STATESVILLE, N.C.: AM Racing proudly announced today that AirBox, the industry leader in commercial indoor air quality (IAQ) solutions has expanded its partnership with the team and will serve as the primary partner of the No. 25 Ford Mustang driven by Harrison Burton in Saturday afternoon’s The Chilango 150 at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.
AirBox has been a loyal partner of the Statesville, N.C.-based team for several seasons, and now looks to leverage its relationship with Burton and AM Racing to expand its international presence as the Xfinity Series returns to Mexico City for the first time since 2008.
Founded in 2017, AirBox is delivering healthier indoor environments through advanced air purification. AirBox specializes in implementing ASHRAE’s performance-based ventilation (IAQP), enabling clients to achieve significant energy savings while meeting high standards for occupant health and wellness.
Their High-Volume Air Purifiers (HVPs), manufactured in North Carolina, combine Certified HEPA and Advanced Molecular Adsorbent technologies with IAQ Verification Testing and expert engineering and analytical science support to provide a turnkey approach.
With a proven track record and unmatched expertise, AirBox continues to lead the way in creating safer, healthier indoor environments for all.
“I’m excited to represent AirBox as the NASCAR Xfinity Series heads back to Mexico City this weekend,” said Burton. “It’s such an iconic city with a passionate motorsports fanbase, and it’s an honor to be part of this historic return.
“Since we brought the AirBox Purifier into our home, the difference has been night and day. Jenna [Petty, fiancé] and I both sleep better, our allergies have eased up a ton, and even our golden retriever, Remi, seems more relaxed—she used to sneeze constantly, but that’s basically stopped.
“The air just feels fresher, cleaner, and lighter. It’s easy to use, and gives us peace of mind knowing we’re breathing cleaner air every day. Honestly, it’s been one of the best upgrades we’ve made to our home — and now I’m proud to carry AirBox’s message into an international spotlight and showcase their commitment to clean air in one of the world’s most vibrant and dynamic cities.”
With 14 Xfinity Series races in the books, Burton and the No. 25 AirBox Ford Mustang head to Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in pursuit of their seventh top-10 finish of the season, looking to maintain the strong momentum that has kept the relatively new pairing in the thick of the Xfinity Series Playoff hunt.
“We’ve been building something solid this year, and I’m proud of how far we’ve come as a team,” added Burton. “Every week we’re getting better, and heading to a place like Mexico City with AirBox onboard adds some extra excitement.
“It’s a new challenge for all of us, but if we stay focused and execute, I think we’ve got a real shot at keeping our Playoff hopes on track.”
Adam Smith, president of AirBox, added, “Partnering with Harrison Burton and the No. 25 AM Racing Ford Mustang in Mexico gives us a unique platform to highlight the importance of clean air and smarter energy use. Just as on the track, performance matters in the buildings where we live and work.
“AirBox is proud to support a driver who embodies precision and speed while we continue our mission to deliver cleaner, healthier and more energy-efficient air solutions for ventilation design.”
For additional information on AirBox, please visit airboxamerica.com.
For more on AM Racing, please visit AMRacingteam.com, like their Facebook page (AM Racing), or follow them on Instagram and X | Twitter @AMRacingNASCAR.
For more on Harrison Burton, please visit theharrisonburton.com, like his Facebook page (Official Harrison Burton), or follow him on Instagram (@harrisonburton12) and X | Twitter (@hburtonracing).
The Chilango 150 (65 laps | 157.3 miles) is the 15th of thirty-three (33) NASCAR Xfinity Series races on the 2025 schedule. The first of two Xfinity Series practice sessions will take place on Friday, June 13, 2025, from 12:05 p.m. to 12:55 p.m., with a final 25-minute practice scheduled from 1:30 p.m. to 1:55 p.m. Qualifying will follow on Saturday, June 14, 2025, launching at 8:30 a.m. The 40-car field will take the green flag shortly after 2:30 p.m., with live coverage on The CW Network, the Motor Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90. All times are local (CT).
About AM Racing:
AM Racing is a multi-tiered, multifaceted motorsports program headquartered in Statesville, N.C.
Established in December 2015, AM Racing is prided on faith, honesty and intelligent performance.
In its ninth year of competition, the family-owned team will compete in the ARCA Menards Series, the NASCAR Xfinity Series, and various Dirt Modified events.
MOORESVILLE, N.C. (June 9, 2025) – When the NASCAR Cup Series arrives in Mexico City this weekend for Sunday’s inaugural Viva Mexico 250 at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, it will mark the first time in nearly 67 years that NASCAR’s elite division has competed outside the United States.
Back in 1958, when NASCAR last raced internationally, Dwight D. Eisenhower was president, a gallon of gas cost 24 cents, and color television was a rising technology. Streaming only referred to such tangible elements as water, tears and smoke.
So when Lee Petty beat Cotton Owens to win the Jim Mideon 500 on July 18, 1958 at the .333-mile Canadian National Exposition Stadium in Toronto, you really did have to be there.
While streaming in today’s brave new world is more aligned with television, where we can watch whatever we want, when we want, all in rich 5k resolution, both on small screens that can fit in our pocket and on mammoth home screens that fill an entire wall, it still means something to be there.
This is one of the main reasons NASCAR is racing in North America’s most populous municipality. It is bringing this people’s sport, rooted in raw speed and ingenuity, to the estimated 9.2 million people of Mexico City.
NASCAR’s people start arriving this week, with most arriving on Thursday ahead of the first batch of practice sessions on Friday. Cody Ware, driver of the No. 51 Arrowhead Brass Ford Mustang Dark Horse for Rick Ware Racing, is one of many descending upon Mexico City.
The 29-year-old racer from Greensboro, North Carolina, who will represent the U.S.-based manufacturer specializing in brass plumbing valves and irrigation products this weekend in Mexico City, came to the NASCAR Cup Series by way of road racing. It makes Ware immediately comfortable with the prospect of turning left and right on the 2.417-mile, 14-turn layout, despite never having competed at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.
“Road racing is where I did a lot of my growing up and learning how to race,” Ware said. “There was a lot of back and forth between stock cars and GT cars and sportscars over the years as I found my place in NASCAR. So I’m always, ‘The more the merrier,’ when it comes to road racing.”
Ware won the 2019-2020 LMP2 championship in the Asian Le Mans Series with co-driver Gustas Grinbergas. In a prelude to that title, Ware was the 2014 Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America Rookie of the Year. In January 2024 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway, Ware piloted a Ligier JS P320 to a podium finish in the IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge LMP3 class. Ware has also competed in Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup and the NTT IndyCar Series.
“There are a lot of things you can’t really learn about a road course until you’re in a car that’s really been built to attack a road course, and the current Cup car drives a lot more like a sportscar than they ever have before,” Ware said. “They’re somewhere in between a TA and a TA2 car in the Trans Am Series. Obviously, we have a lot more horsepower than a TA2 car, but not quite the downforce and maneuverability that a TA car has.”
The Cup car’s relative lack of downforce will be amplified this weekend in the thin air of Mexico City, which sits 7,218 feet above sea level. This environment will also affect the car’s cooling, impacting not only the engine, but also the car’s brakes, which drivers will use for approximately 25 percent of the race’s 100-lap duration.
“It’s a new variable and you need to pay attention to it, but it’s also the same for everyone. We all have to deal with it,” Ware said.
While teams will prepare their cars for the nuances of high-altitude racing, it’s up to the drivers to prepare themselves for the physical adjustment of competing with less oxygen.
“I actually raced in Mexico once before,” Ware said. “I ran the NASCAR Mexico Series race at a flat mile oval called Puebla. When I got off the plane and headed to the track, it reminded me of landing in Denver, where you feel a little out of breath at first and you have to acclimate.
“As a racecar driver, it’s always important to be physically fit, but especially when you’re in a new environment that’s already taxing because you’re not used to it. So, you take your cardio seriously so that you’re in shape, but also so that your heart health and lung capacity are where they need to be.
“There’s a lot of strength needed for driving a racecar, especially when it comes to braking. It takes a lot of brake pressure to extract 700-800 pounds of braking force into the corner. It’s about being on your game from start to finish, where you’re as good on the last lap as you were when you took the green.”
Speaking of green, all the drivers racing this weekend are green when it comes to experience at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez. Sure, some did get some experience at the track’s past iteration when the NASCAR Xfinity Series raced there between 2005-2008, but in preparation for Formula One’s return to the track in 2015 after a 22-year hiatus, the circuit was completely revamped.
Noted track designer Hermann Tilke penned the new layout, and it followed the general outline of the original course, which first hosted Formula One in 1963. The entire track was resurfaced, with new pit, paddock and spectator stands constructed. The most notable changes from the old layout to the current version were an added sequence of corners comprising turns one, two and three, along with a revised set of corners through the Foro Sol baseball stadium, which was built inside the famed and feared Perlatada corner, with the remnant’s apex serving as the track’s final turn.
“Anytime you get to race on a track with history like that, it’s super cool,” Ware said. “I’ve been lucky to race on other Formula One tracks like Shanghai and the Sepang circuit in Malaysia. Anytime you get a chance to turn laps on a track where some of the legends of Formula One have competed is a really special opportunity.”
As special as it is, it also involves a good deal of preparation beforehand, most notably when visiting a track for the first time.
“The simulator is your lifeline. Without being able to get on the Ford sim, I don’t know what I’d do to even wrap my head around how to attack a lap,” Ware said.
“Getting into a rhythm before you even lay your eyes on the track is huge because you still only have so much time to figure out a place you’ve never been to before. To be able to start making adjustments immediately versus spending 30 minutes learning everything, it’s a night-and-day difference.”
With time on the simulator, Ware already has an understanding of the track’s layout, including the amount of runoff areas available.
“There’s a lot of paved runoff at the circuit, and in NASCAR, we tend to use a lot of runoff in the places where racecars typically aren’t supposed to be,” Ware said.
“We don’t have the FIA breathing down our necks when it comes to track limits, and I think NASCAR’s pretty fair with their approach to how they regulate things like that. We saw that earlier this year at COTA where they ratcheted up the enforcement but, overall, if there’s concrete or asphalt to drive on, we tend to use it.
“My biggest curiosity going into the race weekend is how NASCAR polices it. We’ve run the track properly on the sim, so what’s OK and what isn’t probably won’t be known until that first practice session on Friday.”
Friday delivers two open practice sessions, from 11:05-11:55 a.m. CST/1:05 p.m.-1:55 p.m. EDT and 1-1:25 p.m. CST/3-3:25 p.m. EDT, respectively. Qualifying takes place on Saturday from 10-11 a.m. CST/12-1 p.m. EDT. The Viva Mexico 250 begins Sunday at 1 p.m. CST/3 p.m. EDT. All of the action will be broadcast live by Prime Video and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.
About Rick Ware Racing:
Rick Ware has been a motorsports mainstay for more than 40 years. It began at age 6 when the third-generation racer began his driving career and has since spanned four wheels and two wheels on both asphalt and dirt. Competing in the SCCA Trans Am Series and other road-racing divisions led Ware to NASCAR in the early 1980s, where he finished third in his NASCAR debut – the 1983 Warner W. Hodgdon 300 NASCAR Grand American race at Riverside (Calif.) International Raceway. More than a decade later, injuries would force Ware out of the driver’s seat and into full-time team ownership. In 1995, Rick Ware Racing was formed, and with his wife Lisa by his side, Ware has since built his eponymous organization into an entity that competes full-time in the elite NASCAR Cup Series while simultaneously campaigning successful teams in the Top Fuel class of the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series, Progressive American Flat Track and FIM World Supercross Championship (WSX).
FireKeepers Casino 400 – Michigan International Speedway Brooklyn, Mich. – June 8, 2025
AUSTIN CINDRIC No. 2 DISCOUNT TIRE FORD MUSTANG START: 11TH STAGE 1: 13TH STAGE 2: 2ND FINISH: 31ST POINTS: 16TH RACE RUNDOWN: Austin Cindric and the No. 2 Discount Tire team showed resilience throughout Sunday’s FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway, battling through multiple setbacks in a race that offered both opportunity and frustration. After starting 11th, Cindric reported a tight condition in the opening run and finished Stage 1 in the 13th position. A concern for a potential loose wheel forced the team to make an extra stop, dropping Cindric to the rear of the field for the restart. As the race unfolded through a series of cautions and restarts, Cindric maneuvered his way forward and cracked the top 10. Crew chief Brian Wilson made the call to stay out late in Stage 2 in a bid for the Stage win and a valuable playoff point. Cindric was battling in the lead on the last lap before finishing second in the segment. Varying pit strategies shuffled the field again, and Cindric was working his way forward when a flat left-front tire forced an unscheduled stop with 26 laps remaining. The issue took the team off sequence and left them with a 31st-place finish in the lone trip to the two-mile track this season.
CINDRIC’S THOUGHTS: “It seemed like one of those days that it wasn’t meant to be. We were just a little bit tight for the first run and that kind of took us by surprise, but we made the car a little better and took the strategy to stay out and try to win the stage on old tires. I felt more would stay, but we got passed there on the last lap. All in all, it was a good recovery from the back of the field and then we had a left-rear tire fail on that green flag run. I feel like we probably would have been able to make our way back up close to the top 10. Like I said, there was a lot of good, but a lot of bad, too. There’s plenty to clean up and ready for a new adventure in Mexico.”
RYAN BLANEY No. 12 MENARDS/KNAUF FORD MUSTANG START: 13TH STAGE 1: 6TH STAGE 2: 33RD FINISH: 32ND POINTS: 7TH RACE RUNDOWN: Despite a strong start to Sunday’s FireKeepers Casino 400, Ryan Blaney and the No. 12 Menards/Knauf Ford Mustang Dark Horse were relegated to a 32nd-place finish at Michigan following an incident in Stage 2. Coming off his first win of the 2025 season a week ago, Blaney worked his way into the top-10 in the opening laps of Sunday’s 400-mile event before fighting his way to a sixth-place finish in Stage 1. The No. 12 team’s four tire stop at the stage break won Blaney the race off of pit road as he lined up to restart from the outside of row one before a pair of cautions during the first 20 laps of the run presented differing pit strategies throughout the field. Crew chief Jonathan Hassler made the call to bring the Menards/Knauf Ford to pit road for four tires and fuel under the latter of the two cautions while a mix of teams opted for two tires as Blaney lined up 21st for the ensuing restart. Blaney worked his way back up to 12th on the following run, but broke loose in turn three on lap 109, sending him into the outside wall and sliding down the track towards pit road to bring out the caution. The No. 12 team made repairs to a bent right rear toe link on pit road but went down five laps in the process as they ultimately settled for a 32nd-place finish.
BLANEY’S THOUGHTS: “Tough way for us to end the weekend especially with the speed we showed early on. The 12 boys brought another fast car this week and appreciate all their work to get us back out there. We’ll put this one behind us and see what Mexico has in store for us.”
JOEY LOGANO No. 22 HUNT BROTHERS PIZZA FORD MUSTANG START: 15TH STAGE 1: 11TH STAGE 2: 23RD FINISH: 22ND POINTS: 9TH RACE RUNDOWN: Joey Logano and the No. 22 Hunt Brothers Pizza Ford Mustang Dark Horse came away with a 22nd-place finish Sunday afternoon at Michigan International Speedway. After starting from 15th, Logano worked his way up to 11th by the end of Stage 1 as the balance began to settle in. An early caution in Stage 2 prompted crew chief Paul Wolfe to bring Logano to pit road for fuel only before another caution seven laps later saw the leaders hit pit road, allowing the Hunt Brothers Pizza Ford to move up to row three for the ensuing restart. Logano battled a loose-handling condition through the end of the second segment, resulting in a 23rd-place finish in Stage 2. Logano continued to fight his way through traffic in the final stage before taking the checkered flag 22nd at the end of the 400-mile event.
LOGANO’S THOUGHTS: “We fired off with decent pace, but just struggled to maintain it over the course of the day. Track position was so key all day and we made the right calls to get us in the mix in the second stage but couldn’t keep it up there.”
The inaugural NASCAR Cup Series race at Mexico’s Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez stands as the next stop on the schedule on Sunday, June 15. Coverage of the Viva Mexico 250 begins at 3:00 p.m. ET on Amazon Prime Video and Sirius XM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.
After qualifying in 19th, AJ Allmendinger made his way into the top 15 by lap 23. He maintained position until the conclusion of the opening stage when he reported the car was building tight as the run went on. Allmendinger came to pit road during the stage break for tires, fuel and an air pressure adjustment to help with the handling of the No. 16 Action Industries Chevy. During the second stage, Allmendinger received a pit road speeding penalty and restarted at the tail end of the longest line. By the end of the stage, he had driven up to 19th place. Allmendinger stayed out at the end of the stage to restart in 12th place. On the final pit stop of the day, Allmendinger lost positions and as a result, restarted in 25th place on lap 151. By lap 154, he had driven up to 13th and was told he needed to save fuel. Allmendinger went on to finish in 17th place.
“Just a hard fought day for our No. 16 group. I needed to be a little bit better, definitely made some mistakes for our race team and tried to get them back on the final restart. I felt like we got pretty close to where we probably should have been running, just more disappointed in myself today. I need to be a little bit better, but we fought hard and got everything out of it at the end there. We had to save a little bit of fuel, probably lost two spots in doing that, but at the end of the day, I think about 14th to 17th was about all we had. We did a fairly good job of maximizing our day and we’ll go to Mexico City and try to win the race.” – AJ Allmendinger
Ty Dillon and the No. 10 Sea Best Chevy team started Sunday’s race at Michigan International Speedway from the 18th position. As the first stage ran caution free, Dillon reported his Chevy was a little too free and finished the stage in 23rd. Making adjustments to the No. 10 Chevy throughout the second stage, Dillon ran as high as sixth before finishing the second stage in the ninth position and earned valuable stage points. During the final stage, Dillon restarted the race from the 20th spot. As the laps ticked off, the team continued to adjust on the No. 10 Chevy and Dillon crossed the finish line in the 24th position.
About Kaulig Racing
Kaulig Racing™ is a full-time, multi-car NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) and NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) team, owned by award winning entrepreneur, Matt Kaulig. Established in 2016, Kaulig Racing™ has earned 27 NXS wins, made the NXS Playoffs consecutively each season since the playoff system started, and won two regular-season championships. In 2021, the team competed in select NCS events, before expanding to a two-car, full-time NCS team in 2022 and adding a third, part-time entry during the 2023 season. Since its first NCS start in 2021, the team has earned two wins. Kaulig Racing is currently fielding two full-time entries in the NCS and continues to field three full-time NXS entries. To learn more about the team, visit kauligracing.com.
BROOKLYN, MI (June 8, 2025) – With the Xfinity Series off this weekend, Cole Custer carried the banner for the Haas Factory team during Cup Series racing at the 2-mile Michigan International Speedway. Making his sixth Cup Series start at Michigan, Custer rolled off 24th on Sunday.
41 Cole Custer – Recap
Early in Stage One, Custer was faced with challenges, reporting that his No. 41 Ford was loose on entry and exit, with a hint of tightness in the center of the corners. The handling made it difficult to get back to the throttle quickly off the turns. Still, Custer and the team were undeterred. As Stage One ended the team worked to dial in the HaasTooling.com Ford. Adjustments, including a round of wedge, were made to help improve stability, and give Custer the ability to attack the turns.
As Stage Two began, Custer worked to overcome adversity, He found restarts especially challenging, due to a lack of grip while trying to re-enter the throttle zone. He described the car as being “out of the track” with minimal grip, though he noted the balance itself wasn’t far off – just lacking overall feel. Unfortunately, just as the team looked to regroup and regain track position, Custer was caught in a multi-car incident on lap 68. The crash ended Custer’s day early and brought a premature close to what had been a determined effort. Custer was officially credited with a 35th-place finish.
“I don’t exactly know what transpired to get us into that situation but it just seemed like we all just ran out of room,” said Custer. It’s really disappointing from the standpoint of we want to be on the up end of things with our team right now. We want to move in the right direction in the summer time. I like we are bringing better cars to the racetrack and getting more competitive but getting wrecked on days like this, definitely sets that back.”
Up Next
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez (Mexico City, Mexico)
Xfinity – Saturday June 14, 2025 @ 4:30pm on The CW
Cup — Sunday, June 15th, 2025 @ 3:00pm on Amazon Prime
About Haas Factory Team The Haas Factory Team is a NASCAR Cup and Xfinity program owned by Gene Haas, founder of Haas Automation. Beginning in 2025, the team will feature Cole Custer driving the No. 41 Ford Mustang Dark Horse in the NASCAR Cup Series, while Sheldon Creed and Sam Mayer take on the Xfinity Series in the No. 00 and No. 41 Ford Mustangs, respectively. Based in Kannapolis, North Carolina, the Haas Factory Team reflects a commitment to performance and engineering excellence, carrying forward Gene Haas’s commitment to motorsports.
BRISTOL, Tenn. (June 8, 2025) – J.R. Gray won for the second time this season in the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series on Sunday at Bristol Dragway, defeating his Al-Anabi Performance teammate Mike Stavrinos in the final round as part of this weekend’s 24th annual Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals.
It was the fifth of 10 races during the 2025 NHRA Pro Mod season and this weekend’s event was powered by Cardinal Insurance.
After a lengthy rain delay, Gray and Stavrinos had a thrilling side-by-side race in the final round, with Gray slipping past Stavrinos with a standout run of 5.762-seconds at 250.46 mph. It was the quickest run of Sunday’s eliminations and handed Gray his third career NHRA Pro Mod victory.
To get to the final round, Gray defeated Chip King, Stevie Jackson and Rickie Smith, and then chased down Stavrinos by a thin margin at the finish line. Gray also leaves Bristol in the points lead.
“Man, this is all about redemption,” Gray said. “The whole crew has been putting in the hours and they’ve been making it happen.”
Stavrinos reached the championship round for the third time this season, defeating Derek Menholt, Alex Laughlin and Billy Banaka. He is second in points at the halfway mark of the year.
The Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series returns to action June 20-22 with the fifth annual American Rebel Light Virginia NHRA Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park in Richmond, Va.
BRISTOL, Tenn. — Final finish order (1-16) at the 24rd annual Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway. The race is the fifth of 10 events in the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series.
PRO MODIFIED:
JR Gray; 2. Mike Stavrinos; 3. Rickie Smith; 4. Billy Banaka; 5. Rashid alBalooshi; 6. Mason Wright; 7. Alex Laughlin; 8. Steve Jackson; 9. Dmitry Samorukov; 10. Stan Shelton; 11. Derek Menholt; 12. Justin Bond; 13. Mike Castellana; 14. Dwayne Wolfe; 15. Chip King; 16. Jordan Lazic.
BRISTOL, Tenn. — Sunday’s final results from the 24rd annual Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway. The race is the fifth of 10 events in the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series.
Pro Modified — JR Gray, Chevy Camaro, 5.762, 250.46 def. Mike Stavrinos, Camaro, 5.778, 248.48.
BRISTOL, Tenn. — Final round-by-round results from the 24rd annual Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway, the fifth of 10 events in the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series.
PRO MODIFIED:
ROUND ONE — Rashid alBalooshi, Chevy Camaro, 5.871, 238.55 def. Justin Bond, Camaro, 8.607, 108.21; Billy Banaka, Camaro, 5.845, 244.12 def. Dwayne Wolfe, Camaro, 10.241, 89.70; Alex Laughlin, Camaro, 5.857, 245.23 def. Stan Shelton, Ford Mustang, 5.873, 246.03; Mike Stavrinos, Camaro, 5.846, 246.89 def. Derek Menholt, Camaro, 5.875, 243.90; JR Gray, Camaro, 5.835, 247.70 def. Chip King, Dodge Charger, Broke; Mason Wright, Camaro, 5.907, 244.60 def. Mike Castellana, Camaro, 9.748, 92.15; Rickie Smith, Mustang, 5.850, 250.27 def. Dmitry Samorukov, Chevy Corvette, 5.868, 245.05; Steve Jackson, Camaro, 5.902, 245.85 def. Jordan Lazic, Camaro, DQ – Tech;
FINAL — Gray, 5.762, 250.46 def. Stavrinos, 5.778, 248.48.
BRISTOL, Tenn. — Point standings (top 10) following the 24rd annual Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway, the fifth of 10 events in the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series.
Pro Modified
JR Gray, 463; 2. Mike Stavrinos, 413; 3. Rickie Smith, 352; 4. Billy Banaka, 309; 5. Mason Wright, 278; 6. Justin Bond, 210; 7. Alex Laughlin, 201; 8. Kahlid alBalooshi, 184; 9. Kevin Rivenbark, 178; 10. (tie) Jordan Lazic, 161.
Capps breaks 33-race winless streak with FC triumph
Anderson rolls to PS victory, 1,000 round wins
Gadson gets first career PSM win
BRISTOL, Tenn. (June 8, 2025) – Three-time Funny Car world champion Ron Capps became the all-time wins leader at Bristol Dragway on Sunday, snapping a 33-race winless streak by defeating Paul Lee in the final round of the 24th annual Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals.
Steve Torrence (Top Fuel), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Richard Gadson (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also won the eighth of 20 races during the 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season.
Capps made the best run of his weekend in the finals, going 3.957-seconds at 328.06 mph in his 12,000-horsepower NAPA Auto Care Toyota GR Supra to chase down Lee and win for the eighth time at Bristol Dragway, surpassing Tony Schumacher for the most in track history.
It also gave Capps a huge sigh of relief, snapping a long winless streak. His last victory before Sunday came at Indianapolis in 2023, but the veteran found his groove on Sunday in Thunder Valley, winning at the scenic track for the third time in four years. Capps knocked off Matt Hagan, Epping winner J.R. Todd and Dave Richards to reach the final, turning in a classic performance to get his 77th career win and moving to fourth in points.
“We’re a single car team, and we can’t lean on other teams so it’s been a little more difficult,” Capps said. “Even when we were struggling, I never once questioned Guido [crew chief Dean Antonelli]. I just knew we had to get better, and we stuck with the plan.
“I knew we’d have times when we’d struggle, but as an owner I’ve watched it and tried to handle it a certain way. This is a grueling track. To win more here more times than John Force says a lot. I’ve known for a long time that I’ll be No. 2 to John Force in everything but to have eight wins here is awesome. To win so many times at a track that is so demanding on a driver and crew chiefs, it makes you feel like you’ve won a championship.”
Lee reached the final round for the third time this season with wins against Chad Green, Buddy Hull and Daniel Wilkerson. He’s now second in points, while Austin Prock stayed in the points lead despite a second straight first-round loss.
In Top Fuel, four-time world champ Steve Torrence also got back in the win column for the first time in nearly a year, taking down Justin Ashley in the finals with a run of 4.022 at 325.37 in his 12,000-horsepower Capco Contractors dragster. Torrence last found the winner’s circle last July in Seattle, struggling down the stretch. It wasn’t a banner start to 2025, either, but Torrence and his team undoubtedly turned the corner on Sunday in Bristol, winning for the second time in Thunder Valley.
To reach the final, Torrence got past Dan Mercier, Clay Millican and points leader Tony Stewart, defeating Stewart by .002 in a thrilling side-by-side semifinal duel. After a lengthy rain delay before the final round, both Torrence and Ashley struggled off the starting line. But Torrence quickly recovered, powering down the track to win for the 56th time in his career and giving the Texan plenty of momentum in the process.
Torrence remained seventh in points, but showed on Sunday his team still has plenty of championship potential.
“First and foremost, this is the week before Father’s Day and I have two beautiful girls, so that’s really special to me,” Torrence said. “My little girl was born in 2021 and that was kind of the end of our reign, and I didn’t want her to think that I used to be good.
“This was a tough day. The conditions were really tricky and I knew I had to be consistent and do my job. I haven’t won since Seattle. We’re trying to get better and make a better mouse trap, but you stay with girl you brought to the dance. That’s the deal with [crew chief] Richard Hogan and Bobby Lagana. That’s a testament to their ability to read the track.”
Ashley reached his third final round this season on the strength of round wins against Antron Brown, Epping winner Brittany Force and Shawn Langdon. Stewart remains in the points lead, 76 points ahead of Langdon.
On a historic day, Anderson earned his 1,000th round win in the Pro Stock semifinals and followed with his fourth win of the season, defeating teammate Dallas Glenn in the championship round with a weekend-best run of 6.623 at 205.91 in his HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro. Anderson now has 110 career wins and joins John Force as the only drivers in NHRA history win 1,000 career rounds wins.
It seemed fitting the milestone round win total came at the track where Anderson earned his first career Pro Stock victory in 2001, as Thunder Valley continued to be magical for the defending world champion and points leader. His car was the quickest during eliminations as he raced by Kenny Delco, Erica Enders and David Cuadra to reach the final round. Glenn went red in the final round, but it may not have mattered as Anderson made the quickest round of the weekend en route to the historic win.
He celebrated the 1,000th win in the semifinals, but the victory made it a complete weekend for the veteran and Pro Stock’s all-time wins leader.
“This is pretty magical. I think I could call it a day and ride off into the sunset but I’m having too much damn fun right now. Our team is firing on all eight cylinders and it’s been fun,” Anderson said.
“I had no idea, we were [approaching 1,000 rounds]. I had no earthly idea. That’s a crazy number but I don’t think that way. I just think about that race. I don’t plan for the future. I just want to win that race. Getting 1,000 round wins is big but if I had lost the final this would have lost a bit of luster. I guess I’m overachieving because this is beyond anything I could ever imagine. I also love racing in Bristol. Thunder Valley is so much fun.
“This track has a lot of personality. The bottom line is you need challenges. My team seems to love them. The taller the challenge, the more they rise.”
Glenn, who qualified No. 1, reached the finals for the sixth time in seven races in 2025, taking down Fernando Cuadra Jr., Matt Latino and Aaron Stanfield, staying second in points.
For the first time, Richard Gadson is a winner in the Pro Stock Motorcycle ranks, defeating teammate Gaige Herrera in the final round, taking the holeshot victory on his RevZilla/Mission Foods/Vance & Hines Suzuki with a run of 6.884 at 196.30. Herrera went a quicker 6.882, but Gadson’s stout .014 reaction time proved to be the difference at the finish line.
Gadson had fallen short in four previous trips to the final round, including this year at the four-wide race in Charlotte, but Sunday in Bristol belonged to the standout second-year rider. He defeated Charles Poskey and Chase Van Sant to reach the final round, holding off Herrera to claim his first victory. He had found success in qualifying and in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, and Gadson was thrilled to collect his first Wally.
“The first thing is I’m exhausted. This has been hands down the most exhausting thing I’ve ever done I always knew I could do it. I really needed to win this for me,” Gadson said.
“I’m just not used to some of the mistakes I’ve made. I had to dig deep and remind myself of what I’m capable of. In some ways I feel like ‘Mr. Almost.’ I almost win. I almost won the Rookie of the Year, but not today. I just needed to make sure I did everything right on my end. Today, the motorcycle is not an excuse. We have three of them, and they’re all really good.”
Herrera reached the finals for the third time this year, thanks to round wins against Chris Bostick, Angie Smith and No. 1 qualifier Brayden Davis. Herrera also stayed in the points lead.
The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series returns to action June 20-22 with the fifth annual American Rebel Light Virginia NHRA Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park in Richmond, Va.
BRISTOL, Tenn. — Final finish order (1-16) at the 24rd annual Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway. The race is the eighth of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series.
Richard Gadson; 2. Gaige Herrera; 3. Chase Van Sant; 4. Brayden Davis; 5. Matt Smith; 6. Angie Smith; 7. Jianna Evaristo; 8. Ryan Oehler; 9. John Hall; 10. Steve Johnson; 11. Marc Ingwersen; 12. Chris Bostick; 13. Charles Poskey.
BRISTOL, Tenn. — Sunday’s final results from the 24rd annual Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway. The race is the eighth of 20 in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series:
Top Fuel — Steve Torrence, 4.022 seconds, 325.37 mph def. Justin Ashley, 8.600 seconds, 82.60 mph.
Funny Car — Ron Capps, Toyota GR Supra, 3.957, 328.06 def. Paul Lee, Dodge Charger, 3.967, 306.88.
Pro Stock — Greg Anderson, Chevy Camaro, 6.623, 205.91 def. Dallas Glenn, Camaro, Foul – Red Light.
Pro Stock Motorcycle — Richard Gadson, Suzuki, 6.884, 196.30 def. Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 6.882, 196.24.
Pro Modified — JR Gray, Chevy Camaro, 5.762, 250.46 def. Mike Stavrinos, Camaro, 5.778, 248.48.
Mountain Motor Pro Stock — John DeFlorian Jr., Chevy Camaro, 6.384, 220.22 def. Elijah Morton, Ford Mustang, Broke.
Factory Stock Showdown — Mark Pawuk, Dodge Challenger, 7.880, 175.46 def. James Betz, Ford Mustang, Foul – Red Light.
BRISTOL, Tenn. — Final round-by-round results from the 24rd annual Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway, the eighth of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series:
SEMIFINALS — Glenn, 6.671, 206.23 def. A. Stanfield, 7.362, 153.51; Anderson, 6.644, 206.01 def. D. Cuadra, 6.699, 204.82;
FINAL — Anderson, 6.623, 205.91 def. Glenn, Foul – Red Light.
PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:
ROUND ONE — Jianna Evaristo, Buell, 6.982, 194.24 def. Marc Ingwersen, 7.071, 190.81; Angie Smith, Buell, 6.897, 196.82 def. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.980, 193.13; Chase Van Sant, Suzuki, 6.960, 196.04 def. Ryan Oehler, Foul – Red Light; Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 6.857, 197.13 def. Chris Bostick, Suzuki, 7.136, 166.91; Matt Smith, Buell, 6.870, 198.99 def. John Hall, 6.969, 196.70; Richard Gadson, Suzuki, 6.869, 196.53 def. Charles Poskey, Suzuki, 7.153, 191.29; Brayden Davis, Suzuki, 6.831, 198.09 was unopposed;
QUARTERFINALS — Van Sant, 6.951, 196.76 def. M. Smith, 6.881, 199.46; Herrera, 6.883, 196.67 def. A. Smith, 6.967, 196.44; Davis, 6.870, 197.77 def. Evaristo, Foul – Red Light; Gadson, 6.898, 196.93 was unopposed;
SEMIFINALS — Gadson, 6.911, 192.33 def. Van Sant, Foul – Red Light; Herrera, 6.895, 196.59 def. Davis, Broke;
FINAL — Gadson, 6.884, 196.30 def. Herrera, 6.882, 196.24.
BRISTOL, Tenn. — Point standings (top 10) following the 24rd annual Super Grip NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals at Bristol Dragway, the eighth of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series –
CHEVROLET IN NHRA 2025 SUPER GRIP NHRA THUNDER VALLEY NATIONALS BRISTOL DRAGWAY BRISTOL, TENNESSEE TEAM CHEVY RACE RECAP | NOTES & QUOTES JUNE 8, 2025
AUSTIN PROCK LEAVES BRISTOL STILL IN CONTROL OF FUNNY CAR POINT STANDINGS
Greg Anderson Becomes Only Second Driver in NHRA History to Capture 1,000 Round Wins – Scores 110th event victory with 1001th round win
Notes:
Austin Prock qualified No. 1 in Thunder Valley for the second straight year in his Cornwell Tools John Force Racing (JFR) Chevrolet, going 3.931 at 328.30. It’s the third No. 1 spot of the season for Prock and 21st in his career
In Round 1 of eliminations, Prock had the starting line advantage, but then started to lose traction around 330 feet and clicks it off
Prock leaves Bristol in control of the Funny Car point standings over Paul Lee and Jack Beckman
Six-time and defending Pro Stock World Champion Greg Anderson made history scoring his 1000th round win in the semi-finals defeating Erica Enders behind the wheel of the HendrickCars.com Camaro
Anderson is only the second driver in NHRA history to mark the monumental achievement joining the winningest driver in NHRA history-John Force
Anderson went on to win his fourth event of the season and the 110th of his career with his 1001th round win over teammate Dallas Glenn who uncharacteristically lit the red light
Anderson’s career-first win came at Bristol on April 29, 2001
Jack Beckman behind the wheel of the Peak Performance JFR Chevrolet Funny Car qualified in fourth, but suffered same fate as teammate Prock in Round 1 of eliminations ending his day early
Beckman is third in points
Brittany Force in the Monster JFR Chevrolet Top Fuel Dragster qualified seventh and defeated Ida Zetterstrom in Round 1 of eliminations
Force fell to Justin Ashley in Elimination Round 2
She remains sixth in the point standings
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING:
AUSTIN PROCK, DRIVER OF THE CORNWELL TOOLS CHEVROLET SS FUNNY CAR FOR JOHN FORCE RACING: “Frustrating day. The car just came loose over the bumps, and I just wasn’t able to catch it in time. We have all these safety parameters on these things now and that bit us because the safety system shut the car off and I was just coasting.
“The thing was humming along right through there,” said the point leader and reigning series champion. “It felt nice (but) right when the car was starting to accelerate, the tires started to get tall, we went over a bump and before I knew it, it was blazing the tires off, and it was kind of like slow motion. Definitely frustrating, but it’s the name of the game and we’ll be better in Richmond.”
GREG ANDERSON, DRIVER OF HENDRICKCARS.COM CHEVROLET CAMARO PRO STOCK: “You know, that thousandth win was obviously a nice round number, but nothing better than 1,001, and winning the race. That’s what means everything-winning every race out here. Crowds are fantastic, and thank the lord for this race team I have. They are the best – all them. It’s not an individual award. So thank you, guys. Thank you. All my crew chiefs, all my crew, and Hendrickcars, thank you guys so much. Summit Racing Equipment, I’m coming to see you next, see if we can make some magic again. But, love Bristol. Started it all here. Big day at Bristol. So magical place for me.”
JACK BECKMAN, DRIVER OF THE PEAK PERFORMANCE CHEVY SS FUNNY CAR: “It looks like we were just pushing a little bit too hard. Bristol is a very bumpy track – and it’s tough. You really have to cripple the car when you go over the two pedestrian tunnels out there, and that’s hard to do on a car that’s this quick.
“We had the best numbers early in the run but then, when it went over that first bump, it just unloaded, and (there was) nothing I could do. It automatically shut the throttle off. There’s a safety channel (and) if it revs up too quick, it won’t even let us get back on the throttle. However, it wouldn’t have made a difference on that run anyway.
“It’s a bitter loss, but they won’t let us redo it. We’ll unload in Richmond ready to race and win.”
BRITTANY FORCE, DRIVER OF MONSTER ENERGY CHEVROLET DRAGSTER: “We just couldn’t get down the racetrack (in round two). We know this team is at its best and can run in the cool conditions, as was evident last week in Epping, but it’s now summer and we’re going to be racing in the heat for the next few months. So, we’ll take what we learned in Bristol and apply it going forward and come out strong in Richmond.”
UP NEXT:
The 10th round of the 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series takes place June 20th to June22ns, 2025 at Richmond Dragway in Richmond, Virginia. The American Rebel Light Virginia NHRA Nationals finals can be seen on Sunday, June 22nd starting at 4:00 p.m. ET on FS1. Coverage airs throughout the weekend with NHRA on FOX and NHRA.tv (subscription), streaming available via AppleTV, Android TV, and Roku devices.
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Denny Hamlin executed a late fuel-mileage battle to a victory to perfection. The result enabled him to win the Firekeepers Casino 400 at Michigan International Speedway on Sunday, June 8.
The three-time Daytona 500 champion from Chesterfield, Virginia, led twice for five of 200-scheduled laps in his No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota. Hamlin started in third place and spent a majority of the event racing up front. He notched a combined 11 stage points between the event’s first two stage periods.
Through a handful of on-track incidents and various pit strategies during the event, Hamlin made a decisive move to victory. It came in the final 55 laps when he pitted with the entire field for fresh tires and fuel. Restarting in ninth place with 49 laps remaining, Hamlin methodically charged his way to the front. He assumed the runner-up spot and had the leader William Byron in front of him with 14 laps remaining.
Hamlin then spent the next 10 laps dual-tasking. While conserving fuel, he was also stalking Byron. This forced Byron to burn off every ounce of fuel through every corner and straightaway under race pace. Once Hamlin overtook Byron for the lead with four laps remaining, he never looked back. With enough gas in his tank to motor his way through the remaining laps, he claimed his third Cup Series victory of the season.
On-track qualifying to determine the starting lineup occurred on Saturday, June 7. Chase Briscoe notched his third consecutive Cup Series pole position in recent weeks with a 195.514 mph lap in 36.826 seconds. It was his fourth of the 2025 season and the sixth of his career. Joining Briscoe on the front row was Kyle Busch, who clocked in a qualifying lap at 195.371 mph in 36.853 seconds.
Prior to the event, Tyler Reddick, the reigning race winner at Michigan, dropped to the rear of the field due to repairs made to his splitter on his No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota Camry XSE entry.
Green Flag
When the green flag waved and the event commenced, pole-sitter Chase Briscoe and Kyle Busch dueled for the lead in front of two-stacked lanes through the first two turns. As the field fanned out through the backstretch, Busch tried to muscle ahead of Briscoe from the inside lane entering Turns 3 and 4, but Briscoe would use the outside lane to muscle his No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota Camry XSE entry ahead entering the frontstretch. With the early advantage working to his favor, Briscoe led the first lap.
Over the next four laps, Briscoe maintained the lead while William Byron, who assumed the runner-up spot during the second lap, kept Briscoe closely within his sights and by a tenth of a second. Behind, Denny Hamlin was in third place and Kyle Busch dropped to fourth place while Chris Buescher occupied fifth place.
For the following five laps, Buescher would overtake Busch for fourth place. Josh Berry, Ty Gibbs, Kyle Larson, Carson Hocevar and Bubba Wallace trailed in the top 10, respectively. Briscoe retained the lead by a tenth of a second over Byron at the Lap 10 mark.
Then on the 11th lap, Byron drew his No. 24 Raptor Chevrolet entry alongside Briscoe’s Toyota entering the backstretch. He would overtake the latter to assume the lead for the first time. As Byron led Briscoe, Buescher battled Hamlin for third place while Busch trailed in fifth place.
Josh Berry overtook Busch for fifth place on Lap 15 as Byron led by three-tenths of a second at the Lap 20 mark. By then, Ryan Blaney was up to eighth place in front of Hocevar. Wallace dropped to 12th place behind Ty Gibbs and Zane Smith. Also, Tyler Reddick, after starting at the rear of the field due to splitter repairs, was up to 20th place.
During the first 30 laps, Byron continued to lead by a tenth of a second ahead of a hard-charging Buscher who assumed the runner-up spot 12 laps earlier. Meanwhile, Hamlin trailed by two seconds in third place and he was racing ahead of teammate Briscoe and Berry.
Larson, Blaney, Busch, Hocevar and Wallace trailed in the top 10. They were followed by Zane Smith, Joey Logano, Austin Cindric, Chase Elliott, AJ Allmendinger, Ross Chastain, Reddick, Erik Jones, Noah Gragson and John Hunter Nemechek, respectively.
Three laps later, Daniel Suarez, who was racing in the top-30 mark, made an unscheduled pit stop under green to have a vibration in his No. 99 Jockey Chevrolet entry addressed. Suarez dropped out of the lead lap as a result and Byron retained the lead for the next two laps. Then, Buescher made his move beneath Byron through the frontstretch to assume the lead. Having the clear air to his advantage, Buescher led Byron by half a second by Lap 40.
When the first stage period concluded on Lap 45, Buescher steered his No. 17 Kroger Ford Mustang Dark Horse entry to his first Cup stage victory of the 2025 season. Byron and Hamlin followed suit in second and third. Briscoe, Berry, Blaney, Larson, Wallace, Kyle Busch and Hocevar were scored in the top 10, respectively.
Under the stage break, the entire lead lap field led by Buescher pitted for a first round of pit service. Following the pit stops, Blaney, who entered pit road in sixth place, exited pit road first. He was followed by Hamlin, Hocevar, Buescher, Elliott, Busch, Byron, Wallace, Larson and Ross Chastain, respectively.
Stage 2
The second stage period started on Lap 52 as Blaney and Hamlin occupied the front row. At the start, Blaney received a push from Hocevar from the outside lane. This enabled Blaney to muscle his No. 12 Menards Ford Mustang Dark Horse entry ahead of Hamlin and lead through the first two turns. As the field fanned out to multiple lanes through the backstretch, Blaney led the following lap. Hamlin and Hocevar dueled for the runner-up spot. Elliott and Byron then placed both Hamlin and Hocevar in a tight four-wide battle entering the first two turns. Elliott then assumed the runner-up spot. Hocevar, Byron and Hamlin trailed from third to fifth, respectively. Blaney led to the Lap 55 mark before Elliott assumed the lead a lap later.
On Lap 59, the caution returned. John Hunter Nemechek, who was racing in the top-20 mark, got sideways in Turn 2. He made contact with the outside wall and spun his No. 42 Pye Barker Fire & Safety Toyota Camry XSE entry below the track. As Nemechek wrecked, Noah Gragson, who was racing behind Nemechek, also got sideways and spun his No. 4 MillerTech Ford Mustang Dark Horse entry below the track.
At the time of caution, Elliott was still leading. Blaney, Byron, Hocevar and Chastain were racing in the top five ahead of Larson, Wallace, Reddick, Busch and Erik Jones.
During the latest caution period, various pit strategies within the field ensued. Some, led by Berry and including Allmendinger, Briscoe, Ty Gibbs, rookie Riley Herbst, Austin Dillon, Logano, Todd Gilliland, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Suarez, Alex Bowman, Cole Custer, Ty Dillon, Michael McDowell and Brad Keselowski pitted their respective entries. Meanwhile, the rest led by Elliott remained on the track.
The start of the next restart on Lap 65 featured Elliott fending off Blaney to retain the lead as the field fanned out from the first two turns to the backstretch. The field continued to fan out and jostle for spots as Elliott led the following lap. During the following lap, the caution quickly returned. It was a result of slight contact between Austin Cindric and Cole Custer within the mid-field region. It got Custer loose and he went up the track, making contact with Suarez and Alex Bowman in Turn 2.
The ensuing chaos resulted in Bowman slamming the outside wall head-on, which terminated the latter’s long afternoon of racing within the mid-field region, while Briscoe spun while trying to avoid the spinning entries of Custer and Suarez. The incident was also enough to place the event in a red flag period for 11 minutes.
When the red flag lifted and the field proceeded under a cautious pace, more pit strategies ensued as a majority of the field led by Byron pitted. Meanwhile, the rest led by the leader Elliott and including Bell, McDowell, Logano, Keselowski, Gilliland, Austin Dillon, Ryan Preece, Cindric, Justin Haley and Nemechek remained on the track. Amid the pit stops, Larson was penalized for speeding on pit road.
As the event restarted under green on Lap 70, Elliott and Bell dueled for the lead through the first two turns and the backstretch as the field fanned out to multiple lanes. Elliott would then use the outside lane to rocket past Bell entering the frontstretch and he would lead the next lap while Logano battled Keselowski and McDowell for third place. During the following lap, McDowell executed a bold three-wide move on both Keselowski and Logano to overtake both for third place while Byron, Haley, Preece and Gilliland all reeled in on the trio.
Following another caution that started on Lap 72 when Nemechek was involved in a second incident of the event, this time in Turn 4, Elliott surrendered the lead to pit his No. 9 UniFirst Chevrolet entry for fresh tires and fuel on Lap 75. Briscoe, Allmendinger, Suarez and Berry would also pit their respective entries.
The start of the next restart on Lap 77 featured both Bell and McDowell dueling for the lead in front of a stacked field before Byron executed a three-wide move beneath the latter two to rocket into the lead. As Byron led, Reddick navigated his way into the runner-up spot before Bell reassumed the spot for the following lap. Meanwhile, Keselowski and Logano were in the top five ahead of McDowell while Gilliland, Haley, Hamlin and Ty Dillon were trailing in the top 10 and jostling in front of the field.
At the Lap 90 mark, Byron was leading by eight-tenths of a second over Bell while Reddick, Keselowski and Gilliland followed suit in the top five. Behind, Preece, Hamlin, Hocevar, Logano and McDowell trailed in the top 10 ahead of Zane Smith, Cindric, Ty Dillon, Wallace and Chastain while Kyle Busch, Blaney, Stenhouse, Larson and Buescher all occupied the top-20 spots, respectively. Meanwhile, Elliott was scored in 22nd place behind Erik Jones while Briscoe was mired in 28th place.
Ten laps later, at the halfway mark of the event, Byron continued to lead by four-tenths of a second over Bell while Reddick and Keselowski also continued to race in third and fourth, respectively. Meanwhile, Preece was up to fifth place as both Hamlin and Hocevar were up to sixth and seventh. Behind, Gilliland dropped to eighth place ahead of teammate Zane Smith and Cindric while Elliott was mired in 20th place.
Another six laps later, Bell, who was reeling in on Byron for the lead, surrendered the runner-up spot to pit his No. 20 Rheem Toyota Camry XSE entry under green for fuel. This allowed Reddick, Keselowski, Hamlin and Preece to move up into the top-five mark within the leaderboard as Byron retained the lead. The caution would then fly on Lap 108 due to Blaney, who was scored in 12th place, racing up the track and making contact with the outside wall in Turn 4 before he spun towards the pit road entrance.
During the caution period, nearly the entire field led by Byron pitted for service while the rest led by Austin Cindric remained on the track. Following the pit stops, Byron exited pit road first ahead of Reddick, Hocevar, Hamlin and Wallace.
The field restarted under green with seven laps remaining in the second stage period. As the field fanned out through the frontstretch, Cindric retained the lead through the first two turns and the backstretch. Reddick then shoved Cindric away from the field through the backstretch before trying to make a move beneath Cindric for the lead. The battle between Cindric and Reddick allowed Byron to join the battle. Byron tried to execute a three-wide move through the frontstretch during the following lap. But Cindric retained the top spot as a bevy of battles within the field ensued. Cindric, who was racing on worn tires compared to nearly the entire field, maintained the lead. Byron, however, dueled and overtook Cindric on the final lap of the second stage period.
When the second stage period concluded on Lap 120, Byron captured his seventh Cup stage victory of the 2025 season. Meanwhile, Cindric fended off a hard-charging Hocevar for the runner-up spot. Reddick, Chastain, Preece, Wallace, Hamlin, Ty Dillon and Erik Jones, respectively, scored in the top 10. By then, Briscoe had drifted back to 32nd place and teammate Bell was mired in 30th place. Elliott was in 15th place behind Busch, Larson, Austin Dillon and Buescher.
Final Stage
During the stage break, some of the drivers, led by Cindric, pitted. They included Larson, the Dillon brothers, Elliott, McDowell, Zane Smith, Stenhouse, Logano, Haley, Gilliland, rookie Shane van Gisbergen, Gragson and Cody Ware. The rest of the field, led by Byron, remained on the track. Amid the pit stops, van Gisbergen was penalized for removing a wedge wrench out of his pit box as the wrench was attached toward the rear window area.
With 74 laps remaining, the final stage period commenced as Byron and Hocevar occupied the front row. At the start, Byron used the outside lane to muscle ahead of Hocevar and retain the lead entering the backstretch. The field behind was stacked up, bumping, jostling and fanning out. But Byron retained the lead and continued to lead with 70 laps remaining over Hocevar. Meanwhile, Hamlin, Reddick and Wallace battled for third place.
Down to the final 60 laps of the event, Byron maintained a steady lead of seven-tenths of a second over Hocevar while Hamlin was in third place. Hamlin’s team-owned cars of Reddick and Wallace followed suit in the remaining top-five spots. Kyle Busch, Berry, Buescher, Erik Jones and Larson trailed in the top 10. They were followed by Suarez, Preece, Chastain, Ty Gibbs, Zane Smith, Elliott, Gilliland, Bell, Allmendinger and McDowell, respectively.
Then with 55 laps remaining, the caution flew when Gilliland, who was racing in the top-20 mark, blew a left-rear tire. It resulted in him backing his No. 34 Martin Transportation Systems Ford Mustang Dark Horse entry hard into the outside wall in Turn 2. During the caution period, the lead lap field peeled off the track to pit for service.
Following the pit stops, Zane Smith, who opted for a two-tire pit service, exited pit road first. He was followed by Hocevar, McDowell, Byron, Larson, Berry, Buescher, Briscoe, Ty Gibbs and Wallace, the latter nine of whom opted for four tires. Amid the pit stops, Reddick lost a bevy of spots due to being blocked by Keselowski while trying to exit his pit stall.
The following restart with 49 laps remaining featured Hocevar using the inside lane and his four fresh tires to muscle ahead of Zane Smith and transition to the outside lane. Larson then drew even with Hocevar through the backstretch and tried to muscle ahead from the inside lane. Hocevar, however, rocketed his No. 77 Zeigler Chevrolet entry ahead to lead the following lap. As Hocevar led, a bevy of on-track battles ensued within the field. Byron, Larson, Buescher and Zane Smith all battled within the top-five mark.
With 40 laps remaining, Hocevar, who was reported to be four laps shy of reaching the event’s scheduled distance on his current fuel tank, was leading by two-tenths of a second over a hard-charging Byron. Larson, Zane Smith and Buescher occupied the top five spots.
By then, teammates Byron and Larson, who were both racing on similar fuel mileages, remained within striking distance of Hocevar as they were trying to save fuel through every corner and straightaway. The trio of Hocevar, Byron and Larson were separated by six-tenths of a second with 30 laps remaining while Hocevar continued to lead.
With less than 25 laps remaining, Hocevar maintained the lead by three-tenths of a second over Byron while Larson trailed in third place by six-tenths of a second. Meanwhile, fourth-place Ty Gibbs started to reel in the three leaders as he trailed by a second. Hamlin, who was reported to have enough fuel to reach the event’s scheduled distance, trailed by nearly two seconds in fifth place. Behind, the top 10 spots were occupied by Zane Smith, Buescher, Reddick, Chastain and Kyle Busch while Hocevar continued to lead with 20 laps remaining.
Then with 19 laps remaining, Hocevar’s hopes of contending for a first Cup Series victory evaporated when he blew a left-rear tire. The incident started in the backstretch and he was forced to make an unscheduled pit stop under green. With Hocevar out of contention and the event remaining under green, Byron assumed the lead.
He was followed by teammate Larson, Ty Gibbs, Hamlin and Buescher, respectively. Hamlin then proceeded to overtake teammate Gibbs and Larson, the latter of whom he had an early run-in on the track and moved into the runner-up spot. Byron retained the lead with 14 laps remaining.
Down to the final 10 laps of the event, Byron fended off Hamlin despite Hamlin’s pressuring attempts to burn off fuel by racing at full speed to lead. Ty Gibbs then overtook Larson for third place. Over the next five laps, Byron maintained the lead while blocking and fending off Hamlin. Third-place Ty Gibbs trailed by a second. In addition, Buescher overtook Larson for fourth place while Wallace was up to sixth place ahead of Chastain, Zane Smith, Kyle Busch and Preece.
Then with five laps remaining, Hamlin made a move beneath Byron for the lead through the first two turns. Both remained dead even with one another through the backstretch and the frontstretch. This allowed Ty Gibbs to slowly reel in both drivers. As Byron tried to side-draft Hamlin and muscle back ahead during the next lap, Hamlin used the inside lane through the backstretch. He fought back and muscled his No. 11 Yahoo! Toyota Camry XSE entry into the lead entering Turns 3 and 4. As Hamlin led with three laps remaining, Buescher overtook Gibbs for third place while Hamlin began to slowly pull away from Byron.
Denny Hamlin Wins
When the white flag waved and the final lap started, Hamlin remained in the lead over Buescher and Ty Gibbs while Byron pitted after he ran out of fuel. With his fuel tank and motor still running strong, Hamlin was able to cycle his No. 11 Toyota around Michigan smoothly for the final time. He returned to the frontstretch and crossed the finish line for his third checkered flag of the 2025 season.
With the victory, Hamlin notched his 57th career win in NASCAR’s premier series. It was his third at Michigan International Speedway and his first time winning at the track since June 2011. The victory was the seventh of the 2025 campaign for both Toyota and Joe Gibbs Racing. Hamlin also joined Kyle Larson and teammate Christopher Bell as three-time Cup winners through the first 15-scheduled events.
The victory was a satisfactory one for Hamlin. His latest victory occurred at Darlington Raceway in April. He has led a total of 142 laps between his Darlington victory to his current win at Michigan. In addition to achieving 700 Cup career starts last weekend at Nashville Superspeedway, Hamlin also continues to await the birth of his third child with his fiancée Jordan Fish.
Photo by Tim Jarrold for SpeedwayMedia.com.
“I wanted to get the lead,” Hamlin said on the frontstretch on Prime Video. “Obviously, [Byron] was doing a great job defending. It’s fantastic. [Crew chief] Chris Gayle, this whole team just done a great job and we’ve been so fast throughout the entire year. [We’ve] Just haven’t finished it for one reason or another.
“It feels good to come here to Michigan where we’ve been so close over the years and get a victory for Toyota, Yahoo!,…everyone. This is such a gratifying day to restart 11th, 12th, something like that, and then drive to the front.”
“I was going all out pretty much the entire time,” Hamlin added. “Once I got to the lead, that’s when I started saving [fuel]. [Gayle] kept telling me I was good and I knew I was going to have to go 100% to get around everybody. Just worked them one by one.”
In the early stages of his post-race victory interview on the frontstretch, Hamlin echoed his famous phrase by stating: “Daddy, I’m sorry, but I beat your favorite driver, folks. All of them.”
Chris Buescher, who won at Michigan in 2023, settled in second place after trailing Hamlin to the finish line by a second. Ty Gibbs had enough fuel to finish in third place while Bubba Wallace overtook Kyle Larson on the final lap to claim fourth place.
Ross Chastain, Zane Smith, Kyle Busch, Ryan Preece and Brad Keselowski completed the top 10 in the final running order.
Notably, William Byron, who led a race-high 98 laps, ended up in 28th place, after he pitted for fuel before the final lap. In addition, Carson Hocevar, who led 32 laps, finished in 29th place and was scored the first competitor a lap down.
There were 15 lead changes for 11 different leaders. The race featured seven cautions for 33 laps. In addition, 28 of 36 starters finished on the lead lap.
Following the 15th event of the 2025 Cup Series season, William Byron leads the regular-season standings by 41 points over teammate Kyle Larson, 82 over Denny Hamlin, 96 over Christopher Bell and 112 over teammate Chase Elliott.
Results:
1. Denny Hamlin, five laps led
2. Chris Buescher, 13 laps led, Stage 1 winner
3. Ty Gibbs
4. Bubba Wallace
5. Kyle Larson
6. Ross Chastain
7. Zane Smith, two laps led
8. Kyle Busch
9. Ryan Preece
10. Brad Keselowski
11. Erik Jones
12. Josh Berry
13. Tyler Reddick
14. Daniel Suarez
15. Chase Elliott, 19 laps led
16. Christopher Bell, two laps led
17. AJ Allmendinger
18. Shane van Gisbergen
19. Austin Dillon
20. Ricky Stenhouse Jr.
21. Justin Haley
22. Joey Logano
23. Chase Briscoe, 11 laps led
24. Ty Dillon
25. Riley Herbst
26. Cody Ware, one lap led
27. Noah Gragson
28. William Byron, 98 laps led, Stage 2 winner
29. Carson Hocevar, one lap down, 32 laps led
30. Michael McDowell, one lap down
31. Austin Cindric, one lap down, 10 laps led
32. Ryan Blaney, four laps down, seven laps led
33. Todd Gilliland – OUT, Accident
34. John Hunter Nemechek – OUT, Accident
35. Cole Custer – OUT, Accident
36. Alex Bowman – OUT, Accident
Next on the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series schedule is Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City, Mexico, for the inaugural Viva Mexico 250, which will mark the series’ first international event in the modern era and first overall in 67 years. The event is scheduled to occur next Sunday, June 15, and air at 3 p.m. ET on Prime Video.
Denny Hamlin tops the list of this week’s Top-10 Power Rankings after his win at Michigan International Speedway.
1. Denny Hamlin:
Hamlin passed William Byron with four laps remaining and pulled away to win the FireKeepers Casino 400.
“My partner Jordan Fish and I are expecting our third child any time now,” Hamlin said. “All the talk lately has been about ‘playoff berth’ when we should be talking about ‘regular season birth.'”
2. William Byron:
Byron won Stage 2 and was leading with four laps to go at Michigan. But Byron’s No. 24 Hendrick Chevy ran out of gas and dropped ll the way down to 28th.
“Before that,” Byron said, “I had to chase down Carson Hocevar. Unlike most other drivers, it was to pass him, and not to tell him his driving sucked.”
3. Kyle Larson:
Larson finished fifth at Michigan.
“Michigan was the first of three seeding races for the In-Season Challenge,” Larson said. “I failed my first in-season challenge when I was unable to finish at both Indianapolis and Charlotte.”
4. Ross Chastain:
Chastain finished sixth at Michigan.
“My No. 1 Busch Light Apple Chevy was fast,” Chastain said. “If you like beer, and you like apples, then you’ll probably hate Busch Light Apple.”
5. Tyler Reddick:
Reddick finished 13th after starting at the back of the field due to unapproved adjustments.
“I hear Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. and Carson Hocevar settled their issues with a productive conversation,” Reddick said. “That’s typical for Cup drivers these days. I guess a fist bump is as close as a Cup driver will get to using a fist.”
6. Ryan Blaney:
Blaney was running 12th when he spun coming to the pits on lap 109. Blaney finished 32nd, four laps down.
“It was all my fault,” Blaney said. “If I had to give it a grade, I’d have to give myself an ‘F,’ for my language after my accident.”
7. Chase Elliott:
Elliott led 19 laps and finished 15th in the FireKeepers Casino 400 at Michigan.
“We’re off to Mexico City for a road course race next week,” Elliott said. “It’s called the ‘Viva Mexico 250.’ It should be an exciting race, and if nothing else, the good people down at the Dawsonville Pool Room will learn at least one word of Spanish.”
8. Christopher Bell:
Bell finished 16th at Michigan and is fourth in the points standings.
“Congratulations to my Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Denny Hamlin for the win,” Bell said. “Denny may be 44 years old, but apparently, he’s still got a lot left in the tank.”
9. Joey Logano:
Logano finished 22nd at Michigan.
“After a win,” Logano said, “Denny Hamlin likes to say ‘I just beat your favorite driver.’ I know that gets under the fans’ skin, but it doesn’t bother me at all, because I’m no one’s favorite driver.”
10. Chris Buescher:
Buescher won Stage 1 and charged late to grab second in the FireKeepers Casino 400.
“We played the fuel mileage game to near perfection,” Buescher said. “Denny Hamlin played it to perfection. As my car’s sponsor of Heinz might indicate, I couldn’t quite ‘ketchup.'”
Next week the NASCAR Cup Series heads to Mexico City for the Viva Mexico 250.
