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Christian Rasmussen earns maiden victory at Milwaukee

By
Tucker White
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MILWAUKEE - AUGUST 24: Christian Rasmussen, driver of the #21 Ed Carpenter Racing Chevrolet, hugs teammate, Alexander Rossi, in victory lane after winning the NTT IndyCar Series Snap-On Milwaukee Mile 250 at the Milwaukee Mile on Aug. 24, 2025, in Milwaukee. Photo: Joe Skibinski/Penske Entertainment

As Christian Rasmussen hopped out of his car and celebrated his first career IndyCar victory, he pounded the windscreen of his car and hugged both his teammate Alexander Rossi and his crew members.

Two weeks after winning the championship, Alex Palou dominated and was on his way to another victory at the Milwaukee Mile. But then the rain came. While the 2025 series champion stayed out, along with two other drivers, the rest of the field pitted under the caution with 42 laps to go. On fresh tires and with 21 laps to go, Rasmussen passed Scott McLaughlin for second. In five laps, he cut the lead from two seconds to less than three-tenths of a second. With 15 laps to go, Rasmussen overtook Palou for the lead and drove on to his maiden victory in the Snap-On Milwaukee Mile 250.

“Yeah, amazing,” Rasmussen said. “Great job by the team this weekend. We started pretty rough, like we were really struggling in practice one. Got it turned around for qualifying. Qualified better than I thought we would, to be honest, which was really good.

“The race went our way. We did what we do best on ovals: running whatever line the car in front is not (smiling). Again, we were amazing in traffic, which that’s what made the main difference today again I think. Then with a good call there at the end going onto the new tires, having something to fight with.

“Yeah, pretty cool getting my first win here. Good Sunday.”

It’s his first career victory in 15 NTT INDYCAR Series starts.

Palou led 199 of 250 laps, but came home second. McLaughlin rounded out the podium in third.

“Yeah, was amazing day for us,” Palou said. “Anyway, I thought it was my best race on an oval, even though we didn’t win. I think we’ve got some (indiscernible). The 500, I think it was just different how everything played out.

“Today was amazing, a bunch of fun. Good on Christian. I think he was really fast. It’s great to see him win.”

“I mean, that was probably Alex’s race,” McLaughlin said. “(Indiscernible) let that happen. Massive congrats to Christian. As Alex said, he’s been super quick on ovals, super brave. He’s doing an awesome job with that car.

“He has a great teammate in Alex. Yeah, just cool to see someone get their first race win. I know how that feels. Alex knows how that feels. It’s a special moment.

“Yeah, proud for my team. Nice to get some momentum back. A couple of top 10s, now a podium. Not exactly what we want, but it’s a start.”

Rossi and Pato O’Ward rounded out the top-five.

Christian Lundgaard, Josef Newgarden, David Malukas, Scott Dixon and Marcus Armstrong rounded out the top-10.

Christian Rasmussen earns maiden victory at Milwaukee

Race summary

Palou led the field to green at 2:21 p.m. ET. Caution flew on the first lap when Nolan Siegel clipped the curb in Turn 4, got loose and hit the outside wall.

Back to green on Lap 10, caution flew on the same lap when Graham Rahal spun in Turn 2, but maintained control of his car.

Back to green on Lap 16, Malukas went high in Turns 1 and 2 and overtook Palou for the lead. Afterwards, the field settled into a green flag rhythm. After pulling out to a 1.5 second lead, Malukas backed off his pace when he caught the back-end of the field on Lap 35. This let Palou close the gap down to under a second. When Malukas caught Jacob Abel, the gap shrank to under half a second. By Lap 39, Malukas cleared Abel in Turn 2. Eventually, thanks to lap traffic, Palou closed in and passed him for the lead in Turn 3 on Lap 41.

With the four-stop pit window open, Rossi kicked off a cycle of green flag stops on Lap 49. Palou pit from the lead on Lap 58. Louis Foster pit from the lead on Lap 60 and Palou cycled back to the lead.

The second round of green flag stops began on Lap 102. Palou pit from the lead on Lap 104 and caution flew on Lap 105 when Will Power hit the wall in Turn 2, again in Turn 3 and spun down the track. On pit road, Malukas, who pitted on Lap 103, suffered a pit gun failure and lost a lap.

Back to green on Lap 119, the field, again, settled into a green flag rhythm. Caution flew on Lap 142 when Callum Illot’s engine expired. Marcus Armstrong stayed out to take the lead.

Back to green on Lap 154, Palou overtook Armstrong in Turn 1 with ease to retake the race lead. Rossi kicked off the final cycle of green flag stops on Lap 190. Palou pit from the lead on Lap 196.

Caution flew with 42 laps to go for rain. Palou, McLaughlin and Newgarden stayed out. While the rest of the field pitted under this caution.

Back to green with 29 laps to go, Palou pulled out to a two-second lead. With 21 to go, Christian Rasmussen, on fresh tires, overtook McLaughlin for second. In three laps, he cut the lead from two seconds to under a second. With 16 to go, he caught the tail of Palou. With 15 to go, he ran high in Turns 3 and 4 to edge Palou at the line and overtook him going into Turn 1.

Christian Rasmussen earns maiden victory at Milwaukee

What else happened

Conor Daly gained five spots on the opening lap, going from ninth to fourth. Colton Herta went from 17th to 10th.

Christian Rasmussen earns maiden victory at Milwaukee

Nuts and bolts

The race lasted two hours, two minutes and eight seconds, at an average speed of 124.656 mph. There were 11 lead changes among six different drivers and five cautions for 49 laps.

The NTT INDYCAR SERIES returns to action for the final time in 2025, next Sunday, at Nashville Superspeedway.

Late Charge Delivers First Win to Rasmussen in Milwaukee Stunner

By
Official Release
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WEST ALLIS, Wis. (Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025) – Christian Rasmussen got the break he needed from Mother Nature, and then he and Ed Carpenter Racing did the rest.

Rasmussen used deft tire strategy by his team during a late caution period and then powered his No. 21 ECR Splenda Stevia Chevrolet past the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda of pole sitter and freshly crowned series champion Alex Palou with 16 laps to go to win the Snap-on Milwaukee Mile 250 on Sunday, his first career NTT INDYCAR SERIES victory.

“Today was amazing,” Rasmussen said. “We were so good on new tires, even compared to other cars on new tires. Wow – that’s a good day, a good Sunday.”

2023 INDY NXT by Firestone season champion Rasmussen, in his second NTT INDYCAR SERIES season with ECR, earned his breakthrough victory in his 30th career start. He became the newest first-time winner in the series since fellow Danish driver Christian Lundgaard in July 2023 at Toronto, and this was the first victory for ECR since Rinus VeeKay triumphed in May 2021 on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course.

“I knew this was coming for Christian,” team owner Ed Carpenter said. “He’s the best there is right now on short ovals, He has shown it all season long. That yellow played to his hand, and he did an amazing job taking advantage of his new tires and Chevy power. It feels so good; it’s been a while since we’ve won a race.”

Rasmussen beat Palou to the finish by 1.9463 seconds after taking the lead on Lap 235 of 250. Scott McLaughlin finished third in the No. 3 Sonsio Vehicle Protection Chevrolet of Team Penske, tying his season best.

Alexander Rossi finished a season-best fourth in the No. 20 ECR Java House Chevrolet to put two ECR cars in the top five at the checkered flag for the first time this year. Pato O’Ward rounded out the top five in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet.

Palou, who led 199 laps, saw a 2.011-second lead over McLaughlin evaporate when sprinkles around the historic 1.015-mile oval were reported on Lap 209, triggering the fifth and final caution period of the race.

During that caution, Palou, McLaughlin and third-place Josef Newgarden elected to stay out of the pits and keep their track position. Meanwhile, Rasmussen, Rossi and O’Ward were among a handful of drivers to dive into the pits for a quick change to fresh Firestone Firehawk tires, knowing speed diminished quickly when tire wear ramped up during this race.

After the restart on Lap 222, it took Rossi and Rasmussen just one lap to climb to fourth and fifth, respectively. Rasmussen then passed Rossi for fourth, with his sights set on Newgarden in third.

Rasmussen dove under Newgarden’s No. 2 Snap-on Team Penske Chevrolet in Turn 3 on Lap 227 and was .6 of a second behind second-place McLaughlin and 2.2 seconds behind Palou.

But the traction provided by the fresh Firestone tires – Palou, McLaughlin and Newgarden each made their final stops on Laps 196 or 197, nearly 15 laps earlier than Rasmussen – proved decisive.

Rasmussen was gobbling time on every area of the track with fresh rubber and his typically aggressive style, driving around McLaughlin with a high-line move in Turn 2 on Lap 230. Palou was 1.321 seconds ahead in the lead, but it appeared to be only a matter of time until Rasmussen would catch the four-time series champion and pounce.

That moment arrived on Lap 235 when Palou and Rasmussen went side by side through Turns 3 and 4, inches apart, with Palou hugging the low line and Rasmussen in the high groove. Rasmussen edged ahead on the front straightaway, officially taking the lead for good at the start-finish line, and finally got around Palou for clear sailing in Turn 1 on Lap 236.

It was the first time Rasmussen led all day, a spot he wouldn’t surrender. The Dane held steady while navigating lapped traffic over the closing laps for his momentous first win, which maybe shouldn’t be considered a stunner considering he, Palou and O’Ward are the only three drivers to finish in the top 10 in all five series oval races this season.

“We were talking before the race that if there was a late caution, then we want to go on new tires because it is such an advantage,” Rasmussen said. “There were more people that did it than I thought there would in that last stint, but it was definitely the right choice.”

The runner-up finish for Palou was his 12th top-three result in 16 starts this season, with eight victories. But finishing second also ended his chance to tie fellow legends A.J. Foyt and Al Unser for the most victories in an INDYCAR SERIES season, 10, at the season-ending Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix presented by Willscot on Sunday, Aug. 31 at Nashville Superspeedway (2 p.m. ET, FOX, FOX One, FOX Sports app, INDYCAR Radio Network).

Snap-on Milwaukee Mile 250 Race Results

1. (9) Christian Rasmussen, Chevrolet, 250, Running
2. (1) Alex Palou, Honda, 250, Running
3. (4) Scott McLaughlin, Chevrolet, 250, Running
4. (12) Alexander Rossi, Chevrolet, 250, Running
5. (3) Pato O’Ward, Chevrolet, 250, Running
6. (17) Christian Lundgaard, Chevrolet, 250, Running
7. (7) Josef Newgarden, Chevrolet, 250, Running
8. (2) David Malukas, Chevrolet, 250, Running
9. (14) Scott Dixon, Honda, 250, Running
10. (16) Marcus Armstrong, Honda, 250, Running
11. (24) Colton Herta, Honda, 250, Running
12. (6) Kyle Kirkwood, Honda, 250, Running
13. (8) Conor Daly, Chevrolet, 250, Running
14. (21) Santino Ferrucci, Chevrolet, 250, Running
15. (11) Rinus VeeKay, Honda, 250, Running
16. (15) Devlin DeFrancesco, Honda, 250, Running
17. (27) Louis Foster, Honda, 249, Running
18. (20) Robert Shwartzman, Chevrolet, 249, Running
19. (13) Marcus Ericsson, Honda, 249, Running
20. (26) Kyffin Simpson, Honda, 249, Running
21. (22) Jacob Abel, Honda, 248, Running
22. (25) Felix Rosenqvist, Honda, 248, Running
23. (19) Sting Ray Robb, Chevrolet, 248, Running
24. (10) Graham Rahal, Honda, 247, Running
25. (23) Callum Ilott, Chevrolet, 137, Mechanical
26. (5) Will Power, Chevrolet, 102, Contact
27. (18) Nolan Siegel, Chevrolet, 0, Contact

Race Statistics
Winner’s average speed: 124.656 mph
Time of race: 02:02:08.1735
Margin of victory: 1.9463 seconds
Cautions: 5 for 49 laps
Lead changes: 10 among 6 drivers


Lap Leaders:
Palou, Alex 1 – 15
Malukas, David 16 – 40
Palou, Alex 41 – 58
Foster, Louis 59
Palou, Alex 60 – 145
Armstrong, Marcus 146 – 153
Palou, Alex 154 – 196
Rosenqvist, Felix 197
Palou, Alex 198 – 234
Rasmussen, Christian 235 – 250

NTT INDYCAR SERIES Point Standings:
Palou 670, O’Ward 505, Dixon 433, Lundgaard 426, Kirkwood 405, Herta 352, Armstrong 352, Power 347, Rosenqvist 346, McLaughlin 320, Malukas 312, Rasmussen 308, VeeKay 287, Rossi 276, Ferrucci 269, Newgarden 265, Rahal 252, Simpson 250, Daly 237, Ericsson 219, Foster 203, Ilott 196, Shwartzman 195, Siegel 200, Robb 167, DeFrancesco 159, Abel 116, Takuma Sato 36, Helio Castroneves 20, Ed Carpenter 16, Jack Harvey 12, Ryan Hunter-Reay 10, Kyle Larson 6, Marco Andretti 5

Meyer Shank Racing Scores Another Top Ten Result in Milwaukee

By
Official Release
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#66: Marcus Armstrong, Meyer Shank Racing Honda

West Allis, Wisc. (24 August 2025) – Meyer Shank Racing’s NTT INDYCAR SERIES team took more than its share of knockdowns this weekend at the Milwaukee Mile but its drivers got up time and time again to fight back and salvage a top-10 finish at Sunday’s Snap-on Milwaukee Mile 250.

An uncharacteristic tough qualifying session saw the duo of Felix Rosenqvist (No. 60 SiriusXM Honda) and Marcus Armstrong (No. 66 St. Thomas University Honda) start in the back half of the field for the first time this year.

The pair stretched its fuel mileage longer than most during the first two stints, giving MSR strategists some runway to work with in plotting later moves. The first roll of the dice came after a Lap 145 caution when everyone except Armstrong pitted, putting the New Zealand-born driver in the lead for the restart after the lengthy caution to clean the racing surface.

The dice came up snake eyes on that gamble as Armstrong’s older tires saw him get inhaled on the restart and drop all the way back to 17th, while Rosenqvist’s longer fuel run allowed him to get the lap back that he had lost earlier in the race. Armstrong clawed back into the hunt during his next stop when the MSR squad’s lightning-quick pit stop earned him four spots during a caution for a brief rain shower with 41 laps to run.

The stop promoted Armstrong to 10th for the run to the finish while Rosenqvist fought hard but ended up a lap down and in 22nd.

Armstrong’s reward for his perseverance was a jump in the championship standings, as he vaulted provisionally into sixth place as he looks to earn his first top-10 season-long finish since placing second in the FIA Formula 3 championship in 2019.

The 2025 season that started back in the first week of March ends next week in Nashville with the Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix. Held on the 1.33-mile concrete Nashville Superspeedway oval, the season-closing weekend will feature a two-day format with Sunday’s 225-lap race getting underway on FOX at 2 p.m. Eastern Time. As has been the case all year, all INDYCAR sessions can be heard live on Sirius XM radio on Channel 218.

Marcus Armstrong: “Top ten and good points! Tricky day honestly. The car wasn’t so easy to drive at any point in the race. So, I was very pleased to get that result and great job on the pit stops by the 66 crew. Now we move onto Nashville where I know we have a really strong package.”

Felix Rosenqvist: “Didn’t have anything today. Lacking grip front and rear. The stand did a good job of putting us in a good position, but we just couldn’t capitalize on it. At some point, we were sort of back in the mix, but just kind of felt like a rock. That was kind of it…just had nothing.”

Fletcher Crowned Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup King of VIR with Fourth Consecutive Win

By
Official Release
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ALTON, Va. (Aug. 24, 2025) – Sunday’s Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by Michelin race was a near repeat of Saturday’s, with Jeremy Fletcher (No. 22 McCumbee McAleer Racing) taking the win behind the safety car. Securing his fourth straight win at VIRginia International Raceway propelled Fletcher into the championship lead.

Like Saturday’s race, a rookie started from pole: Helio Meza (No. 27 BSI Racing). The previous day’s polesitter, Justin Adakonis (No. 23 McCumbee McAleer Racing), started from last after swapping to a backup car.

Fletcher had a tremendous start and was able to take over the lead on lap two, while Meza was busy trying to hold off Ethan Goulart (No. 29 Saito Motorsport Group).

Fletcher had to hang on through two restarts from yellow, but was saved by the last full-course yellow, which brought the race to an end behind the safety car.

“Sweeping the weekend for the second time was definitely a nice feeling,” Fletcher said. “I can’t thank Dalton Dow enough for being on the radio with me, and he got me both these wins today, calling these cautions. I want to thank the entire McCumbee McAleer Racing crew. They’ve given me the fastest car all year, and I just got to turn the steering wheel and hit the brake pedal sometimes. I’m super thankful for all of them. This means a lot to me, especially getting the points lead.

“I definitely owe Gresham [Wagner],” Fletcher added. “He should have probably won that race. He had the pace.”

With only two more races to go, Fletcher now leads the points championship by 150 points and is that much closer to winning the $250,000 prize from Mazda.

Meza was Fletcher’s shadow throughout the race, until some contact on the lap 17 restart sent him into the Turn One grass. He was able to hold on but fell to the back of the field.

He had a tricky start to the race, but Gresham Wagner (No. 81 RAFA Racing by MMR) steadily picked his way into the top five by the race’s halfway point. With less than 10 minutes to go, he was filling Fletcher’s rear-view mirror. Unfortunately, he only had one green flag lap to make the pass, before the third and final full-course yellow was issued.

Wagner followed his teammate across the finish line, satisfied that if he couldn’t win it, at least his teammate did. Wagner missed four races this season and is not in contention for the championship.

“I got moved out of the way in Oak Tree early on and got shuffled back to the edge of the top 10,” Wagner said. “So that wasn’t great, but I knew I had a long race in front of me. As the race goes on, the cars get hotter and hotter, so it just gets harder and harder to pass. And you’ve got to pick your moves a bit more, I guess, sparingly, because it has to stick, otherwise you’re just going to get passed by one or two cars behind you and then get stuck behind them. Toward the end of the race, I found my rhythm a bit and made the right moves to get up there and fight for the win. The yellow came out right after I’d gotten passed, but I’m definitely happy to see it be my teammate, Jeremy [Fletcher], who has worked hard this weekend and kind of needs that win a bit more than I do going into the finale.”

Westin Workman (No. 13 BSI Racing) started from the 13th spot and was in a veritable hornet’s nest for most of the race. He was eighth before the final restart and was the largest beneficiary of the incident that sent Meza into the Turn One grass.

He kept to the inside and was fourth exiting Turn One. A few corners later, he was around Nathan Nicholson (No. 56 Advanced Autosports) and into third just before the final full-course caution.

“My race was kind of it was fast-paced and slow-paced at the same time,” Workman said. “I felt like I was hanging around that seventh position for a very long time, but the seas just kept parting ways for me, and I was taking advantage of everything that was happening in front of me. On the last restart, three or four cars got together, and I took advantage of it. It was unfortunate that it ended under yellow. I just wish it lasted a little longer, maybe we could have had something for the two MMR cars out front.”

Adakonis took a play from Wagner’s book by starting last and finishing fourth, just as his teammate did in Saturday’s race. Picking up 28 positions in the race earned Adakonis the Penske Shocking Performance Award. He was also the highest finishing rookie, earning him valuable points in the contest for $80,000 from Mazda for being Rookie of the Year.

He gave Meza a tough fight in the opening laps of the race, but Goulart got swallowed up in each restart and ended his day in fifth. The Mid-Ohio race winner is credited with leading one lap, however.

Peter Atwater (No. 26 JTR Motorsports Engineering) finished 15th, earning him the Takumi Award for drivers over the age of 40.

In just her fourth race with the series, Charlotte Traynor (No. 43 Parker Delong Racing), won the highest finishing female award with her 22nd-place finish.

“This feels incredible,” Traynor said. “We’ve put in so much work, and I’ve been at the track literally every single weekend, practicing, so it’s nice that the hard work is finally starting to pay off. Yesterday was kind of a tough day for the team, so to have this kind of bring a brighter spirit to our team. It gives me a lot of confidence going into Road Atlanta.”

Some MX-5 Cup teams won’t be traveling very far on Monday. Several are taking part in a test at Martinsville Speedway, in preparation for the series’ return to the infamous oval on October 23.

The Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup will take the month of September off before rejoining IMSA at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta for the final two races of the 2025 season. As always, all races are streamed live on the RACER and IMSA YouTube channels, where all prior races are also archived.

About: The Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by Michelin is the signature spec series for Mazda Motorsports. The series has been operated by Andersen Promotions since 2017 and is currently sanctioned by IMSA. Mazda-powered grassroots champions can earn Mazda scholarships for this pro-level series. The Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup awards more than $1 million in prizes and scholarships.

Find out more at http://www.mx-5cup.com.

Salvador de Alba Gets First Win, Dennis Hauger Title in Banner Day for Andretti

By
Official Release
-

WEST ALLIS, Wis. (Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025) – Salvador de Alba and Dennis Hauger both achieved significant career firsts in a tour de force for Andretti Global in the INDY NXT by Firestone at the Milwaukee Mile race Sunday.

Veteran De Alba earned his first career victory in the INDYCAR development series in the No. 27 Grupo Indi machine, while rookie Hauger clinched his first series championship with a second-place finish in the No. 28 Nammo car. Rookie Lochie Hughes finished third in the No. 26 McGinley Clinic/USF Pro Championship entry, giving Andretti Global its first podium sweep of the season and its first since September 2022 in the penultimate race on the 2025 schedule.

Mexican driver De Alba, who started second, took the lead from pole sitter Hauger with an outside move exiting Turn 2 on Lap 1 of the 90-lap race and led the rest of the way on the historic 1.015-mile oval. His breakthrough win came in his 27th series start over the last two seasons.

“We knew we had the car yesterday to go a little bit wider than my teammate Dennis, so we had to try it,” de Alba said of his winning move. “It worked out. The car was on rails all race long, and we brought it here to victory lane. Super happy about the 1-2-3 result, Dennis getting the championship today. It’s just a big day for all the Andretti team.

“I’m thankful to finally be here with all the years of preparation, to finally break through.”

Hauger entered the race with a 54-point lead over Caio Collet – exactly a one-race edge in points – and only needed to finish ahead of his rival to become the first Norwegian driver to claim the championship. Collet finished seventh in the No. 76 HMD Motorsports car.

It was the seventh INDY NXT championship for Andretti Global – tying the series record set by Sam Schmidt Motorsports – and second in a row, as Louis Foster claimed the crown last season before climbing to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES this year. Hauger has six wins and seven poles in 13 races this season.

“It’s been an incredible season as a rookie with Andretti,” Hauger said. “Super proud to be a part of them and part of this championship season. A few ups and downs but mostly ups. This is a big championship win for me.”

Callum Hedge placed fourth in the No. 17 Abel Motorsports car, while Bryce Aron rounded out the top five after a spirited late-race charge in the No. 9 Chip Ganassi Racing machine.

The only threat to de Alba’s lead came after the only caution period of the race, triggered on Lap 47 by Jack William Miller’s spin and contact with the wall exiting Turn 2 in the No. 40 Abel/Miller/Vinatieri Motorsports car.

On the restart on Lap 53, de Alba removed all suspense by rocketing into Turn 1 ahead of Hauger and the rest of the 18-car field. He pulled away to a 2.629-second lead with eight laps to go before cruising to the checkered flag 1.4693 seconds ahead of Hauger.

The final INDY NXT by Firestone event of the season is the Music City Grand Prix on Sunday, Aug. 31 on the Nashville Superspeedway oval.

Berry Finishes 9th at Daytona

By
Official Release
-

With a charge from 23rd place to ninth in the final two laps of Saturday’s Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway, Josh Berry and the No. 21 DEX Imaging team were able to close out the 26-race regular season with back-to-back top-10 finishes.

Berry, who finished eighth at Richmond the week before, now has five top-10s as the Cup Series heads into the 10-race, season-ending, Championship-deciding Playoffs, which begin on Sunday with the Cook Out Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway.

At Daytona, Berry started the 400-miler from 11th place after qualifying was cancelled due to rain. He dropped back after the drop of the green flag and steered his way around a 12-car crash before ending the first Stage, a 35-lapper, in 18th place.

In the second Stage he ran in the top 10 – and the top three for several laps – before ending that segment in 22nd place.

In the third and final segment, he ran in the top 10 for the first half of that run before getting shuffled out of the top 20 with just six laps left.

With two to go, he was in 23rd place but moved to 10th on the white flag lap and to ninth at the checkers as fellow Ford driver Ryan Blaney from Team Penske raced from 13th into the lead and took the victory.

The Wood Brothers team now turns its focus to the Lady in Black, Darlington Raceway, for the Labor Day weekend classic, where Berry and the Woods are among the 16 drivers and teams that will start the Playoffs.

About DEX Imaging
DEX Imaging is the digital document imaging division of Staples, the world’s largest business solutions provider. DEXsells and services the broadest selection of copiers, printers and data management solutions, such as HP, Konica Minolta, Canon, Kyocera and numerous others.

COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES:
Reducing Operating Costs
Reducing Paper Consumption
Increasing Productivity

DEX Imaging has been the recipient of virtually every industry award since the company’s inception, including the JD Power & Associates Award for Best Customer Experience, the prestigious ProTech Service award by Konica Minolta, the Diamond Premier Dealer Award by Kyocera, and the Elite DEALER Award by ‘ENX’ magazine. Other accolades include being named ‘Best Place to Work’ by numerous business journals in the markets DEX serves.

About Wood Brothers Racing
Founded in 1950 by Hall of Famer Glenn Wood in Stuart, Virginia, Wood Brothers Racing holds a special place in NASCAR history as the sport’s longest-running team. Over eight decades, the team has earned 101 victories in the NASCAR Cup Series, along with 120 poles, and remains proud of its longstanding relationship with Ford Motor Company, fielding only Ford products since its inception. Glenn’s brother, Leonard Wood, played a key role in shaping modern racing by developing the techniques behind today’s pit stops. With a rich legacy rooted in innovation and tradition, Wood Brothers Racing continues to honor its heritage while adapting for the future as it competes in NASCAR’s premier series with Josh Berry.

Front Row Motorsports: Daytona International Speedway Race Report – Noah Gragson, Todd Gilliland, Zane Smith

By
Official Release
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Noah Gragson | Todd Gilliland | Zane Smith
Daytona International Speedway Race Report

Coke Zero Sugar 400
Date: Saturday, August 24, 2025
Event: Race 28 of 38
Series: NASCAR Cup Series
Location: Daytona International Speedway (2.5-miles)
Length of Race: 160 laps over three hours, three minutes, 20 seconds

FRM Finish:

● Todd Gilliland (Started 28th, Finished 11th / Running, completed 160 of 160 laps)
● Zane Smith (Started 13th, Finished 31st / Running, completed 154 of 160 laps)
● Noah Gragson (Started 32nd, Finished 38th / Accident-DNF, completed 27 of 160 laps)

FRM Points Standings:

Zane Smith (28th)
Todd Gilliland (31st)
Noah Gragson (34th)

Todd Gilliland Key Takeaways

Stage One: 7th / Stage Two: 18th / Race Result: 11th

“Tough way to end the regular season, I thought we had a shot to win but it didn’t pan out the way we hoped,” said Gilliland. “While it’s not the ending we wanted, I’m still proud of this No. 34 team. We showed up with a fast Grillo’s Pickles Ford and left with a result we can build off of heading into Darlington.”

Zane Smith Key Takeaways

Stage One: 32nd / Stage Two: 32nd / Race Result: 31st

“Just more tough luck,” said Smith. “Fast car, thought we could have a shot to win our way into the playoffs, and never got the chance to show it after being clipped by the 48 in that first big one. Is what it is, and we’ll try to finish out these last 10 races strong.”

Noah Gragson Key Takeaways

Stage One: 37th / Stage Two: 38th / Race Result: 38th

“We’re only on lap 27, 28 and there are guys trying to make it four-wide at the front of the pack. I was just collateral damage at that point,” said Gragson. “It’s definitely a bummer, but I’m still super proud of our team. We started almost towards the back, 32nd I think, and we were up in the top 10 20 laps in, so it’s not from a lack of effort. I just really appreciate everybody at Front Row Motorsports. We’re looking on to Darlington. It’s more in our control and look to have a strong run there.”

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.

Mobile Car Detailing in Chicago: A Smarter Way to Care for Your Car

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

Living in Chicago means dealing with unpredictable weather, busy streets, and tight schedules. Between snowy winters, rainy springs, and hot summers, keeping your car clean and protected can feel like a full-time job. For many drivers, the solution is mobile car detailing — a convenient service that brings professional car care directly to your driveway, office, or apartment parking lot.

Convenience for Busy Chicagoans

Chicago is a city that never stops moving. From long commutes to work, endless errands, and family commitments, most people simply don’t have the time to sit and wait at a detailing shop. Mobile detailing solves this problem by allowing experts to come directly to you. Whether you live in Lincoln Park, Hyde Park, or downtown Chicago, you can schedule a service that fits your day instead of rearranging your schedule around a shop’s availability.

Protecting Your Vehicle from Harsh Weather

Anyone who has driven through a Chicago winter knows how damaging road salt and slush can be. Over time, these elements eat away at paint and cause rust if not removed properly. Summer heat and UV rays also take a toll, fading both paint and interior surfaces. Regular detailing is more than just about appearances — it protects your car from long-term damage. By applying waxes, sealants, and protective treatments, professional detailers extend the lifespan of your vehicle inside and out.

Professional Quality, Eco-Friendly Methods

Mobile detailing is not just convenient; it’s also professional. Many detailers in Chicago use the same high-quality products and tools found in traditional shops, often with the added bonus of eco-friendly, water-efficient cleaning methods. This means you can get showroom-level results while being kinder to the environment.

Perfect for City Living

Parking in Chicago can be challenging. Many residents live in apartments or condos without access to hoses, garages, or the tools needed for deep cleaning. Mobile detailing eliminates this issue by bringing everything to you. No need to haul buckets of water or worry about limited space — professionals arrive fully equipped to handle any job on the spot.

Where to Find Trusted Services

If you’re looking for a reliable mobile detailing company in the Chicago area, AutoShine Mobile Car Detailing
is a trusted choice. Their team provides both interior and exterior services designed to protect your car and keep it looking its best. With flexible scheduling and professional results, they make car care simple for busy Chicago drivers.

Final Thoughts

Chicago drivers know the struggle of keeping their cars clean in a city full of weather extremes and tight schedules. Mobile car detailing offers a smarter, faster, and more effective way to keep your vehicle in top shape. By choosing professional on-the-go service, you not only save time but also protect your investment for the long run.

Team Penske NASCAR Cup Series Race Report – Daytona 2

By
Official Release
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#12: Ryan Blaney, Team Penske, Advance Auto Parts Ford Mustang in victory lane

Coke Zero Sugar 400 – Daytona International Speedway
Daytona Beach, Fla. – August 23, 2025

AUSTIN CINDRIC No. 2 MENARDS/MAYTAG FORD MUSTANG DARK HORSE
START: 5TH STAGE 1: 39TH STAGE 2: 39TH FINISH: 39TH POINTS: 10TH
RACE RUNDOWN: Austin Cindric’s night at Daytona International Speedway ended early after being swept up in a multi-car incident just before the end of Stage 1 in Saturday night’s NASCAR Cup Series regular-season finale. With qualifying canceled Friday evening due to continuous lightning in the area, the starting lineup was set per the NASCAR Rulebook, and Cindric rolled off fifth in the No. 2 Menards/Maytag Ford Mustang Dark Horse. He quickly settled into the top 10, reporting that the car was “a little on the tighter side, but not bad.” After staying out under the first caution, Cindric restarted eighth on Lap 16 but was shuffled out of the lead pack, dropping him outside the top 20. It was on Lap 27 when another caution flew, and in the ensuing chaos, Cindric was collected in a multi-car crash that caused significant damage to the No. 2 car. The team’s night was cut short, and Cindric was credited with a 39th-place finish.

CINDRIC’S THOUGHTS: “I saw a lot of cars wrecking and I hit one of them after I thought we got through the wreck. It’s just a shame for our Maytag/Menards Ford Mustang. I tried to make the third lane work, maybe a little too early, I lost some track position and felt like the intensity was picking up super early in the race there and I got collected.”

RYAN BLANEY No. 12 ADVANCE AUTO PARTS FORD MUSTANG DARK HORSE
START: 1ST STAGE 1: 3RD STAGE 2: 6TH FINISH: 1ST POINTS: 4TH
RACE RUNDOWN: Ryan Blaney powered his way from 13th to the front of the field in the final two laps of Saturday night’s Coke Zero Sugar 400 to send the No. 12 Advance Auto Parts Ford Mustang Dark Horse to victory lane in a thrilling regular season finale at Daytona. Blaney’s 15th-career NASCAR Cup Series win – and second at Daytona (August 2021) – marked the first time he has won from the pole and now has three-straight seasons with multiple victories following his win in Nashville in June. Blaney began the night by leading the first 23 laps after starting from the outside of row one and was in position to win the opening stage as the Advance Auto Parts Ford fought to protect runs from the top and bottom lanes in the rearview, but a surge from the outside lane in turns three and four proved to be the difference as Blaney settled for a third-place finish in Stage 1. Following a four tire stop under caution, Blaney lined up to restart 15th but faded to the tail end of the lead pack during the opening laps of the run before getting back in the mix with 15 laps remaining in the second stage. A caution on lap 82 saw varying pit strategies unfold as crew chief Jonathan Hassler kept Blaney on the track in order to take the restart from the inside of row two with eight laps to go, resulting in a strong points return with a sixth-place effort in Stage 2. Blaney and the No. 12 team maintained the same strategy for the final run of the night as they ran towards the back of the main pack to start out prior to the caution on lap 107 to reset the field. After topping off on fuel one final time, Blaney restarted 25th with 45 laps to go and began working the lanes to fight his way forward. The eighth and final caution flag of the night set up a restart with eight laps remaining as Blaney patiently waited to form a third lane on the outside and pushed the No. 41 to the front of the field coming to the white flag. As the field made its way down the backstretch on the final lap, the No. 41 attempted to pass the No. 7 on the inside, prompting the No. 7 to block the move and leaving the top lane open for Blaney to clear them both and take the lead entering turn three before holding off all three lanes behind him to take the checkered flag by 0.031 seconds. The No. 12 team heads into the Cup Series Playoffs with momentum on its side with six-consecutive top-10 finishes entering Darlington.

BLANEY’S THOUGHTS: “Yeah, we just started rolling. I was [Cole Custer] if he wanted to go three-wide top I wanted to let him know that under caution, and I was kind of waiting for him to go and knew we were probably gonna have people go with us if we went up top, it was just a matter of who would bite first. We finally went and it kind of checked in the tri-oval and Cole jumped up and we were able to keep a bunch of momentum going and have good pushes from [Daniel] Suarez, things like that, and then I just kind of kept creeping on the top. When [Justin Haley] blocked [Custer] and the next thing I know I’m leading the lane and now I’m clear to the middle and I can play two lanes. I didn’t quite know what lane to block, the middle or top at the end. I was like, ‘Just try middle. I think we’ve got enough momentum.’ Enough to hold them off. It was a crazy last few laps, that’s for sure.”

“I think this team is really doing a good job of hitting our stride when we need to. I’ve been proud of our efforts all year, it’s just been can we smooth some things out and have some stuff go our way. It seems to be smoothing out and this team is just performing and finishing where we should. That’s what I’ve been happy with, so it’s great to win this one and good momentum for next week.”

JOEY LOGANO No. 22 SHELL-PENNZOIL FORD MUSTANG DARK HORSE
START: 4TH STAGE 1: 6TH STAGE 2: 3RD FINISH: 27TH POINTS: 12TH
RACE RUNDOWN: Joey Logano’s 37 laps led tied for the most in the field in Saturday night’s Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona, but a late-race spin with 13 laps to go relegated the No. 22 Shell-Pennzoil Ford Mustang Dark Horse to a 27th-place finish. The Shell-Pennzoil Ford was mainstay at the front of the field from the onset of the regular season finale, but Logano’s night was nearly put in jeopardy on lap 27 when a three-wide battle in the tri-oval resulted in contact with the Nos. 8 and 23, setting off a multi-car incident. Logano was able to continue on to pick up a sixth-place finish in Stage 1 before the No. 22 team made minor repairs under caution without disrupting the balance of the car. Logano restarted from 30th and made quick work to charge to the front of the field by lap 76, but a caution six laps later saw a mix of pit strategies as crew chief Paul Wolfe made the call for fuel only in order to maintain track position heading into the final laps of the segment. Logano was in position to pick up the stage win as the leader of the bottom lane on the final lap but ultimately did not get the push he needed to do so, resulting in a third-place effort in Stage 2. Logano was back inside the top-five when the caution flag flew on lap 107, prompting another fuel only stop to try and make it to the end as he lined up to restart from the inside of row one with 45 laps remaining. Logano maintained his spot at the front of the field as the laps clicked off, blocking runs from the top and bottom lanes, but the Shell-Pennzoil Ford broke loose off of turn four and spun across the track towards the infield to bring out the caution with 13 laps to go. After needing a push to pit road due to flat tires, Logano went a lap down and ultimately settled for a 27th-place finish in an otherwise strong night from the No. 22 team.

LOGANO’S THOUGHTS: “Yeah, we were in the right place. It’s happened many, many times where we’ve been in the right place here at Daytona and we don’t have anything to show for it. Our team is so good at it. Our cars are fast. Our execution was really good today. [Spotter] Coleman [Pressley] did great. It’s just our car was a little free and then where the push came as the track flattens out there it spins the leader right out. It is what it is.”

“There are good tracks lined up. There’s good momentum. Obviously, Ryan [Blaney] getting a win, that’s good momentum as well for the team. This team has done a good job the last seven or eight weeks. A lot of weird things have happened, but we’ve done a good job controlling what we can, so that’s what you’ve got to do in the playoffs.”

The NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs begin next weekend as the Round of 16 opens at Darlington Raceway on Sunday, August 31. Coverage of the Cook Out Souther 500 begins at 6:00 p.m. ET Saturday on USA, MRN, and Sirius XM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

Kaulig Racing Race Recap | Coke Zero Sugar 400

By
Official Release
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No. 10 Sea Best/Roma Camaro ZL1

Start: 23rd
Stage 1 Finish: 15th
Stage 2 Finish: 11th
Finish: 22nd

With weather canceling qualifying for the Coke Zero Sugar 400, Ty Dillon and the No. 10 Sea Best/Roma Chevrolet team started Saturday night’s race at Daytona International Speedway from the 23rd position. With a fast Chevy, Dillon was able to avoid several early cautions and took the lead on lap 56 for nine laps. Utilizing his superspeedway finesse, Dillon was able to maneuver through the field to avoid wrecks and run inside the top 10 throughout the 160-lap event before finishing the race in 22nd.

No. 16 Celsius Camaro ZL1

Start: 21st
Stage 1 Finish: 17th
Stage 2 Finish: 12th
Finish: 26th

After qualifying was canceled due to inclement weather, AJ Allmendinger rolled off 21st for the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway. When the caution came out on lap 11, the No. 16 sustained damage to the splitter while avoiding the spinning No. 66. The team repaired the damage and Allmendinger went on to race competitively inside the top 10 before dropping to the back of the pack to avoid getting caught up in a wreck. On lap 140, as the No. 16 started to move up, the car had a misfire causing Allmendinger to drop to the back of the field. He finished the Coke Zero Sugar 400 in 26th, and earned the Xfinity Fastest Lap of the Race.
 
About Kaulig Racing

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

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