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RFK Racing – Sonoma Executive Summary

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Official Release
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RFK RACING
SONOMA RACEWAY – EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Date: June 28th, 2026
Series: NASCAR Cup Series
Location: Sonoma Raceway (1.99-mile road course) – Sonoma, CA
Format: 218.9 miles / 110 laps with three stages. Stage 1: Ends at lap 25, Stage 2: Ends at lap 55, Stage 3: Ends at Lap 110

RFK RACING RACE SUMMARY: RFK Racing put on a show of determination at Sonoma Raceway, led by Ryan Preece’s eighth-place finish in the No. 60 Consumer Cellular Ford Mustang Dark Horse. Preece used strong strategy, fast pit stops and excellent long-run speed to record the team’s best finish of the day, while Brad Keselowski rallied from 35th to 15th in the No. 6 Castrol Ford Mustang Dark Horse after charging through the field. Chris Buescher overcame handling challenges in the No. 17 Liverpool FC/Trimble Ford Mustang Dark Horse, with steady adjustments helping him recover for a 19th-place finish. Together, the three teams maximized their day with resilience and execution on the demanding Sonoma road course.

DRIVER HIGHLIGHTS

Brad Keselowski – No. 6 Castrol Ford Mustang Dark Horse

Finish: 15th

Start: 35th

Laps Led: —

Stage Results: Stage 1: 31st; Stage 2: 21st

Headline takeaway: Everyone loves a comeback story; Brad Keselowski bounced back from his P35th starting position, ran inside the top 10 for a chunk of Stage 2 after the first pit cycle and finished the day capitalizing on long run speed with a resilient top 15 finish.

Keselowski Quote: “That’s our best road course finish of the year for a while it looked like it might be better on that restart there, that second to last restart, we missed it there and lost a few spots on that one otherwise I think we would’ve ended up 10thor 11th so still a reasonable day. Just got to fight for your spot nothing is given.”

Chris Buescher – No. 17 Liverpool FC/ Trimble Ford Mustang Dark Horse

Finish: 19th

Start: `5th

Laps Led: —

Stage Results: Stage 1: 28th; Stage 2: 23rd

Headline takeaway: Perseverance and a no quit attitude was the theme of the day for Chris Buescher and the No. 17 team. The team battled rear balance for a majority of the race, however after numerous air pressure adjustments “Road Course Chris” bounced back running the second fastest lap time of the field and a top 20 finish.

Buescher Quote: “Just not really a good day, started off on the free side and then tried to get the back underneath it, got better by the end, just was still very behind at that point, just not the best day.”

Ryan Preece – No. 60 Consumer Cellular Ford Mustang Dark Horse

Finish: 8th

Start: `19th

Laps Led:–

Stage Results: Stage 1: 5th ; Stage 2: 24th

Headline takeaway: Road ringer Ryan Preece has a nice sound to it, another good points day for the No. 60 and the top finishing RFK car of the day. The top 10 finish was truly earned byn the 60 teams’ strategy and fast stops consistently throughoutthe day.

Preece Quote: “We needed some momentum, so it was great to have a good run for the Consumer Cellular Ford Mustang Dark Horse, lot of good stage points, passed a lot of cars, really had just really good long run speed, felt like we probably had a 5thplace, 6th place car in the long runs, proud of the race car, that race car was really good and think we just need to keep getting a little better and we’ll be there.”

Point Standings:

Buescher: 7th

Preece: 15th

Keselowski: 18th

Next Up:

The next event on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule is July 5th at Chicagoland Speedway (Lebanon, TN). The race begins at 6:00 p.m. EDT with live coverage provided by TNT Sports and Motor Racing Network (MRN).

GORDON, CAPPS, STANFIELD & GADSON SCOOP UP WINS AT SUMMIT RACING EQUIPMENT NHRA NATIONALS

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Official Release
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  • Gordon rolls to first career TF triumph
  • Capps gets third FC win of 2026
  • Stanfield uses holeshot for PS victory
  • Gadson tops teammate in PSM final

NORWALK, Ohio (June 28, 2026) – Top Fuel rookie sensation Maddi Gordon won her first career race on Sunday at Summit Motorsports Park, defeating Antron Brown in the final round to hand Ron Capps Motorsports its first Top Fuel and Funny Car sweep with Ron Capps at the 20th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals.

Aaron Stanfield (Pro Stock) and Richard Gadson (Pro Stock Motorcycle) also won the 10th of 20 races during the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season.

In just her 10th professional start, Top Fuel’s Maddi Gordon picked up a Diamond Wally in her 12,000-horsepower Carlyle Tools/Monster Energy dragster, driving past Antron Brown with a run of 3.786-seconds at 333.16 mph.

Gordon’s day was nearly over before it began, as the team had to scramble to get the car started on the starting line due to a parts issue. It finally started just in time – thanks to Spencer Massey graciously waiting as well – and she went 3.854 at 325.14 to get the win. Gordon followed with victories against Tony Stewart and points leader Shawn Langdon to advance to the final.

Brown left first, but Gordon quickly tracked him down to get the victory, finishing off a Ron Capps Motorsports sweep. To add to the moment, Gordon’s father, Doug, also won in Top Alcohol Funny Car on Sunday.

“It literally doesn’t get any better than this,” Gordon said. “We brought three race cars here, we came home with three trophies and three ice cream scoopers, and y’all know me, you know I love ice cream, so that is like the cherry on top. I remember backing up from the burnout, and I wanted that win so bad, so bad. For my dad to win, and then Ron to win, it’s like the pressure is on, right? I’m just so grateful for this opportunity. This is the best day of my life.

“They say people usually stick out an arm or a leg for you; well, Ron catapulted out of a cannon for me. He believed in me even before I won a Top Alcohol Funny Car trophy. He signed my license in 2023, and I never imagined I would be sitting next to him in the media center. He could have thrown any driver in there, but he chose me, and I’m forever grateful for this opportunity. He changed my life in every way except for where I live.”

Brown reached his second straight final round by defeating Leah Pruett, Tony Schumacher and Clay Millican. Langdon maintains a healthy points lead in the category, with it now standing at 150 points over teammate Doug Kalitta.

In Funny Car, Capps did his part for the first-ever nitro sweep for his team, finishing off a consistent day with a run of 3.969 at 328.54 in his 12,000-horsepower NAPA Auto Care Toyota GR Supra to power past runner-up Jack Beckman.

It gave the three-time world champion and the current points leader his milestone 80th career victory and his third this season, becoming the first driver in Funny Car to reach three wins in 2026.

Capps, who qualified third, defeated Bobby Bode, J.R. Todd and Alexis DeJoria to reach the final round, which presented a pressure-packed situation for both Capps and Gordon. But Capps came through in the clutch, posting a terrific .048 reaction time that led to a thrilling wire-to-wire victory.

It’s a win Capps will always remember for a variety of reasons, including getting to share in the moment with Gordon as Capps and his entire organization wrapped up another milestone moment.

“I went over to her car before the final round, and I go, “Well, you got your head on straight, right?’ and she’s just smiling at me, that Maddi Gordon smile, and I actually asked her for advice,” Capps said.

“You lie in bed, and you dream about stuff like this. I don’t know how many final rounds I’ve been in, but it was fun, and I was just hoping we got the win. Once we got the win, I thought the odds were definitely going down with her dad and me getting a win, but this is crazy. We’re just lucky.”

Knowing he needed to be nearly perfect on the starting line, Pro Stock’s Aaron Stanfield delivered in the final round, using a brilliant .002 reaction time in his Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage/Melling/Janac Brothers Racing car to defeat Matt Hartford on a holeshot with a run of 6.626 at 208.75.

It is Stanfield’s second win this season and the 16th in his career and the young standout earned every part of his second victory in three seasons at Summit Motorsports Park. He scored a holeshot win to start the day against Erica Enders and then knocked off Cody Anderson and Kenny Delco to reach the final round.

He held off Hartford by a mere .006 at the finish line to get the victory and give his team momentum heading into the second half of the season.

“I definitely knew I was going to have to be pretty good on the tree and the old hot rod did just enough to pull one off,” Stanfield said. “Matt’s been driving really good here lately and he’s had a fast race car. Every time Matt and I race, it’s a good and tight race. I think the world of Matt. He does a great job driving the car and they do a great job tuning their own car. It feels great as a driver whenever you’re able to do your job and pull off a holeshot win like that.”

Hartford advanced to his third straight final round and the fifth this season thanks to wins against Eric Latino, Jeg Coughlin Jr. and points leader Dallas Glenn. Reigning world champ Glenn moved back into the lead and now has a 23-point advantage over Greg Anderson.

For the second straight day, Richard Gadson got the best of his Pro Stock Motorcycle teammate Gaige Herrera in the final round, as Herrera went red for a second consecutive time, giving the points leader and reigning world champion his second victory this season on his RevZilla/Motul/Vance & Hines Suzuki.

Gadson was stout in the final round, going 6.849 at 197.36 en route to his sixth career victory and first at Summit Motorsports Park. A day earlier, Gadson won the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge over Herrera when his teammate left too early and he took advantage again on Sunday.

The dynamic duo has now met in back-to-back final rounds, with Herrera in Bristol and Gadson Sunday in Norwalk, which they hope is a sign of things to come for the rest of the season in Pro Stock Motorcycle.

“Obviously, I didn’t lie yesterday when I told you it’s pretty much ‘are you willing to red light situation’ and you know he’s a tough competitor, he’ll rebound, and it’ll probably be hell for us all for the next couple races,” Gadson said. “I’m really happy and I don’t know if you believe in energies, but I feel like Norwalk owed me one. I got the ice cream scoop that I always hoped for, a double up with the Mission #2Fast2Tasty win, and the overall win. It doesn’t get much sweeter than this.

“I don’t think I’ve given Norwalk its due just how good it’s been to me. This is the first overall win, but I’ve had a lot of success here now – two #2Fast2Tasty wins and a final round last year. I love Norwalk. Mr. Bader is amazing – this facility is amazing, the ice cream, the whole deal, the whole experience of being here. This is a special place.”

Herrera reached his second straight final and third of the season by taking down Jianna Evaristo and Angie Smith. Gadson’s points lead now stands at 83 over Herrera.

The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series returns to action July 17-19 with the Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals presented by PowerEdge at Sonoma Raceway.

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NORWALK, Ohio — Final finish order (1-16) at the 20th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park. The race is the 10th of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series.

TOP FUEL:

  1. Maddi Gordon; 2. Antron Brown; 3. Shawn Langdon; 4. Clay Millican; 5. Tony Schumacher; 6. Doug Kalitta; 7. Josh Hart; 8. Tony Stewart; 9. Leah Pruett; 10. Billy Torrence; 11. Will Smith; 12. Scott Farley; 13. Justin Ashley; 14. Spencer Massey; 15. Shawn Reed.

FUNNY CAR:

  1. Ron Capps; 2. Jack Beckman; 3. Austin Prock; 4. Alexis DeJoria; 5. J.R. Todd; 6. Daniel

Wilkerson; 7. Chad Green; 8. Del Worsham; 9. Spencer Hyde; 10. Jordan Vandergriff; 11. Cruz Pedregon; 12. Jeff Arend; 13. Dave Richards; 14. Matt Hagan; 15. Bobby Bode; 16. Blake Alexander.

PRO STOCK:

  1. Aaron Stanfield; 2. Matt Hartford; 3. Kenny Delco; 4. Dallas Glenn; 5. Jeg Coughlin; 6. Cody Anderson; 7. Matt Latino; 8. Erica Enders; 9. Greg Anderson; 10. Troy Coughlin Jr.; 11. Stephen Bell; 12. Greg Stanfield; 13. Eric Latino; 14. Deric Kramer.

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:

  1. Richard Gadson; 2. Gaige Herrera; 3. Joey Gladstone; 4. Angie Smith; 5. Jianna Evaristo; 6. Brayden Davis; 7. John Hall; 8. Chase Van Sant; 9. Steve Johnson; 10. Geno Scali; 11. Marc Ingwersen; 12. Ryan Oehler; 13. Wesley Wells; 14. Bud Yoder II; 15. Odolph Daniels.

NORWALK, Ohio — Sunday’s final results from the 20th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park. The race is the 10th of 20 in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series:

Top Fuel — Maddi Gordon, 3.786 seconds, 333.16 mph def. Antron Brown, 3.840 seconds, 328.14 mph.

Funny Car — Ron Capps, Toyota GR Supra, 3.969, 328.54 def. Jack Beckman, Chevy Camaro, 4.011, 323.43.

Pro Stock — Aaron Stanfield, Chevy Camaro, 6.626, 208.75 def. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.597, 207.98.

Pro Stock Motorcycle — Richard Gadson, Suzuki, 6.849, 197.36 def. Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, Foul – Red Light.

Top Alcohol Dragster — Matthew Cummings, 5.283, 273.39 def. Jamie Noonan, 5.337, 268.81.

Top Alcohol Funny Car — Doug Gordon, Chevy Camaro, 5.510, 266.06 def. Sean Bellemeur, Camaro, 6.589, 218.83.

Competition Eliminator — Peter D`Agnolo, Chevy Cobalt, 8.485, 142.39 def. Al Ackerman, Dragster, Foul – Red Light.

Super Stock — Brenda Grubbs, Chevy Camaro, 9.385, 140.17 def. Ron Richards, Chevy Cobalt, Foul – Red Light.

Stock Eliminator — Matt Antrobius, Chevy Camaro, 11.288, 113.43 def. Timothy Fletcher, Camaro, 11.139, 114.10.

Super Comp — Phil Unruh, Dragster, 8.888, 183.49 def. Howie Smith, Dragster, 8.887, 181.64.

Super Gas — Phil Unruh, Chevy Camaro, 9.936, 161.40 def. Raymond Miller, Chevy 210, 10.017, 119.46.

Super Street — Victor Marqua, Plymouth Duster, 10.907, 128.24 def. Phil Smida, Cheevy Cavalier, 10.957, 138.86.

Top Sportsman — Alex Miller, Olds Cutlass, 7.957, 141.76 def. Glenn Butcher, Chevy Camaro, Broke – No Show.

Top Dragster — Sadie Glenn, Dragster, 9.470, 87.70 def. Kenny Carson, Dragster, Foul – Red Light.

Pro Modified — Kevin Rivenbark, Ford Mustang, 5.714, 251.53 def. Billy Banaka, Chevy Camaro, 5.716, 252.33.

Factory Stock Showdown — Taylor Dietsch, Ford Mustang, 7.711, 178.10 def. Jonathan Allegrucci, Mustang, 10.836, 85.11.

Junior Dragster Shootout — Brandon Dupont, Halfscale, 8.028, 78.52 def. Samuel Wilson, Halfscale, 12.322, 53.87.

NORWALK, Ohio — Final round-by-round results from the 20th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park, the 10th of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series:

TOP FUEL:

ROUND ONE — Doug Kalitta, 3.745, 333.00 def. Billy Torrence, 3.804, 333.58; Tony Stewart, 3.758, 328.86 def. Justin Ashley, 5.435, 130.10; Josh Hart, 3.962, 275.39 def. Scott Farley, 5.396, 135.54; Shawn Langdon, 3.736, 337.07 was unopposed; Antron Brown, 3.763, 333.16 def. Leah Pruett, 3.781, 332.26; Maddi Gordon, 3.854, 325.14 def. Spencer Massey, 5.592, 119.15; Tony Schumacher, 4.350, 208.81 def. Will Smith, 4.648, 208.88; Clay Millican, 3.842, 324.75 def. Shawn Reed, Foul – Centerline;

QUARTERFINALS — Millican, 4.290, 213.67 def. Hart, 5.290, 144.72; Brown, 3.806, 329.34 def. Schumacher, 3.891, 268.92; Gordon, 3.788, 334.40 def. Stewart, 10.253, 71.85; Langdon, 3.772, 335.40 def. Kalitta, 3.939, 279.21;

SEMIFINALS — Brown, 4.587, 287.11 def. Millican, 8.340, 81.64; Gordon, 4.250, 251.25 def. Langdon, 5.871, 156.17;

FINAL — Gordon, 3.786, 333.16 def. Brown, 3.840, 328.14.

FUNNY CAR:

ROUND ONE — J.R. Todd, Toyota GR Supra, 3.951, 329.42 def. Jordan Vandergriff, Chevy Camaro, 3.946, 329.83; Daniel Wilkerson, Ford Mustang, 3.935, 327.59 def. Matt Hagan, Dodge Charger, 4.308, 213.40; Jack Beckman, Camaro, 3.917, 330.23 def. Spencer Hyde, Mustang, 3.936, 327.19; Austin Prock, Mustang, 4.031, 318.84 def. Jeff Arend, Charger, 4.071, 308.43; Alexis DeJoria, Camaro, 3.918, 333.41 def. Blake Alexander, Charger, 6.726, 105.09; Ron Capps, GR Supra, 3.927, 333.00 def. Bobby Bode, Mustang, 5.125, 146.80; Chad Green, Mustang, 3.938, 326.32 def. Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 3.993, 320.28; Del Worsham, Toyota Supra, 3.963, 331.53 def. Dave Richards, Mustang, 4.207, 243.33;

QUARTERFINALS — Capps, 3.943, 329.91 def. Todd, 5.560, 133.61; Beckman, 3.981, 323.19 def. Wilkerson, 11.550, 76.39; DeJoria, 3.958, 329.18 def. Green, 14.588, 62.04; Prock, 3.948, 326.95 def. Worsham, Foul – Centerline;

SEMIFINALS — Beckman, 3.982, 322.73 def. Prock, 4.698, 243.46; Capps, 4.051, 310.13 def. DeJoria, 4.905, 160.81;

FINAL — Capps, 3.969, 328.54 def. Beckman, 4.011, 323.43.

PRO STOCK:

ROUND ONE — Matt Latino, Chevy Camaro, 6.620, 206.45 def. Deric Kramer, Camaro, 6.691, 205.47; Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 6.616, 207.59 def. Greg Stanfield, Camaro, 6.614, 207.82; Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.600, 208.04 def. Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.591, 208.97; Cody Anderson, Camaro, 6.590, 207.02 def. Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, Foul – Red Light; Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.678, 201.67 def. Eric Latino, Camaro, 6.638, 206.04; Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.599, 205.98 def. Stephen Bell, Camaro, 6.606, 207.02;

Kenny Delco, Camaro, 6.632, 206.32 def. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.591, 206.95;

QUARTERFINALS — Delco, 11.845, 96.49 was unopposed; Hartford, 6.608, 207.66 def. Coughlin, 6.649, 207.27; Glenn, 6.627, 205.94 def. M. Latino, 6.732, 206.76; A. Stanfield, 6.630, 207.53 def. C. Anderson, Foul – Red Light;

SEMIFINALS — A. Stanfield, 7.017, 206.39 def. Delco, 8.510, 117.02; Hartford, 6.618, 207.75 def. Glenn, Broke;

FINAL — A. Stanfield, 6.626, 208.75 def. Hartford, 6.597, 207.98.

PRO STOCK MOTORCYCLE:

ROUND ONE — Jianna Evaristo, Buell, 6.890, 195.45 def. Steve Johnson, Suzuki, 6.927, 176.07; Angie Smith, Buell, 6.853, 198.32 def. Wesley Wells, Suzuki, 7.065, 188.46; John Hall, 6.878, 198.00 def. Geno Scali, Suzuki, 6.950, 194.63; Chase Van Sant, Suzuki, 7.007, 192.49 def. Ryan Oehler, 6.970, 191.97; Brayden Davis, Buell, 6.859, 197.31 def. Marc Ingwersen, 6.969, 191.57; Joey Gladstone, Buell, 6.888, 195.05 def. Bud Yoder II, Buell, Broke – No Show; Richard Gadson, Suzuki, 6.811, 198.15 def. Odolph Daniels, Suzuki, Broke; Gaige Herrera, Suzuki, 6.795, 198.82 was unopposed;

QUARTERFINALS — Gladstone, 6.893, 194.10 def. Hall, 6.934, 195.59; Smith, 6.865, 197.48 def. Davis, Foul – Red Light; Gadson, 6.836, 197.54 def. Van Sant, 7.030, 191.21; Herrera, 6.816, 198.35 def. Evaristo, 6.906, 196.42;

SEMIFINALS — Gadson, 6.857, 196.82 def. Gladstone, Foul – Red Light; Herrera, 6.843, 197.68 def. Smith, 6.875, 197.10;

FINAL — Gadson, 6.849, 197.36 def. Herrera, Foul – Red Light.

NORWALK, Ohio — Point standings (top 10) following the 20th annual Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals at Summit Racing Equipment Motorsports Park, the 10th of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series –

Top Fuel

  1. Shawn Langdon, 1,010; 2. Doug Kalitta, 860; 3. Leah Pruett, 731; 4. Maddi Gordon, 614; 5. Antron Brown, 608; 6. Tony Stewart, 592; 7. Josh Hart, 559; 8. Billy Torrence, 498; 9. Justin Ashley, 450; 10. Clay Millican, 439.

Funny Car

  1. Ron Capps, 812; 2. Matt Hagan, 691; 3. J.R. Todd, 689; 4. Jack Beckman, 684; 5. Jordan Vandergriff, 651; 6. Chad Green, 633; 7. Alexis DeJoria, 608; 8. Austin Prock, 526; 9. Spencer Hyde, 490; 10. Daniel Wilkerson, 443.

Pro Stock

  1. Dallas Glenn, 888; 2. Greg Anderson, 865; 3. Matt Hartford, 727; 4. Greg Stanfield, 648; 5. Aaron Stanfield, 617; 6. Matt Latino, 571; 7. Erica Enders, 526; 8. Jeg Coughlin, 476; 9. Troy Coughlin Jr., 419; 10. Eric Latino, 412.

Pro Stock Motorcycle

  1. Richard Gadson, 677; 2. Gaige Herrera, 594; 3. Angie Smith, 566; 4. Matt Smith, 541; 5. John Hall, 406; 6. Chase Van Sant, 366; 7. Ryan Oehler, 344; 8. Jianna Evaristo, 328; 9. Brayden Davis, 322; 10. Clayton Howey, 310.

Rick Ware Racing: Toyota/Save Mart 350k from Sonoma

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Official Release
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RICK WARE RACING
Toyota/Save Mart 350k
Date: June 28, 2026
Event: Toyota/Save Mart 350k (Round 18 of 36)
Series: NASCAR Cup Series
Location: Sonoma (Calif.) Raceway (1.99-mile, 10-turn road course)
Format: 110 laps, broken into three stages (25 laps/30 laps/55 laps)

Race Winner: Shane van Gisbergen of Trackhouse Racing (Chevrolet)
Stage 1 Winner: Ty Gibbs of Joe Gibbs Racing (Toyota)
Stage 2 Winner: Ty Gibbs of Joe Gibbs Racing (Toyota)

RWR Finish:

● Cody Ware (Started 36th, Finished 33rd / Running, completed 109 of 110 laps)

RWR Points:

● Cody Ware (35th with 156 points)

Race Notes:

● Shane van Gisbergen won the Toyota/Save Mart 350k to score his eighth career NASCAR Cup Series victory, his second of the season and his second at Sonoma. His margin over second-place Chase Briscoe was .357 of a second.

● This was Chevrolet’s 887th all-time NASCAR Cup Series victory and its sixth of the season. Chase Elliott won for the Bowtie Brigade March 29 at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway, Carson Hocevar won April 26 at Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway, Elliott won again May 3 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth, van Gisbergen won May 10 at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International and Daniel Suárez won May 24 at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway.

● This was Chevrolet’s series-leading 16th NASCAR Cup Series victory at Sonoma and its third straight at the 1.99-mile, 10-turn road course. Kyle Larson and van Gisbergen won in 2024 and 2025, respectively. Chevrolet won its first race at Sonoma on June 7, 1992, with Ernie Irvan.

● There were three caution periods for a total of eight laps.

● All but four of the 36 drivers in the race finished on the lead lap.

● Denny Hamlin leaves Sonoma as the new championship leader with a single-point advantage over second-place Tyler Reddick.

Sound Bites:

“We had a fast Super.com Chevrolet and put up some pretty good lap times, but got taken out and didn’t have enough time to make up the ground we lost. Still really proud of the team for all their hard work. Frustrated with the result, but we’ll just turn our attention to Chicagoland next week.” – Cody Ware, driver of the No. 51 Super.com Chevrolet

Next Up:

The next event on the NASCAR Cup Series schedule is the eero 400 on Sunday, July 5 at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Illinois. The race begins at 6 p.m. EDT with live coverage provided by TNT and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

Jim Dunn Racing – Norwalk Event Recap for the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals

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Official Release
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Photo credit: Auto Imagery

Jeff Arend
Blaze Exhaust Probes Funny Car Driver for Jim Dunn Racing
Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals
June 25-28 | Norwalk, Ohio

Event Recap

Jeff Arend, driver of the Jim Dunn Racing Blaze Exhaust Probes Funny Car:

  • Earned No. 10 provisional qualifying position in Q1 on Friday (4.134 ET at 299.33 mph)
  • Fell to No. 16 provisional qualifying position based off of Friday’s Q1 run. In Q2 on Friday, Arend ran a 6.411 ET at 105.16 mph.
  • Maintained No. 16 provisional qualifying position based off of Friday’s Q1 run. In Q3 on Saturday, Arend ran a 13.646 ET at 74.85 mph.
  • Secured No. 16 qualifying position in Q4 on Saturday (4.077 ET at 308.14 mph)
  • Eliminated following Round 1 on Sunday:
  • Round 1: 4.071 ET at 308.43 mph, lost to Austin Prock (4.031 ET at 318.84 mph)

Notes of Interest

  • Arend represented Blaze Exhaust Probes this weekend in Norwalk. Blaze Technical Services was founded in 1996 by Ralph and Candy Hickman in Northeast Ohio. They are a leading full-service temperature sensor manufacturer that offers solutions for even the most demanding applications. Their reputation for creating the most rugged industrial temperature sensors and high temperature thermocouple assemblies has made them a top choice in the industry. Being ISO 9001 certified since 2003 reflects their commitment to producing only the highest quality products, including their popular exhaust gas temperature probes and other industrial temperature sensors. They also specialize in high temperature thermocouple designs that perform reliably in extreme conditions, including High-temperature aerospace sensors and Soil temperature monitoring setups. They are dedicated to delivering quality products on time and at a fair price. Additionally, they document all products with CAD drawings to make future changes or reordering easy, and can provide certification on request. Their Blaze Technical Services temperature solutions are trusted by professionals across a wide range of industries.
  • In celebration of America’s 250th Anniversary, Jim Dunn Racing ran a special patriotic scheme at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals.
  • Jim Dunn Racing was pleased to welcome Crocodile Cloth as an associate partner for the remainder of the 2026 season. Crocodile Cloth was created for homeowners. For workers. For DIYers and crafters. For anyone who needs a better way to clean. Like many of you, they were fed up with wimpy wipes that didn’t get the job done. Most cleaning wipes on the market are too small and too delicate for tough cleaning jobs – so you end up using a lot of them. They wanted a disposable cleaning cloth that could tackle big, greasy, grimy messes without falling apart or leaving remnants and residues behind. A cloth that was gentle enough to use on skin, but tough enough to handle our dirtiest tasks. And so, Crocodile Cloth was born. Big enough for large spills, tough enough for caked-on grease, Crocodile Cloth makes cleaning any type of mess faster and easier.
  • Jim Dunn Racing hosted guests from both Blaze Exhaust Probes and Crocodile Cloth at the Summit Racing Equipment NHRA Nationals. It marked a home event for both Ohio-based companies.
  • Following two weeks off, teams will head west for the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series’ “West Coast Swing” in Sonoma, California and Kent, Washington.

Jeff Arend, Driver of the Jim Dunn Racing Blaze Exhaust Probes Funny Car
“Norwalk was another nice weekend for Jim Dunn Racing. We enjoyed spending time with Blaze Probes, Crocodile Cloth and all the NHRA fans. The Blaze Probes Dodge ran consistent runs throughout qualifying and on race day. Unfortunately, we didn’t get the win light over a very close race against our first round opponent, Austin Prock. The engine and parts looked great all weekend. We will push harder going into the next event in Sonoma, California.”

Next Up
The next event on the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series schedule is the DENSO NHRA Sonoma Nationals presented by PowerEdge July 17-19 at Sonoma Raceway in Sonoma, California.

RCR NCS Race Recap: Sonoma Raceway

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Official Release
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Austin Dillon Pilots the No. 3 Bass Pro Shops/Winchester Supreme Long Range Chevrolet to a 27th-Place Finish at Sonoma Raceway

Finish: 27th
Start: 30th
Points: 28th

“We have a lot of work to do coming out of Sonoma Raceway. The entire No. 3 Bass Pro Shops/Winchester Supreme Long Range Chevrolet team gave it their all today, but after we lost track position due to a speeding penalty early in the race, we just couldn’t get ahead. The team was making the needed adjustments, and it was coming in towards the end of the race, especially through Turn 10, but we’d just lost too much ground. We’re going to go back to Welcome, North Carolina and reset for next weekend.” -Austin Dillon

Austin Hill and the No. 33 zone x am pm Chevrolet Team Display Top-20 Speed Despite Final Result at Sonoma Raceway

Finish: 34th
Start: 12th
Points: 29th

“Unfortunate finish for our zone x am pm Chevrolet team. We played a fuel strategy that had us saving with 40 laps to go, so just managed what we could without losing a ton of time to the fresher tires before pitting with eight laps to go. After qualifying 12th, I felt like our car had top-15, top-20 speed. The balance definitely got better as the race went on, but I had trouble keeping the rears on it. I would four wheel slide and lose the front and rear under braking. We had speed though which is a testament to everyone who works at RCR and ECR. Shame the finish doesn’t show it, but we’ll keep building and learning together.” -Austin Hill

What Car Shipping Insurance Actually Covers (and What It Doesn’t)

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

Shipping a car raises one question above all others: what happens if something goes wrong on the road? The answer comes down to how auto transport insurance is structured, and knowing that ahead of time saves you a lot of stress later.

Even with careful drivers and well-maintained carriers, things outside anyone’s control can happen; road debris, weather, or a minor incident during loading. Coverage is what keeps an unlucky moment from becoming an expensive one.

Car shipping insurance generally works in two layers. The first is the carrier’s cargo insurance, which every legitimate carrier is required to maintain. It covers damage caused by the carrier during transport. Before you book, verify that coverage through the FMCSA’s Licensing and Insurance public database; it takes a few minutes and confirms the carrier is operating legally.

The second layer is your own auto policy, which may extend some protection during transit. Policies vary widely, so read yours before shipping. Many owners find that even with both layers in place, gaps remain for higher-value vehicles, which is worth knowing before the truck shows up.

A few steps protect you regardless of coverage level:

  • Document the car thoroughly. Time-stamped photos from every angle before pickup, noting any existing scratches or dents.
  • Check the Bill of Lading. It records the car’s condition at pickup and delivery; never sign without confirming it matches what you see.
  • File any claim promptly. Have your photos and Bill of Lading ready and contact the claims department as soon as you spot an issue.

If you’d rather not piece coverage together yourself, some companies build it into the booking. RoadRunner Auto Transport includes liability coverage on every shipment and lets you add higher tiers at the time of booking, which is useful for classic, exotic, or other high-value vehicles. Either way, understanding the two layers before you ship is what lets you hand over the keys with confidence.

7 Car Shipping Companies Worth Knowing in 2026

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

Shipping a car is one of those tasks most people only face a handful of times, usually around a move, an online purchase, or a relocation for work. With hundreds of companies competing for the job, sorting the established names from the unknowns is half the battle. The list below covers seven worth knowing; the common thread is experience, because the difference between a smooth shipment and a stressful one usually comes down to whether the company actually knows what it’s doing.

1. RoadRunner Auto Transport

RoadRunner is the most established name on this list, with more than 30 years in auto transport and a network of over 14,000 vetted carriers. Every shipment includes insurance coverage and 24/7 tracking, with a $0 upfront deposit and no surprise fees at pickup. Its car shipping calculator gives an instant quote in about a minute, so you can plan the cost before committing. For most people shipping a car cross-country or across state lines, it’s the simplest place to start.

2. Nexus Auto Transport

Nexus handles a high volume of standard door-to-door shipments and is a familiar name for routine moves. Pricing is competitive on common routes, and the booking process is straightforward.

3. Auto Star Transport

Auto Star covers both open and enclosed transport and works national routes. It’s a reasonable option for owners who want a single company for a long-distance move.

4. SGT Auto Transport

SGT offers online quoting and a mix of open and enclosed options. It’s geared toward customers comfortable managing the process largely online.

5. Montway Auto Transport

Montway has wide route coverage and a long operating history. It’s commonly used for both relocations and dealer shipments.

6. Mercury Auto Transport

Mercury focuses on connecting customers with carriers across the country and handles standard consumer shipments. Quotes are available by phone or online.

7. AmeriFreight

AmeriFreight rounds out the list with open and enclosed service and a range of coverage add-ons. It’s an option worth comparing when gathering quotes.

BRISCOE BATTLES FOR WIN LATE, FINISHES SECOND AT SONOMA

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Official Release
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Three Joe Gibbs Racing Toyotas in the top-five

SONOMA, Calif. (June 28, 2026) – Chase Briscoe chased Shane van Gisbergen down late and battled for the win before tying his season-best result of second in the Toyota/Save Mart 350 on Sunday afternoon.

Briscoe’s teammates, Ty Gibbs and Christopher Bell, joined him in the top-five finishers. Gibbs, who was scored third, won the pole and the first two stages, while Bell finished fifth – after finishing second to Gibbs in both stages.

Championship points leaders Tyler Reddick and Denny Hamlin both encountered issues throughout the day, but Hamlin was able to pass Reddick by a single point to hold the points lead for the first time this season.

In the In-Season Tournament, Briscoe, Gibbs, Bell, Hamlin and Erik Jones advanced to the second round to represent Team Toyota.

TOYOTA RACING Post-Race Recap
NASCAR Cup Series (NCS)
Sonoma Raceway
Race 18 of 36 – 218.9 miles, 110 laps

TOYOTA FINISHING POSITIONS

1st, Shane van Gisbergen*
2nd, CHASE BRISCOE
3rd, TY GIBBS
4th, Kyle Larson*
5th, CHRISTOPHER BELL
22nd, BUBBA WALLACE
23rd, ERIK JONES
25th, JOHN HUNTER NEMECHEK
26th, DENNY HAMLIN
30th, RILEY HERBST
36th, TYLER REDDICK
*non-Toyota driver

TOYOTA QUOTES

CHASE BRISCOE, No. 19 Columbia Bank Toyota Camry XSE, Joe Gibbs Racing

Finishing Position: 2nd

What were you fighting at the end?

“I was better. I just messed up with three or four to go getting into (turn) one. I don’t know. I didn’t time my downshift right and about wrecked. I lost a ton of ground and was able to run him back down, but if I don’t make that mistake, I truthfully, probably win the race. That one is going to sting for a while. Trying to beat him would just be a big accomplishment. Proud of our Columbia Bank Toyota group. That one stings. That one is a tough one.”

TY GIBBS, No. 54 SAIA Freight + Logistics Toyota Camry XSE, Joe Gibbs Racing

Finishing Position: 3rd

How do you assess the day?

“It was a great run for our SAIA Toyota team. Just got to keep working hard and keep getting better. I felt like we had the speed today. We just had a different strategy. It was a fun day. Just will keep working hard and staying after it.”

CHRISTOPHER BELL, No. 20 Rheem Toyota Camry XSE, Joe Gibbs Racing

Finishing Position: 5th

How proud are you of this effort?

“Yeah, I’m just super proud of this Rheem team. We’ve had a lot of adversity this year, and we keep battling back. They brought an amazing Rheem Camry. We had an amazing race car last week in San Diego too. Got a good finish out of it, got a lot of points, which is great. That is what we needed today.”

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 over 50 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.

KENNINGTON SALVAGES TOP TEN FINISH AT RIVERSIDE

By
Official Release
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June 28, 2026. DJ Kennington and the #17 Castrol Dodge entered Saturday night’s NASCAR Canada Series event at Riverside International Speedway with high expectations, but an early mechanical issue turned a promising night into a battle of survival.

Kennington arrived at the high-banked 1/3-mile oval with plenty of confidence and showed plenty of speed during practice. The St. Thomas, Ontario driver has a proven record at Riverside, including a victory in the 2025 event and a total of three career wins at the demanding Nova Scotia track.

Rain forced the cancellation of qualifying, with the starting lineup set by practice times. The strong pace of the #17 Castrol Dodge earned Kennington a sixth-place starting position for the 300-lap feature.

Trouble struck almost immediately after the green flag waved. The left-front tire began rubbing against the bodywork, creating an issue that threatened the team’s entire night. Despite the problem, Kennington maintained impressive pace and proved the Castrol Dodge was capable of running with the leaders.

Eventually, the tire rub caused damage and forced Kennington to bring the car to pit road for an unscheduled tire change. The crew quickly replaced the tire and corrected the bodywork issue, but the lengthy repair dropped the team several laps behind the leaders.

With the damage limiting their opportunity to recover, Kennington continued to push hard for the remainder of the race. The veteran driver remained as fast as the front-running cars throughout the event and methodically fought to gain every possible position.

When the checkered flag flew, Kennington crossed the finish line in tenth place, a hard-earned result after facing adversity from the opening lap.

“Obviously it wasn’t the night we were hoping for,” said Kennington. “The Castrol Dodge had really good speed all weekend, and that’s what makes it frustrating. We had a car that could run up front, but the tire issue right at the start put us behind immediately. The crew did a great job fixing the problem and keeping us going, and we were able to salvage a top ten finish.”

Next up:
DJ Kennington and the Castrol Dodge team head to the Autodrome Montmagny in Montmagny, Quebec for a doubleheader event on Saturday July 4th.

TV & Live Streaming
Race fans can watch a replay of the Pinty’s 300 on TSN. Date and time TBD.

Follow DJ Kennington and the #17 Castrol Edge Dodge team on their official social media platforms:

Instagram www.instagram.com/djkracing
Twitter www.twitter.com/@djkracing
Website www.djkracing.ca
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/DJKenningtonRacing/

How Much Should You Tip Your Cleaning Professional? An Honest Answer

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

Tipping etiquette for service workers has become more complicated in recent years, with tip prompts appearing in contexts where they didn’t exist a decade ago and social norms still catching up to new expectations across different industries. Professional cleaning sits in a category where most people genuinely aren’t sure what’s expected, appropriate, or even standard, and the uncertainty often results in either overtipping out of anxiety or not tipping at all out of confusion.

The honest answer involves a few different considerations: whether tipping is expected in cleaning services at all, how much is reasonable if you do tip, when tipping makes more sense than other gestures of appreciation, and how the relationship and service model affect the decision. Mums Cleaning Services Chicago isn’t going to tell you that you must tip, because that’s not the most useful answer. Here’s the full picture instead.

Is Tipping Standard Practice in the Cleaning Industry?

Unlike restaurant servers whose base wages are legally structured around tip income, professional cleaners are typically paid an hourly or per-job rate that doesn’t assume tips as a component. This means tipping in cleaning services is genuinely optional in a way that it isn’t in certain other service industries, and not tipping is not a social violation the way it would be in a restaurant context.

That said, tipping is genuinely appreciated and has become increasingly common as a way of recognizing particularly good work, acknowledging extra effort, or expressing satisfaction with a cleaning professional who’s been consistent over time. The decision sits with the client, and there’s no single correct answer that applies uniformly.

How Much Is Reasonable When You Do Tip?

For one-time cleaning visits, tips in the range of ten to twenty dollars per cleaner are common and well-received. For larger teams covering a significant cleaning job, a tip per person rather than a single shared tip acknowledges individual effort more directly.

Some clients tip based on a percentage of the total service cost, typically in the ten to fifteen percent range, which scales the tip naturally with the scope of work. This approach works particularly well for larger jobs like deep cleans or move-out cleaning where the scope of work is substantial.

For recurring cleaning where the same professional visits regularly, some clients prefer to tip less frequently but more meaningfully, such as a larger tip at holidays or at the end of a particularly good year of service. This approach can feel more personal than a small regular tip that becomes routine.

When Tipping Makes the Most Sense

A tip feels most meaningful and appropriate in a few specific situations. When a cleaning professional handled something particularly challenging, such as a space in significantly worse condition than usual or a job requiring extra time and effort beyond the normal scope, a tip acknowledges that additional effort directly.

When the same professional has been providing consistently excellent service over a long relationship, a tip communicates appreciation for that consistency in a way that’s more personal than simply rebooking. After a particularly demanding job like post-construction cleaning or a complete move-out clean, where physical effort is significantly higher than a standard visit, a tip reflects that reality appropriately.

When Other Gestures Work Just as Well

Tips aren’t the only way to express genuine appreciation for quality cleaning work, and in some cases other gestures are more impactful. Leaving a detailed positive online review specifically mentioning the cleaning professional by name creates lasting professional benefit that a one-time tip doesn’t. This matters because reviews directly influence how a cleaner’s performance is evaluated by their employer and how potential new clients find the service.

Referring friends and family creates ongoing value for both the cleaning professional and the company. For self-employed cleaning professionals building their client base, a referral can be worth considerably more than any single tip. Expressing appreciation directly and specifically, whether in person or through a note, costs nothing and is remembered longer than a transaction.

Does the Service Model Affect Whether Tipping Makes Sense?

For clients working with a cleaning company, tips go to the individual cleaner doing the work, not to the company. For clients working with a self-employed independent cleaning professional, the dynamic is somewhat different since the person pricing and performing the work is the same person, and their rates presumably reflect a complete income expectation.

Neither situation creates an obligation, but understanding the difference helps inform the decision. A cleaner employed by a company typically earns an hourly wage from which the company takes overhead and margin. A self-employed professional sets their own rate and keeps the full amount. These different economic situations are relevant when thinking about whether a tip adds meaningful value to that specific person’s compensation.

Holiday Tipping as a Separate Consideration

Holiday tipping for regular cleaning professionals follows a different logic than per-visit tipping. Many clients who don’t tip after individual visits make a point of giving a meaningful holiday tip to cleaning professionals they’ve worked with consistently throughout the year, treating it as an annual gesture of appreciation for the ongoing relationship rather than a response to any single visit.

The amount varies widely, but the equivalent of one cleaning visit cost as a holiday gesture is a common benchmark that many clients find reasonable. This approach separates the appreciation gesture from the transactional nature of individual visits in a way that can feel more genuine on both sides.

The Most Important Consideration

Beyond the specific dollar amounts, the most meaningful thing a client can do is treat cleaning professionals with the same respect and consideration they’d extend to any skilled service provider. Ensuring the home is reasonably accessible, communicating clearly about specific needs, providing feedback constructively, and maintaining a consistent booking relationship all matter to cleaning professionals in ways that parallel the value of financial appreciation.

For clients of Mums Cleaning Services Chicago who want to express appreciation for consistently good work, any combination of tips, reviews, and referrals is genuinely valued, but so is simply the ongoing relationship that comes from a client who books consistently and communicates respectfully. The tipping question matters, but it’s one part of a broader relationship that cleaning professionals care about as a whole.

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