Maserati’s modern return to top-level GT racing has quickly turned from a comeback story into a momentum-driven success story. As the curtain closes on an impressive 2025 campaign, the House of the Trident is now firmly focused on an even more ambitious 2026 season—one that expands its footprint globally, including a major push into North American racing.

After stepping back into closed-wheel competition in 2023, Maserati Corse has wasted little time proving it belongs. The Maserati GT2 has already delivered championships, race wins, and credibility across multiple series. In 2025, that momentum peaked with a dominant Am-class title in the GT2 European Series, where consistent performance and reliability showcased exactly what Maserati set out to achieve with its customer racing program.

What makes this resurgence notable isn’t just the trophies—it’s the structure behind it. Maserati isn’t chasing one-off headline results. Instead, it’s building a sustainable racing ecosystem that supports teams, drivers, and series organizers. That approach carries directly into 2026, when the GT2 platform will again compete in the GT2 European Series while also aligning with the broader SRO ladder system, including pathways that eventually connect to GT World Challenge competition.

For American fans, the biggest news is Maserati’s growing presence stateside. In 2026, both the Maserati GT2 and the extreme, track-only Maserati MCXtrema will be eligible for competition in the U.S.-based International GT series, competing in the GTX category. This marks a significant step for the brand, putting modern Maserati race cars on legendary circuits that resonate deeply with American motorsports culture.

The International GT calendar reads like a bucket list for road racing fans, with stops at iconic venues such as Sebring International Raceway, Road Atlanta, Road America, Watkins Glen, Laguna Seca, and Circuit of the Americas. For Maserati, this isn’t just about participation—it’s about visibility. Racing on these tracks puts the Trident in front of U.S. teams, drivers, and enthusiasts who may be encountering modern Maserati motorsport hardware up close for the first time.

Another key factor heading into 2026 is the expansion of race formats made possible by Maserati’s Endurance Pack. This update broadens the GT2’s eligibility across more championships and endurance-style events, making it more attractive to customer teams that want flexibility without sacrificing performance. In plain terms, it allows teams to race more often, in more places, with the same core platform.

All of this builds toward a symbolic milestone that gives the 2026 season extra weight. Maserati will celebrate 100 years since its first racing appearance, when the Maserati Tipo 26 debuted at the Targa Florio and won its class. A century later, Maserati is once again leaning into competition as a core part of its identity—not as a nostalgia act, but as a forward-looking performance brand.

As 2026 approaches, the message is clear: Maserati isn’t dabbling in racing. It’s committed. With a growing global schedule, expanding U.S. involvement, and proven on-track results, the Trident is positioning itself for one of the most important seasons in its modern motorsports history.

Dale Earnhardt broke down in tears after his NASCAR stardom allowed him to buy his mom, Martha, a special gift. The NASCAR legend came from humble beginnings, born to a working-class family in North Carolina.

While his father, Ralph, was a racing driver, it was Dale who would go on to alter the family’s trajectory. Earnhardt went on to become one of U.S. motorsports’ most successful and beloved names, winning the joint-most Cup Series championships (7) alongside Richard Petty and Jimmy Johnson.

Sitting at the top of NASCAR also saw Earnhardt become one of motorsport’s most marketable names. He laid the foundations for his two sons, Kerry and Dale Jr., to step into NASCAR, with the latter going on to be one of the sport’s most popular drivers ever. This popularity remains intact to this day, nearly 25 years on from his father’s tragic passing on the final lap of the 2001 Daytona 500.

However, in his younger years, around Christmas time, it wasn’t a straightforward time of year for Dale Sr., who wasn’t able to spoil his family, particularly his mother, as much as he had hoped. Dale Sr.’s gifts to Martha had been modest, usually everyday plug-in items like toasters.

However, in 1980, something shifted. He experienced a moment of clarity that led to an especially emotional exchange with his mother, marking a turning point in their relationship. After winning the Winston Cup in 1980, Earnhardt bought his mom diamond earrings.

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Joe Whitlock, his manager at the time, revealed an emotional exchange he had with the NASCAR legend before passing the gift to his mother. “After he had won the Winston Cup crown, we came home, and he’s driving the car, and I’m sitting in the passenger seat,” he said.

“And he starts crying, he’s laughing and crying, it’s not a serious cry. I said, ‘What’s the matter?’ He said, ‘This is the first Christmas that I can buy my mother something that doesn’t plug into the wall.’ It was always a toaster or something. But he bought her diamond earrings.”

Martha continued wearing the earrings for decades until her passing on Christmas Day, 2021, nearly 21 years after her son’s passing. In the 2015 I Am Dale Earnhardt documentary, Martha said: “I still have my diamond earrings, yeah. And it was really a big surprise that he could even afford that, you know. But he was always springing something on you, and I thought it was just amazing how he fought to get to where he was.”

Earnhardt legacy

Earnhardt’s 2001 passing at the Daytona 500 left a long-lasting impact on the sport. NASCAR had lost one of its biggest and most beloved names, while the Earnhardt family lost its figurehead.

Dale Jr. finished second on the day his father had died, and his passing came in just his second full season of Cup Series racing. Despite the pain of her son’s passing, Martha watched Dale Sr. carry the torch, and though he didn’t win a Cup title like his dad, he forged a legendary path of his own.

Dale Jr. is continuing the Earnhardt legacy in NASCAR with JR Motorsports alongside his sister, Kelley. JR Motorsports has won a total of four NASCAR Xfinity Series championships in its history: 2014 (Chase Elliott), 2017 (William Byron), 2018 (Tyler Reddick), and 2024 (Justin Allgaier). The team came mighty close to going back-to-back last year, with Connor Zilisch losing to Jesse Love in Phoenix’s Championship race.

TOKYO, Dec 26, 2025 – (JCN Newswire) – Honda Motor Co., Ltd. today launched a content curation media platform, Discover Honda, on its corporate information website(1). Discover Honda is a media platform that holistically curates and clearly communicates a wide range of Honda initiatives, including Honda products, technologies, designs, and the thoughts of Honda associates who create them, as well as various corporate activities including the environment, safety and corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives.

Discover Honda URL：https://global.honda/jp/discover/ (Japanese) https://global.honda/en/discover/ (English)

Key features of Discover Honda

Discover Honda is a newly created media platform that curates (gathers) and posts articles from multiple Honda owned media(2) platforms that currently exist within the Honda corporate information website. This will enable users to access articles that were previously scattered across various owned media in one place and in a timely manner. In addition, Discover Honda will share feature articles which will compile multiple articles related to certain selected themes. For example, by selecting a single product as a theme, the feature article will enable readers to explore a series of articles written about the product from different aspects, such as technologies, designs and the thoughts of Honda associates who were involved in the development of the product. Feature articles on Discover Honda are designed to enable the readers to gain a deeper and more multifaceted understanding of the particular themes.

At its launch, Discover Honda is featuring two special articles: one on the all-new Prelude, which went on sale in Japan in September of this year, and the other on electric motorcycles. New feature articles are scheduled to be added on monthly basis.

Concept of Discover Honda

The concept behind Discover Honda is creating a ?march? (marketplace) for Honda content. Just like march? or farmers’ market brings together a wide variety of desirable items ranging from fresh foods to home goods and handmade items, Discover Honda was created with an image of a place where users can encounter articles on diverse themes and perspectives related to Honda.

In addition to its motorcycle, automobile, power products and aviation businesses, Honda is engaging in a wide range of initiatives as a comprehensive mobility company, including the development of cutting-edge space and robotics technologies, environment and safety initiatives, taking on challenges in motorsports, and corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives. By featuring articles that introduce such a wide range of activities, Discover Honda will strive to become a media platform where users can discover a variety of attractive facets of Honda ? just like people finding a variety of attractive items at a marketplace.?

This new content curation media platform was named ?Discover Honda? based on the desire of Honda for more people to visit this media site, explore the diverse activities Honda is involved in, and discover new facets of Honda.? ?

With participation of designers from the Honda Design team, the Discover Honda site was designed with a main color of orange that evokes a vibrant image, freshness, and positive energy of the marketplace. The Discover Honda logo features multiple cubes within the initial letter D, representing diverse themes users can encounter through this platform, and one of the cubes incorporates the Honda Red.?

Why Honda created Discover Honda

Since 2020, as a part of its corporate information website, Honda has been operating ?Honda Stories,? as one of the owned media platforms that communicates the current initiatives and future vision of Honda. It introduces Honda initiatives from the past, present and future, including the underlying thoughts and passions of each initiative, through interviews with Honda associates, executives and other stakeholders.

In addition to Honda Stories, Honda has been communicating a wide range of information through multiple owned media platforms:

?Honda Technology? introduces Honda technologies with more technical insights.?Honda Design? introduces initiatives related to design works?Motorsports? and ?HRC??introduce various Honda initiatives in motorsports?Honda Sports Challenge??introduces various Honda corporate sports activities.

The use of multiple owned media platforms has enabled Honda to present a single theme from multiple perspectives. However, having multiple owned media platforms created a challenge, making it difficult for users to find related articles on the same theme all at once. To address this challenge, Honda launched Discover Honda, a new content curation media platform that enables users to find related articles from multiple Honda owned media while leveraging the unique expertise of each medium.

Initially, Discover Honda will primarily curate content from Honda Stories, Honda Technology, Honda Design, Motorsports, HRC, and Honda Sports Challenge. Moving forward, Honda is planning to expand the range of owned media included in the curation.

(1) Honda corporate information website URL:?https://global.honda/jp/ (Japanese), https://global.honda/en/(English)

(2) Media produced and operated by Honda

Source: Honda Motor Co, Ltd

Copyright 2025 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved.

This year’s Christmas proved to be a difficult one for NASCAR, owing to the events that transpired last week. With all the legal proceedings settled, it looked like Christmas would be a major celebration this year, but the tragic passing of Greg Biffle and his family proved otherwise. Grief has remained the primary theme ever since, with the Hendrick Motorsports team being among the first ones to react to the news.

While many came forward to share their message of grief, one of the most respected voices in the HMS camp remained mum. Ray Evernham, the Championship-winning crew chief for Jeff Gordon, had opted for the silent path when Biffle passed. But with Christmas festivities in full flow, the HMS icon couldn’t help but lay forth a sobering truth.

HMS Icon Delivers a Gut-Wrenching Truth to NASCAR

Tragedy struck NASCAR last Thursday as news surfaced of the Biffle family passing away in a plane crash alongside three others. The family of four was on its way to Florida to meet up with Garrett Mitchell, aka Cleetus McFarland, but 10 minutes into their flight, the Cessna 550 ran into trouble and couldn’t make it back to the runway safely.

Ever since, the NASCAR world has been struggling to come to terms with reality, with Mark Martin spending considerable time researching the potential reasons behind the plane’s failure.

While all that goes on, Gordon’s former crew chief decided to take to X and leave a few people teary-eyed with what he had to say.

“It’s been a rough week or so, but today is a special day. It’s Christmas, and it’s about family, it’s about being together, it’s about great memories,” said Evernham. He added, “And we don’t know how many Christmases we’re going to get. Some of the Christmases, people who start the year with us won’t be here.”

Speaking further, the iconic crew chief expressed his gratitude for the gift that life is while also being thankful for all of his friends and family, hoping to carry great memories into the new year.

Evernham’s words come just in time for “Biffmas,” an annual initiative started by Biffle that centers around spreading holiday cheer through daily cash giveaways and prizes for fans.

To make this year’s Christmas even more chilling, those close to the Biffle family ended up receiving their Christmas mail from the departed souls during the holidays.

One such incident happened with Ron Herbert of North Carolina, who received the festive season’s greetings from the Biffles in his mailbox. The mail proved to be a harsh reminder of the reality that cannot be escaped, with Evernham’s message further highlighting just how precious life is.

In the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge next month at Daytona, KohR Motorsports is going to run a Greg Biffle tribute car. The No. 60 Ford Mustang GT4 will have the Biffle family on the hood of the car, along with the names of all of the passengers who died in last week’s tragic plane crash.

This car is special, and a wonderful tribute to the late Greg Biffle, his family, and the three others who died on the plane. Greg, Cristina, Emma, Ryder, Dennis Dutton, Jack Dutton, and Craig Wadsworth will all be honored with their names on this car.

With the racing season around the corner, this is likely the first of many Biffle tributes that we will see in 2026. SportsCar365 showed the livery on social media earlier today.

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The International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) has officially completed the acquisition of the historic motorsports facility in Millington, Tennessee, formerly known as Memphis International Raceway and Memphis Motorsports Park, closing on the property on December 23, 2025.

Originally opened in the late 1980s, the facility has played a significant role in American motorsports history. It has hosted major drag racing events and national touring series and was, at one point, sanctioned by IHRA, hosting IHRA-sanctioned drag racing events during that time. With the property now under IHRA ownership, the acquisition represents a full-circle moment that reconnects the track’s past with a renewed vision for its future.

The facility has long contributed to tourism and economic activity in Millington and Shelby County. Under IHRA ownership, it will operate as a multi-use destination supporting drag racing, stock car competition, grassroots motorsports, and other large-scale events that engage the broader community and region.

“This investment honors the legacy of Memphis Motorsports Park while positioning it for a strong future. IHRA’s acquisition reflects confidence in our region and creates new opportunities for tourism, local businesses, and fan experiences.” said Mayor Paul Young, City of Memphis.

“As the Commissioner for District 1, I am thrilled about IHRA’s acquisition of Memphis Motorsports Park. This investment strengthens our local economy, puts world-class racing back on solid ground, and gives our families and young people a safe, exciting place to create memories for years to come. Having a national organization like IHRA committed to the long-term success of this historic facility is exactly the kind of partnership Shelby County needs.” said Amber Mills, Shelby County Commissioner, District 1, Shelby County Government.

“Memphis Motorsports Park has long contributed to tourism and economic activity in Millington and Shelby County, and IHRA’s acquisition represents a positive step forward for the facility and the community. This investment supports the continued use of the track as a regional destination while creating opportunities for local businesses and future growth. The Millington Area Chamber of Commerce looks forward to working with IHRA as this next chapter takes shape.” said Chris Thomas, Executive Director, Millington Area Chamber of Commerce.

“This is a special place in American motorsports,” said Darryl Cuttell, CEO of IHRA. “This facility has a deep history in drag racing and stock car competition, and our goal is to honor that legacy while building a strong, sustainable future. We are committed to bringing meaningful racing back to this property while expanding its role as a destination for a wide range of events that serve racers, fans, and the surrounding community.”

“This acquisition represents more than reopening a racetrack,” said Leah Martin, President of IHRA. “It is about restoring opportunity for racers, families, and the community. This facility aligns with IHRA’s racer-first vision and our commitment to grassroots motorsports, while also allowing the property to support diverse uses that strengthen its year-round impact.”

“Memphis Motorsports Park holds a special place in our hearts,” said Daniel Horton, Assistant Director of the IHRA Stock Car Series. “Bobby Hamilton won the 2004 Craftsman Truck Series race here in a truck built by Tim and with Danny as the crew chief. With the facility now under the IHRA umbrella, we can give grassroots racers a chance to compete where legendary drivers such as Kevin Harvick, Randy LaJoie, and the late Greg Biffle have won. We are extremely excited to bring stock car racing back to Memphis and continue the legacy of this iconic track.”

In the coming days, IHRA will begin facility improvements and operational preparations. Fans and community members are encouraged to follow IHRA across its social media platforms for updates and behind-the-scenes coverage as revitalization efforts get underway. Further announcements regarding schedules and programming will be released in the near future.

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