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TOP FUEL’S JUSTIN ASHLEY LIKES TEAM’S PROGRESS APPROACHING GERBER COLLISION & GLASS NHRA ROUTE 66 NATIONALS

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CHICAGO (May 13, 2026) – Justin Ashley heads to this weekend’s Gerber Collision & Glass NHRA Route 66 Nationals presented by PEAK at Route 66 Raceway feeling good about the path his SCAG Racing team is on.

There have been adjustments with new crew chiefs and new team members, but the Top Fuel standout continues to thrive, especially over the past three races.

After a slow start to the year, Ashley has picked up steam in his 12,000-horsepower dragster, advancing to two semifinals and a final round in the loaded Top Fuel category. This weekend’s race in Chicago also marks a massive event for the SCAG team, as hundreds of employees will be on hand at Route 66 Raceway.

Ashley loves the opportunity to put on a show for them as he seeks his first win of the season and at the fan-favorite facility.

“I think we’re on a good path,” Ashley said. “Tommy (Delago, crew chief) and Jason (McCullouch, co-crew chief) have a plan and I love the plan they’re following. It’s like building a new house. It’s a brand new combination and we started everything from scratch. We’re laying that foundation and I think you’ll see more of it start to come to fruition the next few races.

“I’m happy with how we’re doing and I know there’s areas where we’ll continue to improve. It’s been a lot of fun and I’ve really enjoyed this whole process through the first five races. We’ve got a championship group and we have a lot of fun together. We enjoy being around each other and it’s a great culture with this team.”

Last season, Tony Stewart (Top Fuel), Jack Beckman (Funny Car) and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) claimed wins in Chicago. The event will again be broadcast on FS1, with final elimination coverage on Sunday, May 17, beginning at 5 p.m. ET. It is the sixth of 20 races during NHRA’s 75th anniversary season and fans can look forward to a number of highlights in Chicago, including:

An appearance from NHRA legend and Chicago native “The Greek,” Chris Karamesines, as NHRA honors his long career and accomplishments.
Karamesines will also be featured on the unique commemorative ticket for the race. Fans can scan the on-site signs at the track to purchase the commemorative ticket, which will be distinctive to each event.
On Sunday, the first 3,000 fans in attendance will receive a free, limited-edition NHRA can cooler.
A new-look Nitro Mall, special 75th anniversary displays and more.

Ashley will also get to take part in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge on Saturday, taking on reigning world champion Doug Kalitta in a semifinal rematch from the most recent event at South Georgia Motorsports Park.

Ashley will try to avenge that defeat and then parlay that into a victory against a field that features a host of standouts, including points leader Shawn Langdon, who won in Georgia and made the fastest run in NHRA history with an incredible blast of 345.00 mph. Others to watch include Leah Pruett, defending event winner Stewart, Gainesville winner Josh Hart, four-time world champion Antron Brown, rookie Maddi Gordon, Clay Millican and Chicago native Tony Schumacher.

But this is an important race for Ashley and SCAG Racing, with their headquarters not far from Route 66 Raceway. That means a great deal of their employees will be in attendance, which is something Ashley treasures, especially if he can bring him a victory.

“It’s definitely an honor,” Ashley said. “We’re out here representing this company and this is the first real opportunity to express our gratitude. There’s hundreds of employees at Metalcraft of Mayville who work hard and diligently at their jobs, and we’re looking forward to spending time with them.”

Funny Car’s Beckman will look for a repeat win against a field that features points leader J.R. Todd, and 2026 winners Ron Capps, Matt Hagan, Jordan Vandergriff and Chad Green.

Reigning Pro Stock world champion Dallas Glenn has continued his success on track this season with two wins on the season. His KB Titan Racing teammate and six-time world champion Greg Anderson is second after nabbing a win in Pomona. Matt Hartford has wins in Gainesville and Charlotte and is third.

Two-time Pro Stock Motorcycle world champ Gaige Herrera has yet to lose a round at Route 66 Raceway. Last season, he won his third consecutive race, defeating rival Matt Smith. Herrera won seven races last season, but it was his teammate, Richard Gadson, who earned the world title. Herrera, Gadson and Smith have wins in 2026.

The event will also feature competition in the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, along with the JBS Equipment NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Elite Motorsports and Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown.

Race fans in Chicago can enjoy the special pre-race ceremonies that introduce each driver and includes the fan favorite SealMaster Track Walk. Fans are also invited to congratulate the event winners at the winner’s circle celebration on Sunday. 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 cars, get autographs and more. They can also visit NHRA’s Manufacturers Midway, where sponsors and vendors create an exciting atmosphere.

NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series will feature two rounds of qualifying at 1:30 and 4:00 p.m. CT on Friday, May 15, and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, May 16 at 12:00 and 2:30 p.m. CT. Eliminations will begin at 11 a.m. CT on Sunday, May 17. Television coverage includes qualifying action at 7:30 p.m. ET on Friday and Saturday at 11:30 p.m. before eliminations coverage at 5 p.m. ET on Sunday.

To purchase tickets to the Gerber Collision & Glass NHRA Route 66 Nationals presented by PEAK on May 14-17 at Route 66 Raceway, 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, including the full 2026 schedule, 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 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.

Mission 600 Goes International as Joey Logano Visits VirtuallyWith U.S. Army V Corps, Pabrade Training Area, Lithuania

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Official Release
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Mission 600 crossed the Atlantic Ocean on Tuesday, connecting Coca-Cola Racing Family driver Joey Logano and members of the V Corps - Project Fly Trap in Lithuania.
  • Coca-Cola Racing Family driver and three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Joey Logano connected via zoom with members of the U.S. Army V Corps and Project Flytrap for a discussion around shared similarities between NASCAR and the military
  • Mission 600 serves as a prelude to Charlotte Motor Speedway’s pre-race salute to the troops before the Coca-Cola 600 every Memorial Day Weekend; tickets are still available at com

CONCORD, N.C. (May 13, 2026) – As America celebrates its 250th anniversary and Charlotte Motor Speedway prepares for the 67th running of the Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day Weekend, the pinnacle salute to our military, Mission 600 went abroad on Tuesday with a virtual visit between Coca-Cola Racing Family driver Joey Logano and the U.S. Army V Corps Project Flytrap in Pabradė Training Area, Lithuania.

Over the last nine years, Mission 600 has paired NASCAR drivers with military bases across the Carolinas for in-person visits – and taken drivers internationally through virtual visits – in an effort to engage with military and educate the NASCAR community on the day-to-day lives of the men and women who serve in the U.S. Armed Forces. Each visit builds meaningful connections between the worlds of motorsports and the military.

While separated by more than 4,800 miles – or roughly the distance of eight Coca-Cola 600 races – Logano and the unit found a lot of common ground in discussing technology, teamwork, the power of preparation and leadership.

Logano spent the morning meeting specialists from the 2nd Cavalry Regiment (2CR), who are one of five units leading counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) training and experimentation at Pabradė Training Area, Lithuania. The 2CR is the key counter-UAS innovation partner through Project Flytrap and operational experimentation. Five units based in Lithuania apply lessons learned from current conflicts and the modern battlefield by bringing soldiers, allied partners and industry experts together to experiment with technology, adapt tactics and improve the ability of U.S. and allied formations to detect, track and defeat UAS threats. The 2CR has been a U.S. Army Europe and Africa leader in counter-UAS innovation through Project Flytrap.

During the virtual visit, Capt. Matthew Kemelek shared insights into the vital role of the V Corps- Project Flytrap and the importance of the joint training efforts with the U.S., U.K. and NATO partners. Unit leaders explained how preparation and execution are pivotal parts of their job and mission while overseas on the Frontlines of Freedom. Logano and the soldiers then engaged in discussions on teamwork, emphasizing the parallels between military operations and the high-stakes world of NASCAR racing.

The three-time NASCAR champion shared the commonalities of training, the importance of trusting your team around you and his genuine respect of what they are doing each day to keep us free.

On the similarities on preparation:

“One of the cool things I’ve always enjoyed doing these Mission 600s because it’s so different from what we do in NASCAR, but it’s also similar in the team aspect. Your stakes are a little bit higher than ours, I’m being honest about that. You definitely got a lot more on the line. But the team aspect and the excellence that’s required – it’s required. It’s not optional. It has to be perfect. It has to be right. There is no second chance. That’s a lot of pressure. That’s a lot of pressure on humans to do that. And so I’ve always taken these opportunities to learn something from you guys and try to apply that into sports. Right. Because that’s where, you know, like I said, it’s not life or death, but it’s big time opportunities, big pressure in the moment. Right? You don’t have time to think about it. It’s all about preparation and then execution in the moment. That’s what it’s all about. And that is the most similar thing that I’ve seen in professional sports that I’ve, you know, from the military.”

Similarities in how the military and NASCAR are always evolving with technology:

Cpt. Kemelek:

“So Project Flytrap is about detecting, tracking and defeating drones… We have to work together and we have to also defeat drones. With our evolving technology, we have to account for not only what’s on the ground, but what’s in the air. So just like a flytrap, it just visualizes the work that we’re doing here and the specialization, the expertise that our soldiers are showing every day to make that happen. It’s not just an abstract concept. We are hands-on with our industry and working and training, and we’re making that a reality here at Project Flytrap.”

Logano:

“Being able to see the enemy’s drone – if they have something out there and what they’re doing – I guess that’s a big, big piece of it – detecting and being able to protect our people. That’s wild. I could imagine that, as soon as you feel like you got something, I feel like there’s similarities here to NASCAR in some ways where as soon as you feel like you got something figured out, there’s something new, right? There’s a new latest-and-greatest thing that comes out. And you have to evolve and find the next piece. For us, we’re trying to figure out how do we apply it to a race car, which sounds kind of dumb. After talking about what you guys are actually doing, it’s definitely different, but trying to keep up with the times is definitely a challenge for us.”

Logano’s appreciation for the V Corps and the military:

“We are so proud of you guys. Everything you were doing over there, we absolutely love it over here. I know I feel like that message is probably not clear enough to you how much our industry – and I’m going to speak for the whole industry here because I feel like I can – how proud of our military we truly are. One thing I love about NASCAR racing is there’s a prayer before every race, and everyone stands up for the national anthem. And that is one of the most proud things for me to be a part of in our sport, where not every sport is like that these days… So from myself, from my team, from our industry at NASCAR and Charlotte Motor Speedway and Coca-Cola, thank you. Thank you so much for giving us the opportunity to live here (United States) free.”

TICKETS:

Fans can purchase Coca-Cola 600 weekend tickets online at www.charlottemotorspeedway.com or call 1-800-455-FANS (3267). Weekend tickets for children ages 12 and under are just $10. Admission to Speed Street concerts by fan-favorite cover band Hairball (Friday) and Southern rock band 38 Special (Saturday) is free with any race ticket. Sunday’s pre-race concert by Brad Paisley is free with purchase of a Coca-Cola 600 race ticket.

Wood Brothers Racing – Race Week Briefing: Dover Motor Speedway

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Official Release
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Event: NASCAR All-Star Race
Date/Time: Sunday, May 17, 2026, 1 p.m. ET
Location: Dover Motor Speedway, Dover, Delaware
Layout: 1-Mile Concrete Oval
TV/Radio: FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio

Josh Berry’s win in the Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in March 2025 pays another dividend this weekend, as the victory guarantees him a spot among the 26 drivers competing for the $1 million winner’s share in the NASCAR All-Star Race at Dover Motor Speedway.

“It’s definitely been a cool benefit of getting a win,” Berry told members of the media earlier this week. “And when you win a race, the (All-Star starting spot) comes to mind pretty quickly.”

NASCAR has introduced a significant overhaul to the All-Star Race format this year.

For the first time, the event moves to Dover Motor Speedway, marking the debut of the exhibition race in the Northeast. The traditional All-Star Open format has also been reworked, with drivers not already locked into the main event joining eligible competitors for the opening two 75-lap segments of the race. Nineteen drivers, including Berry in the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Mustang, are guaranteed starting spots in the third and final segment – a 200-lap showdown. Six additional drivers will transfer based on their finishes in the opening segments, with a seventh advancing via the fan vote.

Berry said he believes the new format should create an entertaining show for fans.

“It will be a unique experience, a different format, lots of fun and put on a great show,” he said.

With essentially a full 36-car field expected on track for the opening two segments, Berry said the additional traffic could make for more competitive racing conditions.

“Having all cars on track will help the racing product, widen the track out,” he said.

Another notable change for the weekend is the application of resin to Dover’s concrete racing surface. Berry pointed to the success of a similar approach at Nashville Superspeedway several years ago.

“When we went back to Nashville for the first time they applied resin,” Berry said. “And, historically, I remember races there being pretty single-file right on the bottom.

“The resin seemed to widen out the racetrack a lot, like shockingly in my eyes. So maybe this resin will be a good change.”

Practice for the All-Star Race is scheduled for Friday at 3 p.m. ET on FS2. Qualifying, which includes the Pit Crew Challenge, begins Saturday at noon ET, on FS1. Sunday’s on-track activities begin at 1 p.m. ET, with race coverage airing on FS1.

Josh Berry

Age: 35 (Oct. 22, 1990)

Hometown: Hendersonville, Tennessee

Crew Chief: Miles Stanley

IG: @joshberry88

X: @joshberry

About Motorcraft®
Motorcraft offers a complete line of replacement parts that are recommended by Ford Motor Company. From routine maintenance to under hood repairs, Motorcraft parts offer value with high quality and the right fit at competitive prices. Motorcraft parts are available nationwide at Ford Dealers and Lincoln Retailers, independent distributors and automotive-parts retailers, and are backed by the Service Parts Limited Warranty* of Ford Motor Company. For more information, visit www.motorcraft.com. *See your dealer for limited-warranty details.

About Quick Lane® Tire & Auto Center
Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center offers extraordinary service for routine maintenance, serving all vehicle makes and models. Quick Lane provides a full menu of automotive services, including tires, oil change and maintenance, brakes, batteries, alternator and electrical system, air conditioning system, cooling system, transmission service, suspension and steering, wheel alignment, belts and hoses, lamps and bulbs and wiper blades plus a thorough vehicle checkup report. Service is performed by expert technicians while you wait at any of nearly 800 locations in the U.S., with evening and weekend hours available and no appointment necessary. For more information about Quick Lane, please visit www.quicklane.com. *See your dealer for limited-warranty details.

ROUTE 66 NHRA NATIONALS: ELITE MOTORSPORTS EVENT PREVIEW

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JOLIET, Ill. (May 13, 2026) – With a quarter of the 2026 Mission Foods NHRA Drag Racing Series season already behind them, Elite Motorsports enters this weekend’s Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals at Route 66 Raceway with confidence.

Tony Stewart Looks to Defend Event Title

For the first time in his Top Fuel career, motorsports icon Tony Stewart will enter an NHRA National event as the defending event winner.

Stewart’s 2025 Route 66 Nationals victory was the second of his career. The motorsports icon rallied to the win piloting the Tony Stewart Racing Top Fuel dragster for wife Leah Pruett while she took a two-year hiatus to start their family. Stewart, who now drives the R+L Carriers Top Fuel dragster for Elite Motorsports, brought his career Top Fuel wins to three with a win at the NHRA Winternationals at the beginning of April, just the third event for the newly formed Elite Motorsports Top Fuel program.

“Since we didn’t race in Vegas this spring, this is the first time I’ve gotten to come into a a race as the defending event winner. I’ve got to tell you, it feels pretty good,” Stewart said. “I think a lot of that also has to do with how this team is doing this year, though. Brand new team at Elite, Richard Freeman, Mike Green, Joe Barlam, they’ve really put together an outstanding group. Through the first five races we already have a win and we’re going rounds on Sundays. Last week in Georgia, I’ll call it a fluke. That is not and will not be the norm for this team. With how hard these R+L guys work, the time they put in and all the experience from Mike and Joe, we know we’re onto something good and it’s exciting. Knowing that I’ve won the event before, knowing what it feels like and wanting to have that feeling again, that’s just a little added bonus, maybe a little confidence boost for myself as a driver.”

Stewart’s 2025 win came at the expense of Terry Totten, Shawn Reed and Steve Torrence before he beat Justin Ashley in the finals. He started race day from the No. 2 position. Stewarts’s success in the Windy City isn’t reserved for just NHRA. In NASCAR, Stewart won at Chicagoland Speedway in 2004, 2007 and 2011.

“I love racing in Chicago, always have. There’s been a revitalization of motorsports in the city over the last handful of years and it’s exciting to see,” Stewart said. “I’m looking forward to being back and strapping into my R+L Carriers Too Fuel dragster and hopefully getting the job done for a second time. We took a day after the Georgia race to test, and I think the whole team is coming into the Route 66 Nationals feeling really good about the weekend.”

Pro Stock Returns to the Windy City

After a year away, Pro Stock returns to Route 66 Raceway. In 2025, the Pro Stock schedule didn’t include the Route 66 Nationals but the naturally aspirated door slammers are back in action in the Windy City this weekend allowing a chance for the track’s winningest driver to tally another victory.

Jeg Coughlin Jr., sporting the black and yellow of JEGS, has more victories at Route 66 Raceway than any professional driver past or present. The five-time Pro Stock world champion has a total of six wins at the facility coming in 2002, 2003, 2007, 2009, 2013 and 2018.

“It is great to be racing back in the Chicago area. The Midwest tracks have always been home tracks for me. We’ve had great success at the Route 66 Raceway Nationals in the years past and I like the momentum our team has been building in the last couple races,” Jeg Jr. said. “I feel like we should have a quicker and more consistent car from the time we unload Friday through Sunday’s eliminations and would love nothing more than to be the last one standing holding that coveted Wally.”

Jeg Jr., who lives in Delaware, Ohio, is currently ninth in the Pro Stock points standings. Through the first five races the JEGS team has had a semifinal and a quarterfinal finish qualifying as high as fifth putting them just 66 points out of the top five.

Mason Wright to defend Pro Mod title

In the JBS Equipment NHRA Pro Mod Series presented by Elite Motorsports, Mason Wright and the ProFlow Pumping Solutions team will look to defend their win from the 2025 Route 66 Nationals. Wright had a dominate weekend entering race day as the No. 1 qualifier before defeating heavy hitters Chip King, Mike Stavrinos and Ken Quartuccio en route to the finals where he took down the now reigning world champion J.R. Gray. It was Wright’s second career win in the Pro Mod ranks.

TeamElite in Full Force

In addition to the five Pro Stock entries of Erica Enders, Aaron Stanfield, Greg Stanfield, Jeg Jr., Troy Coughlin Jr., the Top Fuel operation driven by Stewart and Wright’s Pro Mod machine, Elite Motorsports will also field Mike Lomas and Royce Lee Freeman in Competition Eliminator. This will be Lomas and Freeman’s second national event of the season. Lomas, who features The Financial Guys on the side of his hot rod, made his debut for Elte at zMAX Dragway just outside of Charlotte. Lomas qualified No. 8 but had an early exit in the first round. Royce Lee, brother to Elite Motorsports owner Richard Freeman, qualified No. 3 and had a second-round exit.

Competition at the Gerber Collision & Glass Route 66 NHRA Nationals begins with four rounds of qualifying Friday at 1:30 and 4 p.m. and Saturday at noon and 2:30 p.m. Eliminations are slated for Sunday at 11 a.m. Television coverage of the event will be on FOX Sports 1 (FS1) with qualifying shows Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET and Saturday at 11:30 p.m. ET. Eliminations will air Sunday at 5:30 p.m. ET.

BG Crane Services Back to Battle Miles the Monster with Jeremy Clements Racing

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Official Release
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Spartanburg, SC – Jeremy Clements Racing is excited to welcome back BG Crane Services—an industry leader in heavy lifting, complex rigging, and structural steel erection—as the primary sponsor of the #51 Chevrolet this weekend at the Monster Mile, marking the second year of JCR support from the Catlett, VA-based company at Dover Motor Speedway.

In addition to BG Crane Services as the primary sponsor, the #51 team’s associate partners this weekend include Specialty Steels, P&H Fencing, and Alliance Driveaway Solutions.

The NASCAR O’Reilly Series Bet Rivers 200 is scheduled to take place on Saturday, May 16th at 4:00 PM EST, as the field takes on Dover’s famed 1-mile concrete oval.

“Man, Dover is one of the toughest racetracks we face all season. The concrete surface and banking put a lot of demand on the car, but we are ready for the challenge, and having great partners like BG Crane Services come aboard to support us means a lot. Hopefully, we can bounce back from last week and put together a strong run and take out Miles the Monster.”  Said Clements.

The #51 car is also supported throughout the year by associate sponsors Spartan Waste, Rapid Fired Pizza, Sherfick Companies, Elite Towing, Tools4painting, Zmax, Carolina Driveline, Matman Designs, The Racing Warehouse, Nordic Logistics, and Dialed In Focused Energy.

RACE PREVIEW

Track: Dover Motor Speedway  
Date: Saturday, May 16th, 2026
Broadcast Information: TV – 4:00 pm EST on The CW & PRN

FAST FACTS

Best Start 3rd – 2020
Best Finish 10th – 2015
27th career start at Dover  

JCR TEAM 

Crew Chief: Matt Weber
Manufacturer: Chevrolet

ABOUT BG CRANE SERVICES 

Founded by Ben Gravett Sr. in 1976, B. G. Crane Services, Inc. has extensive experience in the erection of structural steel buildings and complex structures, and rigging.

B. G. Crane Services, Inc. is fully equipped with lifting and moving equipment as well as the compressors, generators, and welding equipment needed to support large demanding projects.

Follow Jeremy and the team on all the Socials and stay updated on Race weekend.

X:  @JClement51 @JCR_Clements51 
Facebook: Jeremy Clements Racing 
Instagram:  @jclements51 @jeremyclementsracing

2026 Niece Motorsports NCTS Race Preview: Dover Motor Speedway

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Official Release
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NIECE MOTORSPORTS
NCTS RACE PREVIEW: DOVER MOTOR SPEEDWAY

Event: Ecosave 200 (200 laps / 200 miles)
Round: 9 of 25 (Regular Season)
Track: Dover Motor Speedway
Location: Dover, Delaware
Date & Time: Friday, May 15 | 5:00 PM ET
Tune-In: FOX Sports 1 | NASCAR Racing Network (NRN) | SiriusXM Ch. 90

Team Stats & Notes

  • Niece Motorsports Dover Stats:

NCTS Starts: 8; Top-10s: 1; Best Finish: 10th (Ross Chastain, 2019).

  • Back to the Monster Mile: Friday’s Ecosave 200 will mark the first time that the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS) has raced at Dover Motor Speedway since 2020.

No. 42 Niece Motorsports Chevrolet Silverado RST
Driver: Parker Eatmon | Crew Chief: Landon Polinski

  • Eatmon Returns: zMAX CARS Tour Late Model Stock Series regular Parker Eatmon returns to the seat of Niece Motorsports’ No. 42 Chevrolet for his second-career NCTS start at Dover Motor Speedway. Eatmon made his series debut at Rockingham Speedway last month and turned heads after nailing an impressive top-10 qualifying run. He followed that performance up by leading over 120 laps in the CARS Tour race at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway, nearly earning his first win.
  • Eatmon’s Dover Stats:

Parker Eatmon will make his first-career start in any series at Dover on Friday.

  • Polinski’s Dover Stats:

Landon Polinski will call his first-career race as a crew chief at Dover on Friday.

  • On the Truck: Eatmon’s No. 42 Chevrolet Silverado RST will race with associate support from Vetted Ventures, J.F. Electric, and DQS Solutions & Staffing.
  • Recapping Watkins Glen: Tyler Reif and the J.F. Electric team had a strong run going in Watkins Glen and came home with a top-15 finish. Reif qualified in 20th, but had to start from the tail of the field after the team changed the brake pads and rotors on his truck. The rookie made ground and passed several trucks throughout the day, proving his race craft and raw pace. On a late restart, Reif lined up inside the top-10, but sustained heavy damage after contact from other trucks. The No. 42 team made repairs and kept Reif in the hunt despite the damage. He crossed the finish line in 14th-place.
  • Owner Points Outlook: Reif’s 14th-place finish in Watkins Glen elevated the No. 42 team one position to 26th-place in the owner standings. Heading into Dover, the team is five points behind Rackley W.A.R.’s No. 26 Silverado in 25th, and is two points ahead of Kaulig Racing’s No. 14 truck in 27th. The team is 98 points behind ThorSport Racing’s No. 99 team who holds onto the final spot in the Chase.
  • Quoting Eatmon: You’ve never raced Dover before, but got some experience at another track with a lot of on-throttle time at Rockingham. Do you think these tracks are similar?

“Yeah, I definitely think these two tracks are pretty similar. I’ve been talking to Landon (Polinski) and Phil (Gould), and they both agree that these tracks have a lot of similar characteristics to them, so they think we should be pretty fast this weekend. I’ve been looking forward to racing at the Monster Mile because it’s such a historic track. With the track surface being concrete, it seems like it will be a really cool place to race at.”

About Vetted Ventures: Vetted Ventures is a pioneer in revolutionizing private sales and acquisitions management through an ecosystem of exclusive clients with the ability to be represented by one company across different industries. We aim to provide our clients with the opportunities they seek backed by the service they deserve. To learn more about the company, please visit www.Vetted-Ventures.com.

No. 44 Precision Vehicle Logistics De Mexico Chevrolet Silverado RST
Driver: Andres Perez de Lara | Crew Chief: Wally Rogers

  • Pérez de Lara’s Dover Stats:

ARCA Starts: 1; Top-Fives: 1; Top-10s: 1; Best Finish: 5th (2024).

  • Rogers’ Dover Stats:

NCS Starts: 6; Best Finish: 28th (2010).

NOAPS Starts: 12; Top-Fives: 1; Top-10s: 5; Best Finish: 5th (2006).

NCTS Starts: 4; Top-10s: 1; Best Finish: 7th (2006).

  • On the Truck: Pérez de Lara’s No. 44 Chevrolet Silverado RST will race with support from Precision Vehicle Logistics De Mexico. The company works directly with auto manufacturers to transport newly-assembled cars and trucks to dealerships.
  • Recapping Watkins Glen: Andrés Pérez de Lara and the BLAC / GoKartMania Academy team brought a fast truck to Watkins Glen. Though he started in 22nd, Pérez de Lara was quick in the race and advanced his position at a rapid pace. The sophomore driver scored much-needed points in both stages. While running inside the top-10 late, the No. 44 Silverado was clipped in an incident which prompted an untimely pit stop. Pérez de Lara recovered at the finish, and came home in 13th-place.
  • Driver Points Outlook: After picking up stage points and walking away with a solid finish at Watkins Glen, Pérez de Lara jumped two positions in the point standings up to 15th-place. Entering Dover, the driver is 11 points behind Justin Haley in 14th, and 12 points ahead of Tanner Gray in 16th. He is currently 32 points below Chase cutline driver, Daniel Hemric with 10 races left in the regular season.
  • Quoting Pérez de Lara: This will be the first time that the Truck Series has raced at Dover in a while, but you have experience here in an ARCA car. What do you think about this place?

“Dover is a very fast track. It’s definitely a little bit intimidating at first, but I really enjoy the racing there. When I got to run the ARCA race here, I had a lot of fun, so I think it will be another fun race this weekend in the truck. I enjoy racing at the concrete tracks, and hope we unload with a lot of speed in our Precision De Mexico Chevy.”

About Precision Vehicle Logistics: Precision Vehicle Logistics is a customer-focused group of professionals committed to service excellence in finished vehicle logistics. Precision offers a unique combination of talented experience, industry-leading software and systems, and a network of partners and resources to deliver customized solutions to the world’s leading automakers.

No. 45 Drive Sober Arrive Alive DE Chevrolet Silverado RST
Driver: Ross Chastain | Crew Chief: Phil Gould

  • Chastain’s Dover Stats:

NCS Starts: 11; Top-Fives: 2; Top-10s: 2; Best Finish: 2nd (2023).

NOAPS Starts: 13; Top-Fives: 2; Top-10s: 2; Best Finish: 2nd (2020).

NCTS Starts: 4; Top-10s: 1; Best Finish: 10th (2019).

  • Gould’s Dover Stats:

NOAPS Starts: 12; Top-Fives: 1; Top-10s: 5; Best Finish: 5th (2017).

NCTS Starts: 2; Top-10s: 1; Best Finish: 10th (2019).

  • On the Truck: Chastain’s No. 45 Chevrolet will race with support from the Delaware Office of Highway Safety. His truck promotes their ‘Drive Sober. Arrive Alive DE’ campaign, a program which encourages sober driving.
  • Recapping Watkins Glen: Ross Chastain and the Protect Your Melon team fought for the race win in Watkins Glen, but were unable to see the end of the race. Chastain started from the rear of the field after discovering an electrical issue in qualifying, but it did not take his team long to strategize a way to the front of the field. After finishing sixth in stage one, the No. 45 team elected to flip the second stage to gain track position. Chastain took the lead for a total of 17 laps in the final stage and was controlling the race when he was dealt a costly restart violation penalty. While he was working his way through the field, contact from another competitor sent Chastain careening hard into the wall, resulting in a disappointing 28th-place finish.
  • Owner Points Outlook: Following Chastain’s crash at Watkins Glen, the No. 45 team dropped three positions in the owner points standings to sixth-place. Ahead of the Dover race weekend, the team is eight points behind Front Row Motorsports’ No. 34 truck in fifth, and four points ahead of TRICON Garage’s No. 17 team in seventh. The No. 45 team currently has a 36-point gap over the Chase cutline.
  • Quoting Chastain: What makes Dover such a challenging track?

“Since Dover is concrete, you have to be on your toes at all times and push your truck to get to the limit every lap. It’s part of what makes this track so much fun, because you have to hit your marks every corner to get the most out of it. It’s been a while since I got to race a truck around Dover, so I’m looking forward to returning this weekend with our Drive Sober Arrive Alive Delaware Silverado.”

About The Delaware Office of Highway Safety: The Delaware Office of Highway Safety was established on July 19, 1968. We are a division of the Department of Safety and Homeland Security and funded by federal grants from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. By focusing our efforts on the state’s identified highway safety priority areas, developing statewide partnerships and increasing the public’s awareness of safe driving habits, the Office of Highway Safety is striving to make Delaware’s roadways the safest in the country.

About Niece Motorsports: Niece Motorsports is a professional auto racing team that has competed in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series since 2016. The team is owned by Josh Morris of DQS Solutions and Staffing and the Fowler Family of J.F. Electric and Utilitra, and was founded by United States Marine Corps Veteran Al Niece. At its 80,000 sq. ft. headquarters in Salisbury, NC, Niece Motorsports is a full-service race vehicle build shop as well as a customizable fabrication shop for any manufacturing needs.

Follow the Team: To keep up to date with the latest team news, visit niecemotorsports.com or connect on Facebook and Instagram (@NieceMotorsports) as well as X (@NieceMotorsport).

Front Row Motorsports: Dover Motor Speedway NCS Race Advance (Noah Gragson, Todd Gilliland, Zane Smith)

By
Official Release
-

Noah Gragson | Todd Gilliland | Zane Smith
Dover Motor Speedway NASCAR Cup Series Race Advance
All-Star Race

Date: Sunday, May 17, 2026
Event: Race 14 of 38
Series: NASCAR Cup Series
Location: Dover Motor Speedway (1.0-mile)
#of Laps: 350

Time/TV/Radio: 1:00 PM ET on FS1/MRN/SiriusXM channel 90

FRM Points Standings:

Zane Smith (23rd)
Todd Gilliland (26th)
Noah Gragson (30th)

Noah Gragson Notes

The NASCAR Cup Series speeds into its all-star break, with the one-mile Dover Motor Speedway hosting the NASCAR All-Star Race for the first time. The 2026 event will mark the 42nd iteration of the NASCAR All-Star Race, an annual duel of the premier series’ top performers. Noah Gragson and the No. 4 team approach the event with three top-15 finishes on the season and the opportunity to race their way into the final segment of the three-segment format.

NASCAR has also revealed that Gragson is currently a top-5 vote receiver for drivers eligible for the NASCAR All-Star Race Fan Vote. The driver who secures the most votes in the NASCAR All-Star Race Fan Vote will also be granted a position in the final segment of the NASCAR All-Star Race, no matter their result in the first two event segments. Gragson has been the top vote recipient of the NASCAR All-Star Race Fan Vote each of the past three seasons, earning his way into the NASCAR All-Star Race.

Gragson and the No. 4 team will look to “power” their way into the NASCAR All-Star Race with MillerTech Lithium Batteries onboard, marking the brand’s first primary sponsorship event with Front Row Motorsports in 2026. To go with sponsorship at the Dover event, MillerTech will also join the No. 4 entry at Pocono Raceway (Jun. 14) and New Hampshire Motor Speedway (Aug. 23).

For the 2026 season, MillerTech is doubling down on its mission of “Powering Your Adventure” with durable, high-performance battery technology built for any environment. To bring that story to life, MillerTech and Front Row Motorsports have started rolling out a six-part social media series showcasing the many ways its products fuel the adventures of fans, customers and partners alike. For the first video of the series, championship-winning angler and fellow MillerTech ambassador, Jacob Wheeler, joined Gragson for a charity fishing tournament at Daytona International Speedway, where the duo reeled in some big catches while displaying how important it is to have a reliable power source in your boat, while on the lake. From the track to the real world, MillerTech remains committed to providing reliable power wherever the journey leads.

“I’m really looking forward to the All-Star Race this week at Dover and getting the MillerTech colors back on the track,” said Gragson, who has a career best finish of 6th at the concrete oval. “Dover is statistically one of my better tracks and I’ve always felt comfortable there, throughout my career. We led laps last year, and had a strong finish in 2024, so I’m hopeful that we can race our way into that final stage and have a shot at the big prize at the end of the day. I’m also grateful knowing that I have the support of so many fans that give us the opportunity to be voted into the final stage, if the results don’t go the way we’d like them to in the first two stages. It’s truly an honor to have the fans behind me and being able to compete in the All-Star Race the past three seasons, thanks to them, has been incredible. I hope we get the chance to do it again on Sunday.”
Road Crew

Driver: Noah Gragson

Hometown: Las Vegas, Nevada

Crew Chief: Grant Hutchens

Hometown: Omaha, Nebraska

Car Chief: Joey Forgette

Hometown: Iron Mountain, Michigan

Engineer: Dillon Silverman

Hometown: Chico, California

Engineer: Scott Bingham

Hometown: Lawrenceville, Georgia

Mechanic: Chris Trickett

Hometown: Grafton, West Virginia

Mechanic: Tony Infinger

Hometown: Fort Valley, Georgia

Tire Specialist: Chris Aunspaw

Hometown: Zelienople, Pennsylvania

Engine Tuner: Matt Moeller

Hometown: Monroe, New York

Spotter: Adam Fournier

Hometown: Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Transporter Co-Driver: Ron Miske

Hometown: Fairfield, Connecticut

Transporter Co-Driver: Matt Murphy

Hometown: Augusta, Georgia

Pit Crew

Front Tire Changer: Tafton Hensley

Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Rear Tire Changer: Justin Fox

Hometown: Concord, North Carolina

Tire Carrier: Drew Baum

Hometown: Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania

Jackman: Tommy Bebie

Hometown: Cleveland, Ohio

Fueler: Blake Baker

Hometown: Hickory, North Carolina

Todd Gilliland Notes

Todd Gilliland will make his fifth Dover Motor Speedway start this Sunday in the NASCAR All-Star Race. Gilliland’s best Dover result came in 2020 while driving the No. 38 Ford F-150 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series entry for Front Row Motorsports. Gilliland finished fourth in that event, after starting 17th and leading two laps.

The No. 34 is bringing some extra heat this weekend, as Long John Silver’s features its Frank’s RedHot Buffalo Sauce partnership on Gilliland’s Ford Mustang Dark Horse for the 350-mile event. The addition of the Frank’s RedHot brand to the iconic Long John Silver’s car design will be used to showcase a variety of buffalo-flavored options being offered at Long John Silver’s locations for a limited time only. Using their notable slogan, customers at Long John Silver’s can choose to add Frank’s RedHot to their order and “put that $#!T” on their shrimp, chicken or cheese bites.

“Dover has always been a challenging track for me,” said Gilliland. “The sensation of speed around that place is insane, it’s almost scary. I love switching around the All-Star Race. I think it’s a good opportunity to try stuff out and visit different tracks around the country. The fans are always pushing one direction or another on what they want to see and where, so I think the All-Star race is a great place to try something new.”
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

Mechanic: Michael Brookes

Hometown: Columbus, Ohio

Interior Specialist: Ethan Deguevara

Hometown: Las Vegas, Nevada

Tire Specialist: Billy John

Hometown: Pitman, New Jersey

Mechanic / Engine Tuner: Kyle Moon

Hometown: Troy, New York

Transporter Co-Driver: Randy Bernier

Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Transporter Co-Driver: Rick Grissom

Hometown: Bakersfield, California

Pit Crew

Front Tire Changer: Danny Olszowy

Hometown: Lexington, Kentucky

Rear Tire Changer: Austin Chrismon

Hometown: China Grove, North Carolina

Tire Carrier: Paul Steele

Hometown: Wichita, Kansas

Jackman: Ryan Selig

Hometown: Lindenhurst, Illinois

Fueler: Zeke Nance

Hometown: Calhoun, Georgia

Zane Smith Notes

Along with his teammate Todd Gilliland, Zane Smith’s best Dover result also occurred in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, in the 2020 event. In his lone start in the series at the track, Smith captured the checkered flag after leading 50 laps, competing for GMS Racing. In the NASCAR Cup Series, Smith’s best finish at the track is a 22nd place result in 2025.

Aaron’s Rent to Own joins Smith and the No. 38 team for this weekend’s activities, continuing the return of the iconic Aaron’s Lucky Dog scheme. The nostalgic Lucky Dog design carries a rich history in the NASCAR Cup Series and has been piloted by multiple race winners and championship contenders, making it one of the most recognizable and celebrated paint schemes in the sport.

“All Star weekend is always an exciting one for us, especially for us that aren’t locked in so we can have a shot to make some noise when people aren’t necessarily thinking about the 38 team,” said Smith. “Hopefully, we unload strong, put ourselves in a good spot for Sunday and make it to that final segment to build momentum for Charlotte.”
Road Crew

Driver: Zane Smith

Hometown: Huntington Beach, California

Crew Chief: Ryan Bergenty

Hometown: Plainville, Connecticut

Car Chief: Will Norris

Hometown: Bells, Tennessee

Engineer: Jacob Clamme

Hometown: Hartford City, Indiana

Engineer: Chris Yerges

Hometown: Green Bay, Wisconsin

Mechanic / Engine Tuner: Steve Godfrey

Hometown: West Haven, Connecticut

Interior Specialist: Matt Fowler

Hometown: Spartanburg, South Carolina

Mechanic: Austin Bloom

Hometown: Lowell, Oregon

Spotter: Ryan Blanchard

Hometown: Bethlehem, Connecticut

Transport Co-Driver: Bryan Whitman

Hometown: Newton, North Carolina

Transport Co-Driver: Shawn Sellew

Hometown: Stafford Springs, Connecticut

Pit Crew

Front Tire Changer: Michael Louria

Hometown: Gibraltar, Michigan

Rear Tire Changer: Adam Riley

Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia

Tire Carrier: Jarren Davis

Hometown: Jacksonville, Florida

Jackman: Nate McBride

Hometown: Vidalia, Georgia

Fueler: Ray Hernandez

Hometown: Orlando, Florida

ABOUT MILLERTECH

MillerTech Energy Solutions is a faith-based, family-run American manufacturer of UL Certified lithium batteries built to power your adventure. Whether you’ve got an RV parked at the track, a boat at the lake, a golf cart on the course, or you’re living off-grid, MillerTech is built for you. Backed by a 10-year warranty and US-based customer support, MillerTech is the proud sponsor of Noah Gragson and the No. 4 Ford Mustang Dark Horse at Front Row Motorsports. Learn more at millertechenergy.com.

ABOUT LONG JOHN SILVER’S

Long John Silver’s has been serving up famously craveable seafood since 1969. Best known for its iconic battered fish, crispy shrimp, hushpuppies, and legendary crumblies, the brand brings bold flavor and a one-of-a-kind seafood experience to fans across the country. With restaurants from sea to shining sea, Long John Silver’s continues making seafood more accessible, delicious, and fun for everyone. Learn more at ljsilvers.com and follow along on Instagram, Facebook, X, and TikTok.

ABOUT AARON’S

Headquartered in Atlanta, The Aaron’s Company, Inc. is a leading, technology-enabled, omnichannel provider of lease-to-own and retail purchase solutions of appliances, electronics, furniture, and other home goods. Aaron’s offers a direct-to-consumer lease-to-own solution through its approximately 1,200 Company-operated and franchised stores in 47 states and Canada, as well as its e-commerce platform, Aarons.com.

ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS

Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization competing in the NASCAR Cup Series and the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. Founded in 2004 by entrepreneur Bob Jenkins, FRM has earned top honors including a 2021 Daytona 500 victory and the 2022 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series championship. Based in Mooresville, N.C., FRM fields the No. 4, No. 34, and No. 38 entries in the NASCAR Cup Series, along with the No. 34 and No. 38 teams in the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. For more information, visit FrontRowMotorsports.com and follow Front Row Motorsports on social media — X: @Team_FRM, Instagram: @teamfrm, Tik Tok: @Team_FRM, YouTube: @FrontRowNASCAR, and Facebook: facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.

TOYOTA RACING Weekly Preview 05.13.26

By
Official Release
-

This Week in Motorsports: May 11 – 17, 2026

NCS/NOAPS/NCTS: Dover Motor Speedway – May 15-17
ARCA: Toledo Speedway – May 16

PLANO, Texas (May 13, 2026) – NASCAR hits its annual All-Star Race weekend for the Cup Series, this time taking place at Dover Motor Speedway. The annual, non-points event will be joined by the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and CRAFTSMAN Truck Series races this weekend. Meanwhile, the ARCA Menards Series stays in action this weekend as well, heading to Toledo Speedway in Toledo, Ohio.

NASCAR National Series – NCS/NOAPS/NCTSS

Reddick Continues Hot Start… While the Cup Series will take a week off from points racing, Tyler Reddick has continued his torrid early-season pace through the first 12 points-paying races. Last weekend at Watkins Glen International, Reddick extended his top-five streak with a series-leading eighth top-five finish of the season after charging through the field during the final green-flag run. His fifth-place finish at the Glen helped him extend his points lead over fellow Team Toyota driver Denny Hamlin, who now trails Reddick by 129 points in second place. The series resumes points racing in two weeks with the Crown Jewel Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Memorial Day weekend.

Bell seeks All-Star repeat … Christopher Bell arrives to All-Star Race weekend in search of his second consecutive event victory after a thrilling win at North Wilkesboro Speedway last year. The Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) driver started second in the event and led 28 laps on his way to victory, Toyota’s third ever in the All-Star Race and first since 2017.

Toyota aims for fourth straight Dover triumph … Dover Motor Speedway has been a favorable track for Team Toyota over the last several years in the Cup Series. This weekend, the Toyota Camry XSE drivers look to capture the manufacturer’s fourth straight victory around the one-mile concrete oval. Denny Hamlin has won the last two Cup Series races at Dover, with Martin Truex Jr. beginning the win streak in 2023. Overall, Toyota has won nine times at Dover dating back to 2008.

Crews continues to impress… Despite missing four races early in the season before becoming eligible for full-time O’Reilly Series competition following his 18th birthday, Brent Crews has already climbed into the provisional Chase field after a sixth-place finish last Saturday at Watkins Glen. Crews has made up significant ground in the point standings with four top-five and seven top-10 finishes in his first nine starts this season. The North Carolina native heads to the Monster Mile this weekend looking for his sixth consecutive top-10 finish. Crews currently sits 11th in the standings as he prepares to make his Dover O’Reilly Series debut.

Jones looks to continue consistent start to the season… Brandon Jones has been a model of consistency through the first 13 O’Reilly Series races this season. The Georgia native heads to Dover fourth in the standings after moving up one spot following his fifth-place finish at Watkins Glen last weekend. Jones has recorded three top-five and seven top-10 finishes this season as he searches for his first career Dover victory. The O’Reilly Series veteran has made 15 career starts at the Monster Mile, posting seven top-10 finishes. He will look to surpass his career-best Dover finish of fourth, which came in August 2020 on the 1-mile concrete oval.

Honeycutt looking to continue hot streak… Not only did Kaden Honeycutt earn his first career Craftsman Truck Series victory last weekend at Watkins Glen, he also found victory lane in every series he competed in over a two-day span. The Truck Series points leader won both the ARCA national series race and the Truck Series event Friday afternoon before sweeping back-to-back CARS Tour races the following evening at Ace Speedway in North Carolina. Honeycutt heads to the Monster Mile this weekend to make his first career Truck Series start at the 1-mile concrete oval. He will look to continue his winning streak while adding to his six top-10 finishes in eight races this season. Honeycutt has made just one previous start at Dover in any type of race car, competing there in the O’Reilly Series in 2024.

Jones, Sawalich take on Truck Series … Brandon Jones and William Sawalich will drive the TRICON Garage Nos. 1 and 5 Toyota Tundra TRD Pros this weekend at Dover while also balancing their full-time NASCAR O’Reilly Series schedules with JGR. Jones made his lone Truck Series start of the season two weeks ago at Texas Motor Speedway, where he finished fourth. He has made five career Truck Series starts at Dover, recording three top-10 finishes, including a career-best fourth-place result in 2014. Sawalich will make his third Truck Series start of the 2026 season this weekend and his first in the series at Dover. In his lone O’Reilly Series start at the Monster Mile last season, Sawalich finished ninth.

NASCAR Regional Series – ARCA Menards Series/East

Toyota, Reaves look to continue Toledo success … Team Toyota arrives to Toledo Speedway for the ARCA Menards Series race in hopes of continuing a tremendous streak, seeking its sixth straight win there. The streak dates back to 2021 with winners in that run including Ty Gibbs, Sawalich and Max Reaves. Another win this weekend would also be Toyota’s 12th ARCA win at Toledo. For Reaves, he aims for a repeat victory after leading 199 of the 200 laps from pole last year. Should Reaves win, it would be the fourth of his career in the national series and fifth in the East Series.

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in the U.S. for nearly 70 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our nearly 1,500 dealerships.

Toyota directly employs approximately 48,000 people in the U.S. who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of more than 36 million cars and trucks at our 11 manufacturing plants. In 2025, Toyota’s plant in North Carolina began to assemble automotive batteries for electrified vehicles.

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

Katherine Legge set for Memorial Day ‘Double’ Challenge in 2026

By
Andrew Kim
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Photo by Mitchell Pavel for SpeedwayMedia.com.

Katherine Legge will be tackling the Memorial Day Weekend ‘Double’ challenge. She will compete in both the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca-Cola 600 on the same day, May 24.

BRANDed Management announced that Legge will return to Live Fast Motorsports for NASCAR’s longest crown-jewel event, the Coca-Cola 600. She will pilot the No. 78 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Before the Coke 600, Legge will pilot the No. 11 Dallara-Chevrolet entry for HMD Motorsports with A.J. Foyt Racing for this year’s 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. She will be sponsored by e.l.f Cosmetics for both events.

“It’s an exciting time,” Legge said when speaking about her decision to USA TODAY Sports. “It’s another groundbreaking thing that I can showcase to the world,” she said. “Really, that if you set your mind to things, you can do anything. And you can do things that maybe you never even dreamt of before. It requires a level of endurance and precision that very few in history have pursued. I don’t know whether that makes me crazy or not for wanting to do it.”

Legge, a 45-year-old racing veteran from Guildford, Surrey, England, has made four previous starts in the Indy 500. Her best result was a 22nd-place finish during her first start in 2012 with Dragon Racing. Her recent start in the event was in 2024 with Dale Coyne Racing, where she finished in 29th place. In 2023, she set the record for the fastest qualifying effort by a female competitor. She completed a four-lap average-qualifying run of 231.070 mph while driving for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing.

In addition to making four Indy 500 and 47 NTT INDYCAR Series career starts, Legge has also made 11 starts in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and eight in the Cup Series. She recently competed in the Cup event at Watkins Glen International with Live Fast Motorsports. She finished 35th in the 38-car field.

Additional accomplishments for Legge in motorsports include being the first female competitor to compete in the Rolex 24 at Daytona. Legge also secured four IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship victories in the GT Daytona Class. She was also the first female competitor to win a premier open-wheel event in North America. She did so by notching her first victory at the Streets of Long Beach, California, in the 2005 Toyota Atlantic Championship season. Legge is also the first female competitor to lead laps in the Champ Car World Series, which occurred in 2006. In April 2024, Legge was inducted into the Long Beach Motorsports Walk of Fame.

In mid-April, it was announced that Legge will compete in this year’s Indy 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. She will have a guaranteed starting spot in the race known as the Greatest Spectacle in Racing. This is due to the event’s entry list featuring a maxed-out field of 33 entries. If Legge completes all 1,100 miles, she will be the first female to do so. She would also join John Andretti, Kurt Busch, Robby Gordon, Kyle Larson and Tony Stewart as the only competitors to accomplish this feat. To date, Stewart is the lone competitor to complete all 1,100 miles during the double, which occurred in 2001.

Larson was the most recent competitor to attempt the double over the previous two seasons. It was a joint partnership between Arrow McLaren and Hendrick Motorsports. Larson completed all 500 miles during the 2024 Indy 500. But he did not compete in the Coke 600 due to a delayed start in the Indy 500. Due to the delayed start of the Indy 500, Larson did not arrive in time to start the Coke 600. This past season, Larson managed to start and compete in both events, but wrecked out of both.

Practice for this year’s 110th running of the Indianapolis 500 continues on May 13-15 before qualifications occur on May 16-17. The ’500’ is scheduled to occur on May 24, with the pre-race show to commence at 10 a.m. ET before the event commences at 12:30 p.m. ET, both airing on FOX.

The 2026 Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway is scheduled to occur on May 24 at 6 p.m. ET on Prime Video, PRN Radio, SiriusXM and HBO MAX.

Front Row Motorsports: Dover Motor Speedway NCTS Race Advance (Layne Riggs / Chandler Smith)

By
Official Release
-

Layne Riggs | Chandler Smith
Dover Motor Speedway NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Race Advance
ECOSAVE 200
Date: Friday, May 15, 2026
Event: Race 9 of 25
Series: NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series
Location: Dover Motor Speedway (1.0-mile)
#of Laps: 200
Time/TV/Radio: 5:00 PM ET on FS1/SiriusXM channel 90

FRM Points Standings:

Chandler Smith (2nd)
Layne Riggs (3rd)

Layne Riggs Notes

It’s another northeast race for Layne Riggs and the No. 34 team as the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series heads to the Dover Motor Speedway on Friday for a 200-lap race on the one-mile circuit. Following last Friday’s race at Watkins Glen International, Riggs is third in the standings.

Love’s Travel Stops returns with Riggs and the No. 34 team for Friday’s race. Love’s Travel Stops rolls out a major update to the Love’s App, introducing a unified Love’s Rewards program that now benefits every customer who stops at Love’s. Whether fueling up, grabbing a snack or stocking up on Love’s-branded products, customers can now save and earn points at every turn simply by scanning the Love’s App in-store or at the pump. The new Love’s Rewards program focuses on delivering meaningful value at every stop and aims to make Love’s the first stop drivers think of on the road. Love’s Rewards App users can also save 10¢ per gallon on gas and up to 25¢ per gallon on auto diesel. Fans can download the app from Google Play and the Apple App Store. To explore all the new benefits of the Love’s Rewards program, visit www.loves.com/loves-rewards.

“Even though we already have a win this season and have had a couple of good results since then, we still aren’t where we need to be in order to compete for a championship,” said Riggs. “We really need to put together a streak of solid finishes to regain momentum. We have to minimize mistakes and double check that we’re doing everything right so we can put ourselves into position to be in the hunt.”

“Dover was always my dad’s favorite track, but it was also the scariest track for him when the truck or car wasn’t dialed in. This is going to be my first time here, so this week’s race prep and Friday’s practice session are going to be extra crucial for the team and me.”
Road Crew

Driver: Layne Riggs

Hometown: Bahama, North Carolina

Crew Chief: Dylan Cappello

Hometown: Peoria, Arizona

Truck Chief: Brandon Selph

Hometown: Phoenix, Arizona

Engineer: Jonathan Coates

Hometown: Hudson, Ohio

Mechanic: Clark Houston

Hometown: Hickory, North Carolina

Mechanic: Robert Benzenhafer

Hometown: Niceville, Florida

Interior Specialist: Brian Sliney

Hometown: Milford, New Hampshire

Spotter: Josh Williams

Hometown:

Transport Driver: James O’Neal

Hometown: Palm Bay, Florida

Pit Crew

Front Tire Changer: Blake Hickman

Hometown: Ocala, Florida

Rear Tire Changer: Stephen Chereek

Hometown: Tuckerton, New Jersey

Tire Carrier: Alvin Wilson

Hometown: Lexington, Mississippi

Jackman: Kendall Futrell

Hometown: Greenville, North Carolina

Fueler: Patrick Gaddy

Hometown: Kannapolis, North Carolina

Chandler Smith Notes

Coming off of a fifth place run at Watkins Glen International, Chandler Smith and the No. 38 team prepare to keep the top-10 streak going at the Dover Motor Speedway. While this will only be Smith’s second NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series start at Dover, he brings experience into Friday’s race from his three NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series starts at the track. Smith has one top-10 finish at the track in the feeder series, finishing seventh in 2024 with Joe Gibbs Racing. Going into Friday’s race, Smith is second in the standings, just 29 points behind leader Kaden Honeycutt.

The No. 38 team will sport a returning brand on their Ford F-150 as the Pete Store joins Smith at Dover. A three-time Peterbilt North American Dealer of the Year (2004, 2016, and 2018), The Pete Store is a respected dealer in the transportation industry with locations spanning the eastern United States. The Pete Store offers sales, services, leasing, parts, and financing of Peterbilt trucks. Fans can learn more at www.ThePeteStore.com.

“Dover is a beast of its own,” said Smith. “Things happen so fast there. It reminds me of a slightly larger Bristol with its high banking and high speeds where you always have to be thinking of your next move. We’re 29 points short of the lead in the standings, but we’re still in the hunt. We just have to continue to cross our ‘t’s and dot our ‘i’s, and we’ll have the lead in no time.”
Road Crew

Driver: Chandler Smith

Hometown: Talking Rock, Georgia

Crew Chief: Jon Leonard

Hometown: Vinton, Iowa

Truck Chief: Ron Schutte

Hometown: Shakopee, Minnesota

Engineer: Roland Kummel

Hometown: Mitterberg, Austria

Mechanic: Rowan Mason

Hometown: Lincoln, Nebraska

Mechanic: Mahlon Borkholder

Hometown: Ulysses, Pennsylvania

Interior Specialist: Kyle Clark

Hometown: Ashville, North Carolina

Spotter: Ryan Blanchard

Hometown: Bethlehem, Connecticut

Transport Driver: Mark Hadley

Hometown: Panama, New York

Pit Crew

Front Tire Changer: Josh Francos

Hometown: Weirton, West Virginia

Rear Tire Changer: Curtis Thompson

Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Tire Carrier: Drew Baum

Hometown: Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania

Jackman: Shane Perry

Hometown: Holly Springs, North Carolina

Fueler: Anthony Bryarly

Hometown: Columbiana, Ohio

ABOUT LOVE’S TRAVEL STOPS

Love’s has been fueling customers’ journeys since 1964. Innovation and perseverance continue to lead the way for the family-owned and -operated business headquartered in Oklahoma City with more than 40,000 team members in North America and Europe. The company’s core business is travel stops and convenience stores with 640 locations in 42 states. Love’s continues its commitment to offer products and services that provide value for professional drivers, fleets, four-wheel customers, RVers, alternative fuel and wholesale fuel customers. Giving back to communities Love’s serves and maintaining an inclusive and diverse workplace are hallmarks of the company’s award-winning culture.

ABOUT THE PETE STORE

A three-time Peterbilt North American Dealer of the Year (2004, 2016, and 2018), The Pete Store is a respected dealer in the transportation industry with locations spanning the eastern United States. The Pete Store offers sales, services, leasing, parts, and financing of Peterbilt trucks. Learn more at www.ThePeteStore.com.

ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS

Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization competing in the NASCAR Cup Series and the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. Founded in 2004 by entrepreneur Bob Jenkins, FRM has earned top honors including a 2021 Daytona 500 victory and the 2022 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series championship. Based in Mooresville, N.C., FRM fields the No. 4, No. 34, and No. 38 entries in the NASCAR Cup Series, along with the No. 34 and No. 38 teams in the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. For more information, visit FrontRowMotorsports.com and follow Front Row Motorsports on social media — X: @Team_FRM, Instagram: @teamfrm, Tik Tok: @Team_FRM, YouTube: @FrontRowNASCAR, and Facebook: facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.

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