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Kaulig Racing reveals crew chief lineup for 2025 Xfinity season

By
Andrew Kim
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Photo by Patrick Sue-Chan for SpeedwayMedia.com.

Kaulig Racing took to social media to reveal its 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series crew chief lineup that features the return of three familiar names from the previous season.

For the upcoming racing season, Kevin Walter will be working atop the pit box of the No. 10 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet Camaro team that is set to be piloted by incoming Xfinity Series rookie Daniel Dye. Veteran Eddie Pardue will remain as a crew chief for Josh Williams and the No. 11 Chevrolet Camaro team, a position he assumed midway into the 2024 season, while Alex Yontz will return as a crew chief for Kaulig’s No. 16 Chevrolet Camaro team that will be driven by incoming rookie Christian Eckes.

The news comes as Kaulig Racing is coming off its ninth consecutive campaign in the Xfinity Series and fourth in a row fielding three full-time entries. The organization has also fielded a fourth entry for 10 races total that was piloted by Dye, the latter of whom was making his first set of appearances in the Xfinity division while also competing as a full-time competitor for McAnally-Hilgemann Racing in the Craftsman Truck Series.

Throughout the 2024 season, the Kaulig organization notched four victories, three with Shane van Gisbergen and one with AJ Allmendinger as both also made the Playoffs. While van Gisbergen finished 12th in the final driver’s standings, Allmendinger finished third after he made the Championship 4 round by winning the Playoff’s Round of 8 opener at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in October. Meanwhile, Williams, who campaigned in his first Xfinity season at Kaulig, finished 18th in the standings on the strengths of four top-10 results while Dye recorded two top-10 results during his 10-race stint.

In total, Kaulig Racing achieved a combined four victories, three poles, 14 top-five results, 34 top-10 results and 374 laps led in 2024.

Fthe start of the 2025 season at Kaulig’s No. 10 team is set to mark his third different entry working within the organization and since he began as an Xfinity crew chief in 2024. He initially commenced this past season as a crew chief for Williams and the No. 11 team. Following the first 20 scheduled events, Walter replaced the departing Bruce Schlicker to work atop the pit box of Kaulig’s No. 97 Chevrolet that was piloted by van Gisbergen. Through 33 appearances as an Xfinity crew chief, Walter has notched one pole, two top-five results and seven top-10 results while working with two competitors (van Gisbergen and Williams). Both he and driver Daniel Dye enter the 2025 season with pursuits of notching their first victories in the series.

Walter’s midseason change of Kaulig entry teams in 2024 resulted in Eddie Pardue assuming the position of crew chief Williams and the No. 11 Chevrolet team, beginning at Michigan International Speedway in August. It also marked Pardue’s first appearance as a crew chief in the Xfinity circuit since he was at TriStar Motorsports in 2016. Having made his Xfinity crew chief debut at the start of the 1998 season while working with Elton Sawyer, Pardue has called a current total of 351 events while working with 24 competitors as an Xfinity crew chief.

Throughout the span, Paedue achieved three victories, two with Greg Biffle and one with Matt Kenseth, while leading Roush Fenway Racing’s No. 16 Ford team in 2009. Before being elevated as a crew chief for Kaulig, he was the team’s engineering manager, a position he held since December 2022. Having also called 33 events as a Cup Series crew chief and 22 in the Truck Series, Pardue is set to call a full season with Williams, the latter of whom continues his pursuit for his first Xfinity victory.

Meanwhile, Alex Yontz remains as a crew chief for Kaulig’s No. 16 Chevrolet team for a second consecutive season come the start of the 2025 season. With AJ Allmendinger returning for a full campaign at Kaulig, Christian Eckes assumes Allmendinger’s Xfinity seat after spending the previous two seasons in the Truck Series, where he won a total of eight races with McAnally-Hilgemann Racing and made the Championship 4 round this past season.

Yontz, who made his crew chief debut at the start of the 2019 Xfinity season, has achieved a total of nine victories with four competitors through 184 appearances as a crew chief. During the six years, he also made two Championship 4 appearances: the first with Justin Haley in 2020 and his recent with Allmendinger in 2024, both of which resulted in third-place finishes in the final driver’s standings. Eckes will become the 16th competitor overall to work with Yontz, the latter of whom continues his pursuit for his first NASCAR championship as a crew chief.

Ironically, Kaulig’s reveal of its Xfinity crew chief lineup in 2025 comes exactly two weeks after the organization revealed its Cup crew chief lineup that consists of Andrew Dickeson and Trent Owens for Ty Dillon and Allmendinger, respectively.

The 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series season will commence at Daytona International Speedway on February 15 at 5 p.m. ET on the CW Network.

FOX Sports and INDYCAR AnnounceINDY NXT by Firestone Schedule on FS1, FS2

By
Official Release
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INDIANAPOLIS (Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024) – FOX Sports and INDYCAR have revealed the television schedule for the 2025 INDY NXT by Firestone season. As part of the new media rights deal between FOX Sports and INDYCAR announced in June, the entire INDY NXT season will be available live on television for the first time. Twelve INDY NXT races will appear live on FOX Sports’ FS1 with two airing on FS2.

Additionally, all practice and qualifying sessions for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES’ developmental series will air on a combination of FS1 and FS2. All INDYCAR programming also streams live on the FOX Sports app.

“As part of INDYCAR’s exceptional partnership with FOX Sports, INDY NXT by Firestone will receive unprecedented exposure,” Penske Entertainment Corp. President and CEO Mark Miles said. “As we have seen, the competition in INDYCAR’s developmental series is fierce and intense. A full season of live races on network television via FS1 and FS2 will prove to be a significant showcase for INDY NXT and the drivers vying to advance to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.”

In 2024, INDY NXT averaged the most starters (19.5) since 2009 and is on pace to see a record 24 full-time starters in 2025.

The battle for the 2025 INDY NXT by Firestone championship begins on the palm tree-lined streets of St. Petersburg, Fla., Sunday, March 2 at 10 a.m. (All times Eastern). The 2025 champion will once again be crowned at the season finale at the thrilling Nashville Superspeedway Sunday, Aug. 31 at 11:30 a.m.

The schedule also includes a return to several venues where on-track passing records were broken in 2024:

  • Barber Motorsports Park
  • Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course
  • World Wide Technology Raceway
  • WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca

INDY NXT drivers and teams also look to extend 2024 qualifying records at:

  • Streets of St. Petersburg
  • Streets of Detroit
  • Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
  • Iowa Speedway
  • World Wide Technology Raceway
  • Portland International Raceway
  • Milwaukee Mile

Except for the United States, the INDYCAR LIVE streaming service will continue to provide live coverage of 14 INDY NXT races along with all practice and qualifying sessions. Click here for pricing and more information on INDYCAR LIVE.

2025 INDY NXT BY FIRESTONE TELEVISION SCHEDULE:

DateVenueTelevisionTime (ET)
Sunday, March 2Streets of St. PetersburgFS110 a.m.
Sunday, May 4Barber Motorsports ParkFS111:30 a.m.
Friday, May 9Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course Race 1FS17 p.m.
Saturday, May 10Indianapolis Motor Speedway Road Course Race 2FS11 p.m.
Sunday, June 1Streets of DetroitFS110:30 a.m.
Sunday, June 15World Wide Technology RacewayFS1Noon
Sunday, June 22Road AmericaFS11 p.m.
Sunday, July 6Mid-Ohio Sports Car CourseFS211:30 a.m.
Saturday, July 12Iowa SpeedwayFS11:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 26WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca Race 1FS24:30 p.m.
Sunday, June 27WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca Race 2FS11 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 10Portland International RacewayFS11 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 24Milwaukee MileFS111:30 a.m.
Sunday, Aug. 31Nashville SuperspeedwayFS111:30 a.m.

Remembering NASCAR Hall of Famer, Fred Lorenzen

By
Angie Campbell
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Fred Lorenzen, Hall of Fame legend, passed away Wednesday, Dec. 18, at the age of 89 as confirmed by his family. No cause of death was revealed, but he had suffered from dementia and failing health in his later years.

NASCAR Chairman and CEO Jim France expressed the sport’s sense of loss and Lorenzen’s impact on and off the track.

“Fred Lorenzen was one of NASCAR’s first true superstars. A fan favorite, he helped NASCAR expand from its original roots, France Said. Fred was the picture-perfect NASCAR star, helping to bring the sport to the silver screen — which further grew NASCAR’s popularity during its early years. For many years, NASCAR’s ‘Golden Boy’ was also its gold standard, a fact that eventually led him to the sport’s pinnacle, a rightful place in the NASCAR Hall of Fame. On behalf of the France family and all of NASCAR, I want to offer our condolences to the friends and family of Fred Lorenzen.”

Lorenzen was one of NASCAR’s most beloved drivers and and highly regarded by his peers and his fans. This admiration resulted in numerous nicknames, including Fearless Freddy and Golden Boy.

He rose through the ranks after starting his career as a mechanic for Holman Moody in 1960. But, by the end of the year, he became the lead driver for the team. He captured 26 race wins throughout his career in NASCAR’s premier series, including the 1965 Daytona 500. And he accomplished this, despite never running a full season.

In 1963, he achieved another milestone in his career. Lorenzen was the first driver to earn $100,000 in a single season. He did so after competing in only 29 of the 55 races.

He retired in 1972 at the age of 32 to focus on his family and health. At his retirement banquet, Lorenzen said, “I guess every athlete wants to quit when he’s on top. I know I’m slowing down and have been a little more cautious in the last year and a half. Plus I haven’t been feeling too well lately. The ulcer is a small one, but it sure takes a lot out of you. I added up all these things and decided that now was the time to quit.”

And though his career was short, his expertise was undeniable. He left an enduring legacy that will live on through NASCAR and his fans. Lorenzen was named one of NASCAR’s greatest drivers in 1998 and was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in January 2015.

At his retirement banquet, Lorenzen said, “I guess every athlete wants to quit when he’s on top. I know I’m slowing down and have been a little more cautious in the last year and a half. Plus I haven’t been feeling too well lately. The ulcer is a small one, but it sure takes a lot out of you. I added up all these things and decided that now was the time to quit.”

Though his career was short, his expertise was undeniable and he left an enduring legacy that will live on through NASCAR and his fans.

Garrett Smithley will Drive the No. 14 Chevrolet Full-Time for SS-Greenlight Racing in the NASCAR Xfinity Series for 2025

By
Official Release
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Mooresville North Carolina, SS-Greenlight Racing is excited to announce the return of Garrett Smithley as the full-time driver of the #14 Chevrolet during the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series season. Garrett has over 250 NASCAR National series starts, including 11 for SS-Greenlight racing. In those 11 starts Garrett managed 8 top 25s and a top 10 at Talladega. Veteran Crew Chief Jason Miller will crew chief the #14, his tenure with SS-Greenlight and experience in NASCAR will be invaluable to the team! Garrett’s long time partner Trophy Tractor will be an anchor partner on the #14 in 2025. The other partners for the #14 team will be announced at a later date so make sure to follow both SS-Greenlight and Garrett Smithley on social media to keep up to date on our partners, race schedule, and updates from the track!

SS-Greenlight owner Bobby Dotter said of the partnership “We are really excited to have Garret back, his experience will be crucial to succeeding in 2025.” he went on to say “When Garrett has raced for us in the past he did a stellar job and we look forward to building on that success.”

Smithley said of the opportunity “I’m incredibly excited and grateful to be a full-time driver at SS Greenlight Racing.” he continued by saying “I haven’t been full-time since 2019 so beyond, excited to get to work with Bobby and Jason Miller. Daytona can’t come soon enough!”

Learn more about Trophy Tractor:

We own and know the equipment we sell. All our equipment is carefully inspected prior to purchase by an experienced Trophy Tractor equipment buyer. The equipment is then shipped to our main equipment yard located directly between Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas, just 10 minutes south of DFW International Airport. There it is repaired if needed, or rebuilt to our customer’s specifications.

Nearly all our customers are repeat buyers, and we are proud of the long-term relationships we have built with them. From the quality workmanship that our factory trained technicians perform to the respect and honesty you will receive from our sales staff, we guarantee the quality machinery you purchase or rent from Trophy Tractor will meet or exceed your expectations.

Visit their website: https://www.trophytractor.com/company.htm

FOX Sports, INDYCAR Unveil 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES Race Broadcast Start Times

By
Official Release
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A Record 19 Network Windows, All 17 Races on FOX, Expanded Indy 500 Pre-race Coverage

FOX Dedicates Six Hours of Live Coverage to the May 25 Indianapolis 500

INDIANAPOLIS (Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024) – FOX Sports and INDYCAR have announced the race broadcast start times for the 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES schedule.

Announced in June as part of the new media rights deal between FOX Sports and INDYCAR, an NTT INDYCAR SERIES record 17 races will be available on broadcast television providing a massive increase in exposure for North America’s premier open-wheel racing series. The NTT INDYCAR SERIES is the only premier motorsport series in North America with all races broadcasting live on network television. All INDYCAR programming streams live on the FOX Sports app.

The season launches on FOX with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding at noon (all times Eastern) Sunday, March 2. The year also is highlighted by the 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday, May 25, with the broadcast beginning at 10 a.m. to allow for over two hours of pre-race coverage before the green flag. The 2025 season will close in dramatic fashion on Labor Day weekend with the Big Machine Music City Grand Prix at Nashville Superspeedway at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 31.

“The unrivaled exposure FOX will bring to the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, including an additional hour of Indy 500 pre-race coverage, will prove to be a spectacular showcase for our drivers and teams,” Penske Entertainment Corp. President and CEO Mark Miles said. “With FOX’s tremendous partnership and support, we’re going to bring the most competitive and compelling motorsport on the planet to a growing and massive audience. We cannot wait to raise the curtain on the 2025 season with FOX.”

Other notes of FOX’s 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES broadcast schedule include:

  • The first points-paying The Thermal Club INDYCAR Grand Prix on the 17-turn, 3.067-mile Twin Palms circuit at the scenic The Thermal Club, Sunday, March 23 at 3 p.m.
  • A return to network television for the 50th anniversary celebration of the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach on Sunday, April 13 at 4:30 p.m.
  • Network coverage of the finishing hours of both days of qualifying for the Indy 500 on Saturday and Sunday, May 17 and 18 at 4 p.m. bringing the total number of network windows on FOX to a record 19.
  • Non-stop racing action in July with five races in four weekends including the popular Hy-Vee INDYCAR Race Weekend doubleheader Saturday, July 12 at 5 p.m. and Sunday, July 13 at 2 p.m. at Iowa Speedway.
  • The return to network television for the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto on the tight and unforgiving Streets of Toronto circuit Sunday, July 20 at 2 p.m.
  • The historic Milwaukee Mile, which produced the most on-track passes on record in 2024, will be the penultimate race of the 2025 championship Sunday, Aug. 24 at 2 p.m.

WHAT NTT INDYCAR SERIES DRIVERS ARE SAYING:

“I’m excited to get the 2025 season started and go for a third straight championship with the No. 10 DHL Honda team. FOX Sports has been a great partner so far and I cannot wait to get back on track at St. Pete.” – Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing

“On behalf of everybody in INDYCAR, we’re so excited about the new partnership with FOX Sports. They’ve given us so much already and I can’t wait to see what we can do together in 2025. I think we’re really going to bring INDYCAR to the masses and retell our story in a significant way. I think people are going to be really pleased with what they see. The first round can’t get here soon enough. It’s going to be a big year.” – Josef Newgarden, Team Penske

Coverage of all 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES practice and qualifying sessions will be featured on either FS1 or FS2. FOX Deportes will carry exclusive Spanish-language television coverage of the Indianapolis 500, with a more complete 2025 season schedule to be announced at a later date. Coverage schedule for the 2025 INDY NXT by Firestone championship, the developmental series for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES, also will be announced at a later date.

FOX SPORTS’ 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES COVERAGE SCHEDULE:

DateVenueTelevisionTime (ET)
Sunday, March 2Streets of St. PetersburgFOXNoon
Sunday, March 23The Thermal ClubFOX3 p.m.
Sunday, April 13Streets of Long BeachFOX4:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 4Barber Motorsports ParkFOX1:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 10Indianapolis Motor Speedway (road course)FOX4:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 25Indianapolis Motor Speedway (oval)FOX10 a.m.
Sunday, June 1Streets of DetroitFOX12:30 p.m.
Sunday, June 15World Wide Technology RacewayFOX3 p.m.
Sunday, June 22Road AmericaFOX3:30 p.m.
Sunday, July 6Mid-Ohio Sports Car CourseFOX2 p.m.
Saturday, July 12Iowa Speedway Race 1FOX5 p.m.
Sunday, July 13Iowa Speedway Race 2FOX2 p.m.
Sunday, July 20Streets of TorontoFOX2 p.m.
Sunday, July 27WeatherTech Raceway Laguna SecaFOX3 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 10Portland International RacewayFOX3 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 24Milwaukee MileFOX2 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 31Nashville SuperspeedwayFOX2:30 p.m.

Note: Dates and times are subject to change.

Honda Presents World Premiere of Honda S+ Shift, Next-generation e:HEV Technology

By
Official Release
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TOKYO, Dec 19, 2024 – (JCN Newswire) – Honda Motor Co., Ltd. held a press briefing on next-generation technologies for its original 2-motor hybrid system, e:HEV*, and presented the world premiere of Honda S+ Shift technology. Honda plans to install Honda S+ Shift in all of its future hybrid-electric vehicle (HEV) models featuring the next-generation e:HEV, starting with the all-new Honda Prelude scheduled to go on sale in 2025.

The original Honda e:HEV hybrid system combines exceptional fuel economy (environmental performance), achieved by the highly efficient 2-motor hybrid system, and high-quality and exhilarating driving experience (driving performance), delivered by the high-powered traction motor. By optimally alternating between the motor and the engine as a source of driving force and applying highly efficient controls depending on the driving environment and conditions, e:HEV achieves high fuel economy without making it a conscious effort of the driver and realizes driving at the will of the driver, responding linearly to driver inputs.

The newly developed Honda S+ Shift is a new function designed to pursue the “joy of driving” that further accentuates the sense of oneness between the driver and the vehicle, while fully leveraging the characteristics of the e:HEV system. The further advancement was made to the Linear Shift Control synchronizing vehicle speed with engine sound, which has been installed in e:HEV models starting with the Fit e:HEV that launched in 2020. Without compromising high environmental performance unique to HEV models, the Honda S+ Shift precisely controls the engine RPM during acceleration and deceleration to realize direct drive response and sharp gear shifting. Moreover, the powerful engine sound synchronizes with the Active Sound Control (ASC) system, enhancing engine sound quality by offering the engine sound in sync with engine RPM through the speaker system and the highly responsive meter display. In this way the Honda S+ Shift will stimulate all of the driver’s senses and provide exhilarating driving at the will of the driver, further “synchronizing” the driver and the vehicle.

Key features of Honda S+ Shift

  • By linking two high-power motors with the ASC system, the Honda S+ Shift achieves dynamic engine RPM changes and a sharp upshift feeling, providing feedback that resonates with all of the driver’s senses, amplifying the sense of oneness between the driver and the vehicle.
  • The Honda S+ Shift further advances the Linear Shift Control applied to current e:HEV models, enabling gear shifts (upshift and downshift) according to the driving conditions and environments at all speed ranges. While turning, the Honda S+ Shift system quickly responds to driver steering input and activates shift hold, enabling the vehicle to trace the desired driving line at the will of the driver.
  • By maintaining the optimal engine RPM for the particular driving conditions, the power generated by the engine during re-acceleration will be fully utilized as driving force. This greatly improves the initial response time of the motor when the driver depresses the accelerator pedal and enables overwhelmingly high response that is directly connected to driver input.
  • Although e:HEV does not have a mechanical transmission mechanism, when the Honda S+ Shift is activated, the driver can shift gears with a paddle shifter, so that the driver can enjoy driving feel as if the vehicle features a transmission system. With quick gearshift responses achieved through the coordination of the engine and high-power motor, Honda S+ Shift function will strive to offer the joy of driving based on direct response to driver input.

The letter “S” in the technology name, Honda S+ Shift, has been used in the names of Honda models and technologies such as the S600, S2000, and Type S, representing the “sports spirit,” which Honda believes to be the source of the joy of driving. The “+” indicates that this function will add new value represented by words such as “Synchronized” “Special” and “Sensational.” The word “Shift” represents the Honda desire to make a shift that takes people and automobiles to the new world.

*e:HEV is a global communication name for the Honda high-efficiency 2-motor hybrid system with outstanding fuel economy, which is the core of Honda electrification technologies. The e: represents the Honda desire to ‘energize’ people and bring about a smile and high spirits by using ‘electricity’ as the ‘energy.’

News URL: https://www.acnnewswire.com/press-release/english/94716/

URL: https://plus.google.com/110355594819754396833 | Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/HondaJP | Twitter : https://twitter.com/HondaJP | Youtube : https://www.youtube.com/user/HondaJPPR | Linkedin : https://jp.linkedin.com/company/honda

Three Reasons to Rent a Car in Dubai as a Solo Traveler

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

Dubai is a resplendent city with manufactured landmarks, luxurious experiences, and cultural wonders. Many travelers go there alone to experience networking, content creation, and the benefits mentioned above, as well as to progress their careers and earn life-long memories. Dubai is host to a plethora of affordable, and exceptional car rental companies which can help create those experiences. While Dubai has a public transit system, this article will review three reasons for utilizing a Dubai car rental service when traveling solo.

Freedom & Flexibility

Anyone who’s owned a car back home understands the unparalleled flexibility it provides. Dubai is a busy city, and not needing to adhere to public transport schedules, booking apps, or finding a taxi saves an exceptional amount of time. You are the sole person responsible for your itinerary and deciding where to go and when.

Freedom is also a major benefit. Dubai is surrounded by beautiful landscapes, deserts, and beaches that are not accessible by public transport. You can drive to any of these destinations without any time constraints, so you can take in everything without worry.

Cost-Effectiveness

While the initial cost may seem more expensive, utilizing other methods of transportation can quickly add up in costs and fees. A Dubai car rental is an upfront cost that is cost-effective in the following ways:

  • Affordable Rates: You’ll most likely pay a flat daily rate, which can easily be cheaper than multiple taxis or privately hired transport.
  • Convenience: Less time sitting around means more time spent doing what you came to Dubai for, which means less time spent on food during travel, for example.
  • Long-Term Effectiveness: If you plan on staying in Dubai long-term, a rental company will likely offer discount rates, which are even more cost-effective than a daily taxi service.

Considering all of the above, you can quickly realize that the savings you gain over time heavily outweigh the opportunity cost and actual cost of public transportation.

Security

Using a rental car will vastly reduce the risk of losing your valuable personal items. You will be the only person with access to the car, so the opportunities for theft are dramatically lower. Additionally, you will not need to worry about accidentally leaving behind your personal items on public transport or private hire.

There is also added security because you do not need to communicate with or let strangers know where you’re going or staying. Whether you’re traveling for business or leisure, having the privacy of your vehicle allows you to feel more secure and less exposed to unwanted attention.

Conclusion

Renting a car in Dubai is a clear and easy choice for solo travelers. A car rental provides freedom and security and is a cost-effective strategy even for shorter trips. It allows you to explore the city at your leisure while traveling comfortably and safely, particularly from the heat and the crowds. Whether you want to visit iconic landmarks, grow your brand, or network, a rental car gives you the independence to do it all and more!

Parker Retzlaff joins Alpha Prime Racing for full Xfinity campaign in 2025

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

Parker Retzlaff will be driving the No. 4 Chevrolet Camaro entry on a full-time basis for Alpha Prime Racing for the 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series season.

The news comes as the 21-year-old Retzlaff from Rhinelander, Wisconsin, is coming off his second consecutive campaign in the Xfinity circuit, where he drove for Jordan Anderson Racing Bommarito Autosport.

Throughout the 33-race schedule in 2024, Retzlaff notched his first two career poles (Richmond Raceway in March and Martinsville Speedway in November), a season-best third-place result during the season-opening event at Daytona International Speedway, two top-five results, four top-10 results, 50 laps led and an average-finishing result of 23.5 before setting in 21st place in the final driver’s standings.

Throughout the 2024 season, Retzlaff also made his first two career starts in the Cup Series division. He finished 35th in his debut while driving for MBM Motorsports at Richmond in August before he notched a strong seventh-place result during his second start two races later at Daytona while driving for Beard Motorsports.

Retzlaff’s move to Alpha Prime Racing solidified his racing plans for next season more than a month after it was announced that he would not be retained by Jordan Anderson Racing Bommarito Autosport for the 2025 campaign.

“I’m humbled, honestly,” Retzlaff said in a released statement. “Obviously I wouldn’t be here without the support of my partners – who I’m really excited to announce later,” he said with a smile. “[Owners] Tommy [Joe Martins] and Caesar [Bacarella] have put together an awesome team. It’s a big confidence booster for me to go into 2025 with a group that really wants me here.”

“I feel like we still have something to prove,” Retzlaff added. “We all want to win races, be consistent and prove we’re here to compete. Everyone here has told me how much they believe in me and what I can do.”

Retzlaff, a former champion in the Wisconsin Bandolero Series, made his Xfinity Series debut at Phoenix Raceway in March 2022, where he drove the No. 38 RSS Racing Ford entry to a 36th-place result. He then made eight additional starts while competing between RSS and Our Motorsports throughout the season. During the stint, he notched his first top-10 career result by finishing 10th at Richmond in April.

In 2023, Retzlaff replaced Myatt Snider to pilot the No. 31 Chevrolet entry for Jordan Anderson Racing Bommarito Autosport. Commencing his first full-time Xfinity campaign with a fourth-place result at Daytona, Retzlaff would rack up six additional top-10 results and a total of 23 top-20 results. Despite missing the Playoffs, Retzlaff capped off the season with an average-finishing result of 17.9 and a 16th-place result in the final standings.

Through 75 career starts in the Xfinity Series, Retzlaff has notched two poles, three top-five results, 12 top-10 results, 62 laps led and an average-finishing result of 20.4 as he continues his pursuit for both his first series victory and Playoff berth. He is set to compete alongside Brennan Poole, the latter of whom returns for a second consecutive campaign at Alpha Prime Racing after he notched two top-10 results, an average-finishing result of 20.0 and finished 16th in the driver’s standings.

“I’m just super excited to have [Retzlaff] join us,” Caesar Bacarella said. “He’s a young, really talented racecar driver and he’s going to help elevate the team. There’s been a lot of ups and downs, but [co-owner Tommy Joe Martins] and I agree it’s all about the people. It’s so hard. We’re racing against the best teams in the world. But we’ve got great people and that’s what’s made it work. And now we’ve got two ace drivers in the stable full-time.”

Alpha Prime Racing’s crew chief lineup for its driver roster along with any additional organization and partnership details remain to be determined.

The 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series season for Alpha Prime Racing is scheduled to commence at Daytona International Speedway on February 15 at 5 p.m. ET on the CW Network.

RFK Announces Partnership with Mohawk for Preece, No. 60 Team

By
Official Release
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Mohawk Teams Up for Three Races with Ryan Preece

CONCORD, N.C. (Dec. 18, 2024) – RFK Racing has announced that Mohawk Northeast – a premier heavy-civil contractor – has joined the team as a partner for Ryan Preece and the No. 60 team.

“It’s so exciting to have Mohawk with RFK in 2025 to continue building the relationship we’ve had for the past 10-plus years,” said Preece. “They’ve been supporting me since the beginning and I’m looking forward to accomplishing our goals together with their support.”

A longtime supporter of Preece, the company has been providing high quality construction services to a wide variety of clients. Specializing in heavy highway, railroad, movable and fixed bridges and marine construction, Mohawk has completed countless projects safely, on time and within budget.

Mohawk can self-perform all phases of construction and they offer an extensive fleet of cranes, barges, offshore tugboats and many other heavy equipment pieces. Clients include the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, USACE, Generic Dynamics – Electric Boat, Connecticut DOT, Massachusetts DOT, New York DOT, Metro North Railroad, Amtrack, and various other clients.

Mohawk will appear on Preece’s No. 60 in three races in 2025, making its debut at Iowa Speedway on Sunday, Aug. 3 (3:30 p.m. ET, USA Network). They will return as the primary partner a week later at Watkins Glen (2 p.m. ET, USA Network), before their final race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, now a playoff race, on Sept. 21 (2 p.m. ET, USA Network).

About RFK Racing
RFK Racing, in its 38th season in 2025, features an ownership lineup pairing one of the sport’s most iconic names, Jack Roush, along with NASCAR Champion, Brad Keselowski, and Fenway Sports Group owner John Henry. Roush initially founded the team in 1988 and it has since become one of the most successful racing operations in the world, propelling him to be the first NASCAR owner to amass three hundred wins and capturing eight championships, including back-to-back NASCAR Cup titles in 2003 and 2004. Keselowski, a former owner in the NASCAR Truck Series, is the 2012 NASCAR Cup Series Champion. In 2007, Roush partnered with Henry, who also owns Major League Baseball’s Boston Red Sox, English Premier League’s Liverpool F.C., and the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins, to form Roush Fenway Racing. Off the track, RFK is a leader and proven winner in NASCAR marketing solutions, having produced multiple award-winning social media, digital content and experiential marketing campaigns. Visit rfkracing.com, and follow the team on all social platforms @rfkracing.

Daytona International Speedway Unveils Course Design for 2025 DAYTONA Supercross

By
Official Release
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Supercross legend Ricky Carmichael returns to design course for 18th year in a row 

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (December 18, 2024) – Daytona International Speedway today unveiled the highly anticipated course layout for the 2025 DAYTONA Supercross, taking place during the 84th Annual Bike Week At DAYTONA.

Five-time DAYTONA Supercross Champion Ricky Carmichael has designed yet another grueling course for the 18th consecutive year, with the 2025 layout presenting some very different challenges for riders than in years past.

“It’s an honor to have Ricky Carmichael, the GOAT of Supercross, design the course for DAYTONA Supercross once again,” said Frank Kelleher, President of Daytona International Speedway. “Ricky has an unmatched ability to create a track that challenges the riders while delivering an unforgettable experience for the fans. When you combine those elements, it’s guaranteed to be another can’t-miss spectacle here at Daytona International Speedway.”

2025 DAYTONA Supercross

The 2025 course layout is going to generate intense racing as riders will start by making a right-handed first corner. This leads into a left-handed 90-degree corner followed by a rhythm section that rides right along The Roost. From there, they’ll go all the way across the frontstretch giving fans an incredible view of all the racing action. There’s no doubt that this course is sure to bring entertainment and showcase some incredible talent from the riders.

“I tell you what, the split lane is always a lot of fun. We work really hard to make it even and give riders lots of options. I’m looking forward to this year’s design, I think it’s going to be a lot of fun no doubt especially with the right hand turn and a completely different track design as we’ve seen in the last several years,” said Carmichael.

Last time these riders took center stage at the World Center of Racing, Jett Lawrence made history, beating Eli Tomac, who is known as “The King” of DAYTONA Supercross after securing his seventh victory at the famed track in 2023. For Lawrence, it was only his eighth career 450SX Class start and it resulted in his first DAYTONA Supercross title.

The 55th annual DAYTONA Supercross takes place on March 1, 2025, with riders tackling Carmichael’s course under the lights at Daytona International Speedway as part of the 84th Annual Bike Week At DAYTONA.

Bike Week is a ten-day motorcycle celebration kicking off on Feb. 28, and continuing through March 9, following the intense, high-speed racing of the DAYTONA 200 running from March 6-8 along with DAYTONA Short Track taking place March 6-7.

To purchase tickets or for more information on DAYTONA Supercross or Bike Week At DAYTONA, please visit www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com. Fans can save up to 20% on tickets by taking advantage of the Daytona International Speedway holiday offer, good through Friday, Dec. 20.

Fans can also stay connected with Daytona International Speedway via www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com, on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, as well as the all-new NASCAR Tracks App, for the latest speedway news.

About Daytona International Speedway:

Daytona International Speedway is a state-of-the-art motorsports facility and was awarded the SportsBusiness Journal’s prestigious Sports Business Award for Sports Facility of the Year in 2016. Daytona International Speedway is the home of The Great American Race – the DAYTONA 500. Though the season-opening NASCAR Cup Series event garners most of the attention – as well as the largest audience in motorsports – the approximately 500-acre motorsports complex, also known as the World Center of Racing, boasts the most diverse schedule of racing on the globe. Some of the exciting racing events include January’s Rolex 24 At DAYTONA and Roar Before The Rolex 24, February’s DAYTONA 500 and Speedweeks Presented by AdventHealth, March’s Bike Week At DAYTONA Presented By Monster Energy, featuring DAYTONA Supercross and the DAYTONA 200, the August Coke Zero Sugar 400 weekend, and much more. The Speedway grounds are also used extensively for other events that include concerts (Welcome to Rockville, Heroes Honor Festival, etc.), sporting events (DAYTONA Soccer Fest, CLASH DAYTONA, etc.) civic and social gatherings, car shows, photo shoots, production vehicle testing and police motorcycle training.

About Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship:

Monster Energy AMA Supercross is the most competitive and highest-profile off-road motorcycle racing championship on the planet. Founded in America and sanctioned by the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) since 1974. Over 17 weeks, Supercross attracts some of the largest and most impressive crowds inside the most recognizable and prestigious stadiums in North America to race in front of nearly one million live fans and broadcast to millions more worldwide. For more information, visit SupercrossLIVE.com.

About Feld Motor Sports:

Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is the worldwide leader in producing and presenting specialized arena and stadium-based motorsports entertainment. Properties include Monster Jam®, Monster Energy AMA Supercross, and the SMX World ChampionshipTM. Feld Motor Sports, Inc. is a subsidiary of Feld Entertainment, Inc. Visit monsterjam.com, SupercrossLIVE.com, and feldentertainment.com for more information.

About the SMX World Championship:

The SMX World Championship™ is the premier off-road motorcycle racing series that combines the technical precision of stadium racing with the all-out speed and endurance of outdoor racing. Created in 2022, the SMX World Championship combines the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship and the AMA Pro Motocross Championship into a 31-round series that culminates in a season-ending two round playoff and SMX World Championship Final. Visit SuperMotocross.com for more information.

About the American Motorcyclist Association

Founded in 1924, the AMA is a not-for-profit member-based association whose mission is to promote the motorcycle lifestyle and protect the future of motorcycling. As the world’s largest motorcycling rights and event sanctioning organization, the AMA advocates for riders’ interests at all levels of government and sanctions thousands of competition and recreational events every year. The AMA also provides money-saving discounts on products and services for its members. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, the AMA honors the heroes and heritage of motorcycling. For more information, visit americanmotorcyclist.com.

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