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Motorsports

Parker Kligerman takes over to win at Daytona

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5 months ago

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Credit: Jonathan Bachman

Parker Kligerman filled in for Connor Zilisch, who was cleared to race after his slip in Watkins Glen, and went on to win the race from the back.

Zilisch started on the pole after qualifying was canceled alongside Sam Mayer. Zilisch dropped to the back as a precaution, given that he is still recovering from his collarbone injury. This brought Sammy Smith to the front row for the start.

The drivers stayed two-wide until 6 laps in. Smith was able to clear Mayer on Lap 7, and after that, a little further back, some drivers started going three-wide. Mayer came back on Lap 10 before Austin Hill began to challenge for the lead.

The first caution came on Lap 13 for rain. Harrison Burton also had slight contact with Matt DiBenedetto just before the caution was thrown and had to pit. The No. 88 team also pitted to swap Zilisch out for Parker Kligerman. Parker Retzlaff also pitted with a power steering issue. On Lap 21, the race was red-flagged.

Mayer and Smith led the way back to green with 7 laps to go. Smith had the initial jump, but the two stayed side-by-side until the second caution came out at the end of the stage. Carson Kvapil and Taylor Gray both got knocked sideways after a chain reaction near the front. Dean Thompson, Jeb Burton, Blane Perkins and Nick Sanchez also received damage. Smith was leading at the time of the caution.

  1. No. 8 – Sammy Smith (JR Motorsports)

  2. No. 41 – Sam Mayer (Haas Factory Team)

  3. No. 21 – Austin Hill (Richard Childress Racing)

  4. No. 99 – Matt DiBenedetto (Viking Motorsports)

  5. No. 7 – Justin Allgaier (JR Motorsports)

  6. No. 20 – Brandon Jones (Joe Gibbs Racing)

  7. No. 16 – Christian Eckes (Kaulig Racing)

  8. No. 42 – Anthony Alfredo (Young’s Motorsports)

  9. No. 27 – Jeb Burton (Jordan Anderson Racing) 

  10. No. 18 – William Sawalich (Joe Gibbs Racing)

All lead lap cars pit except Jesse Love and Kligerman pit, cycling the two to the front for the restart on Lap 36. Love had the better restart, but Kligerman came back to stay by his side until Lap 37 when Love slid down in front of Kligerman. Mayer began to challenge Kligerman for second.

Kligerman used the side draft off Love and took the lead on Lap 39 with the help of Smith behind. Smith started fighting for the lead on Lap 41 as Kligerman got split and fell to the bottom of the top 10. In the shuffle, Justin Haley jumped into the lead on Lap 43. With 9 laps to go, Love reclaimed the lead as Sheldon Creed and teammate Hill tried to catch him.

With 2 to go, Hill challenged for the lead, but got touched by Creed and made a save. In the chain, Smith got turned sideways off Turn 4 and spun. William Sawalich, Aric Almirola, Brandon Jones, Thompson, J. Burton and Gray also received damage. Justin Allgaier, who dove under Hill and Love just before the crash, was declared the winner of Stage 2.

  1. No. 7 – Justin Allgaier (JR Motorsports)

  2. No. 2 – Jesse Love (Richard Childress Racing)

  3. No. 16 – Christian Eckes (Kaulig Racing)

  4. No. 21 – Austin Hill (Richard Childress Racing)

  5. No. 00 – Sheldon Creed (Haas Factory Team)

  6. No. 26 – Dean Thompson (Sam Hunt Racing)

  7. No. 25 – Harrison Burton (AM Racing) 

  8. No. 20 – Brandon Jones (Joe Gibbs Racing)

  9. No. 39 – Ryan Sieg (RSS Racing)

  10. No. 42 – Anthony Alfredo (Young’s Motorsports)

It’s an RCR front row as Hill and Love took the field to green on Lap 68, and Hill cleared Love immediately. Alfredo pulled down after stalling and losing power on the restart lap and brought out the fourth caution of the night. Hill and Creed lined up for the restart on Lap 71 after Love opted to run behind his teammate.

Creed had the initial lead before Ryan Sieg got the push from Kligerman. Rajah Caruth spun on the backstretch after contact with DiBenedetto on Lap 74, but no caution was thrown as he was able to keep out of the wall. 

Hill got back out to the front on Lap 85, and Kligerman followed right behind him. R. Sieg retook the lead one lap later as Kligerman and Hill battled for second. 

Trouble on track at Lap 89 as Gray had a tyre issue and spun, with Caesar Bacarella and Josh Bilicki also spinning and Thompson receiving damage. 

R. Sieg and Kligerman led the way with 6 laps to go, and Allgaier gave a big push to Kligerman to get him into the lead. With 4 laps to go, R. Sieg went up to block Leland Honeyman but got turned around and hit Christian Eckes on the side. Ryan Ellis, Daniel Dye, Josh Williams, Sawalich, Creed, Almirola, J. Burton and DiBenedetto were all collected. This sixth caution of the night sent the race into overtime.

Kligerman and Hill took the field back to green for overtime, and Honeyman tried to make it three-wide for the lead. It benefited Kligerman as he easily cleared for the lead. A crash near seventh occurred between Turns 3 and 4 involving multiple cars. Allgaier tried to challenge for the lead, but Parker Kligerman won it for Connor Zilisch.

Credit: Chris Graythen

  1. No. 88 – Connor Zilisch/Parker Kligerman (JR Motorsports)

  2. No. 7 – Justin Allgaier (JR Motorsports)

  3. No. 8 – Sammy Smith (JR Motorsports)

  4. No. 41 – Sam Mayer (Haas Factory Team)

  5. No. 2 – Jesse Love (Richard Childress Racing)

  6. No. 20 – Brandon Jones (Joe Gibbs Racing)

  7. No. 26 – Dean Thompson (Sam Hunt Racing)

  8. No. 44 – Brennen Poole (Alpha Prime Racing)

  9. No. 14 – Garrett Smithley (SS-Green Light Racing)

  10. No. 71 – Ryan Ellis (DGM Racing + JIM)

  11. No. 1 – Carson Kvapil (JR Motorsports)

  12. No. 18 – William Sawalich (Joe Gibbs Racing) 

  13. No. 31 – Blaine Perkins (Jordan Anderson Racing)

  14. No. 07 – Patrick Emerling (SS-Green Light Racing)

  15. No. 25 – Harrison Burton (AM Racing) 

  16. No. 35 – Mason Maggio (Joey Gase Racing)

  17. No. 00 – Sheldon Creed (Haas Factory Team)

  18. No. 91 – Josh Bilicki (DGM Racing x JIM)

  19. No. 11 – Justin Haley (Kaulig Racing)

  20. No. 27 – Jeb Burton (Jordan Anderson Racing) 

  21. No. 53 – Joey Gase (Joey Gase Racing)

  22. No. 92 – Natalie Decker (DGM Racing x JIM)

  23. No. 48 – Nick Sanchez (Big Machine Racing)

  24. No. 19 – Aric Almirola (Joe Gibbs Racing) [FL]

  25. No. 21 – Austin Hill (Richard Childress Racing)

  26. No. 70 – Leland Honeyman(Cope Family Racing) 

  27. No. 28 – Kyle Sieg (RSS Racing)

  28. No. 5 – Caesar Bacarella (Alpha Prime Racing) +1 lap

  29. No. 32 – Rajah Caruth (Jordan Anderson Racing) +2 laps

  30. No. 54 – Taylor Gray (Joe Gibbs Racing) +3 laps

  31. No. 39 – Ryan Sieg (RSS Racing) [DNF]

  32. No. 16 – Christian Eckes (Kaulig Racing) [DNF]

  33. No. 99 – Matt DiBenedetto (Viking Motorsports) [DNF]

  34. No. 45 – Josh Williams (Alpha Prime Racing) [DNF]

  35. No. 10 – Daniel Dye (Kaulig Racing) [DNF]

  36. No. 51 – Jeremy Clements (Jeremy Clements Racing) [DNF]

  37. No. 42 – Anthony Alfredo (Young’s Motorsports) [DNF] 

  38. No. 4 – Parker Retzlaff (Alpha Prime Racing) [DNF]

Next week, NASCAR Xfinity heads to the Portland International Raceway! Tune in on Saturday, August 30, at 18:30 ET (23:30 BST).



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Motorsports

Vasseur outlines Ferrari’s 2026 development strategy

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30 minutes ago

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January 12, 2026

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Meanwhile, quotes from Fred Vasseur suggest Ferrari are in no rush to take drastic measures in testing.

The 57-year-old points to the budget gap as a factor to consider when charting this year’s upgrade plan:

“If a team starts introducing four or five updates in the first races,” he told Gazzetta.

“Or if, for example, they have to send a new floor to a distant race like Japan or China – they’re burning through half their development budget at the start of the year.

“It will therefore be important to carefully evaluate step by step what to do, based on where we are.

“Whoever is ahead of everyone in Melbourne, at the first race, won’t necessarily have the winning car of the year.”

Fred Vasseur, Ferrari team principal, Ferrari Media Gallery.

Avoiding mistakes of the past

Ferrari know better than most teams about how deceptive the first races of the year can be. At the beginning of the 2022 regulations, for example, the Maranello team was flying high.

Two wins and one second place for Leclerc in the opening three rounds, alongside DNFs for Verstappen in Australia in Bahrain, painted a very positive picture for the season ahead.

Within a few months, however, Red Bull not only out-developed their Italian rivals, but also eliminated all reliability issues – whereas Ferrari suffered a series of devastating retirements in Spain and Baku.

Moreover, the last set of regulations showed the price of investing in the pursuit of a flawed concept.

Mercedes in 2022, Aston Martin in 2023 and even Red Bull in 2024 were headline examples of wasting resources on upgrades that were taking the car in the wrong direction.

Ferrari themselves faced this issue during the European leg of the 2024 season, with updates at the Spanish GP derailing the team’s progress that season.

Eager to avoid this fate over the next twelve months, Fred Vasseur has reason to exercise a measured approach. The question is whether the work fundamentals being developed at the factory in Maranello are strong enough to build upon.

Main photo: Ferrari Media Gallery



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Race cars converge at 37th annual Northeast Motorsports Expo

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46 minutes ago

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January 12, 2026

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AUGUSTA, Maine (WABI) – Those in Augusta this weekend was revving up their engines with all things motor sports related and beyond.

The 37th annual Northeast Motorsports Expo wrapped up Sunday at the Augusta Civic Center.

The event brings together many motor sport organizations as well as vendors from all over New England under a single roof. An award show also took place yesterday afternoon.

Motor vehicles highlighted this year included everything from short track and drag racing, go karts, dirt bikes and much more.

Organizer Stephen Perry says it’s also a great opportunity for fans to meet drivers before the start of this year’s motor sports season.

“At a race track it’s hard to get up close to talk to these drivers, because their doing their job that day. But here you can talk to them and ask them questions about their cars or a particular race that they’ve won. It’s a more laid-back atmosphere than at a racetrack,” says Perry.

In total, around 2,700 individuals from across New England were in attendance over the weekend.

Copyright 2026 WABI. All rights reserved.



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Nitro Motorsports Sets the ARCA Menards Series Preseason Practice Pace, Plus Weekend Notes

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1 hour ago

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January 12, 2026

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Chris Knight

Chris Knight has served as a senior staff writer and news editor for CATCHFENCE.com since 2001.

In his 20-plus years with CATCHFENCE.com, he has covered NASCAR’s top three national series, often breaking news and providing exclusive at-track content, including in-depth race weekend coverage.

He also offers insider coverage of the entire Motorsports platform, including the ARCA Menards Series.

In 2022, Knight became co-owner of CATCHFENCE.com.

In addition to his active duties at CATCHFENCE.com and other Motorsports-related endeavors, he is also a frequent contributor to SiriusXM Satellite Radio NASCAR Channel 90.

You can follow him on X (formerly Twitter) at @Knighter01 or on Instagram, Snapchat, or Threads at @TheKnighter01.

He can be reached by email at [email protected].



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Three-Time GRAMMY-Award Winning Country Music Superstar Miranda Lambert to Perform DAYTONA 500 Pre-Race Concert – Speedway Digest

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3 hours ago

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January 12, 2026

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Daytona International Speedway announced today that three-time GRAMMY-award winning country music superstar Miranda Lambert is set to perform the DAYTONA 500 pre-race concert. The most-awarded artist in Academy of Country Music history is set to kickstart the festivities prior to the 68th running of The Great American Race.

“To have this level of talent with an artist such as Miranda Lambert performing our pre-race concert adds an incredible amount of energy for the 68th running of the DAYTONA 500,” said Frank Kelleher, Daytona International Speedway President. “Her powerhouse vocals and passion for music are the perfect mix to represent the prestige of this event. Get ready for the thunder of country music before we wave the green flag and engines roar to kick off the 2026 season!”

Lambert’s generational career in the country music scene has spanned over 20 years, with her first chart-topping studio album Kerosene released in 2005. She has since released nine additional solo albums, plus collaborative projects as part of the Pistol Annies as well as GRAMMY-nominated album The Marfa Tapes together with Jon Randall and Jack Ingram.

A multi-dimensional superstar, she’s earned seven No. 1 solo albums, 10 No. 1 hit radio singles, more than 80 prestigious awards and countless RIAA certifications; conquered Las Vegas with her twice-extended Velvet Rodeo residency; and blurred genres with Leon Bridges, the B-52s, Loretta Lynn, Enrique Iglesias, Sheryl Crow, Elle King; and was named to the TIME100 list honoring the world’s 100 most influential people.

Lambert’s most recent album, the current GRAMMY-nominee Postcards from Texas, continued her unbroken streak of 10 consecutive Top 10s on the Top Country Albums chart. Lambert also recently collaborated with Chris Stapleton on “A Song to Sing,” as well as Reba McEntire and Lainey Wilson on “Trailblazer,” both of which are also nominated at the upcoming 68th Annual GRAMMY Awards.

In addition to performing at Daytona International Speedway, Lambert has various tour appearances scheduled across the country through summer 2026. In addition to her own storied music career, she has taken those standards to become a label co-founder, teaming with longtime collaborator Jon Randall to launch their own imprint, Big Loud Texas, in partnership with Big Loud Records. Lambert is also a New York Times best-selling author and was the first female restaurateur on Lower Broadway with her Tex-Mex cantina Casa Rosa, while also expanding her creative reach with her Wanda June Home collection and Idyllwind western wear brand. Her passion for rescue animals inspired the creation of her MuttNation Foundation, which has raised over $11 million since inception to promote adoption, support shelters across the country, advance spay & neuter and assist with the transport of animals during times of natural disaster.

The action begins on Wednesday, Feb. 11, with DAYTONA 500 Qualifying Presented by Busch Light, setting the field for the Duel At DAYTONA, which occurs the following night on Thursday, Feb. 12, where drivers will battle it out for a spot in the coveted Great American Race.  

The season-opening races for all three NASCAR national series as well as the ARCA Menards Series kick off on Friday, Feb. 13, starting with the CRAFTSMAN Truck Series Fresh From Florida 250. Saturday, Feb. 14, will feature an action-packed double-header with the ARCA Menards Series race followed by the Xfinity Series United Rentals 300.  

Then Sunday, Feb. 15, the USAF Thunderbirds will perform their flyover, preparing both fans and drivers in the NASCAR Cup Series for an intense battle in the DAYTONA 500.  

For more information regarding the DAYTONA 500 and Speedweeks Presented by AdventHealth, please visit www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com. 

DIS PR



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NASCAR Hall of Fame Reveals 18 New Iconic Cars in “Glory Road: Owners” Exhibit

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7 hours ago

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January 11, 2026

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New installation celebrates the owners who helped shape NASCAR competition

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Jan. 10, 2026) – “Glory Road: Owners,” the sixth edition of the NASCAR Hall of Fame’s signature Glory Road exhibit, is now on display.

The next generation of this exhibit places ownership at the forefront, highlighting the leaders who helped steer NASCAR from its early days to today’s championship-level competition.

Reimagined every three years, the Hall’s Glory Road exhibit reflects the sport’s evolving history.

“The process for identifying the theme and cars for our iconic Glory Road exhibit is among the most challenging and enjoyable activities we are blessed to do here at the NASCAR Hall of Fame. The ‘Glory Road: Owners’ edition is no exception,” said Winston Kelley, Executive Director of the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

“Our exhibits team has done a phenomenal job selecting a wide range and diverse group of owners and cars to show the remarkable depth and breadth of owners who have been a critical foundation of NASCAR’s history throughout our nearly 80-year history. I believe our guests will be equally impressed and excited with Glory Road: Owners.”

Encircling the Great Hall, Glory Road has served as one of the Hall’s most prominent focal points since opening in 2010.

Along its iconic banked track, visitors will see firsthand how team owners shaped every aspect of NASCAR, from car design and competition strategy to the drivers and teams who became household names.

The collection features 18 historic cars spanning model years 1937 through 2025, representing seven manufacturers across six racing series, and offers an immersive journey through the sport’s evolution.

Fourteen of the owners featured are NASCAR Hall of Fame Inductees.

Together, they account for 55 NASCAR Cup Series championships, nearly 1,700 race wins and 44 Daytona 500 victories, showing the remarkable influence these leaders have had on the sport.

“It is always exciting to present new stories, interactives and historic artifacts to our guests,” said Kevin Schlesier, Senior Director, Museum and Industry Affairs, at the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

“Glory Road: Owners is part of the NASCAR Hall of Fame’s commitment to continually update and change exhibits to engage our visitors and to bring new aspects of NASCAR’s history to light.

“It is an honor to be entrusted with these 18 historic race cars that bring to the forefront the incredible contributions owners have made in growing the sport. It is an equal privilege to create unique displays and digital interactives to bring the stories to life.”

Below is the complete lineup of new cars installed on Glory Road.

More details on each owner and car are available here.

Additionally, the full media kit is available here.

  • Roger Penske (Class of 2019) / Team Penske / 2022 Ford Mustang

  • Wendell Scott (Class of 2015) / Wendell Scott Racing / 1937 Ford Modified

  • Glenn Wood (Class of 2012) / Wood Brothers Racing / 1954 Ford Coupe

  • Bud Moore (Class of 2011) / Bud Moore Engineering / 1964 Mercury Marauder

  • John Holman, Ralph Moody (Class of 2025) / Holman Moody Racing / 1965 Ford Galaxie

  • Junie Donlavey / Donlavey Racing / 1979 Ford Thunderbird

  • Lee Petty (Class of 2011) / Petty Enterprises / 1981 Buick Regal

  • Junior Johnson (Class of 2010) / Junior Johnson & Associates / 1986 Chevrolet Monte Carlo

  • Robert Yates (Class of 2018) / Robert Yates Racing / 1992 Ford Thunderbird

  • Jack Roush (Class of 2019) / Roush Racing / 1997 Ford Thunderbird

  • Richard Childress (Class of 2017) / Richard Childress Racing / 2000 Chevrolet Monte Carlo

  • Rick Hendrick (Class of 2017) / Hendrick Motorsports / 2005 Chevrolet Monte Carlo

  • Ray Evernham (Class of 2018) / Evernham Motorsports / 2006 Dodge Charger

  • Duke and Rhonda Thorson / ThorSport Racing / 2019 Ford F-150

  • Joe Gibbs (Class of 2020) / Joe Gibbs Racing / 2022 Toyota Supra

  • Dale Earnhardt Jr. (Class of 2021), Kelley Earnhardt Miller, Rick Hendrick (Class of 2017) / JR Motorsports / 2024 Chevrolet Camaro

  • Kevin and DeLana Harvick / Kevin Harvick Inc. / 2025 Chevrolet Camaro

  • Bill Blair / Bill Blair Racing / 1953 Oldsmobile Super 88

“Glory Road: Owners” will be on display through December 2028 and is included with general admission to the NASCAR Hall of Fame.

Tickets, hours and additional information are available at nascarhall.com.

About the NASCAR Hall of Fame:

Located in Uptown Charlotte, North Carolina, the NASCAR Hall of Fame is an interactive, entertainment attraction honoring the history and heritage of NASCAR.

The high-tech venue, designed to educate and entertain race fans and non-fans alike, includes artifacts, hands-on exhibits, a 278-person state-of-the-art theater, Hall of Honor and the NASCAR Hall of Fame Gear Shop.

Opened on May 11, 2010, the NASCAR Hall of Fame is owned by the City of Charlotte, licensed by NASCAR and operated by the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority.

For more information, visit nascarhall.com.

Source: NASCAR Hall of Fame 



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“I Hope It Does Happen”: Top JGR Official Floats Unprecedented NASCAR Playoff Scenario

Published

10 hours ago

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January 11, 2026

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Joe Gibbs Racing and Hendrick Motorsports, the only teams in the Cup Series to field four entries, are also the most successful teams in NASCAR. In any given season, they are expected to get at least one of their drivers to the championship finale. But what are the chances that they get all four drivers there?

All four drivers of a team reaching the finale is unprecedented, no doubt, even for JGR and Hendrick Motorsports. Recently, Dave Alpern, the president of Joe Gibbs Racing, discussed this ‘perfect’ scenario in a video for his team media.

“There are only two organizations that could happen, and that’s Hendrick Motorsports or Joe Gibbs Racing,” said Alpern.

“Because we are the only ones with four. We are the only ones that have ever put three in. I can tell you one thing. It’s really stressful,” added Alpern, before explaining how dynamics and resources get stretched in the process.

Alpern likened it to having multiple children participating in the same competition, knowing that all except one is going to lose. As stressful as such a scenario would be, he recognizes that it would be an amazing problem to have.

“I would love to try it one year. I am sure our friends down the road will love that as well,” continued Alpern.

The logistics and the sheer workload that would go into such a setting would be massive, to say the least. Moreover, the current format will require three of the cars to each win a race in the playoffs’ Round of 8, while the final car will have to qualify on points for this to happen.

Yes, technically, it could happen. Alpern hopes it does happen. But the question is if it ever will.

“I hope it does happen. In some ways, it’d be great because you’d clinch the championship the week before. But it sounds like the playoff format might change. So, we may never get to find out,” said Alpern.

NASCAR is on the verge of announcing key changes to the existing playoff format. Word around town is that a multi-race championship round is on the cards instead of a single race.

However, speculations will have to wait until official word comes from Daytona. Until then, Joe Gibbs Racing fans can look back at the historic 2019 season, when the team put three drivers in the Championship 4.

Kyle Busch, Martin Truex Jr., and Denny Hamlin had competed for the title alongside Stewart-Haas Racing’s Kevin Harvick. Busch eventually won that year.



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