces a distinctive approach that emphasizes:

  • Immersive gameplay mechanics that simulate the unpredictability and excitement of motorsport.
  • Accessibility for both casual fans and dedicated motorsport enthusiasts.
  • Innovative design that departs from standard racing titles while retaining the core essence of speed and competition.

This combination creates an experience that is both familiar and refreshingly new for players.

Interactive Features for Fans

One of the most notable aspects of Avia Masters is its focus on interactivity. Rather than simply observing a race or competing in a predictable environment, players can experience:

  1. Dynamic challenges that mirror the fast-paced nature of motorsport.
  2. Engaging visuals and design inspired by the aesthetics of racing.
  3. Opportunities for progression that keep players invested over time.

This emphasis on interaction allows fans to immerse themselves in a way that goes beyond traditional spectating.

A Fresh Perspective on Motorsport

For many motorsport fans, part of the attraction lies in the suspense—anything can happen on the track. Avia Masters reflects this unpredictability by integrating elements of chance and strategy, offering a sense of tension and reward similar to real-world racing.

By combining digital gameplay with the themes of motorsport, the platform delivers a new perspective that appeals to both long-time fans and newcomers.

The Broader Context: Digital Innovation in Racing

Avia Masters is part of a larger movement where motorsport intersects with digital innovation:

  • Esports tournaments are drawing global audiences.
  • Virtual reality simulators are making competitive training more realistic.
  • Hybrid platforms like Avia Masters are pushing boundaries by offering experiences that blend gaming and thematic design.

This broader context highlights how motorsport culture is adapting to the demands of the digital age.

Responsible Participation

As with any form of interactive entertainment, it is important for users to approach Avia Masters responsibly. The game is designed to be engaging, but players should remain mindful of the time they spend online and ensure it complements, rather than replaces, other aspects of their lifestyle.

Conclusion

Avia Masters introduces a creative and innovative perspective for fans of racing and motorsport, offering an engaging alternative to traditional formats. By combining interactive gameplay with the excitement of speed and competition, it provides both accessibility and novelty.

For those curious to explore this new dimension of motorsport-inspired entertainment,avia masters serves as an entry point into a world where technology and racing passion converge. As digital platforms continue to evolve, experiences like this highlight how the future of motorsport may be shaped not only on the track but also in the virtual arena.

Richard J. Brown – Italian Luxury Denim for the Modern Gentleman

By
SM
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Richard J. Brown jeans represent the pinnacle of Italian luxury denim. Founded in Milan in 2007, the brand quickly established itself as a leader in premium menswear by combining tailored precision, innovative fabrics, and timeless style. Since 2014, under the ownership of Christian and Silvia Rossi, Richard J. Brown has elevated the concept of jeans, transforming them from casual wear into a true sartorial statement.

Every garment reflects an uncompromising commitment to craftsmanship: hand-finished details, high-end fabrics such as Italian and Japanese denim enriched with cashmere or silk, and silhouettes designed to suit both leisure and business settings. This unique combination makes Richard J. Brown clothing a symbol of sophistication, comfort, and understated luxury.

Why Richard J. Brown Jeans Stand Out

When choosing luxury denim, discerning men look for more than just fit and fabric. Richard J. Brown denim sets itself apart with:

  • Made in Italy ethos – every piece is produced in Milan with expert tailoring traditions
     
  • Premium fabrics – blends of Japanese selvedge, Egyptian cotton, cashmere, and silk
     
  • Tailored precision – jeans that feel like bespoke trousers
     
  • Distinctive details – hand-stitched back pockets, leather patches, custom rivets, and refined linings
     
  • Modern versatility – from boardroom-ready slim fits to casual straight cuts
     

The Richard J. Brown Collection at Original Luxury

At OriginalLuxury.ca, we offer a curated selection of Richard J. Brown men’s jeans designed for gentlemen who value elegance without compromising on comfort.

  • Slim Fit Jeans – streamlined silhouette perfect for smart-casual looks
     
  • Straight Leg Jeans – timeless cut that pairs with everything
     
  • Tailored Denim – dressier jeans designed to replace trousers in formal outfits
     
  • Cashmere Blend Jeans – the ultimate in softness and luxury
     
  • Seasonal Collections – including washed denims, modern finishes, and limited editions

Key Characteristics of Richard J. Brown Jeans

FeatureRichard J. Brown Denim Advantage
OriginMade in Italy, Milan
FabricsJapanese selvedge, Italian denim, cashmere, silk blends
Signature DetailsLeather/suede patches, hand-stitched seams, custom rivets
SilhouettesSlim, Straight, Tailored
StyleElegant, modern, and versatile

How to Style Richard J. Brown Jeans

One of the greatest strengths of Richard J. Brown jeans is their ability to adapt to different occasions.

  • Office Style: Pair slim fit jeans with a tailored blazer, crisp shirt, and leather brogues for a refined business-casual look.
     
  • Leisure Outfits: Straight leg jeans with a T-shirt and sneakers deliver effortless everyday style.
     
  • Evening Elegance: Opt for cashmere blend jeans with a cashmere sweater or coat for a luxurious night-out outfit.
     
  • Travel Comfort: Tailored denim with stretch offers sophistication and comfort for long flights or trips.

Why Invest in Richard J. Brown?

Unlike mass-market denim, Richard J. Brown jeans are not about trends but about longevity, quality, and timeless Italian tailoring. Choosing this brand means investing in:

  • Durability – fabrics chosen to last for years without losing shape
     
  • Elegance – clean, minimalist design elevated by luxury finishes
     
  • Comfort – lightweight materials, cashmere blends, and ergonomic cuts
     
  • Exclusivity – available only in select boutiques and premium retailers like Original Luxury

Conclusion

Richard J. Brown denim is where tailoring meets luxury. For men who demand elegance in every detail, these jeans offer a perfect balance of comfort, sophistication, and Italian craftsmanship. At OriginalLuxury.ca, you can explore and shop the finest designer jeans from Italy, available for delivery in Canada, the USA, and worldwide.

TOP FUEL’S JUSTIN ASHLEY AFTER FIRST ST. LOUIS WIN AT NAPA AUTO PARTS NHRA MIDWEST NATIONALS

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Official Release
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ST. LOUIS (Sept. 23, 2025) – Coming off a standout performance in Charlotte, if Top Fuel title contender Justin Ashley can close out this stretch of three straight races to open the NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs with another strong performance at this weekend’s NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals at World Wide Technology Raceway, he’ll find himself among the Top Fuel world title favorites.

Ashley, though, isn’t looking that far down the road, only what his team can accomplish this weekend in St. Louis. Fresh off celebrating the win in the NHRA’s first-ever four-wide race, Ashley is focused on performing well in his 12,000-horsepower Scag Power Equipment dragster.

He’s never won in St. Louis during his standout career, but Ashley is riding high with wins in two of his past three races. Ashley won the prestigious U.S. Nationals in Indy to close the regular season and then again in Charlotte, bringing plenty of momentum to the critical playoff race in St. Louis.

“We have to take what we learned (in Charlotte) and use that in St. Louis,” Ashley said. “We just need to keep doing what we’re doing. We don’t want to get caught up in the points because if we don’t take care of business, none of that matters anyway. Our approach is one race at a time and see where we end up. This Countdown is all about consistency, stacking up round wins and putting yourself in a good position to go for the championship. That’s where our focus will be (in St. Louis).”

Last season, Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel), Jack Beckman (Funny Car), Dallas Glenn (Pro Stock) and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) each claimed wins, and this year’s race will once again be broadcast on FS1, with elimination coverage airing at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday, Sept. 28. It is the 17th of 20 races during the 2025 NHRA season and the third of six playoff races, marking the halfway point of the championship chase.

A passionate St. Louis fanbase, one that has continually packed the standout facility over the years, will greet Ashley and the rest of the Top Fuel stars at the can’t-miss event.

The loaded class also features points leader Doug Kalitta, who holds a 38-point advantage over Ashley and a 59-point lead over Shawn Langdon. Racing legend Tony Stewart is in fourth and 68 points back, while other stars include Clay Millican, reigning world champ Antron Brown and Brittany Force, who is making her final St. Louis appearance before retiring from full-time racing at the end of the season.

But Ashley is as battle-tested as any of the championship contenders in Top Fuel and he’s also established himself as the best leaver in the category. His reaction times have been incredible throughout his career, but even more impressive as of late as Ashley continues to lean on recent experiences with the championship race heating up.

“You can’t buy experience and now we’ve been in contention for a championship the last 3-4 years and just leaning on that experience,” Ashley said. “We’ve got a lot of guys that have been through the Countdown and won championships, so just leaning on their guidance and expertise. These races are hard to win and the margin for error is so small. We’ve got four races left, but I’m a firm believer in enjoying a win when they come before shifting your focus to the next one.”

Beckman took over for NHRA legend John Force last season and went on to win twice in the Countdown, including the NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals. This year, everyone is again chasing reigning Funny Car champion Austin Prock, who has the points lead and eight wins this season. Multi-time champions Matt Hagan and Ron Capps are close behind as they aim to get closer in St. Louis.

Glenn won last season’s race in St. Louis and he’ll look to win his third straight race in the playoffs after a perfect start thus far in 2025. Reigning champ and KB Titan Racing teammate Greg Anderson, six-time champ Erica Enders, who has six St. Louis wins, Aaron Stanfield and Matt Hartford will look to stop Glenn’s streak.

Herrera won his second consecutive St. Louis race last season, defeating Chase Van Sant in the final round. Herrera won the regular season championship after winning five races, but John Hall opened the Countdown to the Championship with the win and Richard Gadson moved into the points lead with his Charlotte victory.

The NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals also will feature thrilling competition in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, as well as the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series, Flexjet NHRA Factory Stock Showdown, Holley EFI Factory X and Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage Mountain Motor Pro Stock. It is the final race of the season in Factory Stock Showdown and Mountain Motor Pro Stock.

Fans will be invited to the Nitro Alley Stage, which hosts Nitro School, meet and greets, music and more. Race fans at World Wide Technology Raceway can enjoy the special pre-race ceremonies that introduce and celebrate each driver racing for the prestigious Wally on Sunday and includes the fan favorite SealMaster Track Walk. The final can’t-miss experience of any NHRA event is the winner’s circle celebration on Sunday after racing concludes, where fans are invited to congratulate the St. Louis event winners.

As always, fans get a pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet. Fans can see their favorite teams in action and servicing their hot rods between rounds, get autographs from their favorite NHRA drivers, and more. They can also visit NHRA’s Manufacturers Midway, which includes interactive displays, merchandise, food, and fun.

NHRA Mission Food Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 5 and 7 p.m. CT on Friday, Sept. 26, and the final two rounds on Saturday, Sept. 27 at 12:15 and 3 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. CT on Sunday, Sept. 28. Television coverage includes qualifying action on FS1 at 2 p.m. ET on Sunday and then eliminations coverage starting at 3 p.m. ET.

Tickets may be purchased at the WWTR ticket office, by phone at (618) 215-8888, or online at www.wwtraceway.com. All children 12 and under will be admitted free in the general admission area with a paid adult. For more information on NHRA, visit www.NHRA.com.

About Mission Foods

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

About NHRA

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

LEGACY MOTOR CLUB: KANSAS SPEEDWAY RACE PREVIEW

By
Official Release
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LEGACY MOTOR CLUB: KANSAS SPEEDWAY
PRE-RACE ADVANCE
EVENT: Hollywood Casino 400
DATE: Sept. 28, 2025
RACE: NASCAR Cup Series 31 of 36
TRACK: Kansas Speedway | 1.5-Mile Oval

CLUB MINUTES:

JJ AT KANSAS: LEGACY MOTOR CLUB co-owner and seven-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion Jimmie Johnson has 31 career Cup Series starts at Kansas Speedway. During his remarkable career, he won three times (September 2008, October 2011, and May 2015) at the 1.5-mile oval in the Heartland of America. In addition to his victories, Johnson has earned nine top-fives and 19 top 10s, all while leading a total of 601 laps at Kansas. Johnson has one additional start at Kansas in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in September 2001 where he started 38th and drove his way up through the field to finish an impressive sixth.

KENSETH KANSAS STATS: LEGACY MC competition advisor and 2003 NASCAR Cup Series Champion Matt Kenseth has an equally impressive career at Kansas Speedway. Kenseth’s first start at the 1.5-mile speedway came in September 2001. He has a total of 27 Cup Series starts with two back-to-back victories when he won in October 2012 and April 2013. In addition, he owns seven top-fives and 13 top-10s. Over his career, Kenseth led a total of 774 laps at Kansas in his career. He has another nine starts at Kansas in the NASCAR Xfinity Series that led to one win (October 2013), six top-fives, and eight top-10s in addition to 405 laps led.

NEVER SETTLE: Join ESPN’s Marty Smith and LEGACY MOTOR CLUB’s co-owner Jimmie Johnson for their weekly podcast, “Never Settle”. The podcast can downloaded wherever fans source their podcasts and on YouTube. This week’s guest is Jason Sehorn, former professional football player who was a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL) for the New York Giants from 1994 to 2002. Tune into Never Settle on YouTube and watch the behind the scenes clips as well as full episodes. Click HERE to watch and subscribe.

JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK
NO. 42 DOLLAR TREE TOYOTA CAMRY XSE
JHN AT KANSAS: John Hunter Nemechek has five NASCAR Cup Series starts at Kansas, with his highest finish at the track of 10th during this year’s spring race. In the NASCAR Xfinity Series, Nemechek has made three starts, where he never finished outside the top-10, including two race wins in October 2018 and September 2023. In the NASCAR Truck Series, he has earned three pole awards and four top-five finishes, including a race win in September 2022.

DOMINANT AT KANSAS: Nemechek has three starts at Kansas Speedway in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, where he has an average finish of 3.3. He won in two of his three starts (October 2018 and September 2023) and has never finished worse than eighth in his career. In the NASCAR Truck Series, he started on the pole for three of his six races and only finished outside the top-10 once. He took home the checkered flag in September 2022 with a 1.815 margin of victory over Carson Hocevar after starting on the pole and led 88 of 134 laps.

T-MACK KANSAS STATS: Sunday’s race will be crew chief Travis Mack’s 11th NASCAR Cup Series race at Kansas. His first outing came in May 2018 with Kasey Kahne. Mack returned to Kansas with Daniel Suárez in the 2021 season. The duo competed in six races together through the end of 2023 and earned Mack’s highest finish of 10th in September 2022. In 2024, Mack returned with Derek Kraus in the spring race and Ty Dillon in the fall race. In May of this year, Mack tied his highest Kansas finish of 10th with Nemechek. In the NASCAR Xfinity Series, Mack has four starts with Michael Annett, where the pair earned one pole award in July 2020 and three top-10 finishes from 2018 to 2020. The duo earned a best finish of fourth in October 2019.

JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK QUOTE:
“I’m excited to get back to Kansas. I have a lot of confidence after our top-10 there earlier this year. We’ve made a lot of gains in our mile-and-a-half package since May, so I’m feeling ready for Sunday.”

TRAVIS MACK QUOTE:
“I am really looking forward to Kansas Speedway. We’ll build off our first race and carry over the speed we showed at Darlington. I feel like Kansas is a racetrack that we can show up and have a really good opportunity to bring home the trophy.”

ERIK JONES
NO. 43 ADVENTHEALTH TOYOTA CAMRY XSE
JONES KANSAS STATS: Erik Jones is set to make his 18th NASCAR Cup Series start at Kansas Speedway during Sunday’s race. In his 17 prior Cup Series starts at the track, Jones scored four top-fives and six top-10s. His best finish of third came in both his May 2019 and Sept. 2023 starts at the 1.5-mile oval. Outside of the Cup Series, Jones has three starts at Kansas – two in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and one in the NASCAR Truck Series. His best Xfinity Series finishes came in October 2016 and 2017 where he started second and finished 15th in both races. Meanwhile, his best Truck Series result was an 11th-place finish from the pole position in May 2015.

BRINGING IN A NEW ERA: In 2023, a new era dawned on LEGACY MC and Erik Jones as Jimmie Johnson acquired ownership stake in the team. The team began to see improvements, and Jones secured not only the team’s first top-10 and top-five result since that ownership change but also a season-high finish of third in the September race at Kansas that year.

BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF GREATER KANSAS CITY: Prior to Sunday’s race at Kansas Speedway, Jones will make a pit stop at Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City. In partnership with AdventHealth, he’ll visit with the local chapter to meet the kids and do a #READwithErik session. The book of choice for this week is “Goodnight Racetrack” by Andy Amendola and Ashley Newgarden.

BESHORE AT KANSAS: Ben Beshore has a total of seven prior races on top of the box in the NASCAR Cup Series at Kansas Speedway with Kyle Busch, (John Hunter) Nemechek, and Jones. His first start came in May 2021 when he won with Busch after the team led 20 laps. Beshore earned another strong finish with Busch in May 2022 with a third-place result. In addition, he has four races at Kansas as a crew chief in the Xfinity Series, where he earned a victory in September 2023 with Nemechek after leading 154 laps.

ERIK JONES QUOTE
“Kansas is a fun track for me. It’s definitely one that’s been good with the NextGen car. It’s super wide and you can move around a lot – use the top and bottom lanes. For us, I feel like it’ll be a good race. Our mile-and-a-half program has been strong this season. I hope that we can have a good race, bring a fast car, and have the results that we should’ve had in May here.”

BEN BESHORE QUOTE
“Kansas is more of that cookie-cutter intermediate track, which we’ve done fairly well at this year. It’s our strong spot as a team. Hopefully, we can take what we learned at Darlington and transfer it over to Kansas. I think we can also fall back on what we had the previous race. We were honestly okay there but got off a little bit on strategy and had issues. Our intermediate-track speed has been our strength this year though.”

CLUB APPEARANCES:
Nemechek will be at the NASCAR Classics trackside merchandise rig to sign for fans at 11 a.m. local time on Saturday, September 27.

TUNE IN:
Fans can tune in to watch the Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway on Sunday, September 28 at 3 p.m. ET on USA, MAX, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90).

ABOUT LEGACY MOTOR CLUB: (LEGACY MC) is a premier auto racing organization owned by seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and 2024 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee, Jimmie Johnson and Knighthead Capital Management, LLC. Drawing from a rich tradition of success, LEGACY MC is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of motorsport and setting new standards of excellence. The CLUB competes under the Toyota Gazoo Racing banner in the NASCAR Cup Series with the No. 43 Toyota Camry XSE piloted by Erik Jones and the No. 42 Toyota Camry XSE driven by John Hunter Nemechek. Johnson also races on a limited basis in the No. 84 Toyota Camry XSE. With NASCAR legend and Hall of Famer Richard Petty, “The King”, serving as CLUB Ambassador, LEGACY MC blends timeless racing traditions with a new forward-thinking vision. As an inclusive community for motorsport enthusiasts, LEGACY MC honors both its storied past and the promising future of its members, always striving for victory and championship glory at the pinnacle of NASCAR competition.

Spire Motorsports Hollywood Casino 400 Race Advance

By
Official Release
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  • In 25 NASCAR Cup Series starts at Kansas Speedway, Spire Motorsports has logged one top-10 and three top-20 finishes. Zane Smith earned a team-best 10th-place result at the Kansas City, Kan.-venue last June. Spire Motorsports fields the Nos. 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolet ZL1s with Justin Haley, Michael McDowell and Carson Hocevar, respectively.
  • The Hollywood Casino 400 presented by ESPN Bet will be televised live on USA Sunday, Sept. 28 beginning at 3 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). The 31st of 36 points-paying events on the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series calendar will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, Channel 90.

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

  • Justin Haley will pilot Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 NationsGuard Chevrolet ZL1 in Sunday’s Hollywood Casino 400 at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan.
  • In nine previous Cup Series starts at Kansas Speedway, dating to May 2021, Haley has earned three top-20 finishes and calls a pair of 18th-place efforts a series/venue career best. He has logged a 26.2 average start, a 27.1 average finish and has been running at the finish of all but two of those nine races.
  • The 26-year-old has four NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at Kansas Speedway where he posted two fourth-place finishes (October 2019 and 2021). He’s recorded a 9.8 average starting position, a 5.3 average finishing position, and has never finished worse than seventh on NASCAR’s junior circuit at the popular mile-and-a-half quad-oval.
  • In CRAFTSMAN Truck Series competition at Kansas (2017–2018), Haley led four laps and recorded ninth- and 10th-place finishes, respectively. In his single ARCA Menards Series race at Kansas, he started fourth and finished sixth in October 2017.
  • Last Sunday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Haley started 21st but was collected in a multi-car incident on Lap 118. Following extensive repairs, he returned to the track multiple laps down to the leaders but soldiered home to a 33rd-place finish.
  • 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 an automotive dealership’s program – from vehicle inspection efficiency to service advisor performance. NationsGuard targets and eliminates waste and inefficiency wherever it’s found while maintaining process improvements, making changes where necessary and relentlessly pursuing perfection.
  • Sunday’s race at Kansas Speedway will mark Haley’s 175th career NASCAR Cup Series start. Over the course of the last seven seasons, the 26-year-old has collected one win, six top five, 18 top 10s and led 123 laps. He made his first premier series start with Spire Motorsports at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway in April 2019 and has since made 74 Cup Series starts with the team.

Justin Haley Quotes
You’ve had solid showings on intermediate tracks this year. How do you feel heading into Kansas this weekend?
“We’ve had lots of speed at the mile-and-a-half tracks this year and that’s credit to the team at Spire Motorsports and their remarkable attention to detail. I feel really comfortable at Kansas and we were fast in the Spring. Hopefully, we can get luck back on our side and have a good day.”

Atop the No. 7 Box – Crew Chief Ryan Sparks

  • Ryan Sparks serves in a dual role as both Spire Motorsports Competition Director and Crew Chief for driver Justin Haley. The potent duo was first paired together at Bristol Motor Speedway last September.
  • The Winston-Salem, N.C., native has stood atop the pit box for 196 NASCAR Cup Series races, where he’s called four top-five and 10 top-10 finishes over six seasons.
  • Sparks has called 11 previous Cup Series races at Kansas Speedway, where he’s earned two top-20 and six top-25 finishes.

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

  • Michael McDowell will pilot Spire Motorsports’ No. 71 Gainbridge Chevrolet ZL1 in Sunday’s Hollywood Casino 400 Presented by ESPN Bet at Kansas Speedway.
  • In 28 NASCAR Cup Series starts at the 1.5-mile tri-oval, McDowell has posted an average starting position of 24.8 and an average finish of 26.8. Over his last 11 starts, he has improved to a 16.5 average start, including four top-10 qualifying efforts, and a 20.0 average finish.
  • The No. 71 Chevrolet will return to its black and yellow Gainbridge livery for Sunday’s 400 miler.
  • McDowell’s front tire changer, Max Marsh, spent his college years playing football at Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas. Marsh earned varsity letters all four seasons, finding a home as the team’s backup safety and on special teams before shifting gears for his pit-road duties on NASCAR’s senior circuit.
  • Last weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, McDowell qualified 11th and earned his fourth top-10 finish of the season. It was his first career top-10 finish at the one-mile venue and first top 10 on a track measuring one mile or less this season.
  • Founded in 2018, Gainbridge® is an insurtech subsidiary of Group 1001 that empowers consumers to take control of their financial future with solutions that are accessible to everyone, no matter their budget or financial knowledge. Its platform provides access to financial products that are simple, intuitive, and backed by smart technology with no complexity or hidden fees. Gainbridge® is headquartered in Zionsville, Ind. For more information, visit gainbridge.com or follow and connect with Gainbridge on X and LinkedIn.
  • McDowell qualified 11th for May’s AdventHealth 400 at Kansas Speedway, a team/venue best at the Kansas City, Kan., racecourse for the No. 71 Gainbridge Chevrolet.
  • The 18-year Cup Series veteran has claimed three Xfinity Fastest Lap awards this season, clocking the fastest lap in the Daytona 500, Phoenix Raceway and Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway. The team is one of just three in the series to tally three or more bonus points via the program.
  • The No. 71 team secured Spire Motorsports’ first Busch Light Pole Award in March at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. McDowell’s 28.833-second lap marks the fastest lap recorded in NASCAR’s seventh-generation Cup Series car (2022-present) at the 1.5-mile Nevada oval. The team also earned Spire Motorsports’ first stage win during the Grant Park 165 on the streets of downtown Chicago.
  • McDowell’s team earned a handsome $100,000 payday and a trip to Victory Lane after winning the Mechanix Wear Pit Crew Challenge during May’s NASCAR All-Star Weekend at North Wilkesboro (N.C.) Speedway. The crew’s blistering 12.587-second stop topped all entries for both the NASCAR All-Star Open and NASCAR All-Star Race, earning the title of the fastest team on pit road.
  • Michael McDowell Quote
  • A lot of drivers refer to Kansas Speedway as the perfect 1.5-mile track, what makes it so versatile and dynamic?
  • “I think it’s probably because it’s the easiest to get multiple lanes going, even Lap 1 in practice you can run the top there where you know places like Charlotte, Texas, and other 1.5-mile tracks, you don’t you have to build up to it. So, the track has multiple lanes, multiple grooves and that all comes together fairly early in the run. In general, Kansas seems to produce a pretty good race.
I’d mostly say because you can move around.”

Atop the No. 71 Box – Crew Chief Travis Peterson

Across five Cup Series races at Kansas Speedway, McDowell’s crew chief Travis Peterson has led his driver to a 14.0 average start paired with a 22.8 average finish.
As a race engineer at JR Motorsports, the West Bend, Wis., native played a key role in Regan Smith’s third-place result in 2013. After qualifying fifth, the team dominated the race and led 81 of the 200 laps en route to his seventh-of-eight top-five finishes during the 2013 season.
Prior to his time as a crew chief, the 33-year-old worked as a race engineer for Dale Earnhardt Jr., at Hendrick Motorsports where he played a key role in Earnhardt’s third-place result at Kansas Speedway in 2015.

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

  • Carson Hocevar, driver of the Delaware Life Chevrolet ZL1 for Spire Motorsports, will make his fifth NASCAR Cup Series start in Sunday’s Hollywood Casino 400 presented by ESPN Bet at Kansas Speedway.
  • This May, Hocevar took the checkered flag in the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Heart of Health Care 200 at Kansas Speedway driving for the Brian Pattie-led No. 7 Spire Motorsports team. He led 75 of the event’s 134 laps and survived last-lap contact with another competitor to earn his fifth victory in the series and first aboard a Spire-prepared Chevy Silverado.
  • The 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Rookie of the Year has a best finish of 20th in four prior Cup Series starts at Kansas.
  • Hocevar owns six CRAFTSMAN Truck Series starts at Kansas, including one win, two top fives and three top 10s. He’s led a total of 135 laps at the Kansas City, Kan., venue.
  • In 18 starts on 1.5-mile tracks in NASCAR’s premier series, the Portage, Mich., native owns one top-five and three top-10 finishes. He has combined to lead 32 laps this season at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway, Kansas Speedway and Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway.
  • Last weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Hocevar registered a venue-best sixth-place qualifying effort. He spent a majority of the day racing inside the top five until handling issues during the race’s final segment left him with an 11th-place result. The finish marked his fourth-consecutive top 15.
  • Delaware Life is an insurance and annuity company that empowers financial professionals with a wide array of customizable solutions. A subsidiary of Group 1001 Insurance Holdings LLC, Delaware Life focuses on delivering a seamless experience for advisors. The company understands how important it is to find the right fit for every client, every situation and every individual need. Delaware Life is passionate about equipping advisors with annuities that give their customers peace of mind and a successful future, allowing them to plan with confidence for whatever’s next

Carson Hocevar Quotes
You’ve expressed your excitement for this weekend’s race at Kansas Speedway. Given your team’s recent performance and your personal preference for mile-and-a-half tracks, what do you think will be key to success?
“I’ve always loved mile-and-a-half tracks. They’re where I feel most comfortable and our team’s been showing a lot of speed the last few weeks. We won the truck race at Kansas in May, and I’m hoping we can translate that into success in the Delaware Life Chevy this weekend. I love running on the fence, but you really have to move around and try different lanes. I think we’re in a good position to have a strong weekend.”

Atop the No. 77 Box – Crew Chief Luke Lambert

  • Crew chief Luke Lambert has called 23 Cup Series races at Kansas, collecting three top-10 finishes and a pole position with driver Daniel Hemric in Oct. 2019.
  • Lambert has stood atop the box for two Kansas races in Xfinity Series competition where he led Noah Gragson to Victory lane in Sept. 2022.
  • Following a seventh-place result with Hocevar at Bristol, Lambert now owns 100 top 10s in the Cup Series, ranking eighth among active Cup Series crew chiefs.

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

In 2025, Spire Motorsports campaigns the Nos. 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolets in the NASCAR Cup Series. The team also fields the Nos. 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolet Silverados in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series and an ARCA Menards Series Chevrolet in select events.

CHAMPIONSHIP HUNT COMES TO THRILLING CONCLUSION AT 60TH ANNUAL IN-N-OUT BURGER NHRA FINALS

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Official Release
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POMONA, Calif. (Sept. 23, 2025) – With NHRA’s 75th anniversary celebration on deck for next season, the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series closes out a thrilling 2025 season at the historic 60th annual In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals at famed In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip on Nov. 13-16.

The In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals stands as the final race on the 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season and all eyes will be on Pomona. For six decades, the World Finals has been home to some of drag racing’s biggest moments and with the stakes at a fever pitch – and more than a $2 million championship purse up for grabs – who will make history this year?

The drama will almost certainly go down to the wire, as championships have been decided on a winner-take-all final round the last two years.

The weekend starts with two rounds of qualifying on Friday – as well as a special Veteran’s Day ceremony – the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, all leading into eliminations on Sunday, where championships will be decided, legends will be made and legacies will be forged, all at one of the most historic venues in motorsports.

Plus, it’s also the final opportunity to watch Brittany Force in action, as the two-time Top Fuel star announced she will be retiring from full-time racing at the end of 2025. With one race left at her home track, the record-breaking Force could have one more magical moment in store at Pomona.

Last season, Antron Brown (Top Fuel), Jack Beckman (Funny Car), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Matt Smith (Pro Stock Motorcycle) won the In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals while Brown, Austin Prock (Funny Car), Anderson and Gaige Herrea (Pro Stock Motorcycle) each secured world titles. The 2025 race will again be broadcast on FS1, including eliminations coverage starting at 5 p.m. ET on Sunday, Nov. 16.

Brown secured his fourth Top Fuel world championship last season at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip and also won his third In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals. Doug Kalitta leads the points in a loaded field, where things could come down to the wire in Pomona. Close behind are a flurry of standouts, including teammate Shawn Langdon, racing legend Tony Stewart, Charlotte winner Justin Ashley and Clay Millican.

Beckman, a Southern California native, won for the third time at In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip over Prock, who secured his first world title earlier in the day at the In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals and also made a jaw-dropping 341-mph run. Prock secured the regular season title in Indy and went on to win the NHRA U.S. Nationals. He picked up a playoff win in Charlotte to maintain the lead, hoping to hold off the likes of three-time champ Ron Capps and four-time champ Matt Hagan in Pomona.

In Pro Stock, reigning world champ Greg Anderson and points leader Dallas Glenn appear headed for another collision course. Last year featured a thrilling winner-take-all final between the KB Titan Racing teammates, with Anderson coming out on top. Thus far, Glenn has dominated the playoffs, winning the first two races. Anderson looms in second and is ready for another late-season run, while the likes of Aaron Stanfield, Matt Hartford and Cory Reed have their own championship aspirations.

Once again, the Pro Stock Motorcycle ranks has been a battle between the Vance & Hines team and Matt Smith Racing. Richard Gadson moved into the points lead with his victory in Charlotte, but Gadson’s teammate, back-to-back world champ Gaige Herrera, six-time champ Matt Smith and MSR rider John Hall all remain in contention on what will be a heated, must-see battle in Pomona.

Race fans will also see action in the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, featuring some of the world’s best drivers, along with the Summit Jr. Drag Racing League Shootout and the LASD Racing exhibition.

This year’s In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals also features a can’t-miss experience for racing and car enthusiasts alike. The Top Eliminator Club offers the best seats in the house, a premium experience and several exclusive benefits at one of the biggest races of the season, including a members-only hospitality center, complimentary food and beverages, members-only souvenir store, exclusive driver appearances, a gift bag, a premium view of the staging lanes and much more.

In Pomona, the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series will feature two qualifying rounds at 12:30 and 3 p.m. PT on Friday, Nov. 14, and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, Nov. 15 at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. PT on Sunday, Nov. 16. Television coverage includes qualifying action on FS1 at 10 a.m. ET on Sunday and then eliminations on FS1 at 5 p.m. ET on Sunday.

To purchase tickets to the 60th annual In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals, fans can visit www.NHRA.com/tickets. All children 12 and under will be admitted free in the general admission area with a paid adult. For more information about NHRA, visit www.NHRA.com.

About Mission Foods

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

About NHRA

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

Front Row Motorsports: Kansas Speedway Competition Notes- Todd Gilliland

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Official Release
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Todd Gilliland and the No. 34 Dean’s Dip Ford Team
Kansas Speedway Competition Notes
Hollywood Casino 400

Date: Sunday, September 28, 2025
Event: Race 33 of 38
Series: NASCAR Cup Series
Location: Kansas Speedway (1.5-mile)
#of Laps: 267
Time/TV/Radio: 3:00 PM ET on USA/MRN/SiriusXM channel 90

Todd Gilliland Notes

After a 19th-place finish last Sunday at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Todd Gilliland and the No. 34 team now turn their focus to the Kansas Speedway. In seven Cup Series starts at the 1.5-mile track, Gilliland has earned two top-15 finishes, including a career-best 12th-place run in the spring after starting 23rd. He’s also found success at Kansas in the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, recording one top-five and three top-10’s in five starts.

Dean’s Dip will make their NASCAR debut this weekend with Gilliland and the No. 34 team. Famous for their coveted French Onion Dip, Dean’s Dairy Dip delivers the best tasting dip to race fans. With the perfect amount of spices and cool ‘n creamy mouthfeel, Dean’s Dip offers bold flavor and smooth texture that no dipper can resist. Try Dean’s Dip’s new flavors: Jalapeño Popper and Creamy Dill! “The team and I are pumped about the new partnership with Dean’s Dip,” said Gilliland. “We did a taste test with all their different dips, and the shop floor loved them. Hopefully, I can deliver them a good performance in their debut.” For more information, fans can visit www.DeansDip.com.

“I’ve faced some challenges at Kansas in the past, but we had a strong run there in the spring with a 12th-place finish, so I’m optimistic heading into the weekend,” said Gilliland. “To get the results we want, we need to put together a solid weekend all around, and that starts with qualifying well on Saturday. If we can get that dialed in, I’m confident we can execute on Sunday.”

Road Crew

Driver: Todd Gilliland

Hometown: Sherrills Ford, North Carolina

Crew Chief: Chris Lawson

Hometown: Medway, Ohio

Car Chief: Joe Marra

Hometown: Somers, New York

Engineer: Marc Rullo

Hometown: Ringwood, New Jersey

Engineer: Kevyn Rebolledo

Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Spotter: Brit Andersen

Hometown: Branford, Connecticut

Underneath Mechanic: Michael Brookes

Hometown: Columbus, Ohio

Interior Mechanic: Chance Burke

Hometown: Siler City, North Carolina

Tire Specialist: Billy John

Hometown: Pitman, New Jersey

Engine Tuner: Tim Meyer

Hometown: Beatrice, Nebraska

Transporter Driver: Randy Bernier

Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Pit Crew

Front Tire Changer: Danny Olszowy

Hometown: Lexington, Kentucky

Rear Tire Changer: Justin Fox

Hometown: Concord, North Carolina

Tire Carrier: Paul Steele

Hometown: Wichita, Kansas

Jackman: Landon Honeycutt

Hometown: Mount Pleasant, North Carolina

Fueler: Zeke Nance

Hometown: Calhoun, Georgia

ABOUT DEAN’S DIP

Famous for their coveted French Onion Dip, Dean’s® Dairy Dip delivers the best tasting dip to race fans. With the perfect amount of spices and cool ‘n creamy mouthfeel, Dean’s Dip offers bold flavor and smooth texture that no dipper can resist. Try Dean’s® Dip’s new flavors: Jalapeño Popper and Creamy Dill! For more information, please visit www.DeansDip.com.

ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS

Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization in the NASCAR Cup and Craftsman Truck Series. The team is the 2021 Daytona 500 and 2022 Craftsman Truck Series champions. The team was founded in 2004 and is owned by successful entrepreneur, Bob Jenkins. FRM fields the No. 4, No. 34, and the No. 38 NASCAR Cup Series teams along with the No. 34 and No. 38 Craftsman Truck Series teams from its Mooresville, N.C. headquarters. Visit teamfrm.com and follow FRM on social media: Twitter at @Team_FRM, Instagram at @teamfrm and Facebook at facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.

HFT Advance | Kansas II

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Official Release
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Kansas II Event Info:
Date: Sunday, Sept. 28
Time: 3 p.m. ET
Series: NASCAR Cup Series (NCS)
Location: Kansas City, Kansas
Format: 267 Laps, 400.5 Miles, Stages: 80-165-267
TV: USA
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90)

Weekend Schedule:
Saturday: 10:30 a.m. ET, Xfinity Practice (CW App, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Saturday: 11:35 a.m. ET, Xfinity Qualifying (CW App, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Saturday: 1 p.m. ET, Cup Practice (TruTV, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Saturday: 2:10 p.m. ET, Cup Qualifying (TruTV, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Saturday: 4 p.m. ET, Xfinity Race (CW, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Sunday: 3 p.m. ET, Cup Race (USA, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)

Pace Laps:

  • The NASCAR Cup Series heads to Kansas Speedway this weekend as the track hosts its second race of the 2025 season and the opening race of the Round of 12 in the Cup Series playoffs.
  • Kansas is also the site for the second race in the Round of 12 of the NASCAR Xfinity Series playoffs following a week off.
  • Sam Mayer sits third in the playoff standings with 2066 points, +35 points to the cutline, while Sheldon Creed is in seventh place with 2038 points, +7 above the cutline.
  • Mayer (10.3) holds the second highest average finish among full-time NASCAR Xfinity Series drivers this season, behind only Connor Zilisch (8.3).
  • Mayer has finished inside the top five in five of his previous seven and has tied his career-high with 13 top-five finishes this season (also: 2023).
  • Mayer (7.2) also has the third highest average starting position among full-time NASCAR Xfinity Series drivers this season, behind Zilisch (6.2) Justin Allgaier (6.9).
  • He has started inside the top five in each of his last seven starts dating back to his lone pole of the season at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in July.
  • Creed’s only career Cup Series start came at Kansas in 2023, when he finished 29th while driving the No. 78 for Live Fast Motorsports.

Cole Custer Team Info:
Crew Chief: Aaron Kramer
Partner: Haas/Andy’s

Sheldon Creed Team Info:
Crew Chief: Jonathan Toney
Partner: Ollie’s

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

Custer at Kansas (Cup)
Starts: 8
Wins: —
Top-10s: 1
Poles: —

  • Custer makes his ninth Cup start at Kansas this weekend, where he has a 19.5 average finish. His lone top-10 result came in the fall of 2020 when he finished seventh.
  • His best start was P10 in the spring of 2021, and he boasts a 21.5 average starting position.
  • Custer has also made six NXS starts at Kansas, and is coming off a P2 finish last fall after leading 48 laps.

Creed at Kansas (Xfinity)
Starts: 3
Wins: —
Top-10s: 2
Poles: —

  • Creed is set to make his fourth Xfinity start at Kansas on Saturday, where he is coming off a fifth-place finish in last season’s race. His other top-10 result came in 2023 when he finished third after starting 16th.
  • He has started inside the top 10 in one start – P3 in 2022 – and carries an 11.3 average starting position into the weekend.

Mayer at Kansas (Xfinity)
Starts: 4
Wins: —
Top-10s: 2
Poles: —

  • Mayer is in line for his fifth Xfinity start at Kansas this weekend, coming off a 13th-place finish in last season’s race. His two top-10 finishes in the NXS came in 2021 (8th) and 2022 (9th).
  • His best start was P5 last season, and he holds an average starting position of 9.5.

Where They Stand
Cup Points Standings (41: 33rd): Custer is 33rd in the Cup Series points standings with 380 points heading into Kansas this Sunday.

Xfinity Points Standings (41: 3rd, 00: 7th): Mayer sits third in the Xfinity Series playoff standings with 2066 points, +35 points to the cutline, while Creed is in 7th place with 2038 points, +7 points above the cutline.

St. Louis Advance for the 14th Annual NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals

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Official Release
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Tony Stewart & Matt Hagan
Top Fuel | Funny Car
14th Annual NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals

Sept. 26-28 | St. Louis

Event Overview

Friday, Sept. 26 (Nitro Qualifying, streamed live on NHRA.TV)

Nitro qualifying session (Q1): 6 p.m. CDT/7 p.m. EDT
Nitro qualifying session (Q2): 8 p.m. CDT/9 p.m. EDT

Saturday, Sept. 27 (Nitro Qualifying, streamed live on NHRA.TV)

Nitro qualifying session (Q3): 12:15 p.m. CDT/1:15 p.m. EDT
Nitro qualifying session (Q4): 3 p.m. CDT/4 p.m. EDT

Sunday, Sept. 28 (Nitro Eliminations, streamed live on NHRA.TV)

Round 1: 11 a.m. CDT/12 p.m. EDT
Round 2: 1 p.m. CDT/2 p.m. EDT
Semifinals: 2:40 p.m. CDT/3:40 p.m. EDT
Finals: 4:15 p.m. CDT/5:15 p.m. EDT

TV coverage on FS1

Sunday, Sept. 28: Qualifying show recapping Friday and Saturday’s action (1:30 p.m. EDT)
Sunday, Sept. 28: Finals show (3 p.m. EDT)

Notes of Interest

The NHRA Midwest Nationals near St. Louis is the 17th race on the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series’ 20-race schedule and it is the third round in the six-race Countdown to the Championship. Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) drivers Tony Stewart (Top Fuel) and Matt Hagan (Funny Car) are both in the Countdown, with 2025 marking Stewart’s second appearance in the NHRA postseason and Hagan’s 13th consecutive appearance.

Stewart is fourth in the Top Fuel standings heading into St. Louis, 68 points behind championship leader Doug Kalitta. Hagan is currently second in the Funny Car championship standings, 79 points behind leader Austin Prock. Hagan is a four-time champion (2011, 2014, 2020 and 2023).

American Rebel Beer is the primary sponsor of both Hagan and Stewart in St. Louis. American Rebel Beer was founded in April of 2024 by American Rebel CEO Andy Ross. American Rebel Beer is All Natural, Crisp, Clean and has a Bold Taste with a Lighter Feel. It does not use corn, rice or other sweeteners typically found in other mass-produced beers. American Rebel Beer is currently offered in 15 states (Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, and Virginia), with additional states being announced soon. You can also find American Rebel in various legendary bars like Kid Rock’s, Tootsies, Honky Tony Central, and many others in the entertainment district in Nashville, as well as retail outlets, venues and music festivals throughout the United States. American Rebel Beer is America’s Patriotic, God-Fearing, Constitution-Loving, National Anthem Singing, Stand Your Ground Beer.

The NHRA Midwest Nationals will be Stewart’s 37th career Top Fuel start and his second at St. Louis. For Hagan, the NHRA Midwest Nationals will be his 369th career Funny Car start and his 16th at the track.

Stewart is seeking his first victory in the NHRA Midwest Nationals, as well as his first No. 1 qualifier at the event. In 2024, Stewart secured the No. 11 qualifying position and ran a 3.755 ET at 323.58 mph in Round 1 of eliminations, which lost to Shawn Reed’s 3.773 ET at 319.29 mph. Stewart’s wife, Leah Pruett, advanced to the Finals in 2023 in the Top Fuel Dragster, defeating Shawn Langdon, Doug Kalitta and Steve Torrence, before losing to Clay Millican in the Finals.

The Regular Season Champion in Top Fuel (Stewart clinched the title in Indianapolis) has won the overall championship five of the last eight years. No. 1 seeds have won 31 of the 68 series championships in the Countdown Era. Tony is seeking his first win light at St. Louis and is trying to become the 28th different Top Fuel driver to win a Countdown event.

Hagan enters the NHRA Midwest Nationals with two wins in 2021 and 2023. In 2021, his 3.933 ET, 333.49 mph run defeated Bob Tasca III (3.967 ET at 329.99 mph). In 2023, Hagan’s 3.991 ET at 324.90 mph defeated Ron Capps’ 4.025 ET, 306.88 mph run. Hagan has three No. 1 qualifiers at St. Louis, which came in 2013 (4.001 ET at 320.20 mph), 2015 (3.883 ET at 330.47 mph) and 2021 (3.875 ET at 327.03 mph). Hagan has gone to the finals six times at St. Louis, with runner-up finishes in 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2020. After posting a 7-10 record with no wins in his first 10 starts at St. Louis, Hagan has raced in the final round three of the last five years.

Hagan is coming off of a No. 1 qualifying position at the NHRA Four-Wide Carolina Nationals in Charlotte, the 54th of his career and second of the season (NHRA Sonoma Nationals was the first).

Tony Stewart, Driver of the American Rebel Beer Dodge//SRT Top Fuel Dragster

St. Louis marks three Countdown weekends in a row for the American Rebel Beer crew. What momentum does that give you?

“We always have a fun weekend when Andy Ross from American Rebel is with us. He’s an awesome cheerleader that cares about our teams as much as we do. To have him and the large amount of guests he’s bringing, we’re proud of that. We’re having three grueling weeks in a row. I like it because that’s what I’m used to in NASCAR, so you just grind it out. We’ll get through St. Louis, then it gives both the Top Fuel and Funny Car teams time to regroup to get ready for the last three races. You’re never out until they say you’re mathematically out of it. We’re still in a decent spot right now, but we have our work to do.”

Matt Hagan, Driver of the American Rebel Beer Dodge//SRT Hellcat Funny Car

You’re coming off a final-round appearance at the NHRA Four-Wide Carolina Nationals and St. Louis marks three Countdown weekends in a row. What momentum does that give you?

“We are now second in points and within striking distance. (Austin) Prock and his JFR team is very tough. The kid cuts a good light, and they run really strong. We need to keep doing what we do and not worry about anyone else. If we run the racetrack as hard as we can, and we look at what is in front of us, I know we can win. That has always been my thinking that we just go race the track in front of us. I’m just proud of our TSR crew guys since they have worked so hard in recent weeks. We have been through some tough explosions the last few weeks, but I know we are ready to put that American Rebel Beer Dodge Hellcat back in the winner’s circle at St. Louis next weekend.”

Ford Going for Second Straight Playoff Win This Weekend in Kansas

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Official Release
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KANSAS 2

Saturday, September 27 – NASCAR Xfinity Series, 4 p.m. ET (CW)
Saturday, September 28 – NASCAR Cup Series, 3 p.m. ET (USA)

It’s the middle race in the Round of 12 for both the NASCAR Cup and NASCAR Xfinity Series as Kansas Speedway serves as the host venue. Ford’s Ryan Blaney has already clinched a spot in the Round of 8 after his Cup victory last weekend in New Hampshire while defending champ Joey Logano and Austin Cindric remain in contention. After a week off, the Xfinity Series returns with all three Ford drivers – Sam Mayer, Harrison Burton, and Sheldon Creed – above the cut line.

BLANEY HEADING TO THE ROUND OF 8

Ryan Blaney clinched a spot in the Round of 8 after winning last weekend’s NASCAR Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. It marked the continuation of a streak that has seen the 2023 champion finish eighth or better in nine of the last 10 races, including a pair of victories (Daytona and New Hampshire). Blaney has now won three races this season, which matches a personal best he’s done three other times (2021, 2023, and 2024).

LOGANO’S KANSAS PLAYOFF SUCCESS

Joey Logano will be looking for his fourth career win at Kansas Speedway this weekend, which would match a personal best as he has four at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Phoenix Raceway. He won for the first time at Kansas in 2014, and then did it again one year later in a well-documented battle with Matt Kenseth that resulted in contact as the two entered turn one with five laps to go. That controversial finish marked Logano’s second straight playoff win and led to a sweep of the round as he took the checkered flag the following week at Talladega. His last Kansas win came in 2020 when he led the final 45 laps to beat Kevin Harvick across the finish line and clinch a spot in the Championship 4.

KESELOWSKI AND KANSAS

Brad Keselowski has won at 17 different racetracks during his NASCAR Cup Series career, including twice at Kansas Speedway. In 31 career Cup Series starts, the Michigan native has a pair of victories (2011 and 2019), seven top-5 and 14 top-10 finishes. He’s led at least one lap in three of the last four events and is looking to rebound from a crash that took him out of the spring race at Kansas after 194 laps.

FORD DRIVERS IN THE CUP PLAYOFFS

DRIVER – POINTS POSITION

Ryan Blaney – New Hampshire Winner (Clinched Round of 8)

Joey Logano – 6th (+24 above the cut line)

Austin Cindric – 10th (-19 below the cut line)

Note: Top 8 advance after Charlotte

FORD PLAYOFF DRIVERS AT KANSAS

Joey Logano: 32 starts, 3 wins, 9 top-5, 13 top-10

Ryan Blaney: 21 starts, 0 wins, 5 top-5, 9 top-10

Austin Cindric: 8 starts, 0 wins, 0 top-5, 0 top-10

RYAN BLANEY: “It’s been a long time since we’ve run a traditional mile-and-a-half and you hope that what we’ve learned at Charlotte and the previous mile-and-a-halves you apply. It’s the first time you’re gonna try like, ‘Maybe we should go down this path and we think it’s better.’ That’s what racing is. You think of directions that are better and you talk through them and you sim them and all of that stuff and then you have to make your decision. That could be good or it could be bad. That’s the beauty of showing up and you’ve got what you got. We’ll see where we stack up. I don’t really know what to expect, to be honest with you. It’s been a while and things could be massively different than what you saw at Charlotte, or it could be the exact same. I don’t know.”

MAYER LOOKS TO CONTINUE TOP FIVE ROLL

Sam Mayer is coming off a third-place finish two weeks ago in the playoff opener at Bristol Motor Speedway, continuing a streak that has seen him finish fifth or better in five of the last seven races. Included in that is a victory at Iowa and a pair of runner-up finishes at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Watkins Glen International. Overall, Mayer has 13 top-5 and 16 top-10 efforts this season.

FORD DRIVERS IN THE XFINITY PLAYOFFS

DRIVER – POINTS POSITION

Sam Mayer – 3rd (+35 above the cut line)

Harrison Burton – 5th (+9)

Sheldon Creed – 7th (+7)

Note: Top 8 advance after Charlotte

FORD PLAYOFF DRIVERS AT KANSAS

Sam Mayer: 4 starts, 0 wins, 0 top-10, 2 top-10

Sheldon Creed: 3 starts, 0 wins, 2 top-5, 2 top-10

Harrison Burton: 4 starts, 0 wins, 1 top-5, 1 top-10

FORD NASCAR CUP SERIES WINNERS

AT KANSAS

2005 – Mark Martin

2007 – Greg Biffle

2010 – Greg Biffle

2012 – Matt Kenseth (2)

2014 – Joey Logano (2)

2015 – Joey Logano (2)

2018 – Kevin Harvick (1)

2019 – Brad Keselowski (1)

2020 – Joey Logano (2)

FORD NASCAR XFINITY SERIES WINNERS

AT KANSAS

2001 – Jeff Green

2002 – Jeff Burton

2012 – Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

2020 – Chase Briscoe

The Ford Mustang, celebrating its 61st anniversary in 2025, is the world’s best selling sports car. It is also one of the planet’s most popular race cars. With Mustang-based race cars competing in international sports car competition (GT3 and GT4), NASCAR, NHRA, Formula Drift, in Australian Supercars, at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb and in its own bespoke one-make series – Mustang Cup and Mustang Challenge – the platform has an unprecedented global reach. This weekend, 21 Mustang race cars are scheduled to race across all disciplines. Learn more at FordRacing.com.

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