Interstate Batteries and Joe Gibbs Racing Embark on 34th Consecutive Season Together

DALLAS (Feb. 4, 2025) – The most tenured team partnership in all of NASCAR continues unabated in 2025. Interstate Batteries, the leading replacement battery brand in the United States, has signed a multi-year extension with Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) to continue their partnership well into a fourth decade.

Interstate Batteries is JGR’s founding partner, joining the team for its NASCAR Cup Series debut in 1992. The endorsement from the “Outrageously Dependable” battery brand allowed team owner Joe Gibbs to turn his dream of a NASCAR team into reality, namely by securing the services of a future NASCAR Hall of Famer, Dale Jarrett, to drive his racecars.

“When we first began our partnership with Joe Gibbs Racing in 1992, we had around 120,000 dealers comprised of service stations, garages and car dealers that sold our batteries, but we didn’t have a national reputation. Joe Gibbs Racing gave Interstate Batteries national recognition. Joe was still in the NFL and coaching in Washington, and then Dale Jarrett delivered our first win together in the first race of our second season,” said Norm Miller, Chairman Emeritus, Interstate Batteries.

“We already saw that the partnership was working during our inaugural season together, but that 1993 Daytona 500 win really put Interstate Batteries on the map. It helped us secure national accounts because we had strong name recognition among consumers. That recognition remains true to this day as we enter our 73rd year delivering outrageously dependable batteries.”

In 2025, it is perennial championship contender Christopher Bell who will carry the signature green colors of Interstate Batteries on his No. 20 Toyota Camry XSE in four NASCAR Cup Series races, while Ty Gibbs will augment those races with an Interstate Batteries race of his own June 1 at Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway.

Bell kicks off Interstate Batteries’ 2025 campaign in the 67th running of the Daytona 500 Feb. 16 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway. The Interstate Batteries green machine returns with Bell March 16 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and May 4 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth before Bell brings Interstate Batteries branding back in the NASCAR Cup Series season finale Nov. 2 at Phoenix Raceway.

“Our customers are the backbone of our success at Interstate Batteries, and our partnership with Joe Gibbs Racing is a great avenue to strengthen our relationships with them on and off the track,” said Lain Hancock, President and CEO, Interstate Batteries. “Our ‘Outrageously Dependable’ mantra speaks to our tenure with JGR and our long-time customers, and no one enjoys seeing the color green wave on another NASCAR season more than all of us at Interstate Batteries.”

Interstate Batteries helped launch JGR and, in their 33 years of partnership, JGR has won five NASCAR Cup Series championships and scored 214 Cup Series victories, a number that includes four Daytona 500s. All of JGR’s firsts – first win with Jarrett in the 1993 Daytona 500, first pole with Bobby Labonte on April 21, 1995 at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway, and first championship with Labonte in 2000 – have come with Interstate Batteries as the primary sponsor.

“We wouldn’t be where we are as a race team without the support from our founding partner, Interstate Batteries,” said Joe Gibbs, owner of Joe Gibbs Racing. “To think we’re now well into our fourth decade together speaks to how special our partnership has been and the relationships we’ve built with everyone at Interstate Batteries. I’ll be forever grateful to Norm and Tommy Miller, who gave us a chance when we didn’t have a building, cars or even employees. We are blessed to continue to work with great people like Lain (Hancock) and his entire team. There are few partnerships that have stood the test of time like Joe Gibbs Racing and Interstate Batteries.”

Gibbs, along with five of the drivers who have raced for JGR since its inception in 1992, have been inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Jarrett was ushered into the Hall in 2014. Gibbs, Labonte and Tony Stewart were enshrined together as part of the Class of 2020. Matt Kenseth, a JGR driver for five years, was enshrined in 2023, and Carl Edwards, a JGR driver for two seasons, earned enshrinement this year.

About Joe Gibbs Racing:

Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) is one of the premier organizations in NASCAR with four NASCAR Cup Series teams, four NASCAR Xfinity Series teams, and a driver development program. JGR is based in Huntersville, North Carolina, and owned by 2020 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee Joe Gibbs, who also earned his place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and was named as one of the NFL’s top-10 coaches of all-time with a winning career that included three Super Bowl championships as head coach of the Washington franchise. JGR has competed in NASCAR since 1992, capturing 400 wins over that span. No team has more combined wins across the sport’s three national series in the history of NASCAR. In addition, JGR has won five Cup Series championships along with four Xfinity Series driver championships and six Xfinity Series owners’ championships. The organization also has captured four Daytona 500 titles, considered to be NASCAR’s premier event.

About Interstate Batteries:

For more than 70 years, Interstate Batteries® has powered people down roads, trails and waterways and businesses to succeed. Best known for its starting, lighting and ignition (SLI) batteries, this product has been under car hoods since 1952, each one backed by the company’s service, quality and value. Interstate All Battery Center® provides portable power in both retail and commercial markets. Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, Interstate Batteries is an industry leader in recycling efforts, as well as a global leader in safe lead handling practices. Guided by a set of common values, the company’s purpose is to glorify God and enrich lives while delivering the most trustworthy source of power to the world. For more information, visit www.InterstateBatteries.com.

Historic team to feature PPG sponsorship at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway

STUART, Va. (February 3, 2025) – Wood Brothers Racing today announced a new partnership with PPG that will see the global leader in paints, coatings and specialty products featured as the primary partner on the No. 21 Ford Mustang driven by Josh Berry for the Brickyard 400 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on July 27.

Headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, PPG operates in more than 70 countries, providing innovative solutions for customers in the construction, consumer products, industrial and transportation markets, and aftermarkets.

“It’s an honor to have the PPG livery on the No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Mustang at the Brickyard as they celebrate their 75th anniversary,” said Bill Shaw, PPG global business director, strategic initiatives, Automotive Refinish. “They’re a historic team with close ties to our long-time partners at Team Penske and we can’t wait to see what Josh does behind the wheel of the PPG car.”

In addition to serving as the entitlement partner for the NASCAR Cup Series race at this historic venue, PPG is also the track’s Official Paint and Finishing Supplier. PPG’s products protect and beautify critical areas of the facility.

“PPG has a long history in motorsports, and we’re excited to become a part of that this year at one of the most special venues in all of racing,” said Jon Wood, president, Wood Brothers Racing. “PPG’s colors have been a fixture on the track for years, and we’re proud to showcase them on the No. 21 Ford Mustang at Indianapolis. It’s always fun to work with a company that shares such a passion for racing, and we’re looking forward to a great weekend together.”

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

“I’m looking forward to driving the No. 21 PPG Ford Mustang at ‘The Brickyard’ in July,” said Berry. “PPG’s commitment to motorsports is evident, and I’m proud to be a part of it for one of our sports crown jewel events.”

The livery for the No. 21 PPG Ford Mustang will be revealed at a later date but will coincide with fellow PPG-sponsored driver Josef Newgarden’s distinctive blue-and-white scheme.

The 2025 Cup Series season officially kicks off with the 67th running of the prestigious DAYTONA 500 on Sunday, February 16.

About PPG
PPG: WE PROTECT AND BEAUTIFY THE WORLD®
At PPG (NYSE:PPG), we work every day to develop and deliver the paints, coatings and specialty materials that our customers have trusted for more than 140 years. Through dedication and creativity, we solve our customers’ biggest challenges, collaborating closely to find the right path forward. With headquarters in Pittsburgh, we operate and innovate in more than 70 countries and reported net sales of $15.8 billion in 2024. We serve customers in construction, consumer products, industrial and transportation markets and aftermarkets. To learn more, visit www.ppg.com.

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

Josh Berry and the No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane team did themselves and their car owners proud in Sunday’s Cook Out Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium.

Racing at the legendary track that is so special to the Wood Brothers, Berry put on a spirited, aggressive performance in the 75-lap Last Chance Qualifier to finish second and put the No. 21 Mustang in the 200-lap Main event. Berry then started 22nd in the main and raced his way to 13th despite some damage from his hard drive to second place in the Last Chance race.

Berry said after the non-points-paying exhibition that he considered his first drive in the No. 21 Mustang a success, and an enjoyable experience on the tight quarter-mile track where the late team owner Glenn Wood counted four points-paying Cup races among his 29 overall victories there.

“It was a lot of fun,” Berry said. “I thought the guys did a really good job of making the car better and adjusting on it from practice and the heat race to give me a really good car for the feature.”

He said he was a bit disappointed he didn’t finish a bit higher.

“I felt like we definitely had more potential there,” he said. “I wish things would have gone different in the feature, but overall I’m really happy with it. Our goal was to come here and make the race, and we did that and got a decent finish. For the first time out it was a lot of fun.”

Berry’s performance in the Last Chance Qualifier was a big part of the story of that race.

After starting 13th, he initially dropped back one spot before working his way into the top 10 on Lap 21. He steadily worked his way forward and cracked the top five for the first time on Lap 59. Berry, finding success in both the inside and outside lanes, took the lead on Lap 66 as Erik Jones and Kyle Larson, Berry’s chief rivals at that point, collided and brought out the race’s seventh caution. Berry held the top spot for six laps but lost the top spot to Larson with four laps remaining. Berry held the runner-up spot to the checkered flag, and the race’s last lead change wasn’t a big factor as both the first- and second-place finishers advanced to the 200-lap main event.

After the qualifier, he told reporters at the track that he was very pleased to get the Wood Brothers car in the main event at Bowman Gray.

“This is a really special place for them,” he said. “They gave me a great opportunity, and they deserve to be in this race. They are great people and have been in the sport for 75 years, and I’m going to go out there and do my best week-in and week-out. If that means I have to knock some people around to get in the Clash I’m going to do it.”

Berry and the No. 21 Wood Brothers team will be back on the track in two weeks for the season-opening Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway.

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.

Preece Finishes 11th, Keselowski Rounds Out RFK Fords in 21st after late-race accident

WINSTON-SALEM (Feb. 2, 2025) – Highlighted by Chris Buescher’s top-10 finish, all three RFK Racing Fords showed flashes throughout the 200-lap NASCAR Clash. Buescher, who was dominate in Saturday’s heat race, started from the front row and ran with the leaders much of the night, finishing 10th with new teammate Ryan Preece finishing on his bumper in 11th. Brad Keselowski ran inside the top-5 much of the night before being relegated to 21st after a late-race incident.

6 Recap

Amidst an electric atmosphere at the historic Bowman Gray Stadium Sunday night Keselowski rolled off 5th. The Build Submarines Ford ran with the leaders for more than half the race. Close quarters racing though led to contact with Bubba Wallace on lap 120 that dropped him to the back of the field. The No. 6 team ended the night 21st.

“We showed a lot of potential early on, but we got spun there with 75 to go and really never had a chance to recover,” said Keselowski. “We were solid. Just a 5th to 10th place car the whole day. We tried to get a little bit more but overall, a good debut outing for a team that’s had a lot of changes.”

Keselowski began the race with a disciplined veteran approach, remaining glued to the inside line. Chase Briscoe challenged for position to no avail as the Build Submarines Ford held the spot. Keselowski patiently worked the bottom groove the entire first half, maintaining the 5th position until half-time where crew chief Jeremy Bullins called only for minor adjustments.

Keselowski earned his way into Sunday’s feature with a strong qualifying effort. After the posting the fifth overall fastest time in final practice, he started on the outside pole for the first heat race. Determined he worked the outside groove early, eventually rooting his way to the bottom to a finishing second in his heat race.

17 Recap

Chris Buescher finished 10th in Sunday night’s NASCAR season-opening Clash. Buescher started the race second – after dominating his Saturday-night heat race – and ran the bulk of the 200-lap event inside the top four; where the No. 17 Tree Top Ford was running at the race’s halfway point.

“We put ourselves in a good position there at the start of the race by winning our heat yesterday, and overall, I thought the car was solid,” Buescher said. “I’m really proud of our guys and their effort, and we’ll look to carry this momentum into Daytona weekend.”

After a caution on lap 120, Buescher started on the outside and made a strong move for the lead, before getting shuffled back to third on lap 122. Stuck on the outside, his Tree Top Ford continued to lose grip as the race progressed. Unable to carry enough speed through the corner, Buescher would eventually settle for the top-10 finish.

60 Recap

Making his RFK Racing debut this weekend, Ryan Preece started 12th and made a solid first impression. The short-track ace battled through traffic and adversity to post a solid 11th-place finish. This, after recovering from grazing the wall in the race’s first half. Though mostly cosmetic, the incident dropped him to 19th. Determined, Preece drove back through the field and nearly cracked the top-10.

Preece started the race with an aggressive surge to the front, passing two cars on the outside to move into the top-10. The outside was his preferred line much of the first half before being bitten by the safer barrier on lap 28. After scraping the wall, Preece fell to 19th before the mid-race break. Although battle scarred, the Fastenal Ford escaped without any major damage and the team was able to make adjustments to salvage an 11th-place result.

“We definitely made a lot of good adjustments on the stop. We headed in the right direction. We didn’t get it all but certainly made it better,” Preece said.

During Saturday’s practice and qualifying, Preece showed early speed. He posted the second fastest lap-time during the weekend’s first practice. He followed that with a strong run in his heat race, starting sixth and working his way to a solid third place finish.

Up Next
The Daytona 500 officially kicks off the 2025 season on Sunday, Feb. 16, at Daytona International Speedway. Track action begins that Wednesday night (Feb. 12) with a practice session set for 10 a.m. ET, and qualifying later that night at 8 p.m. ET. The duels are set for Thursday night at 7 p.m. ET, along with a pair of practice sessions on Friday and Saturday.

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, along 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 three hundred wins and capturing 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.

Austin Dillon and the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops/Winchester Chevrolet Team Fight Hard in LCQ; Come Up One Spot Short of Advancing at Bowman Gray Stadium

“What a wild last chance qualifier race tonight at Bowman Gray Stadium. I felt like we had to be as aggressive as possible to get our Bass Pro Shops/Winchester Chevrolet into the Clash. We put ourselves in a good position with running third at the end, and I thought our only shot to make a move was when the No. 5 started to run down the No. 21. I managed the tires throughout the run, but we lacked forward drive and needed a little more overall. I wish we would have been in the main feature for a lot of reasons. My grandfather and everyone at RCR work so hard, and this place is special to our family. It sucks to be the first one out, but we learned a lot that can be applied in the future.” -Austin Dillon

Kyle Busch and the No. 8 zone Chevrolet Team Earn Top-15 Finish in the Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium

“The overall event at Bowman Gray Stadium was a good one, but it wasn’t the result we wanted for our zone Chevrolet team. At the start of the feature, the car was plowing tight and wouldn’t turn. We got spun around and ended up going two laps down before the halfway break. Randall (Burnett) and the No. 8 guys made adjustments during the break, and when we went back green, it was the best the car had felt. It was doing what it needed to do. With the help of a couple cautions, we got back on the lead lap and worked our way up to 15th at the checkered.” -Kyle Busch