Connect with us
https://yoursportsnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/call-to-1.png

Motorsports

A Tasting Menu is Coming to the NASCAR Track in Chicago

What’s more thrilling than a high-speed NASCAR race? How about carb-loading right where the cars take off? This summer, Chicago Gourmet is rolling out one of its most daring (and delicious) experiences yet: a five-course Italian tasting menu served smack on the NASCAR Chicago Street Race track. On Wednesday, July 2, from 6 p.m. to 9 […]

Published

on


What’s more thrilling than a high-speed NASCAR race? How about carb-loading right where the cars take off? This summer, Chicago Gourmet is rolling out one of its most daring (and delicious) experiences yet: a five-course Italian tasting menu served smack on the NASCAR Chicago Street Race track.

On Wednesday, July 2, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., the race’s start/finish line will transform into the city’s most unexpected fine-dining venue, blending Michelin-caliber cuisine with pit-lane vibes. As part of the Chicago Gourmet Festival’s new “Culinary World Series,” the event marks a high-octane kickoff to the city’s biggest food celebration and a once-in-a-lifetime chance to toast with wine where tires usually burn rubber.

RECOMMENDED: The 25 best restaurants in Chicago you have to try in 2025

The chef lineup is stacked with Chicago stars, including Fabio Viviani (Siena Tavern, Bar Siena), Tony Priolo (Piccolo Sogno), Joe Frillman and Leigh Omilinsky (Daisies) and Steve Maak (Levy Restaurants). The night’s theme: bold Italian flavors, dished out trackside with flair.

Diners can expect signature race-day cocktails from Jose Cuervo (the official tequila of the NASCAR Chicago Street Race, naturally) and a “Cup Series” of wine pairings from legendary Italian winery Marchesi Antinori. There’s even an emcee—culinary personality, Catherine De Orioto steer the evening along.

Tickets cost $250 per person, and proceeds benefit the Illinois Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, a nonprofit organization that supports the state’s hospitality workforce.

This isn’t Chicago Gourmet’s only sports-forward event this year. Friday, July 25, brings a Duck Dog face-off at the Crosstown Classic, and Wednesday, August 20 features a tribute dinner to Jackie Robinson led by chefs from Virtue.

But the NASCAR dinner is the wildest lap yet. Because why just watch a race, when you can eat a truffled raviolo where the rubber meets the road?



Link

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Motorsports

Kris Wright Slams The Gas Back With Venturini Motorsports

Alright, race fans, buckle up! Kris Wright is itching to hit the ARCA Menards Series tracks once again, and he’s reuniting with Venturini Motorsports for an action-packed hat trick of races. This isn’t just some casual comeback; it’s more like a “can’t-miss, grab-your-popcorn” event for anyone who loves a good ol’ underdog story. Wright’s been […]

Published

on


Alright, race fans, buckle up! Kris Wright is itching to hit the ARCA Menards Series tracks once again, and he’s reuniting with Venturini Motorsports for an action-packed hat trick of races. This isn’t just some casual comeback; it’s more like a “can’t-miss, grab-your-popcorn” event for anyone who loves a good ol’ underdog story. Wright’s been around the block in NASCAR’s Xfinity and Truck Series, not to mention his impressive work in sports car racing. But this time, he’s back to where he’s shone before—with Venturini.

What’s the Deal?

If you’re asking, “Why should I care?” then here’s a quick spoiler. Wright isn’t just showing up for the ARCA Menards Series this season; he’s gearing up for three high-stakes tracks. First up? The fast oval of Iowa Speedway on August 1. Then comes the twisting, turning challenge of Watkins Glen on August 8. Finally, he’ll wrap it up on the iconic Kansas Speedway on September 26.

Talk about diversity! This isn’t just another driver dipping their toe in part-time racing. Kris Wright is putting his skills to the test across a serious mix of track styles. Wright himself said, “The combination of Iowa, Watkins Glen, and Kansas gives me a great variety of tracks, and I’m confident we can go out and compete for wins.” Yeah, Kris, you better bring your A-game because these tracks don’t mess around.

Why Should You Root for Kris Wright

For starters, Kris Wright’s stats make a solid case. Across 35 ARCA starts, he’s snagged eight top-five finishes and twelve top-ten finishes. Doesn’t sound too shabby, right? Throw in his full-time 2024 season with Venturini Motorsports, where he finished third in the ARCA national driver championship standings, and you’ve got a racer who knows how to take care of business.

But what makes Wright so intriguing is his versatility. NASCAR Trucks? Check. IMSA Prototypes? Double check. ARCA oval racing? Been there, done that, and he’s still hungry for more. Wright isn’t just a driver; he’s the quintessential motorsport Swiss Army knife, ready to adapt and dominate wherever the team needs him.

Venturini Motorsports Packs a Punch

If you’re not familiar with Venturini Motorsports, here’s a PSA that might help. This isn’t some middling operation; they’re a premier team under the Toyota GAZOO Racing banner. Specializing in blending young talent with gritty veterans, the squad has a knack for punching above its weight. Wright returning to the fold is practically a match made in motorsport heaven. Pair a talented, experienced driver with a rock-solid team, and what do you get? A legit shot at taking the checkered flag—not once, but three times this season.

Mark Your Calendars

Oh, and just a reminder, since some of you are setting alarms for these races, Iowa Speedway is this weekend. Don’t sleep on it. Watkins Glen and Kansas will quickly follow, so it’s a blink-and-you ’ll-miss-it kind of situation. Whether he’s weaving through Watkins Glen’s unforgiving turns or gassing it down Kansas’ straights, Kris Wright entering the fray adds a much-needed spark to the competition. And if you’re someone who loves rooting for a multi-talented underdog, there couldn’t be a better time to jump on the Kris Wright train.

Final Thoughts

Kris Wright isn’t just circling the ARCA schedule in 2025 as a filler driver. No, this guy wants wins and knows how to chase them. Sure, the odds aren’t exactly stacked in his favor, but what’s racing without a bit of chaos? Venturini Motorsports offers him a proven platform; now it’s on Wright to deliver on all that pent-up potential. Keep your eyes peeled, NASCAR and ARCA fans! This three-race deal is going to be worth the hype. Will Wright go all-in and snag a win? Your guess is as good as ours, but one thing’s for sure—we’ll all be watching.





Link

Continue Reading

Motorsports

Front Row Motorsports: Iowa Speedway Competition Notes- Todd Gilliland

Todd Gilliland and the No. 34 Love’s Travel Stops Ford TeamIowa Speedway Competition NotesIowa Corn 350 Date: Sunday, August 3, 2025Event: Race 25 of 38Series: NASCAR Cup SeriesLocation: Iowa Speedway (0.875-miles)#of Laps: 350Time/TV/Radio: 3:30 PM ET on USA/MRN/SiriusXM channel 90 Todd Gilliland Notes Following a sixth-place finish at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and his third […]

Published

on


Todd Gilliland and the No. 34 Love’s Travel Stops Ford Team
Iowa Speedway Competition Notes
Iowa Corn 350

Date: Sunday, August 3, 2025
Event: Race 25 of 38
Series: NASCAR Cup Series
Location: Iowa Speedway (0.875-miles)
#of Laps: 350
Time/TV/Radio: 3:30 PM ET on USA/MRN/SiriusXM channel 90

Todd Gilliland Notes

Following a sixth-place finish at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and his third top-10 finish of the season, Todd Gilliland will now shift his focus to the Iowa Speedway. Gilliland has one previous start at the 0.875-mile, Newton, Iowa track, starting 14th and finishing 12th in 2024. In the NASCAR K&N Pro Series West, Gilliland has two wins in two starts at the track, capturing the checkered flag in 2016 and 2017.

Love’s Travel Stops returns to Gilliland’s Ford Mustang Dark Horse this weekend. Fans are encouraged to download the Love’s Connect App to unlock exclusive benefits and savings. This Summer, users can save 10¢ per gallon on gas and up to 25¢ per gallon on auto diesel, along with access to great mobile-only deals. Fans can download the app from Google Play and the Apple App Store.

“I’m feeling confident heading into Iowa,” said Gilliland. “We had a strong run at Indy, and that’s something we can build on. The season hasn’t quite lived up to expectations so far, but things are starting to click. The team’s finding its rhythm, and I think over the next few races, you’ll start to see a real shift in our performance.”

Road Crew

Driver: Todd Gilliland

Hometown: Sherrills Ford, North Carolina

Crew Chief: Chris Lawson

Hometown: Medway, Ohio

Car Chief: Joe Marra

Hometown: Somers, New York

Engineer: Marc Rullo

Hometown: Ringwood, New Jersey

Engineer: Kevyn Rebolledo

Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Spotter: Brit Andersen

Hometown: Branford, Connecticut

Underneath Mechanic: Michael Brookes

Hometown: Columbus, Ohio

Interior Mechanic: Chance Burke

Hometown: Siler City, North Carolina

Tire Specialist: Billy John

Hometown: Pitman, New Jersey

Engine Tuner: Tim Meyer

Hometown: Beatrice, Nebraska

Transporter Driver: Randy Bernier

Hometown: Mooresville, North Carolina

Pit Crew

Front Tire Changer: Danny Olszowy

Hometown: Lexington, Kentucky

Rear Tire Changer: Justin Fox

Hometown: Concord, North Carolina

Tire Carrier: Paul Steele

Hometown: Wichita, Kansas

Jackman: Landon Honeycutt

Hometown: Mount Pleasant, North Carolina

Fueler: Zeke Nance

Hometown: Calhoun, Georgia

ABOUT LOVE’S TRAVEL STOPS

Love’s has been fueling customers’ journeys since 1964. Innovation and perseverance continue to lead the way for the family-owned and -operated business headquartered in Oklahoma City with more than 40,000 team members in North America and Europe. The company’s core business is travel stops and convenience stores with 640 locations in 42 states. Love’s continues its commitment to offer products and services that provide value for professional drivers, fleets, four-wheel customers, RVers, alternative fuel and wholesale fuel customers. Giving back to communities Love’s serves and maintaining an inclusive and diverse workplace are hallmarks of the company’s award-winning culture.

ABOUT FRONT ROW MOTORSPORTS

Front Row Motorsports (FRM) is a winning organization in the NASCAR Cup and Craftsman Truck Series. The team is the 2021 Daytona 500 and 2022 Craftsman Truck Series champions. The team was founded in 2004 and is owned by successful entrepreneur, Bob Jenkins. FRM fields the No. 4, No. 34, and the No. 38 NASCAR Cup Series teams along with the No. 34 and No. 38 Craftsman Truck Series teams from its Mooresville, N.C. headquarters. Visit teamfrm.com and follow FRM on social media: Twitter at @Team_FRM, Instagram at @teamfrm and Facebook at facebook.com/FrontRowMotorsports.





Link

Continue Reading

Motorsports

National Motorsports Appeals Panel upholds penalty to No. 52 Truck team

The National Motorsports Appeals Panel upheld the penalty against the No. 52 Halmar Friesen Racing team after last weekend’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park. Stewart Friesen drove the truck to a third-place finish in Friday’s TSport 200, but in post-race inspection, it was discovered that his No. 52 Toyota […]

Published

on


The National Motorsports Appeals Panel upheld the penalty against the No. 52 Halmar Friesen Racing team after last weekend’s NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Lucas Oil Indianapolis Raceway Park.

Stewart Friesen drove the truck to a third-place finish in Friday’s TSport 200, but in post-race inspection, it was discovered that his No. 52 Toyota didn’t meet the height requirement, measuring too low in the front and the rear.

Advertisement

As a result, instead of a third-place finish, Friesen was dropped to 35th place and credited with just two points. Friesen, a winner in June at Michigan International Speedway, led 20 of 200 laps in Friday night‘s event.

In reaching Wednesday’s decision, the panel provided the following explanation: “The panel agrees that the team violated Rule 14.17.3.2.1.2.A. There was a part failure that is not known if it was intentional or unintentional, resulting in failure of front ride height.”

The Appeals Panel members for this hearing were Dixon Johnston, Bill Mullis and Tommy Wheeler.

Friesen was set to undergo surgery on Wednesday after he suffered fractures to his pelvis and right leg Monday in a Super DIRTcar Series race at Autodrome Drummond in Drummondville, Quebec, Canada. According to a social media post that his wife Jessica made on Tuesday, Friesen was in serious but stable condition.

This story will be updated.



Link

Continue Reading

Motorsports

HSR NASCAR Classic Presented by Goodyear Returns to VIRginia International Raceway

The HSR NASCAR Classic presented by Goodyear marks its first anniversary this September when it returns to the site of its series’ debut last year at VIRginia International Raceway (VIR). Officials from VIR and HSR announced that the HSR NASCAR Classic presented by Goodyear Celebration will be among the featured races at the HSR VIR […]

Published

on


The HSR NASCAR Classic presented by Goodyear marks its first anniversary this September when it returns to the site of its series’ debut last year at VIRginia International Raceway (VIR). Officials from VIR and HSR announced that the HSR NASCAR Classic presented by Goodyear Celebration will be among the featured races at the HSR VIR Historics, Sept. 5-7, on the 3.27-mile Southern Virginia road course.

The HSR VIR Historics is the first full-series HSR event on the competitor-favorite circuit since 2018, and the HSR NASCAR Classic presented by Goodyear series will be one of the main events in the race-weekend spotlight. The return engagement brings HSR NASCAR Classic back to the track where the series premiered last year in a support role on the IMSA Michelin GT Challenge race weekend.

Historic Sportscar Racing Growing in Popularity

Open to stock cars that have been retired from active competition, last year’s HSR NASCAR Classic presented by Goodyear introduction was in response to the increasing popularity of the Group 8 Historic Stock Cars category with HSR competitors and fans alike, company officials stated in a press release.

Historic #11 race car on racetrack

“The HSR NASCAR Classic series was a success last year on our IMSA Michelin GT Challenge weekend, and we expect the enthusiasm and following for the championship to be even stronger as part of the returning HSR VIR Historics,” said VIR owner and CEO Connie Nyholm. “We have been working closely with our friends and colleagues in Daytona Beach the last couple of years to bring a full HSR race weekend back to VIR, and we were finally able to make it happen, just in time for our 25th Anniversary, Reborn. The bonus comes with the addition of the new NASCAR Classic series to the weekend, which will be very popular with our race fans and competitors here in stock car country.”

Located just on the border of North Carolina, VIR is in a “target-rich” location due to the sheer number of NASCAR Classic eligible cars and loyal stock car racing fans in the surrounding and nearby regions, noted the release.

“We are so excited to return to VIR for a full weekend of HSR competition, including the HSR NASCAR Classic presented by Goodyear after last year’s outstanding series debut,” said HSR president John Doonan. “The three words that come to mind when I think of the NASCAR Classic presented by Goodyear Celebration at VIR are ‘location, location, location.’ This area is very much a part of the heart of the NASCAR community, and you even go through North Carolina a bit, just a couple of miles before the VIR main gate in the drive to the track. We are working closely with Connie Nyholm, Kerrigan Smith, and everyone on the VIR team to get the word out now on the VIR Historics and NASCAR Classic, and look forward to a great turnout of competitors and race fans in September at VIR.”

Event-Packed VIR Historics Weekend

The NASCAR Classic Celebration is among the headline events on the VIR Historics weekend that also includes HSR’s Run Group 4 division for historic open-wheel cars, points-paying rounds of the HSR WeatherTech Sprint and B.R.M. Endurance Challenge series, and feature series races such as the SascoSports International/American Challenge presented by Hoosier and HSR Global GT.

A private test day for HSR competitors on Thursday, September 4, sets the stage for three full days of official competition at VIR, Friday through Sunday.

Next up for the HSR NASCAR Classic presented by Goodyear is the Go Bowling at The Glen full NASCAR event at Watkins Glen International, Aug. 8-9. This year’s race marks the third-straight appearance for HSR historic stock cars on the New York track’s NASCAR weekend, following last year’s NASCAR Classic debut and a demonstration race in 2023.



Link

Continue Reading

Motorsports

Bomb threat at Trackside Motorsports prompts evacuation in Lincoln Township | News

LINCOLN TOWNSHIP, Wis. – On Wednesday July 30, Vilas County Dispatch received a bomb threat at Trackside Motorsports near Eagle River. An individual claimed a bomb was placed inside and threatened to detonate it if law enforcement arrived. Authorities evacuated the area and set up a perimeter. Phone calls with the suspect revealed he was […]

Published

on








Bomb Threat

LINCOLN TOWNSHIP, Wis. – On Wednesday July 30, Vilas County Dispatch received a bomb threat at Trackside Motorsports near Eagle River. An individual claimed a bomb was placed inside and threatened to detonate it if law enforcement arrived.

Authorities evacuated the area and set up a perimeter. Phone calls with the suspect revealed he was not nearby, and deputies found no devices in the building.

Simultaneously, a separate incident occurred in Eagle River. Teenagers were seen waving BB guns from a vehicle, leading to a traffic stop near Trackside. Despite the proximity, the two events were unrelated.

Both incidents are being investigated by the Vilas County Sheriff’s Office and the Eagle River Police Department.



Link

Continue Reading

Motorsports

Kaulig Racing parts ways with Xfinity Series driver Josh Williams

Josh Williams is no longer with Kaulig Racing, the team announced Wednesday. The team stated that it will continue to field the No. 11 car in the Xfinity Series with multiple drivers the rest of the season. The team announced Wednesday afternoon that Carson Hocevar would drive the No. 11 car at Iowa in the […]

Published

on


Josh Williams is no longer with Kaulig Racing, the team announced Wednesday.

The team stated that it will continue to field the No. 11 car in the Xfinity Series with multiple drivers the rest of the season.

The team announced Wednesday afternoon that Carson Hocevar would drive the No. 11 car at Iowa in the Xfinity race.

Syndication: The Indianapolis Star

Austin Hill will miss Saturday’s Xfinity race at Iowa Speedway.

Williams, who turns 32 on Sunday, had been with the team since last season. In 54 races at Kaulig Racing, Williams had no wins, no top-five finishes and six top 10s. He placed 18th in the points last year and is 19th in the standings this season.

Williams has 240 career Xfinity starts with 17 top-10 finishes.

In a statement posted on social media, Williams wrote: “As most of you have seen, Kaulig Racing has made the decision to release me for the remainder of the season. This has been a difficult day for my family, friends, long-time partners and fans, whom I can’t thank enough for standing by my side through all of this. We will be back soon and looking forward to a much brighter chapter in my racing career. I wish nothing but the best for my guys on the 11 team.”





Link

Continue Reading

Most Viewed Posts

Trending