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Katherine Legge joins Live Fast Motorsports for Cup debut at Phoenix

By
Andrew Kim
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Photo by James Black | IMS Photo.

Katherine Legge will make her inaugural appearance as a NASCAR Cup Series competitor this weekend at Phoenix Raceway.

Legge, a 44-year-old motorsports competitor and trailblazer from Guildford, United Kingdom, will drive the No. 78 Chevrolet entry for Live Fast Motorsports. DROPLiGHT will sponsor her.

The news comes as Legge recently made her ARCA Menards Series debut at Daytona International Speedway in February with Sigma Performance Services. With her participation this weekend at Phoenix, she is set to become the first female competitor to compete in NASCAR’s premier series since Danica Patrick competed in the 2018 Daytona 500.

“Entering the NASCAR Cup Series is a dream come true,” Legge said in a released statement. “I’m excited to team up with Live Fast Motorsports for Phoenix, and to represent our sponsors DROPLiGHT and Sherfick Companies. Racing stockcars has been an incredibly fun and new challenge that’s given me a renewed sense of vigor for this sport. As always, I’m grateful for the opportunity to do what I love and am inspired by all of the effort, preparation and behind the scenes work it takes to get here.”

Legge enters the Cup Series division with a rich trailblazing legacy in motorsports competition. In 2005, she became the first female competitor to win a major open-wheel event in North America after she won the Toyota Atlantic Championship event in Long Beach, California. Eighteen years later, she became the fastest female competitor to qualify for the Indianapolis 500, where she posted a speed of 231.627 mph. To date, she has made four career starts in the Indy 500 with her best on-track result being a 22nd-place run in 2012 with Dragon Racing.

Legge is the first female competitor to lead in both the Rolex 24 at Daytona, which occurred in 2016, and an American Le Mans Series event, the latter of which occurred at Road America in 2013. She is also the first female competitor to receive the prestigious British Racing Drivers Club “Rising Star” award in 2002 and to be inducted into the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach Motorsports Walk of Fame in 2024.

Having previously competed in the Champ Car World Series, IndyCar and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship divisions, Legge also competed in a total of five NASCAR Xfinity Series events. She made four starts with JD Motorsports in 2018, where she posted a career-best 14th-place result at Road America in August 2018, and made her recent start at Road America with SS-Green Light Racing in July 2023.

For the 2025 season, Legge is set to become the second competitor to drive the No. 78 Live Fast Motorsports entry in the Cup division. Earlier this year, BJ McLeod, who did not qualify for the 67th running of the Daytona 500, drove the No. 78 entry to a 22nd-place result at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Live Fast Motorsports is still scheduled to compete in the Talladega Superspeedway events, the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May, the series’ second visit to Atlanta in June and the regular-season finale at Daytona International Speedway in August.

“We’re happy to partner with Katherine for this race,” Jessica McLeod, CEO/co-owner of Live Fast Motorsports, said. “The opportunity to have such a versatile and dynamic championship winning driver join our program is exciting for everyone on our team. This partnership reflects our commitment to providing opportunities for drivers making their way into the NASCAR Cup series in the Next Gen era.”

Katherine Legge’s NASCAR Cup Series debut at Phoenix Raceway for the Shriners Children’s 500 will take place this Sunday, March 9th. The event will be broadcast on FS1 at 3:30 p.m. ET.

GMG Racing and Kyle Washington Double Podium in IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge in Texas

By
Official Release
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Kyle Washington Three for Four in VP Racing Challenge Podiums in First Two Race Weekends of 2025 at Daytona and Circuit of The Americas in the No. 32 GMG Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R

AUSTIN, Texas (March 3, 2025) – Sports car racing champions GMG Racing and longtime team driver Kyle Washington have built a three-for-four record of Bronze class podium finishes in the team’s and Washington’s debut races in the IMSA VP Racing SportsCar Challenge series after second and third place finishes on Saturday in Rounds 3 and 4 of the 2025 championship at Circuit of The Americas (COTA).

Washington won the second of two races in the season-opening VP Racing Challenge doubleheader at Daytona International Speedway in January and now has a record of three-straight podium showings in the series in the No. 32 GMG Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R after the COTA rounds.

“This weekend proved valuable for Kyle because he had to really dig deep into his race craft,” said GMG Racing Founder and Team Principal James Sofronas. “There was a lot of lapped traffic. He was faster than some of the LMP3s, and obviously faster than the GT4 competitors, so we had to manage his traffic and race skills every lap to stay with the lead pack. In that regard, he did really well. He kept some people behind us in Saturday’s second race, and with a few more laps maybe he could have taken the win. This was a great experience for him. Kyle had to set up his passes early, and he is going to take all of this experience with him to the next races in the additional series he is scheduled to run in 2025.”

The VP Racing Challenge sprints were a support race for NASCAR, and all series ran on COTA’s 2.3-mile, 20-turn National course that was used for the first time for a major race weekend in over a decade. The layout was last used when the Australian-based V8 Supercars visited Austin in 2013, the first and still only appearance of the popular series in the U.S.

“The short track National course at COTA was much more challenging with no places to rest like the full Formula 1 layout,” Washington said. “Reeling in Samantha Tan in that fast BMW was a real challenge, but second place was one step higher on the podium than our result in the morning race. I’m exhausted, but it was an amazing experience. Cheers to her, and to IMSA and NASCAR for putting on an amazing weekend!”

Washington trails championship leader Tan by just 90 points after the first two of the VP Racing Challenge’s six scheduled doubleheader weekends, but current plans call for a partial season of select races in IMSA competition.

“Regardless of what the rest of 2025 looks like, the IMSA VP Racing series has been a great experience, and particularly good for Kyle to further develop his race craft at an earlier point in the season than in recent years,” Sofronas said. “Just getting the chance to race at Daytona and COTA at any time is a great experience, but we really enjoyed the VP Racing Challenge and would love to do more races.”

Next up for GMG Racing is the season-opening IMSA Carrera Cup weekend at Sebring International Raceway in less than two weeks, March 12 – 14. A press release announcing GMG’s multi-car Carrera Cup effort for this season will be made in the coming days.

About GMG Racing: Founded in 2001, GMG Racing quickly established itself as North America’s premier performance tuning facility. What began as a small 1,200 sq. ft. shop, maintaining two race cars, has grown into a state-of-the-art performance tuning, racing and service facility recently relocated to The Thermal Club and with a 28,000 sq. ft. trackside motorsports facility. The staff, attention to detail and passion are what make GMG the choice of professionals and enthusiasts worldwide. GMG, in its early years, was located directly across the street from Porsche Motorsport North America (PMNA). This close proximity allowed GMG to build a strong relationship with the legendary racing brand which has helped the company support its customers to the highest level possible. From club racing to Sebring, Daytona, Montreal, COTA and The Thermal Club, GMG can take you as far as you want to go. More information can be found at www.gmgracing.com.

Josh Berry to drive No. 21 eero Ford Mustang for three races

By
Official Release
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STUART, Va. (March 3, 2025) – Wood Brothers Racing today announced a new sponsorship by eero that will see the leader in whole-home Wi-Fi solutions featured as a primary partner for three races during the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season. The No. 21 eero Ford Mustang will make its debut at Phoenix Raceway on Sunday, March 9, for the Shriners Children’s 500.

Founded in 2014 and headquartered in San Francisco, eero set out to make Wi-Fi and networking the way they should be—fast, reliable, secure, and easy to use. As the pioneer of the first home mesh Wi-Fi system, eero is known for its high-quality design, intuitive technology, and award-winning hardware and software that deliver seamless connectivity for homes, businesses, communities, and service providers.

“NASCAR represents the perfect blend of technology and performance, making it an ideal platform for eero to showcase our commitment to delivering race car-fast connectivity,” said Laura Levine, Global Head of Brand and Marketing at eero. “Our sponsorship with Wood Brothers Racing, NASCAR’s most storied team, and Josh Berry aligns perfectly with our values of innovation and reliability. Just as Wood Brothers pioneered modern pit stop techniques, eero pioneered home mesh Wi-Fi technology, and we’re excited to bring these two innovation stories together on the track. We look forward to supporting Josh and the No. 21 team as they push for victory lane, while demonstrating how eero’s technology keeps teams connected when every millisecond counts.”

Following its first appearance at Phoenix, the No. 21 eero Ford Mustang will return for the marquee Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on May 25 and the Toyota/Save Mart 350 at Sonoma Raceway on July 13.

“There’s a lot of excitement around our team this year with Josh behind the wheel and several new partners joining us, including eero,” said Jon Wood, President at Wood Brothers Racing. “eero is an innovative company that fits well with us, and we’re proud to welcome them to the No. 21 team this year. Reliable connectivity is important in everything we do, and eero delivers that at the highest level.”

The sponsorship comes as Berry, a native of Hendersonville, Tennessee, takes on his first season behind the wheel of the famed No. 21 car and second full-time season in the Cup Series where he aims to score his first premier series win with the Wood Brothers.

“I’m really excited to have eero on board with us at Wood Brothers Racing this year,” said Berry. “I had the opportunity to work with eero last season, so it’s great to see the company continuing its involvement in NASCAR, now with our No. 21 team. I’m looking forward to representing them and hopefully taking the eero Ford Mustang to victory lane.”

The Shriners Children’s 500 is set to kick off at 3:30 p.m. ET on Sunday with coverage available on FOX Sports 1 and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

About eero
eero was founded to make wifi and networking the way they should be—fast, reliable, secure, and, most importantly, easy to use. After introducing the first home mesh wifi system with a high-quality design that blends into its environment and technology that intuitively works behind the scenes, eero became known for sweating every single detail and delivering award-winning hardware and software for homes, businesses, communities, and service providers. Founded and headquartered in San Francisco in 2014, eero is an Amazon company. For more information, visit eero.com.

About Wood Brothers Racing
Founded in 1950 by Hall of Famer Glenn Wood in Stuart, Virginia, Wood Brothers Racing holds a special place in NASCAR history as the sport’s longest-running team. Over eight decades, the team has earned 100 victories in the NASCAR Cup Series, along with 120 poles, and remains proud of its longstanding relationship with Ford Motor Company, fielding only Ford products since its inception. Glenn’s brother, Leonard Wood, played a key role in shaping modern racing by developing the techniques behind today’s pit stops. With a rich legacy rooted in innovation and tradition, Wood Brothers Racing continues to honor its heritage while adapting for the future as it competes in NASCAR’s premier series with Josh Berry.

TOP FUEL CHAMP ANTRON BROWN HAS CHANCE TO START 2025 IN STYLE AT AMALIE MOTOR OIL NHRA GATORNATIONALS

By
Official Release
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GAINESVILLE, Fla. (March 3, 2025) – After ending his season with a fourth career world championship a year ago, Top Fuel star Antron Brown has a chance to make a resounding statement right off the bat to open the 2025 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season.

The year kicks off with this weekend’s 56th annual Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals at Gainesville Raceway, starting the season with one of the most legendary races on the NHRA circuit.

A win in Gainesville – something Brown has only done once before – is a major accomplishment for any driver, but the champ has a chance for a double-up weekend by competing in the Right Trailers Top Fuel All-Star Callout on Saturday.

Brown won the big-money bonus race a year ago en route to the title, but becoming the first Top Fuel driver to win the Callout twice and adding a Gatornationals win in his 11,000-horsepower Matco Tools dragster would be an impressive start following a championship campaign.

“You just don’t what’s going to happen (in the Callout),” Brown said. “You’re going to race the baddest Top Fuel teams on the planet. It’s eight of the best cars and it’s a feat just to get in there. To win it, you’ve got to be on point. I think we’re ready for that challenge and we’ve just got to get ready in qualifying. It’s big money and the stakes are high.

“It’s the first race of the year and it’s an All-Star race. That’s what makes it more intense and you’re going to see who did their homework in the off-season. It’s going to be hard. We’re going to give it everything we’ve got and I like our chances heading into it.”

In 2024, Shawn Langdon (Top Fuel), J.R. Todd (Funny Car), Erica Enders (Pro Stock) and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) all won the Gatornationals to open the year. It marked the first double-up victory for Kalitta Motorsports, while six-time world champ Enders won the historic race for the first time. This year’s race will again be broadcast on FS1, including eliminations at 7 p.m. on Sunday, March 9.

The first round of the Top Fuel All-Star Callout takes place on Saturday at 12:15 p.m. ET and the semifinals at 2:20 p.m. The finals are slated for 3:30 p.m. A special Callout broadcast will air at 9 p.m. ET on Saturday on FS1.

Brown is the fifth seed in the specialty race, meaning there’s likely a good chance he’ll get called out in the first round. Those selections take place at 12 p.m. on Friday and the 80-time event winner is ready to roll after his stellar 2024 season.

He won six times a year ago, but the “drive for five” titles won’t be easy with a class that includes Doug Kalitta, Langdon, Brittany Force, Clay Millican, Steve Torrence, Josh Hart and Tony Stewart. Brown, though, is plenty motivated, especially with a chance to add a regular-season championship this year, a feat that would certainly be helped by a second Gatornationals win.

“You’re getting rewarded for something during a long regular season and I’m a big proponent of it,” Brown said. “It’s going to make it more meaningful and it’s going to make each regular season big. So, you’ve got the regular season and then it goes right into the Countdown (to the Championship), and it’s going to be a lot of fun. It’s going to raise the bar and there’s not going to be any more throwaway races.

“I want to be the regular season champ and I want that ceremony, and it all starts at the Gatornationals. It’s one of our biggest races each year and you’ve got to show out and build that momentum. There’s a lot at stake at all these races and it’s going to bring a whole different mindset, and that all starts in Gainesville.”

Todd earned his second Gatornationals win when he took out Funny Car newcomer Austin Prock in the final round. Prock quickly recovered and picked up eight race wins and ultimately the Funny Car championship. Other stars to watch will be Jack Beckman, who will be racing for John Force in 2025, Matt Hagan, Ron Capps and Bob Tasca III.

Enders, the winningest female in motorsports, earned her first Gatornationals win last season, finishing fourth in points. Taking the top spot and overall championship was Greg Anderson. With six Gainesville wins and six titles to his name, Anderson will look to take on the other stars like Dallas Glenn and Aaron Stanfield in the Pro Stock ranks.

Herrera, the reigning back-to-back champion, has been undeniably dominant in Pro Stock Motorcycle. He raced to his second straight Gatornationals win last season when he defeated six-time champion and rival Matt Smith. Others to watch include Chase Van Sant, Angie Smith, Jianna Evaristo and Richard Gadson.

The Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals will also see the season debut in the highly competitive Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series and the Flexjet NHRA Factory Stock Showdown class, as well as a full slate of sportsman classes in the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, which features some of the sport’s top drivers.

Before the race, fans will again be invited to a special “Gatornationals Kickoff Party and Fanfest” at Josh Hart’s Burnyzz Speedshop in Ocala. In what’s become an exciting pre-event tradition, the event will take place from 6-9 p.m. on Wednesday, March 5. The fun-filled kickoff event will include driver appearances and autographs from 7-8 p.m. at the massive facility and much more.

Race fans at Gainesville Raceway can enjoy the special pre-race ceremonies that introduce and celebrate each of the drivers racing for the prestigious Wally on Sunday and includes the fan favorite SealMaster Track Walk, which benefits the Darrell Gwynn Foundation in Gainesville. The final can’t-miss experience of any NHRA event is the winner’s circle celebration on Sunday after racing concludes, where fans are invited to congratulate the event winners of the season-opener.

The Nitro Alley Stage is a huge attraction all weekend and is the main entertainment hub in the pits when the Mission Foods Drag Racing Series competitors are not on the track, hosting Nitro School, NHRA Insider Live, meet and greets and much more. Before the first round of eliminations on Sunday, fans can enjoy a C-17 flyover from the Mississippi Air National Guard’s 172nd Airlift Wing.

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

NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series qualifying features two rounds at 2 and 4:30 p.m. ET on Friday, March 7, and the final two qualifying rounds on Saturday, March 8 at 12:30 and 3 p.m. Final eliminations are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. ET on Sunday, March 9. Gainesville Raceway will also continue to give fans a memorable experience including free general parking at the state-of-the-art facility.

To purchase tickets to the 2025 Amalie Motor Oil NHRA Gatornationals, visit www.NHRA.com/tickets. Children 12 and under are free in general admission areas with the purchase of an adult ticket. General parking is free and limited preferred parking is available for purchase. Get your tickets now for the Top Eliminator Club because these will sell out. For more info on NHRA, including the full weekend schedule in Gainesville, please visit www.NHRA.com.

About Mission Foods

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

About NHRA

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

Swish Motorsports No. 12 BMW Scores Pair of Top 4 Finishes at COTA

By
Official Release
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Finishes move team to 3rd in IMSA VP Racing Sportscar Challenge GSX Class standings

Culpeper, Virginia--Swish Motorsports raced to a pair of fourth-place GSX class finishes in back-to-back starts at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas, on Saturday, March 1, propelling the team to third place in the 2025 IMSA VP Racing Sportscar Challenge GSX points standings.

Driver Patrick Wilmot started fifth in the GSX class in the first race. He brought the No. 12 BMW M4 GT4 home fourth in class, surviving several on-track skirmishes along the way. The No. 12 was the opening race’s top-finishing BMW in GSX.

Wilmot rolled off third in the second race and immediately found himself in a multi-car GSX battle that led to multiple position changes. Once as low as fifth, Wilmot rallied the No. 12 BMW to its second fourth-place GSX class finish of the day.

The results lifted Swish Motorsports to third in the season-long GSX championship points battle. Wilmot is third in the individual drivers’ standings.

Swish Motorsports’ strong performance at COTA builds on its promising season-opening weekend at Daytona International Speedway. The team now has three top-four finishes in four starts.

“The entire Swish Motorsports team delivered two more strong efforts at COTA,” said owner and CEO Michael Dayton. “While our goal is to win every race we enter, we recognize that this is a very competitive series. The team’s confidence is growing, and our performance this season shows we can compete with anyone in this series.”

Swish Motorsports’ early-season success wouldn’t be possible without its dedicated partners, led by primary sponsor Runway Travel. The team is also proud to count M3 Home Repair, Rapid Track Service, 129 Touge, Kingpin Racing, Cannonball Storage. and Mills, Dayton & Co. as partners.

The IMSA VP Racing Sportscar Challenge events at COTA were part of a weekend of racing that included NASCAR’s Cup Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series. The next pair of VP Challenge races takes place June 7-8 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio.

About Swish Motorsports

Swish Motorsports was founded in 2023 by Michael Dayton and is based in Culpeper, Virginia. Dayton, a former NCAA college basketball player (hence the name Swish), spent nearly two decades as a driver and crew member for several BMW race teams before starting Swish Motorsports. The 2025 season is the team’s second in the VP Racing Sportscar Challenge series competing in the Grand Sport X (GSX) class. Connect with Swish Motorsports at www.swishmotorsports.com, @swishmotorsports on Instagram and on Facebook. Interested in partnering with Swish Motorsports? Let’s talk! Contact Michael at swishmotorsports@gmail.com.

Timing is Everything for Gonzalez’ Mazda MX-5 Cup Win in St. Pete

By
Official Release
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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (March 2, 2025) – A well-timed pass on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida helped Tyler Gonzalez (No. 57 BSI Racing) secure the Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by Michelin Round Four race win. An expertly timed restart contributed to Nathan Nicholson (No. 56 Advanced Autosports) finishing in the runner-up position.

The second Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup race of the weekend proved a bit calmer than the first. The field fell into a rhythm after a few laps with Westin Workman (No. 13 BSI Racing), Jeremy Fletcher (No. 22 McCumbee McAleer Racing) and Gonzalez forming the lead pack.

The trio was able to build a six-second gap to the rest of the field, but a full-course yellow for a disabled car in Turn 10 erased their hard work.

Farhan Siddiqi’s (No. 95 BSI Racing) car was pressed against the wall for a few laps before it was clear he would not be able get away on his own. Knowing a full-course yellow was a high probability as soon as the incident happened, Gonzalez decided to make his move for the lead before the yellow came out.

“We all knew it was going yellow,” Gonzalez said. “Jeremy [Fletcher] went for the dive bomb, overcooked it just a little bit, and I was able to get do the over under on both of them [Fletcher and Workman].”

The full-course yellow was music to the ears of Nicholson and Jared Thomas (No. 96 JTR Motorsports Engineering) who were now just behind the leaders.

“I think I was literally praying for that yellow for 20 minutes,” Nicholson laughed.

On the restart, Nicholson made a brilliant play to the inside of Turn One, that sent him briefly into the lead. He could only hold off Gonzalez for a lap though, and as the pair entered the final turn complex, it was clear that the win would go to Gonzalez.

“Nathan [Nicholson] and I were able to break away a little bit on those last couple laps, and I was able to make the pass, get around him, and just kind of run my race,” Gonzalez said. “BSI and Classic Mazda gave me a great car. I was able to turn some really fast laps out there and just clicked them off one by one until the end, and that was about it.”

It is Gonzalez second win of the year, the first coming at Daytona.

Nicholson was grateful for his second podium of the weekend.

“I knew there was going to be chaos going in (to the restart) with less than 10 minutes left,” Nicholson said. “I anticipated that and saw Weston go deep on the inside and backed it up and was able to capitalize on the opportunity.

“It’s a track I’ve never been to, so two podiums considering that… Advanced Autosports put the work in over the winter and we showed up with a very fast car.”

It was also a double podium weekend for Thomas, who further added to his points lead.

“The yellow was an opportunity to make up spots, because I wasn’t quite as fast as them, at least on the long run,” Thomas said. “I thought ‘we’ll see what happens,’ because these restarts are always crazy. Sure enough, it got crazy there at the end, and we made the most of it and got a solid podium.”

Polesitter Jeremy Fletcher finished fourth and Nate Cicero completed the top five.

She won the Penske Shocking Performance Award in Saturday’s race and backed it up with another one on Sunday; Sally Mott (No. 15 JTR Motorsports Engineering) went from 30th to 10th in the race, which also made her the highest finishing female driver.

“This feels really good,” Mott said. “Especially considering how the weekend started and not getting a great qualifying. I started almost absolutely last and driving my way up both races and getting a top-10 finish, the top finishing female and hard charge award today is just amazing! If you told me that two days ago I would not have believed it.”

A new face at the post-race award ceremonies was Chris Haldeman (No. 28 AAG Racing) who finished 16th and accepted the Takumi Award for drivers over the age of 50.

Both races are available to rewatch anytime on the RACER and IMSA YouTube Channels.

Next up for Mazda MX-5 Cup is Barber Motorsports Park, in Birmingham Alabama, May 2 – 4.

About: The Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by Michelin is the signature spec series for Mazda Motorsports. The series has been operated by Andersen Promotions since 2017 and is currently sanctioned by IMSA. Mazda-powered grassroots champions can earn Mazda scholarships for this pro-level series. The Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup awards more than $1 million in prizes and scholarships.

Find out more at http://www.mx-5cup.com.

NewAge Products Announces Partnership with LEGACY MOTOR CLUB

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Official Release
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Premium garage storage brand becomes official supplier for renowned auto racing organization

Toronto, Ontario, Canada (March 3, 2025) – NewAge Products, a leading brand in home improvement and storage solutions, including garage cabinetry, outdoor kitchen cabinetry and cooking appliances, and premium outdoor furniture, is proud to announce its partnership as an Official Supplier of LEGACY MOTOR CLUB, one of NASCAR’s most legendary teams, for the 2025 season.

This dynamic collaboration brings together two brands that share a passion for precision, innovation and high performance. LEGACY MOTOR CLUB is a premier auto racing organization co-owned by seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and 2024 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee Jimmie Johnson, who is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of motorsport and setting new standards of excellence. Competing under the Toyota Gazoo Racing banner in the NASCAR Cup Series, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB fields the No. 43 Toyota Camry XSE driven by Erik Jones, the No. 42 Toyota Camry XSE piloted by John Hunter Nemechek and the No. 84 Toyota Camry XSE for select races featuring Jimmie Johnson himself. With NASCAR legend Richard Petty, “The King,” serving as CLUB Ambassador, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB honors its storied past while embracing a bold vision for the future of motorsports.

“We are excited to partner with NewAge Products this season as we strive to create unique experiences for our partners and guests,” said Jimmie Johnson, LEGACY MOTOR CLUB co-owner. “The premium quality of NewAge Products garage solutions will help take our footprint to the next level.”

“We are thrilled to partner with LEGACY MOTOR CLUB, an organization that embodies the same drive for excellence that defines NewAge Products,” said Parag Shah, President of NewAge Products. “At NewAge, we take pride in engineering high-quality solutions that transform spaces, and we’re excited to bring that same level of innovation to one of the most competitive teams in motorsports.”

This collaboration underscores NewAge Products’ commitment to providing cutting-edge solutions for professionals who demand the best in organization, durability and functionality. Whether in high-performance racing or everyday home improvement, NewAge Products continues to redefine the way to optimize spaces.

For more information regarding NewAge Products, please contact Scout Petersen, scout@purpleorangepr.com, and for more information regarding LEGACY MOTOR CLUB, please contact Amy Stock, astock@legacymotorclub.com.

ABOUT NEWAGE PRODUCTS: Since 2008, NewAge Products has engineered best-in-class solutions to organize and beautify living spaces. The brand’s high-quality products are designed with functionality, precision and elegance in mind. NewAge Products is a trusted consumer brand and valued trade partner for both home improvement and commercial business. Known for offering unique garage, home and outdoor products, and excellent customer service, NewAge Products’ talented team of problem solvers is passionate about helping customers live their best lives. With award-winning leadership and designers and over 75 patents held, NewAge Products is re-imagining spaces inside and out. NewAge is a proud partner of the New Orleans Pelicans, USA Hockey and Habitat for Humanity.

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. 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.

Cadillac seeks Le Mans victory with 4 entries

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Official Release
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WEC Hypercar contenders to be joined by two IMSA GTP cars in June race

DETROIT (March 3, 2025) — Cadillac will return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June to challenge for the overall victory with four factory Cadillac V-Series.R racecars supported by experienced and championship-winning teams and drivers.

Event organizer Automobile Club de l’Quest extended the four invitations to Cadillac Racing, which had three Hypercar entries the past two years. The June 14-15 race marks 75 years since the first Cadillac entry at Circuit de la Sarthe and 25 years since Cadillac returned to the iconic race with four cars.

“We’re thrilled for Cadillac Racing to return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans with four cars competing for the overall win in the Hypercar class,” said John Roth, vice president, global Cadillac. “After scoring our first podium finish at this iconic endurance race in 2023 and securing a top 10 finish last year, we look to build on that success and showcase the Cadillac V-Series.R’s technology, performance and innovation of our race teams once again.”

  • The Nos. 12 and 38 Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA V-Series.R received automatic invitations based on full-season participation in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC). JOTA Sport is in its first season of WEC Hypercar competition as a works team. Earl Bamber, Sebastien Bourdais, Jenson Button, Alex Lynn, Norman Nato and Will Stevens will be the drivers.
  • The No. 101 Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing V-Series.R, a full-season IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship entrant in the Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) class, will compete at Le Mans for the first time. Ricky Taylor is listed as the primary driver.
  • The No. 311 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R is a full-season IMSA GTP entry campaigned by Action Express Racing that will return to Le Mans for the third consecutive year. Jack Aitken is listed as the primary driver.

In its first season of WEC Hypercar competition in 2023, Cadillac Racing posted a podium finish along with fourth place at Le Mans. In 2024, Cadillac Hypercars qualified second and third and registered a best finish of seventh for the American contingent. The Nos. 12 and 38 Hertz Team JOTA entries placed eighth and ninth, respectively, with another manufacturer.

Before entering Hypercar competition as a privateer in 2023, JOTA Sport earned podiums at Le Mans 10 times in LMP2, including second and third overall in 2017.

The Cadillac V-Series.R features a purpose-built Cadillac 5.5L DOHC V-8 engine developed by GM’s Performance and Racing Propulsion team based in Pontiac, Michigan. The racecar, co-developed by Cadillac Design, Cadillac Racing and chassis constructor Dallara, was informed by the Project GTP Hypercar that was unveiled in June 2022. It incorporates distinctive Cadillac design elements, such as vertical lighting and floating blades.

Cadillac’s early history at Le Mans

The first Cadillacs that raced at Le Mans were entered by privateers Briggs Cunningham and Miles and Sam Collier in 1950. Both Series 61 coupes were powered by the Cadillac 5.4-liter OHV V-8 engine.

Miles and Sam Collier co-drove the No. 3 “Petit Pataud” to a 10th-place overall finish. Briggs Cunningham shared the wheel of the No. 2 “Le Monstre” with Phil Walters and finished 11th overall despite an early off-course incident. That same year, Sydney Allard and Tom Cole Jr. finished third overall in the Cadillac-powered Allard J2.

Cadillac returned to the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2000, 2001 and 2002 with its 4.0-liter turbocharged V8-powered Northstar LMP. In 2000, Franck Lagorce, Butch Leitzinger and Andy Wallace drove the Team Cadillac No. 1 Cadillac Northstar LMP to a 21st-place overall finish, while Wayne Taylor, Max Angelelli and Eric van de Poele finished 22nd in the No. 2 sister car.

General Motors (NYSE:GM) is driving the future of transportation, leveraging advanced technology to build safer, smarter, and lower emission cars, trucks, and SUVs. GM’s Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC brands offer a broad portfolio of innovative gasoline-powered vehicles and the industry’s widest range of EVs, as we move to an all-electric future. Learn more at GM.com.

Team Penske NASCAR Cup Series Race Report – Circuit of the Americas

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#12: Ryan Blaney, Team Penske, MenardsDuracell Ford Mustang

EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix – Circuit of the Americas
Austin, Texas – March 2, 2025

AUSTIN CINDRIC No. 2 DISCOUNT TIRE FORD MUSTANG
START: 36TH STAGE 1: 24TH STAGE 2: 33RD FINISH: 25TH POINTS: 11TH
RACE RUNDOWN: Austin Cindric finished 25th in the EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix at Circuit of The Americas, the first road course event of the season. After a challenging qualifying session on Saturday, Cindric rolled off from the 36th position. Early in the race, the No. 2 Discount Tire Ford Mustang sustained slight damage following contact on Lap 4. By Lap 11, Cindric reported that his car was tight, and as varying pit strategies unfolded, he finished Stage 1 in 24th before heading to pit road for service. Struggling with rear grip, the No. 2 team made a four-tire stop with an air pressure adjustment and repairs to the splitter. Cindric restarted 33rd and later noted that the front of his car was beginning to fade. He returned to pit road with less than five laps remaining in Stage 2 and finished the segment in 33rd. Staying out during the stage break, Cindric restarted just outside the top 20 but continued to battle handling issues, requiring further adjustments. With just over 20 laps remaining in the 95-lap event, crew chief Brian Wilson called Cindric to pit road for fresh tires, fuel, additional air pressure and wedge adjustments. The No. 2 Ford cycled to 24th and gained momentum in the closing laps before ultimately crossing the line in 25th.

CINDRIC’S THOUGHTS: “It was a challenging weekend for the Discount Tire Ford Mustang, but the team did a great job staying focused and making adjustments throughout the race. We kept working to improve, but it just wasn’t our weekend. We’ll regroup and turn our attention to Phoenix.”

RYAN BLANEY No. 12 MENARDS/DURACELL FORD MUSTANG
START: 25TH STAGE 1: 25TH STAGE 2: 2ND FINISH: 19TH POINTS: 2ND
RACE RUNDOWN: Ryan Blaney came away with a 19th-place finish in the NASCAR Cup Series’ first road course event of the 2025 season Sunday at Circuit of the Americas. Despite starting 25th, the Menards/Duracell Ford Mustang gained 10 positions on the opening lap before Blaney dealt with a lack of rear grip late in the run, prompting at scheduled green flag stop with five laps remaining in Stage 1 in order to flip track position for the ensuing run. After restarting 20th for the 25-lap second stage, Blaney worked his way into the top-15 as crew chief Jonathan Hassler made the call to run out the segment without pitting, allowing the 2023 Cup Series champion to climb the leaderboard to a second-place finish in Stage 2. A four tire stop during the stage caution resulted in Blaney taking the restart from deep in the field, but the Menards/Duracell Ford worked its way back into the top-10 prior to the final caution of the afternoon with 18 laps to go. Blaney fought in and out of two and three-wide battles on the ensuing restart, ultimately resulting in a 19th-place finish.

BLANEY’S THOUGHTS: “Definitely not the way we wanted it to end up, but proud of this 12 group for staying with it all day and making this Menards/Duracell Ford better as the day went on. The strategy was there but just didn’t have the finish to show for it. We’re looking forward to getting back to Phoenix next week.”

JOEY LOGANO No. 22 SHELL-PENNZOIL FORD MUSTANG
START: 23RD STAGE 1: 2ND STAGE 2: 30TH FINISH: 24TH POINTS: 13TH
RACE RUNDOWN: Joey Logano took the checkered flag 24th in Sunday’s EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas – the first of six road course events on the 2025 Cup Series schedule. After starting 23rd, Logano fought a loose-handling condition during the opening run as the 22 team was one of six teams to not pit prior to the stage end, resulting in a second-place finish in Stage 1. Following a four tire stop and a round of adjustments during the stage caution, Logano lined up 28th to take the green flag for the second segment and struggled to gain track position over the course of the run, prompting him to come down pit road with three laps to go in Stage 2 in order to flip track position prior to the start of the final run of the 95-lap event. After the final caution of the afternoon came out with 18 laps to go, Logano took the restart from 11th and raced his way back inside the top-10 as the field came back to the line with 10 to go. The Shell-Pennzoil Mustang was on the receiving end of contact stemming from two and three-wide battles in the closing laps, ultimately relegating Logano to a 24th-place finish.

LOGANO’S THOUGHTS: “It was a challenging day overall. Fortunately we were able to pick up stage points early on and it felt like we were going to be able to compete for a top-10 but anything can happen at the end of these road course races and we were on the wrong side of that today.”

The NASCAR Cup Series continues west to Phoenix, Arizona next week for the Shriners Children’s 500. Coverage of the 312 lap event on Sunday, March 9 begins at 3:30 p.m. ET on FS1 with in-car camera angles available all race long through MAX Driver Cam.

Kaulig Racing Race Recap | EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix

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No. 10 Sea Best Camaro ZL1

Start: 34th
Stage 1 Finish: 37th
Stage 2 Finish: 29th
Finish: 28th

Recap: Ty Dillon and the No. 10 Sea Best Chevrolet team started the EchoPark Texas Grand Prix from the 34th position. Focused on making passes and moving forward, the team sustained right front damage following contact with a competitor on lap four that caused the No. 10 to spin. The team pitted for repairs and spent the remainder of the race working to get back on the lead lap and make laps while battling the handling of the No. 10 Chevy. At the end of the 90-lap event, the team was credited with a 28th-place finish.

“A frustrating day. We made a pass and got hooked on lap four. That destroyed the whole right front of our car. We battled back from that all day; we just didn’t have the downforce we needed without a right front on it. We did all we could with our Sea Best Chevy.” – Ty Dillon

No. 16 Celsius Camaro ZL1

Start: 12th
Stage 1 Finish: 10th
Stage 2 Finish: Sixth
Finish: 30th

Recap: Early in the race, Allmendinger reported the rear of his No. 16 Celsius Chevy was really good but he needed more front turn. The team made adjustments when Allmendinger came to pit road before the end of Stage 1. Running in third place near the end of Stage 2, Allmendinger told crew chief, Trent Owens, the car turned better but he lost forward drive. On the restart of Stage 3, Allmendinger passed the No. 88 and No. 71 to take over second place. On the restart on lap 54, Allmendinger was on the front row and fell to fifth after contact with the No. 71 when the field drove into turn one. Allmendinger radioed he felt the contact bent the steering. He maintained position in the top five until lap 88, when he began to fall back. The team evaluated for a tire issue as Allmendinger continued to loose positions.

“I’m really proud of our team from where we started the weekend to how fast we were in the race. Thought we had a shot to win and we’re extremely disappointed with the way our race ended.” AJ Allmendinger  
 
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 23 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, with a part-time fourth entry at select events. To learn more about the team, visit kauligracing.com.

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