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Sam Corry Wins General Tire 150 ARCA Menards Series West Race at Sonoma Raceway

Courtesy of Sonoma Raceway & Jackson Randall
  • Sam Corry, driver of the No. 25 Nitro Motorsports Toyota, won the General Tire 150 ARCA Menards Series race after leading all 47 laps.
  • Corry’s Nitro Motorsports teammate, Mia Lovell, driver of the No. 15 Toyota, earned her career-best finish, coming in second behind Corry.
  • Shane van Gisbergen earned the pole position for Saturday’s Pit Boss/FoodMaxx 250 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race, which will be broadcast live on The CW at 2:30 p.m. PT.

SONOMA, Calif. (June 26, 2026) – Sam Corry, driver of the No. 25 Nitro Motorsports Toyota, led all 47 laps in Friday’s General Tire 150 ARCA Menards Series West (AMSW) race at Sonoma Raceway (SR) to earn his first career AMSW win in his Sonoma Raceway series debut.

“I’m super proud of these Nitro Motorsports guys, and to be able to come to Sonoma and win is so special to me,” said Corry after earning the win. “This is a really huge win for us. It’s our first in the ARCA Series, so super excited to keep the momentum going.”

Corry’s Nitro Motorsports teammate, Mia Lovell, driver of the No. 15 Toyota, finished second, just 0.84 seconds behind Corry after briefly taking the lead in turn 11 with eight laps to go. Corry quickly stole it back and led the way to the checkered flag. Lovell battled hard, knocking on Corry’s door all day long with the second-fastest lap time in practice (1:18.670 | 91.064 mph) and qualifying (1:17.5 | 92.48 mph) behind Corry who was P1 in practice (1:17.990 | 91.858 mph), qualifying (1:17.2 | 92.806 mph) and ultimately, the race.

“She went for the inside in the last corner there, and we were just able to easily cross over and, you know, keep trucking along,” said Corry about the battle with Lovell. “That was really the only kind of pressure we had today, but you know, it’s just a testament to this team and how good they are.”

Eric Johnson Jr. (No. 5 Toyota), Cole Denton (Ford) and Patrick Staropoli (Chevrolet) rounded out the top-five.

2020 AMSW Rookie of the Year Hailie Deegan of Temecula, Calif. finished 20th in her No. 16 Bill McAnally Racing Chevrolet after sustaining early damage. Today’s race served as her AMSW debut at SR after a five-year hiatus from the series, during which she spent three seasons (2022-2024) in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, made 17 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series (NOAPS) starts in 2024 and joined the open-wheel development series, INDY NXT, in 2025.

Sonoma, Calif. native Rodd Kneeland, who, in addition to driving the No. 68 Rodd Racing Chevrolet in the AMSW also serves as Captain of the Sonoma Valley Fire Department, earned an 18th-place finish.

Prior to the General Tire 150, NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) regular Shane van Gisbergen, driver of the No. 9 JR Motorsports Chevrolet earned the NOAPS pole for Saturday’s Pit Boss/FoodMaxx 250 with a 75.029-second lap time (95.483 mph) – 0.227 seconds faster than fellow front-row-starter Brent Crews, driver of the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota.

On-track action for SR’s tripleheader NASCAR weekend continues Saturday with practice (11 a.m. PT) and qualifying (12:10 p.m.) sessions for the NCS followed by the NOAPS Pit Boss/FoodMaxx 250 at 2:30 p.m. on The CW, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

The weekend will culminate with the Toyota/Save Mart 350 NCS race on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. on TNT Sports, PRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Click HERE for the full weekend schedule.

Tickets:

For individual tickets, weekend packages and camping, fans can visit SonomaRaceway.com. With a ticketed adult, kids 12 and under get in FREE on Saturday for the NOAPS Pit Boss/FoodMaxx 250 and for only $10 on Sunday for the NCS Toyota/Save Mart 350. College students can purchase a discounted $25 ticket in the exclusive college student section at the Turn 3 Terrace.

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Keep track of all of Sonoma Raceway’s events by following on Facebook, X and Instagram (@RACESONOMA). Keep up with all the latest information on the speedway website (SonomaRaceway.com) and mobile app.

Sonoma Raceway is a 1.99-mile, 10-turn road course and quarter-mile drag strip located at Sears Point in Sonoma County, Calif. Built in 1968, the track is carved into rolling hills with 160 feet of total elevation change. It is host to one of the few NASCAR Cup Series races each year that are run on road courses. It is one of the world’s busiest racing facilities, with track activity scheduled an average of 340 days a year. A complete and versatile motorsports complex, it is home to one of the nation’s only high-performance automotive industrial parks with approximately 70 tenants.

ARCA Menards West at Sonoma Raceway: General Tire 150 Post-race Notes

  • Sam Corry (No. 25 Bruce Toyota) started from the Sioux Chief PowerPEX Pole and led every one of the race’s 47 laps to score the victory in Friday’s ARCA Menards West General Tire 150 at Sonoma Raceway. Corry held off his Nitro Motorsports teammate Mia Lovell (No. 15 Pine Health Toyota) by 0.840 seconds to score the win in just his second career series start.
  • Lovell bettered her career best finish with her runner-up result; her previous best was third last time out at Tri-City Raceway.
  • Eric Johnson, Jr. (No. 5 Pacific Office Automation Toyota) started third but dropped out of the top ten at the midway point before rallying to match his season-best third-place result earlier this year at Tucson Speedway.
  • Cole Denton (No. 71 Jan’s Towing Ford) finished fourth in his first ARCA Menards West start on a road course. Denton will unofficially pick up five points on series points leader Trevor Huddleston (No. 50 High Point Racing/Racecar Factory Ford), who finished ninth, and 15 points on runner-up Mason Massey (No. 19 NAPA Auto Care Chevrolet), who finished 19th after rear gear issues cost him 12 laps just after the midway break.
  • Huddleston started shotgun on the field after a two-way radio issue on the pace lap forced him to make a pit stop before the green flag.
  • Patrick Staropoli (No. 20 American Cattle Company / Tractor Supply Chevrolet) was the lone bright spot on the day for Bill McAnally Racing. Staropoli finished fifth in his first West start since 2014. His two teammates Massey and Hailie Deegan (No. 16 Columbia Bank Chevrolet) both fought mechanical issues with Massey finishing in 19th and Deegan, who also had an off-track excursion on the second lap of the race, finished in 20th.
  • Todd Souza (No. 13 Central Coast Cabinets Ford) finished sixth in his first ARCA Menards West start of the season. His most recent appearance as a driver was last year at Madera Speedway where he finished 11th.
  • Robbie Kennealy (No. 1 Jan’s Towing Ford) finished seventh, his best career West finish on a road course.
  • Jeff Anton (No. 44 Deerpark Recycling / Squid Decals Chevrolet) ran as high as third before two separate off-course excursions in turn 10 dropped to ninth at the finish.
  • Gavin Ray (No. 7 Jerry Pitts Racing Toyota) dropped outside of the top 15 in the first half of the race while dealing with a sticky throttle pedal; his team made adjustments at the midway break and he recovered to finish tenth.
  • The next race for the ARCA Menards Series West is the Portland 112 at Portland International Raceway on Saturday, August 8. The race, set to begin at 9 pm ET / 6 pm PT will be streamed live on FloRacing. ARCARacing.com will have live timing & scoring data throughout all on-track activity and live race audio. Follow @ARCA_Racing on X (formerly Twitter) for up-to-the-minute updates.

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 to 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 , 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. 

Sam Corry dominates for first ARCA Menards Series West career victory at Sonoma

Credit: ARCA Racing.

Sam Corry led every scheduled lap en route to his first ARCA Menards Series West career victory in the General Tire 150 at Sonoma Raceway on Friday, June 26.

The 18-year-old Corry from Cornelius, North Carolina, commenced Friday’s on-track activities by notching his first ARCA West career pole in his second start in the series’ division. Once Friday’s main event commenced, Corry never relinquished the top spot as he withstood a total of four cautions, four ensuing restarts and side-by-side challenges from teammate Mia Lovell through each restart.

A key moment of Corry’s road to victory occurred with eight laps remaining when Lovell nearly executed a bold move beneath Corry to assume the lead, only for Lovell to slip and go wide through Turn 11. Amid Lovell’s misfortune, Corry reassumed the top spot, but he then had to withstand a three-lap shootout following a late-race caution. Nevertheless, Corry withstood the pressure and fended off Lovell to achieve the first ARCA West victory for himself and Nitro Motorsports.

With on-track qualifying that determined the starting lineup occurring on Friday, Sam Corry secured the pole position with a pole-winning lap at 92.806 mph in 77.193 seconds. Teammate Mia Lovell qualified in second place with a lap of 92.48 mph in 77.465 seconds.

When the green flag waved and the event commenced, Sam Corry gained the upper advantage from the launch and he wasted no time motoring away from the field through the opening set of turns. As the field navigated through Sonoma’s 12-turn circuit, Corry led the first lap from teammate Mia Lovell while Eric Johnson Jr., Mason Massey and Patrick Staropoli occupied the top-five spots ahead of Todd Souza, Cole Denton, Jeff Anton, Robbie Kennedy and Gavin Ray, respectively.

Over the next four laps, Corry stretched his early advantage to more than two seconds over Lovell while Johnson, Massey, Staropoli, Souza, Anton, Kennealy, Denton and Taylor Mayhew trailed in the top 10, respectively. By then, Hailie Deegan, who had mechanical issues in practice that prevented her from posting a qualifying lap, was strapped in 21st place and mired three laps down after she wrecked through the Esses on the second lap. In addition, Trevor Huddleston, the reigning ARCA Menards Series West champion, was mired in 15th place behind Sage Karam.

On Lap 10, the event’s first caution flew due to Eric Nascimento Jr. coming to a stop towards the pit road entrance in between Turns 10 and 11a after he had fallen off the pace through the Esses. At the time of caution, Corry was leading by more than three seconds over Lovell while Johnson, Massey, Staropoli, Anton, Souza, Robbie Kennealy, Cole Denton and Mayhew were scored in the top 10, respectively.

As the event restarted under green on Lap 14, Corry fended off Lovell through the first two turns to retain the lead. As Corry led Lovell up through the third turn, Massey assumed third place from Eric Johnson Jr. while Jeff Anton moved up into fifth place in front of a group of competitors. With the field cycling back through to the start/finish line, Rodd Kneeland slid off the course in Turn 10 and barely clipped both the tire barriers and the concrete wall, but he managed to pit without drawing a caution. Amid the incident, Corry led the next lap by nine-tenths of a second over Lovell.

From Laps 15 to 20, the lone incident that occurred on the track was when Mayhew slipped, ran over the curb in Turn 4a and just dodged Andrew Chapman while spinning through the turn. Meanwhile, Corry was leading by more than two seconds over Lovell as Johnson fended off Anton and Massey for third place despite nearly getting loose through Turns 2 and 3 a few laps earlier.

On Lap 24, a competition caution flew as the event reached its halfway mark for a brief intermission period. At the time of caution, Corry had stretched his lead to nearly three seconds over Lovell while the rest of the field, starting with third-place Johnson, trailed by double digits. In addition, 16 of 22 competitors were scored on the lead lap.

At the start of the second half of the event with 20 laps remaining, Corry fended off Lovell to continue to lead through the first two turns while Anton and Massey dueled against one another for third place in front of a stacked field. Just as Massey assumed third place from Turns 4a to 7a, he then went off the course in 7a and had issues motoring away due to a mechanical issue. Not long after, Anton went off the course in Turn 10 and lost a bevy of spots, which allowed Staropoli, Souza and Cole Denton to move up into the top-five mark. As Corry led the next lap over Lovell, the caution returned due to Massey stalling his entry in Turn 7a.

The next restart with 16 laps remaining featured Corry fending off Lovell to retain the lead for a second consecutive time as the former proceeded to lead through the next pair of turns. Behind the two leaders, Staropoli retained third place in front of Souza, Denton and Robbie Kennealy while Huddleston was up into seventh place. During the next lap, Karam overtook Huddleston for seventh place while Corry was leading by half a second over Lovell.

Down to the final 10 laps of the event, Corry maintained his lead by more than two seconds over Lovell while third-place Staropoli trailed by nearly eight seconds. Behind, Souza and Denton retained the remaining top-five spots over Johnson, Kennealy and Anton while Huddleston was in ninth place ahead of Sage Karam, Mayhew, Ryan Philpott, Gavin Ray, Andrew Chapman, Tyler Tomassi, Tim Spurgeon and David Smith, respectively.

Then with eight laps remaining, Lovell reeled in Corry and made a move beneath Corry to assume a brief lead just before she went wide in Turn 11. This allowed Corry to execute a crossover move and reassume the top spot as Corry led the next lap by eight-tenths of a second. The caution then flew with seven laps remaining due to David Smith spinning and stalling backwards in Turn 2.

Throughout a three-lap shootout to the finish, Corry fended off Lovell for the event’s duration to motor his way to the victory. Despite Lovell’s late-race effort in reeling in with two laps remaining, Corry slightly increased his advantage and managed to beat Lovell by eight-tenths of a second for his first ARCA Menards Series West career victory and the first ARCA victory for Nitro Motorsports.

“Patience was definitely the word of the day today,” Corry, a former USF2000 Championship competitor, said. “My spotters Collin Fern and Will Rodgers all day on the box there just telling me to be patient and save these tires. I can’t thank them enough; they’ve been a huge help in my career up to now. Being here and having raced here before has definitely been a help, but to be with the same team that we were with in Trans Am coming over to the stock car world has been big.”

“Today was a testament of our patience for sure,” Corry added. “I have no words right now. I’m so excited for this team. They have put in so much work on this race car. They work so hard. To Nitro Motorsports, to Toyota Racing, thank you. I can’t thank these guys enough.”

Mia Lovell, who notched her first top-three result at Tri-City Raceway in early June, achieved a career-best runner-up result in her seventh ARCA West career start. Eric Johnson Jr., Cole Denton and Patrick Staropoli finished in the top five, respectively. Todd Souza, Robbie Kennealy, Jeff Anton, points leader Trevor Huddleston and Gavin Ray completed the top 10 in the final running order. With his ninth-place result, Huddleston retains the series’ lead in the standings by 34 points over Cole Denton and Mason Massey.

There were no lead changes as Corry led every lap from start to finish, and the race featured four cautions for 14 laps. In addition, 15 of 22 starters finished on the lead lap.

Results:

  1. Sam Corry, 47 laps led
  2. Mia Lovell
  3. Eric Johnson Jr.
  4. Cole Denton
  5. Patrick Staropoli
  6. Todd Souza
  7. Robbie Kennealy
  8. Jeff Anton
  9. Trevor Huddleston
  10. Gavin Ray
  11. Ryan Philpott
  12. Taylor Mayhew
  13. Sage Karam
  14. Andrew Chapman
  15. Tim Spurgeon
  16. Tyler Tomassi – OUT, Accident
  17. David Smith, three laps down
  18. Rodd Kneeland, six laps down
  19. Mason Massey, 12 laps down
  20. Haile Deegan – OUT, Mechanical
  21. Eric Nascimento Jr. – OUT, Mechanical
  22. Dave Smith – OUT, Did Not Start

Next on the 2026 ARCA Menards Series West schedule is Portland International Raceway in Portland, Oregon. The event is scheduled to occur on August 8 and air at 9 p.m. ET with coverage provided by FloRacing.

Shane van Gisbergen notches third consecutive O’Reilly pole at Sonoma

Photo by Tim Jarrold for SpeedwayMedia.com.

Shane van Gisbergen sped to the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series pole position for the 2026 Pit Boxx/FoodMaxx 250 at Sonoma Raceway on Friday, June 26.

The event’s starting lineup was determined through a group qualifying session. The field of 38 competitors was split into two qualifying groups. Each group was allotted 20 minutes to post the fastest lap amongst one another. The competitor who posted the fastest lap between the groups would be awarded the pole position.

Van Gisbergen, who was the second-fastest competitor in practice that occurred on Friday prior to qualifying, posted his fastest qualifying lap at 95.483 mph in 75.023 seconds. The lap was enough for van Gisbergen and his No. 9 SuperFile/JR Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro team to secure the pole position.

With the pole, van Gisbergen claimed his first O’Reilly Auto Parts Series pole position of the 2026 season, his third in a row at Sonoma Raceway, and his sixth for his 39th series start. The three-time Supercars champion from Auckland, New Zealand, also recorded the 500th O’Reilly career pole for Chevrolet. As the defending Cup Series winner and a former O’Reilly winner at Sonoma, van Gisbergen will strive to extend his road course dominance. His goal is to contend for the victory for both Saturday’s O’Reilly event and Sunday’s Cup event in Sonoma, California.

Van Gisbergen will share the front row with Brent Crews, the latter of whom achieved his second consecutive front row start for an O’Reilly event a week after notching his first career pole at San Diego’s Naval Base Coronado. Crews’ fastest lap occurred at 95.243 mph in 75.218 seconds.

Taylor Gray, Anthony Alfredo, and Parker Retzlaff will start in the top five, respectively. Corey Day, who was the fastest competitor in practice, will start in sixth place with a lap at 94.630 mph in 75.705 seconds. Jesse Love, Justin Allgaier, Sam Mayer and Austin Hill completed the top-10 starting grid, respectively. Connor Zilisch, the reigning O’Reilly winner at Sonoma, will start in 30th place.

Notably, Brad Perez and Austin Green were the only two competitors who did not post a qualifying lap, with Perez encountering a mechanical issue. Green’s reason was due to the driver being involved in a vicious head-on, single-car accident in Turn 11, which required Green to have a backup car prepared for Saturday’s main event.

With 38 competitors vying for 38 starting spots, all made the main event.

Sonoma – Qualifying Position, Best Speed, Best Time:

  1. Shane van Gisbergen, 95.483 mph, 75.029 seconds
  2. Brent Crews, 95.243 mph, 75.218 seconds
  3. Taylor Gray, 94.947 mph, 75.453 seconds
  4. Anthony Alfredo, 94.865 mph, 75.518 seconds
  5. Parker Retzlaff, 94.662 mph, 75.680 seconds
  6. Corey Day, 94.630 mph, 75.705 seconds
  7. Jesse Love, 94.569 mph, 75.754 seconds
  8. Justin Allgaier, 94.563 mph, 75.759 seconds
  9. Sam Mayer, 94.516 mph, 75.797 seconds
  10. Austin Hill, 94.418 mph, 75.875 seconds
  11. Sheldon Creed, 94.325 mph, 75.950 seconds
  12. William Sawalich, 94.237 mph, 76.021 seconds
  13. Sammy Smith, 94.054 mph, 76.169 seconds
  14. Brandon Jones, 93.996 mph, 76.216 seconds
  15. Ross Chastain, 93.869 mph, 76.319 seconds
  16. Carson Kvapil, 93.853 mph, 76.332 seconds
  17. Dean Thompson, 93.636 mph, 76.509 seconds
  18. Josh Bilicki, 93.552 mph, 76.578 seconds
  19. Harrison Burton, 93.500 mph, 76.620 seconds
  20. Will Rodgers, 93.428 mph, 76.679 seconds
  21. Rajah Caruth, 93.400 mph, 76.702 seconds
  22. Jeb Burton, 93.323 mph, 76.766 seconds
  23. Jeremy Clements 93.219 mph, 76.851 seconds
  24. Alex Labbe, 93.162 mph, 76.898 seconds
  25. Ryan Sieg, 92.986 mph, 77.044 seconds
  26. Josh Williams, 92.887 mph, 77.126 seocnds
  27. Blaine Perkins, 92.838 mph, 77.167 seconds
  28. Kyle Sieg, 92.596 mph, 77.368 seconds
  29. Ryan Ellis, 92.592 mph, 77.372 seconds
  30. Connor Zilisch, 92.564 mph, 77.395 seconds
  31. Lavar Scott, 92.500 mph, 77.449 seconds
  32. Brennan Poole, 92.163 mph, 77.732 seconds
  33. Leland Honeyman Jr., 92.023 mph, 77.850 seconds
  34. Patrick Staropoli, 91.899 mph, 77.955 seconds
  35. Kyle Kelley, 91.248 mph, 78.511 seconds
  36. Dawson Cram, 90.417 mph, 79.233 seconds
  37. Brad Perez, 0.000 mph, 0.000 seconds
  38. Austin Green, 0.000 mph, 0.000 seconds

The 2026 Pit Boxx/FoodMaxx 250 at Sonoma Raceway is scheduled to occur on Saturday, June 27, at 5:30 p.m. ET on the CW Network, PRN Radio, and SiriusXM.

LANGDON, CAPPS, ANDERSON & HERRERA GET PROVISIONAL NO. 1 SPOTS AT SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT NHRA NATIONALS

NORWALK, Ohio (June 25, 2026) – Top Fuel points leader Shawn Langdon moved closer to his third No. 1 qualifier in the past four races, taking the provisional No. 1 position on Friday at Summit Motorsports Park as part of this weekend’s 20th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals.

Ron Capps (Funny Car), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) are also the provisional No. 1 qualifiers in Norwalk at the 10th of 20 races during the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season.

Langdon went 3.742-seconds at 335.23 mph in his 12,000-horsepower Kalitta Air dragster, making the quickest run of both sessions on Friday in Norwalk. If it holds, Langdon would earn his fifth No. 1 qualifier this season and 27th in his career. The points leader saw his winning streak snapped in Bristol, but he’s still advanced to six straight final rounds as he looks to keep rolling in Norwalk.

“We’re very pleased with how the car ran and I think with what we’re trying to accomplish, Brian’s [Husen, crew chief] been making great calls, and he’s been doing a great job getting the car put together perfectly, so it allows for some great runs like that,” Langdon said. “Fortunately, the car’s responding well and it’s pretty glued in. We’re very happy with the setup right now.

“I think what you saw today is just a little indication of the great racing surface, with big speeds. There’s a little more out there, so as long as we can keep that cloud cover, and the crew chiefs start getting more information and getting a little more aggressive with it, you’ll see quicker E.T.s and bigger speeds.”

Tony Stewart moved into the second spot with a run of 3.767 at 335.07 and rookie standout Maddi Gordon is third after going 3.793 at 335.40.

Ron Capps made the most of a stellar second qualifying session in Funny Car, dipping into the 3.80s in Norwalk with an impressive run of 3.894 at 328.38 in his 12,000-horsepower NAPA Auto Care Toyota GR Supra.

The points leader was the only driver in the 3.80s, but it was a standout session as Capps was challenged on several occasions. It was a big moment for the three-time world champion, who is now in position to get his third No. 1 qualifier of the season and the 40th in his career. Capps has been remarkably consistent in a loaded Funny Car class this year and is after his second career win in Norwalk.

“Conditions obviously got cooler three or four cars before us. I could see the cloud cover coming, and Guido [crew chief Dean Antonelli] got back in the box about four or five times more than usual and kept coming back,” Capps said.

“This place is notorious [with weather] changing from one session to the next, let alone day to day. I’ve been doing this a long time, and it’s not that I don’t have confidence, but the Funny Car field is insane this year, and it gets that way every year.”

Defending event winner Austin Prock is second with a run of 3.905 at 334.15 and Alexis DeJoria is third after going 3.918 at 330.63.

Pro Stock’s Greg Anderson always looks to go big at Summit Motorsports Park and the points leader certainly did so on Friday, going low of the day with a 6.550 at 209.36 in his HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro.

The six-time world champ had the best run of both sessions, which also gives him plenty of momentum heading into Saturday’s GETTRX All-Star Callout. Anderson gets the first pick in Saturday’s bonus race and the veteran, who has three wins at America’s Racetrack, has a great opportunity for a huge weekend at a track and race that’s always meant a great deal to him.

“Yeah, it was big [the provisional no. 1 qualifier], but tomorrow’s the big day,” Anderson said. “We love special races like this, and I’ve been fortunate the past two years, so hopefully tomorrow’s another big day, but we had to set it up today. I think we got all the points we can get today.

“I don’t expect the weather and the race to be a whole lot different tomorrow. It’s a great start, so I definitely feel good going back to the hotel tonight knowing that we’ve got a good racehorse at the track tomorrow.”

Reigning world champion Dallas Glenn is second with a run of 6.561 at 209.07 and Matt Hartford, who won in Bristol, went 6.564 at 208.71, putting him third.

In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Gaige Herrera continued his dominant stretch from Bristol, making the quickest run of both sessions on Friday in Norwalk, including a 6.779 at 199.64 on his RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki.

After not getting a No. 1 qualifier at the first handful of races, Herrera is now on track for his second straight top spot and was only one of two riders to reach the 6.70s on Friday. He rolled to the victory in Bristol and Herrera would love to keep it going at Summit Motorsports Park, where he won during his 2024 championship season.

“I wouldn’t say it’s back to normal, but it feels good. We’ve kind of been struggling for a bit now, but we made some changes to the bike itself, so hopefully I’ll have the same bike in the sun tomorrow,” Herrera said.

“I just had a bunch of bad luck, as far as parts breaking. It’s just been one thing after another for me. Andrew (Hines, crew chief) has been looking at his notes more than anything and I think they figured something out with the field.”

Joey Gladstone, who is filling in for Matt Smith for the second straight race, is second with a 6.795 at 198.70 and Angie Smith is currently third after going 6.805 at 200.11.

Qualifying continues at 12 p.m. ET on Saturday at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Summit Motorsports Park. The first round of the GETTRX Pro Stock All-Star Callout begins at 11:30 a.m.


NORWALK, Ohio — Friday’s results after the first two of four rounds of qualifying for the 20th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park, 10th of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Saturday for Sunday’s final eliminations.

Top Fuel — 1. Shawn Langdon, 3.742 seconds, 335.23 mph; 2. Tony Stewart, 3.767, 335.07; 3. Maddi Gordon, 3.793, 335.40; 4. Clay Millican, 3.799, 339.11; 5. Josh Hart, 3.803, 332.34; 6. Leah Pruett, 3.806, 330.72; 7. Spencer Massey, 3.814, 327.11; 8. Antron Brown, 3.828, 329.50; 9. Billy Torrence, 3.839, 329.83; 10. Shawn Reed, 3.879, 279.79; 11. Tony Schumacher, 3.886, 278.17; 12. Will Smith, 3.926, 273.27; 13. Doug Kalitta, 4.172, 219.69; 14. Justin Ashley, 4.211, 301.87; 15. Scott Farley, 4.669, 162.51.

Funny Car — 1. Ron Capps, Toyota GR Supra, 3.894, 328.38; 2. Austin Prock, Ford Mustang, 3.905, 334.15; 3. Alexis DeJoria, Chevy Camaro, 3.918, 331.53; 4. Cruz Pedregon, Dodge Charger, 3.931, 325.30; 5. Del Worsham, Toyota Supra, 3.934, 332.67; 6. Jordan Vandergriff, Camaro, 3.936, 329.18; 7. Daniel Wilkerson, Mustang, 3.938, 322.50; 8. Jack Beckman, Camaro, 3.945, 327.59; 9. Dave Richards, Mustang, 3.961, 332.59; 10. J.R. Todd, GR Supra, 3.966, 332.34; 11. Chad Green, Mustang, 3.988, 325.06; 12. Blake Alexander, Charger, 3.991, 322.34; 13. Matt Hagan, Charger, 3.992, 327.43; 14. Spencer Hyde, Mustang, 3.996, 322.96; 15. Bobby Bode, Mustang, 4.125, 267.06; 16. Jeff Arend, Charger, 4.134, 299.33.

Pro Stock — 1. Greg Anderson, Chevy Camaro, 6.550, 209.36; 2. Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.561, 209.07; 3. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.564, 209.04; 4. Greg Stanfield, Camaro, 6.577, 209.30; 5. Deric Kramer, Camaro, 6.577, 207.46; 6. Matt Latino, Camaro, 6.579, 209.26; 7. Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.580, 209.92; 8. Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.591, 208.07; 9. Cody Anderson, Camaro, 6.593, 209.10; 10. Eric Latino, Camaro, 6.593, 209.04; 11. Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 6.598, 208.84; 12. Stephen Bell, Camaro, 6.617, 208.26; 13. Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 6.624, 209.23; 14. Kenny Delco, Camaro, 6.633, 208.55.

Pro Stock Motorcycle — 1. Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 6.779, 199.64; 2. Joey Gladstone, Buell, 6.795, 198.70; 3. Angie Smith, Buell, 6.805, 200.11; 4. Richard Gadson, Suzuki, 6.814, 198.44; 5. Brayden Davis, Buell, 6.829, 197.94; 6. Ryan Oehler, EBR, 6.841, 196.76; 7. John Hall, Beull, 6.855, 199.46; 8. Jianna Evaristo, Buell, 6.876, 196.19; 9. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.877, 194.52; 10. Chase Van Sant, Suzuki, 6.914, 197.10; 11. Geno Scali, Suzuki, 6.951, 195.36; 12. Wesley Wells, Suzuki, 7.064, 189.31; 13. Marc Ingwersen, EBR, 7.090, 163.26; 14. Bud Yoder II, Buell, 7.227, 181.62; 15. Odolph Daniels, Suzuki, 9.102, 98.32.

Jordan Anderson Racing Bommarito Autosport NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series Race Overview – Sonoma Raceway

Track: Sonoma Raceway
Race: Pit Boss / FoodMaxx 250
Date/Broadcast: Saturday; June 27, 2026 5:30 P.M. ET
TV: CW Network
Radio: Performance Racing Network (PRN) – Check Local Listings for affiliate, and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90
Social Media: Jordan Anderson Racing Bommarito AutoSport; Facebook, Instagram, and X

Racing in Northern California – Jordan Anderson Racing Bommarito Autosport

Ready to Race at Sonoma Raceway

Sonoma, CA. (June 26, 2026) – Jordan Anderson Racing Bommarito Autosport travels north to Sonoma, California this weekend for the Pit Boss / FoodMaxx 250 at Sonoma Raceway.

The 2.5 mile course features 12 turns with sweeping right and left corners, with steep hills, that makes it one of NASCAR’s more historic road courses.

The team will field three Chevrolets this weekend: Jeb Burton in the No. 27 Fecon / FVP Parts Chevrolet, Blaine Perkins in the No. 31 Nuthin Fancy Co. Chevrolet, and Ross Chastain in the No. 32 Western Watermelon Association / California Almonds Chevrolet.

Pit road strategy and a dialed-in setup will be essential in navigating the course and maintaining track position for a decent finish.

Jeb Burton arrives in Sonoma, California currently residing in 20th in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series (NOAPS) standings. After finishing 17th the previous week at Naval Base Coronado, Burton looks to record consecutive Top-20 finishes on road courses during his west coast outing.

“Sonoma’s been a tough track for us, but we had a decent road course race last week, so I’m excited we have another course race this week. (We) need to keep gaining points on the guys in front of us and get some momentum rolling. We also have Fecon on the hood so I’m excited about that.”

Blaine Perkins began his homecoming trip with a 13th place finish in San Diego, and looks to capitalize on the momentum as the series heads to Sonoma Raceway and concludes its two week California swing. Perkins currently sits 21st in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series (NOAPS) standings.

“Happy to have Nuthin Fancy Co. on the car this weekend in Sonoma!” said Perkins. “Always nice to be out west racing close to home, and hoping to keep the momentum we built from San Diego last weekend, and taking that into this weekend. We had a really good car here last year, and I’m excited to see how we’ve built on top of that. Hopefully we can have another strong run.”

Ross Chastain returns to the No. 32 car to conclude his schedule with Jordan Anderson Racing Bommarito Autosport (JAR) for the 2026 NACSAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series (NOAPS) season. Chastain has shown strong speed in his three previous starts with JAR, recording one top-five, three top-10s, and an average finish of 6.33.

“Sonoma is always a unique challenge, and I’ve enjoyed how the track has aged since the repave a couple of years ago.” said Chastain. “I take every opportunity I can get to run extra races throughout the year, especially on road courses. I feel like we had good pace at Watkins Glen earlier this year, and luckily, the forecast is a bit clearer, so we won’t have to battle any wet-track conditions.

I’m excited to have the Western Watermelon Association and the Almond Board of California on board the No. 32. Both groups enjoy coming to the West Coast races every year as fans, so being able to represent them on track now is a cool moment.”
About Jordan Anderson Racing Bommarito Autosport

Jordan Anderson Racing Bommarito Autosport was built from the ground up, fueled by passion, persistence, and a bold vision for what an independent NASCAR team could become. Founded by driver and owner Jordan Anderson, the organization has grown from a grassroots operation hauling a single truck across the country into a competitive multi-car NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series team through a pivotal partnership with St. Louis automotive dealer John Bommarito. Along the way, the team has earned wins, poles, and a reputation for grit, growth, and opportunity within the NASCAR garage. Today, Jordan Anderson Racing Bommarito AutoSport is investing in talent, innovation, and culture to challenge the status quo and build a new kind of racing legacy.

Lone Star Racing Brings IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup Momentum to Mid-Season Race at Watkins Glen International

  • No. 80 Lone Star Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 Team and Co-Drivers Scott Andrews, Lin Hodenius and James Roe Jr. Compete in Sunday’s Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen
  • Fourth-Place GTD Finish at Sebring and Sixth at Rolex 24 Opener Lone Star Racing’s Career-Best IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup Race Results

WATKINS GLEN, New York (June 26, 2026) – Opening the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup (IMEC) season with a pair of career-best GT Daytona (GTD) class results, the No 80 Lone Star Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 team and co-drivers Scott Andrews, Lin Hodenius and James Roe Jr. roll into this weekend’s Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen primed for more success. Sunday’s featured six-hour endurance race on the legendary 3.4-mile Watkins Glen International Grand Prix circuit marks the mid-year round of the 2026 IMEC championship that honors the top performers in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season’s five endurance races.

In the most recent race in March at the 74th Running of the 12 Hours of Sebring, Lone Star and its trio of drivers secured a fourth-place GTD finish. The result marks the team’s best career finish in the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup (IMEC), surpassing the previous benchmark of sixth place set in January’s season-opening Rolex 24 At Daytona.

The No. 80 Lone Star Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 – a brand-new car debuted at Sebring – and the first-year combination of veteran team driver Andrews and experienced newcomers Hodenius and Roe Jr. demonstrated race-winning pace at both Daytona and Sebring. The Lone Star Racing engineering team and tireless pit crew in turn gave its drivers a good setup on the No. 80, top race strategy and flawless pit stops in both races.

“We look forward to continuing at Watkins Glen the pace and performance we showed to open the year at Daytona and Sebring and securing this weekend another season-best result,” said AJ Petersen, Lone Star Racing Team Manager and Technical Director. “We still have a combined 22 hours of racing across the three remaining rounds ahead, starting with this weekend’s six-hour race, and the plan is to keep doing what we have been doing and pushing even harder for our first IMSA GTD race win.”

Andrews both finished and started the Sebring race after qualifying fourth on the GTD grid. He has previous career success at The Glen, co-driving to an LMP3 win in 2021 in what proved to be a major step in securing that year’s IMEC class championship.

““We always have a fast car at Watkins Glen, and the team and drivers have been putting in a lot of preparation for this event,” Andrews said. “I am really looking forward to the Watkins Glen six hour. The first two races of the year were some of our best and hopefully we can continue the performance and have some good luck here. I would love to get the team’s first IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship podium at this iconic Watkins Glen track.”

Roe Jr. has also visited the top step of The Glen’s victory lane early in his career.

“I am really looking forward to racing in the Lone Star Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 with my teammates at Watkins Glen,” Roe Jr. said. “I feel like we have great momentum as a group and now is the time to capitalize on it all. It’s at a track I know well and really enjoy. I raced at The Glen back in 2018 in Formula 2000 and won it, so let’s keep that going!”

Along with five laps at the front of the GTD field at Daytona, the Lone Star drivers combined to lead the GTD field at Sebring three different times for a total of eight laps in the tightly contested race, including the No. 80’s final six laps up front with Sebring debuting driver Hodenius at the wheel. Hodenius is now set for his Watkins Glen debut this weekend.

The mid-season Sahlen’s Six Hours IMEC round follows the Rolex 24 and 12 Hours of Sebring with the inaugural 6 Hours of Road America and season-ending 10-Hour Petit Le Mans at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta still to come.

The Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen can be viewed live in its entirety this Sunday, June 28, from Noon – 6:30 p.m. EDT on NBC’s Peacock and internationally at IMSA.TV or the IMSA YouTube channel. The six-hour race is preceded by morning green flags for practice sessions today and Saturday with GTD qualifying set for Saturday afternoon at 3:45 p.m. EDT.

About Lone Star Racing: Based at Motorsport Ranch within the greater Dallas-Fort Worth area in Cresson, Texas, Lone Star Racing is competing in the No. 80 Lone Star Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 in the 2026 IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup in the GTD class, in addition to other top sports car racing series. Lone Star Racing and its team members have won races across North America spanning sprint and endurance racing formats. The crew has worked together on many different teams and various types of cars, developing a strong bond and proven capability that gives them a competitive and winning advantage. Lone Star Racing competes with the support of primary partner ACS Manufacturing, Inc. (www.ACSManufacturing.com). Look for Lone Star Racing and team owner/driver Dan Knox on Facebook and follow the team on YouTube at Lone Star Racing, on Twitter and Instagram @LSRTeam and on the official team web site at www.LoneStarRacingTeam.com.

RCR Race Preview: Sonoma Raceway

Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR Cup Series at Sonoma Raceway… In 84 NASCAR Cup Series starts at Sonoma Raceway, Richard Childress Racing owns two wins. Dale Earnhardt claimed the first win for the organization in 1995, leading the final two laps of the race to secure the victory. Earnhardt also won the pole for that same event, the first for the Welcome, N.C.-based team. Robby Gordon won at Sonoma in 2003, leading 81 of 110 laps and holding off Jeff Gordon for the win. RCR has racked up 15 top-five and 28 top-10 finishes since the NASCAR Cup Series made its debut at the track in 1989. The team has led 158 laps at the California road course and has completed 8,710 of a possible 8,844 laps (98.5 percent).

Richard Childress Racing in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series at Sonoma Raceway… In six NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series starts at Sonoma Raceway, RCR has led 25 laps and earned one top-five and two top-10 finishes.

NASCAR’s $1 Million Showdown: The 2026 In-Season Challenge… The NASCAR In-Season Challenge kicks off this weekend at Sonoma Raceway for the NASCAR Cup Series. The 32 qualifying drivers are seeded into a single-elimination bracket. Each race in the tournament reduces the field by half: from 32 to 16, then to eight, four, and finally two. The driver with the better finish in the final race is crowned the tournament champion. This weekend, Austin Dillon is paired against Ty Gibbs. The challenge will end on July 26 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Catch the Action on Saturday… The NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series’ Pit Boss/FoodMaxx 250 at Sonoma Raceway will be televised live Saturday, June 27, beginning at 5:30 p.m. ET on The CW. The race will be broadcast live on the Performance Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. Friday afternoon’s practice and qualifying session will be shown for free on The CW App beginning at 4 p.m. ET.

Watch Us on TNT Sports… The NASCAR Cup Series’ Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway will be televised live on Sunday, June 28, beginning at 3:30 p.m. ET on TNT Sports, the first of five consecutive races this season that will air on TNT Sports. The race will be broadcast live on the Performance Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90. Saturday afternoon’s practice and qualifying session will be shown live on truTV beginning at 2 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 Bass Pro Shops/Winchester Supreme Long Range Chevrolet at Sonoma Raceway… Austin Dillon has made 11 previous NASCAR Cup Series starts at Sonoma Raceway, earning his best finish of 11th at the 10-turn, 1.99-mile road course in 2022. He has completed 93.9 percent of the laps run at the track. In addition to his NASCAR Cup Series starts, Dillon has made three NASCAR K&N Pro Series West starts at Sonoma Raceway, earning a best finish of third in 2019 among two top-10 finishes.

First Round Opponent… NASCAR’s In-Season Challenge begins Sunday, June 27 at Sonoma Raceway. The single-elimination tournament returns for the second season in a row. Dillon’s first-round opponent is Ty Gibbs. The $1 million-to-win bonus tournament will be contested over the next five weeks, culminating at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Tickets to the 2026 Carolina Cowboys Home Stand Are Available Now… The Carolina Cowboys, a professional team in the PBR Teams Series, recently hosted a training camp for their roster of riders as they get set to defend their PBR Teams Series Championship ahead of the 2026 season. Dillon, who serves as general manager of the team, has been instrumental in all facets of the team, including training camp. Don’t miss the Carolina Cowboys 2026 “Cowboy Days” Home Stand September 18-20 at First Horizon Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina. Tickets are on sale at PBR.com and Ticketmaster.com.

About Bass Pro Shops… Bass Pro Shops, North America’s premier outdoor and conservation company, was founded in 1972 when avid young angler Johnny Morris started selling tackle out of his father’s liquor store in Springfield, Missouri. That was the company’s sole location for the first 13 years, and it has since grown to nearly 200 retail locations throughout North America. Today the company provides customers with unmatched offerings spanning premier destination retail, outdoor equipment manufacturing, world-class resort destinations and more. In 2017 Bass Pro Shops united with Cabela’s to create a “best-of-the-best” experience with superior products, dynamic locations and outstanding customer service. Bass Pro Shops also operates White River Marine Group, offering an unsurpassed collection of industry-leading boat brands, and Big Cedar Lodge, America’s Premier Wilderness Resort. Under the visionary conservation leadership of Johnny Morris, Bass Pro Shops is a national leader in protecting habitat and introducing families to the outdoors and has been named by Newsweek as “America’s Best Outdoor Retailer” for four consecutive years and “America’s Most Trusted Retailer for Outdoor Gear.”

From Winchester, The American Legend, comes Supreme® Long Range Ammunition… An all-new line of high-quality precision centerfire rifle ammunition that takes long range shooting to the next level. Featuring BC Max™ bullets, the first Winchester bullet purpose-built for hunting and targets at even the most extreme ranges, Supreme Long Range promises match-grade accuracy and devastating terminal performance.

Meet Dillon… On Sunday, June 28 at 9:15 a.m. Local Time, Dillon is scheduled to sign autographs alongside his RCR teammate Austin Hill at the RCR Merchandise Hauler in Fan Midway at Sonoma Raceway.

AUSTIN DILLON QUOTE:

How do you prepare for Sonoma Raceway?

“We prepare for Sonoma Raceway by spending a lot of hours on the Chevrolet simulator. I could probably run Sonoma in my sleep. We’ve put a lot of effort into this race. I can’t wait to get there in the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops /Winchester Supreme Long Range Chevrolet. It’s a fun road course and the recent repave of the full course will test everyone’s setup during practice.”

What’s the most challenging part of the Sonoma Raceway layout for you—Turn 11 hairpin, the esses, or something else?

“Turn 11 has always been the most challenging aspect of Sonoma Raceway. You’ve got to have patience and make a really good arch on entry. You know that drivers are going to be attacking that corner, so you don’t know what’s going to happen at times. The best thing to do is to roll the curb as fast as you can and pick up the throttle early to get off the corner.”

How do you manage brake wear and overheating with all the heavy braking zones?

“You try not to overlap on two pedals and use the brakes efficiently. Sonoma Raceway is a track where you can overheat your brakes very fast, and there’s not much time to cool them down with the long runs we’ve seen over the last few races. You want to keep as much rear brake in the car as possible, and you can have a good day.”

Austin Hill and the No. 33 zone x am pm Chevrolet at Sonoma Raceway… Austin Hill will make his first NASCAR Cup Series start at Sonoma Raceway on Sunday. The Winston, Georgia native has competed in three NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series events at the California road course, posting one top-five and two top-10 finishes.

Building Momentum… Last weekend at Naval Base Coronado, Hill posted top-10 speed in both practice and qualifying. Saturday’s 10th-place starting effort marked the 32-year-old’s career best qualifying result in the Cup Series. During the race, Hill was involved in a multi-car accident while running in the second position.

Did You Know… In 2025, Hill earned his first career Cup Series top-10 finish at the Chicago Street Race, crossing the finish line in the ninth position. During the event, Hill made 55 green flag passes – the most of any driver in the field.

Zoning in on zone… zone™, the latest innovation from ITG Brands, is the next generation of nicotine pouches that delivers a superior tobacco-free experience and outperforms competitive products where it matters most. Available in 6mg and 9mg strengths and 10 variants, zone pouches are made with top shelf ingredients and high-quality materials to provide immediate nicotine intensity, longer-lasting flavor, and extra soft comfort. zone’s pouches are carefully crafted and designed to meet the needs of 21+ adult nicotine consumers, providing the best experience from the first pouch to the last.

Meet Hill… On Sunday, June 28 at 9:15 a.m. Local Time, Hill is scheduled to sign autographs alongside his RCR teammate Austin Dillon at the RCR Merchandise Hauler in Fan Midway at Sonoma Raceway.

AUSTIN HILL QUOTE:

With back-to-back road course events, is there anything that can be taken from Naval Base Coronado and applied to Sonoma Raceway?

“The main thing is confidence. To finally get a road course win in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, I have a lot of confidence going into another weekend turning left and right. We also showed a lot of speed and pace in the Cup Series last weekend, which was a boost for our entire group. When you don’t race on road courses often, it can take a little extra time – five or six laps – to get back accumulated to hitting your shifting marks. Because we just did a street course, that adjustment period should be short if non-existent. Sonoma is a great road course with elevation changes, and we have been putting in the work on the simulator to prep for this weekend. I flew home this week to spend extra time on the simulator and hopefully it pays off.”

Jesse Love and the No. 2 Whelen Chevrolet at Sonoma Raceway… Jesse Love has made two career NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series starts at Sonoma Raceway. In 2024, Love qualified in the sixth position and earned stage points, en route to a 12th-place result. The young gun has also competed in one ARCA Menards Series West event at the California road course (2021).

Last Week… After starting at the tail of the field in last Saturday’s race at Naval Base Coronado, Love and the No. 2 team employed strategy to gain track position. By the start of Stage 2, Love was inside the top-10. However, on lap 36, the 21-year-old sustained damage in a 25-car accident which forced the No. 2 team to make repairs. Quick repairs and speed allowed Love to finish in the sixth position, his best result since his runner-up effort at Charlotte Motor Speedway last month.

Road Courses in 2026… The O’Reilly Auto Parts Series has had three road course events so far in the 2026 campaign, taking place at Circuit of The Americas in February, Watkins Glen International in May, and Naval Base Coronado last Saturday. Love finished fourth at COTA, nearly secured his first career road course victory with a runner-up result at Watkins Glen International, and a sixth-place result at Naval Base Coronado.

Consistency Continues… Love’s average finish of 10.8 is fourth-best among full-time drivers in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series.

Get to the Points… Love remains second in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series driver championship point standings, 224 points behind leader Justin Allgaier and 14 points ahead of third-place Corey Day.

Coming Home… This weekend’s event at Sonoma Raceway marks a California homecoming for Love. The 21-year-old is a native of Menlo Park – a short one-hour drive from the 1.99-mile asphalt facility.

About Whelen Engineering… Whelen Engineering is a family-owned company with a pioneering spirit and a passion to protect the lives of those who protect and serve others. The company mission is to provide industry-defining safety solutions around the world, while creating a community of problem-solvers who are inspired to push boundaries and continue our legacy of delivering ground-breaking innovation. As a global leader in the emergency warning industry, Whelen has been trusted to perform since 1952, when George Whelen III invented the first rotating aviation beacon. Whelen now encompasses two state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in Connecticut and New Hampshire with over 750,000 square feet of engineering and manufacturing space and the largest design staff in the industry. Every part of every Whelen product is proudly designed and manufactured in America. We embrace quality as our foundation, and we celebrate innovative engineering in every product we produce.

Everyday Champion… You don’t have to wear a cape to be a hero. Sometimes, all it takes is a willingness to step forward, a commitment to others, and the determination to make a difference—day after day, year after year. That’s the spirit behind Whelen Engineering’s Everyday Champion program, which is now accepting nominations for 2026. Created to honor first responders and everyday citizens who rise to the occasion when it matters most, the program celebrates the quiet strength, compassion, and leadership that define true heroism. Each year, the Everyday Champion program recognizes those who go above and beyond - whether through a single act of heroism or a continued commitment to serving others. Past honorees have included law enforcement officers, firefighters, paramedicine teams, and civilians whose actions made a life-saving difference.

Nominations are open from May 1 through August 14, 2026. Individuals can nominate a deserving hero by visiting whelen.com/everydaychampion and completing a brief submission form outlining their story. The selected 2026 Everyday Champion will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, North Carolina, where they will be honored during a special ceremony and inducted into the Whelen Hall of Champions. In addition, a generous donation will be made in their name to the charity of their choice.

Meet Love… On Saturday, June 27 at 11:35 a.m. Local Time, Love is scheduled to sign autographs at the RCR Merchandise Hauler located in the Fan Midway at Sonoma Raceway. Stop by to meet Love and purchase No. 2 gear.

JESSE LOVE QUOTE:

What are your expectations this weekend at Sonoma Raceway?

“I’m excited for Sonoma Raceway, I thought we were pretty good there a couple years ago, and last year as well. Hopefully we can have a smooth weekend. We got the speed to be in contention, and hopefully we have the luck to go along with it.”

Austin Hill and the No. 21 Bennett Transportation & Logistics Chevrolet at Sonoma Raceway… Austin Hill has made three career NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series starts at Sonoma Raceway, earning one top-five and two top-10 finishes. The Winston, Georgia native secured an eighth-place result in 2023, before leading 21 laps and earning a fifth-place effort the following season in 2024. Hill has completed 100 percent of the laps competed (237) at the 1.99-mile road course.

Mission Accomplished… After qualifying in the fourth position for the inaugural event at Naval Base Coronado, Hill showed speed early by winning Stage 1 and capturing 10 stage points. The Winston, Georgia native would receive left side contact in the 25-car restart accident during Stage 2, but after repairs from the No. 21 team, Hill rallied to finish eighth in the segment. Hill remained in contention, running no worse than third in the closing laps, before passing Taylor Gray on the last lap to secure his first series road course victory.

Conquered Them All… While known for his drafting track abilities, Hill has now won at every style of track on the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series schedule. The 32-year-old has 11 drafting track wins (4x Daytona International Speedway, 5x EchoPark Speedway, 2x Talladega Superspeedway), three intermediate victories (Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Homestead-Miami Speedway, Pocono Raceway), one short track win (Martinsville Speedway) and one road course victory (Naval Base Coronado).

Did You Know… Last Saturday marked Hill’s 16th career victory in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, tying the veteran racer with Joe Nemechek and Jeff Green for 23rd all-time in series wins.

Lefts and Rights in 2026… After claiming the checkered flag in San Diego, California, Hill has finished no worse than 11th in all three road course events in 2026 – second at Circuit of The Americas, 11th at Watkins Glen International (ran out of fuel while running third), and first at Naval Base Coronado.

Points Check… Following his victory at Naval Base Coronado, Hill currently holds fifth-place in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series driver championship point standings – 256 points behind leader Justin Allgaier and only 16 points behind fourth-place Sheldon Creed. Six regular season races remain before the Chase to crown a champion begins.

About Bennett Family of Companies… McDonough-Ga. based Bennett Family of Companies provides industry-leading logistics solutions that help businesses thrive. Whether you need specialized trucking, warehousing, 3PL, exporting, importing, or crane services, Bennett has the expertise to handle your most complex and time-sensitive freight. From LTL to over-dimensional truckloads, Bennett ensures safe, reliable, and on-time deliveries around the world. With a legacy of excellence since 1974, their family and woman-owned company is dedicated to providing personalized, flexible solutions that meet your unique business needs. Trust Bennett to deliver when it matters most – discover how we can help your business grow at www.bennettig.com. Together we can move anything. 

AUSTIN HILL QUOTE:

Coming off a win at Naval Base Coronado, what is the outlook for this weekend’s race at Sonoma Raceway?

“Now that we have finally got our first road course win, maybe we can do it again. I think it’s going to be a

great weekend. Sonoma is an awesome racetrack. Two years ago, we had a shot at winning. We were going head to head with SVG (Shane van Gisbergen) and it didn’t work out. Last year, we missed the balance a little bit with the car, but everything that we’ve learned this year on road course races has worked for my driving style. We’ve been able to apply it to all road courses this season and it’s shown. Our Chevrolets have been fast at every road course we have raced at so far. The biggest thing is making all of the laps and being there when it matters most.”

Why Choosing a Local Tire Shop Makes a Difference for Vehicle Safety

Tires play a very vital role in the safety of your vehicle as they directly affect the traction, braking, and handling of your car every time you drive. That’s why it is important to maintain your car tires regularly, as it helps improve vehicle performance and lowers the chances of encountering tire-related problems.

When you choose a tire shop in Lillington NC, you have the advantage of connecting with expert local professionals who are familiar with the driving conditions in the area and offer dependable tire services. Whether you are looking for regular maintenance or expert tire care solutions, a reliable local shop will keep your vehicle safe and ready for the road.

Importance of Vehicle Safety

Vehicle Safety depends on multiple safety measures, and tire safety is absolutely essential. If your tires are worn out or not taken care of properly, you could face issues like reduced traction, fewer options for stopping, and no way to steer safely away from an obstacle or hazard, which can all lead to accidents.

Routine care of your tires provides:

  • Better traction on both wet and dry roads.
  • Help stop the vehicle quicker.
  • Greater stability when making turns.
  • A lower chance of experiencing a tire blowout.
  • Increased efficiency by keeping tires inflated correctly

Role of Tires in Overall Vehicle Performance

Tires are really important for how your vehicle runs as they supply the necessary grip for the vehicle, support braking, and help maintain steering control. When tires are worn, under-inflated, or poorly maintained, you might experience:

  • Poor braking ability to stop the vehicle
  • Bad handling and steering response.
  • Damage the tires faster.
  • Reduce the fuel efficiency
  • Increase the possibility of skidding on wet roads

In order to keep your tires in good and safe condition, it’s important to regularly rotate them, balance the wheels, get alignments, and inspect the tires.

Benefits of Choosing Local Tire Shops 

There are many reasons why you should go for a full-service tire maintenance shop besides just convenience. Local stores give you trustworthy service, skilled technicians, and make recommendations that fit your vehicle and those of your car and your surrounding road conditions. Let’s dive into some of the standout benefits of opting for a local tire expert.

Professional Expertise and Personalization

Local tire specialists take time to get to know your vehicle’s specific requirements and suggest the right tires and maintenance services according to your driving style, budget, and manufacturer’s recommendations.

Knowledge of Local Driving Conditions

Local technicians are experienced and well aware of the types of roads and seasonal weather patterns. This allows them to recommend the right tires and maintenance schedules that enhance your vehicle’s performance and safety.

Building Long-Term Relationships

By opting for a neighborhood tire store, you will have the opportunity to build lasting relationships with trusted technicians who become familiar with your vehicle’s service history. This familiarity makes future maintenance smoother and more personalized.

Convenient Access to Professional Tire Services

Having an experienced tire professional just around the corner makes the process of keeping up with regular tire maintenance easy.  If a professional service is always near either their home or workplace, vehicle owners will be more inclined to maintain tire rotations, inspect their tire pressure, and overall tire health.

Quicker Turnaround Times

Local businesses usually give a lot of importance to offering fast and quality services to their fellow community members. Be it swapping out worn tires, handling seasonal maintenance, or an emergency flat tire repair service for damaged tires, customers often enjoy quicker scheduling and shorter wait times compared to those larger service centers.

Community Engagement and Support

Visiting a local tire retailer not only improves the performance of your vehicle but also boosts the community by enhancing the local economy and generating jobs. Owners of many local stores focus on providing honest service, quality workmanship, and building lasting relationships with their customers so that drivers can count on trusted tire experts whenever they need dependable tire care.

Conclusion

Tire maintenance plays a significant role in ensuring safe, reliable driving. For a Flat tire, selecting a reliable tire repair service can make it easy to get help from experts, receive individualized advice, and ensure reliable tire repair and maintenance. A trusted local specialist on the job will make sure your vehicle stays in top shape for every trip you take.

PIWIS 4 vs PIWIS 3: Which Porsche Diagnostic Tool Should Independent Workshops Buy?

Nowadays, one of the biggest questions for Porsche workshop owners is whether they should still continue using the PIWIS 3, or is it finally time to move on to something new and more advanced like the PIWIS 4 tool?

Well, the answer is very simple. Just imagine, you are in your workshop, and suddenly a brand-new Taycan, Macan EV, or next-gen 911 arrives at your door. Then, you will realize your trusted PIWIS 3 ain’t catching up with these newer models. These modern Porsche models rely heavily on software, electronic control units, online services, and complex vehicle networks. This requires advanced diagnostic tools. Hence, it needs an upgraded diagnostic tool like PIWIS 4.

In this article, we’re going to compare PIWIS 4 vs PIWIS 3 in detail, covering diagnostics, coding, programming capabilities, vehicle compatibility, etc. Then try to reach a decision on which system is the better investment for your Porsche repair business.

Understanding Porsche PIWIS Systems:

PIWIS stands for Porsche Integrated Workshop Information System. lt’s Prsche’s official dealer-level diagnostic platform. It is used for fault diagnosis, coding, programming, maintenance procedures, and vehicle communication. In the current time, owning an advanced PIWIS system at your workshop isn’t about luxury. It decides whether you are able to take on newer Porsche models or just have to turn customers away.

We already discussed that newer Porsche vehicles are overwhelmed with advanced technology, new features, advanced driver assistance systems, connected services etc. To support these developments, having a modern PIWIS becomes quite necessary.

PIWIS 4: Built for Where Porsche Is Heading:

Porsche PIWIS 4 Diagnostic Tool was developed specifically for the upcoming generations and highly advanced EVs. It has full compatibility with the latest Porsche models, including the Taycan and other EV platforms.

Some of its standout strengths include:

  • Comprehensive diagnostics for older Porsche models.
  • ECU fault code reading and clearing.
  • Service reset functions.
  • Adaptations and coding procedures.
  • Control module communication.
  • Maintenance and repair support.

It also brings noticeably better performance for new generation Porsche cars’ complex tasks such as control unit replacement, variant coding, and feature activation.

PIWIS 3: The Tool That’s Carried the Industry for Years:

For several years, PIWIS 3 has been the backbone of independent Porsche diagnostics. It was widely used because of its extensive access to Porsche control modules and service functions.

But the problem is that PIWIS 3 was designed for the earlier generations. But now, Porsche is moving forward. Newer software architectures, especially EVs and recent facelifted models, seem a little too much for the early PIWIS 3 version. It can not detect some newer control units. Some security-gated functions won’t authenticate. And, as Porsche continues to keep updating, that makes the gap widen.

So, the question is, is your old reliable PIWIS 3 still gonna keep up with upcoming models, or is it just getting older for newly Porsche models?

Vehicle Coverage: PIWIS 4 vs PIWIS 3:

Vehicle compatibility is the main factor when choosing a Porsche diagnostic tool.

PIWIS 4:

PIWIS 4 is the latest generation of Porsche’s official diagnostic, coding, and programming system. It is meant to exceed its previous version.

It expands support to newer Porsche vehicles and future releases. Which includes:

  • Latest 911 generations.
  • Newer Cayenne models.
  • Updated Panamera vehicles.
  • Current Macan models.
  • Taycan electric vehicles.
  • Future Porsche platforms.

As time passes, technology continues to evolve, and today’s new-generation vehicles are so. As Porsche vehicles become more advanced, many workshops are transitioning to the PIWIS 4 diagnostic system to support the latest models and technologies.

PIWIS 3:

PIWIS 3 wasn’t called the backbone of Porsche diagnostics for nothing. Before the Porsche’s latest platform transitions, PIWIS 3 was dominating Porsche workshop diagnostics, coding, and programming. And the surprising fact is it ain’t ended yet.

It remains useful for servicing:

  • 911 models from previous generations.
  • Boxster and Cayman models.
  • Panamera models.
  • Macan models.
  • Cayenne models.

For workshops which are focused on these old generations of Porsche vehicles, PIWIS 3 still goes without an issue.

Diagnostics Capability Comparison:

Both tools proved their worth by providing dealer-level diagnostics. But, the time is moving fast, and the newer generation demands an upgrade. Which is why Porsche launched its advanced PIWIS 4 Diagnostic tool. To know whether this upgrade is really legit or just a cheap upgrade of PIWIS 3 Diagnostic? Let’s find out by comparing their Diagnostics Capability:

PIWIS 4 offers:

  • Faster vehicle communication.
  • Expanded module coverage.
  • Improved guided troubleshooting.
  • Enhanced system testing.
  • Better support for newer electronic architectures.

PIWIS 3 offers:

  • Fault code reading.
  • Live data monitoring.
  • Control module access.
  • Service functions.
  • Guided diagnostics.

These functions still remain useful for many repair scenarios.

Coding and Programming:

Coding and programming are often where the largest differences appear. Many independent Porsche specialists think basic diagnostics is just the entry point. The real thing that mostly matters is the coding and programming part. The Independent workshops frequently replace modules, activate features, retrofit components, and perform configuration changes, and adjust vehicle settings. These tasks require reliable coding support. This is why PIWIS 3 isn’t enough for newer generations:

PIWIS 4

The PIWIS 4 tool provides stronger support for:

  • ECU coding.
  • Module replacement.
  • Software updates.
  • Vehicle configuration.
  • Advanced adaptations.

For workshops performing regular electronic repairs and preparing for the upcoming wave of the next generation of vehicle technologies, PIWIS 4 generally offers greater flexibility and future compatibility.

PIWIS 3

The PIWIS 3 may perform coding and programming on many supported models, but access to newer vehicle systems is now limited.

Which Porsche Diagnostic Tool Should You Buy?

The right choice depends on which types of vehicles you intend to service.

Choose the PIWIS 4 tool if:

  • You service newer Porsche vehicles.
  • You need advanced coding and programming capabilities.
  • You plan to work on Taycan and future EV models.
  • You want stronger support for online Porsche systems.
  • You are investing in the future of your workshop.

Choose PIWIS 3 if:

  • You primarily work on older Porsche models.
  • Your workshop rarely services the latest vehicles.
  • Basic diagnostics and service functions meet your needs.
  • Budget is your primary concern.

Conclusion:

Both PIWIS 3 and PIWIS 4 are modern Porsche diagnostic tools. But, they’re not meant to serve the same generations of vehicles. PIWIS 3 was designed for Porsche’s earlier generations, and it can still serve the older Porsche models without any issue. Meanwhile, the PIWIS 4 is designed for the latest vehicle platforms, advanced coding requirements, online service functions, and electric vehicle diagnostics.

So, the option you’re picking depends on which generational vehicle your workshop intends to serve. Choose PIWIS 3 if you’re occupied with the older models. If