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TOP FUEL’S TORRENCE EYES CONSISTENCY, HOT STREAK AT AMERICAN REBEL LIGHT VIRGINIA NHRA NATIONALS

By
Official Release
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DINWIDDIE, Va. (June 16, 2025) – Steve Torrence and his Top Fuel team showcased championship potential just more than a week ago in Bristol, as the four-time world champion picked up his first win in nearly a year.

Heading into this weekend’s fifth annual American Rebel Light Virginia NHRA Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park, Torrence would like to think it’s the start of a strong run that was on display when he won four straight world titles from 2018-2021.

Consistency in the world of 12,000-horsepower, 330-plus mph Top Fuel dragsters is always a difficult matter, but Torrence hopes his team has regained its championship touch in his Capco Contractors dragster. There’s previous success in Virginia – including back-to-back wins in 2018 and 2019 – and the four-time champ is eager to keep pushing forward during a busy June, this time during a thrilling two-day race weekend at VMP.

“We’ve had a lot of success,” Torrence said. “You may take that for granted, but it does put it into perspective that this is much more difficult than what it seems from the outside, especially cars that are winning 4-5 races or more. It shows the hard work that goes into it, but you also need some breaks along the way. The last couple years the car has been inconsistent and I’ve been inconsistent as a driver. It seems like the weekends I was good, the car was not, and the weekend the car was good, I was not. It all has to come together.”

Last season, Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel), Austin Prock (Funny Car) and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) all won in Richmond during the two-day event. This year’s event, which is the ninth of 20 races during the 2025 season in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series, will be broadcast on FOX broadcast network and FS1, including eliminations coverage beginning at 4 p.m. ET on FOX on Sunday, June 22.

For the second straight year, the trek to VMP features a unique two-day race format in the professional classes, with fans getting an incredible chance to see three qualifying sessions from the 330-mph, 12,000-horsepower nitro machines on Saturday and eliminations on Sunday.

Torrence will also compete in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty specialty race, which takes place during the final two qualifying sessions on Saturday. He’ll take on points leader and racing legend Tony Stewart in a Bristol semifinal rematch, while the other matchup features Justin Ashley and Shawn Langdon, who is second in points.

As thrilling as winning his first race of 2025 was, Torrence was just as excited with the team getting to make four laps on Sunday. The team has picked up steam – minus a first-round loss in Epping – and could make another big move in Richmond.

To do so, he’ll also have to get past Kalitta, Epping winner Brittany Force, Clay Millican, reigning world champ Antron Brown and Josh Hart, but Torrence believes his team is moving in the right direction, with consistent runs again the name of the game this weekend in Richmond.

“We’ve changed a lot of stuff and are working at it very diligently, but you need to have laps,” Torrence said. “You need more information and the more information that backs up and solidifies what you thought, you can make changes more accordingly. If this thing goes out and goes 3.63 one lap, and you set the world on fire, and you don’t make it down the track the other three runs, you really didn’t accomplish anything. So, consistency is a major key to be successful.”

Prock, the reigning Funny Car champion, won his first Virginia NHRA Nationals over Bob Tasca III. Prock currently leads the points in 2025, while John Force Racing teammate Jack Beckman also has two wins this year. The loaded field also includes four-time world champ Matt Hagan, three-time champ Ron Capps and J.R. Todd.

Herrera, the two-time reigning champion, once again leads the Pro Stock Motorcycle points. He has two wins on the season and currently leads six-time champion Matt Smith. Other riders to watch will be Bristol winner Richard Gadson, Smith’s wife, Angie, as well as Chase Van Sant, Steve Johnson and Jianna Evaristo.

Along with action in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series, fans can also enjoy racing in the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series, NHRA Holley EFI Factory X and Pingel Top Fuel Motorcycle, providing a full weekend of non-stop entertainment.

Race fans aged 21 and older will have the chance to enjoy American Rebel Light – America’s Patriotic, God Fearing, Constitution Loving, National Anthem Singing, Stand Your Ground Beer – at the facility while taking in the incredible action on the track. Andy Ross, Chairman and CEO of American Rebel Beer and singer-songwriter, will also provide entertainment with a concert with his band during the jam-packed event.

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. Richmond 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 roars into action with three rounds of qualifying on Saturday, June 21 at 11:30 a.m., 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. ET, leading into a can’t-miss raceday with eliminations beginning at 12 p.m. ET on Sunday, June 22. Television coverage includes qualifying action at 2 p.m. on Sunday on FS1, leading into eliminations on FOX at 4 p.m. ET on Sunday.

To purchase tickets to the American Rebel Light Virginia NHRA Nationals, visit nhra.evenue.net/list/RV. For more information about the NHRA, including the 2025 schedule, visit www.NHRA.com.

About American Rebel Light Beer

American Rebel Light Beer is a product of American Rebel Beverage, LLC; a wholly owned subsidiary of American Rebel Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: AREB). Since its launch in September 2024, American Rebel Light Beer has rolled out in Tennessee, Connecticut, Kansas, Kentucky, Ohio, Iowa, Missouri, North Carolina, Florida, Indiana and Virginia and is adding new distributors and territories regularly. Produced in partnership with AlcSource, American Rebel Light Beer is a domestic premium light lager celebrated for its exceptional quality and patriotic values. It stands out as America’s Patriotic, God-Fearing, Constitution-Loving, National Anthem-Singing, Stand Your Ground Beer. For more information about launch events and availability follow us on social media @AmericanRebelBeer or visit americanrebelbeer.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.

Long Time Sponsor, CSI Asphalt Maintenance, Steps Up for Boyd at Pocono

By
Official Release
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Mooresville, NC (June 16, 2025) – Freedom Racing Enterprises and Driver/Owner Spencer Boyd, announced today that CSI Asphalt Maintenance will adorn the hood as the primary sponsor of the No. 76 Chevrolet Silverado at the upcoming NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Pocono Raceway. CSI Asphalt Maintenance has been an associate sponsor of Boyd’s for several years.

“The team at CSI (Asphalt Maintenance) are deeply involved in racing,” commented Boyd. “They do the striping at Pocono Raceway and love to work for race fans. They make race weekend a whole family affair as many fans do by camping out at the race track. So many NASCAR teams are family teams, just as ours is, making our partnership rewarding for both of us.”

CSI Asphalt Maintenance has been extending the life of asphalt throughout Northeast Pennsylvania for more than a decade. Providing sealcoating, striping, and patchwork, they have earned a reputation as a trusted contractor through honesty, hard work, professionalism and attention to detail.

Jeff Cemelli, Owner of CSI Asphalt Maintenance, spoke about the partnerships in racing, “We love racing. Being located so close to Pocono Raceway while helping prepare the racing surface for NASCAR weekends is a huge honor. We’ve been working with Spencer for years now so getting to the point where we can have our paint scheme is a bit surreal. With all that being associated with the NASCAR industry has given us, we’ve decided to give back to the community by giving away service credits to some lucky fans.”

To celebrate the NASCAR Races in Pocono Spencer Boyd and CSI Asphalt Maintenance are teaming up to giveaway:

1 – $500 Service Credit
2 – $250 Service Credits
5 – $100 Service Credits

These can be applied to driveway sealcoating, parking lot striping, filling potholes, or any service CSI provides. Like Spencer’s post about it on Facebook or Instagram for a chance to win!

The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Race at Pocono Raceway is scheduled for Friday, June 20, 2025 at 5:00pm ET. Catch the action in person with tickets still available or on TV live on FS1.

PATRICK EMERLING TO DRIVE SPIRE MOTORSPORTS’ NO. 07 CHEVROLET SILVERADO AT POCONO RACEWAY

By
Official Release
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MOORESVILLE, N.C. (June 16, 2025) – Today, Spire Motorsports announced NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour standout Patrick Emerling will pilot the team’s No. 07 Chevrolet Silverado in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series MillerTech Battery 200 at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway where GOAT Power Bikes will be showcased as Emerling’s primary sponsor.

Emerling, a multi-time race winner on both the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour and the Race of Champions Modified Tour, brings a wealth of short-track experience and national series versatility to the team’s Truck Series program. Pocono will mark the 32-year-old’s fourth race in CRAFTSMAN Truck Series competition and his debut with Spire Motorsports.

“I’m thrilled that GOAT is joining me for my first race with Spire Motorsports,” said Emerling. “Spire has really fast trucks, and GOAT has some of the fastest electric bikes on the market. Pocono is a fun and challenging track, and I’m ready to show what I can do.”

Emerling competes part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series with SS-Green Light Racing while building his body of experience across NASCAR’s developmental ranks.

In 2017, the Orchard Park, N.Y., native, earned his first Whelen Modified Tour victory at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway. His open-wheel accolades continued to stack up with a win in the 2019 Whelen Engineering All-Star Shootout at New Hampshire Motor Speedway and back-to-back Race of Champions titles in 2019 and 2020.

The 2021 season was a career highlight for Emerling, where he collected three Whelen Modified Tour wins and finished second in the championship. He also made multiple Xfinity Series starts for Our Motorsports. In 2022, he co-founded Emerling-Gase Motorsports, fielding two full-time Xfinity Series entries while also competing part-time during the 2023 season.

Emerling returned to full-time status in the Whelen Modified Tour in 2024, earning three wins and a runner-up finish in the division’s championship point standings. He kicked off 2025 with top modified honors at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway’s World Series of Asphalt, tallying a trio of victories in the five-day event.

“It’s a perfect-fit partnership. We both like to go fast,” said GOAT Power Bikes owner Byrson Goodman. “We’re excited to see the partnership develop.”

The MillerTech Battery 200 at Pocono Raceway will be televised live on FS1 Friday, June 20, beginning at 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The race will also be broadcast live on the NASCAR Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, Channel 90.

About GOAT Power Bikes…
Frequently described as “The Harley Davidson of E-Bike Brands,” GOAT Power Bikes leads the charge for building powerful, affordable, and reliable e-bikes that empower riders to conquer any terrain. GOAT’s base model bikes have a 48MPH top speed with a price point of under $2,800, making them the best bang for your buck for anything in its class.

Based in San Diego, California, GOAT Power Bikes are designed with cutting-edge technology and built for adventure. Whether navigating city streets, exploring rugged trails, or cruising along the coast, GOAT Power Bikes inspires riders to embrace the freedom of the open road and redefine their limits.

About Spire Motorsports …
Spire Motorsports earned its inaugural NASCAR Cup Series victory in its first full season of competition when Justin Haley took the checkered flag in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway on July 7, 2019. Less than three years later, William Byron drove Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado to its inaugural NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series win on April 7, 2022, at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway. The team’s most recent win came on May 30, 2025, when Rajah Caruth took the checkered flag in the Rackley Roofing 200 at Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway.

In 2025, Spire Motorsports campaigns the Nos. 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolets in the NASCAR Cup Series. The team also fields the Nos. 07, 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolet Silverados in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series and the No. 77 Chevrolet in the ARCA Menards Series in select events.

NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Mexico City

By
Jeffrey Boswell
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Denny Hamlin tops the list of the Top-10 Power Rankings for the second straight week.

Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.

1. Denny Hamlin: 

Hamlin missed the Mexico City race due to the birth of his son. Ryan Truex, his replacement, finished 23rd.

“I spent Father’s Day being a father,” Hamlin said. “Carson Hocevar spent Father’s Day being called many bad names, some that included the words ‘son’ and ‘mother.'”

2. William Byron: 

Byron finished ninth at Mexico City.

“All in all,” Byron said, “it was a good day for the No. 24 Hendrick Chevy,” Byron said. “I finished a wet race in one piece, scored a top-10 finish, extended the lead in the points, and most importantly, didn’t have Ricky Stenhouse, Jr. stick his big fat head in my car after the race.”

3. Shane van Gisbergen: 

Van Gisbergen led 60 of 100 laps at Mexico City and cruised to the win in the Viva Mexico 250.

“I got some advice about braking zones and racing lines from my good friend Max Verstappen,” van Gisbergen said. “Max is brilliant at tire management while also being terrible at anger management.”

4. Christopher Bell: 

Bell started 31st at Mexico City and made a steady charge to the front on his way to the runner-up finish.

“It was great to see fans in Mexico turn out for the race,” Bell said. “And it was good to see American fans make the trip South Of The Border to represent. Usually, Americans only head ‘South Of The Border’ to buy fireworks.”

5. Chase Elliott: 

Elliott finished third in the Viva Mexico 250 in Mexico City.

“Shane van Gisbergen really made New Zealand proud,” Elliott said. “I’m guessing the good people down at the Dawsonville Pool Room have no idea what a Kiwi is, the fruit or the person.”

6. Ryan Blaney: 

Blaney recorded a solid 14th-place finish in the Viva Mexico 250.

“Carson Hocevar has pissed off fellow drivers in two different countries,” Blaney said. “Actually, he pissed off the same driver in two different countries.”

7. Ross Chastain: 

Chastain started third in Mexico City and finished 16th.

“I think our colorful Wendy’s paint scheme went over well in Mexico City,” Chastain said. “And speaking of ‘Frosty’ receptions, I guess I’ll be getting one from Chase Briscoe.”

8. Tyler Reddick: 

Reddick finished 20th in the Viva Mexico 250.

“I think all drivers are in agreement that we should return to Mexico City next year,” Reddick said. “And I think all drivers, and all the people of Mexico, would agree that we should leave Carson Hocevar at home.”

9. Joey Logano: 

Logano finished 21st in the Viva Mexico 250.

“He might be getting a lot of criticism,” Logano said, “but I fully support Carson Hocevar and his driving ‘ability,’ if that’s what he calls it. It’s great, because he’s making people forget what a jerk I’ve been.”

10. Chase Briscoe: 

Briscoe finished seventh in the Viva Mexico 250.

“Carson Hocevar has pissed off fellow drivers in two different countries,” Briscoe said. “Actually, he pissed off the same driver in two different countries.”

BITNILE.COM OPEN WHEEL SHOWDOWN PRESENTED BY askROI RETURNS TO LAS VEGAS WITH EXPANDED LINEUP NOVEMBER 6-8, 2025

By
Official Release
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LAS VEGAS, NV. (June 16, 2025) – The third annual BITNILE.COM Open Wheel Showdown presented by askROI returns to the Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway this fall, bringing the richest short track pavement open wheel event in the world to the track on November 6-8, 2025. The $50,000-to-win Winged Sprint Cars are again joined by Modified and Super Modified racing. INEX Legends and INEX Bandoleros join the action for the definitive short track event of the year.

“The BITNILE.COM Open Wheel Showdown presented by askROI isn’t just an event, it’s a testament to the incredible support I’ve received throughout my racing journey from BITNILE.COM, askROI, and Todd Ault,” said event promoter Davey Hamilton Jr. “Their ongoing commitment to my career, including our INDY NXT campaign, and to this event, makes all of this possible. We’ve built something special here in Las Vegas and, together with their partnership, we’re proud to deliver a world-class open wheel showdown that raises the bar for competitors, teams, and fans alike.”

“We’re thrilled to partner with Davey Hamilton Jr. by presenting the BITNILE.COM Open Wheel Showdown alongside askROI,” Ault said. “Supporting young entrepreneurs like him is something we’re truly passionate about. All race teams are businesses, and we want to help them grow their dreams and achieve healthier business and racing success. This event is another step in fostering the next generation of entrepreneurs and business leaders, and I couldn’t be happier to see how far we’ve come together.”

After quickly receiving nearly 200 entries this spring for the Open Wheel Showdown, event officials have worked with Las Vegas Motor Speedway to work together to fit the capacity. The INEX Legends and Modifieds will each gain an additional 10 entries while the INEX Bandoleros will receive five additional entries. Drivers and teams registered on the waiting list at www.OpenWheelShowdown.com will be contacted in order received.

The Winged Sprint Cars has attracted a world-class roster of 69 participants while the Super Modifieds have an early entry of 15 drivers, with space available in each division at press time.

Speed Sport TV returns as the Open Wheel Showdown media partner with live coverage of the entire event.

For more information, visit www.OpenWheelShowdown.com. Tickets and RV reservations are available via the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Tickets will be on sale soon for the history making event with racing taking place on Friday November 7 and Saturday November 8.

Pit Passes will be sold at the gate and include grandstand access. Host hotel information via South Point Casino is also available on the series website.

About askROI:

askROI is a pioneer in AI-driven business solutions, dedicated to helping organizations harness the power of artificial intelligence for strategic growth and operational efficiency. With a focus on innovation, askROI continues to lead the industry in transforming businesses through cutting-edge technology.

About BITNILE.COM:

BITNILE.COM is an avant-garde online social gaming platform that redefines casino-style entertainment. Offering a wide array of games for free, including both unconventional experiences and fan-favorite table games and roulette, our platform caters to players seeking the thrill of gaming without financial risks. At BITNILE.COM, we nurture a vibrant community where players can connect, compete, and share joy. Join our growing community today and dive into the evolving world of social gaming.

For more information about BITNILE.COM, please visit: www.bitnile.com

About the Open Wheel Showdown:

The Open Wheel Showdown is the premier pavement open wheel event in the country, attracting top drivers and teams from across the country to compete for record-breaking purses and national attention.

The White Zone: Three thoughts from Gateway

By
Tucker White
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MADISON, Ill. - JUNE 15: Kyle Kirkwood, driver of the #27 Andretti Global Honda, drives during practice for the NTT IndyCar Series Bommarito Automotive Group 500 at World Wide Technology Raceway on June 14, 2025, in Madison, Illinois. Photo: Simon Scoggins/SpeedwayMedia.com

MADISON, Ill. — Just as pyrotechnics of fire signaled the start of IndyCar’s annual trek to St. Louis, fireworks under the dark skies marked its conclusion.

With Kyle Kirkwood‘s third victory of the season and Pato O’Ward’s runner-up, Alex Palou running away with the championship is no longer a forgone conclusion. What started as a promising weekend for Team Penske with speed in practice and a pole spiraled into a quagmire by the halfway point. Finally, IndyCar could use more ovals.

Without further ado, here’s The White Zone: Three thoughts from Gateway.

The White Zone: Three thoughts from Gateway

Thought 1: IndyCar has a championship fight again

MADISON, Ill. – JUNE 15: Kyle Kirkwood, driver of the #27 Andretti Global Honda, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NTT IndyCar Series Bommarito Automotive Group 500 at World Wide Technology Raceway on June 15, 2025, in Madison, Illinois. Photo: James Black/Penske Entertainment

While Palou finished the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 eighth, he was a non-factor for the first time this season. At one point, he ran a lap down and needed a wave-around to get back on the lead lap. Meanwhile, O’Ward ran top-five for most of this race and came an undercut short of his first victory of the 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season.

“The guy has been on a run,” O’Ward said. “He has five wins or something. I’ve got zero wins. I’ve just got a handful of podiums. We need to start racking up some wins, and that’ll make that points count come down a lot faster than what you’re seeing now.

“I feel like we’re just sitting at bay right there just waiting for our run to come, so hopefully that does come to life, and yeah, I think it’s going to be a tight end to the championship.”

Furthermore, with his third win of the season, Kirkwood now throws his hat into the title fight.

“I mean, I’m not surprised of what has transpired with him because — I’m not taking anything away from him, but a lot of the beginning races of the season are races that he was really, really good at in past years, and it’s no surprise that he just pieced them all together and got wins at all the places that he did,” Kirkwood said.

“But I think now we’re getting to a point in the season where these are races that we are very close to them on, and it will be interesting to see how they shake out. Ultimately we’re just going to have to keep doing what we’re doing, trying to win as many races as possible and get as many points as possible, and hopefully that will pan us out into a good position.

“But I can tell you that we’re going to do everything in our effort to claw back at him. It’s still a long ways away. 75 points is deep. That’s almost two races.

“He could still take a little break if he wanted to.”

Of course, Palou leaves World Wide Technology Raceway with a 73-point lead over O’Ward and a 75-point lead over Kirkwood. Come next Sunday at Road America, Palou could make me report myself to Freezing Cold Takes on Twitter.

The White Zone: Three thoughts from Gateway

Thought 2: Disaster night for Team Penske

After coming up 15 seconds short of winning his first 24 Hours of Le Mans, Sunday, Team Penske looked poised to deliver the Captain some great results at World Wide Technology Raceway. After all, Will Power won the pole and Josef Newgarden topped the chart in the first practice session, Saturday.

By halfway, however, Team Penske’s strong run turned into a disaster.

On Lap 47, Power cut a tire, pounded the wall and broke the steering on his No. 12 Chevrolet.

On Lap 130, Louis Foster got into the marbles in Turn 4, hit the wall and spun down the track. Newgarden tried to evade, but hit the inside wall on the frontstretch, launched off Foster’s car and flipped.

And to further rain on the Penske parade, Scott McLaughlin, who led 51 laps, suffered a mechanical failure that knocked him out of the race on Lap 216.

The White Zone: Three thoughts from Gateway

Thought 3: More ovals, please

For four laps after the lap 150 restart, Conor Daly fought tooth and nail for the lead with O’Ward.

IndyCar, give us more ovals, please.

I’m not saying it needs NASCAR levels of ovals, but five is too few. I’ll even throw out some ovals: Texas Motor Speedway, a longtime stalwart on the INDYCAR schedule, and Richmond Raceway, which if not for COVID, might still be on the schedule.

Just some thoughts I had, as the rain turns on and off here at World Wide Technology Raceway.

Tony Stewart & Matt Hagan Richmond Advance for the American Rebel Light Virginia NHRA Nationals

By
Official Release
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Tony Stewart & Matt Hagan
American Rebel Beer
Top Fuel & Funny Car Drivers
American Rebel Light Virginia NHRA Nationals
June 21-22 | North Dinwiddie, Virginia

Event Overview

Saturday, June 21 (Nitro Qualifying & Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, streamed live on NHRA.TV)

  • Nitro qualifying session (Q1): 11:30 a.m. EDT
  • Top Fuel qualifying (Q2) & Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge – Round 1: 2 p.m. EDT
  • Funny Car qualifying (Q2) & Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge – Round 1: 2:35 p.m. EDT
  • Top Fuel qualifying (Q3) & Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge – Finals: 4:30 p.m. EDT
  • Funny Car qualifying (Q3) & Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge – Finals: 5:05 p.m. EDT

Sunday, June 22 (Nitro Eliminations, streamed live on NHRA.TV)

  • Round 1: 12 p.m. EDT
  • Round 2: 2 p.m. EDT
  • Semi-Finals: 3:35 p.m. EDT
  • Finals: 5 p.m. EDT

TV coverage

  • Sunday, June 22: Qualifying show, recapping all of Friday & Saturday’s action – 2 p.m. EDT on FS1
  • Sunday, June 22: Finals show – 4 p.m. EDT on FOX

Notes of Interest

The American Rebel Light Virginia NHRA Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park in North Dinwiddie, located just south of the state capital in Richmond, hosts the ninth event on the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series’ 20-race calendar in 2025. Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) brings its two full-time entries – one in Top Fuel for Tony Stewart and one in Funny Car for 52-time Funny Car winner and four-time champion Matt Hagan.

Coming into Richmond, Stewart is leading the Top Fuel championship standings, 76 points over Shawn Langdon. Hagan is fifth in the Funny Car standings, 109 points behind leader Austin Prock.

American Rebel Beer is the primary sponsor of both Hagan and Stewart in Richmond. American Rebel Beer was founded in April of 2024 by American Rebel CEO Andy Ross. American Rebel Beer is All Natural, Crisp, Clean and has a Bold Taste with a Lighter Feel. It does not use corn, rice or other sweeteners typically found in other mass-produced beers. American Rebel Beer is currently offered in 12 states (Connecticut, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, and Virginia), with additional states being announced soon. You can also find American Rebel in various legendary bars like Kid Rock’s, Tootsies, Honky Tony Central, and many others in the entertainment district in Nashville, as well as retail outlets, venues and music festivals throughout the United States. American Rebel Beer is America’s Patriotic, God-Fearing, Constitution-Loving, National Anthem Singing, Stand Your Ground Beer.

The American Rebel Light Virginia NHRA Nationals will mark Stewart’s 29th career Top Fuel start and his second at Virginia. For Hagan, the American Rebel Light Virginia NHRA Nationals will be his 361st career Funny Car start and his sixth at Virginia.

Hagan and Stewart are eyeing their first victory at the Virginia NHRA Nationals, and Stewart is also seeking his first No. 1 qualifier at the event. Hagan has one No. 1 qualifier at the Virginia NHRA Nationals in 2022 (3.853 ET at 331.45 mph). The run set the track record for time. His Q1 run in 2022 set the track record for speed at 335.82 mph.

Both Hagan and Stewart advanced to the Semifinals at the 2024 Virginia NHRA Nationals. Hagan ran 4.031 ET at 312.42 mph in the Semifinals, which lost to Austin Prock’s 3.962 ET at 316.97 mph. Stewart ran a 4.631 ET at 180.65 mph, which lost to Doug Kalitta’s 3.828 ET at 326.79 mph.

Stewart made 35 starts in the NASCAR Cup Series at nearby Richmond Raceway, where he collected three wins (Fall of 1999, Spring of 2001, Spring of 2002).

Virginia represents a home race for Hagan. The 52-time event winner is a native of Christiansburg, Virginia, located 190 miles west of the track.

By advancing to the Semifinals at the NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals, Stewart qualified to participate in the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, where he will face a rematch against Steve Torrence.

Stewart will participate in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty autograph session on Saturday at 8:30 a.m. EDT. The session will take place at the Mission Foods Display.

American Rebel Beer CEO Andy Ross will be performing a free concert for the fans on Saturday between Q2 and Q3 and also on Sunday following the first round of eliminations. The concerts will take place in the Midway across from the TSR pit.

Tony Stewart, Driver of the American Rebel Beer Dodge//SRT Top Fuel Dragster

The Virginia NHRA Nationals will mark three qualifying sessions in one day. What excitement will that bring for the fans by having it condensed to one day?

“It gives the fans the opportunity to know that they’re going to see all the top teams make three solid runs, which will set the field for the race the next day. It’s a great opportunity to see a lot of racing action in one day.”

The NHRA is now crowning a Regular Season champion after 14 events. With six events remaining prior to the Countdown to the Championship, are you able to think about the possibility of bringing that title home?

“I definitely think we have a shot at it right now. This is the hot part of the summer and this is where I felt all along this year that our car has been at its best. When the tracks get hot, they get greasy and hard to get a hold of. I feel like our program really suits this time of the year, so I definitely think it’s a possibility to get the regular season championship.”

Matt Hagan, Driver of the American Rebel Beer Dodge//SRT Hellcat Funny Car

The Virginia NHRA Nationals will mark three qualifying sessions in one day. What excitement will that bring for the fans by having it condensed to one day?

“Having three runs in one day is great. I love the idea of a morning, midday and evening run. My crew is coming into town early to fish and enjoy some team bonding. They’ll get to come to the track and work hard with three runs on Saturday. We want to focus on a really good qualifying position. If we can do that, it could hopefully change our Sunday around by being able to qualify in the top-half of the field.”

American Rebel Light will be sponsoring their second NHRA event this season and you will also be representing their colors on your Funny Car. How special has that relationship with Andy Ross (American Rebel CEO) and American Rebel become?

“I’m excited about having American Rebel on the car and also have them as a sponsor of the event. It’ll be great having Andy Ross (American Rebel CEO) out there and he’s also going to play a concert for the fans. He’s growing the brand and we’re excited to help him do that. Charlotte was a great event when he sponsored the NHRA race, which then opened the opportunity to sell his product at the Coca-Cola 600. There’s been a lot of cross promotion. Drag racing opens the door to a lot of things and we’re excited to be part of that. I can’t wait to get to Richmond after getting to enjoy a weekend off.”

Consistency Puts Tristan McKee Atop Trans Am TA2 Standings After First Five Races

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14-Year-Old Rookie TeamSLR Driver Shows Work Ethic, Discipline That Belies His Youth

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. (June 16, 2025) – At 14 years of age, Tristan McKee is the youngest driver in the Cube 3 Architecture TA2 Series. But just five races into his official rookie season competing in “America’s Road Racing Series,” and with just seven points-paying TA2 events in all on his resume dating back to last fall, the driver of the No. 28 Spire/Gainbridge/SLR-M1 Racecars Chevrolet Camaro for TeamSLR sits atop the championship standings.

That’s not just the rookie standings, not just the Young Guns standings for drivers under 25, but the overall national series points race, which includes a handful of other teen prodigies, past series champions, and seasoned veterans still competing all the way up into their 50s, 60s and beyond.

The father-son TeamSLR ownership duo of Scott Lagasse Sr., and Scott Lagasse Jr., are not the least bit surprised at the performance and consistency McKee has shown in the relatively short time since he was the latest young talent sent their way by Chevrolet Motorsports driver development mentors Josh Wise, Scott Speed and Lorin Ranier to learn the finer points of road racing. Six months before McKee’s 14th birthday last August, and eight months before his official TA2 Series debut in October at Virginia International Raceway (VIR) in Alton, the Lagasses began a rigorous testing schedule with McKee at the iconic road courses that make up the series schedule.

“What we noticed about Tristan was he really listens well – he’s like a sponge,” said the elder Lagasse, who with his son and their M1 Racecars stable of equipment has helped a growing number of young drivers springboard into the NASCAR ranks, including current Xfinity Series regulars Sam Mayer, Carson Kvapil, William Sawalich and Sammy Smith, and Craftsman Truck Series regulars Connor Mosack and Jack Wood.

“Tristan doesn’t talk a lot, but he executes extremely well and he shows up ready. He does the work on the simulator, and he studies the video and the data when he’s out of the car. He’s as good or better at analyzing data and video than I am, and I’ve been doing it way longer (laughs).”

“He’s one of those generational talents,” adds Lagasse Jr. “You’ll never forget about Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, those drivers who really changed the game, right? So when it comes to Tristan, I feel like, why not be that guy?”

Even before he began working with TeamSLR early last year, McKee’s talent, discipline and tremendous work ethic were apparent in his rise through primarily oval-track racing in go-karts, Bandoleros, Legend Cars and Late Models.

He became the CARS Tour’s youngest winner in the Pro Late Model division as a 12-year-old in 2023. His TA2 debut at VIR last fall was a head-turner as he qualified sixth and held position among the leaders en route to a fourth-place finish, just .7 of a second behind the final spot on the podium. Then, at the season-ending race at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas, McKee was racing for another top-five finish when a cut tire dropped him to the back of the field. He rallied from 37th to finish 15th over the closing laps.

Committed to run for this year’s TA2 championship, the Kannapolis, North Carolina, driver, who in January signed a multi-year development agreement with Spire Motorsports, has shown consistency at the front of the field at each of the first five events. He opened with a seventh-place finish at Sebring (Fla.) International Raceway, fifth place at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, second at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway, third at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca near Monterey, California, and third at Lime Rock Park in Lakeville, Connecticut.

“Everything I’m doing right now is part of the learning experience – this was a totally different discipline for me,” McKee said. “I’m used to oval racing on dirt and on the asphalt. I’d never really done the road-course stuff, but I feel like it’s going to prepare me for anything I’m going to do in the future. I’ve learned a ton and a lot of that has translated to the oval stuff and making me better in that, as well. The Lagasses have done an amazing job helping me learn and teaching me things that are really useful here and in other places, as well.”

Chevrolet’s Ranier, who’s built a legacy of discovering names like Jimmie Johnson, Matt Kenseth, Tony Stewart and Kyle Larson, began taking notice of McKee’s ability almost five years ago. He acknowledged being among those to deem the young driver a generational talent, a feeling spurred not only by witnessing McKee’s moments of brilliance on the racetrack, but about his consistency, communication, and ability to handle adversity.

“We signed him when he was 12 or 13,” Ranier said. “What magnified it was just the fact that he could handle a full-size racecar at 10 or 11 years old. We saw his initial speed, he has that. His ability to communicate with his team has gone really well. It’s about putting the whole race together and coming home with a solid finish. That’s a successful day.

“Trans Am has a great formula. The shifting and the braking are things you learn there that will carry you all the way up through NASCAR. So what drivers like Tristan learn is not just to become a better road racer, they become a better racecar driver, and that’s why we like Trans Am so much.”

TeamSLR has worked in close partnership with Chevrolet and its driver development program under Wise Optimization over the years, and the multiple entities have developed a solid chemistry that continues to generate positive results, as evidenced by the performance of McKee and other young drivers.

“It’s an honor to be able to work with this caliber of individuals, and more importantly that they trust us with their up-and-coming drivers,” said Lagasse Jr. “It’s nice to have Josh Wise and Scott Speed and Lorin Ranier to lean on. Not only do they find the best talent, but they provide the best resources to help continue to move the needle in the right direction.”

In addition to McKee’s full-season effort, another pair of promising young talents are running a part-time schedule with TeamSLR this season – 19-year-old Hendrick Motorsports driver Corey Day, and 16-year-old short-track specialist Carson Brown. Seven races remain in this year’s Cube 3 Architecture TA2 Series schedule. Next up is this weekend’s Mid-Ohio SpeedTour at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington. The season concludes Nov. 2 at COTA.

About TeamSLR:

TeamSLR (Scott Lagasse Racing) competes fulltime in the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli’s Cube 3 Architecture TA2 Series in a multifaceted effort that includes dedicated entries in the TA2 division, customer programs, driver coaching and car construction. Its history dates back to 1985 and covers a wide spectrum of motorsports, including NASCAR, IMSA, SCCA, ARCA and ASA. TeamSLR is a family-owned organization run by Scott Lagasse Sr., and Scott Lagasse Jr., The father-and-son duo have combined to win more than 120 races and seven championships across a variety of series and styles of racecars, from paved ovals to road courses to dirt tracks. TeamSLR would like to thank its supporters Cube 3 Architecture, Franklin Road Apparel, Kallberg Racing, and Guthrie’s Garage. For more information, please visit us online at www.TeamSLR.com, on Facebook, on Twitter, on Instagram and on LinkedIn.

KIRKWOOD RALLIES LATE TO WIN BOMMARITO AUTOMOTIVE GROUP 500 NTT INDYCAR SERIES RACE

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Andretti Global’s Kyle Kirkwood celebrates his win in Saturday night’s Bommarito Automotive Group 500 at World Wide Technology Raceway. Photo credit: Michael Allio / World Wide Technology Raceway.
  • Andretti Global’s Kyle Kirkwood records first career win on an oval and third victory on the season.
  • Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward finishes runner-up in Bommarito Automotive Group 500 for the fourth time.

MADISON, Ill. (June 15, 2025) – Andretti Global’s Kyle Kirkwood rallied late to earn his first career NTT INDYCAR SERIES oval victory in Sunday night’s primetime Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline at World Wide Technology Raceway.

Kirkwood grabbed the lead with five laps remaining in the 260-lap event and held off Arrow McLaren’s Pato O’Ward by .5398 of a second to secure his third win of the season and second in a row. For O’Ward, it was his fourth runner-up finish in six career starts at World Wide Technology Raceway. Christian Rasmussen of Ed Carpenter Racing rounded out the podium with a career-best, third-place finish.

Kirkwood’s fifth career victory came in the first-ever scheduled primetime NTT INDYCAR SERIES race to be held on a Sunday night with FOX that featured a track record-tying 254 passes for position.

“I mean, it’s kind of funny, right?” said Kirkwood, who won the previous race on the streets of Detroit. “You get on this streak where it’s like, oh, he’s doing so well, he’s winning races, street courses. But then you get your fourth and people are like, another street course for Kirkwood. It’s not as big of a deal now. When is he going to win something else?

“Everybody knows you’ve got to be diverse in this series. You’ve got to win at multiple circuits. You’ve got to win at multiple venues. Whether it’s a short oval, long oval, street course, road course, whatever it might be, you’ve got to win at all of them. A step in the right direction for sure.”

AJ Foyt Racing’s David Malukas and Team Penske’s Scott McLaughlin set the pace early with Malukas leading the first 50 laps and McLaughlin the following 51. The race, however, was shaping up to be a repeat of four of the last five seasons with Team Penske’s Josef Newgarden charging from his fifth starting position to first on Lap 105.

Newgarden, the defending race winner who had won four of the last five at WWTR, took command of the race as he led 25 laps and opened up a six-second cushion over second-place Malukas. But then calamity struck.

Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing rookie Louis Foster hit the Turn 4 wall and then careened across the track. Newgarden took the low line to avoid the incident, but Foster left him nowhere to go except over the top of his car. Newgarden’s car launched, flipped upside down and slid down the frontstretch before coming to rest near the start/finish line. Both drivers were uninjured in the dramatic crash.

Malukas, O’Ward and Conor Daly of Juncos Hollinger Racing took extended turns in the lead before several drivers were taking strategic gambles on fuel to secure the win. Chip Ganassi Racing’s Scott Dixon took his first lead of the race on Lap 194 and held the point for 43 laps before being forced to dive into the pits for fuel. Five drivers would then exchange the lead before having to pit and Kirkwood, with plenty of fuel, moved into position for the win.

“I understood the strategy pretty well,” Kirkwood said. “I understood that some of those guys there at the end were trying to make the fuel work and if they got a caution, they would have. It would have been pretty easy for them to make it to the end if there was just one caution.

“Everything worked to plan accordingly. If I’m being honest, we didn’t start with an amazing race car; we finished with one. That was just due to the work that the crew did and due to the work that Honda did.”

Dixon would finish fourth while AJ Foyt Racing’s Santino Ferrucci, driving the No. 14 Bommarito Automotive Group Chevrolet, rounded out the top five. Graham Rahal of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing finished 22nd in his 300th career start.

Earlier, Andretti Global rookie Lochie Hughes won the INDY NXT by Firestone race for his second victory of the season. Hughes passed polesitter and leader Caio Collet to take the lead on Lap 62 of 75 and then cruised to a 4.3521-second victory over runner-up Myles Rowe of ABEL Motorsports w/ Force Indy. Collet took the final podium spot, finishing third and 5.5196 seconds back. Hughes, currently second in the series championship, cut the deficit in half to 19 points behind leader and rookie teammate Dennis Hauger, who finished fifth.

Kirkwood Earns First Career Oval Victory in WWTR Thriller

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MADISON, Ill. (Sunday, June 15, 2025) – Nobody can call Kyle Kirkwood just a street-circuit specialist anymore.

Kirkwood used pace found with help from his teammates and masterful strategy in a chaotic, exciting race to win the Bommarito Automotive Group 500 presented by Axalta and Valvoline on Sunday night at World Wide Technology Raceway.

It was the fifth career victory for Kirkwood and career-best third win this season. But most importantly to Kirkwood, it was his first career oval victory after four wins on street circuits.

“My first oval win; I’m over the moon right now,” Kirkwood said. “Ovals have eluded me for a very long time, so it’s nice to get that first one and break that ice.

“An oval win and a road course win is what I wanted. I didn’t want people just to think of me as a street course guy or else they’ll just have me going to street courses. A little bit of job security there. This is a big one, a big one for the guys. This is huge, massive.”

The podium was filled with three INDY NXT by Firestone champions. Kirkwood drove his No. 27 Siemens Honda fielded by Andretti Global to victory by .5398 of a second over Pato O’Ward in the No. 5 Arrow McLaren Chevrolet. Christian Rasmussen finished a career-best third in the No. 21 ECR Splenda Chevrolet after starting 25th, making 62 on-track passes.

Six-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Scott Dixon finished fourth in the No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda, his best result since he placed second in the season opener in March at St. Petersburg.

Santino Ferrucci continued the recent upswing of A.J. Foyt Enterprises as he produced his third straight top-five finish this season in the No. 14 Bommarito Automotive Group Chevrolet.

The 260-lap race, in which 14 of the 27 drivers led, came down to an intriguing gambit between two fuel strategies and navigating thickets of traffic over the last 50 laps. There were 254 passes for position, tying the series record for WWTR set last year.

Dixon, a master of saving fuel, was the last car not to stop during the second-to-last pit cycle and took the lead on Lap 194. Then David Malukas brushed the Turn 4 wall on Lap 196 in the No. 4 Clarience Technologies Chevrolet of A.J. Foyt Enterprises, triggering the fourth and final caution of the race. Dixon cruised behind the pace car in the lead, which allowed him to save more fuel in a possible attempt to need to make just one more pit stop.

Then Dixon stopped when the pits opened on Lap 200 and stayed in the lead due to his one-lap gap before the stop. On the restart on Lap 207, Dixon led O’Ward, Kirkwood and Conor Daly in the No. 76 Juncos Hollinger Racing Chevrolet.

Kirkwood passed O’Ward and stalked Dixon, pressing him to use more fuel, but couldn’t pass. Andretti Global then called Kirkwood to the pits for his last stop on Lap 233.

Dixon and strategist Mike Hull knew “The Iceman” couldn’t stretch one tank of fuel for 60 laps without significantly more caution laps, so Dixon pitted on Lap 236 and handed the lead to O’Ward.

O’Ward made his final stop on Lap 238, with Ferrucci taking the top spot. When Dixon, Kirkwood and O’Ward cycled through their final stops, Kirkwood ended up the leader among that trio due to speedy work by his Andretti Global pit crew.

Ferrucci led a group of four cars that still had to make their final stop, all running ahead of Kirkwood, O’Ward and Dixon. But Ferrucci, Marcus Ericsson in the No. 28 Fresh Connect Central Honda of Andretti Global, Callum Ilott in the No. 90 PREMA Racing Chevrolet and Felix Rosenqvist in the No. 60 SiriusXM Honda of Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb-Agajanian all pitted from the lead by Lap 256, handing the lead back to Kirkwood. He never trailed thereafter despite pressure from O’Ward.

“The starts and the restarts were big,” Kirkwood said. “We were not too happy with the car yesterday, and we got some help from the teammates and made the car really good. In the beginning, I really didn’t think we had it, but as it got dark and it cooled down, this No. 27 Andretti Global Honda just came alive.”

NTT P1 Award winner Will Power crashed in Turn 4 on just the fourth lap due to a tire puncture on his No. 12 Verizon Team Penske Chevrolet. That was the portent of a tough night for Team Penske, which has a record nine wins in this event.

Five-time WWTR winner Josef Newgarden crashed out of the race while leading on Lap 130 in a frightening collision with rookie Louis Foster of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. Foster brushed the wall in Turn 4, damaging his steering, and careened into the path of the onrushing Newgarden, who hit and then climbed Foster’s No. 45 Droplight/Desnuda Tequila Honda before landing upside-down on its roll hoop and aeroscreen, showering sparks. Both drivers were unhurt.

Two-time WWTR pole winner Scott McLaughlin, who led 51 laps, was eliminated on Lap 216 after a mechanical problem in the No. 3 DEX Imaging Chevrolet.

While Kirkwood joked in victory lane about this win providing him with job security, that’s the least of his concerns so far in his breakout season. Kirkwood and points leader Alex Palou of Chip Ganassi Racing (five victories) remain the only drivers to win in the eight races so far this season. Honda also stayed unbeaten as an engine manufacturer in the series this season.

Palou’s championship lead over O’Ward was trimmed from 90 to 73 points after Palou finished eighth in the No. 10 Ridgeline Chip Ganassi Racing Honda. Kirkwood is third, two points behind O’Ward and 75 behind Palou.

The next race is the XPEL Grand Prix at Road America on Sunday, June 22. Live race coverage from the 4.014-mile road course starts at 1:30 p.m. ET on FOX, the FOX Sports app and the INDYCAR Radio Network.

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