Motorsports

23XI, Front Row v NASCAR ends in settlement and focus on fans

Published

7 hours ago

December 12, 2025

I’m pleased to say we have positively settled this matter.

Representing 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports in its antitrust lawsuit against NASCAR, lead attorney Jeffrey Kessler made the announcement to Judge Kenneth D. Bell at 10:03 a.m. in the Potter Courtroom on the second floor of the Western District of North Carolina.

There was still more work to be done to formalize the end of the trial, however.

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This statement was just verbalized and both parties’ representatives needed to go back to a separate room to type out a written settlement to codify the agreed upon principles. Judge Bell said he would remain on the bench ‘to encourage your progress.’

Day nine of the trial was scheduled to begin at 8:30 but the parties had arrived much earlier. When Judge Bell arrived to the Potter Courtroom, he dismissed the jury and told them he needed to ‘sacrifice an hour of your time to hopefully save several hours more’ of it.

At the time, there weren’t even monitors in the court room like there had been for every other day of the trial, a signal that neither party was prepared to continue witness examination.

Judge Bell returned from his chamber at 9:58 a.m.

“Do you have everyone you need to continue your examination?”

A lawyer said, ‘let me see if I can wrangle Mr. Kessler,’ to which Bell dryly said, ‘an indispensable man.’

At this point, 23XI co-owners Michael Jordan, Denny Hamlin and Curtis Polk emerged from their holding room, quite the sight because the latter would not be allowed in the room if examinations were truly going to continue.

Polk was a witness that had not testified yet and federal rules prevent his attending the proceedings until he testified. Thus, Judge Bell asked the defendants (NASCAR) if they ‘had objections’ to Polk being in the room.

“We do not, your honor,” said NASCAR attorney Lawrence Buterman, who had started the discovery process by ‘throwing documents’ Polk during a deposition and ended it with handshakes.

Buterman shook hands with Jordan while NASCAR CEO Jim France personal lawyer John E. Stephenson dapped with the NBA legend.

This is where Kessler appeared and told Judge Bell that he ‘needed a moment to see if we can close the loop’ and ‘get you some news.’ Kessler reappeared and told the Judge the news that the settlement was being drafted.

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By 10:21 a.m., Buterman approached the bench because ‘I have a copy for your honor.’ Bell spent the next five minutes reading over the settlement terms and then called the jury back into the Potter Courtroom at 10:26 a.m.

“As so happens, an hour turns into two but we indeed saved you a great deal of time. This trial has been settled, meaning, it’s over.”

Bell went on to tell the jury that he recognizes that it could be ‘dissatisfying’ to spend all this time listening to testimony and consuming evidence without the chance to render a decision. However, Judge Bell said, the jury should be proud because they accomplished through their attentiveness what ‘His Honor’ could not accomplish during two days of court overseen settlement mediation.

He told the jury that he recognized they were attentive. ‘You knew the details of this case and I commend you for that.’

“Thank you for your hard work. Congratulations to both parties and I mean that. I wish we could have done this months ago. … I think this will be great for the entity of NASCAR, the NASCAR industry, the teams, the drivers, and as you have so often said yourselves, ultimately the fans.”

Both parties thanked the judge and court was dismissed. After 14 months, 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports v NASCAR ended with a settlement.

The terms

The agreement itself was not immediately publicized but the Associated Press had the provisional details that –

Teams will now share international revenue for the first time
The three-strike rule removed from the 2025 agreement is back as a five-strike rule
Teams get a third of revenue from Intellectual Property
Terms to be renegotiated with each media rights agreement
23XI and FRM has had their charters returned to them

FOX Sports had additional provisional details that include

Performance criteria, that if not met, result in the forced sale of a charter within a certain period of time
NASCAR gets 10 percent of all charter sales, up from 2 percent

In other words, charters are now franchises that cannot be taken away from teams and are effectively equivalent to stick-and-ball teams. Unlike stick-and-ball teams, however, the teams do not have equity in NASCAR.

The France family will continue to operate NASCAR has it has done every year since its inception in 1948.

23XI and Front Row secured evergreen charters, which immediately increases enterprise value, at no cost to NASCAR while the Frances do not get put in a position to have to sell tracks or divest of its interests — a potential outcome had they lost.

NASCAR has scheduled a call on Thursday with the non-party teams to discuss implementation and ratification of the new agreement, which will need to be signed by all parties.

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The lawsuit alleged anti-competitive conduct by NASCAR using its monopsony status to financially damage the teams and competition in the marketplace. It was the end result of the final 2025 charter terms that fell short of what every team said they wanted most during negotiations.

These were called the ‘four pillars’ during the contentious back-and-forth.

By the end of negotiations, NASCAR ultimately signed 13 of the 15 charter holding teams for $431 million annually instead of the $720 they had sought. NASCAR did not budge on making the charter system permanent and instead gave teams seven years plus a seven-year option that did not guarantee revenue increases during the option years.

In the final 2025 terms, the three-strike rule that allowed teams to ‘call a strike’ against any decision it disagreed with was also not renewed from the inaugural 2016 agreement.

That rule would void the exclusivity agreements in the charter agreement if three strikes were called against the Sanctioning Body. Instead, NASCAR provided the teams a council that would meet and discuss changes but with no vote nor veto.

In the settlement terms, the three-strike rule is now a five-strike rule.

Immediate aftermath

With 30 minutes of court dismissing, all parties walked out of the Charles R. Jonas Federal Court House together.

“I’m pleased to say the parties have positively settled this matter in a way that will benefit the industry going forward,” said Kessler on the court house steps.

Buterman was the next to speak.

“One of the key issues here for NASCAR has always been the preservation of the charter system,” Buterman said. “And we are thrilled that through this system we get to preserve the charter system for the teams and stakeholders while at the same time providing NASCAR with the flexibility to run the sport in the best interest of all of the shareholders.”

And then Jordan.

“I’ve said this from Day 1: Only way this sport is going to grow is we have to find some synergy between the two entities, and I think we’ve gotten to that point,” Jordan said. “Unfortunately, it took 16 months to get here, but I think, level heads got us to this point to where we can actually work together and grow this sport. I’m very proud about that. And I think (France) feels the same.”

France echoed that sentiment.

“We can get back to focusing on what we really love, and that’s racing,” France said. “We spent a lot of time not really focused on that as much as we need to be. So, I feel like we’ve made a very good decision here together and we have a big opportunity to continue growing the sport.”

Jordan was asked what eventually forced a settlement.

“Level heads,” said Jordan, getting a laugh from everyone on both sides on the steps. “In all honesty, when you get to the finish line sometimes, you have to think, not just about yourself but the sport as a whole.

“I think both parties got to that point and we realized we have an opportunity to do this, so we dove in and actually did it. Unfortunately, it took us this long, but we got there and that’s all that matters.

Jordan was asked if he felt like all of this was worth it in the end.

“Well, both parties feel like it was worth it,” he said.

At this point, Stephenson was shaking his head, an endorsement from the France side.

“We understand that we had to work together,” Jordan continued. Compromise in every negotiation is one of the toughest things to do. I think we both compromised on our agendas and we both came to the conclusion that this is better for the sport.”

That was the end of press conference.

Stephenson said ‘let’s go race’ and lead NASCAR attorney Chris Yates said ‘go to Bowman Gray’ and ‘go to Daytona.’ Kessler said ‘everyone show up to the tracks.’

As for Hamlin?

“I feel like everything within this settlement is going to grow this sport and it’s going to be better for everyone, there’s no doubt about.”

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Loose ends

23XI, Front Row attorney Danielle Williams, even after the settlement was announced, still wanted to discuss in the court the source of the Bobby Hillin news and the documents. Judge Bell said they would work on that later.

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Motorsports

Holly Springs Motorsports Joins NHRA Member Track Network

Published

3 minutes ago

December 12, 2025

Your Sports Nation

NHRA officials are thrilled to announce today that Holly Springs Motorsports Park has joined the NHRA Member Track Network.

A standout facility located in Holly Springs, Miss., Holly Springs Motorsports Park is home for some of the most competitive bracket racing in the area. A new ownership group featuring Dominic Blasco, Raymond Poirier and Jack Ludvigsen purchased the track earlier this year, becoming an NHRA-sanctioned track starting in the 2026 season.

As part of the exciting move to the NHRA Member Track Network, Holly Springs Motorsports Park will also have the opportunity to host a Summit E.T. Finals event in the Summit Racing Series in 2026. Further details about the Summit E.T. Finals and the Summit Racing Series World Championship in Las Vegas will be announced in the coming weeks.

“We are excited to be part of the NHRA family by becoming an NHRA member track, as well as becoming a new home of a Summit E.T. Finals,” Blasco said. “This partnership represents a huge milestone for our facility and it reflects the work our team has put in to becoming a first-rate facility. Aligning with NHRA shows our commitment to the highest standards of safety and racing, and we believe this will bring more racers and more opportunities to our community. We’re thrilled to begin this next chapter of the track with NHRA.”

By joining the NHRA Member Track Network, Holly Springs Motorsports Park will be eligible to offer racers in the area a variety of NHRA-sanctioned racing opportunities in the future, including the NHRA Summit Racing Series, the NHRA Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League, NHRA Street Legal, NHRA Jr. Street and more. Additionally, the track will have the chance to host NHRA specialty events like the NHRA Summit King of the Track and more.

Along with hosting several big events, drawing top racers and an impressive level of competition, Holly Springs Motorsports Park also gets access to NHRA’s extensive support programs as part of the member track network, insurance benefits and national marketing platforms

“We’re pleased to welcome Holly Springs Motorsports Park to the NHRA Member Track Network. The track has built a strong reputation for providing a competitive, racer-focused environment, and its commitment to growth aligns with NHRA’s mission to continue to strengthen grassroots drag racing,” NHRA Sportsman Manager Jason Galvin said. “We look forward to supporting those efforts and expanding opportunities for racers in the region, including the track hosting a Summit E.T. Finals race.”

For more information on NHRA, including the 2026 schedule, visit www.nhra.com.

This story was originally published on December 12, 2025. Drag Illustrated

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Motorsports

Motorsports Community Raises $13,000 for Riley Kids at Return of Rev ‘n Roll Event

Published

19 minutes ago

December 12, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The reimagined Rev ‘n Roll for Riley Children’s Foundation brought the motorsports community together for an evening of bowling and fun on Wednesday night at Western Bowl in Indianapolis, ultimately raising $13,000 for the nationally-ranked children’s hospital foundation. A star-studded lineup of drivers from NHRA, INDYCAR, USAC, and other professional series joined current and alumni Riley Kids, racing industry professionals, and friends and fans for a memorable night of giving, serving as a purpose-driven kickoff to the annual Performance Racing Industry show, which got underway this morning.

After opening ceremonies and driver introductions, the celebration began with a ceremonial “first roll,” led by Alexis DeJoria, Buddy Hull, Lex Joon, Alexander Rossi, Tony Stewart, Ida Zetterström, and others, who paired up with Riley Kids to officially open the event.

Participants enjoyed the evening decked out in specially designed, nitro-inspired bowling shirts supplied by ProThings. Fundraising efforts were further boosted thanks to the support of Joe and PJ Maynard, owners of Brownsburg-based JCM Racing, as well as AB Motorsports, Arrow McLaren, Bandero Premium Tequila, Impact Racing, NHRA, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, Summit Racing Equipment, and others, who contributed items to the silent auction, helping to further the event’s impact.

Three-time NASCAR champion and current NHRA Top Fuel competitor Tony Stewart emphasized his excitement for the night of giving, saying, “When (event co-organizer) Mike Lewis called and asked if I could be a part of the event, I told him yes before I even looked at my schedule to see if I had that date open. It is special to do this. Beginning the night hearing the kids’ stories is probably the best part of the whole evening, hearing the journey it took to get healthy again; the success stories, that’s the best part.”

“We’re thrilled,” said Hali Warnick, who spearheaded the return of the annual fundraiser alongside Lewis. “I was thinking earlier today, Mike and I are no longer coworkers, and our careers have taken us in different directions, but we’ve crossed paths with so many people over the years, whether it be vendor relationships, former colleagues, or friends from the race track. To have everyone come back together and celebrate like this, it’s so meaningful. To see the night as successful as we’d hoped it to be, that’s incredible.”

For more information about Riley Children’s Foundation, visit RileyKids.org.

This story was originally published on December 12, 2025. Drag Illustrated

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Motorsports

Summit Racing Equipment | Error 410: Resource Gone

Published

2 hours ago

December 12, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Summit Racing Equipment | Error 410: Resource Gone

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Motorsports

NHRA unveils 2026 NHRA Hot Rod Heritage Series schedule

Published

2 hours ago

December 12, 2025

Your Sports Nation

NHRA has announced the 2026 Hot Rod Heritage Series schedule, featuring a thrilling lineup of nostalgia drag racing events at legendary venues across North America competitors in a celebration of drag racing heritage as part of NHRA’s 75th Anniversary season.

The 2026 season kicks off Feb. 13–14 with the Tucson Dragway Reunion at Tucson Dragway in Tucson, Ariz., featuring Group 1 and 2 classes. The excitement continues March 5–8 at the legendary Famoso Dragstrip in Bakersfield, Calif., for the Good Vibrations Motorsports March Meet, where all classes will compete.

In the spring, the action moves to Firebird Motorsports Park in Chandler, Ariz., for the Cactus Clash from April 24–26, showcasing Group 1 and 2. May brings two thrilling events: the NAPA Auto Parts Ignitor Nitro Opener presented by The Blower Shop at Firebird Raceway in Boise, Idaho, from May 15–17, spotlighting Funny Car competition, followed by Funny Car Fever at Redding Motorsports Park in Redding, Calif., May 22–23, again with Group 1 and 2.

Summer heats up with the National Hot Rod Reunion at Beech Bend Raceway Park in Bowling Green, Ky., June 18–20, featuring Top Fuel. The Americana at Great Bend takes place July 3–4 at SRCA Dragstrip in Great Bend, Kan., also with Top Fuel. The Rocky Mountain Nationals roar into RAD Torque Raceway in Edmonton, Alta., July 10–11, with Funny Car action.

August brings the Nightfire Nationals presented by Bi-Mart back to Firebird Raceway in Boise, Idaho, August 7–9, with both Top Fuel and Funny Car classes. Later in the month, the Nostalgia Summer Nationals take over Woodburn Dragstrip in Woodburn, Ore., August 28–30, with Funny Car and a double event for Group 1 and 2.

As autumn approaches, the Thunder Under the Lites event lights up Redding Motorsports Park in Redding, Calif., Sept. 11-12, with Top Fuel and Group 1 and 2. The season concludes Oct. 23–25 back at iconic Famoso Dragstrip, with the California Hot Rod Reunion, featuring Top Fuel, Funny Car, and Group 1 and 2.

Tucson Dragway Reunion
Feb. 13–14, Tucson Dragway, Tucson, Ariz.
Classes: Group 1 & 2

Good Vibrations Motorsports March Meet
March 5–8, Famoso Dragstrip, Bakersfield, Calif.
Classes: All Classes

Cactus Clash
April 24–26, Firebird Motorsports Park, Chandler, Ariz.
Classes: Group 1 & 2

NAPA Auto Parts Ignitor Nitro Opener presented by The Blower Shop
May 15–17, Firebird Raceway, Boise, Idaho
Classes: Funny Car (FC)

Funny Car Fever
May 22–23, Redding Motorsports Park, Redding, Calif.
Classes: Group 1 & 2

National Hot Rod Reunion
June 18–20, Beech Bend Raceway Park, Bowling Green, Ky.
Classes: Top Fuel (TF)

Americana at Great Bend
July 3–4, SRCA Dragstrip, Great Bend, Kan.
Classes: Top Fuel (TF)

Rocky Mountain Nationals
July 10–11, RAD Torque Raceway, Edmonton, Alta.
Classes: Funny Car (FC)

Nightfire Nationals presented by Bi-Mart
Aug. 7–9, Firebird Raceway, Boise, Idaho
Classes: Top Fuel (TF), Funny Car (FC)

Nostalgia Summer Nationals
Aug. 28–30, Woodburn Dragstrip, Woodburn, Ore.
Classes: Funny Car (FC), Group 1 & 2 (double)

Thunder Under the Lites
Sept. 11-12, Redding Motorsports Park, Redding, Calif.
Classes: Top Fuel (TF), Group 1 & 2

California Hot Rod Reunion
Oct. 23–25, Famoso Dragstrip, Bakersfield, Calif.
Classes: Top Fuel (TF), Funny Car (FC), Group 1 & 2

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Motorsports

FACTORY MOTOR PARTS NAMED TITLE SPONSOR OF FMP NHRA ARIZONA NATIONALS PRESENTED BY NGK SPARK PLUGS

Published

2 hours ago

December 12, 2025

Your Sports Nation

PHOENIX (Dec. 12, 2025) – NHRA announced today that Factory Motor Parts (FMP), a leading global distributor of premium automotive parts, solutions and services, has been named the title sponsor of the upcoming NHRA Arizona Nationals at Firebird Motorsports Park as part of an exciting multi-year partnership.

Celebrating its 41st year in 2026, the FMP NHRA Arizona Nationals presented by NGK Spark Plugs will take place March 20-22 as the second of 20 races during the NHRA’s 75th anniversary season. The annual “Duel in the Desert” remains one of the most popular stops on the NHRA tour, repeatedly drawing sellout crowds as part of the thrilling annual race weekend.

The 2025 race saw sellout crowds on both Saturday and Sunday, as Shawn Langdon (Top Fuel), Paul Lee (Funny Car) and Greg Anderson (Pro Stock) raced to wins at the historic facility.

“FMP is proud to deepen our partnership with NHRA and bring our name to such an iconic event in Phoenix,” said Andy Gorski, Vice President of Marketing at FMP. “The Arizona Nationals embody the passion, performance and competitive spirit that drive our business, and we’re excited to help elevate the fan and racer experience during this milestone season.”

As part of the title sponsorship in Phoenix, FMP will receive on-site signage and integration at the track during the race weekend, as well as significant exposure leading up to and during the highly-anticipated event.

The title sponsorship also adds to the recent noteworthy momentum for the race and facility, as NHRA and Firebird Motorsports Park previously announced a multi-year extension for the popular event.

The famed facility also made a series of significant track improvements and renovations leading up to last year’s race, as the FMP NHRA Arizona Nationals presented by NGK Spark Plugs continues to be a marquee NHRA event.

“Adding Factory Motor Parts to our Firebird family is the next great step in what has been a massive wave of positive momentum over the last 24 months for both our national event and the facility in general,” Firebird Motorsports Park Track Manager Casey Buckman said. “It is these key additional partners that truly anchor our success not only at the Arizona Nationals, but throughout all of our events. We look forward to the years of success that both of the FMP brands can share with each other as we build for the future.”

The 2026 event will also feature thrilling competition in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, as well as the thrilling NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series.

The FMP NHRA Arizona Nationals presented by NGK Spark Plugs first became a Southwest fixture in 1985 and it has been a must-see race for any NHRA fan, delivering record performances and incredible early-season action.

The track’s rich history includes major achievements from the sport’s biggest stars, as Top Fuel’s Tony Schumacher’s has five Phoenix wins, while Funny Car legend John Force has eight wins at the facility. Top Fuel’s Antron Brown, Funny Car drivers Ron Capps and Matt Hagan, and Pro Stock’s Anderson all have three wins at Firebird Motorsports Park.

“Phoenix and Firebird Motorsports Park has always delivered an incredible weekend for our fans and racers, and adding FMP and NGK as the event’s title sponsor adds even more excitement to a standout early-season stop in the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series,” said Brad Gerber, NHRA Vice President and Chief Development Officer. “We’re thrilled to welcome such respected partners to this event, and we look forward to working with FMP and NGK to elevate the experience for everyone in Phoenix.”

To purchase tickets to the 41st annual FMP NHRA Arizona Nationals presented by NGK Spark Plugs, fans can visit www.nhra.com/tickets. For more information on the NHRA, please visit www.NHRA.com.

About Factory Motor Parts

Factory Motor Parts (FMP) is a leading global distributor of premium automotive parts, solutions, and services for professional repair shops, dealerships, fleets, and do-it-yourself customers. Founded in 1945, FMP has built its reputation on unmatched customer service, extensive product expertise, and a commitment to quality that drives performance for partners across North America.

FMP is the parent company of FVP, a trusted brand of high-performance automotive products including FVP Batteries, the Official Battery of the NHRA. FVP delivers proven reliability, OE-level performance, and nationwide availability to keep drivers, teams, and fans powered with confidence.

To learn more, visit FactoryMotorParts.com or FVPParts.com.

About Niterra North America, Inc.

Founded in 1936, Niterra North America, Inc., formerly NGK Spark Plugs (U.S.A.), Inc., has been the world leader in technology, innovation, and world-class quality in designing spark plugs and oxygen sensors. Today, that tradition continues as they transform their organization’s business portfolio, expanding their core ceramic technologies, exploring capabilities beyond their traditional areas, and challenging themselves to develop solutions and services that use technologies to resolve social issues while contributing to a sustainable society.

NGK Spark Plugs has built a reputation for quality and reliability. As a result, the company will continue manufacturing ignition products under the trusted brand and sensor products under the NTK brand.

In North America, Niterra North America, Inc., is headquartered in Wixom, MI, and maintains manufacturing, inventory, and distribution facilities in Irvine, CA, and Sissonville, WV.

About Mission Foods

MISSION®, owned by GRUMA, S.A.B. de C.V., is the world’s leading brand for tortillas and wraps. MISSION® is also globally renowned for flatbreads, dips, salsas and Mexican food products. With presence in over 112 countries, MISSION® products are suited to the lifestyles and the local tastes of each country. With innovation and customer needs in mind, MISSION® focuses on the highest quality, authentic flavors, and providing healthy options that families and friends can enjoy together. For more information, please visit https://www.missionfoods.com/

About NHRA

NHRA is the primary sanctioning body for the sport of drag racing in the United States. NHRA presents 20 national events featuring the NHRA Mission Foods Drag Racing Series and NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, as well as the Congruity NHRA Pro Mod Drag Racing Series, NHRA Flexjet Factory Stock Showdown™, NHRA Holley EFI Factory X and Johnson’s Horsepowered Garage NHRA Mountain Motor Pro Stock at select national events. NHRA provides competition opportunities for drivers of all levels in the NHRA Summit Racing Series and NHRA Street Legal™. NHRA also offers the NHRA Jr. Street® program for teens and the Summit Racing Jr. Drag Racing League® for youth ages 5 to 17. With more than 100 Member Tracks, NHRA allows racers to compete at a variety of locations nationally and internationally. NHRA’s Youth and Education Services® (YES) Program reaches over 30,000 students annually to ignite their interest in automotive and racing related careers. NHRA’s streaming service, NHRA.tv®, allows fans to view all NHRA national events as well as exclusive features of the sport. In addition, NHRA owns and operates three racing facilities: Gainesville Raceway in Florida; Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park; and In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip in Southern California. For more information, log on to www.NHRA.com, or visit the official NHRA pages on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

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Motorsports

Sunoco makes full-time IndyCar return as primary partner for Ganassi in 2026

Published

3 hours ago

December 12, 2025

Your Sports Nation

One of the most symbolic brands in the history of motorsports is making its long-awaited full-time return as Sunoco joins Chip Ganassi Racing (CGR) in a multi-year agreement as the primary partner of the No. 8 Honda driven by Kyffin Simpson.

It marks the first time since 1973 that Sunoco, the largest independent fuel distributor in the Americas, has been a full season primary partner in the IndyCar Series. Sunoco was the primary fuel supplier of North America’s premier open-wheel championship from 2010-18, and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway from 2015-18.

“Sunoco has long been synonymous with performance and innovation, values that mirror the DNA of our team,” said CGR team owner Chip Ganassi. “To join forces with such an iconic brand and one with a storied legacy in IndyCar is truly special. This partnership reflects our shared drive to keep pushing boundaries, and we look forward to what we’ll accomplish together on and off the track.”

In joining CGR, Sunoco partners with a team that is coming off a stout 2025 season in which Alex Palou, Scott Dixon and Simpson combined for nine wins (including the Indianapolis 500), six poles and 17 podiums, along with the IndyCar title.

The 21-year-old Simpson, who is fresh off a sophomore campaign that featured a first career podium (Toronto) along with three top fives, joins a short list of legendary names that have driven with the Sunoco colors.

Roger Penske; Mark Donohue

Photo by: IndyCar Series

The legendary Mark Donohue first drove the No. 12 Sunoco Eagle in 1968 at Riverside, and together won a maiden Indy 500 four years later in 1972. The likes of Gary Bettenhausen, Tony Kanaan, NASCAR legend Bobby Allison and current IndyCar on FOX analyst Townsend Bell have also made appearances in Sunoco-backed entries.

“Starting my third year in IndyCar with Sunoco joining the No. 8 Honda is an incredible boost,” Simpson said. “We’ve made big strides on the track, and this partnership will only help us get better. I’m confident we can take another step forward and have even more success in 2026 and beyond.”