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Best Hawkglow H7 LED Bulbs for Cars in 2025

Car lovers and everyday drivers know that good headlights are not just nice to have but they are a must for safe driving. When night rolls in or the weather turns, your headlights lead the way and help keep you visible. Hawkglow H7 LED bulbs for cars are winning fans for their bright light, low energy use, and long life, all in a package that beats standard halogens.

The world of car lighting has raced ahead in the last few years, and LED tech has become both sharper and easier to find. The H7 bulb is one of the most widely used headlight types in today’s cars, so swapping to a better model is a top smart move for drivers everywhere. Whether you need clearer beams to pierce the night, a fresh look for your ride, or a simple halogen swap, the right H7 LED can really lift your driving game.

This guide looks at the best H7 LED bulbs you can buy in 2025, focusing on how Hawkglow stacks up against other brands.

What H7 LED Technology Offers

H7 LED bulbs are a big step up from old halogen designs. “H7” marks a specific size and connector type, so you will find a fit for countless cars and trucks. These bulbs usually run low-beam lights, but a few models also use them for high beams. Each unit has one light filament.

Hawkglow makes their H7 LED bulbs with real care for toughness and dependable use. The bulbs come with sturdy parts that handle bumps, temperature changes, and power demands that cars put on lights. Because Hawkglow focuses on smart design and solid materials, you get a product that shines steadily and is much less likely to burn out early.

Putting these bulbs on your car is easy. Hawkglow H7s mostly use a simple plug-and-play setup, meaning you do not need extra tools or changes to the wiring. Plus, their slim design fits nicely into tight headlight spaces, so you can use them in nearly any housing that has a bit less room in the back.

Side-by-Side Performance Numbers

You can examine a few key figures to evaluate how H7 LED bulbs compare. The lumen output of the lightbulb indicates the overall quantity of light it produces. The best H7 LED choices generate between 8,000 and 12,000 lumens per pair, while the average halogen H7 bulb only generates roughly 3,000 lumens. That is a big brightness boost that can improve the look of your car and visibility at night.

Consistency in color temperature is crucial for drivers and the appearance of vehicles. Unlike less expensive alternatives that may change color over time, premium H7 LEDs maintain a constant color temperature over the course of their lifetime. The best bulbs ensure that both sides match precisely by minimizing color temperature variation between bulbs in the same pair.

Real-world effects are felt in the beam pattern. Superb H7 LEDs light the road ahead while producing crisp beam cutoffs that divert glare from approaching vehicles. The best models hardly lose brightness even after extended exposure to high temperatures, and they come with thermal protection to turn off or dim the light if it becomes too hot.

Controlling the Heat During Installation

Consider heat management when installing high-performance H7 LED bulbs, particularly if the bulbs have integrated cooling fans. Verify that there is adequate room for warm air to escape around the fan and heat sink. Consider installing vents or relocating wires if necessary because occasionally the cooling system can function better with a little more airflow or additional room surrounding the fixture.

Long-Term Performance and Value

A good set of H7 LED bulbs offers more savings than just the sticker price. Under typical driving circumstances, the majority of high-quality LEDs can outlast the car itself because they last between 30,000 and 50,000 hours.

When it comes to fading over time, LED bulbs are not all made equal. While less expensive models may dim unevenly and change color, higher-end models remain bright and true to color for many miles. The secret to happiness after the purchase is that stability that lasts.

A manufacturer’s level of confidence in their product is evident in the warranty.Top H7 LED makers offer solid warranties that cover both parts and any drop in light quality, showing they stand behind the bulbs and the people who buy them.

Picking the Right H7 LED for Your Car

Once you know what you want, it is easier to sort through the options and pick the ones that give you the most bang for your buck. What matters most in performance really comes down to how you drive. If you tackle bad weather or off-road trails, you’ll want the brightest, best-focused light you can get. If you do a lot of night city driving, you might care more about saving power and having a sleek look. Out in the country, the goal is clear sight down long roads, while some folks still want bulbs that look good even in daylight.

Important Tips for Buying H7 LED Bulbs

Make sure the H7 LED bulbs will fit your car before you buy. Check your car’s manual, measure the space the bulbs will go into, and look into how the car’s electrical system works. Doing this will help you avoid installation headaches down the road.

Next, think about your budget. Look at both the sticker price and the bulb’s future costs. Higher-priced H7 LED bulbs usually last longer and shine brighter than cheaper ones. If the cheaper ones burn out before you expect, their low price won’t save you money over time.

Also, think about how easy or hard the bulbs will be to install. If a product needs a mechanic to install, you’ll have to pay for the labor. Bulbs that can be installed with just a few clicks and a basic set of tools let you save money and time. Ask yourself how handy you feel and how much time you can spend on the install.

Worst F1 Title Defenses of All Time as Max Verstappen Struggles to Keep Pace in 2025

Image by Sandor Foszto from Pixabay

Dominance in Formula 1 is a fragile thing. In 2025, the once-unstoppable Red Bull machine has waded into quicksand, its four-time reigning champion Max Verstappen watching a pair of McLarens rocket past with a force and consistency that’s left even seasoned observers rattled. 

The numbers alone are staggering: Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris have combined for 11 victories in 14 rounds—an astonishing 78.5% win rate. Seven of those races have seen McLaren secure 1-2 finishes, propelling them to a decisive 559 points in the Constructors’ standings—more than double Ferrari’s total—and leaving Verstappen, so often the pacesetter, a distant third in the Drivers’ tally, 97 points behind Piastri and 88 shy of Norris. 

McLaren Proves Too Hot For Verstappen to Handle 

With the current margin between Super Max and the two Papaya stars, it should come as no surprise to hear that online betting sites now consider the title battle a two-horse race. The popular Bovada site currently makes championship leader Piastri the -175 favorite for the crown, with Norris just behind at +130. Verstappen is currently considered the best of the rest, but he is still a distant +6600 shot. 

But these raw statistics tell only half the story. Formula 1, at its highest level, is as much about the psychological shockwaves as the mechanics. Verstappen, who for much of the last four years looked almost mythic in his ability to bend a Grand Prix to his will, hit the paddock this summer with brows furrowed and body language taut. After Hungary, he cut a resigned figure, candidly telling the media, “We’re not really fighting for anything anymore.”

McLaren, meanwhile, has not just defeated its rivals—it’s crushed their hope. Their seven 1-2s this year tie them with Mercedes’ historic 2014 campaign through this point of the season. Piastri leads the standings, and across the last two decades, rarely has the handover of supremacy come so abruptly and so completely. 

The question on every fan’s mind now: Is Verstappen’s slide among the worst championship defenses in F1 history? To answer, let’s revisit some notorious flops by serial champions when the bottom fell out.

Sebastian Vettel

Rewind to 2013 and Sebastian Vettel was unstoppable—nine consecutive wins to close the year, 13 on the season, and a fourth title before his 27th birthday. But in 2014, Formula 1’s turbo-hybrid revolution turned Red Bull’s world upside down. The all-conquering V8s gave way to complex and fragile hybrid power units—territory Mercedes stamped with ferocious authority.

Vettel’s numbers made for painful viewing: zero wins, four podiums, a solitary fastest lap, and just 167 points—the same tally as Valtteri Bottas, who had never won an F1 race at that time. His new teammate, Daniel Ricciardo, outscored him by 71 points and snagged three wins. Vettel’s fifth-place finish in the championship was not just a statistic—it was a jaw-dropping fall from grace. Red Bull’s chronic unreliability – five retirements for Vettel alone – and lackluster pace were the headlines, but Ricciardo’s calm, incisive racecraft delivered the exclamation point. 

Jenson Button

Jenson Button’s fairy-tale 2009 campaign with Brawn GP is the stuff of sporting legend. But his move to McLaren in 2010, partnering with Lewis Hamilton, exposed how fine the margins in F1 victory truly are. Button won two of the opening four races—Australia and China—and briefly led the championship. The promise was dazzling, but as the season wore on, the car’s inconsistency and Red Bull’s growing menace became impossible to ignore.

Button’s final numbers: 214 points, just two wins, nine podiums, fifth in the title race, and consistently a step behind Hamilton. While his smooth touch paid dividends in tricky conditions, poor qualifying and erratic McLaren strategies saw crucial points slip away. Far from the clinical ruthlessness of his title year, Button’s defense wilted in the heat of a stronger teammate and a resurgent Red Bull, ultimately unable to deliver when it counted.

Lewis Hamilton

How quickly a giant can stumble. Fresh off the dramatic, last-gasp heroics of his 2008 title, Hamilton entered 2009 with expectations sky-high. But the MP4-24 was a disaster out of the box: at the opener in Australia, Hamilton qualified 18th. By mid-season, the reigning champion had become a sideshow to the Brawn GP juggernaut—Jenson Button’s eight wins in the first 13 races set the tone.

It was only after a significant aerodynamic overhaul that Hamilton finally returned to the podium—victories in Hungary and Singapore served as brief reminders of his genius, but they were bandages for a season spent languishing in the midfield. He finished fifth overall with 49 points, collecting just two wins. His resilience and skill were never in question, but McLaren’s early failings left him with a mountain no man could climb.

Michael Schumacher

Five straight world titles had made Schumacher and Ferrari almost untouchable, a relentless force of nature. But the FIA’s new ban on in-race tire changes played havoc with Bridgestone’s rubber, and the F2005 was overhauled in pace, first by Renault and then by McLaren. The result: Schumacher claimed a single, hollow win—at the six-car 2005 US Grand Prix—amid a year of embarrassment.

The stats were stark: third in the championship, 62 points, one win, three poles—compared to Fernando Alonso’s 133 points and seven wins. Mechanical issues multiplied, and the tactical wizardry that once defined Ferrari became a parade of damage limitation. The unstoppable red tide retreated, leaving Schumacher fighting for scraps. While he would contend for the title once again the following year, the iconic German would never again claim a world championship. 

NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Watkins Glen

William Byron at Watkins Glen. Photo by Patrick Sue-Chan for SpeedwayMedia.com.

This week, William Byron tops the NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings after scoring a top-five at Watkins Glen International.

1. William Byron: 

Byron finished fourth in the Go Bowling At The Glen and leads the power rankings this week.

“I think my road course skills have really come a long way,” Byron said. “I’d say I’m as good a road course driver as Shane van Gisbergen is an oval driver.”

2. Ryan Blaney: 

Blaney started on the pole at Watkins Glen, led 35 laps, and finished sixth at Watkins Glen.

“Shane van Gisbergen is almost unbeatable on road courses,” Blaney said. “And the pressure of being expected to win those races doesn’t seem to bother him. That New Zealander has ice in his veins, and luckily not ICE at his doorstep.”

3. Christopher Bell: 

Bell snatched the runner-up spot at Watkins Glen.

“I tried my best to catch Shane van Gisbergen,” Bell said. “He won by over 11 seconds, so I guess I tried my best to see SVG.”

4. Chase Briscoe: 

Briscoe finished fifth at Watkins Glen, recording his 10th top 5 of the year.

“The coolest paint scheme of the day goes to Cody Ware’s No. 51 Ford,” Briscoe said. “It featured the ‘Evel Knievel Museum’ paint scheme. Cody could have made it cooler if he had jumped 16 school buses at some point in the race.”

5. Shane van Gisbergen: 

Van Gisbergen led 38 laps at Watkins Glen and easily won the Go Bowling At The Glen for his fourth win of the year.

“My name has become synonymous with road course racing,” van Gisbergen said. “To my competitors, ‘SVG’ might as well mean ‘Say a Virtual Goodbye.'”

6. Alex Bowman:

Bowman faded late and finished 20th at Watkins Glen.

“J.J. Yeley’s No. 44 Chevy was primarily sponsored by Syracuse Football NIL,” Bowman said. “‘NIL’ stands for ‘name, image, and likeness.’ To put today’s NIL in perspective, Syracuse’s backup long snapper probably makes more money than J.J.”

7. Denny Hamlin: 

Hamlin finished 25th at Watkins Glen.

“The difference between Cup drivers and Xfinity drivers,” Hamlin said, “is often just a fraction of a second, or a fracture of a collarbone.”

8. Chase Elliott: 

Elliott finished 26th in the Go Bowling At The Glen.

“There’s a chicane at Watkins Glen called the ‘Bus Stop,'” Elliott said. “A lot of drivers think that Carson Hocevar should be placed at the Bus Stop, because that guy should be taking a bus instead of driving.”

9. Joey Logano: 

Logano finished 14th in the Go Bowling At The Glen.

“I’ve been relatively quiet in the regular season so far,” Logano said, “except for those times when I’m complaining about my Penske teammates.”

10. Kyle Larson: 

Larson suffered early mechanical issues and finished 39th at Watkins Glen.

“I had an early brake issue that really took me out of contention,” Larson said. “If you’re the kind of driver, like me, that talks to his car, then saying ‘Stop it!’ to a car with a brake issue can be very confusing.”

Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.

Power Breaks Penske Drought at Portland; Palou Claims Fourth Season Title

PORTLAND, Ore. (Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025) – Will Power staked his claim to continue with Team Penske while Alex Palou secured his spot among the legends of the INDYCAR SERIES after a scintillating BITNILE.COM Grand Prix of Portland presented by askROI on Sunday at Portland International Raceway.

Power earned his first victory of the season and the first this year for Team Penske – helping the legendary team avoid its first winless season since 1999 – in the No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet. Power, who does not have a contract with Team Penske next season, finished 1.5388 seconds ahead of NTT P1 Award winner Christian Lundgaard in the No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet. It was the 45th victory of Power’s legendary INDYCAR SERIES career.

“I think it’s just a big win for the whole team,” Power said. “We’ve had a rough year, and it’s not really because we’ve been off the pace. It’s just been unfortunate circumstances. It was a good, hard-fought win.

“Stoked. I’ve had a great career with Verizon and Penske, so I’ve really, really enjoyed winning for the guys and everyone I’ve worked with for a long time. It’s awesome.”

Palou finished third in the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda to clinch his fourth NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship and third straight series title, joining Ted Horn (1946-48), Sebastien Bourdais (2004-07) and Dario Franchitti (2009-11) as the only drivers to achieve a three-peat. Palou’s fourth Astor Challenge Cup in the last five seasons tied him with Mario Andretti, Bourdais and Franchitti for third on the all-time championship list, behind only A.J. Foyt (seven) and Scott Dixon (six).

It also was the 17th series championship for Chip Ganassi Racing, tying it with Team Penske for the most titles in INDYCAR SERIES history.

“It’s unbelievable; it’s crazy,” Palou said. “I couldn’t be happier right now. This has been an amazing season, an amazing five years with CGR. I have no words to describe how grateful I am to everybody at CGR. I cannot wait for more.”

Graham Rahal finished a season-best fourth in the No. 15 Hendrickson International Honda of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, while Alexander Rossi rounded out the top five also with a season-best result in the No. 20 Java House ECR Chevrolet.

A race of divergent tire strategies in the first half converged into a spellbinding tussle between Power, Lundgaard and Palou over the last 30 laps after all three drivers made their final pit stops.

Power started the 110-lap race from the third starting spot on Firestone Firehawk alternate tires, while pole winner Lundgaard began in seventh – on Firestone primary tires – due to a six-grid spot penalty for an unapproved engine change. Palou also started on the harder, more durable Firestone primary tires from fifth on the grid.

Two-time series champion Power and Team Penske opted to use the softer, more grippy but less durable Firestone alternate tires for his first two fuel stints, choosing to try to run away from the 27-car field and hide before needing to run the primary tire – as required by series rules — and a used set of alternate tires to finish the race.

The strategy helped Power build a 20-second lead over Palou by Lap 51. But then Power pitted at the end of Lap 61 for the slower primary tires, and the chase was on for Lundgaard and Palou.

By Lap 74, Lundgaard had closed to within 1.1 seconds of Power. Palou was nine seconds back but fortified with nearly double the amount of Push to Pass overtake time as his two rivals up the track.

Lundgaard made his final stop at the end of Lap 79, taking on a fresh set of Firestone alternate tires. Power stopped for the last time a lap later, with used Firestone alternates fastened to his wheels. Palou made his final stop at the end of Lap 82, taking on fresh Firestone alternate tires like Lundgaard.

Rahal, on an alternate tire strategy, pitted from the lead at the end of Lap 84. That put Power, Lundgaard and Palou in the top three spots.

It was go time. Game on.

By Lap 96, just .851 of a second separated the top three as cars on the tail end of the lead lap created speed-sapping turbulence for leader Power. Palou briefly passed Lundgaard for second on Lap 97, but the Dane fought back to regain the spot quickly on the same lap.

On Lap 107, Palou went off course and into the grass surrounding the 12-turn, 1.964-mile circuit while trying again to pass Lundgaard for second and perhaps make a run at Power. That dustup let Power pull away, and he led by 1.8018 seconds after Lap 108 and maintained a gap to the checkered flag.

Power, 44, basked in the joy of returning to victory lane and reminding the NTT INDYCAR SERIES he thinks he’s more than good enough to merit a new contract from Team Penske or another team in the paddock.

“I won three races last year,” Power said. “If you’re a team, if you’re waiting on me to know if I’m good enough, I don’t know what you’re thinking.”

Pato O’Ward was the only driver who could have delayed Palou’s coronation, entering this race 121 points behind. O’Ward, who started from the pole, needed to close the gap to at least 107 points. But his chances ended on Lap 21 due to an electrical problem in his No. 5 Arrow McLaren that forced a lengthy repair in the pits. O’Ward finished 25th, 10 laps down.

Palou wasn’t the only season title winner today; Honda clinched the INDYCAR SERIES manufacturers’ championship.

There are two races left in the 2025 season, both on oval tracks. The next race is the Snap-on Milwaukee Mile 250 on Sunday, Aug. 24 in Milwaukee.

Shane van Gisbergen claims fourth road course win of 2025 at Watkins Glen

Shane van Gisbergen wins at Watkins Glen. Photo by Mike Biskupski for SpeedwayMedia.com.

Shane van Gisbergen captured his fourth consecutive road-course victory in the NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) Go Bowling at The Glen on Sunday at Watkins Glen International. It was also his fifth career win in the series and his first win at the 2.45-mile track.

“It’s amazing. Thank you to Trackhouse, Chevrolet, WeatherTech – all of our partners. To get four of these is very, very special,” a smiling Van Gisbergen said.

“The day went flawlessly, and I can’t believe it. Really enjoyed it. It ain’t going to be easy (in the playoffs), that’s for sure. The first round, there’s some very difficult left-handed tracks for me, but I’m getting better at it, and I’m enjoying myself.”

He was dominant throughout the race in the No. 88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet, showcasing his expertise on road courses. Van Gisbergen led 38 of 90 laps during the Go Bowling at The Glen and won by a margin of 11.116 seconds. He has won four of the five NASCAR Cup Series road-course races on the schedule this season.

Van Gisbergen also joins an elite club, with Chase Elliott and Jeff Gordon as the only drivers to win four consecutive NASCAR Cup Series races on road or street courses. Van Gisbergen now only trails Elliott (7) and Kyle Larson (6) among active drivers on street or road course wins in only 38 career NCS starts.

Christopher Bell passed Chris Buescher on the final lap to finish in second place.

“Happy, yeah. I’m thrilled. We’ve been struggling a little bit to find a rhythm. I feel like the car has been good, but executing the races has been tough for us. Really awesome to have a good day. Frustrated to get our butts kicked by the 88 (Shane van Gisbergen) car. He’s doing a really good job. That team has it going on. We need to find a little bit more, but certainly happy. It was a good day for DEWALT Camry,” Bell said.

Buescher held on for third, William Byron finished fourth, and Chase Briscoe rounded out the top-5 finishers.

“Yeah, it was really tough there at the end. To have to run 18 laps on those tires in practice was difficult, and then to put 36 laps on them, I was just hanging on there at the end. I learned a lot there at the end, just with how to conserve for the next time. The last 10 laps were really difficult, but glad we could get a top-five finish,” Byron said.

“That restart just didn’t go our way and we lost a lot of track position and obviously were able to play the long game there in the end and come home top-five. Overall, a good solid finish in a fast Bass Pro Shops Camry. We will go on to Richmond and see what we can do,” Briscoe said.

Polesitter Ryan Blaney, who led 35 laps, finished in sixth.

“Decent day for our Ford Mustang. We led early and settled into second,” Blaney said. He continued, “We had a little different strategy than the 88 [Shane Van Gisbergen] and it was kind of a split deal. We lost a little bit of pace at the end of the day. The last run, the track changed a little bit and I got too tight and faded to sixth. Overall, a really good weekend. A great showing for our group and hopefully we learned something for the ROVAL.”

Notably, two-time Watkins Glen winner Kyle Larson had brake issues early on and finished 39th.

The race featured three caution flags for eight laps, and eight lead changes among six drivers.

After Watkins Glen International, William Byron leads the series standings by 42 points over Chase Elliott, 81 points over Denny Hamlin, and 85 points over Christopher Bell and Kyle Larson.

Two races remain before the 16-driver field for the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs is determined. The NASCAR Cup Series heads to Richmond Raceway for the Cook Out 400 on Saturday, August 16th at 7:30 pm ET on USA.

*The post-race inspection was clear with no issues.

NASCAR Cup Series Race Number 24

Race Results for the Go Bowling at The Glen – Sunday, August 10, 2025
Watkins Glen International – Watkins Glen, NY – 2.45 – Mile Road

PosStNoDriverTeamLapsS1S2S3PointsStatus
1288Shane Van GisbergenWeatherTech Chevrolet9080043Running
2920Christopher BellDEWALT Toyota9003043Running
31217Chris BuescherBuildSubmarines.com Ford9010044Running
41024William ByronRaptor Chevrolet9002042Running
5319Chase BriscoeBass Pro Shops Toyota9090034Running
6112Ryan BlaneyMenards/Richmond Water Heaters Ford9071045Running
71999Daniel SuarezFreeway Insurance Chevrolet9000030Running
81523Bubba WallaceMcDonald’s Toyota9000029Running
92145Tyler ReddickThe Beast Toyota9000028Running
1041Ross ChastainBusch Light Chevrolet9000027Running
111816AJ AllmendingerGrizzly Nicotine Pouches Chevrolet9004033Running
122943Erik JonesFamily Dollar Toyota9000025Running
131760Ryan PreeceMohawk Northeast Inc. Ford90310033Running
141122Joey LoganoShell Pennzoil Ford9000023Running
15253Austin DillonBreztri Chevrolet9000022Running
16132Austin CindricSnap on Ford9000021Running
173338Zane SmithLong John Silver’s Ford9000020Running
18877Carson HocevarDelaware Life Chevrolet9000019Running
19671Michael McDowellGo Bowling Chevrolet9000018Running
20748Alex BowmanAlly Chevrolet9027030Running
21354Noah GragsonA&W Root Beer Ford9000016Running
2258Kyle Buschzone/Fastrac Chevrolet9000015Running
233447Ricky Stenhouse Jr.Real American Beer Chevrolet9068022Running
242835Riley HerbstMonster Energy Zero Sugar Toyota9006018Running
252211Denny HamlinProgressive Toyota9000012Running
26209Chase ElliottNAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet9040018Running
27237Justin HaleyGainbridge Chevrolet9000010Running
282734Todd GillilandOverplay Ford900009Running
293651Cody WareEvel Knievel Museum Ford9010009Running
303210Ty DillonSea Best Chevrolet900007Running
31166Brad KeselowskiNexlizet Ford9005012Running
323042John Hunter NemechekMobil 1 Toyota9050011Running
331454Ty GibbsMonster Energy Toyota900906Running
343141Cole CusterHaasTooling.com Ford900003Running
352421Josh BerryFreightliner Ford900002Running
363778Katherine LeggeDesnuda Chevrolet890001Running
373966Josh Bilicki(i)Southern Tier Security Ford890000Running
383844JJ Yeley(i)Syracuse Football NIL Chevrolet890000Running
39265Kyle LarsonHendrickCars.com Chevrolet750002Running

Will Power holds off Christian Lundgaard to win at Portland, Alex Palou wins title

PORTLAND, Ore - AUG. 10: Will Power, driver of the #12 Team Penske Chevrolet, celebrates in victory lane after winning the BITNILE.com Grand Prix of Portland at Portland International Raceway on August 10, 2025, in Portland, Oregon. Photo: James Black/Penske Entertainment

Team Penske last went winless in 1999, and it will remain that way for another year.

Will Power, on used Firestone reds, held off a hard-charging Christian Lundgaard and Alex Palou in the final 20 laps to score the victory at Portland International Raceway.

“Yeah, it was a nice day because I got to push as hard as I could for the whole race, which usually that’s fuel save,” he said. “I was glad my engineer picked that strategy. He was going to pit me. Then he said to stay out, to be a leader. Had faith that I’d had a lot of pace.

“Yeah, it’s a Team Penske-type day, man. When we’re put in the position, we can win. It’s obviously been a rough year on many fronts. Yeah, very nice to get a win.”

It’s his 45th career victory in 318 NTT IndyCar Series starts and first of the 2025 season.

Lundgaard, on new Firestone reds, couldn’t catch and overtake Power in the closing laps and brought his No. 7 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet home to a runner-up finish. Thanks to early mechanical problems by Pato O’Ward, Palou clinched the 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship with a third-place finish.

“Yeah, it sucks finishing second twice,” Lundgaard said. “No, at the end of the day I’m happy to be in the situation that we’ve been in on the 7 car this weekend. We’ve shown so much pace all weekend. We’re fastest in practice one, seventh in practice two, pole on the race. Obviously had our grid penalty, still raced our way up to second.

“I think there’s only things to be proud of considering where the team was last year. We were first and second in qualifying. Last year none of the cars transferred through Q1. The trajectory the team is on is only upward and I’m excited for the years to come.”

“I’m so glad that we got it,” Palou said. “That was one of the two goals that we had this season and I’m happy that we got it this year again, three years in a row. It’s amazing the work that these two persons do to put an amazing team together that gives us a chance to win every single weekend and fight for every single championship.

“It’s been amazing. This year has been even more than magical with the 500, with so many wins. Today we wanted a win, as well. We gave everything that we had on track. It didn’t work.

“But yeah, super happy.”

Graham Rahal and Alexander Rossi rounded out the top-five.

Callum Ilott, Scott McLaughlin, Marcus Armstrong, Felix Rosenqvist and Colton Herta rounded out the top-10.

Will Power holds off Christian Lundgaard to win at Portland, Alex Palou wins title

Race summary

O’Ward led the field to green at 3:37 p.m. ET. Caution flew on Lap 3 when Santino Ferrucci got loose exiting Turn 12 and hit the outer pit wall.

Back to green on Lap 8, caution flew the same lap for debris on track.

Back to green on Lap 11, caution flew on Lap 14 when Christian Rasmussen turned Conor Daly in Turn 11 and sent him into the tire barrier. Will Power stayed out to take the race lead.

Back to green on Lap 21, O’Ward suffered an electrical failure on the backstretch. Which put him eight laps down as the team fixed the issue on pit road. Power pit from the lead on Lap 35. Josef Newgarden pit from the lead on Lap 38. Which handed the lead to Graham Rahal, who pitted under the first caution. He pit from the lead on Lap 41, and the lead cycled back to Power.

Power pit from the lead on Lap 61 and took new Firestone blacks. Alex Palou pit from the lead on Lap 64. Rahal pit from the lead on Lap 69 and Power cycled back to the lead.

Christian Lundgaard kicked off the final cycle of green flag stops when he pit from second for fuel and a new set of Firestone reds. Power pit from the lead on Lap 80 for a used set of Firestone reds. Palou pit from the lead on Lap 82 and took a new set of Firestone reds. Rahal pit from the lead with 24 laps to go and Power cycled back to the lead.

With 16 laps to go, Power held a 0.750 second lead over Lundgaard and a 1.3 second lead over Palou in third. With 15 to go, the gap shrank to half a second over Lundgaard and under a second over Palou. With 13 to go, Palou overtook Lundgaard for second in Turn 6, but couldn’t hold onto the position. As a result, Power pulled away to 0.717 seconds over Lundgaard and 1.296 over Palou. With 11 laps to go, Palou officially clinched the 2025 NTT INDYCAR Series championship.

With nine laps to go, Power held a 0.623 second lead over Lundgaard and a one second lead over Palou. After running multiple laps behind, Power overtook and put Marcus Ericsson a lap down. With seven to go, Power pulled to a one second lead over Lundgaard and a 1.5 second lead over Palou.

Palou made a move to the outside of Lundgaard in Turn 6, but ran through the grass. This gave Power breathing room, as he drove on to victory.

Will Power holds off Christian Lundgaard to win at Portland, Alex Palou wins title

What else happened

Scott Dixon turned Newgarden in Turn 2 with 27 laps to go. He received a drive-through penalty for avoidable contact.

Will Power holds off Christian Lundgaard to win at Portland, Alex Palou wins title

Nuts and bolts

The race lasted two hours, one minute and six seconds, at an average speed of 107.038 mph. There were 11 lead changes among five different drivers and three cautions for 11 laps.

The NTT IndyCar Series returns to action on August 24 at the Milwaukee Mile.

Early Incident Relegates Berry to 35th at Watkins Glen

An early setback in Sunday’s Go Bowling at The Glen at Watkins Glen International left Josh Berry and the No. 21 Freightliner team with a frustrating 35th-place finish after starting 24th.

Just after the start of Stage 2 in the 90-lap race on the fast road course in upstate New York, Berry was running behind Chase Elliott, who slowed to make a green-flag pit stop. The cars behind Berry didn’t check up in time, making contact that sent the Freightliner Ford Mustang into the steel barrier.

The caution eventually flew for debris from Berry’s car, and Berry lost a lap. The team made repairs to the front splitter and left-rear quarter panel before sending Berry back out, still one lap down.

Berry ended Stage 2 in 38th but was the first car a lap down, earning the free pass to return to the lead lap. Restarting from the rear to open the final stage, he posted competitive lap times, but opportunities to regain track position were scarce. The only caution all afternoon outside of the Stage breaks came for Berry’s earlier incident, eliminating any chance for a yellow-flag strategy to work in his favor.

Berry and the Wood Brothers team will regroup and turn their focus to Saturday night’s Cook Out 400 at Richmond Raceway.

About Freightliner Trucks
Freightliner Trucks is a brand of Daimler Truck North America LLC (DTNA), headquartered in Portland, Oregon. With 80 years of experience, Freightliner produces and markets medium-duty and heavy-duty trucks as the leading heavy-duty truck brand in North America. DTNA is a subsidiary of Daimler Truck Holding AG (DTG), one of the world’s leading commercial vehicle manufacturers. More information is available at www.Freightliner.com.

About Daimler Truck North America
Daimler Truck North America LLC, headquartered in Portland, Oregon, is a leading provider of comprehensive products, services and technologies for the commercial transportation industry. Daimler Truck North America LLC designs, engineers, manufactures and markets medium- and heavy-duty trucks, school buses, vehicle chassis and their associated technologies and components under the Freightliner, Western Star, Thomas Built Buses, inc., Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation, Detroit Diesel Corporation and associated brands. Daimler Truck North America LLC is a subsidiary of Daimler Truck Holding AG (DTG), one of the world’s leading commercial vehicle manufacturers.

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.

Rick Ware Racing: Go Bowling at The Glen from Watkins Glen

RICK WARE RACING
Go Bowling at The Glen
Date: Aug. 10, 2025
Event: Go Bowling at The Glen (Round 24 of 36)
Series: NASCAR Cup Series
Location: Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International (2.45-mile, seven-turn road course)
Format: 90 laps, broken into three stages (20 laps/20 laps/50 laps)

Race Winner: Shane van Gisbergen of Trackhouse Racing (Chevrolet)
Stage 1 Winner: Chris Buescher of RFK Racing (Ford)
Stage 2 Winner: Ryan Blaney of Team Penske (Ford)

RWR Finish:

● Cody Ware (Started 36th, Finished 29th / Running, completed 90 of 90 laps)

RWR Points:

● Cody Ware (36th with 163 points)

RWR Notes:

● Ware finished 10th in Stage 1 to earn one bonus point.

Race Notes:

● Shane van Gisbergen won the Go Bowling at The Glen to score his fifth career NASCAR Cup Series victory, his fourth of the season and his first at Watkins Glen. His margin over second-place Christopher Bell was 11.116 seconds.

● There were three caution periods for a total of eight laps.

● All but four of the 39 drivers in the race finished on the lead lap.

● William Byron remains the championship leader after Watkins Glen with a 42-point advantage over second-place Chase Elliott.

Sound Bites:

“I was really happy with the balance adjustments we made throughout the day. Really proud of our RWR bunch and our Evel Knievel Museum Ford Mustang. We’ll just keep digging and get after it at Richmond.” – Cody Ware, driver of the No. 51 Evel Knievel Museum Ford Mustang Dark Horse

Next Up:

The next event on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule is the Cook Out 400 on Saturday, Aug. 16 at Richmond (Va.) Raceway. The race begins at 7:30 p.m. EDT with live coverage provided by USA and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

RCR NCS Race Recap: Watkins Glen International

Austin Dillon and the No. 3 BREZTRI AEROSPHERE (budesonide, glycopyrrolate, and formoterol fumarate) ® Chevrolet Drive Through the Field for Top-15 Result at Watkins Glen International

Finish: 15th
Start: 25th
Points: 28th

“15th-place finish for our BREZTRI AEROSPHERE® (budesonide, glycopyrrolate, and formoterol fumarate) Chevrolet. Solid day at a road course for us. Watkins Glen International is probably my least favorite track we go to all year, so being able to fight for that finish and run right outside the top-10 towards the end is big for our No. 3 team. Our tires just gave up there in the closing laps. The guys did a great job on strategy, and our pit crew did awesome each stop. We will build off this good run going into Richmond.” -Austin Dillon

Following Top-5 Qualifying Effort, Kyle Busch and the No. 8 zone Chevrolet Finish Inside the Top-25 After On-Track Contact Mid-Race at Watkins Glen International

Finish: 22nd
Start: 5th
Points: 15th

“It was good to qualify in the top-five this weekend and our ECR engines showed a lot of power. The No. 8 zone Chevrolet was one of the fastest cars on the track through the first two stages and we were running at the front. We lost a lot of track position at roughly the halfway point after on track contact and worked to make it back up and finished inside the top-25. Now we’ll focus on Richmond and racing our way into the playoffs.” -Kyle Busch

Buescher’s Third Place Leads Ford Mustangs at Watkins Glen NASCAR Cup Round

Ford Performance Notes and Quotes
NASCAR Cup Series
Go Bowling at The Glen — Watkins Glen International
Sunday, August 10, 2025

Ford Unofficial Finishing Order

3rd – Chris Buescher
6th – Ryan Blaney
13th – Ryan Preece
14th – Joey Logano
16th – Austin Cindric
17th – Zane Smith
21st – Noah Gragson
28th – Todd Gilliland
29th – Cody Ware
31st – Brad Keselowski
34th – Cole Custer
35th – Josh Berry
37th – Josh Bilicki

CHRIS BUESCHER, No. 17 BuildSubmarines.com Ford Mustang Dark Horse – “The speed we had in this BuildSubmarines.com Ford Mustang was good out here at Watkins Glen. I am really proud of everybody. It was great execution all day. We were able to get a stage win there and still in the hunt [for the win] really. I had a couple more laps on my tires and I used the rears up really hard trying to get by a few cars there. At the end of the day it is a really solid run. We are greedy. We want more.”

RYAN BLANEY, No. 12 Menards/Richmond Ford Mustang Dark Horse – “Decent day for our Ford Mustang. We led early and settled into second. We had a little different strategy than the 88 [Shane Van Gisbergen] and it was kind of a split deal. We lost a little bit of pace at the end of the day. The last run, the track changed a little bit and I got too tight and faded to sixth. Overall, a really good weekend. A great showing for our group and hopefully we learned something for the ROVAL.”