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IndyCar penalizes two Team Penske entries for modified attenuators prior to Indy 500

By
Andrew Kim
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Photo by James Black (Penske Entertainment).

Team Penske have been levied a pair of penalties for two of its three-car entries in the NTT IndyCar Series ahead of next weekend’s 109th running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The Nos. 2 and 12 Dallara-Chevrolet entries piloted by Will Power and Josef Newgarden, respectively, were found to have violated Rule 14.7.8.16 from the IndyCar rule book. The rule pertains to the discovery of modified attenuators.

The issue between both entries were first made prior to the Top 12 qualification session on Sunday, May 18, when both entries withdrew from qualifying. According to Tim Cindric, Team Penske’s president, Power’s entry passed the pre-qualifying technical inspection procedure, but Newgarden’s No. 2 entry had inquiries. Due to both entries looking physically identical, the Penske organization opted to withdraw both from qualifying due to issues that involved the body fit on the rear attenuator.

Amid protests from their rivaled organizations and competitors to have the entries disqualified from competing, Penske’s Nos. 2 and 12 entries were initially slated to start 11th and 12th, respectively, due to both making the Top 12 qualifying session. At the conclusion of the qualifying sessions, however, IndyCar took the time to further review the violations from the entries before the penalties were announced on Monday, May 19.

As a result of the penalties for the violations, Newgarden’s No. 2 team and Power’s No. 12 team will both start this year’s Indy 500 at the rear of the field in 32nd and 33rd, respectively. In addition, the team strategists for both teams were suspended for the remainder of the event and each entry were fined $100,000 and had their qualification points revoked.

Penske’s third entry, the No. 3 Dallara-Chevrolet entry piloted by Scott McLaughlin, was not penalized. McLaughlin, the reigning Indy 500 pole winner who had also transferred to the Top 12 session, withdrew from qualifying due to being involved in an airborne accident in Turn 2 while practicing prior to qualifying. As a result, he is slated to start in 10th place for this year’s Indy 500.

Following the release of the penalty report, J. Douglas Boles, President of IndyCar and Indianapolis Motor Speedway, issued the following statement:

“The integrity of the Indianapolis 500 is paramount, and this violation of the INDYCAR rule against modification to this part and using it ‘as supplied’ is clear. The penalty should be more than simply starting where the cars might have qualified anyway, if given the opportunity. The cars belong in the field as two of the fastest 33; however, starting on the tail of the field is the appropriate penalty in this instance.”

“The positive momentum around the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and the Indianapolis 500 has been on a steep crescendo over the last several months, and we want it to be clear that our intent is to maintain that momentum and discourage teams from putting INDYCAR in positions where it calls into the integrity of our officiating and the levelness of the playing field. As we look to the remainder of the week and the race this weekend, we will do everything we can to make it clear that this is not only the best racing on the planet but racing where the best win under completely fair conditions.”

Meanwhile, Team Penske, the reigning 20-time Indy 500 race-winning organization, have not commented or released any statement involving the penalties of its two entries.

This year, Power is striving to become the 22nd competitor to win multiple Indy 500s after he won his first in 2018. Newgarden is striving to become the first-ever competitor to win the Indy 500 for a third consecutive season after he won the previous two.

Photo by Paul Hurley (Penske Entertainment).

The 2025 Indianapolis 500, which is set to mark the 109th running of the Greatest Spectacle in Racing at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, is scheduled to occur next Sunday, May 25. The event’s pre-race coverage is slated to air at 10 a.m. ET on FOX and the drop of the green flag is slated to occur at 12:45 p.m. ET.

Connor Zilisch returning to NASCAR competition at Charlotte

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

nnor Zilisch

Connor Zilisch took to social media to reveal that he will return to NASCAR competition this upcoming weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

The news comes after Zilisch, an 18-year-old Xfinity Series’ Rookie-of-the-Year candidate from Charlotte, North Carolina, was absent from the latest event at Texas Motor Speedway due to recovering from a lower back injury that he sustained following a last-lap accident at Talladega Superspeedway the event prior to Texas.

In his absence, Kyle Larson, the 2021 Cup Series champion from Elk Grove, California, piloted Zilisch’s No. 88 JR Motorsports Chevrolet entry to Victory Lane at Texas.

Through 11-scheduled starts in the 2025 Xfinity season, Zilisch notched his first victory of the year from pole position at Circuit of the Americas in early March. He had also racked up two additional poles and a total of three top-10 results. Despite being ranked in 12th place in the driver’s standings, he is currently guaranteed a spot into the Playoffs based on his Circuit of the Americas win and after receiving a Playoff waiver from his absence.

“I’m back,” Zilisch posted in a statement on X. “My back is all healed up and I’m ready for a big weekend at Charlotte. I’m pumped to make my second Cup start with Trackhouse and get back in the Xfinity car with JR Motorsports. Big thanks to everyone who helped me get back so soon!”

This upcoming weekend at Charlotte is also set to mark a big one for Zilisch. In addition to competing in the Xfinity event on Saturday, May 24, he will be making his second career Cup Series start on Sunday, May 25, for the prestigious Coca-Cola 600. For the latter event, he will be returning to pilot the No. 87 Red Bull Chevrolet entry for Trackhouse Racing.

Zilisch made his Cup debut with Trackhouse at Circuit of the Americas in early March. During his debut, he rallied from sustaining a flat right-front tire due to on-track contact on the opening lap to carve his way up towards the top-15 mark. During the start of the final stage period, however, he was involved in a vicious accident with teammate Daniel Suarez and finished at the rear of the 37-car field.

The NASCAR Xfinity Series division returns to action this upcoming Saturday, May 24, at Charlotte Motor Speedway for the BetMGM 300 that will occur at 4:30 p.m. ET on the CW Network.

Meanwhile, the Cup Series’ Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte will occur this upcoming Sunday, May 25, and air at 6 p.m. ET on Prime Video.

Boyd Brews Up Carolina Based Sponsor, Canal Coffee Co.

By
Official Release
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Mooresville, NC (May 19, 2025) NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Driver, Spencer Boyd announced today that Canal Coffee Co.™ has joined the team as a primary sponsor for the Memorial Day Weekend race at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Founded in 2023, Canal Coffee Co. is a family-owned, drive-thru coffee shop serving specialty drinks, hot breakfast, baked goods, and lunch.

“The words ‘coffee’ and ‘drive-thru’ are my love language,” laughed an early rising Spencer Boyd. “In our sport with early mornings and late nights, we are honestly fueled by two things, coffee and race fuel. The fact that I can drive through for my morning routine makes the moment I arrive at the shop that much more productive. This sponsorship launches at a great time given Canal Coffee’s commitment to the military and first responder community and the NASCAR Salutes campaign. I’m looking forward to all the fun things we will do together!”

Every day, Canal Coffee proudly offers a 10% discount to all active or retired firefighters, police, EMS, and military personnel at all locations, as a small way to thank them for their service.

Salina Millen, Regional Director for Community Relations commented, “As a small, family-owned business, we’re passionate about giving back to the communities that support us. Through our “Coffee that Cares” initiative, we partner with local schools, first responders, and nonprofit organizations to make a meaningful difference. To have our very own race truck racing on one of NASCAR’s crown jewel weekends is a great way to let people know about us as a company.”

Canal Coffee will be serving from their mobile coffee truck all race weekend long near Bruton Smith Blvd and Sandusky Blvd. Known for its small-batch coffees from artisan roasters, Canal Coffee Co.’s baristas are ready to serve hot or cold specialty drinks – Including Freedom Fuel, the Lotus-based drink created specifically for Spencer’s team and fans.

“We always get excited about this race,” continued Boyd. “It’s the home track for many of us. We honor our military. There is just a lot of buzz around it. As a race track, I love Charlotte Motor Speedway because of the character the surface has and the racing it produces. Our Freedom Racing Enterprises team has assembled a great piece for the No. 76 Canal Coffee Chevrolet Silverado to make it’s debut!”
Catch Spencer Boyd driving the Canal Coffee race truck at the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Race, the North Carolina Education Lottery 200, on Friday, May 23, 2025, at 8:30 PM ET. This exciting race, part of the Coca-Cola 600 weekend, will be broadcast live on FS1.

About Canal Coffee Co.
We are dedicated to supporting local communities by contributing a portion of our sales to causes we believe in. With locations in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Florida, Canal Coffee Co. continues to grow and spread joy.

For more information, visit canalcoffeecompany.com/contact
Follow us on Instagram: @canalcoffeecompany, Facebook: Canal Coffee Company X: @canalcoffeeco

Richard Childress Racing and Boot Barn Announce Partnership Extension

By
Official Release
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Content-Centric Partnership Includes Primary Race Sponsorship of Austin Dillon in Both the NASCAR Xfinity Series and NASCAR Cup Series

WELCOME, N.C. (May 19, 2025) – Boot Barn, the largest western and work wear retailer in the nation, will continue their partnership with Richard Childress Racing and driver Austin Dillon in 2025. Building upon an already successful relationship that includes impactful content creation and primary sponsorship of Dillon and the No. 3 Boot Barn Chevrolet in the NASCAR Cup Series, the brand will also extend their reach into the NASCAR Xfinity Series in 2025.

“Continuing our partnership with Richard Childress Racing and Austin Dillon allows us to further connect with fans who share a passion for the western lifestyle and motorsports,” said Stephen Loscko, vice president of marketing and media for Boot Barn. “From Charlotte to Mexico City, we’re excited to highlight our brand on the track and through influencer-generated content that brings our story to life. Last year’s cross-collaboration creative storytelling with Austin Dillon and Boot Barn-sponsored rodeo athlete Rocker Steiner has been incredibly well received. We’re excited to continue building on that success.”

Dillon, the 2013 NASCAR Xfinity Series champion, will race the No. 3 Boot Barn Chevrolet in the Xfinity Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway over Memorial Day weekend. The race will be broadcast live on The CW at 4:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, May 24.

“I’m honored to have the opportunity to continue RCR’s relationship with Boot Barn and I can’t wait to get back behind the wheel in the NASCAR Xfinity Series at Charlotte Motor Speedway,” said Dillon. “Charlotte has been good to me, and I’m thankful to Boot Barn for allowing me the opportunity to help showcase their brand within motorsports and beyond.”

As part of the partnership, RCR and Boot Barn will work together to host western lifestyle influencers later this summer when Dillon drives the No. 3 Boot Barn Chevrolet in the NASCAR Cup Series’ highly anticipated race in Mexico City, Mexico.

“Austin Dillon’s authentic interests in western sports and the western lifestyle make him the perfect ambassador for Boot Barn as they continue to showcase their broad selection of cowboy boots and western wear to NASCAR fans,” said Mike Verlander, president of RCR. “Our entire team is looking forward to highlighting that connection and building upon the unique and engaging influencer-driven content that has become a pillar of the partnership.”

For more information and all that is going on at RCR, visit rcrracing.com.

About Boot Barn: Boot Barn is the nation’s leading lifestyle retailer of western and work-related footwear, apparel, and accessories for men, women, and children. The Company offers its loyal customer base a wide selection of work and lifestyle brands. Boot Barn now operates more than 460 stores in 49 states, in addition to an e-commerce channel www.bootbarn.com. For more information, call 888-Boot-Barn or visit www.bootbarn.com.

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).

Weather-Ready Driving: Spring Safety Tips Beyond the Basics

By
SM
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Photo by EdZbarzhyvetsky at https://depositphotos.com/

Many people consider spring to be their favorite season. However, don’t allow the beautiful blooms and increased sunshine to fool you. The spring brings its own driving challenges. While behind the wheel, be sure to keep these critical safety tips in mind.

Watch Out for Two-Wheeled Vehicles

When the weather begins to get warmer, there will be more motorcycles and bikes on the road. This means you need to keep your eyes peeled at all times. Because these two-wheeled vehicles are smaller in size, they can easily become hidden in your blind spot. Develop a habit of double-checking your mirrors and using extra caution when making left turns. 

Keep an Eye Out for Pedestrians

Whether you’re cruising through a residential area or maneuvering around a shopping mall parking lot, expect to see a lot more people out during the spring. Always pay attention to your surroundings.

In the blink of an eye, a pedestrian could suddenly cross your path. In fact, pedestrian accidents are on the rise across the country. In 2021, just the state of Oklahoma saw 771 pedestrian accidents resulting in 104 deaths. Dangerous habits, such as texting on your phone and speeding, dramatically increase your chances of hitting someone. If your vehicle is equipped with pedestrian detection, take advantage of this modern safety technology. 

Use Caution During Severe Weather

During the spring season, thunderstorms tend to be a common occurrence. Always take the necessary precautions when caught out in severe weather. To make your vehicle more visible to other motorists, turn on your low-beam headlights. Most importantly, increase the distance between your car and the next vehicle ahead during rainy conditions.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), wet pavement causes 70% of weather-related car accidents. Not only can a heavy downpour cause your vehicle to hydroplane, but it can also decrease visibility. Don’t hesitate to pull over into a safe area until the storm passes. 

Watch Out for Crossing Animals 

Driving at certain times of the day can be a bit more hazardous. Wildlife, such as deer, are often more active during dawn and dust. So, use extra caution while traveling near wooded areas. Remember, even small animals can cause a significant amount of damage to your vehicle. 

Prioritize Vehicle Maintenance

When it comes to vehicle safety, routine maintenance is of the utmost importance. Have your mechanic perform a full vehicle inspection during the spring. From the brakes to the tires, everything needs to be in good condition.

Don’t overlook the performance of your headlights at night. UV-damaged headlights won’t illuminate the road nearly as well. If the sun has caused your headlights to become cloudy, you can either purchase a headlight restoration kit or have them cleaned by a professional. 

Stay Energized on Spring Road Trips

As spring weather can be unpredictable, it’s crucial to stay prepared for sudden changes. One effective way to ensure safety on the road is to hire hourly driver services, which can provide experienced professionals familiar with navigating various weather conditions. This option not only offers peace of mind but also allows you to focus on enjoying the journey without the stress of driving in unfamiliar or challenging environments. Whether you’re planning a long road trip or just need assistance for a few hours, having a skilled driver can make all the difference in maintaining safety and comfort.

The spring is the perfect time to plan a weekend road trip. However, don’t make the mistake of getting behind the wheel while fatigued. Research shows that thousands of drowsy driving-related fatalities are reported every year. When driving a long distance, take several breaks along the way. As soon as you begin to feel dozy, pull over immediately! 

Modern Distracted Driving: Beyond Texting – Apps, Infotainment Systems, and Driver Attention

By
SM
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Photo by believeinme at https://depositphotos.com/

Most people are aware these days that texting while driving is hazardous, and a number of states have banned any use of cell phones at all while behind the wheel. Despite this, distracted driving as a result of technology remains a problem. Cars today come equipped with infotainment systems which, along with apps, can be just as dangerous as texting on a cell phone. Unfortunately, the awareness of these dangers is not as widespread. 

Touch Screens in Cars

In fact, manufacturers argue that these screens are an improvement on the knobs and buttons found on older vehicles in terms of driver distraction. However, in 2022, Swedish journalists tested these claims and found that they took the least amount of time making changes using an older vehicle with knobs and buttons. The amount of time they took to make adjustments on vehicles with screens ranged from around 13 seconds to as much as 45 seconds. While even the latter number may not sound like a lot, this can be nearly a mile of distracted driving. In fact, in a mere three or four seconds, a car can travel the length of a football field. A lot can happen in that span of time. The likelihood of an accident can increase when a driver’s attention leaves the road for just seconds. 

Infotainment

A study by the AAA Foundation found that infotainment systems made demands that led to distractions ranging from moderate to very high, with no infotainment systems falling into the category of low demand. The Swedish study came to similar conclusions. The amount of distracted time was based on such factors as the angle of the screen and the complexity of the system. It’s important to note that screen size did not always reduce distraction time if the angle and complexity were an issue. Furthermore, the types of operations performed were also a factor. Drivers need to be able to easily change the heat and air conditioning in their vehicle or adjust the radio, so these controls should be simple. For more complex actions, such as putting in navigation information, drivers should pull over anyway because this requires too much attention away from the road. 

Then there are distractions that have no place in driving at all. Infotainment systems can offer the opportunity to not just respond to a text but to access social media. Sometimes, a call or text may come through while driving that it’s necessary to respond to, but drivers should stop before doing so. However, there is little justification for acts such as updating social media status while behind the wheel. Drivers should not make the mistake of assuming that because a feature has been included in a car, it is safe to use it. 

Apps, including those that assist drivers in being hands-free by offering voice control, do not eliminate the problem of distraction. These can still lead to inattention and accidents. Of course, larger tech-based distractions, such as playing videos on cell phones, should also be avoided. 

The Dangers of Distracted Driving

Distraction while driving comes in several forms. It can be visual, cognitive or physical. The most dangerous distractions combine all of these, but being distracted in even a single area can be enough to cause a crash. Car crashes can lead to devasting injuries and loss of life. In 2022, just the state of Florida saw nearly 400,000 car accidents, an untold number of which were likely caused by distracted drivers. It is impossible to avoid all distractions, but it’s important for drivers to understand the dangers and limits of technology. The best practice is to avoid using apps and car infotainment systems as much as possible and to find a place to stop safely for more complex tasks. While these tasks can take under a minute, this is more than enough time for a serious accident to happen. 

Logano Finishes Runner-Up in NASCAR All-Star Race

By
Official Release
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Ford Performance Notes and Quotes
NASCAR Cup Series
All-Star Race
Sunday, May 18, 2025

Ford Unofficial Finishing Results:
2nd – Joey Logano
10th – Chris Buescher
13th – Noah Gragson
16th – Ryan Blaney
17th – Josh Berry
18th – Austin Cindric
20th – Harrison Burton
22nd – Brad Keselowski

JOEY LOGANO, No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Ford Mustang Dark Horse – WALK US THROUGH THAT FINAL RUN AND HOW HARD WERE YOU DRIVING? “It’s all you’ve got. I was hoping I could just fight him long enough to where the advantage would go away a little bit, but it just never did. I did as best I can blocking my butt off, but once he got under me just released the brake and gave me no option to either fence it and wreck or run up in the marbles and spin out like what happened to Heim in the Truck race. I get it. We’re racing for a million bucks, but things carry over all the time, but it just stings. I’m upset because we had the best car. We had the best car by a long shot and we didn’t win. I don’t know. A lot of things are running through my mind I probably shouldn’t say.”

DO YOU FEEL LIKE BELL’S MOVE WAS FAIR OR FOUL WHEN YOU’RE RACING FOR A MILLION DOLLARS? “It is what it is. I don’t know. I mean, sure. Sure. He did it good enough that I couldn’t get back to him because I was gonna show him what fair was, but I just couldn’t get there. I just couldn’t get there with the tires. I couldn’t get away fast enough. It took me six or seven laps after that restart to get rolling again and then he passed too many cars there the first couple laps and then he was there. I was doing all I can to play defense until my rear tires would come in and it just took too long, and then he was gone. I couldn’t catch back up. It’s frustrating when you lead that many laps, you had the fastest car and a gimmick caution beats you. It just sucks, but it is what it is. You move on and we’ll be happy that we had the best car the last two times that we’ve been here. I wish we had two wins, though.”

WAS STAYING OUT THE RIGHT CALL? “Obviously not. We got beat.”

ARE YOU SURPRISED THAT WAS THE CALL? “I felt like it was 50/50. We were gonna put two on and then at the last-minute we decided to stay out. I thought six cars was gonna be enough. It was a similar situation to what Brad had in the heat race – 30 or so laps on the tires, he stayed, he was able to manage, but the difference is it’s a heat race to the feature and what are people willing to do in a heat race versus a million dollars for the win at the All-Star Race. That changes the game a little bit and we didn’t fire off as fast as we needed to the first eight laps of that run. We didn’t make the right call. We go down together. We do all this stuff together. We had the best car and we did most everything right. We just made one decision off, so we’ll take second. What does second pay? Not a million, I guess.”

IT SOUNDED LIKE YOU WERE ABOUT TO TELL PAUL YOU DIDN’T KNOW WHAT TO DO? “I didn’t know. I did say I don’t know. Nobody knows. If eight cars stay out, yeah, he probably doesn’t get to us. If he gets held up by a couple cars before that, do we get him? Maybe. The 1 kind of let him go and I think you know what he’s doing. I think he was hoping that he’d get to me and then we’d get all roughed up and he could sneak one by. I mean, it’s the right call, but I needed Ross to do Ross things and he let him go. That didn’t help my situation.”

YOU SAID THAT THINGS CARRY ON WITH BELL, SO HOW DO YOU HANDLE THIS MOVING FORWARD? “I just race him the same way. That’s all it is. I mean, like I said, we’re racing for a million dollars. I get it, but we race each other every week and we’re like elephants, we don’t forget anything.”

BELL SAID THIS WAS THE BEST SHORT TRACK IN NASCAR. DO YOU AGREE? “With a gimmick caution, yeah. Sure.”

HARRISON BURTON, No. 51 Morton Buildings Ford Mustang Dark Horse – “I had a lot of fun. Obviously, it wasn’t the result we wanted, but I kind of felt like we were better than where we finished. We tried some strategy there at the end to try and have a shot there, but tires mattered more than maybe I thought they would. It was just such a fun time to be back in the Cup Series racing against a lot of my friends and seeing a lot of my friends around the garage. I felt like we made the car better and better throughout the weekend. The last caution, obviously it was the promoter’s caution and that probably took some spots for us, but I’m really proud of the effort and thankful for Morton Buildings, Rick Ware Racing, Ford Performance and all that for the opportunity. Hopefully, we’ll do it again some more.”

BRAD KESELOWSKI, No. 6 Solomon Plumbing Ford Mustang Dark Horse – “I was just driving too hard. We were all running up towards the wall and I stepped over the cushion and bounced off the wall and broke the right-front shock it looks like. That ended our day.”

WAS THE TOE LINK BROKEN AS WELL? “Maybe, I don’t know. I thought it was a toe link, but somebody said the shock, so I haven’t really had a chance to know.”

WHAT CAN YOU TAKE OUT OF THESE LAST TWO WEEKS MOVING FORWARD? “We’re connecting things for sure, we just haven’t connected everything and when we do that we’ll be dangerous.”

ALL-STAR OPEN

Ford Finishing Results:

6th – Zane Smith
9th – Cole Custer
11th – Ryan Preece
12th – Todd Gilliland
16th – Cody Ware
17th – Noah Gragson

Noah Gragson, driver of the No. 4 Rural King Ford Mustang Dark Horse for Front Row Motorsports, won the fan vote for the third straight year and will advance to the NASCAR All-Star Race.

NOAH GRAGSON, No. 4 Rural King Ford Mustang Dark Horse – “It means a lot. I’m very grateful to have all of the support from the fans and I feel like we’ve got a pretty good race car. We struggled. I lost power steering in the Open race, so we’re gonna try and get that better for the All-Star Race. It’s such a cool atmosphere here and such a cool experience. I’m very lucky to be able to be a part of it.”

RYAN PREECE, No. 60 Boston Common Golf Ford Mustang Dark Horse –WHAT HAPPENED ON THE RESTART AND RUNNING OVER THE RESTART BOX? “I don’t think it was a restart, I think it’s a cone that’s non-existent. I don’t know. You can’t even see it right now. A rule is a rule. I understand that, but at the end of the day I made the mistake. I’m just frustrated with the decision.”

HOCEVAR WAS GOING TO GIVE YOU THE POINT BECAUSE HE DIDN’T WANT TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH YOU. DOES THAT MAKE IT HURT WORSE? “No. What are you gonna do? There’s nothing you can do. Maybe we need to rethink how we do it if there’s a lot of rubber caked up on it. Ultimately, we had a fast Boston Common Golf Ford Mustang.”

Team Penske NASCAR Cup Series Race Report – North Wilkesboro

By
Official Release
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NASCAR Cup Series All-Star Race – North Wilkesboro Speedway
North Wilkesboro, N.C. – May 18, 2025

AUSTIN CINDRIC No. 2 FREIGHTLINER FORD MUSTANG
START: 16TH FINISH: 18TH
RACE RUNDOWN: Austin Cindric and the No. 2 Freightliner team navigated a challenging night in Sunday’s All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway, coming away with an 18th-place finish in the annual exhibition event. After starting 16th and eventually racing inside the top 10, Cindric was caught up in a multi-car incident with Ross Chastain and Alex Bowman on Lap 113. The Freightliner Ford Mustang sustained right-side damage and headed to the attention of the crew for repairs and service, pitting twice. Despite going multiple laps down, the team stayed the course, eventually returning to the lead lap following a few cautions, closing out the night with an 18th-place run.

CINDRIC’S THOUGHTS: “We spent the first part of the race working on the balance and made some gains to get ourselves in a pretty good spot before that incident took us out of rhythm. The team did a nice job making repairs and getting us back on the lead lap so we could at least finish it out clean.”

RYAN BLANEY No. 12 MENARDS/WRANGLER FORD MUSTANG
START: 7TH FINISH: 16TH
RACE RUNDOWN: Ryan Blaney was in contention for his second-career All-Star Race win Sunday night at North Wilkesboro Speedway, but a late-race restart did not fall the No. 12 team’s way as the Menards/Wrangler Ford Mustang settled for a 16th-place finish. Blaney worked his way into the top-five by the time of the competition caution on lap 102 and maintained that pace throughout the latter stages of the 250-lap event, reaching third on the leaderboard at the time of the caution on lap 175. Following the promoter’s caution with 34 laps remaining, the No. 12 team opted to stay out to take the ensuing restart from the inside of row one with 28 laps to go. On the second lap following the restart, contact with the No. 1 out of turn four got Blaney sideways and shuffled him back into the middle of three and four-wide battles towards the back of the field as the Menards/Wrangler Ford went on to take the checkered flag 16th.

BLANEY’S THOUGHTS: “We tried to give it a shot at it by staying out at the end there but I got spun out off of [turn] four as I was trying to clear up and it was a rough two laps from there. Not a bad night. I wish we could have contended a little bit better but we got a lot better from Friday.”

JOEY LOGANO No. 22 SHELL-PENNZOIL FORD MUSTANG
START: 4TH FINISH: 2ND
RACE RUNDOWN: Joey Logano led a race-high 139 laps Sunday night in search of his second-consecutive All-Star Race win at North Wilkesboro Speedway, but ultimately settled for a second-place finish in the 250-lap exhibition event. After starting fourth, Logano quickly forced his way to the front from the drop of the green flag as the Shell-Pennzoil Ford Mustang battled for the race lead alongside the No. 6 throughout the first run of the night. Logano took over the top spot for the first time on lap 80 and paced the field through the competition caution on lap 102. The Shell-Pennzoil Ford was back out in front on the ensuing run as Logano distanced himself from the field in the latter stages of the night before the promoter’s caution brought the field back together with 34 laps remaining. The No. 22 team opted to stay out under yellow, allowing Logano to control the restart from the outside of row one as the field lined up to take the green with 28 to go. With nine laps to go and teams on fresher tires making their way to the front of the field, the No. 20 got underneath the No. 22 in turn one and ultimately made the race-winning pass as Logano went on to take the checkered flag from second.

LOGANO’S THOUGHTS: “It’s all you’ve got. I was hoping I could just fight [Christopher Bell] long enough to where the advantage would go away a little bit, but it just never did. I did as best I can blocking my butt off, but once [Bell] got under me he just released the brake and gave me no option to either fence it and wreck or run up in the marbles and spin out. It just stings. I’m upset because we had the best car. We had the best car by a long shot and we didn’t win.”

The NASCAR Cup Series heads to Charlotte Motor Speedway for the Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday, May 25. Coverage begins at 6:00 p.m. ET on Amazon Prime Video and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90 with in-car camera angles available all race long through the MAX Driver Cam.

Rick Ware Racing: NASCAR All-Star Open and NASCAR All-Star Race from North Wilkesboro

By
Official Release
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RICK WARE RACING
NASCAR All-Star Open and NASCAR All-Star Race
Date: May 18, 2025
Event: NASCAR All-Star Open and NASCAR All-Star Race (non-points events)
Series: NASCAR Cup Series
Location: North Wilkesboro (N.C.) Speedway (.625-mile oval)

NASCAR All-Star Open: 100 laps, with a competition break at or around lap 50

● Race Winner: Carson Hocevar of Spire Motorsports (Chevrolet)
● Second Place: John Hunter Nemechek of LEGACY MOTOR CLUB (Toyota)
● Fan Vote Winner: Noah Gragson of Front Row Motorsports (Ford)

Note: The All-Star Open was the undercard event to the NASCAR All-Star Race, where non-qualified drivers attempted to race their way into the All-Star Race by winning the Open, finishing second in the Open, or by winning the fan vote.

NASCAR All-Star Race: 250 laps, with competition breaks at or around lap 100 and sometime between laps 200-220

● Race Winner: Christopher Bell of Joe Gibbs Racing (Toyota)

Note: The NASCAR All-Star Race was comprised of drivers who won a points-paying race in 2024 or 2025, fulltime drivers who have previously won the All-Star Race, fulltime drivers who have won a NASCAR Cup Series championship, and drivers who advanced from the All-Star Open.

RWR Finish in NASCAR All-Star Open

● Cody Ware (Started 15th, Finished 16th / Running, completed 100 of 100 laps)

RWR Finish in NASCAR All-Star Race:

● Harrison Burton (Started 18th, Finished 20th / Running, completed 250 of 250 laps)

RWR Notes:

● This was RWR’s first start in the All-Star Race.
● This was Burton’s first career All-Star Race. He earned entry into the event by winning the Coke Zero Sugar 400 last August at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway.
● This was Ware’s fifth career start in the All-Star Open. His best finish remains ninth, earned in 2022 when All-Star Race Weekend was held at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth.

Race Notes:

● Christopher Bell won the All-Star Race with a .829 of a second margin of victory over runner-up Joey Logano.
● The All-Star Race featured 18 lead changes among eight different drivers. Twenty-three drivers comprised the field.

Sound Bites:

“I had a lot of fun. Obviously, it wasn’t the result we wanted, but I kind of felt like we were better than where we finished. We tried some strategy there at the end to try and have a shot there, but tires mattered more than maybe I thought they would. It was just such a fun time to be back in the Cup Series racing against a lot of my friends and seeing a lot of my friends around the garage. I felt like we made the car better and better throughout the weekend. The last caution, obviously it was the promoter’s caution, and that probably took some spots for us, but I’m really proud of the effort and thankful for Morton Buildings, Rick Ware Racing, Ford Performance and all them for the opportunity.” – Harrison Burton, driver of the No. 51 Morton Buildings Ford Mustang Dark Horse

“I just wish we could’ve had a better piece to fire off and run this race. I feel like we were in the ballpark, but just couldn’t get the forward bite we needed in my race. But, big thanks to Schluter-Systems and Ford Performance and everybody on the No. 15 car this weekend. We’ll just get ready for the 600 next week.” – Cody Ware, driver of the No. 15 Schluter-Systems Ford Mustang Dark Horse

Next Up:

The NASCAR Cup Series returns to points-paying racing on Sunday, May 25 with the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway. The longest race on the series’ schedule gets underway at 6 p.m. EDT with live coverage provided by Prime and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

LEGACY MOTOR CLUB: NORTH WILKESBORO SPEEDWAY ALL-STAR RACE RECAP

By
Official Release
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NORTH WILKESBORO, N.C. (May 18, 2025) – The NASCAR Cup Series stopped at the sport’s most iconic venues, North Wilkesboro Speedway for the NASCAR All-Star Race Weekend. John Hunter Nemechek piloted the No. 42 Family Dollar Toyota Camry XSE, while Erik Jones drove the No. 43 Dollar Tree Toyota Camry XSE in the NASCAR All-Star Open, each battling for a chance to advance to the main event and their shot at a one-million-dollar prize. Nemechek advanced due to his second-place finish in the All-Star Open. The winner of the million-dollar prize though was the No. 20 of Christopher Bell after 250-laps.

Below is a look at how the two LEGACY MC entries fared:
JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK
NO. 42 FAMILY DOLLAR TOYOTA CAMRY XSE RACE RECAP:
OPEN START: 17TH | OPEN FINISH: 2ND
ALL-STAR RACE START: 22ND | ALL-STAR RACE FINISH: 19TH
ALL-STAR OPEN RECAP:

John Hunter Nemechek made his third attempt at qualifying for the NASCAR All-Star Race, starting eighth in the Open. With no points on the line and a shot at racing for a million dollars, tensions were high and patience was likely to be thin.

In the opening laps, Nemechek and the No. 42 Family Dollar Toyota Camry XSE quickly gained a few positions, moving into the top five. As the first 50 laps progressed, the car’s handling began to shift to loose on entry, tight in the center, and loose on exit. At the competition break, Nemechek was running ninth. Crew chief Travis Mack called for four fresh tires and made a significant air-pressure adjustment during the pit stop.

In the second half of the 100-lap Open, Nemechek slipped to 12th under green-flag conditions but began working his way back up once he found a rhythm. A caution on Lap 78 provided an opportunity. Under yellow, Nemechek and Mack agreed they needed to make an aggressive move to contend for the win. They pitted for right-side tires, aiming for track position.

Restarting sixth, Nemechek surged forward, first into fifth, then executing a bold three-wide pass to take third. With eyes on the transfer spot, he set his sights on the No. 23 and timed his move perfectly to secure second place. When the checkered flag waved, the 27-year-old crossed the line in second, earning a spot in his first NASCAR All-Star Race.

JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK QUOTABLE:

“Heck yeah. We have a shot to go win a million dollars. Hats off to this No. 42 team – we unloaded and had pretty good two or three lap speed, but really no long run pace, so proud of them for the effort that they put in yesterday, and what they were able to find. Pitting on that last deal – I knew I couldn’t win from where I was at. We came and got two, and that helped us out. Hats off to the whole 42 team. Proud of the effort. Wish Taylor and the girls were here – they are at home, but overall excited to have a shot to go and win a million dollars in this Family Dollar Toyota Camry XSE.”

NASCAR ALL-STAR RECAP:

The No. 42 Family Dollar team achieved their first goal of the night by earning a spot in the All-Star Race. Competing on the historic and fast-paced short track of North Wilkesboro Speedway, things unfolded quickly—including lap times. Battling a tight-handling Family Dollar Toyota Camry XSE, Nemechek fell to the back of the field. On lap 55, race leader Brad Keselowski caught and passed Nemechek, putting him a lap down. Fortunately, a caution flag flew on the same lap, awarding the No. 42 team the lucky dog to get back on the lead lap. Crew chief Travis Mack brought Nemechek to pit road for fresh tires, fuel, and a track bar adjustment.
Leading up to the competition break at lap 100, Nemechek continued to report that the car lacked front turn through the center of the corners. In response, Mack called for a major adjustment to improve the handling of their No. 42 Family Dollar Toyota Camry XSE.

The field settled into a long green-flag run, once again setting a fast pace around the 0.625-mile oval. On lap 160, race leader Joey Logano passed the No. 42 Family Dollar Toyota, putting the team a lap down again. A caution came out on lap 175 when the No. 6 car got into the wall. The No. 42 team took advantage of the wave-around to get back on the lead lap. With under 70 laps remaining in the 250-lap race, the team was hoping for another timely caution to allow them to pit for fresh tires, having last taken them on lap 100. That opportunity came on lap 216, when a promoter’s caution, used at the officials’ discretion, was displayed with Nemechek running 20th. The caution bunched up the field and gave the No. 42 team a chance to pit for much-needed fresh tires with the leaders.

The field went back to green with 28 laps to go, and Nemechek lined up 18th, looking to make a late charge. The race stayed green to the finish, and despite giving it everything they had, Nemechek and the No. 42 Family Dollar team crossed the line in 19th place in the NASCAR All-Star Race.

JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK QUOTABLE:
“At the end of the day, it was great to get our Family Dollar Toyota Camry XSE into the main event and showcase all the hard work the men and women at LEGACY MOTOR CLUB have been putting into our program. While we didn’t get our ultimate goal of winning, it was still a positive step forward for us.”

ERIK JONES
NO. 43 DOLLAR TREE TOYOTA CAMRY XSE ALL-STAR OPEN RECAP:
OPEN START: 12TH | OPEN FINISH: 4TH
After a mishap in Friday’s qualifying session had him starting 12th for the All-Star Open, Erik Jones had an uphill battle in the quick 100-lap race to try to make it into Sunday night’s All-Star Race. The top-two finishers and the fan vote winner would be the last additions to the main event. In the opening laps of the Open, Jones was extremely loose all over and fell back to 15th by lap 30. The No. 43 Dollar Tree team kept reminding their driver that a competition caution would come around lap 50, where they would bring him down pit road to try to fix some of the problems on his Toyota Camry XSE.

The competition caution came out on lap 51 when Jones was running 14th. He relayed to the team that the car started coming to him in the last seven laps of that run but still needed some work on the start of the run. The team brough him down pit road for four tires, fuel, and a chassis adjustment to try to combat the loose-handling racecar. He restarted the race in 12th.

Despite handling a tight No. 43 Dollar Tree Toyota Camry XSE after that pit stop, Jones fought in the final laps to find his way up into the top-10 and eventually the top-five. In the last five laps, Jones was in a heated battle for second and third. With his teammate John Hunter Nemechek in second, Jones attempted to chase him down for the final transfer spot but got into the wall after contact with the No. 23 of Bubba Wallace. He held onto it to finish the race, but ultimately finished fourth, just two spots shy of the two transfer spots.

ERIK JONES QUOTABLE:
“We made progress on our No. 43 Dollar Tree Toyota Camry XSE after that pit stop. In the initial laps, we were wrecking loose, but in that final segment we raced our way all the way up into the top-five. I’m glad we found that speed. We got put into the wall on the final laps which hurt our chances at racing our way in. We’ll move on to Charlotte.”

(Photo Credit: LEGACY MOTOR CLUB)
NEXT UP: The NASCAR Cup Series returns home to Charlotte Motor Speedway for the iconic Coca-Cola 600. Don’t miss 600 miles of high-speed, Memorial Day weekend tradition on Sunday, May 25 at 6 p.m. ET. Catch all the action live on Amazon Prime, PRN, 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.

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