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

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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

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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

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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.

Keselowski Nearly Clinches Victory with Strong Second-Place Finish at Bristol

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Official Release
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Keselowski 2nd; Buescher 11th; Preece 21st

BRISTOL, TN (September 13, 2025) – Brad Keselowski led 33 laps and nearly captured RFK Racing’s first victory of the season at Bristol Motor Speedway, finishing second with a chance at victory on the final lap. Chris Buescher and Ryan Preece both showed resilience and competitive speed throughout the night—Buescher running near the front before late pit stops shuffled the field to an 11th-place finish, while Preece battled back from early setbacks but ultimately finished 21st after late cautions affected his track position.

6 Brad Keselowski
Brad Keselowski and the No. 6 Castrol / TravelCenters of America Ford delivered a standout performance Saturday night at Bristol Motor Speedway, finishing second after leading late in a wild 500-lap battle. Starting 18th, Keselowski methodically worked his way through the field and became a serious contender in the final stage, ultimately leading 33 laps and nearly securing his first win of the season.

After running solidly inside the top 10 through the opening two stages—finishing eighth and fourth—Keselowski restarted 11th to begin the final segment. A key caution on lap 357 gave the team a chance to reset, and just laps later, Keselowski was gaining ground on the leaders. He reported the car had improved handling and balance, and by lap 395 he had cracked the top five.

Keselowski took his first lead with 62 laps to go in the race after a round of green-flag pit stops had cycled through. Though briefly overtaken by Carson Hocevar, he regained the top spot on lap 475 and began to pull away, poised to close out a dominant run. However, a caution with 13 laps remaining erased his lead and forced one final decision on pit road by crew chief Jeremy Bullins.

The team opted for right-side tires only, giving Keselowski track position for the restart. Lining up fourth with 10 laps to go, he quickly jumped to second behind Christopher Bell and stayed close through the final run. Despite a strong effort in the closing laps, he crossed the line in second, securing another strong result for the No. 6 team during the final stretch of the season.

“That’s the story of our season, just a 50/50 shot on the restart and I got the lane that couldn’t launch. 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 and just rolled the dice and didn’t get anything good.”

17 Chris Buescher
Chris Buescher and the No. 17 BodyGuard Ford showed top-five speed for much of the night at Bristol, ultimately finishing 11th after a late-race pit cycle and caution set the team back in the closing laps. Buescher was a regular contender near the front of the field in the second half of the 500-lap event, at one point climbing as high as second before a flurry of cautions and pit stops in the final 75 laps shuffled the running order.

After starting 21st, Buescher steadily moved forward while conserving tires through the opening stint. A pit stop on lap 45 and strategic driving helped him cycle up to eighth by a lap-80 caution. He restarted seventh and jumped to fifth shortly after, eventually finishing sixth in Stage One. The team made minor adjustments at the stage break, and Buescher restarted sixth to begin Stage Two, again running solidly inside the top 10. A scheduled stop on lap 198 kept him in the hunt, and he ended the second stage in seventh.

In the final stage, Buescher stayed out under the stage break and lined up fourth on the restart. He immediately surged to second behind Chase Briscoe and held that spot through a pair of early cautions. After pitting under yellow on lap 324, he restarted ninth but quickly charged back to second by lap 335. Another stop under caution on lap 357 set him up to restart seventh, and by lap 395, Buescher was once again up to second, continuing to show strong pace on short runs.

Buescher pitted from third on lap 427 and again on lap 471 during green-flag stops, just before a late caution trapped him outside the top 10. He earned the free pass to return to the lead lap but had little time to recover in the closing laps. Despite running inside the top five for much of the night and leading several charges through the field, Buescher had to settle for an 11th-place finish

60 Ryan Preece
Ryan Preece battled through a challenging night in his No. 60 Kroger/SToK Ford, showing strong speed and resilience but ultimately finishing 21st after late-race pit stops and cautions impacted track position. Despite falling two laps down early in the race, Preece made multiple recoveries and ran as high as sixth during the event.

Starting 20th, Preece dropped to 24th early and pitted under caution on lap 26 for a possible tire issue. He worked his way back up, reaching sixth before another stop on lap 69. A caution on lap 80 trapped him two laps down, but the team took the wave-around and restarted 33rd, charging hard to finish 17th in Stage One.

During Stage Two, Preece continued his aggressive approach, taking another wave-around late in the stage to get back on the lead lap and finishing 17th again. He restarted the final stage 18th and steadily moved forward, breaking into the top 10 by lap 350 and showing strong long-run speed.

Running ninth before a lap 357 caution, Preece pitted and restarted 14th, climbing back to 10th by lap 375. He reached sixth with just over 100 laps to go but lost track position after late green-flag stops followed by a caution, ultimately cycling back to finish 21st. Despite the final result, the No. 60 team showed speed and determination throughout the demanding Bristol race.

Up Next:
New Hampshire Motor Speedway (Loudon, NH), Sunday, September 21, 2025, on USA Network @ 2 p.m. ET

About RFK RacingRFK Racing, in its 38th season in 2025, features an ownership lineup pairing one of the sport’s most iconic names, Jack Roush, along with NASCAR Champion Brad Keselowski and Fenway Sports Group owner John Henry. Roush initially founded the team in 1988, and it has since become one of the most successful racing operations in the world, propelling him to be the first NASCAR owner to amass 300 wins and capturing eight championships, including back-to-back NASCAR Cup titles in 2003 and 2004. Keselowski, a former owner in the NASCAR Truck Series, is the 2012 NASCAR Cup Series Champion. In 2007, Roush partnered with Henry, who also owns Major League Baseball’s Boston Red Sox, English Premier League’s Liverpool F.C., and the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins, to form Roush Fenway Racing. Off the track, RFK is a leader and proven winner in NASCAR marketing solutions, having produced multiple award-winning social media, digital content, and experiential marketing campaigns. Visit rfkracing.com and follow the team on all social platforms @rfkracing.

Creed and Mayer Finish Second and Third in Xfinity Series Playoff Opener at Bristol

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Official Release
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Custer Perseveres Through Challenging Night to Finish 33rd in Cup Series on Saturday

BRISTOL, TN (September 13, 2025) – Sheldon Creed and Sam Mayer kicked off the Round of 12 at Bristol Motor Speedway with strong playoff performances Friday night, finishing second and third after leading laps and nearly capturing victory. Cole Custer finished 33rd after battling early tire issues and a mid-race spin in the Cup Series on Saturday night.

Xfinity Series

00 Sheldon Creed
Sheldon Creed delivered a determined performance in his No. 00 Road Ranger Ford, rallying from a pit road penalty to finish second on Friday night. Starting 10th, Creed gained ground early and ran inside the top 10 until a caution on lap 77. He came down pit road before the stage break but was caught speeding, dropping him to the rear of the field. He ended Stage One in 24th, facing an uphill climb the rest of the night.

Despite the setback, Creed quickly worked his way back into contention. With encouragement from his team, he cracked the top 15 early in Stage Two and continued moving forward, finishing the stage in 12th — a solid recovery while battling near the playoff cutline. He restarted inside the top 10 to begin the final stage and patiently worked his way into the top five with 100 laps remaining. Following a caution with 83 laps to go, Creed passed teammate Sam Mayer for fourth and continued to show strong pace.

A final pit stop under caution on lap 263 for fresh tires and fuel dropped him to 10th, as eight cars stayed out. On the restart, Creed charged forward, going three-wide to rejoin the top five by lap 275. He cleared traffic and moved into third with 10 laps to go, setting some of the fastest laps on the track. After passing Mayer again with two laps left, Creed closed in on leader Aric Almirola but came up just short, finishing second — his 15th career runner-up result and a strong boost for his playoff push

“It was a good rebound. I stumped us early by speeding on that first stop and then just rallied back all night, Creed said. “We’ve struggled and we struggled a little bit tonight and just worked on it and rallied. To come out with a top three finish and up on points is all you can ask for in an opening round.”

41 Sam Mayer
Sam Mayer delivered a strong performance in the No. 41 Audibel Ford, earning valuable stage points and a third-place finish in the Round of 12 opening playoff race. Starting second on the front row, Mayer battled Connor Zilisch early before a caution on lap 12 slowed the field. He lost the second spot on the restart, but ran solidly in third for most of Stage One. A caution on lap 77 allowed Mayer to pit before the stage break, and he still held on to finish fourth, collecting seven crucial points.

Mayer took the lead from Zilisch on the opening restart of Stage Two and set the pace for most of the segment, leading a season-high 68 laps. He was eventually passed by Zilisch while navigating lap traffic on the final lap of the stage but still earned nine more stage points — totaling 16 for the race. Mayer restarted the final stage in second and held the spot until a caution at lap 215, but slipped to fifth on the restart despite staying in contention.

When a caution flew at lap 263, Mayer was one of eight drivers who stayed out. He restarted third with 30 laps to go and held his ground on older tires, even after brushing the wall with 25 to go. Mayer drove back to second and worked different lines to close the gap to leader Aric Almirola, cutting it to just one-tenth of a second. Despite the gritty effort, he was passed by teammate Sheldon Creed with two laps remaining and finished third — a strong run with big playoff implications.

“We were really solid today. I’m really proud of everybody at Haas Factory. If we didn’t get that damage, I think we could have taken it to him, but the toe was knocked in a ton, so I just had no turn there at the end,” Mayer said. “At the end I was just kind of holding on, but to hold on to what we had was really solid, so I’m really proud of these guys and that’s the start of the playoffs you want.”

Cup Series

41 Cole Custer
Cole Custer battled through a tough night at Bristol Motor Speedway, finishing 33rd in the No. 41 HaasTooling.com Ford after dealing with handling issues and tire wear throughout the 500-lap race. After starting 26th, Custer was lapped by lap 30 and fell to 37th, reporting the car was extremely tight in traffic. He pitted on lap 57 for four tires and fuel after suffering a flat right front tire — part of a trend of extreme tire wear across the field.

The tight-handling condition persisted in Stage One, where he finished 35th. Stage Two brought a strategy call for two right-side tires on lap 196 to conserve sets, but Custer went four laps down by lap 225. He took a wave-around during a caution on lap 238 and ended the stage 37th, pitting again for fresh tires under yellow.

Custer restarted deep in the field for the final stage, but contact in turn three on lap 281 sent the No. 41 spinning and broke the right rear toe link. The damage hindered the car for the remainder of the race, but the team made repairs and Custer returned to the track, ultimately bringing the car home in 33rd.

Up Next:
New Hampshire Motor Speedway (Loudon, NH)
The NASCAR Cup Series – Sunday, September 21st at 2 p.m. ET on USA Network

About Haas Factory Team
The Haas Factory Team is a NASCAR Cup and Xfinity program owned by Gene Haas, founder of Haas Automation. Beginning in 2025, the team will feature Cole Custer driving the No. 41 Ford Mustang Dark Horse in the NASCAR Cup Series, while Sheldon Creed and Sam Mayer take on the Xfinity Series in the No. 00 and No. 41 Ford Mustangs, respectively. Based in Kannapolis, North Carolina, the Haas Factory Team reflects a commitment to performance and engineering excellence, carrying forward Gene Haas’s commitment to motorsports.

RCR NCS Race Recap: Bristol Motor Speedway

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Austin Dillon and the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops/Winchester Chevrolet Team Miss Out on Advancing to the Round of 12 with 28th-Place Finish in Bristol Motor Speedway Bass Pro Shops Night Race

Finish: 28th
Start: 23rd
Points: 14th

“We just couldn’t go as far as the rest of the field on tires tonight at Bristol Motor Speedway. Our setup just wasn’t conducive to that, and we didn’t process it fast enough. I just thought we had a flat tire and I was losing the right front. I didn’t know we were cording tires that fast, and it’s unfortunate because we were one of the first cars to really go through it so we didn’t have enough time to react. The guys on the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops/Winchester Chevrolet team were trying so hard to get us back on the lead lap, but truthfully with our car we couldn’t go as long as we needed to, or as fast as we needed to. 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, because then I think we would have been okay. I tried a lot to save it, but it was just out of my hands. Disappointed that we did not transfer to the next round of the NASCAR Playoffs, but we still have a lot to race for the rest of the season.” -Austin Dillon

Kyle Busch and the No. 8 Lucas Oil Chevrolet Team Give it Their All Through Challenging Race at Bristol Motor Speedway

Finish: 16th
Start: 33nd
Points: 21st

“The No. 8 Lucas Oil Chevrolet team battled the entire race tonight at Bristol Motor Speedway, but we came up short. We struggled in qualifying and got a lap down early, but we gave it our all to the end. We battled some front end issues, and briefly drove our way inside the top 10, as we worked strategically to manage our tires. We’re leaving Bristol with a 16th-place finish, and we’ll continue to chase the win next weekend in New Hampshire.” -Kyle Busch

Strong Run for Austin Hill and the No. 33 United Rentals Chevrolet Team at Bristol Motor Speedway

Finish: 25th
Start: 33rd
Points: N/A

“Really proud of our United Rentals Chevrolet team. We had a top-18 or 20 car if we didn’t lose the laps at the beginning of the race, but no one expected the tires to wear like they did. It caught us all by surprise. From that first run, it was just managing the situation the best we could. Everyone worked extremely hard this week and I’m glad we were able to leave with a solid run. This No. 33 group should be proud and we have one more crack at it in Talladega.” -Austin Hill

Rick Ware Racing: Bass Pro Shops Night Race from Bristol

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Official Release
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RICK WARE RACING
Bass Pro Shops Night Race
Date: Sept. 13, 2025
Event: Bass Pro Shops Night Race (Round 29 of 36)
Series: NASCAR Cup Series
Location: Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway (.533-mile, concrete oval)
Format: 500 laps, broken into three stages (125 laps/125 laps/250 laps)

Race Winner: Christopher Bell of Joe Gibbs Racing (Toyota)
Stage 1 Winner: Ryan Blaney of Team Penske (Ford)
Stage 2 Winner: Ty Gibbs of Joe Gibbs Racing (Toyota)

RWR Finish:

● Cody Ware (Started 34th, Finished 29th / Running, completed 496 of 500 laps)

RWR Points:

● Cody Ware (36th with 202 points)

Race Notes:

● Christopher Bell won the Bass Pro Shops Night Race to score his 13th career NASCAR Cup Series victory, his fourth of the season and his first at Bristol. His margin over second-place Brad Keselowski was .343 of a second.

● There were 14 caution periods for a total of 137 laps.

● Only 13 of the 39 drivers in the race finished on the lead lap.

● This was the last race in the Round of 16 of the NASCAR Playoffs. Bell, Denny Hamlin, Kyle Larson, William Byron, Ryan Blaney, Chase Briscoe, Chase Elliott, Bubba Wallace, Austin Cindric, Ross Chastain, Joey Logano and Tyler Reddick moved on to the Round of 12, while Alex Bowman, Austin Dillon, Shane van Gisbergen and Josh Berry did not advance. The cutoff race for the Round of 8 is the Oct. 5 Bank of America Roval 400 at the Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway Roval, and the cutoff race for the final, winner-take-all Championship 4 is the Oct. 26 Xfinity 500 at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway. The NASCAR Cup Series season finale is Nov. 2 at Phoenix Raceway.

Sound Bites:

“The best way to describe the night was we had a fast car and we executed well but, unfortunately, all the uncontrollable aspects of the race kind of got away from us. Bummed we couldn’t walk away with a top-25, but the car was fast. Really proud of the guys. We’ll just keep digging and get ready for New Hampshire next week.” – Cody Ware, driver of the No. 51 Arby’s Ford Mustang Dark Horse

Next Up:

The next event on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule is the Mobil 1 301 on Sunday, Sept. 21 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon. The fourth race in the 10-race NASCAR Playoffs starts at 2 p.m. EDT with live coverage provided by USA and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Kaulig Racing Race Recap | Bass Pro Shops Night Race

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Official Release
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No. 10 Grizzly Nicotine Pouches Camaro ZL1

Start: 37th
Stage 1 Finish: 32nd
Stage 2 Finish: 31st
Finish: 27th

Ty Dillon and the No. 10 Grizzly Nicotine Pouches Chevrolet team started Saturday night’s race at Bristol Motor Speedway from the 37th position. Unfortunately, Dillon was caught two laps down following a green-flag pit stop midway through the opening stage and despite having a solid car and being happy with the handling of his Chevy, Dillon was unable to catch the right break and finished the race in the 27th position.

No. 16 Grizzly Nicotine Pouches Camaro ZL1

Start: 1st
Stage 1 Finish: 7th
Stage 2 Finish: 22nd
Finish:

With a lap time of 15.117 seconds, AJ Allmendinger earned the pole for the Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway. This marked Allmendinger’s fifth NASCAR Cup Series pole award, his first with Kaulig Racing and his first since 2015. From the top lane, Allmendinger took the lead where he controlled the field until he reported feeling a tire coming apart. After coming to pit road on lap 29, the team confirmed the right front on the No. 16 Grizzly Nicotine Pouches Chevrolet was cording. As the field began to have tire issues, Allmendinger regained track position and finished the opening stage in seventh place. In the second stage, Allmendinger battled a tight-handling Chevrolet and continued to fight tire wear, along side the rest of the field. The No. 16 was involved in a wreck on lap 383 resulting in a broken toe link. The team made repairs on pit road and returned to the track before ultimately coming to the garage. Allmendinger was relegated to a 36th place finish.
 
About Kaulig Racing

Kaulig Racing™ is a full-time, multi-car NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) and NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) team, owned by award winning entrepreneur, Matt Kaulig. Established in 2016, Kaulig Racing™ has earned 27 NXS wins, made the NXS Playoffs consecutively each season since the playoff system started, and won two regular-season championships. In 2021, the team competed in select NCS events, before expanding to a two-car, full-time NCS team in 2022 and adding a third, part-time entry during the 2023 season. Since its first NCS start in 2021, the team has earned two wins. Kaulig Racing is currently fielding two full-time entries in the NCS and continues to field three full-time NXS entries. To learn more about the team, visit kauligracing.com.

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