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Red Light Therapy Australia: The Complete Guide to Devices, Benefits and What to Look For

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

Red light therapy has become one of the most talked about wellness technologies in Australia over the past few years. What was once confined to physiotherapy clinics, sports medicine facilities, and high-end day spas is now available for home use, and Australians are embracing it in growing numbers.

This guide covers how red light therapy works, what the research says about its benefits, which device types are available in the Australian market, and what separates a quality device from a budget imitation.

What Is Red Light Therapy?

Red light therapy, clinically referred to as photobiomodulation, delivers specific wavelengths of red and near-infrared light to the body’s tissues. When absorbed by cells, this light stimulates the mitochondria to produce more adenosine triphosphate, the molecule that powers cellular activity. The result is a cascade of biological responses including reduced inflammation, accelerated tissue repair, improved circulation, and enhanced collagen production.

The wavelengths used in therapeutic devices typically range from 630nm at the red end of the spectrum through to 850nm in the near-infrared range. More advanced devices, including those available through StreamShop Australia, extend further into the 1060nm to 1064nm range using low-level laser technology. At these higher wavelengths, light penetrates significantly deeper into tissue, reaching muscles, joints, and bone rather than working only at the skin surface.

This depth of penetration is what makes higher wavelength devices particularly effective for chronic pain, deep joint conditions, and serious athletic recovery, going well beyond the surface-level skin benefits associated with standard red light devices.

Why Red Light Therapy Is Growing in Australia

Australia’s geographic spread means that millions of people live at a significant distance from specialist clinics offering therapeutic light treatment. For those in regional and rural areas, accessing physiotherapy, sports medicine, or wellness clinic services on a consistent basis is simply not practical. Home devices bridge that gap.

Beyond accessibility, the cost equation is compelling. A single session of red light therapy at a clinic can cost anywhere from $50 to $150. A quality home device represents a one-time investment that delivers the same therapeutic wavelengths indefinitely, with no ongoing booking costs.

Australian consumers have also become more informed about the technology. The research base supporting red light therapy has grown substantially, with studies published across fields including sports science, dermatology, neurology, and pain management. Buyers are increasingly looking beyond wellness trends and seeking devices with verified specifications and legitimate clinical backing.

The Main Device Types Available in Australia

Red Light Therapy Panels

Red light panels australia are the most popular category for whole-body treatment. A panel is mounted on a wall or placed on a floor stand, and the user positions themselves at a distance of 15 to 30 centimetres for sessions typically lasting 10 to 20 minutes.

Panels vary considerably in size, power output, and wavelength range. Entry-level panels cover a smaller surface area and are suited to targeted treatment of specific body parts. Full-length panels allow whole-body exposure in a single session, making them the preferred option for people seeking systemic benefits including improved sleep, reduced inflammation, and whole-body recovery.

StreamShop Australia carries panels extending up to 1060nm near-infrared wavelengths with Class IIa medical grade certification. This certification means the devices have been assessed to a clinical standard rather than simply marketed as consumer wellness products. For buyers who want genuine therapeutic outcomes, Class IIa medical grade status is one of the most important quality indicators available in the Australian market.

Red Light Therapy Beds

A red light therapy bed australia takes whole-body treatment to its most complete form. The user lies within the bed and receives simultaneous exposure across the entire body surface, front and back, without needing to reposition during the session.

Beds are the preferred option in professional settings including sports performance facilities, recovery clinics, and wellness centres. They are increasingly available for home use as well, particularly for serious athletes and individuals managing significant chronic conditions.

The efficiency of a bed setup is unmatched. A single session delivers comprehensive full-body exposure, making it the most time-effective option for people with demanding recovery needs. StreamShop Australia’s commercial red light therapy bed options bring this clinical-grade capability into the home and professional environment.

Medical Grade Red Light Therapy Devices

The term medical grade is used loosely across the wellness industry and it is worth understanding what it actually means. A genuine medical grade red light therapy devices australia classification requires formal regulatory assessment and clearance. Devices carrying this designation have been evaluated for safety and efficacy to a standard that goes beyond what consumer electronics or general wellness products are required to meet.

StreamShop Australia’s Class IIa certified devices sit in this category. The classification covers panels, mats, and other device types in their range, and it represents a meaningful distinction for buyers comparing options across the Australian market. Where a budget device may advertise therapeutic wavelengths without verification, a Class IIa certified device has been formally assessed to support those claims.

For healthcare professionals, physiotherapists, and serious wellness practitioners looking to invest in devices for client use, medical grade certification is an essential baseline requirement.

Red Light Therapy Mats

Mats offer a fundamentally different treatment experience to panels. The user lies directly on the mat, receiving light from below through the entire posterior surface of the body. This makes mats particularly effective for back pain, hip conditions, hamstring and glute recovery, and sleep improvement.

Many mats layer multiple technologies, combining red and near-infrared wavelengths with far infrared heat for a compounding therapeutic effect. StreamShop Australia’s laser mats go further, incorporating low-level laser technology at wavelengths up to 1064nm. This places them in a different category to standard LED mats, delivering penetration depth comparable to clinical laser therapy equipment and making them particularly suited to chronic pain conditions and deep tissue recovery needs.

What to Look for When Buying in Australia

The Australian red light therapy market has grown rapidly and not all products available are equal. Several factors separate a device that delivers real therapeutic value from one that simply looks the part.

Wavelength specification. A device should clearly state the wavelengths it emits, ideally supported by independent testing data. The difference between 850nm and 1060nm is not cosmetic. It represents a clinically significant difference in tissue penetration and therapeutic application.

Irradiance. This is the power output delivered to the tissue, measured in milliwatts per square centimetre. Higher irradiance means a more effective dose delivered in a shorter session time. Devices with low irradiance require longer sessions to achieve comparable results and may not be suitable for users seeking efficient treatment windows.

Medical grade certification. As discussed, Class IIa certification is the standard to look for. It provides confidence that the device has been formally assessed rather than self-declared as therapeutic grade.

Australian supplier support. Purchasing from a local supplier like StreamShop Australia ensures warranty coverage under Australian consumer law, access to local customer support, and the assurance that the device meets Australian regulatory standards. Importing directly from overseas marketplaces removes these protections and can leave buyers without recourse if issues arise.

Beam angle and coverage. Some devices concentrate light into a narrow beam angle, reducing effective coverage area. Wider beam angles ensure more even distribution across the treatment area, which matters particularly for larger panels and full-body applications.

Building a Routine That Delivers Results

Consistency is the single most important factor in achieving results with red light therapy. The technology works cumulatively, with benefits building over weeks and months of regular use rather than appearing immediately.

A practical starting point for most users is sessions of 10 to 20 minutes, three to five times per week. The positioning distance from the device matters and will vary depending on the device type and target area. Following the manufacturer’s guidelines for session duration and distance ensures the correct therapeutic dose is delivered.

Most users find that morning sessions work well for energy and skin goals, while evening sessions, particularly with a mat incorporating far infrared warmth, support recovery and sleep quality.

Red Light Therapy in Australia: The Outlook

The trajectory for red light therapy australia is clearly upward. Consumer awareness is growing, the research base is strengthening, and device quality has improved considerably as the market has matured. Australians now have access to devices that match or exceed the specifications available in professional clinical settings, without the ongoing cost of clinic visits.

StreamShop Australia has positioned itself at the quality end of this market, offering Class IIa medical grade certified panels reaching 1060nm, laser mats extending to 1064nm, and a range of devices designed to meet the needs of both home users and health professionals. As the technology becomes a mainstream fixture of serious wellness and recovery routines across the country, having access to genuinely therapeutic-grade devices from a reputable Australian supplier makes a meaningful difference.

Racing Lessons for Everyday Drivers: Why Vehicle Maintenance Matters

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

High-performance racing has always served as a proving ground for automotive engineering. From endurance events like Le Mans to the intense demands of Formula racing, vehicles are pushed to their mechanical limits under extreme heat, speed, and pressure. While most drivers will never experience the strain of a racetrack, the lessons learned from motorsport are directly relevant to everyday driving. Racing demonstrates just how important proper maintenance, routine inspections, and component reliability are for both performance and safety on public roads.

Every moving part in a vehicle experiences stress over time. During racing, that stress is accelerated dramatically. Engines operate at high revolutions for prolonged periods, suspension systems absorb aggressive cornering forces, and braking systems endure repeated high-temperature stops. These conditions reveal weaknesses quickly, forcing engineers and mechanics to focus on durability, preventative maintenance, and rapid replacement of worn parts.

For everyday motorists, the same principles apply on a smaller scale. Daily commuting, stop-and-go traffic, rough road conditions, and long-distance travel gradually wear down critical systems. One of the most important examples is the braking system. In motorsport, brake performance can determine whether a driver wins a race or crashes at high speed. On public roads, reliable braking is equally essential for avoiding accidents and maintaining vehicle control in unpredictable situations.

Routine inspections of components such as tires, suspension, fluids, and especially the brake pad system can significantly improve vehicle safety. Brake pads naturally wear down through friction, and ignoring warning signs such as squealing noises, vibrations, or reduced stopping power can increase stopping distances and create dangerous driving conditions. Racing teams replace these components frequently because they understand that even minor wear can affect overall vehicle performance. Everyday drivers should adopt a similar mindset by treating maintenance as a proactive safety measure rather than a reactive repair.

Another important lesson motorsport teaches is the value of specialized servicing for high-performance vehicles. Luxury and sports cars often feature advanced engineering, precision braking systems, and sophisticated electronics that require expert attention. Owners of vehicles such as Porsche models understand that regular servicing is not only about preserving performance but also about ensuring long-term reliability and driving safety. Proper care helps maintain the balance between power, handling, and efficiency that performance vehicles are designed to deliver.

Racing culture also highlights the importance of preventative maintenance over costly repairs. Teams constantly monitor temperatures, fluid conditions, and component wear to avoid catastrophic failures during competition. Although everyday drivers may not have pit crews or telemetry systems, modern vehicles still provide warning signs that should never be ignored. Dashboard alerts, unusual noises, or changes in handling often indicate developing issues that can worsen if left unattended.

Ultimately, motorsport reinforces a simple but valuable message: vehicle safety depends heavily on consistent maintenance and attention to detail. Whether driving a family sedan or a performance sports car, regular inspections and timely replacement of worn components are essential for reliability, efficiency, and road safety. The racetrack may represent the extreme edge of automotive stress, but its lessons remain highly relevant for every driver on everyday roads.

How AI-Powered Odds Compilation Is Transforming Pre-Match Markets

By
SM
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Before games even start, artificial intelligence alters how odds appear across sports betting platforms. Instead of relying only on past trends and human guesswork, pre-game predictions now stem from advanced algorithms. With speed unseen years ago, these tools weigh countless data points at once. Accuracy shifts sharply upward because of it. Anyone curious about tech’s role in modern wagering should pay attention – this shift matters.

How AI Creates Early Match Predictions

Huge amounts of data pour in at once, forming the starting point for today’s AI-driven odds creation. From team records to how players are feeling, plus what the skies might do during kickoff – each detail gets pulled into one smart system. Even chatter online finds its way into predictions without slowing things down. When fresh details arrive, updated probabilities appear almost instantly across digital platforms. Faster updates mean those placing bets see numbers shaped by now, not yesterday’s stale figures.

With AI-powered odds engines, pre-game prices can be changed instantly after receiving updated data feeds. Bookmakers employing such technology will be able to react to last-minute team news or injuries prior to opening betting markets to the general public. Those bettors who keep track of all football and basketball games and install the 1xBet APK will be able to access these newly priced pre-game markets directly via their mobile devices. The platform offers various sports betting markets based on the use of intelligent pricing models.

How AI Changes What’s Available and How Much

Out of nowhere, artificial intelligence pushes far beyond simple precision. Suddenly, sportsbooks feature countless new betting choices long before kickoff. Instead of relying on squads of humans tracking every tiny stat by hand, machines take over. These digital tools manage massive loads effortlessly. As a result, fans find fresh angles – odd little bets once too messy to even consider. Machines unlock what people alone could never keep up with.

As a result, fans gain access to finer details – like how many points a single player might score or whether a team will exceed certain thresholds. Today’s range of choices could never have been built by hand ten years ago. As the digital landscape grows, so does the use of smart pricing in the online casino – shaping game displays and fine-tuning returns or odds through artificial intelligence. Firms combining sports betting with casino features apply these systems to unify platform behavior using real-time insights. Precision rooted in math now defines what users see when they enter wagering spaces.

How AI Changes Pre-Match Setup

AI-powered odds compilation delivers measurable improvements across several dimensions of the pre-match market experience:

  • Speed: Odds are generated and updated in seconds after new data inputs, keeping markets current with the latest team news.
  • Accuracy: Machine learning models reduce human error and identify subtle statistical patterns that manual compilers might overlook.
  • Scalability: AI systems simultaneously price thousands of markets across hundreds of sporting events without degradation in quality.
  • Consistency: Unlike human analysts, AI applies uniform logic across all events, reducing inconsistencies between similar markets.

Faster results come when systems handle information more smoothly, giving an edge to those who build better back-end designs. Platforms with smarter setups often see gains simply because their flow stays steady under pressure.

Challenges and Limits in AI Betting Predictions

While very capable, the AI compilation models also have their own limits. The quality of any model is dependent upon the quality of its training data. If there is any flaw or discrepancy in the input data, it can lead to a mispricing of the event. Unforeseen events such as a late change in player lineups and weather changes will often outpace the AI systems.

Challenges and Limits

Additionally, there is the matter of model transparency. Sportsbook operators will have difficulty explaining how a certain probability was arrived at through the use of the AI model. Regulatory bodies and sportsbooks themselves are developing mechanisms for ensuring that the odds produced by the model are both fair and accurate.

The Odds Are Shifting Along With How Things Work

Out of nowhere, algorithms now shape how betting lines come together before games even start. Speedier updates arrive, broader choices open up, accuracy tightens – yet questions about clean data and clear methods tag along too. With smarter software arriving step by step, those watching matches intently face a shifting landscape, full of subtle changes hidden beneath the surface.

The drivers ready to become first time Indy 500 winners

By
SM
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Photo credit: Michael Allio for WWTR

It’s the month of May, which means it’s time for the IndyCar world to descend on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the 110th running of the Indianapolis 500. 

The first event of the month is already complete, with Dane Christian Lundgaard winning the Soniso Grand Prix for Arrow McLaren. All attention now switches to the Greatest Spectacle in Racing, and who can immortalize themselves with an Indy 500 victory. 

The field this year is a truly international one, with almost two thirds of the grid hailing from outside the United States. There are three New Zealanders in Scott McLaughlin, Scott Dixon and Marcus Armstrong, plus Australian Will Power. 

British drivers are also well represented through Katherine Legge, Jack Harvey and Louis Foster. If you’re a British fan who wants to back a home driver, you can check AceOdds to see how to claim your bet365 reward. 

No matter where a driver is from, though, all dream of winning their first Indy 500. These are the drivers most likely to leave their mark on the Brickyard in 2026, and make the 110th Indianapolis 500 their first win. 

Pato O’Ward, Arrow McLaren

There are few relationships in sport as heartbreaking as that between O’Ward and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. In 2022, he couldn’t quite complete a last lap pass on Marcus Ericsson and finished second. The next year he crashed out in the closing stages, this time trying to pass Ericsson for second. 

The 2024 race saw O’Ward finish second again, just 0.34 seconds behind winner Josef Newgarden, while last year he came home in third place. 

History shows that O’Ward has the speed and ability to win the Indy 500. After four consecutive years of heartbreak, he’s the frontrunner to finally get a break and take his first win at the Brickyard. 

Santino Ferrucci, A.J. Foyt Racing

Although not usually one of IndyCar’s front-runners, Ferrucci turns into a different beast during the 500. He hasn’t finished outside the top ten in any of his seven appearances to date, and has a career best finish of third in 2023. 

Even when qualifying towards the back of the grid, Ferrucci finds a way to run at the front in the Indy 500. The aggression that is usually his undoing elsewhere serves him well at the Brickyard, with Ferrucci happy to push early and other drivers more than willing to give up a place rather than risk contact. 

There’s no denying that 2026 has been tough for Ferrucci so far, but at Indianapolis, he’s always a contender. 

Scott McLaughlin, Team Penske

The 2024 pole-sitter McLaughin had a torrid race week in 2025. He first destroyed his primary car in practice, and then suffered the indignity of spinning out during the race’s warm-up laps. He called the moment the worst of his life, and it’s fair to say he hasn’t been the same driver since. 

The 110th running, though, can be his redemption. McLaughlin is a proven champion, with three Supercars Championships to his name back in Australia, and knows how to overcome adversity. 

He’s also helped by the return of Tim Cindric as his strategist, and will be working with veteran spotter David Hunt. It’s easy to see McLaughlin getting his Indianapolis comeback, and walking away with his first Indy 500 victory. 

Kyle Kirkwood, Andretti Global

Kirkwood is the only Andretti Global driver to not have an Indy 500 win to his name, and he could easily change that this year. He’s having a breakout season, finishing inside the top ten at every race, and coming second at Phoenix, the only oval on the calendar so far. 

Currently, Kirkwood is second in the standings, 27 points behind the indomitable Àlex Palou. Not only would an Indy 500 victory signal his arrival as a major IndyCar player, but also give his title chances a massive boost. 

With Will Power struggling to adjust to life at Andretti and Ericsson failing to show the Brickyard form he had at Chip Ganassi Racing, Kirkwood looks likely to lead the team’s charge. As any race fan will know, being the focus of the Andretti efforts at Indianapolis is a very favorable position to be in indeed. 

Palou Gains Confidence with Fastest Lap on Opening Day at Indy

By
Official Release
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INDIANAPOLIS (Tuesday, May 12, 2026) – With about one hour, 45 minutes to go in the opening practice for the 110th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge, Alex Palou pulled into pit lane and thought there was a mechanical gremlin in his car.

Ninety minutes later, there were no problems whatsoever.

Reigning “500” winner and NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Palou led the first day of track activity for this year’s edition of “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing,” turning a top lap of 225.937 mph with less than 15 minutes remaining in the six-hour session Tuesday. The fast lap came on the first run Palou made on the 2.5-mile oval after his crew evaluated his No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda for nearly 90 minutes, as he pulled into the pits around 4:15 p.m. ET because he sensed a problem with the right rear of the car.

SEE: Practice Results

“Yeah, it’s good; it’s good now,” Palou said. “We had a couple of issues, but we fixed them. It wasn’t a mechanical issue or anything. It was just balance, not being super happy with it. We found something that explained what I was feeling, and it was good to go back out today before we go to sleep so we can be a bit happier.”

Four-time series champion Palou is driving a different car this month than he used in the Indy 500 Open Test on April 28-29 at IMS and a different machine than the one he drove to his first career oval victory in last year’s Indy 500. He turned just 28 laps, tied for the third fewest among the 33 drivers on track today.

“You always want to do a lot more,” Palou said. “We didn’t do a many laps today, but still we understood a lot of stuff. Feeling much better than (earlier this afternoon).”

Marcus Armstrong was fastest for most of the day until Palou’s late dash but ended up second at 225.895 in the No. 66 Acura Honda fielded by Meyer Shank Racing w/Curb Agajanian. Indianapolis-area native Conor Daly was third at 225.838 in the No. 23 DRR KINGSPAN Chevrolet of Dreyer & Reinbold Racing.

Two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Josef Newgarden ended up fourth at 225.121 in the No. 2 Shell Fuel Rewards Team Penske Chevrolet, while 2008 “500” winner Scott Dixon rounded out the top five as the last driver faster than 225 mph with his best lap of 225.087 in the No. 9 PNC Bank Chip Ganassi Racing Honda.

All top speeds were produced with the benefit of an aerodynamic “tow” from leading cars. Kyle Kirkwood was the fastest driver running alone, turning a top solo lap of 222.062 in the No. 27 Sam’s Club Honda of Andretti Global. His teammate and 2018 Indy 500 winner Will Power was second on the “no-tow” list at 221.455 in the No. 26 TWG AI Honda.

Jack Harvey was third fastest without a tow at 220.853 in the No. 24 DRR INVST Chevrolet of Dreyer & Reinbold Racing. That validated Harvey’s performance without aerodynamic help in the Open Test, when he was fastest both days on the “no-tow” list.

All 33 cars entered in the event this year were on track today under sunny skies and air temperatures in the mid- to upper 70s, combining to turn 1,996 laps. 2016 Indy 500 winner Alexander Rossi was the busiest driver, the only competitor with more than 100 laps after turning 116 circuits in the No. 20 Java House Chevrolet of Ed Carpenter Racing.

Practice resumes from noon-6 p.m. ET Wednesday (noon-4 p.m., FS2; 4-6 p.m., FS1; FOX One, INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls).

The 110th Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge is scheduled for Sunday, May 24 (10 a.m. ET, FOX, FOX Deportes, FOX One, INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls).

FUNNY CAR WINNER JORDAN VANDERGRIFF EYES CHICAGO SUCCESS AT GERBER COLLISION & GLASS NHRA ROUTE 66 NATIONALS

By
Official Release
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CHICAGO (May 12, 2026) – For the first time in his career, Jordan Vandergriff is entering race week as the most recent NHRA Funny Car winner on the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series tour.

With momentum on his side following the major moment in his career, Vandergriff is hoping to follow up his win at South Georgia Motorsports Park in his 12,000-horsepower Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS with a victory at this weekend’s fan-favorite Gerber Collision & Glass NHRA Route 66 Nationals presented by PEAK, which takes place at historic Route 66 Raceway.

Vandergriff scooped up his first career NHRA win two weeks ago at the NHRA Southern Nationals at the debut event at SGMP. After a part-time season in Top Fuel in 2019 and a stint as a pit reporter for the FOX broadcast team, Vandergriff became a full-time driver for John Force Racing in 2026.

His win made Vandergriff the 97th different Funny Car winner and leading that list, of course, is NHRA legend, and Vandergriff’s team owner, John Force, who has 157 wins. Vandergriff’s win gave John Force Racing its second win of the 2026 season following Josh Hart’s Top Fuel triumph in Gainesville.

“That moment is something I have thought of for a very long time,” said Vandergriff. “Since my last final in 2019 (in Top Fuel), when I lost to Billy Torrance in Dallas. It was just awesome. I think back to all these years that I’ve been out of the seat and everything I’ve done to try to get back to this point. Getting that win made all of it worth it.”

This weekend, the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series travels to Route 66 Raceway for the sixth event of the 2026 season as NHRA honors its 75th anniversary. As part of the celebration, fans can expect a variety of highlights at the Gerber Collision & Glass NHRA Route 66 Nationals presented by PEAK, including:

  • An appearance from NHRA legend and Chicago native “The Greek,” Chris Karamesines, as NHRA honors his long career and accomplishments.
  • Karamesines will also be featured on the unique commemorative ticket for the race. Fans can scan the on-site signs at the track to purchase the commemorative ticket, which will be distinctive to each event.
  • On Sunday, the first 3,000 fans in attendance will receive a free, limited-edition NHRA can cooler.
  • A new-look Nitro Mall, special 75th anniversary displays and more.

Last season, Tony Stewart (Top Fuel), Jack Beckman (Funny Car) and Gaige Herrera (Pro Stock Motorcycle) claimed wins in Chicago. This year’s race will again feature the popular Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge on Saturday, offering competitive racing for fans during qualifying. The event will also be broadcast on FS1, with final elimination coverage on Sunday, May 17, beginning at 5 p.m. ET.

Vandergriff enters the Chicago race fourth in points. With two semifinal finishes as well as a Mission #2Fast2Tasty NHRA Challenge win under his belt in his first season in Funny Car, he is confident in the team’s performance on track so far, even while taking on a loaded class that includes points leader J.R. Todd, Ron Capps, who has two wins in 2026, Matt Hagan, Beckman, Spencer Hyde and Gainesville winner Chad Green.

“At pre-season testing, I knew that we had something special,” Vandergriff said. “I knew (crew chief) Chris Cunningham was the right guy to take this car over and we knew we had a good group of guys that could put the car together the right way. It’s just surreal.

“My teammate Jack (Beckman) joked when I got my Funny Car license on what’s the over/under on five races until he’s holding a trophy and here, we are, five races in with a win. It’s unbelievable. I did not expect it this soon, but at the same time, I did because my team is so good and we’re really ready to go on a good run.”

Last season, motorsports legend Tony Stewart won his second career NHRA Top Fuel race in Chicago over Justin Ashley. Stewart has one win on the season, but leading the way is world champion Shawn Langdon, who has two wins this season. Langdon wowed the motorsports world with his record-breaking 345.00 mph pass at South Georgia before winning the race on Sunday.

Reigning Pro Stock world champion Dallas Glenn has continued his success on track this season with two wins on the season. His KB Titan Racing teammate and six-time world champion Greg Anderson is second after nabbing a win in Pomona. Matt Hartford has wins in Gainesville and Charlotte and is third.

Two-time Pro Stock Motorcycle world champ Gaige Herrera has yet to lose a round at Route 66 Raceway. Last season, he won his third consecutive race, defeating rival Matt Smith. Herrera won seven races last season, but it was his teammate, Richard Gadson, who earned the world title. Herrera, Gadson and Smith have wins in 2026.

The event will also feature competition in the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, along with the JBS Equipment NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series presented by Elite Motorsports and Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown.

Race fans in Chicago can enjoy the special pre-race ceremonies that introduce each driver and includes the fan favorite SealMaster Track Walk. Fans are also invited to congratulate the event winners at the winner’s circle celebration on Sunday. As always, fans get a pit pass to the most powerful and sensory-filled motorsports attraction on the planet. Fans can see their favorite teams in action and servicing their cars, get autographs and more. They can also visit NHRA’s Manufacturers Midway, where sponsors and vendors create an exciting atmosphere.

NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series will feature two rounds of qualifying at 1:30 and 4:00 p.m. CT on Friday, May 15, and the final two rounds of qualifying on Saturday, May 16 at 12:00 and 2:30 p.m. CT. Eliminations will begin at 11:00 a.m. CT on Sunday, May 17. Television coverage includes qualifying action at 7:30 p.m. ET on Friday and Saturday at 11:30 p.m. before eliminations coverage at 5 p.m. ET on Sunday.

To purchase tickets to the Gerber Collision & Glass NHRA Route 66 Nationals presented by PEAK on May 14-17 at Route 66 Raceway, fans can visit www.NHRA.com/tickets. All children 12 and under will be admitted free in the general admission area with a paid adult. For more information about NHRA, including the full 2026 schedule, visit www.NHRA.com.

About Mission Foods

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

About NHRA

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

Spire Motorsports ECOSAVE 200 Race Advance

By
Official Release
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  • Friday’s NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race at Dover Motor Speedway marks Spire Motorsports’ first start in the series at the one-mile, concrete oval.
  • The ECOSAVE 200 will be televised live on FS1 Friday, May 15 beginning at 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). The ninth of 25 points-paying races on the 2026 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series schedule will be broadcast live on the NASCAR Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

Kyle Busch – Driver, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Silverado RST

  • Kyle Busch will pilot Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 HENDRICKCARS.COM Chevrolet Silverado RST in Friday’s NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series ECOSAVE 200. The ninth race of the 2026 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series campaign will mark Busch’s fourth start of the 2026 season for Spire Motorsports.
  • Busch will pull double duty at Dover this weekend, where he’ll also race the No. 8 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Richard Childress Racing in Sunday’s NASCAR All-Star Race.
  • Busch’s last three CRAFTSMAN Truck Series starts at Dover Motor Speedway (‘11, ‘13 and ‘14) have all resulted in victories. Across those three events, the Las Vegas native led a combined 328 laps and completed an event sweep in 2013 by claiming both the Kennametal Pole Award and the race win.
  • Last time out at the controls of the No. 7 HENDRICKCARS.COM Chevy, the 41-year-old rallied from early-race damage and falling a lap down to finish runner-up in the SpeedyCash.com 250 at Texas Motor Speedway where Busch and teammate Carson Hocevar completed a one-two showing for Spire Motorsports.
  • In nine CRAFTSMAN Truck Series starts at the “Monster Mile”, Busch has earned two Kennametal Pole Awards, four victories, four top-five and six top-10 finishes. The veteran driver has led 911 laps at the daunting one-mile oval, including a dominant 2014 win where Busch paced the field for 150 of the race’s 200 laps.
  • Among the field of active NASCAR Cup Series drivers, Busch is tied for the most wins at Dover Motor Speedway where he earned victories in 2008, 2010 and 2017.
  • HENDRICKCARS.COM is the online home for everything Hendrick Automotive Group. Visitors can shop more than 30,000 new or pre-owned vehicles, locate centers for service and collision repair, receive a value to sell or trade their car, chat online with customer service, discover career opportunities, learn more about vehicle protection programs, and explore how the company gives back to the community.
  • Busch will be at the controls of Spire Manufacturing chassis SMT-086 Friday afternoon, marking the truck’s fifth start.

Kyle Busch Quote
A three-race win streak at Dover is impressive at any level. With how mentally and physically demanding it is, does it raise your expectations even more and how do you adapt to that?
“It’s kind of crazy that it’s been over 10 years since I’ve raced a truck at Dover. A lot has changed in the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series since then. We’ve got the spec motor now and the bodies have changed a couple of times, so it’ll be good to have the 55-minute practice to get a feel for things. One thing I do know is that it’ll be hard to pass, so qualifying up front and keeping track position is going to be important if we want to compete for the win on Friday. We didn’t have the fastest truck at Bristol, but once we stayed out and got up front, we were able to keep the lead for quite a while and put ourselves in contention for the win. Hopefully, I can pick up where I left off at Dover, up front leading a lot of laps and in the end putting our HENDRICKCARS.COM Silverado in Victory Lane.”

Atop the No. 7 Box – Crew Chief Brian Pattie

  • Brian Pattie stands atop of the No. 7 pit box, an entry that has seen an abundance of all-star caliber drivers behind the wheel across the 2026 season.
  • Through the season’s first eight races, the No. 7 team sits second in the division’s owner points standings on the strength of one win, three top-five and five top-10 finishes.
  • Pattie led Kyle Busch to his 68th-career NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series victory in February’s Fr8 Racing 208 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The No. 7 Silverado led a total of 37 laps, including the final seven, to secure Spire Motorsports’ 10th all-time series win.
  • The Zephyrhills, Fla., native has called 27 NASCAR Cup Series races at Dover Motor Speedway. His best showing at the one-mile concrete oval came in 2022, when he guided Ricky Stenhouse Jr., to a runner-up finish in the Duramax Drydene 400.
  • The 51-year-old guided Joe Nemechek and the No. 87 Chevrolet to Victory Lane in the 2003 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series’ MBNA Armed Forces Family 200 at Dover Motor Speedway. Nemechek led 30 laps, including the final 22 circuits, en route to the victory.

Carson Hocevar – Driver, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Silverado RST

  • Carson Hocevar will pilot Spire Motorsports’ No. 77 Delaware Life Chevrolet Silverado RST in Friday’s ECOSAVE 200 at Dover Motor Speedway.
  • Hocevar will pull double duty this weekend at Dover, where he’ll also tend to his traditional NASCAR Cup Series duties and wheel Spire Motorsports’ No. 77 MINER Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for Sunday’s 350-lap NASCAR All-Star Race.
  • In last Friday’s CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race at Watkins Glen, the 23-year-old driver spent most of the day in the top 10 until contact initiated by a competitor on a late-race restart sent Hocevar spinning into the inside retaining wall. The damage was deemed too consequential to continue and the team was credited with a 31st-place finish.
  • Hocevar currently sits seventh in the NASCAR Cup Series championship point standings. His one win, three top fives, five top 10s, 342 points scored, average starting position of 10.2 and 14.6 average finish are all career highs through the first 12 points-paying races of the 2026 season.
  • The six-time CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race winner competed last time the series raced at “The Monster Mile” in 2020. Hocevar started 20th and earned a respectable 12th-place finish in just his fourth start in the division.
  • The 23-year-old driver, a veteran of 88 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series races, has logged one pole, six wins, 24 top fives and 37 top 10s, while leading 843 laps. He made the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series playoffs in all his three full-time seasons and earned a spot in the 2023 Championship 4.
  • Hocevar will be at the controls of Spire Manufacturing chassis SMT-090 Friday afternoon, marking the truck’s fourth start.
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Carson Hocevar Quote
What are your thoughts heading into another double duty weekend?
“I’m excited to get back behind the wheel of a truck at Dover. The trucks haven’t been there in a while, so it will be a new experience for a lot of the field. I had the opportunity to run the last race there in 2020, and it was one of my first truck races. A lot has obviously changed since then, so it will be fun to go out there and compete.”

Atop the No. 77 Box – Crew Chief Chad Walter

  • Chad Walter calls the shots from the No. 77 pit box, an entry that will see multiple all-star caliber drivers behind the wheel throughout the 2026 season.
  • In his lone CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race atop the box at Dover, Walter and driver Tyler Ankrum qualified sixth and finished seventh in 2020.
  • Between NASCAR’s O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, the 54-year-old has racked up seven wins, 56 top fives and 142 top 10s.
  • Walter earned a mechanical engineering degree from the Cornell University College of Engineering. During his studies, he played defensive end for the Big Red football team.

About Spire Motorsports …
Spire Motorsports fields full-time entries in the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series and Interstate Batteries High Limit Racing.

The team, co-owned by longtime NASCAR industry executive Jeff Dickerson and TWG Motorsports CEO Dan Towriss, earned its inaugural NASCAR Cup Series victory in its first full season of competition when Justin Haley took the checkered flag in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway July 7, 2019. Less than three years later, William Byron drove Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado to its inaugural NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series win April 7, 2022, at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway. The team’s most recent victory came May 1, 2026, when Carson Hocevar won the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series’ SpeedyCash.com 250 at Texas Motor Speedway.

In 2026, Spire Motorsports will campaign the Nos. 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1s in the NASCAR Cup Series and the Nos. 7 and 77 Chevrolet Silverado RSTs in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. The Mooresville, N.C., organization will also field the No. 77 410 sprint car in Interstate Batteries High Limit Racing competition.

Spire Motorsports All-Star Race Advance

By
Official Release
-
  • The 2026 NASCAR All-Star Race will mark Spire Motorsports’ 14th appearance in NASCAR’s annual all-star showcase. This year’s 350-lap event, held for the first time at Dover Motor Speedway, will consist of two 75-lap stages featuring all participating drivers. Following the completion of Stage 1, the top 26 teams will be inverted for the start at the second segment. The Final Stage will consist of 26 drivers, including 19 competitors already locked into the feature by virtue of a win in 2025 and 2026. Additional entries will include past champions, the 2026 Fan Vote winner and a select few drivers who earn the best combined finish over the first two stages.
  • Spire Motorsports fields the Nos. 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolet ZL1s in the Cup Series for Daniel Suárez, Michael McDowell and Carson Hocevar, respectively.
  • Spire Motorsports has made two prior appearances in the NASCAR All-Star Race. In 2020, Justin Haley qualified via his win in the 2019 Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway and Carson Hocevar raced his way into the 2025 event after winning the All-Star Open.
  • The NASCAR All-Star Race from Dover Motor Speedway will be televised live on FS1 Sunday, May 17 beginning at 1 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). NASCAR’s annual all-star festivities will also be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

Daniel Suárez – Driver, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

  • Daniel Suárez will pilot Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Cal Ripken, Sr., Foundation Chevrolet ZL1 in Sunday’s NASCAR All-Star Race at Dover (Del.) Motor Speedway.
  • Suárez has competed in six previous editions of NASCAR’s annual all-star weekend, dating back to 2017. He first broke into the spotlight that year, capturing a victory in the All-Star Open at Charlotte Motor Speedway before going on to finish 15th in his All-Star Race debut. In six total appearances, Suárez has earned two top-five, three top-10 and five top-20 finishes.
  • The Monterrey, Mexico native made his most recent All-Star Race appearance last season at North Wilkesboro (N.C.) Speedway, where he ran with the leaders early, but a mid-race incident left him 23rd in the final rundown.
  • Suárez started on the pole for the 2023 All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway and finished seventh. He won the 2022 All-Star Open at Texas Motor Speedway and went on to finish fifth in the main event.
  • Across 13 previous Cup Series starts at Dover, Suárez has led 28 laps, earned one top-five, five top-10 and nine top-20 results. His series/venue best came in May 2018, where he finished third at the one-mile, concrete oval.
  • The 34-year-old racer is a veteran of 335 Cup Series starts and has notched two wins, 25 top fives and 78 top-10s in NASCAR’s premier division. Suarez has led 908 laps and earned three poles since 2017.
  • After 12 races, Suárez sits 14th in the NASCAR Cup Series point standings. The two-time Cup Series race winner has one top five, two top 10s and is averaging a 15.0 finish – five positions better than this time last season.
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Daniel Suárez Quote
With no points on the line, how are you feeling going into the All-Star race at Dover?
“Dover is one of my favorite racetracks and I always enjoy going there. It’s a lot of fun. It’s like a roller coaster – super-fast and exciting. You can really feel the speed there, and it’s truly one of a kind, nothing like the other tracks on the schedule. It’s also great going there with no points involved because there’s a lot more freedom. I’m excited to see how the All-Star race plays out.”

Atop the No. 7 Box – Crew Chief Ryan Sparks

  • Ryan Sparks has called 214 NASCAR Cup Series races, earning five top-five and 12 top-10 finishes since making his Cup Series debut atop the pit box in 2020.
  • In total, Sparks has called six NASCAR All-Star Opens since 2020 and earned an event-best fourth-place result with Corey LaJoie during the 2022 edition at Texas Motor Speedway.
  • Sparks joined Spire Motorsports in 2021, where he served as both Crew Chief and Competition Director, leading the organization’s competitive and technical efforts. In 2026, Sparks serves in a singular role as crew chief for Daniel Suárez.
  • Sparks brings more than a decade of experience across all three of NASCAR’s national series, highlighted by 13 seasons at Richard Childress Racing and contributions to title-winning campaigns in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series (2011) and O’Reilly Auto Parts Series (2013).

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

  • Michael McDowell will pilot Spire Motorsports’ No. 71 RCA Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 during this weekend’s NASCAR All-Star Race festivities at Dover Motor Speedway.
  • RCA, the quintessential American consumer electronics brand, returns to the NASCAR Cup Series in 2026 by partnering with McDowell and Spire Motorsports for three races beginning this weekend, when the famed one-mile oval hosts NASCAR’s All-Star Race for the first time in the venue’s storied, 50-plus year history. Following the all-star weekend, RCA will return to McDowell’s No. 71 Chevy Sept. 19 at Bristol (Tenn.) Motor Speedway and Oct. 5 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway.
  • McDowell has 25 starts at the one-mile, concrete oval in America’s first state, spanning 16 seasons. Over those 25 races, the veteran racer has recorded four top-20 and 10 top-25 finishes. He earned a series/venue best 13th-place finish in last year’s 400-miler, where he qualified seventh, also a venue best.
  • Last weekend at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International, McDowell and his Travis Peterson-led team qualified on the outside pole and earned a season-best runner-up finish. The solid effort propelled the veteran racer from 23rd to 21st in the NASCAR Cup Series point standings where he now sits just 10 points outside the top 20.
  • The Glendale, Ariz., native has logged five NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series starts Dover, securing his best finish of 11th in 2009.
  • The No. 71 team earned a $100,000 payday and a trip to Victory Lane after winning the Mechanix Wear Pit Crew Challenge during last year’s NASCAR’s all-star eeekend at North Wilkesboro (N.C.) Speedway. The crew’s blazing 12.587-second stop topped all entries for both the NASCAR All-Star Open and NASCAR All-Star Race, earning them the title of the fastest team on pit road.
  • RCA has its own celebrated, winning history in the NASCAR Cup Series and previously sponsored Cale Yarborough Motorsports. Drivers Jeremy Mayfield and John Andretti both spent time in an RCA-sponsored entry throughout the mid-90’s, with Andretti taking the company to Victory Lane in the 1997 Pepsi 400 after fighting off Terry Labonte and Dale Earnhardt to collect the checkered flag.
  • RCA is one of the most recognized names in the electronics industry, delivering innovative and reliable technology that has been entertaining families for over 100 years. Consumers throughout the world depend on the RCA brand to provide products and services that feature the latest technology and design, are easy to use, and deliver the highest value and longevity. Generations of families continue to rely on the RCA brand for their home entertainment and lifestyle. RCA is a global trademark of established, Inc.

Michael McDowell Quote
How will the All-Star Race change how drivers race at Dover?
“Dover has always been a tough one for me. At the same time, it’s an incredible track with a lot of speed and history. The commitment it takes, the speed, the drop into turn one. It still takes my breath away. Qualifying has always been nerve‑racking, but that is part of what makes Dover special. I love the challenge, even though the results haven’t always been there, we have improved a good bit over the last few years. We had our best finish there last summer, and our Spire Motorsports organization has a lot of speed this season, so I am confident going into Dover for the All-Star Race. You can be a little more on edge with your decision making. Everyone wants to win the million dollars, but a bad day won’t set you back in the points, so having the All-Star Race in Dover will be a bit different. You’ll see some guys get a little more aggressive, especially at the end of each segment when guys are looking to make the transfer. I am excited to get there and see how the new format plays out and super excited to see if our guys can go back-to-back in the pit crew challenge.”

Atop the No. 71 Box – Crew Chief Travis Peterson

  • Last season, the pairing of Peterson and McDowell qualified seventh and earned a venue-best finish of 13th at the historic Delaware track.
  • In his last two Dover attempts, the West Bend, Wis., native holds an average starting position of 7.5, both with McDowell at the wheel.
  • In addition to McDowell’s seventh-place qualifying effort last season, Peterson played a key role in Chris Buescher’s pole-position while serving as a race engineer for RFK Racing in 2022.

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

  • Carson Hocevar will race Spire Motorsports’ No. 77 MINER Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in Sunday’s NASCAR All-Star Race at Dover Motor Speedway, his second appearance in NASCAR’s annual all-star festival of speed.
  • Hocevar qualified for this season’s 350-lap event by virtue of his first career Cup Series’ win three weeks ago at Talladega Superspeedway. The 23-year-old driver raced his way into his first NASCAR All-Star Race last season at North Wilkesboro Speedway after winning the All-Star Open.
  • Through 12 races, Hocevar sits seventh in points, 30 markers out of sixth. His one win, three top fives, five top 10s, 342 points scored, average starting position of 10.2 and 14.6 average finish are all career highs through the first 12 points-paying races of the 2026 season. The team’s average starting position is a whopping 12 positions better than last season, and its average finishing position has improved by nearly seven spots compared to this point in 2025.
  • Last Sunday at Watkins Glen International, the Portage, Mich., native qualified 11th and finished 28th.
  • The 2024 Cup Series Rookie of the Year notched a venue-best 22nd-place finish at Dover in 2024, his first of two starts at the venue in NASCAR’s premier division.
  • Aside from his NASCAR Cup Series duties, Hocevar will also pilot Spire Motorsports’ No. 77 Delaware Life Chevrolet Silverado RST in Friday afternoon’s NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series ECOSAVE 200.
  • In his lone CRAFTSMAN Truck Series start at Dover in 2020, Hocevar started 20th and earned a respectable 12th-place finish in just his fourth start in the division.
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Carson Hocevar Quotes
What are your thoughts on knowing you are locked into the All-Star Race before arriving on site?
“It is super cool knowing we are already in the show. No matter what happens, we can plan on running all 350 laps and being in contention at the end. Ultimately, it is just another race, which I obviously want to win.”

Atop the No. 77 Box – Crew Chief Luke Lambert

  • Crew chief Luke Lambert is in his third season at Spire Motorsports and fourth with driver Carson Hocevar. In 92 races together, the duo has logged one win, two pole awards, six top-five and 20 top-10 finishes.
  • The 16-year veteran crew chief has called 20 NASCAR Cup Series races at Dover Motor Speedway, notching one top five and two top 10s highlighted by Ryan Newman’s fourth-place result in June 2017.
  • The Mount Airy, N.C., native has called three NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series races at Dover, tallying two top fives and three top 10s including a pair of venue-best fourth-place finishes with Elliott Sadler and Noah Gragson in September 2012 and April 2022.

About Spire Motorsports …
Spire Motorsports fields full-time entries in the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series and Interstate Batteries High Limit Racing.
The team, co-owned by longtime NASCAR industry executive Jeff Dickerson and TWG Motorsports CEO Dan Towriss, earned its inaugural NASCAR Cup Series victory in its first full season of competition when Justin Haley took the checkered flag in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway July 7, 2019. Less than three years later, William Byron drove Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado its first NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series win April 7, 2022, at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway. The team’s most recent victory came May 1, 2026, when Carson Hocevar won the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series’ SpeedyCash.com 250 at Texas Motor Speedway.

In 2026, Spire Motorsports campaigns the Nos. 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1s in the NASCAR Cup Series and the Nos. 7 and 77 Chevrolet Silverado RSTs in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. The Mooresville, N.C., organization also fields the No. 77 410 sprint car in Interstate Batteries High Limit Racing competition.

Parker Retzlaff extends strong start in 2026 with seventh top-10 result at The Glen

By
Andrew Kim
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Photo by Chad Wells for SpeedwayMedia.com.

Parker Retzlaff extended his strong start to his first NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series campaign with Viking Motorsports this past weekend at Watkins Glen International by notching a strong seventh-place result.

The 23-year-old Retzlaff from Rhinelander, Wisconsin, was announced to drive the No. 99 Chevrolet Camaro entry for Viking Motorsports less than a week after capping off the 2025 O’Reilly season with Alpha Prime Racing.

Since joining forces with Viking Motorsports, Retzlaff has only finished outside the top-14 mark twice through 13-scheduled O’Reilly events this season. Despite not leading a single lap in the early portions of this season, he has accumulated a total of two top-five results and seven top-10 results. Retzlaff’s latest top-10 result occurred at The Glen, where he notched an eighth-place result during the first stage period and proceeded to finish in seventh place when the checkered flag flew.

Retzlaff’s pair of top-five results that he has achieved this season are the most he has garnered in a single season since 2024 and his top-10 totals are the most he has accumulated since 2023. With 20 O’Reilly events remaining to the 2026 season, he has a golden opportunity of notching career-high stats with top-five and top-10 totals and contend for his first victory in the series.

A year ago, Retzlaff was mired in 21st place in the driver’s standings and he held an average finishing result of 19.0. He also did not qualify for the Circuit of the Americas race, the third event on the schedule. This season, Retzlaff has qualified for all 13-scheduled events. He has an average finish of 12.7 and is ranked in ninth place in the standings. With a 41-point cushion above the top-12 cutline, Retzlaff has 11 regular-season events to maintain the cushion to make his first-ever appearance in the Chase as a potential title contender.

Following his top-10 result at The Glen, Retzlaff took a moment to praise his team, Viking Motorsports, which is campaigning in its third season in the O’Reilly division and had notched only a total of five top-10 results before the 2026 season. With an enhanced alliance with Richard Childress Racing, Retzlaff strives to maintain the strong start for both himself and Viking Motorsports for the remainder of the 2026 season that would enable them to make the Chase.

“I’ve been very excited even from the start of the year,” Retzlaff said. “I didn’t feel like this was off the table. I felt like we needed to be a Playoff team and we needed to show up every week, and I think that we’ve done that. Just got to keep doing it every week and just keep getting better.”

Parker Retzlaff’s 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season continues this upcoming weekend at Dover Motor Speedway in Dover, Delaware, for the BetRivers 200. In four previous starts at Dover, Retzlaff has finished in the top 20 in all of his starts, with his highest-finishing result being a 10th-place run during the 2024 season.

The 2026 BetRivers 200 at Dover Motor Speedway is scheduled to occur on Saturday, May 16, at 4 p.m. ET on the CW Network, PRN Radio and SiriusXM.

Daniel Hemric regains Truck momentum with first top-five result of 2026 at Watkins Glen

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

The early stages of the 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season have not commenced with an ideal start for Daniel Hemric and the No. 19 McAnally-Hilgemann Racing (MHR) Chevrolet Silverado RST team.

A year ago at this time, Hemric, who returned to full-time Truck competition with MHR before the 2025 season, was third in the driver’s standings. He also had a victory at Martinsville Speedway, four top-five results, six top-10 results, an average-finishing result of 7.78 and a guaranteed berth to the Playoffs all but solidified.

Flashforward to this season, Hemric, who remained at MHR for a second Truck campaign, had notched three top-10 results through seven scheduled events. However, he was mired in 13th place in the standings. In addition, his average finishing result was 17.1. He had three results of 24th or worse entering this past weekend’s event at Watkins Glen International.

During The Glen, Hemric maximized an opportunity that commenced with a strong third-place qualifying result towards a strong performance during the main event. After winning the first stage period and navigating his way back towards the front after pitting before the second stage’s conclusion, Hemric then took advantage of pitting under caution with 13 laps remaining to have enough fuel to reach the event’s conclusion. The late decision to pit paid off for Hemric and the No. 19 MHR Chevrolet team, with the driver persevering through four restarts, including an overtime shootout, and three ensuing cautions for on-track chaos to settle in fourth place for his first top-five result of the 2026 season.

Hemric’s fourth-place result boosted the 2021 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series champion from Kannapolis, North Carolina, up three spots from 13th to 10th in the standings. As a result, he is seven points above the top-10 cutline to be Chase eligible as the series’ season is down to its final 10-race stretch before the Chase commences. He also improved his average-finishing result to 15.5, tallied his top-10 total results to four and led his first five laps of this season en route to the first stage victory at The Glen.

Despite falling three spots shy of notching his second series victory at The Glen, Hemric took the positives, which included the points and result, gained from this past weekend, as he strives to regain momentum throughout the remainder of this year’s Truck season.

“It was good to just have a good day,” Hemric said after The Glen on FS1. “I feel like we maximized our day in all forms. [I] Just appreciate everyone sticking with us in this No. 19 group. Appreciate [crew chief] Kevin Bellicourt and his leadership. We’ve had a tough go at it here for the No. 19 group since kicking this season off. Just really proud to have a good day and look forward to continuing this forward.”

Daniel Hemric’s 2026 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series season continues with the upcoming ECOSAVE 200 at Dover Motor Speedway in Dover, Delaware. While the Truck Series has not competed at Dover in nearly six seasons, Hemric previously competed there in the Truck circuit in 2015 and 2016, finishing fourth and ninth, respectively. He has also made six O’Reilly starts and three Cup starts at Dover, where he has notched a combined five top-10 results between the latter two series.

The 2026 ECOSAVE 200 at Dover Motor Speedway is scheduled to occur on Friday, May 15, at 5 p.m. ET on FS1, NASCAR Racing Network and SiriusXM.

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