BOZEMAN — Winter has arrived on the calendar, but on the ground in Bozeman, snow has been hard to find.

What little snow has fallen so far this season hasn’t been enough for many of the winter sports Montanans typically enjoy this time of year.

Compared to late November, when snow briefly covered the valley, current conditions look noticeably bare.

Justin Schroeder, finance manager at Summit Motorsports, says winter hasn’t even begun.

“This is the craziest year I’ve seen. I’ve lived in Montana a lot of my life,” Schroeder said.

Schroeder says winter usually brings a steady rush of snowmobile riders by October. The rush hasn’t happened this year.

“Luckily, Cooke City is getting some snow, so we have people that are still headed out there,” Schroeder said. “But not at the volume that we’re used to seeing.”

Summit Motorsports sells everything from snowmobiles to dirt bikes and UTVs, catering to a wide range of Montana outdoor enthusiasts. But with thin snowpack across much of southwest Montana, snowmobile sales have been slower than usual.

“Last thing I want to do is be sitting on a whole bunch of snowmobiles that are carrying over into next year,” Schroeder said.

Beyond the impact on sales, Schroeder warns that current riding conditions can be dangerous. Thin snow cover can expose rocks, debris, and unstable terrain, increasing the risk of damage and injury.

“Risk of not just avalanche danger, but dangers on the trails as well,” Schroeder said. “Hooking an A-arm, breaking your machine.”

He says riders have already brought in snowmobiles damaged by poor conditions and urges anyone heading out to prioritize safety, including carrying proper avalanche gear.

“We are here to make sure everybody stays safe this season,” Schroeder said.

Until more snow arrives, businesses and riders alike are waiting for winter to truly show up.

“We are all praying for the snow gods to drop it on us,” Schroeder said.

The antitrust lawsuit between 23XI Racing, Front Row Motorsports, and NASCAR is over, and while the trial ended in a settlement last week, it was rather clear-cut that the teams held a significant advantage in the courtroom through the nine days of what became known as “NASCOURT”.

Now that the trial has concluded, Denny Hamlin has been given the green light to freely post at will on social media, and on Tuesday morning, the 60-time NASCAR Cup Series race-winning driver was in no mood to hide his feelings about how the legal situation was covered by Larry McReynolds and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio after 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports filed the lawsuit against NASCAR in 2024.

Heading into Tuesday morning’s edition of “On Track”, Larry McReynolds took to his personal X account to say good morning to his followers and to let them know what was coming on the show throughout the day. Little did McReynolds know that this social media post would be the catalyst for the biggest moment on social media revolving around NASCAR throughout the day.

“Good Morning! At 11am/ET this morning join @BradGillie & LarryMac28 for “On Track” on @SiriusXMNASCAR Channel 90,” McReynolds posted. “Dylan Cappello with @Team_FRM joins us PLUS, we’re playing a game called Higher or Lower! #NASCAR”

Good Morning! At 11am/ET this morning Join @BradGillie & @LarryMac28 for “On Track” on @SiriusXMNASCAR Channel 90! Dylan Cappello with @Team_FRM joins us PLUS, we’re playing a game called Higher or Lower! #NASCAR

— Larry McReynolds (@LarryMac28) December 16, 2025

At 8:11 AM ET, Hamlin fired back with a couple of tweets calling into question how SiriusXM NASCAR Radio and McReynolds, specifically, handled the coverage of the antitrust lawsuit.

“Good morning,” Hamlin replied to McReynolds. “Now that the case is settled and the evidence is out will you or anyone on channel 90 be issuing an apology for what you all said about 23XI/FRM when the lawsuit was filed?”

Good morning. Now that the case is settled and the evidence is out will you or anyone on channel 90 be issuing an apology for what you all said about 23XI/FRM when the lawsuit was filed?

— Denny Hamlin (@dennyhamlin) December 16, 2025

Hamlin then busted out the receipts in another response, “I believe it was ‘how dare them for trying to come in and change the sport. 23XI hasn’t been around long enough and FRM wasn’t good enough’. Also how about ‘I don’t know what their problem is, 13 other teams signed it’. Just to name a few examples.”

I believe it was “how dare them for trying to come in and change the sport. 23XI hasn’t been around long enough and FRM wasn’t good enough”. Also how about “ I dont know what their problem is, 13 other teams signed it”. Just to name a few examples.

— Denny Hamlin (@dennyhamlin) December 16, 2025

Bust out the Friday “DAAAAMN!” meme, because Hamlin was ready to pounce.

Later, Brad Gillie, McReynolds’ co-host, quote-posted Hamlin’s original response to McReynolds and said, “I realize you’re responding to Larry, but shouldn’t we let the animosity end? I would love to see us all positively move the sport forward with unity and grace.”

Hamlin would respond with one sentence to Gillie.

“Animosity ends with accountability,” Hamlin said.

Animosity ends with accountability.

— Denny Hamlin (@dennyhamlin) December 16, 2025

Hamlin received a fair share of fans agreeing with his response, as well as others who were not on board with him publicly berating McReynolds and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio for their opinion heading into the trial. However, when X user @BillEarly asked Hamlin why an apology was required, Hamlin said that reality didn’t line up at all with the narrative that was allegedly being peddled by the SiriusXM NASCAR Radio.

“Well because I believe that once the actual facts and documents were released it was contradictory to the narrative that was being pushed,” Hamlin stated. “Larry is a very hard working analyst. Hopefully he took the time to analyze the situation post settlement and revise his thoughts.”

Well because I believe that once the actual facts and documents were released it was contradictory to the narrative that was being pushed. Larry is a very hard working analyst. Hopefully he took the time to analyze the situation post settlement and revise his thoughts.

— Denny Hamlin (@dennyhamlin) December 16, 2025

While the full financial terms of the settlement will likely never be fully known, NASCAR reportedly chose to meet a lot of demands by the teams in an effort to settle the lawsuit after nine days of battling in Federal Court in Charlotte, NC.

Among the things that were awarded to the teams were “Evergreen” Charters, which are essentially permanent Charters provided teams don’t violate the terms of the Charter Agreement. If teams are found in violation of the Charter Agreement, they will be given time to sell their Charters rather than having them taken from them.

Additionally, 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports had their Charters, which expired when they didn’t sign the 2025 Charter Agreement, restored.

While the antitrust lawsuit is without a doubt the big sticking point in Hamlin’s clapbacks to McReynolds on Tuesday, there has been more bad blood between the two over the last year. On SiriusXM NASCAR Radio earlier this year, McReynolds claimed that Hamlin, who was a member of NASCAR’s Playoff Committee, shouldn’t have a say in what the Playoff format is because he hadn’t won a championship.

This led to a lot of backlash on social media, as McReynolds wasn’t clear that he was speaking about Hamlin, and many assumed he meant Mark Martin, who was also on the Playoff Committee. The heat didn’t dial down when it was revealed McReynolds was talking about Hamlin, and it was seen as an interesting comment from a crew chief who never won a championship in his years on the pit box.

Perhaps McReynolds can issue an apology to Hamlin, and the two can begin to see eye-to-eye and repair their relationship, which has been publicly strained over the last year.

What’s Happening?

Arby’s is taking its NASCAR sponsorship in a new direction, announcing a mega deal with JR Motorsports that will see the brand serve as primary sponsor for eight different races during the 2026 NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series season.

NASCAR Studios today announced Kid Racers, an original feature-length documentary capturing one of the most raw, electric, and little-known corners of American motorsports. The film debuts Wednesday, December 17 at 7 p.m. ET, airing live and exclusively on The NASCAR Channel.

Filmed at the legendary Millbridge Speedway in Salisbury, N.C., Kid Racers follows five families and their fearless 8-and 9-year-old racers as they chase dreams on a red-clay track that has become a proving ground for NASCAR’s next generation. These kids, fresh out of car seats and already piloting winged Outlaw karts at 45–55 miles per hour, go head-to-head with the children of NASCAR greats including Kyle Busch, Kyle Larson, and Clint Bowyer. At Millbridge, the message is universal: “If you can win here, you can win anywhere.”

“Kid Racers shines a light on one of the most authentic and emotionally charged corners of our sport, where passion is born, families rally together, and the next generation of NASCAR talent takes shape,” said John Dahl, NASCAR SVP of Content. “This documentary captures the heart of our sport and we’re proud to debut it on The NASCAR Channel.”

The film spotlights five unforgettable young competitors:

• Tanner Tucker, the fierce 2022 season champion carrying his father’s unfinished NASCAR dream.
• Giselle Hicks, a fourth-generation racer learning to rise above doubt in a male-dominated class.
• Jackson Darnell, the analytical “nicest guy on the track,” with the instincts of a future broadcaster.
• Gabe Yacono, the track’s beloved sportsman, racing for the joy and community it brings.
• Chase DeMarco, a multi-talented racer and diehard fan overcoming late-season setbacks.

Kid Racers is directed by Cynthia Hill, the Peabody Award–winning and Emmy-nominated filmmaker known for several documentary projects including A Chef’s Life, Burden of Proof, Road to Race Day, and What Happened, Brittany Murphy?. It is executive produced by Tim Clark, John Dahl and Tally Hair from NASCAR Studios, and produced by Sandra Davidson.

The NASCAR Channel is NASCAR’s free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) network. It offers 24/7 programming with no subscription required and is available on The Roku Channel, Xumo Play, Tubi, Samsung TV Plus and Prime Video.

NASCAR PR

Chase Elliott’s No. 9 Chevrolet will look noticeably different when it hits the track next season, marking a dramatic visual shift tied to one of NASCAR’s most significant commercial partnerships.

Amazon Prime Video’s evolving role in the sport has now extended beyond broadcasts and into a refreshed paint scheme that reflects the streaming giant’s serious investment in NASCAR’s future.

Amazon Prime Video joined Hendrick Motorsports as a primary sponsor for Elliott beginning in 2025, aligning with its arrival as NASCAR’s first fully direct-to-consumer media partner, a move that sparked strong reactions from fans during its Coca-Cola 600 broadcast debut.

That debut scheme leaned heavily on blue and clean lines, making it instantly recognizable but also drawing comparisons to other similarly colored cars in the field. For 2026, those similarities are gone.

The updated design introduces darker tones, including black accents and added contrast, giving the car more depth and a sharper presence on track.

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The new look mirrors Prime Video’s expanding footprint in the Cup Series. The streamer will once again serve as a primary sponsor for select races, including Talladega, Texas and the All-Star Race, while continuing as a major broadcast partner.

Prime Video’s Cup Series coverage begins during the heart of the season, and the No. 9 car will again be used as a rolling promotion for the races carried exclusively on the platform.

Elliott has been a natural fit for a partner aiming to reach NASCAR’s broad and loyal fan base. The 30-year-old remains the series’ most popular driver, a title he has held every year since 2018.

He is also a former Cup Series champion with 19 career points-paying wins and a reputation for consistency that keeps him in the playoff conversation year after year.

On the track, Elliott is coming off a solid 2025 season that included two victories and steady week-to-week results. Over the last two years, he has finished outside the top 20 only eight times, with just three of those coming in races where he avoided a DNF.

That level of reliability continues to separate the No. 9 team from much of the field, even as Hendrick Motorsports teammates Kyle Larson and William Byron have often grabbed more of the spotlight.

Much of Elliott’s recent stretch has been about reestablishing momentum after setbacks earlier in the decade, including the leg injury that disrupted his 2023 season and the ongoing challenge of adapting to NASCAR’s Next Gen car.

Prime Video 2026 Primary Sponsorship Schedule

• April 26: Talladega Superspeedway
• May 3: Texas Motor Speedway
• May 17: All-Star Race at Dover Motor Speedway

The look for the No. 9 Prime Video Chevrolet has a noticeably darker palette this year, as the front and back of the car carry a black base coat. In the center of the doors of the car is the iconic Prime Video blue, and between the jagged design of blue and the black base coat are hints of the NASCAR red and yellow colors flowing through the design.

It’s a drastic change from last year’s paint scheme, which carried more Prime Video blue and white accents.

Last year, Elliott carried the Prime Video colors at Talladega Superspeedway, where he finished fifth, the All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway, where he notched a fifth-place result, and at Kansas Speedway, where he came home 15th.

Elliott will look to snag the first NASCAR Cup Series win for the NASCAR Broadcasting Partner in his three-race stint in 2026.

In 2025, Elliott recorded his first multi-win season in the NASCAR Cup Series since 2022, as he collected wins at his home track, EchoPark Speedway in Atlanta, and Kansas Speedway in the Fall. Elliott would finish the campaign with an eighth-place ranking in the NASCAR Cup Series championship standings.

Heading into the 2026 season, Elliott has amassed 358 career starts in the NASCAR Cup Series, and to date, he has 21 wins, 115 top-five finishes, and 190 top-10s. The son of NASCAR Hall of Famer Bill Elliott was the champion of the NASCAR Cup Series during the 2020 season.