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TEAM CHEVY NASCAR RACE ADVANCE: Bristol Motor Speedway 2

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Official Release
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TEAM CHEVY ADVANCE
Bristol Motor Speedway
September 11-13, 2025

With all three NASCAR national series now officially in playoff competition, the sport will head to “The Last Great Colosseum”, Bristol Motor Speedway, for the traditional tripleheader under the lights.

The weekend will open on Thursday evening with the Craftsman Truck Series’ UNOH 250 presented by Ohio Logistics, the second race of the Round of 10, with all four Team Chevy playoff contenders sitting above the cutline. Friday evening will see seven Team Chevy drivers begin their championship title run in the Food City 300, with the Cup Series facing its first postseason elimination race in Saturday’s Bass Pro Shops Night Race.

 Chevrolet in the NASCAR Cup Series at Bristol:

Kyle Larson’s victory in the NASCAR Cup Series’ most recent visit to Bristol Motor Speedway (Apr. 2025) extended the Bowtie brand’s already record-setting win count at the track to 48 all-time triumphs. Among those wins includes Chevrolet’s milestone 600th all-time triumph in NASCAR’s top division – delivered by Kyle Busch behind the wheel of a Hendrick Motorsports-prepared Chevrolet. The 40-year-old Las Vegas, Nevada, native is the track’s winningest driver in the division with eight victories – a record that’s double the next leading competitor, Denny Hamlin, with four wins. Larson’s trip to victory lane in the series’ spring race marked his third Cup Series win at Bristol – moving the 33-year-old Elk Grove, California, native to third on track’s all-time wins list for active drivers.

 LARSON LEADS INTO FIRST ELIMINATION RACE

The NASCAR Cup Series is on the brink of its first elimination race of the 2025 playoffs, with Saturday’s 500-lap event determining the 12 drivers that will continue on in their championship title chase. Among those looking for a guaranteed ticket into the Round of 12 includes the track’s defending winner, Kyle Larson, who will head into the weekend with the biggest points cushion of 60-points over the cutline. Larson is among the four Team Chevy playoff contenders that will enter the elimination race ranked in the top-12 of the standings – all of which hold a double-digit points advantage over the bubble (William Byron +39; Chase Elliott +28; and Ross Chastain +19). The series’ last appearance at the high-banked half-mile saw four Team Chevy playoff contenders collect top-10 finishes with Larson’s win accompanied by a sixth-place finish by William Byron; a seventh-place finish by Ross Chastain; and a 10th-place finish by Austin Dillon.

Just as fans look for exciting races and big wins, motorsport enthusiasts who enjoy a touch of competition off the track often explore platforms offering rewards like the Betwinner bonus, which brings an added thrill to following events like the NASCAR playoffs.

Larson Looking for a Three-Peat:

Among the NASCAR Cup Series’ active past winners at Bristol Motor Speedway, Kyle Larson ranks third with his three wins tying Brad Keselowski. Larson first conquered the concrete half-mile in the 2021 night race – a triumph that ultimately led to his championship title. The 33-year-old Elk Grove, California, native returns to Bristol as the winner in the series’ past two events at the track – both masterful performances that saw the Team Chevy driver tally the most laps led (Sept. 2024 – 462 laps led; Apr. 2025 – 411 laps led) and a sweep of the stage wins en route to the victory. A win in Saturday’s event would make Larson just the fifth driver in series’ history to earn three-straight victories at Bristol.

Dillon Remains in Striking Distance:

Despite a dismal day at World Wide Technology Raceway, Austin Dillon and the No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet team capitalized on strategy to score crucial stage points and salvage an 18th-place finish to keep the team in striking distance to advance to the Round of 12. The Richard Boswell-led team will enter the weekend in the first position below the cutline with just an 11-point deficit. Short-tracks have been Dillon’s strong suit this season, with the 35-year-old Welcome, North Carolina, native earning top-10 results in three of the four events held at tracks measuring less than one-mile. Among those includes a 10th-place finish in the Bristol spring event, as well as his win at Richmond Raceway just one month ago.

SEVEN TEAM CHEVY DRIVERS SET TO COMPETE FOR NXS CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE

Chevrolet’s momentum heading into the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series playoffs is unmatched, with the manufacturer sitting at a record-setting 23 wins in 26 races heading into the final stretch towards the championship. With a second-consecutive driver championship in focus, Team Chevy will see a series-leading seven drivers representing three different Chevrolet organizations compete in the title chase including JR Motorsports’ Connor Zilisch, Justin Allgaier, Sammy Smith and Carson Kvapil; Richard Childress Racing’s Jesse Love and Austin Hill; and Big Machine Racing’s Nick Sanchez.

Rookie Records:

Connor Zilisch has put together a rookie campaign for the record books. The 19-year-old Mooresville, North Carolina, native capped off the NASCAR Xfinity Series’ regular season with his ninth victory of the season at World Wide Technology Raceway – extending his streak to four-straight to tie the series’ record for consecutive wins by a single driver. The race-high 59-point day was enough for the rookie to take the regular season title from his JR Motorsports teammate and the series’ defending champion, Justin Allgaier. The victory also marked JR Motorsports’ 16th win of the season – breaking the organization’s record for the most wins in a single season in the division.

 HEMRIC WITH STRONG PLAYOFFS START

All four Team Chevy playoff contenders will head into the second race of the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Round of 10 above the cutline – led by Daniel Hemric and the No. 19 McAnally-Hilgemann Racing Chevrolet team, who currently sits in the third position with a 33-point advantage over the cutline. The 34-year-old Kannapolis, North Carolina, native started his second career campaign in the series’ playoffs with a strong performance in the opening race at Darlington Raceway – turning in a 49-point day (third-best of the race) to move the Team Chevy driver up one position in the standings. Hemric heads into Bristol with nine top-fives and 14 top-10s, which puts him second in the series behind the current points leader, Corey Heim.

 BUILDING ONTO A TRIUMPHANT SEASON STREAK

As the manufacturer championship battle continues to heat up, Chevrolet will have the opportunity to make history this season. If the Bowtie brand is able to sweep the manufacturer championship title in all three NASCAR national series once again, the feat will mark the longest streak of manufacturer championship title sweeps by a single manufacturer in NASCAR history. With all three divisions officially in playoff mode, Chevrolet will enter the weekend atop the manufacturer standings in NASCAR’s top-two divisions with a 26-point lead in the Cup Series and a 179-point lead in the Xfinity Series, with the Bowtie brand sitting at just a seven-point deficit in the Truck Series standings. Chevrolet has earned at least one victory in the NASCAR national ranks in the past 11 consecutive race weekends – dating back to the manufacturer’s doubleheader sweep in Mexico City.

Chevrolet’s season statistics with 28 NASCAR Cup Series races complete:

Wins: 12
Poles: 10
Laps Led: 3,188
Top-Fives: 54
Top-10s: 115
Stage Wins: 22

Chevrolet’s season statistics with 26 NASCAR Xfinity Series races complete:

Wins: 23
Poles: 16
Laps Led: 3,099
Top-Fives: 88
Top-10s: 170
Stage Wins: 39

Chevrolet’s season statistics with 19 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races complete:

Wins: 6
Poles: 2
Laps Led: 888
Top-Fives: 43
Top-10s: 88
Stage Wins: 7

 BOWTIE BULLETS:

  • Chevrolet will serve as the official pace vehicle for the Bristol Motor Speedway tripleheader weekend with the Corvette Stingray pacing the NASCAR Cup and Xfinity Series in their respective events and the Silverado RST pacing the Craftsman Truck Series race.
  • Active Chevrolet drivers with a NASCAR Cup Series win at Bristol Motor Speedway:

Kyle Busch: Eight wins (2019, ’18, ’17, ’11, ’10, ’09 sweep, ’07)
Kyle Larson: Three wins (2025, 2024, ’21)

  • Chevrolet is the winningest manufacturer in both of NASCAR’s top two divisions at Bristol Motor Speedway, heading into the weekend with 48 Cup Series wins and 38 Xfinity Series.
  • Chevrolet paces its manufacturer competitors in both driver and organization representation in both the NASCAR Cup and Xfinity Series Playoffs with seven drivers from three different Chevrolet organizations set to compete for the driver championship title in each division.
  • Chevrolet has earned at least one victory in the NASCAR national ranks for the past 11 consecutive race weekends – dating back to the manufacturer’s doubleheader sweep in Mexico City (June 2025).
  • Chevrolet has earned at least half of the top-10 finishing results in 12 of the 28 points-paying races thus far this season, including a season-high seven top-10 finishes at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway.
  • In 136 points-paying races in the Next Gen era, Chevrolet leads all manufacturers with 64 victories – a winning percentage of 47.1%.
  • With its 43 NASCAR Cup Series Manufacturer Championships, 33 NASCAR Cup Series Driver Championships, and 878 all-time NASCAR Cup Series wins, Chevrolet continues to hold the title as the winningest brand in NASCAR Cup Series history.

FOR THE FANS:

· Fans can visit the Team Chevy Racing Display in the Fan Midway at Bristol Motor Speedway.

· Fans can check out an assortment of Chevrolet vehicles including: Equinox EV RS, Equinox ICE ACTIV, Silverado 2500 High Country, 1500 Silverado Trail Boss, Traverse, Trax ACTIV, Corvette.

Team Chevy Driver Appearances at the Display:

Thursday, Sept. 11

Rajah Caruth: 12:45 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Daniel Hemric: 1:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.

Connor Mosack & Jack Wood: 1:15 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Grant Enfinger: 1:30 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.

Conner Jones, Matt Mills, Andres Perez de Lara, Bayley Currey: 1:45 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 12

Carson Kvapil: 12:00 p.m. – 12:15 p.m.

Sammy Smith: 12:45 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Daniel Suarez: 3:30 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.

Justin Allgaier: 4:30 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.

Nick Sanchez: 4:45 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Jesse Love: 5:00 p.m. – 5:15 p.m.

Connor Zilisch: 5:15 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 13

Shane van Gisbergen: 3:20 p.m. – 3:35 p.m.

Ross Chastain: 3:35 p.m. – 3:50 p.m.

Justin Haley: 3:50 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Chase Elliott: 4:00 p.m. – 4:15 pm.

Alex Bowman: 4:15 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Chevrolet Display Hours of Operation:

Thursday, Sept. 11: 11 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Friday, Sept. 12: 12 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 13: 12 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

 
TUNE-IN:

NASCAR Cup Series

Playoffs Round of 16: Elimination Race

Bass Pro Shops Night Race

Saturday, September 13, at 7:30 p.m. ET

(USA Network, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90)

NASCAR Xfinity Series

Playoffs Round of 12: Race One

Food City 300

Friday, September 12, at 7:30 p.m. ET

(CW, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90)

NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series

Playoffs Round of 10: Race Two

UNOH 250 presented by Ohio Logistics

Thursday, September 11, at 8:00 p.m. ET

(FS1, NASCAR Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90)

 QUOTABLE QUOTES:

Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Talk about the news this week regarding the Moose?

“The Moose Fraternity has been a great partner to me dating back before my Trackhouse Racing days. It’s not often in racing that you can have a relationship with a partner for as many years as I have had with the Moose. They obviously see value in the motorsports program and it gives me the opportunity to meet their guests each weekend, visit their lodges, visit Mooseheart and Moosehaven and seeing the impact they have in the community. I’m thankful they’ve decided to continue to support me and the No. 1 team at Trackhouse for years to come.”

After St. Louis how is your playoff outlook going into Bristol?

“Obviously, we aren’t heading into Bristol with as much of a points cushion as we hoped for. Being 19 points above the cutline is better than being no points or below the line. I’m going into Bristol preparing just like I prepare every week, just as if I’ve won the last two races. I can’t try any harder. We are going to put our best foot forward and hope for the best result at Bristol and that its good enough to get us to the next round.”

Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

What’s night racing at Bristol Motor Speedway like?

“Night racing at Bristol Motor Speedway is special. No other crowd like that. The energy is electric going into the Last Great Coliseum. I can’t wait to get there and run all over that track. It’s a fun one. I think every time you walk inside that place you get goose bumps. You get excited. The adrenaline is always pumping. I love going to Bristol.”

Is there extra motivation to perform at Bristol Motor Speedway knowing it is the Bass Pro Shops Night Race and it means so much to Johnny Morris and all of the Bass Pro Shops Outfitters?

“I think going to the Bass Pro Shops Night Race at Bristol Motor Speedway and looking at what it means to Bass Pro Shops and Johnny Morris, to win their race is always something that you’re trying to do. It would mean a lot to come back to Welcome, North Carolina with their trophy.”

Does anything transfer over from the Spring race to the Fall race at Bristol Motor Speedway? Or are they two different beasts?

“I think some things do transfer over. Similar temperatures, although I think this race may be a little bit cooler than the first race, but what we learned in the first race should apply.”

Busy weekend for you with both the Bristol night race and the Carolina Cowboys homestand taking place…

“We’ll be racing for our spot to transfer into the next round in the NASCAR Playoffs in Bristol, along with the Carolina Cowboys having their home event at the Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina, so it should be an exciting weekend for Welcome, North Carolina.”

Justin Haley, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

Back in the spring race at Bristol, you qualified 10th and came home 13th. What positives can you take from that top-15 run, and how can you build on it this weekend?

“Bristol is always a great atmosphere for the drivers and the fans. We had a super strong run in the spring in the No. 7 NationsGuard Chevrolet and we fully expect to be just as good Saturday night. We won’t have the best metric for qualifying but if we execute well and get good track position we will set ourselves up for a great weekend.”

What’s the biggest challenge you expect this weekend — tire wear, track position, or avoiding trouble in traffic?

“I think my biggest challenge is managing tires while navigating traffic. Tire wear might be a concern this weekend. I think it really depends on the weather and how it shows during practice and how the track takes rubber.”

Kyle Busch, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

What is it like to race at Bristol?

“Bristol’s one of my favorite tracks, if not my favorite. I love going there, it’s obviously a great place. It reminds me of the local short track atmosphere that you get on Saturday nights, growing up racing late models and things like that. It’s a lot of fun, I love the banking, I love the concrete and just the nature of that place. It’s gotten a little bit tougher over the years to be as good as I once was there. Everybody’s kind of picked up on it. It’s definitely one of the coolest tracks that we get a chance to go run on. And obviously, the speed that you carry there and the close nature to action, whether you run the bottom or whether you run the top, there’s just a lot of options.”

What is it like having to navigate the top and the bottom? Selecting a line multiple times, you may run the top, you may run the bottom, each lap. What’s it like to just navigate through all of that, every lap at that track?

“Yeah, every scenario is different at Bristol. The biggest thing is restarts. You’ve got to be ready to get down to the bottom. It seems like the bottom really fires off and takes off early. And then as the pace progresses and falls off, then you’ve got to get to the top. You want to be one of the first ones up to the top so that people don’t get up in front of you and block you and not allow you through traffic. It’s just really a challenging race. It’s more of a chess game a lot of times, too, rather than just trying to figure out all raw speeds.”

What are the differences for a day race there versus a night race? Are there any differences with the concrete?

“I really don’t notice much difference with day race or night race at Bristol. Honestly, it’s just whether you’re wearing a tinted visor or a clear visor, the racetrack being concrete surface and the temperature of the surface doesn’t really change as much as asphalt does. So, it lends itself to being more similar.”

Pit road there can be tricky. Green flag stops only going down once or yellow flag stops you’re going through the whole pit road. What is it like managing your lights there with the multi-speed zones in that pit road?

“Yeah, Bristol’s really tough with pit road speeds. You’re up and down on your speeds and managing your lights and things like that as you go through the turns and on the straights. We’ve kind of found over the years the hot sections of the sections that read a little bit faster than you think you’re going. You try to pick in those to eliminate those and knock them out. But also for me, the multiple pit lane thing, getting confused on which one to come in. I always like picking on the back stretch so that it’s just always enter off of turn two. And whether you have to run the full pit road under yellow or you just can exit into turn three on green flag scenario, it just makes it so much simpler.”

A lot of strategy goes into selection of pit stalls there. Is pitting on the back stretch versus the front stretch, is there an advantage to one or the other? You just mentioned you like to pit on the back stretch. What do you see in that that really helps you there?

“Obviously, the four corner spots are probably the most advantageous spots. Whether it’s spot number one, I think it’s 15, 16, and then 43. Those are the ones that you want. Everything in between, there’s no openings there. It’s really tough to have any sort of advantage besides those four. It really doesn’t make a whole lot of difference at Bristol on pit road. It’s just how you navigate your sections.”

And sometimes people say the first time you go there, you kind of forget to breathe for a couple of laps. What are the G-loads and the forces like going into those corners with such steep banking?

“Bristol is tough when you get there for practice. First time you get there and you’re in practice, it’s kind of like a cardio session. You’re trying to breathe and you’re trying to work through your breathing and everything, but you kind of hold your breath a little so you become out of breath. But it’s just a cool place. Being able to go somewhere like that that gives you those G-loads and that feeling is cool.”

Ty Dillon, No. 10 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet

“I’m very excited. Bristol is probably the greatest track on our schedule. I always tell people who ask what race they should attend; I always say Bristol. It is the most properly named racetrack, ‘The Last Great Colosseum.’ We’re racing around a half-mile track with three stories of banking in under 14 seconds a lap for 500 laps and it is super intense, but it is one of my favorite racetracks. I love going there. We have a really cool Grizzly Nicotine Puches Camaro. The paint scheme looks awesome. It’s super cool so I’m ready to roll that thing out there. I’m ready to turn the page. We’ve had some rough luck ever since the last race of the In-Season Challenge, it’s like we cannot get the bad luck bug out of our system. We’re looking to turn it around at Bristol and hopefully end the season strong.”

AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet

“At Bristol in the spring, we had a really good car and earned a solid top-10 finish. I’m looking forward to going back there and working to build off that. The night race is always different; it has a lot more hype and is always a fun atmosphere. As we keep saying, our team is focused on getting better. Our goal this weekend is to take what we’ve had in the past and make it a little bit better so we can have another solid run.”

Austin Hill, No. 33 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet

What are you expecting from the new tire compound and making your first Cup Series short track start?

“To run under the lights in a Cup car at Bristol (Motor Speedway) is something I’ve been excited about. I have never run a Cup car on any short track, but the goal is to complete 500 laps and learn as much as possible. I hope the new right-side tire still has falloff and that we are slipping and sliding around while having to manage your stuff. I could see us being able to move around the track – run on bottom or the top. The racing should be good, but until we get on the track in practice and see how the tire reacts, time will tell. Overall, I’m looking forward to the race in our United Rentals Chevrolet and ready for a double duty weekend.”

Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 Hyak Motorsports Chevrolet

“Bristol has always been one of my favorite tracks, I love coming here to race. My guys have been working hard this week to get the No. 47 NOS Energy Drink Chevrolet ready and I’m excited for the race under the lights Saturday night.”

Michael McDowell, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

What makes the Bristol night race so special?

“The Bristol Night Race is all about the intensity. It just pumps it up. Obviously, with it being a cutoff round of the playoffs and it being a night race, it is just an electric environment and such a fun atmosphere. It is always a cool and fun night. I’ve had good success there, a bunch of near top-10 finishes over the last few years. We had a few issues there in the spring, but we know what we needed to work on and know what we had to fix. It was a very evident issue for us, so I feel good about going back there. Justin (Haley) and Carson (Hocevar) had a ton of speed at that first Bristol race, so we have a good notebook. We feel like we will be contenders there.”

Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

In the most recent race at Bristol, Spire Motorsports showed a lot of strength. The No. 77 team in particular looked on track for a top-five finish before the final pit stop. How do you use that race to prepare for Saturday night?

“It’s tough because Bristol can be so unpredictable. If anything, the spring race shows that we are capable of running up front. We have that information to use to our advantage and try to find something that will be just as good for us under the lights. It adds a lot of confidence. We know we can do it, it’s just putting every piece together, which is what we’ve been working on all year. I think we’ll be good. With it being a cutoff race for the playoff guys it’ll be interesting to see how things play out, but we have our own race to run and know what we need to do over these last eight races.”

Shane van Gisbergen, No. 88 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

Thoughts on going to Bristol this weekend, knowing you are below the playoff cut line?

“Well, it’s a cool track. I really struggled there in the spring, it’s a tough track for someone like me. It will be important to have a clean, well-executed race, try and get stage points and be up there all night. It’s going to be a battle.”

What has the playoff experience been like for you so far?

“It’s been good. I just wish, obviously, that we could’ve gotten better results the last two weekends. It’s going to be tough this weekend to get through, but the reality is we aren’t there yet on ovals. It’s coming, but we are just forcing it too quickly at the moment.”

Connor Zilisch, No. 88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet

How confident are you that you can continue this run as the Playoffs start at Bristol?

“Honestly, this is going to be tough to keep up. It’s rare that you can go on a run like this. Four wins in a row is awesome for sure and that’s wins in seven of the last eight races for our WeatherTech Chevrolet team. Every week I think this is the week where it’s going to end but every race Mardy Lindley and the guys bring a winning race car. My pit crew and team execute. Everyone does their job, and we end up doing burnouts on the frontstretch at the end of the race. It’s awesome to be able to do this and win this many races. This is the most wins by JR Motorsports as a team in a year and that’s really cool.”

Have you been able to take time and enjoy your success this season?

“I’m enjoying each moment. I’m enjoying each moment. Each Sunday I go home and make sure that I enjoy it with my family, my friends, and celebrate these wins. In the back of my mind I definitely think about what I can do to be better and what I can learn in these races this year that will help me next year. I try to not look too far ahead.”

 
Chevrolet NASCAR Cup Series Statistics

Manufacturers Championships:

Total (1949-2024): 43

First title for Chevrolet: 1958

Highest number of consecutive titles: 13 (2003-15)

Most recent: 2024

Years Won: 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024

Drivers Championships:

Total (1949-2024): 33

First Chevrolet champion: Buck Baker (1957)

Highest number of consecutive titles: 7 (2005-11)

Most recent: Kyle Larson (2021)

Years Won: 1957, 1960, 1961, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2020, 2021

Event Victories:

Record for total race wins in single season: 26 (2007)

2025 STATISTICS:

Wins: 12

Poles: 10

Laps Led: 3,188

Top-Fives: 54

Top-10s: 115

Stage Wins: 22

CHEVROLET IN NASCAR CUMULATIVE STATISTICS:

Total Chevrolet race wins: 878 (1949 to date)

Poles won to date: 763

Laps led to date: 255,899

Top-fives to date: 4,423

Top-10s to date: 9,122

Total NASCAR Cup Wins by Corporation, 1949 to Date:

       General Motors: 1,212

       Chevrolet: 878

       Pontiac: 154

       Oldsmobile: 115

       Buick: 65



       Ford: 845                                                                               

       Ford: 745

       Mercury: 96

       Lincoln: 4



       Fiat Chrysler Automobiles: 467

       Dodge: 217

       Plymouth: 191

       Chrysler: 59



       Toyota: 200

 

About General Motors

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

FUNNY CAR CHAMP AUSTIN PROCK PLAYOFF READY HEADING TO NHRA NATIONALS PRESENTED BY NITRO FISH

By
Official Release
-

READING, Pa. (Sept. 10, 2025) – Funny Car points leader Austin Prock took a brief moment to reflect on what he’s accomplished since the start of the 2024 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season.

But it was almost immediately back to business for the reigning world champion, especially with work still to be done. He’s enjoyed another dominant season thus far, but heading into this weekend’s 40th annual NHRA Reading Nationals presented by Nitro Fish at Maple Grove Raceway, Prock isn’t letting up.

Coming off a Cornwell Quality Tools U.S. Nationals win, a regular-season championship and a victory in the PlayNHRA All-Star Callout at Indy, Prock is just as eager to keep pushing forward in his 12,000-horsepower Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS.

The Countdown to the Championship points reset for the playoffs gives Prock just a 20-point lead over his nearest competitor – John Force Racing teammate Jack Beckman – which is all the motivation Prock and his team needs heading into the playoff opener at Reading.

“We had one of the most dominant performances in Funny Car history last year,” said Prock, who has rolled to seven wins thus far in 2025. “We’ve come out this year and matched that, and actually have one more win than we did at this point last season. But the points reset after Indy and everything can change. We just have to keep doing what we’ve been doing.

“Last year, we rolled into the Countdown and won Reading and Charlotte back-to-back. When you can do that, it puts a lot of pressure on everybody else and gives you a little bit of a pad. That’s what gave us the edge to win the championship.”

Antron Brown (Top Fuel), Prock (Funny Car), Aaron Stanfield (Pro Stock) and Hector Arana Jr. (Pro Stock Motorcycle) all claimed wins in their respective categories, at Maple Grove Raceway a year ago, with Brown and Prock finishing the season as world champions. The race will again be broadcast on FS1, including eliminations at 2 p.m. ET on Sunday.

It is the 15th of 20 races during the 2025 season and the first of six events in the Countdown to the Championship, and Prock has enjoyed plenty of success at one of the quickest and fastest tracks on the NHRA circuit.

He won in Top Fuel in 2022 and then again last year in Funny Car en route to his march to the world championship. Prock won the first two playoff races to send an early statement and he would love to repeat that scenario this year.

But it certainly won’t be easy, taking on a championship-tested field that includes four-time champion Matt Hagan, who starts the Countdown in third, three-time champ Ron Capps and past champions Beckman, J.R. Todd and Cruz Pedregon. Add in the likes of Bob Tasca III, Paul Lee, Daniel Wilkerson, Chad Green and rookie Spencer Hyde, and it’s a loaded group that should make for a thrilling championship race.

Prock, though, is ready, looking for any chance to improve and make the most of every possible opportunity.

“I’m really strict on myself,” said Prock, who has 15 Funny Car wins over the past 32 races. “Even though we are having success, you’re still so hungry to turn on those win lights. Winning never gets old. I want to keep adding my name to the history book.”

Top Fuel’s Brown aims to get hot at the perfect time in his quest for a repeat title. He’s in a championship-hungry group that includes points leader Tony Stewart, Shawn Langdon, Indy winner Justin Ashley, Doug Kalitta, Brittany Force and Clay Millican.

Stanfield will attempt for back-to-back Pro Stock wins against a loaded group that features reigning world champ Greg Anderson, points leader Dallas Glenn, six-time world champ and Indy winner Erica Enders and Jeg Coughlin Jr., a five-time champ.

In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Gaige Herrera is the current points leader, while other top names include Matt Smith, a three-time Reading winner, Angie Smith, Richard Gadson, Chase Van Sant, Steve Johnson and John Hall.

The event will also feature thrilling competition in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, as well as Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown, Holley EFI Factory X and Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage Mountain Motor Pro Stock.

Fans are invited to the Nitro Alley Stage, the entertainment hub in the pits, hosting Nitro School, meet and greets, interviews, music and more. Reading race fans can enjoy the special pre-race ceremonies that introduce and celebrate each of the drivers racing for the prestigious Wally on Sunday and includes the fan favorite SealMaster Track Walk. The final can’t-miss experience of any NHRA event is the winner’s circle celebration on Sunday after racing concludes, where fans are invited to congratulate event winners.

As always, fans get an exclusive pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet. Fans get a unique chance to see teams in action and service their hot rods between rounds, get autographs from their favorite NHRA drivers, and more. They can also visit Manufacturers Midway, an exciting atmosphere that includes interactive displays, merchandise, food and fun for the entire family.

NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying features two rounds at 2:30 and 5 p.m. ET on Friday, Sept. 12 and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, Sept. 13 at 12:30 and 3 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 11 a.m. ET on Sunday, Sept. 14. Television coverage includes qualifying action on FS1 at 12 p.m. ET on Sunday on FS1, and eliminations at 2 p.m. Sunday on FS1.

To purchase tickets to the 40th annual NHRA Reading Nationals presented by Nitro Fish at Maple Grove Raceway, fans can visit www.maplegroveraceway.com. All children 12 and under are admitted free in the general admission area with a paid adult. For more information on the NHRA, please visit www.NHRA.com.

About Mission Foods

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

About NHRA

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

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

By
Official Release
-

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
-

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

By
Official Release
-

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
-

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.

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