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RCR NCS Race Recap: Martinsville Speedway

By
Official Release
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Top-20 Result for Austin Dillon and the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops/Winchester Chevrolet Team at Martinsville Speedway

Finish: 18th
Start: 18th
Points: 27th

“Our No. 3 Bass Pro Shops/Winchester Chevrolet started solidly today. We got our car a little better at each stage end and raced our way into the top-15. We had a good pace, and our pit crew picked up positions on every stop. When we came in for the last stop of the race and put on four tires, the handle of our car completely changed and got tight. We’re not sure what caused it, but we will go back to the shop and return better for the next short track race. I’m proud of the effort from my Richard Childress Racing team. We had a top-10 car, I feel like, just missed it at the end.” -Austin Dillon

Kyle Busch and the No. 8 Lucas Oil Chevrolet Team Capture 17th-Place Finish at Martinsville Speedway

Finish: 17th
Start: 12th
Points: 16th

“Certainly wasn’t the result we were looking for with our Lucas Oil Chevrolet. We fought with being tight in the center and wrecking loose on exit. The guys stayed after it all day and it actually drove pretty well towards the end. We just couldn’t gain any track position to be able to do something with it.” -Kyle Busch

LEGACY MOTOR CLUB: MARTINSVILLE SPEEDWAY RACE RECAP

By
Barry Albert
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RIDGEWAY, Va. (March 30, 2025) – The NASCAR Cup Series visited Martinsville Speedway for the first time this season. The No. 42 Family Dollar Toyota driven by John Hunter Nemechek rolled off in 16th while teammate Erik Jones in the No. 43 Dollar Tree Toyota started in the 31st postion. It was Denny Hamlin who was victorious at “The Paperclip”.

Below is a look at how each of the LEGACY MOTOR CLUB entries fared.

JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK NO. 42 FAMILY DOLLAR TOYOTA CAMRY XSE RACE RECAP:

START: 16TH | FINISH: 26TH | POINTS: 19TH
John Hunter Nemechek rolled off from the 16th position for the Cook Out 400, marking his best career starting spot at Martinsville Speedway in the NASCAR Cup Series. With the tight, paperclip-shaped track making it easy for leaders to catch the tail of the field, maintaining track position was going to be critical.

On lap 35, the first caution flag slowed the pace. Nemechek radioed to his crew, reporting that his No. 42 Family Dollar Toyota was tight through the center of the corners and loose on exit. He worked on adjusting his driving style to improve the car’s handling.

During the caution, Nemechek pitted for four fresh tires and fuel. However, as he attempted to leave the pit stall, the car wouldn’t go. The team quickly discovered that first gear wasn’t engaging, costing Nemechek valuable track position. After the issue, he cycled out near the back of the field in 35th, erasing the gains made in qualifying.

Before the restart, crew chief Travis Mack came over the radio with a steadying message: “Keep our composure here. We’re going to work through it. We’ll be thrown a lot of stuff. Deep breath.”

With under 10 laps remaining in the first stage, the second yellow was thrown for a spinning No. 17. The No. 42 Family Dollar team elected to stay out and restart in seventh for the short sprint to the end of Stage 1. The gamble paid off with a sixth place Stage 1 finish, giving the team their first stage points of the year. 

Mack made the call to keep Nemechek on track during the stage break, opting not to pit. This strategy lined up the No. 42 Toyota in third for the restart. Although they were on older tires than the rest of the field, the team believed the track position gain was worth the risk.

However, the tire disadvantage became evident as the run progressed. Nemechek gradually lost spots to the cars on fresher rubber, eventually settling into 29th by the time the next caution flew. During the ensuing pit stop, the team bolted on four fresh tires, added fuel, and made an air-pressure adjustment.

After the stop, Mack came over the radio to talk through the strategy: “We tried it early, we know what we need. We need to be at a tire advantage, not a disadvantage. Keep our head in it.”

With 10 laps remaining in the stage, the leader was rapidly closing in on the rear of the field. Despite the pressure, Nemechek stayed focused and managed to remain on the lead lap, finishing 32nd in Stage 2.

Nemechek still stuck in the back of the field, the North Carolina native asked for quiet so he could focus as the leader was barreling down on the rear of the field. With a 159-laps remaining, the No. 11 entry got past Nemechek to put him a lap down in 34th position. 

A slew of yellows afforded the No. 42 Family Dollar team to get the free pass with 83 laps remaining in the race however, a long green-flag run saw Nemechek go down a lap down before the end of the 400 lap race. Nemechek and the No. 42 Family Dollar Tree team finished the race in 26th, one lap down. 

JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK QUOTABLE: “Not a very good day for us. First gear blew up trying to leave the box when I was running 18th. We got our lap back and salvaged a 26th place finish. We will move on to Darlington.”

ERIK JONES
NO. 43 DOLLAR TREE TOYOTA CAMRY XSE RACE RECAP:
START: 31ST | FINISH: 24TH | POINTS: 21ST

Erik Jones started the 400-lap event at Martinsville from the 31st staring position. Jones said the No. 43 Dollar Tree Camry was loose before the first caution on Lap 30. The team pitted for four tires and fuel. He restarted in 32nd with 42 to go on Stage 1. With 15 laps left in Stage 1, Jones said the handling of the No. 43 had gone to the tight side. A caution with less than ten to go in the stage provided an opportunity to stay on track while others pitted, and Jones finished the finished the stage fifth.
After pitting at the caution on Lap 86, Jones restarted 32nd to begin Stage 2. He moved to 26th before a Lap 121 caution flag flew. The team adjusted the car during a pit stop as Jones said the handling was better, but he was still very tight. The team restarted on Lap 131 from 23rd and clawed his way to 18th with 40 to go in Stage 2. As the rubber buildup continued on the half-mile track, Jones said the No. 43 Dollar Tree Toyota wouldn’t handle, and he finished 26th in Stage 2.

During the stage break, the No.43 crew gained five spots on pit road during their four tire stop, sending Jones back out on track in 21st.

As the final stage played out, Jones ran as high as 20th before slipping back to 25th as the leader was closing in with 150 to go.

On Lap 266 the leader passed the No. 43 putting Jones down a lap as the car had lost all grip. A caution flew shortly after, and Jones got the free pass putting him back on the lead lap. The team pitted for four tires, air adjustments and fuel.

With 114 to go and rain threatening, Jones restarted 22nd. He worked his way up to 19th and held on through multiple cautions and a tight car to prevail 24th, one lap shy of the leader.

ERIK JONES QUOTABLE: “We got some stage points and worked hard but overall, I just got so tight when the track rubbered up, I just couldn’t do anything with it there at the end. Looking forward to Darlington.”

NEXT UP: The NASCAR Cup Series heads to the track “Too Tough to Tame”, Darlington Raceway for the Goodyear 400 on Sunday, April 6. The race will broadcast on Fox Sports 1, MAX, MRN, and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, Channel 90 at 3:00 p.m. ET.

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

NASCAR Top-10 Power Rankings: Martinsville

By
Jeffrey Boswell
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Photo by John Knittel for SpeedwayMedia.com.

1. Kyle Larson: Larson tops the Power Rankings after finishing fifth at Martinsville.

“My No. 5 Hendrick Chevy will have the Terry Labonte throwback paint scheme from the early 2000’s at Darlington,” Larson said. “It was basically the Frosted Flakes paint scheme minus Tony the Tiger. Which kind of defeats the purpose of having the paint scheme. So, while it could have been great, it was merely okay.'”

2. Denny Hamlin: Hamlin dominated at Martinsville, winning Stage 2 and leading 274 laps to win the Cook Out 400, his first triumph of the year.

“I can’t think of a better place to end a losing streak,” Hamlin said. “Other than Phoenix in November.”

3. Christopher Bell: Bell started on the pole at Martinsville and finished second, unable to challenge the power of Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Denny Hamlin.

“I’ve always wanted to add another Martinsville grandfather clock trophy to my collection,” Bell said. “But Hamlin’s car was unbeatable. Any other day, I would have won that race. So, it was just a case of bad ‘timing.'”

4. Chase Elliott: Elliott took fourth in the Cook Out 400.

“Casey Mears was actually racing at Martinsville,” Elliott said. “‘So what?,’ you might ask. And that would be a valid question. But I guess Casey Mears is worth mentioning, and that is probably all he’s worth.”

5. William Byron: Byron struggled at Martinsville and finished 22nd.

“Once again,” Byron said, “my No. 24 car featured Liberty University sponsorship. That’s good for business, and Liberty knows people will see their logo. Liberty’s motto could very well be “Liberty University: We Like It When You’re Watching.'”

6. Ryan Blaney: Blaney finished 11th in the Cook Out 400.

“‘I’m just happy I completed a full race without an engine failure,'” Blaney said, “is a phrase I’m going to say for the rest of the year when I complete a race. For no other reason than to drive a point home to my engine department.”

7. Alex Bowman: Bowman came home 28th at Martinsville, posting his worst finish of the season.

“Sure I’m disappointed,” Bowman said, “but not too disappointed to talk about Martinsville’s famous hot dogs. You haven’t lived until you’ve eaten one of those. Ironically, you’ve almost died if you’ve eaten a Martinsville hot dog.”

8. Bubba Wallace: Wallace was strong all day at Martinsville and finished third, posting his second straight third-place finish.

“How about the finish to that Xfinity Series race?” Wallace said. “Sammy Smith just blatantly plowed right through Taylor Gray and wrecked Gray and himself. If we learned one thing from it, it’s that Gray is ready to be a Cup series driver, because like them, he had plenty of reasons to punch somebody, but like them, chose not to.”

9. Tyler Reddick: Reddick finished 14th at Martinsville.

“Kyle Busch recently raced head-to-head against his son Brexton for the first time in competition,” Reddick said. “That was at Millbridge Speedway in Salisbury, North Carolina. I’m sure Kyle didn’t have to imagine what Brexton was feeling. He would know, because Kyle was a young punk once.”

10. Joey Logano: Logano won Stage 1 and finished eighth at Martinsville, recording his first top 10 of the season.

“Sure,” Logano said, “I’m off to a slow start this season. But in NASCAR’s playoff format, it really matters if you get hot at the right time. Actually, it really only matters if you get hot one time, preferably at the last race of the season.”

Note: The quotes in this article are fictional.

What Actually Happens During an Emergency Tow at 3 A.M.

By
SM
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Photo by Thamkc at https://depositphotos.com/

It’s the middle of the night. Your car won’t start. You’re stuck on the side of the road, with nothing but the dim glow of your hazard lights and the unsettling silence around you.

What now?

Here’s what really happens during an emergency tow at 3 a.m. — no sugar-coating, no drama, just the straight-up truth of how it works, what to expect, and how to get through it without making things worse.

First Things First: Stay Put and Stay Safe

Before you even call a company for 24 hour towing Newcastle, your safety is priority number one. If you’re on a busy road or freeway, do your best to move your vehicle off to the shoulder or a quiet side street. Can’t move it? Turn on your hazard lights, stay inside the car with doors locked, and avoid standing outside, especially near traffic.

Nighttime emergencies can feel extra intense because of how isolated it is, which is why having access to reliable car towing ipswich services is essential. But the key here is not to panic. Take a few minutes to gather yourself before making the call.

Making the Call: Who You Ring Matters

When you need help fast, it can be tempting to just search “tow truck near me” and call the first number that pops up. But not all towing services are created equal.

Ideally, you’ll already have roadside assistance or a trusted towing contact saved in your phone. If not, go for a licensed operator with 24/7 support. And be clear when explaining your situation—where you are, what the issue is (dead battery, flat tyre, engine trouble), and whether you’re in a dangerous spot.

They’ll give you an estimated arrival time, which can be anywhere from 15 minutes to over an hour, depending on your location. After that, you wait.

What the Tow Driver’s Doing While You Wait

On their end, the driver’s not just hopping in the truck and heading over. They’re:

  • Checking the job details and your location
  • Loading any tools or gear they might need
  • Navigating to your car, which can take longer at night
  • Watching for traffic conditions or road closures nearby

If they’re part of a larger dispatch team, they might be juggling multiple calls at once, so getting a realistic ETA can sometimes be tricky. But most drivers aim to arrive as quickly as they safely can.

What Happens When the Truck Shows Up

You’ll know the tow truck is near before you even see it; those flashing lights are hard to miss in the dark. Once they arrive, the driver will usually do a quick check-in:

  • Confirm your name and vehicle
  • Ask what’s happened and if you’ve already tried anything
  • Assess where the vehicle is and how easy it’ll be to hook up

They’ll then either reverse the truck into position or pull up in front, depending on the tow setup. At this hour, things move faster than during the day. There’s less traffic, but also less visibility, so most drivers aim to load the vehicle as efficiently as possible without cutting corners.

If You’re Riding with the Driver

Some towing services allow you to ride with the driver, others don’t. If they do, the cab will usually have room for one or two people max.

You’ll need to buckle up and stay seated during the drive, which might feel odd at 3 a.m., especially if you’re still frazzled from the breakdown. The driver might chat with you, or they might stay quiet. Either way, it’s usually a fairly calm ride.

Make sure you have your drop-off location ready. Whether it’s your home, a mechanic, or a holding yard, you’ll need to be clear on where the vehicle’s going. Some tows include a certain number of kilometres in the base price—any further and you’ll likely be charged extra.

Payment and Paperwork (Yes, Even at 3 A.M.)

Once the car’s delivered, there’s usually a quick rundown of paperwork or digital forms. Even if it’s the middle of the night, most drivers will still need you to:

  • Sign off on the job completion
  • Confirm the address and vehicle details
  • Settle any payments not covered by roadside assistance

Keep a record of what you’re given. That might include a printed slip, a photo of the job sheet, or just a digital receipt sent by text or email. You might be half-asleep, but having that info can save you hassle later, especially if you need to claim it through insurance.

You’re Home (or Somewhere Safe)… Now What?

Once you’re out of the situation, the reality sets in: your car’s still broken, and it’s probably not getting looked at until morning. But you’ve done the hard part.

Here’s what to do next:

  • Get some rest – You’ll need a clear head to sort things out in daylight
  • Call your mechanic first thing – Let them know the car’s on its way (or already there)
  • Follow up with your insurer – If the breakdown is part of a claim, get that moving early
  • Think about a roadside membership – If this was a one-off tow without cover, it might be worth setting something up

That quiet 3 a.m. ride in a tow truck might not be something you want to repeat, but at least now you know how it all works—and what to expect if it ever happens again.

Not All Emergencies Are Created Equal

There’s a big difference between a flat tyre on a quiet suburban street and breaking down on a freeway during a storm. But regardless of where or how it happens, the process of an emergency tow follows the same rough steps.

Being prepared—both mentally and practically—can make a huge difference. Save a few numbers in your phone. Know where you’d want your car taken. And most of all, stay calm when the worst happens.

Because while a 3 a.m. breakdown is never ideal, it’s not the end of the world. It’s just a late-night detour with a lift from someone who knows exactly what they’re doing.

CHEVROLET NCS AT MARTINSVILLE 1: Post-Race Report

By
Official Release
-

NASCAR CUP SERIES
MARTINSVILLE SPEEDWAY
TEAM CHEVY POST-RACE REPORT
MARCH 30, 2025

Elliott Leads Chevrolet with Top-Five Finish at Martinsville Speedway

 TEAM CHEVY UNOFFICIAL TOP-10 RESULTS:
POS. DRIVER
4th – Chase Elliott
5th – Kyle Larson
6th – Ross Chastain

  • Proving to be a contender throughout the day, it was Chase Elliott and the No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet team that led Chevrolet to the checkered flag at Martinsville Speedway – turning in a fourth-place result in the Cook Out 400. The result marks Elliott’s 13th top-10 finish in NASCAR’s top division at Martinsville Speedway – his most top-10 finishes among the series’ active tracks. The fourth-place finish matches Elliott’s season-best result with seven points-paying races complete.
  • Elliott led Chevrolet to three top-six finishes at the conclusion of the 400-lap race, with the Dawsonville, Georgia, native leading his Hendrick Motorsports teammate, Kyle Larson, and the No. 5 HENDRICKCARS.COM Chevrolet team in fifth, and Ross Chastain and the No. 1 Choice Privileges Chevrolet team in sixth.
  • It was a disappointing day for the NASCAR Cup Series’ points leader, William Byron, and the No. 24 Liberty University Chevrolet team. Running in the top-10 early in the race, the team was faced with an issue on the right-front during the first pit stop of the day. Continuing to fight all day long, the Charlotte, North Carolina, native will leave Martinsville Speedway with a 22nd-place finish but has maintained the points lead for the sixth consecutive week.

Chevrolet’s all-time NASCAR Cup Series statistics at Martinsville Speedway:

Wins: 61
Poles: 56
Top-Fives: 282
Top-10s: 535

Chevrolet’s season statistics with seven NASCAR Cup Series races complete:

Wins: 2
Poles: 3
Top-Fives: 15
Top 10s: 32

UP NEXT: The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season continues at Darlington Raceway with the Goodyear 400 on Sunday, April 6, at 3 P.M. ET. Live coverage can be found on FS1, MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.
Post-Race Driver Quotes:

Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Finished: 6th

“It was a good day for our Choice Privileges Chevrolet. Phil made good adjustments throughout the race and got the handling much better on the car as we went. We’ll take a sixth-place finish and go on to one of my favorite tracks next week at Darlington.”

Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Finished: 5th

What more did you need to contend for the win?

“I think just track position. We maybe could have called the second stage a little bit different.. maybe potentially the first stage, too. But yeah, I don’t know. I think maybe if I could have gotten to the lead, I would have stayed in the top two or three. I feel like everyone’s cars are really equal. The No. 11 (Denny Hamlin), I’m sure his car is equal, as well, but he’s just a really good short-track racer. He can keep the tires on it and get through track position really well.”

Did you feel like, if you could have gotten out front, that it would have helped your cause?

“Yeah, for sure. Track position is so important. It’s so hard to pass here. I don’t know if I would have looked as good as Denny (Hamlin), but I feel like I was equal to my teammate, the No. 9 (Chase Elliott). He looked strong, and I feel like we would have been too.”

Chase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet

Finished: 4th

You said yesterday that you had to get your game together in qualifying to help you out throughout the weekend. You really had an impressive run today.

“Yeah, it was better, for sure. We got a little behind there. I wish I could have gotten Denny (Hamlin) in the second stage. We really, really needed control there. When you get into the second-half of these races, it just gets so hard to make ground up. You saw that with Christopher (Bell) pressuring Denny. It just means a lot to have control, and unfortunately I couldn’t get that back for us. But overall, it was a really good effort by this No. 9 NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet team. We had a really good Chevy today, but we just need a little bit more.”

You had a good points day, as well. You led 42 laps, and you had only led two laps up to this point. Does it feel good to just be back on the horse again?

“Yeah, we’ll see how the next couple of weeks go. But it was definitely nice to have a good day here today.”

Ty Dillon, No. 10 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet

Finished: 15th

“I’m really happy with our performance today. Our Mark III Camaro was solid in practice and we built off that. We had a decent qualifying run, just the result didn’t really show the potential we had in the car. I think as a team we were just really patient and focused on executing and not taking ourselves out of the race. We knew we had a decent enough car to get back up there and Andrew (Dickeson, crew chief) made a good call giving us an advantage there at the end on tires to battle back to the top 15. I’m just proud of our effort to bounce back. We worked really hard last week and the result didn’t show. This week to have a really good effort and to get the result this week was really good, so happy all
 around.”

Michael McDowell, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet

Finished: 12th

“It was a solid day at Martinsville Speedway for the No. 71 Rockingham Speedway Chevrolet team. Not a great day, but a solid day. We fought really hard and made good adjustments. We just needed a little bit more firing off there at the end. Our long run speed was decent.

But all-in-all, happy we had good execution this weekend. We had good pit stops. My guys were great today on pit road. We kind of ran in that top-12 to 15 all day. We qualified 15th and finished 12th. It was just kind of a working day. Not the best day but not the worst. We’ll keep building here at Spire Motorsports.”

About General Motors

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

HAMLIN WINS FIRST RACE OF THE SEASON AT MARTINSVILLE

By
Official Release
-

Toyota sweeps the top-three positions in the final running order

MARTINSVILLE, Va. (March 30, 2025) – Denny Hamlin dominated the Cup Series race at Martinsville Speedway. The Virginia-native won the second stage and lead 274 of 400 laps to score his first win of the season. It is Hamlin’s sixth Martinsville Cup Series victory and 55th of his Cup Series career.

Christopher Bell (second), who won his first Martinsville Speedway pole on Saturday, and Bubba Wallace (third) completed a sweep of the top-three finishers for Toyota. This is the 15th time that Toyota has swept the podium positions in a NASCAR Cup Series race and the first time since July 2023 at Pocono Raceway.

Toyota Post-Race Recap
NASCAR Cup Series (NCS)
Martinsville Speedway
Race 7 of 36 – 210.4 miles, 400 laps

TOYOTA FINISHING POSITIONS

1st, DENNY HAMLIN
2nd, CHRISTOPHER BELL
3rd, BUBBA WALLACE
4th, Chase Elliott*
5th, Kyle Larson*
9th, CHASE BRISCOE
13th, TY GIBBS
14th, TYLER REDDICK
24th, ERIK JONES
26th, JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK
32nd, RILEY HERBST
*non-Toyota driver

TOYOTA QUOTES

DENNY HAMLIN, No. 11 Progressive Toyota Camry XSE, Joe Gibbs Racing

Finishing Position: 1st

How rewarding is this?

“It is great. It is a historic race track – I’ve been so frustrated not getting a win here, but being the next best in line, but man, we have really turned the corner. Whatever setup we’ve got here, whenever we come back in the fall, we will be contenders, but this whole Progressive Toyota team did a phenomenal job all week preparing and all practice to give me this race winning car.”

CHRISTOPHER BELL, No. 20 DEWALT Outdoors Toyota Camry XSE, Joe Gibbs Racing

Finishing Position: 2nd

Where was the difference in what Denny had, and what you needed?

“I don’t know what he was doing early in the run – if he was struggling with something or if he was just taking care of the tires. I could keep pace with him, and I could pressure him for a little bit, and then I just died about 20 to 30 to go, maybe longer than that. I was then in hang on mode, but it was a great weekend for our team. This DEWALT Camry was really good on Saturday, and that helped a lot of our success today. Pit crew did a great job when it mattered – showed up and gained some spots on pit road. We have some really good notes and scored some really good points. I remember coming here in the fall last year talking about how many points we needed, and we just haven’t scored points at Martinsville, so it was nice to do that today.”

BUBBA WALLACE, No. 23 McDonald’s Toyota Camry XSE, 23XI Racing

Finishing Position: 3rd

How does this one feel leaving Martinsville?

“I feel like we were definitely better than the 20 (Christopher Bell), but just everybody get so stuck. When you feel like you have an advantage, you can’t really do anything with it. We need to continue to work on this package, but all-in-all – back-to-back top-fives is a good day. It’s usually around those summer months when we do that (laughter). It is nice to have a really good points day. I’m sure that’s what the text from MJ (Michael Jordan, co-owner, 23XI Racing) will say, but all-in-all, really proud of my McDonald’s Toyota team. We’ve showed up since the beginning of the season with our heads in the game. Charles (Denike, crew chief) jumping into this – I’m super proud of him to basically pick up where we left off. Bootie (Barker, former crew chief) left him in good hands. It was definitely a team effort all day. Good to come out of here with a good result in one of my favorite places.”

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for nearly 70 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our more than 1,800 dealerships.

Toyota directly employs nearly 64,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 49 million cars and trucks at our 14 manufacturing plants. In spring 2025, Toyota’s plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, Toyota currently offers 31 electrified options.

For more information about Toyota, visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.

Rick Ware Racing: Cook Out 400 from Martinsville

By
Official Release
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RICK WARE RACING
Cook Out 400
Date: March 30, 2025
Event: Cook Out 400 (Round 7 of 36)
Series: NASCAR Cup Series
Location: Martinsville (Va.) Speedway (.526-mile oval)
Format: 400 laps, broken into three stages (80 laps/100 laps/220 laps)
Race Winner: Denny Hamlin of Joe Gibbs Racing (Toyota)
Stage 1 Winner: Joey Logano of Team Penske (Ford)
Stage 2 Winner: Denny Hamlin of Joe Gibbs Racing (Toyota)

RWR Finish:

● Cody Ware (Started 36th, Finished 31st / Running, completed 396 of 400 laps)

RWR Points:

● Cody Ware (37th with 33 points)

Race Notes:

● With less than 90 laps remaining, rubber buildup underneath the left-front wheel well of Ware’s No. 51 Arby’s Ford Mustang Dark Horse caused a fire that burned two spark plug wires, remaking his V8 into a V6.
● Denny Hamlin won the Cook Out 400 to score his 55th career NASCAR Cup Series victory, his first of the season and his sixth at Martinsville. His margin of victory over second-place Christopher Bell was 4.617 seconds.
● There were 10 caution periods for a total of 86 laps.
● Only 22 of the 38 drivers in the race finished on the lead lap.
● William Byron remains the championship leader after Martinsville with a 17-point advantage over second-place Kyle Larson.

Sound Bites:

“Super frustrating. That’s definitely the best car we’ve ever had at a place like Martinsville, so pretty devastated. It was another really rough weekend for us, and I know it’s cliché, but the result didn’t show the speed we had today. All we can do is get to Darlington, where Billy (Plourde, crew chief) and I have had some pretty good runs in the past. We’ve just got to stay positive, look forward, and know that we still brought a fast racecar to the track this weekend. That’s something we can build on.” – Cody Ware, driver of the No. 51 Arby’s Ford Mustang Dark Horse

Next Up:

The next event on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule is the Goodyear 400 on Sunday, April 6 at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway. The race begins at 3 p.m. EDT with live coverage provided by FS1 and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

LANGDON EXTENDS TOP FUEL POINTS LEAD AFTER SEMIFINALS RUN AT POMONA

By
Official Release
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POMONA, Calif. (March 30, 2025) – Shawn Langdon advanced the farthest of Team Toyota in Sunday afternoon’s NHRA Winternationals at In-N-Out Pomona Dragstrip, making the semifinals in Top Fuel. Langdon, who won the Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty Challenge on Saturday, had two solid runs to begin eliminations, including a 3.668 elapsed time in round one, before falling to Tony Stewart in the semifinals. Langdon’s effort on Sunday helped him extend his Top Fuel points lead heading to Las Vegas in two weeks.

Doug Kalitta was the other Toyota Top Fuel Dragster to advance out of the first round, running a career-best speed in round one of 338.34 mph.

The Toyota GR Supra Funny Cars of Ron Capps, J.R. Todd and Bobby Bode were eliminated in round one on Sunday.

The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series returns to action in two weeks at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the Four-Wide Nationals.

Toyota Post-Race Recap
NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series
In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip
NHRA Winternationals
Race 3 of 20

TOYOTA TOP FUEL FINISHING POSITIONS 

NameCarFinal ResultRound-by-Round
Shawn LangdonKalitta Air Careers Toyota Top Fuel DragsterSemifinalsW (3.668) v. I. Zetterstrom (3.806) W (3.691) v. J. Hart (11.965) L (3.835) v. T. Stewart (3.723)
Doug KalittaMac Tools Toyota Top Fuel DragsterSecond RoundW (3.660) v. S. Palmer (3.852) L (4.456) v. T. Stewart (3.702)
Steve TorrenceCAPCO Contractors Toyota Top Fuel DragsterFirst RoundL (Red light violation) v. J. Salinas (3.716)
Justin AshleySCAG Power Equipment Toyota Top Fuel DragsterFirst RoundL (4.536) v. J. Hart (3.675)
Antron BrownMatco Tools Toyota Top Fuel DragsterFirst RoundL (5.253) v. T. Stewart (3.713)

TOYOTA FUNNY CAR FINISHING POSITIONS 

NameCarFinal ResultRound-by-Round
J.R. ToddDHL Toyota GR Supra Funny CarFirst RoundL (4.621) v. D. Wilkerson (4. 165)
Ron CappsNAPA Auto Care Toyota GR Supra Funny CarFirst RoundL (4.989) v. S. Hyde (3.886)
Bobby BodeDC Motorsports Toyota GR Supra Funny CarFirst RoundL (3.883) v. P. Lee (3.842)

*= Non-Toyota driver

TOYOTA QUOTES

SHAWN LANGDON, Kalitta Air Careers Toyota Top Fuel Dragster, Kalitta Motorsports

TF Final Result: Semifinals

How would you assess your day today at Pomona?

“We had high expectations of winning today, but obviously, all in all, it was a great weekend for Kalitta Air, DAYCO, Revchem, SealMaster and Toyota. We made it to the semifinals, had back-to-back Mission Foods #2Fast2Tasty challenge wins and Doug (Kalitta) won the Callout (Top Fuel All-Star Callout). Team Kalitta leaves Pomona first and second in (the) points, so we have no complaints. We had a little bit of misfortune there in the semifinals dropping the cylinder at the step, but we’ll get that fixed and head to (Las) Vegas. It’s a great time to be at Kalitta Motorsports, and we’re ready to go to Las Vegas.”

About Toyota

Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in North America for nearly 70 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our more than 1,800 dealerships. 

Toyota directly employs nearly 64,000 people in North America who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of nearly 49 million cars and trucks at our 14 manufacturing plants. In spring 2025, Toyota’s plant in North Carolina will begin to manufacture automotive batteries for electrified vehicles. With more electrified vehicles on the road than any other automaker, Toyota currently offers 31 electrified options.

For more information about Toyota, visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.

Preece Posts Third Straight Top 10 Run to Lead Ford at Martinsville

By
Official Release
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Ford Performance Notes and Quotes
NASCAR Cup Series
Cook Out 400 — Martinsville Speedway
Sunday, March 30, 2025

Ford Unofficial Finishing Results

7th – Ryan Preece
8th – Joey Logano
10th – Todd Gilliland
11th – Ryan Blaney
16th – Zane Smith
25th – Chris Buescher
27th – Brad Keselowski
30th – Noah Gragson
31st – Cody Ware
33rd – Josh Berry
34th – Cole Custer
36th – Casey Mears
38th – Austin Cindric

RYAN PREECE, No. 60 Fastenal Ford Mustang Dark Horse – THIRD STRAIGHT TOP 10 FINISH. HOW DOES THAT FEEL? “I didn’t expect that one. Honestly, it all started with me messing up in qualifying and putting us back there. Ultimately, we got some great stage points and some great calls and great adjustments on the box and we got this Fastenal Ford Mustang where it needed to be. We’ve got some work to do to be able to drive through like some other cars do, but I think we’ve got some good ideas and obviously a little luck went our way today. I’m proud of everybody on this Fastenal Ford Mustang and everybody at RFK. We’ve just got to keep working and keep grinding.”

YOU HAD OVER A 100 LAP RUN TO END THE RACE, WHICH SHOWS SOME STRENGTH. “Absolutely. All of our Ford Mustangs are really good. Honestly, they made the right adjustment when it mattered. There are some guys that hit it early and then they fell off. For us, we were at our best there at the end, so I’m just proud of everybody. I’m happy. We’re getting on a roll. At first, this is a place I wanted to take advantage of for points because I felt like Martinsville is in my wheelhouse, so I’m happy we did. I hate talking about points, but every bit matters.”

JOEY LOGANO, No. 22 Shell/Pennzoil Ford Mustang Dark Horse – A LONG TYPICAL DAY AT MARTINSVILLE. “It seems like it’s been a typical 2025. A pretty solid car and then something happens. Overall, I feel the guys gave me a really fast Shell/Pennzoil Mustang, one that was possible to win with if we got the track position. We went for that stage win early in the race in Stage 1. I think that was the right call. We got ourselves back in the ballpark there and the long haul was pretty good. It was just kind of like a pick them off one at a time kind of thing and then Ross just sticking it in a tight spot. He did it to me on the restart before. I can’t even blame Briscoe for shipping him. I think he got himself in a bind trying to ship him. He just races like a jackass every week and I keep paying the price. I’m sick of paying the price.”

IS THERE ANYTHING TO SAY TO HIM? “Not at the moment. Nothing good.”

TODD GILLILAND, No. 34 Colortech Ford Mustang Dark Horse – “I felt like my team did a really good job. We didn’t make any mistakes all day and capitalized on others mistakes and just kind of chipped away at it and made our way forward. We struggled with our balance a little bit and just overall grip, and then that last run my guys did a really good job getting our car a lot better and I was able to pick off one or two guys on all those restarts and then kind of settle in there in ninth. It was tougher to pass once you started getting to go, but I was happy with it. We managed our stuff well and managed our whole race well.”

YOU WERE ABLE TO HOLD ON THAT LAST LONG RUN AND MAINTAIN A SPOT IN THE TOP 10. DO YOU FEEL YOUR TEAM IS ON THE RIGHT TRACK? “Absolutely. It’s nice to get on the right track after the last couple of weeks we’ve had. I wrecked our car at Vegas and finished 30th and then last week we ran 30th pretty much all day, so I’m just super proud of my guys. We knew this was gonna be a good one and I feel super confident when we come to Martinsville in myself, so we did a good job of executing all week. My pit crew did a really good job because they kept us in the game all day. It was a full team effort.”

Rick Ware Racing Scores First Victories of 2025

By
Official Release
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RWR Riders Briar Bauman and Chase Saathoff Sweep
American Flat Track SuperTwins and Singles Races in Georgia

SENOIA, Ga. (March 30, 2025) – Rick Ware Racing (RWR) scored its first victories of 2025 by sweeping the slate of Progressive American Flat Track races Saturday night at the Senoia Short Track in Georgia.

Briar Bauman won the Mission AFT SuperTwins race by taking the lead on the penultimate lap after coming from ninth on the starting grid, riding his No. 3 RWR/Parts Plus/Latus Motors Harley-Davidson XG750R to victory by .265 of a second ahead of fellow Harley-Davidson rider Brandon Robinson. It gave the manufacturer an emphatic 1-2 finish, and it was Harley-Davidson’s first win with the XG750R since its original debut in 2016.

The 29-year-old Bauman earned his 27th career SuperTwins win and his fifth with RWR, as the two-time Grand National Champion came to RWR in 2023.

In a prelude to Bauman’s win, Chase Saathoff took the victory in AFT Singles presented by KICKER. The rider of the No. 88 RWR/Parts Plus Honda CRF450R also started ninth, and Saathoff used the high line around the .25-mile dirt oval to take the lead less than two minutes into the race. Despite constant pressure from Yamaha rider Tom Drane, Saathoff held the top spot, taking the checkered flag by .312 of a second.

The victory was Saathoff’s first win with RWR and the fourth of his career. The 19-year-old joined RWR this year after spending 2022-2024 as an independent AFT Singles rider.

“Each race was extremely exciting. They both came down to the last lap. It was really hard fought,” said team owner Rick Ware.

“Both of these teams have a lot of new people, and we’ve got different bikes, and we’re all building this together. To have this kind of success so early in the season is critical.

“In the first two races of the season at Daytona, we learned some things and now we’re fine tuning. We’re at the beginning of growing this platform. To get Harley-Davidson in victory lane and to have both Briar and Chase racing for wins and running for a championship in their respective classes is really important.

“We’re committed to AFT and committed to racing, and success like what we had last night at Senoia is great for our partners and all that we’re trying to do.”

FS1 will recap all of the action from the Senoia Short Track on Sunday, April 6 at 10 a.m. EDT.

Progressive American Flat Track returns to action on Saturday, April 26 at the Ventura Short Track in Ventura, California. Bauman comes into the event second in the Mission AFT SuperTwins championship standings, one point behind leader Dallas Daniels. Saathoff also holds second in AFT Singles presented by KICKER. He is seven points behind leader Drane.

About Rick Ware Racing:

Rick Ware has been a motorsports mainstay for more than 40 years. It began at age 6 when the third-generation racer began his driving career and has since spanned four wheels and two wheels on both asphalt and dirt. Competing in the SCCA Trans Am Series and other road-racing divisions led Ware to NASCAR in the early 1980s, where he finished third in his NASCAR debut – the 1983 Warner W. Hodgdon 300 NASCAR Grand American race at Riverside (Calif.) International Raceway. More than a decade later, injuries would force Ware out of the driver’s seat and into fulltime team ownership. In 1995, Rick Ware Racing was formed, and with wife Lisa by his side, Ware has since built his eponymous organization into an entity that competes fulltime in the elite NASCAR Cup Series while simultaneously campaigning successful teams in the Top Fuel class of the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series, Progressive American Flat Track and FIM World Supercross Championship (WSX).

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