Home Blog Page 35

The Long-Term Benefits of Professional Window Tinting That Most Vehicle Owners Overlook

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

What’s the article about? Learn how professional window tinting in Hamilton protects your vehicle, improves driving comfort, reduces UV damage, and delivers long-term value beyond appearance.

When compared to treating window tinting Hamilton as a pure makeover, there are numerous long-term benefits. People only come close to knowing the benefits when they get full information about the subject matter with practical experience. The truth is that many car owners just focus on the immediate visual impact and completely overlook the forthcoming advantages.

Over months and years, a professionally installed tint in Hamilton will not only improve driving comfort but also protect your vehicle, reduce maintenance costs, and even help preserve resale value. So, let’s explore some of the benefits that often go unnoticed.

A Cleaner And Clearer Car Appearance

A freshly tinted vehicle will no doubt look good. However, the real value of car window tinting Hamilton begins after you leave the shop. Your vehicle might’ve been exposed to direct sunlight, regardless of whether it is parked outside at work, sitting in a driveway, or travelling on highways. Over time, this exposure causes dashboards to crack and lose their original appearance.

For this, a professionally done vehicle window tinting by Insta Tints Canada acts as a protective barrier that helps reduce the environmental impacts. This means your interior stays in better condition for longer, maintaining a new appearance over the years.

A More Comfortable Drive Every Day

One of the biggest reasons why car owners choose professional window tinting Hamilton is comfort. During the hot summer months, sunlight enters through untreated glass. This turns a vehicle into an uncomfortable environment, even for short trips. Modern ceramic window tint technology helps to reduce heat transfer through the glass, allowing the interiors to stay cooler, even during long periods of sun exposure.

But honestly, it’s more than just a comfortable drive. Car window tinting also reduces dependency on air conditioning, saving more vehicle fuel. Therefore, for motorists who spend a lot of time commuting, this daily comfort becomes one of the most appreciated benefits of tinting.

Reduced Glare Means Less Motorist Fatigue 

Many car owners underestimate the impact of glare on their ability to concentrate. Bright sunlight, reflections from wet roads, and headlights can all create visual strain. Over time, this constant exposure contributes to eye fatigue, particularly during longer journeys. 

Professional automotive window tinting in Hamilton helps to minimize the glare without compromising visibility. This creates a more relaxed driving experience, allowing you to focus more comfortably on the road ahead. Honestly, it’s a benefit that many people don’t fully appreciate until they’ve experienced it themselves.

Quality Installation Makes the Difference

Actually, not all tinting companies are the same. Insta Tints Canada uses window tinting solutions from 3M, XPEL, and Ozone, which are given priority in the list of hundreds. The quality of the film and the skill of the installer are important to know how well the tint will perform over time. 

Always focus on high-quality films and proper installation techniques that are designed for long-term performance rather than short-term results. Also, when installed correctly, modern heat rejection window tint solutions can continue to deliver benefits for years.

Conclusion: Look Beyond the Immediate Benefits

Window tinting is commonly regarded as a simple vehicle upgrade, but it provides long-term benefits to car owners.  Ceramic window tint will always protect your car’s interior and preserve its value for sale. Window tinting services are one such automotive upgrades that enhance both the driving experience and the overall condition of your vehicle. Regardless of whether you are thinking about getting car window tinting in Hamilton done for either comfort or appearance, investing in a quality installation from reputable companies like Insta Tints Canada will provide highly satisfactory results.

What Car Dealerships Can Learn from NASCAR’s Fan-First Marketing

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

NASCAR has never been just about fast cars. It is about loyalty, identity, access, and the feeling that fans are part of something bigger than a race weekend. For car dealerships, that fan-first approach offers valuable lessons. While most dealerships are focused on selling vehicles, the most successful ones also know how to build relationships, create memorable experiences, and keep customers engaged long after they leave the lot.

Make Customers Feel Part of the Brand

NASCAR fans often support a driver, team, or manufacturer for years. That loyalty does not happen by accident. It is built through storytelling, consistency, and emotional connection. Dealerships can apply the same thinking by giving customers reasons to connect with the business beyond price.

This could mean sharing customer stories, highlighting local partnerships, introducing staff members, or showing behind-the-scenes moments from the dealership. When people feel familiar with a business, they are more likely to trust it.

Create Experiences, Not Just Transactions

Race day is designed around the fan experience. From merchandise and meet-and-greets to tailgating and live entertainment, NASCAR understands that the event matters as much as the result.

Car dealerships can learn from this by improving the customer journey. A dealership visit should feel smooth, helpful, and welcoming, not stressful or rushed. Test-drive events, family-friendly open days, new model launch evenings, and community fundraisers can turn a dealership into a local destination rather than just a place to buy a car.

Stay Visible Between Big Moments

NASCAR does not only communicate with fans on race day. Teams, drivers, and sponsors stay active through social media, video content, interviews, email updates, and fan communities. This keeps interest alive throughout the season.

Dealerships should take the same approach. Customers may only buy a vehicle every few years, but they still need maintenance reminders, financing advice, trade-in tips, seasonal driving content, and updates on new models. Staying visible helps ensure that when someone is ready to buy, the dealership is already front of mind.

This is also where digital visibility matters. Investing in car dealer SEO services can help dealerships appear when local shoppers are actively searching for vehicles, servicing, finance options, and trusted automotive advice.

Understand the Power of Community

NASCAR has a strong community culture. Fans gather online and offline, share opinions, support favorite drivers, and return year after year because they feel connected to the sport.

Dealerships can build similar local loyalty by supporting schools, sports teams, charities, and community events. These efforts show that the business is not just operating in the area, but actively contributing to it. That can make a major difference when customers are choosing between similar dealerships.

Use Data Without Losing the Human Touch

NASCAR teams rely heavily on data, from vehicle performance to fan engagement. However, the sport still feels personal because the data is used to improve the experience, not replace it.

Dealerships can use customer data in the same way. Service history, browsing behavior, email engagement, and previous purchases can help deliver more relevant communication. The key is to make customers feel understood, not targeted.

Build a Strong Customer Base

NASCAR’s fan-first marketing works because it focuses on loyalty, experience, and connection. Car dealerships that adopt the same mindset can build stronger customer relationships and stand out in a competitive market. Selling cars will always be the core goal, but creating fans of the dealership is what keeps people coming back.

Innovation in the Fast Lane: How Technology Is Transforming Modern Motorsports

By
SM
-

Motorsports have always been driven by innovation. Every NASCAR season showcases not only the talent of drivers but also the remarkable engineering, data analysis, and strategic planning that take place behind the scenes. While fans often focus on dramatic finishes and thrilling overtakes, the technology supporting every race continues to evolve at an incredible pace, making competition faster, safer, and more exciting.

Success on race day is rarely determined by horsepower alone. Teams rely on advanced software, real-time telemetry, predictive analytics, and efficient communication to gain even the smallest competitive advantage. In today’s racing environment, every fraction of a second matters, and technology has become just as valuable as mechanical expertise.

That same emphasis on innovation extends well beyond the racetrack. Businesses and technology platforms are constantly improving their digital infrastructure to deliver better user experiences, stronger security, and greater reliability. Whether evaluating software solutions or researching digital services such as spacehills betrouwbaar, informed decision-making and dependable technology remain essential qualities in today’s connected world.

Data Has Become Every Team’s Competitive Edge

Modern race teams collect enormous amounts of information during every practice session, qualifying lap, and race. Engineers analyze this data to understand how the car performs under different track conditions and identify opportunities for improvement.

Key performance metrics include:

  • Tire wear throughout long runs.
  • Fuel consumption rates.
  • Corner entry and exit speeds.
  • Suspension performance.
  • Brake temperatures.
  • Driver throttle and steering inputs.

These insights allow teams to make adjustments that can significantly improve race performance.

Technology Is Reshaping Race Strategy

Today’s race strategy depends heavily on real-time information rather than instinct alone.

Predictive Analytics

Sophisticated models help teams estimate fuel windows, tire degradation, and potential caution periods. While racing always contains uncertainty, predictive tools help crews prepare for multiple scenarios.

Instant Communication

Drivers remain connected to crew chiefs throughout the event, receiving updates on lap times, competitor strategies, weather changes, and track conditions. Fast communication enables quicker decision-making during critical moments.

Continuous Vehicle Monitoring

Advanced sensors monitor numerous systems throughout the race, allowing engineers to detect mechanical concerns before they become race-ending failures.

Comparing Traditional and Modern Racing Operations

Racing ElementTraditional ApproachModern Technology
Vehicle SetupDriver feedbackDriver feedback plus telemetry
Race StrategyExperience-based decisionsData-supported predictions
Mechanical ChecksManual inspectionsReal-time sensor monitoring
Team CommunicationBasic radio updatesContinuous data integration
Performance AnalysisPost-race reviewLive analysis throughout events

Technology has enhanced nearly every aspect of professional motorsports while preserving the competitive spirit that fans love.

Innovation Isn’t Limited to Race Teams

Many lessons learned in racing eventually benefit everyday industries. Automotive manufacturers, software companies, startups, and engineering firms often draw inspiration from motorsports because racing pushes innovation under extreme conditions.

Several business principles shared by successful race teams include:

  • Continuous improvement.
  • Fast problem-solving.
  • Efficient teamwork.
  • Data-driven decisions.
  • Long-term planning.

These same qualities help technology companies remain competitive in rapidly changing markets.

The Human Element Still Matters

Despite rapid technological progress, drivers continue to make the biggest difference when the green flag drops. Data may recommend the ideal racing line, but executing it consistently requires remarkable skill, concentration, and confidence.

Elite drivers excel because they combine instinct with information. They understand when to trust the numbers and when to rely on experience developed over thousands of racing laps.

Teamwork Behind Every Victory

Winning a NASCAR race involves far more than one talented driver. Success depends on collaboration across an entire organization.

Every department contributes:

  • Engineers optimize performance.
  • Crew chiefs develop strategy.
  • Pit crews execute lightning-fast stops.
  • Mechanics prepare reliable cars.
  • Analysts interpret race data.
  • Drivers deliver consistent performance.

When every member performs at a high level, small advantages accumulate into race-winning results.

Why Motorsport Continues to Inspire Technology

Many innovations that originated in racing have influenced consumer vehicles and broader technology industries. Improved safety systems, advanced materials, aerodynamic research, and performance analytics all demonstrate how competition accelerates innovation.

Technology companies appreciate motorsports because the racing environment provides immediate feedback. Every adjustment produces measurable results, creating an ideal setting for testing ideas under pressure.

Looking Toward the Future

The future of motorsports promises even greater technological advancement. Artificial intelligence, enhanced simulation software, cloud computing, and increasingly sophisticated data analysis will continue shaping how teams prepare for races.

At the same time, the essence of racing will remain unchanged. Fans will still celebrate daring passes, strategic brilliance, close finishes, and unforgettable performances from the sport’s biggest stars.

Innovation has always fueled motorsports, but technology serves only as a tool. The excitement still comes from talented people working together, making smart decisions under pressure, and delivering the unforgettable moments that keep racing fans eagerly anticipating the next green flag.

REGULAR SEASON CHAMPIONSHIP BACK FOR SECOND STRAIGHT YEAR IN NHRA MISSION FOODS DRAG RACING SERIES

By
Official Release
-

Nearly $400,000 up for grabs across NHRA’s four professional categories during 75th anniversary season

INDIANAPOLIS (June 30, 2026) – The 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season hit the halfway point last weekend in Norwalk, but that also means only four races remain in the regular season.

With the regular season championship back in 2026 during NHRA’s 75th anniversary campaign, there’s plenty on the line over the next four events in Sonoma (July 17-19), Seattle (July 24-26), Brainerd (Aug. 18-22) and Indy (Sept. 2-7).

For the second straight year, NHRA will award nearly $400,000 to the regular season champs in Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock, and Pro Stock Motorcycle, with $150,000 going to the driver in both Top Fuel and Funny Car who finishes first in points at the end of the prestigious Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.

Here’s where things stand in each category in the race for the regular season title.

TOP FUEL

For all intents and purposes, this is a two-horse race – and it’s all in the Kalitta Motorsports stable.

Shawn Langdon has been incredible thus far in 2026, winning four times and advancing to eight final rounds. Those are stout numbers for an entire season, but Langdon has managed to accomplish all that in 10 races. Reigning world champ Doug Kalitta has also been great, but even he’s been unable to keep up, sitting 150 points back of his teammate. He’ll need to get hot and Langdon will have to slip up for this race to get interesting in Indy.

Leah Pruett is third at 279 points back and has enjoyed a banner year in her return to the sport, but catching Langdon or Kalitta – at least in the regular season – seems like a tough ask over the next four events.

FUNNY CAR

Ron Capps took a big step toward his first regular season title with his Norwalk victory. It put him 121 points up on Matt Hagan and Capps has three wins this year, something no other Funny Car driver can claim.

But there’s a loaded group not that far off in Funny Car and things can change quickly in this category. J.R. Todd, who has done everything but pick up a win in 2026, is 123 points behind in third and Jack Beckman is only 128 points back. Jordan Vandergriff (-161) and Chad Green (-179) can’t be counted out, either, in a race that may go down to the wire in Indy.

Capps, though, is always strong in Brainerd and has been stellar as of late in Indy as he looks for a big finish in the regular season.

PRO STOCK

For the second straight year for this title, it’s the Dallas Glenn and Greg Anderson show. Matt Hartford has been excellent, winning three races in 2026, but at 161 points back in third, it’s tough to see both Glenn and Anderson slipping up enough for Hartford to claim the regular season title.

As for Glenn and Anderson, it’s a toss-up. The points lead has changed hands on several occasions this year, with Glenn moving back into the lead after Norwalk, now leading his KB Titan Racing teammate by 23 points.

Glenn won in Seattle last year, while Anderson rolled to the win in Brainerd and the six-time champ is always tough to beat at The Big Go. If it’s less than 30 points in Indy, it comes down to who has the better Labor Day and that would certainly be fun to watch.

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE

This one will come down to Indy, if only because it’s the only race left in the regular season for the two-wheeled category.

Indy is all that’s left before the playoffs in Pro Stock Motorcycle and Richard Gadson strengthened his grip on the title with a victory in Norwalk. His lead stands at 83 points over Gaige Herrera, who won the regular season crown in 2025.

Angie and Matt Smith are 111 and 136 points back, respectively, but the Vance & Hines team of Gadson and Herrera have been in control as of late, which makes that gap a tall order to overcome in just one race.

For more information on NHRA, including the 2026 schedule, visit www.NHRA.com.

REMAINING RACES IN THE 2026 REGULAR SEASON

July 17-19: 38th annual DENSO NHRA Sonoma Nationals presented by PowerEdge, Sonoma Raceway, Sonoma, Calif.

July 24-26: 37th annual Muckleshoot Casino Resort NHRA Northwest Nationals, Pacific Raceways, Seattle

Aug. 20-23: 44th annual NHRA Brainerd Nationals, Brainerd International Raceway, Brainerd, Minn.

Sept. 2-7: 72nd annual Cornwell Quality Tools NHRA U.S. Nationals, Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, Indianapolis

NHRA COUNTDOWN TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP PLAYOFFS

Sept. 18-20: Inaugural Dodge NHRA Great Lakes Nationals presented by MOPAR, U.S. 131 Motorsports Park, Martin, Mich.

Sept. 25-27: Inaugural NHRA Nationals at The Rock, Rockingham Dragway, Rockingham, N.C.

Oct. 2-4: 15th annual NAPA Auto Parts NHRA Midwest Nationals, World Wide Technology Raceway, St. Louis

Oct. 9-18: 41st annual Texas NHRA FallNationals, Texas Motorplex, Dallas

Oct. 29-Nov. 1: 26th annual MOPAR NHRA Las Vegas Nationals powered by Dodge, The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Las Vegas

Nov. 12-15: 61st annual In-N-Out Burger NHRA Finals, In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip, Pomona, Calif.

For more ticket information, please visit www.NHRA.com

About Mission Foods

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

About NHRA

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

Kurt Busch Ready for Le Mans Debut with HSR NASCAR Classic – It Makes You Feel Like a Kid Again

By
Official Release
-

HSR’s First Overseas Race This Weekend at the Le Mans Classic Legend Celebrates the Golden Anniversary of NASCAR’s First Appearance at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1976

LE MANS, France (June 30, 2026) – The first overseas race in the nearly 50-year history of Historic Sportscar Racing (HSR) is set for this weekend when the HSR NASCAR Classic presented by Goodyear racing series debuts at the Le Mans Classic Legend, July 3 – 5. A full field of historic stock cars from the last seven decades brings the “Thunder of America” back to the legendary Circuit de la Sarthe in the heart of France a half a century after NASCAR stock cars first appeared in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The 36-car entry list features a compelling mix of both iconic machinery and celebrated drivers, and among the standouts is 2026 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee and 2004 Cup Series champion Kurt Busch.

Busch is a 34-time winner in NASCAR Cup Series competition, including his triumph in the 2017 Daytona 500. At Le Mans, the former Cup Series champion adds another chapter to his accomplished career, returning to the 2020 No. 1 Monster Energy Chevrolet Camaro that he piloted from 2019 to 2021 with Chip Ganassi Racing.

“It’s been so much fun,” said Busch after testing the Camaro at April’s HSR The Mitty presented by Hagerty just before it was shipped to Le Mans. “Just even just pulling in the gates and the memories from Road Atlanta and testing here a lot with our NASCAR cars. Seeing all of the other divisions there just makes me proud of everyone. All of the cars that people are keeping up and putting quality efforts into racing them in all of the different divisions. It makes you feel like a kid again when you see them all out there.”

Busch has retired from contemporary competition but has been active the last couple of years in the return of the IROC Presented by Chevrolet series, which is led by frequent HSR competitor, 2023 Motorsports Hall of Fame of America inductee and Busch’s NASCAR Hall peer Ray Evernham. Busch took the victory in April’s IROC race at Ten Tenths Motor Club in Charlotte.

The Le Mans NASCAR Classic race is the first time Busch will race since the unexpected and tragic passing of his younger brother and fellow NASCAR Cup Champion Kyle Busch last month.

“I said a couple of weeks ago that Kyle’s ‘spirit will always ride with me,’ and the first time will be on one of the greatest tracks in the world this weekend,” Busch said. “It is still incomprehensible to think he is gone, not suiting up for the next race as he did for nearly his entire life, but Kyle would have loved to have been right there racing alongside me and our friends at Le Mans. It would be great to make it a fitting tribute with a win for him in full Kyle style.”

While it’s hard to match a family bond shared between racing brothers, Busch immediately felt the close-knit and familial camaraderie in the HSR paddock during the Road Atlanta test.

“With the group here, it’s a fun camaraderie,” Busch said. “This is definitely a fraternity house feel because you have guys with a ton of experience and then some that don’t but are wanting to learn. It’s like, I can take my GPS system and let the guy look at it and show him how to get around the track a little better. We’re all headed to Le Mans kind of blindfolded.”

Busch is eager for his first competitive laps around the legendary French circuit after visiting Le Mans a few years ago.

“I went in 2019 with Chip Ganassi,” Busch said. “That was when he was running the Ford GT program, and I was sniffing around trying to find a GT ride with any manufacturer. I went around, shook hands with everyone, and took in the experience and the French people and the culture and how they love their motorsports.

“Then to see the Garage 56 car go there a couple years back. That’s just one NASCAR car. Go back in 1976, two of them went. They’re going to be blown away. That’s what I’m looking forward to the most is when they figure out that there’s a big group of us there running hard down that front straightaway.”

The entry list for the HSR NASCAR Classic presented by Goodyear Le Mans Classic Legend is available by clicking here. Additional information, including the provisional event schedule, event ticket purchases and more can be found at the official HSR NASCAR Classic Le Mans Classic Legend Event Page by clicking here.

About HSR: Historic Sportscar Racing (HSR) is the premier vintage and historic racing series in North America. It was formed in the mid-1970s with an inaugural event at Road Atlanta and became a part of International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) in 2022. There was one goal then and it remains true today: to celebrate and enjoy the racing cars from the past. As a “time machine” of sights and sounds, HSR provides a venue for competitors and spectators alike to share in the wonderful history and excitement created by the cars that competed at race tracks around the world. HSR currently sanctions eight vintage and historic racing events at some of the world’s most renowned race tracks, including Daytona International Speedway, Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, Sebring International Raceway, Watkins Glen International and more. The complete schedule and full event information can be found on HSR’s website at www.HSRRace.com. Look for the HSR Channel on YouTube and follow HSR on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/HSRrace/, on Twitter X @HSR_race and on Instagram @HistoricSportscarRacing.

Front Row Motorsports: Chicagoland Speedway NCS Race Advance (Noah Gragson, Todd Gilliland, Zane Smith)

By
Official Release
-

Noah Gragson | Todd Gilliland | Zane Smith
Chicagoland Speedway NASCAR Cup Series Race Advance
Chicagoland Speedway 400

Date: Sunday, July 5, 2026
Event: Race 21 of 38
Series: NASCAR Cup Series
Location: Chicagoland Speedway (1.5-miles)
#of Laps: 267
Time/TV/Radio: 6:00PM ET on TNT/MRN/SiriusXM channel 90

FRM Points Standings:

Zane Smith (23rd)
Todd Gilliland (26th)
Noah Gragson (30th)

Noah Gragson Notes

Noah Gragson will face a new challenge this Sunday, the Chicagoland Speedway. Last raced in 2019, the 1.5-mile Joliet, Illinois, oval will make its return to the NASCAR Cup Series schedule with a 267-lap event. Gragson is one of the few drivers on Sunday’s entry list with previous NASCAR starts at the track, having made two NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series starts at Chicagoland in 2017 and 2018 with Kyle Busch Motorsports, finishing eighth and fourth, respectively. Gragson also has a sole NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series start in Joliet, finishing sixth in 2019 with JR Motorsports.

Long John Silver’s will join the No. 4 car this weekend, partnering with Gragson for the 267-lap event. Long John Silver’s will bring its signature, fan-favorite blue and yellow “Fish Yeah” scheme to Gragson’s Ford Mustang Dark Horse.

“It’s been a frustrating year, especially the past couple of weeks; they’ve taken a toll on everyone,” said Gragson. “Fortunately, there’s no quit in this No. 4 team and in racing, each week brings fresh opportunities to improve and build momentum.”
Road Crew

Driver: Noah Gragson

Hometown: Las Vegas, Nevada

Crew Chief: Grant Hutchens

Hometown: Omaha, Nebraska

Car Chief: Joey Forgette

Hometown: Iron Mountain, Michigan

Engineer: Dillon Silverman

Hometown: Chico, California

Engineer: Scott Bingham

Hometown: Lawrenceville, Georgia

Mechanic: Chris Trickett

Hometown: Grafton, West Virginia

Mechanic: Tony Infinger

Hometown: Fort Valley, Georgia

Tire Specialist: Chris Aunspaw

Hometown: Zelienople, Pennsylvania

Engine Tuner: Matt Moeller

Hometown: Monroe, New York

Spotter: Adam Fournier

Hometown: Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Transporter Co-Driver: Ron Miske

Hometown: Fairfield, Connecticut

Transporter Co-Driver: Matt Murphy

Hometown: Augusta, Georgia

Pit Crew

Front Tire Changer: Tafton Hensley

Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Rear Tire Changer: Sheridan Jones

Hometown: Norfolk, Virginia

Tire Carrier: Drew Baum

Hometown: Jersey Shore, Pennsylvania

Jackman: Tommy Bebie

Hometown: Cleveland, Ohio

Fueler: Blake Baker

Hometown: Hickory, North Carolina

Todd Gilliland Notes

Todd Gilliland will make his Chicagoland Speedway NASCAR Cup Series debut this weekend as the NASCAR Cup Series returns to the 1.5-mile oval in Joliet, Illinois for the first time since 2019. While this will be Gilliland’s first NASCAR Cup Series start at the oval, the 26-year-old driver has two previous NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series starts at the track with Kyle Busch Motorsports, in 2018 and 2019. His best finish out of the two starts came from a sixth-place finish in the 2019 event. Gilliland, along with 15 other drivers, will go head-to-head in Round Two of the NASCAR In-Season Challenge in hopes of advancing for a chance to claim the $1 million prize. After surviving a bumpy Sonoma ride, Gilliland finished where he started in 29th place, but it was just enough to advance to Round Two over 31st-finishing Daniel Suárez. Gilliland will now face off with No. 9, seed Carson Hocevar, in the second round battle.

gener8tor, a nationally ranked venture capital firm and accelerator that brings together startup founders, investors, corporations, job seekers, universities, musicians and artists, will serve as the primary partner on the No. 34 Ford Mustang Dark Horse for the first time this season. The weekend’s race will mark gener8tor’s fourth year supporting Gilliland’s NASCAR Cup Series career.

“Going out west for San Diego and Sonoma was a blast, but I’m happy to be back home and heading to races that don’t require as much travel,” said Gilliland. “We made it to Round Two of the In-Season Challenge, going up against Carson (Hocevar), and I know he’ll bring a fight. We’ve struggled a bit on the traditional oval track this season, so we need to find our stride early in practice and lay down a decent qualifying lap in order to be ahead of the eight ball on Sunday.”
Road Crew

Driver: Todd Gilliland

Hometown: Sherrills Ford, North Carolina

Crew Chief: Chris Lawson

Hometown: Medway, Ohio

Car Chief: Joe Marra

Hometown: Somers, New York

Engineer: Marc Rullo

Hometown: Ringwood, New Jersey

Engineer: Kevyn Rebolledo

Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Spotter: Brit Andersen

Hometown: Branford, Connecticut

Mechanic: Michael Brookes

Hometown: Columbus, Ohio

Interior Specialist: Ethan Deguevara

Hometown: Las Vegas, Nevada

Tire Specialist: Billy John

Hometown: Pitman, New Jersey

Mechanic / Engine Tuner: Kyle Moon

Hometown: Troy, New York

Transporter Co-Driver: Randy Bernier

Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Transporter Co-Driver: Rick Grissom

Hometown: Bakersfield, California

Pit Crew

Front Tire Changer: Danny Olszowy

Hometown: Lexington, Kentucky

Rear Tire Changer: Austin Chrismon

Hometown: China Grove, North Carolina

Tire Carrier: Paul Steele

Hometown: Wichita, Kansas

Jackman: Ryan Selig

Hometown: Lindenhurst, Illinois

Fueler: Zeke Nance

Hometown: Calhoun, Georgia

Zane Smith Notes

Following suit with his teammates, Zane Smith will also be one of the many drivers making his first Chicagoland Speedway NASCAR Cup Series start. Smith does have previous experience at the 1.5-mile oval. In 2019, driving for JR Motorsports, Smith finished 17th in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series event at the track. Heading into this weekend’s event, Smith sits 23rd in the standings. Through the first 18-points paying races, Smith has earned two top-five and six top-10 finishes.

Vermeer Midwest will join Front Row Motorsports this weekend with Smith and the No. 38 Ford Mustang Dark Horse. Established in 1971 by Junior and Bev Kool in Eureka, Illinois, Vermeer Midwest is a leading dealer of industrial equipment, proudly serving Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Missouri for industries such as utility installation, landscaping, tree care, recycling, and vacuum excavation.

“It’s a bummer that we didn’t advance in the In-Season Challenge, but I’m excited for the challenge that Chicagoland will bring,” said Smith. “Theres only a handful of people in the field that have raced at Chicagoland before; for the majority of the field, including myself and my teammates, this is a brand-new track for us. We have a full 50-minute practice on Friday, that’s going to be crucial for Ryan (Bergenty) and our engineers to ensure we hit our marks in qualifying. Hopefully, we can hit the ground running and start July off with a strong result.”

Road Crew

Driver: Zane Smith

Hometown: Huntington Beach, California

Crew Chief: Ryan Bergenty

Hometown: Plainville, Connecticut

Car Chief: Will Norris

Hometown: Bells, Tennessee

Engineer: Jacob Clamme

Hometown: Hartford City, Indiana

Engineer: Chris Yerges

Hometown: Green Bay, Wisconsin

Mechanic / Engine Tuner: Steve Godfrey

Hometown: West Haven, Connecticut

Interior Specialist: Matt Fowler

Hometown: Spartanburg, South Carolina

Mechanic: Austin Bloom

Hometown: Lowell, Oregon

Spotter: Ryan Blanchard

Hometown: Bethlehem, Connecticut

Transport Co-Driver: Bryan Whitman

Hometown: Newton, North Carolina

Transport Co-Driver: Shawn Sellew

Hometown: Stafford Springs, Connecticut

Pit Crew

Front Tire Changer: Josiah Wright

Hometown: Loganville, Georgia

Rear Tire Changer: Adam Riley

Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia

Tire Carrier: Jarren Davis

Hometown: Jacksonville, Florida

Jackman: Nate McBride

Hometown: Vidalia, Georgia

Fueler: Ray Hernandez

Hometown: Orlando, Florida

ABOUT LONG JOHN SILVER’S

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

ABOUT GENER8TOR

gener8tor is a global venture firm and accelerator network that supports startups, workers, employers, artists and musicians across race, place and gender. gener8tor partners with companies, governments, universities, and nonprofits to operate programs and conferences in more than 41 communities across 22 states and two countries. Fast Company named gener8tor one of the Best Workplaces for Innovators in 2021 and 2022. The International Trade Council recognized gener8tor as the Global Venture Capital Firm of the Year in 2022.

ABOUT VERMEER MIDWEST

Vermeer Midwest is a leading dealer of industrial equipment proudly serving Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Missouri. Established in 1971 by Junior and Bev Kool in Eureka, IL, Vermeer Midwest has grown to 13 locations. Their commitment to exceptional customer service and high-quality equipment has made them a trusted partner for contractors in industries such as utility installation, landscaping, tree care, recycling, and vacuum excavation. Visit vermeermidwest.com and follow Vermeer Midwest on social media: Instagram at @vermeermidwest and Facebook at facebook.com/VermeerMidwest.

ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS

Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization competing in the NASCAR Cup Series and the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. Founded in 2004 by entrepreneur Bob Jenkins, FRM has earned top honors including a 2021 Daytona 500 victory and the 2022 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series championship. Based in Mooresville, N.C., FRM fields the No. 4, No. 34, and No. 38 entries in the NASCAR Cup Series, along with the No. 34 and No. 38 teams in the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. For more information, visit FrontRowMotorsports.com and follow Front Row Motorsports on social media — X: @Team_FRM, Instagram: @teamfrm, Tik Tok: @Team_FRM, YouTube: @FrontRowNASCAR, and Facebook: facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.

Spire Motorsports eero 400 Race Advance

By
Official Release
-
  • The NASCAR Cup Series returns to Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill., after a seven-year hiatus. Spire Motorsports has one previous start at the 1.5-mile oval dating to 2019, though Daniel Suárez and Michael McDowell have combined for 12 Cup starts at the track.
  • The eero 400 from Chicagoland Speedway will be televised live on TNT Sunday, July 5 beginning at 6 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The 19th of 36 points-paying races on the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series calendar will also be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

Daniel Suárez – Driver, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

  • Daniel Suárez will pilot Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Modo Casino Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in Sunday’s eero 400 NASCAR Cup Series race at Chicagoland Speedway.
  • Modo Casino is the premier free-to-play social+ gaming platform, designed for thrill-seekers who crave gaming action anywhere, anytime. Play for free today to earn loyalty rewards and participate in sweepstakes wins. 21+. Available only in select jurisdictions during limited periods.
  • Suárez’s Modo Casino livery bursts with colorful sugar skull designs that celebrate Mexican heritage and brings a striking visual identity to the racetrack.
  • The 2026 Coca-Cola 600 winner sits ninth in the NASCAR Cup Series standings with 484 points, trailing seventh place by just 25 points after Sonoma Raceway.
  • The Monterrey, Mexico native has made three Cup Series starts at Chicagoland, where he’s earned two top-20 results and led one lap. He carries an average starting position of 17.0 and a 15.7 finishing position at the 1.5-mile oval. His series/venue best result came in 2018 when he finished 11th.
  • Halfway through the 2026 season, Suárez is averaging a 14.6 finish, seven positions better than his average showing at this point last season.
  • Last week at Sonoma, the final road course of the season, Suárez started 21st but handling issues and an unscheduled pit stop left him with a disappointing 31st-place finish.
  • Out of Suárez’s 341 Cup Series starts, 163 have come on intermediate tracks, where he has consistently shown some of his strongest speeds. In those races, he has recorded two victories (Atlanta 2024/ Charlotte 2026), along with 12 top-five, 40 top-10 finishes and led 415 led. This season on intermediate tracks, he has posted finishes of fifth at Atlanta, 30th at Phoenix, 18th at Las Vegas, seventh at Darlington, 19th at Kansas and sixth at Texas.
  • In his last start at Chicagoland in 2019, the 34-year-old driver qualified 28th and finished 24th.
  • In NASCAR O’Reily Auto Parts Series competition, Suárez has recorded six starts at Chicagoland, earning two top fives, four top 10s and led 21 laps.
  • The three-time NASCAR Cup Series winner is a veteran of 341 Cup Series starts and has notched three wins, 26 top fives and 80 top-10s in NASCAR’s premier division. Suárez has earned three poles and led 945 laps since making his series debut in 2017.
  • Daniel Suárez Quotes
  • Your last race at Chicagoland was seven years ago. What do you remember most about racing there and what do you think will be the biggest key to success when you return?
  • “I’m excited to get back to Chicagoland. It’s a track where you have to stay patient because the race can change quickly over the course of a long run. Tire management is important, and you have to be willing to move around the racetrack to find grip as the conditions evolve. I feel like our team has done a good job this season of making our cars better throughout the race, and that’s something that can really pay off at a place like Chicagoland. The goal is to execute all day, avoid mistakes, and put ourselves in position to fight for a strong finish.”

Ryan Sparks – Crew Chief, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

  • Ryan Sparks is the crew chief for Spire Motorsports No. 7 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 and driver Daniel Suarez in the NASCAR Cup Series. Sparks has called 220 Cup Series races where he’s earned one win, six top-five and 15 top-10 finishes since calling his first race in NASCAR’s premier division in 2020.
  • The Winston-Salem, N.C., native joined Spire Motorsports in 2021, where he served as both crew chief and Competition Director, leading the organization’s competitive and technical efforts. In 2026, Sparks serves in a singular role as crew chief for Suárez.
  • Sparks brings more than a decade of experience across all three of NASCAR’s national touring series, highlighted by 13 seasons at Richard Childress Racing and contributions to title-winning campaigns in the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (2011) and O’Reilly Auto Parts Series (2013).

Michael McDowell – Driver, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

  • Michael McDowell will pilot Spire Motorsports’ No. 71 Delaware Life/Veterans 1001 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in Sunday’s eero 400 at Chicagoland Speedway.
  • VETERANS 1001, Honoring Service. Empowering Veterans. Group 1001 recognizes the dedication, sacrifice, and unique experiences of our military veterans, service members and their families. The Veterans 1001 Employee Resource Group (ERG) is a community designed to support, connect, and empower our veteran employees while fostering a workplace culture that values their contributions. Group 1001 welcomes all employees who are veterans, military spouses, veteran family members, and others who are passionate about supporting those who have served.
  • McDowell owns nine starts at the Joliet, Ill., venue which returns to the Cup Series schedule for the first time since 2019. In the division’s most recent visit, the 2021 Daytona 500 Champion qualified seventh and finished 20th.The event marked McDowell’s best qualifying effort and finish at the suburban Chicago mile-and-a-half.
  • Chicagoland will mark the second round of NASCAR’s annual In-Season Challenge, where McDowell will be matched against Chase Elliott.
  • Last weekend at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway, the 41-year-old driver qualified fourth, collected eight stage points and went on to earn his fifth top-10 finish of the 2026 season. Following his Sonoma result, McDowell earned back-to-back top 10s for the second time in 2026 after notching a 10th-place showing at Naval Base Coronado.
  • After qualifying fourth last weekend, McDowell became tied for the highest average qualifying position on road courses in 2026 (5.25). Meanwhile, with all four road races in the rear view, Spire Motorsports’ No. 71 team earned a 6.5 average finish on road-course configurations this season.
  • Across the last seven races, the 19-year Cup Series veteran holds an average finish of 13.2, while pacing the field two times for eight laps (Watkins Glen/Charlotte).
  • After 19 points-paying races on the 2026 calendar, the father-of-five currently sits 21st in the Cup Series championship point standings. With eight races remaining before NASCAR’s playoff format begins in September at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway, McDowell sits just 32 points below the cutline on the strength of two top-five and five top-10 finishes.
  • McDowell has a pair of NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series starts at Chicagoland Speedway, where he earned a series/venue best 25th-place finish in 2009. In ARCA Menards Series competition, the Glendale, Ariz., native earned a trip to Victory Lane in 2007, marking his third of four ARCA victories that year.

Michael McDowell Quote
Chicagoland is back on the schedule. What are you expecting to see?
“I have a lot of experience at Chicagoland. I did a good bit of testing there for other teams before I earned my first full-time season. I am fairly comfortable on track and it always puts on a great show. It will be really cool to see how this NextGen car handles on the track. We got some laps on the simulator to test a few things, but you never really know until you’re there. Our No. 71 team has started to build some momentum over the last few weeks. We’ve started to close the gap on playoff cutline. We have to maximize our day as best as possible to keep this momentum rolling.”

Travis Peterson – Crew Chief, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

  • Travis Peterson is the crew chief of Spire Motorsports’ No. 71 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in the NASCAR Cup Series with driver Michael McDowell.
  • Sunday’s eero 400 will mark Peterson’s first opportunity to call a NASCAR Cup Series race at Chicagoland Speedway.
  • Peterson has called 131 races in NASCAR’s premier division where he’s led McDowell to one win, eight poles, nine top fives and 28 top 10s.
  • In his previous role as a race engineer for Jr. Motorsports, the West Bend, Wis., native played a key role for driver Chase Elliott’s 2014 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Chicagoland win. The victory was Elliott’s third of the season where he led 85 of 200 laps enroute to the division’s 2014 title.

Carson Hocevar – Driver, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

  • Carson Hocevar will race Spire Motorsports’ No. 77 Zeigler Auto Group Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in Sunday’s eero 400 at Chicagoland Speedway.
  • Zeigler Automotive Group is one of the largest privately-owned dealer groups in the U.S. with 88 franchises across 41 locations in Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan. Vehicle brands represented include all the domestic and majority of the imported manufacturers. Besides its extensive automotive portfolio, the organization owns and operates Zeigler Motorsports, an 85,000-square-foot motorsports dealership and action park, offering 19 different powersports brands, plus its own onsite restaurant: Trak Houz Bar & Grill. Additionally, Zeigler Motorsports houses the Elevate Leadership & Team Building Academy, an executive training company. The Kalamazoo-based dealer group also owns three Byrider franchises, three finance companies, several insurance firms, and a leasing firm.
  • Sunday marks Hocevar’s 100th NASCAR Cup Series start. He made his series debut at World Wide Technology Raceway in June 2023 in a fill-in role for Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Chevrolet, and has since amassed one win, two pole positions, seven top-five and 22 top-10 finishes while pacing the field for 238 laps.
  • Just over one year ago, Hocevar documented a trip to Chicagoland Speedway on his YouTube channel. Now, the third-year Cup Series driver returns to the facility for the first time competitively in the series’ first event at Chicagoland in seven years.
  • Last Sunday at Sonoma Raceway, the 2024 Cup Series Rookie of the Year earned his second consecutive front-row start with a second-place qualifying effort. Hocevar maintained top-15 track position most of the day, and after leaving pit road 18th during the final round of green-flag pit stops, raced his way to an 11th-place finish.
  • After defeating Zane Smith in the opening round of this year’s In-Season Challenge last weekend, the 23-year-old driver turns his attention to Todd Gilliland in the Round of 16. He’s outperformed Gilliland in 12 races this season, as well as 53 of the 99 Cup Series races the two have competed head-to-head. He also holds the edge in 11 of 20 races on 1.5-mile tracks.
  • Through 18 races, the Portage, Mich., native sits eighth in points, just nine markers out of seventh. His one win, four top fives, seven top 10s, 509 points scored, average starting position of 10.8 and 14.6 average finish are all career highs through the first 18 points-paying races of the season. The team’s average starting position has improved by over eight spots while its average finish is seven positions better compared to this point in 2025.
  • The 2024 NASCAR Cup Series Rookie of the Year registered his first-career victory earlier this season at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway. He survived a late-race restart with three laps remaining and brought home the checkered flag. Hocevar became the 13th driver to earn his inaugural series victory at Talladega, and registered Spire Motorsports’ first win since the 2019 Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway with driver Justin Haley.

Carson Hocevar Quote
What are your thoughts heading into NASCAR’s return to Chicagoland Speedway?
“I’m excited to get out there. I haven’t gotten the opportunity to race at Chicagoland yet. The last time there was racing there, I was still a few weeks from my Truck Series debut. I have flown over the track so many times and was able to walk around inside last year after a Zeigler Auto Group event. Here we are just over a year later and we are loading up to race at Chicagoland. We tend to run well on the mile-and-a-half tracks and have had super-fast cars this year. I’m looking forward to the weekend. It should be fun.”

Luke Lambert – Crew Chief, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

  • Luke Lambert is the crew chief of Spire Motorsports’ No. 77 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in the NASCAR Cup Series with driver Carson Hocevar.
  • Lambert is in his third season at Spire Motorsports and fourth with Hocevar. The duo has logged two pole awards, one win, seven top-five and 22 top-10 finishes in 98 races.
  • While Hocevar has yet to compete at Chicagoland Speedway, Lambert brings years of experience. In eight NASCAR Cup Series events at the 1.5-mile D-shaped oval, the Mount Airy, N.C., native earned a venue-best fourth-place finish in 2015 with driver Ryan Newman.
  • The 16-year veteran crew chief led Elliott Sadler to NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Victory Lane at Chicagoland in the series’ first of two races at the facility in 2012. Sadler led 35 laps and survived a NASCAR Overtime restart to secure his third of four victories on the season.

About Spire Motorsports …
Spire Motorsports fields full-time entries in the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series and Interstate Batteries High Limit Racing.

The team, co-owned by longtime NASCAR industry executive Jeff Dickerson and TWG Motorsports CEO Dan Towriss, earned its inaugural NASCAR Cup Series victory in its first full season of competition when Justin Haley took the checkered flag in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway July 7, 2019. Less than three years later, William Byron drove Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado its first NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series win April 7, 2022, at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway. The team’s most recent victory came May 24, 2026, when Daniel Suárez won the NASCAR Cup Series Series’ Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway.

In 2026, Spire Motorsports campaigns the Nos. 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1s in the NASCAR Cup Series and the Nos. 7 and 77 Chevrolet Silverado RSTs in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. The Mooresville, N.C., organization also fields the No. 77 410 sprint car in Interstate Batteries High Limit Racing competition.

ARCA Menards Series at Elko Speedway: Ashley Furniture 150

By
Official Release
-

THE RACE: Ashley Furniture 150
THE PLACE: Chicagoland Speedway, Joliet, Ill.
THE DATE: Friday, July 3, 2026
THE TIME: 8 pm ET / 8 pm CT
TV: FS1, Live

  • After a seven-year absence, the ARCA Menards Series will return to Chicagoland Speedway for Friday’s Ashley Furniture 150, the eleventh race of 20 scheduled for the series in 2026. It will be the 20th ARCA Menards Series race at Chicagoland Speedway.
  • Chicagoland Speedway hosted one ARCA Menards Series race per season from the track’s inaugural season in 2001 through 2019. Previous winners include Ed Berrier (2001), Chad Blount (2002), Frank Kimmel (2003), Kyle Krisiloff (2004), Dawayne Bryan (2005), Steve Wallace (2006), Michael McDowell (2007), Scott Lagasse, Jr. (2008), Justin Lofton (2009), Patrick Sheltra (2010), Ty Dillon (2011), Kevin Swindell (2012), Corey LaJoie (2013), Mason Mitchell (2014), Ryan Reed (2015), Chase Briscoe (2016), Christopher Bell (2017), Michael Self (2018) and Ty Majeski (2019).
  • Jake Bollman (No. 20 Nitro Motorsports Toyota) leads the ARCA Menards Series championship standings by 21 points over runner-up Thomas Annunziata (No. 70 JBL Toyota). Bollman tied his career-best finish, second, last Saturday night at Elko Speedway while Annunziata has earned the last two Sioux Chief PowerPEX Pole Awards in qualifying at Berlin Raceway and Elko.
  • Two-time ARCA Menards East champion William Sawalich (No. 18 SoundGear Toyota) returns to the ARCA Menards Series for the first time since he finished fourth at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May, 2025. His Joe Gibbs Racing team has won six of the first ten races of the 2026 season, including the last two with Max Reaves at Berlin and Elko.
  • Isabella Robusto (No. 55 Yahoo! Toyota) set the ARCA Menards Series all-time record for most top-five finishes by a female driver, 13, with her fifth-place finish at Berlin Raceway two weeks ago. She sits third in the ARCA Menards Series championship standings, 54 points out of the lead with ten races remaining in the season.
  • Gavan Boschele (No. 25 Toyota Racing Toyota) returns to the ARCA Menards Series for the first time since his runner-up finish at Pocono Raceway three weeks ago. Boschele has five career series starts and has four top-five finishes.
  • Connor Mosack (No. 28 Friends of Jacklyn Chevrolet) will make his second start of the season in the Pinnacle Racing Group entry. Mosack, a two-time ARCA Menards Series winner at Chicagoland Speedway’s sister track Kansas Speedway in 2023 and 2024, finished fourth in his only previous start this season at Michigan International Speedway.
  • Landon S. Huffman (No. 9 A.L.L. Construction / Carter CAT Chevrolet) returns to the CR7 Motorsports team after making his ARCA Menards Series debut last week at Elko Speedway with Pinnacle Racing Group. Huffman, the son of PRG team manager Shane Huffman, led 130 laps before a mechanical issue brought him to the pits for repairs. He battled for the win in his ARCA Menards East debut at Hickory Motor Speedway before contact led to a late-race spin and he finished second in his most recent East start at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway.
  • Lanie Buice (No. 77 Sunoco Chevrolet) started from the Sioux Chief PowerPEX Pole in her most recent start at Pocono and she matched her career-best finish in fifth. Buice has finished fifth in all three ARCA Menards Series starts she’s made so far in 2026.
  • Talladega Superspeedway winner Andy Jankowiak (No. 71 Phillips 66 Lubricants / Whelen Chevrolet) makes his first start in a month. Jankowiak looks to get his luck turned back around after being swept into accidents in his most recent starts at Toledo Speedway and Michigan International Speedway.
  • Two Illinois drivers will compete at Chicagoland Speedway: Ottawa native Tim Richmond (No. 27 Ottawa Illinois The Middle of Everywhere Toyota) and Alex Clubb (No. 03 Premier Asphalt Ford). Richmond started 12th and finished 12th in the last ARCA Menards Series race at Chicagoland Speedway in 2019; Clubb will be making his first series start at the track. Ottawa is about an hour west of Joliet, while Morris is 15 minutes closer.
  • The race will be run under the Modified Live pit procedure with a scheduled caution at or around lap 50.
  • Ricky Stenhouse holds the ARCA Menards Series track qualifying record at Chicagoland Speedway, set in 2008, at 29.995 seconds/180.030 miles per hour.
  • Kevin Swindell holds the ARCA Menards Series track race record at Chicagoland Speedway, set in 2012, at 1 hour, 3 minutes, 47 seconds / 141.103 miles per hour.
  • Should the race be extended into overtime, there will be unlimited attempts at a two-lap “green-white-checkered” finish. If the yellow flag is displayed after the white flag, there will be unlimited attempts at a one-lap “green and white together” finish.
  • The Ashley Furniture 150 will be televised live on FS1 and broadcast live on select affiliates of the MRN Radio Network nationwide. Live timing & scoring data and live race audio is available at ARCARacing.com; follow @ARCA_Racing on X (formerly Twitter) for up-to-the-minute updates.

About ARCA 
The Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA), founded in 1953 by John and Mildred Marcum in Toledo, Ohio, and acquired by NASCAR in April 2018, is the leading grassroots stock car sanctioning body in the United States. Bridging the gap between NASCAR’s top three national touring series and weekly and regional tour racing all across the country, the organization sanctions over 100 races per year in the ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East, ARCA Menards Series West, ASA STARS National Tour, ASA CRA Super Series, ASA Midwest Tour, ASA Southern Super Series plus weekly racing at Toledo and Flat Rock Speedways. For more information about ARCA visit www.arcaracing.com, or follow ARCA on Facebook (@ARCARacing) and Twitter (@ARCA_Racing). 

About Menards
A family-owned and run company started in 1958, Menards is recognized as the retail home center leader of the Midwest with 236 stores in 15 states.  Menards is truly a one-stop shop for all of your home improvement needs featuring a full-service lumberyard and everything you need to plan a renovation or build a home, garage, cabin, shed, deck, fence or post frame building.  You’ll find a large selection of lumber, roofing, siding, construction blocks, trusses, doors and windows, plus cabinets, appliances, countertops, flooring, lighting, paint, plumbing supplies and more.  To complete the job, Menards has quality hand tools, power tools, fasteners, electrical tools plus storage options and supplies for everyone from the weekend warrior to the pro!
 
Menards has what you need to complete your outdoor projects and keep your yard in tip-top shape including mowers, trimmers, blowers, pressure washers and more, plus a beautiful garden center stocked with plants, shrubs, trees, landscaping tools, grass seed, fertilizer options, outdoor décor and patio furniture.  Menards also has everyday essentials like health & beauty products, housewares, pet and wildlife supplies, automotive items and even groceries.  And at Christmas, an Enchanted Forest display area with impressive trees, lighting, decorations, ornaments, inflatables and more. 
Menards is known for friendly Customer Service and as the place to “Save Big Money” with low prices every day, and sales too!  For more information, please visit Menards.com to learn about our store locations, offerings and services.

Zane Smith Ready For 100th Cup Start This Weekend

By
Official Release
-

Ford Racing Notes and Quotes
NASCAR Cup Series
Ford Racing Media Zoom Call
Tuesday, June 30, 2026

Zane Smith, driver of the No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford Mustang Dark Horse, will be making his 100th career NASCAR Cup Series start when the green flag falls this weekend at Chicagoland Speedway. Smith spoke about the milestone as part of this week’s Ford Racing media call.

ZANE SMITH, No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford Mustang Dark Horse – HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THIS BEING YOUR 100TH START? “I hope to get my first Cup Series win. I don’t know if that counts before 100 starts, but it would be awesome. It would be a great place to do it. We have Vermeer on board this weekend, which that was a crowd favorite when we ran that scheme last year, so it would be awesome to pull that off. The mile-and-a-halves have been good to us since Charlotte, so it’s exciting and I think definitely possible.”

HOW MUCH STOCK DO YOU PUT IN TO NEEDING TO HAVE SUCCESS WITHIN THAT FIRST 100 STARTS? IS IT REAL TO YOU? “Yeah, for sure. I think throughout the industry, especially in the Cup Series, they look at that. Everything has to go right for a race win and race wins, but showing that you’re running up front and having good runs is what’s super important. Fortunately, I’ve had glimpses of that throughout my early starts, but I would say since my 80th-ish start it’s been more consistent of being able to run up front more consistently. The recent race in Charlotte I was able to lead laps and contend for a race win. I have a few seconds and thirds or whatever, but I’m honestly leading these races at the wrong time. I just need to do it a little bit later, but I feel like that’s what’s mostly important. I feel like everyone kind of understands in the industry of how hard these races are to win, and then on top of that we’re a smaller team, too, so we’re doing a lot with a little and trying to make big strides each year. I’m proud of that and proud of how we’re running, but would love to put an exclamation mark on this 100th start.”

IT SEEMS YOU ARE THE BEST OF THE FRONT ROW GROUP ON A REGULAR BASIS. WHAT IS YOUR 38 TEAM DOING BETTER OR DIFFERENTLY THAN THE 34 OR 4 TEAMS RIGHT NOW? “I’m not sure. This sport goes in waves of you’ll run really good and then you might have a few bad weeks. My teammates will have that throughout the year, but we’re just focused on ourselves right now and trying to keep this momentum rolling. We’re proud that it’s this early in the year. I feel like we’ve had these glimpses, but were just too late in the year to where the offseason comes up and you hope you can hit the ground running. That’s easier said than done. You’ve got to survive those two superspeedways to go out maybe later in qualifying and have a good qualifying once you get to these mile-and-a-halves, which is always important. I feel like we had that this year, so I feel like that’s some of it, but our whole group is a really fun group to work with, which says a lot. We just had a year last year of just past communication and past times to know what to do for adjustments going from practice to qualifying and qualifying to the race more importantly, and I feel like some of that is showing, but just trying to carry the momentum is the main thing.”

HOW DOES THE SUCCESS OF THE TRUCK TEAMS AT FRONT ROW TRICKLE OVER TO THE CUP TEAM? “It’s cool to see them run well. I think Layne has won the past few races, so that’s awesome. Dylan Cappella is the crew chief on that. He was my engineer when I was on the 38 truck, so it’s awesome to see what he’s accomplishing. Those are two really fast trucks, and I feel like when I was racing trucks here my truck was on the same shop floor as the Cup cars in the same building that we’re in now. It was cool once I would win and everybody would get lunch since we were in the same building, and that part was exciting. They’re in a different building now since it’s two trucks, so it’s a little bit different now, but it’s awesome to see them winning on Friday or if it’s a Saturday race. It’s certainly exciting and I’m happy for them.”

100 STARTS SEEMS LIKE A LOT AND IT SHOWS HOW HARD IT IS TO WIN. WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST LESSONS YOU’VE LEARNED TO GET TO THIS POINT? “Just the lessons you learn and the different situations that you get put in. In just one Cup race you will experience so much. There are so many ups and downs throughout a Cup race and it’s like that every weekend. I can probably count on one hand how many Cup races I’ve had where it’s like, ‘Man, that went really smooth and everything went right.’ I just feel like the main thing is you’ve got to take the little wins and pile them into bigger wins and eventually you’re gonna be racing for a race win. The harder thing is when you’re part of a smaller team going against a powerhouse team like a Penske, a Hendrick, a Gibbs, they have more people and we’re trying to become that one day. By doing that, you’ve got to win races and run up front and prove your worth, and I feel like we’re accomplishing that. I hope to keep that going, but there are so many ups and downs and I’m certainly a way different race car driver now versus what I was in my rookie year and certainly what I was in the Truck Series.”

DID ANYONE TEACH YOU A REALLY GOOD LESSON THAT HAS STUCK WITH YOU? “You learn a little bit from everybody, but certainly Denny (Hamlin) is really good. He’s been doing it a long time and he’s been in many different scenarios. His car is really fast and he’s really good too, so he’s really good at just being smart in a situation of like, ‘Hey, live to fight another day.’ That was the area where I’ve had to get better. When I was in the Truck Series, the races go by so fast so you’ve got to go, and you’ve got to take control of the race to where you’ve got to do that too and track position is extremely important in the Cup car, but at the same time just live to fight another day because a lot of things happen throughout the race. I feel like those really good guys are good at that. One that stands out to me is Joey Logano. He grinds out a race. There have been many times where I’ve been running around him and I end up 15th, and I look at the scoring pylon and he’s like fifth. I’m like, ‘How did he get up there?’ But it’s just a lot of small, right moves and good strategy. I’m seeing that in myself now, so I’m happy with that.”

DRIVERS ARE EXPECTED TO DO A LOT MORE THAN JUST DRIVING BETWEEN MEDIA OBLIGATIONS, SOCIAL MEDIA AND SPONSORS. HOW DO YOU BALANCE ALL OF THAT? “It’s a part of the job. I guess I try to be myself and I fortunately have a good team around me to help take some of that weight off, to be able to show up on Sunday and put all my attention there, but certainly I feel like the team that you have around you helps make it easier, for sure.”

YOUR CHICAGOLAND EXPERIENCE IS ONE ARCA AND ONE O’REILLY START. HOW ARE YOU GOING TO APPROACH FRIDAY’S PRACTICE SESSION? WHAT HAS THE PROCESS BEEN LIKE PREPARING FOR YOUR FIRST CUP RACE AT THIS TRACK? “I definitely don’t remember my ARCA start there, and I remember a little bit of my Xfinity start there. I remember how hot it was, but David Ragan did the tire test, so trying to get some notes from them, but that’s difficult too because that’s a really green racetrack they were on. It’s all tough, but I’m hearing some comparisons to Charlotte with the bumps, and a combination of like Vegas bumps and wear is almost like Kansas. Who knows? I’m just trying to approach it like any other mile-and-a-half. The biggest question mark are the bumps with the Next Gen car and how it’s gonna handle that, but certainly one of the best mile-and-a-halves character-wise and the racing it produced. I’m excited to get back there and I’m looking forward to it. I’m glad we have good speed on mile-and-a-halves right now.”

HOW QUICKLY WILL YOU KNOW DURING PRACTICE IF YOU GUYS BROUGHT THE RIGHT SETUP? “Probably lap two.”

IT’S FOURTH OF JULY WEEKEND. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO GET TO RACE ON THIS HOLIDAY? “It certainly is cool. I feel like throughout the whole field you’ll see a lot of different patriotic schemes that are incorporated into what you’ve got. That part is cool and nothing screams America more than NASCAR, so it’s awesome and I’m certainly looking forward to it at a place like Chicago. Hopefully, we have a good run ahead.”

Ford Racing – Chicagoland Advance

By
Official Release
-

CHICAGOLAND

Sunday, July 5– NASCAR Cup Series, 6 p.m. ET (TNT)

This weekend will mark the first NASCAR action at Chicagoland Speedway since 2019. Prior to that, the circuit made a yearly stop at the 1.5-mile track for 19 consecutive seasons, starting in 2001. The sport returned to the Windy City three years ago to race in the streets of downtown Chicago and completed a successful run last season.

BLANEY TOP 10 STREAK AT SIX

Ryan Blaney extended his streak of Top 10 finishes to sixth after his sixth-place run on Sunday in Sonoma. The only race keeping that streak from being eight came last month when he finished 11th at Watkins Glen International. The Team Penske driver currently sits third in the point standings as he heads to Chicagoland Speedway, where he has four career starts and a best finish of fourth (2016).

ZANE SMITH MAKING 100TH CUP START

Ford Racing’s Zane Smith will be making his 100th career NASCAR Cup Series start this weekend at Chicagoland Speedway. Smith is in the midst of a breakout year as he’s already established career-highs for most Top 10 finishes (6) and laps led (62) in a single season. He’s currently 23rd in the point standings and 61 points out of the final Chase berth with eight races remaining. This will mark his first Cup start at Chicagoland, but he does have one NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series start at the facility with that coming in 2019 when he finished 17th.

FOUR IN CHASE POSITIONS

With eight races remaining in the NASCAR Cup Series regular season, four Ford drivers find themselves in Chase positions. As noted above, Ryan Blaney is tops on the list in third while Chris Buescher is solidly in the field in seventh. Ryan Preece (15th) and Austin Cindric (16th) are both on the Chase bubble and are separated by only one point.

IN-SEASON CHALLENGE UPDATE

Four Ford drivers advanced to the second round of NASCAR’s In-Season Challenge and are still alive for the $1 million bonus that will be awarded at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Austin Cindric, Ryan Blaney, Todd Gilliland and Chris Buescher all emerged victorious in their opening matchups. This weekend, Cindric is paired against Alex Bowman while Gilliland battles Carson Hocevar. Blaney and Shane van Gisbergen are matched up on the other side of the bracket with Buescher set to face Christopher Bell.

SITTING ON 749

The next Ford win will be its 750th all-time in NASCAR’s top series. Ned Jarrett is Ford’s win leader with 43 while Bill Elliott is second with 40. Shirtless Jimmy Florian scored the Blue Oval’s first series victory when he upset the likes of Lee Petty, Curtis Turner and Joe Weatherly at Dayton Speedway on June 25, 1950. Florian earned his nickname after getting out of his 1950 flathead Ford without a shirt. Overall, 91 drivers have won at least one series race with Ford, including notable drivers Mario Andretti, Dan Gurney, Parnelli Jones, A.J. Foyt, Richard Petty, and Dale Earnhardt.

RYAN BLANEY: YOU PARTICIPATED IN THE APRIL TEST AT CHICAGOLAND SPEEDWAY. WHAT DID YOU THINK? “It was nice to be there. That was the first time we’ve been there since ‘19 and the track was actually in really good shape. I thought the property looked great. A lot of fans came out. They said they had over 1,000 people that just came out to watch practice for a little bit. The track is very similar to what I remember it being. There’s a big patch bump into one, big bump over the tunnel. We didn’t get super wide. We only got to a couple lanes at the test, but it’s just dirty. If you don’t start up there, it just eventually gets too dirty to run it, but when we go back there we’re gonna use everything, which is good. The surface is pretty worn out, but I’m excited to get back there. I think it’s gonna put on a great show. I think this car is gonna perform really well there when it has multiple lanes and stuff like that, so I’m excited.”

KESELOWSKI RECORDS FIRST FORD WIN

Brad Keselowski owns the only Ford victory at Chicagoland Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series as he finally broke through on Sept. 14, 2014 while driving for Team Penske. Keselowski won the opening race of the postseason with an aggressive pass as he went between Kevin Harvick and Kyle Larson to take the lead with 16 laps to go. That marked Keselowski’s second straight series victory after winning at Richmond the week before and fifth overall that season.

FORD’S PAST NASCAR CUP SERIES WINNERS AT CHICAGOLAND

2014 – Brad Keselowski

The Ford Mustang® coupe is America’s best-selling sports car and has a global racing presence. With Mustang-based race cars competing in international sports car competition (GT3 and GT4), NASCAR, NHRA, Formula Drift, in Supercars, at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb and in its own bespoke regional one-make series – Mustang Cup and Mustang Challenge – the platform has an unprecedented global reach. This weekend, 12 Mustang race cars are scheduled to compete across all active disciplines. Learn more about Mustang at www.FordRacing.com.

1...343536...6,780Page 35 of 6,780