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Ty Gibbs to make 100th Cup career start at Charlotte

By
Andrew Kim
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Competing in his third full-time season in the NASCAR Cup Series division, Ty Gibbs is scheduled to achieve a milestone start. By taking the green flag in this weekend’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, the driver of the No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) Toyota Camry XSE entry will make career start No. 100 in NASCAR’s premier series.

Gibbs, the grandson of NASCAR Hall of Famer and team owner Joe Gibbs of JGR from Charlotte, North Carolina, made his inaugural presence in the Cup division at Pocono Raceway in July 2022. During the event, he drove as a relief competitor for 23XI Racing’s Kurt Busch, who would be ruled out indefinitely and eventually completely from NASCAR competition due to suffering concussion-like symptoms amid a single-car wreck while qualifying for the Pocono event. By then, Gibbs was campaigning in his first full-time season in the Xfinity Series for JGR. Driving the No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota Camry TRD entry, Gibbs recorded a 16th-place result after rallying from starting at the rear of the field.

Following his Cup debut at Pocono, Gibbs would compete in the following five Cup events in 23XI Racing’s No. 45 entry. During the five-race stretch, he recorded his first top-10 career result in NASCAR’s premier series by finishing 10th at Michigan International Speedway in August after rallying from a late pit road penalty. Then prior to the 10-race Cup Playoff stretch in late 2022, Gibbs swapped 23XI Racing rides with teammate Bubba Wallace, where Wallace piloted the No. 45 Toyota that was contending for the owner’s championship while Gibbs took over Wallace’s No. 23 entry. Making nine starts in the No. 23 entry, Gibbs recorded three top-20 results, including a 15th-place finish in the Playoff opener at Darlington Raceway in September. Prior to the Cup Series finale at Phoenix Raceway in November, Gibbs did not compete in the event due to the death of his father, Coy, as Daniel Hemric would fill in for Gibbs. Amid Gibbs’ part-time Cup campaign, he claimed the 2022 Xfinity Series championship.

Ten days after winning the 2022 Xfinity title, Gibbs was named a full-time Cup Series competitor of the No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota Camry TRD entry for the 2023 season, where he would contend for the Rookie-of-the-Year title. He commenced his rookie Cup campaign by finishing 25th in the 65th running of the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. Then after finishing no higher than 16th during his next three starts, the Charlotte native notched four consecutive top-10 results, with his first three being in the ninth position. He would then only manage to finish in the top 15 twice during his next nine starts before recording his next top-10 result during the series’ inaugural event at the Chicago Street Course, where he finished ninth. Despite achieving his first two career top-five results in the form of fifth-place runs during his next throughout the final eight regular-season events on the schedule, Gibbs fell short of securing a spot into the 2023 Cup Series Playoffs.

Despite the disappointment of missing the cutline to make the 2023 Cup Playoffs, Gibbs generated a strong run at Bristol Motor Speedway in September, where he led 102 of 500 laps before finishing in fifth place. Three races later, he notched a career-best fourth-place finish at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course in October. Despite recording a single top-10 result within the final four events on the schedule, Gibbs capped off his rookie Cup campaign in 18th place in the final driver’s standings. In addition, he achieved the 2023 Cup Series Rookie-of-the-Year title, thus becoming the fourth competitor to achieve the accolade as a Joe Gibbs Racing competitor.

Returning for a second Cup campaign in 2024, Gibbs commenced his sophomore Cup season by finishing 17th during the 66th running of the Daytona 500. He then notched his first two Cup career poles throughout the 26-race regular-season stretch, where his first occurred at Charlotte for the Coca-Cola 600 in May before he notched his second at Pocono in July. To go along with a total of seven top-five results and 11 top-10 results, Gibbs managed to claim the final berth into the 2024 Cup Series Playoffs, which marked his first time competing for a title within the Cup Series’ postseason format. After finishing 17th, 15th and 22nd, respectively during the Playoff’s Round of 16, however, Gibbs was eliminated from the Playoffs by 12 points. Managing a single top-five finish for the remaining seven events on the schedule, he concluded his second Cup campaign in 15th place in the final standings. By then, he doubled his total top-five results, achieved two additional top-10 results, led an extra 305 laps from his rookie Cup season and boosted his average-finishing result from 18.4 to 17.4 in 2024.

Through 99 previous Cup starts, Gibbs has achieved two poles, 13 top-five results, 25 top-10 results, 563 laps led and an average-finishing result of 19.0 as he continues his pursuit for his first series’ victory. He is currently ranked in 26th place in the 2025 driver’s standings and has finished in the top 10 twice through the first 12-scheduled events of the 2025 season.

Ty Gibbs is scheduled to make his 100th Cup Series career start at Charlotte Motor Speedway for the Coca-Cola 600. The event is scheduled to occur this Sunday, May 25, and air at 6 p.m. ET on Prime Video.

Natalie Grant To Perform National Anthemat Indianapolis 500

By
Official Release
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INDIANAPOLIS (Wednesday, May 21, 2025) – Natalie Grant, a nine-time Grammy nominee and five-time GMA Dove Awards Female Vocalist of the Year, will perform the national anthem before the start of the 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on Sunday, May 25 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

“Natalie’s emotional and stirring rendition of the national anthem in front of the grandstand sellout crowd will be an unforgettable moment during pre-race ceremonies for the Indy 500,” INDYCAR and IMS president J. Douglas Boles said. “The national anthem pays honor to the country we love and gets us one step closer to the final, dramatic and electric moments leading up to the start of the Indianapolis 500.”

Grant’s most recent project, “Seasons,” debuted at No. 1 on the Christian Billboard charts and featured a long list of cross-genre collaborations, including Mary Mary, CeCe Winans, Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Jonathan McReynolds and more. The latest single, “Step By Step,” (a Whitney Houston cover) featuring Dolly Parton, went Top 10 at Mainstream AC Radio.

In addition to garnering nearly 1 billion streams and multiple number No. 1 albums and singles on the Billboard charts, Grant is also a respected author of 11 books, including the Glimmer Girls series for tween girls.

As an active philanthropist, she is the co-founder of Hope for Justice, a nonprofit organization that fights against human trafficking through programs in the United States and globally that reach more than 150,000 adults and children each year. A Seattle native, Grant resides in Nashville, Tennessee, with her husband, Grammy Award-winning songwriter, producer and composer Bernie Herms and their three children, Gracie, Bella and Sadie.

Coverage of the 109th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge begins at 10 a.m. ET on FOX, FOX Deportes and the FOX Sports app.

Visit ims.com for more information on the 109th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge on Sunday, May 25 and the complete Month of May schedule at IMS.

Toyota GAZOO Racing Weekly Preview 05.21.25

By
Official Release
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This Week in Motorsports: May 19 – 25, 2025

· NCS/NXS/NCTS/ARCA: Charlotte Motor Speedway – May 23-25

PLANO, Texas (May 21, 2025) – NASCAR stays in the state of North Carolina and heads to Charlotte Motor Speedway, where all three national series and the ARCA Menards Series take on the 1.5-mile-oval this Memorial Day weekend. Sunday’s Coca-Cola 600 culminates the weekend on Sunday night in the sport’s longest race of the year.

NASCAR National Series – NCS/NCTS

Milestone races for Johnson, Gibbs … Sunday night’s Coca-Cola 600 will be one to remember for Jimmie Johnson and Ty Gibbs, as both will hit milestone starts in their careers. Johnson makes his 700th career start Sunday night behind the wheel of his No. 84 Toyota Camry XSE for LEAGCY MOTOR CLUB, while Gibbs makes his 100th career start, piloting his No. 54 Camry XSE for Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR). Johnson has won the famed 600-mile race four times, last coming in 2014, while Gibbs returns to Charlotte Motor Speedway as the reigning Coca-Cola 600 polesitter.

Bell seeks Coke 600 repeat … A rain-shortened Coca-Cola 600 last season saw Christopher Bell as the winner, becoming the sixth Toyota driver to win the crown jewel race. The JGR driver is also coming off a win in last weekend’s All-Star race, hoping to carry the momentum into this weekend for what would be his 13th career Cup Series win.

Nemechek heads to Charlotte with serious momentum … The last few weeks for John Hunter Nemechek and the No. 42 Toyota Camry XSE team of LEGACY MOTOR CLUB have been solid as he continues to climb his way up the Cup Series points standings. In the previous two points-paying races at Texas and Kansas, Nemechek earned the eighth and 10th place finishing positions, where he now has four top-10s in 12 races this year, sitting just 10 points back of being in the Playoffs as the points standings currently sit.

Briscoe makes 2025 Xfinity Series debut … Chase Briscoe will take on double duty this weekend in Charlotte, running the No. 19 GR Supra for JGR in the Xfinity Series race on Saturday, along with his full-time duties in the Cup Series on Sunday. This will be Briscoe’s first Xfinity Series start since 2022, and he looks to improve upon his best Xfinity Series finish at Charlotte Motor Speedway of sixth in 2021.

Gray looks for third straight Charlotte pole … Tanner Gray has made Charlotte Motor Speedway one of his best tracks on the Truck Series schedule, this weekend going for a third straight pole position at the mile-and-a-half circuit. He’ll also look to improve upon a career-best finish of sixth he earned in 2022.

NASCAR Regional Series – ARCA Menards Series

Sawalich takes on double duty again … This weekend in Charlotte is another stop on the busy 2025 schedule for William Sawalich, who will once again drive the No. 18 Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing in the ARCA Menards Series, along with his full-time efforts with the team in the Xfinity Series. It will be Sawalich’s fourth ARCA start of the season as he looks for his first win of the year. A victory by Sawalich — or any of the other Toyota Camrys — would mark Toyota’s fifth consecutive win at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

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.

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

Ryan Preece to make 100th Cup career start at Charlotte

By
Andrew Kim
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Photo by Ron Olds for SpeedwayMedia.com.

In his sixth season as a full-time NASCAR Cup Series competitor, Ryan Preece is scheduled to achieve a milestone start. By competing in this weekend’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, the driver of the No. 60 Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford Mustang Dark Horse entry will make his 200th career start in NASCAR’s premier series.

A native of Berlin, Connecticut, Preece made his inaugural presence in NASCAR’s premier series at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in September 2015. By then, he had achieved the 2013 NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour championship and had racked up 15 victories in the series. He had also made his first three career starts in the Xfinity Series over the previous two seasons. Driving the No. 98 Chevrolet for Premium Motorsports, Preece started 37th and finished a season-best 32nd during his Cup debut. He would compete in the remaining four events of the 2015 season, all with the Premium organization.

In October 2018, Preece, who achieved his first two career victories in the Xfinity division while driving for Joe Gibbs Racing, was announced as a full-time Cup Series competitor for the first time, where he would replace AJ Allmendinger as the driver of the No. 47 Chevrolet Camaro entry for JTG-Daugherty Racing in 2019. The Connecticut native commenced his rookie Cup campaign by finishing eighth in the 61st running of the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway. He then finished no higher than 16th over his next eight starts before he recorded a career-best third-place finish at Talladega Superspeedway in April. Finishing no higher than seventh for the remaining 16 events on the regular-season schedule, Preece did not make the 2019 Cup Playoffs. After finishing no higher than 12th on the track for the remaining 10 events on the schedule, he capped off his first full-time Cup campaign in 26th place in the final standings and in the runner-up spot behind Daniel Hemric for the Rookie-of-the-Year honors.

For the 2020 Cup Series season, Preece remained at JTG-Daugherty Racing, but swapped over to the organization’s No. 37 entry as Ricky Stenhouse Jr. took over the No. 47 entry. Throughout the regular-season stretch, he recorded seven top-20 results, which were not enough for him to make the Playoffs. Throughout the 10-race Playoff stretch, he finished inside the top 20 in all but two events. Mired within the results, he claimed a pair of top-10 finishes (ninth at Bristol Motor Speedway in September and 10th at Talladega in October) before he settled in 29th place in the final standings.

Remaining at JTG-Daugherty Racing for a third consecutive season in 2021, Preece commenced the season by finishing in sixth place during the 63rd running of the Daytona 500 despite getting collected in a multi-car wreck on the final lap. He then finished sixth at the Daytona International Speedway Road Course event before accumulating a single additional top-10 result throughout his next 23 starts. Despite finishing fourth during the regular-season finale at Daytona, Preece missed the Playoffs for a third consecutive season. He would proceed to finish no higher than 12th for the remaining 10 races before he claimed 27th place in the final standings. By then, he surpassed 100 career starts in NASCAR’s premier series.

After JTG-Daugherty Racing scaled back down to a one-car operation and dissolved the No. 37 team at the conclusion of the 2021 season, Preece commenced the 2022 season without a full-time ride despite getting hired by Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) as both a reserve and similar competitor. Throughout the season, he campaigned in three Xfinity Series events and 10 Craftsman Truck Series events, the latter of which he notched a victory at Nashville Superspeedway while driving for David Gilliland Racing. He also competed in two Cup events with Rick Ware Racing, where he finished 25th at Dover Motor Speedway and 37th at Charlotte Motor Speedway for the Coca-Cola 600, respectively.

In November 2022, Preece was announced to replace Cole Custer in the No. 41 Ford Mustang entry for Stewart-Haas Racing for the 2023 Cup Series season. Preece’s first campaign with SHR commenced with the Connecticut native finishing no higher than 12th during the first eight events on the schedule. Then at Martinsville Speedway in April, the Connecticut native notched his first Cup career pole. Despite leading the first 135 laps and winning the first stage period, he was penalized early for speeding on pit road and was relegated to a 15th-place result. Preece would proceed to finish in the top 20 seven times over his next nine starts before he notched a season-best fifth-place finish at Richmond Raceway in late July.

Then during the regular-season finale at Daytona, Preece, who was racing in the mid-pack region, was involved in a harrowing accident after a bump from Erik Jones resulted with Preece making contact with teammate Chase Briscoe and spinning towards the backstretch before Preece’s No. 41 Ford went airborne and tumbled multiple times in the air before coming to rest on all four wheels. Amid the wild ride, Preece exited under his own power and was taken to a local hospital for further evaluation. Despite missing the 2023 Cup Playoffs, he was cleared to continue to compete, where he would achieve an eighth-place result at Talladega in October and a total of five top-15 results for the remaining 10 events on the schedule before he finished in a career-best 23rd place in the final standings. Despite achieving only two top-10 results throughout the season, Preece managed to lead a career-high 149 laps and record a career-best average-finishing result of 20.8.

Preece commenced his second Cup campaign with SHR in 2024 by finishing 23rd during the 66th running of the Daytona 500 and finishing no higher than 14th during the first seven events on the schedule before he racked up his first top-10 result of the season by finishing ninth at Martinsville. Then after finishing in the top 20 five times over his next 10 starts, he claimed a season-best fourth-place finish at Nashville in late June amid five overtime attempts. After missing the Playoffs for a fifth time, Preece would record three top-10 results over the remaining 10-scheduled events before he settled in 26th place in the final standings. Despite falling short of matching his career-best average-finishing result by one-tenth with 20.9, he accumulated a career-high five top-10 results.

After Stewart-Haas Racing ceased operations at the conclusion of the 2024 season, Preece was announced as a full-time Cup competitor for Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing’s No. 60 Ford Mustang Dark Horse entry for the 2025 season in late November. Despite commencing this season by being involved in a rollover accident in the 67th running of the Daytona 500, the Connecticut native has notched four top-10 results and a third-place finish at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in March. At Talladega in April, Preece was edged by Austin Cindric by 0.022 seconds and denied a first Cup victory. Not long after, Preece was then demoted to 38th place due to his entry having three shims instead of two on the spoiler. Nonetheless, he is currently ranked in 15th place in the 2025 driver’s standings as he also bids for his first Playoff appearance.

Through 199 previous Cup starts, Preece has achieved one pole, five top-five results, 20 top-10 results, 225 laps led and an average-finishing result of 22.7 as he continues his pursuit for his first series’ victory.

Ryan Preece is scheduled to make his 100th Cup Series career start at Charlotte Motor Speedway for the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday, May 25, at 6 p.m. ET on Prime Video.

JR Motorsports — NXS Charlotte Motor Speedway Preview

By
Official Release
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JR Motorsports Xfinity Team Preview
TRACK – Charlotte Motor Speedway (1.5-mile quad-oval)
NXS RACE – BetMGM 300 (200 laps / 300 miles)
TUNE IN – CW, PRN, SiriusXM Channel 90 at 4:30 p.m. (ET)

Carson Kvapil

No. 1 – Bass Pro Shops / Clarience Technologies Chevrolet

Kvapil 2025 NXS Stats

Starts: 12

Wins: 0

Top 5s: 3

Top 10s: 4

Laps Led: 56

Avg. Finish: 15.2

Points: 6th

  • After a two-week break, Carson Kvapil will return for his first race at Charlotte Motor Speedway in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
  • On active 1.5-mile tracks in the NXS, Kvapil has four starts with a best finish of 10th at Homestead-Miami Speedway earlier this season.
  • The 21-year-old rookie and crew chief Andrew Overstreet have one start together at Charlotte in the ARCA Menards Series last season where he led 61 laps and finished in the runner up position.
  • Bass Pro Shops and Clarience Technologies will trade out their colors this weekend for a special patriotic scheme in honor of Memorial Day. This will be the first of two appearances for this scheme, the second being on the streets of Chicago for the Fourth of July.

Carson Kvapil

“I am looking forward to getting back in the car this weekend and running this awesome patriotic scheme. This No. 1 team worked hard over the break to make sure we unload a fast piece on Saturday. We’re going to go out and make sure we’re up front when it counts to get a solid finish for Johnny Morris and everyone at Bass Pro Shops and Clarience Technologies. It would be great to start this next stretch of races on a high note.”

Justin Allgaier

No. 7 Hellmann’s / Defense Commissary Agency Chevrolet

Allgaier 2025 NXS Stats

Starts: 12

Wins: 2

Top 5s: 8

Top 10s: 8

Laps Led: 434

Avg. Finish: 10.4

Points: 1st

  • Justin Allgaier has previously gone to Victory Lane in the NXS at Charlotte, taking the checkered flag in this event in 2023 after starting from the pole and leading for a race-high 83 laps en route to the win.
  • Overall, in 22 career NXS starts at Charlotte, Allgaier has earned six top fives and 12 top 10s to accompany the 2023 victory.
  • Allgaier enters this weekend on the strength of two wins in the previous three 1.5-mile races in the NXS, scoring the victories in consecutive weeks at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and Homestead in March.
  • This Memorial Day weekend, Allgaier will be carrying the logos of the Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) and the Adopt-a-Soldier Platoon on board his red, white and blue patriotic No. 7 Hellmann’s Chevrolet.

Justin Allgaier

“Charlotte has been a really strong track for us these past few years and I feel extremely confident heading into this weekend with our Hellmann’s / DeCA Chevrolet. We’ve had a lot of speed all season long on these mile-and-a-half tracks and I know that we are going to unload that way again on Saturday. This weekend also carries extra meaning with it being Memorial Day weekend. It’s such a special weekend and I’m honored to have the red, white and blue colors on our car. Hopefully we can have a great day and be in the hunt for the win on Saturday.”

Sammy Smith

No. 8 Pilot Chevrolet

Smith 2025 NXS Stats

Starts: 12

Wins: 1

Top 5s: 3

Top 10s: 5

Laps Led: 35

Avg. Finish: 13.4

Points: 9th

  • Sammy Smith has finished in the top-10 in both of his career starts at Charlotte with the NXS, with a best finish of third coming in this event last year.
  • Smith has 39 starts on tracks measuring 1-2 miles in length throughout his NXS career. Of those, two are wins, with seven finishes inside the top five and 20 inside the top 10.
  • Smith comes into this weekend at Charlotte on the strength of four top 10 finishes in the last six NXS events, including a win at Rockingham Speedway back in April.
  • Crew Chief, Phillip Bell, has a best finish of second at Charlotte, coming in 2024 when he was calling the shots for the No. 9 team.

Sammy Smith

“I’m looking forward to getting back to the track this weekend with my No. 8 Pilot Chevrolet team. JRM has had strong cars at Charlotte in the past and with the last couple of weekends off, we’ve been working hard in the shop to bring home a win for Pilot when we get back to the track on Saturday.”

Connor Zilisch

No. 88 Jarrett Chevrolet

Zilisch 2025 NXS Stats

Starts: 11

Wins: 1

Top 5s: 1

Top 10s: 3

Laps Led: 168

Avg. Finish: 16.8

Points: 12th

  • Connor Zilisch will be making his first Charlotte start in the NXS on Saturday afternoon. Earlier this season at Las Vegas, a track remarkably similar to Charlotte, Zilisch started third and led 28 laps on the way to a ninth-place finish.
  • He has four starts on non-drafting tracks larger than one mile this season. The driver of the Jarrett Chevrolet has two top-10 finishes, highlighted by a sixth-place effort at Darlington Raceway. Zilisch has led 32 laps and has qualified fourth or better in three of those four events.
  • Zilisch enters Charlotte with three pole positions, the most by any NXS driver.
  • Despite sitting out the most recent NXS race at Texas Motor Speedway, Zilisch remains in the thick of the NXS points chase and the battle for the Sunoco Rookie of the Year. He is second in the fight for top rookie honors, trailing leader and teammate Carson Kvapil by 25 points (324-299). Zilisch is 12th in the NXS driver standings, just eight points outside the top-10 entering Saturday’s race at Charlotte.

Connor Zilisch

“Charlotte is my first race in my hometown and a lot of my family will be there this weekend so that’s exciting for sure. It’s going to be special for me to go there and race for the first time in the Xfinity car and to also double-up and race the Cup car. I think the Xfinity race at Charlotte is going to be really good for us considering how well we’ve done on the intermediate track this year. We’ve just got to continue to build on what we’ve learned throughout the season and hopefully have a good run in the Jarrett Chevrolet at my home track.”

JRM Team Updates

JR Motorsports at Charlotte Motor Speedway: JR Motorsports has competed at Charlotte Motor Speedway a combined 84 times in the NXS since 2006. In those starts at the 1.5-mile quad-oval, the organization has recorded two wins, 22 top-fives and 41 top-10s. The average finish is 13.7.

Souvenir Rig: JRM drivers Carson Kvapil, Justin Allgaier and Sammy Smith will be signing autographs at the JR Motorsports / HMS-Byron/Bowman souvenir rig on Saturday, May 24 at 1:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. ET

Cliff Daniels to call 100th Cup event as crew chief at Charlotte

By
Andrew Kim
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Photo by Christian Gardner for SpeedwayMedia.com.

A significant milestone is in the making for Cliff Daniels, the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series championship-winning crew chief who currently works atop the pit box of the No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet team driven by Kyle Larson. By participating in this weekend’s Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Daniels will call his 200th race as a crew chief in NASCAR’s premier series. 

A native of Smithfield, Virginia, Daniels, who grew up competing in legends cars and late models in his home state before he retired from racing and obtained an engineering degree at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 2010, first made his way into the NASCAR community in 2011 by serving as a race engineer for RAB Racing and driver Kenny Wallace. After spending the 2013 and 2014 seasons as a race engineer for Stewart-Haas Racing and three-time Cup Series champion Tony Stewart, Daniels joined Hendrick Motorsports (HMS) and served as a race engineer for the No. 48 Chevrolet team piloted by six-time champion Jimmie Johnson in 2015. Over the next three seasons, Daniels contributed to Johnson winning 13 races and the 2016 championship, which marked Johnson’s record-tying seventh of his career.

After spending the first half of the 2019 NASCAR season transitioning from being HMS’ engineer in the competition systems group before returning as a race engineer for Johnson and the No. 48 team, Daniels was promoted to the role of crew chief for the driver and team, beginning at Watkins Glen International in late July, as he replaced Kevin Meendering. In Daniel’s first Cup event as a crew chief, Johnson finished 19th after he was involved in a late incident with Ryan Blaney. Finishing as high as 16th at Darlington Raceway in September and averaging a finishing result of 24.6 during their first five races together, Johnson and Daniels missed the 2019 Cup Playoffs, which marked Johnson’s first time missing NASCAR’s postseason battle for the championship. The duo went on to achieve four top-10 results during the final 10 Cup races of the season before capping off the 2019 season in 18th place in the final driver’s standings.

Daniels remained as Johnson’s crew chief for the 2020 Cup season, which marked the latter’s 18th and final full-time season in NASCAR competition. Commencing the season with a 35th-place result in the 62nd running of the Daytona 500, Daniels and Johnson earned four top-five results and nine top-10 results in 25 of the 26-race regular-season stretch. At Indianapolis Motor Speedway in July, Johnson, who had tested positive for COVID-19, was replaced by Xfinity Series veteran Justin Allgaier, who finished 37th following an early multi-car incident on pit road. When the regular-season stretch concluded at Daytona in August, Daniels and Johnson missed the Playoff cutline for a second consecutive season. Both proceeded to conclude the 2020 Cup season in fifth place in the season-finale event at Phoenix Raceway in November and in 18th place in the final standings for a second consecutive season before Johnson retired.

In 2021, Daniels, who remained at HMS, was named crew chief for the No. 5 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE team piloted by Kyle Larson, who returned to full-time NASCAR competition following a one-year suspension. Four races into the 2021 season, Daniels achieved his first NASCAR career win as a crew chief when Larson scored a dominant and redemptive victory at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in March. Eleven races and four runner-up results later, the duo of Daniels and Larson recorded their second victory together in the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May, a victory that made HMS the all-time winningest team at 269. The hot summer streak for Daniels, Larson and the No. 5 HMS team continued as they won at Sonoma Raceway, the All-Star Race at Texas Motor Speedway and the inaugural Cup event at Nashville Superspeedway, all of which occurred in June. Another six races later, a fifth victory was generated at Watkins Glen in August. By virtue of achieving five victories, 14 top-five results and 18 top-10 results throughout the 26-race regular-season stretch, Daniels and Larson captured the 2021 NASCAR Cup Series Regular Season Championship. 

Entering the 2021 Cup Playoffs as a championship favorite, Daniels and Larson commenced the postseason with a runner-up result in the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway in September. Two races later, the duo picked up their seventh victory of the season at Bristol Motor Speedway under the lights in September. Advancing from the Round of 16 to the Round of 12, the No. 5 HMS Chevrolet team advanced to the Round of 8 after winning the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course in October. During the following two weekends, Daniels and Larson kept the postseason momentum continuing and earned a one-way ticket to the Championship Round at Phoenix Raceway in November after winning both at Texas and at Kansas Speedway in the Round of 8. During the finale at Phoenix, Daniels and Larson captured their first championship in the NASCAR Cup Series division after Larson, who dominated and received a fast service from the No. 5 pit crew to exit pit road ahead of his title rivals under the final 30 laps, fended off former champion Martin Truex Jr. to win the finale for a season-high 10th victory. As a result, Larson delivered the 14th Cup title for Hendrick Motorsports and Daniels became the first crew chief to achieve a first race victory and championship in the same season since Joe Gibbs Racing’s Adam Stevens achieved the previous feat in 2015. Overall, the Virginian also navigated Larson to career-high stats in top fives (20), top 10s (26), laps led (2,581) and average-finishing result (9.1).

Returning in 2022 as the reigning champion, Daniels navigated Larson and the No. 5 team to an early season victory at Auto Club Speedway in late February. The race victory occurred a week after Larson had started on pole position for the 64th running of the Daytona 500. Despite being absent for four races between June and July due to a wheel loss stemming from Sonoma in June, Daniels navigated Larson to a second regular-season victory of the year at Watkins Glen before the Playoffs commenced. Despite transferring from the Round of 16 to 12 amid three consecutive top-12 results, the duo’s hopes of defending the championship evaporated following the Round of 12 as they finished ninth, 18th and 35th, respectively, throughout the round, which kept them out of title contention by two points. Nonetheless, Daniels and Larson managed to claim a third victory of the season at Homestead-Miami Speedway in October before settling in seventh place in the final standings. By then, Daniels surpassed 100 events as a Cup Series crew chief.

The early stages of the 2023 Cup season generated a challenging phase for Daniels, who was suspended for four races between late March to early April as part of HMS being hit with a severe points and fine penalty due to the hood louvers being confiscated from all four entries during the Phoenix Raceway weekend at March. Amid the penalties, Larson achieved his first victory of the season with interim crew chief Kevin Meendering at Richmond in early April. Two races later, Daniels returned atop the No. 5 pit box as Larson drove his way to a second victory of the season at Martinsville Speedway. Once the Playoffs commenced in September, the duo kickstarted their quest for a second title by winning the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway and delivering the 500th victory for HMS’ engine department. After transferring from the Round of 16 with the Darlington victory and through the Round of 12 based on points, Daniels and Larson solidified their ticket to the Championship 4 by winning the Round of 8 opener at Las Vegas in October. Ultimately, the duo settled in the runner-up spot in the final championship standings after being outdueled by Team Penske’s Ryan Blaney.

In 2024, which marked Daniels’ fourth consecutive season as a crew chief for both Larson and the No. 5 team, the Virginia navigated his driver and team to an early season victory at Las Vegas in March. Nine races later, Daniels and Larson captured a thrilling win at Kansas Speedway as Larson edged Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing’s Chris Buescher by 0.001 seconds, which marks the closest-recorded finish in NASCAR’s premier series. Despite Larson being absent from competing in the rain-shortened Coca-Cola 600 due to both weather and travel conflicts as a result of an attempted ‘Double Duty’ attempt that included the Indianapolis 500, which resulted with Justin Allgaier piloting Larson’s Cup entry at Charlotte, he rallied two races later by winning at Sonoma in June. Daniels would also navigate Larson to his first Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway victory in July, which marked the Virginian’s 20th career victory as a Cup crew chief. With a berth to the Playoffs, Daniels and Larson transferred from the Round of 16 to 8 after notching postseason victories at Bristol in September and at the Charlotte Roval in October. Their title hopes came to a late end following the Round of 8 and they would proceed to settle in sixth place in the final standings.

Through 199 previous Cup appearances, Daniels has achieved one championship, 25 victories, 13 poles, 73 top-five results and 101 top-10 results while working with a total of three different competitors overall (Justin Allgaier, Jimmie Johnson and Kyle Larson). Currently, Daniels and Larson lead the 2025 driver’s standings as the duo have notched three victories (Homestead in March, Bristol in April and Kansas in May) and nine top-10 results through the first 12-scheduled events.

Cliff Daniels is scheduled to call his 100th event as a NASCAR Cup Series crew chief at Charlotte Motor Speedway for the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday, May 25, with the event’s broadcast time to commence at 6 p.m. ET on Prime Video.

Ty Majeski to make 100th Truck career start at Charlotte

By
Andrew Kim
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Photo by John Knittel for SpeedwayMedia.com.

In his season as the defending NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series champion, Ty Majeski is scheduled to achieve a milestone start. By competing in this weekend’s event at Charlotte Motor Speedway, the driver of the No. 98 ThorSport Racing Ford F-150 entry will make his 100th career start in the Truck Series division.

A native of Seymour, Wisconsin, Majeski, a four-time champion in the ARCA Midwest Tour region, made his inaugural presence in the Truck Series division at Phoenix Raceway in November 2019. By then, he had made a total of 15 starts in the Xfinity Series for Roush Fenway Racing between the 2017-18 seasons and had racked up his first three career victories for Chad Bryant Racing in the ARCA Menards Series throughout the 2019 campaign. Starting in fifth place while driving the No. 44 Niece Motorsports Chevrolet Silverado entry for his Truck Series debut at Phoenix, Majeski settled in 11th place.

The following season, Majeski remained at Niece Motorsports for a full-time Truck campaign in the organization’s No. 45 Chevrolet Silverado entry. Starting in 17th place, the Wisconsin native’s season commenced on a wild note after contact between Todd Gilliland, Tate Fogleman and Austin Wayne Self resulted with the latter clipping Majeski as Majeski spun sideways and rolled over on his roof through the frontstretch on Lap 15. In the process, Majeski’s upside-down truck was hit by Fogleman before it slid down the apron in a shower of sparks and came to a rest on its roof in Turn 1. Amid the wild ride, Majeski, who ended up in 32nd place, dead last, emerged uninjured.

Over his next 14 starts throughout the 2020 Truck season, Majeski recorded a total of three top-10 results and a season-best eighth-place run at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May. Then beginning at Richmond Raceway in late September, he was replaced by Trevor Bayne and Travis Pastrana for the remainder of the season. Majeski would return for four Truck events for ThorSport Racing throughout the 2021 season, where he recorded two top-10 results and a season-best seventh-place finish at Charlotte.

The following season, Majeski, who was coming off his fifth ARCA Midwest Tour championship, returned as a full-time Truck Series competitor as he drove the No. 66 ThorSport Racing Toyota Tundra TRD Pro entry while being paired with championship-winning crew chief Joe Shear Jr. He commenced the season by winning the pole position for the season-opening event at Daytona International Speedway and finishing in seventh place during the main event. Throughout the 16-race regular-season stretch, Majeski recorded a total of seven top-five results and 10 top-10 results, which was enough for him to make the 2022 Truck Series Playoffs.

Then after transferring from the Playoff’s Round of 10 to 8 on the strengths of three consecutive top-eight finishes, Majeski achieved a breakthrough moment in his career by scoring his first Truck Series career victory in the Round of 8 opener at Bristol Motor Speedway in September, where he led the final 45 of 200-scheduled laps. With the victory, he automatically secured a spot to the Championship 4 round. Despite finishing 23rd during the following series’ event at Talladega Superspeedway, Majeski doubled down with his second career win in the Round of 8 finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway in October. During the finale at Phoenix Raceway, Majeski was in contention for his first championship until he made contact with title contender Zane Smith with four laps remaining and spun in the backstretch. Salvaging a 20th-place result on the track, Majeski ended up in fourth place in the final standings. Nonetheless, he capped off his first full-time Truck campaign with career-high stats in top fives (10) and top 10s (15) while also recording a career-best average-finishing result of 10.1.

For the 2023 Truck Series season, Majeski sported the No. 98 alongside his ThorSport Racing entry as the organization swapped manufacturers from Toyota to Ford. He commenced the season by finishing sixth in the rain-shortened opener at Daytona before he racked up three runner-up results, a total of seven top-five results and 11 top-10 results throughout the 16-race regular-season stretch. Making his second consecutive appearance in the Playoffs, Majeski commenced his bid for the title on a high note by winning the Playoff opener at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park in August, where he led all but 21 of 200-schedued laps. Despite transferring from the Playoff’s Round of 10 to 8 with the Indianapolis victory, Majeski fell short of returning to the Championship 4 round after generating respective finishes of 19th, 21st and ninth throughout the Round of 8. Capping off the season with a 14th-place run in the finale at Phoenix, he settled in eighth place in the final standings. Despite recording two less top-five results and one less top-10 result compared to the 2022 season, Majeski led 484 laps throughout the 2023 season compared to 306 in 2022.

This past season, Majeski started on pole position for the season-opening event at Daytona for a second time. Despite finishing in 15th place to commence the season, he recorded two runner-up results, five top-five results and eight top-10 results through 14 regular-season events. He then capped off the regular-season stretch with back-to-back victories at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park and at Richmond Raceway between July and August. Majeski proceeded to transfer all the way from the Playoff’s Round of 10 to the Championship 4 round on the strengths of two runner-up results and finishing no lower than 15th throughout the Playoffs. Then during the season-finale event at Phoenix, the Wisconsin native led all but 18 of 150-scheduled laps and won the event from pole position, which was enough for him to claim his first Truck Series championship by finishing ahead of title contenders Corey Heim, Christian Eckes and Grant Enfinger. As a result, Majeski became the 21st competitor overall to win a Truck Series championship and he delivered the both the sixth series’ title for ThorSport Racing and the second for crew chief Joe Shear Jr.

Through 99 previous starts in the Truck Series, Majeski has achieved one championship, six victories, 11 poles, 30 top-five results, 53 top-10 results, 1,416 laps led and an average-finishing result of 12.4. He is currently ranked in sixth place in the 2025 driver’s standings and has finished in the top 10 in half of the 10-scheduled events this season while he continues his pursuit to defend his title.

Ty Majeski is scheduled to make his 100th Craftsman Truck Series career start at Charlotte Motor Speedway for the North Carolina Education Lottery 200. The event is scheduled to occur this upcoming Friday, May 23, and air at 8:30 p.m. ET on FS1.

Kyle Busch to make 16th Truck start at Charlotte

By
Andrew Kim
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Photo by John Knittel for SpeedwayMedia.com.

Kyle Busch will make his third of five NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series starts of the 2025 season this upcoming weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Busch, a two-time Cup Series champion from Las Vegas, Nevada, will return to assume the steering wheel of the No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado RST entry for Spire Motorsports. In doing so, he will attempt to spoil the Truck Series’ night of competition from a bevy of series regulars by notching a record-setting ninth victory in NASCAR’s backyard.

As Busch enters Charlotte to compete for the victory this upcoming Friday, May 23, he will do so with a unique milestone start up for grabs. By competing at Charlotte, he will make his 16th Truck start at the 1.5-mile racetrack in Concord, North Carolina.

Busch made his first Truck Series start at Charlotte in May 2005. By then, he was campaigning in his first full-time season in the Cup division for Hendrick Motorsports and in part-time stints between the Xfinity and Truck Series divisions for Hendrick and Billy Ballew Motorsports, respectively. Driving the No. 15 Chevrolet Silverado for Billy Ballew Motorsports, Busch, who started in third place, led a race-high 77 of 136 laps and held off Terry Cook and Ted Musgrave during a two-lap shootout to win both for the first time at Charlotte and his first time ever in the series. Busch’s first Truck career victory, which occurred in his eighth series start, made him the youngest-ever winner in the series at age 20 years and 18 days, a record he held through September 2012, but he currently holds at Charlotte.

The following season, Busch notched his second consecutive Truck victory at Charlotte in an event where he rallied from starting 20th to lead a race-high 96 of 134 laps and outdueled Terry Cook by more than three seconds to also record his fourth series’ victory. Over his next three consecutive starts at Charlotte (2007-09), Busch would notch respective finishes of 11th, eighth and second while also leading 86 laps, which occurred in 2008. Mired within the on-track results, he started on the pole twice during the 2008 and 2009 seasons as he achieved his feats with Billy Ballew Motorsports.

Beginning in 2010, Busch, who was competing for Joe Gibbs Racing in the Cup Series, competed on a part-time Truck basis for his newly formed organization, Kyle Busch Motorsports. During his organization’s first NASCAR national touring series visit to Charlotte, Busch steered his No. 18 Toyota Tundra entry to his 18th career victory in an event where he led a race-high 69 of 134 laps and won from pole position after he outdueled Todd Bodine during a two-lap shootout. The Charlotte victory marked Busch’s second of eight wins he earned through 16 Truck starts in 2010 as he would claim his first owner’s championship.

Busch’s 2010 Truck victory at Charlotte would be the first of a four-race winning streak for the Las Vegas native in Concord. In 2011, he doubled down with his fourth Truck victory at Charlotte and his 28th series’ victory after rallying from an early spin to overtake Clint Bowyer with seven laps remaining and outdueling the latter to win. After not competing in the event in 2012, Busch returned in 2013, where he led a race-high 80 of 134 laps and outdueled the field during an eight-lap shootout to win at Charlotte for a fifth time. The following season, he posted a sixth victory at Charlotte and his 38th series’ victory after he led all but four of 134 laps and won from pole position. During Busch’s latter two race-winning seasons at Charlotte in 2013 and 2014, he notched a combined 12 series’ victories and claimed the owner’s championship.

Busch’s next Truck start at Charlotte occurred in 2016, where he led 20 laps and finished in the runner-up spot behind Matt Crafton. He rallied in 2017 by winning for a seventh time at the track in an event where he led a race-high 90 of 134 laps and swept all three of the event’s stage periods, including the final one that routed him to the victory. Busch would settle in the runner-up spot behind Johnny Sauter in 2018, but achieve his eighth Charlotte victory in 2019 in an event where he led all but 32 of 134 laps and fended off late challenges from Ben Rhodes and Brennan Poole during a three-lap shootout. By then, Busch tallied his series’ win total to 56 and he claimed his seventh owner’s title in 2019.

For the 2020 Truck event at Charlotte, Busch led 25 of 134 laps, but was beaten by Cup Series competitor Chase Elliott by six-tenths of a second. As a result, the latter notched a $100,000 bounty, which was set up by Cup Series champion Kevin Harvick and Camping World/Gander CEO Marcus Lemonis for any full-time Cup competitor who could beat Busch in a Truck event. Two years later, Busch notched a third-place result in his recent series’ start at Charlotte in May 2022.

Through 15 previous Truck starts at Charlotte, Busch has recorded eight victories, 12 top-five results, 14 top-10 results, 789 laps led and an average-finishing result of 2.8. With eight victories, Busch holds the most victories in the Truck division at Charlotte as he strives to extend his winning mark to nine in 2025. To date, Busch remains the winningest competitor in the Truck Series division with 67 victories through 177 starts.

Busch, a full-time Cup Series competitor for Richard Childress Racing, has currently made two of five-scheduled Truck starts with Spire Motorsports. He commenced his part-time series’ campaign at Atlanta Motor Speedway in late February, where he edged Stewart Friesen by 0.017 seconds to win for the 67th time in his career while driving Spire’s No. 7 Chevrolet entry. He is coming off a ninth-place finish at North Wilkesboro Speedway, where he piloted Spire’s newly formed No. 07 entry.

After Charlotte, Busch’s next Truck start of the 2025 season is scheduled to occur next Friday, May 30, at Nashville Superspeedway before he will make his fifth and final series’ scheduled start of this year at Watkins Glen International on August 8. For Busch’s latter two Truck starts, he will be piloting the No. 07 entry.

Kyle Busch’s third start of the 2025 Craftsman Truck Series season is scheduled to occur this upcoming Friday, May 23, at Charlotte Motor Speedway for the North Carolina Education Lottery 200. The event’s broadcast time is scheduled to commence at 8:30 p.m. ET on FS1.

NASCAR Announces NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2026, Landmark Award

By
Official Release
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2026 NASCAT Hall of Fame Inductees

Busch, Gant, Hendrick Voted Into Hall’s 16th Class

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (May 20, 2025) – NASCAR announced today the inductees who will comprise the NASCAR Hall of Fame Class of 2026. The three-person group – the 16th since the inception of the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2010 – consists of Kurt Busch, Harry Gant and Ray Hendrick. In addition, Humpy Wheeler was named the recipient of the Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR.

Members of the NASCAR Hall of Fame Voting Panel met today in an in-person closed session at the Charlotte Convention Center to debate and vote upon the 15 nominees for the induction class of 2026 and the five nominees for the Landmark Award.

The Class of 2026 was determined by votes cast by the Voting Panel, including representatives from NASCAR, the NASCAR Hall of Fame, track owners from major facilities and historic short tracks, media members, manufacturer representatives, competitors (drivers, owners, crew chiefs), recognized industry leaders, a nationwide fan vote conducted through NASCAR.com and the reigning NASCAR Cup Series champion (Joey Logano). In all, 49 votes were cast. The accounting firm of EY presided over the tabulation of the votes.

Voting

Busch and Gant both received 61% of the Modern Era ballot votes. Jeff Burton finished third, followed by Harry Hyde and Randy Dorton. Ray Hendrick received 31% of the Pioneer ballot votes. Bob Welborn finished second.

Results for the NASCAR.com Fan Vote were: Ray Hendrick (Pioneer); Kurt Busch and Harry Gant (Modern Era).

The two Modern Era inductees came from a group of 10 nominees that included: Greg Biffle, Neil Bonnett, Tim Brewer, Jeff Burton, Kurt Busch, Randy Dorton, Harry Gant, Harry Hyde, Randy LaJoie and Jack Sprague.

Nominees for the Pioneer Ballot included: Jake Elder, Ray Hendrick, Banjo Matthews, Larry Phillips and Ralph Moody.

Nominees for the Landmark Award included Alvin Hawkins, Lesa France Kennedy, Dr. Joseph Mattioli, Les Richter and Humpy Wheeler.

Ten nominees appeared on the Modern Era ballot, which was selected by the traditional Nominating Committee. The same committee selected the five Landmark Award nominees. The Pioneer ballot, which included five nominees whose careers began in 1966 or earlier, was selected by the Honors Committee.

The Class of 2026 Induction Ceremony is set for Friday, Jan. 23, 2026 at the NASCAR Hall of Fame and Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. Tickets for the Induction Ceremony will be available later this month on nascarhall.com.

Class of 2026 Inductees:

Kurt Busch

Kurt Busch’s journey to NASCAR stardom began in 2000 with a Truck Series rookie season that foreshadowed greatness. With four wins and a championship runner-up finish, Busch signaled to fans and competitors alike that he would soon be a force at the top level of the sport. By 2002, Busch was already making waves in the NASCAR Cup Series.

His first win came at the famed Bristol Motor Speedway, he finished third in points, and from there, his career soared to new heights. Busch’s big breakthrough came in 2004, when he captured the NASCAR Cup Series Championship, becoming the first driver to win the title under NASCAR’s ‘playoff’ system – a feat that proved both his excellence and adaptability. Busch earned 34 Cup Series wins in 776 starts, including a thrilling victory in the 2017 Daytona 500.

Harry Gant

Harry Gant was a man with many nicknames: “Handsome Harry” for his good looks, the “Bandit” due his long-time sponsor Skoal Bandit, “Mr. September” after his four consecutive premier series and two Xfinity series wins in September of 1991 and “High Groove Harry” because of his proficiency in taking the high line through the corner. Gant won 18 premier series races, including the Southern 500 in 1984 and 1991. The North Carolinian also registered 21 wins in the Xfinity Series. In the five seasons from 1981 through 1985, Gant finished in the top five in points four times, including a runner-up championship finish to Terry Labonte in 1984.

Ray Hendrick

The original “Mr. Modified,” Ray Hendrick is one of the winningest drivers of all time, amassing more than 700 modified and late model sportsman wins between 1950-88. Hendrick’s success started in his home state of Virginia, where his famous No. 11 was known to all. He won five track championships at South Boston Speedway – four modified and one late model sportsman. Despite never winning a Modified Division championship, Hendrick finished in the top 10 in the standings nine times from 1960-69. Hendrick was named one of NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers and one of NASCAR Modified’s All-Time Top 10 Drivers.

Landmark Award for Outstanding Contributions to NASCAR:

Humpy Wheeler

Humpy Wheeler’s name is synonymous with promotion and innovation. Best known for his 33-year tenure as President and General Manager of Charlotte Motor Speedway, Wheeler played a pivotal role in transforming the venue into a world-class facility that attracted a wide range of fans and corporate sponsors. Most notably, Wheeler spearheaded the construction of the iconic Turn 4 grandstands and introduced the “NASCAR Experience,” which brought fans even closer to the action. Adding a new dynamic to the sport, Wheeler’s visionary leadership and creativity helped shape today’s fan experience with the introduction of dramatic pre-race ceremonies and the development of night racing at superspeedways.

Bass Pro Shops, Winchester Ammunition and Richard Childress Racing Team Up to Honor Fallen Service Members This Memorial Day Weekend

By
Official Release
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Austin Dillon to Race a Patriotic-Themed No. 3 Bass Pro Shops/Winchester Chevrolet in the Coca-Cola 600

Army Staff Sargent Sean Gregory Landrus
Sean Gregory Landrus

WELCOME, North Carolina (Tuesday, May 20, 2025) – Richard Childress Racing, Bass Pro Shops and Winchester Ammunition are partnering together to honor and remember our nation’s fallen heroes by running a special patriotic-themed No. 3 Bass Pro Shops/Winchester Ammunition Chevrolet in this year’s Coca-Cola 600. Austin Dillon, the 2017 Coca-Cola 600 race winner, will pilot the car during the NASCAR Cup Series’ longest and most patriotic race of the season, held annually over Memorial Day weekend.

“The Coca-Cola 600 remains one of the most patriotic events in all of sports and I couldn’t think of a better way to honor our fallen service members then by partnering with two great American companies in Bass Pro Shops and Winchester Ammunition,” said Richard Childress, Chairman and CEO of Richard Childress Racing. “Richard Childress Racing is proud to join Bass Pro Shops and Winchester Ammunition in honoring Army Staff Sargent Sean Gregory Landrus, and all of our Nation’s true heroes at this year’s race.”

As part of NASCAR’s Honor and Remember program, Dillon’s name on the windshield header of the No. 3 Chevrolet will be replaced by the name of fallen Army Staff Sargent Sean Gregory Landrus, a native of Thompson, Ohio. Landrus died Jan 29, 2004 from injuries he suffered when a roadside bomb exploded and hit the convoy he was in near Khalidiyah, Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Landrus’ name was selected for the program by his niece, Jessica Pinkston, a team lead and outfitter at Bass Pro Shops’ Memphis Pyramid location.

“NASCAR’s Honor and Remember program is truly one of the most impactful and special things we do as a sport,” said Dillon. “It’s been eye-opening to meet the families of our country’s heroes over the years, and it definitely gives me extra motivation to perform well in the car. I am thankful to Bass Pro Shops and Winchester for all they do to help recognize our military on a daily basis, not just on Memorial Day.”

Featuring the red, white and blue colors of our Nation’s flags, Dillon’s Coca-Cola 600 livery is designed to help showcase key patriotic initiatives of both Bass Pro Shops and Winchester, including Bass Pro Shops’ 10 percent off military discount, which is offered to both active-duty service members and veterans both in store and online.

The car was unveiled during the Helping A Hero Salute to America Patriot Awards Dinner on Tuesday evening at Childress Vineyards in Lexington, North Carolina. Helpingahero.org is a 501(c)(3) that awards adapted homes to catastrophically wounded heroes injured in the Global War on Terror. To-date, more than 50 heroes in 18 states have been awarded homes as part of the 100 home challenge, an initiative launched by Morris. Morris is funding 25% of the cost for 100 homes.

“We can never do enough to thank our Veterans, active-duty military and those who paid the ultimate price for our freedom” said Johnny Morris, Bass Pro Shops founder and lead outfitter. “It’s our duty to honor and remember our nation’s fallen heroes and I am proud to stand alongside Richard Childress and Winchester Ammunition this Memorial Day weekend.”

Winchester is the largest manufacturer of small caliber ammunition for the U.S. military. Proven in battle for more than 100 years, Winchester has delivered trusted ammunition products for civilians, law enforcement and military.

“Winchester’s support of the U.S. military runs deep but it’s truly amazing to join RCR and Bass Pro Shops in honoring our country’s fallen this Memorial Day Weekend with such a unique and special paint scheme,” said Brett Flaugher, president of Winchester Ammunition. “We’re looking forward to watching Austin Dillon compete in the Coca-Cola 600.”

The Coca-Cola 600 airs live on Amazon Prime on Sunday, May 25 beginning at 6 p.m. Eastern.

About Richard Childress Racing:

Richard Childress Racing (www.rcrracing.com) is a renowned, performance-driven racing, marketing and manufacturing organization. Incorporated in 1969, RCR has celebrated over 50 years of racing and earned more than 200 victories and 16 championships, including six in the NASCAR Cup Series with the legendary Dale Earnhardt. RCR was the first organization to win championships in the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Truck Series and is a three-time winner of the Daytona 500 (1998, 2007, 2018). Its 2025 NASCAR Cup Series lineup includes two-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Kyle Busch (No. 8 Chevrolet) and 2017 Coca-Cola 600 winner and 2018 Daytona 500 champion Austin Dillon (No. 3 Chevrolet). RCR fields a full-time NASCAR Xfinity Series program with Jesse Love (No. 2 Chevrolet) and Austin Hill (No. 21 Chevrolet).

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