Thursday, January 30, 2025

NASCAR Returns this Weekend with the Clash

NASCAR Returns this Weekend with the Clash

What You Need to Know

#NASCAR Returns this Weekend with the Clash

 

From Daytona International Speedway to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and now Bowman Gray Stadium, NASCAR’s Clash has been through many changes over the years. Located conveniently in downtown Winston-Salem, NC, Bowman Gray Stadium is the definition of excellence in short track racing.

 

#NASCAR's Bowman Gray Stadium

 

Bowman Gray Stadium is NASCAR's very first weekly track, a famed quarter-mile where the sound of roaring engines and cheering fans has been heard since 1949. Racing at Bowman Gray Stadium was started by Bill France Sr. and Alvin Hawkins, two men who were founding fathers of NASCAR itself. It's the track where Richard Petty won his 100th race. It's the track where a young Richard Childress fell in love with racing, hawking peanuts in the stands and then later taking the wheel himself.

 

It's the track where Junior Johnson, Glen Wood, David Pearson, Richie Evans, and Jerry Cook competed. It's the track that has been part of such racing dynasties as the Pettys, the Allisons, the Myerses, and the Earnhardts. It's the track with drivers whose fathers and grandfathers used to race at Bowman Gray, where fans come to see the racing action just like their great-grandparents did so long ago.

 





The Clash

  • Date: Sunday, February 2
  • Time: 8 p.m. ET
  • Series: NASCAR Cup Series (NCS)
  • Location: Winston-Salem, North Carolina
  • TV: FOX
  • Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90)

Format

  • The 2025 season unofficially begins this weekend as the Clash at Bowman Gray takes place Sunday in Winston-Salem.
  • This is the first year of the Clash taking place at Bowman Gray Stadium, marking the Cup Series’ first return to the historic Bowman Gray Stadium since 1971.
  • The format for the Clash remains similar to the 2024 edition held at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum as 23 cars overall will make the main event.

    • Saturday features three practice sessions with entrants split into three groups. The fastest lap time in each car’s final session will determine the starting lineup for the four heat races, meaning no separate qualifying session will take place.

    • The 25-lap heat races will feature up to 10 cars per race, with only green-flag laps counting in each heat with no overtime allotment.

    • The top five finishers in each heat will automatically advance to Sunday night’s main event, while the drivers that finish below fifth will advance to Sunday’s last chance qualifier (LCQ). Starting positions for that race will be determined by the finishing order in the heats. The top two finishers in the LCQ will advance to the Clash and start 21st and 22nd, respectively.

    • The 23rd and final position in the Clash is reserved for the driver who finished highest in the 2024 season points standings that did not otherwise transfer via the heat races or LCQ.

    • The Clash will be 200 laps and feature those 23 cars.

    Weekend Schedule:

  • Saturday: 6:10 p.m. ET, Practice (FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
  • Saturday: 8:30 p.m. ET, Heat Races Begin (FS1, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
  • Sunday: 6 p.m. ET, Last Chance Race (FOX, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
  • Sunday: 8 p.m. ET, Clash (FOX, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)

Denny Hamlin won the Clash last year.

 

Last Year - Denny Hamlin started from the pole for Saturday night's event and showed up when it mattered most to capture his fourth clash victory of his career.  

source: NASCAR Media

Tuesday, January 28, 2025

NASCAR Champion Jimmie Johnson Joins Forces with Knighthead Capital Management, LLC in LEGACY MOTOR CLUB

NASCAR Champion Jimmie Johnson Joins Forces with Knighthead Capital Management, LLC in LEGACY MOTOR CLUB

The partnership with Knighthead is a game-changer for LEGACY MC," said Johnson.

NASCAR Champion Jimmie Johnson Joins Forces with Knighthead Capital Management, LLC in LEGACY MOTOR CLUB

 

Seven-time NASCAR champion and co-owner of LEGACY MOTOR CLUB (“LEGACY MC”) Jimmie Johnson announced today that LEGACY MC has joined forces with Knighthead Capital Management, LLC, on behalf of certain of its affiliates and accounts ("Knighthead") as a strategic partner. LEGACY MC, founded by entrepreneur Maury Gallagher, has entered its third full-time season with Johnson as a co-owner. Future-facing, with Knighthead’s partnership, LEGACY MC is poised to expand its competitive presence, global brand recognition, partnerships, innovation, and fan engagement.

 

As part of this strategic partnership, Knighthead will acquire a minority stake in LEGACY MC.

 

After 12 years of owning and operating the impressively successful GMS Racing team which competed in the NASCAR Truck and Xfinity Series, Gallagher will take a step back from the day-to-day and assume an ambassador role with LEGACY MC. GMS Racing won five championships across the NASCAR Truck Series and ARCA Menards Series. The team won 71 races in total and won 26 pole positions with many talented drivers. In 2021, Gallagher acquired Richard Petty Motorsports, and Petty GMS Racing was formed. The team won the Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway with driver Erik Jones in 2022 before striking a deal with Johnson and expanding to a two-car team for the 2023 NASCAR Cup Series season. The team continues to tout the iconic No. 43 made famous by CLUB Ambassador Richard Petty “The King”, who recently celebrated 75 years in racing.

 

The partnership with Knighthead positions Johnson as LEGACY MC’s majority owner, solidifying his leadership and significant role in the team’s future.

 

Johnson stated, “I really have to thank Maury Gallagher for giving me the opportunity within the ownership space. He has been an outstanding partner, mentor and friend and I’m grateful we had the opportunity to work together, I’ve learned so much from him. As his professional career takes a different path, he can worry less about the daily team owner things and focus more on family and enjoying life.”

 

Chief Executive Officer Cal Wells III credits Johnson with his exceptional ability to network and secure strategic partnerships, a skill that has been pivotal in driving LEGACY MC’s growth and success.

 

“As one of the most successful drivers in NASCAR history, Jimmie’s leadership and his partnership-minded business prowess remain central to the success of LEGACY MC,” said Wells, III. “This partnership is an important step for this race team, and we are thrilled to welcome Knighthead to LEGACY MC," said Wells, III. "Each partner we add brings a unique set of strengths and insights that will help us build a long-lasting legacy in NASCAR and sports in general. Together, we can unlock new opportunities, enhance our competitiveness, and offer fans an experience unlike any other.”

 

Johnson feels the partnership with Knighthead will align LEGACY MC with entities across many platforms.

 

"The partnership with Knighthead is a game-changer for LEGACY MC," said Johnson. "Their expertise in navigating complex investment opportunities and success in sports will provide LEGACY MC with the resources and guidance needed to push for championships and solidify our place in NASCAR for years to come.”

 

Johnson continued, "Having Knighthead on board will not only strengthen our racing efforts but also enhance the fan experience and expand our reach in the global motorsports ecosystem, not limited to NASCAR.”

 

Founded in 2008, Knighthead Capital Management, LLC is an investment firm with deep expertise across a variety of sectors, including finance, sports, and entertainment. Knighthead’s diverse portfolio includes investments in HERTZ, JOTA Racing, Singer Vehicle Design, Revology Cars, and Birmingham City Football Club.

 

Tom Wagner, Co-Founder and Co-Managing Member of Knighthead Capital, shared his excitement for the partnership: "We are thrilled to partner with Jimmie Johnson and LEGACY MC. NASCAR’s rich history and LEGACY MC’s ambition and innovation make it a unique opportunity. We're thrilled to collaborate with Jimmie and Cal to drive the team forward—both on the track and within the wider racing community.”

 

The partnership with Knighthead is effective immediately as LEGACY MC prepares to kick off the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season on Feb. 2, 2025, at Bowman Gray Stadium for The Clash, followed by the season-opener DAYTONA 500 on Feb. 16, 2025.

 





About Knighthead Capital Management LLC

Knighthead was co-founded in 2008 by Tom Wagner and Ara Cohen and has grown to become a diversified asset management platform with an experienced team of investment professionals, specializing in fundamental analysis, operational and financial turnarounds and risk management. Knighthead’s long-term objective is to generate attractive risk-adjusted returns for its clients while emphasizing the preservation of capital. Knighthead manages assets across a variety of investment vehicles including insurance asset management, real estate lending, and closed and open-ended vehicles.

 

About LEGACY MOTOR CLUB

LEGACY MOTOR CLUB (LEGACY MC) is a premier auto racing organization co-founded by entrepreneur Maury Gallagher and seven-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, 2024 NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee, Jimmie Johnson. Drawing from a rich tradition of success, LEGACY MC is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of motorsport and setting new standards of excellence. The CLUB competes under the Toyota Gazoo Racing banner in the NASCAR Cup Series with the No. 43 Toyota Camry XSE piloted by Erik Jones and No. 42 Toyota Camry XSE driven by John Hunter Nemechek. Jimmie Johnson also races on a limited basis in the No. 84 Toyota Camry XSE. With NASCAR legend and Hall of Famer Richard Petty - "The King" - serving as CLUB Ambassador, LEGACY MC blends timeless racing traditions with a new forward-thinking vision. As an inclusive community for motorsport enthusiasts, LEGACY MC honors both its storied past and the promising future of its members, always striving for victory and championship glory at the pinnacle of NASCAR competition.

 

 

source: Legacy Motor Club Media

Sunday, January 26, 2025

The Year of SeriousFun

The Year of SeriousFun

Victory Junction invites communities to join the mission of empowering children with serious and chronic medical conditions.

 

Victory Junction, part of the SeriousFun Children’s Network, proudly joins camps worldwide on January 26 to honor what would have been Paul Newman’s 100th birthday by proclaiming 2025 as “The Year of SeriousFun.”

 





Newman, the iconic actor and visionary philanthropist, founded the first SeriousFun Camp, Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, in 1988 to create a place where children with serious and chronic medical conditions could escape the challenges of their diagnoses and simply be kids. Newman’s heartfelt belief that children deserved a space to “kick back and raise a little hell” has since grown into a global movement. Today, the SeriousFun Children’s Network includes 30 camps and programs worldwide, that have provided over two million transformative experiences to children and their families – all completely free of charge.

 

 

Victory Junction’s origin story can also be traced to a heartfelt vision. In 1999, after visiting a SeriousFun camp in Florida, racecar driver Adam Petty wanted to create a similar camp experience for children in North Carolina. Tragically, Adam’s life was cut short in a racing accident the following year. Determined to honor Adam’s dream, his father Kyle Petty united the NASCAR community, friends, and generous donors to establish Victory Junction in 2004. Newman, along with dozens of NASCAR drivers, attended Victory Junction’s grand opening.

 

“At Victory Junction, we believe every child deserves to dream big, laugh loudly, and embrace life’s adventures,” said Chad Coltrane, CEO of Victory Junction and Chair of the SeriousFun CEO Council. “We are committed to delivering unforgettable experiences that build confidence, foster independence, and celebrate the unique potential of every child – all at no cost to them or their families.”

 

Victory Junction invites the community to join in celebrating “The Year of SeriousFun” by volunteering, donating, and participating in events throughout the year. Applications are now open for campers, volunteers, and staff for upcoming spring and summer camps. Volunteers and staff, including medical professionals, college students, and retirees, play a vital role in creating transformative experiences for children and their families.

 





On A Personal Note

This blogger is an avid supporter of Victory Junction, both as a monthly contributor and media advocate.

 

NASCAR Race Mom had the privilege of touring the Victory Junction Camp in May of 2017. The camp's purpose "to enrich the lives of children with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses by providing life-changing camp experiences that are exciting, fun and empowering; all in a medically-safe environment at no cost to the camper or their family" is evident everywhere. The photos below were taken on that tour.

 

Rooms inside the Body Shop mirror Regular Cabin Rooms
The Welcoming Reception Desk in the Body Shop
NASCAR Race Mom inside the Victory Junction Sports Complex

 

 

source: Victory Junction Media

Wednesday, January 22, 2025

Workforce and Spire Motorsports Announce Multi-Year Partnership

Workforce and Spire Motorsports Announce Multi-Year Partnership


Workforce and Spire Motorsports Announce Multi-Year Partnership - #NASCAR


Spire Motorsports announced a multi-year partnership with Workforce – Occupational Health & Safety Solutions to support Michael McDowell, driver of the No. 71 Chevrolet ZL1, as the team ramps up for the upcoming NASCAR Cup Series season.

 

Workforce is an occupational healthcare industry specialist in work injury management focused on connecting injured employees to high-quality medical care. Centered on expediting treatment, care, and recovery, Workforce coordinates communication between telephonic physicians, medical providers, employers, insurance carriers, and employees. Workforce also offers medical bill repricing solutions, injury recordability investigation, and employer services including new hire onboarding, DOT & CDL certifications, drug screenings, return-to-work physicals, and more.

 

This partnership kicks off the 2025 Cup Series campaign when Workforce will serve as the primary sponsor of McDowell’s No. 71 Chevrolet at the February 2 pre-season Cookout Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, N.C.

 

The Workforce livery will return on March 9 at the Shriners Children’s 500 at Phoenix Raceway, then again on August 16 for the night race at Richmond Raceway. Workforce will also ride along on the No. 71 entry as an associate partner throughout the 2025 Cup Series season.

 

This year marks the Pennsylvania-headquartered organization’s 30th anniversary as McDowell looks to earn his third-career victory in NASCAR’s premier division. The Glendale, Ariz., native completed his eighth full-time NASCAR Cup Series season while earning two top-five and seven top-10 finishes during the 2024 campaign. McDowell led a career-high 256 laps and earned six pole positions, the most of any Cup Series driver last season.

 

“I am thankful to have Workforce onboard with us this season and I look forward to kicking off this new partnership at the Clash,” said McDowell. “It’s an exciting time for the sport, especially to be able to race at Bowman-Gray Stadium to start the year. I’m really looking forward to representing the Workforce team. Workforce aims to make sure that any injuries at the workplace are managed as efficiently as possible and, of course, you never want to see anyone get hurt at work. But if it does happen, Workforce eliminates so much unnecessary stress. I am looking forward to having them at the track as they celebrate their 30th anniversary.”

 

“Workforce has now been involved in motorsports for many years and we genuinely understand the impact NASCAR provides in expanding our brand to potential new partners nationwide. We are excited to partner with Spire Motorsports and a seasoned veteran in Michael McDowell”, said Zachary Roberts, Workforce’s President and Chief Executive Officer.

 

The Cookout Clash at Bowman Gray will kick off racing festivities for the 2025 season and will be televised live on FOX, Sunday, Feb. 2 beginning at 8 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. NASCAR’s annual pre-season exhibition race will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

 





About Workforce…

Workforce is an Occupational Health and Safety Solutions firm based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with partners throughout North America. For over thirty years, Workforce continues to provide support to clients through the operation of three divisions – Work Injury Management, Medical Bill Repricing, and Employer Services. The Work Injury Management Division provides access to telephonic physician services with expedited access to our nationwide network of specialty, imaging, and therapy providers – and employer access to OSHA recordable injury investigation and impact mitigation services, preferred medical provider panel development, and more. The Medical Bill Repricing Division provides cost containment to clients by minimizing incident, experience, and injury frequency rates, reducing exposure to insurance premium increases. The Employer Services Division provides employee onboarding and testing services, corporate safety committee oversight, required annual certification coordination, and integration of any required testing, licensing, or accreditation. Since 1995, Workforce’s mission is developing long-term partnerships with employers that facilitate successful and positive impacts on health and safety issues encountered by their employees at the workplace.

 

About Spire Motorsports …

Spire Motorsports earned its inaugural NASCAR Cup Series victory in its first full season of competition when Justin Haley took the checkered flag in the Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway on July 7, 2019. Less than three years later, William Byron drove Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Chevrolet Silverado to its inaugural NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series win on April 7, 2022 at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway. The team’s most recent win came on April 12, 2024, when Kyle Busch took the checkered flag in the SpeedyCash.com 250 at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth.

 

In 2025, Spire Motorsports will campaign the Nos. 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolets in the NASCAR Cup Series. The team will also field the Nos. 07, 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolet Silverados in the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series and the No. 77 Chevrolet in the ARCA Menards Series in select events.

 

 

source: Spire Motorsports Media

Joe Gibbs Racing Announces Multi-Year Partnership with KING’S HAWAIIAN®

Joe Gibbs Racing Announces Multi-Year Partnership with KING’S HAWAIIAN®

Denny Hamlin will drive King’s Hawaiian colors in four races this season

Denny Hamlin will drive King’s Hawaiian colors in four races this season

Denny Hamlin

 

Joe Gibbs Racing announced today that the organization has signed a multi-year agreement with King’s Hawaiian. As part of the partnership, Denny Hamlin will drive the No. 11 King’s Hawaiian Toyota Camry XSE in four NASCAR Cup Series races this season.

 

2025 marks the 75th anniversary of King’s Hawaiian. While the company has grown since Robert Taira founded his first bakery in Hilo, HI in 1950, King’s Hawaiian has remained a family-owned business dedicated to making irresistible food that brings people together, sparking good times and inspiring joy in every bite. Today, they are best known for their best-selling Original Hawaiian Sweet Rolls, Slider Buns, and Hamburger Buns, as well as the newest addition to the snacking game, irresistibly sweet and salty Pretzel Bites!

 

“We are thrilled to have King’s Hawaiian join our family at Joe Gibbs Racing,” said Joe Gibbs, owner and founder of Joe Gibbs Racing. “Their dinner rolls and other products have really become a part of the daily lives of so many families over the past 75 years and we look forward to helping them celebrate such a significant anniversary this season both on and off the track.”

 

King’s Hawaiian is scheduled to be the primary sponsor of Hamlin’s No. 11 Toyota for races at Atlanta Motor Speedway (June 28), Daytona International Speedway (August 23), Bristol Motor Speedway (September 13), and Martinsville Speedway (October 26). In addition to its four-race primary sponsorship, King’s Hawaiian will also be featured as a full-season associate partner with Hamlin and the No. 11 team.

 

"As two family-owned businesses with a shared commitment to excellence and a long-standing tradition of continuous innovation and entrepreneurship, we are thrilled to announce this partnership with Joe Gibbs Racing and Denny Hamlin,” said Raouf Moussa, chief marketing officer for King’s Hawaiian. “This collaboration represents a perfect alignment of values and a unique opportunity to engage with the passionate NASCAR community to showcase our irresistible products and aloha spirit to millions of fans across the country."

 

Hamlin will be competing in his 20th full-time season in the NASCAR Cup Series. Entering 2025, Hamlin is tied for 12th on the all-time wins list with 54 victories, including three wins last year. 2025 is a year of change for the 44-year-old Virginia native as he will be working with crew chief Chris Gayle after Joe Gibbs Racing announced that Hamlin’s previous crew chief Chris Gabehart has been promoted to the team’s competition director role.

 

The King’s Hawaiian slate of races lines up well with Hamlin’s on-track success. He owns victories at all four tracks, including five at Martinsville, four at Bristol, three at Daytona, and one at Atlanta.

 

“We’re very excited to welcome King’s Hawaiian to our team,” said Hamlin. “It’s certainly a product we are very familiar with in our household and a great brand that has made a strong commitment to our sport. I’m looking forward to all the exciting things that we can do on and off the track to elevate their program to the next level.”

 

King's Hawaiian Sweet Rolls



King's Hawaiian had served previously as a primary sponsorship partner for Brad Keselowski and the No. 6 RFK Racing team. King's Hawaiian's partnership with RFK Racing last three seasons from 2022 to 2024.

 





 

source: Joe Gibbs Racing Media

Tuesday, January 21, 2025

2025 NASCAR Clash at Bowman Gray Format

2025 NASCAR Clash at Bowman Gray Format

Here's how the Clash will work

 

NASCAR revealed the format for the Clash at Bowman Gray Stadium with the main event set to go green just after 8 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 2.

 

The lineup for the 200-mile main event on the quarter-mile short track will take place over the course of four, 25-lap heat races. The top five finishers in each of the four heats will earn automatic entry into the main event. Heat races are set to begin at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday night.

 

Lineups for the heat races will be determined through practice sessions earlier on Saturday evening. The field will be sorted into three groups with each group getting three on-track sessions. Lap times from the final session will set the fields for the heat races.

 

In addition to the 20 cars earning entry through heat races, a last-chance qualifier race of 75 laps will be run at 6 p.m. on Sunday with the top two finishers punching tickets into the main event. Finally, a 23rd and final spot will be given to the highest finisher in the 2024 points standings that didn't earn a spot otherwise.

 

Sunday night's main event will consist of 200 laps with caution circuits not counting. The race must end under a green flag. A break will also occur at the 100-lap mark.

 

Here is the full schedule for the 2025 NASCAR Clash:

 

NASCAR Clash 2025 schedule at Bowman Gray Stadium

Saturday, Feb. 1

  • 11:15 a.m.: Modifieds, Madhouse Classic practice
  • Noon: Modifieds, Madhouse Classic qualifying
  • 1:45 p.m.: Modifieds, Madhouse Classic (125 laps or 90 minutes)
  • 6:10: Cup Series practice/qualifying
  • 8:30: Cup Series, Heat Race 1 (25 laps)
  • 8:45: Cup Series, Heat Race 2 (25 laps)
  • 9: Cup Series, Heat Race 3 (25 laps)
  • 9:15: Cup Series, Heat Race 4 (25 laps)

Sunday, Feb. 2

  • 6 p.m.: Cup Series, Last Chance Qualifier (75 laps)
  • 8: Cup Series, NASCAR Clash (200 laps)




 

source: Hendrick Motorsports Media

Wood Brothers Racing to Celebrate Diamond Anniversary in 2025

Wood Brothers Racing to Celebrate Diamond Anniversary in 2025

Historic team to commemorate 75th anniversary with multiple initiatives

Wood Brothers Racing to Celebrate Diamond Anniversary in 2025 - #NASCAR

 

Wood Brothers Racing, the oldest active team in NASCAR and one of the winningest organizations in league history, will celebrate a diamond anniversary in 2025 as it enters its 75th season in competition with multiple fan-focused initiatives planned.

 

The season-long celebration will include a fan day at the team’s museum in Stuart, Virginia, special paint schemes, merchandise, digital content, an exhibit in the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, North Carolina, and more as the team honors its heritage and the fans who have been loyal supporters over the years.

 

“As we prepare for 2025, we’re reflecting on the moments that have shaped our team over the past 75 years while also looking to the future,” said Jon Wood, president, Wood Brothers Racing. “We’re excited to celebrate this milestone with our fans, partners, and those in the NASCAR community who have contributed to our story over the years.”

 

 

Wood Brothers Racing was founded in 1950 by Glenn Wood, whose humble beginnings were marked by determination and resilience. Glenn, along with his brothers Leonard, Delano, Clay, and Ray Lee, worked on their race cars under a giant beech tree on the family homestead in Buffalo Ridge, Virginia.

 

The Woods are widely credited for their development of the modern pit stop as their efficient, choreographed routines dramatically reduced the time it took to service a car on pit road, giving the team a competitive edge that changed the sport forever. As a result, Ford Motor Company brought in the Wood Brothers crew for the 1965 Indianapolis 500, where their techniques helped Jim Clark’s Ford-powered Lotus win open-wheel racing’s signature event.

 

Since those early days, the team has amassed 100 wins in the NASCAR Cup Series (eighth on the all-time wins list), including an impressive five triumphs in the prestigious DAYTONA 500, as well as victories in other marquee events. Many of NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers have raced under the Wood Brothers banner, with several being enshrined in the NASCAR Hall of Fame along with team patriarchs Glenn (2012) and Leonard (2013).

 

“The Wood Brothers Racing story is one of passion and perseverance. We’ve seen NASCAR evolve through the decades, and we’re proud to have played a role in shaping its history,” said Leonard Wood. “Celebrating 75 years gives us a chance to reflect on how far we’ve come and to thank the fans who have supported us every step of the way.”

 

Wood Brothers Racing remains a predominantly family-run operation, with the second and third generations proudly carrying on the family tradition. The team continues to focus on racing, business, and fan engagement, honoring its storied past while maintaining a forward-looking vision for the future.

 

More details regarding 75th-anniversary celebrations will be announced in the near future.

 





 

Monday, January 20, 2025

US Court of Appeals Rules Former NASCAR Team Owner Pay $31M

US Court of Appeals Rules Former NASCAR Team Owner Pay $31M

The ruling is related to the bankruptcy of BK Racing

US Court of Appeals Rules Former #NASCAR Team Owner Pay $31M

 

Ron Devine was the owner of BK Racing who raced in the NASCAR Cup Series. The team went bankrupt following the 2018 season.

 

The owner was indicted in 2023 with four counts of failure to pay payroll taxes.

 

The team sold their charter to Front Row Motorsports. However, Union Bank & Trust Company claimed that they owned the charter that was sold.

 

In 2022, A judge originally ruled that Devine was ordered to pay $31M to the trustee. Devine elected to take that ruling to the U.S. Court of Appeals. Now, they have elected to uphold that ruling.

 

Per Bob Pockrass the ruling read, “The bankruptcy court exhibited extraordinary patience in the face of Appellants’ egregious conduct. This Court will not condone such blatant disregard for the judicial process.”

 





In 2019, there were 78 claims against the team totaling $44,295,884.91. $9,000,000 of which came from a bank loan to keep the team operational.

 

Many employees of the team were also not paid toward the end of team operations.

 

 

source: MSN Sports Media 

Saturday, January 18, 2025

Martin Truex Sr Dies at 66

Martin Truex Sr Dies at 66

RIP – Prayers and Positive Thoughts

Martin Truex Sr Dies at 66
March 24, 1958 – January 17, 2025

 


Martin Truex Sr., the father of former NASCAR champion Martin Truex Jr., has died, Truex and his brother said in a statement. He was 66.

 

“We are devastated by the loss of our father,” Martin Jr and Ryan Truex said. “Simply put, he was our hero and a great man. We appreciate everyone’s thoughts and prayers and ask for privacy at this time.”

 

No details of Truex Sr.’s death were revealed.

 

Truex Sr. was a former driver in NASCAR’s second-tier Xfinity Series, where he made 15 starts from 1989 to 1998. His best finish was 12th at Nazareth Speedway in 1994. He retired early to advance the career of his two sons. His second son, Ryan, is the reserve and development driver for Joe Gibbs Racing.

 

Truex Sr. was one of the owners of the commercial fishing company Sea Watch International.

 













 

source: Yahoo Media

Thursday, January 16, 2025

The Famed Stylized No. 8 Returns with Sammy Smith for JR Motorsports

The Famed Stylized No. 8 Returns with Sammy Smith for JR Motorsports

NASCAR Xfinity Series

 

The No. 8 made famous by Dale Earnhardt Jr. is one of the most iconic numbers in NASCAR history.

 

The stylized digit, with its signature font, is one of the most recognizable numbers in all of racing, stemming from Earnhardt Jr.’s use of it from the beginning of his career in the NASCAR Cup Series in 1999 through 2007.

 

It’s back where it belongs for 2025 for JR Motorsports, adorning the sides of driver Sammy Smith’s Chevrolet in the NASCAR Xfinity Series.

 

“It is awesome to have this number and this font back at JR Motorsports this year, and I can’t wait to see it on the car in Daytona,” said Earnhardt Jr. upon its unveiling. “That’s going to be a pretty awesome feeling for me personally. Sammy is going to do a great job with it. Excited to have that number out there and I know everybody else is as well.”

 

In November, Earnhardt Jr. stepped back in time with the debut of his iconic Budweiser paint scheme for the Florence 400 Late Model race. In that event, the third-generation star raced from the back of the field to second by the halfway break and was in contention for the win before a mechanical issue ended his day.

 

“It is an incredible opportunity for me to be able to reunite with Budweiser, and the No. 8,” said Earnhardt Jr. “Budweiser and I had some great memories with that iconic scheme and number. We’ve always supported each other over the years. It’s going to be really special for me to be able to represent that brand on the racetrack again.”

 

The championship-winning JRM Late Model team campaigned the No. 8 for the past three seasons, though not in the stylized font carried by Earnhardt Jr. Carson Kvapil won two straight zMAX CARS Tour Late Model Stock Car championships (2022 and 2023) wearing that number, as well as the 2024 ValleyStar Credit Union 300 at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway.

 

The No. 8 has been associated with the Earnhardt family since Earnhardt Jr.’s grandfather, Ralph Earnhardt, took it to the 1959 and 1960 NASCAR Limited Sportsman championships. It was additionally used by Dale Earnhardt Sr. in his racing efforts in what is now the NXS throughout the 1980’s.

 

And today, the historic No. 8, in its traditional stylized font, officially makes its return to NASCAR competition, with Smith behind the wheel.

 





 

source: JR Motorsports Media

Friday, January 10, 2025

Snowy NASCAR

Snowy #NASCAR

Winter Blankets #NASCAR Tracks (2024-25 offseason)


Enjoy the snowy backdrops from some of NASCAR's tracks from this winter before the 2025 season begins.

 

The Cup Series is scheduled to return to competition on Sunday February 2nd 2025 at Winston-Salem, North Carolina’s Bowman Gray for the 200 lap ‘Cook Out Clash.’

 

Atlanta Motor Speedway -#NASCAR
Atlanta Motor Speedway
Dover Motor Speedway - #NASCAR
Dover Motor Speedway
Indianapolis Motor Speedway - #NASCAR
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Pocono Raceway - #NASCAR
Pocono Raceway
Richmond Raceway - #NASCAR
Richmond Raceway
Talladega Superspeedway - #NASCAR
Talladega Superspeedway
Texas Motor Speedway - #NASCAR
Texas Motor Speedway

 





 

source: NASCAR Media

Thursday, January 9, 2025

Chastain & van Gisbergen Set for Xfinity Events

Chastain & van Gisbergen Set for Xfinity Events

with JR Motorsports

Chastain & van Gisbergen Set for Xfinity Events - #NASCAR

 

Ross Chastain and Shane van Gisbergen will combine to compete in nine NASCAR Xfinity Series races for JR Motorsports in 2025, Trackhouse Racing announced Thursday.

 

Chastain & van Gisbergen Set for Xfinity Events - #NASCAR

 

The pair of Trackhouse teammates in the NASCAR Cup Series will dip their toes back into the Xfinity pool, where Chastain will compete in four events and SVG will race in five.

 

Chastain, a two-time winner in Xfinity competition, will pilot the No. 9 Chevrolet for JRM at Circuit of The Americas on March 1 in addition to events at Darlington Raceway (April 5), Nashville Superspeedway (May 31), Dover Motor Speedway (July 19) and Iowa Speedway (Aug. 2).

 

Van Gisbergen, the road-course ace who earned three victories in his rookie Xfinity campaign in 2024, is scheduled to get behind the wheel in Mexico City (June 14), at the Chicago Street Race (July 5), at Sonoma Raceway (July 12) and at Watkins Glen International (Aug. 9).

 

“I think there is a lot of benefit to getting seat time on Saturdays in the Xfinity Series,” Chastain said in a press release. “Getting an opportunity to do it with JR Motorsports is too good an opportunity to pass up. I know every time I climb in their Chevrolets, we will have a chance to win.”




“I’m trying to get as much experience as I can,” van Gisbergen, the three-time Supercars champion, said in a release. “JR Motorsports is one of the top teams and won the championship with Justin Allgaier. I can’t wait to get started.

 

 

source: NASCAR Media

Wednesday, January 8, 2025

23XI Competing On and Off the Race Track

23XI Competing On and Off the Race Track

Michael Jordan Sues #NASCAR

23XI Competing On and Off the Race Track #NASCAR

 

Michael Jordan is suing NASCAR. On October 2, two NASCAR teams filed an antitrust lawsuit in the Western District of North Carolina against NASCAR, accusing the racing company of maintaining an illegal monopoly. The two teams are Front Row Motorsports and 23XI,  a team co-owned by Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin, a veteran NASCAR driver. In addition to NASCAR, they named Jim France, the CEO and Chairman of NASCAR and son of NASCAR-founder Bill France, Sr. as a defendant.

 

The dispute between the parties centers around NASCAR’s charter system. Under this system, which was implemented in a 2016 agreement, holding a charter guarantees a race team a starting position in NASCAR’s Cup Series races and a share of the television revenues. NASCAR is different from other professional sports in which multiple franchises form a league to compete in. Rather, NASCAR is owned by one family: the France family. The current charter agreement was set to expire at the end of this year, and teams and NASCAR had been negotiating towards a new agreement. Eventually, NASCAR offered a final take-it-or-leave-it deal on September 16th, which thirteen of the fifteen teams accepted. 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports refused. Now, they’re suing NASCAR.

 

Their complaint alleges that NASCAR “has exploited its economic power as the sole premier stock car racing organization in the United States.” It further argues that NASCAR has reached and maintained this position through “anticompetitive and exclusionary practices. These allegedly anticompetitive practices include buying up racing circuits and racetracks, requiring NASCAR teams to use specific cars, and restricting teams from “participating in races outside of NASCAR’s circuit.” Of particular interest to the antitrust inquiry is the fact that NASCAR acquired its main stock car racing competitor, ARCA, in 2018.

 





23XI and Front Row Motorsports are seeking several outcomes from the lawsuit. Most urgent is a preliminary injunction that would allow the two teams to continue to compete until the end of litigation. Their potentially seismic goal is a permanent injunction that would “end NASCAR’s exclusionary practices and restore competition in the relevant market,” but the exact remedy is unclear.

 

In order to succeed in a Sherman Act §2 lawsuit, the plaintiff must show both a) monopoly power and b) anticompetitive conduct. The first requirement seems easily satisfied when it comes to NASCAR, and much of the back and forth in litigation will be based around the second requirement. Jordan, for his part, is confident: “I wouldn’t have filed it if I didn’t think I could win.” NASCAR and the France family have good reasons to not want to go to court even if the outcome will be in their favor. Discovery would require NASCAR to open up their financial records—something it has never had to do as a privately-owned company—revealing how much profit it (and by extension, the France family) takes in. If Michael Jordan and the racing teams are successful, the remedy is difficult to predict. It could be as simple as requiring NASCAR to sell off some of their racetracks in order to open the door for more competition.

 

Settlement is similarly tricky in this case. According to the plaintiffs’ lawyer Jeffrey Kessler, “No one is bringing this type of fight, this type of lawsuit, to move from a D-plus deal to a D deal. That is not going to happen.” The two teams likely would want what they had been fighting for during the two years of charter agreement negotiations: more revenue, more say in governance and rule-making, a share of the revenue from NASCAR’s name, image, and likeness deals, and for the charters to be permanent. It seems unlikely that the France family would easily give in to the demands it had so strongly refused during negotiations, even faced with a federal lawsuit.

 

If the case is settled, the result will likely be the relationship between NASCAR and its chartered teams becoming slightly more equitable. If it continues all the way to trial, NASCAR’s private finances will be revealed and the stock-car racing landscape in the United States may be permanently altered.

 













 

Tuesday, January 7, 2025

Helio Castroneves to Attempt Daytona 500

Helio Castroneves to Attempt Daytona 500

With Trackhouse’s Project 91 Entry

Helio Castroneves to Attempt Daytona 500

 

Helio Castroneves will attempt to make his NASCAR Cup Series debut in the 2025 Daytona 500, driving the No. 91 Chevrolet for Trackhouse Racing’s Project 91,  the team announced Monday.

 





Castroneves, a four-time champion of the Indianapolis 500 and three-time winner of the Rolex 24 at Daytona, has enjoyed a long career in open-wheel and sports-car racing. The São Paulo, Brazil, native owns 25 wins in the NTT IndyCar Series and six wins in the former Champ Car Series. The 49-year-old has competed at least once in IndyCar each year since 2001 and is now set to attempt his NASCAR debut for the Feb. 16 Cup Series opener.

 

“Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would enter a NASCAR race and certainly not the Daytona 500 with a team like Trackhouse Racing,” Castroneves said in a press release. “This is an opportunity that nobody in their right mind could ever turn down. I am so thankful to Wendy’s for allowing me to wear their uniform and drive their car, (Trackhouse owner) Justin Marks and everyone that made this happen. I wish the race were tomorrow.”

 

“Helio is one of the greatest drivers of all time and exactly the type of driver we want to bring to NASCAR,” Marks said in a press release. “I think race fans around the world will be excited to see Helio in NASCAR’s most prestigious race. It also exposes our sport to a global audience and allows them to see just how great of a series we have in NASCAR.”

 

Not a stranger to trying new things; Castroneves won the fifth season of the American reality TV show Dancing with the Stars with partner Julianne Hough.

 

 

 

source: NASCAR Media