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Why Car Accident Cases Are Won Long Before Court Begins

By
SM
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Car accident cases are often won long before court begins because the outcome is usually shaped by the evidence, strategy, and preparation completed during the weeks and months after the crash. While many people imagine a courtroom battle deciding the fate of a case, the reality is that most successful claims are built well before a trial date is ever scheduled. The strength of a case often depends on how effectively the facts are gathered, documented, and presented from the start.

Austin is the capital of Texas and one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States. Its expanding population, busy roadways, and heavy commuter traffic contribute to thousands of motor vehicle accidents each year. 

When these accidents occur, an Austin accident attorney typically begins building a case immediately, knowing that early actions can have a major impact on the final outcome.

Insurance Companies Start Evaluating the Case Right Away

Many people assume the legal process begins when a lawsuit is filed. In reality, insurance companies begin evaluating a claim almost immediately after an accident is reported.

Adjusters review police reports, photographs, medical records, witness statements, and vehicle damage to determine liability and assess risk. Their goal is to understand the strength of the claim before deciding how much compensation they may be willing to offer.

The stronger the evidence appears during this early review, the more seriously the insurance company is likely to treat the claim.

Strong Cases Create Leverage Before Trial

The majority of car accident cases never reach a courtroom. Instead, they are resolved through negotiations.

What drives those negotiations is leverage. When an injured person can present strong evidence showing the other party was at fault and clearly demonstrate the extent of their damages, the insurance company faces greater risk if the case proceeds to trial.

A well-prepared claim often encourages meaningful settlement discussions because the defense understands the potential consequences of losing in court.

Critical Evidence Can Disappear Quickly

One reason early preparation matters so much is that evidence does not last forever.

Surveillance footage may be deleted within days. Skid marks fade. Damaged vehicles get repaired. Witnesses move away or forget important details.

The sooner evidence is preserved, the more reliable it tends to be. Attorneys often move quickly to obtain photographs, video footage, accident reports, and witness interviews before valuable information disappears.

In many cases, this early investigation becomes one of the most important factors affecting the claim’s success.

Medical Records Help Establish Credibility

Insurance companies closely examine medical treatment after an accident.

Prompt medical attention creates a clear timeline between the collision and the injuries. Consistent treatment records help demonstrate the severity of the injuries and the impact they have on the victim’s daily life.

On the other hand, gaps in treatment or delays in seeking care may create opportunities for insurers to argue that the injuries were not serious or were caused by something unrelated to the accident.

For this reason, medical documentation often becomes one of the strongest tools available during settlement negotiations.

Attorneys Build the Case Before a Lawsuit Is Filed

Many people do not realize how much legal work occurs before a case ever reaches court.

Attorneys often spend months:

  • Investigating the accident
  • Collecting evidence
  • Interviewing witnesses
  • Reviewing medical records
  • Consulting experts
  • Calculating damages
  • Negotiating with insurance companies

This preparation allows attorneys to present a complete picture of liability and damages. By the time a lawsuit is filed, much of the groundwork has already been completed.

Settlement Negotiations Reflect the Strength of Preparation

Settlement offers are rarely random. They are often based on how strong the insurance company believes the case will be if it reaches trial.

When evidence is organized, injuries are well-documented, and liability is clear, insurers may be more motivated to negotiate fairly. They understand that a jury could potentially award substantial compensation if the case proceeds to court.

As a result, thorough preparation frequently influences settlement outcomes long before a judge or jury becomes involved.

Trial Often Confirms What Preparation Already Established

Contrary to popular belief, trials rarely transform weak cases into strong ones.

Most successful verdicts are built on months of investigation, evidence gathering, and strategic planning. By the time a case reaches a courtroom, both sides typically have a good understanding of the strengths and weaknesses involved.

The trial simply becomes the final stage where the evidence is formally presented and evaluated.

This is why many experienced attorneys say that cases are often won long before court begins. The preparation phase frequently determines the direction of the entire claim.

Key Takeaways

  • Car accident cases are often won through strong preparation before trial.
  • Insurance companies begin evaluating claims shortly after an accident is reported.
  • Early evidence collection can significantly affect the strength of a case.
  • Medical records help establish credibility and document injuries.
  • Attorneys perform extensive work before a lawsuit is ever filed.
  • Strong preparation creates leverage during settlement negotiations.
  • Most settlements are influenced by how likely a case is to succeed at trial.
  • Court is often the final step in a process where much of the outcome has already been shaped.

Full Wrap vs. Partial Wrap and Which Option Fits Your Budget and Goals

By
SM
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Choosing between a full wrap and a partial wrap depends on budget, goals, and how much of the vehicle needs to work for the owner. Jay The Wrap Specialist, based in Sugar Land, TX, has wrapped everything from NASA’s Orion Space Capsule for the Artemis Project to daily drivers on the Katy Freeway, making the shop a credible source for understanding what each option delivers.

Why Houston Drivers Need to Think Carefully About Wrap Coverage

Why Houston Drivers Need to Think Carefully About Wrap Coverage

Houston’s sun is relentless. Drivers on US-59 through Sugar Land or the Katy Freeway watch their paint oxidize, fade, and chip faster than almost anywhere else in the country. A vehicle wrap is not just a style choice, it is a practical defense against UV exposure, humidity, and road debris.

The shop is located at 10555 Synott Rd, #B-700, Sugar Land, TX 77498, serving lifted trucks in Katy, exotic vehicles in River Oaks, and fleet vans through First Colony and Missouri City. This article covers the real differences between full and partial wraps, what each costs, and which choice makes sense for different drivers considering Jay The Wrap Specialist vehicle wraps.

What Exactly Is a Full Vehicle Wrap?

A full vehicle wrap covers every exterior panel: hood, roof, doors, front and rear bumpers, fenders, mirrors, and pillars. The original paint disappears completely beneath the film, delivering a total transformation: no paint, no primer, no curing downtime. Film goes on over the factory finish, protecting it while giving the vehicle an entirely new look.

Coverage: Every Panel, Every Curve

Installers use heat guns and squeegees to conform vinyl to compound curves and body lines. Mirrors, door handles, and bumper edges all get wrapped, leaving no bare paint exposed. River Oaks and Memorial luxury vehicle owners frequently choose full wraps to shield high-value paint while adding a custom finish.

Materials Used on a Full Wrap

The two trusted film brands are 3M Vinyl Wrap Film and Avery Dennison Vinyl, both engineered for outdoor durability with a rated lifespan of five to seven years. Finish options include matte, gloss, satin, chrome, color-shift, and specialty films, all protecting paint from UV oxidation and humidity equally well.

What Exactly Is a Partial Wrap?

A partial wrap covers only selected panels, commonly the hood, roof, doors, trunk, mirrors, or accent stripes. The factory paint stays exposed elsewhere, and film is trimmed cleanly along panel seams so the transition looks intentional. Partial wraps suit drivers who want a custom look, two-tone effect, or business branding without the cost of full coverage, and work well for hiding cosmetic wear on a specific panel or refreshing a sun-damaged hood.

Coverage Zones and Materials

Partial wraps use the same 3M and Avery Dennison films as full wraps, so durability at covered panels is identical. Installers pay close attention to edges, where vinyl meets bare paint, using post-heating and tucking to keep boundaries tight through Houston’s temperature swings. The key trade-off: a partial wrap protects and restyles only the panels it touches, while a full wrap shields the entire vehicle.

Which Option Fits Your Budget and Goals?

Pricing depends on vehicle size, film type, and surface complexity. Partial wraps typically range from roughly $500 to $2,500; full wraps usually run from about $3,000 to $6,000 or more for larger vehicles and premium films.

  • Budget under $1,500: A partial wrap on the hood, roof, or accent panels delivers the most visible impact for the money.
  • Budget of $3,000 and up: A full wrap becomes worthwhile, especially for complete paint protection or a total color change.
  • Goal is protecting factory paint: A full wrap shields every panel from UV and road debris, the strongest case for total coverage in Houston’s climate.
  • Goal is a custom accent or business branding: A partial wrap gives a clean, targeted result without paying for panels that do not need it.
  • Goal is maximum impact resistance: Pair a color wrap with clear paint protection film on the front bumper and hood, the panels that take the worst abuse.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Long Does a Wrap Last, Full or Partial?

Lifespan depends on film grade, installation quality, and maintenance, not coverage area. Both full and partial wraps using 3M or Avery Dennison film typically last five to seven years. A full wrap adds the benefit of shielding the entire paint surface from Houston’s intense UV cycles and humidity, which accelerate oxidation on exposed panels.

Can I Add a Partial Wrap Over an Existing Full Wrap?

Yes. Accent wraps, racing stripes, and color-change panels can all be applied over or alongside an existing full wrap. Film thickness and finish must be matched carefully so the transition looks deliberate, and a technician should assess the existing wrap’s condition before any addition is made.

Will a Vinyl Wrap Damage My Factory Paint?

A professionally installed wrap does not damage factory paint. Quality adhesive releases cleanly after years of use, even through Houston’s heat and humidity cycles. Damage only occurs with low-grade film or improper removal, both avoidable when a skilled installer handles the job.

Does My Paint Need to Be Perfect Before a Partial Wrap?

The surface must be free of peeling, bubbling, or significant oxidation, which prevent proper adhesion and produce unclean edges at the wrap boundary. Minor swirl marks or light scratches beneath the film are acceptable. A technician inspects the surface before installation begins.

What Is the Difference Between a Vinyl Wrap and Paint Protection Film?

A vinyl wrap is primarily cosmetic, it changes color or finish and provides a light protective layer but is not engineered to absorb impact. PPF is a clear, thick urethane film built to resist rock chips, scratches, and road debris; it is invisible and lasts over ten years. Many Houston drivers combine both: vinyl for color, PPF for protection on high-impact zones like the front bumper and hood.

Can I Get a Chrome Wrap on Just One Panel?

Chrome wraps are available for individual panels including the hood, roof, mirrors, and pillars. Top-tier 3M Chrome film delivers a flawless mirror finish even on a single panel, creating a striking contrast against the vehicle’s base color. Single-panel chrome applications are popular across Houston’s car culture, from custom builds in Bellaire to lifted trucks in Richmond.

About Jay The Wrap Specialist

Jay The Wrap Specialist is a vehicle wrap shop at 10555 Synott Rd, #B-700, Sugar Land, TX 77498, serving the Greater Houston area including Bellaire, River Oaks, Missouri City, Stafford, Richmond, First Colony, and Memorial. Credentials include wrapping the NASA Orion Space Capsule for the Artemis Project and being featured by BuzzFeed as one of the most sought-after wrap installers in the United States.

With more than four million social media followers, the shop has built a national reputation while remaining rooted in Southeast Texas, using industry-leading 3M and Avery Dennison films on every project.

Business Name: Jay The Wrap Specialist
Address: 10555 Synott Rd, #B-700, Sugar Land, TX 77498
Phone Number: (346) 245-4998

Why Your Telegram Bot Needs a VPS: The Key to 24/7 Stability

By
SM
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Photo by Tyler on Unsplash

Why Telegram Bots Need a VPS Server

Telegram bots have long ceased to be just a tool for automated replies. Today, they are used by online stores, support services, educational projects, communities, and small businesses to solve various tasks: automating processes, interacting with customers, and managing internal systems.

  • Processing orders and requests.
  • Sending notifications to clients.
  • Automating sales and consultations.
  • Collecting and processing data.
  • Integration with external services.
  • Managing internal company processes.

A Telegram bot must run continuously. If the application is unavailable even for a few minutes, users may lose access to critical service functions.

However, any Telegram bot requires a place where its application code can run continuously. Running it on a home computer or a standard work device introduces limitations: the computer can be turned off, the internet connection can drop, and the available system resources will depend on other running programs.

This is exactly why a VPS server is frequently used for the stable operation of Telegram bots. It allows you to host the application in a continuously running server environment with dedicated resources, 24/7 access, and the flexibility to configure it for specific tasks.

📌 IMPORTANT

Running a Telegram bot on a home computer is only suitable for testing. For real users, you need a server that can operate 24/7, independently of any personal device.

What is a VPS and Why It Is Suitable for Telegram Bots

A VPS (Virtual Private Server) is a virtual server that runs on the provider’s physical hardware but provides the user with their own isolated environment and dedicated resources.

Unlike shared hosting, a VPS allows you to manage the server independently, install required software, and configure the environment for a specific application.

ResourcePurpose for a Telegram Bot
CPU timeProcessing commands, user requests, and background tasks
RAMStoring application data during runtime
Disk spaceStoring files, databases, and project settings
IP addressPermanent network connection to the server
Operating systemEnvironment for installing software

For the user, a VPS looks almost like a dedicated physical server. You can connect via SSH, install necessary software, and configure the environment just as you would on your own computer.

This is particularly convenient for Telegram bots, as the application typically needs to perform tasks without interruption:

  • Receive user messages.
  • Execute commands and automated scenarios.
  • Send notifications.
  • Query databases and external APIs.

✅ USEFUL

The main advantage of a VPS for Telegram bots is its independence from the user’s computer. The server continues to run even when the project owner is offline.

What Tasks Telegram Bots Solve on a VPS

Using a VPS opens up more possibilities than simply running a script on a local device. The server becomes a fully-fledged platform for process automation.

Business Automation

Companies use Telegram bots to speed up interaction with customers and reduce manual operations.

  • Customer consultation.
  • Processing requests and applications.
  • Sending order statuses.
  • Notifications about new events.

For example, an online store can set up a bot that automatically notifies a customer about order creation, processing, and delivery.

Automation through a Telegram bot allows businesses to respond to customers faster and reduce the workload on employees.

Integration with External Services

A VPS allows you to connect a Telegram bot to various systems and use it as a bridge between services.

  • CRM systems.
  • Payment gateways.
  • Databases.
  • Analytics platforms.
  • Internal APIs.

For example, a bot can retrieve information from a customer database and automatically send personalized notifications.

Working with Large Groups and Channels

If a bot is used in an active Telegram community, stability and request processing speed are essential.

It can perform the following functions:

  • Community moderator.
  • Spam filter.
  • Role management system.
  • Automated administrator assistant.

When the workload increases, a VPS can be scaled by adding more CPU resources, RAM, or disk space.

Prices and specs from the Deltahost website, 2026

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📌 IMPORTANT

It is not recommended to run a Telegram bot on a server without basic security measures. A Telegram Bot API token leak can grant attackers full control over your bot, so sensitive data should be stored separately from the source code.

Special attention must be paid to the Telegram bot token. This key is used to connect the application to the Telegram API and is essentially a password for controlling the bot. It should never be published in open repositories or stored in publicly accessible files.

A secure VPS is about more than just server power. It is a properly configured environment where the bot runs stably and is protected against common threats.

Advantages of VPS Over Other Hosting Options for Telegram Bots

There are several ways to run a Telegram bot: a home computer, shared hosting, cloud platforms, or a VPS. Each option has its own characteristics, but for continuous operation, most projects choose a virtual server.

Hosting OptionAdvantagesDisadvantages
Home computerNo additional costsDependent on power, internet connection, and device status
Shared hostingEase of use and low costLimited configuration and background process options
Cloud platformsQuick launch and automatic scalingCosts can increase as the load grows
VPS serverFull control, stability, and dedicated resourcesRequires basic Linux knowledge

A VPS is an optimal compromise between cost and capabilities: the user gets their own server environment without the need to purchase physical hardware.

Typical Mistakes When Configuring a VPS for Telegram Bots

Many problems with Telegram bots stem from improper server configuration rather than the code itself. Even a simple project can run unstably if server-side deployment specifics are ignored.

Running the Bot Solely via SSH

One of the most common mistakes is running the program manually via the terminal without using a process manager. Once the connection is closed, the application stops running.

Using Systemd, Supervisor, or PM2 solves this issue and ensures automatic startup after a VPS reboot.

Lack of Monitoring

Even a small bot can encounter errors: out-of-memory issues, API crashes, or database connection problems. Monitoring helps detect problems in time and restore service operations.

Choosing a Plan with Insufficient Resources

A minimal VPS is suitable for simple tasks, but as your audience grows, the server needs to have a resource overhead. A lack of RAM or CPU power can lead to delays in message processing.

The stability of a Telegram bot depends on more than just the application code. Server infrastructure directly impacts response speed and service availability.

How to Choose a VPS for a Telegram Bot

When choosing a server, it is important to consider not only the price but also the actual requirements of the project. A small notification bot and a complex automation system require different resources.

Project TypeRecommended VPS Configuration
Simple notification bot1 CPU, 1 GB RAM, 20+ GB SSD
Customer support bot2 CPU, 2 GB RAM, 30+ GB SSD
Bot with a database and a large user base2–4 CPU, 4+ GB RAM, NVMe SSD
Complex automation system4+ CPU, 8 GB RAM, and scalable infrastructure

It is also worth paying attention to the location of the data center. The closer the server is to the bot’s primary audience, the lower the latency in processing requests.

For most small Telegram projects, a VPS with 1–2 cores and 1–2 GB of RAM is quite sufficient. The key factors are proper configuration and operational stability.

When a VPS is Truly Necessary for a Telegram Bot

Not every bot needs its own server. If the project is only used for personal experiments or testing, running it locally is perfectly fine.

However, a VPS becomes practically indispensable when the bot must run continuously and serve real users.

  • The bot is used by clients or company employees.
  • Continuous, 24/7 message reception is required.
  • There are integrations with databases and external services.
  • The project must scale as the load increases.

Conclusion: Why VPS Remains the Optimal Solution for Telegram Bots

A VPS server provides Telegram bots with a stable platform for continuous operation. It ensures independence from home-based hardware, allows for flexible environment configuration, and grants full control over the application.

For small projects, an inexpensive VPS is sufficient and can be ordered here https://deltahost.com/, and as the service develops, resources can be gradually increased. This approach allows you to start with minimal costs and build a reliable infrastructure for future growth.

💡 TIP

Before choosing a VPS, evaluate not only the current load but also the potential growth of the project. A small resource overhead will help prevent issues as your user base increases.

Ultimately, a VPS is not just a place to host code, but a fully-fledged server environment that ensures the reliable operation of your Telegram bot, data security, and room for project growth.

What Makes the Galloping Gertie’s Garage Vehicle Portfolio Unique

By
SM
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Tacoma, Washington, is a vibrant Pacific Northwest city known for its waterfront views, growing population, and active automotive community. The area is home to a wide variety of vehicles, from daily drivers and luxury cars to performance and classic models. As a result, many vehicle owners look for repair shops with proven experience working on different makes and models.

By reviewing the Tacoma European auto shop portfolio of the shop you are considering, you can gain a better understanding of the types of vehicles it has serviced, the quality of its work, and its level of experience with European makes and models. This can help you make a more informed decision when selecting a repair provider.

What makes the Galloping Gertie’s Garage vehicle portfolio unique is the wide range of vehicles it showcases. From everyday European cars to rare classics and high-performance models, the portfolio highlights the shop’s technical expertise, attention to detail, and commitment to quality workmanship.

A Wide Variety of European Brands

One of the first things that stands out is the variety of vehicles featured throughout the portfolio. Galloping Gertie’s Garage regularly services brands such as the following:

  • Audi
  • BMW
  • Mercedes-Benz
  • MINI
  • Volkswagen
  • Volvo
  • Jaguar
  • Land Rover
  • Porsche

The shop also works on select luxury and exotic vehicles, demonstrating its ability to handle different makes, models, and generations of European automobiles.

Experience With Classic and Specialty Vehicles

Not every repair shop has the knowledge or equipment to work on classic European cars. Galloping Gertie’s Garage features restoration and maintenance work on vintage models, including classic Volkswagens, Jaguars, Mercedes-Benz vehicles, and other collector cars. These vehicles often require specialized diagnostics, hard-to-find parts, and careful workmanship.

This experience shows that the team is comfortable working on vehicles that demand more than routine maintenance.

Every Vehicle Tells a Story

The portfolio is more than a collection of photographs. Each vehicle reflects the trust customers place in the shop and the team’s ability to solve a wide range of mechanical challenges. From routine maintenance to major repairs, the portfolio demonstrates consistent attention to detail across many different vehicle types.

Rather than focusing on one brand alone, Galloping Gertie’s Garage showcases its versatility through a diverse collection of completed projects.

Dealer-Level Expertise Without the Dealership Experience

European vehicles often require specialized diagnostic equipment and technical knowledge. Galloping Gertie’s Garage invests in factory-level diagnostic tools and modern repair technology to accurately diagnose and service complex vehicle systems. This allows the technicians to perform repairs that meet the standards many owners expect without relying solely on dealership service departments.

Built Around Long-Term Customer Relationships

The vehicles shown in the portfolio represent more than one-time visits. Many customers return for ongoing maintenance because the shop focuses on understanding how each vehicle is used and creating maintenance plans that fit the owner’s needs. Their proprietary vehicle history system helps the team keep detailed service records, making future visits more efficient and personalized.

Passion for European Automobiles

The portfolio reflects genuine enthusiasm for European engineering. Whether servicing a daily-driven BMW, maintaining a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, or preserving a vintage Volkswagen, the technicians approach each vehicle with the same level of care and professionalism. That passion is one reason many owners continue trusting the shop with vehicles they value highly.

Their Tacoma European auto portfolio demonstrates the team’s ability to work on everything from modern luxury vehicles to unique collector cars while maintaining consistent quality across every project.

Quality That Builds Confidence

Before choosing an auto repair shop, many owners want proof of the shop’s capabilities. Browsing the portfolio allows customers to see the range of vehicles the technicians have serviced and the level of craftsmanship they consistently provide. It also offers reassurance that the shop has experience with vehicles similar to yours.

Combined with positive customer feedback and years of specialized European repair experience, the portfolio gives prospective customers greater confidence when choosing Galloping Gertie’s Garage.

Key Takeaways

  • Galloping Gertie’s Garage features a diverse portfolio of European, luxury, classic, and specialty vehicles
  • The shop services brands including BMW, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Jaguar, Land Rover, Volkswagen, Volvo, and more
  • The portfolio showcases experience with both modern vehicles and classic European restorations
  • Dealer-level diagnostic equipment helps the team accurately service complex European vehicles
  • A customer-focused approach and detailed vehicle history system support long-term maintenance

VANDERGRIFF, KALITTA & G. STANFIELD ENJOY VICTORIES IN FRONT OF SELLOUT CROWD AT DENSO NHRA SONOMA NATIONALS

By
Official Release
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  • Dominant weekend leads to FC win for Vandergriff
  • Kalitta gets seventh TF Sonoma victory
  • Stanfield goes back-to-back in Sonoma in PS

SONOMA, Calif. (July 19, 2026) – Funny Car newcomer Jordan Vandergriff won for the second time this season for John Force Racing in front of a sellout crowd on Sunday at Sonoma Raceway, defeating Daniel Wilkerson in the final round of the Denso NHRA Sonoma Nationals presented by PowerEdge.

Doug Kalitta (Top Fuel) and Greg Stanfield (Pro Stock) also won at the 11th of 20 races during the 2026 NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series season as NHRA celebrated three straight days of sellout crowds at the standout facility.

Vandergriff went 3.900-seconds at 330.72 mph in his 12,000-horsepower Cornwell Tools Chevrolet SS to power past Wilkerson’s 3.950 at 301.33 in the championship round, getting his second career victory and first at Sonoma Raceway.

The Brea, Calif. native defeated Jason Rupert, Matt Hagan and reigning world champion Austin Prock in a thrilling side-by-side duel to reach the final round, finishing off a near-flawless weekend with another stellar performance in the final round.

The team made wholesale changes after Norwalk and it worked like a charm one race later, as Vandergriff was the quickest car the last three qualifying rounds. He qualified No. 1 and then was remarkably consistent in eliminations, including a Sunday-best run of 3.891 at 328.46. That continued all day, as the rising star moved up three spots to second in points with the victory.

“My team behind me had the car running so well and so and smooth at this race,” Vandergriff said. “Today was one of those days where I got up there, and I knew I was going to go straight and tried and true. Heading into this final round, I knew that we had the car.

“Getting my second win, it means a lot because after my first win, I remember sitting home, on the couch, looking at the Wally, and I’m thinking, ‘You know, how do I get a second one?’ The first one felt like such a whirlwind, and a dream come true. This is my job. My job is to come to John Force Racing and win Wallys for Cornwall Quality Tools. Now I’m going to go home and look at two Wallys and ask myself how to get a third.”

Wilkerson advanced to his second final this year and fourth in his career thanks to round wins against Hunter Green, Spencer Hyde and Jack Beckman. Ron Capps remains in the points lead, but it stands at just 74 points over Vandergriff after a first-round defeat to Prock on Sunday.

There is nobody better in Top Fuel at Sonoma Raceway than Doug Kalitta and that again proved to be true on Sunday in front of a capacity crowd, as the reigning world champion denied area native Jasmine Salinas of her first career victory with an impressive run of 3.731 at 339.36 in the final round in his 12,000-horsepower Aflac dragster for Kalitta Motorsports.

It’s the second straight victory in wine country for Kalitta, who now has seven victories at Sonoma Raceway, which is the most in Top Fuel history.

This weekend was another dominant effort for the two-time champion, as he qualified No. 1, claimed the Deecell After Dark Low Qualifier and rolled to round wins against Clay Millican and Antron Brown to reach the final round.

Salinas made a valiant effort in the finals, leaving first with an .056 reaction time, but Kalitta quickly tracked her down as she went 3.815 at 319.14. It’s also the 61st career victory for Kalitta, who stayed second in points as he gears up for another championship run. His Sonoma victory last year keyed his 2025 title run and Kalitta is hoping for the same this season.

“This is a very special place for me. We had a little dry spell through the years, but I’m glad that we managed to get the last two wins here,” Kalitta said.

“It’s been 30 years since, unfortunately, we lost Blaine Johnson and I’m going to have the honor of giving this trophy to Alan [Johnson, crew chief] this evening once we get done with this. It’s very deserving with everything he’s put into this sport. Blaine was a hell of a driver, so this is going to be an honor. This is the time of the year where it gets really fun because we’re all battling for points. We’re still quite a ways behind Shawn (Langdon) but we’ve got enough time to do it.”

Salinas reached her first career final round in a two-wide matchup thanks to round wins against Josh Hart, points leader Langdon and Leah Pruett. Kalitta pulled to within 85 points of his teammate Langdon in the points standings.

In Pro Stock, Greg Stanfield continued to feel right at home in front of a packed Sonoma Raceway, defeating six-time world champion and Elite Motorsports teammate Erica Enders on a holeshot and a run of 6.551 at 211.30 in his Janac Brothers Racing car.

It’s the second straight victory in Sonoma for Stanfield, who defeated his son, Aaron, in the finals a year ago. It was another all-Elite final round as Stanfield reached the final round this year thanks to victories against his son, Mason McGaha and Jeg Coughlin Jr.

He was lethal on the starting line in the finals against Enders, going .015 to hold off the 49-time Pro Stock winner. Enders went 6.550 at 210.87 as Stanfield hung on by a thin margin to get his seventh career professional victory.

It was also a massive win for Elite Motorsports, as the team had all four cars in the semifinals and won in Sonoma for the fifth straight time. Stanfield has delivered the last two years, moving to third in points.

“I’m not sure why I do so well here. It must be the wine. It’s a great place with great fans and I just feel really comfortable here,” Stanfield said. “The Elite cars are fast right now. I’m just proud, excited and thankful to be driving for them.

“The racing is so tight today, so the driving part of it’s really critical. Today was obviously a good day. When I race, I really don’t look who’s in the other lane. I just try to focus on my side and what I can do and try to do the best I can.

“On Saturday, I just looked at the ladder and thought, ‘Oh, boy, this ain’t good’. I just try to do my part to not let everybody down. I won the first round due to pure luck against Aaron, because I should have been beat right there. That was my mulligan of the day.”

Enders advanced to the final round for the first time in 2026 and the 85th time in her career after round wins against Kenny Delco, Matt Latinno and Troy Coughlin Jr. Dallas Glenn remained the points leader after a rare first-round loss, holding a 21-point advantage over KB Titan Racing teammate Greg Anderson, who also fell in the opening round.

The NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series returns July 24-26 with the 37th annual Muckleshoot Casino Resort NHRA Northwest Nationals at Pacific Raceways in Seattle.

SONOMA, Calif. — Final finish order (1-16) at the 38th annual DENSO Sonoma Nationals presented by PowerEdge at Sonoma Raceway. The race is the 11th of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series.

TOP FUEL:

  1. Doug Kalitta; 2. Jasmine Salinas; 3. Leah Pruett; 4. Antron Brown; 5. Billy Torrence; 6.

Shawn Langdon; 7. Tony Stewart; 8. Tony Schumacher; 9. Justin Ashley; 10. Josh Hart; 11. Shawn Reed; 12. Maddi Gordon; 13. Clay Millican; 14. Will Smith.

FUNNY CAR:

  1. Jordan Vandergriff; 2. Daniel Wilkerson; 3. Austin Prock; 4. Jack Beckman; 5. Paul Lee; 6. Matt Hagan; 7. Cruz Pedregon; 8. Spencer Hyde; 9. J.R. Todd; 10. Hunter Green; 11. Chad Green; 12. Jason Rupert; 13. Jeff Arend; 14. Ron Capps; 15. Alexis DeJoria; 16. Dave Richards.

PRO STOCK:

  1. Greg Stanfield; 2. Erica Enders; 3. Jeg Coughlin; 4. Troy Coughlin Jr.; 5. Matt Latino; 6.

Eric Latino; 7. Stephen Bell; 8. Mason McGaha; 9. Dallas Glenn; 10. Matt Hartford; 11. Aaron Stanfield; 12. Greg Anderson; 13. Cody Anderson; 14. Kenny Delco; 15. Chris Vang; 16. Shane Tucker.

SONOMA, Calif. — Sunday’s final results from the 38th annual DENSO Sonoma Nationals presented by PowerEdge at Sonoma Raceway. The race is the 11th of 20 in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series:

Top Fuel — Doug Kalitta, 3.731 seconds, 339.96 mph def. Jasmine Salinas, 3.815 seconds, 319.14 mph.

Funny Car — Jordan Vandergriff, Chevy Camaro, 3.900, 330.72 def. Daniel Wilkerson, Ford Mustang, 3.950, 301.33.

Pro Stock — Greg Stanfield, Chevy Camaro, 6.551, 211.30 def. Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.550, 210.87.

Competition Eliminator — Clint Neff, Dragster, 7.639, 172.43 def. Steve Graham, Chevy Camaro, 6.996, 197.10.

Super Stock — Jody Lang, Chevy Malibu, 10.883, 115.57 def. Brad Burton, Pontiac Firebird, 9.363, 136.68.

Stock Eliminator — Justin Lamb, Chevy Camaro, 9.312, 139.44 def. Darin Grossi, Plymouth Fury, 10.202, 128.84.

Super Comp — Trey Vetter, Dragster, 8.911, 174.91 def. Grant Williamson, Dragster, 8.913, 168.35.

Super Gas — Doug Sedmak, Chevy Corvette, 9.914, 156.79 def. Brad Pierce, Corvette, 9.906, 139.69.

Top Sportsman — Ken Ratzloff, Studebaker, 6.861, 200.41 def. Bryan Warr, Chevy Camaro, 6.718, 203.98.

Top Dragster — Keith Winters, Dragster, 6.313, 214.66 def. Thomas Bayer, Dragster, 6.182, 226.89.

SONOMA, Calif. — Final round-by-round results from the 38th annual DENSO Sonoma Nationals presented by PowerEdge at Sonoma Raceway, the 11th of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series:

TOP FUEL:

ROUND ONE — Antron Brown, 3.739, 332.67 def. Tony Schumacher, 3.746, 336.99; Tony Stewart, 3.712, 336.91 def. Justin Ashley, 3.826, 320.74; Billy Torrence, 3.707, 338.00 def. Shawn Reed, 4.599, 163.85; Shawn Langdon, 3.725, 338.77 def. Will Smith, Broke – No Show; Doug Kalitta, 3.724, 336.91 def. Clay Millican, 7.078, 85.58; Leah Pruett, 3.744, 323.27 def. Maddi Gordon, 4.876, 148.09; Jasmine Salinas, 3.756, 319.90 def. Josh Hart, 4.430, 194.32;

QUARTERFINALS — Salinas, 3.775, 309.91 def. Langdon, 3.776, 335.32; Kalitta, 3.730, 338.00 was unopposed; Brown, 4.175, 265.95 def. Stewart, 6.499, 94.90; Pruett, 3.766, 330.23 def. Torrence, 3.751, 332.51;

SEMIFINALS — Salinas, 3.772, 334.98 def. Pruett, 3.751, 331.94; Kalitta, 4.105, 251.77 def. Brown, 4.917, 164.77;

FINAL — Kalitta, 3.731, 339.96 def. Salinas, 3.815, 319.14.

FUNNY CAR:

ROUND ONE — Daniel Wilkerson, Ford Mustang, 3.945, 324.90 def. Hunter Green, Dodge Charger, Foul – Red Light; Paul Lee, Charger, 3.937, 327.66 def. Chad Green, Mustang, 3.981, 325.14; Jordan Vandergriff, Chevy Camaro, 3.891, 328.46 def. Jason Rupert, Mustang, 4.040, 322.50; Jack Beckman, Camaro, 3.928, 328.06 def. Jeff Arend, Charger, 4.064, 311.77; Austin Prock, Mustang, 4.101, 263.31 def. Ron Capps, Toyota GR Supra, 4.353, 208.26; Spencer Hyde, Mustang, 4.241, 222.11 def. Dave Richards, Mustang, Broke; Cruz Pedregon, Charger, 4.450, 197.97 def. Alexis DeJoria, Camaro, 4.732, 170.86; Matt Hagan, Charger, 3.944, 333.74 def. J.R. Todd, GR Supra, 3.933, 332.43;

QUARTERFINALS — Prock, 3.927, 327.35 def. Lee, 3.946, 328.62; Beckman, 3.894, 332.43 def. Pedregon, 4.009, 319.45; Vandergriff, 3.932, 330.72 def. Hagan, 3.956, 327.98; Wilkerson, 4.255, 217.88 def. Hyde, 4.327, 250.92;

SEMIFINALS — Vandergriff, 3.911, 329.91 def. Prock, 3.921, 329.67; Wilkerson, 5.159, 299.33 def. Beckman, 5.793, 205.19;

FINAL — Vandergriff, 3.900, 330.72 def. Wilkerson, 3.950, 301.33.

PRO STOCK:

ROUND ONE — Greg Stanfield, Chevy Camaro, 6.534, 211.00 def. Aaron Stanfield, Camaro, 6.513, 210.37; Eric Latino, Camaro, 6.511, 209.01 def. Dallas Glenn, Camaro, 6.499, 210.47; Matt Latino, Camaro, 6.519, 210.21 def. Greg Anderson, Camaro, 6.527, 209.26; Jeg Coughlin, Camaro, 6.533, 210.44 def. Matt Hartford, Camaro, 6.512, 211.26; Mason McGaha, Camaro, 6.532, 211.20 def. Chris Vang, Camaro, 6.783, 166.21; Troy Coughlin Jr., Camaro, 6.525, 210.34 def. Cody Anderson, Camaro, 6.531, 210.08;

Erica Enders, Camaro, 6.520, 211.00 def. Kenny Delco, Camaro, 6.576, 209.52; Stephen Bell, Camaro, 6.545, 209.98 def. Shane Tucker, Camaro, 7.103, 151.65;

QUARTERFINALS — Coughlin, 6.572, 210.18 def. Bell, 6.574, 209.49; G. Stanfield, 6.519, 211.43 def. McGaha, 6.967, 159.38; Enders, 6.535, 210.90 def. M. Latino, 6.533, 210.05; Coughlin Jr., 6.543, 210.70 def. E. Latino, 6.541, 210.70;

SEMIFINALS — Enders, 7.016, 209.07 def. Coughlin Jr., 11.712, 115.07; G. Stanfield, 6.544, 211.16 def. Coughlin, 9.865, 105.18;

FINAL — G. Stanfield, 6.551, 211.30 def. Enders, 6.550, 210.87.

SONOMA, Calif. — Point standings (top 10) following the 38th annual DENSO Sonoma Nationals presented by PowerEdge at Sonoma Raceway, the 11th of 20 events in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series –

Top Fuel

  1. Shawn Langdon, 1,069; 2. Doug Kalitta, 984; 3. Leah Pruett, 803; 4. Antron Brown, 680; 5. (tie) Maddi Gordon, 648; Tony Stewart, 648; 7. Josh Hart, 592; 8. Billy Torrence, 559; 9. Justin Ashley, 484; 10. Clay Millican, 455.

Funny Car

  1. Ron Capps, 852; 2. Jordan Vandergriff, 778; 3. Jack Beckman, 764; 4. Matt Hagan, 744; 5. J.R. Todd, 721; 6. Chad Green, 667; 7. Alexis DeJoria, 644; 8. Austin Prock, 597; 9. Spencer Hyde, 544; 10. Daniel Wilkerson, 543.

Pro Stock

  1. Dallas Glenn, 922; 2. Greg Anderson, 901; 3. (tie) Matt Hartford, 765; Greg Stanfield, 765; 5. Aaron Stanfield, 649; 6. Matt Latino, 627; 7. Erica Enders, 623; 8. Jeg Coughlin, 547; 9. Troy Coughlin Jr., 490; 10. Eric Latino, 464.

IndyCar Nashville race postponed to Monday

By
Tucker White
-
LEBANON, Tenn. - JULY 19: Rain coats the infield at Nashville Superspeedway, after IndyCar postponed the Music City Grand Prix to Monday on July 19, 2026, in Lebanon, Tennessee. Photo: Tucker White/SpeedwayMedia.com

LEBANON, Tenn. — If you have sick days or personal days to burn, use one.

The NTT INDYCAR SERIES postponed the Borchetta Bourbon Music City Grand Prix to Monday, after unyielding rain and lightning. The green flag flies July 20 at 3 p.m. ET, at Nashville Superspeedway.

Thirty minutes before the scheduled green flag, as fans gathered on pit road to watch the final minutes of the 2026 FIFA World Cup title match, lightning struck within the vicinity of the track. Which put the race under a 30-minute hold. Over the next 90 minutes, the cycle repeated. Then the sky opened up. First, it sprinkled. Then the Sun broke through the clouds. The sky, however, opened up again, with more intensity. It stopped long enough for track drying to commence, but then the sky opened one more time and it turned into a monsoon.

Kyle Kirkwood will lead the field to green, Monday, after winning the pole, Saturday.

FOX will carry the TV broadcast, while INDYCAR Radio carries the radio broadcast (simulcast available on SiriusXM Channel 218).

EDITOR’S NOTE: After press time, IndyCar announced it reduced the distance of the race from 300 laps to 225, because the forecast, Monday, calls for record temperatures and a dangerous heat index.

Briggs Danner Leads Wire-To-Wire To Collect The USAC Silver Crown Series Race At Winchester Speedway

By
Briar Starr
-
Photo Courtsey of Rich Forman Photo

The 34th annual Rich Vogler Classic took place on Sunday afternoon with the USAC Silver Crown Series at the tight short-track of Winchester Speedway in Winchester, Indiana. A total of 14 cars were entered for the 100-lap feature. To note, caution laps counted until Lap 98 of 100. After qualifying on the pole and holding off a fierce late-race rally from Dakoda Armstrong, pole-sitter Briggs Danner led every lap of the race to take home the 34th annual Rich Vogler Classic.

Once qualifying was concluded earlier in the morning, Danner earned his first career pole position in the USAC Silver Crown Series with a lap time of 14.972 seconds. Danner was also fastest in practice as well. Former NASCAR Cup Series driver Ryan Newman was on the entry list as well. Newman has earned five career USAC victories at Winchester, all of which came in Sprint Cars and Midgets combined. In the previous outing in 2025, he finished in the fifth position.

“That was an awesome deal for sure,” Danner said to Flo Racing on the frontstretch. “When you look back at all the races of Kevin (Doran and Kody Swanson) that have ran here and the stats of laps led, and quick times, it’s definitely big shoes to fill. I put a lot of pressure on myself to be able to produce the same results. After yesterday, I was a little nervous. I felt like I had a lot of learning to do, but yesterday’s practice helped me out a lot.

“Happy for the crew guys that put in a lot of effort on this deal. They probably worked a little bit harder than they’re used to, but just a super cool deal. Cool for everyone involved to tick this one off. I feel like every time I get in this car, I have the ability to produce results. If it’s not up front, it’s probably my fault, so happy to check this off.”

The only driver not participating on the entry list was Dave Berkheimer, as he had a DNF prior to the race beginning.

Eventually, the green flag flew, and Danner maintained the top spot with C.J. Leary following closely in second. With five laps complete, it was Danner, Leary, Armstrong, Newman, and Mario Clouser in the top five as the field settled in position. The first caution of the race came out with 87 laps to go for the No. 92 of Newman for a flat right-rear tire. His team replaced the tire and put a new one on.

At 82 to go, the race went back green with Danner, Leary, Armstrong, Clouser, and Justin Grant the top five. Armstrong briefly looked on the inside of Leary for second, but went back in line to stay in the third position. Newman would fall back to 10th after repairs to his tire. Unfortunately, Newman’s day would be cut short as he reported engine problems and was already multiple laps down. The team elected to retire early so it wouldn’t hurt the car much further.

With 71 laps to go, Kaylee Bryson’s No. 11 car had a problem as she came to a stop on the bottom of Turns 3 and 4. The issue was a flat right-rear tire. The second yellow came out just shortly afterward with 70 to go. Her team was able to replace the tire and get her back out there as well. Once again, the race went green with 65 to go with Danner, Leary, Armstrong, Clouser, and Grant your top five. The third yellow came out with 53 to go for Nathan Byrd, who had heavy right-side damage in Turns 1 and 2.

With 50 laps to go signaling the halfway point, the top 10 was Danner, Leary, Armstrong, Clouser, Grant, Tyler Roahrig, Kyle Steffens, Brian Tyler, and Gregg Cory. Eventually, the race went green with 42 to go. Armstrong again looked to pass Leary on the entry of Turn 3, but couldn’t make it work.

However, the green-flag run would be cut short as No. 8 of Steffens suffered a flat right-rear tire, bringing out the caution with 34 to go. The race resumed with 29 to go with Danner and Leary in the first-second position, respectively. With 15 to go, Danner pulled out with a sizable lead. However, there was a three-car battle for the second position with Leary, Armstrong, and Grant jockeying for position.

Armstrong finally made the pass work on Leary for second after Leary had a brief misstep inside 10 to go. Afterward, Armstrong set his eyes on the leader of Danner and cut his lead down significantly as Danner couldn’t get through lap traffic. Eventually, Danner did and was able to control the lead and went on to secure the victory after leading all 100 laps. 

After holding off Armstrong’s late rally, Danner was simply saving his car for the finish.

“Towards the end of the race, I was just kind of saving,” Danner added to Flo Racing following his victory. “I knew I had a pretty good gap and Kevin was doing a good job on the radio helping me run a smart race. All those yellows were not exactly what I wanted to see. I felt like I would get into such a great rhythm about three to four laps in, and I just kept taking it easy on the car, and tires, I kept pulling away. Just wanted to get into rhythm there and finish this one off. 100 laps goes by pretty quick.”

Leary leads the championship points standings over Grant by 36 points.

Official Race Results Following The 34th Annual Rich Vogler Classic At Winchester Speedway

  1. Briggs Danner
  2. Dakoda Armstrong
  3. C.J. Leary
  4. Justin Grant
  5. Mario Clouser
  6. Brian Tyler
  7. Tyler Roahrig
  8. Robert Tyler
  9. Kyle Steffens
  10. Kaylee Bryson
  11. Gregg Cory
  12. Nathan Byrd
  13. Ryan Newman
  14. Dave Berkheimer

Up Next – The next event for the USAC Silver Crown Series is slated for Saturday, August 8 at Iowa Speedway on NASCAR race weekend. However, the USAC National Sprint tour kicks off Indiana Sprint Week on Thursday, July 23 at The Dirt Track at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. All live on Flo Racing.

Nannini Pulls Away To Lead Cape 1-2 Finish at Nashville

By
Official Release
-

LEBANON, Tenn. (Sunday, July 19, 2026) – Matteo Nannini earned his second victory of the INDY NXT by Firestone season in the Music City Grand Prix on Sunday at Nashville Superspeedway, and this one meant much more than his first.

Pole sitter Nannini led a 1-2 finish for Cape Motorsports Powered by ECR, driving his No. 20 Enve Motorsports car to a 5.6449-second victory over teammate Nikita Johnson in the No. 21 machine. It was his third career victory in the INDYCAR development series and the first 1-2 finish ever for the longtime junior formula standout Cape team in INDY NXT competition.

This was the first win this year in which Nannini took the checkered flag first. He placed second on track in the second race of the Road America doubleheader last month but was awarded the victory after a procedural violation in post-race inspection with the car of Alessandro de Tullio of AJ Foyt Racing, which crossed the finish line first.

“I’m happy to get P1 on track, actually get it here and not with some penalties and stuff,” Nannini said. “I think it’s great for the team, for me, the sponsors, everybody for confidence. Again, the first of many more.”

Myles Rowe, who had won three of the last four oval races in the series, finished third in the No. 99 Abel Motorsports with Force Indy machine.

Rookie Max Garcia tied his career-best finish by placing fourth in the No. 12 Abel Motorsports car, with Max Taylor rounding out the top five in the No. 28 Susan G. Komen car of Andretti Global.

The fierce championship race also took on a new look with this race, as Johnson returned to the lead by one point, 451-450, over previous leader Enzo Fittipaldi, who finished 11th in the No. 67 HMD Motorsports machine. There are just four races left this season as drivers compete for the INDYCAR career enhancement package awarded to the series champion.

Nannini led 64 of the 65 laps from pole, eventually pulling away to victory by more than five seconds. But those are perhaps two of the most deceiving statistics from the race on the 1.33-mile concrete oval, which featured plenty of action throughout the 23-car field.

The only time Nannini lost the lead came on Lap 17, when Rowe dove under him and Johnson in Turn 1 as they dueled for the lead, jumping from third to first in one move. But the last of two caution flags flew on the next lap for debris as Nannini had just nosed past Rowe to regain the lead.

On the Lap 20 restart, Nannini stayed out front. But the gap to his rivals never exceeded a second over nearly the next 30 laps, as Johnson, Rowe and Lochie Hughes in the No. 26 Andretti Global car all took turns at hounding Nannini’s gearbox and trying to find a way around the Italian.

The complexion of the race changed on Lap 49 when Rowe and Hughes began a wheel-to-wheel duel for second, with Johnson right behind. That joust stirred the crowd, but it also added wear to their Firestone Firehawk tires and let Nannini pull away.

“We had the car to stay out front,” Nannini said. “I was not sure if we were going to get passed, but I wanted to get clean air, so I was driving some different lines depending on how close the guys behind were to me.”

Nannini padded his lead to 1.5 seconds by Lap 50 ahead of the dicing and slicing behind him. By Lap 58, that edge had mushroomed to 4.2 seconds, and Nannini continued to drive away.

Meanwhile, Johnson was able to pass Rowe and Hughes to regain second and grab the points lead. His climb to second comprised some of the track-record 184 on-track passes in this race, including another record 140 for position.

“I tried passing Matteo early on and burned my tires a little bit,” Johnson said. “I just settled in, kind of cleared my mind and made sure the tires got back to normal, pushed again and then at the very end I held off Myles. He was really fast, as well.”

The next INDY NXT by Firestone race is the Grand Prix of Portland on Sunday, Aug. 9 at Portland International Raceway.

Hunter Lawrence Sweeps Motos at Spring Creek to Reclaim Pro Motocross Championship Points Lead

By
Official Release
-

Julien Beaumer Becomes Fourth Different First-Time Winner in 250SMX Class

MILLVILLE, Minn. (July 18, 2026) – The Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, traveled to the “Land of 10,000 Lakes” to begin the second half of the summer campaign, with Round 24 of the 2026 Monster Energy SMX World Championship from the dynamic landscape of Spring Creek MX Park. The FXR Spring Creek National Presented by Frescados Tortillas produced one of the most unpredictable races of the season, as Honda HRC Progressive’s Hunter Lawrence [#96] prevailed in the 450SMX Class with his fourth win of the season following a 1-1 sweep of the motos that put him in the points lead for the third time in seven races. In the 250SMX Class, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Julien Beaumer [#13] broke through for his first career victory amidst an afternoon that saw a dramatic shakeup in the championship standings.

450SMX Class

Qualifying

  • Hunter Lawrence began the day atop the charts in morning qualifying with a time of 1:54.746 in the final session. It was just over a half-second faster than Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan [#38], who led the way initially in the first session and bettered his time in the final session to place second overall at 1:55.364. Championship leader and Honda HRC Progressive rider Jett Lawrence [#1] rounded out the top three at 1:56.591.

Moto 1 [30 Minutes + 2 Laps]

  • The first moto for the premier class got underway with Jett Lawrence, Deegan, and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Jorge Prado [#26] alongside one another entering the first turn. As the trio pushed wide with Lawrence on the inside, Deegan lost traction with his front tire and went down, which pushed Prado off track. That allowed Hunter Lawrence to slip past everyone on the inside to grab the holeshot and early lead over Jett, with Troy Lee Designs Red Bull Ducati Factory Racing’s Justin Barcia [#51] in third. Deegan reentered at the tail end of the field.
  • Hunter Lawrence opened up a four-second lead over Jett through the first 10 minutes of the moto as the pair pulled away from Barcia and the rest of the field by nearly 20 seconds. Barcia, meanwhile, was engaged in a spirited battle for third with Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s RJ Hampshire [#24]. After a brief fight, Hampshire took control of the position.
  • The top three remained unchanged through the remainder of the moto, as Hunter Lawrence eventually moved out more than 10 seconds clear of Jett, with Hampshire settling in more than 30 seconds back in third. Deegan, meanwhile, was on a torrid charge through the field following his opening lap crash. The rookie impressed as he carved through the star-studded field. As the moto reached its final laps, he was able to break into the top five.
  • Hunter Lawrence rode to a dominant wire-to-wire win, his seventh moto triumph of the season, by a margin of 16.8 seconds over Jett. Hampshire finished well back in third, with Deegan fourth and Barcia fifth.

Moto 2 [30 Minutes + 2 Laps]

  • The final moto of the day began with another tremendous start for Hunter Lawrence, who slotted ahead of Jett to sweep the holeshots. Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Cooper Webb [#2] started third.
  • Jett applied heavy pressure on the opening lap to try and take the lead from Hunter, which allowed the siblings to pull away from the field. Behind them, Prado made the move around Webb for third, as Hampshire followed through into fourth. Deegan then made the move on his teammate for fifth. It wasn’t long before Deegan stormed past Hampshire for fourth.
  • Back out front, Hunter Lawrence weathered the pressure of Jett to assert his hold of the lead and establish a two-second gap within the first five minutes. However, Jett regrouped and proceeded to mount another attack just a couple minutes later.
  • A sibling battle for the lead unfolded as the moto neared the end of its opening 10 minutes. Jett looked for alternate lines and attempted to create passing opportunities at several areas of the track, only for Hunter to fend him off. Jett’s patience and persistence eventually paid off as he made the pass stick. At this point, they sat more than 10 seconds ahead of the rest of the field.
  • With the Lawrences well out front, a battle for third took shape between Prado and Deegan. The Yamaha rider waited for his opportunity and made quick work of a pass to take control of third. He faced a deficit of nearly 16 seconds to the Lawrences.
  • Jett Lawrence appeared to have the race well in hand with a lead of more than seven seconds inside the final 10 minutes, but lost traction on the face of a jump and went down. As he fell, the handlebar of his Honda appeared to get stuck in his boot, which hindered his ability to get up. As Hunter reclaimed hold of the lead, Jett eventually got back on his bike, but dropped to fifth place, more than 40 seconds behind the lead. That moved Deegan into second while a battle for third unfolded between Prado and Hampshire.
  • With the lead in hand, Hunter Lawrence cruised to his eighth moto win of the season by 15.4 seconds over Deegan to complete the sweep. The battle for third between Prado and Hampshire continued down to the final turn, with the Spaniard securing the final podium spot. Jett Lawrence followed in fifth.

Overall

  • While it wasn’t without pressure, Hunter Lawrence completed his third 1-1 performance of the season for his class-leading fourth win of the summer and the fifth win of his career. He’s in the midst of a 10-race podium streak dating back to last season.
  • Deegan secured a career-best runner-up finish following an impressive 4-2 effort, for his fourth podium of the season and his third in the past four races.
  • Despite his misfortune in the final moto, Jett Lawrence rounded out the overall podium in third with 2-5 finishes. While it equals his worst result of the season, it’s the ninth consecutive podium for the defending champion dating back to last season.
  • Hunter’s win, combined with Jett’s adversity in the second moto, has moved the elder Lawrence back atop the championship standings for the third time this season. He holds a 10-point lead over Jett, for Hunter’s largest advantage of the season thus far. Deegan sits third, 62 points out of the lead.
  • The victory also allowed Hunter to clinch the top seed for the SMX Playoffs with four rounds remaining in the regular season.
450SMX Class
The Lawrences, Hunter [#96] and Jett [#1] positioned themselves at the front of Moto 1, with Hunter able to grab the holeshot and carry on to a wire-to-wire win. MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.

Results & Standings

450SMX Class Overall Results (Moto Finishes // Points)

  1. Hunter Lawrence, Landsborough, Qld., Australia, Honda (1-1 // 50)
  2. Haiden Deegan, Temecula, Calif., Yamaha (4-2 // 40)
  3. Jett Lawrence, Landsborough, Qld., Australia, Honda (2-5 // 39)
  4. RJ Hampshire, Hudson, Fla., Husqvarna (3-4 // 38)
  5. Justin Barcia, Monroe, N.Y., Ducati (5-8 // 31)
  6. Jorge Prado, Lugo, Galicia, Spain, KTM (13-3 // 29)
  7. Dylan Ferrandis, Avignon, France, Ducati (7-9 // 28)
  8. Benny Bloss, Oak Grove, Mo., Beta (10-10 // 24)
  9. Garrett Marchbanks, Coalville, Utah, Kawasaki (15-6 // 23)
  10. Jordon Smith, Belmont, N.C., Triumph (14-7 // 23)

450SMX Class Championship Standings (Race 7 of 11)

  1. Hunter Lawrence, Landsborough, Qld., Australia, Honda – 320
  2. Jett Lawrence, Landsborough, Qld., Australia, Honda – 310
  3. Haiden Deegan, Temecula, Calif., Yamaha – 258
  4. Jorge Prado, Lugo, Galicia, Spain, KTM – 231
  5. RJ Hampshire, Hudson, Fla., Husqvarna – 221
  6. Garrett Marchbanks, Coalville, Utah, Kawasaki – 206
  7. Dylan Ferrandis, Avignon, France, Ducati – 180
  8. Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., Yamaha – 153
  9. Mikkel Haarup, Silkeborg, Denmark, Triumph – 149
  10. Jordon Smith, Belmont, N.C., Triumph – 126

SMX World Championship Regular Season Standings (Round 24 of 28)

  1. Hunter Lawrence, Landsborough, Qld., Australia, Honda – 666
  2. Cooper Webb, Newport, N.C., Yamaha – 468
  3. Jorge Prado, Lugo, Galicia, Spain, KTM – 423
  4. Dylan Ferrandis, Avignon, France, Ducati – 356
  5. Garrett Marchbanks, Coalville, Utah, Kawasaki – 353
  6. Ken Roczen, Mattstedt, Germany, Suzuki – 349
  7. Justin Cooper, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., Yamaha – 323
  8. Jett Lawrence, Landsborough, Qld., Australia, Honda – 310
  9. Eli Tomac, Cortez, Colo., KTM – 298
  10. Chase Sexton, La Moille, Ill., Kawasaki – 298

Quotes

1st Place – Hunter Lawrence | #96 Team Honda HRC Progressive (1-1)
“I got my doors blown off in the second moto. I honestly had no idea Jett crashed. He was flying. I’m happy it worked out, but it’s time to go chill now.”
 
2nd Place – Haiden Deegan | #38 Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing (4-2)
“The track was gnarly. I screwed myself in the first moto, but it’s all good. Another completed round, P2 overall. It’s good to keep putting strong finishes on the board. I’m not going to quit trying to get better. Bring it on.”
 
3rd Place – Jett Lawrence | #1 Team Honda HRC Progressive (2-5)
“I was feeling so good. I had my lines picked out and felt comfortable. A lapper took my focus off for a moment and my bike grabbed going up the jump and that was it. It’s such a bummer. We lost some points to Hunter, but we’ll come back to try and be just a little bit better.”

250SMX Class

Qualifying

  • The Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki duo of Drew Adams [#35] and Levi Kitchen [#47] led the way in each respective timed session, with Adams’ lap of 1:57.950 ultimately resulting in his first pole position of the season and the second of his career. He edged out Kitchen’s 1:58.148 by a mere tenth of a second, with points leader and Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing rider Cole Davies [#37] in third with a time of 1:59.479.

Moto 1 [30 Minutes + 2 Laps]

  • The first moto of the afternoon started with a frightening multi-rider pileup that collected both Kitchen and Davies, the top two riders in the championship. Fortunately, both were able to remount and get back into the race, albeit outside the top 30. Out front, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Kayden Minear [#99] earned the holeshot and moved into the lead ahead of Toyota Redlands BarX Yamaha’s Parker Ross [#40].
  • As Minear looked to take advantage of his opportunity to pace the field the attention shifted to Davies and Kitchen as they followed one another in a run through the field. They easily charged up the running order, breaking into the top 15 just 10 minutes into the moto.
  • Back up front, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Michael Mosiman [#23] fought his way into the lead with a little more than 20 minutes left on the race clock after passes around Ross and Minear. Not long after, Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Nate Thrasher [#25] moved into the top three.
  • As the moto reached its halfway point, Davies lost power on his Yamaha and came to a stop on the racetrack, ending his moto. It was later confirmed he ran out of fuel due to a hole in his gas tank caused by the crash in the first turn. Kitchen, meanwhile, made his way into the top 10 and looked to continue moving forward.
  • The battle for the podium took another turn when Beaumer, who started seventh, fought his way into the top three with a pass on Thrasher. Beaumer continued his push and made quick work on a pass around Minear for second. With about seven minutes left in the moto, Beaumer faced a 6.3 second deficit to Mosiman.
  • As time ran out on the race clock and the 2 Lap board showing, Beaumer closed within 2.5 seconds of Mosiman. He charged to the rear fender of the Yamaha to initiate a battle for the lead. Mosiman responded to try and keep the KTM at bay. They ran side-by-side on the final lap as Beaumer was able to wrestle his way into the lead. 
  • Beaumer carried on to take the first moto win of career by eight tenths of a second over Mosiman, with Minear in third. Thrasher finished fourth, while Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Daxton Bennick [#58] rounded out the top five. Kitchen put in a resilient effort to finish eighth, while Davies’ DNF placed him 38th.

Moto 2 [30 Minutes + 2 Laps]

  • The second and deciding moto kicked off with Minear out front for a sweep of the holeshots over Mosiman and Beaumer. Davies started fifth while Kitchen started in 15th.
  • Minear inched away with a lead of just over a second over Mosiman, while Beaumer applied heavy pressure from third. Davies moved up to fourth and looked to make his way into the top three.
  • As the first five minutes passed, Mosiman made a push forward to challenge Minear for the lead. Behind him, Davies went down while running fourth and remounted in eighth. Moments later, Mosiman crashed out of the race from second while Davies went down again and dropped outside the top 10, ending his hopes of contending in the moto.
  • The wild turn of events put Minear more than 2.5 seconds ahead of Beaumer, while Honda HRC Progressive’s Chance Hymas [#29] moved into third. Behind them, Kitchen fought his way up to fourth.
  • As the moto surpassed its first 10 minutes Hymas put on a charge that carried him past Beaumer for second and then onto the rear fender of Minear. Kitchen followed through into third with a pass on Beaumer. Not long after, Hymas took control of the lead. Kitchen then made the pass for second at the halfway point of the moto.
  • The parity of the class didn’t relent as AEO Powersports KTM’s Carson Mumford joined the fray as well and fought his way up to third. He then pressured Kitchen for second. After a couple laps of close competition, Kitchen asserted his hold of the spot.
  • With the 2 Lap board out, Beaumer closed in on Mumford for third and looked to make the pass but lost his balance and tipped over. He remounted quickly to maintain his hold of fourth place.
  • Hymas dominated the second half to take his first moto win of the season by 11 seconds over Kitchen, as Mumford earned a career best in third. Beaumer finished fourth.

Overall

  • By virtue of his 1-4 finishes, Beaumer broke through for the first outdoor victory of his career. He’s the fourth different rider this summer to capture his maiden victory and is the 97th different rider in series history to win an overall. It’s the culmination of one of the sport’s most incredible comeback stories after Beaumer’s career was put in jeopardy following a burst fracture in his spine suffered last September during the SMX Playoffs.
  • For Hymas, his first podium result of the season came via a runner-up effort following 9-1 finishes. It’s the sixth podium of his career and puts a bright spot on Hymas’ own extended recovery from a torn ACL suffered last June as well as a torn labrum suffered in January during Supercross.
  • A resilient afternoon for Kitchen proved to be rewarding in all facets, as he finished third overall with 8-2 finishes and regained control of the lead in the championship standings with his fourth podium of the season and 18th of his career.
  • Kitchen came into the race two points behind Davies in the championship, but following the New Zealander’s 16th-place finish (38-13) and a 27-point swing for Kitchen, the Kawasaki rider now sits atop the standings for the second time this summer, with the largest advantage of the season. Kitchen holds a 24-point lead over Beaumer, who moved into second following his victory, while Davies sits 25 points out of the lead in third.
  • Kitchen will now carry the red plate into his native Washougal next weekend, adding even more significance to his annual homecoming to the Pacific Northwest.
250SMX Class
The first moto began with the Yamaha teammates of Carson Wood [#226] and Cole Davies [#37] out front until Wood lost control to initiate a multi-rider incident. MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.

Results & Standings

250SMX Class Overall Results (Moto Finishes // Points)

  1. Julien Beaumer, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., KTM (1-4 // 43)
  2. Chance Hymas, Pocatello, Idaho, Honda (9-1 // 38)
  3. Levi Kitchen, Washougal, Wash., Kawasaki (8-2 // 36)
  4. Kayden Minear, Perth, Western Australia, Yamaha (3-6 // 36)
  5. Carson Mumford, Simi Valley, Calif., KTM (11-3 // 31)
  6. Drew Adams, Chattanooga, Tenn., Kawasaki (7-7 // 30)
  7. Daxton Bennick, Morganton, N.C., Husqvarna (5-10 // 29)
  8. Ryder DiFrancesco, Bakersfield, Calif., Husqvarna (6-11 // 27)
  9. Dilan Schwartz, Alpine, Calif., Yamaha (10-8 // 26)
  10. Lux Turner, Gardnerville, Nev., Yamaha (15-5 // 24)

250SMX Class Championship Standings (Race 7 of 11)

  1. Levi Kitchen, Washougal, Wash., Kawasaki – 261
  2. Julien Beaumer, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., KTM – 237
  3. Cole Davies, Waitoki, New Zealand, Yamaha – 236
  4. Kayden Minear, Perth, Western Australia, Yamaha – 199
  5. Jo Shimoda, Suzuka, Japan, Honda – 194
  6. Ryder DiFrancesco, Bakersfield, Calif., Husqvarna – 194
  7. Chance Hymas, Pocatello, Idaho, Honda – 190
  8. Carson Mumford, Simi Valley, Calif., KTM – 153
  9. Seth Hammaker, Bainbridge, Pa., Kawasaki – 134
  10. Casey Cochran, Portsmouth, Va., Husqvarna – 122

SMX World Championship Regular Season Standings (Round 24 of 28)

  1. Cole Davies, Waitoki, New Zealand, Yamaha – 467
  2. Levi Kitchen, Washougal, Wash., Kawasaki – 438
  3. Ryder DiFrancesco, Bakersfield, Calif., Husqvarna – 358
  4. Seth Hammaker, Bainbridge, Pa., Kawasaki – 314
  5. Jo Shimoda, Suzuka, Japan, Honda – 294
  6. Julien Beaumer, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., KTM – 237
  7. Haiden Deegan, Temecula, Calif., Yamaha – 233
  8. Nate Thrasher, Livingston, Tenn., Yamaha – 232
  9. Daxton Bennick, Morganton, N.C., Husqvarna – 232
  10. Chance Hymas, Pocatello, Idaho, Honda – 228

Quotes

1st Place – Julien Beaumer | #13 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing (1-4)
“Laying in that hospital bed [with the back injury] I thought maybe [my career] was over. I told myself I was going to die trying to come back. Now, I’m here. I didn’t make it easy on myself and didn’t ride great in that second moto, but we made it happen. All the odds were against me coming into the season. I worked my ass off for six months coming into the summer and when I got back on the bike I knew I could be one of those guys.”
 
2nd Place – Chance Hymas | #29 Honda HRC Progressive (9-1)
“It’s been way too long of a summer and has taken too long to get a [moto] win. We’ve been struggling, but the team has stayed behind me every step of the way. This is a perfect example of never giving up on yourself. Now I can see a light at the end of the tunnel.”
 
3rd Place – Levi Kitchen | #47 Monster Energy Pro Circuit Kawasaki (8-2)
“It was a tough day, for sure. I’m glad to be somewhat okay after the first moto crash. It was nasty. I’m glad to be alright and big thank you to the fans for keeping me going. I’m proud of my fight today.”

The 2026 Pro Motocross Championship will continue next Saturday, July 25, for Round 25 of the SMX World Championship regular season, with the annual visit to the Pacific Northwest and the scenic tree-lined setting of Washougal MX Park. The FLY Racing Washougal National Presented by Peterson CAT and the annual “Military Appreciation Race” will be shown live in its entirety on Peacock, beginning with Race Day Live at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET, followed by coverage of the motos at 1 p.m. PT / 4 p.m. ET.

For information about the Monster Energy SMX World Championship, please visit www.SuperMotocross.com and be sure to follow all of the new SMX social media channels for exclusive content and additional information on the latest news:
Instagram: @supermotocross
Facebook: @supermotocross
X: @supermotocross
YouTube: @supermotocross
TikTok: @supermotocross

About the Monster Energy SMX World Championship:
The Monster Energy SMX World Championship™ is the premier off-road motorcycle racing series in the world that combines the technical precision of stadium racing with the all-out speed and endurance of outdoor racing. Created in 2022, the Monster Energy SMX World Championship Series combines the Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship and the AMA Pro Motocross Championship into a 28-round regular season that culminates with the season-ending SMX World Championship Playoffs.
Visit SuperMotocross.com for more information.

About Pro Motocross Championship:
The Pro Motocross Championship features the world’s fastest outdoor motocross racers, competing aboard homologated bikes from one of seven competing manufacturers on a collection of the roughest, toughest tracks on the planet. Racing takes place each Saturday afternoon, with competition divided into two classes: one for 250cc machines, and one for 450cc machines. MX Sports Pro Racing, the industry leader in off-road powersports event production, manages the Pro Motocross Championship.
For more information, visit ProMotocross.com.

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

About MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc.:
MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc., manages and produces the world’s premier motocross racing series – the Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing. MX Sports Pro Racing is an industry leader in off-road powersport event production and management, its mission is to showcase the sport of professional motocross competition at events throughout the United States. Through its various racing properties, partnerships and affiliates, MX Sports Pro Racing, Inc., organizes events for thousands of action sports athletes each year and attracts millions of motorsports spectators.
Visit MXSportsProRacing.com for more information.

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

Front Row Motorsports: North Wilkesboro Speedway NCTS Race Report

By
Official Release
-

Layne Riggs | Chandler Smith
North Wilkesboro Speedway NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Race Report
North Wilkesboro Speedway 250
Date: Saturday, July 18, 2026
Event: Race 15 of 25
Series: NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series
Location: North Wilkesboro Speedway (0.625-miles)
Length of Race: 250 laps over one hour, 42 minutes, 19 seconds

FRM Finish:

Chandler Smith (Started 9th, Finished 1st / Running, completed 250 of 250 laps)
Layne Riggs (Started 1st, Finished 2nd / Running, completed 250 of 250 laps)

FRM Points Standings:

Layne Riggs (1st)
Chandler Smith (3rd)

Chandler Smith Key Takeaways

Stage One: 3rd / Stage Two: 2nd / Race Result: 1st

“All glory goes to God,” said Smith. “We’ve been in the valley the past few weeks and I was telling these guys, ‘God is good in the mountains, but he’s also good in the valleys.’ We’ve been in the valleys. Today we’re on the mountaintop. Either way, whether if we’re on the mountaintop or in the valley we’re going to keep raising Him. I just want to give all glory to him. He’s the source of where all blessings and all the trials flow, so I’m just grateful. We won last year with a truck that wasn’t great. This year, our truck was great and it reflected that.”

Layne Riggs Key Takeaways

Stage One: 1st / Stage Two: 13th / Race Result: 2nd

“It was hot,” said Riggs. “Congratulations to the 38 team and Chandler (Smith). They’ve had some really tough races recently. I’m really proud of everybody at Front Row Motorsports and the organization. A one-two finish again this year. We did it the right way this time with no controversy on this one. That first stage I was fighting tight and we freed it up. It was freer, but it just didn’t make any speed, so we really had to throw the wholesale at it to start the final stage. I was loose to start again and just kind of maintained. Once everyone else started falling off I was really good on the long run. We just didn’t have the fire off speed at the beginning of the run to hold my track position, but to come under green up to second I’m very happy and very proud of my team. We got Infinity Communications a good run. I wanted to get them a win, but I’m just happy for this whole organization. Those guys deserve it. They did a great job today.”

ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS

Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization competing in the NASCAR Cup Series and the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. Founded in 2004 by entrepreneur Bob Jenkins, FRM has earned top honors including a 2021 Daytona 500 victory and the 2022 CRAFTSMAN Truck Series championship. Based in Mooresville, N.C., FRM fields the No. 4, No. 34, and No. 38 entries in the NASCAR Cup Series, along with the No. 34 and No. 38 teams in the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series. For more information, visit FrontRowMotorsports.com and follow Front Row Motorsports on social media — X: @Team_FRM, Instagram: @teamfrm, Tik Tok: @Team_FRM, YouTube: @FrontRowNASCAR, and Facebook: facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.

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