Scrapping your vehicle is usually the final step when repairs become too expensive or the car is no longer safe to drive. Preparing your vehicle properly not only makes the process smoother but also helps you avoid losing money or running into paperwork problems. A little preparation goes a long way when it’s time to say goodbye to your old motor.
If you’re planning to scrap your car in Essex, taking a few essential steps beforehand ensures you get the best price, stay legally compliant, and avoid leaving anything valuable behind. Here are the most important things to do before the scrap collector arrives.
1. Remove All Personal Belongings
Over the years, cars tend to accumulate personal items—sunglasses, coins, chargers, documents, tools, and more. Before handing over your vehicle, give it a complete check:
Glove box
Centre console
Boot and side compartments
Under the seats
Door pockets Once the car goes to the scrap yard, it’s almost impossible to retrieve anything left inside.
2. Take Off Your Private Number Plate
If your car has a personalised registration, make sure to remove it before scrapping. You’ll need to:
Apply to retain the plate through the DVLA (online or by post)
Receive approval before handing the car over
Scrap yards usually won’t hold vehicles while you sort out plate transfers, so handle this step first.
3. Locate Your V5C Logbook (If You Have It)
Although not mandatory, having your V5C logbook makes the process much smoother. It helps the ATF (Authorised Treatment Facility) quickly identify the vehicle and complete DVLA paperwork.
If you’ve misplaced it—don’t worry. Reputable scrap companies can still take the car if you can provide proof of ownership.
4. Drain Your Fuel Tank Only If Necessary
Most modern ATFs can safely handle cars with leftover fuel, oil, or other fluids. However, if your car has a significant amount of fuel, you may want to siphon it out for personal use. This is entirely optional, but it prevents waste—especially with rising fuel costs.
Do this only if you know how to do it safely.
5. Remove Aftermarket Accessories
If you invested in upgrades such as:
Premium stereos or speakers
Dash cams
Alloy wheels
GPS units
Custom lighting
You may want to remove them before scrapping. These items don’t increase scrap value, but you can sell or reuse them yourself.
6. Take Photos of the Vehicle
Before handing your car over, take clear photos from all angles, including the interior. This helps you:
Keep a record for insurance
Avoid disputes over its condition
Prove the car was intact when collected
Photos offer peace of mind and are especially useful if the car was damaged.
7. Check for Valuable Parts
Some parts can be worth more sold individually than as scrap weight, such as:
Nearly new tyres
Batteries
Catalytic converters
Alloys
Rare parts for older models
Removing valuable components (without damaging the vehicle) can help you earn extra cash before scrapping.
8. Prepare Necessary Documents
Before the scrap collector arrives, ensure you’re ready with:
V5C (if available)
Proof of identity
Service or repair records (optional)
Once the vehicle is scrapped, you should receive a Certificate of Destruction (CoD) from the ATF. This is an essential legal document confirming the car has been dismantled properly.
9. Cancel Your Insurance and Road Tax
After the car has officially been scrapped:
Contact your insurer to cancel your policy
Apply for a refund on any remaining road tax
The DVLA usually processes refunds automatically once the vehicle is marked as scrapped, but cancel your insurance manually to avoid charges.
Final Thoughts
Preparing your vehicle for scrapping isn’t complicated—it’s just a matter of staying organised. Remove your belongings, check your paperwork, and make sure you’re dealing with a licensed ATF to stay on the right side of the law. Whether your car has failed its MOT, suffered damage, or simply reached the end of its life, following these steps helps ensure a smooth and stress-free process from start to finish.
LAS VEGAS (Nov. 1, 2025) – Funny Car points leader Austin Prock closed out qualifying with the quickest run of the weekend on Saturday at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, earning his seventh No. 1 qualifier of the season at the 25th annual Dodge NHRA Nevada Nationals powered by Direct Connection.
Brittany Force (Top Fuel), Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also qualified No. 1 at the 19th of 20 races during the 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season and the fifth of six races in the Countdown to the Championship playoffs.
Prock lowered his time in the final session, going 3.885-seconds at 335.23 mph in his 12,000-horsepower Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS, taking his 22nd top spot since joining the Funny Car ranks at the start of 2024.
Just a pair earlier, Jack Beckman went to the top spot with his second strong run of the day. But Prock and his team followed in impressive fashion, giving the reigning world champ an outside chance to clinch the world championship on Sunday. Prock opens eliminations against Jason Rupert as he looks to pick up a third straight victory in Las Vegas.
“Hanging out on the starting line with my dad, brother and Nate Hildahl, I knew that the track was in good shape,” Prock said. “I knew that we were capable of running well.
“NHRA drag racing is the most unpredictable sport in the world. You never know what’s going to happen. There’s so many moving parts and everything has to go right when you turn on four win lights on a Sunday, or eight runs in a row from qualifying. But we never let up. We try and go up there and do the same job every time and not get caught up in focusing elsewhere other than the places that you need to be. Each one of us on this race team to execute and do the job like we have been.”
Beckman jumped to second with a run of 3.892 at 331.61 on Saturday, bumping Matt Hagan to third with his 3.897 at 329.75.
Force kept the No. 1 position in Top Fuel thanks to Friday’s run of 3.697 at 338.85 in her 12,000-horsepower Chevrolet Accessories dragster, giving the two-time world champion her sixth No. 1 qualifier this season and the 58th in her career. The defending event winner will look to win again in her final appearance at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, bringing plenty of momentum into eliminations.
She set the track speed record on Friday and will look to close out the weekend with another victory in Las Vegas.
“I never would have imagined I’d have 58 No. 1 qualifiers. That just sounds like an impossible number, but I’ve been out here for many years, and I’ve been teamed up with many amazing crew chiefs and sponsors who have supported me to get us to that point,” Force said. “There’s two races left, and I’m proud to carry the No. 1 spot, and we’re hoping for a strong day tomorrow.
“On that Q3 run today, we were pushing to see what we can get away with them. Well, we found it. We didn’t get down the racetrack. The second round, I thought I broke a belt or something. It was going down. It was smooth. We were almost there.”
Points leader Doug Kalitta qualified second with a 3.711 at 337.24 and teammate Shawn Langdon took third with a 3.715 at 336.57.
In Pro Stock, Greg Anderson made an emphatic statement on Saturday, making the quickest run in both sessions and taking over the No. 1 spot with a run of 6.572 at 206.76 in his HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Camaro.
In the process of bumping Cory Reed – who was seeking his first career No. 1 qualifier – from the provisional top spot, Anderson earned his eighth top spot of the season and the 140th in his incredible career. The added bonus points were helpful as he tries to take down teammate and points leader Dallas Glenn, but the veteran and reigning world champion is focused on a victory on Sunday.
Anderson’s first-round opponent will be Troy Coughlin Jr., as he hopes to replicate Saturday’s performance on raceday.
“Yesterday we were just a little bit off. We had a lot going on, obviously with the Black family on my mind and I was maybe a little distracted,” Anderson said. “I didn’t do a great job yesterday, but today it was picture-perfect for me. I made two very nice runs in my car, and, yeah, sorry to Cory.
“The bottom line is he’s got a fast race car. The whole KB Titan camp this weekend looks really good, so it’s going to be fun tomorrow, and I’m happy that my car runs like it runs because for me, right now, this race is everything. I have to do well here. I have to gain ground on Dallas here, or Pomona just will be another race for me. It’s really as simple as that.”
Defending event winner Aaron Stanfield moved to the second spot with a 6.593 at 207.91 and Reed took third with a 6.594 at 207.30.
Pro Stock Motorcycle’s Gaige Herrera kept the No. 1 spot, getting his eighth top qualifier this season thanks to Friday’s 6.800 at 199.17 on his RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki. It puts the back-to-back world champion in a good spot as he tries to get closer to points leader and teammate Richard Gadson in the championship race.
Herrera is after his third straight Las Vegas win and will open eliminations against Karen Stoffer.
“I don’t really count points. I just look at it once in a while,” Herrera said. “Every time I’ve been in any kind of situation championship-wise or points-wise, or if I say, ‘I need to do this or need to do that,’ it always bites me in the butt. I just go up there and let the cards play out however they’re going to play out.”
“Really, it’s just a matter of getting the job done tomorrow and trying to win as many rounds as possible. I’d love to gain more ground tomorrow and the best way to do that would be winning the race.”
Angie Smith qualified second with a run of 6.824 at 198.82 and Brayden Davis moved to third after going 6.826 at 199.14. Gadson qualified fourth.
Eliminations for the Dodge NHRA Nevada Nationals powered by Direct Connection begin at 11 a.m. PT on Sunday at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.
LAS VEGAS — Sunday’s first-round pairings for eliminations for the 25th annual Dodge NHRA Nevada Nationals powered by Direct Connection at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, the 19th of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. Pairings based on results in qualifying, which ended Saturday. DNQs listed below pairings.
Top Fuel — 1. Brittany Force, 3.697 seconds, 338.85 mph vs. Bye; 2. Doug Kalitta, 3.711, 337.24 vs. 13. Rob Passey, 4.278, 227.46; 3. Shawn Langdon, 3.715, 336.57 vs. 12. Kelly Harper, 3.958, 298.47; 4. Shawn Reed, 3.737, 329.10 vs. 11. Tony Schumacher, 3.900, 305.63; 5. Tony Stewart, 3.741, 330.72 vs. 10. Dan Mercier, 3.791, 328.54; 6. Justin Ashley, 3.744, 333.41 vs. 9. Josh Hart, 3.779, 333.16; 7. Antron Brown, 3.750, 333.16 vs. 8. Clay Millican, 3.758, 328.62.
Funny Car — 1. Austin Prock, Chevy Camaro, 3.885, 335.23 vs. 16. Jason Rupert, Ford Mustang, 4.025, 312.21; 2. Jack Beckman, Camaro, 3.892, 331.61 vs. 15. Dave Richards, Mustang, 4.022, 319.75; 3. Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 3.897, 329.75 vs. 14. Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 4.014, 314.02; 4. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 3.906, 333.08 vs. 13. Blake Alexander, Charger, 3.990, 314.90; 5. Spencer Hyde, Mustang, 3.917, 324.75 vs. 12. Del Worsham, Toyota Supra, 3.980, 300.13; 6. Ron Capps, Toyota GR Supra, 3.919, 329.91 vs. 11. Chad Green, Mustang, 3.956, 320.81; 7. Daniel Wilkerson, Mustang, 3.919, 329.02 vs. 10. Paul Lee, Charger, 3.950, 327.66; 8. J.R. Todd, GR Supra, 3.930, 329.10 vs. 9. Alexis DeJoria, Charger, 3.938, 328.78.
Did Not Qualify: 17. Jeff Diehl, 4.131, 299.40; 18. Tim Gibbons, 4.140, 271.46; 19. Buddy Hull, 4.163, 257.63; 20. Dylan Winefsky, 4.279, 291.38; 21. Chris Morel, 6.699, 97.96.
Pro Stock — 1. Greg Anderson, Chevy Camaro, 6.572, 206.76 vs. 16. Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 6.643, 206.92; 2. Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.593, 207.91 vs. 15. Cristian Cuadra, Ford Mustang, 6.627, 207.27; 3. Cory Reed, Camaro, 6.594, 207.30 vs. 14. Fernando Cuadra Jr., Camaro, 6.626, 207.34; 4. Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.598, 206.45 vs. 13. Dave Connolly, Camaro, 6.621, 206.01; 5. Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.606, 208.14 vs. 12. David Cuadra, Camaro, 6.621, 207.85; 6. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.609, 206.07 vs. 11. Deric Kramer, Camaro, 6.615, 207.69; 7. Eric Latino, Camaro, 6.610, 205.54 vs. 10.
Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 6.613, 207.50; 8. Matt Latino, Camaro, 6.612, 204.91 vs. 9. Greg Stanfield, Camaro, 6.613, 207.53.
Did Not Qualify: 17. Kenny Delco, 6.645, 205.72; 18. Chris McGaha, 6.650, 207.98; 19. Chris Vang, 6.652, 206.45; 20. Mason McGaha, 6.665, 207.24; 21. Joey Grose, 6.779, 203.12.
Pro Stock Motorcycle — 1. Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 6.800, 199.17 vs. 16. Karen Stoffer, Suzuki, 7.003, 189.18; 2. Angie Smith, Buell, 6.824, 198.82 vs. 15. Freddie Camarena, Suzuki, 6.995, 195.25; 3. Brayden Davis, Suzuki, 6.826, 199.14 vs. 14. Marc Ingwersen, EBR, 6.973, 195.05; 4. Richard Gadson, Suzuki, 6.834, 198.06 vs. 13. Chris Bostick, Suzuki, 6.964, 193.10; 5. John Hall, Beull, 6.836, 199.02 vs. 12. Kelly Clontz, Suzuki, 6.918, 195.76; 6. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.838, 196.04 vs. 11. Chase Van Sant, Suzuki, 6.916, 196.36; 7. Matt Smith, Buell, 6.855, 199.23 vs. 10. Jianna Evaristo, Buell, 6.887, 197.86; 8. Clayton Howey, Suzuki, 6.870, 196.79 vs. 9. Ryan Oehler, EBR, 6.872, 195.14.
Jesse Love and the No. 2 Whelen Chevrolet Team Victorious in Phoenix: Clinch Richard Childress Racing’s Sixth NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship
Finish: 1st Start: 6th Points: 1st
“We’re NASCAR Xfinity Series Champions, and it still doesn’t feel real. It still hasn’t sunk in. The entire time I was just like ‘get ready for the caution. Just get ready for the caution.’ I couldn’t believe when it didn’t come out. I think my spotter Brandon Benesch was just as shocked as me, because we were all waiting for it. I’m just so grateful for everyone at Richard Childress Racing. My pit crew was unbelievable tonight. Thank you to everybody who has touched a hand on this car to get us here, and everybody I’ve ever raced for or with in the past – just thank you a thousand times over. I just feel so relieved. It’s been a tough year for me. Man, I’ve just put so much work into it. People like my dad and Scott Speed, my whole No. 2 team, have worked just as hard for my dream as I have for my own. Man, thank you to Whelen. For one last time this car was fast as Xfinity Mobile. It really hasn’t set in yet. I just tried to tune out all the emotion. It doesn’t feel real at all. We were so bad to start. I couldn’t believe how bad we were. We were awful. Crew chief Danny Stockman put one of his magic wrenches in there and we came to life. I’m so grateful for everybody at RCR and ECR, back in North Carolina, Marty Houston, all the boys, Chevrolet. This means the world to me. Everybody that’s been on this journey with me over the last few years, especially the last probably eight months or so, I’ve really tried to just rebuild myself and come back better.” -Jesse Love
“It’s just special. You spend your whole life, and you spend every day trying to make these cars turn left fast. We’ve been working on this piece for about a month and a half, and we’ve spent a lot of time on the simulator at the GM Charlotte Tech Center. When it all comes together like it did this weekend, it’s very special. Thank you to Whelen, and to RCR for bringing me back. I spent 12 years of my life there, and I love Richard and Judy Childress to death, so this is just special. Thank you to Danny Lawrence, and everybody who believes in me to do this, and especially Jesse Love for just flat getting up on the wheel and getting the job done tonight. Thank you to all of the race fans for coming out to support us. I hope you enjoyed the show. We had the best car in practice. We qualified decent. The first run of the race had me caught off guard, but we worked on it, and worked on it, and Jesse got up on the wheel and we got it done.” – Danny Stockman
“I’m proud of our whole team. Our whole company. Everybody put so much work into this. Jesse Love did such an awesome job all night. We struggled in Martinsville, but he came back today and showed everybody what we’re made of. It means so much for everybody, and I’m proud.” – Richard Childress
Austin Hill and the No. 21 Bennett Transportation & Logistics Chevrolet Team Finish Ninth at Phoenix Raceway to Close Out 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series Season Sixth in Driver’s Points
Finish: 9th Start: 16th Points: 6th
“Our Bennett Transportation & Logistics Chevrolet was just off tonight. I struggle at this place for whatever reason. It’s been a challenge to run good here with my driving style. Our guys fought really hard with the adjustments but the car needed some work to make it a race winning one. I was hoping to get the owners championship for Richard Childress and unfortunately came up short. I’m happy for RCR, ECR, Chevrolet, Jesse Love and the entire No. 2 team for bringing a championship back to Welcome, though. The work on 2026 begins Monday for our No. 21 team.” -Austin Hill
AVONDALE, Ariz. (Nov. 1, 2025) – Chevrolet capped off an already record-breaking season in the NASCAR Xfinity Series with a sweep of the championship titles – earning its 23rd driver championship and 27th manufacturer championship at the conclusion of Saturday’s season-finale race at Phoenix Raceway.
“What an incredible way to end a historic season for Chevrolet in the NASCAR Xfinity Series,” said said Dr. Eric Warren, Vice President, Global Motorsports Competition, for General Motors. “We’re proud of the team effort and contributions made by everyone involved in this program to produce a record-setting 26 wins, with 13 different drivers contributing points towards our ninth–consecutive Xfinity Series manufacturer championship.”
As the checkered flag flew on the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series season, Richard Childress Racing’s Jesse Love added his name to the history books by becoming a first-time champion. Love piloted his No. 2 Chevrolet to his second win of the season in the series’ season finale race at Phoenix Raceway to earn the coveted title. Competing in only his second season in the series, the crown comes in Love’s first-ever appearance in the Championship Four.
“Winning this championship is a huge moment for Jesse Love, Danny Stockman and the entire Richard Childress Racing organization,” said Warren. “From an impressive performance behind the wheel, to execution on pit road and great strategy on the pit box throughout the season – the team delivered yet another strong performance when it mattered the most. Jesse is a true testament of the young talent we have in our driver lineup, and we’re proud that he’s earned his first career NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship with Chevrolet.”
The 20-year-old Menlo Park, California, native started his sophomore campaign with Richard Childress Racing by making a trip to victory lane in the NASCAR Xfinity Series season opener at Daytona International Speedway. Consistency was key throughout the season for Love and the No. 2 Chevrolet team – garnering two wins, nine top-fives and 22 top-10s (second-best) en route to the championship. Love delivered Richard Childress Racing its sixth driver championship in the series, all of which have been recorded under the Chevrolet banner.
“Congratulations to Richard Childress and everyone at Richard Childress Racing on earning their sixth NASCAR Xfinity Series title,” added Warren. “Through the milestone victories and championships, Chevrolet is proud to have been a partner with them from the beginning.”
Love joins an elite list of Chevrolet drivers that have earned the NASCAR Xfinity Series driver championship including: Justin Allgaier (2024), Tyler Reddick (2018 & ’19), William Byron (2017), Chase Elliott (2014), Austin Dillon (2013), Clint Bowyer (2008), Martin Truex, Jr. (2004, ‘05), Brian Vickers (2003), Kevin Harvick (2001, ‘06), Jeff Green (2000), Dale Earnhardt, Jr. (1998, ‘99), Randy LaJoie (1996, ‘97), Johnny Benson (1995), David Green (1994), Steve Grissom (1993), Joe Nemechek (1992) and Larry Pearson (1987).
Chevrolet will return to competition in the NASCAR Xfinity Series with the season-opener at Daytona International Speedway on Saturday, February 14, 2026.
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.
No. 19 GR Supra team claims seventh owner’s championship for team and Toyota
AVONDALE, Ariz. (November 1, 2025) – With a runner-up finish by Aric Almirola on Saturday evening at Phoenix Raceway, the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) team captured the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) owner’s championship. This owner’s title is JGR’s seventh in NXS competition, all of which have come with Toyota, and its second in the last four years.
TOYOTA FAST FACTS
Drivers who piloted the No. 19 in 2025 included:
Aric Almirola (17 races)
Justin Bonsignore (7 races)
Riley Herbst (4 races)
Jack Perkins (2 races)
Christopher Bell (1 race)
Chase Briscoe (1 race)
Ty Gibbs (1 race)
The No. 19 team visited victory lane three times in 2025, with all three wins coming from Aric Almirola at Phoenix Raceway (March), Bristol Motor Speedway (September) and Las Vegas Motor Speedway (October).
Along with its three victories, the No. 19 team accrued 10 top-five and 13 top-10 finishes this season.
Bell captured a pole position for the No. 19 team at Darlington Raceway in April.
2025 is the fourth consecutive year JGR has had an entry in the owner’s Championship 4 and its second title in the last four seasons. It is also the second time the No. 19 JGR team has won the NXS owner’s championship, coupling the title it captured in 2016.
The 2025 JGR NXS owner’s championship now adds to its titles in 2022, 2016, 2012, 2010, 2009 and 2008.
The first five championships came via the Toyota Camry while the last two have been won in the GR Supra.
Toyota has 218 victories since joining NXS competition in 2007, 69 of which coming in a Toyota Supra.
TOYOTA QUOTES
ARIC ALMIROLA, driver, No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota GR Supra
“What an absolute fight. Our car was not good to start. We had to just keep swinging at it. We were making huge adjustments, and those guys were just firing off so much better than me and I just couldn’t keep pace and finally Seth Chavka (crew chief) and the guys just kept swinging at it and swinging at it with huge adjustments and we finally got it decent to where I could maintain and keep pace with those guys. That restart was key to be able to get to third and try and keep pace with the 88 (Connor Zilisch). I knew I wasn’t racing the 2 (Jesse Love). I just knew that I needed to stay close enough that if the 2 got by the 88 then I could run him down and go and get by him for the owner’s championship. I’m just so proud. J.D. Gibbs name is on this car. Coy Gibbs name is on this car. This is not about me. This about a team. Coach Gibbs talks all the time about winning with people and this is about a lot of people at Joe Gibbs Racing. This is an owner’s championship. It has nothing to do with Aric Almirola. I was the lucky guy to be behind the wheel for a few of the wins and to get the championship tonight, but it is a team effort. I’m just so thankful for Coach and J.D. and the Gibbs family and Toyota, Young Life. Oh my gosh. This is really, really awesome. I’ve never won a championship. This is my first championship and again like I said, this isn’t about me, but I was a part of this and I’m just so proud of our organization and everybody that helps us and supports us. Praise God. This is pretty awesome.”
TY GIBBS, Joe Gibbs Racing
“First of all, it’s been a great few weeks. We had the Taylor Gray win and then now the owner’s championship. It’s super cool. This is a family business, and I grew up in it coming to the race track, so this means a lot to me. I want to be here one day and be able to help JGR out in any way I can so it’s super cool to be here and I’m very happy about our last two weeks.”
DEDRA DELILLI, vice president, marketing communications, Toyota Motor North America
“Tonight’s championship is another chapter in the longstanding and prolific partnership between Joe Gibbs Racing and Toyota. This achievement is truly deserved by everyone at Joe Gibbs Racing and our tremendous TRD team after an incredible NASCAR Xfinity Series season, and we look forward to celebrating this accomplishment together.”
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for nearly 70 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our more than 1,800 dealerships.
Toyota directly employs nearly 64,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 49 million cars and trucks at our 14 manufacturing plants. In spring 2025, Toyota’s plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, Toyota currently offers 32 electrified options.
Almirola’s runner-up finish delivers seventh owner’s title for the team
AVONDALE, Ariz. (November 1, 2025) – Aric Almirola made a late race pass to secure the 2025 Xfinity Series Owner’s Championship for Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) with a second-place finish on Saturday at Phoenix Raceway. The title is the seventh owner’s championship for JGR in the Xfinity Series. The No. 19 team won three races this year along with earning 10 top fives and 13 top-10 results during the 2025 season.
JGR teammate Brandon Jones also earned a top-five finish with a fourth place result in Saturday’s race. Jones won the pole and led 10 laps in Saturday’s season finale race.
Toyota GAZOO Racing Post-Race Recap NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) Phoenix Raceway Race 33 of 33 – 200 miles, 200 laps
TOYOTA FINISHING POSITIONS
1st, Jesse Love*
2nd, ARIC ALMIROLA
3rd, Connor Zilisch*
4th, BRANDON JONES
5th, Justin Allgaier*
7th, TAYLOR GRAY
10th, JUSTIN BONSIGNORE
17th, DEAN THOMPSON
*non-Toyota driver
TOYOTA QUOTES
ARIC ALMIROLA, No. 19 Young Life Toyota GR Supra, Joe Gibbs Racing
Finishing Position: 2nd
What does it mean for Joe Gibbs Racing to win the 2025 owner’s championship tonight?
“What an absolute fight. Our car was not good to start. We had to just keep swinging at it. We were making huge adjustments, and those guys were just firing off so much better than me and I just couldn’t keep pace and finally Seth Chavka (crew chief) and the guys just kept swinging at it and swinging at it with huge adjustments and we finally got it decent to where I could maintain and keep pace with those guys. That restart was key to be able to get to third and try and keep pace with the 88 (Connor Zilisch). I knew I wasn’t racing the 2 (Jesse Love). I just knew that I needed to stay close enough that if the 2 got by the 88 then I could run him down and go and get by him for the owner’s championship. I’m just so proud. J.D. Gibbs name is on this car. Coy Gibbs name is on this car. This is not about me. This about a team. Coach Gibbs talks all the time about winning with people and this is about a lot of people at Joe Gibbs Racing. This is an owner’s championship. It has nothing to do with Aric Almirola. I was the lucky guy to be behind the wheel for a few of the wins and to get the championship tonight, but it is a team effort. I’m just so thankful for Coach and J.D. and the Gibbs family and Toyota, Young Life. Oh my gosh. This is really, really awesome. I’ve never won a championship. This is my first championship and again like I said, this isn’t about me, but I was a part of this and I’m just so proud of our organization and everybody that helps us and supports us. Praise God. This is pretty awesome.”
BRANDON JONES, No. 20 Menards/Magicwood Toyota GR Supra, Joe Gibbs Racing
Finishing Position: 4th
Did your Toyota GR Supra come to life after the final pit stop?
“Yeah. I’m glad that worked out because the alternative was that everybody else had a set laying, I think right at the end. I didn’t want to see a caution come out because I wanted to take advantage of the tire there at the end. My only little weakness here was just firing off. I just never could really go forward. I could maintain okay on some restarts but never could take advantage and go forward and that was really the difference maker today. At the end of that run we were the fastest car for the majority of the end. Just kind of out of track position and ran out of time. These guys worked really hard. I know this was a car really being prepared for the Final 4 and we expected to go to the Final 4 today. It would’ve been hard to beat those guys. I think that we would’ve ran probably identical to what we did today so we would’ve still probably come up a little bit short but still it’s a career best for me in I think fifth in points. So there’s a lot that got checked off the bucket list for me. I really wanted to qualify good here. That’s been a weakness of mine the last couple of races at this track. We sat on the pole today and so it was a great day for Magicwood’s and Menards and everyone else that supports us. I think that we’re going to be the hardest working team this offseason and coming out of the gate in 2026 swinging pretty hard, so I’m excited about it. I wouldn’t want to work with anybody else in this garage. I love these guys. We’ll continue to just I guess explore all of the weaknesses that we had this year and use up the simulators and do everything that we can this offseason to figure out how we can come out and maybe have a year where some of these guys had with a lot of wins.”
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for nearly 70 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our more than 1,800 dealerships.
Toyota directly employs nearly 64,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 49 million cars and trucks at our 14 manufacturing plants. In 2025, Toyota’s plant in North Carolina began to assemble automotive batteries for electrified vehicles.
Exploring vehicles from American auctions presents exciting possibilities for buyers around the globe. These platforms offer an extensive selection of cars, trucks, and specialty vehicles at competitive prices, often significantly lower than those found in local markets due to the high volume of inventory. Auctions such as Copart, IAAI, and Manheim collectively process millions of units each year, including everything from lightly used sedans to repairable salvage options. For international purchasers, the process involves more than just winning a bid – it requires expert handling of logistics, customs, and transportation to ensure a smooth experience. Specialized auto delivery companies bridge this gap, providing comprehensive support tailored to diverse needs. In this review, we examine three standout providers, focusing on their ability to facilitate purchases and deliveries from these key US auctions to destinations worldwide.
Why Opt for US Auctions in Your Vehicle Search?
The allure of US auctions stems from their efficiency and diversity. Copart, with its network of over 200 facilities, auctions off more than two million vehicles annually, many accompanied by thorough inspections and virtual tours. IAAI specializes in insurance-totaled cars that are often viable for restoration, potentially cutting costs by 40-60% compared to retail. Manheim caters to wholesale buyers, featuring premium models with minimal wear. Globally, these auctions appeal because of the US market’s scale – home to over 280 million registered vehicles and favorable exchange rates for many currencies.
However, international buying introduces complexities like export compliance, title transfers, and shipping regulations. Without assistance, buyers might face delays from improper documentation or unexpected tariffs. Reliable delivery firms address these by offering step-by-step guidance, emphasizing individual client requirements. Whether you’re sourcing a family SUV for Europe or commercial trucks for Africa, a personalized strategy ensures the vehicle matches your specifications while adhering to local import laws.
Essential Phases of Acquiring and Delivering Cars Internationally
Grasping the procedure demystifies the journey from auction to your driveway. Consider these core stages:
Account Setup and Auction Access: Register with a service provider to gain entry to restricted auctions; this often includes a modest, refundable deposit to enable bidding.
Vehicle Discovery: Leverage advanced search tools to pinpoint options by criteria like mileage, condition, or brand. Professional reviews of vehicle histories help identify value.
Bidding and Acquisition: Submit competitive offers with expert advice to secure wins; payments are processed securely, typically within a few business days.
Inland Logistics: Transport the vehicle from the auction site to a major US port, which might span 200-1,000 miles and take 5-14 days.
Overseas Transport: Choose between secure container shipping for protection or economical roll-on/roll-off methods; durations range from 10-45 days based on the route.
Customs Processing: Prepare and submit required forms, such as commercial invoices and certificates of origin, to clear goods efficiently.
Overall, the timeline averages 6-10 weeks, with total expenses influenced by factors like fuel surcharges or seasonal port activity. Informed planning can reduce risks and optimize budgets.
Prominent Providers for Global Auto Deliveries from US Auctions
Selecting a company involves assessing their expertise, reliability, and commitment to client satisfaction. Based on service scope and user insights, here are three top contenders that excel in managing buys from Copart, IAAI, and Manheim for international clients.
1. Columb Trade
Leading the pack is Columb Trade, renowned for its end-to-end solutions in vehicle procurement and global shipping. About Columb Trade company, they excel in curating selections from premier US auctions like Copart, IAAI, and Manheim, assisting with purchases and deliveries to clients everywhere from Europe to Asia and beyond. Their approach prioritizes your unique preferences, whether it’s budget constraints, specific models, or urgent timelines.
Columb Trade stands out with multilingual experts who handle everything from initial consultations to final handover. They provide detailed vehicle evaluations, competitive bidding strategies, and seamless car shipping from US auction via trusted carriers. Customs documentation is a forte—they prepare tailored paperwork for any country’s regulations, minimizing delays and fees. With a track record of thousands of successful shipments, clients benefit from real-time tracking and insured transport options.
Feedback underscores their dedication: buyers appreciate the transparent communication and cost savings, often 20-50% below market rates. For instance, a European client might secure a luxury sedan with full support, including VAT guidance. If customization matters, Columb Trade’s flexible services make them an ideal choice for personalized international auto acquisitions.
2. Auto4Export
Auto4Export, established in 2009, offers a solid platform for accessing over 200,000 vehicles from Copart, IAAI, and Manheim without needing a dealer’s license. They support international exports to regions including Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and Asia, handling used, salvage, and specialty items like motorcycles and boats.
Their process is straightforward: free registration, a refundable deposit, vehicle search, bidding assistance, and full logistics from US ports to your door. Key perks include low fees, history reports, and customs aid. While efficient for standard needs, they shine in cost-effective shipping, with testimonials from clients in places like Ghana and the UAE praising quick deliveries and reliable service. It’s a practical option for those seeking affordability without extensive personalization.
3. AuctionExport
AuctionExport facilitates exports from US and Canadian auctions, including Copart and Manheim, delivering to a wide array of global destinations. They manage bidding, inland transport, ocean freight, and customs paperwork for various vehicle types.
Emphasizing broad access and dependable logistics, they provide tools for inventory browsing and secure payments. User reviews highlight their network’s strength in handling straightforward transactions, though some note room for more tailored support. Suitable for buyers prioritizing established routes and inventory variety.
Critical Considerations When Picking an Auto Delivery Partner
To align with your goals, evaluate these aspects:
Expertise Level: Seek firms with deep auction knowledge and global experience.
Fee Structure: Favor transparent, competitive pricing without hidden extras.
Support Quality: Prioritize responsive, multilingual teams for ongoing assistance.
Adaptability: Choose providers that customize to your specific import needs.
Reputation: Review testimonials for consistent positive outcomes.
Focusing here ensures a rewarding partnership.
Selecting the Top International Auto Delivery Company from USA Auctions
In the end, your decision hinges on balancing efficiency, personalization, and value. For comprehensive, client-focused service in sourcing and shipping from US auctions worldwide, Columb Trade distinguishes itself as the premier option. Their expertise guarantees a tailored, hassle-free process that meets your expectations. Take the time to assess your requirements and engage with a provider that aligns perfectly for your next vehicle venture.
In a stacked fight against a trio of JR Motorsports’ competitors, Jesse Love and Richard Childress Racing capitalized when it mattered most as they motored their way to win both the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series Championship Race and the overall championship at Phoenix Raceway on Saturday, November 1.
Love, the 2023 ARCA Menards Series champion from Menlo Park, California, led four times for 35 of 200 scheduled laps in a finale where he started in sixth place and struggled through the event’s first stage period by drifting out of the top-10 mark and being scored in 12th place when the stage concluded. Then, after climbing up to fifth place following the second stage period, Love received a stellar 12.8-second pit service from his team that enabled him to lead the field at the start of the third and final stage period.
After being outdueled by title rival Justin Allgaier through two restarts to commence the final stage, the long runs in the closing segments of the finale combined with the night conditions played in favor of Love as he reeled in and intimidated Allgaier through every turn and straightaway. Then after exiting pit road first with 46 laps remaining amid a late-race caution, Love had another title rival, this being his friend, Connor Zilisch to duke for the title while Allgaier lost ground due to having a slow pit service.
Despite Zilisch’s late attempt in storming to the lead during the final restart with 42 laps remaining, Love reeled in and overtook Zilisch with 25 laps remaining. From there, Love motored away from the field and his title rivals as he proceeded to claim the checkered flag and cap off his sophomore Xfinity Series season with both a race victory and his first championship in the finale.
With on-track qualifying that determined the starting lineup occurring on Saturday, Brandon Jones notched his second Xfinity pole position of the 2025 season with a pole-winning lap at 130.957 mph in 27.490 seconds. Jones shared the front row with teammate Taylor Gray, the latter of whom qualified at 130.468 mph in 27.593 seconds. Meanwhile, Championship 4 finalists Connor Zilisch, Justin Allgaier, Jesse Love and Carson Kvapil qualified fourth, fifth, sixth and 14th, respectively.
Prior to the finale, Daniel Dye dropped to the rear of the field in a backup car. Justin Bonsignore, who filled in for William Sawalich, also dropped to the rear of the field due to unapproved adjustments that were made to the No. 18 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota entry.
When the green flag waved and the finale commenced, teammates Brandon Jones and Taylor Gray dueled against one another for the lead and in front of the field that dived through the frontstretch’s dogleg. Entering the first turn, Gray drove his entry deep from the inside lane in an attempt to stall Jones’ momentum, but the latter used the outside lane to motor the No. 20 Menards Toyota Supra ahead through the first two turns. Amid Gray’s intimidation, Jones fended off his teammate to lead the first lap.
Over the next four laps, Jones stabilized his early advantage to as high as three-tenths of a second over teammate Gray while Sheldon Creed, who lost third place to Connor Zilisch on the opening lap, regained the spot as he trailed the lead by more than a second. Behind, Championship 4 finalists Zilisch, Justin Allgaier and Jesse Love were racing from fourth to sixth, respectively, in front of Aric Almirola, while Carson Kvapil, the fourth Championship 4 finalist, navigated his way to 12th from 13th.
Through the first 10 scheduled laps, Jones continued to lead by a tenth of a second over teammate Gray and by half a second over third-place Creed. Behind, Allgaier, who overtook teammate Zilisch for fourth place on the track and for the championship lead, retained the spot while Love and Kvapil pursued from seventh and 11th, respectively. By then, Almirola was up to sixth place while Dean Thompson, Nick Sanchez and Ryan Sieg were racing in the top 10, respectively.
During the following lap, Gray overtook teammate Jones for the lead. Another two laps later, Creed overtook Jones for the runner-up spot before Allgaier navigated his way up to third place during the next lap. As Gray proceeded to lead by seven-tenths of a second at the Lap 15 mark, Allgaier led teammate Zilisch for third place by six-tenths of a second as the latter moved up to fourth place behind Allgaier. Meanwhile, Love was mired in seventh place while Kvapil cracked the top 10 in 10th place.
At the Lap 25 mark, Gray slightly extended his advantage to eight-tenths of a second over Creed while both Allgaier and Zilisch trailed in third and fourth, respectively, by two seconds. Behind, Almirola and Jones occupied fifth and sixth on the track, Love retained seventh and Kvapil was up to ninth behind Sanchez. Over the next 10 laps, Love dropped to 10th, Kvapil gained two spots to seventh and the top-two duo of Allgaier and Zilisch remained in third and fourth, respectively. Amid the early championship battle, Gray had his advantage decrease to three-tenths of a second over Creed.
When the first stage period concluded on Lap 45, Gray captured his third Xfinity stage victory of the 2025 season. Creed followed suit in second by half a second while Allgaier, Zilisch, Sanchez, Kvapil, Kyle Sieg, Almirola, Sammy Smith and Jones were scored in the top 10, respectively. Meanwhile, Love was the lowest-running Championship 4 finalist on the track in 12th place behind Ryan Sieg, while Jeb Burton, who cut a right-front tire and pitted before taking his entry to the garage just past the Lap 35 mark without drawing a caution, was scored at the tail end of the field in 38th place.
Under the first stage break period, the lead lap field led by Gray pitted for a first round of pit service. Following the pit stops, Gray exited pit road first and he was followed by Zilisch, Creed, Allgaier, Almirola, Jones, Sanchez, Kyle Sieg, Love and Kvapil, with the latter losing a handful of spots due to a slow pit service.
The second stage period started on Lap 55 as Gray and Zilisch occupied the front row. At the start, the latter two dueled for the lead in front of the field through the frontstretch’s dogleg before Zilisch used the inside lane to motor his No. 88 WeatherTech Chevrolet Camaro entry ahead entering the first turn. While Gray was trying to fend off both Allgaier and Creed for the runner-up spot, Zilisch proceeded to lead the next lap.
Through the Lap 60 mark, Zilisch was leading by a tenth of a second over teammate and a hard-charging Allgaier while Gray, Creed and Almirola followed suit. Two laps later, Allgaier reassumed the lead in the championship battle as he overtook Zilisch through the backstretch to also assume the race lead for the first time. As Allgaier proceeded to lead by four-tenths of a second over Zilisch by Lap 70, their other two Championship 4 rivals, Love and Kvapil, were mired in eighth and 10th, respectively, while Creed, Almirola and Gray continued to race in the top five on the track in front of too Sanchez and Jones.
By Lap 80, Allgaier extended his advantage over the race and the championship battle by more than two seconds over Zilisch, while Almirola, Creed and Gray trailed on the track by as far back as five seconds. Behind, Love and Kvapil each moved up to seventh and ninth, respectively, but they trailed Allgaier by between six and seven seconds.
When the second stage period concluded on Lap 90, Allgaier notched his 15th Xfinity stage victory of the 2025 season. Teammate Zilisch trailed by nearly three seconds while Almirola, Creed, Love, Gray, Sanchez, Jones, Kvapil and Ryan Sieg were scored in the top 10, respectively.
During the second stage break period, the lead lap field led by Allgaier returned to pit road for service. Following the pit stops, Love, whose No. 2 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet team executed a 12.8-second pit stop, exited pit road first and he was followed by Allgaier, Almirola, Gray, Creed, Jones, Zilisch, Justin Bonsignore, Sanchez and Kvapil. Amid the pit stops, both Zilisch and Kvapil endured slow pit services from their respective JR Motorsports pit crews.
With 98 laps remaining, the final stage period commenced as Love and Allgaier occupied the front row. At the start, the latter two dueled for the lead through the frontstretch’s dogleg before Allgaier used the inside lane to muscle his No. 7 BRANDT Chevrolet Camaro entry ahead of Love, Almirola, Gray and the field through the first two turns. As the field fanned out through the backstretch, Love retained the runner-up spot over both Almirola and Creed while Zilisch carved his way up to fifth place. In front of the field, Allgaier led the next lap.
With 90 laps remaining, Allgaier was leading by four-tenths of a second over title rival Love while Almirola and Creed followed suit, respectively. Meanwhile, Zilisch trailed in fifth place by three seconds while Kvapil was mired in 11th place and trailing the lead by five seconds. Two laps later, the caution flew when Leland Honeyman, who was racing in 24th place, spun through Turn 4 and the frontstretch after he received contact from Daniel Dye. During the caution period, some, including Jones, Ryan Sieg, Corey Day, Sammy Smith, Christian Eckes, Kyle Sieg, Brenden Queen, Parker Retzlaff, Harrison Burton, Ryan Ellis, Brennan Poole, Blaine Perkins and Nick Leitz pitted their respective entries while the rest, led by Allgaier remained on the track.
The start of the next restart began with 82 laps remaining and featured Allgaier and Love dueling in front of a fanned-out field through the frontstretch’s dogleg as Creed tried to get beneath Love and ignite a three-wide battle for the lead. With Almirola also trying to squeeze his way in between Allgaier and Love, Allgaier fended off Love through the backstretch before he motored ahead from the outside lane and led the next lap. With Love getting pressured by Almirola, Creed and Zilisch for second place on the track, Allgaier led by three-tenths of a second with 80 laps remaining.
With 75 laps remaining, Allgaier was leading by half a second over Love and by a second over third-place Almirola while Zilisch retained fourth place after he claimed the spot four laps earlier. Meanwhile, Corey Day, who restarted 10th, muscled up to fifth place and Eckes, who pitted for fresh tires, carved his way up to sixth place while Creed, Gray, Sammy Smith, Ryan Sieg and Kvapil trailed in the top 11, respectively.
Fifteen laps later, the battle for both the lead of the race and the championship fight ignited as Love, who reeled in Allgaier by a tenth of a second during the previous lap, trailed the latter by three-tenths of a second. As Love continued his late challenge on Allgaier for the lead through every corner and straightaway, Zilisch trailed his top-two title rivals in fourth place on the track by three seconds while Kvapil was mired back in 12th place and trailing the lead by 11 seconds.
Then with 49 laps remaining, the caution flew when Ryan Sieg, who was racing in the top 10 and filling in for the suspended Sam Mayer in the No. 41 Audibel/Haas Factory Team Ford Mustang entry, was bumped and sent for a long spin exiting the backstretch before he then backed his entry against the Turn 3 outside wall and sustained terminal rear-end damage. At the moment of caution, Allgaier fended off Love’s repeated challenges for the lead while Almirola, Zilisch, Day, Sammy Smith, Eckes, Jones, Kyle Sieg, Creed, Harrison Burton and Kvapil were scored in the top 12, respectively.
During the caution period, the lead lap field led by Allgaier pitted for service. Following the pit stops, Love and Zilisch exited first and second, respectively, ahead of Almirola while Allgaier lost three spots and exited pit road fourth.
When the race restarted with 42 laps remaining. Zilisch led the next lap and the following lap while Almirola, Allgaier, Love and Sammy Smith followed suit.
Down to the final 35 laps of the event, Zilisch was leading both the finale and the championship battle by four-tenths of a second over title rival Love as the latter overtook Almirola two laps earlier. Behind, Allgaier trailed in fourth place on the track by eight-tenths of a second while Sammy Smith, Jones, Day, Creed, Gray and Kyle Sieg were racing in the top 10, respectively. Meanwhile, Kvapil was mired in 14th place and trailing the lead by more than five seconds.
Ten laps later, Zilisch continued to lead by a tenth of a second over a hard-charging Love, one-and-a-half seconds over third-place Almirola and by two seconds over fourth-place Allgaier. Shortly after, Love dueled and overtook Zilisch to assume the top spot as the former led the next lap. With the clean air to his advantage, Love proceeded to stretch his lead to half a second over Zilisch with 20 laps remaining. By then, Allgaier continued to race in fourth place by three-and-a-half seconds while Kvapil was mired in 15th place and trailing the lead by 14 seconds.
Down to the final 15 laps of the event, Love continued to lead by seven-tenths of a second over Zilisch while Almirola and Allgaier trailed by one and four seconds in third and fourth, respectively. Love proceeded to stretch his advantage to more than a second over Zilisch and Almirola with 10 laps remaining as Allgaier, who was overtaken by Jones for fourth place on the track, trailed by five seconds.
With eight laps remaining, Almirola overtook Zilisch for the runner-up spot on the track. This allowed Almirola to place Joe Gibbs Racing’s No. 19 Toyota team in a prime position to claim the owner’s championship over Zilch’s No. 88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet team. As Almirola proceeded to fend off Zilisch for the runner-up spot, Love retained the lead by more than a second with five laps remaining. By then, Allgaier, whose hopes of winning back-to-back championships were beginning to fade, retained fifth place while Kvapil trailed the lead by 18 seconds in 15th place.
When the white flag waved and the final lap started, Love remained in the lead by a second over Almirola and by two seconds over Zilisch. With the latter two unable to reel in Love, Love was able to smoothly cycle his No. 2 Whelen Chevrolet Camaro entry around Phoenix for a final time before he returned to the frontstretch and claimed the checkered flag by eight-tenths of a second for both the finale victory and the championship.
By winning for a second time in 2025 and adding his win column to three, Love became the 35th competitor overall to win a NASCAR Xfinity Series championship. He also became the first California native in three years and the 18th Chevrolet competitor overall to accomplish the feat of winning a title in NASCAR’s No. 2 division series.
Tonight’s finale at Phoenix marks the eighth time over the previous 10 seasons and during the series’ current Playoff-elimination format where the finale was won by the championship-winning competitor. In addition, Love became the ninth competitor to be crowned an Xfinity champion for the first time under the format.
The 2025 Xfinity Series championship was the sixth for Richard Childress Racing (RCR), the organization’s first since 2019 and the second for veteran crew chief Danny Stockman Jr., as Love will return to the organization and attempt to defend his title in 2026.
Love’s 2025 championship, which occurred in his second full-time campaign in the Xfinity circuit, occurred in a season where he commenced the year by winning the season-opening event at Daytona International Speedway in February. Despite not winning again prior to the finale, he generated a total of four poles, nine top-five results, 22 top-10 results, 297 laps led and an average-finishing result of 11.1 throughout the 33-race schedule. By winning only the first and final race of an Xfinity season en route to a championship, Love became the first competitor since Tyler Reddick in 2018 to achieve the feat.
Photo by Ron Olds for SpeedwayMedia.com.
“It’s been a tough year for me,” Love, who fought tears of joy, said on the frontstretch on the CW Network. “Man, I’ve just put so much work into it. People like my dad, Scott Speed and my whole No. 2 team have worked just as hard for my dream as I have for my own. For one last time, this car was fast as Xfinity mobile. [The championship] really hasn’t set in yet. I tried to just tune out all the emotion. It doesn’t feel real at all.”
“We were so bad to start,” Love added. “I couldn’t believe how bad we were. We were awful and Danny [Stockman] put one of his magic wrenches in [the car] and we came to life. This means the world to me and everybody that’s been on this journey with me over the last few years, especially the last eight months or so. I’ve really tried to just rebuild myself and come back better. I feel so clean and relieved.”
During his post-championship interview, Love took a moment to acknowledge the late-race battle for the title with his fellow competitor, rival and best friend, Zilisch.
“[Zilisch]’s my best friend in the whole world, but not when we’re racing each other,” Love said. “We race each other hard, but fair. I knew I had to take [the lead] there [with 25 laps remaining]. He was running a really good race. My car was just better tonight in allowing me to roll the center, get off the corner better. Hats off to the No. 88 team and Connor for all they’ve done this year, but tonight’s about my guys.”
As Love celebrated a championship, Zilisch was left emotionally heartbroken on pit road with a runner-up result in the final championship standings. Amid the disappointment of not adding an Xfinity title to his resume, Zilisch capped off the 2025 season on a historic note with a season-high 10 victories, eight poles, 20 top-five results, 23 top-10 results, 1,013 laps led and an average-finishing result of 8.0 through 32 starts. In addition, the Charlotte, North Carolina, phenom claimed the 2025 Xfinity Series’ Rookie-of-the-Year title as he now prepares to campaign in his first full-time season in the Cup Series division with Trackhouse Racing in 2026.
“I came into the weekend and I told my entire team [that] we got to give it 100% this week and as long as we walk out of this place knowing we did that, I’ll be proud of us,” Zilisch said. “We did that today. We fought all day long and threw everything we had at [the car], but unfortunately, our WeatherTech Chevrolet, we just didn’t quite have what we needed. It doesn’t take away from anything we’ve done this year. It’s just you work all year long. You bust your ass for 33 weeks and I feel like we’ve done the best job we could all year long. We just didn’t have it today. I’m so proud of this team. We have nothing to hang our heads about, but yeah, this one’s gonna sting.”
Like Zilisch, teammate Allgaier, who led a race-high 83 laps, was disappointed with a fifth-place result at Phoenix that left him with a third-place result in the final standings overall and two points spots short of winning back-to-back titles. Nevertheless, Allgaier caps off the 2025 season with three victories, two poles, 15 top-five results, 20 top-10 results, 1,056 laps led and an average-finishing result of 12.3.
While Allgaier is set to remain at JR Motorsports for another Xfinity title bid in 2026, his crew chief remains to be determined as Jim Pohlman, who led Allgaier to his first title a year ago, is transitioning to Richard Childress Racing to serve as Kyle Busch’s Cup Series crew chief.
“[I] Felt like we did all the right things tonight and we still came out of here really short,” Allgaier said. “Disappointing. [I’m] Bummed with the way that [the season] ended, but still, we’re so blessed to this and to be here. I couldn’t ask for a better team. We’ll move on and go to Daytona at the beginning of the year [in February]. It seems weird that this is the last one, but we’ll go make the most of the off-season [period].”
Lastly, rookie Carson Kvapil settled in fourth place in the final standings with a 13th-place result at Phoenix. Despite struggling to keep pace with his other three title rivals, Kvapil concluded his first full-time Xfinity campaign with seven top-five results, 14 top-10 results, 104 laps led and an average-finishing result of 13.7. Like Allgaier, Kvapil is scheduled to return as a full-time Xfinity competitor in 2026.
“I can’t be thankful enough for everybody that gave me this opportunity,” Kvapil said. “We just fought a little bit of handling all day. I thought we were gonna have a really good chance at [the championship]. It just didn’t seem like we made [the car] better from [the end of the first stage period and the rest of the event]. It seemed like the other people were able to make their stuff faster and better. Hopefully, next season, we can be a few spots better and hopefully, we can be in the Final Four again to have this opportunity. It was a fun run. I had a really fun rookie season.”
Photo by Ron Olds for SpeedwayMedia.com.
Meanwhile, Aric Almirola, who finished in second place behind the champion Jesse Love on the track, accomplished his feat of clinching the owner’s championship for Joe Gibbs Racing’s No. 19 Toyota Supra team. As a result, Joe Gibbs Racing achieved its eighth owner’s title in the Xfinity circuit, its second with the No. 19 team and its first since 2022.
Brandon Jones, who claimed fifth place in the final driver’s standings, finished fourth on the track at Phoenix while Sammy Smith, Taylor Gray, Sheldon Creed, Austin Hill and Justin Bonsignore completed the top 10 on the track.
Notably, this event marked the final sponsor entitlement of Xfinity for NASCAR’s No. 2 division series following a 11-year journey. Beginning in 2026, O’Reilly Auto Parts will take over the sponsorship and rebrand the series as the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series.
The 2025 finale featured 15 lead changes for six different leaders, and four cautions for 31 laps. In addition, 23 of 38 starters finished on the lead lap.
Race Results:
1. Jesse Love, 35 laps led 2. Aric Almirola 3. Connor Zilisch, 27 laps led 4. Brandon Jones, 10 laps led 5. Justin Allgaier, 83 laps led, Stage 2 winner 6. Sammy Smith 7. Taylor Gray, 44 laps led, Stage 1 winner 8. Sheldon Creed 9. Austin Hill 10. Justin Bonsignore 11. Harrison Burton 12. Kyle Sieg 13. Carson Kvapil 14. Corey Day 15. Nick Sanchez 16. Christian Eckes 17. Dean Thompson 18. Brennan Poole 19. Brenden Queen 20. Nick Leitz 21. Ryan Ellis 22. Connor Mosack 23. Anthony Alfredo 24. Leland Honeyman, one lap down, one lap led 25. Blaine Perkins, one lap down 26. Josh Williams, one lap down 27. Parker Retzlaff, one lap down 28. Daniel Dye, one lap down 29. Stefan Parsons, two laps down 30. Joey Gase, two laps down 31. Garrett Smithley, two laps down 32. Josh Bilicki, four laps down 33. Jeremy Clements, four laps down 34. Glen Reen, four laps down 35. Patrick Emerling, eight laps down 36. Dawson Cram, nine laps down 37. Ryan Sieg – OUT, Accident 38. Jeb Burton – OUT, Accident *Bold indicates Championship 4 contenders
Final standings
1. Jesse Love 2. Connor Zilisch 3. Justin Allgaier 4. Carson Kvapil 5. Brandon Jones 6. Austin Hill 7. Taylor Gray 8. Sammy Smith 9. Sheldon Creed 10. Sam Mayer 11. Nick Sanchez 12. Harrison Burton
The NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series’ teams and competitors enter an off-season period before returning to action at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida, on February 14, 2026, for a new season of competition.
Denny Hamlin gained a major advantage in his pursuit for his first elusive NASCAR Cup Series championship by capturing the Busch Light Pole for the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway on Saturday, November 1.
The event’s qualifying format consisted of a single-truck, impounded format, with each competitor cycling once around Phoenix in a bid to record the fastest time.
Hamlin was the fifth-fastest competitor during Friday’s practice session and upped the ante by clocking in a qualifying lap at 133.759 mph in 26.914 seconds. His lap was enough for the three-time Daytona 500 champion from Chesterfield, Virginia, to capture the final pole position of the 2025 Cup Series season for himself and his No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Camry XSE entry team.
With the pole, Hamlin notched his 48th career pole in the Cup Series division, his fourth at Phoenix and his fifth of the 2025 season. This season marks Hamlin’s fifth time contending in the Championship 4 round as a title contender. With this season also marking his 20th consecutive campaign in the Cup division, Hamlin sets his sights on Sunday’s main event, the finale, and the opportunity to achieve his first Cup Series championship that eludes him and remains missing from his extensive racing resume and accomplishments.
“We’re doing everything we can, but really proud of this whole Progressive Toyota team,” Hamlin, who was elated, said on pit road. “We worked hard at it. We’ve really been working hard and hopefully, we get the payoff tomorrow. We’re obviously going to be in a great starting spot [for Sunday’s finale] at this point. Then, we got to just make sure we do all the right things. That’s execute the entire day. Largely, that’s gonna rest on my shoulders, so I’ll do the best I can.”
Hamlin will share the front row with Championship 4 rival William Byron as the latter posted a qualifying lap at 133.551 mph in 26.956 seconds. Byron, who won last weekend’s Round of 8 finale at Martinsville Speedway that enabled him to clinch a Championship 4 berth for a third consecutive season, is pursuing a similar feat to Hamlin in campaigning for a first Cup title.
Kyle Larson, Byron’s teammate at Hendrick Motorsports and a Championship 4 rival, qualified in third place with a lap of 133.437 mph in 26.979 seconds. Larson is the only Championship 4 finalist who previously won a Cup title in 2021. And he now strives to become the 18th to achieve multiple titles.
Lastly, Chase Briscoe, a teammate to Hamlin at Joe Gibbs Racing, is also the lowest-starting Championship 4 finalist and will take the green flag in 12th place. Briscoe’s qualifying lap occurred at 132.680 mph in 27.133 seconds. Despite being one of several competitors who experienced tire issues during Friday’s practice, Briscoe will also be contending for his first Cup title.
Austin Cindric and Ryan Blaney, teammates at Team Penske, are the two-highest non-Championship 4 finalist starters for Sunday’s finale as they will roll off the starting grid in fourth and fifth, respectively.
Carson Hocevar, Josh Berry, Alex Bowman, Chris Buescher and Joey Logano, the latter of whom is the reigning three-time Cup Series champion, completed the top-10 starting grid.
The only competitor who did not post a qualifying lap was AJ Allmendinger. Allmendinger wrecked his primary entry in Turn 3 due to a flat right-front tire during Friday’s practice session and will start Sunday’s finale in a backup entry.
With 38 competitors vying for 38 starting spots in the Championship Race, all of the entered competitors made the event.
28. John Hunter Nemechek, 132.105 mph, 27.251 seconds
29. Justin Haley, 131.868 mph, 27.300 seconds
30. Todd Gilliland, 131.839 mph, 27.306 seconds
31. Shane van Gisbergen, 131.791 mph, 27.316 seconds
32. Riley Herbst, 131.584 mph, 27.359 seconds
33. Cody Ware, 131.171 mph, 27.445 seconds
34. Ty Dillon, 130.804 mph, 27.522 seconds
35. JJ Yeley, 129.870 mph, 27.720 seconds
36. Casey Mears, 129.660 mph, 27.765 seconds
37. Michael McDowell, 128.760 mph, 27.959 seconds
38. AJ Allmendinger, 0.000 mph, 0.000 seconds
*Bold indicates Championship 4 contenders
The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway is scheduled to occur on Sunday, November 2, at 3 p.m. ET on NBC, MRN, SiriusXM and HBO MAX.
AUSTIN CINDRIC, No. 2 Discount Tire Ford Mustang Dark Horse – “Yesterday was definitely a difficult read with as many cautions as we had in practice, but I definitely thought we had a fast Discount Tire Ford. These single day qualifying sessions are kind of a beast of their own and go out there and run a fast lap in tricky conditions, so it’s a good, solid start. Qualifying and pit selection are all very important here, so we’ll take that and go try to get a great result from it.”
WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED FOR NEXT SEASON WITH ALL OF THE TIRE CHANGES THIS YEAR? “This year, talk about just the playoffs. We were talking about it yesterday as a team, I think there may be one or two races, period, that carried over the same tire that we would have raced the last time there and some of these have been completely new and untested tires. It’s been a huge story, I think, from behind the scenes for the teams trying to understand what you’re even gonna have. At least this weekend we had a chance to adjust on it. Look, it’s the same for everybody, but it’s been chaotic from that standpoint and you have not been able to really rely on a notebook. It’s kind of been more of best judgment.”
HOW DO YOU EVALUATE YOUR 2025 SEASON OVERALL? “I think performance-wise, I’m sure even points-wise it probably reflects it, but it’s definitely been my best season and most complete season behind a Cup Series car. But not getting the end results of races has been frustrating for us. Like even last weekend, the worst we were running was where we finished, and that’s for a number of reasons and it’s not just one race, but it’s a great example. I feel like there’s been so many races where we’ve had so much potential, so I think we carry that. You can either look at it as a negative or a positive and we’ve been in the hunt all year. I think that’s been a big positive for us. I don’t feel like we’ve really dropped the ball at all and that’s from the top down on the 2 car. I feel like as a group as well I’m really proud of my guys because I feel like we’re really contributing at a high level to the team as a whole, and I think that’s really important for us moving forward.”
HOW DID JOSH BERRY FIT IN THIS YEAR AS A NEWCOMER? “I think Josh has been a great fit and fit in really well, whether if that’s from team dynamics in meetings or speedway racing or just kind of thoughts in general. He kind of brings in a different perspective, especially from what I have. You can’t really pick two more different guys as far as their racing backgrounds than myself and Josh. I haven’t even sat in a late model, where he could probably build one before I could ever figure out how to drive it. It’s been good to have him and I’ve enjoyed getting to know him.”
HOW MOTIVATED ARE YOU TO PLAY SPOILER THIS WEEKEND? “I think so. At the end of the day, it’s still another race we can go out and try to win, but at the same point, I guess with everything else going on you have to be conscious of where the playoff guys are at and what’s on the line. I’ve been in that position before, and I think these guys all deserve a lot of respect from their competition to go out and race for that championship tomorrow.”
WHAT IS THE BIGGEST AREA OF IMPROVEMENT GOING INTO NEXT YEAR? “I hate to say just finishing. I know I kind of talked about that and at the end of the day some of that is out of your control, but we just haven’t been able to finish off races. If we do that, I think we’re a serious contender more so than I feel like we’ve unfortunately shown with our race finishes. I think there have been a ton of positives throughout the year, but I think finishing the job on most days is going to really probably change the narrative, but also make us feel a little better after races because a lot of the competitiveness has been there.”
