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Dublin Native Caleb Williams Reflects on Racing Journey Ahead of LIUNA 150 – 41NBC News

LIME ROCK PARK, Connecticut- (41NBC/WMGT) – As the engines rev for the inaugural LiUNA 500, Dublin native Caleb Williams prepares for another intense NASCAR weekend, but his path to this moment has been anything but conventional. Williams, a 2020 Georgia Southern graduate with a degree in mechanical engineering, grew up immersed in the world of […]

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LIME ROCK PARK, Connecticut- (41NBC/WMGT) – As the engines rev for the inaugural LiUNA 500, Dublin native Caleb Williams prepares for another intense NASCAR weekend, but his path to this moment has been anything but conventional.

Williams, a 2020 Georgia Southern graduate with a degree in mechanical engineering, grew up immersed in the world of racing. Dirt tracks around his hometown and weekends spent with racing buddies sparked an early love for the sport.

“Growing up in Dublin, I’ve kind of been interested in racing… I was always a fan,” Williams said. “We had dirt tracks around our area… and that’s where I first started getting my feet wet. Probably not going to make it happen for me as a race car driver, so I was like, well, maybe this is my opportunity to still get my hands on the cars, have an impact on a team.”

After graduating from West Laurens High School, Williams found direction through Georgia Southern’s Formula SAE program, a national engineering competition that gave students the chance to design, build, and race their own cars.

“We get sponsorships, proposals, get more funding for your program, spend that budget and come up with the best design,” he said. “At the end of the year, we always got to go compete and put the car on track.”

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Williams said he struggled to maintain motivation after graduation, until he landed an interview with Niece Motorsports, who hired him on the spot. He immediately dropped out of graduate school and moved to North Carolina to pursue his dream.

“These drivers that I’m working with now, definitely a step up from anything I’ve ever experienced,” he said. “They are the best at what they do in the country. It really just pushes us more to always be on our game.”

Williams now plays a crucial role as an engineer with Front Row Motorsports, where he’s helping lead efforts for Chandler Smith’s No. 38 truck in the Craftsman Truck Series. The switch to Smith’s crew was a personal and professional decision.

“I’ve been at Front Row… this was my third year there, and I had the opportunity to be with Todd Gilliland in the 38 Cup Series,” Williams said. “Over the winter, they decided to add another Craftsman truck… and they told us about Chandler Smith, he’s from Georgia as well. I just wanted to switch it up this year, get some more wins under my belt and get a championship.”

With the LiUNA 500 set to go green Saturday at 1 p.m., Williams broke down what race weekends typically look like from the engineering side.

“We’ll have a practice session… I’ll usually recommend [setup] changes to my crew chief, and any changes the driver gives me on feedback, we will all recommend,” he explained. “Friday night, the guys will get the truck cleaned up, put back together for technical inspection. Then Saturday morning, we’ll go in and qualify, and we’ll race Saturday and fly back shortly after that.”

Now operating at the highest level of American motorsports, Williams hasn’t forgotten his roots in Middle Georgia.

“I’m sure a lot of kids can relate with me where I was at that time. I could never have seen it working out the way it has,” he said. “But just stay the course and work hard, you can get very far. Even from Dublin, there’s no telling where you may end up.”

Fans can watch Williams and Front Row Motorsports in action as Chandler Smith drives the No. 38 truck at Lime Rock Park for the LiUNA 500 on Saturday at 1 p.m.





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Turner Motorsports Develops Drivers – SPEED SPORT

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Most Formula 1 teams and a few of the larger NASCAR organizations have created driver development programs to identify and provide opportunity to what they hope will be the stars of the future. Will Turner and Turner Motorsport are applying the same principle across IMSA’s diverse sports car racing platform that […]

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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Most Formula 1 teams and a few of the larger NASCAR organizations have created driver development programs to identify and provide opportunity to what they hope will be the stars of the future.

Will Turner and Turner Motorsport are applying the same principle across IMSA’s diverse sports car racing platform that includes the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, the Michelin Pilot Challenge and the VP Racing SportsCar Challenge.

At the upcoming Michelin GT Challenge weekend at Virginia International Raceway, all three programs are in action on the same weekend for only the second time this season.

Since 1998, Turner Motorsport has fielded BMWs in more races than any other team in the world, and with great success, winning 10 championships.

For eras spanning more than two decades, Turner’s anchor driver was Bill Auberlen, IMSA’s all-time record holder with 65 race wins in IMSA’s top-level series.

In 2018, Turner paired Auberlen, then 49, with 23-year-old Robby Foley for a partial season in the Grand Touring Daytona class of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

From 2019-22, they formed an effective full-time partnership. They won seven races and finished in the top five of the GTD standings every year, including runner-up in 2019.

As a result of their success, Foley’s FIA Driver Rating was elevated from Silver to Gold, meaning he could no longer be teamed with Auberlen (also then Gold-rated) in the GTD class.

Waiting in the wings was Patrick Gallagher, three years Foley’s senior but a longtime friend, only absent the same volume of top-series sports car experience.

Foley proved to be a great mentor, as he and Gallagher notched three second place finishes on the way to fourth in the GTD standings of the WeatherTech Championship.

Foley’s leadership was also reflected in two race wins and the Grand Sport class championship he shared with Vin Barletta that season in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge.

“Right off the bat we recognized that Robby had some talent, but it wasn’t focused because he was jumping in every car he could be in just to be racing,” observed Turner; Foley regularly drove two Turner BMWs on most weekends for several years. “Bill Auberlen and the team helped him ramp up on a fast track to being the pro driver that he is today.”

Gallagher described his and Foley’s friendship and dynamic as co-drivers in their No. 96 BMW M4 GT3 EVO: “Robby and I have been best friends for 10 or 15 years now; we both moved into some terrible rental house with air mattresses in Monticello, N.Y., a long time ago, and have kind of made the climb together.”

One of team’s other emerging drivers is Francis Selldorff, who joined the Turner organization in 2023.

In the inaugural year of the VP Racing SportsCar Challenge, he won the Grand Sport X class championship in a BMW M4 GT4 before advancing to GS in the Michelin Pilot Challenge in a Turner entry paired with Foley.

Now 24, Selldorff is teamed this year with Dillon Machavern in Turner’s No. 95 BMW M4 GT4 EVO Michelin Pilot Challenge entry. He broke through for his first win in the category in June at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, and Turner gives the now seasoned veteran Foley credit for assisting in the achievement.

“Robby and I immediately looked at each other after maybe the first hour of testing Francis and said, ‘This kid’s got some talent. He just needs some direction,’” Turner said. “With Robby’s mentorship – he’s awesome on the radio, he’s awesome on the data, and obviously he’s a super-fast driver – to have that tool in the box and then to combine it with our experienced team – we’re giving Francis all the tools for success. We’re expecting big things from him, and we already have our eyes on the next guys too.”

In the course of five years, Foley went from Turner Motorsport’s rookie driver to the hardened campaigner that holds it all together, as well as a coach and strategist on the pit box in races he’s not driving.

“It’s been fun, and an interesting process,” he reflected. “Obviously with Bill Auberlen’s extensive experience and legendary track record, I learned a ton from him and got to race with him for five years. When Bill basically didn’t have a place to race at Turner anymore because of my driver rating, the baton was passed.

“Now I’ve worked with Francis for a few years, and Patrick Gallagher, who I’ve known for a long time, just helping him adjust to GT cars,” Foley continued. “Francis has come such a long way in a short time. His great performance at Mid-Ohio was big for his confidence in his career. He’s still very new at this; he only started racing properly like two years ago. So, for him to already be at a race-winning level in GS is pretty impressive against a lot of impressive drivers.”

Foley and Gallagher have had new youngster Jake Walker, who’s coached by 2004 Indianapolis 500 winner Buddy Rice, as third driver in Michelin Endurance Cup races for two seasons.

He’s matching Selldorff’s promise in VP Racing SportsCar Challenge competition with four Grand Touring Daytona X wins in the last five races in Turner’s BMW M4 GT3.

 

 

 

“Jake’s great. He’s a young kid and got a good family; he just kind of fit right in seamlessly to be honest with you,” Gallagher said. “The last thing we have to worry about with him is all the on-track stuff. It was just coaching him up on how to get in the pit box and all the little things that do make a difference.”

Foley recognizes how rare it is for a sports car team to have an internal ladder system, and he’s grateful for the role that Turner’s constant quest to create champion sports car drivers played in his career.

“I think Will has done a great job to build a team and program that is conducive to that,” Foley said. “He prepares good cars, consistent cars, and gives young drivers the kind of environment where they are the variable. They can learn from more experienced guys like myself and the other BMW drivers that join us from time to time.

“I’ve been the benefactor of it myself, for sure, and now it’s a lot of fun to kind of trickle it down to the new guys.”



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NASCAR Internship Puts Jenna Mazza L’26 on the Right Track to Career in Sports Law — Syracuse University News

A lifelong NASCAR fan, Jenna Mazza L’26 has a photo of herself at age 4 standing with legendary driver Jimmie Johnson’s diecast car. So, imagine her elation when she had the opportunity to take a photograph with Johnson himself this May at the NASCAR Coca-Cola 600 held at the Charlotte Motor Speedway. Mazza, at age […]

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A lifelong NASCAR fan, Jenna Mazza L’26 has a photo of herself at age 4 standing with legendary driver Jimmie Johnson’s diecast car. So, imagine her elation when she had the opportunity to take a photograph with Johnson himself this May at the NASCAR Coca-Cola 600 held at the Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Young girl with curly brown hair wearing a pink floral pajama top, smiling while holding a blue and yellow #48 NASCAR die-cast race car toy in a home setting.

Mazza, at age 4, standing with legendary driver Jimmie Johnson’s diecast car.

This once-in-a-lifetime experience is just one of the many benefits that came along as Mazza spent her summer working in NASCAR’s legal department in Charlotte, North Carolina. NASCAR’s Internship Program includes opportunities for law students to learn about various areas that its legal department deals with daily. Mazza had the opportunity to learn about and draft contracts for licensing agreements, real estate issues with various racetracks, intellectual property (IP) use, privacy and media law.

During her internship, Mazza was also able to attend a screening of “American Thunder: NASCAR to Le Mans,” which began streaming on Amazon Prime in June, while learning about rights and clearances and music licensing.

Young woman in red NASCAR polo shirt and lanyard posing for selfie with NASCAR driver in blue racing suit and Carvana cap at racing venue with overcast sky and race cars in background.

Mazza smiles with driver Jimmie Johnson in May at the NASCAR Coca-Cola 600 held at the Charlotte Motor Speedway.

“I’ve learned so much and gotten exposure to the variety of work a legal department undertakes in a sports environment,” says Mazza, who will be a third-year law student this fall.

Mazza has long had her sights on working in sports law with a particular interest in areas related to IP, like copyrights, trademarks and licensing of team logos. And while she’d be thrilled to build a career with any sports organization, the opportunity to work with NASCAR was a dream come true. Not only did she gain legal experience, but this NASCAR fan also enjoyed the chance to be right where the action is—going into the pits and the infield, and attending not only the Coca-Cola 600 but also the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series Race and the developmental Arca Menards Series for prospective drivers at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

Large group of young people in matching red polo shirts posed together for a team photo in front of a prominent Coca-Cola branded backdrop with checkered flag design at what appears to be a racing venue or corporate event.

Mazza and her fellow group of interns pose in Victory Lane at the Charlotte Motor Speedway.

“The internship program really immerses you into all aspects of NASCAR and makes it a great experience for the interns, not only in terms of preparing you for what it’s like to work as a general counsel in a sports organization but also to get a first-hand look at the innerworkings of the sport itself,” Mazza says.

While her knowledge of NASCAR may have helped her secure this prestigious internship, the lessons learned at Syracuse Law, particularly classes she took as a second-year law student, provided her with the baseline legal knowledge in areas like intellectual property law and sports law that she believes also gave her a competitive edge.

Mazza adds the NASCAR internship to a list of other experiential learning opportunities she has had while at Syracuse Law, including working on two Congressional campaigns, an internship with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of New York and another internship for the Oneida County (New York) Public Defenders Office.

As she returns to Syracuse Law to complete her degree, Mazza hopes to apply her hard-earned legal experience to a sports organization or a law firm that specializes in sports law after graduation. However, she can’t help but to hope to eventually return to work for NASCAR.

“My internship at NASCAR has shown me that anything is possible, just as in this sport, where you can start from the back of the grid and still win the race,” Mazza says. “The skills I’ve learned and the opportunity to be where the action is on the track are experiences I’ll never forget. And it’s very exciting to imagine what might be ahead for me.”

Woman in professional attire standing on a checkered plaza in front of a modern glass office building with an American flag, surrounded by flagpoles and landscaping under a blue sky with white clouds.

Mazza stands in front of the Charlotte Motor Speedway.



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Penticton at-risk youth get a day at the races

The event aims to celebrate the challenges they have overcome and inspire them further A partnership between the YMCA of the Southern Interior of BC, Sandher Fruit Packers and Avion Motorsports will celebrate the resiliency and growth of local youth. The Race to Success aims to uplift 10 at-risk youth in Penticton’s YMCA programs and celebrate their courage […]

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The event aims to celebrate the challenges they have overcome and inspire them further

A partnership between the YMCA of the Southern Interior of BC, Sandher Fruit Packers and Avion Motorsports will celebrate the resiliency and growth of local youth.

The Race to Success aims to uplift 10 at-risk youth in Penticton’s YMCA programs and celebrate their courage and the challenges they are working to overcome with a day at the races at Area 27 in Oliver.

“I was the same age as some of the children in these programs when I arrived in Canada and know what it feels like if you lack a safety net,” said Bill Sandher, founder of Sandher Fruit Packers. “This community gave our family a chance to grow, thrive, and give back. Now, it’s our turn to invest in the next generation — to show youth that their potential is limitless, and their efforts are recognized and celebrated.”

The day will include a nutritious lunch, a behind-the-scenes look at the fast-paced world of race car preparation, hands-on learning about race car mechanics, meet-and-greets with professional drivers, and a thrilling lap around the track. Each youth chooses their own speed from the passenger seat.

“At Avion Motorsports, we believe in equal opportunity and the power of mentorship — values we share with the YMCA,” Trevor Seibert, Founder and CEO of Avion Motorsports, said in emphasizing the alignment of values. “This event is more than just a ride; it’s a message to youth that they belong, they matter, and they can achieve great things.”



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NASCAR This Week – Patriot Publishing LLC

NASCAR Cup Series Next Race: Cook Out 400 The Place: Richmond Raceway Track Length: 0.75 Mile Asphalt Oval The Date: Saturday, August 16 The Time: 7:30 p.m. ET The Purse: $9,797,935 TV: USA Network, 7 p.m. ET Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR (Channel 90) Distance: 300 miles (400 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 70), Stage […]

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NASCAR logo e1749661314199NASCAR Cup Series

Next Race: Cook Out 400

The Place: Richmond Raceway

Track Length: 0.75 Mile Asphalt Oval

The Date: Saturday, August 16

The Time: 7:30 p.m. ET

The Purse: $9,797,935

TV: USA Network, 7 p.m. ET

Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR (Channel 90)

Distance: 300 miles (400 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 70),

Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 230), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 400)

 

NASCAR Xfinity Series

Next Race: Wawa 250 Powered by Coca-Cola

The Place: Daytona International Speedway

Track Length: 2.5 Mile Asphalt Oval

The Date: Friday, August 22

The Time: 7:30 p.m. ET

The Purse: $1,651,939

TV: CW, 7 p.m. ET

Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR (Channel 90)

Distance: 250 miles (100 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 30),

Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 60), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 100)

 

NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series

Next Race: eero 250

The Place: Richmond Raceway

Track Length: 0.75 Mile Asphalt Oval

The Date: Friday, August 15

The Time: 7:30 p.m. ET

The Purse: $782,900

TV: FS1, 7:30 p.m. ET

Radio: NRN, SiriusXM NASCAR (Channel 90)

Distance: 187.5 miles (250 Laps); Stage 1 (Ends on Lap 70),

Stage 2 (Ends on Lap 140), Final Stage (Ends on Lap 250)



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LP Dumoulin Scores Third 2025 Podium in NASCAR Canada at GP3R, Now Aiming for First Win at ICAR – Speedway Digest

Three-time NASCAR Canada Series champion Louis-Philippe Dumoulin was back in action in front of his home crowd last weekend, as part of the 55th edition of the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières. Starting from fourth on the grid, the driver of the #47 WeatherTech Canada | Groupe Bellemare | Omnifab car finished third in a race […]

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Three-time NASCAR Canada Series champion Louis-Philippe Dumoulin was back in action in front of his home crowd last weekend, as part of the 55th edition of the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières. Starting from fourth on the grid, the driver of the #47 WeatherTech Canada | Groupe Bellemare | Omnifab car finished third in a race held under intense heat and frequently slowed by full-course-yellows. It was Dumoulin’s third podium in the last four races for him and his team, supported once again this year by thousands of fans packing the grandstands of the temporary street circuit in Trois-Rivières.

“The Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières really is an exceptional event. Once again, it brought plenty of challenges that the entire #47 WeatherTech Canada | Groupe Bellemare | Omnifab team handled brilliantly. We had an excellent car, but it became clear early in the race that the 27 and 96 cars were getting out of the Porte Duplessis corner much better than anyone else and had engine power that would be tough to match. Still, I didn’t give up; in fact, I managed to move up to second during a restart,” said Louis-Philippe Dumoulin.

“I think I could have won this race with a bit of luck and if I’d been able to get into the lead on that last restart. But on merit, third place was the best possible result, and I’m not disappointed because it shows our team is truly competitive on all types of tracks: ovals, road courses, and temporary street circuits. At the GP3R, I nearly brushed the walls a few times and gave it everything I had to earn that podium,” he added.

This NASCAR Canada race at the Grand Prix de Trois-Rivières was the seventh round of the 2025 season, with five more to go. Louis-Philippe Dumoulin has climbed to fourth in the championship standings heading into two of his favorite events: at Complexe ICAR on August 23, and then at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park for the WeatherTech 200 one week later. At ICAR in 10 days, he will make his 175th career start in the series: “I’m focused on this next race. It’s a tricky track in terms of setup and tire wear management, but I’ve always performed well there and scored multiple Top 5 finishes—just never a win. Time to change that!” concluded the driver of the #47 WeatherTech Canada | Groupe Bellemare | Omnifab.

At the Complexe ICAR road course in Mirabel, with its concrete racing surface, NASCAR Canada drivers will be on track next Saturday, August 23, from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. for the practice session. Qualifying will start at 1:00 p.m., and the race will go green the same day at 5:30 p.m.

LP Dumoulin PR



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Dale Earnhardt Jr. return to racing confirmed in iconic NASCAR scheme – Motorsport – Sports

Dale Earnhardt Jr. will be back behind the wheel and driving in the zMAX CARS Tour, this time in his classic No. 8 paint scheme which he drove when he won Daytona in 2001. Earnhardt will be making his second start of the 2025 season at South Carolina’s Anderson Speedway. The news comes just weeks […]

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Dale Earnhardt Jr. will be back behind the wheel and driving in the zMAX CARS Tour, this time in his classic No. 8 paint scheme which he drove when he won Daytona in 2001.

Earnhardt will be making his second start of the 2025 season at South Carolina’s Anderson Speedway. The news comes just weeks after JR Motorsports (JRM) celebrated its 100th win, with Connor Zilisch’s triumph at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, his fifth of the season.

Now, the NASCAR legend is back on the track to race, after spending time as a commentator this season. Of note, the car and the paint scheme were also on display during the MLB Speedway Classic, a matchup between the Atlanta Braves and the Cincinnati Reds.

The 50-year-old will be behind the wheel on August 16 and speaking to MLB before the Speedway Classic, Earnhardt explained what it meant for him to bring back the iconic paint scheme.

“The baseball car, to me, represents probably my proudest moment as a driver — or maybe the biggest moment, or the heaviest, the most emotional moment in my career: When we won at Daytona in July in 2001,” Earnhardt began to MLB.com as he promoted the MLB Speedway Classic.

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“And a lot of people love that car, and know that car as soon as they see that car.” The NASCAR legend only raced in that paint scheme once and it was his win at Daytona after his father’s death earlier that year.

“It ran that one race,” Earnhardt said. “It only ran this race that one time, and everybody knows that race. So 1755117517 it just felt like, ‘Hey, why don’t we continue this?’ I’ll run another race. We’ll do the baseball car, we can help promote the game at Bristol. And my dad was a massive Braves fan. So of course I’m a Braves fan.”

He added: “To go out there and win in that moment just doesn’t seem real. … It’s hard to even believe today, after all these years, that that really is how things happened. It just feels like a movie.”

DON’T MISS

Earnhardt also believed that having fans see the car in its glory would remind them of the good times and bring them back to a time when they could be happy again.

“That night was just — I can’t even describe it to you, what it felt like to get out of the car,” Earnhardt said. “So I think when people see this car, it takes them back to that moment of closure, it takes them back to that moment of being able to smile again.”

Additionally, the 50-year-old shared via a JRM statement that his Daytona win in the paint scheme is “such a great memory” for him. “I am excited that we have this chance to collaborate with Bud and MLB to bring that scheme back again because of what it means to me and so many others,” his statement read.

Earnhardt will be driving the No. 8 car in the 2025 Bennett Equipment 225.



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