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Spire Motorsports Bully Hill Vineyards 176 at The Glen Race Advance

By
Official Release
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  • In four NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series starts at Watkins Glen International (WGI) Spire Motorsports earned its lone top-10 finish when Sammy Smith finished sixth in last year’s Mission 176 at the Glen.
  • Round 8 of the 2026 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Championship will mark Spire Motorsports 200th start that saw the team’s first foray in the division Feb. 18, 2022 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway with Austin Hill at the controls. Since then, the Mooresville, N.C. organization has gone on to record six poles, 11 wins, 40 top-five and 82 top-10 finishes. The team’s most recent CRAFTSMAN Truck Series win came last Friday at Texas Motor Speedway when Carson Hocevar earned the checkered flag in the SpeedyCash.com 250.
  • The Bully Hill Vineyards 176 will be televised live on FS1 Friday, May 8 beginning at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). The eighth of 25 points-paying races on the 2026 NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series schedule will be broadcast live on the NASCAR Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

Connor Mosack – Driver, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Silverado RST

  • Connor Mosack will pilot Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Friends of Jaclyn Chevrolet Silverado RST in Friday’s Bully Hill Vineyards 176 at The Glen.
  • The Friends of Jaclyn Foundation’s mission is to improve the quality of life for children battling pediatric brain tumors and other childhood cancers and to raise awareness through their Adopt-A-Child, Safe on the Sidelines and Guardian Angel Programs.
  • In his lone CRAFTSMAN Truck Series start at WGI, Mosack qualified 10th and raced his way into the top five during the final run where he was in contention for the win before contact during multiple overtime restarts left him 16th in the final rundown.
  • During the inaugural NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series race at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg (Fla.), Mosack started on the pole after qualifying was canceled due to weather, and controlled the early stages of the race. Unfortunately, heavy damage resulting from contact with another competitor shuffled Mosack down the leaderboard. Still, he managed to work his way back toward the front to recover for a solid, 13th-place finish.
  • The talented road racer is a two-time race winner in the Trans Am Series at WGI where he earned back-to-back victories in 2021 and 2022, including winning from the pole in 2022.
  • In ARCA Menards Series competition, Mosack has made two starts at the famed 2.45-mile road course, earning one top-five finish in 2024, a race won by Spire Motorsports’ teammate Connor Zilisch.
  • The 176-mile event will mark Mosack’s third CRAFTSMAN Truck Series start of the year and ninth with Spire Motorsports. In eight previous starts with the team, the 27-year-old has tallied two top-five and five top-10 finishes.
  • Mosack will drive Spire Manufacturing chassis SMT-071 Friday. This is the same truck Mosack raced in February at the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.
  • Before it was property of Spire Motorsports, chassis SMT-071 saw success as the primary road-course truck for Kyle Busch Motorsports. Busch drove it to victory at Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway in June 2022, where he led 45 of the event’s 75 laps, en route to the now defunct team’s 95th CRAFTSMAN Truck Series win.
  • In 11 races, SMT-071 has tallied two poles, one win and six top fives while maintaining a 3.5 average starting position and an average finish of 10.2. The truck has paced the field for 101 circuits and led laps in six of its 10 starts.

Connor Mosack Quote
You showed top-five speed late in your only truck start at Watkins Glen. How do you build on that experience heading back this weekend?
“Watkins Glen is one of my favorite tracks and I always look forward to racing there. One of the biggest things I learned last year was how the truck transitions throughout the run and what I need to be strong all race long. I feel good about where our truck is this year and it should be a great weekend for us.”

Atop the No. 7 Box – Crew Chief Brian Pattie

  • Brian Pattie sits atop the No. 7 pit box, an entry that will see myriad all-star caliber drivers behind the wheel throughout the 2026 season.
  • Pattie has called four NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series races at Texas Motor Speedway, including Busch’s dominant performance in the 2024 SpeedyCash.com 250. Busch led 112 of the event’s 167 laps en route to victory, calculating a decisive 1.62 average running position.
  • The Zephyrhills, Fla., native has led the No. 7 team to one win, two top-five and three top-10 finishes through the first six CRAFTSMAN Truck Series races of 2026, posting an average finish of 10.3
  • The 25-year industry veteran spent 14 seasons in NASCAR’s premier division. As a crew chief, he has earned six wins in Cup Series competition and 11 in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series. He stands as one of 11 crew chiefs to win races across all three of NASCAR’s national touring series.

Connor Zilisch – Driver, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet Silverado RST

  • Connor Zilisch will pilot Spire Motorsports’ No. 71 Trackhouse Labs Chevrolet Silverado RST in Friday’s Bully Hill Vineyards 176 at The Glen.
  • Trackhouse Labs is a division of Trackhouse Entertainment used for technical capabilities including motorsports supply needs, philanthropic services, and custom design and fabrication. Among the special projects managed by Trackhouse Labs was the construction of the Aerial Recovery trucks built to aid in first responder rescue missions after natural disasters in the United States. Trackhouse Labs also has the capability to produce custom vehicle build outs for both the road and track and as well as classic car renovations.
  • Zilisch will pull triple duty this weekend and compete in all three of NASCAR’s national touring series races at WGI. In addition to his responsibilities behind the wheel of Spire Motorsports’ No. 71 Chevy Friday afternoon, the accomplished road racer will also race JR Motorsports’ No. 1 Chevrolet in Saturday’s NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series’ Mission 200. On Sunday, he’ll wheel Trackhouse Racing’s No. 88 machine in the NASCAR Cup Series’ Go Bowling at The Glen.
  • The 72-lap event will mark his ninth CRAFTSMAN Truck Series start and seventh with Spire Motorsports. In six previous starts with the team, Zilisch has earned two Kennametal Pole Awards and two top-five finishes.
  • In three CRAFTSMAN Truck Series starts on road courses, Zilisch has registered two top-five and three top-10 finishes.
  • In his lone start with Spire Motorsports last season, Zilisch qualified sixth at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL and finished fifth in the EcoSave 250. He ran inside the top three most of the day and despite late-race contact with another competitor, still maintained his footing inside the top five when the checkered flag flew.
  • Zilisch became the seventh driver in O’Reilly Auto Parts Series history to win in his debut at Watkins Glen. The 2024 Mission 200 was extended into double overtime from its originally scheduled 82 laps where he held off the field during back-to-back restarts for his maiden trip to Victory Lane.
  • The 19-year-old racer has made seven O’Reilly Auto Parts Series’ road course starts, earning five wins, six top-five and six top-10 finishes for a 4.4 average finish. His most recent road course victory came last season at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL.
  • Zilisch will race Spire Manufacturing chassis SMT-076 Friday in its seventh start.

Connor Zilisch Quote
You’ve been close to a win with Spire Motorsports and always run well at Watkins Glen. What gives you the confidence this could be the weekend it all comes together?
“I’m excited to go to Watkins Glen this weekend and start my triple header weekend with Spire Motorsports. Spire has been a great team for me to race with in the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. They have a lot of great people who support me and what I do, so I enjoy racing with them. I haven’t gotten a win yet, but we’ve been close. I’m pumped to go to Watkins Glen and hopefully, have a good race on Friday. I always look forward to going to Watkins Glen because that place has meant a lot to me over the years.”

Atop the No. 71 Box – Crew Chief Kevin “Bono” Manion

  • Veteran crew chief Kevin “Bono” Manion has called 16 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series road-course events, collecting four top-10 finishes. Zane Smith’s 2021 sixth-place result at Watkins Glen marked his best finish in CRAFTSMAN Truck Series competition at the famed New York venue.
  • Manion founded Spire Motorsports’ CRAFTSMAN Truck Series program alongside industry veteran Mike Greci in 2022. The team claimed its first victory in its second outing April 7, 2022, with William Byron behind the wheel at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway.
  • The seasoned veteran crew chief has racked up five Cup Series victories – including the 2010 Daytona 500 – 17 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series triumphs and 12 CRAFTSMAN Truck series wins. Manion is also one of 11 crew chiefs to have called wins across all three of NASCAR’s national touring series.
  • Manion called Martin Truex, Jr.’s 2005 victory in the inaugural O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race at Mexico City’s Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez. The win marked the first of six during the 2005 campaign for the Truex Jr./Manion pairing. Nine months later, the potent duo secured their second O’Reilly Auto Parts Series championship in as many seasons at Homestead-Miami Speedway.
  • In 2023, Manion became one of a select few to call a race in all three of NASCAR’s national touring series in a single season, all of which came under the Spire Motorsports umbrella. He led the part-time effort on the No. 7 Silverado in the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, helped in limited starts for Carson Hocevar in the O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and took the reigns during the second half of the Cup Series season for Ty Dillon and the No. 77 team.

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

  • Carson Hocevar will pilot Spire Motorsports’ No. 77 Delaware Life Chevrolet Silverado RST in Friday’s Bully Hill Vineyards 176 at The Glen.
  • Delaware Life is an insurance and annuity company that empowers financial professionals with a wide array of customizable solutions. A subsidiary of Group 1001 Insurance Holdings LLC, Delaware Life focuses on delivering a seamless experience for advisors. The company understands how important it is to find the right fit for every client, every situation and every individual need. Delaware Life is passionate about equipping advisors with annuities that give their customers peace of mind and a successful future, allowing them to plan with confidence for whatever’s next.
  • Hocevar will pull double duty this weekend at Watkins Glen, where he’ll also pilot Spire Motorsports’ No. 77 Spectrum Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series’ Go Bowling at The Glen.
  • The 23-year-old driver led the No. 77 team to Victory Lane last Friday at Texas Motor Speedway. Hocevar started 11th and led early in the final stage, but an issue during a green-flag pit stop caused the team to slip to fourth, six seconds behind the leader. Fortunately, a Lap-145 caution flag allowed Hocevar to reel in the lead trio, and after returning to racing action on Lap 149, made the move for the top spot four laps later. He survived multiple late-race restarts, including one NASCAR Overtime attempt, to snag his sixth career victory in the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, just five days removed from his first NASCAR Cup Series win.
  • Hocevar currently sits sixth in the NASCAR Cup Series championship point standings. His one win, three top fives, five top 10s, 333 points scored, average starting position of 10.1 and 13.4 average finish are all career highs through the first 11 points-paying races of the 2026 season.
  • The newly minted Cup Series winner has one start under his belt in the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series at Watkins Glen, coming in 2021. He qualified ninth and was credited with a 10th-place result in the regular-season finale when the race was called prior to its scheduled conclusion for inclement weather.
  • One day prior to his first-and-only CRAFTSMAN Truck Series start at Watkins Glen, Hocevar made a rare ARCA Menards Series appearance at the 2.45-mile racecourse. He earned a fourth-place finish in a star-studded field of up-and-coming drivers featuring four current NASCAR Cup Series competitors (Chase Briscoe, Ty Gibbs, Riley Herbst and Hocevar) and 13 other NASCAR National Series competitors.
  • The 23-year-old driver, a veteran of 87 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series races, has logged one pole, six wins, 24 top fives and 37 top 10s, while leading 843 laps. He made the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series playoffs in all his three full-time seasons and earned a spot in the 2023 Championship 4.
  • Hocevar will be at the controls of Spire Manufacturing chassis SMT-072 Friday afternoon. This is the same Chevrolet Silverado Rajah Caruth raced to a fourth-place finish last October at the Charlotte Motor Speedway ROVAL. Over 11 starts, a collection of drivers have driven this Spire Motorsports-prepared racer to three top-five and seven top-10 finishes.

Carson Hocevar Quote
You are at the halfway mark of your truck schedule for this season. How are you enjoying the experience and what are your thoughts as you carry out the rest of your races?
“It has been super fun for me. Other guys go golfing in their free time, I just like racing. It is an opportunity for me to go out, have fun, and try to help the No. 77 team rack up as many owner points as possible. It was cool to get the win last week at Texas for Jeff (Dickerson), Chad (Walter) and everyone at Spire, and hopefully we can get a couple more before my races are over.”

Atop the No. 77 Box – Crew Chief Chad Walter

  • Chad Walter calls the shots from the top of the No. 77 pit box, an entry that will see multiple all-star caliber drivers behind the wheel throughout the 2026 season.
  • Walter is a mechanical engineering graduate of Cornell University in Ithaca, located 30 miles from Watkins Glen. During his studies, he played defensive end for the Big Red football team. He hails from Albion, N.Y., positioned just west of Rochester.
  • Last weekend’s victory marked the first for the veteran crew chief since March 2024 when he guided Rajah Caruth to his first career NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series win.
  • The 54-year-old has called 10 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series road course events. Driver Tyler Ankrum earned Walter’s best result on a road course, a sixth-place result on Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway’s road course configuration in 2020.
  • In 19 road course events atop the NASCAR O”Reilly Auto Parts Series pit box, Walter has tallied five top fives and seven top 10s. As a crew chief for the JR Motorsports’ No. 5 team, Walter reached Victory Lane at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve with Ron Fellows in 2008. The duo elected to run long during a pit cycle as storms were approaching the circuit. When heavy rain descended upon the track on Lap 48, the race was declared official and Fellows was declared the winner.
  • During his time as a shop engineer at Dale Earnhardt, Inc., Walter was part of Steve Park’s 2000 triumph at Watkins Glen. Park led 53 laps en route to his maiden Cup Series victory. Spire Motorsports’ Truck Series Competition Director and part-time crew chief of the team’s No. 71 entry Kevin “Bono” Manion was the car chief on the No. 1 car that weekend.
  • Between NASCAR’s O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and CRAFTSMAN Truck Series, the 54-year-old has racked up seven wins, 56 top fives and 142 top 10s.

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

The team, co-owned by longtime NASCAR industry executive Jeff Dickerson and TWG Motorsports CEO Dan Towriss, earned its inaugural NASCAR Cup Series victory in its first full season of competition when Justin Haley took the checkered flag in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway July 7, 2019. Less than three years later, William Byron drove Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado to its inaugural NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series win April 7, 2022, at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway. The team’s most recent win came April 27, 2026, when Carson Hocevar earned his inaugural Cup Series win in the Jack Links 500 at Talladega Superspeedway.

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

RFK Racing, Fifth Third Team Up to Fight Hunger in Charlotte

By
Official Release
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NASCAR Team and Bank Employees Volunteer at Second Harvest of Metrolina for Fifth Third Day

CONCORD, NC (May 5, 2026) — Roush Fenway Keselowski (RFK) Racing’s No. 17 Fifth Third-sponsored NASCAR Cup Series pit crew teamed up with Fifth Third Bank employees in Charlotte Tuesday to volunteer at Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina. The collaboration continued a shared tradition of giving back and helping address food insecurity in the communities they call home.

During the event, Fifth Third presented a $25,000 donation to Second Harvest of Metrolina, reinforcing the Bank’s commitment to keeping the customer and community at the center of everything it does. The volunteer effort and contribution align with Fifth Third Day, the bank’s annual day of service and giving recognized each year around May 3 or better known as 5/3 on the calendar.

The RFK Racing team and Fifth Third employees worked side by side to support Second Harvest’s mission, helping prepare and pack meals that will be distributed to families across the Charlotte region. Hunger relief has been a focus of Fifth Third Day since 2012, when the Bank formally aligned its enterprise-wide volunteer efforts around fighting food insecurity.

“Fifth Third Day is about showing up for our communities in meaningful ways,” said Lee Fite, president of Fifth Third Bank’s Carolinas Region. “By working together with our employees, RFK Racing and Second Harvest of Metrolina, we are going above and beyond to support families who need it most and strengthen the places we call home.”

The collaboration between Fifth Third Bank and RFK Racing has become a familiar sight in Charlotte, with the No. 17 team and Bank employees volunteering together at local food banks for several consecutive years around Fifth Third Day. The partnership reflects a shared commitment to service, teamwork and making a positive impact beyond the track.

Since 1991, Fifth Third has recognized May 3 as Fifth Third Day, using the occasion as a rallying point for volunteerism and giving across its footprint. Through longstanding partnerships with Feeding America and local food banks, Fifth Third employees have helped deliver millions of meals to neighbors in need through volunteering and financial support.

About RFK Racing

RFK Racing, in its 39th season in 2026, features an ownership lineup pairing one of the sport’s most iconic names, Jack Roush, along with NASCAR Champion, Brad Keselowski, and Fenway Sports Group owner John Henry. Roush initially founded the team in 1988, and it has since become one of the most successful racing operations in the world, propelling him to be the first NASCAR owner to amass three hundred wins and capturing eight championships, including back-to-back NASCAR Cup titles in 2003 and 2004. Keselowski, a former owner in the NASCAR Truck Series, is the 2012 NASCAR Cup Series Champion. In 2007, Roush partnered with Henry, who also owns Major League Baseball’s Boston Red Sox, English Premier League’s Liverpool F.C., and the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins, to form Roush Fenway Racing. Off the track, RFK is a leader and proven winner in NASCAR marketing solutions, having produced multiple award-winning social media, digital content and experiential marketing campaigns. Visit rfkracing.com, and follow the team on all social platforms @rfkracing.

About Fifth Third Bank

Fifth Third Bancorp is a diversified financial services company headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, and the indirect parent company of Fifth Third Bank, National Association. Fifth Third operates 15 lines of business including consumer banking, commercial banking, wealth and asset management, data and analytics, and investment banking. Fifth Third is focused on improving lives and communities through responsible banking and a commitment to being One Bank—A Fifth Third Better.

ARCA Menards Series at Watkins Glen International: General Tire 100 at The Glen Entry List, Pre-Race Notes, Stats Update

By
Official Release
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  • The ARCA Menards Series will take on the twisting turns at Watkins Glen International in Friday’s General Tire 100 at The Glen, the fifth race of the series’ 2026 season and first of two road course races. It will be the seventh race for the ARCA Menards Series at Watkins Glen International and the series’ 34th race on a road course in its history.
  • Jake Bollman (No. 20 Nitro Motorsports Toyota) leads the ARCA Menards Series championship standings heading into the General Tire 100 at The Glen; he has an eight-point lead over Ryan Vargas (No. 34 Maples Motorsports Chevrolet) heading into Friday’s race. Neither driver has made a road course start previously in the ARCA Menards Series.
  • In the 33 previous ARCA Menards Series road course races, there have been 30 different winners. Only one driver has won more than once: Andrew Ranger (No. 53 Van Dyk Recycling Solutions Chevrolet). Ranger will make his first ARCA Menards Series start since he won at New Jersey Motorsports Park in 2014. Ranger won his first career start at the track in 2011, and again in 2012, 2013, and 2014. His worst ARCA Menards Series road course start was second at Road America in 2013, and he has never finished outside the top-five with fifth-place finishes at both Chicagoland Speedway and the DuQuoin State Fairgrounds in his only two oval track starts in 2011. Ranger also has an ARCA Menards East road course victory at Lime Rock Park in 2010.
  • Home state favorite Andy Jankowiak (No. 71 Whelen / DAK’s Markets Chevrolet) heads into his home race fresh off his first career ARCA Menards Series victory in the series’ most recent race at Talladega Superspeedway. Jankowiak hails from Buffalo, New York, about two hours to the northwest of the Watkins Glen area and races tour-type Modifieds at various short tracks across the state.
  • NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series championship contender Kaden Honeycutt (No. 17 Mohawk Northeast Inc/MMI Toyota) will make his first ARCA Menards Series appearance since 2023 in the General Tire 100 at The Glen. Honeycutt will be teaming up with the Cook Racing Technologies team that he won two ARCA Menards Series West races with in 2023 which helped propel the organization to the West owner’s championship. Honeycutt will do double duty on Friday; he will also race in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series nightcap.
  • Max Reaves (No. 18 Cook Out Toyota) will make his ARCA Menards Series road course debut in the General Tire 100 at The Glen. Reaves scored his fourth career ARCA Menards East victory last Saturday night at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway and he enters Friday with three career ARCA Menards Series victories, the most recent in the 2025 season finale at Toledo Speedway. Reaves’ Joe Gibbs Racing team has had previous success on road courses, with wins at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course with Ty Gibbs in 2021 and again in 2024 with William Sawalich and Brandon Jones at Watkins Glen in 2022. Sawalich also has three ARCA Menards West wins at road courses, at Portland International Raceway in 2024 and again at Portland and Sonoma Raceway in 2025.
  • Dystany Spurlock (No. 66 Foxxtecca Ford) will also do double duty; she will make her second career ARCA Menards Series start and then make her NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series debut both driving for Carl Long’s MBM Motorsports organization. Spurlock became the first ever Black female driver to start an ARCA Menards Series race at Kansas Speedway where she finished tenth; when she takes the green flag in Friday’s event she will be the first Black female to start a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race.
  • ARCA Menards East championship point standings leader Tristan McKee (No. 77 Go Bowling Chevrolet) became the 38th driver to win in his ARCA Menards Series debut at Watkins Glen in 2025 and the series’ second-youngest winner in history at 15 years, 4 days of age, behind only Todd Gilliland who won at Toledo Speedway in 2015 at 15 years, 1 day of age. McKee won the first two East races in 2026 at Hickory Motor Speedway and Rockingham Speedway.
  • The 33 teams entered represent the largest ARCA Menards Series entry list at Watkins Glen International since the series’ first appearance at the track in 2001.
  • Previous ARCA Menards Series winners at Watkins Glen International include John Finger (2001), Corey Heim (2021), Brandon Jones (2022), Jesse Love (2023), Connor Zilisch (2024), and Tristan McKee (2025).
  • The race will be run under the Break pit stop format with a five-minute break scheduled at or around lap 21. Teams can change tires, add fuel, and make adjustments. The break is the only time teams can change tires of a similar tread pattern (dry to dry, wet to wet) without penalty. Should weather conditions dictate, teams can change dry to wet or wet to dry without penalty under either green flag or yellow flag.
  • Should the race need to be extended to overtime, there will be one attempt at a one-lap green-and-white-together restart. Should the caution come out in overtime, the field will be frozen at the time of the caution.
  • The General Tire 100 at The Glen is set for 1:30 pm ET on Friday, May 8. The race will be televised live on FS2. The race will also be broadcast on select affiliates of the MRN Radio network nationwide and on MRN.com. Live timing & scoring data and live race audio will be available on ARCARacing.com; for up-to-the-minute updates please follow @ARCA_Racing on X (formerly known as Twitter).

About ARCA 
The Automobile Racing Club of America (ARCA), founded in 1953 by John and Mildred Marcum in Toledo, Ohio, and acquired by NASCAR in April 2018, is the leading grassroots stock car sanctioning body in the United States. Bridging the gap between NASCAR’s top three national touring series and weekly and regional tour racing all across the country, the organization sanctions over 100 races per year in the ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East, ARCA Menards Series West, ASA STARS National Tour, ASA CRA Super Series, ASA Midwest Tour, ASA Southern Super Series plus weekly racing at Toledo and Flat Rock Speedways. For more information about ARCA visit www.arcaracing.com, or follow ARCA on Facebook (@ARCARacing) and Twitter (@ARCA_Racing). 

About Menards
A family-owned and run company started in 1958, Menards is recognized as the retail home center leader of the Midwest with 236 stores in 15 states.  Menards is truly a one-stop shop for all of your home improvement needs featuring a full-service lumberyard and everything you need to plan a renovation or build a home, garage, cabin, shed, deck, fence or post frame building.  You’ll find a large selection of lumber, roofing, siding, construction blocks, trusses, doors and windows, plus cabinets, appliances, countertops, flooring, lighting, paint, plumbing supplies and more.  To complete the job, Menards has quality hand tools, power tools, fasteners, electrical tools plus storage options and supplies for everyone from the weekend warrior to the pro!
 
Menards has what you need to complete your outdoor projects and keep your yard in tip-top shape including mowers, trimmers, blowers, pressure washers and more, plus a beautiful garden center stocked with plants, shrubs, trees, landscaping tools, grass seed, fertilizer options, outdoor décor and patio furniture.  Menards also has everyday essentials like health & beauty products, housewares, pet and wildlife supplies, automotive items and even groceries.  And at Christmas, an Enchanted Forest display area with impressive trees, lighting, decorations, ornaments, inflatables and more. 
Menards is known for friendly Customer Service and as the place to “Save Big Money” with low prices every day, and sales too!  For more information, please visit Menards.com to learn about our store locations, offerings and services.

Desnuda Named Official Partner, Premium Tequila of IMS

By
Official Release
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INDIANAPOLIS (Tuesday, May 5, 2026) – Desnuda Organic Tequila, an Indiana-based premium spirits brand, announces a partnership with Indianapolis Motor Speedway to become the “Official Premium Tequila” of IMS.

Crafted with intention, tradition and ritual, Desnuda embodies honesty and authenticity. An award-winning spirit, grown in the sacred ground of Jalisco, Mexico, Desnuda is certified organic, gluten-free and GMO-free tequila made with 100% Blue Weber agave.

Two beverage barns at IMS will be dedicated to Desnuda products, serving three specialty cocktails, including a margarita, pineapple sour and paloma. These barns will be located at the north end of Tower Terrace and outside of Turn 2. In addition, the “American Jubilee” cocktail served throughout IMS during the Month of May will use Desnuda Tequila.

“Desnuda is known for its commitment to tradition and one-of-a-kind experiences,” INDYCAR and IMS President J. Douglas Boles said. “IMS and the Indy 500 also are one-of-a-kind and steeped in tradition, and Desnuda provides our fans with another way they can celebrate together at the Racing Capital of the World.”

In a world of industrial spirits and celebrity tequila, Desnuda stays small by choice. They roast the agave in stone ovens and ferment in closed tanks for purity.

Desnuda Tequila is presented in hand-forged bottles that make every release one of a kind.

The next event for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES is the Sonsio Grand Prix on the road course at IMS. Live coverage begins at 4:30 p.m. ET Saturday, May 9 on FOX. Live coverage of the 110th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge will begin at 10 a.m. ET on Sunday, May 24 on FOX.

The Business Side of Vehicle Transport

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

That paperwork is simple to dismiss from the outside. The truck is the visible part. The chain of documentation behind the move is the hidden aspect.

Why Is There So Much Paperwork in Automotive Transportation?

Paperwork is a feature of automotive shipping because a car shipment typically involves more than one business and more than one handoff.

A single vehicle relocation may include vehicle owner, broker, transporter, pickup location, delivery location, insurance requirements, inspection notes, billing department. In motorsports, the chain might encompass race teams, stores, sponsors, event sites, parts suppliers and last-minute logistics. In the retail automotive world, this can include dealers, auctions, recon centers, lenders and third party carriers.

Each side needs a distinct section of the record. Pickup crew must release paperwork. Delivery workers require condition confirmation. The carrier shall have proof of delivery of the vehicle. The billing contact needs to see an invoice that reflects the details of the job.

If a document is lost or a reference number is incorrect, payment is slow.

Which Documents Are Important After Vehicle Delivery?

After the delivery, the important documents are those showing the job was authorized, finished and priced right.

This can involve for vehicle travel and transfer of goods:

  1. details of dispatch or loading
  2. written price agreement or rate confirmation;
  3. inspection records of pickup and delivery;
  4. acknowledged delivery;
  5. BOL (Bill of Lading) or transport receipt;
  6. accessorial approvals for waiting time, storage, special handling or extra stops;
  7. latest invoice

The specific document names are dependent on the type of shipment. A race car out to an event can have different paperwork than a used vehicle out of an auction to a dealership. And the billing question is the same: Can the carrier verify the job was done on the terms agreed to?

If the answer is yes, it’s easier to pay. If the answer involves phone calls, misdirected emails or missing attachments, the invoice becomes delayed.

Why Is the Reference Number Important?

Reference numbers will be used by billing teams to connect the invoice to the original transport order.

The driver may conceive of the work by: route, vehicle, customer name or delivery date. The billing department might only care about the load number, purchase order, shipment ID, or internal reference. If the invoice number is somewhat different from the original agreement, the system or clerk reviewing it may not know where to apply it.

That’s why little differences are important. A dash, prefix, missing digit or copied number from the wrong document can throw an otherwise valid invoice into manual review.

Carriers should copy the billing reference directly from the agreement/rate confirmation and maintain the original document connected to the work file. It’s the safest way to do it. 

Why Is Manual Billing Still Used in Transport?

Manual invoicing is still popular since many small carriers still interact with a variety of brokers, shippers, clients and formats on a weekly basis.

Big fleets could employ a Transportation Management System (TMS) that brings together dispatch, accounting, tracking, driver payments and billing. Small operators don’t generally need that whole system. They can book work over the phone, email, load board or broker portal. But their immediate concern is more narrow: get the job documents turned into a correct invoice and transmit it swiftly.

That gap is why many carriers are looking at specific freight billing software for carriers instead of broad solutions designed primarily for brokers, shippers, or huge fleets. The useful software in this category starts with the documents carriers already use: rate confirmations, Bills of Lading, delivery records, and invoice templates.

Sometimes the best tool isn’t the one with the most features. For a small transport firm, often the greatest tool is the one that cuts off the largest amount of repeated typing.

How Can Automation Help Without Changing the Entire Workflow?

The best value of automation is when it can fix the one pain point without having to re-engineer all the other processes in the organization.

In transport billing the repetitive phase is the data transfer. The agreed price, pickup details, delivery details, client name and reference number are already on the original paper. The carrier shouldn’t have to read one document and then re-key the same information line by line into another document.

A practical automated workflow is as follows:

1. Keep the shipping agreement or pricing confirmation.
2. Take a photo of the delivery document signed.
3. Fill in the invoice with the same reference numbers and prices.
4. Prepare one billing packet with the invoice and proof documentation.
5. Send the packet to the billing contact on the agreement.

The carrier still checks the invoice before mailing it. Automation doesn’t relieve accountability. This decreases both the repetition of entry and its associated errors.

What Should Automotive Businesses Expect from Carriers?

Carriers should be expected to offer the automotive industry with comprehensive, uniform billing packets.

That means the invoice must clearly show the vehicle or load reference, negotiated charge, delivery details, carrier information and evidence of completion for a dealership, auction, racing operation or service business that uses third-party transport. If there are to be any further charges these should be in writing.

Clean billing is also good for the client. It cuts down on chasing missing paperwork, connecting bills to jobs and checking out past deliveries.

Strong carrier connections are about more than price. They also rely on dependability following delivery when paperwork needs to be concluded and payment needs to proceed.

Complete the Paperwork Loop After Delivery

Transporting vehicles is an operational job but the remuneration is dependent on administrative accuracy. The carrier can accomplish everything perfectly on the road, but if the invoice package is incomplete or not matching, they will wait on payment.

As automotive logistics become more linked, the biggest wins won’t just be tracking vehicles in transit. And there will be savings from clearing up the papers after delivery. The more quickly a completed project becomes a complete invoice packet, the more quickly everyone can close the loop.

Why Camping Is the Ultimate Way to Experience The Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day Weekend

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Official Release
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From early arrivals to race-day celebrations, camping at the Coca-Cola 600 turns Charlotte Motor Speedway into a full weekend destination. (CMS photo)
  • NASCAR Cup Series drivers tell fans why camping delivers the ultimate, all-access Coca-Cola 600 weekend experience
  • Fans can purchase Coca-Cola 600 weekend tickets online at www.charlottemotorspeedway.com. With college ticket deals, flexible payment options and the best kids’ pricing in sports through the Dollar Tree “More Fun. More Value.” program, it’s easier than ever to be part of the action.

CONCORD, N.C. (May 4, 2026) – Camping at the Coca-Cola 600 is one of the best ways to take in Memorial Day weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway, and spots are filling fast for this year’s 600-mile showdown. With a limited number of campsites remaining, fans can still secure a full weekend of on-site access, nonstop entertainment and a front-row seat to all the action.

As one of NASCAR’s crown jewel events, the Coca-Cola 600 delivers 600 miles of racing, fan zone experiences, family-friendly activities and a must-see pre-race concert from Brad Paisley. From early arrivals to late-night celebrations, the speedway campgrounds transform the venue into a nonstop destination all weekend long.

Here’s what NASCAR Cup Series drivers say about why camping is the ultimate way to experience race weekend:

Ryan Blaney, No. 12, 2023 Coca-Cola 600 Winner

“I think camping in general, especially for race weekends, have always been special. Whether you bring your family or load up with your friends, you’re just there together. It bonds you even more. When you’re in this RV for a weekend, you become closer, as family or friends…. I just think camping at a racetrack is one of the coolest things, no matter who you bring.”

Chris Buescher, No. 17, RFK Racing

“I mean, you’re bringing your own home with you, right? You get to set up, stay for an entire weekend and never have to leave the racetrack. It’s just the way to sit down and park next to thousands of your closest friends, pulling for, hopefully, the (Number) 17, but, if that’s not your thing, then others. It’s just the way to sit down and enjoy the entire weekend. It’s like boujee tailgating, right?”

William Byron, No. 24, Hendrick Motorsports

“I would say just Memorial Day weekend. It’s probably a great weekend to grill out, have some hot dogs, hamburgers and a cup of cold beer, so that’s probably why people need to do it.”

Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47, Hyak Motorsports

“Campers at the Coca-Cola 600, man they start early and they make a whole week out of it. Touring the campgrounds, seeing people come in on a Monday or Tuesday and enjoying a full weekend of racing. It means a lot to us racers when you come to the racetrack and you see campers all throughout, camping whether it be the infield or outside around the racetrack, it’s cool to see that y’all take the time to come out and support a race and support an event, like the Coca-Cola 600. Nobody does it like Charlotte. It’s one of my favorite races of the year.”

Michael McDowell, No. 71, Spire Motorsports

“Camping is just fun. Hanging out with your friends, your family, grilling out, enjoying a good time and fellowship, and then having something exciting to do. Whether it’s pre-race concerts, whether it’s entertainment that’s happening at the racetrack before the race starts. So it’s definitely a full weekend at the racetrack.”

TICKETS
Fans can purchase Coca-Cola 600 weekend tickets online at www.charlottemotorspeedway.com or call 1-800-455-FANS (3267). Deals from college tickets, flexible payment options and the best kids pricing in sports through the Dollar Tree “More Fun. More Value.” program, it’s easier than ever to be part of the action.

MORE INFO:

Fans can connect with Charlotte Motor Speedway and get the latest news by following on X and Instagram, or becoming a Facebook fan. Keep up with all the latest news and information with the Charlotte Motor Speedway mobile app.

INDYCAR Officiating Announces Long Beach Push to Pass Review Findings, Action

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Official Release
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INDIANAPOLIS (Tuesday, May 5, 2026) – INDYCAR Officiating has announced its findings and updates following a thorough review of the Push to Pass software failure during the Sunday, April 19 INDYCAR SERIES race on the Streets of Long Beach.

Following the race, INDYCAR Officiating followed the NTT INDYCAR SERIES Push to Pass rule (Rule 14.19.16.), which placed the burden of the Push to Pass system on the series to assure that the software performed properly. As such, all cars that competed on the Streets of Long Beach were deemed legal and using Push to Pass software that was compliant to the rules.

INDYCAR Officiating’s review of the Push to Pass software failure also included the detailed use of by all 12 cars that used it on Lap 62 and revealed the following:

Car No.UsesTotal Time
313.0
638.0
8212.1
10315.1
1216.0
1427.0
151~0.0
1824.5
4522.5
60318.5
6616.3
7626.0

Analysis of the restart again showed that no cars received a position change as a result of the software error with the exception of car No. 66, which passed car No. 14 despite the fact both cars used it in near-equal amounts. Based on the findings and the fact INDYCAR Officiating did not view this as a team or driver infraction, no changes were made to the official results.

Push to Pass Responsibility Update

Moving forward, beginning with the event this weekend on the IMS road course and for all subsequent road and street circuit races, INDYCAR has rewritten the rules around Push to Pass to place the burden on competitors to ensure Push to Pass is not used at restricted times. In further analysis and discussion with teams and drivers, INDYCAR Officiating believes the rule update better serves the point of the rule while also simplifying the interpretation for all competitors.

The update comes as INDYCAR, in a separate announcement, established expanded availability of Push to Pass on race restarts to provide teams and drivers additional tools and overtake possibilities.

Push to Pass rules for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and INDY NXT by Firestone are effective immediately.

Root Cause of the Software Failure

An intense examination of the system revealed that in the moments before the full-course yellow and following the Lap 61 restart, simultaneous CAN (Controller Area Network) messages were mistakenly sent from the INDYCAR software to the receivers on the cars on track. The system is designed to only send individual signals to the cars. These signals provide telemetry such as ranking, lap count, gaps, differential to the leader, and Push to Pass information and availability.

The simultaneous nature of the signals – instead of an individual signal – led to the Push to Pass system shutdown, resulting in the cars never receiving the signal to disable Push to Pass. Instead, the system remained available during the full-course yellow and subsequent restart.

Corrective Code and Measures

Beginning with the event May 8-9 on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course, an updated and corrected code will be used for the CAN messages, which includes a “lock” around the sequence of events that writes the message to the server to send to the cars. The new code provides for only one-at-a-time messaging and avoids simultaneous signals. The “lock” is a common industry practice and does not pose any risk to the functionality of the code.

Internal testing of the updated code signal, including testing during the Indy 500 Open Test on Tuesday-Wednesday April 28-29, validated the system and resulted in zero errors.

Subsequent to the code, INDYCAR Officiating will utilize an additional software engineer and measures to monitor the outgoing CAN messaging to the cars to confirm and validate its operation and to monitor Push to Pass.

“The Independent Officiating Board would like to thank INDYCAR’s software and powertrain engineers who have helped us work through this review,” board chair Raj Nair said. “We believe the protective measures that have been established will ensure there are no more system issues moving forward. Additionally, the board fully endorses the rule change involving the burden of responsibility and also supports the Push to Pass rule update made by INDYCAR to allow overtake on race restarts. This has been a comprehensive and thorough process, which has led to a favorable result.”

The next race for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES is the Sonsio Grand Prix, round six of the 2026 championship, Saturday, May 9. Coverage begins at 4:30 p.m. ET on FOX, FOX One and the FOX Sports app. INDY NXT has its second doubleheader of 2026 with Race 1 on the IMS road course scheduled for 4 p.m. ET Friday, May 8 on FOX Sports’ FS2 and Race 2 scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Saturday, May 9 on FS1.

Audio coverage is available via INDYCAR Radio powered by OnlyBulls on SiriusXM channel 218 and the INDYCAR App powered by NTT DATA.

Spire Motorsports Strengthens Partnership with Go Bowling for Weekend “Double” at Watkins Glen

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Official Release
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MOORESVILLE, N.C. (May 5, 2026) – Spire Motorsports and Go Bowling will renew its partnership in 2026 and expand the relationship by including both Michael McDowell and young phenom Tristan McKee during the NASCAR Cup and ARCA Menards Series’ race weekend at Watkins Glen International (WGI).

McDowell will pilot the No. 71 Go Bowling Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 in NASCAR’s premier division for the May 10 Go Bowling at the Glen while McKee will race the No. 77 Chevy when the ARCA Menards Series mixes it up on Friday, May 8 at the famed 2.45-mile road course, situated at the southern tip of Seneca Lake, in the picturesque Finger Lakes Region of upstate New York.

Bowling continues to be the No. 1 participatory sport in the United States, with more than 60 million people taking to the lanes and bowling centers all over America each year.

“Bowling is one of the most exciting, inclusive sports out there – bringing people together for competition, connection, and pure fun in a way few activities can,” said John Harbuck, President of Strike Ten Entertainment. “It’s time to break out of the ordinary, don’t go boring, Go Bowling, and experience the energy, community, and thrill that make this sport so special.”

Both drivers will sport identical bowling-lane themed liveries when each division returns to the seven-turn venue known for its high speeds and challenging layout. Last season’s annual visit to The Glen saw McDowell qualify sixth and, after being shuffled as deep as 33rd in the running order, rally to bring home a 19th-place finish.

The McDowell/McKee pairing will run a combined 345 miles between the two races, displaying the Go Bowling colors and supporting various bowling-themed activations at the track. Last year, the 19-year Cup Series’ veteran participated in bowling the World’s Highest Strike, an added highlight for both the driver and Go Bowling.

McDowell, a Glendale, Ariz., native and accomplished road racer, has competed in multiple series at WGI including the Rolex Grand-Am Sports Car series where he earned multiple top-five finishes prior to his time in the NASCAR ranks. In Cup Series competition, the 41-year-old racer has earned two top-10 finishes and led laps in three of his last four starts.

“Go Bowling has been such a fun partnership,” said McDowell, “From the World’s Highest Strike with Norm Duke and Malia Briggs, to the way they have embraced my family and the team. It has been nothing short of special. I am thankful for the opportunity to take our partnership to the next level. Tristan (McKee) is a special talent, and he clearly has what it takes to win. Watkins Glen has been one of my favorite tracks for years and our road course program has been constantly improving. So, I’m excited to get up to The Glen a little earlier this year and hopefully give the Go Bowling team a good run.”

In his ARCA Menards Series debut last season, McKee qualified fourth for the venue’s 100-mile contest, taking the lead with three laps to go, en route to his first career ARCA victory, just five days after turning the minimum age requirement of 15-years-old.

“I’m eager to have Go Bowling on our car at Watkins Glen,” said McKee, “Bowling is always a lot of fun and one of the most traditional family activities everywhere in the country, so I’m looking forward to a fun trip to Watkins Glen. I won in my ARCA debut last year, so I’m looking forward to getting it done again and having Go Bowling support our team.”

Go Bowling partnered with Spire Motorsports for three races in 2025, including McDowell’s effort in both the Cup Series and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway, including its traditional activations at WGI.

“Go Bowling has been a terrific partner for Michael McDowell and our entire organization,” said Spire Motorsports President, Bill Anthony, “This is a great opportunity to extend that relationship in a way that supports one of our emerging young drivers. Tristan (McKee) continues to show maturity and speed beyond his years and returning to Watkins Glen after earning his first ARCA win there last season makes this a particularly meaningful weekend for him. We’re thrilled to bring together a driver with a bright future and a brand that represents fun, family-friendly entertainment and has quickly become a valued part of our NASCAR program.”

The Go Bowling at The Glen will be televised live on FS1, Sunday, May 10, beginning at 3 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). The 12th of 36 races on the 2026 Cup Series schedule will be broadcast live on MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

The General Tire 100 ARCA Menards Series race will be televised live on FS2, Friday, May 8 beginning at 1:30 p.m. EDT and streamed on FOX Sports Live. The fifth of 20 races on the 2026 ARCA national tour schedule will be broadcast live on MRN and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

About Go Bowling…
GoBowling.com is the destination for bowling fans and enthusiasts seeking news and information about one of America’s favorite pastimes and the nation’s number one participatory sport. With more than 67 million people taking to the lanes every year, GoBowling.com is a one-stop location where people of all ages can go to satisfy their love of bowling. Consumers turn to GoBowling.com every day to find bowling fun – discovering new bowling centers, tips and techniques to use on the lanes, entertaining bowling news and great deals at more than 1,700+ family-friendly bowling centers across the country.

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

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

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

Chalmers Ventures invests in Detecht – aims to become one of the world’s leading motorcycle apps

By
Official Release
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Together with existing owners, Chalmers Ventures is investing €400,000 in Detecht, a mobile platform for motorcycle safety. The investment is a testament to continued strong confidence in the company, which has established itself as one of the world’s largest apps in its niche.

Gothenburg (May 5, 2026). In a short period, Detecht has evolved into a technically mature platform that combines crash detection with route planning and social features. By utilizing the phone’s built-in sensors, the app can detect if you fall off your bike or are involved in a collision.

It also functions as a GPS. However, unlike Google Maps, which often seeks the fastest route, Detecht focuses on the experience. For example, you can set the app to prioritize curvy and scenic roads. Simultaneously, the platform is a social network for riders, where users can share both riding statistics and experiences with like-minded individuals along the way.

By focusing on measurability and clear KPIs, the company has demonstrated a high demand for digital services that increase road safety. With over 25,000 subscribers globally and an already strong presence in the USA, the goal now is to further accelerate expansion.

Detecht’s core technology, the “crash algorithm,” originates from research at Chalmers University of Technology. The team behind Detecht comes from the Chalmers School of Entrepreneurship, making the company a clear example of how academia and entrepreneurship can successfully collaborate.

“This company impresses by consistently delivering results. They are very skilled at measuring and managing operations based on their KPIs. Detecht is a great example of our model where we build companies by matching research results with entrepreneurship students,” says Louise Brudö, Investor Director at Chalmers Ventures.

With an international position and a scalable business model, Chalmers Ventures sees great potential in the company’s continued journey.

“Detecht operates in a global niche with clear demand. With a technically mature platform and a driven team, the company has established a strong international position and good conditions for continued growth,” continues Louise Brudö.

For Detecht, the capital injection of €400,000 represents an opportunity to consolidate its position and increase the pace in markets across both North America and Europe, while continuing to invest in product development.

“Having our existing owners and Chalmers Ventures with us underscores the confidence in our growth journey. Today, we are one of the world’s largest motorcycle apps where safety, navigation, and community are integrated into a single platform. Now we are focusing on honoring that trust and scaling operations further,” says Niklas Ohlsson, CEO and co-founder of Detecht.

About Chalmers Ventures 

Chalmers Ventures is a leading Tech Investor and Venture Builder in the Nordics, dedicated to creating global growth companies and taking new technology from lab to market. The focus is on university spin-outs and deep tech. We employ a unique dual approach that integrates venture creation with tech investments, harnessing the potential of new research and deep tech within Chalmers. Our expertise lies in initiating and nurturing companies from groundbreaking research, ensuring a robust pipeline of high-quality ventures in which we invest and act as active owners. Our involvement extends through the entire company lifecycle until exit, with the aim to generate substantial business success and make a positive global impact.

Victory in Miami as GMG Racing Remains Podium Perfect in McLaren Trophy America

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Official Release
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  • Deniz Teoman and Jeff Cook Co-Drive to Am Class Win Saturday in No. 5 GMG Racing McLaren Artura Trophy
  • Randy Highland and New Co-Driver Michael O’Brien Third in Pro-Am Saturday in the No. 7 GMG Racing McLaren Artura Trophy
  • Competitive GMG Racing McLaren Trophy America Weekend at the Grand Prix of Miami Formula 1 Race Includes Overall Position and Top-Two Friday Practice Sweep

MIAMI, Florida (May 4, 2026) – Reigning McLaren Trophy America Champions GMG Racing scored its first race win of the 2026 season Saturday with the Am-class duo of Deniz Teoman and Jeff Cook in the No. 5 GMG Racing McLaren Artura Trophy in a Miami Grand Prix Formula 1 support race at the Miami International Autodrome.

The Am winners, who also finished second outright after leading the first half of the race overall from the pole position, were joined in victory lane by teammates Randy Highland and debuting team driver Michael O’Brien, who finished third in Pro-Am in the No. 7 GMG Racing McLaren Artura Trophy. The race win and P3 showing added to GMG Racing’s haul of four victory lane visits in March’s season-opening race weekend at Sonoma Raceway to give the GMG Racing duo a six-for-six “podium perfect” run in the year’s first three races.

A second and final 40-minute McLaren Trophy race was scheduled for Sunday morning but was cancelled due to heavy rain in the Miami area. A makeup race on one of this year’s remaining scheduled race weekends will be announced in the near future.

“The entire GMG Racing team, from our drivers to the engineers to the crew, did an amazing job all weekend in Miami,” said GMG Racing Team Principal and Founder James Sofronas. “It was apparent early on as we were fast out of the gate in practice one, and despite the team having several back to back weekends, they were as ready as ever and it showed. Looking ahead, we knew the weather could impact our races, and that we might have only one or a limited shot at putting up some good results, so everybody on the team was ready for it. From going one-two overall in Friday practice, winning the overall pole and then leading Saturday overall and scoring the first win of the season was just fantastic. Deniz, Jeff, Randy and our new teammate Michael, who is super quick and experienced, all quickly gelled and we left Miami with some hardware, even more momentum and remain podium perfect on the season. We are already looking forward to the next race at Road Atlanta.”

O’Brien (center above) joins GMG Racing as the reigning McLaren Trophy Europe Pro Champion. He won six races as part of eight total podium showings in last year’s title-winning season in McLaren Trophy Europe. He also made some early McLaren Trophy history by sweeping all eight possible pole positions last year in Europe.

“It was a truly fantastic debut weekend with GMG Racing and my teammates Randy, Deniz and Jeff,” O’Brien said. “We were right where we needed to be from the off, and Randy really drove superbly throughout. The first race was really about points on the board for us, so to pick up another podium was awesome. We put all of our eggs into the race two basket, for which the weather had other ideas about, but we’re preparing already to fight for the top step in Road Atlanta!”

O’Brien joined Cook in the GMG Racing top-two sweep in Friday’s practice. Cook topped the time sheets with a lap time of 1:57.595 to just edge O’Brien by a close 0.274 seconds.

Cook continued the strong pace straight into qualifying when he captured not only the Am pole but secured the overall quickest lap of the session with an even better time of 1:57.328. He led from the start in Saturday’s race and the No. 5 only lost the lead when they were just edged out of the pits by the all-Pro entry that went on to take the overall victory.

Teoman was tasked with bringing the No. 5 to the finish line, delivering one of his best performances to date as he held off a late challenge to secure second overall and the Am-class victory. Teoman and Cook reached the top step of the podium in just their second event weekend and third race with GMG Racing.

Rounds 5 and 6 of this year’s McLaren Trophy America season will take the second-year series to and through the halfway point of the 10 race and five weekend championship at Michelin Raceway Road Atlanta, June 12 – 14.

About GMG Racing: Founded in 2001, GMG Racing quickly established itself as North America’s premier performance tuning facility. What began as a small 1,200 sq. ft. shop, maintaining two race cars, has grown into a state-of-the-art performance tuning, racing and service facility relocated last year to The Thermal Club and a 28,000 sq. ft. trackside motorsports facility. The staff, attention to detail and passion are what make GMG the choice of professionals and enthusiasts worldwide. GMG, in its early years, was located directly across the street from Porsche Motorsport North America (PMNA). This close proximity allowed GMG to build a strong relationship with the legendary racing brand which has helped the company support its customers to the highest level possible. We have since won several Championships, not only with Porsche, but with Audi, Lamborghini, Aston Martin and McLaren. From club racing to Sebring, Daytona, Spa, Montreal, COTA and The Thermal Club, GMG can take you as far as you want to go. More information can be found at www.gmgracing.com.

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