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PATRICK EMERLING RETURNS TO SPIRE MOTORSPORTS FOR CRAFTSMAN TRUCK SERIES TILT AT NEW HAMPSHIRE MOTOR SPEEDWAY

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Official Release
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SciAps to Serve as No. 7 Chevy’s Primary Sponsor

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (September 10, 2025) – Patrick Emerling, a nine-time NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour race winner, will race a second stint with Spire Motorsports in 2025, this time behind the wheel of the team’s No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado for the Sept. 20 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Team EJP 175 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

SciAps, an industry leader in handheld elemental analyzers, will serve as Emerling’s primary sponsor for the division’s annual visit to the “Magic Mile.” Black Rhino Trailers and GOAT Power Bikes will be featured as associate sponsors aboard Emerling’s Spire Motorsports-prepared machine.

SciAps is headquartered in Boston and makes portable instruments that can measure any element, anywhere on the planet. SciAps X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and laser-based (LIBS) analyzers are utilized in the oil and gas, mining, aerospace, batteries, recycling, chemicals, military, forensics and law enforcement industries. Designed to examine a multitude of materials, SciAps instruments are in high demand, spanning space research and pandemic coatings to agriculture and environmental testing.

“We’re thrilled to be the primary partner for Spire Motorsports and the No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.” said Don Sackett, co-founder of SciAps. “Partnering with Patrick Emerling for his second race with Spire makes this event even more exciting. We can’t wait to see the SciAps colors take to the track in front of our home crowd.”

Emerling, an Orchard Park, N.Y., native, made his debut with Spire Motorsports in June at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway, driving the No. 07 Chevrolet Silverado to a CRAFTSMAN Truck Series career-best 15th-place finish. In nine Whelen Modified Tour starts at the famed one-mile oval, the 32-year-old veteran racer has collected nine top-five and 12 top-10 finishes, including a win in the 2019 Whelen Engineering All-Star Shootout.

In addition to his impressive open-wheel resume, Emerling has made four NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at NHMS and calls a 2023 14th-place finish a series/venue best. He finished 23rd in his lone CRAFTSMAN Truck Series start at the Loudon, N.H., venue in 2017.

“I’m thrilled to be back with Spire Motorsports in the No. 7 truck at New Hampshire Motor Speedway,” said Emerling. “We had a really strong run at Pocono, and I expect to build on that. New Hampshire has always been a good track for me. I’ll be doing double-duty in the Whelen Modified Tour earlier that day, so that will give me a good opportunity to figure out the track. I’m proud to have SciAps join us for the race. I’ve known Don Sackett for several years, and he’s always been a strong supporter of mine.”

Emerling is also a veteran of 59 Xfinity Series starts and competes part-time with SS Green Light Racing on NASCAR’s junior circuit.

The Team EJP 175 from New Hampshire Motor Speedway will be televised live on FS1 Saturday, Sept. 20, beginning at noon Eastern Daylight Time. The race will also be broadcast live on the NASCAR Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, Channel 90.

About SciAps…
SciAps, Inc. is revolutionizing elemental analysis with cutting-edge handheld instrumentation designed to measure any element, anywhere on the planet—and beyond. Based in Boston, SciAps industry-leading X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and laser-based (LIBS) analyzers deliver unparalleled performance across critical sectors like oil & gas, aerospace, mining, battery metals, critical minerals (lithium, rare-earth elements), scrap recycling, forensics, military and more.

Now, with the integration of near-infrared spectroscopy (Vis-NIR), SciAps is pushing boundaries even further—enabling geologists and exploration teams to perform real-time mineral reconnaissance with precision in the field. And the innovation doesn’t stop there. SciAps analyzers are expanding into space research, food authentication, anthropology, antiviral coatings and environmental safety, proving that when it comes to elemental analysis, the possibilities are limitless.

As part of its commitment to innovation and performance, SciAps is also a proud sponsor of a NASCAR Xfinity Series car, bringing its brand of speed and precision to the racetrack.

SciAps was purchased by Spectris PLC in 2024 and is now part of the Malvern Panalytical family of analytical instruments. ASD was purchased by Spectris in 2013. The company now carries forward the pioneering technologies originally introduced by ASD, offering users continuity, performance, and next-generation support.

About Spire Motorsports …
Spire Motorsports earned its inaugural NASCAR Cup Series victory in its first full season of competition when Justin Haley took the checkered flag in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway on July 7, 2019. Less than three years later, William Byron drove Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado to its inaugural NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series win on April 7, 2022, at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway. The team’s most recent win came on May 30, 2025, when Rajah Caruth took the checkered flag in the Rackley Roofing 200 at Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway.

In 2025, Spire Motorsports campaigns the Nos. 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolets in the NASCAR Cup Series. The team also fields the Nos. 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolet Silverados in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series and the No. 77 Chevrolet in the ARCA Menards Series in select events.

Front Row Motorsports: Bristol Motor Speedway Competition Notes – Zane Smith

By
Official Release
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Zane Smith and the No. 38 Long John Silver’s Ford Team
Bristol Motor Speedway Competition Notes
Bristol Motor Speedway Night Race

Date: Saturday, September 13, 2025
Event: Race 31 of 38
Series: NASCAR Cup Series
Location: Bristol Motor Speedway (0.533-miles)
#of Laps: 500
Time/TV/Radio: 7:30 PM ET on USA/PRN/SiriusXM channel 90

Zane Smith Notes

Zane Smith and the No. 38 team are headed to Bristol, Tennessee for the second race of the 2025 season at the Bristol Motor Speedway. Smith has built an impressive resume around him in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series at the 0.533-mile track, earning two top-five and three top-10 finishes in five starts. Saturday night’s 500 lap race will be Smith’s fourth Cup Series start at Bristol, where he looks to beat his career best finish of 16th at the track.

Long John Silver’s will return to the No. 38 car this weekend, partnering with Smith for the 500-lap event. Long John Silver’s will bring its signature, fan-favorite blue and yellow “Fish Yeah” scheme to Smith’s Ford Mustang Dark Horse. Fans can find a Long John Silver’s location near them by visiting ljsilvers.com.

“The season is winding down, but there’s still a lot left to race for,” said Smith. “Heading back to Bristol, the team and I are confident that we’re better prepared this time around. The past couple of weeks have been up and down, but we want to finish the season strong and build a solid foundation for next year.”

Road Crew

Driver: Zane Smith

Hometown: Huntington Beach, California

Crew Chief: Ryan Bergenty

Hometown: Plainville, Connecticut

Car Chief: Will Norris

Hometown: Bells, Tennessee

Engineer: Jacob Clamme

Hometown: Hartford City, Indiana

Engineer: Chris Yerges

Hometown: Green Bay, Wisconsin

Mechanic: Steve Godfrey

Hometown: West Haven, Connecticut

Mechanic / Engine Tuner: Tyler Podlaski

Hometown: Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania

Interior Specialist: Matt Fowler

Hometown: Spartanburg, South Carolina

Spotter: Ryan Blanchard

Hometown: Bethlehem, Connecticut

Transport Co-Driver: Ernest Mullins

Hometown: Fayetteville, North Carolina

Transport Co-Driver: Rick Grissom

Hometown: Bakersfield, California

Pit Crew

Front Tire Changer: Ryan Flores

Hometown: Manasquan, New Jersey

Rear Tire Changer: Austin Chrismon

Hometown: China Grove, North Carolina

Tire Carrier: Drew Baum

Hometown: Williamsport, Pennsylvania

Jackman: Ryan Selig

Hometown: Lindenhurst, Illinois

Fueler: Chris Webb

Hometown: Concord, North Carolina

ABOUT LONG JOHN SILVER’S

Long John Silver’s was founded in 1969 and is on a mission to create treasured moments through high-quality food and bell-ringing service. With restaurants from sea to mouth-watering sea, Long John Silver’s continues building on a belief that the unique seafood experience from the coasts should be accessible to all. Learn more at ljsilvers.com or join the conversation via social media on X, Facebook, or Instagram.

ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS

Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization in the NASCAR Cup and Craftsman Truck Series. The team is the 2021 Daytona 500 and 2022 Craftsman Truck Series champions. The team was founded in 2004 and is owned by successful entrepreneur, Bob Jenkins. FRM fields the No. 4, No. 34, and the No. 38 NASCAR Cup Series teams along with the No. 34 and No. 38 Craftsman Truck Series teams from its Mooresville, N.C. headquarters. Visit teamfrm.com and follow FRM on social media: Twitter at @Team_FRM, Instagram at @teamfrm and Facebook at facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.

Front Row Motorsports: Bristol Motor Speedway Competition Notes- Todd Gilliland

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Official Release
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Todd Gilliland and the No. 34 Love’s Travel Stops Ford Team
Bristol Motor Speedway Competition Notes
Bristol Motor Speedway Night Race

Date: Saturday, September 13, 2025
Event: Race 31 of 38
Series: NASCAR Cup Series
Location: Bristol Motor Speedway (0.533-miles)
#of Laps: 500
Time/TV/Radio: 7:30 PM ET on USA/PRN/SiriusXM channel 90

Todd Gilliland Notes

Todd Gilliland returns to the Bristol Motor Speedway for the track’s famed Saturday night race. This will be Gilliland’s sixth NASCAR Cup Series start at the 0.5-mile Tennessee short track. The 25-year-old driver has an impressive CRAFTSMAN Truck Series record at the track, earning one top-five and three top-10 finishes in four starts.

Love’s Travel Stops returns to Gilliland’s Ford Mustang Dark Horse this weekend. Fans are encouraged to download the Love’s Connect App to unlock exclusive benefits and savings. This Summer, users can save 10¢ per gallon on gas and up to 25¢ per gallon on auto diesel, along with access to great mobile-only deals. Fans can download the app from Google Play and the Apple App Store.

Love’s Travel Stops is proud to continue its support of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals through special in-store promotions that directly benefit local children and families. Guests can make a difference by purchasing select items, including Love’s-branded bagged candy, with 1% of proceeds going to CMN Hospitals, as well as Olipop 12 oz. (2 for $5), Reese’s King Size (2 for $4), and Cheez-It 3 oz. (2 for $2.25). Every dollar raised at Love’s stays local, helping children’s hospitals provide life-changing care, treatments, and programs like child life services, pet therapy, and healing gardens. Through customer donations at the pin pad, annual balloon campaign, and promotions like these, Love’s, its team members, and its guests play a vital role in ensuring kids receive the care they need today and have the opportunity to grow to their full potential tomorrow.

Gilliland and the No. 34 team will have PEAK Performance on their Ford to promote PEAK’s exclusive line of PEAK products available at over 600 Love’s Travel Stops across the country. PEAK is a leader in automotive and heavy-duty products ranging from PEAK Global Antifreeze, Final Charge, PEAK Windshield Wash, and BlueDEF Diesel Exhaust Fluid. All products can be found at Love’s Travel Stops.

“With just a few races left in the season, it’s easy to get lazy, but the team and I are working hard to finish out the season strong,” said Gilliland. “What’s great about this sport is that every weekend provides another opportunity for a good run, and heading back to Bristol, we’re confident we can have one. I have always enjoyed night racing, but Bristol does it best. I’m excited for this weekend.”

Road Crew

Driver: Todd Gilliland

Hometown: Sherrills Ford, North Carolina

Crew Chief: Chris Lawson

Hometown: Medway, Ohio

Car Chief: Joe Marra

Hometown: Somers, New York

Engineer: Marc Rullo

Hometown: Ringwood, New Jersey

Engineer: Kevyn Rebolledo

Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Spotter: Brit Andersen

Hometown: Branford, Connecticut

Underneath Mechanic: Michael Brookes

Hometown: Columbus, Ohio

Interior Mechanic: Chance Burke

Hometown: Siler City, North Carolina

Tire Specialist: Billy John

Hometown: Pitman, New Jersey

Engine Tuner: Tim Meyer

Hometown: Beatrice, Nebraska

Transporter Driver: Randy Bernier

Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Pit Crew

Front Tire Changer: Danny Olszowy

Hometown: Lexington, Kentucky

Rear Tire Changer: Justin Fox

Hometown: Concord, North Carolina

Tire Carrier: Paul Steele

Hometown: Wichita, Kansas

Jackman: Landon Honeycutt

Hometown: Mount Pleasant, North Carolina

Fueler: Zeke Nance

Hometown: Calhoun, Georgia

ABOUT LOVE’S TRAVEL STOPS

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

ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS

Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization in the NASCAR Cup and Craftsman Truck Series. The team is the 2021 Daytona 500 and 2022 Craftsman Truck Series champions. The team was founded in 2004 and is owned by successful entrepreneur, Bob Jenkins. FRM fields the No. 4, No. 34, and the No. 38 NASCAR Cup Series teams along with the No. 34 and No. 38 Craftsman Truck Series teams from its Mooresville, N.C. headquarters. Visit teamfrm.com and follow FRM on social media: Twitter at @Team_FRM, Instagram at @teamfrm and Facebook at facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.

Front Row Motorsports: Bristol Motor Speedway NCTS Race Advance- Layne Riggs / Chandler Smith

By
Official Release
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Layne Riggs | Chandler Smith
Bristol Motor Speedway NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Race Advance
UNOH 200

Date: Thursday, September 11, 2025
Event: Race 20 of 25
Series: NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series
Location: Bristol Motor Speedway (0.5-mile)
#of Laps: 200
Time/TV/Radio: 8:00 PM ET on FS1/SiriusXM channel 90

Layne Riggs Notes

Layne Riggs returns to Bristol, Tennessee Thursday night for the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series’ second trip to the Bristol Motor Speedway this season. In his three previous Truck Series starts at the “The World’s Fastest Half-Mile”, Riggs has three top-10 finishes, finishing 10th in Spring 2024, first in Fall 2024, and most recently, sixth in Spring 2025. Following the opening race of the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoffs at the Darlington Raceway, Riggs sits second in points and holds a 38-point cushion above the Playoff cutline.

Love’s RV STOP returns to Riggs’ Ford F-150 this weekend. Fans are encouraged to download the Love’s Connect App to unlock exclusive benefits and savings. This Summer, users can save 10¢ per gallon on gas and up to 25¢ per gallon on auto diesel, along with access to great mobile-only deals. Fans can download the app from Google Play and the Apple App Store.

Riggs and the No. 34 team will have PEAK Performance on their Ford F-150 to promote PEAK’s exclusive line of PEAK products available at over 600 Love’s Travel Stops across the country. PEAK is a leader in automotive and heavy-duty products ranging from PEAK Global Antifreeze, Final Charge, PEAK Windshield Wash, and BlueDEF Diesel Exhaust Fluid. All products can be found at Love’s Travel Stops.

Love’s Travel Stops is proud to continue its support of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals through special in-store promotions that directly benefit local children and families. Guests can make a difference by purchasing select items, including Love’s-branded bagged candy, with 1% of proceeds going to CMN Hospitals, as well as Olipop 12 oz. (2 for $5), Reese’s King Size (2 for $4), and Cheez-It 3 oz. (2 for $2.25). Every dollar raised at Love’s stays local, helping children’s hospitals provide life-changing care, treatments, and programs like child life services, pet therapy, and healing gardens. Through customer donations at the pin pad, annual balloon campaign, and promotions like these, Love’s, its team members, and its guests play a vital role in ensuring kids receive the care they need today and have the opportunity to grow to their full potential tomorrow.

“I definitely still have a chip on my shoulder from Darlington,” said Riggs. “The best thing I can do now is learn from it, move forward, and focus on a track where I know I can win. I’ve always liked Bristol — it’s a place I feel comfortable, and night racing there is always special. While I have a solid points gap above the cutline, you can never be too safe. My goal is to leave Bristol with as many points as possible — and hopefully a checkered flag.”
Road Crew

Driver: Layne Riggs

Crew Chief: Dylan Cappello

Truck Chief: Alex Lacognata

Engineer: Jonathan Coates

Mechanic: Clark Houston

Mechanic: Brandon Selph

Tire / Interior Specialist: Robert Benzenhafer

Spotter: Josh Williams

Transporter Driver: Joe Haresky

Pit Crew

Front Tire Changer: Blake Hickman

Rear Tire Changer: Steven Chereek

Tire Carrier: Alvin Wilson

Jackman: Landon Honeycutt

Fueler: Patrick Gaddy

Chandler Smith Notes

Chandler Smith and the No. 38 team head back to Bristol Motor Speedway this Thursday night, looking to sweep the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series races at the iconic half-mile in 2025, having won the Spring race. Statistically, “The World’s Fastest Half-Mile” has been a strong venue for the 22-year-old, where he has earned two wins, four top-five finishes, and five top-10s in just five Truck Series starts. Smith has also been impressive in the Xfinity Series at Bristol, scoring top-five finishes in both of his starts. Following the Truck Series race at Darlington two weeks ago, Smith currently sits two points below the Playoff cutline.

QuickTie will join Smith for the 200-lap event. QuickTie manufactures and distributes the QuickTie™ System (a proprietary, patented hold-down system for high wind and seismic construction) and a full line of framing hardware including u-hangers, hurricane clips, straps, structural wood screws, truss connectors and foundation connectors.

“Darlington put us just below the cutline, but only by a few points,” said Smith. “Heading into Bristol, our team feels confident we can race our way back above the cutline — and maybe even sweep Bristol with another win.”

Road Crew

Driver: Chandler Smith

Crew Chief: Jon Leonard

Truck Chief: Ron Schutte

Engineer: Caleb Williams

Mechanic: Levy Bixler

Tire / Interior Specialist: Kyle Clark

Spotter: Ryan Blanchard

Transport Driver: Mark Hadley

Pit Crew

Front Tire Changer: Garrett Wager

Rear Tire Changer: Jacob Ray

Tire Carrier: Paul Steele

Jackman: Ryan Selig

Fueler: Chris Webb

ABOUT LOVE’S RV STOP

Love’s has been fueling customers’ journeys since 1964. Innovation and perseverance continue to lead the way for the family-owned and -operated business headquartered in Oklahoma City with nearly 40,000 team members in North America and Europe. The company’s core business is travel stops and convenience stores with 651 locations in 42 states. Love’s continues its commitment to offer products and services that provide value for professional drivers, fleets, four-wheel customers, RVers, alternative fuel and wholesale fuel customers. Giving back to communities Love’s serves and maintaining an inclusive and diverse workplace are hallmarks of the company’s award-winning culture.

ABOUT QUICKTIE

Quick Tie Products, Inc., (“QuickTie”) manufactures and distributes the QuickTie™ System (a proprietary, patented hold-down system for high wind and seismic construction) and a full line of framing hardware including u-hangers, hurricane clips, straps, structural wood screws, truss connectors and foundation connectors.

ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS

Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization in the NASCAR Cup and Craftsman Truck Series. The team is the 2021 Daytona 500 and 2022 Craftsman Truck Series champions. The team was founded in 2004 and is owned by successful entrepreneur, Bob Jenkins. FRM fields the No. 4, No. 34, and the No. 38 NASCAR Cup Series teams along with the No. 34 and No. 38 Craftsman Truck Series teams from its Mooresville, N.C. headquarters. Visit teamfrm.com and follow FRM on social media: Twitter at @Team_FRM, Instagram at @teamfrm and Facebook at facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.

NASCAR at Bristol Weekend Schedule and Highlights

By
Angie Campbell
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Kyle Larson, driver of the #5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, takes the checkered flag to win the NASCAR Cup Series Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway on September 21, 2024 in Bristol, Tennessee. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

This weekend, all three national series travel to Bristol Motor Speedway for a full weekend of racing. The ARCA Menards Series and the Craftsman Truck Series will get the action started on Thursday.

The Xfinity Series will headline the racing action Friday as the Cup Series closes out the weekend with the Bass Pro Shops Night Race.

Cup Series Playoff Notes

At the conclusion of the Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol, four drivers will be eliminated from championship contention. Denny Hamlin and Chase Briscoe are safe via wins. Kyle Larson (+60), Bubba Wallace (+50), Ryan Blaney (+42), William Byron (+39), Tyler Reddick (+37), Christopher Bell (+32), Chase Elliott (+28), Joey Logano (+21), Ross Chastain (+19), and Austin Cindric (+11) complete the top 12 drivers via points.

Austin Dillon (11), Shane van Gisbergen (-15), Alex Bowman (-35) and Josh Berry (-45) are in the bottom four.

Xfinity Series Playoff Notes

The Food City 300 is the first race in the Xfinity Series Round of 12. It will be followed by the Kansas Lottery 300 and the Blue Cross NC 250 at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Drivers competing for the Xfinity Series championship include Connor Zilisch (+59), Justin Allgaier (+30), Sam Mayer (+11), Jesse Love (+8), Brandon Jones (+8), Sammy Smith (+4), Nick Sanchez (+1), Taylor Gray(0), Carson Kvapil (0), Sheldon Creed (-2), Harrison Burton (-3) and Austin Hill (-5).

Truck Series Playoff Notes

This weekend’s UNOH 200 presented by Ohio Logistics race at Bristol is the second race in the Truck Series Round of 10. The EJP 175 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on September 20th will determine who will advance to the Round of 8.

Corey Heim is safe after the win at Darlington Raceway. The remaining drivers vying for the championship include Layne Riggs (+38), Daniel Hemric (+33), Grant Enfinger (+30), Tyler Ankrum (+22), Ty Majeski (+16), Rajah Caruth (+4), Jake Garcia (+2), Chandler Smith (-2), and Kaden Honeycutt (-7).

Thursday, Sept. 11

1 p.m.: ARCA Menards Series Practice – 45 minutes
2 p.m.: ARCA Menards Series Qualifying – Impound 20 minutes
5:30 p.m.: ARCA Bush’s Beans 200
200 Laps = 106.6 Miles – FS1

3:05 p.m.: Truck Series Practice
2 Groups, 25 minutes each – FS2
4:10 p.m.: Truck Series Qualifying – FS2
Impound/All Entries: Single Vehicle/2 Laps

8 p.m.: Truck Series UNOH 250 presented by Ohio Logistics
Stages 65/130/250 Laps = 133.25 Miles
FS1/MRN/SiriusXM
Purse: $782,900
Post Truck Series race: NASCAR Press Pass

Friday, Sept. 12

2 p.m.: Xfinity Series Practice
2 Groups, 25 minutes each – CW App
3:05 p.m.: Xfinity Series Qualifying – CW App
Impound/All Entries/Single Vehicle/2 Laps

4:30 p.m.: Cup Series Practice
2 Groups, 25 minutes each
truTV/PRN/SiriusXM

5:40 p.m.: Cup Series Qualifying
Impound/All Entries/Single Vehicle/2 Laps
truTV/PRN/SiriusXM
Post Cup Series Qualifying: NASCAR Press Pass

7:30 p.m.: Xfinity Food City 300
Stages 85/170/300 Laps = 159.9 Miles
300 CW/PRN/SiriusXM
Purse: $1,651,939
Post Xfinity Series race: NASCAR Press Pass

Saturday, Sept. 13

7:30 p.m.: Cup Series Bass Pro Shops Night Race
Stages 125/250/500 Laps = 266.5 Miles
USA/HBO Max/PRN/SiriusXM
Purse: $10,447,135
Post Cup Series race: NASCAR Press Pass

All times are Eastern.

Front Row Motorsports: Bristol Motor Speedway Competition Notes – Noah Gragson

By
Official Release
-

Noah Gragson and the No. 4 Rush Truck Centers Ford Team
Bristol Motor Speedway Competition Notes
Bristol Motor Speedway Night Race

Date: Saturday, September 13, 2025
Event: Race 31 of 38
Series: NASCAR Cup Series
Location: Bristol Motor Speedway (0.533-miles)
#of Laps: 500
Time/TV/Radio: 7:30 PM ET on USA/PRN/SiriusXM channel 90

Noah Gragson Notes

Bristol Motor Speedway’s iconic Saturday night race is next up on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule. The 0.5-mile Tennessee short track is a site of many memories for Noah Gragson, having earned two wins, two top-five, and four top-10 finishes in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. In his three Cup Series starts at the track, Gragson has a career best finish of 12th (Fall 2024).

Rush Truck Centers, the premier solutions provider for the commercial vehicle industry, will again join Gragson and the No. 4 team for the 500 lap, 266-mile race. With more than 150 Rush Truck Centers dealerships located across the U.S. and Ontario, Canada, visit rushtruckcenters.com to find a location near you.

“The spring race at Bristol was a challenge with how much the warmer weather changed the track, but the Night Race is a whole different story,” said Gragson. “Under the lights, the place just comes alive—the atmosphere and the fans give you an energy you don’t get anywhere else. We had a solid run here last year, finishing 12th, and I’m excited to get back and see if we can take it up a notch this time around.”

Road Crew

Driver: Noah Gragson

Hometown: Las Vegas, Nevada

Crew Chief: Drew Blickensderfer

Hometown: Decatur, Illinois

Car Chief: Joey Forgette

Hometown: Iron Mountain, Michigan

Engineer: Dillon Silverman

Hometown: Chico, California

Engineer: Scott Bingham

Hometown: Lawrenceville, Georgia

Mechanic: Chris Trickett

Hometown: Grafton, West Virginia

Mechanic: Tony Infinger

Hometown: Fort Valley, Georgia

Tire Specialist: Chris Aunspaw

Hometown: Zelienople, Pennsylvania

Engine Tuner: Matt Moeller

Hometown: Monroe, New York

Spotter: Nick Del Campo

Hometown: Blauvelt, New York

Transporter Co-Driver: Nate “Cookie” Eller

Hometown: Granite Falls, North Carolina

Transporter Co-Driver: Matt Murphy

Hometown: Augusta, Georgia

Pit Crew

Front Tire Changer: Thomas Hatcher

Hometown: Middleburg, Florida

Rear Tire Changer: Adam Riley

Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia

Tire Carrier: Jarren Davis

Hometown: Jacksonville, Florida

Jackman: Nate McBride

Hometown: Vidalia, Georgia

Fueler: Ray Hernandez

Hometown: Orlando, Florida

ABOUT RUSH TRUCK CENTERS

More than a dealer network, Rush Truck Centers is the premier solutions provider for the commercial vehicle industry. With more than 150 Rush Truck Centers dealerships across the U.S. and Ontario, Canada, no one can match our network reach and scale. We provide our customers an integrated, one-stop approach to the service and sales of new and used trucks and commercial vehicles, aftermarket parts, service and collision repair capabilities, alternative fuel systems, vehicle technology solutions, and a range of financial services including financing, insurance, and leasing and rental options. Since 1965, we’ve earned our reputation for excellence, fairness, positive attitude and solutions that exceed customer expectations. That’s why we can say with confidence; when it comes to trucking, no one offers you more. Visit rushtruckcenters.com or follow us on social media: X @rushtruckcenters, Instagram @rush_truck_centers and facebook.com/rushtruckcenters.

ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS

Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization in the NASCAR Cup and Craftsman Truck Series. The team is the 2021 Daytona 500 and 2022 Craftsman Truck Series champions. The team was founded in 2004 and is owned by successful entrepreneur, Bob Jenkins. FRM fields the No. 4, No. 34, and the No. 38 NASCAR Cup Series teams along with the No. 34 and No. 38 Craftsman Truck Series teams from its Mooresville, N.C. headquarters. Visit teamfrm.com and follow FRM on social media: Twitter at @Team_FRM, Instagram at @teamfrm and Facebook at facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.

Toyota GAZOO Racing Weekly Preview 09.10.25

By
Official Release
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This Week in Motorsports: Sept. 8-14, 2025

NCS/NXS/NCTS/ARCA: Bristol Motor Speedway – Sept. 11-13
NHRA: Maple Grove Raceway – Sept. 12-14

PLANO, Texas (Sept. 10, 2025) – NASCAR heads back to Bristol Motor Speedway for the second time this season in a jam-packed weekend that features its three national series and the ARCA Menards Series. The weekend kicks off Thursday afternoon with a combo race for the ARCA national and East series. The Truck Series has its second race of the Round of 10 Thursday evening, while the Xfinity Series begins its Playoffs Friday night. The Cup Series wraps up the weekend with its Round of 16 cutoff race on Saturday night. Meanwhile, NHRA begins its Countdown to the Championship at Maple Grove Raceway in Reading, Pennsylvania.

NASCAR National Series – NCS/NXS/NCTS

Toyota drivers remain in strong position entering cutoff race … After last weekend in St. Louis, Toyota drivers remain above the cutline entering the final race of the Cup Series Round of 16 this weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway. Chase Briscoe and Denny Hamlin have both advanced with wins at Darlington and Gateway the last two weekends, while Bubba Wallace sits fourth (+50 points to the cutline), Tyler Reddick (+37 points to the cutline) ranks seventh, and Christopher Bell (+32 points to the cutline) is in the eighth position in the points standings entering this weekend.

Hamlin one shy of milestone victory … After taking the checkered flag last weekend at Gateway, which was Toyota’s 200th Cup Series win and his fifth win of the 2025 season, Hamlin now sits one victory away from additional milestones. Another trip to victory lane would be the 60th of Hamlin’s successful Cup Series career, which would tie him for 10th all-time on the Cup Series wins list with Kevin Harvick. It would also give the Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) driver 57 career victories with Toyota, which would make him the manufacturer’s all-time winningest Cup Series driver. Luckily for Hamlin, Bristol Motor Speedway has historically been one of his most successful tracks, where he’s captured four victories, along with 13 top-fives, 20 top-10s and four pole positions.

Heim returns to No. 67 Camry XSE … Corey Heim will pilot the No. 67 Toyota Camry XSE for 23XI Racing, pulling double duty this weekend at Bristol, along with competing in the Truck Series. The Toyota Development Driver will make his Cup debut at the 0.533-mile concrete oval, where he has found success in his Truck Series career, capturing victory in 2023 and finishing no worse than 10th in five previous starts.

Jones, Gray begin championship push … Friday night begins the Xfinity Series Playoffs where JGR’s Brandon Jones and Taylor Gray will represent Team Toyota for the series championship fight. Jones punched his ticket to the Playoffs after a win at Darlington Raceway in April, while Gray earned his way in on points. Jones begins the postseason eight points above the cutline and Gray is tied for the cutoff spot entering Friday night.

Earnhardt back in the No. 24 GR Supra … Jeffrey Earnhardt returns to Sam Hunt Racing and the No. 24 Toyota GR Supra this weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway. Earnhardt will make his third start this season with the team after also running at Talladega Superspeedway and Nashville Superspeedway earlier this year. The North Carolina native has made 11 previous Xfinity Series starts at Bristol, with a career-best finish of 12th on two separate occasions.

Heim, Honeycutt resume Playoff push … Thursday night’s Truck Series race at Bristol Motor Speedway is the second race of the opening round of the Playoffs, where Heim and Kaden Honeycutt resume their battle for the series title. Heim clinched a spot into the next round by winning at Darlington Raceway two weeks ago, while Honeycutt is seven points below the cutline entering the weekend.

Heim looks to continue win streak … After his victory at Darlington, Heim enters Bristol with three consecutive Truck Series wins and victories in four of the last five races. It’s been a historic season for the Georgia native with eight wins in 19 starts, along with 13 top-fives, 15 top-10s, nearly 1,200 laps led and completing all but four laps so far this year.

Butcher makes Truck Series debut … Canadian Super Late Model driver Cole Butcher will pilot the No. 62 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro for Halmar-Friesen Racing this weekend at Bristol Motor Speedway, making his Truck Series debut. Butcher is a very successful racer, winning multiple championships in the Pro Stock Tour, as well as a winner on the ASA STARS National Tour.

NASCAR Regional Series – ARCA Menards Series National/East

Crews running double duty … Toyota Development Driver Brent Crews is set to have a busy Thursday at Bristol Motor Speedway, as he’ll compete in the ARCA Menards Series combo race in the afternoon for Joe Gibbs Racing in the No. 18 Toyota Camry, followed by the Truck Series race Thursday night behind the wheel of the No. 1 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro for TRICON Garage. This will mark the ninth ARCA national series and fifth East series race starts for Crews, where he has four combined wins – Phoenix Raceway, Rockingham Speedway, Indianapolis Raceway Park and the Illinois State Fairgrounds. In Trucks, Crews will make his sixth start of the season, looking to improve upon a season-best finish of eighth at Lime Rock Park in June.

NHRA – Top Fuel/Funny Car

Toyota drivers begin championship push … Seven Toyota NHRA racers begin their quest for a championship this weekend as the NHRA postseason opens at Maple Grove Raceway. In Top Fuel, Shawn Langdon (2013 champion) begins the Countdown to the Championship as the No. 2 seed, with Doug Kalitta (2023 champion) in third, Justin Ashley in fourth, defending and four-time world champion Antron Brown in sixth, and fellow four-time world champion Steve Torrence in ninth. In Funny Car, multi-time champion Ron Capps starts as the No. 4 seed, while 2018 champion J.R. Todd is sixth.

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.

What to Do if You Get Pulled Over: A Step-by-Step Guide

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

The rules of the road are similar to any other complex social system. You typically start with some memorized facts, but you also need to learn by experience. But some events happen so infrequently, like being pulled over by police, that you’ll typically be left panicked and confused if you haven’t put some extra work into preparation. So, what exactly should you do if you’re pulled over for a traffic violation?

Stay Calm

There are a lot of reasons to learn what to do if you’re pulled over. But one of the most important stems from the fact that preparedness helps to fight off fear and panic. The police are typically watching out for any kind of unstable behavior when they pull people over. The panic of someone uncertain what to do, from the eyes of an officer, might not appear all that different from the panic of someone trying to hide intoxication or similar elements.

The first thing to do when you’re pulled over is to take a deep breath, calm yourself, and remember that you almost certainly don’t have anything serious to worry about. If your fight or flight reflex is activated, you’re going to have a much higher chance of escalating any potential issues than you are of escaping them. So focus on the reality of the situation – mundanity. Being pulled over for a traffic violation is red tape, bureaucracy, and paperwork rather than anything truly scary. 

Maintain Civility and Work with the Standard Chain of Events

Being pulled over is new to you, but it’s business as usual for the officer. Imagine if you were just trying to do your job and the person you were working with was skittish, constantly demanding explanations, and argumentative. You wouldn’t be very inclined to treat that person nicely, and the same goes for the police. Keep things professional, but not cold, as the chain of events plays out.

When the officer approaches, you should fully lower your window to make communication easier. Don’t step out of your vehicle unless requested to do so. Again, this is to remove concern over confrontation. You should stop your engine for the same reason. You don’t want to imply that you might drive away or start a conflict. Basically, it comes down to the fight or flight reflex. Don’t imply that you’re going to fight, don’t imply the possibility of flight – just breathe and remain calm. 

Find Out Why You Were Pulled Over

The officer will typically tell you why you were pulled over right from the start. However, this might be phrased in a way to see if you’ll implicate yourself. For example, it’s common for police to ask if you know why you were pulled over.

You might have an impulse to just guess a likely answer. If you’re pulled over, it’s probably going to be for speeding. However, you don’t want to answer speeding if queried on the reason for the encounter. If you did answer speeding, it may well come off as an admission of such rather than a guess. So, unless you are certain of the reason you were pulled over, it’s best to simply say you don’t know and ask for clarification from the officer. 

Dealing With Rights and Requests

Under the Fifth Amendment, you have the right to remain silent, and the  Fourth Amendment gives you the right to refuse consent for a search without warrants or probable cause. That said, actually refusing on those grounds should be avoided when possible. 

Pulling people over for a minor violation is just a part of the police officer’s day. He wants to have the encounter finished as much as you do. Cameras and additional observation often mean that they have to go through the motions even if they personally don’t think there’s any reason to. If you do want to hold up your rights to refusal, make sure you do so in a respectful way that makes it clear you’re not looking for a fight.

The Aftermath

When the officer says you’re free to go, be careful about merging back into traffic. If you need to take a moment to collect yourself and calm your nerves, then do so rather than risking a traffic violation right in front of the police officer.  You have several legal options if you have been issued a citation for a traffic violation. You could pay the ticket, although beyond the fine, you may incur increases to your insurance premium and points on your license. You may also consider consulting with an attorney if you believe there are mistakes on your ticket, or if you are interested in pursuing a reduction or dismissal.

Dangerous Times of Day: When Traffic Accidents Peak

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

It’s no secret that driving can be very dangerous. Even though the number of fatalities related to automobile accidents has been going down in recent years, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that there were over 39,000 traffic deaths in the United States in 2024. That number is slightly lower than 2023’s numbers, but it still means that American highways aren’t always safe. That being said, are there certain times of the day when driving is more dangerous? Let’s take a look.

Coming Home After Work 

On average, fatal and non-fatal traffic accidents are most likely to occur in the late afternoon and early evening. In fact, a study of car accidents in Oklahoma City found the highest number of accidents occurred between 4:00 and 5:00 pm. This is when “rush hour” traffic is at its highest. It’s when most people are coming home from work, and many of them are tired, stressed out, and eager to get home and relax. They may be less attentive to their surroundings, and that can spell disaster when you consider the amount of traffic on the road.

Spring and Summer Driving

As for fatal car accidents, those seem to be more likely between the hours of 8 PM and 12 PM during the spring and summer months. Part of this is due to the large number of people coming home from work, but the accidents that occur later in the night can be attributed to decreased visibility and driver exhaustion. There are almost always more vehicles on the road during the warmer months, and drivers may be more confident in their driving ability when there’s no ice and snow on the ground. That leads to more reckless driving and more accidents, especially late at night.

The Most Dangerous Day of the Week

Saturday seems to be the most dangerous day of the week to drive. More people are out enjoying the weekend at all hours of the day, many of them may still be tired from working full-time jobs, and some of them may be under the influence of alcohol and other substances. While you shouldn’t be afraid to go out and enjoy a Saturday afternoon off from work, you do need to be more careful if you get behind the wheel, especially if you drive at night.

Driving Defensively and Staying Safe

Evenings and late nights are statistically the most dangerous times to drive, especially during the spring and summer, but traffic accidents can happen at any time. That doesn’t mean that you should be afraid to drive at all. You can keep yourself safe while on the road by driving defensively, keeping a safe distance from vehicles in front of you, and driving at manageable speeds at all times.

Why New Cars Are Safer, but Accidents Are Still Happening

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

If you have shopped for a new vehicle lately, you have probably noticed how much safety technology is packed into even the most basic models. Automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assistance, adaptive cruise control, and even blind-spot monitoring are no longer luxuries; they are actually standard features. When you look at statistics, these systems save lives. They are designed to reduce the chance of human error, and they work.

In California, there were nearly 4,500 traffic fatalities in 2022. If cars are safer than ever, why are traffic accidents still a leading cause of injury and death in the United States? The answer lies in a four-word problem that technology has not been able to solve: the increase in distracted driving.

Increase in Safer Vehicles on the Roads

Studies by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have consistently shown that features like automatic emergency braking and collision-avoidance systems reduce crash risk. Rear-end collisions, for example, drop significantly when vehicles have automatic emergency braking. Seatbelts and airbags are proven lifesavers, and modern vehicles are designed to have more damage in all the right places during impact. On paper, the data suggests we should be seeing far fewer accidents.

Unfortunately, that is not the case. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, while these systems reduce some kinds of collisions, they can’t do much if the driver is looking down at a phone instead of the road. In short, cars are smarter, but the people driving them are not necessarily driving smarter.

Distracted Driving: The Modern Epidemic

Distracted driving is one of the most dangerous trends out on the streets and highways, and it’s getting worse, not better. 

According to the National Safety Council, 3,275 people died in the U.S. in 2023 because of distracted driving. That comes out to nine people every single day, and that number doesn’t even include the hundreds of thousands of injuries caused by drivers who were texting, scrolling, or fiddling with touchscreens instead of watching traffic.

Though younger drivers are certainly at high risk, this is not just a teen problem. Studies show distracted driving happens throughout all age groups because phones and in-car technology have become as tempting as candy on the dashboard. Checking texts, setting navigation while in motion, or toggling through playlists are all dangerous and, in some cases, deadly.

The Irony of Technology

It is a cruel irony that the same technology that makes vehicles safer is also making them more distracting. Nearly every new car today comes with a touchscreen infotainment system. Interacting with those screens can pull a driver’s eyes off the road for up to five, ten, or even fifteen seconds. At 55 miles per hour, that is the length of a football field being traveled blind. 

The U.S. Department of Transportation has repeatedly warned that hands-free systems and voice commands don’t eliminate distraction; they only shift it from physical to cognitive, according to the NHTSA in 2024.

What it boils down to is the fact that drivers often overestimate their ability to multitask. Every second a driver is not fully focused, the risk of collision increases tremendously.

Safety Isn’t Enough Without Behavior Change

When it comes down to it, carmakers have delivered remarkable safety innovations, but human behavior is neutralizing those gains. Until distracted driving becomes as socially unacceptable as drunk driving, fatalities will keep piling up. The cars can’t save us from ourselves.

The solution will not come from gadgets alone. It will require tougher enforcement of distracted-driving laws, cultural shifts in how we view phone use on the road, and maybe even a push for automakers to rethink whether bigger, brighter infotainment systems are worth the tradeoff.

Vehicles may be safer, but the people behind the wheel still hold the power. The question is whether we will choose to use it responsibly.

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