BUBBA WALLACE GETS STAGE WIN AND TOP-10 FINISH AT TALLADEGA
TALLADEGA, Ala. (April 27, 2025) – Bubba Wallace led the Toyota Camry XSEs Sunday afternoon at Talladega Superspeedway, coming home in 10th when the checkered flag flew. The driver of the No. 23 Leidos Toyota Camry XSE finished fifth in Stage 1 and won Stage 2, his second stage win of the season, as he gained valuable points on the day. The result for Wallace is his fourth top-10 finish of the season in just 10 races so far.
Chase Briscoe and Ty Gibbs finished 17th and 19th, respectively, but were towards the top of the race’s lap leaders, with Gibbs leading the most laps on the day with 32.
The NASCAR Cup Series heads back to the Lone Star State and Texas Motor Speedway, next Sunday, May 4th.
Toyota Post-Race Recap NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) Talladega Superspeedway Race 10 of 36 – 500.08 miles, 188 laps
TOYOTA FINISHING POSITIONS
1st, Austin Cindric*
2nd, Ryan Preece*
3rd, Kyle Larson*
4th, William Byron*
5th, Joey Logano*
10th, BUBBA WALLACE
16th, TYLER REDDICK
17th, CHASE BRISCOE
19th, TY GIBBS
20th, ERIK JONES
23rd, DENNY HAMLIN
24th, RILEY HERBST
32nd, JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK
37th, CHRISTOPHER BELL
*non-Toyota driver
TOYOTA QUOTES
BUBBA WALLACE, No. 23 Leidos Toyota Camry XSE, 23XI Racing
Finishing Position: 10th
A stage win and a top-10 finish today. Take us through your race.
“I don’t really know what to think as I think we were all waiting for a big wreck there at the end and it never happened. We ended up 10th, so that’s a good day for us. We didn’t need a new winner, but congrats to Austin (Cindric). All-in-all, our Leidos Toyota Camry was pretty solid today. Was nice not having to riding around, running half throttle and save fuel. We did at times, but not as much. Clean race and now, onto Texas.”
CHRISTOPHER BELL, No. 20 Sport Clips Haircuts Toyota Camry XSE, Joe Gibbs Racing
Finishing Position: 37th
How are you after that hit?
“I think I feel really good. I don’t know, my HANS device, my seat, my belts, everything seemed like it did well. It was a big one, that’s for sure.”
What control do you have in these situations?
“Nothing. Whenever you’re the car getting pushed, you’re completely at the mercy of the guy behind you. You know, Denny (Hamlin) didn’t do anything wrong. You have to push, you have to push to be successful. It’s a product of the cars we race with this rules package.”
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 31 electrified options.
LANGDON GETS SECOND WIN OF 2025 AT CHARLOTTE FOUR-WIDE NATIONALS Wins 1,000th NHRA Top Fuel race
CONCORD, N.C. (April 27, 2025) – In the 1,000th NHRA Top Fuel race, Shawn Langdon captured victory in the NHRA Four-Wide Nationals at zMAX Dragway outside of Charlotte. Langdon had to defeat Toyota teammates Justin Ashley and Antron Brown, along with Tony Stewart, to take home his second Wally Trophy of the season and the 21st of his career.
For Ashley, it’s his final round of the season and the second for Brown who won the season opener in Gainesville. Steve Torrence was the other Toyota Top Fuel Dragster to advance out of round one.
In Funny Car, Ron Capps was the runner-up on Sunday, his second final round appearance. Capps put down a solid 3.920 elapsed time in the final run but was just not enough to claim victory. J.R. Todd made the semifinals on Sunday.
Toyota Post-Race Recap NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series NHRA Four-Wide Nationals zMAX Dragway Race 5 of 20
TOYOTA TOP FUEL FINISHING POSITIONS
Name
Car
Final Result
Round-by-Round
Shawn Langdon
Future Energy Solutions Toyota Top Fuel Dragster
Winner
Adv. (3.728) v. J. Hart (3.755 – holeshot) v. I. Zetterstrom (3.753) v. S. Farley (4.260) W (3.773) v. J. Ashley (3.781) v. B. Force (3.834) v. J. Hart (6.727) W (3.714) v. J. Ashley (3.776) v. T. Stewart (3.792) v. A. Brown (5.441)
Justin Ashley
SCAG Power Equipment Toyota Top Fuel Dragster
Runner-up
W (3.749) v. B. Force (4.044 – holeshot) v. Paton (4.020) v. S. Massey (9.855) Adv. (3.781) v. S. Langdon (3.773) v. B. Force (3.834) v. J. Hart (6.727) L (3.776) v. S. Langdon (3.714) v. T. Stewart (3.792) v. A. Brown (5.441)
Antron Brown
Matco Tools Toyota Top Fuel Dragster
Finals
Adv. (5.811) v. D. Foley (3.775) v. C. Millican (No time) v. S. Reed (4.999) W (3.751) v. T. Stewart (3.760) v. D. Foley (3.850) v. S. Torrence (3.961) L (5.441) v. S. Langdon (3.714) v.J. Ashley (3.776) v. T. Stewart (3.792)
Steve Torrence
CAPCO Contractors Toyota Top Fuel Dragster
Semi-finals
W (3.747) v. T. Stewart (3.774 – holeshot) v. D. Kalitta (3.755) v. L. Joon (8.651) L (3.961) v. A. Brown (3.751) v. T. Stewart (3.760) v. D. Foley (3.850)
Doug Kalitta
Mac Tools Toyota Top Fuel Dragster
First Round
L (3.755) v. S. Torrence (3.747) v. T. Stewart (3.774 – holeshot) v. L. Joon (8.651)
TOYOTA FUNNY CAR FINISHING POSITIONS
Name
Car
Final Result
Round-by-Round
Ron Capps
NAPA 100th Anniversary Toyota GR Supra Funny Car
Runner-up
Adv. (3.936) v. A. Prock (3.902) v. B. Hull (4.020) v. C. Pedregon (4.339) Adv. (3.945) v. A. Prock (3.930) v. H. Green (4.073) v. J. Todd (Red light violation) L (3.920) v. A. Prock (3.870) v. A. DeJoria (3.933) v. M. Hagan (3.939)
J.R. Todd
DHL Toyota GR Supra Funny Car
Semi-finals
W (3.942) v. H. Green (3.969) v. D. Wilkerson (4.078) v. B. Tasca III (4.119) L (Red light violation) v. A. Prock (3.930) v. R. Capps (3.945) v. H. Green (4.073)
*= Non-Toyota driver
TOYOTA QUOTES
SHAWN LANGDON, Future Energy Solutions Toyota Top Fuel Dragster, Kalitta Motorsports
TF Final Result: Winner
How does this win feel?
“My team, man! These guys – they’re amazing. I didn’t hold my own weight on the starting line. I was a little slow (on the start), I don’t know why. But, I had a good race car and Connie Kalitta (team owner) leads the way. Everything goes to Connie. Fortunate to drive a race car for him. We had Future Energy Solutions on the car, everyone at Kalitta Air. Brian (Husen, crew chief), he’s amazing. That right there is why we love having Brian on board. He’s the backbone for this team. All the credit to the crew guys, hats off to them. Great win, the 1,000th Top Fuel win. Pretty cool!”
RON CAPPS, NAPA 100th Anniversary Toyota GR Supra Funny Car, Ron Capps Motorsports
FC Final Result: Runner-up
Describe your day.
“Looking back now, it stings to lose a close race like that, but for the fans, to have all four cars go down the track (pause) I just told Guido (Dean Antonelli, crew chief) how impressed I was. Not sure how many cars went down the track on all runs – qualifying runs and three elimination rounds like we did with the NAPA 100 Toyota GR Supra Funny Car. That’s a huge accomplishment with the weather changes we’ve had throughout the weekend. We kept choice of lane throughout the day and we knew (Austin) Prock was going to be tough to beat again. Guido made a pretty big change to pick the speed up in the middle of the track and I really thought it was going to get the win light. I saw the solid light but we gave them a run for their money. All the hard work, all our NAPA guys showed ‘NAPA Know How’ and no better time to do that than to celebrate the 100th anniversary.”
# # #
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 31 electrified options.
Life on the road is full of adventure — and for many travelers, it’s made even better by sharing it with a furry companion. Designing a dog-friendly campervan takes careful planning to ensure your pet is not only included but truly comfortable and safe on every journey. One of the most important decisions in this process? Choosing the best dog crate for campervan life.
After plenty of research and real-world experience, one brand stands out for travelers who refuse to compromise on safety, durability, and comfort: Impact Dog Crates. If you’re serious about building a campervan that keeps both you and your dog happy, investing in a proper crate setup is essential — and here’s why Impact makes all the difference.
Why Your Campervan Needs to Be Dog-Ready
Van life with a dog isn’t quite the same as living in a traditional home. In a van, everything has to serve multiple purposes, withstand the elements, and work within limited space. When you design your van with your pet in mind from the beginning, you avoid common problems like cluttered spaces, safety hazards, and stressed-out pups.
Key reasons to prioritize a dog-friendly design:
Safety during travel: Sudden stops, bumps, or turns can seriously injure an unrestrained dog.
Routine and security: Dogs feel more relaxed when they have a predictable resting spot, even when the world outside changes daily.
Organization: A designated spot for your dog’s crate and supplies helps keep the tiny living space functional.
Compliance: Many campgrounds and parks require pets to be contained when left unattended.
In short, a crate isn’t just a nice extra in your build — it’s a core part of making van life work for dog owners.
Why the Best Dog Crate for a Campervan Matters
Not every dog crate is up to the challenge of life on the road. Campervan travel is tough on gear. Between changing temperatures, bumpy roads, limited storage, and the need for quick transitions, your dog’s crate must be:
Sturdy and escape-proof
Comfortable and inviting for long hours
Space-efficient for your limited floorplan
Easy to move and secure when traveling
Built to last, no matter where your adventures take you
Unfortunately, many standard wire crates or plastic carriers simply don’t meet these standards — and replacing a broken crate in the middle of a trip isn’t an option you want to face.
Why We Chose Impact Dog Crates
When we started designing our van layout, we quickly realized that we needed a crate that checked all the boxes. After digging into reviews, recommendations from other van lifers, and firsthand testing, we found that Impact Dog Crates delivered exactly what we needed — and more.
Here’s what makes Impact Dog Crates the best choice for a Dog-Friendly Campervan setup:
1. Durability You Can Count On
Built from aircraft-grade aluminum, Impact crates are practically indestructible. They’re resistant to bumps, temperature swings, moisture, and the general wear and tear that comes with travel. Unlike soft-sided crates or wire frames that can collapse or rust, an Impact crate handles the roughest journeys without missing a beat.
2. Space-Smart Design
In a van, every inch matters. Impact offers a variety of crate sizes, including models that fit perfectly under a bed platform or in a rear storage area. Their clean, rectangular shape makes stacking and securing easy — no awkward, wasted space like you find with rounded or bulky crates.
3. Collapsible Options for Flexibility
For those who need even more adaptability, Impact offers collapsible crates that fold down in seconds. When you need more floor space, it’s easy to store the crate temporarily without wrestling with complicated parts or fragile pieces.
4. Safe, Quiet Rides
Nobody wants a rattling crate ruining the peaceful drive through the mountains. Impact’s solid construction means no noisy clattering, even over gravel roads. Plus, their heavy-duty latches and strong frame keep your dog secure and minimize distractions for the driver.
5. Ventilation Without Overexposure
The crate’s strategic ventilation holes ensure proper airflow while creating a cozy, den-like atmosphere inside. Your dog gets the fresh air they need without feeling overly exposed to the constant movement and stimuli of van life.
Designing Around the Crate: Tips for a Seamless Campervan Build
Once we decided on the Impact crate, designing the rest of the campervan became much simpler. Here’s what we recommend if you want a seamless dog-friendly setup:
Plan the crate location early: Ideally, under a raised bed or built into a storage area for stability.
Secure it properly: Use tie-downs or mounting brackets to prevent movement during travel.
Add a comfortable mat: Padding inside the crate will help your dog settle after hikes or long drives.
Keep dog supplies nearby: Collapsible water bowls, leashes, and food containers should be within arm’s reach to make daily routines easier.
This way, your dog’s crate becomes an integrated part of the van — not an afterthought you have to work around later.
Life on the Road With an Impact Crate
Since making the switch, we’ve noticed a huge difference in how our dog handles life on the move. She’s calmer when we’re driving, settles faster at night, and even prefers her crate over sleeping on our bed. The stability and familiarity of her crate give her a sense of home, no matter where we end up parking.
Beyond that, knowing she’s safe during travel — even on winding mountain roads — gives us peace of mind that’s priceless when you live on the road.
Designing a Dog-Friendly Campervan means thinking about every member of the family — including the four-legged ones. By choosing the best dog crate for campervan life, you ensure safety, comfort, and peace of mind every mile of the journey.
Impact Dog Crates have proven time and again that they are built not just for durability, but for real life — real dogs, real adventures, real freedom. If you’re serious about creating a van setup that works for everyone, this is the upgrade you won’t regret.
Tom Vialle Wins 250SX Class and Recaptures Points Lead
Pittsburgh, Pa., (April 27, 2025) Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cooper Webb withstood heavy pressure to earn his fifth win of the 2025 Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship. The Pittsburgh Supercross victory helped secure Webb’s points lead with two rounds remaining on the season.
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Chase Sexton had Webb in his sights for nearly every lap of the race, putting on two charges for the lead – both before and after a bobble that sent him off the track – but Sexton never got close enough to make a pass attempt. Sexton finished in second place, slowing his drive for the title after two consecutive wins at the previous rounds. Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Justin Cooper followed up a heat race win with his second podium of the season. The Eastern Divisional 250SX Class delivered big thrills of its own with defending champion Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Tom Vialle taking over the lead in the closing minutes to earn his season-first win and take back the points lead. The victory marked the first time in the sport’s history that a divisional championship has delivered seven different winners.
First place 450SX Class
“[I felt] a little bit of everything, man. It’s been a heck of a fight, and a rough two weeks, especially last week. So, it was much needed tonight. It was an incredible main event. We were going for it and if I made one little mistake, I knew he was going to get me. So, you want to talk about pressure, that was a lot. I’m just stoked on myself to rebound after last week to pull the holeshot and lead every lap with that kind of pressure. Man, it’s not easy to do. I’m stoked for myself, and I’m stoked for my team. I want to give it up to them. We made a bike change this week that was awesome… Last weekend was pretty hard on me and it’s great to get back up here and get another win, get the ball rolling, obviously stop the momentum that Chase had a little bit. But he’s going to be firing. I know he’s a hellova competitor.” – Cooper Webb (#2 in photo), when asked what he was feeling after the win, whether it was exhaustion or relief.
Second place 450SX Class
“It was just hard. I knew I could skim [the whoops] for a little bit but I was using a lot of energy doing that. They’re really far apart, so just wasn’t getting too much drive and Cooper wasn’t losing too much time jumping. So, I went to the jump line, made one mistake and went off the track, but other than that I felt like I was pretty solid. Coop rode a really good race. I pressured him the whole time and he didn’t make a mistake. Every time I tried to push a little bit more, I’d make a mistake. It was a tough track. You couldn’t really push too hard and there wasn’t a whole lot of separation. He rode a great race and [I’ll] come back next weekend and try to do better, but it was a tough pill to swallow losing that race. But it is what it is, and we have two more.” – Chase Sexton, when asked about his decision to switch from blitzing the whoops to jumping through the whoops.
Third place 450SX Class
“I felt like I was riding better tonight all around. Obviously a really good heat race for me, and I just didn’t really adapt to the track as well as I needed to. Those guys were really pushing, and they kept pushing to the end, and they’re running a great pace that I just really couldn’t figure out towards the middle there. I made a little bit of a charge toward them, and then lost track of them; I was kind of just in no man’s land in third. Third’s good for me tonight, it was a really good day for me, so we’ll take all the positives from this. Just gotta give it up to the whole team… Let’s keep this going.” – Justin Cooper
The penultimate round of the Eastern Divisional 250SX Class Championship was a breathtaking race from start to finish. Tom Vialle took the win after an intense back-and-forth battle for the lead with Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Nate Thrasher, who led most of the race but had to settle for second at the end. Muc-Off FXR ClubMX Yamaha’s Maximus Vohland battled Vialle early for second, and held on for his career-first podium finish. Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s RJ Hampshire took over third place in the later half of the race, but then crashed trying to work around a lapped rider. Hampshire remounted quickly to remain ahead of fifth-place finisher Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki’s Seth Hammaker. Hammaker, who held the points lead before the gate dropped, had a dramatic ride after a poor start; he made contact with several riders and pulled off one amazing save to stay on two wheels in the early laps. From there he marched forward to salvage a fifth place. The division’s points now have the top three riders separated by only three points with one round remaining for the East division – the Dave Coombs Sr. 250SX Class East/West Showdown.
First place 250SX Class
“Coming into this round I pretty much had to win. And I delivered tonight so that feels really good. I had a pretty big crash in practice, I hit my head pretty bad, but we bounced back. This track was tough tonight, but I had some good lines for the main event and could make the pass at the end. This one feels good, and I’m lucky to have the chance to fight for the title in Salt Lake City.” – Tom Vialle
Second place 250SX Class
“I was close to a win there. I could taste it, I could feel it, and [it was] just one mistake, just like last weekend, that cost me. I feel like I’ve been able to win these last two and just haven’t been able to do it. But after my Atlanta crash a couple years ago my confidence just wasn’t the same in the whoops, and I’m glad to say I’m back. I feel great and that was my strength tonight. We’ll just keep chipping away and I think we’re going to be in contention in Salt Lake to get another win there. I’ve won there before so let’s go do it again.” – Nate Thrasher (#41 in photo)
Third place 250SX Class
“We’ve been putting in so much work at the facility and it’s been such a long road for me. I can’t believe that I got here this soon with the [right foot] injury and everything. Having to come out and figure out a new way to ride with a hand brake. I came here in Pittsburgh to play with the hand brake – and I just want to give it up to all these fans. You guys were awesome tonight… [This is the] first career podium for me tonight and I feel a huge weight off my shoulders and I’m hungry for more.” – Max Vohland, who adapted a hand brake to his motorcycle due to an injury to his right foot that diminished some of that foot’s sensitivity.
Fourth place 250SX Class
“It took me a little bit to get going and then there was just a lapper in the line. I jumped left and I just hooked a little bit too far left and – man, it’s tough. I put myself in a good position tonight and I threw it away. But I’ll praise Him in glory, and I’ll praise Him in defeat. We’re still in this thing, I just need to win in Salt Lake.” – RJ Hampshire
Fifth place 250SX Class
“It was going to come down to that last [round] reagardless, and now its just winner take all for sure. I just spun off the gate there, right when I went, on the grate, and just lost it from there. I had a sketchy first two laps, but we salvaged as good as we could. A fifth place was all we had tonight after that start. One point behind, we’ll take it to Salt Lake and see who’s crowned champion.” – Seth Hammaker
The SMX Next Class, which gives the top amateur racers a chance to compete on the world stage, wrapped up its Supercross season with winner-take-all SMX Next – Supercross AMA National Championship. Muc-Off FXR ClubMX Yamaha’s Alexander Fedortsov crossed the holeshot stripe in fourth but quickly worked his way into the lead. Fedortsov had led in previous events but issues, including a flat tire while leading the Daytona Supercross, had kept him out of the winner’s circle. Fedortsov put in a strong and steady ride to capture the win when it counted most and became the 2025 SMX Next – Supercross AMA National Champion. Kawasaki Team Green’s Landen Gordon, with two wins on the season, moved steadily forward to capture second place in Pittsburgh. Kawasaki Team Green’s Enzo Temmerman, with one win in 2025, recovered from an eighth-place start to take the final spot on the podium.
SMX Next – Supercross AMA National Championship
“[It] feels insane. Honestly, I can’t believe I did it. I keep thinking about it, and it’s like I had a [lock on the win] every time, every time, and I keep losing, keep losing. I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, there’s something wrong with me or something… I just need to get it done.’ I had a great start, passed my teammate right away, and just checked out a little bit and had a really great race. I felt great on the track. No better place to do that, honestly. I’m so excited.” – Alexander Fedortsov
In the ongoing partnership with Monster Energy AMA Supercross, the auction to benefit the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital kicks off at 8:00 p.m. ET on Monday, April 28th and runs until 8:00 p.m. ET on Monday, May 12th. Items up for auction include the actual gear worn by some of the top racers at the Indianapolis Supercross as well as many outstanding donated new items. To be a part of this partnership that has already raised over two million dollars for this great organization – and possibly take home some one-of-a-kind memorabilia – please go to SupercrossLIVE.com/StJude.
Nothing can match the thrill of seeing a Monster Energy AMA Supercross in person, but streaming and broadcast viewing options are also available from nearly any location. Peacock streams each round live and on-demand. NBC will air a Sunday encore presentation of the Pittsburgh Supercross on April 27th at 1:00 p.m. ET. Select events can be viewed on NBC, CNBC, USA Network, and NBC Sports digital platforms; CNBC airs a 1:00 p.m. ET Monday encore presentation of each round. A Spanish-language, live presentation is available for every round on Telemundo Deportes’ Facebook and YouTube channels. International live coverage is available through the SuperMotocross Video Pass (supermotocross.tv) in English, Spanish and French languages. Races can also be heard live on NBC Sports Audio on SiriusXM Channel 85.
Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado hosts the penultimate round of the 2025 season; racing starts at 7:00 p.m. ET. Tickets are available for the final two rounds of the 17-round Monster Energy AMA Supercross season. For live timing, race results, video highlights, and for ticket purchases, please go to SupercrossLIVE.com.
Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is the worldwide leader in producing and presenting specialized arena and stadium-based motorsports entertainment. Properties include Monster Jam®, Monster Energy AMA Supercross, and the SMX World ChampionshipTM. Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is a subsidiary of Feld Entertainment, Inc. Visit monsterjam.com, SupercrossLIVE.com, and feldentertainment.com for more information.
About Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship:
Monster Energy AMA Supercross is the most competitive and highest-profile off-road motorcycle racing championship on the planet. Founded in America and sanctioned by the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) since 1974. Over 17 weeks, Supercross attracts some of the largest and most impressive crowds inside the most recognizable and prestigious stadiums in North America to race in front of nearly one million live fans and broadcast to millions more worldwide. For more information, visit SupercrossLIVE.com.
About the SMX World Championship:
The SMX World Championship™ is the premier off-road motorcycle racing series in the world that combines the technical precision of stadium racing with the all-out speed and endurance of outdoor racing. Created in 2022, the SMX World Championship Series combines the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship and the AMA Pro Motocross Championship into a 28-round regular season that culminates with the season-ending SMX World Championship Playoffs. Visit SuperMotocross.com for more information.
About the American Motorcyclist Association:
Founded in 1924, the AMA is a not-for-profit member-based association whose mission is to promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling. As the world’s largest motorcycling rights and event sanctioning organization, the AMA advocates for riders’ interests at all levels of government and sanctions thousands of competition and recreational events every year. The AMA also provides money-saving discounts on products and services for its members. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, the AMA honors the heroes and heritage of motorcycling. For more information, visit americanmotorcyclist.com.
Pole Winner Jesse Love Impresses at Talladega Superspeedway with Third-Place Result in the No. 2 WAT Chevrolet
Finish: 3rd Start: 1st Points: 4th
“I thought our No. 2 WAT Chevrolet was good all day today at Talladega. The guys did an incredible job. My spotter, Brandon Benesch, especially. The pit crew balled out. It was a great effort by everyone at RCR, ECR, and CT Springs. We kept ourselves in the hunt all race long. I got a really good push at the end. I was able to lift enough off Turn 2 to get big pushes. I thought that we made our bed and we weren’t in a good spot to win, then I was able to get Austin (Hill) connected to me. He was able to give me some good pushes down the backstretch for a few laps and we were able to get rolling again. It was tough how that ended, and I hope my friend Connor Zilisch is okay because that was a tough hit. I feel like I ran my best speedway race to-date and today was a step in the right direction. I love this racetrack and I am looking forward to next week. Congratulations to Austin and the No. 21 team. I am proud that RCR is back in Victory Lane. Just wish we could’ve closed out a 1-2 finish for RCR.” -Jesse Love
Austin Hill Becomes the NASCAR Xfinity Series All-Time Leader in Drafting Track Wins with Victory in the No. 21 Bennett Transportation & Logistics Chevrolet at Talladega Superspeedway
Finish: 1st Start: 2nd Points: 2nd
“We finally got a win at Talladega! Our Bennett Transportation & Logistics Chevrolet was fast all day. Everyone at RCR, ECR Engines, and CT Springs are bad to the bone like always. We really had to work for that one though. When we lost the track position after that last restart, I just locked in and started pushing the heck out of the No. 2. I knew Jesse (Love) was going to have a really good run down the backstretch, and I figured he was going to go left to the bottom. When he did, I still had help out back. When I saw the car spin to the inside, I was looking at the caution light and I could tell it was between us and the No. 27 for the win. Talladega has been a place that I’ve wanted to win at for a very long time. This goes to show that our No. 21 team can win anywhere that we go, and we are really good at this style of racing. I have to give a huge shoutout to my spotter, Derek Kneeland. Without him, I can’t do half the stuff I do in this car. He worked extremely hard on top of the roof, and we are going to celebrate this one.” -Austin Hill
Although he fired off free, Dye raced his way up to fourth and remained in the top five for a majority of the opening stage. With three laps remaining, Dye lost his help but was able to find teammates Christian Eckes and Josh Williams and linked up to finish the stage in 11th place. He pitted for right-side tires and fuel, gaining two spots on pit road, before starting the second stage fourth on the bottom lane behind his teammates. With a handful of laps remaining in the incident-free second stage, Dye fell out of contention for stage points late and decided to play it safe, crossing the line 17th. During the second stage break, he pitted for four tires, fuel and a track bar adjustment, before starting the final stage from 21st place. Dye made his only green-flag stop for fuel only on lap 68 and avoided multiple incidents, including a last-lap wreck. As the field finished under yellow, Dye went on to finish 10th, his second top-10 finish in a row.
“Throughout the race, I never felt like I could suck up to the guy in front of me very well, so that made it hard to make up any ground on whatever lane we were in. Thankfully, we played it safe when we needed to, and it worked in our favor. Our No. 10 Black Widow Trucks Chevrolet looked cool, and we came away with another top 10 and a clean race car.” – Daniel Dye
By lap 10, Eckes found both the top 10, as well as teammate Josh Williams. The pair stayed linked together and finally joined their teammate, Daniel Dye, with three laps remaining in Stage 1. Eckes finished the opening stage in fourth place, earning valuable stage points. During the stage break, he pitted for right-side tires only, picking up two spots on pit road. Eckes started Stage 2 second on the bottom with the Nos. 11 and 10 cars in tow. He led two laps during the incident-free second segment but was stuck on the bottom lane with no help, finishing the stage in 20th. During the second stage break, Eckes pitted for four tires, fuel and a track bar adjustment, before starting the final stage in 22nd. He made his only green-flag stop of the day for fuel only on lap 68. Following the pit stop, Eckes radioed that he had lost all power steering in the No. 16 LeafFilter Gutter Protection Chevy. A timely wreck on lap 78 allowed Eckes to pit to fix the Chevy’s power steering issue and put four fresh tires on while under caution. Unable to get in position to contend, Eckes laid back, anticipating the inevitable last-lap wreck. He went on to finish 25th, as the race ended under yellow.
“Disappointing finish after a hard-fought day. We had a fast No. 16 LeafFilter Gutter Protection Chevy and got some good stage points. The No. 16 guys worked hard to overcome a power steering issue and give us another chance at the end. I just couldn’t stick with the cars in front of me well enough there on the last lap, so we played it safe to keep the car clean. Not how we should have finished, but we kept the racecar clean.” – Christian Eckes
Josh Williams ran the opening laps in the inside line, while at times being taken three and four wide. On lap 16, he got shuffled to the back of the lead group, which gave him the opportunity to link up with his teammates, Christian Eckes and Daniel Dye. The trio pushed hard on the outside until the stage end, with Williams finishing it in sixth. He pitted for two right-side tires and fuel during the stage break and restarted on lap 32 on the bottom of the third row. Staying on the bottom for the majority of the second stage, Williams tailed off in the closing laps and was told by spotter Reed Sorenson to be conservative if stage points weren’t on tap late; he obliged, taking the green-white-checkered flag in 18th. Under caution, Williams stopped for four tires, fuel, and an air pressure adjustment, taking the final stage’s green flag in 19th with 57 laps to go. Twelve laps later and under green, the No. 11 Alloy Employer Services Chevy, along with the No. 10 Black Widow Trucks and No. 16 LeafFilter Gutter Protection Chevrolets, stopped for four seconds of fuel. After the field cycled back through, a wreck occurred in front of Williams, and although he avoided it, he smashed into debris and damaged the Chevy’s nose. Under caution, he pitted multiple times so the Kaulig Racing pit crew could repair the damage and put new tires on the No. 11 Chevy. However, the team was penalized for having an extra person over the wall while on the Damaged Vehicle Policy clock, and Williams was held two laps. While exiting pit road, he sped, putting him three laps down. He regained a lap and finished in 29th, two laps down.
“We had a fast car, felt a bit free early but it wasn’t like it was bad. That’s Talladega for you, you know? Sometimes, you just don’t get the luck you need.” – Josh Williams
About Kaulig Racing
Kaulig Racing™ is a full-time, multi-car NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) and NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) team, owned by award winning entrepreneur, Matt Kaulig. Established in 2016, Kaulig Racing™ has earned 27 NXS wins, made the NXS Playoffs consecutively each season since the playoff system started, and won two regular-season championships. In 2021, the team competed in select NCS events, before expanding to a two-car, full-time NCS team in 2022 and adding a third, part-time entry during the 2023 season. Since its first NCS start in 2021, the team has earned two wins. Kaulig Racing is currently fielding two full-time entries in the NCS and continues to field three full-time NXS entries. To learn more about the team, visit kauligracing.com.
Every time someone rides a motorcycle, they face a higher risk of injury than people in cars. In fact, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), motorcyclists are about 28 times more likely to die in a crash than people in cars. With numbers like these, wearing a helmet is not just smart—it’s life-saving.
Going deeper:
Why Helmets Matter
When a crash happens, the head is often the most injured part of the body. But wearing a helmet helps protect it. Helmets are designed to absorb the force of an impact and lower the risk of serious injuries. Many motorcycle accident lawyers at Vito & Dollenmaier Law have worked with riders who suffered brain injuries simply because they weren’t wearing helmets.
What is the Role of Helmets in Protecting Motorcyclists?
Helmets play a critical role in protecting motorcyclists by reducing the force that reaches the skull and brain during an accident. They are a barrier between the rider’s head and hard surfaces, like the road or another vehicle. Helmets help prevent traumatic brain injuries, skull fractures, and even death. Without a helmet, the head takes the full blow in a crash, which can lead to life-changing consequences or worse.
Helmets also shield the face from flying debris, wind, and insects. A clear visor improves visibility and lets riders focus on the road ahead. In every way, a helmet helps keep the rider safer and more alert.
What Makes Up a Helmet?
A motorcycle helmet has four main parts:
Outer Shell: This hard layer helps protect the head by spreading the force of a crash.
Impact-Absorbing Liner: This foam layer absorbs the shock and helps reduce brain injury.
Comfort Padding: This keeps the helmet snug and comfortable.
Chin Strap: This keeps the helmet in place during a crash.
Each part works together to protect a rider’s head. A helmet should always feel secure, not loose.
Full-face helmets: Cover the whole head and face. Offer the most protection.
Modular helmets: Similar to full-face, but can flip open at the front.
Open-face helmets: Cover the head and sides, but open the face.
Half-helmets: Only protect the top of the head.
Off-road helmets: Designed for dirt bikes and rough trails.
Although all helmets offer some protection, a full-face helmet is often the safest.
Do Helmets Work?
Yes, they do. Helmets lower the risk of death by 37% and head injury by 69% during crashes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That’s a big difference.
Riders who don’t wear helmets are also three times more likely to suffer brain injuries in a crash. Helmets are not just helpful—they’re essential.
Helmet Laws and Why They Matter
In some places, helmet use is the law. States and countries with strict helmet laws tend to have fewer deaths and injuries. Where helmet laws are weak or missing, more people get hurt.
Breaking helmet laws can also lead to fines and legal trouble. Even worse, it can affect insurance claims and legal cases after a crash.
Picking the Right Helmet
Not all helmets are the same. Look for safety labels like DOT, ECE, or Snell. These show the helmet meets safety rules.
Make sure the helmet:
Fits snugly
Has no cracks or dents
It is not too old (replace every 5 years or after a crash)
Feels comfortable
A good helmet shouldn’t wobble or feel too tight. Comfort helps riders wear them every time.
More Than Just Helmets
Helmets are key, but they’re just one part of staying safe. Wearing gloves, jackets, boots, and padded pants also helps. Learning how to ride safely, taking safety courses, and following the rules of the road all make a big difference.
The Final Say!
Helmets are not just gear—they are lifesavers. They protect riders from severe injuries and give them a better chance of walking away from a crash. Whether you’re a new rider or have been on the road for years, always make your helmet part of the ride.
TALLADEGA, ALABAMA - APRIL 26: Austin Hill, driver of the #21 Bennett Transportation Chevrolet, celebrates with a burnout after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series Ag-Pro 300 at Talladega Superspeedway on April 26, 2025 in Talladega, Alabama. (Photo by Logan Riely/Getty Images).
Austin Hill found himself in the right position at the right time. During the race-concluding caution on the final lap and a three-wide action for the lead involving teammate Jesse Love and Jeb Burton to win the Ag-Pro 300 at Talladega Superspeedway on Saturday, April 26.
The 31-year-old Hill from Winston, Georgia, led twice for 19 of 113-scheduled laps in an event where he started on the front row alongside his Richard Childress Racing (RCR) teammate Jesse Love and raced upfront a majority of the event. Amid the draft while battling both with Love and his fellow competitors, Austin Hill settled in the runner-up spot behind Love at the conclusion of the first stage period before he led for the first time on Lap 44, the latter of which enabled him to proceed and win the second stage period.
Through a late green-flag pit strategy and two cautions for two multi-car wrecks under the final 40 laps, Austin Hill kept his No. 21 RCR Chevrolet entry intact and jostling for the lead. Despite losing the lead at the start of a six-lap shootout, he used Love to draft his way back to the front before the final lap.
Then after Love sent the leader Connor Zilisch spinning and wrecking on the backstretch on the final lap, Austin Hill used the momentum to draw even with Love from the outside lane as Jeb Burton also went underneath Love. This brought out a caution that concluded the event. NASCAR officials then determined who was leading at the time of the caution.
NASCAR ruled that Hill was in front of both Burton and Love, adding another superspeedway venue to his racing résumé.
With on-track qualifying that determined the starting lineup occurring on Friday, April 25, Jesse Love notched his seventh Xfinity Series career pole position and the second of the 2025 campaign with a pole-winning lap at 182.240 mph in 52.546 seconds. Joining Love on the front row was teammate Austin Hill, the latter of whom clocked in his best qualifying lap at 181.591 mph in 52.734 seconds.
Prior to the event, the following names that included Anthony Alfredo, Brennan Poole and Caesar Bacarella dropped to the rear of the field due to unapproved adjustments made to their respective entries.
When the green flag waved and the race started, pole-sitter Jesse Love, who opted to start on the outside lane, quicky transitioned his No. 2 WAT Chevrolet Camaro entry to the inside lane in front of teammate Austin Hill as both led the field through the first two turns and the backstretch. With the inside lane led by Love gaining an early advantage through the backstretch, Love proceeded to lead the first lap over Hill as Justin Allgaier and Joey Gase followed suit in single-line formation. Behind, a bevy of competitors racing in two-wide formation led by Jeb Burton and rookie Taylor Gray followed suit.
Just past the first five laps of the event, Love, who was on early defensive mode by transitioning between the outside and inside lanes to maintain the draft and remain out in front, was leading over Allgaier, Gray, rookie Daniel Dye and Hill while Brandon Jones, Joey Gase, rookie William Sawalich, Jeb Burton and rookie Connor Zilisch were scored in the top 10. Love would proceed to lead through the Lap 10 mark as a majority of the front-runners migrated to a long single-line formation behind Love towards the inside lane.
At the Lap 15 mark, the field fanned out to two-packed lanes as the leader Love was on defensive mode to keep both Allgaier and Hill behind him. The field then fanned out to multiple lanes exiting the backstretch and through the frontstretch as Dye led the inside lane and Allgaier was trying to gain drafting help from teammate Carson Kvapil from the middle lane. Meanwhile, Hill ignited a charge from the outside lane while being pushed by Jeb Burton while Love led the following lap.
Then on Lap 18, Nick Sanchez, who got underneath Love through Turns 3 and 4, dueled even with Love for the lead through the frontstretch. Love would then regain his momentum from the outside lane as he had teammate Hill and a majority of competitors drafting him while Sanchez kept leading the inside lane. With Sanchez having Allgaier drafting him, a majority of the field would migrate to the outside lane. The front-runners then transitioned to the inside lane by Lap 14 as Love retained the lead over Hill, Jeb Burton, Custer, Ryan Sieg and Gray.
When the first stage period concluded on Lap 25, Love fended off the field that had fanned out to three lanes during the previous lap to capture his first Xfinity stage victory of the 2025 season. Hill, who got alongside teammate Love and nearly snatched the lead amid his challenge from the backstretch to the frontstretch, settled in second place while Creed, Eckes, Sanchez, Ryan Sieg, Josh Williams, Nick Sanchez, Harrison Burton, Justin Allgaier and Jeb Burton were scored in the top 10, respectively.
Under the stage break, the lead lap field led by Love pitted for a first round of pit service. Following the pit stops as mixed strategies ensued, Love edged Eckes off of pit road first and they were followed by Sanchez, Allgaier, Leland Honeyman Jr., Hill, Williams, Zilisch, Dye and Ryan Sieg, respectively. Not long after, Honeyman would pit for left-side tires, which moved Hill up into the top-five mark. In addition, Gray would be sent to the rear of the field due to an uncontrolled tire violation. By then, Parker Retzlaff, who made an early unscheduled pit stop to address a flat left-rear tire, took his No. 4 KeenParts.com Chevrolet Camaro entry to the garage due to a brake issue.
The second stage period started on Lap 31 as Love and Sanchez occupied the front row. At the start, both Love and Sanchez briefly muscled ahead of the pack as they were being drafted by Eckes and Allgaier, respectively, through the first two turns. Love then settled behind Sanchez through the backstretch before Eckes ignited a charge from the inside lane. As the field entered the backstretch, Sanchez was both pinned and shoved out of the draft in the middle lane as Eckes, who got underneath Sanchez, led the following lap over a hard-charging Love. Love would then return to the lead during the following lap as he was drafted by Allgaier through the first two turns and the backstretch.
At the Lap 35 mark, the field fanned out to three-stacked lanes as Sammy Smith went underneath Love to lead a lap for himself. Both Love and Smith would duel for the lead through the first two turns and the backstretch before Smith muscled his No. 8 Pilot Chevrolet Camaro entry ahead entering Turns 3 and 4.
Love then steered his No. 2 WAT Chevrolet Camaro entry to the bottom of the track through the frontstretch and lead the following lap despite having no drafting help. With Love getting shuffled from the lead from the middle lane, both Jeb Burton and Eckes charged to the front amid a tight three-wide formation within the pack. This enabled Eckes to lead the next lap from the inside lane while being drafting from Hill. By then, Burton led the middle lane while Sammy Smith led the outside lane towards the wall.
Through the Lap 40 mark, Jeb Burton, who assumed the lead two laps earlier, was leading the field as he had Sammy Smith, Allgaier, Hill, Love and Eckes all trailing him in close formation within the draft. Hill would get behind Burton before he got beneath the latter and led the Lap 44 mark. Love, Eckes and Ryan Sieg would make their way into the top-five mark over the following lap while Burton fell back to sixth and he would proceed to drop out of the top-10 mark towards Lap 46 after he got shuffled out of the draft.
When the second stage period concluded on Lap 50, Hill, who had been leading since Lap 44, fended off the field that had fanned out to three lanes to capture his fifth Xfinity stage victory of the 2025 season. Teammate Love edged Aric Almirola to settle in second while Sanchez, Sammy Smith, Zilisch, Jeb Burton, Allgaier, William Sawalich and Harrison Burton were scored in the top 10, respectively. By then, the event had featured nine lead changes with six different competitors leading at least a lap.
During the stage break, the lead lap field led by Hill returned to pit road for a second round of pit service. Following the pit stops, Love exited pit road first and he was followed by Hill, Almirola, Sawalich, Gray, Sammy Smith, Mayer, Harrison Burton, Brandon Jones and Creed, respectively.
With 57 laps remaining, which marked the halfway point of the event, the final stage period commenced as Love and Almirola occupied the front row. At the start, Love received a push from teammate Hill on the inside lane to muscle ahead of Almirola through the first two turns. The field would then quickly fan out to three lanes through the backstretch while Love, who led a six-car breakaway from the inside lane, led the following lap.
With 50 laps remaining and the field fanned out to two-stacked lanes, Love, who led since the start of the final stage period, continued to lead over teammate Hill, Sammy Smith, Jones and Matt DiBenedetto while Zilisch, Almirola, Jeb Burton, Sawalich and Jeffrey Earnhardt were scored in the top 10 over Gray, Kvapil, Honeyman, Sheldon Creed and Harrison Burton, respectively. Meanwhile, Allgaier was mired in 17th, Sanchez was down in 23rd and Katherine Legge was racing in 27th.
Then with 45 laps remaining, pit strategies ensued as select names led by Love and including Hill, Jeb Burton, Dye, Eckes, Josh Williams, Blaine Perkins, Sanchez and Anthony Alfredo pitted under green. Amid their pit stops, Brandon Jones cycled into the lead as he was being pursued by DiBenedetto, Almirola, Sawalich, Sammy Smith, Gray and more. More names that included DiBenedetto, Sammy Smith, Zilisch, Joey Gase, Kvapil and Allgaier would pit two laps later while Jones, who was among many who have yet to pit, continued to lead.
Down to the final 40 laps of the event, the top-17 competitors were racing within three seconds of one another as Jones led ahead of his Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota teammates Almirola, Sawalich and Gray. Rookie Dean Thompson, Creed, Harrison Burton, Ryan Sieg, Mayer and Jeffrey Earnhardt would follow suit in the top 10, respectively, before they all pitted during the following lap.
In the process, Jeremy Clements, who was among six competitors that had not yet pitted, remained on the track before pitting for the following lap. By then, Mason Maggio, Brennan Poole, Jesse Iwuji and Ryan Ellis also pitted their respective entries while Katherine Legge, who did not pit with the group, led a lap for herself with 38 laps remaining. Amid the pit stops, Maggio and Ellis were all penalized for speeding on pit road.
Once Legge pitted under green with 38 laps remaining, Greg Van Alst was the lone competitor out in front while a steaming pack of the lead lap group led by Almirola, Jones, Creed, Gray, Love and Thompson followed suit. The pack would catch up to Van Alst and overtake him as Jones returned to the lead with 36 laps remaining.
Then with 35 laps remaining, the caution flew when Sammy Smith, who was racing in the middle of the pack, got clipped by Jeb Burton, spun and collected Van Alst in Turn 1. In the process, Ryan Sieg was bumped by Blaine Perkins and he got sideways below the apron, spun and sustained heavy front-nose damage after he clipped the infield grass. Jeb Burton would then hit the outside wall despite dodging the carnage involving Smith and Van Alst. By then, Sawalich, who had fallen off the pace, was on pit road to address an engine issue while Creed was leading ahead of Jones, Love, Almirola, Harrison Burton, Gray, Sanchez, DiBenedetto, Mayer and Allgaier.
During the caution period, Eckes pitted to have a reported belt issue diagnosed to his No. 16 LeafFilter Chevrolet Camaro entry. Meanwhile, the rest of the field led by Creed remained on the track while select names that included Josh Williams, Jeb Burton and Sammy Smith pitted. More names that included Mayer, Poole, Clements, Alfredo, Jesse Iwuji, Legge, Joey Gase, Ryan Ellis and Mason Maggio would also pit during the caution period while the rest led by Creed remained on the track.
Down to the final 28 laps, the event restarted under green. At the start, Creed and Jones dueled in front of Love, Harrison Burton, Almirola, Sanchez, DiBenedetto and the field through the first two turns and the backstretch. Both Creed and Jones would remain dead even in front of three-stacked lanes before Creed muscled ahead from the outside lane and led the following lap. Creed would then waste no time moving in front of Jones amid the draft entering the first two turns while Love was trying to gain momentum with drafting help from Almirola. This would cause Creed to go on defensive mode on both Jones and Love as Creed led the next lap.
Soon after, with 25 laps remaining, Love got shuffled out by Almirola amid his charge to the front as Jones made his move beneath Creed to assume the lead while being pushed by Harrison Burton. The field would fan out to nearly four lanes entering the first two turns as Creed got shuffled out from the lead draft. As Creed plummeted to the rear of the field, Jones led Harrison Burton while Love muscled his way back up to third place. Zilisch would then make his way into the runner-up spot behind Love as Jones, Kvapil, Harrison Burton, Allgaier, Dye, Sanchez, Hill and Thompson were all scrambling within the draft and in the top-10 mark.
With 20 laps remaining, Zilisch, who led the previous lap, was leading ahead of teammate Kvapil, Love, Allgaier and Jones amid a three-wide action for the lead. Zilisch would have his JR Motorsports’ teammates Kvapil and Allgaier settle behind him amid the draft towards the outside lane while Hill was trying to ignite a charge from the inside lane with drafting help from Love, Sanchez and Almirola. Hill would then get alongside Zilisch through the frontstretch with 18 laps remaining, but Zilisch used the outside lane to lead the following three laps in his No. 88 WeatherTech Chevrolet Camaro entry.
Down to the final 15 laps, Hill navigated his No. 21 Bennett Transportation Chevrolet Camaro entry to the front. Hill would duel with his teammate Love during the following lap and in front of two-stacked lanes. By then, Hill led the outside lane in front of Zilisch, Sanchez, Kvapil and Allgaier while Love led the inside lane in front of Jeb Burton and Creed.
Then with 13 laps remaining, the caution returned when Almirola, who was racing in 14th place, made a move from the middle to the outside lane and got himself turned across the front nose of Katherine Legge in the backstretch. In the process, Almirola smacked the outside wall on the driver’s right side while both he and Legge collected Jones and Jeffrey Earnhardt after they shot back dead left across the track, thus knocking all four out of contention. At the time of caution, Hill was leading ahead of Zilisch, Love, Sanchez and Jeb Burton.
As the field attempted to restart under green with seven laps remaining, Leland Honeyman Jr. spun to the bottom of the track while choosing his lane for the restart. Honeyman’s incident, which dropped him to the rear of the file. This resulted in the rest of the field scrambling for respective lane options and caused NASCAR to postpone the restart for the following lap.
The start of the next restart with six laps remaining featured Hill briefly leading Zilisch and the field to the start before Zilisch and Sanchez overtook the former. Sanchez would then lead the following lap before Zilisch made his way back to the front, beginning with four laps remaining.
With three laps remaining and the field stacked in four-tight drafting lanes, Allgaier made his move beneath teammate Zilisch, who was on defensive mode, for the lead as he led a lap for himself. Zilisch, however, would use the outside lane to muscle back ahead through the first two turns. Through the backstretch, Jeb Burton would charge to the rear bumper of Kvapil and make a move beneath the latter. Kvapil would then get pinned and shoved out of the draft amid a tight four-wide actions through Turns 3 and 4 as Love, Burton and Allgaier all had momentum and were trying to gain runs on the leader Zilisch.
When the white flag waved and the final lap started, Zilisch held a narrow lead over Jeb Burton as the latter went underneath the former for his bid for the lead. Both Zilisch and Burton dueled for the top spot through the first two turns and in front of three-stacked rows as Love charged to the rear bumper of Zilisch while being drafted by Hill.
Then in the backstretch, Love, who attempted to make a move beneath Zilisch, turned Zilisch as the latter spun and hit the backstretch’s inside wall head-on. As a result, the caution flew and the event was deemed official. By then, however, Burton, Love and Hill were dueling against one another in three-wide formation as NASCAR officials were left to determine who was ahead of the remaining two when the caution flew.
Then upon review of the footage, Hill was ruled out in front of both Burton and Love at the moment of caution and thus, he was declared the official winner for his third NASCAR Xfinity Series victory of the 2025 season.
With the victory, Hill, who became the first three-time race winner of this season, notched his first-ever win at Talladega, his ninth on a superspeedway venue and his 12th of his Xfinity career. The victory was the ninth of the year for the Chevrolet nameplate and the 101st in the Xfinity division for Richard Childress Racing as the organization also notched its third at Talladega.
“Man, we really had to work for that one,” Hill said on the frontstretch on the CW Network. “Our car was really good. Everybody at [Richard Childress Racing] and ECR Engines are bad to the bone, like always. I thought that we were done. I just locked in and started pushing the heck out of [Love].
Me and my teammate, Jesse, we worked really well together all day for the most part. I was pushing him as hard as I possibly could on the top. nd I knew he was gonna have a really good run down the backstretch. I figured he was gonna go left and try to get to the bottom. When he went left to go to the bottom, I knew I still had help outback, so I was just trying to keep my help outback. I see [Zilisch] spinning to the inside. I’m like looking left, looking at the [caution] light and I couldn’t tell. I knew that it was either me or [Burton].”
“Man, to win’em anyway that you win’em is always great and to finally conquer Talladega, that’s something I’ve been wanting to do for a really long time,” Hill added. “I just really wanted to win [at Talladega]. We’ve won at all these other superspeedways and to finally get it done at all the superspeedways that we go to, it just goes to show this No. 21 team can win at any of them. We’re really good at this style of racing. I’m gonna give it up to [spotter Derek Kneeland] today. He worked extremely hard up on top of that roof and we’re gonna celebrate this one.”
Jeb Burton, who was attempting to notch his third career Xfinity victory and his first since Talladega in April 2023, settled in second place. Love led a race-high 50 laps and was striving for redemption since being stripped of his Rockingham Speedway victory due to his car failing the post-race inspection process, settled in third place.
The runner-up result left Burton both dejected and disappointed over NASCAR’s ruling of awarding the victory to Hill as the former felt that he had been scored the leader at the moment of caution. During his post-race interview, Burton did not mince his words as he called for NASCAR to double-check the footage to determine who was leading when the final-lap caution flew.
“I felt like when the caution flew, I was ahead of [Hill],” Burton said. “I don’t know if we can call it or what. He continued, I don’t see [Hill] ahead of me at all any of this [caution footage] time. Right there, you can see my nose is in front of [Hill]. I don’t know what we’re looking at [based on the footage], but is it not in front to you? That angle right there, we won the race and that’s what I saw across my right front. I think I got the best view of it compared to anybody. [NASCAR] needs to go look at [the footage] because every angle I keep seeing, we win the race. Just frustrated with that. Maybe they can show us a different angle here. I don’t know what’s so complicated. We’re gonna protest, if you can protest, do whatever the hell we can do because I think we won this race.”
Justin Allgaier came home in fourth place. Matt DiBenedetto recorded his first top-five finish of this year by finishing in fifth place. Anthony Alfredo, Harrison Burton, Blaine Perkins, Sheldon Creed and Daniel Dye completed the top 10 in the final running order.
Meanwhile, Connor Zilisch, who led nine laps and was in the position of notching his first superspeedway victory in NASCAR, ended up in 27th place following his final-lap accident. He was evaluated at the infield care center and emerged uninjured.
Notably, the following names that included Taylor Gray, Sam Mayer, Nick Sanchez, Carson Kvapil, Brennan Poole, Jesse Iwuji, Christian Eckes, Jeremy Clements, Brandon Jones, Sammy Smith, Jeffrey Earnhardt, Aric Almirola, Katherine Legge, Ryan Sieg and William Sawalich ended up 11th, 14th, 15th, 17th, 19th, 20th, 25th and 26th, 28th, 31st, 32nd, 33rd, 34th, 36th and 37th, respectively.
There were 26 lead changes for 15 different leaders. The race featured five cautions for 23 laps. In addition, 26 of 38 starters finished on the lead lap.
Following the 11th event of the 2025 Xfinity Series season, Justin Allgaier leads the regular-season standings by 79 points over Austin Hill, 102 over Sam Mayer, 109 over Jesse Love, 143 over Carson Kvapil and 150 over Connor Zilisch.
Results:
1. Austin Hill, 19 laps, Stage 2 winner
2. Jeb Burton, seven laps led
3. Jesse Love, 50 laps led, Stage 1 winner
4. Justin Allgaier, one lap led
5. Matt DiBenedetto
6. Anthony Alfredo
7. Blaine Perkins
8. Harrison Burton
9. Sheldon Creed, nine laps led
10. Daniel Dye
11. Taylor Gray
12. Patrick Emerling, one lap led
13. Leland Honeyman
14. Sam Mayer
15. Nick Sanchez, one lap led
16. Ryan Ellis
17. Carson Kvapil
18. Dean Thompson
19. Brennan Poole
20. Jesse Iwuji
21. Joey Gase
22. Mason Maggio
23. Kyle Sieg
24. Kris Wright
25. Christian Eckes, two laps led
26. Jeremy Clements, one lap led
27. Connor Zilisch – OUT, Accident, nine laps led
28. Brandon Jones, one lap down, eight laps led
29. Josh Williams, two laps led
30. Caesar Bacarella, five laps down
31. Sammy Smith, six laps down, one lap led
32. Jeffrey Earnhardt – OUT, Accident
33. Aric Almirola – OUT, Accident
34. Katherine Legge – OUT, Accident, one lap led
35. Greg Van Alst – OUT, Accident, two laps led
36. Ryan Sieg – OUT, Accident
37. William Sawalich – OUT, Engine
38. Parker Retzlaff – OUT, Accident
Texas Motor Speedway is next on the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series season. You can tune into the Andy’s Frozen Custard 300 this Saturday, May 3, and will air at 2 p.m. ET on the CW Network.
TAYLOR GRAY LEADS GR SUPRA CONTINGENT AT TALLADEGA
TALLADEGA, Ala. (April 26, 2025) – Once the checkered flag flew in Saturday afternoon’s Xfinity Series race at Talladega Superspeedway, Taylor Gray was the lead Toyota GR Supra in the 11th finishing position. In now 11 Xfinity Series races this season, Gray has finished inside the top-11 five times and consecutively as well after a fifth-place result last weekend in Rockingham.
His Joe Gibbs Racing teammates Brandon Jones and Aric Almirola were with him in the lead pack for most of the race Saturday afternoon, with Jones also leading eight laps on the day. However, Jones and Almirola were involved in a late-race incident and were scored with the 28th and 33rd finishing positions.
The Xfinity Series heads to Texas Motor Speedway next Saturday, May 3.
Toyota Racing Post-Race Recap NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) Talladega Superspeedway Race 11 of 33 – 300.58 miles, 113 laps
TOYOTA FINISHING POSITIONS
1st, Austin Hill* 2nd, Jeb Burton* 3rd, Jesse Love* 4th, Justin Allgaier* 5th, Matt DiBenedetto* 11th, TAYLOR GRAY 18th, DEAN THOMPSON 28th, BRANDON JONES 32nd, JEFFREY EARNHARDT 33rd, ARIC ALMIROLA 37th, WILLIAM SAWALICH
*non-Toyota driver
TOYOTA QUOTES
TAYLOR GRAY, No. 54 Operation 300 Toyota GR Supra, Joe Gibbs Racing
Finishing Position: 11th
Describe your day today.
“Felt like all of my Joe Gibbs Racing guys brought a fast Operation 300 GR Supra. Just kind of minded our time today and put ourselves in a safe spot until the end – kind of just riding around. Wish we got more stage points throughout the day. Obviously, was banking on a better finish at the end. Didn’t put too much of an emphasis on stage points and it came back to bite me a little bit. Honestly, just happy to finish at this place (Talladega). I’m not the biggest fan of these types of places, but happy to finish and onto to Texas.”
ARIC ALMIROLA, No. 19 Young Life Toyota GR Supra, Joe Gibbs Racing
Finishing Position: 33rd
Take us through the incident there.
“The middle lane was just fizzling out there and I crashed myself, I guess. Yeah, (I) had a quick hole I guess, and he (the spotter) said ‘clear,’ so I moved and, I don’t know, I wasn’t clear. Obviously wasn’t clear since I crashed. Katherine (Legge) didn’t do anything wrong; she was right where she needed to be and I turned across her nose. Hate that it took us out of the race and just happy to have Young Life on the car and everybody here that supports them. Wish we could’ve had a better run for them.”
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Kalitta, Lee, Glenn and Herrera roll to No. 1 spots at American Rebel Light NHRA 4-Wide Nationals
CHARLOTTE (April 26, 2025) – Doug Kalitta helped ensure Kalitta Motorsports stayed perfect in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge in the Top Fuel ranks, winning the bonus race on Saturday at zMAX Dragway and also securing the No. 1 qualifier spot at the 15th annual American Rebel Light NHRA 4-Wide Nationals.
Austin Prock (Funny Car), Matt Hartford (Pro Stock) and Richard Gadson (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also picked up Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge wins on Saturday, while Paul Lee (Funny Car), Dallas Glenn (Pro Stock) and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) qualified No. 1 at the fifth of 20 races during the 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season.
In a wild final quad of the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge bonus race, Kalitta won in a pedal fest over Antron Brown, Steve Torrence and Josh Hart, going 4.661-seconds at 237.92 mph in his 12,000-horsepower Mac Tools dragster. It’s the second straight win in the specialty event for Kalitta, as he swept both four-wide races after teammate Shawn Langdon won the first Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge races of 2025.
Kalitta, who also won the Right Trailers Top Fuel All-Star Callout in Pomona, has thrived in bonus races this year and now he’ll have a chance to sweep a special weekend. It’s the 1,000th Top Fuel race in NHRA history and Kalitta already has two big achievements this weekend, also qualifying No. 1 for the third time this year on the strength of Friday’s track-record run of 3.646 at 333.74. There’s a special trophy on the line and Kalitta, who won the 500th Top Fuel race in 2002, has the opportunity for something historic on Sunday. His opening-round quad includes Las Vegas winner Tony Stewart, Steve Torrence and Lex Joon.
“About half-track the thing obviously decided it wasn’t going to make it without smoking the tires, so it just kind of ran in half throttle the rest of the way, and it worked out,” Kalitta said. “When it gets later in the day, you kind of expect maybe something like that’s going to happen. We’ve got a lot of guys out there that can pedal very well, so you got to just kind of do what you can to get it to the finish without blowing the thing up.
“I’m very fortunate with this opportunity with this group of guys. It’s a heck of an opportunity so I’m just trying to make the best of it, and we’ll see what tomorrow brings. We want to win that special trophy.”
Langdon qualified second with a 3.665 at 333.33, and Brittany Force’s 3.667 at a record 341.58 from Friday has her third.
Reigning Funny Car world champion Austin Prock was lethal on the starting line on Saturday and it proved to be critical in the finals of the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, slipping past Spencer Hyde with a run of 3.949 at 322.50 in his 12,000-horsepower Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS for John Force Racing. Hyde, who won the bonus race in Phoenix, ran an identical 3.949, but Prock was quicker on the starting with a stout .058 reaction time en route to his first specialty race win of the year.
It continues the strong momentum for Prock, who won two weeks ago in Las Vegas and seems primed for a big weekend in Charlotte.
“Last year we figured out how important these Mission Challenge points are and how many points you can actually earn,” Prock said. “I think we went into the Countdown with 24 points, almost two rounds of competition, on top of second place. So that felt really good. I really wanted to win today. I felt like we had a shot at doing it. I’ve been driving good all weekend and we were able to get the job done as a team.
“Both runs today, the car went down the racetrack and made nice, clean runs in hotter conditions, which we’re probably going to see more like tomorrow, so that felt good. This race car’s been giving us a little grief, but they’ve been working hard and doing their homework.”
Paul Lee easily grabbed his second straight No. 1 qualifier thanks to Friday’s run of 3.829 at 328.54 in his 12,000-horsepower SRI Performance/Daido Metal Dodge Charger SRT. His opening quad includes Matt Hagan, Bobby Bode and Dave Richards, as the Funny Car points leader seeks out his second win of the 2025 campaign. Prock took second after his 3.844 at 336.49 and Daniel Wilkerson’s career-best 3.855 at 330.07 gave him the third spot.
“The Funny Car class is tough. We’ve got 14 cars quicker than 3.93. I don’t think I’ve ever seen it that close,” Lee said. “It’s most competitive that I’ve ever seen. I’m here for the competition. Everybody has a different reason why they race. Some enjoy just to come out here and make laps down the track. If I can’t be competitive, I’ll go do something else. I race for competition. I love to beat them.”
On an impressive holeshot, Pro Stock’s Matt Hartford won for the second time in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge this year, using a .021 reaction time and a run of 6.567 at 210.37 in his Total Seal Camaro to hold off Greg Anderson. Hartford won the bonus race earlier this year in Pomona and enjoyed another victory on Saturday, keeping Anderson and his run of 6.540 at 210.24 at bay to take plenty of confidence into Sunday eliminations.
“Last year was a rough year but we turned it around during the Countdown and went from 14th to sixth and I’m super proud of that,” Hartford said. “We dragged the car out this year with no changes other than the updated engine from KB Titan. We used our 2023 set-up and if the driver does his job this car can win a lot of rounds this year.
“In this [Mission Foods #2Fast2tasty Challenge] there is a lot of momentum you can build, and you can look and see what other drivers are doing. To come out here and run well on Saturday gives you positive energy for Sunday. When you struggle on Saturday, your night isn’t good. Now, I feel confident heading into tomorrow.”
At the site of his first career Pro Stock win, Dallas Glenn secured his first top qualifier of the year thanks to Friday’s strong run of 6.502 at 211.10 in his RAD Torque Systems Camaro. Glenn also gets the $2,000 prize for winning the GESi Pro Stock No. 1 Qualifier Award. Glenn and Anderson have split the first four races this year and Glenn is in a good position for a third win in 2025, taking on an opening-round quad that includes Matt Latino, Mason McGaha and Erica Enders. Anderson is second with a 6.502 at 210.93 and Hartford took third with his 6.510 at 209.43.
“Greg had been hogging them all. He has a super fast car, but we got the No. 1 qualifier and we’re excited to get that GESi No. 1 Qualifier Award,” Glenn said. “We’ve got a good hot rod for tomorrow and we’ll try to go get them.”
In Pro Stock Motorcycle, Richard Gadson collected his first Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge win of the year on his RevZilla/Mission Foods/Vance & Hines Suzuki, defeating teammate Gaige Herrera and Matt Smith in the final round of the bonus race.
“It was crazy but I’ll take it,” Gadson said. “It’s not often you get there in front of Gaige and Matt. It’s big for our team to know we have a second bike that can get the job done. Today was the first day I felt like I had bike that could run with them.
“I didn’t see Gaige and I saw his win light came on. It was all a bit confusing until they came over and told me I’d won. Whatever the case may be, I’ll take it. To be honest, I didn’t really think about winning till 30 minutes before we ran.”
Herrera easily grabbed his 25th career No. 1 qualifier thanks to Friday’s outstanding run of 6.680 at 201.64. Gadson took second with a 6.759 at 200.77 and Smith’s 6.773 at 201.34 gave him third.
“I’m happy to see (Richard) get the win. All the hard work he’s put in after Gainesville is paying off. The bottom line is we’ve both got fast hot rods. Now, I worry about him more than Matt,” Herrera said.
“Today was reflection of us not wanting us to turn the bike down from last night. My bike spun the tire in the first 60-feet. I had a 1.09 60-foot time and that’s because Andrew [Hines, crew chief] didn’t take enough power out for these conditions. We were shooting for a 6.74 or 6.75 but we did get some good data for tomorrow so we’ll be just fine.”
Eliminations for the American Rebel Light NHRA 4-Wide Nationals begin at 12 p.m. ET on Sunday at zMAX Dragway in Charlotte.
CONCORD, N.C. — First-round pairings for professional eliminations Sunday for the 15th annual American Rebel Light NHRA 4-Wide Nationals at zMax Dragway, the fifth of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. Pairings based on results in qualifying, which ended Saturday. DNQs listed below pairings.
Top Fuel — 1. Doug Kalitta, 3.646 seconds, 333.74 mph vs. 16. Lex Joon, 5.946, 120.81 vs. 8. Tony Stewart, 3.711, 324.05 vs. 9. Steve Torrence, 3.715, 333.58; 2. Shawn Langdon, 3.665, 333.33 vs. 15. Scott Farley, 4.553, 168.47 vs. 7. Josh Hart, 3.709, 323.12 vs. 10. Ida Zetterstrom, 3.744, 329.67; 3. Brittany Force, 3.667, 341.59 vs. 14. Todd Paton, 3.871, 317.05 vs. 6. Justin Ashley, 3.708, 336.23 vs. 11. Spencer Massey, 3.759, 304.94; 4. Shawn Reed, 3.703, 334.40 vs. 13. Clay Millican, 3.769, 328.70 vs. 5. Antron Brown, 3.703, 328.62 vs. 12. Doug Foley, 3.764, 325.53.
Did Not Qualify: 17. Cameron Ferre, 8.127, 84.82.
Funny Car — 1. Paul Lee, Dodge Charger, 3.829, 328.54 vs. 16. Dave Richards, Ford Mustang, 4.060, 313.88 vs. 8. Matt Hagan, Charger, 3.873, 330.39 vs. 9. Bobby Bode, Toyota GR Supra, 3.904, 306.33; 2. Austin Prock, Chevy Camaro, 3.844, 336.49 vs. 15. Buddy Hull, Charger, 4.010, 320.97 vs. 7. Ron Capps, GR Supra, 3.867, 327.35 vs. 10. Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 3.916, 331.36; 3. Daniel Wilkerson, Mustang, 3.855, 330.07 vs. 14. Hunter Green, Charger, 3.931, 321.12 vs. 6. Bob Tasca III, Mustang, 3.867, 336.65 vs. 11. J.R. Todd, GR Supra, 3.924, 325.37; 4. Spencer Hyde, Mustang, 3.863, 329.83 vs. 13. Chad Green, Mustang, 3.926, 326.00 vs. 5. Jack Beckman, Camaro, 3.865, 331.61 vs. 12.
Alexis DeJoria, Charger, 3.925, 324.51.
Did Not Qualify: 17. John Smith, 4.064, 306.05; 18. Dale Creasy Jr., 10.349, 80.18.
Pro Stock — 1. Dallas Glenn, Chevy Camaro, 6.502, 211.10 vs. 16. Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.574, 209.30 vs. 8. Matt Latino, Camaro, 6.554, 210.28 vs. 9. Mason McGaha, Camaro, 6.557, 209.52; 2. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.502, 210.93 vs. 15. Kenny Delco, Camaro, 6.571, 208.42 vs. 7. Deric Kramer, Camaro, 6.545, 210.73 vs. 10. Brandon Foster, Camaro, 6.558, 209.26; 3. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.510, 210.34 vs. 14. Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 6.561, 209.56 vs. 6. Greg Stanfield, Camaro, 6.544, 209.88 vs. 11. Chris McGaha, Camaro, 6.558, 209.17; 4. Cory Reed, Camaro, 6.526, 210.83 vs. 13. Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 6.559, 210.08 vs. 5. Eric Latino, Camaro, 6.531, 209.85 vs. 12. Cody Coughlin, Camaro, 6.559, 209.62.
Did Not Qualify: 17. David Cuadra, 6.576, 207.40; 18. Fernando Cuadra Jr., 6.579, 208.81; 19. Cristian Cuadra, 6.591, 208.49; 20. Stephen Bell, 6.592, 209.07; 21. Aaron Stanfield, 6.602, 209.56; 22. Jerry Tucker, 6.614, 208.75; 23. Brandon Miller, 6.622, 206.92.
Pro Stock Motorcycle — 1. Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 6.680, 201.64 vs. Bye vs. vs. 8. Hector Arana Jr, EBR, 6.824, 200.00 vs. 9. John Hall, Beull, 6.833, 198.58; 2. Richard Gadson, Suzuki, 6.759, 200.98 vs. 15. Brandon Litten, Suzuki, broke vs. 7. Kelly Clontz, Suzuki, 6.817, 199.05 vs. 10. Jianna Evaristo, Buell, 6.854, 197.74; 3. Matt Smith, Buell, 6.773, 201.55 vs. 14. Chris Bostick, Suzuki, 6.921, 197.71 vs. 6. Angie Smith, Buell, 6.811, 200.53 vs. 11. Chase Van Sant, Suzuki, 6.895, 199.02; 4. Marc Ingwersen, EBR, 6.799, 197.80 vs. 13. Ryan Oehler, EBR, 6.909, 196.56 vs. 5. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.805, 196.79 vs. 12. Jerry Savoie, Suzuki, 6.902, 195.00.
