Heim dominates the Craftsman Truck Series EJP 175 at New Hampshire

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September 20, 2025

2025-sept20-corey-heim-win-loudon-922x489 — Photo by Sean Gardner | Getty Images

Corey Heim captured his ninth NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series win of the 2025 season in Saturday’s EJP 175 Round of 10 elimination race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Heim led 124 of the 175 laps in his No. 11 Toyota and swept the first and second stages and held off Chandler Smith by 0.823 seconds en route to his record-tying ninth victory of the season in the Craftsman Truck Series.

The Tricon Garage driver tied Greg Biffle’s record back in 1999 for the most wins in a single Truck Series season.

“It’s a dream come true to be able to race with these guys (TRICON),” said Heim. “It seems like everywhere we go this year, we’re a contender or we win. Can’t say enough about those guys, and yeah, keep it going. We got four more races left, and I want to break that record. Shoutout to Greg Biffle, he’s a great dude, and I’m honored to be able to compete with that. Huge thank you to TRICON Garage, dream year for me in my career. We’re gonna keep it going.” Heim said.

Front Row Motorsports’ Chandler Smith needed to win in his No. 38 Ford to advance in the Truck playoffs, and made a charge for the lead in the closing laps but came up one spot short.

“I feel like it’s a little bittersweet, to be honest with you. I had a fast truck that was capable of winning. I started hauling butt there at the end and running down the 11, but it wasn’t in the Lord’s Will today, honestly. I pulled everybody together before the race. We prayed together, and I wanted to let them know that I’m proud of them, no matter the outcome today. We’ve had so much fun this season, and the way this deal came about so late, I felt like, honestly, don’t get me wrong, we had the expectation of wanting to go win, but we’ve really accomplished a lot more than I think we all envisioned us to do, so it’s bittersweet. It’s bitter because I would obviously like to race for a championship, but it’s sweet because I know that we have trucks capable of winning every time we show up to the racetrack. It just wasn’t meant to be, it’s as simple as that. We finished 30th at Darlington, which was on me. We had a mechanical issue last week at Bristol and finished 30th again, and then came here and finished second. We’ll move on and just try to win these last few races.” Smith said.

Layne Riggs finished third, Gio Ruggiero fourth, and Ty Majeski rounded out the top five.

“I feel like this was a solid day. It wasn’t the truck’s fault, like the chassis and truck itself; we just kind of missed the setup. I’ve never been here before. I feel like the sim didn’t really 100 percent correlate, so that kind of screwed me up in practice and just kind of missed the front end. It didn’t really turn as good as it needed to all day, so we were a third-place truck and did what we were supposed to do and finished third. I tried to be a good teammate, trying to help Chandler get in. I wish he could have gotten the win, but just glad both Front Row Motorsports trucks were fast at the end and in contention for it.” Riggs said.

The race featured eight caution flags for 54 laps, and three lead changes among three drivers.

The race had an unusually high number of track incidents starting on the opening lap that included Connor Mosack, Brent Crews, and Tanner Gray. Then Jayson Alexander and Caleb Costner got together in a multi-truck crash that left Alexander screaming on his radio. Later, Christian Eckes and Conner Jones got together on a restart, and then later Toni Breidinger slammed the outside wall, collecting Ben Rhodes and Matt Crafton.

Jake Garcia finished 16th and was also eliminated from the Craftsman Truck Series playoffs along with Smith.

The round of 8

Corey Heim, Layne Riggs, Daniel Hemric, Ty Majeski, Tyler Ankrum, Grant Enfinger, Rajah Caruth, and Kaden Honeycutt advance to the Round of 8, which begins at the Charlotte Motor Speedway road course.

Pos	Driver	No	Points	Behind	Next	Race Wins	Stage Wins	Playoff Points
1	Corey Heim (P)	11	3079	0	0	9	19	79
2	Layne Riggs (P)	34	3032	-47	47	3	7	32
3	Daniel Hemric (P)	19	3011	-68	21	1	0	11
4	Ty Majeski (P)	98	3010	-69	1	0	3	10
5	Tyler Ankrum (P)	18	3010	-69	0	1	1	10
6	Grant Enfinger (P)	9	3007	-72	3	0	2	7
7	Rajah Caruth (P)	71	3005	-74	2	1	0	5
8	Kaden Honeycutt (P)	52	3003	-76	2	0	0	3

Up Next:

The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series heads to Charlotte Motor Speedway for the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Playoff Race at Charlotte ROVAL on Friday, October 3rd at 3:30 PM ET on FS1.

Race Results

NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Race Number 21
Race Results for the EJP 175 – Saturday, September 20, 2025
New Hampshire Motor Speedway – Loudon, NH – 1.058 – Mile Paved

Pos	St	No	Driver	Team	Laps	S1	S2	Points	Status
1	1	11	Corey Heim (P)	Safelite Toyota	175	1	1	61	Running
2	2	38	Chandler Smith (P)	Long John Silver’s Ford	175	2	3	52	Running
3	4	34	Layne Riggs (P)	Bare Knuckle Brawl Ford	175	0	4	41	Running
4	14	17	Giovanni Ruggiero	First Auto Group Toyota	175	0	5	39	Running
5	3	98	Ty Majeski (P)	Soda Sense/Curb Records Ford	175	3	0	40	Running
6	16	9	Grant Enfinger (P)	Champion Power Equipment Chevrolet	175	0	10	32	Running
7	15	52	Kaden Honeycutt (P)	Halmar International Toyota	175	6	9	37	Running
8	8	77	Corey LaJoie	Gainbridge Chevrolet	175	0	6	34	Running
9	28	16	Christian Eckes(i)	NAPA Nightvision Chevrolet	175	0	0	0	Running
10	12	71	Rajah Caruth (P)	HendrickCars.com Chevrolet	175	4	7	38	Running
11	10	18	Tyler Ankrum (P)	LiUNA! Chevrolet	175	10	0	27	Running
12	13	19	Daniel Hemric (P)	Gates Hydraulics Chevrolet	175	0	8	28	Running
13	29	62	Michael Christopher Jr	USNE Power Toyota	175	0	0	24	Running
14	21	26	Dawson Sutton	Rackley Roofing Chevrolet	175	9	0	25	Running
15	20	44	Andres Perez De Lara	Telcel Chevrolet	175	7	2	35	Running
16	9	13	Jake Garcia (P)	Quanta Services Ford	175	5	0	27	Running
17	7	1	Brent Crews	JBL Toyota	175	8	0	23	Running
18	23	45	Bayley Currey	DQS Solutions & Staffing Chevrolet	174	0	0	19	Running
19	26	20	Mason Massey(i)	BRUNT Chevrolet	174	0	0	0	Running
20	30	22	Blake Lothian	Eastern Bank Ford	174	0	0	17	Running
21	27	76	Spencer Boyd	Granite State De-Icing Supply Chevrolet	174	0	0	16	Running
22	19	91	Jack Wood	Adaptive One Calipers Chevrolet	173	0	0	15	Running
23	24	42	Matt Mills	J.F. Electric Chevrolet	170	0	0	14	Running
24	17	99	Ben Rhodes	Campers Inn RV Ford	133	0	0	13	Accident
25	25	5	Toni Breidinger	Sunoco 94 Octane Toyota	132	0	0	12	Accident
26	6	88	Matt Crafton	Jack Links/Menards Ford	132	0	0	11	Accident
27	34	33	Tyler Tomassi(i)	Tomassi Law LLC Ford	126	0	0	0	Accident
28	22	7	Patrick Emerling (P)	Sci Aps Chevrolet	100	0	0	9	Accident
29	5	15	Tanner Gray	Place of Hope Toyota	61	0	0	8	Accident
30	35	69	Derek White	Wholesale JL Ford	45	0	0	7	Accident
31	18	41	Conner Jones	AutoVentive/Precision Chevrolet	41	0	0	6	Accident
32	31	2	Jayson Alexander	Constant Contact Chevrolet	31	0	0	5	Accident
33	36	74	Caleb Costner	Ironside Forestry Toyota	30	0	0	4	Accident
34	32	6	Norm Benning	MDIA Inc Chevrolet	29	0	0	3	Too Slow
35	33	2	Stephen Mallozzi	Ford	7	0	0	2	Suspension
36	11	81	Connor Mosack	F.W. Webb Company Chevrolet	1	0	0	1	Accident

COREY HEIM CAPTURES NINTH TRUCK SERIES WIN OF SEASON IN NEW HAMPSHIRE

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Official Release

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September 20, 2025

Heim, Kaden Honeycutt advance to Round of 8 for Toyota

LOUDON, N.H. (September 20, 2025) – Corey Heim won his record-tying ninth NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race of the season on Saturday at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Heim led 124 laps (of 175) in the TRICON Garage No. 11 Toyota Tundra TRD PRO and won both stages of the race, setting a record for the most stage victories in series history with 19.

Toyota’s second Playoff driver, Kaden Honeycutt, finished seventh to advance to the Round of 8 in the NCTS Playoffs along with Heim. Gio Ruggerio also had a strong race on Saturday, earning a fourth-place result in his first NCTS start at the 1.058-mile New England oval.

Toyota GAZOO Racing Post-Race Recap
NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS)
New Hampshire Motor Speedway
Race 20 of 23 – 185.15 Miles, 175 Laps

TOYOTA FINISHING POSITIONS

1st, COREY HEIM
2nd, Chandler Smith*
3rd, Layne Riggs*
4th, GIO RUGGIERO
5th, Ty Majeski*
7th, KADEN HONEYCUTT
13th, MICHAEL CHRISTOPHER JR.
17th, BRENT CREWS
25th, TONI BREIDINGER
29th, TANNER GRAY
33rd, CALEB COSTNER
*non-Toyota driver

TOYOTA QUOTES

COREY HEIM, No. 11 Safelite Toyota Tundra TRD Pro, TRICON Garage

Finishing Position: 1st

What does it mean to earn win number nine today?

“It means the world to me. Looking back five years ago in my career if I could’ve ever imagined that I was first of all even in the Truck Series, but nonetheless being able to compete or tie a record. It just says so much about all the hard work this TRICON organization puts in with their partnership with Toyota and Safelite. Just so honored to be a part of it. So much preparation on my side as well to live up to the equipment that’s given to me. Just had a little bit of an upper leg on these guys coming to New Hampshire last year (for the Xfinity Series race) and having a Cup test a couple weeks ago, but knew that we’re going to have a good shot at it and wanted to live up so that’s what we did.”

What was your biggest challenge today on the track?

“Just track position really. We got a little bit fortunate with the way the caution fell in stage two to kind of re-rack and be third in the choose with our awesome pit crew to give us an opportunity at that. Being able to get by the 44 (Andres Perez De Lara) there before the end of stage two was kind of the difference maker I thought. When I was on the fresher tires at the start of stage 2 trying to catch those guys, it was almost impossible to pass even with better tires. That helped a lot and just kind of finished the job off.”

KADEN HONEYCUTT, No. 52 Halmar International Toyota Tundra TRD Pro, Halmar Friesen Racing

Finishing Position: 7th

How was your race today and what are your thoughts on advancing in the Playoffs?

“It was a really good job today by this 52 crew. We had a call right there to do two (tires). It was good for a little while, but then I fell off really hard and thankfully got a yellow flag to re-rack and regroup ourselves. It was a really good day. Got some good points. Not really sure where we’ll stack up heading into the next round, but either way going to the Roval it’s about surviving for sure at the Roval and Talladega no doubt. We’ll see what we can approach with and see what we need to do at the Roval to go race by race to hopefully get to Phoenix and challenge for a championship at the end of it.”

About Toyota

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

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

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

Layne Riggs and Ty Majeski Advance to Round of 8 After Top 10 Runs in New Hampshire

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Official Release

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September 20, 2025

Ford Racing Notes and Quotes
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
EJP 175 — New Hampshire Motor Speedway
Saturday, September 20, 2025

Ford Unofficial Finishing Results:

2nd – Chandler Smith
3rd – Layne Riggs
5th – Ty Majeski
16th – Jake Garcia
20th – Blake Lothian
24th – Ben Rhodes
26th – Matt Crafton
27th – Tyler Tomassi
30th – Derek White
35th – Stephen Mallozzi

NOTE: Layne Riggs and Ty Majeski advance to the Round of 8 while Chandler Smith and Jake Garcia are eliminated.

LAYNE RIGGS, No. 34 Bare Knuckles Brawl Ford F-150 – “I feel like this was a solid day. It wasn’t the truck’s fault, like the chassis and truck itself, we just kind of missed the setup. I’ve never been here before. I feel like the sim didn’t really 100 percent correlate, so that kind of screwed me up in practice and just kind of missed the front end. It didn’t really turn as good as it needed to all day, so we were a third-place truck and did what we were supposed to do and finished third. I tried to be a good teammate trying to help Chandler get in. I wish he could have gotten the win, but just glad both Front Row Motorsports trucks were fast at the end and in contention for it.”

CHANDLER SMITH, No. 38 Long John Silver’s Ford F-150 – “I feel like it’s a little bittersweet, to be honest with you. I had a fast truck that was capable of winning. I started hauling butt there at the end and running down the 11, but it wasn’t in the Lord’s Will today, honestly. I pulled everybody together before the race. We prayed together and I wanted to let them know that I’m proud of them no matter the outcome today. We’ve had so much fun this season and the way this deal came about so late, I felt like honestly, don’t get me wrong, we had the expectation of wanting to go win, but we’ve really accomplished a lot more than I think we all envisioned us to do, so it’s bittersweet. It’s bitter because I would obviously like to race for a championship, but it’s sweet because I know that we have trucks capable of winning every time we show up to the racetrack. It just wasn’t meant to be, it’s as simple as that. We finished 30th at Darlington, which was on me. We had a mechanical issue last week at Bristol and finished 30th again and then came here and finished second. We’ll move on and just try to win these last few races.”

TY MAJESKI, No. 98 Soda Sense/Curb Records Ford F-150 – YOU STRUGGLED IN TRAFFIC. ANYTHING YOU CAN POINT TO? “I wish I knew. It’s not a balance issue. It’s not loose or tight, we’re just kind of four-wheel sliding in traffic. It’s really frustrating because there’s nothing that we can do at the racetrack to help it, so I don’t know. We’re gonna have to go back to the shop and think about it. We’ve got a lot of good people at ThorSport and we’ll be able to figure it out. It was just a frustrating day. It started out promising and once the field flipped our day just turned upside down and really took me all day to fight back to where we did. All of those yellows didn’t help me. If we could have had a green flag run, I probably could have picked my way through there a little bit quicker, but those restarts just killed me and needed the race to develop and everybody get single-file before my truck would show.” HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT MOVING ON AND THIS NEXT ROUND? “I feel like we’re in a good spot. Six of the last seven races we’ve been in the top five, so we just need to keep doing what we’re doing and if we do that, we’ll advance to Phoenix. There are some crazy racetracks coming up. It’s kind of a wild card round. Our road course package has been pretty good and that’s been one of our strengths. Hopefully, we can go to the Roval and have a good run and not be in a must-win situation come Talladega and Martinsville.”

JAKE GARCIA, No. 13 Quanta Services Ford F-150 – “I didn’t really think we were ever that good today. We never got the balance right and didn’t have a good day speed-wise. It sucks to get bounced like that, but I’m still proud of everything our guys accomplished over the course of the season and getting our trucks good for a lot of these races. We had some shots to win and had a pretty good year, so it’s unfortunate to get bumped from the playoffs, but still proud of what we accomplished this year.” WHAT WERE YOU FIGHTING TODAY? “We were just super tight. We never got it to turn. We took some really big swings at it and nothing really did much for it, so we’ll have to figure out why that is and what went so wrong this weekend and we’ll move on to the next one. Hopefully, when we come back here or a track like this, we’ll have a little bit better notebook.” WHAT ARE YOUR BEST CHANCES TO WIN THE REST OF THE YEAR? “Probably Phoenix. I’ve run second there in the past. Talladega is anybody’s ball game. We’ll see what happens there. I ran third at Martinsville earlier and I think we learned a lot there for when we come back. I don’t consider myself a good road course racer, but I was running fifth at the end of Watkins Glen, so anything can happen. I would say I feel like we’ve got a shot going into all of them, but definitely think we take this opportunity to work on some stuff for next year hopefully and try to get our trucks a little better and build our notebook a little bit.”

Rypkema Wins the Mohegan Sun 100 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour Race on a Thrilling Last-Lap Pass

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Official Release

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September 20, 2025

Mohegan Sun and New Hampshire Motor Speedway announced a multi-year partnership extension following checkered flag.

LOUDON, N.H. – “The Magic Mile” lived up to its name on a chilly morning as Tyler Rypkema scored a dramatic victory in the Mohegan Sun 100 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour (NWMT) race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway (NHMS). The event was marked by intense drafting battles and frequent cautions, with defending winner Justin Bonsignore fighting hard to maintain the lead in the closing laps, receiving aggressive bump drafts down the front straightaway by Rypkema.

From the drop of the green flag, the race delivered the excitement that fans come to expect from the Mohegan Sun 100, one of the NWMT’s signature races. Bonsignore, Jon McKennedy and Rypkema spent much of the morning swapping positions, all battling for the lead in the final 20 laps.

The turning point of the race was with six laps remaining, when McKennedy made contact with another car, taking him out of contention for the win and resulting in a dramatic overtime finish.

Bonsignore did all he could on the final lap to try and hold off Rypkema, but a bump and a divebomb move going into turn three sent Bonsignore wide, and the two were forced to battle it out coming to the checkered flag. Beating and banging to the line resulted in a crash for the two leaders, but Rypkema ultimately crossed the line first, his right-front tire completely off the car from the impact. Rypkema exited his wrecked car, stood on top of the roof victoriously and pumped his fist in the air.

“He had me clear off of [turn] four,” Bonsignore said post-race. “I don’t know why he decided to go to victory lane junked.” Bonsignore had to settle for second place this morning, with a wrecked race car.

“It’s huge. This track is its pinnacle for modified racing,” said Mohegan Sun 100 NWMT race winner Rypkema. “We just put on probably the best show of the weekend.”

This race adds another chapter to the storied history of the NWMT at NHMS. Over the years, “The Magic Mile” has been the stage for some of the series’ most memorable finishes, from Anthony Nocella’s stunning upset victory in 2022 to Bobby Santos III’s remarkable six wins at the track between 2014 and 2020. The finish today simply adds to the iconic legacy this track has created.

In addition to the on-track excitement, Mohegan Sun and NHMS announced a multi-year partnership extension that solidifies Mohegan Sun’s role as the official casino partner of NHMS. The agreement includes continued entitlement of the NWMT event at “The Magic Mile,” ensuring that the Mohegan Sun 100 remains a highlight of the racing calendar for years to come.

“This is a relationship between our casino and this facility, and we are all about partnerships,” said Mohegan Tribe and Mohegan Sun Tribal Council Ambassador Mark Brown. “That’s also going to be true to all of you race fans that come down to Mohegan Sun and enjoy some of our activities as well.”

With the Mohegan Sun 100 in the rearview mirror, the day still has plenty more action ahead with the return of the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS) for the first time in eight years this afternoon with the Team EJP 175 race. Following checkered flag, the racetrack will also play host to the stars of the NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) with practice and qualifying to round out the race day.

The on-track action culminates Sunday with the NCS taking on “The Magic Mile” to kick off the Round of 12 with the Mobil 1 301. Don’t miss all of the exciting off-track action including “The Magic Mile” Happy Hour Show, Trackside Live, The Groove fan hangout, a Draw the Line concert, driver appearances, a variety of live performances and much more.

For a full NASCAR weekend schedule, visit NHMS.com/Events/Mobil-1-301/Schedule/.

Tickets:

For tickets and camping for New England’s only NASCAR Playoffs weekend, featuring the Mobil 1 301 NCS and Team EJP 175 NCTS Playoffs races, fans should visit NHMS.com or call 833-4LOUDON. Tickets for kids 12 and under are just $10 on Sunday.

Follow Us:

Keep track of all of New Hampshire Motor Speedway’s events by following on Facebook (@NHMotorSpeedway), X (@NHMS) and Instagram (@NHMS). Keep up with all the latest information on the speedway website (NHMS.com) and mobile app.

Toyota GAZOO Racing – NCS New Hampshire Quotes – Christopher Bell – 09.20.25

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Official Release

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September 20, 2025

Toyota GAZOO Racing – Christopher Bell
NASCAR Cup Series Quotes

LOUDON, N.H. (September 20, 2025) – Joe Gibbs Racing driver Christopher Bell was made available to the media on Saturday prior to practice for the NASCAR Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

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

Do you have any news to tell us this year like you did last year here at New Hampshire?

“Thankfully, this year’s race is a little bit later on in the year, so I think all of the silly season stuff is behind us (laughter). But, yeah, it was right here in this seat, and I do not have any news to share.”

How much do you think the tire test will help you here?

“I do think anytime you get track time is valuable. NASCAR does a pretty good job of making sure that it’s not just an open test. We do get to come here, we do get laps on the race track, but for the most part you’re just working on evaluating tires and not really a bunch of car performance stuff. So, I think that the race is going to probably play out a little bit different than years past just because the tire that they’re bringing is expected to have a little bit more tire deg than what we’ve raced here in the past. So, the tire strategy is probably going to be called a little bit differently than what we’ve had in the past. But, yeah, at the test, we were not the fastest one here for sure. I’m glad that we weren’t racing that day in July at the tire test and hopefully we made performance gains. I think that the cars are really good – now. They are really good now. I think we’ve made an uptick in performance now versus what we had in the tire test, but I’m sure the rest of the competitors could say the same thing.”

What is the vibe within your race team this week after your win at Bristol?

“Certainly, winning helps but we didn’t lead laps. Once again, I won a race, but I didn’t lead laps which is okay. I will gladly take that. Last week was just such unique circumstances. We kind of won the lottery last week. Whoever won that race was going to have to have a substantial amount of luck and fortunately it was on our side. But I don’t know. I think we had a great car, but I think a lot of people would’ve said the same thing, and we got really fortunate last week. So, it was kind of a unique circumstance that played out. So, I don’t know that it necessarily was a true test of where the teams stack up.”

Were you excited when the schedule for this year came out and New Hampshire was a Playoff race?

“I was definitely excited whenever the schedule came out and I saw that Loudon was a Playoff race. It made me very optimistic about it and obviously this is a great track for me. You need to start out the rounds with a positive race and certainly this is a place that we should lead laps and should contend for the win. And, if you’re putting yourselves in that position where you are leading laps and you are contending for the win, even if you don’t win, you get enough points. Which is a different mentality than in the Round of 8. In the Round of 8 you really need to win, but in the Round of 12 getting through here with a lot of points – that’s the goal.”

What’s the temperature like at Joe Gibbs Racing?

“Certainly, we’re feeling good. Joe Gibbs Racing has asserted themselves as the powerhouse team in the sport right now so we’re loving life. Absolutely. We know we’re in a good spot and we’re just trying to keep the ball rolling. It’s a week by week basis and the schedule certainly lays out really well for the Toyotas to run well for a little bit here and hopefully we can do that. But, certainly, we’re all super happy and thrilled with how it’s going.”

What is the biggest challenge in the Round of 12?

“I think, you look at the race tracks on paper and they say that we should be really good at all of these tracks, and we should be able to have good performance. The toughest thing is just going to be going out there and doing it and not eliminating yourself. I think that all of us, myself, Denny (Hamlin) and Chase (Briscoe) – even Bubba (Wallace) and Tyler (Reddick) – all of the Toyotas, they’re going to have speed. We’re going to be capable so just got to dot your i’s and cross your t’s and do your job. I think if it’s up to car performance, we’ll probably be fine but the execution side and finishing the races out, making sure that you make the right decisions on restarts, the right strategy calls, not making mistakes on long green flag runs – stuff like that — is going to be the difference maker in the Round of 12.”

Are you surprised that Toyota is not just winning but dominating the Playoffs statistically and how much confidence does that give you?

“It’s pretty impressive. I don’t think any of us expected the Round of 16 to start the way that it did. It’s just a credit to the Joe Gibbs Racing folks and Toyota and Toyota Racing Development (TRD). It’s not an overnight thing. It’s a lot of effort put in by a lot of different people that have gave us the performance that we have and then once you have that performance it comes down to the teams executing the races and doing the right thing. The 19 team with Chase (Briscoe) and James (Small, 19 crew chief), they did incredible. That Darlington performance was one of the best performances that we’ve seen in a long time. To qualify on the pole at the Southern 500 and lead and just dominate the race like that. That was absolutely phenomenal. Then – Denny (Hamlin) – I don’t think he had the best car at St. Louis, but him and (Chris) Gayle (11 crew chief) did a great job playing the strategy right and were there whenever it mattered the most. So, it’s just – I don’t think that any of us pictured it going the way that it has, but we know that we’re in a good spot.”

What’s the hardest part of the Playoffs for you?

“Surviving Talladega. That’s been the hardest part every year. I don’t know if it’s fortunately or unfortunately, now it’s moved a little bit later on in the schedule so fortunately I don’t have to deal with it now. Unfortunately, and hopefully, I have to deal with it later. Talladega has always been the toughest one. Last year we had Atlanta in there so certainly this year the additions of Gateway and Loudon into the Playoffs were something that I was super excited about. And, yeah, Talladega has been the one that’s always the fearful one for me and I don’t know if it’s good or bad that it’s later on in the year this year.”

How have you learned to handle the highs and the lows that you’ve experienced in the Playoffs and how have they shaped you?

“I don’t know. Maybe it’s hardened my heart a little bit. Yeah, certainly I don’t know – certainly Martinsville 2024 was the bottom of how I’ve ever felt in my professional career. And, yeah, Martinsville 2022 was probably the highest I’ve ever felt in my professional career. I don’t know. I guess it just kind of mellows you out a little bit and you understand that no matter what happens come February we’re all going to be chasing the Cup back there again. Yeah, I don’t know. I guess the more you do it, the more experience you have with it, it becomes more natural, it becomes more normal, and you know what to expect. So, hopefully I have the ends covered from winning and advancement in 2022 and then the being in and not advancing in 2024. I think all of it is probably filling in in the middle there on the emotional spectrum.”

Has what you’ve gone through in the Playoffs run you through the ringer?

“It has for sure. I don’t know. I love where we’re at and obviously I’m glad that we’re on a positive, but you never know what the next week brings. I don’t know. I feel like maybe Adam (Stevens, crew chief) does a little bit better job of managing the highs and lows than I do. But, yeah, it’s – I don’t know. You always ask the deep questions. That’s a good one. That one stumped me a little bit, but I certainly have the highs and lows covered throughout my career so far.”

Can the current form of your race team win the championship and if you feel like you can’t, what’s the biggest thing you need to see happen to make it to Phoenix?

“So, actually, I can answer this one pretty clearly. What we have to do better, is we’ve got to start qualifying better. That is mission critical. Oh, my goodness. All of us are – we’re frustrated a little bit of how we’ve qualifying especially compared to our team cars. I say that because the team cars are the barometer. If the team cars are qualifying well, then you should be qualifying well too. And, through the summer months, we couldn’t even put it in the top 10. We’ve made gains on our qualifying performance and now it seems like we can consistently put it in the top 10, but our teammates are consistently putting it on the front row. Whenever you get deeper into the Playoffs, you have to be scoring stage points, and a lot of the stage points are dictated by your qualifying effort. So, yeah, that’s mission critical. We’ve got to start qualifying better, and along the lines of qualifying better, that’s how you lead laps. I think a lot of it stems from the qualifying and that’s probably the biggest performance gain that we need to go out there and be one of the top contenders. I feel like our race performance has been on par with most of our competitors, it’s just we’re starting from a hole after Saturday.”

What are you not able to do in qualifying to get the result?

“There definitely has been a consistent theme through our qualifying sessions the past handful of races and probably months. It just comes down to car balance. We have the capability and the teammates are showing we have the capability if we just get it right. And, we just have been off a little bit, and it doesn’t take much to be a couple positions back. Our teammates have just been hitting it and getting the good qualifying results. We’re missing a little bit. Some of it has been on the balance side and some of it has been on the driving side as well. All of us – myself, Adam (Stevens, crew chief), the engineers, we all have to just buckle down and improve that if we want to go deeper here.”

About Toyota

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

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

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

When Disaster Strikes Twice: Legal Complexities of Chain-Reaction Collisions

By

SM

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September 20, 2025

anthony-maw-XcjVef6uvYA-unsplash — Photo by Anthony Maw on Unsplash

Chain-reaction collisions are among the most harrowing events that can occur on the road. Unlike a typical two-vehicle accident, these incidents unfold in a domino effect where one initial crash sparks a cascade of secondary impacts. Drivers have little time to react, and the chaos escalates rapidly as multiple vehicles become entangled.

Beyond the immediate devastation—injuries, property damage, and traffic gridlock—these accidents present intricate legal challenges. Victims often face a tangled web of liability questions, insurance disputes, and legal processes that can stretch long after the debris is cleared.

When disaster strikes twice, the complications multiply. The initial impact often leads to a second, third, or even fourth collision, creating an event where fault is rarely clear-cut. This complexity makes chain-reaction collisions not just dangerous but also uniquely difficult to resolve in a court of law.

For anyone involved—whether driving through busy interstates or rural highways in Louisiana—understanding the legal intricacies is vital to ensure that justice and fair compensation prevail.

Experienced Legal Help for Multi-Vehicle Accidents

Navigating the aftermath of a chain-reaction collision is not a task for the unprepared. These cases require a detailed investigation and a deep understanding of accident reconstruction, traffic laws, and insurance practices. Hiring professionals who specialize in multi-vehicle accidents can make the difference between a fair outcome and prolonged financial or legal turmoil. Attorneys who focus on these cases know how to collect and interpret critical evidence—such as skid marks, vehicle damage patterns, and surveillance footage—to establish a clear sequence of events.

Equally important is understanding specific obligations that arise in different jurisdictions. For example, parties involved in such collisions must be aware of the reporting requirements for car accidents in Louisiana, which are designed to ensure timely and accurate documentation of events. While every state or region will have its own set of obligations, knowing the exact procedures for where the collision occurs is essential. Failing to comply can jeopardize insurance claims and complicate any future legal actions.

Determining Liability in a Chain-Reaction Event

Pinpointing liability in a chain-reaction collision is rarely straightforward. Unlike a simple rear-end crash where one driver is typically at fault, these incidents can involve multiple drivers making split-second decisions.

Courts and insurance companies must evaluate factors such as weather conditions, driver attentiveness, speed, and vehicle maintenance. One driver’s sudden stop may be reasonable given the circumstances, but if another motorist was tailgating or distracted, they may bear primary responsibility for the subsequent impacts.

In many cases, liability may be shared among several parties. Comparative negligence rules, where each party’s fault is apportioned as a percentage, often come into play. An attorney must present evidence that clearly demonstrates how each driver’s actions contributed to the chain of events. This may involve working with accident reconstruction experts who use scientific methods to analyze data and recreate the crash scenario.

The Role of Insurance and Multi-Claim Disputes

Insurance issues in chain-reaction collisions are notoriously complex. Multiple claims may be filed against the same policy, and determining which insurer is responsible for each portion of the damage can be contentious. Policy limits may quickly be exhausted when several injured parties seek compensation, leading to disputes over how settlements are allocated.

Victims may find themselves negotiating not just with their own insurer but also with the insurers of multiple other drivers. This web of negotiations can drag on for months or even years, particularly if the insurance companies disagree about who was primarily at fault. In some cases, injured parties may have to pursue legal action to secure fair compensation, especially if medical costs and property damage exceed available coverage.

The Importance of Evidence and Timely Action

Evidence is the linchpin of any successful legal strategy in a chain-reaction collision. Photos and videos taken at the scene can capture the positioning of vehicles and the state of the roadway, providing valuable context for investigators. Witness statements are equally important, as bystanders may have observed critical details that the drivers themselves missed in the chaos.

Modern vehicles often contain event data recorders—so-called “black boxes”—that store information such as speed, braking patterns, and airbag deployment times. Retrieving this data quickly can prevent it from being lost or overwritten. Prompt action also ensures that physical evidence, like tire marks or debris patterns, is documented before they fade or are cleared away.

Medical and Financial Ramifications

The injuries sustained in a chain-reaction collision can range from minor cuts and bruises to life-altering trauma. Because these crashes often involve multiple points of impact, occupants may suffer from whiplash, concussions, broken bones, or internal injuries. The medical costs associated with these injuries can be significant, including emergency care, surgeries, rehabilitation, and long-term therapy.

Beyond physical harm, victims face financial repercussions such as lost wages, vehicle repair or replacement costs, and potential future earnings losses if injuries lead to lasting disability. A comprehensive legal approach must account for both current and future damages to ensure that victims receive adequate compensation.

Legal Strategies for Protecting Your Rights

When dealing with the aftermath of a multi-vehicle crash, protecting your legal rights requires a proactive approach. It is crucial to refrain from making statements that could be interpreted as admitting fault, as these can be used against you in negotiations or litigation. Instead, providing factual information to law enforcement and your attorney is the safest course of action.

An experienced attorney can guide you through each step, from filing insurance claims to preparing for a possible trial. They can also coordinate with medical professionals to document injuries thoroughly, ensuring that no aspect of your damages is overlooked. Their ability to negotiate with multiple insurance companies and present a clear, evidence-backed case is vital in securing a favorable outcome.

Broader Implications for Road Safety

Chain-reaction collisions highlight broader issues of road safety and driver behavior. These events often occur in heavy traffic, during poor weather, or when visibility is reduced. Drivers who maintain safe following distances, remain attentive, and adjust their speed to conditions can significantly reduce the likelihood of triggering or being caught in such a crash.

Public awareness campaigns and stricter enforcement of traffic regulations also play a role in prevention. By emphasizing the importance of safe driving practices and holding negligent drivers accountable, society can work toward reducing the frequency and severity of these devastating accidents.

The legal complexities of chain-reaction collisions underscore the importance of preparation, swift action, and expert guidance. From determining liability to navigating insurance disputes, the path to resolution is rarely simple.

B. Force, Hagan, Glenn, Herrera Open First Playoff 4-Wide With Provisional No. 1 Spots at zMAX Dragway

By

Official Release

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September 20, 2025

unnamed (7) — Brittany Force powered to a 3.698 at 338.85 mph Friday, the only run in the 3.60s as she chases her fifth No. 1 of 2025. (CMS/HHP photo)

CONCORD, N.C. (Sept. 19, 2025) – Two-time Top Fuel world champ Brittany Force made the quickest run on Friday at zMAX Dragway, taking the provisional No. 1 qualifier at the NHRA 4-Wide Carolina Nationals.

Matt Hagan (Funny Car), Dallas Glenn (Pro Stock) and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) are also the provisional No. 1 qualifiers at the 16th of 20 races during the 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season and the second of six races in the Countdown to the Championship playoffs.

Force went 3.698 seconds at 338.85 mph in her 12,000-horsepower dragster, becoming the only driver on Friday to dip into the 3.60s. A week after announcing her retirement from full-time racing at the end of the 2025 season, Force is on pace to qualify No. 1 for the fifth time this season and the 57th time in her standout career.

The first race in the Countdown to the Championship didn’t go as planned for Force, falling in the second round and dropping her to seventh in points. She is eager for a big weekend and with an abundance of special moments already in Charlotte, Force is confident she can add another.

“I don’t know why I had a good feeling about it,” Force said. “I saw the cars out ahead of us going low 3.70s and I don’t know why it popped in my head, 3.69. We’ve done it before and I felt like we could do it, and they told me 3.69 down there on the top end. Sometimes the driver is just in tune and you know what we’re aiming to run.

“This is such a beautiful facility. To pull up here and it’s dark out, you’ve got lights going all the way down the racetrack and then just to see these cars go down the track, flames coming out of the headers, there’s nothing like it. It’s still exciting for me and especially to be in the car.”

Points leader Doug Kalitta is second after going 3.700 at 332.18 and Steve Torrence is third with a 3.720 at 331.28

In Funny Car, Matt Hagan delivered an epic blast on Friday at zMAX Dragway, going to the No. 1 spot in his 12,000-horsepower Direct Connection Dodge//SRT Hellcat with a run of 3.891 at 329.67. It was a great recovery from the explosion in Reading and Hagan put up the only run in the 3.80s as he looks to take the No. 1 qualifier for a second time this season and the 54th time in his career.

The four-time world champ lauded the work of his team to get the car ready for Charlotte and they enjoyed a strong start for what is a big weekend for the veteran. He enters the race 55 points back of Austin Prock and Hagan is hopeful he can make up ground at a track that has served him well over the years.

“I was actually giving my guys a hard time in the lanes. They were pulling primary [clutch weight] off of it, and I’m wanting them to put primary on it, and they’re like, ‘Just shut up and drive.’ They give me a mouthpiece for a reason. But it was a great run.

“We’ve had some pretty bad boomers here lately and they’ve been giving no warning. The guys spent 15 hours here yesterday, you know, going through everything, flying in early, doing all the measurements, making sure the [valve] lashes are right, all that kind of stuff. So, to come out here and make two good runs back to back and then be sitting one, I’m glad to do that.”

Prock is second with a run of 3.900 at 327.74 and last weekend’s winner, Cruz Pedregon, made a pair of solid runs, including a 3.910 at 320.28 to put him third.

Fresh off a stellar playoff opener, Pro Stock points leader Dallas Glenn stayed red-hot, both in the playoffs and at zMAX Dragway, going 6.535 at 209.69 to take Friday’s top spot. It would be Glenn’s sixth No. 1 spot of the season and coming off his win in Reading, Glenn remained on point in Charlotte.

That shouldn’t be surprising, as Glenn has won the past two races in Charlotte, dating back to last fall’s race, and he’s also thrived in the four-wide setting over the years. There’s plenty of racing to be done this weekend at zMAX Dragway, but a second straight win by Glenn in the Countdown to the Championship would send a strong message.

“I felt pretty good coming in here,” Glenn said. “We’ve definitely got a hot streak going and I’ve got a great car right now. As long as we can keep going up there and keep making good rounds and keep putting pressure on [the competition], we can just let everybody else make mistakes.

“The four-wides are tougher. There is a lot going on. It’s very, very chaotic, so we just have to go up there and make sure we make good clean quality runs.”

Glenn’s teammate, reigning world champion Greg Anderson, is right on Glenn’s heels, going 6.535 at a slightly slower 209.20 and Eric Latino is third after going 6.538 at 208.01.

A week after a disappointing finish to open the Countdown to the Championship, back-to-back Pro Stock Motorcycle world champion Gaige Herrera rebounded in a major way on Friday, making the quickest run of both sessions, including a 6.757 at 201.22 on his RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki.

That came in the second session and puts Herrera, who opened the weekend six points back of Matt Smith, on track for his sixth No. 1 qualifier of the season and 29th in his career. Maple Grove Raceway continues to be his nemesis, as Herrera fell in the second round last weekend, but Friday’s two runs indicate the standout is back on track in the four-wide setting at Charlotte.

“Coming out here and making two good runs is kind of just what we needed after last weekend,” Herrera said. “I went out in round two and Richard [Gadson, teammate] went out in the semis and it felt like we just missed it. We were ready to leave that place and come here..

We just hope to keep that fast, consistent motorcycle all weekend. You know, [in four wide racing] you have a different mindset going into it. You’ve got to go up there and pay attention to not only one rider, but three more.”

Richard Gadson is currently second after going 6.760 at 200.26 in the same quad and Smith is right behind with a 6.768 at 201.01. The six-time world champion is the defending event winner, albeit in the two-wide setting a year ago.

Qualifying continues at 12:30 p.m. ET on Saturday at the NHRA 4-Wide Carolina Nationals at zMAX Dragway.

Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Customer Racing Teams and Mercedes-AMG Bring 2025 IMSA GTD Championship Points Leads to Indianapolis

By

Official Release

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September 20, 2025

unnamed (6) — IMSA, Indianapolis, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indianapolis, IN, September 2025. (Photo by Brian Cleary/bcpix.com)

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana – Mercedes-AMG Motorsport Customer Racing teams and Mercedes-AMG bring across-the-board GT Daytona (GTD) class championship leads to Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) this weekend for Sunday’s Battle on the Bricks Six-Hour IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race. The next to last race on this year’s IMSA WeatherTech schedule, championship leaders Winward Racing will be joined by IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup competitors Lone Star Racing in the GTD class. A Mercedes-AMG Motorsport GTD Pro team also is entered with 75 Express returning to Indianapolis for the team’s first IMSA race since the season-opening Rolex 24 At Daytona in January.

Live coverage of the Battle on the Bricks begins this Sunday, September 21, at 11:30 a.m. EDT on NBC’s Peacock online streaming network and runs straight through the finish and post-race coverage until 6 p.m. EDT. The flagship NBC network adds to the viewing options with three hours of broadcast coverage airing from 3 – 6 p.m. EDT. International viewers can watch the race live on IMSA.TV and the IMSA YouTube channel.

In the most recent series race last month at VIRginia International Raceway (VIR), co-drivers Russell Ward and Philip Ellis secured a class-leading third win of the season in the No. 57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 to build their biggest GTD team and driver championship leads of the summer.

The VIR win followed earlier triumphs this season for Winward in March at the 12 Hours of Sebring and two races later at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in May.

Ward, Ellis and the No. 57 Winward team come to Indianapolis a full 171 points ahead of the nearest challengers, 2,529 – 2,358, in the GTD driver and team championship standings.

Meanwhile, Mercedes-AMG has built an even bigger lead in the GTD manufacturer championship with 2,743 points, 186 points clear of the closest competitor.

Lone Star returns to IMSA GTD competition for the team’s fourth race of the season as they focus on the IMEC “championship within a championship” that awards the top performers in the year’s five long-distance races at Daytona, Sebring, Watkins Glen, Indianapolis and next month’s Petit Le Mans finale at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.

Season-long team driver Scott Andrews co-drives the No. 80 Lone Star Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 with Wyatt Brichacek, who makes his second start with the Texas team at Indy.

Team newcomer Lin Hodenius fills in for Lone Star Racing team owner and driver Dan Knox at Indy in what will be the 19-year-old driver’s first race start in the U.S. Hodenius, who was the youngest driver, then 18, competing in this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans, is a regular in this season’s World Endurance Championship (WEC) driving for the Iron Lynx Mercedes-AMG GT3LM team.

The 75 Express team is back at the Brickyard with team owner and driver Kenny Habul reuniting with long-time professional co-driver Mikael Grenier after the duo last raced together in IMSA GTD Pro at this year’s Daytona opener.

The duo will be joined by Habul’s 22-year-old Australian countryman Broc Feeney, the current points leader in the popular Repco Supercars championship back home.

Feeney raced karts in the U.S. as a youth, but this weekend marks both his first auto race in North America and his first visit to The Racing Capital of the World.

The Battle on the Bricks is scheduled to start Sunday, September 21, at 11:40 a.m. EDT with the checkered flag flying six hours later at 5:40 p.m. EDT.

Russell Ward, Driver – No. 57 Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3: “We’re relatively new on the block compared to some of the more established teams, but I keep coming back to the same thing: It really comes down to the people that you get behind you. Those guys kind of propel you forward, and when the drivers can’t get it done on the track, you come into pit lane, and those guys can get it done. We spend a tremendous amount of time making sure that we practice pit stops and that we spend the least amount of time in pit lane. I think it just comes down to the group that we’ve built. It is passion driven, just the passion that the whole team has to go out there and compete. Then it is about the race execution that this team continually performs every single weekend, and that’s going to be our focus going into the final two races. We’ve got a pretty decent lead over the No. 27, and hopefully we can extend that a little bit in Indianapolis. But our goal is just to race the track, see where it ends up, and make sure that we finish in the top 10 in the next two races. Then I think you can update that statistic to two-time champions.

“We are also paying our deepest respect this weekend to the young ladies that lost their lives this summer in the flash flood in the Texas Hill Country. Our Winward Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 carries a special livery that includes the names of these 27 young people so sadly lost in this tragedy while building awareness for the Heaven’s 27 Fund, which supports the various youth programs set up by each family to honor their daughter’s life and legacy. As a Texas-based team and residents, it is our honor to support this cause, and we urge all to donate whatever they can to fund these fine programs established by the families in lasting tribute to their daughters.”

Lin Hodenius, Driver – No. 80 Lone Star Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3: “I am very excited to join Lone Star Racing and their Mercedes-AMG GT3 has been very nice to drive. We tested at Road Atlanta recently, before the WEC race at Circuit of The Americas (COTA) and now it will be great to race here for the first time, especially at a place like Indianapolis Motor Speedway. We went straight to the museum when we arrived here and seeing and learning a little bit more about all of the history here was amazing. It is excellent. The GTD Mercedes-AMG GT3 is the same basic platform as our WEC AMG GT3LM, but some of the regulations are different. We run a lower ride height over there in WEC but for the most part it is a great car that I am familiar with.”

Kenny Habul, Driver – No. 75 SunEnergy1 Racing 75 Express Mercedes-AMG GT3: “Indy is a special place. Good memories here over the years in both IMSA and the 8 Hour race. I love the track, and I am really excited to have Broc this year. He’s a super talent, very quick, and Mik is like a little brother to me. I don’t get to drive with him all of the time, so this was exciting to get all of us together for this one. We want to do well here and even gather as much information as we can for when we come back next month, but right now we are really just thinking about this weekend. We’ve got speed, the car was good, but unfortunately – and as usual – the prototypes are being really aggressive. I took a monster hit in practice that put me through the grass. So now we have a lot of damage to repair, but I really think we have a car for the podium.”

Broc Feeney, Driver – No. 75 SunEnergy1 Racing 75 Express Mercedes-AMG GT3: “For my first race in America, to do it at Indianapolis is pretty special. I can sort of only relate it to Bathurst back home with all of the history and everything about the events that happen here. Being here is just fantastic. I have some good experience in the Mercedes-AMG and other GT3 cars, probably two or three years of GT racing. The car was really good in practice this morning, even though it has been a little bit since I have driven a Mercedes-AMG GT3. But it felt good right out of the gate, it felt really comfortable. I am just really looking forward to the weekend.”

B. FORCE, HAGAN, GLENN & HERRERA OPEN FIRST PLAYOFF 4-WIDE WITH PROVISIONAL NO. 1 SPOTS IN CHARLOTTE

By

Official Release

-

September 20, 2025

CONCORD, N.C. (Sept. 19, 2025) – Two-time Top Fuel world champ Brittany Force made the quickest run on Friday at zMAX Dragway, taking the provisional No. 1 qualifier at the NHRA 4-Wide Carolina Nationals.

Matt Hagan (Funny Car), Dallas Glenn (Pro Stock) and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) are also the provisional No. 1 qualifiers at the 16th of 20 races during the 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season and the second of six races in the Countdown to the Championship playoffs.

Force went 3.698-seconds at 338.85 mph in her 12,000-horsepower HendrickCars.com dragster, becoming the only driver on Friday to dip into the 3.60s. A week after announcing her retirement from full-time racing at the end of the 2025 season, Force is on pace to qualify No. 1 for the fifth time this season and the 57th time in her standout career.

The first race in the Countdown to the Championship didn’t go as planned for Force, falling in the second round and dropping her to seventh in points. She is eager for a big weekend and with an abundance of special moments already in Charlotte, Force is confident she can add another.

“I don’t know why I had a good feeling about it,” Force said. “I saw the cars out ahead of us going low 3.70s and I don’t know why it popped in my head, 3.69. We’ve done it before and I felt like we could do it, and they told me 3.69 down there on the top end. Sometimes the driver is just in tune and you know what we’re aiming to run.

“This is such a beautiful facility. To pull up here and it’s dark out, you’ve got lights going all the way down the racetrack and then just to see these cars go down the track, flames coming out of the headers, there’s nothing like it. It’s still exciting for me and especially to be in the car.”

Points leader Doug Kalitta is second after going 3.700 at 332.18 and Steve Torrence is third with a 3.720 at 331.28.