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TeamSLR Contingent Poised To Tackle VIR

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Official Release
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Teen Rookie Tristan McKee Returns to Scene of First TA2 Series Start

Joined by Returning Carson Brown, Newcomers Lanie Buice and Naz Olkhovskyi

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. (Sept. 15, 2025) – Fifteen-year-old Tristan McKee, the Cube 3 Architecture TA2 Series points leader through nine of 12 rounds this season, returns to the scene of his series debut last October when he and a trio of TeamSLR and M1 Racecars teammates hit the track for Saturday’s VIR SpeedTour at Virginia International Raceway in Alton.

The young driver from Kannapolis, North Carolina, who was born and raised in Williamsburg, Virginia, three hours up the road from the 3.27-mile, 17-turn VIR circuit, will be joined by first-year TA2 competitor Carson Brown, as well as pair of drivers who will be making their TA2 Series debuts – Lanie Buice and Naz Olkhovskyi.

McKee’s first official outing in TA2 competition came when the series last visited VIR on Oct. 5, 2024. He qualified sixth and finished fourth, just .7 of a second off the final spot on the podium, kicking off a methodical and determined march to his string of recent successes. The driver of the No. 28 Spire/Gainbridge/SLR-M1 Racecars Chevrolet Camaro has won three of the last four rounds and finished second in the other, the wins coming July 22 at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, July 12 at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International, and the most recent round Aug. 30 at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in Bowmanville, Ontario. The runner-up finish came June 29 at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, and was part of a 1-2-3 TeamSLR finish led by the race-winning veteran Mike Skeen and third-place-finishing Corey Day, a fellow teen TA2 Series rookie who is part of the Hendrick Motorsports stable of drivers.

McKee arrives at VIR with a 182-point lead atop the TA2 standings over second-place Sam Corry and a 191-point lead over third-place Thomas Annunziata with three rounds remaining this season. The Chevrolet and Spire Motorsports development driver is riding a streak of seven consecutive podium finishes after coming home seventh and fifth in the season’s opening two events, respectively, at Sebring (Fla.) International Raceway in February and Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta in March. McKee returned to Watkins Glen to make his ARCA Menards Series debut Aug. 8, just five days after turning 15, and emerged with the victory after qualifying fourth. He finished second in the most recent ARCA event last Thursday at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway.

Returning to TeamSLR looking to improve upon his first career TA2 Series podium in his fourth career start two rounds ago at Watkins Glen is Brown, the recently turned 17-year-old from New London, North Carolina. He qualified third and finished third at Watkins Glen in his third race behind the wheel of the No. 8 PayCafe/Ebb Logistics/SLR-M1 Racecars Chevrolet Camaro. The versatile young driver opened the season with an eighth-place finish from the 12th starting position at Sebring, then followed it up with a fourth-place finish from the sixth starting position at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway in April. Brown this weekend moves to the No. 2 PayCafe/Ebb Logistics/SLR-M1 Racecars entry for Guthrie’s Garage.

In March, the primarily dirt and asphalt short-oval specialist finished sixth in his ARCA Menards Series East debut at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Florida. He also drove to a Super Late Model victory at Madison (Wis.) International Speedway this season.

Taking over the No. 8 SLR-M1 Racecars Chevrolet Camaro this weekend, thanks to the support of Chevrolet, Franklin Road Apparel and Cube 3 Architecture, is Buice, the 18-year-old from Jackson, Georgia, who this summer joined the Chevrolet Motorsports roster of development drivers. Buice has been a regular on the zMAX CARS Tour this season, competing in the Late Model Stock Car class for Lee Pulliam Performance, for whom she’s posted a pair of top-five finishes and five top-10s through the season’s first 13 events. Buice also made her ARCA Menards Series debut this season, driving part-time for Rev Racing. She drove to top-12 finishes in all five events she’s entered with best finishes of eighth at both Rockingham (N.C.) Speedway in February and Kansas Speedway in Kansas City in April. Buice began racing go-karts at the age of 10, then progressed through the Legend car ranks, winning a pair of Georgia state championships, as well as the 2022 Race of Champions in Las Vegas, followed by competition in various Late Model divisions.

Also making his TA2 Series debut this weekend is the 38-year-old Olkhovskyi, a Ukraine native who toured the European shifter kart circuit as a teen and has dabbled in various SCCA regional classes since moving to the United States in 2008. He’ll pilot a TA2 car he owns and built that will take to the VIR circuit as the No. 48 TeamSLR-M1 Racecars Chevrolet Camaro. Olkhovskyi recently purchased an M1 Racecars chassis with an eye toward competing in the TA2 Series in 2026.

Representing the M1 Racecars contingent once again this weekend is Jared Odrick, the 37-year-old from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, who played seven seasons with the NFL’s Miami Dolphins and Jacksonville Jaguars from 2010 through 2016. The second-year Pro-Am Challenge competitor has logged five top-two Pro-Am finishes in the last seven events, including victories May 3 at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California, and at Mid-Ohio behind the wheel of his No. 00 Black Underwear/CoolBoxx/M1 Racecars Chevrolet Camaro. He’s currently holds a 55-point lead over second-place Keith Prociuk atop the Pro-Am standings with three events remaining.

TeamSLR will honor the memory of longtime supporter Tom Ellis on its racecars this weekend. Ellis, whose son Thomas drove for the team at selected events last season, passed away earlier this month. A celebration of life service is also scheduled for Thursday evening at VIR for the late TeamSLR driver Barry Boes, the defending Pro-Am Challenge champion who was involved in a fatal aviation accident Aug. 18.

VIR SpeedTour weekend kicks off Thursday with a pair of TA2 test sessions set for 12:55 and 4 p.m. EDT. Official TA2 practice is set for Friday at 12:35 p.m., followed by qualifying at 6 p.m. Saturday’s 31-lap, 75-minute race is set for 12:35 p.m. with series broadcast partner Speed Sport 1 providing live TV coverage, augmented by a live stream on the Trans Am channel on YouTube.

Riding along with TeamSLR drivers and their M1 Racecars once again this season is Nashville, Tennessee-based Franklin Road Apparel Company, which has been a longtime team supporter and serves as associate partner on all TeamSLR entries. Also continuing its support of the overall TeamSLR effort is Cube 3 Architecture, as well as Kallberg Racing, and Guthrie’s Garage.

Tristan McKee, Driver, No. 28 Spire Gainbridge/SLR-M1 Racecars Chevrolet Camaro:

You made your official TA2 Series debut last October at VIR with a near-podium finish. Talk about your evolution as a road racer in the time since. And could you have imagined then that you’d be coming back almost a year later having won three of your last four races and leading the championship?

“I feel like my road-racing skills have gotten so much better – how to race on a road course and just everything about it. I’ve learned a lot and feel like I’ve improved so much since then. And I feel like I’m just improving every race, going out there and getting better and better each time. The progress I’ve made between then and now is huge. I knew I had the potential to keep getting better and better and that it was just a matter of time before I got enough laps and experience to be able to do as well as we’re doing now.”

What are some of the factors that have contributed to the progress you’ve been able to make in the TA2 Series over the last year and a half?

“It’s been a lot of things. So much of it goes to Scott (Lagasse Sr.) and Scotty (Scott Lagasse Jr.), as well as Scott Speed and Josh Wise at GM and everyone at the Tech Center over there. Those are the people who’ve enable me to gain so much experience and learn all the techniques and every little thing that you need to know about road-course racing and how to be fast and how to drive the car, how it has to be driven in different types of corners. Oval racing, which is my background, is pretty standard, you’re basically turning left through two corners. Road racing is obviously completely different. So those four guys and the rest of the team have taught me so much.”

Describe what it takes to get around the VIR circuit.

“It’s a lot of fun. I think it’s probably one of the first road courses I ever ran on, I’ve gotten quite a lot of laps around there and it’s a really fun track. It’s a little bit narrow in some areas and, obviously, the esses are pretty wicked in a TA2 car as far as you’re just going pretty much flat out there and you’re going around 150 or 155 (mph), so you’re really getting it up there. There are a lot of high-risk parts of the track, so you have to kind of go about it in a methodical way. You’ve got to be aggressive in some areas and you also have to be a little bit careful in others, so it’s definitely a really, really fun track with some of the elevation, as well as going up the esses, then going down after that into Oak Tree. It’s just a really fun track and I enjoy going around it.”

Carson Brown, Driver, No. 2 PayCafe/Ebb Logistics/SLR-M1 Racecars/Guthrie’s Garage Entry:

You’re back in a TA2 car for the first time since your first career series podium at Watkins Glen in July. Do you feel like you can pick up where you left off in just your fourth-ever TA2 race?

“That was just a fun event, in general. It was my fourth TA2 race after we finished fourth at Sonoma, and Watkins Glen ended up being a little bit better, which is kind of what we were hoping for, and we ran a decent race. I fell back a little bit at the beginning but knew that we’d have that long-run speed that we needed and that we have with the M1 racecar and with SLR. I got passed by a few cars, but then we were able to make some ground back up on some restarts, and just later on in the race, the car really came alive and came to me there and we ended up on the podium, which was really fun. Hopefully, we can go even better at VIR. I definitely feel like we can win, we just need to have all the cards with us and everything has to fall in place. But it’s going to be cool racing at VIR. It’ll be my first time racing there. And I was born in California, but racing in the state that I was raised in Virginia will be really cool and is always fun. I was raised in Chesterfield, which is not too far outside of Richmond, so it’s always cool when I can race back up there in Virginia.”

You’re moving for the first time from the No. 8 Camaro to the No. 2 entered by Guthrie’s Garage, an M1 Racecars Camaro, with support from TeamSLR. Your thoughts on that?

“Well, I know that all the SLR M1 Racecars are good and, at the end of the race I feel like they all typically come alive. A car is a car to a certain extent, and I feel like the team does everything it can to keep all of them equal. We all drive each other’s cars at the test days so we know what’s what and how all the cars drive, but we always shoot for them to be pretty similar. Hopefully, it’s really good, kind of like the others that I’ve driven recently, and I’m hoping we can pull off a really good finish with it.”

How would you describe VIR compared to the other places you’ve driven so far in a TA2 car?

“It’s much more narrow than I’m used to. Watkins Glen was a little narrow in some parts of the Boot, but VIR is definitely going to be the most narrow racetrack of all of them, I’d say. But it’s a really cool racetrack with the esses and it should be a fun race and I’m looking forward to it. It’s especially fun going through the esses and up to the top of the hill and then down into Oak Tree. I feel like that’s a very narrow section and pretty high-speed, for the most part, right before you get to Oak Tree, so that’ll definitely be an interesting part of the racetrack where I’m going to have to learn how to drive it and be around cars. Aero will play a factor through those parts.”

Lanie Buice, Driver, No. 8 Chevrolet/Franklin Road/Cube 3/SLR-M1 Racecars Camaro:

Your thoughts on your TA2 Series debut with TeamSLR this weekend at VIR and working on your road-course race craft?

“I ran a WRL race with Low Country Motorsports about a month ago at Road Atlanta. That was kind of my first real taste of road-course racing, so I’ve had a little bit of experience, but nothing like working so intensely with a team like this. I had a chance to test with TeamSLR at VIR and it was really cool, very challenging. Road-course racing is very dependent on being super methodical with your feet and your hands and your shifting and all those things. I really enjoyed it. It was honestly one of my favorite things I’ve done in a while. I genuinely enjoyed every second of it, and I think that’s why I’m really excited to race the TA2 car at VIR, as well, just because of the challenge that comes along with it is so, so good, and it’s truly a blast.”

How would you describe the TA2 car compared to others that you’ve driven?

“It’s different, it drives different. I feel like it’s more reactive to the steering input, more reactive to the lefts and rights. There are a lot of big differences and it definitely took a few laps to get used to. It definitely gets up and going pretty good, it’s got a lot of power. You’ve got to be really methodical with your throttle input and just being consistent with that and not spinning the tires, especially coming from first gear. That’s something that surprised me, as well, how fast you can roll in first gear. Using all four of the gears throughout the whole course is definitely different. So I would say those are some of the big things, but I really enjoy it and I like the speed, I like the challenge of it and how it’s different than anything I’ve ever been in before.”

What has your experience been like working with TeamSLR so far?

“I really, really enjoyed working with Scott (Lagasse Jr.) and everybody at TeamSLR. They’re incredible people. I think a lot of times when I’m joining a new team or searching for a new place, another place to go, it’s always important to me to be around people that are really hard-working, no matter the circumstances, and just kind people, and I really feel that with TeamSLR. They all care for everyone’s best interest, which is really, really cool. I feel like they’ll be able to continue to help me develop and give me the things I need to be able to be a really good driver. All I have to do is listen and dive into the advice and the teaching that they’re giving me and just focus on that. I feel like it’ll pay off well and I’ll be able to be really good on the road courses one day, especially with a NASCAR career in mind. It’s super important to be good at any track you go to, so I don’t ever want to fall behind. I feel like their teaching and all their coaching is just going to make me a better driver, whether it be oval racing or road-course racing.”

Naz Olkhovskyi, Driver, No. 48 TeamSLR-M1 Racecars Chevrolet Camaro:

You’re stepping up to racing in the TA2 Series for the first time in your career. What are your thoughts about the weekend?

“I have a lot of experience racing shifter karts in Europe, but not so much in these types of cars, so I think this is going to be a big step up for me. I’ve done a good amount of testing with TeamSLR in the last year and that’s why I’m so excited. VIR is an iconic racetrack, a really nice place to make a debut, I think. There are a lot of places where you have to be spot-on, and I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

What would you consider a successful weekend at VIR, and how will you approach the challenges of the track and facing TA2 Series competition?

“I think the expectation is just to finish the race, to see the checkered flag and learn as much as I can and slowly build up to where I can actually race with people. That will be a 100-percent gold achievement. It’s an iconic track and it is really challenging. I think the most appealing part is all the different levels of drivers in TA2 but in the same cars, which I feel gives you an opportunity to build and grow. That’s why I appreciate this opportunity. And the cars look great. I cannot even ask for more. This is going to be the coolest thing I’ve ever done.”

What has your experience been like working with TeamSLR as a driver?

“It’s the feeling I get when I’m with them – it’s like a one, big family. They’re always welcoming and helpful. It makes me want to help them, and they are open all the time to help me and give me advice and give me this opportunity. I would never be able to do any of this by myself.”

About TeamSLR:

TeamSLR (Scott Lagasse Racing) competes fulltime in the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli’s newly renamed Cube 3 Architecture TA2 Series in a multifaceted effort that includes dedicated entries in the TA2 division, customer programs, driver coaching and car construction. Its history dates back to 1985 and covers a wide spectrum of motorsports, including NASCAR, IMSA, SCCA, ARCA and ASA. TeamSLR is a family-owned organization run by Scott Lagasse Sr., and Scott Lagasse Jr., The father-and-son duo have combined to win more than 120 races and seven championships across a variety of series and styles of racecars, from paved ovals to road courses to dirt tracks. TeamSLR would like to thank its supporters Cube 3 Architecture, Franklin Road Apparel, Kallberg Racing, and Guthrie’s Garage. For more information, please visit us online at www.TeamSLR.com, on Facebook, on Twitter, on Instagram and on LinkedIn.

Top Five: Storylines to Watch as the NASCAR Playoffs Make a Pit Stop in New England

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Official Release
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Christopher Bell, driver of the No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series race and completing the weekend sweep at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on June 23, 2024. Photo Credit: Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images

Can Bell go back-to-back and be the first to lock in to the Round of 8? Will Joe Gibbs Racing remain dominant to kick off the Round of 12? Will it be one of the few NCTS drivers with NHMS experience who takes the win, or will beginner’s luck come in to play when the series returns to NHMS after eight years? Will homefield advantage help New England drivers get to victory lane? Will one of NASCAR’s 40 Greatest take home his third consecutive Mohegan Sun 100 NWMT win?

LOUDON, N.H. – Fans headed to New Hampshire Motor Speedway (NHMS) for New England’s only NASCAR Playoffs weekend are in for a wicked good time at “The Magic Mile” as drivers take to the track for three full days of action-packed racing this Friday through Sunday, Sept. 19-21. From one driver’s chance to go back-to-back and be the first to lock in to the NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) Playoffs Round of 8 to the majority of the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS) field racing at NHMS for the very first time during a cutoff race, there will be no shortage of thrilling, white-knuckled excitement for fans to enjoy. Here are five must-watch storylines headed into the weekend:

BACK-TO-BACK BELL?

Christopher Bell earned himself a spot in the Round of 16 with back-to-back-to-back wins early in the season at EchoPark Speedway, Circuit of The Americas and Phoenix Raceway. He continued the 2025 season without earning another points-paying win (Bell won the NASCAR All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway in May) until this past Saturday at Bristol Motor Speedway (BMS), which locked him in to the Round of 12. Next up is the Mobil 1 301 at NHMS, where Bell has been dominant, so can he earn another set of back-to-back wins on the season and be the first to lock in to the Round of 8 in pursuit of his first championship?

JOE GIBBS RACING DOMINANCE

While Bell may be the favorite to win NHMS this Sunday, his stiffest competition may be his own teammates. Chase Briscoe and Denny Hamlin have also already earned wins in the Playoffs, with Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) sweeping the Round of 16. Hamlin has won at NHMS three times, while Briscoe earned a second-place finish at NHMS last year. JGR has taken home the last three NHMS NCS race wins (Bell in 2022 and 2024, Martin Truex Jr. in 2023), and even the fourth JGR driver, Ty Gibbs, earned his first career NASCAR win at NHMS in 2019 with the K&N Pro Series East.

TRUCKS RETURN TO NHMS

In the most recent NCTS race at NHMS (Sept. 2017), Noah Gragson won the pole, and Bell won the race – his first of many NHMS wins to follow. This Saturday, The Team EJP 175 will mark the first NCTS race at “The Magic Mile” in eight years. The majority of the field has never raced at NHMS, so with the added pressure of it being the Round of 10 cutoff race, practice will be more critical than ever. The only drivers in the field with NHMS experience will be NCTS veterans Matt Crafton, Grant Enfinger and Ben Rhodes.

Former NCS regular Corey LaJoie will be racing the No. 77 Truck for Spire Motorsports, and while he has plenty of NHMS experience from the NCS (10 starts) and NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) (one start), it will be his first NCTS start at “The Magic Mile.”

Full-time NXS driver Christian Eckes will make his second NCTS start of the season for McAnally-Hilgemann Racing, and while he enjoyed success in the NCTS prior to making the jump to NXS this season, he’s never raced at NHMS.

Most recent NCTS winner, Layne Riggs, will make his 50th career NCTS start at NHMS this Saturday, and while it will be his first time racing at “The Magic Mile,” he already has a good feeling about it, following his win at BMS saying “Man, I’m excited for New Hampshire. I’ve never even been there, and I already love that racetrack.”

LOCAL GUYS GET CALLED UP

New Englanders Blake Lothian (Wellesley, Mass.) and Mike Christopher Jr. (Wolcott, Conn.) will race in Saturday’s Team EJP 175 in front of a hometown crowd.

Lothian will pilot the No. 22 Reaume Brothers Racing Ford in his fourth NCTS start, his first since April 2024 at Martinsville Speedway. Lothian started his career competing in indoor karting from 2014-2017, where he won the F1 Boston Series and New Hampshire Karting Association Series championship in 2017. He made the jump to Legend Car racing in 2019 as part of the NASCAR Drive for Diversity Program and then into Late Models in 2021. Lothian made his NCTS debut at Martinsville Speedway in April 2022.

Christopher Jr., the 25-year-old nephew of the late NWMT legend Ted Christopher and son of veteran driver Michael Christopher Sr., will make his NCTS debut in the No. 62 Halmar Friesen Racing Toyota. Christopher Jr. has made a name for himself with multiple wins at Stafford Motor Speedway and Thompson Speedway in SK Modifieds and Tour-type modifieds. He’s also made seven NWMT starts since 2021 and earned one win and three top-fives.

40 GREATEST

Last month, NASCAR unveiled its list of the 40 Greatest Modern-Era NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour (NWMT) drivers. One driver included on that list and racing in this Saturday’s Mohegan Sun 100 at NHMS is two-time defending Mohegan Sun 100 winner Justin Bonsignore. The four-time NWMT champion is currently second in points with one win, six top-fives and 11 top-10s so far on the season. At “The Magic Mile,” Bonsignore has 26 starts, three wins, 11 top-fives and 15 top-10s.

Also on that list is 2013 NWMT champion and Berlin, Conn. native Ryan Preece, who currently runs full-time for RFK Racing in the NCS. Preece’s NWMT career includes 27 starts, one win, eight top-fives and 14 top-10s at NHMS alone, and while he won’t be racing in this year’s Mohegan Sun 100, fans can cheer for him on Sunday during the Mobil 1 301.

On-track action kicks off Friday, Sept. 19 with practice and qualifying sessions for the NWMT and NCTS plus SIG SAUER Academy Dirt Duels at The Flat Track. The action continues on Doubleheader Saturday with the Mohegan Sun 100 NWMT race, the Team EJP 175 NCTS Playoffs race and NCS practice and qualifying. The on-track action culminates Sunday with the NCS taking on “The Magic Mile” to kick off the Round of 12 with the Mobil 1 301. Don’t miss all of the exciting off-track action including “The Magic Mile” Happy Hour Show, Trackside Live, The Groove fan hangout, concerts from Draw the Line and Being Petty: The Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers Experience, Family Movie Night featuring “Captain America: Brave New World,” driver appearances, a variety of live performances, fireworks and much more.

For a full NASCAR weekend schedule, visit NHMS.com/Events/Mobil-1-301/Schedule/.

Tickets:

For tickets and camping for New England’s only NASCAR Playoffs weekend, featuring the Mobil 1 301 NCS and Team EJP 175 NCTS Playoffs races, Mohegan Sun 100 NWMT race and SIG SAUER Academy Dirt Duels, fans should visit NHMS.com or call 833-4LOUDON. Tickets for kids 12 and under are just $10 on Sunday, free on Doubleheader Saturday and start at $10 on Friday.

Follow Us:

Keep track of all of New Hampshire Motor Speedway’s events by following on Facebook (@NHMotorSpeedway), X (@NHMS) and Instagram (@NHMS). Keep up with all the latest information on the speedway website (NHMS.com) and mobile app.

COUNTDOWN TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP HITS HALFWAY POINT AT NAPA AUTO PARTS NHRA MIDWEST NATIONALS IN ST. LOUIS

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Official Release
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ST. LOUIS (Sept. 15, 2025) – Every NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series driver knows the importance of NHRA Countdown to the Championship and its six playoff races. The 14th NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals, Sept. 26-28, marks the halfway point of the playoffs and drivers have their sights set on a big weekend at World Wide Technology Raceway in St. Louis.

It is the 17th of 20 races during the 2025 season and the third of six races in the NHRA Countdown to the Championship playoffs, putting a premium on standout performances. All the star drivers in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle will look to put on a show in front of a passionate St. Louis fanbase, one that has packed the standout facility year after year.

The weekend will be heavy on intensity and action, starting with nitro at night on Friday, as the second session features the 12,000-horsepower, 340-mph nitro machines under the lights. Racing continues with two more qualifying sessions on Saturday, leading into eliminations on Sunday, where every round – and every point – matters.

Last season, Tony Schumacher (Top Fuel), Jack Beckman (Funny Car), Dallas Glenn (Pro Stock) and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) each claimed wins, while this year’s race will once again be broadcast on FS1, with elimination coverage airing at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday, Sept. 28.

Schumacher is Top Fuel’s winningest driver, winning for the 88th time with his St. Louis triumph. Schumacher returned to racing this season in Indianapolis, joining Rick Ware Racing, while Doug Kalitta moved past regular-season champion and racing legend Tony Stewart in the opening round of the playoffs. Others to watch in St. Louis include Shawn Langdon, Justin Ashley, Brittany Force, and reigning champ Antron Brown.

Beckman took over for NHRA legend John Force last season and went on to win twice in the Countdown, including the NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals. This year, Beckman is second in points in a loaded field, trailing teammate and reigning Funny Car champion Austin Prock. He has an impressive seven wins this season, while multi-time champions Matt Hagan and Ron Capps are also close behind.

Glenn won last season’s race in St. Louis when he defeated Aaron Stanfield and the young standout has had a banner season in 2025, winning five times. That includes the playoff opener in Reading and he’ll look to stay on track for a first world championship while taking on KB Titan Racing teammate Greg Anderson, the reigning world champion, six-time champ Erica Enders, who has six St. Louis wins, and Matt Hartford.

Herrera won his second consecutive St. Louis race last season, defeating Chase Van Sant in the final round. Herrera won the regular season championship after winning five races, but John Hall opened the Countdown to the Championship with the win to make things tight in the class. Herrera has his eye on a third straight title, but he’ll have to get past Hall, six-time champion Matt Smith and teammate Richard Gadson.

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

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

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

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

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

About Mission Foods

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

About NHRA

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

Shared Values in Racing Series and Gaming Platforms

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SM
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Photo by Collin Hanson at pexels.com

When people think about racing and online gaming, the first reaction is that these worlds could not be further apart. One involves roaring engines and split-second decisions on asphalt. The other happens on screens with numbers, odds, and real-time interaction. Yet both rely on trust, fairness, and rules that everyone can see. Without those values, fans would stop watching and players would stop logging in.

In the same way that racing fans want a level playing field, online users also look for platforms that play fair. That is where sites like ufabet stand out, offering a direct connection without middlemen. Just as fans trust that lap times are accurate and penalties are enforced, players trust that their experience is transparent and free of hidden strings.

Racing Runs on Transparency

Motorsport has always carried the risk of doubt if results were unclear. Imagine a race where fans questioned whether a penalty was applied correctly. The integrity of the sport depends on eliminating that uncertainty. Officials use advanced timing systems, reviewed penalties, and even post-race checks to ensure the outcome is undisputed. Every decision must be clear, not just to the drivers but also to the public who follow every lap.

This visibility is one of the reasons motorsport thrives worldwide. Whether it is NASCAR, Formula 1, or local series, audiences want to know that results are earned on the track and not shaped by favoritism. The consistent application of rules is as important as the skill of the drivers.

How Online Gaming Platforms Compare

The same concept applies to digital platforms. If users think a system is tilted, they quickly lose interest. Leading platforms have responded by putting data and clarity at the center of their operations. Odds, payout rates, and conditions are published so that users know exactly what they are stepping into. Direct-web models cut out the hidden fees or third-party hurdles, which makes trust easier to maintain.

Transparency is not a buzzword here. It is the foundation that keeps people returning. A platform can offer endless options, but without the confidence that the system is fair, those options mean little.

Fair Play on and off the Track

Racing fans are no strangers to discussions about fair play. Track limits, false starts, and technical violations are all part of the landscape. Stewards often face tough calls, but their work is vital to the credibility of a series. Drivers must trust that their rivals are following the same rulebook, and fans must see those standards applied equally.

Gaming platforms mirror this same requirement. Users expect equal treatment, regardless of whether they are placing a small bet or a larger one. If a system favors certain players, word spreads quickly, and the community fades. Fairness is not just about the rules but also about the perception that those rules are enforced evenly.

The Role of Data

Data is the invisible backbone of both industries. In motorsports, sensors track car performance, timing loops record every lap, and broadcast graphics share those numbers instantly. Without reliable data, the spectacle loses credibility.

Online platforms also rely heavily on data. Random number generators, security audits, and transparent odds tables all serve as proof that the experience is not manipulated. For users, having access to numbers they can verify builds confidence. In both cases, data provides the evidence that fairness is real, not just claimed.

What Fans and Users Can Learn

The overlap between racing and online platforms offers an interesting lesson. Fans and players alike care about integrity, even if they do not always describe it that way. What draws them back is the certainty that the rules are not shifting in the shadows.

Here are a few shared values that connect both spaces:

  • Clarity in rules: Both drivers and players know where they stand.
  • Consistent enforcement: A penalty on track or a payout online must follow the same standard for everyone.
  • Data as proof: Numbers, whether lap times or payout rates, are the ultimate judge.

This common ground shows that entertainment, no matter the form, depends on trust as much as it does on thrills.

Why It Matters Today

The modern audience is more aware and more demanding. They have seen enough examples of systems that cut corners, and they no longer accept vague promises. Motorsport faces pressure to keep results transparent, just as digital platforms face pressure to prove fairness. Both industries adapt by embracing clearer systems and technology that can verify what happens behind the scenes.

Trust cannot be assumed anymore. It must be earned through visible steps that fans and users can follow. This is why drawing comparisons between racing and gaming is not as unusual as it first sounds. Both are proving grounds for how fairness can be maintained in fast-moving, competitive environments.

Conclusion

Racing thrives because fans believe in what they see. Online gaming succeeds when users believe in what they play. In both cases, data, transparency, and fair play are not optional extras. They are the pillars that hold everything together. As long as these values remain central, both industries will continue to capture attention and loyalty.

Bell, Almirola, and Riggs survive thunder valley

By
SM Staff
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Photo by Christian Gardner for SpeedwayMedia.com

All three of NASCAR’s top series were at Bristol Motor Speedway this weekend. The Craftsman Truck Series started the racing action on Thursday, then the Xfinity Series headlined Friday night’s action, and the Cup Series closed out the weekend on Saturday night.

NASCAR Cup Series – Bass Pro Shops Night Race

Christopher Bell
Photo by Christian Gardner for SpeedwayMedia.com

On Saturday night, Christopher Bell held off a hard-charging Brad Keselowski to win the Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway for his first at Bristol, fourth win of the season, and the 13th of his career.

“I never in a million years would have thought that my first win at Bristol would have come with a tire fiasco (referring to excessive tire wear) like we had tonight,” said Bell.

Keselowski finished second, Zane Smith finished third, Ryan Blaney finished fourth for his 12th top-five finish of the season, and Joey Logano rounded out the top five finishers.

“Just the story of our season, just a 50/50 shot on the restart, and I got the lane that couldn’t launch,” Keselowski said. “Just frustrating. We had a great car, great strategy, put ourselves in position to, if not win, at least have a really, really solid day, and on that last restart, just rolled the dice and didn’t get anything good.”

Corey Heim finished sixth, Carson Hocevar seventh, Alex Bowman eighth, Chase Briscoe, who led 127 laps, finished ninth, and Ty Gibbs, who led a race high of 201 laps, rounded out the top 10 finishers.

Austin Dillon, Shane van Gisbergen, Alex Bowman, and Josh Berry were eliminated from the Playoffs.

Cup Series Playoffs – Advancing to Round of 12

PosDriverNoPointsBehindNextWinsStage WinsPlayoff Points
1Denny Hamlin (P)113034005434
2William Byron (P)243032-222732
3Kyle Larson (P)53032-203932
4Christopher Bell (P)203028-644228
5Ryan Blaney (P)123027-712727
6Chase Briscoe (P)193018-1692518
7Chase Elliott (P)93013-2151113
8Bubba Wallace (P)233009-254149
9Austin Cindric (P)23008-261138
10Joey Logano (P)223007-271127
11Ross Chastain (P)13007-270127
12Tyler Reddick (P)453006-281026

Josh Berry came to pit road with smoke from the right-front wheel well filling the cockpit on lap 75, and finished last for the third straight event, ending his chances to advance in the playoffs.

“We’ve been up front. We’ve qualified well. We had the issue at Darlington, bottoming out. Last week, we got clipped by the 9 (Chase Elliott), and then tonight the car catches on fire.” said Berry

Austin Dillon had to pit for right side tire issues on lap 28 and also received a pit road speeding penalty, was down two laps by the end of the race, and finished 28th, and missed the next playoff round by 14 points.

“We just couldn’t go as far as the field on tires. Our setup just wasn’t conducive to that, and then no matter how easy I went, it was just chewing tires. It was just an unfortunate night for the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops / Winchester Chevrolet team. I just wish we would have had the ability to run as long as the other guys, and I think we would have been OK. I tried a lot to save it, but it was just out of my hands.” Dillon said.

Shane van Gisbergen finished in 26th, and Alex Bowman recovered from a spin on Lap 100 to finish eighth, but both drivers were below the playoff cutoff line to advance.

“Just proud of everyone at Hendrick Motorsports for the fight. We obviously had a shot at it if we would have gone green to the end. We had a good Ally Chevy compared to yesterday. We made some gains on it and still have some gains we need to make.” Bowman said.

“It was a pretty wild night. I got run over once by a guy that was pretty average, but the rest of it, I just needed to put myself in better spots and understand what was going on earlier in the race. I just made it hard on myself early.” Van Gisbergen said.

The race featured 14 caution flags for 137 laps, and 36 lead changes among 14 drivers.

The NASCAR Cup Series heads to New Hampshire Motor Speedway for the Mobil 1 301 at 2 p.m. ET on the USA Network for the first race in the Round of 12.

NASCAR Xfinity Series – Food City 300

No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Photo by Kevin Ritchie for SpeedwayMedia.com

Aric Almirola elected not to pit his No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota with 36 laps remaining and was able to hold off the drivers on fresher tires by .381 seconds to capture his second victory of the Xfinity Series season and the ninth win of his career at Bristol Motor Speedway.

“Yeah, just tired of getting beat by those guys. I figured I would try my chances with the lead. They’ve been so fast, and the fire off so fast on new tires. I just didn’t think I could beat them straight up on new tires. It took me about 20 laps to get going. I thought my best chance was to stay out on old tires. Seth (Chavka, crew chief) and I watched the last two or three races here, and we saw where the 9 car, with Noah Gragson, won with like 100 laps on his tires, so I decided to stay out when they said pit.” Almirola said.

Sheldon Creed finished in second place and captured another runner-up finish, Sam Mayer finished third, and Carson Kvapil finished in fourth.

Connor Zilisch finished fifth and came up short while trying to become the first Xfinity series driver in history to win five consecutive races, but he did capture an Xfinity record of 15 consecutive top-five finishes.

“It was a good day, just so hard those decisions at the end because whatever you do, everyone else is going to do the opposite,” the 19-year-old rookie Zilisch said. “We had a really good day with our WeatherTech Chevrolet, got further up above the [Playoff] cutoff line, and we’ll move on to next week and keep on building.”

Polesitter Justin Allgaier finished sixth, Harrison Burton seventh, Christian Eckes eighth, Jeremy Clements ninth, and Brennan Poole rounded out the top 10 finishers.

The race featured seven caution flags for 60 laps, and seven lead changes among six drivers.

After Bristol, Connor Zilisch holds a 32-point lead in the Xfinity series standings over Justin Allgaier, 50 points over Sam Mayer, 69 points over Carson Kvapil, and 76 points over Harrison Burton.

The NASCAR Xfinity Series heads to Kansas Speedway for the Kansas Lottery 300 on Saturday, September 27th at 4:00 pm ET on the CW Network.

NASCAR Xfinity Series Standings after Bristol

PosDriverNoPointsBehindNextWinsStage WinsPlayoff Pts
1Connor Zilisch # (P)8821160091065
2Justin Allgaier (P)72084-323231136
3Sam Mayer (P)412066-50181316
4Carson Kvapil # (P)12047-6919015
5Harrison Burton (P)252040-767022
6Brandon Jones (P)202039-7711313
7Sheldon Creed (P)02038-781013
8Taylor Gray # (P)542034-824025
9Nick Sanchez # (P)482031-853116
10Jesse Love (P)22031-8501113
11Austin Hill (P)212018-9813360
12Sammy Smith (P)82010-1068139

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series – UNOH 250 Presented by Ohio Logistics

Layne Riggs
Photo by Kevin Ritchie for SpeedwayMedia.com

Layne Riggs recovered from a first-lap spin, took over the race on lap 142, and held off two-time series champion Ben Rhodes to capture his third win this season, second win at Bristol Motor Speedway, and the fifth win of his NCTS career in Thursday night’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series UNOH 250.

“You don’t get two mulligans in the playoffs, and I got two, so I’m not sure what happened on the initial start with the 7. I felt like I was there pretty good, and the first lap of the race to spin out is a blow to your confidence, for sure, but I’ve got faith in this team and I’ve got faith in everybody here. Thank you to all of the fans. You all are great. Thank you for the energy. I’ve got to thank Love’s Travel Stops. Ford Racing. Man, you all are awesome and loud. Thank you to Peak, just everybody involved.” said Riggs.

This was the second race in the Craftsman Truck Series Playoffs, and the win automatically sends Riggs into the Round of 8.

“I think this shows that we’re right there, we’re in contention, we can do it,” said Riggs. “That’s three in a row at Bristol for Front Row Motorsports. It’s a big testament to all these guys. We’ve got a really good package here. Man, I’m excited for New Hampshire. I’ve never even been there, and I already love that race track.”

Rhodes finished second, and Corey Heim, who led a race-high 122 laps and won the second stage, finished in third place.

Ty Majeski and Daniel Hemric finished fourth and fifth. Majeski is in fourth place in the series standings (-87) and Hemric is in third (-82) heading into the elimination race at New Hampshire.

After Bristol, Corey Heim leads the series standings by 61 points over Layne Riggs, 82 points over Daniel Hemric, 87 points over Ty Majeski, and 104 points over Grant Enfinger and Tyler Ankrum.

The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series heads to New Hampshire Motor Speedway for the EJP 175 on Saturday, September 20th at 12:00 PM Eastern Time on FS1.

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Point Standings after Bristol

PosDriverNoPointsBehindNext
1Corey Heim (P)11217700
2Layne Riggs (P)342116-6161
3Daniel Hemric (P)192095-8221
4Ty Majeski (P)982090-875
5Grant Enfinger (P)92073-10417
6Tyler Ankrum (P)182073-1040
7Kaden Honeycutt (P)522062-11511
8Rajah Caruth (P)712058-1194
9Jake Garcia (P)132044-13314
10Chandler Smith (P)382034-14310

REED, PEDREGON, GLENN & HALL OPEN PLAYOFFS WITH NHRA READING NATIONALS WINS

By
Official Release
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  • Reed wins first TF race in emotional return
  • Pedregon snaps 55-race winless streak in FC triumph
  • Glenn rolls to PS victory in Reading
  • Hall opens playoffs with PSM win

READING, Pa. (Sept. 14, 2025) – Top Fuel’s Shawn Reed won for the first time in his NHRA career on Sunday at Maple Grove Raceway, capping off an emotional comeback by defeating points leader Doug Kalitta in the final round of the 40th annual NHRA Reading Nationals presented by Nitro Fish.

Cruz Pedregon (Funny Car), Dallas Glenn (Pro Stock) and John Hall (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also won the 15th of 20 races during the 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season. It is also the first of six races in the Countdown to the Championship playoffs.

Reed went 3.844-seconds at 326.63 mph in his 12,000-horsepower Reed Trucking & Excavating dragster to pick up the victory over Kalitta, capping off an incredible moment just two months after a crash during qualifying in Seattle that resulted in the amputation of his left index finger.

After replacement driver Jordan Vandergriff drove for Reed in Brainerd and Indianapolis, this weekend’s race marked his NHRA return and Reed was on point. After qualifying fourth, he defeated Kyle Satenstein, Shawn Langdon and No. 1 qualifier Clay Millican to reach the final round on a wild day in Top Fuel and then powered past Kalitta, moving to fifth in points to complete a day he won’t soon forget.

“Honestly, you couldn’t even write it any better — just a storybook weekend,” Reed said. “For what happened to me in Seattle, what happened to our team there, and then Jordan Vandergriff stepping in to keep our crew going, this car’s been good. I’ve been telling everybody for a long time that we were going to surprise a lot of people. We just had to get our Sunday morning thing figured out, and today, we finally broke through.

“I’m so happy for my guys. I’m happy for me too, but when you get older, you just get thankful for what everybody’s done for you and with you. I’ll remember this forever.”

Kalitta took over the points lead and reached the finals for the fourth time this season thanks to round wins against reigning world champion Antron Brown, Tony Stewart and Steve Torrence. In the second round against Stewart, Kalitta’s dragster crossed the center line past the finish line and collided with Stewart’s dragster. Stewart’s dragster went on its side, came back down on its wheels and struck the left guard wall before coming to a stop, while Kalitta’s dragster went back over the center line before coming to a stop.

Both Stewart and Kalitta were alert and exited their cars under their own power. Kalitta’s points lead is 18 over Stewart and 33 over teammate Shawn Langdon.

In Funny Car, Cruz Pedregon snapped a 55-race winless streak in another emotional moment on Sunday, beating Blake Alexander in the final round with a run of 3.969 at 330.63 in his 12,000-horsepower Snap-On Tools Dodge Hellcat en route to his first win since 2022 and the 40th in his career.

Pedregon reached the finals for the first time this season by defeating Bob Tasca III, points leader Austin Prock and Paul Lee, holding off Alexander at the finish line to win for the first time since the season-finale in 2022. It’s been an arduous process for Pedregon to get back to this point, but he’s trusted the process and the payoff was on Sunday when he won at Maple Grove Raceway for the third time in his stellar career.

The two-time world champion also moved all the way to sixth in points, delivering a classic performance he hopes to replicate again during the Countdown to the Championship.

“This is very special, very special,” Pedregon said. “You know, you start to doubt yourself — as an owner, as a driver — and I’ve done that a lot the last couple of years. I thought, ‘Maybe this is it.’ But we took the hard road. I hired young guys who weren’t already on other teams. It was like a draft.

“We went through the growing pains, but now I’ve got a good group. They’re still learning, but they’re hungry and now here we are. This morning, I told the guys there are six races left, including this one. I’ve won this race before and sat in the winner’s circle wondering how we did it. We can do that again — just be mistake-free, be aggressive and stay the course.”

Alexander reached the final round for the first time this season with wins against Matt Hagan, No. 1 qualifier Spencer Hyde and Ron Capps. Prock leaves Reading with a 25-point lead over Jack Beckman and a 29-point advantage over Capps.

Dallas Glenn wrapped up a nearly flawless weekend on Sunday, rolling past rookie Cody Coughlin in the championship round with a standout run of 6.557 at 209.23 in his RAD Torque Systems Chevrolet Camaro. Entering the playoffs as the points leader, Glenn cemented his status as the man to beat in Pro Stock in 2025, picking up his fifth victory of the season – in his 10th visit to the final round – and 18th in his career.

Glenn qualified No. 1 and then dispatched Shane Tucker, Deric Kramer and KB Titan Racing teammate Greg Anderson in a wild semifinal round when the reigning world champion was disqualified. Anderson faltered on the first burnout attempt, crossing the starting line beams, and on his second attempt, crossed the beams again, leading to the disqualification.

In the championship round against first-time finalist Coughlin, Glenn was first off the starting line and drove away to win for the first time at Maple Grove Raceway. This was precisely the start Glenn wanted, opening up a 62-point advantage over Anderson.

“You definitely come in here and my goal every race in the Countdown is to leave with a little bit more of a lead — and we definitely capitalized on that today. What a crazy day,” Glenn said. “Having Cody Coughlin in the final, with me taking out Erica Enders and Eric Latino taking out Aaron Stanfield — it was just a wild weekend. They call it the House of Chaos for a reason. The car is working fantastic right now.

“My car is so good, I just need to make sure I don’t beat myself. I definitely have the car to beat right now. I just need to continue what I’m doing, keep riding the wave, and see how far we can go with it.”

Coughlin reached the finals for the first time thanks to round wins against Troy Coughlin Jr., Indy winner and six-time champ Erica Enders and Eric Latino.

John Hall threw his name into the Pro Stock Motorcycle championship conversation with a fantastic Sunday at Maple Grove Raceway, defeating teammate Matt Smith in the final round with a run of 6.802 at 199.70 on his American Rebel Light/Matt Smith Racing Buell. It is Hall’s second victory this season and first-ever at Maple Grove Raceway, vaulting him to a tie for second in points in the process.

After defeating Kelly Clontz in the opening round, Hall sent a strong message in the quarterfinals, defeating back-to-back world champ Gaige Herrera with a 6.806, keeping Herrera winless in Reading in his career. He followed with a victory against rookie Brayden Davis, setting up the matchup with Smith. It was the first MSR-versus-MSR matchup in the final round since Sonoma last season and Hall prevailed this time, leaving first and pulling away as Smith ran into trouble, as Hall earned his fourth career victory.

“They’re all special for me. To do it in the Countdown is great because, I mean, there’s six races in the Countdown — you’ve got to bring your A-game,” Hall said. “We had a new tire on there that wasn’t working for us. We put the old tire back on, which worked out. We went four 6.80s in a row. The track was great — thank you to the Koretsky family for a great track and to MSR.

It is great that they gave me this opportunity. Matt Smith and Angie Smith gave me an opportunity to come out here and compete, probably in the later stages of my career, and I’m just thankful for everything.”

Smith moved into the points lead, advancing to his fourth final this year and 85th in his career thanks to round wins against Brandon Litten, Jianna Evaristo and Richard Gadson. He leads Herrera and Hall by just six points, with Gadson just nine points back in fourth.

The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series returns to action Sept. 19-21 with the NHRA 4-Wide Carolina Nationals at zMAX Dragway in Charlotte.

MOHNTON, Pa. — Final finish order (1-16) at the 40th annual NHRA Reading Nationals presented by Nitro Fish at Maple Grove Raceway. The race is the 15th of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series.

TOP FUEL:

  1. Shawn Reed; 2. Doug Kalitta; 3. Steve Torrence; 4. Clay Millican; 5. Tony Stewart; 6. Justin Ashley; 7. Shawn Langdon; 8. Brittany Force; 9. Josh Hart; 10. Doug Foley; 11. Antron Brown; 12. Kyle Satenstein; 13. Tony Schumacher; 14. Scott Farley; 15. Dan Mercier.

FUNNY CAR:

  1. Cruz Pedregon; 2. Blake Alexander; 3. Paul Lee; 4. Ron Capps; 5. Alexis DeJoria; 6. Jack Beckman; 7. Spencer Hyde; 8. Austin Prock; 9. Daniel Wilkerson; 10. Bob Tasca III; 11. Matt Hagan; 12. Dave Richards; 13. J.R. Todd; 14. Joe Morrison; 15. Chad Green; 16. Phil Burkart.

PRO STOCK:

  1. Dallas Glenn; 2. Cody Coughlin; 3. Eric Latino; 4. Greg Anderson; 5. Erica Enders; 6. Cory Reed; 7. Aaron Stanfield; 8. Deric Kramer; 9. Greg Stanfield; 10. Matt Hartford; 11. Troy Coughlin Jr.; 12. Matt Latino; 13. Kenny Delco; 14. Brandon Miller; 15. Shane Tucker; 16. Jeg Coughlin.

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:

  1. John Hall; 2. Matt Smith; 3. Brayden Davis; 4. Richard Gadson; 5. Gaige Herrera; 6. Angie Smith; 7. Chase Van Sant; 8. Jianna Evaristo; 9. Brandon Litten; 10. Marc Ingwersen; 11. Ron Tornow; 12. Steve Johnson; 13. Ryan Oehler; 14. Chris Bostick; 15. Kelly Clontz.

MOHNTON, Pa. — Sunday’s final results from the 40th annual NHRA Reading Nationals presented by Nitro Fish at Maple Grove Raceway. The race is the 15th of 20 in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series:

Top Fuel — Shawn Reed, 3.844 seconds, 326.63 mph def. Doug Kalitta, 4.717 seconds, 202.12 mph.

Funny Car — Cruz Pedregon, Dodge Charger, 3.969, 330.63 def. Blake Alexander, Charger, 4.020, 314.39.

Pro Stock — Dallas Glenn, Chevy Camaro, 6.557, 209.23 def. Cody Coughlin, Camaro, 6.562, 208.68.

Pro Stock Motorcycle — John Hall, Beull, 6.802, 199.70 def. Matt Smith, Buell, 6.950, 167.66.

Top Alcohol Dragster — Jamie Noonan, 5.259, 277.66 def. Anthony Troyer, 5.278, 266.85.

Top Alcohol Funny Car — Brian Hough, Chevy Camaro, 5.613, 253.52 def. Jim Whiteley, Camaro, 6.631, 134.39.

Competition Eliminator — Mark Hopkins, Chevy Beretta, 7.656, 176.05 def. Paul Ricci, Dodge Avenger, 8.159, 144.53.

Super Stock — Louis Gill, Chevy Cavalier, 9.536, 135.73 def. Anthony Bongiovanni, Ford Mustang, 8.793, 148.80.

Stock Eliminator — Michael Iacono, Chevy Camrao, 11.237, 113.21 def. Dave Casey, Chevy Corvette, 10.476, 126.71.

Super Comp — Dave Long, Dragster, 8.898, 174.91 def. Amanda Boicesco, Dragster, 8.892, 170.75.

Super Gas — Michael Reynolds, Chevy Vega, 9.931, 134.63 def. Charlie Kenopic, Chevy Corvette, 9.936, 159.74.

Top Sportsman — Vincent Fourcade, Chevy Camaro, 7.395, 153.28 def. George Forster, Chevy Monte Carlo, 7.331, 191.81.

Factory Stock Showdown — Taylor Dietsch, Ford Mustang, 7.727, 178.35 def. Scott Libersher, Chevy Camaro, 9.891, 124.33.

Factory X — Lenny Lottig, Chevy Camaro, 6.963, 196.47 def. Jesse Alexandra, Camaro, Broke – No Show.

Mountain Motor Pro Stock — Johnny Pluchino, Ford Mustang, 6.331, 221.89 def. Brad Waddle, Mustang, 18.321, 44.76.

Junior Dragster Shootout — Daniel Spotts, Halfscale, 7.890, 82.04 def. Charlotte Ecks, Halfscale, Foul – Red Light.

MOHNTON, Pa. — Final round-by-round results from the 40th annual NHRA Reading Nationals presented by Nitro Fish at Maple Grove Raceway, the 15th of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series:

TOP FUEL:

ROUND ONE — Tony Stewart, 3.808, 329.58 def. Tony Schumacher, 4.261, 195.19; Shawn Langdon, 3.763, 335.07 def. Doug Foley, 3.824, 328.70; Clay Millican, 3.764, 333.25 was unopposed; Justin Ashley, 3.761, 330.31 def. Scott Farley, 6.176, 101.06; Doug Kalitta, 3.779, 336.40 def. Antron Brown, 3.839, 299.93; Shawn Reed, 3.801, 328.54 def. Kyle Satenstein, 4.002, 293.73; Steve Torrence, 3.766, 334.15 def. Josh Hart, 3.804, 335.07; Brittany Force, 3.798, 337.41 def. Dan Mercier, 6.453, 94.86;

QUARTERFINALS — Kalitta, 3.787, 335.73 def. Stewart, 3.809, 326.71; Millican, 3.866, 313.88 def. Force, 4.220, 237.88; Reed, 3.834, 326.87 def. Langdon, 4.198, 247.38; Torrence, 3.835, 331.77 def. Ashley, 3.994, 279.38;

SEMIFINALS — Reed, 3.833, 326.87 def. Millican, 6.135, 102.32; Kalitta, 3.812, 335.23 def. Torrence, 3.830, 330.55;

FINAL — Reed, 3.844, 326.63 def. Kalitta, 4.717, 202.12.

FUNNY CAR:

ROUND ONE — Ron Capps, Toyota GR Supra, 3.950, 331.85 def. J.R. Todd, GR Supra, 5.976, 172.45; Paul Lee, Dodge Charger, 5.792, 118.09 def. Chad Green, Ford Mustang, 9.573, 78.76; Spencer Hyde, Mustang, 6.215, 137.48 def. Phil Burkart, Mustang, 14.069, 66.36; Austin Prock, Chevy Camaro, 3.911, 333.99 def. Joe Morrison, Charger, 5.995, 120.55; Jack Beckman, Camaro, 3.941, 328.54 def. Dave Richards, Mustang, 5.356, 148.71; Alexis DeJoria, Charger, 3.955, 329.75 def. Daniel Wilkerson, Mustang, 3.953, 322.96; Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 3.928, 330.07 def. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 4.548, 189.26; Blake Alexander, Charger, 3.966, 326.40 def. Matt Hagan, Charger, 4.605, 177.56;

QUARTERFINALS — Alexander, 4.631, 242.15 def. Hyde, 4.682, 198.06; Pedregon, 4.215, 228.89 def. Prock, Foul – Centerline; Capps, 3.974, 327.74 def. Beckman, 4.013, 325.77; Lee, 3.962, 326.71 def. DeJoria, 3.958, 329.75;

SEMIFINALS — Alexander, 4.608, 199.02 def. Capps, 9.055, 80.81; Pedregon, 4.046, 309.70 def. Lee, 8.312, 82.97;

FINAL — Pedregon, 3.969, 330.63 def. Alexander, 4.020, 314.39.

PRO STOCK:

ROUND ONE — Deric Kramer, Chevy Camaro, 16.451, 50.05 def. Matt Hartford, Camaro, Foul – Red Light; Eric Latino, Camaro, 6.559, 210.14 def. Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 7.401, 205.72; Cody Coughlin, Camaro, 6.545, 208.39 def. Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 6.581, 209.04; Cory Reed, Camaro, 6.552, 209.30 def. Matt Latino, Camaro, 6.592, 209.26; Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.529, 209.49 def. Greg Stanfield, Camaro, 6.541, 210.54; Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.540, 210.28 def. Kenny Delco, Camaro, Foul – Red Light; Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.531, 209.20 def. Shane Tucker, Camaro, 6.691, 206.86; Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.548, 210.28 def. Brandon Miller, Dodge Dart, 6.632, 207.05;

QUARTERFINALS — E. Latino, 6.625, 210.14 def. A. Stanfield, 6.756, 208.49; C. Coughlin, 6.564, 207.91 def. Enders, 6.549, 210.11; Glenn, 6.542, 209.72 def. Kramer, Foul – Red Light; Anderson, 6.550, 209.39 def. Reed, 6.581, 209.07;

SEMIFINALS — C. Coughlin, 6.576, 207.78 def. E. Latino, 7.091, 146.24; Glenn, 6.560, 209.23 def. Anderson, DQ;

FINAL — Glenn, 6.557, 209.23 def. C. Coughlin, 6.562, 208.68.

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:

ROUND ONE — John Hall, 6.800, 199.11 def. Kelly Clontz, Suzuki, 20.099, 26.46; Angie Smith, Buell, 6.833, 196.79 def. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.950, 189.82; Jianna Evaristo, Buell, 7.012, 195.08 def. Ron Tornow, 6.921, 192.77; Chase Van Sant, Suzuki, 6.882, 193.71 def. Chris Bostick, Suzuki, 9.929, 83.86; Brayden Davis, Suzuki, 6.847, 199.32 def. Marc Ingwersen, 6.913, 192.69; Richard Gadson, Suzuki, 6.777, 199.91 def. Ryan Oehler, Foul – Red Light; Matt Smith, Buell, 6.741, 200.23 def. Brandon Litten, Suzuki, 6.873, 193.43; Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 6.819, 198.26 was unopposed;

QUARTERFINALS — Davis, 6.854, 200.02 def. A. Smith, 6.874, 195.65; Hall, 6.806, 198.61 def. Herrera, 6.851, 197.36; Gadson, 6.781, 200.00 def. Van Sant, 6.902, 195.25; M. Smith, 6.790, 198.93 def. Evaristo, 6.923, 192.19;

SEMIFINALS — Hall, 6.800, 199.23 def. Davis, 6.812, 199.76; M. Smith, 6.862, 197.83 def. Gadson, 6.949, 199.26;

FINAL — Hall, 6.802, 199.70 def. M. Smith, 6.950, 167.66.

MOHNTON, Pa. — Point standings (top 10) following the 40th annual NHRA Reading Nationals presented by Nitro Fish at Maple Grove Raceway, the 15th of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series –

Top Fuel

  1. Doug Kalitta, 2,185; 2. Tony Stewart, 2,167; 3. Shawn Langdon, 2,152; 4. Justin Ashley, 2,135; 5. (tie) Clay Millican, 2,118; Shawn Reed, 2,118; 7. Brittany Force, 2,113; 8. Steve Torrence, 2,090; 9. Antron Brown, 2,075; 10. Josh Hart, 2,053.

Funny Car

  1. Austin Prock, 2,173; 2. Jack Beckman, 2,148; 3. Ron Capps, 2,144; 4. Paul Lee, 2,138; 5. Matt Hagan, 2,118; 6. Cruz Pedregon, 2,108; 7. J.R. Todd, 2,082; 8. Spencer Hyde, 2,080; 9. Alexis DeJoria, 2,073; 10. Daniel Wilkerson, 2,070.

Pro Stock

  1. Dallas Glenn, 2,240; 2. Greg Anderson, 2,178; 3. Matt Hartford, 2,119; 4. Aaron Stanfield, 2,117; 5. (tie) Eric Latino, 2,114; Cory Reed, 2,114; 7. Cody Coughlin, 2,098; 8. Erica Enders, 2,081; 9. Jeg Coughlin, 2,068; 10. Deric Kramer, 2,045.

Pro Stock Motorcycle

  1. Matt Smith, 2,184; 2. (tie) John Hall, 2,178; Gaige Herrera, 2,178; 4. Richard Gadson, 2,175; 5. Angie Smith, 2,107; 6. Chase Van Sant, 2,094; 7. Brayden Davis, 2,089; 8. Jianna Evaristo, 2,083; 9. Chris Bostick, 2,052; 10. Steve Johnson, 2,034.

KALITTA REACHES TOP FUEL FINALS IN MAPLE GROVE TO BEGIN COUNTDOWN

By
Official Release
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Former world champion takes over Top Fuel points lead

MOHNTON, Pa, (Sept. 14, 2025) – For the fourth time this season, Doug Kalitta made the final round in Top Fuel, coming up just short of his third win in the 2025 NHRA season on Sunday at Maple Grove Raceway. Kalitta defeated Antron Brown, Tony Stewart and Steve Torrence on his way to the final round and has now claimed the Top Fuel points lead after the first race in the Countdown to the Championship. By Kalitta reaching the Top Fuel finals, Toyota has also made 12 straight final rounds in Top Fuel or Funny Car dating back to the Las Vegas Four-Wide Nationals in April. 

Justin Ashley and Shawn Langdon were the other Toyota Top Fuel Dragsters to advance out of round one on Sunday.

In Funny Car, Ron Capps advanced to the semifinals, gaining ground on those in front of him in the points standings to begin the Countdown. J.R. Todd was eliminated in round one.

The NHRA Countdown to the Championship continues in next weekend at zMAX Dragway outside of Charlotte. 

Toyota Post-Race Recap
NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series 
Maple Grove Raceway
NHRA Nationals
Race 15 of 20

TOYOTA TOP FUEL FINISHING POSITIONS  

NameCarFinal ResultRound-by-Round
Doug KalittaMac Tools Toyota Top Fuel DragsterFinalistW (3.779) v. A. Brown (3.839) W (3.787) v. T. Stewart (3.809) W (3.812) v. S. Torrence (3.830) L (4.717) v. S. Reed (3.844)
Steve TorrenceCAPCO Contractors Toyota Top Fuel DragsterSemi-finalsW (3.766) v. J. Hart (3.804) W (3.835) v. J. Ashley (3.994) L (3.830) v. D. Kalitta (3.812)
Justin AshleySCAG Power Equipment Toyota Top Fuel DragsterSecond RoundW (3.761) v. S. Farley (6.176) L (3.994) v. S. Torrence (3.835)
Shawn LangdonKalitta Air Careers Toyota Top Fuel DragsterSecond RoundW (3.763) v. D. Foley (3.824) L (4.198) v. S. Reed (3.834)
Antron BrownMatco Tools Toyota Top Fuel DragsterFirst RoundL (3.839) v. D. Kalitta (3.779)

TOYOTA FUNNY CAR FINISHING POSITIONS  

NameCarFinal ResultRound-by-Round
Ron CappsNAPA Auto Care Toyota GR Supra Funny CarSemi-finalsW (3.950) v. J. Todd (5.976) W (3.974) v. J. Beckman (4.013) L (9.055) v. B. Alexander (4.608)
J.R. ToddDHL Toyota GR Supra Funny Car First RoundL (5.976) v. R. Capps (3.950)

TOYOTA QUOTES

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

TF Final Result: Finalist

Overview your race day for us.

“The car just smoked the tires in the final; it was a little unexpected, but it was cool for Shawn Reed to get his first win. It was an opportunity for sure, but it is what it is. The Kalitta Air guys, the DHL guys along with everybody from my team, worked together and we were able to get the spare car out (after the round two incident), which we hadn’t run before. The thing went right down the track, so it was a heck of an effort. I’m real proud of my Mac Tools Toyota guys. We’re looking forward to heading to Charlotte.”

Take us through what happened in the earlier incident.

“Yes, the left (front) was down or blew, or whatever. It was just unfortunate. Really happened so quick, there was nothing I could really do. We’ll drag our other car out and see if we can keep this thing going here (today). Fortunately, Tony (Stewart) and I are good. That’s really the main thing.”

Was that the first time you’ve had an incident like that in your career?

“That’s probably the worst one I’ve had. (I’ve) been very fortunate over the years and it’s all part of it.”

RON CAPPS, NAPA Auto Care Toyota GR Supra Funny Car, Ron Capps Motorsports

FC Final Result: Semifinals

How would you describe your day and weekend?

“There’s a lot in the air here (Maple Grove), there always is. First round of the of the Countdown and you can just see it on everybody. It’s a lot of pressure, all of a sudden. We’ve always rolled into Reading (Maple Grove) as the first race and you know that you can’t win a championship here, but you can certainly put yourself out of winning it, and I’ve seen that before in the past. Been coming here a lot of years. With that being said, we didn’t qualify well. We didn’t make that one Friday night run where everybody got qualified well. But in typical championship fashion, Guido (Dean Antonelli, crew chief), we went out in the heat on Saturday, went second quickest, ran a 3.94 (elapsed time). (Started) bottom half of the field, first round Sunday, didn’t have lane choice. As a driver, it’s one of those times where you’re bailed out by the crew. Just a bizarre starting line, for me anyway in the car, but we got the win and it’s a tough team – J.R. Todd’s team. That’s somebody you’re going to have to battle for the championship. Then again, second round, did not have lane choice. Great run, and then right as I lifted off through all the finish line, it went kaboom. And it was big in the car, but it didn’t do as much damage as we saw in Phoenix and some other places. So, I was very lucky. We came back and the guys put the Carlyle body on it that we ran in Indianapolis. We felt great about going up for the semifinals, and I’m sure Guido will figure out what happened. Considering all that happen throughout the weekend, it’s not a bad start to the Countdown to get to the semifinals. You certainly love to be in the final round, but to move up in the points, and go to Charlotte within striking distance of one round of the points lead, is incredible.”

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.

Reading Event Recap for the 40th Annual NHRA Nationals presented by Nitro Fish

By
Official Release
-

Tony Stewart & Matt Hagan
Dodge Direct Connection Top Fuel & Funny Car Drivers
40th Annual NHRA Nationals presented by Nitro Fish
Sept. 12-14 | Reading, Pennsylvania

Event Recap

Tony Stewart, driver of the TSR Dodge//SRT Direct Connection Top Fuel Dragster:

  • Earned No. 6 provisional qualifying position in Q1 on Friday (3.819 ET at 329.10 mph)
  • Fell to No. 11 provisional qualifying position based off of Friday’s Q1 run. In Q2 on Friday, Stewart ran a 5.147 ET at 137.25 mph.
  • Maintained No. 11 provisional qualifying position based off of Friday’s Q1 run. In Q3 on Saturday, Stewart ran a 4.146 ET at 213.23 mph.
  • Secured No. 11 qualifying position in Q4 on Saturday (3.817 ET at 327.05 mph)
  • Advanced to Round 2 on Sunday:
  • Round 1: 3.808 ET at 329.58 mph, defeated Tony Schumacher (4.261 ET at 195.19 mph)
  • Round 2: 3.809 ET at 326.71 mph, lost to Doug Kalitta (3.787 ET at 335.73 mph)
  • Currently second in the Top Fuel championship standings, 18 points behind leader Doug Kalitta

Matt Hagan, driver of the TSR Direct Connection Dodge//SRT Hellcat Funny Car:

  • Earned No. 5 provisional qualifying position in Q1 on Friday (4.017 ET at 321.04 mph)
  • Fell to No. 9 provisional qualifying position in Q2 on Friday (3.932 ET at 330.80 mph)
  • Maintained No. 9 provisional qualifying position based off of Friday’s Q2 run. In Q3 on Saturday, Hagan ran a 4.134 ET at 242.98 mph.
  • Secured No. 9 qualifying position based off of Friday’s Q2 run. In Q4 on Saturday, Hagan ran a 4.008 ET at 318.62 mph.
  • Eliminated following Round 1 on Sunday:
  • Round 1: 4.605 ET at 177.56 mph, lost to Blake Alexander (3.966 ET at 326.40 mph)
  • Currently fifth in the Funny Car championship standings, 55 points behind leader Austin Prock

Notes of Interest

  • The 40th Annual NHRA Nationals presented by Nitro Fish served as the first race in the Countdown to the Championship, with five events remaining.
  • Stewart has advanced past Round 1 in three consecutive NHRA events (Brainerd and Indianapolis were the two previous events).
  • Stewart and Kalitta were involved in an on-track incident in Round 2, when Kalitta had a front wheel malfunction, causing his Top Fuel dragster to cross over into Stewart’s lane, collecting the TSR Dodge//SRT Direct Connection Top Fuel Dragster. Both drivers were checked and released from NHRA’s medical team.
  • The 40th Annual NHRA Nationals had a sold-out crowd on Saturday for the fourth consecutive year.

Tony Stewart, Driver of the TSR Dodge//SRT Direct Connection Top Fuel Dragster

“This was definitely not the weekend we were looking for. We didn’t want to qualify No. 11 by any means, but during the money run, we had a set of tires that shook for some reason. I knew during the burnout that the car probably wasn’t going to make it down. We had a reasonable run after that on Saturday. We got through first round against Tony Schumacher and lined up against one of the best with Doug (Kalitta) in the second round. I wish I could tell you what happened (during the accident), but what I saw on the video is the only thing I can go off of. It looked like his front wheel failed and he came across into my lane. I’m just glad he’s alright. I was worried about him and he was worried about me. The silver lining is that everyone around us (in points) had problems in the second round. Even though Doug took over the points lead, we’re all close to each other in points heading into Charlotte, so we can rally from there.”

Matt Hagan, Driver of the TSR Direct Connection Dodge//SRT Hellcat Funny Car

“It was a really tough weekend for TSR. I’m really glad Tony was okay because it was a nasty lick that he took. We love doing this and going fast, but it’s always good to see your buddy crawl out of the car and see that he’s okay. We’re blessed to do what we do, but sometimes we get so caught up in the adrenaline and winning that we forget how dangerous it is. I got reminded of that today when we exploded as well. The tethers came up and I couldn’t see out to drive the race car. I didn’t know where I was at on the track or where my opponent was. That is a bad feeling. As a driver, you pride yourself on having seat time and being able to get yourself out of bad situations. When you feel like you’re along for the ride, it is a hopeless feeling. I’m glad today’s outcome was what it was and that everyone is okay and Tony has that cute baby (Dominic) to go home to. We’re going to stay over and do some testing tomorrow so we can figure out what’s wrong. We have something going on in the valve train. The crew chiefs (Mike Knudsen and Phil Shuler) are really smart, so they will figure it out. There’s a lot of parts to pick through. With Blake (Alexander) and Cruz (Pedregon) in the Final, it was the best scenario we could have hoped for points-wise. We will keep working hard and see what we can come up with in Charlotte.”

Next Up
The next event on the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series schedule is the NHRA 4-Wide Carolina Nationals Sept. 19-21 in Charlotte, North Carolina. It marks the second event in the Countdown to the Championship and the fifth-to-last race of the season.

Team Penske NASCAR Cup Series Race Report – Bristol 2

By
Official Release
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Bass Pro Shops Night Race – Bristol Motor Speedway
Bristol, Tenn. – September 13, 2025

AUSTIN CINDRIC No. 2 DISCOUNT TIRE FORD MUSTANG DARK HORSE
START: 3RD STAGE 1: 12TH STAGE 2: 6TH FINISH: 30TH POINTS: 9TH (-1)
RACE RUNDOWN: Austin Cindric and the No. 2 Discount Tire Ford Mustang Dark Horse team endured a challenging night at Bristol Motor Speedway but persevered to advance to the Round of 12 in the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. Cindric started the Bass Pro Shops Night Race from the third position and quickly showed strength at The Last Great Colosseum, taking the lead on Lap 49. He made his first trip to pit road on Lap 57 for two tires and went on to finish Stage 1 in the 12th position. The No. 2 team made adjustments and kept Cindric in contention throughout Stage 2. Quick work had him running inside the top 10 for much of the segment, and he collected a sixth-place finish at the conclusion of Stage 2, putting valuable points on the board. In the final segment, Cindric and crew chief Brian Wilson managed their remaining tire sets carefully as tire conservation was critical. After restarting eighth with just over 100 laps to go, Cindric fell back as drivers on fresher tires moved forward. With just under 50 laps remaining, a fire developed in the right front, forcing Cindric to make an unscheduled stop under green. The Discount Tire team quickly extinguished the flames and replaced the tire, allowing him to return to the track and salvage the night. Despite the setback and finishing 30th, Cindric and the No. 2 team advanced to the Round of 12, with the NASCAR Playoffs continuing next weekend at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

CINDRIC’S THOUGHTS: “The fire there was not ideal, but huge credit to all my guys behind the wall and over the wall to be prepared for a situation like that and only lose five laps. We had a great car tonight, definitely with the long run speed and being able to keep the tires on the car. I wish I would have been able to tell you that was going to be the game to start the day, but proud of the effort and a well-earned Sunday off for the 2 car. I’m looking forward to hitting the Round of 12 hard, I want to keep advancing through – this team is capable of a lot.”

RYAN BLANEY No. 12 MENARDS/SYLVANIA FORD MUSTANG DARK HORSE
START: 2ND STAGE 1: 1ST STAGE 2: 2ND FINISH: 4TH POINTS: 5TH (+19)
RACE RUNDOWN: Ryan Blaney and the No. 12 Menards/Sylvania Ford Mustang Dark Horse team put together a pair of top-two stage finishes en route to a fourth-place finish Saturday night at Bristol, marking the team’s 12th top-five finish of the season to pull them into a tie for the series lead. Blaney’s seventh stage win of the season in Stage 1 paired with a second-place effort in Stage 2 was enough to clinch a spot in the Round of 12 before the completion of the 500-lap event that saw excessive tire wear from the first run of the night. The final stage saw eight caution flags fly as Blaney successfully managed his tires, allowing the No. 12 team to have a pair of sticker tires on-hand once the final run of the night approached. The Menards/Sylvania Ford maintained top-10 pace prior to the restart with 103 laps to go as crew chief Jonathan Hassler’s strategy called for Blaney to manage tire wear up until a scheduled green flag stop with 59 to go while running sixth. After rejoining the field, Blaney charged his way towards the front to reach third in the running order with 17 laps to go before the caution flag flew four laps later to set up one final sprint to the finish. Following a four tire stop under yellow, Blaney lined up to take the green flag from the inside of row four as a four-lap dash to the finish ensued. Blaney worked the inside line to push his way back into the top-five in the first two laps before completing the pass for fourth in the final corner as the checkered flag waved. Blaney and the No. 12 team head into the opening race of the Round of 12 fifth in the playoff standings, 19 points above the elimination line.

BLANEY’S THOUGHTS: “It was another one of those things where we thought we knew what the tire was gonna do and it did something completely different. I guess that’s happened multiple times and that makes for an exciting race and trying to figure it out on the fly and what to expect what to do and how to strategize and all that stuff. It was a wild night. I wish we wouldn’t have run so many laps under caution. The middle part of that race, two thirds of that race was kind of getting pretty boring, but we were really fast all night. It’s nice to win a stage and good to come home fourth. Overall, I’m really, really proud of the night and the effort. We’ll go on to Loudon next week. I’m looking forward to it.”

JOEY LOGANO No. 22 SHELL-PENNZOIL FORD MUSTANG DARK HORSE
START: 22ND STAGE 1: 18TH STAGE 2: 16TH FINISH: 5TH POINTS: 10TH (-2)
RACE RUNDOWN: Joey Logano and the No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Ford Mustang Dark Horse team found themselves trapped a lap down for a majority of the first two stages of Saturday night’s Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol, but rallied back to post a fifth-place finish to advance to the Round of 12. A majority of the field experienced excess tire wear during the opening run of the 500-lap event as Logano went a lap down on lap 32 despite his best efforts to manage right front tire wear. Logano continued to battle his way towards the free pass position during the first two stages before ultimately getting back on the lead lap following a caution on lap 239 prior to the end of Stage 2. Following a four tire stop during the stage caution, Logano began to make his way forward and broke into the top-10 by lap 280. Eight cautions during the final segment prompted varying tire strategies throughout the field as crew chief Paul Wolfe opted to put on the team’s final set of sticker tires following the caution on lap 384, allowing Logano to charge into the top-five with under 70 laps remaining. As teams began to make green flag pit stops shortly after, Logano took over the race lead with 58 to go before the Shell-Pennzoil Ford was called to pit road seven laps later for right side tires only. The call allowed Logano to reach fifth in the running order with 24 laps left, but a caution with 13 to go halted his momentum as Wolfe called for another two-tire stop under yellow. Logano lined up to take the restart with four laps to go from the inside of row three as the inside line prevailed to fire off and carried the momentum to a fifth-place finish – marking consecutive top-five finishes to cap off the opening round of the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. Logano and the No. 22 team enter the opening race of the Round of 12 10th in the playoff standings, two points below the elimination line.

LOGANO’S THOUGHTS: “On that long run towards the end we were able to drive up to the lead and those cars in front of us, they were tanking before me. They were getting to the cords before me and so I felt like we had a good shot because they all pitted as soon as they got the cords, and I felt like that was going to give me a good chance to maybe win the race if it stayed green there because [Brad Keselowski] was falling off hard. He was seven or eight tenths off the last two laps. [Ryan Blaney] was starting to tank as well, so I was feeling like I was going to get them back and then the caution came out and we were out of tires. We had to put old tires back on it, so, overall, a top five and two top fives in a row, which at this point of the season we need to be doing that kind of stuff. I’m proud of the team and proud of the execution. I felt like the win was right there in front of us, but just couldn’t quite grab it.”

The NASCAR Cup Series heads to New Hampshire Motor Speedway for the first race of the Round of 12 on Sunday, September 21. Coverage begins at 2:00 p.m. ET on USA, PRN, and Sirius XM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

The Importance Of Interior Organization and Cleaning for Family Cars

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

When the interior of a family car is clean and tidy, it is imperative that the occupants be comfortable and safe. Family cars are scattered with day-to-day activities, snacks, toys, and personal objects. This can be disorderly in the long term, cramped, and chaotic. Regular internal maintenance and cleaning can be implemented to make the driving experience more pleasurable and less stressful for drivers and passengers.

There is also avoidance of surface damage and wear, as the interior of a well-maintained vehicle is undamaged. Stains, scratches, and odors can be prevented by taking the time to get excellent car detailing services, proper cleaning practices, and proper storage facilities, so they do not become permanent. Car detailing services tend to focus on the interior because it is an essential part of overall vehicle maintenance, and it is profitable in the long run to care for the vehicle’s inner organization.

Assessing the Interior and Removing Clutter

The first step in interior cleaning is to assess the level of disorder and eliminate unnecessary items. Eliminating loose items such as toys, papers, and miscellaneous items from the vehicle provides a clean canvas for additional cleaning. This process improves visibility of the covered surfaces being handled and reduces potential distractions at the wheel.

Sorting through stuff can also help to avoid clutter and make a decision about what should be carried along. Store items in storage containers, organizers, or seat-back pockets to keep them in place. They can create patterned storage to help families maintain an orderly space in the long run.

Cleaning Surfaces and Upholstery

The next step is cleaning up the surface and upholstery after removing clutter. The seats of cars, carpets and floor mats can be cleaned with a vacuum cleaner, dust, crumbs and dust settled on them. No debris is left behind as there are details in corners and under seats.

Washing dashboard, door panels, and other hard surfaces with just the right type of cleaners ensure the inside is looking good and it does not collect grime. The sensitive products to be used in the automotive interiors conserve materials and prevent discoloration or damage. Car detailing professionals will suggest special cleaning agents that could be applied to the leather or fabric surfaces to enable them to look and last as long as possible.

Organizing Storage Solutions

Efficient storage is highly essential in maintaining a well organized vehicle. It has trunk organizers, glove gloves and under-car bins where products such as emergency kits, toys and travel requirements are stored. This strategy will reduce the amount of clutter on the seats and floor and make things available when they are needed according to it.

The family cars possess the merits of the multi purpose and adjustable organizers that can accommodate various objects. Removing and cleaning of organizers of easy removable and easy cleaner types are also an investment made to facilitate easier maintenance. Over time, a systematic storage system would encourage all the family members to follow the system and reduce the possibility of creating clutter.

Maintaining Cleanliness and Habits

The regular cleaning is a part of long-term interior maintenance. It will help to ensure that there is no accumulation of dirt and clutter by scheduling a time every week or month to clean the house in terms of the vacuum floor and surface cleaning as well as the rearrangement of the space. The neatness is reinforced with minor rituals that entail the clearance of garbage after each visit or placing materials in their proper places.

The invitation of family members in keeping the vehicle clean makes it also develop responsibility and reduces the number of people who should work on it, as well. The routines that involve the use of carpets are known to preserve the tidy and clean interior which ensures that each individual ensures the comforts and functionality of the car.

Addressing Odors and Air Quality

Odor in the interior is one of the issues in the family vehicle’s care. Food spills, wetness and built-up debris will result in an unpleasant smell. Regular washing of carpets, air vents, and upholstery helps to avoid these issues and improve the quality of air in general.

Alternatives like natural soda (like baking soda) can also be applied as interior deodorizers to add freshness without employing harsh chemicals. This is also included in interior care packages in most car detailing services and is an indicator that both visual and olfactory cleanliness matters in keeping a vehicle family friendly.

Conclusion

The functionality of the family vehicles, their safety and comfort is the key to the cleaning and the interior organization. Eliminating clutter, cleaning surfaces, finding a storage solution, maintaining habits and addressing odors can help make families feel in a cleaner and more organized environment. These activities must be incorporated in the daily car cleaning exercise to ensure that the vehicles are satisfactory, appealing, and can be used in the day-to-day activities. A well-laid interior care strategy guarantees a higher driving experience to both the adults and the children.

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