Home Blog Page 3

How Roof Replacement Supports Home Insurance Claims and Long-Term Financial Planning

Photo by Koy Gregerson on Unsplash

Choosing the right time for a roof upgrade is not only about improving curb appeal or addressing visible damage. It also affects financial security, insurance outcomes, and the long-term condition of a home. Many homeowners overlook how roofing decisions influence future expenses beyond immediate construction costs.

Insurance companies often evaluate roof condition when assessing coverage, premiums, and claim eligibility. A well-maintained roofing system demonstrates responsible ownership and reduces concerns about preventable damage. That makes roofing decisions more valuable than many people initially realize.

Planning ahead allows homeowners to avoid emergency situations while making informed investments that protect both the property and household finances. Understanding how roofing improvements connect with insurance and budgeting creates a stronger foundation for long-term homeownership.

Why Insurance Providers Evaluate Roofing Condition

Insurance carriers consider the roof one of the most important protective components of a home. Because it shields the structure from weather, its condition directly affects the likelihood of future claims. Older or deteriorating roofing systems often present higher risks for insurers.

A documented maintenance history also strengthens a homeowner’s position. Inspection reports, photographs, and service records demonstrate consistent care and help establish that damage was not caused by neglect. These records can become valuable if questions arise during the claims process.

Investing in Roof replacement before severe deterioration occurs may improve confidence in the property’s condition. Rather than reacting after significant failures, homeowners benefit from reducing preventable risks through proactive planning.

Planning a Budget Before Roofing Becomes an Emergency

Unexpected roofing failures often create financial stress because homeowners have little time to compare options or prepare a realistic budget. Emergency work may also coincide with interior repairs caused by water intrusion, increasing overall costs.

Creating a roofing savings plan allows families to spread expenses over time instead of relying entirely on credit or emergency funding. Even modest monthly contributions can make future projects easier to manage without disrupting other financial priorities.

Working with Ragan Roofing during the planning stage helps homeowners understand expected timelines, inspection findings, and practical budgeting considerations. Early planning creates flexibility and supports more confident financial decisions.

Understanding Deductibles and Out-of-Pocket Costs

Insurance policies typically include deductibles that homeowners must pay before coverage applies. Knowing these costs in advance helps prevent unpleasant surprises when unexpected events occur. Reviewing policy details alongside roofing evaluations provides a clearer picture of potential financial responsibilities.

Homeowners should also understand which situations are generally covered and which are considered maintenance issues. This distinction often influences whether repairs or larger improvements become personal expenses rather than insurance claims.

The Financial Benefits of Acting Before Major Damage

Waiting until roofing problems become severe often increases overall ownership costs. Small issues may expand into structural repairs, damaged insulation, or interior restoration that extends well beyond the roof itself. Preventive action usually proves more economical than delayed intervention.

Scheduling Roof replacement during a planned timeframe allows homeowners to compare materials, review estimates, and select qualified professionals without unnecessary pressure. Better planning frequently results in better purchasing decisions and smoother project management.

Another advantage involves preserving household cash flow. Planned improvements can often be coordinated with savings goals, financing options, or seasonal scheduling instead of responding to unexpected emergencies that demand immediate attention.

Documentation Makes Future Claims Easier

Accurate records provide valuable support whenever insurance questions arise. Keeping inspection reports, invoices, warranty information, and maintenance documentation creates a reliable history of responsible ownership. Organized records reduce uncertainty during claim reviews.

Photographs taken before and after roofing projects also provide useful evidence. If severe weather damages the property later, these images help establish the previous condition of the roof and clarify what changed because of the event.

Professional roof replacement services in Nashville encourage homeowners to maintain organized documentation because it supports both future maintenance planning and smoother communication with insurance representatives when necessary.

Scheduling Regular Professional Inspections

Routine inspections identify developing concerns before they become expensive problems. Professionals can detect subtle signs of wear that homeowners may overlook during casual visual observations. Early identification creates opportunities for cost-effective maintenance.

Inspection reports also provide updated records that demonstrate continued attention to the roofing system. This consistent documentation supports responsible homeownership while helping families plan future improvements with greater confidence.

Increasing Long-Term Property Stability

Financial planning extends beyond immediate repair costs. A dependable roofing system protects insulation, framing, ceilings, and other structural components that would otherwise face moisture-related risks. Preserving these areas reduces future maintenance expenses across the property.

A proactive approach also improves predictability. Homeowners who understand the expected lifespan of their roofing system can schedule improvements before urgent problems develop. That reduces stress and allows better coordination with other home improvement projects.

Choosing Roof replacement at the appropriate stage helps maintain consistent protection while supporting broader financial objectives. Well-timed decisions often prevent larger expenses from accumulating over many years.

Building Confidence for the Years Ahead

Every homeowner wants confidence that their investment will remain protected through changing seasons and unexpected weather. Roofing decisions influence more than appearance because they affect insurance considerations, maintenance planning, and financial stability. Looking ahead rather than reacting to emergencies creates stronger long-term results.

Ragan Roofing works with homeowners who value informed planning instead of rushed decisions. Professional evaluations, realistic budgeting, and reliable workmanship help create roofing strategies that support lasting protection. By combining careful preparation with responsible maintenance, families can strengthen both their homes and their financial future while enjoying greater peace of mind.

How Gutter Cleaning Helps Prevent Foundation Problems and Protects Long-Term Property Value

Photo by Jon Sailer on Unsplash

A well-maintained home depends on more than a sturdy roof and attractive landscaping. Every part of the exterior works together to protect the structure from weather, and the drainage system plays a major role in that process. Although it is easy to overlook, keeping rainwater moving away from the property is essential for preserving both the home and the land surrounding it.

Many homeowners only think about their drainage system after noticing overflowing water during a storm. By that point, moisture may already be affecting the soil, siding, walkways, or foundation. Preventive maintenance is far more effective than waiting for visible signs of damage to appear.

Regular gutter cleaning helps maintain efficient water flow while reducing the risk of costly repairs. A simple maintenance routine can preserve structural stability, improve curb appeal, and support the long-term value of a property.

Why Proper Water Drainage Protects the Entire Home

Rainwater naturally follows the path of least resistance. When the drainage system is working correctly, water is directed safely away from the roof and foundation. This process helps prevent unnecessary moisture from collecting where it can cause damage over time.

If debris blocks the flow of water, overflow may spill directly beside the home’s foundation. Saturated soil can gradually shift or erode, placing additional pressure on structural components below ground level. Although these changes often develop slowly, they can become expensive if left unresolved.

Maintaining clear drainage channels reduces these risks and allows the entire roofing system to perform as intended during heavy rainfall.

The Hidden Risks of Neglected Gutters

Leaves, twigs, dirt, and small branches accumulate naturally throughout the year. While these materials may seem harmless, they slowly reduce the system’s ability to move water efficiently. Even a partial blockage can create overflow during a moderate rainstorm.

Overflowing water frequently reaches fascia boards, siding, windows, landscaping, and entryways. Continuous moisture exposure may shorten the lifespan of exterior materials and increase routine maintenance requirements.

Scheduling gutter cleaning before seasonal weather changes helps homeowners avoid these preventable issues while supporting consistent drainage performance.

Seasonal Debris Creates Different Challenges

Every season introduces unique maintenance concerns. Spring often brings blossoms and seed pods, while autumn fills gutters with leaves. Windstorms may also deposit small branches that restrict water movement.

Regular seasonal inspections allow homeowners to address debris before it affects drainage efficiency.

Protecting the Foundation From Long-Term Damage

A home’s foundation depends on stable soil conditions for reliable support. Excessive water collecting around the structure can gradually alter those conditions by softening or washing away surrounding soil. Over time, this movement may contribute to settlement concerns.

Proper drainage helps distribute rainwater away from vulnerable areas instead of allowing repeated saturation near the home’s base. This simple function plays an important role in protecting one of the property’s most valuable structural components.

Slon Exterior Care recommends preventive maintenance because avoiding excessive moisture is often easier and less expensive than repairing foundation-related damage later.

Preserving Landscaping and Outdoor Features

Beautiful landscaping requires careful planning and ongoing maintenance. Excess runoff caused by blocked gutters can wash away mulch, expose plant roots, damage flower beds, and erode decorative borders. Heavy water flow may also create muddy areas that reduce the appeal of outdoor spaces.

Keeping water under control allows gardens, shrubs, and lawns to receive balanced moisture instead of concentrated runoff. Healthy landscaping enhances both everyday enjoyment and long-term property presentation.

A well-maintained drainage system protects outdoor investments while helping homeowners avoid unnecessary landscaping repairs.

Preventing Damage to Walkways and Driveways

Water that repeatedly flows across sidewalks and driveways may gradually contribute to surface wear. Standing water can also create slippery conditions during rainy weather, increasing safety concerns around frequently used entrances.

Directing runoff properly helps preserve exterior surfaces while improving everyday accessibility.

Supporting Long-Term Property Value

The condition of a home’s exterior influences how buyers and visitors perceive the property. Signs of water damage, erosion, or neglected maintenance may raise concerns about hidden structural issues. Consistent upkeep demonstrates responsible ownership and attention to detail.

Routine maintenance also helps homeowners avoid unexpected repair expenses that could affect future resale value. Investing in preventive care protects important building components while preserving the property’s appearance year after year.

Homeowners who schedule inspections before major weather seasons often experience fewer drainage-related problems and more predictable maintenance costs.

Creating a Practical Maintenance Routine

An effective maintenance plan does not require complicated procedures. Instead, it relies on consistency. Inspecting drainage systems several times throughout the year allows homeowners to identify small concerns before they become expensive repairs.

Professional evaluations can also identify loose fasteners, minor alignment issues, or developing wear that may not be visible from the ground. Early attention extends the life of the drainage system while improving overall performance.

Slon Exterior Care encourages homeowners to include exterior drainage inspections as part of their regular home maintenance schedule.Regular inspections become even more valuable after periods of heavy rainfall or strong winds, as storms often introduce additional debris that may not be immediately visible. Addressing these conditions promptly helps maintain efficient water flow while preventing unnecessary strain on the drainage system.

Another advantage of preventive maintenance is that it allows homeowners to plan service around their schedules rather than responding to emergency situations. This approach reduces stress and creates more predictable maintenance costs throughout the year.

Why Professional Service Makes a Difference

Although homeowners may notice obvious debris, a professional inspection often identifies developing concerns that are easily missed. Loose brackets, minor leaks, improper water flow, and early signs of wear can all affect drainage performance if they remain unaddressed.

Experienced technicians evaluate the system as a whole instead of focusing only on visible blockages. This broader assessment helps ensure that rainwater is being directed safely away from the property under different weather conditions.

Slon Exterior Care provides thorough exterior maintenance services that help homeowners protect their properties through reliable drainage performance. Professional attention supports long-term structural stability while reducing the likelihood of preventable repairs.

Conclusion

Protecting a home begins with managing water effectively. While many homeowners focus on roofing materials or landscaping, the drainage system quietly performs one of the most important jobs on the property. Keeping it functioning properly helps safeguard the foundation, preserve exterior materials, and protect outdoor spaces from unnecessary moisture.

Routine gutter cleaning is a practical investment that delivers lasting benefits far beyond improving appearance. By maintaining consistent water flow, homeowners can reduce erosion, minimize structural risks, and avoid many of the costly problems associated with uncontrolled runoff.

With regular maintenance and professional support from Slon Exterior Care, homeowners can create a reliable drainage system that continues protecting their investment year after year. A proactive approach not only preserves the condition of the property but also contributes to greater peace of mind, lower long-term maintenance costs, and stronger overall property value.

NASCAR Technology in Everyday Cars: Racing Innovations That Changed Road Vehicles

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

NASCAR is famous for powerful engines, extreme speeds, and intense competition, but the technology created for the racetrack often goes far beyond motorsport. Racing provides engineers with one of the toughest testing environments, where every component must survive extreme heat, heavy loads, vibration, and constant pressure.

The solutions developed under these conditions often become the foundation for improvements in everyday vehicles. Lessons learned from NASCAR can help manufacturers create safer, more efficient, and more reliable cars for regular drivers.

Safety Features Developed Through NASCAR Racing

One of the biggest areas where motorsport influences road cars is vehicle safety. NASCAR teams spend years analyzing crashes, driver protection systems, and vehicle structures to reduce the risks associated with high-speed impacts. While many fans also follow races through 18+ sports betting apps, the engineering innovations behind NASCAR remain the sport’s most significant contribution to the automotive industry.

Modern race cars use advanced safety technologies, including:

  • reinforced frames designed to protect the driver during collisions;
  • energy-absorbing materials that help reduce impact forces;
  • specially designed seats and head restraints for better protection;
  • structures that control how crash energy moves through the vehicle.

Many of these concepts have influenced the design of passenger vehicles. Although everyday cars do not require the same level of protection as NASCAR machines, the engineering knowledge gained from racing helps manufacturers build stronger cabins and more effective safety systems.

Motorsport research has also contributed to improvements in fire-resistant materials, restraint systems, window protection, and emergency procedures. These developments help make modern vehicles better equipped to protect passengers in dangerous situations.

Braking, Tire, and Suspension Technologies Inspired by Motorsports

A NASCAR vehicle must maintain control while accelerating, braking, and turning at extremely high speeds. These conditions put enormous stress on brakes, tires, and suspension components, making racing an ideal environment for testing new solutions.

Brake technology is one area that benefits greatly from motorsport development. Engineers test materials and cooling systems under extreme temperatures to improve reliability and performance. The knowledge gained from racing can later contribute to stronger brake discs, improved brake pads, and more efficient cooling solutions in production vehicles.

Tire development also relies heavily on racing data. Engineers analyze grip levels, temperature changes, tire pressure, and wear patterns during competitions. These findings help create everyday tires with better handling, durability, and performance in different weather conditions.

Suspension technology follows a similar path. Data collected from race cars helps engineers understand how vehicles react during acceleration, braking, and cornering. This information can then be applied to road vehicles, improving stability, comfort, and overall driving experience.

Aerodynamic Solutions That Improve Efficiency

In NASCAR, even the smallest aerodynamic adjustment can influence speed, handling, and fuel usage. Engineers constantly refine the shape of the vehicle, including the bodywork, underbody design, spoilers, and airflow channels, to achieve better performance on the track.

The same principles can benefit everyday vehicles. Manufacturers use aerodynamic testing to create smoother designs that reduce air resistance, improve fuel efficiency, and help lower emissions. Better airflow management can also reduce wind noise and provide greater stability when driving at higher speeds.

Data Analytics Behind Modern Vehicle Technology

NASCAR teams rely heavily on data to improve performance. During every race and testing session, engineers collect and analyze information about how the vehicle behaves under different conditions. Similar data-driven decision-making can also be seen in digital entertainment platforms, including 18+ casinos, where real-time analytics help optimize user experience and platform performance.

They monitor factors such as:

  • engine and component temperatures;
  • tire pressure and performance;
  • fuel consumption;
  • speed and overall vehicle behavior.

Automakers apply similar data-driven methods in production vehicles. Modern cars use sensors and intelligent systems to monitor engine performance, identify potential issues, improve stability control, and support more efficient driving habits.

Connected-car technology and predictive maintenance systems are also based on the same idea: using real-time information to understand vehicle condition and prevent problems before they occur.

How NASCAR Innovations Reach Everyday Drivers

Not every NASCAR technology can be directly transferred to a passenger vehicle. Race cars are designed for maximum speed and performance, while everyday cars must also focus on comfort, affordability, reliability, and practicality.

Despite these differences, the racetrack remains an important testing ground for automotive innovation. By pushing technology to its limits, NASCAR helps engineers develop solutions that can eventually make regular vehicles safer, more efficient, more durable, and more enjoyable to drive.

TOP FUEL’S MADDI GORDON RIDING HIGH AFTER FIRST WIN HEADING TO DENSO NHRA SONOMA NATIONALS

SONOMA, Calif. (July 14, 2026) – As if Maddi Gordon wouldn’t have been excited enough to race at Sonoma Raceway for this weekend’s 38th annual DENSO NHRA Sonoma Nationals presented by PowerEdge, the Top Fuel rookie sensation has the added thrill of being the most recent event winner on the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series tour.

Of course, that was Gordon’s first career Top Fuel win, getting the incredible victory in just her 10th professional start for Ron Capps Motorsports. Since then, Gordon and NHRA have been off for two weeks, meaning she’s more than ready to get back to racing.

Norwalk will be hard to top, as her boss, Funny Car points leader Ron Capps, and her father, past Top Alcohol Funny Car world champ Doug Gordon, both won on the same day, but M. Gordon can’t wait to see what she can accomplish in her 12,000-horsepower Carlyle Tools dragster in Sonoma, which has long been regarded as one of the fastest and most popular facilities on the NHRA tour.

“What a crazy couple of weeks it’s been in the Gordon household, but crazy in the best way possible,” Gordon said. “I’m very grateful we had these few weeks to really be able to soak in the win to the fullest extent, and I’m glad the team was able to enjoy the break. I’ve been on cloud nine, but even still, I’ve been itching to get back to the track.

“My sister will be competing in Super Comp and Top Dragster as well. This is one of two races where we’ll be racing at the same national event, so I can’t wait to support her, support my family, and get back to one of the fastest tracks on tour.”

The DENSO NHRA Sonoma Nationals presented by PowerEdge will feature a full weekend of action at the 11th of 20 events in 2026, as well as NHRA 75th anniversary items like:

  • An appearance from legendary NHRA Top Fuel and Funny Car world champion Gary Scelzi. Scelzi is one of only three drivers in NHRA history to claim world titles in both Top Fuel (1997, 1998, 2000) and Funny Car (2005). NHRA will honor Scelzi’s accomplishments at his home track in Sonoma.
  • Brittany Force appears on the special commemorative ticket for the event following her incredible 343.16-mph run from a season ago.
  • A new-look Nitro Mall, special displays and more.

The 2025 DENSO NHRA Sonoma Nationals presented by PowerEdge featured wins by Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel), Austin Prock (Funny Car) and Greg Stanfield (Pro Stock). This year’s race will once again be broadcast on FS1, including eliminations at 10 p.m. ET on Sunday, July 19.

The victory in Norwalk continued Gordon’s magnificent rookie season, as she moved to fourth in points in the loaded Top Fuel category, behind only Epping winner Leah Pruett, reigning world champ Kalitta and points leader Shawn Langdon, who has four wins and holds a commanding advantage.

Others to watch this weekend include 2026 event winners Tony Stewart and Antron Brown, as well as Justin Ashley, Clay Millican and Tony Schumacher.

Gordon, though, has proven the moment isn’t too big for her as she looks for another huge weekend in Sonoma. It all starts with the epic night qualifying session on Friday, which includes the Deecell Power Systems “After Dark Low Qualifier” bonus, offering up $4,000 to the driver who lights up the scoreboard with the quickest run under the lights.

“The race track is my happy place; it’s my element and where I feel at home,” Gordon said. “I can’t wait to get back into my Carlyle Tools dragster and make some fast passes, especially since we’re headed to Sonoma, which is one of my home tracks. We’ll have a lot of friends and family out there this weekend.

“The Friday night nitro session under the Sonoma Raceway lights is legendary, and I’m excited to be a part of it this year. I just cannot wait to get back out there this weekend and strap back into our mean green hot rod.”

Two-time reigning Funny Car champion Prock won for the first time in Sonoma last season, defeating 2025 Rookie of the Year Spencer Hyde. Prock currently has one win on the season from Maryland while three-time world champ Ron Capps leads the points, with three wins so far in 2026.

Last year’s Pro Stock final was a family affair, as Greg Stanfield defeated his son, Aaron, in the final round. A. Stanfield has two wins on the year in 2026, while reigning world champion Dallas Glenn currently leads the points with his KB Titan Racing teammate and six-time world champion Greg Anderson in second.

In Pro Stock Motorcycle, a $25,000 prize on the line for the winner of the one-day GETTRX All-Star Callout on Saturday. Matt Smith is the defending Callout winner, while the eight-bike field this year includes Gaige Herrera, Richard Gadson, Smith, Angie Smith, John Hall, Jianna Evaristo, Chase Van Sant and Steve Johnson.

The event also features thrilling competition in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and the popular Top the Cops exhibition race.

Sonoma race fans can enjoy the special pre-race ceremonies that introduce and celebrate each of the drivers racing for the prestigious Wally on Sunday and the SealMaster Track Walk. After racing finishes on Sunday, fans are invited to congratulate and celebrate with event winners. Fans always get an exclusive pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet and can visit Manufacturers Midway, featuring displays, merchandise, food and fun.

NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 4:55 and 6:55 p.m. PT on Friday, July 17, and the final two rounds on Saturday, July 18 at 11:45 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. PT on Sunday, July 19.

The first round of the GETTRX Pro Stock Motorcycle All-Star Callout takes place at 11:15 a.m. PT on Saturday, with the semifinals at 1:30 p.m. and the finals at 3:40 p.m. Television coverage of the Callout begins at 9 p.m. ET on Saturday on FS1.

Television coverage includes the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge on Saturday at 8 p.m. ET on FS1. Elimination coverage begins at 10 p.m. ET on FS1 on Sunday.

To purchase tickets to the Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals, fans can visit www.sonomaraceway.com or call 800-870-7223. For more information about NHRA, visit www.NHRA.com.


About DENSO and PowerEdge

Globally headquartered in Kariya, Japan, DENSO is a $47.9 billion leading mobility supplier that develops advanced technology and components for nearly every vehicle make and model on the road today. With manufacturing at its core, DENSO invests in around 180 facilities worldwide to provide opportunities for rewarding careers and to produce cutting-edge electrification, powertrain, thermal and mobility electronics products, among others, that change how the world moves. In developing such solutions, the company’s 158,000 global employees are paving the way to a mobility future that improves lives, eliminates traffic accidents, and preserves the environment. DENSO spent around 8.6 percent of its global consolidated sales on research and development in the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025. For more information about DENSO’s operations worldwide, visit https://www.denso.com/global/en/.

In North America, DENSO is headquartered in Southfield, Michigan, and employs 27,000+ team members across nearly 50 sites in the U.S, Canada and Mexico. In the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025, DENSO in North America generated $12.5 billion in consolidated sales. To learn more about DENSO operations in the region and explore career opportunities, please visit https://www.denso.com/us-ca/en/. 

PowerEdge® is a value-driven line of high quality and durable aftermarket products, designed to deliver performance, and reliability. Backed by the sales, service, and logistics support of DENSO Products and Services Americas, Inc.—DENSO’s North American aftermarket headquarters in Long Beach, California—PowerEdge brings trusted quality at a competitive price. For more information, visit https://www.poweredgeproducts.com.

About Mission Foods

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

About NHRA

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

Ford Racing NASCAR – North Wilkesboro Advance

NORTH WILKESBORO

Saturday, July 18 — NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, 12:30 p.m. ET (FS1)
Sunday, July 19 — NASCAR Cup Series, 7 p.m. ET (TNT)

After hosting the NASCAR All-Star Race each of the last three years, North Wilkesboro Speedway will conduct its first points race in 30 years when the NASCAR Cup Series arrives for Sunday’s Window World 450. Joey Logano is the lone Ford Cup driver with a victory on the track after winning the 2024 All-Star Race while Chandler Smith is the defending winner of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event.

BLANEY SECURES FORD’S 750TH CUP WIN

Ryan Blaney swept the weekend at EchoPark Speedway as he won the pole and all three stages to deliver Ford Racing its 750th all-time NASCAR Cup Series victory. Blaney, who led 14 times for a race-high 171 laps, passed Carson Hocevar on the final lap to record his second win of the season and 19th of his career. The victory also extended his personal-best streak of consecutive Top 10 finishes to eight as the series heads to North Wilkesboro Speedway. There have been 91 drivers who have at least one Cup Series win with Ford, including ‘Shirtless’ Jimmy Florian, who won the first on June 25, 1950 at Dayton Speedway. Ned Jarrett has the most wins in a Ford with 43 while Bill Elliott is second with 40. Joey Logano is the winningest active driver with 35 Ford wins, which is fourth on the list.

FORD HISTORY AT NORTH WILKESBORO

Ford has 20 career wins in the NASCAR Cup Series at NWS dating back to Buck Baker in 1955 and the most recent coming in 1995 with Mark Martin. NASCAR Hall of Famer Junior Johnson (right) leads all Blue Oval drivers with four wins, including sweeping two races each in 1958 and 1965. Three additional NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series wins came in 1995 (Mike Bliss), 1996 (Martin) and 2025 (Chandler Smith).

BLANEY AND GILLILAND REACH IN-SEASON CHALLENGE SEMI’S

Ford Racing drivers Ryan Blaney and Todd Gilliland won their matchups last weekend and advanced to the semi-final round of the NASCAR Cup Series In-Season Challenge. Gilliland, the 25th seed,has defeated Daniel Suarez, Carson Hocevar and Alex Bowman and will face off against Chase Elliott. Blaney, the No. 3 seed, has beaten Josh Berry, Shane Van Gisbergen and William Byron, and now faces Christopher Bell. The winner will be crowned after the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway and receive $1 million.

LOOKING AT THE STANDINGS

Blaney’s win solidified his third-place position in the overall point standings, but he has closed the gap to 41 points behind Tyler Reddick for second and 65 to leader Denny Hamlin with six races remaining in the regular season. Chris Buescher, who finished 10th last weekend, is seventh while Austin Cindric is 14th. Three-time champion Joey Logano continued his push to make the 16-driver field as his ninth-place run moved him to 17th. He trails Erik Jones for the final spot by eight points after he scored 43 points on Sunday, the third-highest total among all drivers. The Chase begins on Labor Day Weekend with the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway.

RYAN BLANEY: “I know when they brought [North] Wilkesboro for the All-Star Race a handful of years ago, everyone was extremely excited. Not only in that area but I think the whole garage was excited. A lot of people in this garage area, my car chief for example, he raced at North Wilkesboro and was part of a team that raced there for a while. I think they’ve done a great job with that place of keeping a lot of history, but also revitalizing it to kind of keep up with the times. I think they’ve done a good combination of that stuff. I would never have thought five years ago we’d have a point race there, but now we are, and I think it’s great for the series, it’s great for that racetrack obviously, but it’s just good to be racing around there. I think it puts on a great show, and it’s going to be a fun one.

JOEY LOGANO: “I don’t think much will change [from the previous All Star races]. Obviously, there will be more cars on the track and the rubber build-up may be a little bit different than what we’ve had there, just because there are more cars pounding the rubber into the racetrack, so it might change the lines over time, but I don’t think it will be much different. I don’t think it’s a make-or-break race, but when you have opportunity tracks like that where you typically run well, you just have to make sure you capitalize on the opportunities that are sitting there.”

CHRIS BUESCHER: “It’s pretty remarkable to see where it’s gotten to now. It’s been such a fun racetrack to be on, whether it was the old surface or the new. It’s gonna be a fun night race, a long race as well. There are a lot of cool things coming there, but it’s really neat to see where it’s gotten to.”

ZANE SMITH: “Yeah it’s going to be a fun one for sure. It’s going to be a long one, you know, my teammates and I talked about that a bunch. I was actually a part of the test earlier this year where it was like 10 degrees, so I’m looking forward to it. It’ll be a lot different. It’ll be slick. Lanes for sure are going to move around, so we’ll see how it goes.”

LOGANO DOMINATES ALL-STAR RACE IN 2024

Joey Logano dominated the NASCAR All-Star Race in 2024 like nobody ever had, leading all but one of the 200 laps and winning the $1 million bonus for the second time in his career. Logano won the pole, thanks in part to his pit crew that put together a solid pit stop in a modified qualifying format, and never looked back once the green flag fell. He bolted to the lead on the softer tire compound that Goodyear made available, in addition to the regular tires usually used on race weekends, and controlled the race until the checkered flag.

THE LAST TIME…

The last time Ford won a points-paying race at North Wilkesboro Speedway came in 1995 when Mark Martin took the checkered flag driving for car owner Jack Roush. Martin, who led a race-high 126-of-400 laps, passed Dale Jarrett with 55 circuits to go and led a Ford charge that saw five drivers finish in the top seven spots, including Rusty Wallace (second), Ricky Rudd (fifth), Ernie Irvan (sixth) and Dale Jarrett (seventh). The victory was Martin’s second at the speedway after winning for the first time five years earlier.

CHANDLER GOING FOR NWS REPEAT

Chandler Smith was in the right place at the right time a year ago when he won the Window World 250 at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Smith passed Corey Heim and Layne Riggs for the lead on the final lap of overtime when those two got into each other to claim his second win of the season and seventh of his career. That marked the only circuit Smith led all afternoon and completed a one-two sweep for Front Row Motorsports as Riggs finished second.

RIGGS MAINTAINS SERIES LEAD

Despite a 23rd-place finish last week at Lime Rock Park, a race in which he won the pole and led a race-high 48 laps, Layne Riggs continues to lead the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series point standings. Riggs has a 44-point lead over Kaden Honeycutt with only four races to go in the regular season. Ford has three other drivers currently in the Top 10 with Chandler Smith third, Ty Majeski sixth and Ben Rhodes seventh.

FORD’S NASCAR CUP SERIES WINNERS

AT NORTH WILKESBORO

1955 – Buck Baker (2)

1957 – Fireball Roberts (1)

1958 – Junior Johnson (Sweep)

1963 – Marvin Panch (2)

1964 – Fred Lorenzen and Marvin Panch

1965 – Junior Johnson (Sweep)

1966 – Dick Hutcherson (2)

1967 – Darel Dieringer (1)

1968 – David Pearson (1)

1969 – David Pearson (2)

1979 – Bobby Allison (1)

1980 – Bobby Allison (2)

1990 – Mark Martin (2)

1992 – Davey Allison and Geoffrey Bodine

1994 – Geoffrey Bodine (2)

1995 – Mark Martin (2)

FORD’S NASCAR CRAFTSMAN TRUCK SERIES WINNERS AT NORTH WILKESBORO

1995 – Mike Bliss

1996 – Mark Martin

2025 – Chandler Smith

The Ford Mustang® coupe is America’s best-selling sports car and has a global racing presence. With Mustang-based race cars competing in international sports car competition (GT3 and GT4), NASCAR, NHRA, Formula Drift, in Supercars, at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb and in its own bespoke regional one-make series – Mustang Cup and Mustang Challenge – the platform has an unprecedented global reach. This weekend, 15 Mustang race cars are scheduled to compete across all active disciplines. Learn more about Mustang at www.FordRacing.com.

Spire Motorsports Window World 450 Race Advanc

  • For the first time since 1996, North Wilkesboro (N.C.) Speedway will contest a points-paying NASCAR Cup Series race this Sunday. Spire Motorsports owns eight starts at the historic .625-mile track, which hosted the Cup Series All-Star Weekend for the past three years. Carson Hocevar won the 2025 NASCAR All-Star Open to advance to the All-Star Race where he finished 11th. Spire Motorsports fields the No. 7, 71 and 77 for Daniel Suárez, Michael McDowell and Hocevar, respectively.
  • The Window World 450 will be televised live on TNT Sunday, July 19 beginning at 7 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The 21st of 36 points-paying races on the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series calendar will also be broadcast live on the Performance Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

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

  • Daniel Suárez will pilot Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation Chevrolet ZL1 in Sunday’s Window World 450 at North Wilkesboro Speedway.
  • The Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation (CRSF) empowers communities with clean, safe places for underserved youth to play, learn, and grow. Since 2018, Group 1001 and the CRSF have combined efforts to build 17 youth development parks and install 20 STEM centers nationwide. Group 1001 employees have joined CRSF to host and volunteer for four Community Enhancement Projects. CRSF and Group 1001 have impacted over 100,000 youth in their joint effort to promote active lifestyles and educational opportunities. For more information, visit https://ripkenfoundation.org/.
  • Suárez has logged three career NASCAR Cup Series starts at North Wilkesboro Speedway in the NASCAR All-Star Race where he qualified for the feature event all three years (2023-2025). He started from the pole for the 2023 edition and went on to finish seventh, 15th and 23rd respectively, each year.
  • Last week at Atlanta, Suárez qualified fifth and was running 17th before the red flag was displayed during Stage 2 for inclement weather. Unfortunately, when the race resumed, the 34-year-old driver tussled with handling issues as the laps wound down and was forced to settle for a 21st-place finish.
  • The 2026 Coca-Cola 600 winner is having a breakout season on the strength of one win, two top-five and five top-10 finishes and currently sits 11th in points with 15 races remaining to determine this year’s champion. Meanwhile, Suárez has averaged a 14.9 finish across 20 races so far and has only finished outside the top 20 four times.
  • Suárez is a veteran of 343 Cup Series starts and has notched three wins (Sonoma, June 2022; Atlanta, Feb. 2024; Charlotte, May 2026), 26 top fives and 80 top-10s in NASCAR’s premier division. He’s led 945 laps and earned three poles since making his series debut in 2017.
  • Daniel Suárez Quote
  • North Wilkesboro has always been a special venue for NASCAR, and now it becomes even more significant as a points race. What are your expectations and goals heading into this weekend?
  • “North Wilkesboro is a special place because you can feel the history the moment you get there. The fans, the atmosphere, and the meaning behind racing at a track like that make it different from anywhere else we go. Last year was a tough night for us at the all-star race after we were caught up in an accident, but that’s part of racing. You learn, you move forward, and you come back stronger. I’m excited for the opportunity to come back, compete, and be part of bringing great memories back to a track that means so much to NASCAR.”

Ryan Sparks – Crew Chief, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

  • Ryan Sparks is the crew chief for Spire Motorsports No. 7 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 and driver Daniel Suárez in the NASCAR Cup Series. Sparks has called 222 Cup Series races where he’s earned one win, six top-five and 15 top-10 finishes since keying the mic in 2020 for his first race in NASCAR’s premier division.
  • In Sparks’ last visit to North Wilkesboro, he guided Justin Haley to a 14th-place finish in the 2025 NASCAR All-Star Open. Sparks’ best result at the track came in 2023, when he called Corey LaJoie to a ninth-place finish in the All-Star Open.
  • Sparks joined Spire Motorsports in 2021, where he served as both Crew Chief and Competition Director, leading the organization’s competitive and technical efforts. In 2026, Sparks serves in a singular role as crew chief for Daniel Suárez. He brings more than a decade of experience across all three national series, highlighted by 13 seasons at Richard Childress Racing and contributions to title-winning campaigns in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (2011) and O’Reilly Auto Parts Series (2013).

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

  • Michael McDowell will pilot Spire Motorsports’ No. 71 Delaware Life Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in Sunday’s Window World 450 at North Wilkesboro Speedway.
  • 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.
  • McDowell has logged three career NASCAR Cup Series starts at North Wilkesboro Speedway in the NASCAR All-Star Race. During the 2023 and 2025 All-Star Open, the 41-year-old collected finishes of 13th and fifth, respectfully. The veteran racer finished ninth in the 2024 feature event.
  • In last year’s All-Star Open at North Wilkesboro Speedway, McDowell qualified and finished fifth.
  • McDowell’s team earned a $100,000 payday and a trip to Victory Lane after winning the Mechanix Wear Pit Crew Challenge during last season’s All-Star Weekend at North Wilkesboro Speedway. The crew’s blazing 12.587-second stop topped all entries for both the NASCAR All-Star Open and NASCAR All-Star Race, earning the title of the fastest team on pit road.
  • The Glendale, Ariz., native has collected two top-10 finishes on short track configurations in 2026, earning results of eighth at Phoenix Raceway and ninth during this year’s All-Star race at Dover Motor Speedway.
  • Last weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway, the 2021 Daytona 500 Champion qualified 18th and finished 15th.
  • Across the last nine races, the two-time Cup Series race winner holds an average finish of 15.2, while pacing the field two times for eight laps (Watkins Glen/Charlotte).
  • After 20 points-paying races on the 2026 calendar, McDowell is 21st in the Cup Series championship point standings. With six races remaining before NASCAR’s playoff format begins in September at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway, the father-of-five sits 47 points below the cutline.

Michael McDowell Quote
Talk about the history of North Wilkesboro and the importance of qualifying well at short tracks.
“North Wilkesboro is a fun weekend and it’s a cool racetrack. Obviously, we have been there for All-Star Weekend. Having a longer race is going to be different, but it is a track that has been a lot of fun. The lines move around and you have to manage tires. It is a cool weekend all together. North Wilkesboro is a great town. The city embraces us. It feels like a little time capsule and we get back to the grassroots of the sport. The scoreboard, the walls, the fans – it’s just fun. Every lap counts and everything matters when it comes to short track racing. It’s an elbows-out kind of grind at North Wilkesboro and I am looking forward to it.”

Travis Peterson – Crew Chief, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

  • Travis Peterson is the crew chief of Spire Motorsports No. 71 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in the NASCAR Cup Series with driver Michael McDowell.
  • Peterson has called three races at the 0.625-mile track, all with McDowell in the driver’s seat. The duo finished ninth in the 2024 All-Star Race and fifth in their 2025 qualifying race.
  • The 35-year-old has called 20 Cup Series races on short track configurations, tallying an average start of 18.2 paired with an average finishing position of 19.4.
  • The West Bend, Wisc., native is a 2012 mechanical engineering graduate of the Williams States Lee College of Engineering at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

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

  • Carson Hocevar will race Spire Motorsports’ No. 77 Spectrum Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in Sunday’s Window World 450 at North Wilkesboro Speedway.
  • Spectrum is a suite of advanced communications services offered by Charter Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:CHTR), a leading broadband connectivity company available to 58 million homes and small to large businesses across 41 states. Founded in 1993, Charter has evolved from providing cable TV to streaming, and from high-speed Internet to a converged broadband, WiFi and mobile experience. Over the Spectrum Fiber Broadband Network and supported by our 100 percent U.S.-based employees, the Company offers Seamless Connectivity and Entertainment with Spectrum Internet®, Mobile, TV and Voice products. More information can be found at corporate.charter.com.
  • Through 20 races, the Portage, Mich., native sits eighth in points, just five markers out of seventh. His one win, five top fives, eight top 10s, 563 points scored, average starting position of 11.2 and 14.4 average finish are all career highs through the first 20 points-paying races of the season. The team’s average starting position has improved by over seven spots and their average finishing is a whopping nine positions better compared to this point in 2025.
  • The 23-year-old driver is on pace to improve his average finish by 7.2 positions at the end of the season, the largest improvement among all drivers in the field.
  • Hocevar participated in two of the three NASCAR All-Star Race weekends held at the storied 0.625 short track. After failing to transfer to the main event in 2024, he took the victory in the 2025 All-Star Open to punch his ticket to his first-career All-Star Race. Despite starting shotgun on the field, he drove to an 11th-place finish.
  • Aside from his NASCAR Cup Series duties, Hocevar will also pilot Spire Motorsports’ No. 77 Delaware Life Chevrolet Silverado RST in Saturday afternoon’s NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series’ FaithFest 250.
  • The six-time CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race winner competed in the series’ 2023 event at the Wilkes County facility. Hocevar started second, and despite spending the majority of the afternoon in second, was forced to settle for a fourth-place finish.
  • Last Sunday at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Hocevar started 14th but found his place inside the top five by Lap 16. He took the lead for the first time on Lap 83 but fell to eighth prior to a three-hour delay for inclement weather. He drove from 29th to fifth late in the Final Stage to contend for the win before ultimately earning his third top-five finish in six Cup Series starts at Atlanta via a third-place result.
  • The 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Rookie of the Year registered his first-career victory earlier this season at Talladega Superspeedway. He survived a late-race restart with three laps remaining and brought home the checkered flag to register Spire Motorsports’ first win since the 2019 Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway.
  • The former Super Late Model standout will compete in his fourth Slinger Nationals at Slinger (Wis.) Super Speedway Tuesday evening. Driving a Richie Wauters-prepared No. 77 Chevrolet, Hocevar is seeking his third feature start at the famed 1/4-mile oval in his first attempt at the event since 2022. He earned a career-best 19th-place result in 2021.
  • Hocevar will round out his busy week with an appearance at the TIME Sports Gala in New York City on Thursday. He was named one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People in Sports earlier this year.

Carson Hocevar quotes
How do you think a points race at North Wilkesboro will race differently than the All-Star Races we have seen in the last couple years?
“I think we are going to be running an inch off the wall or all the way at the bottom when the track rubbers up. If it goes green, there’s going to be a lot of cars either off the lead lap or the whole field will be on top of each other because the leader will be stuck in lap traffic. I think it will look like a sprint car race.”

How does the track’s elevation changes affect how you approach the corner?
“You definitely get free into Turn 1 because you’re going downhill, but then you catch the banking. When you get into Turn 3 you’re uphill so you can drive it in further, but the banking falls away a little. You’re constantly racing the elevation more so than you are grip.”

Luke Lambert – Crew Chief, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

  • Luke Lambert is the crew chief of Spire Motorsports’ No. 77 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in the NASCAR Cup Series for driver Carson Hocevar.
  • Lambert is in his third season at Spire Motorsports and fourth with Hocevar. The duo has logged two pole awards, one win, eight top-five and 23 top-10 finishes in 100 races.
  • The 43-year-old is a native of Mount Airy, N.C., located just 50 miles north of North Wilkesboro Speedway.

About Spire Motorsports …
Spire Motorsports fields full-time entries in the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series and Interstate Batteries High Limit Racing.

The team, co-owned by longtime NASCAR industry executive Jeff Dickerson and TWG Motorsports CEO Dan Towriss, earned its inaugural NASCAR Cup Series victory in its first full season of competition when Justin Haley took the checkered flag in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway July 7, 2019. Less than three years later, William Byron drove Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado its first NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series win April 7, 2022, at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway. The team’s most recent victory came May 24, 2026, when Daniel Suárez won the NASCAR Cup Series Series’ Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway.

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

NASCAR Stars Look to Shine All Weekend at North Wilkesboro Speedway

Fans can catch many of NASCAR's biggest stars in action all weekend at North Wilkesboro Speedway, from Friday's CARS Tour races to Saturday's FaithFest 250 and Sunday's Window World 450. (NWS/Michael Anderson photography)

Chase Elliott headlines quadruple-duty weekend; Cup Series regulars fill Friday and Saturday entry lists ahead of Sunday’s Window World 450.

NORTH WILKESBORO, N.C. (July 14, 2026) — Race fans won’t have to wait until Sunday’s historic Window World 450 race to see the sport’s biggest stars in action.

The big picture: From Friday’s zMAX CARS Tour doubleheader to Saturday’s FaithFest 250 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series showdown, NASCAR Cup Series standouts will be spread across every race this weekend at the 0.625-mile short track, creating one of the most talent-packed support-event lineups of the season.

Why it matters: Fans can watch many of NASCAR’s biggest names compete multiple times Friday and Saturday before Sunday’s Window World 450, the first points-paying Cup race at the iconic facility since 1996.

No driver will be busier than NASCAR Cup Series champion and eight-time Most Popular Driver, Chase Elliott. Elliott is scheduled to pull quadruple duty, competing in:

  • Both zMAX CARS Tour races on Friday, the Spears Manufacturing 75 and the Skyline National Bank 100
  • Saturday’s FaithFest 250 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race
  • Sunday’s Window World 450 NASCAR Cup Series race

Friday: CARS Tour loaded with NASCAR talent

Friday’s zMAX CARS Tour event is scheduled to feature a roster packed with current NASCAR stars and rising prospects.

Late Model Stock Car entries include:

  • Chase Elliott
  • Jesse Love
  • Corey Heim
  • Brendan “Butterbean” McQueen

Pro Late Model entries include:

  • Chase Elliott
  • Gio Ruggiero
  • Keelan Harvick
  • Corey Heim

The combination of established NASCAR Cup Series veterans, NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series contenders and the next generation of racing talent makes Friday one of the strongest CARS Tour fields of the year.

Saturday: Truck Series welcomes more Cup stars

The FaithFest 250 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race continues the star power with several NASCAR Cup Series regulars expected to join the field, including:

  • Chase Elliott
  • Christopher Bell
  • Shane Van Gisbergen
  • Carson Hocevar
  • Corey LaJoie
  • Ryan Newman

The added Cup Series talent joins a competitive Truck Series field battling for one of the season’s most coveted victories at one of NASCAR’s most historic venues.

How to get tickets:

From Friday’s CARS Tour doubleheader, including the Spears Manufacturing 75 and the Skyline National Bank 100, to Saturday’s FaithFest 250 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series action and Sunday’s Window World 450, North Wilkesboro Speedway offers race fans three days of nonstop short-track excitement featuring many of NASCAR’s biggest names.

Tickets for the full NASCAR weekend, including Friday and Saturday’s action-packed schedule, are available now at www.northwilkesborospeedway.com.

Luck eludes PT Autosport’s Stallone at CTMP

BOWMANVILLE, Ont. Canada (July 14, 2026) – Wheels America Racing’s Max Stallone – racing in the Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup Presented by Michelin with support from PT Autosport – endured another difficult race weekend, caught up several incidents not of his own making.

The 19-year-old Austin, Texas native, who won the 2025 Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup Shootout scholarship, showed plenty of pace but found himself on the receiving end of more than his share of crashes during the pair of 45-minute races.

Stallone and teammate Logan Stretch tried two different setups for Friday’s first practice, with Stallone also on scrubbed tires (most of the leaders were on sticker Michelins). With Stretch setting the sixth quickest time and Stallone four-tenths back, the team put Stretch’s setup on the No. 3 Mazda MX-5 Cup car for the afternoon session – which clearly was the right direction in which to go, with Stallone setting the third quickest time.

“We’re in a really good window,” said Stallone. “We changed a few things to add more rear stability on the high-speed corners at CTMP, and that really helped. Just need to put it all together in qualifying and the race.”

Unfortunately, Stallone couldn’t catch the draft in qualifying and started 18th, next to his teammate just ahead. Stretch was able to get around several cars ahead, but Stallone remained mired in the pack, fighting a three-car battle for 16th position. Stallone took the position with a decisive move, but an issue with the left rear camber negated much of the car’s stability, which shuffled him back to 19th. Stallone worked to press forward but an electrical issue shut the car down with just three minutes left in the race. In a very heads-up move, Stallone pulled across the track at pit out and slid backwards down the hill and off the racetrack – thus preventing a race-ending yellow flag.

Stallone’s race lap was quicker than his qualifying lap, putting him P12 on Sunday morning’s race two starting grid. Battling hard from the outset, Stallone held his position as the field jostled through the early going but with 30 minutes remaining, Stallone was caught up in a multiple car incident, damaging his left rear. His mechanics worked feverishly to get the left rear tire off and the damage mitigated, to get him back out on track, only a lap down. He continued to fight hard and was able to recover a 26th place finish.

It was a struggle, but Stallone was able to find a few positives out of the weekend.

“We know the pace is there – the car was consistently quick during second practice,” said Stallone. “It really all came together in that session, with a good setup and good speed. And in the races, I was in some good fights and learned some good lessons, good race craft. Otherwise, just one of those weekends where things just didn’t go right and we didn’t have any luck. So pack this one up and move on.”

Next up for the Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup Presented by Michelin series will be the doubleheader August 21-23 at VIRginia International Raceway, as part of the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship’s Michelin GT Challenge. Both races will be streamed live on the IMSA and Racer magazine

YouTube channels.

PT Autosport would like to thank our Partners for their continued support:

Mazda Motorsports has been winning races around the world for 50 years. From Le Mans, France to Daytona International Speedway in Florida, Mazdas have been a constant presence at racetracks around the globe, garnering wins and championships in races too numerous to list – and the list keeps growing.

Mazda Motorsports is responsible for all auto racing initiatives within the North American market, from promoting and servicing grassroots racers to developing sports car professionals of the future.

Instagram: MazdaMotorsports
X: Mazda Motorsports
Facebook: MazdaMotorsports

Stallone supports Hope Farm, founded in the Dallas/Fort Worth area in 1997 as a long-term leadership development program that guides at-risk boys, without the benefit of a positive male role model in their homes, from the time they are 5-7 years old until high school graduation and beyond. Staff and volunteers are dedicated to meeting the spiritual, nutritional, academic, emotional, and recreational needs of each young man to break the cycle of fatherlessness.

Instagram: @hope.farm
X: @HopeFarmInc
Facebook: Hope Farm, Inc.

About PT Autosport — Discover Unique Talent. Develop Champions.

PT Autosport provides merit-based motorsport industry opportunities for diverse individuals with high integrity, grit, and coachability, achieved through a development program for young aspiring drivers, engineers, mechanics, and other professionals. The first step of this process is applying for the annual Aspiring Driver Shootout, in which aspiring drivers aged 18-23 can compete for a racing partnership with the team.

A rigorous evaluation process of applicants determines the final competitors for the driver shootout. The winner earns financial support of up to $250,000 ($50,000 guaranteed) to pursue their racing career. The review process also provides the team the chance to identify unique talent for other roles in motorsport, including race engineers, mechanics, and professionals.

PT Autosport is building a community that fosters the development of young talent to find a place where they can make an impact in the motorsport community as a career.

Instagram: @pt_autosport
X: @PtAutosport
Facebook: PT Autosport
YouTube: PT Autosport
TikTok: @PtAutosport

Spire Motorsports FaithFest 250 Race Advance

  • In eight NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series starts at North Wilkesboro (N.C.) Speedway, Spire Motorsports has earned one win, two top five and two top 10s. Kyle Larson led 138 of 232 laps en route to victory driving the No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado in the series’ return to North Wilkesboro in 2023.
  • The FaithFest 250 will be televised live on FS1 Saturday, July 18 beginning at 12:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). The 15th of 25 points-paying races on the 2026 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series schedule will be broadcast live on the NASCAR Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

Chase Elliott – Driver, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Silverado RST

  • Chase Elliott will race Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 HENDRICKCARS.COM Chevrolet Silverado RST in Saturday’s NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series FaithFest 250 at North Wilkesboro Speedway.
  • HENDRICKCARS.COM is the online home for everything Hendrick Automotive Group. Visitors can shop more than 30,000 new or pre-owned vehicles, locate centers for service and collision repair, receive a value to sell or trade their car, chat online with customer service, discover career opportunities, learn more about vehicle protection programs, and explore how the company gives back to the community.
  • Elliott will pull quadruple duty this weekend at North Wilkesboro Speedway. In addition to his full-time obligations in Hendrick Motorsports’ No. 9 Chevrolet Camaro in the NASCAR Cup Series and his duties with Spire Motorsports, he will also compete in Friday night’s zMAX CARS Tour Late Model Stock Car race for JR Motorsports and the Pro Late Model Series Spears Manufacturing 75 with FR8 Racing.
  • Saturday’s 250-lap contest will mark Elliott’s first NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series start since the 2023 NextEra Energy 250 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway where he started 14th and finished 10th.
  • In 18 career CRAFTSMAN Truck Series starts, the Dawsonville, Ga., native has earned three poles, three wins, 11 top fives, 15 top 10s and an extraordinary 7.7 average finish.
  • In seven CRAFTSMAN Truck Series starts on short track configurations, the 30-year-old has recorded one win, four top-five and five top-10 results. He collected the checkered flag at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway in 2017, driving the Maury Gallagher-owned No. 23 Chevrolet.
  • The 2020 NASCAR Cup Series Champion’s short-track success dates back to his early racing career, when at just 14-years-old, he earned a victory at North Wilkesboro in the Pro All Stars Series South Super Late Model Division. Elliott led 69 of 200 laps en route to the win.
  • In three NASCAR All-Star Race appearances at North Wilkesboro Speedway, Elliott has earned two top-five and three top-10 results. In 2025, he locked himself into the main event by finishing third in his heat race before securing a fifth-place finish in NASCAR’s annual all-star extravaganza.
  • Elliott will pilot Spire Manufacturing chassis SMT-096 in Saturday’s FaithFest 250, a brand-new Chevrolet Silverado RST.

Chase Elliott Quote
How special is it to have the opportunity to climb behind the wheel of the No. 7 HENDRICKCARS.COM Chevrolet this weekend?
“I was honored when the folks at Spire reached out to me about driving the HENDRICKCARS.COM Chevy at North Wilkesboro. I think this was a race that Kyle (Busch) was supposed to run for them, so to be able to fill in for him is really special. I would love to go and get a win to honor him. I’m looking forward to it. It should be a good, fun weekend all around. A busy one for sure.”

Brian Pattie – Crew Chief, No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado RST

  • Brian Pattie is the crew chief of Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado RST, an entry that will see a collection of all-star caliber drivers behind the wheel throughout the 2026 season
  • Pattie has called three CRAFTSMAN Truck Series races at North Wilkesboro, highlighted by a fifth-place finish with Sammy Smith in 2024.
  • The Zephyrhills, Fla., native spent 14 seasons in NASCAR’s premier division. As a crew chief, he has earned six wins in Cup Series competition, 11 in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and nine in the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. He stands as one of 11 crew chiefs to win races across all three of NASCAR’s national touring series.
  • Through 14 races, the No. 7 team sits fourth in the division’s owner’s championship point standings on the strength of two wins, five top-five and eight top-10 finishes.

Shane Van Gisbergen – Driver, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Silverado RST

  • Shane Van Gisbergen will pilot Spire Motorsports’ No. 71 NationsGuard Chevrolet Silverado RST in Saturday’s NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series FaithFest 250 at North Wilkesboro Speedway.
  • NationsGuard is an innovator in the Automotive F&I space. Its programs are designed to maximize sales, profit, CSI and customer retention. NationsGuard delivers consistent, measurable results through disciplined monitoring and continuous improvement. The process measures every key element of a dealer’s program – from vehicle inspection efficiency to service advisor performance. NationsGuard targets and eliminates waste and inefficiency wherever it’s found, maintaining process improvements, making changes where necessary and relentlessly pursuing perfection.
  • Van Gisbergen will pull double duty this weekend and also race the No. 97 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Trackhouse Racing in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series’ Window World 450.
  • Saturday’s 156-mile event will mark Van Gisbergen’s fourth CRAFTSMAN Truck Series start and third this season. In addition to his lone start for Spire Motorsports at Charlotte Motor Speedway, “SVG” competed in two CRAFTSMAN Truck Series events (2023, 2026) for Niece Motorsports and secured a career/series best third-place finish at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International May 8.
  • Van Gisbergen’s lone short track start in CRAFTSMAN Truck Series competition came at in August 2023 at Indianapolis Raceway Park where he started 28th and finished 19th at the controls of Niece Motorsports’ No. 41 Chevy.
  • The 35-year-old earned his eighth career NASCAR Cup Series win earlier this season at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway where he started sixth, led 74 of 110 laps, and collected the checkered flag.
  • Van Gisbergen will pilot Spire Manufacturing chassis SMT-085 Saturday afternoon. This is the same truck he raced to a 15th-place finish in May at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway. Rajah Caruth earned the chassis’ best finish when he secured an eighth-place result at Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway in October 2024.

Shane Van Gisbergen Quote
You had a solid showing at North Wilkesboro in the Cup Series last year. How much confidence does that give you heading into this weekend?
“I’m really looking forward to racing the Chevrolet Silverado this weekend at North Wilkesboro and getting more laps on a smaller oval. It’s a track I’ve only been to once and went pretty good at it last year in the Cup car. But just being able to get more laps and a feel for how the track races throughout the weekend will be really helpful. Thanks to Spire Motorsports and NationsGuard for having me. It’s going to be awesome.”

Kevin “Bono” Manion – Crew Chief, No. 71 Chevrolet Silverado RST
Kevin “Bono” Manion is the crew chief of Spire Motorsports’ No. 71 Chevrolet Silverado for driver Shane Van Gisbergen in this weekend’s NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series FaithFest 250 at North Wilkesboro Speedway.
Manion has called two CRAFTSMAN Truck Series events at North Wilkesboro, highlighted by Kyle Larson’s dominant 2022 win.
Manion, a 32-year veteran of the sport, founded Spire Motorsports’ CRAFTSMAN Truck Series program alongside industry veteran Mike Greci in 2022. The team claimed its first victory in just its second outing with driver William Byron April 7, 2022 at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway.
The 54-year-old has earned six NASCAR Cup Series victories, including the 2010 Daytona 500, 17 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series triumphs and 12 CRAFTSMAN Truck series wins. Manion is also one of 11 crew chiefs to have called wins across all three of NASCAR’s national touring series.
In 2023, Manion became one of few to call a race in all three of NASCAR’s national series in a single season, all of which came under the Spire Motorsports banner. He led the part-time effort on the No. 7 Silverado in the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, helped in limited starts for Carson Hocevar in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and took the reigns during the second half of the Cup Series season for Ty Dillon and the No. 77 team.

Carson Hocevar – Driver, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Silverado RST

  • Carson Hocevar will pilot Spire Motorsports’ No. 77 Delaware Life Chevrolet Silverado RST in Saturday’s FaithFest 250 at North Wilkesboro Speedway
  • 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.
  • The 23-year-old driver, a veteran of 90 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series races, has logged one pole, six wins, 25 top fives and 38 top 10s, while leading 908 laps. He made the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series playoffs in all his three full-time seasons and earned a spot in the 2023 Championship 4.
  • The six-time CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race winner made his first and only series start at the storied Wilkes County venue in 2023. Hocevar started second, and despite spending the majority of the afternoon in second, was forced to settle for a fourth-place finish.
  • Hocevar will pull double duty this weekend at North Wilkesboro, where he’ll also drive Spire Motorsports’ No. 77 Spectrum Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series’ Window World 450.
  • The Portage, Mich., native currently sits eighth in the NASCAR Cup Series championship point standings. His one win, five top fives, eight top 10s, 563 points scored, average starting position of 11.2 and 14.4 average finish are all career highs through the first 20 points-paying races of the 2026 season.
  • Hocevar will be at the controls of Spire Manufacturing chassis SMT-094 Saturday afternoon, a brand new Chevrolet Silverado RST.

Carson Hocevar Quote
What are your thoughts heading into the truck race at North Wilkesboro?
“It has been fun running a bunch of truck races this year. We have had a lot of speed, just seems like something out of our control has happened that’s limited us to one win. I ran up front in the first truck race at North Wilkesboro in 2023, and I expect to do the same Saturday.”

Chad Walter – Crew Chief, No. 77 Chevrolet Silverado RST

  • Chad Walter is the crew chief of Spire Motorsports No. 77 Chevrolet Silverado RST in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, an entry that will see multiple all-star caliber drivers behind the wheel throughout the 2026 season.
  • Walter has called three CRAFTSMAN Truck Series races at North Wilkesboro Speedway, earning a venue-best 14th-place finish with Rajah Caruth in 2024.
  • Between NASCAR’s O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, Walter has racked up seven wins, 59 top fives and 145 top 10s.
  • Walter earned a mechanical engineering degree from the Cornell University College of Engineering. During his studies, he played defensive end for the Big Red football team.

About Spire Motorsports …
Spire Motorsports fields full-time entries in the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series and Interstate Batteries High Limit Racing.

The team, co-owned by longtime NASCAR industry executive Jeff Dickerson and TWG Motorsports CEO Dan Towriss earned its inaugural NASCAR Cup Series victory in its first full season of competition when Justin Haley took the checkered flag in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway July 7, 2019. Less than three years later, William Byron drove Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado its first NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series win April 7, 2022, at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway. The team’s most recent victory came May 24, 2026, when Daniel Suárez won the NASCAR Cup Series’ Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway.

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

Wallace Joins Cindric, Team Penske in Paint Scheme Reveal for Sunday’s Window World 450

Austin Cindric will drive a Rusty Wallace-inspired, throwback No. 2 Team Penske Ford in Sunday's Window World 450 at North Wilkesboro Speedway. (Joey Chapman/NWS Photo)
  • NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee Rusty Wallace, the grand marshal for Sunday’s Window World 450, joined Team Penske driver Austin Cindric and Penske team members on Monday in unveiling a throwback, 1993-inspired paint scheme that will adorn Cindric’s No. 2 Ford in Sunday’s race
  • Wallace, a three-time Cup Series race winner at North Wilkesboro, will give the command to start engines on Sunday night before Cindric’s car takes to the track in the Cup Series’ first points race at NWS in 30 years
  • Tickets and upsells for the Window World 450 race weekend, July 17-19, can be obtained by visiting www.northwilkesborospeedway.com

NORTH WILKESBORO, N.C. (July 14, 2026) – One of the most iconic paint schemes in NASCAR history will return to competition in Sunday’s Window World 450 at North Wilkesboro Speedway. Team Penske driver Austin Cindric joined NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee Rusty Wallace on Monday in unveiling a striking, 1993-inspired No. 2 Ford that Cindric will race under the lights in the first NASCAR Cup Series points race at North Wilkesboro in 30 years.

Harkening back to Wallace’s historic, 10-win season in 1993 – which included a sweep of both Cup Series races at North Wilkesboro – Cindric’s new version of Wallace’s classic ride features the same timeless No. 2 font as its original, with a twist: the dark gray portion of the car features a collage of Team Penske’s NASCAR Cup Series victories with the No. 2 car, while the gold part includes the names of Team Penske’s employees.

Bringing the unforgettable livery back to life in unique fashion was a thrill for Cindric, who was five years from being born when Wallace led 301 of a possible 800 laps in sweeping NWS’ Cup Series events.

“No matter how much success I have in the No. 2 car, it’s always going to be Rusty Wallace’s car,” Cindric said. “(Driving the throwback scheme) is really cool for a number of reasons. There are 450 employees at Team Penske and it’s very cool to incorporate them on what’s definitely the most iconic paint scheme on the NASCAR side for Team Penske.

“It’s a recognizable scheme for any race fan who was at North Wilkesboro back in the ‘90s, for sure. It’s cool to have the opportunity to pay tribute to the guy and the team who built up Team Penske’s NASCAR program.”

Wallace, who will serve as grand marshal for Sunday’s race, relished the opportunity to see a familiar paint scheme at a familiar track – adoring an entirely different car than the one from the 1990s. A show car version of Cindric’s throwback No. 2 Ford will be on display throughout this weekend at North Wilkesboro.

“When we pulled the cover off the car, I said, ‘Wow!’ That was so cool,” Wallace said. “In ‘93, we won all the races at North Wilkesboro and now I’m the grand marshal at North Wilkesboro this weekend. What a big deal for me and for this team. I hope this car wins.

“I’ve always loved North Wilkesboro. I’m going down (NC Highway 421) and I used to always look at the track going, ‘C’mon, man, somebody’s got to bring this thing back!’ It was such a fun place to run. I’m so glad that (Speedway Motorsports President and CEO) Marcus (Smith) made it happen, and now they’re adding to the track and making it nicer and nicer.”

North Wilkesboro’s showpiece race weekend builds on the excitement of a remarkable reopening in 2022 that preceded three runnings of the NASCAR All-Star Race – won by Kyle Larson, Joey Logano and Chrstopher Bell – from 2023-’25.

Prior to Sunday’s Window World 450, the most recent points-paying Cup Series race at NWS took place in September of 1996.

Window World 450 tickets and race-day upgrades – including Pre-Race Track Passes – can be purchased online at www.northwilkesborospeedway.com.

Race fans can connect with North Wilkesboro Speedway and get the latest news regarding the July 17-19 race weekend by following on X and Instagram or by becoming a Facebook fan.