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Spire Motorsports EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix Race Advance

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Official Release
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  • In nine NASCAR Cup Series starts at Circuit of the Americas (COTA), Spire Motorsports has logged one top-15 and two top-20 finishes. Corey LaJoie earned a team-best 11th-place result in the 2023 edition of the Cup Series annual visit to COTA. Spire Motorsports fields the Nos. 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolet ZL1s in the NCS with Justin Haley, Michael McDowell and Carson Hocevar, respectively.
  • The EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix from COTA will be televised live on FOX Sunday, March 2, beginning at 3:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. The third of 36 points-paying races on the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series schedule will be broadcast live on the Performance Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

Justin Haley – Driver, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet ZL1

  • Justin Haley will pilot Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Group 1001 Chevrolet ZL1 in Sunday’s EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix.
  • Group 1001 Insurance is a collective that empowers companies to create positive growth. Our insurance and annuities are easy to understand and accessible to all. Our online investing platform gives individuals control over their savings. Our technology and innovation help companies succeed. And our strategic partnerships bring people together through education and sports. As of September 30, 2024, Group 1001 Insurance had more than 1,500 employees and combined assets under management of $66.8 billion and provides over 496,000 active annuity contracts and life insurance policies. It comprises the following brands: Delaware Life, Gainbridge®, Clear Spring Life and Annuity Company, Clear Spring Property and Casualty Group, Clear Spring Health, and the RVI Group, among others.
  • Group 1001 is excited to celebrate Women’s History Month by featuring the names of women employees on two Spire Motorsports-prepared Chevrolets this weekend. There are 821 women employees at Group 1001, over 50 percent of its workforce. Gainbridge® spends over 40 percent of its sports sponsorship dollars on women’s sports and counts Caitlin Clark, Billie Jean King and Annika Sorenstam as brand ambassadors.
  • Last week at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Haley grappled handling challenges with his Gainbridge Chevrolet ZL1 for a majority of the afternoon. A last-lap incident left him 24th in the final rundown.
  • The 25-year-old has four NASCAR Cup Series events under his belt at COTA. His best qualifying and finishing positions came in 2022, where he started ninth and finished 15th.
  • Last season, Haley qualified 13th and raced inside or near the top 15 for the majority of the day. He logged an average running position of 14.32, the 11th highest in the field, and spent 48 of the 68 laps (70.6%) in the top 15, the ninth-most in the event.
  • Haley competed in one NASCAR Xfinity Series event at Circuit of the Americas. In 2021, he started sixth and paced the field for three laps before ultimately finishing ninth.
  • On road courses, Haley has collected one top five and four top 10s in the NASCAR Cup Series, four top fives and 10 top 10s in the Xfinity Series and claimed the checkered flag in the August 2018 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park.
  • The former Trans-Am Series competitor owns 23 starts in the division’s TA2 Class, collecting 10 top-five and 16 top-10 finishes. He closed out the 2016 season sixth in the division’s championship point standings after earning three poles, six top fives and nine top 10s while pacing the field for 41 laps.
  • Haley made a pair of appearances in Trans Am competition at the 3.41-mile race course, highlighted by a 10th-place overall finish and second in the TA2 class.
  • Last September, Haley made his return to Spire Motorsports and participated in the final seven events of the year aboard the team’s No. 7 Chevrolet, earning a season-best finish of seventh at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway.
  • The Winamac, Ind., native is a veteran of 146 Cup Series starts and has notched one win, five top fives, 16 top 10s and led 103 laps in NASCAR’s premier division.
  • In total, Haley has made 43 Cup Series starts for Spire Motorsports, with the bulk of races coming during the 2021 season behind the wheel of the team’s No. 77 machine. He made his first Cup Series start at Talladega Superspeedway on his 20th birthday.

Justin Haley Quote
How do you feel about heading to Circuit of the Americas with the 7 team, especially after a tough start to the season?
“I’ve always felt really comfortable at Circuit of the Americas. We haven’t had the best start to the season but I’m looking forward to getting to a road course with the No.7 team and racing it out on Sunday.”

Atop the No. 7 Box – Crew Chief Rodney Childers

  • Crew chief Rodney Childers comes to Spire Motorsports after spending the past 11 seasons at Stewart-Haas Racing, leading the organization’s No. 4 team. The first 10 of those campaigns were with 2014 NASCAR Cup Series Champion Kevin Harvick.
  • Childers has called all four Cup Series events at Circuit of the Americas, snagging a pair of top 15s with Kevin Harvick in 2022 and 2023.
  • The 48-year-old called Harvick’s victory at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway in 2017. The pairing dominated the field, leading 24 laps and converting the highest average running position in the field (6.03).
  • The veteran crew chief has participated in 679 NASCAR Cup Series races where he’s earned 34 poles, 40 wins, 178 top-five and 298 top-10 finishes. He also earned 2014 championship honors with Harvick.
  • Childers’ 40 wins at NASCAR’s premier level are second-most amongst all active crew chiefs in the Cup Series garage.

Michael McDowell – Driver, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet ZL1

  • Michael McDowell will pilot Spire Motorsports’ No. 71 Gainbridge Chevrolet ZL1 in Sunday’s EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas.
  • 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 us on X and LinkedIn.
  • McDowell has competed in all four Cup Series visits to COTA, earning three top 15s including a seventh-place finish in the 2021 rain-filled event.
  • The former road course racer owns one win, three top-five, and 11 top-10 finishes on road courses in Cup Series competition. Furthermore, his 2016 Xfinity Series victory came at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wis.
  • In the last four road and street course races—Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway ROVAL, Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International, Chicago Street Course, and Sonoma Raceway—the father of five has earned an average finish of 7.25, including a runner-up effort at Sonoma Raceway.
  • In last week’s Ambetter Health 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway, the No. 71 Chevrolet encountered a power steering issue late in Stage 1. During the ensuing stage break, the team hustled to the garage and fixed the issue, returning to competition six laps down. Fortunately, a slew of cautions allowed the veteran driver to earn the free pass over six consecutive cautions, returning to the lead lap on Lap 184. A multi-car incident on the final lap allowed the 41-year-old to navigate his Chevrolet to a hard fought 13th-place finish.
  • McDowell’s six free passes in last week’s event tied the single-race record. Former Spire Motorsports driver Jamie McMurray also received six free passes in the May 2014 Cup Series race at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway.
  • The veteran, now in his 18th Cup Series season, aims for his third career playoff appearance (2021, 2023). After the season’s first two events, McDowell sits 14th in the driver standings.
  • McDowell marked his 500th career start at Martinsville Speedway last fall, a milestone he celebrated at the site of his first Cup Series start in 2008. Now 40-years-old and a father of five, McDowell is set to complete his 17th season competing in NASCAR’s premier division. To date, he has 503 career Cup Series starts on his resume.

Michael McDowell Quotes
How does a road course early in the season help set your sights on the rest of the calendar?
“I’m looking forward to going to COTA, obviously having a road course early on in the season is beneficial, especially for me. It’s taken a couple weeks to get up to speed with the race team, Chevrolet and feeling out the differences. Now we can learn what we need to work on so we are carrying good momentum going into COTA. I am looking forward to our first road course of the season.”

Atop the No. 71 Box – Crew Chief Travis Peterson

  • Crew chief Travis Peterson joins Spire Motorsports after spending the past two seasons at Front Row Motorsports. He made the move alongside driver Michael McDowell.
  • Peterson helped Michael McDowell to victory in the 2023 Verizon 200 on the road course configuration of Indianapolis Motor Speedway. After rolling off fourth, McDowell led 54 of the 82 laps en route to the win.
  • The Peterson-McDowell duo has proven to be potent on road courses, collecting two top fives, five top 10s, and 79 laps led while converting an average start of 12.9 and an average finish of 16.0 in nine starts together.
  • Peterson called his first road course race as a Cup Series crew chief with Chris Buescher at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2022. After rolling off 16th, a competitor made heavy contact on the opening lap with Buescher dealing damage to the exhaust and rocker box, which caught the door foam on fire. After making adequate repairs and falling two laps down, the team rallied to and finish 10th, the then 31-year-old crew chief’s second top-10 in just his fifth start.
  • Peterson contributed to several victories during his tenure at RFK Racing, Hendrick Motorsports and JR Motorsports, highlighted by clinching the NASCAR Xfinity Series title in 2014 and racking up three Cup Series wins with Dale Earnhardt, Jr., and the No. 88 team in 2015.
  • Peterson is a mechanical engineering graduate of the Williams States Lee College of Engineering at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. The West Bend, Wis., native earned his degree in 2012.

Carson Hocevar – Driver, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet ZL1

  • Carson Hocevar will make his second Cup Series start at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, in Sunday’s Echo Park Automotive Grand Prix. The Delaware Life driver made his road course debut in NASCAR’s premier series in last year’s event on the 3.41-mile, 20-turn full-course layout.
  • Delaware Life is excited to celebrate Women’s History Month by featuring the names of women advisors on Hocevar’s No. 77 Chevrolet ZL1 at COTA. Delaware Life is an insurance and annuity company that empowers financial professionals with a wide array of customizable solutions. A subsidiary of Group 1001 Insurance Holdings, LLC (“Group 1001 Insurance”), their focus is to deliver a seamless experience for advisors. They understand how important it is to find the right fit for every client, every situation, and every individual need. They’re passionate about equipping clients with annuities that give their customers peace of mind and a successful future—allowing them to plan with confidence for whatever’s next.
  • It was announced in late 2024 that Hocevar and his fellow Cup Series competitors will run the 2.3-mile, 20-turn National Course layout for the series’ fifth visit to COTA while also contesting on a freshly repaved track.
  • In the 2024 event, Hocevar started 18th and crossed the finish line 22nd. The Portage, Mich., native showed flashes of a seasoned road-course racer while spending time within the top 10 late in the second stage and midway through the final stint.
  • Hocevar and the No. 77 Spire Motorsports team earned a runner-up finish in the second points-paying event of the 2025 season last Sunday at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The 2024 Rookie of the Year fell short of earning his career-first Cup Series victory after a yellow-flag was displayed on the final lap as the leaders raced toward the finish line.
  • Prior to the race at Atlanta, Hocevar’s career-best Cup Series finish came at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International Sept. 15, 2024, when he drove to a third-place effort in the 92-lap Go Bowling at The Glen. It was his first Cup Series start at the track and his first podium finish in Cup Series competition.
  • Hocevar, 22, is set to make his second Xfinity road course start in the No. 14 SS-Greenlight Racing entry in Saturday’s Focused Health 250. Hocevar competed in the 2023 NASCAR Xfinity Series event at COTA where he ultimately finished 38th after a transmission failure on Lap 8.
  • In nine road course starts in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, Hocevar owns one top-five and five top-10 finishes.

Carson Hocevar Quotes
Following your 29th-place run at COTA last March you improved your finishing position over the final three road course events, underscored with a third-place finish at Watkins Glen. How confident are you that the No. 77 maintain that momentum Sunday at COTA?
“I’m really excited to get to COTA and check out the new layout. Luke (Lambert) and, really, everyone at Spire did a great job last season of building up our road course program. I think we’ll all pick up where we left off, and a lot of that is the result of the work that was put in during the off season. Running the Xfinity race will give me a chance to get a couple more laps on the track and maybe find something I can share with my teammates. The other thing we’ve got going for us is two new teammates in Justin (Haley) and Michael (McDowell) that are really strong road-course racers. It’s been an exciting start to the season for us and we can definitely keep that going this weekend.”

Atop the No. 77 Box – Crew Chief Luke Lambert

  • Luke Lambert, crew chief of the No. 77 Delaware Life team for Spire Motorsports, is set to call his 35th Cup Series road course event in this weekend’s race at COTA. He led Chris Buescher to a fifth-place finish at the Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway road-course race on August 16, 2020, but his best result was last year’s top-three showing with Hocevar at Watkins Glen.
  • The No. 77 team’s runner-up finish at Atlanta was the 27th top-five result for the 13-year Cup Series veteran and his 92nd top-10 finish in a points-paying event.
  • In the nine NASCAR Xfinity Series events contested on road courses in which Lambert was atop the pit box, he led his driver to a top-10 finish in all but two events.

About Spire Motorsports …
Spire Motorsports earned its inaugural NASCAR Cup Series victory in its first full season of competition when Justin Haley took the checkered flag in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway on July 7, 2019. Less than three years later, William Byron drove Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado to its inaugural NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series win on April 7, 2022, at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway. The team’s most recent win came on Feb. 22, 2025, when Kyle Busch took the checkered flag in the Fr8 208 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

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

CHEVROLET IN INDYCAR: 2025 TEAM CHEVY PREVIEW

By
Official Release
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Winner #2: Josef Newgarden, Team Penske Chevrolet

TEAM CHEVY IN THE NTT INDYCAR SERIES
2025 TEAM PREVIEW

The Drive for a 10th NTT INDYCAR SERIES Manufacturers Championship in the V6 Era Kicks Off in St. Pete

  • Chevrolet enters the 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season defending a ninth manufacturers title in the 2.2-liter twin-turbo V6 era since 2012, entering the new year competing for a 10th.
  • At the conclusion of 2024, Team Chevy holds 122 wins, 135 earned NTT P1 Pole Awards, 336 podium finishes, and six Indianapolis 500 victories in the V6 era since 2012.
  • Chevrolet raced to 11 wins in 17 races in 2024, with eight NTT P1 Pole Awards and 28 podium finishes.
  • Team Chevy drivers combined for 1,536 laps led of 2,551 in 2024, or 60.2%.
  • Joining Team Chevy in their inaugural NTT INDYCAR SERIES season, PREMA Racing hits the track for their first event in St. Petersburg with rookie Robert Shwartzman and Callum Ilott behind the wheel of the Nos. 83 and 90 Chevrolet respectively.

DETROIT (February 24, 2025) – Chevrolet enters the 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season with sights set on a successful 2025 campaign after capturing the ninth NTT INDYCAR SERIES manufacturers title last year.

With the 20th anniversary Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on the horizon, Team Chevy is approaching the dawn of a new season aiming to add to their 122 victories, 135 NTT P1 Pole Awards, 336 podium finishes, and six Indianapolis 500 victories in the 2.2-liter twin-turbo V6 era since 2012.

In 2024, Chevrolet captured 11 wins in 17 events, including the prestigious 108th Running of the Indianapolis 500 by Josef Newgarden and Team Penske, along with eight NTT P1 Pole Awards, and 28 podium finishes. Additionally, the introduction of hybrid technology at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course saw the Bowtie brand capturing seven impressive wins in nine events in the last half of the year. Team Chevy drivers also swept the podium three times last season, including Road America, Iowa 1, and Milwaukee 1, as well as locking out the front row for the Indianapolis 500.

“The hard work, dedication, and talent by our Chevrolet engineers, drivers and teams is a testament to last year’s success, and we’re excited to carry 2024’s momentum into the new season,” said Mark Stielow, Director of Motorsport Competition Engineering at General Motors. “The NTT INDYCAR SERIES grows more competitive each year, but we are bringing with us into the new year back-to-back manufacturer titles, as well as the back-to-back Indianapolis 500 victories by Josef Newgarden. St. Petersburg has been quite successful for Chevrolet in the past, and we’re looking forward to potentially kicking off a 10th Manufacturers title drive on the Streets of St. Pete.”

In 2025, Chevrolet is excited to lead the NTT INDYCAR SERIES field to the green flag at six iconic tracks for eight events, including the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course and for the 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500, the Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix, World Wide Technology Raceway, Road America, Iowa Speedway, and Portland International Raceway.

The Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg takes the green flag for the 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season live on FOX Sunday, March 2 at 12 p.m. ET. Additional coverage of the 20th-anniversary event is carried with INDYCAR Radio and SiriusXM Channel 160.

AJ Foyt Racing

The legendary organization of AJ Foyt Racing welcomes David Malukas to their two-car lineup, in the No. 4 Chevrolet, along with Santino Ferrucci returning in the No. 14 Chevrolet. With highlights from Ferrucci in 2024’s Indianapolis 500 (finishing eighth after qualifying sixth in the Firestone Fast Six), Portland where he captured the pole, and finishing the season in the top-10 (ninth, career highest) in driver standings, adding Malukas has the team’s sights set on the season with great anticipation and determination.

David Malukas, No. 4 Chevrolet:

Strategist: Craig Brooks
Engineer: James Schnabel
Crew Chief: Nick Cooper

Santino Ferrucci, No. 14 Chevrolet:

Strategist: Larry Foyt
Engineer: Michael Armbrester
Crew Chief: Steve McKenzie

Arrow McLaren

Looking to improve on its 2024 season, Arrow McLaren solidified their three-team lineup with Pato O’Ward returning in the No. 5 Chevrolet along with Nolan Siegel in the No. 6 Chevrolet and bringing aboard Christian Lundgaard to the No. 7 Chevrolet. O’Ward, moving to the senior driver role of the team, looks to add to his already captured career seven wins, five NTT P1 Pole Awards, and 26 podium finishes. Siegel, who moved up to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES after racing to the 2023 INDY NXT by Firestone Rookie of the Year, holds 12 career starts in INDYCAR, and raced in the lead with eight laps led at World Wide Technology Raceway. Lundgaard, while new to Arrow McLaren in 2025, isn’t new to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES season, having one race win in 2023 at Toronto, in addition to two NTT P1 Pole Awards, three podium finishes, seven top-five finishes, and 131 laps led in 51 starts. Joining O’Ward, Siegel, and Lundgaard, Kyle Larson, driving the No. 17 with Arrow McLaren and Hendrick Motorsports, will attempt a second “Double,” competing in both the NTT INDYCAR SERIES’ 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500 and NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 on the same day, respectively.

Pato O’Ward, No. 5 Chevrolet:

Strategist: Nick Snyder
Engineer: Will Andersen
Crew Chief: Chris Nash

Nolan Siegel, No. 6 Chevrolet:

Strategist: Scott Harner
Engineer: Kate Gundlach
Crew Chief: Heath Kosik

Christian Lundgaard:

Strategist: Brian Barnhart
Engineer: Chris Lawrence
Crew Chief: Todd Phillips

Ed Carpenter Racing

Bolstering their two full-time car lineup in the offseason, Ed Carpenter Racing looks to 2025 with renewed vigor and excitement, with Christian Rasmussen shifting to the No. 20 Chevrolet as veteran Alexander Rossi joins the team in the No. 21 Chevrolet. Additionally, Ed Carpenter will return to the No. 33 Chevrolet for the 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500 for a three-car effort in the legendary race. With a top ten in 14 starts, Rasmussen looks to build on his 2024 rookie season in the new year, with valuable knowledge and seat time gained in the previous year. Rossi, brings his veteran knowledge and a stacked resume to the team that sees eight career wins, one Indianapolis 500 victory (2016), seven NTT P1 Pole Awards, 30 podium finishes, 50 top-five finishes, and 995 laps led in 147 career starts.

Christian Rasmussen, No. 20 Chevrolet:

Strategist: Tim Broyles
Engineer: Matt Barnes
Crew Chief: Austin Shepherd

Alexander Rossi, No. 21 Chevrolet:

Strategist: Brent Harvey
Engineer: Peter Craik
Crew Chief: Jimmie Johnson

Juncos Hollinger Racing

Juncos Hollinger Racing welcomes back Conor Daly to the team, fielding the No. 77 Chevrolet along with his new teammate Sting Ray Robb, competing in the No. 78 Chevrolet. With a 2024 season that saw the team capture their first podium finish in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES by Daly at Milwaukee 1, Juncos Hollinger Racing has their aim on adding to their two top-five finishes and nine top-10 finishes in 2024.

Conor Daly, No. 77 Chevrolet:

Strategist: Ricardo Juncos
Engineer: Townsend Lucas
Crew Chief: Ryan Lall

Sting Ray Robb, No. 78 Chevrolet:

Strategist: Dave O’Neill
Engineer: Adam Blocker
Crew Chief: Adam Farrer

PREMA Racing

Bolstering Chevrolet’s esteemed lineup in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, PREMA Racing joins Team Chevy in 2025 with rookie Robert Shwartzman in the No. 83 Chevrolet and Callum Ilott in the No. 90 Chevrolet. A legendary organization founded in 1983, PREMA Racing has been a premier leader in junior single-seater racing in Europe. While new to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES stateside, PREMA Racing has cultivated many driving talents in their journey to Formula 1, including Charles Leclerc, Pierre Gasly, and Esteban Ocon among many others. PREMA Racing looks to the 2025 season with excitement as they enter a new endeavor in INDYCAR.

Robert Shwartzman, No. 83 Chevrolet:

Strategist: Robert Gue
Engineer: Joao Ginete
Crew Chief: Dave Arnold

Callum Ilott, No. 90 Chevrolet:

Strategist: Lorenzo Casiraghi
Engineer: Steve Barker
Crew Chief: Ernest Bustamante

Team Penske

Team Penske fielded a stellar 2024 campaign in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, not only capturing a back-to-back prestigious Indianapolis 500 victories with Josef Newgarden in May from 2023 to 2024, but also overall winning eight times during the year. Additionally, the Team Penske trip earned seven NTT P1 Pole Awards, while also sweeping the Indianapolis 500 front row, and 20 podium finishes between Josef Newgarden (No. 2 Chevrolet), Scott McLaughlin (No. 3 Chevrolet), and Will Power (No. 12 Chevrolet). Newgarden, Power, and McLaughlin combined to lead 1,140 of 2,551 total turned laps by the NTT INDYCAR SERIES field all season. In McLaughlin’s Iowa win in July, he led 164 laps on his way to winning, setting most laps led in a single race during the season, most consecutive laps led, and most laps led by a race winner in that one event. Team Penske looks to the new season ready continuing their victorious pursuit.

Josef Newgarden, No. 2 Chevrolet:

Strategist: Tim Cindric
Engineer: Luke Mason
Crew Chief: Chad Gordon

Scott McLaughlin, No. 3 Chevrolet:

Strategist: Kyle Moyer
Engineer: Ben Bretzman
Crew Chief: Trevor Lacasse

Will Power, No. 12 Chevrolet:

Strategist: Ron Ruzewski
Engineer: David Faustino
Crew Chief: Matt Jonsson

2025 Chevrolet by the Numbers:

9: NTT INDYCAR SERIES races as V6 engine supplier with hybrid technology integration.

7: Wins in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES as V6 engine supplier with hybrid technology integration since mid-2024.

216: NTT INDYCAR SERIES races as V6 engine supplier since 2012 return to INDYCAR.

122: Wins in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES since 2012.

135: Earned poles since 2012. Chevrolet holds 140 pole awards in total, with five recorded based on points for weather.

5: Earned pole in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES as V6 engine supplier with hybrid technology integration.

9: Manufacturer Championships since 2012.

7: Driver/entrant champions since 2012.

13: Indianapolis 500 victories by Chevrolet at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

6: Indianapolis 500 wins by Chevrolet since 2012 in the V6 2.2-liter twin turbo direct injected era.

35: Number of times Chevrolet has swept the podium in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES since 2012 in the V6 2.2-liter twin turbo direct injected era. In total, a manufacturer has swept the podium 56 times since 2012.

29: Wins by Will Power since 2012 – all with Chevrolet power – most of any driver with the same manufacturer.

9: Wins from the pole by Will Power with Chevrolet power since 2012, most by any driver.

46: Pole starts by Will Power since 2012 in a Chevrolet-powered car, most of any driver.

*Will Power’s career total of 70 poles makes him the all-time pole winner in INDYCAR.

About General Motors

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.

Haas Factory Team, Sheldon Creed Announce 13 Race Xfinity Partnership With Road Ranger

By
Official Release
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[KANNAPOLIS, NC] – HAAS Factory Team and Sheldon Creed, driver of the No. 00 in the Xfinity Series, have announced an exhilarating collaboration with Road Ranger spanning across 13 races during the 2025 Xfinity season. The No. 00 car will dawn the Road Ranger sponsorship for the first time this season at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) on March 2, where Creed has two career top 10 finishes.

“I am incredibly excited to welcome Road Ranger as a partner! Their commitment to this sport and now the Haas Factory Team gives me confidence that we will achieve great things on and off the racetrack,” Creed said. “I am thankful to all of the people at Road Ranger for supporting our race team and my career and I look forward to competing at a high level while representing this great brand.”

With this new chapter in their motorsport journey, Road Ranger aims to amplify its presence among NASCAR’s fervent fanbase by tapping into the storied tradition and electrifying energy of the Xfinity Series. The move signifies more than sponsorship; it embodies a shared vision for pushing boundaries both on-track and off.

“Racing is not just about speed; it’s about precision, strategy, and understanding when to push beyond limits,” said Marko Zaro, CEO of Road Ranger. “Partnering with Sheldon Creed aligns us with a driver whose talent mirrors our own pursuit of excellence on America’s highways.”

“The true power of collaboration lies in recognizing potential before others see possibility,” Ryan Arnold, VP Marketing at Road Ranger remarked. “As we join forces with one of racing’s most promising Xfinity Series talents alongside HAAS Factory Team, we’re set to redefine our engagement within this dynamic community. The unmatched energy and enthusiasm of NASCAR fans has always been truly infectious, and we have felt honored to be part of such a devoted community. Our investment in NASCAR sponsorship paid dividends not only in terms of visibility and exposure for the Road Ranger brand, but also in the meaningful relationships we built along the way. The pinnacle of our Truck Series journey was undoubtedly Ty’s championship-winning season, a thrilling triumph that left an indelible mark on our company and we’re excited to see what we can do next.”

The transition from Truck Series success stories to aspirations within Xfinity circuits represents an important milestone for Road Ranger—a testament not only reflecting past achievements but also heralding future triumphs as they deepen connections across key automotive audiences nationwide.

About Road Ranger

Road Ranger today stands as the fourth-largest travel center chain in the United States with over 54 locations from Wisconsin all the way down to Texas. Road Ranger proudly serves professional drivers, motorists, and travelers throughout the mid-continental United States. Locations can be conveniently found on major highways in Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri, Indiana, Arkansas, and Texas. Road Ranger locations offer clean facilities, CAT Scales, well-lit and spacious lots, top-tier gasoline, complimentary customer loyalty programs, dog parks, and a wide variety of high-quality hot food to go. In addition to these offerings, Ranger also provides a variety of quick-service restaurants including Ranger Kitchen, Dan’s Pizza, Tejas Tacos, Wendy’s, Subway, Church’s Chicken, Chester’s, Cinnabon, Dickie’s Barbecue Pit, McDonald’s, and Burger King. Road Ranger’s values are consistent from the store to corporate levels – to provide families and professional drivers highway hospitality, clean facilities, fresh quality food, and superior customer service.

About HAAS:

The Haas Factory Team is a NASCAR Cup and Xfinity program owned by Gene Haas, founder of Haas Automation. Starting in 2025, the team will feature Cole Custer driving the No. 41 Ford Mustang Dark Horse in the NASCAR Cup Series, while Sheldon Creed and Sam Mayer take on the Xfinity Series in the No. 00 and No. 41 Ford Mustangs, respectively. Based in Kannapolis, North Carolina, the Haas Factory Team reflects a commitment to performance and engineering excellence, carrying forward Gene Haas’s commitment to motorsports.

About Sheldon Creed:

Sheldon Creed is originally from El Cajon, California and is known for his diversity to drive anything with four wheels. Sheldon competed in the Stadium Super Trucks (SST) Series where he accumulated six wins in only twelve starts. In 2017 Creed competed in the Trans-Am Series, ARCA, K&N, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and the NASCAR Xfinity Series, totaling 28 different races with 8 different teams. Sheldon won the 2018 ARCA Racing Series Championship and competed full time in 2019 and 2020 with GMS Racing in the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series. In 2020 Sheldon won the NASCAR Gander Outdoors Truck Series Championship. Creed is joined the Haas Factory Team in 2025 where he will drive the No. 00 Ford Mustang in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

Riley Herbst rejoins Joe Gibbs Racing for four-race Xfinity deal in 2025

By
Andrew Kim
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Photo by Adam Lovelace for SpeedwayMedia.com.

Riley Herbst will be reuniting with Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) for a four-race NASCAR Xfinity Series deal in 2025, beginning this upcoming weekend at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas.

The 23-year-old Herbst from Las Vegas, Nevada, will be piloting JGR’s No. 19 Toyota Supra entry sponsored by Monster Energy at COTA. The news of Herbst’s part-time Xfinity deal comes as he is campaigning in his first full-time season in the Cup Series division with 23XI Racing. After notching back-to-back 17th-place finishes through the first two-scheduled events, he is currently ranked in 18th place in the 2025 driver’s standings and he leads Shane van Gisbergen in the Rookie-of-the-Year standings.

Herbst, who claimed the 2017 ARCA Menards Series Rookie-of-the-Year title, made his Xfinity Series debut with JGR at Iowa Speedway in June 2018, where he notched an impressive sixth-place result. He would then return for nine events in 2019, where he recorded three top-10 results, before he graduated to a full-time Xfinity campaign in JGR’s No. 18 Toyota entry for the 2020 season.

After notching a total of 17 top-10 results, qualifying for the 2020 Xfinity Playoffs and finishing in 12th place in the 2020 standings, Herbst transitioned from JGR to Stewart-Haas Racing to pilot the No. 98 Ford Mustang entry, beginning in 2021. Over his next three seasons, he accumulated his first two career poles, 23 top-five results, 50 top-10 results, 217 laps led, average-finishing results within the top-15 mark and two Playoff appearances in 2021 and 2022. Despite missing the Playoffs in 2023, the Las Vegas native notched his first career victory at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, his home track.

The 2024 Xfinity season was a breakout year for Herbst, who notched a total of two victories: Indianapolis Motor Speedway in July and the season-finale event at Phoenix Raceway in November. Despite being eliminated from the Playoffs following the Round of 12, he settled in a career-best seventh place in the final standings prior to his promotion to NASCAR’s premier series in 2025.

Through 175 current starts in the Xfinity Series division, Herbst has achieved three victories, two poles, 34 top-five results, 86 top-10 results, 506 laps led and an average-finishing result of 15.2. His current average-finishing rating through four Xfinity starts at COTA between 2021 to 2024 is 21.4, including a single top-10 result registered in 2023, as he strives to gain a competitive edge prior to his first Cup start at COTA this upcoming Sunday, March 2.

In 2025, Herbst is primed to become the fifth competitor to pilot JGR’s No. 19 “all-star” entry throughout the Xfinity schedule. Justin Bonsignore first piloted the entry during this year’s season-opening event at Daytona International Speedway while Aric Almirola drove the entry this past weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Both Bonsignore and Almirola are each slated to compete in eight additional events apiece. JGR Cup drivers Christopher Bell and Chase Briscoe are also scheduled to drive the No. 19 entry at Darlington Raceway in April and at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May, respectively. Seth Chavka will continue to serve as the entry’s crew chief.

The remainder of this year’s Xfinity Series schedule for Herbst and JGR’s driver lineup for the No. 19 entry remains to be determined.

Riley Herbst’s return to the NASCAR Xfinity Series division with Joe Gibbs Racing is scheduled to occur this upcoming Saturday, March 1, at Circuit of the Americas for the Focused Health 250. The event’s broadcast time is slated to commence at 2:30 p.m. ET on the CW Network.

Wright Motorsports Confirms Full Season Adelson Entry in VP Challenge SportsCar Challenge

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AUSTIN, Tex., (February 25, 2025) – After a dominant start to the VP Racing SportsCar Challenge season, Wright Motorsports has confirmed Adam Adelson will compete in the full 2025 championship, piloting the No. 24 Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) in the GTDX class. With back-to-back victories in the opening rounds at Daytona International Speedway, Adelson leads the championship standings heading into this weekend’s Rounds 3 and 4 at Circuit of The Americas (COTA).

“What an incredible start to the season Daytona was, both in VP Challenge and WeatherTech Sportscar Championship,” said Adelson “I’m really proud of what we were able to accomplish in the first two races in VP Challenge, and it was an honor to take home the inaugural wins of the GTDX class.”

Adelson delivered an impressive debut in the season opener, winning his class and finishing sixth overall in Race 1, then improving in Race 2 with another class win and a top-five overall finish. This year marks the launch of GTDX, a GT3-spec category introduced into what was previously a prototype and GT4-only series. The championship features silver- and bronze-rated drivers, competing in two 45-minute sprint races per event with no pit stops or driver changes. The three-class field consists of Le Mans Prototype 3 (P3), Grand Touring Daytona X (GTDX), and Grand Sport X (GSX).

Racing as part of the NASCAR Cup Series weekend, the VP Racing SportsCar Challenge field will tackle COTA’s shortened 2.3-mile course, rather than the full 3.426-mile circuit.

“Heading into COTA, I feel like we’re dealing with a lot of unknowns,” said Adelson. “I’m getting 45 kg of success ballast, and this is the first time I’m racing in a series with success ballast, so I’m really curious how that will affect my performance compared to my competitors. This is also the first time I’m racing the short layout at COTA, which is a track I’ve spent a lot of time on and really love, and I’m extremely curious how that’s going to affect setup philosophy and the overall raceability of the track. Regardless, I’m extremely confident in Wright Motorsports to give me the best possible chances of taking home more wins, and I can’t wait to keep up the momentum!”

With momentum on their side, Adelson and Wright Motorsports stand poised to take on the challenge headed into the next rounds of the championship and beyond. Both races take place on Saturday, March 1, with Race 1 at 8:40 AM CT and Race 2 at 5:00 PM CT. Fans can watch live on Peacock (domestically) and IMSA.tv/YouTube (internationally). For more information, visit imsa.com.

Wright Motorsports
Wright Motorsports is the premier Porsche race engineering facility in Ohio and a multi-series and international racing team known for superb car preparation, expert race strategy, and driver development. Located in Batavia, Ohio, it is owned and directed by John Wright, a certified Porsche factory-trained technician. As a crew chief John Wright has played a key role in winning eight driver and seven team championships in World Challenge, IMSA (ALMS) and the Grand-Am Rolex Series. Wright Motorsports won the team championship in Porsche GT3 Cup USA in 2012, 2013, and 2015, and went on to win the Pirelli World Challenge Overall, Sprint, Team, and Manufacturer’s titles in 2017. In 2020, the team captured the GT World Challenge America Am championship. In 2021, Wright Motorsports had a wildly successful season, capturing nine championships across their five racing efforts.

Meyer Shank Racing Ready to Kick Off 2025 INDYCAR Season in St. Pete

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Pataskala, Ohio (24 February 2025) – The anticipation is building as Meyer Shank Racing (MSR) gears up for the 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season on the streets of St. Petersburg. With a dynamic driver lineup and new-for-2025 technical partnership with Chip Ganassi Racing, MSR is set for a strong season-opener at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg this Sunday (12:00pm ET, FOX, SiriusXM Channel 218)

Returning to the No. 60 SiriusXM Honda is Swedish driver Felix Rosenqvist, who is poised to build on his momentum from his debut INDYCAR season with MSR in 2024. Rosenqvist got off to a fast start in last year’s St. Pete season opener, qualifying second in his first race with MSR. Rosenqvist went on to qualify in the top six, 10 times throughout the season including his sixth career pole position and MSR’s first on the streets of Long Beach. The Swede brought the No. 60 Honda to finish in the top 10 seven times.

This season Rosenqvist will look to build on his previous results and once again take on a team leadership role with MSR’s newest driver, Marcus Armstrong.

Armstrong will make his debut with MSR driving the No. 66 SiriusXM / Root Insurance Honda after competing with Chip Ganassi Racing the last two seasons. Armstrong showcased his potential as a rising star in the series with five top-ten finishes in his debut season in 2023 which saw him run in just the road course rounds. Armstrong scored his first career podium finish last year in Detroit and finished in the top five, five times over the course of his full-season campaign.

Meyer Shank Racing will begin its ninth season in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and fifth season running full-time in the series. MSR is coming off of its strongest season to date with the team qualifying in the top six, 16 times in 2024 and scoring its first-ever NTT INDYCAR SERIES pole position with Rosenqvist.

Meyer Shank Racing will also be heading into the season with a new technical partnership with Chip Ganassi Racing. Both teams have had a handful of tests – both road courses and ovals – working together and are eager to officially start the season off in tandem in St. Petersburg.

The 100-lap Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg will be broadcast live on FOX on Sunday, March 2nd starting at 12:00pm ET, with qualifying airing on FOX at 2:30pm ET on Saturday March 1st. Fans can also tune into live INDYCAR Radio coverage on SiriusXM Channel 218 and follow live updates on MSR social platforms.

Meyer Shank Racing Driver Quotes:

Felix Rosenqvist: “I am beyond excited to start the year, it’s been a very long off-season. We feel ready to start things in St. Petersburg and the new partnership with Ganassi has been working out really great. The No. 60 SiriusXM Honda is looking great, I love the new livery. And, this is the time when the talking stops and the flag drops.”

Marcus Armstrong: “I’m very happy to be heading to the first race of the year. I enjoy racing on street courses and St. Petersburg especially. Even though it’s my first race with the MSR crew, I feel comfortable and ready to start the season on the front foot. St Pete is always chaotic, so we’ll be trying to stay out of trouble and position ourselves well for the race.”

Ford Performance NASCAR – COTA Advance

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CIRCUIT OF THE AMERICAS

Saturday, March 1 — NASCAR Xfinity Series, 2:30 p.m. ET (CW)
Sunday, March 2 — NASCAR Cup Series, 3:30 p.m. ET (FOX)

A new course layout at Circuit of The Americas will greet drivers from the NASCAR Cup and NASCAR Xfinity Series this weekend as both will compete at the Austin facility for the fifth straight year. The course will now feature a 20-turn, 2.3-mile layout compared to the 3.41-mile Grand Prix circuit.

LEADING THE WAY

Ford Mustang Dark Horse drivers have done everything but win through the first two races of the NASCAR Cup Series season, and no category bears that out more than laps led. Nine Ford drivers have combined to lead 338-of-467 laps at Daytona and Atlanta (72%). Team Penske has been at the forefront of that domination with Joey Logano, Ryan Blaney and Austin Cindric combining to lead 125 at Daytona and 131 at Atlanta (55%). Cindric led the most laps in the Daytona 500 (59) while Logano topped all drivers in the Ambetter Health 400 (83). Overall, Ford led 143 laps in the 500 and 195 on Sunday at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

BLANEY STAYS IN POINTS LEAD

Ryan Blaney is one of only two Cup Series drivers to start the season with consecutive top 10 finishes. The Team Penske driver followed up a seventh-place finish in the Daytona 500 with a fourth this past weekend after starting from the pole. That continued a three-year run of domination in qualifying at AMS that has seen Ford sweep the front row for five straight events and have at least one Team Penske driver in those positions on each occasion. Blaney goes into this weekend’s race at Circuit of The Americas with a 12-point lead in the standings while Penske teammate Austin Cindric is fourth.

BUESCHER AT HOME ON THE ROAD

Chris Buescher has been one of the most consistent drivers on road courses over the past three seasons, registering 13 top-10 finishes in the last 16 events. Included in the streak is a win last year at Watkins Glen International, which marked his first on that style of track. He comes into this weekend’s event at COTA having posted eighth-place finishes in 2023 and 2024, and has an average finish of 12.5 in four starts.

FORD’S ACTIVE ROAD COURSE CUP WINNERS

There are three current drivers who have won a NASCAR Cup Series race on a road course with Ford. The most recent winner was Chris Buescher, who won at Watkins Glen International and extended his streak of at least one victory to three straight seasons.. Ryan Blaney got his first road course win in the inaugural event on the Charlotte Roval in 2018 while Joey Logano scored his Cup victory at Watkins Glen International in 2015, which completed a weekend sweep after he won the NASCAR Xfinity Series race one day earlier.

OTHER FORD ROAD COURSE WINNERS

Besides the drivers mentioned above, Ford has five other active Cup competitors who have won on a road course in either the NASCAR Xfinity or NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series. Brad Keselowski (Watkins Glen NXS with Ford, 2013); Austin Cindric (NXS wins with Ford at Watkins Glen, 2019; Mid-Ohio, 2019; Road America, 2020, Daytona Road Course, 2020; and Indianapolis Road Course, 2021); Todd Gilliland (Circuit of the Americas NCTS with Ford, 2021); Zane Smith (Circuit of the Americas NCTS with Ford, 2022 and 2023); and Cole Custer (Portland NXS with Ford, 2023).

FORD ROAD COURSE WINS

IN THE MODERN ERA (1972-Present)

Circuit of The Americas is one of nine road courses the NASCAR Cup Series has competed on in the modern era, joining Riverside International Raceway (1958-88), Watkins Glen International (1957-Present), Sonoma Raceway (1989-Present), Charlotte Motor Speedway (2018-Present), Daytona International Speedway (2020-2021), Road America (2021-2022), Indianapolis Motor Speedway (2021-23) and the Chicago Street Race (2023-Present). Ford has produced a total of 20 combined wins at those facilities from 1972-Present. Mark Martin leads the way with four victories, including three straight years at Watkins Glen, while Ricky Rudd, Marcos Ambrose and Geoffrey Bodine have two each.

AUSTIN CINDRIC: “I think it specializes the track a little bit more with making it smaller. Just from a numbers standpoint, when you reduce the number of corners on the racetrack the corners that exist now have a heightened importance, whereas there’s a corner I might not have sacrificed setup items on or passing zones that are now much more important because they’re a higher percentage of the lap. So, from a numbers standpoint it does change things. I can’t say with certainty what those corners are exactly going to be and how important they’re going to be until we get there. They’ve done some paving as well, so there’s gonna be a bit of a learning curve, but it’s definitely gonna change the race for sure.”

JOSH BERRY: “Selfishly, I like the changes to the course because last year I was honestly pretty solid with the majority that they left, so we’ve spent some time at Ford in the simulator getting acclimated to the new layout and working on things. I feel good going there. All you can do is just try to be as prepared as you can and I’m continuing to gain experience on the road courses, so, for me, I think we just want to go execute a solid race. We want to be more competitive than I was last year there with no mistakes. If we can keep the car facing the right way and keep it on the racetrack, we can have a solid day.”

A COTA NASCAR FIRST

Todd Gilliland became the first NASCAR driver to win a national series event at Circuit of The Americas when he captured what was then known as the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race in 2021. In a weekend that was hampered by rain, Gilliland was able to manage the mixed conditions of dry and wet pavement to win by nearly eight seconds. Gilliland, who registered his second series win that day, continues to look for his first NASCAR Cup Series victory this weekend in his fourth season driving for Front Row Motorsports.

BURTON BY HIMSELF

Who is the only driver in the NASCAR Xfinity Series to start the season with back-to-back top-10 finishes? If you answered Harrison Burton, give yourself a gold star. The 24-year-old native of Huntersville, NC, is in his first year with AM Racing and started the season with a sixth-place run at Daytona International Speedway. He was in the right place to avoid the last lap wreck at Atlanta ended up being Ford’s highest finisher in 10th. Burton comes into this weekend’s race at COTA sixth in the point standings.

MAYER PROVING TO BE A ROAD WARRIOR

Sam Mayer might be new to Ford Performance as he competes in his inaugural season with the Haas Factory Team, but he’s no stranger to winning on road courses. Of Mayer’s seven career NASCAR Xfinity Series victories, four have been on the road and they’ve all come in the past two seasons. His first career win came at Road America in 2023 and was quickly followed by victories at Watkins Glen and the Charlotte Roval, which he successfully defended last year.

FORD’S ALL-TIME CUP ROAD COURSE WINNERS

5 – Dan Gurney
4 – Mark Martin
2 – Fireball Roberts, Marvin Panch, Parnelli Jones, Ricky Rudd, and Marcos Ambrose
1 – Chuck Stevenson, Eddie Gray, Richard Petty, A.J. Foyt, Bobby Allison, Bill Elliott, Davey Allison, Geoffrey Bodine, Ernie Irvan, Rusty Wallace, Carl Edwards, Joey Logano, Kevin Harvick, Ryan Blaney, Michael McDowell, Chris Buescher

Donovan Strauss Joins Hettinger Racing’s Late Model Program

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From Sim to Reality, 19-Year-Old is Climbing the Racing Ladder

MOORESVILLE, N.C. (Feb. 25, 2025) – Donovan Strauss has accomplished a lot in a short period of time, yet the 19-year-old Philadelphia native is just getting started. In only four years, Strauss has advanced from sim racing and winning in the virtual world to driving pavement-pounding Late Model stock cars and chasing checkered flags in the real world.

In 2025, Strauss will campaign the full zMAX CARS Tour schedule with Hettinger Racing. The 15-race season kicks off this Saturday at New River All American Speedway in Jacksonville, North Carolina.

“The CARS Tour is the pinnacle of Late Model racing and it’s where I want to be. The racing is tough and the drivers are aggressive. If you can succeed on the CARS Tour, you’ve truly earned that success. I’m looking forward to putting in the effort and fulfilling all the potential that’s here at Hettinger Racing,” Strauss said.

For his debut with Hettinger Racing, Strauss will drive the No. 4 Liberty In a Can™ Chevrolet.

“Liberty In a Can is a THC seltzer out of Chattanooga, Tennessee, and they’ve been a partner of mine since the middle of last season. They’re thrilled about this opportunity because it allows us to grow together,” Strauss said. “Liberty In a Can is a strong supporter of the grassroots motorsports community and they’ll leverage this partnership to connect with passionate race fans across the Southeast. It’s a great way for both of us to earn some really good results.”

Strauss’ racing career began at age 14 via iRacing, a global racing simulation game. Virtual success made Strauss want to pursue tangible racing success, so he began driving Bandoleros in 2020 after a move to Marietta, Georgia. Competing in more than 25 races across Atlanta Motor Speedway, Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway and Cordele (Ga.) Motor Speedway, Strauss finished second in the national standings.

After only a year in Bandoleros, Strauss quickly grabbed the next rung on the racing ladder, stepping up to Legend Cars. From 2021 through 2023, he won track titles at Atlanta, Cordele and Lanier Raceway in Braselton, Georgia, securing the INEX Pro National Championship in 2023 with an impressive 18 victories.

By 2024, the time was right to move up to full-bodied stock cars. Strauss was all in, relocating to stock-car racing’s heartland, Mooresville, North Carolina. Once again, he made the most of his time, winning the NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series South Carolina Rookie-of-the-Year title thanks to a breakout victory Aug. 17 at Florence (S.C.) Motor Speedway. It was one of 12 top-five finishes in his 14 races at Florence, a schedule that was augmented by select CARS Tour events.

With 2025 bringing a full CARS Tour schedule to Strauss’ plate, he remains committed to the platform that sparked his racing career. This year will mark Strauss’ fourth consecutive season with Williams Esports, the gaming arm of Atlassian Williams Racing, the venerable F1 team founded by Sir Frank Williams. Strauss competes for the team in the eNASCAR Coca-Cola iRacing Series and he helped Williams Esports claim the 2024 team championship.

“Sim racing is how I got started. It’s what taught me the fundamentals of racing and how to prepare for a race. It’s a great platform that allows you to learn from the data that’s provided and then apply it to what you’re doing,” Strauss said. “That’s what everyone is doing in all forms of motorsports today and, for me, it’s just a natural part of my preparation. It’s something I can maximize, especially when it comes to competing at tracks that I haven’t been to yet.”

The CARS Tour is widely considered the nation’s premier Late Model touring series. The experience garnered on the short tracks of the CARS Tour allows drivers to make the next jump to ARCA, where they tackle superspeedways, road courses and dirt tracks in stock cars that once raced in the NASCAR Cup Series. That background serves as preparation for the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, which features a stock car chassis with a pickup truck body. It is NASCAR’s third-highest division, behind only the NASCAR Xfinity Series and the NASCAR Cup Series. Every current NASCAR Cup Series driver has matriculated through the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.

Hettinger Racing serves as a one-stop shop for drivers looking to compete in these stepping-stone divisions and advance to the NASCAR Xfinity Series and, ultimately, the top-tier NASCAR Cup Series.

“Our goal is to provide a consistent environment for drivers to gain experience, learn race craft, and effectively communicate to their crew about what their car is doing so they can maximize their track time,” said Chris Hettinger, a longtime and winning Late Model team owner from Dryden, Michigan, who began his racing career in the driver’s seat, earning victories in Midgets and Late Models before becoming a fulltime team owner. “Donovan has already proven to be an incredibly quick study. He’s got natural talent, and this is a place where he can really excel. We’re proud to have him as a part of our team.”

Strauss and his Hettinger Racing teammate, Aaron Donnelly, will take to New River All American Speedway on Thursday for an open test. A second test session greets CARS Tour drivers from 2-6 p.m. EST on Friday. Saturday’s docket begins with practice at 10:30 a.m. and qualifying at 4 p.m. The 125-lap feature race goes green at 8:30 p.m. with live coverage by FloRacing.

Walls of St. Petersburg Street Course Attempt to Tame Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup

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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (Feb, 24, 2025) – It’s been over a month since the opening two rounds of the Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup presented by Michelin at Daytona International Speedway. Rounds Three and Four may be in the same state, but the track couldn’t be more different as the Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup returns to the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg following a one-year absence.

This temporary street circuit that uses part of a commuter airport runway is a favorite for many drivers. The concrete walls framing the circuit leave no room for error, although these stout convertibles can still get away with a scrape of the wall here and there when accidents do happen at St. Pete, they often claim several cars as drivers find themselves unable to avoid incidents that they had nothing to do with.

Despite the challenges the multi-surface track creates, it also contributes to some amazing racing. Mazda MX-5 Cup drivers are known for making successful passes where no one else can and St. Petersburg is a prime example of that. Be prepared to witness passing zones in places where both common sense and physics say passing should not work.

No one knows that better than two-time MX-5 Cup Champion and 2022 St. Pete race winner Jared Thomas (No. 96 JTR Motorsports Engineering).

“Drivers love the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg because it’s America’s Monaco,” Thomas said. “It’s a great course that really tests the skills of the drivers, plus the fans and city really get behind the race and support it which makes for a great environment to race in!”

After winning Round Two at Daytona, Thomas comes into St. Pete leading the points as he chases an unprecedented third title. He is followed by a pair of rookies, Ethan Goulart (No. 29 Saito Motorsports Group) and Ren Messinger (No. 3 McCumbee McAleer Racing), foreshadowing a tremendous Rookie of the Year fight for 2025.

There are 13 rookies entered for Rounds Three and Four, almost all of whom have never raced at a street circuit period, let alone this 1.8-mile track in the heart of St. Petersburg. That’s more than a third of this 35-car field.

In typical MX-5 Cup fashion, expect the finish to be a drag race down the Albert Whitted Airport runway. St. Pete produced a memorable finish in 2023, when Connor Zilisch exited the final corner in the lead, but Gresham Wagner drafted past Zilisch to take the win by a stunning 0.021-second.

Many MX-5 Cup top performers were caught up in a multi-car incident in Race 2 at Daytona, leaving them farther down the points order than they are used to. This includes Tyler Gonzalez (No. 57 BSI Racing) who won Race 1 at Daytona, but only took home 10 points for his DNF in Race 2. Gonzalez will be one to watch this weekend. He’s shown multiple times that he is capable of winning at St. Pete, but has had the worst luck at this circuit.

This weekend is a chance for those who didn’t get the start to the season they wanted, to show what they’re capable of and chart a course for their 2025 season.

Watch both races live on the RACER and IMSA YouTube channels. Race 1 is slated for Saturday, March 1 at 4:25pm ET and Race 2 will take place Sunday, March 2 at 3:00pm ET.

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.

Hennessey Creates 850 HP SUPER VENOM® Mustang Celebrating the Company’s Founding in 1991

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  • SUPER VENOM® Mustang receives 850 horsepower output and 650 lb-ft torque
  • Exclusive Hennessey ‘VenomAero’ carbon fiber aerodynamic enhancements boost handling for peak performance on road and track
  • Production limited to 91 units globally to commemorate the year Hennessey was founded, 1991
  • Orders are now being taken by authorized Hennessey Ford dealers including: Galpin Ford, Ken Grody Ford, 5-Star Ford, Riddick-Brown Ford, Kunes Ford, Veterans Ford of Tampa, and Sarchione Ford

SEALY, Texas, Feb. 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Hennessey, the Texas-based hypercar manufacturer and high-performance vehicle creator, has revealed its new SUPER VENOM® Mustang featuring a wide range of performance, aerodynamic, and styling enhancements that create the ultimate Hennessey Mustang.

The Texas-based firm increase power of the factory 5.0L V8 engine by 70 percent boosting output from 500 bhp to 850 bhp alongside 55 percent higher torque – 650 lb-ft at 4,900 rpm. The SUPER VENOM® also features all-new bespoke ‘VenomAero’ carbon fiber performance kit that enhances handling and cooling to ensure Hennessey’s Mustang is the world’s most capable high-performance muscle car.

John Hennessey, company Founder, and CEO: “Over the years we have only branded our most potent cars with our ‘Venom’ trademark: Venom Vipers, Venom GT and most recently our Venom F5. We are excited to unveil our SUPER VENOM Mustang as it offers supercar performance and can now be ordered directly from Ford dealers with a full warranty! Further, we are excited to commemorate our company’s founding in 1991 by offering only 91 units and a unique ’91 Icon’ livery.”

Performance enhancements see Hennessey add a high-flow air induction system, high-performance supercharger, upgraded fuel injectors and fuel pump, plus Hennessey’s engine management system to boost the Coyote 5.0-liter V8 engine’s power to 850 bhp. The in-house designed and developed, fully carbon fiber ‘VenomAero’ kit consists of a more aggressive front splitter, a functional front hood vent, side skirts, functional front fender louvers, a rear deck lid with an integrated duck bill, and a tall, fixed, rear track wing.

Available to order directly through authorized Ford dealers as well as via Hennessey direct, the SUPER VENOM Dark Horse is priced at $163,950 while the SUPER VENOM GT starts at $149,950. Both builds benefit from the full Ford factory warranty, plus a three year / 36,000-mile Hennessey limited warranty for absolute peace of mind.

Brian Jones, Hennessey VP of Engineering: “The Hennessey VenomAero track pack enhancements deliver improved handling and grip when driving the SUPER VENOM Mustang hard on road or track. We’ve also achieved better cooling, and added a suite of aerodynamic devices to ensure our version of the Mustang delivers at the pinnacle of performance.”

Ford’s stock Dark Horse has 500 bhp and can hit 60 mph from stationary in 3.7 seconds, in 10-speed auto form. Hennessey’s uprated SUPER VENOM Mustang achieves the same speed in just 3.2 seconds. The standard Dark Horse covers the ¼ mile in 12 seconds at 118.4 mph. Hennessey betters this benchmark too, with the auto SUPER VENOM Mustang covering the same distance in 10.9 seconds at 133 mph.

Ordering the complete package direct from an authorized Ford dealer or Hennessey, customers can opt for three bespoke liveries – available in black, silver, and red – to pair with the factory paint color. The SUPER VENOM’s ‘91 Icon Livery – a nod to the founding year of Hennessey Performance – adds visual distinctiveness, enhanced further by 20-inch lightweight performance wheels, Hennessey and SUPER VENOM badging, plus the Hennessey signature logo ghosted into the rear wing.

Nathan Malinick, Hennessey Director of Design: “We worked hard to celebrate the esteemed Mustang bloodline with the design of our SUPER VENOM. With a unique interior and track-focused enhancements outside we recognize the iconic muscle car’s sporting heritage alongside that of Hennessey Performance.”

Hennessey’s in-house design team also transformed the interior, with bespoke Hennessey leather and Alcantara seats available in blue or black custom styles. Compatible with the comfort or Recaro sports seats, the unique Hennessey designs also feature an embossed Hennessey signature logo. Elsewhere, the team retrim the center console and the dash includes a tailor-made plaque detailing each SUPER VENOM Mustang’s individual serial number.

The SUPER VENOM Mustang package is available on both the GT coupe and Dark Horse platform in either 10-speed automatic or 6-speed manual form. Both variants are backed by the Ford factory warranty and Hennessey’s comprehensive 3-year / 36,000-mile limited warranty. Production of the new model is already underway at Hennessey’s Sealy, Texas HQ. Interested parties can find out more and place orders for global shipping through authorized Ford retailers (including: Galpin Ford, Ken Grody Ford, 5-Star Ford, Riddick-Brown Ford, Kunes Ford of Delevan, Veterans Ford of Tampa, and Sarchione Ford), or with Hennessey directly at HennesseyPerformance.com, or by calling +1.979.885.1300.

HENNESSEY SUPER VENOM® SPECIFICATIONS

Power
850 bhp @ 7,250 rpm
650 lb-ft Torque @ 4,900 rpm
 
Powertrain
High-Performance Supercharger System
High-Flow Air Induction Upgrade
Upgraded Fuel Injectors
Upgraded Fuel Pump
HPE Engine Management Calibration
Carbon Fiber Engine Trim
 
VenomAero
Carbon Fiber Front Splitter
Carbon Fiber Active Hood Vent
Carbon Fiber Functional Fender Louvers
Carbon Fiber Side Skirts
Carbon Fiber Rear Deck Lid
Carbon Fiber Lip Spoiler
Carbon Fiber Goose-Neck Track Wing
 
Exterior
Carbon Fiber Driver and Passenger Side Mirror Caps
20-Inch Lightweight Performance Wheels
Raised Hennessey ‘H’ Fender Badges
Hennessey Super Venom ‘91 Icon Livery
Hennessey Signature Script Trunk Lid Badging
 
Interior
Full Hennessey Leather and Alcantara Interior Upgrade
Hennessey Signature Logo Embossed in Driver and Passenger Backrest
Tailor-Made Hennessey Dash Plaque
Hennessey All-Weather Front Floor Mats
 
Other
Professional Installation
Chassis Dyno Tuning and Road Testing
Serial-Numbered Engine Plaque
3-Year / 36,000-Mile Limited Warranty
 
PRICE
$163,950

Package prices and contents are subject to change. Contact Hennessey Performance for details.

About Hennessey Performance
Based in Sealy, Texas, Hennessey comprises Hennessey Special Vehicles (HSV), Hennessey Performance (HPE), and Tuner School. The company has re-engineered more than 15,000 vehicles for performance enthusiasts worldwide to deliver unparalleled driving thrills. Alongside modifying a diverse range of sports and muscle cars since 1991, the company also applies its high-performance expertise to trucks and SUVs.

Every Hennessey product is dyno-proven, fully track-tested, street-legal, and warrantied. Customers can choose from road-ready performance-enhanced vehicles by Hennessey from various brands, including Cadillac, Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, GMC, Jeep, and Ram, all benefitting from a host of high-performance upgrades.

With its own test track, engineering curriculum for aspiring tuners, 100 team members, and capacity to simultaneously work on around 50 vehicles, Hennessey Performance is one of the world’s leading specialist vehicle engineering companies. HennesseyPerformance.com

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