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Front Row Motorsports: Richmond Raceway Competition Notes – Noah Gragson

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Official Release
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Noah Gragson and the No. 4 ArmorGuard Coatings Ford Team
Richmond Raceway Competition Notes
Cook Out 400
Date: Saturday, August 16, 2025
Event: Race 27 of 38
Series: NASCAR Cup Series
Location: Richmond Raceway (0.75-miles)
#of Laps: 400
Time/TV/Radio: 7:30 PM ET on USA/MRN/SiriusXM channel 90

Noah Gragson Notes

Noah Gragson and the No. 4 team will race under the lights this Saturday night at Richmond Raceway. The August 16th NASCAR Cup Series race at the 0.75-mile, D-shaped oval will mark Gragson’s sixth career Cup Series start at the track, with his best result coming at the spring Richmond race in 2024- where he finished 12th.

ArmorGuard Coatings will make their Front Row Motorsports debut this weekend with Gragson and the No. 4 team. Based in Fredericksburg, VA, and serving communities across Virginia, ArmorGuard Coatings is a leader in floor restoration and design. Whether you’re transforming a garage, showroom, or patio, ArmorGuard’s premium epoxy coatings come in solid colors, vibrant flakes, or elegant metallic finishes to complement any aesthetic. For more information, visit www.ArmorGuardCoating.com.

Richmond is a short track, and short-track racing is where Gragson’s racing career began. He owns victories in two of the United States’ most prestigious Late Model races – the 2017 Winchester 400 at the half-mile Winchester (Ind.) Speedway and the 2018 Snowball Derby at the half-mile Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, Florida.

“Richmond’s a worn-out racetrack, and you have to be really disciplined to drive it low and come off the corner straight,” said Gragson. “Ever since my K&N days, we’ve had good pace there. It’s a real rhythm track, and hitting your marks is everything—if you miss the yellow line by even an inch, you lose about 30 percent of your grip. I like that challenge. It reminds me a lot of the old Atlanta, where discipline really pays off. We’ve had success here before, winning in 2021 in the Xfinity Series, and I’m looking forward to getting back and seeing what we can do this weekend.”

Road Crew

Driver: Noah Gragson

Hometown: Las Vegas, Nevada

Crew Chief: Drew Blickensderfer

Hometown: Decatur, Illinois

Car Chief: Joey Forgette

Hometown: Iron Mountain, Michigan

Engineer: Dillon Silverman

Hometown: Chico, California

Engineer: Scott Bingham

Hometown: Lawrenceville, Georgia

Mechanic: Chris Trickett

Hometown: Grafton, West Virginia

Mechanic: Tony Infinger

Hometown: Fort Valley, Georgia

Tire Specialist: Chris Aunspaw

Hometown: Zelienople, Pennsylvania

Engine Tuner: Matt Moeller

Hometown: Monroe, New York

Spotter: Nick Del Campo

Hometown: Blauvelt, New York

Transporter Co-Driver: Nate “Cookie” Eller

Hometown: Granite Falls, North Carolina

Transporter Co-Driver: Matt Murphy

Hometown: Augusta, Georgia

Pit Crew

Front Tire Changer: Thomas Hatcher

Hometown: Middleburg, Florida

Rear Tire Changer: Adam Riley

Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia

Tire Carrier: Jarren Davis

Hometown: Jacksonville, Florida

Jackman: Nate McBride

Hometown: Vidalia, Georgia

Fueler: Ray Hernandez

Hometown: Orlando, Florida

ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS

Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization in the NASCAR Cup and Craftsman Truck Series. The team is the 2021 Daytona 500 and 2022 Craftsman Truck Series champions. The team was founded in 2004 and is owned by successful entrepreneur, Bob Jenkins. FRM fields the No. 4, No. 34, and the No. 38 NASCAR Cup Series teams along with the No. 34 and No. 38 Craftsman Truck Series teams from its Mooresville, N.C. headquarters. Visit teamfrm.com and follow FRM on social media: Twitter at @Team_FRM, Instagram at @teamfrm and Facebook at facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.

ABOUT ARMORGUARD COATINGS

At ArmorGuard Coatings, we turn your plain concrete into beautiful, durable floors. Based in Fredericksburg, VA, and serving communities across Virginia, our team—led by veteran owner David Drake—brings over 12 years of expertise in floor restoration and design. Whether you’re transforming a garage, showroom, or patio, our premium epoxy coatings come in solid colors, vibrant flakes, or elegant metallic finishes to complement any aesthetic. For seamless and refined results, our concrete polishing and staining services offer a low-maintenance, professional shine. We blend style and functionality in every project—upgrading ordinary surfaces into resilient, beautiful floors built to last.

Spire Motorsports eero 250 Race Advance

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Official Release
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  • In four NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series starts at Richmond (Va.) Raceway, Spire Motorsports has earned two top-20 finishes. Rajah Caruth, driver of the team’s No. 71 HENDRICKCARS.COM Chevrolet Silverado, collected a team-best 17th-place finish at the facility last August. The Mooresville, N.C., organization fields the Nos. 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolets full time in the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. The No. 7 entry will see a rotating roster of all-star caliber drivers throughout the remainder of the season, while Rajah Caruth and NASCAR Cup Series veteran Corey LaJoie will pilot the Nos. 71 and 77, respectively.
  • The eero 250 will be televised live on FS1 Friday, Aug. 15 beginning at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). The CRAFTSMAN Truck Series regular-season finale will be broadcast live on the NASCAR Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, Channel 90.

Sammy Smith – Driver, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Silverado

  • Sammy Smith will drive Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Pilot Travel Centers Chevrolet Silverado in Friday’s eero 250 at Richmond Raceway.
  • Last weekend at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International, Smith qualified third and rebounded following contact with the Armco barrier to finish sixth.
  • The Johnston, Iowa, native has made two NASCAR Xfinity Series starts at Richmond, highlighted by a ninth-place finish last March.
  • The 21-year-old has made seven CRAFTSMAN Truck Series appearances for Spire Motorsports, registering one top five and five top 10s while recording a 9.7 average finish.
  • The accomplished short track racer has earned wins in some of the country’s most notable pavement late model races including the Winchester 400, Red Bud 400 and Florida Governor’s Cup. He snagged a CARS Pro Late Model Tour victory in 2021 at Jennerstown (Pa.) Speedway and four pavement super late model wins that same season. In August 2022, Smith was victorious in a star-studded combination ARCA CRA Super Series/Southern Super Series race at North Wilkesboro (N.C.) Speedway. After qualifying second, he took the lead on the race’s initial start and led wire-to-wire en route to the win at the Racetrack Revival.
  • The two-time ARCA Menards Series East Champion has racked up eight wins across 15 starts in the regional stock car series. He claimed his second-consecutive East Series title in a dominant 2022 campaign, winning five of the seven races while maintaining an average finish of 1.7.
  • Smith doubled-up in 2022, earning the ARCA Menards Series Sioux Chief Showdown crown. Smith emerged victorious four times in the series, did not finish outside of the top five in all 10 events, and maintained a 2.2 average finish.
  • In 98 NASCAR Xfinity Series starts, Smith has earned three wins, 18 top fives and 46 top 10s. He secured wins at Phoenix Raceway (March 2023), Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway (Oct. 2024) and Rockingham (N.C.) Speedway (April 2025).
  • Pilot Travel Centers LLC (“Pilot”) is committed to showing people they matter at every turn as the leading energy and experience provider people rely on to fuel their journeys. Founded in 1958 and headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee, Pilot is a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway and employs approximately 30,000 team members. As the largest network of travel centers, Pilot has nearly 900 locations in 44 states and five Canadian provinces, serving an average of 1.2 million guests per day.
  • In addition to travel center services, Pilot and its partners offer trucking fleets a variety of solutions for fuel, credit, factoring, maintenance and rewards. The company operates North America’s third largest fuel tanker fleet and supplies approximately 12 billion gallons of fuel per year.
  • Smith will race Spire Manufacturing chassis SMT-089 Friday evening. Carson Hocevar drove the truck in its’ prior two appearances, including a victory at Kansas Speedway in May where Hocevar led 75 laps and held off a hard charging Layne Riggs to secure the win. In the chassis’ most recent start at Pocono (Pa.) Raceway, Hocevar was in contention for his second victory of the year until a restart violation following a late-race caution period relegated him to 13th in the final rundown.

Sammy Smith Quote
Coming off a good finish last week at Watkins Glen, what are your thoughts heading to Richmond?
“I’m looking forward to racing with the No. 7 team again this weekend. Richmond is a place where you have to be aggressive, but smart. We gained some momentum last week at Watkins Glen, rebounding from damage late in the race to finish sixth. We’ll take that and look to put together a great race.”

Atop the No. 7 Box – Crew Chief Brian Pattie

  • Brian Pattie stands atop of the No. 7 pit box, an entry that has seen an abundance of all-star caliber drivers behind the wheel throughout the 2025 season.
  • The Zephyrhills, Fla., native has called two CRAFTSMAN Truck Series races at Richmond, highlighted by a fifth-place result with Matt Mills in 2023.
  • The 50-year-old was atop the box for Clint Bowyer’s NASCAR Cup Series triumph at the 0.75-mile circuit in 2012. Bowyer started fourth and led 88 laps en route to the duo’s second of three wins that year.
  • Through 17 races, the No. 7 team sits fifth in the division’s owner points standings on the strength of two wins, six top-five and eight top-10 finishes.
  • The No. 7 crew is seeking their second owner’s playoff appearance in as many seasons and sit eighth on the playoff grid, 22 points above the cutline. They remain eight points ahead of the next competitor.
  • In May, the team and driver Carson Hocevar claimed victory in the Heart of Health Care 200 at Kansas Speedway. Hocevar led 75 of the event’s 134 laps and survived last-lap contact en route to his fifth victory in the series and first aboard a Spire Motorsports- prepared Chevy Silverado.
  • The No. 7 team defended its 2024 victory in the Fr8 208 at Atlanta Motor Speedway in February with Kyle Busch behind the wheel. The Las Vegas driver spent all 135 laps in the top 15 while leading a race-high 80 laps and recording a field-leading average running position (3.2) and driver rating (124.6).
  • The 24-year industry veteran spent 14 seasons in NASCAR’s premier division. As a crew chief, he’s amassed six wins in Cup Series competition, 11 in the Xfinity Series and seven in the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. He stands as one of 11 crew chiefs to win races across all three of NASCAR’s national touring series.

Rajah Caruth – Driver, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Silverado

  • Rajah Caruth will handle the driving chores for Spire Motorsports’ No. 71 HENDRICKCARS.COM Chevrolet Silverado in Friday the eero 250 at Richmond Raceway.
  • Caruth has three prior CRAFTSMAN Truck Series starts at the 0.75-mile oval and finished 17th in last year’s event. In 2022, Caruth made his second-career CRAFTSMAN Truck Series start in the No. 7 Spire Motorsports Silverado with Kevin “Bono” Manion atop the box.
  • Events DC will ride on the quarter panel of the No. 71 Silverado this weekend. The organization is the premier host of conventions, sports, entertainment, and cultural events in the nation’s capital. As the official convention and sports authority for Washington, D.C., Events DC creates experiences that engage, excite and entertain visitors from around the world and benefit the local economy and community.
  • HENDRICKCARS.COM is the online home for everything Hendrick Automotive Group. Visitors can shop more than 30,000 new or pre-owned vehicles, locate centers for service and collision repair, receive a value to sell or trade their car, chat online with customer service, discover career opportunities, learn more about vehicle protection programs, and explore how the company gives back to the community.
  • Caruth has secured his second CRAFTSMAN Truck Series playoff appearance after claiming victory at Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway in May. He held off a hard-charging Corey Heim and Layne Riggs to earn his second victory in the series. After hitting pit road for the final time in the third position, the No. 71 pit crew nailed the stop, putting their driver out front to start the Final Stage. He led the final 51 laps en route to the win.
  • Richmond is the site of the 23-year-old’s NASCAR National Series debut, where he competed in the 2022 NASCAR Xfinity Series event. He started 22nd and finished 24th.
  • The Winston-Salem (N.C.) State University graduate scored his career-best finish in the NASCAR Xfinity Series at a Virginia short track when he finished 12th at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway in October 2023.
  • Through 17 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series events in 2025, the Washington, D.C., native has registered one win, three top fives and nine top 10s on the year. He has led 189 laps, tripling his 57 career laps led entering the year.
  • In the No. 71 team’s first playoff appearance in 2024, Caruth and Co. advanced to the Round of 8, but mechanical issues stalled their Championship 4 hopes in the season’s penultimate event at Martinsville Speedway.
  • With his first career CRAFTSMAN Truck Series win at Las Vegas Motor Speedway last season, Caruth became the third African-American driver to win a NASCAR National Touring Series race, joining 2015 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee Wendell Scott and current Cup Series star Bubba Wallace.
  • The blue and white HENDRICKCARS.COM colors will wrap Spire Manufacturing chassis SMT-084. The truck scored a chassis-best fourth-place finish in its most recent of four appearances at Rockingham (N.C.) Speedway in April.

Rajah Caruth Quotes
Richmond is your home track. What is it like returning home and seeing all the people that come out to support you?
“It is great to return to Richmond. That is a really special place for me. Not only is it my home track, it is the place I saw my first NASCAR race and the site of my first national series start. Those are both memories I will cherish forever. So many people come out to support me that it is impossible to find time in the day to interact with every one of them. The volume of people that comes out is crazy. It is always good to get back to my roots.”

Richmond marks the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series playoff cutoff. What are you doing to prepare for playoff racing next time out at Darlington?
“Things are definitely starting to ramp up. I’m already in the mindset of taking things one race at a time, focusing on one track at a time and not looking too far down the line. Looking at last year, we left some points on the table that could have prevented us from moving on to the Round of 8, and eventually kept us out of the Championship 4. Overall, we are trying to limit the mistakes and be there at the end of the race. That allows you to maximize your points and have the possibility of snagging a win to automatically advance.”

Events DC is riding along on the quarter panel this week. They have supported your racing career every step of the way. What does that partnership mean to you?
“It is super special. To have both HENDRICKCARS.COM and Events DC support me in one weekend is really special. Without both of those companies, I would not be here right now. Events DC has done a Late Model race, an ARCA race and some Xfinity races for me. They sponsored some races with Alpha Prime a couple years back and Dover earlier this season. It is cool to represent ‘The District’ any time you have the chance. Hopefully we can get both HENDRICKCARS.COM and Events DC to Victory Lane on Friday.”

Atop the No. 71 Box – Crew Chief Kevin “Bono” Manion

  • Veteran crew chief Kevin “Bono” Manion has called four CRAFTSMAN Truck Series races at Richmond Raceway. Zane Smith’s 11th-place result in 2021 stands as his best CRAFTSMAN Truck Series finish at the venue.
  • The Boylston, Mass., native led Dale Earnhardt, Jr., to Richmond’s Victory Lane in 2002. Earnhardt, Jr., dominated the event, qualifying on the pole and leading 190 of 250 laps en route to the win.
  • Manion, a 31-year veteran of the sport, founded Spire Motorsports’ CRAFTSMAN Truck Series program alongside industry veteran Mike Greci in 2022. The team claimed its first victory in their second outing with William Byron behind the wheel at Martinsville Speedway.
  • The 53-year-old has racked up six Cup Series victories – including the 2010 Daytona 500 – 17 NASCAR Xfinity Series triumphs and 12 CRAFTSMAN Truck series wins. Manion is also one of 11 crew chiefs to have called wins across all three of NASCAR’s national touring series.
  • In 2023, Manion became one of few to call a race in all three of NASCAR’s national series in a single season, all of which came under the Spire Motorsports umbrella. He led the part-time effort on the No. 7 Silverado in the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, helped in limited starts for Carson Hocevar in the Xfinity Series and took the reigns during the second half of the Cup Series season for Ty Dillon and the No. 77 team.

Corey LaJoie – Driver, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Silverado

  • Corey LaJoie will pilot Spire Motorsports’ No. 77 Gainbridge Chevrolet Silverado in the eero 250 at Richmond Raceway.
  • LaJoie owns six CRAFTSMAN Truck Series starts, four of which were in a Spire-prepared Silverado. Last time out at Michigan, he survived a trio of NASCAR Overtime sessions to secure a series-best fifth-place result.
  • The 33-year-old has tallied 14 starts in NASCAR’s premier series at the 0.75-mile, D-shaped oval, finishing 21st in both April 2021 and April 2023, a venue-best.
  • The former Spire Motorsports NASCAR Cup Series driver played a key role in building the team’s Cup Series program. He made 136 starts behind the wheel of the No. 7 Chevrolet, tallying four top fives and eight top 10s, while registering a career-best fourth-place finish three times, most recently in the 2024 season-opening Daytona 500.
  • In three Richmond ARCA Menards Series East races, the 2012 series runner-up secured back-to-back third-place finishes in 2011 and 2012. He was eliminated from contention in the 2013 event when he was collected in a late-race multi-car pileup.
  • The short-track stalwart has earned his stripes in the Commonwealth of Virginia, collecting the checkered flag and a grandfather clock trophy in NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour competition at Martinsville Speedway in October 2022.
  • The father-of-three also picked up victories at Langley Speedway (Hampton, Va.) in 2012 in ARCA Menards Series East competition and South Boston Speedway (Halifax County, Va.) during the 2006 Aaron’s Pro Challenge Series.
  • The Concord, N.C., native was the championship runner-up in the ARCA Menards Series East, a 14-race regional stock car championship based primarily on short tracks, in 2012. He recorded five wins, 10 top fives and led 385 laps, falling just 14 points short of the driver’s championship title.
  • LaJoie will return to the seat of the No. 77 Silverado later this month at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway and race the machine for the remainder of the 2025 season.
  • Founded in 2018, Gainbridge® is an insurtech subsidiary of Group 1001 that empowers consumers to take control of their financial future with solutions that are accessible to everyone, no matter their budget or financial knowledge. Its platform provides access to financial products that are simple, intuitive, and backed by smart technology with no complexity or hidden fees. Gainbridge® is headquartered in Zionsville, Ind. For more information, visit www.gainbridge.io or follow and connect with Gainbridge on X and LinkedIn.
  • LaJoie will pilot Spire Manufacturing chassis SMT-091 on Friday. The truck owns two top-five finishes in two starts, most recently leading 12 laps in a fifth-place showing with LaJoie at Michigan International Speedway in June. In the chassis’ maiden voyage at Kansas Speedway this May, William Byron scored a runner-up finish. Overall, the truck has averaged a finishing position of 3.5.

Corey LaJoie Quote
What are your thoughts heading into your second CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race of the season and first at Richmond?
“Richmond is a challenging race track. It feels like you’re going 30 miles an hour around there. Your inputs have to be precise and tire conservation comes at a premium. Chad (Walter) and I have made some gains in the simulator, so we feel like we are prepared to have a good run Friday night.”

Atop the No. 77 Box – Crew Chief Chad Walter

  • Chad Walter has called three CRAFTSMAN Truck Series races at Richmond. Driver Tyler Ankrum earned Walter’s venue-best finish at Richmond Raceway, a fifth-place result.
  • During his time as a shop engineer at Dale Earnhardt, Inc., Walter was part of Dale Eanhardt, Jr.’s 2000 triumph at Richmond. Earnhardt, Jr., led 31 laps en route to his second Cup Series victory.
  • Between NASCAR’s Xfinity Series and CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, Walter has racked up six wins, 52 top fives and 131 top 10s.

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 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series win came on May 30, 2025, when Rajah Caruth took the checkered flag in the Rackley Roofing 200 at Nashville Superspeedway.

In 2025, Spire Motorsports campaigns the Nos. 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolets in the NASCAR Cup Series. The team also fields the Nos. 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolet Silverados in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series and an ARCA Menards Series Chevrolet in select events.

HFT Advance | Richmond

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Official Release
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Richmond Event Info:
Date: Saturday, August 16
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Series: NASCAR Cup Series (NCS)
Location: Richmond, Virginia
Format: 400 Laps, 300 Miles, Stages: 70-230-400
TV: USA
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90)

Weekend Schedule:
Saturday: 4:30 p.m. ET, Cup Practice (TruTV, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Saturday: 5:40 p.m. ET, Cup Qualifying (TruTV, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Sunday: 7:30 p.m. ET, Cup Race (USA, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)

Pace Laps:

  • Richmond hosts the 24th race on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule as they embark on a 300-mile race on Saturday night. The NASCAR Xfinity Series has the weekend off, before returning to the track at Daytona International Speedway on Friday, August 22nd.
  • Sam Mayer (9.5) is tied with Connor Zilisch (9.5) for the best average finish among full-time Xfinity drivers this season.
  • Mayer has finished inside the top two in each of his previous three races at Indianapolis (2nd), Iowa (1st) and Watkins Glen (2nd).
  • He has started inside the top 10 in nine of his last 10 starts dating back to Nashville Superspeedway in May, including his lone pole of the season at Indianapolis Motor Speedway three weeks ago.
  • Mayer (799) sits third in the regular-season points standings behind Justin Allgaier (816) and Zilisch (823) with just three races remaining before the start of the playoffs.
  • Cole Custer Team Info:
  • Crew Chief: Aaron Kramer
  • Partner: HaasTooling.com

Custer at Richmond (Cup)
Starts: 6
Wins: —
Top-10s: —
Poles: —

  • Custer makes his seventh Cup start at Richmond this weekend, where he has a 22.2 average finish. His best finish came in 2020 when he crossed the line in 14th, his lone finish inside the top 20.
  • He boasts a 14.0 average starting position, tied for his best at any active track, including four starts inside the top 15.
  • Custer has six top-10 results in nine Xfinity Series starts at Richmond, and won the 2019 spring race after leading 122 laps.

Where They Stand
Cup Points Standings (41: 34th): Custer is 34th in the Cup Series points standings with 294 points heading into Richmond this Saturday.

Xfinity Points Standings (41: 4th, 00: 10th): Mayer sits fourth in the Xfinity points standings with 799 total points on the season, behind the three multi-winners, while Creed is in 10th place with 625 points.

RFK Advance | Richmond

By
Official Release
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Richmond Event Info:
Date: Saturday, August 16
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
Series: NASCAR Cup Series (NCS)
Location: Richmond, Virginia
Format: 400 Laps, 300 Miles, Stages: 70-230-400
TV: USA
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90)

Weekend Schedule:
Saturday: 4:30 p.m. ET, Cup Practice (TruTV, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Saturday: 5:40 p.m. ET, Cup Qualifying (TruTV, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Sunday: 7:30 p.m. ET, Cup Race (USA, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)

Pace Laps:

  • Richmond hosts the 25th race on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule as they embark on a 300-mile race on Saturday night, the second to last race before the start of the playoffs.
  • Jack Roush has 16 wins all-time at Richmond, including six in the Cup Series, with Chris Buescher most recently finding victory lane in 2023.
  • Buescher holds the third highest average starting position (11.2) in the Cup Series this season, anchored by 11 starts inside the top 10.
  • Buescher is also one of nine drivers with 12+ top-10 results this season, and has an average finish of 13.7 which is the fifth highest among Cup drivers.
  • Buescher was the 2023 winner at Richmond, leading 88 laps en route to his first of three victories that season, and the first of three in a stretch of five weeks.
  • Brad Keselowski has posted three top-10 finishes over his last four races, including two in the top five, with an average finish of 12.3.
  • Keselowski has led 1,280 laps at Richmond in 14 different races, his most of any track in his career. He’s also finished inside the top-15 in 17 of the last 18 Richmond races since the spring of 2015.
  • Ryan Preece has set Cup Series career highs this season in top-fives (3) and top-10s (10), and has finished inside the top-20 in each of his last 10 starts.
  • Preece (5,908) has also completed the third most laps of any Cup Series driver this season, behind Tyler Reddick (5,941) and Chase Elliott (5,950).
  • RFK Racing will also host Australian Supercars driver Thomas Randle this weekend. Randle, driver of the No. 55 Castrol Ford Mustang, is slated to make a special appearance on the NASCAR Experience Stage located in the Fan Zone on Saturday at 3:00 p.m. ET.

6 Team Info:
Driver: Brad Keselowski
Crew Chief: Jeremy Bullins
Partner: BuildSubmarines.com

17 Team Info:
Driver: Chris Buescher
Crew Chief: Scott Graves
Partner: Fifth Third

60 Team Info:
Driver: Ryan Preece
Crew Chief: Derrick Finley
Partner: Kroger / Kleenex

Keselowski at Richmond
Starts: 30
Wins: 2 (2014, 2020)
Top-10s: 15
Poles: 2 (2014, 2019)

  • Keselowski, a two-time winner at Richmond, makes his 31st Cup start at the ¾-mile track on Sunday. He won the lone race at Richmond in 2020 after leading 192 laps, and won back in 2014 after starting on the pole, leading 383 of the 400 laps.
  • Last spring, Keselowski finished eighth, at the time one of three-straight top-10s, but is coming off a fall event in the 2024 season where placed 16th.
  • He’s finished inside the top-15 in 17 of the last 18 Richmond races since the spring of 2015, and in that stretch has led laps in 11 different races.
  • His 12.1 average finish holds as one of his best among all tracks with 15 top-10s overall and six finishes inside the top five.
  • He also has two poles – 2014 and 2019 – for an average starting position of 12.0, also one of his best marks.
  • Keselowski made 17 Xfinity Series starts from 2006-17 earning four victories and 10 top-10s. He won his last NXS start there in 2017 and also went to victory lane in 2010 once and 2013 twice.

Buescher at Richmond
Starts: 17
Wins: 1 (2023)
Top-10s: 3
Poles: —

  • Buescher was the 2023 winner of this race at Richmond, having led 88 laps en route to his first of three victories that season, and the first of three in a stretch of five weeks.
  • In the spring of last season, he finished ninth while he placed 18th in the fall race.
  • Despite a 21.5 average finish at the track, Buescher has two top-3 finishes in the last five Richmond races. He finished third in the 2022 fall event and ninth last spring, two of his four top-15 efforts in the last six outings at the ¾-mile track.
  • Buescher has a 19.2 average qualifying effort with a best effort of seventh (three times) – last season, spring of 2023, and spring of 2019.
  • Buescher made five NXS starts for Jack Roush from 2011-15, earning three top-10s with a best finish of seventh (2014).

Preece at Richmond
Starts: 9
Wins: —
Top-10s: 1
Poles: —

  • Preece is set for his 10th Cup start at Richmond this weekend, where he earned a top-five finish in the fall of 2023.
  • He holds a 22.2 average starting position at Richmond across his nine starts, with a best of 11th in the fall of 2023.
  • Preece has also made four NXS starts at Richmond, with an average finish of 20.8.

RFK Historically at Richmond
Cup Wins: 6 (Mark Martin, 1990; Jeff Burton, 1998; Matt Kenseth, 2002; Kurt Busch, 2005; Carl Edwards, 2013; Chris Buescher, 2023)

  • History in the Commonwealth of Virginia: Overall, RFK has 370 starts at Richmond Raceway, earning a total of 16 wins, 91 top-five and 156 top-10 finishes. RFK Fords have sat on the pole 14 times and led 5,151 laps across NASCAR’s three major touring series.
  • To Xfinity and Beyond: RFK has earned nine victories, 43 top-five finishes, 66 top-10 finishes and an average finish of 11.8 at Richmond in the Xfinity Series. All in all, three different drivers are responsible for the nine victories at the Virginia short track (Edwards, Mark Martin and Jeff Burton).
  • Nine and Counting: RFK’s nine victories at Richmond rank fourth among all tracks the organization has competed on in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, trailing Darlington Raceway (15), Charlotte Motor Speedway (12) and North Carolina Speedway – formerly known as Rockingham – (11).
  • Tale of the Tape: RFK has started 229 NCS races at Richmond with 79 top-10 and 39 top-five finishes along with seven poles. Former drivers Mark Martin (1990), Jeff Burton (1998), Matt Kenseth (2002), Kurt Busch (2005), and Carl Edwards (2013) are responsible for RFK’s five Cup wins, with Buescher adding his name to that list in 2023, and a Jack Roush Cup Series Ford has led 2,633 laps at the .75-mile track.

Last Time Out & Where They Stand
Watkins Glen: Buescher 3rd; Preece 13th; Keselowski 31st.

Points Standings (17: 16th, 60: 17th, 6: 21st): Buescher sits 34 points above the playoff cutline, ahead of his teammate Preece for the final playoff spot. Keselowski remains 21st in the standings after earning five stage points and leading five laps at Watkins Glen.

Ford Teams Continue Push for Playoffs This Weekend in Richmond

By
Official Release
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RICHMOND

Friday, August 15 – NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, 7:30 p.m. ET (FS1)
Saturday, August 16 – NASCAR Cup Series, 7:30 p.m. ET (USA)

The NASCAR Cup Series conducts its penultimate race of the regular season this weekend at Richmond Raceway, where three current Ford drivers (Chris Buescher, Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski) have at least one victory. In the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, which will run its regular season finale on Friday night, F-150 driver Ty Majeski is the defending race winner.

TWO TO GO IN REGULAR SEASON

Saturday night’s scheduled race at Richmond Raceway and next weekend’s event at Daytona International Speedway are all that remains of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series regular season. There are currently four Ford drivers who have secured spots in the playoff field – three-time and defending champion Joey Logano, 2023 series champion Ryan Blaney, Austin Cindric and Josh Berry. Chris Buescher holds a 34-point advantage over RFK Racing teammate Ryan Preece for the final berth, but a new winner would knock him below the cut line.

BLANEY CONTINUES TOP 10 ROLL

Ryan Blaney has had speed all season and that was evident again last weekend at Watkins Glen International, where he qualified on the pole, won a stage and finished sixth. That marked his fourth straight top 10 finish, dating back to an eighth-place run at Dover Speedway. In 17 series starts at Richmond Raceway, Blaney has one pole, which came in the spring of 2022, and a career best finish of seventh, which happened on that same weekend.

RICHMOND ONE OF LOGANO’S BEST

It would be easy to look at Joey Logano’s two career wins at Richmond and say it’s got to be one of his best tracks on the circuit, but the statistics provide further proof. In 31 career starts, Logano has 14 top 5 and 19 top 10 finishes, which gives him an average finish of 10.0. That’s his second-best average finish on tracks where he’s run more than 10 races and includes a current stretch that has seen him finish seventh or better in seven of the last nine Richmond races.. The only track where Logano has a better average finish is Las Vegas, where his four wins and 14 top-10 finishes in 24 starts works out to a 9.8 average finish.

JOEY LOGANO: “Richmond is my favorite track to go to. I love it. It is a great racetrack. It’s fun to race because you have so much tire fall off that you have to be smart in how you race there. It seems like in the past we have put together a really good Ford Mustang for Richmond. I look forward to being strong there.”

RYAN BLANEY: “Looking forward to getting to Richmond. It’s a unique place. Penske always seems to run well there, the 22 especially runs well there. I am just trying to take all the notes that Joey has. I wouldn’t say it is my strongest track. I seem to have struggled there all through my career with a couple of glimpses of hope, but it is a place that we continue to work really hard on. You try to get better everywhere but especially the places that you might not be as strong at as others. I look forward to it. I look forward to what the tire is like, how the track is, and Saturday night races are always

fun. Hopefully, it goes well for us as we gear up for the Playoffs. We just have to keep building momentum with the No. 12 Ford Mustang. That’s the biggest thing right now.”

BRAD KESELOWSKI: “We are really pumped. We ran so well in Iowa. We hope that success will carry over. I have won there a few times and we’ve had some good runs. A lot of positive thoughts going into the weekend.”

CHRIS BUESCHER: “I laugh about it now because we have had a lot of really good runs at Richmond and we have been able to win there. But it wasn’t that long ago that I wanted

to fill the place with dirt and build apartments on it. I didn’t care; just make it go away. It was a struggle. We are not there at this point. We are well beyond that. We are to a point that we can confidently say, wherever we are headed to, we are excited about the speed we believe we will have and the opportunity to win.”

AUSTIN CINDRIC: “Richmond is a fun place, and I think it’s a great place to have a night race. It gives short track vibes even though it’s not technically a very small Saturday

night short track. It has those same feelings. I like going there. It’s very much a rhythm racetrack and very important to get all your things right with strategy and [tire] fall off and track position. It’s a tricky place and it’s one of my favorites.”

RYAN PREECE: “I’m excited about Richmond. I am going to go run the modified there on Thursday and that will lead into Cup practice and qualifying on Friday and the Cup race on Saturday. We call it a short track but it’s a big short track. I like racing there. The last time I was there in a modified we won, and it would be nice to do that again. For me, racing the modified before the Cup race can be pretty good. But at the same time, it can be an absolute challenge. I am hoping the work put in will pay off.”

BUESCHER CLAIMS FIRST RICHMOND WIN

Chris Buescher claimed his third victory of the season by leading 53 of the final 54 laps when he took the checkered flag at Richmond Raceway on July 30, 2023. Despite that dominance, he had to endure a late-race caution that brought the field back to him with nine laps remaining, resulting in one final round of pit stops. Buescher’s crew got him out in the lead and, after choosing the inside line, was able to get away from Denny Hamlin on the restart with three laps to go to claim the win.

A PENSKE SEASON SWEEP

Thanks to Team Penske, Ford dominated the 2014 season at RR as both Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski made it to victory lane. Keselowski clinched the top seed for the ensuing Chase with a dominating performance that saw him lead all but 17 of the 400 laps, including the final 274 circuits. The win was his fourth of the season and marked the third time Ford swept both NCS races at the three-quarter-mile track, and the first since 1997. Logano won the first RR race after passing Matt Kenseth with four laps to go to claim his fifth career series victory.

KYLE PETTY’S FIRST WIN

The Wood Brothers have 101 all-time NASCAR Cup Series victories and many of those have been first-time winners. Kyle Petty was that man in the mid-1980s and on Feb. 23, 1986 found himself in the right place at the right time. Driving the No. 7 Ford for Glenn Wood – the car carried that number because of sponsor 7-Eleven – Petty was the beneficiary of an ongoing battle between Darrell Waltrip and Dale Earnhardt. After Waltrip passed Earnhardt to take the lead with two to go, Earnhardt made contact with Waltrip and both cars went spinning into the wall. Others got collected in the aftermath, but Petty was able to get through unscathed and took the checkered flag under caution for his first series triumph.

RICHMOND REPEAT FOR MAJESKI?

The NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series has its final regular season race on Friday night at Richmond Raceway and defending series champion Ty Majeski would like nothing better than to repeat his victory from a year ago. He ensured that this weekend would be a little less stressful after clinching a spot in the playoffs with a seventh place finish at Watkins Glen International last Friday. This marks the third straight season Majeski has reached the postseason with Ford and ThorSport Racing, and the fourth overall.

GARCIA AND RHODES ON THE BUBBLE

ThorSport teammates Jake Garcia and Ben Rhodes find themselves battling each other on the bubble going into the regular season finale. Garcia is 10th in the standings and holds the final playoff berth on points while Rhodes finds himself 11 points behind. A win by either would automatically put them in the field, but if there’s a new winner, both would likely be eliminated.

FORD NASCAR CUP SERIES WINNERS

AT RICHMOND

1957 – Paul Goldsmith

1959 – Tom Pistone and Cotton Owens

1960 – Speedy Thompson (2)

1963 – Ned Jarrett (2)

1965 – Junior Johnson (1)

1968 – David Pearson (1)

1969 – David Pearson (1)

1970 – James Hylton (1)

1979 – Bobby Allison (2)

1980 – Bobby Allison (2)

1981 – Benny Parsons (2)

1984 – Ricky Rudd (1)

1986 – Kyle Petty (1)

1988 – Davey Allison (2)

1990 – Mark Martin (1)

1992 – Bill Elliott (1)

1993 – Davey Allison (1)

1994 – Ernie Irvan (1)

1995 – Rusty Wallace (2)

1996 – Ernie Irvan (2)

1997 – Rusty Wallace and Dale Jarrett

1998 – Jeff Burton (2)

1999 – Dale Jarrett (1)

2001 – Ricky Rudd (2)

2002 – Matt Kenseth (2)

2005 – Kurt Busch (2)

2013 – Carl Edwards (2)

2014 – Joey Logano and Brad Keselowski

2017 – Joey Logano (1)

2020 – Brad Keselowski

2022 – Kevin Harvick (2)

2023 – Chris Buescher (2)

FORD NASCAR CRAFTSMAN TRUCK SERIES WINNERS AT RICHMOND

1999 – Greg Biffle

2000 – Rick Carelli

2020 – Grant Enfinger

2024 – Ty Majeski

The Ford Mustang, celebrating its 61st anniversary in 2025, is the world’s best selling sports car. It is also one of the planet’s most popular race cars. With Mustang-based race cars competing in international sports car competition (GT3 and GT4), NASCAR, NHRA, Formula Drift, in Australian Supercars, at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb and in its own bespoke one-make series – Mustang Cup and Mustang Challenge – the platform has an unprecedented global reach. This weekend, 19 Mustang race cars are scheduled to race across all disciplines. Learn more at FordPerformance.com.

Pye-Barker Fire & Safety Extends Partnership with LEGACY MOTOR CLUB for 2026 NASCAR Cup Series Season

By
Official Release
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STATESVILLE, N.C. (AUG. 12, 2025) – LEGACY MOTOR CLUB today announced that Pye-Barker Fire & Safety, the nation’s largest full-service and fully integrated fire protection, life safety, and security services provider, has extended its partnership with the CLUB for the 2026 season. The renewed agreement builds upon a successful 2025 season and reflects the partners’ shared commitment to performance, reliability, and safety.

Pye-Barker’s impressive progression has earned it consecutive annual recognition on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing private companies in the United States. In recent years, Pye-Barker has achieved substantial revenue growth while remaining committed to exceptional care of its customers and team, made up of 8,000 members nationwide, operating across more than 250 locations.

Pye-Barker Fire & Safety will continue its presence on LEGACY MOTOR CLUB’s No. 42 Toyota Camry of John Hunter Nemechek in the NASCAR Cup Series and will maintain its status as the Official Fire Safety Partner of the CLUB. The brand will also expand its involvement in hospitality, employee engagement programs, and community outreach through the partnership. Pye-Barker will be the primary paint scheme on the No. 42 for 14 races in 2026.

“We are thrilled to have Pye-Barker Fire & Safety renew for next season,” said LEGACY MC co-owner Jimmie Johnson. “John Hunter and the No. 42 team are great representatives of the brand, and our collective goal is to put Pye-Barker back in victory lane.”

“This partnership with LEGACY MOTOR CLUB reflects the same values that guide our business every day – putting people first and building lasting relationships built on trust,” said Bart Proctor, CEO of Pye-Barker Fire & Safety. “We look for partners who genuinely care about their people and their community. LEGACY shares our commitment to excellence and appreciates the family culture that makes both our organizations successful. Together, we’re able to connect with our team members, customers, and communities in ways that go far beyond business.”

The extended partnership includes expanded branding on team assets, enhanced activations at select NASCAR Cup Series events, and continued collaboration on content, employee and safety initiatives. Pye-Barker’s commitment to safety aligns naturally with the high-performance, high-stakes world of NASCAR.

“Having Pye-Barker Fire & Safety back with us for another year is a huge win for our team,” said Nemechek, driver of the No. 42 Pye-Barker Toyota Camry XSE. “Their values of service, trust, and care for their team and communities line up perfectly with what we’re building here. We’re looking forward to another year of growing together both on and off the track. I’m looking forward to representing them in 14 races next year and hopefully taking them to Victory Lane again.”

Pye-Barker Fire & Safety first joined LEGACY MOTOR CLUB in 2024 and has since become a valued part of the team’s fabric, appearing in multiple races and fan activations.

About Pye-Barker Fire & Safety
The U.S. leader in fully integrated life safety systems, Pye-Barker Fire & Safety provides complete fire protection and security systems nationwide. With over 250 locations and 8,000 team members, Pye-Barker is a Great Place to Work® Certified™ company that is also listed on the Inc. 5000 and ranks No. 4 on the SDM 100.

About LEGACY MOTOR CLUB: LEGACY MC is a premier auto racing organization co-owned by seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and 2024 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee, Jimmie Johnson and Knighthead Capital Management, LLC. Drawing from a rich tradition of success, LEGACY MC is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of motorsport and setting new standards of excellence. The CLUB competes under the Toyota Gazoo Racing banner in the NASCAR Cup Series with the No. 43 Toyota Camry XSE piloted by Erik Jones and the No. 42 Toyota Camry XSE driven by John Hunter Nemechek. Johnson also races on a limited basis in the No. 84 Toyota Camry XSE. With NASCAR legend and Hall of Famer Richard Petty, “The King”, serving as CLUB Ambassador, LEGACY MC blends timeless racing traditions with a new forward-thinking vision. As an inclusive community for motorsport enthusiasts, LEGACY MC honors both its storied past and the promising future of its members, always striving for victory and championship glory at the pinnacle of NASCAR competition.

DraftKings Named Exclusive Sports Betting Sponsor of Ty Dillon’s No. 10 Chevrolet for Upcoming Kaulig Racing Events

By
Official Release
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Agreement sees DraftKings Team up With Kaulig Racing for Events in St. Louis and Kansas City

Lexington, NC (August 12, 2025) – DraftKings has been designated as the exclusive sports betting operator of Kaulig Racing and Ty Dillon. As part of the agreement, the DraftKings logo will be prominently featured on the No. 10 Chevrolet, driven by Dillon, for two upcoming races this season at World Wide Technology Raceway in St. Louis and Kansas Speedway in Kansas City.

In addition to DraftKings branding on Kaulig Racing’s No. 10 Chevrolet, the logo will also be displayed on Dillon’s fire suit, the pit crew uniforms and the team’s pit wall infrastructure in the select events.

“I am passionate about delivering fans the best experience possible, which is why it is so exciting to be working alongside DraftKings,” said Dillon. “It’s an iconic brand that’s become synonymous with innovation and fan engagement, offering a responsible and entertaining way for fans to get even more invested in the action. I’m proud to have DraftKings on the No. 10 Chevrolet, and honored to have them join us this season.”

DraftKings and NASCAR share a longstanding relationship focused on enhancing fan engagement and delivering an exceptional fan experience. Earlier this season, NASCAR introduced the inaugural In-Season Challenge presented by DraftKings, a five-race competition designed to bring a new level of excitement to the sport. Utilizing a traditional bracket format, the top 32 drivers were matched in weekly head-to-head contests, with the field narrowing by half each round.

As the No. 32 seed, Dillon had an uphill battle from the start, but with perseverance and fight, finished the In-Season Challenge in second place. Throughout the Challenge, Dillon faced No. 1 seed Denny Hamlin in Round 1 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, No. 17 seed Brad Keselowski in Round 2 at the Chicago Street Course, No. 8 seed Alex Bowman in Round 3 at Sonoma Raceway, No. 12 seed John Hunter Nemechek in Round 4 at Dover Motor Speedway and No. 6 seed Ty Gibbs in the Championship Round at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

DraftKings will make its debut with Kaulig Racing and the No. 10 Chevrolet for the Enjoy Illinois 300 at World Wide Technology Raceway on Sunday, September 7, live on USA at 3:00 p.m. ET. The race will be broadcast on the Motor Racing Network and SIRIUS XM’s NASCAR Channel.
 
About Kaulig Racing

Kaulig Racing™ is a full-time, multi-car NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) and NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) team, owned by award winning entrepreneur, Matt Kaulig. Established in 2016, Kaulig Racing™ has earned 27 NXS wins, made the NXS Playoffs consecutively each season since the playoff system started, and won two regular-season championships. In 2021, the team competed in select NCS events, before expanding to a two-car, full-time NCS team in 2022 and adding a third, part-time entry during the 2023 season. Since its first NCS start in 2021, the team has earned two wins. Kaulig Racing is currently fielding two full-time entries in the NCS and continues to field three full-time NXS entries. To learn more about the team, visit kauligracing.com.

About DraftKings

DraftKings Inc. is a digital sports entertainment and gaming company created to be the Ultimate Host and fuel the competitive spirit of sports fans with products that range across daily fantasy, regulated gaming, and digital media. The company is headquartered in Boston and was launched in 2012 by Jason Robins, Matt Kalish and Paul Liberman. DraftKings’ mission is to make life more exciting by responsibly creating the world’s favorite real-money games and betting experiences. DraftKings Sportsbook is live with mobile and/or retail sports betting operations pursuant to regulations in 28 states, Washington, D.C., and in Ontario, Canada. The Company operates iGaming pursuant to regulations in five states and in Ontario, Canada under its DraftKings brand and pursuant to regulations in three states under its Golden Nugget Online Gaming brand. DraftKings owns Jackpocket, the leading digital lottery app in the United States. DraftKings’ daily fantasy sports product is available in 44 states and certain Canadian provinces. DraftKings is both an official daily fantasy and sports betting partner of the NFL, NHL, PGA TOUR, WNBA and UFC, as well as an official daily fantasy partner of NASCAR, an official sports betting partner of the NBA and an authorized gaming operator of MLB. In addition, DraftKings owns and operates DraftKings Network, a multi-platform content ecosystem. DraftKings is committed to being a responsible steward of this new era in real-money gaming by developing and promoting educational information and tools to help all players enjoy our games responsibly.

Tony Stewart & Matt Hagan – Brainerd Advance for the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals

By
Official Release
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Tony Stewart & Matt Hagan
Top Fuel | Funny Car
Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals
Aug. 15-17 | Brainerd, Minnesota

Event Overview
Friday, Aug. 15 (Nitro Qualifying, streamed live on NHRA.TV)

Nitro qualifying session (Q1): 4:30 p.m. CDT/5:30 p.m. EDT
Nitro qualifying session (Q2): 6:45 p.m. CDT/7:45 p.m. EDT

Saturday, Aug. 16 (Nitro Qualifying & Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge, streamed live on NHRA.TV)

Top Fuel qualifying session (Q3) & Mission #2Fast2Tasty Top Fuel Challenge – Round 1: 12 p.m. CDT/1 p.m. EDT
Funny Car qualifying session (Q3) & Mission #2Fast2Tasty Funny Car Challenge – Round 1: 12:35 p.m. CDT/1:35 p.m. EDT
Top Fuel qualifying session (Q4) & Mission #2Fast2Tasty Top Fuel Challenge – Finals: 2:30 p.m. CDT/3:30 p.m. EDT
Funny Car qualifying session (Q4) & Mission #2Fast2Tasty Funny Car Challenge – Finals: 3:05 p.m. CDT/4:05 p.m. EDT

Sunday, Aug. 17 (Nitro Eliminations, streamed live on NHRA.TV)

Round 1: 10:30 a.m. CDT/11:30 a.m. EDT
Round 2: 12:40 p.m. CDT/1:40 p.m. EDT
Semi-Finals: 2:10 p.m. CDT/3:10 p.m. EDT
Finals: 3:50 p.m. CDT/4:50 p.m. EDT

TV coverage on FS1/FOX

Friday, Aug. 15: Qualifying show (9 p.m. CDT/10 p.m. EDT on FS1)
Saturday, Aug. 16: Qualifying show (6 p.m. CDT/7 p.m. EDT on FS1)
Sunday, Aug. 17: Finals show (2 p.m. CDT/3 p.m. EDT on FOX)

Notes of Interest

  • The Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals at Brainerd (Minn.) International Raceway serves as the 13th event on the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series’ 20-race calendar. Tony Stewart Racing (TSR) brings its two full-time entries – one in Top Fuel for Tony Stewart and one in Funny Car for 53-time Funny Car winner and four-time champion Matt Hagan – to the second-to-last race of the regular season before the Countdown to the Championship begins Sept. 12-14 with the 40th NHRA Reading Nationals presented by Nitro Fish at Maple Grove Raceway in Mohnton, Pennsylvania.
  • After the 14th and final regular-season event on Sept. 1 with the NHRA U.S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park, the top-10 drivers in the standings in each of the four professional categories of the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series – Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle – qualify for the Countdown to the Championship. The top-10 drivers in each class then compete in the final, six-race playoffs to vie for the title. Coming into Brainerd, Stewart is second in the Top Fuel championship standings, 48 points behind leader Shawn Langdon. Hagan, meanwhile, is second in the Funny Car championship standings, 201 points behind leader Austin Prock.
  • American Rebel Beer is the primary sponsor of both Hagan and Stewart in Brainerd. 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 14 states (Connecticut, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, 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 Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals will serve as Stewart’s 33rd career Top Fuel start and his second at Brainerd. For Hagan, this will be his 365th career Funny Car start and his 16th at Brainerd.
  • Stewart is eyeing his first victory in the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals, as well as his first No. 1 qualifier at the event. In 2024, Stewart secured the No. 2 qualifying position and advanced to Round 2 of eliminations, where his 9.435 ET at 78.54 mph lost to Justin Ashley’s 3.763 ET at 328.30 mph. Stewart’s wife, Leah Pruett, is a two-time winner of the Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals (2017 and 2019) and was runner-up to Antron Brown in her last appearance (2023).
  • Hagan has one win at Brainerd, which came in 2021. His run of 3.923 ET at 327.98 mph defeated Cruz Pedregon (3.935 ET at 324.83 mph). In 2024, Hagan advanced to the Finals, where his 5.615 ET at 129.77 mph (red light) lost to Blake Alexander’s 3.927 ET at 324.67 mph. Hagan also has four No. 1 qualifiers at Brainerd, which came in 2011 (4.101 ET at 303.57 mph), 2016 (3.822 ET at 333.82 mph), 2019 (3.890 ET at 328.46 mph) and 2022 (3.843 ET at 331.36 mph).
  • By advancing to the Semifinals at the DENSO NHRA Sonoma Nationals, Hagan qualified to participate in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge at Brainerd, where he will face a rematch against Austin Prock. The Lucas Oil NHRA Nationals will mark Hagan’s eighth #2Fast2Tasty Challenge of the season. Coming into Brainerd, Hagan has earned the most #2Fast2Tasty Challenge points in the Funny Car category with 14 points total. Those points are added to his total at the points reset leading into the Countdown to the Championship playoffs.
  • Hagan will participate in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty autograph session on Saturday at 9 a.m. CDT. The session will take place at the Mission Foods Display.
  • Hagan and Stewart will participate in Tony Stewart Store merchandise trailer signings. Stewart will be signing on Friday from 3:15-3:45 p.m. CDT and again on Saturday from 9:45-10:15 a.m. CDT. Hagan will be signing on Saturday from 5:30-6:00 p.m. CDT.

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

At the previous event, the NHRA Sonoma Nationals, you punched your ticket into the NHRA’s Countdown to the Championship and you enter Brainerd 48 points behind Shawn Langdon. How special would it be to bring home the regular season championship with two races remaining prior to the Countdown?

“It’s a big deal and it’s a big deal to our team. To make it through 14 races in the regular season and have a chance to win a championship like that, even though it’s not the world championship you win at the end of the season, is still special. It means a lot to not only myself as an owner and driver, but it means a lot of these crew guys as well so it’s definitely a big deal.”

American Rebel Beer has now expanded into 14 states, with more states being added soon. You and Matt Hagan will both be representing the brand at Brainerd. How special will that be, especially given the atmosphere at the track?

“I think Brainerd is the perfect place to have American Rebel Light. In my opinion, it’s the best race of the year and it has the best parties. The fans are amazing there, so it’s my favorite stop on the tour. I think it’s great that American Rebel is going to be there and that Andy Ross is going to be playing with his band. It’s going to be an awesome weekend.”

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

You’ll be participating in your eighth Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge of the season at Brainerd. You have earned the most #2Fast2Tasty Challenge points in the Funny Car category with 14 points total. How valuable is that specialty event as we get ready to reset points after the next two events as the NHRA heads to Maple Grove, knowing they get added to your points total?

“It’s incredible that we’ve gathered that many #2Fast2Tasty points. I figured with (Austin) Prock’s five wins that they would have the most. It just shows that even though we’ve been on the back side of some good drag races, we’ve been consistent. Hopefully that is changing for the better and we are peaking at the right time. The Mission Foods points add up and we can always use those once the points reset. We want to fight our way through it. (Mike) Knudsen (crew chief) has that first win under his belt and I think the confidence is growing. Our team has a lot of synergy and I’m excited about that. Moving forward, we’ll have more Wallys pile up. We’ve been showing the last couple races that we can be aggressive, earning a number one qualifier and advancing to two Finals. Everything takes time and we’re doing the things we need to be doing to grow as a team.”

American Rebel Beer has now expanded into 14 states, with more states being added soon. You and Tony Stewart will both be representing the brand at Brainerd. How special will that be, especially given the atmosphere at the track?

“Andy Ross and all the folks from American Rebel are great. They’ve been very excited to be represented on the car the last couple years. Overall, they are salt of the earth people and good guys that are excited to be in drag racing. They’ve recently expanded to dirt racing, so it’s nice to see their involvement in motorsports. I would love nothing more than to win another championship with those guys. I think there will be a lot of American Rebel Beer drank in the Zoo at Brainerd. Andy will be playing for the FOX broadcast in the Zoo, so that’s huge. The weather is usually great there and we can lay down some fast numbers. I’m excited to get after it.”

Ignition Casino 2025: A Leading Platform For Fast Bitcoin Gambling & Exclusive Poker Tournaments

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SM
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Ignition’s promotional offerings for crypto players are designed to maximize their gaming experience, with numerous bonuses available to welcome and retain players:

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Final Thoughts: Why Ignition Is A Leading Crypto Gambling Platform of 2025?

Ignition Casino’s 2025 strategy is a winning formula for both casual players and high-stakes gamblers alike. Its integration of Bitcoin makes transactions faster, safer, and more private, while the poker room’s exclusive events for crypto players create an exciting, competitive atmosphere. With a wide selection of games, generous bonuses, and promotions designed for cryptocurrency users, Ignition stands out as a leader in the crypto gambling space.

Ignition Casino: FAQs

How do I deposit Bitcoin at Ignition Casino?

Depositing Bitcoin at Ignition is simple. Just navigate to the cashier, select Bitcoin as your deposit method, and follow the on-screen instructions to complete your transaction.

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Yes, Bitcoin withdrawals at Ignition are processed quickly, often within a few hours, ensuring you can access your funds without delay.

What types of poker games are available at Ignition?

Ignition offers a variety of poker games, including Texas Hold’em, Omaha, and other popular variations, with exclusive tournaments for Bitcoin players.

Does Ignition offer bonuses for Bitcoin players?

Yes, Ignition provides several bonuses for Bitcoin players, including a welcome bonus of 150% up to $1500 for crypto, reload bonuses, and special promotions for Bitcoin poker tournaments.

Is Ignition Casino available on mobile devices?

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Van Gisbergen, Zilisch, and Heim win at Watkins Glen International

By
SM Staff
-

The NASCAR Cup Series, Xfinity Series, and Craftsman Truck Series were at Watkins Glen International. All of the races had exciting racing, along with one unexpected victory lane celebration.

Go Bowling at The Glen

Shane van Gisbergen captured his fourth consecutive road-course victory in the NASCAR Cup Series Go Bowling at The Glen at Watkins Glen International. It was also his fifth career win in the series and his first win at the 2.45-mile track.

Photo by Patrick Sue-Chan for SpeedwayMedia.com

He was dominant throughout the race in the No. 88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet and led 38 of 90 laps and won by a margin of 11.116 seconds. He has won four of the five NASCAR Cup Series road-course races on the schedule this season.

Christopher Bell finished second, Chris Busher finished third, William Byron finished fourth, and Chase Briscoe rounded out the top-5 finishers. Polesitter Ryan Blaney, who led 35 laps, finished in sixth.

The race featured three caution flags for eight laps, and eight lead changes among six drivers.

Top-10 drivers in the Go Bowling at The Glen

PosStNoDriverTeamLapsS1S2S3PointsStatus
1288Shane Van GisbergenWeatherTech Chevrolet9080043Running
2920Christopher BellDEWALT Toyota9003043Running
31217Chris BuescherBuildSubmarines.com Ford9010044Running
41024William ByronRaptor Chevrolet9002042Running
5319Chase BriscoeBass Pro Shops Toyota9090034Running
6112Ryan BlaneyMenards/Richmond Water Heaters Ford9071045Running
71999Daniel SuarezFreeway Insurance Chevrolet9000030Running
81523Bubba WallaceMcDonald’s Toyota9000029Running
92145Tyler ReddickThe Beast Toyota9000028Running
1041Ross ChastainBusch Light Chevrolet9000027Running

Mission 200

Photo by Patrick Sue-Chan for SpeedwayMedia.com

Connor Zilisch cruised to victory in the NASCAR Xfinity Series Mission 200. Zilisch earned his sixth win of the season and is in a prime position to start the playoffs.

However, the victory lane celebration was short-lived after Zilisch took a nasty fall that landed him in an ambulance and at the hospital. He broke his collarbone.

Sam Mayer finished second, Sammy Smith third, Austin Hill fourth, and Carson Kvapil rounded out the top 5 finishers.

The race featured 17 lead changes among nine drivers, and seven caution flags for 20 laps.

Top-10 drivers in the Mission 200

PosStNoDriverTeamLapsS1S2S3PointsStatus
1188Connor ZilischRegistix Chevrolet8201051Running
2441Sam MayerAudibel Ford8203043Running
368Sammy SmithPilot Chevrolet8209036Running
41021Austin HillBennett Transportation Chevrolet8204040Running
5141Carson KvapilBass Pro Shops/Clarience Tech Chevrolet8205038Running
697Justin AllgaierBRANDT Chevrolet8218044Running
71832Austin Green3Dimensional.com Chevrolet82010031Running
83616Christian EckesCelsius Chevrolet8200029Running
91320Brandon JonesMenards/Pelonis Toyota8200028Running
101725Harrison BurtonAirBox Ford8260032Running

Mission 176

Photo by Patrick Sue-Chan for SpeedwayMedia.com.

Corey Heim survived three overtime restarts to capture his 17th career victory in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Mission 176.

He started on the pole and led 44 of 81 laps to claim his sixth victory this season.  

Daniel Hemric finished second, and Gio Ruggiero finished in third.

Christopher Bell started in second place and led 30 laps. However, due to the multiple overtimes, he had to pit for fuel and finished fourth, and Tyler Ankrum finished fifth to round out the top five finishers.

Top-10 drivers in the Mission 176

PosStNoDriverTeamLapsS1S2S3PointsStatus
1111Corey HeimMobil 1 Toyota8114057Running
21719Daniel HemricNAPA Nightvision Chevrolet8180038Running
3517Giovanni Ruggiero #First Auto Group Toyota8160039Running
4252Christopher Bell(i)Halmar International Toyota813500Running
51318Tyler AnkrumLiUNA! Chevrolet8109034Running
637Sammy Smith(i)TMC Transportation Chevrolet810200Running
73398Ty MajeskiSoda Sense/Curb Records Ford8107034Running
81445Connor Zilisch(i)DQS Solutions & Staffing Chevrolet814000Running
92542Matt MillsUtilitra/J.F. Electric Chevrolet8100028Running
10634Layne RiggsLove’s RV STOP Ford8190029Running
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