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LEGACY MOTOR CLUB: DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY RACE PREVIEW

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LEGACY MOTOR CLUB: DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY
PRE-RACE ADVANCE
EVENT: Coke Zero Sugar 400
DATE: August 23, 2025
RACE: NASCAR Cup Series 26 of 36
TRACK: Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway | 2.5-Mile Oval

CLUB MINUTES:
JJ AT DAYTONA: LEGACY MOTOR CLUB co-owner and seven-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion Jimmie Johnson has 41 Cup Series starts at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway. In these starts, Johnson has collected a total of three wins, 13 top-fives, and 17 top-10s as well as 302 laps led at the 2.5-mile oval. His first victory came in the February 2006 Daytona 500 where Johnson started ninth and led 24 laps after starting ninth. He won under caution where he was ahead of Casey Mears. 2013 proved to be a year of success for Johnson at Daytona. In February’s Daytona 500, Johnson started ninth once again and found himself crossing the finish line .129 of a second ahead of runner-up Dale Earnhardt Jr. for his second win at Daytona. When the series returned in July, Johnson started eighth and finished .107 of a second ahead of Tony Stewart to win his third race at the superspeedway.

KENSETH DAYTONA STATS: LEGACY MC competition advisor Matt Kenseth owns 37 NASCAR Cup Series starts at Daytona. He found victory lane twice in his career and earned six top-fives and 14 top-10s. In total, he’s led 383 laps at Daytona. Kenseth’s first win at Daytona came in the February 2009 Daytona 500 where he started 39th and only led seven laps to claim the victory under caution ahead of Kevin Harvick. He earned himself another Daytona 500 victory in February 2012 when he started fourth and bested Dale Earnhardt Jr. by .210 of a second.

THE KING REIGNS AT DAYTONA: Seven-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion and LEGACY MC ambassador Richard Petty owns 74 Cup Series starts at Daytona. During his career, he amounted a total of 10 wins, 28 top-fives, and37 top-10s at Daytona. In total, he led 1,278 laps at the 2.5-mile oval. His first victory came in the February 1964 Daytona 500 after starting second. His final win came in the July 1985 Firecracker 400 where he won under caution after starting 13th and leading 53 laps.

YOUNGEST DAYTONA 500 WINNER: LEGACY MC ambassador Trevor Bayne is also a winner at Daytona. He found himself in victory lane at the end of the February 2011 Daytona 500 after starting 32nd in his first career start at the 2.5-mile oval. He led six laps and found himself crossing the finish line .118 of a second ahead of Carl Edwards. Bayne became the youngest winner of the Daytona 500 at the age of 20 years and one day – an achievement that still stands to this day.

HONORING CANCER HEROS: This weekend at Daytona, LEGACY MC will join a majority of the field in honoring a cancer hero nominated by a race fan who won the auction bidding for the NASCAR Foundation and Martin Truex Jr. Foundation. The “Honor a Cancer Hero” program has been around since 2020 and has allowed industry members, fans, and sponsors alike to bid for their chance to put a cancer hero’s name above the driver side and passenger side doors. In total, the auction has raised more then $500,000 in total since 2020.

This year, John Hunter Nemechek will honor two heroes on his car. On the driver side will be Tom Goddard, a cancer hero and father. He will also carry seven-year-old Noelle Franklin, who fought Osteosarcoma, on the passenger side. After a valiant year-long battle against the disease, Noelle passed away on May 12, 2025. She participated in the 2024 Martin Truex Jr Foundation’s Catwalk for a Cause at which Nemechek was in attendance.

Erik Jones will honor Corinne Graczewski on his car this weekend. A patient of AdventHealth in Daytona Beach, Corinne faced three distinct caner diagnoses at once. After going into remission, she was diagnosed with kidney cancer once again earlier this year. After undergoing treatment, she has now gone through focused radiation treatment and is moving forward with immunotherapy. She is not only a survivor but a symbol of hope for the community.

NEVER SETTLE: Join ESPN’s Marty Smith and LEGACY MOTOR CLUB’s co-owner Jimmie Johnson for their weekly podcast, “Never Settle”. The podcast airs live on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Ch. 90 at 2 p.m. ET every Wednesday and can be downloaded wherever fans source their podcasts. This week’s guest is Andy Roddick, former professional tennis player and International Tennis Hall of Fame inductee.

JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK
NO. 42 PYE-BARKER FIRE & SAFETY TOYOTA CAMRY XSE
JHN AT DAYTONA: John Hunter Nemechek has five starts at Daytona International Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series. He earned his highest finish of fifth in this year’s Daytona 500. In the NASCAR Xfinity Series, he accumulated six starts at the track during his career, earning three top-10 finishes and a best finish of second in February 2023. Nemechek also has five starts at Daytona in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series with a highest finish of fourth in February 2017.

T-MACK DAYTONA STATS: Saturday’s race under the lights will be crew chief Travis Mack’s 11th NASCAR Cup Series race at Daytona. His first outing came in February 2018 with Kasey Kahne. After a short gap, Mack was back at Daytona in February 2021 with Daniel Suárez, where the duo competed for six total races between 2021 and 2023, with their highest finish being seventh. He returned in the February 2024 Daytona 500 with AJ Allmendinger, where the pair finished sixth. Mack followed that up in August 2024 with Shane Van Gisbergen, who finished 35th. His highest finish came with Nemechek in February of this year when the duo finished fifth after starting 18th. In the NASCAR Xfinity series, Mack has four starts at Daytona with Michael Annett, where the duo took home the race win in their first start together in February 2019 after starting third.

PYE-BARKER GOES “ALL IN”: On the No. 42 Toyota Camry XSE at Daytona this weekend, Pye-Barker Fire & Safety will reveal a new scheme, emblazoned with the seal “Powered by Employee Ownership.” This all-new paint scheme celebrates this week’s announcement that Pye-Barker has launched its Achieving Lasting Legacy Incentive “ALL In” ownership program, making it the largest company in the fire and life safety industry to be powered by employee ownership.

JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK QUOTE:
“I’m excited to get back down to Daytona; it’s one last shot to win our way into the playoffs. There’s definitely a lot of confidence for me going into this weekend after our fifth-place finish in the Daytona 500 earlier this year. Our LEGACY MOTOR CLUB superspeedway package has shown success, so I’m feeling ready for Saturday under the lights.”

TRAVIS MACK QUOTE:
“We’re ready to get to Daytona. John Hunter (Nemechek, driver of the No. 42 Toyota) is a smart superspeedway racer, and we’ve put a lot of effort into our superspeedway package. We were really fast there in February, so I’m excited to see what we can do Saturday night to lock in our playoff spot.”

ERIK JONES
NO. 43 DOLLAR TREE TOYOTA CAMRY XSE
JONES DAYTONA STATS: Saturday night’s Coke Zero Sugar 400 will mark Erik Jones’ 18th NASCAR Cup Series start at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway. In his 17 previous starts, Jones has won once, earned two top-fives and four top-10s, and led 61 total laps at the 2.5-mile superspeedway. In a track that is known for its unpredictability, Jones has been one of the ones to watch as he consistently runs up front at Daytona despite being caught up in some wrecks along the way. He also owns one win in the NASCAR Clash at Daytona from February 2020, where he survived a wreck that caused damage to his car to cross the finish line in the pre-season event. Jones has an additional seven starts outside of the Cup Series – six in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and one in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. He earned two top-10s in the Xfinity Series with a best finish of eighth in July 2015 after starting fifth. In his lone Truck Series start, Jones started seventh and earned an impressive second-place result just .173 of a second behind race winner Tyler Reddick.

FIRST CUP SERIES VICTORY: In July 2018, a 22-year-old Jones rolled into Daytona in his second fulltime season in the NASCAR Cup Series. He had just moved over to the No. 20 Toyota at Joe Gibbs Racing after a very successful 2016 Xfinity Series campaign for the team. He qualified 29th but showed that it not only doesn’t matter where you start at Daytona, but also it doesn’t matter how many laps you lead as long as you’re leading the last one. He worked his way up to be in contention on the final lap and beat Martin Truex Jr. to the line by .125 of a second. The only lap he led all race was the final on Lap 160. This marked Jones’ first career NASCAR Cup Series victory and clinched his spot in the 2018 NASCAR Playoffs field.

BESHORE AT DAYTONA: Crew chief Ben Beshore has been on top of the box for seven NASCAR Cup Series races at Daytona. He’s led a total of 40 laps with his drivers and earned three top-10 finishes. He only has one finish outside of the top-15 at Daytona with these drivers as well. Kyle Busch earned him his best finish of sixth in February 2022. Beshore has an additional six races under his belt in the NASCAR Xfinity Series with Jeffrey Earnhardt, Riley Herbst, Harrison Burton, and John Hunter Nemechek. He earned a best finish of second twice – in February 2020 with Burton and again in February 2023 with Nemechek. His driver finished in the top-20 for five of those six starts.

#READWITHERIK IN DAYTONA: On Friday morning, Jones will spread his joy of reading to the local Daytona community with the help of AdventHealth. Prior to heading to the track for qualifying, Jones will visit the students at Rymfire Elementary School in Palm Coast, FL. Not only will he read “Goodnight Racetrack” by Andy Amendola and Ashley Newgarden, but he will also assist AdventHealth in donating a book vending machine to the school for the children. Jones previously donated a book vending machine to Chisholm Elementary School in New Smyrna Beach, FL in February.

EJ LATE MODEL RACING: Jones will finish up a busy month of Late Model Racing in Wednesday night’s ASA Stars National Tour Race at Owosso Speedway in Michigan. In his first race at Wisconsin International Raceway on August 5, Jones finished 14th after battling handling issues and an air box issue early on in the day. Then in last Wednesday’s battle at Berlin Raceway, Jones faced an issue early on in the race that forced him to retire early and finish 30th. He’ll try to rebound this weekend in his final late model race of the month in the Michigan 300 at a track located less than 30 miles from his hometown of Byron, MI.

ERIK JONES QUOTE
“Daytona’s a wild card. No one can really predict what’s going to happen there, but I’ve also had some good luck there. If luck is on your side, you’ll have a fast car in the draft, avoid chaos, and find yourself in a position to make a move at the end of the race. Sometimes you don’t have luck on your side though. The team has to be quick in their strategy change and thinking because anything can happen. Hopefully, we can do everything right and have a little luck on our side to find ourselves up front on the last lap.”

BEN BESHORE QUOTE
“We’re really looking forward to Daytona. I think the No. 43 team ran really well in the Daytona 500. We’ll take a similar package there and try to learn off the stuff we picked up on at Talladega also. It’s all on the line. We’re going to try to give him the best bullet that we can with one last shot going into the playoffs. Hopefully, we’ll come home with a checkered flag there.”

CLUB APPEARANCES:
On Saturday, Aug. 23, Nemechek will be at the Toyota Gazoo Racing Experience for a Q&A session at 3:10 p.m. local time, before then heading to the NASCAR Classics trackside merchandise rig to sign for fans at 3:30 p.m. local time.

Jones will be at the AdventHealth fan zone stage for a Q&A session on Saturday, Aug. 23 at 3 p.m. local time.

TUNE IN:
Fans can tune in to watch the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway on Saturday, August 23 at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC, MAX, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90).

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

HFT Advance | Daytona II

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Official Release
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Daytona II Event Info:
Date: Saturday, Aug. 23
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Series: NASCAR Cup Series (NCS)
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Format: 160 Laps, 400 Miles, Stages: 35-90-160
TV: NBC
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90)

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

Pace Laps:

  • NASCAR heads to Daytona International Speedway this weekend for the annual summer event, and the last regular-season Cup Series race before the start of the playoffs.
  • Sam Mayer (9.5) is tied with Connor Zilisch (9.5) for the best average finish among full-time NASCAR Xfinity Series drivers this season.
  • Mayer has finished inside the top two in each of his previous three races at Indianapolis (2nd), Iowa (1st) and Watkins Glen (2nd).
  • He has started inside the top 10 in nine of his last 10 starts dating back to Nashville Superspeedway in May, including his lone pole of the season at Indianapolis Motor Speedway three weeks ago.
  • Mayer (799) sits third in the regular-season points standings behind Justin Allgaier (816) and Zilisch (823) with just three races remaining before the start of the playoffs.

Cole Custer Team Info:
Crew Chief: Aaron Kramer
Partner: Haas/Bonanza

Sheldon Creed Team Info:
Crew Chief: Jonathan Toney
Partner: Ollie’s

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

Custer at Daytona (Cup)
Starts: 7
Wins: —
Top-10s: —
Poles: —

  • Custer makes his eighth Cup start at Daytona this weekend, where he has a best finish of 11th and led a lap in 2021. Earlier this season, he was leading on the final lap before an incident resulted in a 21st-place finish.
  • His best start came in 2020 (12th), and he boasts a 22.3 average starting position.
  • Custer has two top-10 results in 10 Xfinity Series starts at Daytona, while also making one Truck start in 2016.

Creed at Daytona (Xfinity)
Starts: 8
Wins: —
Top-10s: 5
Poles: —

  • Creed is set to make his ninth Xfinity start at Daytona on Saturday, where he is coming off a third-place finish earlier this year. In his last four starts, he has led 30 laps and finished inside the top-10 in each race.
  • He has started inside the top 10 in seven of his eight starts and carries a 6.6 average starting position into the weekend.
  • Creed also has a pair of top-10 results in three career Truck Series starts.

Mayer at Daytona (Xfinity)
Starts: 8
Wins: —
Top-10s: 1
Poles: —

  • Mayer is in line for his ninth Xfinity start at Daytona this weekend, coming off a runner-up finish in the first race of the season. He has led 28 total laps across eight career starts and has an average finish of 21.6.
  • His best start was on fourth in 2022, and he holds an average starting position of 18.6.

Where They Stand
Cup Points Standings (41: 34th): Custer is 34th in the Cup Series points standings with 307 points heading into Daytona this Saturday.

Xfinity Points Standings (41: 4th, 00: 10th): Mayer sits fourth in the Xfinity points standings with 799 total points on the season, behind the three multi-winners, while Creed is in 10th place with 625 points.

Front Row Motorsports: Daytona International Speedway Competition Notes- Todd Gilliland

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Official Release
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Todd Gilliland and the No. 34 Grillo’s Pickles Ford Team
Daytona International Speedway Competition Notes
Coke Zero Sugar 400

Date: Saturday, August 23, 2025
Event: Race 28 of 38
Series: NASCAR Cup Series
Location: Daytona International Speedway (2.5-miles)
#of Laps: 160
Time/TV/Radio: 7:30 PM ET on NBC/MRN/SiriusXM channel 90

Todd Gilliland Notes

Todd Gilliland and the No. 34 team return to the Daytona International Speedway, facing a must-win situation in order to make the NASCAR Cup Series Playoffs. In last year’s event at the 2.5-mile superspeedway, Gilliland started second next to pole sitter and teammate, Michael McDowell. On superspeedways, Gilliland has proven that he has what it takes to be a trusted drafting partner with impressive performances at Daytona, Atlanta, and Talladega.

Grillo’s Pickles will partner with Gilliland and the No. 34 team for the 160-lap event in the iconic pickle company’s third race of the season. Grillo’s Pickles will hit the high banks of the Daytona International Speedway with a twist on their classic scheme, adding “Speed Pickles” hidden across Gilliland’s Ford Mustang Dark Horse. Fans can shop for all Grillo’s Pickles products and merch by going to www.Grillos.com.

While off the track this weekend, Gilliland will trade in his racecar for a fishing rod, partnering with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s TrophyCatch program. An avid fisherman, Gilliland invites anglers of all skill levels to join the citizen-science initiative, which rewards fishermen for documenting largemouth bass weighing eight pounds or more. Since its launch, TrophyCatch has logged thousands of trophy bass across the state, giving scientists valuable insight into Florida’s bass population while giving anglers the chance to win prizes, from top-tier fishing gear to a Phoenix Bass Boat. “TrophyCatch is all about celebrating the thrill of a big catch while protecting our fisheries for future generations,” said Gilliland. “It’s like racing—big skill, big passion, and all about the thrill.” Anglers can sign up for free at TrophyCatch.com, grab a fishing license, and submit photo or video evidence of their catches for even more chances to win.

“We’re proud to partner with NASCAR and bring Florida’s conservation story to one of the largest audiences in American sports,” said Roger Young, Executive Director, FWC. “This collaboration is an exciting opportunity to connect with outdoor enthusiasts and highlight the importance of protecting our state’s world-class fisheries and wildlife.”

“Our season hasn’t gone the way we hoped,” said Gilliland. “We know what’s at stake, and I believe this team has everything it takes to win—it’s just about executing from start to finish and making the most of our potential. I always feel confident going into the superspeedways; we just need to run a clean race and be in position at the end.”

Road Crew

Driver: Todd Gilliland

Hometown: Sherrills Ford, North Carolina

Crew Chief: Chris Lawson

Hometown: Medway, Ohio

Car Chief: Joe Marra

Hometown: Somers, New York

Engineer: Marc Rullo

Hometown: Ringwood, New Jersey

Engineer: Kevyn Rebolledo

Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Spotter: Brit Andersen

Hometown: Branford, Connecticut

Underneath Mechanic: Michael Brookes

Hometown: Columbus, Ohio

Interior Mechanic: Chance Burke

Hometown: Siler City, North Carolina

Tire Specialist: Billy John

Hometown: Pitman, New Jersey

Engine Tuner: Tim Meyer

Hometown: Beatrice, Nebraska

Transporter Driver: Christian Boller

Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Pit Crew

Front Tire Changer: Danny Olszowy

Hometown: Lexington, Kentucky

Rear Tire Changer: Justin Fox

Hometown: Concord, North Carolina

Tire Carrier: Paul Steele

Hometown: Wichita, Kansas

Jackman: Landon Honeycutt

Hometown: Mount Pleasant, North Carolina

Fueler: Zeke Nance

Hometown: Calhoun, Georgia

ABOUT GRILLO’S PICKLES

For people who want freshness, Grillo’s is the pickle company that is changing the game. That’s because Grillo’s uses only clean, garden-fresh ingredients to make deliciously simple foods that deliver all the crunchy, tangy, satisfying flavor you’ve been searching for, with none of the junk. How do we do it? Our products are made cold, shipped cold, and consumed cold. You get an incredible crunch, and we never have to mess with artificial preservatives. In fact, the only thing traditional about us is our 100-year-old family recipe. The rest? It’s fresh. Grillo’s offers mouthwatering bites nationwide with their selection of spears, chips, wholes and Pickle de Gallo. For more information, visit GrillosPickles.com or contact grillos@autumncommunications.com.

ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS

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

Toyota NCTS Playoff Media Day Quotes – Kaden Honeycutt – 08.19.25

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Official Release
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Toyota GAZOO Racing – Kaden Honeycutt
NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Quotes

CONCORD, N.C. (August 19, 2025) – Halmar Friesen Racing driver Kaden Honeycutt was made available to the media on Tuesday as part of NASCAR Truck Series Playoff Media Day.

KADEN HONEYCUTT, No. 52 Halmar International Toyota Tundra TRD PRO, Halmar Friesen Racing

How do you navigate all the recent news around you and focus on the Playoffs?

“Yeah, definitely a lot, for sure, but I’m just a really closed-minded person when it comes to strapping into a race car and knowing when it’s time to do business and win races, no matter what truck I’m in. I’ve been able to put that behind me. I’m really looking forward to running with this HFR (Halmar Friesen Racing) group during these Playoffs. I felt like Richmond was a really good race for us to do ahead of these Playoffs. Really looking forward to going with this group. Working really hard the last two weeks getting comfortable with everything thanks to Toyota and TRD (Toyota Racing Development) and everyone at Halmar Friesen Racing for the chance to finish the year out and try to win a championship, not only just for myself but for Stewart (Friesen), Chris Larsen (CEO, Halmar International), Halmar and Mohawk Northeast.”

How do you tackle the upcoming races in the first few rounds?

“Yeah, I feel like we need to rack up as many Playoff points as possible because of how different the Round of 8 is to get to the Championship 4 – with having the (Charlotte) ROVAL, Talladega and Martinsville. Three completely different races and three chaotic races. If we can focus on winning stages and trying to get Playoff points and try to advance and win the next couple of weeks, I think that would be helpful for sure. And so that way, we can go into Talladega and (the) ROVAL and would have something to lean on if we have to. Definitely going to be crucial. Really think we can do well at Bristol, Loudon (New Hampshire) and Darlington. Darlington is my favorite mile-and-a-half and Bristol’s my favorite short track. So, looking forward to this to this round for sure and hopefully, be able to have a lot of points going into the last round.”

How long did it take you mentally to move on with the recent team change?

“Pretty much an hour, because I was just looking forward to having the opportunity to go with HFR and finish out the year for Stewart, Chris Larsen and all those guys. They gave me the chance to move on and try to finish this deal out. Definitely did not want to quit, definitely wanted to find a way to finish the job for the rest of the year for myself and for Stewart as well. Not in the circumstances of where I want it but right now, we’re just focused on trying to win as many races as possible and try to win that championship for this team, Toyota and TRD.”

That news did put you in an interesting situation, didn’t it?

“Yeah, for sure it does. Like I said, I’m pretty passive person when it comes to situations and stuff happening to me. I’m pretty much able to put that behind me as much as possible, and you know, everything ended on a good note so there’s definitely no issues on any side of mine, personally. I think that makes it a lot easier for myself. It was definitely hard at first, but now that we’re moved on, everyone’s doing what they need to do and we’re just looking forward to the rest of these Playoffs with this No. 52 crew.”

How aggressive do you think it’ll be at the Martinsville cutoff race?

“Yeah, definitely going be tough, as it is all the time in past Martinsville races to get into the Championship 4. You’ve obviously seen what some people have done to do that. Whatever we have to do to win and whatever we have to do to move on and go fight for this championship at Phoenix with Halmar (Friesen Racing) Toyota and TRD. Whatever we have to do to put these guys in position to do that, we’re going to do what we need to. Hopefully before Martinsville, we have points to lean on. If not have, have that win in the bank to go to Phoenix. Martinsville is one of my favorites, as well. I love it. Sometimes, it is chaotic, mostly because of how many laps we do and in a short amount of time. It’s definitely chaotic in that aspect but looking forward to going to Martinsville at the end of the year hopefully try to lock and going to Phoenix from there. That would be really cool to have that redemption from the spring.”

Do you think the intensity will be a lot different than normal in the Playoffs?

“Well, I think everyone has already been going at their 100%, 110% throughout the whole season to try to win, so I don’t really think there will be much of anything different as far as chaos or restarts or anything like that. I feel like everyone has done everything they have to do to win races this year, especially to lock in the Playoffs. I don’t really think there will be too much of a difference, I think there will just be some difference when we go to Talladega and the ROVAL, but I feel like the ROVAL is going to be so spread out that it really won’t be that big of a deal. I think the only you know races concerning in that aspect is probably Martinsville and Talladega, but I feel like the rest of these races, everyone generally races with respect. We’ve been doing a great job the last couple of years shaping that up, so I don’t think there will be much of any difference this year.”

What will it take to defeat Corey Heim for the championship?

“He’s definitely a really good driver, for sure. Those guys (No. 11 TRICON Garage Toyota team) have been doing a great job all season. They’ve just had their stuff together. Corey (Heim) has had his stuff together all year long with that crew. It’s going to be tough, for sure. I feel like, for me, I’m just going to try to focus on ourselves and make sure we have the best finishes possible for our group. If that is not winning the race, we’re just going to focus on us, and hopefully he and I can go to Phoenix and give Toyota a 50% shot of one of us winning that title and bring that home from a manufacturer standpoint. Right now, we’re just going to focus on ourselves. He’s been doing great job, so good luck to those guys, but hopefully we can contend for wins with them throughout the rest of these Playoffs. But he’s definitely going to be hard to beat for this point right now.”

Do you feel any pressure and where does it come from?

“I feel like the pressure is just really from myself. I expect to perform at a high level, no matter where I’m at or what I’m in. The pressure will be really from myself. Those guys (Halmar Friesen Racing) are an unbelievable crew. They’re so awesome. I’m so lucky to be able to work with them. Very laid-back group. They really just want to finish the best we possibly can. If we can’t win the race, then we’ll try to do what we have to do to finish where we’re supposed to. Jimmy (Villeneuve, crew chief) and I had a great conversation after Richmond on some things I needed to work on for myself. A really good group, I feel like the pressure just from me. Stewie (Stewart Friesen) and all those guys just want to run as far as possible. There’s not really an expectation other than we’re trying to get to Phoenix as best as possible, so whatever we have to do to do that, we’ll take measures to do so. We’ll focus on starting off the right foot at Darlington and we’ll go from there.”

Does changing teams going into your first Playoffs create a challenge?

“Yeah, I think first time in the Playoffs would be different for sure, along with a couple other guys that are doing their first Playoffs as well. I think that will all be challenging, but like I said, I think I just don’t psyche myself out on anything, don’t change anything on how I’m driving the truck or completely change my style, my race craft and all that. Obviously, the race craft has to get better, but you do that after the race. It’s good to have the tools I’ve been provided to make this change. That has made it less challenging, to be honest. Just thanks to everyone that’s made that possible and made this an easy transition for me. Right now, I feel like Richmond really showed that speed that we were able to transition quite early and there were no issues regarding that. Looking forward to the rest of the year with these guys and using the tools I’ve been provided for the last couple of weeks to try to win some races and go to Phoenix.”

If you achieve great results in the Playoffs, would that lead to a potential opportunity with a ‘top team’ in the future?

“Yeah, we’ll have that stuff out the next couple of months, maybe. But right now, just focused on running the best we can for this No. 52 group and live out what Stewart (Friesen) wanted to do and that was to try to make it to Phoenix. So, we’re just focused on winning the races that we can and maybe stuff will come up later, but right now we’ll just focus on winning races, and all that stuff eventually falls into place later.”

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.

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

Toyota GAZOO Racing – NCTS Playoff Media Day Quotes – Corey Heim – 08.19.25

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Toyota GAZOO Racing – Corey Heim
NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Quotes

CONCORD, N.C. (August 19, 2025) – TRICON Garage driver Corey Heim was made available to the media on Tuesday as part of NASCAR Truck Series Playoff Media Day.

COREY HEIM, No. 11 Safelite Toyota Tundra TRD PRO, TRICON Garage

What is different to you about the Playoffs this year compared to the last two?

“Really not a ton for me. I think the main thing for us is that we’ve really connected a lot of the dots on maybe the prior struggles we’ve had so far and got a lot of things to improve in the Playoffs still regardless as far as keeping that going or keeping the momentum going. I feel like for me, there was some struggle areas last year that kind of lingered throughout the year and we never quite got past that. But we were able to hone in on that in the offseason and sort of clear those up as far as maybe some packages that we brought to specific race tracks that didn’t work, and maybe some pit road stuff. My personal development as far as my driving style at some places. I feel like just within my 11 team and within TRICON and Toyota, we’ve done a great job of just honing in on the things that maybe didn’t work throughout the year and lingered and just kind of fixing that for 2025 and hoping to extend that into the Playoffs as well.”

Is there anything that you look at as being a challenge for your team in the Playoffs?

“Yeah, I mean for the most part every race is a challenge. It’s never a layup by any means anywhere you go, especially if you look at the last round, you’ve got a lot of challenging races within the Round of 8. Talladega is kind of the one that sticks out like a sore thumb to everybody. It’s just such an unpredictable race. As far as the speed we’ve brought to the race track, I think most, if not all the Playoff tracks fit that for us but as far as strategizing – especially Talladega but also Martinsville, the Roval – that whole Round of 8. Strategizing that and also just planning for kind of what our plan of attack is for those last few races is going to be big. Of course, we’ve got the whole Round of 10 to get through as well, but that round specifically stands out to me as something that we need to really think about and how to attack that and make sure we’re in the right spot at the right time.”

Who can you lean on and build a notebook for the Roval race to start the Round of 8?

“As far as who I lean on, I don’t know if I have anyone specific in mind off the top of my head, but I feel like the road course stuff on my side has been really good as far as preparation this year and just understanding kind of what I need to do to attack the race track in a certain way. I’ve only run a TA2 race there one time in like I think it was 2021 on a different layout so I’ve got a very rough and slim idea of what I need to be successful at that track specifically. But I work with the 23XI people a lot on their side, trying to gauge where their Cup guys are making time on specific race tracks such as Watkins Glen. Lime Rock of course we were by ourselves, but I worked with them on Lime Rock a little bit too actually. But as far as just overall preparation and development, it’s going to be tough to do for sure just with the lack of experience for me at that place. But Lime Rock, I had never been there either and it was a pretty successful day for me so just trying to take the same mindset into that.”

Looking at the opening round, what is the biggest trouble track for teams?

“That’s a good question. Loudon is tough because we haven’t been there – or the Trucks haven’t been there in about six years. I was fortunate to race there last year in Xfinity for Sam Hunt Racing. Loudon is just a tough one being an anomaly just as far as lack of experience, lack of laps there for most of the truck field including drivers and teams. That will be tough for the Round of 10 for sure. But kind of like you mentioned, the Round of 8 is definitely the ones that stand out more. The Round of 10 is kind of your standard race tracks, places that we’ve been for the most part other than Loudon. But I mean, as far as similarities, we go to a lot of tracks similar to Loudon too so it shouldn’t be anything too crazy I wouldn’t think.”

Does your 62-point advantage over the cutline give you comfort knowing you have this big of a point lead, and it should allow you to race for the Championship in Phoenix?

“In a way yeah, but I think with the Playoff format and the way that everything is structured, things can turn sideways pretty quick so I feel like you can never get too comfortable or to the point where – especially as far as my team goes. If they think that we just need to smooth sail through the round and no problem and maybe have a lack of effort – not that they will at all – they prepare very well. But if they were to hypothetically and we have a part failure or something with a DNF, you find yourself in a bad spot pretty quick. I feel like our mindset as far as our 11 crew and the organization with TRICON is to prepare to the best of our ability in the same way that we have for most of the races this year and just to really hone in on everything and if not elevate everything to make sure that we cannot have any failures or anything crazy like that. And also, just continue to bring the speed that we have throughout the year.”

Is Phoenix a track you really enjoy driving around and does it suit driving style?

“Phoenix is alright. It’s not the greatest quality of racing by any means. I feel like it’s really easy to get stuck in traffic and whatnot, but it’s okay. There’s definitely better race tracks out there in my opinion, but the restarts are definitely crazy and that’s about it. The restarts are crazy and then it’s kind of straightforward from there. Yeah, it’s okay.”

How much have you improved as a driver or the way that you drive since 2023?

“I think for the most part, yeah, for the most part I’ve gotten a lot more comfortable in understanding what I need out of my truck on a regular basis. I feel like in 2023 — I had the 16-race part time schedule in 2022 with KBM and then leading up with TRICON in 2023, I think a lot of us were kind of unsure with where our equipment was with TRICON being a new – I wouldn’t say a new organization by any means but with a new manufacturer and kind of rebranded stuff – a lot of uncertainty as far as where we were. We ended up being really good, and I was also developing myself and maybe not super confident in the adjustments I needed to put me over the edge from being a top five truck to being a winning truck in the same weekend. Just things like that. I feel like I’ve gotten a lot more confident in myself and comfortable in my equipment. Any extra reps and seat time is super important, and I feel like with these two seasons in my back pocket, it’s really helped me just find that comfort with my crew and also have basically the same roster of people on this 11 team for the last two years so everyone is just more comfortable with each other and more confident.”

How has the racing changed since 2023?

“I feel like if anything its better. I’ve had my run ins with people this year, but nothing super egregious. I feel like in 2023, there was a lot of maybe penalties that should’ve been handed out and penalties that were handed out. I’m looking at myself here in the mirror and that’s one of them. I’m not excused from the craziness of that year by any means, but I feel like overall the aggression is more coordinated, I guess. I feel like it’s more worth it for these guys rather than just doing crazy stuff at inopportune times during the race. It seems like the aggression is kind of honed in to the right place at the right time, if that makes sense? In my opinion, it’s definitely better.”

How much of an advantage is running double duty on weekends like Richmond?

“Yeah, it definitely helps especially at a place like Richmond that I’ve never thought is the best race track for myself personally. Any extra laps and any extra preparation I can do, especially on the Cup side, with the extra data and the extra people they have to prepare for these races, I think it’s really helps at a place that I might not be the best at. But really anywhere, anywhere I can get the extra laps on a given weekend and prepare on the Cup side with those guys definitely helps a lot. Definitely paid dividends in the Truck race for me. I feel like I’ve never run amazing at Richmond and we were able to win the race so that was definitely an improvement for our 11 group. The Cup race certainly didn’t go the greatest, but I did feel like I learned a lot from the preparation side and definitely made myself better as a driver as Richmond.”

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.

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

Ford Cup Drivers Eyeing Playoff Berth in Regular Season Daytona Finale Saturday Night

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DAYTONA 2

Saturday, August 22 – NASCAR Xfinity Series, 7:30 p.m. ET (CW)
Sunday, August 23 – NASCAR Cup Series, 7:30 p.m. ET (NBC)

Four Ford NASCAR Cup Series drivers have clinched spots in the playoffs, but can a fifth join them this weekend in the final regular season event at Daytona International Speedway? The remaining drivers on the roster need a win on Saturday night in order to make the field, something Harrison Burton did a year ago when he captured the 100th all-time win for Wood Brothers Racing.

WOOD BROTHERS GOING FOR REPEAT

A year ago, Harrison Burton stunned the NASCAR world when he survived an overtime restart to win his first Cup Series race and the 100th for Wood Brothers Racing. Burton led only one lap on the night, but it was the one that counted as he outlasted Kyle Busch to the finish line by 0.47 seconds. The race featured 40 lead changes, but Ford drivers were a fixture at the front as 10 different drivers combined to lead 131 of the 164 laps. That capped a weekend in which Ford swept the top eight spots in qualifying, including an all-Front Row Motorsports front row with Michael McDowell and Todd Gilliland.

ON THE BUBBLE

Even though there is a bubble for the final playoff berth this weekend at Daytona International Speedway, the eight Ford drivers currently below the cutline all need a win in order to make the field. RFK Racing’s Chris Buescher is 60 points below the cut line after Saturday night’s race at Richmond Raceway. Currently, all three Team Penske drivers have qualified (defending champion Joey Logan, Ryan Blaney and Austin Cindric), along with Josh Berry of Wood Brothers Racing.

BLANEY RUNS TOP 10 STREAK TO FIVE

Speaking of Blaney, his third place run on Saturday in Richmond marked his fifth straight Top-5 finish, a streak that began when he ran eighth at Dover last month. Since then, he’s racked up a seventh at Indianapolis, fourth at Iowa, and a pole to go with his sixth place effort at Watkins Glen. Blaney won this event in 2021, but has crashed out of three of the last four races at Daytona International Speedway. That wasn’t the case earlier this year when he ran seventh in the Daytona 500.

AUSTIN CINDRIC: WHY HAVE YOU DONE SO WELL ON THE SUPERSPEEDWAYS DURING YOUR CAREER? “Fast cars, man. I’d like to say it’s that simple and in a lot of ways it really is. Obviously, I feel like anybody who is driving a Ford Mustang has a great advantage when we go to these drafting style racetracks. Roush Yates and everybody does an awesome job at providing us a complete package for those races. Past that, it’s just study and observe and apply. I give a lot of credit to my team as well as my spotter on the roof, Doug Campbell. We’ve been able to do a good job at executing those races and putting ourselves in position. That doesn’t mean I haven’t been crashed a multitude of times out of the lead, but that wouldn’t make me any special because there’s been a lot of people who have had that, too. I’m proud of the performance there, but it’s never a guaranteed result, that’s for sure.”

RYAN BLANEY: WHAT HAS BEEN THE KEY TO THIS RECENT STREAK OF TOP 10 FINISHES? “I think we’ve been executing really well and haven’t been making mistakes anywhere, and our cars have just been where they need to be. I’ve been really happy with the consistent finishes. I’m finishing in the area where I feel like we should. We haven’t really had that a lot this year. We’ve had a lot of unfortunate things happening, but we just waited it out and kept doing our job and this is definitely where this team should be and where they deserve. We’ll just try to keep it going and try to build momentum before we get to Darlington.”

RFK TEAMWORK LEADS BUESCHER TO VICTORY LANE

In 2023, Chris Buescher won for the third time as teammate Brad Keselowski pushed him to victory in the regular season finale at Daytona International Speedway. The win was Ford’s fourth in the last five races overall and came on a night that saw eight Blue Oval drivers lead a combined 110-of-163 laps. For Buescher, he only led the final two laps as the race went into overtime. Keselowski finished second and Aric Almirola, who needed a win in order to make the postseason, was third. Ford also swept the top three spots in qualifying as Chase Briscoe captured the pole and led a race-high 67 laps.

BLANEY WINS IN WILD FINISH

Ryan Blaney endured a chaotic end to the Coke Zero Sugar 400 in 2021 at Daytona as he swiftly escaped a multi-car pile-up exiting the third turn with four laps remaining. Blaney, who was running fifth in the middle row of three-wide competition, moved up the track to evade the spinning cars seen from his windshield and inherited the lead. In overtime, Blaney managed to stay out front, fending off Kevin Harvick and Chris Buescher in the final laps before the race’s eighth caution, subsequently giving Blaney his third win of the season.

MAYER PEAKING

One driver who likely didn’t welcome the off week was Sam Mayer, who has finished first or second in each of the last three NASCAR Xfinity Series events. The hot streak started in Indianapolis, where he sat on the pole and finished second. That was followed by his first victory of the season and first for the Haas Factory Team when he took control on a late-race restart and won for the second straight year at Iowa Speedway. A runner-up effort two weeks ago at Watkins Glen sends him into this weekend’s event at Daytona International Speedway third in the point standings, 24 points behind leader Connor Zilisch.

THREE RACES REMAINING

While the NASCAR Cup Series concludes its regular season this weekend, the NASCAR Xfinity Series still has three races remaining before beginning its postseason. Sam Mayer has clinched a spot in the 12-driver field after his Iowa victory while Sheldon Creed finds himself 77 points above the cutline in 10th position. Harrison Burton is currently the last driver in as he holds a 30-point lead over his cousin, Jeb. That would all change if there is a new winner on Friday night. The series playoffs begin Sept. 12 at Bristol Motor Speedway.

FORD’S NASCAR CUP SERIES

SUMMER RACE WINNERS AT DAYTONA

1963 – Fireball Roberts

1965 – A.J. Foyt

1967 – Cale Yarborough

1969 – LeeRoy Yarbrough

1970 – Donnie Allison

1983 – Buddy Baker

1988 – Bill Elliott

1989 – Davey Allison

1991 – Bill Elliott

1994 – Jimmy Spencer

1997 – John Andretti

1999 – Dale Jarrett

2000 – Jeff Burton

2003 – Greg Biffle

2007 – Jaime McMurray

2011 – David Ragan

2014 – Aric Almirola

2016 – Brad Keselowski

2017 – Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

2021 – Ryan Blaney

2023 – Chris Buescher

2024 – Harrison Burton

FORD’S NASCAR XFINITY SERIES

WINNERS AT DAYTONA

1995 – Chad Little (1)

2004 – Mike Wallace (2)

2015 – Ryan Reed (1)

2016 – Aric Almirola (2)

2017 – Ryan Reed (1)

2021 – Austin Cindric (1)

The Ford Mustang, celebrating its 61st anniversary in 2025, is the world’s best selling sports car. It is also one of the planet’s most popular race cars. With Mustang-based race cars competing in international sports car competition (GT3 and GT4), NASCAR, NHRA, Formula Drift, in Australian Supercars, at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb and in its own bespoke one-make series – Mustang Cup and Mustang Challenge – the platform has an unprecedented global reach. This weekend, 42 Mustang race cars are scheduled to race across all disciplines. Learn more at FordPerformance.com.

Benefits of Choosing New Chevrolet Cars for Sale in Rochester

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When it comes to buying a new car, few names inspire as much confidence as Chevrolet. Known for combining performance, style, and long-lasting value, Chevrolet vehicles have been a trusted choice for generations. If you’re in Rochester and considering a new set of wheels, exploring new chevrolet cars for sale in rochester could be one of the smartest decisions you make. Here’s why.

1. Wide Range of Models for Every Lifestyle

Chevrolet offers something for everyone, whether you’re looking for a family-friendly SUV, a rugged truck, or a stylish sedan. The Chevy Equinox and Traverse deliver space and comfort for growing families, while the Chevy Silverado is perfect for those who need towing power and durability. If fuel efficiency is your priority, the Chevy Malibu or Bolt EV provides economical options without compromising style.

2. Advanced Safety Features

Safety is a top priority for Chevrolet. Many new Chevy models come equipped with Chevy Safety Assist, a suite of advanced safety features including automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist, forward collision alert, and more. In a city like Rochester, where unpredictable weather can make driving tricky, these features can provide extra peace of mind for you and your passengers.

3. Impressive Performance and Efficiency

Chevrolet vehicles are designed to perform. Whether it’s the powerful V8 engine of the Silverado or the responsive handling of the Malibu, Chevy cars strike the perfect balance between strength and efficiency. For eco-conscious drivers, the Bolt EV offers zero-emission driving with an impressive range, making it a smart choice for both city commutes and longer trips.

4. Modern Technology and Comfort

Step into a new chevrolet cars for sale in Rochester and you’ll immediately notice the attention to detail. From Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ integration to intuitive touchscreen infotainment systems, Chevy keeps you connected on the go. Many models also offer wireless charging, heated seats, and premium sound systems, turning every drive into a comfortable, enjoyable experience.

5. Strong Resale Value and Warranty

When you invest in a new Chevrolet, you’re also investing in long-term value. Chevy vehicles are built to last, and they tend to hold their resale value well. Plus, new models come with an impressive warranty, including a 3-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper and 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain coverage, giving you added protection and confidence.

6. Local Support and Service in Rochester

Buying locally has its perks. Rochester Chevrolet dealerships not only offer a wide selection of new models but also provide expert service, genuine parts, and friendly customer care. This means you can count on reliable maintenance and support for years after your purchase.

Final Words 

Choosing a new Chevrolet in Rochester means more than just driving away in a stylish, reliable vehicle; it’s about peace of mind, cutting-edge features, and long-term value. Whether you need a powerful truck, a spacious SUV, or a sleek sedan, Chevrolet delivers quality and performance you can trust. If you’re ready to upgrade your driving experience, now might be the perfect time to explore the latest Chevy models available right here in Rochester.

How Performance and Reliability Go Hand in Hand

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Photo by depositphotos at https://depositphotos.com/

When making important decisions about everyday transportation, two words often come up: performance and reliability. While many people imagine these as separate qualities, the truth is they are deeply connected. For drivers who want long-term value and confidence behind the wheel, understanding how these two elements work together can help shape smarter choices.

Understanding Performance Beyond Speed

Performance is often mistaken for speed alone, but in reality, it goes much deeper. It encompasses smooth handling, responsive acceleration, efficient braking, and the ability of a vehicle to adapt to changing road conditions. A vehicle that performs well allows the driver to react quickly in unexpected situations and experience consistent stability during everyday driving.

From maneuvering through crowded city streets to cruising on an open highway, reliable performance gives drivers the peace of mind that their vehicle will respond exactly as expected. This day-to-day confidence is just as important as the feeling of power you get when pressing down on the accelerator.

Why Reliability Supports True Performance

Reliability refers to a vehicle’s ability to deliver consistent results over time. When a vehicle performs reliably, it maintains its quality and efficiency even after years of use. A high-performance car that frequently breaks down is not much use in real-world conditions.

The strongest vehicles are those that blend an impressive driving experience with dependable components built to last. Drivers shouldn’t have to choose between a powerful journey and a stable one; true quality driving brings both together in one seamless experience.

Long-Term Value Comes from Hand-in-Hand Quality

Thinking about long-term value, performance, and reliability begins to feel inseparable. When a vehicle is durable and responsive, it naturally retains more of its value over time. These qualities reduce unexpected maintenance costs and support continuous driving satisfaction.

This is especially true for anyone considering pre-owned vehicles. Whether it’s for the daily commute, family trips, or weekend adventures, a strong second-hand vehicle should still offer the kind of balanced performance that enhances the journey. By prioritizing models with a proven track record of reliability, drivers can fully enjoy all the advantages of strong performance, without the worry of sudden repairs or replacements.

Real-World Examples of Quality Balance

Consider those times when you need to accelerate smoothly during a merging lane or safely brake in bad weather conditions. In both instances, reliable systems make that performance possible.

High-quality engineering ensures the components that deliver power are also designed for longevity. Suspension systems that provide comfortable handling need to remain firm and dependable through countless miles. Likewise, an engine built for strength should also be designed to withstand daily use without unexpected issues.

Making the Right Choice for Everyday Life

When choosing a vehicle, the smartest approach is to look for a harmonious blend of performance and reliability. Test drives can reveal much about how a vehicle handles and responds, but checking its reliability history offers a second layer of assurance. Without this blend of qualities, drivers might end up sacrificing either comfort or stability, and neither should be compromised.

One effective way to find that balance is by exploring used vehicles Orlando, where a wide range of vehicles are available that still deliver impressive performance while having a reputation for long-term dependability.

Final Thoughts

In day-to-day driving, performance and reliability are not opposite ends of a scale; they reinforce each other. A vehicle that responds efficiently and powerfully builds trust with every journey, while a reliable foundation ensures that performance remains strong over time. Rather than choosing between flexibility and durability, smart drivers look for vehicles that bring both together in perfect alignment.

Forte Racing Earns Win and Pole in Mixed-Fortunes Road America Weekend

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Harvey and Liddy Score Debut Victory; Madsen Puts No. 53 on Overall Pole

Monrovia, California (Tuesday, August 19, 2025) – Forte Racing’s expanded two-car McLaren Trophy America program experienced both triumph and adversity at Road America. The No. 24 Cypress Land McLaren, driven by Tanner Harvey and Patrick Liddy, made a dream debut with a class victory on Saturday before being sidelined by a last-lap qualifying incident on Sunday. Meanwhile, the No. 53 RP Motorsports by Forte Racing entry continued to showcase its front-running pace, claiming overall pole position for Race 2 and adding another Papaya Cup podium.

Tanner Harvey reflected on the highs and lows of the weekend, emphasizing both the pace the car showed and the lessons learned.

“Road America was an incredible first weekend in the McLaren series,” Harvey said. ”We showed strong pace right away, topping FP1 and running near the front through practice and qualifying. Race 1 was cut short due to weather, but it was great to bring home a solid result with Patrick and the Forte Racing team. Unfortunately, qualifying for Race 2 ended early for us after a mistake in Turn 13, but that’s racing — we’ll regroup and be ready to fight again at Indianapolis.”

Patrick Liddy built on Harvey’s thoughts, noting the strength of the car and the team environment in their debut outing.

“It was great to join Forte for our debut weekend in McLaren Trophy,” Liddy said. “The car and team dynamics were amazing, special thanks to our talented engineer Pete Jacobs. After putting it P1 overall in Practice, my co-driver Tanner drove an amazing race in inclement conditions to P1 in class in our first race. An unfortunate incident for Tanner in qualifying took us out of contention for Race 2 but has only made us more determined for our final round at Indianapolis.”

On Sunday, the team’s focus shifted to the No. 53 entry, where Kevin Madsen delivered another standout qualifying performance, earning his second overall pole of the season while showcasing the team’s mission of raising awareness for Relapsing Polychondritis.

“Thanks to the RP Motorsports by Forte team! Neil had a ton of uninterrupted drive time this weekend as the car was well prepped,” Madsen said. “I was able to stick us on pole again for the same reasons. Lots of great airtime, views, comments and messages from folks watching and asking about Relapsing Polychondritis. That widespread awareness and fundraising continued over into the hot laps in a McLaren GTS afterwards. Thanks to all involved including McLaren Customer Racing.”

Neil Langberg pointed to the teamwork and broader mission of the program, underscoring how the weekend strengthened both competitive and community goals.

“This past weekend?! legendary, transformative, and “FORTE-fied!” Excellent collaboration by the team in tricky conditions, even while racing in the rain. Clearly, not just workin’ on the highway, but pushing our limits on and off the track,” Langberg said. “Strong connections were made in racing and in partnerships throughout the paddock giving us lots to look forward to as we keep our poise with our eyes up looking to the finish, staying strong all the way to the final races at IMS in mid-October. I can’t wait for the 2025 MTA Finish Line Social fueled for Race for RP on 10/17/2025; a time to share what the series has meant to us and to our goals with respect to autoimmune disease research. There should be a lot of papaya for all!”

.RP Motorsports by Forte Racing program manager Jon Miller praised the progress being made, pointing to consistent front-running pace as proof of the team’s growth.

“The team and drivers are hitting their stride as we move towards the final races of the inaugural McLaren Trophy America season,” Miller said. “Two overall pole positions for the No. 53 show the speed and confidence that the team has developed out of this new car and a handful of podium finishes in our pocket further cements the progress. We look towards the final event at Indy with excitement and a renewed focus on bringing home a victory for RP Motorsports by Forte racing. See you there!”

Forte Racing’s McLaren Trophy America team manager David Cozart noted that the weekend delivered both disappointment and reward, but ultimately succeeded in advancing the team’s broader mission.

“Race 1 was bittersweet as I was looking forward to seeing the competition play out, but Mother Nature had a different story to tell. That being said, my favorite part of that race was Tanner saying, ‘This is so fun!’ whilst driving in the rain,” Cozart said. “Race 2 qualifying was challenging with the No. 24 car having a last-lap incident that kept car sidelined for the race, but on the other side of the scale, Kevin, driving the No. 53 car, started on the overall pole and drove a great stint before handing the car to Neil, who pushed hard for a podium in Papaya Cup. Most importantly, the weekend garnered great exposure for the Race for RP Foundation — so in that sense, mission accomplished.”

Team principal Shane Seneviratne closed the weekend on a positive note, highlighting the resilience of the team and the progress being made.

“Road America gave us a mix of results, but overall, I’m proud of the way the team responded to every challenge,” Seneviratne concluded. “A debut win for the No. 24, another pole for the No. 53, and strong exposure for the Race for RP mission are all achievements we can build on. The growth and spirit within this program are clear, and we’re motivated to finish the season strong at Indianapolis.”

The final two races of the McLaren Trophy America season will take place at the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway October 16-18. Don’t wait until October to learn more about the team and their mission—watch the award-winning documentary The Race of Our Lives, now streaming on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0tZYRazk8U.

RP Motorsports by Forte Racing remains committed to using motorsports as a platform for change, combining elite competition with a mission to advance research and awareness for autoimmune diseases. Fans can follow the team’s progress and support the cause by visiting www.raceforrp.org and www.forteracing.com.

ABOUT RACE FOR RP

Race for RP is a motorsports initiative aimed at driving awareness and accelerating research for RP and other autoimmune diseases. Through collaboration with drivers, teams, and sponsors, Race for RP fuels education, accelerates research, and raises awareness of Relapsing Polychondritis and other related autoimmune diseases For more information, visit raceforrp.org or follow @raceforrp on social media.

ABOUT FORTE RACING

Founded in 2023, Forte Racing is a motorsports team based in Los Angeles and Charlotte, supported by Lamborghini Squadra Corse. Under the watchful eye of Shane Seneviratne, the team competes in various racing series, including the IMSA WeatherTech GTD Championship, the IMSA VP Racing Sportscar Challenge, and Lamborghini Super Trofeo and, in 2025, plans to expand by adding a single-car entry in

the inaugural McLaren Trophy America Championship. Operating under the US RaceTronics banner, the team has quickly built a strong reputation with multiple podium finishes, race wins, and several North American and World Championships. For more information about the team, its drivers, and race operations, visit www.forteracing.com.

ABOUT THE SERIES

The inaugural McLaren Trophy America Championship series will launch in Spring 2025. The season will feature 10 rounds at five iconic U.S. tracks with each event coinciding with the Fanatec GT World Challenge America powered by AWS.

2025 McLaren Trophy America Schedule:

  • Rounds 1 & 2: Sonoma Raceway, CA | March 28-30
  • Rounds 3 & 4: Circuit of the Americas, TX | April 25-27
  • Rounds 5 & 6: Virginia International Raceway, VA | July 18-20
  • Rounds 7 & 8: Road America, WI | August 15-17
  • Rounds 9 & 10: Indianapolis Motor Speedway, IN | October 17-19

ABOUT RELAPSING POLYCHONDRITIS

RP is a rare and degenerative autoimmune disease that primarily affects cartilage in the body, causing inflammation that can lead to severe complications. RP affects multiple organs, including the ears, nose, airways, joints, and even the heart and brain. Research is essential to improve care and treatment options for those living with RP.

Supporting International SEO with Structured, Localized Headless CMS Content

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Photo by robuart at https://depositphotos.com/

Going global isn’t as simple as translation; specific SEO needs to be addressed to account for cultural and linguistic nuances and varying global search behaviors. Yet, when it isn’t done properly, the scaffolding is challenging, both internationally and nationally, and is quickly expanding across geographical boundaries and time zones, resulting in human error in the process. Yet a headless CMS offers the flexibility and scalability necessary as long as structured, localized content is used. Brands can then deliver a tailored, SEO-optimized experience for every user in every region, ultimately driving better engagement, experience, and outcomes in search.

Where International SEO Is More Than Translation

International SEO is more than translation word-for-word; it requires an entirely different content experience. Different markets search for different things for the same product, require different content frameworks, and unique metadata and schema. From localized intent to keyword differences, cultural significance, and even preferences for certain platforms, every market is different. Storyblok platform enables brands to develop flexible, scalable content models to meet the needs and versions of what’s required while still tethered to one solution.

Content Structure Drives Global SEO Compliance

With a headless CMS, content can be broken down into precise fields: title, description, URL, alt text, and headers that are required for SEO compliance. Thus, dedicated SEO teams can evaluate and meet international requirements at the macro and micro levels of each field, ensuring that blocks of content can not only be formatted but also structured to meet every potential search engine requirement around the globe. Additionally, structured content has better markup, is served faster, and is more semantically organized, all of which enhance crawlability. Enterprise brands managing SEO across multiple markets and channels have found that pairing a headless CMS architecture with a specialized backlink building company creates a compounding advantage — technically sound pages earning authoritative links simultaneously rather than fixing one while neglecting the other.

Hreflang Tags and URL Configurations

One of the most important aspects of international SEO is ensuring search engines know which variant of the site should be shown to users. Hreflang tags are essential for letting search engines know which language and region designations apply; if people in Canada see the French version when it should be the English version, it can be a poor experience. A headless CMS can help content teams control hreflang attributes automatically and assign them to specific variants by language and region. For instance, someone from Canada will automatically have the option to see the Canadian variant (if it exists), as well as proper hreflang attributes indicating there is a U.S. version, all without having to manually tag or redevelop customizations each time.

Localized Metadata and On-Page Elements

While title tags, meta descriptions, and open graph fields are the behind-the-scenes content elements that dictate how a page appears in search, localized versions of these fields are more likely to make the content sufficiently relevant in geo-specific SERPs to earn a click. A Headless CMS empowers marketers to localize on-page elements, just like any structured field, across languages and locations. This gives teams control not just over body copy but also over the search signals that drive discoverability and engagement across all markets.

Regional Keyword Targeting Support

Keyword research is not only country-specific; it can also extend to regions, even when the same language is spoken. What spikes in keyword volume in the UK may not translate to Australia or Canada. A Headless CMS supports regional keyword targeting by enabling blocks of localized content that can be tailored to the phrases and terms that matter in other markets. This type of fluidity allows global SEO strategies to remain intact while being tailored to the most relevant search intent, bringing more qualified traffic to every global page.

Internationally Delivered Fast, Mobile-Optimized Content

Speed is an important factor for SEO rankings. For global users, slow-loading pages can compromise SEO rankings and UX performance in seconds. A Headless CMS champions the best front ends by enabling content delivery via API integrations with fast, modern frameworks like Next.js, Nuxt, or Gatsby. These allow global brands to bring light, mobile-optimized pages with localized content to any user, regardless of where they’re located. Elements that improve UX, such as load speed and mobile-friendliness, promote better international SEO rankings and lower bounce rates.

Localization Workflows Naturally Integrated with SEO Review

International SEO relies on localized content and includes page reviews as part of the workflow. A Headless CMS supports this need by implementing approval processes, role permissions, and tracked statuses. SEO teams can easily review localized pages before publishing to ensure the region adheres to both linguistic and SEO best practices/requirements. These workflows ensure that optimization quality remains consistent across global markets without delaying publication.

SEO Governance Across Markets

When your content goes global, governance is crucial to prevent outdated, duplicated, or off-strategy content from damaging search performance. A headless CMS allows enterprises to set up content governance structures that define who can edit SEO fields, which markets own which URLs, and how metadata gets adjusted over time. With an overarching view and regional execution, a cohesive SEO strategy can be maintained across the globe without the risks of an overly fragmented content approach that diminishes domain authority and confuses search engine crawlers.

Measuring and Adjusting SEO Success by Region

You can only adjust an international SEO strategy if you have the data to do so. Headless CMS solutions integrate relatively easily with analytics tools, empowering marketers to measure organic search success by language, region, keyword, and device. The more quality data they have about how content performs, the better for future content efforts. For example, if one market can eventually see that a keyword works well for them but is undervalued in another region, that insight can inform content creation elsewhere. In addition, being able to measure SEO performance by region can help adjust how well localization efforts work since words and phrases can mean different things across cultures.

Collaboration Across Teams for Global SEO Efforts

Effective international SEO involves many moving parts and requires collaboration among content creators, translators, SEO specialists, and international marketers. A headless CMS creates this collaborative atmosphere through shared workspaces, version tracking, and integrated workflows that enable contributors across time zones to work together with defined responsibilities. Tracking efforts in a universal hub helps cross-functional teams create localized content concurrently, keeping search optimization and global objectives aligned.

Important Agile Abilities for Shifting Market Needs

Consumer search behavior, compliance laws, and market stability can quickly change from day to day in international markets. A headless CMS gives companies the agility to make on-the-fly adjustments to the front end. For instance, if a specific country needs metadata adjusted due to a new algorithm update, or international product descriptions need to be adjusted due to a new holiday in a specific market, your brand can adapt quickly to remain relevant in search.

H2: Future-Proofing International SEO Strategies Across Platforms

Where traditional SEO fails to keep pace with the necessary shifts for visibility, international SEO serves as a globally needed approach to an evolving marketplace that helps brands get found. That is, if international SEO can keep pace, which becomes a challenge with increasingly more dynamic levels of customer engagement dispersed through various channels. Consider how many times customers may be searching for you, digital browsing, voice recognition, proprietary apps on their smartphones; what may seem like a static position can change overnight. Customers might be searching for your brand while using a voice-activated search engine, or they might be using a local proprietary app that has a completely different algorithm and ranking factors. To ensure visibility across the board, engagement requires scalable infrastructure, and a headless CMS facilitates it.

The necessity for new markets, new languages, and new regionally specific applications does not always call for an entirely new SEO strategy; with a headless CMS, content can be modular, and component content governance means the pieces can be easily reconstituted without regional or national compromise of guidelines that determine international standards. For example, with subcategory access to elements that support SEO headings, metadata, alt text, schema markup, and regionally specific keywords, international teams can easily create localized content without disrupting the integrity of the international brand. Yet, each component simultaneously supports the larger structure of brand integrity.

The ability to abandon a definition-dependent method in favor of a process-driven expectation means that international branding can be a priority rather than an afterthought. With a headless CMS, international brands can stay ahead of SEO developments, including algorithm changes and shifts in consumer behavior; instead, they can capitalize on being digitally present in any country where their footprint aims to grow. The infrastructure for success exists within a headless CMS; now, international SEO positioning merely needs to follow suit and work effectively while preparing for future advancements.

Conclusion: Powering Global Search Visibility with Headless CMS

Yet for brands with global goals, international SEO is part of the digital marketing strategy; it’s a component that affects visibility, outreach, and revenue across each market. With so many consumers turning to Google and other search engines before formally visiting a brand’s website or social media profile, mastering the tricks of the trade in localization to ensure appropriate content gets ranked is no longer optional. But international SEO is more than translation. It’s leveraging how people search differently around the world, what’s best for discoverability, and the operational chaos required to scale across various languages, markets, and digital touchpoints.

Therefore, brands need more than a basic CMS or ad hoc localization strategies; they require scalable content ecosystems, geo-sensitive localization, and regimented workflows that can bend to global needs. This is where a headless CMS comes into play. A headless CMS separates the front-end from the back-end, providing centralized control over all international content and simultaneously flexible delivery of localized, personalized, and optimized content to any front-end or endpoint. Access to critical components for global SEO tags for international affiliation, geo-targeted metadata, canonical URLs, and structured data can be controlled globally for agency branding compliance, while permitting localized teams the flexibility to tailor individual messaging campaigns to target audience language, cultural relevance, and intent.

For enterprises using the structured content model, breaking content into microfields allows businesses to determine SEO-friendly qualifications, meta descriptions, alt text, slugs, and title tags, which help ensure ideal content consistency across regions. Variations of localized content can easily be traced back to the company’s master assets to ensure compliance and consistency across all regions; a single adjustment is made once, rather than hundreds of times across hundreds of variations. Through built-in workflows, communication among SEO teams, the content group, translators, and compliance approvers is streamlined to keep localized content accurate, relevant, and, with minimal effort, current.

Ultimately, this integrated, scalable approach goes beyond improved organic visibility for international search engines; it creates better audience experiences that depend on accurate regional content served in a timely fashion. The more customers find their content of choice rendered in their language, representing their cultural ideals, and loading quickly on their preferred device, the more likely they are to engage, convert, and return. Ultimately, this SEO investment leads to stronger international brand equity through improved customer loyalty and marketing, and higher ROI.

In an age where consumers expect everything to be quick and at their fingertips, especially hyper-relevance, and search engines increasingly evolve their ranking algorithms around what’s best for customer engagement, supporting international SEO with technically sound strategic localization efforts is no longer just a technical benefit; it is a business necessity. This is how modern-day brands looking to compete at an international level become found, reputable, and competitive anywhere. The headless CMS is the solution that supports it all, transforming SEO from a regionally focused problem into internationally scalable machinery.

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