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Rackley W.A.R. ceasing Truck Series program after Talladega Chase event

By
Andrew Kim
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Photo by Logan Allen for SpeedwayMedia.com.

Rackley W.A.R. will end its NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series program at the conclusion of this weekend’s event at Talladega Superspeedway.

The announcement was made in a joint statement from co-owners Willie Allen and Curtis Sutton on Friday, October 23, ahead of this afternoon’s event at Talladega. In the statement, the co-owners released the following: 

“After six seasons of competing full-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, we have made the difficult decision that tonight’s race at Talladega Superspeedway will mark the end of Rackley WAR’s NASCAR Truck Series program.”

“We are incredibly grateful for our determined and hardworking drivers, employees, and partners who have made this team their home. We have had so many great memories on and off the racetrack, with the 2022 Talladega Victory standing as one of our proudest accomplishments.”

“While this chapter of Rackley WAR in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series is coming to a close, our commitment to the sport remains as strong as ever. We all remain hungry for wins in our national late model driver development team.”

“Since bringing W.A.R. (Willie Allen Racing) and Rackley Roofing together at the beginning of 2021, we have earned nearly 50 late model wins across the country, and we have no plans to slow down racing anytime soon.”

Rackley W.A.R. debuted in the Truck Series division at Daytona International Speedway in 2021. Since then, the organization has made a combined 146 starts contributed by 14 competitors over a six-year span (2021-26). Within the starts, the organization notched 27 top-10 results, six top-five results, 37 laps led and a single Playoff appearance, which occurred in 2023 with Matt DiBenedetto. DiBenedetto also recorded Rackley W.A.R.’s first Truck victory at Talladega in October 2022. 

Rackley W.A.R., which first fielded the No. 25 Chevrolet entry on a full-time basis from 2021 to 2024, would evolve by fielding the No. 26 entry as a part-time entry from 2022 to 2024 before the latter entry became a full-time entry. Rackley also fielded the No. 27 entry for a single event with William Byron at Nashville Superspeedway in June 2021 before it became a part-time entry this season, with Toni Breidinger and Kasey Kleyn making select starts.

Dawson Sutton, who made his first two Truck career starts with Rackley in 2024, serves as the team’s primary competitor since 2025. He campaigned the entire 2025 Truck season with Rackley, where he notched a career-best fourth-place result at Talladega in October, two top-10 results and an avereage-finishing result of 19.4 before he settled in 18th place in the standings. This season, Sutton, who is set to join TRICON Garage in 2027, recorded a single top-10 result, which was a seventh-place run at Bristol Motor Speedway in April, five laps led and an average-finishing result of 21.0. He will pilot Rackley’s No. 26 Chevrolet entry for the organization’s final event at Talladega.

Rackley W.A.R.’s final NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series start is scheduled to occur on Friday, October 23, at Talladega for the Love’s RV Stop 225. The event’s broadcast time is scheduled to commence at 4 p.m. ET on FS1, NASCAR Racing Network and SiriusXM.

TOYOTA RACING – NCTS Talladega Quotes – TRICON Garage – 10.23.26

By
Official Release
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TOYOTA RACING – TRICON GARAGE

NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Quotes

TALLADEGA, Ala. (October 23, 2026) – TRICON Garage partner and general manager Kevin Ray, along with 2027 drivers Sammy Smith and Dawson Sutton, were made available to the media on Friday prior to the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race from Talladega Superspeedway.

KEVIN RAY, partner and general manager, TRICON GARAGE

SAMMY SMITH, No. 15 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro, TRICON GARAGE

DAWSON SUTTON, No. 5 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro, TRICON GARAGE

Opening Remarks.

KEVIN RAY: Good morning. It’s great to see this nice of a crowd for a Truck Series press announcement. My family and I have a great history here at Talladega, so, it’s only fitting that we’re able to announce TRICON’s next full-time lineup here at Talladega. It’s been very exciting working with Dawson (Sutton) and Sammy (Smith) to get them into our lineup. They both come with great history. So, we’ve enjoyed great success, since forming TRICON back in 2022. David (Gilliland, partner, TRICON Garage), Johnny (Gray, partner, TRICON Garage), myself, it’s been a huge commitment. Most people probably thought that we were crazy when we jumped out and went five full-time teams right out of the bat, but it’s been very, very rewarding and beneficial to see what is happening on track. However, we could not do what we do without our 73 people back at the shop, and their commitment to building good fast race trucks, safe race trucks, and we’re extremely excited to have Dawson and Sammy come full time. Sammy has a history with us. He’s been with us before, and at 22, being a rookie in the truck series is, is kind of fun. We’re excited about having him, join us, and he’s got a lot of great partners that will be a part of the Truck Series, new partners to the Truck Series. Then with Dawson and all of his grassroots success; Dawson goes very well with our commitment at TRICON to development. We want to develop great talent. David’s prior experience as a driver, Johnny’s prior experience as a driver. Mine has a steering wheel holder, but we won’t talk about that (laughter). Someone like Dawson can lean on the experience from all of our other drivers and Sammy and Kaden (Honeycutt) and Gio (Ruggiero), it’s going to be an exciting 2027 season for everyone at TRICON.”

What does TRICON have that right fit for you is you take the next step in your career?

DAWSON SUTTON: “Yeah, for sure. I feel like it’s honestly just the place to be. It’s going be a big change for me. Having four teammates, but at the same time, I race late models and I had teammates, so I think it’ll be really cool to lean on them a lot and also just use my prior success in the grassroots stuff, and also the past few years, I’ve learned a lot and I’m just super excited for the future. This is the place to be, and I’m super excited to take it to the next level. I’m here to win races and I feel like I can do that on any level. I’m just excited to finish off today and then move on to next year.”

What excites you the most about that next chapter in your career?

SAMMY SMITH: Yeah, I think what excites me most about joining TRICON and Toyota, I think, is just getting back in the program. When I left Toyota in 23, I think it was a surprise to some, but obviously when I had everything happened over the summer of splitting from JRM, I really assessed all my options and really felt like TRICON and Toyota was really my best option to be able to go out and win races and, um, yeah, I really appreciate Kevin Ray (general manager and partner, TRICON Garage), Johnny Gray (partner, TRICON Garage), Matt Puccia (competition director, TRICON Garage); Toyota welcoming me back with Jack (Irving, general manager, TRD), Slugger (Labbe, engineering manager, vehicle support, TRD), Trent (Rodriguez, manager, driver development, TRD), Tyler (Gibbs, president, TRD), everyone to really bring me back in the program. I’m really looking forward to it. So, yeah, really looking forward to kind of getting the season started in ‘27.”

Are you guys going to be running a fifth part time truck this year?

KEVIN RAY: “Yes, we will run the 1 truck as our all-star truck. We will continue to have five full-time trucks, and the 1 truck will be a rotation of drivers. Those will be announced soon.”

Can you talk about these years having driven your family team and then kind of spreading your wings and leading the nest and going off to a big opportunity like this one?

DAWSON SUTTON: “Yeah, for sure. The past 2 years with Rackley has been a great experience and to build relationships with those guys have been really great. I don’t have a whole lot to comment on there. This is the last race, but I’m looking forward to just going out and doing the same thing, trying to win. This is the final dance, so hopefully you can go on win.”

Do you expect to do any, um, more late model racing with Rackley WAR next year or have you not gotten that far yet?

DAWSON SUTTON: “Yeah, for sure. We plan on it. Right now, we’re just focused on the All American 400 in a few weeks and then the Snowball Derby. We work toward next year soon and hopefully we can line up some more races.”

Do you expect Corey Heim to raise any of your all-star truck next year?

KEVIN RAY: “Not sure yet. We’re still working through our driver lineups. We’re going to have a couple of new guys through the program again, and a couple of returning guys, so Corey (Heim) has been with us for four years now, and has done a phenomenal job, and he has at least one race with us this year after today. He has Homestead, so we’re looking at all of our drivers and funding and making sure that we pair the best available to each track, with Corey’s full-time cup schedule, we just don’t know what he’s going to be able to do.”

Obviously, Tanner Gray’s driven you for the last few years, doesn’t look like he’ll be back next year, just kind of went into that decision.

KEVIN RAY: “We will let Tanner talk about his future plans. Not for TRICON to disclose what he’s going to do for the future. He’s been a staple of our program since the inception. We’re certainly going to miss him as part of TRICON. He’s been there since, since the beginning. What more can we say about one of our founding drivers not coming back.  It’s bittersweet but we do wish him all the best in the future.”

Are you able to say definitively, is Tanner Gray outside of the organization or is there a possibility he might be in the all-star truck at any race next year?

KEVIN RAY: “As of right now, we don’t have anything inside TRICON for Tanner (Gray) for next year.Currently we don’t have any, any open races for him.”

What kind of performance and expectations do you have for each of these guys respectfully next year?

KEVIN RAY: “Our goal is always to win every race. Sammy’s (Smith) a proven national series winner. Dawson (Sutton) has won some of the biggest, late model races out there, so we do expect these guys to go perform. You’ve got Gio (Ruggiero), you’ve got Kaden (Honeycutt). They’ve been in the program for a couple of years now. So that is the experience that they can lead on our other drivers. But then again, when you look at the depth of our organization, from David (Gilliland, partner, TRICON Garage) to Johnny (Gray, partner, TRICON Garage) to Matt Puccia (competition director, TRICON Garage), there’s a lot of depth inside the organization. These guys, they have the racecraft, so we do expect them to go out and perform.”

What can you just say about Kaden’s development this year and growth and also the prospects of having him back?

KEVIN RAY: “Watching Kaden (Honeycutt) over the course of this year, I think everyone has been excited, especially inside our program, to see the progression that he has made. Not only on the racetrack, but as a person. Our philosophy inside TRICON is we can all build the same parts and pieces. It’s about the people that we surround ourselves with. I think that Kaden has done a very good job coming into the program and leaning on that experience. We expect him to continue to contend for the championship this year, and our, our intent is for all four of our guys, full-time guys, to be going for the championship at Homestead next year.”

Sammy, you’ll make your 11th career truck series start, and you’ve had six top-10 finishes. What have you learned throughout your truck series races?

SAMMY SMITH: “I feel like I’ve learned kind of how the trucks drive. Obviously, I’ve had a dazzle of stars the last couple years, two or three every, every year, so it’s been good. To be able to race for Spire, some running today, obviously, and then running Martinsville. It’s always enjoyable to race on a weekend where I’m running O’Reilly Series just to get more experience and obviously, I love to race. I feel like going to next year will kind of be a rookie learning year of learning the trucks, but I know I have a lot of great resources around me to be able to go capitalize on that and try to go win races.”

###

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 over 50 million cars and trucks at our 14 manufacturing plants. In 2025, Toyota’s plant in North Carolina began to assemble automotive batteries for electrified vehicles.

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

Sammy Smith, Dawson Sutton named TRICON Garage competitors for 2027 Truck season

By
Andrew Kim
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Photo by Logan Allen for SpeedwayMedia.com.

TRICON Garage revealed the additions of Sammy Smith and Dawson Sutton to the organization’s driver lineup for the 2027 NASCAR FedEx Freight Truck Series season.

The reveal, which was made at Talladega Superspeedway on Friday, October 23, will feature Smith replacing Tanner Gray to pilot the No. 15 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro entry while Sutton will drive the No. 5 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro entry. Both competitors will compete on a full-time basis. 

Smith’s transition to TRICON Garage for the 2027 season will mark his first full-time campaign in the Truck Series division. In 10 previous starts in the series over a four-year span (2023-26), the 22-year-old Johnston, Iowa, native recorded two top-five results, six top-10 results, 32 laps led and an average-finishing result of 9.7. He is set to compete in the upcoming Truck Chase events at Talladega and Martinsville Speedway for Spire Motorsports.

Smith is currently competing in his fourth consecutive season in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series division and third in a row with JR Motorsports. As one of 12 Chase contenders, he is currently ranked in seventh place in the standings and he trails the points lead by 137 points with three-scheduled events remaining this season. He has accumulated three O’Reilly victories, including one at Talladega in October 2024, three poles, 30 top-five results, 66 top-10 results, 530 laps led and an average-finishing result of 14.4 through 138 series’ starts.

Compared to Smith, Sutton has previously competed in the Truck Series division on a full-time basis, which occurred in 2025 with Rackley W.A.R. During the latter season, he notched an average-finishing result of 19.4, two top-10 results, a career-best fourth-place result at Talladega before he settled in 18th place in the standings. The 20-year-old Sutton from Lebanon, Tennessee, is set to compete in what will be Rackley W.A.R.’s final Truck start this weekend at Talldega.

Through 53 previous starts in the Truck division (2024-26), Sutton has achieved two top-five results, four top-10 results, six laps led and an average-finishing result of 19.9 as he continues his pursuit of his first series’ championship while preparing to etch a new chapter to his racing resume in 2027.

Photo by John Knittel for SpeedwayMedia.com.

“We are excited to welcome Dawson and Sammy to the TRICON family for 2027 and are confident they’ll be great additions for our program,” Kevin Ray, partner and general manager, TRICON, said. “Sammy’s experience and prior success, combined with Dawson’s ability and growth as a driver, give us a lot to look forward to. We are confident in the lineup we have assembled and look forward to seeing what we can accomplish together.”

TRICON Garage’s additions of Sammy Smith and Dawson Sutton to the Nos. 5 and 15 entries occurs two days after both Kaden Honeycutt and Giovanni Ruggiero were confirmed to remain with the organization and drive the Nos. 11 and 17 entries for the 2027 Truck Series season. In addition to TRICON’s four full-time entries and competitors that have been finalized, the organization will also continue to field the No. 1 Toyota Tundra TRD Pro entry that will serve as the ‘all-star’ entry and feature various competitors that remains to be announced.

With its driver lineup set, TRICON Garage’s 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season resumes this Friday, October 23, at Talladega Superspeedway for the Love’s RV Stop 225. The event’s broadcast time is scheduled to commence at 4 p.m. ET on FS1, NASCAR Racing Network and SiriusXM.

INDYCAR Announces Phase Two of 2027 NTT INDYCAR SERIES Schedule

By
Official Release
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New Marquee Race Weekend in Barcelona Highlights Action-Packed Summer, Furthers Series Momentum

All NTT INDYCAR SERIES Races Again To Air on FOX

INDIANAPOLIS (Friday, Oct. 23, 2026) – Following the historic announcement of an NTT INDYCAR SERIES race at iconic Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya earlier today, INDYCAR has announced Phase Two of next year’s action-packed and momentous schedule.

The summer lineup includes a mix of fan-friendly and dynamic race weekends leading up to the climactic moment at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca when the 2027 INDYCAR SERIES champion hoists the Astor Challenge Cup.

For the third consecutive season, all races will be broadcast on FOX in the United States, with three additional telecasts scheduled during the two days of qualifying for the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge and coverage of Miller Lite Carb Day at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The NTT INDYCAR SERIES is once again the only premier motorsports series in North America with all races broadcast on network television.

“The 2027 season will build off a record-shattering and landmark year for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES,” Penske Entertainment Corp. President and CEO Mark Miles said. “The sport’s growth has been immense, driving incredible viewership gains, reaching new fans in younger demos and attracting increased commercial interest from emerging and long-term partners. Our relationship with FOX Sports continues to set an industry standard, and this schedule will help us build on all of these gains and take things to the next level.”

After announcing Phase One of the 2027 schedule in August, Phase Two of the 17-race championship picks up Sunday, June 13 at World Wide Technology Raceway near St. Louis. In 2026, the race on the challenging 1.25-mile oval featured 17 lead changes, wheel-to-wheel action throughout the field and an INDYCAR SERIES track-record 268 passes for position.

Two weeks later, the NTT INDYCAR SERIES heads to picturesque Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, for the series’ 37th race at historic Road America on Sunday, June 27. Known for its sweeping corners, long straightaways and 4-mile layout, the historic road course remains one of the fastest and most demanding circuits on the schedule.

Racing at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course has become a Fourth of July holiday tradition for INDYCAR, and it will continue Sunday, July 4. The technical, 2.258-mile, 13-turn road course, known for its elevation changes and tight corners, will host its 44th INDYCAR SERIES race in 2027, the longest-running road course event on the schedule.

Following the international showcase in Barcelona, the series returns to the Pacific Northwest for its annual stop at Portland International Raceway on Sunday, Aug. 1. The 12-turn road course is known for its challenging opening chicane and history of thrilling finishes. In 2026, four different race teams were represented among the top four finishers.

The series then crosses the border into Canada for the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy at Markham on Sunday, Aug. 15, on the Streets of Markham. The 2.19-mile temporary street circuit, which debuted in 2026, features 12 turns, a double-sided pit lane and technically challenging sections. The 2026 race featured 258 on-track passes, the most of any street circuit last season.

The 2027 NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship enters its final stretch with a return to the historic Milwaukee Mile for a pivotal doubleheader Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 28-29. The legendary 1-mile oval, which opened in 1903, features relatively flat corners that demand precision and offers drivers two opportunities to earn valuable championship points in one weekend. Last year’s first 250-lap race featured a season-high 696 on-track passes and track records for passes for position, passes in the top 10 and passes in the top five.

The final round of the 2027 season is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 5 at legendary WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California. The iconic 2.238-mile road course features 11 turns, dramatic elevation changes and the world-famous Corkscrew turn complex, providing a fitting showcase for the final race of the 17-event championship and the presentation of the Astor Challenge Cup, manufacturer award and Rookie of the Year award. It is the 13th time the legendary circuit on the Central Coast will host the INDYCAR SERIES season finale.

“One of the things that makes INDYCAR so special is that winning a championship requires drivers and teams to be competitive on every type of racetrack,” INDYCAR President J. Douglas Boles said. “From high-speed ovals to tight street circuits and challenging road courses, they face a different test almost every weekend. The 2027 schedule continues that tradition, featuring the 111th Running of the Indianapolis 500, alongside some of the most iconic racetracks in North America, and the historic addition of Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. With 25 full-time entries battling for a championship and every race broadcast on FOX, our fans have an incredible season of racing to look forward to.”

Tune-in times for next season’s events will be announced at a later date. The 2027 schedule for INDY NXT by Firestone, INDYCAR’s developmental series, also will be announced in the coming weeks.

2027 NTT INDYCAR SERIES FULL SCHEDULE

DateVenueTelevision
Sunday, March 7Streets of St. PetersburgFOX
Saturday, March 13Phoenix RacewayFOX
Sunday, March 21Streets of ArlingtonFOX
Sunday, April 4Barber Motorsports ParkFOX
Sunday, April 18Streets of Long BeachFOX
Saturday, May 15Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road CourseFOX
Sunday, May 30The 111th Indianapolis 500FOX
Sunday, June 6Streets of DetroitFOX
Sunday, June 13World Wide Technology RacewayFOX
Sunday, June 27Road AmericaFOX
Sunday, July 4Mid-Ohio Sports Car CourseFOX
Sunday, July 18Circuit de Barcelona-CatalunyaFOX
Sunday, Aug. 1Portland International RacewayFOX
Sunday, Aug. 15Streets of MarkhamFOX
Saturday, Aug. 28Milwaukee Mile Race 1FOX
Sunday, Aug. 29Milwaukee Mile Race 2FOX
Sunday, Sept. 5WeatherTech Raceway Laguna SecaFOX

FROM ESPORTS TO TRACK DAY: NASCAR AND LOGITECH G EXPAND ALLIANCE TO BRING PRECISION SIMULATION TO DRIVERS AND FANS

By
Official Release
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  • Multi-year agreement positions Logitech G’s PRO Series gear as the cornerstone of driver training and grassroots sim racing.
  • Expanded partnership highlights the sim-to-reality pipeline, featuring fan activation zones starting at Talladega Superspeedway.
  • Alliance cements Logitech G as NASCAR’s Official Sim Racing Hardware Partner, connecting professional racecraft with high-fidelity home simulation.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (Oct. 23, 2026) — NASCAR and Logitech G, a brand of Logitech and a global innovator in gaming technologies and gear, today announced the extension of their existing relationship, positioning Logitech G as an official partner of NASCAR. The collaboration officially links two powerhouses dedicated to pushing the boundaries of speed, technical precision, and competitive performance—cementing a seamless bridge between simulation and on-track experiences.

As part of the joint agreement, Logitech G becomes the Official Sim Racing Hardware Partner of NASCAR. The partnership will focus heavily on elevating the sim-to-reality pipeline, showcasing how elite virtual racing technology mirrors the intense physical and technical demands of a NASCAR race car. From grassroots esports competitors to professional drivers refining their race craft ahead of Sunday, the alliance highlights the crucial role high-fidelity simulation plays in modern motorsports.

“Most sports have a version you can play in your backyard. Getting behind the wheel of a race car is a different challenge. Sim racing helps close that gap, and Logitech G’s hardware brings a physical connection to the experience,” said Nick Rend, NASCAR Vice President of Interactive and Emerging Platforms. “Expanding this partnership is about bringing that experience to more people and building a stronger connection to NASCAR.”

Professional drivers and simulator enthusiasts alike rely heavily on high-end hardware to study tracks, test lines, and maintain sharp competitive instincts between race weekends.

“What makes this partnership so special is how it elevates the fans, letting them experience the same connection and feel for the track right from their own homes that we rely on as pros,” said Denny Hamlin, NASCAR Cup Series driver for Joe Gibbs Racing and Logitech G ambassador. “Sim racing is an essential tool for preparation and bringing that level of realism directly to the community is a massive win for everyone who loves the sport.”

The partnership will come to life across multiple touchpoints throughout the NASCAR season, including immersive activation zones at select race tracks, integrated branding across eNASCAR broadcasts, and joint content campaigns featuring NASCAR drivers who heavily utilize Logitech G’s PRO Series racing wheels and TRUEFORCE technology for training and competition.

“Racing is in our DNA, and the boundary line between the digital grid and the real-world track has never been thinner,” said Cory Church, Head of Gaming, Logitech G. “NASCAR represents the pinnacle of fierce, competitive stock car racing and we’re proud to be both continuing and extending our partnership. We are giving drivers and fans alike the ultimate tools to experience every apex, slipstream, and victory firsthand—whether they are in a motion rig at home or strapping into the real thing on race day.”

Fans can experience Logitech G at the upcoming NASCAR race weekend at Talladega Superspeedway, October 24 and 25, where simulators and a full experience will be available within the midway.

About NASCAR

The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States and owner of 15 of the nation’s major motorsports entertainment facilities. NASCAR sanctions races in three national series (NASCAR Cup Series™, NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series™, and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series™), four international series (NASCAR Brasil Series, NASCAR Canada Series, NASCAR Euro Series, NASCAR Mexico Series), four regional series (ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East & West and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour) and a local grassroots series (NASCAR Local Racing Series Powered by O’Reilly Auto Parts). The International Motor Sports Association™ (IMSA®) governs the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship™, the premier U.S. sports car series. NASCAR also owns Motor Racing Network, Racing Electronics, and ONE DAYTONA. Based in Daytona Beach, Florida, with offices in five cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races annually in 11 countries and more than 30 U.S. states.

For more information visit www.NASCAR.com and www.IMSA.com, and follow NASCAR on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, X and Facebook. 

About Logitech

Logitech creates design-led, software-enabled hardware solutions that help businesses thrive and bring people together when working, creating and gaming in the age of AI. As the point of connection between people and the digital world, our mission is to extend human potential in work and play, in a way that is good for people and the planet. Founded in 1981, Logitech International is a Swiss public company listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (LOGN) and on the Nasdaq Global Select Market (LOGI). Find Logitech and its other brands, including Logitech G, at www.logitech.com or company blog.

GMG Racing Rides Career Momentum to IMSA Carrera Cup North America Finale at Circuit of The Americas

By
Official Release
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  • Kyle Washington and GMG Racing Founder and Team Driver James Sofronas Compete in This Weekend’s IMSA Carrera Cup Doubleheader Finale on United States Grand Prix Formula One Weekend in Texas
  • Longtime and Champion GMG Racing Driver Washington Set for Second Carrera Cup Start of the Season in the No. 32 GMG Racing Porsche 911 Cup
  • Sofronas Suits Up for Second Carrera Cup Race of the Season in the No. 14 GMG Racing Porsche 911 Cup

AUSTIN, Texas (October 23, 2026) – Fast off of a career weekend of championship-winning competition two weeks ago, Kyle Washington, James Sofronas and the GMG Racing team have arrived at Circuit of The Americas (COTA) for this weekend’s season-ending IMSA Carrera Cup North America doubleheader during the annual COTA Formula 1 weekend.

Everyone on the GMG Racing team carries the maximum momentum of their biggest victory to date on Saturday, October 10, when Washington and all-star Porsche teammates Ayhancan Güven and Riccardo Pera scored an overall victory in the Indianapolis 8 Hour at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS). The convincing victory in the No. 32 GMG Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R Evo was a first on many fronts, led by Washington and GMG Racing winning their first major endurance races and clinching the 2026 GT World Challenge America Pro-Am driver and team championships. The GT World Challenge America driver title was the first championship of Washington’s racing career.

“Indianapolis certainly couldn’t have gone any better and it is all credit to Kyle, who has worked so hard, and the tireless GMG Racing crew that has consistently prepared the fastest Porsche in GT World Challenge all season,” said Sofronas, GMG Racing Owner and Founder. “We also couldn’t have done it without Ayhancan and Riccardo and our full-season co-driver Tom Sargent, who was the fastest Porsche driver all season. Along with Kyle, all four turned in fantastic performances at Indy or all season and now we look forward to taking that energy and momentum straight to COTA. We have seen some race winning success in Carrera Cup at COTA before, and the way everybody on the team is performing, there is no reason we can’t keep our great season going right up until the final checkered flag of the year on Sunday.”

Washington competes on the 20-turn, 3.426-mile COTA circuit in his No. 32 GMG Racing Porsche 911 Cup in the Masters class. Sofronas drives the No. 14 Mobil 1/GMG Racing Porsche 911 Cup in the Pro-Am division.

With the year’s primary focus on the accomplished goals of winning the GT World Challenge America championships, both Washington and Sofronas have each contested just one Carrera Cup race weekend this season. Sofronas had an early-season off-track injury that prevented him from racing for six months but he is anxious to get back into the Mobil 1 sponsored Cup car this weekend. GMG has traditionally run a select schedule of Carrera Cup races over the last four years, but the partial calendar has not stopped the team and drivers from winning success. Somewhat surprisingly, GMG Racing didn’t compete in IMSA Carrera Cup before the 2023 finale at COTA, but Sofronas swept that weekend’s Pro-Am races in his and the team’s series debut.

Sofronas opened up the 2024 season going a perfect three-for-three to start his Carrera Cup career with his third series win in a row at Sebring International Raceway. In the short time span since the 2023 COTA debut, GMG Racing has quickly built tally of 10 career Carrera Cup victories, with Sofronas accounting for seven of the wins. Sofronas is also the only active Carrera Cup driver in any class who has scored a Carrera Cup victory on each of the three North American Formula One venues – Miami, Montreal and COTA – the Porsche series has visited this season or in recent years.

This year’s Sebring opener was the site of Sofronas’ first Carrera Cup race weekend in the 2026 season.

The two most recent GMG Racing Carrera Cup wins were also the team’s first Pro class triumphs in the series. Sargent put in a pair of perfect races last April at the Grand Prix of Long Beach to sweep the weekend guest driving in Washington’s No. 32.

Washington is a frequent visitor to the Masters class victory lane. A string of career third-place finishes, including the Formula 1 support races in Miami and Montreal, are highlighted by a career-best second at COTA in 2024. He made his 2026 series debut in the Carrera Cup weekend at Indy on the IMSA Battle on the Bricks weekend in September.

The Circuit of the Americas Carrera Cup weekend begins today with a single practice session at 2 p.m. CDT. The first 35-minute race starts at 2:35 p.m. CDT on Saturday while the second and final round is slated to go green Sunday at 10:35 a.m. CDT.

Both races and more can be seen live on the Porsche Motorsport North America YouTube channel or for subscribers on the NBC Peacock streaming network. International viewers can watch the action on IMSA.tv.

About GMG Racing: Founded in 2001, GMG Racing quickly established itself as North America’s premier performance tuning facility. What began as a small 1,200 sq. ft. shop, maintaining two race cars, has grown into a state-of-the-art performance tuning, racing and service facility relocated last year to The Thermal Club and a 28,000 sq. ft. trackside motorsports facility. The staff, attention to detail and passion are what make GMG the choice of professionals and enthusiasts worldwide. GMG, in its early years, was located directly across the street from Porsche Motorsport North America (PMNA). This close proximity allowed GMG to build a strong relationship with the legendary racing brand which has helped the company support its customers to the highest level possible. We have since won several Championships, not only with Porsche, but with Audi, Lamborghini, Aston Martin and McLaren. From club racing to Sebring, Daytona, Spa, Montreal, COTA and The Thermal Club, GMG can take you as far as you want to go. More information can be found at www.gmgracing.com.

INDYCAR Adds Marquee International Event at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in 2027

By
Official Release
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North America’s Premier Open-Wheel Racing Series Makes Historic Debut at Home of Five-Time NTT INDYCAR SERIES Champion Alex Palou

INDIANAPOLIS (Friday, Oct. 23, 2026) – INDYCAR is expanding its global footprint in historic fashion, announcing a marquee international event at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Spain as the centerpiece of Phase Two of the 2027 NTT INDYCAR SERIES schedule.

The inaugural INDYCAR Grand Prix of Barcelona is scheduled for Sunday, July 18 and will bring North America’s premier open-wheel racing series to Spain for the first time, setting the stage for a spectacular homecoming for Barcelona native and five-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Alex Palou of Chip Ganassi Racing.

The multiyear agreement with Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya marks the NTT INDYCAR SERIES’ first race outside North America since 2013, when James Hinchcliffe won on the streets of São Paulo, Brazil. The event also signals a European return for the INDYCAR SERIES, which last competed on the continent in 2007 at the TT Circuit Assen in the Netherlands.

“This is a monumental day for our sport,” Penske Entertainment Corp. President and CEO Mark Miles said. “We are pleased to be able to take our ultra-competitive brand of wheel-to-wheel racing to Europe and thrilled that we can showcase INDYCAR in Alex Palou’s hometown. We have seen Alex’s remarkable skill and talent for several years and know his fans in Spain have been clamoring to watch him race in person.

“We cannot wait to see the NTT INDYCAR SERIES compete at one of the world’s most recognizable motorsports venues set against the backdrop of a very historic and breathtaking international destination like Barcelona.”

Palou, a 29-year-old Spaniard, captured his fifth NTT INDYCAR SERIES championship in 2026, becoming just the second driver in series history to win four consecutive titles, joining Sebastien Bourdais (2004-07). With five championships in six years and 25 career victories, Palou is tied for 17th on the series’ all-time wins list. Only A.J. Foyt (seven) and Scott Dixon (six) have won more INDYCAR SERIES championships.

“I’m so excited to be part of INDYCAR’s first race in Barcelona,” Palou said. “It is an amazing opportunity, and it means so much to me to have a race at home in Barcelona, it’s hard to put into words. I know the fans are going to love it, and I think we are going to put on a great show. We’re going to try hard with the team at Chip Ganassi Racing to bring home the trophy in July.”

Located in Montmeló, just outside Barcelona, Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya has been a fixture on the international motorsports stage since opening in 1991. The renowned road course has hosted some of the world’s most prestigious racing championships, including FIA Formula One and MotoGP, and is recognized for its combination of high-speed corners, technical sections and demanding layout.

The addition of Barcelona marks another significant milestone for INDYCAR as the series continues to introduce its high-speed, ultra-competitive brand of racing to new audiences and build upon its growing momentum.

“The arrival of INDYCAR is a major milestone and an exciting challenge for the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya,” Chairman of the Board of Fira de Barcelona and Fira Circuit Pau Relat said. “Bringing one of the most prestigious and spectacular championships in global motorsport to our venue strengthens our international positioning, connects us with new audiences and markets, and reinforces our strategy of diversifying the circuit’s activity through world-class events. We are working with a long-term vision to make INDYCAR Grand Prix of Barcelona a benchmark event on the international racing calendar for years to come.”

Phase Two of the 2027 NTT INDYCAR SERIES schedule, which will include a listing of all races in next year’s championship, will be announced shortly. Tune-in times for next season’s events will be announced at a later date.

Jimmy Owens Wins Flo Night In America Race at Volunteer Speedway In Photo Finish Over Jonathan Davenport

By
Briar Starr
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Photo Courtsey of Flo Night In America

The third to last race of the 2026 Flo Night in America Series championship season took place Thursday night at the famed Volunteer Speedway, located in Bulls Gap, Tennessee.

Bobby Pierce was the previous race winner for the Flo Night Series about a month ago at Lincoln Park Speedway in Lincoln, Illinois and was seeking back-to-back victories in the Flo Night Series, since he was entered for this event. Additionally, recently crowned Lucas Oil Dirt Late Model Series champion Brandon Sheppard was also in action. Sheppard is the current points leader for the Flo Series by 21 points over Hudson O’Neal.

However, the checkered flag went to local favorite Jimmy Owens, who dominated the main event by leading all 50 laps and fended off Jonathan Davenport in a photo finish at the start/finish line.

“It’s pretty awesome to hear all these people cheer and wishing you well,” Owens told Flo Racing in victory lane. “I got a lot of great fans who stuck with me through the years and it’s an awesome feeling. It’s been a long time since we got the lead it seems like. I was just telling Mac and them (McCarter Brothers Racing, Owens Team Owner) this might be the first time we’ve never won a race since we started, but we fixed that for the year. I thought I gave it away there when I tightened the quarter panel with the wall, I could feel the back starting to get a lot loose.

“I thought, ‘I hope we didn’t kill ourselves, but the cautions really helped me and kept my right-rear cool.’ We was alright. I didn’t really know where to be in (Turns) 3 and 4, but it worked out.”

33 Late Models were on the entry list for Thursday’s race.

Feature Race Recap – 51-Laps – $20,000 To Win

Jimmy Owens started on the pole, and Chris Madden was on the outside pole. Owens led the first lap over Madden and Benji HIcks. The first yellow was seen with 44 laps to go for Jeff Maupin, who had a flat tire and went down.

Owens would lead the field back to green with Madden and Hicks following behind him. A fierce battle broke out between Devin Moran and Jonathan Davenport for the fourth position, before Davenport got the best of Moran for position. The second yellow came out with 35 laps to go for two different incidents. One for Barrett Lowe, who was spun around at the start/finish line. Second for Nick Hoffman, who was trying to get to the hot pit, but had spun around sideways right before the entrance. Replays showed that Hoffman was losing power and locked up the car at the start/finish line, and Lowe spun, possibly trying to avoid him.

With 30 laps to go, Hicks began rapidly closing in on the race leader, Owens, but the third caution halted the battle for Noah Phillips, who had slowed on the backstretch. At the halfway mark, Owens controlled the race lead over Hicks, Madden, Davenport, and Moran in the top five. Another yellow came out with 16 laps to go for Garrett Alberson as he came to a stop after running the high line a bit too high and damaging his right-front during the process.

Before the caution came out, Owens briefly tapped the wall and had right-rear quarter panel damage to his car, but still maintained the top spot coming to the restart. With 13 laps to go, Davenport moved into the third position. With 10 laps to go, it was Owens the leader, Madden, Davenport, O’Neal, and Moran in the top five. Unfortunately, the top five was short-lived for Moran, as he brought out the late-race yellow with five laps to go for a right-rear flat tire.

With four laps to go, Davenport moved into second position following the restart and then challenged for the race win with Owens, but Owens fended off Davenport in a photo finish at the checkered flag.

Heat Race Recaps – Top Four Transfer – 8 Laps A Piece

Prior to the heat races, there was a hot lap and qualifying session. Dale McDowell paced the Hot Lap session with a time of 12.179 seconds. In Flight A qualifying, it was Moran who had a time of 12.245 seconds, while Madden was 12.182 seconds for the Flight B session.

Heat 1 – Moran had the pole for the first heat. Local favorite Owens took the lead from Moran off Turn 4 with four laps to go before the caution came out for Maupin, who was slow on the track and pulled in the infield. Brad Dyer was also in the infield at the time of the caution.

Owens went on to win the heat with Moran, Alberson, and Earl Pearson Jr. taking the top four. Owens would start on the pole for the feature thanks to his heat win.

Heat 2 – Hicks was on the pole for the second heat. A caution came out with five laps to go for Donald McIntosh, who spun in the middle of Turns 3 and 4 with help from Nick Hoffman. McIntosh spun after Hoffman got in the left-rear of his car.

Hicks went on to secure the heat victory with McDowell, Jake O’Neil, and Dennis Erb Jr. rounding out the top four.

Heat 3 – Chris Madden had the top spot for the third heat. The third heat went caution-free and saw Madden fend off a hard-charging Davenport to claim the heat race win. Madden, Davenport, Kaede Loudy, and Garrett Smith were the transfers.

Heat 4 – Sheppard had the pole for the fourth and final heat race. He led wire-to-wire to win the heat, and was followed by O’Neal, Pierce, and Mike Marlar, who completed the transfers.

There were two B-mains. Moving on from the B-main to round out the A-feature were Brenden Smith, Hoffman, Phillips, Lowe, Todd Morrow, and Dylan Thompson.

For those who missed the feature, you can click on the highlights below.

Official Race Results Following Round 8 For The Flo Night in America Series Championship at Volunteer Speedway

  1. Jimmy Owens
  2. Jonathan Davenport
  3. Hudson O’Neal
  4. Chris Madden
  5. Bobby Pierce
  6. Dale McDowell
  7. Brandon Sheppard
  8. Dennis Erb Jr
  9. Jake O’Neil
  10. Brenden Smith
  11. Earl Pearson Jr
  12. Benji Hicks
  13. Garrett Smith
  14. Kaede Loudy
  15. Devin Moran
  16. Todd Morrow
  17. Barrett Lowe
  18. Mike Marlar
  19. Ryan Gustin
  20. Garrett Alberson
  21. Dylan Thompson
  22. Noah Phillips
  23. Nick Hoffman
  24. Jeff Maupin

Up Next – The final two rounds of the Flo Night in America championship will take place at Senoia Raceway, Friday and Saturday November 13-14, live on Flo Racing.

RCR Race Preview: Talladega Superspeedway

By
Official Release
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Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series at Talladega Superspeedway… In 208 NASCAR Cup Series starts at Talladega Superspeedway, Richard Childress Racing boasts 13 wins, 45 top-five, and 80 top-10 finishes. Richard Childress began his driving career at Talladega Superspeedway in the inaugural Talladega 500 on September 14, 1969. Kyle Busch became the latest RCR driver to win in the Cup Series at the Alabama speedway when he captured the victory in 2023. Clint Bowyer won twice for RCR (fall races in 2010 and 2011) while Kevin Harvick won the 2010 spring event. Dale Earnhardt earned nine Talladega wins under the RCR banner, his first coming in 1984. Earnhardt scored his 76th and final Cup win in the 2000 fall race at Talladega, which earned the team and a lucky fan each a $1 million bonus from the series sponsor. Other victories by Earnhardt include a sweep of both races in 1990 and 1999, plus 1991 (July), 1993 (July), and 1994 (spring).

Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series at Talladega Superspeedway… Richard Childress Racing has four NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series wins at Talladega, most recently with Austin Hill sweeping both races last season. Jesse Love won at Talladega under the RCR banner in April 2024. Two-time O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Champion Tyler Reddick gave RCR its first O’Reilly Auto Parts Series victory at Talladega in 2019. RCR has started O’Reilly Auto Parts Series races from the pole on 13 separate occasions, including a streak of seven pole awards in the past five years with drivers Hill (fall 2022, 2023, and spring 2024), Love (fall 2024, spring 2025, fall 2025, and spring 2026), and Jeffrey Earnhardt (spring 2022).

Catch Saturday’s Action… The O’Reilly Auto Parts Series’ The Progress Group 250 at Talladega Superspeedway will be televised live on Saturday, October 24 at 3:30 p.m. ET on The CW and stream live on the ESPN App with ESPN Unlimited. The live radio broadcast can be heard on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. Saturday morning’s qualifying session will be shown for free on The CW App and stream on the ESPN App with ESPN Unlimited beginning at 11 a.m. ET.

Watch Us on NBC… The Cup Series’ YellaWood 500 at Talladega Superspeedway will be televised on Sunday, October 25 at 2 p.m. ET on NBC. The live radio broadcast can be heard on the Performance Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. Saturday afternoon’s qualifying session will be shown live on truTV beginning at 1 p.m. ET. Ride shotgun all season long with live, in-car camera feeds and scanner audio with a paid subscription to Max as part of their NASCAR driver cam experience during the race.

Austin Dillon and the No. 3 Get Bioethanol Chevrolet at Talladega Superspeedway… In 26 NASCAR Cup Series starts at Talladega Superspeedway, Austin Dillon has two top-five and seven top-10 finishes, earning a career-best second-place result in the spring of 2022.

Beyond the Cup Series… Dillon, the 2013 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Champion, has made four starts at Talladega Superspeedway in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, earning one pole (2015) and a career-best finish of third among three top-10 finishes and completing 100% of the laps contested. In two NASCAR Truck Series races at Talladega, the veteran racer has two top-10 finishes.

American Fuel. American Performance…Dillon will race the patriotic Get Bioethanol Chevy at the Talladega Yellawood 500 this weekend, honoring the farmers, innovators, and communities that help power America every day. Fueled with Sunoco Race Fuel with Zero Carbon Bioethanol, this race showcases how American-made energy can help drive the future. For more than 25 million NASCAR miles, higher blends of bioethanol have delivered the horsepower, speed, and reliability needed at racing’s highest level. From the heartland to the high banks, bioethanol powers progress, performance, and pride in what America can accomplish. Learn more at www.getbiofuel.com.

Meet Dillon… Racegoers will have two opportunities to meet Dillon this weekend at Talladega Superspeedway. On Saturday, October 2 beginning at 2:45 p.m. Local Time, Dillon is scheduled to stop by the RCR Merchandise Hauler in the Fan Zone to sign autographs. Be sure to stop by and stock up on all your race day gear. For fans unable to travel to the race, visit the official RCR Team Store to purchase Austin Dillon merch: https://store.rcrracing.com.

On Sunday, October 25 at 10:25 a.m. Local Time, Dillon is scheduled to return to the Fan Zone for a special question and answer session at the Chevrolet Display. Don’t miss your chance to hear from Dillon first-hand before the green flag waves.

AUSTIN DILLON QUOTES:

What makes Talladega so special?

“The history behind it. It’s a big, huge place. There’s no track like it. So, if you love speed and the adrenaline rush of being packed up, then this is the place.”

In the closing laps of the race, how do you keep yourself patient as a driver when it comes to making moves for the win?

“Patience is key in every form of racing. The guys that are comfortable do a really good job of staying patient and putting themselves in a good position. Everyone at RCR, ECR and CT Spring does such a good job of setting our cars up for superspeedways, so I know our No. 3 Get Bioethanol Chevrolet will have what I need to get it done.”

Austin Hill and the No. 33 United Rentals Chevrolet at Talladega Superspeedway… Austin Hill has made two career NASCAR Cup Series starts at Talladega Superspeedway, one for Beard Motorsports and one for Richard Childress Racing. The Winston, Georgia native completed 100 percent of laps contested in both races and earned a best finish of 22nd in last year’s fall event at the Alabama facility. Hill has found success in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, earning two wins and three poles at the 2.66-mile tri-oval.

Drafting Track Success… Hill is the all-time O’Reilly Auto Parts Series drafting track leader in wins (11), stage wins (19) and laps led (954).

Rearview Mirror… During the last Cup Series superspeedway race at Daytona International Speedway, Hill earned his series best qualifying effort of third and led a race-high 27 laps. The No. 33 Chevrolet showed significant pace throughout the first two stages, finishing the segments in 11th and 10th respectively.

Work United in 2027… Earlier this week, Richard Childress Racing announced that United Rentals will serve as a multi-race primary partner of Hill and the No. 33 Chevrolet in the Cup Series in 2027. The partnership marks the next chapter in a relationship between United Rentals and Hill that began in 2017 and has spanned nearly a decade of his racing career. From his early days competing in the Truck Series to his success in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and his progression into the Cup Series, United Rentals has been a consistent partner and supporter of Hill’s development as a driver.

About United Rentals… United Rentals, Inc. is the largest equipment rental company in the world. The company has an integrated network of 1,663 rental locations in North America, 41 in Europe, 45 in Australia and 19 in New Zealand. In North America, the company operates in 49 states and every Canadian province. The company’s approximately 28,500 employees serve construction and industrial customers, utilities, municipalities, homeowners, and others. The company offers a fleet of equipment for rent with a total original cost of $22.48 billion. United Rentals is a member of the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index, the Barron’s 400 Index and the Russell 3000 Index® and is headquartered in Stamford, Conn. Additional information about United Rentals is available at unitedrentals.com.

Meet Hill… On Sunday, October 25 at 9:50 a.m. Local Time, Hill is scheduled to sign autographs at the RCR Merchandise Hauler located in the Fan Zone at Talladega Superspeedway. Stop by to meet the racer and purchase new No. 33 gear prior to the green flag.

AUSTIN HILL QUOTE:

The finishing result doesn’t tell the whole story, but the No. 33 Chevrolet had speed at the last superspeedway race in Daytona. What is the thought process entering Talladega Superspeedway?

“Our car had a lot of speed when we went to Daytona earlier this summer. We qualified third, which was a huge boost in the arm for our No. 33 group. Then we followed it up by leading laps and running well in the first two stages. We proved that the success we’ve had on the O’Reilly (Auto Parts Series) side can translate if we do the little things right. Fuel strategy put us behind at the end, but if we execute how I know we are capable of, we should have a good race with our United Rentals Chevrolet this weekend. Superspeedway racing is unpredictable, but having Derek (Kneeland, spotter) in my ear feels normal. We have worked well together for years now on the O’Reilly (Auto Parts Series) side, and I know what he is about to say before he actually says it. That split second ahead of the competition can be the difference maker in making a move.”

Jesse Love and the No. 2 Samsara Chevrolet at Talladega Superspeedway… Jesse Love has made five career NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series starts at Talladega Superspeedway. Love is a four-time pole winner at the 2.66-mile tri-oval, qualifying first at the fall 2024 and 2025 races, spring 2026 and has finished no worse than 10th. The Menlo Park, California has also competed in one ARCA Menards Series race at Talladega Superspeedway, where the 21-year-old qualified second, led 35 of 74 laps, and claimed the checkered flag.

Winner, Winner… Last weekend at Phoenix Raceway, Love delivered a dominant performance en route to capturing his second win of 2026 and overtaking the points lead in the race for the 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Championship for the first time this season. Love began his day in the desert in stellar form, qualifying on the pole by beating runner-up Brandon Jones by 0.24 seconds. Once the green flag waved, Love swept both stages and led a race-best 156 of 200 laps before holding off Sam Mayer by 0.128 seconds to capture the win. Love’s near perfect effort earned him 75 points, just one shy of the maximum any one driver can earn in a single race. Leap-frogging Sheldon Creed for the No. 1 spot in the standings, Love now leads new No. 2 Justin Allgaier by 36 points.

First Career Win… During the spring 2024 race at the Alabama facility, Love started from the second position, led a total of 28 laps, and earned his career-first O’Reilly Auto Parts Series victory.

Did You Know… Love has started on the front-row in all five of his career O’Reilly Auto Parts Series starts at Talladega. In each of those starts, Love has also led double-digit laps.

Excelling on Pit Road… After delivering the fastest four-tire stop of the season at Charlotte Motor Speedway, the No. 2 Chevrolet’s pit crew once delivered lightening fast stops at Phoenix Raceway last weekend. And integral component to helping Love capture his second win of the season, the pit crew registered the fastest stop of the race, clocking in at 12.54 seconds when the team pitted following Stage 1 at Lap 49.The stop was 0.56 seconds faster than the second-fastest stop of the race.

About Samsara… Samsara (NYSE: IOT) is the pioneer of the Connected Operations® Platform, which is an open platform that connects the people, devices, and systems of some of the world’s most complex operations, allowing them to develop actionable insights and improve their operations. With tens of thousands of customers across North America and Europe, Samsara is a proud technology partner to the people who keep our global economy running, including the world’s leading organizations across industries in transportation, construction, wholesale and retail trade, field services, logistics, manufacturing, utilities and energy, government, healthcare and education, food and beverage, and others. The company’s mission is to increase the safety, efficiency, and sustainability of the operations that power the global economy.

A Whole New Look, “Built With Operators”… For the second time this season, Samsara is bringing its new brand identity trackside with Richard Childress Racing and the No. 2 Chevrolet in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. Samsara grounded its new identity in the visual language of worksites, truck cabs, and field operations — the places where its customers and operators work every day. The brand’s ethos, “Built with operators,” was brought to life through the elements that resonated most with its customers, including a high-visibility yellow drawn from the worksite. This new look will be seen on the racetrack through a dynamic new paint scheme, driver fire suit and helmet, team apparel, and more, as Love contends for another series championship.

JESSE LOVE QUOTE:

What are your thoughts going into Talladega this weekend?

“Looking forward to this weekend. Talladega Superspeedway is my favorite superspeedway, and a place that I have won at a couple of times before. Hopefully this is a good one for us. Obviously we are leading the points right now, and we want to get out of Talladega with a good points day, but there’s always a big gamble there. We’ll be ready for whatever challenges are thrown our way, and we’ll need to make the right move at the right time, but we’re ready to get to work with the No. 2 Samsara Chevrolet.”

Austin Hill and the No. 21 Distributor Wire & Cable Chevrolet at Talladega Superspeedway… Austin Hill has made nine career NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series starts at Talladega Superspeedway, notably sweeping both races in 2025. Hill has claimed three poles and led 259 laps since joining Richard Childress Racing in 2022 – the most laps led of any driver in series history at the 2.66-mile drafting track. The Winston, Georgia native has also participated in five NASCAR Truck Series events, securing a best finish of sixth in 2019.

Two Time Winner at Dega… Last year at the Alabama track, Hill became only the second driver in O’Reilly Auto Parts Series history to sweep both Talladega races in one season. In the fall 2025 event, Hill continued his superspeedway dominance by capturing both stage wins, leading a total of 48 laps, and earning the checkered flag.

Stage Winner… Hill has won seven of the last 14 stages at Talladega Superspeedway, including five wins in Stage 2.

Did You Know? Since joining Richard Childress Racing in 2022, Hill has never qualified outside the top-10 at Talladega Superspeedway. The veteran racer secured three consecutive poles (fall 2022, spring 2023, spring 2024) and has not started worse than the sixth position.

Series Record Holder… Hill is the all-time O’Reilly Auto Parts Series drafting track leader in wins (11), stage wins (19) and laps led (954). The 32-year-old is the only O’Reilly Auto Parts Series driver to win on all three drafting tracks. In addition, Hill could become the first driver in series history to lead 1,000 laps on drafting tracks, needing to pace the field for 46 laps on Saturday.

Superspeedway Winner in 2026… In February’s season-opening race at Daytona International Speedway, Hill dominated the event, sweeping both stages and leading a race-high 78 laps en route to capturing the victory. This feat marked Hill’s fourth win in the season-opening race.

Get to the Points… Hill currently holds the ninth position in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Chase standings. The 32-year-old is only two points behind eighth-place Taylor Gray and six points behind seventh-place Sammy Smith.

About Distributor Wire & Cable… Distributor Wire & Cable (DWC) is a master distributor of specialty electrical wire and cable products headquartered in Aurora, Colorado. Founded in 2008, DWC serves wholesale electrical distributors nationwide through its network of Cable Distribution Centers, delivering specialty wire and cable products with industry-leading turnaround times, competitive pricing, and no cut charges or reel minimums. The company’s FastQuote portal provides customers with rapid pricing and streamlined order management, reinforcing DWC’s commitment to making electrical distributors more competitive in their markets. For more information, visit www.distributorwire.com.

AUSTIN HILL QUOTES:

Do you have more confidence going into Talladega Superspeedway compared to other tracks?

“Talladega will be a good reset because our Chase has not gone well at all. We are kind of out of it from a points perspective, but we will try to control what we can – winning both stages and the race. Our DWC team is going to be very aggressive and hope that it gets us back in the hunt. We will need a few other guys to have issues to make up any ground though. Last week at Phoenix wasn’t great for our No. 21 team, but it’s nice going to a track that you’ve had success at.”

What is the mindset heading into Talladega Superspeedway?

“For us, with it being so close to the end of the Chase, we need to go for both stage wins and the race win. It’s going to be max aggression, at an all-time high for us. Hopefully, we don’t end up wrecked while going for it, but for the rest of the season, our mindset has to be to win every race from here on out. If we don’t win, then we need to finish second or third.

Sammy Smith rejoins Spire Motorsports for Truck Chase events at Talladega and Martinsville

By
Andrew Kim
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Photo by John Knittel for SpeedwayMedia.com.

Sammy Smith will be piloting the No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Silverado RST entry for the upcoming NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series’ Chase events at Talladega Superspeedway and Martinsville Speedway to cap off the month of October.

The 22-year-old Smith from Johnston, Iowa, is currently competing in his fourth consecutive season in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series division as a full-time competitor. He is also campaigning in his third and final season at JR Motorsports, where he is ranked in seventh place in the 2026 Chase standings and trails the points lead by 137 points. While his 2027 plans remains to be determined, he has three-scheduled events remaining to contend for his first series’ victory of this season and maintain his championship bid.

The upcoming Truck events at Talladega and Martinsville are scheduled to mark Smith’s second and third starts in the series, respectively. He finished in 11th place in his first and lone Truck start to date of this season at Rockingham Speedway in April. 

Smith’s entrance to compete in this weekend’s Truck event at Talladega with Spire Motorsports was revealed on October 19 by the organization, where the Iowa native will be sponsored by Spectrum for his first series’ start at the 2.660-mile tri-oval superspeedway venue in Lincoln, Alabama. Smith has made six total starts at Talladega in the O’Reilly division to date, where he notched a victory in October 2024.

On October 22, Spire Motorsports revealed that Smith will drive the No. 7 Chevrolet entry for a second consecutive Truck event, which will be next Friday’s penultimate event of the 2026 season at Martinsville Speedway. The driver will be sponsored by Alpha Craft Technologies for his second series’ start at Martinsville. Smith finished eighth in his lone Truck start at Martinsville to date in April 2024 and has notched seven top-10 results in eight current O’Reilly starts at Martinsville, including three runner-up results.

Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Chevrolet team, which is led by crew chief Brian Pattie, is currently ranked in ninth place in the 2026 Truck Series’ owner’s standings and trails the points lead by 195 points. The entry was piloted into Victory Lane twice by the late two-time Cup Series champion Kyle Busch at EchoPark Speedway in February and at Dover Motor Speedway in May. The entry has also finished in the top-five mark seven times and in the top-10 mark 11 times through 22-scheduled starts while piloted by nine competitors, including Smith. Connor Mosack, who has made the most starts in the entry at 11, is scheduled to drive the entry for this year’s season-finale event at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 6.

With two Truck events added to his schedule, Sammy Smith’s first return in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series division with Spire Motorsports occurs this Friday, October 23, at Talladega Superspeedway in Lincoln, Alabama, for the Love’s RV Stop 225. The event’s broadcast time is slated to commence at 4 p.m. ET. Smith’s next Truck start with Spire at Martinsville Speedway in Ridgeway, Virginia, for the Black’s Tire 200 follows suit next Friday, October 30, at 6 p.m. ET on FS1, NASCAR Racing Network and SiriusXM.

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