Kyle Larson, long described as one of the best wheelmen in motorsports, is now a two-time NASCAR champion.
Larson, 33, outdueled fellow title contenders Denny Hamlin, Chase Briscoe and William Byron to win the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series championship Sunday, Nov. 2 at Phoenix Raceway, the same track where he captured his first title in 2021.
The Hendrick Motorsports driver, who started third, also finished third in the No. 5 Chevrolet behind race winner Ryan Blaney, who notched his fourth win of the 2025 season with the overtime victory following a late-race caution for Byron’s flat tire. Brad Keselowski finished second.
But Larson’s result was enough to deliver a championship in a format in which four drivers go head-to-head in the final race and the best finish wins.
Larson also joined elite company, becoming just the third Hendrick driver to win multiple championships. The others are Hall of Famers and two of the best in auto racing history: seven-time champion Jimmie Johnson and four-time champion Jeff Gordon.
After climbing out of his car, Larson immediately embraced his wife and team owner Rick Hendrick and celebrated with his children.
“Honestly, I really can’t believe it. Like we didn’t lead a lap today and somehow still won the championship,” a stunned and exhausted Larson said in a post-race interview with NBC. “Really I’m just speechless; I can’t believe it. We had an average car at best …
“We got lucky there with that final caution. I was really hoping we were going to take two (tires) again because I felt like I learned a lot on the previous restart.”
Hamlin finished sixth, but was just three laps from winning his first championship after 20 full-time seasons in the Cup Series. The 44-year-old had the dominant car all day, leading 208 laps, and was cruising to the race win and the title when the caution flag came out as Byron crashed into the wall with a flat right front tire in Turn 4.
Larson was among a handful of drivers who took just two tires on the caution ahead of the overtime restart, while Hamlin took four. That allowed Larson to restart five spots ahead of Hamlin for the two-lap overtime sprint.
Hamlin was circumspect but clearly dejected in a post-race interview with NBC after the one item missing from his Hall-of-Fame résumé slipped away.
“Nothing I could do different. I mean I prepared as good as I could coming into the weekend. My team gave me a fantastic car. It just didn’t work out,” Hamlin said. “I was just praying for no caution, and we had one there. What can you do. It’s just not meant to be.
“The team did a fantastic job. They prepared a championship car; it just didn’t happen.”
Briscoe 18th and Byron 33rd in what could be the final season of the one-race championship or even 10-race elimination playoff format.
While Larson celebrated his championship, Blaney also got to celebrate winning the final race of the season.
“It’s just cool to end it on a good note. It’s just cool and obviously we had a fast car all day,” Blaney said. “I’m just really proud of the whole group and cool to end it in victory lane. It’s a shame we weren’t in the Championship 4. Congrats to Kyle and that whole team.”
USA TODAY Sports had full coverage of the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race. Scroll below for full race recap and highlights.
NASCAR Championship Race highlights
Watch the extended highlights from the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway:
William Byron hits the wall, sends NASCAR Championship to overtime
With three laps remaining in the race, William Byron, who was running second to Denny Hamlin, suffered a flat right front tire to bring out the caution and send the race to overtime.
Following stops where three drivers stayed out and a handful took only two tires, Kyle Larson restarts fifth, Denny Hamlin 10th and Chase Briscoe 15th. William Byron is two laps down after his crash.
NASCAR Championship Race update: Hamlin and Byron run first and second
Denny Hamlin and William Byron raced past fellow championship contenders Chase Briscoe and Kyle Larson on restart to run first and second, respectively.
Joey Logano sits in third, Ryan Blaney fourth, Kyle Larson fifth and Chase Briscoe sixth.
NASCAR Championship Race update: Caution comes out with 33 laps left
JJ Yeley suffered a wheel issue entering Turn 3, to bringing out the caution flag, allowing all the field to come down pit road for fresh tires.
Chase Briscoe and Kyle Larson each took only two tires to vault to the front row. Denny Hamlin and William Byron each took four tires, and run third and fourth, respectively – putting all four Championship 4 drivers at the front of the field.
Denny Hamlin takes lead on restart on NASCAR Championship Race
Denny Hamlin outdueled William Byron on a restart on Lap 267 of the 312-lap NASCAR Cup Series Championshp Race to retake the lead. Hamlin then built up a 1-second lead over Byron as each seek their first championship. Ryan Blaney runs third, followed by Josh Berry, Joey Loagno and Chase Briscoe. Kyle Larson races in 13th position.
Caution comes out for Austin Cindric with William Byron leading
Austin Cindric slammed into the outside wall after a flat tire to bring out the caution on Lap 260 of the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race.
William Byron won the race off pit road after the field came in for tires and fuel. Chase Elliott came off second, Denny Hamlin third and Ryan Blaney fourth. But Elliott was penalized for speeding on pit road, moving Hamlin up to the second position.
Chase Briscoe will restart 10th and Kyle Larson 18th with roughly 50 laps remaining in the race.
NASCAR Championship Race: 60 laps remaining
William Byron passes teammate Chase Elliott for the lead with 60 laps remaining in the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race. Fellow championship contender Denny Hamlin, who dominated huge swaths of the race, runs second after also passing Elliott. Chase Briscoe runs 14th, and Kyle Larson 21st.
Kyle Larson, Chase Briscoe get flat tires to shake up championship
Kyle Larson got a flat right front tire while running in the eighth position, and moments later, Chase Briscoe suffered a flat right rear tire while running in second. Both drivers were able to get to pit road for service under green but fell one lap down.
A couple laps later, Carson Hocevar also suffered a flat tire and slammed into the outside wall to bring out the caution on Lap 220 of the 312-lap race.
William Byron led Ryan Blaney when the yellow flag came out.
William Byron takes lead as Stage 3 of NASCAR Championship Race begins
William Byron outdueled Ryan Blaney on the restart to take the lead to begin the final segment of the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race. Ross Chastain moved up to second, and Chase Briscoe, who seemed out of the race after a flat tire in Stage 2, has vaulted all the way up to third.
Denny Hamlin is up to seventh ater restarting 11th, and Kyle Larson follows behind in eighth after restarting 18th.
Denny Hamlin wins Stage 2 under caution
Ty Dillon spun and hit the outside wall with three laps remaining in Stage 2 to end the segment under caution with Denny Hamlin leading.
Hamlin has led 159 of 312 laps, and his No. 11 Toyota has been by far the fastest car even as Hamlin battles clutch issues. Ryan Blaney finished second in Stage 2, William Byron third and Kyle Larson fourth. Chase Briscoe rebounded from a flat tire earlier in Stage 2 to surge all the way back seventh after falling as far back as 32nd.
During pit stops, Hamlin’s pit crew had issues getting the jack under the left side due to a flat tire, dropping him from the lead all the way back to 11th. Larson’s pit crew also had problems with the jack, and he fell back to 18th.
Blaney led the race off pit road followed by Byron.
Caution flies on Lap 149 for AJ Allmendinger
The right front tire on AJ Allmendinger’s No. 16 Chevrolet went down, sending the Kauling Racing driver crashing hard into the outside wall to bring out a caution flag on Lap 149. Allmendinger vacated his damaged vehicle, ending his race.
The yellow flag allowed drivers to get fuel and tires under caution, and once again Denny Hamlin won the race off pit road, followed by Ryan Blaney, Kyle Larson and William Byron. Chase Briscoe’s pit crew vaulted the final championship contender from 21st to 13th on the stop.
NASCAR Championship Race update: Lap 145
Denny Hamlin has pulled away for another big lead with roughly 40 laps remaining in Stage 2. Ryan Blaney, the 2023 champion, just passed Kyle Larson for second and runs about 2.6 seconds behind Hamlin. Larson runs third and William Byron fourth. Chase Briscoe, the final championship contender sits in 21st position.
Chase Briscoe had to come down pit road with a flat right-rear tire on Lap 106, but he was fortunate that a caution flag had come out moments earlier when Shane van Gisbergen spun out.
Briscoe was running fifth at the time, having passed Carson Hocevar a few laps earlier. His team managed to keep him on the lead lap, but he restarted 32nd.
The other lead-lap cars came down pit road for fuel and tires under caution a few laps after Briscoe. Denny Hamlin maintained his position as the leader, with Kyle Larson second, William Byron third and Ryan Blaney fourth.
NASCAR Championship Race: Lap 100 update
Denny Hamlin surged to the front on the restart on Lap 80 and stretched his lead over Kyle Larson to 3 seconds through 40 laps in the 125-lap Stage 2.
William Byron runs third, with three of the four championship contenders in the top 3. Ryan Blaney is fourth, and Chase Briscoe, the final championship contender, has moved up to fifth.
NASCAR Championship race update: Stage 2 begins
Ryan Blaney led the race off pit road at the end of Stage 1, leapfrogging William Byron, who restarted second but lost the spot to Denny Hamlin. Kyle Larson runs fourth and Chase Briscoe gained four spots on pit road and runs sixth behind Caron Hocevar.
The caution flag came out after three laps when John Hunger Nemechek spun across the track after contact to his rear.
William Byron wins Stage 1 of NASCAR Championship race
Championship contender William Byron passed fellow competitor Denny Hamlin with eight laps remaining in the 60-lap opening segment to win Stage 1. Hamlin led the first 52 laps before also being passed by 2023 champion Ryan Blaney with two laps remaining.
Kyle Larson finished fifth and Chase Briscoe 10th.
Stage 1 Top 10 results
William Byron
Ryan Blaney
Denny Hamlin
Austin Cindric
Kyle Larson
Carson Hocevar
Alex Bowman
Joey Logano
Chris Buescher
Chase Briscoe
NASCAR Championship race: Lap 25 update
Denny Hamlin has led every lap so far in the 60-lap opening stage. William Byron contiues to run second, slighltly less than a second behind. Austin Cidric runs third, Kyle Larson fourth, Carson Hocevar fifth and Alex Bowman sixth. Chase Briscoe has jumped from the 12th starting position to 10th.
NASCAR Championship begins as green flag is waved
The green flag has waved in the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway. Championship contenders Denny Hamlin and William Byron lead the field to open Stage 1. Kyle Larson starts third and Chase Briscoe 12th.
How to watch 2025 NASCAR Cup Series championship race
Date: Sunday, Nov. 2
Track: Phoenix Raceway (Avondale, Arizona)
Time: 3 p.m. ET (1 p.m. local)
TV: NBC
Streaming: Peacock and Fubo (free trial for new subscribers)
Stream NASCAR Championship race on Fubo
Who are the 2025 NASCAR Championship 4 drivers?
Chase Briscoe, No. 19 Toyota, Joe Gibbs Racing
William Byron, No. 24 Chevrolet, Hendrick Motorsports
Denny Hamlin won the pole for the NACAR Cup Series Championship Race during Saturday’s qualifying with two other title contenders directly behind him. William Byron starts on the front row alongside Hamlin, while Kyle Larson starts third on the second row alongside Austin Cindric. The final championship contender, Chase Briscoe, qualified 12th.
Sydney Sweeney meets drivers at NASCAR Championship Race
Actress Sydney Sweeney and WNBA star Sophie Cunningham were among the VIPs at the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race drivers meeting at Phoenix Raceway today.
Sweeney also came out on stage with the checkered flag during driver introductions, pumping up the crowd and motivating the drivers. Sweeney stars as women’s boxing trailblazer Christy Martin in the film “Christy,” coming to theaters on Nov. 7.
Cunningham plays for the Indiana Fever, who reached the semifinals of the 2025 WNBA playoffs, and previously played for the Phoenix Mercury.
NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race starting lineup
Denny Hamlin, No. 11 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
William Byron, No. 24 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Kyle Larson, No. 5 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Austin Cindric, No. 2 Team Penske Ford
Ryan Blaney, No. 12 Team Penske Ford
Carson Hocevar, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
Josh Berry, No. 21 Wood Brothers Racing Ford
Alex Bowman, No. 48 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Chris Buescher, No. 17 Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
Joey Logano, No. 22 Team Penske Ford
Kyle Busch, No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Chase Briscoe, No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Ross Chastain, No. 1 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Daniel Suarez, No. 99 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Erik Jones, No. 43 Legacy Motor Club Toyota
Ricky Stenhouse Jr., No. 47 HYAK Motorsports Chevrolet
Chase Elliott, No. 9 Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Noah Gragson, No. 4 Front Row Motorsports Ford
Brad Keselowski, No. 6 Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing Ford
Christopher Bell, No. 20 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Ryan Preece, No. 60 RFK Racing Ford
Zane Smith, No. 38 Front Row Motorsports Ford
Bubba Wallace, No. 23 23XI Racing Toyota
Tyler Reddick, No. 45 23XI Racing Toyota
Ty Gibbs, No. 54 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Austin Dillon, No. 3 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet
Cole Custer, No. 41 Haas Factory Team Ford
John Hunter Nemechek, No. 42 Legacy Motor Club Toyota
Justin Haley, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
Todd Gilliland, No. 34 Front Row Motorsports Ford
Shane van Gisbergen, No. 88 Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet
Riley Herbst, No. 35 23XI Racing Toyota
Cody Ware, No. 51 Rick Ware Racing Ford
Ty Dillon, No. 10 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
JJ Yeley, No. 44 NY Racing Team Chevrolet
Casey Mears, No. 66 Garage 66 Ford
Michael McDowell, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet
AJ Allmendinger, No. 16 Kaulig Racing Chevrolet
How many laps is the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race?
The NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race is 312 laps around the one-mile track for a total of 312 miles. The race will have three segments (laps per stage) — Stage 1: 60 laps; Stage 2: 125 laps; Stage 3: 137 laps.
What are the odds to win 2025 NASCAR Cup Series Championship?
Denny Hamlin is the favorite to win the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series title among the Championship 4 contenders based on by BetMGM as of 1:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, Nov. 2:
Denny Hamlin ….. +190
Kyle Larson ….. +230
William Byron ….. +230
Chase Briscoe ….. +550
NASCAR Championship race odds
Here are the favorites to win Sunday’s race, according to BetMGM odds as of 1:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, Nov. 2:
Denny Hamlin (+310)
Kyle Larson (+350)
William Byron (+350)
Ryan Blaney (+425)
Christopher Bell (+1100)
Chase Briscoe (+1200)
Joey Logano (+1400)
Chase Elliott (+2500)
Austin Cindric (+2500)
NASCAR Championship 4 driver stats
How the NASCAR Cup Series championship contenders fared in the 2025 Cup Series season:
William Byron
Car: No. 24 Chevrolet
Team: Hendrick Motorsports
Age: 27
DOB: Nov. 29, 1997
∎ 2025 STATISTICS
Wins: Three
Top fives: 11
Top 10s: 16
Laps led: 1,278
Poles: Three
Chase Briscoe
Car: No. 19 Toyota
Team: Joe Gibbs Racing
Age: 30
DOB: Dec. 15, 1994
∎ 2025 STATISTICS
Wins: Three
Top fives: 15
Top 10s: 19
Laps led: 881
Poles: Seven
Denny Hamlin
Car: No. 11 Toyota
Team: Joe Gibbs Racing
Age: 44
DOB: Nov. 18, 1980
∎ 2025 STATISTICS
Wins: Six
Top fives: 14
Top 10s: 17
Laps led: 816
Poles: Four
Kyle Larson
Car: No. 5 Chevrolet
Team: Hendrick Motorsports
Age: 33
DOB: July 31, 1992
∎ 2025 STATISTICS
Wins: Three
Top fives: 14
Top 10s: 21
Laps led: 1,106
Poles: One
Who won the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race last year?
Joey Logano won just one race during the regular season in 2024 but stormed to three victories in the playoffs – crucially, the Championship Race in Phoenix. He captured his third Cup Series title, becoming the 10th driver in history to do so. He took the lead during the final stage and held off Team Penske teammate Ryan Blaney to take home the title. William Byron, Kyle Larson and Christopher Bell rounded out the top five.
Who has won the most NASCAR Cup Series championships?
Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt and Jimmie Johnson have each won seven championships, most in NASCAR Cup Series history.
1T. Richard Petty ….. 7
1T. Dale Earnhardt ….. 7
1T. Jimmie Johnson ….. 7
4. Jeff Gordon ….. 4
5T. Lee Petty ….. 3
5T. David Pearson ….. 3
5T. Cale Yarborough ….. 3
5T. Darrell Waltrip ….. 3
5T. Tony Stewart ….. 3
5T. Joey Logano ….. 3
What time does the NASCAR championship race start?
The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series championship race is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET (1 p.m. local) at Phoenix Raceway in Avondale, Arizona. The green flag is scheduled to drop at 3:34 p.m. ET (1:34 p.m. local).
What TV channel is the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race?
The NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race will be broadcast on NBC. Pre-race coverage will start at 2 p.m. ET (12 p.m. local). The race can be streamed on Peacock and Fubo.
The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering returns to Monterey Car Week Aug. 14, 2026, to celebrate the world’s most iconic automotive brands and historic vehicles, company officials stated in a press release. The event will showcase four featured classes and an exclusive collector series. The 23rd annual event will also include more than a dozen vehicle debuts from top OEMs and designers and a curated display of hundreds of rare and unique vehicles.
Four celebrated classes will take center stage at next year’s event: The 100th Anniversary of Route 66, The Lamborghini Diablo, The Legacy of Japanese GTs, and The Ferrari F40.
The 100th Anniversary of Route 66
Spanning nearly 2,500 miles from Chicago to Santa Monica, Route 66 symbolizes freedom, adventure and the enduring spirit of the American road trip, noted the release. This special featured class will pay tribute to the highway’s cultural impact through a curated lineup of classic vehicles that once traveled America’s “Mother Road,” each honoring Route 66’s role in shaping American automotive history and inspiring generations of travelers.
The Lamborghini Diablo
The Lamborghini Diablo featured class will celebrate the “poster car” of the 1990s. Lamborghini’s first model capable of exceeding 200 mph and a former holder of the world’s fastest production car title, the Diablo stands as an icon of futuristic design and breakthrough engineering, solidifying Lamborghini’s standing as a trailblazer in modern supercar performance, event organizers said. The class will include Diablo examples, highlighting rare specifications and limited-production editions.
The Legacy of Japanese GTs
Celebrating the legacy of Japanese automotive craftsmanship, the artistry of customizable styling and advanced technology, The Legacy of Japanese GTs class will showcase a selection of the most influential and sought-after models. Famous for their distinctive blend of performance, precision and tunability, Japanese GTs have earned a devoted following among enthusiasts worldwide.
The Ferrari F40
The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering will honor an iconic Ferrari model for the second consecutive year with The Ferrari F40 featured class. Celebrated as one of the most iconic supercars ever built and introduced in 1987 to commemorate Ferrari’s 40th anniversary, the F40 was the final Ferrari model to be personally approved by Enzo Ferrari. This class will highlight the raw performance and engineering excellence that continue to define Ferrari’s legacy.
Ferrari F50 GT. (Photo courtesy The Quail)
The Bruce Meyer Collection
The Quail will also introduce an all-new collector series that will highlight unique collections from renowned collectors and enthusiasts. Among them, Bruce Meyer is widely recognized as one of the most passionate and influential car collectors in the hot rod and classic car spaces. Driven by his signature mantra, “never lift,” Meyer has assembled one of the finest private collections of Le Mans-winning race cars, Bonneville land speed cars, trend-setting hot rods and many other cars and motorcycles of historical significance. The Bruce Meyer Collection will present an exclusive selection that reflects his profound appreciation for the automotive hobby.
Timeless Craftsmanship & Heritage Will Be on Display at The Quail
“Our new featured classes, alongside the debut of the collector series, are propelling The Quail into an exciting new era,” said Gordon McCall, director of motorsports at The Quail. “Collectively, they showcase emerging technologies and design philosophies, while upholding the timeless craftsmanship and heritage that have been at the heart of this event for more than two decades.”
The Quail, A Motorsports Gathering will also include eight returning traditional classes, including Custom Coachwork, Pre-War Sports and Racing Cars, Post-War Sports Cars 1945-60, Post-War Sports Cars 1961-75, Post-War Racing Cars, Sports and Racing Motorcycles, Evolution of the Supercar and The Great Ferraris.
The vehicle entrant application is currently open.
Business Leader and Former NASCAR Team Marketing Executive Tony Priscaro Releases His New Book Still Standing, A Real-World Guide to Building Credibility When the Stakes Are High – Speedway Digest
Tony Priscaro, founder of PK Velocity Sports & Entertainment and a veteran sports marketing executive, has released his debut book, Still Standing, now available on Amazon and Kindle. The book delivers a candid, practical look at leadership, resilience, and value creation drawn from decades operating at the intersection of professional sports and business.
Unlike traditional business books rooted in theory, Still Standing is built on real-world execution—closing high-stakes deals, navigating career pivots, managing risk, and rebuilding momentum when circumstances collapse.
“This isn’t a book about success,” said Priscaro. “It’s about what happens between success—the pressure, the setbacks, the moments where quitting feels logical but staying the course matters most.”
Priscaro’s career spans professional sports marketing, NASCAR sponsorship strategy, corporate partnerships, and brand development. In Still Standing, he translates lessons learned in high-pressure sports environments into actionable insights for business leaders, entrepreneurs, and sales professionals.
“In sports, there’s no room for excuses,” Priscaro said. “You either deliver or you don’t. That same reality exists in business—especially when trust, reputation, and credibility are on the line.”
A Business Book Disguised as a Story
While the book draws on experiences from NASCAR, professional basketball, and national brand partnerships, Still Standing is ultimately about business fundamentals: decision-making under uncertainty, earning trust without credentials, and creating value when resources are limited.
“Brands don’t care where you went to school,” Priscaro noted. “They care if you can reduce risk, execute consistently, and deliver results. That lesson applies to every industry.”
The book has already begun resonating with professionals navigating career transitions, leadership challenges, and entrepreneurial risk.
Supporting Speaking & Executive Engagements
The release of Still Standing coincides with Priscaro’s expanded focus on executive speaking engagements and business workshops. His talks center on leadership under pressure, credibility over credentials, and what professional sports reveal about how decisions are really made in business.
“I didn’t write this book to sell books,” said Priscaro. “I wrote it to start conversations—with leaders, teams, and organizations that want to perform when the stakes are real.”
A coalition dubbed Restore Our Fairgrounds is calling for a voter referendum to block NASCAR-style racing in favor of affordable housing and green space at the Fairgrounds in South Nashville, the latest measure in a two-decade effort to strip auto racing from the property.
The group said it filed paperwork recently with the metro clerk to start a charter amendment ending auto racing at the Metro Nashville Fairgrounds amid rumors about Mayor Freddie O’Connell and Speedway Motorsports negotiating a deal for NASCAR-type expansion.
The group says resumption of car races would hurt local taxpayers and cause more traffic and noise.
If successful, the amendment would undo a 2011 referendum that amended the charter to protect existing uses of the fairgrounds, including auto racing. The measure passed with 72% of voters approving it.
Metro Nashville voters would have to vote in favor of a referendum to end racing at the fairgrounds, which was home to different types of racing for more than 100 years.
The group supports the preservation of green space, development of affordable housing and improvements to nearby Brown’s Creek, a tributary to Cumberland River on the federal list of polluted waterways.
Multiple Nashville groups, such as the Belmont-Hillsboro Neighbors, Nashville Organized for Action and Hope Economic Equity, Jobs & Transportation Task Force and South Nashville Action People are part of the coalition.
Mike Kopp, cofounder of Fairgrounds Preservation Partners, is among those signing the petition, along with Metro Council member Terry Vo; Heidi Basgall Favorite, founder of Neighbors Opposing Track Expansion; and Jose Gonzales, cofounder of Conexion Americas.
In 15 TQ Midget races contested inside the PPL Center over the past nine years, a Pennsylvania driver has visited Victory Lane just twice. Young standout Tanner VanDoren of Slatington and veteran Matt Janisch of Wind Gap are hoping to become the first Keystone State drivers to score multiple Allentown Indoor Racing Series victories when the Ironton Global Races return on Friday and Saturday, January 9 and 10.
A total of 13 drivers from Pennsylvania are entered, and they’ll have two chances to win a feature. On Friday, the headline TQ Midgets will compete in a 30-lap feature, and on Saturday, the distance will be 40 laps. It won’t be easy with drivers entered from eight different states with many different forms of motorsports racing experience.
Ryan Flores remains the undisputed king of Allentown. The Huntersville, N.C. driver and New Jersey native has captured seven victories at the PPL Center. New York drivers account for five wins, led by Erick Rudolph—the only other repeat winner—along with Justin Bonsignore, Scott Kreutter, and Andy Jankowiak, who will be seeking his second Allentown triumph.
Since winning in his Friday-night Indoor Series debut at Allentown in 2024, VanDoren has been a contender in nearly every race he’s entered while driving for car owner Jeff Ulrich. Tragically, Ulrich was struck by a vehicle and killed while crossing a street last February.
New Jersey’s Anthony Sesley, a four-time Gambler’s Classic winner in Atlantic City, earned his lone Allentown victory in 2023, driving for Ulrich. It was Sesley who arranged for VanDoren to serve as his test driver in Allentown the following season, and the two have been teammates in the Indoor Series TQ Midgets ever since. Following Ulrich’s passing, Sesley acquired the team’s two race cars to continue Ulrich’s legacy.
At Allentown, Sesley will not compete as a driver, instead focusing solely on VanDoren’s efforts as crew chief. After gaining speed through two Allentown events without Ulrich, Sesley will return to the cockpit as VanDoren’s teammate at the Atlantic City Indoor Race on January 30 and 31.
Allentown native Briggs Danner could bring the house down if he captures his first Indoor Series victory on his home turf. A frequent contender in past seasons, Danner is banking on speed found last year with a new TQ Midget built by Kevin Graver to finally seal the deal and become the third driver from his state to win in Allentown’s ten-year history.
Danner will have a new teammate in 16-year-old Logan Watt of Boyertown, who stormed onto the Modified racing scene during his rookie season in 2025. Although Watt has never driven a TQ Midget, the proven Graver-Danner setup could make him fast right out of the gate—much like VanDoren, who won in his Indoor debut at age 16 in 2024.
Tim Buckwalter of Royersford, a former Indoor Series Atlantic City Gambler’s Classic winner, hopes to score an Allentown victory in front of his home-state fans, driving for a new team assembled by legendary racer Lou Cicconi.
Ryan Smith, coming off a strong outdoor season in 410 Sprint Cars, returns to TQ Midget competition in George VanVarick’s No. 43. After resolving mechanical issues last season, Smith found speed in Atlantic City last January and hopes to carry that momentum into Allentown.
Matt Roselli of Brodheadsville, Pa.—a past preliminary-night Triple 20 winner in Allentown—returns in the radical Laffler-built TQ Midget featuring a right-side-mounted engine that debuted last season. Chad Jones of Quakertown, Pa., who designed and built a brand-new TQ Midget from the ground up last year, looks to iron out the remaining issues and take a step forward.
Kyle Lick of Lehighton, who finished seventh in the standings last year, is another driver knocking on the door of his first Indoor TQ Midget series win. Pennsburg car owner Matt Chowns returns with a two-car effort, including John Barnett in the second entry.
Jesse Strohl, a 24-year-old asphalt Modified driver from Slatington, will make his TQ Midget debut. Strohl comes from deep racing roots, with his grandfather, Marvin Bartholomew, and father, Lou Strohl, longtime competitors at Mahoning Valley and Evergreen Speedways.
Drivers will again have the opportunity to claim the Ironton Auto Body Challenge by winning both feature races in Allentown. Friday’s winner will be offered a guaranteed starting spot in Saturday’s main event—provided they start tenth. Accepting the challenge earns a $1,000 bonus, with an additional $4,000 awarded if they advance from tenth to win. Combined with Saturday’s purse, a weekend sweep would total $10,000.
If the challenge is not completed, Ironton Auto Body will roll over a portion of the bonus to the Atlantic City Indoor Race. Flores accomplished the feat last season at the NAPA Gambler’s Classic, earning $10,000, including challenge bonus money and support from the Atlantic City Sports Commission and Visit Atlantic City.
Friday night will also feature the Will Cagle Shootout, sponsored by Ricky Harring, showcasing the top 10 qualifiers in a 15-lap dash where drivers choose their starting positions. The pole pays $240 to win, with payouts increasing by $120 per position. A driver winning from tenth would earn $1,320.
The headline TQ Midget division will be joined by Slingshots and Champ Karts, with full programs for all three classes. Champ Kart teams will arrive from 12 states and Ontario, Canada, while Slingshot competitors will represent Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, and Quebec.
Lower-level reserved ticket holders for Saturday night receive access to a pre-race FanFest, allowing fans to walk the track and meet drivers and teams prior to the 7 p.m. green flag.
Tickets are available through a Ticketmaster link at IndoorAutoRacing.com or at the box office on the day of the events. Check the website for more information.