Kyle Larson achieves improbable Truck victory amid late spin at Homestead

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March 21, 2025

GettyImages-2206308922 — HOMESTEAD, FLORIDA - MARCH 21: Kyle Larson, driver of the #07 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Baptist Health 200 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on March 21, 2025 in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images).

Kyle Larson executed an improbable comeback by rallying from a late spin to snatch a dramatic NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series victory in the Baptist Health 200 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Friday, March 21.

The 2021 Cup Series champion from Elk Grove, California, led three times for 20 of 134-scheduled laps in an event where he started in third place and spent the first two-stage periods racing at the front, where he notched two runner-up finishes between the first two-stage periods. Then, with 45 laps remaining, Larson’s event appeared to have gone south after he got loose underneath Layne Riggs, whom Larson was battling for the runner-up spot, and slid sideways in a cloud of smoke before performing a complete 360 spin through the first two turns.

Despite proceeding without making any contact from the field or the wall, Larson restarted just outside the top-20 mark for the following restart period with 39 laps remaining. With the remainder of the event under green flag conditions, Larson methodically carved his way back up the leaderboard and was up into third place with four laps remaining. Then, after zipping past the dominant leader, Corey Heim, as Heim experienced late power issues, Larson slid his way past Riggs to assume the lead with two laps remaining. With Riggs and Heim unable to regain any ground during the final lap, Larson commenced his triple-duty weekend at Homestead by reigning supreme with his first Truck Series victory of the 2025 campaign.

With on-track qualifying that determined the starting lineup occurring on Friday, Corey Heim, winner of last weekend’s event at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, motored to his first Truck pole position of the 2025 season and the eighth of his career with a pole-winning lap at 168.167 mph in 32.111 seconds. Joining him on the front row was teammate Tanner Gray, the latter of whom clocked in his best qualifying lap at 167.281 mph in 32.281 seconds.

The start of the event under green flag conditions only lasted a single turn due to rookie Giovanni Ruggiero, who was pinned in a tight four-wide battle with Ross Chastain, Grant Enfinger and Tyler Ankrum in the top-10 mark, getting loose after he was both pushed and pinned in between Chastain and Enfinger. As Ruggiero tried to keep his No. 17 First Auto Group Toyota Tundra TRD Pro entry racing straight, he ended up making more contact with Enfinger before he spun up the track in Turn 2 and was hit on the left-rear side by an oncoming Ben Rhodes.

Amid the incident, the field fanned out and scattered while jostling for early spots. In addition, pole-sitter Corey Heim, who led the first lap under caution, retained the lead ahead of Kyle Larson, teammate Tanner Gray, Layne Riggs, and Chastain.

When the event restarted under green on the sixth lap, Heim, who restarted on the inside lane, rocketed his No. 11 Safelite Toyota Tundra TRD Pro entry ahead of the field through the frontstretch while Larson, who restarted on the outside lane, struggled to launch. This allowed Tanner Gray to challenge Larson for the runner-up spot through the first two turns before the latter muscled ahead through the backstretch. As Heim retained the lead entering Turn 3, a three-wide action for third place involving Gray, Layne Riggs, and Chastain ensued. Larson would then use the outside lane to draw even with Heim as both dueled for the lead through the frontstretch.

During the seventh lap, Heim managed to move up in front of Larson through the first two turns. Heim would proceed to lead through the backstretch until Larson used the outside lane to draw even with Heim for a second time through Turns 3 and 4. With Heim using the inside lane to slide in front of Larson for a second time through the first two turns, Chastain and Riggs battled for third place.

By the ninth lap, Larson used the inside lane through the first two turns to slide in front of Heim for the lead, but Heim mirrored Larson’s charge and slid from the inside lane to reassume the lead through Turns 3 and 4. As Heim muscled back ahead, Chastain started to challenge Larson for the runner-up spot while Riggs, Ty Majeski, Tyler Ankrum, Gray, Rajah Caruth, Stewart Friesen and Daniel Hemric followed suit in the top-10 mark.

Through the first 15-scheduled laps, Larson, who reassumed the lead from Heim three laps earlier, was leading by a full second over Heim while Riggs, Chastain and Majeski followed suit in the top five. Behind, Ankrum, Gray, Friesen, Hemric and Brandon Jones were racing in the top 10 ahead of Kaden Honeycutt, Grant Enfinger, Chandler Smith, Rajah Caruth and Matt Crafton while Jake Garcia, Corey Day, Stefan Parsons, Connor Mosack and Matt Mills were mired in the top 20.

Five laps later, Larson stabilized his lead to more than a second over Riggs while Heim fell back to third place. Meanwhile, Majeski and Chastain battled for fourth place as Heim would then challenge Riggs to reclaim the runner-up spot. With Riggs retaining the spot over Heim, both also started to close in on Larson for the lead despite the latter proceeding to lead by the Lap 25 mark.

On Lap 26, the top-three competitors that consisted of Larson, Riggs and Heim were separated by two-tenths of a second. Amid the battles, Heim reassumed the runner-up spot from Riggs and he proceeded to close in on Larson for the lead. With Heim unable to slide up in front of Larson, Riggs re-challenged Heim for the spot as Larson continued to lead by Lap 27. Heim would then use the inside lane to draw himself dead even with Larson through the backstretch on Lap 28. As Riggs closed in, Heim muscled ahead and slid in front of Larson through Turns 3 and 4 to assume the lead.

When the first stage period concluded on Lap 30, Heim, who continued to lead over the previous two laps, fended off last-lap challenges from Larson and Riggs to claim his first Truck stage victory of the 2025 season. Larson edged Riggs for the runner-up spot while Majeski, Chastain, Ankrum, Hemric, Friesen, Honeycutt and Zane Smith were scored in the top 10, respectively.

Under the stage break, the lead lap field led by Heim peeled off the track for a first round of pit service. Following the pit stops, Heim retained the lead after he exited pit road first and he was followed by Larson, Majeski, Ankrum, Hemric, Zane Smith, Tanner Gray, Friesen, Honeycutt and Chastain, respectively. Meanwhile, Riggs, who entered pit road in third place, slid through his pit box and exited in 13th place.

The second stage period started on Lap 37 as Heim and Larson occupied the front row. At the start, both dueled for the lead as the field behind fanned out entering the first two turns. Heim would proceed to use the inside lane to muscle ahead, where he led through the backstretch and fended off Larson through Turns 3 and 4 to lead the following lap. As Heim led Larson, Majeski, who squeezed Tyler Ankrum up the track through the first two turns during the restart, battled Friesen for third place in front of Honeycutt, Hemric, Zane Smith and Chastain. With Majeski and Larson nearly making contact for the runner-up sot in front of Friesen, Heim led the Lap 40 mark.

At the Lap 45 mark, Heim continued to lead by two-tenths of a second over a tight three-wide battle involving Friesen, Majeski and Larson. The former two of Friesen and Majeski would proceed to overtake Larson, which dropped the latter to fourth place, as Chastain attempted to challenge Larson for fourth place. Larson would manage to overtake Friesen for third place and Majeski would retain the runner-up spot while Heim led by half a second on Lap 50.

Then just past the Lap 50 mark, Majeski used the inside lane through the first two turns to slide in front of Heim and assume the lead. Seconds later, however, Heim pulled a crossover move to the inside lane and he reassumed the lead. Heim would begin to build a steady gap between himself and Majeski while Larson, Friesen and Honeycutt pursued. With Heim leading at the Lap 55 mark, Larson caught and overtook Majeski for the runner-up spot through Turns 3 and 4. Larson’s moved occurred after Majeski had gotten loose entering the backstretch during the previous lap.

When the second stage period concluded on Lap 60, Heim captured his second consecutive Truck stage victory of the event and his second of the 2025 season. Larson followed suit in second ahead of Majeski, Friesen and Honeycutt while Riggs, Chastain, Hemric, Ankrum and Enfinger were scored in the top 10, respectively.

During the stage break, the lead lap field led by Heim returned to pit road for service. Following the pit stops, Heim retained the lead after exiting pit road first and he was followed by Larson, Friesen, Hemric, Riggs, Honeycutt, Chastain, Majeski, Enfinger and Brandon Jones, respectively. Not long after the pit stops, Majeski returned to pit road to have his left-front fender repaired after he made contact with Honeycutt while exiting pit road.

With 67 laps remaining, the final stage period commenced as Heim and Larson occupied the front row. At the start, Heim muscled away from Larson, who briefly struggled to launch, and he would proceed to lead through the first two turns while Hemric battled Larson for the runner-up spot. Hemric would continue to duel with Larson for the runner-up spot through the backstretch and Turns 3 and 4 while Riggs, Chastain, Friesen, Enfinger and Honeycutt all followed within close range. Amid the battles, Heim led the next lap.

Shortly after, Riggs made a bold three-wide move beneath Hemric and Larson for the runner-up spot. This caused Hemric to get loose and briefly step out of the gas, where he dropped to fourth place while Riggs pursued Larson and Heim for the lead. Hemric would proceed to get shuffled out of the top-five mark as Larson dueled with Heim for the lead with 65 laps remaining. Riggs and Chastain then overtook Larson to move into second and third, respectively, over the next lap before Chastain overtook Heim to assume the lead with 63 laps remaining.

Down to the final 60 laps of the event, Chastain extended his lead to more than a second over Heim while Larson trailed by one-and-a-half seconds in third place. Behind, Riggs and Hemric trailed in the top five ahead of Friesen, Honeycutt, Enfinger, Brandon Jones and Ankrum while Zane Smith, Connor Mosack, Corey Day, Matt Crafton, Jake Garcia, Tanner Gray, Rajah Caruth, Matt Mills, Stefan Parsons and Andres Perez de Lara were mired in the top 20.

Ten laps later, Chastain stabilized his lead to half a second over a hard-charging Heim while Riggs, Larson and Hemric were racing in the top five. Another three laps later, Heim overtook Chastain through Turns 3 and 4 to reassume the lead. As Heim led with 46 laps remaining, Riggs used the outside lane to duel with Chastain for the runner-up spot. Amid the battle, Chastain slid up the track and nearly made contact with Riggs through Turns 3 and 4. This allowed Larson to gain a draft on both as Larson overtook Chastain for third place through the frontstretch.

Then with 45 laps remaining, Larson, who tried to slide up in front of Riggs for the runner-up spot, slipped up and made contact with Riggs. This resulted with Larson getting sideways and spinning his No. 07 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Silverado RST entry to the bottom of the track in Turn 2. Despite performing a full 360 spin, Larson was dodged by the field and he proceed with right-side cosmetic damage as the caution flew.

During the caution period, the lead lap field led by Heim returned to pit road for service. Following the pit stops, Heim retained the lead as he exited pit road first. He was followed by Honeycutt, Hemric, Chastain, Enfinger, Riggs, Ankrum, Caruth, Zane Smith and Friesen, respectively. Shortly after, however, Honeycutt was sent to the tail end of the field due to a vehicle interference penalty.

With the race restarting under green with 39 laps remaining, Heim rocketed his No. 11 Safelite Toyota Tundra TRD Pro entry away from the field from the inside lane. Heim would proceed to lead and he would be followed by Chastain and Ankrum while Hemric, who struggled to launch from the outside lane, was trying to retain fourth place over Enfinger, Riggs and Zane Smith. With the field fanning out, Chastain wasted no time boosting his No. 44 Niece Motorsports Chevrolet Silverado RST entry back to the front as he overtook Heim from the outside lane through Turns 3 and 4 to lead the following lap. With Chastain leading with 37 laps remaining, Heim fended off Ankrum to keep second place as Riggs, Hemric, Enfinger and Zane Smith pursued. Meanwhile, Chastain stretched his lead to half a second with 55 laps remaining while Larson, who was trying to carve his way back to the front amid his late spin, cracked the top-15 mark.

Down to the final 30 laps of the event, Heim reassumed the lead from Chastain with a strong move from the inside lane through the first two turns. Behind, Riggs, Ankrum and Hemric trailed in the top five while Enfinger, Zane Smith, Friesen, Jake Garcia and Tanner Gray followed suit in the top 10. Meanwhile, Larson was battling Connor Mosack for 14th place while Honeycutt was mired in 16th place. In addition, Majeski was fending off Brandon Jones and Corey Day for 12th place.

Five laps later, Heim had his advantage decreased to three-tenths of a second as Chastain started to gain ground. Behind, Riggs pursued the lead in third place by more than a second while Hemric and Ankrum remained in the top five. Then another three laps later, Riggs gained a huge ground on Chastain after the latter got loose entering the frontstretch. Riggs would proceed to overtake Chastain for the runner-up spot and pursue Heim for the lead.

Then with 21 laps remaining, Heim fell off the pace entering Turn 3. This allowed Riggs to rocket past him and assume the lead, where he led the following lap, while Chastain also made his way into the runner-up spot. As Heim continued to lose ground from the lead, where his disadvantage grew to more than a second, Chastain and Riggs battled for the lead as the former assumed the top spot. Chastain would proceed to lead with 15 laps remaining as Riggs continued to intimidate Chastain. Meanwhile, Heim, who was stumbling to maintain power in his truck, was trying to regain ground on the leaders.

With 13 laps remaining, Heim, who overtook Riggs for the runner-up spot a lap earlier, started to challenge Chastain for the lead. Amid his power issues, Heim then used the inside lane to slide in front of Chastain and return atop the leaderboard with 12 laps remaining. With Riggs overtaking Chastain for the runner-up spot, Heim proceeded to stretch his advantage to nearly a second with 10 laps remaining while Larson rocketed his way back into fifth place.

Down to the final five laps of the event, Heim’s advantage grew to more than a second over Riggs while third-place Chastain trailed by nearly three seconds. Meanwhile, Larson, who outdueled Ankrum for fourth place and was rim-riding his way towards the outside wall, trailed the lead by more than three seconds and he would proceed to overtake Chastain for third place a lap later.

Then with four laps later, Heim dropped off the pace after the power in his truck died again. This allowed Riggs to rocket past him for the lead. As Heim struggled to regain pace, Larson overtook him for the runner-up spot before Heim fended off Ankrum for third place. Over the next lap, Larson gained a huge ground on Riggs through the backstretch and he would gain more ground through Turns 3 and 4 despite Riggs maintaining a steady lead in the No. 34 Love’s Ford F-150 entry.

With two laps remaining, however, Larson, who drew himself to Riggs’ rear bumper through the frontstretch, made his move beneath Riggs and slid in front of him through the first two turns. As a result, Larson returned atop the leaderboard, where he led through the backstretch while Riggs tried to fight back. Riggs, however, could not stay even with Larson through Turns 3 and 4 as Heim started to battle Riggs for the runner-up spot.

When the white flag waved and the final lap started, Larson remained in the lead over Riggs and Heim. Both Riggs and Heim would attempt to gain ground on Larson through the turns, but it was not enough as Larson, who kept his No. 07 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Silverado entry rim-riding towards the outside wall as he had been doing over the course of his late rally, was able to smoothly navigate his way around Homestead for a final time and return to the frontstretch victorious with his first checkered flag of the 2025 season.

With the victory, Larson notched his fourth NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series career victory in his 16th series start, his first in the series at Homestead and his first since winning at North Wilkesboro Speedway in May 2023. The victory was also the seventh in the Truck Series for Spire Motorsports, the organization’s second of the year, the first for Spire’s newly formed No. 07 entry and the first for crew chief Allen Hart.

In addition, Larson, who is competing in all three of NASCAR’s top national touring series throughout this weekend at Homestead, accomplished his first feat towards achieving a triple-header sweep. The Californian will be driving for Hendrick Motorsports for Saturday’s Xfinity Series event and Sunday’s Cup Series event at Homestead as he attempts to join Kyle Busch as the only competitors to achieve the feat in racking up victories across NASCAR’s top three national touring series in a single race weekend.

No. 07 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Silverado RST — HOMESTEAD, FLORIDA – MARCH 21: Kyle Larson, driver of the #07 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, celebrates with a burnout after winning the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Baptist Health 200 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on March 21, 2025 in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images).

“That was pretty unbelievable from my seat,” Larson said on the frontstretch on FOX. “I wasn’t exactly sure if I could get back up there. [I] Didn’t have the restart that I wanted. [It] Kind of took a little bit too long to start picking [the field] off and just got rippin’ the wall on both ends. It was really paying dividends, I think, in [Turns] 1 and 2 for me and just staying wound up. I caught some of the guys that were doing just good enough up there where I couldn’t get my and bog my momentum down, but got clear of them.”

“I’m not sure what happened with [Heim], but that worked out in our favor, for sure,” Larson added. “I don’t think I would’ve gotten to him. Obviously, I would’ve got to second, probably, but it would’ve been tough to get to [Heim]. That last run was a lot of fun. Thanks to Spire Motorsports, thanks to [Hendrick Motorsports’ owner] Rick Hendrick and HendrickCars.com for letting me come have some fun tonight. This was definitely fun. [I] Learned a lot, too, I think, so look forward to the rest of the weekend.

As Larson celebrated with his family and team, Heim, who led a race-high 78 laps compared to Larson’s 20, was left both confused and dejected on pit road after having a third trip to Victory Lane in 2025 slip out of his grasp due to his late power issues.

“About 15, 20 [laps] to go, everything seemed fine as far as what I could see,” Heim said. “The engine would hard-cut on me and the [dashboard] would go black. I’d have to pull my right hand over and fully re-cycle the power to get any sort of life back in the motor. I really don’t know what the problem was, to be honest with you, but I can’t say enough about this Safelite Tundra TRD Pro. Everyone at TRICON Garage and Toyota did a phenomenal job. [The truck was] Probably the best truck I ever had, really. Just stings pretty bad, obviously, but nothing I could’ve done about it.”

Riggs, who led three laps, settled in second place for his second consecutive top-five finish in recent weeks. McAnally-Hilgemann Racing’s Tyler Ankrum and Daniel Hemric finished in the top five, respectively, while Ross Chastain, who led 33 laps, finished in sixth place.

Jake Garcia, Chandler Smith, Grant Enfinger and Kaden Honeycutt completed the top 10 in the final running order.

Notably, Ty Majeski, Brandon Jones, Matt Crafton, Corey Day, Stewart Friesen, Rajah Caruth, Frankie Muniz, Andres Perez de Lara and Toni Breidinger finished 11th, 12th, 13th, 15th, 16th, 22nd, 24th, 25th and 26th, respectively. In addition, Ben Rhodes, who never recovered from his opening lap wreck, ended up in 33rd place and was strapped with a DNF.

There were 13 lead changes for four different leaders. The race featured four cautions for 22 laps. In addition, 25 of 34 starters finished on the lead lap.

Following the fourth event of the 2025 Craftsman Truck Series season, Corey Heim leads the regular-season standings by eight points over Ty Majeski, 27 over Chandler Smith, 28 over Grant Enfinger, 39 over Stewart Friesen and 50 over Tyler Ankrum.

Race Results:

1. Kyle Larson, 20 laps led
2. Layne Riggs, three laps led
3. Corey Heim, 78 laps led, Stages 1 & 2 winner
4. Tyler Ankrum
5. Daniel Hemric
6. Ross Chastain, 33 laps led
7. Jake Garcia
8. Chandler Smith
9. Grant Enfinger
10. Kaden Honeycutt
11. Ty Majeski
12. Brandon Jones
13. Matt Crafton
14. Matt Mills
15. Corey Day
16. Stewart Friesen
17. Tanner Gray
18. Stefan Parsons
19. Connor Mosack
20. Luke Fenhaus
21. Jack Wood
22. Rajah Caruth
23. Dawson Sutton
24. Frankie Muniz
25. Andres Perez de Lara
26. Toni Breidinger, one lap down
27. Nathan Byrd, one lap down
28. Spencer Boyd, one lap down
29. Giovanni Ruggiero, three laps down
30. Keith McGee, four laps down
31. Michel Disdier, six laps down
32. Akinori Ogata, 10 laps down
33. Ben Rhodes – OUT, Suspension
34. Stephen Mallozzi – OUT, Vibration

Next on the 2025 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series schedule is Martinsville Speedway for the Boys & Girls Club of the Blue Ridge 200, which will also serve as the first of three Triple Truck Challenge events of this season. The event is scheduled to occur next Friday, March 28, and air at 7:30 p.m. ET on FS1.

Chandler Smith Enjoying Move to Front Row Motorsports

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Official Release

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March 21, 2025

Ford Performance Notes and Quotes
NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series
Homestead Media Availability
Friday, March 21, 2025

Chandler Smith, driver of the No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford F-150, is fourth in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series point standings. He stopped by the infield media center at Homestead-Miami Speedway before today’s practice, qualifying and race to talk about the start to 2025.

CHANDLER SMITH, No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford F-150 – THREE TOP 10S TO START THE YEAR. HOW DO YOU FEEL YOU HAVE ADAPTED BACK TO THE TRUCK SERIES AND WITH THIS TEAM FOR AS QUICKLY AS IT CAME TOGETHER? “Especially that last point. It came together, I think we finally finished the hiring process two weeks before Daytona, maybe a week and a half before Daytona on our last guy. We didn’t get our crew chief hired until maybe two weeks, maybe three weeks out of Daytona, so it definitely was very last-minute, but I couldn’t be happier with the group that we assembled, honestly. I mean, it’s turned out great. Everybody is working together great. We’ve got really fast trucks. We’ve got a lot of motivated individuals that are on our team and I feel like in the position that I’m in, I’m looking at this as helping to build this program up a little bit. I’ve taken it on my shoulders a little more to step up to that role even more than I have in year’s past, just like last year being at Gibbs – well established and respected organization. It’s kind of just a plug-and-play deal. This was not a plug-and-play deal. This was a lot more than just that. It’s definitely been an experience. I wouldn’t change it for anything and I’m super grateful for the opportunity that Bob Jenkins and Jerry Freeze has given me.”

DO THE TRUCKS DRIVE THE SAME AS A FEW YEARS AGO BEFORE YOU WENT TO XFINITY? “They’re definitely different than an Xfinity car. They drive the same as what they did a few years ago when I was in them. Obviously, I’m driving for a different organization. They have different approaches on setups and different approaches on how they build their race trucks compared to where I was in year’s past, so it’s been adjusting to that a little bit and taking what’s worked for them in the past and what’s worked for me in the past and different organizations and kind of bringing it together and coming up with an even better product. That’s kind of where we’re at right now. I felt like Las Vegas was our first race. It was a good read. It felt like both me and Layne got a really good data point of where we were and what we needed to do. My crew chief, Jon Leonard, we both talked and had some great ideas going forward and hopefully we can see how good they turn out today. We’ve implemented some changes, but it’s definitely a lot different than what I’ve been accustomed to for the past two years.”

WHAT DOES YOUR TRUCK NEED TO DO TONIGHT TO SUCCEED? “It just needs maneuverability. That’s all Truck racing is now. You’re running so much throttle time, granted you’re not gonna have a bunch of throttle time here at Homestead, but to go after the pole in three and four you’re gonna barely be lifting at all, so you’re still running a lot of throttle time, so being able to have good maneuverability and good lateral grip is pretty key for here.”

DO YOU TAKE MORE OF A LEADERSHIP ROLE NOW? “Yeah, for sure, just because I’ve worked with so many great individuals in my past five seasons in NASCAR. I’ve learned a lot. I’ve seen a lot. I’ve experienced a lot and have had great mentors through that whole process, so I’m definitely more confident in myself and knowing what works and what doesn’t work, what works for me and what may not work for others and trying to come to a happy medium of having a good product.”

HOW DIFFERENT IS IT RIDING THE WALL IN AN XFINITY CAR VERSUS A TRUCK? “An Xfinity car, I feel like it’s more of a given than it is in a truck. The composite bodies, you can beat the crap out of them and be fine. In a truck, you go and hit it and you could end your day right there. We’ve seen it. My last full-time season in trucks, John Hunter was on the cutline and went and hit the fence in turn three on lap four and he was done, and that’s your season right there. We’re not in that situation. If there’s speed up on the fence and Larson is really ripping it and there’s a bunch of speed up there, then, yeah, we’re still in the regular season so why not? For a truck, it’s just risk versus reward, where in an Xfinity car it’s kind of double edge too. Last year, some of the really good guys were able to rip the fence, but Austin Hill kicked our teeth in running the bottom in an Xfinity car and you don’t see that anymore. It all depends on the balance of your race vehicle.”

WITH KYLE IN THE RACE TONIGHT DOES IT CHANGE YOUR MENTALITY? “Yeah, I still want to beat him. The goal is still the same. It’s the same when KB comes down. At the end of the day, we’re all racers and I feel like I’ve kind of proven where I stand in this sport right now and I feel like if we have a good truck, we can go out there and compete.”

ARE YOU EXPECTING THE TRACK TO RACE ANY DIFFERENT WITH THE RACE BEING IN THE SPRING? “Yeah, for sure, especially it being a night race, too. Usually, the truck race is in the middle of the day and it doesn’t matter what racetrack you go to, it’s gonna swing from being out in the sun from it not being out in the sun. I think it’ll race a lot different than what we’ve seen in year’s past. I think it will be very similar to what it was in 2020 and year’s previous, but I’m excited for it. I think it’s gonna make for a good product tonight, honestly.”

HOW DOES WHAT YOU LEARNED AT LAS VEGAS GIVE YOU MORE CONFIDENCE THIS WEEK? “Just knowing where our mile and a half program really is. We’ve had those first two races that were just speedways. That’s kind of what it is, right? So, it was a good benchmark of, ‘Oh, OK. This is where we’re at with our aero. This is where we are with mechanical grip.’ And those deltas between the two of what we’re trading off, and just kind of dissecting each different piece of why we get to where we are in a package. I felt like we got a really good data point of where we were and what we needed to work on and we implemented some changes for this weekend, which I think we’ll be able to see a little bit of those, but I don’t know that it’s more of when we go to Nashville or Charlotte and places like that. That’s where it would really show up.”

IF YOU FIND YOURSELF BEHIND KYLE, IS THERE ANYTHING YOU LOOK FOR ON HOW THEY’RE HANDLING THAT GIVES YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT TO TRY? “Yeah, just being more mindful of paying attention to their detail and trying to dissect why did they do that? Why did they take that certain line? Why did they straddle that seam that way? What did that do to their car position and their car angle, and also being mindful that I’m gonna probably have to work harder to pass them. They’re gonna be good. I’m not bashing people in the Truck Series, but this is the feeder series to Xfinity and Xfinity is a feeder to Cup, so it’s kind of the bottom of the totem pole in experience, so you’re gonna have to work at it a little harder to pass those guys that you know have won Cup championships.”

CAN YOU EXPAND ON THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN XFINITY AND TRUCK? “As far as driving differences, it’s night and day different. A truck has a bunch of downforce and a lot of rear side force, and an Xfinity car doesn’t even have close to the amount of overall downforce that a truck does. That right there alone is pretty much it, and then you’re obviously racing a truck and in Xfinity it’s a car, so the body difference and what not, too. The organization standpoint, it’s just a lot different because Gibbs is run more corporate. That’s probably the best way to put it, and Front Row is run more like a grassroots race team. That’s the best way I can explain it. It’s definitely two complete polar opposites from each other, but I’m having an amazing time at Front Row and I had an amazing time at Gibbs.”

Lone Star Racing Leaves Sebring Motivated for Final IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup Rounds

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Official Release

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March 21, 2025

Cut Tire 44 Minutes From the Finish Doesn’t Take Away From Top Team and Driver Performance in No. 80 Lone Star Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 with Dan Knox, Scott Andrews and Eric Filgueiras at the 73rd Running of The 12 Hours of Sebring

SEBRING, Florida (March 21, 2025) – “Deflated” but not down, the No. 80 Lone Star Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 team and co-drivers Dan Knox, Scott Andrews and Eric Filgueiras left the 12 Hours of Sebring last Saturday motivated for the final three rounds of the 2025 IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup (IMEC) at Watkins Glen, Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) and Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta (MRRA). The team and drivers turned in one of their best races since entering the IMEC GT Daytona (GTD) championship last year and missed out on a likely top-five or better finish only because the No. 80 Mercedes-AMG GT3 suffered a cut tire with just 44 minutes remaining in the 73rd running of America’s oldest major sports car race.

Lone Star Racing stepped up to join the lead pack in the final half of 12 hour race after co-drivers Dan Knox, Eric Filgueiras and Scott Andrews joined the team in a near-flawless performance that steadily moved the No. 80 into contention and in the top-five battle in the closing hours. Andrews and the Lone Star Racing team had just made their last pit stop and were beginning a run back into the lead pack as the rest of the GTD field cycled through its final pit stops only to have the rear tire go down.

In his first 12 Hours of Sebring race, Lone Star Racing team owner and driver Knox started the race in the No. 80 after a solid qualifying effort that placed him on the outside of row seven on the GTD grid. Knox took the green flag for a race-opening “triple stint” ahead of six other GTD cars, including the Rolex 24 At Daytona winners.

“This was one of our better performances,” Knox said. “It’s disappointing to not be able to fight to the finish after running with the leaders for so long, but I was happy with the effort of everybody on the team. We keep coming together as a team, and all of the pieces will hopefully fall into place to give us the chance to walk away with a result we have worked so hard to achieve in the year’s final races.”

After the puncture, Andrews slowly made it back to the pits where the Lone Star team quicky threw a new tire and wheel on to get the No. 80 back in the race.

“I think it was the top performance that we’ve had as a team, regardless of the finishing result,” said Lone Star Racing Team Manager and Technical Director AJ Petersen. “It started with Dan who drove an unplanned triple stint to open the race and did a great job keeping the car on the lead lap for nearly three hours. Everybody on the team, from driving to doing tires and fuel, to us on the timing stand, we were all going in the right direction. We executed the race without any mistakes, so that’s what takes the sting out of it for me. We were able to prove to ourselves that we could execute at this level and that we just need to back it up now and hopefully have some luck fall our way. Cut tires are cut tires. It’s Sebring at night and anything can happen.”

With the new tire on, Andrews kept the pressure on in the final 30 minutes and crossed the finish line in ninth place.

“I think we can all be really proud of ourselves collectively as a group for a really well executed race,” Andrews said. “There were pretty much no flaws by the team at all. That gave us a good shot at the top five and even potentially a podium. It’s unfortunate to get a puncture with such little time to go, but the only thing that took us out of the race was something out of our control. The team should be proud, and I’m happy with the job I did. I drove a good race with no mistakes and the pace was good. It’s good for the team to know that we can really have some good performance, solid pit stops, change the car for the better as the race progresses and still be competitive.”

Filgueiras raced on a circuit on which he has seen some winning success but joined Knox in making his 12 Hours of Sebring debut.

“It’s not the result we came for, but the team showed a really strong effort, and we had a great performance,” Filgueiras said. “Everybody worked really hard, and this was a huge improvement from Daytona. Not only did we finish, we were in the running for a really great outcome and the execution from the team side was just much, much better than Daytona. Dan Knox, our team owner and driver, did a fantastic job. Everybody was firing on all cylinders, and we were very close at the end. We’ve got three more of these races, and we’ve shown our ability to grow, our ability to progress and to learn from the mistakes that we’ve made and how we can make this program more efficient on all ends. This was my first 12 hours. I had a fantastic experience. I got to have some battles, fuel energy saving, gain more experience and helped put the team into a position for a good outcome. Our day is coming.”

While ninth at Sebring and 14th place in the Rolex 24 opener are not the results Lone Star wanted, the team and drivers still rank in the top-eight of the 22 cars that have earned points in the IMEC GTD standings. With the year’s final three races ahead, the Lone Star team and drivers are just five points out of first place in the GTD driver and team IMEC points race, 21 – 16.

Next up for Lone Star Racing on the 2025 IMEC schedule is Round 3 of the championship June 19 – 22 at Watkins Glen International in upstate New York for the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen.

About Lone Star Racing: Based at Motorsport Ranch within the greater Dallas-Fort Worth area in Cresson, Texas, Lone Star Racing is competing in the No. 80 Lone Star Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 in the 2025 IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup in the GTD class. Lone Star Racing and its team members have won races across North America spanning sprint and endurance racing formats. The crew has worked together on many different teams and various types of cars, developing a strong bond and proven capability that gives them a competitive and winning advantage. Lone Star Racing competes with the support of primary partner ACS Manufacturing, Inc. (www.ACSManufacturing.com). Look for Lone Star Racing and team owner/driver Dan Knox on Facebook and follow the team on YouTube at Lone Star Racing, on Twitter and Instagram at @LSRTeam and on the official team web site at www.LoneStarRacingTeam.com.

Flying Lizard Motorsports Reveals Two-Car Entry in Inaugural McLaren Trophy America Series

By

Official Release

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March 21, 2025

PHOENIX, Ariz. (March 21, 2025) – This April, Flying Lizard Motorsports will join the highly anticipated debut of the McLaren Trophy America series at Sonoma Raceway. The championship, introduced by SRO America and McLaren Automotive, marks a new era of single-make competition, and Flying Lizard will field a two-car entry with two new Artura Trophy Evos in the PRO/AM class.

The team’s lineup features George Lawrence III and 2023 TC America champion Spencer Bucknum in the No. 3 Artura Trophy Evo, while Brandon Kreutz and Caanan O’Connell will pilot the No. 18 Artura Trophy Evo.

Having two cars competing in the debut of the McLaren Trophy Series in the US is exciting. We have a successful history with McLaren having won races and championships with them in SRO GT World Challenge in the 650S GT3 car and look forward to working with them again. We have had the opportunity to spend some time testing the cars and I had the opportunity to see this series running in Europe at SPA-Francorchamps, we are all impressed with the performance of the car. McLaren has such a rich history in racing, and we look forward to getting this season underway.

The 2025 season will bethe first time Lawrence steps into professional sports car racing. His journey began in karting before transitioning to motocross and quad racing. Once behind the wheel of a car, he took to drag racing, track days, and local testing sessions to build his road racing skills. He will team up with Bucknum, a third-generation racer whose lineage traces back to Formula 1. Bucknum secured the 2023 TC America TCA championship before moving up to compete in the Toyota GR Cup last season.

The 2025 season marks the first time Kreutz steps into professional sports car racing. Brandon spent from 2011-2017 running cars in the Global Time Attack series racing at multiple tracks across the us such as Road America, Road Atlanta and Laguna Seca. O’Connell made his professional racing debut at age 20 in the prestigious Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, where he finished fifth in class. In the 2017 Pirelli World Challenge TCB class, he amassed an impressive five wins, nine podiums, eight pole positions, and three track records. Beyond racing, O’Connell brings 12 years of professional driver coaching experience, working with both professional drivers and military training programs.

The McLaren Trophy America series features two race cars: the Artura Trophy Evo and the 570S Trophy. The 10-race championship unfolds over five race weekends at some of America’s most legendary circuits. Each event includes two hours of practice, a 15-minute qualifying session, and two 50-minute races. The Artura Trophy Evo will also utilize a Push-to-Pass system, boosting power to 620PS for a fixed period during each race. This new feature adds a strategic element, allowing drivers to deploy extra power for a decisive overtake or a crucial defensive move.

The races will stream live on the McLaren YouTube channel, continuing to grow the accessibility for sports car racing fans.

2025 MCLAREN TROPHY AMERICA SCHEDULE

DRIVER QUOTES

George Lawrence III

I researched all the teams on the West Coast and came up with Flying Lizard as being the best fit for me. Not only for their great past history for winning, but the whole group, from top to bottom, is there to serve someone like myself who is a novice to the GT world of racing. Flying Lizard was always on the preferred teams list.

Spencer Bucknam

I am excited to be joining Flying Lizard Motorsports for the 2025 McLaren Trophy America series. Flying Lizard has a long history of success, and I am hoping to add to this success throughout this season with my teammate, George Lawrence. I think being a new series to the States, there will be some things to iron out, but I am confident that this will be a strong program,m and I’m looking forward to kicking off the season shortly at one of my favorite tracks, Sonoma Raceway!

Brandon Kreutz

I have been watching sports car racing for many years and have followed the history of Flying Lizard Motorsports. They are one of the premier GT teams in the paddock, and I am proud to be a part of the organization. I am really impressed with the performance of the Artura Trophy Evo. I have been working hard with my coach, Cannan O’Connell, and even though this is my first season of professional racing, I feel we are ready and look forward to the first race.

Canaan O’Connell

I’m beyond excited to be joining the Flying Lizard racing team for the 2025 racing season. It’s a dream come true to be racing such an incredible car with one of the best-known teams in professional racing. I grew up watching the Flying Lizards dominate sports car racing, and to have my name added to the list of drivers for Flying Lizard is one of the most significant moments of my life. And to be under the tutelage of Darren Law, one of the racing greats, and a lifelong friend of my family, makes it all the more special.

About Flying Lizard Motorsports

Based out of Sonoma, California, Flying Lizard Motorsports is one of the most iconic sports car teams in motorsports, having celebrated ten driver and team championships, as well as competed internationally at the 24 Hours of Le Mans eight times.

The Lizards burst on the American Le Mans Series scene in 2004, competing in the GT class until 2012. In 2013, the team moved to the GTC class, still competing in legendary events such as the 12 Hours of Sebring and 24 Hours of Daytona. In 2014, the team expanded its program to include running two Audi R8 LMS in the TUDOR Championship, and in 2015, again expanded the program to include two Porsches in Porsche Club racing. Flying Lizard closed out the season with a dominating win at the 25 Hours of Thunderhill with Toyo Tires, a win they repeated in 2016, 2017, and 2018. The 2020 season proved the team’s most successful to date, earning four titles in the GT4 America championship. Flying Lizard Motorsports has proven to be a championship contender no matter the race series or race car. For more information, visit lizardms.com.

About 5.11
With offices around the globe, 5.11 ABR Corp. and its subsidiaries, including 5.11, Inc., work with end users to create purpose-built apparel, footwear and gear designed specifically to enhance the safety, accuracy, speed, and performance of tactical professionals and technical enthusiasts worldwide. 5.11 products exceed rigorous standards, which have allowed the brand to establish a reputation for innovation and authenticity, and become the premier choice for those who always have to be ready. 5.11 products can be purchased online, through authorized dealers and retailers, as well as at 5.11 company-owned retail stores.

Learn more about 5.11’s best-selling gear and accessories at www.511tactical.com. Find a full list of 5.11 company-owned retail stores at https://www.511tactical.com/locations/. Connect with 5.11 on Facebook, Twitter @511Tactical and on Instagram @511Tactical and #511tactical

5.11 ABR Corp. is a subsidiary of Compass Diversified (NYSE: CODI).

About Apex Motor Club

Apex Motor Club is Arizona’s premier motorsports club located just 35 miles southwest of Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport and the only private motorsports club located within a major metropolitan area. APEX is the ultimate country club for automotive enthusiasts where car culture, racing and country club lifestyles converge. Enjoy an hour of track time in your latest acquisition, drive off track, into your privately-owned garage and join like- minded enthusiasts in the clubhouse for food, beverages, and activities.

To learn more about the newest racing circuit in the country, visit https://apexmotorclub.com

Distracted Driving Crashes Are Increasing in Florida: How Not To Become a Statistic

By

SM

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March 21, 2025

pexels-diego-f-parra-33199-15131447 — Photo by Diego F. Parra at pexels.com

You keep an eye out for intoxicated drivers but what about the ones not paying attention to the road? The increasing number of distracted driving fatalities should serve as a wake-up call for everyone. In 2022, 53,596 crashes in Florida were the result of distracted driving. Accidents involving distracted drivers tend to be severe.

The reason is simple, distracted drivers usually aren’t in control of their vehicles and this can worsen crash impacts. Do you know, you may also be guilty of distracted driving? Even glancing over at a rambunctious child is a type of distracted driving. To help you avoid this dangerous driving behavior, here are some tips on how you can reduce distractions while driving.

Preventing Distracted Driving Behavior in Florida

Distracted driving accidents are responsible for over 3,000 fatalities in 2022 according to The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). So, how can you reduce your risk of being involved in a distracted driving accident? The best way is by avoiding engaging in the behavior.

Pretend You Don’t Own a Phone

You’ve probably made jokes about wanting to get away from your phone to enjoy a few minutes of quiet. Guess what? You can accomplish this goal every time you get behind the wheel. Consider changing your phone settings to the ‘do not disturb’ mode. Tuck your phone away in the glove box or another compartment. Texts and phone calls can wait until you have the chance to pull over.

If you’re wondering if it’s illegal to talk on the phone while driving, the answer is no. Currently, all states allow drivers to talk on their cell phones. However, texting is a little different. Almost all states have laws prohibiting drivers from texting behind the wheel. If you’re driving in a school zone, put your phone down. Cell phone use is prohibited in school zones.

So, what about connecting your phone to your vehicle’s infotainment system? Yes, this is legal and often recommended. However, using your vehicle’s information system can also be a distraction. To avoid any distractions, it’s best to put your cell phone up.

Multitasking Behind the Wheel Is a Bad Idea

Your driving should always be the only thing on your mind. Don’t worry about what you’re making for dinner. You can focus on this when you’re not driving. Multitasking can be anything from letting your mind wander to other unaccomplished chores to trying to do two things at once. For example, trying to put on makeup at a red light or shaving.

You may have heard the saying that multitasking is impossible. Meaning you can’t complete two tasks simultaneously. When it comes to driving, the saying is true. You can either focus entirely on your driving or risk being involved in an accident.

Strap In Children and Pets

Sometimes your children can be your biggest distraction. This can also apply to your pets. All states require children under a certain age to be securely fastened into an approved safety seat. Florida requires all children under 8 to use either a car or booster seat. The law is in place to help protect children from serious injury during an accident. However, the child safety laws can serve another purpose.

When your child is safely buckled in, they can present less of a distraction. You don’t need to worry about your child climbing over seats and even accidentally bumping the steering. The laws are a little vague for pets beyond keeping them leashed in the vehicle. If you’re unable to crate your furry friend in the car, consider installing a pet barrier. You can find inexpensive barriers designed to keep pets in the backseat and away from drivers.

Try to Ignore Hunger and Thirst Pains

Okay, we’re not suggesting you endanger your health by going without food and liquid. However, it’s a good idea to grab something to eat and drink before hitting the road. Yes, drivers commonly sip beverages behind the wheel. Vehicles even come with handy cup holders perfectly sized for coffee cups and water bottles.

However, every time you reach for a drink or pick up a snack, you’re removing a hand from the steering wheel. Distracted driving not only refers to keeping your eyes and attention on the road but also both hands on the steering wheel. Removing even one hand for a second means you’re giving up some control of the vehicle. If an obstacle appears on the road, you may not be able to react in time to avoid an accident.

Have a Plan

Having a plan means knowing the directions before setting out. Programming the vehicle’s GPS before hitting the road removes one possible distraction. If you’re traveling with children, make a plan for where you’re stopping for rest breaks.

Your plan may even include setting the radio station or adjusting the vehicle’s heater or air conditioning. When you have everything ready to go before setting off, you’ve successfully eliminated several distractions that typically lead to accidents.

Keeping Teen Drivers Safe

Teens commonly engage in distracted driving behavior but you can take some steps to help keep them safer on the roads. Hopefully, you’ve been setting a good example as a driver. You know, not using your cell phone and keeping both hands on the steering wheel. Teens learn a lot by observing adult behaviors.

You may also want to consider limiting the number of passengers allowed in your teen’s vehicle. Their friends are often the biggest distraction for teen drivers. Let the teen get some experience behind the wheel before you start easing up on any restrictions.

Were You Injured in a Florida Distracted Driving Accident?

If you’re injured in a distracted driving accident, you may be able to file a claim to recover some or all of your damages. Distracted driving is a form of negligence and this is often the cornerstone of a personal injury claim.

You may also be able to file an insurance claim if you’re the at-fault driver. You can learn more about your legal options by contacting a Florida distracted driving accident attorney.

AM Racing | Harrison Burton Homestead-Miami Speedway Xfinity Race Preview

By

Official Release

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March 21, 2025

AM Racing | NASCAR Xfinity Series
Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway | Hard Rock Bet 300

Fast Facts

No. 25 AM Racing Team:
Driver: Harrison Burton
Primary Partner(s): DEX Imaging
Manufacturer: Ford Mustang
Crew Chief: Danny Efland
Spotter: Kevin Hamlin
Chassis Intel: AMR Chassis No. 031
Engine: Roush-Yates Engines
2025 Driver Points Position: 13th | 2025 Owner Points Position: 13th

Notes of Interest:

● Junior Journey: AM Racing will embark on its junior year journey in the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2025 with driver Harrison Burton for the entire 33-race tour, continuing with Saturday afternoon’s running of the Hard Rock Bet 300 at Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway.

● Future Focused: In September, AM Racing announced that NASCAR Cup Series winner Harrison Burton would join the family-owned operation to pilot the team’s No. 25 Ford Mustang, beginning with the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series season-opener from Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway on February 15, 2025.

Burton, a native of Huntersville, N.C., has been a staple in the NASCAR Cup Series for the past three seasons but will embrace a return to the NASCAR Xfinity Series and continue his relationship as a driver of the Ford blue oval.

Burton, 24, arrives on the scene at AM Racing after a 108-race stint driving for the historic Wood Brothers Racing team.

● Best with DEX: DEX (DEX Imaging) will continue its long-standing partnership with Harrison Burton and join AM Racing for several races this season, including Saturday afternoon’s Hard Rock Bet 300 at Homestead-Miami-Speedway.

DEX Imaging is the largest independent dealer of document imaging technology in the United States. DEX sells and services the broadest selection of copiers, printers and data management solutions in the industry, such as Konica Minolta, Canon, Sharp, Ricoh, Xerox, and Kyocera, with annual revenue exceeding $500 Million.

What makes DEX unique is its people, whose combined knowledge of cutting-edge business technologies and depth of service experience are unmatched. DEX Imaging’s success is directly tied to its mission: to help customers of all sizes drive down document-related expenses while improving productivity.

● Quenching Our Thirst: Starting this weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway, AM Racing marketing partner NO DAYS OFF Premium Water will expand its presence on Harrison Burton’s No. 25 Ford Mustang.

NO DAYS OFF Premium Water is more than just a can of water; it’s a symbol of dedication and commitment. It represents the idea that success is not achieved overnight but through consistent effort and hard work.

By drinking NO DAYS OFF Premium Water, you make a statement that you are serious about your goals and are willing to do whatever it takes to achieve them.

NO DAYS OFF Premium Water will be featured in a prominent location for the sixth Xfinity Series race of the season.

● Harrison Burton NASCAR Xfinity Series Homestead-Miam Speedway Stats: Saturday afternoon’s Hard Rock Bet 300 will mark Burton’s Xfinity Series start at the popular 1.5-mile speedway.

Burton has delivered one win and three top-10 finishes in his previous four starts. In 2020, Burton scored the second of his four NASCAR Xfinity Series victories after starting on the pole in the 2020 edition of the Hooter’s 250, driving for Joe Gibbs Racing.

Additionally, Burton has delivered one top-five and three top-10 finishes and an average Xfinity track finish of 14.5.

Also, the Huntersville, N.C. native has three NASCAR Cup Series starts at Homestead, delivering a track-best of 20th after 21st in the 2022 edition of the Dixie Vodka 400 driving for Wood Brothers Racing.

Burton, the second-generation racer, earned two top-13 finishes in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

● Harrison Burton NASCAR Xfinity Series Career Stats: Entering Homestead, Burton has 80 career NASCAR Xfinity Series starts to his credit with four wins, 26 top-five and 52 top-10 finishes, and a championship best result of eighth, twice in 2020 and 2021, respectively.

Burton’s four wins in the NASCAR Xfinity Series occurred during the 2020 season. Burton, the son of former NASCAR driver and current television analyst Jeff Burton, captured the checkered flag at Auto Club (Calif.) Speedway, Homestead-Miami (Fla.) Speedway, Texas Motor Speedway and Martinsville (Va.) Speedway, respectively.

In addition to the 80 Xfinity Series starts, he has achieved 109 NASCAR Cup Series starts, 40 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series starts and 52 career starts across the ARCA Menards Series platforms.

● Las Vegas Motor Speedway | The LiUNA! NASCAR Xfinity Series Race Recap: The NASCAR Xfinity Series made its first of two trips to Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway, with the AM Racing team looking to better their 20th-place finish at Phoenix Raceway the weekend before.

After a solid practice, Burton qualified his No. 25 Dead On Tools Ford Mustang in the 18th position.

From the drop of the green flag, Burton avoided a Lap 1 melee to conservatively move inside the top 15 through the end of Stage 1.

Battling a tight race car, Burton and crew chief Danny Efland made several strong adjustments that pivoted the team into the top-10 throughout stage 2.

Stage 3 went caution-free, but Burton took advantage of additional adjustments from Efland during a green flag pit stop to move back into the top-10, finishing eighth at the checkered flag.

● Thanks For Your Support: With 15 percent of the 2025 Xfinity season complete, AM Racing and Harrison Burton would like to thank their associate marketing partners for their support: AIRBOX Air Purifier, Castle Products, Dead On Tools, Eagle Rentals, Flying Circle, Mechanix Wear, Morton Buildings, Racing Radios, Volt Batteries and WIX Filters.

● From the Pit Box: Veteran race engineer and former NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Danny Efland is Harrison Burton’s crew chief.

He will be crew chief for his 10th career NASCAR Xfinity Series race, his first at Homestead-Miami Speedway, on Saturday afternoon.

In his previous nine Xfinity Series starts, he has collected one pole (Daytona International Speedway | February 2016), one top-five and four top-10 finishes.

● Follow on Social Media: For more on AM Racing, please visit AMRacingteam.com, like their Facebook page (AM Racing), or follow them on Instagram and X | Twitter @AMRacingNASCAR.

For more on Harrison Burton, please visit theharrisonburton.com, like his Facebook page (Official Harrison Burton), or follow him on Instagram (@harrisonburton12) and X | Twitter (@hburtonracing).

Harrison Burton Quoteboard:

On Homestead-Miami Speedway: “I’m a big fan of racing at Homestead-Miami Speedway. It is a track that I won at and I would love nothing more than return to Victory Lane there on Saturday afternoon and give AM Racing their first career win.”

On Keys to Success at Homestead-Miami Speedway: “Having a good balance is key to success at Homestead. It’s such a wide track, but there’s a lot of speed running up by the wall, so we’ll try to get our No. 25 DEX Imaging Ford Mustang as close to the wall as possible without hitting it.

“I expect the track conditions to change a lot from the green flag to the checkered, so staying ahead of those adjustments will be important if we want to be in the mix for another top-10 on Saturday.”

On Las Vegas Motor Speedway Finish: “We made some solid gains throughout the race, and I’m definitely satisfied with the progress. But as a driver, you always want a little more.

“It was great having Dead On Tools back on the car and delivering another top-10 finish for them. Now we’re just focused on closing that gap to the top five and picking up some more points.”

On 2025 Season Outlook: “I believe we can turn some heads in 2025. I think our goals and expectations are not only obtainable, but we can execute them well and put this AM Racing team into the Playoffs in 2025.

“We have a lot of people and partners who believe in what we are doing this season, and I’d love nothing more than to deliver AM Racing their first career Xfinity Series win, join the Playoffs and hunt for a championship.

“I believe it’s going to be a fun year.”

Race Information:

The Hard Rock Bet 300 (200 laps | 300 miles) is the sixth of thirty-three (33) NASCAR Xfinity Series races on the 2025 schedule. 25-minute group practices will occur on Fri., March 22, 2025, from 10:35 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Qualifying will immediately follow, beginning at 11:40 a.m. The field will take the green flag shortly after 4:00 p.m., with live coverage on The CW Network, the Motor Racing Network (Radio), and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90. All times are local (ET).

About AM Racing:

AM Racing is a multi-tiered, multi-faceted Motorsports program headquartered in Statesville, N.C.

Established in December 2015, AM Racing is prided on faith, honesty and intelligent performance.

In its ninth year of competition, the family-owned team will compete in the ARCA Menards Series, the NASCAR Xfinity Series and various Dirt Modified events.

DOUBLE-DOSE OF EXCITEMENT FOR CONGRUITY NHRA PRO MDO SERIES IN PHOENIX RETURN POWERED BY LAT RACING OILS

By

Official Release

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March 21, 2025

NHRA Pro Mod will run Gainesville eliminations in Phoenix, as well as Total Seal Pro Mod Showdown

PHOENIX (March 20, 2025) – Following a highly-successful Phoenix debut for the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series last year, the category is set for a spectacular race weekend for an encore in 2025.

NHRA Pro Mod will run eliminations from the opener in Gainesville during qualifying on Friday and Saturday, heading directly into eliminations for the 40th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals on Sunday where one driver could walk away with a pair of memorable wins.

The return to Firebird Motorsports Park is the second of 10 races during the 2025 campaign, and this weekend’s Phoenix eliminations are powered by LAT Racing Oils.

With 20 cars on the entry list and plenty on the line, it could be a weekend to remember for the popular category. Kevin Rivenbark is the defending event winner in Phoenix, with Ken Quartuccio finishing as the runner-up.

Both are racing this weekend and both have a chance to double-up, as do several standouts in the category, including former world champions Jose Gonzalez, Mike Castellana and Rickie Smith. Jason Scruggs was the No. 1 qualifier at the opener in Gainesville after an impressive run of 5.707-seconds at 253.18 mph and he’ll have an opportunity to win twice in one weekend as well.

The opening two rounds of eliminations will be part of the first two qualifying sessions on Friday, March 21 at 3:45 and 6:15 p.m. PT. Eliminations action will also be featured during the live FS1 broadcast that airs on Friday from 5-6:30 p.m. PT.

The semifinals and final round will be part of the third and fourth qualifying sessions on Saturday, March 22 at 11 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. PT.

Eliminations for the NHRA Arizona Nationals in the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series will begin at 12:25 p.m. PT on Sunday, March 23.

Along with Quartuccio, Gonzalez and Rivenbark, other drivers who utilize LAT Racing Oils include Justin Bond, Khalid AlBalooshi, Lyle Barnett and Stan Shelton.

“We are proud to sponsor the NHRA Pro Mod class at Phoenix,” LAT Racing Oils’ Co-owner, Danny Vaca said. “As a leader in performance lubricants we support many high-profile Pro Mod teams with high-performance racing oils designed to help power these engines to the winner’s circle. We are looking forward to seeing first-hand how our lubricants perform at this race.”

The weekend will also include the continuation of the exciting Total Seal Pro Mod Showdown, which offers an extra incentive for drivers in the category. The Total Seal Pro Mod Showdown winner will be the driver who puts together the best E.T. average over the four qualifying rounds. The winning driver receives an impressive $10,000 from Total Seal Piston Rings, adding another impressive aspect to a massive weekend.

“Total Seal is thrilled to be part of the Pro Mod Showdown in Phoenix again,” said Matt Hartford, President and CEO of Total Seal Piston Rings, who also races in the Pro Stock ranks. “Pro Mod is such an exciting class for fans, and we love that it is being showcased at our home track once more. Our organization continues to work on technological advancements in ring design and Pro Mod puts these innovations to the test every week. We look forward to our continued support of the class and encourage fans to stop by our NHRA Pro Stock pits and say hello.”

To purchase tickets to the 40th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals, fans can visit www.NHRA.com/tickets. Children 12 and under are free in general admission areas with the purchase of an adult ticket. For more information on NHRA, please visit www.NHRA.com.

About LAT Racing Oils

LAT’s substantial investments, “at track” first-hand knowledge, and superior chemical engineering and blending capabilities, have proved to be more than empty claims as vehicles and watercraft competing in a vast array of competition venues, have worked their way to the top using LAT products. Both NHRA Pro Mod World Champions, Jose Gonzalez in 2021, and Kris Thorne in 2022 use LAT Oils to claim the Championship podium and many of their closest competitors are also relying on LAT engine, transmission, and gear oils. Founded in 2007 by a duo of professional racers in search of the elusive “edge”. They recognized the potential for increasing horsepower, reliability and longevity using advanced lubrication technology to fine tune engine transmissions and final drive gears. Based on that premise LAT was established with the sole purpose of developing superior performing synthetic and petroleum racing oils, regardless of cost. Since then, LAT has developed a complete line of high performance engine break-in oils to include PRO-15, 5w30 and 20w50. Additionally, the introduction of LAT’s Pro ATF caught even the most hardcore skeptics off guard by substantially reducing operating temperatures while providing stable, consistent pressure readings.

The LAT Oils dealer program gives racers access to over 30 dealer locations in the United States making your purchase of LAT Oils easier to access. Find your local LAT Racing Oils dealer at www.latracingoils.com

About NHRA

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

How to Implement a Sustainable Packaging Strategy for Shipping

By

SM

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March 21, 2025

In 2020, during the height of the pandemic, e-commerce shopping increased 55 percent, and by 2022, U.S. e-commerce sales topped 1 trillion dollars for the first time. Since most online purchases require secondary packaging to get the product safely to the consumer, there is concern over the environmental impact of this excess packaging material for brands that ship directly to Consumers.

For shorter routes, like shipping from US to Canada, the shipping company needs to find a balance between protecting the product and minimizing waste.

What is Sustainable Shipping?

Sustainable shipping is any sustainable practice used in the shipping industry. These practices aim to reduce negative environmental impacts such as fuel usage and co-emissions.

Sustainable shipping can also be sustainable because it reduces the use of fossil fuels and other energy sources, such as natural gas or propane, that emit carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

This is done by implementing sustainable modes of transportation like walking, cycling, carpooling, public transit, etc that reduce packaging sizes to reduce weight and co-emissions associated with freight handling such as through airships, or developing technologies to prevent greenhouse gases.

Why it matters?

Many reasons exist for sustainable shipping, one of which is that it reduces the environmental impact of freight and delivery. In fact, according to a recent study by KPMG’s sustainability services division, sustainable shipping can reduce co-emissions by up to 60 percent.

It minimizes resource consumption, creates safer work environments (e.g., by preventing injuries), ensures fair wages, and provides quality products that meet social responsibility and sustainable development standards.

Update your packaging procedures

Take inventory of what you currently have and how you might begin replacing non-recyclable or over-packaged items with sustainable ones. Choose biodegradable, recycled, or reusable materials that are less harmful to the environment.

Also, redesign your packaging to conserve material and protect your products. One such super awesome strategy would be to execute your minimalist packaging process.

Do not use layers that are not needed, a bigger box, or plastic filler that is wasteful. Focus on smaller designs and recyclable padding materials such as recycled paper or starch peanuts.

Use the correct packaging size

Use the Right Size Package Proper package size is the first step toward reducing waste and better shipping efficiency. Overlarge boxes take more materials, take more space in transport, and cost more to move, all of which add to emissions and price.

When you choose packaging that is custom to the dimensions of your product, you will use fewer fillers, therefore generating less waste. Furthermore, right-sized packaging helps protect the product by restricting movement while in transit.

What you could do instead is use custom-fit boxes or have adjustable packaging solutions to ensure that items are snug, but not overly padded. This method not only ensures sustainability but also enhances customer satisfaction a lot by delivering things in an organized and eco-friendly way.

Use recycled materials for packaging and filling

Recycled packaging and filling never adhere to the inherent justice goal: protecting a product while preserving the surroundings.

Rather than using virgin plastic or non-biodegradable materials, companies can use recycled cardboard, recyclable paper, or biodegradable packing peanuts. Such materials ensure the minimization of waste and reduction of carbon footprints, and making the processes of shipping more environmentally sustainable.

Moreover, when it comes to strength, recycled packaging passes various industry look and force tests, making sure that the products inside arrive matching without any quality compromise.

Ship similar orders together

Shipping similar orders together helps save money on packaging and delivery while keeping things efficient. Instead of sending multiple small packages, businesses can combine them into one shipment. This reduces waste, lowers transportation emissions, and cuts down on excess packaging. It also minimizes handling risks, making sure products arrive safely.

Customers appreciate getting fewer, neatly packed deliveries, which makes their shopping experience smoother and more enjoyable. It facilitates delivery management and cuts down on unnecessary waste on their end. In order to promote sustainable choices and strengthen their dedication to environmentally friendly practices, businesses can also provide incentives to clients who choose consolidated shipping.

Limit the number of returns

When you are in the e-commerce space, you have to deal with returns and every online business owner does. You can’t say I will not get a return, however, you can limit the return numbers by adopting practical strategies.

Return does not mean the customer is giving back the product that he purchased from you, infact, it costs you time, money, and fuel. But if you short your return period to 15 days after purchasing an item, it can limit the number of returns. Moreover, provide every detail related to the product on the shopping page with high-quality images, so they get what they ordered.

Invest in thermally printed label makers

You are using the traditional method of printing labels with ink right? This method depends on cartridges that generate waste and require frequent replacements which is time-consuming for large orders.

On the other hand, if you use thermal printed labels, you will print more labels than the traditional ink-based model. It costs between $1k-$4k, but it works much faster due to the usage of heat to print labels. This method eliminates the need to change or refill ink again and again, which makes this technique cost-effective.

Conclusion

The shipment business goes through many phases and packaging is one of the key parts of this business. Your whole order depends on the packaging because the wrong packaging strategy can damage your product and as a result, the customer will receive a faulty product.

As online shopping continues to grow, shipment companies must take responsibility for reducing their environmental impact by adopting eco-friendly packaging practices. From selecting the right packaging size to using recycled materials, every step helps in minimizing waste and lowering carbon emissions.

How Do Free Spins at Online Casinos Work?

By

SM

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March 21, 2025

Many casinos as bongobongo Kenya provide free spins to new players who have just registered on the site, giving them the opportunity to try out their favorite games and see if they enjoy playing for real money. In addition, online casinos frequently offer free spins, no deposit, and no wager to existing players as a bonus once they make a deposit. Because the gaming industry is so competitive these days, many online casinos are seeking creative ways to attract new players and retain existing ones.

For this reason, several online casinos provide free spins on specific online slots. Take advantage of this opportunity to play for free. Free spins are a terrific opportunity to try out a new online slot or learn how to place the greatest bets, and it’s possible to win without paying any money.

What is exactly freespin?

What exactly are free spins? Bonus spins, free games, or free bets are all terms used to describe this lucrative feature. Regardless of the name, free spins are usually activated when you manage to line up a particular number of required symbols on the reels, which can be scatter symbols or simple icons for free spins. You might have the chance to play the free spins round as a bonus after completing a mini-game or as a result of other bonus features.

They can frequently be restarted by forming a specific number of symbols, the combinations of which are detailed in the slot paytable. Furthermore, free spins online slot machines frequently award multiple multipliers. Please keep in mind that the majority of the free spins will be accessible to you after the normal spin has been completed. What are slot machine spins? These are the regular spins of the reels in a slot machine game. As a result, using the ideal free spins betting strategy may be in your best interests. You only need to line up the required number of special symbols to receive free spins. Free spins can theoretically be restarted forever. However, most slots are set up to award a set number of free spins in any round of the regular game. You just play a specified amount of free spins that have been provided in games without a replay function. After that, you’ll see your bonus earnings and the game will return to normal play mode.

Gaming Machines With Free Spins

Free spins in slot machines are exactly what they sound like. Even before the free spins round begins, you can select the required number of free spins and the multiplier for that number of free spins on some slot machines. This allows the user to select the desired level of volatility. Some games, for example, may provide 50 free spins with a 2x multiplier, with larger multipliers available for less free spins. You might be given 30 spins with a 4x multiplier or 10 spins with a 15x multiplier, for example. Some players choose to play a bigger number of spins because the possibilities of winning are higher, but the rewards are smaller.

Some players can select the fewest number of spins with the highest multipliers and the greatest possibility of winning. Simply examine the slot paytable before playing the game to see if the game delivers free spins right away or only after a restart. In 5-reel slots, this is a relatively common feature.

The number of slot machines featuring free spins features that don’t require a download, a deposit, or registration to play is constantly increasing. Before incurring the risk of playing online casinos for real money, you can quickly find your favorite games. Playing for free first is the ideal method to enhance your approach and learn more about the online slot you’ll be playing for real money.

It will also allow you to understand more about the pay tables and other game features that you enjoy, such as multipliers and wilds.

Small adjustments to the pay tables can have a big impact on your bankroll over time. What is the definition of free spins? This is a fantastic opportunity for you to test out the bonus rounds for free in order to better understand your odds of winning. This is an excellent approach to determine whether you want to play a specific online slot for real money or move on to another game. Each online slot machine has its own set of winning opportunities that you might find surprising.

We’d also like to point out that betting the maximum on your favorite slot doesn’t automatically mean you’ll win. You should be aware that all online slots have a certain level of volatility. High volatility slots do not pay out as frequently as we would like, but when they do, the payouts are usually large. Low volatility slots give out lesser prizes more frequently than high volatility slots. Multipliers, for example, must be considered, as they might lead to large gains. When it comes to low-volatility games, it is preferable to invest small amounts and play slowly in order to obtain large wins.

A successful online slots strategy, in general, is a means to improve your odds of winning. Most online casinos provide a variety of benefits, such as weekly or seasonal bonuses. Special promotions, such as free spins and other benefits, might be presented during the debut of a new game or during special events. You can play for money if you have properly researched all of the regulations and devised a strategy when playing free slots with free spins. A “play for real money” button is available on all slots in the game interface. You will be automatically led to reliable online casinos where you can play your favorite free spins video slots for real money when you click this button.

However, we should note that all slot machines generate a significant amount of revenue, and many of its features are designed to retain players at online casinos in order to maximize operator profits. Some aspects of slot machines may lead players to assume they have a better probability of winning than they actually do. Players should be aware of these aspects of the game, as some of the same factors that make the slot fun can also be confusing and cause issues for some players.

Wood Brothers Racing Looks Back at Vegas and Forward to Darlington

By

Official Release

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March 20, 2025

Ford Performance Notes and Quotes
NASCAR Cup Series
Homestead Midweek Media Availability
Thursday, March 20, 2025

Earlier today, Wood Brothers Racing unveiled their paint scheme for Darlington’s Throwback Weekend and it highlights the No. 82 Lotus that Jim Clark drove to victory in the 1965 Indianapolis 500. That race also featured the Wood Brothers serving as the team’s pit crew. Members of the team participated in a media call from The Henry Ford in Dearborn, MI, to discuss the scheme and also the reaction to Josh Berry’s win on Sunday in Las Vegas.

JOSH BERRY, No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Mustang Dark Horse – WHAT ARE THE FEELINGS YOU HAVE AFTER WINNING SUNDAY AND NOW WITH THIS DARLINGTON ANNOUNCEMENT? “It’s been a big week. Obviously, a lot of fun. I’d say coming here today is a lot more fun knowing that we won Sunday, so it’s just been awesome to be here and to see everything. I’m looking forward to spending some more time here eventually and checking out some more of the history of this museum, but, overall, it’s been an amazing week – such a big moment on Sunday. I’ve just been trying to soak it in as much as you can and ready to go after it again on Sunday.”

JON WOOD, President, Wood Brothers Racing – WHAT HAS THE WEEK BEEN LIKE FOR YOU? “It has been a tremendously busy few days. Len summarized it the best – winning brings on a whole new set of problems, but they’re problems that you want to have. For a small team like us, we don’t have the staff to lean on to do everything from merchandise approvals to the media aspect of it. It’s just the five or six of us that you see, so it’s been a week.”

EDDIE WOOD, Chief Executive Officer, Wood Brothers Racing. “It really has. When Harrison won at Daytona for the 100th win, that was huge, big, the biggest thing ever. This seems to be at another level. I don’t really know why, but it seems like we’ve heard from so many people, me especially from people that I went to school with. I’m talking about first graders that I’ve heard from some of them recently, but some of them I hadn’t heard from in 40 or 50 years. It seems like everything about it is really happy and positive. Josh drove such a good race and it just felt good. I don’t have another way to put it. It just felt good.”

JON WOOD CONTINUED – HOW DID THIS THROWBACK SCHEME COME ABOUT? “Ian Moye from Team Penske works in the marketing department, but he approached me last year and said, ‘I’ve got a really cool idea for you. We think it would be neat if you could somehow do a Jim Clark throwback and maybe run it at the Brickyard.’ ‘OK, that would be awesome.’ But it never materialized. We never could pull it off and coordinate it, and we sort of put it on the backburner, and then this year rolls around and it’s our 75th and somebody, I don’t even know who mentioned that it’s the 60th anniversary of that win, so if there ever was an appropriate time, this was it. Darlington is a place where you celebrate motorsports history. It doesn’t have to be NASCAR history, it’s just the history of motorsports and I think we’ve been sort of trained to think that we have to do David Pearson throwbacks and Richard Petty throwbacks and that’s what matters, and it does, but there are other parts of our motorsports history and just history alike that are impactful, that it mattered, that makes that Darlington race as special as it is, so, for those reasons, there’s no better place to run this scheme, this livery they call it, than Darlington.”

IS THERE ANY OTHER THROWBACK PAINT SCHEME YOU’D LIKE TO DO AT SOME POINT? “We’ve got some cool ones coming. The next one would probably be the All-Star Race, I think. It’s awesome that Motorcraft gives us the flexibility to do these. There are lots of sponsors that shy away from altering their logos and their branding and they don’t want us to venture out from their normal colors. Motorcraft and DEX both have been awesome at just saying, ‘Go for it. Whatever you guys think.’ And today is an example of why, I think, that out of the box thinking is beneficial.”

JOSH BERRY CONTINUED – WINNING DOES TAKE YOU TO ANOTHER LEVEL. DO YOU EXPECT PEOPLE TO RACE YOU ANY DIFFERENTLY NOW? “I think the first part of that question, without a doubt I feel like I had things to prove. Obviously, coming off of last year and everything we went through, I think people were still looking at all four of us that were part of that program with a lot of question marks, so, to me, I wanted to go out and prove myself all over again in the Cup Series. I felt like this was probably the opportunity for me. I think if I fail at this one, I don’t think there’s probably another one lined up for me, so most definitely there was pressure to go out and perform. During the offseason we just really buckled down and obviously getting to know and working with my new crew chief, Miles. We put in a lot of work over the offseason to be prepared when the season started and I feel like that obviously paid off. Honestly, our results and performance has exceeded our expectations, so I’m super happy with that and winning a race in the Cup Series is a big deal. The second part of your question, I don’t know that anything will really change much from my side of things. I think that time will tell, but, ultimately, I’m just ready to get on to the next few weeks and excited to see what opportunities we’ll have.”

EDDIE WOOD CONTINUED – EVEN BESIDES THE WIN YOU HAVE HAD A GOOD START TO THE SEASON. DO YOU TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT BY DOING SOMETHING EXTRA NOW? DO YOU ADD SOMETHING OR DO YOU PUT MORE PEOPLE ON CARS OR DO YOU RIDE WITH WHAT YOU’VE GOT ALREADY? “I heard Josh and Miles discussing how you approach races from now until the end of the regular season, and I think you’re really able to race differently because you’ve already got a win, hopefully that locks us in, but I think you can take more chances that you’d normally probably wouldn’t take. You can go after the playoff points, which is different from stage points, so you concentrate on that because you’re stacking up a cushion. I remember, I think it was the year before last or even before that, but Truex had so many points that he was able to point his way almost all the way to the end. He may have gotten to the end, but I think that’s the way you look at it is to build that cushion and you can take chances – like maybe I pit and maybe I don’t. Maybe get two tires. You can do that with more confidence. If it doesn’t go right, that’s OK because you’ve already got this in the bank.”

JOSH BERRY CONTINUED – DO YOU FEEL YOU’VE DONE A GOOD JOB OF SOAKING THIS IN AND ENJOYING THE MOMENT OF WINNING ON SUNDAY? “Honestly, yeah. I think it kind of even goes back to our celebration and the Polish Victory Lap and the run down the frontstretch and the time spent there. That’s the biggest thing I was trying to accomplish there was to collect my emotions the most I could and soak up that moment and enjoy it. I felt like it’s been a busy week without a doubt, but we’ve had a lot of opportunities, we’ve had great conversations with a lot of people in the industry to reflect on my journey here and what this moment really means, so aside from wishing my daughters were there, I think that’s probably the one thing that I hate out of the whole deal, I guess, is that they weren’t there. McKenzie told me, which is my oldest daughter, she’s like, ‘Well, you’ve got to do it again because I’ve got to be there.’ So, I guess that’s the plan. When you ask what’s next, we’ve got to go out and do it again because she wants to go to Victory Lane and be a part of that, so, I don’t know. It’s hard to say, but this is a big deal. Chase Briscoe texted me probably the best thing. He’s like, ‘Hey, winning a Cup race is a pretty big deal, isn’t it,’ and it really is, and doing it with these guys just makes it that much more special. They deserve every bit of success that they get and we’re gonna keep working hard to keep having more days like Sunday.”

EDDIE WOOD CONTINUED — FOR A TEAM THAT IS IN YOUR SITUATION, WHAT DOES GROWTH LOOK LIKE? “In our world, through the years, it’s hard to plan very far ahead in racing. I mean, you guys are aware of that because in our racing partners and relationships, things like that, we survive on sponsorship. Everybody does and it’s hard to predict the future because so many things that affect it, just things that have nothing to do with racing that affects it. Racing and things around racing and the people, so our goal, my goal, I’m the oldest, so my goal would be just to keep going. As long as there’s a NASCAR, I hope that we’re a part of it. We’ve been with NASCAR since the beginning. We’ve been with Ford Motor Company since the beginning and those two relationships, partners, that’s how we keep going. We’ve went through some really, really scary low times that there was just no way it was gonna work out, but you keep grinding away at it day after day. I think taking it a day at a time, that’s probably an overused quote, but it’s so true, especially with us. You get to this point and you get to this point and you just keep going. The biggest thing, to me, is you can’t quit. You can’t think about quitting and you never give up.”

LEN WOOD, Chief Operating Officer, Wood Brothers Racing – “I think another thing we did was early last year we kind of changed everybody’s roles. What we’ve done in the past is whoever is the best at something, you lead it and the rest of us will help. What we did was we made Jon the president of the company. Keven is sitting off the camera here and he’s executive vice president. Jordan is the chief marketing officer. That kind of put a title to it, but with that title came responsibility. That’s preparing them for the next 10, 15, 20, for however many years.”

JON WOOD CONTINUED – “Landon Cassill, this tells you how far back this goes, and that’s indicative of how much it stuck in my mind. Landon was working on building a team with Mike Hillman, or he was with Mike Hillman at this point in time. I’m guessing that was around 2015, 2016 or 2017. We were talking a lot back and forth and he texted me and asked what our business plan was. I thought about that for a minute and what business plan? That’s not how we do things. We just get it done, but it bothered me enough that I remember it that I had no answer, and I thought at the time, ‘Well, we’re doing this wrong. If Landon is asking me just one simple question and I can’t answer it, what else are we doing wrong?’ Fast forward to today and I look back on that and I think how stupid it was for that to bother me because the way that they’ve run this business, these two, has been not just more successful than anybody else, but the most successful. Success, in my opinion, isn’t necessarily measured in the number of wins and championships. It’s longevity and how long you make it in this business and sport, and the mark that you make, and I feel like the mark that they’ve made probably competes with or tops any other teams relevance in NASCAR.”

SO IS THERE A BUSINESS PLAN? “No.”

LEN WOOD CONTINUED – “We do budgets all the time working with Aaron Rollins at Team Penske, so everybody is on the same page. When we do all that stuff, we make sure that everybody – Jon, Keven, Jordan, Kim, Eddie, everybody has all the information so if something happens to one of us, they can carry it on.”

JOSH BERRY CONTINUED – RYAN BLANEY WAS VERY COMPLIMENTARY OF HOW YOU HAVE FIT IN WITH THE GROUP. HOW DO YOU FEEL YOU’VE FIT INTO THE GROUP AND DO YOU FEEL LIKE AN EQUAL EVEN THOUGH YOU’RE WITH TWO CUP CHAMPIONS? “I think, for me, this opportunity when we first sat down from the start, aside from just how I fit in as a driver and a person and the branding and the old school kind of grassroots feel that I feel like me driving for the Wood Brothers, and I think the feeling with Team Penske and gaining access to meetings and the data and the knowledge – those things were the most important to me to grow as a driver. Ultimately, I hadn’t experienced that – experience similar like that with my fill-in role at Hendrick Motorsports and getting to be a part of that and being able to learn and lean on Kyle and Chase and Alex and William. To me, I felt like that I was going into a similar situation that I had everything at my disposal to go out and succeed, so that’s a big part of it – having those guys, teammates more or less, and being able to lean into them and their experience, but as well as just the organization as a whole and their success, to me, it brings a lot of confidence to me as a driver that I have what I need to go out and be successful. I don’t think, from my side of things, I feel comfortable talking about what I’m feeling and what I think. A lot of times we all are feeling and seeing the same things and I want to be a part of that. Yeah, it’s been a great relationship so far, so I’m excited to see what the future holds.”

EDDIE WOOD CONTINUED – WHAT HAS EDSEL FORD MEANT AND THE ROLE HE PLAYED FOR YOU GUYS TO GET THROUGH THAT ROUGH PERIOD AND GET TO THIS POINT? “I’ve told that story about being at Pocono testing and Edsel calls looking for a phone number and he asked me, he said, ‘How come I haven’t heard anything from you? Where have you been?’ And I said, ‘Mr. Ford, we’ve run so bad I’m actually ashamed to call you.’ And his exact words were, ‘You’re telling me my 21 is broken?’ I said, ‘Yes, sir. It’s pretty well broken.’ We missed the 500. We missed the Brickyard. I think we missed the 600. We missed three or four of the first five or six races and a couple of them were because of rain, but most of them we just missed them. He said, ‘Well, I’m gonna have someone call you in the morning and we’re gonna fix this.’ We were in Pocono, so at 10:10 the next morning the phone rings and it’s Jim Farley. Mr. Farley had just went to work for Ford Motor Company a few months earlier after coming from Toyota and he introduced himself. He said, ‘Why don’t you guys come up to Dearborn fast.’ So we left the racetrack. We had t-shirts and jeans and tennis shoes on. We went and got on a plane four hours later from Wilkes Barre into Detroit and something called Mr. Farley out of town at the last second when we got there. This was on probably a Wednesday afternoon, so we go buy clothes. We went to that mall off of Big Beaver Road in Troy, bought clothes and we got to see Mr. Farley Friday night. We went to Ford World Headquarters and told him what was going on and what we thought we needed and he said, ‘OK, it starts now.’ And we had increased engineering help and things started to come together. It wasn’t one particular thing, but from that day forward things started to get better and we talked constantly with Jim. We talked with Edsel as we were going through this process and then all of a sudden, this is 2008, three years later Trevor Bayne wins the Daytona 500 in our car. So, we went from almost being out of business because we couldn’t make races, to winning the biggest race of the year in a matter of three years. That just shows what kind of commitment that Ford Motor Company has always had. The same thing happened to our dad in 1956. He was running convertibles and almost went out of business. He just didn’t have enough to keep going and a man named Peter DePaolo – a former Indy 500 winner in 1945 or something like that, and he was running what was then later on would be like the Holman Moody part of it, and he called my dad and says, ‘What are you needing to keep going?’ And he said, ‘Well, I need a couple sets of tires,’ and he had a car ready to go to Richmond. A couple sets of tires and something else and he went to Richmond and won that race, and that fixed it. That turned it around, so all through time and history it’s been Ford Motor Company that’s kept us going.”

JON WOOD CONTINUED – WAS THERE EVER A CONCERN DURING THAT PERIOD THAT THERE WASN’T GOING TO BE A FAMILY BUSINESS FOR YOU AND YOU’D HAVE TO GO OUT AND GET A REAL JOB? “Fortunately, I didn’t know it. I don’t know why they didn’t tell me, but they didn’t. Until they told that story years later, I had no idea those things happened and not that it would have changed anything because, I mean, when you’re at that point, when you’re that desperate, but then at the same point you’re dealing with guys that are as high level as Edsel and Jim Farley, what else can you do? What good would it be for them to tell me? I couldn’t build it faster. I couldn’t be anymore of a help to the race team and contribute any better to suddenly start making races. We just were where we were and it was beyond any one person’s ability to fix it.”

LEN WOOD CONTINUED – “I’ll say this, years ago our dad had a Lincoln-Mercury dealership and it was in Danville, Virginia, about 60 miles from Stuart. We always talked about if this racing turns bad, we can always go work at the dealership and then dad sold the dealership around ’92 or something like that and we’re still kicking.”

JON WOOD CONTINUED – DO THEY NOT ALLOW DOGS AT THE HENRY FORD MUSEUM? “No. I’m not saying I’m smart, but I’m smarter than to try to sneak the dogs into this place. They’ve been in some pretty no dogs allowed type of buildings before, but I would give pause before I would try to pull that stunt here.”

EDDIE WOOD CONTINUED – YOU HAVE TO GO BACK TO 1981 WHEN THE 21 TEAM WON MULTIPLE RACES IN A YEAR. IS THIS THE FIRST TIME YOU GUYS HAVE THE FEELING THAT IT’S POSSIBLE AGAIN? “Yes. Actually, you think about it. I think it gets back to you take it a day at a time, a race at a time, a weekend at a time. But, right now, with the way Josh and Miles are working together and the team as a whole, all of the Fords are fast right now and anything is possible. I think that’s one beautiful part about NASCAR racing is that anything can happen and it will, you just never know. Last week, I was sitting there watching the whole thing unfold and I was gonna be happy with a top 10. I thought, ‘That would be good.’ And then as it began to get close to the end Josh got closer and closer to the front and there we were. At the end with starting from the outside, just like Harrison started the race at Daytona on the outside. I was like, ‘this thing might work out too. You never know.’ You sit there and watch Josh driving in his first year and it was really, really important to me for him to win his first race in our car. That’s a big deal to me. There have been a lot of others that we’ve helped start their careers as far as winning. If you win that first race, it’s different. Once you win that race, it changes. Josh can speak to that. It’s like, Monday morning it was different waking up because you won a race and now you can kind of go on with your business, get down to it you win more races, but that was probably the most special thing to me was Josh getting his first win with us.”

JOSH BERRY CONTINUED – WHAT ARE YOUR EXPECTATIONS GOING INTO THE PLAYOFFS AND WHAT DO YOU SEE AS YOUR BIGGEST OBSTACLE? “I think for us in the immediate future we want to keep building off of what we’ve had to start this year and iron out some issues we’ve had. We’ve had a couple issues on pit road and here and there, but ultimately, the important part is the performance of myself and the performance of the car and I think we’re doing a lot of those things really good, so it’s just about going through these next couple months and work and prepare and try to keep it going. Once you get to the playoffs, I feel like anything can happen. The first couple rounds a lot of times are simply about survival and execution, so I don’t see any reason why it would be any different this year. If we can get to that point, it would obviously be amazing to have more playoff points across the rest of the season, but once we get there it’s gonna boil down to execution and staying out of trouble and getting stage points and good finishes and that’s what we’re doing right now. There’s really no use in overthinking it too much. I think just keep plugging away and learning and getting better, and I think there’s a lot of great days ahead of us.”

WHAT WAS THE EXPERIENCE LIKE FROM THE XFINITY PLAYOFFS AND HOW DO YOU TRANSLATE THAT TO CUP? “It’s similar, like I said, trying to survive the first couple rounds. For us in 2022, we were able to win at Las Vegas and punch our ticket to Phoenix. That next year was the opposite scenario. We were battling for the lead at Texas, wreck. Had a good race going at Bristol and we wrecked and then you’re in a hole and the party is over, so, for us, I’m not overthinking it too much at this point. Kind of like these guys said, how I’ve always raced is week to week and day to day and no matter what whether you win or you lose or whatever, you prepare the same every week to do the best you can and at this point that’s where we’re at with it. It’s obviously nice to have the win checked off and have that weight off our shoulders, but there’s still a lot of work ahead of us.”

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