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Trans Am Series Race Preview: Road Atlanta

By
Official Release
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Road Atlanta
Mission Foods Road Atlanta SpeedTour

Track Facts:
Opened: 1970
Length: 2.54 Miles
Layout: 12-Turn Road Course
Entry List: View
Qualifying:
Friday, March 21
5:35-6:10 p.m. ET

Race:
Saturday, March 22
12:45-2:00 p.m. ET

Race Length: 40 Laps/75 Minutes

Broadcast:
LIVE on SPEED SPORT 1
LIVE on YouTube
@TheTransAmSeries

Qualifying:
Saturday, March 22
4:45-5:20 p.m. ET

Race:
Sunday, March 23
1:45-3:00 p.m. ET
Race Length: 40 Laps/75 Minutes

Broadcast:
LIVE on SPEED SPORT 1
LIVE on YouTube
@TheTransAmSeries

Up Next: Round 2

The Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli heads to Road Atlanta for the Mission Foods Road Atlanta SpeedTour, the second race of the 2025 season for National Championship competitors. Trans Am has been visiting the 54-year-old facility since 1972, holding 42 races at the Braselton, Georgia track. 56 competitors in seven classes will take the green flag in Saturday and Sunday’s 100-mile races.

Past Winners at Road Atlanta

There are 11 drivers in this weekend’s field who have stood on the top step of the podium at Road Atlanta in the past. Chris Dyson, Mike Skeen and Billy Griffin are tied with the most wins of any entrants in this weekend’s competition with four. Adam Andretti, Danny Lowry, Chris Coffey, Thomas Merrill and Barry Boes all won in Trans Am’s last visit to the track and are returning to defend their victories.

TA

Chris Dyson, No. 16 GYM WEED Ford Mustang: 2023, 2022, 2020 II, 2018
Adam Andretti, No. 17 Top Liner Chevrolet Camaro: 2024, 2014 (TA2)
Amy Ruman, No. 23 McNichols Co./Valley Automotive Group Chevrolet Corvette: 2016, 2015, 2011

XGT

Billy Griffin, No. 14 Griffin Auto Care Mercedes AMG GT3: 2023, 2022, 2020 II, 2020 I (All GT)
Danny Lowry, No. 42 Bennett/BridgeHaul/Pitboxes.com Mercedes AMG GT4: 2024, 2022 (SGT)

SGT

Lee Saunders, No. 84 LandSearch LLC Dodge Viper: 2015

GT

Chris Coffey, No. 97 Traffic Grafix/Chillout Motorsports Maserati MC GT4: 2024

CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series

Mike Skeen, No. 2 Guthrie’s Garage Chevrolet Camaro: 2022, 2020 II, 2020 I, 2011
Thomas Merrill, No. 26 HP Tubers/Franklin Road/Cope Chevrolet Camaro: 2024
Rafa Matos, No. 57 Concord American Flagpole/SHR Chevrolet Camaro: 2019, 2018

CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series Pro/Am Challenge

Barry Boes, No. 27 Accio Data/SRL-M1 Chevrolet Camaro: 2024

SCCA Super Tour Success

Earlier this month, the SCCA Super Tour competed at Road Atlanta, with two drivers in this weekend’s field visiting Victory Lane. TA’s David Pintaric (No. 57 Kryderacing Ford Mustang) won Race 1 in the GT1 class and finished second in Race 2, while CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series Pro/Am Challenge competitor Jared Odrick (No. 00 Black Underwear Chevrolet Camaro) won both Race 1 and Race 2 from the pole in the GT2 class.

Georgia on My Mind

There are three drivers in this weekend’s field who are originally from the state of Georgia. CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series Pro/Am Challenge competitor Patrick Paul will be closest to home this weekend, as he is from Kennesaw, Ga., a suburb northwest of Atlanta. This weekend is also a home game for Burtin Racing, which fields the No. 17 Top Liner Chevrolet Camaro for Adam Andretti. The team’s shop is located approximately two hours northwest of the track in Adairsville, Ga.

GT

Brion Gluck, No. 47 FFR/Freedom Coffee/Gallant Few FFR Daytona 65 R (LaGrange)

CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series Pro/Am Challenge

Rob Clifton, No. 8 Team SLR-M1 Racecars Chevrolet Camaro (Evans)

Patrick Paul, No. 34 Paul Racing Enterprises Ford Mustang (Kennesaw)

Watch LIVE

There are two great free streaming options for watching this weekend’s TA/GT and CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series races. The events will stream live on Trans Am’s YouTube channel, @TheTransAmSeries, as well as on SPEED SPORT 1. SPEED SPORT 1 is the first network dedicated to free, live motorsports, presenting hundreds of live events and thousands of hours of premier motorsport content and lifestyle programming from around the globe annually. SPEED SPORT 1 can be watched on Amazon Prime Video, Roku, PlutoTV, Sling Freestream and more. For more information on how to watch, click here.

Déjà Vu For Menard

For the second year in a row, Paul Menard kicked off the season with a victory, driving to GYM WEED Winners Circle in his No. 3 Pittsburgh Paints/Menards Ford Mustang at Sebring International Raceway. After winning the season opener in 2024, Menard went on the claim the TA championship on the strength of six wins and nine podium finishes.

Another Tough Start For Dyson

Another driver experiencing déjà vu is three-time TA champion Chris Dyson (No. 16 GYM WEED Ford Mustang). Once again, Dyson unloaded a fast car at Sebring, but his day ended in a hard crash due to a mechanical failure. Relegated to an eighth-place finish in class, Dyson’s pursuit of his fourth Trans Am title begins with a points deficit, as he currently sits 33 markers behind leader Paul Menard. However, given his dominance in the series since his first title season in 2021, it’s nothing that Dyson can’t overcome between now and the season finale at Circuit of The Americas.

Drissi Hoping for Another Podium at Road Atlanta

Road Atlanta is a track where Tomy Drissi (No. 8 Trench Shoring Co./Motul Chevrolet Camaro) has found lots of success in the past in Trans Am and beyond. Drissi scored podium finishes at the Braselton, Ga. facility in four of the last six years in TA, with finishes of second in 2019, 2020 and 2022, and a third-place finish in 2023. Drissi also found his way to the Road Atlanta podium many times in IMSA’s WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, earning a victory in the Petit Le Mans in 2017, as well as earning two second-place finishes and one third-place result. Joining Drissi under the Drissi Motorsports banner this weekend is Keith Grant (No. 7 Trench Shoring Co./Motul Chevrolet Camaro), who earned a podium for the team there last year with a third-place finish.

Burtin Hosts CCYA Guests

This weekend at Road Atlanta, Burtin Racing team owner Claudio Burtin, who fields the No. 17 Top Liner Chevrolet Camaro for Adam Andretti, will be hosting approximately 40 guests from the Center for Children and Young Adults (CCYA). CCYA is a 40-bed residential facility in Marietta, Ga. that provides safe housing and basic needs to children and young adults who have been abused, neglected, exploited or abandoned. The organization offers a full array of supportive housing services, such as emergency and temporary shelter programs and transitional and independent living for youth and young adults. CCYA feeds, houses, teaches and nurtures up to 100 youth each year. For more information, visit ccyakids.org.

Crews Wins Between Races

Since kicking off his first full-time season in the TA class, Brent Crews (No. 70 Nitro Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro) captured a checkered flag on an oval track. Crews competed in his first race with Joe Gibbs Racing in the ARCA Menards Series at Phoenix Raceway, where he had a late-rate comeback to score his third-career win in the series. With two previous ARCA victories, both on dirt tracks, Crews’ win at Phoenix was his first on a pavement track.

New Colors for Joshua Carlson

SGT’s Joshua Carlson kicked off the 2025 season with new colors on his No. 36 Enseva/Diercks Ltd/TC Fab Ford Mustang. Carlson secured a new sponsor in Vivid Auto Wraps with Auggi Jimenez in his home state of Iowa and opted for a new blue wrap to pay homage to the Ford Mustang’s Detroit roots. It seems to be bringing the team good luck, as Carlson piloted to the win in the SGT class in the season opener at Sebring International Raceway.

Rob Dickey Joins GT1 Chlannege

Making his Trans Am debut this weekend is GT1 Challenge competitor Rob Dickey in the No. 64 Forty48 Competition Chevrolet Camaro. Dickey comes to Trans Am from SCCA and SVRA, but has also raced karts, motorcycles and standup Jet Skis. Dickey has dreamed of racing in Trans Am since he was a kid, but that goal became more important to him when a close friend he’d shared that dream with passed away. This weekend he finally gets to make his dream a reality.

  1. Paul Menard (109)
  2. Adam Andretti (101)
  3. Amy Ruman (93)
  4. Tomy Drissi (90)
  5. Humaid Masaood (84)

  1. Paul Tracy (97)
  2. Kaylee Bryson (86)
  3. Danny Lowry (79)
  4. Mustafa Bakir (73)

  1. Joshua Carlson (70)
  2. Lee Saunders (65)
  3. Patrick Utt (60)

  1. Chris Coffey (70)
  2. Mike Fitzpatrick (65)

  1. Jon DeGaynor (50)

  1. Billy Griffin (83)

  1. Colin Cohen (60)

Toyota Camry Comes to TA2

This weekend will see the debut of a new manufacturer in the CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series: Toyota. For the past several months, TRD has worked closely with Five Star RaceCar Bodies and Trans Am officials on the design, development and production of the Toyota Camry. The culmination of their hard work will be showcased this weekend, where two Toyota Camrys are set to compete. Toyota Development Driver Tyler Gonzalez will pilot the No. 10 Mobil 1 Camry for Nitro Motorsports, while Sebring winner Thomas Annunziata will debut a GR livery on his No. 90 Nitro Motorsports Camry.

Both Toyota drivers have been busy since the Sebring season opener. Gonzalez won the MX-5 Cup race at St. Petersburg, while Annunziata made a NASCAR Xfinity Series start at Circuit of The Americas with Cope Family Racing in partnership with Nitro Motorsports team owner Nick Tucker.

Jordan Menzin Joins Silver Hare

Silver Hare Racing announced this week that it has signed Jordan Menzin to a part-time schedule in the Pro/Am Challenge this season. Menzin is an accomplished competitor in the World Racing League’s Supra GT4, as well as driving LMP3s in IMSA’s VP Challenge. He made his Trans Am debut in the TA2 season opener at Sebring International Raceway. In his first start for Silver Hare this weekend, Menzin will pilot the No. 5 Silver Hare Racing/Waukegan Farms Chevrolet.

Rob Clifton Returns to TA2

This weekend will see the return of Rob Clifton to CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series competition. Clifton made his debut at Road Atlanta in 2023 and returns to pilot the No. 8 Team SLR-M1 Racecars Chevrolet Camaro. A native of Evans, Ga., Clifton is a former Auburn football player who was recently voted into the Georgia State House of Representatives for his first term during the November election. The second-generation racer has previously competed in Spec Formula Fords in SCCA.

Odrick Debuts New Racecar

Jared Odrick comes to Road Atlanta armed with a brand new M1 Racecars chassis this weekend. The Pro/Am Challenge contender recently took delivery of a new No. 00 Black Underwear Chevrolet Camaro, which will make its Trans Am debut this weekend. Odrick stretched the car’s legs at the SCCA Super Tour race at Road Atlanta earlier this month, winning both GT2 races from the pole.

Skeen to Compete Full Time in 2025

Another new M1 Racecars chassis hitting the track this weekend is the No. 2 Guthrie’s Garage Chevrolet Camaro, which will be driven by 2020 CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series champion Mike Skeen for the remainder of the season. Skeen has been tagged by team owner and TA2 competitor Jim Guthrie to take his seat for the remainder of the season while Guthrie recovers from a shoulder injury. After sitting on the pole with a record-breaking time and finishing second in the season opener at Sebring, Skeen is poised to battle for his second title this year. Skeen has four previous victories at Road Atlanta, including a doubleheader sweep in 2020. His most recent victory at the track came in 2022.

Gian Buffomante Hoping to Channel Father at Road Atlanta

Third-generation driver Gian Buffomante is hoping to channel his father, 2016 TA2 champion Tony Buffomante, this weekend when he gets behind the wheel of his No. 95 Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang. The elder Buffomante has two victories at Road Atlanta, standing atop the podium in back-to-back seasons in 2016 and 2017. Gian, who has Tony in his ear when he spots for him on race weekends, considers his father to be his racing hero.

Lovell & Boes Earn Podiums on West Coast

Mia Lovell (No. 40 Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang) and Barry Boes (No. 27 Accio Data/SLR-M1 Chevrolet Camaro) competed in the Western Championship season opener last weekend at Buttonwillow Raceway Park, with both finding success with podiums at the California track. Lovell finished second and Boes finished third in the CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series.

Pro/Am Drivers With Past Road Atlanta Success

There are a few Pro/Am Challenge drivers in this weekend’s race who have found success at Road Atlanta in other disciplines of racing.

Cale Phillips (No. 99 Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang) has several NASA wins at the track between 2018 and 2020.

Matt Griffin (No. 67 Griffin Concrete Construction Chevrolet Camaro) has won at the track in SCCA. Griffin was the 2024 SCCA SeDIV SARRC champion, as well as the 2024 SCCA CFR GT1 champion.

  1. Thomas Annunziata (106)
  2. Mike Skeen (103)
  3. Austin Green (93)
  4. Adrian Wlostowski (88)
  5. Noah Harmon (84)

  1. Keith Prociuk (107)
  2. Barry Boes (105)
  3. Jared Odrick (93)
  4. Cale Phillips (90)
  5. Tom Sheehan (84)

  1. Thomas Annunziata (106)
  2. Austin Green (93)
  3. Noah Harmon (84)
  4. Boris Said Jr. (80)
  5. Tristan McKee (77)

  1. Noah Harmon (84)
  2. Tristan McKee (77)
  3. Carson Brown (72)
  4. Sam Corry (68)
  5. Julian DaCosta (64)

HAPPY DAYS: HARVICK SELECTED AS 2025 INDUCTEE FOR TEXAS MOTORSPORTS HALL OF FAME

By
Official Release
-
Kevin Harvick, a nine-time NASCAR race winner at Texas Motor Speedway, will be the 2025 inductee into the Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame at Texas Motor Speedway. Photo credit: Getty Images for Texas Motor Speedway.
  • Nine-time TMS winner Kevin Harvick to be honored Friday, May 2, at the Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame Luncheon presented by WÜRTH in The Speedway Club.
  • Event is open to the public with tickets at $125 that benefit Speedway Children’s Charities’ Texas Chapter.
  • HOF induction part of May 2-4 WÜRTH 400 presented by LIQUI MOLY NASCAR tripleheader weekend at Texas Motor Speedway.

FORT WORTH, Texas (MARCH 19, 2025) – Retired NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) superstar Kevin Harvick will be honored as the 2025 inductee at the Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame Luncheon presented by WÜRTH on Friday, May 2, at Texas Motor Speedway.

Harvick, currently a television analyst for NASCAR on FOX broadcasts, enjoyed an illustrious 23-year NCS career that included immense success at Texas Motor Speedway. He will be honored with this special event from 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. CT in The Speedway Club Ballroom with local FOX 4 sports anchor Mike Doocy serving as emcee and PRN’s lead anchor Brad Gillie as moderator.

The luncheon will include a candid “Fireside Chat” with Harvick and Gillie, panel discussion regarding the impact of motorsports on the Fort Worth community and lunch prepared by Levy Restaurants. The event is open to the public with individual tickets on sale for $125 and VIP table options also available for purchase. All proceeds from the luncheon will benefit the Speedway Children’s Charities Texas Chapter. Click HERE for more information and to purchase tickets.

“We are thrilled to induct Kevin Harvick into the Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame,” Speedway Children’s Charities Texas Chapter Executive Director Marissa Chaney said. “He has not only left an incredible legacy on Texas Motor Speedway, but also on the community with his unwavering support of Speedway Children’s Charities.”

Harvick concluded his full-time racing career in 2023 with the 49-year-old Californian, nicknamed “Happy”, amassing 121 victories across NASCAR’s three national series. His 60 wins in the NCS ranks 10th on the all-time list, and he added 47 in the Xfinity Series (NXS) and another 14 the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS).

Nine of those victories came at Texas Motor Speedway, highlighted by a run of three in a row in the fall NCS race from 2017-19. He also had five NXS wins (2001 spring race, fall race in 2005, ‘06, ‘07 and ‘12) and one in the NCTS (2011 fall race).

Harvick’s major achievements include being the 2014 NCS champion; 2007 Daytona 500 winner; three-time Brickyard 400 winner (2003, ‘19 and ‘20); two-time Coca-Cola 600 winner (2011, ‘13); two-time Southern 500 winner (2014, ‘20); 2007 NASCAR All-Star Race winner; 2001 NCS Rookie of the Year; and two-time NXS champion (2001, ‘06). He also had 31 NCS poles during his career where he drove from Richard Childress Racing from 2001-2013 and Stewart-Haas Racing from 2014-2023.

The Texas Motorsports Hall of Fame induction is part of the May 2-4 WÜRTH 400 presented by LIQUI MOLY NASCAR tripleheader at Texas Motor Speedway. The three-day weekend features a race every day, beginning with the NCTS SpeedyCash.com 250 on Friday, May 2, at 7 p.m. The NXS Andy’s Frozen Custard 300 will be held Saturday, May 3, at 1 p.m. and the weekend culminates with the NCS WÜRTH 400 on Sunday, May 4, beginning at 2:30 p.m.

Event tickets and camping passes for the 2025 WÜRTH 400 presented by LIQUI MOLY NASCAR tripleheader weekend are on sale now. Click HERE for more information and to buy tickets.

In addition to the May 4 NCS WÜRTH 400 presented by LIQUI MOLY, the weekend also includes the May 3 NXS Andy’s Frozen Custard 300, the May 2 NCTS SpeedyCash.com 250 and two days of Kubota High Limit Racing sprint car competition, May 1 and 3, on the half-mile Texas Motor Speedway Dirt Track.

Texas Motor Speedway’s current 2025 events calendar Mopar Heaven and Bubble Run (both events March 22), POWRi Sprint Cars (March 28-29 at the TMS Dirt Track), Pate Swap Meet (April 24-27), Goodguys LMC Truck Spring Lone Star Nationals (April 25-26), Kubota High Limit Racing (May 1 and 3 at the TMS Dirt Track), WÜRTH 400 presented by LIQUI MOLY NASCAR tripleheader weekend (May 2-4), C10 Nationals (May 9-10), Holley LS Fest Texas (May 16-17), Bandas y Trocas (May 24), Solar Car Challenge (July 17-23), Goodguys Summit Racing Lone Star Nationals (Sept. 26-28), Texas World Dirt Track Championship (Oct. 3-4 at the TMS Dirt Track), October Truck Madness (Oct. 11), Kubota High Limit Racing All-In Championship (Oct. 17-18 at the TMS Dirt Track), FuelFest (Oct. 25), POWRi Sprint Cars (Nov. 7-8 at the TMS Dirt Track), and Xtreme Xperience (Dec. 11-14).

ABOUT SPEEDWAY CHILDREN’S CHARITIES

The mission of Speedway Children’s Charities is to care for children with educational, financial, social and medical needs to help them lead productive lives. Founded by Bruton Smith in 1982, Speedway Children’s Charities is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization providing funding for hundreds of non-profit organizations that meet the direct needs of children. Speedway Children’s Charities has distributed more than $72.6 million in grants. The goal is to ensure that every child in need is given the tools to build a better, brighter and healthier future.

ABOUT SPEEDWAY CHILDREN’S CHARITIES – TEXAS

Since 1997, Speedway Children’s Charities at Texas Motor Speedway has distributed more than $12.3 million in funding to non-profit organizations supporting children in need in Collin, Dallas, Denton, and Tarrant counties. Distributed funds are raised through special events held throughout the year including the annual NASCAR tripleheader weekend, Tony Stewart’s Smoke Show, Celebrity Clay Shoot, Geared for Greatness, Laps for Charity and others.

MORE INFO:

Keep track of Texas Motor Speedway’s busy schedule by following on Facebook, X and Instagram. Keep up with all the latest news and information on the Speedway website and TMS mobile app.

Toyota GAZOO Racing Weekly Preview 03.19.25

By
Official Release
-

This Week in Motorsports: March 17 – 23, 2025

  • NCS/NXS/NCTS: Homestead-Miami Speedway – March 21-23
  • ARCA EAST: Five Flags Speedway (Pensacola, Fla.) – March 22
  • NHRA: Firebird Motorsports Park (Chandler, Ariz.) – March 21-23

PLANO, Texas (March 19, 2025) – NASCAR’s three national series head to South Florida and Homestead-Miami Speedway for another weekend on a mile-and-a-half oval. The ARCA Menards Series East opens its 2025 season at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Florida, on Saturday. The NHRA also returns to action for the second race of its 2025 season at Firebird Motorsports Park outside of Phoenix.

NASCAR National Series – NCS/NXS/NCTS

Toyota seeks Homestead three-peat … Homestead-Miami Speedway has become a comfortable spot for the Toyota Camrys as the manufacturer seeks its third consecutive and ninth overall Cup Series win at the Florida oval after victories by Tyler Reddick and Christopher Bell the last two years. Bell comes back to Homestead looking for his fourth win of the 2025 season, which would surpass a career-best mark for a single season just six races in. Reddick, meanwhile, aims for his first triumph of the year to lock himself into the 2025 Cup Series Playoffs. Both drivers are currently in the top three in points, with Bell in second and Reddick in third.

Hamlin eager to continue Homestead success … Finishing third and nearly taking the race victory at Homestead-Miami Speedway last fall, Denny Hamlin returns to one of his favorite tracks this weekend focused on another solid result. In 20 previous starts at Homestead, Hamlin is in a tie for the most career victories at the race track with three (2009, 2013 and 2020), to go along with six top-fives and 13 top-10s. Another victory by Hamlin would also be the 10th Cup Series win for Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) at Homestead.

Bonsignore, Heim return to the Xfinity Series … This weekend, Justin Bonsignore and Corey Heim both make their second Xfinity Series starts of the season – Bonsignore once again in the No. 19 GR Supra for JGR and Heim in the No. 24 GR Supra for Sam Hunt Racing. Saturday will mark Bonsignore’s third career Xfinity Series start, following his runs at Daytona to begin the season and at New Hampshire last June. For Heim, Saturday will mark his 19th career Xfinity Series start. The Toyota Development Driver will be doing double duty this weekend with his full-time Truck Series efforts, aiming for his third win of the season in his No. 11 Tundra TRD Pro for TRICON Garage.

Jones makes first Trucks start of 2025 … Along with his full-time efforts in the No. 20 GR Supra for JGR in the Xfinity Series, Brandon Jones will also make his first start in the No. 1 Tundra TRD Pro for TRICON Garage this weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway. The Georgia native returns to the Truck Series for the first time since 2020, with Friday being his first Homestead Truck Series start since 2015. He looks for his second career Trucks victory to couple his triumph at Pocono in 2020.

Friesen looks to continue hot start to 2025 … 2025 has started off strong for Stewart Friesen and his No. 52 Tundra TRD Pro team. The Canadian has two top-10 finishes in three races this season, including a runner-up result at Atlanta in February. Homestead-Miami Speedway is also a strong track for Friesen, who has five top-10s in eight previous starts, along with a pole position in 2019.

NASCAR Regional Series – ARCA Menards Series East

Reaves makes ARCA debut … Fifteen-year-old Max Reaves makes his debut this weekend in the ARCA Menards Series East race at Five Flags Speedway, where he will pilot the No. 18 Camry for JGR. Reaves – the 2024 Carolina Pro Late Model Series champion – will make select starts for JGR during the 2025 ARCA season.

NHRA – Top Fuel/Funny Car

Brown seeks three straight wins … After his victory at Gainesville Raceway two weeks ago, Antron Brown heads to Firebird Motorsports Park this weekend in search of three straight race wins, dating back to his victory at Pomona last November, where he claimed his fourth Top Fuel world championship. He also seeks his fourth career win in the Arizona Nationals to go along with his wins in 2009, 2012, and 2014.

Langdon goes for Phoenix repeat … Shawn Langdon returns to Firebird Motorsports Park this weekend looking to repeat his victory from a season ago. The Kalitta Motorsports driver heads west to Firebird after a runner-up finish to Brown in Gainesville, seeking his 20th career victory on Sunday to continue his pursuit of the 2025 Top Fuel championship.

Brown, Langdon and Capps in first #2Fast2Tasty Challenge of 2025 … This weekend’s Arizona Nationals will also feature the first Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty challenge of the 2025 season where the semifinalists from the previous race compete in an event during the Saturday qualifying session for a chance to earn extra championship points and bonus money. With their appearances in the semifinals at Gainesville, Brown and Langdon will compete in the Top Fuel challenge, while Ron Capps will represent the Toyota GR Supra Funny Car contingent in that category. Brown will take on Tony Stewart in the first round of the challenge, while Langdon has Jasmine Salinas. In Funny Car, Capps will match up against Alexis DeJoria.

About Toyota

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

Toyota directly employs nearly 64,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 49 million cars and trucks at our 14 manufacturing plants. In spring 2025, Toyota’s plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, Toyota currently offers 31 electrified options.

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

ARCA Menards Series East at Five Flags Speedway: Pensacola 150 Pre-race Notes, Entry List, and Stats Update

By
Official Release
-

ARCA Menards Series East at Five Flags Speedway
Pensacola 150 Pre-Race Notes

  • The ARCA Menards Series East kicks off its 39th season of competition in the Pensacola 150 at Five Flags Speedway. It marks the series’ eighth visit to Five Flags Speedway dating to the first in 2013.
  • Previous ARCA Menards Series East winners at Five Flags Speedway include Ben Kennedy (2013), Ben Rhodes (2014), Sam Mayer (2020), Sammy Smith (2021, 2022) William Sawalich (2023), and Gio Ruggiero (2024).
  • Max Reaves (No. 18 Cook Out Toyota) makes his ARCA Menards Series East debut driving for Joe Gibbs Racing. Reaves, who turned 15 in January, won a Pro Late Model feature during the World Series of Asphalt Racing at New Smyrna Speedway; he takes over the No. 18 from William Sawalich, who earned the team its fourth consecutive AMSE championship in 2024.
  • Carson Brown (No. 4 PayCafe / EBB Logistics Chevrolet) will make his ARCA Menards Series East debut driving for Hettinger Racing, owned by Chris Hettinger, son of former ARCA Midget Series champion Jim Hettinger. Brown will be doing double duty, also entered to participate in the Appalachian Sucker Punch ASA STARS National Tour Sunshine State 200 on Sunday. Brown’s crew chief will be Bruce Cook, who co-owned the 2023 ARCA Menards Series West owners championship-winning team.
  • Timmy Hill (No. 56 Hill Motorsports Toyota) will make his second career ARCA Menards Series start on Saturday; his only previous start came in 2010 when he finished tenth at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Hill and the Hill Motorsports team have announced intentions to compete for the ARCA Menards Series East championship in 2025. Hill has 498 starts across the NASCAR Cup Series, Xfinity Series, and Craftsman Truck Series; his father Jerry made 54 ARCA Menards Series starts between 1990 and 2002.
  • Connor Mosack (No. 28 Pinnacle Racing Group) will make his first East start since a pair of top-ten finishes in 2022, including a career-best third at Iowa Speedway. Mosack, who races full-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series for McAnally-Hilgeman Racing, will take over the car that Connor Zilisch won four of the eight East races in 2024.
  • Tyler Reif (No. 23 Sigma Performance Services Chevrolet) transitions into the ARCA Menards Series East a year after clinching the ARCA Menards Series West owners championship for Central Coast Racing. Reif has already made his first start for new owner Joe Farre; he finished 19th after a crash in overtime battling for the lead and the win in the ARCA Menards Series / ARCA Menards Series West race at Phoenix Raceway two weeks ago.
  • Mark Noble’s MAN Motorsports returns with two entries in the Pensacola 150 for drivers Hunter Wright (No. 95 Sunset Park RV / Cedar City RV Toyota) and Jackson McLerran (No. 96 JSJ Construction / Arylco LLC Toyota). Wright finished fifth at Five Flags last year while McLerran was involved in a crash in his debut with the team last year at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park which resulted in a 25th-place finish.
  • Zachary Tinkle (No. 11 Racing for Rescues / Fast Track High Performance Racing Toyota) returns to compete for the series championship for the third consecutive season. Tinkle finished fourth in the series standings in 2024 with a pair of top-five finishes and four top-ten finishes. Tinkle will be joined by Cody Dennison (No. 9 Flux Toyota), Mike Basham (No. 10 Double H Ranch Ford), Takuma Koga (No. 12 Macnica Yit Ikdeo / CKB Toyota), and newcomer E.J. Tamayo (No. 01 Tamayo Sports Florida/Amici Engineering Ford) out of the Fast Track High Performance Racing stable.
  • Isaac Kitzmiller (No. 79 A.L.L. Construction Chevrolet), 15-year-old son of ARCA Menards Series championship contender Jason Kitzmiller, will compete for the series’ Bounty Rookie of the Year award. The younger Kitzmiller is a protégé of former NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion Ron Hornaday, Jr.
  • Ben Kennedy holds the ARCA Menards Series East track qualifying record at Five Flags Speedway, set in 2013, at 17.125 seconds/105.109 miles per hour.
  • Sammy Smith holds the ARCA Menards Series track race record at Five Flags Speedway, set in 2021, at 76.694 miles per hour/1 hour, 18 minutes, 14 seconds.
  • There are 23 teams entered for the Pensacola 150, the most for any ARCA Menards Series East race at Five Flags Speedway since there were 26 entries for the series’ first race at the track in 2013.
  • The Pensacola 150 will be streamed live on FloRacing on Saturday, March 22 at 8 pm ET/7 pm CT. Live timing and scoring data from all on-track activity is available at ARCARacing.com. Follow @ARCARacing on X (formerly Twitter) for up-to-the-minute updates and information.

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

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

Menards is known for friendly Customer Service and as the place to “Save Big Money” with low prices every day, and sales too!  For more information, please visit Menards.com to learn about our store locations, offerings and services.

JR Motorsports — NXS Homestead-Miami Speedway Preview

By
Official Release
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JR Motorsports Xfinity Team Preview
TRACK – Homestead-Miami Speedway (1.5-mile oval)
NXS RACE – Hard Rock Bet 300 (200 laps / 300 miles)
TUNE IN – CW, MRN, SiriusXM Channel 90 at 4:00 p.m. (ET)

Carson Kvapil
No. 1 – Bass Pro Shops / Clarience Technologies Chevrolet

Kvapil 2025 NXS Stats
Starts: 5
Wins: 0
Top 5s: 1
Top 10s: 1
Laps Led: 8
Avg. Finish: 18.6
Points:14th

Carson Kvapil heads south this weekend for his first start at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

Kvapil has two starts on 1.5-mile tracks in the NASCAR Xfinity Series (Atlanta, Las Vegas) with an average start of fifth.

According to NASCAR Loop Data Statistics, the 21-year-old Mooresville native is ranked fourth for late-race speed this season.

Crew chief Andrew Overstreet has called once previous race atop the box at Homestead, recording a 12th-place finish in this event last season with the No. 88 team.

Carson Kvapil

“This No. 1 team has been giving me a fast race car every week, so I have no doubt we will unload another one at Homestead. This is a new track for me so I have been studying with Andrew (Overstreet, crew chief) to make sure I’m as prepared as possible. We’re working to minimize mistakes and put all the pieces together to have a solid finish in our Bass Pro Shops/Clarience Technologies Chevrolet.”

Justin Allgaier
No. 7 BRANDT Professional Agriculture / TradeMark Nitrogen Chevrolet

Allgaier 2025 NXS Stats
Starts: 5
Wins: 1
Top 5s: 3
Top 10s: 3
Laps Led: 243
Avg. Finish: 11
Points: 1st

Justin Allgaier heads to South Beach as the most recent winner in the NXS, going to Victory Lane last weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway after leading a race-high 102 laps.

Allgaier now sits atop the championship standings by virtue of the win in Las Vegas, 19 points above second and enters this weekend as one of four drivers eligible for the $100,000 prize in Xfinity’s Dash-4-Cash Bonus program.

In 16 previous starts at Homestead in the NXS, Allgaier has scored a best finish of sixth, coming in the 2016 season finale.

This weekend also marks the second co-branded scheme for primary partner BRANDT Professional Agriculture as TradeMark Nitrogen comes onboard for Saturday afternoon’s NXS matinee.

Justin Allgaier

“Homestead has always been a unique challenge, but I feel really confident heading there this weekend, especially coming off the win in Las Vegas. Jim (Pohlman, crew chief) gave me a strong car here last year and I feel like we can build off that notebook despite this race now being in the spring and be in contention when it counts on Saturday with our BRANDT Professional Agriculture / TradeMark Nitrogen Chevrolet.”

Sammy Smith
No. 8 Allstate Peterbilt Group Chevrolet

Smith 2025 NXS Stats
Starts: 5
Wins: 0
Top 5s: 1
Top 10s: 1
Laps Led: 14
Avg. Finish: 13.4
Points: 5th

Sammy Smith heads to the Sunshine State to run his third NXS event at the 1.5-mile track since 2023.

In Smith’s two previous starts at Homestead, he qualified in the top-10 twice and brought home one top-10 finish, a ninth in 2023.

On speedways 1-2 miles in length, Smith has 35 starts, one win (at Phoenix in the spring of 2023) six top-fives and 18 top-10 finishes.

According to NASCAR’s Loop Details Statistics, Smith is fourth for most laps run in the top-15. After the first five races, 87.8 percent of the laps Smith has run have been in the top-15 (669).

Smith’s No. 8 Chevrolet will be joined by the Allstate Peterbilt Group this weekend at Homestead for the first of two primary races in 2025.

Sammy Smith

“Qualifying on the pole last week in Las Vegas was a great confidence booster for my team and I. They brought a fast Pilot Chevrolet and we stayed in the game until we had to serve a penalty there at the end. We’ve been working hard to clean those up because the small mistakes add up and I feel really good about the direction we’re heading. We’ve run well in the past at Homestead so I’m looking forward to getting the Allstate Peterbilt Group Chevrolet up front and staying there.”

Connor Zilisch
No. 88 WeatherTech Chevrolet

Zilisch 2025 NXS Stats
Starts: 5
Wins: 1
Top 5s: 1
Top 10s: 2
Laps Led: 57
Avg. Finish: 17.4
Points: 9th

Connor Zilisch will be making his second NXS start at Homestead on Saturday afternoon. Zilisch finished 12th on the lead lap in his first NXS race at the 1.5-mile speedway last October.

Zilisch enters Homestead after posting a strong run this past weekend at Las Vegas. He rebounded from a speeding penalty with 54 laps to go to grab a ninth-place finish, his second top-10 of the season. He also collected the Xfinity Fastest Lap bonus.

Zilisch is continuing to move forward in the NXS driver standings. He gained five positions after Las Vegas and enters Homestead ninth in the standings, 67 points behind the leader and just 23 outside the top-five. Zilisch has gained 23 positions in the driver standings over the past three races.

The driver of the WeatherTech Chevrolet led twice at Las Vegas for 28 laps, the most laps he has led in a race this season. Zilisch has now led a lap in four of the five races, totaling 57 laps thus far this year.

Connor Zilisch

“I feel really good about Homestead. We’ve definitely made gains on what I raced last year. I’m excited to go back there and see if we can make progress with the result. I feel comfortable running the wall but last year the guy who ran up front and won the race wasn’t really running up there. Homestead is such a cool track with so many different lanes to run and a lot of tire fall-off and it creates some really good racing. I’m curious to see what the track is going to be like when we get there for practice on Saturday.”

JRM Team Updates

JR Motorsports at Homestead-Miami Speedway: JR Motorsports has competed at Homestead-Miami Speedway a combined 64 times in the NXS since 2005. In those starts at the 1.5-mile oval, the organization has recorded four wins, 13 top-fives and 31 top-10s. The average finish is 14.1.

Souvenir Rig: JRM drivers Carson Kvapil, Justin Allgaier, Sammy Smith and Connor Zilisch will be signing autographs at the JR Motorsports / HMS-Byron/Bowman souvenir rig on Saturday, March 22 from 1:15 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. ET.

Berry, DEX Imaging Team Optimistic for Homestead

By
Official Release
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Josh Berry and the No. 21 Wood Brothers team, fresh off a convincing win in the Pennzoil 400 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, are headed to another intermediate track, Homestead-Miami Speedway, for this weekend’s Straight Talk Wireless 400. For the first time this year Berry’s Mustang Dark Horse will carry primary sponsorship from DEX Imaging, which will debut a new paint scheme that features white on the front blending to a dominant, bold red and then to black on the rear.

Berry and the DEX Imaging team, led by crew chief Miles Stanley, have been on quite a tear on oval tracks in recent weeks. The strong stretch began at Atlanta, where they led 56 laps and won Stage One. Berry and the No. 21 team were in contention for the win throughout the race until being involved in a wreck in Overtime.

At the one-mile Phoenix Raceway, they started fourth, ran in the lead pack all day and finished fourth. Last week on the 1.5-mile oval at Las Vegas, all the pieces fell into place as they started seventh and drove to victory, a first in the Cup Series for Berry and Stanley.

In the process Berry moved from 32nd to 13th in the points standings, and he is hoping to keep the good times rolling this weekend.

“I’m really excited to get to Homestead,” Berry said. “I feel like it’s such a fun race track. I feel like we had a really solid race there last year [started 12th and finished 11th for his previous team], so I’m excited to continue to build off of what we’ve done so far with the 21 team.”

And he’s looking forward to representing DEX Imaging, which has been a frequent backer of the No. 21 in recent seasons.

“I’m really excited to have DEX Imaging on board for the first time this year,” he said. “It’s a great-looking race car. “We’re really excited to have them be part of our program and look to give them another strong run.”

Practice for the Straight Talk Wireless 400 is set for Saturday at 1:05 p.m. Eastern Time to be followed by qualifying at 2:10. Amazon Prime will carry the TV coverage. Sunday’s 267-lap, 400.5-mile race is expected to get the green flag just after 3 p.m. with TV coverage on FOX Sports 1. Stage breaks are planned for Laps 80 and 165.

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

COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES:
Reducing Operating Costs
Reducing Paper Consumption
Increasing Productivity

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

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

Carson Brown To Make ARCA Debut Saturday at Five Flags

By
Official Release
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Hettinger Racing To Field No. 4 ebb Logistics/PayCafe Chevrolet for 16-Year-Old Racer in ARCA Menards Series East Season Opener in Pensacola, Florida

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (March 19, 2025) – Sixteen-year-old racer Carson Brown is on the fast track.

For the third time in as many months, the resident of New London, North Carolina, will make a racing debut, this time in the ARCA Menards Series East season opener Saturday night at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Florida. Brown will drive the No. 4 ebb Logistics/PayCafe Chevrolet for Hettinger Racing.

“I’ve known Chris Hettinger for a while and have always been impressed with the racecars he puts together. We’ve talked about making this happen, and now we finally did,” Brown said.

“We tested last week and it went really well, and I feel confident in what we’ve got for Saturday at Five Flags. It’s a track where I’ve spent a lot of time and have had a good amount of success, and being able to take this next step with Hettinger Racing makes it even better.”

Since winning the Allen Turner Pro Late Model championship last year at Five Flags Speedway, Brown has been making an upward climb on the racing ladder. He made his Super Late Model debut Jan. 17 at Cordele (Ga.) Motor Speedway and then scored two Super Late Model wins in the span of six days during the World Series of Asphalt Feb. 7-15 at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway. A week later, Brown was turning left and right on the twists and turns of Sebring (Fla.) International Raceway during his first career start in the TA2 division of the Trans Am Series, finishing an impressive eighth in the 39-car field. Now, it is ARCA that beckons, with a 150-lap race around a half-mile paved oval on the southwestern edge of the Florida Panhandle that Brown knows well.

“I’m really familiar with Five Flags and all of its nuances, so that gives me confidence going back there in an ARCA car,” Brown said. “The car is different, but I know the track. So if we can get ahead and get the car where it needs to be early in that practice session, then I feel like we can run well. If you practice well, you qualify well, and you race well. We just need to go down there, make the most of our track time, and execute.”

Brown’s racing career began just five years ago in Bandoleros. Twenty-one wins spread across two seasons in 2020-2021 led him to Legend Cars. From 2021 through 2023, Brown tallied eight championships. With dirt experience initially gained in Legend Cars, Brown kept after the craft, running winged and non-winged 600cc Micro Sprint Cars from 2022 through 2024, winning twice in 56 starts.

Brown still kept a foot firmly planted on asphalt, running a Pro Late Model in 2023. He won in just his second start, taking the victory Feb. 12 at New Smyrna in a stout, 31-car field.

Dirt, however, remains an integral part of Brown’s racing repertoire. He began racing dirt Super Late Models in 2023, winning in his sixth start Aug. 19 at Moler Raceway Park in Williamsburg, Ohio. Brown continues to sling Super Late Models sideways on clay ovals, and if that weren’t enough, he enjoys getting dirty in off-road trucks, competing in select AMSOIL Championship Off-Road races. Brown ran 13 off-road races in 2024, earning two podiums among nine top-five finishes to end the season fourth in the championship standings.

“All the dirt racing helps me adapt to different track conditions and different cars quicker,” Brown said. “Everything is always changing on dirt, so it forces you to adapt. As I’ve moved into bigger cars, especially this year, I feel like I’m able to make adjustments faster and take what the car is giving me.

“In dirt racing, you get two or three hot laps and then you’re right into qualifying. You kind of have to figure it out on the fly. It’s allowed me to find ways to help the car even if it’s not handling the way I’d prefer. That’s given me a little bit of an advantage, especially at the beginning of practice and even in the race when everybody is still learning the gist of everything and figuring out how tight or how green the track is.”

In five years, Brown has assembled an incredibly diverse racing background. It is what drew Chris Hettinger, owner of Hettinger Racing, to put Brown in his racecar.

“Carson is a talented young driver, and everything finally lined up for him to be with us this weekend at Five Flags,” Hettinger said. “What makes Carson stand out is his versatility. He’s won in Pro and Super Late Models, shown speed on road courses, has raced and won on dirt – he’s fast in anything he drives. That kind of experience is really going to help him as he takes this next step, and we’re proud that it’s going to be with Hettinger Racing.”

The lead up to Saturday night’s Pensacola 150 begins with a one-hour practice from 2-3 p.m. CDT (3-4 p.m. EDT) before General Tire Pole Qualifying goes live at 4:30 p.m. CDT (5:30 p.m. EDT). The command to start engines will be given at 7:30 p.m. CDT (8:30 p.m. EDT) where FloRacing will provide live coverage all the way through the checkered flag.

Front Row Motorsports: Homestead-Miami Speedway Competition Notes – Zane Smith

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Official Release
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Zane Smith and the No. 38 Aaron’s Rent to Own Ford Team
Homestead-Miami Speedway Competition Notes
Straight Talk Wireless 400

Date: Sunday, March 23, 2025
Event: Race 7 of 38
Series: NASCAR Cup Series
Location: Homestead-Miami Speedway (1.5-mile)
#of Laps: 267
Time/TV/Radio: 3:00 PM ET on FS1/MRN/SiriusXM channel 90

Zane Smith Notes

The Aaron’s Dream Machine is back in action as the NASCAR Cup Series heads to the Homestead-Miami Speedway. The 267-lap event will be the second race of the season on an intermediate 1.5-mile track.

After a 23rd place finish at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Smith sits 29th in the NASCAR Cup Series Driver Championship points standings. Smith and Crew Chief Ryan Bergenty will now shift their focus to Homestead and look for a solid run to put them within the top-25 points position.

“I always enjoy going to Homestead,” said Smith. Ripping the fence is such an awesome feeling, and I have had some success there in the Truck Series with a second-place in 2022. Hopefully, we can recreate that success with a solid run this weekend.

Road Crew

Driver: Zane Smith
Hometown: Huntington Beach, California

Crew Chief: Ryan Bergenty
Hometown: Plainville, Connecticut

Car Chief: Will Norris
Hometown: Bells, Tennessee

Engineer: Jacob Clamme
Hometown: Hartford City, Indiana

Engineer: Chris Yerges
Hometown: Green Bay, Wisconsin

Mechanic: Steve Godfrey
Hometown: West Haven, Connecticut

Mechanic / Engine Tuner: Tyler Podlaski
Hometown: Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania

Spotter: Ryan Blanchard
Hometown: Bethlehem, Connecticut

Transport Co-Driver: Ernest Mullins
Hometown: Fayetteville, North Carolina

Transport Co-Driver: Rick Grissom
Hometown: Bakersfield, California

Pit Crew

Front Tire Changer: Keiston France
Hometown: Amelia, Virginia

Rear Tire Changer: Austin Chrismon
Hometown: China Grove, North Carolina

Tire Carrier: Drew Baum
Hometown: Williamsport, Pennsylvania

Jackman: Kapil Fletcher
Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Fueler: Chris Webb
Hometown: Concord, North Carolina

ABOUT AARON’S

Headquartered in Atlanta, The Aaron’s Company, Inc. is a leading, technology-enabled, omnichannel provider of lease-to-own and retail purchase solutions of appliances, electronics, furniture, and other home goods. Aaron’s offers a direct-to-consumer lease-to-own solution through its approximately 1,200 Company-operated and franchised stores in 47 states and Canada, as well as its e-commerce platform, Aarons.com.

ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS

Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization in the NASCAR Cup and Craftsman Truck Series. The team is the 2021 Daytona 500 and 2022 Craftsman Truck Series champions. The team was founded in 2004 and is owned by successful entrepreneur, Bob Jenkins. FRM fields the No. 4, No. 34, and the No. 38 NASCAR Cup Series teams along with the No. 34 and No. 38 Craftsman Truck Series teams from its Mooresville, N.C. headquarters. Visit teamfrm.com and follow FRM on social media: Twitter at @Team_FRM, Instagram at @teamfrm and Facebook at facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.

Grant Enfinger to make 200th Truck career start at Homestead

By
Andrew Kim
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Photo by Ron Olds for SpeedwayMedia.com.

Grant Enfinger will achieve a milestone start in his eighth full-time season competing in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series division. By competing in this weekend’s event at Homestead-Miami Speedway, the driver of the No. 9 CR7 Motorsports Chevrolet Silverado RST entry will make his 200th career start in the Truck Series division.

A native of Fairhope, Alabama, Enfinger made his inaugural presence in the Truck Series at Talladega Superspeedway, his home track, in October 2010. By then, he had made 17 starts in the ARCA Menards Series division. Driving the No. 95 Ford F-150 entry for Team Gill Racing, Enfinger, started 12th and finished 25th in his Truck debut. He also ignited a multi-truck wreck with three laps remaining in the race. The incident involved the season’s eventual champion Todd Bodine and four-time champion Ron Hornaday Jr.

Over the next two seasons, Enfinger made a total of five Truck Series starts. He competed between Bragg Racing Group, Allgaier Motorsports, Turn One Racing and Brad Keselowski Racing. During the five-race stretch, his best on-track results were a trio of 12th-place finishes at Talladega in October 2011, Daytona International Speedway in February 2012 and Las Vegas Motor Speedway in September 2012.

In 2016, Enfinger, who was coming off an ARCA Menards Series championship during the previous season, campaigned in the Truck Series for GMS Racing. He notched his first career pole at Daytona in February, finishing in 20th place after involvement in a late multi-truck pileup. Enfinger achieved his first top-five career result in fifth place during the following event at Atlanta Motor Speedway. He finished 12th during his next scheduled event at Kentucky Speedway in July.

Between mid-August and early October, Enfinger recorded three top-10 results over a five-race span. Then at Talladega in late October, the Alabama native fended off teammate Spencer Gallagher during a two-lap shootout to score his first Truck career victory in his 13th series start. Four races later, Enfinger concluded the 2016 season by finishing 23rd at Homestead-Miami Speedway while driving for RBR Enterprises.

Enfinger inked a full-time ride in the Truck Series for the first time in his career in 2017, joining forces with ThorSport Racing to pilot the No. 98 Toyota Tundra entry. He began the season with a 16th-place finish at Daytona after involvement in a final lap multi-truck incident.

Enfinger recorded a total of seven top-five results and 10 top-10 results throughout the 16-race regular-season stretch. However, his on-track results throughout the regular season were not enough for him to make the eight-truck 2017 Playoff field. Nonetheless, Enfinger finished in the top 10, five additional times during the remaining seven events of the season. He settled in 11th place in the final standings.

in 2018, he returned to ThorSport Racing for a second Truck campaign as the organization switched manufacturers from Toyota to Ford. Enfinger utilized consistency in the form of four top-five results and 12 top-10 results throughout the 16-race regular-season stretch. He lost to teammate Chase Briscoe by 0.038 seconds for a victory at Eldora Speedway in July during a two-lap shootout but clinched a berth in the Truck Series Playoffs for the first time in his career.

Then after finishing 17th during the Playoff opener at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, Enfinger notched his second career victory at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in September. The win enabled him to transfer from the Playoff’s Round of 8 to 6. But, hopes of making the Championship 4 round would fall short as the Alabama native finished 14th, 12th and fourth, respectively, throughout the Round of 8.

Managing a runner-up result despite starting on the pole for the season-finale event at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Enfinger ended up in fifth place in the final standings. Despite achieving two fewer top-five results from the previous season, he boosted his average finishing result from 9.4 to 8.7 and led a total of 180 laps compared to 41 in 2017.

Enfinger’s 2019 Truck Series season mirrored his previous season as he utilized consistency throughout the 16-race regular-season stretch. He achieved seven top-five results and 13 top-10s to make his second consecutive appearance in the Playoffs. Compared to the 2018 season, he claimed the 2019 Truck Series Regular Season Championship and was awarded 15 Playoff points towards his Playoff run for the season.

Despite finishing fifth and 13th, respectively, to commence the Playoffs, Enfinger’s 2019 Playoff run came to an early end after losing his engine on the fifth lap. He missed the Round of 8 cutline by nine points but finished in the top 10 for the remaining four events of the season, finishing in seventh place in the final standings. Amid the disappointment of concluding the season winless and two spots lower in the standings compared to the previous season, the 2019 Truck Series season generated career-high stats for Enfinger, who racked up the most top fives (10) top 10s (18) and laps led (303) to his career along with a career-best average-finishing result of 8.5.

The 2020 Truck Series season was a breakout year for Enfinger, who commenced the season by winning the season-opening event at Daytona for the first time in his career and for his third career victory. The win came after rubbing fenders and edging Jordan Anderson by 0.010 seconds at the finish line during an overtime shootout.

Three races later, Enfinger overtook Austin Hill on the final lap in a two-lap shootout to win at Atlanta Motor Speedway in June. He notched multiple victories in a Truck season for the first time in his career. The pair of victories along with a total of nine top-10 results throughout the 16-race stretch, including the regular-season finale victory at Richmond Raceway in September, were enough for him to make his third consecutive appearance in the series’ Playoffs. T

Then after transferring from the Playoff’s Round of 10 to 8 on the strengths of two sixth-place results, Enfinger executed during a “must-win” situation in the Round of 8 finale at Martinsville Speedway. He won during a two-lap shootout for his career-high fourth victory of the season and clinched a Championship 4 berth for the first time in his career. Ultimately, Enfinger would fall short of winning the title after he drifted from the front row to 13th place on worn tires during an overtime shootout, which relegated him to fourth place in the final standings. Amid his title battle, he surpassed 100 career starts in the Truck division.

The 2021 Truck Series season featured Enfinger missing one of the 22 races scheduled as he campaigned between ThorSport Racing and CR7 Motorsports while his former organization opted to have Enfinger split his No. 98 entry with Christian Eckes. Overall, Enfinger, concluded the season winless but garnered a total of six top-five results and 11 top-10 results as he settled in 11th place in the final standings. During the season, he notched a season-best runner-up result at Bristol Motor Speedway in September. Previously, he recorded a trio of third-place finishes at Texas Motor Speedway, Nashville Superspeedway and Knoxville Superspeedway between June and July.

For the 2022 Truck Series season, Enfinger reunited with GMS Racing, where he inherited the steering wheel of the No. 23 Chevrolet Silverado RST entry. Throughout the 16-race regular-season stretch, he racked up three top-five results and seven top-10 results, which were enough for him to make the Playoffs for a fourth time. Then during the Playoff opener at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, Enfinger capitalized on a late pit strategic call and muscled through two two-lap shootouts to claim his first victory of the season and transfer to the Playoff’s Round of 8. His Playoff hopes came to an end following the Round of 8, and he settled in seventh place in the final standings.

Enfinger would remain at GMS Racing for the 2023 Truck Series season, where he notched two regular-season victories (Kansas Speedway in May and at World Wide Technology Raceway in June) and a total of nine top-10 results to make the Playoffs for a fifth time. After finishing 12th during the Playoff opener at Indianapolis, he clinched a berth to the Round of 8 by winning at the Milwaukee Mile. With respective finishes of third, 13th and fourth throughout the Round of 8, Enfinger clinched a berth to his second Championship 4 appearance. Amid four overtime shootouts during the 2023 Truck Series finale at Phoenix, Enfinger, who was rallying from pitting after being shoved into the backstretch’s outside wall during the first attempt, ended up one spot behind title contender Ben Rhodes in sixth place on the track, which left him with a career-best runner-up result in the final standings.

After GMS Racing ceased operations at the conclusion of the 2023 season, Enfinger reunited with CR7 Motorsports for a full-time Truck campaign in 2024. After finishing no higher than ninth twice during the first nine events on the schedule, he then ignited a hot streak by finishing in the top six in the remaining six of seven regular-season events. Mired within the span were two runner-up results and a combined 169 laps led during the final two scheduled events at Indianapolis and Richmond as he achieved his sixth Playoff berth.

Then after barely squeaking his way into the Round of 8 amid respective finishes of 13th, 17th and ninth throughout the Round of 10, Enfinger claimed an early automatic berth to the Championship 4 round by winning at Talladega in early October. Enfinger’s victory marked the first career victory for CR7 Motorsports and the first time where a Playoff competitor won the series’ Playoff event at Talladega. He then doubled down by winning the following event at Homestead before he finished in ninth place at Martinsville to conclude the Round of 8. Despite finishing fifth during the finale at Phoenix, Enfinger settled in fourth place in the final championship standings after finishing behind title contenders Ty Majeski, Corey Heim and Christian Eckes on the track.

Through 199 previous starts in the Truck Series, Enfinger has achieved 12 victories, six poles, 68 top-five results, 118 top-10 results, 1,404 laps led and an average-finishing result of 10.3. He is currently ranked in third place in the 2025 driver’s standings after finishing fourth, 10th and second, respectively, through the first three events on this year’s schedule. Amid a strong start to the 2025 campaign, the Alabama native continues his pursuit of his first series title.

Grant Enfinger is set to make his 200th Craftsman Truck Series career start at Homestead-Miami Speedway for the Baptist Health 200. The event is scheduled for this Friday, March 21, at 8 p.m. ET on FOX.

Front Row Motorsports: Homestead-Miami Speedway Competition Notes- Todd Gilliland

By
Official Release
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Todd Gilliland and the No. 34 Love’s Travel Stops Ford Team
Homestead-Miami Speedway Competition Notes
Straight Talk Wireless 400

Date: Sunday, March 23, 2025
Event: Race 7 of 38
Series: NASCAR Cup Series
Location: Homestead-Miami Speedway (1.5-mile)
#of Laps: 267
Time/TV/Radio: 3:00 PM ET on FS1/MRN/SiriusXM channel 90

Todd Gilliland Notes

Todd Gilliland takes on Vice City this Sunday afternoon as the NASCAR Cup Series makes its annual trip to the Homestead-Miami Speedway. Gilliland will sport the Love’s Travel Stop’s colors this weekend for the 267-lap event.

Following Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Gilliland sits 24th in the Cup Series Driver Championship points standings. The No. 34 team looks to get back within the top-20 in points as they tackle the second 1.5-mile intermediate of the season in Homestead.

“I have so much fun racing Homestead,” said Gilliland. “You race on top of the wall it feels like, and it makes for a good race. We dropped a few spots in points last week, but I’m confident that we can make them back this weekend.”
Road Crew

Driver: Todd Gilliland
Hometown: Sherrills Ford, North Carolina

Crew Chief: Chris Lawson
Hometown: Medway, Ohio

Car Chief: Joe Marra
Hometown: Somers, New York

Engineer: Marc Rullo
Hometown: Ringwood, New Jersey

Engineer: Kevyn Rebolledo
Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Spotter: Brit Andersen
Hometown: Branford, Connecticut

Underneath Mechanic: Michael Brookes
Hometown: Columbus, Ohio

Interior Mechanic: Chance Burke
Hometown: Siler City, North Carolina

Tire Specialist: Billy John
Hometown: Pitman, New Jersey

Engine Tuner: Tim Meyer
Hometown: Beatrice, Nebraska

Transporter Driver: Christian Boller
Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Pit Crew

Front Tire Changer: Danny Olszowy
Hometown: Lexington, Kentucky

Rear Tire Changer: Justin Fox
Hometown: Concord, North Carolina

Tire Carrier: Jordan Goodine
Hometown: Salisbury, North Carolina

Jackman: Courtney Edmonds
Hometown: Burlington, North Carolina

Fueler: Zeke Nance
Hometown: Calhoun, Georgia

ABOUT LOVE’S TRAVEL STOPS

Love’s has been fueling customers’ journeys since 1964. Innovation and perseverance continue to lead the way for the family-owned and -operated business headquartered in Oklahoma City with more than 40,000 team members in North America and Europe. The company’s core business is travel stops and convenience stores with 640 locations in 42 states. Love’s continues its commitment to offer products and services that provide value for professional drivers, fleets, four-wheel customers, RVers, alternative fuel and wholesale fuel customers. Giving back to communities Love’s serves and maintaining an inclusive and diverse workplace are hallmarks of the company’s award-winning culture.

ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS

Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization in the NASCAR Cup and Craftsman Truck Series. The team is the 2021 Daytona 500 and 2022 Craftsman Truck Series champions. The team was founded in 2004 and is owned by successful entrepreneur, Bob Jenkins. FRM fields the No. 4, No. 34, and the No. 38 NASCAR Cup Series teams along with the No. 34 and No. 38 Craftsman Truck Series teams from its Mooresville, N.C. headquarters. Visit teamfrm.com and follow FRM on social media: Twitter at @Team_FRM, Instagram at @teamfrm and Facebook at facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.

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