Spire Motorsports will field three entries in the NASCAR Cup Series’ inaugural visit to Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City, Mexico. Two points-paying Cup Series races were held in Canada (1952 and 1958), while exhibition races were held in Japan and Australia throughout the 90s. The event will mark the third international points race for NASCAR’s premier division and first since 1958. Spire Motorsports fields the Nos. 7, 71 and 77 Chevrolet ZL1s in the Cup Series for Justin Haley, Michael McDowell and Carson Hocevar, respectively.
Spire Motorsports will honor teammate Tony Witt who tragically lost his life Friday, June 6. Witt served as a suspension mechanic for the team’s NASCAR Cup Series’ operation and had been with the organization since March 2022. He was journeyman competitor who made the move from Wisconsin to North Carolina in the mid 90s to work alongside fellow Wisconsin racer Robbie Reiser on his fledgling NASCAR Xfinity Series team. Since then, he made stops and won races at Darrell Waltrip Racing, Hendrick Motorsports, Richard Childress Racing and others prior to his time with Spire. Witt leaves behind two sons, Dalton and Tyler, mother Jo Anne and brothers Todd and Jon. He was preceded in death by his late wife Paula. The team will honor Witt’s memory with a decal on all three of its NASCAR Cup Series entries this weekend in Mexico City.
The Viva Mexico 250 will be streamed live on Amazon Prime, Sunday, June 15 beginning at 3 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). The 16th of 36 points-paying races on the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series calendar will be broadcast live on the Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio Channel 90.

Justin Haley – Driver, No. 7 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet ZL1

Justin Haley will pilot Spire Motorsports’ No. 7 Gainbridge Chevrolet ZL1 in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.
Haley finished second at the inaugural Grant Park 220 Chicago Street Race in 2023. In 25 Cup Series events contested on road courses, Haley has collected one top five and four top 10s.
In the last five Cup Series road- and street-course races over the last two seasons, Haley has earned a 26.5 average showing, including a pair of 16th-place finishes (Circuit of the Americas ‘25/Chicago ’24).
The 26-year-old veteran racer finished eighth in the Verizon 200 at the Brickyard at the road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway behind the wheel of Spire Motorsports’ No. 77 Chevrolet at the first Cup Series event to be held on the Indianapolis road-course layout.
Founded in 2018, Gainbridge® is an insurtech subsidiary of Group 1001 that empowers consumers to take control of their financial future with solutions that are accessible to everyone, no matter their budget or financial knowledge. Its platform provides access to financial products that are simple, intuitive, and backed by smart technology with no complexity or hidden fees. Gainbridge® is headquartered in Zionsville, Ind. For more information, visit www.gainbridge.io or follow and connect with us on X and LinkedIn.
Last week at Michigan International Speedway, Haley battled handling issues throughout the 200-lap race and came home 21st in the final scoring tally.
Haley won the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 250 at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. It was his second top-five finish in three starts at the venue. He finished fourth at the 2017 event.
In NASCAR Xfinity Series road-racing competition, Haley has collected four top-five and 10 top-10 finishes, including a pair of runner-up finishes (Indianapolis/Mid-Ohio) in 2020 and 2021.
Haley, the 2016 ARCA Menards Series East Series Champion, never finished outside of the top-five in a road race while competing in the regional series.
The former Trans-Am Series competitor owns 23 starts in the division’s TA2 Class where he collected 10 top-five and 16 top-10 finishes. He closed out the 2016 season sixth in the division’s championship point standings after earning three poles, six top fives and nine top 10s while pacing the field for 41 laps.
The Indiana native is a veteran of 161 Cup Series starts and has notched one win, five top fives, 16 top 10s and led 103 laps in NASCAR’s premier division.
In total, Haley has made 57 Cup Series starts for Spire Motorsports, including his first start in NASCAR’s premier division at Talladega Superspeedway on his 20th birthday.

Justin Haley Quote
What are your thoughts as the NASCAR Cup Series heads to Mexico City for the first time?
“Mexico City will be a lot of fun for the industry, for the drivers and for the fans. This will be the first time I’ve raced this track, but we had good speed earlier this season at Circuit of the Americas and I feel pretty good about our road-race program. The biggest challenge is the high elevation, so I’ve been trying to prepare for that part of it. I have been sleeping in an altitude tent to train for the race. We’ll use practice to figure out the fast way around so we can be in a good spot for qualifying and the race.”
Atop the No. 7 Box – Crew Chief Ryan Sparks

Ryan Sparks serves in a dual role as both Spire Motorsports’ Competition Director and Haley’s crew chief.
The Winston Salem, N.C., native has called 181 NASCAR Cup Series races, earning three top-five and nine top-10 finishes.
In total, the 41-year-old has called 25 road course races, earning a career-best eighth-place result with Corey LaJoie at Watkins Glen (N.Y.) International last season.

Michael McDowell – Driver, No. 71 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet ZL1

Michael McDowell will pilot Spire Motorsports’ No. 71 B’laster Chevrolet ZL1 in Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series Viva Mexico 250 at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez.
McDowell will be one of the few drivers in the field with previous experience at the famed Mexican circuit. The veteran racer earned the victory in the 2005 La Gran De la Serie Rolex Sports Car race where he was paired with legendary road racer Memo Gidley at Finley Motorsports. The potent duo led 28 of 90 laps to collect the win in the Grand Am Rolex Sports Car Series season finale.
The following day, McDowell made his second start in the Champ Car World Series for the series’ 195-mile season finale. Driving for team owner Paul Gentilozzi, he qualified 16th and raced his way to an 11th-place finish in the Gran Premio Telmex-Tecate.
One of the 40-year-old’s two Cup Series victories came on the road course configuration of Indianapolis Motor Speedway. After qualifying fourth, the father of five kissed the bricks alongside his family by leading a field-leading 54 laps, tallying a 2.9 average running position and securing a career-best 141.1 driver rating.
The No. 71 B’laster Chevrolet ZL1 will feature an in-car camera during this weekend’s race, showcasing the elite footwork and reaction time of the road course ace.
B’laster LLC is a chemical manufacturing company based in Valley View, Ohio. Founded in 1957 with PB B’laster Penetrant, the company has since expanded its portfolio to include penetrants, lubricants, cleaners, solvents, removers, grease, protectants, and refrigerants.
The Glendale, Ariz., native has logged an 18.0 average start and a 20.7 average finish at road courses across his career, a career-best at any track type.
McDowell collected the 2016 NASCAR Xfinity Series win at Road America, where he led 24 of 48 laps on an overcast Saturday afternoon, making the trip to Victory Lane in his lone start behind the wheel of Richard Childress Racing’s No. 2 Chevrolet.
The 2021 Daytona 500 Champion will have a familiar voice on the spotter stand this week as McDowell’s cousin, Jason Noll, will assist primary spotter Michael Fisher during the Cup Series’ first visit to Mexico City.
Last Sunday at Michigan International Speedway, McDowell qualified 32nd and promptly raced his way towards the top 10. Unfortunately, the No. 71 team battled fuel pick-up issues during the late goings, ultimately saddling the team with a 30th-place finish.
The No. 71 team earned a $100,000 payday and a trip to Victory Lane after winning the Mechanix Wear Pit Crew Challenge during last month’s visit to North Wilkesboro (N.C.) Speedway. The crew’s blazing 12.587-second stop topped all entries for both the NASCAR All-Star Open and NASCAR All-Star Race, earning the title of the fastest team on pit road.
Through the first 15 races of the 2025 campaign, McDowell owns an average starting position of 14.8, including five starts inside the top 10.
McDowell has claimed three Xfinity Fastest Lap awards this season, clocking the fastest lap in the Daytona 500, Phoenix Raceway and Talladega (Ala.) Superspeedway. The No. 71 stands as the only Cup Series team to earn the award three times.
McDowell secured Spire Motorsports’ first Busch Light Pole Award at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in March. His 28.833-second lap marks the fastest lap in NASCAR’s seventh-generation Cup Series car (2022-present) at the 1.5-mile Nevada oval.

Michael McDowell Quote
You have previous experience at the track in a variety of disciplines. Talk about that and if you think that experience gives you an advantage heading into this weekend.
“Anytime you have gone somewhere, had success, and experienced the racetrack, the culture, altitude adjustment, and all the things that we have to do going into this weekend, it gives you a little bit of extra confidence. It was a long time ago. It was 2005 when I was back in Mexico City for that double-header weekend where I ran IMSA in the Rolex prototypes. We sat on the pole and won the race on Saturday, then woke up the Sunday morning to run the IndyCar race. It is a little different than the double header that we are used to on the NASCAR side. I went from the prototype to the open wheel car, but I had a lot of fun. It was a great atmosphere. Fans are intense, engaged, and absolutely love motorsports. I think NASCAR is going to be embraced and it is going to be a huge event. I am looking forward to it. I know there is a lot of logistical challenges and stuff like that, but to me, it is a great opportunity to put our sport in a spotlight and go put on a good show at a great facility with very passionate fans.”

You’ve got B’laster on the car this weekend as the primary sponsor. How do you manage your expectations to perform well for a new partner?
“This is going to be our first race with B’laster on board, but we had GUNK, another brand in the B’laster family, with us at Talladega earlier this year. We are looking forward to continuing to build that partnership and brand. When they came on board, they really wanted Mexico City as one of their races. They knew it would be an opportunity for us to go run up front and have a shot at winning, so we hope to do that, right? Anytime you have a new partner onboard, you want to help continue to grow that brand and opportunity. I feel like running well is important and Mexico City is a good opportunity to do that.”
Atop the No. 71 Box – Crew Chief Travis Peterson

Crew chief Travis Peterson heads south of the border having called 11 NASCAR Cup Series races on road courses. Peterson called McDowell’s win in the 2023 Verizon 200 at the Brickyard at the road course at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The 34-year-old Cup Series topkick has earned a 15.5 average finish at road courses, his best average finish at any track type with a minimum of 10 attempts.
Peterson has called 91 races in NASCAR’s premier series, securing one win, four top fives, 18 top 10s and seven pole awards.

Carson Hocevar – Driver, No. 77 Spire Motorsports Chevrolet ZL1

Carson Hocevar will pilot the No. 77 Totalplay Chevrolet ZL1 for the Viva Mexico 250.
Totalplay is Mexico’s leading telecommunications provider, delivering top-quality connectivity and entertainment services through its 100% fully fiber-optic, direct-to-home network. Its commitment to innovation and excellence has positioned the company as the provider with the fastest internet, best service, and most advanced technology in the market. As part of Grupo Salinas, Totalplay continues to transform the industry by developing and integrating new technologies, offering unique experiences that redefine how Mexican households access the internet, television, and digital services.
The Viva Mexico 250 will be the sixth Cup Series road-course event for the Portage, Mich., native who finished third in last year’s Go Bowling at The Glen.
Hocevar has turned heads in recent weeks as a result of his aggressive driving style and the team’s high level of performance. The No. 77 crew captured the pole position at Texas Motor Speedway, led 22 laps and was in position for a top-five finish before a late caution mired Hocevar in traffic. Two weeks later at Charlotte (N.C.) Motor Speedway, he was battling for the lead with 91 laps remaining when an engine failure ended his race. The next Sunday, at Nashville (Tenn.) Superspeedway, Hocevar earned his second runner-up finish of the year – the first coming at Atlanta Motor Speedway in February. In the most recent outing for the Cup Series, Hocevar returned to his hometrack of Michigan International Speedway where he started 14th, led 32 laps and came within 19 laps from his first Cup Series victory when tragedy struck in the form of a flat left-rear tire.
In the last five races, Hocevar has led a total of 60 laps – six times more than he led in the first 10 races of the season.

Carson Hocevar Quotes
How do you feel about participating in the first points-paying international Cup Series race in the modern era this weekend in Mexico?
“I’m really excited. This is such a big moment for NASCAR and it will be nice to go to a new track that has hosted motorsports events in some of the top series in the world. We finished last year with a really strong showing at Watkins Glen and I felt like we had a decent car earlier this year at COTA, so it’ll be nice to have a full practice to get laps on track before we qualify. I think it’ll be a great weekend overall and a good show for all the fans”

Spire Motorsports PR

FloRacing Becomes Presenting Partner of Virginia Triple Crown

AUSTIN, TX – (June 10, 2025) – One of the most iconic titles in Late Model Stock Car racing just got a major upgrade. FloSports and NASCAR today announced that they will contribute $50,000 to the purse for the Virginia Triple Crown raising the overall champion purse to $20,000 – making it the richest prize in the event’s storied history. FloRacing will now also be the presenting partner of the Virginia Triple Crown.

FloRacing, has established itself as the nation’s leading destination for live and on-demand grassroots motorsports coverage and a significant investor in the success of regional racing. With FloRacing on board, this year’s Virginia Triple Crown isn’t just bigger – it’s bolder, better, and more competitive than ever.

“We’re thrilled to partner with NASCAR to elevate the Virginia Triple Crown to a whole new level,” said Michael Rigsby, GM of FloRacing. “Late Model racing has long been a core focus for FloRacing, and this partnership lets us invest directly in the drivers, teams, and fans who make it so special. We can’t wait to showcase this incredible three-race showdown to a national audience.”

“The Virginia Triple Crown is a celebration of short track culture – where many of NASCAR’s top stars got their start,” said Joey Dennewitz, managing director, NASCAR Regional. “With the support of FloRacing, we’re amplifying the reach and prestige of each event, creating more excitement for fans and more opportunity for drivers. It’s exactly the kind of grassroots investment that strengthens the future of our sport.”

The new payout structure extends to the top 10 finishers in the Virginia Triple Crown standings, up from just three in previous years:

• 1st – $20,000
• 2nd – $10,000
• 3rd – $7,500
• 4th – $5,000
• 5th – $2,500
• 6th–10th – $1,000 each

All payouts will be distributed following the final leg of the crown – the ValleyStar Credit Union 300 at Martinsville Speedway on Sept. 27.

The Virginia Triple Crown presented by FloRacing is determined by average finish across three of the region’s crown jewel events:

• June 28 – Thunder Road Harley-Davidson 200 at South Boston Speedway
• July 19 – Hampton Heat at Larry King Law’s Langley Speedway
• September 27 – ValleyStar Credit Union 300 at Martinsville Speedway

To be eligible for the championship and prize money, drivers must compete in all three events.

“With FloRacing’s involvement in the Virginia Triple Crown, what was already a most sought-after achievement for the drivers to win, at three of the most storied tracks in NASCAR, has a much larger presence,” said Martinsville Speedway President Clay Campbell. “While this extra incentive will attract more competitors, really, the fans are going to benefit. It’s hard for me to imagine the great racing and drama they will see at South Boston, Langley and Martinsville, whether in person at the track or watching on FloRacing. I’m looking forward to seeing who comes away with the Virginia Triple Crown when the checkered flag drops on the ValleyStar Credit Union 300 on September 27.”

“We’re excited to see the Triple Crown elevated to even greater heights this year and reward drivers who race all in three races,” said South Boston Speedway General Manager Brandon Brown. “We take so much pride in kicking off the Virginia Triple Crown at South Boston Speedway. Our race sets the tone every single year and this year it will mean more than ever. A great run in the Thunder Road Harley-Davidson 200 will be vital to anyone who wants to take home all the money after Martinsville.”

Larry King Law’s Langley Speedway owner and operator Bill Mullis said the sponsorship from FloRacing brings added prestige and value to the Triple Crown.

“This sponsorship adds to the already storied history of the Virginia Triple Crown and brings even more realization to its value and the value the Triple Crown has brought to Late Model Stock Car racing all these years,” Mullis remarked.

“I’m excited to be a part of this, knowing its humble beginnings. The tie between South Boston, Langley and Martinsville is so strong, and this makes it stronger.”

Past Triple Crown champions read like a who’s who of Late Model greatness, including:

• Peyton Sellers (5x champion – 2013, 2014, 2018, 2022, 2024)
• Lee Pulliam (2x champion – 2015, 2019)
• Trevor Ward (2023)
• Bobby McCarty (2021)
• Timothy Peters (2017)
• C.E. Falk III (2012)

Established in 2012, the Triple Crown has been a consistent proving ground for top-tier Late Model talent, paused only in 2016 and 2020.

Fans can watch every lap of the Virginia Triple Crown presented by FloRacing live or on demand with a FloRacing subscription at www.floracing.com or via the FloRacing app.

This summer, three tracks. Three races. One crown.

Let the battle begin.

About NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for the No. 1 form of motorsports in the United States and owner of 14 of the nation’s major motorsports entertainment facilities. NASCAR sanctions races in three national series (NASCAR Cup Series™, NASCAR Xfinity Series™, and NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series™), four international series (NASCAR Brasil Series, NASCAR Canada Series, NASCAR Euro Series, NASCAR Mexico Series), four regional series (ARCA Menards Series, ARCA Menards Series East & West and the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour) and a local grassroots series (NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series). The International Motor Sports Association™ (IMSA®) governs the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship™, the premier U.S. sports car series. NASCAR also owns Motor Racing Network, Racing Electronics, and ONE DAYTONA. Based in Daytona Beach, Florida, with offices in five cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races annually in 11 countries and more than 30 U.S. states.

For more information visit www.NASCAR.com and www.IMSA.com, and follow NASCAR on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, X and Facebook.

About FloSports
Founded in 2006, FloSports is a global sports media company delivering live and on-demand event coverage, award winning original content, always-on social experiences, and comprehensive sports data solutions to passionate and underserved sports fans. Its portfolio covers more than 25 different sports categories and includes the top destinations for avid fans seeking unmatched coverage for the sports they love: motorsports (FloRacing), hockey (FloHockey), wrestling (FloWrestling), Jiu-Jitsu (FloGrappling), Track & Field (FloTrack and MileSplit), cheer (FloCheer and Varsity), a variety of NCAA sports (FloCollege), and more. Strategic partnerships with NASCAR, USA Wrestling, High Limit Racing, Varsity Spirit, the American Hockey League (AHL), Wanda Diamond League, Tour de France, 14 NCAA Conferences, and others, fuel more than 40,000 live events streamed annually across the globe and accessed via monthly or annual subscriptions. For more information, please visit: flosports.tv.

The Miami International Autodrome will host Formula E racing for the first time as the race organizer announced its provisional 2025–2026 season calendar.

The Formula E World Championship will feature 18 races across 12 cities, including new races in Madrid and Miami’s International Autodrome. The event at Miami International Autodrome at Hard Rock Stadium, where Formula 1 races each year, marks the second time since Season 1 that the circuit has come to South Beach; Formula E raced earlier this season at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

“We are delighted to host Formula E and welcome the 2026 Miami E-Prix to our circuit,” said Tyler Epp, president of the Miami International Autodrome. “We have built a strong relationship with Formula E over the past several years and enjoyed hosting their Evo Sessions in March. As we continue growing the car culture of South Florida, hosting the 2026 Miami E-Prix brings more world-class motorsports action to Miami Gardens, while also allowing us to expand on our shared values of sustainability, technology and innovation.”

The all-electric series’ 12th season begins on December 6, 2025, on the streets of São Paulo before it returns to Mexico City in January. Formula E then makes its first race appearance at the Miami International Autodrome on January 31.

“We’re excited to bring Formula E back to Miami for season 12, this time to the world-class setting of the Miami International Autodrome at Hard Rock Stadium,” said Nacho Calcedo, Formula E host cities director. “Miami is a city that lives and breathes entertainment and innovation, making it a natural fit for our championship. Returning here marks an important milestone in our journey in the U.S., and we can’t wait to deliver a spectacular event that continues to connect with both passionate motorsport fans and a new wave of electric racing enthusiasts.”

February includes a nighttime doubleheader under the lights in Jeddah while Madrid debuts on the calendar in March at the Circuito de Madrid Jarama — the first time Formula E has raced in the Spanish capital — and the first world championship motorsport event held in the city since 1989.

Returning venues include Berlin, Tokyo and Shanghai, each hosting doubleheader race weekends. Monaco continues to host back-to-back races on its iconic street circuit. The season concludes in London, with a doubleheader at the Excel on August 15–16, 2026. Formula E is expected to announce two more race locations later this year.

Mexico City Event Info:
Date: Sunday, June 15
Time: 3 p.m. ET
Series: NASCAR Cup Series (NCS)
Location: Mexico City, Mexico
Format: 100 Laps, 242 Miles, Stages: 20-45-100
TV: Prime
Radio: MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Channel 90)

Weekend Schedule:
Friday: 1:05 p.m. ET, Cup Practice (Prime, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Friday: 3:55 p.m. ET, Cup Practice (Prime, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Saturday: 12 p.m. ET, Cup Qualifying (Prime, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)
Sunday: 3 p.m. ET, Cup Race (Prime, MRN, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio)

Pace Laps:

• The NASCAR Cup Series makes its debut at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in Mexico City, Mexico, this weekend for the 16^th points race on the schedule.
• In 266 road course starts all-time in the NCS, Jack Roush’s Fords have won six races and tallied 43 top-five and 93 top-10 finishes, along with six poles. In those 266 starts, an RFK Ford has led 640 laps for an average finish of 17.4.
• RFK Racing put all three Fords in the top 10 last weekend at Michigan, with Buescher (2^nd) leading 13 laps while Preece (9^th) and Keselowski (10^th) rounded out the top 10.
• It marked the first time RFK Racing has placed three cars inside the top 10 since Daytona in July of 2016.

6 Team Info:
Driver: Brad Keselowski
Crew Chief: Jeremy Bullins
Partner: Castrol

17 Team Info:
Driver: Chris Buescher
Crew Chief: Scott Graves
Partner: Fastenal

60 Team Info:
Driver: Ryan Preece
Crew Chief: Derrick Finley
Partner: Kroger / Colgate

Keselowski at Mexico City
Starts: —
Wins: —
Top-10s: —
Poles: —

• Keselowski makes his 50^th road course start in the NCS this weekend in Mexico City, where he has three runner-up finishes. In his career, he has 11 top-10 finishes on road courses, but is winless in his 49 starts.
• In his lone road course race this season at Circuit of the Americas (COTA), he finished 15^th after starting 26^th.
• Keselowski has made two career starts at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez in the NXS, including a P8 finish in 2008.

Buescher at Mexico City
Starts: —
Wins: —
Top-10s: —
Poles: —

• Buescher makes his 40^th start at a road course in the NCS this weekend, where he has 16 career top-10 results, including 14 of the last 17.
• He has one Cup Series win in his career on a road course, Watkins Glen last season, and finished seventh at COTA earlier this season despite starting 24^th.
• Buescher has finished eighth or better in six of the last eight road course races.

Preece at Mexico City
Starts: —
Wins: —
Top-10s: —
Poles: —

• Preece is set for his 25^th Cup Series race on a road course this Sunday, where he has a best finish of ninth at the Daytona Road Course (2021) and Watkins Glen (2024).
• He recorded his sixth top-10 finish of the season last weekend at Michigan, which is a career-high for the Berlin, CT native.

Last Time Out & Where They Stand
Michigan: Buescher 2^nd, Preece 9^th & Keselowski 10^th.

Points Standings (17: 14^th, 60: 16^th, 6: 32^nd): Buescher remains 20 points above the cutline, while Preece is tied with Kyle Busch for the final playoff spot. Keselowski sits in 32^nd despite a strong points day at Michigan.

RFK Racing PR

Sabatino Moto sells a lot of motorcycles. The shop is often the top seller of Royal Enfields in the Western United States. In some months, Sabatino is the top Royal Enfield seller in the whole United States. Sabatino does more with less – the dealership only has five employees. In a world of Goliaths, this David is doing well.

Eric Sabatino started out working on classic Vespa and Lambretta scooters, then branched out into older British motorcycles. At first, he lived in an RV next to his shop. Sabatino’s first step up was a contact with Tomos mopeds, who talked him into renting a small commercial space. The nascent dealership prospered, and Tomos mopeds were soon joined by Sym lightweights.

Sabatino Moto was then located in one unit of a larger building. When the pandemic hit, the other tenants gradually moved out, and the dealership rented the rest of the building. Eric then convinced Royal Enfield to give him a franchise, which they agreed to if he would move to a larger space across the street.

“I was in the right place at the right time,” Sabatino says. When Sabatino got its franchise, Royal Enfield was selling motorcycles geared to Western roads and riding styles and offering a quality product, a three-year warranty and very attractive pricing. Shortly afterwards, the dealership picked up a Moto Morini franchise.

At present, Sabatino sells Royal Enfield, Moto Morini, Sym and Royal Alloy scooters, and a wide range of pre-owned motorcycles and scooters, some of which qualify as vintage machines. The shop also continues to work on the classics.

“We like vintage bikes,” Sabatino admits. “The other vintage repair shops in this area closed this year, and we are now the only shop in town. It’s not the most profitable part of the shop, but we do make money – and vintage people will often want to buy an Enfield to ride when the BSA or 1960s Ducati single is down.”

Sabatino Moto quickly established itself as a people-friendly space, and soon became a hub for riders and friends. The dealership is right next to a motorcycle-themed coffee shop. Riders come for the coffee and pastries and then go look around the dealership.

“Our slogan is ‘Sell motorcycles and be nice to people,’ Eric says. “We are successful because people can come here, hang out and talk bike, and we have competitive prices. There are even two retired guys who are here a lot and act as volunteer salespeople.”

Besides the customer stream that results from having a dealership right next to a biker hangout and word of mouth from enthusiastic owners, Sabatino gets door swings from events the shop either puts on itself or sponsors. The dealership puts on a variety of events, including hot dog evenings, where the dealership brings out a grill, hot dogs, buns and condiments, and invites anyone with a motorcycle to show up, and demo days. The shop also sponsors most motorcycle-oriented local events, including charity rides, such as the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride, the Spring Scooter ride, and bike nights.

“It gets our name in front of people,” he says. “Our shop location is key. We are near a suspension bridge that leads directly out of town and onto great, twisty roads.”

Once a potential customer walks in, the dealership wants that person to feel comfortable. Sabatino works hard to make his shop an unintimidating place for any potential customer. “I try to push back on machismo. I like making bikes accessible.” Women make up 30-40% of Sabatino Moto’s customer base, drawn by the friendly atmosphere, the variety of new and old scooters and smaller and pocketbook friendly motorcycles – and the sight of women employees.

“Women like to see women at a dealership,” he notes. “They don’t like walking into what looks like a men’s club.” New employees are trained never to assume that the male member of a couple is the one who wants to buy a motorcycle, and to make sure to talk to both people.

Sabatino’s customers are a cross section of the Portland public – old riders, first time riders, all sorts of people. Sabatino Moto started to see a lot of new riders during the pandemic. While this has tapered off a bit, the shop still sees a lot of new riders and has Team Oregon motorcycle training brochures to pass out to interested people.

Team Oregon is the trademark of the joint program of Oregon State University and the Oregon Department of Transportation to provide motorcycle training to new riders. The dealership also advertises with Team Oregon, which means that Sabatino Moto is featured on the Team Oregon website, seen by every new rider in Oregon as a Supporting Dealer, with a link to Sabatino’s website.

Sabatino does not have an extensive website, and there are few bells or whistles. It lists new and used machinery for sale. There is an application to take a test ride, a finance application, an application for an insurance quote, a page to contact the dealership, and not much else.

It doesn’t seem to matter – eager buyers flock to Sabatino Moto regardless. Sabatino has a 4.5 star rating on Yelp and a 4.8 star rating on Google. Reviewers cite being greeted on arrival, the friendly staff and intelligent answers to questions. Kudos were given to the shop for giving a realistic time for pickup after completion of maintenance work and for making phone calls to customers stating their bike was ready. 

“We are a small dealership,” Sabatino says. “We work hard. I have no idea what will be happening in five years, because everything is a surprise. I hope in the next five years I pay off debt, keep my crew and keep doing what I am doing.”

Sabatino Moto
8501 N Lombard St,
Portland, OR 97203
(971) 266-4345

OEM: Royal Enfield, Moto Morini, Sym and Royal Alloy

Aftermarket: Shoei, HJC, AGV, Torc, Icon and RST. In-helmet communication systems from SENA, and RAM handlebar mounts for cell phones.

Number of employees: 5

In the end, Denny Hamlin had enough horsepower to get by William Byron at Michigan.

And then he had enough gas in the tank to complete the 400 miles and bag his third trophy of the season. It’s also the 57th win of his career, which is 11th best all-time and three away from catching Kevin Harvick and reaching the top 10.

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After the checkers, he revved it and smoked it just enough to run out of gas and his No. 11 Toyota needed a tow to Victory Lane. No big deal, you likely say.

Well, probably not. But all the same, Denny might want to start saving on that Sunoco bill because his accompanying NASCAR job — team co-owner — might come with some financial headwinds in the coming weeks.

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That’s right, Denny will be going right from post-victory interviews to a chat with the lawyers. But not before first checking in with the obstetrician.

Huh?

Let’s get up to speed …

First Gear: Worried? Not Denny

Michigan International Speedway is NASCAR’s fastest track, and no, we couldn’t say that if speeds weren’t restricted at the two highest-banked superspeedways (Daytona and Talladega) as well as the newest too-fast-for-sanity track (Atlanta).

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In-car telemetry showed cars tickling and even surpassing 200 mph on the Michigan straights. Stressing the horses to such degrees naturally takes a lot of fuel, which is why Michigan occasionally comes down to who’s done a better job of calculating the mileage and, when needed, loosening the laces on the right shoe in order to feather that throttle.

A final caution with 53 laps remaining around the 2-mile oval left no room for error on fuel. William Byron, who reluctantly gave up the lead to Hamlin with four laps left, ran out of gas and had to quickly dive to the pits coming off Turn 4 with the white flag in sight.

Denny being Denny, he claimed afterward he wasn’t worried about his own gas gauge, even after Byron disappeared from his mirror for obvious reasons.

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“No, not really,” he suggested.

He has other issues on his mind, you know. Longtime fiancee Jordan Fish spent the weekend back home, awaiting the birth of the couple’s third child.

And there’s that other thing …

Second Gear: Courtroom setback precedes on-track victory

We haven’t revisited the courtroom for a few weeks, so let’s check in.

Uh-oh, we have actual movement, and not just paperwork involving the ongoing antitrust case filed by 23XI and Front Row Motorsports against NASCAR.

Last week, a federal appeals court overturned an earlier judgement that allowed 23XI (owned by Hamlin and Michael Jordan) and Front Row to keep their coveted charters and all the benefits that come with those Cup Series “franchises” — each is a three-car team.

The teams were given until June 19 to file for a rehearing. If they don’t file, or if they do file and get another negative judgement, the appeals court’s verdict is set and the two teams can have their charters stripped by NASCAR, which would take away their automatic entry into each race and, more importantly, cost them the financial benefits of being a chartered team (bigger weekly payouts, etc.).

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The automatic race entry isn’t likely a big deal, since Cup races rarely reach the maximum 40-car limit. Lost revenue streams, however, is another thing entirely.

Beyond the current dust remains the early-December trial date that will ultimately settle the ugliness, unless something is worked out before then.

Third Gear: NASCAR stretches its southern boundary

For the first time since early March, the Cup Series visits a road course this coming weekend. But this isn’t Watkins Glen, Sonoma or any of the other familiar layouts. It’s the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City.

Hopefully we’ll talk more about those Rodriguez brothers later in the week.

Meanwhile, if it all sounds a tad familiar, it’s because NASCAR’s Xfinity Series raced at the Mexico City track four straight years, from 2005-2008. The race winners were Martin Truex Jr., Juan Pablo Montoya, and two dudes still very active today — Kyle Busch and, yes, Denny Hamlin.

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This effort poses a ton of logistical lifting for the Boys in Operations, who must navigate the distance and, more cumbersome, the chore of getting those packed haulers through customs at the border. What could go wrong?

Hopefully nothing.

Fourth Gear: Dodge racing back to NASCAR … in a Ram

“That thing got a Hemi?”

Man oh man, you could hardly go to a commercial break 20 years ago without hearing that phrase during an ad for Dodge Ram.

And now it’s coming back. About every half-generation, it seems, there’s a breakthrough in NASCAR’s manufacturer roll call. Dodge is the newest, announcing this past weekend that the Ram is returning to the Truck Series next season.

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Dodge was last in the Truck Series in 2013, and last raced the Cup Series in 2012. The Ram returns next February at Daytona. How long before the Charger makes its way to the Xfinity or Cup Series? No word yet, but you have to assume it’s part of the grand plan.

And yes, they’re also bringing back the 5.7-liter Hemi V-8.

Hubba-hubba.

— Email Ken Willis at ken.willis@news-jrnl.com

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: NASCAR: Denny Hamlin gives it the gas. Mexico next. Yep, it’s a Hemi