PHOENIX (March 21, 2025) – Top Fuel’s Doug Kalitta powered to the provisional No. 1 position on Friday at Firebird Motorsports Park, making the only run in the 3.60s at the 40th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals.
Bob Tasca III (Funny Car) and Matt Hartford (Pro Stock) are also the provisional No. 1 qualifiers at the second of 20 races during the 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season.
Kalitta went 3.688-seconds at 330.09-mph in his 11,000-horsepower SealMaster/Toyota dragster under the lights in Phoenix, putting the 2023 world champion in line for his first No. 1 qualifier of the year and the 59th in his career. The No. 1 spot changed twice before Kalitta ran, but nobody else could move into the 3.60s on Friday, as Kalitta put on a standout show in Phoenix.
Kalitta and his team ran with mud flaps on during the first session, but removed them for the second, as NHRA officials announced earlier this week mud flaps will be optional for the next four races.
“I was pretty happy with that run and I have to say they’ve really done a nice job at this facility. The track is nice and smooth,” Kalitta said. “We’re happy that things kind of cooled off and we were able to get a good run in. The conditions were that good, so it says a lot for the track and this team.”
Brittany Force took the second spot with a run of 3.705 at 331.69 and Kalitta Motorsports’ teammate Shawn Langdon is currently third after going 3.706 at 331.85.
In Funny Car, Bob Tasca ended Friday qualifying in the category in impressive fashion, going 3.863 at 333.82 in his 11,000-horsepower Motorcraft Ford Mustang to slip past reigning world champion Austin Prock for the provisional No. 1 spot. Prock and Tasca were the only two Funny Car drivers to dip into the 3.80s during the first two sessions, with Prock going 3.883 at 327.44 the pair before Tasca.
But Tasca topped him to take the upper hand into Saturday, where he will attempt to pick up his 19th career No. 1 qualifier and first of the year.
“What I love about what we did today is that we ran good on a hot track, and we did it on a cool track,” Tasca said. “This is very unique. You don’t see what we saw today, a 122-degree track and then an 80-degree track. That’s a 40-degree change in racing surface so that’s a completely different race car, and the teams that adapted and made the changes performed the best today, and it’ll be exciting for tomorrow and see what we can do.
“You’re going to see a hot track for the rest of the weekend, so I’m pretty confident. That first run was more important than the second run and Todd [Okuhara] and Aaron [Brooks] really worked hard over the winter, making some changes to this race car, trying to get more consistency.”
Prock is second after two sessions, while Ron Capps is in third after going 3.912 at 323.50.
Friday night was great for Phoenix-area native Matt Hartford, as he took over the No. 1 spot in his Total Seal Chevrolet Camaro with a stellar run of 6.509 at 208.20. If that holds, Hartford would pick up his fifth career No. 1 qualifier and first of the year, and continue his strong turnaround after struggling for the bulk of the 2024 campaign. This is another noteworthy step forward as Hartford looks to win at his home track.
“This is our home track,” Hartford said. “It’s Total Seal country, and to be able to do that in front of friends and family and all the people from Total Seal is just incredible. We’re going to have a lot of people here tomorrow, about 175 of our closest friends, and they’re all going to want to know how we did last night, so it’s going to be nice to say that we’re No. 1 going into tomorrow.”
Defending world champ and Gainesville winner Greg Anderson is second with a 6.512 at 208.91 at 208.91 and Cory Reed is third after a run of 6.516 at 208.91.
Qualifying continues at 11:30 a.m. PT on Saturday at the NHRA Arizona Nationals at Firebird Motorsports Park.
NHRA Agate from Chandler, Ariz.
CHANDLER, Ariz. — Friday’s results after the first two of four rounds of qualifying for the 40th annual NHRA Arizona Nationals at Firebird Motorsports Park, third of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series. Qualifying will continue Saturday for Sunday’s final eliminations.
Key Takeaway: Matt Mills and the No. 42 team finished inside the top-15 after a hard-fought race at Homestead-Miami Speedway. Mills started the evening off in 17th, and had a relatively smooth set of first two stages. After making adjustments on the final pit stop of the night, Mills gained track position in the final run to the checkered flag, walking away in 14th-place.
Matt Mills’ Post-Race Thoughts: “We had a tough night in Homestead, but I’m proud of the effort our J.F. Electric / Utilitra team gave to rebound there at the end. I think our truck was handling pretty good there in the last stage, but it was hard to overcome the dirty air. To come out of here with a top-15 is a lot better than how we ended up last time we came to Homestead. We’ll keep working on it and prepare for a good run in Martinsville.”
About J.F. Electric: J.F. Electric is an electrical contractor that provides engineering expertise, backed by construction and installation know-how in a diverse range of service offerings, from utilities and commercial projects, to industrial and telecommunications customers. When having a long family history in an industry, a company not only builds on its knowledge and experience, it takes pride in cultivating a solid understanding of client needs, all the while nurturing strong relationships with its employees. Evolving through five generations of the Fowler family, J.F. Electric has matured into a well-managed and thoughtfully diversified electrical contractor which is poised to continue its growth and expansion into the future.
About Utilitra: Utilitra is a woman-owned firm specializing in utility and technology solutions with a diverse team of specialized professionals. Utilitra is committed to solving their client’s unique challenges, whether one expert or a team of experts is needed. By adapting to the needs of their respective industries, Utilitra has built a range of services for their utility and technology partners.
No. 44 Niece Equipment Chevrolet Silverado RST Driver: Ross Chastain | Crew Chief: Wally Rogers
Key Takeaway: Ross Chastain and the No. 44 team put on a thrilling show at Homestead-Miami by contending for the race win all night long. Chastain, in his return to the Truck Series, qualified the highest out of the team in seventh. With a pair of top-10 finishes in both stages, the team held track position up at the front of the field. Chastain took the point on several occasions, leading for a total of 33 laps. The team was searching for more long run pace, but left the track content with a sixth-place finish.
Ross Chastain’s Post-Race Thoughts: “[We had] a good short run. I was trying to take care of it and take the lead and maintain a couple truck lengths, but just couldn’t hang on. I burned the front [tires] up on some runs, and burned the rear [tires] up at the end. Just got too loose there at the end. I’m proud of the whole team tonight for bringing us such a fast truck, it was fun to race up front and have a shot at it with our Niece Equipment Chevy.”
About Niece Equipment: For over 30 years, Niece Equipment has provided clients with reliable products at competitive prices. Our reputation is built on service, integrity and dependability.
Each of our water and fuel/lube trucks are engineered with quality and durability in mind. Our capability ranges from 2,000 gallon water trucks to 12,000 gallon water towers. The fuel/lube trucks we offer range from 600 to 4,000 gallons.
No. 45 AutoVentive / Precision Vehicle Logistics Chevrolet Silverado RST Driver: Kaden Honeycutt | Crew Chief: Phil Gould
Key Takeaway: For the second week in a row, Kaden Honeycutt and the No. 45 team rallied back from mid-race penalties to bring home a solid finish. Honeycutt started in 13th-place, but climbed up inside the top-10 to score points in both stages. On the final pit stop of the night, the No. 45 team was forced to start in the rear, but were able to overcome a lack of track position to parlay into an impressive top-10 result.
Kaden Honeycutt’s Post-Race Thoughts: “All of the guys on our AutoVentive / Precision Silverado did an unbelievable job tonight. I’m so proud of them and the improvement we made from last year. I just want to thank them, because they did a great job. When I found out we had that penalty, I was so disappointed because we had worked so hard to get to the front, and had to climb back out of a mistake I made. But, our truck was so fast there, and we were able to come back and get a good finish out of it. We had a great points night tonight through the stages and with a top-10. We know we have the speed to contend for wins, and we’re going to give it our all next week in Martinsville.”
About AutoVentive: AutoVentive is an industry-leading Software as a Service (SaaS) applications developer providing customized solutions to the automotive logistics industry. The company is part of Liberty Hill Equity Partners, LLC, a Cincinnati-based private equity firm.
About Precision Vehicle Logistics: Precision Vehicle Logistics is a customer-focused group of professionals committed to service excellence in finished vehicle logistics. Precision offers a unique combination of talented experience, industry-leading software and systems, and a network of partners and resources to deliver customized solutions to the world’s leading automakers.
About Niece Motorsports: Niece Motorsports is a professional auto racing team founded by United States Marine Corps Veteran Al Niece. In 2025, the team celebrates its 10th consecutive season competing in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS) where it fields the Nos. 41, 42, 44 and 45. Since its founding in 2016, Niece Motorsports has garnered nine wins, 50+ top-fives, 100+ top-10s, 190+ top-15 finishes and made five playoff appearances. At its 80,000 sq. ft. headquarters in Salisbury, NC, Niece Motorsports is a trusted build shop for the Chevrolet Silverados of multiple NCTS teams as well as a customizable fabrication shop for any manufacturing needs.
Follow the Team: To keep up to date with the latest team news, visit niecemotorsports.com or connect on Facebook and Instagram (@NieceMotorsports) as well as X (@NieceMotorsport).
COREY HEIM FINISHES THIRD IN TRUCK SERIES RACE AT HOMESTEAD Heim earns third top-five finish this season and fifth in the last seven races
HOMESTEAD, Fla. (March 21, 2025) – Corey Heim led the Toyota Tundra TRD Pro contingent in Friday night’s Truck Series race at Homestead-Miami Speedway, finishing in the third position. Heim started the race from pole and led 78 total laps Friday night, winning both stages, before earning his third top-five finish in four races so far this season. Tonight was the first of two races this weekend for Heim, who will pilot the No. 24 Toyota GR Supra for Sam Hunt Racing in tomorrow’s Xfinity Series race.
Brandon Jones had a solid night in his first Truck Series start of the season with TRICON Garage, finishing in the 12th position. Stewart Friesen gained valuable stage points tonight, finishing eighth and fourth in both stages, before ending the night in 16th position.
The NASCAR Truck Series returns to action next Friday, March 28, at Martinsville Speedway.
Toyota Racing Post-Race Recap NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (NCTS) Homestead-Miami Speedway Race 4 of 23 – 201 Miles, 134 Laps
TOYOTA FINISHING POSITIONS
1st, Kyle Larson* 2nd, Layne Riggs* 3rd, COREY HEIM 4th, Tyler Ankrum* 5th, Daniel Hemric* 12th, BRANDON JONES 16th, STEWART FRIESEN 17th, TANNER GRAY 26th, TONI BREIDINGER 29th, GIO RUGGIERO 32nd, AKINORI OGATA *non-Toyota driver
How fast was your truck tonight and how do you process the end there?
“Yeah, it stinks. I feel like we were lights out, the best truck tonight. Think we should’ve won the race by six, seven seconds at the end there. I feel like at the beginning of the runs, I knew what we were capable of and let those guys get away, burn their stuff up and then, fly past them. I don’t know exactly what was going on. Never really had an issue like that. I’d be totally fine, and the engine would just hard cut on me. Dash would go black and have no power until I fully cycled it. So, I was coasting for six seconds trying to turn the power switch and turn it back (on). I don’t know. Felt I ran a really good race, saving tires and would mow them down on the long runs there. But huge thank you to TRICON Garage, Safelite and Toyota for all of their work. This No. 11 Tundra TRD Pro was really, really good. This just stinks pretty bad.”
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.
Paul Tracy Fastest in XGT, Joshua Carlson Tops SGT, Chris Coffey First in GT, Rob Dickey Best in GT1
BRASELTON, Ga. (March 21, 2025) – Practice and qualifying have concluded for the Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli at the Mission Foods Road Atlanta SpeedTour at Road Atlanta. Brent Crews set a new track record, capturing the pole with a time of 1:16.683.
“It’s a great weekend so far,” said Crews. “I can’t thank everybody at Toyota Racing and Nitro Motorsports enough. Thanks to everybody at Mobil 1 for getting me here. I’ve had a great car all weekend and I’ve been continuing to get this thing faster. It’s been fast all week. Nick Tucker’s been working really hard. We had a super-fast car at Sebring as well, but unfortunately, we broke down a couple times and I feel like that kind of cost us the win. But these past couple weeks, these guys have been working really hard at the shop to be able to get this thing fixed up and ready for the weekend. No issues so far this weekend, and we have a really fast racecar, so I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”
Paul Tracy (No. 10 Race Cars For You Innovation IRC GT) was quickest in XGT, while Joshua Carlson (No. 36 Enseva/Diercks Ltd./TC Fab Ford Mustang) topped SGT. Chris Coffey (No. 97 Traffic Grafix/Chill Out Motorsports Maserati MC GT4) was fastest in the GT class, and newcomer Rob Dickey (No. 64 Forty48 Competition Chevrolet Camaro) was the sole competitor in GT1 Challenge.
The TA/GT race will be contested tomorrow at 12:50 p.m. ET. It will be streamed LIVE on Trans Am’s YouTube channel, @TheTransAmSeries, with coverage beginning at 12:15 p.m. ET, and broadcast LIVE on SPEED SPORT 1 at 12:30 p.m. ET. An encore presentation will air on SPEED SPORT 1 at 7:00 p.m. ET. For more information on where you can watch SPEED SPORT 1, click here.
TA Qualifying Top Five:
Brent Crews, No. 70 Nitro Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro (1:16.683)
Matthew Brabham, No. 16 GYM WEED Ford Mustang (1:16.888)
Adam Andretti, No. 17 Top Liner Chevrolet Camaro (1:18.066)
Paul Menard, No. 3 Pittsburgh Paints/Menards Ford Mustang (1:18.267)
Tomy Drissi, No. 8 Trench Shoring Co./Motul Chevrolet Camaro (1:19.690)
XGT Qualifying:
Paul Tracy, No. 10 Race Cars For You Innovation IRC GT (1:21.495)
Danny Lowry, No. 42 Bennett/BridgeHaul/Pitboxes.com Mercedes AMG GT4 (1:22.525)
Billy Griffin, No. 14 Griffin Auto Care Mercedes AMG GT3 (1:22.780)
Kaylee Bryson, No. 02 Logical Systems Inc. Chevrolet Corvette (1:23.213)
SGT Qualifying:
Joshua Carlson, No. 36 Enseva/Diercks Ltd./TC Fab Ford Mustang (1:27.108)
Patrick Utt, No. 49 RaceQuip/Driven Racing Oil Chevrolet Camaro (1:28.215)
So your racecar’s done. Maybe it’s wrecked. Maybe it’s just too far gone. Either way, it’s not tearing up the track anymore—and now you’re left with the question: What now?
1. First Things First: Is It Really Done?
It’s easy to assume it’s the end of the road. But before you make any decisions, take a minute to assess the situation. Because not all racecar issues are total deal-breakers.
Mechanical vs Structural – A blown engine is serious, sure—but a chassis issue could be even more final. Know the difference.
Cost vs Value – Ask yourself if the cost to fix it is more than it’s worth to you personally. If it’s just money keeping it from running, maybe there’s still life left in it.
You don’t need to get too sentimental here. Just be honest about whether it’s dead-dead… or just on a break.
2. Strip It for Parts
If you’re mechanically inclined (or know someone who is), this is probably one of the most practical things you can do.
Racecars are built with purpose. That means lots of high-performance parts that other people want—think:
Aftermarket suspension
Roll cage
Racing seats
Custom wheels
Lightweight panels
Transmission, diff, brake upgrades, and more
Selling parts separately can be way more profitable than selling the whole car. It takes time and effort, but it often pays off.
And if your car has any unique or discontinued components? Even better. People are always on the hunt for niche gear they can’t get new.
3. Sell It “As Is”
Maybe you’re done. No time to part it out. No interest in fixing it. You just want it gone—but not for nothing.
You’ve got options.
There are always enthusiasts looking for project cars, especially race builds. Maybe they want a donor shell. Maybe they’ve got a plan to bring it back to life. Either way, don’t underestimate the resale value, even in rough condition.
Or, if the car’s truly beyond saving, you can look into companies that buy junk vehicles. These businesses often pay based on current scrap metal rates minus any processing fees. Junk car worth will usually depend on the car’s weight, the types of metals in it, and whether there are any usable parts left. It’s a fast, no-hassle way to get it off your hands—and get paid for it, too.
4. Keep It As a Track-Only Car
If the car isn’t street-legal but still runs—or could with a little TLC—it might make sense to keep it off the road and purely on the track.
You’re not dealing with inspections, emissions, or daily drive expectations. So even if it’s rough around the edges, it might still give you plenty of fun during open track days or autocross events.
This is especially true for older racecars that are just too far removed from modern standards to register, insure, or safely use on regular roads. But if the core is still there? You’ve got yourself a toy.
5. Repurpose It for Something Totally Different
This is where things can get creative.
If you’re not interested in racing anymore—or can’t—it doesn’t mean your car has to go to waste. Here are a few ideas people actually do:
Sim Rig Setup – Turn the cockpit into the ultimate sim racing setup. Bucket seat, steering wheel mount, pedals, the works.
Garage Art – Sounds weird, but if you’ve got a distinctive body shell, people will literally hang them on the wall.
Furniture Builds – Racing seats become office chairs. Front ends get turned into desks. Yes, really.
Education Purposes – Donate or lend the car to a local tech school for student training on motorsports builds and fabrication.
These ideas obviously depend on space and effort, but if you’re attached to the car and want it to live on in some way, this could scratch that itch.
6. Donate It
Not everyone thinks of this, but it’s a legit option.
Some educational programs, vocational schools, and non-profits accept vehicles—even race-specific ones. If your car has useful learning components or just needs a new home with people who’ll appreciate it, this is a feel-good solution that might also come with a tax benefit (depending on how you handle it).
Worth looking into, especially if the other options feel like too much hassle.
7. Let It Sit (On Purpose)
This sounds counterintuitive, but sometimes the best move is no move—at least for a while.
If you’re unsure what you want to do with the car, there’s no rush. Maybe you’ll find inspiration later. Maybe prices for certain parts will go up. Or maybe you’ll decide to rebuild when circumstances change.
If it’s not in the way, letting it sit (properly stored) can buy you time to make the right decision instead of rushing into something you’ll regret.
So, What’s the Best Option?
That depends entirely on what you want.
Want to make some money back? Part it out or sell it as-is.
Want to keep racing in some way? Turn it into a dedicated track car.
Want to hold onto the memories? Repurpose it or let it sit until the time’s right.
Just want it gone? Donate or scrap it.
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer here, and that’s the point. What matters is doing what makes the most sense for your situation, your time, and your future plans—racing or otherwise.
HOMESTEAD, FLORIDA - MARCH 21: Kyle Larson, driver of the #07 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, celebrates after winning the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Baptist Health 200 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on March 21, 2025 in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images).
Kyle Larson executed an improbable comeback by rallying from a late spin to snatch a dramatic NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series victory in the Baptist Health 200 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Friday, March 21.
The 2021 Cup Series champion from Elk Grove, California, led three times for 20 of 134-scheduled laps in an event where he started in third place and spent the first two-stage periods racing at the front, where he notched two runner-up finishes between the first two-stage periods. Then, with 45 laps remaining, Larson’s event appeared to have gone south after he got loose underneath Layne Riggs, whom Larson was battling for the runner-up spot, and slid sideways in a cloud of smoke before performing a complete 360 spin through the first two turns.
Despite proceeding without making any contact from the field or the wall, Larson restarted just outside the top-20 mark for the following restart period with 39 laps remaining. With the remainder of the event under green flag conditions, Larson methodically carved his way back up the leaderboard and was up into third place with four laps remaining. Then, after zipping past the dominant leader, Corey Heim, as Heim experienced late power issues, Larson slid his way past Riggs to assume the lead with two laps remaining. With Riggs and Heim unable to regain any ground during the final lap, Larson commenced his triple-duty weekend at Homestead by reigning supreme with his first Truck Series victory of the 2025 campaign.
With on-track qualifying that determined the starting lineup occurring on Friday, Corey Heim, winner of last weekend’s event at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, motored to his first Truck pole position of the 2025 season and the eighth of his career with a pole-winning lap at 168.167 mph in 32.111 seconds. Joining him on the front row was teammate Tanner Gray, the latter of whom clocked in his best qualifying lap at 167.281 mph in 32.281 seconds.
The start of the event under green flag conditions only lasted a single turn due to rookie Giovanni Ruggiero, who was pinned in a tight four-wide battle with Ross Chastain, Grant Enfinger and Tyler Ankrum in the top-10 mark, getting loose after he was both pushed and pinned in between Chastain and Enfinger. As Ruggiero tried to keep his No. 17 First Auto Group Toyota Tundra TRD Pro entry racing straight, he ended up making more contact with Enfinger before he spun up the track in Turn 2 and was hit on the left-rear side by an oncoming Ben Rhodes.
Amid the incident, the field fanned out and scattered while jostling for early spots. In addition, pole-sitter Corey Heim, who led the first lap under caution, retained the lead ahead of Kyle Larson, teammate Tanner Gray, Layne Riggs, and Chastain.
When the event restarted under green on the sixth lap, Heim, who restarted on the inside lane, rocketed his No. 11 Safelite Toyota Tundra TRD Pro entry ahead of the field through the frontstretch while Larson, who restarted on the outside lane, struggled to launch. This allowed Tanner Gray to challenge Larson for the runner-up spot through the first two turns before the latter muscled ahead through the backstretch. As Heim retained the lead entering Turn 3, a three-wide action for third place involving Gray, Layne Riggs, and Chastain ensued. Larson would then use the outside lane to draw even with Heim as both dueled for the lead through the frontstretch.
During the seventh lap, Heim managed to move up in front of Larson through the first two turns. Heim would proceed to lead through the backstretch until Larson used the outside lane to draw even with Heim for a second time through Turns 3 and 4. With Heim using the inside lane to slide in front of Larson for a second time through the first two turns, Chastain and Riggs battled for third place.
By the ninth lap, Larson used the inside lane through the first two turns to slide in front of Heim for the lead, but Heim mirrored Larson’s charge and slid from the inside lane to reassume the lead through Turns 3 and 4. As Heim muscled back ahead, Chastain started to challenge Larson for the runner-up spot while Riggs, Ty Majeski, Tyler Ankrum, Gray, Rajah Caruth, Stewart Friesen and Daniel Hemric followed suit in the top-10 mark.
Through the first 15-scheduled laps, Larson, who reassumed the lead from Heim three laps earlier, was leading by a full second over Heim while Riggs, Chastain and Majeski followed suit in the top five. Behind, Ankrum, Gray, Friesen, Hemric and Brandon Jones were racing in the top 10 ahead of Kaden Honeycutt, Grant Enfinger, Chandler Smith, Rajah Caruth and Matt Crafton while Jake Garcia, Corey Day, Stefan Parsons, Connor Mosack and Matt Mills were mired in the top 20.
Five laps later, Larson stabilized his lead to more than a second over Riggs while Heim fell back to third place. Meanwhile, Majeski and Chastain battled for fourth place as Heim would then challenge Riggs to reclaim the runner-up spot. With Riggs retaining the spot over Heim, both also started to close in on Larson for the lead despite the latter proceeding to lead by the Lap 25 mark.
On Lap 26, the top-three competitors that consisted of Larson, Riggs and Heim were separated by two-tenths of a second. Amid the battles, Heim reassumed the runner-up spot from Riggs and he proceeded to close in on Larson for the lead. With Heim unable to slide up in front of Larson, Riggs re-challenged Heim for the spot as Larson continued to lead by Lap 27. Heim would then use the inside lane to draw himself dead even with Larson through the backstretch on Lap 28. As Riggs closed in, Heim muscled ahead and slid in front of Larson through Turns 3 and 4 to assume the lead.
When the first stage period concluded on Lap 30, Heim, who continued to lead over the previous two laps, fended off last-lap challenges from Larson and Riggs to claim his first Truck stage victory of the 2025 season. Larson edged Riggs for the runner-up spot while Majeski, Chastain, Ankrum, Hemric, Friesen, Honeycutt and Zane Smith were scored in the top 10, respectively.
Under the stage break, the lead lap field led by Heim peeled off the track for a first round of pit service. Following the pit stops, Heim retained the lead after he exited pit road first and he was followed by Larson, Majeski, Ankrum, Hemric, Zane Smith, Tanner Gray, Friesen, Honeycutt and Chastain, respectively. Meanwhile, Riggs, who entered pit road in third place, slid through his pit box and exited in 13th place.
The second stage period started on Lap 37 as Heim and Larson occupied the front row. At the start, both dueled for the lead as the field behind fanned out entering the first two turns. Heim would proceed to use the inside lane to muscle ahead, where he led through the backstretch and fended off Larson through Turns 3 and 4 to lead the following lap. As Heim led Larson, Majeski, who squeezed Tyler Ankrum up the track through the first two turns during the restart, battled Friesen for third place in front of Honeycutt, Hemric, Zane Smith and Chastain. With Majeski and Larson nearly making contact for the runner-up sot in front of Friesen, Heim led the Lap 40 mark.
At the Lap 45 mark, Heim continued to lead by two-tenths of a second over a tight three-wide battle involving Friesen, Majeski and Larson. The former two of Friesen and Majeski would proceed to overtake Larson, which dropped the latter to fourth place, as Chastain attempted to challenge Larson for fourth place. Larson would manage to overtake Friesen for third place and Majeski would retain the runner-up spot while Heim led by half a second on Lap 50.
Then just past the Lap 50 mark, Majeski used the inside lane through the first two turns to slide in front of Heim and assume the lead. Seconds later, however, Heim pulled a crossover move to the inside lane and he reassumed the lead. Heim would begin to build a steady gap between himself and Majeski while Larson, Friesen and Honeycutt pursued. With Heim leading at the Lap 55 mark, Larson caught and overtook Majeski for the runner-up spot through Turns 3 and 4. Larson’s moved occurred after Majeski had gotten loose entering the backstretch during the previous lap.
When the second stage period concluded on Lap 60, Heim captured his second consecutive Truck stage victory of the event and his second of the 2025 season. Larson followed suit in second ahead of Majeski, Friesen and Honeycutt while Riggs, Chastain, Hemric, Ankrum and Enfinger were scored in the top 10, respectively.
During the stage break, the lead lap field led by Heim returned to pit road for service. Following the pit stops, Heim retained the lead after exiting pit road first and he was followed by Larson, Friesen, Hemric, Riggs, Honeycutt, Chastain, Majeski, Enfinger and Brandon Jones, respectively. Not long after the pit stops, Majeski returned to pit road to have his left-front fender repaired after he made contact with Honeycutt while exiting pit road.
With 67 laps remaining, the final stage period commenced as Heim and Larson occupied the front row. At the start, Heim muscled away from Larson, who briefly struggled to launch, and he would proceed to lead through the first two turns while Hemric battled Larson for the runner-up spot. Hemric would continue to duel with Larson for the runner-up spot through the backstretch and Turns 3 and 4 while Riggs, Chastain, Friesen, Enfinger and Honeycutt all followed within close range. Amid the battles, Heim led the next lap.
Shortly after, Riggs made a bold three-wide move beneath Hemric and Larson for the runner-up spot. This caused Hemric to get loose and briefly step out of the gas, where he dropped to fourth place while Riggs pursued Larson and Heim for the lead. Hemric would proceed to get shuffled out of the top-five mark as Larson dueled with Heim for the lead with 65 laps remaining. Riggs and Chastain then overtook Larson to move into second and third, respectively, over the next lap before Chastain overtook Heim to assume the lead with 63 laps remaining.
Down to the final 60 laps of the event, Chastain extended his lead to more than a second over Heim while Larson trailed by one-and-a-half seconds in third place. Behind, Riggs and Hemric trailed in the top five ahead of Friesen, Honeycutt, Enfinger, Brandon Jones and Ankrum while Zane Smith, Connor Mosack, Corey Day, Matt Crafton, Jake Garcia, Tanner Gray, Rajah Caruth, Matt Mills, Stefan Parsons and Andres Perez de Lara were mired in the top 20.
Ten laps later, Chastain stabilized his lead to half a second over a hard-charging Heim while Riggs, Larson and Hemric were racing in the top five. Another three laps later, Heim overtook Chastain through Turns 3 and 4 to reassume the lead. As Heim led with 46 laps remaining, Riggs used the outside lane to duel with Chastain for the runner-up spot. Amid the battle, Chastain slid up the track and nearly made contact with Riggs through Turns 3 and 4. This allowed Larson to gain a draft on both as Larson overtook Chastain for third place through the frontstretch.
Then with 45 laps remaining, Larson, who tried to slide up in front of Riggs for the runner-up spot, slipped up and made contact with Riggs. This resulted with Larson getting sideways and spinning his No. 07 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Silverado RST entry to the bottom of the track in Turn 2. Despite performing a full 360 spin, Larson was dodged by the field and he proceed with right-side cosmetic damage as the caution flew.
During the caution period, the lead lap field led by Heim returned to pit road for service. Following the pit stops, Heim retained the lead as he exited pit road first. He was followed by Honeycutt, Hemric, Chastain, Enfinger, Riggs, Ankrum, Caruth, Zane Smith and Friesen, respectively. Shortly after, however, Honeycutt was sent to the tail end of the field due to a vehicle interference penalty.
With the race restarting under green with 39 laps remaining, Heim rocketed his No. 11 Safelite Toyota Tundra TRD Pro entry away from the field from the inside lane. Heim would proceed to lead and he would be followed by Chastain and Ankrum while Hemric, who struggled to launch from the outside lane, was trying to retain fourth place over Enfinger, Riggs and Zane Smith. With the field fanning out, Chastain wasted no time boosting his No. 44 Niece Motorsports Chevrolet Silverado RST entry back to the front as he overtook Heim from the outside lane through Turns 3 and 4 to lead the following lap. With Chastain leading with 37 laps remaining, Heim fended off Ankrum to keep second place as Riggs, Hemric, Enfinger and Zane Smith pursued. Meanwhile, Chastain stretched his lead to half a second with 55 laps remaining while Larson, who was trying to carve his way back to the front amid his late spin, cracked the top-15 mark.
Down to the final 30 laps of the event, Heim reassumed the lead from Chastain with a strong move from the inside lane through the first two turns. Behind, Riggs, Ankrum and Hemric trailed in the top five while Enfinger, Zane Smith, Friesen, Jake Garcia and Tanner Gray followed suit in the top 10. Meanwhile, Larson was battling Connor Mosack for 14th place while Honeycutt was mired in 16th place. In addition, Majeski was fending off Brandon Jones and Corey Day for 12th place.
Five laps later, Heim had his advantage decreased to three-tenths of a second as Chastain started to gain ground. Behind, Riggs pursued the lead in third place by more than a second while Hemric and Ankrum remained in the top five. Then another three laps later, Riggs gained a huge ground on Chastain after the latter got loose entering the frontstretch. Riggs would proceed to overtake Chastain for the runner-up spot and pursue Heim for the lead.
Then with 21 laps remaining, Heim fell off the pace entering Turn 3. This allowed Riggs to rocket past him and assume the lead, where he led the following lap, while Chastain also made his way into the runner-up spot. As Heim continued to lose ground from the lead, where his disadvantage grew to more than a second, Chastain and Riggs battled for the lead as the former assumed the top spot. Chastain would proceed to lead with 15 laps remaining as Riggs continued to intimidate Chastain. Meanwhile, Heim, who was stumbling to maintain power in his truck, was trying to regain ground on the leaders.
With 13 laps remaining, Heim, who overtook Riggs for the runner-up spot a lap earlier, started to challenge Chastain for the lead. Amid his power issues, Heim then used the inside lane to slide in front of Chastain and return atop the leaderboard with 12 laps remaining. With Riggs overtaking Chastain for the runner-up spot, Heim proceeded to stretch his advantage to nearly a second with 10 laps remaining while Larson rocketed his way back into fifth place.
Down to the final five laps of the event, Heim’s advantage grew to more than a second over Riggs while third-place Chastain trailed by nearly three seconds. Meanwhile, Larson, who outdueled Ankrum for fourth place and was rim-riding his way towards the outside wall, trailed the lead by more than three seconds and he would proceed to overtake Chastain for third place a lap later.
Then with four laps later, Heim dropped off the pace after the power in his truck died again. This allowed Riggs to rocket past him for the lead. As Heim struggled to regain pace, Larson overtook him for the runner-up spot before Heim fended off Ankrum for third place. Over the next lap, Larson gained a huge ground on Riggs through the backstretch and he would gain more ground through Turns 3 and 4 despite Riggs maintaining a steady lead in the No. 34 Love’s Ford F-150 entry.
With two laps remaining, however, Larson, who drew himself to Riggs’ rear bumper through the frontstretch, made his move beneath Riggs and slid in front of him through the first two turns. As a result, Larson returned atop the leaderboard, where he led through the backstretch while Riggs tried to fight back. Riggs, however, could not stay even with Larson through Turns 3 and 4 as Heim started to battle Riggs for the runner-up spot.
When the white flag waved and the final lap started, Larson remained in the lead over Riggs and Heim. Both Riggs and Heim would attempt to gain ground on Larson through the turns, but it was not enough as Larson, who kept his No. 07 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet Silverado entry rim-riding towards the outside wall as he had been doing over the course of his late rally, was able to smoothly navigate his way around Homestead for a final time and return to the frontstretch victorious with his first checkered flag of the 2025 season.
With the victory, Larson notched his fourth NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series career victory in his 16th series start, his first in the series at Homestead and his first since winning at North Wilkesboro Speedway in May 2023. The victory was also the seventh in the Truck Series for Spire Motorsports, the organization’s second of the year, the first for Spire’s newly formed No. 07 entry and the first for crew chief Allen Hart.
In addition, Larson, who is competing in all three of NASCAR’s top national touring series throughout this weekend at Homestead, accomplished his first feat towards achieving a triple-header sweep. The Californian will be driving for Hendrick Motorsports for Saturday’s Xfinity Series event and Sunday’s Cup Series event at Homestead as he attempts to join Kyle Busch as the only competitors to achieve the feat in racking up victories across NASCAR’s top three national touring series in a single race weekend.
HOMESTEAD, FLORIDA – MARCH 21: Kyle Larson, driver of the #07 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, celebrates with a burnout after winning the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Baptist Health 200 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on March 21, 2025 in Homestead, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images).
“That was pretty unbelievable from my seat,” Larson said on the frontstretch on FOX. “I wasn’t exactly sure if I could get back up there. [I] Didn’t have the restart that I wanted. [It] Kind of took a little bit too long to start picking [the field] off and just got rippin’ the wall on both ends. It was really paying dividends, I think, in [Turns] 1 and 2 for me and just staying wound up. I caught some of the guys that were doing just good enough up there where I couldn’t get my and bog my momentum down, but got clear of them.”
“I’m not sure what happened with [Heim], but that worked out in our favor, for sure,” Larson added. “I don’t think I would’ve gotten to him. Obviously, I would’ve got to second, probably, but it would’ve been tough to get to [Heim]. That last run was a lot of fun. Thanks to Spire Motorsports, thanks to [Hendrick Motorsports’ owner] Rick Hendrick and HendrickCars.com for letting me come have some fun tonight. This was definitely fun. [I] Learned a lot, too, I think, so look forward to the rest of the weekend.
As Larson celebrated with his family and team, Heim, who led a race-high 78 laps compared to Larson’s 20, was left both confused and dejected on pit road after having a third trip to Victory Lane in 2025 slip out of his grasp due to his late power issues.
“About 15, 20 [laps] to go, everything seemed fine as far as what I could see,” Heim said. “The engine would hard-cut on me and the [dashboard] would go black. I’d have to pull my right hand over and fully re-cycle the power to get any sort of life back in the motor. I really don’t know what the problem was, to be honest with you, but I can’t say enough about this Safelite Tundra TRD Pro. Everyone at TRICON Garage and Toyota did a phenomenal job. [The truck was] Probably the best truck I ever had, really. Just stings pretty bad, obviously, but nothing I could’ve done about it.”
Riggs, who led three laps, settled in second place for his second consecutive top-five finish in recent weeks. McAnally-Hilgemann Racing’s Tyler Ankrum and Daniel Hemric finished in the top five, respectively, while Ross Chastain, who led 33 laps, finished in sixth place.
Jake Garcia, Chandler Smith, Grant Enfinger and Kaden Honeycutt completed the top 10 in the final running order.
Notably, Ty Majeski, Brandon Jones, Matt Crafton, Corey Day, Stewart Friesen, Rajah Caruth, Frankie Muniz, Andres Perez de Lara and Toni Breidinger finished 11th, 12th, 13th, 15th, 16th, 22nd, 24th, 25th and 26th, respectively. In addition, Ben Rhodes, who never recovered from his opening lap wreck, ended up in 33rd place and was strapped with a DNF.
There were 13 lead changes for four different leaders. The race featured four cautions for 22 laps. In addition, 25 of 34 starters finished on the lead lap.
Following the fourth event of the 2025 Craftsman Truck Series season, Corey Heim leads the regular-season standings by eight points over Ty Majeski, 27 over Chandler Smith, 28 over Grant Enfinger, 39 over Stewart Friesen and 50 over Tyler Ankrum.
Race Results:
1. Kyle Larson, 20 laps led 2. Layne Riggs, three laps led 3. Corey Heim, 78 laps led, Stages 1 & 2 winner 4. Tyler Ankrum 5. Daniel Hemric 6. Ross Chastain, 33 laps led 7. Jake Garcia 8. Chandler Smith 9. Grant Enfinger 10. Kaden Honeycutt 11. Ty Majeski 12. Brandon Jones 13. Matt Crafton 14. Matt Mills 15. Corey Day 16. Stewart Friesen 17. Tanner Gray 18. Stefan Parsons 19. Connor Mosack 20. Luke Fenhaus 21. Jack Wood 22. Rajah Caruth 23. Dawson Sutton 24. Frankie Muniz 25. Andres Perez de Lara 26. Toni Breidinger, one lap down 27. Nathan Byrd, one lap down 28. Spencer Boyd, one lap down 29. Giovanni Ruggiero, three laps down 30. Keith McGee, four laps down 31. Michel Disdier, six laps down 32. Akinori Ogata, 10 laps down 33. Ben Rhodes – OUT, Suspension 34. Stephen Mallozzi – OUT, Vibration
Next on the 2025 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series schedule is Martinsville Speedway for the Boys & Girls Club of the Blue Ridge 200, which will also serve as the first of three Triple Truck Challenge events of this season. The event is scheduled to occur next Friday, March 28, and air at 7:30 p.m. ET on FS1.
Ford Performance Notes and Quotes NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Homestead Media Availability Friday, March 21, 2025
Chandler Smith, driver of the No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford F-150, is fourth in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series point standings. He stopped by the infield media center at Homestead-Miami Speedway before today’s practice, qualifying and race to talk about the start to 2025.
CHANDLER SMITH, No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford F-150 – THREE TOP 10S TO START THE YEAR. HOW DO YOU FEEL YOU HAVE ADAPTED BACK TO THE TRUCK SERIES AND WITH THIS TEAM FOR AS QUICKLY AS IT CAME TOGETHER? “Especially that last point. It came together, I think we finally finished the hiring process two weeks before Daytona, maybe a week and a half before Daytona on our last guy. We didn’t get our crew chief hired until maybe two weeks, maybe three weeks out of Daytona, so it definitely was very last-minute, but I couldn’t be happier with the group that we assembled, honestly. I mean, it’s turned out great. Everybody is working together great. We’ve got really fast trucks. We’ve got a lot of motivated individuals that are on our team and I feel like in the position that I’m in, I’m looking at this as helping to build this program up a little bit. I’ve taken it on my shoulders a little more to step up to that role even more than I have in year’s past, just like last year being at Gibbs – well established and respected organization. It’s kind of just a plug-and-play deal. This was not a plug-and-play deal. This was a lot more than just that. It’s definitely been an experience. I wouldn’t change it for anything and I’m super grateful for the opportunity that Bob Jenkins and Jerry Freeze has given me.”
DO THE TRUCKS DRIVE THE SAME AS A FEW YEARS AGO BEFORE YOU WENT TO XFINITY? “They’re definitely different than an Xfinity car. They drive the same as what they did a few years ago when I was in them. Obviously, I’m driving for a different organization. They have different approaches on setups and different approaches on how they build their race trucks compared to where I was in year’s past, so it’s been adjusting to that a little bit and taking what’s worked for them in the past and what’s worked for me in the past and different organizations and kind of bringing it together and coming up with an even better product. That’s kind of where we’re at right now. I felt like Las Vegas was our first race. It was a good read. It felt like both me and Layne got a really good data point of where we were and what we needed to do. My crew chief, Jon Leonard, we both talked and had some great ideas going forward and hopefully we can see how good they turn out today. We’ve implemented some changes, but it’s definitely a lot different than what I’ve been accustomed to for the past two years.”
WHAT DOES YOUR TRUCK NEED TO DO TONIGHT TO SUCCEED? “It just needs maneuverability. That’s all Truck racing is now. You’re running so much throttle time, granted you’re not gonna have a bunch of throttle time here at Homestead, but to go after the pole in three and four you’re gonna barely be lifting at all, so you’re still running a lot of throttle time, so being able to have good maneuverability and good lateral grip is pretty key for here.”
DO YOU TAKE MORE OF A LEADERSHIP ROLE NOW? “Yeah, for sure, just because I’ve worked with so many great individuals in my past five seasons in NASCAR. I’ve learned a lot. I’ve seen a lot. I’ve experienced a lot and have had great mentors through that whole process, so I’m definitely more confident in myself and knowing what works and what doesn’t work, what works for me and what may not work for others and trying to come to a happy medium of having a good product.”
HOW DIFFERENT IS IT RIDING THE WALL IN AN XFINITY CAR VERSUS A TRUCK? “An Xfinity car, I feel like it’s more of a given than it is in a truck. The composite bodies, you can beat the crap out of them and be fine. In a truck, you go and hit it and you could end your day right there. We’ve seen it. My last full-time season in trucks, John Hunter was on the cutline and went and hit the fence in turn three on lap four and he was done, and that’s your season right there. We’re not in that situation. If there’s speed up on the fence and Larson is really ripping it and there’s a bunch of speed up there, then, yeah, we’re still in the regular season so why not? For a truck, it’s just risk versus reward, where in an Xfinity car it’s kind of double edge too. Last year, some of the really good guys were able to rip the fence, but Austin Hill kicked our teeth in running the bottom in an Xfinity car and you don’t see that anymore. It all depends on the balance of your race vehicle.”
WITH KYLE IN THE RACE TONIGHT DOES IT CHANGE YOUR MENTALITY? “Yeah, I still want to beat him. The goal is still the same. It’s the same when KB comes down. At the end of the day, we’re all racers and I feel like I’ve kind of proven where I stand in this sport right now and I feel like if we have a good truck, we can go out there and compete.”
ARE YOU EXPECTING THE TRACK TO RACE ANY DIFFERENT WITH THE RACE BEING IN THE SPRING? “Yeah, for sure, especially it being a night race, too. Usually, the truck race is in the middle of the day and it doesn’t matter what racetrack you go to, it’s gonna swing from being out in the sun from it not being out in the sun. I think it’ll race a lot different than what we’ve seen in year’s past. I think it will be very similar to what it was in 2020 and year’s previous, but I’m excited for it. I think it’s gonna make for a good product tonight, honestly.”
HOW DOES WHAT YOU LEARNED AT LAS VEGAS GIVE YOU MORE CONFIDENCE THIS WEEK? “Just knowing where our mile and a half program really is. We’ve had those first two races that were just speedways. That’s kind of what it is, right? So, it was a good benchmark of, ‘Oh, OK. This is where we’re at with our aero. This is where we are with mechanical grip.’ And those deltas between the two of what we’re trading off, and just kind of dissecting each different piece of why we get to where we are in a package. I felt like we got a really good data point of where we were and what we needed to work on and we implemented some changes for this weekend, which I think we’ll be able to see a little bit of those, but I don’t know that it’s more of when we go to Nashville or Charlotte and places like that. That’s where it would really show up.”
IF YOU FIND YOURSELF BEHIND KYLE, IS THERE ANYTHING YOU LOOK FOR ON HOW THEY’RE HANDLING THAT GIVES YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT TO TRY? “Yeah, just being more mindful of paying attention to their detail and trying to dissect why did they do that? Why did they take that certain line? Why did they straddle that seam that way? What did that do to their car position and their car angle, and also being mindful that I’m gonna probably have to work harder to pass them. They’re gonna be good. I’m not bashing people in the Truck Series, but this is the feeder series to Xfinity and Xfinity is a feeder to Cup, so it’s kind of the bottom of the totem pole in experience, so you’re gonna have to work at it a little harder to pass those guys that you know have won Cup championships.”
CAN YOU EXPAND ON THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN XFINITY AND TRUCK? “As far as driving differences, it’s night and day different. A truck has a bunch of downforce and a lot of rear side force, and an Xfinity car doesn’t even have close to the amount of overall downforce that a truck does. That right there alone is pretty much it, and then you’re obviously racing a truck and in Xfinity it’s a car, so the body difference and what not, too. The organization standpoint, it’s just a lot different because Gibbs is run more corporate. That’s probably the best way to put it, and Front Row is run more like a grassroots race team. That’s the best way I can explain it. It’s definitely two complete polar opposites from each other, but I’m having an amazing time at Front Row and I had an amazing time at Gibbs.”
Cut Tire 44 Minutes From the Finish Doesn’t Take Away From Top Team and Driver Performance in No. 80 Lone Star Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 with Dan Knox, Scott Andrews and Eric Filgueiras at the 73rd Running of The 12 Hours of Sebring
SEBRING, Florida (March 21, 2025) – “Deflated” but not down, the No. 80 Lone Star Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 team and co-drivers Dan Knox, Scott Andrews and Eric Filgueiras left the 12 Hours of Sebring last Saturday motivated for the final three rounds of the 2025 IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup (IMEC) at Watkins Glen, Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) and Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta (MRRA). The team and drivers turned in one of their best races since entering the IMEC GT Daytona (GTD) championship last year and missed out on a likely top-five or better finish only because the No. 80 Mercedes-AMG GT3 suffered a cut tire with just 44 minutes remaining in the 73rd running of America’s oldest major sports car race.
Lone Star Racing stepped up to join the lead pack in the final half of 12 hour race after co-drivers Dan Knox, Eric Filgueiras and Scott Andrews joined the team in a near-flawless performance that steadily moved the No. 80 into contention and in the top-five battle in the closing hours. Andrews and the Lone Star Racing team had just made their last pit stop and were beginning a run back into the lead pack as the rest of the GTD field cycled through its final pit stops only to have the rear tire go down.
In his first 12 Hours of Sebring race, Lone Star Racing team owner and driver Knox started the race in the No. 80 after a solid qualifying effort that placed him on the outside of row seven on the GTD grid. Knox took the green flag for a race-opening “triple stint” ahead of six other GTD cars, including the Rolex 24 At Daytona winners.
“This was one of our better performances,” Knox said. “It’s disappointing to not be able to fight to the finish after running with the leaders for so long, but I was happy with the effort of everybody on the team. We keep coming together as a team, and all of the pieces will hopefully fall into place to give us the chance to walk away with a result we have worked so hard to achieve in the year’s final races.”
After the puncture, Andrews slowly made it back to the pits where the Lone Star team quicky threw a new tire and wheel on to get the No. 80 back in the race.
“I think it was the top performance that we’ve had as a team, regardless of the finishing result,” said Lone Star Racing Team Manager and Technical Director AJ Petersen. “It started with Dan who drove an unplanned triple stint to open the race and did a great job keeping the car on the lead lap for nearly three hours. Everybody on the team, from driving to doing tires and fuel, to us on the timing stand, we were all going in the right direction. We executed the race without any mistakes, so that’s what takes the sting out of it for me. We were able to prove to ourselves that we could execute at this level and that we just need to back it up now and hopefully have some luck fall our way. Cut tires are cut tires. It’s Sebring at night and anything can happen.”
With the new tire on, Andrews kept the pressure on in the final 30 minutes and crossed the finish line in ninth place.
“I think we can all be really proud of ourselves collectively as a group for a really well executed race,” Andrews said. “There were pretty much no flaws by the team at all. That gave us a good shot at the top five and even potentially a podium. It’s unfortunate to get a puncture with such little time to go, but the only thing that took us out of the race was something out of our control. The team should be proud, and I’m happy with the job I did. I drove a good race with no mistakes and the pace was good. It’s good for the team to know that we can really have some good performance, solid pit stops, change the car for the better as the race progresses and still be competitive.”
Filgueiras raced on a circuit on which he has seen some winning success but joined Knox in making his 12 Hours of Sebring debut.
“It’s not the result we came for, but the team showed a really strong effort, and we had a great performance,” Filgueiras said. “Everybody worked really hard, and this was a huge improvement from Daytona. Not only did we finish, we were in the running for a really great outcome and the execution from the team side was just much, much better than Daytona. Dan Knox, our team owner and driver, did a fantastic job. Everybody was firing on all cylinders, and we were very close at the end. We’ve got three more of these races, and we’ve shown our ability to grow, our ability to progress and to learn from the mistakes that we’ve made and how we can make this program more efficient on all ends. This was my first 12 hours. I had a fantastic experience. I got to have some battles, fuel energy saving, gain more experience and helped put the team into a position for a good outcome. Our day is coming.”
While ninth at Sebring and 14th place in the Rolex 24 opener are not the results Lone Star wanted, the team and drivers still rank in the top-eight of the 22 cars that have earned points in the IMEC GTD standings. With the year’s final three races ahead, the Lone Star team and drivers are just five points out of first place in the GTD driver and team IMEC points race, 21 – 16.
Next up for Lone Star Racing on the 2025 IMEC schedule is Round 3 of the championship June 19 – 22 at Watkins Glen International in upstate New York for the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen.
About Lone Star Racing: Based at Motorsport Ranch within the greater Dallas-Fort Worth area in Cresson, Texas, Lone Star Racing is competing in the No. 80 Lone Star Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 in the 2025 IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup in the GTD class. Lone Star Racing and its team members have won races across North America spanning sprint and endurance racing formats. The crew has worked together on many different teams and various types of cars, developing a strong bond and proven capability that gives them a competitive and winning advantage. Lone Star Racing competes with the support of primary partner ACS Manufacturing, Inc. (www.ACSManufacturing.com). Look for Lone Star Racing and team owner/driver Dan Knox on Facebook and follow the team on YouTube at Lone Star Racing, on Twitter and Instagram at @LSRTeam and on the official team web site at www.LoneStarRacingTeam.com.
PHOENIX, Ariz. (March 21, 2025) – This April, Flying Lizard Motorsports will join the highly anticipated debut of the McLaren Trophy America series at Sonoma Raceway. The championship, introduced by SRO America and McLaren Automotive, marks a new era of single-make competition, and Flying Lizard will field a two-car entry with two new Artura Trophy Evos in the PRO/AM class.
The team’s lineup features George Lawrence III and 2023 TC America champion Spencer Bucknum in the No. 3 Artura Trophy Evo, while Brandon Kreutz and Caanan O’Connell will pilot the No. 18 Artura Trophy Evo.
Having two cars competing in the debut of the McLaren Trophy Series in the US is exciting. We have a successful history with McLaren having won races and championships with them in SRO GT World Challenge in the 650S GT3 car and look forward to working with them again. We have had the opportunity to spend some time testing the cars and I had the opportunity to see this series running in Europe at SPA-Francorchamps, we are all impressed with the performance of the car. McLaren has such a rich history in racing, and we look forward to getting this season underway.
The 2025 season will bethe first time Lawrence steps into professional sports car racing. His journey began in karting before transitioning to motocross and quad racing. Once behind the wheel of a car, he took to drag racing, track days, and local testing sessions to build his road racing skills. He will team up with Bucknum, a third-generation racer whose lineage traces back to Formula 1. Bucknum secured the 2023 TC America TCA championship before moving up to compete in the Toyota GR Cup last season.
The 2025 season marks the first time Kreutz steps into professional sports car racing. Brandon spent from 2011-2017 running cars in the Global Time Attack series racing at multiple tracks across the us such as Road America, Road Atlanta and Laguna Seca. O’Connell made his professional racing debut at age 20 in the prestigious Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, where he finished fifth in class. In the 2017 Pirelli World Challenge TCB class, he amassed an impressive five wins, nine podiums, eight pole positions, and three track records. Beyond racing, O’Connell brings 12 years of professional driver coaching experience, working with both professional drivers and military training programs.
The McLaren Trophy America series features two race cars: the Artura Trophy Evo and the 570S Trophy. The 10-race championship unfolds over five race weekends at some of America’s most legendary circuits. Each event includes two hours of practice, a 15-minute qualifying session, and two 50-minute races. The Artura Trophy Evo will also utilize a Push-to-Pass system, boosting power to 620PS for a fixed period during each race. This new feature adds a strategic element, allowing drivers to deploy extra power for a decisive overtake or a crucial defensive move.
The races will stream live on the McLaren YouTube channel, continuing to grow the accessibility for sports car racing fans.
2025 MCLAREN TROPHY AMERICA SCHEDULE
Rounds 1 & 2 | Sonoma Raceway | March 28-30 Rounds 3 & 4 | Circuit of the Americas | April 25-27 Rounds 5 & 6 | VIRginia International Raceway | July 18-20 Rounds 7 & 8 | Road America | August 15-17 Rounds 9 & 10 | Indianapolis Motor Speedway | October 17-19
DRIVER QUOTES
George Lawrence III
I researched all the teams on the West Coast and came up with Flying Lizard as being the best fit for me. Not only for their great past history for winning, but the whole group, from top to bottom, is there to serve someone like myself who is a novice to the GT world of racing. Flying Lizard was always on the preferred teams list.
Spencer Bucknam
I am excited to be joining Flying Lizard Motorsports for the 2025 McLaren Trophy America series. Flying Lizard has a long history of success, and I am hoping to add to this success throughout this season with my teammate, George Lawrence. I think being a new series to the States, there will be some things to iron out, but I am confident that this will be a strong program,m and I’m looking forward to kicking off the season shortly at one of my favorite tracks, Sonoma Raceway!
Brandon Kreutz
I have been watching sports car racing for many years and have followed the history of Flying Lizard Motorsports. They are one of the premier GT teams in the paddock, and I am proud to be a part of the organization. I am really impressed with the performance of the Artura Trophy Evo. I have been working hard with my coach, Cannan O’Connell, and even though this is my first season of professional racing, I feel we are ready and look forward to the first race.
Canaan O’Connell
I’m beyond excited to be joining the Flying Lizard racing team for the 2025 racing season. It’s a dream come true to be racing such an incredible car with one of the best-known teams in professional racing. I grew up watching the Flying Lizards dominate sports car racing, and to have my name added to the list of drivers for Flying Lizard is one of the most significant moments of my life. And to be under the tutelage of Darren Law, one of the racing greats, and a lifelong friend of my family, makes it all the more special.
About Flying Lizard Motorsports
Based out of Sonoma, California, Flying Lizard Motorsports is one of the most iconic sports car teams in motorsports, having celebrated ten driver and team championships, as well as competed internationally at the 24 Hours of Le Mans eight times.
The Lizards burst on the American Le Mans Series scene in 2004, competing in the GT class until 2012. In 2013, the team moved to the GTC class, still competing in legendary events such as the 12 Hours of Sebring and 24 Hours of Daytona. In 2014, the team expanded its program to include running two Audi R8 LMS in the TUDOR Championship, and in 2015, again expanded the program to include two Porsches in Porsche Club racing. Flying Lizard closed out the season with a dominating win at the 25 Hours of Thunderhill with Toyo Tires, a win they repeated in 2016, 2017, and 2018. The 2020 season proved the team’s most successful to date, earning four titles in the GT4 America championship. Flying Lizard Motorsports has proven to be a championship contender no matter the race series or race car. For more information, visit lizardms.com.
About 5.11 With offices around the globe, 5.11 ABR Corp. and its subsidiaries, including 5.11, Inc., work with end users to create purpose-built apparel, footwear and gear designed specifically to enhance the safety, accuracy, speed, and performance of tactical professionals and technical enthusiasts worldwide. 5.11 products exceed rigorous standards, which have allowed the brand to establish a reputation for innovation and authenticity, and become the premier choice for those who always have to be ready. 5.11 products can be purchased online, through authorized dealers and retailers, as well as at 5.11 company-owned retail stores.
Learn more about 5.11’s best-selling gear and accessories at www.511tactical.com. Find a full list of 5.11 company-owned retail stores at https://www.511tactical.com/locations/. Connect with 5.11 on Facebook, Twitter @511Tactical and on Instagram @511Tactical and #511tactical
5.11 ABR Corp. is a subsidiary of Compass Diversified (NYSE: CODI).
5.11, 5.11 Tactical and Always Be Ready are registered trademarks of 5.11, Inc. All rights reserved.
About Apex Motor Club
Apex Motor Club is Arizona’s premier motorsports club located just 35 miles southwest of Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport and the only private motorsports club located within a major metropolitan area. APEX is the ultimate country club for automotive enthusiasts where car culture, racing and country club lifestyles converge. Enjoy an hour of track time in your latest acquisition, drive off track, into your privately-owned garage and join like- minded enthusiasts in the clubhouse for food, beverages, and activities.
You keep an eye out for intoxicated drivers but what about the ones not paying attention to the road? The increasing number of distracted driving fatalities should serve as a wake-up call for everyone. In 2022, 53,596 crashes in Florida were the result of distracted driving. Accidents involving distracted drivers tend to be severe.
The reason is simple, distracted drivers usually aren’t in control of their vehicles and this can worsen crash impacts. Do you know, you may also be guilty of distracted driving? Even glancing over at a rambunctious child is a type of distracted driving. To help you avoid this dangerous driving behavior, here are some tips on how you can reduce distractions while driving.
Preventing Distracted Driving Behavior in Florida
Distracted driving accidents are responsible for over 3,000 fatalities in 2022 according to The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). So, how can you reduce your risk of being involved in a distracted driving accident? The best way is by avoiding engaging in the behavior.
Pretend You Don’t Own a Phone
You’ve probably made jokes about wanting to get away from your phone to enjoy a few minutes of quiet. Guess what? You can accomplish this goal every time you get behind the wheel. Consider changing your phone settings to the ‘do not disturb’ mode. Tuck your phone away in the glove box or another compartment. Texts and phone calls can wait until you have the chance to pull over.
If you’re wondering if it’s illegal to talk on the phone while driving, the answer is no. Currently, all states allow drivers to talk on their cell phones. However, texting is a little different. Almost all states have laws prohibiting drivers from texting behind the wheel. If you’re driving in a school zone, put your phone down. Cell phone use is prohibited in school zones.
So, what about connecting your phone to your vehicle’s infotainment system? Yes, this is legal and often recommended. However, using your vehicle’s information system can also be a distraction. To avoid any distractions, it’s best to put your cell phone up.
Multitasking Behind the Wheel Is a Bad Idea
Your driving should always be the only thing on your mind. Don’t worry about what you’re making for dinner. You can focus on this when you’re not driving. Multitasking can be anything from letting your mind wander to other unaccomplished chores to trying to do two things at once. For example, trying to put on makeup at a red light or shaving.
You may have heard the saying that multitasking is impossible. Meaning you can’t complete two tasks simultaneously. When it comes to driving, the saying is true. You can either focus entirely on your driving or risk being involved in an accident.
Strap In Children and Pets
Sometimes your children can be your biggest distraction. This can also apply to your pets. All states require children under a certain age to be securely fastened into an approved safety seat. Florida requires all children under 8 to use either a car or booster seat. The law is in place to help protect children from serious injury during an accident. However, the child safety laws can serve another purpose.
When your child is safely buckled in, they can present less of a distraction. You don’t need to worry about your child climbing over seats and even accidentally bumping the steering. The laws are a little vague for pets beyond keeping them leashed in the vehicle. If you’re unable to crate your furry friend in the car, consider installing a pet barrier. You can find inexpensive barriers designed to keep pets in the backseat and away from drivers.
Try to Ignore Hunger and Thirst Pains
Okay, we’re not suggesting you endanger your health by going without food and liquid. However, it’s a good idea to grab something to eat and drink before hitting the road. Yes, drivers commonly sip beverages behind the wheel. Vehicles even come with handy cup holders perfectly sized for coffee cups and water bottles.
However, every time you reach for a drink or pick up a snack, you’re removing a hand from the steering wheel. Distracted driving not only refers to keeping your eyes and attention on the road but also both hands on the steering wheel. Removing even one hand for a second means you’re giving up some control of the vehicle. If an obstacle appears on the road, you may not be able to react in time to avoid an accident.
Have a Plan
Having a plan means knowing the directions before setting out. Programming the vehicle’s GPS before hitting the road removes one possible distraction. If you’re traveling with children, make a plan for where you’re stopping for rest breaks.
Your plan may even include setting the radio station or adjusting the vehicle’s heater or air conditioning. When you have everything ready to go before setting off, you’ve successfully eliminated several distractions that typically lead to accidents.
Keeping Teen Drivers Safe
Teens commonly engage in distracted driving behavior but you can take some steps to help keep them safer on the roads. Hopefully, you’ve been setting a good example as a driver. You know, not using your cell phone and keeping both hands on the steering wheel. Teens learn a lot by observing adult behaviors.
You may also want to consider limiting the number of passengers allowed in your teen’s vehicle. Their friends are often the biggest distraction for teen drivers. Let the teen get some experience behind the wheel before you start easing up on any restrictions.
Were You Injured in a Florida Distracted Driving Accident?
If you’re injured in a distracted driving accident, you may be able to file a claim to recover some or all of your damages. Distracted driving is a form of negligence and this is often the cornerstone of a personal injury claim.
You may also be able to file an insurance claim if you’re the at-fault driver. You can learn more about your legal options by contacting a Florida distracted driving accident attorney.
