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

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

Event Recap

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

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

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

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

Notes of Interest

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

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

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

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

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

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

Team Penske NASCAR Cup Series Race Report – Bristol 2

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Importance Of Interior Organization and Cleaning for Family Cars

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

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

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

Assessing the Interior and Removing Clutter

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

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

Cleaning Surfaces and Upholstery

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

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

Organizing Storage Solutions

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

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

Maintaining Cleanliness and Habits

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

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

Addressing Odors and Air Quality

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

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

Conclusion

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Xfinity Series

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cup Series

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

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

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

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

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

RCR NCS Race Recap: Bristol Motor Speedway

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rick Ware Racing: Bass Pro Shops Night Race from Bristol

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

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

RWR Finish:

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

RWR Points:

● Cody Ware (36th with 202 points)

Race Notes:

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

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

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

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

Sound Bites:

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

Next Up:

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

Kaulig Racing Race Recap | Bass Pro Shops Night Race

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Official Release
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No. 10 Grizzly Nicotine Pouches Camaro ZL1

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

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

No. 16 Grizzly Nicotine Pouches Camaro ZL1

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

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

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

BELL COMPLETES A TOYOTA, JOE GIBBS RACING OPENING ROUND SWEEP

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Official Release
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Christopher Bell scores fourth win of the season, setting new career-high

BRISTOL, Tenn. (September 13, 2025) – Christopher Bell and his team made the right strategy call late and Bell drove through the field to score the win at Bristol Motor Speedway to clinch his spot in the Round of 12. It is Bell’s fourth points-paying victory of the season, which establishes a new career-best mark for the Oklahoma-native. Joe Gibbs Racing swept the Round of 16 with Bell, Chase Briscoe (Darlington) and Denny Hamlin (World Wide Technology Raceway at Gateway). Joe Gibbs Racing also won every race they competed in this weekend with Brent Crews winning in ARCA on Thursday and Aric Almirola claiming the Xfinity Series win on Friday.

Toyota led 870 of 1,107 laps in the first round (78.5%) and now has the more drivers than any other OEM in the Round of 12 with Bell, Briscoe, Hamlin and 23XI Racing drivers Tyler Reddick and Bubba Wallace. To start the round, Toyota has four drivers above the cutline with Hamlin up 26, Bell up 20, Briscoe up 10 and Wallace up 1 point. Reddick starts three below the cutline heading into New Hampshire.

Truck Series points leader and Toyota Development Driver Corey Heim impressed as he drove to a sixth-place, lead lap finish in just his seventh career NASCAR Cup Series start, while Ty Gibbs set a new career-best with 201 laps led.

Toyota GAZOO Racing Post-Race Recap
NASCAR Cup Series (NCS)
Bristol Motor Speedway
Race 29 of 36 – 266.5 miles, 500 laps

TOYOTA FINISHING POSITIONS

1st, CHRISTOPHER BELL
2nd, Brad Keselowski*
3rd, Zane Smith*
4th, Ryan Blaney*
5th, Joey Logano*
6th, COREY HEIM
9th, CHASE BRISCOE
10th, TY GIBBS
14th, JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK
15th, TYLER REDDICK
18th, RILEY HERBST
20th, ERIK JONES
31st, DENNY HAMLIN
34th, BUBBA WALLACE
*non-Toyota driver

TOYOTA QUOTES

CHRISTOPHER BELL, No. 20 DEWALT Toyota Camry XSE, Joe Gibbs Racing

Finishing Position: 1st

Can you take us through that restart?

“Well, I’ll tell you what, I was nervous on the twos. I didn’t know if I wanted to be on the bottom or the top, and whenever Brad (Keselowski) picked the top, he didn’t really give me an option. I had to pick the bottom. All night long, I don’t know, old tires just really, really pushed up in the middle of the corners, so I was hoping that those guys on old tires would push up, and they did. They did, and I was able to get by or get underneath them. It wasn’t pretty there at the end, but we got her done.”

How did this team rally to be able to pull this off tonight?

“We just know that any week, any given week, it could be us, and it hadn’t been us for a long time. But Bristol, baby, tonight it’s us!”

COREY HEIM, No. 67 Robinhood Toyota Camry XSE, 23XI Racing

Finishing Position: 6th

Finished all 500 laps and scored a career-best finish. Can you tell us about your day?

“Yeah, a good result there. Once everyone kind of realized the situation with the tires, we adjusted accordingly and did all of the right things and kept ourselves in it all day. It was a claw to get back on the lead lap after we had a right front go down in stage one, but can’t thank these 23XI Racing guys enough – they stuck with it. Thank you to Toyota and Robinhood for all of the support that went into my five Cup races this year. All the ups and downs that we had – to end on a high note is pretty special. Hopefully we can take that and move forward.”

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

Finishing Position: 9th

Can you talk us through moving through the field on a wild night?

“It was definitely a wild night. We had a really good Bass Pro Shops, Tracker Toyota. Thought starting back there was going to be a huge determent – but honestly, how the race played out it was alright I guess. Crazy race. I didn’t have that one on the bingo card going into tonight. I don’t know if anyone did – truthfully. I don’t know. It was wild. I don’t know – I’m still processing what we just did. I wish that last caution wouldn’t have come out. It kind of trapped us – we had just came down pit road. That is the hard part on races like that – one untimely caution can change your whole race. Congrats to Christopher (Bell) – obviously pretty cool that JGR (Joe Gibbs Racing) swept that first round, and hopefully we can do that in the next round.”

TYLER REDDICK, No. 45 Pinnacle Toyota Camry XSE, 23XI Racing

Finishing Position: 15th

Moving on to the Round of 12, Tyler. How was your race?

“Just a night of what ifs – we were honestly pretty solid in our Pinnacle Financial Partners Toyota Camry. Stage one – when no one knew the tires we going to be what they were, we just burnt them up too much at the start, and just caught a lap down running 11th – and it seemed the rest of the night we had a hard time getting back on the lead lap, just kept missing the lucky dog. We did get it back at one point, but caution cycle got us again – so that was just how the night was.”

About Toyota

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

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

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

How Sim Racing Is Shaping the Future of Motorsport Training

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

Motorsport has always been a discipline that pushes the limits of both man and machine. Drivers spend countless hours refining their skills, engineers analyze data to perfect car performance, and teams invest heavily in training to gain even the smallest competitive edge. In recent years, however, a new tool has emerged that is reshaping how drivers prepare for competition: sim racing. What was once considered a pastime for gamers has matured into a powerful resource for motorsport professionals and aspiring drivers alike.

The Rise of Professional Sim Racing

Sim racing has been around for decades, but advances in technology have transformed it from a casual hobby into a near-authentic motorsport experience. Modern simulators replicate track conditions, tire behaviour, weather, and car dynamics with extraordinary accuracy. The realism is so high that professional drivers now use simulators to learn tracks, test strategies, and sharpen their reactions before stepping into a real car.

Motorsport organizations, including Formula 1 and NASCAR, have invested heavily in esports and simulator programs. Entire competitions are dedicated to virtual racing, and some teams scout talented sim racers to transition into professional driving careers. This merging of real and virtual racing is not just entertainment; it represents a shift in how the industry values simulation as a legitimate training tool.

Cost-Effective Training for Drivers

Racing is notoriously expensive. The cost of fuel, tires, track rental, and vehicle wear makes traditional practice limited and often prohibitive, especially for young drivers. Sim racing provides a cost-effective alternative. For a fraction of the cost of a test session, a driver can practice on a simulator as many times as needed.

This affordability helps level the playing field. Instead of only wealthy drivers gaining valuable seat time, sim racing gives aspiring talents around the world the chance to train, refine their skills, and compete on equal terms. Many young racers now combine simulator practice with real-world racing, making them better prepared when opportunities arise.

Data-Driven Performance Analysis

Another advantage of sim racing is the wealth of data it produces. Just like in professional motorsport, every lap in a simulator can be recorded and analyzed. Drivers can examine braking points, cornering speeds, throttle control, and lap consistency. Coaches and engineers can use this data to pinpoint areas for improvement and design training plans.

This analytical approach mirrors what happens in real race teams. By bridging the gap between virtual and real-world data, sim racing creates continuity that makes the transition from simulator to track smoother than ever before.

Developing Mental Toughness and Focus

Racing is as much a mental challenge as it is a physical one. Drivers must maintain concentration at high speeds, make split-second decisions, and manage pressure in competitive environments. Sim racing helps cultivate these mental skills.

Long practice sessions in a simulator force drivers to maintain focus for extended periods, mimicking the demands of endurance races. The competitive nature of online racing also introduces pressure, as drivers must deal with opponents, track limits, and strategy in real time. Over time, this builds resilience and decision-making ability that translates directly to the real circuit.

Bridging Fans and Professionals

One of the unique impacts of sim racing is its ability to connect fans with the professional motorsport world. While traditional racing limits fans to watching from the stands or on television, sim racing allows them to experience the same tracks and cars used by their heroes. Fans can immerse themselves in the technical and emotional aspects of racing, gaining a deeper appreciation for the sport.

This accessibility also benefits drivers. Aspiring racers can showcase their skills in virtual competitions that are watched by teams and sponsors. The esports scene has already produced stories of sim racers transitioning into professional motorsport, a pathway that was previously unthinkable just a decade ago.

Enhancing Realism Through Hardware

The realism of sim racing depends heavily on the hardware involved. High-end steering wheels, pedals, and motion platforms replicate the feel of a real car. Among the most important pieces of equipment is the racing simulator cockpit, which provides drivers with a realistic seating position and immersive environment. These cockpits replicate the ergonomics of actual race cars, ensuring that the muscle memory and body positioning developed in the simulator carry over into real racing. As this technology continues to evolve, the gap between virtual training and track performance grows ever smaller.

Preparing for the Future of Motorsport

Motorsport itself is evolving. With increasing focus on sustainability, teams and governing bodies are seeking ways to reduce costs and environmental impact. Sim racing plays a role here, too. Reducing the need for frequent track testing cuts down on fuel consumption and vehicle wear. This aligns with broader goals to make racing more eco-friendly without compromising competition.

Moreover, sim racing prepares drivers for the future of connected and data-driven motorsport. As vehicles become more technologically advanced, the ability to understand data, adapt quickly, and simulate scenarios will be essential skills. Sim racing is already instilling these habits in the next generation of drivers.

Conclusion

The line between virtual and real motorsport has never been thinner. What started as a video game niche has grown into an essential training platform used by professionals and enthusiasts alike. Sim racing is affordable, data-driven, and immersive, providing benefits that complement traditional track time. From developing mental toughness to offering realistic cockpit setups, it is reshaping how drivers prepare for competition.

As the motorsport world continues to evolve, sim racing will remain at the forefront of driver development. It is no longer just a game; it is a gateway to the future of racing.

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