Berry Ready for In-Season Challenge to Start This Weekend in Atlanta

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June 25, 2025

Ford Performance Notes and Quotes
NASCAR Cup Series
Atlanta 2 Media Availability
Wednesday, June 25, 2025

Josh Berry, driver of the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Mustang Dark Horse for Wood Brothers Racing, has already clinched a spot in the playoffs after his win earlier this year at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Berry, who is coming off a 12th-place finish last weekend at Pocono Raceway, is also part of this year’s inaugural In-Season Challenge and is paired against John Hunter Nemchek this weekend at EchoPark Speedway.

JOSH BERRY, No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Mustang Dark Horse – DO YOU HAVE A GOOD FEELING ABOUT THIS WEEKEND? “I feel good going back there. I felt like we had a really strong race there in the spring. We led laps and won a stage. We were in the battle the whole race, so it’s been fun going back and reviewing that one with my team together and learning and working with my spotter, Jason, and Miles on how to up our communication a little bit better and do a little bit better. Honestly, it was a really good race for us and we found ourselves in position, so I feel if our car is as good as it was in the spring, we’ll have a chance at it.”

DOES YOUR MATCHUP AGAINST JOHN HUNTER GET YOU EXCITED AS THE IN-SEASON CHALLENGE STARTS? “I think all of us will be paying attention to it and who we’re paired up against and how they’re doing. It should be interesting to follow, for sure. Obviously, a drafting style track will be a lot about just making it to the finish. That will play a big part of that. It will be hard to have a perfect bracket with a place like Atlanta because you never know. An accident can take you out or something like that, but it will be exciting to follow. I have not really overly thought that much about it, but we’ll pay attention to how John Hunter’s race is going compared to ours and hopefully we can come out on top.”

DO YOU SIZE UP THE OTHER TEAM YOU’RE GOING AGAINST OR ARE YOU JUST FOCUSED ON THE RACE AND YOUR TEAM STRATEGY? “Obviously, all of us want to win it. It would be really cool. It’s a really cool thing to follow and be a part of. I think anything can happen any week. Atlanta is gonna be a little bit of a wild card like I said earlier. It’s a drafting track and the accidents that can happen there, but even when you go to a road course or something like that, I mean you never know what can happen. If somebody has an issue, gets run off the track or gets spun out on a restart it will change, so it’s gonna be tough to make a perfect bracket in that thing because there are gonna be a lot of things that happen that are unexpected.”

WHAT MAKES YOU SO GOOD AT DOVER? “I don’t know. From the first time I went there in the Xfinity car I felt really comfortable. I remember before I went there for the first time I was pretty intimidated going to a place like that and not knowing what to expect. Even back then when I was making my first start there we didn’t have practice or qualifying either, so it’s a place that I took to well. We obviously got the win there with JRM. Their cars were always really strong there and I was able to carry that confidence into the Cup Series, too. It’s a place that it’s probably my favorite track. It’s a lot of fun racing there. I’ve had some really good days, so it’s one I’ve got circled coming up that I’m excited to get to.”

CHICAGO AND SONOMA ARE BOTH COMING UP. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT YOUR ROAD COURSE PROGRAM? “I thought there were a lot of positives for us in Mexico. Obviously, the weather threw a wrench into everything to start the race, but practice and qualifying we were much more competitive. It seemed like our whole group was more competitive. We were faster. We were all closer together, so there are positives to that. Chicago is tough. It’s a street course and it’s a really difficult racetrack. Sonoma is a totally different kind of road course, but we took a lot of positives out of Mexico. I think we’re working on the right areas and doing the right things. I think we’ve made our cars better and I feel I’ve adapted to the cars better, so I’m just excited to go run there and see how we do, stay out of trouble, execute and you can get a good finish in those races.”

YOU CAN REALLY SEE THE SPEED AT DOVER. DO YOU FEEL THAT SENSATION MORE THERE? “It’s fast. I think that’s what I enjoy the most about it. I think it’s just how fast it is and how it feels to have it down in the corners there. I just felt really comfortable going that fast. Even when I first started Xfinity racing, as much as I short track raced going to some of the intermediates I always felt really comfortable at the two mile intermediates, places like that that are fast and Dover kind of fit that. I’m excited to get there for sure.”

DOES THE IN-SEASON CHALLENGE CHANGE HOW GUYS WILL RACE THIS WEEK? “I don’t think it’ll change too terribly much. I think that each individual is gonna pay attention to who they’re up against and how they’re race is going. I’m sure over the course of the next month there’s gonna be battles late in the race that are matchups that they got paired pre-race that will be interesting to follow. I don’t think any of us are thinking that we need to be more or less aggressive. Obviously, I think Atlanta is gonna be a big opportunity for a lot of people to try to win a race and make it into the playoffs, so I think the aggression is gonna be higher more so for that than this tournament, but I’m sure there will be some interesting battles over the course of the next month.”

FORD AND PENSKE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN FAST AT THESE SPEEDWAY RACES, ESPECIALLY WITH THIS CAR. CAN YOU SHARE WHAT KIND OF COMMUNICATION GOES INTO THAT ON SUNDAY MORNING BEFORE THE RACE? “No (laughing). In general it’s pretty easy to see that we try to work together the best we can and take care of each other and our teammates and our teammates at Ford to keep as many numbers up front as we can when we get to the end of the stages and the end of the race. It’s pretty simple. If you can have people around you at the end of these races that you can trust and rely on, it just slows down the decision making at the end of these races. Obviously, I’ve only been a part of it for a couple years with these guys, but it’s worked out well and I’m excited to go there and keep working on it and take what I’ve learned in the spring race.”

HAVE YOU FELT EXPECTATIONS SHIFT WITH YOUR MOVE FROM SHR TO THE WOOD BROTHERS? “Not too much. I feel like going into the opportunity that I had last year there were high expectations for all of us and I think we all left that opportunity with the majority of the media questioning our ability as drivers, honestly. So we all had a lot to prove going into this opportunity, but we’re all going to different situations and, for the most part, all of us have thrived in those situations. To me, I don’t feel like expectations are that much different. The 4 car had a lot of high expectations and they did a lot of amazing things, so, for me, I think it’s just about us going into new opportunities and thankfully they’ve worked out for most of us.”

HOW IMPORTANT DO YOU THINK THE FIRST ATLANTA RACE WAS TO HELP YOU TEAM GAIN CONFIDENCE IN YOU AS A DRIVER, AND WAS THAT BIG FOR YOU AS WELL? “I think it was a really big confidence boost for all of us. Obviously, those cars have been fast at Atlanta, but to execute and perform like we did and battle for the win the whole night, it was just a big confidence boost and really was kind of a tale of things to come over the course of the season that we’re gonna have speed and have a lot to be excited about. Obviously, we didn’t get the finish that we deserved that night, but that’s part of racing. I think, like I said, we took a lot of positives from that day, a lot to learn from, a lot to look at going into this week and hopefully we can capitalize and have a good finish.”

THERE WAS SOME CONTROVERSY ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT NASCAR DID OR DIDN’T THROW THE CAUTION IN BOTH RACES AT ATLANTA THE LAST TIME WE WERE THERE. HOW SATISFIED OR CLEAR DO YOU THINK THINGS ARE AS FAR AS IF THERE’S A CRASH ON THE LAST LAP THAT NASCAR WILL THROW A YELLOW? “Lately I feel like it’s been a little clearer. Thinking back to my incident, I took a couple big shots in the door – the left side door – and then obviously Connor hit a ton at Talladega. I think they’re leaning towards safety, which is not a bad thing. Overall, I think they’ve done a good job with that and generally the drivers want to err on the side of safety. It’s just up to us to try to get to the finish under green.”

CAN YOU GIVE A SENSE OF THE DISCIPLINE IT TAKES TO DRIVE WITH YOUR TEAMMATES LIKE YOU DID AT ATLANTA, ESPECIALLY THE FIRST HALF OF THE RACE? “I think it just goes back to the communication that we all have together and just trying to take care of each other out there. I think if we can work with each other and keep our group together, it increases all of our odds. That’s the best way to look at it for us. For me, I thought that’s been a big help, trying to understand this style of racing. Talking through those scenarios and opening up that conversation is something that I’ve never had with teammates and having those conversations. Obviously, every team always tells you that you all need to work with each other, but we do a really good job of communicating on how and why and when to do that. I think that pays off in the results in the end.”

WHAT’S IT LIKE ONCE YOU FALL OUT OF THE LEAD GROUP AND YOU’RE BACK IN THE BACK A BIT HAVING TO BE MORE DISCIPLINED? “It’s a battle there for sure. Obviously, that particular scenario the intention is to push Joey and stay connected. Unfortunately, it didn’t pan out and those things are gonna happen several times throughout the race. The good part about it is we’ve talked through those scenarios and understand that those things happen and when you get midpack it’s such a battle. That’s why it’s such a great race to watch on TV because the runs are so huge and it’s so exciting to be a part of. It’s a challenge to work back through there and it’s a challenge to stay up front too. It’s a lot of battling. It’s one that as a driver, you watch back those races and realize this is pretty fun to watch, so I’m sure everybody is excited for this weekend.”

SO ABOUT THAT RESTART SITUATION. IS THERE SOMETHING MORE YOU COULD HAVE DONE TO KEEP YOURSELF IN THAT OUTSIDE SECOND ROW AS OPPOSED TO FALLING BACK? “The idea is to hopefully stay connected and get control, but sometimes it depends on what the other lane does and what the guys behind you do. If they bail to the top or switch lanes, it’s all just situational. You just try to do the best you can to get going on the restarts and hopefully at least get one of us clear into the lead.”

HOW DO YOU THINK YOUR SEASON HAS GONE SO FAR WITH THE WOOD BROTHERS AND HOW EXCITED ARE YOU ABOUT THE PLAYOFFS? “It’s been a really good first season with the Wood Brothers. I’ve just really enjoyed working with them and being a part of the whole organization. Getting the win earlier in the year was a lot of excitement, but we’ve had a lot of good runs over the course of the year, a lot to learn from and look at, and I think we have a lot of room to improve and get a little more consistent. Heading into the playoffs, I think we’re a team that we feel like if we go out and execute like we know we can, that we’re gonna be able to make our way through the playoffs a little bit. It’s been a lot of fun this year, for sure.”

ARCA Menards Series at Lime Rock Park: Lime Rock Park 100 Pre-race Notes & Stats Update

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Official Release

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June 25, 2025

THE RACE: Lime Rock Park 100
THE PLACE: Lime Rock Park, Lakeville, Conn.
THE DATE: June 28, 2025
THE TIME: 4 pm ET
TV: FS2, Live
RADIO: MRN Radio, Live

The ARCA Menards Series will make the first of two 2025 road course appearances in Saturday’s Lime Rock Park 100 at Lime Rock Park. It marks the first appearance for the series at the 1.47-mile track that also serves as a public park.
Lime Rock Park will become the 181st different racetrack the series has competed at in its history dating back to 1953. It will also be the first race in the state of Connecticut, the 32nd different state the series has raced in. The Lime Rock Park 100 will also be the 32nd road course race in series history.
Saturday’s race distance will be 68 laps / 100.5 miles around the facility’s 1.47-mile layout. The track features seven turns, all of which are right-handers with the notable exception of Turn 3, known unironically as “The Left Hander”.
Brenden Queen (No. 28 BestRepair.net Chevrolet) will make his first ARCA Menards Series start on a road course at Lime Rock Park. Queen, who won earlier this season at Daytona International Speedway, Kansas Speedway, and Michigan International Speedway, leads the series championship standings by 11 points over Lawless Alan (No. 20 AUTOParkIt Toyota).
Brent Crews (No. 18 Mobil 1 Toyota) will make his first ARCA Menards Series start since he won at Phoenix Raceway in March with a last corner of the last lap pass. Crews also won the ARCA Menards Series East race at Rockingham Speedway in April. Crews has two previous road course starts in the ARCA Menards Series; he finished second at Mid-Ohio in 2024 and third at Watkins Glen International in 2023. Crews will also compete earlier in the day in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race for TRICON Garage. Crews is the youngest winner in Trans-Am TA2 history at 14 years, 3 months, and 4 days with his win at Road America in 2022; he was the youngest champion in series history in 2023.
Alan has made nine road course starts in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series with a best finish of eleventh at Circuit of the Americas in 2022. He made two starts at Utah Motorsports Campus in the ARCA Menards Series West in 2020, with a pair of 12th-place results.
Lavar Scott (No. 6 Max Siegel Inc. Chevrolet) has two previous ARCA Menards Series starts on road courses, with a ninth-place finish at Watkins Glen International last year as his best.
Isabella Robusto (No. 55 Yahoo Toyota) will also be making her first career ARCA Menards Series start on a road course. Robusto scored her second top-five finish of the season, a fifth-place finish, last weekend at Elko Speedway. She is no stranger to road racing; she has competed in the GT4 America and TGR GR Cup North America series, and has two top-five and three top-ten finishes in four starts in addition to a sixth-place finish last year in the ARCA Menards Series West race at Sonoma Raceway.
Dale Quarterley (No. 4 Van Dyk Recycling Solutions Chevrolet) is one of the few drivers entered with experience at Lime Rock Park. Quarterley has 14 career starts in what is now the ARCA Menards Series East at Lime Rock Park with two victories coming in 2001 and 2003. Quarterley will join Thomas Annunziata (No. 70 Nitro Motorsports Toyota) and Brent Crews as drivers racing in both the ARCA Menards Series and the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series races at Lime Rock on Saturday.
Should the race go into overtime, there will be one attempt at a single-lap “green-and-white together” overtime finish.
There will be a five-minute break at or near lap 34 for teams to change tires, add fuel, and make adjustments. Should the teams need to change to or from wet weather tires, they can do so at any time, but tire changes involving similar tread patterns – dry to dry or wet to wet – are prohibited outside of the break.
The Lime Rock Park ARCA 100 will be televised live on FS2 starting at 4 pm ET on Saturday, June 28. The race will also be broadcast live on select affiliates of the MRN Radio network nationwide as well as streamed on MRN.com. Live timing & scoring data will be available on ARCARacing.com; for up-to-the-minute updates please follow @ARCA_Racing on X (formerly known as Twitter).

About ARCA 

The Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA), founded in 1953 by John and Mildred Marcum in Toledo, Ohio, and acquired by NASCAR in April 2018, is the leading grassroots stock car sanctioning body in the United States. Bridging the gap between NASCAR’s top three national touring series and weekly and regional tour racing all across the country, the organization sanctions over 100 races per year in the ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East, ARCA Menards Series West, ASA STARS National Tour, ASA CRA Super Series, ASA Midwest Tour, ASA Southern Super Series plus weekly racing at Toledo and Flat Rock Speedways. For more information about ARCA visit www.arcaracing.com, or follow ARCA on Facebook (@ARCARacing) and Twitter (@ARCA_Racing). 

About Menards

A family-owned and run company started in 1958, Menards is recognized as the retail home center leader of the Midwest with 236 stores in 15 states.  Menards is truly a one-stop shop for all of your home improvement needs featuring a full-service lumberyard and everything you need to plan a renovation or build a home, garage, cabin, shed, deck, fence or post frame building.  You’ll find a large selection of lumber, roofing, siding, construction blocks, trusses, doors and windows, plus cabinets, appliances, countertops, flooring, lighting, paint, plumbing supplies and more.  To complete the job, Menards has quality hand tools, power tools, fasteners, electrical tools plus storage options and supplies for everyone from the weekend warrior to the pro!

Menards has what you need to complete your outdoor projects and keep your yard in tip-top shape including mowers, trimmers, blowers, pressure washers and more, plus a beautiful garden center stocked with plants, shrubs, trees, landscaping tools, grass seed, fertilizer options, outdoor décor and patio furniture.  Menards also has everyday essentials like health & beauty products, housewares, pet and wildlife supplies, automotive items and even groceries.  And at Christmas, an Enchanted Forest display area with impressive trees, lighting, decorations, ornaments, inflatables and more. 

Menards is known for friendly Customer Service and as the place to “Save Big Money” with low prices every day, and sales too!  For more information, please visit Menards.com to learn about our store locations, offerings and services.

SUCCESS AT SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT NHRA NATIONALS WOULD MEAN GREAT DEAL TO FUNNY CAR ROOKIE SPENCER HYDE

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Official Release

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June 25, 2025

NORWALK, Ohio (June 25, 2025) – It’s already been a standout rookie season for Spencer Hyde in the Funny Car ranks heading into this weekend’s 19th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Summit Motorsports Park.

He’s advanced to one final round, picked up a Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge victory and has displayed steady progress driving for Head Racing and veteran crew chief Jim Head, who is a Columbus, Ohio native.

That makes this weekend a home race for Head, but also for Hyde, who grew up racing just outside of Toronto in Stratford, Ontario. It means Hyde is bringing plenty of friends and family with him to Norwalk, as well as a special “Jack and the Green Stock” wrap on the 12,000-horsepower Funny Car. It’s an ode to the green Stock Eliminator car his grandfather’s cousin, Jack Hyde, drove almost 50 years ago.

Hyde drove a newer version of that car several years ago, had his Pro Mod car wrapped to match it and now will have the meaningful “Jack and the Green Stock” look on the Funny Car this weekend. Hyde has raced at Summit Motorsports Park a number of times in the Pro Mod and Top Sportsman ranks, over the years, but his Funny Car debut at his home track is shaping up to be a special one.

“Now that I’m in a nitro Funny Car, the closest we get to home is Norwalk, and that’s where all my friends and family will hang out (this weekend), so I thought it would be cool to wrap the Funny Car like that,” Hyde said. “How cool would it be if my first Funny Car win came in the Jack and the Green Stock wrap? That was my first big Pro Mod win was when we had it wrapped like that.

“I’m not saying I’m expecting to win, but it’s our home race, it’s Jim’s home race, so it’s a pretty special event for all of us. That would be a perfect world – my first win in a Funny Car coming in Norwalk with my home crowd and wrapped as Jack and the Green Stock. Norwalk has kind of been our home away from home for a long time.”

In 2024, Antron Brown (Top Fuel), Bob Tasca III (Funny Car), Aaron Stanfield (Pro Stock), and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) all won at a race that will again be broadcast on FOX and FS1 in 2025, including eliminations coverage beginning at 2 p.m. ET on FOX on Sunday.

It is the 10th of 20 races during the 2025 NHRA season and the race in Norwalk is always a premier stop on the NHRA tour. The weekend includes two rounds of qualifying on Friday, including a must-see night session and fireworks, two rounds of qualifying – and the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge – on Saturday and eliminations on Sunday. The race also plays host to the GETTRX Pro Stock NHRA All-Star Callout for the first time, as the specialty event features eight Pro Stock drivers battling for the win.

The race finishes off a busy four race in five week stretch, but Hyde has enjoyed the back-to-back race weekends this month. He’s built consistency and made improvements, which should only help this weekend in Norwalk when he takes on the likes of points leader and defending world champion Austin Prock, Jack Beckman, Matt Hagan, Ron Capps and J.R. Todd.

It’s a group with plenty of Funny Car experience, which is something every first-year driver lacks. But Hyde can see his confidence building and he hopes it translates into more positive results in Norwalk

“Just less time out of the seat,” Hyde said of the back-to-back weekend. “You take a few days off and you’re right back in the seat and you really don’t have to think about anything,” Hyde said. “I’m sure these guys who have done it for many years don’t have to think about much when they get in there. I’m still relatively new and it’s still a thought process for me. So, the back-to-back weekends definitely help.”

Brown is after a repeat Top Fuel win in Norwalk, but it won’t be easy against a field that includes points leader and racing legend Tony Stewart, former champs Shawn Langdon, Steve Torrence, Doug Kalitta and Brittany Force, Justin Ashley and Clay Millican.

Pro Stock standout Stanfield took home his first Norwalk win last year, but this season has been dominated by points leader Greg Anderson and Dallas Glenn. Anderson has four wins and the points lead, while Glenn has three victories in what has been an impressive season by the KB Titan Racing teammates.

The GETTRX Pro Stock NHRA All-Star Callout field features reigning six-time champion Anderson, who will have the first pick of the eight-car field made up of Glenn, Matt Hartford, standout Stanfield, multi-time champions Erica Enders and Jeg Coughlin, Eric Latino and Troy Coughlin Jr.

Two-time reigning Pro Stock Motorcycle champ Herrera took the win last year over his rival Matt Smith. Herrera continues to lead the field, while others to look for at Norwalk will be Gadson, who won in Bristol, Angie Smith, Jianna Evaristo and Chase Van Sant.

Also on the track will be the standouts in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, NHRA Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown, NHRA Holley EFI Factory X and Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage NHRA Mountain Motor Pro Stock.

All weekend, fans will be invited to the Nitro Alley Stage, which is the main entertainment hub in the pits. The stage hosts Nitro School, meet and greets, autograph sessions and more. Norwalk race fans can enjoy the special pre-race ceremonies that introduce each driver and includes the fan favorite SealMaster Track Walk. Fans are also invited to congratulate the winners at the winner’s circle celebration on Sunday.

As always, fans get a pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet. Fans can see their favorite teams in action and servicing their cars, get autographs and more. They can also visit NHRA’s Manufacturers Midway, where sponsors and vendors create an exciting atmosphere.

NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying will feature two rounds at 5 and 7:30 p.m. ET on Friday, June 27, and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, June 28 at 12 and 2:30 p.m. Eliminations will begin at 11 a.m. ET on Sunday, June 29. The first round of the GETTRX Pro Stock All-Star Callout takes place at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 28, with the semifinals at 1:20 p.m. and the finals at 3:50 p.m.

Television coverage includes qualifying action at 7 p.m. ET on Friday and 11 a.m. on Sunday on FS1, leading into eliminations on FOX at 2 p.m. ET on Sunday. The Callout will be broadcast at 3 p.m. ET on Saturday on FS1.

To purchase tickets to Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals, fans can visit www.NHRA.com/tickets. Children 12 and under are free in general admission areas with the purchase of an adult ticket. For more information on NHRA, please visit www.NHRA.com.

About Mission Foods

MISSION®, owned by GRUMA, S.A.B. de C.V., is the world’s leading brand for tortillas and wraps. MISSION® is also globally renowned for flatbreads, dips, salsas and Mexican food products. With presence in over 112 countries, MISSION® products are suited to the lifestyles and the local tastes of each country. With innovation and customer needs in mind, MISSION® focuses on the highest quality, authentic flavors, and providing healthy options that families and friends can enjoy together. For more information, please visit https://www.missionfoods.com/

About NHRA

NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. NHRA presents 20 national events featuring the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series and NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, as well as the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series, NHRA Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown™, NHRA Holley EFI Factory X and Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage NHRA Mountain Motor Pro Stock at select national events. NHRA provides competition opportunities for drivers of all levels in the NHRA Summit Racing Series and NHRA Street Legal™. NHRA also offers the NHRA Jr. Street® program for teens and the Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League® for youth ages 5 to 17. With more than 100 Member Tracks, NHRA allows racers to compete at a variety of locations nationally and internationally. NHRA’s Youth and Education Services® (YES) Program reaches over 30,000 students annually to ignite their interest in automotive and racing related careers. NHRA’s streaming service, NHRA.tv®, allows fans to view all NHRA national events as well as exclusive features of the sport. In addition, NHRA owns and operates three racing facilities: Gainesville Raceway in Florida; Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park; and In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Southern California. For more information, log on to www.NHRA.com, or visit the official NHRA pages on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Young’s Motorsports Announces Ben Maier’s NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Debut at Lime Rock Park

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Official Release

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June 25, 2025

MOORESVILLE, N.C. — Young’s Motorsports is proud to announce that 16-year-old racing sensation Ben Maier will make his much-anticipated debut in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series this weekend at the legendary Lime Rock Park.

Maier will pilot the team’s flagship No. 02 Executive Chevrolet Silverado in what marks a pivotal moment in his rapidly advancing career.

The debut comes as Maier takes on one of the most technically demanding road courses in the country, offering a prime opportunity to showcase the skill, focus, and competitive drive that have defined his rise through the motorsports ranks.

Maier, a rising star in the Motorsports world, has spent years honing his skills in various racing series like Stadium Super Trucks with Robby Gordon, Trans Am, Cars Tour and Travis Pastrana’s NitroCross and now, with the support of Young’s Motorsports, he is ready to take on the competition in the highly competitive Truck Series.

His youthful enthusiasm and passion for racing have already garnered attention and fans can expect an exhilarating performance as he takes to the track.

“I am so excited for this opportunity,” said Ben Maier. “When working with the limited resources our family has, a kid like me is not supposed to be able to make it to NASCAR.

“I’m so thankful for Tyler and Young’s Motorsports for taking this chance on me. I’ll give them my best effort. I also need to thank Executive Chevrolet for making it happen. I can’t wait to wheel the No. 02 Executive Chevrolet Silverado truck around Lime Rock Park!”

Young’s Motorsports extends its sincere gratitude to Executive Auto Group for serving as the primary sponsor of Maier’s NASCAR debut. Their steadfast support has played a pivotal role in creating opportunities for emerging talents like Maier to chase their dreams and compete on one of racing’s biggest stages.

“We’re proud to support the next generation of racing excellence by sponsoring Ben Maier in this weekend’s NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series at Lime Rock Park,” offered Shaun Woodward, General Manager, Executive Chevrolet.

“Ben’s drive, talent, and determination embody everything we stand for at Executive Chevrolet: hard work, passion and pushing the limits. As a local dealership rooted in community and performance, we’re thrilled to be part of his journey and can’t wait to see him take the track.”

The team also acknowledges Cool Boxx for their partnership and contribution. Their state-of-the-art driver cooling system will be a vital asset in ensuring Maier remains comfortable and focused throughout the demanding event at Lime Rock Park.

Additionally, Skip Barber Racing School will be featured on the No. 02 Chevrolet for the first road course event of the season. With over 400,000 students, the Skip Barber Racing School is the world’s largest automotive education and entertainment company, offering driving, off-road and racing schools at the finest tracks in America.

“We are proud to have Ben Maier representing Young’s Motorsports at Lime Rock Park,” said Young’s Motorsports team principal Tyler Young.

“His talent and determination are evident, and we believe he has a bright future ahead of him. We also want to thank Executive Chevrolet, Cool Boxx and Skip Barber School for their support in making this debut possible.”

For more information on Ben Maier, please like him on Facebook and follow him on Instagram.

For more information on Young’s Motorsports, please visit YoungsMotorsports.com, like them on Facebook (Young’s Motorsports), and follow them on Instagram (@youngsmotorsports) and X |Twitter (@youngsmtrsports).

The LiUNA! 150 (100 laps | 147.8 miles) is the 15th of 25 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN® Truck Series races on the 2025 schedule. The two-day show begins with practice on Friday, June 27, from 1:05 p.m. to 1:55 p.m. Qualifying will follow on race day, Saturday, June 28, launching at 9:30 a.m. The field will take the green flag shortly after 1:00 p.m., with live coverage on FOX, the NASCAR Racing Network (Radio), and SiriusXM NASCAR Channel 90.

Toyota GAZOO Racing Weekly Preview 06.25.25

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Official Release

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June 25, 2025

This Week in Motorsports: June 23 – 29, 2025

· NCS/NXS: EchoPark Speedway – June 27-28

· NCTS/ARCA: Lime Rock Park – June 27-28

· NHRA: Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park – June 27-29

PLANO, Texas (June 25, 2025) – NASCAR returns to EchoPark Speedway outside Atlanta for the second time this season in another drafting style race for the Cup and Xfinity Series. The Truck Series, along with the ARCA Menards Series, are going road course racing at Lime Rock Park in Lakeville, Connecticut. NHRA is back in action at the Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park in Norwalk, Ohio, as the 2025 season hits its halfway point.

NASCAR National Series – NCS/NXS/NCTS

In-Season Challenge begins … This weekend’s Cup Series race at EchoPark Speedway begins NASCAR’s inaugural In-Season Challenge, a five-week event made up of 32 drivers with the winner taking home $1 million. The 32 drivers competing in the event will take on each other in a tournament bracket style format, with the higher-finishing driver in each matchup advancing to the next round for a chance at the big payout that will be determined at the Brickyard 400 in July. Toyota Camry XSE drivers in the challenge field are: Denny Hamlin (No. 1 seed), Chase Briscoe (No. 2 seed), Christopher Bell (No. 4 seed), Ty Gibbs (No. 6 seed), Bubba Wallace (No. 9 seed), John Hunter Nemechek (No. 12 seed), Erik Jones (No. 20 seed) and Tyler Reddick (No. 23 seed).

Bell looks for Atlanta sweep … Capturing the first of his three points-paying victories this season in dramatic fashion back in February, Bell returns to EchoPark Speedway in hopes of a sweep at the 1.54-mile drafting track this weekend. The driver of the No. 20 Toyota Camry XSE for Joe Gibbs Racing has three top-five or better finishes in the last five Atlanta races coming into this weekend.

Nemechek continues great success … A sixth-place finish at Pocono last weekend, after starting the day fourth, gave John Hunter Nemechek and his No. 42 LEGACY MOTOR CLUB team their sixth top-10 of the 2025 Cup Series season – their second in a row and fourth in the last seven races. Nemechek will be happy to return to a drafting track this weekend, having posted top-10 finishes in two of the last three speedway races, including a 10th-place result at EchoPark Speedway in February.

Staropoli back in No. 24 GR Supra … For the second time this season, and in his career, Patrick Staropoli will pilot the No. 24 Toyota GR Supra for Sam Hunt Racing this weekend at EchoPark Speedway in the Xfinity Series race. The Florida native made his series debut at Martinsville earlier this season, where he finished 16th.

Crews takes on double duty at Lime Rock … This weekend’s Truck Series and ARCA doubleheader at Lime Rock Park will be a busy one for Toyota Development Driver Brent Crews, who will compete in both events. Crews will make his second career Truck Series start this weekend in the No. 1 Tundra TRD Pro for TRICON Garage after finishing 22nd at North Wilkesboro in May. In ARCA, Saturday will be Crews’ 10th career national series start, where he’ll pilot the No. 18 Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing. So far, Crews has three career wins in the ARCA Menards Series, including at Rockingham Speedway back in April.

NASCAR Regional Series – ARCA Menards Series

Alan within championship lead … Heading to Lime Rock Park this weekend, Lawless Alan finds himself right in the ARCA Menards Series championship hunt. The Venturini Motorsports driver sits second in the series points standings, just 11 points behind the lead entering Saturday.

NHRA – Top Fuel/Funny Car

Brown seeks Norwalk repeat … Last season, Antron Brown captured victory at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, the second of what would be six race wins in 2024 that eventually propelled him to the NHRA Top Fuel world championship. Brown returns to Norwalk eager for a repeat victory as he sets his sights on repeating his title with the second half of the season on the horizon.

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.

Tyler Reddick to make 200th Cup career start at Atlanta

By

Andrew Kim

-

June 25, 2025

Reddick Jared C. Tilton — Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images.

In his sixth full-time season competing in the NASCAR Cup Series division, Tyler Reddick is scheduled to achieve a milestone start. By competing in this weekend’s In-Season Tournament opener at EchoPark Speedway, the driver of the No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota Camry XSE entry will make career start No. 200 in NASCAR’s premier series.

A native of Corning, California, Reddick made his inaugural presence in NASCAR’s premier series at the start of the 2019 season. He qualified for the 61st running of the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway in the No. 31 Chevrolet Camaro for Richard Childress Racing (RCR).

By then, he was coming off his first Xfinity Series championship with JR Motorsports. He was ready to defend his series title and make select Cup starts with RCR. After starting in 39th place, Reddick finished in 27th place in his Cup debut after he was involved in three separate incidents. He would then make his second Cup start at Kansas Speedway in May, where he recorded a strong ninth-place result.

After winning his second consecutive Xfinity championship after the 2019 season, Reddick moved up to the Cup Series full-time, driving the RCR No. 8 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 1LE entry. He replaced Daniel Hemric for the 2020 season. He began his first full-time Cup campaign with a 28th-place finish after he was caught up in a late multi-car wreck. Then, Reddick recorded two top-10 results during the first 11 scheduled events.

He then achieved his first top-five career result in the Cup circuit by finishing fourth at Homestead-Miami Speedway in June. Another six races later, he notched a season-best runner-up result behind teammate Austin Dillon at Texas Motor Speedway in July. Despite tallying a total of seven top-10 results throughout the 26-race regular-season stretch, Reddick missed the 2020 Cup Playoffs.

But he claimed two additional top-10 results in the remaining 10 scheduled events. This included a fourth-place finish at Bristol Motor Speedway in September. He settled in 19th place in the final standings. By then, he also settled in the runner-up spot behind Cole Custer for the 2020 Rookie of the Year title.

Reddick’s second Cup campaign with RCR in 2021 began with a 27th-place result in the 63rd running of the Daytona 500. Throughout the 26-race regular-season stretch, the Californian notched a total of two top-five results. They included a season-best runner-up result at Homestead in February and 13 top-10 results.

He also claimed his first Cup career pole for the series’ inaugural event at Circuit of the Americas in May. At the conclusion of the regular-season stretch, Reddick claimed the 16th and final berth to the Cup Series Playoffs. It was his first appearance in NASCAR’s postseason battle for the title.

Amid finishes of 18th, 15th and 12th in the Round of 16, Reddick was eliminated from the Playoffs by two points. He managed another runner-up result at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course. He also claimed two additional top-nine runs during the remaining seven events on the schedule.

Reddick capped off his sophomore Cup season in 13th place in the final standings. By then, he nearly doubled his accumulated top-10 results from his rookie season (16 in 2021 vs. nine in 2020). He also achieved an average finishing result of 15.0.

The 2022 Cup Series season was a breakthrough year for Reddick. He commenced the season by finishing 35th during the 64th running of the Daytona 500. Reddick then went on to finish in the top seven three times throughout his next seven starts. During the Bristol Motor Speedway Dirt Course event in April, Reddick led a race-high 99 laps.

He was leading on the final lap when contact from Chase Briscoe sent both spinning entering the final turn. Despite Reddick’s efforts to quickly straighten and nurse his car to the finish line, he was beaten to the finish line by Kyle Busch by three-tenths of a second. Amid the disappointment of falling short at Bristol, Reddick proceeded to finish second again at Darlington Raceway in May.

Then, at Road America in July 2022, Reddick notched his first elusive career victory in the Cup Series. He led the final 16 laps and beat runner-up Chase Elliott by more than three seconds. Reddick became the fifth first-time winner of the 2022 season and the 203rd competitor to win in NASCAR’s premier series.

Four races later, he doubled down by winning at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course amid a wild overtime shootout. The pair of road course victories throughout the summer were enough for Reddick to race his way into the Playoffs for a second consecutive season.

Reddick began the 2022 Playoffs with a third-place finish at Darlington. But he was eliminated from the Playoffs following the Round of 16 for a second consecutive season. This was due to ending up 35th and 25th during his next two respective starts. With his championship hopes of the season dashed, Reddick responded by winning the Round of 12 opener at Texas in late September.

He captured two additional top-10 results in the remaining six scheduled events and was 14th in the final standings. Despite achieving one fewer top-10 result than in his previous season, he doubled his top-five results at 10 compared to three and led 503 laps. By then, he also surpassed 100 career starts in NASCAR’s premier series.

In July 2022, it was announced that Reddick would join 23XI Racing in 2023. This was due to Kurt Busch being sidelined for the remainder of the 2022 season and eventually from NASCAR competition overall due to suffering concussion-like symptoms stemming from an on-track qualifying accident at Pocono Raceway.

23XI Racing purchased the remainder of Reddick’s contract at RCR. He joined the organization for the 2023 Cup season, piloting the No. 45 Toyota Camry TRD entry.

Reddick’s first two events with 23XI Racing commenced on a rough note as he wrecked out of both. Then after finishing 15th, third and fifth, respectively, during his next three starts, he notched his first victory of 2023 and with 23XI Racing at Circuit of the Americas in March. He led a race-high 41 laps and endured through three overtime shootouts. Reddick proceeded to accumulate an additional four top-five results and eight top-10 results for the remaining 20 regular-season events.

He then made his third consecutive entrance as a Playoff contender. Reddick commenced the 2023 Playoffs by finishing second behind Kyle Larson at Darlington. He then capitalized on a two-lap shootout to win at Kansas Speedway and automatically transferred from the Round of 16 to 12. He then transferred to the Round of 8 despite finishing 25th, 16th and sixth, respectively, throughout the Round of 12.

Amid respective finishes of eighth, third and 26th throughout the Round of 8, Reddick fell short of making the Championship 4 round. With a 22nd-place result at Phoenix Raceway to cap off the season, Reddick managed to achieve a strong sixth-place result in the final standings. By then, he tied his top-five results from his previous season at 10 and earned an additional top-10 result at 16.

This past season was a career year for Reddick. He commenced the season by winning the first of two Daytona Duels. However, he finished in 29th place during the 66th running of the Daytona 500 after he involvement in a late multi-car pileup. Reddick finished in the top seven four times over the next eight starts.

He notched his first Cup victory of the season in thrilling fashion after dodging a final lap wreck and overtaking Brad Keselowski through the tri-oval. It was 23XI Racing’s first victory of the season and second at Talladega. After finishing in the top eight three times during his next seven scheduled events, Reddick ignited a hot summer streak. It included finishing in the top six in seven consecutive events.

Mired within the span was the Californian notching his second victory of the season at Michigan International Speedway in August. Despite capping off the regular-season stretch by finishing 28th and 10th, respectively, Reddick managed to claim the 2024 Cup Series Regular Season Championship by a single point over Kyle Larson.

Once in the Playoffs, Reddick transferred all the way from the Round of 16 to 8 despite accumulating a single top-10 result through the first six Playoff events. During the stretch, he also rallied from briefly going airborne to finish 11th at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course in October.

During the Round of 8 opener at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Reddick, after winning the first stage period, was involved in a wild accident in the opening laps of the second stage period. It occurred after contact with Playoff contender Chase Elliott squeezed him into the outside wall entering the frontstretch. The contact sent both, including Brad Keselowski, spinning through the frontstretch’s infield grass

Reddick’s No. 45 Toyota bounced off the ground while transitioning from the grass to the asphalt. He rolled over once and came back to rest on all four wheels. The damage was enough to terminate Reddick’s strong event in 35th place.

Nonetheless, the Californian rebounded the following weekend at Homestead in roaring fashion. He overtook the reigning champion Ryan Blaney on the final lap and final turn to win. The victory clinched the first Championship 4 appearance for both Reddick and 23XI Racing.

He concluded the season with a sixth-place run during the finale at Phoenix. Reddick also achieved a career-best fourth place in the final driver’s standings, behind Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney and William Byron.

Despite not being in contention for his first Cup title during the finale, Reddick’s 2024 season was his best statistically. In addition to tying his career-best results of race victories and poles (three apiece), Reddick recorded career-high stats. They included 12 top fives, 21 top 10s and 597 laps led. He also achieved a career-best average finishing result of 13.2.

Reddick commenced the 2025 campaign, finishing in second place behind William Byron during the 67th running of the Daytona 500. He has a total of three top-five results and five top-10 results registered through the first 17 scheduled events. Reddick is currently in seventh place in the regular-season standings.

Through 199 previous Cup starts, Reddick has achieved eight victories. He has also claimed 10 poles, 41 top-five results and 83 top-10 results. He has led 1,737 laps and has an average finishing result of 15.8.

Tyler Reddick is scheduled to make his 200th Cup Series career start at EchoPark Speedway for the Quaker State 400. The event will also commence NASCAR’s newly formed In-Season Tournament that will occur over the next five Cup points-paying events. You can catch this weekend’s event in Hampton, Georgia, on Saturday, June 28. It will air at 7 p.m. ET on TNT.

JR Motorsports — NXS EchoPark Speedway Preview

By

Official Release

-

June 25, 2025

JR Motorsports Xfinity Team Preview
TRACK – EchoPark Speedway (1.54-mile quad-oval)
NXS RACE – Focused Health 250 (163 laps / 251.02 miles)
TUNE IN – CW, PRN, SiriusXM Channel 90 at 7:30 p.m. (ET)

Carson Kvapil

No. 1 – Registix Chevrolet

Kvapil 2025 NXS Stats

Starts: 16

Wins: 0

Top 5s: 3

Top 10s: 6

Laps Led: 61

Avg. Finish: 14.6

Points: 6th

Coming off his sixth top-10 of the season last weekend in Pocono, Carson Kvapil heads to Atlanta for his second start at the 1.54-mile speedway in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.
On tracks 1-2 miles in length, the 22-year-old Mooresville native has made 14 starts, amassing three top-fives and five top-10s with, a best finish of second coming at Dover Motor Speedway last season.
According to NASCAR Loop Data Statistics Kvapil currently ranks third in speed late in the run following last week’s race at Pocono Raceway.
Kvapil will be sporting the orange and white colors of Registix on his Chevrolet this weekend. Registix, a reverse logistics company, strives to bridge the gap between vendors and buyers, ensuring mutual success and growth.

Carson Kvapil

“We didn’t have the best results at Atlanta earlier this year, but I feel as though this team has learned a lot since then. This No. 1 Registix team will build off the momentum from Pocono and keep working to be in contention at the end. We have speed every week and I know our hard work will pay off soon.”

Justin Allgaier

No. 7 BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevrolet

Allgaier 2025 NXS Stats

Starts: 16

Wins: 3

Top 5s: 10

Top 10s: 11

Laps Led: 648

Avg. Finish: 10.9

Points: 1st

Justin Allgaier has scored one win, four top-fives and 10 top-10s in 19 career starts in Atlanta.
His lone win came during the 2021 season, where the JRM driver started sixth and led 47 laps en route to the win.
Since the shift of Atlanta to a drafting-dominant track like Daytona International Speedway or Talladega Superspeedway, Allgaier has scored a best finish of second, coming earlier this year.
According to NASCAR’s Loop Data Statistics, Allgaier currently leads the NXS to-date in several key categories, including laps run inside the top 15 (2,492), driver rating (113.1), average running position (8.25) and laps led (648).

Justin Allgaier

“We came close here in the spring, and I know we are going to have that same speed again with our BRANDT Professional Agriculture Chevrolet Friday night. JRM has always had really strong speedway cars which definitely gives added confidence anytime we go to a drafting track. Hopefully we can keep our nose clean all night long, work well with our teammates, and be up front fighting for the win when it counts.”

Sammy Smith

No. 8 Pilot Chevrolet

Smith 2025 NXS Stats

Starts: 16

Wins: 1

Top 5s: 3

Top 10s: 8

Laps Led: 40

Avg. Finish: 14.2

Points: 11th

Atlanta is one of Sammy Smith’s strongest tracks, with an average finish of 9.6 in five races there with the NXS.
Smith has one top-five and four top-10 finishes, with his best of fourth coming earlier this season on the 1.54-mile quad-oval.
Of Smith’s 41 NXS starts on tracks measuring 1-2 miles in length, he has tallied two wins, seven top-five and 21 top-10 finishes.
According to NASCAR Loop Data Statistics, Smith is ranked fourth in average running position this season at 10.67.

Sammy Smith

“I feel good looking ahead to our race at Atlanta this weekend. We’ve run really well there in the past, finishing better and better each time. We’ve been preparing to do that again and get this No. 8 Pilot Chevrolet in Victory Lane on Friday.”

Connor Zilisch

No. 88 Blues Hog Chevrolet

Zilisch 2025 NXS Stats

Starts: 15

Wins: 2

Top 5s: 5

Top 10s: 7

Laps Led: 240

Avg. Finish: 13.0

Points: 5th

Connor Zilisch enters this weekend’s race at Atlanta fresh off his second NXS win last weekend in Pocono. He won for the second time this season and the third time in his 19-race career. The victory was his first in his career on an oval. Zilisch also became the fourth driver to win multiple races this season.
Zilisch enters this weekend with four consecutive top-five finishes, plus a win and a pole position in the last two races at Pocono and Mexico City. In 15 starts this season, Zilisch has two wins, five top-fives and seven top-10 finishes.
Zilisch won his fourth pole of the 2025 NXS season at Mexico City and the fifth of his career. His four poles are the most by any NXS driver this season.
The driver of the Blues Hog Chevrolet enters Atlanta fifth in the NXS driver standings, 14 points behind fourth-place Jesse Love and 46 ahead of sixth-place.

Connor Zilisch

“We were actually pretty good at Atlanta earlier this year until we got involved in a mess late in the race. Atlanta is really chaotic. It’s a mile-and-a-half but it races like a superspeedway and things happen really fast. We’re going to have to be on our toes and something I’ve been working on is understanding the balance of when to push and be aggressive and when to take it easy. I know this No. 88 crew will prepare a great car so as long as we can find that balance and stay out of trouble, I know this Blues Hog Chevrolet will be in contention for another win at the end.”

JRM Team Updates

JR Motorsports at EchoPark Speedway: JR Motorsports has competed at EchoPark Speedway a combined 75 times in the NXS since 2006. In those starts at the 1.54-mile track, the organization has recorded four wins, 20 top-fives and 43 top-10s. The average finish is 12.6.

Souvenir Rig: JRM drivers Carson Kvapil, Justin Allgaier, Sammy Smith and Connor Zilisch will be signing autographs at the JR Motorsports / HMS-Byron/Bowman souvenir rig on Friday, June 27 at 1:20 p.m. to 1:50 p.m. ET

Trans Am Series Race Preview: Road America

By

Official Release

-

June 25, 2025

Road America
Road America SpeedTour
Buy Tickets Here

Track Facts:
Opened: 1955
Length: 4.048 Miles
Layout: 14-Turn Road Course

Qualifying:
Friday, June 27
3:50-4:25 p.m. CT

Race:
Saturday, June 28
12:35-1:50 p.m. CT
Race Length: 25 Laps/75 Minutes

Broadcast:
LIVE on SPEED SPORT 1
LIVE on YouTube
@TheTransAmSeries

Qualifying:
Saturday, June 28
3:30-4:05 p.m. CT

Race:
Sunday, June 29
1:05-2:20 p.m. CT
Race Length: 25 Laps/75 Minutes

Broadcast:
LIVE on SPEED SPORT 1
LIVE on YouTube
@TheTransAmSeries

Crossed Flags

The Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli is on its way to Road America for Round 7 of 12, kicking off the second half of the 2025 season with the Road America SpeedTour, coming straight from last weekend’s event at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

The track, which opened in 1955, is celebrating its 70th season of competition this year. The Trans Am Series has made more starts at Road America than any other circuit, with 65 events held at the 4.048-mile road course in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin since the series made its first appearance there 55 years ago in 1970. Trans Am Hall of Fame inductee Mark Donohue won the series’ first race at the track, with Horst Kwech victorious in the Under 2 Liter category.

Meet the Drivers at the Cheese Capital Cup

Plymouth, Wisconsin is the Cheese Capital of the World, with 14-percent of the cheese consumed in the United States going through the town. That is being celebrated this weekend with the Cheese Capital Cup and a high-horsepower parade from the racetrack to the town. On Friday, June 27, a parade of Trans Am cars and Optima Ultimate Street Car Competition entrants will roar to life as these powerful machines depart Road America’s Gate 6 at 5:45 p.m., arriving at Stayer Park in nearby Plymouth by 6:00 p.m. for the Cheese Capital Festival. Fans will have an exclusive opportunity to see the cars up close, meet the drivers and soak in the excitement before engines fire up again at 8:00 p.m. for the return trip.

Drivers participating in the event include TA/GT drivers Jon DeGaynor, Chris Coffey, Colin Cohen, Josh Carlson, Rob Dickey, Kaylee Bryson, Ray Kobs and Ryan Szyjakowski, and CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series drivers Adrian Wlostowski, Doug Winston, Tyler Kicera and Bob Accardo.

Join the Checkered Flag Challenge

The SpeedTour Sim Trailer will be on site at Road America, and drivers and fans alike can test their driving skills in the Checkered Flag Challenge, a sim racing face-off. With the experience free to all spectators and participants, everyone is invited to stop by the SpeedTour Sim Trailer to try the SimShop racing simulators and spin the prize wheel to win free swag. It will all be happening in the SpeedTour Town Center located near the podium outside of the Trans Am paddock.

Make-A-Wish at Road America

The Trans Am Series will welcome Lucas and his family from the Make-A-Wish Foundation to Road America as guests of CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series driver Bob Accardo (No. 39 Guthrie’s Garage/Race Marketing USA Ford Mustang) and Guthrie’s Garage.

Lucas is a 5-year-old from Onalaska, Wisconsin who is living with a liver transplant. He received his transplant in 2020, when he was just five months old. Since then, he has regular doctor visits, does monthly lab draws and receives daily medications.

Lucas adores anything to do with racecars, and he especially likes watching Kyle Busch race. Lucas, his dad and grandpa all watch races together and go to the races every summer. He’s fun and happy, and enjoys playing football and being outside. He also loves watching the Disney/Pixar movie Cars, and Cars on the Road. He has a dog and loves to ride his bike, as well.

Past Road America Victors

Seven drivers in this weekend’s field have taken the checkered flag at Road America before. Lee Saunders has the most wins at the track of any entrant, taking the victory in 2020, 2023 and 2024 in the SGT class.

TA

Chris Dyson, No. 16 GYM WEED Ford Mustang: 2021, 2020

SGT

Lee Saunders, No. 84 LandSearch LLC Dodge Viper: 2024, 2023, 2020

Tim Gray, No. 60 Ryan Companies Ford Mustang: 2013

GT

Chris Coffey, No. 97 Norwood Auto Italia/Traffic Grafix Maserati MC GT4: 2024

CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series

Mike Skeen, No. 3 Guthrie’s Garage Chevrolet Camaro: 2020

Rafa Matos, No. 60 Concord American Flagpole/Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang: 2024, 2019

CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series Pro/Am Challenge

Jared Odrick, No. 00 Black Underwear/CoolBoxx Chevrolet Camaro: 2024

Close to Home

Three drivers in this weekend’s races are from the Badger state, while another two are from Chicago suburbs just a few hours south of the track.

TA

Paul Menard, No. 3 Pittsburgh Paints/Menards Ford Mustang (Eau Claire, Wis.)

GT

Ryan Szyjakowski, No. 49 Forty 48 Competition Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport (Kiel, Wis.)

GT1 Challenge

Colin Comer, No. 6 WOT Shop/Colin’s Classic Auto Ford Mustang (River Hills, Wis.)

CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series

Gian Buffomante, No. 95 Nitro Motorsports Toyota Camry (Naperville, Ill.)

CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series Pro/Am Challenge

Keith Prociuk, No. 9 HP Tuners/ Cope Race Cars Ford Mustang (Buffalo Grove, Ill.)

Watch LIVE

There are two great free streaming options for watching this weekend’s TA/GT and CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series races. The events will stream live on Trans Am’s YouTube channel, @TheTransAmSeries, as well as on SPEED SPORT 1. SPEED SPORT 1 is the first network dedicated to free, live motorsports, presenting hundreds of live events and thousands of hours of premier motorsport content and lifestyle programming from around the globe annually. SPEED SPORT 1 can be watched on Amazon Prime Video, Roku, PlutoTV, Sling Freestream and more. For more information on how to watch, click here.

CD Racing Finishes 1-2

Last weekend at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, CD Racing earned a 1-2 finish, with Matthew Brabham driving the No. 21 GYM WEED Ford Mustang to GYM WEED Winners Circle, and Chris Dyson (No. 16 GYM WEED Ford Mustang) finishing second. The team returns with two entries this weekend, but in Saturday’s event, it will be Humaid Masaood behind the wheel of the No. 21 allgram Ford Mustang. Team owner Dyson has two past wins at Road America, earning back-to-back victories in 2020 and 2021. He has also scored multiple IMSA wins at the track, as well as a Pirelli World Challenge victory. With 27-career wins in the National Championship, Dyson sits fourth on the all-time TA wins list, and a triumph this weekend would tie him with fellow Hall of Famer Tommy Kendall.

Brandon Jones Returns

TA points leader Paul Menard (No. 3 Pittsburgh Paints/Menards Ford Mustang) will have a teammate this weekend, with Paul Gentilozzi’s 3GT Racing unloading two cars at Road America. NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Brandon Jones will get behind the wheel of 3GT’s second car, the No. 31 Menards/Masterforce Tools Ford Mustang. Jones has made one start with the team this season, finishing sixth in the Sebring International Raceway season opener. Jones has two previous Trans Am Series starts at Road America, with a best finish of fourth in 2018. He has also made seven Xfinity starts at the track, earning a best result of fifth in 2022. Since he last took the green flag in the Trans Am Series, Jones has scored one win in the Xfinity Series at Darlington Raceway, and he currently sits seventh in the point standings.

Bryson an XGT Winner

2024 SGT Champion Kaylee Bryson (No. 02 Logical Systems Inc. Chevrolet Corvette) made the switch to the XGT class in 2025, and after three races, she can now say that she’s an XGT winner after taking the checkered flag last weekend at Mid-Ohio. The 24-year-old PMH Powering Diversity Scholarship recipient now leads the championship standings over Paul Tracy, who won the first two events of the season.

Drissi Brings Experience to Road America

Tomy Drissi (No. 8 Trench Shoring Co./Motul Chevrolet Camaro) comes to this weekend’s race at Road America with experience on his side, with 16 Trans Am starts at the 4.048-mile road course dating back to his rookie season in 1999. His best finish at the track is fifth, which he has achieved several times in his career, including his last two starts at the circuit. In addition to Trans Am experience, Drissi has also made two NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at Road America in 2015 and 2016.

GT1 Competition Heats Up

This weekend will see the largest number of GT1 Challenge competitors on the entry list since the class began competition this season. Four drivers will take the green flag in the class: points leader Jon DeGaynor (No. 04 Speed Dream’n Racing Ford Mustang), second-place Rob Dickey (No. 64 Forty 48 Competition Chevrolet Camaro) and newcomers to the class Colin Comer (No. 6 WOT Shop/Colin’s Classic Auto Ford Mustang) and Ray Kobs (No. 00 AuditWell Chevrolet Corvette).

This weekend’s race is especially important to Dickey, whose Forty 48 Competition team is located 15 minutes north of the racetrack. The team’s name is derived from Road America’s length of 4.048 miles. Dickey made his GT1 debut in his 2004 Trotnow chassis at Road Atlanta earlier this season, completing every lap and taking his first-career Trans Am victory. In addition to the GT1 entry, Forty 48 is also fielding GT entrant Ryan Szyjakowski in the No. 49 Forty 48 Competition Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 Clubsport. Forty 48 Competition is a full-service race shop supporting customer-owned cars since its founding in 2022. Along with WRL and SCCA club racing, Forty 48 supports customers in running with SVRA, VSCDA and other vintage racing sanctioning bodies.

Paul Menard (598)
Adam Andretti (552)
Tomy Drissi (525)
Amy Ruman (521)
Chris Dyson (473)

Kaylee Bryson (211)
Paul Tracy (177)
Danny Lowry (154)
Mustafa Bakir (73)
Austin Hill (55)

Joshua Carlson (310)
Milton Grant (145)
Patrick Utt (135)
Ray Mason (70)
Lee Saunders (65)

Chris Coffey (332)
Mike Fitzpatrick (65)

Jon DeGaynor (100)
Rob Dickey (50)

Billy Griffin (153)

Carey Grant (145)
Tim Gray (65)
David Melnick (55)

Colin Cohen (209)
Todd Napieralski (83)
Jack Rinke (77)
Rich Rinke (72)
Jeff Lindstrom (55)

McKee On Top x3

The CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series saw its fifth different winner in the opening six races of the 2025 season when Tristan McKee (No. 28 Spire/Gainbridge/SLR-M1 Chevrolet Camaro) took the checkered flag at Mid-Ohio, making him the second-youngest winner in Trans Am history at 14 years, 10 months and 19 days old. The young driver’s victory extended his lead in the championship standings, as he now holds a 24-point advantage over the season’s only two-time winner, Thomas Annunziata. In addition to leading the championship standings, McKee also leads the Rookie of the Year race, as well as the standings for the Young Gun Award, which comes with a $20,000 prize for the top driver under the age of 25.

Annunziata Pulling Triple Duty

A two-time winner this season, Thomas Annunziata (No. 90 Gazoo Racing/Nitro Motorsports Toyota Camry) is hoping to add three more checkered flags to his collection this weekend. In addition to competing in Sunday’s CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series race, Annunziata announced that he is going to be running in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series’ inaugural race at Lime Rock Park with sponsorship support from TA team owner Claudio Burtin’s Top Liner. He will also be competing in the ARCA Menards Series race at Lime Rock that same day with Nitro Motorsports. Annunziata finished second in the TA2 event at Lime Rock Park in May, and he has laps under his belt at the short road course that most of his competitors won’t. With the NASCAR and ARCA events on Saturday, Annunziata will start from the back of the field on Sunday, without practicing or qualifying at Road America. The 20 year old has two previous starts at the track, finishing fifth in 2024 and sixth in 2023.

Kicera Back Behind the Wheel

Although he’s been in the paddock every weekend as a driver coach for Nitro Motorsports, Tyler Kicera hasn’t been entered in a TA2 race since Watkins Glen International last season. Kicera will finally get back behind the wheel this weekend, keeping the drivers he coaches honest by piloting the No. 10 Nitro Motorsports Toyota Camry. The Pennsylvania native has three previous starts at Road America, claiming a best finish of fourth in 2020.

SCCA Success

Two competitors in Sunday’s CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series race have recently hit the track at America’s National Park of Speed, competing in the SCCA Super Tour event at Road America earlier this month. Jared Odrick (No. 00 Black Underwear/CoolBoxx Chevrolet Camaro) finished fifth in the GT2 class, while Gian Buffomante (No. 95 Nitro Motorsports Toyota Camry) took the checkered flag in the Formula Enterprises 2 class. Both competitors also have special ties to Road America. Last year, Odrick broke through to score his first-career Pro/Am Challenge victory at the track. For Buffomante, Road America is somewhat of a home track, as he’s from the Chicago suburb of Naperville, just a few hours south, and the 17 year old’s father, TA2 Champion Tony Buffomante, scored a win at Road America in 2016.

Pro/Am Race Tightens

Last weekend at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Jared Odrick (No. 00 Black Underwear/CoolBoxx Chevrolet Camaro) claimed his second victory of 2025 in the CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series Pro/Am Challenge, putting him within just one marker of points leader and 2024 champion Barry Boes (No. 27 Accio Data/SLR-M1 Chevrolet Camaro). Boes has had a strong season thus far, and has earned four podium finishes, but only has one victory in 2025, which he scored at Sonoma Raceway. The winningest Pro/Am Driver this season is Keith Prociuk, who holds three victories, but sits third in the point standings after missing Round 4 at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca. However, those wins will matter more and the points will matter less after every championship contender has competed in nine events, as their three worst finishes or missed races are removed from the points tally and only their top-nine finishes are counted.

Tristan McKee (557)
Thomas Annunziata (533)
Rafa Matos (505)
Sam Corry (456)
Adrian Wlostowski (436)

Barry Boes (574)
Jared Odrick (573)
Keith Prociuk (518)
Tom Sheehan (471)
Doug Winston (414)

Tristan McKee (557
Thomas Annunziata (533)
Sam Corry (456)
Julian DaCosta (419)
Gian Buffomante (395)

Tristan McKee (557)
Sam Corry (456)
Julian DaCosta (419)
Gian Buffomante (395)
Noah Harmon (359)

20-Year-Old Jonathan Shafer To Contest Virginia Late Model Triple Crown With Hettinger Racing

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Official Release

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June 25, 2025

Three-Race Miniseries Begins This Weekend at South Boston Speedway

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (June 25, 2025) – The Virginia Late Model Triple Crown features three of the East Coast’s biggest Late Model Stock races, and 20-year-old Jonathan Shafer has cast his lot with Hettinger Racing for the popular grassroots miniseries that begins this weekend at South Boston Speedway.

Shafer will drive the No. 5 Chevrolet in Saturday night’s Thunder Road Harley-Davidson 200 at the .4-mile oval before tackling the July 19 Hampton Heat at Larry King Law’s Langley Speedway in Hampton and the Sept. 27 ValleyStar Credit Union 300 at Martinsville Speedway.

“Running up front and winning any one of these races would go a long way toward advancing my racing career,” Shafer said. “The Triple Crown carries a lot of prestige, and NASCAR and FloSports put a lot of promotion behind it. You want to win no matter where you’re racing, but the Triple Crown brings out the best. Any success is hard earned, and it resonates when you’re out there talking to companies trying to secure future partnerships.”

The entire Virginia Late Model Triple Crown is broadcast on FloSports, and beyond just streaming the racing action, FloSports partnered with NASCAR to raise the purse to $50,000, with the overall champion earning $20,000, making it the richest prize in the event’s 12-year history.

“At all three of these tracks in the Triple Crown, I’ve had quite a few starts,” Shafer said. “At Martinsville, in particular, we ran second until a mechanical failure in 2021, and in 2023, we went from 40th to 10th. And at South Boston in 2022, we were running up in the top-five, and that’s a place where I feel like I’ve always been strong and competitive. Being paired with Hettinger Racing for this year’s run, I know we can put some good finishes together.”

Shafer is an experienced racer with 35 starts on the zMAX CARS Tour, in addition to select starts across the ARCA Menards Series and NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. The Ashland, Ohio, native scored a breakout CARS Tour victory on Aug. 12, 2022 at Ace Speedway in Altamahaw, North Carolina, where in his 31st start, he led wire-to-wire after securing his second career CARS Tour pole.

“In my mind, the CARS Tour is the most competitive short-track series there is right now, just because of how close the field is and how tight the equipment is. The team has to be good, the driver can’t make a mistake, and everybody’s got to work together,” Shafer said.

“In the Triple Crown, you’ll have the series regulars and the same big hitters, but with a lot more cars. I think the experience from the CARS Tour sets you up really well for the Triple Crown because it seems like all the CARS Tour drivers run up front in the Triple Crown.”

Hettinger Racing is a staple of the CARS Tour, regularly fielding two or more cars for aspiring drivers as they climb the racing ladder. Owned by second-generation racer Chris Hettinger, the team also competes in select ARCA and Truck Series races. The operation serves as a one-stop shop for drivers looking to compete in these stepping-stone divisions and advance to the NASCAR Xfinity Series and, ultimately, the top-tier NASCAR Cup Series.

“Jonathan’s a talented racer who can compete at a high level,” said Hettinger, who began his racing career behind the wheel, winning in Midgets and Late Models before becoming a fulltime team owner. “We’ve known each other for a long time, so there’s a natural trust and familiarity there. The Triple Crown is a tough stretch of races, but I believe we’ve got the team and the driver to make a serious run at it.”

Shafer has known Hettinger for nearly as long as he has been racing. Hettinger’s daughter, Katie, raced quarter midgets and Junior Late Models, and Shafer raced with Katie while both were in their early teens.

“I’ve known Chris for a while, and he’s always had a really good program with really good people. The quality of his race team stands out,” Shafer said. “I think we can accomplish a lot together.”

Shafer and Hettinger Racing will take to the track for the first time on Friday at South Boston with two practice sessions, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. EDT and from 4:15 p.m. to 7:45 p.m., respectively. They will have Friday night and Saturday morning to review data before hitting the track again for three more practice sessions on Saturday afternoon – 1:15-1:50 p.m., 2:15-2:45 p.m. and 3:10-3:30 p.m. Qualifying starts at 4:15 p.m. and the green flag for the Thunder Road Harley-Davidson 200 drops at 7 p.m.

TOP FUEL’S JOSH HART LOOKS TO MAKE BIG MOVE AT SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT NHRA NATIONALS

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Official Release

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June 24, 2025

NORWALK, Ohio (June 24, 2025) – Always a highlight of the season for every driver in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series, this weekend’s 19th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Summit Motorsports Park represents a great opportunity for Top Fuel’s Josh Hart.

The standout has made solid improvements in his 12,000-horsepower R+L Carriers dragster and Hart would love nothing more than to pick up his first win of the season as the NHRA season hits the halfway point.

He’s had success in Norwalk, advancing to the final round in 2022 and with a massive R+L Carriers location directly across the street from Summit Motorsports Park, a win would mark a special moment for Hart and his team.

It’s also a busy weekend for the two-time Top Fuel event winner, as he’ll be racing in the Flexjet NHRA Factory Stock Showdown category. But Hart has embraced the double-duty and is ready for the Top Fuel team to make another big move this weekend in Norwalk.

“I would like to get back to the feeling we had in 2022 (in Norwalk) when we were on a roll and then a storm came through and flipped the track conditions,” Hart said. “That was a strong weekend for this team, and I think we can get back to that kind of performance. This sport is humbling but I also think it rewards hard work. This R+L Carriers team has been really working hard, and I am looking forward to seeing positive results in Norwalk.

“We have been coming off the trailer and making good runs on Friday, which is critical. If you can get ahead of the track on Friday it sets you up for success. This past weekend (in Richmond), the track chewed us up and spit us out on Saturday and Sunday. We are not going to hang our heads. We are getting back to work even though this is back-to-back races.”

In 2024, Antron Brown (Top Fuel), Bob Tasca III (Funny Car), Aaron Stanfield (Pro Stock), and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) all won at a race that will again be broadcast on FOX and FS1 in 2025, including eliminations coverage beginning at 2 p.m. ET on FOX on Sunday.

It is the 10th of 20 races during the 2024 NHRA season and the race in Norwalk is annually one of the premier stops on the NHRA tour. The packed weekend includes two rounds of qualifying on Friday, including a must-see night session and fireworks, two rounds of qualifying – and the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge – on Saturday and eliminations on Sunday.

This year’s event promises even more excitement, as the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals plays host to the GETTRX Pro Stock NHRA All-Star Callout for the first time. This specialty event will feature eight Pro Stock drivers battling for top honors.

For Hart, the double-duty keeps him focused and he’s ready to thrive in Norwalk. He’s picked up round wins in Top Fuel at five of the past seven races, but advancing to the semifinals and beyond is the next goal. It’s never easy in the loaded Top Fuel ranks, a group that includes points leader and racing legend Tony Stewart, Shawn Langdon, Justin Ashley, reigning world champ Antron Brown, Brittany Force and Clay Millican.

But Hart is ready for that challenge, as well as the busy responsibility of driving in two separate classes in one weekend.

“When I have both cars on the track it makes for a busy and fun weekend,” said Hart, who is ninth in Top Fuel points. “I am blessed to be able to have this opportunity, and I want to thank everyone at R+L Carriers and Burnyzz Speed Shop for the support they provide both my teams. David Davies and his DHDR team keep us on track in Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown so that is a big plus. These are the races that really make me feel fortunate.”

Tasca scooped up his second Norwalk win over Ron Capps last year. This season’s Funny Car field continues to be led by reigning champion Prock and his John Force Racing teammate Jack Beckman. Others to watch are four-time champion Matt Hagan, Phoenix winner Paul Lee, J.R. Todd and Gainesville winner Chad Green.