The RAFA Racing Team enters a busy week ahead with five drivers doing battle at two high-profile venues as our IMSA VP Sportscar Challenge and Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup squads prepare for rounds three and four of their respective championships.
Our VP Challenge combination of Daytona double winner Kiko Porto and Ian Porter, plus LMP3 racer Matthew Dicken, will be in action at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, with the championship racing on the support program for the third round of the NASCAR Cup Series.
On the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida, Caroline Candas and Maite Caceres will contest rounds three and four of the MX-5 series with RAFA Racing Team by MMR at the opening round of the NTT IndyCar Series.
For Porto, Porter and Dicken, the COTA event will be a new experience with the NASCAR weekend using the shorter 2.3-mile National circuit. After the esses, the circuit takes a left-hand turn at turn six and rejoins the longer Formula 1 circuit near the end of the back straight.
Porto heads to Texas after taking his pair of wins at the Roar before the 24 weekend in Daytona, while Porter will be chasing more trophies after clinching a third-place podium finish in round two and earning the victory in the Bronze driver title chase.
In the LMP3 class, Matthew Dicken will be out to repeat his podium performance from round two at Daytona.
In St. Petersburg, Candas and Caceres will be looking to bounce back after the dramatic crash at the start of round two at Daytona. After two competitors at the front of the pack crashed heavily at the green flag, a NASCAR-style “big one” followed, with Caceres eliminated immediately and Candas heading to the pit lane for repairs.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE (All times Eastern)
Whelen Mazda MX-5 Cup – Streets of St. Petersburg IMSA VP Sportscar Challenge – Circuit of The Americas
Friday, February 28 10:00: MX-5 Practice 1 1:00: VP Challenge Practice 1 12:20: MX-5 Practice 2 3:00: VP Challenge Practice 2 7:30: VP Challenge Qualifying
Saturday, March 1 8:05: MX-5 Qualifying 9:40: VP Challenge Race 1 4:25: MX-5 Race 1 6:00: VP Challenge Race 2
Vanier Finished Third in the Championship During His Rookie Season with Three Wins
LOVELAND, Colorado (February 24, 2025) – On the heels of three wins during his rookie season in Porsche Carrera Cup North America, Zachary Vanier will return to JDX Racing in 2025 with an eye on the full-season championship prize.
A season ago, Vanier became the first driver to win in both Porsche Sprint Challenge North America and Porsche Carrera Cup North America with a win on the street circuit at the Miami Grand Prix. He followed that up with wins at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta and Circuit of the Americas, finishing third in the point race.
The successful 2024 season by the 21-year-old Canadian helped JDX Racing to second in the team championship. Vanier is the fourth driver announced in advance of the 2025 Carrera Cup Season for JDX Racing, following the earlier signings of Sabré Cook, Madeline Stewart and Paul Bocuse.
“I’m very excited to be returning back to JDX Racing for my sophomore season in Carrera Cup North America for the 2025 season,” Vanier said. “I feel like we ended the 2024 season on a strong and positive note which gives us a really good foundation to start with, entering the season ahead. The momentum that it gives us is also really important to build on since the championship always provides such a high level of competition and aggressiveness, I’m sure this will be a trend this year as well.”
In addition to third place overall, Vanier was named the top Junior Driver in the standings. He and his in the EBOOST Porsche Junior program again during the 2025 season.
“Zachary showed a lot of poise for a young driver last year,” JDX Racing Team Principal Jeremy Dale said. “He comes into the 2025 season with a laser beam focus on all the elements required to be a championship contender, He is leaving no stone unturned.”
Vanier and the JDX Racing team begin their title hunt at Sebring International Raceway, first with the official Porsche Carrera Cup North America test in early March and then the doubleheader season opener just days later.
“Having all this familiarity within the team is very motivating and should make for a good atmosphere within the team, hopefully leading us to a championship come October,” Vanier said. “All things considered, there isn’t anything new for me this year, and that gives me a significant amount of confidence and motivation to utilize all the experience the team has. We want to become champions, we want to be in that topic of conversation, so I’m looking to be that individual for JDX Racing who’s able to get it done for them. I can’t thank Jeremy and Harrison enough for having the amount of belief and expectation they do. It was a goal of mine to return to the team for 2025 so I’m glad we accomplished that together and hope to provide everything I’m able to for them and everyone involved.”
Vanier will compete this season with partners Don’s Pizza, Technica Mining, Sofvie, Anmar, Dakins Design, Byers Imports, Porsche Columbus, Renier Construction, New Point Developments, Hanley Holdings Inc, Rainmaker, Montway Auto Transport, Ship.cars and NIN Transportation.
JDX Racing has been a stalwart of Porsche Carrera Cup North America since its inception in 2021, and in the Porsche GT3 Cup championship prior to that. The team claimed the driver’s championship with Parker Thompson in 2022 and has been a multi-time winner in each season of the championship.
Each round of the Porsche Carrera Cup North America season is available live, through the subscription streaming service Peacock as well as IMSA.tv, and IMSA’s YouTube Channel.
2025 Porsche Carrera Cup North America Season Schedule
March 12 – 15, Sebring International Raceway, Sebring, FL
May 2 – 4, Miami International Autodrome, Miami, FL
June 13 – 15, Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, Montreal, Canada
June 19 – 22, Watkins Glen International, Watkins Glen, NY
July 31 – August 2, Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI
September 19 – 21, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indianapolis, IN
October 8 – 11, Road Atlanta, Braselton, GA
October 17 – 19, Circuit of the Americas, Austin, TX
About JDX Racing:
Founded in 2008 and based outside of Denver, CO, JDX Racing represents the very best in professional motorsports. Competing in the IMSA sports car series, JDX Racing campaigns cars in events throughout North America. JDX Racing features world-class drivers, outstanding crew members and dynamic marketers from Champ Car, IndyCar, NASCAR, ALMS and the Champ Car Atlantic Championship series. For more information, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/jdxracing, on Twitter @JDXRACING and on Instagram @jdxracing.
Noah Gragson | Todd Gilliland | Zane Smith Atlanta Motor Speedway Race Report
Ambetter Health 400 Date: February 23rd, 2025 Event: Race 3 of 38 Series: NASCAR Cup Series Location: Atlanta Motor Speedway (1.5-miles) Length of Race: 266 Laps over three hours, 27 minutes, and 37 seconds.
In just his third start of the season with FRM, Zane Smith started within the top 10 for Sunday’s event. Smith struggled with the handling of his Ford Mustang Dark Horse in traffic, falling out of the top 10 and finishing 23rd in Stage One. In Stage Two, Smith suffered damage on lap 184 but was able to climb his way back to the top 25 to finish 21st. Smith fought his way back to the top 15, crossing the Start/Finish line in the 11th position.
“Pretty solid finish for as frustrating of a day we had,” said Smith “The City of Refuge Ford Mustang Dark Horse was really fast, just had a hard time in traffic and we were just able to fight all day, keep it in one piece, and almost bring home a top 10 out of it. Good momentum to move forward with.”
Todd Gilliland qualified within the top five, posting a fifth-place starting spot on the grid, his first of the season. Gilliland controlled the field in Stage One, leading three laps and earning stage points, finishing seventh at the end of the stage.
Gilliland again controlled the race in Stage Two, competing within the top three and leading seven laps. The caution was thrown for debris on lap 134 after Gilliland blew a tire, forcing him down pit road. Gilliland was able to keep his Ford Mustang off the wall to avoid further damage.
Gilliland drove his way back through the field, finishing Stage Two in the 15th position. Gilliland stayed within the top 15 to finish the race in the 15th position.
“Races like this are always frustrating,” said Gilliland. “We brought a fast Aaron’s Rent to Own Ford Mustang Dark Horse, but after we blew that tire, we just weren’t able to get back up front. I’m still proud of this No. 34 group, though. We put on a show and showed everyone that we’re able to compete upfront. A big thank you to Aaron’s for showing up in full force. It was awesome to lead some laps and be in contention with the “Dream Machine” in Aaron’s first race back.”
Noah Gragson posted his first top 10 qualifying result of 2025, starting 10th in Sunday’s race at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. Throughout the race, Gragson was able to maintain position within the top 10 and top 15, even earning a valuable stage point in Stage Two, ending the stage in the 10th position.
On lap 184, Gragson was collected in an on-track accident with another competitor. Crew Chief Drew Blickensderfer and the No. 4 made attempted to make repairs to Gragson’s Ford Mustang Dark Horse but ultimately retired from the race.
“We started the weekend off strong by qualifying in the top 10, got a stage point, but, like last week, got caught up in a wreck,” said Gragson. “I saw the 99 get turned through the trioval and I don’t know if he was coming back up or if I clipped him with the left-rear, but I had a lot of left-rear damage and couldn’t continue. The team tried to get me back out there, but there was too much damage.”
ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS
Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization in the NASCAR Cup and Craftsman Truck Series. The team is the 2021 Daytona 500 and 2022 Craftsman Truck Series champions. The team was founded in 2004 and is owned by successful entrepreneur, Bob Jenkins. FRM fields the No. 4, No. 34, and the No. 38 NASCAR Cup Series teams along with the No. 34 and No. 38 Craftsman Truck Series teams from its Mooresville, N.C. headquarters. Visit teamfrm.com and follow FRM on social media: Twitter at @Team_FRM, Instagram at @team_frm and Facebook at facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.
#21: Josh Berry, Wood Brothers Racing, Motorcraft / Quick Lane Ford Mustang, #23: Bubba Wallace, 23XI Racing, Columbia Sportswear Company Toyota Camry
Eddie Wood said it best in describing the performance of Josh Berry and the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane team in Sunday’s Ambetter Health 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
“It was a great day with a not-so-great ending,” Wood said.
Indeed, Berry and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane team were strong from start to finish but were swept up in a last-lap crash that relegated them to a 25th-place finish. Berry started third and ran in the top three for much of Sunday’s race. He took the lead for the first time on Lap 33 and led six more times for a total of 56 laps. He also won the first Stage, collecting a Playoff point and 10 Stage points.
Berry’s win in the first Stage, a 60-lap, caution-free run, was the second of his career and his first since joining the Wood Brothers team.
Berry dropped out of the top five at times in the second Stage, a 100-lapper, but remained in the top 10. The Motorcraft/Quick Lane team opted to pit from 10th place with five laps remaining in the Stage, a move that allowed him to restart the final segment of the race from sixth place. He retook the lead on Lap 200 and led on three more occasions for a total of 25 laps in the final Stage.
As the laps wound down, Berry and fellow Ford driver Austin Cindric ran nose to tail at the head of the pack for nearly 10 laps, but just as Berry dropped back a couple of spots, Cindric was involved in a multi-car wreck that sent the race into Overtime. Berry lined up fifth for the two-lap dash to the checkered flag, but the last-lap wreck left him 25th at the finish.
“You really can’t feel too bad about it,” Wood said. “Josh and (crew chief) Miles Stanley did a great job all day. I feel really good about where our race team is at this point.”
Berry echoed the same sentiments in his post-race comments to reporters at the track.
“We had a really fast car,” he said. “We were able to stay aggressive, stay on the offense, stay up front. I feel that I am in a situation now where I can succeed.”
Berry said he obviously didn’t get the finish he and the team deserved, but he was proud of putting the No. 21 Mustang Dark Horse at the front of the pack.
“Honestly it was a lot of fun, but it was just crazy – a lot of aggressive moves racing there at the end,” he said, adding that the craziest part was at the last of the race. “The [No.] 77 threw the [No.] 1 out of line, and I kind of pushed him through the middle. Then we just got squeezed together once into [Turn] One and then again off [Turn] Two. We all just ran out of room there. It’s just disappointing.”
Berry, Stanley and the Wood Brothers team now turn their attention to road-course racing and next week’s EchoPark Texas Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.
About Motorcraft® Motorcraft offers a complete line of replacement parts that are recommended by Ford Motor Company. From routine maintenance to under hood repairs, Motorcraft parts offer value with high quality and the right fit at competitive prices. Motorcraft parts are available nationwide at Ford Dealers and Lincoln Retailers, independent distributors and automotive-parts retailers, and are backed by the Service Parts Limited Warranty* of Ford Motor Company. For more information, visit www.motorcraft.com. *See your dealer for limited-warranty details.
About Quick Lane® Tire & Auto Center Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center offers extraordinary service for routine maintenance, serving all vehicle makes and models. Quick Lane provides a full menu of automotive services, including tires, oil change and maintenance, brakes, batteries, alternator and electrical system, air conditioning system, cooling system, transmission service, suspension and steering, wheel alignment, belts and hoses, lamps and bulbs and wiper blades plus a thorough vehicle checkup report. Service is performed by expert technicians while you wait at any of nearly 800 locations in the U.S., with evening and weekend hours available and no appointment necessary. For more information about Quick Lane, please visit www.quicklane.com. *See your dealer for limited-warranty details.”
About Ford Motor Company Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan, committed to helping build a better world, where every person is free to move and pursue their dreams. The company’s Ford+ plan for growth and value creation combines existing strengths, new capabilities and always-on relationships with customers to enrich experiences for customers and deepen their loyalty. Ford develops and delivers innovative, must-have Ford trucks, sport utility vehicles, commercial vans and cars and Lincoln luxury vehicles, along with connected services. The company does that through three customer-centered business segments: Ford Blue, engineering iconic gas-powered and hybrid vehicles; Ford Model e, inventing breakthrough EVs along with embedded software that defines exceptional digital experiences for all customers; and Ford Pro, helping commercial customers transform and expand their businesses with vehicles and services tailored to their needs. Additionally, Ford is pursuing mobility solutions through Ford Next, and provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. Ford employs about 177,000 people worldwide. More information about the company and its products and services is available at corporate.ford.com.
About Ford Performance Ford Performance is based in Dearborn, Mich. It is responsible for Ford’s performance vehicle development and major racing operations globally, including NASCAR, IMSA, SRO British GT, FIA World Rally Championship, Supercars Championship, World of Outlaws, Ultra4, SCORE-International, FIA Rally-Raid, Formula Drift, NHRA, Rebelle Rally, Thailand Super Series and our latest commitment in Formula 1 with RedBull Ford Powertrains. Ford Performance also maintains a constantly evolving fleet of electric performance demonstrators to showcase the limits of electrification technology. In addition, the organization also oversees the development of Ford’s racing engines, as well as the outreach programs with all Ford Clubs and Ford enthusiasts. For more information regarding Ford racing’s activities, please visit Performance.Ford.com or follow @FordPerformance on Facebook, Instagram, X, Threads, TikTok and YouTube.
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.
Strong Cars, Tough Results for RFK Racing in Atlanta FINISHES: Preece 19th, Buescher 30th, Keselowski 39th
Hampton, GA (February 23, 2025) — Roush Fenway Keselowski (RFK) Racing entered Sunday’s race at Atlanta Motor Speedway with all three cars qualifying in the top 11, sparking high hopes for a strong finish. The team’s early speed was undeniable, but unfortunate circumstances hindered their results. Chris Buescher and Brad Keselowski were each caught in unavoidable incidents, resulting in 30th- and 39th-place finishes, respectively. Despite battling handling issues late in the race, Ryan Preece fought through adversity to secure a solid 19th-place finish, showcasing his determination and resilience.
6 Brad Keselowski – RECAP
Brad Keselowski’s BuildSubmarines.com Ford was making a strong charge toward the front in the closing laps of Stage 2 when an unavoidable collision with Chase Elliott ended his race. Keselowski, racing hard through the field, had nowhere to go when Elliott slammed into the outside wall, blocking the lane the #6 car was charging through. The damage left Keselowski with a 39th-place finish.
“Somebody got into the 9 car and put him into the fence off of turn four. I saw it and lifted for that but he seemed to regroup and was fine. As soon as I went to take off again he blew a right rear or broke a toe link and hooked left right in front of us. So, we hit him trying not to hit him and broke a radiator. That was the end of our day,” Keselowski said.
Up until that point, Keselowski showed the strength of his car, blending speed and handling to aggressively attack Atlanta Motor Speedway. He showcased his versatility by working both the bottom and top lanes. Keselowski’s performance was especially impressive as he battled back from a pit road penalty, moving from the rear of the field into the top 10. His comeback was halted on Lap 151 when the incident caused radiator damage.
Keselowski’s strong qualifying performance, posting the 9th-fastest speed, set the stage for a promising race.
“I’m excited about some of the speed and promise we showed, we just have to get the result,” added Keselowski”
17 Chris Buescher – RECAP
Despite a strong performance in his Fastenal Ford and running near the leaders in the later laps, Chris Buescher’s race took a tough turn with a crash that resulted in a 30th-place finish. On Lap 206, Buescher was caught in the middle as the outside and inside lanes converged, forcing him into a spin and into further contact with Alex Bowman.
“The 19 (Chase Briscoe) got in the fence and one car was in front of us and he pulled down and I was going around him and following him through that same gap and it just closed up,” said Buescher. “I tried to back out of it hard and it just wasn’t enough.”
The #17 team’s determination shone through as they worked tirelessly to repair the damage, getting the car back on track to collect valuable points that could make a difference later in the season. Throughout the day, the team displayed incredible work ethic, constantly improving the car’s performance. Starting 8th, Buescher battled a tight handling condition early, but Crew Chief Scott Graves made crucial adjustments during pit stops, revitalizing the car. By Stage 3, Buescher was back in the hunt, restarting 8th and quickly climbing into the top 5. While a promising finish seemed within reach, the late-race incident on Lap 206 ultimately thwarted his efforts.
“We got the car pretty good there for the last stage and got our track position back,” said Buescher. “The team did a good job and gave me something that was pretty good.”
60 Ryan Preece – RECAP
Ryan Preece showed no shortage of aggression on Sunday at Atlanta Motor Speedway. His hard-charging style was on full display as he navigated through thick packs of traffic, steadily making his way toward the front. With 40 laps remaining, Preece’s Kroger/Gevalia/Entenmann’s Ford was running inside the top 10.
Although Preece lost track position late in the race as the car became aero-tight, he never stopped battling, ultimately finishing 19th despite getting damage during a last lap incident. Throughout the afternoon, he skillfully adjusted his lines and expertly positioned his car to overcome the tight handling.
Preece came into the race with the 11th-fastest qualifying time, setting the stage for a strong performance, which he delivered with determination despite the challenges.
“It was just tough. We were really good up top but it was tough to make the middle work and that’s where you needed to be to make runs,” said Preece. “It would’ve been nice to not have been in that one there on the last lap. I’m looking forward to COTA and getting away from superspeedway style racing and have a good run.”
Up Next Circuit of The Americas (Austin, TX): Sunday, March 2, 2025 @ 3:30pm ET on FOX Sports
About RFK Racing RFK Racing, in its 38th season in 2025, features an ownership lineup pairing one of the sport’s most iconic names, Jack Roush, with NASCAR Champion Brad Keselowski and Fenway Sports Group owner John Henry. Roush initially founded the team in 1988, and it has since become one of the most successful racing operations in the world, propelling him to be the first NASCAR owner to amass 300 wins and capture eight championships, including back-to-back NASCAR Cup titles in 2003 and 2004. Keselowski, a former owner in the NASCAR Truck Series, is the 2012 NASCAR Cup Series Champion. In 2007, Roush partnered with Henry, who also owns Major League Baseball’s Boston Red Sox, English Premier League’s Liverpool F.C., and the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins, to form Roush Fenway Racing. Off the track, RFK is a leader and proven winner in NASCAR marketing solutions, having produced multiple award-winning social media, digital content, and experiential marketing campaigns. Visit rfkracing.com and follow the team on all social platforms @rfkracing.
RACE RUNDOWN: Austin Cindric was officially credited with a 28th-place finish Sunday evening at Atlanta Motor Speedway, a result that doesn’t reflect the commanding performance he and his Team Penske teammates displayed throughout the Ambetter Health 400. For the second consecutive week, Cindric secured a front-row starting position as Ford Performance continued its dominant qualifying streak at Atlanta, locking out nine of the top 10 starting spots on the grid. Wasting no time at the drop of the green flag, Cindric powered to the lead and controlled much of the opening stage until Ford teammate Josh Berry surged ahead to claim the Stage 1 victory, with Cindric close behind in second. Under caution, Cindric relayed to his Menards/Delta team that his No. 2 Ford Mustang was a bit snug and came to pit road for four tires, fuel and an air pressure adjustment. Restarting third behind teammate Joey Logano, The No. 2 team conducted a fuel-only stop on Lap 81 and remained a staple among the frontrunners as multiple cautions slowed the field throughout the second stage. As the pack intensified in the closing laps of Stage 2, Cindric slipped outside the top five and crossed the line ninth, adding more stage points to his tally. With handling feedback similar to his earlier reports, he returned to pit road under the stage break for a four-tire service stop and restarted 26th as numerous competitors had pitted under the previous caution. Undeterred, the Ohio native sliced through the tightly bunched field, charging back into the top 10 by Lap 178. As the laps wound down, the Team Penske and Wood Brothers Racing contingent remained a dominant force at the front, combining to lead over 180 of the race’s 266 laps. However, a late-race incident in the closing laps derailed Cindric’s bid for a strong finish, collecting his No. 2 machine in the melee. Despite the unfortunate result, Cindric’s performance – leading 47 laps and showcasing Team Penske’s collective strength – underscored the speed and execution that defined the night.
CINDRIC’S THOUGHTS: “It was unfortunate. As a team, as Fords, we had the best cars here this weekend. We put ourselves into position to win the race and got used up and into the fence and didn’t win the race. It’s a shame. Two weeks in a row I feel like we have had the car to beat and haven’t done it. One way or another it is disappointing.”
RYAN BLANEY No. 12 BODYARMOR ZERO SUGAR FORD MUSTANG
RACE RUNDOWN: Ryan Blaney rallied back from a late-race spin to come away with a fourth-place finish Sunday night at Atlanta Motor Speedway, marking his third-straight top-five and sixth-consecutive top-10 result at the 1.5 mile track. After earning his 11th-career Cup Series pole Saturday afternoon, Blaney’s BODYARMOR Zero Sugar Ford led the field to green in the 400-mile event as he endured some handling issues early on en route to an eighth-place finish in Stage 1. Several cautions throughout the second segment varied strategies throughout the field as Blaney worked his way through two and three-wide battles before ultimately crossing the line 12th in Stage 2. Following a four tire stop under caution, Blaney charged his way back to the front of the field using the low lane before taking the lead with 37 laps to go. However, 10 laps later, Blaney was on the wrong end of a poorly-timed push from the No. 77 at the entrance of turn one, sending the No. 12 for a spin on the apron to bring out the caution. The 12 team serviced the BODYARMOR Zero Sugar Ford with four fresh tires before Blaney restarted from the tail end of the field, marking the start of a quick surge through the field in the closing laps. Blaney worked his way back into the top-10 with eight laps to go before ultimately taking the checkered flag fourth under caution.
BLANEY’S THOUGHTS: “It was a good comeback. I just fell back from getting spun there and I was able to pick our way through and ended up scrounging a good finish out of it. It was a little bit of a struggle getting to the front after I lost some track position in the first and second stage, and then we got spun by the 77 when I finally got track position and we were able to make it back up and run forward, so it was an up and down day, that’s for sure. I’m happy we were able to make a recovery.”
RACE RUNDOWN: Joey Logano led a race-high 83 laps in a 12th-place finish Sunday afternoon at Atlanta Motor Speedway. After taking the green flag from the outside of row two, Logano challenged for the lead early on in the 400-mile event while battling a lack of grip throughout the opening run of the day, ultimately resulting in a 10th-place finish in Stage 1. The 22 crew’s first stop of the day resulted in Logano winning the race off pit road as he went on to control the race for the majority of the second stage. A caution with 10 laps remaining in the stage brought the field back together for a four-lap shootout as Logano forced a three-wide battle coming to the green-and-white checkered flag, but settled for third in the running order in Stage 2. Following a four tire stop and a round of adjustments prior to the final run of the day, Logano navigated through three-wide battles in the middle of the pack as he climbed his way back up the leaderboard with the laps ticking off. Logano raced his way back into the top-five by lap 200, but the handling of the Shell-Pennzoil Ford in traffic plagued his charge to the front. A caution with three to go set up an overtime restart where Logano’s momentum was halted on the final lap, as the No. 21 was turned in front of him on the backstretch and was scored 12th at the time of the caution. Logano’s 83 laps led Sunday increases his career total to 1,168 laps led at drafting tracks, marking the most among active drivers after surpassing Denny Hamlin’s previous mark of 1,152.
LOGANO’S THOUGHTS: “It was just challenging all day. We had a really fast car and when we were up front we could control it really well. When we had a couple Fords up front it was domination and then when I got in the back I didn’t handle well enough. It just cost us too much back there and I couldn’t move my way back up. Every time I got a gap it just wasn’t good enough to get back up there handling-wise, so the car was fast but we just needed more steering.”
The NASCAR Cup Series travels to Austin, Texas, for its next stop at Circuit of the Americas. The race will be broadcast live Sunday, March 2 at 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX with in-car camera angles available all race long through MAX Driver Cam.
Custer and Mayer Caught Up in Late-Lap Incidents at AMS
HAMPTON, GA (Feb. 23, 2025) – Despite a final-lap crash, Sheldon Creed muscled his way to the line for a 14th-place finish in the Xfinity race at Atlanta Motor Speedway to lead Haas Factory Team. Both Sam Mayer and Cole Custer finished 36th in the Xfinity and Cup races, respectively.
Cup Series
Custer fired off 23rd, but lost the draft from the pack early in the run and drifted back to the 33rd position. A caution-free first stage saw the No. 41 car cross the line in 34th place, before a quick stop gained him five spots on pit road to begin the second stage.
The 41 team continued to excel on pit road, as he worked his way all the way up to 26th following an efficient fuel-only stop. Custer’s 3D Systems Ford Mustang held on for a 29th-place finish at the end of stage two, before a hard wreck on lap 184 ended his day prematurely.
“Everybody did a great job on our interior stuff, so happy that we’re all okay, but I’m just disappointed,” Custer said. “I hate it for 3D Systems and everybody at the shop. We struggled a little bit, but to get caught up in a wreck just stinks.”
Xfinity Series
Both drivers earned points in the opening stage, as Mayer started fifth and battled for the lead with Austin Hill before a quick caution was thrown just six laps in. He remained up front across the first 45 laps, and finished in third after briefly making a play for the lead at the end. Meanwhile, Creed steadily moved up from 17th to 10th, which is the last position that grants points at the stage end.
The Haas Factory Team Ford Mustangs each took four tires, and restarted inside the top-six at the beginning of the second stage.
A caution-free second stage saw Mayer and Creed ride bumper-to-bumper around the now Superspeedway until lap 83. They manuvered their way up to the front with seven laps to go in the stage, as Mayer once again battled with Hill for the top spot. However, he was forced to settle for a second-place finish with Creed following suit in third.
The final run of the afternoon began with both Fords restarting inside the first four rows and just 65 laps to go in the race.
However, an unfortunate end to the race saw Mayer involved in an incident with 21 laps remaining that knocked him out of the race, and Creed caught up in a last-lap spin on the backstretch. The No. 00 Car crossed the line in 14th place, while Mayer finished 36th.
Creed now sits second in the Xfinity points standings with 83 total points on the season, while Mayer is in eighth place with 53 points heading into COTA next Saturday.
Up Next
COTA plays host to the third race on the NASCAR Cup Series/Xfinity schedule next weekend. Race coverage Saturday is set for 2:30 p.m. ET on the CW for the Xfinity series, and Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX for the Cup Series.
About Haas Factory Team
The Haas Factory Team is a NASCAR Cup and Xfinity program owned by Gene Haas, founder of Haas Automation. Beginning 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 3D Systems
Riding along with Custer and his No. 41 Ford Mustang Dark Horse is 3D Systems, the leading additive manufacturing solutions partner that brings innovation, performance, and reliability to every interaction – empowering its customers to create products and business models never before possible. Thanks to its unique offering of hardware, software, materials, and services, each application-specific solution is powered by the expertise of 3D Systems’ application engineers who collaborate with customers to transform how they deliver their products and services. The company’s solutions address a variety of advanced applications in healthcare and industrial markets such as medical and dental, aerospace and defense, automotive, and durable goods. More information on the company is available at www.3dsystems.com.
Allmendinger struggled with the handling of the car throughout the duration of the race. Crew chief, Trent Owens, made a plan to lower the nose and free up the No. 16 Action Industries Chevy during the first stage break. When the next caution came out, Allmendinger reported his Chevy was wrecking loose. The team continued to make progress on the handling of the Action Industries Chevy throughout the final stage, ultimately finishing 14th after a green-white-checkered finish. Allmendinger also scored the Xfinity Fastest Lap Bonus, earning an additional championship point.
“Hard fight all night, just struggled with balance overall. Then when you get back there in traffic, it’s hard to make the right moves. I definitely need to be a little bit better making the right moves. I’m proud of the guys; we made a lot of changes to make the car as good as we could. We salvaged a decent finish there at the end, but we need to be a little bit better overall.” – AJ Allmendinger
Ty Dillon and the No. 10 Sea Best Chevrolet started the Ambetter Health 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway from the 20th position. Struggling with the handling of his Chevy early in the race, Dillon slipped outside the top 30. The team made adjustments during the Stage 1 break to improve the handling of the No. 10 Chevy and restarted the race from 24th on lap 68. Unfortunately, Dillon ran over debris early in Stage 2 and on lap 81, blew a tire and spun on the track. Forced to the garage for repairs, Dillon returned to the race on lap 105 in the 39th position, 24 laps down to the leaders. The team continued to make repairs during the remainder of the 260-lap race and stayed out of trouble to gain multiple positions and finish the race in 29th.
“We didn’t have the best day in Atlanta with our Sea Best Chevy. We started the race too free and that put us behind a little. We made adjustments during our first pit stop to improve the handling but ran over something that cut the right rear early in the second stage and that caused us to spin and get right side damage. I’m proud of the hard work this team put in to make repairs to our Sea Best Chevy. We were able to get back on track, stay out of trouble when others wrecked and gain 10 spots. We aren’t going out without a fight, and I think we proved that today. We’ll regroup this week and head to COTA for the first road course of the year.” – Ty Dillon
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.
Ontario, a bustling city in California, sits at the heart of the Inland Empire. With a population exceeding 175,000, this thriving area is a major hub for transportation, logistics, and commerce.
The Ontario International Airport fuels economic growth, while a vast network of highways keeps traffic flowing. Rideshare services remain popular among residents and visitors, leading to frequent Lyft-related accidents.
Determining liability in a Lyft accident involves multiple factors. Drivers, passengers, other motorists, and even the rideshare company might have a role to play. Insurance policies, state regulations, and the driver’s status during the accident all impact a claim. An Ontario Lyft accident attorney helps victims sort through these legal complexities to secure fair compensation.
This piece breaks down liability in Lyft accidents and explains how victims protect their rights after a crash. Read on.
Lyft Driver Liability
A Lyft driver holds responsibility if reckless or negligent behavior causes an accident. Speeding, running red lights, distracted driving, or driving under the influence creates grounds for liability. Drivers must follow all traffic laws and prioritize passenger and pedestrian safety.
Victims may seek compensation through the insurance policy if a Lyft driver causes a crash while actively transporting a rider. However, if the driver was off-duty or using their vehicle for personal reasons, their auto insurance applies instead.
Lyft’s Insurance Coverage
Lyft provides insurance coverage based on a driver’s status during the accident. If the driver operates the vehicle while off-duty, personal auto insurance applies. Lyft provides limited coverage if the driver has the app on but has not approved a ride. If the driver has approved a ride or has a passenger in the car, Lyft’s entire insurance policy takes effect.
These coverage levels determine where compensation comes from and who is financially responsible. Lyft’s insurance covers medical expenses, property damage, and other losses under specific conditions. Victims must review these policies carefully to ensure fair compensation.
Third-Party Driver Responsibility
Not all Lyft accidents result from the actions of the rideshare driver. If another driver collides with the Lyft vehicle, their insurance policy carries responsibility. Victims must collect information from all parties and gather evidence to support their claims.
A third-party driver may bear full or partial liability if they engage in reckless driving, fail to yield, or ignore traffic signals. When multiple drivers contribute to an accident, liability becomes more complex, requiring thorough documentation and witness statements.
Pedestrian and Cyclist Accidents Involving Lyft Vehicles
Lyft drivers must share the road with pedestrians and cyclists. If a rideshare driver strikes someone due to distracted or reckless driving, they bear responsibility. If another motorist’s negligence forces a Lyft driver into a pedestrian or cyclist, liability shifts to that driver.
Pedestrians and cyclists who participate in an accident with a Lyft vehicle should report the crash immediately, seek medical care, and gather witness statements. Establishing liability often depends on traffic camera footage, police reports, and medical records.
Employer Liability in a Lyft Crash
Lyft classifies its drivers as independent contractors, reducing its direct liability. However, certain situations shift responsibility to Lyft. If the company fails to screen drivers properly or allows unsafe individuals to remain active, victims have grounds for a case against the company.
If Lyft knowingly hires drivers with a history of reckless behavior, they may share responsibility for an accident. Investigating the driver’s background, prior complaints, and company policies can reveal if Lyft contributed to the crash.
In conclusion, liability in a Lyft accident depends on several factors, including driver actions, third-party involvement, and company policies. Victims must determine responsibility to secure fair compensation, substantial evidence, and a clear claim to increase the chances of a successful outcome. Holding the proper party accountable ensures victims receive the financial support needed for recovery.
Christopher Bell found himself at the right place at the right time to win the Ambetter Health 400 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sunday, February 23, following a wild overtime finish.
The 2024 Coca-Cola 600 champion from Norman, Oklahoma, led only the final lap of 266 over-scheduled laps in an event where he qualified in 32nd place but kept his No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota entry intact through a multitude of on-track actions that featured 50 lead changes and a multitude of competitors racing across multiple lanes to gain any advantage and draft to the front.
After navigating his way through four incidents throughout the final stage period, Bell, who restarted in fourth place at the start of the event’s single overtime shootout, drafted Kyle Larson on the outside lane for nearly a full lap before Larson transitioned to the inside lane. This allowed Bell to draw even and duel with Larson at the start of the final lap.
Bell would continue to duel with Larson through the first two turns before he then received a big push from Carson Hocevar to storm ahead of Larson. Seconds later, the event concluded under caution due to a multi-car wreck on the backstretch. At the moment of caution, Bell was shown to be ahead of both Hocevar and Larson with the lead. As a result, he was awarded the first NASCAR Cup Series victory of the 2025 season for himself, Joe Gibbs Racing and the Toyota nameplate.
With on-track qualifying that determined the starting lineup occurring on Saturday, February 22, Ryan Blaney notched his first Cup pole position of the 2025 season after he posted a pole-winning lap at 179.371 mph in 30.908 seconds. Joining him on the front row was teammate Austin Cindric, who clocked in his best qualifying lap at 179.359 mph in 30.910 seconds.
When the green flag waved and the event commenced, teammates Ryan Blaney and Austin Cindric dueled through the first two turns until Cindric gained an advantage from the inside lane entering the backstretch. Blaney would try to muscle back from the outside lane through Turns 3 and 4, but Cindric would proceed to lead the first lap in front of two-stacked lanes.
Over the next four laps, Cindric would fend off a hard-charging Josh Berry and two-stacked lanes that included his Team Penske teammates Blaney and Joey Logano to retain the lead. Following the fifth lap period, a bevy of three wide actions within the midfield region occurred while a majority of the competitors racing towards the front migrated towards the outside lane.
Amid the long single-file line towards the outside lane, Cindric continued to lead in his No. 2 Menards Ford Mustang Dark Horse entry by the 10th lap while Berry, Blaney, Logano, Todd Gilliland, Kyle Busch, Brad Keselowski, Chris Buescher, Bubba Wallace and Tyler Reddick followed suit in the top 10, respectively.
Through the first 20 scheduled laps, the top 14 competitors were separated by less than one second of one another while the top 25 were separated by two seconds. Amid the action, Cindric continued to lead both the overall event and a long line of competitors racing toward the outside wall. Behind, Berry, Gilliland and William Byron followed suit on the outside lane while Logano was trying to mount a charge from the inside lane. Gilliland would then move to the inside lane and challenge Cindric for the lead through the first two turns a lap later.
Cindric, however, would maintain the top spot over Gilliland, Berry and Logano over the following two laps before Gilliland, who swapped lanes with Cindric, used the outside lane to lead for the first time in his No. 34 Aaron’s Ford Mustang Dark Horse entry on Lap 24.
At the Lap 30 mark, Cindric, who reassumed the lead from Gilliland four laps earlier, was leading ahead of Ford teammates Berry, Logano and Gilliland while Bubba Wallace, the highest-starting Toyota competitor, cracked the top five in fifth place. Meanwhile and as both Cindric and Berry dueled for the lead, Brad Keselowski, Kyle Larson, William Byron, Blaney and Tyler Reddick followed suit in the top 10 while Carson Hocevar, Kyle Busch, AJ Allmendinger, Ryan Preece, Alex Bowman, Chase Elliott, AJ Allmendinger, John Hunter Nemechek, Christopher Bell, Chris Buescher and Erik Jones all jostled within the top-20 mark.
By Lap 35, Berry, who reassumed the lead from Cindric two laps earlier, was leading ahead of both Cindric and Gilliland while Keselowski and Logano were in the top five. By then, a series of two-wide actions towards the front ensued as Wallace, Byron and Larson would all overtake Keselowski for top-six spots. With all 39 starters being separated by within seven seconds, Berry continued to lead at the Lap 45 mark.
Just past the Lap 50 mark, Berry retained the lead over Cindric as Byron, Wallace and Reddick followed suit in the top five, respectively. By then, Hocevar carved his way up to sixth place as Logano, Gilliland, Busch and Elliott were racing in the top 10. With the field racing in two-stacked lanes, Wallace tried to duel with Berry for the lead a lap later, but Berry muscled back to the front due to Wallace not having any drafting help.
As Wallace transitioned back up to the outside lane within the top-five mark on the track, Gilliland would be the lead competitor on the inside lane as he tried to mount to the front. Elliott would then move in front of Gilliland and lead the inside lane as he challenged Wallace for fourth place while Berry led at the Lap 55 mark.
When the first stage period concluded on Lap 60, Berry, who retained the lead over the previous four laps, fended off the field to claim his first Cup victory of the 2025 season. Cindric, Byron, Wallace and Elliott followed suit in the top five while Reddick, Gilliland, Blaney, Hocevar and Logano were scored in the top 10, respectively. By then, all 39 starters were still scored on the lead lap while the event featured five lead changes for three different leaders.
Under the stage break, nearly the entire lead lap field led by Berry pitted for a first round of service, primarily involving four tires and fuel, while the rest that included Cody Ware, BJ McLeod and JJ Yeley remained on the track. Following the pit stops, Logano exited pit road first as he was followed by Berry, Cindric, Reddick, Byron, Elliott, Bowman, Blaney, Hocevar and Keselowski, respectively.
Amid the pit stops, Bowman made contact with Cindric while trying to exit his pit stall. In addition, Keselowski was sent to the rear of the field due to removing his gas can from his pit stall while Michael McDowell, who lost pace with the field prior to the first stage’s conclusion, took his car to the garage due to a power steering issue.
The second stage period started on Lap 68 as Berry and Logano occupied the front row. At the start, both dueled for the lead through the first two turns before Logano barely moved ahead with drafting help from teammate Cindric on the outside lane. Berry, however, fought back from the inside lane as he was being followed by Byron, but Logano would manage to lead the following lap by a hair. Logano would proceed to lead at the Lap 70 and 75 marks while the field behind pursued amid two- and three-stacked drafting lanes.
On Lap 81, the caution flew when Ty Dillon, who was racing at the rear of the field, slid sideways due to losing a right-rear tire and spun to the bottom of the apron in between Turns 3 and 4, where he then blew a right-front tire and damaged his quarter panel in the process. Unable to pull away from his wreckage scene, Dillon would have his No. 10 Sea Best Chevrolet entry towed back to the garage. By then, Logano had maintained the lead over Berry, Cindric, Gilliland, Bowman and the rest of the field that was stacked up to two lanes.
During the caution period, nearly the entire field led by Logano returned to pit road for another round of pit service, primarily for fuel, while BJ McLeod remained on the track. Following the pit stops, Logano retained the lead by exiting pit road as he was followed by Berry, Bowman, Byron, Gilliland, Reddick, Cindric, Larson, Blaney and Wallace, respectively, while Denny Hamlin was penalized for driving through too many pit stalls. Not long after, McLeod pitted as Logano cycled back into the lead.
As the event restarted under green on Lap 88, Logano and Bowman, the latter of whom moved up to restart on the front row, briefly dueled before the former muscled ahead. Through the backstretch, Gilliland would carve his way into a battle with Bowman for the runner-up spot. As Logano led the following lap, Gilliland mounted a charge to Logano from the inside lane while Bowman, Byron and Larson all lined up behind Logano on the outside lane.
Meanwhile, Gilliland had Cindric, Wallace and Berry drafting him as he would nearly claim the lead over Logano on Lap 93. Amid the battles, Reddick, who was battling for a top-10 spot, barely scrubbed his No. 45 Xfinity Toyota Camry XSE entry towards the outside wall entering the frontstretch, but he proceeded without drawing a caution as both Logano and Gilliland dueled for the lead through Lap 95.
By Lap 100, the top 27 competitors were racing within one second of another while the top 15 were separated by less than a second. Amid the drafts and on-track battles, Logano led Gilliland, Cindric, Bowman and Wallace, respectively, while Byron, Hocevar, Larson, Blaney and Elliott were scored in the top 10 ahead of Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Berry, Reddick, Bell and Preece.
A lap later, the caution returned when Erik Jones, who was racing in 20th place and briefly had to step out of the gas to avoid hitting rookie Riley Herbst, made contact with Chris Buescher in Turn 2 as Jones spun his No. 43 AdventHealth Toyota Camry XSE entry below the track and hit the backstretch’s inside wall while also flat-spotting his tires. The damage was enough for Jones to have his car towed back to the garage.
During the caution period, some including Kyle Busch, Noah Gragson, Zane Smith, AJ Allmendinger, Cole Custer and Hamlin pitted while the rest led by Logano remained on the track.
When the event restarted under green on Lap 107, Gilliland was pushed by Bowman ahead of Logano as both would move in front of Logano towards the outside wall through the backstretch. As Gilliland led the following lap, Logano transitioned to the inside lane and he rocketed back ahead of Gilliland with drafting help from teammate Cindric. Gilliland crossed back over to the inside lane through the first two turns, but he had no drafting help as Logano stormed back ahead and led to the Lap 110 mark.
By Lap 120, a majority of competitors posted their fastest lap times of the event and a majority of the front-runners were racing in two-stacked lanes as Logano continued to lead ahead of teammate Cindric, Bowman, Gilliland and Berry. Hocevar would then flirt for a top-five spot over Berry as Wallace, Larson, Elliott and Byron followed suit in the top 10. With Reddick, Keselowski, Ross Chastain, Blaney, Ty Gibbs, Busch, Stenhouse, Bell, Chase Briscoe and Noah Gragson battling within the top-20 mark, Logano led at the Lap 125 mark.
At the halfway mark on Lap 130, Logano maintained a steady lead over teammate Cindric, Gilliland, Bowman, Larson, Wallace, Hocevar, Byron, Elliott and Berry, respectively, as a majority of the competitors racing towards the front had fanned out to multiple lanes and were using the draft to try and charge to the front. By then, the top 23 competitors were racing within one second of another.
Four laps later, the caution returned when Gilliland, who was racing in fourth place, had a flat right-rear tire, which caused him to fall off the pace through the frontstretch, and scattered debris across the backstretch while trying to limp his No. 34 Aaron’s Ford Mustang Dark Horse entry back to pit road. During the caution period, some led by Elliott pitted while the rest led by Logano remained on the track.
With the race restarting under green with 20 laps remaining in the second stage period, Logano received a push from teammate Cindric to draft ahead of Bowman entering the first turn. As Bowman tried to fight back from the outside lane with drafting help from teammate Kyle Larson, Logano tried to move up the track to block Bowman, but Bowman would lead the following lap. With the field stacked up, Logano would both return and retain the top spot over Bowman, Cindric, Hocevar, Larson and Blaney over the next four laps.
Then with 12 laps remaining in the second stage period, the caution flew when Ricky Stenhouse Jr., who was dueling fiercely with Chase Briscoe for a top-10 spot as both were racing behind Blaney, made slight contact with Briscoe that got Stenhouse loose and sliding up the track, where he forced Chase Elliott into the outside wall entering the frontstretch.
After scraping the wall, Elliott was trying to keep his No. 9 NAPA Chevrolet driving straight before he barely clipped Corey LaJoie and veered back towards the outside wall past the start/finish line. In the ensuing mayhem, he was hit by Brad Keselowski. During the caution period, some led by Chase Briscoe pitted while the rest led by Logano remained on the track.
With four laps remaining in the second stage period, the event restarted under green as Logano received another push from teammate Cindric to launch ahead through the first two turns. With the field fanning out as those who pitted were trying to scramble to the front, Bowman challenged Logano for the lead from the outside lane. Bowman would then receive a push from teammate Larson exiting the backstretch to move ahead of Logano with two laps remaining in the second stage period.
During the final lap of the second stage period, Larson started to duel with teammate Bowman for the lead as Logano drove up to Bowman’s rear end through the frontstretch. Then following the first two turns, the field fanned out through the backstretch as Larson powered his No. 5 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet entry into the lead. By then, Bowman was pinned in the middle lane while Wallace, Logano, Byron and Cindric boosted themselves to the front in pursuit of Larson.
As the field continued to fan out through the frontstretch, Larson fended off the competition to capture his first Cup stage victory of the 2025 season and his first on a superspeedway venue. Wallace carved his way into second place as he was followed by Logano, Byron, Bowman, Reddick, Hocevar, Stenhouse, Cindric and Gragson, respectively. By then, the event featured 24 lead changes for eight different leaders while 33 of 39 starters were scored on the lead lap.
During the stage break, the front-runners led by Larson pitted while the rest led by Briscoe, who was among several who opted to pit before the second stage’s conclusion, pitted.
With 92 laps remaining, the final stage period commenced as Briscoe and Ross Chastain occupied the front row. At the start, Briscoe launched his No. 19 Bass Pro Shops Toyota Camry XSE entry ahead, where he then blocked Chastain to maintain the lead through the first two turns. Through the backstretch, however, Chastain and teammate Shane van Gisbergen rocketed to the front as Chastain overtook Briscoe and led the following lap. With Chastain leading, van Gisbergen pursued in second ahead of Busch, Buescher and Austin Dillon while Briscoe was mired in sixth with 90 laps remaining.
With 80 laps remaining, the field fanned out to three tight-packed lanes as Chastain, who led the 10 previous laps, was barely leading ahead of Busch and van Gisbergen while Buescher, Austin Dillon, Briscoe, Berry, Herbst, Nemechek and Bell, the latter of whom scraped the wall two laps earlier, all pursued in the top-10 mark. Meanwhile, initial front-runners that included Wallace and Logano were mired within the top-20 mark and Cindric had carved his way back into the top-10 mark as van Gisbergen started to challenge teammate Chastain for the lead.
Then with 77 laps remaining, the caution returned when Daniel Suarez, the reigning spring Atlanta winner, made contact with Ty Gibbs entering the frontstretch while battling just outside of the top-20 mark. The contact sent Suarez’s No. 99 Freeway Insurance Chevrolet entry bouncing against the outside wall before he was hit again by Gibbs and sent spinning in the middle of the track.
As the field scattered to avoid Suarez, the latter was clipped by Noah Gragson before he was hit by Cole Custer, Cody Ware and JJ Yeley. During the caution period, the lead lap field returned to pit road, where Busch exited pit road first ahead of Briscoe, Byron, Blaney, Austin Dillon, Cindric, Berry, Buescher, Reddick and van Gisbergen.
During the next restart with 68 laps remaining, Busch and Briscoe occupied the front row, where Busch received a strong push from Byron from the inside lane to storm his No. 8 Cheddar’s Chevrolet entry into the lead. Then as the field fanned out, Byron navigated his way past Busch as he led the following lap while Briscoe pursued with Busch. The field would then get jumbled in a three-wide formation over the next three laps as Byron, who kept battling with Busch, retained the lead. Soon after, Berry would navigate his No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Mustang Dark Horse entry back into the lead with 60 laps remaining.
With nearly 55 laps remaining, the caution returned due to another multi-car wreck that started when Briscoe scrubbed the outside wall entering Turn 3 while racing in the top six. Despite keeping his car straight, Briscoe was then trying to maintain pace and fend off Buescher when he made contact with the latter.
As a result, Buescher got turned sideways in front of Bell and spun his No. 17 Fastenal Ford Mustang Dark Horse entry into the path of Bowman’s No. 48 Ally Chevrolet entry, which damaged both competitors’ entries as Bowman was pushing Buescher’s entry that was spinning sideways. Meanwhile, Ty Gibbs spun in the backstretch.
The start of the next restart with 48 laps remaining featured Berry and Busch dueling in front of the field for the lead. Amid their battles, Berry would muscle ahead and lead the following lap before Busch surged ahead. With Busch leading, he then went into defensive mode to fend off charges from both Chastain and Berry through two-stacked lanes. With spotter Derek Kneeland navigating Busch and giving his driver instructions on where and when to block, Busch proceeded to lead with 45 laps remaining.
With less than 40 laps remaining, Busch maintained the lead ahead of Blaney, Berry, Bell and Chastain, respectively, while Preece, Hocevar, Cindric, Byron, van Gisbergen, Larson and Reddick followed suit within the top 12. Blaney would then make his way beneath Busch exiting the backstretch with 37 laps remaining and he moved into the lead. The following lap, Chastain slid in front of Blaney as he moved into the lead. Berry would then move back into the lead with 33 laps remaining and he would retain the top spot in front of a fanned-out field with 30 laps remaining.
Then with 27 laps remaining, the caution flew due to Blaney getting bumped by Hocevar and sliding his No. 12 BodyArmor Zero Sugar Ford Mustang Dark Horse entry below the apron in Turn 1. Amid his spin, Blaney managed to avoid veering back across the track in front of the field and he continued, though he was quick to vent his displeasure towards Hocevar.
The start of the next restart period with 22 laps remaining featured Berry and Chastain occupying the front row, where both dueled in front of two lanes. Chastain proceeded to lead next lap before Larson rocketed his way to the front. With Larson leading, Hocevar navigated his way into second place followed by Cindric, Chastain and Berry before Hocevar assumed the lead with 20 laps remaining.
Cindric then passed Hocevar to lead during the following lap and he would proceed to lead with 15 laps remaining while the majority of the field started to migrate in a single-file line towards the outside wall.
Down to the final 10 laps of the event, Cindric continued to lead a stacked field as he was pursued by Berry, Larson, Chastain, Byron, Wallace, Reddick, Hamlin, Bell and Busch, respectively. With a majority of the front-runners racing in single-line formation while those in the mid-pack region fanned out to nearly three lanes through every turn and straightaway,
Bell, who was in the top 10, launched his way to the front as he was being drafted by Blaney. Chastain would also make a move to the inside lane and he would make contact with Berry. With Chastain falling back, Bell moved to within the top-three mark and he would overtake Berry for the runner-up spot while Cindric maintained the lead with five laps remaining.
Then with three laps remaining, the caution flew when Larson, who was starting to muscle ahead of Cindric from the inside lane through the first two turns and amid a side-by-side battle, slowly drifted up the track and forced Cindric wide before the latter hit the outside wall. As a result, Byron made contact with Cindric and both were sent spinning and hitting the backstretch’s outside wall head-on. The wreck sent the event into overtime as Larson escaped with the lead, where he was followed by Chastain, Bell, Hocevar and Berry.
The start of an overtime shootout featured Larson and Chastain dueling for the lead in front of two-stacked lanes, where Chastain was being drafted by Hocevar, Berry and Blaney on the inside lane while Larson had drafting help from Bell, Stenhouse and Hamlin on the outside lane. Through the backstretch, Larson would rocket ahead and Hocevar was split himself in between Bell and Chastain for second place.
When the white flag waved and the final lap started, Larson remained in the lead by a steady margin before Bell made his move to the outside lane for the lead. Behind, Stenhouse, Berry and Hocevar rubbed for third place, but they kept their cars racing straight as Bell drew even with Larson through the first two turns. With Chastain losing ground and Blaney battling Hocevar for third place, Bell and Larson remained dead even against one another for the lead through the backstretch.
Then exiting the backstretch, Hocevar gained a run on the two leaders and bumped Bell’s No. 20 DeWalt Toyota Camry XSE entry ahead of Larson entering Turn 3. Just as Hocevar was trying to split himself in between Bell and Larson, the caution flew and the event concluded as a multi-car wreck that involved Berry, Justin Haley and Ryan Preece ensued on the backstretch.
Following a review of the footage for when the caution was displayed, Bell was shown to have been the leader over Hocevar and Larson when the caution lights were displayed. Ultimately, this resulted in Bell being declared the event’s winner.
With the victory, Bell notched his 10th NASCAR Cup Series career victory, his first at Atlanta, his first on a superspeedway venue and his first since he won at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in June 2024. The Oklahoma native also recorded the first victory of the 2025 campaign for the Toyota nameplate. The victory was the 215th overall for Joe Gibbs Racing as the organization achieved its first victory at Atlanta since September 2013 with Kyle Busch.
Photo by Patrick Sue-Chan for SpeedwayMedia.com.
“I’ll tell you what, that right there is what you dream of, to be able to restart on the first or second row at a green-white-checkered [shootout] at a speedway,” Bell said on the frontstretch on FOX. “You never know how those things are going to play out, but I’ll be the first to tell you [that] I love superspeedways. This style of racing has just always been a little bit of a struggle for me.
“Throughout the beginning of the day, we were just stuck way in the back. [Crew chief] Adam [Stevens] and these [No. 20] boys back here, they did an amazing job getting this [car] fixed up to where I could just hold my foot down. That’s what it’s all about. You got to be able to stay in the throttle. That last half of the race, we were at our best.”
Meanwhile and as Bell celebrated with his team, Hocevar was confronted by Ross Chastain and Ryan Blaney on pit road as the latter two expressed their displeasure over Hocevar’s aggressive driving and on-track contact. Amid the post-race discussions, Hocevar, the 2024 Cup Series Rookie-of-the-Year recipient, was left pleased in notching a career-best second-place result in his 47th Cup career start.
“There’s some stuff I got to learn and clean up a little bit, but I feel like we put ourselves in the perfect opportunity to try and win a race,” Hocevar said. “I never had that opportunity really before, especially on a superspeedway. Just big thanks to everybody at Spire Motorsports. They deserve all the praise. I just get to hold the wheel and run wide open and try to put myself in a decent spot. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the best spot, but it was just one spot short.”
Like Hocevar, Larson was also left pleased with his third-place finish at Atlanta. The result marked Larson’s career-best result on a superspeedway venue and his best result overall at Atlanta since he finished second in March 2021.
“I don’t know what I did wrong or right [during the overtime finish],” Larson said. “I thought maybe if [Bell] picked me up, he was just gonna push me and get clear of me into [Turn] 1 anyways. I think it kind of worked out OK, and [I] just didn’t get the caution to come out late enough till I got around back to the inside. Came up a little bit short, but proud of the effort today by everybody on our HendrickCars.com Chevy. [I] Finally finished Atlanta and finally got to run up front.”
Ryan Blaney rallied from his late spin to finish in fourth place while Ricky Stenhouse Jr. settled in fifth place. Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch, Ross Chastain, Bubba Wallace and John Hunter Nemechek completed the top 10 in the final running order.
Notably, Joey Logano settled in 12th place and Todd Gilliland rallied from his tire issue near the conclusion of the second stage period to finish in 15th place while Michael McDowell rallied from being six laps down due to his power steering issue to claim a 13th-place finish. In addition, Riley Herbst was the highest-finishing rookie competitor in 17th place and Josh Berry ended up in 25th place after he was involved in the final lap accident while Austin Cindric fell back to 28th place behind William Byron after his late incident that sent the event into overtime.
There were 50 lead changes for 15 different leaders. The race featured 11 cautions for 61 laps. In addition, 24 of 39 starters finished on the lead lap.
Following the second event of the 2025 Cup Series season, Ryan Blaney leads the regular-season standings by 12 points over William Byron, 15 over Tyler Reddick, 19 over Austin Cindric, 23 over Bubba Wallace and 26 over Kyle Larson, Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and John Hunter Nemechek, respectively.
Results:
1. Christopher Bell, one lap led 2. Carson Hocevar 3. Kyle Larson, 12 laps led, Stage 2 winner 4. Ryan Blaney, one lap led 5. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. 6. Denny Hamlin 7. Kyle Busch, 13 laps led 8. Ross Chastain, 25 laps led 9. Bubba Wallace 10. John Hunter Nemechek 11. Zane Smith 12. Joey Logano, 83 laps led 13. Michael McDowell 14. AJ Allmendinger 15. Todd Gilliland, seven laps led 16. Austin Dillon 17. Riley Herbst 18. Ryan Preece 19. Tyler Reddick 20. Chase Elliott 21. Chase Briscoe, five laps led 22. BJ McLeod, one lap led 23. Shane van Gisbergen, two laps led 24. Justin Haley 25. Josh Berry – OUT, Accident, 56 laps led, Stage 1 winner 26. Alex Bowman, one lap down 27. William Byron, three laps down 28. Austin Cindric, nine laps down, 47 laps led 29. Ty Dillon, 24 laps down 30. Chris Buescher, 26 laps down 31. Erik Jones, 26 laps down 32. Ty Gibbs – OUT, Accident 33. Daniel Suarez – OUT, Accident 34. Noah Gragson – OUT, Accident 35. Cody Ware – OUT, Accident 36. Cole Custer – OUT, Accident 37. JJ Yeley – OUT, Accident 38. Corey LaJoie – OUT, Accident 39. Brad Keselowski – OUT, Accident
Next on the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series schedule is the fifth annual EchoPark Automotive Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas. The event is scheduled to occur next Sunday, March 2, and air at 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX.
