The pilot of a small plane attempted to make an emergency landing shortly after takeoff before crashing through the roof of a building in Southern California, according to air traffic control audio that includes panicked gasping and a female voice saying, “Oh my God,” moments before the crash. The plane was owned by Pascal Reid of Huntington Beach, California, according to Federal Aviation Administration records. The Huntington Beach High School girls soccer team posted Friday on Instagram that Reid and his daughter Kelly, a student at the school, died in a plane crash.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — NASCAR Hall of Fame team owner Richard Childress could be called to the witness stand as early as Monday in the federal antitrust suit lodged against the top motorsports series in the United States. Childress’ testimony should shed more light on the animosity between teams and series executives during the contentious two-plus years of negotiations on a new revenue sharing agreement.
Childress was the subject of derogatory text messages in which NASCAR Commissioner Steve Phelps called the six-time championship-winning owner a redneck who “needs to be taken out back and flogged.”
The texts came out in the discovery phase of this messy saga in which Basketball Hall of Famer Michael Jordan refused to accept NASCAR’s final offer on a new charter agreement and decided to sue the Florida-based France family, which founded NASCAR in 1948 and privately owns the stock car racing series.
It took Jordan’s testimony Friday to bring the national spotlight to NASCAR, but not for its racing product or its competition. Instead, Jordan is out to prove NASCAR is run by a family of dictators enriching themselves at the expense of the teams and drivers. Jordan and three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin, along with Front Row Racing, were the only two teams out of 15 to refuse the new charter agreements offered in September 2024 with a six-hour deadline to sign the 112-page document.
A charter is similar to the franchise model in other sports, but in NASCAR it guarantees 36 teams spots in the 40-car field, as well as specific revenue.
NASCAR publicly admitted it wants to settle the case in comments made ahead of the November season finale by Phelps, but the first week of testimony in the Western District of North Carolina has revealed Jordan and Front Row owner Bob Jenkins want a combined $340 million in damages.
The case had a dreadfully slow first week in which U.S. District Judge Kenneth Bell told both sides to pick up the pace, but as the plaintiffs close in on calling Childress at the start of the second week, it seems certain the trial will carry into a third week as NASCAR remains days away from beginning its defense.
Every twist in the yearlong court battle has been a setback for NASCAR, which maintains it did give teams an improved revenue model from the original 2016 charter agreement and everything it has done is for the benefit of growing the sport.
However, Jenkins has claimed he’s never turned a profit in more than two decades of racing and has stated losses between $70 million and $100 million. Jordan and Hamlin have admitted 23XI Racing has been profitable in its five years of existence, but largely based on Jordan’s ability to draw high-dollar sponsors.
Jordan, who testified he’s a lifelong NASCAR fan, felt as one of the newer owners in a sport in which the top teams have existed for decades, that he was the only one who could actually challenge the France’s on their way of doing business.
“Someone had to step forward and challenge the entity,” Jordan testified. “I sat in those meetings with longtime owners who were brow-beaten for so many years trying to make change. I was a new person, I wasn’t afraid. I felt I could challenge NASCAR as a whole. I felt as far as the sport, it needed to be looked at from a different view.”
Childress is the next high-profile witness expected to be called as early as Monday afternoon. Although he signed the charter agreement, the longtime car owner for the late Dale Earnhardt wanted the charters to become permanent and is headed to court scorned over the revelation of Phelps’ remarks. Although it is believed that Phelps apologized to Childress ahead of the release of the text messages, Childress has threatened legal action.
Among witnesses NASCAR is expected to call are Hall of Fame team owners Rick Hendrick and Roger Penske, two of the most powerful figures in motorsports. Penske tried to set his court appearance schedule by telling NASCAR he was only available to testify Monday, but the plaintiffs objected to Penske being called in the middle of their presentation.
Bell sided with 23XI Racing and Front Row and told NASCAR to work it out with Penske, who as owner of Indianapolis Motor Speedway and IndyCar, which recently adopted its charter system, can testify to race sanctioning agreements, the revenue models and financial health of race teams.
Hendrick, a close friend of the France family for decades, is a car salesman and Charlotte local who can use his communication skills to support the theory everyone in racing understands the financials and willingly enters into NASCAR and the France’s business model.
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AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racingv
LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) — The University of Northwestern Ohio is gaining international exposure after being featured in an award-winning series now streaming on Amazon Prime.
Amazon Prime has released Season 15 of “The College Tour,” and one of the episodes highlights the Racers of UNOH. The episode was filmed in May and showcases the university’s hands-on learning, Motorsports program, and student success stories.
Each segment is narrated by either an UNOH student or a recent graduate, offering a firsthand look at the campus experience.
The full UNOH episode is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video, and each student segment can also be viewed individually on the UNOH website and TheCollegeTour.com.
Copyright 2025 by Lima Communications Corporation. All rights reserved.
Rick Ware Racing (RWR) will align its NASCAR Cup Series program with Chevrolet and Richard Childress Racing in 2026, the team confirmed on Monday.
The multi-year relationship with General Motors (GM) will include a technical alliance with Richard Childress Racing, in which Rick Ware Racing will be using engines prepared by ECR Engines.
“Chevrolet has always set a high bar with its people, its performance, and its passion for racing, and partnering with them gives us the resources and support to make real progress on the racetrack,” said Rick Ware, owner of Rick Ware Racing. “Teaming up with RCR and ECR provides a foundation we can build on, not just for 2026, but for the future of our race team. We’re proud to be part of the Chevrolet family.”
Chevrolet is the winningest organization in the history of the NASCAR Cup Series, with a total of 881 victories, as well as 44 manufacturer championships all-time, including each of the last five.
“The NASCAR Cup Series is the toughest and most competitive series in motorsports, and this is an important move for the long-term growth of our company,” Ware added. “We’ve won in NHRA, American Flat Track, World Supercross, and the CARS Tour, and we want to elevate our NASCAR performance to the level of our other programs.”
Cody Ware will drive the No. 51 Chevrolet in 2026. Photo: HHP, Jacy Norgaard
Cody Ware, the eldest son of Rick Ware Racing team owner Rick Ware, will be piloting the No. 51 Chevrolet Camaro during the 2026 NASCAR Cup Series campaign, beginning with the pre-season exhibition event at Bowman-Gray Stadium on Sunday, February 1.
“Rick [Ware] and his team have shown a real commitment to growing their program, and we’re proud to support that effort alongside our partners at Richard Childress Racing and ECR Engines,” said Pat Suhy, Manager of NASCAR Competition for GM Motorsports.
In its decade-long tenure in the NASCAR Cup Series, Rick Ware Racing has amassed more than 700 career starts, in which time the team has collected a pair of top-five finishes and 11 top-10 finishes — the best of which was a pair of fourth-place results by David Ragan (2020 Daytona 500) and Cody Ware (2024 Coke Zero Sugar 400) at Daytona International Speedway.
The points-paying season for the NASCAR Cup Series will begin on February 15 with the DAYTONA 500 at Daytona International Speedway — the first in a 36-race slate of events for Ware and Rick Ware Racing in 2026.
MOORESVILLE, N.C. — Viking Motorsports announced today that the organization will expand to a two-car NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series program for the 2026 season.
The team will field the newly established No. 96 Chevrolet, driven by Anthony Alfredo, with Josh Graham — who previously worked with Alfredo earlier in his career — returning as his crew chief as the pair reunite for another competitive run together.
This expansion marks a major step in the team’s evolution as Viking Motorsports enters its second full-time season at the national level. The move underscores the organization’s commitment to continued growth, performance, and long-term competitiveness.
Team owner Don Sackett expressed his enthusiasm for the team’s next phase:
“Expanding to a second full-time car is a major moment for our organization. Anthony brings experience, professionalism, and a tremendous work ethic that aligns perfectly with where Viking Motorsports is heading.
“Reuniting him with Josh gives us a strong foundation for this new team. Their chemistry, trust, and history together will help accelerate our growth and elevate our entire program.”
Alfredo, who joins Viking Motorsports with multiple years of NASCAR national series experience, is eager to reteam with Graham.
“I’m fired up to join Viking Motorsports and drive the No. 96 Chevrolet in 2026. Having the chance to work with Josh again is something I’m really excited about — we’ve had success together, and I know what we can accomplish as a team.
“You can see how much Viking is building and investing in its future. Being part of their expansion to a two-car program is a big opportunity, and I can’t wait to get going.”
The team will announce primary and associate partners for the No. 96 Chevrolet in the coming weeks.
About Viking Motorsports:
Founded in 2024 and based in Mooresville, North Carolina, Viking Motorsports competes full-time in the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series.
Built on a foundation of performance, innovation, and relentless determination, the team is focused on delivering top-tier performance through precision engineering, teamwork, and a commitment to excellence.
With a fearless spirit and a drive to excel, Viking Motorsports continues to forge its legacy in one of motorsport’s most demanding arenas — delivering results for its fans, partners, and team members. Forged to Race.
For more information, please visit vikingmotorsports.racing and follow @VKNGMotorsports across social media platforms.
Florida native returns to her proving ground, bringing elite drafting skill and superspeedway confidence to Daytona’s biggest stage.
Being a Florida local returning to my favorite race weekend of the year makes this moment even more special.”
— Logan Misuraca
DAYTONA BEACH, FL, UNITED STATES, December 8, 2025 /EINPresswire.com/ — Rising NASCAR talent and Florida native Logan Misuraca is officially returning to the track where it all began, as she is set to compete in the ARCA Menards Series 200 at Daytona International Speedway to open the 2026 ARCA National Series season. Misuraca will pilot the No. 85 Orlando Health Ford Fusion with City Garage Motorsports.
A racer since just four years old, Misuraca has built her career from the ground up — from quarter midgets and karts to stock cars — through relentless determination, entirely sponsor-funded efforts, and a reputation for thriving under pressure. Unlike many drivers with family-funded backing, Misuraca continues to actively seek partnerships with brands that believe in her talent, work ethic, and long-term vision as she climbs the NASCAR ladder.
Beyond the track, Misuraca is also the founder of 1 in a Million, a mental health and motivation initiative created to support athletes and individuals facing adversity, as well as the creator of Drive Dollars, an educational platform that teaches grassroots racers how to secure sponsorships, build their brand, and create sustainable racing careers.
Daytona International Speedway holds deep personal significance for Misuraca. Through her time at NASCAR Racing Experience, where she logged daily laps at Daytona, the high banks became her training ground — shaping her race instincts, comfort in traffic, and mastery of pack racing.
“Daytona has always felt like home to me,” said Misuraca. “With my experience in the draft and at high speeds, this is the perfect place to showcase my skillset as we open the ARCA National Series season. Being a Florida local returning to my favorite race weekend of the year makes this moment even more special.”
Misuraca’s 2026 Daytona return carries added weight, as her last start at the superspeedway came in 2023, followed by seasons spent grinding to secure the sponsorship funding required to return to competition at the national level.
“To be back at Daytona in 2026 after everything it took to secure my return is incredibly meaningful,” Misuraca added. “Every race I compete in represents countless hours of outreach, pitching, and persistence behind the scenes.”
Misuraca returns to the superspeedway with gratitude and momentum as she continues to break barriers for women in motorsports.
“I’m incredibly grateful to City Garage Motorsports, Stuart, Mike, and Ryan for trusting me with this opportunity and believing in what I bring to the track,” she added. “This is bigger than just a race — it’s about representing the Female First and Girl Power initiative, building opportunities for women in the sport, and proving that we belong at the front of the field.”
Alongside Misuraca’s Daytona start, CGM will field Becca Monnopoli and Quinn Davis in the ARCA East Series in the No. 85 and No. 5, further strengthening the team’s commitment to women in racing.
“I’m so proud of Becca and Quinn and excited to watch what they accomplish this season,” Misuraca said. “Every lap they run opens doors for the next generation of girls in our sport.”
With Daytona as both her proving ground and homecoming — and with momentum building on and off the track through racing, advocacy, and education — Logan Misuraca enters 2026 ready to make a statement on one of motorsports’ biggest stages.
Stay tuned for more announcements throughout the 2026 season.
Logan Misuraca Logan Misuraca, LLC logan@loganmisuraca.com Visit us on social media: LinkedIn Instagram Facebook TikTok X
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A NASCAR driver who once won at Talladega and Daytona has died.
JR Motorsports announced the death Michael Annett on Friday. He was 39. Cause of death was not revealed.
A native of Des Moines, Iowa, Annett made 436 combined starts across NASCAR’s three national touring series, most prominently in the Xfinity Series where he made 321 starts.
Annett earned his career-best achievement in 2019, winning the series’ season-opening race at the famed Daytona International Speedway.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Annett family with the passing of our friend Michael Annett,” JR Motorsports said on X. “Michael was a key member of JRM from 2017 until he retired in 2021 and was an important part in turning us into the four-car organization we remain today.”
Annett was also a two-time winner in the ARCA Menards Series, riding into victory lane at Talladega Superspeedway in 2007 before winning the 2008 series opener at Daytona.
“NASCAR is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former NASCAR driver Michael Annett,” NASCAR said in a statement. “Michael was a respected competitor whose determination, professionalism, and positive spirit were felt by everyone in the garage. Throughout his career, he represented our sport with integrity and the passion of a true racer. NASCAR extends its condolences to Michael’s family and many friends.”
Rochester Hills native Brad Keselowski, 2010 Xfinity champion and 2012 Cup champion, sent out a tribute this week.
“Michael was an up-and-comer at the same time I was and he was looking really good,” Keselowski, co-owner of RFK Racing, wrote. “In the end, life took us different paths and all of us who knew him and the talent he had are sad to see him go.”
Before racing, Annett had a hockey career as a defenseman on the United States Hockey League’s Waterloo Black Hawks, but his small stature (5′10″, 180 pounds) made playing at higher levels unlikely.
