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LEGACY MOTOR CLUB: WORLD WIDE TECHNOLOGY RACEWAY RACE PREVIEW

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LEGACY MOTOR CLUB: WORLD WIDE TECHNOLOGY RACEWAY
PRE-RACE ADVANCE
EVENT: Enjoy Illinois 300

DATE: Sept. 7, 2025
RACE: NASCAR Cup Series 28 of 36
TRACK: World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Ill. | 1.25-Mile Oval

CLUB MINUTES:

ST. LOUIS AND NASCAR: Prior to the NASCAR Cup Series’ inaugural race at World Wide Technology Raceway (WWTR) in Madison, Illinois, the track had hosted races for the NASCAR Xfinity Series, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, and the ARCA Menards Series. In July 1997, the track hosted its first NASCAR top-tier series race with the Xfinity Series. The winner of that race was Elliott Sadler. It followed that up in September 1997 with an ARCA Menards Series race. The following year in September 1998, the track added the Truck Series to its lineup, where Rick Carelli, Erik Jones’ former spotter, was the race winner. The Xfinity Series continued to hold races at the track until 2010, while the Truck Series continued to run there through present day. Prior to the 2022 season, the 1.25-mile oval was added to the NASCAR Cup Series schedule to hold its inaugural race for the series.

JJ AT WWTR: While LEGACY MC co-owner and seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson never raced in the Cup Series at the track formerly known as Gateway, he does own three NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at the track. He never finished outside the top-15 in these starts. In his first start in October 1998, Johnson started 36th but found himself in the lead on Lap 85 where he led for 10 laps. He ultimately finished 15th. In July 2000, Johnson started 16th and finished 13th. In his final start in July 2001, he started ninth and finished 14th.

KENSETH WWTR STATS: LEGACY MC Competition Advisor Matt Kenseth also has three NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at the track formerly known as Gateway. He owns two top-10 finishes at the track with a best finish of second, earned in October 1998 where he finished 3.254 seconds behind Dale Earnhardt Jr. He followed that up with a sixth-place result in July 1999 after starting 21st.

NEVER SETTLE: Join ESPN’s Marty Smith and LEGACY MOTOR CLUB’s co-owner Jimmie Johnson for their weekly podcast, “Never Settle”. The podcast airs live on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Ch. 90 at 2 p.m. ET every Wednesday and can be downloaded wherever fans source their podcasts.

This week’s episode will be Part 2 of the Greg Olsen interview. Fans can now tune into Never Settle on YouTube and watch the behind the scenes as well as full episodes. Click HERE to watch and subscribe.

JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK
NO. 42 PYE-BARKER FIRE & SAFETY TOYOTA CAMRY XSE
JHN AT WWTR: Last year’s June race at World Wide Technology Raceway was John Hunter Nemechek’s first career NASCAR Cup Series start at the track. He started 33rd for the 240-lap race and finished 27th. Although last year was his first Cup Series race, Nemechek does have seven starts in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, where he won in June 2017. He earned a total of three top-10 finishes at WWTR with a fourth-place result in June 2015 and a sixth-place finish in June 2016.

TRUCK SERIES WINNER AT WWTR: In August 2017, Nemechek took home the checkered flag in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race after starting second at WWTR. He led 46 out of 160 laps and won with a 1.635 margin of victory over Chase Briscoe. Nemechek was running a full-time season in the Craftsman Truck Series in 2017, and this marked his first of two wins that season.

T-MACK WWTR STATS: Sunday afternoon’s race will be crew chief Travis Mack’s third NASCAR Cup Series race at WWTR. His first outing at the 1.25-mile oval came in June 2022 with Daniel Suárez where he finished 23rd. Mack’s highest finish of seventh came with Suárez in June 2023 after starting 13th. Mack returned to WWTR in the Cup Series with Derek Kraus in June 2024, where the duo finished 30th.

JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK QUOTE:
“World Wide Technology Raceway has been a good racetrack for me. I’ve had success there in the Truck Series, and I’ve led a bunch of laps there in addition to running up front. Last year’s Cup Series race didn’t go so hot for us, but I’m looking forward to going back there this year with the new changes and improvements we’ve made to our cars over the 2025 season. I hope to build on the momentum coming off Daytona and Darlington. Metrics are going to be really important for Bristol, so there’s even more emphasis on having a good run this weekend.”

TRAVIS MACK QUOTE:
“I haven’t been to WWTR with John Hunter yet, but the No. 43 team tested there earlier this year, so we’ll make the most of what we learned. We’re looking to carry the momentum from Darlington and continue building on the strength of our intermediate package.”

ERIK JONES
NO. 43 FAMILY DOLLAR TOYOTA CAMRY XSE
JONES WWTR STATS: Sunday’s Enjoy Illinois 300 will mark Erik Jones’ fourth NASCAR Cup Series start at World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Ill. In his prior three starts, Jones earned one top-10 and two top-20s. He earned a best finish of seventh in the Cup Series’ inaugural race at the track in June 2022. Jones started 21st and led four laps en route to his top-10 finish. He has an additional three starts in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series at WWTR where he started in the top-three twice and earned a fifth-place finish in June 2016, his best at the track. He led a total of 88 laps at WWTR in his Truck Series in his career.

THE WIN THAT GOT AWAY: In June 2015, Jones started on the pole for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at WWTR. He was favored to win as he had been knocking on the door of the win with four top-three finishes in seven races so far that year. He led the opening 55 laps of the race before coming to pit road and handing over the lead to Matt Crafton. He took the lead back on Lap 63 and led for an additional 20 laps. After several lead changes from strategy, he took the lead for a final time on Lap 111 for nine laps. An accident on Lap 145 with the No. 1 truck of Ryan Ellis derailed his day though and problems sustained from that incident forced him to retire after leading 84 laps. Cole Custer went on to win that race. Jones went on to win the next weekend at Iowa Speedway and won two more races that season before clinching his NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Championship at Homestead-Miami Speedway in November.

ZIGAZOO COMES TO WWTR: In partnership with Zigazoo, Jones is inviting another content creator out to the racetrack to experience the fast life of NASCAR at World Wide Technology Raceway. This weekend, Sydney Thomas, a well-known Influencer and Zigazoo content creator, will join Jones and the No. 43 team as a special guest. On Instagram alone, Thomas has over 101K followers with another 855K followers on TikTok. Fans can follow along with her weekend at the track at @Sydneytaleah on Instagram and @TheSydneySmiles on TikTok. Learn more about Zigazoo at www.Zigazoo.com.

BESHORE AT ST. LOUIS: Crew chief Ben Beshore has two NASCAR Cup Series races on top of the box at WWTR with Kyle Busch in June 2022 and John Hunter Nemechek in June 2024. His best finish of second came in 2022 when Busch started 12th, led 66 laps, and finished .655 of second behind race winner Joey Logano, who passed Busch with just two laps to go in the race. In last year’s race at WWTR, Beshore and Nemechek started 22nd and finished 26th.

ERIK JONES QUOTE
“WWTR is a unique track, but it reminds me a lot of Phoenix. I enjoy racing there. It seems like the track has gotten pretty wide the last few years, so that gives us a bunch of options to move around and do stuff. That’s always a positive when we go to these places. We’ll have to see what it does this time around. We’re bringing a different tire than what we raced there before too. It’s been a good race with a great crowd, so I’m looking forward to seeing how the track widens out and what kind of options we have.”

BEN BESHORE QUOTE
“WWTR tends to be very track-position based as it’s been hard to pass there. You see a lot of guys have success there doing fuel only and two-tire stop strategies to try and get out front at the end. It’s another track that’s asymmetric, similar to Darlington. Turns 1 and 2 are tighter than Turns 3 and 4. From a setup standpoint, you’re just trying to compromise the best you can on each end of the track.”

CLUB APPEARANCES:
No. 42 crew chief Travis Mack will be on SiriusXM Channel 90 on Tuesday, September 2 at 7:30 p.m. ET.

No. 43 crew chief Ben Beshore will be on SiriusXM Channel 90 on Wednesday, September 3 at 8:30 a.m. ET, and John Hunter Nemechek will call in later that day at 3:30 p.m. ET.

Erik Jones will be on SiriusXM Channel 90 on Thursday, Sept. 4 at 1:30 p.m. ET.

Nemechek will be at the NASCAR Classics trackside merchandise rig to sign for fans at 10 a.m. local time on Sunday, Sept. 7.

TUNE IN:
Fans can tune in to watch the Enjoy Illinois 300 at World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Ill. on Sunday, September 7 at 3 p.m. ET on USA, MAX, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90).

ABOUT LEGACY MOTOR CLUB: (LEGACY MC) is a premier auto racing organization co-owned by seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and 2024 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee, Jimmie Johnson and Knighthead Capital Management, LLC. Drawing from a rich tradition of success, LEGACY MC is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of motorsport and setting new standards of excellence. The CLUB competes under the Toyota Gazoo Racing banner in the NASCAR Cup Series with the No. 43 Toyota Camry XSE piloted by Erik Jones and the No. 42 Toyota Camry XSE driven by John Hunter Nemechek. Johnson also races on a limited basis in the No. 84 Toyota Camry XSE. With NASCAR legend and Hall of Famer Richard Petty, “The King”, serving as CLUB Ambassador, LEGACY MC blends timeless racing traditions with a new forward-thinking vision. As an inclusive community for motorsport enthusiasts, LEGACY MC honors both its storied past and the promising future of its members, always striving for victory and championship glory at the pinnacle of NASCAR competition.

Front Row Motorsports: World Wide Technology Raceway Competition Notes- Todd Gilliland

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Todd Gilliland and the No. 34 Morton Buildings Ford Team
World Wide Technology Raceway Competition Notes
Enjoy Illinois 300

Date: Sunday, September 7, 2025
Event: Race 30 of 38
Series: NASCAR Cup Series
Location: World Wide Technology Raceway (1.2-miles)
#of Laps: 240
Time/TV/Radio: 3:00 PM ET on USA/MRN/SiriusXM channel 90

Todd Gilliland Notes

Todd Gilliland and the No. 34 team will face the World Wide Technology Raceway this weekend for the NASCAR Cup Series’ annual visit to the 1.25-mile oval. In three Cup Series starts at the track, Gilliland has two top-20 finishes, finishing 15th in 2023 and 16th in 2024.

Morton Buildings will partner with Gilliland for the 300-mile race, debuting their red and black scheme across the No. 34 Ford Mustang Dark Horse. Headquartered in Morton, Illinois, Morton Buildings Inc. is the industry leader in post-frame manufacturing and construction. At Morton, the difference is in the details. From cutting-edge innovations and best-in-class warranty to their craftsmen in the field, Morton Buildings is dedicated to surpassing expectations. Their legacy of excellence in construction spans more than a century and has more than a quarter-million satisfied customers. Morton Buildings is 100% employee-owned and proud to be ranked #36 on the National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO) top-100 list, which includes the nation’s largest companies that are at least 50% owned by an employee stock ownership plan. For more information, please visit mortonbuildings.com.

“As a team, we’ve experienced our share of highs and lows during the season’s ‘Summer Stretch,’ but as we get closer to the end of the season, I know this group won’t quit,” said Gilliland. “There’s still plenty left to race for, with each weekend bringing another opportunity to compete for points and wins. Gateway has always been a solid track for me, so hopefully we can turn our luck around there.”

Road Crew

Driver: Todd Gilliland

Hometown: Sherrills Ford, North Carolina

Crew Chief: Chris Lawson

Hometown: Medway, Ohio

Car Chief: Joe Marra

Hometown: Somers, New York

Engineer: Marc Rullo

Hometown: Ringwood, New Jersey

Engineer: Kevyn Rebolledo

Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Spotter: Brit Andersen

Hometown: Branford, Connecticut

Underneath Mechanic: Michael Brookes

Hometown: Columbus, Ohio

Interior Mechanic: Chance Burke

Hometown: Siler City, North Carolina

Tire Specialist: Billy John

Hometown: Pitman, New Jersey

Engine Tuner: Tim Meyer

Hometown: Beatrice, Nebraska

Transporter Driver: Randy Bernier

Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Pit Crew

Front Tire Changer: Danny Olszowy

Hometown: Lexington, Kentucky

Rear Tire Changer: Justin Fox

Hometown: Concord, North Carolina

Tire Carrier: Paul Steele

Hometown: Wichita, Kansas

Jackman: Landon Honeycutt

Hometown: Mount Pleasant, North Carolina

Fueler: Zeke Nance

Hometown: Calhoun, Georgia

ABOUT MORTON BUILDINGS

Morton Buildings Inc. headquartered in Morton, Illinois, is the industry leader in post-frame manufacturing and construction. At Morton, the difference is in the details. From cutting-edge innovations and best-in-class warranty to their craftsmen in the field, Morton Buildings is dedicated to surpassing expectations. Their legacy of excellence in construction spans more than a century and has more than a quarter-million satisfied customers. Morton Buildings is 100% employee-owned and proud to be ranked #36 on the National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO) top 100 list, which includes the nation’s largest companies that are at least 50% owned by an employee stock ownership plan. For more information, please visit mortonbuildings.com

ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS

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

“FIVE THINGS TO WATCH” AT THE ENJOY ILLINOIS 300 NASCAR CUP SERIES PLAYOFF RACE

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Ryan Blaney (left) congratulates Austin Cindric (right) in Victory Lane after his Team Penske teammate won last season’s Enjoy Illinois 300 at World Wide Technology Raceway. Photo credit: Getty Images for NASCAR.
  • Joe Gibbs Racing driver Chase Briscoe first to clinch a berth in Round of 12 with a win at Darlington.
  • WWT Raceway visit could boost hopes of three-time and defending Cup Series champ Joey Logano along with his Team Penske teammates.

MADISON, Ill. (Sept. 2, 2025) – World Wide Technology Raceway will play host to its first-ever NASCAR Cup Series Playoff race with Sunday’s Enjoy Illinois 300 serving as the second race in the opening Round of 16.

The Cup Series is coming off Sunday’s playoff opener at Darlington Raceway, which was won by Chase Briscoe of Joe Gibbs Racing. Up next is the Enjoy Illinois 300 (2 p.m. CT, TV: USA Network, Radio: MRN, SiriusXM) and then the first round closes out Saturday, Sept. 13, at Bristol Motor Speedway with four of the 16 playoff drivers being eliminated.

The Cup Series action at WWT Raceway begins Saturday with a 50-minute, split-group practice at 3:30 p.m. and immediately followed by one-lap pole qualifying at 4:40 p.m.

Here are “Five Things To Watch” at the Enjoy Illinois 300:

1) Joe Gibbs Racing driver Chase Briscoe, who opened the playoffs as the eighth seed, is the first driver to advance to the Round of 12 by virtue of Sunday’s victory at Darlington Raceway. He won the Cook Out Southern 500 for the second year in a row in dominant fashion, leading nine times for 309 of the 367 laps. He can breathe more easily now, especially coming to WWT Raceway where he had not finished better than 17thin three starts while with Stewart-Haas Racing. His WWT Raceway highlight is winning the pole for the inaugural 2022 race.

2) Three-time and defending Cup Series champion Joey Logano is currently below the cut line in 13th, but a visit to WWT Raceway could provide the Team Penske driver’s playoff chances with a major boost. Logano is the only driver to record top-five finishes in all three races at the 1.25-mile oval. He won the inaugural race in 2022 and then followed with a third in ’23 and fifth last season. Logano is not the only Team Penske driver who should benefit from a visit to WWT Raceway as all three playoff contenders are strong there. Austin Cindric is the defending Enjoy Illinois 300 winner and ranks second to Logano (3.0) for best average finishing position at 8.3. Ryan Blaney, who was leading last year’s race until running out of fuel on the final lap and tumbling to 24th, is fifth on that list at 11.3. Blaney owns a pair of top-six finishes, including a best of fourth in ’22, and ranks second among all drivers for laps led with 115. Both have been outstanding qualifiers with Blaney ranking first (3.0) and Cindric second (8.3). Blaney has started among the top five in all three races, including a best of second in 2023, while Cindric has started second on two occasions (2022, ’24).

3) Conversely, this has not been a track that has bred much success for the Hendrick Motorsports organization. In 11 combined starts from playoff contenders Kyle Larson, Chase Elliott, William Byron and Alex Bowman, they have managed just three top-10 finishes. Larson has been the most successful of the foursome with two of the top-10 efforts, paced by a fourth in 2023. Byron had the other with an eighth in that same race. They also are the only two Hendrick drivers to lead laps at WWT Raceway as Byron has 30 and Larson 12. The best finish is 13th for both Elliott (2024) and Bowman (‘22). Elliott has made just two starts at WWT Raceway after missing the 2023 event due to a one-race suspension.

4) The 23XI Racing duo of Tyler Reddick and Bubba Wallace were among the biggest movers following Sunday’s race at Darlington. Reddick opened the playoffs as the No. 14 seed, but vaulted a playoff-best 10 positions to No. 4 following his runner-up finish. Reddick, still chasing his first win of the season, is three points behind third-place Larson and eight shy of second-place Denny Hamlin of Joe Gibbs Racing. Wallace improved four positions from his opening No. 9 seeding to No. 5 after a sixth-place finish at Darlington. He is 10 points behind Reddick.

5) If someone is going to crash the playoff party this weekend, keep an eye on Kyle Busch of Richard Childress Racing. Busch, coming off an eighth-place finish at Darlington, has enjoyed plenty of success at WWT Raceway. He finished runner-up in the inaugural 2022 race with Joe Gibbs Racing and then followed with a win from the pole in 2023 for RCR. Last season, he started 10th and led 15 laps before a crash midway through the race led to a 35th-place finish. Busch has led in all three races and his 202 laps led is tops among all drivers. The next closest is Blaney at a distant 115 laps led. The victory at WWT Raceway was Busch’s last and the two-time series champion and 63-time Cup Series winner is looking to end an 84-race winless streak on Sunday.

Limited tickets remain for Sunday’s Enjoy Illinois 300 and are available by visiting www.wwtraceway.com.

About World Wide Technology Raceway

World Wide Technology Raceway (WWTR) is the home of NASCAR, INDYCAR and NHRA racing in St. Louis’ Metro East region. Located just five minutes from downtown St. Louis and covering 700 acres, WWTR is the largest outdoor entertainment facility in the area. WWTR’s facilities include a 1.25-mile superspeedway; 1/4-mile drag strip; 2.0-mile road course; the Gateway Kartplex state-of-the-art karting facility; and the adjacent Gateway National Golf Links. WWTR and Owner & CEO Curtis Francois have been recognized with several awards, including: 2023 St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame induction; 2023 Innovation in Philanthropy Award by the St. Louis Business Journal; 2022 Explore St. Louis Hospitality Hero Recognition; 2022 Best in Show and Best Event & Festival from the Illinois Governor’s Conference on Tourism; 2021 Comcast Community Champion of the Year; 2021 Jack Buck Award; 2020 NASCAR Drive for Diversity Track Award; 2018 Innovator Award from the St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission; 2017 Outstanding Facility of the Year Award from the Race Track Business Conference; and the 2017 Spirit of St. Louis Award from the St. Louis Attractions Association. Our mission: We are committed to making a difference in our community, while providing first-class entertainment and memories that last a lifetime.

CORVETTE RACING AT COTA: Coming to America

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Official Release
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TF Sport brings Corvette Z06 GT3.Rs home for critical race in championship

DETROIT (September 2, 2025) – TF Sport is bringing its pair of Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.Rs home to the United States at Circuit of The Americas for the FIA World Endurance Championship’s lone race in North America.

The six-hour Lone Star Le Mans is the sixth of eight rounds in the FIA WEC this season and the first since mid-July. Both TF Sport entries sit in the top-five in both the LMGT3 Drivers and Teams championship standings heading to the Lone Star State.

This year’s race at COTA is the second for the TF/Corvette combo with one of the team’s Z06 GT3.Rs finishing in the points last year.

No. 33 TF Sport Corvette Z06 GT3.R

TF Sport’s Ben Keating will be front and center as he races in his home state for the first time in a Corvette. Keating, Jonny Edgar and Corvette factory driver Daniel Juncadella enter COTA third in the LMGT3 championship and searching for their first podium since a season-opening victory at Qatar.

Juncadella was part of the TF Sport lineup last year that finished eighth in class driving the No. 82 Corvette lineup. He made up seven positions during his 2.5-hour stint to cap his debut race at Circuit of The Americas. Keating was also part of last year’s Lone Star Le Mans in LMGT3 and has four GT-class victories at the circuit to his credit in IMSA competition from 2013-2017.

Edgar is making his first career start at COTA and is coming off a strong run at Sāo Paulo in the previous WEC round. He drove the final two hours and was the fastest Corvette driver in the race as the No. 33 trio finished seventh in class.

No. 81 TF Sport Corvette Z06 GT3.R

No entry in LMGT3 has the momentum of TF Sport’s No. 81 Corvette. The trio of factory driver Charlie Eastwood, Rui Andrade and Tom Van Rompuy arrives at COTA on the heels of a third-place finish at Le Mans and a runner-up result at Sāo Paulo to vault up into fifth place in the Drivers Championship standings.

The No. 81 Corvette was on course for a similar result in the second half of year’s Lone Star Le Mans. Running second at the time, the Corvette suffered heavy contact from another competitor which knocked it down the order and eventually into the garage for a heart-breaking retirement.

Eastwood and Andrade already have been part of a winning TF Sport effort this year with a victory in the ELMS in their No. 82 Corvette. Van Rompuy, who made his COTA debut last year along with Andrade, hopes to keep his strong season going with what would be his fifth Hyperpole appearance in six races.

The six-hour Lone Star Le Mans is scheduled for 1 p.m. CT on Sunday, September 7. Full, live television coverage is available on the MotorTrend in the United States. Live streaming coverage of Free Practice 3, qualifying and the race will be available on the FIA WEC app and the MAX app in the United States.

TF SPORT PRE-EVENT QUOTES

DANI JUNCADELLA, NO. 33 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “Being back in the U.S. is always pretty cool. COTA is actually a track that surprised me quite positively last year. With these tracks that have a lot of asphalt runoffs, it can be misguiding sometimes when you think it’s an easy track. But COTA has a lot of technical corners; it’s a very cool Sector One with a lot of high-speed, flowing corners. This also is a challenging race with the heat. Last year was super-hot but I like the big challenges like that. It makes the racing harder and more exciting for everyone. We’re coming off a couple of difficult races with some unlucky situations that were out of our control, but we are still third in the championship. There are three rounds to go and considering the success weight that the leaders are carrying, I think we are in a good position to fight for big points. That should play in our favor to fight in the championship for the last few races. I’m hoping for a strong result in COTA, especially as a home race for Corvette and Ben. The car was good last year as well, so I expect that we will be strong.”

JONNY EDGAR, NO. 33 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “I am looking forward to racing at COTA for the first time as this looks like a great track to drive. The last two races have been quite difficult and our results haven’t reflected the pace we have had, so hopefully we can have an issue-free race and score good points for the championship. On top of all that, it would be nice to have a good result for Corvette and Ben’s home race.”

BEN KEATING, NO. 33 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “I love racing all around the world, but there is no place like home! I am excited to help host the WEC in Texas. This is home for Corvette and home for me. I have a lot of great results at COTA from the past years. Our No. 33 Corvette needs a great result to stay in the championship hunt for 2025. So this race is extremely important, but I believe we are up for the challenge!”

CHARLIE EASTWOOD, NO. 81 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “COTA was a good event for the Corvette last year. On our side, we didn’t have a good run, but the sister car was super strong, as were we; we just got caught up in a few incidents that pretty much did us in. From my side, there are a couple of question marks with the hard-compound tire. In the Corvette, we’re so good on tire deg, especially on the Goodyear, that the hard tire at COTA and Bahrain will probably bring the others a bit closer to us toward the end of the stint, but hopefully we still will have a bit of a delta to work with. So I’m looking forward to it. It’s a tough track, you know, especially in that heat. Everything’s screaming… the tires are screaming, drivers are screaming with the heat. But we’re on a good momentum swing with TF Sport and the Corvette. Even if you look back at 2024, we were really good in these last three events toward the end of our first season. We’ve been much stronger up to this point this year so hopefully then we can be stronger still in these last three.”

2025 FIA World Endurance Championship Points

LMGT3 Drivers Standings

  1. Riccardo Pera/Richard Lietz/Ryan Hardwick – 89
  2. Alessio Rovera/Francois Heriau/Simon Mann – 76
  3. Ben Keating/Daniel Juncadella/Jonny Edgar – 66
  4. Clemens Schmid/Jose Maria Lopez/Petru Umbrarescu – 57
  5. Charlie Eastwood/Rui Andrade/Tom Van Rompuy – 56

LMGT3 Teams Standings

  1. No. 92 Manthey 1ST Phorm – 89
  2. No. 21 Vista AF Corse – 76
  3. No. 33 TF Sport – 66
  4. No. 87 Akkodis ASP Team – 57
  5. No. 81 TF Sport – 56

Corvette Racing at COTA: By the Numbers

  • 3: Generations of Corvette Racing entries at COTA since 2013 – Corvette C6.R (2013), Corvette C7.R (2014-2019) and the mid-engine Corvette C8.R – which raced at COTA for the first time in WEC competition in 2020 – and Z06 GT3.R, both of which are eighth-gen Corvettes
  • 5: Class wins at COTA for Corvette Racing entries in two championships: IMSA and GT World Challenge America. The latest came this year from DXDT Racing in GT World Challenge America Pro-Am
  • 11: Wins this year for the Corvette Z06 GT3.R including two earlier this year at Circuit of The Americas
  • 14: Manufacturer Championships for Chevrolet and Corvette Racing since 2001
  • 32: Tracks at which Corvette Racing has won races – Baltimore, Charlotte Motor Speedway, COTA, Canadian Tire Motorsport Park/Mosport, Chang International Circuit (Thailand), Daytona, Detroit, Fuji, Houston, Imola, Laguna Seca, Le Mans, Lime Rock, Long Beach, Lusail International Circuit (Qatar), Sepang International Circuit (Malaysia), Miami, Mid-Ohio, Monza, Portimão, Portland, Road America, Road Atlanta, Sebring, Sonoma, St. Petersburg, Texas, Trois Rivieres, Utah, VIR, Washington DC and Watkins Glen
  • 39: Number of drivers to win races in Corvette Racing entries since 1999. The latest to join the list was Ross Chouest in GT America at Road America
  • 72: Number of drivers in Corvette Racing entries since 1999. The latest to join the list was Olivier Hart for Steller Motorsport at the 24 Hours of Spa
  • 72: Years since Corvette was introduced to the world on Jan. 17, 1953 in New York City. A total of 300 cars were produced that year
  • 148: Victories worldwide for Corvette Racing – 117 in IMSA, nine at Le Mans, four in the FIA WEC, 13 in GT World Challenge America, three in GT World Challenge Asia and one each in the European Le Mans Series and GT America
  • 360: Event starts by Corvette Racing since 1999
  • 5,474: Number of racing miles completed by Corvette Racing in its eight previous events at Circuit of The Americas. That represents more than 30 trips across the Texas Panhandle.
  • 447,340.24: Total number of racing miles completed by Corvette Racing since its inception. To put that in perspective, Corvette Racing is more than halfway to the distance traveled by Apollo 13 – the longest manned spaceflight in history: 622,268 miles. That means Corvette Racing has raced to the moon and more than halfway back!

Corvette Racing at Circuit of The Americas (wins in bold)

2013 – IMSA

No. 3 Corvette C6.R: Antonio Garcia/Jan Magnussen – 1st in GT

No. 4 Corvette C6.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner – 11th in GT

2014 – IMSA

No. 3 Corvette C7.R: Antonio Garcia/Jan Magnussen – 9th in GTLM

No. 4 Corvette C7.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner – 10th in GTLM

2014 – FIA WEC

No. 65 Corvette C7.R: Tommy Milner/Jordan Taylor/Ricky Taylor – 7th in GTE Pro

2015 – IMSA

No. 3 Corvette C7.R: Antonio Garcia/Jan Magnussen: 6th in GTLM

No. 4 Corvette C7.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner: 8th in GTLM

2016 – IMSA

No. 3 Corvette C7.R: Antonio Garcia/Jan Magnussen: 3rd in GTLM

No. 4 Corvette C7.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner: 5th in GTLM

2017 – IMSA

No. 3 Corvette C7.R: Antonio Garcia/Jan Magnussen: 1st in GTLM

No. 4 Corvette C7.R: Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner: 7th in GTLM

2020 – FIA WEC

No. 63 Corvette C8.R: Jan Magnussen/Mike Rockenfeller: 6th in GTE Pro

2024 – GT World Challenge

No. 63 Corvette Z06 GT3.R: Tommy Milner/Alec Udell – 1st,1st in Pro

No. 08 Corvette Z06 GT3.R: Bryan Sellers/Scott Smithson – 6th, 11th in Pro-Am

2024 – FIA World Endurance Championship

No. 81 Corvette Z06 GT3.R: Charlie Eastwood/Rui Andrade/Tom Van Rompuy – 16th in LMGT3

No. 82 Corvette Z06 GT3.R: Daniel Juncadella/Sebastien Baud/Hiroshi Koizumi – 8th in LMGT3

2025 – GT World Challenge

No. 11 Corvette Z06 GT3.R: Matt Bell/Blake McDonald – 1st, 3rd in Pro-Am

No. 50 Corvette Z06 GT3.R: Ross Chouest/Aaron Povoledo – 8th, 11th in Pro-Am

No. 50 Corvette Z06 GT3.R: Ross Chouest – 4th, 3rd in GT America SRO3

About General Motors

General Motors (NYSE:GM) is driving the future of transportation, leveraging advanced technology to build safer, smarter, and lower emission cars, trucks, and SUVs. GM’s Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC brands offer a broad portfolio of innovative gasoline-powered vehicles and the industry’s widest range of EVs, as we move to an all-electric future. Learn more at GM.com.

Front Row Motorsports: World Wide Technology Raceway Competition Notes – Zane Smith

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Official Release
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Zane Smith and the No. 38 Long John Silver’s Ford Team
World Wide Technology Raceway Competition Notes
Enjoy Illinois 300

Date: Sunday, September 7, 2025
Event: Race 30 of 38
Series: NASCAR Cup Series
Location: World Wide Technology Raceway (1.2-miles)
#of Laps: 240
Time/TV/Radio: 3:00 PM ET on USA/MRN/SiriusXM channel 90

Zane Smith Notes

Zane Smith and the No. 38 team are headed to Madison, Illinois for 240 laps at World Wide Technology Raceway. While this will be just Smith’s third NASCAR Cup Series start at the 1.25-mile oval, he has five CRAFTSMAN Truck Series starts there, earning one top-five and three top-10 finishes.

“We’re happy to have left Darlington with a much-needed top-15 finish and some good momentum heading into Gateway,” said Smith. “With only a handful of races left, it’s important that we go into every race looking to maximize our potential and score points. While it’s easy to get lazy this point in the season, I know the team and I will keep our focus and finish the season strong.”

Road Crew

Driver: Zane Smith

Hometown: Huntington Beach, California

Crew Chief: Ryan Bergenty

Hometown: Plainville, Connecticut

Car Chief: Will Norris

Hometown: Bells, Tennessee

Engineer: Jacob Clamme

Hometown: Hartford City, Indiana

Engineer: Chris Yerges

Hometown: Green Bay, Wisconsin

Mechanic: Steve Godfrey

Hometown: West Haven, Connecticut

Mechanic / Engine Tuner: Tyler Podlaski

Hometown: Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania

Interior Specialist: Matt Fowler

Hometown: Spartanburg, South Carolina

Spotter: Ryan Blanchard

Hometown: Bethlehem, Connecticut

Transport Co-Driver: Ernest Mullins

Hometown: Fayetteville, North Carolina

Transport Co-Driver: Rick Grissom

Hometown: Bakersfield, California

Pit Crew

Front Tire Changer: Ryan Flores

Hometown: Manasquan, New Jersey

Rear Tire Changer: Austin Chrismon

Hometown: China Grove, North Carolina

Tire Carrier: Drew Baum

Hometown: Williamsport, Pennsylvania

Jackman: Ryan Selig

Hometown: Lindenhurst, Illinois

Fueler: Chris Webb

Hometown: Concord, North Carolina

ABOUT LONG JOHN SILVER’S

Long John Silver’s was founded in 1969 and is on a mission to create treasured moments through high-quality food and bell-ringing service. With restaurants from sea to mouth-watering sea, Long John Silver’s continues building on a belief that the unique seafood experience from the coasts should be accessible to all. Learn more at ljsilvers.com or join the conversation via social media on X, Facebook, or Instagram.

ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS

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

HFT Advance | WWTR

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Official Release
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WWTR Event Info:
Date: Sunday, September 7
Time: 3 p.m. ET
Series: NASCAR Cup Series (NCS)
Location: Madison, Illinois
Format: 240 Laps, 300 Miles, Stages: 45-140-240
TV: USA
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90)

Weekend Schedule:
Friday: 5:05 p.m. ET, Xfinity Practice (CW App, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Saturday: 3 p.m. ET, Xfinity Qualifying (CW App, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Saturday: 4:30 p.m. ET, Cup Practice (TruTV, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Saturday: 5:40 p.m. ET, Cup Qualifying (TruTV, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Saturday: 7:30 p.m. ET, Xfinity Race (CW, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Sunday: 3 p.m. ET, Cup Race (USA, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)

Pace Laps:

  • The NASCAR Cup Series heads to World Wide Technology Raceway (WWTR) this weekend for the second race of the Round of 16, as Gateway hosts just its fourth ever Cup event.
  • WWTR marks the final race before the start of the Xfinity Series playoffs, with both Sam Mayer (3rd) and Sheldon Creed (10th, +65 to cutline) firmly in the playoff picture.
  • Mayer (874) sits third in the regular-season points standings behind Justin Allgaier (904) and Connor Zilisch (924) with just one race remaining before the Round of 12.
  • Mayer (9.6) holds the second highest average finish among full-time NASCAR Xfinity Series drivers this season, behind only Zilisch (8.8).
  • Mayer has finished inside the top five in four of his previous five starts including Indianapolis (2nd), Iowa (1st), Watkins Glen (2nd), and Daytona (4th).
  • He has started inside the top 10 in 11 of his last 12 starts dating back to Nashville Superspeedway in May, including his lone pole of the season at Indianapolis Motor Speedway five weeks ago.

Cole Custer Team Info:
Crew Chief: Aaron Kramer
Partner: Haas/Andy’s

Sheldon Creed Team Info:
Crew Chief: Jonathan Toney
Partner: Road Ranger

Sam Mayer Team Info:
Crew Chief: Jason Trinchere
Partner: Audibel

Custer at Gateway (Cup)
Starts: 1
Wins: —
Top-10s: —
Poles: —

  • Custer will make his second career start at Gateway this weekend, where he finished P29 in his Cup debut at the track in 2022.
  • He has also made three career truck starts at WWTR, earning the pole in 2014 and claiming victory a year later in 2015.

Creed at Gateway (Xfinity)
Starts: —
Wins: —
Top-10s: —
Poles: —

Creed is set to make his debut in the Xfinity Series at Gateway this weekend, a place he has found victory lane twice at in the Truck Series in 2020 and 2021.

Mayer at Gateway (Xfinity)
Starts: —
Wins: —
Top-10s: —
Poles: —

Mayer will also make his Xfinity Series debut at WWTR this Saturday. He had one career Truck start in 2020 where he finished fourth and led 24 laps after starting 15th.

Where They Stand
Cup Points Standings (41: 33rd): Custer is 33rd in the Cup Series points standings with 353 points heading into Gateway this Sunday.

Xfinity Points Standings (41: 4th, 00: 10th): Mayer sits fourth in the Xfinity points standings with 874 total points on the season, behind the three multi-winners, while Creed is in 10th place with 662 points.

Wheel & Tire Shop in Saskatoon

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SM
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Canada Custom Autoworks Saskatoon is your go-to destination for premium wheels, tires, and custom automotive styling. Conveniently located in Saskatoon, our shop specialises in providing high-performance tire solutions and custom wheel packages tailored to every vehicle and driving style.

We take pride in offering one of the largest selections of wheels and tires in the region, backed by knowledgeable staff who are passionate about helping you find the perfect fit. Whether you’re upgrading your ride’s appearance, improving handling, or preparing for winter conditions, we’re here to deliver expert advice and unmatched service.

As a trusted name in the industry, Canada Custom Autoworks Saskatoon combines quality products, competitive pricing, and personalised service to give customers a one-stop shop for all things wheels and tires.

Premium Tire Services in Saskatoon

At Canada Custom Autoworks Saskatoon, we specialise in delivering top-quality tire solutions for every season, vehicle type, and budget. From everyday drivers to performance vehicles and trucks, we stock a wide selection of leading tire brands known for durability, traction, and comfort.

Whether you need all-season, winter, performance, or off-road tires, our experienced team will help you find the perfect match for your driving needs. We offer complete tire services, including:

  • Professional tire mounting and balancing

  • Wheel alignments to improve handling and reduce wear

  • Tire rotations and inspections for a longer lifespan

  • Flat repairs and tire replacements

We also carry tire and wheel packages for custom setups, giving you both style and performance in one convenient solution. No matter the vehicle or the season, you can count on our team to keep you safe, stylish, and road-ready.

Custom Wheels, Rims & All-Weather Tires for Every Ride

At Canada Custom Autoworks Saskatoon, we offer an unbeatable selection of custom wheels and all-weather tires designed to elevate both the look and performance of your vehicle. With a wide range of styles, sizes, and finishes, you’ll find options that match your taste, whether you’re going for aggressive, sleek, rugged, or refined.

We carry premium wheel brands and provide expert fitment services to ensure your new wheels look great and perform flawlessly. Our team understands bolt patterns, offsets, and clearance, so you don’t have to. From lifted trucks to lowered sports cars, we tailor each setup to fit both your ride and your lifestyle.

Looking for year-round traction? Check out top-performing all-weather tires like:

  • iLink L-ZEAL56 All Weather Tires: Engineered for stability, comfort, and safety in all conditions, ideal for drivers who want consistent performance without seasonal tire swaps.

  • Suretrac AWT Tires: A rugged, versatile choice for all types of vehicles from sedans to trucks—these tires offer solid grip, durability, and all-season reliability.

With the perfect combination of style and function, Canada Custom Autoworks Saskatoon helps you turn heads and handle the road with confidence.

Custom Wheels

Flexible Financing & Exclusive Promotions – Get More Without Paying More

At Canada Custom Autoworks Saskatoon, we believe that quality wheels and tires should be accessible to everyone, no matter your budget. That’s why we offer flexible, customer-friendly financing options that let you invest in your vehicle today and pay over time.

Financing Made Easy

Whether you’re customising your ride or simply replacing worn-out tires, our financing partners make the process smooth and fast. Here’s what you can expect:

  • Instant approvals with no credit impact

  • Low monthly payments to fit your budget

  • No hidden fees or long-term commitments

  • Apply in-store or online for added convenience

Tip: Ask our team about “buy now, pay later” options perfect for unexpected tire emergencies or off-season wheel upgrades.

Take Advantage of Seasonal Promotions

Throughout the year, we offer limited-time deals, tire + wheel packages, and installation discounts to help you save even more. Common promotions include:

  • Winter tire specials to help you prep for snow and ice

  • Spring/summer wheel upgrade packages

  • Discounted mounting & balancing with purchase

  • Manufacturer rebates on major tire brands

Tip: Sign up for our newsletter or follow us on social media to be the first to hear about flash sales, giveaways, and exclusive offers at the Saskatoon location.

Price Match Guarantee

We’re committed to offering competitive pricing, and we’ll beat or match local competitors’ prices on comparable tires and wheels. Just bring in a written quote, and we’ll make sure you get the best deal.

Whether you’re shopping for performance tires, stylish rims, or both, Canada Custom Autoworks Saskatoon makes it easy to get what you need, without compromising on quality or service.

Price Match Guarantee

Why Choose Us for Tires & Wheels in Saskatoon?

Choosing the right tire and wheel shop means finding a team that delivers both expert service and a passion for custom automotive solutions. Backed by years of industry experience and a reputation for quality, this Saskatoon shop has become a trusted name for drivers who want performance, style, and reliability all in one place.

Customer value:

  • Expert fitment advice for all makes and models

  • Huge selection of wheels, tires, and all-weather options

  • Fast, friendly service from knowledgeable staff

  • State-of-the-art equipment for mounting, balancing, and alignments

  • Transparent pricing and honest recommendations

What sets this location apart is the commitment to not just selling wheels and tires, but helping customers transform their vehicles. Whether you’re building a showpiece or upgrading for tough Saskatchewan winters, you’ll find personalised support every step of the way.

With flexible financing, nationwide buying power, and local service you can count on, it’s the ideal place to gear up, stand out, and drive with confidence.

RFK Advance | WWTR

By
Official Release
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WWTR Event Info:
Date: Sunday, September 7
Time: 3 p.m. ET
Series: NASCAR Cup Series (NCS)
Location: Madison, Illinois
Format: 240 Laps, 300 Miles, Stages: 45-140-240
TV: USA
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90)

Weekend Schedule:
Saturday: 4:30 p.m. ET, Cup Practice (TruTV, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Saturday: 5:40 p.m. ET, Cup Qualifying (TruTV, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Sunday: 3 p.m. ET, Cup Race (USA, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)

Pace Laps:

  • The NASCAR Cup Series heads to World Wide Technology Raceway (WWTR) this weekend for the second race in the Round of 16, as Gateway hosts just its fourth ever Cup event.
  • Jack Roush has five wins all-time at Gateway (4 Xfinity, 1 Truck).
  • Chris Buescher holds the third highest average starting position (11.8) in the Cup Series this season, anchored by 11 starts inside the top 10.
  • Buescher is also one of six drivers with 14+ top-10 results this season, and has an average finish of 13.9 which is the fifth highest among Cup drivers.
  • Brad Keselowski has posted four top-10 finishes over his last seven races, including two in the top five, with an average finish of 13.0
  • Keselowski won the last Xfinity Series race held at WWTR in 2010, driving through the field from 20th and leading 83 laps.
  • Ryan Preece has set Cup Series career highs this season in top-fives (3) and top-10s (10), and has finished inside the top-20 in 12 of his last 13 starts.

6 Team Info:
Driver: Brad Keselowski
Crew Chief: Jeremy Bullins
Partner: Consumer Cellular

17 Team Info:
Driver: Chris Buescher
Crew Chief: Scott Graves
Partner: Body Guard

60 Team Info:
Driver: Ryan Preece
Crew Chief: Derrick Finley
Partner: BuildSubmarines.com

Keselowski at Gateway
Starts: 3
Wins: —
Top-10s: 1
Poles: —

  • Keselowski makes his fourth Cup start at Gateway, and is coming off a third-place finish in last season’s race after leading 17 laps and starting seventh. He placed 20th and 28th in each of the first two Cup races there in 2022-23.
  • Keselowski made five Xfinity Series starts at Gateway from 2007-10 as he earned the last NXS win there in 2010. Overall, he finished top-10 in three Xfinity races with three races in the No. 88, and the final two in the No. 22.
  • Keselowski also made three Truck starts at WWTR with a P2 finish in his last start in 2010.

Buescher at Gateway
Starts: 2
Wins: —
Top-10s: —
Poles: —

Buescher makes his third-ever start at Gateway this weekend, where he finished P14 last season and debuted in 2023 with a P12 finish (he missed the inaugural race in 2022).

Preece at Gateway
Starts: 2
Wins: —
Top-10s: —
Poles: —

Preece will make his third career start at Gateway on Sunday, where he finished P17 in 2023 and P29 in last year’s event.

RFK Historically at Gateway
Overall Wins: 5 (Greg Biffle, 1999, 2002; Carl Edwards, 2006, 2008, 2010)

  • Biffle One of the First to Win at Gateway: Greg Biffle established himself as a winner early in the days of NASCAR visiting Gateway, winning his second-ever truck race there in 1999. He led 30 laps in the No. 50 machine after starting fifth for one of his 17 truck wins all-time, and one of nine on that season.
  • Edwards 3x Winner in Illinois: Carl Edwards went to victory lane on three occasions at Gateway, all two years apart beginning in 2006. He led 26 laps in the 2006 race, then went on to lead 79 laps in 2008. He went on to win again in 2010 after starting eighth, capping off his trifecta at the 1.25-mile track.
  • Tale of the Tape: RFK has 49 starts at Gateway across the Xfinity and Truck Series, tallying five combined wins with 28 total top-10s. Four of those victories came in the Xfinity Series from 2002-2010, with the lone Truck win coming in 1999.

RFK Gateway Wins

1999 Biffle Trucks

2002 Biffle Xfinity

2006 Edwards Xfinity

2008 Edwards Xfinity

2010 Edwards Xfinity

Last Time Out & Where They Stand
Darlington: Buescher 10th; Keselowski 15th; Preece 16th.

Points Standings (17: 17th, 60: 18th, 6: 23rd): Buescher and Preece sit 17th and 18th in points, respectively, after the reseeding at the start of the playoffs. Keselowski dropped one spot to 23rd in the standings after a top-15 run at Darlington.

Ford Going for Third Cup Win in Four Gateway Starts This Weekend

By
Official Release
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WORLD WIDE TECHNOLOGY RACEWAY

Saturday, September 6 – NASCAR Xfinity Series, 7:30 p.m. ET (CW)
Sunday, September 7 – NASCAR Cup Series, 3 p.m. ET (USA)

Ford has won two of the first three NASCAR Cup Series races held at World Wide Technology Raceway, site of this weekend’s stop on the NASCAR circuit. Joey Logano took the opener in 2022 and Austin Cindric came away with the checkered flag last year. Both will look to improve their respective positions in the playoff standings on Sunday while it’s one last chance for some of Ford’s NASCAR Xfinity Series drivers to make the playoffs with a win in the regular season finale.

PLAYOFF UPDATE

There were challenging moments for all four of Ford’s playoff drivers at Darlington Raceway last weekend, but Ryan Blaney and Austin Cindric did enough to increase their advantages above the cut line. Even though Blaney dropped from fourth to seventh in the standings, he gained two points on the cut off, going from 20 to 22 while Austin Cindric moved up one spot to ninth in the standings and gained 10 points to move 12 ahead. Defending series champ Joey Logano is just below the final transfer spot by three points while Josh Berry is 19 out after his first lap incident on Sunday.

POS – NAME (Points above or below the cut line)

7th – Ryan Blaney (+20)
9th – Austin Cindric (+12)
13th – Joey Logano (-3)
16th – Josh Berry (-19)
*The top eight drivers advance after Bristol

CINDRIC GOING FOR TWO STRAIGHT

Austin Cindric was in the right place at the right time, taking advantage of teammate Ryan Blaney running out of gas at the white flag to win last year’s NASCAR Cup Series race at World Wide Technology Raceway. Cindric, who had not won since capturing the 2022 Daytona 500, was part of a Team Penske trio that was strong all day as he led 53 laps. Blaney appeared in control after outdueling Christopher Bell for the lead, but he ran out of gas just before beginning the final lap, allowing Cindric to inherit the top spot and cruise to his second career victory. Overall, Cindric, Blaney and Joey Logano combined to lead 74 laps while Ford as a whole led 137-of-240 laps.

PENSKE SUCCESS AT WWTR

Team Penske has enjoyed NASCAR’s stop at World Wide Technology Raceway, winning two of the three events held at the facility and leading 217-of-720 laps (30%) in the three races combined. Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney and Austin Cindric have each led at least one lap in two of the three races (2022 and 2024) while Blaney led the second-most laps in 2023 with 83. Overall, the trio has combined for six Top 10 finishes in nine starts, including Logano, who has finished no worse than fifth. The only time a Team Penske driver finished outside of the top 13 was last year when Blaney finished 24th and that was because he ran out of fuel while leading on the final lap.

Driver: 2022-2023-2024

Joey Logano: 1st-3rd-5th

Ryan Blaney: 4th-6th-24th

Austin Cindric: 11th-13th-1st

JOSH BERRY: HOW DOES HAVING GATEWAY AND NEW HAMPSHIRE WORK FOR YOU? “I think that each round presents its own challenges. I think you look at Gateway is a short track, but kind of a faster short track. Strategy and fuel mileage can be so important there, so there are things that can definitely go awry. New Hampshire is one that I’m pretty excited for. I know we’re bringing back a little different tire, similar to what we had at Richmond. I think that should hopefully race well there and be a positive. We saw last year, you never know with the weather. If it were to rain or something like that, it could definitely throw a wrench into things.”

AUSTIN CINDRIC: HOW MUCH DOES IT CHANGE HAVING GATEWAY IN THE FIRST ROUND AS OPPOSED TO ATLANTA AND WATKINS GLEN? “It definitely changes the first round, especially Atlanta last year with a speedway race and that format, whereas St. Louis I’m sure most probably look at that as their best opportunity for a base hit. It’s not a very normal racetrack, but you could look at it and think, ‘OK, there’s Darlington and Bristol. This is the only one that’s not crazy.’ I think it’s best to not be able to put yourself in a position to where that race has to be incredibly important.”

JOEY LOGANO: YOU’VE WON THE TITLE WHEN YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO AND WHERE YOU WEREN’T SUPPOSED TO. DOES THAT GIVE YOU ADDED CONFIDENCE GOING INTO THIS YEAR? “Yeah, and honestly the years I felt like we should have won the championship we didn’t, so I think the key lesson of all that is you’re never out of it. Until you are out, you are not out. Even last year when I thought I was out I was not out (laughing). It’s a very interesting 10 weeks that’s gonna come at us and it’s unpredictable. I don’t know how exactly it’s gonna play out. Nobody knows. That’s why the plan is one week at a time because you just don’t know what the next race is gonna bring at you, so you handle what’s ahead of you and you just take it one week at a time. You handle today. Tomorrow will take care of itself. It’s no different than what our parents taught us. It’s the same stuff.”

RYAN BLANEY: DO YOU ENJOY THE PLAYOFFS OR IS IT A MENTALLY TOUGH TIME OF THE YEAR? “It is mentally a tougher time, I feel like. I try not to approach races differently as far as my midweek prep, but I feel like when you’re at the track and going through the race in the playoffs, what’s really tough about it is mistakes are blown up like crazy. You can’t afford mistakes. There are a lot of ups and downs and it’s how do you handle emotions and try to just simplify everything. At the end of the day, we’re going racing and you’re doing the best job that you can, but you also know what you’re going for and that makes it pretty tough.”

LOGANO WINS GATEWAY DEBUT

Just like he did in the inaugural Clash at the Coliseum and Bristol Dirt Race, Joey Logano won the inaugural NASCAR Cup Series race at World Wide Technology Raceway, beating Kyle Busch in a dramatic overtime finish in 2022. Both drivers took turns crossing over each other for the lead on the final lap before Logano made the decisive pass in turn four to claim his second win of the season.

WELCOME BACK

This will mark the first time the NASCAR Xfinity Series has raced at World Wide Technology Raceway since 2010. Prior to that, the facility hosted at least one race a year from 1997-2010 with Ford winning five times in 15 all-time starts. Carl Edwards holds the record for most wins by a series driver at the track after he went to Victory Lane three times while driving for Jack Roush (2006, 2008, 2010-1).

REGULAR SEASON FINALE

Sam Mayer is the only Ford driver who has clinched a spot in the NASCAR Xfinity Series playoffs, but Sheldon Creed and Harrison Burton are both in transfer positions going into Saturday’s season finale. Creed is 65 points above the cut line, but he’s only 34 points ahead of Burton, who currently holds the final transfer spot. That means a new winner could knock him out of the 12-driver field, but besides trying to move up, Burton also has to hold off his cousin, Jeb, who trails him by 31 points for 12th place.

FORD NASCAR CUP SERIES WINNERS

AT WWTR

2022 – Joey Logano

2024 – Austin Cindric

FORD NASCAR XFINITY SERIES WINNERS

AT WWTR

2002 – Greg Biffle

2003 – Scott Riggs

2006 – Carl Edwards

2008 – Carl Edwards

2010 – Carl Edwards (1)

The Ford Mustang, celebrating its 61st anniversary in 2025, is the world’s best selling sports car. It is also one of the planet’s most popular race cars. With Mustang-based race cars competing in international sports car competition (GT3 and GT4), NASCAR, NHRA, Formula Drift, in Australian Supercars, at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb and in its own bespoke one-make series – Mustang Cup and Mustang Challenge – the platform has an unprecedented global reach. This weekend, 43 Mustang race cars are scheduled to race across all disciplines. Learn more at FordPerformance.com.

TPC Racing Celebrates Labor Day Weekend with Strong Competition and a Memorable Porsche Evening

By
Official Release
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  • TPC Racing and Evan Hinkle Competitive Off The Trailer in the No. 277 Monoflo International/TPC Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup at Watkins Glen International
  • TPC Racing Welcomes Porsche Racing Legend Alwin Springer to the Team’s Maryland-Based Headquarters on Friday for 50 Years of ANDIAL: A Celebration at TPC organized by PCA Chesapeake

JESSUP, Maryland (September 1, 2025) – A legendary race track in New York, and the company of Porsche racing legends at TPC Racing headquarters in Maryland, combined for a competitive and more than memorable Labor Day holiday this past weekend for TPC Racing.

TPC Racing and Monoflo International team driver Evan Hinkle had a competitive Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama Porsche GT3 Cup debut together in the Saturday and Sunday Porsche Sprint Challenge North America by Yokohama doubleheader on the legendary 3.45-mile Watkins Glen road course.

At the same time, TPC Racing principal Michael Levitas, who put in some laps of his own in his No. 236 TPC Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup late last week, left The Glen before the weekend’s races. He traveled back home to TPC Racing headquarters where he welcomed none other than Porsche racing legend Alwin Springer to the team’s new 40,000 square foot headquarters for the first time.

TPC and Levitas joined the PCA Chesapeake region in showcasing Springer on Friday evening for 50 Years of ANDIAL: A Celebration at TPC. The event was in recognition of the 1975 launch of ANDIAL, which quickly evolved into North America’s most successful Porsche tuning and performance operation. By the late 1980s, Springer had taken over leadership of Porsche Motorsports North America, ultimately building the program into the powerhouse it has become. Springer and Levitas were joined by other Porsche and PCA notables and a strong turnout of Chesapeake region members and guests for informal conversation and an insightful Q&A session.

Meanwhile, Hinkle was making his career competition debut at The Glen after a breakout double-podium Type 992 GT3 Cup Pro-Am weekend in late July at VIRginia International Raceway (VIR) in the No. 277 Monoflo International/TPC Racing Porsche 911 GT3 Cup. Hinkle secured the pair of Pro-Am class third-place finishes in the July VIR weekend’s twin Porsche Sprint Challenge races for his best career series results to date.

Hinkle is in his third year of Porsche Sprint Challenge competition with TPC Racing but his first two seasons were in the Sprint Challenge Cayman class. He has made the jump to the top-tier GT3 Cup category along with Monoflo International and “trade-off” teammate Tillman Schmid this year. Hinkle’s VIR podiums came in his major race debut in a Porsche GT3 Cup

While TPC Racing has extensive and race-winning experience at The Glen, his debut at the track amazingly was Hinkle’s first Porsche Sprint Challenge race on a circuit other than VIR. He picked up right where he left off at VIR in July and challenged a talented field of drivers with extensive experience at Watkins Glen.

Hinkle immediately joined the fight up front in qualifying, the only “rookie” cracking the outright top-10 in the 30-car field with a sixth-place Pro-Am result that was eighth fastest overall. He ran the fourth fastest lap times in Saturday’s opening race, slower than only than the quick and experienced Pro-Am trio that finished on the podium in both weekend races.

Shaking off some in-race issues while fighting up front in both sprints at The Glen, Hinkle maintained his out-of-the-box top-10 form for his best showing of the weekend on Saturday. He finished seventh in Pro-Am and 10th overall.

Next up for TPC Racing in Porsche Sprint Challenge North America is the season-finale race weekend at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta in two weeks, September 12 – 14. Schmid will return to the wheel of the No. 277 for that weekend’s Sprint Challenge doubleheader with Hinkle then joining him for Sunday’s four-hour Porsche Endurance Challenge North America race that brings the curtain down on the 2025 season.

Michael Levitas, TPC Racing Principal: “It was great to be with the team on Wednesday and Thursday at Watkins Glen, and it was amazing how quickly we got the cars turned around and going fast. The team just did an amazing job, but I ran home to be with our guest Alwin Springer on Friday evening. I was overjoyed and excited to get back to the shop. Alwin was a guest speaker brought in by the local Porsche Club of America Chesapeake Region, and I just couldn’t miss that event. Seeing Alwin in our shop for the first time, it has been a while since I have seen him at all, but just hearing his stories, not just about Porsche racing, but even his struggles just to get to North America. It’s all amazing. Alwin is synonymous with Porsche racing in North America and winning races, and we are honored to have been part of that success in the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series era. Alwin is a true pillar of Porsche, and really a pillar of any sports car racing paddock he is in. He is universally revered and a true ‘racer’s racer.'”

Harris Levitas, TPC Racing Director of Race Operations: “A very memorable Labor Day weekend in so many ways, and I am proud of the TPC Racing team and Evan Hinkle for being a force to be reckoned with from the very beginning. The Glen is a hard track to come to for the first time and be lead-pack competitive, but Evan drove like a veteran despite having previous Porsche Sprint Challenge in just three races, and all of them at VIR. It is easy to forget he is still so new at this level of racing and learning. The four-hour Porsche Endurance finale will be perfect for both Evan and Tillman Schmid to gain more seat time and valuable experience in the USAC Porsche Sprint and Endurance series. We are already looking forward to getting back on track in two weeks with Evan and Tillman at Road Atlanta and ending the season with our best result yet for Monoflo International.”

About TPC Racing: TPC Racing is the Mid-Atlantic’s premier maintenance, service, tuning and modification center dedicated solely to Porsche sportscars. TPC Racing specializes in R&D and sales of high-performance modifications for Porsche sports cars and race cars, offering a wide range of vehicle upgrades. Best known for a line of forced induction solutions for the Porsche 911, Cayman and Boxster, a long-time focus on only one make, Porsche, has enabled TPC Racing to become experts in Porsche service, tuning, and racing. In 2000, TPC Racing began entering races under its own banner, scoring an SGS-class Championship in 2004 in the Grand-American Rolex Series and was a class winner in the 2006 Rolex 24 At Daytona, and captured the 2013 and 2016 IMSA Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA Gold Cup Championships. More information can be found at www.TPCRacing.com.

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