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KALITTA TAKES HOME MIDWEST NATIONALS WIN TO EXTEND TOP FUEL POINTS LEAD

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Captures third win of 2025 and 58th of career

MADISON, Ill. (Sept. 28, 2025) – Doug Kalitta converted the No. 1 qualifying position into a race victory on Sunday at the NHRA Midwest Nationals – his third Wally Trophy of the season and 58th in his career. Kalitta’s run to the win included defeating Toyota teammates Steve Torrence in the second round and then Justin Ashley in the semifinals. Now halfway through the Countdown to the Championship, Kalitta extended his category points lead to 86 points over Ashley, as he seeks his second career Top Fuel world title and second in the last three seasons.

For Team Toyota, Kalitta’s Sunday result marked its ninth win in the last 10 Top Fuel races, as well as its 14th consecutive final round made in Top Fuel or Funny Car.

In Funny Car, Ron Capps and J.R. Todd were both eliminated in the opening round on Sunday. 

Toyota Post-Race Recap
NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series 
World Wide Technology Raceway
NHRA Midwest Nationals
Race 17 of 20

TOYOTA TOP FUEL FINISHING POSITIONS  

NameCarFinal ResultRound-by-Round
Doug KalittaMac Tools Toyota Top Fuel DragsterWinnerW (3.740) v. W. Smith (10.361) W (3.813) v. S. Torrence (5.703) W (3.805) v. J. Ashley (3.931) W (3.796) v. I. Zetterstrom (4.036)
Justin AshleySCAG Power Equipment Toyota Top Fuel DragsterSemi-finalsW (3.753) v. B. Force (5.328) W (3.794) v. S. Langdon (3.817) L (3.931) v. D. Kalitta (3.805)
Antron BrownMatco Tools Toyota Top Fuel DragsterSemi-finalsW (3.752) v. C. Ferre (24.267) W (3.807) v. T. Schumacher (4.852) L (5.663) v. I. Zetterstrom (3.925)
Steve TorrenceCAPCO Contractors Toyota Top Fuel DragsterSecond RoundW (4.426) v. T. Zizzo (Red light) L (5.703) v. D. Kalitta (3.813)
Shawn LangdonKalitta Air Careers Toyota Top Fuel DragsterSecond RoundW (3.772) v. S. Reed (3.788) L (3.817) v. J. Ashley (3.794)

TOYOTA FUNNY CAR FINISHING POSITIONS  

NameCarFinal ResultRound-by-Round
Ron CappsNAPA Auto Care Toyota GR Supra Funny CarFirst RoundL (10.014) v. B. Tasca III (3.933)
J.R. ToddDHL Toyota GR Supra Funny Car First RoundL (3.962) v. C. Pedregon (3.954)

TOYOTA QUOTES

DOUG KALITTA, Mac Tools Toyota Top Fuel Dragster, Kalitta Motorsports

TF Final Result: Winner

With another No. 1 qualifier and win, how well is this team operating at right now?

“It’s incredible! Alan (Johnson, crew chief), Mac (Savage, crew chief) and this whole Mac Tools Toyota team – they have this Mac Tools Toyota Dragster running. I’m trying my best and hopefully it’ll be good enough, and it was today. We’ll keep going at it and I’m just super happy!”

About Toyota 

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

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

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

CORVETTE RACING AT FUJI: What a Win for TF Sport, Corvette!

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No. 81 Z06 GT3.R takes dramatic class victory on final lap

OYAMA, Japan (September 28, 2025) – TF Sport’s No. 81 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R earned a dramatic, late-race victory Sunday in the Six Hours of Fuji for the team’s second LMGT3 triumph of the FIA World Endurance Championship season.

Charlie Eastwood, Rui Andrade and Tom Van Rompuy earned their first win as a trio and their third podium finish of the season. The three teammates drove their way back from an early-race penalty and took advantage of last-lap trouble for the No. 21 Ferrari.

Eastwood took the checkered flag second in LMGT3 but the Ferrari was assessed a five-second, post-race penalty of its own on the final lap. Both cars had to stop for a splash of fuel inside the final six minutes but the TF Sport Corvette came in a lap later – critical as Eastwood went from eight seconds behind to well within the five-second margin he needed for victory.

TF Sport’s No. 33 Corvette won the opening race of the season in Qatar, and the team also won with one of its Corvettes in the European Le Mans Series earlier this year… coincidentally one driven by Eastwood and Andrade. It also was the second win at Fuji this year for the Z06 GT3.R as Johor Motorsports Racing took a victory earlier this year in GT World Challenge Asia.

Unofficially, the No. 81 Corvette team moved into third place in the LMGT3 Drivers and Teams championships – 24 points out of first place with 39 total points available in the eight-hour season finale in Bahrain.

No. 33 TF Sport Corvette teammates Daniel Juncadella, Jonny Edgar and Ben Keating are fourth in points with their eighth-place finish Sunday for their third points-paying finish in four races.

Multiple safety car periods scrambled the race at various points, which presented a number of different strategies throughout the LMGT3 field. After Van Rompuy and Keating drove opening stints in their Corvettes on the same starting tires, TF Sport decided to split its strategy with the No. 33 running four spots better at the halfway point.

Eastwood was one of the first Pro-rated drivers into the race just ahead of the four-hour mark with the goal making it to the end with a final splash. Meanwhile Juncadella got in the No. 33 with 1:45 left from second place but with one stop to the end.

The No. 81 strategy played out as the winning one at the end. Eastwood stopped from the lead with 63 minutes to go and again with four minutes remaining to set the stage for the late-race dramatics.

TF Sport and the Corvette Z06 GT3.R will close the FIA WEC season at the Eight Hours of Bahrain on Saturday, November 8.

TF SPORT POST-EVENT QUOTES

CHARLIE EASTWOOD, NO. 81 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: (Were you made aware of the scenario to the 21?) “No, not till the very last lap. To be honest, I felt like I was getting a bit annoying on the radio because I was asking all the time what was going on. For a long time I didn’t have a clue. Half the grid was on a split strategy and we were at one point seventh on that alternate strategy. We sort of chipped away closer to the front. We knew that we were able to go the longest on fuel but it was going to be nip-and-tuck. It kind of depended so much on how the battles were behind. There was quite a small gap once we came out of the pits but we had really good pace at the end of the stint. It was a perfect pit stop and took the least amount of fuel… I think we ended with 8 or 10 mega-joules in the car, bearing in mind that it’s only about a half-second on the actual fill. So it was perfect by the team. I came around on the second-to-last lap and they mentioned the gap was 7.2 seconds but there was a five-second time penalty. So I figured I may as well keep pushing here and see how we get on. We could see the Ferrari ahead didn’t quite have enough fuel. I could see it coming closer and closer in the last lap.

“To take the win was unbelievable. Right place, right time but also you have to execute and everything went right in the last couple of hours. We’ve been pretty unlucky the last couple of years to say the least, so it’s great to get my first win with these guys (Andrade and Van Rompuy) in WEC and my first win in the championship since moving to Corvette. I’m super pleased.”

RUI ANDRADE, NO. 81 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “The car felt very strong in my stint. In FP3 and qualifying, we were very happy with the car balance. We knew that qualifying for sure isn’t our strong spot but we knew the Corvette would be quite strong for the race. It was quite tricky as all the LMGT3 cars were quite close together. It was really hard to know where we were going to be, and even in the race it was hard to know where we would end up because different strategies by different teams were being played out. But we kept our heads down and kept pushing. The safety cars definitely threw a lot into the race because we weren’t sure what the best strategy would be. Even until the end we weren’t sure if it would work out. But the team did an amazing job. My teammates were faultless all race long. Thankfully we had the right strategy and a little bit of luck at the end. I’m very happy to get our first win together in the WEC. Since last year we’ve been trying and we’ve been close a few times. It’s a very special moment for all of us.”

TOM VAN ROMPUY, NO. 81 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “It started a bit on the back foot because I caused a penalty for releasing early from a FCY. But luckily that was negated by lots of VSCs and safety cars. From that point we knew we had a strong racecar on race pace. So we kept on giving our best. Also the team, I have to thank today for all their effort for doing really great pit stops and strategy. At some point it was a gamble but today it paid out. It’s my first win in WEC so I’m super proud to achieve this with these guys at TF Sport. I’m super happy.”

DANI JUNCADELLA, NO. 33 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “It was a positive race until the last two hours where seven or eight cars took a gamble to stop behind the safety car. It worked for them but didn’t work for us. We ended up P8 when we should have been in the top-three. It’s a shame. On the other hand we had a good weekend where we improved consistently. We’re still missing pace overall and some balance in the car. It’s probably not the best weekend for that but we will get there. The championship now is very difficult for Bahrain but we will be rid of all our success weight. Hopefully we can have a clean weekend there so let’s see.”

JONNY EDGAR, NO. 33 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “That was a pretty good stint. I think our race pace definitely was better than what we expected after practice. I’m pretty happy with that. Some cars had a little bit more pace but I think we did a good job on strategy. I managed to overtake a few cars on track, and on strategy we managed to jump a few others, which was good to get in clean air and push a bit. So the team did a good job on the stop and strategy to get a few places.”

BEN KEATING, NO. 33 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “It was a lot of fun in my stint. There was a lot going on out there. We had a lot of different cars that were on completely different strategies. I think the second safety car helped everybody else and did not help us. We were on a fuel mileage strategy and felt we were going to have one less stop than everyone else. I had a good start and a good couple of stints. We didn’t take tires for my second stint and some of the other competitors did so that was a big difference late.”

About General Motors

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

Cadillac adds to season points total

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Official Release
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Pole-sitting No. 12 Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA V-Series.R places 7th at Fuji

OYAMA, Japan (Sept. 28, 2025) – What Alex Lynn started with a scintillating lap in the No. 12 Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA V-Series.R to earn the pole he finished with a charge to seventh place in the yellow flag-filled 6 Hours of Fuji.

Lynn, who took over the wheel from Norman Nato with 2 hours, 14 minutes left, climbed from 13th among the 16 Hypercars following a restart into the top 10 and systematically overtook competitors to claim the positive result.

The No. 12 Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA V-Series.R, with Lynn, Nato and Will Stevens, sharing the driving duties, remained the only Hypercar to score points in all seven FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) races. CHART

Cadillac also remained a program-high third in the Manufacturers Championship entering the season finale.

Stevens set the fastest race lap of 1 minute, 30.507 seconds early in his opening stint on the 2.835-mile, 12-turn Fuji Speedway circuit in which he led all but one lap during a pit stop transition under a Virtual Safety Car. The No. 12 Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA V-Series.R led a field-high 67 laps.

In a race that totaled seven yellows, luck to steer clear of skirmishes and scattered debris was as important as pace.

The No. 38 Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA, which started second to the sister car for the team’s third 1-2 qualifying effort in the past four races, incurred bodywork damage from contact by a GT and Hypercar on separate occasions during stints by Sebastien Bourdais and Jenson Button. Earl Bamber, who set the qualifying standard, brought home the hybrid racecar in 13th place.

The No. 35 Alpine Endurance, which started ninth, won the 100th WEC race.

Cadillac Racing’s third WEC season concludes November 8 with the 8 Hours of Bahrain at the 5.412 km (3.363-mile), 18-turn Bahrain International Circuit. The lone Cadillac Hypercar entry, driven by Bamber, Bourdais and Lynn, in 2024 finished sixth after qualifying 13th.

What they’re saying

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

Will Stevens: “It’s frustrating because as a team we deserved way more. I think we had one of the fastest cars today but just honestly unlucky in places. I think at the start of the race we proved that we were, but from there we just had a lot of bad luck, fell in positions and it’s hard to recover when it’s so competitive. I think the team did a very good job this week, the car was strong but sometimes it’s just not your day.” (about his opening stint): “A few things going on with Safety Cars and full course yellows, but I felt like we were able to control the race very well. Then we got a great start and worked well between me and Seb to make sure we kept the lead between us because we knew it was going to be important.”

Norman Nato (about his stint): “My stint was a lot of up and down, especially with the full course yellows and the Virtual Safety Car. Will did a good job of keeping the lead and I jump in the car and we got a full course yellow that put us in a position we shouldn’t have been. And we had another VSC and lost position. You need not only pace but everything to go your way to win this race.”

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

Earl Bamber: “The car was great, great pit stops, awesome speed. But it was just one of those days.”

Sebastien Bourdais (about his stint): “At the beginning I struggled a bit with the balance. It took me a while to get in the groove and find the adjustments inside the car to kind of get it dialed in. Then there was that Safety Car and we put the quali left side tires on the car, and on the restart I really struggled and we lost a couple positions. After that, we seemed to stabilize and in traffic the BMW GT hit us in the rear when we were going through the kinks side by side and then he hit me straight in the rear the next corner and made some significant damage to the rear of the car. After that, it was a big struggle. Lost a lot of rear downforce, and two-third of the stint was not fun. I did what I could.”

Jenson Button (about his stint): “The car is working really well when you’re in clean air, which I didn’t have any. Really difficult until it settled down, and then when I was in clean air it was alright, and we could start picking off people. Disappointing but we’re still in the fight. I had a couple of good battles out there. I actually got hit and had to go off the track to not spin the car around and he didn’t even get a penalty.”

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

PROCK, KALITTA, LATINO AND HERRERA LOCK UP NO. 1 POSITIONS AT NHRA MIDWEST NATIONALS

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ST. LOUIS (Sept. 27, 2025) – Reigning Funny Car world champion Austin Prock locked up his fifth No. 1 qualifier of the season on Saturday at the 14th annual NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals in front of a sold-out crowd at Worldwide Technology Raceway.

The Funny Car points leader is looking for his first win at the fan-favorite race track and second of the Countdown to the Championship playoffs. With the momentum from his win just six days ago, Prock has confidence in his Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS Funny Car team.

“I’m looking forward to tomorrow,” said Prock. “We figured out what not to do today and we’ll be able to get after it tomorrow. I feel good. I’m excited. I never have a doubt in my mind even when we stumble that we can’t just get right back to running low ET the next round.”

Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel), Eric Latino (Pro Stock) and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also secured No. 1 qualifiers at the NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals as the NHRA Countdown to the Championship continues.

Prock’s No. 1 seed gives him a round one match up with Bobby Bode. Four-time world champion Matt Hagan finished in the second spot and will face off with Alex Laughlin, while No. 3 qualifier Daniel Wilkerson will meet up with his teammate Dave Richards.

Kalitta’s 3.675 pass at 334.82 mph stayed best in Top Fuel, giving the 2023 champion his eighth No. 1 of the season. Kalitta and the Mac Tools Top Fuel team earned one bonus point during the final qualifying session and with the stacked field ready for race day, Kalitta knows the importance of solid runs on Saturday in preparation for Sunday’s race day.

“We’re in great shape,” said Kalitta. “Conditions tomorrow will probably be pretty similar to what they were today. We had a good run that last one so we should be looking good for first round.

“In the end, it’s cool to get these low qualifiers and it’s just a lot of pride for the guys coming out of Saturday with the quick times. It puts us in a good position on the ladder for sure. We definitely like going low and hope to make something louder for tomorrow.”

Kalitta will take on Will Smith during the opening round of eliminations on Sunday. Reigning world champion Antron Brown stayed No. 2 and will face Cameron Ferre, while No. 3 qualifier and regular season champion Tony Stewart will take on Ida Zetterström.

Latino secured his first Pro Stock No. 1 qualifier after his 6.515 pass at 209.75 in his GESi Chevrolet Camaro held up for best of the class. He was thrilled with the No. 1 and has his eye on his first NHRA win.

“This is a big deal,” said Latino. “Racing Pro Stock with the best of the best and to come out with No. 1, it’s the team. It’s KB Titan. Racing with Dallas Glenn, Greg Anderson, all the guys at the shop, it’s pretty great. If it wasn’t for the whole team of KB Titan Racing, I’d be qualifying 20 out of 20. It’s really tough, and if you can’t partner with a team who’s been doing this for 25 years and has a whole collection of data, you’re not going to do it.”

Latino will see Troy Coughlin Jr. in the opening round of competition. Current points leader and 2024 NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals winner Dallas Glenn qualified No. 2 and will take on Jeg Coughlin. Norwalk winner Cory Reed will take on Chris Vang.

Reigning Pro Stock Motorcycle world champion Herrera locked up his seventh No. 1 on his RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki when his 6.741 pass at 200.41 stayed atop the field. He is looking for his third consecutive St. Louis win. Herrera currently is fourth in points, with his Vance & Hines teammate Richard Gadson leading the way.

“My mindset is there is less room for error on my side of things and the whole program,” said Herrea. “We had a little error last weekend and it cost me a lot of points. My head is down, I’m focused, and I have to go out there and do my job. Hopefully the bike carries me the rest of the way. I love challenges, and this is definitely a challenge, and one I haven’t had yet in Pro Stock Motorcycle. We’ll see what happens. Win or lose, I’m going to have fun.”

Herrera’s No. 1 spot gives him a bye run during the opening round of eliminations. Gadson qualified No. 2 and will take on Lance Bonham, while their third teammate Brayden Davis will meet up with Chris Bostick.

Racing elimination begins on Sunday at 11:00 a.m. CT at the NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals at World Wide Technology Raceway.

MADISON, Ill. — Sunday’s first-round pairings for eliminations for the 14th annual NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals at World Wide Technology Raceway, the 17th of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. Pairings based on results in qualifying, which ended Saturday. DNQs listed below pairings.

Top Fuel — 1. Doug Kalitta, 3.675 seconds, 335.73 mph vs. 16. Will Smith, 4.046, 249.90; 2. Antron Brown, 3.688, 337.41 vs. 15. Cameron Ferre, 3.912, 298.93; 3. Tony Stewart, 3.690, 335.15 vs. 14. Ida Zetterstrom, 3.788, 328.78; 4. Shawn Reed, 3.703, 332.10 vs. 13. Shawn Langdon, 3.768, 324.59; 5. Brittany Force, 3.709, 340.47 vs. 12. Justin Ashley, 3.754, 334.40; 6. Kyle Wurtzel, 3.711, 329.10 vs. 11. Josh Hart, 3.746, 336.07; 7. Clay Millican, 3.721, 334.82 vs. 10. Tony Schumacher, 3.744, 332.34; 8. T.J. Zizzo, 3.724, 336.23 vs. 9. Steve Torrence, 3.727, 331.53.

Funny Car — 1. Austin Prock, Chevy Camaro, 3.845, 337.16 vs. 16. Bobby Bode, Ford Mustang, 4.531, 192.49; 2. Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 3.868, 329.91 vs. 15. Alex Laughlin, Charger, 4.049, 315.86; 3. Daniel Wilkerson, Mustang, 3.871, 332.10 vs. 14. Dave Richards, Mustang, 4.025, 316.97; 4. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 3.877, 337.33 vs. 13. Ron Capps, Toyota GR Supra, 3.982, 324.05; 5. Chad Green, Mustang, 3.886, 334.07 vs. 12. Blake Alexander, Charger, 3.980, 324.98; 6. Alexis DeJoria, Charger, 3.900, 332.84 vs. 11. Paul Lee, Charger, 3.962, 323.74; 7. Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 3.902, 326.40 vs. 10. J.R. Todd, GR Supra, 3.919, 330.55; 8. Spencer Hyde, Mustang, 3.903, 325.61 vs. 9. Jack Beckman, Camaro, 3.906, 328.54.

Pro Stock — 1. Eric Latino, Chevy Camaro, 6.515, 209.75 vs. 16. Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 6.568, 209.85; 2. Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.516, 210.24 vs. 15. Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 6.566, 209.17; 3. Cory Reed, Camaro, 6.523, 209.33 vs. 14. Chris Vang, Camaro, 6.564, 208.78; 4. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.529, 209.72 vs. 13. Cristian Cuadra, Ford Mustang, 6.563, 209.72; 5. Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.538, 210.87 vs. 12. Greg Stanfield, Camaro, 6.562, 208.65; 6. Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.538, 209.85 vs. 11. Matt Latino, Camaro, 6.559, 209.72; 7. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.541, 208.94 vs. 10. Mason McGaha, Camaro, 6.558, 209.62; 8. Cody Coughlin, Camaro, 6.541, 208.91 vs. 9. Fernando Cuadra Jr., Camaro, 6.549, 208.91.

Did Not Qualify: 17. Deric Kramer, 6.577, 208.30; 18. Kenny Delco, 6.586, 210.14; 19. Stephen Bell, 6.594, 209.79; 20. Chris McGaha, 6.596, 209.49.

Pro Stock Motorcycle — 1. Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 6.741, 200.41 vs. Bye; 2. Richard Gadson, Suzuki, 6.759, 200.08 vs. 15. Lance Bonham, Buell, 7.523, 183.42; 3. Brayden Davis, Suzuki, 6.767, 200.20 vs. 14. Chris Bostick, Suzuki, 7.422, 140.81; 4. Angie Smith, Buell, 6.776, 202.09 vs. 13. Wesley Wells, Suzuki, 7.161, 188.23; 5. Matt Smith, Buell, 6.776, 200.86 vs. 12. Marc Ingwersen, EBR, 6.886, 196.64; 6. John Hall, Beull, 6.786, 200.53 vs. 11. Chase Van Sant, Suzuki, 6.847, 198.79; 7. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.804, 197.48 vs. 10. Ryan Oehler, EBR, 6.840, 196.96; 8. Jianna Evaristo, Buell, 6.811, 200.44 vs. 9. Kelly Clontz, Suzuki, 6.830, 198.85.

ARCA Menards Series West at Madera Speedway: Madera 150 Post-race Notes & Unofficial Results

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ARCA Menards Series West at Madera Speedway:
Madera 150 Presented by The West Coast Stock Car Motorsports Hall of Fame and Madera Ford Post-race Notes

  • Trevor Huddleston (No. 50 High Point Racing / Racecar Factory Ford) scored his third ARCA Menards Series West win of the season and his second consecutive victory at Madera Speedway in Saturday’s Madera 150 Presented by The West Coast Stock Car Motorsports Hall of Fame and Madera Ford. Huddleston took the lead from General Tire Pole Award winner Jaron Giannini (No. 23 Versatile & Stone / Third Gen Racecars Toyota) on the start and led every lap.
  • Kyle Keller (No. 71 Jan’s Towing / Jan’s Racing Ford) started eighth in a backup car after issues slowed his primary car in a pre-race practice at the track on Friday. After working on converting the backup car throughout the night, Keller qualified eighth and methodically worked his way through the field to close within a couple of car lengths with 10 laps to go. Keller closed to Huddleston’s back bumped and nudged the leader repeatedly throughout the final five laps but couldn’t make the pass stick. He finished second for the fourth time this season, three of which were to Huddleston.
  • Eric Johnson, Jr. (No. 5 Sherwin-Williams Toyota) finished third by inches over the series’ most recent winner, fourth-place finisher Robbie Kennealy (No. 1 Jan’s Towing / Jan’s Racing Ford). Johnson finished second in another photo finish at Tucson Speedway in April. Johnson’s advantage over Kennealy was measured at 0.016 seconds.
  • Joey Iest (No. 88 Shockwave Marine Suspension Seating Systems Ford) finished fifth, his second consecutive top-five finish in two 2025 starts. He finished fourth two weeks ago at All American Speedway.
  • Giannini finished sixth after he and Eric Nascimento, Jr. (No. 4 Impact Transportation / RJ’s Paintshop / Phillips Bros. Chevrolet) made contact on a restart just past the halfway point. Giannini earned his second career General Tire Pole Award in qualifying; his first pole award came at Madera Speedway in 2024.
  • Andrew Chapman (No. 55 High Point Racing / Racecar Factory Ford) finished seventh, Tanner Reif (No. 13 Central Coast Cabinets Toyota) was eighth, Blake Lothian (No. 51 Texas Lawbook Chevrolet) was ninth, and Nascimento was tenth.
  • Jake Bollman (No. 19 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet) finished last in the 16-car field after it erupted in smoke on lap two. His car was pushed to the pit area outside the race track and after evaluation by the team, Bollman’s night ended after completing just one lap.
  • Huddleston unofficially leads Keller by 18 points heading into the next ARCA Menards Series West race, the Star Nursery 150 at The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
  • Huddleston’s margin of victory was 0.265 seconds, about one car length. His winning average speed was 56.523 miles per hour. The race was slowed five times by cautions; there were two red flags for fluid on the racing surface.
  • The next race for the ARCA Menards Series West is the Star Nursery 150 at The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Friday, October 10; the race will be streamed live on FloRacing starting at 10 pm ET / 7 pm PT on Friday, October 10. Live timing & scoring data and live race audio will be available at ARCARacing.com.

About ARCA 
The Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA), founded in 1953 by John and Mildred Marcum in Toledo, Ohio, and acquired by NASCAR in April 2018, is the leading grassroots stock car sanctioning body in the United States. Bridging the gap between NASCAR’s top three national touring series and weekly and regional tour racing all across the country, the organization to sanctions over 100 races per year in the ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East, ARCA Menards Series West, ASA STARS National Tour, ASA CRA Super Series, ASA Midwest Tour, ASA Southern Super Series plus weekly racing at Toledo and Flat Rock Speedways. For more information about ARCA visit , or follow ARCA on Facebook (@ARCARacing) and Twitter (@ARCA_Racing). 

About Menards
A family-owned and run company started in 1958, Menards is recognized as the retail home center leader of the Midwest with 236 stores in 15 states.  Menards is truly a one-stop shop for all of your home improvement needs featuring a full-service lumberyard and everything you need to plan a renovation or build a home, garage, cabin, shed, deck, fence or post frame building.  You’ll find a large selection of lumber, roofing, siding, construction blocks, trusses, doors and windows, plus cabinets, appliances, countertops, flooring, lighting, paint, plumbing supplies and more.  To complete the job, Menards has quality hand tools, power tools, fasteners, electrical tools plus storage options and supplies for everyone from the weekend warrior to the pro!
 
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High Voltage, Higher Stakes: The Critical Role of Insulating Mats in the Age of Formula E and EV Racing

By
Barry Albert
-

EV has notably transformed the world of motorsport— more specifically, the Formula E racing. Formula E is an exclusive EV-only racing sport that delivers a meaningful message on sustainability. The event aims to popularize the trend of replacing fuel-driven cars with electric vehicles that are more eco-friendly.

However, behind the scenes, engineers and workers are silently tackling multiple facets of a giant, everyday electrical hazards.

The heart of EV is a Lithium-ion battery, operating on 900 volts, which is enough energy to power 6,500 smartphone batteries simultaneously. Higher voltage increases the chances of accidents. In this high-risk environment, one overlooked product often creates the lasting impact: electrical insulating rubber mats. This article explores how.

Quickly navigate through this article following:

  • Why is electricity threatening in Formula E racing environments
  • Breaking down the science behind the insulation resistance of the high-voltage electrical insulating mats
  • Adhering to formula E protocols: Insulating mats in action
  • Electrical insulating mats in the broader EV ecosystem

 Why is electricity threatening in Formula E racing environments 

Formula E racing cars are one of the most powerful vehicles, hitting the benchmark of electrical innovation. The EVs used in this motorsport can produce about 350 kW of current only in the qualification mode.

With a 51 kWh battery, their system runs on 900 volts. A powerful charging station is needed to keep the cars running. Moreover, when the car slows down, it can send up to 600 kW of energy back into the battery, causing a sudden surge in electricity.

Electric vehicles used in Formula E racing have another major security concern: their construction framework. Unlike other cars, the chassis of EVs is made of carbon fiber, which means it quickly gets electrified due to its conductive nature. Hence, what seems like a safe space is actually a death trap.

 Why does electricity demand safe handling in EVs 

The impending dangers of petrol or any other fuel-run car are visible. In traditional racing, it is easier to address mechanical failures in the cars. However, EVs are built on modern technology, and this high-end technology becomes threatening:

Noiseless action: Electronic vehicles are noiseless and do not produce any auditory clues when malfunctioning

Invisible danger: Electrical sparks or leaks cannot be seen with the naked eye

Less time to act: Electrical failures are often the last to be detected and give minimal time to act

Delayed repercussions: Accident damages or aftermath are not always visible immediately

Hence, controlling electrical accidents in the EVs used in Formula E racing needs a Proactive rather than a Reactive approach. Since accidents truly come unannounced in this case, danger must be contained before it becomes devastating. And, for control of accidents, what can be better than a high-voltage insulation mat?

 Breaking down the science behind the insulation resistance of the high-voltage electrical insulating mats 

Electrical insulating mats are made of a dielectric compound called elastomer and work on the principle of dielectric insulation. According to this principle, any dielectric compound creates a barrier inhibiting the flow of electricity. Elastomer has non-conductive properties.

Electrical insulating mats, when used properly, resist the completion of an electric circuit within the human body. They instead bypass electrical current to the electrically neutral Earth.

The electrical insulation property of electrical insulating mats is measured using the following parameters:

  • Dielectric strength: The maximum electric current the mat can resist without breaking down
  • Volume resistance: The measure of how strongly the electric mat resists the current flow
  • Surface resistance: The resistance of current flow through the surface of the mat
  • Proof voltage: Predetermined voltage that the electric mat can withstand while testing

Electrical insulating mats are tested rigorously to make sure they meet all the criteria before they are installed. The proof voltage, withstand voltage, etc, are different for different electrical insulating mats standards.

 Electrical safety matting standards and certifications 

Currently, there are three accepted electrical safety matting standards:

  • IS 15652: This is the Indian standard of electrical insulating mats.
  • IEC 61111:2009: The Only globally accepted standard that divides an electrical insulating mat into 5 classes.
  • ASTM D178: Electrical mat standard followed in the USA and the North American regions

Apart from these, there are custom specifications where electrical mat suppliers mix and match the properties of several safety standards and engineer their own custom product. Custom mats are usually made for extreme yet temporary application areas like Formula E.

 Adhering to formula E protocols: Insulating mats in action 

Formula E implements a strict safety protocol centered on visual indicators that communicate the electrical status of the vehicles. They use a color-coded system that tells when an insulating mat, along with a full-fledged safety practice, needs to be put in place:

  • Green light: The EV is safe to approach without any strict protection
  • Red light: The EV is unsafe; hence, personnel must not approach without full protective equipment
  • No light: Probable system failure; assume unsafe conditions and take maximum protection

When the red light appears, electrical insulating mats become the barrier between potential electric current leakage and the human body. The complete protocol requires:

  • Maintenance personnel must wear a full electric safety PPE, including rubber gloves and a dielectric helmet
  • Certified electric insulating mats must be used near the EV
  • Only specialized battery engineers must perform the check
  • Powertrain engineers finally assess whether the risk is genuine or a false indicator

Nevertheless, electric insulating mats are gradually becoming a part of the broader EV ecosystem.

 Electrical insulating mats in the broader EV ecosystem 

While Formula E racing signifies the epitome of technological advancement, consumer vehicles are also turning into EVs.

The governments of some countries are slowly embedding the EV culture by banning the sale of fuel-run vehicles. For example, the European Green Deal aims to make Europe climate-neutral by 2050, where EVs play a key role. The UK is actively trying to ban the sale of new internal combustion engine vehicles by 2035.

Hence, the EV system has become broader with a bigger chance of electrical insulating mats to fit in there.

New editions of Porsche, Hyundai, and Lucid operate at 800 volts. Higher voltage enables fast charging. Higher voltage reduces the heat emission and supports a thinner harness, making the vehicle lightweight.

On the flip side, electrical accidents have become more frequent in dealership service centers, independent repair shops, and even home garages. This makes the use of electric safety equipment, like the high-voltage electrical insulating mats, a necessity for EVs.

 The Bottom Line, 

As the world is getting heavier with carbon emissions, governments across the world are getting more serious about electric vehicles. The EV innovation is not a market-driven phenomenon, but the world is in dire need of fresh air right now. An advanced version of motorsport events like the Formula E has embraced EVs more, but regular consumers are not far behind. EVs run on electricity and need a high electric charge, making electrical safety a concern. Electrical insulating mats are Formula E-approved safety measures that keep the car, the driver, and the maintenance workers equally safe.

Let’s dive into some interesting FAQs about electrical insulating mats:

1. What are electrical insulating mats?

Electrical insulating mats are protective flooring installed near high-voltage equipment.

2. Are electrical mats certified?

Yes, electrical insulating mats are certified as per the IS 15652, IEC 61111:2009, or the ASTM D178 standards.

3. What is the maximum voltage protection an electrical insulating mat provides?

The IS 15652 mat provides voltage protection up to 33 kV. The IEC 61111 and ASTM D178 electrical mats provide voltage protection up to 36.5 kV.

Jones wins the Kansas Lottery 300 at Kansas Speedway

By
SM Staff
-
Photo by Ron Olds for SpeedwayMedia.com

Brandon Jones won Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) Kansas Lottery 300 at Kansas Speedway. Jones led 54 laps and captured his second Xfinity Series win of the 2025 season and the seventh of his career by 2.787 seconds over Connor Zilisch.

“That was exactly like how we needed that to go down,” Jones said. “Two really solid stages and just no mistakes. The entire day was so well executed. That’s probably the most well-executed race of my career. I’m so proud of these guys. We work so hard the entire week to get here and put races like this together. I was so happy. I know the fans want to see action, but I was just praying for long runs because this car was so good there.”

Zilisch finished second and made history with his 16th consecutive top-five finish and unofficially has enough points to clinch a spot in the next playoff round.

“I didn’t feel like our car was winning-capable, except at a point there in stage three, I thought we had a chance at it,” Zilisch said. “We’ll look at it and see what we could have done better.”

Austin Hill finished third.

“For whatever reason, I couldn’t fire off with the No. 20 and No. 88 there at the end. Both the fronts and rears would slide with the car being out of the track. It started to come to me, and we were reeling the No. 88 back in, but just ran out of time. It was a good day, but not the day that we needed. We needed more points taken off or a win. Little frustrated with a third-place finish, but it could have been a lot worse as well.” said Hill.

Sammy Smith finished fourth, and Sheldon Creed rounded out the top five finishers.

“I would love to be a little bit more than 12 above, but we just grinded it out all day in our Ollie’s Ford Mustang. Honestly, we weren’t real good to start the race and just kept trying to get better and better. We took big swings at it there and got a little track position and was able to hold on. We almost got to fourth there at the line, but I’m just proud of everyone at Haas Factory Team. I appreciate everyone at Roush Yates Engines, all of our partners. Ollie’s, Pit Boss, Road Ranger, Friends of Jaclyn. I appreciate everyone helping us, and we’ll live to fight on at the Roval.” said Creed.

Taylor Gray led one time for 13 laps and finished sixth, Jesse Love finished seventh, Nick Sanchez finished eighth, Brenden Queen finished ninth, and Dean Thompson rounded out the top 10 finishers.

Justin Allgaier led three times for a race high of 79 laps but stayed out on older tires and finished 13th, but unofficially has enough points to clinch a spot in the next playoff round.

“They work for you sometimes, they don’t some other times,” Allgaier said. “Disappointed… our (No. 7 JR Motorsports) Chevrolet was really good.”

The race featured 16 lead changes among seven drivers, and four caution flags for 26 laps.

Standings

After Kansas, Connor Zilisch leads the Xfinity Series standings over Justin Allgaier by 37 points, 62 points over Sam Mayer, 67 points over Brandon Jones, 89 points over Taylor Gray, 93 points over Sheldon Creed, 96 points over Carson Kvapil, and 100 points over Jesse Love. Nick Sanchez, Austin Hill, Harrison Burton, and Sammy Smith are currently below the cutline heading into Charlotte.

PosDriverNoPointsBehindNextRace WinsStage WinsPlayoff Points
1Connor Zilisch (P)8821650091065
2Justin Allgaier (P)72128-373731338
3Sam Mayer (P)412103-62251316
4Brandon Jones (P)202098-6752318
5Taylor Gray (P)542076-8922025
6Sheldon Creed (P)02072-934013
7Carson Kvapil (P)12069-963015
8Jesse Love (P)22065-10041113
9Nick Sanchez (P)482060-1055116
10Austin Hill (P)212058-1072360
11Harrison Burton (P)252057-1081022
12Sammy Smith (P)82051-1146139

Up Next:

The NASCAR Xfinity Series heads to Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course for the Blue Cross NC 250 on Saturday, October 4th at 5:00 pm ET on the CW Network.

Race Results

NASCAR Xfinity Series Race Number 28
Race Results for the Kansas Lottery 300 – Saturday, September 27, 2025
Kansas Speedway – Kansas City, KS – 1.5 – Mile Paved

PosStNoDriverTeamLapsS1S2S3PointsStatus
1120Brandon Jones (P)Menards/Spectracide Toyota20022059Running
2788Connor Zilisch # (P)Carolina Carports Chevrolet20044049Running
31721Austin Hill (P)Bennett Transportation Chevrolet20088040Running
4148Sammy Smith (P)TMC Transportation Chevrolet20095041Running
5100Sheldon Creed (P)Ollie’s Ford20009034Running
6254Taylor Gray # (P)Operation 300 Toyota20056042Running
7122Jesse Love (P)Whelen Chevrolet20070034Running
81348Nick Sanchez # (P)Caroline Jones No Tellin Chevrolet20000029Running
9411Brenden QueenAction Industries Chevrolet20060033Running
10926Dean Thompson #Thompson Pipe Group Toyota200107032Running
11618William Sawalich #Soundgear Toyota20000026Running
123810Daniel Dye #Fox Factory Vehicles Chevrolet20000025Running
1357Justin Allgaier (P)BRANDT Chevrolet20011044Running
142016Christian Eckes #Celsius Chevrolet20000023Running
15191Carson Kvapil # (P)Bass Pro Shops/Clarience Tech Chevrolet20000022Running
16341Sam Mayer (P)Audibel Ford20033037Running
172428Kyle SiegAudio Visions Ford20000020Running
18817Rajah Caruth(i)HendrickCars.com Chevrolet1990000Running
191539Ryan SiegSci Aps Ford19900018Running
201825Harrison Burton (P)AirBox Ford19900017Running
212770Leland HoneymanHardscape Contractors Chevrolet19900016Running
221124Patrick StaropoliSyrovre Toyota19900015Running
232199Matt DiBenedettoCW Law & Order Toronto Chevrolet19900014Running
243691Josh WilliamsStar Tron Chevrolet19900013Running
252242Anthony AlfredoDude Wipes Chevrolet19900012Running
263471Ryan EllisTablo Chevrolet19800011Running
27234Parker RetzlaffOxi Clean Chevrolet19800010Running
282944Brennan PooleMacc Door Systems Chevrolet1980009Running
293132Austin GreenOverplay Chevrolet1980008Running
302627Jeb BurtonBG Products Chevrolet1980007Running
313045Mason MasseyBrunt Chevrolet1970006Running
322551Jeremy ClementsAlliance Driveway Solutions Chevrolet1970005Running
333353Joey GaseNFPA Chevrolet1960004Running
343714Garrett SmithleyThermoTech Chevrolet1950003Running
353276Kole RazCyclum Next Gen Travel Centers Ford1950002Running
362831Blaine Perkinseasycare Chevrolet1950001Running
371619Justin Bonsignore (P)M3 Technology Toyota15401002Accident
38357Nick LeitzMotoplex of Nebraska Chevrolet1400001Running

JONES CAPTURES HIS THIRD CAREER KANSAS VICTORY AND SECOND OF THE SEASON

By
Official Release
-

Taylor Gray Posts sixth-place finish as he stays above the playoff cutline

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (September 27, 2025) – Polesitter Brandon Jones dominated with a strong long-run car to earn his second Xfinity Series win of the season Saturday afternoon at Kansas Speedway.

The victory marked Jones’ first career win from the pole, as the driver of the No. 20 Toyota GR Supra led six times for a total of 54 laps to secure his third career win at the 1.5-mile Kansas oval. The win was also his seventh career Xfinity Series victory and also qualified him for the Round of 8 in the 2025 playoffs.

In addition to Jones’ win, it was also a strong showing for a trio of Toyota GR Supras who finished inside the top-11, with Gray (sixth), William Sawalich (ninth), and Dean Thompson (11th). Gray also heads to next weekends cutoff race 16 points above the top eight cutline.

Toyota GAZOO Racing Post-Race Recap
NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS)
Kansas Speedway
Race 28 of 33 – 300 miles, 200 laps

TOYOTA FINISHING POSITIONS

1st, BRANDON JONES

2nd, Connor Zilisch*

3rd, Austin Hill*

4th, Sammy Smith*

5th, Sheldon Creed*

6th, TAYLOR GRAY

10th, DEAN THOMPSON

11th, WILLIAM SAWALICH

22nd, PATRICK STAROPOLI

37th, JUSTIN BOSIGNORE

*non-Toyota driver

TOYOTA QUOTES

BRANDON JONES, No. 19 Menards/Spectracide Toyota GR Supra, Joe Gibbs Racing

Finishing Position: 1st

How good does it feel good to put the whole day together and get the win?

“It’s huge to win the final stage, would have liked to have won the first two stages but I’m not going to get greedy. No mistakes, the entire day was so well executed. In my career that was by far my best executed race. I’m so proud of these guys, we work so hard the entire week to get her and put races like this together. I was so happy it went green. I know for the fans they want to see action, but I was just praying for long runs was so good there. It was as fast as Xfinity Mobile all day. We had people here from Spectracide, Hot Shots, Rejuvenate, and Menards this weekend. It’s always a blast to win and move onto the next round.”

How big was it to win here with some good tracks like Vegas coming up with another intermediate track?

“We’ve always been a contender at Vegas, we just haven’t been able to get it done there yet. We’ve always been fast at Vegas but I feel like the momentum we have from this weekend we are peaking at the right time with these racecars.”

What are your emotions for your third career win at Kansas?

“I’ve got so much confidence in this racetrack, I just love coming to this place. We contend every time we come here, Joe Gibbs Racing is always extremely fast at these places and Toyota shows up with a ton of speed in thye entire camp. We’ve got guys fast in the Cup race as well. It’s just a good weekend overall for us at Toyota and Joe Gibbs Racing. I’m sure pumped about this one, this is huge. It’s the momentum we really need at the right time right now going into the Round of 8. I’m happy going into the Roval next week, I think it’s going to be a fun race, but I’m happy I can go and have some fun with it and not be too stressed or overly worried about the points situation.”

You were racing the racetrack, how much did this play into getting the win?

“This tire was a lot of fun this weekend and this race was a lot of fun. It was kind of a unique line we had to run here today. It really went to that high line and then run it down to the middle of the racetrack it was really slick and super hard to manage the grip level of our GR Supra today. That part of it was a blast from the driver side of it having to drive around tire rubber and handling issues all day and I think we made the perfect call to get the tires when we did and then I was happy this race went green like it did for it because that was the strength of our racecar all weekend long, just how good it was on the long runs. We could hang with the guys on restarts and shorter runs, but it was more of a challenge, but we were just so consistent over the long run versus the JR Motorsports cars.”

TAYLOR GRAY, No. 54 Operation 300 Toyota GR Supra, Joe Gibbs Racing

Finishing Position: 6th

Tell us about your day

“I thought we had an alright day. We worked on our car all day, felt like we made our Operation 300 Toyota GR Supra better. Still didn’t quite get where we wanted to be towards the end balance wise. Overall, a good points day and we’ll move onto the Roval.”

JUSTIN BONSIGNORE, No. 19 M3 Technology Toyota GR Supra, Joe Gibbs Racing

Finishing Position: 37th

What happened there with contact between you and the 48 (Nick Sanchez)

“He just wasn’t clear off of (turn) 2. I don’t know if he got free there and corrected up into me, I only saw it one time so it was hard to tell. Unfortunate, we were running in the top-12 all day and just learning. It’s so hard to come in and out of here every 10 weeks and do this. The car was really good, we had a good Toyota GR Supra today, want to also thank M3 Technology. Would have liked to have seen the checkered flag, we deserved to finish in the top-10. On to Martinsville and we’ll see what we can do there.”

About Toyota

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

Toyota directly employs nearly 64,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 49 million cars and trucks at our 14 manufacturing plants. In 2025, Toyota’s plant in North Carolina began to assemble automotive batteries for electrified vehicles.

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

Creed Posts Fifth-Place Finish to Lead Ford in Kansas Xfinity Race

By
Official Release
-

Ford Racing Notes and Quotes
NASCAR Xfinity Series
Kansas Lottery 300 — Kansas Speedway
Saturday, September 27, 2025

Ford Finishing Results:

5th – Sheldon Creed
16th – Sam Mayer
17th – Kyle Sieg
19th – Ryan Sieg
20th – Harrison Burton

SHELDON CREED, No. 00 Ollie’s Ford Mustang Dark Horse – “I would love to be a little bit more than 12 above, but we just grinded it out all day in our Ollie’s Ford Mustang. Honestly, we weren’t real good to start the race and just kept trying to get better and better. We took big swings at it there and got a little track position and was able to hold on. We almost got to fourth there at the line, but I’m just proud of everyone at Haas Factory Team. I appreciate everyone at Roush Yates Engines, all of our partners. Ollie’s, Pit Boss, Road Ranger, Friends of Jaclyn. I appreciate everyone helping us and we’ll live to fight on at the Roval.” YOUR CAR CAME ALIVE IN STAGE THREE. “Yeah, it got better after stage two. It would take off OK and then would struggle, and then on the long run I was OK. I think this kind of tire threw everyone for a loop. Usually, you can run the fence here and it was just super greasy and slimy and felt like everyone was sliding around. It made for a challenging and fun day, but I would have loved to get a couple more stage points and have a few more points over the cut line, but we’ll take it and move on.” THOUGHTS ON THE ROVAL. “I don’t know. I went into the Roval plus-32 last year and we had a mechanical and didn’t make it. We just need to go and run in the top 10 all day. We’ll just try to fight and make it to the next round.”

SAM MAYER, No. 41 Audibel Ford Mustang Dark Horse – “We did a fantastic job today. We came here looking for points and we got that the first few stages, so we nailed everything that we wanted to do the first two stages. Obviously, the strategy call didn’t pan out in our favor, but it’s still a great day. I’m really proud of everybody at Haas Factory. I wanted more, obviously, as a race car driver, but I’m still really grateful for the spot that we’re in.” DID THE TIRE THROW YOU GUYS FOR A LOOP? “Yeah, it was a wild race today because the tire reacted really differently compared to what we have been used to in the past. I felt like the balance swings have been different. It was just a different type of race and the tire definitely has a huge part in that. We’re gonna put that in the notebook and be ready for the next one.” YOU’VE DONE WELL AT THE ROVAL. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT RACE? “I feel really good. We’re plus-43 and it looks like the next guy is plus-16, so it’s gonna be a dogfight from fifth on back. We’re gonna do everything we can to have a solid day there and do our part. I think if we run out the first two stages, we should be all but locked in. I’m looking forward to it.”

HARRISON BURTON, No. 25 AirBox Ford Mustang Dark Horse – “We fired off the first run of the race and had to go to the back because we had a mechanical issue after qualifying. We got up through the field pretty good and felt good about our car and then after that we were horrible tight. I don’t know what to do to avoid that. I felt confident after the first run that we were gonna be probably a 10th-place car, which we would have taken that today. It’s just frustrating to unload bad and then practice, qualify and race bad. It’s a goose egg on our end, so we’ll go back to the drawing board and go to the Roval with some aggression trying to get in and go down swinging if we go down.” IT’S A SINGLE-DIGIT DEFICIT GOING INTO THE ROVAL. YOUR OUTLOOK? “We’re still in the ballgame for sure. We’re not gonna quit, that’s for sure. Even if we were 40 points down, we’re gonna go down swinging. We’re still in the ballgame. We just really needed a good weekend here to feel comfortable, but now we’re gonna be uncomfortable for the next week or so. Hopefully, that will push us to be the best we can be.”

Toyota GAZOO Racing – NCS Kansas Quotes – Chase Briscoe – 09.27.25

By
Official Release
-

Toyota GAZOO Racing – Chase Briscoe
NASCAR Cup Series Quotes

KANSAS CITY, Kansas (Sept. 27, 2025) – Joe Gibbs Racing driver Chase Briscoe was made available to the media on Saturday after winning the pole for the NASCAR Cup Series race at Kansas Speedway.

Briscoe added to his series-high seventh pole position by earning the top spot for Sunday’s Hollywood Casino 400. The pole marks the most pole positions in a single season since Kyle Busch also notched seven poles back in 2017 in his No. 18 Toyota Camry.

CHASE BRISCOE, No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota Camry XSE, Joe Gibbs Racing

Take us through that blistering lap you put down during qualifying

“It was honestly kind of a surprising qualifying session. We came here in the spring, everybody for the most part ran wide open through turns one and two and turns three and four was the end of the track that kind of determined your lap. This time around guys were just way slower and not a single guy ran wide open through one and two. What we had prepped for was kind of totally opposite from what we just did there and I thought my team did a really good job of making adjustments for the slower pace and everything that goes into that. We had to adapt for a lot of angles. It was an interesting lap. I was watching everything else and noticed nobody ran wide open through one and two and everyone was way out of the gas. Coming to the green everyone was really out of the gas. When I came to the green, I knew my car was going to be really good and it was all about wide open through one and two. I just told myself to just make a good solid three and four but don’t give up too much like I did at Darlington and you’re going to have a good shot at the pole. It was a good lap and will be helpful to start up front tomorrow.”

What do you think was responsible for the slower speeds today?

“Momentum. The car drives the exact same on this tire and my inputs don’t feel that drastically different, maybe I had a little less grip but not so much that you thought you were going to be a second slower. This place is so momentum based, just being out of the gas a little extra really adds up. It was definitely surprising going into the weekend. All the prep work we thought we would be running way faster than we are this weekend. It’s definitely a challenge for sure.”

Could you tell anything with the new right-side tire?

“No, not really. Just slower. From a feel standpoint I didn’t really notice anything different than I expected in the spring. Maybe just not getting into the corner quite as hard, but the feel was very similar to what I’ve always imagined here. I’m still kind of surprised by the pace change for sure.”

You have the most poles in a single season since 2017. Were you always a fast qualifier in sprint cars and other vehicles you drove growing up?

“No, horrendous every time. Sprint cars I was literally the worst qualifier ever, I would be so nervous. In stock cars I always have been the strongest in qualifying for whatever reason. In the past at SHR, I would qualify fifth to 10th a lot, but didn’t show a whole lot because I wasn’t on the pole. The cars capability is just so much greater now, those fifth to 10th qualifiers are now second and poles. Qualifying has always been my strongest asset truthfully in stock cars, I just haven’t been able to show it in the Cup Series.”

What is your mentality when you qualify as far as being in control out there?

“I don’t know. I don’t use markers, I just go out there and go wide open until I feel like I need to list and once I go back to the gas I go back to the gas and sometimes I mess it up. I mess it up more often than not, truthfully. I don’t ever have a preconceived notion by watching videos of where I need to lift, I just go out there and drive it to the limit and if it’s good enough it’s good enough. And sometimes I leave a little bit on the table or I overdo it, 99% of the time I overdo it. It really comes down to the car, just really good at getting the balance right. I’m not the only JGR car that qualifies well, Denny (Hamlin) is on the front row with me, Christopher (Bell) is up there, Ty (Gibbs) is really fast. Our cars are just really good, and when your cars are good it just allows you to be more aggressive.”

Where is the pedal car going to go for winning the pole today?

“That will definitely be a fighting piece at our household. Having three kids, I have another pedal car from 2016 and Brooks (son) rides it all the time. He’ll be excited as the older seniority to get the newer one. I guess I’m going to have to try and win one in the spring so all three kids can have one. It’s always a cool part about Kansas with the unique pole trophy. Not every track has a pole trophy so it’s always cool when there’s something neat like that.”

Bass Pro Shops is down the road in Springfield, Missouri. Does anyone there put more pressure on you here at Kansas with them being located not too far away from here?

“I don’t feel like there’s any more pressure from them. It’s just cool every time we come here you kind of know it’s in their backyard. I came in and hung out with them the last couple of days and you know their presence in the area. Johnny (Morris, Bass Pro Shops owner) will be here tomorrow and it’s an added pressure when he’s here because you want to perform because I would love to experience a win with Johnny, I’ve never been able to experience that before. Hopefully we can execute tomorrow and allow him to go to victory lane in his backyard, essentially. There’s always an added pressure as a driver whether it’s your home track or your sponsors home track or crew chiefs home track. When you are near home you just want to perform when there are people there to support you. Hopefully we can do that.”

About Toyota

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

Toyota directly employs nearly 64,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 49 million cars and trucks at our 14 manufacturing plants. In spring 2025, Toyota’s plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, Toyota currently offers 31 electrified options.

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

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