Home Blog Page 723

Kaulig Racing Weekly Preview | Atlanta Motor Speedway

By
Official Release
-
  • Last week, the first of a three-part story titled “Garage to Garage: Matt Kaulig Built a Business Empire From Humble Beginnings” hit Sports Illustrated, detailing how Kaulig Racing team owner, Matt Kaulig, created his successful business, philanthropic endeavors, and journey into NASCAR team ownership. To read part one, click here: “Garage to Garage: Matt Kaulig Built a Business Empire From Humble Beginnings”
  • Trophy Hunting with Kaulig Racing is set to air on TEGNA NBC this Friday, February 21 at 8pm ET. The documentary gives exclusive access to Matt Kaulig, Kaulig Racing and the team’s journey to make the 2024 NASCAR Xfinity Series playoffs.
  • In the NASCAR Cup Series, Kaulig Racing has earned a top five and three top-10 finishes. AJ Allmendinger captured the team’s best finish of third in 2023.
  • Allmendinger also earned a Kaulig Racing win at Atlanta in the NASCAR Xfinity Series. The team has also earned one pole award, 13 top five and 21 top-10 finishes.

 10 Team Info
Crew Chief: Andrew Dickeson
Partner: Sea Best

Ty Dillon, No. 10 Sea Best Camaro ZL1
Sea Best: This weekend, Sea Best returns to the No. 10 Chevrolet with Ty Dillon. This year will make the organization’s second season with Kaulig Racing and Dillon. Sea Best will adorn the No. 10 Chevy for a total of 20 races throughout the 2025 season. Sea Best proudly serves as the flagship brand of Beaver Street Fisheries, a family-owned-and-operated company based in Jacksonville, Florida. As one of the nation’s largest importers, manufacturers, and distributors of seafood and meat, the Sea Best brand is synonymous with premium-quality seafood. Its product lineup includes a wide range of frozen fish fillets—such as ahi tuna, mahi-mahi, cod, and catfish—along with shrimp, scallops, and lobster.

At Atlanta:

  • Ty Dillon will make his 11th Cup Series start at Atlanta Motor Speedway this weekend. In his previous 10 starts at the track, Dillon has a career-best finish of 15th in 2017.
  • In addition to his Cup Series starts at Atlanta Motor Speedway, Dillon has made six Xfinity Series starts and three Truck Series starts. In the Xfinity Series, Dillon has four top-10 finishes, including three finishes in the top five. Dillon has seen the most success in the Truck Series where he has one win at the track. Dillon started from the pole position for the 2012 race and led 40 laps on his way to victory lane. That same season, Dillon won the Truck Series Rookie of the Year honors.

“Atlanta Motor Speedway, it’s been quite a different race the past few years since the repave. I feel like every time I’ve gone back there, I’ve gained more and more confidence on how to approach it. It’s not a total superspeedway feeling, but it’s not really a mile-and-a-half race. It’s got its own unique approach to it. You have to be aggressive, but you also have to have a strong handling car to be able to make the moves you need to make. We came out of Daytona with a strong run and we’re really hoping for the same thing at Atlanta to really catapult our season in the right direction. The first two races are very important for starting on the right foot. So, I look forward to Atlanta. My luck hasn’t been that good, but it’s about time for it to turn around at the racetrack.” – Ty Dillon on Atlanta Motor Speedway  

16 Team Info
Crew Chief: Trent Owens
Partner: Action Industries

AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Action Industries Camaro ZL1
Action Industries: Action Industries has been a proud partner of Kaulig Racing since 2022, serving as both a primary and associate sponsor on the No. 16 NASCAR Cup Series Chevrolet driven, by AJ Allmendinger, and an additional team associate sponsor on all Kaulig Racing’s Chevrolets in the NASCAR Cup Series and NASCAR Xfinity Series.

Meet Allmendinger:
Saturday, February 22
NASCAR Legends merchandise trailer in the Atlanta Motor Speedway Midway from 1:10pm – 1:40pm

At Atlanta:

  • In 2023, AJ Allmendinger earned Kaulig Racing’s best Cup finish of third after leading six laps during the event.
  • Allmendinger earned his first NASCAR oval-win at Atlanta Motor Speedway in 2020 driving Kaulig Racing’s No. 16 in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

“Coming off Daytona where our race cars were really fast, I’m looking forward to getting to Atlanta, as it’s obviously a superspeedway-type racetrack. We’ve had success in the past at Atlanta but there’s a lot of unknowns throughout the race. Hopefully we can go there and have speed like we did in the [Daytona] 500 and have a solid race to rebound from the deficit that we are in now after Daytona. We’ll do all that we can to have a good qualifying effort and try to run up front and have a good finish.” – AJ Allmendinger on Atlanta Motor Speedway  

10 Team Info
Crew Chief: Kevin Walter
Partner: SMA Healthcare

Daniel Dye, No. 10 SMA Healthcare Chevrolet
SMA Healthcare: Daniel Dye will pilot the No. 10 SMA Healthcare Chevrolet at Atlanta Motor Speedway. SMA Healthcare is a leader in behavioral healthcare and has over 60 years of experience providing exceptional and comprehensive services to individuals living with addiction, mental illness or both in communities across Florida.

At Atlanta:

  • Dye will make his first NASCAR Xfinity Series start at Atlanta Motor Speedway in the Bennett Transportation & Logistics 250. Last year, Dye earned his first pole award in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and a top-10 finish at Atlanta.

“Atlanta is such a unique race track, unlike any other track we go to. There are a lot of unknowns heading into the weekend, but hopefully we can bounce back from Daytona with this No. 10 Kaulig Racing team.” – Daniel Dye on Atlanta Motor Speedway  

11 Team Info
Crew Chief: Eddie Pardue
Partner: Alloy Employer Services

Josh Williams, No. 11 Alloy Employer Services Chevrolet
Alloy Employer Services: Kaulig Racing’s partnership with Alloy Employer Services will continue into 2025 with the No. 11 Chevrolet sporting the same look as in 2024. Alloy Employer Services, an Ohio-based workers’ compensation and risk company, has backed Williams much of his career.

At Atlanta:

  • Williams has recorded two top-10 finishes at Atlanta Motor Speedway. His most successful race at the track came in his most-recent trip in September 2024.
  • In it, Williams qualified 13th, his best starting position at the 1.5-mile drafting track. After attempting multiple times to create a second lane in the waning laps, Williams settled for an eighth-place finish.

“Always enjoy going to Atlanta, great fans and a great race track. We had a good run at the second Atlanta last year… Looking to build off of that and put ourselves in position at the end of the race to have a shot at a win.” – Josh Williams on Atlanta Motor Speedway  

16 Team Info
Crew Chief: Alex Yontz
Partner: LeafFilter Gutter Protection

Christian Eckes, No. 16 LeafFilter Gutter Protection Chevrolet
LeafFilter Gutter Protection: The Bennett Transportation & Logistics 250 at Atlanta Motor Speedway marks the first time LeafFilter Gutter Protection and Eckes will team up on track. LeafFilter is America’s #1 rated gutter protection system trusted by more than a million homeowners. LeafFilter’s patented technology keeps gutters free of debris and is backed by a lifetime transferable warranty.

At Atlanta:

  • Following his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut at Daytona International Speedway, Eckes will make his first series start at Atlanta, a track where he earned a win and a top-three finish in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.

“Atlanta is a unique, superspeedway-style track that I have always really enjoyed and had some success at. Kaulig Racing has typically been good here in the past and brings fast Chevrolets. Track position will be important, so I’m looking forward to the opportunity to work with our teammates and hopefully have a better result than Daytona.” – Christian Eckes on Atlanta Motor Speedway  
 
About Kaulig Racing

Kaulig Racing™ is a full-time, multi-car NASCAR Cup Series (NCS) and NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS) team, owned by award winning entrepreneur, Matt Kaulig. Established in 2016, Kaulig Racing™ has earned 27 NXS wins, made the NXS Playoffs consecutively each season since the playoff system started, and won two regular-season championships. In 2021, the team competed in select NCS events, before expanding to a two-car, full-time NCS team in 2022 and adding a third, part-time entry during the 2023 season. Since its first NCS start in 2021, the team has earned two wins. Kaulig Racing is currently fielding two full-time entries in the NCS and continues to field three full-time NXS entries. To learn more about the team, visit kauligracing.com.

Front Row Motorsports: Atlanta Motor Speedway Competition Notes (Todd Gilliland and the No. 34 Aaron’s Rent to Own Ford Team)

By
Official Release
-

Todd Gilliland and the No. 34 Aaron’s Rent to Own Ford Team
Atlanta Motor Speedway Competition Notes
Ambetter Health 400
Date: Sunday, February 23, 2025
Event: Race 3 of 38
Series: NASCAR Cup Series
Location: Atlanta Motor Speedway (1.5-miles)
#of Laps: 260
Time/TV/Radio: 3:00 PM ET on FOX/PRN/SiriusXM channel 90

Todd Gilliland Notes

Todd Gilliland returns to the Atlanta Motor Speedway this weekend. Gilliland and the team will have a new partner on the No. 34 Ford Mustang Dark Horse as Aaron’s Rent to Own will make their return to NASCAR this weekend with Front Row Motorsports.

Aaron’s is proud to restore their legendary connection to NASCAR and resume their place in the NASCAR Cup Series. The lease-to-own retailer will team up with FRM in a multi-race partnership, showcasing their brand with Todd Gilliland’s and Zane Smith’s Ford Mustang Dark Horses throughout the 2025 season. “NASCAR has always been in our DNA, and teaming up with Front Row Motorsports feels like a natural fit for us at Aaron’s,” shared Cory Miller, Aaron’s interim CEO. “It’s not just another partnership – it’s where our drive for innovation meets the raw thrill of NASCAR, creating a winning combination that I’m truly excited about.”

Showing impressive speed and drafting skills during last week’s Daytona 500, Gilliland currently sits 22nd in the Driver Points standings. He secured valuable stage points in Stage Two at Daytona and is now focused on continuing that momentum at Atlanta, with hope of earning the race win.

Atlanta has proven to be a good track for Gilliland, qualifying within the top five in the last two events at the 1.5-mile speedway and leading a race high 58 laps in February 2024.

“I can’t wait to hit the track with Aaron’s,” said Gilliland. “They are one of the most recognizable brands in the history of NASCAR, and I’m super excited to represent that legacy on the track this year. Atlanta has been a good track for me. Its superspeedway style of racing creates a great show and puts me in contention for a good result. Hopefully, I can put Aaron’s in Victory Lane in their first race back in the sport.”
Road Crew

Driver: Todd Gilliland
Hometown: Sherrills Ford, North Carolina

Crew Chief: Chris Lawson
Hometown: Medway, Ohio

Car Chief: Joe Marra
Hometown: Somers, New York

Engineer: Marc Rullo
Hometown: Ringwood, New Jersey

Engineer: Kevyn Rebolledo
Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Spotter: Brit Andersen
Hometown: Branford, Connecticut

Underneath Mechanic: Michael Brookes
Hometown: Columbus, Ohio

Interior Mechanic: Chance Burke
Hometown: Siler City, North Carolina

Tire Specialist: Billy John
Hometown: Pitman, New Jersey

Engine Tuner: Tim Meyer
Hometown: Beatrice, Nebraska

Transporter Co-Driver: Christian Boller
Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Transporter Co-Driver: Joe Haresky
Hometown: Victorville, California

Pit Crew

Front Tire Changer: Danny Olszowy
Hometown: Lexington, Kentucky

Rear Tire Changer: Justin Fox
Hometown: Concord, North Carolina

Tire Carrier: Jordan Goodine
Hometown: Salisbury, North Carolina

Jackman: Courtney Edmonds
Hometown: Burlington, North Carolina

Fueler: Zeke Nance
Hometown: Calhoun, Georgia

ABOUT AARON’S

Headquartered in Atlanta, The Aaron’s Company, Inc. is a leading, technology-enabled, omnichannel provider of lease-to-own and retail purchase solutions of appliances, electronics, furniture, and other home goods. Aaron’s offers a direct-to-consumer lease-to-own solution through its approximately 1,200 Company-operated and franchised stores in 47 states and Canada, as well as its e-commerce platform, Aarons.com.

ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS

Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization in the NASCAR Cup and Craftsman Truck Series. The team is the 2021 Daytona 500 and 2022 Craftsman Truck Series champions. The team was founded in 2004 and is owned by successful entrepreneur, Bob Jenkins. FRM fields the No. 4, No. 34, and the No. 38 NASCAR Cup Series teams along with the No. 34 and No. 38 Craftsman Truck Series teams from its Mooresville, N.C. headquarters. Visit teamfrm.com and follow FRM on social media: Twitter at @Team_FRM, Instagram at @team_frm and Facebook at facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.

Hendrick Motorsports returns for 16-race Xfinity campaign in 2025

By
Andrew Kim
-
Photo by John Knittel for SpeedwayMedia.com.

Hendrick Motorsports (HMS) will be fielding the No. 17 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet entry for 16 NASCAR Xfinity Series events throughout the 2025 season. Between the 16-race schedule, Corey Day, a development competitor for HMS, will share the entry with the organization’s four Cup Series competitors, including Alex Bowman, William Byron, Chase Elliott, and Kyle Larson.

Byron, who is coming off his second consecutive Daytona 500 victory, will pilot the No. 17 entry in its first appearance of the 2025 Xfinity season at Circuit of the Americas on March 1st. The Charlotte, North Carolina, native will make his second and final Xfinity start of this season at Charlotte Motor Speedway, his home track, on May 24th.

As for Byron’s three Cup Series teammates, Larson, the 2021 Cup Series champion from Elk Grove, California, will campaign in his first Xfinity start at Homestead-Miami Speedway on March 22nd before he returns to compete at Bristol Motor Speedway on April 12th. Bowman, a three-time Daytona 500 pole winner and eight-time Cup race winner from Tucson, Arizona, will make his lone Xfinity start of this season at Phoenix Raceway, his home track, on March 8th, while Elliott, the 2020 Cup Series champion from Dawsonville, Georgia, will pilot the No. 17 entry for his lone Xfinity start in 2025 at Darlington Raceway on April 5th.

Meanwhile, Day, the 2023 King of the West Spring Car Series champion and Make-A-Wish Trophy Cup champion from Clovis, California, will make his Xfinity Series debut in the No. 17 entry at Martinsville Speedway on March 29th. He will compete at Texas Motor Speedway on May 3rd before returning to race at Nashville Speedway on May 31st, Sonoma Raceway on July 12th, and Iowa Speedway on August 2nd. Once the 2025 Xfinity Series Playoffs commences, Day’s Xfinity campaign will continue at Bristol Motor Speedway on September 12th, the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course on October 4th, Las Vegas Motor Speedway on October 11th, and Martinsville on October 25th before concluding with the season-finale event at Phoenix Raceway on November 1st.

Throughout the 16-race effort, Adam Wall will be serving as the crew chief. Wall, a veteran engineer for HMS and JR Motorsports (JRM), spent this past season as an Xfinity crew chief between JRM’s Nos. 8 and 9 Chevrolet teams that were piloted by Sammy Smith and Brandon Jones, respectively.

“We’re pleased to continue our sponsorship of the No. 17 team, which has driven significant traffic to HendrickCars.com and helped support the broader goals of Hendrick Automotive Group,” Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports and chairman and CEO of Hendrick Automotive Group, said in a released statement. “With Adam, we have one of the sharpest young crew chiefs in the garage area leading our team. The Xfinity Series competition is tough, and we’re looking forward to the challenge.”

HMS debuted the No. 17 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet entry in four Xfinity events during the 2022 season as the entry was split between Bowman, Byron, and Larson, the latter of whom competed in two events. Together, the trio recorded a combined two poles, three top-five results, and 71 laps led. The entry would return for six Xfinity events in 2023 as Elliott, Larson, and Rajah Caruth joined the latter three in the organization’s driver lineup. During the latter season, the No. 17 entry was piloted to one pole, three top-three results, a total of four top-10 results, and 68 laps led. In October 2023, Boris Said attempted to compete in the No. 17 entry at the Charlotte Motor Speedway Road Course, but he failed to qualify.

AUSTIN, TEXAS – MARCH 23: Kyle Larson, driver of the #17 HendrickCars.com Chevrolet, celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series Focused Health 250 at Circuit of The Americas on March 23, 2024 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images).

This past season, HMS fielded the No. 17 entry for 10 Xfinity events as Bowman, Byron, Elliott, Larson, and Said took turns piloting the entry. At Circuit of the Americas in March, Larson overtook Shane van Gisbergen and Austin Hill on the final lap amid two overtime attempts to record the entry’s first elusive victory in the Xfinity circuit. Two months later, Elliott utilized a pit strategy to win at Charlotte. Larson and Elliott’s victories were HMS’s first in the Xfinity Series since Tony Stewart won at Daytona International Speedway in February 2009. They also tallied the win total of HMS in the Xfinity circuit to 25.

Through a combined 359 starts in the Xfinity Series, HMS has notched 40 poles, 116 top-five results, 165 top-10 results, 5,847 laps led, and 25 race victories. The organization pursues more victories with its five-driver lineup and expanded schedule.

The 2025 NASCAR Xfinity Series part-time campaign for Hendrick Motorsports will commence at Circuit of the Americas for the Focused Health 250 on March 1st. The event will be broadcast at 2:30 p.m. ET on the CW Network.

Haas Factory Team Advance | Atlanta I

By
Official Release
-

Atlanta Event Info:
Date: Sunday, Feb. 23
Time: 3:00 p.m. ET
Series: NASCAR Cup Series (NCS)
Location: Hampton, Georgia
Format: 200 Laps, Stages: 60-100-100
TV: FOX
Radio: PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90)

Weekend Schedule:
Friday: 5 p.m. ET, Xfinity Qualifying (CW App, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Saturday: 11 a.m. ET, Cup Qualifying (Prime, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Saturday: 5 p.m. ET, Xfinity Race (CW, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Sunday: 3 p.m. ET, Cup Race (FOX, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)

Pace Laps:

  • Atlanta Motor Speedway hosts race No. 2 on the NASCAR Cup Series season this weekend, marking two-straight speedway races to kick off the 2025 campaign.
  • There have been four different winners across six total races on the reconfigured Atlanta track.
  • Last season’s Cup spring race saw a record number of lead changes at the track, 48, and there has been a final lead change with two or fewer laps to go in four of the last five Atlanta races.

Cole Custer Team Info:
Crew Chief: Aaron Kramer
Partner: 3D Systems

Sheldon Creed Team Info:
Crew Chief: Jonathan Toney
Partner: Friends of Jaclyn

Sam Mayer Team Info:
Crew Chief: Jason Trinchere
Partner: Audibel

Custer at Atlanta Motor Speedway (Cup)
Starts: 6
Wins: —
Top-10s: 1
Poles: —

  • Custer makes his 7th Cup start at Atlanta this weekend where he has posted one top-10 finish in his career.
  • He finished 9th in the 2022 fall Atlanta race, and led one lap the year prior in 2021 before settling for 17th.

Creed at Atlanta Motor Speedway (Xfinity)
Starts: 6
Wins: —
Top-10s: 2
Poles: —

  • Creed is set to make his 7th Xfinity start at Atlanta this weekend, where he finished P4 in the spring last season. He has two career top-10s at the track, including a 9th-place finish in his Xfinity Series debut at the track in 2022.
  • Over six races, Creed holds an average qualifying position of 9.8, and has started inside the top-15 in every race.

Mayer at Atlanta Motor Speedway (Xfinity)
Starts: 7
Wins: —
Top-10s: 3
Poles: —

Mayer makes his 8th Xfinity start at Atlanta this week where he has recorded three top-10 finishes in his career. His lone top-5 came in the fall of 2023, where he started and finished 5th.

Where They Stand

Cup Points Standings (41: 27th): Custer sits 27th in the points through one race this season.

Xfinity Points Standings (00: 2nd, 41: 5th): Creed is the current Xfinity points leader as he gained a race-high 51 points at Daytona. Mayer is 5th in the points standings after gathering 35 points in the season-opener.

Aaron’s Returns to NASCAR with Front Row Motorsports in Multi-Race Partnership

By
Official Release
-

Lease-to-Own Retailer to Partner with Todd Gilliland and Zane Smith

 MOORESVILLE, N.C. (February 19, 2025)- After much speculation and hype, Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is excited to announce a new partnership with Aaron’s.

Headquartered in Atlanta, Aaron’s is a leading provider of lease-to-own and retail purchase solutions of appliances, electronics, furniture, and other home goods with nearly 1,200 locations in 47 states and Canada.

Aaron’s is proud to restore their legendary connection to NASCAR and resume their place in the NASCAR Cup Series. The lease-to-own retailer will team up with FRM in a multi-race partnership, showcasing their brand with Todd Gilliland’s and Zane Smith’s Ford Mustang Dark Horses throughout the 2025 season.

“NASCAR has always been in our DNA, and teaming up with Front Row Motorsports feels like a natural fit for us at Aaron’s,” shared Cory Miller, Aaron’s interim CEO. “It’s not just another partnership – it’s where our drive for innovation meets the raw thrill of NASCAR, creating a winning combination that I’m truly excited about.”

Aaron’s season will kick off at the Atlanta (G.A.) Motor Speedway on Sunday, February 23rd with Todd Gilliland and the No. 34 Ford Mustang Dark Horse Team. In 2024, Gilliland qualified fourth and led a race high 58 laps in NASCAR’s February visit to the Hampton, Georgia track.

“I can’t wait to hit the track with Aaron’s,” said Gilliland. “They are one of the most recognizable brands in the history of NASCAR, and I’m super excited to represent that legacy on the track this year.”

“Atlanta has been a good track for me. Its superspeedway style of racing creates a great show and puts me in contention for a good result. Hopefully, I can put Aaron’s in Victory Lane in their first race back in NASCAR.”

Aaron’s season will continue with Zane Smith and the No. 38 Ford Mustang Dark Horse team in seven NASCAR Cup Series events, starting at the Phoenix (Ariz.) Raceway on March 9th.

The full race schedule for Aaron’s this season includes:

No. 34 Aaron’s Ford Mustang Dark Horse

· 2/23- Atlanta Motor Speedway

No. 38 Aaron’s Ford Mustang Dark Horse

· 3/9- Phoenix Raceway

· 3/16- Homestead-Miami Speedway

· 4/13- Bristol Motor Speedway

· 6/28- Atlanta Motor Speedway

· 7/27- Indianapolis Motor Speedway

· 8/23- Daytona International Speedway

· 11/2- Phoenix Raceway

“I’m really excited to be a part of Aaron’s next chapter in NASCAR.” said Smith. “They’ve been one of the most recognizable brands in the history of the sport, and I can’t wait to have them on the 38 car throughout the 2025 season.”

Aaron’s return to NASCAR will take place on February 23rd at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. Fans can watch the action live on FOX or listen in from the Performance Racing Network and SiriusXM channel 90.

ABOUT AARON’S

Headquartered in Atlanta, Aaron’s is a leading, technology-enabled, omnichannel provider of lease-to-own and retail purchase solutions of appliances, electronics, furniture, and other home goods. Aaron’s offers a direct-to-consumer lease-to-own solution through its approximately 1,200 Company-operated and franchised stores in 47 states and Canada, as well as its e-commerce platform, Aarons.com.

ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS

Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization in the NASCAR Cup and CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. The team is the 2021 Daytona 500 and 2022 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series champions. The team was founded in 2004 and is owned by successful entrepreneur, Bob Jenkins. Visit teamfrm.com and follow FRM on social media: Twitter at @Team_FRM, Instagram at @team_frm and Facebook at facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.

NTT INDYCAR SERIES Strengthens Global Broadcast Reach in 2025

By
Official Release
-
St. Petersburg, FL - during the 2024 Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on the streets of St. Petersburg. (Photo by Joe Skibinski | IMS Photo)

International Expansion Increases Global Visibility of North America’s Premier Open-Wheel Series

INDIANAPOLIS (Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025) – INDYCAR is set to reach a wide global audience during its 17-race 2025 season. A robust list of international partners, including new media and broadcast relationships, will bring the star competitors and iconic events of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES to audiences in more than 200 countries and territories.

INDYCAR LIVE, the series’ direct-to-consumer streaming service, will continue to provide audiences in markets without a dedicated international partner with access to live practice, qualifying and races for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and the INDYCAR development series, INDY NXT by Firestone. Along with on-track activity, INDYCAR LIVE includes a live stream of in-car cameras from the race, post-race highlights and exclusive feature content.

“The continued growth and appeal of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES is reflected in this expansion of our international partners and coverage offerings for the most competitive racing series on the planet,” said Penske Entertainment Corp. President and CEO Mark Miles. “A total of 11 nations will be represented among the full-time 27-driver lineup this season, making reach and availability more important than ever for our fans. It is gratifying to see this impactful list of new and renewed partners as the NTT INDYCAR SEREIS reaches larger audiences around the globe.”

Partnerships for the 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season include:

  • A new relationship with Motorvision+ across Germany, Austria and Switzerland will bring live coverage of the NTT INDYCAR SERIES to German-speaking markets.
  • ESPN adds highlights plus live Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge coverage across sub-Saharan Africa as INDYCAR’s partner in the region and continues to broadcast all races live across Latin America, including Brazil and Mexico, where audiences can follow the rising stardom of seven-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES race winner Pato O’Ward and four-time Indianapolis 500 winner Helio Castroneves as he aims for another win at the historic oval.
  • In Spain, every race will now be broadcast live on #Vamos as well as Movistar+, delivering broader reach to fans of reigning series champion Alex Palou as he aims for his third straight and fourth overall title.
  • Viaplay continues its coverage in the Nordics for fans to follow Swedish drivers Marcus Ericsson and Felix Rosenqvist, as well as Danish drivers Christian Lundgaard and Christian Rasmussen.
  • Canada’s sports leader, TSN, will continue to provide live streaming of INDYCAR coverage in Canada on TSN+, with network coverage of seven races, including the Indianapolis 500 and the Ontario Honda Dealers Indy Toronto, as audiences also can follow Canadian driver Devlin DeFrancesco as he returns to the series in 2025.
  • Sky Group channels Sky Sports UK, Sky Sport Germany (including Austria and Switzerland) and Sky Sport Italia will return in 2025.
  • Sky Sport in New Zealand continues to provide INDYCAR coverage of Kiwis Scott Dixon, Marcus Armstrong and Scott McLaughlin.
  • Fans of two-time NTT INDYCAR SERIES champion Will Power can follow in Australia on STAN Sport, while sister network Nine Network will air mid-week race highlights.
  • Ziggo Sport will continue to provide coverage in the Netherlands for fans to follow Dutch driver Rinus VeeKay.
  • Additional returning broadcasters of INDYCAR in 2025 include Gaora in Japan, Sport TV in Portugal, Canal+ in France and French-speaking sub-Saharan Africa, S Sport in Turkey, Romania, Czech Republic and Slovakia, Network 4 in Hungary, Voo Sport in Belgium and TV Cultura in Brazil.
  • INDY NXT by Firestone also continues to gain ground with first-time coverage in the Nordics with Viaplay, while German fans can follow Sophia Floersch’s rookie year on Sky Sport and Motorvision+. Further coverage will be provided on ESPN throughout Latin America, REV TV in Canada and Sky Sport in the UK.

WHAT INDYCAR’S DRIVERS ARE SAYING

“It is always so important to get support from fans back home. I’m excited the NTT INDYCAR SERIES will have more exposure for fans in Spain with races live on #Vamos and Movistar+ and hope they watch as the No. 10 DHL Chip Ganassi Racing Honda team fights for more race wins and another championship this season.” – Alex Palou, Chip Ganassi Racing

“One of the great things about the NTT INDYCAR SERIES is that, while it is a North American sport, there are drivers from all over the world. My home country of New Zealand has always punched above its weight in motorsports. There are several of us in the series right now, so it’s crucial that we have partners like Sky Sport and STAN Sport to carry us back to our fans at home. I really believe they are in for the best season of INDYCAR racing yet.” – Scott McLaughlin, Team Penske

“It’s really awesome that Viaplay will continue to broadcast INDYCAR back home. I think it’s really important for people all around the world to have access to this amazing sport, and, of course, it’s always great to have the support from back home. Viaplay really does a great job with INDYCAR’s coverage, and I’m excited to see that continue this season.” – Felix Rosenqvist, Meyer Shank Racing

“Super happy to hear that ESPN will continue broadcast coverage of INDYCAR back home. There’s so many passionate fans in Latin America that love INDYCAR, and it’s great that they can continue to watch every race and be able to enjoy a sport that I truly love.” – Helio Castroneves, Meyer Shank Racing

“I think INDYCAR is so much more than a North American sport. We have drivers from all over the world, and we have fans from all over the world. I know from my home country, Sweden, there’s a ton of people that watch all the races and follow everything INDYCAR. To have that coverage and get partners all around the world showing the great sport of INDYCAR is super important and crucial for the growth of the sport.” – Marcus Ericsson, Andretti Global

“One of the best things about INDYCAR and motorsports is that it has fans around the world. When I was a kid in Mexico, it was so cool for me to be able to watch my favorite drivers on TV. The international coverage and partnerships are so important because they bring the sport around the world and help grow INDYCAR.” – Pato O’Ward, Arrow McLaren

The 2025 NTT INDYCAR SERIES season begins Sunday, March 2 at noon ET with the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg presented by RP Funding. The start of the 2025 INDY NXT by Firestone season begins the same day, also on the streets of St. Petersburg, at 10 a.m. ET. A full list of international broadcast partners is available here.

RFK Advance | Atlanta I

By
Official Release
-

Atlanta Event Info:
Date: Sunday, Feb. 23
Time: 3:00 p.m. ET
Series: NASCAR Cup Series (NCS)
Location: Hampton, Georgia
Format: 200 Laps, Stages: 60-100-100
TV: FOX
Radio: PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90)

Weekend Schedule:
Saturday: 11 a.m. ET, Qualifying (Prime, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Sunday: 3 p.m. ET, Race (FOX, PRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)

Pace Laps:

  • Atlanta Motor Speedway hosts race No. 2 on the NASCAR Cup Series season this weekend, marking two-straight speedway races to kick off the 2025 campaign.
  • There have been four different winners across six total races on the reconfigured Atlanta track.
  • Last season’s spring race saw a record number of lead changes at the track, 48, and there has been a final lead change with two or fewer laps to go in four of the last five Atlanta races.
  • Jack Roush has 13 wins all-time in Atlanta including six in the NASCAR Cup Series.
  • Chris Buescher brought home RFK’s lone top-10 finish in either of the Atlanta races a season ago, finishing ninth in the spring race.

6 Team Info:
Crew Chief: Jeremy Bullins
Partner: BuildSubmarines.com

17 Team Info:
Crew Chief: Scott Graves
Partner: Fastenal

60 Team Info:
Crew Chief: Derrick Finley
Partner: Kroger

Keselowski at Atlanta Motor Speedway
Starts: 20
Wins: 2 (2017, 2019)
Top-10s: 11
Poles: —

  • Keselowski makes his 21st Cup start at Atlanta this weekend where he is a two-time winner with an average finish of 15.2.
  • Keselowski won at the now Superspeedway’s first race in 2017 after starting fifth, and again in 2019. He is one of four active drivers with multiple wins at Atlanta.
  • Overall, he’s led laps in 11 different Atlanta races and finished in the top-10 11 times.
  • He carries an average starting position of 15.6 into the weekend with a career-best effort of P2 in 2014. Overall, he has six top-10 starts, including a P4 starting spot in the spring of 2022.
  • He also has eight Xfinity Series starts with six top-10s including two P2 finishes. In the Truck series, he’s made four career starts.

Buescher at Atlanta Motor Speedway
Starts: 13
Wins: —
Top-10s: 4
Poles: —

  • Buescher makes his 14th Cup start in Atlanta where he has posted four top-10s and a best finish of seventh (twice – 2021, 2022). He also finished ninth in 2019 and 2024.
  • Buescher has an average qualifying position of 17.8, and has qualified seventh in each of the last two spring Atlanta races.

Preece at Atlanta Motor Speedway
Starts: 8
Wins: —
Top-10s: —
Poles: —

Preece makes his 9th Cup start in Atlanta where he has best finish of 16th in the spring race last season.
He holds an average starting position of 23.6, including a 13th starting spot in the fall of 2023.

RFK Historically at Atlanta
Cup Wins: 6 (Mark Martin, 1991, 1994; Kurt Busch, 2002; Carl Edwards, 2005, 2005, 2008)

  • RFK at Atlanta: RFK has 281 starts at AMS in NASCAR’s three major touring series totaling 13 wins, 60 top fives, 115 top-10s and nine poles while leading 3,267 laps and turning over 110,000 miles.
  • AMS/RFK History: RFK competed in its first NASCAR event at AMS on March 20, 1988, finishing 31st after getting involved in an early crash. Just three years later the organization claimed its first win there in the fall of ‘91 with the No. 6 Ford. RFK won its first of seven NXS races at the track in the spring of ’97. The team’s top outing at AMS came in the fall of 2005, when the organization placed four cars inside the top seven, with three cars finishing in the top five including race winner Carl Edwards. Altogether, in the two races at AMS in 2005, RFK posted six top-five finishes and two wins.
  • Spring Forward: All but one of RFK’s Cup wins at AMS came in the fall, with the only spring win coming in 2005. Three of RFK’s seven NXS wins came in the fall.

RFK Atlanta Wins

1991-2 Martin Cup

1994-2 Martin Cup

1997-1 Martin NXS

1998-2 Martin NXS

2000-1 Martin NXS

2002-2 Busch Cup

2005-1 Edwards Cup

2005-1 Edwards NXS

2005-2 Edwards Cup

2008-1 Kenseth NXS

2008-2 Edwards Cup

2011 Edwards NXS

2012 Stenhouse NXS

Last Time Out & Where They Stand
Daytona: Preece and Keselowski were unfortunately caught up in incidents in Sunday’s running of the Daytona 500. Buescher led the group with a 10th-place finish, with Keselowski finishing 26th and Preece 32nd.

Points Standings (17: 6th, 6: T18th, 60: T34th): Buescher sits 6th through the first race in the points season, with Keselowski tied for 18th and Preece tied for 34th.

Toyota GAZOO Racing Weekly Preview 2.19.25

By
Official Release
-

This Week in Motorsports: February 17 – 23, 2025

· NCS/NXS/NCTS: Atlanta Motor Speedway – Feb. 21-23

PLANO, Texas (Feb. 19, 2025) – After another thrilling Daytona 500 last Sunday, NASCAR’s three national series head to another drafting track in Atlanta Motor Speedway for the second race of the 2025 season.

NASCAR National Series – NCS/NXS/NCTS

Toyota goes for sixth straight Cup pole … With the pole position run by Chase Briscoe last weekend, Toyota’s first Daytona 500 pole, Camry XSE drivers will look to add a sixth straight Cup Series pole position for Toyota this weekend in Atlanta. The streak dates back to Las Vegas last October where Christopher Bell earned the top starting spot. Should Toyota claim the pole this weekend, it would be its fifth at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

LEGACY MOTOR CLUB experiences premier day at Daytona … Sunday’s Daytona 500 was significant for LEGACY MOTOR CLUB, who had their best result-based weekend as a team with their three drivers finishing inside the top 12 positions – Jimmie Johnson (third), John Hunter Nemechek (fifth) and Erik Jones (12th). For Johnson and Nemechek, these results were their best as a part of LEGACY MOTOR CLUB. Heading to Atlanta this weekend, both LEGACY MOTOR CLUB full-time entries of Jones (seventh) and Nemechek (ninth) are inside the top 10 of the Cup Series points standings and look to climb up with another solid day in The Peach State.

Almirola returns to a GR Supra … In Saturday’s Xfinity Series race, Aric Almirola will pilot a Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) Toyota GR Supra, driving the No. 19. The Floridian made 14 Xfinity Series starts last season with JGR, scoring three victories, eight top-fives and nine top-10s. Almirola has made three previous starts at Atlanta in the Xfinity Series, with a career-best finish of eighth in 2011.

Jones back at home track … For the 14th time in his Xfinity Series career, Brandon Jones will race at his home track of Atlanta Motor Speedway. The Atlanta native has one career top-five and four top-10s at the mile-and-a-half drafting track. A home race victory for Jones would give Toyota its seventh Xfinity Series win at Atlanta and first since Ty Gibbs in 2022.

Heim seeks to continue winning ways at home track … Like Jones in the Xfinity Series, Corey Heim is also back at his home track of Atlanta Motor Speedway. The 22-year-old, coming off a win last weekend at Daytona, looks to capture his 13th career Truck Series triumph this weekend and second at Atlanta to couple his 2022 victory. Heim also enters the weekend with eight top-10 finishes in the last nine Truck Series races.

Breidinger, Ruggiero, Sawalich make Atlanta debuts … Toni Briedinger, Gio Ruggiero and William Sawalich head to Atlanta Motor Speedway this weekend, each making their debuts at the mile-and-a-half. All three drivers are coming off another drafting track in Daytona last weekend, where rookie Ruggiero claimed a second-place finish in his first career Trucks start and for Sawalich, his fourth career Truck Series top-10 finish. And like last weekend, Sawalich will once again do double duty on Saturday, running the Truck Series race before driving the No. 18 GR Supra for JGR in the Xfinity Series later that afternoon.

About Toyota

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

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

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

Speedway Motorsports and Ticketmaster Partnership Powers Affordable Kids’ Tickets to NASCAR Races

By
Official Release
-
  • Powered by Ticketmaster, Speedway Motorsports launches a new digital and social marketing campaign to promote affordable ticket pricing for NASCAR’s next generation of race fans
  • NASCAR race tickets for kids ages 12 and under are FREE to CRAFTSMAN Truck and Xfinity Series races and just $10 for NASCAR Cup Series races at 14 Speedway Motorsports race weekends in 2025

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Feb. 19, 2025) – Powered by Ticketmaster, Speedway Motorsports is launching a new social and digital campaign promoting the most affordable kids’ tickets in professional sports. The campaign will spotlight $10 kids’ tickets for NASCAR Cup Series races and free tickets for children ages 12 and under to NASCAR CRAFTSMAN and Xfinity races and across 14 NASCAR race weekends in 2025, starting with the Feb. 21-23 Ambetter Health 400 race weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway.

Highlighting the incredible family experiences enjoyed by generations of fans across the NASCAR landscape, the campaign will feature “Kids’ Tickets Powered by Ticketmaster” branding reaching millions of fans across all Speedway Motorsports’ social, digital, app, website and e-marketing platforms.

Speedway Motorsports and Ticketmaster’s longstanding partnership has connected millions of NASCAR fans to the thrill of live racing through simple, seamless ticket-buying opportunities. This latest initiative ensures more young fans can experience live racing, while families benefit from accessible and affordable ticket options.

“There’s not a major league sports event in the world that provides more entertainment value than a NASCAR race weekend,” said Kevin Camper, executive vice president and chief commercial officer at Speedway Motorsports. “For generations, NASCAR has been a sport where families make memories, and with Ticketmaster’s marketing and online support, we want every sports fan to know how affordable and easy it is to put a smile on a child’s face for every lap of the race.”

Tickets are on sale now. Fans can visit Ticketmaster.com to secure these specially priced tickets and explore other 2025 Speedway Motorsports events tickets.

ABOUT SPEEDWAY MOTORSPORTS

Speedway Motorsports is a leading marketer, promoter and sponsor of motorsports entertainment in the United States. The Company, through its subsidiaries, owns and operates the following premier facilities: Atlanta Motor Speedway, Bristol Motor Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway, Dover Motor Speedway, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Nashville Superspeedway, New Hampshire Motor Speedway, North Wilkesboro Speedway, Sonoma Raceway, Texas Motor Speedway and Kentucky Speedway. Speedway Motorsports provides souvenir merchandising services through its SMI Properties subsidiaries; manufactures and distributes smaller-scale, modified racing cars and parts through its U.S. Legend Cars International subsidiary; and produces and broadcasts syndicated motorsports programming to radio stations nationwide through its Performance Racing Network subsidiary.

ABOUT TICKETMASTER

Ticketmaster is the world’s largest ticket marketplace and the global market leader in live event ticketing products and services. Through official partnerships with thousands of venues, artists, sports teams, festivals, performing arts centers and theaters, Ticketmaster processes 600 million tickets per year across 35+ different countries. Ticketmaster is a part of Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV).

JR Motorsports — NXS Atlanta Motor Speedway Preview

By
Official Release
-

JR Motorsports Xfinity Team Preview
TRACK – Atlanta Motor Speedway (1.54-mile quad-oval)
NXS RACE – Bennett Transportation & Logistics 250 (163 laps / 251.02 miles)
TUNE IN – CW, PRN, SiriusXM Channel 90 at 5:00 p.m. (ET)

Carson Kvapil
No. 1 – Bass Pro Shops / Clarience Technologies Chevrolet

Kvapil 2025 NXS Stats

Starts: 1

Wins: 0

Top 5s: 1

Top 10s: 1

Laps Led: 0

Avg. Finish: 4

Points: 6th

Coming off a top-five finish in last weekend’s NASCAR Xfinity Series season opening event in Daytona, Carson Kvapil will make his Atlanta Motor Speedway debut on Saturday.

Kvapil has made two starts at 1.5-mile tracks in the ARCA Menards series finishing in the runner-up position both times.

Crew chief Andrew Overstreet sat atop the box for two races at intermediate tracks during the 2024 season with a best finish of fourth coming at Kansas.

Carson Kvapil

“This No. 1 Bass Pro Shops/Clarience Technologies team gave me a fast race car last week for Daytona and I hope we can continue that momentum into this weekend at Atlanta. Since this is a track I haven’t been to before, Andrew (Overstreet, crew chief) and I have been working hard on our strategy to make sure I am fully prepared. I am looking forward to getting out there and putting everything we have worked on into motion. Ideally we can be battling for the lead at the end to get another great finish for Johnny Morris and everyone at Bass Pro Shops and Clarience Technologies.”

Justin Allgaier
No. 7 Protect Your Melon Chevrolet

Allgaier 2025 NXS Stats

Starts: 1

Wins: 0

Top 5s: 0

Top 10s: 0

Laps Led: 11

Avg. Finish: 18

Points: 10th

Justin Allgaier has earned one win, three top fives and nine top 10s in 18 career starts at Atlanta in the NXS.

Allgaier’s lone victory came in this event in 2021 after starting sixth and leading 47 laps en route to the win.

Since the shift of Atlanta to a more drafting-dominant track like Daytona International Speedway or Talladega Superspeedway, Allgaier has scored a best finish of seventh, coming in the spring of 2022.

This weekend, Allgaier’s No. 7 Chevrolet will carry the marks of the Protect Your Melon campaign which works in conjunction with JR Motorsports teammate Ross Chastain and the Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety. Every year, millions of Americans are injured or killed in car crashes and the Protect Your Melon campaign helps serve as a simple reminder for people to buckle up when getting behind the wheel of a car.

Justin Allgaier

“Atlanta has certainly been very interesting for this No. 7 team since the track has gone to a more drafting-style of racing. It’s become a place where anything can, and usually does happen. Thankfully, JR Motorsports has always shown up to drafting tracks incredibly strong, and I know that we are going to have a fast Protect Your Melon Chevrolet when we hit the track on Friday. We’re ready to get out there and see what we can do.”

Sammy Smith
No. 8 Pilot Chevrolet

Smith 2025 NXS Stats

Starts: 1

Wins: 0

Top 5s: 0

Top 10s: 0

Laps Led: 1

Avg. Finish: 24

Points: 25th

Sammy Smith has four NXS starts on the 1.54-mile Georgia track. He won the pole his first trip there in 2023 and followed it up with three top 10 finishes.

On speedways 1-2 miles in length, Smith has 32 starts under his belt with one win, five top fives, and 17 top 10s.

This weekend in Atlanta, Smith will debut the No. 8 Pilot Chevrolet’s new branding and colorways.

Sammy Smith

“My crew brought a fast Chevrolet to Daytona last weekend and as a whole we executed just as we should have but there are parts that we can’t control and that’s unfortunately what got us. We’re going to reset, attack the week and turn our focus towards Atlanta. I’ve had great runs there in my career and with the preparation this JR Motorsports team is doing, I expect that we’ll be in contention to bring this Pilot Chevrolet to Victory Lane where it deserves to be.”

Connor Zilisch
No. 88 WeatherTech Chevrolet

Zilisch 2025 NXS Stats

Starts: 1

Wins: 0

Top 5s: 0

Top 10s: 0

Laps Led: 1

Avg. Finish: 27

Points: 29

Connor Zilisch will compete at Atlanta for the first time in his NXS career in Saturday’s Bennett Transportation and Logistics 250, his sixth career start in the series.

Atlanta is the only 1.5-mile drafting track on the NASCAR circuit. Zilisch ran solid last weekend at Daytona, bouncing back from an incident early at Daytona to lead the race and was running among the top five in the closing laps before an accident ended his day.

Zilisch made two NXS starts on 1.5-mile tracks in 2024: Kansas Speedway and Homestead-Miami Speedway. His best finish came at Kansas, where he scored a fourth-place finish.

Connor Zilisch

“I’ve never been to Atlanta before so it’s going to be a learning experience but I’ve watched races there in the past and have been preparing with Mardy (Lindley, crew chief). It looks like a fun racetrack and I’m excited to get there and really feel it out for the first time. I learned a lot at Daytona and I’m looking forward to this weekend. There’s no practice so I’m going straight into qualifying and straight into the race which is different from what I’m used to but I know this No. 88 WeatherTech team will bring a strong car to the track which will help me feel more comfortable.”

JRM Team Updates

JR Motorsports at Atlanta Motor Speedway: JR Motorsports has competed at Atlanta Motor Speedway a combined 71 times in the NXS. In those starts at the 1.54-mile quad-oval, the organization has recorded four wins, 18 top-fives and 41 top-10s. The average finish is 12.4.

Souvenir Rig: JRM drivers Carson Kvapil, Justin Allgaier, Sammy Smith and Connor Zilisch will be signing autographs at the JR Motorsports / HMS-Byron/Bowman souvenir rig on Saturday, Feb. 22 from 1:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. ET.

1...722723724...6,758Page 723 of 6,758