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RCR NXS Race Recap: Las Vegas Motor Speedway

Stage 2 Win and Sixth-Place Finish at Las Vegas Motor Speedway Propel Jesse Love and the No. 2 Whelen Chevrolet Team Ahead of Playoffs Cutline

Finish: 6th
Start: 6th
Points: 3rd

“I did a lot of things really, really good and I also did a lot of things really, really bad tonight. I’m not too upset about it, because I know that there are things that I can control, and I will come back next time and not make those mistakes again. I’m going to have to go back and look at it, but it’s very frustrating to come here, put in so much effort, your whole career, and obviously the whole year, have a shot to win, and let my guys down. But at the same time, as much as it sucks, and as much as it is a dagger to the heart, I know that it’s things that I can control and there is beauty to that. Our Whelen Chevrolet team will keep the focus and execute the next two weeks to earn our spot in the Champ 4.” – -Jesse Love

Austin Hill and the No. 21 Global Industrial Chevrolet Team Overcome Damage to Earn Strong Top-10 Finish at Las Vegas Motor Speedway

Finish: 10th
Start: 12th
Points: 11th

“Man, I wish we didn’t have damage to the front and rear of our Global Industrial Chevrolet, because before that restart accordion happened, our car was really good. During Stage 1, we were able to drive forward and gain a good amount of track position. There were a couple restarts where the field checked up and I didn’t realize how much it affected our car until after the race. Once we had the damage, the car was very unpredictable. It was easy to get loose, and then it would get tight. Overall, I’m proud that we were still able to get a top-10 finish and we will keep working these final three weeks.” -Austin Hill

CORVETTE RACING AT PETIT LE MANS: Titles and Podiums!

GTD PRO championships and podiums plus Akin Award for AWA in IMSA finale

BRASELTON, Ga. (October 11, 2025) – Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports capped an incredible day at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta with a pair of podium finishes to go along with a GTD PRO championship sweep at the 10-hour Petit Le Mans on Saturday.

Tommy Milner, Nicky Catsburg and Nico Varrone placed second in class with their No. 4 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R, just ahead of the GTD PRO Drivers Championship pairing of Antonio Garcia and Alexander Sims plus Daniel Juncadella in the No. 3 Corvette.

It marked the first double-podium for the Pratt Miller Corvette squad since 2008. The result didn’t just secure the class Drivers Championship but also the Manufacturers Championship for Chevrolet and the Teams’ title for the No. 3 Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports group.

The No. 4 Corvette raced back into contention following an early-race bad break when Catsburg had to stop for a splash of fuel when the pits were closed under a full-course yellow. He stopped a couple of laps later still under yellow and handed off to Milner, who stopped again a lap later behind the safety car for a top-off and what the team hoped would be a fuel advantage later in the race.

It came to fruition after Milner’s stint as Varrone cycled through to the lead during a long green-flag run past the halfway point. More caution-free laps helped the No. 4 Corvette’s cause as Catsburg drove the final two hours to the finish.

On the No. 3 Corvette side, the focus was to finish ahead of the No. 81 Ferrari – the closest competitor for the class championship. Garcia began eighth but couldn’t gain much ground on the No. 81 given nearly 30 minutes of full-course yellow in the race.

Garcia drove the first three hours and handed over to Sims with the Corvette in the top-five but still behind the Ferrari. That changed just after the four-hour mark when the No. 3 Corvette team got Sims in and out of the pitlane quicker than their championship rivals. The two cars ran close together for the next two-and-a-half hours before the Corvette moved ahead for good with three hours to go.

In GTD, AWA celebrated winning both the season-long Bob Akin Award and taking the race’s Akin trophy with the No. 13 Corvette Z06 GT3.R as the highest-finishing GTD car with a Bronze-rated driver. Orey Fidani, who teamed with Matt Bell and Lars Kern, won his second straight Akin championship and a return trip to next year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The trio finished ninth in class after starting 19th to cap a season that began with a class victory in the Rolex 24 At Daytona.

DXDT Racing’s trio of Charlie Eastwood, Alec Udell and Salih Yoluc likewise raced through the field to finish seventh in GTD. Their No. 36 Corvette began 17th but Yoluc drove a triple-stint at the front – same as Fidani – to open up the strategy options. Udell and Eastwood split the mid-race driving before Eastwood went to the end and wrapped up the team’s first season in IMSA.

CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R POST-RACE DRIVER QUOTES

ANTONIO GARCIA, NO. 3 CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “This was really tight. I would have liked a more relaxed fight with not around 10 points between us! It was a very tight race. We turned things around between qualifying and now. I knew the car was there since Lap One. We just needed to stay focused and keep getting places. We didn’t have the pace to pass people on track, but we did a fantastic job… saving fuel, doing everything right, gaining positions and taking every opportunity where we could. So six championships! It’s a group effort. That doesn’t happen without Corvette Racing and all the teammates I’ve had over the past 16 years.”

ALEXANDER SIMS, NO. 3 CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “It’s incredibly intense here at Petit Le Mans every single time I do it. But it’s so thrilling. The track is just amazing… such a nice sequence of corners and so many cars means that all the traffic keeps you on your toes. Our Corvette was working well all day and all season. We’ve had a phenomenal year. Pratt Miller has executed a fantastic championship.

We optimized pretty much everything we could every single time. Full credit to the whole team. Amazing to do it with Antonio and Dani. We had a good year last year finishing third in the championship. To go to first place this year is absolutely phenomenal.”

DANIEL JUNCADELLA, NO. 3 CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “This is mega. I’ve only been a small part of this season. But it’s nice to play a role in the last race. It’s a big race for everybody. Finishing on the podium and helping these guys clinch a championship was the big goal. It’s been great to be a part of that.”

TOMMY MILNER, NO. 4 CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “It’s a great day for Corvette Racing, Pratt Miller and Chevy. It went about as well as it could have for us. I’m super happy for Antonio and Alex, and Dani as well helping with that. Those guys were basically perfect all year long. That’s what it takes in this championship. Congrats to those guys. It’s a whole team effort, though. You look at it and all the 4 car guys celebrate it just as much as the 3 car guys. It’s a great morale booster for everyone. For us, the race today was good. P2 was about as good as it was going to get for us. The BMW had a little too much pace on us. But overall a really great day.”

NICKY CATSBURG, NO. 4 CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “We achieved everything we wanted to achieve. It would have been great to finally have a Petit win but the BMW was one size too big for us today. I had some really cool and clean fights with Dan Harper. I’m very pleased with the job that the team did. We had a cool season. We won everything we wanted as a team. So I’m looking forward to next year already.”

NICO VARRONE, NO. 4 CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “This was a great weekend for everyone. I was really looking forward to coming here and racing again with Corvette. This is like a family for me. Finishing with both cars on the podium is great. We had a great race for P2 and had great pace. Not enough to fight with the BMW, but we executed well and maximized our potential. A big thank you to all the team and all the crew. Our Corvette was really flying. Tommy and Nicky did a great job as always in setting up the car. It was super-fast in the race. Overall this is a great day for Corvette, Chevy and the team. Sure we wanted to win the race but today it wasn’t possible so we’re happy to finish second. Hopefully next year we can finish in a better spot.”

MATT BELL, NO. 13 CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “Fantastic end of the season for AWA. I’m really proud to be heading back to France. That was our goal coming into this year and this race. It was a shame for the No. 70 that they were taken out of contention the way they were; they’ve been great competitors all season and we have huge respect for each other, and we wanted to go toe to toe all the way to the end. But of course we wanted to go back to France, so I’m super happy about achieving that. It was a really good race and we had really good pace. It was a nice way to finish with the top-10 and now I guess I need to learn a bit of French!”

OREY FIDANI, NO. 13 CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “I couldn’t be happier or more proud of the way we performed this season. We knew from the get-go that we wanted to go back to Le Mans, and we knew we would have to work incredibly hard to achieve it, but that’s exactly what we set out to do. We all have an immense amount of respect for everyone at Inception Racing, and we had a great time going up against them this season. I’m thrilled that we’re going back to France, and now with some extra knowledge and experience on our side, we’ll be ready to put up a good fight with Chevy.”

LARS KERN, NO. 13 CORVETTE Z06 GT3.R: “Winning the Bob Akin Award is a great way to end the season. We worked for this all year. Though it’s not the way we wanted to win it. We always said we wanted to win it on track. I feel really sorry for the No. 70 car and the whole Inception Racing group.

“We went all-in in the race and had a great time. We needed a full-course yellow within the last five hours, but there wasn’t any, which was a testament to the clean racing. It was good racing, but in the end, we were just always running behind the gap. I am really happy for Orey and the team. We are going back to Le Mans, which was the target of the season. We’ll finish on the podium of this race next year!”

About General Motors

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

Cadillac finishes season with flurry

No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R wins Petit Le Mans for second victory in a row

BRASELTON, Ga. (October 11, 2025) — Cadillac Racing successfully defended its Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) victory in the Motul Petit Le Mans as the No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R took the checkered flag for the second consecutive race.

Cadillac has recorded five victories in the annual 10-hour IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season-ending clash since entering prototype competition in 2017 and scored its 33rd IMSA triumph in that span. The No. 31 Whelen Cadillac, campaigned by Action Express Racing, owns two Petit Le Mans wins (2019 in DPi era).

“Congratulations to Cadillac Racing and the No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R on their win in the 28th Motul Petit Le Mans. The overall victory showcases the deep capabilities and determination of the Cadillac Racing team,” said John Roth, vice president, Global Cadillac. “Drivers Jack Aitken, Earl Bamber and Frederik Vesti and every single member of the team can be proud of today’s victory. Racing is in our DNA and showcases our innovation while helping us develop future technologies for our cars and customers.”

The No. 10 Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing V-Series.R, with Ricky Taylor, Filipe Albuquerque and Will Stevens sharing driving duties on the 2.54-mile, 12-turn Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta road course, finished sixth.

Jordan Taylor, Louis Deletraz and Norman Nato combined to drive the No. 40 Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing V-Series.R to eighth place after starting 11th in the 12-car GTP field.

The No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R was quickest in two daylight practice sessions, earned a front row start, led the most laps led, set the quickest lap of the race and had flawless pit stops, which all combined to secure the hard-fought victory.

Three weeks earlier at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Aitken relieved Bamber and held off multiple challenges while driving the final 82 minutes to register the team’s 30th IMSA victory and Cadillac’s first at the Brickyard. At Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, Bamber took over from Aitken with the lead and raced the final 1 hour, 59 minutes under the green flag. He prevailed by 5.182 seconds following a splash of fuel with 13 minutes left.

The result vaulted Aitken to second in the full-season Driver Championship and Action Express Racing to second in the Team Championship.

Additional notables

  • 33rd IMSA victory for Cadillac since joining IMSA prototype competition in 2017
  • Sixth IMSA GTP victory for Cadillac (first year 2023)
  • Cadillac’s five Petit Le Mans victories is the most of any manufacturer
  • Cadillac has had at least two victories in each season since 2017
  • Cadillac has scored a podium finish in every race at Road Atlanta since 2017 (including the six- and 10-hour races in 2020)
  • Vesti recorded the quickest lap of the race (1:12.276) on Lap 258
  • Cadillac owns the quickest GTP race lap (1:10.917) set in 2023
  • No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R led the most laps for the second consecutive race
  • The last time the No. 31 Whelen Cadillac won back-to-back races was 2019 (Sebring and Long Beach)
  • The victory was Bamber’s 10th in IMSA competition

The 2026 IMSA season begins January 16-18 with the annual Roar Before the 24 at Daytona International Speedway, followed the next weekend by the Rolex 24 At Daytona. The three Cadillac entries will participate in a two-day test in mid-November at the 2.56-mile, 12-turn road course that incorporates sections of the high-banked oval to prep for the fourth season of GTP competition.

What they’re saying

No. 10 Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing V-Series.R

Ricky Taylor: “Tough day. This weekend we came in with high expectations. The drivers all felt that good and the team executed well all day. We just didn’t have the pace of the lead group. Congratulations to our Cadillac teammates, Whelen and Action Express. Looking forward to the off season, when we can review a year’s worth of data and information. We are going to be on track quite a bit this off season, so looking forward to starting 2026 with a nice booklet of information.”

Filipe Albuquerque: ““Hard race. Hard season. Perhaps more than we expected it to be. In the night, the car came a little bit alive, but I think we may have followed a wrong strategy when we pitted more than the other guys. We gave our best. We learned a lot about the car this year. We improved a lot through the season. There were definitely moments of greatness but then we would get struck with a weekend where we didn’t understand the lack of pace in the car. We need some work to do especially with the new chockers and tires for next year. We have already begun our work for next year. Congratulations to Cadillac Whelen on their win.”

Will Stevens: “We had hoped to finish the season on a high. I think we still battled through and fought ad scored valuable points this weekend, which is important. I think as a whole the team has made good momentum. I think now the focus just needs to be on making improvements. There is a bit of time now before Daytona, so it is just important review the information and to come back stronger for next year.”

No. 31 Whelen Cadillac V-Series.R

Jack Aitken: “The way Earl finished, the way Fred came in and held the lead, it shows the depth that we have in the team that we’re really confident and we all put in great stints today. All did a huge job to hold off the competition and manage the strategy, manage the fuel and the Whelen Cadillac was on fire today. We were able to lead and that was the game plan coming into today — to do it just like at Indy. So, I’m really pleased that we finish the year in such an awesome way and roll into 2026.”

Earl Bamber: “Any one of us could have done it, any stint of the day. It shows the strength of the team. It shows what we set out to do at the beginning of the year with Whelen Cadillac — to build something really special. And I think what we’ve done this season — we could have won a couple more races, came close, were in position — but we’ll definitely take two of the biggest of the season. The guys are fantastic in the pit lane, the cars are amazingly quick at Cadillac, so it makes our job easy on track. I think we’re building up something special here, and now we’re just looking forward to what comes next.”

Frederik Vesti: “Just extremely proud of this team. We joined forces at the beginning of this year, and we didn’t have the easiest start to the championship. But the way we’ve grown together, the way we’ve been working together really shows and we deserve it so much. Winning Indy was big, but now winning Petit — one of the most historical races in the endurance world — that’s incredible. Very proud of everyone.”

No. 40 Cadillac Wayne Taylor Racing V-Series.R

Jordan Taylor: “Not a good day for us. We had some good stints and some bad stints, but, at the end of the day, we did not get a good result which is unfortunate. We learned a lot this year with this car, so hopefully we can have a good off season, test and develop more and come back strong next year.”

Louis Deletraz: “A huge thank you to Cadillac and Wayne Taylor Racing for this year. It has been tough. I do not think there are any other words. We have had a lot of learning with this car. We had a double podium at the Glen which was the highlight of our year. Very excited to take all our learnings and work hard for next year to come and win.”

Norman Nato: “It was a great experience coming back to IMSA after eight years. It was my first and now this time at Petit. It was great to be back. What an incredible race. Obviously, we are a disappointed with the race. We tried our best to the finish line. It was just not enough today unfortunately. It was great to be back in IMSA and to work with Wayne Taylor Racing. I can’t wait to do more. We tried our best today, but it wasn’t enough. We will work to try and come back stronger.”

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

Kaulig Racing Race Recap | Focused Health 302

No. 11 Benesch Chevrolet

Start: 12th
Stage 1 Finish: 17th
Stage 2 Finish: 17th
Finish: 16th

Daniel Hemric fought an extremely free-handling No. 11 Benesch Chevy, holding on to 17th, until he was able to receive adjustments during the first stage break. Still struggling with the handling during the second stage, Hemric began clicking off top-10 lap times by the end of the segment. Running long into the pit cycle during the final stage, he inherited the lead from teammate Daniel Dye, finally making his scheduled stop on lap 152. He went on to finish 16th.

 ”Definitely not the day we hoped for. Ultimately, we just never could get the balance right, no matter what we did in order to have the pace we needed. I’m thankful to Matt Kaulig, Chris Rice, and everyone at Kaulig Racing for the opportunity to come back and have some fun, despite not having the result we wanted.” – Daniel Hemric

No. 10 Champion Container Chevrolet

Start: 18th
Stage 1 Finish: 15th
Stage 2 Finish: 18th
Finish: 17th

While battling a free-handling No. 10 Champion Container Chevy, Daniel Dye managed to gain three spots in the opening stage. He started the second stage from 13th and had a big restart, moving to 10th. Dye fired off much better in Stage 2 but began to build free over the course of the long run. During the final stage, Dye ran long into the pit cycle, inheriting the lead, before making his final, scheduled, green-flag pit stop on lap 148. He went on to finish 17th.

“I felt like today was a decent day. We just didn’t get the result that we were looking for, but I’m extremely proud of the fight that everybody on the No. 10 team had all day. We made the car better and had a really hard-fought race.” – Daniel Dye

No. 16 LeafFilter Gutter Protection Chevrolet

Start: 7th
Stage 1 Finish: 7th
Stage 2 Finish: 7th
Finish: 18th

Happy with how the No. 16 LeafFilter Gutter Protection Chevy fired off, Christian Eckes held on to seventh place to end the opening stage. After starting the second stage from ninth, Eckes had a big restart, making it to sixth place. As the sun began to set and track temperatures changed, Eckes radioed that the No. 16 Chevy began to tighten up in turns one and two. Running top-five lap times as Stage 2 wound down, he finished the second segment in seventh. Following a pit-road mishap, Eckes was forced to come back down pit road, before starting the final stage from 31st. He made his way back into the top 20 in just 10 laps, but eventually used up his tires. He was the first of his teammates to make a green-flag pit stop on lap 144 and went on to finish 18th.

“We had a fast No. 16 LeafFilter Gutter Protection Chevy; I was happy with where we were after qualifying, and we had a strong first two stages. Unfortunately a mishap on pit road cost us all of our track position to start the final stage. We made up a good bit of ground, but ultimately, we just couldn’t get back to where we were with so much traffic.” – Christian Eckes  

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.

ALMIROLA DRIVES TOYOTA TO VICTORY LANE IN VEGAS

Almirola’s third win of the year locks no. 19 team into owners championship fight in Phoenix

LAS VEGAS (October 11, 2025) – Aric Almirola swept the stages and made the final pass for the win with less than 10 laps remaining to score his third victory of the season at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Saturday evening. With the win, Almirola has clinched the no. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing team a spot in the Owners Championship 4 in Phoenix.

Brandon Jones, Toyota’s remaining Playoff driver, suffered a tire losing air throughout the first stage, and was forced to climb his way back through the field. He finished 13th and is just eight points out of the Championship 4 heading into Talladega.

Toyota GAZOO Racing Post-Race Recap
NASCAR Xfinity Series (NXS)
Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Race 30 of 33 – 301.5 miles, 201 laps

TOYOTA FINISHING POSITIONS

1st, ARIC ALMIROLA
2nd, Connor Zilisch*
3rd, Justin Allgaier*
4th, Corey Day*
5th, Nick Sanchez*
8th, TAYLOR GRAY
12th, WILLIAM SAWALICH
13th, BRANDON JONES
22nd, TREVOR BAYNE
28th, DEAN THOMPSON
*non-Toyota driver

TOYOTA QUOTES

ARIC ALMIROLA, No. 19 Young Life Toyota GR Supra, Joe Gibbs Racing

Finishing Position: 1st

How did you go about those last few laps in order to win your third race this season?

“First, thank you God. This is such an unbelievable opportunity to do this with the Signatry and Young Life. They have watch parties all over the globe with these Young Life kids, and it is so much fun to be a part of this. Thank you, Coach (Joe Gibbs, owner and founder, Joe Gibbs Racing). Such an awesome honor to go race for an owner’s championship with JD Gibbs’ name on the car – the whole Gibbs family. I’m having so much fun. This is the time of my life, man. Our car was really good, but the longer I ran, the tighter I got. I was just struggling on the long run in the beginning of stage three and finally that restart there. I just took off incredibly tight, and I couldn’t get going. The 48 (Nick Sanchez) slowed my momentum down. Finally, I got clear of him and was able to go and chase the 88 (Connor Zilisch) down. He looked pretty loose, and I was able to capitalize on it.”

BRANDON JONES, No. 20 Menards/Nibco Toyota GR Supra, Joe Gibbs Racing

Finishing Position: 13th

Not the result you were looking for tonight. Can you talk about the struggles you faced tonight at Las Vegas?

“Probably as we go through the Playoffs – and today was one of those days – one little thing goes wrong, and not mentally, but physically it is game over. We are all so competitive across the top-12 cars right now that you have to get track position from qualifying really well, and you’ve got to hold on to the track position. We ended up having a right rear tire, I don’t know – ran something over or something, but it was losing a bunch of air in that first stage and that was kind of the decline, and we fought our car. I think we got behind on adjustments, not because of not surely knowing which way to go with it, and now you’ve got all of this terrible air on our Menards, Nibco Toyota. So just kind of a struggle ever since that happened, but we rallied really well. I was so proud and happy of our pit crew for wanting to get us some really good stops, and they did their part in gaining us a bunch of positions. We got back to fifth at one point, but not quite what we needed on the short run to be good. We were decent on the long run, but missed it on the short run some. ‘Dega, anybody can win it, and if anyone can go into Martinsville and clinch it, it is going to be me. I’ve got a lot of confidence going into these next couple. This place is getting a lot rougher – Las Vegas – just the bumps continue to get worse and worse, so I think we missed that a little bit. We have some offseason things to work on for sure.”

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 2025, Toyota’s plant in North Carolina began to assemble automotive batteries for electrified vehicles.

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

Chevrolet, Corvette Sweep GTD PRO Championships at Petit Le Mans

15th GT Manufacturers title for Chevrolet; Drivers, Teams championships for Garcia, Sims, Pratt Miller

BRASELTON, Ga. (October 11, 2025) – Chevrolet and Corvette Racing swept all three GTD PRO titles in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship on Saturday with the conclusion of the 10-hour Petit Le Mans at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta.

Chevrolet claimed the Manufacturers Championship, Antonio Garcia and Alexander Sims claimed the Drivers Championship in their No. 3 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R, and Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports’ No. 3 squad capped the hat trick with the Teams Championship.

A runner-up class finish by the No. 4 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 GT3.R of Tommy Milner, Nicky Catsburg and Nico Varrone from Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports secured Chevrolet’s 15th GT class title in IMSA competition and first in GTD PRO. Garcia, Sims and Daniel Juncadella added a third-place class finish for good measure.

“The Chevrolet team is thrilled to win the GTD PRO Manufacturers Championship, our 15th IMSA GT-class title overall,” said Scott Bell, Vice President, Chevrolet. “We take great pride in this win considering the world-class manufacturers we compete against each weekend. I want to recognize and congratulate our Corvette Racing competition and engineering teams, GM Propulsion and our constructor and GTD PRO representative Pratt Miller.”

The GTD PRO Corvettes recorded a combined nine podiums on the season, including a victory at Virginia International Raceway for Garcia and Sims, who finished the year with six top-three results. In addition, Milner and Catsburg finished second in class not only in Petit Le Mans but also at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. The No. 4 also was the quickest Corvette in Friday’s GTD PRO qualifying, earning valuable points for Chevrolet.

Saturday’s results also capped the clean sweep of the GTD PRO championships as Garcia and Sims won their first Drivers title together. Garcia is now a six-time IMSA champion – all with Corvette Racing – and Sims is a two-time champion after taking the GTP Drivers title in 2023 in a Cadillac prototype.

In the Teams Championship, Corvette Racing by Pratt Miller Motorsports won its 16th title dating back to 2001 and the factory Corvette Racing effort. This is the 13th time that Chevrolet and Corvette Racing swept all three class championships – Manufacturers, Drivers and Teams – in the same season.

“Congratulations to Antonio, Alexander, the No. 3 Corvette Z06 GT3.R team and everyone at Pratt Miller Motorsports on securing the GTD PRO Drivers and Teams championships,” said Eric Warren, GM Vice President, Global Motorsports Competition. “Their consistent performance throughout the season was a key factor in delivering these titles against the best GT competition in the world. Everyone at Chevrolet is proud of Antonio for his sixth championship with Corvette, Alexander’s first with our program and second with GM, and Pratt Miller Motorsports on its 16th Teams Championship in IMSA competition.”

On top of its IMSA success, Corvette Z06 GT3.R teams in GT World Challenge America, European Le Mans Series and FIA World Endurance Championship will race for championships in their respective series in the coming weeks.

About General Motors

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

Ford Racing Notes and Quotes – Las Vegas Xfinity Series Post-Race Quotes

Ford Racing Notes and Quotes
NASCAR Xfinity Series
Focused Health 301 — Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Saturday, October 11, 2025

Ford Finishing Results:

7th – Ryan Sieg

9th – Sam Mayer

11th – Sheldon Creed

14th – Harrison Burton

21st – Kyle Sieg

SAM MAYER, No. 41 Audibel Ford Mustang Dark Horse – “We were actually gonna be pretty good, which a huge shoutout to everyone at Haas Factory Team, Ford and Ford Racing. Everyone did a great job of getting this Ford Mustang ready to roll. We weren’t the best, but I think we deserved a little bit better than where we finished. We just had some issues there at the end on pit road, but that’s just part of racing. This place is so track position based that everyone goes the same speed and is running their absolute guts out. If you lose a couple spots or time, you’re kind of forfeiting those for free, but everybody did a great job getting us ready for this. We have some things to work out on pit road, but I’m excited for the next couple of weeks for sure since we’re coming out of here with a decent day.” YOU’RE STILL IN IT WITH TWO RACES TO GO. “Absolutely. We can be proud of what we brought. We can be proud of how we executed the first part of the day. Even though it wasn’t the best, we still made it better but there’s always room for improvement. The good thing is it’s never too late.”

SHELDON CREED, No. 00 Ollie’s Ford Mustang Dark Horse – “After practice and qualifying I thought we were gonna be really strong there and that’s twice now that this new tire has thrown us for a loop like that. We’ll be pretty good in practice and then we start the race like 10 out of 10 loose, so that was challenging to start. We came and worked on it and I felt like that was probably the right move to work on it without tires. I kind of just started working my way back to the front. We short pitted it and was running fifth there at the end on the restart, but was just super tight there at the end. I’ve kind of seen both sides of the balance and we definitely need to look into our adjustments and what this tire is doing. That’s twice that we’ve done that. I’m not blaming it on anyone because I’m equally telling the guys what I think I need for the race and it’s kind of sending us for a loop. Overall, not a terrible finish for our Ollie’s Ford Mustang and I appreciate everyone for the effort.”

RYAN SIEG, No. 39 Sci Aps Ford Mustang Dark Horse – “We had pit road woes all day long. We lost spots twice and then lost a tire that put us to the back, but we had top five speed. We just never knew where we could get because we never had any track position. We had a fast Ford Mustang, but we’ve got to clean up pit road. We’ve got a lot of positives, but we’ve got to put it all together to win these things and we’ve probably got about three-quarters of it.”

How to Boost Social Media Campaigns with Effective Banners

In the fast-paced world of social media, grabbing attention is harder than ever. With countless posts competing for the same audience, your campaign needs visuals that stand out.

Banners play a crucial role in this process-they are often the first thing people notice when scrolling through their feeds. A well-designed banner doesn’t just look good; it can deliver your message quickly, spark interest, and encourage action.

By learning how to create banners that combine strong visuals, clear messaging, and the right formats, you can take your social media campaigns to the next level. Keep on reading for more info.

Understanding Audience Preferences

Before diving into design, it’s crucial to understand your audience’s preferences. Analyze the demographics and behaviors of your target customers. What appeals to them? What colors evoke their emotions? A tailored approach in social media marketing will create a stronger connection with your audience. For instance, colorful and playful designs might resonate well with younger demographics, while a more muted, sophisticated palette could attract professional audiences.

Utilizing Design Elements

When making a banner, the main design pieces are color, text style, and images. Each part matters because it shows your brand’s style and message. Using them well can make the banner clear, strong, and eye-catching.

Color

Pick colors that match your brand and make people feel something. For example, blue can show trust, while red creates energy or urgency. The right colors help people connect with your message right away.

Typography

Fonts should be easy to read and still show your brand’s voice. A modern tech brand might use clean, sharp fonts. A children’s brand might use soft, round letters that feel playful and fun.

Imagery

Good images are the base of any banner. Clear and real photos feel stronger than generic stock pictures. Audiences often trust brands more when the visuals feel authentic and not fake.

Incorporating Call-to-Actions (CTAs)

No banner is complete without a strong call-to-action (CTA). A CTA guides the viewer on what to do next, like visiting a website, signing up for a newsletter, or making a purchase. Without it, people may notice your banner but take no further action.

The wording of your CTA matters a lot. Phrases such as “Sign Up Today” or “Get Your Free Trial” create urgency and push the audience to act quickly. Using bold fonts, bright colors, or buttons can also make your CTA stand out and be more clickable.

Placement is just as important. CTAs should be easy to see but not overwhelming. Most banners perform better when the CTA is positioned at the center or bottom, where the eye naturally goes after reading the main message.

It’s also smart to test different CTAs to find the most effective one. A/B testing can show which words, colors, or positions drive the most clicks. Over time, these insights allow you to refine your strategy and create banners that not only attract attention but also convert viewers into customers.

Mobile Optimization

Given that the majority of social media users access platforms via mobile devices, ensuring your banners are mobile-optimized is non-negotiable. This means that the elements must be readable without zooming in, and graphics must be tailored to fit smaller screens. Consider how the design translates across various devices. A banner that looks stunning on a desktop may not have the same impact on a smartphone.

Leveraging Different Social Media Platforms

Each social media platform works in its own way. A banner that does well on one site may not work on another. Knowing the rules, styles, and audience habits for each platform helps make banners more effective.

Facebook

Facebook gives more space for both text and images. This makes it easier to tell a story with your banner. Strong images paired with bold headlines can grab attention and keep users engaged.

Instagram

Instagram is built around visuals. Bright, creative, and eye-catching images do best here. Text should be short and minimal, as most users focus mainly on the design and look.

Twitter

Twitter moves very fast, and people scroll quickly. Banners should use sharp, clear messages that can be understood right away. Adding bold visuals helps catch the eye in a crowded feed.

LinkedIn

LinkedIn is more professional than other platforms. Banners should use clean designs that focus on careers, business, or industry insights. Case studies, opportunities, or professional visuals tend to connect best with the audience.

Analyzing Performance Metrics

A key step in social media marketing is tracking how well your banners perform. Platforms like Facebook Insights, Twitter Analytics, and Google Analytics give you detailed data on engagement rates, click-throughs, and conversions. These numbers show you if your banner is actually reaching people and encouraging them to take action.

Looking closely at these results helps you decide what to improve. For example, if a banner with bold visuals gets more clicks than one with lots of text, you know what style works best. Next time you create a banner, you can use that knowledge to design one with a stronger impact.

It’s also smart to test banners across different platforms and devices. A banner that works on desktop might not perform the same on mobile. By comparing data across channels, you can refine your approach, boost engagement, and make each campaign more effective.

Iterating Based on Feedback

Feedback can come from various sources-customer interactions, surveys, or analytical data. Don’t shy away from iterating based on this feedback. If your audience prefers a certain design or messaging, incorporating that into your future banners will improve campaigns. Marketing is an evolving process, and flexibility can lead to stronger results.

Final Thoughts on Boosting Campaigns

Creating effective banners can significantly amplify your social media marketing efforts. By understanding your audience, utilizing strong design elements, incorporating effective CTAs, optimizing for mobile, and leveraging insights from performance metrics, you set the stage for success. The next time you’re looking to enhance your online presence, remember to create a banner that truly reflects your brand and captures your audience’s attention.

Almirola wins the Focused Health 302 at Las Vegas

Aric Almirola
Photo by Mitchell Pavel for SpeedwayMedia.com

Aric Almirola led 107 of the 201 laps and took over the race lead from Connor Zilisch with nine laps remaining to win Saturday night’s NASCAR Xfinity Series Playoff race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway by .696 seconds.

“First, thank you God. This is such an unbelievable opportunity to do this with the Signatry and Young Life. They have watch parties all over the globe with these Young Life kids, and it is so much fun to be a part of this. Thank you, Coach (Joe Gibbs, owner and founder, Joe Gibbs Racing). Such an awesome honor to go race for an owner’s championship with JD Gibbs’ name on the car – the whole Gibbs family. I’m having so much fun. This is the time of my life, man.” Almirola said.

Photo by Ron Olds for SpeedwayMedia.com

The win in the Focused Health 302 was Almirola’s third win of the 2025 season and 10th of his career.

“Our car was really good, but the longer I ran, the tighter I got. I was just struggling on the long run in the beginning of stage three and finally that restart there. I just took off incredibly tight, and I couldn’t get going. The 48 (Nick Sanchez) slowed my momentum down. Finally, I got clear of him and was able to go and chase the 88 (Connor Zilisch) down. He looked pretty loose, and I was able to capitalize on it.” Almirola added.

Almirola, who is racing part-time this season, gave the No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota team the first automatic berth for the owners’ championship 4 at Phoenix.

“We decided that this week that we’re going to go try and win an owner’s championship.” Almirola said during his post-race press conference. “Such an awesome opportunity to go race for an owner’s championship with [Gibbs’ late son] J.D. Gibbs name on the car. I’m having so much fun. This is the time of my life.”

Zilisch finished in second place and extended his series record of consecutive top-five finishes to 18 races.

“The frustration just comes from the fact this means so much to me and the chance to lock into Phoenix,” said Zilisch. “I gave it my all, and I drove as hard as I could. But I guess that’s all we had today. I just have to do a better job.”

Justin Allgaier finished third, Corey Day fourth, and Nick Sanchez rounded out the top 5 finishers.

After Vegas, Connor Zilisch has a 38-point lead over Justin Allgaier, 62 points over Jesse Love, 74 points over Sam Mayer, 82 points over Brandon Jones, 95 points over Sheldon Creed, 96 points over Carson Kvapil, and 98 points over Sammy Smith.

Up Next:

The Xfinity series heads to Talladega Superspeedway for the United Rentals 250 at 4 p.m. ET on the CW Network.

Standings after the Focused Health 302

PosDriverNoPointsBehindNextRaec WinsStage WinsPLayoff Pts
1Connor Zilisch # (P)88312400101171
2Justin Allgaier (P)73086-383831338
3Jesse Love (P)23062-62241214
4Sam Mayer (P)413050-74121316
5Brandon Jones (P)203042-8282318
6Sheldon Creed (P)03029-9513013
7Carson Kvapil # (P)13028-961015
8Sammy Smith (P)83026-982139

NASCAR Xfinity Series Race Number 30
Race Results for the Focused Health 302 – Saturday, October 11, 2025
Las Vegas Motor Speedway – Las Vegas, NV – 1.5 – Mile Paved

PosStNoDriverTeamLapsS1S2S3PointsStatus
1419Aric Almirola (P)Young Life Toyota20111060Running
2288Connor Zilisch # (P)WeatherTech Chevrolet20123053Running
317Justin Allgaier (P)BRANDT Chevrolet20144048Running
41917Corey DayHendrickCars.com Chevrolet20109035Running
5548Nick Sanchez #DIOS AZUL Tequila Chevrolet201100033Running
662Jesse Love (P)Whelen Chevrolet20132048Running
71439Ryan SiegSci Aps Ford20155042Running
8854Taylor Gray #Operation 300 Toyota20190031Running
91641Sam Mayer (P)Audibel Ford20188034Running
101221Austin Hill (P)Global Industrial Chevrolet20166037Running
11100Sheldon Creed (P)Ollie’s Ford20100026Running
121118William Sawalich #Soundgear Toyota20100025Running
13320Brandon Jones (P)Menards/Nibco Toyota20100024Running
142025Harrison BurtonDead On Tools Ford20100023Running
1591Carson Kvapil # (P)Bass Pro Shops/Clarience Tech Chevrolet201010023Running
161311Daniel Hemric(i)Benesch Attorneys Chevrolet2010000Running
171810Daniel Dye #Champion Container Chevrolet20100020Running
18716Christian Eckes #LeafFilter Gutter Protection Chevrolet20177027Running
191799Matt DiBenedettoViking Motorsports Chevrolet20100018Running
20158Sammy Smith (P)Pilot Chevrolet20100017Running
212428Kyle SiegSci Aps Ford20100016Running
222624Trevor Bayne(i)OLIPOP/SpongeBob Movie Toyota2010000Running
232791Josh WilliamsOptum Chevrolet20100014Running
242542Anthony AlfredoDude Wipes Chevrolet20100013Running
253144Brennan PooleMacc Door Systems Chevrolet20100012Running
262227Jeb BurtonCrocodile Cloth Chevrolet20100011Running
272831Blaine PerkinsC.H. Robinson Chevrolet20100010Running
282326Dean Thompson #MCM Transportation Toyota2000009Running
293871Ryan EllisClassic Collision Chevrolet2000008Running
30374Parker RetzlaffDr Teal’s Chevrolet2000007Running
313332Austin Green3Dimensional.com Chevrolet1990006Running
323614Garrett SmithleyThermoTech Chevrolet1990005Running
333535Mason MaggioDenssi Energy Pouches Ford1980004Running
34347Nick LeitzFrontLine Optics Chevrolet1980003Running
353253Joey GaseNevada Donor Network Chevrolet1960002Running
362151Jeremy ClementsHenderson Jet/Alliance Chevrolet1460001Transmission
373045Mason MasseyBrunt Chevrolet840001Suspension
382970Thomas AnnunziataBayshore Mortgage Chevrolet680001Transmission

Denny Hamlin secures Cup Series pole at Las Vegas

Photo by Ron Olds for SpeedwayMedia.com

Denny Hamlin topped qualifying Saturday afternoon to claim the NASCAR Cup Series pole at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. It is his fourth pole this season.

“I felt good about it, truthfully,” Hamlin said. “There wasn’t a whole lot left out there for it. But a great job by this team to get my car good. It was good in the short run in practice as well, got to work on it for the long run for tomorrow.

“But Saturday (qualifying) has always been our Achilles heel at this race track, and that’s a great way to turn that around.”

Playoff contenders claimed the top six starting spots.

Teammates Chase Briscoe and Christopher Bell qualified behind Hamlin for a Joe Gibbs Racing top-3 sweep.

Hendrick Motorsports drivers claimed the next three starting spots. Chase Elliott will start fourth, followed by teammates William Byron and Kyle Larson. Bubba Wallace, Tyler Reddick, Joey Logano (P), and Ty Gibbs completed the top-10.

Ryan Blaney, the final playoff competitor, qualified 14th.

Qualifying Notes:

This is Hamlin’s 47th pole in 718 NASCAR Cup Series races.
It is his fourth pole and 17th top-10 start in 2025.
This is also his first pole in 28 races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Chase Briscoe (P) (second) posted his 20th top-10 start of 2025 and his third in ten races at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Christopher Bell (P) (third) posted his seventh top-10 start at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. It is his 16th in 33 races this season.
Shane Van Gisbergen (13th) was the fastest qualifying rookie.

Sunday’s South Point 400 playoff race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway will be broadcast at 5:30 p.m. ET on the USA Network, HBO Max, PRN Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, and the NBC Sports App.

Starting Line Up
Las Vegas Motor Speedway
South Point 400

PosNoDriverTeamTimeSpeed
111Denny Hamlin (P)ampm Toyota29.213184.849
219Chase Briscoe (P)Bass Pro Shops Toyota29.249184.622
320Christopher Bell (P)Rheem Toyota29.255184.584
49Chase Elliott (P)NAPA Auto Parts Chevrolet29.259184.559
524William Byron (P)Relay Payments Chevrolet29.304184.275
65Kyle Larson (P)HendrickCars.com Chevrolet29.328184.124
723Bubba WallaceRobinhood Toyota29.401183.667
845Tyler ReddickJordan Brand Toyota29.413183.592
922Joey Logano (P)Shell Pennzoil Ford29.421183.542
1054Ty GibbsSAIA LTL Freight Toyota29.454183.337
1117Chris BuescherKroger/International Delight Ford29.537182.822
1248Alex BowmanAlly Chevrolet29.54182.803
1388Shane Van GisbergenJockey New Zealand Chevrolet29.586182.519
1412Ryan Blaney (P)Menards/Cardell Cabinetry Ford29.592182.482
151Ross ChastainTootsies Orchid Lounge Chevrolet29.594182.469
1660Ryan PreeceSysco/crumbl Ford29.626182.272
1799Daniel SuarezFreeway Hispanic Heritage Chevrolet29.645182.156
1871Michael McDowellDelaware Life Chevrolet29.647182.143
1943Erik JonesDollar Tree Toyota29.679181.947
2016AJ AllmendingerCelsius Chevrolet29.69181.879
2141Cole CusterHaasTooling.com Ford29.693181.861
2277Carson HocevarClassic Collision Chevrolet29.703181.8
2338Zane SmithLong John Silver’s Ford29.72181.696
2447Ricky Stenhouse Jr.Real American Beer Chevrolet29.765181.421
253Austin DillonGet Bioethanol Chevrolet29.779181.336
2642John Hunter NemechekPye Barker Fire & Safety Toyota29.842180.953
277Justin HaleyFly Alliance Chevrolet29.846180.929
284Noah GragsonRush Truck Centers Ford29.862180.832
2921Josh BerryMotorcraft/Quick Lane Ford29.909180.548
3034Todd GillilandLove’s Travel Stops Ford30.022179.868
312Austin CindricAutotrader Ford30.089179.468
328Kyle Buschzone nicotine pouches Chevrolet30.09179.462
3335Riley HerbstHungry Jack Toyota30.147179.122
346Brad KeselowskiNexlizet Ford30.21178.749
3510Ty DillonSugarlands x Field and Stream Chevrolet30.321178.094
3651Cody WareArby’s Steak Nuggets Ford30.627176.315
3744JJ Yeley(i)Epoxy Depot Chevrolet30.661176.12
3878Katherine LeggeDesnuda Chevrolet31.644170.648