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After a breakout debut at the 2024 Festival where Scott Speed and the blistering WRX: Project Midnight recorded the fastest internal combustion engine (ICE) time and ran neck-and-neck with electric competitors boasting triple the power, the duo is back for 2025. “Project Midnight is an amazing car,” says Speed. “And Goodwood is a special event. I can’t wait to run it up that hill again!” The car is brutally loud, shooting flames out of the hood as it charges toward its nearly 10,000 rpm redline—an unmistakable presence on the hill.

No Festival of Speed would be complete without Subaru Motorsports USA driver and extreme sports icon Travis Pastrana, who this year returns to the gravel on Goodwood’s storied rally stage behind the wheel of the class-leading WRX ARA25. With his characteristic energy and flair, Pastrana is set to thrill in the American Rally Association (ARA) Open 4WD class car.

“I’m stoked to be in the O4WD car again!” Pastrana says. “It’ll take a second to get used to it, but I always have fun driving for that crowd. We’re gonna have a great time!“

As Goodwood celebrates thirty years since Colin McRae’s title-winning season, Subaru’s presence on the rally stage carries added weight. With several of McRae’s own cars running alongside the WRX ARA25, the moment is both a tribute and a reminder: the spirit that defined an era continues today—loud, fast, and still wearing the same iconic colors.

With the crowd still buzzing from last year’s record-setting runs, anticipation is high for Project Midnight’s return to the hill. From classic motorsport icons and rare hypercars to experimental hybrids and full-electric mobility platforms, the 2025 Festival promises a lineup as diverse as ever. And with Formula 1’s 75th anniversary as a central theme, fans can expect to see legends of speed from every corner of the racing world.

Follow Subaru Motorsports USA on Facebook, on Instagram @subarumotorsportsusa, and TikTok @subarumotorsportsusa to stay in touch with all the happenings as Speed and Pastrana take on the 2025 Goodwood Festival of Speed July 10-13.

About Subaru Motorsports USA
Subaru Motorsports USA is directed by Subaru of America, Inc., managed by Vermont SportsCar and proudly supported by MOTUL, Yokohama Tires, R53 Suspension, Triple-R Lights, DirtFish Rally School, and Sparco USA. Follow the team online at www.subaru.com/motorsports.

Follow Subaru Motorsports USA on Facebook, on Instagram @subarumotorsportsusa, and on TikTok @subarumotorsportsusa. 

About Subaru of America, Inc.
Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Subaru Corporation of Japan. Headquartered at a zero-landfill office in Camden, N.J., the company markets and distributes Subaru vehicles, parts, and accessories through a network of more than 630 retailers across the United States. All Subaru products are manufactured in zero-landfill plants and Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc. is the only U.S. automobile manufacturing plant to be designated a backyard wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. SOA is guided by the Subaru Love Promise, which is the company’s vision to show love and respect to everyone, and to support its communities and customers nationwide. Over the past 20 years, SOA and the SOA Foundation have donated more than $300 million to causes the Subaru family cares about, and its employees have logged nearly 88,000 volunteer hours. As a company, Subaru believes it is important to do its part in making a positive impact in the world because it is the right thing to do. For additional information visit media.subaru.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

James Tate
Motorsports Marketing Manager
Subaru of America, Inc.
(856) 488-8622
[email protected]

Dominick Infante
Director, Corporate Communications
Subaru of America, Inc.
(856) 488-8615 [email protected]

SOURCE Subaru of America, Inc.

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Shane van Gisbergen remains near-unstoppable on the streets of Chicago. In five starts between the Xfinity and Cup Series, he has won four of them. The only race he attempted but didn’t manage to win was the Cup race in 2024, and that’s because he got wrecked out of the event.

With his latest victory, he joins Denny Hamlin, Kyle Larson, and Christopher Bell as the only drivers with multiple Cup wins this year. That means he is also the winningest driver at Trackhouse this season, as Ross Chastain has one win (the Coke 600) while Daniel Suarez has none so far.

But this victory was also historic in several other meaningful ways. Here’s a look at some of the history the New Zealander is making as he dominates the road and street course scene in NASCAR:

The winningest foreign-born driver … ever

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Photo by: Chris Graythen – Getty Images

SVG won on debut at Chicago in 2023. Since then, he also won the inaugural Cup race in Mexico City earlier this year and now Chicago once again. With those three Cup wins, he has become the winningest foreign-born driver in the history of the NASCAR Cup Series. Juan Pablo Montoya, Daniel Suarez and fellow Supercars ace Marcos Ambrose all have two wins each.

Most wins by a rookie in nearly 20 years

SVG is a rookie in the NASCAR Cup Series and will likely collect Rookie of the Year honors. But with his two wins this season, he joins rare company. It’s the most wins by a Cup driver in their rookie season since Denny Hamlin in 2006. That year, Hamlin won two races, and with three more road courses on the 2025 schedule, SVG could absolutely beat that. The last time a Cup rookie won three races in their rookie season? That would be Tony Stewart back in 1999.

Matching Tony Stewart’s win rate right out of the gate

Shane van Gisbergen, Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet

Photo by: James Gilbert / Getty Images

While SVG continues to slowly improve on ovals, his road course abilities have already got him winning at a rate equal to that of a three-time champion. Both Tony Stewart in 1999 and SVG in 2025 won three races in their first 33 starts. Since Stewart’s rookie season in ’99, only seven-time series champion Jimmie Johnson in 2003 reached three Cup wins faster than that (16 races), so it’s great company to be in.

A very rare kind of weekend sweep

Sweeping a NASCAR weekend is hard enough, but to earn pole position AND win both races is another level of domination. SVG did just that this past weekend, winning from pole in Saturday’s Xfinity race before doing it again in Sunday’s Cup race. The last driver to do that was Kyle Busch at Indianapolis in 2016. Busch and SVG are now the only two drivers to have ever accomplished this feat.

The legendary Goodwood Festival of Speed (FOS) returns July 10–13, and Subaru Motorsports USA is set to make its mark once again. With a proven track record and fan-favorite drivers at the helm, the team is coming back to the South of England with eyes on the podium—and continuing a lineage that helped shape rally history.

[Scott Speed fires WRX: Project Midnight up the legendary hill at the Goodwood Festival of Speed]

After a breakout debut at the 2024 Festival where Scott Speed and the blistering WRX: Project Midnight recorded the fastest internal combustion engine (ICE) time and ran neck-and-neck with electric competitors boasting triple the power, the duo is back for 2025. “Project Midnight is an amazing car,” says Speed. “And Goodwood is a special event. I can’t wait to run it up that hill again!” The car is brutally loud, shooting flames out of the hood as it charges toward its nearly 10,000 rpm redline—an unmistakable presence on the hill.

No Festival of Speed would be complete without Subaru Motorsports USA driver and extreme sports icon Travis Pastrana, who this year returns to the gravel on Goodwood’s storied rally stage behind the wheel of the class-leading WRX ARA25. With his characteristic energy and flair, Pastrana is set to thrill in the American Rally Association (ARA) Open 4WD class car.

“I’m stoked to be in the O4WD car again!” Pastrana says. “It’ll take a second to get used to it, but I always have fun driving for that crowd. We’re gonna have a great time!”

As Goodwood celebrates thirty years since Colin McRae’s title-winning season, Subaru’s presence on the rally stage carries added weight. With several of McRae’s own cars running alongside the WRX ARA25, the moment is both a tribute and a reminder: the spirit that defined an era continues today—loud, fast, and still wearing the same iconic colors.

With the crowd still buzzing from last year’s record-setting runs, anticipation is high for Project Midnight’s return to the hill. From classic motorsport icons and rare hypercars to experimental hybrids and full-electric mobility platforms, the 2025 Festival promises a lineup as diverse as ever. And with Formula 1’s 75th anniversary as a central theme, fans can expect to see legends of speed from every corner of the racing world.

Follow Subaru Motorsports USA on Facebook, on Instagram @subarumotorsportsusa, and TikTok @subarumotorsportsusa to stay in touch with all the happenings as Speed and Pastrana take on the 2025 Goodwood Festival of Speed July 10-13.

Subaru Motorsports PR

Shane van Gisbergen Makes NASCAR History with Record-Breaking Win in Chicago

Reigning supreme at the 2025 Grant Park 165, Shane van Gisbergen has etched his name in NASCAR history books by matching a milestone set by the legendary Jimmie Johnson. The New Zealander’s spectacular performance not only secured a dominant victory in Chicago but also saw him equal a record untouched since Johnson’s rookie year, underlining his meteoric rise in the NASCAR Cup Series.

In just his 33rd career start, SVG clinched his third Cup Series win, mirroring Johnson’s early-career success in 2002. The official NASCAR handle hailed his achievement, highlighting him as the fastest driver to reach three wins since the seven-time champion. This feat places Shane van Gisbergen among the elite names of NASCAR’s modern era, standing shoulder to shoulder with the likes of Tony Stewart, who accomplished a similar feat in his debut season back in 1999.

Van Gisbergen’s unparalleled 3-in-33 record now ranks him alongside racing greats like Stewart, Carl Edwards, Kevin Harvick, and other NASCAR legends who have left an indelible mark on the sport. His latest victory at the Grant Park 165 showcased his prowess in controlling chaotic street courses, further solidifying his reputation as a force to be reckoned with on the track.

The race at Grant Park was a moment of triumph for Shane van Gisbergen and Trackhouse Racing, as he maneuvered his way to the front of the pack with confidence and skill. Overcoming challenges and seizing the lead on Lap 60, SVG held off fierce competition to emerge victorious, ultimately capturing his second Cup win at Chicago and his fourth overall at the street circuit.

Not only did Van Gisbergen secure a historic win, but he also secured his position as the most successful foreign-born driver in Cup Series history, surpassing notable names like Marcos Ambrose and Earl Ross. His post-race remarks reflected his gratitude for the opportunity to leave a lasting impact on the sport and pave the way for future generations of foreign drivers in NASCAR.

With this latest triumph, Shane van Gisbergen has solidified his status as a rising star in the NASCAR Cup Series, setting the stage for further victories and milestones in his promising career. As he continues to dominate both road courses and ovals, all eyes are on Van Gisbergen as he carves out his legacy in the world of professional racing.

Deputies with the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office arrested a 27-year-old Pensacola man July 5 after he allegedly shot his uncle.

NASCAR fans thought they were getting the ultimate throwback moment when Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s name appeared as Connor Zilisch’s crew chief on the official entry list. The buzz lasted exactly one day before reality crashed the party.

With Chicago’s double-header in the rearview mirror, NASCAR heads to California’s Sonoma Mountains for another road course challenge. However, amid all the buildup for this weekend’s technical test, fans got distracted by something unexpected.

Was Dale Earnhardt Jr. Really Making His Crew Chief Comeback?

Yesterday, NASCAR released the official entry list for this weekend’s Xfinity Series race, the FoodMaxx 250. Among the 39 entries, one detail next to Zilisch’s name jumped off the page. The list showed Earnhardt as the crew chief for the No. 88 team, sending fans into an absolute frenzy.

Social media exploded with speculation about the two-time Daytona 500 winner’s possible return to the pit box. The idea of the JR Motorsports owner calling the shots again felt almost too good to be true.

Unfortunately for fans hoping for a nostalgic moment, that instinct proved correct.

What Really Happened With the Entry List Mix-Up?

Racing journalist Toby Christie quickly poured cold water on the excitement, confirming that Earnhardt’s listing was nothing more than a clerical error. Christie wrote, “JR Motorsports has confirmed the listing of Dale Earnhardt Jr. as Connor Zilisch’s crew chief on the entry list was a mistake, and Earnhardt will not serve as the crew chief this weekend.”

JR Motorsports has confirmed the listing of Dale Earnhardt Jr. as Connor Zilisch’s crew chief on the entry list was a mistake, and Earnhardt will not serve as the crew chief this weekend.

— Toby Christie (@Toby_Christie) July 7, 2025

FOX’s Bob Pockrass backed up the report, sharing the corrected entry list and explaining how the mistake happened. Pockrass noted, “DaleJr is not crew chief for Zilisch this weekend. I believe what happens is with the electronic entry list when you fill it in, there are drop downs and since now that he is in the system, just a miscue on the entry list.”

The veteran reporter also confirmed that Mardy Lindley, Zilisch’s regular No. 88 crew chief, will handle the duties for this weekend’s Xfinity race. This clears up any confusion about who’s actually calling the shots from the pit box.

The mix-up makes more sense when you consider Earnhardt’s recent crew chief experience. A few weeks ago, Lindley served a one-race suspension for an incident at Nashville, which opened the door for Earnhardt’s crew chief debut. During that Pocono appearance, the 50-year-old didn’t just fill in. He helped guide Zilisch to victory lane.

While the idea of Earnhardt returning to the pit box remains exciting for fans, this weekend’s entry list drama was ultimately just a computer glitch, not a comeback story.